RESTAURANTS

Roger reaches for the fantastic

KRISTIN SWAIN | SUN

Anna Maria Island’s favorite mannequin, Roger, strikes a pose on his balcony overlooking Gulf Drive as Captain Hook with his girlfriend, Gretchen, as Wendy and their mannequin toddler as Peter Pan flying high above the ground.

Gone fishing

CINDY LANE | SUN

An egret takes a break from fishing on the Anna Maria City Pier.

WMFR commissioners set 2022 schedule

With the end of the calendar year approaching, West Manatee Fire Rescue District commissioners are turning their eyes to the coming new year.

During a Nov. 16 meeting, the district’s commissioners voted to elect Commissioner Larry Jennis as chair, Commissioner Robert Bennett as vicechair and Commissioner Al Robinson as secretary/treasurer for the coming 2022 calendar year.

While Commissioner George Harris was absent from the meeting, Commissioner Robinson was on Zoom and able to participate in the meeting but not vote.

The commissioners present during the meeting, David Bishop, Jennis and Bennett, all voted to cancel the board’s December 2021 meeting and maintain the same meeting schedule through 2022.

Board meetings in 2022 are scheduled to take place on the third Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. at WMFR’s administration offices, 701 63rd St. W. in Bradenton. The exception to that schedule is planned to be the September meeting which will be the district’s final budget hearing for the 2022-23 fiscal year and held on the 13th to allow commissioners to certify the tax roll.

For more information, visit www.wmfr.org.

Pension board member reappointed

West Manatee Fire Rescue commissioners voted unanimously to reappoint a member to the firefighters’ pension board during a Nov. 16 meeting. Burdette “Bud” Parent will keep the seat he’s held on the pension board, the one appointed by the district’s commissioners, since 2018. The pension board is made up of five members, two appointed by the district, two appointed by the pension members and one who serves as an at-large member. Each member serves a two-year term.

Santa’s mailbox is open

Located in the pavilion area at the entrance to the Anna Maria City Pier, Santa’s mailbox is now accepting letters to Santa. The city of Anna Maria is assisting Santa in these letter gathering efforts that in past years took place outside of city hall.

CITY OF ANNA MARIA | SUBMITTED