Part 2, July-December
From city hall shakeups to environmental milestones and hurricane recovery, the second half of 2025 reshaped life on Anna Maria Island.
July through December brought recovery and transformation to the island communities, marked by storm rebuilding, shifting leadership, environmental records, legal battles and major investments — all underscoring the ongoing balance between growth, safety and preservation.
July
Man hospitalized after lightning strikes beach cabana: When thunder roars, go indoors. That’s the message West Manatee Fire Rescue wanted people to hear following a lightning strike in Holmes Beach that sent a man to the hospital.
Holmes Beach denies lien reduction for treehouse owners: Holmes Beach commissioners voted to reject a request from Richard and Lynn Tran Hazen, owners of the Angelinos Sea Lodge, 2818 Ave. E., to reduce an $188,621.40 city lien against their property, where a beachfront treehouse once stood.
Church owner rejects Holmes Beach’s purchase proposal: Acquisition of the closed Gloria Dei Lutheran Church was off the table for the city of Holmes Beach. Real estate agent Taylor Rahdert notified the municipality that the property owner, the Florida-Bahamas Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, rejected a $3 million purchase proposal.
State delivers $1.25M for Anna Maria pier: The first dollars dedicated to rebuilding the Anna Maria City Pier walkway were locked in. The city’s $1.25 million appropriation request to fund the walkway rebuild was included in the state’s new $117.4 billion budget that Gov. Ron DeSantis signed.
Bradenton Beach launches emergency alert system: Bradenton Beach was launching an emergency notification system to better inform the public. The city implemented TextMyGov, a one-way text alert system for real-time public notifications.
Man serving murder sentence charged in 2017 LBK killings: A man already serving a 10-year sentence for a North Miami Beach murder was arrested in connection with the 2017 killing of two people at the Zota Beach Resort on Longboat Key.
Holmes Beach man arrested for attempted murder: Holmes Beach police and Manatee County sheriff’s deputies arrested a resident for allegedly attempting the premeditated first-degree murder of his wife, a first-degree felony. He also faced a charge of domestic battery.
And that’s a green record: Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring staked a new sea turtle nest and notched a record. AMITW documented the 13th green turtle nest of the 2025 season. That broke the record set in 2023.
August
Palma Sola Causeway grievances aired: Residents near the Palma Sola Causeway were asking the Bradenton Council for action to address nuisances on the stretch of beach on Manatee Avenue between the mainland and the islands.
2 drownings in a day in Anna Maria waters: Two water-related emergencies in one day in Anna Maria left two men dead, according to the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office and West Manatee Fire Rescue District spokespersons.
Downtown Gulf Islands Ferry dock gets name: Bradenton christened its riverfront dock the Bradenton Riverwalk Pier. The Bradenton City Council approved the name in July, acting on a request from the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Complaint alleges Bradenton Beach fraud, graft: Bradenton Beach officials were put on notice of a potential $100 million class action lawsuit alleging political corruption, graft and fraud in the city’s post-hurricane property damage assessments and treatment of small businesses. Businessman Bob Bolus notified the city of his intent to sue in federal court.
West Manatee Fire Rescue explores property purchase: The West Manatee Fire Rescue District Commission approved a motion to direct staff to prepare a potential $1 million contract for the purchase of property in the city.
School zone cameras detect 70+ speeders in first week: Cameras at the Anna Maria Elementary School speed zone triggered 77 warnings for speeding violations over the first week of the new school year.
Bradenton Beach defends city attorney’s bill, storm response: Commissioners unanimously approved a consent agenda item authorizing $91,050 in payments to city attorney Ricinda Perry for storm-related services rendered in November and December 2024 following Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
Community center finishes fiscal year $79K in the black: The Center of Anna Maria Island’s fiscal year 2024-25 was a rollercoaster of a year. Fortunately for the nonprofit, that coaster had enough high points to land it in the black by the end of the July-June year.
September
Pines Trailer Park lawsuit settled: A lawsuit challenging the closure of one of Bradenton Beach’s oldest neighborhoods was settled and Judge Edward Nicholas of the 12th Circuit Court dismissed the Pines Trailer Park Homeowners Association’s lawsuit against Pines Park Investors LLC.
Cortez Marina neighbors push back on public boat ramp plan: Residents near the former Seafood Shack site in Cortez said they wanted Manatee County to scrap plans for a public boat ramp and instead restore a commercial marina, restaurant and retail businesses.
Holmes Beach, county officials discuss paid beach parking: Holmes Beach Commissioner Dan Diggins resurrected a paid-beach parking concept during a meeting with city and county commissioners. “It’s time we ought to pursue the discussion,” he said.
Body of missing Bean Point swimmer recovered: The body of a 20-year-old man who disappeared while swimming off Bean Point was recovered.
Bradenton Beach CRA to finish undergrounding utilities: The Bradenton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency voted to move forward with undergrounding a final section of utilities in the historic district, a project estimated to cost about $1.3 million.
Mayor vetoes Anna Maria’s no-swim ordinance: Posted signs prohibit swimming at Bean Point in Anna Maria. However, an ordinance to legalize the prohibition was sunk by the mayor’s veto.
Uproar over Anna Maria building official calmed: Responding to complaints from local builders, Mayor Mark Short announced that David Gilson, who previously served as building official beginning in 2020, replaced contractual building official Craig Greene.
Bradenton Beach city attorney resigns: In Bradenton Beach, city attorney Ricinda Perry abruptly resigned, closing out more than two decades of work for the city.
October
Bradenton Beach hires 6-month interim city attorney: Bradenton Beach commissioners voted in favor of Mayor John Chappie’s recommendation to hire Erica Augello and the firm of Trask Daigneault LLP as the city’s interim legal counsel for six months.
Anna Maria nails down contractor for pier rebuild: The Anna Maria City Pier’s rebuilder was chosen. City commissioners selected Gibsonton-based Tampa Bay Marine Inc.’s $4,641,239 bid to rebuild the pier’s walkway, which was destroyed last year by hurricanes Helene and Milton.
Anna Maria Post Office staff ‘happy’ to reopen: The Anna Maria Post Office was back in action. The location was one of many U.S. Postal Service facilities that sustained damages from Helene and Milton.
Cortez shooting case ends on stand-your-ground ruling: A Cortez man was cleared of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after a judge ruled that he acted in lawful self-defense under Florida’s Stand Your Ground law. The case stemmed from a 2024 shooting in the Sunny Shores community of Cortez.
Turtle season ends: Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch ended its season with an exclamation point, announcing, “Major accomplishments!” “This year has been an excellent year for green turtle nests — with a record 16 green turtle nests documented, the previous record was 12 nests,” said AMITW executive director Kristen Mazzarella. “It has also been the second-highest year for loggerhead nests — second only to 2024, which had 685 loggerhead nests.”
November
Soustek out as HB city commissioner: Commissioner Carol Soustek received the fewest votes of four candidates who ran in the Nov. 4 election for three available commission seats. The three winning candidates were newcomer Jessica Patel and incumbents Steven Oelfke and Terry Schaefer.
Anna Maria incumbents automatically returned to dais: Anna Maria residents did not head to the polling place for a municipal election. Commissioners John Lynch, Kathleen Morgan and Charlie Salem qualified to run for reelection without opposition.
3 Bradenton Beach incumbents reelected: Mayor John Chappie and Commissioners Ralph Cole and Debbie Scaccianoce retained their seats after qualifying for reelection without competition.
WMFR marshal named Florida Fire Marshal of the Year: WMFR Fire Marshal Rodney Kwiatkowski was named the Florida Fire Marshals and Inspectors Association’s 2025 Florida Fire Marshal of the Year.
County tourist tax revenues top $32 million in 2024-25: The Manatee County Tax Collector’s Office reported collecting $32,180,502 in tourist development taxes in 2024-25 compared with $30,540,104 in 2023-24 and $30.8 million in 2022-23.
Island Publix sells $6.25M Lotto ticket: Robin Glover of Red Bay, Alabama, purchased a $6.25 million winning Florida Lotto ticket from the Publix Super Market at 3900 E. Bay Drive, Holmes Beach.
December
Former Anna Maria city treasurer’s final months marked by complaints: After the city of Anna Maria terminated city treasurer LeAnne Addy’s employment without cause, The Islander reported on a history of complaints filed against Addy by her former coworkers might provide some insight into the decision.
City designates ferry dock space at Bridge St. pier: Two of the Historic Bridge Street Pier’s floating dock slips were reserved for Manatee County’s Gulf Islands Ferry service.
Rattlesnake Key sells for $18M: A long-running effort to protect one of Tampa Bay’s most ecologically sensitive islands reached a turning point with the sale of Rattlesnake Key. The 724-acre tract of mangrove islands and submerged lands in Tampa Bay is south of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in Manatee County. Rattlesnake Key Preservation Co., the new owner, said the purchase would help “preserve the natural character of this special property for local residents, sportsmen, and outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy for generations.”
