Anna Maria Island Sun August 30, 2023

Island consolidation back on table

The Manatee County Legislative Delegation wants a study that could lead to the consolidation of Anna Maria Island's cities.

BY KRISTIN SWAIN SUN STAFF WRITER | kswain@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – The threat of consolidation of the three Island cities isn’t over. Members of the Manatee County Legislative Delegation have warned Island mayors that they’re getting ready to start up talks again at an October meeting.

In an Aug. 21 letter, delegation members Sen. Jim Boyd (R-Bradenton) and Rep. Will Robinson (R-Bradenton) sent a letter to all three Island mayors noting that they’re ready to initiate a Florida Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability study, known as OPPAGA, to “focus on the potential benefits of combining the three municipalities of Anna Maria Island, which encompasses the cities of Anna Maria, Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach.”

The letter is in response to Jan. 30 talks with the mayors about the possibility of combining city services. In the Aug. 21 letter, Boyd and Robinson said they haven’t received a major update from the mayors and blamed Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth.

SEE CONSOLIDATION, PAGE 33

City seeks TDC approval for path funds

Holmes Beach seeks a funding recommendation from the TDC for a new multimodal path in the wake of a pedestrian death.

BY JASON SCHAFFER SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com

HOLMES BEACH – City officials are seeking tourist tax funding for enhancements to the city’s multimodal path and the creation of a new path. Public Works Superintendent/City Engineer Sage Kamiya addressed the Aug. 21 Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC) meeting, citing the recent death of a bicyclist in the city and the death of a pedestrian who was struck by a truck earlier this year while crossing the street. Kamiya told the TDC at the meeting at The Center of Anna Maria Island that a functional multimodal path running the

length of the city was a matter of “life and death.”

Kamiya noted that there is a path for walkers and bicyclists that runs along a portion of Marina Drive, but it needs improvement.

SEE PATH, PAGE 35

Vicious dog attacks again

BY JASON SCHAFFER SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com

HOLMES BEACH - A Holmes Beach resident says she and her dog are lucky to be alive after being attacked by a 143-pound mastiff while going for a walk at her condo.

Evalena Leedy was taking her 9-pound toy poodle, Alonzo, for a walk on Aug. 21 about 8:30 p.m. when the unleashed 143-pound dog approached rapidly. “The whole ordeal was terrifying!” Leedy said. “I was walking Alonzo near the condo when out from the bushes,

next to the dumpster comes an unleashed, large mastiff dog running straight for us. I picked up Alonzo and threw him on top of a parked car. The dog repeatedly lunged at me and bit my right arm, causing me to bleed. The dog kept coming, I was trying to protect myself and Alonzo and was unsuccessfully attempting to kick the dog away.”

Leedy said after she had been bitten, the dog’s owner, later identified as Anthony Santamauro, arrived and pulled the mastiff off her.

SUBMITTED Holmes Beach resident Evalena Leedy, with her dog, Alonzo, says she’s lucky they are alive after being attacked by a 143-pound mastiff while going for a walk.

SEE ATTACK, PAGE 31

CONNOR FIELD | SUN

A summer lightning storm mimics a sunset in the Gulf of Mexico off Holmes Beach.

JASON SCHAFFER | SUN Holmes Beach Public Works Superintendent/City Engineer Sage Kamiya addresses the Manatee County Tourist Development Council on Aug. 21 seeking funding for the city’s proposed multimodal path.

Mayors tentatively embrace consolidation study

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA – The three Island mayors are united in their response to Sen. Jim Boyd and Rep. Will Robinson Jr.’s ongoing efforts to consolidate city services to reduce property taxes.

During the Aug. 24 Anna Maria City Commission meeting, Mayor Dan Murphy and Bradenton Beach Mayor John Chappie presented a statement on behalf of all three cities, noting that they have Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth's permission to speak on her behalf. The mayors announced their support for a study on the consolidation of city services, but they do not support a study on the consolidation or elimination of the Island’s three city governments.

On Jan. 12, the Manatee County Legislative Delegation, consisting of Boyd, Robinson, Sen. Joe Gruters, Rep. Tommy Gregory and Rep. Mike Beltran, all Republicans, expressed a collective desire for a consolidation study conducted by the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Govern-

ment Accountability (OPPAGA). On Jan. 19, Boyd sent a letter to Florida Senate President Kathleen Passidomo requesting her approval for the study.

During the Florida Legislature’s 2023 legislative session that began in March, Murphy traveled to Tallahassee to meet with Boyd and Robinson. According to Murphy, he helped convince them to delay the study and give the mayors time to discuss and propose potential consolidations of service. Those mayoral discussions have not yet produced any tangible results.

On Aug. 21, Boyd and Robinson sent a letter to the three mayors stating the legislative delegation was prepared to resume its pursuit of an OPPAGA study because the mayors had not yet presented “implementable concepts” regarding the potential consolidation of police, building department and public works department services as tax-cutting measures.

MAYORS’ RESPONSE

During Thursday’s Anna Maria commission meeting, Murphy referenced

Boyd and Robinson’s letter.

“I must say it does not come as a surprise,” he said when acknowledging the three mayors’ lack of progress thus far.

Murphy said he met with Chappie and Titsworth earlier that morning to discuss their collective response to the letter and the study.

“Unanimously, we agreed that the right thing to do is to embrace this study. If this study can reduce our taxes, which it probably could, and

if it could also enhance and improve the scope of services to the residents of this Island, we’re all in. All three of us,” Murphy said.

“On the other hand, I think it needs to be very clear that’s the scope of the study. The scope should not be the consolidation or the elimination or the de-annexation of the three municipalities on this Island,” Murphy said.

“The three of us agreed there are three very distinct cultures in the cities on the Island. To maintain that difference, we need to have a separate government addressing the needs and the wants of that community. If we can do it for less money, I’m all for it. And if this study can generate that, I’m all for that; and so is Judy Titsworth and so is John Chappie,” Murphy said. Murphy then asked Chappie to speak.

“I agree with everything Mayor Murphy said,” Chappie said. “I’m here as a sign of unity. We are one Island community and three distinctive individual cities. We work together. We

SEE MAYORS, PAGE 15

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

Mayor John Chappie feels the consolidation study could be a useful tool for the Island governments and residents.

ISLAND NEWS

IN BRIEF

Island bartender killed in multi-vehicle wreck

A multi-vehicle accident on Cortez Road near 115th Street has claimed the life of an Island bartender. According to the preliminary accident report from the Florida Highway Patrol, the accident took place on Aug. 23 at 3:44 p.m. An SUV driven by a 22-year-old unidentified female from Bradenton was going south on 115th Street approaching Cortez Road. When she attempted to make a left turn onto Cortez Road, she collided with a truck carrying a trailer being driven by a 54-year-old Bradenton man who was traveling east approaching the intersection. The collision caused the SUV to block the path of a 52-year-old Bradenton man who was driving a motorcycle, causing him to crash into the side of the SUV, according to the report. The drivers of the SUV and truck did not sustain any injuries. The driver of the motorcycle was pronounced dead at the scene. Although troopers have not released the names of any parties involved, Beth O’Sullivan identified the victim in a Facebook post as her partner, Doug Carbee, 52, of Bradenton, a bartender at the Beach House Waterfront Restaurant in Bradenton Beach.

Developer goes to court on DUI

Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer said the June DUI and resisting arrest case against Anna Maria Island developer Shawn Kaleta is going forward. The case was filed in Manatee County Circuit Court the week of Aug. 14. No hearing date has been set as of press time for The Sun.

Three reappointed to parks committee

Holmes Beach commissioners voted unanimously on Aug. 15 to reappoint three members to the city’s Parks and Beautification Committee. Members Kathryn Sandberg and Eileen Jellison were reappointed for two years as full voting members of the committee. Alternate member Debbie Hall also will retain her position on the committee for another two years. All three terms expire on Aug. 1, 2025.

City launches community website

The city of Holmes Beach has a new website geared toward helping visitors and residents learn more about the community. The new site, www. DestinationHolmes.com, launched on Aug. 23 and is filled with information about the community, along with videos depicting different parts of the city, people who live and work in the community and community activities. Mayor Judy Titsworth said that bringing the project to life has involved a lot of hard work with city staff, and she said she’s very proud of the result. All official information including building permits, vacation rental certification forms and city commission agendas and videos, remain accessible through the city’s primary website, www.holmesbeachfl.org.

Construction site violation fine reduced

Eason Builders Group owner Scott Eason was originally facing a $29,331 fine.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT jhendricks@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA – City commissioners have reduced a builder’s potential fine for beginning work without a permit from $29,331 to $2,500.

On Aug. 2, the city issued a stop work order to the Eason Builders Group for preliminary construction activities at the vacant residential property at 226 Periwinkle Plaza without a city-issued building permit.

In an Aug. 8 memo he sent to the city’s building official, Eason Builders Group (EBG) owner Scott Eason requested the building official rescind the $29,331 triple permit fee fine and lift the stop work order because a mistakenly installed temporary power pole (T-pole) was removed from the construction site and no electrical connections were completed.

When appearing before the city commission on Aug. 24 seeking a reduced or forgiven fine, Eason said his father-in-law mistakenly delivered the premanufactured T-pole to the property before a building permit was obtained.

City Planner Ashely Austin said the construction activities that began prior to the issuance of a building permit included the T-pole installation, the delivery of a portable toilet and the placement

of silt fence stakes.

Austin said a contractor does not have the authority to engage in those activities before a permit is issued.

She also said, “The building department policy is to issue a stop work order and assess a double permit fee application penalty for such actions, hence the term ‘triple permit fee.’”

Austin said the proposed $29,331 triple permit fee would have been twice the amount of Eason’s original $14,665 permitting fee.

past and she’s not aware of a triple permit fee being reduced.

Commissioner Jon Crane said he doesn’t want to see the city’s permitting processes and building ordinances ignored, but he also felt a $29,331 fine in addition to the original permitting fee was quite high. Craine said he doesn’t want to discourage development, but he also doesn’t want contractors and builders acting like “cowboys.”

Commissioner Deanie Sebring also felt the proposed fine was excessive in relation to the activities that occurred.

Commissioner Robert Kingan said he’d be inclined to forgive one simple mistake, but several violations occurred at the same site.

Eason said the silt fence was installed when the previous structure was demolished in late 2022.

Commission Chair Mark Short asked if the commission could reduce the fine rather than assess the entire full triple permit fee or waive the fine completely. Austin said the commission had the authority to do as it wished and City Attorney Becky Vose agreed.

Austin said the city has imposed triple permit fees several times in the

Participating in the discussion by phone, Eason’s attorney, Jason Miller, said he felt the proposed fine was excessive in relation to the mistake that occurred regarding the delivery of the T-pole. Miller said there was no cavalier or cowboy-like behavior involved, and he suggested a fine of a few hundred to a thousand dollars and a warning to strictly abide by the city’s building regulations. He noted Eason was also incurring attorney fees as a result of the transgressions and delays with starting the construction project. Crane then made a motion to waive the triple permit fee and impose a $2,500 fine instead. The other commissioners unanimously supported Crane’s motion.

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

The unpermitted preliminary construction activities occurred at 226 Periwinkle Plaza in Anna Maria.

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

Eason Builders Group owner Scott Eason appeared before the city commission on Aug. 24.

County sewer project enters second phase

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH – The Woodruff & Sons construction company is now working along 12th Street South as Manatee County’s extensive sewer improvement project in Bradenton Beach continues.

On Aug. 23, Community Outreach Representative Tina Allen issued her latest email update.

“The contractor has completed installation and switching over of services to the new sewer system on 11th Street South. The road has been reconstructed and is now open to vehicular traffic. Final paving will be performed simultaneously with other completed side streets,” she stated.

“Installation of the new gravity sewer pipe across Gulf Drive South, and east on 12th Street South, is now complete. 12th Street South will remain closed to traffic through late September 2023 as the contractor works to perform service connections and reconstruction of the road. A reserved parking area has been provided along the west of Gulf Drive South for use by residents and renters impacted by the

12th Street construction,” Allen stated in her update.

In her July 28 update, Allen noted the lateral connection line had been installed down the center of 11th Street South and that work completed phase one of the two-phase project.

In her July 28 update, Allen wrote, “On Thursday, July 27, 2023, the contractor began installing a new gravity sewer pipe across Gulf Drive South to the east side of Gulf Drive South at 12th Street South.

To accommodate pipe installation, traffic lane shifts will remain in place through late August 2023 for the northbound and southbound travel lanes of Gulf Drive South.

Allen’s updates are emailed to subscribers and they’re also posted at the project website, https://amiprojects.io/projects/ bradenton-beach-sewer-improvements.

Manatee County Public Works Director Chad Butzow provided a project update during the Aug. 1 Council of Governments

“We’ve learned a lot. Our public outreach consultant has done a very good job. It is very timely and has been well-received,” Butzow said of the project updates that Allen provides.

Butzow said the main gravity sewer line has been installed parallel to and west of Gulf Drive South and that portion of the project is completed. Lateral connection lines are being installed down the center of each connecting side street, from 12th Street South to Sixth Street South, resulting in those side streets being temporarily closed to vehicular traffic one street at a time. Butzow said there will not be any instances when two side streets are closed at the same time.

The project-related street closures will impact residents, vacationers and property owners as that work progresses from street to street in the coming weeks and months. For those unable to access their side streets by automobile, the county is providing free shuttle service between the designated Gulf Drive South parking areas and the impacted side streets. For more information on the shuttle service, please call 941-269-6699.

The county project is expected to be completed in the fall of 2024.

The county project is expected to be completed in the fall of 2024.

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

The Gulf Drive South traffic lanes near the S-curve in Bradenton Beach have been shifted to accommodate the work taking place in that area.

The Anna Maria Island Sun

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Welcome to New Florida

AMI is proud to announce we've abandoned any attempts at remaining "Old Florida," and we've capitulated to what the developers want. Forget about appropriate development. We're tearing down those pesky cottages and replacing them with brandnew stock, built to the very edges of the property. We've eliminated those pesky trees, which means fewer birds to sully your Island Experience. And we've increased parking to the point where it's easier to find space to leave your car than it is to find a spot of sand on which to relax on our beaches.

We ask you to "Love it Like a

Local" because as a part of our new and improved "New Florida" experience, we've eliminated as many of those pesky locals as we can. You can be pretty much assured that any place you stay, your neighbors will be just as transient as you. That makes it easier to get away with disrespecting the local laws and environment, and with harassing nesting animal populations. And you can enjoy our new and improved view as you sit in traffic. No need for pesky tours; you can enjoy all the sights from our trolley windows as you spend 3.5 hours trying to get from one pier to the other.

We have retained a couple of kitschy tourist attractions,

but have replaced many of our historic attractions with new and improved plastic replicas. And we have a plethora of local dining spots where you can dine at Disney prices. Our shops and grocers reflect "New Florida" pricing, along with all of our accommodations.

Who wants to be bothered with all the vestiges of Old Florida when you can come to New Florida, where inflated prices and over-capacity attractions await? Come visit The Manatee Gulf Beaches today and experience all that New Florida has to offer.

Laurel Nevans Holmes Beach

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 30

Mah-jongg for beginners, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 1 p.m.

One-on-one tech help, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach 2-4 p.m.

THURSDAY, AUG. 31

Seaside Quilters, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m.

Sunshine Stitchers Knit and Crochet, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 1 p.m.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 1

Forty Carrots, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m.

Mah-jongg for experienced players, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 11:30 a.m.

ON THE AGENDA

ANNA MARIA

10005 GULF DRIVE

FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-708-6130

SATURDAY, SEPT. 2

Mornings at the NEST, Robinson Preserve Mosaic Nest, 840 Ninth Ave. N.W., Bradenton, 9 a.m. to noon

TUESDAY, SEPT. 5

Rotary Club of Anna Maria Island meeting, Slicker’s Eatery, 12012 Cortez Road W., Bradenton, 11:30 a.m.

Family story time, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m.

Mah-jongg for experienced players, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 11:30 a.m.

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 6

One-on-one tech help, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 2-4 p.m.

BRADENTON BEACH

107 GULF DRIVE N.

FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-778-1005

Please visit www.cityofannamaria.com or contact city hall for more information.

Sept. 4, all day – City offices closed, Labor Day holiday

Sept. 7, 5 p.m. – Budget hearing with City Commission meeting following

THURSDAY, SEPT. 7

AMI Chamber breakfast, Anna Maria Island Beach, Café, 4000 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, 7:30 a.m., $15 for members or $25 for prospective members

Sunshine Stitchers Knit and Crochet, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 1 p.m.

Thursdays in Paradise Stroll featuring local art, music and food, Bridge Street, Bradenton Beach, 5-8 p.m.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 8

Forty Carrots, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m.

Mah-jongg for experienced players, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 11:30 a.m.

Please visit www.cityofbradentonbeach.com or contact city hall for more information.

Sept. 4, all day – City offices closed, Labor Day holiday

Sept. 6, 9:30 a.m. – Community Redevelopment Agency meeting

Sept. 6, 1 p.m. – Planning and Zoning Board meeting

Sept. 7, 5:05 p.m. – Community Redevelopment Agency budget meeting

Sept. 7, 5:30 p.m. – City Commission budget meeting

Sept. 7, 6 p.m. – City Commission meeting

SATURDAY, SEPT. 9

Robinson Runners, Robinson Preserve, 1704 99th St. N.W., Bradenton, 7 a.m.

Mornings at the NEST, Robinson Preserve Mosaic Nest, 840 Ninth Ave. N.W., Bradenton, 9 a.m. to noon

Origami Club, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m.

Teen Art Club: temporary tattoos, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 1 p.m.

MONDAY, SEPT. 11

Medicare 101, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 11 a.m.

TUESDAY, SEPT. 12

Family story time, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m.

Mah-jongg for experienced players, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 11:30 a.m.

HOLMES BEACH

5801 MARINA DRIVE

FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-708-5800

Please visit www.holmesbeachfl.org or contact city hall for more information.

Sept. 4, all day – City offices closed, Labor Day holiday

Sept. 13, 9 a.m. – Clean Water Ad-Hoc Committee meeting

Sept. 13, 5 p.m. – Planning Commission meeting

ISLAND-WIDE

Sept. 12, 6 p.m. – West Manatee Fire Rescue board meeting, administration building, 701 63rd St. W., Bradenton

Tourism numbers stay strong on Anna Maria Island

BY JASON SCHAFFER SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA - Research Data Services’ (RDS) Ann Wittine presented an optimistic state of tourism update to the Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC) on Aug. 21 at The Center of Anna Maria Island.

She began by addressing her company’s research into public sentiment on the new water taxi service that is slated to begin operation soon.

The Tampa-based company is the tourism

consultant for the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. “We are doing a water taxi survey, and we have been doing that for a while,” Wittine said. “We were out for Memorial Day weekend,

Fourth of July weekend and we’ll be out on Labor Day weekend. We are hearing more interest now than ever before. Not just a little bit more interest, but a significant interest in the water taxi.”

Wittine says RDS is not just talking to tourists, but also residents and business owners. She told the TDC the surveys are showing an increase in interest from all potential user groups. She said there will be more data available after the Labor Day weekend research is completed. That information will be presented at the TDC’s Monday, Oct. 16 meeting.

Wittine’s report featured the latest available statistics related to the tourism industry in Manatee County from June 2023. Total visitors were up by .8% and economic impact was up 2.9%. Room nights were down slightly from June 2022 by .5%. Wittine says this is due to larger party sizes this year.

Room occupancy for

June was down slightly (2.6%) after being down 2.8% in the last report from RDS that quoted data from April 2023. The average daily room rate, however, is up 3.5%, at $216.41 per day in June 2023 compared to $209.19 in June 2022.

RDS also keeps track of where visitors are coming from when they visit the area. The largest increase in any visitor origin domestically is Florida, which is up 7.5% over the same time period in 2022. Globally, travel from Europe has risen 13%, after being down more than 13% in RDS’s April report. The largest domestic visitor origin was the Midwest, which is down 10% over the same time in 2022, but still remains strong.

“We are still double the number of Floridians that we had in 2019 that came this June,” Wittine said. “This is due to the marketing efforts we did during COVID. What this shows is, if we can bring first-time visitors, they fall in love and they come back again. That’s what the Florida number shows us.”

Wittine says the most growth potential for tourism is still Europe, which is down more than 67% since 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lastly, Wittine said the number of visitors to Manatee County was 821,900, up 2.4% from June 2022 and the economic impact was $1,382,734,200, up 7.6% from the same period.

JASON SCHAFFER | SUN Ann Wittine, of Research Data Services, addresses the Aug. 21 Manatee County Tourist Development Council meeting, held at The Center of Anna Maria Island, with the latest tourism data.

According to the latest data from Research Data Services, tourism continues to be strong on Anna Maria Island.

City revising sandwich board sign regulations

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT jhendricks@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA – If an amended city ordinance is adopted in October, city businesses will be allowed one A-frame sandwich board sign per business address.

City Attorney Becky Vose presented the previously requested ordinance to the Anna Maria City Commission for a first reading on Aug. 24.

She said the ordinance, if adopted, will amend section 98.6 of the city code of ordinances pertaining to prohibited signs and will add a new section, 98-21, on A-framed sandwich board signs.

Vose noted city code currently prohibits sandwich board signs, but past city commissions enacted moratoriums on the enforcement of the sandwich board sign prohibition during the COVID-19 pandemic and when the City Pier was closed and later replaced due to damage sustained during Hurricane Irma in 2017.

Mayor Dan Murphy said the city has not been enforcing the existing sandwich board prohibition, but it will enforce

WHERE'S SUZI?

the newly-amended sign ordinance when it takes effect. Murphy said he doesn’t want sandwich board signs prohibited because it would negatively impact many Anna Maria businesses.

“This is a very straightforward ordinance which removes A-frame sandwich boards as prohibited signs,” Vose told the commission.

She read aloud the proposed new language that said, “Each separate legal commercial use in the city shall be allowed one A-frame sandwich board. Such board shall not exceed 24 inches in width by 36 inches in height, including the A-frame. Such board shall not be located in the right of way, shall not impede pedestrian traffic or vehicular site distances and/or triangle, shall be allowed during business hours only, and shall be removed during inclement weather.”

Commissioner Jon Crane said he met with a constituent who is concerned about this issue and was concerned that the proposed ordinance language didn’t say signs have to be removed at the end of each business day.

Commission Chair Mark Short suggested

revising that language to say sandwich board signs must be removed during non-business hours and/ or inclement weather. Vose said she would add Short’s proposed language before presenting the ordinance on second reading for final adoption.

Short asked if the proposed ordinance needed to first be reviewed by the Planning and Zoning Board. Vose said that would be up to the commission. Crane, a former Planning and Zoning Board member, said it should be. The planning board next meets on Wednesday, Sept. 27 and the city commission’s second reading and final

adoption of the ordinance is expected in October.

Short questioned the ordinance’s reference to “separate legal commercial use” and how that would apply to a single property that contains multiple businesses. He asked if only one sandwich board sign would be allowed per property or if each business could have a sign.

Short also noted the Pineapple Marketplace on Pine Avenue features one building that provides retail space for approximately 30 vendors. Commissioner Robert Kingan said there are at least five sandwich board signs currently being used on that property.

City Planner Ashley Austin suggested replacing the language that refers to “separate legal commercial use” with language that allows one sandwich board sign per business address.

Short suggested the ordinance language specify that sandwich board signs are only allowed on commercially zoned and retail/ office/residential (ROR) zoned properties and are not allowed on residentially zoned properties. Vose will add that language to the ordinance as well.

Suzi, a female loggerhead sea turtle that nested on Coquina Beach on June 27, has taken fifth place in a field of 11 in the Sea Turtle Conservancy’s 2023 Tour de Turtles Race, which began on Aug. 1. She has traveled 611 miles and is swimming in the race to draw attention to the cause of light pollution and how lighting near shore can negatively impact nesting turtles and their hatchlings. Her participation in the event is sponsored by the Coastal Wildlife Club and Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring. Visit The Sun’s Facebook page for weekly updates in “Where’s Suzi?” and visit amisun.com for weekly updates on turtles nesting activity in “Nesting News.”

NESTING NEWS

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN Businesses will be allowed one sandwich board sign per business address.

Water main repairs to resume Sept. 6

Lane closures on the Anna Maria Island Bridge can be expected for several weeks.

BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com

HOLMES BEACH - As work resumes to repair and relocate a water main on the Anna Maria Island Bridge, lane closures and periods of one-way traffic will begin on Sept. 6.

Daily lane closures can be expected between 7 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.

Due to safety concerns, the work is not possible at night, according to a Manatee County press release.

Crews will be completing the last phase of the repair and installing additional hangers to support the pipe on the east side of the bridge.

It is anticipated that the work to secure the pipe will take two to three weeks. Specific information on any future closures will be provided by the county as needed.

The main source of water to Anna

Maria Island, the 16-inch aging water main pipe broke on June 19, causing intermittent drops in water pressure to Island residents. While repairs were underway, the north end of the Island received water through Bradenton Beach via a pipe from the south. The main was brought back into service the week of July 10.

Motorists who want to avoid the work zone should consider accessing Anna Maria Island by the Cortez Bridge or the Longboat Key Bridge.

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Holmes Beach artist sends work to Mayo Clinic

Holmes Beach artist Maro Lorimer has donated seven mixed-media paintings to the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville. The series is titled ‘Beach Paths.’

BY JASON SCHAFFER SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com

HOLMES BEACH

- Mayo Clinic’s Jacksonville facility will soon have a beautiful Anna Maria Island connection thanks to Holmes Beach artist Maro Lorimer, who has donated seven of her mixed-media works of art.

The series, titled “Beach Paths,” celebrates the natural beauty of the many footpaths on the Island that lead to the Gulf of Mexico.

“It was a great honor to have my art accepted by Mayo’s curators, since their collection includes works by celebrated artists such as Alexander Calder, Robert Rauschenberg,

James Rosenquist, Wolf Kahn, Romare Bearden, Andy Warhol and Dale Chihuly, to name a few,” Lorimer said. “I appreciate the excellence with which Mayo does everything, including their museum-like presentation of art, to add to the healing

experience.”

The series of works was displayed in 2010 by the late former first lady of Florida, Rhea Chiles, at her gallery, the Studio at Gulf and Pine, in Anna Maria. Although it’s been more than 13 years since Lorimer first created the works, she is pleased

that the natural beauty of the paths has remained largely unchanged, as Island residents have remained dedicated to preserving AMI’s natural beauty and unique flora and fauna.

“These images helped preserve the wildness of the very paths that

inspired them. Holmes Beach officials even asked me to exhibit them at city hall, and The Sun asked to publish them with quotes about how precious these pockets of wildness are, at a time when development threatened to compromise them,”

Lorimer said in a recent press release. “I’m happy to say the naturalness of the Island’s beach access points has remained relatively unchanged, although, sadly, a parking structure imposed by the county commissioners may soon cast a gigantic shadow over this lovely thought.”

From Coquina Beach to Bean Point, both visitors and locals enjoy the pathways that are just one of the many reasons people can’t get enough of the beauty of Anna Maria Island.

“When we come here, one of our favorite things is walking through the beach path that is like a tropical tunnel that

opens up to white sand and crystal clear water,” said Julie Stamper, who was staying with her family near the Fern Street entrance path to Bean Point in Anna Maria. “With their unlimited resources, I don’t think Disney could create something so beautiful and magical, and this is totally natural.”

To take a look at the paintings heading to Mayo Clinic, as well as many other works by Lorimer, visit www. marolorimer.com. She also features a 2010 article in The Sun written by the late Pat Copeland about the exhibit at the Studio at Gulf and Pine.

“I feel great sadness that at the same time I was making my donation to Mayo, Pat passed away. I would have liked her to know the final destination of the art about which she wrote so beautifully,” Lorimer said.

SUBMITTED

‘Beach Path III’ is one of seven mixed-media paintings by Holmes Beach artist Maro Lorimer that will be permanently displayed at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville.

AME families enjoy social

Anna Maria Elementary School (AME) students, teachers and parents enjoyed a day at City Field in Holmes Beach for the AME PTO’s August family social on Aug. 20. Kids got to tie-dye shirts, make crafts, play games and nurture friendships.

Residents collect school supplies for kids

Holmes Beach residents aren’t waiting for the holidays to collaborate with Samaritans Purse to help children overseas in need. People are taking advantage of back-to-school sales to collect much-needed school supplies, such as pencils, notebooks and pencil sharpeners, to help make a difference in a child’s life. In an Aug. 1 press release, Samaritans Purse said these gifts help to make a huge impact in the education of children who do not or-

dinarily have access to school supplies and other necessities. Shoeboxes can be filled and sent to children in need by visiting www.samaritanspurse.org/ occ. National shoebox collection week is Nov. 13-20. The organization asks that donors give a $10 per shoebox gift online to help defray shipping costs. You can also shop online to build a shoebox at www.samaritanspurse.org/ buildonline.

Coffee social planned at Cortez Cultural Center

The public is invited to join members of the Cortez Historical Society at an upcoming coffee social. The event will be held from 9-10:30 a.m. at the Cortez Cultural Center, 11655 Cortez Road in Cortez. The Center is filled with photos and artifacts documenting

the history of the Cortez commercial fishing village. Attendees are asked to bring a teacup or coffee mug. Coffee, tea and breakfast treats will be provided. There is no cost to attend.

AMI Chamber has job opening

The Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce is seeking a positive, outgoing, organized, technically savvy self-starter with multiple skills who would like to be part of their member-centric service organization. This is an extremely rewarding job for a self-motivated individual who likes to work on projects from the beginning to the end, see results and help businesses grow. The position requires frequent interaction with members, potential members, the public and area organizations with which the Chamber partners. The person holding this position reports to the president of the Chamber and will work as a team member with the staff. To apply for this full-time position, send a resume and references to Terri Kinder, 5313 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, FL 34217 or email info@amichamber.org.

Chamber breakfast planned at Beach Cafe

The Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce will hold its September breakfast event on Thursday, Sept. 7 from 7:30-9 a.m. at the AMI Beach cafe, 4000 Gulf Drive at Manatee Beach in Holmes Beach. Network with chamber members and get a feel for what they do to promote businesses on the Island. The fee is $15 for members and $25 for prospective members. RSVP to ingrid@amichamber.org or call 941-778-1541. Don’t forget to bring a raffle prize and plenty of business cards.

WMFR to hold charity softball tournament

West Manatee Fire Rescue will hold a charity softball tournament on Sunday, Sept. 10 at 9 a.m. at G.T. Bray Park in Bradenton. There is a $300 team entry fee with a maximum of eight teams and a three-game minimum. Field sponsorships are available for $200 and there will be a Homerun Derby with 10 swings for $20. Anyone interested in participating or sponsoring the event should call Andrew Lauricella at 727-686-7218.

County approves Coquina trail funds

Commission approves funding on Aug. 8 for improvements to the Coquina Beach trail in Bradenton Beach.

BY JASON SCHAFFER SUN CORRISPONDENT jschaffer@amisun.com

BRADENTON

- Manatee County commissioners approved a maximum of $1,305,432,93 in funding for improvements to the Coquina Beach Trail in Bradenton Beach at their Aug. 8 meeting.

The trail is a paved path about the width of a city sidewalk that begins at the Longboat Pass parking lot and runs 1.5 miles

along the beach north to Fifth Street South. The project will resurface and widen the trail, but its location and length will remain unchanged. The project includes the removal of 96 Australian pine trees because their roots are damaging the pavement. The trees, which are

not a Florida native species, will be replaced by native trees that have root systems that, when mature, will be less destructive to the path and surrounding areas.

Project Manager

Mike Stern said that a large part of the cost for the project will be building a root barrier.

The root barrier

will require the current pavement to be removed so a barrier can be placed underground to prevent future tree roots from growing under the new pavement and destroying it, causing more unnecessary cost in the future. If done as proposed, the trail should last for many years

with little serious maintenance, he said.

Manatee County spends between $35,000 to $40,000 a year maintaining the trail, and Public Works officials say that the steps being taken will save that money because the tree roots will no longer be an issue. If this holds true, a third of the cost of the project would be covered by the nearly half a million in repair dollars that wouldn’t need to be spent over the next decade.

Bradenton contractor Woodruff & Sons has been retained for the trail project.

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

The Coquina Beach Trail will soon get an overhaul thanks to the recent approval of funding by the Manatee County commissioners.

MAYORS: Oppose consolidation

live here together. We’re neighbors.”

Regarding the study, he said, “We embrace the opportunity to help us possibly lower our taxes, help improve our services, and improve the quality of life for our residents and visitors.”

Chappie shared some research he did on OPPAGA studies.

“It is a research arm for state legislators. They provide data, valuational research, and objective analysis. Objective analysis is required to be impartial, detached, neutral and unbiased. I look forward to, and I think the other mayors do too, to the state being able to help with some of the things we need to do that would help improve the quality of life for our residents and visitors. I think we need to take advantage of this tool,” he said.

Chappie said he and the

Bradenton Beach Commission will discuss the OPPAGA study at their next meeting.

He added that Titsworth would have attended the commission meeting, but she was with her pregnant daughter who was overdue to give birth.

When contacted Friday and asked if she supported a study focused on consolidating services, Titsworth said, “Yes. If a study is being done, it would be nice if the city mayors could have input on the parameters as we all look for ways to reduce taxes for our property owners.”

During Thursday’s meeting, Commissioner Jon Crane said he’d prefer that the OPPAGA study focus on consolidating services rather than city governments.

Murphy briefly mentioned the potential consolidation of law enforcement services – an idea that has not garnered public support from Chappie

or Titsworth.

Law enforcement is generally among the largest annual expenses a local government incurs. For the coming 202324 fiscal year, Anna Maria is budgeting $1.34 million for law enforcement services provided by the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.

Bradenton Beach is budgeting $1.77 million for law enforcement services provided by its police department. Holmes Beach is budgeting $4.53 million for law enforcement services provided by its police department. The three cities combined are budgeting $7.64 million for law enforcement.

Commissioner Charlie Salem said it might be useful to ask the legislative lobbyists from each city to interact with those requesting the study.

“These studies get done all the time and how they’re used with the Legislature is going to be an important part of whether or not this goes the way we’d like,” Salem said.

Murphy said he spoke with Anna Maria’s lobbyist Wednesday evening who agreed that the mayors should support a study on consolidating services.

During public input, Murphy was asked if he’d received any indication from Boyd and Robinson that they’re amenable to consolidating services without consolidating the city governments.

“It’s premature at this point. I think ultimately that discussion has to happen, and it has to happen soon,” Murphy said.

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

Mayor Dan Murphy supports a study focused on the consolidation of city services as a potential tax-cutting measure.

FWC requires escape hatch for undersized crabs

Cortez crabbers will be preparing hundreds of traps in advance of the stone crab harvest season opener on Oct. 15.

BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com

CORTEZ - A new Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) requirement mandating that stone crabs traps be fitted with a method of escape for undersize crabs has added another layer of preparation for local crabbers.

A.P. Bell Fish Co. will be retrofitting hundreds of traps in preparation for the beginning of stone crab harvest season in mid-October.

“Right now, people are readying traps,” A.P. Bell Fish Co. owner Karen Bell said at an Aug. 7 Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage (FISH) meeting. “There is a new requirement this year for a crawl-out that has to be added to traps.”

According to the FWC, a 2 3/16-inch escape ring will be required in all plastic and wood stone crab traps for the 2023/24 season.

“The escape ring must be located in the lower half of the trap immediately adjacent to the vertical centerline of the trap wall on which it is installed. An escape ring may not be located adjacent to any corner where two vertical trap walls meet.”

Hundreds of A.P. Bell’s traps have been taken out of storage and are stacked up ready to be cleaned and then fitted with the new escape rings before the beginning of the season on Oct. 15.

“Every trap has to have one,” Bell said.

The escape area has to be cut out of the trap and the escape ring, also known as a cull ring, has to be screwed in.

“Incorporating a cull ring into a stone crab trap is a simple and inexpensive management strategy that effectively releases sublegal crabs and bolsters the reproductive population of stone crabs while having a negligible effect on the

catch and retention of legal stone crab claws,” according to the FWC.

The common harvest practice is that one legal-sized claw is removed from a stone crab. The claw will grow back.

“Although it is currently lawful to harvest both of a stone crab's claws, this practice leaves the stone crab with few alternatives to defend itself from predators,” according to the FWC. “Although the crab can still obtain minimal amounts of food with no claws, having one claw (if the other one is harvested) will enable the crab to obtain greater amounts of food in a shorter amount of time.”

Legally harvested stone crab claws must measure at least 2 7/8 inches long measured in a straight line from the elbow to the tip of the lower immovable finger.

“In the Florida stone crab fishery, only legal-size claws are harvested. Declawed crabs, intact egg-bearing females and sublegal crabs should all be discarded alive,” according to the FWC. The full regulations for stone crabbing can be found at: https://myfwc.com/ fishing/saltwater/recreational/stonecrab/

LESLIE LAKE | SUN

Stone crab traps have been taken out of storage at A.P. Bell Fish Co. in preparation for fitting them with escape rings as required by new FWC regulations.

AUTO SERVICE

GROOMS AUTOMOTIVE

5608 Marina Dr Holmes Beach, 896-7898

BAIT & TACKLE SHOP

ANNIE’S BAIT & TACKLE

4334 127th St. W. Cortez, 794-3580

BANK HANCOCK WHITNEY BANK

5324 Gulf Drive Holmes Beach, 778-4900

BIKE RENTAL

BEACH BUMS RENTALS

427 Pine Ave. Anna Maria, 778-3316

BOATING STORE

GALATI YACHT SALES

900 South Bay Blvd

Anna Maria, 778-0755

CAR WASH

SUN & SUDS CAR WASH

6412 Manatee Ave W. Bradenton, 564-3072

CARPET CLEANER

FAT CAT CARPET CLEANING

3801 9th Ave W. Bradenton, 778-2882

CBD STORE LIVE NATURALLY 5337 Gulf Dr #200 Holmes Beach, 567-5299

CLOTHING STORE

IRENE’S RESORT WEAR

5308 Marina Drive Holmes Beach, 778-7605

CONVENIENCE STORE

ANNA MARIA GENERAL STORE AND DELI

503 Pine Ave. Anna Maria, 779-9200

DRY CLEANER

COURTESY CLEANERS

7421 Manatee Ave. W. Bradenton, 794-5145

ELECTRICIAN AIR & ENERGY 555 6th Ave. W. Bradenton, 778-0773

FINE DINING THE WATERFRONT 111 S Bay Blvd. Anna Maria, 778-1515

FITNESS

THE CENTER OF ANNA MARIA 407 Magnolia Ave Anna Maria, 778-1908

FLOOR COVERINGS

FLOORING AMERICA

3200 Cortez Rd W. Bradenton, 348-1859

FLORIST

BLOOMS BY THE BEACH

2501 Gulf Drive

Bradenton Beach, 778-2555

GIFT SHOP

BEACH BUMS

427 Pine Ave

Anna Maria 778-3316

GOLF CART RENTAL BEACH BUMS

427 Pine Ave

Anna Maria, 778-3316

GROCERY STORE

PUBLIX SUPERMARKET

3900 East Bay Drive

Holmes Beach, 778-5422

HAIR SALON

SALT AND SCISSORS SALON

313C Pine Ave

Holmes Beach, 961-4458

HARDWARE STORE

TRUE VALUE

5324 Marina Drive

Holmes Beach, 778-2811

HEAT & AIR

AIR & ENERGY

555 6th Ave. W. Bradenton, 778-0773

HOME BUILDER

WASH FAMILY CONSTRUCTION

407 72nd St

Holmes Beach, 941-725-0073

HOTEL/MOTEL

ANNA MARIA ISLAND RESORTS

THE TORTUGA INN

1325 Gulf Drive

Bradenton Beach, 778-6611

JEWELRY STORE

IRENE’S RESORT WEAR

5308 Marina Drive

Holmes Beach, 778-7605

LIQUOR STORE

HURRICANE HANKS LIQUOR

5344 Gulf Dr

Holmes Beach, 779-2337

MANICURIST

SALT AND SCISSORS SALON

313C Pine Ave

Holmes Beach, 961-4458

SEE READERS, PAGE 19

MARINA

KEYES MARINA

5501 Marina Dr

Holmes Beach, 778-1977

MEN’S APPAREL

TURTLE SHACK

314 Pine Ave

Anna Maria, 726-3163

OUTDOOR SPORTS STORE

AMI OUTFITTERS COASTAL GEAR & APPAREL

401 Pine Ave.

Anna Maria, 254-4996

PACK & SHIP ISLAND MAIL & MORE

3230 East Bay Drive

Holmes Beach, 778-1911

PAINTER

CRAIG STAPP

CWS HANDYMAN SERVICES LLC

Bradenton, 305-432-1065

PEST CONTROL

ANNA MARIA PEST CONTROL 11610 3rd Ave. E. Bradenton, 778-1630

PET GROOMING THE PAW SPA 5343 Gulf Drive Holmes Beach, 778-0885

PET STORE

PETCO ANIMAL SUPPLIES

6757 Manatee Ave. W. Bradenton, 792-1295

PHARMACIST

JOE – WALGREENS

3200 East Bay Drive. Holmes Beach, 778-0451

PHARMACY WALGREENS

3200 East Bay Drive Holmes Beach, 778-0451

PLUMBER AIR & ENERGY 555 6th Ave. W. Bradenton, 778-0773

POOL CLEANER STAND UP POOLS

POOL CONTRACTOR

AGNELLI POOLS 7411 Manatee Ave W. Ste.200 Bradenton, 778-4333

REAL ESTATE ASSOCIATE

JASON SATO

Sato Real Estate Inc.

519 Pine Ave.

Anna Maria, 778-7200

REAL ESTATE COMPANY

SATO REAL ESTATE INC.

519 Pine Ave. Anna Maria, 778-7200

RENTAL COMPANY

SATO REAL ESTATE INC.

519 Pine Ave. Anna Maria, 778-7200

RESORT

RESORT SIXTY-SIX

6600 Gulf Dr Holmes Beach, 778-2238

RETIREMENT COMMUNITY

FREEDOM VILLAGE

6406 21st Ave W. Bradenton, 210-6153

SERVICE STATION

HOLMES BEACH AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE 5333 Gulf Drive Holmes Beach, 779-0487

SHOPPING CENTER ISLAND SHOPPING PLAZA 5414 Marina Dr Holmes Beach

SOUVENIR SHOP BRIDGE ST BAZAAR

107 Bridge St Bradenton Beach, 778-3443

SPA

SALON SALON 3612 E Bay Dr Holmes Beach, 778-0400

WINDOW REPAIR MANATEE GLASS AND MIRROR 2406 Manatee Ave E. Bradenton, 747-9100

WOMEN’S APPAREL IRENE’S RESORT WEAR 5308 Marina Drive Holmes Beach, 778-7605

PEOPLE & PLACES

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN

EMILY ANNE SMITH LLC 527 74th St. Holmes Beach, 778-3113

SEE READERS, PAGE 20

ART GALLERY

ISLAND GALLERY WEST

5368 Gulf Drive

Holmes Beach, 778-6648

ATTORNEY

NICK SATO

2071 Ringling Blvd. #400

Sarasota, 861-4400

BAND

PAM WARD

BAR & GRILL

HARRY’S GRILL

9903 Gulf Drive

Anna Maria, 567-5999

BARTENDER

KAYLA

GRUB TROPICAL BBQ

415 Pine Ave

Anna Maria, 900-2874

BEACH

COQUINA BEACH

BOAT CAPTAIN

JOEY SWEET

SWEET SUNSETS & DOLPHIN TOURS

Anna Maria Island, 661-3681

BUSINESS PERSON

MIKE ZEPPI

ANTHONY’S HEATING & COOLING

1614 20th St. E.

Palmetto, 749-5307

CATERER

MOLLY O’CONNOR

Traveling Gourmet

Anna Maria, 405-7627

CHEF

BEN SATO

GRUB TOPICAL BBQ

415 Pine Ave

Anna Maria, 900-2874

CHIROPRACTOR

DR. STEPHANIE MURPHREE, D.C.

HARBORSIDE CHIROPRACTIC

5422 Lockridge Rd

Bradenton, 702-2822

DENTIST

ISLAND DENTAL SPA

3909 E Bay Dr Ste #205

Holmes Beach, 778-2204

DOCTOR

STEPHEN PELHAM, M.D. 3909 East Bay Drive #100 Holmes Beach, 778-1007

EYE CARE

EYE CENTER

5106 Manatee Ave W Bradenton, 941-795-2020

FINANCIAL PLANNER

EDWARD JONES

JOHN CAMPORA

3226 East Bay Dr. Holmes Beach, 779-2499

FISHING CHARTER

SWEET SUNSETS & DOLPHIN TOURS

Anna Maria Island, 661-3681

INTERIOR DESIGN

EMILY MOSS DESIGNS

Anna Maria, 212-0361

INDIVIDUAL ENTERTAINER

STEVE ARVEY

stevearvey@aol.com

MASSAGE THERAPY

ALUNA WELLNESS

2219 Gulf Dr N Bradenton beach, 778-8400

PERSONAL TRAINER

BREANNA NEWTON

Home Fitness by Bre

SCHOOL

ANNA MARIA ELEMENTARY

4700 Gulf Drive

Holmes Beach, 708-5525

SCHOOL TEACHER

STEPHANIE DAVIS

ANNA MARIA ELEMENTARY

4700 Gulf Drive

Holmes Beach, 708-5525

VETERINARIAN

CONNOR BYSTROM

PALMA SOLA ANIMAL CLINIC

6116 Manatee Ave W. Bradenton, 794-3275

VETERINARIAN CLINIC

DESOTO ANIMAL CLINIC

2910 Manatee Ave W Bradenton, 748-2637

VIEW

BEAN POINT

WAITER/WAITRESS

LESLIE HOFFMAN

HARRY’S GRILL 9903 Gulf Drive Anna Maria, 567-5999

YOGA STUDIO

ALUNA WELLNESS

2219 Gulf Dr N Bradenton beach, 778-8400

SEE READERS, PAGE 27

FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT

ASIAN RESTAURANT

ISLAND OCEAN STAR

902 S Bay Blvd

Anna Maria, 251-6940

BAGEL SHOP

PARADISE BAGELS & CAFÉ

3220 E. Bay Drive

Holmes Beach, 779-1212

BAKERY

HOMETOWN DESSERTS

507 Pine Ave.

Anna Maria, 896-3167

BARBEQUE

GRUB TROPICAL BBQ

415 Pine Ave

Anna Maria, 900-2874

BREAKFAST

GINNY’S & JANE E’S

9807 Gulf Drive

Anna Maria, 778-3170

BURGER

HARRY’S BAR & GRILL 9903 Gulf Drive

Anna Maria, 567-5999

CAFÉ

CHEESECAKE CUTIE

3324 E Bay Dr

Holmes Beach, 779-2253

CANDY STORE

DIPS ICE CREAM 503 Pine Ave

Anna Maria, 778-1706

DELI

SCOTT’S DELI 6000 Marina Dr. unit D

Holmes Beach, 778-3000

FESTIVAL

CORTEZ FISHING FESTIVAL

GERMAN RESTAURANT

OLD HAMBURG SCHNITZELHAUS

3246 East Bay Drive

Holmes Beach, 778-1320

GOLF COURSE

PINEBROOK IRONWOOD GOLF

4260 Ironwood Cir

Bradenton, 792-3288

GROUPER SANDWICH

ROD & REEL PIER

875 N Shore Dr

Anna Maria, 778-1885

HEALTH FOOD STORE

RICHARD’S FOODPORIUM

2601-B Manatee Ave W Bradenton, 749-0892

ICE CREAM SHOP

TWO SCOOPS ICE CREAM

101 S. Bay Blvd.

Anna Maria, 779-2422

ITALIAN RESTAURANT

VINNY’S ITALIAN KITCHEN

5337 Gulf Dr

Holmes Beach, 896-9754

KEY LIME PIE

HOMETOWN DESSERTS

507 Pine Ave.

Anna Maria, 896-3167

LIVE THEATER ISLAND PLAYERS

10009 Gulf Drive

Anna Maria, 778-5755

MARGARITA

WICKED CANTINA

101 7th St. N. Bradenton Beach, 281-2990

MEXICAN RESTAURANT

WICKED CANTINA

101 7th St. N. Bradenton Beach, 281-2990

MOST ROMANTIC RESTAURANT

BLUE MARLIN

121 Bridge St Bradenton Beach, 896-9737

NEW RESTAURANT

GRUB TROPICAL BBQ

415 Pine Ave

Anna Maria, 900-2874

NIGHT SPOT

HARRY’S BAR & GRILL

9903 Gulf Drive

Anna Maria, 567-5999

PIER

ROD AND REEL PIER

875 North Shore Drive

Anna Maria, 778-1885

PIZZA PIZZA SOCIAL

308 Pine Ave

Anna Maria, 251-4070

PLACE TO SEE SUNSET SANDBAR RESTAURANT

100 Spring Ave W Anna Maria, 778-0444

RESTAURANT (OVERALL)

THE PORCH

9707 Gulf Dr

Anna Maria, 782-8683

SEAFOOD RESTAURANT

ANNA MARIA OYSTER BAR

200 Bridge St

Bradenton Beach, 778-2662

SPECIALTY COCKTAIL

DR. OFFICE

5312 Holmes Blvd Holmes Beach, 213-9926

SPECIALTY GOURMET

THE FEAST

5406 Marina Dr Holmes Beach, 778-5092

SUB/SANDWICH

CHEESECAKE CUTIE

3324 E Bay Dr

Holmes Beach, 779-2253

TAKEOUT

HURRICANE HANKS

5346 Gulf Dr Holmes Beach, 778-5788

Sarasota Bay Watch Scallop Search resumes

COVID-19 and red tides have canceled the searches.

Sarasota Bay Watch, a local nonprofit, is dedicated to educating and enlisting the Sarasota Bay community to act to preserve and protect our waters. Some community efforts include cleanups, above and below the water’s surface, to remove trash and entangling debris, and initiate vegetative and shellfish restoration. The organization also creates programs that promote youth education and leadership.

Sarasota Bay Watch has been conducting its annual Scallop Search for over 13 years. Unfortunately, in recent years,

Why are scallops important? Scallops serve as canaries in the coal mine, providing a good indicator of water quality since they are affected by storms, water salinity, red tide and predation. In addition, during the search, a great deal of information is collected on various shellfish like clams, seagrasses, and other marine organisms. This citizen science approach (community information gathering) not only benefits the organization but also educates the community on life in our waters. Changes in populations, temperatures, and pollution are reflected in the marine environment. Educating the community with this hands-on activity is the goal of the search.

To be a proponent of water quality protection, a basic understanding of the marine environment is essential. This is one of the event's main objectives.

Last Saturday, Sarasota Bay Watch hosted this year’s Scallop Search at the Sarasota Sailing Squadron. Participants in the family-friendly boating event were tasked with collect-

ing information on the state of Sarasota Bay from north to south. Boaters were essential to the success of the event, bringing their crews and additional volunteers out on the bay.

Students received community service hours for their involvement in the search. Participants were assigned to an area and provided equipment. They then snorkeled in their designated area and recorded what they saw.

Gathering for lunch after the event was a wonderful opportunity to meet and be inspired by like-minded individuals.

More information can be found at www.sarasotabaywatch.org.

Join a community that understands and embraces its water!

RUSTY CHINNIS

RUSTY CHINNIS | SUN

Justin, Hudson, Miles and Summer Bloom all participated in the Aug. 26 Scallop Search.

Trout, pompano fishing rewarding this month

Anglers fishing with me out of CB’s Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key had good action with trout, Spanish mackerel and pompano on DOA Lures in Sarasota Bay recently. Fly anglers also had some action catching and releasing trout on deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay.

Steve and Conner Pullum, of Hayesville, North Carolina, had good action catching and releasing numerous trout to over 20”, Spanish mackerel and pompano on CAL jigs with shad tails and DOA Deadly Combos while fishing Sarasota Bay with me. Pat Beckwith, from Sarasota, also fished Sarasota Bay and had some action catching and releasing trout on Clouser flies.

Tarpon are thinning in the coastal Gulf as they move to inside waters. Look for reds in skinny water and snook around dock lights and in the surf. Deep grass flats are usually a good option for action for trout and more early in the day.

Our natural resources are under constant pressure from red tides and other algae blooms fueled by residential, industrial and agricultural runoff. Please limit your kill, don’t kill your limit!

Cortez canal dispute hearing scheduled next week

On Tuesday, Sept. 5 at 3:30 p.m., 12th Judicial Circuit Judge Edward Nicholas will preside over a preliminary hearing regarding a civil lawsuit the Hunters Point ownership group filed in 2022 against eight canal-side property owners. The owners have docks and boatlifts located in a portion of the man-made canal in Cortez owned by Hunters Point developers Cortez Road Investments & Finance Inc.

Tuesday’s hearing will be conducted via Zoom videoconferencing. The public can view the virtual hearing using the meeting ID, 899284-9846, and the password, 408941. The public can access the meeting by telephone at 1-786-635-

1003. Hunters Point alleges the defendants are unlawfully maintaining docks and boatlifts in the privately-owned canal without the authorization of the canal owner, and that some or all of those docks, boatlifts and other encumbrances extend more than 25% into the canal. If true, that could violate Manatee County’s dock regulations.

The defendants deny the allegations and claim their docks and lifts are legally and properly permitted by Manatee County, even if the canal dimensions have naturally evolved since those docks were built.

Tuesday’s hearing pertains specifically to a cross notice filed on June 30, “Defendants

Jonathan and Sheila Graham hereby provide notice that defendants George and Wendy Kokolis’ motion to dissolve lis pendens, or in the alternative require a lis pendens bond, will be presented to the court, together with the Graham’s motion to dissolve lis pendens or to require bond.”

A lis pendens is a legal tool used to put other parties on notice of a pending lawsuit against real estate, and those property owners may not be able to sell, obtain financing or obtain title insurance until the lis pendens is removed.

CAPT. RICK GRASSETT | SUBMITTED Steve Pullum and his son, Connor, of Hayesville, North Carolina, with a spotted seatrout caught and released on DOA Lures while fishing Sarasota Bay with Capt. Rick Grassett.

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

Several residential docks and boatlifts are located across the canal from the western end of the Hunters Point property.

TOP REAL ESTATE PRODUCERS

JULY 2023

A PARADISE

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Lisa Collier – Listing

Marianne Norman-Ellis - Selling

REMAX ALLIANCE GROUP

George DeSear – Listing

Christine Kourik - Selling

SALTY MERMAID REAL ESTATE

Liz Blandford - Listing Brenee Solari - Selling

SATO REAL ESTATE

Jason Sato – Listing

Barbara Sato - Selling

WAGNER REAL ESTATE

Becky Smith and Elfi Starrett Team – Listing

Miguel Rosa - Selling

ATTACK: Injures woman

“I was screaming for someone to call the police and get help, we were being viciously attacked. The owner then put the dog inside the gate of one of the units and started walking toward me asking what was happening. Standing there bleeding, I told him that his dog bit me. His reply was ‘He did not bite you, you are going to kill my dog,’ which I thought was a strange and unbelievable response,” Leedy said.

According to a medical report from HCA Florida Blake Hospital that Leedy provided to The Sun, along with photographs of her injuries, the dog bit her and she had five serious puncture wounds and lacerations to her right arm that required multiple sutures and medication after she was treated.

Leedy says she is thankful the injuries weren’t worse and her dog, Alonzo, escaped unharmed, but she feared for both of their lives as the incident unfolded.

Worried about rabies complications, she was able to get vaccination records from the owner of the condo where

the mastiff’s owner was staying. She said that fortunately, the animal did have a rabies shot in February of this year. However, while looking at the vaccination record from a Bradenton veterinarian, she was shocked to see Santamauro’s name.

“I read an article in The Sun recently about a small dog being killed in an attack at Island Time Bar and Grill in Bradenton Beach on Aug. 9,” Leedy said. “I quickly realized this was the same dog and the same owner. The last dog he attacked died. How is he still running around without a leash?”

Leedy had called 911 after the attack, but since she was in the car with her partner driving to the hospital, they referred her to Manatee County Animal Control and did not send police since the victim wasn’t on the scene to speak to them.

She said a later call the next day didn’t get her much information from Animal Control, and she didn’t even know if the dog was still in her neighborhood. The Sun called Manatee County Animal Control on

Aug. 24, and was told they would not provide any information on the case. The following statement was issued by email from Manatee County Public Information Officer Bill Logan, which he said was from Manatee County Animal Welfare:

“This is an open active Dangerous Dog (Florida Statute 767) Investigation. The dog owner will be served his letter today along with citations that will be issued.”

According to the Florida Department of Health, there is a mandatory 10-day quarantine for any dog that bites a human. If the dog has been vaccinated and is up to date on its rabies shots, that quarantine can be at the home of the owner. Since the first attack took place on Aug. 9, the 10-day mandatory quarantine period would have expired when Leedy was bitten on Aug. 21, but the animal should now be under a second quarantine for the attack against her.

Both Animal Control and Holmes Beach police met with Leedy on Aug. 25 at her home, and she said that both

agencies told her they had not yet been in contact with Santamauro, who was no longer staying in the Holmes Beach condo complex where the incident occurred.

Lt. Brian Hall of the Holmes Beach Police Department told The Sun in an Aug. 25 phone call that his department had compiled a report on the incident and would be sharing that report with Animal Control, which is leading the investigation.

If the investigation finds the dog to be dangerous, any further attacks on humans or other domestic animals would cause the owner to be subject to a first-degree misdemeanor charge, and the dog could be confiscated by animal control and humanely destroyed after a 10-day period, according to Florida Statute 767.13 (1). If a dog deemed dangerous attacks, causing serious injury or death to a human, the owner could be guilty of a third-degree felony and the dog humanely destroyed after a 10-day period, according to Florida Statute 767.13 (2).

Anna Maria

Higher rates here to stay

On Aug. 17, mortgage interest rates spiked to 7.09%, the highest in years per Freddie Mac. A lot of this has to do with the 10-year treasury yield, which hit its highest level since 2008 on the same day. Since mortgage rates tend to move somewhat with the 10-year treasury, rates went up combined with the Fed’s ongoing attempt to tame inflation.

Last year when rates started going up, except with a brief decline at the end of 2022, the consensus was that the higher cost to borrow would be temporary. Now, however, eight months later, all players in the real estate market are adjusting to the idea that higher rates are either here to stay or at least will be around for a long time.

So, what does that mean to the average home buyer? Essentially it means it's time to get off the bench and make a commitment since things aren’t changing any time soon. That, of course, is easy for me to say but the truth is buyers are finding it is the hardest thing to accomplish

Castles in the Sand

LOUISE BOLGER

even after they adjust to higher rates. The lack of inventory all across the country is pushing prices up to a level many buyers can’t afford. After all, if you had a 3% or 4% mortgage, would you sell your home and move on to something else unless you absolutely had to? Probably not, and that is the log jam in the real estate market. About 60% of the country has mortgages below 4% and even homeowners who missed the absolute bottom are still ahead of the curve by at least 2 percentage points.

Buyers need to understand there is no crystal ball and even the real estate gurus called it wrong with their temporary

thinking. Now is the time buyers have to bite the bullet by downsizing their expectations and being flexible. Not all of your children need their own bathroom or even their own bedroom, and you can prepare dinner in a kitchen without a quartz island; millions of people do.

Look at the additional expense of a higher mortgage from a monthly payment perspective. When you break it down into financial pieces, it may not be as intimidating, kind of like upgrading your iPhone. Don’t ask what it costs, just what it will cost monthly.

Let’s look at Manatee County’s July sales statistics reported by the Realtor Association of Sarasota & Manatee:

Single-family homes closed 10.1% more properties this July compared to last July. However, the median sale price of $515,000 was down by 1.2% and the average sale price of $641,991 was also down by 6.9%. The median time to contract was 29 days this July compared to 9 days last year and the month’s

supply of properties was 2.7 months, about the same as last year.

Condo sales were down 8.0%, the median sale price was $389,500, down 0.4% from last year and the average sale price was $523,922, down 2.5%. The median time to contract was 36 days this year compared to 10 days last year, and the month’s supply of properties was 3.4 months compared to 1.6 months last year.

The Association of Realtors states, “Despite higher interest rates, the housing market in Sarasota and Manatee counties stays strong due to low supply and continued demand with relatively stable prices.”

A lot of what’s going on in other parts of the country does not aways apply to Florida, which tends to march to its own drummer. All real estate markets are local, and all states have different economic challenges. Sales are taking longer to book, but overall, Manatee County is hanging in there.

CONSOLIDATION: Back on table

“We understand the mayor of Holmes Beach does not want to participate in the coordination talks, given it will be seen as a first step toward consolidation of the three Island cities,” the letter states, giving the mayors a deadline sometime prior to the delegation’s planned Oct. 5 meeting for a response.

In speaking to The Sun on Aug. 24, Titsworth said that she hasn’t stopped participating in any talks among the three Island mayors. In fact, she said she’s been hosting the ongoing talks at city hall in Holmes Beach.

“Staff is working on it,” she said of the process to combine or streamline some services. She noted that the building departments in all three cities are working to see how they can streamline their processes to make applying for permits in each municipal -

ity easier for homeowners and contractors. Though the mayors have all been participating in the talks, she said that at only about eight months in, they’re not at a point where any specific service has been identified for consolidation or streamlining.

“As mayors, we all have full plates,” she said, adding that the mayors are committed to all working together. She said that her city’s code compliance officers have helped to train code enforcement officers in the other cities.

“We’re not trying to be defiant,” Titsworth said.

“This was just dropped on us in January. We’re trying to work on what the delegation has requested but they need to have some patience.”

One sticking point is that Titsworth said she and Bradenton Beach Mayor

John Chappie are unwilling to give up their individual police departments, allowing those two cities to be patrolled only by Manatee County Sheriff’s Office deputies who now provide law enforcement services to the city of Anna Maria. Titsworth said she’s happy with the services provided by the Holmes Beach Police Department and doesn’t want to change the law enforcement situation in the city.

As for the study, she said that it’s important to note that the example given in the letter from Boyd and Robinson of Longboat Key having had a study to determine if it should remain in two separate counties has a major difference from the one proposed on Anna Maria Island – the people of Longboat Key asked for the study.

“They asked for that

study; we didn’t,” she said. If state leaders insist on conducting the study on Anna Maria Island, Titsworth’s response is, “Bring it. I’d love to find ways to help save taxpayer money.” The letter states that the purpose of studying the benefits of consolidation would include saving taxpayer money and potentially reducing taxes for property owners. While Titsworth said she was unable to attend an Aug. 24 Anna Maria Commission meeting, she said Mayor Dan Murphy had her approval to speak on her behalf giving an official response to the letter on behalf of all three mayors. She said the mayors met earlier in the day to discuss their response and decided that they’re in favor of the study if it can help save taxpayer money. However, they’re not in favor of

consolidation of the three Island governments. The topic of consolidation came as a surprise to the three mayors when the members of the state legislative delegation started the conversation at their Jan. 11 meeting, voting unanimously to approve the OPPAGA study for the Island. That was the same meeting in which the idea of sponsoring a bill to allow Manatee County commissioners to approve and build a parking garage at Manatee Beach in Holmes Beach against the city’s land development code was initiated. That bill, HB 947, was passed earlier in the summer by the state Legislature after receiving unanimous votes in the House and Senate before gaining the approval of Gov. Ron DeSantis.

BEACH BEAT

HOLMES BEACH

8/9, 12:23 a.m., traffic fatality, Anna Maria Island Bridge. A man on a bicycle was killed after a collision with an SUV on Manatee Avenue near the center of the bridge, according to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP). Officers say a 23-year-old Bradenton man was driving eastbound on the drawbridge when he struck a 33-year-old Lancaster, New York man on a bicycle riding in the eastbound lane. The driver of the SUV stopped to lend aid. Troopers say the cyclist was thrown into the concrete barrier, suffering fatal injuries.

FHP continues to investigate and has not yet released names.

8/18, 9:09 p.m., Code ordinance violation/alcohol, 3900 East Bay Drive. The officer was dispatched to Publix in reference to two males drinking alcohol at the table in front of the store. One man tried to throw away his beer when the officer arrived, and the other tried to hide his open container under his cowboy hat before the officer made contact with them. The manager said the man in the cowboy hat had been trespassed previously from the property, but the officer was unable to locate the trespass warning. Both men were issued a notice to appear in court for the open container violation, and both were trespassed from the property.

8/20, 6:44 a.m., disturbance, 3302 East Bay Drive. Two officers were dispatched to Dunkin Donuts in reference to a disturbance between two employees. The manager told officers that the assistant manager had unwrapped a cigar and was preparing it in the store, which is against store policy. When she told him he needed to go outside with the cigar, the assistant manager refused, so she pushed him towards the door. He then pushed her back which caused her to fall down. Security camera footage backed up the manager’s story, and both agreed that they were not in fear of being around each other. The assistant manager agreed to clock out for the day, and no further action was taken.

PATH: Holmes Beach seeks funds

The proposed new path would begin around the 2800 block of Gulf Drive and continue almost the entire length of the city to where Gulf Drive and Marina Drive merge in the 8000 block. The proposal calls for the path to be separated from the road by a grassy buffer area that would further separate people using the path from the road, improving safety.

“Being here on the Island, you see a lot of people have to make use of the road because there aren’t a lot of good options for walking,” Kamiya said.

Connecting the path to the city’s 30 beach access points is also part of the plan, which would begin with the 65th and 66th Street access points near the center of the city. The city would also like to see educational signs along the path, allowing users to learn about wildlife they may encounter, such as shorebirds and sea turtles, as well as Island flora.

The budget estimate for the project totals $2,436,727, with half of the money going to the Gulf Drive path improvements ($1,293,238), and the

remainder designated for Marina Drive path improvements, engineering design, crosswalks and educational signage.

Although the plan is ambitious, Kamiya told the TDC that it would be implemented in phases, with the first phase focusing on the city center area on both Gulf Drive and Marina Drive. The phase 1 estimate is $1,133,401 with $399,460 coming from the City of Holmes Beach and the remaining $733,948 being requested from tourist tax funds.

The TDC makes recommendations

on the use of the funds to the Manatee County Commission.

Rather than approve or deny the funding recommendation, the TDC unanimously chose to have the matter brought to the next TDC meeting on Monday, Oct. 16, in hopes of getting answers to questions that multiple board members had, such as whether the path would eliminate public parking spots, which side of the street the path would be on, and defining a more specific timeline, among other concerns and questions.

THE LOOP OF NORTHWEST BRADENTON

Gulf Drive #4 06 $1,0 50,000

Mock 941. 232. 3665

HOLMES BE ACH

Path jump from P1 (Jason)

BY ISIS MAVENYENGWA Sun Correspondent

Imagine relaxing on one of the many beaches on the gorgeous shores of Anna Maria Island, drinking a lovely cool drink under a calm umbrella as the water crashes onto the sand. Now picture yourself enjoying some good music as you pick out your next color to use as you color in a flamingothemed coloring book.

Sounds like an excellent way to have a pretty chill day, courtesy of Anna Maria Island resident, entrepreneur and now author Patricia Filomeno, who has just published her first book, "Florida's Pink Flamingo Coloring Book."

For the past seven years, Filomeno has been a proud resident of Anna Maria Island and the owner of Ink Graphics Media, a local digital

BY ISIS MAVENYENGWA

Sun Correspondent

Filomeno’s flamingos

marketing company, and Florida Furniture Rental, a furniture rental company - and she's also a drone pilot. After walking around a flamingo-themed event for her furniture rental business, Patricia felt inspired to start painting flamingos, which led her to start creating the book.

Asked how her life experiences fueled her ambition for her work, she responded, "I am an artist and an entrepreneur at heart. Ever since I was a little girl, I knew I would one day create a product that people could buy. I always worked hard so that I could be my own boss and experience total freedom in life. With this coloring book, I am able to put all of my skills to work to not only create and design this wonderful book but to market it. I am working on video clips,

social media posts and reaching out to the news stations. I know I have a great product that is not only beautiful but can help people de-stress, feel happy and get their minds off of things and take a moment to be mindful about the present. I just have to let the world know about it."

Born in Peru and a proud Floridian for the past 25 years, Filomeno has drawn 27 illustrations of pink flamingos representing Florida

as the 27th state. Her favorite page to create was the "Pineapple Flamingo."

Pink flamingos are often considered part of Florida's “paradise in the sun” aesthetic. However, their sightings in the Sunshine State have decreased in recent decades. Still, as Everglades' conservation efforts improve, Florida's flamingos are slowly entering their comeback era. As these flamingos munch on brine shrimp and algae, their bodies metabolize their foods and pigments, turning the flamingos' feathers into their iconic lively pink color.

Life can be full of reminders to enjoy the beauty and fun of it, she said.

"Almost every other day, I take a moment to walk our Anna Maria Island beach paradise. I always look at the sky and am grateful for the

life I have,” she said. “I am a recent breast cancer survivor, and there are many elements I illustrated in the book that remind me of the beauty of life. One of those elements is the sand dollars featured on some of the pink flamingo illustrations; I used to walk the beach when I was going through my treatments and would find them on my walks; they have been known to bring good luck to those who find them, and I feel pretty lucky!"

Filomeno's story and success can be credited to her drive to make art as an entrepreneur, trusting her inner voice, finding inspiration through the beauty and fun of life and appreciating what life has to offer and taking it.

She reflected on how a younger version of her would react to her success.

Local writers group publishes Ian anthology

due to the lack of power, news and knowledge of the damage to the hotel and surrounding areas.

"Oh man, I think she would be proud of all my accomplishments so far, and she would be excited to experience my/her journey and would know how cool she is," she declared.

Like a flamingo looking over the horizon during a stunning sunset, Filomeno is ready to take flight as she is currently working on her second book, "Holiday Pink Flamingo Coloring Book," which will include a mixture of holiday/Christmas scenes with Florida's iconic pink flamingo, and will be ready in October/November in time for gift-giving at the holidays.

As she travels through Morocco, a Moroccaninspired pink flamingo is also on the horizon, so be on the lookout for her newest releases, and happy coloring!

Where were you when you first heard about Hurricane Ian? Ian was a category 5 hurricane that became the deadliest hurricane in history to hit Florida, with damage of $113 billion. On Sept. 28, 2022, Ian hit Anna Maria Island with minor damage compared to other areas in the state. The storm was feared by many, and many prepared for the worst.

Hearing about a storm heading your way, you might wonder, "How do I prepare for a hurricane?" But the question we tend to focus on less in the heat of the moment is, "What happens after the storm?” It takes a lot of time, patience and access to resources to prepare for hurricanes, even if you have gone through your fair share of storms. There is not one way to deal with the aftermath of a hurricane - some might have lots of damage and others little or no damage, some may have lost power for a couple of hours or a couple of days, or have to deal with flooded areas or fallen trees and powerlines.

Joan Voyles evacuated Anna Maria Island with her two dogs, her son, her son's dog and a girlfriend to a hotel

that would take her family and three dogs in Fort Myers, near the coast. As she was preparing to go to the hotel, Joan wondered, "What's important to take with you during this emergency?" As Ian made landfall at Fort Myers, the hotel Voyles and her family were in ended up losing power. There was no generator. Ian's aftermath became more stressful, with little communication with people outside the affected areas

Luckily, there wasn't much damage once Voyles returned to AMI. Many people know her locally from the visual arts, but she's been writing since her husband died and felt inspired to write after reading her husband's dairies from Vietnam, where he served as a doctor.

"Telling stories is therapeutic, and people can learn from hearing or reading other people's stories. It can help bring people together,” she said.

After she started writing, Voyles was invited to an informal Island writer's group by Dona Lee, a friend and owner of Village Voices and Eclectic Art Emporium in Bradenton. Feeling inspired by all she was learning from her group, Voyles applied what she learned and decided to write about her Hurricane Ian experience. She soon heard about the Gulf Coast Writers Association's (GCWA) Anthology, "Storm Stories - Hurricane Ian, Stories of Survival, Heroism and Humanity," which includes a foreword by Robert N. Macomber, a well-known Pine Island maritime author. Alongside 83 submissions from authors from Collier, Lee, Charlotte,

Sarasota, Manatee, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, Voyles submitted her 50-page story, "My Hurricane Ian Adventures."

Jeannie Meeks, a fiction writer/ author, GCWA secretary and anthology project leader, took charge of the book due to her writing and publishing experience.

“People who vented through this opportunity have a chance to read and hear that people had a hard time and people still care," Meeks said.

GCWA volunteers Jeff Bogart, communications officer; Jeanne Meeks; Mary Charles, vice president and program chair; Christie Zarria, special projects co-chair; and Claudia Geagan, special projects co-chair, gave a voice to people who lived through Hurricane Ian from the calm before the storm to the appalling damage it left behind, as a way to help bring the community together during the aftermath of one of the most brutal hurricanes to hit Florida.

GCWA is releasing the book - its first collection of stories, poems and photography - on Sept. 1 on Amazon, at Village Voices and Eclectic Art Emporium and at other bookstores.

PATRICIA FILOMENO | SUBMITTED Patricia Filomeno and her new Florida's Pink Flamingo Coloring Book.

LEOMA LOVEGROVE | SUBMITTED

‘Storm Stories - Hurricane Ian, Stories of Survival, Heroism and Humanity,’ is set for a Sept. 1 release.

FUN IN THE SUN

ANNOUNCEMENTS

EARLY DEADLINE FOR SEPTEMBER 6 EDITION

WILL BE THURSDAY AUGUST 31 AT 5PM.

THE BEST VOLUNTEER position on the island. The AMI Historical Museum needs docents and bread makers. Call Kathy Primeau at 989-560-6381.

ROSER FOOD BANK needs donations of cash and non-perishable food, PAPER & PERSONAL HYGIENE PRODUCTS. Donations boxes are located at the Church, Moose Club, and Walgreen’s.

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WANTED to assist at our information desk, especially weekends. Great for teens needing volunteer hours (16yrs+). Other assignments available. Please call the Blake Volunteer Office at 941-798-6151.

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JSAN CORPORATION

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jsancorporation@gmail. com Flooring, Drywall, Painting, Repairs, Kitchen and Bathrooms, Trim & Doors Free Estimates. Credit Cards Accepted.

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ISLAND RESIDENT. TREE/ BUSH Trimming, removal. Sweeping, blowing, and weeding. Weekly, bi-monthly or monthly schedule. Pressure washing. Call Bill Witaszek 941307-9315

LOST & FOUND

LOST WALLET AROUND

Judy’s Restaurant. Please call 313-310-3290. REWARD

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LOST GOLD RING High School Graduation with PA on Top. Please call 941243-1444

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YOUR Island movers! Offering dependable, competitive rates. No hidden costs. 941-8095777.

&

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PAINT! PAINT! AND MORE 28 years of experienced interior/exterior custom painting. Pressure cleaning, drywall repairs and texture finishes. Many Island references. Please call Neil for free estimates. 941-812-0507

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Established 1980 Prompt quality service. Wallpaper installation/ removal. Mary Bell Winegarden 941-794-0455

DONALD PERKINS ABRACADABRA PAINTING

LLC fully insured. 30 years experience. Many Island references. Call 941-705-7096

PROFESSIONAL PAINTING SERVICES. Prompt & Reliable. Island Resident. Quality Workmanship. Interior/Exterior. Minor repairs & carpentry. Free estimates. Bill Witaszek 941-307-9315

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FOUR SEASONS POOL SERVICE AND CHEMICAL SERVICES. Certified Pool Operator. 10 + Years Experience. Residential/commercial. Chemical Service Licensed & Insured. Call Dennis Clark 941-7375657

COLE'S TROPICAL POOL SERVICE Call Cole Bowers for all your pool maintenance needs! Affordable and Dependable!! 941-7131893

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TOTAL HOME SERVICES CLEANING: Residential, Commercial, Construction, Vacation, VRBO Rentals . Also available Pressure Washing, Roof Cleaning, Paver Sealing and Windows. Call 941-5653931.

T & B PRESSURE WASHING Licensed & Insured. Driveways/sidewalks, Roofs, Pool cages, Fences, House (soft wash/ downstream). Call 813638-7636. tandbpressurewashing@yahoo. com Family owned and operated.

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Have you been thinking of selling? We NEED properties to List for SALE!!! GULF FRONT, CANAL FRONT, BAY FRONT CONDOS or HOMES ASK for BIG Alan Galletto of Island Real Estate to get it SOLD 941-232-2216

LOOKING FOR A highly motivated real estate broker to buy or sell your next home? Darcie

RUNAWAY BAY ISLAND

CONDO $430,000 Across from Beach. Water views Sold furnished. Christine Kourik Re/max 314-4407574 LOWEST PRICE PROPERTY ON ISLAND

1455 GULF DR $1,375,000 3BR/3BA, 2 car garage, Furnished. Weekly rental zoned Christine Kourik REMAX Alliance 314-440-7574

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ANNUAL RENTALS

WANTED! We have well qualified tenants for beach and mainland annual rentals, Full management or Finders fee. Call today for details. Ask for Paige DUNCAN REAL ESTATE 513-382-1992.

SUNNYSHORES/ SAGAMORE ESTATES

AREA: Annual rental, home with 3BR/1.5BA. Includes washer, dryer, screened in patio, parking under carport, and access to boat ramp and park by Palma Sola Bay. $1,900 per month.

ANNUAL HOLMES BEACH 3BR/3BA $3495/mo (12 month minimum) + utilities. West of Gulf Dr. Please Call 518-210-5358.

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TIFFANY PLACE Gulf Front Condo for Rent

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ANNA MARIA ISLAND

CONDOS Large pool, beach access, free WiFi, 1&2 Bedroom $900 to $1200 per week redekercondosonami.com Tim 941-704-7525

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ANYTIME TRANSPORTATION to all Airports, Casino, etc. Tampa/St. Pete $80. Sarasota $40. Pets welcome. Very dependable. Reasonable rates. Contact Jeanne. 941-7795095

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