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VOL 21 No. 22
March 10, 2021
Here’s where to get vaccines in Manatee County While appointments for COVID-19 vaccines might still be the hottest tickets in the county, they are now a bit easier to get. BY KRISTIN SWAIN SUN STAFF WRITER | kswain@amisun.com
MANATEE COUNTY – After weeks of waiting, seniors and others qualified to receive a COVID-19 vaccine are finally about to see some relief as more shots make their way to the county. The county-run vaccination site at Tom Bennett Park, 280 Kay Road, Bradenton, has 5,100 first doses for seniors this week, according to Manatee County Public Safety Director Jacob Saur. With 4,500 more doses arriving at a new state-run vaccination site at the county’s Public Safety Center, a total of 9,600 first-dose vaccine appointments for seniors are scheduled. With both vaccination sites running, Saur says he hopes to reduce the county’s vaccine standby pool from 90,000 to near zero by the end of March. JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
The City Pier marine educational outreach center would be located inside this vacant pier building.
SEE VACCINE, PAGE 27
Mote Marine, City Pier discussions continue
Foul play not suspected in drowning The body of a woman was found on the beach but investigators don’t suspect foul play.
The discussions continue regarding a proposed Mote Marine educational outreach center on the City Pier.
BY KRISTIN SWAIN SUN STAFF WRITER | kswain@amisun.com
BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
ANNA MARIA – The city’s pursuit of a proposed Mote Marine educational outreach center on the City Pier remains on track. Mayor Dan Murphy met with Mote Marine President and CEO Dr. Michael Crosby and additional Mote staff members on Wednesday, March 3. Topics discussed during that preliminary fact-finding meeting included financial and operational responsibilities and the potential lease terms for Mote Marine’s proposed use of the vacant, city-owned pier building next to the City Pier Grill & Bait Shop. “We are on track,” Murphy said. “We met and exchanged our thoughts. I’m going to draft up a contract/lease next week and then have another fact-finding meeting as soon I can. I hope to have a
INSIDE NEWS LETTERS OUTDOORS RESTAURANTS CASTLES IN THE SAND REAL ESTATE SPORTS CLASSIFIEDS
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MOTE MARINE | SUBMITTED
This rendering illustrates what the proposed City Pier marine educational outreach center would look like. detailed offer to present to the city commission by month’s end, maybe sooner.” On Feb. 25, Murphy told the city commission he spoke to Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Director Elliott Falcione and submitted a SEE MOTE, PAGE 23
HOLMES BEACH – Police do not suspect foul play in the drowning death of a woman in Holmes Beach. Officers were called to the beach near the 35th Street beach access early on March 3 to investigate reports of a dead body. Two joggers found the woman’s body floating in the water just offshore around 6:32 a.m. and pulled her to shore, according to police reports. The deceased was later identified by Holmes Beach police officers as Tiffany Anne Williams, a 39-year-old from Bradenton. Williams was pronounced dead at the scene and officers said there were no signs of foul play. Once the news of Williams’s death broke online, friends and family took to social media to express their sadness and disbelief at the woman’s passing. SEE DROWNING, PAGE 25
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