VOLUME 32, NO. 7
’Tis the Season
DEC. 6, 2023 FREE
The Best News on Anna Maria Island Since 1992 Astheworldterns 6 HB magistrate sets fines. 2
islander.org
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas on AMI
Mainland to AMI ferry set to launch. 3
Q&A 120623 3 5 apply for 2 AM commission seats. 4 Islander managing library branch. 5
Meetings 5 Opinions 6
10-20 YEARS AGO
Looking back. 7
Nesting numbers. 8 BB mulls turtle lighting. 8 Resort hearing set. 9
Save the date. 10-11
Happenings Jingle-jangle. 11 To market in AM. 12 13
Gathering. 14 Obituaries 15 Where’s Tuna Street?
16-17
Festive AMI. 18-20
GoodDeeds 19 Streetlife 22 Scenic highway groups share achievements. 22 Get in the Game. 23 Sporting news. 24 Winter fishing. 25 ’23 hurricane wrap. 26
NYT puzzle. 26 Butt why? 27
CLASSIFIEDS. 28-29
Isl Biz: 30 MarketWatch 30
Clockwise from top left: Anna Maria Elementary pre-K student Keegan Reuter, 4, greets the Grinch at Lester Family Fun Day at the Center of Anna Maria Island. Holiday celebrants look across Gulf Drive Dec. 2 as the lights of a Christmas tree at Hancock Whitney Bank come alive at the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce’s Tree Lighting & Holmes Beach Holiday Open House. Justin and Ashley Labadie, left, flash smiles Dec. 2 on a ride with Abigail, 4, Emily, 6, and parents Allison and Evan Marchesini aboard Wild Honey in the boat parade. The Dickens Carolers sing Christmas carols Dec. 2 at the Christmas on Bridge Street celebration. The flagship of the boat parade, The AMI Princess paddlewheeler, cruises past the Historic Bridge Street Pier Dec. 2 during the 5th annual Bradenton Beach lighted boat parade. Islander Photos: Ryan Paice and Robert Anderson