Hurricanes hit tourist development tax revenues
St. Patrick's Day parade coming to Anna Maria Island
Irish bagpipers entertained at the 2022 parade. Story on Page 8.
County decides to demolish iconic Annie’s in Cortez
Annie’s
co-owner, Bruce Shearer, rejected a proposal to construct a temporary food trailer on the recently acquired county property.
BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com
CORTEZ – Following recommendations and a review by a structural engineer, fire officials and the Florida Department of Emergency Management, Manatee County commissioners have voted 6-1 to demolish the historic Annie’s Bait and Tackle Shop. Commissioners had requested options to bring the hurricane-damaged Annie’s up to code on Jan. 28, but the officials deemed the building as having catastrophic damage beyond the FEMA 50% guidelines due to damage from Hurricanes Helene and Milton last year.
As an alternative to the present structure, Manatee County staff presented a rendering of an elevated temporary food sales trailer that could be operated in its place. The cost to the county for the structure, which would include a sitting area and ADA compliant bathrooms, was estimated to be between $150,000 and $250,000, exclusive of incidental costs. Design and permitting for the new structure was estimated at between 18 and 24 months.
That proposal was rejected by Annie’s co-owner Bruce Shearer as a non-viable business model for him.
“As I look at your renderings, my numbers say I would do one-third of the volume I did before, with the same labor costs,” Shearer said. “The numbers aren’t there in any way, shape or form.”
The TDC supports a $570,000 funding request for the Gulf Islands Ferry operations.
BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
BRADENTON – Featuring two new members and a new chairperson, the reconfigured Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC) recently met for the first time this year.
On Feb. 24, the council welcomed Holmes Beach City Commissioner Dan Diggins and Palmetto Marriott Resort Managing Director Tony DeRusso to the council now chaired by County Commissioner Amanda Ballard and steered at times by Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (BACVB) Executive Director Elliott Falcione. Topics of discussion included the post-hurricane decline in tourist development tax revenues,
Dates set for hearings on Drift-In application
A temporary use permit may be granted on March 20 pending the issuance of building permits, attorney Robert Lincoln said.
BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com
BRADENTON BEACH – The permitting process is moving forward for the reopening of the Drift-In with hearings scheduled within the next several weeks.
The city commission will consider a temporary use permit application at a Thursday, March 20 meeting that begins at noon at the Katie Pierola Commission Chambers, 107 Gulf Drive N.
The Planning and Zoning Board
hearing originally scheduled for March 6 to consider a major development application for the Drift-In was continued at the applicant’s request. P&Z Chair Bill Morrow announced the date change to the next regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday, April 2 at 1 p.m. for a public hearing to consider a major development for improvements at 120 Bridge St. placed over a public easement.
At the March 6 meeting, city hall was packed with Drift-In supporters who were prepared to speak during public comment. Attorney Robert Lincoln, representing the city, explained why comments by the public would not be allowed.
“The application was on the agenda. It has been continued. So,
SEE ANNIE'S, PAGE 22 SEE DRIFT-IN, PAGE 19
CINDY LANE | SUN
Palmer lays out timeline for permit backlog
Bradenton Beach Building Official Bill Palmer issued 38 permits in his first week.
BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com
BRADENTON BEACH – Bill Palmer, the city’s new building official, began work on March 5 and has laid out a timeline for the order of business as he steps into his new role.
“My initial focus as building official will be reviewing the permits we have in backlog for storm-related repairs so people can get back into their homes and then work on new construction permits,” Palmer wrote in an email to The Sun. “Once that is all caught up, I plan to review the building department forms and checklists. After that I plan on creating standard operation procedures (SOP) for the department.”
The city is under FEMA review for its post-hurricane practices under previous Building Official Darin Cushing, including the absence of standard operating procedures.
it doesn’t go to the building official. All of the applications that are sitting in the queue right now, everyone has been emailed telling them what needs to be done. It doesn’t go anywhere until it’s a complete document so the building official can review it.”
Chappie said that Palmer has requested that the city continue to pay M.T. Causley, the contract employer for the previous building official, for a few more weeks to assist in reducing the backlog, which is nearly all hurricane-related.
LESLIE LAKE | SUN
Ground-floor homes in Bradenton Beach were flooded during Hurricane Helene on Sept. 26, 2024.
“Bill Palmer is doing a lot of reviews. He’s moving things through as quickly as humanly possible,” Mayor John Chappie said at a March 6 city commission meeting. “He’s doing a great job.”
Palmer has issued 38 permits, mostly storm-related, he said.
“There are 143 total uncompleted applications,” Chappie said. “So when a project is brought forward by an applicant, they have a big application and they have to fill out a lot of things that have to be done to make an application complete. If it’s not complete,
“We all talked about the overlap that’s going to be necessary with M.T. Causley as we make the adjustments, as he goes through these plans reviews and these permits that are backed up to get things done,” Chappie said. “He’s competent. He knows his stuff.”
“He hasn’t issued any new construction permits so far, and once he gets caught up, he wants to review the building department forms and checklists, then he will be starting on SOPs, which is one of the things that the department never had by the previous building official or officials,” he said.
ISLAND NEWS
IN BRIEF
Package liquor store on Thursday’s agenda
The Anna Maria City Commission will meet on Thursday, March 13 at 10 a.m. The mayor and commission will extend the local state of emergency declarations that remain in effect for hurricane recovery efforts. The mayor and commission will discuss a special use permit requested to open a package liquor store at 501 Pine Ave. in commercial space owned by Barbara and Jason Sato and to be leased to Ryan Quigley if the liquor store request is approved. Mayor Mark Short and General Manager Dean Jones will provide a capital projects update. The only item on the consent agenda is the approval of the minutes for the commission’s Feb. 27 meeting. Thursday’s meeting can be accessed by phone and public input can be given by calling 1-929-205-6099 and entering the meeting ID: 85392000280.
Planning commission applicants sought
The city of Holmes Beach is accepting applications from those interested in serving as a volunteer planning commissioner. Planning commissioners review land use ordinances and other development matters for compliance with the city’s comprehensive plan and make non-binding recommendations to the city commission. The planning commission usually meets on the first Wednesday of the month at 3:30 p.m. The planning commission currently consists of four regular members and two alternates and a fifth regular member will be appointed by the city commission. Applicants must be qualified voters of Holmes Beach and must have lived in the city for a minimum of two years. Applications should be submitted to the city clerk’s office no later than Wednesday, March 19. Applications are available at the city website, www.holmesbeachfl.org at the Departments/City Clerk/ Boards and Committees page. Applications can also be obtained by emailing cityclerk@ holmesbeachfl.org or calling 941-708-5800, ext. 226.
SBA offers help at Tingley Library
Small Business Administration representatives will be available to help people interested in obtaining small business loans at the Tingley Memorial Library, 111 Second St. N. in Bradenton Beach Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Scan this code with your smartphone to go there.
Seawall regulation revisions discussed
Seawall elevations
are based in part on the North American Vertical Datum used by surveyors and others.
BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
HOLMES BEACH – The efforts to revise the city’s seawall regulations remain a work in progress and seawall height allowances and the installation of adaptive seawalls are among the considerations being discussed.
On March 5, the Holmes Beach Planning Commission continued its review of the proposed and previously discussed revisions to the city’s seawall regulations. Director of Development Chad Minor and seawall consultant and engineer Joe Foster also participated in the discussion.
The city’s current seawall regulations do not establish a specific minimum or maximum height for the construction or replacement of a seawall but seawall height limits are tied to the North American Vertical Datum (NAVD). A vertical datum is a reference system used by surveyors, engineers and mapping professionals to measure and relate elevations to the Earth’s surface.
According to Foster, Holmes Beach currently has a +2.3 NAVD and he recommends increasing that to a +4 NAVD. According to Foster, the city’s current +2.3 NAVD equates to being approximately 2 feet above the mean high water line established by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the state of Florida. A 4-foot NAVD would be approximately 4 feet above the mean high water line. Foster recommends adding the following language to the city’s seawall regulations: “The elevation for all seawalls, bulkheads and retaining walls fronting the bay shall be equal to or greater than elevation 4.0 NAVD 88. Unless the ground floor elevations of the subject house and the adjacent
houses on each side is lesser in elevation. If the seawall cap elevation is determined that it cannot be raised, then the new seawall shall be designed and constructed at the time of the proposal in way that seawall cap elevation can be raised in the future.”
According to the six-page handout that Foster shared during the meeting, “This elevation provides additional resiliency to the property without significantly altering the community’s stormwater drainage.”
Foster said the elevation thresholds for seawall caps are an issue many Florida municipalities are struggling with and it’s become even more of a focal point in the wake of Hurricane Helene and other tidal events. He said many municipalities are incorporating NAVD standards into their seawall regulations. He also said seawall regulation revisions are being proposed statewide to help offset the projected sea level rise of 18 inches in the next 50 years.
“If I design a seawall today, I’m projecting a 50-year lifespan on it. So, what is this going to look like in 50 years?” Foster said.
He said public sentiment about higher seawalls has changed in recent years.
“This used to be a huge fight. Six years ago, people did not
want to raise their seawalls. Now that’s completely opposite. In the past three years, there’s been a complete switch.”
ADAPTIVE SEAWALL CAPS
During the March 5 meeting, Foster provided an image of an adaptive seawall that featured an additional stem wall. A seawall cap is the top portion of the seawall. Allowing adaptive seawall caps that consist of an additional stem wall being constructed on top of an existing seawall is also being considered as part of the proposed Holmes Beach seawall regulation revisions that remain a work in progress.
Planning Commissioner Lisa Pearce said she pulled her seawall permit in 2003 and her next-door neighbor recently had a new seawall installed. A visit to her property after the meeting revealed the neighbor’s new seawall is about 18 inches taller than her seawall. Across the canal from Pearce’s home, an older seawall sits even lower and shows signs of deterioration, which further illustrates the differences that exist from one seawall to another.
No final decisions have been made regarding the revisions discussed at the March 5 planning commission meeting and the proposed revisions will be discussed at a future city commission meeting or city commission work session.
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN Seawall heights vary from property to property throughout Holmes Beach.
Alternative Key Royale parking solution proposed
Commissioners recently discussed prohibiting parking along the south side of Key Royale Drive.
BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
HOLMES BEACH – City officials have come up with an alternative to prohibiting parking along the south side of Key Royale Drive between Marina Drive and the bridge. The alternative solution to be discussed at the Tuesday, March 11 Holmes Beach City Commission meeting proposes enforcing an existing parking requirement, removing the sidewalk along the south side of Key Royale Drive and installing a new sidewalk approximately 3 feet further to the south. This would provide enough space for vehicles to legally park along both sides of the street with all tires off the pavement and off the new sidewalk.
Public Works Director and City Engineer Sage Kamiya proposed the alternative solution in a March 4 memo that he sent to Mayor Judy Titsworth and Police Chief Bill Tokajer. He issued the memo in response to the city commission discussion that occurred on Feb. 25 when he proposed limiting parking to the north side of Key Royale Drive.
During the Feb. 25 discussion, Kamiya, Tokajer and Titsworth said the city received numerous complaints about landscaping and construction vehicles parked in the road and restricting travel lanes and access for passing motorists and emergency responders. Kamiya said that Key Royale Drive serves as a main thoroughfare for approximately 340 residents and Tokajer noted city code requires vehicles to be parked with all tires off the roadway. City code also prohibits
parking on a sidewalk.
The Feb. 25 discussion ended with the city commission majority expressing tentative support to have a city resolution drafted that would establish the proposed parking restriction. The commissioners wanted the resolution, or some other solution, presented for further discussion at a future meeting that would allow potentially
impacted property owners to express their views before any formal action is taken.
Commissioner Carol Whitmore opposed the parking restriction.
ALTERNATIVE SOLUTION
In his March 4 memo, Kamiya wrote, “After further discussion, and in coordination with the chief of police, we recommend enforcing the
requiring parking along this section of roadway to have all tires off the roadway. This is consistent with and pursuant to the city’s code, Sec. 62-31.” According to Sec. 62-31 of the city’s code of ordinances, “For any vehicle parked in a right of way, all tires are required to be located fully within the right of way and no tire or part of a vehicle may be located in the roadway, except for on Key Royale Drive between Crestwood Road and North Point Drive.”
In his memo, Kamiya said relocating the sidewalk further to the south would create the space needed to accommodate legal parking in the city rights of way along both sides of the street. “Signs will also be erected stating ‘Parallel parking only with all tires off the road.’ Further, the city will require all landscaping rocks, tree
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
City code requires vehicles to be parked with all tires off the road and sidewalk.
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Mexico it is Kudos for keeping "Gulf of Mexico." Change is sometimes good, but some things should never change!
Chip Downing Bradenton
ANNA MARIA
10005 GULF DRIVE
FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-708-6130
Visit www.cityofannamaria. com or contact city hall for more information.
March 13, 10 a.m., City Commission March 19, 9 a.m., Planning and Zoning Board
BRADENTON BEACH
107 GULF DRIVE N.
FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-778-1005
Visit www.cityofbradentonbeach.com or contact city hall for
more information.
March 20, 9:30 a.m., Community Redevelopment Agency
March 20, noon, City Commission
HOLMES BEACH
5801 Marina Drive
For information, call 941-7085800
Visit www.holmesbeachfl.org or contact city hall for more information.
March 11, 2 p.m., City Commission meeting, followed by commission work session
March 12, 9 a.m., Clean Water Ad Hoc Commission
TUESDAY, MARCH 18
THURSDAY, MARCH 13 –
SUNDAY, MARCH 30
Island Players “Death by Design,” 10009 Gulf Drive, Anna Maria, www.theislandplayers. org.
SUNDAY, MARCH 16
St. Patrick’s Day parade, begins at Holmes Beach City Hall, ends at The Center of Anna Maria Island, 4-6 p.m.
Heritage Day Festival, free admission at the Anna Maria Island Historical Museum, 402 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
FRIDAY, MARCH 28
Cortez Village Historical Society/Florida Maritime Museum coffee social with coffee, tea and conversation at the Cortez Cultural Center, 11655 Cortez Road W. 9-11 a.m.
KEY ROYALE: Alternative parking solution proposed
FROM PAGE 5
plantings, landscaping borders to be removed from the right of way along both sides of Key Royale Drive,” according to the memo.
The memo references properties located between 506/507 and 532/533 Key Royale Drive and says, “This area needs to be clear of any planting or structures. Residents are not being asked to move mailboxes or driveways. It will be requested that this right of way be cleared of any plantings and structures by April 28.”
Kamiya’s memo also says, “There is no action required by the commission for this enforcement. In the event the commission would like to consider allowing for the continued parking in this roadway, this would have to be accomplished by an ordinance change.”
When contacted by The Sun on March 8, Titsworth said, “Being that the law is already on the books, the commission doesn’t need to act. We just need to enforce the laws that are currently in the code. We will bring forth a contract to relocate the sidewalk so both sides of the street can accommodate landscaping and construction vehicles. There isn’t ample parking space until we get people to move their landscaping out of the right of way and we are going to start notifying homeowners that have encroached into the right of way.”
When contacted the same day, Tokajer said, “After reviewing this with Sage and the mayor, we decided that instead of all the impact being on the north side of the road we have the opportunity to move
the sidewalk and allow parking on both sides of the road, with all four tires off the road. This would leave the roadway completely open while allowing lawn maintenance and construction workers to legally park along both sides of the road.”
Tokajer said the current sidewalk has been in place as long as he can remember and the "all tires off the road" parking requirement was enacted about a year and half ago. Tokajer believes the proposed alternative addresses the parking and public safety concerns along Key Royale Drive without placing all the burden on the property owners on the north side of the street.
“We will advise the commission as to what our plan is,” Tokajer said of the Key Royale Drive parking discussion included on the March 11 meeting agenda.
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN The proposed parking solution would require the removal of trees and other landscaping elements placed in the city right of way.
St. Patty’s Day parade an Island tradition
The parade will begin at Holmes Beach City Hall and end at The Center of Anna Maria Island in Anna Maria.
BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – The Island is going green during the Anna Maria Island St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Sunday, March 16 from 4-6 p.m.
“Bring your family, your friends and your green to enjoy a fun-filled afternoon celebrating with the community,” the Facebook event page says.
The parade is presented by Duncan Real Estate, The Center of Anna Maria Island and others.
“The St. Patrick's Parade has been an Island tradition for many years and has become one of the highlights of spring for islanders and visitors alike,”
Duncan Real Estate owner Darcie Duncan said. “It’s wonderful to see everyone take part in the revelry and ‘get their Irish on.’ It’s my national holiday so being the presenting spon-
sor brings me so much joy watching everyone having so much fun. It’s like finding my own pot of gold. We look forward to seeing everyone along the parade route. Get ready to yell for those beads! Sláinte.”
The parade will begin at Holmes Beach City Hall, 5801 Marina Drive, and travel down 58th Street, Marina Drive, Palm Drive, Gulf Drive, Pine
Avenue and Tarpon Street, ending at The Center of Anna Maria Island at 407 Magnolia Ave. in Anna Maria. Those who wish to participate in the parade need to fill out the entry form on The Center website, www.centerami.org/events. Parade participation opportunities include non-profit organizations, individuals, businesses, walking groups, floats,
business vehicles, trucks and trailers, personal vehicles, golf carts and more. There is no entry fee for non-profit organizations. The entry fee is $10 for a personal golf cart or personal vehicle and $50 for a business vehicle. The suggested entry fee for a business float is $150.
Completed entry forms and entry fees must be delivered to The Center or to Duffy’s Tavern at 5808 Marina Drive in Holmes Beach.
Participants and parade vehicles must check in at 2 p.m. to receive an entry permit. The parade lineup and staging will begin at 2:15 p.m. and the parade will begin at 4 p.m. Once the parade starts, all units must continue moving forward through the predesignated route.
Proper and legal conduct of parade participants is required. Parade participants are expected to conduct themselves in a courteous and safe manner. Drinking and driving is prohibited. Excessive public displays of intoxication are prohibited and drivers of vehicles are prohibited from tossing items from their vehicles.
CINDY LANE | SUN
Dr. Susan Welsh and Tom Martin went green for the 2022 parade.
Island Players investigate ‘Death by Design’
“Death by Design” provides an interesting twist on the classic murder mystery form.
BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
ANNA MARIA – The Island Players are bringing to life the British murder mystery, “Death by Design.”
Opening night is Thursday, March 13 and the final performance will be presented on Sunday, March 30. According to the Island Player’s media kit, “A theatre couple escape London after a disastrous opening night but are followed to their country manor by several unexpected guests, each with a long-held secret and a motive for murder in this comic blend of Noël Coward and Agatha Christie.”
Written by Rob Urbinati as an homage to Christie and Coward, “Death by Design” made its world premiere in Houston, Texas in 2011. Preston Boyd is directing the Island Players production and Sato Real Estate is serving as the co-producer. The eight-member cast features Valerie Lipscomb, James Thaggard, Jack Watts, Ruth Shaulis, Travis Cornwell, Victoria Raybourn, Jeffrey Steiger and Kristin Mazzitelli.
Tickets are $18-$28 and can be purchased online up to two hours before showtime at www.TheIslandPlayers. org. Tickets can be purchased at the theater box office, 10009 Gulf Drive, Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. If available, tickets can also be purchased at the box office before each show. For more information, call 941-778-5755.
DIRECTOR’S INSIGHTS
When discussing the play, Boyd said, “It’s a classic British murder mystery in the same style as Agatha Christie but there are some major differences. This playwright had a lot of respect for playwrights like Noël Coward and there’s witty dialogue in this play that you don’t hear in a lot of murder mysteries. Coward was famous for his funny phrases, where you think about it for a second and then start laughing.
“Classic murder mystery form is at the end of Act 1 somebody does get murdered and all of Act 2 is spent trying to figure out who the killer is. In this one, somebody dies at the end of Act 1 but at the beginning of Act 2, each of the seven remaining characters think they’re the one who did it and they
don’t want to get caught. And there’s a real twist at the end,” he explained.
Boyd was originally assigned to direct “Death by Design” in 2020 but the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted those plans.
“We cast the play, had our first rehearsal in March of 2020 and then all the theaters in the area shut down. We had read through the play and Sylvia (Marnie), who at that time was the theater president, came to the rehearsal and said we have to close the theater. So, we weren’t able to do the show,” Boyd said.
When selecting the shows for the 2024-25 season, the reading committee suggested revisiting “Death by Design,” with Boyd again directing it.
“I love the show and it’s a different
cast this time. Most of the people who were there in 2020 either moved on or they weren’t available for this one so I started from scratch,” he said.
Boyd has been directing Island Players’ performances since the 1990s and has directed 25 or so plays for the local theater troupe. He’s also directed plays for the Manatee Players and for a community theater group in Venice.
“My wife, Priscilla Boyd, is the stage manager for this show. We’ve been married 50 years this month and we met doing theater in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1972. We were in a play together called “Stanley,” about Stan Laurel (from the Laurel and Hardy comedy team). We don’t always get a chance to work together. Occasionally we do and those have been some of my favorites,” Boyd said.
ISLAND PLAYERS | SUBMITTED
Front row, from left are director Preston Boyd, stage manager Priscilla Boyd and cast members Ruth Shaulis, Jeffrey Steiger and Travis Cornwell. Back row, from left are cast members Kristin Mazzitelli, Victoria Raybourn, Jack Watts, James Thaggard and Valerie Lipscomb. “Death by Design” runs from March 13-30.
TDC: Hurricanes hit tourist development tax revenues
post-hurricane tourism marketing efforts and a request to use $570,000 in tourist tax revenues for the Gulf Islands Ferry operations.
TOURIST TAX REVENUES
Michele Shulz, Director of Field Services and the Collections Department for the Manatee County Tax Collector, provided an update on the tax revenues generated by the 6% tourist development tax levied on hotel, motel, resort and short-term vacation rental stays (including Airbnb and Vrbo rentals) of six months or less in Manatee County. A significant portion of tourist tax revenues is generated on Anna Maria Island.
In November, Manatee County voters approved increasing the 5% tourist tax to 6%. The increase took effect on Jan. 1 and is expected to generate an additional $7.8 million in tourist tax revenues during the current fiscal year. The 6% tax is paid by lodging guests, collected by the lodging providers and remitted to the tax collector’s office monthly.
TDC members review proposed tourist tax expenditures and make recommendations to the county commission that controls the use of the tax revenues, which, by state statute, can only be used to promote tourism and fund
tourism-related projects and improvements.
Last year, tourist tax revenues exceeded $30 million for the first time.
“Out of 67 counties, we feel like we’re now in that elite group,” Shulz said. “That’s a testament to Elliott and all the work he’s been doing.”
She then addressed the hurricane impact on tourist tax revenues and said the county collected $1.21 million in November and $1.83 million in December.
“For November, we were down 17.71% and for December we were down 16.6%. I
think January through April’s really going to tell the tale on how those areas are recovering that were really hard hit,” she said.
Shulz said the tax collector’s office had 8,645 active tourist development tax accounts in its system. She said about 100 accounts were deactivated between October and December because account holders were unable to rent their properties but 200 new accounts opened up.
“It’s a very fluid number. In a week, we might have a different number,” she said, noting that short-term rental
units continue to come online as repairs are completed. Comparing January 2024 to January 2025, Shulz said tourist tax collections countywide decreased about 9.3%, from $2.64 million to $2.4 million. She said the 1% tax increase and tourist tax revenues generated elsewhere in unincorporated Manatee County helped lessen the revenue gap.
POST-HURRICANE MARKETING
Falcione said he’s often asked why the BACVB continues to market Anna Maria Island and Bradenton when
COFFEE | FOOD | WINE | BEER | SPIRITS
these areas are already so well-known on a national and a global level.
“My consistent response is to prepare for the next adversarial occurrence,” he said.
He mentioned the severe red tide outbreak in 2017 and the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 as past adverse events that have impacted tourism.
Regarding the back-to-back hurricanes, Falcione said, “It could have been a lot worse.”
BACVB Marketing and Communications Director Kolby Gayson then discussed the tourism-related marketing strategies employed as recovery efforts continue.
“These storms left us with a wake of damage we had not seen before. It left our barrier islands with devastation we have never experienced,” Gayson said.
Gayson said she and her team focused on three main points: Perception, messaging and how to recover lost visitation.
Gayson said two particular images symbolize the hurricane damage on Anna Maria Island: the fallen yellow multi-story home in Bradenton Beach and the destroyed Rod & Reel Pier in Anna Maria.
“This yellow house was on its pillars after Helene. Milton came through and knocked it off. Still to this day, people
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
This toppled and much-photographed home in Bradenton Beach became a lasting image of the hurricane damage.
Mariners flock to flea market
The Florida Maritime Museum in Cortez hosted its annual Nautical Flea Market on March 8, featuring new and used fishing gear, sailing equipment, beach crafts, and nautical décor.
LESLIE LAKE | SUN
Heritage Day Festival will celebrate Island’s history
The Heritage Day Festival offers free, family-friendly fun.
BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
ANNA MARIA – The Anna Maria Island Historical Society will host its annual Heritage Day Festival on Tuesday, March 18 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Heritage Day Festival is a free celebration of the history of Anna Maria Island. The festival is held inside the Anna Maria Island Historical Museum at 402 Pine Ave. and on the museum grounds that also include the historic Belle Haven cottage that once sat at the end of the Anna Maria City Pier.
“Not even double hurricanes can keep us down and our newlyrestored museum will be open for tours,” longtime Historical Society member and museum docent Judy Hildman said.
“Heritage Day celebrates the history of Anna Maria Island and our three unique cities. It is our gift to the community. This year, more than ever, we celebrate and thank the commu-
During last year’s Heritage Day Festival, Donna Stansbury showed Minnesota resident Hattie Neaton how to spin raw wool into yarn using an old-fashioned spinning wheel. Basket and hat weaver David Rhone traveled from Salt Lake City, Utah to participate in last year’s festival.
nity for their generosity and support to help us build back. It is a fun, family-oriented event with live music, food, arts and crafts demonstrations and vendors, kids games and so much more. The Privateers will incarcerate the mayors of all three Island cities in our ‘Old City Jail’ for ransom donations,” Hildman said.
The Heritage Day Festival includes
the sale of fresh strawberry shortcake as a Historical Society fundraising activity. The fundraisers will also include the sale of Settlers Bread and other baked goods as well as raffles and a silent auction.
Holmes Beach-based Pizzano’s Pizza will be this year’s featured food vendor.
No parking spaces will be available at the museum during the
event, but there is free parking along Pine Avenue. Festivalgoers can take the free Island Trolley and get off at the Crescent Drive/Pine Avenue trolley stop in front of the museum.
For more information, or to become a museum docent or volunteer, please visit www.amihs.org or call 941-778-0492.
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
E-bike strikes vehicle
On March 8, the rider of an electric bike reportedly ran into a vehicle stopped at the intersection of Gulf Drive and 52nd Street in Holmes Beach. According to Police Chief Bill
Tokajer, the e-bicyclist failed to stop and was at fault for the accident. The e-biker suffered minor injuries and was transported to HCA Florida Blake Hospital for evaluation.
Springfest celebrates fine art
The Anna Maria Island Art League and Blue Ribbon Events hosted the 37th Annual Anna Maria Island Springfest Festival of Fine Arts and Fine Crafts at City Field in Holmes Beach on March 8-9. The juried festival featured artists from across the U.S. and an awards ceremony in which Jay Canterbury won Best in Show for his photography. Jimmy Chadsey (photography) and Martin Figlinsky (oil painting) won Awards of Distinction, and Kelly Williamson (pottery), Richard Hyker (fused) and Isabel Van Dermark (fiber) won Awards of Merit.
Young artists show work at Springfest
Fourteen schools, including Anna Maria Elementary School, participated in the Springfest Young at Art exhibit and awards were given in four age groups.
KINDERGARTEN THROUGH THIRD GRADE
First place - Rilee Touro, Freedom Elementary
Second place - Gabriella Mendieta-Ramirez, Myakka Elementary
Third place - Alianna Hopkins, Anna Maria Elementary
FOURTH, FIFTH AND SIXTH GRADE
First - Savanna Sardina, Anna Maria Elementary
Second - Madeline Baker, Myakka Elementary
Third - Allessandra Chang, Johnson School
SEVENTH AND EIGHTH GRADE:
First - Gabby Garner, Mona Jain Middle
Second - Cheomin Mungons, Mona Jain Middle
Third - Aaliyah Gaulman, Mona Jain Middle
HIGH SCHOOL
First - Kristen Benigni, Bradenton Christian School
Second - Sofia Puccia, Bradenton Christian School
Third - Jessie Green, Bradenton Christian School
Anna Maria Elementary student Savanna Scardina won first place in the fourththrough sixth-grade category at Springfest last weekend. Fellow AME student Alianna Hopkins won third place in the kindergarten through third-grade category.
BLUE RIBBON EVENTS | SUBMITTED
Clockwise above, oil painter Martin Figlinsky won an Award of Distinction. Photographer Jay Canterbury won Best in Show. Photographer Jimmy Chadsey won an Award of Distinction.
OBITUARIES
Delores (Dee) Steichen Pastorius
Delores (Dee) Steichen Pastorius, 87, of Bradenton, Florida, passed peacefully on Feb. 22, 2025 in her home as she had wished with her family by her side, and the most beautiful sunset filled her home with an orange glow as she took her last breath in a blaze of glory.
She was born on Feb. 14, 1938 in St. Paul, Minnesota, where she attended St. Agnus School and graduated from Washington High School, where she met the love of her life, Maynard. Dee worked fulltime and retired from Buckbee Mears Company in St. Paul. She was a lifelong artist and an avid gardener.
her daughter, Jody (Tom) Tschida; son, Todd (Dee-dee) Pastorius; and daughter-in-law, Kathy Pastorius. She was preceded in death by sons, Mark Pastorius and Roque Pastorius, who passed away just a few weeks before his mother as he was visiting to help care for her at the end of her life; her parents, Peter and Ethel Steichen; brothers, Peter Steichen, Robert Steichen and Jim Steichen; and sister, Ethel Thomason.
Her dream was to retire early, move to Florida and take art classes, which she did. She began taking classes at the Longboat Key Center for the Arts. She was a member of the Florida Watercolor and Florida Suncoast Watercolor Societies, and was juried into many art shows at ArtCenter Manatee and others. She won dozens of awards and her art pieces are in personal collections around the world. She was a member and displaying artist of Island Gallery West, with the Artists’ Guild of Anna Maria Island being her latest gallery.
She also enjoyed being a member of the Manatee Garden Club. She loved caring for her yard, and even had her beautiful yard on the garden tour one year. She and Maynard belonged to the Anna Maria Island Privateers. She loved hosting goddess parties on the beach. She was creative in everything that she did and always found ways to keep things fun. Through all her activities, she made many friends. One of her close art friends summed it up like this: “She was always such a spunky, funny, interesting, creative and talented woman.”
Dee is survived by her husband of 68 years, Maynard Pastorius;
Dee is survived by her siblings, Phyllis Byerly, Tom Steichen and Bill Steichen; grandchildren, Angel (Jeff) Colonna, Krystle LeTourneau, Cassandra (Andrew) Johnson, Nick Pastorius, Blake Hatlestad, Stephanie Pastorius, Michelle (Shaun) Lapinski and Rocky Tschida; many great- and great-great grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; and her parrot, Big Red. A celebration of life will be held at The Manatee Garden Club, 3120 First Ave. W., Bradenton Florida 34205, on Sunday, March 23 from 1-4 p.m. There will be a second Celebration of Life/memorial service for Dee in Minnesota at Mueller Bies Funeral home, B and Dale, Roseville, Minnesota on Thursday, June 12 from 4-8 p.m. with a prayer and share from 4:30-5 p.m. We want to give a special thank you to Moffitt Cancer Center for the exceptional quality of care, allowing her extra time with her friends and family, and to Tidewell Hospice, helping us to care for her and allowing her to transition in the comfort of her own home stress free.
eabirds are an angler’s friend. Besides being an integral part of the marine ecosystem and beautiful to behold, they help us locate fish. An observant angler notices where birds congregate on a low tide. They know the birds are feeding on marine organisms that fish will seek out when the flat is covered with water on a rising tide. They point us to schooling fish, often indicating action much farther away than we can see. Anglers who fish the coastal waters of Florida will invariably come into contact with the seabirds that inhabit local waters. The encounter can be deadly to seabirds if anglers don’t know the basics of caring for them.
Birds can become entangled in fishing
In praise of seabirds
line and take it back to their roosts. The birds are also put in harm’s way when they come into contact with fishing line that careless anglers leave in the mangroves from an errant cast. If a bird is hooked while fishing, it’s important to bring it to the boat with a properly set drag to prevent the line from breaking. This can be a death sentence for the birds when they return to a mangrove roost trailing line. If a bird becomes hooked or entangled in your line while fishing, work them to the boat carefully as you would a big fish, then throw a towel over their head to calm them and grab them securely by the beak while removing the hook. Care should be taken with all birds, especially ones that have sharp beaks. They don’t know you are trying to help them. Handle birds carefully as they have very light, hollow bones. Cautiously remove the line from their body, wings and feet and check them thoroughly before releasing them. If you see a hooked or tangled bird in an active rookery during nesting season, it’s important not
to approach them as their young may be startled and fall from the nest.
You can reduce the chance of hooking birds by following a few simple rules. First, never feed birds, as this will teach them to look for a handout, a practice that annoys anglers and is dangerous to the birds. Second, while you’re fishing, be aware of birds that might be targeting your bait or lure. It’s easy to pull the lure
out of harm’s way at the last second a gull or tern dives on it. If they do become hooked, a barbless hook is easier to remove from the bird and the angler. Taking care of the wildlife that inhabits our coastal estuaries is every angler’s responsibility. If you see a bird in distress and can’t help it, call Save Our Seabirds at 941-388-3010 or Audubon Coastal Island Sanctuaries at 813-623-6826.
Seabirds help anglers find breaking fish along Gulf of Mexico beaches.
RUSTY CHINNIS
DRIFT-IN: Dates set for application hearings
FROM PAGE 1
taking comment on that would not be appropriate,” Lincoln said.
He spoke to The Sun following the meeting and explained two reasons for the continuance: “There was an issue that the applicant didn’t put the notice on the property,” he said. “The other aspect was the staff hasn’t had the chance to review the new materials and produce something for either the Planning and Zoning Board or the City Commission to consider. The applicant decided that the better thing to do with this hearing was to continue it.”
The city commission can’t act on the major development application without the planning board recommendation in hand, Lincoln said.
“There will be a (commission) meeting tonight, but the hearing inside the meeting will be canceled,” he said, adding that public comment would be allowed at the city commission meeting on March 20, when an application for a temporary use permit will be considered by commissioners.
PUBLIC COMMENT
More than 20 employees and patrons of the Drift-In spoke to commissioners at the March 6 evening meeting and urged the city to expedite the permitting process.
“People from all over the world love our wonderful place,” said Doreen
FROM THE PREHISTORIC TO THE PRESENT,
THERE’S SOMETHING HERE FOR EVERYONE!
Flynn, Drift-In manager for more than 25 years. “We’re losing a great deal of money every day.”
The Drift-In employees are struggling to pay their bills and put food on the table, Flynn said.
“I’m asking for help to get the Drift-In reopened, I’m asking for a
temporary permit, so we can get back to work and make some money while you are figuring this situation and sorting it out,” Flynn said.
“There was an application for a temporary use permit. It was filed yesterday. The city commission needs to consider it, but it needs to be on a regularly agenda’d meeting,” Lincoln said. “It has to be on a published agenda that goes out to the public.
“The other aspect of the temporary use is that the building will still have to go through all their required building and safety permitting,” Lincoln said. “To make sure that the city commission action is legal and cannot be attacked, it has to be noticed, newspaper notice requires 15 days in advance, mailed notice has to go out 30 days before the hearing. If that isn’t done, then the action isn’t valid.”
Scott Rudacille, attorney for Drift-In owners Derek and Helena Williams, said, “I think we do have a path forward now, so we look forward to presenting that temporary use permit on the 20th, and look forward to coming back and presenting the major
SEE DRIFT-IN, PAGE 21
LESLIE LAKE | SUN
Attorney Scott Rudacille and Drift-In owners Derek and Helena Williams, at table, listen to Drift-In manager Doreen Flynn speak to city commissioners from the podium during public comment at a March 6 meeting.
REAL ESTATE
Time for a kitchen redo
Idon’t know about you, but I’m just now getting my condo back in pre-Milton shape. It took five months and there are still a few jobs to finish up, not to mention the dust that has settled in the crevices of my furniture and windows. Not everyone is as lucky as me. Many island people and throughout Manatee County need to do massive rebuilds and renovations. If you find yourself needing a kitchen rehab, take a look at some of the new ideas for kitchens I recently read about.
Castles in the Sand
The big news is we’re going back to earthy neutrals and leaving the sterile white kitchens behind. Even the blue that we’ve seen in kitchen updates recently is making way for beiges, soft browns and even dark wood with appliances behind matching doors. The object is to create spaces that are cozy and more intimate than we have seen for years.
Beams are also popping up in Florida, adding texture and architectural interest
to high ceilings. Dark beams are typical, but I think white in a kitchen to offset the new trendy darker cabinets gives interest while still maintaining a coastal look. Even cabinet pulls are evolving from the glitzy metal to soft wood tones. Lighting is naturally the key to making a cozy space come alive. The designers I read about are loving single horizontal fixtures over kitchen islands taking the place of pendants and nixing recessed ceiling lighting. This next one is certainly not new but is gaining popularity again and is perfect for the casual island lifestyle we’re all trying to get back to. Bistro racks or French
shelving in place of cabinets check several boxes for coastal living. First of all, if the shelving is glass, they will appear to be floating, opening up the entire wall where they’re arranged. Paired with contrasting tile to the ceiling will make you wonder why you haven’t done this before. In addition, there is the ease of organizing dishes and glassware where everything is visible and there are no doors to open and close in the way.
While we’re talking about cabinets, guess what’s back, curtain-backed glass cabinet fronts. It works really well for the less organized of us where you really don’t want your chipped dishes displayed and adds a more formal design, making your cabinets feel like actual furniture. However, if you love your shaker-style cabinets, they are iconic, so don’t start ripping them out, but some day it might be time to move on.
Finally, nothing is more talked about in a kitchen than countertops. I remember
when you never saw a hard surface countertop and everyone used laminate; hopefully, those days will never be back. However, the popular granite for decades is back in a more exciting reincarnation. The new granite has matte finishes, with a rougher and more rustic vibe perfect for some of the new rural kitchen choices. It has a slate-like appearance and is still virtually indestructible.
Marble is definitely out. Not only does it look too cool and industrial, it is high maintenance, staining easily - red wine and lemon juice are killers on marble. I had occasion to see one of these new granite products in a friend’s house in Naples on top of a massive kitchen island and it knocked my socks off.
Apparently, the decorative items you never thought you would ever see again are back. Beams, dark cabinets and granite are in fashion again, but then isn’t it always that way. Remember fins on cars and poodle skirts? Just wait.
LOUISE BOLGER
DRIFT-IN: Dates set for application hearings
development plan on the second and the eighth and hopefully we can get the Drift back up and running.”
The Tuesday, April 8 meeting is for the commission to consider a major development application.
Mike McConnell, a musician who has played at the Drift-In for 13 years, said, “If there’s any way to get this temporary thing expedited quickly, please consider it. Derek is putting everything on the line for this. It’s not fair this keeps happening to him.”
“Many of these people here are my family,” Drift-In employee Kelly Flynn said. “We need to get the Drift open. It’s heartbreaking to watch one of the oldest buildings and bars in this city still not open, when everyone else is open. Do what you can to get it open.”
“We are a community that is tied together,” Sharon Bell said. “The Drift is an institution. It’s iconic. We’re not Bradenton Beach without it. This just feels mean, and the Drift is not mean, the Drift is love.”
Buzz Marconi said Drift-In provides
an experience that’s hard to find anywhere else.
“It’s one of the top 10 quote dive bars in America,” Marconi said. “He (Williams) gives you some of the best music on the west coast of Florida. It’s not all about the Drift-In. He doesn’t serve food and they’ve got to eat somewhere. He's not competing, he’s enhancing the other bars and
restaurants. They all do better because of the Drift-In.”
Drift-In co-owner Helena Williams asked the commission if they would be able to make a motion to give them a temporary permit at the commission meeting
“I love our patrons and our employees,” she said. “They are family, and they need to make money to survive.”
Derek Williams questioned why the notice for the temporary use permit hadn’t been brought to their attention earlier.
“I was told by the other city attorney that she was handling the notice, and clearly it wasn’t handled properly,” he said. “It was more miscommunication. We want to do the right thing, and we want to follow the law, but the guidance did come from you all.”
Williams said all permits have been submitted, and he had to start the process from scratch.
“I had to get everything addressed that your employee told me I didn’t need to do,” Williams said. “I had to start the process over. I think we’re all working together now to do this the right way. There’s businesses open that aren’t following the rules that I do, and I’m following the rules but I’m the one being punished. The stress I have is all these people here. I feel responsible for them. I’m trying to help you help yourselves. Instead, I’m looked at like I’m an enemy of the
SEE DRIFT-IN, PAGE 23
LESLIE LAKE | SUN
City hall was packed with supporters of the reopening of the Drift-In at a March 6 Bradenton Beach Commission meeting.
ANNIE'S: County decides to demolish shop
Shearer said he could repair the current building for under $5,000.
“As it stands right now under your proposal, I’m done,” Shearer said. “It won’t financially work. You’ll lose $250,000 and I’ll lose $100,000 and it will be failed within two months, I guarantee you.”
Shearer said that Annie’s consists of multiple businesses - tackle, bait, food, gas, marine supplies, retail and a bar.
“None of those can make a living on their own,” Shearer said. “With that little takeout thing and the tackle, that’s two out of seven. There’s no way your proposal can work, that’s why I can’t go with it.”
“The reason I’m backing out of this is it is going to cost me about $100,000 to restock the floor and building,” he said. “For you to put in $200-250,000 and me to put in $100,000 in your proposal is stupid money.”
Commissioner George Kruse characterized the county’s proposal as basically a food truck, with some picnic tables and a portable toilet outside.
“That’s what this effectively is because that’s what can be provided on this site at the current time,” Kruse said, adding there is currently no dockage for boats to pull up for bait and gas.
“We’re creating an unviable business that Bruce himself has said, and we’re asking them to pay rent they can’t afford on a property that won’t cover the rent because of the business plan being compressed and we’re being asked to do this with tax dollars,” Kruse said.
Kruse said the county is not subsidizing other private businesses that incurred storm damage.
“It doesn’t make sense for us up here to pick winners and losers and subsidize private industry while other private industries are out of business, and then could come in here and ask, “Where’s my help in reopening my
LAKE | SUN County commissioners voted 6-1 to demolish Annie’s Bait and Tackle on the county-owned Seafood Shack parcel in Cortez. Commissioner Jason Bearden dissented.
restaurant or storefront?’ ” Kruse said. That’s just fact. We have to look at being smart with people’s tax dollars.
“If we choose to take it down, we are choosing to eliminate the nostalgia of the area,” Terry Ingham said during public comment.
Shearer’s daughter, Anna Gaffey, said, “I don’t know why we were strung along for months.”
Commissioner Carol Felts suggested a public/private partnership could offer a solution.
“We might be able to work something out in the future,” she said, adding, “We can’t be unfair to other businesses that had damage from the hurricane as well.”
“The actual report that we conducted, the recommendation says that the building be replaced with a new structure. That’s the crux of the matter here,” County Commissioner Tal Siddique said. “Can you fix it? That report clearly says no. What the county is proposing and telling you what your business should look like is not what you want it to look like.
The temporary structure isn’t Annie’s and it isn’t addressing the needs of the community there. Fire inspection concurs. They both ultimately recom-
mend replacing the structure.”
Commissioner Jason Bearden asked if there is a possibility of selling the specific portion of the Seafood Shack property to Shearer.
Kruse said he was not opposed to that idea, but didn’t think it was a conversation for that meeting.
“After my tour and seeing the county’s damage assessment and independent fire marshal’s assessment, I think it’s clear the facts show that it can’t be salvaged,” Siddique said.
He said a reality of living in a coastal district could mean knowing that way of life could go away due to storms.
“The reality is this is not something I feel I can support because we’re bailing out a private business which I think runs counter to my principles how I think government and private business should operate,” Siddique said. “I can’t support a lease and I can’t support anything that doesn’t support a full rebuild.”
Siddique made a motion to direct staff to decline entering into a lease agreement with Shearer, and to move forward with the demolition of the property. The motion passed 6-1 with Bearden casting the dissenting vote.
LESLIE
DRIFT-IN: Dates set for application hearings
finished and that’s got to go through the permitting process.”
state here and I go home every night and I get sick over it. Please help us.”
CITY RESPONSE
“The issues that you’ve had in getting these permits are not unusual,” Lincoln said. “But it’s underway now.”
He responded to questions about issuing a temporary use permit at the March 6 meeting.
“Rules on agenda items are pretty strict, you’ve got to have 10 days’ notice and public posting to get a special use permit, it has to go through those regulatory processes, a special use permit would not get the bar open, building permits are needed to get coolers installed, the electrical
He said the temporary use permit would take the place of the major development permit if there were any further delays in getting it.
The tiki hut construction at the Drift-In was approved by former Building Official Darin Cushing. The city said that the permit should not have been issued due to the tiki hut’s size and easement encroachment. The city required a major development hearing and the project has been placed on hold pending city review.
Cushing was suspended by the city on Jan. 22 and was subsequently terminated from his position at city contractor M.T. Causley. Bill Palmer is now serving as the city’s building official.
Sotheby’s
LESLIE LAKE | SUN
From left, Bradenton Beach Commissioners Jan Vosburgh and Ralph Cole, Mayor John Chappie, Commissioners Scott Bear and Deborah Scaccianoce and attorney Robert Lincoln discuss building issues.
Flag football playoffs at Center
Bob Hawks, left, and Bob Lee won the Anna Maria Horseshoes championship on March 5 after a 21-13 victory over Del Reese in the final. On March 8, Tom Skoloda teamed up with John Poccynek and earned the day’s bragging rights after a 21-3 win over Gersey Fernandes.
Key Royale Club golfers swing into spring
MARCH 3 - STABLEFORD
First Place - Bill Shuman, +4
Second Place - Bob Blaser and Brian Comer tied, +3
Third Place - David Desrosiers, Earl Ritchie and Rich Salzburg tied, +2
MARCH 4 - LADIES' SCRAMBLE
First Place Team - Margrit Layh, Marilyn Manzer, Sue Porter and Terry Westby, 31
Second Place Team - Ceal Barry, Jenny Huibers and Barb Rinckey, 32
Third Place Team - Annette Hall, Judy Menchek, Jane Perkins and Bille Jean Pinson, 35
MARCH 6 - SCRAMBLE/RAMBLE COMBO WITH PAR BEING 64
First Place - Tom Darrish, John Hackinson, Dom Livedoti and Rob Perkins, 66, 2 over par
Second Place - Eric Lawson, Barb and Dave Rinckey and Joe Tynan tied John Cassese, Jeff Jump, Nub Turner and Tom Young, 69, 5 over par.
TDC: Hurricanes hit tourist development tax revenues
FROM PAGE 11
love to take pictures of it. This one image continues to perpetuate a negative image of destruction,” Gayson said.
She then referenced the Rod & Reel Pier that was badly damaged by Hurricane Helene and destroyed by Hurricane Milton.
“You have a landmark that also is no longer in existence. That is something that has an emotional connection to visitors. When they see that it’s gone, they associate that with the state of the entirety of the destination,” Gayson said.
She noted the county used and uses social media influencers and out of state media outlets and publications to help promote the current status of the Island and the Island businesses.
FERRY EXPENDITURES
The TDC members unanimously recommended county commission approval of Falcione’s request to spend up to $570,000 in tourist tax revenues for county-contracted Gulf Islands Ferry operations.
Falcione seeks $350,000 for operational costs for the ferry operations that will soon include a larger third ferry boat that’s expected to begin service in July. He also seeks $120,000 to upgrade the Riverwalk Day Dock in downtown Bradenton for the overnight docking of the third ferry boat and up to $100,000 for renovations to the
The iconic Rod & Reel Pier was destroyed by the back-to-back
floating dock at the Bradenton Beach Pier that serves as a ferry landing.
When welcoming Diggins to the council at the beginning of the meeting, Falcione referenced the ongoing efforts to implement a Gulf Islands Ferry stop in Holmes Beach.
“Dan was an incredible steward working with our team to try to accommodate the water ferry in Holmes Beach. He hasn’t given up yet and we haven’t given up yet. We’re excited that you’re on the TDC,” Falcione said.
Ferry service to Anna Maria is discontinued until the hurricane-damaged City Pier is repaired and reopened or the county installs a standalone ferry landing between the pier and the Lake La Vista jetty.
For November, we were down 17.71% and for December we were down 16.6%.”
Michele Shulz, Manatee County Tax Collector’s Office
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
hurricanes.
FUN IN THE SUN
CLASSIFIEDS
ANNOUNCEMENTS
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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.
REAL ESTATE HOMES & CONDOS FOR SALE
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 Duncan, Broker Duncan Real Estate a lifelong island resident bringing success to her customers for 30 years. Proven track record brings you results! 941-725-1589
FOR SALE, 1BR/1BA full Gulf front condo on Bradenton Beach, second floor, undamaged by hurricanes, new A/C, wood floors, on-demand water heater, allin-one W/D. $595,000. 941-778-5070.
HOLMES BEACH Partial Gulf View & Intracoastal views 5BR/4BA Custom built home private pool, elevator, all tile flooring. Best Price $2,600,000. Sharon Hightower RE/ MAX Alliance Group 941-330-5054.
PERICO ISLAND CONDO fantastic water views, new bathrooms, new kitchen, new a/c, furnished, new impact windows. $399,900. Sharon Hightower RE/ MAX Alliance Group 941-330-5054
GATED COMMUNITY ESTUARY 3BR/3.5BA, pool, 12 ft ceilings, open floor plan, Gorgeous kitchen, 2019 built all tile floors a must see Sharon Hightower RE/MAX Alliance Group 941-330-5054
RENTALS: ANNUAL
ANNUAL RENTAL minutes to beaches 2BR/2BA Condo. Water/cable included, pool, washer/dryer. $1795/mo First Month Free. Call 941-713-6743
ANNUAL RENTAL in Holmes Beach. 2BR/2BA Ground Level, all new appliances. 2 off street parking spaces. $2500 mo. First Month and Security. Call 941 565-8407
HOLMES BEACH 209 83rd St.: 1BR/1BA efficiency apartment. Small but cute! $1700/mo. 2BR/2BA private pool, large screened lanai! $3500/mo. Water, trash, lawn care included. Also pool care. Annual, unfurnished. 1 Year lease. 1st, last & security. Call 941-809-2488
FULLY FURNISHED 4BR/3BA Recently Remodeled Bayfront view and 7 min walk to beach Condo in Holmes Beach. Includes Heated pool, tennis court, fishing pier, cable, WiFi, water and trash. Electric in your name. One year lease $5000 month. Call Nedra :352-875-6094
BUSINESS & SERVICE DIRECTORY
RENTALS: ANNUAL
FULLY FURNISHED Nice home 6 min walk to beach on 63rd St. 3BR/3.5BA with private heated pool, office, elevator in Holmes Beach.One year lease available. Tenant must pay all utilities. $5000 per month plus deposit. Call Nedra 352-875-6094.
BRADENTON BEACH two 2BR/1BA apartments available to rent. $2500/ mo. First, last and $1000 security deposit. Renovated/updated. No pets. Adults only. Call 941-70547370
BEAUTIFUL PERICO BAY Club Condo! 2BR/2BA, Second Floor Unit $4750/ mo seasonally, $2500/mo annually +Security Deposit Please call 941-7781979 for more details.
RENTALS: SEASONAL & VACATION
ANNA MARIA ISLAND
CONDOS Large pool, beach access, free WiFi, 1&2 Bedroom $900 to $1200 per week redekercondosonami.com Tim 941-704-7525
FULLY FURNISHED
2BR/2BA Condo in Holmes Beach. Includes all utilities, cable, internet, and trash. Seasonal, monthly or 6-month lease available March 1, 2025. Call Jack at 312-835-2323
TIFFANY PLACE Gulf Front Condo for Rent Incredible views from living room and master bedroom. 2BR/2BA Green Real Estate Call 941-778-0455
SEASONAL RENTAL in PALMA SOLA. 3BR/2BA weekly or monthly rates. Contact Barb Grace 941201-2190
BEAUTIFUL BRIGHT QUIET renovated condo 2BR/2BA seasonal $4750/ month. On pond Perico Bay Club: pool, tennis, pickleball, gym, parking Min from AMI beaches Call 952818-4685
ROOM TO RENT
ROOM WITH PRIVATE BATH. LBK/AMI. laundry. Call 941-383-6949
TRANSPORTATION
ANYTIME TRANSPORTATION to all Airports, Casino, etc. Tampa/St. Pete $85. Sarasota $40. Pets welcome. Very dependable. Reasonable rates. Contact Jeanne. 941-7795095
AIRPORT SHUTTLE
Quality Transportation: 10 Years by Lewber 352339-3478.
