- Named Best Florida Newspaper In Its Class -
VOL 23 No. 44
June 28, 2023
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
Manatee County workers are attempting to repair part of a water main that fell off the Anna Maria Island Bridge on June 19.
Continued water disruptions expected on AMI
Celebrate Independence Day KRISTIN SWAIN | SUN
Celebrate the Fourth of July with the Privateers parade (Page 12), prepare for holiday traffic and find parking (Page 3) and keep beach wildlife in mind while observing the Fourth (Page 8).
Protestors oppose beach parking garage Protesters lament the loss of home rule - and the quaintness of Manatee Beach after Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill allowing a three-story parking garage there. BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
BRADENTON – More than 50 concerned citizens and city officials gathered on Friday to protest Manatee County’s plans to build a 1,500-space, three-story parking garage at Manatee Beach in Holmes Beach. The protesters made their voices heard along Manatee Avenue in front of the county
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
From left, Carla Ballew, Talha Siddique and Morgan Bryant participated in Friday’s protest. administration building in downtown Bradenton. The scheduled protest coincidentally occurred a few hours
after Gov. Ron DeSantis signed House Bill 947. Introduced by
SEE PROTESTORS, PAGE 39
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The Island’s award-winning weekly newspaper
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Customers can expect periodic continued disruptions to water services as contractors continue to work to replace a part of a water main after the aging pipe fell off the Anna Maria Island Bridge on June 19. In a press release, Manatee County officials said the emergency repairs are being completed as quickly as possible but could take up to a few weeks to complete. While residents and businesses are not without water, water pressure is expected to remain lower than usual and service may be interrupted for short periods of time to accommodate the repairs. Currently, the north end of the Island is receiving water through Bradenton Beach. In addition to water service disruptions, there also are associated traffic issues to contend with. Boaters are asked to travel only through the channel underneath the bridge to avoid interfering with workers or hitting the construction equipment or pipes. Vehicular and pedestrian traffic across the bridge is reduced to one lane from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. through Friday, June 30. Access to the sidewalk on the south side of the bridge will be restricted and drivers will have to contend with alternating one-way traffic across the bridge, which is expected to cause traffic jams and extended travel times. To avoid the construction area, motorists are advised to use the Cortez Bridge or Longboat Key Bridge to the Island. Everyone is asked to conserve water as much as possible while repairs are taking place, including taking shorter showers and limiting outdoor watering. For more information, or to check for updates to the project, visit www.mymanatee.org.
TRY TORTELLINI salad with fresh
herbs from your garden. 33
PINEY POINT contaminated water
spread farther than previously thought. 5 www.amisun.com