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NEWS
4THE SUN ISLAND NEWS
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IN BRIEF
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN The parking spaces at the west end of 23rd Street North are open to the public and cannot be reserved for resort guests only.
Guest-only parking signs removed
The Seabreeze at Anna Maria Inn resort located at the west end of 23rd Street North, a beach access point in Bradenton Beach, has removed the signs that said: “Anna Maria Island Inn. Guest Parking Only. All Others May Be Towed at Owner’s Expense.” During the June 16 Bradenton Beach City Commission meeting, Police Chief John Cosby said the resort had no right to claim those parking spaces for resort guests only. Cosby, Public Works Director Tom Woodard and Building Official Steve Gilbert were then tasked with developing a plan to create a designated public parking area at that cityowned street-end, with a portion of the area to be roped off and reserved at all times for first responders and law enforcement officers. Once developed, the parking plan will be brought back to the commission for further discussion and approval.
AME parking available July Fourth weekend
Overflow beach parking will be available at Anna Maria Elementary School, 4700 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach from July 2-4 for the busy Fourth of July holiday weekend. Hours are dawn to dusk, and all parking rules will be enforced. Parking will fill up quickly, so city officials recommend arriving early to get a legal parking space.
Campaign sends aid to Ukraine
The Campaign for Ukraine’s first phase of fundraising was successful thanks to the support of the community, local businesses and the Rotary Club of Anna Maria Island. The campaign was the idea of Slicker’s Eatery owner Bob Slicker, who teamed up with the Rotary Club to raise and distribute funds to the people of Ukraine. The funds will aid in medical assistance, food, refugee centers and constantly changing needs. According to Jim McDaniel, president-elect of the Rotary Club of Anna Maria Island, the Concert for Peace held June 12 at The Center of Anna Maria Island brought the total amount raised to $52,000.
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
Portions of this popular boat landing area east of the Longboat Pass Bridge will soon be off limits to boaters.
Portions of Greer Island closing to boaters
BY JOE HENDRICKS
SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
LONGBOAT KEY – Boaters will soon be prohibited from pulling ashore at two locations on Greer Island, also known as Beer Can Island, along the east side of the Longboat Pass Bridge.
The new restrictions are expected to be in place for the Fourth of July weekend.
The Longboat Key Town Commission adopted permanent restrictions on June 20 prohibiting the operation, anchoring and beaching of motorized vessels in two areas at the southeastern portion of Greer Island. Both soonto-be-restricted areas are located at or near the popular landing area just east of the Longboat Pass Bridge, across the bay from Jewfish Key.
The town distributed a press release on June 22 regarding the pending prohibition, including a map that highlights in red the prohibited landing areas.
“Buoys marking the motorized vessels restricted areas will be installed prior to the 4th of July weekend. Boaters are advised to be aware of these areas, and that violations will carry a $250 penalty for a first offense and $500 for any subsequent offenses,” according to the press release. “The purpose is to protect public bathers that bathe, wade, lounge and congregate in and on the shallow waters of this portion of Greer Island from dangers caused by increased vessel operations along the beach. These areas will be limited to beachgoers, waders, kayakers, paddleboarders and other non-motorized vessels.”
When contacted by The Sun, Longboat Key Planning, Zoning and Building Department Director Allen Parsons said the map contained in the press release is helpful for understanding exactly where the new restrictions will apply.
“The two areas in red, that’s where motorized vessels cannot pull up onto the sand. Our goal is to have the buoys put out by the Fourth of July weekend. There is an area on the east side of the bridge where motorized boats can pull onto the sand,” Parsons said, noting the boat landing prohibitions will be permanent.
Parsons said the motorized boat landing prohibitions will not apply to the long stretch of beach that runs along the length of Longboat Pass on the west side of the bridge, between the bridge and the Gulf of Mexico.
TOWN OF LONGBOAT KEY | SUBMITTED Above, portions of the beach east (right) of the Longboat Pass Bridge are being closed to motorized vessels. Right, pulling a motorized vessel ashore in the areas highlighted in red will soon be prohibited and violators could be fined.
Water ban reversed for July Fourth parade
In a policy reversal, water guns are again allowed in the Anna Maria Island Privateers' July Fourth parade, but high powered hoses and spray nozzles are not.
BY JASON SCHAFFER
SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com
ANNA MARIA ISLAND - After issuing a statement earlier this month about prohibiting the use of water during their annual July Fourth parade, The Anna Maria Island Privateers have reached a truce with Island officials.
“The use of water and any device that propels water is restricted and prohibited for parade participants and spectators during the Privateer July Fourth Parade,” Privateer President Kim “Syren” Boyd wrote in a June 8 statement that is now repealed.
The reversal was due to complaints from some parade participants, according to Boyd, who said the Privateers feel that water is an important element of fun associated with the parade. In addition to water sprayed from floats at parade attendees, people along the parade route also bring water guns to shoot at floats on what is most often a hot July morning.
Boyd issued a revised statement on June 24 saying that Island mayors consent to the use of water guns, but no water balloons, high powered hoses or spray nozzles will be allowed.
The parade forms at Coquina Beach South on Monday, July 4 at 10 a.m., running the length of the Island to Pine Avenue in Anna Maria. It’s first come, first served for participants, and no spaces can be held between floats during lineup, so all participants are encouraged to arrive early and dress for the heat. There is no charge to participate, but the Privateers are a 501(c) (3) organization and appreciate donations. A portion of all donations will go to the Roser Church food pantry.
For more information on participating, email kb8746@ gmail.com or visit www. amiprivateers.org.
JASON SCHAFFER | SUN Privateers aboard The Skullywag have a water battle with spectators during the 2021 Privateers’ July Fourth parade.
