MARCH 26, 2025 FREE
VOLUME 33 NO. 22
Astheworldterns 6
The Best News on Anna Maria Island Since 1992
islander.org
Mayors jailed for Heritage Day
Imprisoned in the old Anna Maria jail, Anna Maria Mayor Mark Short, left, Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth and Bradenton Beach Mayor John Chappie await donors to meet the Privateers’ ransom demands for their release at the Anna Maria Island Historical Society’s Heritage Day Festival. The festival, held at the AMIHS museum, 402 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, featured music, food, arts, crafts, raffles, auctions and museum tours. Islander Photos: Lisa Neff
The island mayors, captured, chained and detained in the old Anna Maria City Jail, are guarded March 18 by Anna Maria Island Privateers during the Anna Maria Island Historical Society Heritage Day Festival. The ransom of the mayors raised $1,425, which the Privateers donated to the historical society. The festival took place on AMIHS’ museum grounds on Pine Avenue in Anna Maria.
AM, HB mayors chime in Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth said the week ending March 23 that spring break brought a lot of traffic and congestion. But, she added in a March 21 email, the “city has found that we still provide ample parking.” Meanwhile, Holmes Beach police Chief Bill Tokajer told The Islander March 20 that he saw as many people on the beach in a day on his ATV patrols as he would see on July 4. He said there are more vacationers in northwest Bradenton this year and islanders rebuilding homes and staying in the interim on the mainland are adding to the traffic to AMI. He also noted that there are a large number of contractors and workers on AMI daily. In other matters, Titsworth said the city “up’d our funding to Wildlife Inc. for this year to assist in their recovery.” Holmes Beach gave $5,000 to the Bradenton Beach rescue and rehab as the 2024 hurricanes washed out the facility. The city also participated in the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office Bridging the Gap Fishing Tournament for kids March 18 at the Green Bridge between Bradenton and Palmetto. Sheriff Rick Wells, on his Facebook page, said they had a “fun day of fishing and making memories with local kids.” Participants took a tour of the Manatee River courtesy of Anna Maria Island Dolphin Tours and spotted some dolphins. They were joined on the water by marine units from MCSO, as well as Holmes Beach and Palmetto police.
Of note: AMI Dolphin Tours is owned by Ben and Sue Webb and is based in Holmes Beach. Way to go! Titsworth also spoke of a city-sponsored best practices class in landscaping held at city hall with presenter Michelle Atkinson, an environmental horticulture agent with the University of Florida IFAS Extension in Manatee. Atkinson provided people with information for maintaining Floridafriendly landscapes. The class will be repeated at 9 a.m. Thursday, April 1, at city hall, 5801 Marina Drive. In Anna Maria, Mayor Mark Short said in a March 21 email that he’s had no conversation with reps of the Rod & Reel Pier since early January, when they said they planned to rebuild and would start the design and permit process. “No update from them since,” Short said. Short proclaimed the March 18 Heritage Day Festival in the city a success with “a lot of people in attendance.” Short, Titsworth and Bradenton Beach Mayor John Chappie were jailed and held for ransom by the Anna Maria Island Privateers to benefit the Anna Maria Island Historical Society, which held the event. Short also said, “We are in the height of spring break now. Huge increase in visitors both staying on the island and coming for the day. We anticipate big crowds beyond Easter. Just want to remind everyone to bring their patience and enjoy everything the island has to offer.” — Bonner Joy
111 S Bay Blvd | Anna Maria | 941.778.1515 info@thewaterfrontrestaurant.net
A boat slip in the Waterline Marina, 5325 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, was set for a trial run as a landing spot for Manatee County’s Gulf Islands Ferry service the week beginning March 24. Islander Photo: Courtesy Dan Diggins
County to test HB ferry landing
By Ryan Paice Islander Reporter
Manatee County’s Gulf Islands Ferry service might find a landing in the heart of Holmes Beach. City Commissioner Dan Diggins, a member of the county tourist development council, said March 21 that the ferry was set to trial run a landing in the city the week beginning March 24. The service consists of two openair 49-passenger catamarans operated Wednesday-Sunday by Clearwaterbased Gulf Coast Water Taxi between the downtown Bradenton Riverwalk Pier and the Historic Bridge Street Pier
in Bradenton Beach. The county plans to expand with a larger, fully enclosed vessel and additional stops. A potential landing in Holmes Beach is a boat slip owned by island businessman Jake Spooner in the Waterline Marina, 5325 Marina Drive. The ferry service must dock on public property, so a deal must be made between Spooner and the county for his slip to be used as a landing. Spooner also owns property at 5327 Marina Drive, a former bank he is redeveloping into a mini-golf course, retail PLEASE SEE FERRY, PAGE 3