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VOL 26 No. 15
January 7, 2026
The Shamrock Shiver has raised a halfmillion dollars for local charities since 2009. BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com
Taking the plunge at Shamrock Shiver LESLIE LAKE | SUN
Participants in Clancy’s Shamrock Shiver charity event run into the chilly Gulf on New Year’s Day.
BRADENTON BEACH – The spirit of altruism won out over the cold Gulf waters as dozens of participants took the plunge in the annual Clancy’s Irish Pub’s Shamrock Shiver charity event on New Years Day. The participants, many in costumes, gathered donation pledges to jump into the 67-degree water at Coquina Beach to raise funds for local charities. Since 2009, Clancy’s annual charity plunge has raised $470,567 for local non-profit organizations. In recent years, the event has raised more than $30,000 each year. “We at Clancy’s are committed to keeping the ‘Give Where You Live’ spirit alive by supporting local causes, empowering our community and making a lasting impact right where we call home,” the Clancy’s website stated. The proceeds from this year’s event will benefit Healthy Teens Inc., The Blessing Bags Project and Hungers End – three non-profit organizations that help disadvantaged children in Manatee and Sarasota Counties.
SEE SHAMROCK SHIVER, PAGE 9
Mullet fishermen reporting a good season Local mullet fisherman are enjoying the 2025-26 mullet season.
Clean Water Committee ready for 2026 The University of Florida PFAS researchers seek additional fish samples from local anglers and fishing captains.
BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com
BY JOE HENDRICKS
CORTEZ – Fish house employees and fishermen are calling this mullet season one of the best in recent memory as Cortez fish houses are filling up with mullet brought in by private fishermen. Two of those fishermen, Seth Miller and Wyatt Walker, were pulling in mullet for two straight days to sell at one of the two the Cortez fish houses: Cortez Bait & Seafood and A.P. Bell Fish Co. “We didn’t sleep for the last two days,” Miller said on Dec. 31. “It’s been pretty good this year. We’ve been catching fish in the bay and offshore. We caught some up north last night.”
SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
LESLIE LAKE | SUN
Fishermen Wyatt Walker and Seth Miller sell their haul of mullet to Cortez Bait & Seafood. Miller said it seemed like the season got off to a late start and could go until February. Private fishermen such as Miller and Walker can be seen in local waters pulling up nets full of mullet. Once their boats are loaded, they’re driven
SEE MULLET, PAGE 19
HOLMES BEACH – The Holmes Beach-based Clean Water Ad Hoc Committee heads into 2026 riding a wave of positive momentum created in 2025. Working in unison with the city-funded Islanders 4 Clean Water initiative, the city-funded volunteer committee is chaired by Holmes Beach resident and retired chemist, Dr. Jennifer Miller. The committee includes Holmes Beach residents Marty Hicks, Mike Pritchett and Bill Romberger, Anna Maria residents
ANNIE SILVER Community Center is still going strong. 4 Page 20 Anna Maria Island, Florida
The Island’s award-winning weekly newspaper
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
University of Florida researchers Isabella Cioffi, Tommy Sinkway and Dr. John Bowden addressed the Clean Water Committee in September. John Kolojeski and Scott MacGregor and Longboat Key Public Works Director Charlie Mopps. City Commissioner Terry Schaefer serves as the commission’s committee liaison. He attends the committee’s
SEE CLEAN WATER, PAGE 8
COMPASS HOTEL assists
shelter pets. 10
LIBRARY LECTURE series starts
this week. 12
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