AMI Bridge future focus of meeting

ANNA MARIA ISLAND --

The future of the Anna Maria Island drawbridge is the subject of a Saturday-morning meeting of Save Anna Maria.

Three Florida Department of Transportation officials are scheduled to discuss and answer questions about the 51-year-old bridge's fate.

The meeting is 10:30 a.m. at the Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. It is open to the general public.

For more information, call SAM President Billie Martini at 778-4255.

City gets HUD grant

BRADENTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced Bradenton will receive a grant for its Community Development Block Grant program.

The $477,478 grant will be used toward housing rehabilitation, homeless services and code enforcement in low- to moderate-income neighborhoods.

Bradenton's CDBG program is expected to receive the money in about two months.

Art and music festival

BRADENTON - Students from 30 Manatee County elementary schools will be displaying their musical and artistic talents in an Art and Music Festival on May 6.

Scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. at the Manatee Convention and Civic Center, the free event features student artwork and musical performances.

Schools included in the show bill are Tillman Elementary's drum line, Rowlett and Daughtrey elementary schools' string ensembles and Bashaw Elementary's African Ensemble.

Guest speakers will also be talking to the audience about the importance of arts in schools.

- Herald staff reports

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