VOLUME
AUG. 25, 2021 FREE
NO. 44
The Best News on Anna Maria Island Since 1992 Astheworldterns. 6
Top Notch
islander.org
Surf’s up! Kudos to Fred …
Tops in Top Notch. 2 Megabridge fighters make progress on fundraising. 3
Q&A 082521
3
BudgetTalks. 4-5
Meetings. 4 Opinions. 6 10-20 YEARS AGO
Looking back. 7
HB to explore building safety. 8
RoadWatch. 9 Save the date. 10
Happenings Community activities. 11
Masks required. 12
city elections 21
Qualifying underway. 13
Gathering. 14 Obituaries. 14 Cops & Court. 16 AM halts unpermitted lot clearing. 17 HBPD shifts change. 17
NESTING NOTES.
Turtle talking points. 18
Celebrating a Floridaversary. 19 Rainfall inching up at Piney Point. 19 Youth soccer readies. 20 Storm holds anglers inshore. 21
TideWatch. 21 ISL BIZ: 22 HB receives favorable ruling in resort suit. 23
CLASSIFIEDS. 24 Shade goes missing from stilt-house. 26
NYT puzzle. 27
Chris Whittaker of Parrish — an Anna Maria native — put his “surfing and shooting” passion to work Aug. 15 at a favorite local break with thanks to Tropical Storm Fred passing to the west in the gulf of Mexico. From left, Michael Dolan, Tom Manobianco and Joey Mattay.
Judge dismisses HB from 1 of 3 treehouse suits By Ryan Paice Islander Reporter
Calls for mediation to resolve Holmes Beach’s treehouse lawsuits fell flat. But a resolution did come in one case — for the city, at least. Judge Charles Sniffen of the 12th Judicial Circuit Court issued an order July 7 dismissing the city from one of three lawsuits centered around a treehouse at 103 29th St., Holmes Beach, according to attorney Jay Daigneault, who, alongside attorney Randy Mora, represents the city in the case.
What’s up on Pine? gerry Traverso describes options Aug. 19 resulting from a “Reimagining Pine Avenue” study for the city of Anna Maria. The presentation, however, left commissioners with more questions and Traverso was tasked with providing more options. See story, page 9. Islander Photo: Amy V.T. Moriarty
Sniffen’s order was inaccessible on the clerk of court’s website as of Aug. 19. However, Daigneault told The Islander Aug. 19 that the order granted the city and DEP motions to dismiss the property owners’ third amended complaint requesting injunctive relief and compensation for “financial loss and damages.” The order also dismissed the city from the case, which was focused on a court petition from property owners Richard Hazen and his wife, Lynn Tran-Hazen. The pair petitioned for a temporary
injunction against the city and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to stop “the further imposition of illegally excessive and unfounded fines” and to protect the treehouse from destruction. The dispute began in 2011, when the property owners built the treehouse in an Australian pine tree beyond the setback for the erosion control line and without a permit on their beachfront property. The pair reside at the property and operate four vacation rental units as Angelinos Sea Lodge. TuRN TO TREEHOUSE, PAgE 2
HB board member sits out masked meetings By Ryan Paice Islander Reporter
Holmes Beach city hall’s mask mandate may lead to the resignation or removal of a planning commissioner. Planning commissioners discussed Aug. 19 the unexcused absence of member Dana Krupa, who some members heard would not attend meetings in person while the city’s mask mandate remained in place due to unknown “safety concerns.” Mayor Judy Titsworth announced at an Aug. 10 meeting that masks again were required to prevent the spread of the coronavirus at city hall, 5801 Marina Drive. Titsworth sparked the planning commission meeting by broaching the topic of Krupa’s attendance plans, noting that the state no longer allows municipal board members who virtually attend meetings to count toward a quorum or to vote. If planning commissioners accumulate
TuRN TO MASK, PAgE 5
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