- Named Best Florida Newspaper In Its Class -
VOL 23 No. 46
July 12, 2023
Fourth of July Parade wet, wild fun The Anna Maria Island Privateers Fourth of July Parade was once again Florida’s largest water battle featuring more than 120 participants. BY JASON SCHAFFER SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com
Twilight's last gleaming JASON GARGIULE/AMIAERIALS.COM
The sunset had a little help from fireworks on Anna Maria Island on July Fourth.
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – More than 120 participants in the annual Anna Maria Island Privateers Fourth of July Parade loaded their vehicles with water guns to do battle with thousands of people lining the parade route. Beginning at Coquina Beach at the south end of the Island and finishing on Pine Avenue to the north, some parade participants had containers holding more than 100 gallons of water, but parade watchers also were well stocked for what has become known as Florida’s biggest and longest water battle. “We had more than 80 Jeeps in this year’s parade, in addition to the other participants that made this one of, if not the biggest, Fourth of July parades we have ever had,” Anna Maria Island Privateers President Kim Boyd said. “It was so much fun.”
SEE PARADE, PAGE 12
Water main back in service The water main on the Manatee Avenue Bridge is back in service following a June 19 break. BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com
ANNA MARIA ISLAND - The water main that broke on the Manatee Avenue Bridge on June 19 is back in service, Manatee County officials say. As work ensued on the broken pipe, another pipe continued to supply water to the Island from the south. Residents of the Island were asked to conserve water as repairs were underway on AMI’s main water source. Those requests have been rescinded, according to a July 6 Manatee County press release.
Island customers were told on June 19 that they could experience intermittent drops in water pressure due to the emergency repairs on the broken 16-inch water main. “Cooperative coordination with Manatee County Utilities staff and local contractors kept construction delays to a minimum and provided maximum access to motorists during the recent holiday weekend,” according to the press release. More work will be taking place along the drawbridge over Anna Maria Sound and in the area over the next several weeks to permanently reposition the water main along the span. Crews also will be in the area removing the old pipe from the water. Details of that work have yet to be finalized.
SEE WATER MAIN, PAGE 14
Island population drops in all three cities The U.S. Census Bureau noted fairly significant drops in residents between 2020 and 2021 in all three Island cities. BY KRISTIN SWAIN SUN STAFF WRITER | kswain@amisun.com
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – It may not come as a surprise to some long-time residents, but the population of this sevenmile stretch of paradise is dwindling. While the U.S. Census Bureau conducts 10-year counts across the country, the organization also conducts a yearly American Community Survey to record changes and trends in population. The available online data spans 2010-2021 and shows a few minor ups and downs in population numbers. However, there is a significant difference in all three
Copeland, New Orleans style. 3
Love the recipe. It's ratatouille. 22
Anna Maria Island, Florida
SEE POPULATION, PAGE 8
ISLAND BIDS FAREWELL to Pat
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Island cities in the numbers between 2020 and 2021 – all three cities lost a significant portion of their population. Looking at the data, the city of Holmes Beach is the undisputed largest municipality on the Island. In 2010, Holmes Beach had 4,136 residents. After fluctuations of 100-200 people per year, the city had 4,276 residents in 2020. That number dropped to 3,132 in 2021. That’s a loss of 1,144 in a single year, or 26.75% of the population. In Anna Maria, the population changes were more volatile over the years. In 2010, the city had a recorded 1,475 residents, hitting a high of 1,556 in 2013 before steadily dropping to 719 in 2019. In 2020, the city’s population jumped to 1,087 before dropping to 944 in 2021, a loss of 143 residents in a single year, representing 13% of the population.
HOLIDAY BEACHGOERS disturb sea
turtle nests. 5 The Island’s award-winning weekly newspaper
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