Anna Maria Island Sun June 23, 2021

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VOL 21 No. 37

- Named Best Florida Newspaper In Its Class -

Center campers celebrate Flag Day

June 23, 2021

County supports Bradenton Beach dock expansion project The finger docks will provide additional free dockage near the Bridge Street Pier. BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

KRISTIN SWAIN | SUN

Members of the Honor Guard Post 10141 Bradenton demonstrate how to correctly raise and lower the American flag.

BRADENTON BEACH – The Manatee County Commission is providing up to $850,000 in matching funds for Bradenton Beach’s dock expansion project. The county commission approved the city’s funding request on Tuesday, June 8. The county funds will be provided using county tourist tax revenues generated by the 5% tourist tax levied on hotel, motel and vacation rental stays in Manatee County. The Bradenton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) will pay the city’s share of the dock expansion project costs. In anticipation of the county’s support, the CRA members recently selected Duncan Seawall, Dock and Boat Lift to install the finger docks to be purchased from Golden Marine Systems. SEE PROJECT, PAGE 28

Increased tourism having some effect on crime BY JASON SCHAFFER SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com

KRISTIN SWAIN | SUN

Campers at The Center of Anna Maria Island learn how to properly fold an American flag from Honor Guard Post 10141 Bradenton members Diana Miller and Jerry Gallagher. Right, Gallagher, captain of the Honor Guard Post 10141 Bradenton answers questions about the history of the American flag from young campers at The Center. BY KRISTIN SWAIN SUN STAFF WRITER | kswain@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA – Campers at The Center of Anna Maria Island received a special treat as they were joined by members of the Honor Guard from VFW 10141 in Bradenton for a very special Flag Day celebration. Honor Guard Captain Jerry Gallagher, along with members

INSIDE NEWS CALENDAR FOOD & WINE OUTDOORS LOUISE BOLGER BEACH BEAT CLASSIFIEDS

4 7 19 20 22 25 30-31

Diana Miller and Garth Reynolds, came out to The Center on June 14 to teach more than 50 campers about the history of the American flag, its adoption by the Continental Congress on June 14, 1777, and how to properly treat the flag, including how to fold it for a fallen soldier’s family. After a talk inside The Center’s gymnasium, Gallagher took questions from curious campers and

SEE TOURISM, PAGE 26

CELL tower chunk bombs Bradenton

FAMILY IS all

we need. In Food & Wine. 19

Anna Maria Island, Florida

the kids were quizzed by Anna Maria resident Gabe Fenton, who sponsored the event with his wife Jamie. After the talk inside it was time for everyone to move outside for a lesson on how to properly raise and lower the flag followed by a Flag Day ceremony featuring the Pledge of Allegiance and a ceremonial bugle rendition of “To The Colors.”

ANNA MARIA ISLAND - While tourism continues to increase due to the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions, crime is up and down in AMI's three cities, police officers say. “We haven’t seen much of an increase in crime as a result of relaxed COVID restrictions, with the exception of some thefts - people stealing lawn chairs off porches, stuff like that," said Randy Warren, public information officer for the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office. While Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach have their own police departments, the city of Anna Maria is policed by Manatee County. "Even though the city of Anna Maria is currently at full occupancy, fortunately, our violent crime numbers have been down,” he said. "Deputies go where the people are. If it’s a good weather day and the beaches are busy, we’ll be out there patrolling. On other days, visitors flock to Pine Avenue and our deputies will concentrate on those shopping areas, providing a good presence while answering a lot of questions.

Beach marina. 5 CENTER concerts entertain any way

you want it. 16

The Island’s award-winning weekly newspaper www.amisun.com


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Anna Maria Island Sun June 23, 2021 by Anna Maria Island Sun - Issuu