The Anna Maria Island Sun Staff

Owner/CEO

Mike Field

Editor

Cindy Lane

General Manager

Bob Alexander

Reporters/Photographers

Joe Hendricks

Leslie Lake

Jason Schaffer

Kristin Swain

Columnists

Louise Bolger

Rusty Chinnis

Contributors

Steve Borggren

Capt. Rick Grassett

Leslie Lake

Monica Simpson

Tom Vaught

Capt. Kevin Wessel

Capt. David White

Anne Yarbrough

Layout

Ricardo Fonseca

Digital Editor

Kristin Swain

Advertising Director

Shona Otto

Advertising Assistant

Pamela Lee

Classifieds

Bob Alexander

Graphics

Elaine Stroili

Ricardo Fonseca

Distribution

Bob Alexander

Connor Field

Tony McNulty

Brian Smith

Accounting

Leslie Ketchum

Co-founding publishers

Mike Field

Maggie McGinley Field

Family-owned since 2000

Letters To The Editor

Message to state representatives

I strongly oppose your efforts to do away with home rule on Anna Maria Island. The three cities are unique, which adds to the appeal of the Island, and they deserve to rule themselves according to their specific needs.

In addition, your proposal to override local parking restrictions to build a parking garage will do nothing to solve the “parking” problem and will do much to worsen the actual problem, traffic. There is a finite amount of space on the Island, and allowing more cars to park will only worsen the conditions for everyone. Any longterm solution should maintain the character of the Island and involve off-site parking with shuttles. There will never be enough park- ing for every resident of Manatee County, nor should there be.

It is highly suspicious of your true motives that you failed to consult with Island officials before acting on your proposals. How ironic and sad (and infuriating) it would be if your changes eliminated the very things that make the Island appealing.

I have already witnessed the gradual worsening of conditions on the Island in the nine years we have been coming here. The first year we were here, I was struck by the pristine condition of the beach. It felt “holy” to me, like a very special place; I never saw a single piece of trash. With the increase in “day trippers,” I now see trash on the beach constantly. There seems to be a lack of a sense of “ownership” when people are here for

Drop us a line

Got an opinion, a complaint or a compliment? Is there something you need to get off your chest? Send us a letter to the editor and have your say. There are a couple of ways to do it. The easiest and most direct is to email The Sun at news@amisun.com. Remember to put Letter to the Editor in the subject field. Or you can snail-mail a letter to us at The Anna Maria Island Sun, just a few hours. It would benefit the Island to maintain the combination of renters, owners and visitors and not turn the place over to those who seek to make money above all else.

I am a property owner and partyear resident of Holmes Beach. I did not buy property as an investment or to be a landlord. I own property here because of the Island’s unique, old Florida character and combination of residents, part-time residents and vacationers. Your proposals would lay waste to what makes AMI special. I beseech you: Do not submit these as part of a bill in the forthcoming legislative session.

Sincerely,

Debra Pysno Holmes Beach

P.O. Box 1189, Anna Maria, FL 34216. Letters should be kept to 300 words or less and must contain your name and the city in which you reside. Personal attacks and obscene language will not be printed. The Sun reserves the right to edit letters for length or content.

Anna Maria

10005 GULF DRIVE

FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-708-6130

Please visit www.cityofannamaria.com or contact city hall for more information.

Feb. 9, 2 p.m. – City Commission meeting

Feb. 10, 10 a.m. – Historic Preservation Board meeting

Feb. 20, all day – City offices closed, Presidents’ Day holiday

Feb. 21, 9 a.m. – Planning and Zoning Board meeting

Feb. 23, 6 p.m. – City Commission meeting

Bradenton Beach

107 GULF DRIVE N.

FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-778-1005

Please visit www.cityofbradentonbeach.com or contact city hall for more information.

Feb. 8, 11 a.m. – Board of Trustees for the city general and police pension plan and trust

Feb. 15, 10 a.m. – Department Head meeting

Feb. 15, 1 p.m. – Scenic WAVES meeting

Feb. 16, noon – City Commission meeting

HOLMES BEACH

5801 MARINA DRIVE

FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-708-5800

Please visit www.holmesbeachfl.org or contact city hall for more information.

Feb. 8, 9 a.m. – Clean Water Ad-Hoc Committee meeting

Feb. 14, 2 p.m. – City Commission meeting with work session to follow

Feb. 21, 2:30 p.m. – Code Compliance Special Magistrate hearing

Feb. 28, 5 p.m. – City Commission meeting with work session to follow

ISLAND-WIDE

Feb. 21, 6 p.m. – West Manatee Fire Rescue board meeting, administration building, 701 63rd St. W., Bradenton

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 8

Mah-jongg for beginners, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 1 p.m.

AMI Chamber ribbon cutting, howluckyAMI, 5402 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 5 p.m.

Island Time Book Club: “Verity” by Colleen Hoover, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 6:30 p.m.

THURSDAY, FEB. 9

Homeschool Creature Feature: Mangrove Crab, Neal Preserve, 12301 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton, 10 a.m.

Sunshine Stitchers knit and crochet, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 2 p.m.

Friends of the Island Library

Lecture and Travel Series: Florida Maritime Museum, Roser Church fellowship hall, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, 2 p.m. Thursdays in Paradise Stroll featuring local art, music and food, Bridge Street, Bradenton Beach, 5-8 p.m.

FRIDAY, FEB. 10

Forty Carrots, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m.

Valentine’s Day oyster shell decoupage, Florida Maritime Museum, 4415 119th St. W., Cortez, 10 a.m.

Mah-jongg Club for experienced players, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 11:30 a.m.

Photography challenge gallery presentation, Valentine House, Robinson Preserve, 1704 99th St. N.W., Bradenton, 5:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, FEB. 11

Robinson Runners, Robinson Preserve, 1704 99th St. N.W., Bradenton, 7 a.m.

Mornings at the NEST, Robinson Preserve Mosaic Nest, 840 Ninth Ave. N.W., Bradenton, 9 a.m. to noon

Origami Club, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m.

Anna Maria Island February Arts and Craft Show, city field, 5901 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Navigation – part 2, Florida Maritime Museum, 4415 119th St. W., Cortez, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Music on the Porch, Florida Maritime Museum, 4415 119th St. W., Cortez, 2-4 p.m.

SUNDAY, FEB. 12

Anna Maria Island February Arts and Craft Show, city field, 5901 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

MONDAY, FEB. 13

Sunset Tai Chi, Robinson Preserve Mosaic Nest, 840 Ninth Ave. N.W., Bradenton, 5:30 p.m., $10

TUESDAY, FEB. 14

Valentine’s Day Farmer’s Market, City Pier Park, 103 N. Bay Blvd., Anna Maria, 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m.

Painting with a fish, Florida Maritime Museum Folk School, 4415 119th St. W., Cortez, 10 a.m., $35

Rotary Club of Anna Maria

Island meeting, Slicker’s Eatery, 12012 Cortez Road W., Bradenton, 11:30 a.m.

Duplicate bridge, Episcopal Church of the Annunciation, 4408 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, noon

Movies in the Park, “The Cutting Edge,” City Pier Park, 103 N. Bay Blvd. Anna Maria, 6:30 p.m.

THURSDAY, FEB. 16

Island Morning Book Club, “For Whom the Bell Tolls” by Ernest Hemingway, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10:15 a.m.

Sunshine Stitchers Knit and Crochet, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 2 p.m.

Friends of the Island Library Lecture and Travel Series: A Day in the Life of a Sea Turtle Volunteer, Roser Church fellowship hall, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, 2 p.m. Family movie night, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 5:45 p.m.

FRIDAY, FEB. 17

Forty Carrots, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m.

Mah-jongg for experienced players, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 11:30 a.m.

SATURDAY, FEB. 18

Robinson Runners, Robinson Preserve, 1704 99th St. N.W., Bradenton, 7 a.m.

Mornings at the NEST, Robinson Preserve Mosaic Nest, 840 Ninth Ave. N.W., Bradenton, 9 a.m. to noon

Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival, FISH Preserve, 46th Avenue, Cortez, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., $5 for adults, children under 12 free

Meditation, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 11 a.m.

Teen art club, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 1 p.m.

SUNDAY, FEB. 19

Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival, FISH Preserve, 46th Avenue, Cortez, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., $5 for adults, children under 12 free

TUESDAY, FEB. 21

Farmer’s Market, City Pier Park, 103 N. Bay Blvd., Anna Maria, 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m.

Family story time, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m.

Duplicate bridge, Episcopal Church of the Annunciation, 4408 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, noon

Rotary Club of Anna Maria Island meeting, Slicker’s Eatery, 12012 Cortez Road W., Bradenton, 11:30 a.m.

Mah-jongg for experienced players, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 11:30 a.m.

One-on-one tech help, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 2-4 p.m. Movies in the Park, “Encanto,” City Pier Park, 103 N. Bay Blvd. Anna Maria, 6:30 p.m.