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VOL 26 No. 4
Fun in the sun: It's back
October 22, 2025
LESLIE LAKE | SUN
Three beloved AMI events were canceled last year by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, but all three roared back to life on Saturday, kicking off the season. Above, the Anna Maria Elementary Fall Festival at The Center of Anna Maria Island featured a costume parade, rides, games, food and a pumpkin patch.
Crowds welcome back Bayfest Perfect weather added to the festival’s successful return.
Hurricanes Helene and Milton forced the relocation of the 2024 Halloween party.
BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
ANNA MARIA – Beautiful weather, classic cars, live music, a wide array of vendors and great attendance made for a successful Bayfest celebration after last year’s festival was canceled due to the damage caused by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The 24th Annual Bayfest celebration on Saturday was hosted and organized by the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce, with assistance provided by the city of Anna Maria, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office and the event sponsors and participants. “Bayfest was a great success for Anna Maria Island,” Chamber President Terri Kinder said. “Part of the proceeds go toward our scholarship program. Our community was
Kids’ Halloween party returns to AMI Moose Lodge BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
Pine Avenue was filled with Bayfest attendees. ready to embrace Bayfest after last year’s hurricanes. A big thank you to everyone who participated, came out to enjoy themselves and helped us make it an outstanding festival; and thanks to everyone who volunteered their time to help us make it one of the best Bayfests ever.” Earlier in the day, Chamber board member Eric Cairns said, “It’s noon and the street is already packed.”
SEE BAYFEST, PAGE 19
BRADENTON BEACH – Anna Maria Island Moose Lodge 2188 was filled with the sights and sounds of Halloween during the annual kids’ Halloween party on Saturday. This year’s party took on greater significance for lodge officers and volunteers because last year’s party had to be held at Bradenton Moose Lodge 1223 due to the extensive damage Hurricanes Helene and Milton caused at the beachfront lodge in Bradenton Beach. For the youngsters, it was simply a fun-filled Saturday morning that in-
GREEN TURTLES set record as turtle season ends. 17 Page 18 Anna Maria Island, Florida
The Island’s award-winning weekly newspaper
cluded French toast sticks for breakfast, games, a costume parade, a dance party, story time, a jelly bean guessing contest and a bag of treats for each youngster to take home with them. “This is home,” Moose volunteer and party organizer Sandra Zenzel said as the party began. “We’re thrilled to be back at our lodge for our parties again. We’re finally back home where we need to be for our parties. Enjoy, and happy early Halloween.” She also thanked the other Women of the Moose who helped organize the party. When speaking to The Sun, Lodge Administrator Byron Dalton said, “Today’s our annual kids’ Halloween party the Women of the Moose put on for our members. We’ve got about a hundred kids here.”
SEE MOOSE, PAGE 12
LOCAL BASEBALL history book
expected as World Series begins. 11 DUNCAN REAL ESTATE back home
again. 4
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Commissioners set legislative priorities The city’s legislative priorities will be presented to Manatee County’s state legislators on Oct. 27. BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
HOLMES BEACH – Protecting home rule rights, amending Senate Bill 180 and revising the state’s tourist development tax spending allowances are among city’s commission eight priorities for the Florida Legislature’s 2026 legislative session. Commissioner Terry Schaefer compiled the list of legislative priorities approved by the city commission on Oct. 16. Commissioner Carol Whitmore will present the city’s priorities to the state legislators who represent Manatee County on Monday, Oct. 27 during the Manatee County Legislative Delegation meeting and public hearing to be held from 8:30 a.m. to noon in the Bradenton City Council chamber.
The legislative session begins on Tuesday, Jan. 13. The city’s priorities list serves as a wish list and state legislators are not obligated to pursue any of the city’s legislative desires.
HOME RULE
The mayor, commissioners and the city’s contracted lobbyist oppose the preemption of local governments’ existing home rule rights and oppose the enactment of unfunded state mandates that require additional city expenditures. City officials support legislation that maintains and advances the city’s ability to regulate and control development and land use.
SENATE BILL 180
City officials support legislation that amends or omits sections 18 and 28 of the state law created earlier this year by the Florida Legislature’s adoption of SB 180. The resulting state law prohibits city and county governments from adopting or enforcing any
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
Commissioner Terry Schaefer compiled the legislative priorities supported by the mayor and other commissioners. development regulations that are more burdensome or restrictive than the local regulations in place as of Aug. 1, 2024. The controversial state law is being challenged by two lawsuits, one of which includes Manatee County as a named plaintiff. Holmes Beach officials support protecting the city’s home rule rights to regulate development and land use.
TOURIST DEVELOPMENT TAX
City officials support legislation that would allow additional uses of the tax revenues generated by the tourist development tax that
counties impose on hotel, motel, resort and short-term vacation rental stays of six months or less. Current state law restricts the use of county commissioncontrolled tourist development tax revenues to promoting and enhancing tourism and funding county and city projects that promote or enhance tourism. Tourist tax revenues cannot currently be used to fund street and road improvements, to fund drainage and stormwater improvements, to fund public safety enhancements or to fund law enforcement services.
MANGROVE PROTECTION
City officials support state legislation that would provide for the review and revision of the existing state laws pertaining to mangrove protections, with a focus on increased enforcement and increased penalties for violators.
FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY
City officials support legislation that maintains local government’s
right to raise the funds needed to respond to the needs of its citizens and businesses owners. City officials advocate against the elimination of property taxes and those tax revenues that serve as primary funding sources for city and county governments.
PROPERTY INSURANCE REFORM
City officials support legislation that reduces property insurance costs for residential and commercial property owners.
ENVIRONMENT, RESILIENCE, WATER QUALITY
City officials support full funding for state grants that help fund storm resiliency projects and water quality improvements and protections.
FLOOD, STORM RECOVERY
City officials support the pursuit of state legislation that would help fund the city’s storm recovery costs and help fund the city’s flood prevention and stormwater infrastructure investments.
4 THE SUN
ISLAND NEWS
Visit our website, www.amisun.com. Scan this code with your smartphone to go there. OCTOBER 22, 2025
Duncan Real Estate celebrates return to Pine Avenue The reopening of the Pine Avenue office marks another step forward in the Island’s year-long hurricane recovery efforts. BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
ANNA MARIA – Duncan Real Estate celebrated the recent reopening of its hurricane-damaged Anna Maria office with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, a champagne toast, Chick-fil-A appetizers and the 7 Better Days hat bar. The Duncan Real Estate sales and rental operations resumed at 310 Pine Ave. in late July after the business operations were displaced by the damage caused by Hurricane Helene in September 2024. The Oct. 17 grand reopening celebration began with some group photos taken of Duncan Real Estate owner Darcie Duncan, her 28 employees and some invited guests, followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony conducted by representatives of the Manatee County Chamber of Commerce. After the ribbon cutting, a champagne toast was made inside the repaired, renovated and expanded office space. Appetizers were enjoyed and many attendees stepped outside to design their own hats at the mobile 7 Better Days hat
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
Darcie Duncan cut the ceremonial ribbon during Duncan Real Estate’s Oct. 17 grand reopening ceremony. bar owned and operated by sisters Taylor and Kilee Fehd. Duncan employees and invited guests selected a baseball cap-style hat of their choosing and the various patches and other accessories to be pressed onto their customized hats. The following day, Duncan Real Estate’s Pine Avenue office was open during the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce’s Bayfest street party celebration – an annual event that was canceled last year because of the hurricanes.
LOOKING BACK, LOOKING AHEAD
“I could not be more excited to be back on Pine Avenue. It’s been my company’s
home for 25 years and there is nowhere else we would rather be,” Duncan said. “Pine Avenue is more than just a street; it’s our little family too and we love seeing everyone again.” Regarding the hurricane damage, she said, “With Helene, we had 37 inches of water throughout the office and we lost everything we had not removed with our normal storm preparations. So, we had to gut the inside down to the studs. We just had some little bumps and bruises from Hurricane Milton.” During the post-hurricane recovery process, Duncan Real Estate operated in the former Barnes Walker Title Inc. office
at 5916 Marina Drive in Holmes Beach in a space Duncan Real Estate began using as a maintenance facility in August 2024, the month before the first of the back-toback hurricanes struck the Island. The maintenance facility remains at the Holmes Beach location and the additional office space there is now leased to someone else. “We have a new, expanded office space on Pine Avenue and a great maintenance office in Holmes Beach,” Duncan said. When asked about the post-hurricane real estate and vacation rental markets one year later, she said, “The sales market has held up relatively well, all things considered. It’s been a bumpy road but I see good momentum as of late. I think one of the driving factors that created the sluggish market is that people just needed to get a storm season behind them to feel comfortable before jumping back in the market. “The vacation rental market has also held up well, considering that many of the ground-level rentals just came back online in mid-spring and into the summer. Some guests chose to just wait and come back next year, as they wanted the Island to be more put back together. We have a resilient community and that proves what a great place this is to vacation and invest. I feel very optimistic that we will see continued improvement in 2026,” she said.
The Feast approved for additional outdoor seating City commissioners approved The Feast’s request to add 20 additional outdoor dining seats. BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
HOLMES BEACH – City commissioners unanimously approved a request from The Feast restaurant owners to expand their outdoor seating capacity from eight to 28 seats. City commissioners approved the request on Oct. 16, with restaurant owners and brothers Christofer Dale and Joe Dale in attendance. The additional outdoor seating will be accomplished by placing additional tables and 20 more chairs in the covered outdoor dining area in front of the indoor restaurant space.
A site plan submitted with the request shows how the expanded seating capacity will be accomplished in the outdoor dining area. According to the staff report provided by Development Services Director Chad Minor, “The request aims to enhance customer capacity and improve the dining experience while maintaining compliance with the city of Holmes Beach land development code requirements.” For the protection of the restaurant patrons, parking bumpers or bollards must be installed between the parking spaces that abut the sidewalk and the outdoor dining area. When addressing the commission, Christofer Dale said the expanded seating configuration will still leave the space needed for pedestrians to
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
The Feast Restaurant’s outdoor dining area is now allowed 28 seats. use the sidewalk and leave enough space for first responders, wheelchair access and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The commission approval does not allow for amplified outdoor music.
When speaking to The Sun after leaving the commission meeting, Joe Dale said, “At The Feast, you can expect some of the some of the best food on the Island. We no longer have pizza, but we have a full bar with liquor. We’re changing our cocktail menu and were updating our food menu to reflect a lot of grouper and local seafood, and we’re adding to our steak options. We have good prices and a great staff that’s considerate and polite. We’re casual fine dining. You can come in off the beach or get dressed up if you like. We do a lot of wedding receptions and anniversary parties. We’re open daily from 4 to 9 p.m. and our new happy hour hours are 4 to 5:30.” The Feast is local at 5406 Marina Drive.
OCTOBER 22, 2025
WWW.AMISUN.COM - CELEBRATING 25 YEARS
Aggravated assault charge against Cortez man dismissed The charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon against Kevin Armstrong, of Cortez, in a 2024 shooting was dismissed on Oct. 13 when he invoked the Stand Your Ground law defense. Armstrong was arrested on June 7 for an incident that stemmed from a domestic dispute with his girlfriend, Caitlin Lipke. According to court records, Lipke and two friends went to the home she and Armstrong shared to retrieve her belongings following a dispute and gunshots were exchanged, resulting in injuries to both Lipke and Armstrong.
Lipke testified that Armstrong never pointed a gun at her and did not threaten to shoot her. According to Florida Statute 776.012, commonly known as the Stand Your Ground law, a person is immune from prosecution if he “reasonably believed that using force was necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm to himself, was not engaged in criminal activity and was in a place he had a right to be.” Twelfth Circuit Court Judge Frederick Mercurio signed the dismissal order.
BEACH BEAT BRADENTON BEACH Oct. 11, 6:47 p.m., 200 block of Gulf Drive. Warrant arrest. While on patrol, police reportedly observed drivers of mopeds without registration plates. The officer conducted a traffic stop and told the operators that the vehicles needed to be registered. During a license check, police determined that one of the male drivers, a 25-year-old Bradenton resident, had an outstanding warrant for failure to appear. The man claimed he was unaware of being issued a court date from a prior citation. He was arrested and both operators were issued summonses for no motor vehicle registration.
HOLMES BEACH Oct. 2, 4:04 a.m., 200 block 36th Street. Fugitive from justice. An Ohio man police say is a wanted fugitive from that state was detained by Holmes Beach police. Police reports state the man’s warrant was for a felony violation of probation with an original offense of receiving stolen
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property and violation of a protective order. Police conducted a search and reportedly located five credit cards without the man’s name, along with a large folding knife. The man was arrested and transported to Manatee County Jail. Oct. 13, 3:59 p.m., Manatee Beach. Animal cruelty. Officers were dispatched to a citizen complaint about a dog in distress inside an unattended locked vehicle that was not running. The vehicle was reportedly parked in direct sunlight and two small dogs were inside. Police reports state the dogs were panting heavily and appeared to be in distress and officers forced entry into the vehicle. The dogs were brought to a veterinary hospital where they were said to have elevated body temperatures. According to police, the front seat area registered 104 degrees and the back seat, 98 degrees. The vehicle’s owners arrived at the vehicle and reportedly told police they were at the beach for just 5 to 10 minutes. One of the owners signed over the animals to Manatee County, relinquishing ownership. Police completed a capias request for both dog owners for two counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty.
6 THE SUN
The Anna Maria Island Sun
OPINION
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ON THE AGENDA ANNA MARIA
10005 GULF DRIVE FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-708-6130
Visit www.cityofannamaria.com or contact city hall for more information. Thursday, Oct. 23, 10 a.m., City Commission meeting
BRADENTON BEACH
HOLMES BEACH
107 GULF DRIVE N. FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-778-1005
5801 MARINA DRIVE FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-708-5800
Visit www.cityofbradentonbeach.com or contact city hall for more information Thursday, Oct. 23, 12 p.m., City Commission meeting
Visit www.holmesbeachfl.org or contact city hall for more information. Thursday, Oct. 23, 11:30 a.m., Police Department Pension Board meeting Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2 p.m., City Commission meeting
CENTER OF ANNA MARIA ISLAND EVENTS PEDALING FOR PARKINSON’S
TUESDAYS, 1-2 P.M.
Pedaling for Parkinson’s is an indoor stationary cycling class developed specifically for people with Parkinson’s Disease. Participants ride for one hour with a warm up and a cool down. Pre-registration required. Free for members and non-members.
FULL MOON AND NEW MOON WOMEN’S CIRCLE WITH CARLY BURDICK
MONDAYS, 6- 8 P.M.
Upcoming full moon circle dates: Nov. 3 and Dec. 1; new moon circle dates: Nov. 17 and Dec. 22. Includes: Group meditation, journaling and self-reflection, sharing circle, sound healing and connection and community. Members: $25; non-members: $30.
COMMUNITY WELLNESS DAY
SUNDAY, NOV. 9, 9 A.M. TO NOON.
Experience a wide range of wellness activities, including strength training, breathwork, sound healing, yoga, ice baths and reiki. Open to members and non-members. Cash donation-based. The Center of Anna Maria Island is located at 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria.
Drop us a line 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.
OCTOBER 22, 2025
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OCTOBER 22, 2025
Roser Food Pantry needs donations The Roser Food Pantry in Anna Maria needs financial donations and non-perishable food donations. Operated by Roser Memorial Community Church, 100% funded by community donations and serving more than 500 families per year, the Roser Food Pantry is Anna Maria Island’s only food pantry. Registered food pantry visitors select the grocery items they prefer rather than receiving a premade bag of groceries. There’s also an outdoor Roser’s Blessing Box stocked with a limited number of grab-‘n’-go food items for those who arrive when the pantry is closed. The most popular Roser Food Pantry program entails grocery store gift cards being mailed to recipients whose financial needs are monitored by Roser Church members. Supported by financial donations, the food card program helps 40 local families afford meat, dairy, fresh vegetables and other grocery items. Pantry volunteers shop for food and filter and stock the food donations received and assist visitors during the twiceweekly food pickup hours. For information about receiving food pantry benefits, visit www.roserchurch.com/ministries/roserfood-pantry, email matt@roserchurch.com or call the office at 941-778-0414 Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. To donate funds, visit www.roserchurch. com/food. To donate food, please drop non-perishables in the donation box near
ROSER CHURCH | SUBMITTED
Roser Facilities Administrator Charles Wade displays the food pantry shelves that need more donated non-perishable food items.
ROSER CHURCH | SUBMITTED
A limited number of “help yourself” food items are available anytime at the outdoor Roser’s Blessing Box. the food pantry door or call the church office for assistance. The Roser Food Pantry is located at 511 Pine Ave., across the street from Roser Memorial Community Church.
AN EVENING OF COASTAL FLAVORS AND COMMUNITY GIVING Sunday, November 2, 2025 5:30 PM This special evening is a fundraiser for The Shuckin’ Good Cause Fund, benefiting our Dive into Reading Summer Reading Program
$150 Per Guest
Including Tax and Gratuity
Purchase Your Ticket Now!
Table sponsorships are also available!
Anna Maria Oyster Bar Landside 6906 14th St W, Bradenton, FL 34207 What’s Included
• Five-Course Coastal Seafood Experience and Beverage Pairings %QERHEǙW ;MRI ;EȈ
• )TMG 6EȅPIW •
• Live Music
OCTOBER 22, 2025
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Wildlife Inc. rehabbed after hurricane damage BY LESLIE LAKE
SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com
BRADENTON BEACH – One year after the Wildlife Inc. Education and Rehabilitation Center was devastated by two hurricanes, the center is back to full operation. “We’ve had 900 plus (animals) this year,” co-founder Gail Straight said. “That’s under what we normally have.” Straight, who founded the non-profit animal rehabilitation facility with her husband, Ed, 35 years ago, did what she could following the 2024 storms that flooded not only the center, but their attached home. “We never really closed completely. People would call me on my cell phone for some animals,” she said. “I stayed with a friend on Gulf Drive, and I came back and forth and I brought some of the babies there.” Straight said the storms destroyed everything in their home and facility. “We lost everything but our dining room table,” she said. “All the shelves and things now are brand new. The appliances were donated by the Rotary Club.” When the rehab facility put out a recent call for volunteers through their website, www.wildlifeinc.org, and their Facebook page, they were swamped with those wanting to help. “We don’t need more volunteers right now because we have 50 applications to go through,” Wildlife Inc. volunteer Gale Tedhams said. “We put something on our Facebook page and people started responding.” Tedhams said for anyone who would like to help the facility, there is always a wish
LESLIE LAKE | SUN
Wildlife Inc. co-founder Gail Straight talks about the reopening of the animal rehabilitation center damaged by the hurricanes of 2024. list posted on their website. “There’s a wish list for Amazon and there’s a way to donate on the website,” she said. “So, when we run out of something or need more of a certain kind of food or something we change up the requests.” Straight said the non-profit facility relies primarily on donations. “We’re getting a couple of grants, but they’re getting harder and harder to get,” Straight said. “Really only donations,” Tedhams said. “We don’t have any government help.” Tedhams said they would like to find someone with a large property who would allow some of the rehabbed animals to be relocated there. “We’ve got lots of bunnies, lots of squirrels, lots of raccoons,” she said. “We are
SEE WILDLIFE INC, PAGE 19
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JANUARY 31, 2024
Roser Church
“...a beautiful place to explore your faith...”
SUNDAY WORSHIP 8:30 AM in the Chapel 10:00 AM in the Fellowship Hall Nursery • Children & Youth
ONLINE • Watch LIVE or LATER
RoserChurch.com
Receive the eNewsletter • Sign up at RoserChurch.com/contact-us The CHAPEL is open during office hours for prayer and meditation 941-778-0414 • 512 Pine Ave, Anna Maria • FOLLOW us on Facebook @RoserChurch
OCTOBER 22, 2025
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THE SUN
Local baseball history inspires new book Cindy Lane
Carlucci
W
BASEBALL IN PARADISE
ith the first game of the World Series beginning on Friday, it’s the perfect time to swing by a coastal baseball-themed neighborhood in Anna Maria and pay homage to Anna Maria Island’s baseball past. Start by walking on the beach near Cypress Avenue and look through the trees… you’ll catch a glimpse of statues of three young boys playing baseball in front of stadium seating. Walk up the beach access and you’ll see that the house on the property sports a gate with the crossed bats of Milwaukee Braves ballplayers and Baseball Hall of Famers Warren Spahn and Eddie Mathews. Spahn, a pitcher, sold the house to Mathews, a third baseman. Spahn gave the baseball treatment to a cluster of homes where Braves ballplayers lived during spring training in Bradenton from 1953-62, naming them “The Mound,” “Home Plate,” “Infield,” “Outfield,” “Shortstop” “Catcher’s Mitt” and “The Diamond.” The Gulf-front neighborhood around Cypress, Spruce and Fir Avenues and Tuna Street has since traded most of the modest single-story homes for large two- and three-story homes. But its history has been immortalized by an author with Bradenton Beach ties, whose book on the 100year history of baseball in Bradenton and Anna Maria Island is expected be published before the 2025 World Series is over.
Pasquale (Pat) Carlucci was born on Oct. 3, 1951, the day of the “shot heard ‘round the world,” when New York Giant Bobby Thomson’s home run won the pennant against the Brooklyn Dodgers. It wasn’t the best of omens to his father, a Dodgers fan. But Carlucci’s baptism into baseball led him into a lifetime of baseball fanaticism, culminating in his writing two books, “A Baseball Birthright: Chronicles & Connections” and “Baseball in Paradise: A Century of Spring Training in Bradenton,” which will be of special interest to AMI locals. During a 2023 trip to his vacation home in Bradenton Beach, where he has vacationed with his family since 2013, Carlucci said he started getting “baseball signs.” He investigated, and it turned out that 2023 marked 100 years of spring training in Bradenton, which he decided to recount in book form, starting with the St. Louis Cardinals, the Boston Red Sox, the Philadelphia Athletics, the Braves, the Kansas City Athletics and finally, the city’s present spring training team, the Pittsburgh Pirates. Carlucci read up on The Anna Maria Island Sun’s coverage of the Anna Maria baseball neighborhood. He visited the Anna Maria Island Historical Museum, where he learned about locals like Joe Hutchinson,
CINDY LANE | SUN
These baseball sculptures can be seen while strolling the Gulf coast in Anna Maria. whose dad was Fred Hutchinson, a manager for the Detroit Tigers, St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds, and Carol Torgeson, whose dad was Earl Torgeson, who played with the Boston Braves, Philadelphia Phillies, Detroit Tigers, Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees. He discovered that New York Yankee Babe Ruth once owned the Drift-In in Bradenton Beach, that a baseball field in Holmes Beach is named for Birdie Tebbetts, who managed the Cincinnati Reds, and that St. Louis Cardinal Dizzy Dean once owned a gas station in Bradenton. But even for those who aren’t baseball fans or history buffs, Carlucci said the book just might serve as a travelogue to their new favorite vacation spot. Meanwhile, get ready. It’s almost game time.
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Shop at Hurricane Liquors to earn discounts at Fifty Three Fifty and Hurricane Hanks
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OCTOBER 22, 2025
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
The costumed children posed for a group photo.
MOOSE: Kids’ Halloween party returns to AMI Moose Lodge FROM PAGE 1 When asked how it felt to have the kids’ Halloween party back at Lodge 2188 again, Dalton said, “Phenomenal.” After he gathered the costumed children for a group photo, Dalton suggested an impromptu dance party and requested some music. Using her cell phone, Fox 13 reporter and party attendee Kimberly Kuizon acted quickly and provided the dance music. At one point, some of the younger children gathered around Zenzel as she read “The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything.”
Two-year-old Bryson Price came closest to correctly guessing the number of jelly beans contained in a large, covered drinking glass. He guessed 195 and there were 187. The adult Halloween party will be held on Saturday, Oct. 25 and will begin around 6 p.m. with karaoke on the outdoor beachfront patio.
QUEEN OF HEARTS
The hurricane-damaged Moose Lodge has been operating at full speed for several months. The social
SEE MOOSE, PAGE 23
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OCTOBER 22, 2025
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‛S YOUR COMFORT ZONE? WHERE
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OUTDOORS
OCTOBER 22, 2025
Join water warriors for an inspiring brunch Reel Time RUSTY CHINNIS
S
uncoast Waterkeeper’s (SCWK) annual fundraising event, Brunch for The Bay, is coming to the Sarasota Yacht Club. Don’t miss this opportunity to support SCWK’s clean water mission and meet and hear from one of the world’s environmental “rock stars.” This year’s keynote speaker, Rob Bilott, is known worldwide as the attorney who took on chemical giant DuPont and uncovered the dangers of PFAS contamination. His “David and Goliath” story was depicted in the 2019 feature film, "Dark Waters." Bilott has dedicated his career to protecting communities from the toxic threat of “forever chemicals.”
At Brunch for the Bay 2025, he will present "Uncovering the Global Threat of PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ Contamination." One of the notable sponsors of this year’s event is the Holmes Beach Clean Water Ad Hoc Committee. The group serves as an advisory committee to the City Commission. It was conceived by Mayor Judy Titsworth, whose family (the Holmes in Holmes Beach) has been on Anna Maria Island for generations. Titsworth’s idea comes from a lifetime of seeing the changes firsthand that so few of us late arrivals appreciate. In her own words, she explains the concept behind the committee and the life experiences that led to its formation: “The Clean Water Committee's vision is to ensure waters will meet the designated human uses for drinking, shellfish harvesting or swimming and fishing, while sustaining healthy natural ecosystems that support natural processes and
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resilient native plant and animal communities. Growing up on the Island in a house on the bay gave me a most remarkable childhood. My sister and I spent most of our days outside playing in the bay and along the natural shorelines. The bay isn't what it was back then and much of the marine life has drastically diminished due to the impacts from
development, pollution from stormwater runoff, Piney Point and sewage spills. The clean water committee is a recommending ad hoc board that I developed to assist in identifying solutions to improve our water quality by reducing our impacts. We greatly support the efforts made by Suncoast Waterkeeper in educating the public about the adverse conditions of our waters, holding polluters accountable and their commitment to water quality testing and documenting the effects that the pollutants have on seagrasses and marine life.” There’s never been a better time to help support the clean water mission of the committee and Suncoast Waterkeeper. Meet like-minded advocates, enjoy a great meal overlooking Sarasota Bay at the area’s premier Yacht Club and be inspired to join and advance this critical mission. Get your tickets before they sell out. I look forward to seeing you there.
OCTOBER 22, 2025
WWW.AMISUN.COM - CELEBRATING 25 YEARS
The following hotels and motels accept pets. Some have limitations on species, number, size and breed, some require pets to be caged before housekeeping services are rendered, some require deposits or extra charges, and some have special pet amenities, such as grassy areas for walking. Call ahead to find accommodations that match your needs, and make a list of several hotels in different parts of the state to be prepared for storms from any direction. ANNA MARIA ISLAND Anna Maria Dream Inn 2502 Gulf Dr. N. Bradenton Beach 941-209-1420 Anna Maria Island Resorts Tortuga Beach Resort 1325 Gulf Dr. Bradenton Beach 941-778-6611 Anna Maria Motel 808 N. Bay Blvd. Anna Maria 941-778-1269
Courtyard Bradenton Sarasota/Riverfront 100 Riverfront Dr. W. 941-747-3727 Days Inn 3506 1st St. W. 941-746-1141 Days Inn Bradenton – I75 644 67th St Circle E 941-746-2505 Fairfield Inn & Suites Lakewood Ranch 6105 Exchange Way 941-552-4000
Queen’s Gate 1101 Gulf Dr. N. Bradenton Beach 941-778-7153
Hampton Inn & Suites 309 10th St W 941-746-9400
ARCADIA Knights Inn 504 S. Brevard Ave. 863-494-4884
Hyatt Place Sarasota/ Lakewood Ranch 6021 Exchange Way 941-748-3100
Holiday Inn Express 2709 Southeast Hwy. 70 863-494-5900
Motel 6 660 67th St. Circle E. 941-747-6005
BRADENTON Best Western Plus 2215 Cortez Rd W 941-238-0800
Spring Hill Suites Bradenton Downtown Riverfront 102 12th St. W. 941-226-2200
Compass Hotel Anna Maria Sound 12324 Manatee Ave W. 941-741-9700
BROOKSVILLE Days Inn 6320 Windmere Rd 352-796-9486
Microtel Inn 6298 Nature Coast Blvd 352-796-9025 Quality Inn 30307 Cortez Blvd 352-796-9481 CAPE CORAL Holiday Inn Express 1538 Cape Coral Pkwy E 239-542-2121 Hampton Inn & Suites 619 SE 47th Terrace 239-540-1050 DAYTONA BEACH Homewood Suites By Hilton 165 Bill France Blvd 386-258-2828 Residence Inn Daytona Beach Speedway/Airport 1725 Richard Petty Blvd 386-252-3949 DELAND Comfort Inn 400 E International Speedway 386-736-3100 ELLENTON Hampton Inn 5810 20th Ct. E. 941-721-4000 Red Roof Inn 4915 17th St. E. 941-729-0600
THE SUN
15
16 THE SUN ELLENTON Super 8 5218 17th St. E. 941-729-8505 FORT MYERS Baymont Inn & Suites 9401 Marketplace Rd 239-454-0040 Hyatt Place 2600 Champion Ring Rd 239-418-1844
WWW.AMISUN.COM - CELEBRATING 25 YEARS
La Quinta Inn North 2905 N. Monroe St. 850-385-7172
Homewood Suites by Hilton Tampa/Brandon 10240 Palm River Road 813-685-7099
Days Inn 1941 Tamiami Trail 941-623-9404
Hibiscus Suites 1735 Stickney Point Road 941-921-5797
Motel 6 Downtown 1027 Apalachee Parkway 850-877-6171
Hyatt Place Tampa Airport 4811 W. Main St. 813-282-1037
Knights Inn 4100 Tamiami Trail 941-743-2442
Hyatt Place Lakewood Ranch 6021 Exchange Way 941-946-2357
Motel 6 West 2738 N. Monroe St. 850-386-7878
Residence Inn 4312 W. Boy Scout Blvd. 813-877-7988
Quality Inn 3090 N. Monroe St. 850-562-2378
Sheraton Tampa East Hotel 10221 Princess Palm Ave 813-623-6363
Red Roof Inn 2930 Hospitality Street 850-385-7884
TEMPLE TERRACE Residence Inn 13420 N Telcom Parkway 813-972-4400
Microtel Inn & Suites 1770 Southwest 134th St 352-307-1166
LAKE BUENA VISTA Marriott Residence Inn 11450 Marbella Palm Court 407-465-0075
Equus Inn 3434 SW College Rd 352-854-3200
Travel Lodge 13661 Indian Paint Ln 239-561-1117
LAKE MARY Extended Stay America 1040 Greenwood Blvd 407-829-2332 Hyatt Place 1255 S International Pkwy 407-995-5555 La Quinta Inn 1060 Greenwood Blvd. 407-805-9901
Residence Inn 3601 S.W. 38th Ave. 352-547-1600 Sleep Inn and Suites 13600 S.W. 17th Court 352-347-8383 ORLANDO Hard Rock Hotel 5800 Universal Blvd. 407-503-2000 Holiday Inn Lake Buena Vista 13351 State Road 535 407-239-4500 La Quinta Inn - Universal Studios 5621 Major Blvd 407-313-3100
Motel 6 4000 S.W. 40th Blvd. 352-373-1604
Residence Inn 825 Heathrow Park Lane 407-995-3400
Motel 6 - Winter Park 5300 Adanson Street 407-647-1444
Residence Inn by Marriott I-75 3275 SW 40 Blvd 352-264-0000
LEESBURG Best Western Plus 1321 N. 14th Street 352-460-0118
Motel 6 International 5909 American Way 407-351-6500
KISSIMMEE Ramada Gateway 7470 HWY 192 407-966-4410
Hampton Inn 9630 Us Hwy 441 352-315-1053
LAKELAND Hilton Garden Inn 3839 Don Emerson Drive 863-647-0066
Hampton Inn & Suites 8565 Cooper Creek Blvd 941-355-8619
Residence Inn 3701 Harden Blvd. 863-680-2323
Days Inn 3430 N US Hwy 441 386-758-4224
Motel 6 5731 W. Irlo Bronson Hwy. 407-396-6333
PORT CHARLOTTE Comfort Inn 812 Kings Hwy 941-421-7548
Knights Inn 301 S Frontage Rd 813-752-0570
Residence Inn 20371 Summerlin Rd 239-415-4150
Home Hotel & Suites 3905 S.W. 43rd St. 352-376-0004
TALLAHASSEE Best Western Pride Inn 2016 Apalachee Parkway 850-656-6312
La Quinta Inn & Suites 3530 S.W. 36th Ave. 352-861-1137
La Quinta Inn 9521 Market Place Rd 239-466-0012
GAINESVILLE Best Western 4200 N.W. 97th Blvd. 352-331-3336
Even Hotel – Lakewood Ranch 6231 Lake Osprey Dr 941-782-4400
Motel 6 3120 U.S. Hwy. 98 N. 863-682-0643
LAKE CITY Baymont Inn & Suites 3598 US 90 W 386-752-3801
OCALA Comfort Inn 1212 S Pine Ave 352-629-7300 Hampton Inn & Suites 3601 SW 38th Ave 352-867-0300
Residence Inn Seaworld 11000 Westwood Blvd. 407-313-3600 Staybridge Suites 7450 Augusta National Dr 407-438-2121 Townplace Suites 11801 High Tech Ave. 407-243-6100 PLANT CITY Comfort Inn 2003 S Frontage Rd 813-707-6000
OCTOBER 22, 2025
Sleep Inn & Suites 806 Kings Highway 941-613-6300 PUNTA GORDA Four Points by Sheraton 33 Tamiami Trail 941-637-6770 RUSKIN Holiday Inn & Suites 226 Teco Rd. 813-922-4561 Ruskin Inn 3113 College Ave 813-641-3437 SANFORD Best Western Plus 3401 S Orlando Dr 407-320-0845 SARASOTA Comfort Suites 5690 Honore Ave 941-554-4475 Comfort Inn & Suites 5931 Commercial Way 941-342-8778 Courtyard Sarasota Bradenton 850 University Pkwy 941-355-3337 Embassy Suites by Hilton 202 N. Tamiami Trail 941-256-0190
Hyatt Place Sarasota 950 University Pkwy 941-554-5800 La Quinta Inn & Suites 1803 N. Tamiami Trail 941-366-5128 Residence Inn 1040 University Pkwy. 941-358-1468 Days Inn 5000 N. Tamiami Trail 941-351-7734 Sleep Inn 900 University Pkwy. 941-359-8558 SEBRING La Quinta Inn 4115 US 27 South 863-386-1000 Magnunson Grand 6525 US 27 North 863-385-4500 Residence Inn 3221 Tubbs Road 863-314-9100 Severn Sebring Hotel 150 Midway Dr 863-655-7200 SPRING HILL Motel 6 6172 Commercial Way 352-596-2007
Red Roof Inn 6737 Mahan Drive 850-656-2938 Residence Inn 1880 Raymond Diehl Road 850-422-0093 Residence Inn Universities 600 W. Gaines St. 850-329-9080 Sleep Inn 1695 Capital Circle N.W. 850-575-5885 Staybridge Suites 1600 Summit Lake Drive 850-219-7000 Suburban Extended Stay Hotel 522 Silver Slipper Lane 850-386-2121 TAMPA Quality Inn-Busch Gardens 2701 E. Fowler Ave. 813-971-4710 Holiday Inn Express 8610 Elm Fair Blvd 813-490-1000
Holiday Inn Express 8310 Galbraith 813-910-7171
Towne Place Suites by Marriott 6800 Woodstork Rd 813-975-9777 WINTER HAVEN Howard Johnson Inn 1300 3rd St SW 863-294-7321 Lake Roy Beach Inn 1825 Cypress Garden Blvd 863-324-6320 Roadway Inn & Suites 1911 Cypress Gardens Blvd. 863-324-5994
OCTOBER 22, 2025
WWW.AMISUN.COM - CELEBRATING 25 YEARS
THE SUN
17
Turtle season ends with green turtle nest record BY LESLIE LAKE
SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – With sea turtle season winding down and just one nest left on the beach, Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring Executive Director Kristen Mazzarella reflected on the 2025 season. “This year has been an excellent year for green turtle nests - with a record 16 green turtle nests documented - the previous record was 12 nests,” Mazzarella wrote in an Oct. 18 email. “It has also been the second highest year for loggerhead nests, second only to 2024, which had 685 loggerhead nests.
AMY WATERBURY | SUBMITTED
A green sea turtle hatchling found in a nest excavation on Anna Maria Island makes its way to the Gulf of Mexico. The lack of major storms this season allowed most nests to hatch and 2025 to become the third highest year for
NESTING NEWS
(409 loggerhead, 15 green) Record: 453 in 2022
TURTLE NESTS LAID: 544
HATCHLINGS PRODUCED: 30,899
(528 loggerhead, 16 green) Record: 685 in 2024
FALSE CRAWLS: 828
(797 loggerhead, 31 green) Record: 831 in 2010
NESTS HATCHED: 424
(29,674 loggerhead, 1,225 green) Record: 35,850 in 2022
NEST DISORIENTATIONS: 151
(148 loggerhead, 3 green)
hatchling production on AMI.” Mazzarella stated that 2025 was also a record year for disorientations. “Disorientations are when sea turtles travel away from the water towards artificial lighting (e.g., streetlights, porch lights, flashlights, interior lights), often leading them into hazardous situations like the street, swimming pools and storm drains,” she wrote. “We had a total of 181 disorientations documented in 2025, including 30 adults and 151 hatching nests. Of these disorientations, a minimum of 3,951 (and a maximum of over 9,000) hatchlings disoriented, including 217 that were found dead. Over 400 live
ADULT DISORIENTATIONS: 30
(28 loggerhead, 2 green) Source: Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring
hatchlings were found in swimming pools and storm drains and had to be taken to rehabilitation.” She said that many of the disorientations can be attributed to the lack of dunes and vegetation that were destroyed by Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024, allowing lights which had been shielded by these dunes and vegetation to reach the beach. “We have been working with the local municipalities to try to address these lighting issues over the nesting season and will continue to work on this over the winter so that it may not be as big of a problem in 2026,” Mazzarella wrote.
• The Sixth Annual Suzi Fox Turtle Watch Wednesday annual fundraiser is Wednesday, Oct. 22 from 4-6 p.m. at Hurricane Hanks, 5346 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach.
• Meet turtle patrol volunteers and learn about shorebirds and sea turtles at the Anna Maria Farmers Market each Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Roser Memorial Community Church, 512 Pine Ave.
18 THE SUN
REAL ESTATE
OCTOBER 22, 2025
For sale: Haunted house
E
very year I try and write a light column at the end of October about disclosure of what I’ll call “stigmatized properties.” Last year, I skipped this topic for about three weeks since most of us were in the middle of flood and hurricane cleanup and there was nothing funny about any of it. This year, however, is a totally different story and with a little bit of luck, next year we won’t have any hurricanes to write about - so on to the paranormal. In most U.S. states, sellers are not legally required to disclose alleged paranormal activity unless they have a history of marketing the property as haunted. However, some states like New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts have specific laws, and a seller’s disclosure is mandatory if asked directly, since failing to answer truthfully can have legal consequences. In addition, some states may require disclosure for certain types of deaths,
Castles in the Sand LOUISE BOLGER like murder or suicide, regardless of paranormal claims. The best way to handle a property that may be stigmatized or has a reputation for being haunted is to answer a buyer’s question truthfully to the best of your knowledge and ability. Stigmatized properties can impact their value and could lead to a lower sale price even if there is no proof of paranormal activity, so just like everything else in your home, honesty is the best policy. Also, if you have any concern about paranormal activity in your home or a home you’re interested in buying, check the state’s disclosure laws.
But what about Florida laws regarding paranormal activity? Florida does not require sellers to disclose paranormal activity in a home. Florida law mandates the disclosure of “material facts” that affect a property’s value, but it does not consider hauntings, deaths or crimes as material facts legally requiring disclosure. Buyers who may be concerned about such issues must talk to sellers directly, and sellers should be transparent about what they know, if anything, on this topic. In addition to paranormal activity, Florida law does not require sellers to disclose deaths at the property, including homicide or suicide. Crimes committed on or near the property also do not need to be disclosed. And nearby sexual offenders do not need to be disclosed. This information is available to buyers by checking public databases or asking their attorney to do so.
Basically, Florida requires disclosure of material defects like roofs, electrical systems, appliances, consistent flooding, hidden mold and a variety of other material defects that could affect the value of a property. Paranormal activity, no matter how much it may be a reality to some people, is not considered a material defect by the state of Florida. And if some of those crazy Northeastern states want to make laws about paranormal activity in properties for sale or include it on their disclosure forms, well, best I don’t comment on their decisions. I think it would be a great year to dress up for Halloween and enjoy the fantasy of the holiday. If you happen to see a ghost or poltergeist, just remember they’re not a material defect, no matter how real they look. Always answer questions about your home truthfully and you’ll be fine. Happy Halloween.
OCTOBER 22, 2025
WWW.AMISUN.COM - CELEBRATING 25 YEARS
WILDLIFE INC: Rehabbed
looking for people with property particularly out east where we can bring the animals.” Wildlife Inc. serves all of Manatee County. Many of the animals’ injuries are caused by being struck by vehicles, rat poison getting into the food chain, outdoor cat attacks and glue traps. “Athena is great horned owl. She can’t be released and goes to shows with us,” she said. “When she was in a nest with her family, her mom brought a rat back to the nest and it had rat poison in it, it killed them all except for her, but it did take out her eye, because rat poison causes internal bleeding. It’s a horrible way to die and it gets into the food chain, that’s the problem.” Tedhams would also like to have people discontinue using glue traps. “Glue catches other things,” she said. “When birds get on them, it takes the feathers off, or some animals will chew a limb off to try to get out. Rat poison and glue traps we’re totally against.”
the yearly fall festival
One of the center’s cages is filled with baby squirrels. “We had probably at least 50 squirrels,” Tedhams said. “People trim their trees during nesting season, and then the nest falls on the ground, and they fall out. They trim their palm trees down to nothing, and they end up with a bunch of squirrels.” She said outdoor cats are a real nemesis to small animals such as squirrels. The center is aware of an injured blue heron that’s been on the beach for about two months. “He’s got a hook in his leg, but he can fly so we’ve tried to catch him many times and haven’t been able to,” Tedhams said. “We’ve gotten a lot of calls about him.” Anyone who finds an injured animal can call the center at 941-778-6324 or transport the animal directly to the facility at 2207 Ave. B, Bradenton Beach. “We prefer them to bring them, but if they can’t for some reason, we’re building up our volunteers to help transport animals,” Tedhams said.
FROM PAGE 1 He attributed the high volume of early attendees to the picture-perfect weather. The Chamber’s fundraising activities included beer sales and the first beer vending shift was covered by Anna Maria Mayor Mark Short, City Clerk Amber LaRowe, Executive Assistant Barbara Jeffries, Slicker’s Eatery owner Bob Slicker, Anna Maria Island Historical Society member Barbara Murphy and Bayfest volunteer Ingrid McClellan. Vendors and classic vehicles lined Pine Avenue from North Shore Drive to South Bay Boulevard, joined by many Pine Avenue businesses and restaurants, Roser Memorial Community Church, the Roser Food Pantry, Wildlife Inc. Education and Rehabilitation Center and Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring. The Bill Mergens Memorial Car Show along Pine Avenue included the classic Batmobile from the 1960s “Batman” television show and dozens of additional classic cars, trucks and vans. The food court in the Roser Church parking lot included local favorites
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
The classic Batmobile was a nostalgic highlight of the Bayfest classic car show. Pizzano’s Pizza, The Freckled Fin, Poppo’s Taqueria, Topsail Steamer and Mixon Fruit Farms, joined by visiting food vendors that included Red Zeppelin Rockin’ Lobster Rolls. Under the Wildlife Inc. tent, volunteer Krista Carpenter held a kestrel (a member of the falcon species) and Jeanne Potter displayed a leopard tortoise, with Athena, the great horned owl, and E.T., the barred owl, perched behind them. Throughout the day and evening, the live music stage at the Pine Avenue/Bay Boulevard intersection was graced by The Tropicats, Memphis Rub, Jack’d Up and The Dr. Dave Band.
WAGNERREALTY.COM CELEBRATING 86 YEARS OF REAL ESTATE EXCELLENCE 941.727.2800
Bradenton Single Family Home 5207 88th Street W., Bradenton 3BR/2BA A4667836 / $559,900 Ed Taaffe (636) 346-6165
One Particular Harbour Condo 392 Aruba Circle #102 3BR/3BA / A4662726 / $799,000 Becky Smith (941) 773-1954 Elfi Starrett (941) 720-3528
Vizcaya Condo Valencia Garden Condo 6101 34th St W., #24C, Bradenton 3500 El Conquistador Pkwy, #347, Bradenton 3BR/2BA 3BR/2BA A4659023/ $325,000 A46544951/ $329,000 Carol Johnson-Bernard (941) 580-2933 Marsha Winegarden (941) 621-6033
OFFICES 3639 Cortez Rd W. Ste 200, Bradenton 3226 East Bay Dr., Holmes Beach 5380 Gulf of Mexico Dr., Ste 101, Longboat Key
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BAYFEST: Crowds welcome back
after hurricane damage FROM PAGE 9
THE SUN
Palma Sola Trace Condo 7206 Hamilton Rd. #7206 Bradenton 3BR/2BA / A4667835 / $375,000 Rae Hayo (941) 920-0364 Haley Hayo (941) 773-8804
Bradenton Single Family Home 3602 17th Ave W., Bradenton 3BR/2BA A4661320/ $325,000 Lisa Varano (941) 730-9060
Stoneybrook at Heritage Harbour 8606 Stone Harbour Loop, Bradenton 4BR/3.5BA A4662788 / $549,000 Miguel Rosa (941) 477-5928
Bay Hollow Condo 8642 54th Ave W., #23, Bradenton 2BR/2BA A4667065/ $484,900 Miguel Rosa (941) 477-5928
Racquet Club Villa 6111 Courtside Dr., Bradenton 3BR/2BA A4657174/ $435,000 Jennifer Delbo (941) 281-9940 Julie Evans (941) 713-2519
The Villas at Wild Oak Bay 3404 Falcon Pl., Bradenton 2BR/2BA A4634062/ $375,000 Linda Cinque (941) 228-5003 Linda Ivell (863) 602-9866
7411 Manatee Ave W., Ste 100, Bradenton 3403 El Conquistador Pkwy., Bradenton 1440 First St.,Sarasota 8141 Lakewood Main St. Ste N109, Lakewood Ranch
SCAN QR CODE FOR THIS WEEKEND OPEN HOUSES
20 THE SUN
WWW.AMISUN.COM - CELEBRATING 25 YEARS
RICK LEWIS | SUN
Going big for charity The 40th Annual NKF Rich Salick Surf Festival drew professional and amateur surfers to Cocoa Beach last week to raise money for the National Kidney Foundation. The contest was named for former Anna Maria Island resident Rich Salick, who founded the contest with his twin brother, Phil, to raise funds for kidney patients. A member of the Surfing Hall of Fame, Rich owned a surf shop in Cocoa Beach and shaped legendary pro surfer Kelly Slater’s first surfboard. Rich was stricken with kidney disease at age 23 while on the pro surfing circuit and survived nearly 40 years with three kidney transplants from three brothers until his death at age 62 in 2012.
Silver, Howcroft victors Two teams met in the final at Anna Maria Horseshoes on Oct. 18. Billy Silver, left, and Gary Howcroft beat Steve Kriebel and Gersey Fernandes 25-13 to win the day’s competition. On Oct. 15, Fernandes and Bob Hawks teamed up and posted the only 3-0 record during pool play and ended up earning the day’s bragging rights. AMI HORSESHOES | SUBMITTED
Key Royal Golf Club scoreboard Oct. 13 - Modified Stableford First Place - Tom Nelson, +8 Second Place - Jim Bailey and Peter Solleveld tied, +7 Third Place - Dave Richardson, +6 Oct. 14 - Low Net Score First Place - Linda Brockway, 30 Second Place - Mary Wilkie and Rene Chapman tied, 32
Brenda Solleveld had a chip-in on Hole # 8. Oct. 16 - Combination Scramble/ Shamble with a par of 43 First Place Team - Jim Bailey, Larry Pippel and Larry Solberg, 39, 4 under par Second Place Team - Leo Burke, Joe Coyne, Bill Shuman and Warren Stevens tied the team of Eric and Monica Lawson, Janelle Clements and Bill MacMillan with 42, 1 under par.
OCTOBER 22, 2025
OCTOBER 22, 2025
FUN IN THE SUN
Across 1 Scoffer's laugh 4 Shapes of some annexes 8 No longer feral 13 Kerfuffle 14 Roll of fabric 15 Open declaration 17 *Wrestling contest where opponents hold hands 19 Replace outdated connections, perhaps 20 Sprinkler hookups 21 Georgia home of the Allman Brothers 23 Poetry Out Loud org. 24 Top poker cards 25 *Homemade liquor during Prohibition 27 Fatherly nickname 29 __-friendly 30 Quilters' gathering 32 Positive quality 35 "It's a cinch!"
Answers to 10-15-25 Crossword Puzzle
39 *Marinated antipasto items 43 [OMG!] 44 Sticky pine product 45 Long, slithery fish 46 "Humpty Dumpty" rhyme scheme 49 Thompson who won four NBA championships with the Warriors 51 *Isthmus 56 Money to repay 59 Reproductive cells 60 __-Coeur Basilica: Paris tourist spot 61 Pianist's practice piece 62 Cocktail garnishes 64 Chess finales, and what the answers to the starred clues have 66 Experts 67 Rum quaff 68 Not mainstream, informally
THE SUN
69 White of "The Golden Girls" 70 Filming locations 71 __ Moines, Iowa Down 1 Gentle yoga style 2 Like some committees 3 Indoor cats, e.g. 4 Flows out, as the tide 5 Close to the ground 6 Camel kin in Peru 7 Classic Fender, familiarly 8 Fortunetelling decks 9 Utah or Maine, in Washington, D.C. 10 Make a path in a field, say 11 Former Knicks center Patrick 12 "Is it worth the risk?" 16 Like turkey chili 18 Flat-topped landform 22 Skydivers' needs 25 Wild party 26 La __ Tar Pits 28 Ms. __-Man: arcade classic 30 Tote or duffel 31 Pitching stat 33 Food preservative acid 34 Scrape (by) 36 "Did I do something wrong?" 37 Fr. holy woman 38 Fr. fashion brand 40 Apple Pencil device 41 Mountain trail activity
42 Made a JPEG bigger, briefly 47 Not at school 48 Loud and shrill, as a trumpet 50 Ski town in Utah's
Wasatch Mountains 51 Weaver's device 52 Space for tech-savvy HS kids 53 Clueless 54 Wine residue
55 Artistic category 57 "Skyfall" vocalist 58 Cozy spots 61 Soufflé ingredients 63 3-Down doc 65 Part of a URL
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22 THE SUN
CLASSIFIEDS FOR SALE
GET AHEAD OF THE NEXT STORM. FREE Flood Assessments FLOOD Barriers are NOT all Built the Same! OURS: 2.5X Stronger, 2-3X Taller (up to 10FT), 3rd Party Tested, & FL Made! Don’t wait TEXT or CALL Today! 941-3486952
2025 Tesla Model Y – $34,500 13,700 mi. Pearl White w/Blk Interior, 19” Black Gemini Wheels, Auto Pilot, Dual touchscreens, 5 seat config. Up to 320 miles of driving range. Enhanced sound insulation and so much more. No accidents-Minor exterior dent in tailgate, small scrape on right bumper below the headlight. Mint interior. Contact # 941-348-5289
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
CONSTRUCTION/ INSURANCE WE SPECALIZE IN: WIND Mitigation forms, 4-POINT forms, DECK safety and evaluation. State Certified since 1990. Call Mike Conley 941-778-2385. Straight Inspection Service. Veteran Owned
EMPLOYMENT NOW HIRING: THE WHITE EGRET & THE EGRET'S NEST We are seeking creative individuals to fill both part time and full time positions at our boutiques! Flexible days but some weekend availability required. Please inquire in person, drop off a resume or call 941-778-3782 for an interview appointment.
OCTOBER 22, 2025
ANNOUNCEMENTS
COMMERCIAL SALES, RENT & LEASE
Call us today! 941-778-3986
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. 941-7781115. NEW 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. CCS DRYWALL REPAIRS We are local. Family owned & operated since 1991. Free Estimates. Licensed/Insured/Bonded. License # SCC131149803 Call 941-713-6531.
HURRICANE DAMAGE? I’m an Island resident. Pressure washing, tree work, fence repair, mailbox replacement. Also see ads under “Landscaping & painting. Bill Witaszek 941-307-9315
ISLAND RESIDENT. TREE/ BUSH Trimming, removal. Sweeping, blowing, and weeding. Weekly, bi-monthly or monthly schedule. Pressure washing. Call Bill Witaszek 941307-9315
FROM HOME TO BUSINESSES, we build it all. You’re Reliable General Contractor for new construction, water damage, restoration 941-894-7549 or email at@constructionatr.com
SHELL DRIVEWAYS & LANDSCAPE. Specializing in Old Florida Seashell and Lime rock driveways and scapes. Also River Rock, Sand, Mulch, & Soil. Call Shark Mark 941-301-6067
BATHROOM REMODEL STARTING at $1999 Limited Time Promotion (labor only) McGhie Construction Inc. State certified CBC 1258471 Call 813-966-3707 Free Estimates START TO FINISH, Custom Carpentry, Accent Walls, Drywall and much more 941-565-2165 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
HOME SERVICE ALL AROUND HANDYMAN Lawn maintenance, landscaping, trimming/removal trees. Boarding house for storms. Free estimates. Call 941-447-9266 HATE TO COOK? Long time Island resident. Can help with cooking, laundry and many things around your house. Many compliments on cooking. References available. Please Call or Text 941685-0045.
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
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 941705-7096 PROFESSIONAL PAINTING SERVICES. Prompt & Reliable. Island Resident. Quality Workmanship. Interior/Exterior. Minor repairs & carpentry. Free estimates. Bill Witaszek 941-307-9315 TRUE TONE PAINTING. Painting, power washing, epoxy floors and more, No job too small. Please call 941-224-4020 www. truetonepainting.com
AMISUN.COM
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
FOR SALE - PERICO BAY CLUB New Price for 2BR/2BA villa with Water View! 2 CAR GARAGE, open floor plan & high ceilings! $374,400 Call Erin Leathem at The Anna Maria Sales Team at Island Real Estate 941448-5616
RENTALS: ANNUAL ANNUAL RENTAL CENTRAL HOMES BEACH 3BR/2BA completely remodeled. Walk to beach, school, trolley, shopping. $2595/mo Call 941-7136743 BEAUTIFUL PERICO BAY Club Condo! 2BR/2BA, Second Floor Unit $3500/ mo seasonally, $2300/mo annually +Security Deposit Please call 941-7781979 for more details. AMI HOUSE on CANAL. Annual. 4BR/3BA walk to beach. $3700/mo. Plus utilities & deposit. Call 203-223-1119 Coming Soon- Cortez area 3BR/2BA Home, garage, new kitchen, large yard. $2,850/mo. Contact Fran Maxon Real Estate for details 941-778-2307.
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
OCTOBER 22, 2025
WWW.AMISUN.COM - CELEBRATING 25 YEARS
BUSINESS & SERVICE DIRECTORY
THE SUN
Call today to place your ad: 941-778-3986
HOME IMPROVEMENT
FLOOR & TILE
HOME IMPROVEMENT
RENTALS: SEASONAL & VACATION SNOW BIRD SPECIAL: DISCOUNT for multiple months. 2BR/2BA 2nd Floor Condo in HOLMES BEACH. POOL, Tennis/Pickleball, in-unit laundry, WIFI, screened lanai, covered parking. AVAILABLE 2025/26 Season beginning December 2025. Beautiful, bayside seating area. Pool/Beach toys, Bikes included. Call Jack 312835-2323 for more info/ photos.
WINTER APARTMENT 1BR/1BA a few houses from the Gulf. 4-6 months rental. $3500/month. Call 941-778-4499 2BR/2BA W. BRADENTON. December January February March available. Inclusive $3000/mo or $2750. Text 941-962-0971
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PAINTING
REAL ESTATE
TRANSPORTATION ANYTIME TRANSPORTATION to all Airports, Casino, etc. Tampa/St. Pete $85. Sarasota $40. Pets welcome. Very dependable. Reasonable rates. Contact Jeanne. 941-7795095
HOLMES BEACH 2BR/1BA fully furnished. One block to White Ave and beach. Available March/April 2026. Monthly preferred. Call Sue 941-465-9461
MOOSE: Kids’ Halloween party returns to AMI Moose Lodge FROM PAGE 12 quarters, bar area and second story deck reopened on May 1 and the storm surge-ravaged dining room opened ahead of schedule a couple months later. The weekly Wednesday evening Queen of Hearts drawing that began before the 2024 hurricanes struck came to an end last week when one lucky local Moose member bought the winning ticket that opened the envelope containing the elusive Queen of Hearts. “The winner walked away with about $270,000 after taxes,” Dalton said. The next Queen of Hearts drawing will begin in about 60 days. “Everybody that worked the Queen drawings needs a rest,” Dalton said. With just under 18,000 members, the AMI Moose Lodge has the largest membership of any Moose Lodge in the world.
GRAND REOPENING
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On Saturday, Nov. 1, the AMI Moose Lodge will host its post-hurricane grand reopening celebration. “We have some special visitors coming down. Scott Hart is the chief executive officer of Moose International and that’s the highest position you can hold in the Moose fraternity. He’s coming to visit us for the first time,” Dalton said.
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
Bryson Price, 2, won the jelly bean guessing contest. John Reiter, the Inverness-based chairman of the Moose International Board of Directors will also attend the grand reopening, joined by additional board members. “There’s going to be some heavy hitters here to visit us as part of the grand reopening,” Dalton said. The special grand reopening dinner menu will feature filet mignon served with two extralarge blue crab-stuffed shrimp, garlic mashed potatoes and fried green beans. Tuesday, Oct. 28 is the deadline to purchase a $34.95 dinner ticket. After dinner, Ted Stevens and the Doo-Shots will provide the live music from 6:30-10 p.m., performing on the beachfront, ground-level patio. Moose members don’t need a dinner ticket to enjoy the live music and other after-dinner festivities.
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WWW.AMISUN.COM - CELEBRATING 25 YEARS
OCTOBER 22, 2025