Anna Maria Island Sun August 5, 2026

School starts Aug. 10

Bradenton Beach plans to maintain current millage rate

The proposed budget is based on maintaining the current 2.3329 millage rate.

BY LESLIE LAKE and JOE HENDRICKS SUN REPORTERS | llake@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH – In what Mayor John Chappie characterized as a "lean working budget proposal," with a focus toward rebuilding the city's reserve fund, the city commission members and city staff discussed the proposed 2026-27 fiscal year budget during their July 30 work meeting. The proposed $6.57 million budget is based on maintaining the current millage rate. During the work meeting, the commission voted 5-0 to set the tentative maximum millage rate at the current 2.3329 rate. The tentative millage rate can be lowered during

the budget adoption hearings in September, but it cannot be increased. The 2026-27 fiscal year budget will take effect Oct. 1.

The budget worksheet lists $6.57 million in total anticipated general fund expenditures, and state law requires the city to adopt a balanced budget in which anticipated expenditures and revenues are the same. The budget worksheet lists $5.02 million in total projected expenses for the current fiscal year that ends on Sept. 30.

"This budget helps to maintain our high level of essential services that residents, property owners and visitors receive from our local government," Chappie said. "We are working to rebuild our uncommitted, unassigned reserves to pre-hurricane levels."

SEE BB BUDGET, PAGE 13

Pines Trailer Park owners to reveal new concept

The park owners will present their new concept to the mayor and commissioners.

BY LESLIE LAKE SUN REPORTER | llake@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH – During the Thursday, Aug. 6, city commission meeting, the Pines Trailer Park ownership group, Pines Park Investors LLC, is expected to reveal its intended future use of the waterfront mobile home park property.

The public meeting will be held at city hall and the meeting will start at 6 p.m. The Pines presentation is listed on the agenda as, "Pines Park Investors LLC – Bridge Street pier district: conceptual architectural presentation and project overview." The agenda packet contains no plans or renderings for the intended use of the property. Public comment will be allowed during the meeting.

Young woman dies after fall on Egmont Key

The young ing Egmont Key with friends.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN REPORTER | jhendricks@amisun.com

EGMONT KEY – Twenty-year-old Victoria Zardoya later died after sustaining serious injuries when she fell from the ruins of old Fort Dade on Egmont Key on Friday, July 24.

Several media outlets reported Zardoya died on July 26.

According to Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Public Relations Coordinator Hannah Oliveto, “Victoria Zardoya, 20, was pronounced deceased on July 27, 2026.”

The heavily redacted general offense report provided by the sheriff’s office references an active criminal investigation and states the death investigation

is complete. The redacted report provides no additional details. Egmont Key is a Florida state park located on an island at the mouth of Tampa Bay, about 3 miles off the north end of Anna Maria Island. Egmont Key is accessible by boat or personal watercraft. A helicopter helped transport Zardoya.

SEE EGMONT, PAGE 16

Bradenton officials to review causeway regulations

The Palma Sola Scenic Highway organization seeks enforcement of laws and regulations applicable to the causeway.

BY LESLIE LAKE SUN REPORTER | llake@amisun.com

BRADENTON – The city of Bradenton plans to review its existing regulations pertaining to vendors operating along the Palma Sola Causeway.

The Palma Sola Causeway is part of the Florida Department of Transportation-designated scenic highway that stretches from 75th Street West and Manatee Avenue in west Bradenton to Manatee Beach in Holmes Beach.

In recent years, the causeway has become heavily populated by business operators offering personal watercraft rentals, boat rentals, horse rides and more. In recent months, Palma Sola Scenic Highway Byway Organization Vice Chair Ingrid McClellan has been emailing city, county and state officials seeking enforcement of the rules and regulations in place.

On July 24, Bradenton Police Chief Josh Cramer sent McClellan an email

that said, "The Bradenton Police Department and city code enforcement have been working together with our legal teams and are working on an ordinance that should go before council in the very near future. The ordinance will fill gaps identified in our current regulations. In the interim and beyond, we will continue to enforce traffic and code violations as observed and reported."

Cramer's email was written in response to a July 24 email he received from McClellan, in which she wrote, "Is Bradenton Code Enforcement or the Bradenton Police Department responsible for enforcing prohibitions of vendors and advertising in the FDOT (Florida Department of Transportation) rights of way, where Manatee County Code Enforcement does not do so?”

She also wrote, “Unlawful vendors and advertisements are occurring daily on FDOT rights of way on the southeast side of Palma Sola Causeway."

In recent months, McClellan has repeatedly shared with city, county and state officials her views that the commercial activities taking place

INGRID MCCLELLAN | SUBMITTED

Personal watercraft operators and others are doing business along the Palma Sola Causeway.

along the causeway violate Bradenton's sign regulations, the state of Florida's right-of-way use regulations and the outdoor advertising prohibitions set forth in the federal Highway Beautification Act.

On July 31, she sent Cramer and Bradenton Code Enforcement Manager Volker Reiss TikTok videos of a personal watercraft rental operator soliciting business, changing oil and repairing watercraft at the causeway.

Earlier this year, McClellan sent an email to Cramer, Reiss, Manatee County Sheriff Rick Wells and Manatee County Code Enforcement Chief Tom Wooten that noted the Palma Sola Scenic Highway Byway Organization has been working

to enhance that portion of the scenic highway since 2004. And she requested enforcement from the applicable county and city agencies. That email referenced an FDOT encroachment brochure that lists the following prohibited uses of an FDOT-designated scenic highway: "Any use which interferes with the safety and efficiency of the road; display of advertising of any sort; solicitation, display or free distribution of any merchandise, goods, property or services."

According to the brochure, "Regulation of activities occurring within the right of way is necessary to help prevent distractions to motorists; unsafe pedestrian movement within travel lanes; sudden stoppage or slowdown of traffic; rapid lane changing; increased vehicular accidents and motorist and pedestrian injuries and fatalities."

"The Byway organization looks forward to the swift enforcement of our laws and regulations on Palma Sola Causeway, as we have provided the information and evidence to do so," McClellan told The Sun on July 31.

ISLAND NEWS

IN BRIEF

Bowling tournament seeks bowlers, sponsors

Scan this code with your smartphone to go there.

Anna Maria budget discussions continue

The Center of Anna Maria Island will host the annual Greg LaPensee Bowling Tournament on Saturday, Sept. 12, at Bowlero Bradenton, 4208 Cortez Road. Presented by LaPensee Plumbing, Pools and Air, the annual tournament is open to the community for an evening of bowling, competition and fundraising. Check-in begins at 5:30 p.m., with bowling from 6 to 8 p.m., followed by an awards ceremony and raffle drawings. Lane sponsorship packages are available at four levels. The signature lane sponsor package costs $750 and includes six players, a metal koozie, a Center fishing shirt printed with the sponsor's business logo, logo display at the lane and check-in area and a social media shout-out on The Center's Facebook and Instagram pages. The lane sponsor with players package costs $500 and includes six players and logo display at the lane and check-in area. The lane with players package costs $350 and includes six players. The lane sponsor package costs $275 and includes logo display at the lane and check-in area but does not include players. Proceeds from the tournament will benefit The Center. Those interested in reserving a lane or registering can call 941-778-1908 or register online at centerami.org/events.

Drift-In raises more than $3,400 for holiday assistance

The mayor and city commissioners continue to review the proposed $17 million budget.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN REPORTER | jhendricks@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA – Guided by City Treasurer Randy Maxson, the city of Anna Maria's department heads presented their departmental budget requests to the mayor and commission during the commission's July 30 budget workshop.

Maxson and Mayor Mark Short said the current fiscal year budget was inflated by hurricane-related costs. Short said past Anna Maria budgets averaged $10 million to $12 million.

FINANCE DEPARTMENT

When presenting their respective department's requested expenditures, each presenter provided a brief overview of what that department does.

BUILDING DEPARTMENT

DOREEN FLYNN | SUBMITTED

Donna Peters won the DriftIn’s fundraising lotto board.

The Drift-In bar in Braden ton Beach raised $2,887 in lotto board raffle ticket sales and an additional $530 in point-of-sale (POS) credit card purchases made during the Christmas in July event held at the bar on July 26 in partnership with the Anna Maria Island Privateers. Donna Peters won the lotto board that contained a $50 bill surrounded by scratch-off lottery tickets. The Drift-In also raised funds during the entire month of July using the POS system, but those additional credit card proceeds had not yet been calculated as of Aug. 1. Through craft sales, dessert sales and other fundraising activities, the Privateers also raised funds during the annual Christmas in July event. The combined funds raised will be used to help local families or individuals during the Christmas holidays.

Correction

A unanimous commission vote is needed to increase the millage rate more than 10% above the rolled-back millage rate that would generate the same amount of property tax revenue as it did during the current fiscal year. A story in last week’s Sun mistakenly stated a unanimous vote was needed to adopt a millage rate higher than the rolled-back rate.

When presenting their departmental budget requests, each department head or department representative provided overviews of that department's operations and explained how the $17 million proposed 2026-27 fiscal year budget supports their department's requested expenditures. The budget is currently based on the current 1.65 millage rate being maintained for another year, even though the commission, on July 23, voted 4-1 to set the tentative maximum millage rate at 1.85 mills. During the July 23 budget workshop, Commissioner Charlie Salem said he will not support a millage rate increase – and a new state law would require a unanimous commission vote in September to raise the millage rate above 1.65 mills.

During the July 30 budget workshop, Maxson said the proposed budget figures listed on the latest budget report continue to shift as the budget is revised. He said the proposed budget now aims to set aside 3% of the city's revenues to help replenish the city's depleted reserves. He said that 3% of the proposed $17 million budget would equate to $510,000 being set aside to help replenish the city's reserves that in recent years have dropped from $4 million to approximately $1 million, due in large part to the 2024 hurricanes.

Salem asked Maxson how the proposed 2026-27 $17 million budget compares to the current fiscal year 2025-26 budget, and how it compares to previous years' budgets.

Participating in his first Anna Maria budget preparation cycle, Maxson presented the finance department's requested $533,314 in expenditures, which include $110,000 to create a new position for an employee who assists with the pursuit of grants and provides additional assistance to the finance department. The budget report lists $279,712 for the finance department's total salaries and wages.

Maxson said his goal as treasurer is to help generate enough revenue, or save the city enough money, to cover his salary. He said through negotiations, he was able to reduce the city's property, casualty and workers' compensation insurance premiums from $560,000 to $290,000, which equates to a $270,000 savings in the new fiscal year that begins Oct. 1.

Maxson said he can't yet confirm the city's final expenditures or carryover funds for the current 2025-26 fiscal year budget that ends Sept. 30.

"We spent a lot more than we brought in, so that would have created a deficit," he said of the current fiscal year budget.

When presenting the building department's proposed $696,657 in expenditures, Short said the city's building department services are contracted to Joe Payne Inc. (JPI) in exchange for 49.5% of the building permit fees the city receives monthly. The budget worksheet anticipates $495,000 will be paid to JPI during the new fiscal year. Short noted the city's contract with JPI guarantees the company a monthly minimum payment, which is $37,000 according to the contract signed in May.

COMMISSION BUDGET

The commission's proposed $349,127 in expenditures includes $180,000 for legal fees and $60,000 for the city's contracted lobbyist. Short said the commission's budget will increase from $180,000 to $349,000 primarily because the city's legal expenses and lobbyist expenses are being consolidated into the commission expenditures, rather than being shared by multiple departments as was done in the past. The commission budget also contains reallocated insurance and IT costs. When asked, Short said the mayor's annual salary is $19,500 and commissioners receive a $400 monthly stipend.

DEBT SERVICE

The budget report prepared by Maxson lists $2.77 million in debt service and notes $2.41 million of that debt is for the reconstruction of the hurricane-damaged City Pier that's expected to reopen later this year.

New mural at Anna Maria Elementary

The exterior mural fea tures whimsical characters that will greet the arriving students.

BY LESLIE LAKE SUN REPORTER | llake@amisun.com

HOLMES BEACH – Students

returning to the Anna Maria Elementary School (AME) on Aug. 10 will receive a surprise greeting in the form of a 25foot mural featuring a surfing dolphin, a sunglass-wearing turtle and a pink flamingo.

The mural was sponsored by the AME PTO (Parent Teacher Organization) and was painted by mural and fine artist Cory Wright.

“I was recommended to the PTO by my friend Colleen (Geller) who runs the North Shore Cafe,” Wright said. “I had donated an art class for the PTO fundraiser and they were talking about doing a mural. I also do fine art, but I’ve done murals for about 20 years.”

Wright said AME Principal

Katie Fradley sent her a general image of what was wanted for the mural. After some sketches and discussion, Wright personalized it by adding school mascots and the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in the background.

“This was just a blank wall,” Wright said. “It took me about three days to paint the mural, and then I put sealant on it to protect it.”

Some of Wright’s other mural work can be seen elsewhere on the Island.

last

“I painted the logo at Roser Church,” she said. “I exhibit at Cove on Bridge Street and I was one of the five contributors to the mural on the side of that building.”

Wright, a Holmes Beach resident and a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, specializes in residential interior murals as well as plein air oil landscape paintings. Visit her online at www.corywrightart.com.

School speed zone enforcement begins soon

School zone speed enforcement near Anna Maria Elementary School in Holmes Beach will begin on the first day of school, Monday, Aug. 10. The school zone speed limit is 15 mph and speeding tickets will be issued for 26 mph and above, according to the Holmes Beach Police Department. Now in their second year of use, the automated speed detection cameras will be active and the reduced speed limit will be enforced on school days between 7:30 and 8:40 a.m. and between 2:45 and 3:45 p.m. No warnings will be issued this year and the fine for speeding in the school zone is $100.

email: news@amisun.com | ads@amisun.com | classifieds@amisun.com

The Anna Maria Island Sun Staff

Publishers

Bob Alexander John Reitz

Editor

Joe Hendricks

Reporters | Photographers

Joe Hendricks

Leslie Lake

Ernie Vanderwalt

Columnists

Louise Bolger

Rusty Chinnis

Contributors

Steve Borggren

Capt. Rick Grassett

Layout

Ricardo Fonseca

Advertising Director

Shona Otto

Classified Ads

Bob Alexander

Graphics

Elaine Stroili

Ricardo Fonseca

Distribution

Bob Alexander

Tony McNulty

Brian Smith

Accounting

Leslie Ketchum

John Reitz

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Enforce drainage regulations

After reading The Sun’s article and a letter to the editor about driveway and drainage concerns in Anna Maria, I came away feeling grateful to the residents of Anna Maria for bringing this issue to the forefront.

How can our cities allow builders to install driveways that do not comply with existing codes and ordinances? Why are impervious materials being approved when they increase stormwater runoff? If site plans include calculations for required pervious surfaces, who is verify -

ing those calculations? More importantly, who is inspecting these projects to ensure they are built as approved?

At the same time, residents throughout our Island are being asked to pay increased stormwater fees to replace aging stormwater infrastructure. Yet, new impervious driveways continue to be installed. How is this anything but counterproductive?

Perhaps most troubling is that city officials acknowledge many of these driveways are not compliant, yet the construction is allowed to continue with the promise that violations will be corrected before a certificate of occupancy is issued. Why permit

Drop us a line

a known violation to continue in the first place? Allowing one infraction only encourages others and undermines confidence in code enforcement.

As residents, we have a responsibility to speak up. We need to attend city meetings, ask these questions and insist that our elected officials and staff enforce the ordinances already in place. We cannot afford to jeopardize the time, effort and taxpayer dollars invested in protecting our Island from flooding.

Got an opinion, a complaint or a compliment? Is there something you need to get off your chest? Send us a letter to the editor and have your say. Email The Sun at news@amisun.com and write Letter to the Editor in the subject field. Letters should be kept to 300 words or less and must contain your name and the city in which you reside. Personal attacks and obscene language will not be printed. The Sun reserves the right to edit letters for length and content.

Public works department tests new flood barriers

On July 29, the Bradenton Beach Public Works Department staff tested the city's new Tiger Dam water barrier system that was recently purchased from U.S. Flood Control. The cost of the system was $27,420 and it should be covered by a FEMA mitigation grant, according to City Treasurer Shayne Thompson. The water barriers will be used to protect the city's

public works facility in the event of storm flooding. The public works department building sustained flooding during Hurricane Helene in September 2024 and city vehicles and equipment were damaged during the flooding. Similar flood barriers will later be installed at additional city buildings, according to the Bradenton Beach Police Department Facebook page.

ANNA MARIA

10005 GULF DRIVE

FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-708-6130

Visit www.cityofannamaria.com

Thursday, Aug. 6, 10 a.m., City Commission budget workshop: citywide expenses

Tuesday, Aug. 11, 10 a.m., City Commission budget workshop: capital expenses

Tuesday, Aug. 11, 1 p.m., WSP parking study informational meeting

Thursday, Aug. 13, 10 a.m., City Commission meeting

BRADENTON BEACH

107 GULF DRIVE N.

FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-778-1005

Visit www.cityofbradentonbeach.com

Thursday, Aug. 6, 6 p.m., City Commission meeting

Anna Maria parking study to be discussed

The city of Anna Maria will host an informational meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 11, at 1 p.m. regarding the parking study conducted by WSP at a cost not to exceed $122,600. According to the city clerk’s office, the Aug. 11 meeting is for informational purposes only. A separate meeting will be scheduled in the coming months to provide the public with an opportunity to participate, ask questions and provide input.

HOLMES BEACH

5801 MARINA DRIVE

FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-708-5800

Visit www.holmesbeachfl.org

Wednesday, Aug. 5, 3:30 p.m., Planning Commission meeting

Tuesday, Aug. 11, City Commission meeting, CANCELED

Wednesday, Aug. 12, 9 a.m., virtual Clean Water Ad Hoc Committee meeting

Commission to hear Pines Park Investors presentation

The Bradenton Beach City Commission will receive a presentation from Pines Park Investors LLC regarding the future use of the Pines Trailer Park during the Thursday, Aug. 6, meeting that starts at 6 p.m. Also on the agenda is a variance request for the property at 2509 Gulf Drive N. for a reduction of the required five-foot landscape buffer. Under attorney business is the second reading of an ordinance that will create regulations for the allowance of valet parking. General public comment will be allowed during the meeting held at city hall, 107 Gulf Drive N.

PINES: Trailer Park owners to reveal new concept

PARK OWNERSHIP

According to the Florida Division of Corporations, the Najmy Thompson law firm is currently listed as the registered agent for Pines Park Investors LLC and Sam Negrin is listed as the LLC’s manager.

The April 29, 2025, annual report filed with the Division listed Shawn Kaleta as the manager, but an amended report filed on Nov. 3, 2025, listed Negrin as the manager. The 2026 report lists the Najmy Thompson law firm and Negrin.

It is not known what, if any, involvement Kaleta still has in the Pines Trailer Park property and its future development plans.

The future plans for the 86-unit waterfront trailer park located at the east end of Bridge Street have not been disclosed by the park owners since the park was flooded during Hurricane Helene in September 2024.

PAST DISCUSSION

On Jan. 30, 2026, the park ownership group applied for a city permit to subdivide the mobile

home park into two separate parcels. The lot split application was submitted by land use attorney Marshall Robinson on behalf of Pines Park Investors LLC.

During the March 19 city commission meeting, then-Building Official Rob Perry said, "They did put in an application for a lot split, which was rejected. They can't do a lot split. There's an old plat there. We have five mobiles on each lot in the old plat."

It was unclear from the lot split application exactly what the owners' plans were for the mobile home park. The application listed the park's present zoning classification as M-1 (mobile home use).

The future land use category was listed on the application as ROR (retail/office/residential) and Commercial (split).

"It's going to go from M-1 to something, but I'm going to put a question mark on that. They want to develop the property, and it won't be a mobile home park," Perry said.

"They are going to go back to their planner and submit a proper PRD (Planned Residential Development)

LESLIE LAKE | SUN

The waterfront Pines Trailer Park property will eventually be redeveloped.

or PUD (Planned Urban Development). It would be a major development," Perry said in March. "It's coming. There's going to be a zoning change request and not a lot split."

RESIDENTS DISPLACED

Pines Trailer Park residents initially received city approval to repair their hurricane-damaged mobile homes after the 2024 hurricanes, but on Jan. 4, 2025, the residents received a letter from Pines Park Investors LLC stating the park would be closed.

Signed by Kaleta, the letter said, "Over the past months, we have conducted extensive financial modeling and assessments to

determine the viability of maintaining the park. Unfortunately, we have come to the difficult conclusion that Pines Park is no longer sustainable as a trailer park and must be closed."

Many of the mobile home owners had withheld lot rent payments because of what they said was the continued disrepair of the park and the lack of usable amenities after the hurricanes. Dozens of mobile home owners were evicted, and to avoid eviction, some residents surrendered the titles to their mobile homes.

In March 2025, the Pines Trailer Park Homeowners Association filed a lawsuit against the park ownership group seeking, in part, to stop the evictions and stop the closure of the park. The lawsuit was dismissed that August after the two sides reached a confidential settlement agreement.

Pines residents who spoke with The Sun at that time said they are unable to discuss the settlement terms or the tentative park closure date because making such disclosures would risk nullifying the settlement agreement.

AM BUDGET: discussions continue

PARKS AND RECREATION

The budget report lists $270,046 in expenditures for parks and recreation. Short said the city's parks and recreation amenities and services are funded primarily by property tax revenues. He said a portion of the impact fees levied on new construction is also dedicated to parks and recreation.

He said the largest parks and recreation expenses pertain to the city-hosted, city-sponsored or citysupported events that include Bayfest, the annual Memorial Day tribute, the annual Veterans Day parade and ceremony, the Holiday Walk on Pine Avenue, the seasonal City Block Parties held at City Pier Park and the city's annual donation to The Center of Anna Maria Island.

CLERK'S OFFICE

When presenting the city clerk's department's $267,523 in proposed expenditures, Deputy City Clerk Barbara Jeffries first expressed her appreciation for the city and her co-workers, and her love for her job. Regarding the budget, she said, "Everything you'll see in this reflects our commitment to transparency, compliance and providing the best possible service to our residents."

She said the office's biggest request is for information technology and software used for records management, meeting agenda creation and management, communicating with the public and addressing the citizens' concerns and more.

Jeffries said the city has received more than 300 public records requests

this year. She said the clerk's office is also pursuing an agenda-management system to streamline department workflows. She also requested continued funding for staff training through the Florida Association of City Clerks and other training programs.

HUMAN RESOURCES

When presenting the human resources department's (HR) $67,675 in requested expenditures, City Clerk Amber LaRowe said the human resources function historically lacked dedicated funding, but that department is now being formalized in the new budget. She said attracting and retaining employees is a top priority. She said the city had 25 voluntary employee resignations between fiscal years 2021 and 2025, but only three voluntary resignations since October 2025. LaRowe outlined six HR priorities that included workforce development, safety training, employee recognition and background screening and more.

PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

When presenting the planning and community development department's $442,001 requested expenditures, City Planner Ashley Austin said the department handles long-range planning and current zoning, permitting and code compliance, and coordinates with other agencies, including Turtle Watch, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and FEMA. She said the city's code has not kept pace with changes over the past 12 years, and she cited hurricane restoration, historic preservation and updated seawall and dock ordinances as some recent accomplishments.

Everything you’ll see in this reflects our commitment to transparency, compliance and providing the best possible service to our residents.”

Barbara

Jeffries, Deputy City Clerk

CODE ENFORCEMENT

When presenting the code enforcement department's $623,357 in requested expenditures, Manager Tom Collins noted the department operates seven days a week, closing only for Thanksgiving, Christmas and hurricanes. He said the department prioritizes education over issuing citations.

He said the city currently had 903 active vacation rentals as of Thursday, and the code enforcement department took over vacation rental inspections earlier this year as the city is no longer contracting that work to a third party. He said the immediate goal is to bring the known short-term rentals into full compliance with city code, before shifting to stricter enforcement and an increased effort to identify non-registered vacation rentals whose unregistered operations could result in the property owner being fined $250 per day.

Short said all recently flagged noncompliant rental properties came into compliance within 10 days.

PUBLIC WORKS

When presenting the public works department's $908,145 budget requests, Manager Dean Jones said public safety remains the department's top priority, followed closely by stormwater and drainage maintenance and improvements.

He noted the city will soon receive the results of a stormwater resiliency study that will help guide future stormwater expenditures and assist with the pursuit of grants to help fund stormwater and drainage improvements.

Jones said the final piece of Kebony decking was installed on the City Pier earlier that day. He said the public works department now uses the GoGov software platform to track and respond to service requests from citizens.

He cited aging equipment, including a 2013 Jeep, as a budget concern, and he said staff retention remains strong. Short said the new public works department building to be built using a recently approved $1.25 million state appropriation is now in the design and permitting process that's expected to take several months.

The public works department expenditures also include $204,100 for roads.

As the workshop came to an end, the commissioners thanked Maxson for his efforts and thanked the department heads for the presentations. The city staff members thanked the mayor and the commission for allowing them to be more involved in the budget preparation process this year.

The commission's next budget workshop is Thursday, Aug. 6, at 10 a.m.

Help Turtle Watch locate disoriented hatchlings

The Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring organization asks the public to call if they find wayward sea turtle hatchlings that may have wandered away from the water and toward land. Turtle patrol members check the beach daily and it’s sometimes challenging to locate new crawls and identify hatches after a heavy rain because the tracks are not as obvious, Turtle Watch Executive Director Kristen Mazzarella said in her July 31 email update. If turtle patrol volunteers find a hatched nest but can’t see any hatchling tracks, they check the surrounding area for lost hatchlings – and they rely on the public to call the 24-hour hotline at 941-301-8434 if they find disoriented or distressed hatchlings or adult sea turtles. If you find a distressed turtle, do not return it to the water. Call the hotline and volunteers will respond promptly. “This week our patrollers found a washback post-hatchling,” Mazzarella said. “Post-hatchlings are baby turtles that have already been in the Gulf for a while and have completed their swim frenzy.” The hatchlings sometimes float in the sargassum line far out in the Gulf and take an occasional swim to feed. “Sometimes, the floating weed line gets pushed close to shore and the

Where’s Krysta?

As of Sunday, Aug. 2, Krysta, a female loggerhead sea turtle, had traveled 430 miles since she was satellite-tagged and released on June 29 after nesting on Coquina Beach. She is participating in the Sea Turtle Conservancy’s 2026 Tour de Turtles race, which began on Aug. 1. She has traveled nine miles since the race officially began on Aug. 1 and she is cur rently in seventh place for miles traveled in a field of 10 tracked sea turtles. Krysta is symbolically swimming to raise aware ness about the threat of beach erosion. Her participation in the 2026 Tour de Turtles is sponsored by Hurricane Hanks. Source: Sea Turtle Conservancy (conserve turtles.org/turtle/Krysta)

hanging out in the wrack but not moving much,” Mazzarella said in her email. “They are usually larger than newly emerged hatchlings and have algal growth on their bodies.”

TURTLE NESTING NEWS

As of Friday, July 31:

Total loggerhead turtle nests: 449

Nests this week (7/25-7/31): 13

False crawls this week: 13

Total false crawls: 564

Total nests hatched: 78

Total hatchlings produced: 4,957

Total adult turtle disorientations: 20 Nests inventoried: 70

Disoriented hatchlings: 561-1,300

Disoriented hatchlings found dead: 49

Source: Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring

County’s Peregrine system in place for hurricane season

Manatee County's Peregrine emergency data integration system was first used during Hurricane Helene.

BY ERNIE VANDERWALT

SUN CORRESPONDENT | sanddollarguy@gmail.com

MANATEE COUNTY – Two years ago, in early August, Tropical Storm Debby passed offshore of Anna Maria Island and Manatee County on its way to becoming a Category 1 hurricane as it traveled north.

According to the Florida Climate Center, the tropical storm dropped more than 18 inches of rain in some portions of eastern Manatee County during a five-day period and caused significant flooding. According to city officials, 10 to 12 inches of rain fell on Anna Maria during a two-day period, which also created localized flooding.

Manatee County's newly purchased Peregrine emergency data integration system was not yet operational during Tropical Storm Debby, but it was operational by the time Hurricane Helene’s catastrophic storm surge struck the Island on Sept. 26, 2024. Manatee County Public Safety Director Jodie Fiske oversees the Public Safety Department, which includes the Emergency Communications Division (911), the Emergency Management Division and the Emergency Medical Services Division (EMS).

When speaking to The Sun during a recent July 29 visit to the Manatee County Emergency Operations Center in Bradenton, Fiske said the county signed the purchase order for the Peregrine system three days before Tropical Storm Debby, and the vendor team was still on-site

setting the new system up when the tropical storm arrived.

Fiske said the Peregrine system pulls data from about a dozen sources, including gauges, cameras, dispatch records and property files, and integrates it into a real-time digital display map. Fiske said Manatee County paid $140,000 for the Peregrine system that was purchased in 2024, and the total cost to expand the system to its current capacity is more than $400,000.

While Hurricane Helene was still offshore, the storm surge was already approaching Anna Maria Island. Inside the Emergency Operations Center, Fiske and the emergency management staff watched the Peregrine system operate in real time as the green dots on the electronic county map turned into red dots when the Island’s sewage lift stations lost power as the storm surge came ashore.

Fiske said there’s a difference between flooding and storm surge – a distinction she wants Island residents to clearly understand.

"People really underestimate storm surge," she said. "Imagine standing up, and I push you. And as soon as you start to get your bearings back, I push you again. It's the force of the ocean, powered by wind. It's relentless, and it will go on for hours."

Hurricane Helene's predicted storm surge for the coastal areas of Manatee County was 7 to 9 feet. Fiske said the actual storm surge reached nearly 9.5 feet in some areas.

Fiske said the county always plans for a category above whatever strength hurricane is forecast. A predicted Category 1 hurricane is treated like a Category 2. A predicted 9-foot storm surge is planned for as an 18-foot surge.

Hurricane Milton then struck the Island and Manatee County less than two weeks after Helene. Fiske said the county’s coastal areas could have faced a 17-foot surge had Milton not wobbled during its final approach.

Fiske said slightly less than 1,000 people and approximately 60 pets

headed to the county shelters before Hurricane Helene arrived. After seeing what Hurricane Helene's storm surge and flooding did to the Island, residents evacuated with more urgency ahead of Hurricane Milton, when more than 11,000 people and 1,500 pets utilized the county shelters.

"The lesson stuck," she said.

Fiske said before the Peregrine system was in place, checking a gauge that measures the height of a river’s water meant refreshing a browser tab on the National Weather Service website, which she said gets updated approximately every six hours. Now, the county’s river gauge data is refreshed every one to five minutes during a hurricane or major storm.

Using the Peregrine system allowed damage assessments to be completed faster. The county sent assessment teams to the neighborhoods where lift stations failed and pulled the affected property values directly from the Manatee County Property Appraiser's Office website. This allowed Manatee County to deliver its damage estimates to the state within 12 hours after Hurricanes Helene and Milton. That turnaround time was 24 to 36 hours without the Peregrine system.

The county's use of the Peregrine system has been expanded beyond tropical storms and hurricanes. The Manatee County Sheriff's Office, Bradenton Police, Palmetto Police and the county's fire districts are being added to the county’s Peregrine platform. The Peregrine system is also used in nearby Pinellas and Hillsborough counties.

SEE PEREGRINE, PAGE 12

9:00 a.m. TO 10:00 p.m. DAILY 5344 Gulf Drive Holmes Beac h (941) 779-BEER hurricaneliquors.com

“ This place has an amazing collection of spirits.” Josh

“Spent t he week in Anna Maria Island and out of all the liquor stores on t he island, t his is by far t he best one, wit h t he best prices and t he most selection. The staf f was very friendly ” Heat her

“ The guys here was very helpful and knowledgeable. They had some great choices on bourbon.

“ These guys had t he best selection , decent prices, and were overall just good people.” Matt hew

“Great assor tment of spirits and competitive prices.” Nyor

“Amazing selection knowledgeable staf f and best ser vice on t he island” Vicky

Least tern counts fluctuate

Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring is reporting large numbers of least terns flocking to the Bradenton Beach colony. As of July 31, there were between 41 and 272 least tern adults counted and 11 flightcapable chicks counted.

“The count is fluctuating because the birds from other colonies are coming through and staying for a few days and some of our birds are likely flying off when they leave,” Executive Director Kristen Mazzarella said in her July 31 email update, which noted the birds are counted at the same time every morning.

“The birds are bulking up for their migration, so they may also travel over to the Bayside during

certain tides, which means that we won't see them on the Gulf side near our posted colony. They also fluctuate from being by the water feeding to resting on the beach inside the safe closure,” Mazzarella said in her update.

“They arrive in the late afternoon or evening to refuel and rest before continuing on their annual migration to the Caribbean island. As of July 30, the youngest three chicks have taken their first short flights. Even though they can fly, all the chicks still depend on their parents to bring them fish and can often be seen outside the enclosure,” Mazzarella’s email said.

She asks beachgoers to be mindful of the young resting birds along the seaweed line.

PEREGRINE: county system in place for hurricane season

COUNTY TASK FORCE

During large-scale emergencies, Manatee County is assisted by the Tampa Bay Regional Search and Rescue Task Force 3, which includes St. Petersburg Fire Rescue, Hillsborough County Fire Rescue and Tampa Fire Rescue. During and after Hurricane Helene, Task Force 3 personnel assisted Manatee County while also assisting their own impacted counties.

Fiske said Manatee County is now in the process of developing its own search and rescue task force, and she credits North River Fire District Assistant Chief Joel Baker and West Manatee Fire District Deputy Chief Jay Johnson for suggesting it. In June, Manatee County commissioners approved spending $500,000 for task force training and equipment.

ERNIE VANDERWALT | SUN

Manatee County Public Safety Director Jodie Fiske points to lift station data displayed on the Emergency Operations Center's display wall.

ISLAND CONCERNS

When asked what worries her most about Anna Maria Island before, during and after a hurricane, Fiske said her biggest fear is complacency and Island residents not taking hurricane warnings and evacuation orders seriously.

"People not taking the message seriously, that's always the fear," Fiske said. "I would rather you be uncomfortable for 12 hours in a shelter than be dead."

BB BUDGET: Bradenton Beach plans to maintain current millage rate

Chappie said due to the city's high uncommitted reserve fund, the city did not have to borrow money or raise taxes after the 2024 hurricanes.

"That was a big part of the proposed budget, not only to maintain that high level of essential service but also to prepare for the next big storm," he said. "We're not there yet, and this budget reflects we have to set up funds to go back into our uncommitted reserve because we don't want to be caught short."

City Treasurer Shayne Thompson later told The Sun the city hopes to add $400,000 to its reserves during the coming fiscal year.

MILLAGE RATE

At 2.3329 mills, a property owner is taxed approximately $2.33 for every $1,000 of assessed taxable value after the homestead exemption given to primary residences, and any other applicable exemptions, are applied to lower the property's taxable value. Non-homesteaded second homes, seasonal homes and vacation rental homes do not receive the tax-cutting homestead exemption.

The owner of a Bradenton Beach property with a $500,000 assessed taxable value would be taxed by the city $1,166 in the coming fiscal year. The owner of a property with a $1 million assessed taxable value would be taxed $2,333.

When speaking to The Sun, Thompson said the current millage rate generated $2.13 million in ad valorem city property tax revenues during the current fiscal year. He said the proposed 2026-27 fiscal year budget lists $2.56 million in projected city property tax revenues, an increase of approximately $430,000.

According to the maximum millage levy calculation preliminary disclosure form (DR 420) the city submitted to the county property appraiser's office, the total taxable value of all Bradenton Beach properties is $1.09 billion. Taking into account increased property values and new homes and structures added to the city's tax roll, the rolled-back millage rate of 1.9966 would generate the same property tax revenues during the coming fiscal year as the 2.3329 millage rate generated during the current fiscal year.

Thompson said maintaining the current millage rate would equate to a 16.8%

increase over the 1.9966 rolled-back rate. He said a significant portion of the 16.8% increase is due to hurricane-damaged properties returning to their normal valuation rates after being devalued for the current tax year.

"It's almost a break-even from when property values decreased last year," he said. Due to increased property values and other factors, most Bradenton Beach property owners will see their city property tax increase during the coming fiscal year, even though the millage rate is expected to remain the same.

The DR 420 form also addresses the new law created by the Florida Legislature's recent adoption of Senate Bill 4-F and signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis. The property tax-related law

changed the number of votes a local government needs to adopt various millage rates. According to the new state requirements listed on the DR 420 form, it would take a simple majority vote (three commission members) to adopt a millage rate at or lower than the 1.9966 rolled-back millage rate. A two-thirds vote (at least four commission members) would be required to adopt a millage rate of up to 2.1963 mills. A unanimous vote (five commission members) will be needed in September to approve maintaining the current 2.3329 millage rate.

KEY EXPENDITURES

With a projected budget of $2.2 million, the police department is the largest expenditure in the proposed budget, which is the case every year.

In regard to recent discussions about potentially unionizing the police department (an idea since abandoned), Police Chief John Cosby said, "One of the biggest changes that we saw is, after the meeting about the sheriff's office, commissioners came to me individually and wanted to see a better pay scale for officers. In comparing some of the surrounding communities' pay scales, what we came up with is officers who have been here seven years or less will receive a $6,000 acrossthe-board raise, officers in the middle tier will receive $5,000 and our most senior officer will receive $4,000." Cosby said this is where salaries should be for a city the size of Bradenton Beach. "We're never going to be where the county is. The size of the agency alone dictates that, but as far as the surrounding communities, we're ahead of a few and only behind one. The key is we have to keep up with it every year. We have to watch what others are doing," Cosby said. The proposed budget lists $917,810 for the administration department that includes

WHERE‛S YOUR COMFORT ZONE?

EGMONT: Young woman dies after fall on Egmont Key

Zardoya’s friend, Victoria Silberbusch, shared her firsthand account of the tragedy on her “thevictorianvision” Instagram page. According to her Facebook page, Silberbusch is a real estate agent who lives in Sarasota.

Several media outlets reported Zardoya was a University of Tampa student and a longtime friend of Milania Giudice, the daughter of “Real Housewives of New Jersey” star Teresa Giudice.

In her Instagram post, Silberbusch wrote, “This post is being shared at the request of Victoria Zardoya’s family.

“On July 24, what began as a fun, innocent day on the water with both old and new friends ended in an unimaginable and unexpected tragedy. A beautiful 20-year-old woman named Victoria Zardoya, who had flown to Florida for the weekend to visit friends, sustained fatal injuries due to a devastating fall while we were all exploring the historic ruins at Fort Dade on Egmont Key. We had actually been getting ready to leave and head to another spot when it all happened,” she wrote.

“At first, we thought Victoria had fallen only one level. We ran to the edge, calling out to her, but quickly realized she had fallen much farther than we first believed. We immediately began climbing down to reach her while others called 911. Friends back at the boats launched flares to help first responders locate us as quickly as possible, and additional calls were made to communicate just how urgent the situation was.

“No one hesitated. Not one person. Every single one of us jumped into immediate action. Every single person responded instinctively. Everyone did everything they possibly could to help. Her injuries from the fall were brutal.

“We stayed with Victoria and held her, trying to make her as comfortable as possible while we waited for first responders to arrive. Paramedics responded by boat, and a medical helicopter was eventually able to transport her to the hospital after an incredibly difficult rescue,” Silberbusch wrote.

SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS REQUESTED

On her Instagram page, Silberbusch shared a

VICTORIA SILBERBUSCH/INSTAGRAM | SUBMITTED

Victoria Zardoya was a student at the University of Tampa. The accident happened among the ruins of old Fort Dade.

form letter to be emailed to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, with the subject: “Urgent safety improvements requested at Fort Dade, Egmont Key – in memory of Victoria.”

Those email addresses listed are EgmontKeySP@ floridadep.gov, FSP.Feedback@floridadep.gov and crystalriver@fws.gov.

“Dear Egmont Key State Park and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Leadership,” the letter begins.

“I am writing following the reported fatal fall at the Fort Dade ruins on Egmont Key this past weekend, which tragically claimed the life of a young woman named Victoria (Zardoya). I respectfully ask the Florida Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to work together to investigate and address the elevated portion of the fort where the deadly fall reportedly occurred. The area contains a severe drop that may not be sufficiently obvious to visitors approaching or walking across the structure,” the letter says.

“I am specifically requesting that the responsible agencies:

• “Conduct an immediate, documented safety inspection of the location.

• “Install conspicuous temporary warning signs and a secure temporary barrier while a permanent solution is evaluated.

• “Install a permanent, corrosion-resistant railing, guardrail or other effective fall-prevention barrier designed to respect the fort’s historic character.

• “Inspect the other accessible Fort Dade structures for similar unprotected drops or deteriorated walking surfaces.

• “Clearly designate any areas that are unsafe for public access and ensure that warnings are visible from every reasonable approach.

• “Publicly explain what corrective actions will be taken and provide an estimated timeline for completion,” the letter says.

“Egmont Key’s historic structures should remain available for the public to experience, but preservation and visitor safety do not have to be competing priorities. Thoughtfully designed barriers and warning signs can preserve the appearance and historical importance of Fort Dade while reducing the risk of another devastating fall,” the letter says.

“This request is not intended to assign blame. It is a good-faith request for practical action following a heartbreaking loss. A warning sign, barrier or railing cannot undo what happened to Victoria, but it may prevent another family from suffering the same tragedy,” the letter says.

2024 Hurricanes still impacting Egmont Key

Egmont Key has lost half its total acreage since the 1950s.

BY ERNIE VANDERWALT SUN CORRESPONDENT | sanddollarguy@gmail.com

EGMONT KEY – Egmont Key is a narrow barrier island and national wildlife refuge at the mouth of Tampa Bay, less than 3 miles from the north end of Anna Maria Island.

Reachable only by boat, it's home to a historic lighthouse, the ruins of an old fort, nature trails, shorebirds, gopher tortoises and more.

Pat Mundus is the president of the Friends of the Tampa Bay National Wildlife Refuges group. The first time he set foot on Egmont Key, he made himself a promise: "I said to myself, we’ve got to take care of this place," he said.

That promise is being tested. The back-to-back hurricanes in 2024 tore through Egmont Key and further reduced its human presence. The Florida Park Service ranger's cabin was destroyed. The hurricanes wrecked the cottage compound that was nearly 100 years old. Before the hurricanes struck, the cottages housed the Tampa Bay harbor pilots who board incoming cargo ships and cruise ships to guide them through the bay’s channels. Because of the hurricane damage, the pilots no longer operate from Egmont Key.

Many structures on Egmont Key were damaged or lost. The old guardhouse survived unscathed and now doubles as a historical site. The guardhouse is a restored 1899 Fort Dade building that once held prisoners.

The lighthouse still stands and its light still works. Automated in 1990, the lighthouse light still flashes every 15 seconds, guiding ships into Tampa Bay.

"There's no longer a 24/7 presence on the island," Mundus said. "The biggest hit we took was we lost our

full-time presence of somebody on that island."

In the 1950s, Egmont Key covered approximately 500 acres. Today, it’s closer to 250 acres, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The erosion rate has increased and Egmont Key has grown thinner.

"It's getting very skinny," Mundus said. "I'm just not sure the island can survive without renourishment."

He also said Egmont Key’s wildlife habitats are shrinking.

A short-term fix is in the works.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recently awarded a dredging and renourishment contract and that work is scheduled to begin soon.

closed areas has decreased and some visitors bring their dogs onto beach areas marked off for nesting birds.

Approximately 700,000 cubic yards of dredged sand will be placed on Egmont Key's eroding western beach as part of the renourishment project to be completed in November or December.

On a larger scale, the Army Corps of Engineers plans to deepen the Tampa Harbor shipping channel and use that sand to renourish the Egmont Key shoreline. Army Corps’ Public Affairs Officer J.P. Rebello said the federal agency plans to place an estimated 4.4 million cubic yards of dredged sand on Egmont Key between October 2029 and December 2030.

Erosion is only half the challenge. The southern third of Egmont Key is closed to the public and is designated as a protected bird sanctuary. Without

Vandals have targeted the lighthouse, the buildings and the still-functioning, still-utilized vehicles that remain on Egmont Key. To help prevent vandalism, the Friends group is funding a shipping container to secure a golf cart and an ATV to be left on Egmont Key.

"It looks kind of abandoned. So, people don't care," Mundus said.

The group also works closely with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Mundus said the wildlife numbers also reflect the strain being felt on Egmont Key.

Mundus said there were approximately 100 black skimmer nests on Egmont Key last year, and this year there have been about 10. He said royal terns and laughing gulls are still present but they are not nesting in meaningful numbers.

rebounded faster than expected after the 2024 hurricanes. Eckerd College has tracked Egmont Key’s tortoise population since the early 1990s, and a survey conducted last summer found a strong adult population, but few young gopher tortoises.

Egmont Key remains open to the public year-round and visitors can reach it by private boat or aboard the Egmont Key Ferry that originates from Fort De Soto Boat Ramp in St. Petersburg daily. Ferry rides can be booked online at www.hubbardsmarina.com/ egmont-key-ferry-cruise. Tickets are $45 for those who are 12 or older, $25 for ages 3-11 and free for those who are 2 or younger. Parking is $5.

"Due to the remote nature of the island, there is no drinking water on the island and there are no stores. Please remember to bring water, food and sunscreen when you visit," the state park website says.

OUTDOORS

Mangroves: Critical habitats under threat

Reel Time

RUSTY CHINNIS

ver the years, my appreciation of mangroves has grown as I more fully understand their critical importance. If you're an angler, the significance of mangroves is evident. Intertwined with the twisted roots, there's a web of life that's inextricably bound to the snook, redfish, trout, flounder, grouper and a plethora of other gamefish that you seek.

Even if you don't fish or spend time on the water, it's important to realize that mangroves are a critical source of the seafood you enjoy. They are also essential habitat to the seabirds you might enjoy as a

bird watcher and they provide sustenance for manatees, dolphins, sea turtles and innumerable other species.

Mangroves also protect and sustain a vibrant economy in ways that might not be apparent. The general public is just beginning to appreciate how mangroves provide protection against powerful hurricanes and rising sea level. With all that mangroves provide us and our quality of life, it would seem they would be revered and protected at all costs. Unfortunately, just the opposite seems to be the case.

In a previous column, I wrote about numerous large, mature mangroves that had been cut, were denuded of leaves, and appeared dead along the shoreline of Sarasota Bay where Medallion Homes was and still is developing Aqua by the Bay. This large-scale mixed-use project

spans roughly 523 acres, with proposals for thousands of residential units and tens of thousands of square feet of commercial space, situated along more than two miles of Sarasota Bay shoreline.

In December 2022, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection issued a proposed consent order that fined Long Bar Pointe LLLP and Medallion Homes developer Carlos Beruff's companies $8,500 for illegal mangrove trimming at the development. Was that simply the cost of doing business?

Inspections conducted on June 17 and Aug. 25 of that year found those mangroves had more than 25% of their foliage cut, trimmings were not properly disposed of and photo documentation of the work was not provided as required.

Now Beruff is requesting a permit that environmentalists, fishermen and residents of nearby Cortez fear may one day doom this old-growth mangrove forest.

Perhaps no one appreciates the potential harm such a project might create more than Cortez resident Paul Dryfoos.

Paul recently sent me an email that said, "As a resident of Cortez, vice-president of the

Cortez Village Historical Society and lifetime member of FISH (Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage), I am extremely concerned about Long Bar Pointe LLC's application for approval to infill three acres of wetlands and build a huge 10-foot seawall directly adjacent to one of our last remaining old-growth mangrove forests in the Sarasota Bay watershed.

August offers plenty of inshore action

CAPT. RICK GRASSETT

You should still find a few tarpon in the Coastal Gulf early in the month. Casting flies, DOA Baitbusters or DOA Shrimp in shallow water should all work. As tarpon thin out along beaches, they will move to inside waters where you may find them around bridges or rolling on deep grass flats. They will also feed in schools of ladyfish that are feeding on the surface. You should find juvenile tarpon from 10 to 30 pounds in creeks, canals, turning basins and around dock lights. Your snook tackle will work fine for smaller tarpon, although you'll need a leader of 40 to 50 pounds to keep them from going through it. Fly anglers should score with 8- or 9-weight fly rods, floating or sink tip lines and scaled-down tarpon flies. You'll find snook around lighted docks and bridges in the Intracoastal Waterway and in the surf. Small white flies, like my Grassett Snook Minnow, DOA Shrimp or CAL jigs with shad tails and jerk worms should all work well. The same lures and flies will work at night and in the surf, although you should be observant of what size baits are in those areas.

This tripletail was caught and released during a previous August fishing

Reds should school up this month. You should find them on shallow flats, where they'll be easier to find when the tide is low. Look for "nervous" water when it is slick calm or a slick

around the edges of the school, you may be able to catch a few of them before they spook. We often also find big jacks and blues in the mix along with reds. Topwater plugs and fly poppers or Gurglers may draw some big bites. The DOA PT-7 topwater bait and 4-inch CAL shad tail should both work well on schooling reds.

Trout fishing should be good this month. You may find a big trout in skinny water at first light. Focus on mullet or bait schools to find them. Topwater plugs, fly poppers or Gurglers should be very effective at that time of day. Handle trout gently, since they may be full of roe during August. I like the same areas for big trout that I like for reds. Full regulations and details for all species can be viewed at myfwc.com.

patch of water when there is a ripple on the water. They may push a wake that looks like a boat wake. I try to be as quiet as possible in shallow water, poling to locate them. If you work

I like to drift deep grass flats and cast ahead of my drift with CAL jigs and shad tails or jerk worms, or an Ultra Hair Clouser fly fished on a sink tip fly line. Ladyfish may feed in glass minnow schools, and if they stay up long enough, it will attract trout,

SEE GRASSETT, PAGE 24

REAL ESTATE

Real estate market optimism

Optimism is in the eye of the beholder, and my eyes are seeing a hopeful turnaround in the housing market. The national and Florida housing markets have been in a slump, but just how long can buyers sit on their hands and watch their lives be stuck in neutral?

Nationally, June was a good month for people who locked in a mortgage to buy a home, and the mortgage volume rose to the highest level in more than three years. According to Optimal Blue, a mortgage technology and data company, the mortgage volume is up 14% from a year earlier and up 10% from May.

Castles in the Sand

compared with last year. In addition, inventory for both single-family homes and condos is down between one and two percentage points.

The 30-year fixed rate averaged 6.58% at that time, up from 6.55% the week before. This is still lower than the peak of nearly 8% in 2023.

maintenance costs, it makes for an almost impossible situation for firsttime buyers.

June was also a good month for Manatee County sales, according to the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee. Single-family homes closed 26.2% more properties this June compared with last year, and condos closed 11.2% more properties this June

Because mortgages are typically locked in well before a closing, this is a leading indicator of home sales for the next few months. This is also true when you look at closed sales as a leading indicator of future sales because contracts of sale are generally signed a few months before closing. That’s the good news; the bad news is even higher mortgage interest rates. In late July, mortgage rates rose to their highest level in almost a year.

Some economists are tying this to the Middle East conflict and the increase in oil prices and are predicting a further increase to 7% in the coming weeks. Nevertheless, economists are saying buyers are less sensitive to rate increases than in prior years. No longer does a half-percentage-point increase in rates scare buyers, as long as they still qualify for the mortgage. A significant decline in mortgage rates isn’t happening anytime soon, so buyers have finally realized it’s time to move on.

Higher rates, however, are more bad news for first-time homebuyers, who are now averaging 40 years old. Combined with the lack of inventory –because sellers are hanging on to their low-rate mortgages from the COVID-19 years – as well as rising insurance and

Also, median existing-home prices in June rose to $440,600, a 1.8% increase from a year earlier and the highest level on record, according to the National Association of Realtors. Manatee County’s median single-family home price in June was $490,000, up 11.4% from last June. No one is expecting a real estate boom, but any movement in the market is good. With buyers finally getting accustomed to higher rates, that movement may actually happen.

Optimistic? I actually am, because I’m a big believer in owning real estate as a pathway to wealth. Senior homeowners can’t stay in their homes forever; first-time and move-up buyers need to get on board with higher interest rates, and every buyer and seller in the country needs to look toward the future. That is why my eyes behold optimism.

BB

BUDGET:

Bradenton Beach plans to maintain current millage rate

the city clerk’s office and the city treasurer. The budget lists $617,435 for building and planning department expenditures, $587,307 for streets and roads and $283,188 for stormwater maintenance and general operations.

Thompson later noted the projected $1 million in stormwater revenues will be used to make stormwater and drainage improvements during the coming fiscal year.

Cosby also serves as the city’s public works director. When the new fiscal year begins, Lenard Diaz will become the new police chief and Cosby will serve solely as public works director.

Cosby told the commission he wanted to add one item to the proposed $169,467 for facilities expenditures.

"We've been having some serious problems with the leakage with the roof at city hall," he said. "The last time this roof was replaced was in the mid-1990s. I'd like to budget $50,000 for that."

The first budget adoption public hearings will be held Thursday, Sept. 3, at 5:05 p.m. for the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) budget, and at 5:30 p.m. for the city’s general fund budget. The second and final budget hearings will be held Wednesday, Sept. 9, at 5:05 p.m. for the CRA, and at 5:30 p.m. for the general fund.

Guild artist donates painting to Florida Maritime Museum

The Florida Maritime Museum in Cortez recently accepted five paintings by Carolann Garafola of the Artists' Guild of Anna Maria Island for future display in the museum’s permanent exhibit gallery. The museum collects, preserves and shares traditional knowledge, cultural artifacts and personal stories specific to Florida's fishing and maritime heritage. Garafola completed the paintings on location in Cortez and in her studio during the

past seven years. Her subjects included the Cortez water tank, the fishing house, the Maritime Courtyard gate and the historic Deanna Belle fishing boat. Located at 4415 119th St. W., the museum is currently closed for recovery from the 2024 hurricanes and will reopen in 2027 or 2028 after the renovations are completed. The Artists' Guild Gallery displays its member artists’ work and is located at 5414 Marina Drive in Holmes Beach.

On July 30, Cincinnati

Anna Maria. The replacement of the city-owned seawall that borders City Pier Park on one side was expected to cost the city approximately $157,000.

ISLAND SPORTS

CENTER SCOREBOARD

ADULT FLAG FOOTBALL (WEEK 6)

Moss Air 35 (3-3)

Pavina Bros Windows Cleaning 33 (2-3)

Salty Printing 39 (3-3)

Solid Rock Construction 12 (3-2)

Luxury Services 31 (5-1) Moss Builders 20 (2-4)

Fishing with Salty 26 (4-2) MI-Box 12 (1-5)

The Fish Guy Aquarium Services 35 (5-1) USA Fence 13 (1-5)

ADULT SUMMER 5V5 SOCCER (WEEK 6)

Solid Rock Construction 2 (3-2-0)

82 West Home Inspections 1 (3-2-0)

Hampton Painting 7 (3-2-0)

Moss Builders 5 (2-3-0)

USA Fence 4 (1-4-0)

Leading Edge Investments 2 (0-5-0)

Sato Real Estate 7 (5-0-0)

Salty Printing 5 (3-2-0)

KEY ROYALE CLUB GOLF SCORES

MONDAY, JULY 27STABLEFORD

Rained out, no golf.

TUESDAY, JULY 28 - LOW NET SCORE

First place: Jana Samuels, 34

Second place: Helen Pollock, Sue Wheeler, 36

THURSDAY, JULY 30TH - SCRAMBLE

First place team: Cecil Harrelson, Dennis Kitterman, Andy LoMenzo, Bob Maleeny, 31 (-1)

Fernandes pitches for two winning teams

On July 29, Gary Howcroft, left, and Gersey Fernandes, right, posted the only 3-0 record during pool play at Anna Maria Horseshoes to win the day’s competition. On Saturday, Aug. 1, three teams squared off in a playoff after each team went 2-1 in pool play. The bye went to Tom Farrington and Fernandes. Steve Doyle and Billy Silver moved on to the final match after a 22-11 win over Howcroft and Steve Augustine. Doyle and Silver then jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the final match, only to be out scored 24-1 down the stretch by Farrington and Fernandes, who won 24-11 and earned the day’s bragging rights.

MANGROVES: Critical habitats under threat

"This project would compromise the immediate ecosystem that enables Cortez to survive as a working fishing community. Cortez villagers and friends have invested significant time, energy and resources over the past 40+ years securing, restoring and enhancing the Cortez FISH Preserve – 98 acres of environmentally sensitive land encompassing an old-growth mangrove forest. Now we see an adjacent old-growth mangrove forest threatened by development.

“The Corps should deny the permit pending assurances that the project can be modified to avoid harming our precious wetlands. Clearly, the proposed buildings could be moved several dozens or hundreds of feet

inland on the more than 400-acre site. Therefore, the developer bears the burden under federal law of proving that a less damaging alternative is not available. The law requires a less damaging alternative if one is available.

"Cortez's identity and economy are deeply tied to the health of the Sarasota Bay estuary, and the mangroves are the critical barrier protecting that system. The proposed seawall and infill threaten to destroy acres of these vital wetlands, which serve as nurseries for fish and shellfish, buffer our shoreline from storms, and define the unique character of our community. Losing them means losing the very resource base that supports Cortez's culture and livelihood," Dryfoos wrote.

The Suncoast Waterkeeper organization, of which I am a member, also tells an important side of the story in its July newsletter, in an article titled "Last Remaining Old-Growth Wetlands Threatened by Permit Application." The article can be found at suncoastwaterkeeper.org/ july_2026_newsletter.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is accepting public comments on this permit application (SAJ-2015015030) through Aug. 7. I can't overstate the importance of commenting on this proposal to readers who value our marine habitat.

Public comment can be submitted by visiting https://rrs.usace.army. mil/rrs/public-notices?state=FL and scrolling down to the Long Bar Pointe LLLP project.

GRASSETT: August offers plenty of inshore action

blues, mackerel, tarpon or sharks. Wide-profile plastic baits or flies fished slowly around the edges of breaking fish will help keep ladyfish off your lure or fly and give you a chance to catch a tarpon. When blues, Spanish mackerel or sharks are in the mix, add 6 inches of wire or heavy fluorocarbon. Also look for tripletail around crab trap floats, buoys or channel markers in inshore waters this month.

You might find false albacore (little tunny) or Spanish mackerel in the Coastal Gulf this month. Look for baitfish or birds to find them. Small white flies, like my Grassett Snook Minnow, poppers or Crease flies should all work well. Spin anglers should score with CAL jigs and shad tails. You'll need to add wire or heavy fluorocarbon when toothy fish are around.

Even though it is one of the hottest months of the year, there are lots of options this month. I usually tarpon

Bridge Reef gets more reef balls

Manatee County recently deployed 56 artificial reef balls at Bridge Reef, adding 266,000 pounds (133 tons) of new habitat for marine life. Each reef ball weighs between 4,000 and 5,000 pounds and will provide shelter, feeding areas and nursery habitat for fish and other marine species for years to come. Bridge Reef is located in the Gulf, in 35 to 38 feet of water, 4.5 nautical miles west of Passage Key, near Anna Maria Island. The latest reef ball placement project was funded through the

fish as long as I can, either in the Coastal Gulf or in inside waters. An early start for snook or tarpon around lighted docks or bridges and then on to the flats for reds, trout and more is a good option. Our natural resources are under constant pressure from red tides fueled by industrial, agricultural and residential runoff, toxic spills and discharges, freezes, increasing fishing pressure and habitat loss and degradation. Please limit your kill; don't kill your limit!

2025–2026 Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Artificial Reef Construction Grant, awarded in early 2026. The reef balls were supplied by Reef Innovations and deployed offshore by O’Sullivan Marine’s Galway Girl. Manatee County has been building artificial reefs since the 1960s and this marks the 10th deployment at Bridge Reef since the site was established in 2020, continuing to strengthen the local marine ecosystem and recreational fishing opportunities.

FUN IN THE SUN

COMMERCIAL SALES, RENT & LEASE

HAVE YOU BEEN thinking of selling? We NEED properties to List for SALE!!! Duplexes, multi family, small resorts?

Call BIG Alan Galletto of Island Real Estate to get it SOLD 941-232-2216

CLEANING SERVICE

TOTAL HOME SERVICES CLEANING: Residential, Commercial, Rentals, VRBO. Professional and Reliable. Call 941-756-4570 or 941-565-3931

EMPLOYMENT

ROSER CHURCH SEEKS

part-time Assistant Facilities Administrator to cover Friday to Sunday and special events. Read job description at RoserChurch. com/job-opportunity.

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

RENOVATION SPECIALIST

ALL carpentry repairs, Wash

Family Construction, locally owned and operated CBC 1258250 Call 941-725-0073.

KERN & GILDER CONSTRUCTION, INC New Homes & Remodel. Design/Build. Since 1968. License # CBC 1261150. Call the Office. 941-778-1115. OFFICE ADDRESS: 1878 59th Street W Bradenton, FL 34209

GET’R DONE DRYWALL, INC Specializing in Remodels & Repairs. Island Resident for 20+ years. Call Neil. Cell 941-9621194

JSAN CORPORATION

Renovations Construction & Handyman Services 941-243-0995 Lic# CRC1332505 jsancorporation@gmail. com Flooring, Drywall, Painting, Repairs, Kitchen and Bathrooms, Trim & Doors Free Estimates. Credit Cards Accepted.

GORILLA DRYWALL REPAIR, LLC. 15+ years of experience. Free Estimates. Let’s solve your Drywall problems together. Call 941-286-0607.

LOCAL ISLAND

RESIDENT 30+ years of experience. Licensed & insured. Professional Services. Carpentry, Painting, Drywall and More. Reliable, Honest, Quality work. FREE estimates- Call Brian 941-220-8300

LANDSCAPING & LAWN CARE

R. GAROFALO’S Interlocking brick pavers, driveways, patios, pool decks. Free estimates. Licensed & Insured. Call Rafael 941-778-4823 or Veronik 941-526-7941

ISLAND RESIDENT. TREE/ BUSH Trimming, removal. Sweeping, blowing, and weeding. Weekly, bi-monthly or monthly schedule. Pressure washing. Call Bill Witaszek 941307-9315

MOVING & STORAGE

MARTIN’S MOVING YOUR Island movers! Offering dependable, competitive rates. No hidden costs. 941-8095777.

PAINTING & WALLCOVERING

PAINT! PAINT! AND MORE 28 years of experienced interior/exterior custom painting. Pressure cleaning, drywall repairs and texture finishes. Many Island references. Please call Neil for free estimates. 941-812-0507

{“WIZARD OF WALLS”}. Established 1980 Prompt quality service. Wallpaper installation/ removal. Mary Bell Winegarden 941-794-0455

DONALD PERKINS ABRACADABRA PAINTING LLC fully insured. 30 years experience. Many Island references. Call 941-705-7096

PROFESSIONAL PAINTING SERVICES. Prompt & Reliable. Island Resident. Quality Workmanship. Interior/Exterior. Minor repairs & carpentry. Free estimates. Bill Witaszek 941-307-9315

PEST CONTROL

ANNA MARIA PEST CONTROL Call 941-7781630

POOL SERVICES

FOUR SEASONS POOL SERVICE AND CHEMICAL SERVICES. Certified Pool Operator. 18 + Years Experience. Residential/commercial. Chemical Service Licensed & Insured. Call Dennis Clark 941-7375657

COLE'S TROPICAL POOL SERVICE Call Cole Bowers for all your pool maintenance needs! Affordable and Dependable!! 941-7131893

PRESSURE WASHING & WINDOWS

TOTAL HOME SERVICES CLEANING: Residential, Commercial, Construction, Vacation, VRBO Rentals . Also available Pressure Washing, Roof Cleaning, Paver Sealing and Windows. Call 941-5653931.

REAL ESTATE HOMES & CONDOS FOR SALE

Have you been thinking of selling? We NEED properties to List for SALE!!! GULF FRONT, CANAL FRONT, BAY FRONT CONDOS or HOMES ASK for BIG Alan Galletto of Island Real Estate to get it SOLD 941-232-2216

LOOKING FOR A highly motivated real estate broker to buy or sell your next home? Darcie Duncan, Broker Duncan Real Estate a lifelong island resident bringing success to her customers for 30 years. Proven track record brings you results! 941-725-1589

HISTORIC LONGBOAT

KEY VILLAGE Stunning beach cottage single family 2BR/2BA, completely renovated interiors, Designer touches.one car garage. $899,900. Sharon Hightower RE/MAX Alliance Group 941-330-5054 direct.

RENTALS: ANNUAL

ANNUAL 12 MONTH MIN. Holmes Beach 2BR/2BA + office. Walk to beach, shops, restaurants & trolley. $2800/mo. Call 203223-1119.

ANNUAL CONDO BRADENTON BEACH 1BR/1BA Furnished, all utilities including cable & Wifi. Small resort, big pool. One block to beach. 6 month minimum $2200/month. Call 941-315-6678

RENTALS: SEASONAL & VACATION

TIFFANY PLACE Gulf Front Condo for Rent Incredible views from living room and master bedroom. 2BR/2BA Green Real Estate Call 941-778-0455

SEASONAL RENTAL in PALMA SOLA. 3BR/2BA weekly or monthly rates. Contact Barb Grace 941201-2190

TRANSPORTATION

ANYTIME TRANSPORTATION to all Airports, Casino, etc. Tampa/St. Pete $90. Sarasota $45. Pets welcome. Very dependable. Reasonable rates. Contact Jeanne. 941-7795095