The Islander Newspaper E-Edition: Wednesday, Feb. 09, 2022

Page 1

MI A e W ❤

MI A e W ❤

VOLUME 30, NO. 16

FEB. 9, 2022 FrEE

the best news on anna maria island Since 1992 astheworldterns. 6

Q&A 020922.

3

islander.org

‘Our Dream’ goes out in flames

trolley ridership below pre-pandemic levels. 3

Meetings. 4

by ryan Paice islander reporter

‘new’ hires roundout staffing at Hb city hall. 4 december tourist tax tops prior years. 5

Opinions. 6

10-20 YEARS AGO

Looking back. 7

Cops & Courts. 8 Streetlife. 9 West manatee Fire rescue capt. tyler macdonald helps to knock down a blaze on a boat overnight Feb. 3 at the Parrot cove marina, 11510 36th ave. W., cortez. no injuHappenings ries were reported, Fire marshal rodney Kwiatkowski told the islander, adding a space community events. 10-13 heater caused the $35,000-$40,000 in damages to the 36-foot carver. check page 3 for the aftermath. islander Photo: courtesy WmFr Gathering. 14 Save a date. 10-13

Obituaries. 14 GoodDeeds. 15 coVid-19 help. 15

School days, school dates. 16

county bolsters museum project in cortez. 17 Hb parks committee seeks garden grant. 18

birders unite for the count. 19 game time on the gridiron. 20 anglers score on sheepshead. 21

Isl Biz: 22-23 CLASSIFIEDS. 24-25

PropertyWatch. 26

NYT puzzle. 27

Water taxi makes splash at gov’t meeting

Sweet on Anna Maria Island by Lisa neff islander editor

People leave their hearts in San Francisco. And Chicago can be a sweet home. But just about anyone who visits Anna Maria Island can’t help falling in love — with the place. Some vacationers romanced by AMI rush in to relocate whether from up north, over the border or across the pond. Others plan and prepare, arriving for their golden years. Ahead of Valentine’s Day, The Islander invited its social media fans to share why they’re “sweet” on AMI. And the island’s lovers responded. “I come from a family that goes back four generations on the island,” wrote Robert Anderson. He lives in Bradenton and grew up on the island. “I’ve seen a lot of change, the islander invited readers on social media to share for Valentine’s day what they love about ami. We pinned the invitation and welcome additional responses via Facebook — @islandernewspaper— and instagram — @theislanderami. not on social media? email news@islander.org.

not all of it good. But to me I feel deeply connected to the island and even though it’s overcrowded and a lot of people don’t take the time — or even know how yet — to see it, I feel like you can still find those places where the island kind of shows off its soul a little when you’re looking. It’s a place of history, full of life and incomparable beauty.” Petra van der Eerden added, “The beach, the sunrise, the sunset, the seafood, the dolphins. Need I go on?” She lives in Rotterdam in the Netherlands. “One, it’s beautiful. Two, it’s fun and exciting. Three, there’s much to do and you won’t get bored,” vowed Cynthia Steuart. Stephanie Katz of Holmes Beach wrote, “The parrots! And the library.” Lonna Hanley of Watkinsville, Georgia, mentioned a special place, the White Sands Beach Resort in Holmes Beach. “Parents

Another public transit service linking Anna Maria Island to the mainland soon may make waves — literally. Elliott Falcione, director of the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, told local officials at their Feb. 1 Manatee County Council of Governments meeting that a pilot program for a water taxi could launch by the end of May. “This is an exciting time,” Falcione said. “We really want a service launch really no later than Memorial Day weekend. …It’s time to move this forward.” Manatee County transit manager Bill Steele said the water taxi could become an important resource as major bridge and roadway projects, such as replacements for the Cortez Road and Manatee Avenue bridges, exacerbate traffic congestion to and from the island over the next decade. Steele said the county must determine stops for the water taxi, but recommended the service begin by linking downtown Bradenton and at least two island cities. The county conducted a study that found 60% of visitors who stay in downtown Bradenton also visit the island’s beaches, and providing alternative transportation could ease some congestion caused by those visitors, according to Falcione. To launch the pilot program, the county must issue an invitation to negotiate with interested private vendors and formalize partnerships with interested cities so taxi turn to taxi, Page 2

You can be the winner!

turn to LoVE aMi, Page 5

Super bowl LVi / nbc

Here’s your chance to win $100 check out the islander’s final football contest of the 2021-22 nFL season on pages 12-13 for your chance to guess the score of the Super bowl matchup Feb. 13 between the cincinnati bengals and L.a. rams and win $100 from the islander and its season-winning sponsors.


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