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VOL 19 No. 16
January 30, 2019
Ed Chiles receives Citizen of the Year award
Ed Chiles has been recognized for his lifelong contributions to the city of Anna Maria. BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
Anna Maria City Pier construction underway
ANNA MARIA – Ed Chiles is the city’s 2018 Citizen of the Year. Chiles owns the Sandbar restaurant, The Studio at Gulf and Pine and is a partner in the Pine Avenue Restoration Project that provides space for several Anna Maria businesses. His Chiles Group also owns the BeachHouse restaurant in Bradenton Beach and the Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant & Pub in Longboat Key. City Commission Chair Brian Seymour presented Chiles the award during the Thursday, Jan. 24, commission meeting. Chiles was accompanied by his wife, Tina, his daughter, Ashley, and several well-wishers. Before the presentation, Chiles shared his thoughts on the award. “It’s an honor to join the group of people that have received this award and have made contributions to the city of Anna Maria. The city has given me and my family more than I could have ever given the city,” he said. When presenting the award, Seymour thanked selection committee members Pat Copeland, Margaret Jenkins and Mary Seine for their efforts. He also recognized Barbara Murphy, Cindy Richmond and John Chambers as this year’s other nominees. Seymour said Chiles received several nominations, SEE CHILES, PAGE 35
The first pier pilings are expected to be driven this week. BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
ANNA MARIA – The time has come to build the new city pier. Last week, a barge crane arrived in the Tampa Bay waters offshore from the old pier site. The crane’s arrival was preceded by the arrival of the mobile construction office and the establishment of the on-shore staging area. According to Anna Maria City Commission Chair Brian Seymour, the crew from i+iconSoutheast is expected to begin driving the concrete pier pilings into the bay bottom on Tuesday, Jan. 29, or soon thereafter. The city has scheduled a media boat tour of the work in progress on Wednesday, Jan. 30. In late November, city commissioners authorized Mayor Dan Murphy to execute the $3.33 million contract with Tampa-based Infrastructure & Industrial Contractors Southeast Inc., also known as i+iconSoutheast.
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
This barge crane was in place and surveying work was underway for the new Anna Maria City Pier last Thursday afternoon. The contract pertains to the construction of the pier structure, decking and walkway. The contract does not include the restaurant, bait shop and restroom spaces to be built at SEE PIER, PAGE 35
INSIDE
SATO, DUNCAN,
NEWS 4 OPINION 6 OUTDOORS 22-23 RESTAURANTS 24-25 REAL ESTATE 26-31 COPS, OBITS 32 ENTERTAINMENT 33 SPORTS 34
top Realtors in the county. 3
Anna Maria Island, Florida
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
The Citizen of the Year award bestowed upon Ed Chiles includes a key to the city.
CORTEZ FESTIVAL contest winners announced. 13 SONGWRITER Janis Ian to play at
Island Library. 17 The Island’s award-winning weekly newspaper www.amisun.com