HOLMES BEACH - Inspired by the collective success of its Anna Maria Island neighbors to the north and its Bradenton Beach neighbors to the south, merchants in Holmes Beach are bonding together to create their own association.

Led by salon owner Amy Welch, the fledgling group held its first meeting Monday and plans to focus on two key goals for Holmes Beach’s tiny downtown: making it prettier, and making it more friendly for pedestrians.

“I realized we are missing the boat here,” says Welch, owner of Acqua Aveda Spa and Salon. “Here we have this beautiful downtown area that’s just filled with people and merchants not communiating with each other. It’s time to come together as a group, do some greening, some refurbishing and some unifying.”

Read more in Thursday's Bradenton Herald.