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VOL 19 No. 37
June 26, 2019
Stark preview at Coquina JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
Some of the Australian pines near the Coquina Beach south access road have already been cut down.
County commission approves Coquina Beach tree removals
City to county: ‘Not so fast’ BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
BRADENTON – Manatee County commissioners have approved removing 97 more Australian pines from the south Coquina Beach parking lot, bringing the total so far to 103, including six already removed earlier this month. The approved phase one tree removals are part of the county’s two-phase Coquina Beach stormwater and drainage improvement project. The $3.1 million first phase plan includes paving all the unpaved access
INSIDE NEWS 3 CALENDAR 7 OUTDOORS 20 RESTAURANTS 26-27 REAL ESTATE 28-33 SPORTS 34 POLICE REPORTS 35
roads and parking areas in the south parking lots with pervious concrete, which will allow rainwater to drain through it and into an underground filtration system that discharges into Sarasota Bay and/or Longboat Pass. The project also includes the construction of a Florida Department of Transportationfunded sidewalk along the west side of Gulf Drive. Commissioners Vanessa Baugh, Steve Jonsson and Misty Servia supported ComSEE COUNTY, PAGE 7
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Anna Maria Island, Florida
BRADENTON BEACH – City Building Official Steve Gilbert has the city commission’s support to issue a stop work order on a county drainage project that would remove at least 103 and possibly up to 232 Australian pines from Coquina Beach. This comes in response to the Manatee County Commission’s 4-2 decision on Tuesday, June 18 to remove 97 more Australian pines from the south end of the Coquina Beach parking lot as part of the county’s drainage and paving project. Six pines already were removed earlier this month.
“I think they knew they were going to have to take trees out, they just didn’t divulge it. They didn’t tell us there might be an impact to the trees,” said Steve Gilbert, Bradenton Beach building official “This would not be ‘Stop, halt, desist and take everything out.’ It would be ‘Take a break and let’s talk about this,’ ” Gilbert told the commission on Thursday, June 20. Gilbert, City Attorney Ricinda Perry and the commission agreed to first extend the courtesy of putting the county on notice before issuing a stop work order that would bring the county project to a temporary halt. SEE CITY, PAGE 30
KNOW WHERE to go with your pets during evacuations. 23 CITY prevails in Sunshine case
preliminary hearing. 8 The Island’s award-winning weekly newspaper www.amisun.com
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JUNE 26, 2019
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Anna Maria appreciates county and state pier support Manatee County has already contributed $1.83 million to the pier project and city officials are hoping for $435,000 more.
FUNDING SNAPSHOT
BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
ANNA MARIA – City officials are grateful for the continued support the city’s receiving from the county and the state for the construction of the new Anna Maria City Pier. On Monday, June 17, the Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC) recommended county commission approval of the city’s request for $435,000 in additional pier funding. The funding request still needs county commission approval, which is expected. Anna Maria Commissioner Doug Copeland is member of the TDC and he made the motion last week seeking the county commission’s support. “I’m extremely pleased that the TDC has recommended to the county commission another $435,000. We’re grateful for what they’ve done in the past and this will go a long way toward completing the pier,” Copeland recently said. “This is a big deal. Our residents will appreciate that this is $435,000 that doesn’t have to come out of the city’s general fund,” he added. Mayor Dan Murphy is also happy. “We’re very pleased. This helps us finish the pier project. We had a funding gap and the county helped fill half of that gap. The gap was created by FEMA not giving us the full amount they originally promised us,” Murphy said last week.
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
The construction of the new Anna Maria City Pier has been a collaborative funding effort between the city, the county, the state and the federal government. “I want to thank Elliott Falcione, County Commissioner Carol Whitmore and all the members of the TDC and the county commission for their support,” Murphy added. Commissioner Carol Carter agrees. “I’m thrilled with the additional support. We had to find additional funds after FEMA reduced what they planned to give us. I’m thrilled that the TDC and the county commission are stepping up with this additional assistance,” she said. “We also appreciate the original funding the county provided. That was really important to us. Thanks to the TDC and Commissioner Carol Whitmore for their support. And hats-off to our mayor, who’s pursued all these funding sources for the city – and for Doug’s good work as our TDC representative,” Carter said.
In previous budget years, Manatee County Commissioners pledged $1.5 million in TDC-recommended tourist tax revenue funds and $333,000 in surplus beach concession fund revenues for the pier project. County Commission approval of the city’s latest request would bring the county’s total pier project contribution to more than $2.26 million. On Friday, city officials learned Gov. Ron DeSantis approved the city’s $285,000 funding request supported by the Florida Legislature earlier this year. Last year, the Florida Legislature approved $750,000 in state funds for the pier. Murphy and Carter previously expressed gratitude for the support and assistance provided this year by Senate President Bill Galvano, Senator Joe Gruters and State Rep. Will Robinson Jr. FEMA is providing 810,000 in federal funds and an additional $135,000 in state funds. According to Murphy, the city anticipates contributing approximately $712,000 to the project – and the contribution of the current and/or future pier tenant has not yet been determined. Headed by city resident Sissy Quinn, the Anna Maria Island Preservation Trust is contributing $1,100 to the efforts. According to Murphy, the latest estimated cost of the pier project is $4.97 million. The pier and the new restaurant and bait shop at the pier’s T-end are on track to reopen by year’s end.
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ISLAND NEWS
IN BRIEF
Bridge project to slow traffic Drivers should be aware of a construction project on SR 789 at the Longboat Key Pass Bridge, Crews are making structural, electrical and mechanical repairs on the bridge. Expect nighttime/ overnight lane closures from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sidewalk closures are also expected during construction. Southern Road & Bridge, LLC is the contractor. Expected completion is late this summer.
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JUNE 26, 2019
Pier plank wall prototypes coming soon
All kidding aside, the city expects to construct the memorial wall prototypes within the next month or so. BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORREPSPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
Business Card Exchange Acqua Aveda Lifestyle Salon & Spa at 5311 Gulf Drive in Holmes Beach will host the Wednesday, June 26, AMI Chamber June Business Card Exchange from 5 to 7 p.m. The cost to attend is $5 per member and $10 per prospective member. To RSVP, contact the AMI Chamber at 941-778-1541 or at info@amichamber.org.
Island Players season tickets available Season tickets for the upcoming season of the Island Players are available now. Rather than paying $23 for each show, season tickets cost only $100 each and grant admission to all five shows in the Players’ 71st season. This year’s lineup of plays is “Steel Magnolias,” “Relatively Speaking,” “Ripcord,” “Leading Ladies” and “Death By Design.” The season runs from Sept. 19, 2019 through May 10, 2020. Season tickets are available until Sept. 1. For more information or to purchase tickets call Peg at 941-778-7374. The Island Players Theater is at 10009 Gulf Dr., Anna Maria.
Independence Day picnic in Cortez Celebrate Independence Day with a picnic at the Cortez Cultural Center, 11655 Cortez Road, on Saturday, July 6, beginning at 5 p.m.; grilling begins at 6 p.m. Sit with friends under the pavilion and enjoy a picnic of hot dogs, tea and various goodies. Park at the Florida Maritime Museum on 119th Street West or come through the gate just east of the light at 119th Street West. For more information, call Kaye at 941-538-0945.
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ANNA MARIA – Mayor Dan Murphy recently said the prototype for the public walls to be built using engraved pier planks removed from the old Anna Maria City Pier would soon appear along the southeastern edge of the City Pier Park property. Murphy announced this during the Anna Maria commission’s June 13 meeting. His comments were provoked in part by an editorial that appeared in The Islander newspaper that week. “There have been questions about the wall – the wall we’re going to build with the planks. I saw it in an editorial in the newspaper and we’ve had several inquiries to city hall about the wall,” Murphy said. “We’re going to build the wall and The Islander’s going to pay for it with the quarter-million-dollar revenue that they got selling the planks that they failed to share with the city,” Murphy joked. “Thank you Bonner,” Commissioner Brian Seymour quipped in reference to newspaper’s publisher. “So, you might want to go back and inform The Islander that you’re paying for our wall with the money you collected for the planks,” Murphy told the paper’s new reporter. On a more serious note, Murphy said, “We will start soon with a proposal to do a segment of the wall.” Murphy said he and Public Works Manager Dean Jones looked at a slatted wooden fence in front of a residence on North Shore Drive and the city walls would feature a similar appearance. “Commissioner Copeland had come up with a great idea in terms of a location – starting right on Pine Avenue, by the condominium complex, doing a couple segments. We’ll see what those segments look like, with the walls about three-feet tall,” Murphy said. Murphy said he would present the commission with some draw-
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
The pier plank wall prototypes will replace some of the split-rail fencing at City Pier Park.
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
These engraved planks on the old City Pier commemorated a long-lasting relationship. ings to look at. He also said the prototype would replace some of the split rail fencing at that end of the park, near the public restrooms. “We’ll build that as a prototype and if you don’t like them we can always take them down. I think it’s going to be aesthetically pleasing once we get through with it. That will start probably in the next four to five weeks,” Murphy said.
PLANKS’ PAST
According to Murphy, the city never received any revenue from the 1,000 or so engraved wooden planks people paid to have installed on the old City Pier leased to pier tenant Mario Schoenfelder. Dave Sork managed the City Pier Restaurant and bait shop at the time and the pier planks were installed as part of some undisclosed arrangement with The Islander. In late 2017, it was announced that the engraved planks would be removed and salvaged before the old pier was demolished. The commission then decided the remaining
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
The owner of this plank has it placed in paradise.
“I think it’s going to be aesthetically pleasing once we get through with it.” Dan Murphy, Anna Maria Mayor planks would be used to build memorial walls at City Pier Park and on the grounds of the Anna Maria Island Historical Museum. In 2018, local contractor Frank Agnelli and his crew removed all the engraved planks at no cost to the city. Approximately 200 people requested and received their planks. The remaining planks were placed in storage for future use.
JUNE 26, 2019
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Bradenton Beach to receive $2 million in state funds The state money will assist the city’s continued efforts to improve drainage and stormwater retention. BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
BRADENTON BEACH – Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has signed off on $2 million in state funds for the city. The Florida Legislature supported the funding requests earlier this year and DeSantis gave them his blessing on Friday, June 21. DeSantis vetoed Bradenton Beach’s third request for $2 million to assist with increasing the city’s multimodal and alternative transportation capacities. The city will receive $1.5 million for stormwater projects and improvements and an additional $500,000 for seagrass mitigation. City officials hope to use the seagrass mitigation money to move forward with a long-desired plan to dredge the shallow navigation channel that runs
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
City Engineer Lynn Burnett and City Attorney Ricinda Perry played key roles in the city’s efforts to obtain state funds for city projects. along the Bradenton Beach shoreline between the Bridge Street Pier and the North Coquina Boat Ramp. In order for that long-dormant dredging project to take place, the city must mitigate any seagrass impacted by the dredging. City Attorney Ricinda Perry, City Engineer Lynn Burnett and the city’s contracted lobbyist, Dave Ramba, spearheaded the city’s funding
request efforts. Two or three years ago, Vice Mayor Jake Spooner suggested using Ramba and his team to pursue state funds in addition to utilizing the lobbying firm to help combat vacation rental deregulation and other attacks on the city’s home rule rights. “I’d like to thank everyone involved. Our City Attorney Ricinda
Perry, our City Engineer Lynn Burnett, State Rep. Will Robinson Jr. and Florida Senate President Bill Galvano for getting this past the finish line. This is going to make a huge difference to the timeframe of our stormwater improvements and will save our taxpayers a great amount of money,” Spooner said on Friday. “I’m also very pleased to hear the governor signed our seagrass mitigation bill, which had been holding up the opening of the channel south of Bridge Street to the North Coquina Boat Ramp. Boating is very important to Floridians for both enjoyment and the economy, and navigation channels are crucial for access,” Spooner said. “We’re blessed,” Mayor John Chappie recently said. Chappie also praised the efforts of Ramba, Perry and Burnett and expressed gratitude for the support provided by Galvano, Robinson, DeSantis and the Florida Legislature. Perry recently praised Galvano and Robinson for their assistance and support.
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OPINION
The Anna Maria Island Sun newspaper Island Sun Plaza, 9801 Gulf Drive P.O. Box 1189 Anna Maria, FL 34216-1189 Phone: (941) 778-3986 email: news@amisun.com | ads@amisun.com | classifieds@amisun.com
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The Anna Maria Island Sun Staff Publishers Mike Field Maggie Field Editor/CEO Mike Field Layout Ricardo Fonseca Reporters Cindy Lane Tom Vaught Joe Hendricks Kristin Swain Columnists Louise Bolger Outdoors editor Rusty Chinnis Ad director Chantelle Lewin Ad assistants Chris Boniberger Pam Lee Classified ads Bob Alexander Graphics Elaine Stroili Ricardo Fonseca Digital/social media editor Cindy Lane Accounting John Reitz Distribution Bob Alexander Tony McNulty Connor Field Contributors Pat Copeland Steve Borggren Monica Simpson
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
A poor plan With the exception of Carol Whitmore and Betsy Benac, who voted to save the trees at Coquina Beach, the county commissioners are spineless fools who should not be voted out of office but should be run out of town instead. What a colossal waste of money (in the millions). Commissioners Jonsson, Servia, Trace and Baugh deserve no less than Islanders’ scorn. I have been on Anna Maria Island longer than most and I have watched nature flood the area at the south end of Coquina for decades. It is a low part of the Island and only arrogance would attempt to change nature. It only floods a very small area of parking a few times a year and it percolates and evaporates and in a few days the parking is fine again. The question is not whether the county can correct the minor
inconvenience; the question is why should it? It’s just stupid! Commissioners Jonsson, Servia, Trace and Baugh ignored the wishes of more than 1,000 people who signed a protest petition in just three days. Should these commissioners be in charge of anything? Mike Norman Bradenton Beach
The sand has settled The sand has settled, and the “strongest men” have departed our area – to train for next year we assume. The biggest positive takeaway is the tremendous job done by Chief Bill Tokajer and the Holmes Beach Police Department, assisted by the Bradenton Beach Police Department and other agencies, in keeping things moving without major incident. The county beach is Chief Tokajer’s “patch” and he
knows how it works. The Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau is to be commended for promoting this event, despite the hue and cry from the Island purists that only want 70s music and art from famous people known for their accomplishments in unrelated fields. BACVB is thinking out of the box and appealing to a different demographic – introducing a different group of folks to our Island – and isn't that a part of their job? I spent significant time at the county beach both Saturday and Sunday and I was quite entertained by the program. Further, it appeared that many dads chose to attend with their family rather than sit around the house catching up on chores. Wait – where did I put my 375-pound log? Hope to see this crew again. Karen Clarke Bradenton Beach
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JUNE 26, 2019
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COUNTY: Approves tree removal
ON THE AGENDA ANNA MARIA 10005 GULF DRIVE
For information, call 941708-6130 June 27, 6 p.m. – City Commission meeting July 4, all day – Independence Day holiday, city offices closed
FROM PAGE 1
missioner Priscilla Trace’s motion to remove the trees at the Tuesday, June 18, commission meeting. At-large Commissioners Betsy Benac and Carol Whitmore opposed the decision. Commissioner Reggie Bellamy was not present. The adopted motion approves the removal of all 103 non-native Australian pines slated for removal in phase one and calls for their replacement with another unspecified type of tree. At Servia’s request, the amended motion includes a request for the creation of a landscaping plan as soon as possible. The fates of approximately 130 more Australian pines slated for removal in phase two have not yet been determined. The adopted motion calls for the commission to reevaluate the phase two plans to determine if the project is extended to the center and northern parking lots, and if so, how many more trees will be removed. When making her motion, Trace said she doubted the commission would approve phase two. The commission chose not to pursue an alternative plan that would have saved approximately 50 trees scheduled for phase one removal.
COMMISSION COMMENTS
Whitmore, the commission’s only Island resident, made a motion to terminate the project. Her motion died without a second from another commissioner. “Please listen to our community’s pleas – from the Island all the way out to Lakewood Ranch – to not change the character of our beaches,” Whitmore said. The meeting packet included 1,010 petition signatures that local Realtor Mike Norman and others collected in an attempt to save the trees. “We did not know about the trees. It was never mentioned,” Whitmore said. “I respectfully ask that you find out from our legal counsel what it’s going to cost to cancel this contract.” Benac then said, “I remember the workshop when we talked about pervious pavement. I honestly don’t remember voting to go forward with the project. I don’t know that we’ve ever seen a site plan that shows what’s happening at this site. “Are we paving the whole thing? It’s not just about the trees. I’m concerned we’re going to have real pushback from people that are going to be horrified by us creating a Siesta Key-type parking lot,” Benac said. “Yes, we’re proposing to pave every bit of parking area over time,” Butzow confirmed. “If I had my way, I’d get rid of all the Australian pines,” Trace said, noting
BRADENTON BEACH 107 GULF DRIVE N.
For information, call 941778-1005 July 3, 2 p.m. – Scenic WAVES meeting JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
STAFF INPUT
Newly-confirmed Public Works Director Chad Butzow, Project Manager Michael Sturm and Parks and Grounds Division Manager Carmine DeMilio explained the project in detail before the commissioners voted. “This is a stormwater drainage project that happens to include a parking lot because the drainage system is the parking lot,” Butzow said of the pervious concrete. DeMilio said the project will address flooding issues that sometimes cause the parking lots to be closed. The county spends $30,000 annually grading the unpaved surfaces to alleviate potholes, he said, adding that county staff spends significant time picking up fallen branches. He shared a photo of an Australian pine branch that recently landed on a parked vehicle. Sturm said a certified arborist recommended the tree removals because the excavation for the paving would damage the trees’ shallow root systems. Sturm said raising the surfaces to be paved was discussed, but the arborist said burying the roots under 10 inches of topsoil would kill the pines. Sturm said the arborist recently proposed an alternative that could save approximately 50 phase one pines designated for removal. “He said I probably should have told you this in the beginning. What we can do is trim some roots and prune the tops so they’re not susceptible to the wind. It’ll take them about a year to recover, but in that time the roots will grow back and the trees will re-foliate, ” Sturm said.
“If I had my way,
WEDNESDAY
I’d get rid of all
Aquatic wild educator workshop, Robinson Preserve, Mosaic NEST, 1704 99th St. N.W., Bradenton, 9 a.m. Reserve to 941-742-5923, ext. 6034. Coloring Club, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, noon. AMI Chamber of Commerce June Business Card Exchange, Acqua Aveda Lifestyle Salon & Spa, 5311 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, $5 for members and $10 for prospective members. Reserve to 941-778-1541 or info@amichamber.org.
the Australian pines.” Pricilla Trace County commissioner
“I don’t think we’re really changing the feel for that beach.” Steve Jonsson County commissioner Butzow said staff did not recommend the pruning option, but it could be done. The commission took no action on that option. Butzow said the phase two plans call for the removal of 126 to 129 additional Australian pines, which would leave 76 percent of the existing pines still standing. “Nothing’s being touched that is water-side of the walking trail,” Butzow said. Sturm said phase two design revisions could save 80-90 percent of those trees: “It will take a little more work, but we can save the trees if that’s what you want to do.” Butzow said the original plans only called for the removal of the 13 trees in direct conflict with the paving plans and that’s how the project was presented during a previous commission work session. “We definitely missed on that one. We were ill-prepared, and we were well into the project when we discovered the trees were in harm’s way,” Butzow admitted. Butzow said the omission of a landscaping plan was also an error on his part.
July 4, all day – Independence Day holiday, city offices closed
HOLMES BEACH 5801 MARINA DRIVE
For information, call 941708-5800 June 27, 6 p.m. – City Commission meeting with work session to follow July 3, 6 p.m. – Planning Commission meeting July 4, all day – Independence Day holiday, city offices closed
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
NOTE: EVENTS ARE FREE UNLESS INDICATED.
the commission approved an unrelated $300,000 three-year expenditure for exotic plant removals earlier that day. “I don’t think we’re really changing the feel for that beach. I think they need to go, and we need to replant them with better shade trees,” Jonsson said.
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JUNE 26
THURSDAY
June 27 Veteran services information, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 9 a.m. Mollusks Monthly, Coquina Beach Café, 2650 Gulf Drive S., Bradenton Beach, 9 a.m. Reserve to 941-742-5923, ext. 6036. Roser-Robics chair-based exercise class, Roser Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, 9:30 a.m. Windell Campbell: Storyteller and Puppeteer, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m. Seaside quilters, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m. Folk and Shanty Music Workshop, Florida Maritime Museum, 4415 119th St. W., Cortez, 2 p.m.
Jam in the Sand, Anna Maria Island Beach Café, 4000 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, 5 to 8 p.m.
FRIDAY JUNE 28
Forty Carrots, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m. Mahjong, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 11:30 a.m. Sunset drum circle, Manatee Public Beach, 4000 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, 5 to 7:30 p.m.
SATURDAY JUNE 29
NEST Nature Days, Robinson Preserve, Mosaic NEST, 1704 99th St. N.W., Bradenton, 9 a.m. to noon. CPR Training, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 9 a.m. Reserve to 941-778-6341. Movie night at the NEST, Disney Nature Oceans, Robinson Preserve, Mosaic NEST, 1704 99th St. N.W., Bradenton, 8 p.m.
SUNDAY JUNE 30
Beach market, Coquina Beach, 2650 Gulf Drive S., Bradenton Beach, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Rise and Shine Power Flow Yoga, Robinson Preserve, Mosaic NEST, 1704 99th St. N.W., Bradenton, 10:30 a.m., $10 cash only. Reserve to 941-742-5923 or aedan. stockdale@mymanatee.org.
MONDAY JULY 1
Social bridge games, Roser Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, noon.
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JUNE 26, 2019
City prevails in preliminary Sunshine case hearing Judge Edward Nicholas said there’s no reason to further litigate the question of reasonable foreseeability as it pertains to parking garages. BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORREPSONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
BRADENTON – Twelfth Judicial Circuit Court Judge Edward Nicholas has ruled in favor of the city of Bradenton Beach regarding the reasonable foreseeability of a parking garage being something that would come before the city’s Planning and Zoning Board. Nicholas’ ruling came in response to a partial summary judgement requested by the city and presented on Thursday, June 20, at the Manatee County Judicial Center in Bradenton. Reasonable foreseeability is a central argument in the civil lawsuit filed by the city and co-plaintiff Jack Clarke in 2017. The trial is scheduled to begin on Monday, July 15. After hearing from both sides during last week’s hearing, Nicholas said denying the city’s request for partial summary judgment would be the safe and easy thing to do. “However, there is no universe wherein the issue of whether a parking garage should be permitted or approved in a small
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
Plaintiffs, defendants and attorneys awaited the beginning of the partial summary judgement hearing. community would not come before a planning and zoning board. If that’s the issue before the court today, that is not a close call,” Nicholas said. The lawsuit alleges former Planning and Zoning Board members Reed Mapes, John Metz, Patty Shay and Bill Vincent violated the Florida Sunshine Law by discussing parking garage prohibitions and other potential board business at Concerned Neighbors of Bradenton Beach (CNOBB)
meetings in 2017. Former Scenic WAVES Committee members Tjet Martin and Rose Vincent are also named as defendants.
JUDGEMENT SOUGHT
Attorney Robert Watrous represented the city at last week’s hearing, accompanied by City Attorney Ricinda Perry and paralegal Michael Barfield. “We have provided the court with voluminous information that parking garages
were discussed at CNOBB meetings, and they sent correspondence that this was on their written agendas,” Watrous told the judge. “This is a classic example of individuals who were appointed to a city board, chose to form an organization and chose to discuss the same topics in their CNOBB meetings as they had been discussing at their P&Z meetings,” Watrous said. “The Florida Government in the Sunshine Law was enacted to protect the public from closed-door politics,” Watrous said, noting the law is “construed to frustrate all evasive devices.” “Not only was it reasonably foreseeable, but if one looks just at the April 12th and 19th (2017) P&Z meetings an issue of parking and parking garages did occur, and was subsequently discussed weeks later in CNOBB meetings,” Watrous said. “There’s been an argument made that there was a cure of this situation by the resignation of the P&Z members. That is only a partial cure. Case law is very clear that the cure can’t un-ring the bell and the plaintiff is still entitled to a determination or a declaration of the fact that there was a wrongful act,” Watrous concluded. SEE SUNSHINE, PAGE 9
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JUNE 26, 2019
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SUNSHINE: City prevails
MCAT revs up holiday service
FROM PAGE 8
Manatee County Area Transit (MCAT) will offer free rides from Thursday, July 4, through Sunday, July 7, on and off the Island via Manatee Avenue, in an effort to ease anticipated heavy holiday traffic. Anyone traveling to Manatee Beach via Manatee Avenue may pick up the free MCAT bus at any MCAT stop between 75 Street West and Anna Maria Island. MCAT buses will also run twice as frequently along Manatee Avenue between 75th and the beach, so one bus should arrive at stops every 15 minutes from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. In addition, there will be additional Sheriff's Office deputies on the Island to help direct traffic at the busiest intersections. The county will place many more public portalets near the public beaches and have them serviced daily from July 4 through 7. Trash will be removed more frequently from public beach areas during the weekend. County government offices will be closed Thursday, July 4 to observe Independence Day. MCAT's regular fixed route, para-transit service and Longboat Key shuttle service will be suspended on July 4 but will resume July 5. Manatee County’s publicly owned natural preserves will remain open. The county’s public libraries will be closed on Thursday, July 4 and will reopen Friday, July 5. For more information on Manatee County government, visit online at www. mymanatee.org or call (941) 748-4501. You can also follow on Facebook at www.facebook.com/manatee.county.fl and on Twitter, @ManateeGov.
However, there
SHULTS’ RESPONSE
Metz’s attorney, Thomas Shults, questioned whether the request for summary judgment was facially insufficient. He noted the request did not pertain specifically to the July 25 CNOBB meeting that included discussion on a potential petitioninitiated charter amendment that would have banned parking garages. Shults argued the defendants, as private citizens, had the constitutional right to assemble and discuss potential amendments to the city charter. Shults acknowledged that in 2018 the current planning board members reviewed comprehensive plan amendments that now prohibit parking garages citywide. At one point, Bill Vincent stood up and told Nicholas it was not reasonably foreseeable that a parking garage would come before the planning board because it would have been inconsistent with the city’s comprehensive plan. When those 2017 CNOBB meeting discussions took place, the comp plan still allowed parking garages in several zoning districts. “I can say with 100 percent certainty – not reasonably foreseeability, but absolute certainty – that this is a very issue that should and would come before a planning and zoning board. I feel like I’m missing something, it’s so obvious to me,” Nicholas said. “Whether or not there is a Sunshine violation here, that remains to be seen,” he added. Nicholas said he didn’t know how his ruling would impact the trial. He said he would not limit any arguments made by the defendants but said there is no need to
is no universe wherein the issue of whether a parking garage should be permitted or approved in a small community would not come before a planning and zoning board.” Edward Nicholas, Circuit Court Judge further litigate reasonable foreseeability. Shults questioned Nicholas’ ruling and suggested he refrain from issuing a written order because there were more hearings scheduled. In response, Nicholas told Shults the court was in recess. Afterwards, Watrous said he agreed with the judge’s ruling and he appreciated it. Perry said the city must now prove at the trial that the CNOBB discussions and email exchanges occurred and that those actions violated the Sunshine Law. CNOBB meetings were recorded and posted at the CNOBB website. The recording of the July 25 parking garage discussion and several parking-related emails and documents will be presented as evidence.
Privateer honored The Bradenton Marauders baseball team honored Anna Maria Island Privateer Susan Shoe Friday night, June 21, along with other military heroes at LECOM Park. Shoe received a plaque, personalized baseball cards and a standing ovation. In 2013, she became the first female State Command Sergeant Major in the 151year history of the South Dakota National Guard. Shoe was born in Pierre, S.D. in 1971 and now resides in Palmetto.
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MICHELLE LEAHY | SUBMITTED
New home for oysters Volunteers bagged oyster shells and used them to build an oyster reef at Perico Preserve in Bradenton on Tuesday, June 18. The Sarasota Bay Estuary Program and the Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources Department sponsor the program, which gets shells from local restaurants. The reef will provide habitat for wildlife, improve water quality and stabilize shorelines in the preserve, according to county officials.
JUNE 26, 2019
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Tagged sea turtle off to races BY CINDY LANE SUN STAFF WRITER | clane@amisun.com
BRADENTON BEACH – Following in the flipper tracks of her predecessors Bortie I, Eliza Ann and Amie, a female loggerhead sea turtle named Bortie Too was satellite tagged after nesting on Coquina Beach Friday, June 21, and set free to race in the Tour de Turtles marathon. The project is a partnership of the Sea Turtle Conservancy, Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring, and sponsors Waterline Marina Resort and Beach Club in Holmes Beach and Bortell’s Lounge in Anna Maria, for which she is named. Bortie Too will compete in the Conservancy’s 12th Annual Tour de Turtles race beginning on Aug. 1. The event is part of an ongoing research project tracking satellitet a g g e d turtles to determine
where and how far they migrate. The Conservancy uses satellite telemetry to track turtles released from beaches in Florida, Costa Rica, Panama and Nevis. The loggerhead – or other turtle species - that logs the most underwater miles wins the three-month marathon. Amie, named for Anna Maria Island and sponsor Anna Maria Elementary School, finished the 2015 race in last place, in true turtle style; 84 little loggerheads hatched out of her nest while she was in the race. Eliza Ann, named for sponsor Waterline Marina Resort’s restaurant, made the Island proud, taking first place in the 2017 race and nesting twice on the Island. Bortie I came in 10th place out of 13 contestants in 2018, traveling 351 miles, lingering for most of the race off Everglades National Park and the Florida Keys.
CINDY LANE | SUN
In her temporary enclosure, Bortie Too waits for the cement on the satellite tag to dry. Below, Bortie Too heads for observers, who make way for her to return to the Gulf.
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Turtle talks continue
Algae in Manatee River BY CINDY LANE BY CINDY LANE SUN STAFF WRITER | clane@amisun.com
BRADENTON – Nontoxic algae blooms have been detected in the Manatee River this week, according to the Friday, June 21, report from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Algae appeared in two water samples collected along the river near Bradenton and Ellenton; at River Pointe Canal on June 18, nontoxic Aphanizomenon flosaquae was identified, and at Ellenton on June 19, nontoxic Cuspidothrix was identified. Results from several other samples are pending. No samples were taken off Anna Maria Island this week. Filamentous cyanobacteria (Lyngbyalike) was first detected in Holmes Beach waters on Thursday, May 9, in Anna Maria Sound at Key Royale and in the Intracoastal Waterway south of Grassy Point, and in Palma Sola Bay near San Remo Shores.
The algae found in Manatee County waters are not the same species that has plagued Lake Okeechobee, the toxic Microcystis aeruginosa, according to DEP. Blue-green algae can be blue, green, brown or red and emit a foul, rotten egg odor caused by the production of hydrogen sulfide gas, according to DEP, which advises staying out of water where algae is visible as specks, mats or water is discolored pea-green, blue-green or brownish-red. Additionally, pets or livestock should not come into contact with the algal bloom-impacted water, or the algal bloom material or fish on the shoreline. Even non-toxic blooms can harm the environment by depleting oxygen levels in the water column and reducing the amount of light that reaches submerged plants, according to DEP. The growth of blue-green algae typically increases in the spring and summer months when water temperatures and daylight hours increase.
JUNE 26, 2019
SUN STAFF WRITER | clane@amisun.com
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Get the scoop on sea turtles at Turtle Talks, presented by Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring volunteers. The 30-minute program of videos, photos and stories about the sea turtles that nest and hatch on the Island from May through October includes a description of how they survey for nesting turtles on the beaches. Attendees will be the first to know the dates, times and locations of upcoming nest excavations, where volunteers dig into hatched nests to count the eggshells and determine the number of hatchlings produced. Free gifts, including temporary turtle tattoos, will be distributed, and official AMITW T-shirts, stickers and ball caps will be available for a donation.
SCHEDULE:
Tuesday, July 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30,10 a.m., CrossPointe Fellowship, 8605 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach;
TURTLE TIPS
During sea turtle season, May 1 – Oct. 31, follow these tips: • Turn off lights visible from the beach and close blinds from sundown to sunrise; lights confuse nesting sea turtles and may cause them to go back to sea and drop their eggs in the water,
where they won’t hatch. Light can also attract hatchlings away from the water. • Don’t use flashlights, lanterns or camera flashes on the beach at night. • Remove all objects from the sand from sundown to sunrise; they can deter sea turtles from nesting and disorient hatchlings. • Fill in the holes you dig in the sand before leaving the beach; they can trap nesting and hatching sea turtles, which cannot live long out of the water. • Don’t use wish lanterns or fireworks; they litter the beach and Gulf. • Do not trim trees and plants that shield the beach from lights. • Never touch a sea turtle; it’s the law. If you see people disturbing turtles, call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Wildlife Alert hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922).
NESTING NEWS Turtle nests laid: 307 (534 all-time AMI record) False crawls: 278 (543 all-time AMI record) Nests hatched: 0 Not hatched: 0 Nests remaining: 0 Hatchlings hatched: 0 (35,788 all-time AMI record) Nest disorientations: 0 Source: Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring
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Privateers parade set BY TOM VAUGHT SUN STAFF WRITER | tvaught@amisun.com
The Anna Maria Island Privateers are making plans for their annual parade on Thursday, July 4. Those who want to participate need to be making plans, too. Participants need to register with the Privateers at amiprivateers.org. The parade runs from Coquina Park Bayside at the south entrance. Staging begins at 8 a.m., with the parade starting at 10 a.m. They will proceed north to South Bay Drive, in Anna Maria. As always, the parade is the length of the Island so you will need wheels. Decorate your ride in a patriotic theme, no political messages, please. This year the Privateers have banned the use of soaker guns, water balloons and garden hoses and ask parade-goers to not squirt water on the parade participants. Also banned are illegal fireworks.
FILE PHOTO
xx According to police, any firework that explodes or flies is illegal. After the parade reaches its destination at South Bay Drive in
Anna Maria, the Privateers will head for Manatee Beach where they will hand out scholarship money.
Watch the legal fireworks display on the beach While police and Manatee County Sheriff’s deputies deal with illegal fireworks on Anna Maria Island, The Sandbar Restaurant, 100 Spring Ave., will have a fireworks show on Thursday, July 4, starting at 9 p.m., weather permitting. Everyone is invited to watch from the beach for free. To pay for the show, the Sandbar is hosting a dinner beginning 6 p.m. with a champagne toast, a raw bar at 7 p.m., dinner at 7:30 p.m. and dessert after that. There will be an open bar for ticket holders. The cost per ticket is $155 for adults and $50 for children 12 and under. For reservations, call 941-7473737. Traffic will be heavy so take the free Island Trolley and skip the hassle of looking for a parking spot.
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
Celebrating Independence Day The city of Anna Maria will host its annual Fourth of July celebration at City Pier Park on Thursday, July 4, from noon until 1:30 p.m. The Independence Day event will feature patriotic music, free hotdogs and more. City Pier Park is located at the corner of Pine Avenue and North Bay Boulevard.
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JUNE 26, 2019
Strong man competition, holidays cause traffic concerns With more and more events taking place on Anna Maria Island, elected officials are hoping for help with parking and crowd control from Manatee County and event coordinators. BY KRISTIN SWAIN SUN STAFF WRITER | kswain@amisun.com
LONGBOAT KEY – When officials met for the Coalition of Barrier Island Elected Officials meeting June 18, the topic of discussion turned toward traffic related to holidays and special events. The previous weekend saw three of the four days of The World’s Strongest Man Competition held on Anna Maria Island with one day at Coquina Beach in Bradenton Beach and two days, including the finals, at Manatee Beach in Holmes Beach. During the day of competition at Coquina Beach, Bradenton Beach Mayor John Chappie said things went smoothly, both with traffic and crowd control, though he said there was some traffic congestion due to the competition. He said that the Bradenton Beach Police
SUBMITTED | RANDY SWAIN
Crowds gather June 15 at Manatee Beach for the third day of the World’s Strongest Man Competition. Department provided two officers in addition to the security hired by the event coordinators. In the future, he said it would be appreciated if more advance warning was given to the Island city leaders before large events such as the strong man competition were held. Commissioner Carol Soustek, representing Holmes Beach, agreed. She said the competition was way more popular with fans than city leaders had anticipated and that parking was a major issue during the two days the competition was held in Holmes
Beach. She said more planning would be needed for the next time something like that was held on the Island. Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer said he felt the event was very successful. “It actually went pretty good,” he said of the event, adding that there was one minor fight that officers broke up and just over 100 parking tickets written over the two-day period. On Saturday, June 15, he said there were 16 law enforcement officials onhand, including nine from HBPD, three
from Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, and four mounted sheriff’s officers. On Sunday he said there were 15 law enforcement officials present for the finals of the competition. Over the twoday period, he said there were around 34,000 cars counted coming onto the Island at Manatee Avenue. During the event, he said event coordinators were overwhelmed by the crowds that came out to see the athletes compete, saying that this was the largest crowd to attend one of their events. Though there were no tickets handed out for the event, leaving officials with no real way to count the number of attendees, Tokajer said he estimates that 5,000 to 10,000 people attended the two days of competition in Holmes Beach. For the future, he suggested that event coordinators designate off-site parking for attendees to cut down on the amount of traffic and confusion with finding parking spaces that he observed during the strong man competition. He also suggested having additional food vendors to help meet the needs of such a large crowd. SEE TRAFFIC, PAGE 26
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Confederate memorial remains in limbo The Confederate monument’s final resting place may or may not be determined by county voters. BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORREPSONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
BRADENTON – County Commissioners have abandoned the idea of appointing a citizens’ advisory board to recommend three potential locations for the relocation of a controversial Confederate memorial monument. The memorial was erected on the grounds of the Manatee County Historic Courthouse in downtown Bradenton in 1924. It was removed and placed in storage in 2017, where it remains today. On Tuesday, June 18, the commission reversed course on its decision in May to appoint an advisory board to select three potential Confederate memorial locations to place on the 2020 ballot. Commissioners decided against the advisory board due to growing concerns that its members would be subjected to harassment, threats and public scorn due to the conflicting and sometimes contentious opinions people hold regarding Confeder-
ate monuments. County commissioners also learned that state law will not allow a ballot question that contains three locations to choose from. Deputy County Administrator John Osborne and County Attorney Mickey Palmer delivered this news during last week’s meeting. Palmer said state law expressly prohibits presenting anything other than a yes or no ballot question when voters are asked to vote on a referendum. This discovery may or may not result in county voters having the final say on where the Confederate memorial is located.
MULTIPLE MOTIONS MADE
After two failed motions, the commission voted 5-2 vote in support of Commissioner Betsy Benac’s motion to direct county staff to research two potential locations: the county-owned Rye Preserve in Parrish or the county-owned property on Church Street, near the Gamble Plantation Historic State Park in Ellenton. Based in part on that research, the commission will then choose between those two locations. Benac’s motion does not stipulate the commission’s preferred location must be placed on the 2020 ballot, but Palmer said that decision could be made later. Commissioners Reggie Bellamy, Steve
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
The Confederate memorial used to stand in front of the Manatee County Historic Courthouse in downtown Bradenton. Jonsson, Misty Servia and Priscilla Trace supported Benac’s motion. Commissioners Carol Whitmore and Vanessa Baugh opposed it. Benac’s motion was preceded by the similar motion Whitmore made that included a stipulation that commission’s preferred location must be placed on the 2020 ballot for voters to accept or reject. When it was noted that county voters might reject the single location placed on the ballot, Whitmore acknowledged that would send the commission back to the drawing board. The commission rejected by a 4-3 vote Trace’s initial motion to move forward and
place the Confederate memorial at the Rye Preserve. Trace lobbied for this location in May, in part because Confederate soldier and Civil War veteran Erasmus Rye and several members of his family are buried in a small family cemetery along the eastern edge of the county preserve. Baugh, Benac, Jonsson and Whitmore opposed Trace’s motion. Bellamy and Servia supported it. As she did in May, Servia emphasized the need to place educational signs that accurately present all sides of the
OPTIONS PRESENTED
Confederate memorial debate and the Civil War at any location selected in Manatee County. Before any motions were made, Osborne told the commission they could select a location that day, establish an advisory committee to research potential sites, select one site and put that site to county voters or have staff conduct public outreach to help determine what the community wants done with the Confederate monument. Osborne said the previously discussed and privately-owned Fogartyville Cemetery location was no longer a potential option SEE MONUMENT, PAGE 31
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JANUARY 17, 2018
WMFR’s building plans move forward Commissioners narrowed their selection of potential locations for a new administration building down to two commercial lots. BY KRISTIN SWAIN SUN STAFF WRITER | kswain@amisun.com
BRADENTON – When West Manatee Fire Rescue commissioners met June 18 at the district’s temporary offices at Palma Sola Presbyterian Church, discussion turned toward the potential for a future, permanent home for administrative staff. During a previous meeting, commissioners decided to research building a new administration building that would not only meet the district’s staff needs but also would be a hardened building to potentially serve as a westside emergency operations center in the event of a hurricane. The district’s previous administration building on Third Avenue West in Bradenton was deemed too large for WMFR’s needs and sold earlier in the year to The Oasis Middle School. Consultant Bob Gause presented commissioners with the issues and advantages of two currently available commercial building sites that the board had previously identified as potential administration locations – one across the street from their offices on Third Avenue West just down the street from the previous administration building and a vacant lot on 63rd Street behind the Fountain Court Shopping Center. For the Third Avenue West location, previously a dentist’s office, Gause said the lot is more expensive to purchase because of the existing building and that it’s smaller than the other option at 0.65 acres. It’s advantages, he said, are that it’s close to Station 1 on 67th Street and it already has access to utilities. He said that in addition to the $400,000 asking price, commissioners can expect to spend about $5,000 to 7,000 to demolish the parking lot and another $15,000 or more to demolish the existing building and haul away the material. Before a new building can be constructed
KRISTIN SWAIN | SUN
Commissioner Al Robinson asks his fellow commissioners to consider remaining in the district’s temporary offices instead of building a brand-new administration building. on the property, Gause said fill would need to be brought in at an estimated $15,000 to18,000. The current owner of the property, Dr. William Matthews, appeared before commissioners saying he’s in favor of the district purchasing his old office to use for their administration building. He said though he understands that the district has no interest in the building currently on the site that he still has to consider it in the price when selling the property because it is still viable. At the vacant lot property behind Bealls, Gause said the purchase price might be lower, offered at $295,000, but that the site has no access to sanitary sewer utilities. Though there are four potential options to have service installed at the property, Gause said it could cost the district up to $100,000 for directional boring, a lift station and other costs. He added that commissioners would need to obtain permission to tie in to the sewer lines from either the city or a surrounding property owner. Commissioner Randy Cooper suggested Gause look into installing a septic tank at the property. Gause said that would potentially be the cheapest option available, if it could be done on the property, but that commissioners should keep in mind the ongoing maintenance costs associated with using a septic tank system. Fill also would be needed, but Gause said it could potentially be harvested from the site at a
much lower cost, about $4 per yard rather than $12 to 14 per yard. The property is 1.88 acres, and commissioners expressed interest in it because of the ability to house a staging area or create onsite storage for fire equipment if needed. With all of the work needed to go into either property, Gause said the difference in price would be about $22,000. The entire project is expected to cost about $1.4 million to complete. Commissioner Al Robinson brought a third option to commissioners – to forego building a new administration building and keep the district’s offices at the church building for the foreseeable future. Rather than use the district’s funds for the purchase of a new building and building site, he said he would rather have those monies available in case of an emergency or other event. He added that he would rather have the money earning interest at 2.6 percent per year rather than invest in another building at this time. While commissioners agreed that there’s no rush to build a new administration building, they agreed to instruct staff to enter into negotiations with the owners of both properties and bring back contracts with terms for consideration at a future meeting. They also asked for a cost comparison between owning a building and renting at their current location.
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Salty Mermaid Broker/owner Liz Blandford does the honors Friday at the AMI Chamber’s ribbon cutting for Salty Mermaid Real Estate & Vacation Rentals, 5306 Holmes Blvd., Holmes Beach. The phone number for Salty Mermaid is 941-254-6131 or toll-free at 1-800-313-1867.
FILE PHOTO
Hot dog eating contest seeks contestants The Swordfish Grill in Cortez will host its sixth annual 4th of July Hot Dog Eating Contest at 1 p.m. on Thursday, July 4. For information on how to participate in the competitive eating extravaganza, call 941-798-2035.
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JUNE 26, 2019
WMFR commissioners recognize promotions, audit end WMFR commissioners celebrated two promotions and the receipt of a clean audit with an unmodified opinion when they met June 18. BY KRISTIN SWAIN SUN STAFF WRITER | kswain@amisun.com
BRADENTON – West Manatee Fire Rescue commissioners had a few things to celebrate during their June 18 meeting. Kicking the meeting off was the promotion of two firefighters to firefighter second class, Alex Flores and Frank Agresta. Though Flores was absent from the meeting, Agresta attended, accepting the promotion with the help of his two children who joined him in front of fire commissioners. Commissioners also celebrated Commissioner Larry Jennis’ completion of training with the Florida Association of Special Districts. Jennis is the first WMFR elected official to complete the training. During the meeting, commissioners also received good news in the form
KRISTIN SWAIN | SUN
Clockwise above, Frank Agresta celebrates his promotion to firefighter second class with his children. Chief Tom Sousa congratulates Commissioner Larry Jennis on his completion of training with the Florida Association of Special Districts. Auditor Randy Dillingham presents commissioners with a clean audit report.
SEE WMFR, PAGE 19
Board accepts new fire chief contract BY KRISTIN SWAIN SUN STAFF REPORTER | kswain@amisun.com
BRADENTON – West Manatee Fire Rescue’s soon-to-be Chief Ben Rigney’s employment contract is approved and ready to go into effect when current Chief Tom Sousa retires from the fire service in October. WMFR’s board of commissioners voted unanimously June 18 to accept the terms of the contract negotiated by board Chair David Bishop. Once the vote was taken, Sousa and the five fire commissioners each took a turn congratulating Rigney on his promotion and the acceptance of the contract. The contract is for five years and requires Rigney to reside in the district for the entirety of the term. The fire
chief position is the only one with WMFR that carries a residency requirement. Until October, Rigney will continue in his current position as battalion chief. Bishop said that during negotiations he also argued for the chief’s salary to be raised somewhat to come up to current standards and bring it more in line with other Florida fire districts. He said he tried to negotiate a raise for Sousa during his three years as chief, but that Sousa refused. “When you have talent, you pay for talent, and you have high expectations for results,” Bishop said. Rigney, a career WMFR firefighter, was selected by commissioners in KRISTIN SWAIN | SUN
SEE CHIEF, PAGE 19
Chief Tom Sousa congratulates Battalion Chief Ben Rigney on his promotion to fire chief upon Sousa’s retirement in October during a March WMFR board meeting.
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CHIEF: Board accepts contract March to succeed Sousa. He was the only candidate to emerge from a three-month internal selection process and received recommendations not only from commissioners but also from his fellow firefighters. The candidate selection committee was headed by Commissioner Larry Jennis, who gave Rigney a positive recommendation during the March meeting. In addition to taking on the mantle of fire chief, Rigney also will be undertaking a two-year training program to achieve the top certification for a fire service officer with the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer program. Rigney said the program, previously a four-year endeavor, is undergoing some restructuring and that he hopes to start sometime in the next year. He was accepted in the program in mid-2018.
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WMFR: Commissioners recognize promotions, audit end FROM PAGE 18
FROM PAGE 18
THE SUN
of a clean audit report with an unmodified opinion. Auditor Randy Dillingham appeared before commissioners to present the finalized audit report for the 2017-18 fiscal year. Dillingham said the audit was “an open and transparent process” and that no issues were found with the district’s financial statements or the processes implemented by staff. He said that there was a carryover of approximately $400,000 for the fiscal year. The excess funds, he said, were due to grant funds received that are expected to taper down in coming years and savings for future capital expenses. Commissioner Randy Cooper said that the district received more income than had been anticipated during the fiscal year, with excess funds coming in from the Manatee County Tax Assessor totaling about $97,000 more than budget and $142,000 in grant funds.
Commissioner Al Robinson said that if he had known about the carryover of funds, he would have fought harder during the board’s May meeting to keep from instituting a 1.65 percent increase in residential assessments and 5 percent in commercial assessment rates for the 2019-20 fiscal year. Jennis said that while there is a carryover, those funds may be needed with labor costs trending upward and an unknown cost of benefit if any firefighters working with WMFR develop cancer related to working in the fire service either during their time with the district or afterwards. He said the scenario is considered a presumptive condition with the district’s insurance company and that the district would be responsible for picking up the financial slack if one of their firefighters was to be diagnosed with the condition, producing unknown costs for WMFR. Commissioners also held a final discussion on the old fire station in
Cortez, currently owned by FISH. Cooper said that he and Battalion Chief Ben Rigney attended the June FISH board meeting where they learned that board agrees to leave the stipulations currently on the deed to the building. Though FISH owns the building, there are three stipulations under which the building could be deeded back to the fire district – if FISH decides to sell the building, if it’s used for commercial purposes or if the fire district decides that it needs the building to provide service to the community. During the May meeting, Karen Bell, representing FISH, said she believed the stipulations were added to the deed when the building was donated to the nonprofit by the fire district as safeguards incase the newly formed FISH failed. With the nonprofit more than a decade old and still going strong, commissioners agreed that it’s doubtful the provisions ever will be used.
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OUTDOORS
JUNE 26, 2019
Tarpon primer
Reel Time RUSTY CHINNIS
T
arpon are one of the premier gamefish that swim local waters and are a noble adversary on any tackle. The fish that frequent our beaches during the months of May through August can weigh over 200 pounds and average from 80 to 100 pounds. We are blessed with some of the best tarpon fishing in the world, and the local bars and inshore waters host some of the finest fly and spin fishing to be found anywhere. This isn’t a game of numbers, and to the anglers who pursue tarpon, it’s the hunt and the action that keep them on the
bow for hours in the hot summer sun. Tackle should match the size of the quarry, and most anglers opt for a 20- to 30-pound spin outfit and 11- to 12-weight fly rod, line and reel. A heavy bite tippet is required because of the size of tarpon and their rasp like mouth. Fly anglers generally use 60- to 80-pound tippet, while spin anglers choose 80- to 100-pound test. While it might seem like a difficult task to land a tarpon on the fly, or any tackle for that matter, an angler who knows the limits of his/her tackle can actually land a tarpon in a surprisingly short time. The key is to apply maximum pressure from the hookup and never let up. Too many anglers baby their tarpon in a misguided attempt to land them. The truth is that the longer you fight a tarpon the bet-
ter chance you have of losing it. A properly (IGFA approved) tied tarpon leader used by fly fishers usually runs between 10 and 12 feet and is tapered to properly deliver the fly. The leader includes a class tippet (weakest link) from 16 to 20 pounds that is doubled at both ends to soften the (shock) impact to the class tippet and bite tippet. Key to the whole equation is to have a very sharp hook as tarpon have extremely tough mouths. Conventional leaders vary from angler to angler, but a doubled standing line tied to a leader and then to the bite tippet with a blood knot or Albright Special is recommended. Flies vary from the classic splayed feather Key’s style to more complex designs like the SEE REEL TIME, PAGE 21
RUSTY CHINNIS | SUN
From left, Hunter Parrish prepares to release a tarpon he caught with his dad, Benny Parrish, in Longboat Pass.
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JUNE 26, 2019
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REEL TIME: Tarpon primer FROM PAGE 20
Toad, and various baitfish imitations. Some fly anglers are not concerned with actually landing a tarpon, preferring to just enjoy the hunt, the hook up and the jumps that usually follow the hook set. They use light bite tippets, which allows the tarpon to work through the leader with their abrasive mouths. The key to landing tarpon on the fly is accuracy. The fly must be placed perfectly, move in a precise direction relative to the fish and be at the proper (fishes’) depth. Even when all of these factors come together, there’s still about a 50 percent chance that the tarpon will reject the fly. The go to bait for spin anglers is a live crab. Small blue crabs can be purchased and many bait shops and pass crabs can be dipped from the local passes on a falling tide. Other effective baits include pinfish, threadfin herring and pilchards. Artificial lures like the DOA Bait Buster and the 4 and six-inch shrimp, jigs and even top water plug can be effective. Patience is a critical factor when fishing for tarpon, especially when fly fishing. The most successful anglers find the edge of a sandbar or other underwater feature that tarpon track, anchor in casting range and wait. Sometimes tarpon come at a steady rate, but just
as often there are long periods of time when the only thing to look at is the water and the bottom. This really separates the great anglers from the good anglers. There are times when you need to move, but knowing when and where is a skill that is developed if never mastered. Once set up, the angler must be able to make a 40- to 50-foot cast to a location the size of a dinner plate. Placement of the fly cannot be overemphasized because tarpon will seldom vary a foot or two from their path to eat a fly. Although there is always the rare exception, a fly must never travel in a path towards the intended target. A tarpon’s prey species wouldn’t survive long if it moved towards its aggressor, and tarpon know it. Besides moving away from the fish, the fly must move at the proper pace, be at the proper depth and never slow down when a tarpon is tracking it. Conversely, you can’t move the fly too fast, taking it out of a tarpon’s range. If all this wasn’t demanding enough, once a tarpon decides to eat the fly an angler’s mettle is really tested. Conventional anglers usually look for rolling fish in the near-shore Gulf and motor well ahead of them to intercept their path. Trolling motors can be effective for following a school in deep water but will spook them in the shallows. One thing that all tarpon anglers should practice is courtesy. Often a boat has been working long and hard to get properly set up for a shot and a boat running up on the fish will spoil the day for everyone. Tarpon are not trout and attempting to raise the rod to set the hook is
a cardinal mistake. Fortunately, once a tarpon decides to eat the fly there’s no need to make a lighting fast hook set. The right set is called a strip strike, which involves letting the line come tight and immediately setting the hook with a combination of the line hand and the rod. Conventional anglers should also have the patience to let the line come tight before attempting to hook the fish. Then the angler must at once work to set the hook in the cement like jaw while being ready for the fish to bolt away from the boat. After the fly angler’s initial hook set, attention must go immediately to clearing (getting the loose line off the deck) the line. In most cases, the angler has been stripping in line when the fish bites and the hook is set. That line can easily foul on the angler, the rod or the reel. The discipline is to take your attention from the fish to the line at your feet. Hold the rod away from your body and let the excess line pass through your stripping hand in a circle made with the thumb and the fore finger. Once the line is on the reel set the hook with several more strip strikes using the rod. Conventional anglers often use circle hooks which don’t require a hook set. They just need to let the line come tight and enjoy the action. In any case, the tarpon cannot be aware of the angler on the other end until the hook set. While it’s important to exert maximum pressure on the tarpon during the fight, anglers must yield on jumps. On the jump, the standard maneuver is to thrust the rod forward to relieve pressure on the line. This prevents the tarpon from breaking off if it lands on a taught line. This maneuver is known as bowing to the king. It’s customary to start the engine and get as close to the tarpon as possible
after the initial and subsequent long runs. This allows the angler to apply maximum pressure. If a tarpon is 100 yards from the boat, the stretch of the line makes it impossible to apply any real pressure. If you’re looking for a good jump shot, here’s a great tip. When a tarpon makes any long run, motor close to it, applying only enough pressure to make sure the hook doesn’t dislodge. As soon as you are in place, frame the shot you want and then have the angler apply maximum pressure. Most times the tarpon will make a jump that’s close enough to the boat to get the angler and the fish in the shot. It’s not a sure thing, but when it works it can present an awesome photographic opportunity. Finally, don’t try and rush the tarpon when it gets near the end of the fight. Keep the pressure on, but don’t clamp down and try to force the fish to the boat. Tarpon fishing was excellent in the early season but has proven challenging so far in June due to finicky fish and persistent west winds. As of this writing, conditions have improved, and anglers report some spectacular days interspersed with slow action. My experience has proven the old adage, “The best time to go fishing is whenever you can.” Every time I think I’ve discerned a pattern the tarpon teach me a new lesson. Good action can be found right through July for fly anglers, while the best month for conventional anglers is June. Tarpon fishing is a challenging endeavor, but it’s well worth the effort when you finally get that first scale rattling jump.
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JUNE 26, 2019
Tarpon remain strong CAPTAIN DAVE WHITE
Summertime fishing is in full swing right now. With temps in the 90s, it’s pretty good fishing right now. The tarpon game remains pretty strong. With pass crabs as the go to bait, we are having some great mornings and evenings out there. We here at Anna Maria Charters are going to enjoy the tarpon bite as long as we can. Inshore snook fishing seems endless. Great action on light tackle. We’re very lucky to have this fishery. Permit are around pretty well if you know where to look! The mangrove snapper are starting to move in pretty well. We’re happy about this, as it’s tough to fill a cooler on inshore trips with the closures of most inshore species.
Offshore, American reds, mangroves and yellowtail fishing is great with the occasional red grouper in the mix. It’s hot out there. Stay cool and good luck.
CAPTAIN RICK GRASSETT
Fly anglers fishing with me, out of CB’s Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, had good action with tarpon in the coastal Gulf during the past week. A persistent west wind for most of the week made conditions tough and a couple of trips were cancelled. Despite a big swell and choppy conditions on several days that we fished, some tarpon schools were high in the water column and several tarpon were jumped. Jeb Mulock, from Bradenton, and Jeff Handlin, from Colorado, fished with
me on Friday. They had lots of shots and Jeb landed a fish. Great job. Look for tarpon in the coastal Gulf. If conditions are poor in the Gulf, you may find them in protected inside waters where fishing mangrove shorelines for catch and release reds and snook may also be a good option. Night fishing for snook and more is a dependable option and a good way to beat the heat. Our natural resources are under constant pressure from red tides fueled by industrial, agricultural and residential runoff, freezes, increasing fishing pressure and habitat loss and degradation. Please limit your kill; don’t kill your limit.
CAPT. RICK GRASSETT | PROVIDED
Jeb Mulock, from Bradenton, fights a tarpon that was caught and released on a fly while fishing the coastal gulf with Capt. Rick Grassett.
PROVIDED
Another paradise When Capt. Anthony Riccio moved his wife, Pearl, and two children from Anna Maria Island to Lahaina on the Island of Maui in Hawaii, he figured it was a good move from one paradise to another. He got a job running fishing charters for Start Me Up sport fishing charters in Lahaina and has seen some huge fish pulled from the water by lucky anglers. On June 15, Riccio brought in a 124-lb. tuna, above left, that was 6 ft. 6 inches long. On June 18, he landed a 495.5 lb., 140-inch long marlin. As long as the big fish keep biting, it’s more than likely that Riccio will keep calling Hawaii home.
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JUNE 26, 2019
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JUNE 26, 2019
FOOD & WINE
THE SUN
Experiencing local food scenes
25
Gorgonzola, Fig and Rosemary Pierogi
Brian Mathae
(Makes 30 - 40 pierogi)
Ingredients
Filling:
W
5 medium peeled russet potatoes 1/2 tsp. salt 2 Tbs. butter, melted 3/4 c. crumbled gorgonzola cheese 4 Tbs. fig jam 1tsp. finely chopped fresh rosemary
HURRICANE HANKS
hen travelling we always make sure to visit a few of the locals’ favorite restaurants. To us, experiencing the tastes are as important as seeing the sights. Many of those experiences come from visiting those restaurants that serve traditional meals representative of the local cultures. Some experiences come from those restaurants that focus on sourcing the majority of the menu items from local suppliers. And other experiences come from those restaurants that are at the top of their game and changing the way the local community looks at food. We travel every year to Calgary Canada to visit family and friends and, of course, restaurants. One of our first stops is The Golden Inn Restaurant in Chinatown. It has been owned by the same family since 1977. They serve authentic Cantonese style dishes that our family has been enjoying for over 40 years. Because the founder of the restaurant has been cooking in the kitchen since he opened it, every dish tastes just like the last time you had it. Their number 1 dish with customers is the salt-andpepper squid. It’s easy to understand why; it's lightly battered and spiced, and to die for. Once our obligatory visit to The Golden Inn is out of the way, we venture to new experiences. Somewhat surprisingly, Calgary’s restaurant scene is the second hottest in Canada, according to OpenTable rankings. It lags behind that of only Toronto, which has a much
Dough:
4 c. sour cream 4 c. all-purpose flour 2 Tbs. salt SUBMITTED
Try a new adventure in dining with this interesting recipe. larger population. But what makes Calgary unique is a younger population than most cities. The average age is only 36.4. The younger population is definitely driving the food scene by supporting those that offer fresh new ingredients and flavors. Our experience is the restaurants that keep recipes relatively simple but use incredible combinations of flavor and texture in portions that encourage sharing are the most successful. We’ve been fortunate to visit most of the top ranked restaurants in Calgary over the years. As the rankings are updated annually, there are always new venues to try. We are torn between visiting our past favorites and trying new ones. There is one we won’t be able to make it back to this visit despite it having a dish I still rave about. It’s a modern twist on a culturally important food. Today’s recipe is based on the dish. Last night we visited Pigeonhole for the first time. With only 17 items on the food menu (plus three des-
serts) they are able to deliver on their promise of fresh local ingredients and taste profiles. Something as simple as locally grown asparagus was elevated to another world when served with buttermilk, cheese curds and roasted buckwheat. The shrimp and pork popcorn was equally simple and yet delightful. Small dumplings of ground shrimp and pork are breaded and fried. The Szechuan salt finish accents the shrimp and pork. Our next dining adventure is at Ten Foot Henry which offers a “vegetableanchored menu” where they “bridge the gap between what you should be eating and what you really want to eat.” Again its a restaurant with a relatively small menu of 20 selections that are meant to be shared. We are excited to see if it lives up to its promise. Our experiences while travelling may become the inspiration for some of our specials at Hurricane Hanks that we can share with you. We hope you will enjoy them as much as we do.
Egg Wash: 1 egg 2 Tbs. water
Garnish:
Salt Pepper 1 c. sour cream 2 Tbs. chopped rosemary
Directions
Gently mix the dough ingredients by hand and let rest refrigerated overnight. The next day boil the potatoes until they are easily pierced with a fork. Drain potatoes and allow steam to evaporate for 5 minutes, then mash. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Set aside while rolling out dough. Roll the dough on a floured surface and cut circles 3 inches in diameter using a coffee mug or large glass. Place a spoonful of the filling in the centre of each circle. Lightly brush egg wash on the dough edges. Fold the dough over and pinch the edges firmly to seal them. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and slowly drop the pierogi in, cooking for 4 or 5 minutes or until they float. Remove and toss in a saute pan of melted butter to finish for a few minutes. Serve immediately with salt and freshly ground pepper to taste along with some chopped fresh rosemary and sour cream.
www.TheFeastRestaurantAMI.com
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JUNE 26, 2019
Holmes Beach to participate in community redevelopment program Commissioners voted unanimously to participate in a community development block grant program with Manatee County. BY KRISTIN SWAIN SUN STAFF WRITER | kswain@amisun.com
HOLMES BEACH – Manatee County Director of Redevelopment and Economic Opportunity Geri Lopez appeared June 11 before commissioners with an interesting opportunity – for city leaders to agree to participation in a community development block grant program. To participate in the program, all Lopez said Holmes Beach commissioners have to do is vote to agree to participate and allow the county to count the city’s population. By adding those people to the rest of Manatee County’s total, Lopez said can help the county get federal grant funds to help create affordable housing and offer other help and support to lower and moderate-income people. In addition to creating decent, affordable housing, the program
KRISTIN SWAIN | SUN
Geri Lopez, director of redevelopment and economic opportunity for Manatee County, presents the prospect of participating in a community development block grant program to Holmes Beach commissioners. also helps to create and maintain jobs in the area through business retention. It also helps to attract new businesses to the area. While the grant funds likely won’t come back to the Island, where Lopez said there isn’t a large demand for the available services, she said the grant funds likely will provide a positive impact for people who work on the Island and live on the mainland due to the high cost of living on the Island.
The program is run through the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. Commissioners voted unanimously to continue the city’s participation in the program for an additional three years. Lopez thanked commissioners for their continued participation. “Thank you for the work that you do,” Commissioner Jim Kihm said to Lopez just before the vote was taken.
TRAFFIC: Snarled during competition FROM PAGE 14
At the BIEO meeting, Chappie also brought up a need to discuss the ongoing traffic issues related to holiday weekends on the Island. Over the recent Memorial Day weekend, he said Bradenton Beach police officers experienced issues with crowd
control at the beaches and with illegal parking. Soustek said Holmes Beach officers had similar experiences and suggested the Island cities try to work with Manatee County officials to find a balance between celebrating the holidays and special events on the Island with locals and visitors and experiencing
overcrowding situations. Chappie agreed as well as Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy. Chappie said a meeting had been scheduled with law enforcement leaders and Manatee County officials to discuss how traffic and crowds related to holidays and special events could be better handled in the future.
JUNE 26, 2019
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THE SUN
27
Chamber in line for tourist tax funds The Manatee County Tourist Development Council has recommended that Manatee County commissioners approve $28,000 in tourist tax funds to upgrade and maintain the Anna Maria Chamber
of Commerce website. The chamber is the official visitors center for Anna Maria Island, according to Elliott Falcione, director of the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.
March 2019 tourist tax collections compared to March 2018
Anna Maria $414,745 $390,977 Bradenton Beach $238,143 $225,502 Holmes Beach $637,154 $582,200 Manatee County Total* $2,735,833 $2,491,437
6% 6% 9% 9%
*(Anna Maria Island, Bradenton, Longboat Key, unincorporated Manatee County, Palmetto)
April 2019 tourist tax collections compared to April 2018
Anna Maria $244,040 $200,404 Bradenton Beach $111,877 $104,309 Holmes Beach $331,627 $221,755 Manatee County Total* $1,490,633 $1,264,916
21% 7% 9% 18%
*(Anna Maria Island, Bradenton, Longboat Key, unincorporated Manatee County, Palmetto)
Mondays
The funds will contribute to improvements that include meeting industry standards for best website practices, he said.
Manatee County’s 5% resort tax, or tourist tax, is collected from owners of accommodations rented for six months or less who charge the tax to their renters, in most cases, tourists. About 50% of the tax proceeds are allocated to Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau tourism marketing efforts, with 20% allocated to beach renourishment. The tax also funds tourism-related attractions such as the Bishop Museum and the Bradenton Beach and Anna Maria piers. Resort tax increases reflect both increased visitation and improved tax collection efforts. Amounts shown were collected in March and paid to the Manatee County Tax Collector’s Office in April. Manatee County totals include Anna Maria Island cities, Bradenton, the portion of Longboat Key within Manatee County, unincorporated Manatee County and Palmetto. To anonymously report a rental owner who may not be paying the tax, call 941-741-4809 or visit http://www.taxcollector.com/tdt-evader. cfm Source: Manatee County Tax Collector
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REAL ESTATE
JUNE 26, 2019
The buyer’s best buddy
love learning new words, and I love applying those new words to anything in real estate. My new word is chimera, which is from Greek mythology and is a fire-breathing female monster. Now before you start with the female jokes, chimera is also a thing that is hoped or wished for but, in fact, is illusory or impossible to achieve. There was a time in this country when mortgages were not easy to come by. Typically, if you wanted a mortgage to finance a home, they were short term loans with very large down payments, balloon payments and floating rates. The creation of the 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage came about after the Great Depression and was part of The New Deal who established the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) setting up 15- and 30-year mortgages. Subsequent to that in 1938, Fannie Mae was launched as a way to free up mortgage money making it more available to Americans. Fannie Mae and then Freddie Mac
Castles in the Sand LOUISE BOLGER were created to encourage banks to make more home loans by backing the loans with federal guarantees, thus removing almost all of the home lending risk. These mortgages were then packaged into securities and sold to investors. This was a great system, until it wasn’t. A major part of why the financial crisis happened is because non-conforming loans were given to buyers who were essentially not qualified by lending institutions that were not verifying their ability to repay the loan. All of these sub prime mortgages were sold as securities to investors who knew that Freddie and Fannie were assuming the risk backed by the federal government.
When the house of cards finally fell down, Fannie and Freddie were put under government conservatorship in 2008, fundamentally using your tax dollars to bail them out. So here we are now with about half of the home loans today still being backed by Fannie and Freddie. There’s no question that these government backed agencies have done their part in creating the American lifestyle and dream of home ownership, but is it time for an overhaul of the system? In favor of keeping the status quo, lawmakers point out that that government has a responsibility to keep housing affordable for both individuals' ability to build wealth and allowing businesses that depend on homeownership to thrive. Also, they point out that banks don’t want to keep loans on their books, and if Fannie and Freddie are dismantled banks would rethink making loans if the economy starts to slow down drying up available mortgage funds. On the other hand, some say the gov-
ernment shouldn’t assume the risk associated with home ownership and more competition in the form of private equity would be a better mix. No one wants a replay of 2008. Over the last 10 years, there have been innumerable arguments between lawmakers and government officials about how to proceed going forward and how big Fannie and Freddie should be allowed to become. Some say part of their business should be returned to private institutions, and some say they should not exist at all. None of this will be resolved anytime soon. However, if your chimera is owning your home, it’s actually a good time to buy. Interest rates have dropped below 4 percent for the first time since early last year, and the Federal Reserve is holding steady with the prime rate for now. Whatever happens between the federal government and Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac isn’t your problem right now; embrace the illusion buy a house.
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JUNE 26, 2019
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29
WBPV now transmitting from Cortez WBPV 100.1 FM is the sister station of WSLR 96.5 FM in Sarasota. BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
CORTEZ – The transmission antenna for the WBPV 100.1 low power FM community radio station now sits atop the Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage (FISH) Boatworks building in Cortez. The WBPV antenna previously sat atop Ace’s Lounge in Bradenton, but that building is no longer standing. WBPV (West Bradenton People’s Voice) is the sister station to the Sarasota-based WSLR 96.5 FM community radio station that began broadcasting in 2005. WBPV programming currently mimics WSLR’s programming, but that hope is to include some Island-centric programming for both stations in the future. Headquartered near downtown Sarasota, WLSR plays a wide variety of music and talk programs, most of them local and some of them syndicated. WBPV’s new location at the FISH Boatworks includes a small auxiliary shed that houses the transmission equipment. In the future, the shed may serve as a secondary
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
WBPV and WSLR radio programs are now beamed from this antenna at the FISH Boatworks. WSLR programmers recently gathered for a celebratory social event at the Swordfish Grill. broadcast studio for localized programming or for emergency broadcasts. To celebrate the occasion, a WSLR/ WBPV social was held at the Swordfish Grill on Monday, June 10. Several WSLR programmers attended, including Bradenton Beach resident and former city commissioner Bob Connors. Connors co-hosts the Peace & Justice Report news and talk show
Wednesday mornings from 9-10 a.m. Bradenton resident Steve Norris was a founding member of WSLR when the original antenna first went up. He and fellowBradenton resident Lou Lorini host The Surreal News news and talk show Friday mornings from 9-10 a.m. Environmental advocate and Bradenton resident Andy Mele hosts The Waterkeep-
ers talk show on Tuesday mornings from 9-10 a.m., and Sun columnist Rusty Chinnis was a recent guest. Station co-managers Arlene Sweeting, Dave Beaton and Ann Murphy led folks on a short walking tour from the Swordfish Grill to the new antenna location on the FISH Preserve property. SEE WBPV, PAGE 33
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CITY: 'Not so fast' on tree cutting FROM PAGE 1
The city’s land development code prohibits planting Australian pines and other non-native nuisance species, but the code requires replacing each prohibited tree removed with an allowed species on a oneto-one basis. City code also requires the replacement trees to be at least 5 feet tall.
MEMO ISSUED
On Friday, Gilbert sent a memo to Manatee County Project Manager Michael Sturm. “The city is hereby placing the applicant on notice that Manatee County must come into compliance with this Land Development Code. Please prepare and submit a plan showing the location of all trees to be removed in the project area, along with a signed/sealed landscaping plan to show the locations of the replacement trees, including a list of the tree species proposed. We will then amend the project application to include the landscaping plan,” Gilbert’s memo said. “Please be advised that the Land Development Code authorizes the city of Bradenton Beach to stop work on a project when situations such as this arise, until sufficient information is provided to assure compliance with the code. Rather than take this action, my office would prefer
that we collaborate on a solution. We ask that you take steps to prevent the removal of any trees until this matter is fully resolved. This is a matter of importance, and time is of the essence. We would like to meet with you as soon as possible to review the situation and the requirements,” Gilbert’s memo concludes. “If you’re taking out 240 trees you will replace them with 240 trees,” Gilbert told the Sun earlier in the week. He said county officials never mentioned tree removals when seeking the city-issued approvals and permits. “I think they knew they were going to have to take trees out, they just didn’t divulge it. They didn’t tell us there might be an impact to the trees,” Gilbert said.
CITY PERMITTING
The county-owned beach is within the city limits, and the county project requires city approvals and permitting. On March 1, 2018, the city commission unanimously approved the project’s proposed lot coverage that County Engineer Sia Mollanazar said would include 47,437 square yards of pervious concrete and 1,098 square yards of impervious pavement. On June 13, 2018, Sturm sent City Engineer Lynn Burnett an email that said he
JUNE 26, 2019
and Mollanazar would appreciate the city waiving its permit fees. The agenda item request that Burnett submitted for the June 21, 2018, commission meeting said the estimated permitting fees would exceed $100,000 and delay the project. The commission unanimously approved the county’s request, except for some minimal administrative costs. During his two appearances in Bradenton Beach, Mollanazar never mentioned tree removals. On April 10 of this year, Gilbert issued the county a zoning and land use permit that noted the county paid only $500 of the $48,190 that could have been charged in permitting fees, saving the county $47,690.
COMMISSION DISCUSSION
During last week’s meeting, Mayor John Chappie said he talked to Manatee County Commission Chair Steve Jonsson. Chappie suggested the county money would be better spent addressing stormwater issues slightly to the north at Cortez Beach, where Gulf Drive and the adjacent bike lane are frequently flooded. Vice Mayor Jake Spooner said the county project could have been designed with less impact on the trees had the county obtained a stormwater permit. Instead, county staff chose to place the drainage and paving improvements in the existing footprint of the parking areas and access roads. This alleviated the need for a
state-issued stormwater permit. Spooner questioned the wisdom of completing the project’s first phase when there is now some doubt as to whether county commissioners will approve the project’s proposed second phase. “The majority of the parking’s still going to be flooded down at the other end,” Spooner said of that potential scenario. “There’s a lot I don’t understand about this.” Commissioner Ralph Cole said he supports the county efforts to discharge cleaner stormwater into the nearby natural waterways, but he said removing that many trees could negatively impact air quality. Chappie and Commissioner Randy White said they didn’t recall hearing anything about tree removals when the county project was proposed to the commission. When contacted earlier in the week, Chappie and Spooner both said they were very disappointed by the county commission’s decision, but they thanked commissioners Betsy Benac and Carol Whitmore for opposing the project as currently planned. “I had hoped that at the very least the county would have considered the option of cutting down 50 trees and trimming the others,” Chappie said.
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MONUMENT: in limbo FROM PAGE 15
because the cemetery board rejected that idea. Osborne also said the commission could convey ownership of the monument to someone else or let it remain in storage.
THE SUN
Baugh said she adamantly opposed selling the monument, but she suggested as a last report that it might be placed on the grounds of the original Confederate Whitehouse in Montgomery, Alabama – a destination she planned to visit the following week. No timetable was given as to when the Confederate memorial will be discussed again.
MONUMENT REMOVAL
removal on Aug. 22, 2017 – one day after a large protest occurred at and near the monument that was encased in a plywood shell to protect it from harm. When the monument was removed in the early morning hours of Aug 24, the firm that removed it dropped the monument dropped it and the monument fractured into three pieces. The monument will be repaired and restored at its new location, if and when one is determined.
The commission majority authorized the monument’s
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WBPV: Transmitting from Cortez FROM PAGE 29
Licensed by the Federal Communications Committee (FCC), low power FM stations typically operate with a limited transmission range. WSLR’s transmission range in Sarasota is generally in the 5-10-mile range. “WBPV went dark for a year, and then we started a dialogue with Jane von Hahmann and the people from FISH,” Beaton said. “We can get from the FISH Preserve to Bradenton Beach and downtown Holmes Beach and then the signal starts to drift off. We hope at some point to get the antenna taller, but our agreement with FISH is for this 40-foot pole for one year. It’s a good start, and it keeps us compliant with the federal requirements to be on the air,” he said. WSLR and WBPV will help promote FISH’s annual Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival and other events taking place in and around Cortez, and Beaton encourages Cortez, Anna Maria Island and Bradenton residents to become involved with the community radio stations. In exchange for hosting a talk, news or music show, volunteer programmers are required to volunteer a couple additional hours of their time each month. These added duties include working special events and concerts at the Fogartyville Community Media & Arts Center that is part of the WSLR complex in Sarasota. Regardless of your location on or off the Island, you can tune in to WSLR and WBPV anytime at www.wslr.org.
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THE SUN
SPORTS
JUNE 26, 2019
Jiffy Lube dominates on the pitch
BY MONICA SIMPSON SPECIAL TO THE SUN
The last game of the regular season last Wednesday night was just the beginning of the dominating soccer play by Jiffy Lube. In a shocking defeat against the number one ranked team, Gulfview Windows and Doors, Danny Anderson’s Jiffy Lube squad paved its way to the quarterfinal games to be played Thursday night. Despite its nearly flawless record, Gulfview, lead by Ryan Moss, could only put one goal on the scoreboard. Jiffy Lube started quick out of the gates with the one-two punch of Anderson and Omar Polar. Anderson’s pass to Polar was right on the money, allowing Polar to hammer the shot less than five minutes into the game. Three minutes later, Anderson got his first goal after several shots were taken and saved by Gulfview goalkeeper Jordan DeMers, who was credited with nine saves in the game. Veteran player Ed Moss scored the one and only point for his son’s team in the ninth minute of play, taking the score to 2-1. Flawless play by Jiffy Lube and unforced errors by Gulfview allowed Anderson to hit the net for the second time in the game. With a two-goal lead, the game became a defensive battle leading up to the half. Jiffy Lube keeper Robb Marshall worked hard to keep the soccer ball out of his net with eight saves in the game. To start the second half of play, Ricky Anderson scored his team’s fourth goal only to be followed by another goal by teammate Anil Akbulut, advancing the score to 5-1. R. Moss took over in goal, putting DeMers on the field. Jiffy Lube’s Eliza Falliace took her shot only to be saved by R. Moss. Taking the ball the full length of the pitch at The Center, D. Anderson found a scoring opportunity and took the shot for his team’s sixth goal. Falliace took anther shot against R. Moss that went just left of the post. R. Anderson fired a cannon that was just over the crossbar. With less than eight minutes left in the game, Falliace hit the net for a goal of her own, widening the Jiffy Lube lead with a score of 7-1 to finish the game. In a season with 10 teams, wild card games between the bottom four teams had to be played to determine the quarterfinal contenders. Moss Builders, lead by Diego Felipe, took the field against defending champions Sato Real Estate with team captain Josh Sato. After 50 minutes of play, regulation play
MONICA SIMPSON | SUN
Jiffy Lube’s Stetson Mathews gives it his all to keep the soccer ball away from Gulfview Windows and Doors’ Ryan Moss during the first semi-final playoff game last Wednesday night. ended with the score of 3-3, leading to a shootout. Sato Real Estate came out on top despite rocket shots by Amy Ivin and Jake Parsons. Goalkeeper Jason Sato’s skillful saves gave his brother’s team to opportunity to finish on top critical goals by Josh Sato, Murat Akay, and Steve Wertovitch. The last quarterfinal game played Thursday night ended in another nail biter. Once again, fifth seed Jiffy Lube prevailed, but this time in a shoot out after regulation play ended with the score 3-3 against the fourth seed Blalock Walters squad. Missed shots by Matt Plumber and Stephen Perry, against Jiffy Lube keeper Sean Flynn, cost the team of lawyers the game. The netted shots by Greg DeMeuse and Matt Staggs just were not enough against the skillful strikes of O. Polar, Emily Taylor, R. Anderson and D. Anderson. Blalock goalie Scott Rudacille’s agility and talent just was not enough Thursday night. The stage is set for this Thursday’s semifinal match-ups and the championship game. Gulfview Windows and Doors will face Jiffy Lube at 6 p.m., while Flynn Law
will take on Beach House Real Estate at 7 p.m. The championship game for the Paul “Ace” Hayward cup will be played at 8:30 p.m. with the winners of the two earlier games to end another season of adult co-ed soccer at The Center.
SUN SCOREBOARD WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19 ADULT CO-ED SOCCER LEAGUE
Jiffy Lube Gulfview Windows and Doors
WILD CARD GAME 1
Solid Rock Construction Beach House Real Estate
7 1 2 6
WILD CARD GAME 2
Moss Builders 3 Sato Real Estate (shoot out winner) 3
THURSDAY, JUNE 20 QUARTERFINAL GAMES ADULT CO-ED SOCCER LEAGUE
Gulfview Windows and Doors Sato Real Estate
3 1
Ross Built Construction Beach House Real Estate
2 4
Duncan Real Estate Flynn Law
5 7
Blalock Walters 3 Jiffy Lube (shoot out winner) 3
Horseshoe happenings Two teams went 3 and 0 during pool play and met in the final on June 19. Dom Livedoti and Bob Heiger jumped out to an early lead and held on for a 22 to 13 win over Mason King and Sam Samuels to win the days championship. On June 22, two teams squared off in the final after going 3 and 0. It was close early, but Jerry Disbrow and Hank Huyghe pulled away late for a 21 to 14 victory over Steve Doyle to earn the days bragging rights.
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JUNE 26, 2019
BEACH BEAT ANNA MARIA
6/9, suicide attempt, 100 Spring Avenue. A lifeguard and responders saved a woman from a suicide attempt. 6/15, information, post office, 101 S. Bay Blvd. a glass door to the post office was cracked. The post office is always open to the public so there were no security issues. 6/10, found property, 207 Pine Ave. A backpack was turned in to deputies. 6/15, felony battery, Rod and Reel Pier, 877 N. Shore Drive. Deputies responded to a fight. The victim was taken to the hospital. No suspects were identified.
BRADENTON BEACH
6/11, theft, Bradenton Beach Club, 1702
Gulf Drive South. A rented tent was stolen. 6/15, trespass warning, Coquina Beach, 2650 Gulf Drive South. An officer found the subject passed out. The officer awakened the subject and trespassed him. 6/15, trespass, spousal abuse, Green Turtle Beach Shop, 701 Gulf Drive North. Police were called to an argument between a husband and wife from Italy. The wife kept hitting her husband in the face, and police arrested her and issued trespass warnings to the couple. 6/15, grand theft, South Coquina Boat Ramp, 2653 Gulf Drive South. A construction worker’s dog and cage were stolen.
CORTEZ
6/12, information, 4400 block of 124th Street West. A firefighter said he had knowledge of stored illegal fireworks. Authorities found the fireworks that were legal, but they told the firefighter to move them
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somewhere else. DUI, operating a vehicle without a license, Gulf Drive and Cortez Road. The Bradenton Beach officer was behind the defendant at that location and stopped the driver, that he felt was impaired. The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office deputy aided in working the case.
HOLMES BEACH
6/12, warrant arrest, 3200 East Bay Drive. The officer found out where the subject was located and placed him under arrest. The subject was last located in the Bridge Street anchorage. 6/14, Fraud, 6/14, 5801 Marina Drive. The victim purchased a fishing license online at fishinglicense-usa.com, and when they asked for more money, he got suspicious and found out Florida Fish and Wildlife had not gotten his application or his initial payment. 6/14, information, 500 block of 65th Street.
OBITUARIES Jack A. Rose, Jr. Jack A. Rose, Jr. died June 14, 2019, at the age of 78. He was born in Fort Worth, Texas, in 1940 to loving parents, Jack, Sr. and Bess. He is predeceased by his parents and his brother, Jimmy. He is survived by his wife, Millie; his children, Karen and Steve; their spouses, Fernando and Marci; his grandchildren, Ashley and Alex; and his brother, Alan. Jack joined the Navy at age 18, and served for eight years as a petty officer
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The complainant told police her son violated his parole and was arrested. She said her son’s girlfriend took his truck. The son called his mother and asked her to contact police and press charges of grand theft auto. The officer said they could not do anything until her son gets out of jail, possibly in August. 6/15, noise code violation, 529 Key Royale Drive. Some renters in the last hours of their stay got noisy and were cited. 6/15, DUI above .15, Citgo, 3015 Gulf Drive. A complainant called police to report an intoxicated woman was driving and had pulled into the Citgo station. An officer arrived as she was there and they detected signs of impairment. The defendant said she had imbibed four glasses of wine during the Strong Man competition. A backup officer arrived and asked her to perform a field sobriety test, and she agreed. Based on results of the test, they placed her under arrest.
first class. He was stationed at Willow Grove Naval Air Station. While in the Navy he went to Temple University, earned a degree in accounting and ultimately became a CPA. After leaving the Navy, Jack spent his career running several businesses. Jack loved boating and instilled a lifelong love of the water in his wife and children. He loved his family above all else, and treasured his time with them at family gatherings. Services will be held at at 11 a.m. on June 29, at Roser Community Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, FL. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Hope Children’s Home of Tampa.
Driver injured in Sunday accident PHOTO | PROVIDED
Jimmy 'The Heat' Jimmy "The Heat" Hart passed away peacefully on June 14. A celebration of his life will be held at the Anchor Inn on July 14 at noon.
A driver was injured in a two-car, rollover accident that tied up traffic at 8100 Gulf Drive around 5:15 p.m. on Sunday, June 23. According to the Holmes Beach police report, a 54-year-old Avon Park man was taken to Blake Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries after his Ford F-150 hit a Hyundai Sonata driven by a 17-year-old female from Bradenton after she ran the stop sign in front of Haley’s Motel, and was struck by the truck. The truck driver swerved to avoid the car and the truck rolled over, coming to rest on rge driver's side. The female was charged with failing to yield the right of way.
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FUN IN THE SUN
Across 1 Publisher Alfred 6 Spur to action 10 Mus. key with three sharps 14 Lost cause 15 Overconfident racer of fable 16 Hawaiian island 17 Hawaii or Alaska 18 Oil gp. that includes 57-Down 19 Take a load off 20 Horse sense 23 Pool tool 24 Try to win 25 Colonel Sanders facial feature 28 Main attraction 32 Lab maze navigator 33 Letter flourish 34 “... good witch, __ bad witch?” 35 Angry or achy 36 Test proctor’s reminder 40 Soap units 43 Gold in Granada 44 Semiaquatic salamanders 48 The “A” in “IPA” 49 Hard-boiled genre 52 Like Easter eggs before the hunt 54 Duct opening? 55 Debate side 56 Its measurements include liters and grams 60 Squared up 62 Tax-sheltered plans: Abbr. 63 More than suggest 65 Partial view? 66 Scandinavian lan-
guage 67 Circular 68 Decrease 69 Organic compound 70 Sch. district VIPs Down 1 56-Across wts. 2 On the fence 3 Winning like crazy 4 Korda of ’80s-’90s tennis 5 Library amenity 6 Camera buff, for short 7 Shoots the breeze 8 Utah city near Provo 9 10-point star polygon 10 Main blood vessel 11 Orchestra leader 12 Contented sighs 13 Stick (out) 21 Years and years 22 Word after fuel or fly 23 LP successors 26 Cup handle 27 Season after printemps 29 Erma Bombeck’s “At __ End” 30 Décor choice Answers to 06-19-19 Crossword Puzzle.
31 MLB’s D-backs 35 Editorial “let it stand” 37 Event often visible in the evening sky 38 “__ tu”: Verdi aria 39 Cutting teeth 40 Derisive interjection 41 “Rope-a-dope” boxer 42 Paleo diet protein source 45 Took care of, as a spill 46 Annoy persistently 47 __-cone: summer treat 49 Safety feature at a trapeze school 50 La Brea discovery 51 Wall-climbing plant 53 Slow on the uptake 57 Pakistan neighbor 58 “Duck Dynasty” attire, for short 59 Pants, briefly 60 Flow back, as a tide 61 By way of 64 Ave. and st.
JUNE 26, 2019
JUNE 26, 2019
CLASSIFIED
ANNOUNCEMENTS
CARPET CLEANING
FISHING CHARTERS
BEACH YOGA ON Wednesdays, Saturdays & Sundays at 8:30am at the end of Pine Ave by the Sandbar Restaurant by donation. www.thriveyogafit.com
QUALITY COUNTS. CARPET cleaning. Upholstery cleaning. Tile & grout cleaning. Island's favorite cleaner. Manatee Chamber Member. Great price/free estimates. Call 941-7561082
CAPT. MAC GREGORY Fishing Charters. Full Day, Half Day, Night, Inshore & Near Shore. 941-809-5783 U.S.C.G. Certified/Insured
These items are available for best offer at the Anna Maria Island Historical Museum, 402 Pine Ave. Anna Maria, 7780492: Lexmark Multi Function color printer, WIFI Enabled, approx year 2010; HP Laser Jet Color Printer CP1025nw, approx year 2015; ACER LCD Flat Screen Monitor with Dell Keyboard; HP Envy Color Scanner Flatbed Series D410, approx year 2015; Two Fellowes Laminator Saturn 2 Series. Your donation is tax deductible. FACE PAINTER/PORTRAIT ARTIST Island student artist, reasonable price for parties, events, and special portraits. Call/text Lillian 210-380-9691 THE BEST VOLUNTEER position on the island. The AMI Historical Museum needs docents and bread makers. Call Lynn at 813758-3234 or lbrennan47@ gmail.com ROSER FOOD BANK needs donations of cash and non-perishable food. Donations boxes are located at the Church, Moose Club, and Walgreen’s. Join the team at the FLORIDA MARITIME MUSEUM to preserve Florida’s fishing and maritime heritage. Assist with collections, school tours and more! Contact 941-708-6120
AUTOMOTIVE 2004 GEM GOLF CART Street Legal, needs batteries. $2000 Call 941-9325939 2011 Buick Regal CXL. Low miles 60K. White & tan leather. Cold air.941-2707421 $8,650
BOATS: SALES & RENTALS 2008 MAKO 204cc 150 Suzuki 450 hours T-Top. EZ Load Trailer. Lift Kept, One Owner $23,000 Call 941-7268414
Call us today! 941-778-3986
CLEANING SERVICE TOTAL HOME SERVICE CLEANING : Residential, Commercial & Rentals. Professional and Reliable. Call 941-756-4570 AUTHORITY ONE SERVICES. Residential/Commercial/Vacation Rentals & Construction Cleaning. Also Power Washing, Windows, Paver Sealing & Roof Cleaning. Ask about your Senior Citizens Discount Call 941-251-5948 or 941565-3931 PIERLY MAID to CLEAN Residential. Rental, Vacation, Business. Call for free estimate on your spring cleaning, deep cleaning and organizing needs. Bonded and Insured. Call 941-447-2565
COMMERCIAL SALES, RENT & LEASE 13 UNIT RESORT: $4,799,000 Bradenton Beach on Gulf Dr. WAREHOUSE: 9300 sq ft possible Machine Shop w/ Heavy Duty Elect. Or Car Storage. So many Possibilities. Near SRQ Airport. $595,000. Island Real Estate Alan Galletto 941232-2216
COMPUTER SERVICES EMPIRE COMPUTER SERVICE Computer problems fixed in your home or office. The fastest friendliest service around. Serving the Island since 2004. Call 941-739-6424
EMPLOYMENT PART TIME GIFT SHOP Position. Looking for a personable, reliable, energetic person with excellent customer service skills. Must work well with others. Position includes cash register usage, stocking merchandises, light cleaning. RETIREE’S WELCOME. Call Manager 813-4097540
FOR SALE VARIDESK CUBE CORNER 36, two tier design and keyboard deck. Heavyweight base for stability. Color black. Also Varidesk sitting/ standing chair and floor mat. All perfect condition. All pieces new $805. Asking $250. Call Steve 941-724-2728.
GARAGE, MOVING, RUMMAGE & YARD SALES ROSER THRIFT SHOP open Tuesday & Thursday 9:30am-2pm,Saturday 10am-1pm, Annex till 12pm. Donations preferred Wednesdays 9am -11am 511 Pine Ave., Anna Maria. Phone 941-779-2733
HOME IMPROVEMENTS TILE! TILE! TILE! All variations of tile supplied and installed. Quality workmanship. Prompt, reliable, many Island references. Free estimates. Neil 941-726-3077 RENOVATION SPECALIST ALL carpentry repairs, Wash Family Construction, locally owned and operated CBC 1258250 Call 941-725-0073. KERN CONSTRUCTION NEW Homes & Remodel. Design/ Build. Since 1968. License # CRC1327296. Call Jerry Kern 941-778-1115 www. kernconstructioninc.com GET’R DONE DRYWALL, INC Specializing in Remodels & Repairs. Island Resident for 18 years. Call Neil Cell 941-962-1194 LIGHTHOUSE PROPERTY INNOVATIONS LLC State Certified General Contractor (Lic. #CGC 1515821) New Construction, Renovations & Additions. Call 941-266-7500 MASTER CARPENTER. Decks-Docks-FencingStairs & Railing. Free Estimates. Handyman Work. Call Richard 941448-3571
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JSAN CORPORATION Renovations and Handyman Services 941-2430995 jsancorporation@gmail. com Flooring, Drywall, Painting, Repairs, Kitchen and Bathrooms, Trim & Doors. Credit Cards Accepted.
HOME SERVICES THE HARDWOOD STOP Flooring installation services; Laminate, hardwood, vinyl and tile. Bathroom and shower. Virtually dustless FLOOR REMOVAL License and insured FREE ESTIMATES 941-227-0041 www.thehardwoodstop. com BAYSIDE PAINTING Residential & Commercial. “More than just a Painter!” Drywall, pressure washing, handyman services and hauling. Call David 941-565-9446 Carroll 941773-4777
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 SHELL DELIVERED AND spread $55/yd. Hauling all kinds of gravel, mulch, top soil with free estimates. Call Larry at 941-795-7775, "shell phone" 941-720-0770 STRAIGHT SHOT LANDSCAPE. Specializing in Old Florida Seashell driveways and scapes. Also Rock, Mulch, & Soil. Free estimates. Call Shark Mark 941-301-6067
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE: NORMS TOWING gives Notice of Foreclosure of Lien and intent to sell these vehicles on 07/10/2019, 09:00 am at 1855 63RD AVENUE E. BRADENTON, FL 34203, pursuant to subsection 713.78 of the Florida Statutes. NORMS TOWING reserves the right to accept or reject any and/or all bids. 1D8GT28K97W721580 2007 DODGE 1FMDU64W22UC10386 2002 FORD 1G1BF5SM0J7235746
2018 CHEVROLET 1GCEC14V16E204035 06 CHEVR 1GYS3CEF1ER142840 2014 CADILLAC 1N4AL21E67C187566 2007 NISSAN 1NXBR32E07Z921531 TOYOTA 2G1WT57K091222800 2009 CHEVROLET 2GTEC19K4N1553236 1992 GENERAL MOTORS CORP 57BVN6124E1020552 2015 CALB 5FNRL5H94EB050276 2014 HONDA 5NPDH4AE2DH422663 2013 HYUNDAI 5NPE24AF2HH491227 2017 HYUNDAI
LOST & FOUND LOST DIAMOND STONE on Trolley or shops on Anna Maria Island. $500 REWARD. Call 314-324-5921 LOST EYE GLASSES April 19th. Dark men’s frame. Anthony Peoples Design. Call 269-344-7960 LOST WHITE GOLD 18 carat wedding band on Anna Maria Island on beach near Sandbar Restaurant. Call 352-484-4040 if found. LOST ON AMI near the curve at Bradenton beach in the gulf a small red ricoh underwater camera and a size 14 gold wedding band of 25 years. reward if found. Has very sentimental pictures that I cannot duplicate the camera had a half of a lanyard attached to it and on the clip of the lanyard was my wedding ring. Call 205-223-1548
MOVING & STORAGE MARTIN’S MOVING YOUR Island movers! Offering dependable, competitive rates. No hidden costs. 941-809-5777.
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
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“WIZARD OF WALLS” Established 1980 Prompt quality service. Paperhanging/removal Faux finishes. Interior painting. Mary Bell Winegarden 941-794-0455 PROFESSIONAL PAINTING SERVICES. Prompt & Reliable. Island Resident. Quality Workmanship. Interior/Exterior. Also minor repairs & carpentry. Free written detailed estimates. Bill Witaszek 941-307-9315
PETS NO NEED FOR Doggie Daycare. I can walk your dog, exercise, Pet taxi to Vet or Groomer. Loving attention. Lots of cuddling. Mary Walsh 941-405-2496
POOL SERVICES FOUR SEASONS POOL SERVICE AND CHEMICAL SERVICES. Certified Pool Operator. Residential/commercial. Chemical Service Licensed & Insured. Call Dennis Clark 941-737-5657 COLE'S TROPICAL POOL SERVICE Call Cole Bowers for all your pool maintenance needs! Affordable and Dependable!! 941-7131893
PRINTING CUSTOM DIGITAL PRINTING "Your printing dream to reality" Specializing in Dye sublimation Printing. Graphic Design. Performance Active ware. Logo Design. Call Rhonda 330-550-4847
PROFESSIONAL PRESSURE & WINDOW WASHING AUTHORITY ONE CLEANING : Residential, Commercial, Construction and Vacation Rentals . Also available Power Washing, Roof Cleaning and Windows. Call 941-251-5948
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REAL ESTATE HOMES & CONDOS FOR SALE
CANAL FRONT HOMES Holmes Beach – GULF FRONT CONDOS Gulf Place, L’Plage, Vista Grande, SPW, 5400 – DUPLEXES & MORE Island Real Estate ASK Alan Galletto 941232-2216 DIRECT WATERFRONT on AMI! ONLY $599,000 Boat slip, garage & panoramic Skyway views! Call Kathleen White at 941-7730165 Island Real Estate KWhite35@tampabay. rr.com IMMACULATE WATERFRONT HOME 520 Kumquat Dr. 4BD/5BA 3928sf Coastal Beauty! Prime location on AMI. $2,750,000 Call Charles Buky Coldwell Banker 941-228-6086 PERICO BAY CLUB! 2 miles from AMI! Largest floor plan available 1866sf. 640 Estuary NOW only $319,000! Call Erin Leathem at 941448-5616 Island Real Estate IslandEJ@gmail. com
Call us today! 941-778-3986
Investment Property new listing, weekly rental 3 bed 2 bath, private pool, 2 car garage, townhouse. Walk to beach, $749,900. Sharon Hightower RE/MAX Alliance Group. 941-3305054. 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 28 years. Proven track record brings you results! 941-725-1589
RENTALS: ANNUAL VERY NICE RENOVATED 2BR/2BA loft style condo just off the Island at Mt. Vernon. Beautiful views of the lake from the Lanai, pool, clubhouse, tennis, pickle ball, bay front park, boat docks, HOA approval required, occupancy July 1st. $1,800/mo. Ask for Paige DUNCAN REAL ESTATE 941-779-0304 www.teamduncan.com
ANNUAL RENTALS: 1BR/1BA annual in Holmes Beach available June 1. $1300/mo. 2BR/2BA furnished annual West Bradenton. $1300/ mo. First, last and security. $150 app/lease fee. Call Paradise Realty 941-7784800 ANNUAL RENTALHOLMES BEACH 2BR/1.5BA, lanai, carport, storage, W/D hook up. $1,700/mo, Fran Maxon Real Estate 941-778-2307. BIG POOL, SMALL COMPLEX. 1BR Condo. One block to Beach. Water, Electric, Cable, Wifi included. Beautifully furnished $1550/mo. No pets. Call 941-447-3071
JUNE 26, 2019
ANNUAL RENTAL AT VILLAGE GREEN Oversized Villa with 2 car garage, premium lake view, 2BR/2BA, fully applianced, unfurnished, very clean. Recent updates include plantation shutters, AC, new paint and large heated pool. First, last plus security. $100 HOA fee. Tenant pays electric/water. Trash and cable included in rent. $1900/mo. Available Now. Please Call (owner) Jim 781-6032861 Bradenton Beach 2 BR, 2Bath, plus bonus room. Updated beautifully. $1800 short or long term. 551-427-0248
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
ANNA MARIA ISLAND, Fl Condos. Pool beach access, fully equipped $650-$800/ wk Redekercondos.com 941-704-7525 2BR/2BA HOLMES BEACH furnished, block to beach, large kitchen, dish washer, microwave, W/D available. A/C. Large pool. $1100/ mo plus utilities. June thru December 31. Call 847769-6175 GREAT RATES! Weekly, Monthly. 3BR/2BA NW Bradenton. Call Grace 941-201-2190 2BR/2BA HOLMES BEACH furnished, block to beach, large kitchen, dish washer, microwave, W/D available. A/C. Large pool. $1100/mo plus utilities. June thru December 31. Call 847769-6175
TRANSPORTATION AMI TAXI metered-on-callcards accepted. Airport: Tampa $95, Sarasota $40, Clearwater $85, Orlando $165. Call 800-301-4816. amitaxi4u@gmail.com, www.amitaxi.com ANYTIME TRANSPORTATION to all Airports, Casino, etc. Tampa $70. Sarasota $35. Pets welcome. Very dependable. Reasonable rates. Contact Jeanne. 941-779-5095 ADMIRAL TOWN CAR Professional chauffeur, taxi prices! Airports (1@ $75, 10 $150 to Tampa), Appointments anywhere. Credit cards accepted. Phil 941-320-1120 admiraltowncar@gmail.com, Licensed & Insured AIRPORT RIDES- Tampa, St. Pete, Sarasota. Reasonable rates! Call or text Anna 941-932-1600
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