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RENOURISHMENT: two beach projects start soon
Hunsicker said there was also measurable sand loss from Hurricane Idalia across the federal portion of the beach.
“The Corps (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) has decided to include Hurricane Idalia’s sand losses into the larger project they hope to begin in November 2026 and extend into April or May of 2027,” Hunsicker wrote. “The Corps will be combining Hurricane Idalia, Debby, Helene and Milton sand losses in their project. When they conclude their project at the federal limits and continue into the Cortez and Coquina beach segments (likely in 2027), the amount of sand renourishment they will be delivering there will be the loss amounts documented from Hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton.”
Preliminary work has not yet started for either renourishment project, but as of July 2, Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch volunteers had relocated 42 nests in the renourishment area, according to Executive Director Kristen Mazzarella.
“We are working with Turtle Watch on nest relocations in advance of the Coquina/Cortez renourishment project set to begin in about two months,” Hunsicker wrote.
He said Turtle Watch is under contract with the natural resources department, which is giving the organization specific tasks the county is paying for using tourist development tax revenues dedicated to beach renourishment.
Regarding the larger renourishment project slated to begin in November, Hunsicker said, “As in the Idalia-only project, FEMA will again be reimbursing 75% of the total cost of the Cortez and Coquina beach segments. The state will be reimbursing 12.5% and the county tourist tax fund for beaches is making up the remaining 12.5%.”
According to Hunsicker, the U.S. Army Corps will fund practically 100% of the renourishment costs within their federally authorized area.
“The county payment of $6.18 million to the Corps is to cover the cost of the work they will be completing on the county’s behalf at our request over the Cortez Beach and Coquina Beach areas,” Hunsicker wrote. “The county will also be covering a small amount of sand added into the federal project that did not meet the federal criteria for their payment, requiring a county payment of $276,000.”
Hunsicker said the federal portion of the renourishment costs will likely exceed $22 million.
CABANAS: rental discussions resume
of cabana rentals happening on Anna Maria’s beaches.
The June 22 workshop was preceded by several past discussions about cabana rentals. Those past discussions included the April 9 meeting during which several residents and property owners who live along or near Gulf Boulevard, between Magnolia and Palm avenues, voiced their displeasure regarding the intense cabana rental activity now occurring near their homes.
Prior to the adoption of the parks and recreation ordinance, all commercial beach activities were prohibited in the public beach areas that carry the coastal conservation or the public recreation area zoning designation referred to as recreation open space on the city’s zoning map. The longstanding city prohibitions on commercial beach activity were never enforced and rarely discussed until concerns arose last summer about the increased number
Prior to the adoption of the new parks and recreation ordinance, the coastal conservation zoning designation included an outdated regulation that only allowed single-pole shade structures. Multi-pole shade structures were not allowed, but the new ordinance eliminated the mono-pole restriction.
The city’s current regulations now allow commercial beach cabana delivery, rental and removal services only on the public beaches located between Magnolia Avenue and Oak Avenue. That stretch of beach carries the city’s public recreation area zoning designation. Limiting cabana rentals only to that six-toseven block area of the beach has created concerns for several residents and property owners.
Commercial cabana rentals remain prohibited in the coastal conservation zone that includes the public beach
Many cabanas are set up early in the morning and remain unoccupied until late morning or early afternoon.
area in front of the Sandbar Seafood & Spirits restaurant. Cabana rentals also remain prohibited on the public beach areas that extend north of the restaurant and all the way around Bean Point to Jacaranda Road.
JUNE 22 DISCUSSION
During the recent workshop, Short mentioned the beach activity restrictions and prohibitions in place before
the new ordinance took effect.
“As we all know, those restrictions were not being enforced; and over time commercial activity started to happen on the beach,” he said.
He then addressed several lingering concerns associated with the city’s current cabana rental regulations. Short, the city commissioners and the meeting attendees spent nearly two hours discussing and debating several possible
revisions to the new cabana rental regulations.
Short said he and city staff spent the past couple months conducting additional research that included multiple communications with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection regarding the state’s position on commercial beach activities. Short said he was eventually informed that the city’s new commercial activity regulations do coincide with state law.
REGISTRATION PROGRAM
Beach cabana rental companies are now required to provide some basic registration information to the city but Short suggested enacting a beach cabana registration program that mirrors the city’s vacation rental registration program.
He said this might include the business name and business address, the business operator’s
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
Fourth of July parade returns to AMI
BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN REPORTER | jhendricks@amisun.com
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – After last year’s parade was canceled due to a lack of participation, the Anna Maria Island Privateers Fourth of July parade returned in a glorious manner on America’s 250th anniversary.
Sponsored this year by Sato Real Estate and featur ing more than 20 parade vehicles, the parade set sail from Coquina Beach in Bradenton Beach at ap proximately 10:15 a.m. and arrived at the Gulf Drive/ Bridge Street intersection around 10:30. For the next two hours, the parade meandered through Bradenton Beach, Holmes Beach and Anna Maria and ended at Bayfront Park at the north end of the Island – creating some temporary Islandwide traffic delays along the way on an already busy holiday morning.
The parade vehicles included the Privateers’ “Skullywag” parade vessel, two Crewe of De Soto parade vessels, work trailers transformed into floats, a trailered police boat, all-terrain vehicles, per sonal vehicles, business vehicles, police emergency vehicles, bikes, e-bikes and electric carts.
Spectators lined the streets in all three cities and used water guns to battle the participants in the parade billed as “the southeast’s biggest water fight.”
Before the parade started, Bradenton resident Lee Cullop and his friends gathered at the corner of Bridge Street and Gulf Drive with their water guns in hand. He said this was the third time he and his friends attended the Privateers’ Fourth of July parade.
“I come to the parade to celebrate America, fellowship, friendship and happiness – everything that Anna Maria Island truly represents. Nothing better than being here on the Fourth of July. After the parade, we’re taking a tiki boat cruise from Shore Things to celebrate my birthday and my friend’s birthday,” Cullop said.
See more parade photos in the parade story photo gallery at amisun.com.
ERNIE VANDERWALT | SUN
The parade approached the Gulf Drive/ Bridge Street roundabout.
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
The Sato Real Estate/Agnelli Pools & Construction float came prepared for a water fight.
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
The water fighting was intense in front of Island Time and the Bridge Street Bistro in Bradenton Beach.
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
These Bradenton and Sarasota residents were eager for the parade to start.
ERNIE VANDERWALT | SUN Parade participants and spectators engaged in fun-filled water fights.
STAYTERRA: Judge dismisses lawsuits against Stewart, Warren-Kaleta
not appear in the complaint and cannot be adequately gleaned from the cited paragraphs.”
In his order, Sniffen stated the 97-page complaint, which included 418 numbered paragraphs, is replete with evidentiary facts and impertinent allegations.
“The court may strike redundant, immaterial, impertinent or scandalous matter from any pleading at any time. It is hereby ordered that any amended pleading filed in this action shall include only a short, plain statement of the ultimate facts showing that the plaintiffs are entitled to relief and shall avoid the inclusion of unnecessary background details,” Sniffen stated in his order.
LAWSUITS AND DISMISSALS
The defendants’ motions to dismiss the lawsuits were the subject of a June 4 Zoom hearing conducted by Sniffen.
Attorney Megan Michalski represented Stewart and WarrenKaleta at the hearing. Michalski claimed that since Stewart and Warren-Kaleta did not sign the contract with StayTerra, and were not parties to the contract, they cannot be bound by the contract. Michalski also stated the contract does not bar the transfer of rental properties and the self-management of those properties.
Anthony Paduano, of the New York City-based Paduano and Weintraub law firm, represented the plaintiffs (GSP/StayTerra) during the June 4 hearing.
“The plaintiffs allege that, in short, they have been swindled,” Paduano said. “Mr. Kaleta is the signatory on the agreement as the agent for the LLCs that are being named as defendants.”
Sniffen later issued his order in favor of Michalski’s legal arguments.
LIFEGUARDS: stress vigilance
during busy summer
the water is flat bring a quieter threat: Swimmers who reach a sandbar with energy to spare but don't have enough energy to swim back to shore. "Those are a lot harder to predict than rip current rescues," McCarthy said. "You just never know when they're going to get too tired. It's very common that they just slip under and then you don't even see them. Everyone swims out there. They're all in a big group and they don't realize one person's gone down."
DIFFERENT PATHS, SAME MISSION
Nelson and McCarthy came to Anna Maria Island by very different
routes: Nelson through local swimming programs in Punta Gorda, and McCarthy by way of a lifelong lifeguarding career on Australia's surf beaches. Both ended up watching the same stretch of the Gulf for the same reason.
"Use common sense," Nelson said. "Pay attention to the flags and the conditions. If you hear a whistle, pop your head up, look at what's going on. We may be trying to get your attention."
The lifeguards’ advice costs nothing and, according to the people who are paid to watch this stretch of the Gulf Coast every day, it can save lives that would otherwise be lost to nothing more than a red flag someone didn't see.
CLASSIFIEDS
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
ACCOUNTANT/BOOK-
KEEPER NEEDED part time for a small HVAC company in Bradenton. Please send resume/inquiry to Sales@ ckphvac.com or Rae@ ckphvac.com
HOME IMPROVEMENTS
RENOVATION SPECALIST
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 SERVICECall 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
PERICO ISLAND
WATERFRONT 2BR/2BA single level villa + den, 2-car garage, screened lanai, impact windows/ doors plus other upgrades. Pool, clubhouse, fitness, sauna, tennis & pickleball. $569,000. Karen Parsons, Good Life Realty, 407-2337059
RENTALS: ANNUAL
ANNUAL 12 MONTH MIN. Holmes Beach 2BR/2BA + office. Walk to beach, shops, restaurants & trolley. $2800/mo. Call 203223-1119.
ANNUAL AMI 1BR/1BA + Den. $2200/mo. Walk to Beach close to Trolley. Call 860-922-3857.
RENTALS: SEASONAL & VACATION
ANNA MARIA ISLAND CONDOS Large pool, beach access, free WiFi, 1&2 Bedroom $900 to $1200 per week redekercondosonami.com Tim 941-704-7525
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
BUSINESS & SERVICE DIRECTORY
NESTING NEWS
| SUBMITTED
TURTLE NESTING UPDATE
AS OF FRIDAY, JULY 3:
Total loggerhead turtle nests: 344
Nests this week (6/27 to 7/3): 43
Total false crawls: 436
False crawls this week: 74
Total nests hatched: 0
Total hatchlings produced: 0
Total adult turtle disorientations: 20
Source: Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring
“We are still seeing nesting turtles and awaiting our first hatch,” Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring Executive Director Kristen Mazzarella wrote in her July 3 nesting update. “We had a surprise nest on the bayside of the
southern end of the Island this week. Manatee County staff alerted us to a turtle nesting at sunrise this week near the South Coquina Boat Ramp.” This nest has been posted and caged to prevent raccoon predation and will be monitored throughout the season. If you observe a nesting turtle, remain quiet and observe from a distance. If you see a sea turtle in trouble, call AMI Turtle Watch at 941-301-8434 or FWC at 888-404-3922.
SHOREBIRD NESTING UPDATE
AS OF FRIDAY, JULY 3:
Least terns: 32 adults on seven nests with nine chicks
Source: Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring
“The black skimmer colony was deemed inactive this week with no nests hatched and all the birds have left the enclosure,” Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring Executive Director Kristen Mazzarella wrote in her July 3 nesting update.
As of June 26, the black skimmer colony had nine adults.
“The least terns continue to persist inside the colony and have nine chicks that are doing well, with more chicks to hatch in the coming weeks,” she wrote.
Turtle Watch volunteers and beachgoers have named the least tern chicks Persi, Vera, Nancy, Amelia, Charlie,
KATHY DODDRIDGE | SUBMITTED
Vera the least tern chick is attempting to fly.
Carlos, Leon, Pearl and Opal.
“With seven nests still being incubated, future chicks will be named Indy and Daly (for Independence Day); Merry and Libby (for America and Liberty),” Mazzarella wrote.
Least tern chicks gain their flight feathers after three weeks.
Where’s Krysta?
As of July 6, Krysta, a female loggerhead sea turtle, had traveled 86 miles since she was satellite-tagged and released on June 29 after nesting on Coquina Beach. She will participate in the Sea Turtle Conservancy’s 2026 Tour de Turtles race, which begins on Aug. 1. Krysta is symbolically swimming to raise awareness about the threat of beach erosion. Her participation in the Tour de Turtles is sponsored by Hurricane Hanks restaurant and the Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring organization. Krysta was named in honor of longtime Hurricane Hanks employee Robin Palardy’s adult daughter, Krysta Palardy, who was killed in a 2025 traffic accident.
“Persi took his first flight (fledged) on July 1, and Vera has been stretching her wings and getting the courage to fly,” Mazzarella wrote. “The chicks seem to like the southern end of the enclosure as their playground and don’t obey the boundaries or the ‘Chick Crossing’ signs.”
Beachgoers should keep their distance from the enclosure when setting up their tents and chairs and use caution while walking along the shoreline. Do not approach or pick up chicks. If you see a chick in trouble, alert a bird steward or call the FWC Wildlife Alert hotline at 888-4043922 or the AMI Turtle Watch hotline at 941-301-8434.
AIMEE JOHNSON
After nesting on the bayside of the Island, this sea turtle returned to the water.
