Anna Maria Island Sun September 6, 2017

VOL 17 No. 47

- Named Best Florida Newspaper In Its Class -

September 6, 2017

Restaurants, charter captains provide hurricane relief The Swordfish Grill will host another donation drive on Sept. 16 and 17. BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

CORTEZ – Last week the Swordfish Grill parking lot became the Cortez staging area for the relief efforts to assist Texans impacted by Hurricane Harvey. And the management and employees of Ed Chiles’ Sandbar, BeachHouse and Mar Vista restaurants on Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key conducted a similar donation drive that filled the company’s box truck.

Swordfish takes action

On Monday, Aug. 28, Swordfish Grill manager Adam Sears and local charter captains John Leiter and Nate Weissman discussed a relief effort that would include supplies and local boats being trailered to Texas. “When Adam called, I said let’s do it. In a fishing village like this, people think about helping their neighbors and this is an extension of that,” General Manager Bob Slicker said. On Tuesday, Aug. 29, Slicker posted a video on Facebook asking folks to bring supplies to the Swordfish Grill parking lot. joe hendricks | SUN

Volunteers helped sort and organize the donated items later loaded onto trailers.

Crowd tells FDOT what it wants Citizens may add their views by sending them to Marlon Bizerra, Project Manager, Florida Department of Transportation, P.O. Box 1249,Bartow, FL 33831 or email marlon.bizerra @dot.state.fl.us by Sept. 12. BY TOM VAUGHT SUN STAFF WRITER |tvaught@amisun.com

BRADENTON – The meeting hall at Kirkwood Presbyterian Church was packed with about 170 people Thursday night as the public got its final say

INSIDE NEWS OPINION Sun survey sean murphy outdoors real estate crossword classifieds

4 6 7 17 22-23 30-35 36 37-39

on the future of the Cortez Bridge. The current structure is a drawbridge with a 17.5-foot clearance and was built in 1956 along the route of an original wooden bridge to the Island. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has ruled the bridge is functionally obsolete because it only has two lanes and is made from materials not used in modern bridges. FDOT pared down a number of choices to three: a high-level, fixed span with a 65-foot high clearance; a mid-level drawbridge with a 35foot clearance; and a no-build repair see BRIDGE, page 35

Retired Holmes

Beach police officer Rob Velardi succumbs to cancer. 3

Anna Maria Island, Florida

see hurricane, page 32

Museum admits fault in Snooty’s death BY CINDY LANE SUN STAFF WRITER | clane@amisun.com

BRADENTON – Snooty the manatee drowned due to human error, including poor communication, deficient record keeping and lack of staff and volunteer training, South Florida Museum officials announced on Thursday. “It is with the heaviest of hearts that the board confirms that the findings show Snooty died as the result of a preventable accident,” John Quinlan, vice president of the museum’s board of trustees, told reporters Thursday.

Snooty drowned the night of July 22 or the morning of July 23 after his gala 69th birthday party, when he swam through a broken access panel leading to an underwater tunnel and became trapped, he said. After a museum-initiated investigation, “We came to understand that mistakes were made, specifically the aquarium staff were aware of the panel being askew or loose, or that it was missing screws as early as Sunday, July 16, a week prior to Snooty’s death,” said a tearful Brynne Anne see snooty, page 34

Hopefuls QUALIFY FOR HOLMES BEACH, BRADENTON BEACH ELECTIONS.

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BAYFEST celebration to remain

in Anna Maria. 12

The Island’s award-winning weekly newspaper

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SEPTEMBER 6, 2017

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SEPTEMBER 6, 2017

Island Time remembers BRADENTON BEACH – Island Time Bar and Grill and the Bridge Street Bistro host the seventh annual Never Forget 9/11 fundraiser Saturday, Sept. 9, from noon until 4 p.m. Proceeds from the annual fundraiser benefit the Manatee Emergency Services Memorial Fund. The fund assists local emergency personnel and their families and helps with the annual memorial event along the Bradenton Riverwalk. Last year's event raised $5,000. “It’s a great way to show our appreciation for the people that do so much for us. And Hurricane Harvey is a perfect example of first responders putting their lives on the line to rescue people," Island Time owner Bill Herlihy said. "That’s exactly why we do this: to make people aware of what they do for us, to thank them for what they do, and to raise funds for them.” This year’s fundraiser features the traditional all-you-

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Rob Velardi succumbs to cancer

file photo

First responders enjoy a free meal at the buffet at a previous fundraiser. can-eat buffet, complete with complimentary beer, wine and soft drinks. The buffet is free for active and retired firefighters, police officers, EMTs and military personnel and one guest. A valid ID that reflects past or present service is required. The general public can also enjoy the buffet that doubles as a fundraiser. Buffet tickets are $15 in advance and $20 the day of the event. Additional fundraising activities include a 50/50 raffle, door

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prizes and a silent auction. Those who pass on the buffet can still enjoy $2.35 Bud Lights, $4 house wines, $3 well drinks and $4 Malibu drinks. True Blue, a band consisting of local firefighters, will play. Never Forget is co-sponsored by Transatlantic Wines and Spirts, Budweiser and The Sun. Island Time is located at 111 Gulf Dr. in Bradenton Beach. For more information call 941782-1122.

Retired Officer Robert Velardi died Tuesday, Aug. 30. Velardi retired Jan. 2, 2017, after serving 30 years patrolling the streets of Holmes Beach. He was hired March 16, 1987. Velardi began having stomach pains in February 2015. They were finally diagnosed as pancreatic cancer. He was reassigned to the resource officer at Anna Maria Elementary School. After extensive treatment, doctors were unsure if they could cure him. His condition improved after surgery and they said the cancer was gone. Unfortunately, it returned. “Rob was a member

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Retired Holmes Beach policeman Rob Velardi with his wife, Angela. of our family and will be missed by all who knew him,” Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer said. "Please keep his family in your prayers.” A memorial visitation

was Friday, Sept. 1, and a celebration of his life was held on Saturday, Sept. 2. Condolences may be made to www. brownandsonsfuneral. com.

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ISLAND NEWS

in brief

Visit our website, www.amisun.com. Scan this code with your smartphone to go there.

Five qualify in Bradenton Beach ...

BY JOE HENDRICKS

Island cops to get Tasers

SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

Holmes Beach police officers will soon have another method at their disposal to subdue violent and otherwise dangerous suspects — Tasers. In a unanimous vote during the Aug. 23 meeting, commissioners approved a five-year lease for 16 Tasers for the exclusive use of police officers. The contract with Axon Enterprises represents a nearly $5,000 use of budgeted department funds each contract year. Included in the contract are the 16 weapons, accessories, supplies and maintenance for the devices.

BRADENTON BEACH – When qualifying ended at noon on Friday Sept. 1, five candidates qualified to run in the city election Chappie that will conclude on Tuesday, Nov. 7. Mayor Bill Shearon and Vice Mayor John Chappie will square off in the mayor’s race. Incumbent Ward 3 Commissioner Ralph Cole will be challenged by first-time candidate Shearon Randy White. Incumbent Ward 1 Commissioner Jake Spooner will run unopposed, which means he automatically wins a second two-year term in office.

FACC recognizes Holmes Beach city clerk Stacey Johnston isn’t just the city clerk at Holmes Beach, she’s also entering her second year as a district director with the Florida Association of City Clerks. During the Aug. 23 city commission meeting, Mayor Bob Johnson recognized Johnston’s accomplishment by reading a resolution from the FACC thanking her for all her hard work on behalf of the southwest district. The resolution also thanked the city for allowing Johnston to work with Johnston the organization. On behalf of the city, Johnson also thanked her for the work she does for the city. “Stacey and her crew are great,” Johnson said. “The stuff they do is the stuff you never hear about - most of the time. They just do a great job as a team.” “I thank the city, too, for allowing me the time to be away,” Johnston said. “It’s very rewarding,” she added, concerning serving as district director.

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Mayor’s race

Shearon is seeking his second full term as mayor. He returned to the mayor’s seat in Nov. 2015 after the tied mayor’s race between him and thenmayor Jack Clarke was settled by a tiebreaker that resulted in Shearon pulling a higher playing card than Clarke. Shearon’s first term as mayor was cut short by a special recall election loss in

May 2015. Before being elected to his first term as mayor in 2013, Shearon served as a city commissioner. Chappie returned to the city commission last Cole November after spending eight years as a Manatee County commissioner. Prior to his County commission tenure, Chappie served multiple terms as Bradenton Beach mayor, preceded by multiple White terms as a city commissioner. Because of his resign to run status, Chappie will vacate his current Ward 4 commission seat after the November election whether he wins or loses his bid Spooner for the mayor’s seat. The city commission will then appoint a new Ward 4 commissioner.

Ward 3 race

Cole is seeking his second term in office. As a city commissioner, Cole also chairs the Community Redevelopment Agency. He joined the commission in 2015 when he defeated incumbent commissioner Janie Robertson. He owns and operates the Coastal Water-

sports beachfront rental business that uses a longstanding lease agreement with Angela Rodocker and the Silver Surf resort. White has lived in Bradenton Beach since 2013. He is a commercial pilot for American Eagle, a subsidiary of American Airlines. He also owns rental properties in Holmes Beach and Tampa. White has no previous experience serving on a city commission, board or committee. When asked why he’s seeking a commission seat, he said, “To ensure decisions at city hall are first and foremost for the residents’ best interests and by the residents, not by decree.” Voting in the two contested races will be begin in early October, when vote by mail ballots are sent to voters who request them.

Spooner unopposed

Spooner joined the city commission in 2015 after running unopposed for the Ward 1 seat vacated by Clarke. When asked about serving a second term, Spooner said, “I truly feel privileged to serve the city of Bradenton Beach for another two years. We have been working on a lot of important issues and I look forward to seeing them come to fruition. I also look forward to the facing the unknown challenges ahead of us.”

... and five more in Holmes Beach BY KRISTIN SWAIN

Openings on historic preservation board

SUN STAFF WRITER | kswain@amisun.com

Manatee County Government has put out a call for two positions on the historic preservation board, a citizen’s advisory committee that makes decisions regarding Manatee County’s “archaeologically, historically and aesthetically significant sites, districts and zones.” Applicants must be registered voters in the county and they should have knowledge of archaeological, historical or architectural development, or a deep concern for the preservation, development and enhancement of historic resources in the County. The five-member board meets a minimum of four times per year. Members serve four-year terms. Applications are due by September 8, 2017, and may be found online at www.mymanatee. org/advisory_boards. Contact Bobbi Roy at (941) 748-4501 ext. 6878 or bobbi.roy@mymanatee. org. for more information.

HOLMES BEACH — It’s almost election time again, and for the first time in three years, Holmes Beach voters will get to voice their opinions in the race for commissioner. At the close of candidate qualifying, noon Friday, Sept. 1, five candidates emerged. Going on the November ballot are four of the candidates. Incumbents Pat Morton and Carol Soustek are vying for one of three open seats with residents Jim Kihm and Rick Hurst. Commissioner Marvin Grossman is the only candidate to qualify for a one-year term. As the only candidate, Grossman automatically regains his seat on the commission for a single year. The seat is up for re-election in 2018. The quick turnaround corrects the seat's twoyear election cycle. Previously, Grossman was up for

re-election in 2016 but failed to qualify due to an application error. Instead of using a check from a campaign account, he used a personal one to Morton pay the fees to qualify. His fellow commissioners reappointed him to the seat for a one-year term expiring in November. With three two-year commission seats open Soustek and four candidates, voters must choose at the polls. The top three candidates after polls close receive the three seats. Not joining the incumbents seeking re-election Kihm is Commissioner Jean Peelen. Due to health, personal and political issues, Peelen

withdrew her candidacy. Instead, she’s supporting Jim Kihm as a potential successor. “Jim is smart, ethical and totally committed Hurst to maintaining Holmes Beach as a residential community,” Peelen's e-mail reads. In addition to supporting Kihm’s candidacy, Peelen thanked the community for its support over the years. Grossman “It has been an honor to serve over the last six years,”she said. “I will continue, as a civilian, to try to save this community we all love from becoming Disney West.” Holmes Beach residents go to the polls Nov. 7. For more election information or to register to vote, visit the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections.

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SEPTEMBER 6, 2017

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Charter amendments in limbo The Supervisor of Elections says the ballot questions must be accompanied by a city ordinance or resolution. BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH – Mayor Bill Shearon has called a special commission meeting to address legal and procedural issues on three charter amendment ballot questions proposed by the Concerned Neighbors of Bradenton Beach (CNOBB). The meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 6, at 11:30 a.m. Shearon called the special meeting in response to a letter City Clerk Terri Sanclemente received from Supervisor of Elections Mike Bennett on Thursday, Aug. 31. Bennett’s letter references letters from CNOBB attorney Bob Hendrickson and City Attorney Ricinda Perry and their differing legal opinions. Perry believes the proposed ballot questions need to be accompanied by a city approved resolution or ordinance. Hendrickson does not.

Bennett agrees with Perry. “My position as Supervisor of Elections is administrative in nature, especially in dealing with municipalities and their elections," Bennett said in his letter. "I do not have the authority to rule on any legal questions that have been posed. “I am bound by Florida Statute 101.161, which requires a resolution or ordinance from the city of Bradenton Beach directing me to place these issues on the ballot. Any resolution or ordinance must include the ballot title and summary as they are to appear on the ballot. Without a resolution or ordinance, I will not be able to put these proposed amendments on the ballot,” Bennett wrote. Friday, Sept. 1, was supposed to be the deadline to settle the issue, but Bennett gave the city an extra week to sort things out. During Wednesday’s special meeting, the commission will be asked again to vote on whether they feel the ballot questions and the petition initiative that helped produce them comply with the city charter and any other applicable laws. The commission vote will determine if Perry is directed to pre-

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

CNOBB attorney Bob Hendrickson and City Attorney Ricinda Perry disagree on the need for an ordinance or resolution to accompany proposed ballot questions. pare the resolutions or ordinances to be submitted to Bennett’s office by the close of business on Friday – a process that may be further complicated by the potential arrival of Hurricane Irma. In recent meetings, the commission voted once in opposition to the amendment questions and once in reluctant support of their inclusion on the ballot. The commission also maintains the

city’s right to pose a legal challenge to the amendments if adopted. At one point, the CNOBB members tentatively agreed to pursue the charter amendments through the city’s traditional charter review process, but they later reversed course on that decision.

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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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SEPTEMBER 6, 2017

Sun staff Publishers Mike Field Maggie Field

Editor/CEO Mike Field Layout Ricardo Fonseca Reporters Cindy Lane Tom Vaught Joe Hendricks Kristin Swain Columnists Louise Bolger Outdoors editor Rusty Chinnis Ad director Chantelle Lewin Ad assistants Chris Boniberger Sue Otto Classified ads Bob Alexander Graphics Elaine Stroili Ricardo Fonseca Web/Social media Jocelyn V. Greene Cindy Lane Accounting John Reitz Distribution Bob Alexander Tony McNulty Connor Field Contributors Pat Copeland Steve Borggren Sean Murphy Monica Simpson

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Rob Velardi remembered I attended the funeral services for Officer Rob Velardi on Saturday. Holmes Beach law enforcement showed respect to his passing honorably. The mayor of Holmes Beach, myself, former city commissioners Sandy HaasMartens and David Zaccagnino attended to show respect for this good person that protected our city for 30 years. Former Chief Romine and State Attorney Ed Brodsky attended. Former Assistant Chief Dale Stephenson attended and shared many stories about Rob's life with family and as an officer of Holmes Beach. Thank you to the elected officials and former colleagues that did attend to show respect for this person that laid his life on the line for Holmes Beach citizens. Carol Whitmore Holmes Beach

Let your voice be heard Island business owners and residents need to be aware that in the coming weeks, the Holmes Beach city commission will be creating the permanent ordinance to regulate chain/franchise and formula stores coming to the Island. There is currently a temporary moratorium in place through October 10 but it will most likely be extended a few more months while the permanent ordinance is created. The city planner has come up with a number of observations and recom-

Take The Sun Survey on Page 7.

mendations regarding the ordinance. We encourage you to read the suggestions and attend the commission meetings and let your voice be heard if you do not want additional chains, franchises and formula stores coming to the Island. The following are very important meeting dates: Wednesday, Sept. 6 - review of the ordinance; Tuesday, Sept. 12 - review of the ordinance; Thursday, Sept. 14 work session; Thursday, Sept. 26 first public hearing; Tuesday Oct. 10, second public hearing. Even if you don’t speak at the meeting, it’s crucial that you are aware what your elected officials are discussing and deciding regarding the future of chain and formula businesses in Holmes Beach. Our goal is to preserve what everyone loves about Anna Maria - the old Florida charm and mom and pop businesses. This is your opportunity to help craft the future look and feel of Holmes Beach. Please review the following website for the agendas and meeting dates - holmesbeachfl.org. Rebecca and Eric St. Jean Holmes Beach

Remove the canopies On Thursday, Aug. 24, the Holmes Beach city commission met to defend the placement of two large canopies installed over police and fire department boats in Watson Bayou. The canopies have obstructed the views of condo unit owners,

resulting in the depreciation of property values. The city commission thought it could obfuscate the issue by focusing on riparian rights rather than offering compelling evidence to prove it had not broken with Holmes Beach City Ordinance Sec. 66111, which prohibits the use of canopies. The city commission wasted $5,000 of taxpayer money trying to prove it had respected Florida’s riparian rights. The affected condo owners attended this meeting hoping to have an honest dialogue with city government. Instead they were met with an irrelevant and deceiving report on riparian rights by Leo Mills, who with the complicity of the city commission members quickly left the meeting following his presentation. No questions could be asked, which was convenient for a panel that did not want or could not produce answers. The supposedly democratic gathering was a farce. It is time for the city commission to recognize that its actions impeded the rights of the adjacent owners to a view of the water by installing illegal canopies. That is, illegal for regular citizens. This wrongful action by the city of Holmes Beach is subjecting the city to litigation and further embarrassment. Our message is simple: respect the public you serve and remove the canopies. Robyn Mary Kinkopf Westbay Point & Moorings Condo owner

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SEPTEMBER 6, 2017

PREVIOUS QUESTION: What do you think should be done with the Confederate

4%

Put it at Gamble Plantation in Ellenton.

4%

Anna Maria

Holmes Beach

9/12: Planning and zoning board meeting, 4 p.m. 9/14: City Commission meeting, first budget hearing, 6 p.m. 9/28: City Commission meeting, final budget hearing, 6 p.m. For information, call 7086130.

9/6: Planning Commission meeting, 6 p.m. 9/12: City Commission meeting, first budget hearing, 6 p.m. 9/14: City Commission work session, 6 p.m. 9/26: City Commission meeting, final budget hearing, 6 p.m. 9/28: City Commission work session, 6 p.m. For information, call 7085800.

10005 Gulf Drive.

Put it at the Veterans Monument Park by Bradenton Riverwalk.

Bradenton Beach 107 Gulf Drive N.

60%

Put it back where it was by the Historic Courthouse.

16%

Leave it in storage.

The sun survey is not a scientific poll and is used for entertainment purposes only.

THIS WEEK’S SURVEY How are you preparing for hurricane season?

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on the agenda

the sun survey

memorial in Bradenton?

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• Stocking up on water, batteries and canned goods. • Buying a generator. • Making reservations at Disney World. • Visiting the local purveyor of distilled spirits.

To vote, go to www.amisun.com or scan this code to vote by smartphone.

9/6: CRA meeting, 9:30 a.m. 9/6: Pier team meeting, 11 a.m. 9/7: Pre-bid meeting, 2 p.m. 9/7: CRA, first millage and budget hearing, 5:05 p.m. 9/7: City Commission millage and budget hearing, 5:30 p.m. 9/7: City Commission meeting, 6 p.m. 9/12: City Commission work session, 1 p.m. 9/13: Neighborhood work shop for Herb Dolan Park, 3:30 p.m. 9/13: Neighborhood work shop for Annie Silver Community Center parking lot, 4:30 p.m. 9/14: Department head meeting, 1 p.m. 9/21: City Commission meeting, noon. 9/21: CRA second millage and budget hearing, 5:05 p.m. 9/21: City Commission second millage and budget hearing, 5:30 p.m. For information, call 7781005.

Note: Events are free unless indicated.

September 6

View The Sun’s online edition at www.issuu.com/AnnaMariaIslandSun

Island-wide

9/11: Island Transportation Planning Officials meeting, Anna Maria City Hall, 2 p.m. 9/13: West Manatee Fire Rescue district commission board meeting, administration building, 6417 Third Ave. W., Bradenton, 6 p.m. 9/20: Barrier Island Elected Officials meeting, Anna Maria City Hall, 2 p.m.

Holiday Notice

City offices, Tingley Memorial Library and the Island Branch Library will be closed Monday, Sept. 4 for Labor Day. Trash and recycling pickup will follow the holiday schedule with pickups one day later than usual.

mark your calendar

Wednesday

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5801 Marina Drive.

Roser-Robics chair-based exercise class, Roser Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, 9:30 a.m. Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce September luncheon, The Ugly Grouper, 5704 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., $15 per member or $25 per prospective member. Gulf Coast Writers, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 12:45 p.m.

Thursday September 7

Boomer Boot camp, Roser Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, 9:30 a.m. One class, $15; five classes, $65; 10

classes, $100. Zumba and mat pilates for seniors, The Paradise Center, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, second floor, 10 a.m., $10 per class. Reserve to maryannbrady@ theparadisecenter.org or 941-383-6493. Knit and crochet, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 1 p.m. Oyster bagging event, Perico Preserve, 11700 Manatee Ave. W, Bradenton, 6 p.m. Reserve to 941-748-4501, ext. 6035 or email michelle. leahy@mymanatee.org.

Friday

September 8

Forty carrots, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m. SEE CALENDAR, PAGE 8

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mark your calendar Intermediate bridge session, The Paradise Center, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive, 2nd Floor, Longboat Key, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., $10, includes coffee and cookies. Reserve to maryannbrady@ theparadisecenter.org or 941-383-6493. Mahjong, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 11 a.m. Alzheimer’s caregiver support group, Island Branch Library 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 2 p.m. Sunset drum circle, Manatee Beach, 4000 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, 5 to 8 p.m.

Saturday September 9

Origami, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m. Wine making parts 1 and 2, The Folk School at Florida Maritime Museum, 4415 119th St. W., Cortez, 10 a.m., $75. Reserve to 941-7086120 or www.floridafolkschool.org.

Monday September 11

Social bridge games, Roser Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, noon.

Tuesday September 12

Preschool story time: Mr. Moon, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m. Candle making, The Folk School at Florida Maritime Museum, 4415 119th St., Cortez, 10 a.m.., $35. Reserve to 941-708-6120 or www.floridafolkschool.org. Computer class: Computer basics, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 2 p.m.

Beginner soap making, The Folk School at Florida Maritime Museum, 4415 119th St., Cortez, 1 p.m.., $35. Reserve to 941-708-6120 or www.floridafolkschool.org. Chess Club, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 4 p.m.

theparadisecenter.org or 941-383-6493. Mahjong, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 1 p.m. Sunset drum circle, Manatee Beach, 4000 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, 5 to 8 p.m.

Thursday

September 16

September 14

Boomer Boot Camp, Roser Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, 9:30 a.m. One class, $15; five classes, $65; 10 classes, $100. Zumba and mat pilates for seniors, The Paradise Center, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, second floor, 10 a.m., $10 per class. Reserve to maryannbrady@ theparadisecenter.org or 941-383-6493.

Wednesday

Friday

Roser-Robics chair-based exercise class, Roser Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, 9:30 a.m. Coloring Club, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, noon.

Intermediate bridge session, The Paradise Center, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive, 2nd Floor, Longboat Key, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., $10, includes coffee and cookies. Reserve to maryannbrady@

September 13

September 15

Saturday Ecofitness scavenger run, Robinson Preserve, 1704 99th St. NW, Bradenton, 8 a.m. International Coastal Cleanup kickoff, Coquina Beach Gulfside, 2650 Gulf Drive S., Bradenton Beach, 9 a.m. Reserve to amy.may@ mymanatee.org or 941-7425923, ext. 6044. The Southwest Florida Folk Forum, The Folk School at Florida Maritime Museum, 4415 119th St., Cortez, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., $25, includes lunch. Reserve to 941-7086120 or www.floridafolkschool.org. LEGO Excavation, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 2 p.m.

SEPTEMBER 6, 2017

Sunshine law on agenda Weather permitting, the 6 p.m., Thursday Sept. 7, Bradenton Beach Commission meeting will include discussion on consultants’ supervision and direction; clarification on Sunshine Law compliance for commissioners’ attendance at two alley clearing workshops on Sept. 13; discussion and direction on the 2017-18 state legislative session; final reading on the 90-day building moratorium extension; possible discussion on the formation of a charter review committee; approval of a five-year renewal with Data Ticket – the city’s collection agency for outstanding parking tickets; an update on a proposed procurement policy; and an update on employee handbook revisions.

Get to know The Center The Center of Anna Maria Island is partnering with Island Coffee Haus to host a series of informal community talks. Kicking off Sept. 8, the series, dubbed Coffee and Conversations, is a way for community members to get to know Center staff and have questions answered outside of the nonprofit’s walls. Staff also will be discussing new classes and programs coming to the Center for fall. Attendees will receive a free cup of coffee compliments of Island Coffee Haus. Conversations will take place from 8 to 11 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 8, Monday, Sept. 11, Friday, Sept. 22 and Monday, Sept. 25. All four events will be held at the Holmes Beach Island Coffee Haus location, 5350 Gulf Drive.

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SEPTEMBER 6, 2017

1014 9th St. W

Bradenton, FL

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Island deputies honored

open at 11AM EVERY DAY

WEEKLY EVENTS

mondays - weekly trivia night! • 7PM wednesdays – weekly karaoke night! • 8PM thursdays/sundays - weekly free texas hold’em poker! • 7pm / 3pm

LIVE MUSIC LINEUP (Never a cover charge!)

9/7 – scott curts (contemporary acoustic) • 6-10pm 9/8 – babyl band (alternative rock/contemporary) • 8-midnight 9/9 – Kim Betts & the gamble creek band (southern rock) • 8-midnight 9/10 – Sandi grecco (acoustic/reggae) • 3-7PM 9/12 – mil mel (solo/acoustic) • 6-1oPM

Manatee County Sheriff’s Office Deputies Patrick Manning and Matthew Kiernan are members of the contingency that patrols the city of Anna Maria. BY TOM VAUGHT SUN STAFF WRITER | tvaught@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA – It was a bittersweet honor for the two Manatee County Sheriff’s Office deputies who were first to respond to a drowning at a vacation rental. Sheriff Rick Wells named Patrick Manning and Matthew Kiernan Deputies of the Month for August. The tragic incident occurred July 11 when a woman found her 2-year-old daughter in the swimming pool and unresponsive. The child managed to open both a door and gate to get to the pool. Manning arrived at the

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From left to right: Manatee County Sheriff Rick Wells, Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy and deputies Patrick Manning and Matthew Kiernan at the awards ceremony in Bradenton. scene within two minutes of getting the call and started CPR. Kiernan joined him and they both worked on the victim until EMS arrived. Manning followed the ambulance to Blake Medical Center while Kiernan secured the scene and arranged for the mother to get to the hospital. In his announcement, Sherriff Wells praised the deputies’ knowledge of their zone, which produced the short response time.

“Despite the negative outcome of the incident, there clearly could not have been a faster, more professional response,” Wells wrote. Manning said the honor was “bittersweet” and he wants the public to know they have the full force of the sheriff’s office when needed. Manning has been a law enforcement officer for 32 years while Kiernan has worn a badge for 18 years.

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New option for contesting Holmes Beach parking citations Holmes Beach commissioners unanimously passed the first reading of a new ordinance that will allow people receiving parking tickets to contest them at a special magistrate hearing. The decision comes after Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer re-

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ceived a letter earlier in the year from the Manatee County circuit court stating that body would no longer hear the Island city’s parking citation cases. Tokajer said only about four cases in over two years have gone to court. With each parking citation accompanied by a photo taken by officers of the vehicle parked illegally, Tokjaer said few drivers choose to pursue the mat-

ter beyond his office. However, the city is required to provide one in the event the recipient of a citation chooses to dispute it.

Stormwater workshops set Bradenton Beach residents are invited to attend one of two neighborhood workshops on the upcoming stormwa-

SEPTEMBER 6, 2017

ter improvement affecting city-owned alleys and rights of way from 22nd Street North to 26th Street North, between Gulf Drive and Avenue A. The first workshop will be on Wednesday, Sept. 13 at 3:30 p.m. at Herb Dolan Park. The second workshop will take place that same day at 4:30 p.m. in the Annie Silver Community Center parking lot.

SEPTEMBER 6, 2017

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Building official reinstated Failure to comply with FEMA guidelines could expose city property owners to higher flood insurance rates. BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA – Suspended Building Official Jimmy Strickland received a unanimous vote of confidence from the City Commission on Wednesday, Aug. 30 and returned to work that day. Mayor Dan Murphy suspended Strickland the week before for issuing a building permit to builder Frank Agnelli without requiring the mandatory Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) appraisal. Agnelli was contracted to do significant renovations to a home at 417 Spring Avenue and FEMA’s substantial improvement rule states improvements made to an existing structure cannot exceed 50 percent of its market value. The issue arose when builder Spiro Paizes sent Murphy a letter on behalf of Jeffrey Young, a neighboring property owner who was denied a building permit for similarly significant renovations. Paizes’ letter alleged Agnelli’s work exceeded FEMA allowances and accused the city of giving him special privileges. Murphy told the commission Strickland also failed to provide Paizes with Agnelli-related construction documents he sought in a public records request. Because the building official is one of the city’s charter officials, Murphy asked the City Commission to decide if Strickland was to continue working for the city.

joe hendricks | SUN

Suspended Building Official Jimmy Strickland explains his error to city commissioners. Much of the work done to this home at 417 Spring Ave. was done before a mandatory FEMA appraisal was submitted to the city.

He asked the commission to consider four points: Strickland’s intent; the resulting consequences; the city’s expectations of its building official; and Strickland’s overall work history. Murphy said Strickland was wellliked by city staff, gets along well with contractors and has a good track record with the city, but he dislikes being the bad guy when it comes to denying permits and enforcing city codes. Murphy said the city places high expectations on the building official, who is the city’s highest paid employee at approximately $140,000 per year. Murphy said the property was inspected 14 times with no mention of a FEMA appraisal. Murphy said Agnelli has now provided the city with a FEMA appraisal and it complies with the substantial improvement rules. Commissioners Brian Seymour and Nancy Yetter said every builder and contractor who does business in Anna Maria knows the

FEMA appraisal is a mandatory part of the permitting process. Murphy said Agnelli was issued a stop work order that was to remain in effect until the matter was resolved. Seymour said he drove by the house on his way to the meeting and work was still being done. Murphy said Agnelli’s attorney stated the project would suffer collateral damage if the work stopped at this juncture. “I can live with any decision you make,” Murphy said of Strickland’s fate. Commissioner Dale Woodland asked how the permitting failure happened and if it could happen again. Murphy said former Public Works Director George McKay now reviews a permitting checklist for each project. This practice was implemented after Agnelli pulled his permits, but before this issue came to light. Strickland said it would be nearly impossible for something like this to

happen again. “It sounds like you’re basically saying ‘I screwed up,’” Woodland said. “It’s just that simple,” Strickland responded. Commissioner Doug Copeland expressed concern that a citizens’ public records request was not fulfilled and he requested the commission’s vote of confidence stipulate that Strickland must attend ethics and Sunshine Law training on his own time and at his own expense. The commission also insisted on additional FEMA compliance training. Strickland was told another mistake like this would not be tolerated and he agreed with the commission’s stipulations. Strickland was instructed to remove the stop work order and Murphy said he would meet separately with Agnelli and Young in hopes of bringing closure to this matter.

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Bayfest not leaving Anna Maria The 17th Annual Bayfest is scheduled to take place on Pine Avenue Saturday, Oct. 21.

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BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA – Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy wants it known that the annual Bayfest celebration is not moving to Bradenton Beach. Hosted by the AMI Chamber of Commerce, the 17th annual Bayfest is scheduled to take place on Pine Avenue, in Anna Maria, on Saturday, Oct. 21 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. On Aug. 10, the Anna Maria City Commission approved the special events permit chamber president Deb Wing applied for. According to Murphy, Bradenton Beach Mayor Bill Shearon told county officials Bayfest was moving to Coquina Beach in Bradenton Beach. Murphy said this occurred during a meeting the three Island mayors had with County Administrator Ed Hunzeker and Tourist Development Council Executive Director Elliot Falcione. On Aug. 28, Murphy addressed Bayfest in an e-mail sent to Hunzeker, Falcione, Shearon, Wing and Holmes Beach Mayor Bob Johnson. “Just as a point of clarification for plan-

SEPTEMBER 6, 2017

FILE PHOTO | SUN

The classic car show is one of the many highlights of the annual Bayfest celebration. Bayfest also offers attendees a wide variety of food options.

ning purposes going forward and contrary to what was reported today at our meeting: There are no desires, plans or discussions being held to move Bayfest from the city of Anna Maria to Bradenton Beach. On the contrary, both the city and the Chamber of Commerce have worked closely together to keep the annual festival in the city for the foreseeable future,” Murphy wrote.

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Franchise ordinance in effect A formula/franchise business operation is defined in part as having three or more locations worldwide. BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA – The city of Anna Maria now has a formula retail, aka franchise, ordinance in place. Adopted on second and final reading on Aug. 24, Ordinance 17831 says, “Formula retail establishments and formula commercial establishments are prohibited in the city limits. No development order shall be issued for the purpose of development or development activity furthering the establishment of a formula retail or formula commercial establishment.” The ordinance defines formula/ franchise establishments as those that have three or more other retail or commercial establishments in operation or already approved for operation anywhere in the world. A formula/franchise operation is

further defined as a business that maintains two or more of the following features: a standardized array of merchandise; a standardized building façade; a standardized décor and color scheme; uniform apparel; standardized signage; a trademark; or a service mark. Inspired in part by franchise related issues in Holmes Beach, the Anna Maria City Commission enacted a temporary moratorium in July to tide the city over until the permanent ordinance was in place. “The city is particularly attractive to both residents and visitors due in part to having a non-commercialized Old Florida atmosphere where there are virtually no national chain type establishments that are typical to most commercial areas nationwide. This trait is an important part of the city of Anna Maria’s charm, positive image and desirability to residents and visitors alike,” the adopted ordinance states. “The city’s commercial/retail

establishments are made up primarily of small, locally unique establishments. The potential of formula retail establishments locating in the city poses a genuine threat to the city’s established character and the economic health of its commercial and residential districts. The regulation in this article is the only solution that will adequately protect the economic viability of the city’s commercial areas,” says the ordinance drafted by City Attorney Becky Vose. The Aug. 24 meeting featured no additional comments by the commissioners or the public, and the final vote was 3-2 in favor of its adoption. Commissioners Carol Carter, Dale Woodland and Nancy Yetter voted in favor it and Doug Copeland and Brian Seymour voted against it. Bradenton Beach is now the only one of the three Island cities that does not have a franchise/formula retail ordinance, and there has been no significant commission discussion about enacting one.

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ANNA MARIA ISLAND — Changes are coming to the steering committee for the Sarasota/ Manatee Barrier Island Traffic Study. Rather than having one representative, the new incarnation of the steering committee has a representative from each of the three Island cities. Previously, the only Island voice on the committee was Holmes Beach Mayor Bob Johnson. City Engineer Lynn Burnett will serve as the representative from

either Bradenton Beach or Anna Maria. Currently, she also serves as the engineer to all three Island cities. Burnett will help choose the representative for whichever city is left without representation. In Holmes Beach, the new representative is Police Chief Bill Tokajer, who accepted the appointment from Burnett and Johnson. The steering committee assists the Florida Department of Transportation in running the Island traffic and congestion study. Currently, the study is in the early data collection phase on Anna Maria Island, Longboat Key and St.

Armand’s Key. Along with FDOT, committee members help guide the study as it progresses. Committee tasks include making sure Stantec, the company contracted to conduct the study, meets all requirements in the scope of work. The original committee planned to meet earlier in the year. Due to scheduling, communication and notice of meeting issues, the committee failed to take off. Committee meetings, complete with new members, resume in the fall, potentially as early as October.

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Camping prohibitions in the works The proposed ordinance will provide the city with a written prohibition pertaining to unauthorized camping and sleeping on beaches and at other public places. BY JOE HENDRICKS

SUN CORRESPONDENCE | jhendricks@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA – The city of Anna Maria is working on a camping ordinance that will primarily address homeless and housing challenged people sleeping in public places, including beach areas. Ordinance 17-834 was presented on first reading at the Anna Maria Commission’s Aug. 24 meeting. The ordinance will be presented for final adoption on Sept. 14. The ordinance defines camping as sleeping or being in a temporary shelter out of doors at any time between 11 p.m. and dawn; or sleeping out of doors at any time between 11 p.m. and dawn; or cooking over an open flame or outdoor fire at any time, except in a location specifically authorized for such cooking by the appropriate government authority. The ordinance states that camping is also prohibited on all property in the city used for residential purposes, however camping is permitted with the permission and consent of the property owner. “In the event that a person is found to be camping il-

• • • • • • • • • • • •

TIP-OFFS TO POTENTIAL RIP-OFFS

If you must act now, the offer is probably to good to be true. You pull the permits? - NO Solici ng door to door – “Just finished a job down the street”- NO Unmarked vehicle – NO No physical address for the office/shop – NO Be sure the contractor’s phone number is listed in your local directory. Discount as your’s is a “demonstra on home” – NO Pay everything up-front for a discount? – NO Ask to see your contractor’s license and check with the FL Dept of Business & Professional Regula on to verify. Check with your neighbors and friends – Have they used this contractor before? Don’t be afraid to ask for references. Ask for proof of insurance, both General Liability (to protect your property) and Workers Compensa on (to cover anyone who would get hurt on your job). Get an es mate/proposal in wri ng. Make sure it specifies work to be performed.

joe hendricks | SUN

Overnight camping and sleeping will soon be formally prohibited on beaches and other public places, including this stretch of beach at Bayfront Park. legally and volunteers that he or she has no other place to live, he or she should be informed of alternative shelter available in Manatee County,” the ordinances states. When asked about the ordinance’s impetus, Mayor Dan Murphy said there was recent incident on the beach near Bean Point where a deputy asked a couple people who appeared to be sleeping there to leave the area. According to Murphy, these people told the deputy there was no law on the city’s books that prevented them from doing so, hence the request for the new ordinance.

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Changes afoot for Holmes Beach LDC BY KRISTIN SWAIN SUN STAFF WRITER | kswain@amisun.com

It’s been more than eight months in the making, but the land development code changes suggested by the city planning commission are receiving approval from Holmes Beach commissioners. In a unanimous vote Aug. 23, commissioners approved the first reading of an ordinance to provide minor alterations to the LDC. The changes include adding definitions for a night club and stand-alone bar, and adding wildlife, natural and conversation areas to allowable uses in the recreation district. All uses in the recreational district will be subject to site plan review if the ordinance passes a second reading and vote.

Another change is clarifying site plan approval for all permitted uses in the C-3 district and special exception uses in the C-1 and C-2 zoning districts. Also clarified is the allowable resort housing, or units per acre, in the mixed use district. The ordinance also governs the maximum allowable density for resort, residential and transient units in the MXD, along with parking and driveway requirements. Another provision is to allow intermittent grass parking for nonresidential and other uses. The ordinance now goes back to the planning commission during the Sept. 6 meeting to determine consistency with the city’s comprehensive plan. A second public hearing and vote will be held after planning commissioners submit their opinion to city commissioners.

REBECCA KAVANAGH | SUBMITTED

Airborne A dolphin takes to the air while riding the wake from Dee Brady's boat Voyager.

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Tequila Madness BY SEAN MURPHY SPECIAL TO THE SUN

I

t was a long time ago. It had been an evening of bad decisions. The first bad decision had been to drink tequila. Salt-tequila-lemon, salt-tequila-lemon, salt-tequila-lemon. As is often the case with tequila, we lost count. We were in a bar with a rock band that featured a piano player. The tequila had convinced me that I was in love with the beautiful fiancé of the piano player. I was not just smitten, I was consumed. I asked her to marry me. She wouldn't. She explained that she really was in love with the piano player and was going to marry him. My heart was breaking. Piano guy approached. She stood

to introduce me. She was much taller than me, which was also a blow. I told piano guy that I was desperately in love with his fiancé and I was certain that eventually I would win her over. My friend Val was my wingman. Val had also consumed a great deal of tequila but he was a helluva wingman. He took my arm and urged me toward a bar around the corner. He said we should go there and drink more tequila. I told the new love of my life that I would return. We stepped out into the dark night. The bright flash of an electric street car blasted white in a huge mirror perched high up on a telephone pole. It was a sign. The mirror was one of those enormous bus mirrors that they put way up on telephone poles so that bus drivers can see around the corner. I needed that mirror. If I could rip that mirror off that pole and bring it to my new true love I could steal her heart. Piano guy who.

A tequila minute later I was three stories in the air with my feet planted on the pole’s pegs and my two hands wrenching on the upper corners of the mirror. I was working all my weight back and forth to work the gigantic mirror free of the pole. Wingman Val had secret desires to be a fireman. Some fool had already taught him the fireman’s carry. That’s the one where the fireman has you on his back and is gripping your wrist and foot in one hand leaving the other hand free to scale ladders and telephone poles. Val was climbing up the pole to get me. “Don't worry Murph, I’ll save you. I’ll bring you down with my fireman carry.” The image of Val fireman-carrying me down from thirty feet, freed my consciousness from the grips of tequila madness. “No, no, no, no. It's OK, Val. I can climb down. I am climbing down right now. I don’t need the damn mirror. She's

not worth it. I can live without her. To hell with her and her damn piano player.” We made it down the pole. The experience changed us. We changed from tequila shooters to tequila sippers. Scientists maintain that there is nothing in the biochemical makeup of tequila to justify its reputation as a fountain of madness. They are adamant that it is not the biochemistry of tequila that creates any particular mental chaos. It is just the fact that it is often gulped too rapidly from shot glasses. The scientists say that when fools decide to drink an excess of tequila it is preordained that they will turn into merry pranksters. The scientists are also earnest in their claims that there is nothing in absinthe that makes you see green fairies and that there is nothing in tequila margaritas that makes you see green flashes at sunset. Madness. I wonder what they are drinking.

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“… The Center gave us a sense of community. Without The Center we would not still live here” Sean McCarthy

“My kids starting coming to The Center to play t-ball when they were 5/6 years old and my son’s been playing here and still plays here in adult flag football. It’s a great place for everything.” Gabe Buky

“They look forward to (coming to The Center) everyday, like I did as a kid.” Janae Rudacille “I don’t know if we could live without The Center activities.” Gabriella Gilbert age 10

“I enjoy being able to give back to The Center- a place that I called my second home as a kid.” Jake Parsons “I like that all my friends come here to play and that they have sports. If it wasn’t for The Center I wouldn’t be here right now.” Fiona McCarthy age 9

“I like all the fun activities we do at The Center.” Makena Corr age 8

SPECIAL THANKS to all our 2016-17 Supporters KEMP’S RIDLEY: Dine on Pine, Sato Real Estate, Selby Foundation

HAWKSBILL: Agnelli Pools & Construction, Air & Energy Air Conditioning & Plumbing, Anna Maria Island Resorts, Anna Maria Vacations, Tina & Ed Chiles, City of Bradenton Beach, City of Holmes Beach, Rex Hagen, Christine Hicks, Richard LaRoche, Charles & Joey Lester, Manatee County Board of County Commissioners, Mason Martin LLC, Sam Pakbaz, Mary Parker, Pittsburgh Pirates, Blair Schlossberg LEATHERBACK: Abrahamson & Uiterwyk, Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce INC, LaPensee Plumbing, Bill Shuman, The Bradenton Rotary Foundation GREEN: Acqua Aveda Salon, Frank Agnelli, Anna Maria Island Sun, Anna Maria Oyster Bar, Atlantic Coast Realty Advisors, Beacon Design, Blake Medical Hospital, Blalock, Walters, Held & Johnson, PA, Jayne Christenson, Michael Coleman, Gino & Luciana Diclemente, Eason Builders Group EBG, Kelly French, James Froeschle, Billi Gartman, Stephen A. Gorman, Clint & Karla Hurdle, Island Players, Jiffy Lube, Lancaster Designs, Patricia McBean, Moss Builders, Debbie & Mark Overstreet, Dave & Deb Pate, Joan Pettigrew, Philly Guys LLC, Planet Stone, Poppos, Progressive Cabinetry, Sarasota Dumpster Rental, The Motorcoach Store, Mike Thrasher, TitleMark, PLLC, Truly Nolan of America, Sarah and Ronald Tucker, Terry and Sandra Tucker, Tucker T & S Family Foundation, Lawrence Twill, Rob Alderson Tylers Homemade Ice Cream, Tyler's Ice Cream, Carl Voyles, Wash Family Construction, INC, Randy Zion LOGGERHEADS: AMI Accomodations INC, Steven Bark, Beach Bistro, Beach Bums, Bins Be Clean, Bob Boast Dodge, Chapae, LLC, Phil Dieffenbach, Eat Here, Gulf-Bay Realty, Jessica Holiday, Island DTiscount Tackle, Jessie's Island Store, Ross Built LLC, Sean McCarthy, Rainbow Tropicale LLC, Restless Natives, Ross Built, Lindsay Sauls, D&C Enterprises LLC Smoothie King, HATCHLINGS: 3 Keys Brewing and Eatery, Joanna Abbott, Erik Abrahamson, Abraham Alfonso Abreu, Amy Agramonte, American Beauty Pools, AMI Beaches Real Est. LLC, Daniel Anderson, Susan Anderson, Nancy Andrews, Anna Maria Island Beaches RE LLC, D'Apice AnnMaria, Colin Astete, Ben Azerli, Cindy Baetzel, Meghann Bankhert, George Barford, Steven Bark, Anthony Bartirome, Robert Baugh, Beach House Real Estate, LLC, Rowen Beals, Nikki Bekkerus, Robert Bell, Jeffery Berkson, Josh Bernet, Robert Bishop, Blue Lagoon Landscaping, Bowes Imaging Center, Scott Boyd, Lisa Brakefield, Breiter Capital Management, Richard Brown, Joshua Brownell, Charles Buky, Progressive Cabinetry, Anthony Cabrer, Charles Canniff, Brian Carter, Haily Cavalluzzi, Lawrence Cavalluzzi, Suzanne Chandler, Larry Chatt, Rhea Chiles, Neville Clarke, Rick Cloutier, Natalie Coleman, Nate Coleman, Patrick Coleman, Chris Collins, Dennis Combs, Corporate Giving Program, Chirs Culhane, Jason Cushman, D Coy Ducks Bar and Grill, Timothy Daniels, Kimberly Dean, Scott Dean, Doug Delong, Eric Delong, Jeffrey Dentz, Carol DeShutter, Valera Doerr, Olga DoPietro, Marion Duncan, Anthony Dunfee, Marueen Dunn, James R. Dunne, Delaney Dye, Easel Aid, Chris Edgens, Wendy Ellis, Loretta Estabrooks, Jackie Featherston, Margarita Fernandez, Merritt W. Fineout, Dina Franklin, Fun & More Rentals, Mary Gallagher, Duncan Gary, Ginger Grapefruit & Rosemary, Gnarly Mangrove, David Golder, Stephanie Grant, Michele Grilli, Deborah Grotz, Norman Hager, Nelson Hahn, Rush & Susan Haines, Paul Hakula, Harbor Management Services, Karenn Harllee, Harry's Grill Inc., James Hassett, Jr., Erin Heckler, Paula Hellige, Stu Henderson,Thomas Hibert, HIcks Whiteside, P.A, Jessica Hill, Eloise Hirschey, Adrienne Holm, Lynn Horne, Barbara Hughes, Gordon/ Sally Hurlbert, Hurricane Hanks, Rick Hurst, Kevin Hutchison, Shelley Hutchison, IBM Employee Services Center, Harold & Diane Ice, Island Real Estate, Island Yoga Space, Robert L. Johnson, Heidi Johnston, J. Ann Jones, Peggy Jude, Jesse Kaba, Jennifer Kaleta, Ronald & Rita Karns, Paul Kelly, Mark Kimball, Larry & Betty King, Robyn Kinkopf, Jiles Kirkland, Katherine Kole, John Kolojeski, Kona Ice, Olaf Krause, Lynn Kravontka, Adam Ksiazek, George Kyd, Stephen Lamastra, Assunta Lamastro, Ourania Lardas, Ralph Lavandera, Jennifer Leikensohn, David Leising, Kristen Lessig, Madeline Lessig, Angela Lester, Raymond Leuthold, Susan Little, Eyal Livnat, LLR Inc., lizabeth Ludwig, Eddie Lynam, Richard Macey, Linda & Scott MacGregor, Shard Margie & Tony, Margaret McCarthy, Chuck McCracken, Karen McDonald, Andrea McGinnis, Richard Meyer, John Miller, Maureen Milord, Dave Miner, Virginia Minish, Drew Mitchell, Gerald Mitchell, Mark Mitchell, Reba Moeller, John Monetti, Richard Morris, Emily Moss, Martin Mossakowski, Barbara Murphy, Network for Good, Carol Newman, Brenda O'Brien, Michael & Kathryn O'Connor, Brooke Olson, Pete & Sara Paciorek, Julie Pakbaz, Gerald Pare, Linda Patneaude, Chris Patton, Carl Pearman, Emilia Pearson, Thomas S. Petcoff, Steve and Patti Peterson, Robert Petrolli, Cynthia Phillips, Diane Phinney, Joseph Pignotti, Kevin Pikus, Daniel Pimental, Dale Powers, Marcia Powers, Katherine Primeau, Kathy Prucnell, Sandee Pruett, Publix Super Markets Charities, Inc., Barbara Quinn, Sissy & Tom Quinn, Dannie Raines, Betty Ramsey, Monica Reid, Andre Renard, Shawn Rhoton, Jeff & Jane Richardson, Joe Rogers, Jack Rose, Christine Rudacille, Scott Rudacille, Ann & Don Rully, Thomas Rushmore, Jeanne Ryan, Salon Salon of AMI, Tom Sanger, Benjamin Sato, Jason Sato, Dennis Schavey, Wilbur Schenerlein, Margaret Scott, Sea Smoke Smokehouse, Searenity Spa&Boutique, Brian Seymore, Sandy Shahinian, William Shatz, Mike & Beth Shaughnessy, Darrel Shinn, Sue Shinn, Brian Shook, Silicon Valley Community Foundation, Tiffany Simon, Chris Smargisso Slim's Place, Heidi Smith, Lacy Smith, Robert Smith III, Joseph Stacy, Rosalie Stasel, Charles Stealey, SteamDesigns, Emma Stringer, Mike Stringer, Frederick Sullivan, Georgia Tagliaferri, Nathan Talucci, Lori Templin, Andrew Terman, Aris Thompson, Mary Thompson, Rebecca Tracy, Kathryn Treiber, Crystal Tribley, Amanda Trosten-Bloom, KathyTucker, Carol Turner, Gail Tutewiler, John VanZandt, Deborah Varelic, Karen Vasilos, Elaine Wagner, WM C. Walker, Jarlath & Walter Warren, Reg & Deb Warren, Sandra Warren, Donna Watson, David & KerriWelch, Claudette Welsh, Gretchen Werrlein, Mauri & David Zaccagnino, Cornelia R. Zanetti, Margie Zesinger, Lawrence Zimmer, Mikio Zinbo, Mary Zion

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Sequel kicks off Island Players season “Happy Birthday,” by Marc Camoletti, premieres Sept. 21. BY TOM VAUGHT SUN STAFF WRITER | tvaught@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA – The curtain opens on the Island Players’ 69th season with “Happy Birthday,” a sequel to “Boeing Boeing.” Marc Camoletti wrote the both plays. The Island Players performed “Boeing Boeing” two seasons ago and two of those performers will be in “Happy Birthday.” Travis Rogers will again play Bernard and Jennifer Eddy will play Jaqueline. Island Players director James Thaggard will play Robert, Travis Rogers plays Bernard, Sue Belvo plays Brigit #1 and Jennifer Caldwell is Brigit #2. In “Happy Birthday,” Bernard asks his new mistress to his home on her birthday despite the fact that his wife and best friend will also be there. Soon, identities and bedrooms are exchanged with increasing confusion. This is a fun-filled farce with many twists and turns of the script

TOM VAUGHT | SUN

and wild and wacky roles. Under the experienced directorship of Mike Lusk, “Happy Birthday” is sure to be a success. It opens on Sept. 21 and runs until Oct. 1. Performances are Tuesday through Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are $20 each. The box office opens on Monday, Sept. 11 and is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. On performance nights, the box office

opens at 7 p.m. and for Sunday matinees it opens at 1 p.m. Visa, MasterCard or Discover cards are accepted. For reservations or information, call the box office at 941-778-5755 or go online to www.theislandplayers.org. Season tickets are still for sale online or by mailing a season ticket purchase form to The Island Players, P.O. Box 2059, Anna Maria, Fla. 34216.

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Pirates love their grog The Anna Maria Island Privateers have set Saturday, Sept. 23, as Talk Like a Pirate Day, to be celebrated from 1 to 7 p.m. at the Drift-In, 120 Bridge St. in Bradenton Beach. The Privateers will have a grogoff, an event like a pirate-style chili cook-off. Individuals or businesses can enter at www.amiprivateers.org and click on the banner "Talk Like A Pirate." This is a family-friendly event and will be held outside, so dress appropriately. There will be a children’s tent with a “bilge rat toss,” along with Grey Beard, known as the “Balloonist Extraordinaire,” prizes, cotton candy and more. Inside the Privateers’ Galley, look for barnacle burgers, scurvy dogs and Buc-an-ear corn. There also will be photo opportunities with wicked wenches and pirates, Privateer merchandise, raffles, a lotto board and live entertainment. This fundraiser is for the Privateers, a 501c3 not-for-profit organization with the goal of raising money for scholarships and kids programs.

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SEPTEMBER 6, 2017

941.779.2337 9:00 AM - 10:00 PM 7 DAYS A WEEK 5344 GULF DRIVE, HOLMES BEACH

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OUTDOORS

SEPTEMBER 6, 2017

Redfishing at its best L

ate summer and early fall provide some of the area’s best opportunities for redfish. September is one of the premier months, a time when reds congregate in spawning schools on area flats. These schools can provide anglers with fast action and an exciting spectacle. When they are disturbed or moving en mass, big schools “hump up” as they travel through shallow water. When they settle down they can disappear as suddenly as they appeared. Sometimes even a jet taking off or an angler making noise in the boat is enough to cause them to move. Occasionally they can be spotted feeding on a flat. One of my most exciting memories of schooling fish was watching a large group of reds moving across a flat as baitfish, shrimp and small pinfish sprayed to the surface in an attempt to flee the voracious school. When fishing for redfish on the flats anglers who opt for light tackle have

Reel Time RUSTY CHINNIS a better chance at success. An eightpound spinning outfit or a sevenweight fly rod and reel are sufficient. Besides being more sporting, light spin and fly tackle is easier to carry, more fun and less likely to spook fish. When the weather isn’t ideal and the wind is strong, anglers using conventional tackle can still benefit from light tackle. Fly anglers may want to switch to an eight or even nine weight outfit to help with a cast into the wind. A change of leader may also be needed by fly anglers. Under light winds and clear skies a long leader to 12 feet allows for a stealthier presentation. When the wind

rUSTY CHINNIS | sun

September is one of the best times of year to target redfish. puts a chop on the water redfish are less wary and a shorter leader, eight to nine feet, is all that’s needed. The one thing anglers using conventional tackle might want to do is use spoons and jigs in lieu of plugs and lighter lures that are adversely effected when casting into a stiff breeze. A wide variety of flies, plugs and

spoons are effective depending on the stage of tide and the depth of the water column. In the morning, if you’re prospecting deep edges, use a quick sinking Clouser or jigs and work them close to the bottom. When it’s time to move up on the flats try shrimp and crab see reel time, page 23

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Redfish bite heats up with cooler water Captain Dave White

It's been a little nautical on the Gulf as of late. So we here at Anna Maria Charters have been sticking inshore, fly fishing the lights at night and taking advantage of the nice, high tides in the morning. The rain we've been having has cooled the water temperatures down dramatically, inspiring what have been sluggish fish into a pretty good feeding pattern. The redfish seem to have enjoyed the change, as they were a bit spread out and not really congregating. After the front, they seem to have schooled up nicely. When you find one, it's likely that he's got a big group of friends with him. I'm chumming hard before I cast my first rod. This seems to keep them interested and not spook the school when you do hook up. Freelining pilchards, or under a cork, have both been producing nice fish. At night, it's been a good incoming tide. This keeps the snook active and feeding. Depending on location, I'm using everything from a heavy chartreuse Clouser to a Kwan shrimp pattern. I only anticipate the redfishing to improve as we move along into fall. The snook will be under a lot

captain DAVE WHITE | SUbmitted

Reynolds Johnson of Atlanta shows off a slot redfish caught while fishing with Captain David White, of Anna Maria Charters. more pressure, as season opened on the first.

Captain Rick Grassett

September is one of my favorite months. Reds will be schooling on shallow grass flats of Sarasota Bay

and you also might find big trout there at first light. Plentiful baitfish along beaches will attract Spanish mackerel, false albacore (little tunny), sharks, tarpon and more. You should find them around docks and bridges in the ICW. You should also find

tarpon around bridges at night and in areas of Sarasota Bay, Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor. Juvenile tarpon from 10 to 30 pounds should be a good option in creeks and canals. Tarpon will still be a good option this month. There may still be a few singles, doubles and small schools in the coastal Gulf and if you’ve got the patience to wait them out it can be good. Many have moved to inside waters this month, so you’ll find them around bridges, over deep grass flats or deeper areas. When tarpon move into these areas, they are in a feeding mode. After a long migration and with their spawning duties completed, they need to rest and eat to restore themselves. Ladyfish will feed in glass minnow schools and tarpon will gorge themselves on ladyfish. I have also seen tarpon “ball” glass minnows into tight schools and eat them by the bucket full. DOA Baitbusters, TerrorEyz and DOA shrimp are my favorite tarpon lures this time of year. Fly anglers should score with wide profile patterns, such as Lefty’s Deceiver or EP flies. Small flies, like my Grassett Snook Minnow, tied on a 1/0 or 2/0 hook, are another good choice for tarpon that are feeding on glass minnows.

reel time: Redfishing at its best FROM PAGE 22

patterns, spoons, top water plugs and flies. Over shallow grass on low tides, poppers and flies that float or suspend in the water column like seaducers or bend backs work best. Look for flats with a good sand and grass mixture. Start fishing the shallows adjacent to deep water "staging areas" on the edge of the flat. As the tide floods in, explore points, troughs, slues and bars that “funnel” fish onto the flat. These areas act as side roads, feeder lanes and highways that fish use to enter and leave a flat with a rising and falling tide. Reverse this strategy on a falling tide. Savvy anglers pay close attention to the lanes that are exposed on low tides, making mental notes and marking charts. They can use this knowledge under low light conditions on subsequent fishing trips. Local flats use to get a lot more pressure than they do now. Commercial fishermen, anglers and even some guides ran the flats looking for fish. This practice drove many schools off the flats and made the remaining fish very wary. Fortunately, most local flats are now signed as “no-wake” zones close to shorelines which has reduced the problem and helped fishing.

Local redfish can still be a challenge. If you find fish that are spooky, try this tactic: Get out of the boat and position yourself about thirty feet away from an area where you have good visibility and wait. Reds forage over the flats and will eventually cross potholes and light bottom. This requires patience, but is extremely effective when stalking wary fish. When fishing extremely spooky fish in clear water, calculate where you think a fish might show up and then put your fly, spoon or jig there ahead of time. If you have the lure waiting at the intercept point as fish approach the odds of a hook up are greatly increased. Tampa Bay and Sarasota Bay are two of Florida’s largest estuaries. Although progress has taken a toll on these areas, new environmentally friendly practices and awareness of the resource has improved water quality, and increased sea grass coverage and fish stocks. Redfish are not an easy target, especially for fly fishers, and can be extremely challenging. Anglers will need to be up on their game to be successful but quality late summer and early fall fishing for redfish will be at its best.

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TOWN CRIER The writers return The Gulf Coast Writers meet on Wednesday, Aug. 6, at 12:45 p.m. at the Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. New members are welcome. Bring some original writings to read. Call 941-778-6341 for more information.

Knitting for fun If you’re handy with a needle, the Island Branch Library at 5701 Marina Drive in Holmes Beach, has a treat. The Friends of the Island Library presents a knit and crochet session at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 7. It’s a nice atmosphere for starting or completing a project. Others will be there for conversation or help with one’s project. Call 941-778-6341 for more information.

Seniors eat healthy Senior Adventures, a group devoted to learning and having fun together, will take the van to Whole Foods in Sarasota, a healthy food market, for lunch on Friday, Sept. 8. They have a soup bar, salad bar, a hot bar, pizza and more. The fish market usually has lion fish for sale. They have ample seating both inside and out. The van leaves Annie Silver Community Center, 103 23rd St. N., Bradenton Beach, at 10 a.m. You

need a reservation. Call Kaye Bell at 941-538-0945.

Forty Carrots fun The Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, hosts Forty Carrots, a parenting program based in Sarasota, on Friday, Sept. 8, at 10 a.m. This is a program where kids from mobile babies to five years old and their parents experience new activities, join in circle time fun, spend time with other families and get valuable parenting information. The program is free and you can get a ticket for this session at the library desk. Space is limited to 12 families. For more information, call the library at 9421-778-6341.

Help for veterans A representative from Manatee County Veterans Services will be at the Island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, every Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon to provide assistance, information and referrals. They will also be available to book appointments for more in-depth counseling sessions as needed. Call the library at 941-7786341 for more information.

Mahjong is popular The Island Branch Library. At 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, has found there is a demand for mahjong, a Chinese board game. Play begins at 11 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 8. It’s free and it’s fun. For more information, call the library at 941-778-6341.

Alzheimer’s caregivers meet Sue Fox, a representative of the Sarasota Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, will host a program for caregivers of people with memory problems, including Alzheimer’s disease, on Friday, Sept. 8, at 2 p.m. at the Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. The program is free. Call 778-6341 for more information.

Clean up the beach The Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources Department is organizing an International Coastal Cleanup at Coquina Beach on Saturday, Sept. 16, from 9 a.m. to noon. Volunteers all over the world are coming together to protect their waterways and the county wants to get involved. They will be collecting trash and recording their findings for a global impact report. Bring your water shoes and sense of adventure. To learn more, visit http://www.oceanconservancy.org/ourwork/international-coastal-cleanup/. This program is sponsored by Ocean Conservancy in partnership with Keep Manatee Beautiful. Program suitable for volunteers of all ages. To register, email amy.may@mymanatee.org or call 941-742-5923 ext. 6044.

Racing to win On Saturday, Sept. 16, at 8 a.m., athletes are invited to join the Manatee County Parks and Recreation Department at Robinson Preserve, 1704 99th St. NW for an eco fitness scavenger

SEPTEMBER 6, 2017

run. Participants may come alone or form a team to solve a series of ecological clues to lead them to different areas in the preserve. Once at those locations, they will perform a mini fitness challenge, then it's on to another location until they cover all of them and make it back to the starting line. Runners will cover approximately three miles. Questions about the event can be directed to preston.higdon@ mymanatee.org or erin.struzzieri@ mymanatee.org.

Paper folding at library Judy Pruitt presents her origami class at the Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, on Saturday, Sept.. 9, from 10 a.m. to noon. Learn the ancient Japanese art of paper folding. The class is free. For more information, call the library at 778-6341.

Oyster baggers needed The Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources Department is looking for volunteers to help make oyster bags at Perico Preserve, 11700 Manatee Ave. W., on Thursday, Sept. 7, from 6 to 8 p.m. The bags will be deployed into local estuaries to help create new oyster reefs, which will improve water quality and create habitats for native creatures in the county’s preserves. Those planning on joining the project may email michelle.leahy@mymanatee.org or call 941-748-4501 ext. 6035 to register.

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Obituaries David Forrest Cannon David Forrest Cannon, a.k.a. Dad, Daddio, Uncle Dave, Granddad, Damn it David and Bash Cannon, left us grieving the loss of a legend on August 13, 2017. He was born to Bruce and Millie Cannon in Patterson, NJ, May 3, 1949. The youngest of five, he grew up in Smithville, GA with his parents and four sisters and was drafted into the army to serve his country in the Vietnam War. He raised three children in Bradenton, FL, teaching them the importance of hard work, family involvement, a sense of humor and defensive driving. He shared his love of fishing, camping, cooking, competition, singing and playing country music on his guitar with so many of us that his memory will surely live on for many years. He will always be remembered as a teacher of the important things in life. Let us all hold an image of him in our hearts, sitting around a campfire, entertaining his loved ones on his Ovation. We will be fishing at the Longboat Pass Seawall every weekend in remembrance of the legend himself.

Joseph Gregorzek Joseph Gregorzek of Perico Island, Fla., adored husband of Gayle Simpson Gregorzek for 48 years, passed away peacefully in her loving arms on June 22, 2017. He was born in Nanticoke, Penn., on July 25, 1936, to the late Peter and Mary Orzechowski Gregorzek. Joe formerly resided in Connecticut, Vermont and New Jersey, moving to Florida in 1999. While living in New Britain, Conn., he was a state representative in the Connecticut general assembly for three terms (1969-1975), serving as a member of the banking, finance, state, urban development and the transportation committees and chairman of the aeronautics committee. He was the past president of the New Britain Press Club while employed as a manager at the New Britain Herald, president of New Britain Ski Club, president of the Independent Slow Pitch League, secretary of the New Britain Young Democratic Club, former member of the New Britain Democratic Town committee and the Charter Revision committee. Joe was

the New Britain committee chairman for the late Connecticut Probate Judge John T. Downey’s U.S. Senate Campaign and campaign manager for former New Britain Mayor William J. McNamara’s two re-elections. In 1983, Joe left Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner and Smith, Hartford, and moved to Brownsville, Vt., to help develop a local ski area and served as executive vice-president and general manager at Ascutney Mountain Resort for many years. During the three month filming of the movie, Funny Farm starring Chevy Chase, AMR served as a host hotel for the 90 member Warner Bros. cast and crew. The hotel’s selection was one of the highlights of his tenure there. Joe was the founder and chairman of the Connecticut River Valley Tourism Council, served on the boards of the Vermont Lodging and Restaurant Association, Mt. Ascutney Hospital, Windsor Chamber of Commerce and the National Ski Areas Association. In 1986, former Vermont Governor Madeline Kunin appointed him to her advisory council. Joe joined PaineWebber/UBS NYC in 1991 as national marketing manager for Correspondent Services Corp., traveling the four corners of the country until retiring in 2003. He attended CCSC (now CCSU) in Connecticut and served in the U.S.

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Army. One of Joe’s happiest moments was meeting Pope John Paul II in Rome in 1983, which was made possible due to the personal efforts of the late Monsignor John P. Wodarski of Holy Cross Church in New Britain, Conn., where Joe was a longtime parishioner. Joe was a people person, a true listener and a kind, loyal friend who made people happy in his presence. Whether playing gin rummy with his best friend, Joe Grano, cheering for the Red Sox, New York Giants or UConn Huskies, fishing in Martha’s Vineyard, a 35 year tradition with the Dominic Colossale family, watching the sunset on Anna Maria Island or on St. Andrews Drive overlooking Napa Valley while sipping a glass of Cabernet and listening to Pavarotti, globetrotting with his teammate, soul mate and cherished wife, Gayle, this gentle, honorable man lived a wonderful, adventurous life and derived joy from each new day. As his proud wife, I was honored and fortunate to have shared this journey with Mr. Wonderful, Mr. Sunshine - a gem of a husband and beloved friend. Joe was admired, also for the heroic bravery he displayed facing the challenges of Parkinson’s disease. Joe leaves behind his best friend of 45 years, mentor and chosen brother, Joseph J. Grano, Jr. of New Vernon, SEE OBITS, PAGE 28

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SPORTS

SEPTEMBER 6, 2017

Points after and dropped balls:

The downfall of Team Avis and Team Mason Martin BY MONICA SIMPSON SPECIAL TO THE SUN

Two months of adult flag football on the Island and more than 20 games later, two teams capture the coveted spots on the playoff bracket leading to the much awaited championship game. The family dynamics of recreational sports at the community center transcends bloodlines. Season after season, individuals play together creating a family-like bond. Beach House Real Estate, Avis and Mason Martin have the husband and wife pairings. Moss Builders has the father-son partnership on the field, while Avis and Beach House Real Estate share the brotherly love on the field. Last Thursday night’s battle between Beach House Real Estate and Avis in the first semi-final game was filled with family connections, referee call challenges, strong defense and competitively spirited play. Danny Murphy started Team Avis’ scoring with the first touchdown and extra point in the game. Beach House Real Estate’s Jon Moss and Mike Gillum tied the ballgame by getting into the end zone with perfect passes by Chris Gillum. Missed extra point conversions plagued both of the teams during the next three scoring series. After touchdowns by both teams, the score was tied at 13-13 when Avis quarterback Jason Sato found Murphy deep to put his team ahead by six points after the missed point. Moving the football down the field, Beach House Real Estate’s offense could not get past the Avis defense before the end of the first half of the game.

Second half

Going into the second half of play with a mere six-point deficit, Mike Gillum made a critical first down reception after an uncharacteristic dropped ball by Moss. Moss quickly found redemption with a beautiful catch and gained yardage after, taking the football to the one-yard line. The brothers Gillum added a touchdown to the scoreboard for Beach House, taking the lead with a Jason Mickan extra point catch. Critical mistakes and effective defensive play by both teams resulted in three offensive possessions with no score by either team. Chris Gillum at the helm put together three plays for Beach House to the end zone despite the rushing speed of Lexi Sato for Avis. The Gillum brothers connected for a five-yard touchdown reception, leading to an onslaught of arguments about a non-call by the officials. Avis contended that Mike Gillum pushed off Murphy with both hands. The referees did not call offensive pass interference, putting six points on the scoreboard advancing the score to 26-19. Still reeling from the missed call by the two sideline referees, Team Avis marched down the football field with the leadership of Jason Sato with six snaps of the football to score with authority. Changing things up, Murphy found himself dusting off his passing arm ,completing passes to Jason Sato, Griffin, and the final touchdown pass to Mike Brusso in the back corner of the end zone.

monica simpson | SUN

With tight defense by Beach House Real Estate's Mike Gillum, Mike Brusso catches a critical pass for Avis Thursday night. Brusso’s TD catch put Avis into position to tie the ballgame. The curse of the missed extra point continued to plague the team in red, leaving the score at 26-25 with less than a minute on the game clock. Catches by Moss for the first down gave Team Beach House Real Estate control of the clock and the game, after Team Avis used both of their timeouts in hopes of regaining offensive possession. Playing smart football, Chris Gillum took the final snap of the game for Beach House, forcing Avis to pull his flag with the clock running to zero.

Moss vs. Martin

With the victory, the Angry Pineapples of Beach House Real Estate became the spectator of the second semi-final game between Moss Builders and Mason Martin. The last 40 minutes of football resulted in a surprising run away win by Moss Builders. Defensive rushing pressure by team captain Ryan Moss on Mason Martin’s quarterback Tim Shaughnessy resulted in an early game interception by Jacob Berger. Moss Builders could not capitalize, giving the football back to Shaughnessy’s squad after three plays. Shaughnessy found the hands of brother-in-law Caleb Roberts for the first TD of the game. Jesse Brisson was the key target for Moss during the next series of plays. Capitalizing on Brisson’s speed and ability to get down the field undefended, Moss launched the football, dropping it right into the hands of Brisson as he sprinted into the end zone. Brisson’s extra point put Moss Builders in the lead 7-6. After giving up the football, Team Mason Martin took the field ready to defend against the offensive rhythm of Moss

Builders. Receptions by Eliza Faillace and Eric Gledhill lead to the touchdown catch by Jordan Demers. Down by seven points, Shaughnessy’s team tried to put something together before the end of the first half. His team and the spectators were shocked to watch Mason Martin’s Frank Agnelli drop the football. Agnelli proved himself to be a force to be reckoned with throughout the season with the short receptions and the long bombs. Leaving enough time on the clock, Moss Builders utilized the height and skill of Berger and Gledhill for a beautiful touchdown pass and reception by Berger and the extra point conversion catch by Gledhill. Up by 14 points, Moss started the last half of play in charge and ready to score. Demers took it to the end zone again after solid plays to Gledhill. The point after moved the score to 27-6. With the no rush mercy rule in place, Team Mason Martin felt the pressure to put points on the board. After a first down catch by Roberts, an incomplete pass to Agnelli and broken up play in the end zone lead to another Berger interception. Berger, who played with Shaughnessy last season, took the football all the way scoring another six points. Faillace caught the extra point reception furthering Moss Builders’ lead. The scoreboard showed 12 minutes left in the game and the score 33-6. Not knowing the word “quit”, Shaughnessy made quick work of the field with a catch by David Greene and an end zone grab by Agnelli for a touchdown. Going for a two-point conversion, Greene took the snap and quickly pitched it to Shaughnessy. Moss was not fooled, snagging the flag to prevent the play. The Moss Builders train continued to charge down the tracks to the championship game. Berger put six more points on the board spinning into the end zone. The extra point set the score to 40-12. Mason Martin’s final series of the game resulted in six more points. Roberts took the football and found Shaughnessy down field. Shaughnessy’s sister and team captain Brianna Roberts made a critical catch, setting the stage for C. Roberts’ touch down. A failed two-point conversion attempt put the score to 4018 with two minutes left in the game. Moss took three snaps, ending the game with a QB sack by James Ptak. In a repeat from last season, Beach House Real Estate with Jon Moss will be facing his brother Ryan Moss’ team Moss Builders. Beach House came up with the win in the last battle for the top. Can Moss Builders deny the repeat Thursday night at 8:30 p.m.?

Sun Scoreboard Thursday, August 31 Adult Co-Ed Flag Football Beach House Real Estate Avis

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Moss Builders Mason Martin

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Veterans Day parade planned The city is seeking parade participants for its inaugural Veterans Day parade. BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA – Mayor Dan Murphy and the city of Anna Maria are planning what is believed to be the Island’s first Veterans Day Parade, to take place on Friday, Nov. 10. The Anna Maria Island Privateers and the Lakewood Ranch Marching Band have already agreed to participate in the inaugural parade that will start at Anna Maria City Hall and proceed down Pine Avenue to City Pier Park. Murphy is looking for veterans who want to walk or ride in the parade. He is also seeking volunteers who own golf carts and convertible cars and are willing to give “old soldiers and sailors” a ride. Residents, organizations and businesses are also encouraged to participate in the parade. The city’s second annual Veterans Day celebration will again feature a flag ceremony, a guest speaker, light refreshments and live

TOM VAUGHT | SUN

Last year, the city of Anna Maria hosted its inaugural Veterans Day ceremony.

music; and the recently ordered shade sail structure should be in place in time for the ceremony. “We had great attendance last year; we had 400 people at our event,” Murphy said. The Veterans Day ceremony is part of the Mayor and City Commission’s continued efforts to better utilize and further develop City Pier Park that now includes restrooms and will soon feature the shade structure.

“We want our residents to get some bang for their buck out of the park. It sat there for six years with nothing being done with it, and that was part of what I ran on when I ran for mayor. These types of events help create a greater sense of camaraderie for our community,” Murphy said. For free parade participation permits and more information, call the city clerk’s office at 941-7086130.

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obits from page 26

N.J. Heartfelt thanks and gratitude, Brother Joe, for your treasured friendship, love, support and the opportunities you made possible. Siblings: Theodosia and Henry and the late Helen, Thaddeus and Sophie. Numerous nephews, including the Helmecki Brothers. Joe was a proud godfather to Joseph C. Grano, E. Spencer McCoy and Robert J. Colossale. Brown and Sons Funeral Homes and Crematory 43rd Street Chapel, 604 43rd Street West, Bradenton, Fla., handled private arrangements. Burial will be in Cedar Hill Cemetery, Hartford, Conn. Memorial donations may be made to a donor of your choice or to Holy Cross Church, 31 Biruta Street, New Britain, Conn., 06053, the church of his marriage. Thank you for your thoughtfulness and the happiness your friendship brought. Joe was grateful. Condolences to: www. brownandsonsfuneral.com.

Lee R. Liskey Lee R. Liskey, 90, of Virginia Beach, Va., died on August 23, 2017, in Anna Maria Island surrounded by his family. He was born in Harrisonburg, Va., on July 12,

1927, was educated in Washington, D.C., and served in the Navy during WWII as an aerial photographer. He moved to Virginia Beach in 1950, met and married the love of his life, Anne, on February 15, 1953. Lee owned Liskey Lithograph, a premier printing and publishing business that he proudly operated for over 30 years. After retirement, Lee enjoyed many years on his Paradise Farm in Mt. Jackson, Va., and in his last 15 years he enjoyed living on Anna Maria Island in his dream home overlooking the Tampa Bay. Lee is survived by his wife of 65 years, Anne Vakos Liskey and their 10 children, Cynthia Barbarito (Jim), Victoria Duncan (Richard), Candice Fielding (Wayne), Lee R. Liskey, Jr., Kathleen Quarles (William), David Liskey, Jeffrey Liskey (Michelle), Guy Liskey (Terri), Melodi Liskey, and Melisa Liskey as well as 17 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. Funeral arrangements by Brown and Sons Funeral Homes and Crematory 43rd Street Chapel and H.D. Oliver Funeral Apartments Virginia Beach. Condolences may be made to www.brownandsonsfuneral.com

Andrew Gray Torgeson Andrew Gray Torgeson was born April 9, 1949, and he died August 26, 2017. He lived in Palmetto and Anna Maria Island, Florida. He was the son of Norma and Earl Torgeson.

Andy didn’t have degrees or letters after his name. He was never the president of any club. But chapters of Andy’s life told a story many would envy. He was independent, adventurous and free-spirited. He was born into a baseball family. His father, Earl Torgeson, was in the big leagues. From the time Andy was a toddler he had his own baseball uniform and he dressed out and went to batting practice with his dad every day in the summer. When he was older he sat in the dugout during games with some of the best of the big league, “Boys of Summer.” He grew up on Anna Maria Island, and always loved the water. He skied, surfed, sailed and just messed about in boats. Andy regularly fished at the Island piers; then he started diving and spear fishing (including under the piers strictly against the rules). He was the best all-around athlete in Manatee High School’s history. Andy graduated in 1967 as a four-letter athlete: football, basketball, baseball and track. He is survived by sister, Christine van Zandt, brother-in-law, John van Zandt, niece Ana Cross, her husband Nate and their two children, Will and Sophia, many members of his extended family in Washington State and Minnesota, and some really good friends. There will be a private family service. Memorial donations may be made to The Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage, P.O. Box 606, Cortez, FL 34215.

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KRISTIN SWAIN | SUN

Members of the Holmes Beach Parks and Beautification committee survey the work completed on their plans for Memorial Garden after a March 1 committee meeting at city hall.

More members needed for parks committee BY KRISTIN SWAIN SUN STAFF WRITER | KSWAIN@amisun.com

HOLMES BEACH — The city's parks and beautification committee members are looking for a few green thumbs to join their ranks. During the Aug. 23 city commission meeting, Mayor Bob Johnson announced the departure of member Sharon Randall from the committee. Randall's resignation leaves the committee at two members — Zan Fuller and Susan Anderson. In her Aug. 21 resignation letter, Randall cites personal issues needing her attention in another state as her reason for leaving the committee. "I have really enjoyed my time with you and hope, when I return, to be able to assist in some way on the board," Randall writes. "I am sorry to leave you short-handed." Typically, the parks and beautification committee holds five members and two alternates. Each member commits to a two-year term. Meetings resume

in October, continuing through May on the first Wednesday of each month at Holmes Beach City Hall. Parks and beautification members work with the city's public works employees to develop vegetation plans for the city's parks. Additionally, the committee manages the city's Adopt-A-Spot program. Recently concluded projects include plantings at the city basketball courts and Memorial Garden, adjacent to city hall. Upcoming projects include resurfacing the Holmes Beach Dog Park and expansion of the Adopt-ASpot program. Requirements to join the committee are simple. Prospective participants must be residents of Holmes Beach and interested in maintaining and designing city parks. Applications for the committee are on www.holmesbeachfl.org. For more information, or to submit an application, contact City Clerk Stacey Johnston at 941-708-5800 or visit city hall, 5801 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach.

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REAL ESTATE

SEPTEMBER 6, 2017

There are sharks in the water

here are plenty of sharks in and around the waters of Tampa Bay, but the only shark that matters this month is the Property Shark. Property Shark is a national online real estate information service that compiles and reports on everything about real estate from property values to foreclosures. Recently they reported on the most expensive zip codes in the country and in individual states based on 2016 closed real estate sales. Nationally the number one most expensive zip code is in Sagaponack, New York which is on Long Island and part of the Hamptons communities with a median sales price of $5,500,000. Atherton, California came in second at $5,425,000, New York City third at $3,808.765, Miami Beach fourth at $3,400,000 and Santa Monica, California fifth at $3,395,000. Keep in mind this is by zip code so cities with multiple zip codes, like New York and Miami, were compiled separately.

Castles in the Sand Louise Bolger Here in Florida the sharks delivered a nice little surprise with Anna Maria (zip code 34216) coming in fifth in the state with a median sale price of $900,000. Anna Maria actually beat Longboat Key in eleventh place. The top four above Anna Maria were Miami Beach number one at $3,400,000 median sale price, Boca Grande number two at $1,290,000 median sale price Miami number three at $1,094,100 median sale price and Key Biscayne number four at $904,500. Median sales price is the value separating the higher half of sales from the lower half. Back down in the rest of Manatee County where the air isn’t as thin, July sale prices

for single family homes set a record. The median sale price for this year was $300,000, 7.1 percent higher than July of last year. This is the first time since December of 2007 that number hit $300,000. The average sale price was $374,500, up 5 percent from last year. The number of closed single family homes were down 9.4 percent, supporting the continued lack of inventory that is plaguing the entire country. Condos did not do well this July compared to last year with the median price down 10.9 percent to $165,000 and the average sale price down 8.9 percent to $210,253. Closed sales were also down 7.5 percent. Manatee County’s supply of properties remains pretty steady at about 4 months for both single family and condos. This is true across the country with the National Association of Realtors reporting a 4.2 month’s supply of homes on the market. Lawrence Yun the chief economist for the NAR says that the inventory shortage is limiting sales

potential nationally, which is exactly what is happening in Manatee County. There is an obstinate shortage of homes for sale despite strong demand pushing asking prices and sale prices up and up. Please note Manatee County statistics come from the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee. Complicating an already complicated real estate market are new home sales, which have gone down nationally. Sales of new single-family homes decreased 9.4 percent from last July indicating a shortage of new home inventory similar to the shortage of existing home inventory. Builders point out the cost of land and construction are making it difficult to build less expensive homes, therefore, limiting the pool of buyers. The sharks are hungry. They keep circling looking for the perfect house to buy and are willing to pay for it. Just wait till the winter and the beaches are filled with out of towners dragging suitcases full of money, then you’ll really see a feeding frenzy.

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Turtle lighting works This nest hatched successfully last week in Bradenton Beach, to the delight of Bradenton Beach Code Officer Gail Garneau, who worked with the owners of the building across Gulf Drive from the nest to help them make better choices for lighting. “Gail's work for the city is priceless,” said Suzi Fox, Director of Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring. “Sea turtles give her a big wave of their flippers.” SUBMITTED | ANNA MARIA ISLAND TURTLE WATCH AND SHOREBIRD MONITORING

Turtle Tips submitted

Eliza Ann maintains second place Eliza Ann is still in second place in a field of 15 competing in the Sea Turtle Conservancy’s Tour de Turtle migration marathon. She is now headed toward the Turks and Caicos Island, following the leader, Cruz, who started the race off Florida’s Space Coast and is headed for Havana. The event tracks where sea turtles swim and scores them on the distance they cover. Eliza Ann was satellite tagged after nesting in Coquina Beach on June 19. She is sponsored by Waterline Marina Resort and Beach Club in Holmes Beach.

During sea turtle season, May 1 – Oct. 31, please follow these tips: • Turn off lights visible from the beach and close blinds from sundown to sunrise; lights confuse nesting sea turtles and may cause them to go back to sea and drop their eggs in the water, where they won’t hatch. Light can also attract hatchlings away from the water. • Don’t use flashlights, lanterns or camera flashes on the beach at night. • Remove all objects from the sand

from sundown to sunrise; they can deter sea turtles from nesting and disorient hatchlings. • Fill in the holes you dig in the sand before leaving the beach; they can trap nesting and hatching sea turtles, which cannot live long out of the water. • Don’t use sky lanterns or fireworks; they litter the beach and Gulf. • Do not trim trees and plants that shield the beach from lights. • Never touch a sea turtle; it’s the law. If you see people disturbing turtles, call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Wildlife Alert hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922).

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SEPTEMBER 6, 2017

Texas trip a taxing ordeal

hurricane: relief provided FROM PAGE 1

By 5 p.m., the staging area was nearly filled with donated water, food, clothing, diapers, baby supplies, children’s toys, disinfectant wipes, bug spray, dog food, cat food and kitty litter, mouthwash, toothpaste, toilet paper, paper towels, flash lights, batteries, gas cans and more. Cash and gas cards were also donated to help with travel expenses, and to fuel the boats while in Texas. “We’ve got lots of skilled captains and we’re going to show up and see what we can do,” Leiter said Tuesday afternoon. He expected the Cortez caravan to include airboats, shallow water Go Devils and skiffs. “You can drive an airboat right up to somebody’s house,” he said. “Most of us are charter captains and we’re not running a lot of charters right now. This is better than sitting on the couch and watching the news,” Weissman said. Before the first trailer was fully loaded, charter captain Phillip Watson arrived with a second trailer, on loan from the Bonefish Boatworks. “We’re going to Texas. They need help and I’ve got some free time,” Watson said. Later in the week, a third trailer was filled and sent to Texas, and a fourth trailer, on loan from Viking boats, was being filled for an anticipated departure on Monday. John Cadmus from Cortez Watersports and Ryan Seybold also made the trip to Texas, with Sears providing logistical support from Cortez. “John Cadmus posted video online of people he rescued. He’s getting people out of their homes,

A hurricane relief related trip to Texas was an eye-opening experience for those who went. BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT

joe hendricks | SUN

Local charter captains Nate Weissman and John Leiter and restaurant manager Adam Sears spearheaded the Swordfish Grill’s hurricane relief efforts. and then we have stuff to give them once they get out,” Slicker said on Friday. “The outpouring has been wonderful; and Roque, from the Monkey Bus, said he’d like to take a busload of stuff in two weeks,” he added. A second donation drive will take place in the Swordfish Grill parking lot on Saturday, Sept. 16 and Sunday, Sept. 17.

Community support

Bradenton Beach residents Nancy Kim and Steve Schewe were among the many residents from the Island who dropped off supplies Tuesday. “We figured people would need something to sleep on so we brought sleeping bags, air mattresses, a hand pump to blow them up with, bug spray and citronella candles. I’m blessed and when something like this happens you have to give back,” Schewe said. Bradenton Beach city employees Gail Garneau and Christine Watson also donated.

The Sun ownership and staff donated $400 worth of supplies and Holmes Beach resident David Zaccagnino contributed an additional $100 to the Sun’s donation.

Chiles Group too

Last week, the Chiles Group sent notice to its 315 employees asking them to donate to the relief efforts. In two days, the employees donated enough supplies to fill the company truck. Chief Operating Officer Robert Baugh then drove the truck to a redistribution point near the Florida state line after supplementing the donated supplies with 30 cases of disposable diapers, trash bags and other items. Chiles Group spokesperson Caryn Hodge’s sister lives in Houston, but was spared from the flooding and power outages. “What they really need now are generators, grills, portable stoves and propane tanks because they have no way to cook. They also need cleaning supplies, trash bags, storage bins, diapers, adult diapers and new underwear,” Hodge said.

BRADENTON – Bradenton resident and full-time local charter captain Nate Weissman was among those who traveled from Cortez to Texas last week to assist with the hurricane relief efforts in Texas. On Sunday, Weissman, who is back home, shared his thoughts on the experience via his Weissman Facebook posts. “I am feeling an emotion I’m not familiar with. In all honesty, I’ve done a lot of crying since we got to Texas Thursday. It’s not sadness, I don’t think. I could be wrong. I’m mostly OK, but I will have moments where I think about how frustrating the whole situation was, and it’ll either be a little tear to a complete breakdown. I feel good. I’m in good spirits. I’m home with my wife and dog. I get my kid Tuesday. “I went to Texas with an expectation and what I got didn’t meet that expectation. That’s where my frustration lies. The most important lesson I’ve learned from this disaster in Texas is don’t wait. I should have had my boat headed to Texas when the urge first struck me on Sunday. Next time I’m hooking my boat and hauling ass to help immediately. I can’t help but think if I got there quicker I could have maybe saved someone that didn’t make it out,” Weissman wrote. He and the others can still find some solace in the fact that the Cortez caravan of trucks, trailers and trailered boats delivered much needed supplies to Texans. “I know we did made a difference; maybe not so much in the numbers of rescues, but with the donation of supplies and all that. But, these supplies would’ve gotten on that truck just as fast without me. Those supplies would’ve got to Texas where they were dropped just as fast without me,” Weissman wrote. The brief but taxing trip left a lasting impression. “I went with a few friends, a few acquaintances and a few complete strangers. What I had when I left were brothers and sisters. Some of us are home now for various reasons. Some of us are still there doing good. And some of us are stuck in limbo. Hurricane Harvey taught me a lot about myself and about people. Hurricane Harvey taught me how to handle helping in a disaster and I wouldn’t hesitate to rush to help again.”

SEPTEMBER 6, 2017

New entertainment stage for Ugly Grouper The Ugly Grouper has requested a permit to build a new entertainment stage onsite at the Marina Drive restaurant and Holmes Beach Building Official Jim McGuinness thinks it will be neighbor-approved. Instead of the original trapezoidshaped structure located closer to the grouper statue in the restaurant’s courtyard area approved on the site

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plan, McGuinness said the new plan is to build a smaller stage. During the Aug. 23 commission meeting, McGuinness said the planned stage is reduced in size from 254 to 175 square feet. The shape of the stage also is changed to more of a square that he said should help concentrate noise to the main body of the restaurant, preventing it from affecting neighboring residential properties. To aide in that quest, the stage also is being relocated from

the courtyard to an area closer to the central body of the restaurant and bar. McGuinness said he intends to move forward with issuing the construction permit.

A Paradise helps the needy The A Paradise Realty Holmes Beach and North River offices will be sponsoring the entertainment for The Blessing Bag Project fundraiser

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on Thursday, Sept. 14 at Swordfish Grill, 4628 119th St. W., Cortez, from 6 to 10 p.m. The ticket price is $75. The Blessing Bags Project Inc. is a group of volunteers dedicated to helping local homeless and less fortunate by providing hygiene products, food and clothing. Children receive special hand sewn bags including toys, snacks and a Beanie Baby to hug. For more information, call 941-720-1720 or email theblessingbags@aol.com.

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THE SUN

SEPTEMBER 6, 2017

snooty: Museum admits fault FROM PAGE 1

Besio, museum CEO. “Due to breakdowns in record keeping, communication follow-through and reporting, some action was taken but no action culminated in actual repair.” Besio told reporters in July that the panel was visually inspected daily by divers, but corrected herself Thursday, saying, “Those same breakdowns in communication and reporting caused us to share information in the two days following Snooty’s death that was inaccurate, and for that, I am sorry.” Aquarium director Marilyn Margold no longer works at the museum, Besio said. The results of the investigation into Snooty’s death by James Gesualdi, an attorney, animal welfare advocate and author of “Excellence Beyond Compliance,” have resulted in partnerships with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Manatee Rescue and Rehab Partnership, along with an aquatic engineer and contractor and others to improve the habitat and operational practices at the aquarium, she said, adding that staff has now been trained and a new dive checklist and record keeping system implemented.

Snooty and Sally

The tunnel where Snooty drowned was known as the “cave,” said Sally Senger, 79, who

worked with Snooty at the museum from 1998 until her retirement two years ago. Snooty grew up at the Bradenton Pier in a fourfoot-deep pool, so the museum built a four-foot-deep shelf in his new aquarium so he would feel comfortable, according to museum records. Under and behind that shelf, “There is a 12inch pipe that has to be cleaned,” Senger said. “You’d take the screws off the cave door, go in and clean and come out.” When Senger heard museum officials say that the access panel was inspected every day, she knew something was wrong. “They never told us to check the panel,” she said. Senger always will have fond memories of Snooty, she said, like bringing him treats of mandarin oranges and fruit cocktail, petting him, and saying “Hi” to him, which always brought him to the edge of the pool. Like her bumper sticker says, “Snooty lives in my heart.”

Memorial Sunday

A free, Snooty Memorial Open House is scheduled at the museum on Sunday, Sept. 10 from 1-5 p.m. to celebrate his life. A visual tribute to Snooty will be shown in the Museum’s Bishop Planetarium, and visitors can help create memorial projects honoring Snooty. The museum continues

to honor Snooty’s legacy “by providing as much as we can to the manatee rehabilitation program,” Besio said. Randall, one of the museum’s three manatees in rehabilitation, will be released to the wild this month and the other two, Gale and Baca, will be released in February, she said. “Baby Snoots” was born in captivity on July 21, 1948 at the Miami Aquarium Tackle Company, located on the Prinz Valdemar, a former Danish warship that had capsized in Miami harbor in 1926 and became a floating restaurant and aquarium. He came to Bradenton in 1949 for the DeSoto Celebration, and lived in a pool exhibit at the downtown pier on the Manatee River. He moved in 1966 to the South Florida Museum and was relocated to the present museum location in 1993. He was Manatee County’s official mascot. As the oldest known manatee in the world, Snooty continued his contribution to science after death, Besio said, explaining that his necropsy has been thoroughly studied, “and all that information will benefit manatees in the future.” His skeletal remains will be returned to the museum for preservation, she said.

Protest scheduled

Denise Anderson will be at the memorial, she said,

SUBMITTED | Denise Anderson

Justice for Snooty members have been protesting the South Florida Museum since Snooty’s drowning in July. to honor Snooty in her own way. The founder of “Justice for Snooty” will be picketing with other group members, calling for the resignations or firings of Besio and COO Jeff Rodgers. Margold’s departure from the museum is a step in the right direction, according to Anderson, who told The Sun that she plans to file a negligence lawsuit against the museum if the two executives remain at their jobs. “Our community needs to begin healing, but we cannot until these employees are removed from the museum,” she wrote museum officials. “The South Florida Museum’s number one job was to keep a safe environment for Snooty and his tank mates. Snooty is dead because of the museum’s negligence or complacency. “Humans failed Snooty beginning in 1948 when his pregnant mother was

captured while swimming freely as she was born to do,” she said. “Humans failed Snooty again when he was stolen from his

mother. And humans failed Snooty for the final time when the museum’s negligence allowed him to drown to death.”

SEPTEMBER 6, 2017

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bridge: Crowd tells FDOT what it wants FROM PAGE 1

project. Essentially, the choice is between the two new bridges. After two years of public input, the fixed-span has the edge in polls taken at previous hearings. Most of the speakers at Thursday’s meeting appeared to favor a mid-level drawbridge. FDOT came prepared to push the fixed span with depictions of the two bridges on placards and in videos. They estimate the cost of the midlevel bridge at more than $104 million compared to more than $72 million for the tall bridge. They pointed out the landings for the two bridges were essentially the same and they contrasted the open-air view with the high bridge compared with a crowded look from the low bridge. However, many Cortez residents felt the tall bridge was out of place with the historic fishing village.

The public speaks

FDOT project manager Marlon Bizerra spoke about the low bridge being vulnerable to storm surge. Former Save Anna Maria (SAM) member Nancy Deal noted that Manatee County Commissioner Carol Whitmore

TOM VAUGHT | SUN

The room at Kirkwood Presbyterian Church as the public gave their opinion on the future of the Cortez Bridge to FDOT officials. complained recently that her car was almost blown into another car recently when the winds started gusting. She said a tall bridge would make traffic more exposed to high winds as a storm approaches. As for the idea that a tall bridge would keep traffic flowing, Deal said, “We don’t care about getting 150,000 more people on the Island.” Islander Robert Baker said the tall bridge wouldn’t be worth the increased

traffic flow. “I don’t like the 65-foot bridge. I like the 35-foot drawbridge,” he said. “A high wind would blow cars off the high bridge,” said Margaret Jenkins, of Anna Maria. Hernando Carillo, an architect and urbanist from Bradenton Beach, also was opposed to the tall bridge. “We don’t need that superstructure,” he said. “It would change the scale of Cortez.”

Island resident Barbara Hines said she prefers the no-build alternative. “I don’t need the smoke and mirrors being used to sell us on the big bridge," she said. Bob Rosen of Holmes Beach drew chuckles when he said, “You can hold your applause - I’m for the tall bridge.” Nobody applauded. Ed Kolodzieski of Longboat Key said he might not be allowed to come home because of his views. “I don’t think the time saved with the tall bridge would be worth it,” he said. “Cortez is a special place and so is Bradenton Beach. I don’t want to ruin their ambience with a tall bridge.” Barbara Hug got a spirited round of applause when she said, “What we really need is another bridge from the mainland to Longboat Key.” Citizens have until Sept. 12 to add their views by sending them to Marlon Bizerra, Project Manager, Florida Department of Transportation, P.O. Box 1249,Bartow, FL 33831 or email marlon.bizerra@dot.state.fl.us. FDOT will announce its decision in a future meeting.

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THE SUN

FUN IN THE SUN

Across 1 Oilman who once owned the New York Jets 5 Voucher 9 "MacGyver" actor Dana 14 "Happy Starts Here" food company 15 Something about us all? 16 Lash of Westerns 17 Sheep and cows grazing together? 19 Latin clarifier 20 Rough projection 21 __ Flags 23 Brand of coolers 24 Chateau __ Michelle winery 25 "... the __ below / As hush as death ... ": "Hamlet" 28 Chocolate dessert 30 Taking turns ranting? 34 Baleful 35 Sullen 36 Char-Broil competitor 38 Last state to be admitted to the U.S. before the start of the Civil War 39 French toast 44 Big Sur retreat 47 Morning co-host 48 Spy industry? 52 Precise 53 Kung __ shrimp 54 Took sides? 55 Lattice strip 56 Nigerian culinary staple 59 Tot's glassful 61 Diner unit 63 Monk's "The piano ain't got no wrong notes," e.g? 67 Right wrongs 68 "Land for sale" sign

datum 69 Its logo uses Sweden's national colors 70 Trouble 71 Phoned 72 Costner role Down 1 Pork cut 2 Student's option 3 Pork cut 4 Pop 5 Call in a field 6 White noise, perhaps 7 Tennessee state flower 8 Waiter at O'Hare 9 Country's __ Young Band 10 Prince George's grandma 11 Lowlife, slangily 12 Southernmost 48-states capital 13 Get even with again 18 Prayer opener 22 Brief holiday? 24 Ratatouille, for one 26 "Losing My Religion" band 27 Longtime Rather rival

Answers to 08-30-17 Crossword Puzzle.

29 Pac-12 team 31 Yard sale? 32 P&G dental brand 33 Get ripped 37 More than modify 40 Prince __ of Ord, friend of Valiant 41 Act restlessly 42 Draws attention from, in a way 43 Zap 45 Xperia maker 46 Surveillance org. 48 Ancient Laconian state 49 Show-off 50 Goddess who advised Odysseus 51 "The Bridges of Madison County" setting 52 Plumbing brand 57 Open slightly 58 Actress Rooney __ 60 Court term, and hint to this puzzle's four longest answers 62 Like Gen. Shinseki 64 __ garden 65 Turn sharply 66 __ in echo

SEPTEMBER 6, 2017

SEPTEMBER 6, 2017

classified

ANNOUNCEMENTS THE BEST VOLUNTEER position on the island. The AMI Historical Museum needs docents and bread makers. Call Lynn at 813758-3234 or lbrennan47@ gmail.com ROSER FOOD BANK needs donations of cash and non-perishable food. Donations boxes are located at the Church, Moose Club, Walgreen's and The Anna Maria Island Sun Newspaper (corner of Gulf and Palm).

AUTOMOTIVE SALES & SERVICE 2007 HONDA SILVERWING For Sale. One owner, 600 cc auto transmission motorcycle, 15,000 miles. Many additions, well maintained, garage kept. Excellent condition. $4000 Call 941-778-2553

BABY SITTER RED CROSS CERTIFIED baby sitter. Honor student. Call or text Isabel 941-5457995

BOATS: PARTS & SERVICES & SALES

COMMERCIAL SALES NEED 9300 Sq Ft WAREHOUSE to store your (CAR) collection? Bradenton, near Airport. $619,000 Island Real Estate Ask Alan Galletto 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

NOW HIRING-Part to full time screen printer in small island business. Will train, starting at $10. Call 941778-6541 for appointment.

FISHING CHARTERS CAPT. MAC GREGORY Fishing Charters. Full Day, Half Day, Night, Inshore & Near Shore. 941-809-5783 U.S.C.G. Certified/Insured

CARPET CLEANING

FOR SALE

QUALITY COUNTS. CARPET cleaning. Upholstery cleaning. Tile & grout cleaning. Island's favorite cleaner. Manatee Chamber Member. Great price/free estimates. Call 941-7561082

BE FIRST IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD! Bat House made of cedar. Hang in back yard. Bats eat 3000 bugs a night. $45. Call 941778-5345

TOTAL HOME SERVICE CLEANING : Residential, Commercial & Rentals. Professional and Reliable. Call 941-756-4570 THOMPSON CLEANING SERVICE CommercialResidential-Marine. Island Based Company. Seasonal Deep Cleaning-Weekly-Occasional. Call for Free Estimate. 941-281-4951

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

AUTHORITY ONE SERVICES. Residential/Commercial/Vacation Rentals & Construction Cleaning. Also Power Washing, Windows, Paver Sealing & Roof Cleaning. Ask about your Senior Citizens Discount Call 941-251-5948 or 941565-3931

ISLAND BOAT SALES Not Using Your Boat, Let's Sell It. "Business On A Hand Shake" I Also Buy Boats. Dave/ Owner 941-228-3489

CLEANING SERVICE

Call us today! 941-778-3986

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. License # CRC1327296. Call Jerry Kern 941-7781115 www.kernconstructioninc.com “HONEY DO" HOME Repairs & Handyman Services. 35 yrs experience. Painting, drywall, tile, woodwork. All tasks. Call 941-896-5256 or 941-807-5256 www.honeydohomerepairinc.com HANDYMAN. RETIRED ENGINEER. Free estimates. “No job too Small”. Repairs, replacements, improvements, wall TV’s, shelves, cabinets, calking etc. Call Jim 941-448-7806 GET’R DONE DRYWALL, INC Specializing in Remodels & Repairs. Island Resident for 18 years. Call Neil Cell 941-962-1194 WALY PRECISION PAINTING: painting, drywall, stucco, and remodeling, commercial/residential, licensed & insured. Call 941-448-1928 or 941-4656324 www.WalyPrecisionPainting.us DECKOUT MASTER CARPENTER Everything Patio & Dock Decking Work Repair, Replace, Maintenance Work, Cleaning, Treatments, New Decks. Also Handyman/Painting work to home or office. Call RICHARD Bespoke Service 941-448-3571 Island Resident.

BAR STOOLS (4). Light wood, palm tree hand painted on seat. 24” tall $40 for all 4. Call 941776-5774

HAULING SITE CLEAN-UP to trash outs we can handle it all. Call us for your dumpsters/ trash needs today 941-7538772

LANDSCAPING & LAWN CARE

R. GAROFALO’S Interlocking brick pavers, driveways, patios, pool decks. Free estimates. Licensed & Insured. Call Rafael 941-778-4823 or Veronik 941-526-7941

THE SUN

SHELL DELIVERED AND spread $55/yd. Hauling all kinds of gravel, mulch, top soil with free estimates. Call Larry at 941-795-7775, "shell phone" 941-720-0770 STRAIGHT SHOT LANDSCAPE. Specializing in Old Florida Seashell driveways and scapes. Also Rock, Mulch, & Soil. Free estimates. Call Shark Mark 941-301-6067

LOST & FOUND FOUND NECKLACE PENDANT near Anna Maria Post Office. Call 941-7733182 LOST DOG BLACK Chihuahua gray on face 14 years old. Call 941-705-5574. LOST GOLD BRACELET with toggle clasp & charm with 50th anniversary engraved. Sentimental value. Lost in vicinity of Palm Ave. in Anna Maria. Call 407-8730078. LOST: LADIES AVIATOR sunglasses on Holmes Beach, 65th street. Wed 6/28 Sunset. Reward. 813546-3982 LOST MY GRANDMOTHER'S gold wedding band (initials inside and date) at Coquina Beach area. Reward. Call 407-579-1621

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

PROFESSIONAL PAINTING SERVICES. Prompt & Reliable. Meticulous, Thorough, Quality Workmanship. Interior/Exterior. Wall paper removal.. Also minor repairs & carpentry. Free written detailed estimates. Bill Witaszek 941-307-9315

BAYSIDE COMMERCIAL PAINTING. David Padyani Call 941-565-9446 or Larry Zimmer 941-2248123 Licensed & Insured

PERSONAL SERVICES NEED MATH TUTOR? I am a Certified 6th-12th Grade Math Teacher with 30 years experience tutoring. Call 941-5244177

PETS PET SITTING ON Island or Near By in home. References available. Call 941-524-0534 for info and scheduling. ARE YOU WANTING to vacation and not worry if your pet is lonely. I will overnight in your home, so your animal can stay in his own environment. Home Sitting is also available. Great References. Call Mary 941-405-2496

POOL SERVICES FOUR SEASONS POOL SERVICE. AMI & West Bradenton. Certified Pool Operator. Residential/commercial. Chemical Service Licensed & Insured. Call Dennis Clark 941-737-5657 COLE'S TROPICAL POOL SERVICE Call Cole Bowers for all your pool maintenance needs! Affordable and Dependable!! 941-7131893

PRINTING CUSTOM DIGITAL PRINTING "Your printing dream to reality" Specializing in Dye sublimation Printing. Graphic Design. Performance Active ware. Logo Design. Call Rhonda 330-550-4847

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PROFESSIONAL PRESSURE & WINDOW WASHING AUTHORITY ONE CLEANING : Residential, Commercial, Construction and Vacation Rentals . Also available Power Washing, Roof Cleaning and Windows. Call 941-251-5948

REAL ESTATE HOMES & CONDOS FOR SALE FROM THE HIGH $200’s Only minutes from the beach, this new active adult community is perfectly located just south of Manatee Ave, off Village Green Pkwy. Perfectly designed, open 2BR or 3BR/2BA plus den & 2CG floor plans. Luxurious amenities, pool, spa, gym, pickle ball and fenced-in dog park. HOA only $190/ month. Models open daily. Contact us 941254-3330 www.MirabellaFlorida.com 113 BEACH AVE 3BR/3BA Pool Home. Great location West of Gulf Drive with Direct beach access! $1,055,000 Call Charles Buky Coldwell Banker 941228-6086 CANAL FRONT HOMES Holmes Bch - Key Royale GULF FRONT CONDOS Gulf Place, La Casa L’Plage, Waters Edge & MORE. Island Real Estate ASK Alan Galletto 941-232-2216 SLIGHTLY OFF THE ISLAND. 3BR/2BA completely renovated Lake House, five miles from the beach. No Condo/HOA Fees, No Deed Restrictions, No Traffic. Huge Boat/RV Storage Area $334,900. www.6909-32nd.com. For Sale By Owner. 941-7955225 HARBOUR ISLE on Anna Maria Sound coach home, 2289 sq ft, 3BR/2BA, screened lanai, retreat, 2 car garage, gated, Beach Club, New marina under construction. Summer special $599,900. Must see! Call today 941-779-4999 Dave Lorman Re/Max Alliance Group

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REAL ESTATE HOMES & CONDOS FOR SALE PERICO BAY CLUB! Open & Bright, with high ceilings! Updated kitchen & near pool! 2BR/2BA - $212,000 Call Anna Maria Sales Team 941-773-0165

REAL ESTATE: OPEN HOUSE OPEN HOUSE: PERICO BAY CLUB September 6 2:00-4:00 1243 Spoonbill Landings Circle 34209 Resort style living in this lovely 2BR/2BA villa. Two master suites, Double garage, Large deck overlooking tranquil Lake View. 3 miles to AMI. Turnkey furnished. $298,900 Karen Parsons, Owner/ Realtor

RENTALS: ANNUAL BRADENTON: 1BR/2BA upstairs condo on 75th St. near St. Peter & Paul . Water, sewer basic cable incl. $900mo $900 security dep. $100 application fee on site. Application approval required. 2-3 bedroom executive level townhouse in gated community with Bayview, 2 car garage, private elevator, treetop loft , Almost 2200 S/F. Many amenities including kayaks, pools, workout center, restaurant and bar all on site. Application approval required. Ask for Ed DUNCAN REAL ESTATE 941-779-0304 www. teamduncan.com

Call us today! 941-778-3986

ANNUAL RENTAL and CONDOMINIUM Association management serviced by (2) offices open 7 days a week! Contact junew@ islandreal.com – 941-3451295 - Island Real Estate of Anna Maria Island, Inc. 2BR/2BA/1 CAR GARAGEsingle family home. $1400/ mo annual lease. Cortez area. 2BR/2BA furnished condo at West Bay Cove. Annual lease $1600/mo. Call A Paradise 941-7784800 ANNUAL RENTALS- Gulf Front 1BR/1BA $950/mo No pets/Non-Smoking; Steps to Beach 1BR/1BA $950/mo, Non-Smoking; Holmes Beach 2BR/1.5BA, carport, storage, W/D hookups $1,650/mo. No pets/ Non-Smoking. Call Fran Maxon Real Estate for details 941-778-2307. WEST BRADENTON, AT VILLAGE GREEN: Private Villa with spectacular lake views. 2 beds/2 baths, over 2100 SF living area with all new paint, flooring and 2 car garage. Villa is fully applianced (washer/dryer too) and unfurnished. Over 55 gated community, no pets, {annual lease only} at $1895/mo. Please call Jim with questions at 781-6032861 or Matt Pertosoff at www.choosegulfcoast.com at 941-782-1559. ANNUAL HOLMES BEACH 2BR/2BA. Steps to Beach & Shops includes Dishwasher, Washer/Dryer trash. No Smoking/No Pets $1695/ mo + utilities. First, Last & Security. Call 860-9223857

TWO STORY 3BR/2BA Townhouse in Bradenton Beach. Large master bedroom w/ large Jacuzzi bath tub, separate shower. Steps to Beach. View of Gulf & Bay. Large deck. Washer/ Dryer, Parking for 3 cars. Available Now. $1800/ mo Call 941-782-8556 ANNUAL RENTAL: Anna Maria City, 2BR/2BA half duplex, totally remodeled, unfurnished. NO PETS! $1,500/mo - 1st, last, and security req'd. Call Sato Real Estate, Inc. at 941778-7200 or email monica@satorealestate.com ANNUAL RENTAL: ELLENTON 3BR/2BA/1CG 1070 sf. One year lease $1195/mo. Spacious Yard. Call 941-893-7325

RENTALS: SEASONAL & VACATION TIFFANY PLACE Gulf Front Condo for Rent Incredible views from living room and master bedroom. 2BR/2BA Green Real Estate Call 941-778-0455 ANNA MARIA ISLAND, Fl Condos. Pool beach access, fully equipped $650-$800/ wk Redekercondos.com 941-704-7525 or 941-7781915

SEPTEMBER 6, 2017

SUMMER WEEKLY RENTALS Available: 2BR/1BA Gulf front from $1,100 per week. 2BR with sleeping loft Bayfront from $1,100 per week, 4BR/3BA Bayside from $1,450 per week. No pools. 2018 SEASONAL RENTALS Available: 2BR/1BA Gulf front from $3,850 per month, 2BR with sleeping loft from $3,850 per month. Three month minimum. Horizon Realty of Anna Maria 941-778-0426 kringco@ tampabay.rr.com GREAT RATES! Weekly, Monthly. 3BR/2BA NW Bradenton. Call Grace 941-201-2190

TRANSPORTATION AMI TAXI metered-on-callcards accepted. Airport: Tampa $95, Sarasota $40, Clearwater $85, Orlando $165. Call 800-301-4816. amitaxi4u@gmail.com, www.amitaxi.com ANYTIME TRANSPORTATION to all airports, appointments, casino, cruises, etc. Tampa $60. Sarasota $30. Pets welcome. Very dependable. Reasonable rates. Contact Jeanne. 941-779-5095 ADMIRAL TOWN CAR Professional chauffeur, taxi prices! Airports (1@ $75, 10 $150 to Tampa), Appointments anywhere. Credit cards accepted. Phil 941-320-1120 admiraltowncar@gmail.com, Licensed & Insured ROGER'S AIRPORT SERVICE. Tampa, St. Pete/ Clearwater, Sarasota/ Bradenton. Call Roger 941773-1469

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SEPTEMBER 6, 2017

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Call today to place your ad: 941-778-3986 movers

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SEPTEMBER 6, 2017