AMI Historical Society celebrates Heritage Day

The annual Heritage Day celebration attracts many visitors while also raising funds for the AMI Historical Society.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA –The Anna Maria Island Historical Society hosted the annual Heritage Day celebration on March 14 at the Anna Maria Island Historical Museum campus, which includes the museum, the Belle Haven Cottage and “The Old City Jail.”

During the event, historical society member Liz Hager said, “Since we’re the museum and the Anna Maria Island Historical Society, we want people to remember how things were done in the past. We also have great food and music, crafters, vendors and raffles.”

Hager said Heritage Day helps make more people aware of the museum and the historical society while also serving as a fundraiser.

“It’s amazing how many people walk down this street and don’t realize there’s a museum here. We’ve had lots of visitors in the museum today,” she said.

Hager said attendance so far that day appeared to be higher than in years past.

The Anna Maria Island

Privateers invaded Anna Maria City Hall, captured Mayor Dan Murphy, transported him to “The Old City Jail” and held him hostage until enough bounty was donated to secure his release.

“Today we’ve captured the mayor of Anna Maria. We’re going to pass the hat and if we get enough money, we’ll release him,” Privateer Ron “Candyman” Fisher told the crowd.

The Privateers’ capture of the mayor raised nearly $1,400 in donations for the historical society. The donations included $1,000 from Sato Real Estate owner Barbara Sato, $100 from Duncan Real Estate owner Darcie Duncan, $100 from Island Real Estate owner Larry Chatt, $100 from Grooms Mo - tors & Automotive owner Barry Grooms and $50 from Sandbar restaurant owner Ed Chiles. After he was released, Mayor Murphy said, “I think this is a wonderful event and the turnout shows there’s a great deal of pride and interest. I’m so pleased with the donations we were able to get today.”

Anna Maria City Commissioner Deanie Sebring, Becky Lietzau from the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce and Historical Society member Barbara Murphy sold strawberry shortcake for $5 per serving. The fresh strawberries came from Plant City and the shortcake came from Anna Mariabased Hometown Desserts. The shortcake sale proceeds benefited the historical society. Inside the historic Belle

Haven Cottage, museum docent David Haddox shared his knowledge of the historic cottage and the historical items contained within it.

Several crafters, vendors and local businesses displayed their goods and wares on the museum grounds, including two crafters, Lynn Overton and Donna Stansbury, who demonstrated slightly different methods to make yarn using two different types of old-fashioned, pedal-powered spinning wheels.

Gift baskets and other items donated by local merchants and also by Heritage Day vendors provided the prizes for the fundraising raffle drawings and the silent auction.

Led by Howie Banfield, the Anna Maria String Band provided live musical entertainment and Anna Maria-based Poppo’s Taqueria served as the event’s food vendor.

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A work crew began installing a new roof on the Bradenton Beach Police Department building on March 16. The old roof was damaged by Hurricane Ian in October.