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VOL 23 No. 38
May 17, 2023
Civil case in net camp dispute dismissed BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com
Pirates invade Holmes Beach
RICK THRESS | SUBMITTED
The Anna Maria Island Privateers held their first-ever Food Trucks, Pirates and Tunes event at city field in Holmes Beach May 13 from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., and lots of people came out to shop, eat, soak up the sun and enjoy a day of live music. The all-ages event featured more than 10 food trucks, lots of vendors, a chance to tour the Skullywag pirate ship and live music from Southern Cross, Steve Paradis, The 301 Travelers, Cabana Dogs and Bradentucky Death Rays.
Passing of a patriarch Hugh Holmes died May 8 at home surrounded by family. BY KRISTIN SWAIN SUN STAFF WRITER | kswain@amisun.com
HOLMES BEACH – Community leader and family man Hugh Holmes died May 8 at the age of 96. Born and raised on Anna Maria Island, Holmes helped to shape the community named after his father, Jack Holmes, through civic volunteerism and his work as a developer. After returning from the U.S. Navy following WWII, Holmes helped to build the Anna Maria Island Volunteer Fire Department, bringing the first fire engine onto the Island. He later served as chief of that department, a legacy that his grandson, Ben Rigney, now continues as chief of West Manatee Fire Rescue, the full-time fire department that absorbed the volunteer organization.
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Holmes was a community leader in other ways, including his time as founder and CEO of the Island Bank and the owner/operator of Holmes Construction Company, which built commercial shopping plazas, homes, hotels and condominiums across Anna Maria Island. He also volunteered as a civic leader, a legacy carried on by his daughter, Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth. After news of his death, many community members and leaders took to social media to reminisce over their memories of Holmes and offer their condolences to his family. “Mr. Holmes was a gentleman,” Carol Whitmore said, a former Holmes Beach mayor and former Manatee County commissioner. “What an incredible life,” former Anna Maria commissioner Carol Carter said. “Sincere condolences to the Holmes family.” SEE HOLMES, PAGE 25
CORTEZ – A civil suit filed in 2018 by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) against Raymond Guthrie, Jr. over his net camp building in Sarasota Bay has been dismissed. Net camps were wooden shacks used by fishermen to hang hemp and cotton fishing nets to dry. According to historic photographs, there were dozens of net camps on the bay off Cortez. “Net camps are small simple structures and provide space to store nets and other fishing gear,” according to the Florida Maritime Museum. In a motion initiated by 12th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Edward Nicholas on Feb. 23, parties were notified that since no filings in the case had been made in more than 12 months, the case would be dismissed if no stay is issued or approved prior to the expiration of a 60-day period. On May 4, Nicholas signed a Motion and Notice/Order of Dismissal. Listed as lawyer for the plaintiff (DEP), Bradentonbased Attorney Robert C. Schermer, declined to comment on the dismissal via email on May 13. SEE NET CAMP, PAGE 22
City leaders continue garage fight The fight against parking garage construction at Manatee Beach continues. BY KRISTIN SWAIN SUN STAFF WRITER | kswain@amisun.com
HOLMES BEACH – The Florida House of Representatives and Senate may have passed House Bill 947 on to Gov. Ron DeSantis’s desk, but that doesn’t mean that city leaders are done fighting against the construction of a parking garage at Manatee Beach. During a May 9 commission meeting, Mayor Judy Titsworth and City Attorney Erica Augello said they’re exploring every available legal strategy to combat the parking garage bill which would see a three-story garage built over the current parking, conces-
sion stand, retail space and restroom facilities at the Manatee County-owned beach property. Estimated to cost $45 million to build over a minimum of two years, the garage is planned to hold 1,500-1,700 paid parking spaces, a new concession stand, retail space, restrooms and a bar. While the garage is under construction, parking at the beach, located at 4000 Gulf Drive in Holmes Beach, would be unavailable. Currently, city leaders are asking residents and other Anna Maria Island stakeholders to write to DeSantis to encourage him to veto the bill. DeSantis can veto the bill, sign it into law, or take no action and allow it to become law. As of press time for The Sun, DeSantis had taken no action on the bill. SEE GARAGE, PAGE 22
ONE WOMAN REMAINS in critical
ROSER YOUTH makes sweet
condition after traffic collision. 8
STONE CRAB SEASON
Anna Maria Island, Florida
music in new production. 11 comes to a successful end. 14
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