treehouse @ courthouse. 21 Branching out. 14 Astheworldterns prepare for nesting sea turtles. 6
VOLUME 27, NO. 27
school rocks. 24
Happy May Day
MAY 1, 2019 FREE
HB approves aeration for Spring Lake. 4 BB defendants reject another settlement offer. 5
Op-Ed
The Islander editorial, reader letters. 6
10-20 Years ago
From the archives. 7 BB chief steps away from dock project. 8
Meetings
From the government calendar. 8 RFP issued for AMCP restaurant, bait shop. 8
Happenings
Community announcements, activities. 10-11
Save the date. 10-11 HB, AM complete charter reviews. 12 MPO driving transportation plan to 2045. 16
Gathering. 20
Obituaries. 20 USF scientists shift blame for red tide. 21
Celebrating the Best News on Anna Maria Island Since 1992
Jury convicts man for murder of girlfriend’s toddler
By Kathy Prucnell Islander Reporter A jury found David Vickers guilty of second-degree murder and child neglect in the August 2017 death of a Holmes Beach toddler. Vickers’ five-day trial at the manatee County Judicial Center in Bradenton concluded April 26 with the convictions in less than two hours. Twelth Circuit Judge Lou Arends presided and the jury consisted of two women and four men. Luca Sholey was 17 months old Aug. 23, 2017, when he died from a lack of oxygen after suffering four broken ribs and other injuries to the chest, mouth, lips and ears, according to medical testimony at the trial. Testimony for the state came from the toddler’s mother, melissa Wolfe, her father donnie Wolfe, Luca’s father eric Sholey, Holmes Beach police Sgt. tom fraser, manatee county emS and information technology employees and medical experts. Vickers was the only witness called for the defense. He took the stand and spoke softly. Vickers lived at the time with girlfriend melissa Wolfe and her children, Luca and his 3-year-old sister, in donnie Wolfe’s apartment in Holmes Beach. Vickers moved in with them in June 2017. Vickers testified that to save money, he offered to watch Luca and the daughter — that he fed and got the children ready for bed
David Vickers testifies in his defense April 25 on charges in the death of a 17-month-old boy. A jury found Vickers, who lived at the time of the murder in Holmes Beach, guilty of in less than two hours of deliberations. Islander Photo: Kathy Prucnell most nights. melissa Wolfe, who was looking for a caregiver, was working as a waitress six days a week, supporting Vickers and the children. The defendant told the jury that at that time he was addicted to narcotics. The evening of Aug. 21, 2017, Vickers said he took fentanyl and fell asleep on the toddler.
sea turtles kick off nesting season
Streetlife. 22 . 25
Transforming public transit. 27 Sports: Women’s golf champs crowned, soccer starts up. 28 Fishing report. 29 ISL BIZ: Celebrating tourism week. 31
PropertyWatch. 32 CLASSIFIEDS. 32 NYT crossword. 35
www.islander.org
Sea turtle tracks in the sand, spotted by AMITW volunteers — lead from the water and back again early morning April 27 at Coquina Beach in Bradenton Beach. The activity was deemed a “false crawl” — no nest was found. Islander Photo: AMITW
When he awoke several minutes later, he found himself on top of Luca, who was discolored and not breathing. He previously told police he found Luca in his crib, and told the jurors he’d lied because he was scared, afraid of going back to prison. Vickers also said he loved Luca and never harmed him. The defense blamed PLEASE SEE MurDer, PAGE 2
first sea turtles of 2019 attempt to nest
By ChrisAnn Silver Esformes Islander Reporter The loggerheads are off to an early start on anna maria island. Sea turtle nesting season officially began may 1, but the first activity of the season — three false crawls — was spotted on island beaches April 27. A false crawl occurs when a female turtle leaves the gulf of mexico to nest, but returns to the water without laying her eggs. The season often begins with false crawls as the female sea turtles are “testing the temperature of the sand” before depositing their eggs, according to anna maria island turtle Watch and Shorebird monitoring executive director Suzi Fox. PLEASE SEE TurTles, PAGE 3
2 n MAy 1, 2019 n THE ISLANDER
Mom speaks out after murder verdict
MurDer continued from page 1 some of the child’s previous injuries on an accidental fall down the stairs, but admitted Vickers was not “ready” to be a proper caregiver — on drugs and just out of prison. The medical experts, however, concluded the injuries were consistent with abuse — such as the bruised chest, broken ribs, fingernails dug into his mouth and squeezed cheeks. On cross-examination, Vickers admitted to contacting an old girlfriend the week the child died, fearing he would be kicked out of the family apartment despite plans to marry melissa Wolfe, saying he had “a problem with fidelity.” Wolfe and Vickers obtained a marriage license Aug. 18, 2017. Vickers also acknowledged he videotaped Luca experiencing respiratory distress that day, but did not tell melissa or the toddler’s father, who regularly
inquired about the children, including that evening. Vickers called 911 and attempted to administer cpr until a West manatee fire rescue firefighter arrived and took over life-saving measures. Luca was resuscitated, but later died in the hospital, according to trial testimony. Vickers was arrested in October 2017 on charges of murder, neglect and aggravated manslaughter. He has been in the county jail since his Aug. 24, 2017, arrest for a revoked driver’s license and possessing marijuana. He was re-arrested Aug. 30, 2017, for stealing a laptop and stereo from melissa Wolfe. The murder and neglect charges came after Holmes Beach police, manatee county Sheriff’s Crimes Against Children and Florida Child Protective Services found evidence of child abuse, including an autopsy showing a swollen brain and broken ribs in various stages of healing. Vickers faces life in prison. A sentencing hearing is expected this month.
According to a news release from the state attorney’s office, the prosecutor plans to seek a sentence of life in prison as a reoffender. “That’s what happens when you’re found guilty of killing a child,” Campoli said. Vickers was a felon convicted of property-related crimes. He was released from prison may 18, 2017. “The loss of a child is always tragic to the family and to the community,” Assistant State Attorney Dawn Buff said, adding how senseless it was to lose “a beautiful being.” Buff and Assistant State Attorney Lauren Benson handled the prosecution. “It’s an honor to walk the family through the process and seek justice for Luca,” Buff added. The prosecutors dismissed the aggravated manslaughter count after the jury verdict was announced. “Guilty as charged,” said attorney Joe Campoli after the verdict, adding he believed the state had “a very strong case.” Campoli was Vickers’ trial attorney, appointed as a regional public defender.
Unique Pet Portraits
Composited images printed to stretched canvas
6HOƓHV Sunsets PRINTS FROM
Luca Sholey smiles ear to ear on a playground with mom, Melissa Wolfe. Islander Courtesy Photo
in melissa Wolfe’s words: Hearing the verdict was a bittersweet moment. My son finally got justice. The trial was painful and hard but my family and I are eternally grateful to the state attorney’s office, the Manatee County Sheriff ’s Office, the Holmes Beach Police Department and everyone involved in this case for all the compassion and dedication to achieving justice for my son. We are beyond thankful to the jury for coming to the verdict that they did. It restores my faith in humanity. My heart goes out to (David Vicker’s) mother as well, in a way she lost her son too. She is a kind Eric Sholey of Zephyrhills, father of the murdered woman. And I know it was hard for her, too. Right now, my family is still just trying to heal from toddler, leans in to hear trial testimony April 23. Islander Photo: Kathy Prucnell the devastating loss of my son.
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THE ISLANDER n May 1, 2019 n 3
First snowy plover nest spotted in Holmes Beach
AMITW volunteers Debbie and Bob Haynes pound stakes April 27 on the beach in north Holmes Beach to mark the first snowy plover nest of the season on Anna Maria Island. Islander Courtesy Photo: AMITW
Spring is in the air on Anna Maria Island. The first snowy plover nest of the season was posted April 27 on the beach in north Holmes Beach. Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring volunteers previously observed a pair of snowy plovers in that area and now the birds are guarding an egg. The nesting event is later than usual for snowy plovers, according to AMITW executive director Suzi Fox. She said for several years, AMITW has counted 11 snowy plovers, which usually arrive in February and nest in late March to early April but, this year, just one pair has been observed thus far. “We are excited that they are finally here and appear to be doing well,� Fox said April 27. For more information about shorebirds or to Turtles continued from page 1 report a sick or injured shorebird, contact Fox at “It’s gotten warmer recently and everything with suzilfox@gmail.com or 941-778-5638. sea turtles is about temperature,� Fox said April 27 — ChrisAnn Silver Esformes regarding the early activity. The first nest of a record-breaking 534 nests last season was spotted May 13, 2018, at Coquina Beach stakes and observed for data and protection. in Bradenton Beach. Fox said several people she spoke with on the Also, as of April 27, Mote Marine Laboratory of beach April 27 near where the false crawls were spotSarasota had documented seven nests south of AMI ted recognized the tracks as being made by sea turon the beaches of Casey Key, Longboat Key and tles. Venice. “I was impressed that the public knew what the Every year, officially May 1-Oct. 31, female sea tracks were,� Fox said. “It’s good to know that people turtles — mostly loggerheads on the Gulf Coast — are out there keeping an eye on our wildlife.� return to beaches near where they hatched to lay their For more information on sea turtle nesting on AMI, eggs. contact Fox at suzifox@gmail.com or 941-778-5638. Each of the 73 turtle watch volunteers is assigned Visit myfwc.com/seaturtle and click on “Sea Turto walk a turn on a 1-mile stretch of beach just after tles and Lights� or “Wildlife Friendly Lighting� for sunrise, looking for the tell-tale tracks that indicate a information on keeping beaches safe for sea turtles. sea turtle came ashore to nest. Later in the season, they To report sick, injured, entangled or dead sea will scan the shore for signs of hatches. turtles or shorebirds contact the FWC Wildlife Alert Once spotted, nests are marked with tape and Hotline at 888-404-3922.
BELOW: A snowy plover looks toward the dunes on its way to the water’s edge in April 2018 in Holmes Beach. Islander File Photo: ChrisAnn Silver Esformes
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4 n MAy 1, 2019 n THE ISLANDER
Holmes Beach commissioners approve Spring Lake aeration
By ChrisAnn Silver Esformes Islander Reporter Holmes Beach is going to turn Spring Lake upside down. At their April 23 meeting, commissioners unanimously approved a motion to install an aeration system by Vertex Water features of pompano Beach in the brackish lake between 68th and 70th streets. The system will pump 7 million gallons of lake water with oxygen, allowing the entire lake, from bottom to surface, to turn over two times in 24 hours. The lake, with 3 feet of muck accumulated at its bottom, recently underwent a review to determine the best form of cleanup. At an April 9 commission meeting, Burnett said tests performed by manatee county determined the bottom sludge mostly is algae, which digests pollutants. She said this is why prior water-quality testing indicated the lake is clean. Previously, the city considered dredging the lake, but Burnett determined it would cost about $540,000 to dredge a foot of muck, versus less than $7,000 for the installation of the Vertex system, including waterquality testing and semiannual maintenance at $388 per year. The aeration system will generate millions of small air bubbles, lifting bottom water to “turn over” and blend the salt- and freshwater to vent gases harmful to the lake, while allowing absorption of oxygen, according to a Nov. 7, 2018, email from Vertex sales manager Chris Byrne to Burnett. eram Wasserman, a project manager at Burnett’s firm, Lta engineers, said the system comprises a compressor, valve box, tubing and four diffusers. He said representatives from Vertex proposed
Maria Flint, left, of Bradenton and Massachusetts, looks on April 24 as Amanda Aker, also of Massachusetts, points out fish swimming in Spring Lake in Holmes Beach. Islander Photo: ChrisAnn Silver Esformes
installing the compressor next to a utility pole on the east side of 6800 Palm Drive due to availability of power to the compressor, ease of access for air tubes from the compressor to the lake and distance of the compressor from nearby residences. According to the Vertex proposal, the noise level of the compressor, when installed in a Vertex “QuietAir” cabinet, “can be expected to be lower than a swimming pool pump.” Wasserman said a similar system installed by Vertex at a pond in a neighborhood in Bradenton is “very quiet. The birds were louder than the compressor.” Commission Chair Jim Kihm said unlike other aeration systems that create a spume of water in the middle of a lake, the Vertex system is on the bottom, reducing noise.
Commissioner Kim Rash said he spoke with several lakefront residents who previously shared concerns about the health of the lake. “Surprisingly, people seemed to be satisfied with putting the aerator in instead of dredging it out,” he said. “The ones that were most vocal seemed to be OK with it.” Commissioner Rick Hurst asked how long it will take to see results. Wasserman said water samples would be taken six months after the aeration is installed, this month or next, pending legal review of the contract with Vertex. He said he is still researching marine life, such as mussels and oysters, which could consume algae to help with water quality. “This would be the first major step to making Spring Lake a healthier lake,” Wasserman said.
Holmes Beach license plate cameras incite readers
it?”
By ChrisAnn Silver Esformes Islander Reporter “Big Brother in paradise. Who would have thunk
So reads one of the comments posted by people on social media regarding recently installed equipment designed to photograph license plates as vehicles pass through Holmes Beach. The system alerts the Holmes Beach Police Department to license plates of vehicles that could be stolen or driven by someone with a revoked or suspended license, according to HBPD Chief Bill Tokajer. “Chances are, someone with a suspended license has also done other things,” tokajer said. “We get a lot of people that we arrest for other crimes, such as narcotics, that have suspended licenses.” there are two cameras installed on manatee Avenue, two cameras on Gulf Drive and one on East Bay Drive. The cameras capture the rear of the vehicle and the tag, but not the driver’s photo. tokajer said april 25 that the software system does not track and store the license plates of everyone who crosses the city boundaries. Rather, the service, provided by Vigilant Solutions of Livermore, California,
Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer points April 25 to a screen in his vehicle depicting an alert from recently installed license plate reader equipment. Islander Photo: ChrisAnn Silver Esformes sends “alerts” to the HBpd, which verifies the information through Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Federal Bureau of Investigation databases before reacting. “They don’t just see that it comes up as a hit and pull a car over,” he said. “They only pull the car over
‘Mayday, mayday, mayday Coast Guard’
On May 9, 1980, a mayday call went out, alerting the U.S. Coast Guard that the Sunshine Skyway Bridge spanning Tampa Bay was “down.” The Summit Venture collided during a squall with the bridge, collapsing the southbound lane, sending vehicles and passengers plummeting into the water below. Thirty-five people died. The Islander invites readers to share their recollections of that day. Email news@islander.org or text 941-778-9392. Please, include your name, where you live and where you were May 9, 1980. Islander File Photo: Gene Page III
after they have checked that it is still a car of concern, still a person of concern.” a camera installed on manatee avenue alerted the HBPD April 18, several hours after the system went live, of a tag on a stolen vehicle from Orlando heading west into Holmes Beach, then alerted again as the vehicle crossed into Bradenton Beach. BBPD located the car and the HBPD assisted in the stop near the Gulf Drive Cafe on Gulf Drive. The car was an unreturned rental and no arrest was made, although the vehicle was reported stolen feb. 25 by the rental company. The rental company was contacted and the car was towed. “We pulled the car over two months after it was reported stolen,” Tokajer said. “Using a car and not paying for it is a valid stolen car. So the system did its job.” Another media outlet reported a similar instance occurred in November 2018, in Contra Costa County, California, when the driver of a rental car that was reported stolen in October was detained in November, after the sheriff’s department received an alert. the driver filed a federal lawsuit in december 2018 against the sheriff’s department, alleging his civil rights had been violated, also claiming a warrantless search of his car had been conducted and excessive force had been used. “The license plate reader did its job,” Tokajer said. “The failing in this was the state’s fault by not removing the car out of the database.” The chief said the HBPD has been getting hits on the system about every five minutes and must discern whether to investigate. “We are not going to be pulling a car over every five minutes. We’re doing other things,” tokajer said. He said an investigation would be prompted if, upon verification, the information provided by Vigilant matches the information in state and federal databases. People also have commented that the cameras are another way for the city to incur revenue from traffic infractions, such as speeding or running a red light. “This is not a camera that is put there to gain revenue,” Tokajer said. “This is an investigative tool to alert us to the criminal element that is coming on the island.”
THE ISLANDER n MAy 1, 2019 n 5
Bradenton Beach defendants reject another settlement offer
ChrisAnn Silver Esformes Islander Reporter Another offer, another rejection. The back-and-forth continues in the case of Bradenton Beach and ex-mayor Jack clarke versus six former city board members. And a slew of depositions and a court date draw near. The offer, which was approved by the mayor and city commissioners at an April 9 shade meeting, would allow the defendants to pay legal fees incurred by taxpayers — now $203,118.93 — to end the suit with no admission of guilt. But the defendants — Reed mapes, tjet martin, John metz, patty Shay and Bill and Rose Vincent — plan to decline the newest offer to settle the lawsuit that alleges they violated Florida’s Government-inthe-Sunshine Law. Martin The deadline given the defendants to accept or decline the offer is may 2. The suit claims the defendants, who served on volunteer city boards, discussed city matters at meetings Shay of the grass-roots group Concerned Neighbors of Bradenton Beach. According to the city’s allegations, the meetings were not properly noticed and the defendants also communicated city business through emails, texts and phone calls. The latest offer also stipulates Vincent that the defendants must provide all requested public records to the attorney for the city, robert Watrous, within 30 days of agreeing to the terms. Shay said many city residents have told her that the city’s new offer indicates the commission recognizes
it was wrong. “People now come up to me on the street and say they feel we have been wrongfully accused. Previously, the city wanted us to admit guilt. Now they are saying if we pay the money Mapes we don’t have to admit guilt,” she said. “It seems like they are coming to the conclusion we have been wrongfully accused.” Shay said proximity to election season could play a part in the city’s offer. “It’s almost election time and those running will have to say, ‘We’ve spent $200,000 and have nothing to show for it.” in march, the city made an offer that would have required the defendants each pay fines of $500 and admit they violated the Sunshine Law.
The defendants responded with an “offer to compromise,” to make a $10,000 donation to the Annie Silver Community Center or another suitable nonprofit and exclude any admission of guilt as well as the $500 per-person Metz fine. Their offer also stipulated that the city and the defendants each would pay their own legal fees. If there is no settlement, more depositions will take place in may and June. the defendants also plan to continue deposing the city attorney, who is co-counsel with Watrous. as of april 27, hearings are set for 9 a.m. Wednesday, may 3, and 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 26, in the circuit court.
Bradenton Beach planners, commissioners discuss comp plan
By Ryan Paice Islander Reporter Rising sea levels are on the minds of Bradenton Beach officials. City commissioners and planning and zoning board members met April 23 to discuss how to deal with rising sea levels in the city’s comprehensive plan. Possible changes include discouraging development near natural shorelines and periodically evaluating risks from rising seas. Building official Steve gilbert said commissioners could discourage development near the coast by increasing buffer areas from the shore, making some parcels unbuildable. As a part of a goal to protect the city from sea level rise, an evaluation of public investments, infrastructure and assets at risk is due by 2020. The plan determines priority for the development and implementation of adaptation strategies, such as “hard” and “soft” protective measures — like shoreline armoring as a hard measure, or beach renourishment
A
as a soft measure. The new plan also calls for the city to identify best practices to reduce losses due to flooding. City planner Alan Garrett said changes to the comp plan are required for the city to receive funding from sources such as the federal emergency management agency’s Hazard mitigation grant program. He said the city incorporated many of the proposed changes into the land development and building codes in recent years. commissioner randy White asked if proposed changes would force residents in areas not at immediate risk of coastal flooding to pay for countering rising tides in at-risk areas. “We don’t have an option,” planning and zoning board vice chair John Burns said. “This has to go through.” officials did not vote on revisions at the workshop. The planning and zoning board will again address their recommendations at a meeting 1 p.m. Wednesday, may 22, at city hall, 107 Gulf Drive N.
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Opinion
Our
Another season
it is time for another influx of visitors. Judging from the traffic — on the roads and the waterways and at Publix and the public beaches on anna maria island — tourist season is ongoing on anna maria island. The weather is chamber-of-commerce perfect. The sunrises and sunsets are stunning. The island is touted in magazines and the new genre of lists — best of this and that — all over the United States and beyond. Some visitors tell us they feel fortunate to have found anna maria island. those of us living here many years also came to love ami. But are you ready for an invasion of some 400-500 or more 300-plus-pound slow-moving female loggerhead turtles? may 1 is the kick off day for sea turtle nesting on beaches in florida and ami is no exception. Last year was a record year for nesting, in spite of a red tide crisis that started up in August in our waters and stunned and killed marine life for many months. The loggerheads that frequent the island beaches typically nest through August-September and hatchlings make their way to the gulf of mexico from the nests starting about 60 days after the first nest through October and into November. So we ask you, as we do every year, to welcome the sea turtles to nest on our beaches. It is, after all, the only time they leave the water. make the beach habitat ready for the females to deposit their eggs to incubate unattended — and unbothered. Help keep the beach free of trash and obstacles. Please, provide a clear path for the females to lumber ashore in the dark and find their spot in the sand to dig out a cavity and deposit their clutch. It’s up to us to ensure they make their way back to the water, guided by the instincts mother nature provides — the twinkle of the stars and reflection of the moon on the water. it’s not all up to mother nature. It’s also on us to provide a dark beach, free of artificial light that can distract the sea turtle along the way. Lighting can lead sea turtles to their death. Let’s keep the nesting ground as nature intended. Thanks to the Moose lodge finally, cheers go to our moose Lodge no. 2188 for taking time to host a very well deserved service recently in honor of the late Ernie Casali Jr., administrator for 16 or so years, and the man responsible for “the largest lodge membership in the world.” Thank you for the gift of Ernie. — Bonner Joy
Opinion
Your
Keeping tabs on the tab
Excellent article on the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau concerts (The Islander, April 24). i too wondered how these events were profitable — to the retailers, or our island’s image. i also was curious how our nonprofit center of anna maria island benefited financially. Thank you for being on top of this. Renee Ferguson, Holmes Beach
Follow the money
MAY 1, 2019 • Vol. 27, No. 27 ▼ ▼
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Publisher and Editor Bonner Joy, news@islander.org Editorial Lisa Neff, editor, lisa@islander.org Sandy Ambrogi, sandy@islander.org Joe Bird, editorial cartoonist Kevin Cassidy, kevin@islander.org Jack Elka, jack@jackelka.com ChrisAnn Silver Esformes, chrisann@islander.org Brook Morrison, brook@islander.org Ryan Paice, ryan@islander.org Kathy Prucnell, kathyp@islander.org Contributors Jesse Brisson Karen Riley-Love Capt. Danny Stasny, fish@islander.org Advertising Director Toni Lyon, toni@islander.org Office Staff Lisa Williams, manager Vicki McIntyre accounting@islander.org classifieds@islander.org subscriptions@islander.org Distribution Urbane Bouchet Judy Loden Wasco Ross Roberts (All others: news@islander.org)
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I agree with your editorial (The Islander, April 24) concerning the vast amount of public funds utilized for the dubious fundraising attempts at the Center of anna maria island and also with the Jane Seymour celebrity-amateur art project. Follow the money, and get to the bottom of this. Gary Hudkins, Holmes Beach
To see the pier again
We come from united Kingdom to anna maria Island every October — our paradise for two weeks. We are getting on in years and said that this would probably be our last visit, but if the bait shop and restaurant aren’t finished by this october then we will probably push ourselves to return in 2020 to see the completed City Pier for the last time. Hopefully the structure design will be in keeping with the rest of your beautiful island. Rob Rotheram, United Kingdom
Beach’n good time
the anna maria island chamber of commerce wishes to thank everyone who assisted with and attended the Fourth Annual Beach’N Food Truck & music festival held april 13 at coquina Beach. The chamber-perfect weather brought out festivalgoers from near and far.
We wish to express our sincere gratitude to crossPointe Fellowship and the many volunteers who helped make the festival a success, as well as our sponsors. also, a shoutout to anna maria island dolphin Tours, Egmont Key Adventures, Yolo Adventures and Waterline marina resort & Beach club for making our pilot event-boat shuttle work like a charm. The festivals and golf tournament that the chamber hosts each year help support our scholarship program and we couldn’t do it without all of you. The chamber staff and board of directors are proud to be part of many community endeavors you help us make successful each year! Terri Kinder, president, Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce
Save your heritage
We visit anna maria island from the united Kingdom every year. We were attracted by the old-florida style, which still exists but each year we find more older homes replaced by big modern boxes. It’s not just cracker houses that need preserving, it’s the little duplexes and small homes with flamingo front doors and metal shutters and the beachy momand-pop joints. These are what people want to see, and they will pay well to stay in them. So here’s a suggestion to protect your heritage: make the remaining houses and offices places of special interest to increase their value, financially and historically. Some ideas: form a heritage building protection society and record the houses with original exterior features from the 1930s-’60s, get city commissions to see the value of protecting a unique aspect of old-Florida, have a heritage-building trail map, ask commissions to employ a heritage officer, suggest tax breaks and help with flood insurance for owners who keep the PLEASE SEE OPINIONs, NEXT PAGE
THE ISLANDER n MAy 1, 2019 n 7
On deck
A fisherman in the fall of 1979 stands near the welcome sign at the Anna Maria City Pier. Islander Photo: Courtesy Manatee County Public Library Digital Collection
Opinion
Your
continued from page 6
detail and facade of their buildings intact when they remodel and renovate. all this was done in the miami-South Beach deco area and now it’s a worldwide attraction. There must be many architects, designers and lawyers who own property on the island who could get involved. Joni mitchell sang, “You don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone.” Don’t let that happen on this wonderful island. Caroline Brown, Midhurst, United Kingdom
Have your say: The Islander accepts original letters of up to 250 words and reserves the right to edit for grammar and length. Letters must include name, address and a contact phone number. Email: news@ islander.org. Anonymous letters will not be printed.
Good deeds
Volunteer opportunities
Looking for volunteer opportunities on or around anna maria island? these organizations are seeking help: The Roser Food Bank needs donations of cash and nonperishable food. The pantry is administered by roser memorial community church, 512 pine ave., anna maria. information: 941-778-0414. moonracer animal rescue seeks volunteers to offer foster and forever homes for rescued animals. information: 941-345-2441. anna maria island Historical Society museum seeks docents, 402 pine ave., anna maria. information: 941-778-0492. anna maria island chamber of commerce seeks volunteers to assist at the office and visitor information center. information: 941-778-1541.
10&20 years ago
In the headlines: April 29, 1999
anna maria resident Jim conoly filed criminal charges against the city for allegedly violating Florida’s public records law after he was denied access to copies of applications for the vacant city clerk’s position. conoly’s filing followed a civil complaint against the city by The Islander newspaper. Coastal Corp. of Houston proposed a $1.2 billion, 700-mile natural gas pipeline that would originate in mobile, alabama, go ashore on anna maria island and terminate in fort pierce. Holmes Beach city commissioners directed then-mayor carol Whitmore to draft procedures for an approval process and fee to organizations and groups seeking to use the city commission chambers at the newly completed city hall. Whitmore suggested a $25 fee for use of the chamber.
In the headlines: April 29, 2009
anna maria mayor fran Barford told members of the anna maria city pier centennial celebration not to count too much on the cooperation of the tenant at the pier restaurant, which was requesting a reduced rent. An attorney for a Park Avenue resident in Anna maria alleged that a state permit requested to build seaward of the coastal construction line was an attempt to create a subdivision on the Gulf coast. Beach Bums on pine avenue became the first commercial establishment on anna maria island to install solar panels to generate electricity. The weekly archives for The Islander are online at ufdc.ufl.edu. Some archived stories also are online at islander.org.
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Bradenton Beach CRA’s floating dock liaison steps down By Ryan Paice Islander Reporter The Bradenton Beach community redevelopment agency needs a new point person for its floating dock project. Police Chief Sam Speciale announced his decision to step down as the facilitator and city liaison for the CRA-funded project, as well as head of the pier team, in an April 18 email to mayor John chappie and city commissioners. Speciale “With the sending of this email, i am officially stepping down as facilitator for the floating dock project,” Speciale wrote in the email. “A recent shift in the duties of individuals has put the direction of this project in a direction I do not agree with, and it is for these reasons I am stepping down.”
Speciale, who will remain as the city’s police chief, added that further dock-related correspondence will be relayed to city attorney Ricinda Perry or treasurer Shayne Thompson. He did not respond to an April 24 phone call asking for comment on his decision. “I think the chief just wants to pass the baton to someone else after having put in his utmost on a project facing delay after delay,” commissioner randy White wrote in an April 24 text message to The Islander. White added that he did not know what shift in duty or direction led Speciale to step down from the role. “I don’t know his reasoning,” Perry said in an interview April 24. The project — which aims to replace a storm-damaged dock removed from the Historic Bridge Street Pier in 2017 with a new dock — has had a turbulent two-year history. The CRA contracted Technomarine Construction
Seawall in peril in Holmes Beach
The right turn-lane on Marina Drive, running along the grand canal in Holmes Beach and ending at 56th Street, is barricaded April 24. Police Chief Bill Tokajer said the lane is closed because the adjacent seawall is degraded and could collapse. According to Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth, repair of the seawall along the canal is a priority due to the public safety concerns. Islander Photo: Bonner Joy
in 2017 to manufacture and install the floating dock for $119,980, but the city severed its relationship with the company earlier this year after Technomarine failed to meet multiple deadlines. CRA members directed Perry April 10 to draft a contract with Gibsonton-based Hecker Construction — the company initially subcontracted by Technomarine for delivery and installation of the dock — to deliver, assemble and install the dock for $105,754. Perry said she has been in contact with Hecker about the contract and expected the document to be drafted and signed before the CRA’s next meeting at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, may 1, at city hall, 107 Gulf Drive N. Perry The CRA district is bordered by Cortez Road, Sarasota Bay, Fifth Street South and the gulf of mexico. the area was deemed blighted in 1992, leading to the creation of the CRA and the use of incremental tax revenue from manatee county to promote restoration, growth and tourism. Hecker will have 80 days after signing the contract to complete work on the dock or face a $500 daily penalty for delays. Perry added that Hecker collected cost estimates from different companies for the composite piles needed to support the dock and received an offer which would cost the city “substantially less” than expected. “It’s progressing along, and we’re almost completely across the line, with the exception of the actual construction of it,” Perry said. Perry said the next step for the city is to work with manatee county on an interlocal agreement for the use of the county-owned North Coquina Boat Ramp to load and launch a barge for construction of the dock after Hecker delivers it to the city.
AM City Pier restaurant, bait shop request for proposals issued
By Ryan Paice Islander Reporter the city of anna maria is beginning to set its sights on the next phase of work on the new anna maria city pier: the restaurant and bait shop on the t-end. Pile-driving wrapped up April 17 and, while i+iconSOUTHEAST continues to construct the walkway and t-end, anna maria city commission chair Brian Seymour said april 25 the city had issued a request for proposals for the construction of the restaurant and bait shop on the T-end. He added in an interview april 26 that murphy and city staff compile and issue the RFP. He said the commission doesn’t have a say in the contents of RFPs before issuance, but would make recommendations on the proposals after bids are collected. The RFP calls for the construction of a 2,460-
Trolley ridership tops year-to-year numbers Trolley up. Trolley down. Ridership on the fare-free island trolley to date in the fiscal year 2018-19 exceeds ridership in 2017-18, according to a report from manatee County Area Transit. However, the report shows ridership below 2016-17 levels on the trolley, which operates seven days a week, 6 a.m.-10:40 p.m., between pine avenue and north Bay Boulevard in anna maria and Coquina Beach in Bradenton Beach. ridership for october-march 2018-19 totaled 247,842 compared with 234,222 for the same period in 2017-18 and 273,236 in 2016-17. march ridership this year reached 64,760 — above the 56,571 counted in 2017-18, but lower than the 66,980 in 2016-17. Ridership for every month but February was lower in 2018-19 than in 2016-17, according to the mcat report. Since fiscal year 2015, annual ridership on the trolley has exceeded 500,000. — Lisa Neff
square-foot building with a restaurant, bait shop and restrooms. The contractor must include water, sewer, fire protection, communication, gas and electric systems. The document also establishes a 200-day deadline for construction, with a $495 daily fine for finishing late. Contractors must submit their proposals to the city by may 20. mayor dan murphy said april 25 icon returned that day loaded with frames, wood bents and other materials for the walkway construction. Work installing wood bents to support the walkway resumed april 27, according to murphy. most of the remaining materials needed to construct the pier will be delivered to the city. murphy said
Meetings
concrete pile caps and decking for the T-end would be delivered to Kingfish Boat ramp in Holmes Beach in the next few weeks, to be loaded onto Icon’s barge. Ipe decking for the pier walkway and to top the concrete deck at the T-end will be delivered to the city either the week beginning april 29 or may 6. murphy said icon will close the landside pavilion again to work on the walkway close to shore. He said there were no dates set for the closures. “We’re making good progress,” murphy said. “Things are moving along, and it’s really starting to shape up.” additionally, the city hired divers in march to inspect underwater after two T-end pilings failed. murphy said the divers reported no evidence of problems, including the two replacement piles. may 28, 6 p.m., city commission. Holmes Beach City Hall, 5801 Marina Drive, 941-708-5800, holmesbeachfl.org.
Anna Maria City may 9, 6 p.m., city commission. may 14, 4 p.m., planning and zoning. West Manatee Fire rescue may 15, 5:30 p.m., special magistrate. None announced. may 23, 6 p.m., city commission. WMFR administration building, 6510 Third Ave. Anna Maria City Hall, 10005 Gulf Drive, 941- W., Bradenton, wmfr.org. 708-6130, cityofannamaria.com. Manatee County Bradenton Beach may 7, 9 a.m., commission. may 1, 9:30 a.m., cra. may 21, 9 a.m., commission. may 2, 6 p.m., commission. may 28, 1:30 p.m., commission (budget presenmay 7, 10 a.m., commission. tation). may 9, 1 p.m., department heads. Administration building, 1112 Manatee Ave. W., may 16, noon, commission. Bradenton, 941-748-4501, mymanatee.org. may 21, 10 a.m., commission. may 22, 1 p.m., planning and zoning. Of interest Bradenton Beach City Hall, 107 Gulf Drive N., may 6, 2 p.m., island transportation planning 941-778-1005, cityofbradentonbeach.org. Organization, Bradenton Beach City Hall. may 21, 2 p.m., Barrier island elected officials, Holmes Beach Holmes Beach City Hall. may 1, 10 a.m., parks and beautification. may 27, most government offices will be closed may 1, 6 p.m., planning commission. for memorial day. may 2, 10 a.m., charter review. Send notices to calendar@islander.org and may 14, 6 p.m., city commission. news@islander.org.
THE ISLANDER n MAy 1, 2019 n 9
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10 n MAy 1, 2019 n THE ISLANDER
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Island happenings Senior Adventures bound for Mazzaro’s market
The Senior Adventures will venture to south St. petersburg friday, may 3, to visit mazzaro’s italian market. Senior Adventures is a group of older adults who meet most Fridays for an adventure — an outing or a gathering at Annie Silver Community Center. The group will depart from the Annie Silver Community Center, 103 23rd St. N., Bradenton Beach, at 10 a.m. for the van ride north. A reservation is required. and the cost for the van ride is $5. For more information, call Kaye Bell at 941538-0945.
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Theater group to lunch at IMG
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In May, Island Gallery West showcases oil paintings by Joanna Karpay in the “Land and Sea — Artscapes of Florida” exhibit. The gallery is at 5368 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach. For more information, call the gallery at 941-778-6648. Islander Courtesy Photo NOW OPEN at our new location! 714 43rd St. W • Bradenton Tue-Fri 10-5, Sat 11-4
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The Islander Calendar ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT ONGOING ON AMI
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The Off Stage Ladies of the Island Players will meet for lunch and a program at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, may 8, at the img academy golf club, 4350 el Conquistador Parkway, Bradenton. The cost of the luncheon will be $16. The Bonnie Gray Dancers will perform. also, island players director mike Lusk will talk about the current production at the anna maria theater — “Present Laughter” by Noel Coward. For more information, contact Roe Duncan at 941567-4960.
coMPiled BY lisa neff, calendar@islander.org
Fourth Wednesdays, “Stelliferous Live” star talk, the Bishop Museum of Science and Nature, 201 10th St. W., Bradenton. Fee applies. Information: 941-746-4131.
LOOKING AHEAD OFF AMI May 2-12, The Island Players present “Present Laughter,” June 6, Florida Maritime Museum World Oceans Day celebra10009 Gulf Drive, Anna Maria. Fee applies. Information: 941-778tion, Cortez. 5755. Throughout May, Joanna Karpay exhibits “Land and Sea, GAMES, SPORTS & Artscapes of Florida,” Island Gallery West, 5368 Gulf Drive, Holmes OUTDOORS Beach. Information: 941-778-6648. ONGOING ON ANNA MARIA ISLAND ONGOING OFF ANNA MARIA ISLAND Wednesdays and Mondays, 12:30-3:30 p.m., pickleball, Center of Anna Maria Island, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria. Fee applies. Information: 941-778-1908. Wednesdays and Fridays, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., pickleball, Center of Anna Maria Island, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria. Fee applies. Information: 941-778-1908. Wednesdays and Saturdays, 9 a.m., horseshoes pitched, Anna Maria City Hall, 10005 Gulf Drive, Anna Maria. Info: 941-7086130. Thursdays-Saturdays and Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., pickleball, Center of Anna Maria Island, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria. Fee applies. Information: 941-778-1908. Most Fridays, 11:30 a.m. or 1 p.m. (call for times) mahjong games, Island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Information: 941-778-6341. Mondays, noon, bridge, Roser Memorial Community Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria. Information: 941-778-0414. Mondays, AMI Dragon Boat Fun and Fitness Club, time KIDS & FAMILY depends on tides, 417 63rd St., Holmes Beach. Information: 941462-2626. ON ANNA MARIA ISLAND Mondays and Thursdays, 1 p.m., mahjong, Center of Anna Maria Island, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria. Info: 941-778-1908. Friday, May 3 Mondays-Saturdays, 7:30-10:30 a.m., Round Robin Tennis, 10 a.m. — Forty Carrots parenting program, Island Library, Center of Anna Maria Island, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria. Fee 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Information: 941-778-6341. applies. Information: 941-778-1908. Tuesday, May 7 Most Tuesdays, 11:30 a.m., mahjong games and instruction 10 a.m. — Preschool storytime, Island Library, 5701 Marina for beginners, Island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Drive, Holmes Beach. Information: 941-778-6341. Information: 941-778-6341. LOOKING AHEAD ON AMI Tuesdays, noon, duplicate bridge, Episcopal Church of the June 1, Snooks Adams’ Kids Day, Anna Maria. Annunciation, 4408 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach. Information: 941779-0881. ONGOING OFF AMI ONGOING OFF AMI First Saturdays, Family Night at the Museum, the Bishop Museum of Science and Nature, 201 10th St. W., Bradenton. Fee Various dates and times through Aug. 29, Bradenton Marauders applies. Information: 941-746-4131. Through July 15, “National Geographic Photo Ark,” the Bishop Museum of Science and Nature, 201 10th St. W., Bradenton. Fee applies. Information: 941-746-4131. Second Wednesdays, Think + Drink (science), the Bishop Museum of Science and Nature, 201 10th St. W., Bradenton. Fee applies. Information: 941-746-4131. Wednesdays, 2-4 p.m., Shanty Singers, Florida Maritime Museum, 4415 119th St. W., Cortez. Information: 941-708-6120. First Fridays, 6-9 p.m. ArtWalk in the Village of the Arts, around 12th Street West and 12th Avenue West, Bradenton. Also, Saturdays after the first Fridays. Information: villageofthearts@gmail.com. Second Saturdays, 2-4 p.m., Music on the Porch, Florida Maritime Museum, 4415 119th St. W., Cortez. Information: 941-7086120. Through Dec. 31, “Always Ready” U.S. Coast Guard exhibit, Florida Maritime Museum, 4415 119th St. W., Cortez. Information: 941-708-6120.
Island happenings
THE ISLANDER n MAy 1, 2019 n 11
Players take the stage in season’s final production
Caroline Cox, top left, clockwise, James Thaggard, Pamela Hopkins, Heiko Knipfelberg and Judy Glynn get into their characters for Noel Coward’s “Present Laughter.” The Island Players’ production will run May 2-12 at the theater, 10009 Gulf Drive, Anna Maria. Tickets are $20. Performances are at 8 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. For more information, call the box office at 941778-5755. Island Courtesy Photo: Mike Lusk
the island players will open its final production nees at 2 p.m. Sunday. The theater, 10009 Gulf Drive, of the season thursday, may 2. anna maria, is dark on mondays. The satire now in rehearsals is “Present Laughter,” Tickets are $20. written by noël coward and directed by mike Lusk. the box office will be open 9 a.m.-1 p.m. mondaythe run will continue through may 12, with per- Saturday and an hour before performances. formances at 8 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and two matifor more, call the box office at 941 778-5755.
The Islander Calendar
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baseball games, LECOM Park, 1611 Ninth St. W., Bradenton. Fee Together meets, Bridge Street Bistro, 111 Gulf Drive S., Bradenton applies. Information: 941-747-3031. Beach. Fee applies. Information: 941-345-5135. Fridays, Senior Adventures usually meets to carpool on an LOOKING AHEAD OFF AMI adventure or for an activity, Annie Silver Community Center, 103 May 17, Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce 20th Annual 23rd St. N., Bradenton Beach. Information: 941-538-0945. Golf Outing, Bradenton. Second Fridays, 6 p.m., AMI Resident Community ConnecMay 17-18, William R. Mote Memorial Snook Shindig, Sarasota tions, Center of Anna Maria Island, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria. Bay. Information: 941-778-1908. Tuesdays through May 14, 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m., Anna Maria FarmCLUBS & ers Market, City Pier Park, North Bay Boulevard and Pine Avenue. COMMUNITY Information: 941-708-6130. Tuesdays, noon, Rotary Club of Anna Maria Island, Bridge ON ANNA MARIA ISLAND Street Bistro, 111 Gulf Drive S., Bradenton Beach. Information: 941Wednesday, May 1 718-0291. 1 p.m. — Gulf Coast Writers, Island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Tuesdays, 2-4 p.m., Tech Help, Island Library, 5701 Marina Holmes Beach. Information: 941-778-6341. Drive, Holmes Beach. Information: 941-778-6341. Thursday, May 2 LOOKING AHEAD OFF AMI 2 p.m. — Sunshine Stitchers knitting and crochet, Island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Information: 941-778-6341. June 9, All Island Denominations Pentecostal Service, Holmes Saturday, May 4 Beach. 10 a.m. — Ask a Master Gardener, Island Library, 5701 Marina ONGOING OFF AMI Drive, Holmes Beach. Information: 941-778-6341. Wednesday, May 8 Fridays, 10:30 a.m., Paradise Cafe games, music and socialNoon — Coloring club, Island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, izing, the Paradise Center, Temple Beth Israel, 567 Bay Isles Road, Holmes Beach. Information: 941-778-6341. Longboat Key. Fee applies. Information: 941-383-6493. 6:30 p.m. — Island Time Book Club, Island Library, 5701 Marina GOOD TO KNOW Drive, Holmes Beach. Information: 941-778-6341. SAVE THE DATES ONGOING ON AMI May 5, Cinco de Mayo. May 12, Mother’s Day. May 27, Memorial Day. June 14, Flag Day.
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Submit your social news to news@islander.org. Please, include the time, date and location for events, as well as a contact name and phone number for publication. And, thanks for sharing!
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12 n MAy 1, 2019 n THE ISLANDER
Holmes Beach commission completes charter review
By ChrisAnn Silver Esformes Islander Reporter The deed is done. The Holmes Beach Charter Review Commission has finished dissecting the city charter and is ready to present recommended amendments to the city commission. Charter review commissioners completed their review of articles 11-14 april 25 and unanimously approved, with changes, an ordinance including eight proposed amendments written by city attorney Patricia Petruff. proposed amendments include: • revision of the legal description of the city to include annexations; • procedures for the conveyance or leasing of city land; • Budget amendments through resolution; • concurrence of the commission for removal of department heads; • elimination of the requirement that the city treasurer prepare the annual audit; • deletion of the building and public works departments as charter departments; • removal of human resources as a charter position; • transference of filings candidate filings for elections from the city clerk to the manatee county
Holmes Beach city attorney Patricia Petruff, left, and charter review Commissioners Nancy Deal, Sean Murphy, Chair Edward Upshaw and Commissioners Claudia Carlson and David Zaccagnino leaf through the city charter at their April 25 meeting. Islander Photo: ChrisAnn Silver Esformes Supervisor of elections office. The amendments previously were approved by the commission, which began its review in January. The charter review process requires a supermajority vote — at least 4-1 — for an amendment to be placed on the ballot for voter consideration. at the april 25 meeting, chair edward upshaw led a discussion of articles 11-14, which include procedures for elections or recalls, charter amendments, charter review and transition schedule.
Holmes Beach to update employee handbook
Holmes Beach employees soon will have a new guide for the future. The city is updating its employee handbook to include a policy for electronic communications and social media. At their April 23 meeting, city commissioners unanimously approved the first reading of an ordinance to repeal and replace the 2016 handbook. The mayor and commissioners discussed changes during a march work session with mary Buonagura, the city human resources analyst, who updated the document. City attorney Patricia Petruff prepared an ordinance for the new handbook for first reading. Buonagura said she met individually with the mayor and commissioners to take suggestions,
including stronger language regarding bullying and harassment, limiting the accrual of compensatory time for employees and clarifying pay in lieu of vacations. Additionally, the revised handbook includes guidelines for technology — including social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter — while working. Also, the handbook now states in bold, “Employees are prohibited from using city-owned devices — computers, tablets, smartphones — for personal use.” a final reading of the handbook ordinance is planned for the next commission meeting at 6 p.m. tuesday, may 14, at city hall, 5801 marina drive. — ChrisAnn Silver Esformes
At a previous meeting, city clerk Stacey Johnston asked the commission to consider an amendment to article 11 that would transfer the filing for notice of candidacy in a municipal election to the SOE, instead of the city clerk. She would remain the city election official, but the qualifying process would be the SOE’s responsibility. Reviewers unanimously approved Johnston’s recommended amendment to article 11. Approval of motions to retain article 12, dealing with charter amendments, and article 13, the charter review process, also were unanimous. Additionally, a motion to delete duplicate language regarding ratification of the charter in article 14, also was unanimously approved. Following the votes on the articles, the commission unanimously approved a motion to adopt the charter amendment ordinance. The ordinance will be submitted to the city commission at a may work session before it goes to the SOE for a citywide vote in November. The group reached consensus that Upshaw will prepare a report of the charter review commission’s findings, to be discussed with crc members at the next meeting and presented to the city commissioners with the ordinance. The city commission reviews, but can not decline the charter ordinance. The Holmes Beach CRC will meet at 10 a.m. thursday, may 2, at city hall, 5801 marina drive.
Anna Maria charter changes headed to November ballot
By Ryan Paice Islander Reporter minor changes to the anna maria charter are ready for voters on the November municipal ballot. City commissioners and charter review commissioners combined to vote april 25 to approve 8-0 proposed changes to the charter for ballots in the next election. constituents will have the final vote on the changes, many of which would be typographical and grammatical corrections to the document. charter review members mark Short and John Chambers were absent with excuse. Fran Barford, who chaired the review commission, presented the revised charter to city commissioners at a joint meeting, highlighting proposed changes, which did not include alterations to term limits of city officials, the city’s requirements to claim residency, or the installation of a city manager. “We just felt it wasn’t the right time,” Barford said. “The dynamics of the city are what they are and, maybe sometime in the future, it will need to be changed.” proposed changes include: • requiring city commission approval of candidates for city treasurer; • calling for a city official to forfeit his or her office if found in violation of Florida’s code of ethics; • changes to bring the charter into compliance with state law. Barford said the several proposed typographical and grammatical corrections would be presented as a single charter amendment on the ballot. city commissioner dale Woodland asked Barford why the reviewers decided not to change residency requirements in the charter. He said the requirement that people maintain residency in anna maria for two
Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy, left, presents plaques April 25 to Charter Review Commission Chair Fran Barford, as well as Charter Review Commissioners Sissy Quinn and Vice Chair Jack Brennan, recognizing their work. Charter review Commissioners Mark Short and John Chambers didn’t attend the meeting. Islander Photo: Ryan Paice
years before qualifying to run for election should be lowered to one year to encourage more people to run for office. Barford said such a change would shift city dynamics too much. City Commission Chair Brian Seymour, as well as City Commissioners Carol Carter and Amy Tripp, were comfortable with existing residency requirement. “I do think that time will come, but now just isn’t the time,” Seymour said. City Commissioner Doug Copeland asked Barford why the reviewers decided to propose a change calling for a runoff in the event of a tie vote in a municipal election. He said a runoff election could take up to 90
days to hold, which he argued might be too long for commission seats to remain empty. Barford said the reviewers decided it is more important to let voters have the say. So a runoff election would be necessary, regardless of empty commission seats. After approval of the recommended changes, mayor dan murphy presented members of the review commission — Barford, along with Jack Brennan and Sissy Quinn — with plaques recognizing them for their work. “Other cities have struggled with this, and you made it look easy,” murphy said. “You’re an example to the entire island, and I thank each one of you.”
THE ISLANDER n MAy 1, 2019 n 13
Holmes Beach to ‘tweak’ VRO to limit weddings, events
By ChrisAnn Silver Esformes Islander Reporter the beaches of anna maria island are a popular wedding destination. However, concerns have arisen in Holmes Beach about weddings and events that occur at residential properties on the beach. At an April 23 work session, commissioners said tracking beach weddings would be impossible, but an ordinance could curtail “quasi-commercial� activity in residential areas. Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer presented a list of considerations, including possible fees, the time frame to submit an application, the number of weddings allowed at each location and parking access, as Tokajer well as fines for a wedding without a permit and whether beach weddings would be allowed during sea turtle season, which runs may 31-oct. 1. He also provided a sample application for a beach wedding. Tokajer said he’s not hearing many complaints about weddings, so the commission should determine the goal of regulations and an application process. “Who is going to process all of those applications?� he asked, adding the police department would not be the appropriate agency as it does not take money.
Commissioner Carol Soustek said the wedding parties must be addressed because some houses in the R-1 residential district near the beach are advertising weddings as businesses. However, she said she opposes a fee for weddings at the homes of residents. “mainly, what i am trying to do is take the business aspect out of the residential area,� she said. Commission Chair Jim Kihm Kihm agreed. “There’s a difference when you’re the owner of the property and you’re having a wedding for family, as opposed to continuing to offer this as a ‘service,’ because that gets into the commercial aspect,� he said. Kihm said other beach communities have determined such a continued use to be commercial. “It’s not just a weekend barbecue,� he said. “This is an ongoing business activity.� mayor Judy titsworth said to address weddings in the R-1 zone, the city might have to create an ordinance to limit the number of weddings a property owner can have in that district and tackle weddings in the R-2 district through stipulations in the vacation rental ordinance. City attorney Patricia Petruff said the city would have to deal with the owner of the residence who advertises a wedding location.
“If we wanted to go that route, we’d have to tweak the ordinance to make it more clear that that’s something that is not acceptable — advertising your residential house for non-residential, quasi-commercial activities,� she said. Petruff said the stipulation must be applied citywide to avoid discrimination against rental properties. commissioner pat morton said large reunions also are an issue. “I see the problem with a wedding, but a class reunion could be the same thing,� he said. Petruff agreed, adding all types of Petruff “quasi-commercial activity,� including corporate retreats and reality television shows should be considered. “It’s not just weddings, it’s a lot of other things,� she said. City clerk Stacey Johnson suggested if someone is advertising weddings at a residence, it is a home-based business, requiring a business tax receipt. The regulations for home-based businesses prohibit deliveries and other commercial traffic, so a wedding or event business wouldn’t qualify. The commission reached consensus on continued discussion of an ordinance restricting advertising “quasi-commercial� activities in residential areas.
Anna Maria commission grants exemption for driveway pavers
By Ryan Paice Islander Reporter pavers in a driveway at 805 n. Shore drive in anna maria are there to stay. anna maria city commissioners voted 5-0 april 25 to grant an exemption allowing the pavers to remain due to unique circumstances. Contractor Frank Agnelli said the pavers replaced old ones dug up and piled on the property to allow Bradenton-based Woodruff and Sons to install stormwater infiltration trenches along the rights of way. Agnelli said the original pavers were supposed to be set back into place in the driveway, but Woodruff employees hauled away the displaced pavers and disposed of them, so the property developers purchased replacement pavers. Sarasota-based real estate agent mike doyle said he contacted the city when the old pavers were taken, and was advised by city staff not to file a police report but instead resolve the matter with the city. Public works manager Dean Jones advised city commissioners not to allow the exemption because
new pavers negatively impact stormwater infiltration. He recommended removal of the pavers to allow for more pervious surface. Agnelli countered that the new pavers are pervious and shouldn’t impact infiltration systems. Commission Chair Brian Seymour said it would be “absurd� not to allow the property developers to keep the new pavers after workers completing a cityfunded project took away some of the old pavers. He added that the improved filtration of pervious pavers supports the exemption. mayor dan murphy told commissioners after the vote that they made the right decision. Pavers in the driveway at 805 N. Shore Drive, Anna Maria, were the subject of debate April 25 for city commissioners. The installation of new pavers is against city code but contractor Frank Agnelli obtained an exemption for the pavers. Islander Photo: Ryan Paice
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Island cities, AME celebrate Arbor Day Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth, Anna Maria Elementary principal Jackie Featherston and Keep Manatee Beautiful executive director Jennifer Hoffman ceremoniously plant a myrsine tree in front of second- and thirdgrade students April 26 for National Arbor Day. FAR RIGHT: State foresters Clint Wardlow and Eric Strickland stand beside the myrsine tree they planted at Anna Maria Elementary to celebrate National Arbor Day observed April 26. Islander Photos: Brook Morrison
AME celebrates Arbor Day with HB officials, KMB
Anna Maria plants buttonwood for Arbor Day
Holmes Beach mayor Judy titsworth and anna maria elementary principal Jackie featherston led parents, students and staff in celebrating National Arbor Day with a tree planting and performances April 26. Some festivities were held in the school auditorium, where Jennifer Hoffman, executive director of Keep manatee Beautiful, told an audience about caring for trees. Eric Strickland of the Florida Forest Service praised the school for making the organic compost used to plant the myrsine tree on Arbor Day, which margaret payne’s second-grade class rapped about in song. The class rapped, “Conserve, be smart and plant a tree. make the world better for you and me.” Sandra Fisher’s second-grade class acted out the importance of trees to wildlife, and Karen Paul’s thirdgrade students recited their own couplets, dedicated to trees. Laura Redeker’s third-grade students sang a song about trees that ended with a yoga tree pose, while Pam Buff’s third-grade class acted out “The Giving Tree” by Shel Silverstein.
In celebration of National Arbor Day, Anna Maria city commissioners, Zan Fuller of the Holmes Beach Parks and Beautification Committee and Anna Maria public works employees plant a buttonwood tree April 26 at 311 S. Bay Blvd. Islander Photo: Ryan Paice
State tree planted in Bradenton Beach
Keep Manatee Beautiful executive director Jennifer Hoffman, left, stands April 26 alongside Bradenton Beach Mayor John Chappie, state foresters Clint Wardlow and Eric Strickland, Zan Fuller of the Holmes Beach Parks and Beautification Committee and Mary Sandell of Florida Power and Light with a newly planted native sabal or palmetto palm — the state tree since 1953. The tree replaced a palm damaged in a recent storm. Islander Photo: Ryan Paice
Center registering kids for summer camps
Decisions, decisions. Summer camp at the center of anna maria Island will offer children from kindergarten to fifth-grade weekly choices between attending sports or discovery camps. camps will run monday-friday 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. June 10-Aug. 2, with the week of July 1-3 shortened due to the Fourth of July holiday. Children will take field trips fridays, and Kona ice is planning to visit the center on Thursdays. to register, attendees must pay a $165 registration fee per week — $145 for center members — the Thursday prior to the week of attendance. the nonprofit also will offer for additional fees specialty camps for sailing, cooking, robotics and drama. Specialty camps are available on a firstcome, first-served basis due to limited space. For more information, contact youth program manager Ashley Friszman at 941-778-1908.
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Time to ‘bead-decked’ ... a De Soto celebration in Bradenton
CLOCKWISE: Members of the Anna Maria Island Privateers navigate the De Soto Heritage Festival Grand Parade route April 27. The event featured more than 150 entries, parading from Manatee High School to Manatee Avenue to downtown Bradenton. Islander Photo: Robert Abrunzo John Horne of the Anna Maria Oyster Bar takes part in the De Soto Heritage Festival Grand Parade April 27 in Bradenton. Islander Photo: Karen Riley Love Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer, friends and city officials toss beads along the route in the De Soto Parade. Islander Photo: Karen Riley-Love
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Bradenton Beach Mayor John Chappie, who chairs the Island Transportation Planning Organization, listens April 22 during a meeting of the Sarasota/ Manatee MPO at the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee. Islander Photo: Lisa Neff ity and lighting on State Road 789/Gulf Drive. Key transportation issues, she said, include congestion, lack of infrastructure to support alternative modes of transportation, aging bridges and roads and a vulnerable evacuation route. focused on goals for 2045, Burnett emphasized reducing flood impacts, protecting against sea level rise, preserving critical habitat, improving bicycle and pedestrian mobility and safety and repairing and replacing aging infrastructure. “We have to reconstruct those corridors to accommodate the bicyclists, the pedestrians, the alternative modes, the smart cars, the jitneys,” she said, adding, “A water taxi is probably the most underutilized opportunity that we have. … and so smart planning for 2045 would be to make sure we have good landing spots” — ways for people to reach their destinations once
Roadwatch
Eyes on the road
The Florida Department of Transportation and manatee county posted the following notices for the week of april 29: Avenue C: right-of-way restoration continues along Avenue C, including installation of a stormwater infiltration system and driveway restoration. Once restoration is completed, paving will begin. Coquina Beach: manatee county is paving the
the Sarasota/manatee metropolitan planning Organization is the regional transportation planning entity for Sarasota and manatee counties. interlocal agreements establish the mpo as a process for local governments to coordinate with the Florida Department of Transportation, the Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Transit Administration. Sarasota county commissioner alan maio chairs the 17-member mpo. Bradenton Beach mayor John chappie serves as chair of the island Transportation Planning Organization and represents the island cities on the mpo. other members represent Bradenton, Palmetto, Venice, Longboat Key, north port, Sarasota, manatee county and the Sarasota-manatee airport authority. the next meeting of the mpo will be at 9:30 a.m. monday, may 20, at the Bayfront community Center, 803 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. The next meeting of the ITPO will be 2 p.m. monday, may 6, at Bradenton Beach, city Hall, 107 Gulf Drive. they “land” on the island. anna maria mayor dan murphy, scheduled to make a presentation, did not attend the forum. “They have all the same vulnerability issues that Holmes Beach, Bradenton Beach and Longboat Key are experiencing,” mpo planner Leigh Holt said of anna maria. Bradenton Beach mayor John chappie, the chair of the Island Transportation Planning Organization and a member of the mpo, attended the meeting. He characterized the forum as an amazing opportunity to talk about challenges. Concluding the forum, Holt said, the process involves making choices to address challenges. “There’s not enough resources to do all the things that you heard today,” she said. “We have to make choices. And we have to set priorities. Among all the things that we heard today, what is it that we must do first? and second? and what do we not get to do?” south end of the Coquina Beach parking lot in Bradenton Beach. The south lot will be closed during the work. Palma sola Causeway on Manatee Avenue/ state road 64 at the boat ramp: the manatee County Palma Sola boat ramp is closed for construction activity. For more information about the pipeline replacement projects on the island, go online to amipipereplacement.com. For the latest road watch information, go online to www.fl511.com or dial 511.
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By Lisa Neff Islander Editor Planners envision autonomous vehicles and ferries on anna maria island in 2045. But they don’t see any more roads as they look to the future and develop a 25-year plan for manatee and Sarasota counties. the planners — about 150 elected officials, government technicians, statisticians and engineers and consultants — gathered April 22 on the University of South florida Sarasota-manatee campus for the “Transform Tomorrow” forum. Their invitations came from the Sarasota/manatee metropolitan planning Organization, a regional planning group tasked with writing the 2045 Long-range transportation plan. the mpo must revise the document every five years to include a list of feasible transportation improvements and reflect changing priorities, trends and technologies. The plan — due by December 2020 — must address safety, infrastructure, congestion, economics, environmental sustainability and system reliability. Keynote speakers included Bob mcQueen, an expert on advanced transportation technology who talked about smart cities; Sean Sullivan, the executive director of the Tampa Bay Regional Council who discussed resiliency and extreme weather; and Carolyn griffin, the director of Strategic impact who addressed economics and quality of life. municipal officials also provided remarks intended to guide the planning, including Lynn Burnett of LTA Engineers, the contracted city engineer in Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach. Burnett identified the following community issues on anna maria island: aging and overburdened infrastructure, bike and pedestrian safety, congestion during peak season, sea level rise and storm-surge vulnerabil-
THE ISLANDER n May 1, 2019 n 17
DOT: Barrier Island Traffic Study committee work concluded By Lisa Neff Islander Editor The Florida Department of Transportation parked its Barrier Islands Traffic Study steering committee. The DOT held the final meeting of the steering committee April 23 at CrossPointe Fellowship in Holmes Beach, though several local officials encouraged DOT staff to consider continuing consultations. The state launched the three-part Barrier Islands Traffic Study — BITS — at the request of the Sarasota/Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization, a regional planning body with a 17-member board of elected officials. Phase one involved reviewing prior studies and phase two involved listing potential improvements and recommendations. Phase three, currently underway, involves ranking mid- and long-term projects, as well as identifying potential funding to complete the projects. The DOT expects to conclude phase three in the fall and then present the final study in January 2020, at a public meeting. Until then, the DOT and the study’s technical working group will be working on ranking recommendations for Manatee and Sarasota counties, according to Nathan Kautz, DOT traffic services engineer and a leader on the study. Phase three also involves collecting more information about visitors to the area, travel patterns and parking needs. At the steering committee meeting, Kautz and DOT planning manager Bessie Reina invited the committee — elected and appointed officials from Manatee and Sarasota counties — to share goals for their communities and assessments of the ongoing study. Longboat Key Commissioner Jack Daly expressed concerns that some solutions haven’t happened quickly enough or may not happen at all. Specifically, Daly said the study must address automobile congestion at the intersection of Gulf Drive and Cortez Road west of the Cortez Bridge. An analysis of the intersection determined a roundabout is not feasible due to the cost of right of way acquisition. If a roundabout isn’t the answer, what is the solution? asked Daly. Congestion at the intersection must be addressed or “we’re not in any meaningful way accommodating or providing traffic mitigation off the island, and on the island, too,” said Daly. He said he didn’t want BITS to be “just another
Holmes Beach Commission Chair Jim Kihm, left, converses April 23 with Frank Domingo, a project manager with Stantec consulting firm, while Manatee County School District official Linda Agresta, right, talks with Nathan Kautz of the Florida Department of Transportation. They gathered at CrossPointe Fellowship in Holmes Beach for a meeting of the Barrier Islands Traffic Study steering committee. Islander Photos: Lisa Neff
Longboat Key Commissioner Jack Daly attends a meeting April 23 of the Barrier Islands Traffic Study steering committee. study. …And I think there’s a danger, unless we can collectively latch on to some real results that can be put into effect.” “There are a couple of things that kill roundabouts,” Kautz replied, adding that cost is only one factor. BITS, he said, must look beyond capacity improvements on the barrier islands to put the focus on moving people, rather than merely moving vehicles. “Capacity improvements are only going to get us so far,” Kautz said. “Capacity is short-term. We’re trying to figure out long-term.” Long-term solutions involve moving people from
point A to point B — and not necessarily in automobiles. “With the ranking, we’ll look at the significance of improvements, try to figure out how to move more people in less space,” Kautz said. Lynn Burnett, the contracted city engineer for Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach, said some shortterm projects, specifically the construction of multiuse paths on the island and to the island, developed along with the study and help move people from A to B without autos. “When you drove in, you drove by one of those projects,” she said. Burnett shared a table with Bradenton Beach Mayor John Chappie and Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth, who said they see more people walking and biking. “I think they’re kind of getting the message: If you get in a car, you are going to be stuck,” Chappie said. Titsworth said promoting walking and biking and alternative modes of transportation are positives, provided safety enhancements to infrastructure continue. Such enhancements identified in phase two include completing the Anna Maria Island Trail with an 8-foot sidewalk and buffers, widening bike lanes and designating docking locations for water taxies. The next task, said Kautz, is assigning ranks to those projects and many others, followed by deciding, “how do we get this project done.”
New raised crosswalks — speed tables — planned for Holmes Beach
By ChrisAnn Silver Esformes Islander Reporter Holmes Beach is prioritizing pedestrian safety. City engineer Lynn Burnett presented plans for the next phase of improvements, including a raised crosswalk, April 23 to the city commission. In the first phase, the city installed a pedestrianactivated flashing beacon crosswalk at the intersection of 58th Street and Gulf Drive. Burnett said the next crosswalks with beacons would be placed mid-block between Carissa and Guava streets on Gulf Drive and mid-block between 54th and 55th streets, also crossing Gulf Drive. Both crosswalk locations are between S-curves, where pedestrians have been hit by vehicles. Burnett also said she proposed infiltration for the north side of the Carissa/Guava crossing, with pervious pavers over the top. She said pavers would make the path more inviting, encouraging pedestrians to cross at the crosswalk instead of at the shortest distance to the closest beach access. Additionally, there would be U.S. Americans with Disabilities Act compliant dome mats installed on both sides of the crosswalk. She asked for a consensus from the commission to install a raised crosswalk — or speed table — on Gulf Drive between Guava and Carissa streets. She said the raised crosswalk would slow drivers without being an obtrusive bump that could damage vehicles. She added that if the speed table becomes a problem, the city could remove it.
“I think that would be an added element of safety to the people in that area and slow people down,” said Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer. He added the 25-mph speed limit in the area is too fast and suggested lowering the limit to 15 mph if the speed tables are omitted from the plans. The chief suggested the mayor and commissioners could drive on Palma Sola Boulevard in Bradenton to see comparable speed tables. Commission Chair Jim Kihm asked if a railing or similar device could be installed on the road to move people toward the crosswalk. Burnett said driveways along Gulf Drive are impediments to a railing and, if someone chooses to cross at an unsafe area when a safe one is provided, it is that person’s responsibility, not the city’s. “We can do pedestrian channelization in between driveways all day long, but we can’t block peoples’ access to their private properties,” she said. “And, if someone is going to take their life into their own hands, there is nothing we can do to prevent that from happening, other than making the path as inviting as possible.” Commissioner Carol Soustek asked about cost. Burnett said the cost “is nominal and we have it in our paving funds.” Mayor Judy Titsworth said the proposed location would be an appropriate place for a “sample” raised crosswalk. The commission reached consensus for Burnett to move forward with the proposal, including the raised
A speed hump on Palma Sola Boulevard in Bradenton serves as an example for slowing vehicles at a planned crosswalk on Gulf Drive in Holmes Beach. Islander Photo: ChrisAnn Silver Esformes crosswalk. Burnett said she would schedule the improvements. She previously said installation could begin within 60 days of commission approval. The next city commission meeting will be at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 14, at city hall, 5801 Marina Drive.
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Margo Kingsley, left, and Mary Seine pause for a photo April 27, during Seine’s birthday celebration at the Roser Memorial Community Church fellowship hall. Seine’s 92nd birthday party included potluck dishes brought by the guests, music by former Anna Maria Commissioner Gene Aubry and a special poem from Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy, who handed out coupons for free hugs from Seine. Islander Courtesy Photo: Peggy Nash
LOOKING AHEAD OFF AMI June 9, All Island Denominations Pentecostal Service, Holmes Beach. ONGOING LISTINGS Christ Church of Longboat Key Presbyterian (USA), 6400 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key. Sunday service 8:30 a.m. and 10 a.m.; men’s Monday Bible study 9 a.m.; women’s Wednesday Bible study 10 a.m. Cortez Church of Christ, 12111 45th Ave. W., Cortez. Sunday Bible study, 10 a.m.; Sunday worship, 11 a.m.; Wednesday Bible study, 7 p.m. CrossPointe Fellowship, 8665 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach. Sunday worship 9 a.m.; Sunday life group 10:30 a.m.; women’s Tuesday prayer 9:30 a.m.; men’s Wednesday Bible study 7 a.m.; Wednesday fellowship meal 6:15 p.m.; Wednesday Night Blast 6:45 p.m.
Obituary
Episcopal Church of the Annunciation, 4408 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach. Sunday Holy Eucharist (Rite I) 8 a.m.; Sunday Holy Eucharist (Rite II) 10:30 a.m.; men’s Wednesday breakfast 8 a.m. Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 6608 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Saturday service 5 p.m.; Sunday service 9:30 a.m.; Sunday fellowship 10:30 a.m.; Wednesday prayer partners 11:30 a.m.; women’s Thursday Bible study 10 a.m. Harvey Memorial Community Church, 300 Church Ave., Bradenton Beach. Sunday services 8:30 a.m. and 10:15 a.m.
Robert “Pirate Bob”Boyd, a longtime active member and honorary member for life of the Anna Maria Island Privateers, died April 20. A service is planned May 11 at Roser Memorial Community Church.
Robert ‘Bob’ Kenneth Boyd
Robert “Bob” Kenneth Boyd, 72, died April 20. He was born may 2, 1947, to arthur r. and dorothy m. in Brooklyn in new York city. He attended anna maria elementary before his family moved to Ohio. He enlisted in the U.S. Army and spent time in Germany, where he acquired a taste for wine. Boyd He and his wife, Alwana L., moved to Florida in 1969. He became a hairstylist and owned and operated Bob’s Hair & co. in anna maria for 20 years. after he sold his business, he went to work with Hair Dimensions in Bradenton, where he worked every day. He was an active member of the anna maria island Privateers since 1976, known as “Pirate Bob” and serving as the captain, vice president and president and later named an honorary member. He had the kindest, gentlest heart and will be missed. a service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, may 11, at roser memorial community church, 512 pine ave., anna maria. memorial donations may be made to the roser memorial community church ministries, p.o.
ALL ARE WELCOME
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Online arrangements available Sarasota (941) 312-6371 | Manatee (941) 213-9234
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The Rev. Bill Friederich Senior Minister 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key 941-383-6491 www.longboatislandchapel.org
The Lord’s Warehouse Thrift Shop
Hours 9-noon, Monday, Wednesday, Saturday
Loving Christ • Sharing His Grace • Serving All COMMUNITY CHURCH
Call for a ride to the 10:00 AM Worship Service
SUNDAY WORSHIP 8:30 AM IN THE CHAPEL or 10:00 AM IN THE SANCTUARY 10:00 AM Nursery
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A NONDENOMINATIONAL, CHRISTIAN CHURCH • EVERYONE IS WELCOME!
“Anna Maria Island,” a pictorial history book of the island by Bonner Joy, is available for $20 at The Islander office, 3218 E. Bay Drive, Holmes Beach. Joy is publisher of The Islander newspaper. She came to AMI in 1975 and launched the newspaper in 1992.
Sunday 10 a.m. Worship Service
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Gathering
Send announcements and listings for Gathering to news@islander.org. the deadline is the Wednesday prior to the publication date. Please include a contact number.
Box 247, anna maria fL 34216. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, alwana L.; niece Renee Kirkley and husband Patrick; nephew darren Baker; cousins robert and francis mcglynn; and nieces Charlene, Linda, Brandon Kirkley and Going to the chapel Danica Dean. Roser Memorial Community Church will hold its At your service 8:30 a.m. worship service in the chapel beginning Obituaries are offered as a community service in Sunday, May 5. The church will continue to hold its The Islander newspaper to residents and family of resi- 10 a.m. service in the sanctuary, 512 Pine Ave., Anna dents, both past and present, as well as to those people Maria. Also, Roser will open the chapel for prayer with ties to the island. Submit to news@islander.org. and meditation on the National Day of Prayer, Islander obituaries, including online, are free. Thursday, May 2. Hours will be 9 a.m.-3 p.m. For Paid obituaries can be discussed with advertising more information, call the church at 941-778-0414. consultant Toni Lyon at 941-778-7978. Islander Courtesy Photo Founded 1956
simple cremations
Longboat Island Chapel, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key. Sunday service 10 a.m.; fellowship afterward. Roser Memorial Community Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria. Sunday worship 8:30 a.m. and 10 a.m.; adult Sunday school 8:45 a.m.; Sunday adult book study 9 a.m.; Just Older Youth/JOY Brown Bag Lunch Series second and fourth Wednesdays, 11 a.m.; Terrific Tuesdays 5:30 p.m. St. Bernard Catholic Church, 248 S. Harbor Drive, Holmes Beach. Saturday confession 3 p.m.; Saturday Mass 4 p.m.; Sunday Mass followed by coffee and doughnuts 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.; weekday Mass 8:30 a.m. Please, send listings and changes to listings to calendar@ islander.org.
941-778-0414 • www.RoserChurch.com • www.facebook.com/RoserChurch
Growing in Jesus’ Name Sunday Service 10:00 AM
The Rev. Dr. Norman Pritchard Please join us for
THE NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER Thursday, May 2 Church Hours: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Men’s Bible Study - Mondays: 9:00 AM Women’s Bible Study - Wednesdays: 10:00 AM Visitors & Residents Welcome Watch our 10:00 AM service live. Log onto our website & follow the YouTube link.
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THE ISLANDER n May 1, 2019 n 21
Judge puts treehouse setback case first on docket By Kathy Prucnell Islander Reporter Treehouse huggers stay tuned. 12th Circuit Judge Ed Nicholas decided April 29 to move ahead with the owners’ 2013 case to declare a city setback unconstitutional before ruling on an enforcement case seeking to enforce city orders to remove the structure and pay fines. “We’ll take the June 3 date off the calendar with regard to the city enforcement case and let the declaratory judgment case move forward first,” Nicholas said April 29 after the attorneys agreed. Owners Lynn Tran and Richard Hazen built the two-deck structure in a tree at their residence, 103 29th St., without state or city building permits. They also operate four short-term rental units there. Treehouse disputes have run through city code enforcement, the circuit and appellate courts in Florida and once to the U.S. Supreme Court since 2013 — with the owners losing at each juncture. In the declaratory judgment case, the owners are challenging the constitutionality of the city’s setback from the erosion control high-mean water line. Through attorney David Levin of the law firm Icard Merrill, the couple wants the judge to declare the rights of the parties to prevent Holmes Beach from enforcing its setback, claiming they relied on city assurances that no permit was necessary for the structure. Former Judge Jannette Dunnigan ruled the treehouse owners’ reliance on a conversation with a building official about permitting for a treehouse was unjustified in a prior case. No permit was applied for and plans were submitted. Dunnigan’s ruling was affirmed by the 2nd District Court of Appeal. Levin contends the city setback conflicts with state laws that allow exceptions for accessory structures, such as their treehouse. According to attorney Jim Dye of Dye Harrison, a partner with city attorney Patricia Petruff, state environmental laws do not conflict with the city setback ordinance, but rather work with the ordinance. “The 2013 case has come back around after a lot of things have been amended or already decided,” he said April 26.
Sunset falls on the treehouse April 24 near the 29th Street beach access. The structure in an Australian pine tree is the subject of litigation between owners Lynn Tran and Richard Hazen and the city of Holmes Beach and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Islander Photo: Kathy Prucnell line replaces the mean high-water line on renourished beaches in Florida. Three other treehouse cases are pending in the 12th Circuit state court and one case is in the U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida, in Tampa. One pending case in state court is the city’s lawsuit against Tran and Hazen to enforce a 2016 order to fine the owners $50 per day and remove the treehouse. The city wants the court to enforce the removal and fine that has accumulated to more than $67,000. Also pending are Tran/Hazen-initiated lawsuits in state and federal courts. A 2018 state court case alleges negligence, injunctive relief and violation of rights. In federal litigation served on the city in March, the couple is claiming federal civil rights, due process and equal protection infringement. These cases were brought pro se by the owners, meaning without an attorney, and are in the initial pleading stages. A hearing in the city’s enforcement case is set for May 9 at the judicial center in Bradenton.. The federal proceedings will be held in Tampa.
At the hearing, Nicholas found the couple’s summary judgment motion moot, but left open the possibility of renewing it after the pleadings are in order. To that end, the judge also ordered Tran/Hazen to amend their 2013 complaint within 20 days, denying the city’s motion to dismiss and granting its motion for a more definite statement. Levin favored taking the constitutional case first because of the possibility of the judge ordering the treehouse demolished, saying he foresaw appeals from whatever side lost. Dye had no objection. The judge said if he were to rule to demolish it, he would stay such an order until the constitutional case was decided. The city was alerted to the treehouse construction in 2011 by an anonymous complaint. A city code enforcement officer referred the matter to Florida Department of Environmental Protection to determine compliance with coastal regulations. The couple attempted to negotiate an after-thefact permit with the DEP but that failed when the city refused to sign off, objecting to the treehouse within the 50-foot setback from the erosion control line. The Richard Hazen and wife Lynn Tran.
USF scientists shift blame for red tide severity in study By Sandy Ambrogi Islander Reporter Understanding may lead to managing. Or at least predicting. Researchers are continually studying Karenia brevis, the red tide organism, and its relationship to fertilizer and nutrient runoff, septic tanks and phosphate industries. And a new piece of the puzzle is emerging. At the University of South Florida College of Marine Science in Tampa, researchers are focusing on a phenomenon known as upwelling. The red tide of 2017-18 was one of the worse in recent history. The bloom lingered in the Gulf of Mexico from November 2017 through December 2018. Red tide arrived at Anna Maria Island Aug. 3, 2018, chasing away tourists and fouling the beaches
Gulls feast on fish killed by red tide along the Palma Sola Bay shore near the end of the 2018 red tide outbreak in early December. Islander File Photo: Sandy Ambrogi
with dead sea life. Karenia brevis is an aquatic, single-celled microorganism. Large concentrations, known as harmful algal blooms or HABs, can be toxic to fish and marine mammals, and cause respiratory issues in people and marine mammals. It has long been known that red tide originates away from the coastline, in nutrient-enriched waters on the outer margins of the wide continental shelf. Researchers are attempting to decipher how red tide travels and what stimulates its growth, making its severity vary. Researchers at USF have been studying upwelling at its epicenter. Shallower areas receive cooler, nutrient-rich waters from the process, which stimulates plankton growth. In the fall of 2018, the researchers sent a glider
to measure water movements to determine how red tide blooms may have been distributed throughout Florida. The long bloom that ended in December plagued the Southwest Coast from Collier County to Pinellas County, and also appeared in the Panhandle and even briefly along the state’s East Coast. USF physicist Bob Weisberg said that last July, the Gulf water began upwelling, circulating and carrying the deep-water red tide along the bottom as it approached the Southwest Florida shoreline, and leaving more behind as it left. “I think it’s going to get worse before it gets better,” he predicted Aug. 29, 2018. For the past 25 years, Weisberg has predicted red tide blooms by tracking currents. His predictions have been correct 20 of those years. In a news release from WUSF public media, Weisberg said, “The upwelling circulation was so strong that some of the cells at the surface at the beach were transported offshore sufficiently far to get into the Gulf of Mexico loop.” That loop carries water in the Gulf Stream around the Florida Keys and up the East Coast. Still, “A red tide bloom on the East Coast is a very rare occurrence,” Weisberg said. Researchers determined the 2017 red tide stayed close to the Southwest coast. More red tide organisms arrived from the upwelling in 2018, joining the leftover organisms. Weisberg said once the red tide arrives near shore, more nutrients — such as those from fertilizer runoff and human waste — can exacerbate a bloom. The combination resulted in the severe red tide of 2017-18, he theorized. By June, he said he should be able to predict how bad red tide will be this year, based on concentrations of nutrients on the continental shelf.
22 n MAy 1, 2019 n THE ISLANDER
Emergency responses mark end of Easter holiday
By Kathy Prucnell Islander Reporter High winds kicked up the surf Easter weekend and sent emergency responders into action on anna maria Island. at 12:50 p.m. april 19, first responders rescued a man in his 20s or 30s near Bean Point in the Gulf of mexico amid intermittent rain showers and gusts 30-40 mph, as reported by Weather underground at the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport. the man was pulled 250 yards out to sea by a rip current where the Gulf meets Tampa Bay, according to manatee county Sheriff’s Sgt. mike Jones, who heads the anna maria-mcSo substation. The man’s mother told sheriff’s deputies her son was a good swimmer and familiar with the tides and currents. manatee county lifeguard Justin gaeta swam to the distressed swimmer, shared his rescue board and the pair awaited a West manatee fire rescue boat, which brought them to shore near the Rod & Reel Pier, 875 n. Shore drive, anna maria, according to mcSo and Wmfr reports. manatee county emergency medical Services treated the swimmer at the scene for fatigue. Another water rescue came two days later in the gulf near the end of 52nd Street in Holmes Beach with a county lifeguard rendering aid before emS trans-
After early storms on Easter weekend, blue skies returned April 21 for bicyclists and fishers on the bridge that links Perico Island and the Robinson Preserve near Manatee Avenue. Islander Photo: Kathy Prucnell
ported the man to Blake medical center in Bradenton. Two men on personal watercraft were navigating rough waters in the Gulf when one man lost control of his pWc, which then flipped onto him, according to Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer. the Holmes Beach and anna maria incidents were among 62 incidents that called in county marine rescue lifeguards march 23-april 22, including 23 water rescues. “Ten on Easter weekend alone,” according to Joe Westerman, chief of the manatee county Beach patrol
Boat ramp parking versus picnic parking
People complained that “no parking” signs placed by Manatee County at the Bayfront picnic area at Kingfish Boat Ramp, 752 Manatee Ave., Holmes Beach, were too prohibitive. The signs were placed to prevent motorists from blocking vehicles with trailers on the opposite side of the road. Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer said in April the county is considering how to promote safety and convenience. He said and updated plan may not allow for parking among the picnic tables, but would provide space for people to park nearby. Islander Photo: ChrisAnn Silver Esformes
Streetlife
By Sandy Ambrogi
Island police blotter
Anna Maria April 16, 300 block of Pine Avenue, possible marijuana found. an officer investigating a crash came upon a leafy green substance. The substance was seized and destroyed. April 21, 100 block of Spring Avenue at the beach access, felon in possession of a firearm, possession less than 20 grams, possession of drug paraphernalia. A sheriff’s deputy observed a truck with a female passenger blocking the beach access. There was an odor of marijuana. A male returned, and the deputy searched the truck. officers located a loaded firearm, less than 20 grams of marijuana, two crack pipes and two partially burnt marijuana cigarettes. The male was charged with firearm possession by a convicted felon and the female was charged with possession of less than 20 grams of cannabis and paraphernalia. Anna Maria is policed by the MCSO. Bradenton Beach April 10, 1800 Gulf Drive N., La Costa Condominiums, grand theft second-degree. An owner at La Costa said he parked his Toyota Rav4 in guest parking and went to the beach, leaving the car unlocked and the keys on the front floorboard. When he returned, the vehicle was gone. Witnesses and surveillance footage showed a man driving the vehicle. Later, the vehicle was located in east manatee county, where it was damaged during a police pursuit. The driver was arrested. April 14, 700 block of Gulf Drive North, property damage. A man called the BBPD to report a pickup
truck knocked over a fire hydrant near the Wicked Cantina and Imperial House condominiums. Utility workers were dispatched. Bradenton Beach is policed by the BBPD. Cortez No reports. Cortez is policed by the MCSO. Holmes Beach april 20, 3900 e. Bay drive, publix Super market, theft. officers responded to a report that two men took beer without paying. officers took a description of the men and checked surveillance video. The beer was valued at $41.50. April 22, 3200 block of East Bay Drive, camping citation. A man was found asleep in his car in the parking lot of the anna maria island center shopping plaza. When officers told him to leave, his car battery had died and the vehicle was out of gas. an officer took him to buy gas and jumped the car and then the man left the area. Holmes Beach is policed by the HBPD Streetlife is based on incident reports and narratives from the BBPD, HBPD and MCSO.
Island watch
In the event of an emergency, call 911. To report information on island crime, call the mcSo anna maria substation, 941-708-8899; Bradenton Beach police, 941-778-6311; or Holmes Beach police, 941-708-5804.
Division. Ben rigney, Wmfr battalion chief, said units from station 2, 10350 cortez road W., and station 3, 6001 marina drive, Holmes Beach, responded to 125 calls April 1-21, including the April 19 water rescue in anna maria. mid-april marked the end of spring breaks across the United States, according to STA Travel, a student and youth travel company that tracks spring breaks of college and high school students. Bradenton Beach Detective Sgt. Lenard Diaz described the BBPD as “extremely busy” April 1-21. In years past, beachgoers to Coquina Park parked illegally on Gulf Drive South with BBPD ticketing hundreds of scofflaws. “This year I think the signage really helped,” he said, referring to the county’s electronic signs warning motorists of “limited parking” due to the closed lot at the south end of the beach, where there is an ongoing paving project in the parking lot. At Coquina Park April 21, BBPD helped reunite a 10-year-old with parents about 50 feet away from the lost child. Also that day, a disoriented woman wandered a few blocks away from Harvey memorial community church and Bradenton Beach police officers found her. According to Jones, Diaz and Tokajer, spring break vacationers were well behaved for the most part. “There were a lot of people on the island. They all followed the rules or they were asked to leave,” Tokajer said.
Bradenton woman arrested for DUI in Holmes Beach
Holmes Beach police arrested a Bradenton woman for impaired driving in a 2015 porsche without headlights or taillights after dark. teresa o’neill, 58, was arrested at 8:23 p.m. april 11 in the 3200 block of East Bay Drive after HBPD stopped her for traffic violations. during the stop, officers noticed a child in the vehicle and HBPD called O’Neill child protective services to ensure the safety of a 14-month-old boy. In a search of the vehicle, HBPD found a purse in the front seat containing 5.3 grams of marijuana and marijuana pipe. O’Neill told police she smoked marijuana earlier that day. She provided breath samples measuring 0.041 and 0.038 blood-alcohol content. She also submitted a urine sample for testing. driving under the influence laws prohibit a blood-alcohol content of 0.08 or higher. o’neill was booked at the manatee county jail, where she was evaluated by a manatee county Sheriff’s DUI specialist, who concluded it was unsafe for O’Neill to drive due to her impairment. HBPD suggested DUI, possession of marijuana and paraphernalia charges against O’Neill. Formal charges are pending the decision of the 12th Judicial circuit office of the State attorney. O’Neill posted a $1,120 bond and was assigned an 8:30 a.m. tuesday, may 14, arraignment at the manatee county Judicial center, 1051 manatee ave. W., Bradenton.
THE ISLANDER n May 1, 2019 n 23
WMFR-FISH explore options for old Cortez fire station
By Kathy Prucnell Islander Reporter What’s new with the old Cortez fire station? In the past several months — since Mary Fulford Green, a FISH member and Cortez historian, floated an idea to West Manatee Fire Rescue about creating a district fire museum in the station — WMFR staff researched the ownership. The fruits of the research brought a 1997 deed for 4523 123rd St. Court W. to the forefront at a WMFR commission meeting April 16. The deed granted FISH the fire station with conditions that give the district rights to the property if WMFR requires the use of the property for fire protection services; FISH uses the property for other than a public purpose; FISH fails to remain a nonprofit; or FISH attempts to convey it to an entity other than a nonprofit. The Anna Maria Fire Control District transferred the property to FISH at a time when volunteer departments — Anna Maria Fire District and the Westside Fire Control District — were preparing to merge into the WMFR district. The new district was created May 20, 2000. WMFR Chief Tom Sousa told the commissioners he “stumbled upon� the deed while looking into the museum concept. If FISH sold the property, the district would be asked to release the stipulations, according to Sousa.
And if WMFR wanted to enforce a stipulation, court proceedings likely would ensue. Sousa said he spoke to district attorney Jim Dye, who recommended clearing the deed of the stipulations with a quit-claim deed. He also called Karen Bell, FISH secretary, who advised she was unaware of the matter. Dye recommended a new deed could be drawn up to prevent “this board and future boards any headaches,â€? Sousa said. Dye told The Islander April 26, “If they want to get rid of the stipulations ‌ a quit-claim deed is the best exit door.â€? The commissioners had other ideas at their April meeting. “I don’t see giving away any asset. If it’s not broke, why fix it?â€? Commissioner Al Robinson said. Commission Chair David Bishop added, “We’re giving up something without getting something in return.â€? He didn’t see much liability maintaining the status quo. The commissioners also spoke of the property’s value and location. “We may want to move the EMTs there,â€? Robinson said, mentioning future access issues that could come with the Florida Department of Transportation plans for a high-span Cortez Bridge. FISH president Kim McVey said April 24, “It’s been 22 yearsâ€? that FISH has maintained the old fire
station property, as well as paying its taxes and other expenses. FISH receives income from leasing the building and recently purchased a new air conditioner for an apartment. Jane von Hahmann, FISH vice president, said a Sea Scout group, which met from time to time in the building, stopped renting the space in October 2018. All rent from the leases has gone into FISH coffers, which are managed by the nonprofit’s board, von Hahmann said. Von Hahmann said she’ll be bringing up the WMFR inquiries to the board. For future WMFR discussions, commissioners asked staff to list the pros and cons of releasing the deed stipulations, obtain an aerial photograph of the property and arrange a tour. WMFR will meet in a workshop and regular meeting at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m., Tuesday, May 21, respectively, upstairs at the Palma Sola Presbyterian Church, 6510 Third Ave. W., Bradenton. The next FISH board meeting will be at 7 p.m. Monday, May 6, at Fishermen’s Hall, 4515 124th St. W., Cortez.
Milestones
The Islander welcomes news of the milestones in readers’ lives — weddings, anniversaries, births, travels and more. Submit notices to news@islander.org.
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24 n MAy 1, 2019 n THE ISLANDER
Rocks
ABOVE: Anna Maria Elementary first-graders rock out with guitars in “Education Rocks,” performed April 23 in the school auditorium. Islander Photos: Nenita Daguinotas RIGHT: Billy Hermenau and Michael Rain serve dinner prepared by the Waterfront Restaurant to AME parent Lonnie Phillips at the Anna Maria Elementary Parent-Teacher Organization dinner before the first-grade play April 23. Elijah Brannock and Isla Mestel sing “I Like School” April 23 in the school auditorium.
AME teaching assistant Logan Janik reads April 25 with second-graders, a volunteer and Hopper, a guide dog, at the Holmes Beach elementary school.
Anna Maria Elementary second-graders Lily Plummer and Jesse Zaccagnino read to Nick, a therapy dog, April 25 in the school library with volunteer Susan Mitchell.
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“Lily wants to hear the story again,” second-grader Conrad Elmore says April 25, as volunteer Laura Stanell holds her therapy dog, Lily, in the AME library. Islander Photos: Brook Morrison
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THE ISLANDER n MAy 1, 2019 n 25 By Brook Morrison, brook@islander.org
AME calendar
• Wednesday, may 1, 1:45 p.m., early release. • Wednesday and thursday, may 1-2, fourthand fifth-grade reading test. • thursday, may 2, 5 p.m., boys night out. • friday, may 3, 9 a.m., third-, fourth and fifthgrade Battle of the Books. • friday, may 3, third-, fourth and fifth-grade math test. • friday, may 3, 1 p.m., Wildlife inc., thirdgrade. • Saturday, may 4, 6 p.m., pto gala, the center of anna maria island, 407 magnolia ave., anna maria. • monday, may 6, third-, fourth- and fifthgrade math tests. • may 6-10, teacher appreciation Week. • Wednesday, may 8, 8 a.m., bike to school day, St. Bernard Catholic Church, 248 S. Harbor Drive, Holmes Beach. • thursday, may 16, 5:30-7:30 p.m., third-, fourth and fifth-grade art reception, the Studio at gulf and pine, 10101 gulf drive, anna maria. • tuesday, may 21, 5-6:30 p.m., kindergarten play and PTO dinner. • monday, may 27, no school, memorial Day. • tuesday, may 28, fifth-grade luncheon, the Sandbar, 100 Spring Ave., Holmes Beach. • may 28-29, 1:45 p.m., early release. • Wednesday, may 29, 9 a.m., fifth-grade awards and graduation. anna maria elementary is at 4700 gulf drive, Holmes Beach. for more, call the school at 941-708-5525.
AME-PTO Spring Gala promises a ‘color splash
the anna maria elementary pto Spring gala, “color Splash a night of Warhol,” takes place Saturday, may 4. the Warhol theme promises to be colorful. The event will be 6-10 p.m. at the Center of Anna maria island, and tickets are available. Attendees can expect to enjoy menu items from island ocean Star, Vinny’s italian Kitchen, the Waterfront restaurant and Wood fire pizza truck. ginny’s & Jane E’s Bakery and Cafe will provide beverage mixers. Organizers say partygoers should be ready to dance the night away and experience a “chill lounge.” Plans also include an auction of baskets stocked by classrooms, a two-night stay at an Embassy Suites and four tickets to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, four Tampa Bay Rays tickets including on-field batting practice and a parking pass, a weeklong stay in Asheville, North Carolina, class artwork, Island Coffee Haus gift cards, four club seat tickets to a Florida State University football game, Island Yoga Space classes and more.
AME music and art teacher Gary Wooten’s portrait of Andy Warhol takes shape April 22 in advance of the May 4 “Night of Warhol” at the Center of Anna Maria Island. Islander Photo: Courtesy AME-PTO Sponsorships are available. For more information about sponsorships, contact Janae Rudacille at 941-730-8298. tickets are available on the ame-pto facebook page or search “color splash” on www.eventbrite. com.
Early elementary
Wanda Crummey, docent at the Anna Maria Island Historical Society’s museum in Anna Maria, leads fifthgraders on a tour to learn about homesteading. The students are researching the history of elementary education on the island and Crummey told them about their school before the 2005 renovation, as well as the one-room school that once served island kids. Islander Photo: Courtesy AME/Valerie Wilson
26 n MAy 1, 2019 n THE ISLANDER
Manatee County commission OKs Palma Sola Bay navigational aids Keep it between the navigational markers — the florescent green and red markers. the manatee Board of county commissioners voted April 23 to authorize new navigational aids leading to and from a county-operated boat ramp on the southwest end of the Palma Sola Causeway. The Palma Sola Bay Yacht Club’s markers currently aid navigation in the channel. The county assumed responsibility for the boat ramp — currently closed for repairs — from the city of Bradenton and now has assumed responsibility for marking the channel, according to Alan Lai Hipp, environmental program manager for marine and ecological resources at the county. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Coast Guard issued permits for the aids and a depth survey showed no significant navigational restrictions, according to a memo presented to commissioners. The yacht club will remove its navigational aids to make way for the new signs — 59 total, which will be on florescent green and red markers mounted on wood pilings in the 3-mile long channel. “The establishment of these new aids to navigation does not include the aids for the Flamingo Cay or San Remo channels,� the memo stated. “Nor does it include
Bring your food scraps: Compost-A-Thon planned
Sunshine community compost, a nonprofit serving Sarasota and manatee counties, will hold a composta-thon community party 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, may 11. the party will be at the r.L. taylor center, 1845 34th St., Sarasota. Before the party, celebrants should register online, donate a minimum of $10 and collect a week’s worth of household food scraps to be carried to the CompostA-Thon. may 5-11 is international compost awareness Week. In addition to encouraging people to compost, SCC is seeking sponsors for the event — the second annual “community-building, soil-making� fundraiser. For more information, email organizer Adrienne Lerfald at alerfald@sunshinecommunitycompost.org or call Sandy Troxler at 941-794-2866.
An aerial view shows permitted aids to navigation to mark the main navigational channel for Palma Sola Bay in west Manatee County. Islander Courtesy Image
the approximately eight channel markers which lead The county next will identify a marine contractor directly to the Palma Sola Yacht Club marina; it is through a bidding process. intended that these aids shall remain permitted to their West coast inland navigation district money will respective owners.� fund the project. — Lisa Neff
Bay watch plans cleanup
Sarasota Bay Watch, mar Vista restaurant & Dockside Pub and the town of Longboat Key will lead a cleanup at Sister Keys 8 a.m.-noon Saturday, may 4. participants will meet next to the mar Vista, 760 Broadway St., Longboat Key, at 8:30 a.m. Boats will depart for Sister Keys — two spoil islands in the intracoastal Waterway — at 9 a.m. and return to the mar Vista at noon for a free lunch. Sarasota Bay Watch’s mission is to preserve and restore Sarasota Bay’s ecosystem. People can register for the cleanup online at www.sarasotabaywatch.org. Space is limited. for more information, call SBW at 941-9535333.
Adopt-a-spot agreement revised in Holmes Beach
Holmes Beach is looking for sponsors to adopt greenspace. At their April 23 meeting, city commissioners unanimously approved an updated agreement for organizations or businesses to beautify public rights of way and open spaces with landscaping or other improvements, along with maintenance. The adopt-a-spot program was associated with Keep manatee Beautiful, but the organization is no longer involved. So the revised agreement would be between the city and sponsors. A motion authorizing the mayor to follow a procedure for applications and execute adopt-a-spot agreements also was unanimously approved.
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LANDSIDE 6906 14th Street West 941.758.7880
CORTEZ 6696 Cortez Road 941.792.0077
ELLENTON 1525 51st Avenue East 941.721.7773
BRIDGE STREET PIER Bradenton Beach 941.778.AMOB (2662)
THE ISLANDER n MAy 1, 2019 n 27
By Lisa Neff
Transforming public transit
Whenever i go “woe is me” and air my troubles with riding a public bus, I get predictable responses. Friends and parents encourage me to purchase a second vehicle — so my wife and I can both drive to work. my mind tells me to follow their advice, but my “green” heart tells me to take the bus, which is a greener way to get here and there. consider: A bus with as few as seven pasNeff sengers is more fuel-efficient than the average single-occupant auto used for commuting. the fuel efficiency of a fully occupied bus is six times greater than that of the average single-occupant auto. Buses use 8.7% less energy per passenger mile than a typical automobile. public transit moves people efficiently while producing significantly less air pollution to move one passenger 1 mile compared with moving a person 1 mile in a single-occupant auto. Buses emit just 20% as much carbon monoxide per passenger mile as a single-occupant auto. Buses emit just 10% as many hydrocarbons per passenger mile as a single-occupant auto. Buses emit only 75% as many nitrogen oxides per passenger mile as a single-occupant auto. When taking manatee county area transit, the first bus of the day arrives on schedule to my stop east of the palma Sola causeway. moreover, the bus on manatee avenue to and from anna maria island generally runs on a 30-minute cycle. Still, if I have an appointment or meeting scheduled, i must give myself — and mcat — at least an hour cushion for a 15-minute ride. On a recent Tuesday, I traveled by bus and trolley from 81st Street West and manatee avenue in Bradenton to CrossPointe Fellowship in Holmes Beach. I arrived about two hours after I left my home, and
Members of the Local Group of Deep Sky Observers set up a viewing station at a past event at city field in Holmes Beach. The club is inviting people to look through telescopes Saturday, May 4, at Robinson Preserve. Islander File Photo
‘Dark Sky’ outing set for Robinson
A “Dark Sky Special” will take place 8-11 p.m. Saturday, may 4, at the robinson preserve expansion. “On this moonless night, we will be watching for galaxies and nebulas with a chance to spot Omega Centauri late in the evening,” stated a news release from the manatee county parks and natural
waited for the bus for an hour. By car, the 6.5-mile trip takes about 14 minutes. I can bike the route in about 30 minutes or less. And I could walk the route in about two hours. my destination was a meeting of the Barrier islands traffic Study steering committee and, upon arrival, i noticed 22 vehicles in the church parking lot and 23 people in the meeting room. I wondered whether I was the only person to arrive
Paddlers plan sunset adventure at Robinson
via public transit to a meeting on traffic and transportation issues. the officials assembled did not focus on public transit at the meeting, though there was praise for maintaining a fare-free island trolley. But I hope our planners and elected officials consider fixing gaps and flaws in public transit and improving efficiencies as they write the final BitS report, as well as develop a long-range transportation plan for the region. On that Tuesday morning when I waited so long for an overdue bus, I waited alone. No other passengers arrived to board the bus. meanwhile, about every vehicle that passed me en route to the island contained one person. Did any of those motorists consider taking the bus? Why not? It is a question we must ask as we address transportation today and plan for tomorrow.
the manatee county parks and natural resources Department will conduct a “Sunset, Starlight Paddle” at 7 p.m. friday, may 3, at robinson preserve in northwest Bradenton. Paddlers will navigate from the preserve to the manatee river to watch the sunset and stargaze on the return trip. Participants must BYO canoes or kayaks and Did you know? safety gear. Also, reservations are required. the fuel efficiency of a fully occupied bus is six For reservations or more information, including the meeting location, call the county at 941-742-5757, times greater than that of the average single-occupant auto. ext. 7.
$600K added to Robinson Preserve restoration
the manatee Board of county commissioners voted April 23 to appropriate as much as $600,000 for work in the Robinson Preserve Expansion. The commissioners adopted a resolution to amend the county’s fiscal 2019 budget to accept a grant from the florida fish and Wildlife conservation Commission for the expansion at 10299 Ninth ave. nW, Bradenton. Specifically, the county seeks to improve the habitat, ecology and water quality in the preserve, created on former farmland. The county’s goal is to complete the project by June 30, 2021.
Resources Department. The Local Group of Deep Sky Observers will set up telescopes for viewing. The Robinson Preserve Expansion is at 10299 ninth ave. nW, Bradenton. For more information, call the county at 941742-5757.
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28 n May 1, 2019 n THE ISLANDER
KRC swings for two championships, youth soccer heats up
By Kevin P. Cassidy Islander Reporter Two champions were crowned, culminating a month-long pursuit of the nine-hole and 18-hole women’s match-play championships at the Key Royale Club. In the nine-hole tournament, Beth Lindeman and Roxanne Koche were all even through four holes, but Lindeman won the next three to take the title with a 3 and 2 score. Cassidy The 18-hole tournament wasn’t as close, as Debi Wohlers defeated Laura Purcell 5 and 3 to win her fifth club match-play championship. In regular golf action at the club, Buddy Foy took first place in the nine-hole, modified-Stableford system match April 22 with a score of plus-6. The women played a nine-hole, individual-low-net match April 23 in four flights. Helen Pollock and Pam Lowry both carded 1-under-par 31s to finish in a tie for first place in Flight A. Flight B saw Meredith Slavin torch the course to the tune of a 5-under-par 27, while Sue Wheeler’s 1-under-par 31 gave her first place in Flight C. Marty Clark fired a 5-under-par 27 to match the low round of the day and grab first place in Flight D. The men were back on the course April 25 for a nine-hole scramble. The team of Gary Duncan, Lou Pagano, Earl Ritchie and Terry Tarras combined on a 4-under-par 28 to earn clubhouse bragging rights for the day.
On the pitch Like the weather, youth soccer is heating up at the Center of Anna Maria Island. After three games, Beach House Real Estate is on top of the league’s 8-10 division with a perfect 3-0 record. Freckled Fin is right on its heels with a 2-0-1 record, followed by 1-1-1 ACE Hardware and 0-3 Ugly Grouper. Action April 24 saw Beach House improve to 3-0 on the season with a 5-1 victory over Ugly Grouper behind four goals from Dennis Gallagher and a goal from Jack Whiteside. Gallagher and Eve Otto also combined to make five saves to help preserve the victory. Savanna Coba scored the lone goal in the loss and Ugly Grouper received 10 saves from goalie Alexander Teich. The second 8-10 division match of the evening saw Freckled Fin earn a 2-0 victory over ACE Hardware behind a pair of goals from Taylor June King. The first goal came early in the game when Ava Gitt cleared the ball forward to King, who carried the ball in and finished top shelf for a 1-0 Freckled Fin lead. Fin added to its lead late in the half when Duncan Cloutier carried the ball in on goal. ACE Hardware goalie Jack Zaccagnino came off his line to clear the ball, but his kick went right into King and the ball rebounded into the open goal for a 2-0 lead. The second half saw William Pakbaz, Gitt and Ila Tyler lead the Fin defense, keeping the ACE Hardware offense at bay in front of goalie Cale Rudacille, who earned the shutout victory.
Laura Purcell, left, poses with five-time club matchplay champion Debi Wohlers at the conclusion of the 18-hole championship match that saw Wohlers earn a 5 and 3 victory. Islander Photo: Courtesy KRC Adult soccer action After two weeks of play, the adult soccer league at the Center of Anna Maria Island has three unbeaten teams and three teams still looking for a victory. Gulfview Windows and Doors are on top of the standings with a 2-0 record with Jiffy Lube and Duncan Real Estate right behind with 1-0 records. Blalock Walters follows with a 1-0-1 record, while Solid Rock Construction and Flynn Law tied for fifth on matching 1-1 records. Sato Real Estate holds down the sixth spot with an 0-0-1 record, while Ross Built sits at 0-1 and Moss Builders and Beach House Real Estate at 0-2. Action April 25 kicked off with Duncan Real Estate outlasting Ross Built 4-3 behind a hat trick and an assist from Joey Hutchinson and a goal and an assist from Clancy Vaughan. Goalie Mike Brusso helped preserve the victory with nine saves. Jessica Willliams had a goal and an assist to lead Ross Built, which also received a goal each from Chris Circharo and John Haggerty. Haggerty also came through with 10 saves between the pipes. Flynn Law rolled to a 4-1 victory over Beach House in the second match of the evening behind a hat trick from Tyler Robinson and a goal and an assist from Lexi Sato. Kevin Roman added an assist, while
Josh Bernet came through with nine saves in the victory. Adam Bujarski scored for Beach House, which also received 14 saves from David Greene in the loss. Blalock Walters demolished Moss Builders by an 8-1 score in the third game of the night behind three goals from Matt Staggs and two goals and an assist from Stephen Perry and Matt Plummer. Alex Breitinger scored a goal and Scott Rudacille came through with 10 saves in the victory. Damir Glavan scored the lone goal for Moss Builders, which also received four saves from Nate Talucci, Dimitri Maramenides and Charles Buky in the loss. The last match of the night saw Gulfview Windows and Doors improve to 2-0 with a 5-1 victory over Solid Rock Construction. Ashley Friszman led the way with two goals, while Keith Mahoney and Ryan Moss each had a goal and an assist. Bolanos Urbiola completed the scoring and Jordan Demers had 14 saves in the win. Yuri Pereira scored a goal to lead Solid Rock, which also received 12 combined saves from James Roadman and Ben Sato in the loss. The action continues May 2 on the center pitch, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria. Horseshoe news Two teams advanced to the knockout stage and battled it out for the day’s supremacy during April 24 horseshoe action at the Anna Maria City Hall horseshoe pits. The team of Rod Bussey and Merv Wice earned top honors after a 21-14 victory over Tim Sofran and Bob Brown. Two teams also advanced from pool play during the April 27 games. Sofran, this time teamed up with Dom Livedoti, earned bragging rights with a dominating 22-7 victory over Bob Heiger and Bob Rowley. Play gets underway at 9 a.m. every Wednesday and Saturday at the Anna Maria City Hall pits. Warmups begin at 8:45 a.m. followed by random team selection. There is no charge to play and everyone is welcome. Duncan Cloutier winds up to take a shot for Freckled Fin as ACE Hardware defender Kirra Quinby closes in April 24 during soccer action at the Center of Anna Maria Island. Islander Photo: Kevin P. Cassidy
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May 1 May 2 May 3 May 4 May 5 May 6 May 7 May 8
AM
11:02a 12:07p 12:17p 12:13a 12:50a 1:27a 1:27a 2:54a
HIGH
1.9 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.8 1.7 1.7 1.5
PM
11:21p 11:33p — 12:26p 12:40p 12:58p 12:58p 1:49p
HIGH
AM
LOW
PM
1.7 1.9 — 1.8 1.9 2.1 2.1 2.3
4:29a 5:24a 5:51a 6:15a 6:36a 6:55a 6:55a 7:35a
0.4 0.0 0.1 0.3 0.4 0.6 0.6 0.8
5:07p 5:25p 5:58p 6:30p 7:04p 7:40p 7:40p 9:09p
LOW
Moon
0.5 0.7 0.5 0.3 0.1 New 0.0 0.0 -0.2
AM City Pier tides; Cortez high tides 7 minutes later — lows 1:06 later
THE ISLANDER n MAy 1, 2019 n 29
Fishing inshore, offshore AMI remains hot all over
By Capt. Danny Stasny Islander Reporter With conditions near perfect, fishing around anna maria island is good all over. The waters are nearly gin clear, which can be enjoyable while fishing. i’m finding myself hypnotized while cruising around the flats of Tampa Bay looking from my tower into the clear waters — like peering into another world. Stasny On some days it’s hard to climb down from the perch to fish. With the clear waters, i’m scaling down my leader and hook sizes. fluorocarbon leaders 15-20 pounds are working. I’m also combining a No.1 Owner hook to the rig. this seems to be enough to trick the fish into taking a bait. I have noticed the tides are affecting the bite, too. Slower moving tides — such as the ones we are experiencing — require patience, as the fish seem to be less motivated to feed. But don’t be discouraged. Keep track of where these fish are and go after them at the peak times of the flow during the tide. trust me, they’ll eat if you time it right. This being said, calm, clear waters provide great opportunities to scout. it’s easier to spot fish and study the terrain. You might even find some new spots to fish if you train your eyes. On my Southernaire charters, I’m targeting catchand-release snook. for shallow water action, these fish are about as good as it gets. Explosive strikes, combined with drag-screaming runs, make the snook one of the most popular fish the backcountry offers. most catches are 18-24 inches, which isn’t huge, but catching 30-40 of them in a morning makes for good action. You never know when the 30- to 40-inch fish is going to surprise you and eat your shiner. Spotted seatrout are next on the list. Free-lining live shiners over deep grass areas during swift incoming tides is getting these fish amped up to bite. most catches are in the slot of 15-20 inches. i’m seeing a few trout over 20 inches, which are now being released to stay in compliance with new florida fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission regulations. i’m also fishing structure in tampa Bay. mangrove snapper are beginning to show, although they have a ways to go until they reach their potential numbers. Big gag grouper also are present, which are good action, but need to be released since they are not in season. Finally, free-lining baits over the wrecks is resulting in Spanish mackerel and jack crevalle. Jim malfese at the rod & reel pier says the tail end of the sheepshead bite is occurring. pier fishers casting live shrimp under the pier are reeling up sheepies here and there.
Chris McBride and Ron Bennick out of St. Petersburg and Samir Ingraham of Lakeland Sightfishing show off the permit caught on pass crabs April 22 on a charter fishing trip with Capt. Jason Stock. Catch-and-release snook are beginning to frequent the pier, which makes them targetable for anglers hoping to hook into a large fish. using big baits — ladyfish, pinfish or mojarra — is attracting these wary fish to the hook. Remember to use stout gear when targeting these big linesiders. these fish are professionals at running up under the pier to cut the line on the pilings so it’s imperative to have a rod and reel suited for “snatching” them out of the water before they make the run. Capt. Aaron Lowman is concentrating his mornings on catch-and-release snook and redfish. He’s finding both around mangrove shorelines, especially during the higher stages of the tide. Numerous 20- to 26-inch catch-and-release snook are coming to the hook, with a few slot-size fish mixed in. as for the reds, targeting mullet schools is yielding the best results. meanwhile, spotted seatrout are being caught on the deeper grass flats during strong incoming tides. most catches are within the 15- to 20-inch slot. moving out to deeper water in tampa Bay, Lowman is catching mangrove snapper and Spanish mackerel over rock piles and reefs. capt. Warren girle is working nearshore structure for a variety of species. Within 8 miles of the gulf beaches, girle is finding good action by bottom fishing around ledges and other structure. mangrove snapper, grouper and flounder are being caught on live bait, such as shiners or pinfish. Key West grunts and porgies are in the mix. Switching tactics from bottom fishing to free-lining baits is resulting in kingfish, Spanish mackerel and bonito. moving inshore, girle is putting sport anglers on numerous catch-and-release snook around the mangrove shorelines. catch-and-release redfish also are taking their baits.
Fishing Charters Capt. Warren Girle
Fishing slightly deeper areas, such as deep grass flats and channel edges, is producing spotted seatrout, as well as some macks and ladyfish. capt. david White of anna maria charters is cashing in on the light winds and calm conditions by leading his clients offshore to fish. in water depths of 80-100 feet, White is finding numerous mangrove snapper while bottom fishing. free-lining baits on the surface is attracting some action — especially kingfish. Free-lining baits is resulting in some rare occurrences, such as a hook up with a sailfish. moving inshore, White’s anglers are enjoying catch-and-release snook action. Also in the inshore mix are catch-and release redfish, Spanish mackerel, spotted seatrout and jack crevalle. Capt. Jason Stock is in pursuit of permit throughout the waters just offshore of anna maria island. Quietly approaching reefs and wrecks is resulting in some of the best ever permit fishing. multiple hookups of 2-3 lines at once are occurring on good days. Fish 10-20 pounds are average, with a few bigger ones in the mix. also while offshore, Stock is finding blackfin tuna and kingfish ready to take bait. to finish up the day, Stock is bottom fishing for yellowtail and mangrove snapper. Stock said he’s readying his Yellowfin for the upcoming tarpon bite. Send high-resolution photos and fishing reports to fish@islander.org.
Snook closure continues in Manatee County
Snook remains catch-and-release only in waters from the Pasco-Hernando county line south to Gordon Pass in Collier County — including manatee county — due to impacts from a previous red tide. Snook is closed to harvest in Gulf state, federal and inland waters, starting may 1. Seasonal harvest closures conserve snook populations and help sustain and improve the fishery, according to a news release from the Florida Fish and Wildlife conservation commission. the fWc’s agenda for a may 1-2 meeting near Tallahassee included a discussion on whether to extend red-tide related measures for snook, as well as red drum and spotted seatrout. Snook may be caught and released during the closed season. However, the fWc encourages anglers to handle their catch carefully to help the fish survive upon release. for more about fish handling, visit myfwc. com/fishing and click on “Saltwater Fishing,” “Recreational Regulations” and “Fish Handling.”
CAPT. AARON LOWMAN 'ULF "AY &ISHINGs4ARPON 53'! ,ICENSED AND )NSURED
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DOCKED AT SEAFOOD SHACK
30 n MAy 1, 2019 n THE ISLANDER
isl
April 22. There, she tied the knot with longtime beau Tommy Kilpatrick. Congratulations! Stay busy, islanders! Got business news? Contact Sandy Ambrogi at sandy@islander.org or call 941-778-7978.
biz
AMI wedding vendors lauded
BY sandY aMBrogi
Hotel development head tapped, Baker named to post
Margaritaville names development director the first margaritaville compass Hotel is under construction at One Particular Harbour on Perico Island, and the company has named a director of hotel development. Shamim Lodin, with more than two decades of hospitality experience, was named to the post. He will lead the Compass select-service brand lodgings, as well as the established margaritaville Hotels and Resorts in the Americas, including Latin America and the Caribbean. Lodin, a native of Afghanistan who speaks four languages, will be based in atlanta. margaritaville has more than 20 projects underway in its portfolio. Folks around here are hoping he brings Jimmy Buffett along for the grand opening next year at Compass. TDC hotelier seat goes to former Bradenton Beach mayor Bill Shearon and anna maria island resorts general manager Barbara
Scholar named at chamber mixer
Lane Bowers, a graduating senior at Manatee High and son of Bonnie and Ken Bowers of Holmes Beach, speaks April 24 on being named a scholarship winner by the Anna Maria Island Historical Society during the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce monthly mixer at the AMIHS museum, 402 Pine Ave., Anna Maria. He will attend Florida Atlantic University and pursue a degree in environmental engineering. Islander Photo: Courtesy AMICofC/Lisa Hlywa
BizCal
coMPiled BY sandY aMBrogi
AMI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Wednesday, May 8 7:45 a.m. — Early-riser breakfast, Olympic Cafe, 6408 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton. Members $8, guests $16. Information: 941-7781541, info@amichamber.org. Friday, May 17 11:30 a.m. — registration for the 20th Annual Chamber Golf Tournament, IMG Academy Golf Club, 4350 El Conquistador Parkway, Bradenton. Information: 941-778-1541, info@amichamber. org. Wednesday, May 22 5 p.m. — Business card mixer, Hancock Whitney Bank, 5324 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach. Members $5, guests $10. RSVPs requested. Information: 941-778-1541, info@amichamber.org. LONGBOAT KEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Wednesday, May 8 11:30 a.m. — Networking luncheon, Beach House Restaurant, 200 Gulf Drive N., Bradenton Beach. Members $25, guests $35. Information: 941-383-2466, info@lkbchamber.com. Tuesday, May 21 5:30 p.m. — Business After Hours, the Fish Hole, 117 Bridge St., Bradenton Beach. Members $5, guests $10. Information: 941383-2466, info@lbkchamber.com.
Island Coffee Haus proprietor Bev Lesnick, right, wed longtime partner Tommy Kilpatrick April 23 in a ceremony in Las Vegas. Islander Photo: Facebook Baker were among those who applied for the open seat on the manatee county tourist development council for a hotelier. The seat was vacated by Dale Sconyers, general manager of Even Hotel Sarasota-Lakewood Ranch. The county commission appointed Baker to the seat April 23. And, they tied the knot Island Coffee Haus owner Beverly Lesnick, who chairs the anna maria island chamber of commerce board of directors, took a trip to Las Vegas the week of
the anna maria island Beach Weddings association named its top vendors for 2018-19. Awards were handed out April 24, during a celebration at the Legacy Hotel at img in Bradenton. the winners include: • florist, flowers by edie. • photographer, Love & Style. • Wedding portraits, island photography. • Wedding planner, Brandy Hudson. • new venue, Waterline marina resort and Beach Club. • outdoor venue, tortuga resort. • indoor venue, urban Loft. • private chef, the Loft 5. • Wedding cakes, cupcake delights. • music, anna maria island dJ. • Boutique, tie the Knot. • mobile caterer, Scott’s deli. • Hair and makeup, claire marie Spa. • excursions, Zegway by the Bay. • Wedding favors, gnarly mangrove. • Spa, Sea-renity Spa. • Wedding experience, cory Wright fine art. Vendors in the wedding industry pose with their awards April 24 at the Legacy Hotel at IMG, 5450 Bollettieri Blvd., Bradenton. The Anna Maria Island Beach Weddings Association named the winners. Islander Courtesy Photo
Joan Carter of J&J Graphics, Katy Demick of Anna Maria Island Resorts and John Campora of Edward Jones visit under the trees April 24 at the Anna Maria Island Historical Society Museum during the monthly chamber business card mixer. Islander Photos: Courtesy AMICofC/ Lisa Hlywa
Tim “Hammer” Thompson of Thompson’s Produce, JoAnn Baker of Fidelity Bank and Susanne Arbanas of Waterline Resort Marina and Beach Club enjoy the company April 24 at the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce mixer. The event was at the Anna Maria Island Historical Society Museum and featured libations, light bites and museum tours.
THE ISLANDER n MAy 1, 2019 n 31
Spring break delivers reasons to celebrate National Tourism Week
By Sandy Ambrogi Islander Reporter Travel matters. and it certainly matters when tourism is a significant factor in a local economy. national travel and tourism Week is celebrated may 5-11. and, after a long, busy spring break, business owners on anna maria island have plenty to celebrate. manatee county tourist tax collections — money collected from bed tax on rentals of less than six months — climbed in march 2019 over the previous year’s numbers. anna maria collections were up 6.1%. Holmes Beach’s number was up 18.7%. Bradenton Beach collections saw an 11.9% increase over 2018. Spring break ran from mid-February to April 21, Easter weekend. Numbers for April were not available at press time. the theme for tourism week is “travel matters,” and ustravel.org says travel supports 15.7 million jobs in the United States. Just ask the servers at Slim’s Place, 9701 Gulf drive, anna maria, about that fact. the neighborhood bar and restaurant sees its share of locals, but visitors make up a large percentage of customers during peak tourist periods, including spring break. “It’s been busy, busy, like one of those days where it just never stops,” Brittany Lyngholm told the islander april 24. “But it’s finally starting to calm down a little.” “We’ve had quite a spring break crowd, but mostly families. Not the single spring-break type of guys,” she said. “I think it was better than last year,” Lyngholm added. “Better than last year” is music to business owners’ ears. uSatravel.org touts other benefits of tourism — those people won’t find at the end of a cash register
Visitors bureau to name tourism ambassador
The Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau will name the 2019 Tourism Ambassador of the Year friday, may 3, during a ceremony and celebration aboard the anna maria princess. Each year, one individual who represents the county in the best way possible to visitors is honored. The 2018 winner, Karen Riley-Love, a freelance photographer for The Islander, will announce this year’s winner. Others to win the prize include Ed Chiles, owner of the Sandbar Restaurant and other local restautape when the doors close. For example, travel opens the doors to learning and memories, along with a greater understanding of how other people live. matthew george of the united Kingdom has traveled to anna maria island for vacation three times, including in September 2017, when he experienced a brush with Hurricane Irma. After the 2017 trip, he returned to England, and started a thesis on hurricane preparedness. “I feel I would like to understand the hurricane’s effect on the local community,” he wrote to The Islander. “And, how the island prepares for such an event.” George said he wanted to understand how islanders dealt with the storm and why these choose to live in a hurricane-prone area. His travels to the island made him aware of the issues and prompted his desire to learn more about the island. meanwhile, in Holmes Beach, Vinny esposito is greeting customers at Vinny’s italian Kitchen, 5337 Gulf Drive. Esposito’s marketplace was jammed in march during his first spring break in Holmes Beach. Esposito previously operated Vinny’s Italian Kitchen on pine avenue in anna maria.
rants and businesses; John Horne, owner of the Anna maria oyster Bar restaurants; and manatee county Parks and Natural Resource director Charlie Hunsicker. Whoever becomes the next ambassador has plenty of work. The total economic impact from tourism topped $1 billion in fiscal 2018 in manatee county. If the pace continues at the current rate of double-digit gains, 2019 might blow that number out of the water — or the gulf of mexico. — Sandy Ambrogi
“We had eight-10 college kids coming in the door at a time for sandwiches,” Esposito told The Islander. “Lotta young people, lotta families with little ones, lotta business,” Esposito said. “Folks were coming over from the hotel, and there were firefighters and police, too,” he added. Esposito soon will leave the store to his employees, while he travels to Italy, his homeland, for some rest and relaxation. “Now I’m taking a little break myself,” he said. And celebrating island tourism, too.
Islander archive dates to 1992, available 24/7
The Islander is an invited participant in the digital newspaper library for the University of Florida George A. Smathers Libraries. The collection of Islanders date from the first edition in 1992. it’s all on the UofF digital library site now. It can be found online at ufdc.ufl.edu.
LO C A L LY K N OW N . G LO B A L LY C O N N E C T E D.
CASANAS 104 34th Street Hannah Hillyard 941-744-7358 A4427813 $3,995,000
ILEXHURST 2500 Gulf Drive N Laurie M Mock 941-232-3665 A4424506 $2,595,000
B I M I N I B AY E S TAT E S 240 Oak Avenue Kathy Harman 941-900-9828 A4424812 $2,299,000
ANNA MARIA ISLAND 209 S Bay Boulevard Debbie Vogler 941-705-3328 A4402745 $1,925,000
ANNA MARIA ISLAND 505 S Bay Boulevard Debbie Vogler 941-705-3328 A4199179 $1,799,000
C O R T E Z B E AC H 110 7th Street S Judy LaValliere & Deborah Nelson 941-504-3792 A4210751 $1,750,000
JEWFISH KEY 7140 La Lenaire Drive Laurie M Mock 941-232-3665 A4426326 $1,395,000
BR ADENTON 2701 9th Street E Laurie M Mock 941-232-3665 A4420352 $949,000
ILEXHURST 2307 Avenue C Laurie M Mock 941-232-3665 A4430021 $935,000
C O R T E Z B E AC H 103 8th Street S Jodene Moneuse 941-302-4913 A4423553 $799,000
MARTINIQUE 5300 Gulf Drive 605 Nicole Ryskamp 941-807-1766 A4426664 $735,000
B AY PA L M S 503 70th Street Laura Rulon 941-896-2757 A4406584 $599,000
T I DY I S L A N D 10 Tidy Island Boulevard Kathy Marshall 941-900-9777 A4428392 $530,000
S U N B OW B AY 3705 E Bay Drive 212 Kristi Berger & Deborah Capobianco 941-730-3801 A4431416 $297,000
MARSHALL L ANDING Sales Gallery 5461 56th Court East Cory Day 941.201.4574 A4411520 $599,900
NEW CONSTRUCTION
MSC MORTGAGE | MSC TITLE | MS&C COMMERCIAL NEW HOMES & CONDOMINIUMS
OPEN HOUSES SUNDAYS 1–4 PM
michaelsaunders.com
8 8 8 . 552 . 52 2 8
michaelsaunders.com L I C E N S E D R E A L E S TAT E B R O K E R
32 n MAy 1, 2019 n THE ISLANDER
I S L A N D E R C L A S S I F I E D S ITEMS FOR SALE
ANNOUNCEMENTS
BOATS & BOATING Continued
WINE COOLER A/C or 12-volt, $50. Minifridge, $40. Chairs, $5 each. 941-3561456.
WANTED: WORKOUT DVDs, XBox, Wii units with games for Ministry of Presence for kids and teens in Haiti. Deliver to The Islander, 3218 E. Bay Drive, Holmes Beach.
NOT USING YOUR dock/boat slip? Looking to rent dock space. Contact Clark, 941-809-8160.
WANTED: YOUR OLD cellphone for recycling. Deliver to The Islander, 3218 E. Bay Drive, Holmes Beach.
HELP WANTED
50-GALLON AQUARIUM, $59, 50-gallon aquarium stand, $34. Seven fish, $79 for all fish. 727-999-1011. ANTIQUE PARTNER DESK: All wood, $1,000. Antique chairs, perfect for eclectic dining set. The Islander newspaper, 3218 E. Bay Drive, Holmes Beach. 941-778-7978.
AERIAL PHOTOS of Anna Maria Island. View and purchase online: www.jackelka.com. FREE GUN LOCK courtesy of Project Childsafe, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Holmes Beach Police Department. Pick up at The Islander office, 3218 E. Bay Drive, Holmes Beach. Don’t be sorry, be safe.
FREEBIE ITEMS FOR SALE Individuals may place one free ad with up to three items, each priced $100 or less, 15 words or less. FREE, one week, must be submitted online. Email classifieds@islander. org, fax toll-free 1-866-362-9821. (limited time offer)
GARAGE SALES
Sandy’s Lawn Service Inc. ESTABLISHED IN 1983
Residential & Commercial Full-service lawn maintenance. Landscaping ~ Cleanups Hauling ~ Tree Trimming.
PETS
LICENSED & INSURED
Paradise Improvements
941.792.5600
Kitchen and Bath Remodeling Specialist Replacement Doors and Windows
HELP RESCUED PETS! Volunteer, foster, have fun! Moonracer Animal Rescue. Email: moonraceranimalrescue@gmail.com. TRANSPORTATION
Andrew Chennault
FULLY LICENSED AND INSURED Island References Lic#CBC056755
RDI CONSTRUCTION INC.
CBC 1253471
ROSER THRIFT SHOP and annex open 9:30 a.m.- 2 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday. Donations preferred 9 a.m.-11 a.m., Wednesdays. 511 Pine Ave., Anna Maria. Call 941-779-2733.
Residential & Condo Renovations Kitchens • Bath • Design Service Carpentry • Flooring • Painting Commercial & Residential
References available • 941-720-7519
LOW MILEAGE! 2007 Honda Civic twodoor. 51,000 gentle miles, great condition. $5,600. Call or text, 941-713-5448. 2015 COLEMAN CAMPER. 20-feet, sleeps 4-6. All hookups and hitch included. Approximately 4,000 lbs. dry weight. $9,000. 256302-0959. BOATS & BOATING
AdoptA-Pet
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P B A N V O L A T L E M T S E A D S R O S T W I P I N G R E N O S P O T T U R E P A I R N U P S B E A M E D W A S S N S L O C T O R P E G R P S
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R A D O O N O R M A I D P D E N M A R C C A R S O I S E A T S H S A K E E C O R C T U R E O S I A T L A C R E A M I D N O T O P S A Y M A B P S T R L E T R A A S I D N E P E
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JESSIE’S ISLAND STORE has an immediate opening for a part-time deli clerk. 15-20 hours per week. See Jimmy or April for more details. 941-778-6903. 5424 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach.
LOOKING FOR AN EARLY BIRD? You can read Wednesday’s classifieds on Tuesday at www.islander.org. And it’s FREE!
REPORTER WANTED: Print media, newspaper experience required. Apply via email with letter of interest to news@islander.org.
Island real estate transactions
D E L I
JESSIE’S ISLAND STORE has an immediate opening for a daytime cashier. 5 a.m.-2 p.m. three days a week. See Jimmy or April for more details. 941-778-6903. 5424 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach.
PONTOON BOAT RENTAL Create life long memories. Call 941-778-2121 or see boatflorida.net.
PropertyWatch
SPONSORED BY
HOUSEKEEPER: 30-40 HOURS per week. Must know how to handle daily housekeeping operations for a small motel. Must speak English and be a non-smoker. Family owned motel, great place to work. Tom at 941-7785405.
GROUNDSKEEPER POSITION AVAILABLE now at small beach resort on AMI. General “fix-it” skills along with love of flowers and landscape plants would be a definite “plus” for this primarily outdoor, part-time job! Sound like the place for you? Send information and/or resume for consideration to beckyjhardy1@msn.com.
BIMINI BAY SAILING: Small sailboat rentals and instruction. Day. Week. Month. Sunfish, Laser, Windrider 17 and Precision 15. Call Brian at 941-685-1400. smokey and Diamond. Bonded pair, mother and son. 2 and 8 years old. Apply to adopt the pair at www. moonraceranimalrescue.com. Call lisa Williams at 941-345-2441 or visit The Islander next to Paradise Cafe in Holmes Beach for more …
LOCAL INDEPENDENT INSURANCE agency seeking full-time Insurance customer service representative. Compensation based on experience. Qualified applicants must hold active 4-40 or 2-20 agent license, have one year prior experience as independent agency CSR and working knowledge of Agency Management System. Job responsibilities include calculating home and auto quotes, managing customer coverage inquiries and policy service requests, processing payments, resolving customer complaints and documenting all service activities in agency management system. Email resume and best contact information to brent.moss@greatflorida.com or give us a call at 941-567-6266.
By Jesse Brisson Special to The Islander 867 n. Shore drive, anna maria, 1,507 sfla 2bed/2bath/1car bayfront home built in 1968 on a 7,500 sq ft lot sold april 15, mullins to Walters for $1,550,000; list $1,695,000. 512 Loquat drive, anna maria, 2,298 sfla 3bed/3bath/2car canalfront pool home built in 1986 on a 10,800 sq ft lot sold april 15, rochelli to Bigger for $1,225,000; list $1,375,000. 509 67th St., Holmes Beach, 1,420 sfla / 1,988 sfur 3bed/2bath/2car canalfront home built in 1973 on a 8,880 sq ft lot sold April 8, DG Island Properties LLc to davis for $1,050,000. 2313 gulf drive n., Bradenton Beach, 1,944 sfla / 3,851 sfur 6bed/4bath duplex built in 1997 on a 5,000 sq ft lot sold april 8, mark anthony arcidiacono Realty to Angello for $899,000. 1205 gulf drive S., Bradenton Beach, 1,732 sfla 3bed/2bath duplex built in 1936 on a 5,000 sq ft lot sold april 15, colwell to BB gulf View partners LLC for $833,000.
212 elm ave., anna maria, vacant 6,500 lot sold Birke to elmwood Beach LLc for $795,000. 406 Bay palms drive, Holmes Beach, 1,332 sfla / 1,956 sfur 2bed/2bath/1car home built in 1966 on a 8,015 sq ft lot sold april 12, gagne to davis for $575,000; list $599,000. 6700 Gulf Drive, Unit 22, Gulfplace, Holmes Beach, 1,148 sfla / 1,256 sfur condo with shared pool built in 1976 sold April 8, Coleman to Linsley for $540,000; list $595,000. 6250 Holmes Blvd., unit 69, north Beach Village, Holmes Beach, 1,536 sfla / 2,054 sfur 3bed/2½bath/2car condo with shared pool built in 1991 sold april 12, Savino to Schuman for $530,000; list $549,000. 1801 Gulf Drive N., Unit 173, Runaway Bay, Holmes Beach, 1,080 sfla / 1,140 sfur 2bed/2bath condo with shared pool built in 1978 sold April 10, Wells to Witzmann for $360,000; list $369,000. 1603 Gulf Drive N., Unit 22, Tradewinds, Bradenton Beach, 540 1bed/1bath condo with shared pool built in 1971 sold April 16, Rainbow Investors LLC to Villari for $280,000; list $290,000. Jesse Brisson, broker/associate at Gulf-Bay Realty of Anna Maria, can be reached at 941-7787244.
THE ISLANDER n May 1, 2019 n 33
I S L A N D E R C L A S S I F I E D S SERVICES
LAWN & GARDEN Continued
HOME IMPROVEMENT Continued
ISLAND COMPUTER GUY, 37 years experience. On-site PC repairs, upgrades, buying assistance and training. Call Bill, 941-7782535.
ISLAND LAWN SPRINKLER Service: Repairs, installs. Your local sprinkler company since 1997. Call Jeff, 941-778-2581.
ISLAND HANDYMAN: I live here, work here, value your referral. Refinish, paint, tile. Just ask. JayPros. Licensed/insured. References. Call Jay, 941-962-2874.
I DON’T CUT corners, I clean corners. Professional, friendly cleaning service since 1999. 941-779-6638. Leave message. NEED A RIDE to airports? Tampa $65, St. Pete, $55, Sarasota, $30. Gary, 863-4095875. gvoness80@gmail.com. B-SAFE-RIDES: Peggy, R.N I live on Anna Maria Island. Airport, casino, cruises, racetrack, golf course and personal rides. Minivan, leather, seats up to 6 people. Don’t risk it! Call or text, 727-902-7784. BUSINESS-TO-BUSINESS JD’s Window Cleaning looking for storefront jobs in Holmes Beach. I make dirty windows sparkling clean. 941-920-3840. BEACH SERVICE air conditioning, heat, refrigeration. Commercial and residential service, repair and/or replacement. Serving Manatee County and the Island since 1987. For dependable, honest and personalized service, call Bill Eller, 941-795-7411. CAC184228. ANYONE CAN TAKE a picture. A professional creates a portrait. I want to be at your wedding! www.jackelka.com. 941-778-2711. RELAXING MASSAGE IN the convenience of your home or hotel. Massage by Nadia, more than 20 years on Anna Maria Island. Call today for an appointment, 941-5188301. MA#0017550.MA#0017550. LAWN & GARDEN CONNIE’S LANDSCAPING INC. Residential and commercial. Full-service lawn maintenance, landscaping, cleanups, hauling and more! Insured. 941-778-5294.
NATURE’S DESIGN LANDSCAPING. Design and installation. Tropical landscape specialist. Residential and commercial. 35 years experience. 941-448-6336. HOME IMPROVEMENT VAN-GO PAINTING residential/commercial, interior/exterior, pressure cleaning, wallpaper. Island references. Bill, 941-795-5100. www.vangopainting.net. CUSTOM REMODELING EXPERT. All phases of carpentry, repairs and painting. Insured. Meticulous, clean, sober and prompt. Paul Beauregard, 941-730-7479. TILE -TILE -TILE. All variations of ceramic tile supplied and installed. Quality workmanship, prompt, reliable, many Island references. Call Neil, 941-726-3077. GRIFFIN’S HOME IMPROVEMENTS Inc. Handyman, fine woodwork, countertops, cabinets and wood flooring. Insured and licensed. 941-722-8792. JERRY’S HOME REPAIR: Carpentry, handyman, light hauling, pressure washing. Jack of all trades. Call 941-447-2198. ARTISAN DESIGN TILE and Marble. Building our reputation on excellent service and focused craftsmanship, one job at a time. www.ArtisanDesignTileAndMarble.com. Call Don, 941-993-6567. R. A. GONZALEZ CONSTRUCTION: Re-roof and leak specialist. Residential/hotels/commercial. Repairs, shingles, tile, metal, flat. Quick response. Quality work at reasonable rates. References. Insured/licensed. #CCC1330056. Call Bryan at 727-2779502.
RENTALS AVAILABLE RENTAL: APRIL 2019 and October-April 2020. 2BR/2BA ground-level with carport and patio. Charming, plantation shutters. 1.5 blocks to Gulf beaches. Updated, granite countertops, recessed lighting, flatscreen TVs in each room. Must see! Anna Maria. 941-565-2373. HOLMES BEACH DUPLEX: 2BR/2BA beautifully furnished, garage included. No pets, no smoking. $1,750/month. 941-778-2824. BEAUTIFUL, UPDATED, BEACHY 2BR/ 2BR condo. Two-week minimum rental at Playa Encatada, Holmes Beach. King bed in the master bedroom and two twins in the second bedroom. New appliances, beds and updated everything! Across the street from the beach. 617-633-6360. FURNISHED 2BR/2BA CONDO: Upgraded annual rental. Holmes Beach. Westbay Point and Moorings. Bottom floor, waterfront. $1,800/month plus electric and cable. Contact 813-362-5881. TURN THE PAGE for more rentals...
CHRISTIE’S PLUMBING Family Owned and Operated since 1975
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Gone All Summer? Home Unoccupied? Many Bad Things Can Happen
“Your Eyes Here – While You’re Away” Keeping Homes Safe For 27+ Years!
Protection Property Watch.com Call Jon Kent 941-920-0832
HURRICANE
Windows & Doors 941-730-5045 WEATHERSIDE LLC
Bed: A bargain!
MORE ADS = more readers in The Islander.
CLASSIFIED AD ORDER g ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ nder.or___________
la s i . w w tw ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ e a___________ n i l n o s d ad ___________ ___________ ___________ ____________ ___________ ___________ e fi i s s a ce cl ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ____________ Pla___________
___________ ___________ ___________
CLASSIFIED RATES: Minimum $12 for up to 15 WORDS. 16-30 words: $20. 31-45 words: $40. BOX ad: additional $4. (Phone number is a "word.")
The deadline is NOON Monday every week for Wednesday’s paper. Run issue date(s) _________
_________
_________
_________ or TFN start date: ______________
Amt. pd _________________ Date _____________ Ck. No.� _________ Cash � _______ By _________ Credit card payment: �
d � u No.
_____________________________________________________
Name shown on card: ____________________________________________card exp. date ______ / ______ House no. or P.O. box no. on cc bill ________________________Billing address zip code ________________ Your e-mail for renewal reminder: ____________________________________________________________
Web site: www.islander.org 3218 E. Bay Drive Holmes Beach FL 34217
E-mail: classifieds@islander.org Fax toll free: 1-866-362-9821 Phone: 941-778-7978
Residential -iÀÛ Vi #CFC1426596
U FLY I drive your car anywhere in the USA. Airport runs, anywhere. Office, 941-4476389. 941-545-6688.
SHELL DELIVERED AND spread. $55/yard. Hauling all kinds of gravel, mulch, top soil with free estimates. Call Larry at 941-7957775, “shell phone” 941-720-0770.
LIC#CBC1253145
CLEANING: RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL, vacation, construction, rentals and power washing. 941-744-7983.
King, Queen, Full & Twin, pre-owned from $30 new/used. 941-922-5271 www.sleepking.net
Island Limousine
PROMPT, COURTEOUS SERVICE AIRPORT PERMITTED & LIVERY INSURED IslandLimo.net
941-779-0043
p ro fe s s i o n a l
PHOTOGRAPHY VIDEO Advertising Real Estate Resorts Restaurants Web/Social Media
941-778-2711
34 n May 1, 2019 n THE ISLANDER
i s l a n d e r C L A S S I F I E D S RENTALS Continued
RENTALS Continued
REAL ESTATE Continued
HOLMES BEACH: WESTBAY Cove. Second floor, 2BR/2BA, large lanai. Pools, tennis, one block to Gulf beach. July-Oct. 15, $2,400/ month. April 2020, $3,200/month. Thirty-day minimum. terryaposporos@gmail, 941-7788456.
ANNUAL 2BR/2BA: HOLMES Beach. Large deck, walk to beach. $1,400/month. 941778-7980.
ISLAND WATERFRONT HOME: 3BR/2BA oversize two-car garage. Caged, heated pool and spa. Boat dock and lift. $719,000. Real Estate Mart, 941-356-1456.
PERICO BAY CLUB: 2BR/2BA, one-car garage villa. Vacation, updated turnkey furnished. December, $1,500, January 2020, $3,500. Book now. Real Estate Mart, 941356-1456. WATERFRONT CONDO AT Westbay Cove. Monthly rental at off-season rates under $3,000. 973-208-0020 or paulreed46@msn. com. ANNUAL 2BR/2BA CONDO on second floor with bay views. Pool, tennis, cable and water included. $1,750/month. 941-778-1000. SEEKING ONE BEDROOM rental January and February 2020. Call 573-372-3087. ONE BEDROOM CONDO: Beautifully furnished. Bradenton Beach. Semi or annual. Big pool, small complex, one block to beach. Includes electric, water, cable, Wi-Fi. $1,550/ month. No pets. 941-447-3071. SIX-MONTH PLUS or annual: 2BR/1BA open floor plan, cathedral ceilings, new stainlesssteel appliances, tile throughout. Walk to beach. Cable/internet included. $1,295/ month. 941-730-6349 or 941-778-2928. LOOKING FOR AN EARLY BIRD? You can read Wednesday’s classifieds on Tuesday at www.islander.org. And it’s FREE!
REAL ESTATE B ​ EACH BLOCK! TURNKEY furnished beautifully updated 3BR/2BA classic cottage with pool, only five houses to beach! West of Gulf Drive with great rental. Only $899,000. Call Kathleen White at 941-773-0165. Island Real Estate. CONFORMING DUPLEX! OVER 2,500 sf of living with 2BR/2BA and 2BR/1BA. Easy walk to beach and room for pool! Now only $699,900. Call Kathleen White at 941773-0165. Island Real Estate. KWhite35@ tampabay.rr.com. FOR SALE BY owner: Gorgeous Runaway Bay 2BR/2BA condo. Completely upgraded and beautifully furnished, across street from beach. Must be pre-approved for mortgage. Great income-maker. Booked until August. This is your dream turnkey vacation condo and/or rental property. Call Kim, 513-3257536 for showing.  PERICO BAY CONDO: 2BR/2BA waterview. 840 Audubon Drive. $219,900. Open house 1-4 p.m. Wednesdays and Sundays. 941545-5806. 3BR/2BA OPEN FLOOR plan with caged pool. 218 82nd St., Holmes Beach $725,000. Can be seen on Zillow. 813-390-5747.
‘We are THE island.’ New Location Same Great Service
SINCE 1957
Full Service Property Management & Sales Dina Franklin (owner) Licensed Sales Associate & Property Manager
EXPERIENCE REPUTATION RESULTS SALES/RENTALS Professional Service to Anna Maria Island Since 1974
HERON’S WATCH 10 minutes to beaches. 4 BR + Den. Excellently maintained, tastefully decorated. No rental limitations. MLS A4142821. $359,000. MEADOWCROFT 1308 56TH ST. 1BR/1BA enclosed lanai. Turnkey furnished. Beach cottage decor in living room. Heated pool, tennis, clubhouse. $121,000. VACATION/SEASONAL RENTALS GULFFRONT PROPERTIES BOOKING NOW 941-778-0807
9906 Gulf Drive www.annamariareal.com 941 778-2259 dina@annamariareal.com
tdolly1@yahoo.com • www.tdollyyoungrealestate.com
BAYSHORE GARDENS HOME: 3BR/2BA with community pool and marina. $179,000. Real Estate Mart, 941-356-1456. INVESTORS TAKE NOTE! Great west Bradenton rental duplex just minutes to gorgeous white sand beaches of Anna Maria. 3BR/2BA and 2BR/1BA. Large carports/ Florida rooms. Fenced yard. Block construction. Central heat, air conditioning. $274,900. Price reduced $25,000! Hurry! This one won’t last! Chard Winheim, Horizon Realty, 941-713-6743. OWN YOUR BEACH house right across the street from the bay beaches. 2BR/2BA or possible 3BR/2BA with lounging pool in the fenced backyard. Call me to see anytime or visit open house, 2-4 p.m. Saturday, May 11. Refreshments. 311 N. Bay Blvd. Anna Maria. $799,900. Carolyn Spencer, Engel & Voelkers, 941-730-0496. OUT-OF-STATE REAL ESTATE BUY MOUNTAIN LAND now! Just west of Franklin, N.C. Two lots offered: Riverfront lot, 0.85 acre with septic tank for 2BR home. $50,000. Non-waterfront lot, 0.52 acre with septic permit in place. $20,000. Spectacular views, easily accessible. Call Bill, 941518-9300. http://www.vangopainting.net/ NCLand. DON’T MISS the best news on AMI. Check it out online or Facebook.
Place classified ads online at www.islander.org DREAM VACATIONS FOR YOUR VACATION DREAMS
ptional customer service for all your short or long E D your perfect lifetime, we will helpT you L I S Tfind JUS
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4HIS LOVELY UPDATED BEDROOM BATH HOME IS THE PERFECT PLACE FOR ENTERTAINING FRIENDS AND FAMILY OR JUST A QUIET EVENING FOR TWO 4HE HIGH CEILINGS GIVE AN EXPANSIVE FEEL WITH THE WIDE OPEN VIEW OF THE WATER FROM YOUR LANAI $229,000
WATERFRONT home on Anna Maria Sound. This luxurious 2,214 sf Coach Home includes 4 BR/den, 3 BA and sun room, all on one floor! The spacious, open floor plan offers plenty of natural light and gorgeous sunset views. $850,000. Schedule a private showing! Jen Sekel 941-518-0346, Teamsekel@gmail.com
Make Your Life Easier!�
For the island lifestyle, call Lynn Zemmer, 941-778-8104.
MIKE NORMAN REALTY EST. 1978
“We Work Hard To Make Your Life Easier!� 941-778-8104 Ofc 877-778-0099 Toll Free 104 Bridge Street, Bradenton Beach
104 Bridge St., Bradenton Beach vacationhomes.com 941-778-8104 1lending.com
877-778-0099 Toll Free Edgewatervacationhomes.com et, Bradenton Edgewaterrealestateami.com Beach mer Broker/Owner
For professional real estate sales, call a true island native, born and raised on Anna Maria Island. Marianne Norman-Ellis. 941.778.6696
Mike Norman Realty
1301&35: ."/"(&.&/5 t 3&"- &45"5& 4"-&4 t 7"$"5*0/ 3&/5"-4
CONTACT US TODAY RENTALS@ISLANDVACATIONPROPERTIES.COM WWW.ISLANDVACATIONPROPERTIES.COM t 3001 GULF DRIVE, HOLMES BEACH
Gulf-Bay Realty of Anna Maria Inc. Jesse Brisson - Broker Associate, GRI 941-713-4755 800-771-6043
TOUR OF HOMES FEATURE PROPERTY!
Come see this custom-built home in Anna Maria with 4beds/6baths/3car. Short walk to direct beach access. Over 3,200 sf under air. Pool and spa, privacy, tons of open space, elevator. No rental restrictions. Featured in this year’s community center tour of homes! $1,990,000
RELEASE DATE: 4/28/2019
New York Times Sunday Magazine Crossword
THE ISLANDER n MAy 1, 2019 n 35 No. 0421
THE INSIDE STORY BY GRANT THACKRAY / EDITED BY WILL SHORTZ Grant Thackray (rhymes with “daiquiri”) is 25 and lives in Portland, Ore. He lists his day jobs as writing pub trivia, designing T-shirts and house-managing live theater. To create this puzzle’s theme, he spent countless hours poring over lists of (well, you’ll see) to find combinations that worked. This is Grant’s fourth crossword for The Times. — W.S.
AC RO SS
1 [Hah!] 6 Something that might be packed with juice, informally 12 Home of Velázquez’s “Las Meninas” 17 Forerunners of MP3s 20 “Do ____!” (emphatic agreement) 21 1958 No. 1 hit in a foreign language 22 Concern for a samurai 23 One situp, e.g. 24 Who has trouble reaching a windshield to place a ticket? [1989, 1982] 27 Who once boasted, “I’m so mean, I make medicine sick!” 28 Enthusiastic Spanish cry 29 Lao-____ 30 Smack 31 Protest any involvement 33 Former Wisconsin senator Feingold 34 Sore 36 Bill ____, “Oliver Twist” thief 38 Shout at a pool 39 Major leagues 42 Talk show host Johnny’s children? [2015, 2006] 45 “There’s the catch!” 47 Moist towelette Online subscriptions: Today’s puzzle and more Answers: than 4,000 past puzzles, page 32 nytimes.com/crosswords ($39.95 a year).
49 Flavorer of much black candy 50 Vietnamese New Year 52 Traitor who gets on one’s nerves? [2006, 2002] 55 Noir weapon 56 Catches flies 58 Detox 59 The planets, before 2006 61 Item that may accompany chopsticks and a ramen bowl 63 Baghdad’s ____ City 64 TV ad 66 Long building project, in a cliché 69 Montezuma’s foe 70 Small screen superimposed on a large screen … or a hint to this puzzle’s shaded squares 75 Venomously biting 78 Forked over 79 Med. plans 80 “____ first you don’t succeed …” 84 Cheetah mascot of Cheetos 86 Chinese greeting 88 Still not caught 91 Line often in Latin 92 Big ____ (praise, slangily) 95 Prepares for guests who don’t like their coffee black? [2017, 1996] 97 Lead-in to Pen 98 Seat in the classic photograph “Lunch Atop a Skyscraper”
100 Preceder of “And that’s final!” 101 Laddie’s refusal 102 Initiated global conflicts? [1977, 2012] 106 Visits during a vacation 108 Bendy blades 109 Huffs 111 Singer Sumac 112 Spill something 115 Sister of Moses 117 School-cafeteria food, pejoratively 118 Chart 120 Broad Australian accent, informally 122 Unexplained ability 123 Selection of billfolds for medical professionals? [2016, 2008] 127 Chicken ____ king 128 Let float, as a currency 129 Ticker lines? 130 That is 131 “Dragons’ ____” (British equivalent to “Shark Tank”) 132 Ones picked out of lineups 133 Slobbery kiss 134 Flies in the face of someone?
5 Chicago paper, informally 6 Beetle Bailey’s rank: Abbr. 7 Eat quickly 8 Draft picks 9 Demand from a police interrogator 10 “Black-ish” father 11 “Boatercycle” 12 That of this clue is awkward 13 Blowout 14 Santa ____ winds 15 “Is the risk worth it?” 16 Carnivora and Rodentia 17 Good manners in kindergarten drawing? [1997, 2004] 18 Supermarket section 19 Command from a dentist 25 Meddles (with) 26 Justice Kagan 32 Superior to a 6-Down 35 Most bohemian 37 “Uh, that is to say …” 38 A brigantine has two 40 Actor Bremner of “Wonder Woman” 41 Mona Lisa, for one 43 Org. based in Langley, Va. 44 “That reminds me …” is one 45 Fundamentals DOWN 46 Spanish greeting 1 Its name means 48 Muscle builder “three strings,” but it 51 Recipe amts. can have up to 21 53 Plucky sort? 2 ____ jacket 54 “Leave no ____ 3 Blew out of proportion unstoned” (jocular 4 Enjoy phrase)
1
2
3
4
5
6
20
10
11
12
34 39
35
36 41
58 64
76
43
65
66
92
97 103
61 67
68
93
94
108
62 69
88
95
89
83
113
114
101 106
109
110 118
124
125
107 111
112
119
120
121
122
123
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
74 Russia, once 75 Fictional company behind earthquake pills and dehydrated boulders 76 Outlets, of a sort 77 Smaller piece of cookware [1953, 2017] 81 Where the action is 82 Contents of the Rio Grande 83 Head to France? 85 Unsophisticated sorts 87 Bank job
82
96
117
56 Hershey toffee bar 57 “Yoo-hoo!” 60 Accompaniers of canes 62 Prefix with puncture 65 Young seal 67 Popular brunch options 68 Prefix with terrorism 71 : 72 “Weekend Update” co-anchor beginning in 2014 73 “Sounds good!”
81
90
100 105
116
57
80
87
99
104
51
74
86
98 102
56
79
85
91
55 60
78
84
44 50
73
77
19
32
49
59
72
18
27
42
54
71
17
38
53
70
16
31
37
48
63
15
23
30
47
52
14
26
40
46
13
22
29
33
115
9
25
28
75
8
21
24
45
7
126
89 50 before 90 Where to be among Hmong 93 ____ Xing 94 Snores 96 Urban layout 98 Agenda topper 99 Stately residence 103 Bee: Prefix 104 Do research (on) 105 It cuts along the grain 107 Wear down 110 “Good thinking!”
113 Bad feeling 114 Borscht base 115 Drink at Valhalla 116 Catalina, e.g. 117 Flight part before a landing 119 Lead-in to stratus or cumulus 121 Take a fall 124 Nurse’s training, for short 125 “____ is me!” 126 Suffix with legal
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36 n May 1, 2019 n THE ISLANDER