- Named Best Florida Newspaper In Its Class -
VOL 23 No. 39
May 24, 2023
In order to make way for a 1,500-space parking garage to be built at Manatee Beach, the existing concession building would be removed. BY SUN STAFF
TROY MORGAN/PHOTOSFROMTHEAIR.COM | SUBMITTED
HOLMES BEACH – Florida House Bill 947 has just one more stoplight to pass before it becomes law - being signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis. If the bill is signed, Manatee County has the green light to build a three-story, 1500-plus space parking garage spanning the width and breadth of the county-owned parking lot at Manatee Beach. All existing facilities at the beach, including the concession stand, retail and restrooms, would be demolished, with new facilities located in the parking garage. Some locals and visitors are not happy about what would be the end of an era on Anna Maria Island, and there’s a petition drive to stop it. The concession building has been at the public beach for more than half a century, with the roof once functioning as a community dance floor. And while some people don’t mind the potential changes, others don’t want to see the current parking area and concession building demolished. The place is important to former Holmes Beach mayor, former county commissioner and longtime Holmes Beach resident Carol Whitmore.
If Gov. Ron DeSantis signs HB 947, the Manatee Beach concession stand will be demolished to make way for a three-story parking garage covering the entire parking lot.
SEE MANATEE BEACH, PAGE 31
Manatee Beach: End of an era?
Anna Maria hosting two events on Memorial Day Both city-sponsored events will take place at City Pier Park.
Get ready for Memorial Day weekend
BY JOE HENDRICKS
Memorial Day weekend is almost here. Prepare for traffic delays, parking issues and fun in the sun.
SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
BY JASON SCHAFFER SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com
ANNA MARIA – The city of Anna Maria’s Memorial Day Patriotic Symphony Salute and the city’s Centennial Symphony celebration will take place back-to-back at City Pier Park on Memorial Day. The city-sponsored festivities on Monday, May 29 will begin with the Patriotic Symphony Salute at 10 a.m. followed by the Centennial Symphony celebration at approximately 10:45 p.m. Lasting approximately 45 minutes, the Memorial Day Salute will honor
Page 37
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
Memorial Day and the city’s Anna Maria’s 100th anniversary will be celebrated at City Pier Park. those who gave their lives in service to their country, as well as the spouses and significant others who also made their own sacrifices. The Memorial Day ceremony will feature the Anna Maria SEE MEMORIAL DAY, PAGE 16
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – It’s almost here – the unofficial start of the summer season, when crowds visit the Island to soak up the sun and play in the sand. Unlike the busy winter/spring season when people come from all over the world by airplane, Memorial Day brings people from closer to the Island who arrive by car. This means long wait times to get on and off the Island at peak beach arrival and departure times as traffic can back up for miles
JASON SCHAFFER | SUN
Prepare for a busy beach weekend. Memorial Day is one of the three busiest weekends of the year on the Island. waiting to cross the three bridges, the only ways on and off the Island. Parking will also fill up fast, so city officials recommend arriving as early as possible to avoid the heaviest SEE WEEKEND, PAGE 14
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