- Named Best Florida Newspaper In Its Class -
VOL 24 No. 3
September 13, 2023
Gulf Island Ferry visits Anna Maria Pier The county currently has no estimated start date for its Gulf Island Ferry service. BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
MONICA SIMPSON | SUN
ANNA MARIA – Manatee County and Anna Maria city officials continue to discuss the safety and docking modifications needed to accommodate a Gulf Island Ferry stop at the city pier. Those negotiations remain ongoing, and the city and the county have not yet entered into an interlocal agreement that would allow the city pier to serve as a ferry stop. At some point this year, Manatee County plans to begin Friday, Saturday and Sunday ferry service between downtown Bradenton and Anna Maria Island, with stops at the city pier in Anna Maria, the Bradenton Beach Pier and the Coquina South boat ramp in Bradenton Beach. In August, Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy and the city commission rejected the county’s proposal
Using the cowboy theme suggested by Chandler LaPensee, youngest son of Carlee and Greg LaPensee, the LaPensee family and friends rounded up for the bowling tournament on Saturday night.
Friends, family raise funds for The Center at LaPensee Bowling Tournament
SEE WATER TAXI, PAGE 15
BY MONICA SIMPSON
Funding for Old Town Trams extended
SPECIAL TO THE SUN
ANNA MARIA – Sold out again this year, the Greg LaPensee Bowling Tournament was a huge fundraising success on Saturday night at Bowlero Bradenton. With 64 lanes sold and teams of six bowling in support of The Center of Anna Maria Island, the night was filled with the sounds of crashing pins, laughter and good conversation. At night’s end, the Salty Dolphins of AMI Dolphin Tours once again were the top team with a combined team score of 974 in a single game. Bowling pin “trophies” were awarded to Mikie Phetcher, the top female bowler, with a score of 150. Hunter Parrish, scoring 234, was the top male bowler of the night. This was Parrish’s first individual achievement as a member of the AMI Dolphin Tours team.
The city’s CRA has voted to continue short-term funding for the tram service until the end of the year. BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com
MONICA SIMPSON | SUN
Winning this year's costume contest, friends Don Purvis, Brian Johnson, Gavin Lee, Leah Purvis, Laura Johnson and Amy Lee take home the coveted Blue Bowling Pin trophy as the Jamaican bobsledding team, bringing cool to the heat on the lanes. King Middle School eighthgrader Cale Rudacille took home top honors as a youth bowler with a high score of 132. On the flip side of bowling achievements, Keith Mahoney won the coveted Gutter Ball award.
The tournament, named in honor of Greg LaPensee, who passed away on Dec. 21, 2021 at 39 years of age, was once again sponsored by LaPensee
SEE BOWLING, PAGE 9
HURRICANE Idalia
Page 21
damaged the pier in Bradenton Beach. 3
Anna Maria Island, Florida
BRADENTON BEACH – The Old Town Trams may be rolling just a little bit longer. The Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) voted at its Aug. 15 meeting to remove the $52,000 subsidization for the free ride service from its 2023-24 budget. However, after much debate about the necessity of the trams at a Sept. 6 CRA meeting, a compromise was reached. Members voted unanimously to fund the tram, with conditions, until the end of this year. “This was temporary until it could stand on its own,” Mayor John Chappie said. “I don’t mind helping people and getting people started, but for a limited time.” Launched as a pilot program in November 2020,
The Island’s award-winning weekly newspaper
SEE TRAM, PAGE 19
SEAPORT MANATEE OIL SPILL
cause still unknown. 4
ANNA MARIA CELEBRATES its
centennial anniversary. 12
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