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VOL 23 No. 40
May 31, 2023
Memorial Day, centennial celebrated The annual Memorial Day Commemoration was held at City Pier Park on Monday. In a dual remembrance, the City of Anna Maria celebrated its centennial at the event. BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com
JASON GARGIULE/AMI AERIALS | SUBMITTED
LESLIE LAKE | SUN
Hundreds of people gather at the Memorial Day commemoration at City Pier Park. A U.S. Marine Honor Guard (inset) presents the colors at the Memorial Day commemoration at City Pier Park. See more Memorial Day photos on Page 20.
ANNA MARIA – More than 500 people gathered Monday morning at City Pier Park for a Memorial Day remembrance of the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. Navy veteran Carl Pearman and his wife, Irene, attend the Memorial Day commemoration each year. “I’m a proud Navy veteran,” he said. “I served from the late 1950s between the Korean War and Vietnam. We come every year. It’s important to honor these people.” The annual ceremony, replete with tradition and patriotic music, was coupled with a recognition of the centennial anniversary of the City of Anna Maria. Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy welcomed the crowd and introduced officials from Anna Maria and Holmes Beach, including former Holmes Beach Mayor Bob Johnson and his wife, Denise, and former Manatee County Commissioner and Holmes Beach Mayor Carol Whitmore. SEE WEEKEND, PAGE 27
Commission discusses commercial activity in public spaces Anna Maria commissioners seek additional insight from the city attorney. BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
ANNA MARIA – City Commission Chair Mark Short doesn’t want Anna Maria’s parks, beaches and rights of way to be commercialized in a manner similar to what’s currently taking place
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along the Palma Sola Causeway. During the commission’s May 25 meeting, Short noted there are now multiple commercial entities offering horseback rides, personal watercraft rentals and more along the Palma Sola Causeway on Manatee Avenue/ State Road 64. Short also expressed concerns about commercial activity occurring in city-owned rights of way. “I don’t want this to become another Manatee Avenue,” he said.
Short said during his preliminary research of the city’s code of ordinances he didn’t find any prohibitions pertaining to commercial activities taking place in conservation zones, parks, beaches and other city-owned properties, and is not aware of any city regulation that prohibits such activity. SEE COMMISSION, PAGE 16
CHARLIE TRYGG | SUBMITTED
Multiple companies offer horseback rides along the Palma Sola Causeway.
IT’S HURRICANE
THE FIRST GREEN sea turtle
season. Register now for evacuation assistance. 9
nest of the season is found. 11
Anna Maria Island, Florida
BEACH, PARKING CLOSES
earlier now in Bradenton Beach. 26
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