- Named Best Florida Newspaper In Its Class -
VOL 22 No. 44
August 10, 2022
Manatee County anticipates water taxi service in 2023
Manatee County’s proposed water taxi initiative calls for initial service on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
BRADENTON BEACH – Manatee County hopes to have a water taxi service running to and from Anna Maria Island three days a week beginning in February. Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Director Elliott Falcione sent Bradenton Beach Mayor John Chappie an email update on Aug. 2 on the county’s efforts to secure a water taxi provider. Falcione’s email noted it was sent instead of an in-person update from Manatee County Public Works Director Chad Butzow and Falcione during the Bradenton Beach City Commission’s Aug. 4 meeting. JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
SEE WATER TAXI, PAGE 28
The Anna Maria City Pier has been discussed as a potential water taxi landing area.
Manatee County takes over Coquina Beach Market After 10 years, Manatee County officials have decided to take over the Coquina Beach Market from its director. BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | LESLIELAKE@AOL.COM
BRADENTON BEACH – Manatee County officials have announced that the county tourism agency is taking over the Coquina Beach Market from longtime director Nancy Ambrose. Manatee County Information Director Bill Logan sent an email to commissioners on Aug. 1 announcing the takeover, issuing a press release on Aug. 2 that the market would be “taking a break” until November.
“Artisans and other vendors will be back along the Coquina Beach South promenade, once again, when the 2022-23 season opens in November as Ambrose oversight for the market shifts to Manatee County,” according to the press release. “This is a county asset,” Manatee County Administrator Scott Hopes said in the release. “Bringing the market under the guidance and coordination of our Convention and Visitors Bureau will ensure it continues to engage some of our area’s premier artisans while allowing visitors outstanding buying opportunities.” SEE MARKET, PAGE 28
fried with cheese as a unique side dish. 17 TRY RISOTTO
Page 23 Anna Maria Island, Florida
No-swim advisories lifted at Manatee beaches It's safe to return to the water. The no-swim advisories have been lifted at four Manatee County beaches. BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | leslielake@aol.com
MANATEE COUNTY – It’s safe to go back in the water. The no-swim advisories that have been in place since July 26 were lifted on Aug. 3 for north Bayfront Park, north Manatee Beach, north Coquina Beach and the south side of the Palma Sola Causeway. Lifting the advisories means that bacteria counts have dropped to acceptable levels and that the public can once again safely enter these waters.
As a participant in the Healthy Beaches Program, the Florida Department of Health - Manatee collects water samples at select beaches each week. The samples are then sent to labs to determine whether or not levels of enteric (fecal) bacteria – which can cause disease, infections or rashes – are acceptable based on EPA standards. If levels are unacceptable, a no-swim advisory is issued; the advisory is lifted once the levels read as acceptable. The cause of the bacteria was rain and runoff that washed animal feces into the water, according to Department of Health Communications Director Christopher Tittel. Recent SEE NO-SWIM, PAGE 25
TANDEM PARKING at
Coquina Beach to be stopped. 4 MANATEE CALF rescued;
released in Palma Sola Bay. 5 The Island’s award-winning weekly newspaper www.amisun.com
