At Bayfest’s adult beverage tent, Bob Slicker of Slicker’s Eatery in Cortez is all smiles — and so are the customers. Last year’s Bayfest was canceled due to widespread damage on the island from Hurricane Helene. Proceeds from beer and other alcohol sales as well as vendor fees benefit the event sponsor, the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce.
Islander Photo: Lisa Neff
By Ryan Paice Islander Reporter
Community members soon may be able to help test for PFAs in the Gulf and bay waters and in marine life.
Holmes Beach Clean Water Ad Hoc Committee chair Jennifer Miller told The Islander Oct. 10 that the city is collaborating with University of Florida professor John Bowden on a citizen science water-testing effort.
The CWC was established in 2021 to act as an advisory board for the city commission with a focus on community activity, philanthropy and government action to improve water quality.
The board has long been interested in polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAs or “forever chemicals” due to their limited degradation and the ability to stick around for thousands of
TURN TO WATER TESTS, PAGE 15
By Ryan Paice Islander Reporter
Anna Maria Island’s lone election this November will feature four candidates campaigning for three city commission seats in Holmes Beach.
Who is vying for those seats and why?
Voters will cast ballots Nov. 4 to decide three winners between newcomer Jessica Patel and incumbents Steve Oelfke, Terry Schaefer and Carol Soustek.
The Islander spoke over the week of Oct. 13 with Oelfke, Patel and Schaefer about their campaigns. Soustek did not respond to multiple recent attempts
from The Islander to contact her.
Holmes Beach city commissioners are paid an $8,340.04 annual salary.
Polls will be open 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 4, at the Island Library, 5701 Marina Drive.
Vote-by-mail ballots must be requested by 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23, and returned by 7 p.m. on Election Day.
Meet the candidates: Steve Oelfke
Oelfke grew up in the Maitland/ Winter Springs area of Orlando and became a nursing home administrator.
He and his wife moved to Holmes
At the polls Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 4. On AMI, only Holmes Beach voters will cast ballots. Anna Maria and Bradenton Beach have no contested races.
Beach in 2011 and, after about a decade in the city, he got involved in municipal government by joining the city planning commission in December 2022.
He served in that role until he was appointed to the city commission in February. He will serve his first full two-year term on the board if he wins his seat back.
Oelfke told The Islander Oct. 17 that being a city commissioner had proven to be more of a challenge than being a planning commissioner, but he remained enthusiastic about facing that challenge.
He said his campaign motto, “Preserving Paradise,” highlights his approach to what he believes is the city’s biggest challenge: maintaining its quaint character despite ever-increasing tourism and growing vacation rental population.
Moving forward, Oelfke said another focus of his is to improve stormwater infrastructure and reformulate a
Anna Maria Mayor Mark Short emailed The Islander Oct. 17, saying there was “not much new news this week.”
Short was in Tallahassee for part of the week attending a ceremony for Bradenton Republican Jim Boyd. The Florida Senate Republican Caucus unanimously elected Boyd as the president-designate for the 2026-28 legislative term, which begins after the November 2026 elections.
Short wrote that Manatee County and the island cities were well represented at the ceremony.
“Otherwise,” Short wrote, “we are working through logistics and preparing to start the pier walkway rebuild and our swale renovation projects.”
In addition, the week beginning Oct. 13, Short said, the city was focused on preparing for Bayfest on Pine Avenue.
On Oct. 18, Short texted, “Back from my stint at Bayfest … and everyone is so happy it’s back.
“Another step back to normalcy.”
Short also said the city is looking forward to its first block party of the season, which will be 5-8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, at City Pier Park.
Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth also texted The Islander Oct. 18.
She had a busy week, although she was not along for the Tallahassee trip.
She’s still planning with staff the events and merchandise that will be featured at the Holmes Beach Anniversary party at city field on Dec. 6.
Titsworth said she took part Oct. 18 with family members in a No Kings rally on Cortez Road in Bradenton.
“The No Kings, We Love Our Democracy event was amazing,” the mayor said. “Over 1,000 participants. Elbow to elbow. Everyone was cheering and waving flags and signs and people driving past us were very supportive.”
— Bonner Joy
at city hall in advance of the Dec. 6 anniversary party. Islander courtesy Photo
The city of Anna Maria will host the Old Soldiers and Sailors Veterans Day Parade beginning at 11 a.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 11.
The parade will travel east on Pine Avenue to City Pier Park at North Bay Boulevard and Pine Avenue where a ceremony will include veterans’ recognition and patriotic music.
For more information, call city hall at 941-7086130.
— Lisa Neff
Must have H20 and more
❒ Water in small bottles for drinking.
❒ Water in gallon containers for cleaning up.
❒ Bottled beverages.
❒ Instant coffee.
For the ‘kitchen’
❒ Nonperishable foods.
❒ Can opener.
❒ Cooking pot or pan.
❒ Utensils.
❒ Plates.
❒ Grill.
❒ Grill tools.
❒ Self-starting charcoal.
❒ Sterno.
❒ Matches.
❒ Aluminum foil.
❒ Plastic bags.
Health and hygiene
❒ Prescriptions.
❒ Insect repellent.
❒ Sunscreen.
❒ Toiletries.
❒ Toilet paper.
❒ Adhesive bandages.
❒ Handwipes.
❒ Tweezers.
❒ Thermometer.
❒ Latex gloves.
Ready to wear
❒ Changes of clothing.
❒ Glasses.
❒ Boots.
❒ Rain jacket.
❒ Umbrella.
❒ Face masks.
What’s your favorite type of Halloween costume?
A. Scary.
B. Funny.
C. Pop culture
D. Clever.
To answer the poll and see poll results, go to islander.org.
Checklist for shopping, packing and stockpiling for hurricane season
and papers
❒ Birth certificates.
❒ Marriage certificates.
❒ Passports.
❒ Social security cards.
❒ Wills.
❒ Insurance documents.
❒ Account numbers.
❒ Irreplaceable photographs.
❒ Water-tight box.
❒ Wrench.
❒ Hammer.
❒ Pliers.
❒ Scissors.
411 and 911
❒ Rechargeable radio.
❒ Earbuds.
❒ Batteries.
❒ Whistle.
❒ Smartphone and power bank.
❒ Solar chargers.
❒ Road maps.
❒ Cash.
❒ Gasoline — full tanks.
❒ Propane tank.
❒ Assorted nails.
❒ Dust mask.
❒ Pocket knife.
❒ Flashlights.
❒ Signal flare.
❒ Extension cords.
❒ Hatchet.
❒ Work gloves.
❒ Trash bags.
❒ Tarp.
❒ Duct tape.
Comfort and convenience
❒ Sleeping bag.
❒ Blankets.
❒ Lawn chairs.
❒ Games.
❒ Toys.
❒ Reading materials.
❒ Paper.
❒ Pencil.
❒ Candles.
❒ Lanterns.
❒ Disinfectant.
❒ Chlorine bleach.
❒ Medicine dropper.
❒ Plastic bucket with lid.
❒ Mop and broom.
❒ Rags.
Pet friendly
❒ Kennel.
❒ Medications.
❒ Cat litter box.
❒ Vaccination certificates.
❒ Food.
❒ Treats.
❒ Leash.
❒ Pet pick-up bags.
Also need
West Manatee Fire Rescue staff stand Oct. 7 with kids and their adults outside the Island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, where WMFR led a “fire safety”themed storytime. Islander Photos: Courtesy WMFR
Holmes Beach commissioners Oct.16 unanimously voted to adopt an ordinance vacating a 10-foot-wide alley as part of a subdivision at 2902 Ave. E, which will require a future referendum vote.
The alley is a beach access path at the end of 29th Street.
In other business, commissioners voted to:
• Approve a $43,200 work order with Bradentonbased Dieter’s Sod & Landscaping to supply and install sod at city field;
• Adopt 2026 legislative priorities, including support to preserve municipal home rule, amend Senate Bill 180, protect mangroves and revise tourist development tax funding allowances, among other things;
• Authorize the mayor to execute an interlocal agreement with Manatee County for $46,412 to fund law enforcement services at Manatee Public Beach, 4000 Gulf Drive.
— Ryan Paice
Holiday season is just around the corner.
But block party season in Anna Maria will kick off first.
The first city-hosted community block party of the season will take place 5-8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, at City Pier Park, 103 N. Bay Blvd.
The city hosted a similar block party in May to bring the community together while post-hurricane recovery efforts were still underway.
The event was well attended and will return on a monthly basis through April.
Mayor Mark Short announced at an Oct. 9 city commission meeting that future dates for the block party will be:
• Nov. 21;
• Jan. 9, 2026;
• Feb. 13, 2026;
• March 13, 2026;
• April 10, 2026.
There will be no block party in December.
The Oct. 24 event will feature live music performed by the Stockton Brothers, who also performed at the block party in May.
A city commissioner will work at a grill, providing free hot dogs to attendees, but people are asked to bring food and beverages to share, as well as their own seating.
— Ryan Paice
Skimming online
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basis for how the city collects assessment fees.
He said the current basis for such fees — a $2.95 charge for every 100 square feet of property — was unfair to property owners since it does not account for their individual impacts on drainage.
Oelfke said he also wants to increase public engagement in city matters by holding town halls to build a dialogue, as well as potentially moving commission meetings from their current 2 p.m. timeslot so more people can attend.
Jessica Patel
Patel is a University of Florida graduate who lived on the island in the 2000s and worked as a journalist, before moving away with her husband.
They moved back to the area with their two children in August 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Patel is now the vice president of the AME Parent Teacher Organization and vice chair of the AME School Advisory Committee.
She told The Islander Oct. 17 that she and other residents did not feel represented in the city’s government, so she decided to throw her hat in the ring for a commission seat.
While Patel has not served in municipal government before, she said she is just as qualified as the other candidates due to her involvement in the city, problem-solving skills and experience in management.
She said she is excited to bring a fresh perspective to the city commission.
Patel echoed Commissioner Steve Oelfke’s sentiments about improving the city’s relationship with the public, but added that she wanted to better the municipality’s relationships with the cities of Anna Maria and Bradenton Beach.
She said much of the talk about potentially consolidating island services has been combative and unproductive, but she’s willing to work and compromise with the other cities to holistically improve the island.
Patel said she also hopes to be more hands-on than other commissioners with addressing issues in the community and criticized the city’s cleanup efforts as slow following hurricanes Helene and Milton last
year.
Terry Schaefer
On the ballot
Running for three seats for twoyear terms on the Holmes Beach city commission are Steven Oelfke, Jessica Patel, terry Schaefer and carol Soustek.
“When I see that there are things that need doing, I’m going to do it,” she said.
Schaefer grew up in St. Louis, where he met his wife. He moved to Holmes Beach in 2006 and became a permanent resident in 2007.
The retired bank executive has always been active in his communities, having served for 16 years as a school board member in Belleville, Illinois, and 12 years as a board member of the Southwestern Illinois Development Authority.
Eleven years after moving to the island, Schaefer got involved in local government by joining Holmes Beach’s Form of Government Ad-Hoc Committee.
He was elected to the city commission in 2019 and was reelected in 2021 and 2023. If he is reelected in 2025, he will serve his fourth full term on the commission.
Schaefer told The Islander Oct. 17 that, after six years on the dais, he still enjoys the challenge of serving as a city commissioner and — barring any unforeseen events — plans to continue doing so until he does not.
“I just like to be active and engaged,” he said. “I feel I’ve still got the passion for doing my part to stabilize and help make our city a little better every year.”
Schaefer said his proudest accomplishments after
I’m for an open and inclusive approach to the betterment of Holmes Beach, now and into the future. — Terry
Dear voters, neighbors and friends, I have proudly served three terms — six years — as your city commissioner. I am asking for your vote to serve another two years, to put my experience to work for you, the voters, residents, taxpayers and fellow caregivers for the city of Holmes Beach.
Rule — twice recognized by the Florida League of Cities as “Home Rule Hero.” and boards, the Clean Water Committee, Police Pension Board, Legislative Affairs Committee, Manasota League of Cities and the Manatee County Council of Governments.
Islanders 4 Clean Water, I will continue to educate Anna Maria Elementary students with “how to” solutions for
cleaner water. I take pride in having initiated this committee along with the support of our mayor.
ity of life for our residents, businesses and visitors.
cial stability of our city.
I can assure you, as a 35-year banker, the city’s budget is comprehensive, fair and adequate to assure continued services and enhancements for all inhabitants.
Holmes Beach is a wonderfuI place to live and visit and I am committed to it’s ongoing betterment. I welcome your questions and comments year-round and would appreciate your support in this election. You can reach me at 618-791-2518. Please, vote for me Tuesday, Nov. 4, at the Island Library. Remember: EXPERIENCE MATTERS!
six years as a city commissioner is helping the city prevail in its opposition to Manatee County’s push for a parking garage at Manatee Public Beach and the state’s push to consolidate or dissolve the three island cities.
He said he believes the biggest challenge moving forward is the defense of municipal home rule in the face of the state’s continual efforts to preempt it.
Schaefer, who has twice received the Florida League of Cities’ Home Rule Hero award for his efforts to preserve home rule, said he wants to continue fighting the good fight.
Carol Soustek
Soustek is the longest-tenured member of the city commission and is seeking her sixth full term on the dais.
She first came to the island during childhood vacations away from her home in Tampa and moved to Holmes Beach in the 1990s.
After moving to the island, Soustek immediately got involved by joining Save Anna Maria Inc.’s efforts to oppose the construction of a “megabridge” across the Anna Maria Sound.
She also spent more than 30 years as a volunteer for Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch & Shorebird Monitoring.
Soustek became involved in municipal government in the early 2010s, when Mayor Carmel Monti appointed her to the city’s traffic and congestion committee.
By November 2014, she was appointed to the city commission. She was elected to her full first term as commissioner in 2015 and has been reelected every two years since.
As commissioner, Soustek has supported funding for the Center of Anna Maria Island, opposed attempts to build a parking garage at Manatee Public Beach and voted to maintain the city’s 1.99 millage rate for fiscal 2025-26 despite a decrease in assessed property values.
Now offering yoga and meditation in the ambiance of a healing Himalayan salt wall.
www.alunawellness.com
By Robert Anderson Islander Reporter
Cortez’s Florida Maritime Museum remains far from reopening, with Manatee County offi cials acknowledging that restoration efforts have fallen behind schedule following extensive damages during last year’s hurricanes.
The county-operated museum, 4415 119th St. W., “collects, preserves, and shares knowledge, artifacts, and stories specific to Florida’s fishing and maritime heritage.”
Housed in a 1912 schoolhouse purchased through the Florida Communities Trust Preservation program, the museum is closed for rehabilitation work.
In an Oct. 16 email to The Islander, the county said design plans for the restoration are about 30% complete, addressing long-term deterioration and storm damages from Debbie, Helene and Milton in 2024.
Full construction documents are expected by late spring 2026 or early summer, with construction tentatively scheduled to finish by late 2027.
County Commissioner Tal Siddique, R-District 3, has pushed to make the project a priority. He told The Islander Oct. 16, “There are nine tasks as part of the effort to restore and reopen the maritime museum. As I understand it, they are at task three, which is not far at all.”
The restoration schedule outline, with the nine milestones, totals 573 calendar days: 20 days for inspections, seven days for mold abatement recommendations, 45 days for schematic design, 60 days each for design development and construction documents, 60 days for bidding and permitting, 270 days
for construction administration and 30 for closeout. Grant writing is listed as ongoing.
According to Siddique, the county has completed initial inspections and mold abatement, leaving the structure “in stable condition.”
The current schematic-design phase, expected to take about 45 days from Sept. 4, focuses on a new waterproof roof membrane and replacing insulation damaged by flooding.
“The water damage was certainly severe, especially to the floors, because the water rose up from the bottom, too,” Siddique said, referring to flooding during Helene.
With the project only now in its third task more than a year after that storm, Siddique said completion remains a long way off.
“The project from start to finish was going to take 573 days,” he said. “Now, if we’re on schematic design
By Robert Anderson Islander Reporter
Bradenton Beach ScenicWAVES members voted Oct. 15 to support a grant proposal to replace Washingtonian palms at the Gulf Drive and the Bridge Street roundabout with a storm-resilient mix of trees.
City commissioners had voted in June to remove the palms after concerns were raised about the expense of trimming them due to their height.
ScenicWAVES chair Ingrid McClellan, during a city hall meeting Oct. 15, presented the Florida Forest Service community forestry capacity grant opportunity, which offers up to $50,000 for municipal tree-planting projects.
The grant would help landscape the intersection, replacing the Washingtonians with 24 palms selected for salt-tolerance and ease of maintenance.
McClellan, who works in sales for The Islander, also said the CRA agreed to hire a landscape architect to sign and seal the final plan and to survey CRA rights of way so the trees would be placed clear of sidewalks, utilities and future roadwork.
Plan now!
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The grant requires at least four plant species, with no single species making up more than 25% of the total, to encourage biodiversity.
The plant list includes sable, thatch, windmill and Christmas palms.
Members discussed tree height, pedestrian clearance and coordinating placement with the barrier island context-sensitive corridor study, the new name given to the complete streets initiative headed up by the Florida Department of Transportation.
The study is a DOT planning project aimed at redesigning Gulf Drive and other roadways to better accommodate pedestrians, bicyclists and other modalities of transit while improving traffic flow.
If approved, the landscaping project would receive about $14,600 in state funding, matched by $16,600 in local and in-kind contributions. Planting would occur after the 2026 hurricane season, with completion targeted for Florida Arbor Day in January 2027.
To meet a deadline, the committee voted to forward the application to the CRA for consideration Oct. 20, after The Islander went to press.
Musicians gather on the Florida Maritime Museum grounds for a Saturday afternoon Music on the Porch in 2017. While the museum building, 4415 119th St. W., cortez, remains closes for renovations and repairs, FMM continues to offer programs on the grounds, as well as in partnership with organizations at other locations.
— we’re still at the beginning of this, unfortunately.”
Siddique estimated total costs at $6 million-$8 million, including deferred maintenance and storm repairs. Most funding will come from FEMA reimbursement, which can take up to three years to arrive, while the county relies on a line of credit to cover costs in the meantime.
Meanwhile, supporters say the prolonged closure has hurt fundraising and slowed public engagement.
Karen Bell, owner of A.P. Bell Fish Co. and a founding member of the Friends of the Florida Maritime Museum, said it has been difficult to sustain support for a museum the public can’t visit.
“It sure seems crazy to have it shut down for years,” Bell said. “What it offers is a lot — culturally, people enjoy it. And if that’s what we’re trying to do, educate people in a thoughtful manner, that’s a great way to do it.”
“I’m not comfortable going out and asking people to help support it when you can’t even get into the building,” she added.
Siddique said he hopes renewed attention from residents and commissioners will help accelerate the process.
“Cortez is going to be in the spotlight for quite some time,” he said. “We’ve got a new bridge coming, and I’d like to make sure it’s in a good light — and not in a bad one.”
Improve your odds of success with Islander newspaper readers looking to shop and dine, seeking souvenirs and memories, indoor and outdoor fun, and even a place to stay for their next visit. Call or text 941-778-7978. for
— Terry Schaefer
Paid for and approved by Terry Schaefer for Holmes Beach Commission I’m for an open and inclusive approach to the betterment of Holmes Beach, now and into the future. Please, vote for me Tuesday, Nov. 4, at the Island Library.
We’re just two weeks and a couple of days away from another Election Day.
But for me, Election Day brings more than memories of a fifth-grade mock election between John Kennedy and Richard Nixon or my first time voting.
No, it changed when just after the Nov. 4, 2008, election that put Barack Obama in the White House, we realized Sabine Musil-Buehler had gone missing.
And it wasn’t until this time of year in 2015 that we learned what happened that night.
We found out the state attorney had made a deal — a plea agreement — with Sabine’s killer for 20 years in jail in exchange for a confession and the burial site on the beach where she had laid dead for seven years.
Shortly after she was found, we learned the truth from an autopsy, that Sabine had been beaten and brutalized before she died, and that she had been buried with her hands bound behind her.
It wasn’t as simple as her killer said. He didn’t just choke her in the heat of an argument. He kicked her. Stomped on her ribs. He wanted her dead.
And when he laid her in the back seat of her car, hands bound and wrapped in a sheet, her head bleeding, maybe, just maybe, she was alive.
And every time I think about it, I also think her killer’s plea deal should be revoked.
It was murder.
And William Cumber deserves to spend life in prison. Not 20 years.
As it stands, he could be out of prison in five years, and no one who knew Sabine wants to see that happen. And I’m not letting it go. I can’t let it go.
Each election season that passes, is a reminder to me that Sabine is still looking for justice.
Maybe, some day, we’ll see that happen.
For now, we’re going to look forward to an offelection year and only Holmes Beach will have a ballot on Anna Maria Island.
In fact, only Holmes Beach has a challenger to the status quo. Anna Maria and Bradenton Beach will see their current officials return to the dais and, Bradenton Beach, lacking a candidate for a vacant ward seat, will fill that vacancy from the dais.
Meanwhile, the weather forecasters say we should sail through hurricane season without a major storm, and our calendar is creeping toward cooler weather and an anniversary for The Islander newspaper.
Next week, we turn over the front page to the first issue of our 34th year.
Please, let me be the first to thank all of you — our readers — for bringing us this far.
— Bonner Joy
The Islander welcomes your opinion letters
Please, submit your opinion with name, address and contact phone number to news@islander.org. Only your name and city are published.
Letters may be edited for space and style. There is a 250-word limit and anonymous letters will not be published.
From the Oct. 19, 1995, issue
• The concessionaire at the Manatee Public Beach asked county commissioners whether they’d back the sales of beer and wine at the cafe.
• Bill Zalla, owner of the Crabby Bill’s restaurant property at the Holmes Beach marina, was angered over the city council’s vote to change a lease for the city-owned portion of docks at the site.
▼ Publisher, editor
Bonner Joy, news@islander.org
▼ Editorial Robert Anderson, robert@islander.org
Joe Bird, editorial cartoonist Kevin cassidy, kevin@islander.org
Jack Elka, jack@jackelka.com
Lisa Neff, lisa@islander.org Ryan Paice, ryan@islander.org
▼ Contributors
Jacob Merrifield
capt. Danny Stasny, fish@islander.org
Sean Murphy
▼ Advertising Sales
Ingrid Mcclellan, ingrid.theislander@gmail.com ads@islander.org
▼ Lisa Williams
info@, accounting@, classifieds@, subscriptions@islander.org
▼ Distribution
Urbane Bouchet
Ross Roberts
Judy Loden Wasco
▼ Webmaster Wayne Ansell
All others: info@islander.org
• The Islander’s classifieds included a listing for the sale of three duplexes near Gulf Drive in Holmes Beach priced at $119,000, $159,000 and $169,000.
From the Oct. 19, 2005, issue
• The Cortez Trailer Park, a fixture in the historic fishing village since 1959, went on the market, with residents offered the first opportunity to buy.
• A front-page headline stated, “Anna Maria warned: Big developers coming.” The commission learned from its planner that the city lacked the landdevelopment controls to stop massive new homes that would change the landscape of the city.
• Site work was taking place in the 5400 block of Marina Drive to make way for a hotel-condominium and restaurant. Construction of the hotel was projected to begin by January 2006.
From the Oct. 21, 2015, issue
• William J. Cumber confessed to killing Sabine Musil-Buehler in 2008. Cumber told the state attorney and law enforcement what happened seven years earlier on Nov. 4, when he beat, strangled and buried his girlfriend.
• A 58-year-old man was found dead on his sailboat in the Bradenton Beach anchorage south of the Historic Bridge Street Pier.
— Lisa Neff
The Islander is archived at www.ufdc.ufl.edu.
Anna Maria.
• Nov. 16, Island Players’ “Murder by Misadventure” auditions, Anna Maria.
and Rise for Democracy, Bradenton.
• Nov. 8, Friends of Manatee County Animal Welfare Friendsgiving, Palmetto.
compiled by Lisa Neff, calendar@islander.org
Wednesday, Oct. 22
10 a.m. — Creative Aging: Pastels, Island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Info: 941-778-6341, mymanatee.org.
Monday, Oct. 27
6 p.m. — Art House Cinema, Island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Info: 941-778-6341, mymanatee.org.
Wednesday, Oct. 29
7:30 p.m. — Island Players’ “A Haunting Night” ghost story performances, 10009 Gulf Drive, Anna Maria. Fee applies. Info: theislandplayers.org.
• Most third Mondays, 1 p.m., Center of Anna Maria Island Book Club, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria. Info: 941-778-1908, centerami.org.
ONGOING OFF AMI
• Through October, Island Gallery and Studios “Reimagine and Imagination: Photography and Paper Mache” exhibit by Joe Dombroski and Tom Goldman, 456 Old Main, Bradenton. Info: 941778-6648, islandgalleryandstudios.com.
• Through Jan. 11, “Yoshida Hiroshi: Journeys through Light,” The Ringling, 5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota. Fee applies except Mondays. Info: 941-359-5700, ringling.org.
• Through April 12, 2026, “Ancestral Edge: Abstraction and Symbolism,” The Ringling, 5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota. Fee applies except Mondays. Info: 941-359-5700, ringling.org.
• First Fridays, 6-9:30 p.m., Village of the Arts First Fridays Artwalk, 12th Street West and 12th Avenue West, Bradenton. Info: villageofthearts.com.
• Second and fourth Saturdays, 2-4 p.m., Florida Maritime Museum’s Music on the Porch, 4415 119th St. W., Cortez. Info: 941-708-6120, floridamaritimemuseum.org.
• Oct. 30, Hocus Pocus Pops, Bradenton.
• Nov. 1, The Bash at the Bishop, Bradenton.
• Nov. 4, Bishop After Hours: Alice in Wonderland, Bradenton.
• Nov. 6, Tingley Memorial Library’s Florida Author Book Club meeting, Bradenton Beach.
• Nov. 8, Nov. 10, Pops Orchestra of Bradenton and Sarasota Rhinestone Cowboys and National Heroes concert, Bradenton.
• Nov. 13-23, Island Players’ “Doublewide, Texas Christmas,”
• Dec. 4-21, Manatee Players’ “Frozen,” Bradenton.
• Dec. 7, Bay Chorale’s The Voices of Christmas concert, Bradenton.
Friday, Oct. 24
6-8 p.m. — Family Night, Center of Anna Maria Island, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria. Info: 941-778-1908. Saturday, Oct. 25
10 a.m. — Pumpkin Party, Island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Info: 941-778-6341, mymanatee.org.
1 p.m. — Jigsaw Puzzle Contest, Island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Info: 941-778-6341, mymanatee. org.
• Most Fridays, 10 a.m., Forty Carrots, Island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Info: 941-778-6341.
• Most Tuesdays, 10 a.m., Family Storytime, Island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Info: 941-778-6341.
Saturday, Oct. 25
2:30-9 p.m. — Halloween Fall Festival, Palmetto Marriott Resort and Spa, 600 U.S. 41, Palmetto. Info: 941- 304-3115.
SAVE THE DATES
• Oct. 31, Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce Trail of Treats, AMI business districts.
• Oct. 31, Bradenton Alive Halloween Bash, Bradenton.
• Nov. 21, Family Night at the Center.
• Nov. 22, Christmas on Bridge Street, Bradenton Beach.
• Nov. 28, Tree Lighting, Palmetto.
• Nov. 30-Dec. 31, Longboat Island Chapel Christmas in the Gardens.
• Dec. 5, Winter Wonderland, Bradenton.
• Dec. 6, Center’s Lester Family Fun Day, Anna Maria.
• Dec. 13, Christmas in Cortez, Cortez.
• Dec. 19, Family Night at the Center, Anna Maria. CLUBS & COMMUNITY ON AMI
Wednesday, Oct. 22
4-6 p.m. — Sixth Annual Suzi Fox Day benefiting Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring, Hurricane Hanks, 5346 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach. Info: 941-301 8434. Friday, Oct. 24
5 p.m. — City of Anna Maria Block Party, City Pier Park, Pine Avenue and Bay Boulevard, Anna Maria. Info: 941-708-6130.
ONGOING ON AMI
• Most Fridays and Tuesdays, 11:30 a.m., mahjong, Island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Info: 941-778-6341, mymanatee.org.
• First and third Tuesdays, noon, Rotary Club of Anna Maria Island luncheons, the Beach House patio, 200 Gulf Drive N., Bradenton Beach. Fee applies. Info: www.amirotary.org.
• Most Saturdays, 8:30 a.m., Kiwanis Club of Anna Maria Island meets, Bradenton Beach City Hall, 107 Gulf Drive N. Info: 941-7300016.
SAVE THE DATES
• Nov. 1, League of Women Voters of Manatee County Unite
• Nov. 9, Center’ Community Wellness Day, Anna Maria.
• Nov. 11, Old Soldiers and Sailors Parade, Anna Maria.
• Nov. 14, AMI Garden Club Plant Sale, Anna Maria.
PUBLIC MARKETS
ONGOING ON AMI
• Tuesdays, through April, Anna Maria Community Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Roser Memorial Community Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria. Info: 941- 778-1908.
• Most Wednesdays, Fridays, Sundays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Coquina Beach Market, south Coquina, Bradenton Beach. Info: coquinabeachmarket.org.
ONGOING OFF AMI
• Saturdays, through May, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Bradenton Public Market, Old Main, Bradenton. Info: 941-301-8445.
SAVE THE DATES
• Nov. 14, Market Night in City Center, Holmes Beach.
• Nov. 29-30, Mistletoe Market, Holmes Beach.
LESSONS & LEARNING ON AMI
Wednesday, Oct. 29
11 a.m. — Making Sense of Medicare, Island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Info: 941-778-6341.
SAVE THE DATES
• Oct. 30, FMM Folk School bonsai class, Cortez. SPORTS & FITNESS ON AMI
Saturday, Oct. 25
9:30 a.m. — Center of Anna Maria Island Youth Athlete Combine, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria. Info: 941-778-1908. Monday, Oct. 27
2 p.m. — Tai chi, Island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Info: 941-778-6341, mymanatee.org.
OFF AMI
Friday, Oct. 24
6 p.m. — Pumpkin Carving Extravaganza at the NEST, Robinson Preserve, 840 99th St. NW, Bradenton. Info: 941-748-4501.
Saturday, Oct. 25
8 a.m.-6 p.m. — Reef and Beach Cleanup, Sea Breeze Park, 55 Horseshoe Loop Road, Terra Ceia. Info: 941-962-1488. ONGOING OFF AMI
• Saturdays, 9 a.m., Manatee County Natural Resources Department’s Saturday Mornings at the NEST, Robinson Preserve, 840 99th St. NW, Bradenton. Info: 941-748-4501, mymanatee.org.
SAVE THE DATES
• Nov. 7, Mixon in Bloom, Bradenton. • Nov. 8, Kringles & Kayaks benefit, Bradenton.
The Kiwanis Club of Anna Maria Island is gathering weekly at 8:30 a.m. Saturdays at Bradenton Beach City Hall, 107 Gulf Drive N.
At the Oct. 25 meeting, the club will hear from Victor Michel of We Care Manatee.
For more information, call Sandy Haas-Martens at 941-730-0016.
Time to scare up a costume and practice those three words.
Trick or treat!
The Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce and island businesses continue an AMI Halloween tradition with the Trail of Treats and costume contest.
The celebrating begins at 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31, with the check-in for the costume contest at the chamber office, 5313 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach.
Judging in four age groups will be at 4:30 p.m. for children up to age 11.
Then kids will go trick-or-treating at island businesses.
A list of participating businesses will be provided at the chamber office.
For more information, call the chamber at 941778-1541.
The Island Players also will present a Halloweenrelated event: “Transfixing Tellings” featuring “The Room in the Tower” performed by Heiko Knipfelberg and “The Confessions of Charles Linkworth” performed by Mark Shoemaker.
The theater group invited people to “step into the shadows for an intimate evening of Victorian ghost stories” at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 29.
Audience members are encouraged to attend the theater, 10009 Gulf Drive, Anna Maria, in costumes.
Tickets are $15.
For more information, visit islandplayers.org.
Several off-island Halloween events also are on the calendar, including:
• Pumpkin-Carving Extravaganza 6-8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, at Robinson Preserve’s Mosaic NEST, 840 99th St. NW, Bradenton. The Manatee County Natural Resources Department will provide the pumpkins and carving tools while jack-o-lantern creators provide the creativity. The cost to participate is $10 and reservations are required. For more information, go to parks.
Tingley Memorial Library’s Florida Author Book Club will meet at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 6.
The club will discuss “The Mango Tree: A Memoir of Fruit, Florida and Felony” by Annabelle Tometich. One of the Washington Post’s Best Books of 2024, “The Mango Tree” is described as a “deceptively entertaining memoir of growing up as a mixed-race Filipina ‘nobody’ in suburban Florida.”
Participation is free for library members. Membership costs $10. To register, email bradentonbeachlibrary@gmail.com.
Tingley is at 111 Second St. N., Bradenton Beach.
mymanatee.org.
The Center of Anna Maria Island will host a Family Night 6-8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, offering free activities for local families.
The event will feature games and play areas on the facility’s fields and turf. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Pizza and snacks will be available for purchase.
The gathering is designed to provide families an opportunity to spend time together and connect with other island residents in a casual setting.
Additional Family Fun Nights are scheduled for Nov. 21 and Dec. 19 at the center, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria.
For more info, call 941-778-1908, email culture@centerami.org or visit centerami.org.
For more information, call 941-779-1208. at 941-304-3115.
• Halloween Fall Festival, 2:30-9 p.m. on the grounds of the Palmetto Marriott Resort and Spa, 600 U.S. 41, Palmetto. The event will feature local vendors, Trunk or Treat activities, a hay maze and entertainment. For more information, call the resort
• Bradenton Alive Halloween Block Party 6-10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31, on Old Main Street. The event will feature musical performances, food and beverage vendors and festive fun. For more information, go to bradenton-alive.com.
the Anna Maria Elementary Parent teacher Organization’s Fall Festival and class parade took place Oct. 18 in Anna Maria. Following the parade, there were activities, games and goodies at the center of Anna Maria Island. Islander Photos: Robert Anderson
Gathering By Lisa Neff
Roser Memorial Community Church will host a Family Fellowship Night 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23.
An invitation read, “From Candyland to chess, come spend the evening with friends old and new around the game table. Everyone is welcome! Bring your favorite game, snack and friend.”
The church is at 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria. For more, call the church at 941-778-0414.
Gathering is The Islander’s religion section. Send announcementsand photos to lisas@islander.org.
Kindergartner Adela Lupescu hugs a pumpkin in the pumpkin patch Oct. 18 during the AME PtO Fall Festival.
for HOLMES BEACH COMMISSION
Holmes Beach is a wonderfuI place to live and I am committed to it’s betterment. I welcome your comments year-round and would appreciate your support in this election. You can reach me at 618791-2518. Please, vote for me Tuesday, Nov. 4, at the Island Library. — Terry Schaefer
Paid for and approved by Terry Schaefer for Holmes Beach Commission
Tingley Memorial Library seeks volunteers to work morning or afternoon shifts on Saturdays. Volunteers can help with checking out books and chatting with patrons in a “friendly, calm environment,” according to a notice from library director Stephanie Katz.
Shifts are 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 12:30-3 p.m.
Tingley is at 111 Second St. N., Bradenton Beach.
For more, call the library at 941-779-1208.
By Robert Anderson Islander Reporter
For Stephanie Katz, taking the helm at the Tingley Memorial Library feels like a new chapter in a story that started when she was a child on Anna Maria Island.
“I grew up out here,” Katz said in an Oct. 16 interview with The Islander. “I went to Anna Maria Elementary, where my older son goes now. I remember when they opened this library. I was the same age he is today, and it was magical to me that you could just open a new library.”
Now, decades later, she’s the one welcoming people back through the doors at Tingley, 111 Second St. N., Bradenton Beach.
Katz succeeds Eveann Adams, who retired in June after 22 years at the library. Katz was hired as library director Sept. 9 after interviewing with city clerk Terri Sanclemente and Commissioner Deborah Scaccianoce.
She has spent 15 years working in libraries, including with the State College of Florida and the Manatee County Public Library System, most recently as the youth librarian at the county’s Island Library in Holmes Beach.
Katz and her family, who live in Holmes Beach, were displaced following hurricanes Helene and Milton. The Tingley also was hit by the storms and forced to close due to water damage and mold concerns. The library reopened in late February.
“I’m really empathetic to how difficult it’s been for residents,” Katz said. “There’s been so much community rebuilding needed. Having the library reopen is a big part of that.”
Part of that revival includes a refreshed children’s collection.
“We recently received more than 750 children’s books from Rhea Lana’s of Manatee County,” Katz said, referring to an organization that hosts a semiannual consignment sale.
“Their organizer, Lori Zaworski, is a Bradenton Beach resident and, in addition to the books, they also donated children’s puzzles and family board games, which can now be borrowed from the library.”
Island families also contributed more than 100 additional children’s books. “We’re open to donations of books for all ages, as well as puzzles and family board games,” Katz said.
Stephanie Katz, the new library director at the Tingley Memorial Library, poses for a photo Oct. 16.
Islander
Photo: Robert Anderson
The library’s volunteer board, which operates as a nonprofit, plays a crucial role in keeping the community space thriving. Proceeds from book sales help fund new programs, including a book club, art activities and other events planned.
“The board is fantastic,” Katz said. “They’re passionate, dedicated and full of great ideas. Many of them live within walking distance and they understand how important it is to keep this a friendly, accessible place for everyone.”
Katz said Tingley will feature rotating art exhibits, beginning with work by island painter Kelly Hunt.
“We really want this space to reflect the creativity and history of the island,” she said.
Katz also plans to continue community outreach at
The Tingley Memorial Library is named for Beulah Rebecca Hooks Hannah Tingley, who died in 1986.
Tingley, a Bradenton Beach resident, bequeathed more than $600,000 to construct and operate a library in the city. She was an avid reader and an advocate of public libraries. She also championed women’s causes as she chaired the Democratic Party of Florida and served as a member of the Democratic National Committee.
events, such as the Bridge Street Sundown Get Down and Christmas on Bridge Street.
Katz, who also serves as editor-in-chief of 805 Lit + Art Magazine, a literary journal that began within the public library system, said she’s always surrounded by stories — whether reading children’s books with her two sons, ages 2 and 8, or reviewing new writing submissions.
Katz laughed, saying her husband sometimes has to tell her to stop talking about libraries. She said she’s looking forward to seeing the building fill with familiar faces — island families, returning snowbirds and new visitors discovering what’s inside.
“We’re excited for more people getting back in their homes, the library getting open,” she said. “We really want to make sure this library stays strong and continues to enrich the community and the island in general.”
The library is open 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday.
★ Continue to pressure Tallahassee so the island gets its fair share of tourist tax.
★ To fight for the protection of the island mangroves, grasses and shoreline habitat.
★ Protect our wetlands.
★ Work to see that real solutions are applied to the problems of noise, parking, traffic and flood.
★ Work to obtain green space and to become a fossil-fuel free city.
★ Continue to take care of my community — residents, businesses and visitors. I ask for your vote Nov. 4.
By Robert Anderson Islander Reporter
A Cortez man was cleared of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after a judge ruled that he acted in lawful self-defense under Florida’s Stand Your Ground law.
The case involving Kevin Armstrong, 42, stemmed from a 2024 shooting in the Sunny Shores community of Cortez.
Twelfth Circuit Judge Frederick Mercurio issued an Oct. 13 ruling dismissing the charge against Armstrong, who was accused of firing a shotgun during an armed confrontation outside his home on 116th Street West.
Armstrong was arrested following a June 6, 2024, altercation with his girlfriend, Caitlin Lipke, and two men.
According to court filings, Armstrong told Lipke to leave his residence after an argument. She later met with Cole Banyas and Dylan Taylor at the Cortez Kitchen, who were armed when they later drove Lipke by golf cart to Armstrong’s home to get her belongings.
When they arrived, Lipke allegedly shoved Armstrong as Banyas and Taylor displayed firearms “in a threatening manner,” according to a Stand Your Ground motion filed on Armstrong’s behalf.
Cortez Bridge: The utility relocation project is continuing in preparation for the construction of the new bridge. People can expect the presence of work crews through next spring, as well as intermittent flagging and bike lane and sidewalk closures. Info: 941306-4660, info@amiprojects.io, amiprojects.io.
Bradenton Beach street, beach access repairs: Through Oct. 31, Bradenton Beach is making hurricane-related improvements and repairs. Info: BBPD’s Facebook page.
75th Street West at Manatee Avenue West : Manatee County is working on its 75th Street West Improvements Project from 19th Avenue West to Second Avenue West, including at the Manatee Avenue intersection. Motorists can expect delays. Info: mymanatee.org/75th.
— Lisa Neff
Armstrong fired a shotgun blast into the air “as a warning” and Taylor fired toward the house, according to Armstrong’s motion. In the exchange, Lipke was struck in the chest and Armstrong was wounded in the foot.
After reviewing testimony and evidence, Mercurio found Armstrong’s belief that he faced imminent danger to be “reasonable under the circumstances,” granting him immunity from prosecution under the state’s self-defense statute.
Florida’s Stand Your Ground law allows individuals to use deadly force without a duty to retreat if they reasonably believe their life is in danger.
Anna Maria
No new reports.
Bradenton Beach
Oct. 11, 200 block of Gulf Drive N., warrant arrest. A Bradenton Beach police officer stopped two riders on unregistered motorcycles and a records check found one rider had a warrant for failure to appear in court. The individual was arrested and transported to jail. Cortez
No new reports.
Holmes Beach
Oct. 8, Holmes Beach Auto Service, 5333 Gulf Drive, damage. A Holmes Beach police officer spoke to an auto service employee who said a tow truck damaged a $12,000 vehicle lift at the service station. The tow company provided insurance details but the insurance company said no claim was filed.
Oct. 8, Kingfish Boat Ramp, 752 Manatee Ave., petit theft. A man parked his vehicle at the boat ramp and returned to find its license plate missing.
Oct. 11, 900 block of Manatee Avenue, excessive speeding. An offi cer clocked a motorist driving 90 mph in a 35-mph zone and recognized the vehicle as one driven by a local worker but was unable to follow the vehicle. The officer identified and found the vehicle using the city’s license plate recognition system and two days later, the officer issued the owner a criminal traffic citation.
Oct. 13, Grassy Point Preserve, 3201 E. Bay Drive, alcohol/criminal mischief. An offi cer responded to reports of a person screaming at the preserve and a man was found with an open beer can who had writ-
Holmes Beach police arrested Bradenton nonresident Carol Huber, 66, Oct. 3 on a fi rstdegree misdemeanor for allegedly causing property damage while driving under the influence of alcohol.
An offi cer responded to reports of a traffi c crash involving a Bradenton Beach Police Department vehicle and a potentially impaired motorist.
A BBPD officer reported finding a motorist weaving in and out of lanes and driving in a bicycle lane and conducted a traffic stop. However, when the motorist went to pull over, they reversed into the police vehicle, causing minor damage but no injury.
The BBPD officer said the driver, Huber, displayed signs of impairment and requested an HBPD officer to conduct a DUI investigation. Huber failed field sobriety exercises but refused to provide a breath sample for blood/alcohol level testing.
She was transported to the Manatee County jail, where she was released the same day after posting $1,000 bond.
If convicted, punishment for a fi rst-degree misdemeanor includes up to one year in jail, one year of probation and a fine of up to $1,000.
Arraignment will be at 8:55 a.m. Nov. 6 at the Manatee County Judicial Center in Bradenton.
— Ryan Paice
ten “several strange statements” on a picnic table. The man claimed to be suffering a seizure and he was taken to a behavioral hospital in Bradenton. Oct. 13, Manatee Public Beach, 4000 Gulf Drive, animal complaint. Offi cers responded to reports of a dog left inside a parked vehicle. Offi cers located a vehicle with two dogs inside and broke a window to remove the animals. The dogs were transported to the Island Animal Clinic and Manatee County Animal Control was called. Officers spoke with the vehicle owners and custody of the dogs was transferred to the county. An officer submitted capias requests for potential animal cruelty charges.
Streetlife is based on incident reports and narratives from the BBPD, HBPD and MCSO.
— Robert Anderson and Ryan Paice
years.
The compounds are toxic synthetic chemicals that resist grease, oil, water and heat, and have been used since the 1940s in a variety of everyday products, such as nonstick cookware. Exposure to PFAs has been associated with serious health effects.
A 2023 UF study under Bowden found seven types of PFAs in 11 water samples from Manatee County, including one with high levels of the chemicals.
For comparison, the study only found two different types of PFAs in Sarasota County samples.
Bowden and UF are now studying the presence of PFAs in fish from across the state, which has a large seafood industry, and islanders may be able to help.
The initiative includes a list of fish species Bowden and his students hope to study for PFA exposure, but collecting samples from each fish is a tall task.
So they are hoping to crowdsource the samples.
Miller said UF is distributing test kits to Holmes Beach and in turn to local anglers for sample collection.
The test kits will provide a sample container for a thumbnail slice of a fish, with instructions, packaging and prepaid postage for shipment to Gainesville for study.
So far, the city has five test kits, but it has requested 100, according to Miller.
She said they have yet to determine a method for distributing the kits but were waiting to receive more before they start handing them out.
Waterkeeper’s testing
A Suncoast Waterkeeper map Oct. 14 shows results of testing for Enterococci bacteria in local waterways. Islander courtesy
“Bowden does need the assistance, so it’ll be an opportunity for people out in the water to help them collect that data,” Miller said.
However, that may be just the start of the city’s collaboration with Bowden and UF.
Commissioner Terry Schaefer, the city’s liaison to the CWC, told The Islander Oct. 8 that the municipality donated $10,000 to UF to support and “more closely” collaborate its PFA testing efforts.
He said the future of that collaboration has yet to be determined, since they did not want to overlap with other research.
So UF and the University of South Florida will work together to determine where testing and what form of testing would be most beneficial to PFA research efforts, according to Schaefer.
Ultimately, both Miller and Schaefer agreed, the goal is to build awareness about PFAs and potentially
help lead to change at the local, regional and state levels.
For now, Miller recommended islanders use reverse osmosis water filters, or buy bottled water using RO filtering, to help prevent exposure to forever chemicals.
The next committee meeting will be at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 12, at city hall.
By Kevin P. cassidy Islander Reporter
After three weeks of action, Adrian Griffin Interiors is 3-0 and has the inside track to the top seed in the 8-10 division. Moss Builders is right behind at 2-1, followed by Solid Rock Construction and Vida Sports Ministry, which are both 1-1-1. AMI Outfitters holds down fifth place while Beach Bums completes the standings at 0-3.
Action Oct. 14 kicked off with Vida Sports Ministry outscoring Beach Bums 4-2 behind three goals from JJ Smith. Heidi Bannick added a goal and Everett Hood helped preserve the victory with nine saves.
Louis Bacon scored the lone goal for Beach Bums on an assist from Mason Stein and a combined eight saves from Juliette Sato and Gia Ciasullo in the loss.
The second match of the night saw Adrian Griffin Interiors earn a 2-0 shutout victory over Solid Rock Construction. Jackson Griffin scored both goals, while Houston Winn made nine saves in the victory.
Elijah Roadman and Samuel Raulerson combined to make 11 saves for Solid Rock in the loss.
The last match of the evening saw Moss Builders edge AMI Outfitters 3-2 behind two goals and an assist from Finn Viehman. Nathan Moss added a goal and
Got speed?
Strength?
Want to test agility?
The Center or Anna Maria Island, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria, will hold a Youth Athlete Combine at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 25.
Participants will run a 10-yard dash, make a vertical jump, do pullups and more.
For more info, call the center at 941-778-1908.
— Lisa Neff
Titus Moss finished with 10 saves in the victory.
Deacon Bekkerus and Judah Treworgy each scored one goal with Treworgy also adding 10 saves for AMI Outfitters in the loss. Deacon Bekkerus added a goal, Phoenix Harwood had two assists and Graeme Bekkerus finished with five saves.
Print Wizards’ 3-0 record topped the 11-13 division. AM I Coconuts, La Creperie and Solid Rock Construction follow with matching 1-2 records.
Action in the 11-13 division Oct. 14 saw Print Wizards crush AM I Coconuts 7-1 behind four goals and an assist from Parker Svoboda and two goals and an assist from Luca Viehman. Kellen Reed added a goal, an assist and four saves for Print Wizards.
Colten DeBerry scored the lone goal for AM I Coconuts on an assist by Aidan Guess, while Andre Harwood made nine saves in the loss.
The last game of the evening saw Callin Westfall score four goals to lead Solid Rock Construction to a 4-1 victory over La Creperie. Isaac Roadman and Owen Mahoney each added an assist in the win.
Everly Chaplinsky notched the lone goal for La Creperie, which received a combined five saves from Tristan Hagey, Jordan Tobey and Louis Bacon.
Adult soccer news
After four weeks of action, Pool America is on top of the standings in the adult soccer league at the community center with a 4-0 record, just ahead of 3-1 Sato Real Estate.
Florida Impact Windows holds down third place at 2-1-1, just ahead of Moss Builders at 2-1, Duncan Real Estate at 2-2 and Ross Built at 2-2. West Coast Marine Construction is alone in seventh place at 1-2-1, while Bubble Binz and Language Services are both 1-2. Solid Rock Construction follows at 1-3, while Slim’s Place, at 0-3, is still in search of a victory.
Key Royale golf news
Golf action at the Key Royale Club in Holmes Beach got started Oct. 13 with the men’s weekly modified Stableford-system match.
Tom Nelson fired a plus-8 to earn a 1-point victory over second-place finishers Jim Bailey and Peter Solleveld. Dave Richardson was alone in third place at plus-6.
The women played a nine-hole individual-low-net match Oct. 14 that saw Linda Brockway fire a 2-underpar 30 for the win.
Mary Wilkie and Rene Chapman finished in a tie for second place with matching even-par 32s, while Brenda Solleveld carded a chipin on the eighth hole.
Members played a scramble/shamble on a modified course that played to a par 43. The team of Jim Bailey, Larry Pippel and Larry Solberg combined on a 4-under-par 39 to win the day’s proceedings. The team of Leo Burke, Joe Coyne, Bill Shuman and Warren Stevens matched the 1-under-par 42 carded by the team of Eric and Monica Lawson, Janelle Clements and Bill MacMillan to finish in a tie for second place.
Gersey Fernandes and Bob Hawks posted the lone 3-0 record in pool play and were the outright champs during Oct. 15 horseshoe action at the Anna Maria City Hall pits.
Two teams emerged from pool play during Oct. 18 horseshoe action in Anna Maria and settled things in a playoff. Billy Silver and Gary Howcroft teamed up to defeat Steve Kriebel and Fernandes 25-13 to win the day’s bragging rights.
The action gets started at 9 a.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays at the city pits. Warmups begin at 8:45 a.m., followed by random team selection.
There is no charge and everyone is welcome.
By Lisa Neff
With sea turtle nesting winding down across the state, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission released its tentative numbers for the 2025 season.
“Here’s a look at where things stand across Florida’s beaches,” the FWC stated, introducing assessments for loggerheads, greens, leatherbacks and Kemp’s ridley nesting:
• Loggerheads remain the most abundant nesting species in Florida, with 103,507 nests recorded as of Sept. 30;
• Green turtles have had a very strong season, with 65,911 nests. The 2025 season is the second-highest green turtle nesting year on record in the state behind 2023.
• Leatherbacks set a new state record, with 2,075 nests as of Sept. 30. “Remarkable!” the FWC said.
Kemp’s ridley nests, while rare in Florida, remain steady with 10 confirmed nests, and a few more suspected nests.
There have been no hawksbill nests recorded.
On the island, Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring reports just one nest remaining for the season as of Oct. 17.
But AMITW is still active, with end-of-season reporting, fundraising and outreach efforts.
The nonprofit’s annual Suzi Fox Turtle Watch Wednesday benefit will be 4-6 p.m. Oct. 22 at Hurricane Hanks, 5346 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach.
Also, AMITW’s team staffs a booth at the Anna Maria Community Farmers Market, which is 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesdays outside Roser Memorial Community Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria.
As of Oct. 17, AMItW reported 544 nests, 827 false crawls, 30,899 hatchlings, 30 adult disorientations and 151 hatchling disorientations.
By Ryan Paice Islander Reporter
The Center of Anna Maria Island’s former sports program manager is venturing out.
Charles “Tuna” McCracken, 22, told The Islander Oct. 15 about his future in Pittsburgh.
McCracken’s sister, Hannah, nicknamed him Tuna as a kid since the StarKist tuna brand’s mascot, Charlie, shares his first name.
McCracken grew up on Anna Maria Island, attended Anna Maria Elementary School in Holmes Beach as a kid and graduated from Manatee High School in Bradenton.
He spent much of his youth at the community center, which he visited almost every day with friends to play sports.
Around the time he was 10, McCracken started scorekeeping for sporting events he would attend at the nonprofit, including youth soccer league games.
By the age of 15, McCracken got even more involved at the center by supervising children on Saturday mornings while their parents exercised at the nonprofit’s facility.
Winnie’s swim: nearing the finish
Winnie, Anna Maria Island’s entry in the 2025 tour de turtles presented by the Sea turtle conservancy, has traveled about 248 miles in the science-focused migration marathon.
and continues through Oct. 31. For more, go to tourdeturtles.org. Islander Screenshot
He eventually got involved in the center’s Beyond the Classroom afterschool program and became the youth sports program coordinator, working with former sports program manager and current operations director Tyler Bekkerus.
When McCracken was 20, the sports program manager position opened up and the center hired him to fill it.
McCracken spent the next two years working the position but, after spending his whole life on the island and more than a decade with the nonprofit, he said he was ready for a change of pace and scenery.
He worked his last day at the center Oct. 3 and moved to live with family in Pittsburgh, where he was born, the following week.
McCracken said leaving the community center was one of the hardest things he’s ever done.
“It’s one big community and not many places are like that, where everybody knows everybody and everybody is looking out for each other, so it was pretty tough leaving there,” he said. “It’s kind of like my second home.”
McCracken is now staying with family in Pittsburgh and plans to spend some quality time with them while he figures out the next chapter of his life.
So far, he said he has been enjoying the Pennsylvania weather and has played a couple rounds of golf.
Nevertheless, McCracken is keeping his options open — including a potential return to the island.
“This will more than likely be a temporary stop. I’ve got all my family and friends back in Anna Maria. So it’d be hard to leave them forever,” McCracken said. “It’s just something I feel like I needed to do — take some time away.”
“Nothing’s set in stone yet. … Who knows? Maybe after one winter I’ll be back,” he added.
McCracken said that, if he does return to the island, he will be right back at the center playing sports.
By capt. Danny Stasny Islander Reporter
With fall settling in around Anna Maria Island, migratory species are on top of the agenda for anglers.
During the fall months in our region, mass amounts of bait fish school in our inshore waters.
Threadfin herring, scaled sardines or shiners and Spanish sardines are the most prominent species — and the favorite sources of food for many of the predatory fish we see here.
Migratory species like Spanish mackerel, kingfish, cobia, jack crevalle, ladyfish, bonita and blue runners thrive on these infinite bait schools as they migrate down the coast, creating a feeding frenzy of great proportions and leaving an oily slick in their wake.
To be a witness to this cycle of the food chain is awe-inspiring, and this is where fishers enter the equation. And, yes, although we are anglers, we are not exclusive beneficiaries to this feeding cycle as we see shorebirds and birds of prey also cashing in on this wonder of nature.
We owe thanks to the birds as we use them as indicators to find the bait, which leads to the fish. It’s common to hear, “Look for the birds” and it rings true for anglers. If you want to get in on this action, the time to act as now.
This bite has but a small window of opportunity before the season changes and we shift gears to wintertime fishing.
And this fishing is not restricted to boaters. It is accessible to all, as many of the fish can be caught right in the surf or around the passes and bridges. And what’s even better is most of the species are not very picky when it comes to feeding time.
Artificials like jigs and spoons are most deadly when targeting migratory fish as they enable the angler to work bait quickly, which is what these high activity fish enjoy most — the chase. This doesn’t mean we rule out live baits, but if catching bait is not your forte, then this option of using lures to attract fish is perfect.
Remember to carry an ample amount of ammunition because all of the fish being targeted have sharp teeth and are well versed at cutting your leader and
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission the week ending Oct. 19 reported no red tide organism, Karenia brevis , in Manatee County waters.
For more information, go to myfwc.com.
— Lisa Neff
swimming away with your lure.
As far as table fare, most of the species are considered catch-and-release although the sheer excitement and thrill of targeting these predators is worth the effort even if it’s just for the sake of bending a rod.
On my Just Reel charters, I’m finding good action while working along the Gulf beaches. With an abundance of bait pressed against the shoreline and pushing into the Gulf, migratory fish like Spanish mackerel, jack crevalle, blue runners and ladyfish are prevalent. Free-lining a live shiner on a long shank hook is leading to a hookups on nearly every cast in some areas.
Blacktip sharks are moving in on the action in areas heavily concentrated with mackerel. Fresh-cut pieces of mackerel on a wire rig are being charged shortly after being cast out behind the boat. Most blacktips are 4-5 feet.
Moving inshore, targeting snook during the higher stage of the tides is working well. Casting baits around mangrove shorelines and channel edges can yield fish in all sizes. Although a majority of snook catches are 18-24 inches, lucky anglers are catching some in the “keeper” slot of 28-33 inches.
Redfish are being found in many instances in the same areas as the snook. Most of the red catches are in the slot of 18-27 inches.
Lastly, spotted seatrout are being found on the deeper flats although many catches are on the smaller size. Limits are attainable, but may require hooking a dozen or more before you get three keepers.
Capt. Johnny Mattay of Anna Maria Charters is getting in on the “beach bite” while patrolling the nearshore Gulf waters along the shores of AMI.
Cobia are a highlight of Mattay’s charters with many fish being caught around reefs and wrecks as well as a few just cruising the surface in open water. Casting live baits like pinfish or sardines works well to get a cobia’s attention, as does the use of artificials like large jigs, according to Mattay.
Macks and a few kingfish are being caught along the beaches, as well as the usual suspects — jack crevalle, ladyfish and blue runners.
Inshore on the grass flats of Sarasota Bay, Mattay is finding action on snook and redfish while working around mangroves and oyster bars during the higher stages of the tide.
Mattay says spotted seatrout are included in the
Hunter Soppit of Madison, Ohio, celebrates his 25th birthday Oct. 16 with a nice catch — a 33-inch keeper snook caught on a charter fishing trip with
inshore bite, especially when fishing deep grass flats.
Capt. David White is patrolling the beaches of Anna Maria Island to kick off the fall season. He says migratory fish like jack crevalle and mackerel are abundant and clients are reeling in good numbers on live shiners as bait.
Kingfish are being caught around reefs and wrecks, with some fish exceeding 20 pounds.
Blacktip and hammerhead sharks are lurking in these areas due to the activity that is occurring, which is leading to some lengthy battles and the test of stamina for White’s clients.
Moving inshore, snook and redfish are the most frequent catches while working the mangroves.
And, White says, even tarpon are being found inshore along the beaches with several catches in the 100-pound range.
Fall fishing is living up to its reputation for great fishing around AMI.
Send high-resolution photos and fishing reports to fish@islander.org.
Bradenton Beach Mayor John chappie, left, greets Bless Parker, mayor of Miami, Oklahoma, during an Oct. 16 visit to Bradenton Beach city Hall. Parker, vacationing on Anna Maria Island, stopped in to meet chappie and the city hall staff. Islander Photo: Robert Anderson
By Lisa Neff
Florida earlier this month reported a strong nesting season for green sea turtles.
And locally, Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring said greens made 16 nests on island beaches this year, breaking the record of 13 set in 2023.
Now, we have news of global importance. The global green sea turtle population is rebounding thanks to conservation, according to the latest update of the Red List of Threatened Species released by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
The IUCN is the global scientific authority on the status of species and the Red List of Threatened Species is its comprehensive global inventory of plants, animals and fungi.
The IUCN World Conservation Congress released its latest update to the Red List Oct. 10 in Abu Dhabi, with the IUCN’s director general, Dr. Grethel Aguilar, issuing this statement: “Today’s Red List update … shines a light on both the urgent challenges and the powerful possibilities before us. While species like Arctic seals and many birds face growing threats, the recovery of the green turtle reminds us that conservation works when we act with determination and unity.”
The Red List contains 172,620 species, including 48,646 species now threatened with extinction.
According to the IUCN, three species of Arctic seal have moved closer to extinction — the hooded seal declined from vulnerable to endangered and the bearded and harp seals moved from least concern to near threatened.
Global warming is occurring four times faster in the Arctic, reducing the extent and duration of sea ice, where seals rest, breed and feed.
Also, the IUCN says globally about 61% of bird species are in decline, an estimate that has increased from 44% in 2016.
The prevalent causes of population declines is hab-
itat loss and habitat degradation driven by agricultural expansion and logging, as well as climate change.
Climate change also can negatively impact green turtle habitats, particularly nesting beaches, and unsustainable coastal and marine development continues to destroy sea turtle habitat.
Still the IUCN spotlighted the improved status for the species, which has moved from endangered to least concern. The global population has increased about 28% since the 1970s.
Conservation efforts have focused on protecting nesting females and their eggs on beaches, expanding community-based initiatives to reduce the unsustainable harvest of turtles and their eggs and using devices to reduce the capture of turtles in fishing gear.
“The ongoing global recovery of the green turtle is a powerful example of what coordinated global conservation over decades can achieve to stabilize and even restore populations of long-lived marine species,” said Roderic Mast, who cochairs the IUCN’s species survival commission marine turtle specialist group.
Seven sea turtle species are assessed for the Red List. Their status at the global level:
• Loggerhead, vulnerable;
• Green, least concern, updated this year;
• Leatherback, vulnerable;
• Hawksbill, Critically endangered;
• Kemp’s ridley: Critically endangered;
• Olive ridley: Vulnerable;
• Flatback: Data deficient.
A regional status for the species can be different from the global status.
A green hatchling is found during an Anna Maria Island turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring nest excavation in September. the hatchling was released and made it safely to the water. Islander
The Red List update moved six species to the extinct category: the Christmas Island shrew and a species of cone snail, both of which have become extinct since the late 1980s; the slenderbilled curlew, a migratory bird last recorded in Morocco in 1995; Diospyros angulata, a species in the same genus as ebony trees; Delissea sinuata, a plant native to the Hawaiian islands; and three Australian mammals — the marl, the south-eastern striped bandicoot and the Nullarbor barred bandicoot.
Tiki and Kitty are leading the way to their favorite
and
find
Miss us? WE MISS YOU AMI!
Stop by at our other locations:
Scavengers Marketplace SRQ
1175 N Washington Blvd
Scavengers Palmetto 2100 US Hwy
T&K love Cat’s Meow, an 8,000 square-foot marketplace! Their vendors offer coastal, cottage, beach, antique, boho, midcentury modern and other home decor styles. They also offer vintage to fine jewelry and vintage vinyl records.
You might want to lace up your skates, as this large, former skating rink has plenty to offer bargain hunters and anyone seeking antiques and unique decor.
You don’t want to miss this collection.
Across the street from Cat’s Meow, there’s Blue Flamingo, another “must stop,” boasting three large buildings of quirky, whimsy, florals and vintage treasures and nauticals, hip and trendy upcycled and repurposed goods, furniture and decor, garden features, candles, jewelry and work by local artisans, as well as Dixie Belle paints.
You’ll also find a new collection from the Gather-
Your place for fun, funky quirky!
Local Artisans. Upcycled, Vintage Furniture, Decor, Artwork
Dixie Belle Paint, Fun Gifts & More! Featuring “The Sea Hagg” collection. theblueflamingo.biz
ing Place and classy nautical furnishings from the Sea Hagg, formerly in Cortez.
We promise, you will find treasures aplenty. Scavengers Marketplace has plenty of vendors to capture your wallet at the Palmetto store, 2100 U.S. 301. There’s always something new to entice you among the vendors’ eclectic collections.
FYI: Scavengers also carries Fusion Paints. The Vintage Vine Market is a favorite for Tiki and Kitty, who love the fine vintage wares and items with a whimsical twist at this store in historic Old Manatee along the newest section of the Bradenton Riverwalk. The location in the 1910 building oozes charm. And they take select consignments by appointment.
And don’t forget, tell people you meet along the way, “The Islander sent me.”
By Ryan Paice Islander Reporter
The Feast Restaurant’s outdoor dining options have cleared a hurdle at city hall.
Holmes Beach city commissioners unanimously voted Oct. 16 to approve a request from the Feast restaurant in the Island Shopping Center, 5406 Marina Drive, to increase outdoor dining by 20 seats — from eight to 28 — with conditions.
The restaurant is owned by brothers Christofer and Joseph Dale.
It is within the city’s C-3 zoning district — the most intensive of the municipality’s three commercial zones — a mixed-use overlay district that allows for a variety of residential and nonresidential uses.
The restaurant’s outdoor dining area will now have 28 total seats at five tables arranged vertically on the sidewalk under the covered storefront.
While varying in length, the tables will be positioned to provide a 5.5-foot-wide walkway between
Bayfest! Photographer sells 2026 calendars to benefit AMITW
phones and/or loudspeakers;
• Requiring the restaurant to obtain a new local business tax receipt within 30 days of approval.
Commissioners expressed concern about the proposed 5.5-foot walkway’s proximity to the parking lot and questioned how the space would be divided.
Minor said staff also wants some kind of buffer between the areas and the current concrete planter boxes were an option.
Mayor Judy Titsworth said such a buffer needed to be able to stop cars, so planter boxes would be insufficient. She recommended installing bollards.
Christofer Dale attended the meeting and told commissioners he also wanted to ensure vehicles could not enter the walkway. He said they were willing to do anything to address the matter provided the landlord, Island Shopping Center LLC, manager Hugh Holmes Jr., approved.
the covered storefront and the parking lot.
Holmes Beach development director Chad Minor said the plaza provides enough onsite parking to accommodate the restaurant’s seating expansion, so no site plan request or special exemption was needed.
He said staff recommended approval of the Feast’s request with conditions, including:
• Limiting the restaurant’s seating to 93 indoor and 28 outdoor dining seats;
• Permitting music, entertainment and games in the outdoor dining area only from noon to 10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and noon to 11 p.m. Friday-Saturday;
• Prohibiting amplified outdoor music, micro-
Angie Blunt displays her calendar, “the Anna Maria Life: through the Lens of Angie Blunt 2026 calendar,” released Oct. 18, just in time for Bayfest. Blunt said she and Anna Maria Life have dedicated proceeds to Anna Maria Island turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring. Sales from the 2025 calendar reached $13,000, but the goal for 2026 is to raise $20,000 for AMItW. She reported Oct. 19 that sales were jump-started Oct. 18 at Bayfest, with proceeds of $2,210 at the Anna Maria Life booth. the project is a partnership of Blunt Photographic, AMItW and Anna Maria Life vacation rentals and real estate. For more information or to order a calendar, go to annamarialifeshop. com. calendars also can be found at AMI businesses. Islander courtesy Photos
Commissioner Carol Whitmore moved to approve the expansion request with the staff’s recommended conditions, as well as two additional conditions to require the installation of bollards and to maintain the 5.5-foot walkway.
Commissioner Steve Oelfke seconded the motion, which passed.
By Lisa Neff
Thursday, Oct. 23
5-7 p.m. — Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce business card exchange, Shore Thing Tiki Cruises at the Historic Bridge Street Pier, Bradenton Beach. Info: 941-778-1541.
SAVE THE DATES
• Oct. 31, 4 p.m., AMI Chamber Trail of Treats, AMI business districts.
• Nov. 13, 4-7 p.m., Manatee Chamber Fall Expo at LECOM Park, Bradenton. Send listings to calendar@islander.org.
LEFt: the tropicats take the stage Oct. 18 at Bayfest on Pine Avenue in Anna
The Islander newspaper is FREE at Publix Holmes Beach. Stop by the service desk, hold out your hand and say, “Islander, please!” And remind staff you’d like the serve-yourself community news returned to the lobby.
By Robert Anderson Islander Reporter
The 2025 stone crab season is off to a sluggish start for the working waterfront of Cortez, where crabbers and market owners say unseasonably clear, calm water has kept crabs buried and traps unusually light.
At the A.P. Bell Fish Co. and Star Fish Co. Seafood Market, early landings were well below expectations, leaving buyers and captains waiting on a weather change to stir things up.
“It’s been terrible,” Karen Bell, owner of Star Fish and A.P. Bell, said, describing the first few days of the season.
“We had maybe eight or 10 fishermen come in with about 260 pounds total,” she added. “One guy with a couple thousand traps only got 25 pounds — that doesn’t even cover his fuel.”
In a good year, Bell said, crabbers can expect about a pound of claws per trap. In the first days, the yields were closer to a quarter pound.
“We just haven’t had any weather,” she said. “No cold, no fronts, nothing to stir up the water and push the crabs around.”
James Gowett, manager at the Star Fish Co. Market and Restaurant, said the slow start didn’t necessarily signal a weak fishery. Calm, clear water has kept the crabs buried and offshore boats, which set thousands of traps farther out, take longer to return.
The Anna Maria Moose Lodge 2188 will celebrate its post-storm grand reopening with a grand dinner, featuring some Moose dignitaries sharing a table.
The dinner, following a year of recovery from hurricanes Helene and Milton, will be 4 p.m. to close Saturday, Nov. 1, with a menu that includes filet mignon, blue crab stuffed shrimp, garlic mashed potatoes and green beans.
A lodge announcement on social media said Loyal Order of the Moose CEO Scott D. Hart and Moose International board of director member John R. Reiter will attend.
The lodge is at 111 Gulf Drive S., Bradenton Beach.
For more information, call the lodge at 941778-4110.
— Lisa Neff
Bayfest!
Mike Sales emcees and entertains the mid-day crowd on Pine Avenue at the Anna Maria Island chamber of commerce’s Bayfest music stage. Islander Photo: Lisa Neff
the Batmobile, one of the entries in a classic car show, draws attention Oct. 18 at the Anna Maria Island chamber of commerce’s Bayfest. Islander Photo: Lisa Neff
“People get really excited for them — it’s like pumpkin-spice season for seafood.”
“Once the weather turns, we’ll know what kind of season it’s going to be,” Gowett said.
Despite the short supply, demand has been strong.
Bell said prices the first week in Cortez and on Anna Maria Island ranged from $23 to $46 per pound,
depending on size and preparation.
“People get really excited for them — it’s like pumpkin-spice season for seafood,” she joked.
Bell said a small cold front in the near forecast could help “turn the bottom,” giving the season a boost.
“Patience is a virtue,” she said. “Hopefully, they’ll show up soon.
“We’ll be OK,” Bell continued. “And in the meantime, eat shrimp.”
Florida’s stone crab season runs through May 15.
By Ryan Paice Islander Reporter
Noncompliance can be costly.
Special magistrate Matthew McConnell, an attorney from the Naples-based Dickman Law Firm, ruled Oct. 16 to impose a $75 daily fine and $127.24 administrative fee against Holmes Beach-based Live Naturally LLC for an overgrown yard at 2910 Gulf Drive.
Live Naturally is an inactive LLC that was owned by resident Benjamin Bryant and dissolved within the past year, according to the Florida Department of State’s Division of Corporations.
However, the Manatee County Property Appraiser’s Office still lists the LLC as the owner of the property at 2910 Gulf Drive.
The property is located in the city’s R-4 zoning district, a zone for medium density residential land uses.
Holmes Beach code compliance staff first found the property had an overgrown yard and was cluttered with trash and debris in July.
A warning was issued at the property, but when staff returned in August, neither the warning nor the property had been touched.
The city sent a notice of violation via the U.S. Postal Service’s certified mail to Live Naturally and posted the notice at the property.
The case was first presented to McConnell in September, when he found there was a violation at the property and gave the owner until the Oct. 16 hearing to bring it into compliance with city code.
However, code compliance supervisor JT Thomas said at the October hearing that the property remained noncompliant and the city has received no word back from the respondent.
He added that staff also found a trash pile in the right of way in front of the property and the city’s waste removal franchisee Waste Pro would not remove it since the property owner has not paid for utilities.
Nevertheless, public works deemed the trash heap a public safety issue and took care of it, according to Thomas.
He recommended two corrective actions: the imposition of a $127.24 admin fee and a $75 daily fine that will run from Sept. 26 until the property is made compliant.
McConnell ruled in favor of the city and imposed the recommended fine and fee.
“I think this is ridiculous to be honest, it’s not that hard to cut your grass,” he said.
In other matters…
McConnell also ruled to:
• Impose a $127.24 admin fee and $150 daily running fine against Fred Bartizal for unpermitted construction on his property at 209 Peacock Lane;
• Impose a $127.24 admin fee and $150 daily running fine against Doral-based Sun Home Builders LLC for unpermitted construction on its property at 401 73rd St.;
• Extend the deadline for permits to be obtained for construction on three units at 5200 Gulf Drive, each owned by the DiClemente family, by 14 days to 9 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 30.
The city’s next magistrate hearing will be at 1 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 6, at city hall, 5801 Marina Drive.
McConnell requested the municipality provide an online livestream of future hearings, so that may be available for the next hearing on the city’s website, holmesbeachfl.org.
Anna Maria Island Privateers Robert “cook Master” Warner, left, Debra “Flash” Kilpatrick and terry “colonel Krash” Kilpatrick, are on hand for mischief-making and fun during Bayfest. Islander
Photo: Robert Anderson
BIKE: 2000 Schwinn Manitou Rocket 88. 19-inch frame,26-inch wheels, $100 or best offer. Bill, 724986-0314.
ICE CREAM MAKER: Cuisinart, like new, $50, grill, non-stick tabletop, green pan, like new, $90. 941-920-2494.
ANTIQUE PARTNER DESK: All wood, $500. Inquire at 941-778-7978.
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. (limited time offer).
GOLF CART RENTALS: Fun for residents and tourists! 941-213-5730. www.annamariacartrentals.com
HAVE A BOAt and wanna catch more fish, better bait or learn the water? 50-year local fisherman, your boat, my knowledge. captain chris, 941-896-2915.
SUNCOAST BOTTOM PAINTING: Professional bottom painting. Mobile. Call 941-704-9382.
CAPTAIN FOR HIRE and boat caretaker services: If you need help with your boat on or off the water, call Captain Dan. USCG, retired. 772-486-8085.
WELcOME ABOARD JOYFISH charters for private fishing, sunset cruises, and dolphin watching. check out joyfishcharters.com or follow us on Facebook. call to reserve, 941840-3181.
I HAVE A dock with motorized lift for up to 20-foot motorboat for rent in coral Shores, with access to the Intracoastal and the Gulf. Fee negotiable. Please, call Jack, 941-5655531.
NOW HIRING: THE White Egret and The Egret’s Nest. We are seeking creative individuals to fill both part-time and full-time positions at our boutiques! Flexible days but, some weekend availability required. Please inquire in person, drop off a resume or call 941-778-3782 for an interview appointment.
NEW BEACH SHOP HIRING: Looking for people with retail experience. Call 941-209-0497.
REPORTER WANTED: Print media, newspaper experience required. Apply via email with letter of interest to news@islander.org
TECH HELP, TUTORING, custom projects: Tutoring (K-6) starts at $12/hour. Tech and projects vary by complexity. Serving Anna Maria Island. dominic.cusimano@gmail.com.
KIDS FOR HIRE ads are FREE for up to three weeks for Island youths under 16 looking for work. Ads must be placed by email, send to classifieds@islander.org.
IS YOUR HOME or office in need of some cleaning? Well, I’m your girl! Local, reliable, professional! Please, give me a call or text, 941-773 -0461.
CLEANING: VACATION, CONSTRUCTION, residential, commercial and windows. Licensed and insured. 941-756-4570.
PRESSURE WASHING, PAVER sealing, driveway, roof, fence, pool area. Also, window cleaning. Licensed and insured. 941-565-3931.
BICYCLE REPAIRS: Just4Fun at 5358 Gulf Drive can do most any bicycle repair at a reasonable cost. Pick-up and delivery available. 941-8967884.
API’S DRYWALL REPAIR: I look forward to servicing your drywall repair needs. Call 941-5248067 to schedule an appointment.
Pc OR tEcH issues? Not sure where to start? With years of experience, I’ll come to you with reliable solutions. contact Gavin at 928-587-1309. www.gse.codes
SARASOtA PAINtING: INtERIOR/exterior/ cabinets: call or text Don, 941-900-9398. Free estimates. Fully insured, twenty years’ experience.
RIDEEASY 247 YOUR professional, reliable and courteous car service to airports and events since 2015. You can reach us via text 941-447-7737 or email to mrfort5001@gmail. com. We are available 24/7.
MORE ADS = more readers in the Islander.
Continued
LOOK NO MORE! Residential, vacation rental and commercial cleaning. Give us a call, 941250-8548.
OUR SERVICES: CLEANING, home repairs, tile, concrete, remodeling, decks, steps, flooring, water drainage solutions, rental 24-hour services. Hurricane shutters and pre-storm service. New, low-cost generator and insulation (starts and runs on propane when power off). No permits needed. Islander, over 40 years here! Call 941404-9163.
IS YOUR POOL deck, driveway, or garage floor looking worn out and dated? Bring them back to life with our top-tier resurfacing services! Services offered: Pool deck resurfacing, Slip-resistant, cool-to-the-touch finishes that enhance safety and aesthetics. Driveway resurfacing, durable surfaces that stand up to heavy traffic and harsh weather. Garage floor resurfacing, easy-to-clean, stain-resistant surfaces that look great and perform even better. Don’t wait! transform your spaces today with our trusted resurfacing services. contact us now for a free consultation and estimate. call U Plus Me LLc at 727-6235050 or visit u-plus-me.com
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AIRPORt SHUttLE: QUALItY transportation, 10 years by Lewber. 352-339-3478.
LOOKING FOR SOMEONE who needs me: clean, house-sit. I can cook, make sandwiches. I can do anything you can do but better! I can run to the grocery store for you. I can walk pets or go out to lunch with you. Looking for a part-time job caregiving companion, I am your right arm! I love people and I love helping others. I have references and I’m reliable and dependable. My name is Dena Gray a.k.a. Sparkles! 941-524-2234.
AcHAUFFER4U FOR tRANSPORtAtION anywhere in Florida. Properly insured and over 40 years in Bradenton. Dennis, 941812-5930.
ONECALL CLEANUP. Junk removal, water damage, and more. Fast, reliable service. Call, 941-544-1260.
CLEANING SERVICES: Ten-plus years’ experience. Professional, prompt with a flexible schedule. Contact Jessica, 941-900-8051.
HOME WAtc HER: WHEN you can’t be at home, I’ll watch your home and send video of my inspection. I’m a State certified Residential Appraiser with background check. 317-997-4056.
AMI AIRPORt SHUttLE Guy: We pick up from tampa, St. Petersburg and Sarasota airports. Up to seven passengers with luggage. Reliable, Licensed and friendly transportation to and from Anna Maria Island. AMIShuttle. com. 941-500-3388.
VACATION RENTAL management for your investment home(s) on AMI. From website startups to end cleaning, we market and maintain guest relations for your property. We optimize results at discounted rates. Contact Coastal Vibes at 281608-4229 or cbuckner124@gmail.com
BUSINESS-TO-BUSINESS JD’s Window Cleaning looking for storefront jobs in Holmes Beach. I make windows sparkling clean. 941-920-3840.
CLEAN TECH MOBILE Detailing. At your location. Cars, boats, RVs. Call or text Billie for an appointment. 941-592-3482.
CONNIE’S LANDSCAPING INC. Residential and commercial. Full-service lawn maintenance, landscaping, cleanups, hauling and more! Insured. 941-713-1965.
COLLINS LANDSCAPE LIGHTING: Outdoor lighting, landscaping, irrigation services and maintenance. 941-279-9947. MJC24373@gmail.com
SHELL DELIVERED AND spread. Hauling all kinds of gravel, mulch, topsoil with free estimates. call Larry at 941-795-7775, or “shell phone” 941-720-0770.
VAN-GO PAINTING residential/commercial, interior/exterior, pressure cleaning, wallpaper. Island references. Bill, 941-795-5100. www.vangopainting.net.
GRIFFIN’S HOME IMPROVEMENtS Inc. Handyman, fine woodwork, countertops, cabinets and wood flooring. Insured and licensed. 941-7228792.
LANE’S SCREENING SERVICES: Replace your window, door or lanai screens. Many screen options available. Retired veteran serving our community! Free estimates, call 941-705-5293.
LOOKING FOR ANY home improvement? JRcc Home Improvement, handyman service can get the job done. Please, contact us at 413-2462410. We would love to help.
tILE-tILE-tILE: All variations of ceramic tile supplied and installed. Quality workmanship, prompt, reliable, many Island references. call Ashdown Flooring, 941-726-3077.
ISLAND HANDYMAN: I live here, work here, value your referral. Refinish, paint. Just ask. JayPros. Licensed/insured. References. Call Jay, 941-9622874.
DONALD PERKINS PAINtING LLc. Interior/exterior/pressure washing. Island references. dperkinspaint@hotmail.com. 941-705-7096.
GORILLA DRYWALL REPAIR LL c . Let’s solve your drywall problems together. Give us a call at 941-286-0607.
QUEEN BEE PAINtING: “We Do It Royally.” Interior/ exterior painting and pressure washing, pool decks, garage floors, cabinets, popcorn ceiling and wallpaper removal, drywall, door and trim install and repair, window cleaning. Sheryl, 864-884-3380.
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TRUE TONE PAINTING: Painting, power washing, epoxy floors. 941-224-4020.
CALL HYDRO CLEAN. Full-service pressure washing, sealing. Pavers, travertine and natural stone. Window washing too, up to three stories. Call Jacob, 941-920-2094.
ANNA MARIA GULF beachfront vacation rentals. One- two- and three-bedroom units, all beachfront. www.amiparadise.com. 941-778-3143.
AVAILABLE NOW AND season: 1BR/1BA, sevennight minimum. carlesvacationrentals.com Special rates are available. 941-807-1405.
PERICO ISLAND PATIO home: 3BR/2BA, privacy wall/gate, two-car garage, single floor, high ceilings, screened lanai. Call or text Alison, 859-7716423.
CENTRAL HOLMES BEACH, 3BR/2BA completely remodeled, walk to beach, school, trolley, shopping. Annual, $2,595/month. 941-713-6743.
ANNUAL RENTALS AVAILABLE: Off Island: Perico Isle, 3BR/2BA unfurnished pool home, two-car garage, $3,100/month. Hidden Lake, 3BR/2BA furnished condo, $3,100/month. All require application, first, last and security. Wagner Realty, 941778-2246.
SNOW BIRD SPECIAL: Discount for multiple months. 2BR/2BA, second floor condo in Holmes Beach. Pool, tennis/pickleball, in-unit laundry, WiFi, screened lanai, covered parking. Available 2025/26 season beginning December 2025. Beautiful, bayside seating area. Pool/ beach toys, bikes included. Call Jack, 312-8352323 for more information/photos.
AVAILABLE NOW: QUIEt beautiful, bright, sunny condo. 2BR/2BA, nicely furnished, second floor, washer/dryer, screened in lanai overlooking pond, carport, tennis, pools, hot tub, gym, very safe, security gate. Minutes from AMI beaches. $2,300/month, annual, $3,900/month, seasonal. call 952-818-4685.
HOLMES BEAcH WEStBAY cove condo. Second floor, 2BR/2BA, large lanai with bay view and one block to Gulf beach. Pools, tennis, pickleball. December and January, $4,000/month. 941-7788456. terryaposporos@gmail.com
ANNUAL REN tAL AVAILABLE now! Beautiful 2BR/2BA villa in Pinebrook-Ironwood complex, boasts soaring ceilings updated kitchen and bathrooms and magnificent view of the eighth hole at Pinebrook Golf course. this unit comes with covered parking, pool and lots of amenities. Five miles from Anna Maria Island. $2,300/ month. A must see! call 317-703-0449.
BEAUtIFUL AND cONVENIENt 2BR/2/BA condo (handicap accessible, with elevator access) for rent or sale in Fourth Bayshore Gardens, Bradenton, Florida. Pool, shuffleboard, barbecue and clubhouse for use. Available immediately. Interested, call 401-261-8847 or email marshall. patricia@gmail.com
CONDOS FOR LEASE/sale: Downtown Bradenton, west end of the Manatee Riverwalk. Walk-a-bout community, library, museum, Pier 22, O’Bricks, Village of the Arts and more. 941-725-4374, Geri Kenyon, Keyes Company.
WAt ERFRON t 2BR/2BA FIRS t-floor condo on AMI available December, and/or January, February, March. Discount for more than one month. Pools, tennis, walk to shop and to beach. call Kathy, 973219-0335.
MADBEAcH: Fully-furnished, second-floor, 2BR/2BA condo in Madeira Beach for rent Nov., Dec., Jan. April, May. Screened lanai, pools, park amenities (pickleball), water view, short walk to beaches, restaurants, retail. No smoking. Email connieandlisa@gmail.com.
WINNIE M c HALE, REALt OR, 941-504-6146. Dalton Wade Real Estate. You need an aggressive and experienced Realtor in today’s market! Selling island homes, Sarasota and Bradenton areas. Multi-million-dollar producer! “Selling HomesMaking Dreams come true.”
2BR/2BA cONDO IN Mt. Vernon for sale. Fully furnished, on lake with view of Sarasota Bay. c lubhouse, pool, workout room, and hot tub. Minutes to beaches and shopping. Asking $370,000. call Sharon, 941-730-5645.
NORTH END LONGBOAT Key: Lot and old cottage. Handyman special. 3BR/2BA, one-car garage. $800,000. Or build to suit, new house. Call for pricing. Northwest Bradenton custom-built 2BR/2BA, two-car garage, community pool, spa and boat slips. No-flood zone. $796,000. Real Estate Mart, 941-356-1456.
