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VOL 15 No. 5
November 26, 2014
Lights of the season
$1.6 million facelift planned for Coquina
Improvements to the North Coquina boat ramp will be followed by $600,000 in repairs to the South Coquina ramp. BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
BRADENTON BEACH – On a rainy Monday night not fit for outdoor recreational activities, Manatee County officials unveiled preliminary plans for an estimated $1.6 million worth of improvements to North Coquina Boat Ramp. The meeting took place at the nearby Manatee County Marine Rescue headquarters, where county representatives Angela Houts, Alan Lai Hipp and Debra-Lynn Leavenworth, and Josh Bryant, from the CPH engineering see COQUINA, page 46
City ponders rental permits SUBMITTED
Pictured, from left, are: Melissa Enders, Bill Herlihy, Sam Speciale, Jake Spooner, Angela Rodocker and Angie Cuervo. BY TOM VAUGHT SUN STAFF WRITER | tvaught@amisun.com
Bradenton Beach kicked off the Island’s holiday season with the annual tree-lighting ceremony and a two-day festival on Bridge Street. BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
Saturday night the Bridge Street
Merchants honored Bradenton Beach Police Chief Sam Speciale and asked the chief to throw the switch on the ceremonial lighting of the merchant sponsored Christmas tree that stands in the Bridge Street Market lot. “I appreciate them thinking of me like that. It was an honor, and the clock and pen set they gave me was really nice,” Speciale said. “I thought it was great that
Sam could be here. We wanted to honor and recognize him for all his years of service, and for all that he and his department do for our businesses, our residents, our visitors and our entire community,” said Island Time owner Bill Herlihy. Saturday night also marked the annual holiday lighting of Bridge Street itself, courtesy of the Bridge Street Merchants.
ANNA MARIA – At a workshop on Wednesday, Nov. 19, the city commission debated terms of a draft ordinance that would install a permit system for rental homes requiring the owner of a newly built owner-occupied home to sign a covenant preventing them from converting it to a rental except when the owner’s situation changes. If the ordinance is passed, the city’s moratorium on permits for new homes with more than see PERMITS, page 43
INSIDE NEWS OPINION Sun survey outdoors SPORTS FOOD COLUMN real estate classified
4 6 7 30-31 32 35 41-45 52-55
Bridge street
last chance for Cast-n-Cage on
hosts a holiday art festival that draws thousands. 28-29
the Bridge Street Pier. 3
Anna Maria Island, Florida
Beach soccer tourney OK’d. The Island’s award-winning weekly newspaper
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NOVEMBER 26 2014
A time for Family
Happy Thanksgiving LIC.#CFC1426956 ~ CPC 1458020
www.lapenseeplumbing.com 778.5622 * 401 MANATEE AVENUE , HOLMES BEACH
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Last chance for Cast-n-Cage The restaurant operators were declared to be in habitual default. BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
BRADENTON BEACH – The city commission is giving Cast-n-Cage restaurant proprietors Roland Pena and Tammy Kemper-Pena one more chance to catch up, and stay caught up, on their rent payments. During the Thursday, Nov. 20, meeting, commissioners voted 4-1 in favor of giving the couple until Dec. 20 to pay their November and December rent in full. They also must pay accrued interest, a returned check fee and renew their expired occupational licenses in order to continue doing business on the Historic Bridge Street Pier. The amount due will be approximately $12,000. In reaching this agreement, the commission also declared the Penas to be in habitual default of their lease, because they missed or have been late on three rent payments. This designation will remain in effect for 12 months and grants the city the right to initiate evic-
joe hendricks | sun
Cast-n-Cage owners Roland Pena and Tammy Kemper-Pena propose an alternative payment plan to the commission tion procedures immediately should the Dec. 20 payment, or any future rent payments, be missed. “That puts them on notice that this is fair and final warning,” said City Attorney Ricinda Perry. Pena said he plans to make good on
his debt to the city using money generated from the pending sale of a residential property in Bradenton Beach. He said he expects to close on the sale by Dec. 10. Most of the commission felt it was in the city’s best interest to keep the res-
taurant space occupied, if possible, and Mayor Bill Shearon expressed concern that would take 90 days or more to find a new tenant. “It’s Christmas. Let’s give him an opportunity to pay the rent after he sells his property, and give him no other chances after that,” Commissioner Jan Vosburgh said. “Just the thought of vacating that property immediately is ridiculous. I’d rather take a chance on the Penas going through our season and trying to be successful,” Commissioner Janie Robertson said. “It would be best to get the money if we can,” said Commissioner Ed Straight. Vice Mayor Jack Clarke disagreed, and later cast the lone opposing vote. “It’s less than 60 days to the planned opening of our reconstructed pier. We need to have a solid tenant in that restaurant,” he said. “When you have somebody that is so far down in their pockets that they have to sell their other assets, this is not going anywhere good. We need to part as amicably as possible with the Cast-n-Cage and go forward with see cast, page 19
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ISLAND NEWS
Visit our website, www.amisun.com. Scan this code with your smartphone to go there.
NOVEMBER 26, 2014
in brief ArtsHOP winners
Ed and Suzanna Barels, of Soddy Daisy, Tenn., won the artsHOP raffle basket. The basket included a twonight stay at Tropic Island Beach Resort, a beach cart from Home True Value, “Gulf Birds” by Caroline Whitmore, AMI duffle bag from J&J Graphics; Robert Johnson “Waves” T-shirt from AMI Art League, two concert tickets to AMICCO’s December concert, a bottle of wine from The Feast restaurant, a $25 gift card from Ginny & Jane E’s and a one-hour massage from Salon Salon.
Holly Berry Christmas Market set It’s considered to be the start of the holiday shopping season – move over Black Friday – and it has a new name, but shoppers will find more of what they want at the Holly Berry Christmas Market on Saturday, Dec. 6, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For years, the Annunciation Church has put together the sale featuring new items, homemade food and Christmas decorations, some of them homemade as well. For those who enjoy them, the ladies of the church have been making pickles for the sale, and they have become a hot item for shoppers. Also for the taste buds a popular treat is the cookie walk where buyers can load up on their favorite flavors and chicken potpies made by church members using the same menu. They usually sell out in a hurry. The sale is one of the largest on the Island and the proceeds go to the church. For more information, call 778-1638.
Lester Family Fun Day at Center The Anna Maria Island Community Center will hold a day of old-fashioned fun at old-fashioned prices on Saturday, Dec. 6, from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Lester Family Fun Day, sponsored each year by Chuck and Joey Lester, of Holmes Beach, returns again this year with a lineup of activities and performances along with food and prizes. Children will be delighted with pony rides, balloons, face painting, card making, cookie decorating, games and a Bounce House. All ages will enjoy the Manatee Players’ Dickens’ Christmas Carolers, the Manatee High School Drum Line, a performance from the Diane Partington Studio of Classical Ballet and the arrival of Santa by fire truck at noon There will be hotdogs, snacks, sodas and Duffy burgers to eat and drawings for turkeys donated by the Lesters. For more information, contact Sandee Pruett at 941-778-1908, ext. 0, or visit AMICC at 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria.
submitted
The Major Beach Soccer League will host a qualifying tournament at Coquina Beach next summer.
Beach soccer tournament approved Next summer, Bradenton Beach will join five other Florida cities to host qualifying tournaments. BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
BRADENTON BEACH – Major Beach Soccer (MBS) is coming to Coquina Beach next summer, and the Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC) affiliated Bradenton Area Sports Commission had a hand in making it happen. The two-day MBS qualifying beach soccer tournament will take place on Coquina Beach Saturday, July 25, and Sunday, July 26. Participating team members will range in age from eight years old and up, and compete in 12 different divisions and age brackets, one of which is an over 30 co-ed division. MBS events take place under the administrative umbrella of the United Soccer League (USL) which falls under the umbrella of the Major Soccer League (MSL). Winners of the Bradenton Beach summer qualifying tournament will advance to the MBS National Championship taking place in Clearwater the following December. Qualifying tournaments will also take place next spring and summer in Cocoa Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Daytona Beach, Clearwater and Fort Myers. Last week, Bradenton Beach commissioners approved a special event
application submitted by Longboat Key resident Peter Mellor and the Longboat Key based PM Soccer Enterprises. On behalf of Mellor, Sean Walter, director of sports for the Bradenton Area Sports Commission, appeared before the commission when the special event permit application was presented for their consideration. TDC member David Teitelbaum also attended the meeting and offered his support for the event. Walter said he expects 300 to 350 participants and 400 to 500 spectators at the two-day event. According to the event description, six temporary soccer fields will be located north and south of the beach pavilion. The description notes that event organizers are aware of the turtle nesting season and the fields and gear will not be set up until the area has been cleared by a Turtle Watch patrol. Walter also touted the tournament’s economic impact and promotional values. “My responsibility is to market our county as a destination and create new economic impact dollars. With the beach renourishment at Coquina Beach, we have that opportunity to do so here,” he said. “This creates a market impression for the city. We hope people will come the week before the event and stay after the event; and also come back later to visit this beautiful area. People may also want to move here and work here,” he added.
We look to do the shoulder months, focusing on how to get more heads in beds during those slower times.” Sean Walter Sports Director When asked about the potential for producing traffic congestion, Walter said 90 percent of the spectators are friends and family members, and arrive with the participants, as opposed to bringing separate vehicles. Walter also discussed the timing of the tournament. “We’re not going to put an event here in season. We look to do the shoulder months, focusing on how to get more heads in beds during those slower times, and July is an absolute great month for this event,” he said. On behalf of the commission, Mayor Bill Shearon thanked Walter for that consideration. “We’re getting plenty of advance notice and that means a lot. It’s in the off season and brings us some extra revenue, and creates good congestion and traffic problems,” the mayor said.
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Attorney provides litigation update The city is currently faced with five acts of legal litigation. BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
BRADENTON BEACH – During last week’s city commission meeting, City Attorney Ricinda Perry provided commissioners with an update on five lawsuits currently pending against the city of Bradenton Beach and/or Mayor Bill Shearon. “The city has been the recipient of a good number of lawsuits the past couple months and a number of these suits are without legal representation at this point,” Perry said. Perry said she considers the lawsuit Shearon recently filed against the city regarding the forfeiture of office proceedings to be premature, thus requiring no legal work at this time. She said that could change if forfeiture proceedings are formally initiated and noncriminal charges are brought against Shearon at the special commission meeting scheduled for Tuesday Dec. 2, at 10 a.m. Perry then addressed the public records lawsuit recently filed by
joe hendricks | sun
City Attorney Ricinda Perry brings commissioners up to speed on a multitude of lawsuits filed against the city. Shearon’s significant other, Tjet Martin. “This is a lawsuit; we’ve been sued, and we have to defend it,” she said. Perry suggested securing the services of an attorney who has had previous
success suing a city for public records failures. “There’s talk of turning this around and bringing in experts who sue cities and have them work for the cities
instead. They’re the ones filing these things and they know all the tricks,” Perry said, recalling conversations that took place at a recent legal conference she attended. The city is still defending a 2012 lawsuit filed by Shearon, Martin, and Jo Ann Meilner, but Perry said there has been little movement in that suit of late, and it has required little in the way of legal work. In regard to the 2014 countersuit ELRA Inc. and restaurant owner Ed Chiles filed against Shearon in his capacity as mayor, it was agreed that Perry would continue to serve as the city’s initial point of contact regarding communications between Shearon’s city-appointed attorney, Chuck Johnson, and Chiles’ attorney, Robert Lincoln. Perry also informed the commission that the city has been named in two separate legal appeals of variance requests granted by the city’s special master, attorney William Robinson Jr. One appeal was filed by John Arcadi in opposition to a setback variance granted to Wendy and George Kokolis see litigation, page 18
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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 e-mail: news@amisun.com | ads@amisun.com | classifieds@amisun.com
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NOVEMBER 26, 2014
EDITORIAL Giving thanks on AMI
T
he weather was perfect last Sunday night as the faithful gathered at CrossPointe Fellowship for the All Island Denominations Thanksgiving Service. There was beautiful music and much to ponder as the leaders and members of the six churches on the Island came together for a celebration of life. This is an American holiday that began when settlers sat down with the natives for a meal from the bounty of the land. Perhaps the natives were hopeful this meal would be the start of a peaceful coexistence and perhaps the settlers were hoping to raise families in the wonderful new land that they found. Neither scenario would occur. It seems people are always fighting somewhere in the world. Whether for food or land or religious beliefs, people disagree to the point of war. It would be nice if some day Thanksgiving would take hold of everyone and put them into a more tolerant mood towards each other. Until that happens, we have to be content to celebrate friends and family and a good meal to warm our insides. And if you’re lucky enough to have all that, you should be thankful. After your dinner, go for a walk on the beach. Counting your blessings is much easier with your feet in the sand watching the seabirds dive for a meal or the dolphins surface in the Gulf. Thanksgiving on Anna Maria Island is a special treat because of the natural beauty here. We should all enjoy it and be especially thankful for what we have and where we are. And let’s work on trying to make the world a more peaceful place to live.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Center staff grateful
Community turns out
Your online comments
The Anna Maria Island Community Center would like to express a deep appreciation to all the friends of the community who sponsored this year’s Murder Mystery Dinner Theater: LaPensee Plumbing, United Park Service/AMI Beach Café, Alsco, Steam Design, Slim's Place, Anna Maria Island Resorts, Thompson Academy, Gold Coast Eagle Distributing and Kathleen MacKenzie. Each provided money or resources that greatly contributed to the success of this annual fundraiser. We are very thankful for the support shown by these businesses, without whom this event would not have been possible. Additionally, hats off to our patrons who made this a sold-out event. Finally, we would like to recognize the hardworking volunteer actors who committed their time and energy to make it a fun and entertaining evening for all. The Anna Maria Island Community Center Staff Anna Maria
We would like to thank all of you that came out to show your love and support at the benefit. Thank you to all our local businesses and friends for their generous donations. Special thanks to Patty Reese, Ryan Reilly and Erica Millis for all their hard work and time. Thanks to Jason and Leah Suzor for their love, support and generosity. Thank you Greg, Justin, Matt and the entire Waterfront crew for all their hard work and delicious food and The Feast for bringing all the yummy pizza. We would also like to thank Larry Stokes, Bob Slicker, Island Mail & More, The Sun and Islander newspapers and all the donors on "gofundme". To the entire community, thanks for the love. Your kindness will never be forgotten and we feel truly blessed. Bill Hard and Karen Robinson Holmes Beach
I've been coming down here to Anna Maria for 35 years and I've always thought Longboat Key should have a bridge for evacuation. What are they thinking? They only have one bridge and it is at the most southern end of the island. If I were people in Bradenton Beach I would be furious to have to go to the Manatee Avenue Bridge so Longboat Key residents could use their (The Cortez) Bridge in case of evacuation. Sharon Bonaventura A bridge north of Longboat Key (to the mainland) should have been built years ago to help with traffic and evacuation. With three bridges off the Island it would also make it easier to maintain and repair them. Zack Kallis
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NOVEMBER 26, 2014
THE SUN
the sun survey
on the agenda
LAST WEEK’S QUESTION: What will you be thankful for this season?
Anna Maria
14%
18%
The leaf blowers will be gone: it will be quiet outside.
10005 Gulf Drive
Friends and family: we can deep-fry our turkey outside in our shorts.
12/4: Revenue Committee, 4 p.m. 12/4: City Commission work session, 6 p.m. For information, call 7086130.
Bradenton Beach 107 Gulf Drive N.
12/1: Scenic WAVES Committee, 3 p.m. 12/2: City Commission work session, 1 p.m. 12/3: Capital Improvement Projects Committee, 10:30 a.m. 12/3: Pier Team, 11 a.m. 12/4: City Commission meeting, 6 p.m. For information, call 7781005.
Holmes Beach 5801 Marina Drive
45%
Paradise: people come and people go, but we get to stay here all year long.
23%
The elections are over: let's get back to work.
12/3: Parks and Beautification Advisory board, 5 p.m. For information, call 708-
• Yes. The city is losing its residential character and Do you like Anna needs to regain Maria's plan to control control. rental housing through • No, it is just going to get the city sued the use of permits?
and won't solve anything. • Possibly, but if and only if the rights of rental property owners are protected.
To vote, go to www.amisun.com or scan this code to vote by smartphone. But don't just vote – let us know what else you think. Send your comments about this week's topic to news@amisun.com or post them in the comments section of our website.
Results are printed on this page every week in the Anna Maria Island Sun.
Wednesday Nov. 26
Early Settler’s Bread for sale, AMI Historical Museum, 402 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., $5.
Thursday Nov. 27
Roser Community Thanksgiving Dinner, Roser Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, 2 p.m.
Sunday Nov. 30
Beach Market, Coquina Beach, Bradenton Beach, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Bridge Street Market, Bradenton Beach, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Monday Dec. 1
Email your favorite sunset photo of the week to sunfb@amisun.com and we will
Chair yoga, Anna Maria Island Art League, 5312 Holmes Blvd., Holmes Beach, 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., $8. Register to 941-778-2099.
post the best one on our SUNset Sundays.
Tuesday
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5800.
Island-Wide
12/1: Urban Land Institute advisory group, Anna Maria City Hall, 9 a.m. Thanksgiving holiday The administrative offices of the cities of Anna Maria, Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach and the Anna Maria Island Community Center will be closed Nov. 27 and 28. The West Manatee Fire & Rescue District will be closed Nov. 26 through 28. The Island Branch and Tingley Memorial libraries will be closed Nov. 27 through 29. There will be no Waste Management or Waste Pro solid waste or recycling collection. All Waste Management residential collections will resume the next day. All Waste Pro residential collections will resume the next regularly scheduled collection day.
mark your calendar Note: Events are free unless indicated.
THIS WEEK’S SURVEY
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Dec. 2
Children’s story time, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m. Duplicate Bridge, Church
of the Annunciation, 4408 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, 12:30 p.m.
Wednesday Dec. 3
Early Settler’s Bread for sale, AMI Historical Museum, 402 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., $5. Gulf Coast Writers meeting, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 1 p.m. Tween Book Club, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 6 p.m.
Thursday Dec. 4
Knit/crochet group, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m.
Friday Dec. 5
Forty Carrots program for babies and children to age 5, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m.
Saturday Dec. 6
Naturalist-led wagon tour, Robinson Preserve, 99th Street Northwest and 17th Avenue Northwest, Bradenton, 9 to 10 a.m., first come, first served.
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NOVEMBER 26, 2014
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NOVEMBER 26, 2014
is sponsoring our
11TH ANNUAL TOYS FOR TOTS DRIVE
THE SUN
We are accepting NEW unwrapped toys at the following locations: ISLAND VACATION PROPERTIES 3001 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach
U.S. MARINE CORPS RESERVE
ANNA MARIA ISLAND SUN NEWSPAPER 9801 Gulf Drive, Anna Maria
ANNA MARIA ISLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 5313 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach
DUFFY’S TAVERN 5808 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach
Donataions are accepted as well by check made payable to:
Marines Toys for Tots Foundation
>`]^S`bg ;O\OUS[S\b Â’ @SOZ 3abObS AOZSa Â’ DOQObW]\ @S\bOZa 3001 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, FL 34217 Rentals@IslandVacationProperties.com www.IslandVacationProperties.com '" %%& Â’ & %%& '#''
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NOVEMBER 26, 2014
City legal fees climbing The city is on pace to exceed last year’s legal expenditures. BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
BRADENTON BEACH – During last week’s commission meeting, Mayor Bill Shearon expressed concern that the city has already amassed more than $50,000 in legal fees during the first six weeks of the 2015 fiscal year that began on Oct. 1. The city budgeted $89,000 for legal fees for the entire 2015 fiscal year, and to date has already spent more than 60 percent of that budgeted amount. On Friday, City Treasurer Sheila Dalton confirmed the figures cited by Shearon. “We have spent $38,794 out of the $89,000 budget. However, this does not include any attorney bills that were approved yesterday,” she said, via e-mail. During the Thursday, Nov. 20, commission meeting Dalton
referred to, commissioners approved payment of a $12,128 invoice from City Attorney Ricinda Perry, for legal services rendered in October. This brings the city’s year to date total for legal expenditures to $50,922. Last year, the city spent $130,543 on attorney fees, compared to $56,113 in 2013. The $74,430 increase equated to a 133 percent increase. Shearon attributed some of the 2015 fiscal year legal expenses to the $9,300 he said the city paid labor attorney Matthew Westerman to investigate work place complaints filed by three Public Works Department employees. Shearon referred to the employee complaints as “unfounded.” Westerman’s reports concluded the complaints had some merit, but did not rise to the level of creating a hostile work place or engaging in employee harassment, as stipulated by the federal Civil Rights Act.
Follow the money
According to Perry’s invoice, $2,136 of the $12,218 she billed the city in October pertained to the forfeiture of office proceedings brought forth by Vice Mayor Jack Clarke and supported by Commissioners Jan Vosburgh and Ed Straight. Of that $2,136, about $1,260 was attributed to work performed for Shearon and his neighbor, John Metz, regarding the proposed forfeiture resolution adopted by the commission and the rejected alternative ordinance presented by the mayor. According to the invoice, $1,750 was spent on the dismissal of former City Clerk Gia Lancaster, and the city incurred approximately $750 in additional legal fees pertaining to Tjet Martin’s public records requests. On Nov. 6, the commission approved payment of $4,084 in legal fees attributed to Martin and her records requests.
pat copeland | sun
Book signing Kathleen Flinn signed a copy of her new book, "Burnt Toast Makes You Sing Good: A Tale of Food and Love from an American Family," for Peggi Clauhs at Time Saver Food & Wine in Holmes Beach recently. Flinn's mother, Irene, lives in Holmes Beach.
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NOVEMBER 26, 2014
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Comp plan amendment discussed The discussions on a comp plan change regarding parking allowances west of Gulf Drive will continue. BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
BRADENTON BEACH – City commissioners remain divided on the adoption of a proposed ordinance that would address land use issues associated with parking on properties that carry the Preservation land use designation, but they agree that a workshop is needed to further discuss the matter. Last week, City Planner Alan Garrett presented a proposed ordinance that would serve as the basis for a comprehensive plan amendment that would address inconsistencies that exist between the Future Land Use map and the map language that jointly dictate allowed property uses. Parking is not allowed in areas designated Preservation, but is allowed in Park/Recreation Open Space. “The proposed language in the ordinance allows the existing parking areas along the west side of Gulf Drive
joe hendricks | sun
This property owned by Ed Chiles remains at the center of an ongoing land use debate to remain designated Park/Recreation Open Space, and not Preservation, as the current land use policy states,” City Planner Alan Garret explained, in a memo sent to commissioners prior to last week’s meeting. The draft ordinance Garrett presented to commissioners was based in part on suggestions made by Robert
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Lincoln, the attorney representing Ed Chiles and the BeachHouse restaurant ownership group that is a co-defendant in a 2012 lawsuit filed against the city by Bill Shearon, Tjet Martin and Jo Ann Meilner. The suit contends the previous commission violated the city comp plan when it entered into a development
agreement that allowed Chiles to use the southernmost end of his property, which is designated Preservation, for parking. Lincoln has suggested that a ruling in favor of the plaintiffs could have unintended consequences elsewhere along see comp plan, page 24
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NOVEMBER 26, 2014
Construction workers put out fire The workers were working on a remodeling job across the street. BY TOM VAUGHT SUN STAFF WRITER | tvaught@amisun.com
ANNA MARIA – When Pamela McMullen awoke around 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 19, she saw flames from outside the window near her bed. She got up and out of the house and grabbed a garden hose. Suddenly, men came running from a house under renovation across the street, and they were carrying a ladder. They took the hose from McMullen and put out the fire before the fire department arrived. The cause of the fire was a heat lamp that her husband put into a box where her two tortoises slept. The tortoises died in the fire. She said she was lucky to still be alive. “Due to the efforts and courageous efforts of these brave men, my house was saved,” she said. The house, a half-block away from the Gulf on Cedar Avenue, has been in the family of her husband, Gary, since the 1940s. It was built in 1928 out of wood. The front wall of the house
tOM VAUGHT
At left, the outer wall of Pamela McMullen’s house was scorched. Above, left to right, Todd Meisner, Joe Lott, Pamela Mcullen and Scott Meisner pose across the street from her house. looked charred when seen from the front porch and a portion of the roof was melted, but there was no smoky smell inside the house. The men working on the house include Joe Lott, a Ross Built Homes foreman, Scott and Todd Meisner and an unidentified electrician.
“The house was already on fire when we saw it,” Scott Meisner said. “The electrician saw it first.” “My guys were running around, and I could tell something was wrong,” Lott said. When McMullen thanked the three men Thursday afternoon, Lott said he was happy it was not any worse than it was.
“I’m glad we didn’t have to run inside and get you out of there,” he said. “What struck me was the determination of the men to get that fire out,” McMullen said. As she hugged one of the men she said, “My heroes.”
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NOVEMBER 26, 2014
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EVERYONE IS WELCOME Adult Bible Study 8:45 AM SUNDAY WORSHIP 10:00 AM Children & Youth Church School after the Children’s Message NURSERY AVAILABLE MISSION OF THE MONTH
All Island Denominations A NON DENOMINATIONAL CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY
t XXX 3PTFS$IVSDI DPN t XXX GBDFCPPL DPN 3PTFS$IVSDI
MAGGIE FIELD | SUN
Stuff the Bus John Syre, Stuff the Bus coordinator from King Middle School, helps students from the Future Health Professionals load up donated food from the Island Publix for the Manatee County Food Bank. The Island Publix got second place in the food collection competition, with 18,140 pounds of food. The Ellenton Publix collected 18,160 pounds of food to take first place. The students loading the boxes are Yovanni Rosario (wearing the hat), Leo Rose and Maddison Barter.
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NOVEMBER 26, 2014
NOVEMBER 26, 2014
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Settler's bread available Get freshly baked loaves of the popular Early Settler’s Bread at the Island Historical Museum beginning Wednesday, Nov. 26, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. for $5 per loaf. The bread will be available every Wednesday at the museum, 402 Pine Ave., Anna Maria. The museum also is seeking volunteers interested in baking the bread using the secret Historical Society recipe. Training is provided. Call Susan at 407-415-2678 to volunteer.
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NOVEMBER 26, 2014
Island girl chosen for elite state choir Anna Maria resident Griffin Heckler, a straight-A student at King Middle School, has been chosen for the Florida All State Treble Choir. Griffin is the only King student to complete the audition process and has been selected for the exclusive Florida Vocal Association honor. She will join students from all over Florida to participate in this elite program. An eighth-grader at King, Griffin has participated in choir as
an elective since she began middle school. Her classroom education helped prepare her for the auditions, where she Griffin Heckler was tested in sight reading and aural skills, in addition to performance, during
the selection process. Griffin has had notable performances on the Island, as well. While she has performed in many ensemble pieces with her school’s choir, her first stage solo was as Mrs. Claus in the fifthgrade school play at Anna Maria Elementary. She has also performed for the Anna Maria Island Community Center, most recently singing “Beautiful” for the Island Affair this past spring.
NOVEMBER 26, 2014
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NOVEMBER 26, 2014
Fire district expands beach safety program Fire commissioners also swore in new fire commissioners George Harris and Al Robinson.
FROM PAGE 5
BY PAT COPELAND SUN STAFF WRITER | pcopeland@amisun.com
BRADENTON – The West Manatee Fire District plans to expand its beach safety program by putting posters on the Island trolleys and distributing brochures and bookmarks to local businesses, government agencies and schools. “We will have rip current posters on all five trolleys,” Commissioner Randy Cooper explained, adding that they had to modify the national rip current poster in order to fit the trolley space available. The AMI Chamber of Commerce will fund the cost of the posters. He said the district also would have several thousand bookmarks and rip current brochures printed to distribute in the community. The district will fund the cost, estimated to be $1,100 and taken from the fire prevention budget. Newly elected Fire Commissioners George Harris and Al Robinson were sworn to office, and commissioners elected Larry Jennis as temporary chair, David Bishop as temporary vice chair and Cooper
LITIGATION: Update provided
PAT COPELAND | SUN
WMFR Administrative Assistant Mary Stephens swears in new Fire Commissioners Al Robinson and George Harris. as temporary secretary/treasurer until board elections in January. “I’m honored to be here,” Robinson said. “This is big business. We have a fiduciary responsibility to our citizens.” Harris also said he was honored to be there and said he has visited the fire stations and talked to firefighters and staff and that the fire district is on the “cutting edge” of all the fire districts in the county and “pushes the edge, which equates to savings
for the taxpayers.” Board members set a work session on replacing Station 4 in Bradenton for 5 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9, in order to educate the new commissioners about the status of the project. Commissioners also set a work session on the fire prevention ordinance for Thursday, Dec. 18, at 5 p.m. The next fire commission meeting will be Thursday, Dec. 18, at 6 p.m.
for the potential construction of a two-unit hotel on Ninth Street North. The other appeal was filed by on behalf of Marie Pracht in opposition to multiple setback variances Robinson granted to Lora Ann Kennedy for the construction of an elevated home at 1101 Gulf Dr. S. The commission agreed that Special Master Robinson would serve as the city’s first line of defense against Pracht’s Gulf Drive appeal and be assisted by Perry, if needed. Holmes Beach City Attorney Patricia Petruff is representing Pracht in her appeal. In the Arcadi appeal, Petruff finds herself on the other side of the legal ledger, representing the Kokolis’ in defense of the variance granted. The commission agreed that Perry would work with Petruff on this matter, with Pertruff doing most of the legal legwork in defending her client, and the city, against the appeal. These ongoing legal challenges occur at a time when the city has already spent more than $50,000 of the $89,000 budgeted legal fees for the fiscal year that began on Oct. 1 and ends on Sept. 30, 2015.
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NOVEMBER 26, 2014
CAST: Last chance for Cast-n-Cage FROM PAGE 3
someone who can better represent the city; and I think it is possible to find a viable tenant in the seven or eight weeks until the pier reconstruction is scheduled to be completed,” he added. Shearon later informed the commission that he and Police Chief Sam Speciale obtained a copy of the concessionaire’s agreement used by Manatee County, and this would serve as the basis for the next pier lease if needed. “We’re going to have all of our ducks in a row, so if the event comes, we’re going to be ready to fill the vacancy as fast as we can,” Shearon said. “I’ve already been contacted by someone who’s interested,” Vosburgh said. After the meeting, Pena cited the pier reconstruction, delays in approving signage and a lack of parking as contributing factors to the restaurant’s struggles. He also mentioned a leaky roof, a faulty fire suppression system and an electrical panel shared with the city as ongoing concerns.
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Mayor hits the ground running The city commissioners agreed to the same liaison assignments that they had last year. BY TOM VAUGHT SUN STAFF WRITER | tvaught@amisun.com
ANNA MARIA – After being sworn in, Mayor Dan Murphy watched as the city commission allowed a property split and a variance to relocate air conditioning into a setback. The he talked about his plans for his administration. He told the commission he had four goals to attack unfinished business in the city. The first was a plan for City Pier Park. Murphy said the project needed some help and he said a neighbor, Bob Patton, and his wife, Kathy, had volunteered to coordinate the project. When Murphy asked for the commission’s approval, at least one commissioner, Dale Woodland, said he was quite enthused with the mayor’s plan. The second item was the Urban Land Institute study. The ULI provides guidance to communities in
addressing problems associated with land use, development and growth. “I think we should have a fulltime representative to handle this,” Murphy said. “I would like to appoint Wayne Patterson, a resident, and his wife, Carol.” City Attorney James Dye said there might be a problem with the sunshine law if Patterson's wife also serves on the ULI Steering Committee. Patterson said his wife would not serve. Again, the city commission approved Murphy’s appointment. The next project was Gulf Front Park, where the city is looking to implement a landscape program that would bring the beachfront land back to a more natural state. The city paid for a report from an expert, Rob Barron, who was contacted by Commissioner Doug Copeland. Some commissioners disapproved of Barron’s plan, especially the plan to take out the Australian pines that are there. Murphy said he would work with Copeland on a plan that is acceptable. “The idea here is to get started,” Murphy said. “Doug will bring back that plan to the commission.” The final project is paid parking for
the city. Murphy said he couldn’t give the commission a substantive plan because Manatee County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Paul Davis was on vacation, and he needed input from the head of the Sheriff’s Office in the city. Murphy asked for and received permission from the commissioners to hire a professional in the paid parking industry for guidance. “I can’t give you a date when I can deliver that plan, but it is a priority,” Murphy said. “I would like for the commission to put the ordinances they are working on for this on the back burner until I can make some progress.” City Commission Chair Chuck Webb asked for a preliminary plan, saying he wants to hear the mayor’s plans on that subject. The commission also re-elected Webb as the commission chair and agreed to the same commission and mayoral liaison assignments. The commission also agreed to find an acceptable course on the Government in the Sunshine law that is required.
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joe hendricks | sun
Just say no From left, inspired by the recent efforts of Bayshore High School students Christopher Giles Victoria Graham, Lydia Cummings, the Bradenton Beach Commission unanimously agreed on the adoption of a resolution urging the state legislature to adopt statewide rules and regulations that control the sale and marketing of candy flavored tobacco products. The young anti-tobacco crusaders first appeared before the commission in early October, and they returned last week to witness the adoption of the resolution they sought. The city joined Manatee County, Bradenton, Longboat Key and hundreds of other cities and counties in the statewide efforts to limit youth access to the appeal and health hazards associated with candy flavored tobacco.
NOVEMBER 26, 2014
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NOVEMBER 26, 2014
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Three sworn in From top to bottom: Anna Maria City Clerk Diane Percycoe swears in newly elected Mayor Dan Murphy and reelected commissioners Nancy Yetter and Chuck Webb at a meeting on Thursday, Nov.20. During the meeting, commissioners chose Webb to serve as vice mayor. tOM VAUGHT | SUN
submitted
I swear Manatee County Commissioner Carol Whitmore is sworn into office by Judge Janette Dunnigan while husband Andre Renard and grandson Cale Rudacille look on.
THE SUN
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NOVEMBER 26, 2014
Board recommends subdivision and variance New planning and zoning board members raised questions about whether they should question the legality of the laws as they apply them. BY TOM VAUGHT SUN STAFF WRITER | tvaught@amisun.com
ANNA MARIA – The planning and zoning (P&Z) board recently recommended that the city commission approve two items that came before it, and after the votes, two new members discussed the process and asked on what they should base their votes. The first case involved a large lot on South Bay Boulevard that the owner wanted to split into two lots of slightly more that 11,000 square feet each. According to surveyor Leo Mills, Jr., the city requires any change in lot lines to go before the P&Z. After explaining the request, he said it was pretty much cut and dried. The board voted unanimously to recommend that the city commission approve it. The second request was for a variance to move the air conditioners at a home at 12106 Gulf Drive. According to James Willbank, owner of
the house, the builder designed an alcove where the home’s two air conditioners sit, but it is too small and does not allow air to circulate. One of the air conditioners had to be replaced already, according to Willbank. “Air and Energy, which handles the air conditioning, said if we replace the air conditioner there, it will only last about three years,� he said. “We had one unit catch fire, and the lawn people were there to unplug it. Right now, we’re afraid to use the air conditioners.� Willbank said they are asking for the minimal variance space needed, but that it would extend into the setback. He said the house was built when the setbacks were smaller and it complied with code, but now they need a variance. Board member Jonathan Crane said he saw the site, and there is a house next door that might be affected by the newly positioned air conditioners. Willbank said there is a privacy fence there, and that house is a rental. He said he’s never talked to the owners. Willbank said they considered putting the units on the roof, but doing that might make the roof leak. Board member Micheal Coleman said they put a lot of air conditioners on roofs at the Pine Avenue business district and
they never had problems with leaking roofs. Brennan, a new member to the board, asked City Planner Alan Garrett how he would vote. Garrett refused to say yes or no, but he said there were many positives in the request. Coleman, a veteran of the board, had some advice for Brennan. “I had a friend who told me, ‘If I like a project and it’s out of compliance, I vote against it, and if I don’t like the project, but it is compliant, I vote for it,’� he said. After Brennan discussed making a decision, Coleman told him it is their duty to apply the law project to the project. “If you don’t like the law, change it,� he added. The board voted unanimously to recommend approval by the city commission. The board discussed making decisions based on the law, and Coleman said the law protects the citizens, not the attorneys. “You have to believe the laws are right,� Coleman said. “We have to be intelligent about our process.� The board members said they would like to schedule a meeting with an attorney to ask questions about their rights and duties.
Anna Maria mayor and commission liaison assignments Mayor Dan Murphy Coalition of Barrier Island Elected Officials Island Transportation Planning Organization Sarasota/Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization Manasota League of Cities Council of Governments Tourist Development Council Commissioner Chuck Webb Commission Chair Commissioner Nancy Yetter Commission Deputy Chair Anna Maria Island Community Center Anna Maria Island Players Commissioner Doug Copeland Anna Maria Island Historical Society Environmental Enhancement Education Committee Commissioner Dale Woodland Capital Improvements Advisory Committee City Pier Commissioner Carol Carter Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce
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Fall classes at Community Center The Island Community Center offers the following classes at 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria. For further details or to register, call the Center at 778-1908 or visit the website at www.islandcommunitycenter.com. For a complete list of center programs and special events, visit the website.
percent money-back guarantee if you see no improvement at the end of your sessions. No experience is necessary. Scheduled by appointment only for Saturdays and Sundays in the air-conditioned gym, the cost is two sessions for $40, four sessions for $75 and eight sessions for $125. Contact Gardner at at 313-207-8506.
Conversational Spanish
Sit and be fit
Conversational Spanish meets on Tuesdays with instructor Lisbeth Oscuvilca. Beginner’s class is from 4:30 to 6 p.m. and consists of exercises and conversations relevant to travel in Spanish-speaking countries. Intermediate class is from 2:30 to 4 p.m., also on Tuesdays. Classes are taught in three-session packages and offer six levels of learning the Spanish language, so there is a level for everyone, and you can join in at any time. Preregistration is required. There is a three-student minimum. Members pay $40 per three sessions, and non-members pay $50 per three sessions.
Skill development training
Skill development training with Ray Gardner, assistant athletic director at AMICC, is an opportunity to step up your game in basketball. There is a 50
Sit and be fit with Certified Fitness Instructor Karen Iannello is held on Mondays from 10:45 to 11:30 a.m. Hand-held weights, elastic tubing and a small fitness ball are offered for resistance, and a chair is used for seated and/or standing support. There is no floor work. Member price is $64 per eight-week package, and non-member price is $120 per eight-week package. Preregistration and prepayment are required; there is a three-student minimum. Call ahead for this class.
Staying strong
Staying Strong is Karen Iannello’s new class on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7:30 to 8:15 a.m. This class is about strength training and weightbearing exercises that promote healthy bone density and reduce the risk of fractures. Wear well-supported sneak-
ers and plan to use weights, resistant tubing and floor mats, all available at the Center. Member price is $64 per eight-week package, and non-member price is $120 per eight-week package. Preregistration and prepayment required; there is a three-student minimum. Call ahead for this class.
Mixed movement body conditioning
This class is held on Fridays from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. with Mo Dye. The class consists of three 20-minute segments to awaken, warm up and stretch all the muscles, using elements of Tai Chi, dance, Pilates, yoga and therapeutic back work and light cardio for the heart with a strong focus on core and balance Member price is $8 per class, and non-member price is $15 per class.
Adult ballet workshop
Adult ballet workshop with Mo Dye consists of ballet from 9:30 to 11 a.m. and pointe from 11 to 11:30 a.m. on Wednesdays. Develop, strengthen and stretch your body, mind and soul at your own pace. Member price is $12 per class, and non-member price is $17 per class.
Pilates for beginners
Pilates for beginners with Certified Fitness Instructor Laura Bennett takes place on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Pilates is one of the most effective techniques for building core strength, flexibility, grace of movement, control and concentration. Member price is $8 per class, and non-member price is $15 per class.
Iron yoga
Iron Yoga with Certified Fitness Instructor Laura Bennett is every Saturday at 9 a.m. If traditional yoga doesn’t fire up your muscles, try lifting weights while striking a pose. That’s exactly what’s involved in Iron Yoga, a hybrid of yoga and strength training. Member price is $8 per class, and non-member price is $15 per class.
Zumba
Zumba with Grisel McCain is on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 to 9:15 a.m. Jumpstart your morning with hypnotic Latin rhythms and easy to follow moves that will make you love working out. Member price is $8 per class, and non-member price is $15 per class. see center, page 34
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NOVEMBER 26, 2014
STEM Night at AME There also will be a fund-raiser dinner by Sean Murphy with proceeds going to art teacher Gary Wooten, who is battling cancer. BY TOM VAUGHT SUN STAFF WRITER | tvaught@amisun.com
HOLMES BEACH – Anna Maria Elementary School will hold its Sci-
ence, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Night on Tuesday, Dec. 9, with an emphasis on education, but there will also be a fund-raiser for the school’s art teacher, Gary Wooten, for his battle with cancer. Sean Murphy, owner of Beach Bistro and Eat Here, and his wife, Susan Timmins, will provide the dinner consisting of braised beef tacos, Caesar salad, Aunt Shirley’s collard greens, green beans, garlic bread, coffee, tea, lemon-
ade and water, The cost will be $7 per person with families of four paying $25 for all four, and all of the money goes toward Wooten. Dinners will be available for eating in or taking home and the food will be served from 5 to 7 p.m. In addition, there will be drawings for two gift certificates: one for dinner for two at the Beach Bistro and another for dinner for two at Eat Here. Bring cash to enter the drawing. STEM Night is the students’ oppor-
tunity to display what they’ve learned in the fields of science and math. Kids will be displaying their projects and the results, using the scientific way of postulating a theory or asking a question and then finding the answer though testing. The public is invited to see the works of the students in one of the highest rated elementary schools in the Manatee County system and give back to a long time teacher.
COMP PLAN: Amendment discussed FROM PAGE 11
pat copeland | sun
Leadership and service award From left, Bill Malfese, recycling program coordinator for Manatee County and board member of Keep Manatee Beautiful, presents a Keep Manatee Beautiful Public Service award to Mike Thrasher and Lizzie Vann at Hometown Desserts in the Green Village on Pine Avenue. The award went to the Green Village for “those who demonstrate leadership in cleaning up and improving the community environment through litter prevention, preventing illegal dumping, beautification, and minimizing impacts of waste. It honors businesses that demonstrate an overall commitment to improving the community and educating the public about their efforts."
Public service award From left, Casey Coleman, Rowen Beals, Patrick Coleman and Mike Coleman accept a Keep Manatee Beautiful Public Service award for Pine Avenue Restoration. The award goes to “those who demonstrate leadership in cleaning up and improving the community environment through litter prevention, preventing illegal dumping, beautification, and minimizing impacts of waste. It honors businesses that demonstrate an overall commitment to improving the community and educating the public about their efforts." Billy malfese | submitted
for the potential construction of a two-unit hotel on Ninth Street North. The other appeal was filed by on behalf of Marie Pracht in opposition to multiple setback variances Robinson granted to Lora Ann Kennedy for the construction of an elevated home at 1101 Gulf Dr. S. The commission agreed that Special Master Robinson would serve as the city’s first line of defense against Pracht’s Gulf Drive appeal, and be assisted by Perry, if needed. Holmes Beach City Attorney Patricia Petruff is representing Pracht in her appeal. In the Arcadi appeal, Petruff finds herself on the other side of the legal ledger, representing the Kokolis’ in defense of the variance granted. The commission agreed that Perry would work with Petruff on this matter, with Pertruff doing most of the legal legwork in defending her client and the city against the appeal. These ongoing legal challenges occur at a time when the city has already spent more than $50,000 of the $89,000 budgeted legal fees for the fiscal year that began on Oct. 1 and ends on Sept. 30, 2015.
Art League seeks vols The Anna Maria Island Art League is looking for fun, energetic volunteers to help at its special events and festivals in December and March. To learn more, visit the Art League, 5312 Holmes Boulevard, on Monday, Wednesday or Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., call 941-778-2099, visit IslandArtLeague.org or e-mail artleagueami@gmail.com.
Center expands hours As part of the new action plan for the Anna Maria Island Community Center, it has extended its hours and days to 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and noon to 4 p.m. on Sundays. The Center is located at 407 Magnolia Ave. Anna Maria. It also has added youth and adult art and sports activities. For more information on activities go to www. islandcommunitycenter.com or Facebook.com/AnnaMariaIslandCommunityCenter
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Butterfly festival Nice weather attracted a good crowd at the arts and crafts show for the Holmes Beach Butterfly Garden on Saturday, Nov. 8. The duo Patchouli also drew a crowd as they sang and played their special blend of music. TOM VAUGHT | SUN
Distinctive Homes for Casual Lifestyles CBC060236
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Idol auditions set The Del Couch Music Education Foundation will be holding auditions on Saturday, Dec. 6, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 7, from 2 to 6 p.m. for the first Bradenton Area Idol contest. Auditions will be held at the Manatee School for the Arts, 700 Haben Blvd., Palmetto. All area students in grades six through 12 are invited to audition. The cost is $10 per
person to audition. No bands will be allowed, only solo performers, and no accompaniment will be provided. Thirty contestants will be selected to compete in a series of competitions to be held at the Bradenton Area Convention Center during the months of December, January and February. The winner will receive a recording contract with Emerging
Artists, which includes a full production CD, presentation to industry insiders, recording labels and a concert appearance at Lakewood Ranch’s Winterfest with the Doobie Brothers, War and Sam Woolf. Music scholarships will be awarded to the top five finishers. For more information contact either Terri Davis at terri_davis@ verizon.net or Del Couch at couchmusiced@gmail.com.
Recycling award Billy Malfese, Manatee County Recycling Program coordinator and David Pickup, manager of Special Waste, accept the Recycling Award for Government Entities for Manatee County government from Keep Manatee Beautiful. This award goes to "those who go above and beyond the norm to recycle goods used in the workplace or at home that otherwise would be discarded." SUBMITTED
Put the Sea In Season’s Greetings Gift cards to the area’s favorite waterfront restaurants are always a great stocking stuffer. Purchase a minimum of $50 in gift cards and receive a free bonus gift card equal to 25% of your total gift card purchase.
Free Beach Bag with online retail purchase of $50 or more (excludes gift card orders). Shop our stores at beachstore.groupersandwich.com
Anna Maria Island 941.778.0444
North Bradenton Beach 941.779.2222
North Longboat Key 941.383.2391
Offer valid 11/1/14 – 1/4/15. Bonus Card may not be used on day of purchase. Gift cards do not expire. Purchase online, call or visit.
NOVEMBER 26, 2014
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NOVEMBER 26, 2014
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Cities seek coordinator for ULI study ... The three Island cities have contracted with ULI to perform an Island-wide study in 2015. BY PAT COPELAND SUN STAFF WRITER | pcopeland@amisun.com
BRADENTON BEACH – Island elected officials agreed to select an Island-wide coordinator for the Urban Land Institute study planned for 2015. The ULI is a non profit-education and research organization focused on land use, and it provides guidance to communities in addressing problems associated with land use, development and growth. The three Island cities have contracted with ULI to perform an Island-wide study
in 2015, which will be funded by beach concession revenues. The first meeting of elected officials and citizen representatives regarding the study was held on Nov. 13, and the second is planned for Dec 1. Longboat Key Mayor Jim Brown offered his staff to help with establishing the ULI committee. He said there should be a contact person in each city to work with the coordinator. Longboat Key had the ULI study done in 2013.
Draft of potential issues
At the November meeting, officials drafted list of potential issues for the study. These include: • Evaluate the land economics associated with residential and commercial develop-
ment pressures facing the city; • Identify the competitive advantages that Anna Maria has in retaining existing residents, attracting new investment and what will better contribute toward the retention of the small town feel that permanent and winter residents enjoy; • Comment on a desirable mix of residential, office, institutional and civic uses for each of the cities; • Comment of how Anna Maria can better prepare for the future with regard to land use, real estate development and associated public policy’ • Comment on how the three cities can better cooperate in their relationships with the county and state; • Comment on how to improve con-
nectivity between the cities, the connective corridors and how to better address issues of parking; • Suggest urban design considerations relative to the goal of improving the functionality and beauty of the downtown and the beach; • Review linkages to and within the downtowns and beaches and the mainland including pedestrian, bicycle, mass transit, watercraft and automobile traffic; • Review and comment on the appropriateness of joint Island government; • Provide an action plan that allows the cities to implement the above recommendations.
... while ULI steering committee meets The group will meet again on Monday, Dec. 1, at 10 a.m. at Anna Maria City Hall. BY TOM VAUGHT SUN STAFF WRITER | tvaught@amisun.com
ANNA MARIA – A group of elected officials and those interested gathered at city hall recently to discuss the Urban Land Institute (ULI) study that will take place on the Island soon. ULI Vice-President of Advisory Services Tom Eitler hosted the discus-
sion about what will take place, what to expect and how to use the study. Manatee County paid for the $130,000 study from funds collected by the operators of the county beach concessions stands. Eitler told the group they might collect 100 interviews from people who live on the Island, own a business on the Island or live on the mainland and work on the Island. “We could set a number, say 90 interviews, and divide them between cities,” Eitler said. “A portion of the interviewees could be elected officials,
civic leaders, regular citizens, real estate professionals, business owners, non-residents, the full spectrum.” Eitler asked what the largest venue was on the Island for the interviews, and the group agreed it would be the gymnasium at the Anna Maria Island Community Center. Eitler said they could expect all kinds of answers and questions during the interviews because of the information explosion we have all experienced. “Ninety percent of what you want is on websites,” he said. “Before the Internet, panelists waited for the event
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to start. Now they start scouring the web.” Eitler said they would need a contact person, which would normally be a city manager or planner. Bradenton Beach Mayor Bill Shearon suggested not choosing elected officials, but Bradenton Beach resident Rick Bisio said they would be able to use their city staffs to help. Shearon said, however, the staff at his city is already busy, and this could be a nuisance for them. Holmes Beach City Commissioner SEE ULI, PAGE 39
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NOVEMBER 26, 2014
FESTIVAL SEASON BEGINS!
The Anna Maria Island Arts and Crafts Fair kicked off the holiday season on Bridge Street over the weekend with an offering of highend artworks, first-rate music and a tasty grill menu from The AMI Privateers. The twoday event drew several thousand visitors to Bradenton Beach and promises to be a holiday treat in years to come.
MAGGIE FIELD | SUN
Clockwise from above: The aluminum jewelry designs of artist Marina were popular sellers at the festival; Bridge Street early Saturday as seen from the balcony of Bridge Street Bistro; hand-crafted ornamental trees featuring items gathered from the sea by artist Peter Muffits, whose website is www.treesbythesea.com; a glowing Great Dane was part of the KromaLife collection by artists Michael Vistia and Alexander Dimou.
MAGGIE FIELD | SUN
Above, Anna Maria Island artist Rolf Hellem-Brusso puts the finishing touches on one of his colorful creations. Below, by noon on Saturday Bridge Street had started to fill up with festival-goers. MAGGIE FIELD | SUN
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NOVEMBER 26, 2014
Mote hosts Fisheries Forum
O
n Thursday evening Nov. 20, I attended a Fisheries Forum hosted by Mote Marine Laboratory at the Keating Education Center. The meeting was geared toward anglers, but was open to anyone interested in the future of local fisheries. The forum is a partnership between the University of Florida and Mote and is funded by Florida Sea Grant. The goals of the forum are to brainstorm how such a forum might foster an independent, community-based discussion while informing fisheries management and
Reel Time RUSTY CHINNIS science in a way that would help sustain Sarasota’s fisheries. Participants shared their ideas, knowledge, questions and comments. The ultimate goal is to identify the health of the fishery and to ascertain
factors that will enhance and sustain its vitality. This will be accomplished by taking advantage of local knowledge that can provide feedback to government agencies and researchers. The meeting laid the groundwork for establishing a long-term Fisheries Forum for the Sarasota-Manatee area. Meeting leaders gave an overview of the concept and then participants worked in small groups to identify key local issues, discussing processes for creating and sharing information and recommendations.
According to a news release from Mote, “Saltwater recreational fisheries generate more than $6.5 billion per year for Florida’s economy, but they face increasing pressures from fishing, habitat changes and global climate change, along with natural challenges such as cold stress and Florida red tide. Populations of many key fish species have severely declined. Anglers and other fisheries enthusiasts play a critical role in supporting sustainable see reel time, page 33
tide chart for anna maria city pier Nov. 26-dec 3 Day Date
A.M. High Time Feet
A.M. Low Time Feet
P.M. High Time Feet
P.M. Low Time Feet
Sun Rise Set
Day Date
A.M. High Time Feet
A.M. Low Time Feet
P.M. High Time Feet
Wed 11/26
12:13a 2.48
8:19a -0.29
3:25p 1.56
7:28p 1.25
7:00-5:36
Sun 11/30
5:23a 1.57
11:50a 0.53
6:19p 1.99
Thu 11/27
1:13a 2.31
9:10a -0.14
4:10p 1.62
8:49p 1.18
Mon 12/1
7:12a 1.45
1:11a 0.45
7:01p 2.14
12:40p 0.75
Fri 11/28
2:24a 2.07
10:13a 0.07
4:54p 1.71
10:20p 1.03
Tue 12/2/2
8:47a 1.44
2:18a 0.12
7:39p 2.29
1:27p 0.93
Sat 11/29
3:46a 1.80
10:57a 0.30
5:37p 1.84
11:51p 0.78
Wed 12/3
10:00a 1.45
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Sun Rise Set 7:03-5:35 7:03-5:35 7:04-5:35 7:05-5:35
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Catching cobia Chris Raible is holding this 70-pound cobia caught by Fran Galati fishing aboard the charter boat Miss Anna Maria out of Galati’s Marina. It was 30 miles off of AMI. Another cobia was swimming with it, which Raible also caught.
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SPORTS
NOVEMBER 26, 2014
The road to the championship BY MONICA SIMPSON SPECIAL TO THE SUN
Gator Squad 59 Sugar Beach Digital 55 This week’s feature semi-final adult co-ed basketball league game at the Anna Maria Island Community Center proved to be a great head-to-head
match up. Top seed Gator Squad squeaked by Sugar Beach Digital. Team Captain Matt Ray led the Sugar Beach team with double digit scoring and showing strong rebounding. Ray was supported with scoring by Eric Gledhill and Richard Fosmore. Joe Combs’ five three pointers found him the top scorer for the Gator Squad
with 17 points. Dale Smith was not far behind scoring 16 points for the Squad. Team Captain Aaron Dudukes, Brandon Osmond, Michael Scpondra and Keith Wilking each hit the board to help take the Gator Squad to victory. With strong defensive play by Sugar Beach and missed opportunities by the Gator Squad, the game went into
overtime. Sugar Beach played two men down after Gledhill and Fosmore fouled out. In the final minutes of extra play, Gator Squad pulled ahead and captured the win moving on to the championship game against Duncan Real Estate who narrowly beat Island Real Estate 47-45.
Adult co-ed soccer’s round one playoff action Family Construction was made after regulation play during a best out of five penalty kick shoot out against keeper Jason Sato.
BY MONICA SIMPSON SPECIAL TO THE SUN
Quarter final playoff action took place for the Anna Maria Island Community Center’s adult co-ed soccer league Thursday night as eight teams battled it out for a spot in the semifinals. In single elimination play, only four teams move forward to play another game.
Sato Real Estate Wash Family Construction
Beacon Design Eason Builders
0 1
The first game of the night found sixth seed Sato Real Estate lose to Wash Family Construction the playoff’s third seed. Despite strong striking attempts by Sato Real Estate, it could not score against goalie Ray Gardner who had 14 saves. The lone goal by Wash
2 4
In a strong match up, Beacon Design came up two goals short against the regular season’s second place finishers Eason Builders. Matt Plummer led Eason Builders with two goals. Captain Scott Eason and Joey Ciasullo each had a single goal in the game, with an assist by Jeff Walker. Seventh seed Beacon Design saw goals by Omar Polar and Shawn Kaleta. The goalies for each team were kept busy. Goalkeeper Jordan Demers had 10 saves for Beacon, and Wes Robinson made nine saves for Eason Builders.
Island Pest Control Jessie’s Island Store
1 5
Slims Place Dojo Martial Arts
1 4
The underdog was unable to prevail in the match up between the regular season first place finishers Jessie’s Island Store and the eighth seed Island Pest Control. Captain Oliver Peiterit had the single goal for Island Pest Control, while the team saw action by two goalies: Nate Talucci with nine saves and Troy Shonk with three saves. Jeff Christianson led Jessie’s in scoring with three goals. The team added two additional goals by Perry Pittman and Donald Christianson and an assist by Holly Belton. Goalie Chris Culhane had eight saves for the night.
In the final game of the night, fourth seed Dojo Martial Arts beat the fifth seed Slims
Winter sports tryouts at Community Center Registration is now open for flag football and volleyball tryouts for the winter sports season. Youth coed flag football tryouts are on Monday, Dec. 1, for 5-to-7-year-olds at 6 p.m., followed by 11-to-13-year-olds at 7:30 p.m. On Friday, Dec. 5, the 8-to10-year-olds will try out at 6 p.m. and the 14-to-17-year-olds at 8 p.m. The registration fee includes a team jersey and is $75 for youth members and $105 for non-members. Games will be played on the AMICC fields on Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays beginning in January 2015. Adult coed flag football tryouts will take place on Monday, Dec. 8, at 7 p.m. Registration fee includes a team jersey and is $75 for members and $110 for
non-members. To avoid a late fee register before Dec. 2. Games will be played mostly on Wednesdays for the 18 and up league and Thursdays for the 30 and up league beginning in January 2015. The adult coed volleyball tryout date is Tuesday, Dec. 2, at 7 p.m. Registration fee includes a team jersey and is $75 for members and $110 for non-members. To avoid a late fee register by Nov. 29. Games will be played on Tuesday evenings in the Community Center gym beginning in January 2015. Tryouts for all sports are mandatory and teams are chosen immediately afterward. Sign up for both adult sports and receive a $25 discount. An annual adult sports membership is $80 and includes full use of the fitness
room. Youth membership for 3-to-11year-olds is $40 a year and includes member prices on classes, sports, childcare, camps and youth events. Membership for youth ages 12 to 17 is $60 a year and includes all of that plus supervised use of the fitness center and open gym/social time. Coaches, captains and sponsors are needed. Head coach’s child plays for free. Contact Athletic Director Matt Ray at 941-778-1908, ext. 9205, or email matt@myamicc.com. Register at the Community Center, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria, or online at www.annamariaislandcc.com. Stay up to date on center happenings through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.
Place. In the goal for Dojo, Josh Bernet had nine saves. Chris Chicharo scored two goals, with singles by Adam Bujarski and Chelsey Hoffner. Bujarski also had two assists aiding in his team’s victory. The goalkeeper for Slim’s Place, Will Case, was busy in the net with 11 goals. Josh Pettit put Slim’s on the boards with his lone goal. Semi-final action will take place on Wednesday, Dec. 3 starting at 7 p.m. Wash Family Construction will play Eason Builders in the first game. At 8 p.m., Jessie’s Island Store will take on Dojo Martial Arts. The championship game will be held on Thursday, Dec. 4 at 8 p.m. A special presentation honoring the contributions to the island community, the Community Center, and to soccer will be presented to Paul “Ace” Hayward at the championship game.
Simpson to cover sports for Sun newspaper Former Anna Maria Island board member Monica Simpson is the new sportswriter for The Sun newspaper. A graduate of Texas A&M School of Journasism, Simpson will cover all of the sports leagues at the Center, where Simpson she still volunteers and coaches soccer and flag football. For four years she served as the PTO president on the Island and also was the planning and zoning director for the town of Longboat Key.
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Find reds and snook on the flats Captain Mark Howard
Fishing out of Island Discount tackle on beautiful Anna Maria Island has been excellent this past week with many species being landed on my 23-foot Hydrasport Bay Bolt. Shiners and pinfish have been my bait of choice. My clients have been battling schools of redfish, snook and speckled trout this past week. We literally had the fish feeding at the back of the boat and were throwing baits at the predators as they cruised through the crystal clear water on the flats. Redfish are on the flats feeding as the tide is on the move. Using a popping cork and making it gurgle will draw the fish to your bait offering. My clients are shocked to see the giant swirls of the predators gulping down their bait offering after they do the popping cork method. Using a piece of cut bait rigged with a splt shot will also draw strikes. Snook have been mixed in with the redfish and feeding on the same baits. On a recent trip, we had some amazing snook action with some big fish coming to the party. Using big baits and making long throws away from the boat has enticed the wise ones to chew. Looking forward to next week, the tides will be low in the morning with a strong incoming in the afternoon. The key to successful fishing will be take advantage of the moving water and be at your spot when the tide starts flowing . Until next week, keep the slack out of your line and learn to feel the thump of the predator inhaling the bait.
Captain Rick Grassett
An angler fishing with me on my Action Craft flats skiff the Snook Fin-Addict, out of CB's Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, had great action catching and releasing snook at night in the ICW near Venice on flies during the past week.
Captain larry mcguire | submitted
Got gags offshore of Anna Maria Island Virginia Hough, from Bradenton, with her largest gag grouper of her lifetime she caught using a sardine in about 60 feet offshore of Anna Maria Island. Virginia and party also caught lots more grouper and some monster mangrove snapper fishing with Capt Larry McGuire. Bill Todd, from Massachusetts, fished several trips with me. We fished the ICW near Venice on Wednesday evening and it was on fire! With the water temperature in the mid 60s that evening and a strong tide, snook went on a glass minnow binge. He had fast action catching and releasing snook to 25 inches on my Grassett Snook Minnow fly. He also caught and released a few trout on an Ultra Hair Clouser fly fished on a sink tip fly line over deep grass in north Sarasota Bay. We hunted albies and tripletail in the coastal Gulf and reds in skinny water, but conditions were tough with clouds, wind and
cold water. Water temperature plummeted to 57 degrees in the shallows by Friday morning, a drop of more than 10 degrees over a few days. Capt. Ed Hurst and I were the instructors for an Orvis-Endorsed Fly Fishing School at CB’s Saltwater Outfitters on Saturday. We had a large, enthusiastic class of students eager to learn to fly fish, which makes it a lot of fun. In addition to fly casting, students learned leader construction, fly selection and saltwater fly fishing techniques. Contact CB’s Saltwater Outfitters at 941-349-4400 or info@cbsoutfitters.com to make reservations
for future classes. Night snook fishing in the ICW is a good option now. Fish peak tidal flows for the best action. Trout, blues, flounder and more should also be good options on deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay. Look for reds and big trout mixed with mullet schools on shallow flats. Tripletail and false albacore in the coastal Gulf should also be a good option depending on conditions. Look for tripletail on crab trap buoys and search for bait schools, diving birds or breaking fish to find albies.
reel time: Fisheries Forum FROM PAGE 30
fisheries and uncovering new priorities for research and management. Many anglers already communicate with scientists and with government officials, but their insight, knowledge and creativity may be more powerful when collected, sustained and focused around a particular location.” Recent research indicates that fisheries can successfully be restored. It has established that this can best be implemented by combining science-based fishery regulations, restoration, enhancement of habitats, fish stocks and encouraging stewardship of those who benefit from it. “Our Fisheries Forums will bring together people who know and care about the fishery to have these conversations in a structured, enduring way — and it will really be place-based, focusing on fisheries issues in a local way that typically has
not been done,” said Dr. Kai Lorenzen, a professor at UF in Gainesville, Fla. “In Sarasota, it is ideal to have the forum hosted by our partners at Mote Marine Laboratory as they have been working with Florida anglers and serving as an independent source of fisheries information for over 30 years.” Dr. Ken Leber, senior scientist at Mote, served as moderator of the Nov. 20 meeting. “Anglers and other fisheries stakeholders can be great ‘citizen scientists’ — many of them share our mission to better understand the status of our fisheries and work toward sustaining them,” Leber said. “We were pleased to learn more from them about the place-based issues facing our fisheries, which will help us prioritize our research while empowering anglers to be even more effective in sharing what they know.”
Mote scientists guided the discussions on Sarasota Bay, while Florida Sea Grant led a related forum in Charlotte Harbor, which was conducted on Nov. 19. University of Florida scientists will continue to coordinate the development of Fisheries Forums, documenting the results and progress. Overall the project aims to find ways to better engage people in fisheries issues through stakeholder meetings, interviews, surveys and public education. The ultimate goal is to expand the project throughout Florida for the good of fisheries statewide. To get involved in the open community forums or to share your knowledge, ideas, suggestions and comments, contact Paula Clark at Mote Marine at pclark@mote.org or call 941-388-4441, ext. 691.
rusty chinnis | submitted
Captain Phil O’Bannon, from Boca Grande, came to Sarasota to participate in the Fisheries Forum
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NOVEMBER 26, 2014
CLASSES: Fall classes at Island Community Center FROM PAGE 23
Yoga for relaxation
Yoga for relaxation with Linda Morassi is back on Mondays and Fridays from 9 to 10:15 a.m. Whether you have practiced yoga for years or are just beginning, you can experience the increased energy, balance, flexibility and harmony it brings to both body and mind through gentle stretches, yoga
postures and meditation. Member price is $8 per class and non-member price is $15 per class.
Karate lessons
Karate lessons for all ages are on Mondays and Thursdays from 5 to 6 p.m. DoJo Martial Arts provides excellent instruction as well as life skills that impact both kids and adults in a safe
and friendly environment. Member price is $85 per month and non-member price is $99 per month. Self defense for women and seniors Self defense for women and seniors is taught every Monday evening from 6 to 7 p.m. Award-winning Instructor Omar Schwanzer of DoJo Martial Arts demonstrates and trains students in vital safety and self-defense techniques
through role play and rehearsal. Member price is $60 per month and nonmember price is $75 per month. The Community Center also offers Pickleball, tennis lessons, Dragon Boating, Fit Crew AMI and seasonal sports for adults. Children’s activities include kids’ dance fitness, tennis lessons and sports leagues every season.
$54
$54 $45 $34 $22
$160 $130 $98 $54
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FOOD & WINE
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Sustainable tourism Ed Chiles
FRIED CHINESE SPINACH LEAVES By ED CHILES
BeachHouse, Sandbar & Mar Vista
Ingredients Chinese Spinach is that mass of light green leaves spilling out of the boxes, particularly at Poppo’s and the Historic Green Village.
A
nna Maria and Pine Avenue specifically have recently been recognized as “a model for sustainable tourism by those responsible for developing a manifesto on sustainable tourism as part of the United Nations programs around the globe.” That’s a big statement with large implications, but what does it mean ? Very simply put, sustainable tourism is a worldwide movement to balance the real economic benefits of tourism with the potential for negative impacts on existing communities. It encourages entrepreneurs to bring investment and ideas to visitor based economies while charging them with the responsibility to add value to the impacted communities. Tourism worldwide contributes one out of every 11 dollars of world GNP. Locally we realize that we cannot and most of us indeed do not want to stop folks from coming to Anna Maria. We can however, through our actions, do a great deal to attract the right kind of people – people who share our values and want to see the character and authenticity which is uniquely Anna Maria protected and preserved. What has drawn visitors to Anna Maria over the generations has been it’s authenticity, it's quiet residential nature, as well as its pristine beaches and great climate. Before my partners and I knew of the term sustainable tourism, we followed principles we called responsive develop-
Method
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Try fried Chinese spinach leaves with eggs for a breakfast treat. ment. Our founding motto, “Preserving the past, embracing the future,”,set the tone for everything that followed. It means recognizing and being responsive to what has preceded you, environmentally, culturally and architecturally, so that the end product looks like its always been there and should be just where and as it is. The idea was to fit within, not sit upon, the community that surrounded us. With that template set, one step followed the next as we embraced the future. Energy efficient, award winning buildings were engineered to be storm strong. Landscapes were installed, not for decoration, but to complete the environment. Softscapes replaced hardscape (no concrete or asphalt) to absorb both noise and toxins. As operating partner Mike Coleman brought the infrastructure into focus, Mike Miller brought his singular touch to the site characteristics. Gene Aubry’s original pencil sketches now stand as job and business incubators. Then, Mike Thrasher and
GRILL & SEAFOOD 1920’S Cottage on Historic Bridge Street on Anna Maria Island featuring the freshest seafood & hearty fare the Gulf Coast has to offer.
Live Music Thurs.- Sat.
www.bluemarlinami.com
(941) 896-9737 • 121 Bridge Street, Bradenton Beach, FL
Lizzie Vann took things to another level with repurposed historic buildings being saved from the dumpster and refitted with the most advanced technologies. Now, the Historic Green Village sits on the Greenest Little Mainstreet in America as the only campus of its kind in America and one of 100 net zero campuses worldwide. All of this has now flowed into organic community gardens on the street and in the community. That led to the Pine Avenue apiary in which bees flourish and plants are happy, and now this is serving as a model for other communities as well as the U.N. Simultaneously, sustainable seafood practices and hydroponic farms are in the mix. Frankly, while it’s a bit overwhelming to be getting all the attention currently focused on Pine Avenue and Anna Maria, ultimately, it’s not surprising. What is occurring is the logical expression of our natural surroundings and the stewardship of our forbears here on the Island. We believe we have a responsibility to communicate
• Pluck 5-6 of the larger or 7-8 smaller leaves per portion. • Rinse the leaves and sling off excess water. • Place each side of each leaf on a small amount of your favorite flour tapping them with your fingertips, gently rubbing the flour into the velvety surface, and place on a plate. Do not heat the oil until all are floured. • Heat 1 Tbsp. butter and a couple of Tbsps. of your favorite oil to 350º in a large electric skillet. • Fry the floured leaves, carefully turning them over only once as the first side browns. • When the second side is brown, remove them to a paper towel or just turn off the heat and leave in the skillet until ready to serve. • Arrange in a fan, with great care as they are now extremely fragile, to accompany eggs for breakfast or the main course of any meal.
our vision of quiet residential community, surrounding an environmental, cultural and economic example that is practical, measurable and repeatable, so that others can do it too.
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NOVEMBER 26, 2014
Mayor Murphy Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy and his wife, Barbara, greeted supporters at a thank you party held at Rudy’s Subs and More on Wednesday, Nov, 19.
Pat Copeland | sun
Mayor Johnson Holmes Beach Mayor Bob Johnson spoke to supporters at a thank you party at Duffy’s Tavern on Nov. 14. Johnson told supporters, “We want to go forward together. We‘ll have a great two years. We‘ll just have fun and get things done.”
Pat Copeland | sun
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We will be closed cll osed ose on Thanksgiving to be with our families.
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Nov. 28 - Black Friday th
Black Friday Shopping? You Could Use A Drink*… On Us! *Bring us any shopping receipt from Nov. 28, 2014 and receive a
FREE MARGARITA.
Good at all three locations on Nov. 28, 2014 ONLY. With purchase of entrée. Ages 21+ only.
HAPPY HOUR EVERY DAY! 11am-5pm & 8pm-close LANDSIDE
CORTEZ
ELLENTON
941.758.7880
941.792.0077
941.721.7773
(1.5 miles north of SRQ Airport)
(5 min from Anna Maria Island)
( Take I-75 Exit 224 west)
6906 14th St. W. on US 41
6696 Cortez Rd.
1525 51st Ave. E.
SScott
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ULI: Steering committee to meet FROM PAGE 27
Jean Peelen suggested newly elected Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy, since his predecessor acted as a contact person before. Eitler stressed whoever the person is, he or she should be able to carry out assignments, perhaps like a former elected official.
Land use problems
Bisio said a lot of the problems begin when old-timers die or move off the Island for health reasons and their homes are bought by investors who tear down the old homes and build huge, multibedroom structures to be used by large groups of tourists in the middle of a residential neighborhood. “Anna Maria is moving from a residential island to a touristbased island,” said Holmes Beach Mayor Carmel Monti. “If my neighbors moved away, I would too,” Bisio said. Eitler suggested some Florida communities face a problem when
One of the questions we face is, 'Should we build another bridge to the mainland to keep up with the increase in tourism?'" Mayor Carmel Monti Holmes Beach
their owners age and fail to update their homes. “New building is more of a problem than old buildings,” said SueLynn. “It’s a change of use problem,” Anna Maria resident Tom Aposporos. “Our economic future is not in our hands,” Peelen said. “The county controls it.” “One of the questions we face is should we build another bridge to the mainland to keep up with the increase in tourism,” Monti said.
When asked how the county feels about the problems facing the Island, SueLynn said, “They’d rather not talk about it.” As for a liaison, some of those at the meeting wanted to discuss the possibility with Longboat Key Vice Mayor Jack Duncan. Another possible candidate is David Cheshire, who was a member of the Holmes Beach Charter Review Commission. The group agreed to meet again on Monday, Dec. 1, at 10 a.m. at Anna Maria City Hall.
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REAL ESTATE
NOVEMBER 26, 2014
Happy real estate Thanksgiving?
I
t’s the old be careful what you wish for scenario. We’re devastated when things go wrong, especially if it involves a loss of finances, and when things start to turn around, we’re worried that our lifestyle is changing. To say that Anna Maria Island has changed especially during the last three to four years could very well be the understatement of the decade. Some people are happy with the changes and others not so much. Recently yet another “best” places report came out. Last month Conde Nast Traveler magazine picked Anna Maria Island as the 26th best island in the world out of 30, yep you read that right – the world. It’s important to note that Anna Maria was the only island in the Conde Nast survey in the state of Florida. The top rated island in the world was Palawan in the Philippines with a readers' rating of 88.7; Anna Maria’s rating was 81.4. We’re also in really good company with Kiawah Island, S. C. and four islands
Castles in the Sand Louise Bolger in Hawaii also on the list, as well as Bermuda, two islands in Greece and Bora Bora in French Polynesia. We all know that since 2010, Anna Maria tourism has been promoted bringing more and more people to the Island. In addition, the financial downturn also kept many Southern families looking for a beach vacation within an easy drive from Georgia and northern and eastern regions of Florida. Recently we learned that Manatee County is being targeted for tourism from Scandinavia. Part of this promotion is to attract sports teams to IMG in Bradenton, but much of the targeting is really to attract beach visitors
from upscale countries. Even the Sarasota/ Bradenton Airport is campaigning for charter flights from Scandinavia. So now we’re faced with the results of be careful what you wish for. After the financial crisis, we all wished for a better housing market and more visitors, and boy did we get both. The Manatee Association of Realtors historic sales data show the following: In July of 2006, the median sale price for all three cities on the island was $790,000; this was the top of the market. The following year, the median dropped to $475,000 and went progressively down until it hit the bottom of $294,000 in July of 2013. The July 2014 median sale price was $520,000 and August 2014 it was $585,000. Interesting numbers, which certainly show a hearty comeback, however, much of what has driven the real estate market are investors who are taking advantage of the influx of visitors by creating a vigorous short term rental market. Not only has this
change in the culture of the Island pushed full time residents off the Island, but it has also created all of the chaos we’re now seeing in governing oversized rental properties and associated traffic in all three cities. The day I sat down to write this column Minto Homes the builder of Harbour Isle on Perico Island announced the purchase of 35 acres on Perico. Minto’s intention is to build several new 12 story multifamily residences as part of the Harbour Isle development, in addition to a marina, restaurant and retail space. Think about the beach traffic when this community is totally built out. So here we are. Our little piece of paradise has been discovered. The challenge now is to find a way to manage the great success we have found and still keep the small and special island vibe that brought everyone here to begin with. Be careful what you wish for, be thankful with what you have and be hopeful that the future will bring it all together. Happy Thanksgiving.
NOVEMBER 26, 2014
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Island Players present comedy, ‘Regrets Only’ The Island Players perform “Regrets Only,” by Paul Rudnick, from Dec. 4 through 14. This comedy combines a strange cast of characters in a Manhattan setting. The characters include a dynamic attorney and his socialite wife and a world-known fashion designer. The plot centers around a daughter’s engagement and the president of the United States. Starring in the play are Robin Rhodes, as Myra Kesselman; Heiko Knipfelberg, as Hank Hadley; Sylvia Marnie, as Tibby McCullough; Stephen Horowitz, as Jack McCullough; Haley Hines, as Spencer McCullough; and Cathy Hansel-Edgerton, as Marietta Claypole. Knipfelberg is the director, and Denise Handley is the stage manager. Regular show performances are Tuesday through Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. and no performances on Mondays Tickets may be purchased at the box office, 10009 Gulf Drive, or by calling 778-5755. The box office is open 10 days before opening night, Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and one hour before all performances. All tickets will be held in will call at the box office for pickup. In addition, the Island Players will hold auditions on Sunday, Dec. 7, at 7:30 p.m. for “Dearly Departed,” by David Bottrell and Jessie Jones that runs Jan 22 through Feb. 8. Kelly Wynn Woodland is the director.
tOM VAUGHT | SUN
Starring in the play are Robin Rhodes, as Myra Kesselman; Heiko Knipfelberg, as Hank Hadley; Sylvia Marnie, as Tibby McCullough; Stephen Horowitz; as Jack McCullough; Haley Hines, as Spencer McCullough; and Cathy Hansel-Edgerton, as Marietta Claypole.
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Food tour Island Brownie Scouts of Troop 35 and their leaders recently brought food and toured the Roser Food Pantry and the Roser Guild Thrift Shop to learn how people on the Island are helped by All Island Denominations. The girls are all in second grade at Anna Maria Elementary and meet weekly with their leader, Laura Hurst, at the AMI Community Center. SUBMITTED
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PERMITS: City ponders rental permit plan FROM PAGE 1
three bedrooms or rooms that could serve as bedrooms will end. Commission Chair Chuck Webb said he did not like the language of the proposed ordinance that defines bedrooms, saying the commission needs to define a room that could serve as a bedroom. Building Official Bob Welch said the definition of a bedroom includes having two ways to leave a room in case of an emergency, for example a door and a window. He also said 110 to 120 square feet is a normal size for a bedroom. “You’ve got to give me a solid definition of a room that could be used as a bedroom,” he told Webb. He said he wants a definition by size just for the moratorium. Commissioner Dale Woodland wanted Welch to use permit applications to develop a definition, but Welch said he needs to rely on something based on the codes today. Webb said they need a solution that solves the problem and he’s busy and can’t go over the applications. Welch said the commissioners could go over it themselves. Commissioner Doug Copeland said they need a definition of a bedroom because if it is a room that could be used for sleeping, his three-bedroom house could suddenly become five bedrooms. Planning Director Alan Garrett said under the vague definition, they could call a living room and even a dining room a bedroom and they would not be able to approve any permit application.
An escape clause
The commissioners expressed a desire to allow a homeowner to change the occupancy of a home in case of a change in the owner’s status, such as health or income, so that the owner could rent the home and not have to sell it.
City Attorney Jim Dye said he doesn’t want to name specific events that would trigger a change of occupancy and suggested “extraordinary hardship based on catastrophic event” for the wording in the ordinance. The commission also addressed occupancy as an intensity problem. Commissioner Carol Carter said intensity is one word they could quantify. Webb said the higher the occupancy, the greater the intensity, which is the problem. Webb said he doesn’t know if using a single-family definition would help them, so they gave it up. They said they might use square footage to determine the number of occupants. Webb said he could see occupancy based on square footage of the house or number of bedrooms, but not square footage of the lots. He told Dye to make a list of ways to control occupancy, such as the number of bedrooms, the number of people and the number of parking spaces. Garrett said they should set standards for each of those.
Inspections
Using the permit process to allow rental homes is a way the city can control the process and commissioners wanted to be able to follow-up with inspections. Webb said they could catch cheaters with pop inspections, but one commissioner didn’t think those inspections would surprise anyone for long. Copeland said when the state inspector is out on the Island looking at restaurants, they show up and then the first restaurant calls the others to let them know, taking out the element of surprise. The commissioners called for staff to put together a final ordinance for first reading on Thursday, Dec. 4, at 6 p.m. and a final hearing on Thursday, Dec. 18.
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Teslas gather at Green Village Teslas are American-made cars that run on electric power alone and contribute nothing to the greenhouse gases that are suspected to be adding to global warning. BY TOM VAUGHT SUN STAFF WRITER | tvaught@amisun.com
ANNA MARIA – Tesla owners took a “green trip” last Saturday starting at the Florida House in Sarasota and going to the Green Village on Pine Avenue before parking together at the Sandbar parking lot for photos and lunch. When asked about his Tesla, which comes with an electric motor instead of an internal combustion engine, Alex Wagenaar, of Anna Maria Island, said he loves it. “It’s faster than a Porsche, quieter than a Lexus and holds more than an SUV,” he said. “I come home and plug it in, and in two hours the batteries are charged. Larry Chanin, president of the Florida Tesla Enthusiast’s Club, praised the expedition. “We started at the Florida House, which is a green building, and drove our electric cars to the Green Village on Pine Avenue. What a great way to spend the day. Chanin said the club is three years old. “We have more than 340 members,
tOM VAUGHT | SUN
The parking lot at the Sandbar restaurant had a number of Teslas as members of the Florida Tesla Enthuriast's Club ate lunch after touring the Green Village on Pine Avenue last Saturday. and there’s room for more since there are more than 2,100 owners in the state,” he said.
Mike Thrasher, who helped develop the Green Village, said he was proud to be able to attract people with an inter-
est in the environment to the Island.
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Commission OK’S pier amenities, police car Spending requests, color choices and permits were topics of conversation at the Nov. 20 commission meeting. BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
BRADENTON BEACH – During last week’s meeting, city commissioners approved two significant spending requests, made two charitable donations, granted approval for a restaurant parking lot and approved two special event permits.
Pier Amenities approved
The commission authorized Public Works Director Tom Woodard to order $14,511 worth of pier amenities and accessories from the Recycled Plastic Factory. The order sheet includes 16 flat benches, six high back benches, four picnic tables, four trash; two custom swings, three fish cleaning stations and four trash receptacles. When asked to choose the color of the benches, the commission unanimously agreed to go with green. The
Parking approved
pier decking will be gray. Manatee County will cover half the cost of the accessories purchased as part of the matching funds pledged to the pier reconstruction project scheduled for completion in mid-January.
New ride for PD
The commission granted Police Chief Sam Speciale permission to spend $28,249 on a 2015 Ford Utility Interceptor from Bartow Ford. Speciale told the commission he would need an additional $2,000 to have the police radio and laptop computer bracket installed in the modified Ford Explorer. Commissioner Ed Straight was pleased to learn that the vehicle will be equipped with the brighter, more visible emergency flashers he prefers.
Donations granted
Commissioners were in the giving spirit Thursday afternoon when they approved their annual $500 donation to the Bridge Street Merchants and annual $250 donation to the Annie Silver Community Center. Commissioner Jan Vosburgh also donated the $68 remaining in her campaign fund to the merchants group.
joe hendricks | sun
Commissioners decided last week that green will be the color of the benches installed on the reconstructed pier. On behalf of the Bridge Street Merchants, Melissa Enders said the funds would be used to promote the Christmas on Bridge Street event taking place Saturday, Dec. 13. Community center Vice President Jim Hassett accepted the Annie Silver donation and thanked the commission for its continued generosity. In addition to providing recreational and social opportunities for residents, retirees and visitors, the community center serves as the city’s only polling location.
Commissioners unanimously approved a major development request and special exception submitted by Wicked Taco restaurant owner Mike Dolan and property owner Clyde Ingram that clears the way for an unpaved accessory parking area adjacent to the soon-to-be opened cantina-style eatery located at 701 Gulf Dr. N. The approval sets the stage for the demolition of a vacant residential structure that sits behind the Green Turtle Shell & Gift shop. The demolition will provide the space needed to create 34 additional parking spaces for restaurant guests and shopping plaza visitors. The new 92-seat restaurant will now have access to 72 parking spaces.
Events permitted
The commission granted special event permits for the ninth annual Winterfest Arts and Crafts Show taking place at Coquina Beach Jan. 3 and 4, and the 19th annual Coquina Tides Arts and Crafts Show taking place Feb. 28 and March 1.
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NOVEMBER 26, 2014
COQUINA: Boat ramp improvement plan unveiled FROM PAGE 1
firm, addressed a sparse gathering that included Bradenton Beach Mayor Bill Shearon, Vice Mayor Jack Clarke, Scenic Waves advisory board co-chair Tjet Martin, County Commissioner John Chappie and Marine Rescue Capt. Joe Westerman. Honts, the project manager, said the North Coquina project would include replacing the existing boat ramp and docks, decreasing the steep angle of decent and the adjacent drop off area at the end of the ramp, paving the unpaved parking lot with shell-topped concrete, installing new American Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant restrooms; constructing a 1,800 square foot storage building, installing drainage improvements and enhancing the landscaping features. Lai Hipp, the environmental program manager, said the project would be jointly funded by West Coast Inland Navigation District grant money and boater fees collected by the county as part of the Florida Boating Improvement Program. Honts said the anticipated start date would be no earlier than October 2015. Once the work begins, it is expected to take approximately 180 days to complete.
Parking renovations
The North Coquina boat ramp plans call for the installation of 28 paved boat trailer parking spaces, 14 paved standard parking and two ADA complaint parking spaces. Lai Hipp said paving the parking area will save the county money in the long run because it currently spends $30,000 a year on materials alone to maintain the unpaved parking area. Shearon, Martin and Chappie inquired about the possibility of adding turn lanes to Gulf Drive to accommodate boat ramp and
beach traffic. Lai Hipp said the county plan includes no funding for Gulf Drive traffic lane reconfiguration, and this would be a matter to address with the Florida Department of Transportation. After the meeting, Chappie summed up his thoughts on the plans presented. “I think it’s going to be a tremendous improvement for our boaters in Manatee County. It’s going to be an expansion of an existing facility, and it will have a lot more amenities that we don’t have now. It’s part of an overall plan the county has
for our boat ramps throughout the county, and it’s going to be a great addition,” he said. The proposed project is part of the county’s boat ramp master plan that includes $600,000 for South Coquina boat ramp improvements planned for next summer, beginning in June or July. Major renovations to the Kingfish boat ramp in Holmes Beach are expected in 2017, and the plan is to finish the Coquina ramps first, so they can help accommodate the additional boat traffic generated by the Kingfish ramp closing.
Kingfish on deck
According to Houts, the renovations to the Kingfish boat ramp are estimated to begin in October 2017. A cost estimate has not yet been determined, but the anticipated scope of work includes replacement of the existing seawall, the construction of a new boat ramp designed to be a four-lane launching facility and the installation of a freestanding wooden dock and paved parking areas and drive aisles, with the parking and docking facilities brought into full ADA compliance.
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NOVEMBER 26, 2014
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Roser celebrates Founders Day Roser Memorial Community Church recently honored members who continue the dream started more than 100 years ago when the church was built for those pioneers who lived on Anna Maria Island. As the years passed, more church members were honored for their efforts. An update of Roser’s history was completed in 1980. At that time, Sara Marshall wrote these words in the forward: “… by far the most amazing feature of Roser Church is the dedication of our laity, who, as in most undenominational churches, actually ‘run’ the church in all its phases, controlling and directing policy as well as program. This history is an account of the remarkable stewardship of those ‘inspired amateurs’ who have freely poured into this church their time, talents, and money to make Roser what it is today.” The 2014 Exceptional Volunteers who were named on Sunday, Nov. 9, during the 10 a.m. worship service were: • Jimmy Nichols sang in the choir for 20-plus years, served as treasurer and on the board of stewardship and finance as a member and as chair. He chaired the long range planning committee in the late 1990s and chaired the building committee for the construction of the narthex and the portecochere. He also served as a member of the nominating committee and the executive committee. • Ron Vandeman served on the board
provided
Above, a cake celebrates the four new Roser Founders Day honorees. At right, church members stood to cheer the four people honored. of deacons, the board of trustees and the mission committee. He served on the board of stewardship and finance and was chair. He has been the vice-chair and then chair of the congregation, chaired the centennial celebration planning committee, chaired the task force that assessed wants and needs of Roser Church and established the annual recognition of outstanding volunteers while chair of the congregation. He served on the transition team and is currently serving on the foundation committee and the nominating committee. • Marcia Powers has been a member of Roser since the 1970s. In the early years, she worked with the youth group and was part of the project to remodel a home in Rubonia that became the first daycare center in the area. She served on the long range planning committee during the remod-
eling of the sanctuary, fellowship hall and kitchen and the purchase of the parking lot next to the fellowship hall in the 1990s. She has served on the board of deacons and was chair. She has ushered and greeted, served on the nominating committee, the kitchen committee, membership committee, as secretary of the trustee board, the transition team and chaired the retirement party for Pastor Gary Batey. Powers chaired the pictorial directory project in 2007, started the angel tree project at Roser and served on the committee to select exceptional volunteers. She has updated the Roser history book to cover the years 1980-2011. She is currently serving on the board of stewardship and finance and is a Stephen
Minister. • Peggy Nash joined Roser in 1977, is active in the women’s guild and is currently serving as president of the guild, not for the first time. She has served on the board of religious education and trustee board. Peggy was a Stephen Minister and a vacation Bible school volunteer and for some, her greatest contribution is her orange cookies. 2014 Outstanding Volunteers who passed to life eternal are: Trudy Horigan, Esther Reid, Ursula Rowse and Jackie Webb. For more information call the church office at 941-778-0414, email info@ roserchurch.com, go to www.roser church.com or find it on Facebook at www.facebook/roserchurch.
Thanksgiving sermon
Rev. Dr. Bob O’Keef gave the sermon at the All Island Denominations (AID) Thanksgiving Service Sunday night at CrossPointe Fellowship. The service was well attended and pastors from member churches read from the Scriptures. In between, the AID chorus, organist Russell Kennedy, Russ Brier on guitar and the CrossPointe Fellowship Worship Team provided the music. After the service, the crowd enjoyed refreshments. TOM VAUGHT | SUN
CHANTELLE LEWIN | SUN
Old Fords The Ford Model A restorers of Sarasota and Manatee Counties met at Paradise Cafe on Wednesday, Nov. 12. (although there was a Model T in the group). The beautiful cars were lined up in the parking lot of the AMI Centre Shops on East Bay Drive.
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NOVEMBER 26, 2014
Commissioner questions bollard installation A minor public works project became the subject of internal debate in and around city hall. BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
BRADENTON BEACH – A $500 parking barrier installed in early November became the subject of a recent public records request and e-mail exchange initiated by Commissioner Janie Robertson. On Nov. 4, Robertson requested all e-mails dated Sept. 1 through Oct. 31 that were sent or received by Public Works Director Tom Woodard, City Engineer Lynn Townsend Burnett, Building Official Steve Gilbert, Commissioner Jan Vosburgh and Bradenton Beach residents Betsy and Marc Sillars. Robertson’s request pertained to the installation of 13 wooden bollards and a rope barrier erected at the corner of Avenue A and 24th Street. The work done by public works employees at the city’s expense was an effort to protect stormwater drainage elements located on city right of way. Prior to Robertson’s records request, Woodard and others told the commission the bollards were installed to prevent parked cars from crushing the shell-covered areas that provide drainage because crushed shells reduce drainage. Robertson questioned why the work was not approved by the commission, why the city engineer was not consult-
joe hendricks | sun
These bollards recently placed along Avenue A were a cause of concern for City Commissioner Janie Robertson. ed and whether Vosburgh requested the work to be done. The property adjacent to the city right of way where the bollard were placed is owned by the Sillars, who supported Vosburgh’s reelection campaign and placed a campaign sign in their yard. Vosburgh’s challenger in the race was Tjet Martin, a close friend of Robertson’s.
Cities ponder a sweeping issue BY PAT COPELAND SUN STAFF WRITER | pcopeland@amisun.com
BRADENTON BEACH – Island elected officials agreed that they would take back to their commissions a proposal to use one company to sweep each city’s streets. At last week’s meeting of Island elected officials, Bradenton Beach Mayor Bill Shearon said the city’s Public Works Director Tom Woodard had researched vendors and “come up with a concept on street sweeping that we could all go together on a contract to save some money and get a better product.” Woodard said he contacted multiple vendors and that many of the vendors he talked with are limited in their services and don’t take away the debris or provide information for the required reports for the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). He then contacted the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and said, “In doing so, I learned that FDOT was going to begin monthly state road sweeping/ cleaning services through Longboat Key, Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach.”
He arranged a meeting with a representative of FDOT’s vendor, USA Services, and the four island public works directors. He said in addition to doing work for FDOT, they have done work for the city of Anna Maria and currently have a contract with Longboat Key. “Until we get an understanding of what each city wants to commit to, we can’t get a hard number,” he concluded. “Make your feelings known to Mayor Shearon or myself and we can move forward.” Holmes Beach Commissioner Jean Peelen asked if the FDOT sweeping of Gulf Drive is at no cost to the cities, and Woodard said yes. Kra Whitmore, of USA Services, said the company has been in business for 25 years and cleans city, county and state roads. He said the company also provides debris removal and disposal as well as numbers for the NPDES reports. “There are no other services that provide what they do,” Woodard pointed out. Shearon and Holmes Beach Mayor Carmel Monti said they would make presentations to their city commissions. Anna Maria Mayor SueLynn was not present.
“The implication was that I did it because they were supporting Jan’s campaign,” Woodard said. “I have installed these bollards elsewhere and that previous work was never questioned. The mayor approved it, and it was the exact same project done at the north end of the street, near the kayak ramp by Herb Dolan Park,” he added.
“We did not do any work on private property. The bollards were installed where the city has 19 feet of right of way and stormwater swales, and installed to protect the interests of the city in an area not meant to be parked on,” he said. In response to Robertson’s inquiries, Gilbert wrote, “Our discussion revolved around how best to keep people from parking on the swales in the right of way. Tom, Sam, and myself decided a rope and bollard system would provide the best protection for the swales. Lynn was not consulted, but Sam talked with the mayor about the issue.” Woodard wrote, “To my knowledge, neither Commissioner Vosburgh or the Sillars were involved in the discussions.” During a recent commission meeting recess, Mayor Bill Shearon confirmed said he approved the expenditure and considered the matter closed. Robertson said most of her questions have been answered, but she still had some concerns about the project being properly accounted for, because it was designated as both a street and road project and a storm water project. “I’m satisfied with the explanations I got, but Sheila has to have the real numbers. She needs to know the actual cost of the project and she can only get those numbers from Tom, who needs to break down the actual allocations for her,” she said.
Chili Challenge contestants sought The Bridge Street Merchant's Chili Challenge will take place be Sunday, Dec. 7, and bragging rights up for grabs. Individuals, groups and local restaurants interested in competing can enter the Chili Challenge by filling out a required advance entry form at www. bridgestreetmerchants.com. There is no entry fee, and the first place winner will receive a $100 Publix gift card.
Coinciding with the weekly Bridge Street Market, the Chili Challenge will take from 11 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. In exchange for an $8 donation, market goers will have an opportunity to sample all of the chili concoctions. All proceeds will benefit the Anna Maria Island Community Center. Live entertainment will be provided by the Tangled Mangos, and there is never a fee to enter the open air market.
Signs of the times
Holmes Beach Commissioner Marvin Grossman shows one of the city’s new signs featuring the artwork of Sue Cotton. Grossman spearheaded the project to supplement the city’s standard signs with new signs featuring the work of local artists. Pat Copeland | Sun
NOVEMBER 26, 2014
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TOWN CRIER
the Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, on Wednesday, Dec. 3. 1, at 6 p.m. This club requires pre-registration. Call 778-6341 for more information.
Restaurant helps fill tummies Island Gourmet Grill teams with Feeding Empty Little Tummies (FELT) that provides weekend sustenance to homeless children using backpacks filled with enough food to get them through the weekends. The restaurant, located at 5910 Marina Drive in Holmes Beach, will be accepting donations through the months of November and December. Manatee County Schools helps identify kids who need weekend sustenance. To date, they have identified more than 2,300 children who are homeless or in danger of becoming homeless. A donation of $40 will feed a child for four weekends. Typical backpack food items needed include quart packages of powdered milk, oatmeal and cereal packs, single-serving pasta cups, fruit cups, beans with franks, mac and cheese, raisins, peanuts and almonds. No glass containers will be accepted; tab tops are preferred. For more information on how you can help, send checks made payable to FELT, Inc. of Manatee to Island Gourmet Grill, 5910 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, FL 34217.
Play bridge at Annunciation Enjoy duplicate bridge every Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. at the Church of the Annunciation, 4408 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach. For more information, call 896-5154.
High schoolers selling wreaths To help fund their prom, Manatee High School’s Junior Class is selling Christmas wreaths and garlands. Each for $20. They’re Fraser fir, grown in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. They’re 22 inches in diameter with a ribbon bow. To order, contact Maggie Rogers Cucci at Facebook.
Mayor speaks to Kiwanis Newly installed Holmes Beach Mayor Bob Johnson will be the speaker at the Saturday, Nov. 29, meeting of the AMI Kiwanis Club held at the Anna Maria Island Beach Café at Manatee Pubic Beach at 8:30 a.m. The public is welcome.
Reach for the stars The Sidewalk Astronomy Group of Manatee County will have a free star gazing event at the field north of Holmes Beach City Hall, 5801 Marina Drive, on Saturday, Nov. 29, at sunset (5:35 p.m. and lasting until 10 p.m.) The highlight of the evening will
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Red Cross needs you
city hall (permissible on Sundays) and along the beach just south of Bridge Street. For more information on the Bridge Street Merchants, or vendor space at the Market contact Market Manager, Melissa Enders, at melissaenders76@ gmail.com or 215-906-0668.
The American Red Cross in Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties has an urgent need for volunteers to help train people how to save a life and to assist local families who have lost their home to a fire or other disaster. Volunteer instructors help people learn lifesaving skills such as CPR and First Aid. Disaster Action Team volunteers assist families that have suffered house fires or other disasters with short-term places to stay and other immediate needs, such as getting temporary refills on medications. Volunteers also are trained to provide emotional support for these families. All volunteer applicants must pass a background check and attend an orientation class. All training is free. American Red Cross volunteers constitute 94 percent of the total workforce to carry out its humanitarian mission to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies. To register or for more information, visit www.redcross.org/fl/Sarasota/ volunteer.
Spread the joy at Beach Market
Meal deliverers needed
The Beach Market at Coquina Beach is collecting clothing, shoes and nonperishable food every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for those in need in the community. The market features unique arts and crafts and other items for one’s self or gift-giving. In addition, there is a farmer’s market for fresh fruit and vegetables and lunch is available at the Coquina Café, nearby. Local musician Owen Poteat will provide live music. The Beach Market is located near the trolley stop, at 2650 Gulf Drive S., with booths set up along the Coquina Trail. Manatee County does not allow dogs anywhere in Coquina Park. The market is stroller, walker and wheelchair accessible. Contact Nancy Ambrose for more information 941-518-4431.
Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee is asking for volunteer drivers, to help deliver hot meals to homebound seniors. The time needed to deliver meals is approximately 1 to 1 1/2 hours, from one day per week up to five. Meals are prepared at the Meals on Wheels PLUS kitchen at 811 23rd Avenue East in Bradenton and delivered by volunteers between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., Monday through Friday. For additional information about volunteering or any other Meals on Wheels PLUS programs, call 941-7474655 or visit www.mealsonwheelsplus. org.
Sweet Adelines perform
SUBMITTED
It’s time for the annual Christmas Delight, starring the harmonies of the Magic of Manatee Sweet Adelines with a special appearance by the Bayshore High School Music Department on Friday, Dec. 12, at 7 p.m. at Bayshore High Auditorium, 5401 34th St. W., Bradenton. Tickets are $10 for general admission seating. For tickets, call 941-722-9665.
be close up views of the first quarter moon. Other celestial objects will be observed through the telescopes as they become visible throughout the night. As always, the Sidewalk Astronomy event is free and open to everyone.
Chili contest on Bridge Street Chefs and connoisseurs, get ready for the Bridge Street Merchant’s Chili Challenge to be held at the Bridge Street Market, Sunday, Dec. 7, at 107 Bridge Street in Bradenton Beach. Restaurants and home cooks are being urged to enter this year. The first place winner will get a $100 Publix gift card. Market-goers will be able to taste all of the chili entries for a $8 donation. Proceeds will benefit the Anna Maria Island Community Center. Chili tasting occurs from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The market is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. There is no charge for entering a chili into the contest. More information and the required advance entry form are available at www.bridgestreetmerchants.com. The Tangled Mangos, a reggae/funk/jam band based in Bradenton Beach, will provide live music. Two more food challenges are scheduled at the Bridge Street Market early next year. Home chefs and pros alike will compete in the Mac and Cheese Challenge to be held Sunday, Jan. 4, benefiting Feeding Empty Little Tummies and the Chowder Challenge (not just clam) to be held Feb. 1, benefiting Moonracer No Kill Animal Rescue, Inc. To avoid traffic hassles and finding a parking spot, take the free Island trolley right to Bridge Street. Car parking options include the city lot behind the Bridge Street Bistro, up and down Bridge Street including by the city pier,
Story time at the library Children’s librarian Misty Wright will read stories on Tuesday, Dec. 2, at 10 a.m. Kids between toddler and five years of age are welcome as are their parents at the Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. For more information, call the library at 778-6341.
Mana-Tweens celebrate The Mana-Tweens Book Club will celebrate the holidays with a party at
SHINE Program needs volunteers The Florida Department of Elder Affairs and the West Central Florida Area Agency on Aging need volunteers to join the award-winning SHINE team to help the elderly make decisions on Medicare, health insurance and prescription drug plans. Volunteers may also make educational presentations to community groups and participate in local health fairs, senior fairs and other outreach and educational events. For more information, or to volunteer, call the Elder Helpline at 1-813-740-3888, ext. 5593.
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NOVEMBER 26, 2014
BEACH BEAT Anna Maria
11/20, 10:41 a.m., lost property, 300 block of Poinsettia Road. The owner reported his recycling canisters were missing.
Bradenton Beach
11/20, 11:31 a.m., disorderly conduct, 200 block of Bridge Street. Two men got into an argument over a woman and the fight ended up in the water before police could arrest the fighters.
Holmes Beach
11/9, 6:03 p.m., burglary, 500 block of 69th Street. The owners of the house returned to it after several months and found it had been burglarized. The burglar entered through a sliding glass door, opened a toolbox in the garage with nothing taken but a hunting trail camera was taken from the garage. Also taken were a change jar, heating elements off the stove and approximately 40 bottles of Tito’s Vodka from the kitchen, It also appeared the burglar adjusted the heat/air conditioning and used the toilet. 11/10, 9:30 a.m., driving with a suspended license (habitual), possession of drug paraphernalia, 200 block of 43rd Street. The officer stopped the driver because he was blocking traffic and found his license was suspended for 60 months. He was arrested and an inspection of his vehicle found drug equipment, resulting in additional charges. 11/11, 8:18 a.m., 8:18 a.m., burglary, 8300 block of Marina Drive. The homeowner returned from almost two months away and found her home had been burglarized with several items of great value missing including jewelry. The detective is investigating.
Obituaries Verna E. Snow Verna Evelyn Snow died at the age of 88 on August 25, 2014 , formerly of East Lansing and East Jordan/Boyne City, Michigan. Verna has been a full time resident of Anna Maria Island for over 25 years. Services will be held at Roser Church Chapel, 512 Pine Avenue, on Saturday, November 29, 2014 at 2:30 p.m. Verna will be interred at Sarasota National Cemetery, Sarasota, Florida.
6101 MARINA DRIVE, HOLMES BEACH
CINDY LANE | SUN
Cortez morning Among other things, “Finest Kind” can refer to a nice morning, a good meal, a Cortezian or a fishing boat.
Real estate transfers of September 2014 •Sponsored by Alan Galletto, Island Real Estate Source: Mid Florida Multiple Listing Service
Sold Date List Price Sold Price Property Address SFUA Lot Size Anna Maria 9/05/2014 399,000 330,000 608 Rose St 50 X 100 9/26/2014 524,900 505,000 512 Kumquat Dr 88.0x145.0 9/16/2014 649,000 625,000 106 Beach Ave 90.0x106.0 9/09/2014 525,000 475,000 9206 Gulf Dr 1492 50.0x110.0
Vac Vac Vac 3 br/2 ba SFR
Bradenton Beach 9/22/2014 324,900 9/24/2014 634,100 9/26/2014 219,900 9/04/2014 243,000 9/05/2014 599,900 9/10/2014 589,000
Income Property, REO/Bank Owned Income Property, REO/Bank Owned 2 br/1 ba Condo 2 br/ 2 Ba Condo 3 br/ 2.5 Ba Condo 2 br/ 2 Ba Condo
331,000 630,000 200,000 220,000 599,000 560,000
2413 Avenue C # A B 308 Gulf S Dr # 1 1325 Gulf N Dr 230 501 Gulf N Dr 112 105 10th N St 2312 Gulf N Dr 204
1680 2620 675 1128 2020 1180
250 X 250
Property Description
Sold Date List Price Sold Price Property Address SFUA Lot Size Property Description Holmes Beach 9/19/2014 575,000 540,000 7005 Gulf Dr # A 2303 7013 Income property 9/02/2014 375,000 340,000 208 Peacock Ln A & B 1738 92x88 Income property 9/05/2014 425,000 500,000 313 58th St A & B 1500 Irregular Income property 9/05/2014 539,000 300,000 311 58th A&B St A&B 2412 Irregular, Income property 9/05/2014 1,099,000 950,000 3302 6th Ave 1 3000 100.0x100.0 8 br/8 ba Income property 9/9/2014 269,000 255,000 3801 E Bay Dr 202 1146 2 br/2 Ba Condo 9/15/2014 280,000 257,500 403 39th St C 750 2 br/2 Ba Condo 9/04/2014 349,000 325,000 6500 Flotilla Dr 205 985 2 br/2 Ba Condo 9/15/2014 359,000 325,000 3801 E Bay Dr 209 1146 2 br/2 Ba Condo 9/02/2014 384,900 380,000 3404 Gulf Dr 5 1359 2 br/2 Ba Condo 9/15/2014 525,000 478,000 5200 Gulf Dr # 605 1169 2 br/2 Ba Condo 9/12/2014 510,000 510,000 508 70th St 1996 3br/2 Ba SFR 9/04/2014 539,900 551,000 503 75th St 1602 90.0x113.0 3br/3 Ba SFR, REO/ ank Owned 9/30/2014 649,000 600,000 662 Key Royale Dr 2766 4br/4 Ba SFR 9/29/2014 1,600,000 1,600,000 2810 Avenue E A 1680 4 br/2 ba SFR
NOVEMBER 26, 2014
FUN IN THE SUN
Across 1 Royals and Giants, e.g. 6 Tehran native 11 More, in Mexico 14 Top-drawer celeb group 15 "Say no __": peace slogan 16 Do something 17 Beer named for an American patriot 19 Attempt 20 Summer in Paris 21 Pass along 22 Kismet 24 Girl who found a wolf in her grandmother's clothing 27 Movie lioness 28 Temper tantrum during a flight 31 Toy soldier 34 Clock radio letters
Answers to 11-19-14 Crossword Puzzle.
35 PC memory unit, briefly 36 Responsibility 37 Barely beats 39 Hawaiian coffee region 40 Bus depot: Abbr. 41 Narrow cut 42 Worked in a shaft 43 Big shots 45 Birth announcement subject, about half the time 47 Monaco ruler married to Grace Kelly 52 Fabled Himalayan creature 53 Makes the first bet 54 Abbr. for a person with only one given name 55 In favor of 56 Pacific Northwest range, three of whose peaks end 17-, 24 - and 47-Across
THE SUN
59 Big flap 60 Continental coins 61 Skirt named for a letter 62 Darken at the beach 63 Iowa or Ohio, e.g. 64 Calls for Down 1 Shocking weapon 2 Bring great joy 3 Zeroed in 4 The Spartans of the Big Ten: Abbr. 5 Like operating rooms 6 Roma's country 7 Flying movie monster 8 Sports contest, to the visitors 9 '60s-'70s war zone, for short 10 1040, for one 11 Will Hunting portrayer 12 Farm measure 13 Pig's pad 18 Watch readouts, briefly 23 "__ b?": "Choose one" 25 Vintage autos 26 Swiveled joints 29 Trait transmitter 30 "Golly!" 31 "Gee!" 32 Gung-ho about 33 "Evita" role 34 FBI employee 37 SpaceX founder __ Musk 38 Period of strobe lights and the hustle
39 Brickmaker's oven 41 Certain Muslims 42 Med. diagnostic test 44 Old PC monitor 45 Rock 'n' roll musical
46 Writers McEwan and Fleming 48 Spaceship Earth site 49 Low-budget film, often 50 Improve, as text
51 Goes up 52 "Star Wars" sage 55 Chew the __: gab 57 Crude home 58 Bass in a glass
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ANNOUNCEMENTS ISLAND VIBE STUDIO Not Fine Art But Fun Art! Paint & Wine Parties No experience needed! www. islandvibestudio.com 941792-1000. 10109 Cortez Rd W BEACH YOGA ON Saturdays & Sundays at 8:30am at the end of Pine Ave by the Sandbar Restaurant by donation. www. thriveyogafit.com VOLUNTEERS NEEDED at AMICC. Help your community by giving of yourself. Various positions available. Call Sandee 941-778-1908 ext 0 THE BEST VOLUNTEER position on the island. The AMI Historical Museum needs docents and bread makers. Call Dusty at 941779-7688. ROSER FOOD BANK needs donations of cash and non-perishable food. Donations boxes are located at the Church, Moose Club, Walgreen's and The Anna Maria Island Sun Newspaper (corner of Gulf and Palm). OUR DAILY BREAD of Bradenton is looking for volunteer servers 9amnoon. Ask for Penny 941745-2992 TRANSFER ELIGIBLE COLLEGE Credits! Finish Your Degree Online! Financial Aid to those who qualify. Placement Assistance. Email transcript to startnow@sctrain.edu or call 800-852-0595.
AUCTIONS ESTATE AUCTION 3BR/3BA Pool Home, 9310 Biscayne Blvd, Miami Shores, 6pm, Dec. 2. Higgenbotham Auctioneers Int’l Ltd, Inc., ME Higgenbotham, FLLic#AU305AB158 10% BP. 800-257-4161, Higgen botham.com
BABY SITTER BABY SITTER. Honor student with own transportation. Experienced, References available. Call or text Amanda at 941-713-3219 RED CROSS CERTIFIED baby sitter. Honor student. Call or text Isabel 941-5457995
Call us today! 941-778-3986
BOATS: PARTS & SERVICES & SALES
COMMERCIAL SALES/ LEASES/RENTALS
BOATS ARE SELLING Very Well. Season is Early-Busy-Busy-Busy www.Islandboatsales. net We Also Buy Boats. 941-228-3489
ANNA MARIA CITY Gulf Drive Frontage Commercial 2 Lots 104x120 Real Estate only $1,200,000. Call Alan Galletto Island Real Estate 941-232-2216
BOAT SLIPS FOR RENT. Up to 60 feet. Two minutes to Intracoastal Waterway by Cortez, Parrot Cove Marina 941-795-0088
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES SAWMILLS FROM ONLY $4397.00- make & save money with your own bandmill- Cut lumber any dimension. In stock ready to ship. Free Info/ DVD: www.NorwoodSawmills.com 800-578-1363 Ext.300N
CARPET CLEANING QUALITY COUNTS. CARPET cleaning. Upholstery cleaning. Tile & grout cleaning. Island's favorite cleaner. Manatee Chamber Member. Great price/free estimates. Call 941-7561082
CLEANING SERVICE C & T HOUSEKEEPING. For all your cleaning needs. Free Estimates. Reasonable rates. Senior discount. References available. Call 941-9622512 LISA'S SUNSHINE CLEANING. Dependable, deep quality cleaning. References. Weekly & Bi-weekly available. Call Lisa 941758-8680
RESTAURANT/OFFICE/ RETAIL 1113 sf Kitchen Equipment include Gulf Drive Bradenton Beach $495,000 Call Alan Galletto Island Real Estate 941-232-2216 BAR/RESTURANT 2100 ft2 with lease, includes Liquor License, Furniture and Good Will $599,000 CALL ALAN GALLETTO Island Real Estate 941-232-2216}
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 GIRL FRIDAY Housekeeping, running errands etc. Call 941-7784451 IMMEDIATE OPENINGS Part time sales. Evenings/ weekends a must. Retirees welcome. Inquire at 727244-5906 LOCAL REAL ESTATE Company seeking experienced customer service rep. Monday-Friday 9-5. Submit resume to GBayer70@ gmail.com
CLEANING: RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL & RENTALS. "Have it done your way, we care about our work" Call 941-7564570
SALES ASSISTANT PART-TIME Busy office, strong communications skills, computer skills. Need to be flexible. Send Resume to PO Box 1394, Anna Maria FL 34216
PRESSURE WASHING AND WINDOWS residential, commercial & resorts. Roofs, buildings, houses, driveways etc. Call 941-251-5948
AIRLINE CAREERS START Here - Get FAA certified with hands on training in Aviation Maintenance. Financial aid for qualified students. Job placement assistance. Call AIM 866-314-5838
FURNITURE CUSTOM COASTAL FURNITURE & CABINETS by Frankie Z. ebay store. Call 941-726-1482. 10015 Cortez Rd (corner of 101st) frankiezaff@yahoo.com
NOVEMBER 26, 2014
GARAGE, MOVING, RUMMAGE & YARD SALES SALE NIKI’S! 5351 Gulf Dr, Holmes Beach. All Gold 60% off. All Sterling Silver jewelry 10% to 50% off. Select Gifts, Crystal, Books, Dolls, Miniatures, Vintage Jewelry, Perfume Bottles, Beach Art 35% to 80% off. New assorted soaps & essential oils, furniture. Open 7 days 9:30-5. ROSER THRIFT SHOP Open Tuesday and Thursday 9:30am - 2 pm. Saturday 10 am -1 pm. Annex open am same days. Donations accepted Wednesday 9 am. – 11am 511 Pine Ave., Anna Maria. Call 941-7792733 FLEA MARKET RADERS Reef parking lot. Sunday, November 30. 8am-? 5508 Marina Dr. Antiques, collectibles, jewelry, furniture, misc. items PALMA SOLA TRIFT Store. Thanksgiving Store Clearance Sale! Furniture, household, framed art. All your needs will be met to decorate your rental or home. 9516 Cortez Rd W (2 miles over bridge). 941-812-7679.
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 941-7250073. KERN CONSTRUCTION NEW Homes & Remodel. Design/Build. Since 1968. State License # CRC1327296. Call Jerry Kern 941-504-2222 www. kernconstructioninc.com SOUTHWEST HOME IMPROVEMENT Michigan General Contractor 30+ yrs. experience. Large or small projects. Budget minded knowledgeable tradesman will complete your project start to finish: On Time/On Budget. Call Mike 616-204-8822.
PAINTING INTERIOR/EXTERIOR. Clean professional service. Free Estimates. Call Wayne Lewin 941-7268414
HOME SERVICES HANDY MAN for HIRE. Worked all trades, no job to big. Satisfaction guaranteed. Free estimates. Call Arthur 941-518-8658 DRAIN CLEANING James VanFossen A.K.A. “RIP” Call 941-301-6077
LANDSCAPING & LAWN CARE
STRAIGHT SHOT LANDSCAPING. Save water, gas, maintenance fees and the environment! Shell your yard. $50/yd installed. Call Shark Mark 941-301-6067 R. GAROFALO’S Interlocking brick pavers, driveways, patios, pool decks. Free estimates. Licensed & Insured. Call Rafael 941-778-4823 or Veronik 941-526-7941 ELI’S IRRIGATION New install/repair. Pumps, pools, irrigation, landscape lighting and pressure washing. Call 941-580-2054 SHELL DELIVERED AND spread $50/yd. Hauling all kinds of gravel, mulch, top soil with free estimates. Call Larry at 941-795-7775, "shell phone" 941-720-0770
LOCKSMITH ISLAND LOCKSMITH, “Lock Around the Clock”. Licensed/bonded/insured. Call 941-778-1661 or 941713-4414
LOST & FOUND LOST CAT-Cream/Beige, short hair with light gray face and light green eyes. 16 years old and deaf. Last seen at Archer and Gulf Drive on 11/21. REWARD for her safe return. Call 813-909-3995 or 113 78th Street. FOUND GRAY CAT with white chin and paws Near Iris St in City of Anna Maria. Call 410-530-4923 FOUND PRESCRITION GLASSES Ralph Lauren corner of Manatee and East Bay, Holmes Beach. Call 419-769-1610
LOST GOLD PINKY ring with amethyst stone vicinity of Cortez Kitchen and Swordfish Grill. Call 941778-8359 LOST PANDORA BRACELET many charms. Great sentimental value. Call 518-365-2702 MISSING 18 INCH GOLD chain with diamond drop, sterling silver seed bracelet , location Blue Water Beach Club between 9/12 & 9/13/2013 heartbroken was gift from husband 45 years ago REWARD please call 863-668-8566 no questions asked
MOVING & STORAGE MARTIN’S MOVING YOUR Island movers! Offering dependable, competitive rates. No hidden costs. 941-809-5777. TWO MEN and a TRUCK. Movers who care. Local and Long distance. www. twomen.com Call 941-3591904. We sell boxes!
PAINTING & WALLCOVERING PAINT! PAINT! AND MORE 28 years of experienced interior/exterior custom painting. Pressure cleaning, drywall repairs and texture finishes. Many Island references. Please call Neil for free estimates. 941-812-0507 “WIZARD OF WALLS” Established 1980 Prompt quality service. Paperhanging/removal Faux finishes. Interior painting. Mary Bell 941794-0455 WALY PRECISION PAINTING custom painting, pressure washing, commercial/residential, interior/exterior, drywall/stucco, Licensed & insured. Call 941-448-1928 or 941-580-4005 www. WalyPrecisionPainting.com
PERSONAL SERVICES 51 YR YOUNG RETIRED RN. Med/health care management, housekeeping, meals, companion, errands. Current, unrestricted license. Honest. Quality care. Reliable. Credentials. Call 217-273-1647 SMALL ODD JOBS, yard work, walk dog etc. Call George 941-773-5518
NOVEMBER 26, 2014
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PERSONAL SERVICES THE TINT GUY." Commercial, residential, automotive, marine. Free estimates. All work guaranteed. Over 25 years experience. Mobile service available. Call 941-2012649
PET SITTING ANNA & LINDSAY’S Dog Walking. $5 per dog walked, $10 Dog wash. $20 for both plus play time. Contact 917-406-9554. Anna Maria Island Only.
PHOTOGRAPHY NEW AERIAL AMI PHOTOS. PhotosFromTheAir.com. email: photosfromtheair@ gmail.com or Call 941-7739834
POOL SERVICES FOUR SEASONS POOL SERVICE. Anna Maria Island & West Bradenton. Certified pool operator. Residential/ commercial. 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
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AMI VALET LLC Professional parking services. Restaurants, weddings, any & all special events. Insured & Licensed. Years of experience. Call 941-565-0137 AMIValet@gmail.com AT YOUR SERVICE Personal & Professional assistant. Great rates. References available "Let me do what you are unwilling or unable to do." Call Cindy 941-812-2238 zicker8@aol.com
Call us today! 941-778-3986
REAL ESTATE HOMES & CONDOS FOR SALE SPACIOUS 3BR/3BA Condominium rarely available in wonderful bay front complex with pool and tennis courts. Tastefully renovated to include newly tiled kitchen & family room with a peak of the bay and a split bedroom plan. Centrally located in Holmes Beach, with a short walk to shops. Ground-floor unit with covered parking and private storage. Family oriented and pet friendly. Offered at $450,000. Call Green Real Estate @ 941-7780455 CANAL FRONT, RECENTLY renovated 2BR/2BA villa w/dock. Near intercoastal w/no bridges. Great soon to be gated community. Pet friendly. Bradenton. Yes, you can have it all! $260,000 Katharine Pepper, RoseBay International 802-363-9973 FREE! What every REAL ESTATE BUYER or SELLER needs to know! Go to www.yourmar ketupdate.com for the latest market data. ELEVATED DUPLEX 2BR/1BA each side. Washer/dryer, dishwasher, tiled, 2 one car garages, covered patios. 2 blocks to beach, bay, pier, shops, cafes and bars. 204 2nd St N, Bradenton Beach $650,000. Call 941-741-1096 PERICO BAY CLUB VillaVery well maintained! $230,000. Runaway Bay – Light & Bright, Weekly rentals! $317,900. Call Kathleen today! 941773-0165 Island Real Estate McMANSION (but not exactly a Big Mac). 215 Chilson Ave. Everything you'd expect for $1,750,000. 4% to selling Realtor--you? We'll see. 4BR/3BA HOUSE on 71.5 acres with 18 stall horse barn in Parrish, Florida. Call Steve Georgie 941-321-6253 at Keller Williams Realty
RENTALS: ANNUAL 2BR/1BA GROUND LEVEL apartment in Triplex . Water, sewer, trash & gas included. $825/ momo $825 security deposit. Near St. Stephens in Bradenton 2BR/2BA home 1700 s/f water incl. W/D hook up new tile, new cabinets. Corner lot. Bradenton Credit & background required on all applicants over 18 . DUNCAN REAL ESTATE 941-779-0304 www. teamduncan.com ANNUAL RENTAL and CONDOMINIUM Association management serviced by (2) offices open 7 days a week! Contact kate@ islandreal.com – 941-3451295 - Island Real Estate of Anna Maria Island, Inc. Looking for a bright energetic Property Management Team? Call Amberly and Tracy at A Paradise 941-778-4800 to maximize your rental income.
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EXCEPTIONALLY NICE 2BR/2BA split plan. Minutes to beach. Large yard. Must See! Month to Month $1250/mo. Discount for Seniors Call 763-732-2455
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-$750/ wk Redekercondos.com 941-778-1915 WILLKOMMEN AUF AMI! Besuchen Sie Island Real Estate in einem unserer Inselbüros (6101 Marina Drive oder 419 Pine Ave) mit unserem deutschsprachigen Reservierungsservice und erhalten ein freies Island Real Estate Baseball Cap! Wir geben Ihnen gerne mehr Auskunft über unsere 250 ausgewählte Feriendomizile für Ihren nächsten Urlaub!
VACATION RENTALAVAILABLE Jan, Feb, Mar 2015. Holmes Beach 3BR/2BA Canal home with pool. $5600/mo + taxes/fees. Contact Fran Maxon Real Estate 941778-2307 for details. franmaxonrealestate.com
REAL ESTATE: OUT OF AREA COSTA RICA? BEAUTIFUL New 2BR 1500 sq ft home in private gated neighborhood on Costa Rica’s green coast. Quarter acre titled lot, walk to snorkel, surf, shop and eat. $239,000 Ask me: Anna Maria Realtor for 30 yrs. robinkollar@ gmail.com 941-713-4515
TRANSPORTATION AMI TAXI metered-on-callcards accepted. Airport services: Tampa $85, Sarasota $35, Clearwater $75, Fort Meyers $150, Orlando $150. Call 800-301-4816. amitaxi4u@gmail.com, www.amitaxi.com
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TOWN CAR SERVICES, All airports served. Local and Long distance services available. Call Glen 941225-0072
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