Anna Maria Island Sun April 19, 2017

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VOL 17 No. 27

April 19, 2017

Sunrise service brings words of hope

Long Bar Pointe developers present new plans ...

Now called Aqua by the Bay, the plan calls for a 145-foot high-rise and a ‘manmade estuary enhancement area.’

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

BRADENTON – On Thursday, May 4, Manatee County Commissioners will discuss the new general development plan and rezoning requests for the Aqua by the Bay development once known as Long Bar Pointe.

On Thursday, April 13, the Manatee County Planning Commission voted 3-2 in favor of the proposed development being consistent with the county’s comprehensive plan and land development code. Timothy Rhoades, Mike Rahn and John DeLesline supported the development. Matt Bower and Al Horrigan Jr. did not.

County commissioners will consider the Planning Commission’s recommendations when making their own decisions and a large public turnout is expected at the 9 a.m. land use meeting.

Proposed changes

Developer Carlos Beruff is requesting 191 acres

TOM VAUGHT | SUN

Hundreds of people rose early to catch the 53rd Annual Easter Sunrise Service, sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Anna Maria Island.

Kiwanis Club President Robyn Mary Kinkopf noted that a grant from the trolley fund helped pay the costs of producing the service.

FDOT changes 119th Street plans FDOT backs down on proposed changes to Cortez village access roads.

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

BRADENTON — Residents of the village of Cortez can breathe a little easier now that the Florida Department of Transportation is changing its plan for 119th Street access.

Concern mounted after FDOT released plans to try for a reduction in vehicular congestion on Cortez Road by modifying the signal at the 119th intersection and adding medians which would restrict left hand turns in and out of the south side of 119th Street. The changes, based on three year old traffic counts conducted by FDOT contractors, didn’t demonstrate sufficient traffic to keep access to the street as-is.

A new traffic count showed a significant increase

INSIDE NEWS OPINION Sun survey sean murphy OUTDOORS wedding section REAL ESTATE classifieds

4 6 7 21 26-27 28-31 36-41 45-47

... as opponents draw battle lines Public comment provided at last week’s meeting leaned strongly in opposition to the proposed development.

in the amount of left turn traffic at the intersection, prompting FDOT to change its plans.

Gone are the planned median increase and turn lane restrictions. However, FDOT is still looking at three options for the intersection, none of which has emerged as a top contender as of press time for The Sun. One option is to re-stripe a section of the roadway to provide a two-way left turn lane from the south side of 119th Street to Cortez Road and from westbound Cortez Road to the south segment of 119th Street. A second option, recently offered to the department by Cortez residents and business owners, is to use a segment of Florida Maritime Museum property to realign the intersection.

The third option under consideration is to do nothing, leaving the signal as-is.

However the department decides to proceed, FDOT Communications Specialist for District 1 Robin

BRADENTON – Twenty Manatee County residents signed up to speak at last week’s Planning Commission meeting, and all but one opposed the revised plans for the Aqua by the Bay development once known as Long Bar Pointe.

The plans call for a 145-foot building, a 75-foot residential building and a man-made estuary and retaining wall that would separate the development and the coastal mangroves along Sarasota Bay. The developers also want to rezone 191 of the property’s 529-acres.

see street plans, page 38

see Aqua, page 33

It’s all about kids, a

Bunny, eggs and bonnets at the Easter Egg hunt and celebration. 4, 23

Anna Maria Island, Florida

see plans, page 32

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

Earth Day APPROACHES WITH A FEW CLOUDS ON THE HORIZON.

10

THE ‘Trump effect’ may be hurting

Florida tourism. 11

The Island’s award-winning weekly newspaper

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APRIL 19, 2017

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APRIL 19, 2017

THE SUN

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Schooner San Francesco raised The big question is what comes next?

BY Joe HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT

CORTEZ – Thanks to the efforts of James Frederick and Michael Ibasfalean, the schooner San Francesco is once again floating in front of the Seafood Shack restaurant.

With an assist from the restaurant and marina’s management team, the 66-foot, two-masted wooden schooner rose from its resting place on the bottom of the waterway on the evening of Tuesday, April 11.

Two questions now remain: Will the schooner stay afloat and what will happen to it?

On Sunday night, a breaker for the dockside electrical outlet popped. This caused the electric pumps to stop running and the ship to take on water. Property Manager Joe Seely and Dock Master Eddy fetched a gasoline-powered pump that helped remove the water, and the schooner was still floating Monday morning.

What next?

Standing aboard the schooner with Frederick last Wednesday, Seafood Shack Chief Operating Officer Jed Lippincott said, “We’re elated, excited and relieved. They did an

joe hendricks | SUN

Michael Ibasfalean and James Frederick stand aboard the San Francesco after they raised her last week. The San Francesco came up around 8 p.m. on Tuesday, April 11. exceptional job. These two gentlemen have full-time jobs, and they came here on their days off to help us out.”

As for what comes next, Lippincott said, “We’re taking it one step at a time. Step one was to get it floating. Step two is to dry it out and see what the condition of the wood is on the inside. Once we have that information, we’ll be able to go to step three.”

Lippincott hopes to make those decisions this week. The Seafood Shack has other plans for the dock space, but those plans

were not revealed. Lippincott said the city of St. Petersburgh expressed interest in the schooner, but that depends on whether she is seaworthy enough to make that trip. A private party also expressed interest.

“It’s all going to depend upon the condition and if it’s moveable. The leaking is down to a dribble, but even a dribble’s not good when you’re talking about a boat,” he said.

The dive team

Frederick and Ibasfalean are old friends who in recent years became interested in scuba diving. Frederick works in the construction industry and serves in the Florida National Guard. Ibasfalean is a deputy with the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office and he also serves in the National Guard.

Using scuba gear, Frederick and Ibasfalean see schooner, page 5

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THE SUN

ISLAND NEWS

in brief

Vacation rental bill guttted The Florida Senate’s Community Affairs Committee amended Sen. Greg Steube’s vacation rental bill, SB 188, late Monday in a manner that allows local governments to keep their existing vacation rental ordinances and regulations and/or adopt new ones – as long as they don’t prohibit vacation rentals outright or regulate the frequency or duration of their use. If adopted by the Senate as a whole, the amended bill would maintain the current status quo, but allow local governments to make rental restrictions less restrictive without jeopardizing existing grandfathering provisions.

The amendment, submitted by Sen. Jeff Brandes (R-St. Petersburg), would also prohibit local governments from preventing active military and National Guard personnel from renting their properties on a short-term basis if called away on duty. The amended bill was ruled favorable by the Community Affairs Committee and will now be sent to the Rules Committee for final review.

Holmes Beach receives noise report card Holmes Beach is cracking down on noise violators.

Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer reported April 13 to commissioners that officers responded to 29 noise complaints since the first of the month. Ten of those were daytime noise complaints, while 19 were after 10 p.m. Of the evening complaints, six were issued citations.

Tokajer said none of the daytime noise complaints registered above 58 decibels on the city’s noise meter. The maximum allowable decibel reading is 65 during daytime hours. Officers were unable to enter residences to check daytime decibel levels on raised floors, as previously requested by residents, due to complainants wishing to remain anonymous.

Blues, Brews and BBQ on Bridge Street Find Blues, Brew and BBQ on Bridge Street in Bradenton Beach on Saturday, April 22, from 3 to 9 p.m. Fine blues entertainment includes Mac McConnell at 3 p.m., Memphis Rub Band at 4:45 p.m. and Steve Arvey Band featuring special guests Kellie Rucker, Rebecca Bird and English Johnny at 6:45 p.m.

Admission is $5, and children 12 years old and under are admitted free. Bring chairs and blankets, but no outside food or drink is allowed. The event is sponsored

by The Sun.

Noise ordinance on Thursday’s agenda In the wake of a recent noise ordinance arrest, a noise ordinance discussion featuring public input will take place at the Thursday, April 20, Bradenton Beach City Commission meeting. The meeting will begin at noon at city hall, 107 Gulf Dr. N. The noise discussion will occur early in the meeting and the commission will also discuss a noise ordinance extension for Island Time Bar & Grill for a special event on Saturday, April 22. The agenda includes a request to erect a dumpster fence at the North Coquina Boat Ramp; participation in census-related address update operation; and the first of two public hearings on a threemonth building moratorium extension.

Visit our website, www.amisun.com.

Scan this code with your smartphone to go there.

APRIL 19, 2017

Egg hunt, Pine Avenue draw crowd

Many egg hunters and their parents came early for breakfast pastries, juice and coffee in the Sandbar pavilion, compliments of the Chiles Group.

BY TOM VAUGHT SUN STAFF WRITER | tvaught@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA – Easter came early for hundreds of children and their parents Saturday at the Sandbar restaurant and on Pine Avenue.

The action began at 9 a.m., as hundreds of early bird parents and their children showed up for pastries, compliments of the Sandbar restaurant and Hometown Desserts, at the pavilion by the restaurant.

Then everyone lined up around three rectangular, taped-off areas containing colorful Easter eggs strewn about in the sand. Armed with bags and baskets, the kids eagerly awaited the signal to begin the 2017 Chiles Group and AMI Sun Newspaper Easter Egg Hunt.

The signal See more Egg Hunt photos on Page 23 wasn’t quite loud enough for all the kids to hear, however, so instead of starting in stages all the kids in all the groups made a mad dash for eggs at the same time.

The ensuing frenzy turned into great – though chaotic – fun and left everyone exhausted, but with smiles on their faces and eggs in their baskets.

Fittingly, the Easter Bunny took charge and lined up all the participants for a leisurely parade down Pine Avenue and the highly anticipated Easter egg roll, Easter bonnet contest, face painting and a chance to have their picture taken with the Bunny of the hour.

Local performer John Rinell supplied live music with an Easter flair, and Chiles Group personnel served more breakfast snacks, juice and mimosas.

There was ample time for the bonnet contestants to circulate through the crowd, giving all a good look at this year’s crop of incredible hats.

Tom vaught | SUN

Top: The horn sounds, and kids and parents charge into the sand to gather a few of the thousands of plastic Easter eggs scattered on the beach. Above, Tampa Bay Lightning Coach Jon Cooper and family pose with Tina and Ed Chiles. From left to right: Jessie Cooper, Tina Chiles, Josephine Cooper, Coach Jon Cooper, Jonny and Julia Cooper and Ed Chiles.

Todd Ramquist took first place among the adults with his costume that looked like Big Bird with spinning whirligigs and pipes coming out of his hat. Bridget Putnam took second place with live flowers sprouting from her pink bonnet.

And Tony Simpson’s took third with his red hat complete with bouquets surrounded by a small, white picket fence and a stuffed manatee doll attached.

In the children’s competition, Savannah Coba took first place with a sand dune hat with yellow chicks and a Happy Easter sign in her bonnet. Benjamin Pupin’s piratethemed hat took second place, and Ava Simpson’s third place winner

sported some evergreen foliage with Easter eggs attached and a picture of a white rabbit with a sign that read, “Wanted, Peter Cottontail.”

Its was a morning of fun for all ages and one women summed it up saying, “My daughter has been working on her bonnet for the last six months.”

Tampa Bay Lightning Coach Jon Cooper was there with his family, and Sandbar owner Ed Chiles summed up his feelings saying it was a morning of old-fashioned fun, which has been going on for many years on Pine Avenue.

APRIL 19, 2017

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Concern mounts over concession funds Holmes Beach city commissioners are planning how to use their share of the concession funds managed by Manatee County.

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

HOLMES BEACH — There’s a $1 million pot of money, and each Island city wants to get a cut before it’s gone.

The pot of money in question is the concession fund, a Manatee Countymanaged account containing the three Island cities’ cut of the county’s share of profits from the public beaches concessionaires.

As of April, the account contained $1,097,872 in unused funds.

The amount doesn’t include an estimated $10,000 expenditure for a proposed fitness trail in Bradenton Beach.

“It’s troubling the money has been sitting here and no one is asking for anything,” Commissioner Jean Peelen said. “This kind of money could disappear overnight.”

“I know every city has some idea of what they’d like to do,” Commissioner Judy Titsworth said.

The concession funds are earmarked for public benefit projects with the caveat that all three Island cities agree on the use of funds.

Mayor Bob Johnson circulated a list of proposed projects from each of the Island cities.

On the Holmes Beach list, commissioners specified several projects including vegetation planting at Spring Lake Park, mats for handicap access to public beaches, improvements to the skate park and changes at the baseball field.

The beach mats project was added at Peelen’s request to assist the mobility impaired in traversing the soft sand to the water’s edge.

According to Peelen, the beach mats are removable and can be rolled up during sea turtle nesting season and to allow for beach raking.

“I think it would be such a lovely thing to do,” she said.

Titsworth suggested the city push for funds to revamp the skate park.

“It desperately needs upgrading and

improving,” she said.

Titsworth also brought up using some of the funds to pay for lighting at the baseball field and make the infield smaller so it could be used by senior and Little League teams.

“I don’t want to throw good money after bad,” Commissioner Jean Peelen said. “There’s no demand for baseball games on the Island.”

Commissioner Marvin Grossman had another idea for the seldom-used baseball field.

“I want a drone race track,” he joked.

Commissioner Carol Soustek brought up possibly using the funds to help build a local bicycle path instead of funding it with city money.

“People like the wide sidewalks, but they don’t want to use city funds that could be beneficial elsewhere,” she said.

After much discussion, commissioners agreed to pursue county funds for the beach mats but leave it on their list of potential projects. Discussion will continue to determine which project the city wants to pursue first for concession funds.

THE SUN

5

SCHOONER: Raised again FROM PAGE 3

spent most of last Monday and Tuesday tacking plastic tarps and industrial strength plastic wrap to the hull and the sides of the wooden schooner built in Italy in the 1870’s.

Around 6 p.m. Tuesday night they started pumping the water out of the sunken ship.

“We had to get a bigger pump because the two-inch pumps weren’t doing it. We went and got a hydraulic pump off the family fishing boat,” Ibasfalean, a Cortezian, said.

Shortly after 8 p.m., the ship came up.

“We’re excited and I know the Shack is excited. We wanted to be known as the guys that got this thing up and kept it up,” Frederick said, noting that this was the pair’s first project of this nature.

“We put our heads together, worked fast and worked hard. We knew it was going to happen all along,” Ibasfalean said.

On St. Patrick’s Day, former schooner owner Rick Stewart bowed to increased pressure to raise or remove the ship that sank twice last year and he signed over ownership to the Seafood Shack.

“I wish them well. I hope they can do something good with her for the people to enjoy,” he said on Friday.

6

THE SUN

OPINIOn

The Anna Maria Island Sun newspaper Island Sun Plaza, 9801 Gulf Drive P.O. Box 1189 Anna Maria, FL 34216-1189 Phone: (941) 778-3986 e-mail: news@amisun.com | ads@amisun.com | classifieds@amisun.com

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APRIL 19, 2017

EDITORIAL Steube sees the light

O

n Sunday, the Easter Bunny and his helpers brought joy to the Island’s youth.

On Monday, Sen. Jeff Brandes (R-St. Petersburg) and the Florida Senate’s Community Affairs Committee brought joy and relief to the Island’s grown-up residents and elected officials by neutering Sen. Greg Steube’s vacation rental bill, SB 188.

What remains of the Sarasota freshman senator's attempts to deregulate Florida’s lucrative vacation rental industry maintains the 2014 legislative compromise that preserves local governments’ home rule rights to adopt and enforce vacation rental regulations, while protecting property owners’ rights to operate short-term rentals without restrictions on how often and how briefly they can be rented.

Chaired by Sen. Tom Lee (R-Brandon), the Community Affairs Committee adopted, with Steube’s blessing, Brandes’ strike-through amendment that saved the status quo, which allows we the local people to work together to maintain a fair and equitable balance between community and commerce.

Steube was rightfully criticized for his shortsighted views on property rights, so it’s only fair that he be commended for heeding the advice of his more-seasoned Senate peers before it was too late.

His amended bill is not without merit. If ruled favorable by the Senate Rules Committee, approved by the Senate majority and accompanied by a similar House bill, the resulting law would allow municipalities to make rental regulations adopted before 2011 less restrictive, without jeopardizing existing grandfathering clauses and other desired provisions.

If city commissioners in Brandes’ St. Petersburg district wanted to reduce the minimum length of stay from 30 days to 14 days, they could do so without impacting the remainder of their current regulations. The adoption of Steube’s bill would also strike a patriotic note by reducing regulatory burdens on vacation rentals owned by active military personnel, active reservists and disabled veterans.

Monday afternoon’s legislative action means the cities of Anna Maria and Holmes Beach can keep the vacation rental regulations they worked long and hard on; and city leaders in Bradenton Beach can carry on with their glacial-paced efforts to enact their own vacation rental regulations and registration program.

Holmes Beach Commissioner Jean Peelen has been at the forefront of the vacation rental battleground longer than anyone else on the Island and Monday’s news made a special day even more special.

When she received a text telling her what just happened in Tallahassee, she texted in response, “It’s my birthday and there couldn’t be a better gift.”

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Traffic plans miss the mark Editor's note: This letter originally was addressed to the Florida Department of Transportation.

Members of our family have lived in Cortez since the 1970s, which makes us newcomers to most of the Cortez villagers. We dearly love the Village and are happy ownerresidents (and taxpayers)of four homes in the Village on both sides of Cortez Road. We are concerned that our enjoyment and investment in these homes and this area will suffer greatly due to the near-constant proposals for changes to the Cortez Bridge and Cortez Road intersections that provide access to our homes and Village businesses.

You and others believe that the Cortez drawbridge and the 119th Street intersection are the problems that must be dealt with to eliminate the traffic congestion along Cortez Road. I submit that the "problem" is simply a fact of life-- Longboat Key and Anna Maria Island are barrier islands. That means they are long and narrow, with limited access.

That is particularly true of the portion of Anna Maria Island at the intersection of Cortez Road and Gulf Drive. As you must already know, Gulf Drive at this point on the Island is and always will be a TWO-LANE road. THIS is where the traffic backs up and where it will always back up no matter what is done with Cortez Bridge or the portions of Cortez Road that bisect the Village of Cortez

Take The Sun Survey on Page 7.

on the mainland.

I suspect, but cannot prove, that the majority of the westbound traffic at that intersection turns left and goes south through Bradenton Beach to Longboat Key, and that the majority of the northbound traffic at that intersection turning east from Gulf Drive to cross Cortez Bridge originates at Longboat Key. So the only real way to alleviate the traffic congestion is to build a third bridge that connects the northern end of Longboat Key to the mainland. I sincerely hope that the powers that be on Longboat Key and other affected areas will shift their efforts to achieving that goal, rather than supporting other options like a 65-foothigh Cortez Bridge and permanent elimination of the signal light and left turn options at the 119th Street intersection. Each of these options will seriously damage, if not destroy, the historical Village of Cortez. Implementing both options would most certainly destroy the Village. And none of this will actually eliminate the congestion that is created when Cortez Road ends at Gulf Drive on Anna Maria Island.

The proposed changes to the 119th Street intersection are particularly troubling. The residents of Cortez walk and ride bikes whenever possible to avoid adding to the traffic congestion we deal with on a daily basis from mid-December to May, and on weekends most of the rest of the year. Unfortunately, there are times when we must use our cars

and need to be able to safely exit and enter our neighborhoods. Eliminating the traffic signal and left-turn options at the 119th Street intersection will make it virtually impossible for us to do so. The traffic signal is currently only triggered when a vehicle (or pedestrian) actually needs to exit/enter 119th Street (with one exception -- see below). That means that traffic signal is necessary for the residents and businesses of Cortez and the people who visit and/ or do business with those residents and businesses. Allowing left turns or U-turns at 121st Street is not a viable alternative. There simply is no way for the scores of large trucks and trailers that currently use 119th Street each week to deliver goods to/ from the businesses on the waterfront at the end of 119th to safely turn left across Cortez Road onto the often-flooded 121st Street, turn left again to go through the residential portion of Cortez Village in order to again turn right on 119th to get to these businesses.

As noted above, the traffic signal at 119th and Cortez is programmed to change only when activated by a vehicle or pedestrian that needs to enter/exit either portion of 119th Street. The benefit of this "need-touse" feature is negated, however, by the many vehicles that use the right turn lane to exit Cortez Road onto the northern portion of 119th Street in order to almost immediately make SEE LETTERS, PAGE 7

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APRIL 19, 2017

THE SUN

7

the sun survey

on the agenda

PREVIOUS QUESTION: What should Bradenton Beach do with its noise ordinance?

Anna Maria

Holmes Beach

4/27: City Commission meeting, 6 p.m.

For information, call 708-6130.

4/25: City Commission meeting, 6 p.m.

4/27: City Commission work session, 6 p.m.

For information, call 7085800.

18%

16%

Toss it out and hire Van Halen as the house band.

Nothing. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

66%

10005 Gulf Drive.

Bradenton Beach 107 Gulf Drive N.

4/19: Planning and Zoning Board meeting, 1 p.m.

4/20: City Commission meeting, 12 p.m.

4/25: City Commission workshop, 1 p.m.

For information, call 7781005.

Island-wide

4/20: West Manatee Fire Rescue District Commission, 6417 Third Ave. W., Bradenton, 6 p.m.

mark your calendar

Tweak it to allow for more reasonable meter readings and decibel limits.

Note: Events are free unless indicated.

Wednesday April 19

THIS WEEK’S SURVEY

• Neither. Replace the old bridge with

Which option do you favor for a Cortez Bridge replacement?

a duplicate of what's there now.

• A 65-foot, fixed span.

bridge from Lonboat to the mainland.

• A 35-foot drawbridge AND a third

• A 35-foot drawbridge.

To vote, go to www.amisun.com or scan this code to vote by smartphone.

LIKE us on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/AnnaMariaIslandSun View The Sun’s online edition at www.issuu.com/AnnaMariaIslandSun

Kayak paddle, Robinson Preserve, 1704 99th Street, Bradenton, 9 a.m. Reserve to 941-742-5757, ext. 7.

Roser-Robics chair-based exercise class, Roser Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, 9:30 a.m.

Beach Market, Coquina Beach, Bradenton Beach, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Einstein’s Circle discussions, The Center of AMI, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria, 11 a.m.

Gentle chair yoga, Anna Maria Island Art League, 5312 Holmes Blvd., Holmes Beach, noon to 12:45 p.m. $12. Space limited.

Computer class, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 2 p.m.

Thursday April 20

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR FROM PAGE 6

illegal U-turns just past the median on 119th Street to return to Cortez Road, triggering the signal!

Those that don't make the illegal U-turns instead zip through our neighborhood streets, using them as a speedy cut-through to return to Cortez Road just before the bridge.

I hope I have succeeded in persuading you that, with respect to the proposed elimination of the traffic signal and left-turn options at the intersection of Cortez Road and 119th Street, the very real detriments to the residents/ businesses of the Village of Cortez should outweigh any potential but unlikely benefit of alleviating of Cortez Road congestion. Changing

5801 Marina Drive.

the intersections in the Village of Cortez and the Cortez Bridge will not eliminate or even materially alleviate the traffic. We either have to continue learning to live with it or actually deal with it by building a third bridge connecting the north end of Longboat Key directly to the mainland.

Anna Cockerham Cortez

Thanks from Kiwanis On behalf of the Kiwanis of Anna Maria Island, we would like to thank all of the churches who took part in our 53rd Annual Easter Sunrise Service. The large attendance along with the perfect

weather added to the event. Thank you to Chuck Caudill for providing the sound system and Koko Ray Hansen and Morgan Lawson for the music. Not only did we have our full membership and their families helping, we also had our State College of Florida Key Club out in force assisting where needed.

Lastly, a huge “thank you” to the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce, which awarded trolley grant funds that allowed us to donate approximately $1,000 back to each church. We look forward to seeing everyone next year.

Sandra K. Haas-Martens Kiwanis of Anna Maria Island secretary

Boomer Boot camp, Roser Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, 9:30 a.m. One class, $15; five classes, $65; 10 classes, $100.

Zumba for beginners, Aging in Paradise Resource Center, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, second floor, 10 to 10:45 a.m., $10 per class. Reserve to maryannbrady@aginginparadise.org or 941-383-6493.

Book club, “The Secret Chord,” Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10:15 a.m.

American contract bridge league, open pairs duplicate bridge games, Aging in Paradise Resource Center, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive,

Longboat Key, second floor, 1 to 4 p.m., $11 per game with snacks included.

Reserve to maryannbrady@ aginginparadise.org or 941383-6493.

Knit and crochet, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 2 p.m.

Jam in the Sand, Anna Maria Island Beach Café, 4000 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, 5 to 8 p.m.

Bingo, Annie Silver Community Center, 103 23rd St. N., Bradenton Beach, 7 to 9 p.m. Refreshments available for purchase.

Friday April 21

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

Bridge refresher class, Aging in Paradise Resource Center, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive, 2nd Floor, Longboat Key, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., $10, includes coffee and cookies. Reserve to maryannbrady@aginginparadise. org or 941-383-6493.

Computer class, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 2 p.m.

Sunset drum circle, Manatee Beach, 4000 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, 5 to 8 p.m.

Saturday April 22

Great American Cleanup, sponsored by Keep Manatee Beautiful, Kingfish Boat Ramp, Holmes Beach, 9 a.m.

American contract bridge league, open pairs duplicate bridge games, Aging in Paradise Resource Center, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, second floor, SEE CALENDAR, PAGE 8

8

www.amisun.com

THE SUN

1 to 4 p.m., $11 per game with snacks included. Reserve to maryannbrady@aginginparadise.org or 941-383-6493.

Chess club, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 4 p.m.

Sunday

April 27

April 23

Beach Market, Coquina Beach, Bradenton Beach, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Monday April 24

Social bridge games, Roser Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, noon.

Tuesday April 25

Boomer Boot camp, Roser Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, 9:30 a.m. One class, $15; five classes, $65; 10 classes, $100.

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

Duplicate bridge, Church of the Annunciation, 4408 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, 12:30 p.m.

Wednesday April 26

Roser-Robics chair-based exercise class, Roser Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, 9:30 a.m.

Einstein’s Circle discussions, The Center of AMI, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria, 11 a.m.

Gentle chair yoga, Anna Maria Island Art League, 5312 Holmes Blvd., Holmes Beach, noon to 12:45 p.m. $12. Space limited.

Coloring club, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, noon.

APRIL 19, 2017

Thursday Boomer Boot camp, Roser Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, 9:30 a.m. One class, $15; five classes, $65; 10 classes, $100.

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

Zumba for beginners, Aging in Paradise Resource Center, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, second floor, 10 to 10:45 a.m., $10 per class. Reserve to maryannbrady@ aginginparadise.org or 941-383-6493.

American contract bridge league, open pairs duplicate bridge games, Aging in Paradise Resource Center, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, second floor, 1 to 4 p.m., $11 per game with snacks included. Reserve to maryannbrady@aginginparadise.org or 941383-6493.

Jam in the Sand, Anna Maria Island Beach Café, 4000 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, 5 to 8 p.m.

Bingo, Annie Silver Community Center, 103 23rd St. N., Bradenton Beach, 7 to 9 p.m.

Refreshments available for purchase.

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Friday April 28

Four Elements Earthwalk: Wind, Neal Preserve, 12301 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton, 9 a.m. Reserve to 941-742-5757, ext. 6.

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

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THE SUN

APRIL 19, 2017

Earth Day cloudy, with silver lining

A

few storm clouds are gathering over Earth Day this year.

Manatees

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service downlisted manatees under the U.S. Endangered Species Act from endangered to threatened status in March.

Florida manatees should have been exempted from this downlisting, which was based on studies of manatees in Puerto Rico, Mexico, Central America, northern South America and the Greater and Lesser Antilles.

Florida survey counts show increasing population numbers, but ignore the inequitable comparison of single day/single aircraft counts in years past with multi-day/ multi-aircraft counts in recent years, which likely resulted in counting animals more than once, both by the same and different spotters.

The agency also did not consider the anticipated loss of artificial winter warm water habitat – primarily power plant closures – on which more than 60 percent of the Florida manatee population depends, nor did it consider the increasing popularity of recreational boating in Florida that further endangers the animals, few of which escape propeller cuts in their lifetimes.

EPA cuts

The Environmental Protection Agency will have less ability to protect the environment with budget cuts announced in March that will reduce staff and cut funding for programs, including water and air quality programs,

environmental education programs, environmental law enforcement and five programs affecting Florida and the Gulf of Cindy Lane Mexico, “returning the responsibility for funding local environmental efforts and programs to state and local entities,” according to a March 21 EPA memo.

BP oil spill

April 20 is the seventh anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, which killed 11 people and spilled 200 million gallons of oil over three months into the Gulf of Mexico from Florida to Texas.

The 1.8 million gallons of chemical dispersant used to break up the oil into microscopic particles did not remove the oil from the Gulf, but made it invisible and is thought by some scientists to be causing as much damage to marine life reproduction and health as the oil itself.

But one light on the horizon is a program by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, funded with restoration money provided by BP. Seven Louisiana longline fishermen were chosen from about half of the 45 eligible vessel owners in the Gulf, some from Florida, who applied for a pilot project to voluntarily use alternative gear for a four-month pilot period

ending June 30. If the gear works, a voluntary ban on longline fishing with traditional gear will be implemented six months of each year for the next 5-10 years to allow affected fish species to recover from the disaster.

A silver lining

Local folks have taken to heart the idea of Earth Day founder David Brower in 1970, "Think globally, act locally," by planting trees and cleaning up Manatee County.

Keep Manatee Beautiful (KMB) is keeping the torch lit with the Great American Cleanup from 9 a.m. to noon on Earth Day, Saturday, April 22, in several locations, including Anna Maria City Hall, 10005 Gulf Drive, Kingfish Boat Ramp on State Road 64 West at the drawbridge in Holmes Beach, and the FISH Preserve, 11601 Cortez Road W. Adopt-A-Highway, Road and Shore groups will be doing cleanups at their adopted sites, including Palma Sola Causeway and Anna Maria Island beaches.

Volunteers on the Island, in Cortez and on the causeway will be thanked with an Earth Day Party at Manatee Public Beach, 4000 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, compliments of the Anna Maria Island Beach Café.

KMB also will host National Arbor Day ceremonies on Friday, April 28, when it will plant trees countywide.

In Pope Francis’ encyclical, “Laudato Si, On Care for Our Common Home,” he writes that in damaging the environment, we damage each other and future generations and invites everyone to make a difference in small ways such as these.

To volunteer, visit http://manateebeautiful.com and www.arborday.org.

CELEBRATING COASTAL & CLASSIC

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APRIL 19, 2017

THE SUN

11

Politics one reason for soft tourist season

BY CINDY LANE SUN STAFF WRITER | clane@amisun.com

HOLMES BEACH – A decline in tourism on Anna Maria Island in January and February could be due in part to European perceptions that the U.S. is becoming more isolationist, according to the county’s tourism consultant.

The “Trump effect” may have played a role in the unusual downturn in the first half of the four-month peak tourism season on the Island, Walter Klages, of Tampa-based Research Data Services, told the Manatee County Tourist Development Council on Monday.

Occupancy was down about 1 percent countywide in January and 2 percent in February, Klages said.

On the Island, tourist tax collections in January were down 16 percent in Anna Maria, 7 percent in Bradenton Beach and 24 percent in Holmes Beach in January, according to statistics from the Manatee County Tax Collector’s office. In February, Anna Maria collections declined about 1 percent, Bradenton Beach was up about 1 percent and Holmes Beach was down about 4 percent.

“We had some softness in the European markets due to Brexit,” the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union, Klages said.

However, the “contractions” in visita-

tion were only slight variations on a definite upward trend, he said, pointing out that occupancy remained in the 90th percentile during the downturn.

“We have the best product,” he said, particularly in the safety and security of the destination.

The county will not see significant growth in the next few months, he said, predicting that summer should be healthy, and UK visitation should begin restabilizing by fall.

The German market remains stable, with about 2 percent growth so far this year, he said, and the domestic market also is solid, with Canadians visiting slightly less.

In 2016, tourism was worth $556 million to the county, up more than 8 percent from the previous year, according to Klages.

Island congestion critical

Despite the downturn, “We had a very rough season this year,” TDC Chair Carol Whitmore said, adding that Anna Maria Island has reached the “tipping point” where visitation is adversely affecting the character of the Island for residents and visitors.

The Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau continues to steer domestic advertising away from peak tourist season to help relieve conges-

tion, director Elliott Falcione said, warning that less advertising to the area’s affluent target market is resulting in visitors who cannot afford to spend as much money here. The CVB continues to advertise internationally during tourist season, as overseas visitors book several months in advance, he said.

A trolley app would increase ridership on the Island, TDC member Ed Chiles suggested, adding that the proposed water taxi and a fixed span bridge with emergency lanes also will help congestion.

Residents should contact legislators to obtain FDOT funds for wider roads and more bridges, TDC member Jack Rynerson said.

In other business:

• The TDC voted unanimously to recommend that the Manatee County Commission consider spending up to $1.5 million in tourist tax funds in a 50/50 match over five years to assist the Florida Rail Road Museum in Parrish in a project to expand its covered exhibit space for vintage rail cars, possibly including Ringling circus cars.

The museum hosts events for Christmas, Easter and Thanksgiving in addition to its regularly scheduled runs.

• The council approved a motion to

TDC members TDC members are Manatee County Commissioner and TDC Chairman Carol Whitmore; Bradenton Mayor Wayne Poston; Anna Maria Commissioner Doug Copeland; Jack Rynerson, formerly with the Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority; Vernon DeSear, vice president of marketing and business development at Manatee Memorial Hospital; Jiten Patel, of the Holiday Inn Sarasota/Bradenton Airport; David Teitelbaum, of Tortuga Inn/ Tradewinds; Ed Chiles, of the Chiles Group; and Dale Sconyers, of Holiday Inn Lakewood Ranch. recommend to the county commission that the timeline for the boathouse construction at Nathan Benderson Park be extended until December 2020.

• The CVB and county are working toward collecting tourist taxes from online vacation rentals such as Airbnb and VRBO, Falcione reported. The City of Anna Maria already requires registration of Airbnb rentals, a policy in jeopardy in the Florida legislature this session, TDC member and Anna Maria Commissioner Doug Copeland said.

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APRIL 19, 2017

Capital plan in place The specific revenue sources that will fund the plan still need to be identified.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA – The city now has a $35.8 million 10-year capital plan in place.

On April 6, city commissioners adopted a resolution presented by Mayor Dan Murphy that formalizes the city’s long-range plans regarding capital improvements to address infrastructure, coastal conservation, traffic circulation and city facility needs.

City Engineer Lynn Burnett, Public Works Manager Dean Jones, City Clerk LeAnne Addy and volunteer financial consultant John Chambers assisted Murphy in the creation of the plan that was based in part on input previously provided by city commissioners.

The plan includes $11.4 million for street improvements, $5.2 million for property acquisition, $3.3 million to expand and renovate city hall, $2.7 million for new beach accesses and Gulf Park improvements, $2.1 million for Belle Ha-

joe hendricks | SUN

Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy discusses his 10-year capital plan with city commissioners.

A future redesign of Pine Avenue to increase bicyclist and pedestrian safety was added to the mayor’s capital plan. ven Park improvements including kayak access, $2 million for the city pier rehabilitation, $1.36 million for City Pier Park build out and improvements, $400,000 for a water taxi landing and $233,676 for traffic signals on Gulf Drive.

The plan identifies projects as ongoing, short-term, mid-term or long-term and Murphy said adopting the resolution was a preliminary step in creating a plan that will be further revised during the fiscal year budget planning process later this year.

When addressing the commission, Burnett described the plan as a living, breathing document that would require annual review during the budget planning process.

As for how the projects will be funded, Murphy said, “We haven’t fully developed the revenue portions yet.

That still needs to be identified, and the funding will come from several different sources. The capital plan will be revisited after the revenue sources are identified.”

One of the revenue sources could include an occupancy-based special assessment program for property owners.

The commission expressed unanimous general support for the plan, but the members suggested some modifications.

Commissioner Brian Seymour said he opposed adding more traffic lights to the city, and it was agreed that alternatives such as roundabouts would be considered. see capital, page 34

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APRIL 19, 2017

THE SUN

13

Ill-advised pass causes bridge crash The non-fatal crash backed up Cortez Road traffic for two hours.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

CORTEZ – An illegal attempt to pass another car resulted in a head-on collision at the east end of the Cortez Bridge last Wednesday afternoon.

According to Manatee County Sheriff ’s Office Public Information Director Dave Bristow, a family of four from Connecticut was headed eastbound on the Cortez Bridge in a Nissan Rogue on April 12 when a westbound Oldsmobile sedan driven by 32-year-old Bernadeta Wilkins, from North Port, tried to pass another vehicle and struck the Nissan head on.

“There were injuries, but nothing life threatening. The driver of the Olds was transported to the hospital, as were two adults in the other vehicle.

The children weren’t injured.

The driver of the Oldsmobile was cited for passing in a no passing zone and no seat belt.

The bridge was closed for approximately two hours,” Bristow said.

Manatee County court records state Wilkens was charged with careless driving as a result of the crash. Manatee and Sarasota county court records list no previous traffic infractions by Wilkins.

The accident occurred at approximately 2:50 p.m. in front of the Tide Tables restaurant.

When kitchen manager Josh Wilkinson heard the crash, he rushed to the scene and was among the first to arrive.

“Obviously, it was pretty bad.

The lady in the red car that

Submitted | Marcus Vega

The two cars collided in front of Tide Tables restaurant. West Manatee Fire Rescue used a multitude of tools to remove the injured driver from her car. was in the wrong lane had her airbag deployed, and she was stuck under her dashboard.

She was screaming in pain and crying,” Wilkinson said.

“In the SUV were a woman, a man and two children. The woman had what looked like a broken leg and me and the other gentleman helped her out of the car and got her to the curb. The gentleman – the driver of the SUV – was covered in blood. The two little children sitting in the back seat were shocked, but safe and unhurt.

They sat on the curb with their mom and dad after we helped them out of the car,” he said.

“They had to cut the woman out of the red car. They got her out, and she was in significant pain, but alive. The tow trucks got there just as I was leaving work around 4:30, and traffic was still backed up past Sunny Shores at five o’ clock,” Wilkinson said.

County resident Jeff Barker was headed to the Bridge Tender Inn to play trivia, and he was among the last westbound

West Manatee Fire Rescue | submitted

vehicles to cross the bridge before it was closed to traffic.

“It looked like they hit each other straight on. It didn’t look good. The windshields were both broken and some of the people were getting out as I passed by. I was able to get through, but other people told me they got rerouted,” Barker said.

According to Fire Chief Tom Sousa, West Manatee Fire Rescue responded with Engine 121, Engine 111 and Battalion 7.

“Engine 121 and Engine 111 worked together to free the patient in about 10 minutes,” he said of the efforts to remove Wilkins from her car.

14

THE SUN

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APRIL 19, 2017

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NOVEMBER 2, 2016

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THE SUN

15

Turtle Tips

Bird tips

During sea turtle season, May 1 – Oct. 31, please follow these tips: • Turn off lights visible from the beach and close blinds from sundown to sunrise; lights confuse nesting sea turtles and may cause them to go back to sea and drop their eggs in the water, where they won’t hatch. Light can also attract hatchlings away from the water.

• Don’t use flashlights, lanterns or camera flashes on the beach at night.

• Remove all objects from the sand from sundown to sunrise; they can deter sea turtles from nesting and disorient hatchlings.

• Fill in the holes you dig in the sand before leaving the beach; they can trap nesting and hatching sea turtles, which cannot live long out of the water.

• Don’t use sky lanterns or fireworks; they litter the beach and Gulf.

• Do not trim trees and plants that shield the beach from lights.

• Never touch a sea turtle; it’s the law. If you see people disturbing turtles, call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Wildlife Alert hotline at 888404-FWCC (3922).

During bird nesting season, March through August, please follow these tips: • Never touch a shorebird chick, even if it’s wandering outside a staked nesting area.

• Teach kids not to chase birds – bird parents may abandon nests if they’re disturbed.

• Don’t feed birds – it encourages them to fly at people aggressively and is not good for their health.

• If birds are screeching and flying at you, you’re too close.

• Avoid posted bird nesting areas and use designated walkways to the beach.

• Keep pets away from bird nesting areas.

• Keep the beach clean; food scraps attract predators such as raccoons and crows to the beach, and litter can entangle birds and other wildlife.

• If you see people disturbing nesting birds, call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Wildlife Alert hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922).

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THE SUN

APRIL 19, 2017

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Boardwalk tagged with graffiti An unknown graffiti artist or artists defaced the boardwalk near the Anna Maria City Pier, and the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office has no idea who did it. “We discovered it Sunday morning.

It happened sometime the night before,” Sgt. Russell Schnering said Monday morning. “It’s not the same work as the last time we had graffiti, and I’ll probably send some pictures over to our gang unit.”

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APRIL 19, 2017

C oncert Series LAST CONCERT IN THE 2017

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THE SUN

17

Fixed span bridge on horizon?

According to County Commissioner Carol Whitmore, the options for the replacement of the Cortez Bridge have been narrowed down to a 65-foot-high fixed span bridge like the Ringling Bridge in Sarasota (shown here) or a 35-foot tall draw bridge. Whitmore met with Florida Department of Transportation representatives last week. “They

recommended 65-feet or 35-feet and said a 47-foot fixed bridge wouldn’t work in that location. I told them I still supported the 35-foot option,” Whitmore said.

Whitmore was told the existing draw bridge opens approximately 4,000 times a year and a 35-foot bridge would open about half that many times.

“I’m going to still sup-

port the 35-foot bridge, but if the citizens of the county and the residents of Cortez want the larger bridge I’ll reconsider,” Whitmore said.

Whitmore feels FDOT has taken the historical concerns of village residents into account, and she was told there are no plans to use any more than the existing right of way to accommodate either bridge option.

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THE SUN

TOM VAUGHT | SUN

Adventures The ribbon flies after Egmont Key Adventures owner Captain Mike Brinson and his wife, Susan, snipped it at the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting on Thursday, April 13.

Also pictures is their assistant, Leah Spann (left) and Chamber President Deb Wing with Karen Riley-Love (right) plus four lovely Island girls holding the sign. Egmont Key Adventures offers boat tours around the area and their shop at 5500 Marina Drive, Suite 2, has a lot of fun items for sailors and landlubbers alike. Call them at 941-779-0779.

EXPOSING

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APRIL 19, 2017

APRIL 19, 2017

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THE SUN

APRIL 19, 2017

They are going … you can come out now.

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APRIL 19, 2017

THE SUN

21

They are leaving ...

BY SEAN MURPHY SPECIAL TO THE SUN

F

or years now, the Beach Bistro runs an ad every May. It shows a flight of geese in V formation presumably heading North.

It is captioned, "They are gone – you can come out now.”

Invariably someone who has never heard of the Beach Bistro will write me a scathing letter about how I would starve if it was not for snowbirds.

I write back that the birds are just “geese with a sense of humor”.

To be perfectly clear I sincerely love people who return year after year and share time with us. Whether it be for a month or a week we at the Bistro are joyous to see them.

We are honored that they have entrusted us with their life celebrations – birthdays and reunions, anniversaries and proposal – for generations.

They are family.

Those visitors that are first-timers, newbies, are less like family and more like an awkward first date.

It is not time yet to take them home to mother.

Newbies do make the Island more interesting.

Any fool can drive the half mile from my house to the Bistro.

To make the trip while sun-blinded, naked white people are stumbling into the street or careening up the middle of Gulf Drive on bicycles requires more daring.

In the interest of creating a more perfect union between North and South I ask locals and Northern regulars to help the uninitiated newcomers with these simple advisories.

Be gracious.

We used to be them.

Attire

Almost everyone looks better with more clothes on.

Itty bitty Mediterranean bathing suits are not for everybody. It’s particularly the guys we have to convince here. Us men are taking most of the blame for Trump – little bathing suits just make us look even dumber.

Wear a hat – a ball cap – and sun screen – or at least put it on the kids.

Socks don't go with sandals

Activities

Nothing happened on the plane trip from the frozen North that taught you how to ride a bike.

The old adage, "It is just like riding a bike," is not true. Practice is good.

We have a great many beautiful and interesting birds. Stopping your car in the middle of the road is not the best way to view them.

Seagulls here are just like Northern seagulls. Try to think of them as rats with wings.

My Uncle George used to call them s--t hawks.

As they hover above you while you toss bread to the heavens, they will poop on you and your neighbors.

They will steal food from your children.

If they were big enough, they would steal your children for food.

Don't leave the Island. There is nothing at the Red Barn Flea Market that you can't get back home in a nicer bag.

And above all …

If you are a rookie. It is OK. Next year when you come back you will be a veteran of sorts and the Island gets even better.

I have glad tidings for locals and Northern veterans who are still with us – Beach Bistro reservations are available again. The waiting lines at Eat Here, The Doctors Office and the Bistro Bar are diminished.

And there is new stuff – for the next eight months Eat Here will begin taking reservations.

Call after three in the afternoon and before December.

If you are heading North we will miss you.

Think of us when it “sure is hot” in September.

We will leave a light on in October.

If you are sticking around, “You can come out now."

Sean Murphy is the head coach of the incredibly talented team that runs the Beach Bistro, its little sister Eat Here, and its new craft cocktail bar, The Doctors Office. Some of his articles can be found on the Bistro’s web-site, www.beachbistro.com

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APRIL 19, 2017

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Blood drive comes to beach market The beach market at Coquina Beach is hosting a blood drive Sunday April 23.

Attendees are invited to come stroll the market from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and donate blood to help save the lives of others.

Beach markets are held every Sunday and feature local artists, arts and crafts, jewelry, fresh produce, apparel, plants and much more.

Markets will not be held on Mother’s Day or Memorial Day weekend.

For more information, contact Nancy Ambrose at 941-518-4431 or e-mail nancy.ambrose@aol.com.

New member joins Holmes Beach committee The Holmes Beach Parks and Beautification Committee is welcoming a new member.

Mayor Bob Johnson asked commissioners April 11 to approve the appointment of Susan Anderson to the committee. Commissioners voted unanimously in favor of Anderson.

Anderson fills the unexpired term of Gilbert Anthony, expiring in August. Anthony resigned from the committee after the first of the year.

“I’m always just so thrilled when citizens step up,” Commissioner Jean Peelen said.

“I think Susan will be a great addition to the committee,” Johnson said.

Two more members to serve as alternates are needed on the committee. Members typically serve two year terms.

For more information, contact City Clerk Stacey Johnston at 941-708-5800.

755-3262

APRIL 19, 2017

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THE SUN

Hoppy Easter on AMI

tom vaught | sun

A hopping good time was had by all at the Easter festivities Saturday. Clockwise from above: Fron left, the children’s winners were Ava Simpson, third place; Benjamin Pupin, second place; and Savanna Coba, first place. Nine-year-old Gabrielle Gilbert, of Anna Maria, has a bonnet that could have fit on Marge Simpson’s head. Annya and Bill Mayer sported Easter hats. From left, the adult winners were Todd Ramquist, first place; Bridget Putnam, second place; and Tony Simpson, third place. The kids ran onto the beach, scooping up Easter eggs as fast as they could. The Easter Bunny leads the parade from the Sandbar beach to the shops on Pine Avenue with help from Manatee County Sheriff’s Office deputies who directed traffic. Three-year-old Alessandro Hernandez and his three-month-old sister, Arianna, show off their Easter bonnets. Anne Foulkes, from Moorestown, N.J., spoons her Easter egg toward the finish line.

MayLin Tran, 7, poses with the Easter Bunny to get her picture taken, courtesy of Shooting Star Productions.

23

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APRIL 19, 2017

941.779.2337 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM 7 DAYS A WEEK 5344 3 GULF DRIVE, HOLMES BEACH

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APRIL 19, 2017

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THE SUN

OUTDOORS

APRIL 19, 2017

Good time for Spanish mackerel

S

panish mackerel are one of the most abundant fish in area waters. Although not a native species in the strictest sense, this fast, toothy and tasty predator is present year-round. The only exception is during prolonged periods of cold weather.

I think of them as an everyman’s fish, since they can be caught in the bay, in the Gulf, from a boat, from the beach and from piers, jetties and local bridges.

Spanish mackerel are rapacious, opportunistic carnivores that feed on a wide range of baitfish and crustaceans. Some of their favorite targets are pilchards, threadfin herring and shrimp. The mackerel’s streamlined body and sickle tail provide the speed and maneuverability that makes it an extremely efficient hunter and exciting target on spinning, fly or bait casting tackle.

Mackerel will take a wide variety of lures, flies and live bait. When rigging for them, keep tackle light and use as little hardware as possible. Eight- to 10-pound spinning and bait casting tackle and seven- and eight-weight fly rods are sufficient. The most effective rig is created by doubling the standing line using either a spider hitch or a Bimini twist. A bite tippet of 30- or 40-pound monofilament is then added.

The mackerel’s sharp teeth require some

Reel Time RUSTY CHINNIS special attention to rigging. A 12-inch piece of light wire will help prevent a cut-off, but will sometimes spook fish. This scenario plays out on days when the sun is high and the water clear. If mackerel are reluctant to bite a 40-pound mono bite tippet and extralong shanked hooks, lures and plugs are an option to wire.

Join leaders and wire with knots to avoid using swivels if possible. These voracious feeders often mistake the flash of a swivel as a target, resulting in a cut off. Leader to leader connections like the blood knot and uni-knot prevent the need for swivels. Wire can be joined to the bite tippet using an Albright special knot.

When searching for mackerel, look for diving birds, baitfish schools and structure.

Mackerel will congregate near areas that hold bait, so even if they’re not apparent, they might be near-by. Two strategies that work for me are to explore the edges of bait

schools with poppers or using top water plugs.

When I’m using flies, I will often slap the fly on the water a couple of times to attract attention and then make my presentation.

After poppers, my favorite fly is a sparsely tied Clouser deep minnow. Birds and breaking fish can also be found in area passes, especially near bridges.

Trolling is a common and effective way to target mackerel. Some of the most effective lures are spoons that mimic baitfish, but jigs, swimming lures and top water plugs are all effective. Trolling near bait schools is a great tactic, but anglers must be wary not to motor through baitfish. This can spook the baitfish and the mackerel.

The best strategy is to make lazy circles around baitfish schools allowing the lure, but not the boat, to pass through. Anglers fishing live bait, plugs or flies should also work the areas near baitfish using long casts and fast retrieves. Inshore, mackerel inhabit the same areas as trout, redfish and snook. Grass flats, structure and baitfish schools are good places to explore.

Spanish mackerel are good table fare if eaten fresh. Fish that are kept for a meal should be bled and iced as soon as possible. Mackerel are a nutritious source

rUSTY CHINNIS | sun

This Spanish mackerel was landed by an angler fishing the Longboat Pass Bridge. of Omega-3 fatty acids, are easy to fillet and can be prepared by baking, broiling, smoking, frying or poaching. Whatever your angling style, Spanish mackerel are excellent targets, both for their fight and their food value. This is an excellent time to target these hard fighting, fast swimming predators.

tide chart for anna maria city pier-april 19-26 Day Date

A.M. High Time Feet

A.M. Low Time Feet

P.M. High Time Feet

P.M. Low Time Feet

Sun Rise Set

Day Date

Wed 4/19

8:33a 1.40

12:35a 0.07

5:09p 1.92

11:26a 1.35

7:02-7:58

Thu 4/20

9:12a 1.50

1:38a 0.08

6:35p 1.86

1:15p 1.28

Fri 4/21

9:36 1.60

2:33a 0.10

7:58p 1.86

2:31p 1.08

Sat 4/22

9:55a 1.71

3:19a 0.14

9:09p 1.89

3:29p 0.82

7:01-7:58 7:00 -7:59 6:59-7:59

A.M. High Time Feet

A.M. Low Time Feet

P.M. High Time Feet

P.M. Low Time Feet

Sun Rise Set

Sun 4/23

10:13a 1.84

3:59a 0.24

10:10p 1.91

4:20p 0.51

6:58-8:00

Mon 4/24

10:32a 2.00

4:34a 0.38

11:06p 1.88

Tues 4/25

10:56a 2.18

5:07a 0.55

Wed 4/26

12:03a 1.81

5:37a 0.74

5:07p 0.20 5:53p -0.08

11:22a 2.37

6:42 -0.30

6:57-8:00 6:56-8:01 6:55-8:01

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APRIL 19, 2017

THE SUN

27

Mangrove snapper plentiful Captain Dave White

Spring time highs have the fishing on fire around our area right now. It's been a busy week here at Anna Maria Charters. Taking clients from China to Germany on excursions has kept the rods bent.

Then reefs in state waters have been producing Spanish and king mackerel, mangrove snapper, cobia, permit, and catch and release gag grouper.

I'm chumming heavily with pilchards and putting free lined baits out the back of the boat. These are producing the pelagics. While using weights to keep baits on the bottom is bringing the snapper and grouper in. The mangrove snapper have been great size and are stellar table fare.

Inshore, the spotted sea trout fishing has been great.

These guys are a mainstay for the flats. They are nice sized right now and are always fun on light tackle.

Snook are feeding in all of the glass minnows in the area and will readily take a bait as well. Redfish are against the mangroves during a high tide. Be sure to be stealthy

Captain Larry McGuire | SUbmitted

Grouper galore off AMI captain DAVE WHITE | SUbmitted

Four-year-old Luke Willing, of Holmes Beach, holds up two nice Spanish mackerel caught with Captain David of Anna Maria Charters. when trying for these pressured fish.

Good luck out there. Watch for

rolling tarpon as they start their spring migration.

Grouper fishing is improving every trip as the water warms up. Richard Moore, from Parrish, shows off his beautiful red grouper he caught using a sardine in about 125 feet off Anna Maria Island. Everyone in the party caught the largest grouper of their life and a few snapper on Show Me The Fish Charters with Capt Larry McGuire.

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THE SUN

WWW.AMISUN.COM - CELEBRATING 15 YEARS

APRIL 19, 2017

Dara Caudill | www.islandphotography.org

Pam Fitzpatrick and Jim Maisel, of New Kensington, Penn., celebrate their engagement in front of the Sandbar restaurant where they will be married in October.

Dara Caudill | www.islandphotography.org

Yoany and Stan Saisa were married on Nov. 19, 2016, at the Sandbar restaurant. Patti Mckee and Luis Ortiz, of the Sandbar, coordinated the ceremony. Yoany and Stan honeymooned in South Beach.

Dara Caudill | www.islandphotography.org

Briana Wiegele and Matt DeHaan were married at the Gulf Drive Cafe on March 11, 2017.

Chuck Caudill played acoustic guitar and sang for the ceremony and was the DJ for the reception. Laura Snow, event manager for the Gulf Drive Cafe, coordinated the wedding.

Briana and Matt honeymooned on Anna Maria Island before returning home to Alpine, Utah.

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APRIL 19, 2017

The Perfect Venue . . . For Your Perfect Wedding

100 Spring Avenue Anna Maria Island 941.778.8709

200 Gulf Drive North Bradenton Beach 941.778.8718

BeAnIslandBride.com

Beachfront, award-winning rooms As long as you’re getting married on the beach, why not stay on the beach?

Bungalow Beach Resort, 2000 Gulf Drive N., Bradenton Beach, has won the “Top Romance” award in the US by tripadvisor.com and it is located right on the beach – the perfect place to escape between the rehearsal dinner, the ceremony and the reception. With the Gulf of Mexico just steps from your lushly landscaped cedar bungalow, it’s a great place for an extended stay after the bride and groom leave for their honeymoon.

If the bride and groom want to continue their stay, Bungalow Beach Resort, which also won the 2013 Excellence Award from tripadvisor.com, is a very popular honeymoon destination.

Originally a group of beachfront army barracks; each of the Bungalow Beach Resort units retains the old Florida charm that is Anna Maria Island, with modern conveniences inside.

And you will stay in luxury with personal touches like baskets of embroidered towels, flowers and candy. Don’t forget the free trolleys that run up and down the street outside.

From the road, Bungalow Beach Resort is famous for its lush and colorful flowers with a white gazebo.

Whether you’re getting married or part of the wedding party, pick award-winning Bungalow Beach Resort as your home base where you will cherish those moments when you’re not involved with the ceremony. You’ll want to return when there is nothing to distract you from your stay.

Call Bungalow Beach Resort at 1-800-779-3601 or log onto www.bungalowbeach.com.

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THE SUN

Bridge Tender Inn serves Florida style If you’re looking for someplace with history, you’ll appreciate Bridge Street in Bradenton Beach, and the best location for original Florida food with a view is the Bridge Tender Inn and Dockside Bar, located at 135 Bridge Street.

Bridge Tender Inn and Dockside Bar has been around for decades and under the same ownership for 28 years. It’s a landmark in an historic part of Anna Maria Island.

The dining room holds up to 130 people and is perfect for a rehearsal dinner, bridal shower or other gathering. You can reserve the dining room and tailor the Bridge Tender’s menu, featuring fresh seafood and other local dishes, to as casual or as formal as you would like.

For smaller parties, you can reserve a section of the dining room, with views of Sarasota Bay, the Bridge Street Pier and Bridge Street. They have also added another area, Doc B's Front Porch. The Bridge Tender Inn and Dockside Bar also is accessible by water at Marker 49 and has two docks available for customers.

For more information on the Bridge Tender Inn and Dockside Bar, go to wwwbridgetenderinn.rocks or contact Shannon Dunnan, events coordinator, at tenderinn@aol.com or 941-778-4849.

The Bridge Tender Inn for the taste of real Florida.

OPEN DAILY 7 AM - 9 PM

APRIL 19, 2017

APRIL 19, 2017

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31

Paula Miller and Jerry Barnett were married on the beautiful beach of Anna Maria Island on Dec. 28, 2016. Paula and Jerry honeymooned on Anna Maria Island before returning home to Pittsford, Mich.

Dara Caudill | www.islandphotography.org

Daynarah Rans and Nehemiah Abel Ramos were married at the Sandbar restaurant Dec. 30, 2016. Patti Mckee, of the Sandbar, officiated and coordinated the wedding along with Luis Ortiz. Daynarah and Nehemia honeymooned on Anna Maria Island before returning home to Lakeland, Fla. Dara Caudill | www.islandphotography.org

Fitness trail request still hung up The project has been bogged down by procedural debate.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun

BRADENTON BEACH – The City Commission has reached agreement on how to proceed with a funding request for the installation of fitness equipment along the Coquina Beach trail, but the funding request has still not been presented to county officials.

On April 6, the City Commission unanimously approved an amended city resolution to be signed by Mayor Bill Shearon and accompanied by a joint letter of support signed by all three Island mayors.

In March, the commission approved by 4-1 vote a three-city resolution despite Shearon’s warnings that Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy and Holmes Beach Mayor Bob Johnson would not sign it because the county does not require a resolution for the proposed use of county-controlled beach concession funds. The county only requires a joint letter of support signed by all three mayors.

If a beach concession funding request is approved by county commissioners, the county requires an interlocal agreement that must then be authorized by all three city commissions.

At the April 6 meeting, Vice Mayor John Chappie amended his previous resolution request to pertain only to his city, with a commission-approved letter signed by the three mayors.

joe hendricks | SUN

The city of Bradenton Beach would like the county to install fitness equipment along the Coquina Beach Trail.

“I think it’s an important distinction that we do a resolution that tells what our city is committing to,” Chappie said.

Shearon maintained his position that a resolution wasn’t needed because this was a county project taking place on county property. Chappie disagreed. He said the idea to install fitness equipment originated with the city’s Scenic WAVES Committee, and, if approved, would be located solely within the city limits.

Shearon also requested the $10,000 cost estimate he included in his supporting documents be removed from the resolution and joint letter. He said the county preferred the amount be open-ended. City Attorney Ricinda Perry said the letter she prepared did not include a cost figure.

Past actions questioned

Commissioner Jake Spooner then questioned Shearon’s previous efforts, which on March 15 included him signing a modified version of the letter of support Perry included in the commission’s March 16 meeting packet.

On March 16, Murphy and Johnson signed the letter that Shearon said Johnson helped modify, not knowing that Shearon was acting without commission authorization. As the Island’s only weak mayor, Shearon is restricted in ways Murphy and Johnson are not, and that authorization was not given until later that night.

Citing the city charter, Spooner said, “We act as one body, and we ask the mayor sign

plans: Presented FROM PAGE 1

of the 529-acre property between El Conquistador Parkway and Sarasota Bay be rezoned to accommodate 2,894 residential units and 78,000 square feet of commercial space. The developers seek height allowances for a 145-foot, 13-story multi-family building and a 75-foot, five-story multi-family building. The remaining structures would be limited to 35 feet.

The developers previously sought a marina and a navigation channel cut through coastal mangroves.

They now propose a man-made “estuary enhancement area” and retaining wall that would encompass the coastline between the development and Sarasota Bay. The plans no longer reference a marina or channel, but the developers are pursuing a state-approved mangrove mitigation bank that could usurp the county’s ability to continue denying those uses.

Beruff’s attorney, Ed Vogler, said the project would have no negative impact on Sarasota Bay’s water quality, submerged lands, seagrasses or fishing; no negative impact to mangroves; and minor disturbance to wetlands. He also mentioned a traffic study approved by county staff.

King Engineering’s Misty Servia said 13 acres of low quality wetlands would be impacted and construction would be phased over 20 years, with six entry points along the parkway.

ECo Consultants’ Alec Hoffner said the targeted wetlands consist of non-native Brazilian pepper trees, not mangroves. He said the estuary enhancement area

Submitted | Manatee County

This rendering illustrates the potential appearance of a highrise building. would filter stormwater that currently reaches the bay untreated and include salt-tolerant grasses and vegetative components before transitioning to mangroves.

He did not clarify the potential relationship between the estuary and a mangrove mitigation bank.

Staff and commission input

Joel Christian, the county’s planning section manager, said all wetland impacts would be landward of the mangroves and have no impact on mangroves or seagrasses. He said staff originally had concerns about the estuary it now considers beneficial. He said the general development plan was conceptual and would be followed by more specific site plans subject to additional review.

Stephanie Moreland, the county’s principal planner, said staff supports the plan.

a letter or resolution. The mayor cannot go on their own and sign anything. I believe that’s what’s happened.”

In response, Shearon said, “No,” despite the March 15 letter that contains his signature.

Commissioner Marilyn Maro asked Perry if a resolution was needed.

“The commission already adopted resolution 17-869, and Mayor Shearon was bound to carry out the mandates of the commission. It’s my understanding Mayor Shearon did not carry that forward.

"He went ahead with the other two mayors and prepared a different letter and executed it on behalf of the city without the commission’s approval. The mayor cannot sign something on behalf of our city without commission authorization,” Perry said.

“What Vice Mayor Chappie is bringing forward is an amendment that strikes out the other two Island cities, but still codifies and creates a record that the city of Bradenton Beach supports the intergovernmental project and is authorizing the mayor to execute a different letter,” she added.

Shearon then joined the rest of the commission in approving the single-city resolution and the commission approved letter of support to be signed by the three mayors.

On Tuesday, April 11, Murphy and Johnson e-mailed Shearon and informed him they would not sign the letter of support until it included a not to exceed amount, even if that amount was higher than the $10,000 Shearon originally presented to them.

Assistant County Attorney Sarah Schenk said county officials could not factor the potential mitigation bank into their determinations because state law prohibits the county from delaying development orders pending state or federal permits. However, the county has attached a stipulation that requires all state and federal permits to be obtained before development starts.

“I still don’t know exactly how that applies to the future of this property and mangrove coastline,” Bower said. “I don’t think it’s wise to move forward with the wall until we know what it might do. There’s so much confusion as to what it’s going to do to the environment and the fishery.”

Horrigan said, “It appeared there was a channel left in the wetland mitigation bank that looks to me exactly the way I’d want to take my boat in there. If that’s not what it is, what is it?”

Bower said, “I can’t vision a 145-foot building; I’m certain the people of Tidy Island can’t. I’m trying to get a good understanding why staff is recommending that is compatible; these high rises that do not belong there.”

Moreland said the nearby Lake Flores project was approved for building heights of approximately 90 feet.

“I’m from the Bahamas. For me it’s not strange to see that height of building because many of the hotels are on the water,” she said.

“But you would agree this is not the Bahamas,” Bower shot back.

Rhoades said, “Large projects are never perfect.

With this project, we’ve seen changes and staff says every change has been an improvement, so I’m in favor of the project.”

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APRIL 19, 2017

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33

Metz hearing continues The hearing pertains to a vacation rental owner claiming a neighboring property can no longer be used as a vacation rental.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH – The special master hearing pertaining to resident John Metz’s appeal of a permitting decision made by Building Official Steve Gilbert resumed at city hall Monday morning.

The hearing pertained to the continued use of a renovated vacation rental property at 308 Gulf Dr.

S. owned by Wendy and George Kokolis. Metz lives next door at 306 Gulf Dr. S. and he uses a portion of his home as a short-term vacation rental.

Metz and his attorney, Nelon Kirkland, claim the Kokolis property should lose its existing and historic use as a vacation rental because it sat vacant for more than 18 months while being renovated. They also claim the completed renovations exceeded the 50 percent cost limit.

The continuation of the March hearing began with Metz and Kirkland making an argument about parking that was deemed irrelevant to this case. When Gilbert

took the stand and was questioned

by City Attorney Ricinda Perry, he said Metz failed to file his appeal within 30 days of the building permit being issued in June 2015.

Metz filed his appeal nearly a year later. Gilbert also stated that he and City Planner Alan Garrett did not consider the property to be vacant once the permits were applied for and the work began. Garrett was also expected to testify at Monday’s hearing.

When testimony is completed, Special Master Lisa Gonzalez Moore is expected to issue her ruling within two weeks.

aqua: Residents oppose plans FROM PAGE 1

Representing the local Sierra Club, Stuart Smith said an online petition gathered more than 1,000 signatures and the county received nearly 200 e-mails opposing the project.

“The plan is incomplete because it does not include everything proposed. The proposed lagoon and seawall threaten the mangrove coast and violate multiple county codes. The proposed building heights violate the land development code and are incompatible with the area,” he said.

Cortez resident and Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage (FISH) board member Linda Molto referenced Congressman Vern Buchanan’s efforts to obtain funding for an environmental program that benefits Sarasota Bay as one of 28 nationally recognized estuaries.

“I do not see where this project will help the national estuary program. I’ve been in the mangrove forest at Long Bar Pointe in a boat. I urge everybody who has not been inside there to go there before you make any decision on this project,” she said.

Cortez resident and tour boat operator Captain Kathe Fannon said, “I take tours around the bay and show them Old Florida. I have never had anybody ask, ‘Could you please take me to see a high-rise, or a shoreline where there’s no birds?’ If you approve this there’s no Old Florida left.”

Fannon also stressed the importance a mangrovereliant ecosystem that supports fish, birds, sea horses, starfish and other marine life.

Thomas Reynolds, a commercial fisherman from Cortez, said, “This piece of shoreline is unique as a rearing ground. Late January through March – tiny mullet and bluefish show up by the millions. A full moon in October – horseshoe crabs show up by the drove and spawn like no other shoreline around.

There are many examples of these occurrences and there’s a good reason: that shoreline has a wide, shallow shelf that creates a calm ecosystem that these small, vulnerable fish and eggs need to survive.

Digging trenches, building seawalls and docks will severely compromise this.”

Fishing for Freedom President Mark Coarsey said, “If we keep attacking our shorelines we’re not going to have any left. This is our last stand to keep some-

Submitted | Rose Lipke

Captain Kathe Fannon expresses her views on saving what’s left of Old Florida. thing like it used to be.”

Cortez resident, FISH board member and former County Commissioner Jane von Hahmann said the mangrove shoreline enables Cortez Village’s commercial fishing industry to generate millions of dollars for the county.

“Any degradation of the area is strongly opposed, as we don’t know the impact of this linear lagoon or the retaining wall. It’s very construction will remove the shoreline and create a mangrove island with no upland for migration. Our own comprehensive plan demands that there be a 50-foot mangrove upland buffer.”

Referencing a claim made by the developers’ attorney, Cortez resident Joe Kane said, “There’s no damage to mangroves? Somebody here is pulling your leg.”

Echoing Molto’s comments, he said, “Go to Long Bar Pointe by boat and go into it. It’s like a cathedral of 200, 300, 400-year-old mangroves.”

County resident Laurie Gale was last to speak and she offered a different perspective.

“I’m in the construction industry. I am looking at 20 years’ worth of jobs. Everybody always thinks about the environment: the environment doesn’t buy groceries, jobs do. The words ‘public benefit’ were used.

I’m a member of the public and it benefits me to have a job,” she said.

34

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THE SUN

CAPITAL: Plan in place FROM PAGE 12

“I really don’t think traffic signals are right for our city,” Seymour said.

Commissioner Dale Woodland suggested the expansion of city hall be recategorized from a long-term project to an ongoing or short-term project.

Expanding city hall would allow the entire city workforce to operate from a central location, as opposed to the three locations currently used.

Murphy said adding a $3.3 million city hall expenditure to the $2 million pier rehabilitation as a short-term priority might present financial challenges. Commissioner Doug Copeland suggested city hall expansion be categorized as mid-term project embarked upon in five years or so.

When Seymour asked Murphy if he still hoped to relocate the Public Works Department headquarters to Holmes Beach, Murphy said that was still his desire but nothing was imminent.

Copeland asked that the capital plan

I really don’t think traffic signals are right for our city.”

Brian Seymour Anna Maria city commissioner

to include a Pine Avenue redesign that would address the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists. There are currently sections of the Pine Avenue business district that do not have sidewalks or a safe area for bicyclists to ride.

“That’s where all our action is. I basically don’t drive down Pine Avenue if I can avoid it this time of year,” Copeland said.

lunch dinner take-out 5346 gulf drive, holmes beach 941.778.5788

APRIL 19, 2017

APRIL 19, 2017

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35

Baby Lou Louis Henry Griffith was born on Feb. 1, 2017, to parents Layla Copeland and Kevin Griffith, of Sarasota.

Louis weighed 6 pounds, 6 ounces at birth and was 19 ½ inches long. He was named for Layla’s godfather, Lou Fiorentino, a long time Island Little League coach and umpire who passed away in 1998. Grandparents are Pat and Doug Copeland, of Anna Maria, and Penny Griffith, of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.

Ann McGough | Submitted

Recognition Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer and Mayor Bob Johnson recognize the actions of Officer Mike Walker April 11 during a commission meeting. Walker, along with Officer Alan Bores, were commended for their actions which stopped a robbery at an occupied home, leading to the arrest of a suspect.

KRISTIN SWAIN | SuN

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THE SUN

REAL ESTATE

APRIL 19, 2017

Traffic, traffic, traffic

We probably say this every year, “This was the worst year for traffic heading out to the Island,” and unfortunately every year it’s an accurate statement. In fact, the traffic does get worse every year, not just westbound to the beach, but all over Manatee County, and if you think it’s going to get better, I have a bridge in Cortez to sell you.

The volume of new construction in recent years on the west side of Manatee County is exploding, and so is the population. Harbour Isle located on the Palma Sola Causeway is slated for almost 700 properties, there are two new developments on Palma Sola Boulevard adding hundreds of residences and new villas being built off 75th Street in the middle of the Village Green association, and this is just what is currently underway.

We all know about Lake Flores, with its 6,500 properties south of Cortez Road at 75th Street, and Aqua By The Bay, with 2,894 residences, formerly known as Long Bar Pointe, is being considered again by the county commissioners with a recommendation that it

Castles in the Sand Louise Bolger be approved.

There are several things the Florida Department of Transportation is planning to address with the traffic these and other new communities will create. To start with, a high-level bridge to replace the existing Anna Maria Island Bridge is in design phase, and FDOT is starting to look into replacing the Cortez Bridge. The design of this bridge isn’t even close to being decided but any new bridge will have tremendous impact on the communities on the east side of the bridge, including the historic fishing village of Cortez.

But it’s the latest FDOT proposal that has an immediate concern for Cortez residents, their safety, income and property values.

Cortez Road and Manatee Avenue traffic out to the Island can be stop and go, especially on weekends, but it’s Cortez Road that is being addressed at this time.

People who know the area know there is a traffic light at 119th Street West and Cortez Road, which has been there for many years, installed to eliminate accidents at that intersection. FDOT’s plan is to eliminate that light in an effort to move traffic along Cortez Road faster out to the beach.

One of the problems with this plan is that it doesn’t account for bridge openings and the other traffic light on the west side of the bridge at Gulf Drive, which backs traffic up west of the 119th Street traffic light. In addition, FDOT will be eliminating the possibility of making a left-hand turn at the 119th Street intersection, meaning residents who live on the north side of Cortez Road will be forced to turn left at either 127th Street at the foot of the Cortez Bridge or 121st Street and drive through the Cortez fishing village to get back on to Cortez Road heading eastbound. Both of these op-

tions involves crossing a continuous flow of eastbound traffic leaving the Island.

Not only am I concerned about the safety of individuals living both on the north and south side of Cortez Road getting to their homes, but I’m also concerned about the financial impact on the restaurants, shops and mariners that also access Cortez Road. I’m also worried about property values in an area that is finally marketing a lot of over one million dollar homes and condos, many of which have spectacular water views. I would hate to be the poor real estate agent who just showed her client a million and half dollar home in Cortez finding herself fighting oncoming traffic in an attempt to get the potential buyers back to the office east of the Island.

But you can still make your voice heard.

A public workshop for the proposed 119th Street intersection changes has been rescheduled from April 27 to 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 9, at the Cortez Road Baptist Church, 4411 100th St. W., Bradenton.

APRIL 19, 2017

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37

Turtle Watch preps volunteers in spring training

BY CINDY LANE SUN STAFF WRITER | clane@amisun.com

HOLMES BEACH – Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring is starting earlier and doing things differently this sea turtle season to safeguard sea turtles better than ever.

Volunteer beach walkers already are scanning the Island’s beaches at dawn each morning for signs of nesting. Turtle Watch Director Suzi Fox thinks that unseasonably warm weather may prompt nesting before the May 1 season starts.

Turtle watchers will do several things differently this year to better focus on keeping track of the increasing number of threatened loggerhead turtles and occasional endangered green turtles that nest and hatch on the Island for six months each year, she said.

Sea turtles will no longer pose for photo ops beginning this year, Fox told volunteers at the 2017 Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch spring training at CrossPointe Fellowship last Tuesday.

Hatchlings discovered during excavations that are still in a nest after all the others have hatched will be placed in a bucket on wet sand with a towel over the bucket, and not displayed or handled any more than neces-

CINDY LANE | SUN

Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring volunteers stock up on official lanyards, red nest marking flags, permits, handbooks and other tools of the turtle trade at turtle spring training. sary, she said.

Volunteers will no longer verify nests by digging into them the morning after they are laid to find eggs, Fox said. Instead, they must use signs in the sand to determine whether a nest is real or a false crawl – an abandoned

nesting attempt usually caused by obstacles on the beach or lights, she said, reviewing tips on spotting and identifying turtle tracks of the two species that nest on the Island.

Volunteers also will not tag furniture and other items illegally left on the beach over-

night or taking photos of illegal lights. That is a job for the code enforcement officers in each of the Island’s three cities, Fox said. Turtle Watch volunteers also will not approach people who may be endangering turtle nests; they should call police instead, she said.

Volunteers will no longer be filling in holes in the sand, which can entrap turtles, or watching nests at night near their hatching due dates, which tends to attract people from the beach who sometimes disorient the nests, causing hatchlings to die, Fox said.

Red flashlights formerly used by volunteers will no longer be allowed on the beach, as red film does not convert the light frequencies to those turtles cannot see.

Turtle watchers will mark nests with three instead of four yellow stakes this year, and they will be higher and have two rows of tape marking the nests to increase visibility, she said.

Fox thanked Manatee County’s beach raker, Mark Taylor, who already is at work grading the sand at the water’s edge to make it easier for turtles to climb onto the beach. With his tractor, he is also fluffing up the sand to make it easier for turtles to dig, countering the last beach renourishment that packed the sand more densely than normal.

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519 Pine Ave. • Anna Maria, FL 34216

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"Island faces selling Island places"

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THE SUN

Clean your block Saturday for Earth Day Keep Manatee Beautiful is encouraging Manatee County residents and visitors to celebrate Earth Day by participating in the 2017 Great American Cleanup.

The county-wide cleanup kicks off at 9 a.m. Saturday, April 22. This year’s theme is “Clean Your Block Party.”

Local volunteers and Adopt-A-Highway groups are asked to come out and volunteer their time. Adopt-A-Highway and Road and Shore groups are asked to clean their adopted sites.

Volunteers are needed on Anna Maria Island and in the village of Cortez at Anna Maria City Hall, 1005 Gulf Drive; Kingfish Boat Ramp on Manatee Avenue West in Holmes Beach and at the F.I.S.H. Preserve, 11601 Cortez Road West.

Volunteers are asked to bring gloves and wear sunscreen and closed toe shoes. Trash bags and drinks will be provided.

For more information, visit. www. manateebeautiful.com.

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Business owners take note

APRIL 19, 2017

street plans: Are changing FROM PAGE 1

The Manatee County Redevelopment and Economic Opportunity Department will host a free Business Recovery Expo on Thursday, April 27, from 9 a.m. to noon at Manatee Technical College, 6305 S.R. 70 East, Bradenton, to help local business prepare for the upcoming hurricane season.

Over 40 percent of local businesses never reopen after a disaster. The Business Recovery Expo will feature exhibits from local disaster recovery businesses and nonprofit organizations.

Business recovery professionals will present information on preparedness and recovery related topics such as preparing and having a plan, what to expect after the disaster and how to reopen your business.

Partners assisting with the event include, CareerSource Suncoast, Small Business Development Center, Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance, Manatee Chamber of Commerce, the Gulf Coast Latin Chamber of Commerce, Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce, Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce and the Manatee County Black Chamber of Commerce.

For more information, call Bruno Kapacinskas, (941) 749-3029, ext. 6218, or via e-mail bruno. kapacinskas@mymanatee.org.

Stublen said the impact to the historic fishing village would be considered. Any alterations made at the intersection also will be considered in the replacement of the Cortez Bridge.

“We have not made a final decision concerning the Cortez Bridge,” Stublen said in an April 17 email. “We work closely with all departments so any planned changes in the Cortez Road improvement will be included in the bridge.”

A public workshop for the proposed 119th Street intersection changes has been rescheduled from April 27 to 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 9, at the Cortez Road Baptist Church, 4411 100th St. W., Bradenton.

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Kristin Swain | Sun

Officer Chip honored Holmes Beach Mayor Bob Johnson, at right, congratulates Officer Henry “Chip� Frappier and his wife, Beth, on his retirement April 11 during a commission meeting. HBPD Chief Bill Toakjer, at left, and Johnson presented Frappier with a plaque honoring his years of service.

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Deadlines set for Ugly Grouper expansion City commissioners are demanding work at the restaurant be completed by established deadlines or the owner will face code enforcement citation.

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

HOLMES BEACH — Commissioners are ready for planned improvements at The Ugly Grouper to get underway.

During the April 13 work session, commissioners reviewed a letter from restaurant owner Mike Ross, along with the February resolution accepting The Ugly Grouper’s new site plan. A priority for the city was to establish a timeline for completion of site improvements.

“I think we made a mistake,” Commissioner Judy Titsworth said, reviewing the resolution. “There are no deadlines.”

Building Official Jim McGuinness presented commissioners with Ross’ letter outlining estimated completion of projects, including landscaping, parking striping and signage, installation of bike racks and the creation of a new loading area.

A topic up for commission debate was the construction of a new stage for musical performances.

In Ross’ April 13 letter, he proposed a 45-day grace period to complete design of the new stage and apply for a permit.

McGuinness said he expected the permit application for the stage to have arrived shortly after the resolution was passed. Instead, he received

Kristin Swain | Sun

A couple exits The Ugly Grouper April 11. The restaurant is undergoing significant changes to expand its usable space. plans for the metal grouper sculpture installed in the restaurant’s outdoor area.

“It’s the only time I’ve ever done a plans review for steel tie down plates for pectoral and dorsal fins,” McGuinness said.

“I know they can’t waive a magic wand and build a new building or waive a magic wand and build a stage,” Titsworth said.

She is concerned about the urgency with which Ross is addressing projects outlined in the site plan.

“They said they’d get things done right away for season,” she said.

“Season’s gone,” Commissioner Jean Peelen said.

City Attorney Patricia Petruff said commissioners need to decide how strictly to enforce the parameters of the resolution, including the approved site plan.

“Any grace that you give them is at your discretion,” she said.

Commissioners agreed to accept

the deadlines proposed in Ross’s letter with the caveat the stage be completed within 60 days of permit receipt.

They instructed McGuinness to work with Mayor Bob Johnson on a letter specifying the dates work is expected to be completed.

Code Enforcement Officer James Thomas committed to making more visits to the site, encouraging continued construction and on-time completion of projects.

If any of the proposed eight projects pass a deadline without completion or the restaurant is found to have more than the allowable seating, commissioners instructed Thomas to begin issuing violation citations.

No deadline was given for the building interior expansion.

Commissioners agreed no noise ordinance violations at the property would receive grace from the city.

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TOWN CRIER S.W.A.T. meets Successful Women Aligning Together (S.W.A.T.) of Anna Maria Island will have their monthly meeting on Thursday, April 20, from 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. at Bridge Street Bistro, 111 Gulf Drive S. This luncheon meting is a good way to network and prospective new members are invited. Bring your business cards.

The Island Chapter meets every third Thursday of each month. To R.S.V.P. and for more information, contact Sherri Proctor, AMI Chapter director at SWATAMI@gmail. com or 941-345-5135.

Learn knot tying Join the Folk School at Florida Maritime Museum, Museum at 4415 119th Street West, Cortez, for a lesson on knot tying on Saturday, April 29, from 10 to 11a.m. This workshop will provide students with the knowledge of how to construct seven to eight basic knots, along with names and their function that apply to everyday life.

Five feet of rope will be provided for each student. There is a registration fee of $15 and a deadline to register by Saturday, April 22, by calling 941-708-6120 or visiting The Folk School at Florida Maritime Museum.

Students are required to bring a pencil and notebook to class.

For a complete class schedule for The Folk School at Florida Maritime Museum, visit FloridaMaritimeMuseum.org.

Check out your health You could be alerted to possible stroke or other health problems by taking Prevention Plus Stroke and Vascular Screening offered on Tuesday, May 2, at The Center, 407 Magnolia, Anna Maria. The screenings are being offered at reduced prices.

They include stroke/carotid ultrasound for $40, abdominal aortic aneurysm for $40, arterial disease test for $40, thyroid ultrasound for $40, abdominal ultrasound for $95 and heart scan-echocardiogram for $95 or all six tests for only $179. Blood tests,liver, cholesterol, PSA and TSH tests are also available. To register, call 888-6677587.

Handbell ensemble performs The 2017 Roser Concert Series presents Ring Sarasota Handbell Ensemble on Sunday, April 23, at 4 p.m. in the Roser Community Church Sanctuary, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria.

Dedicated to bringing ringing prime time, the group showcases over 200 bells rung by 30 hands to create a symphony of sound.

“We’ve Got Rhythm” is packed with toe tappin’ and finger snappin’ tunes of the last 50 years. There will be a free-will offering.

Doors open at 3 p.m.

For more information go to www.roserchurch.com/concert-series, call 941-7780414, or find them on Facebook at www. facebook/roserchurch.

Comedy at Players The Island Players, Manatee County’s oldest community theater, located at 10009 Gulf Drive, Anna Maria, presents,“Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike” by master of comedy, Christopher Durang.

Performances are Tuesday through Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are $20 each. The box office opens on Monday, April 24, and is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. On performance nights, the box office opens at 7 p.m., and for Sunday matinees, it opens at 1 p.m. Visa, MasterCard or Discover are accepted.

This wildly funny play won the Tony Award for Best Play in 2013 plus many other distinguished awards. Named after Chekhov characters by theatre-loving parents, middle-aged siblings Vanya and Sonia share a family home in Buck’s Couny, Penn., until their movie star sister Masha arrives with her new boy toy, Spike, and threatens to sell the house. The play runs from May 4-14, 2017.

The Island welcomes back three actors familiar to our audiences; Sue Belvo who plays Sonia, Pamela Hopkins who plays Masha and Haley Hines who plays Nina.

Newcomers to the Island stage are Don Sleight playing Vanya, Candace Artim playing Cassandra and Patrick Charles Mounce who plays Spike. The cast is artfully directed by James Thaggard.

For reservations or information, call the box office at 941 778-5755 or go to the website, www.theislandplayers.org.

Oyster extravaganza at Perico Preserve The Sarasota Bay Estuary Program, Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources Department and Around the Bend Nature Tours are looking for volunteers to help restore oyster habitat in the estuary around Perico Preserve, 11700 Manatee Ave, W., on Saturday, May 6, from 9 to 11 a.m.

Volunteers will bag shell and tie shell mats and then cool down by learning about oyster biology with educational and fun games, science experiments and activities. It will wrap up with a free lunch for each volunteer around noon.

This project is part of the Gulf Oyster Recycling and Renewal Program. The initiative has many partners, including START, Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources Department, UF/IFAS Manatee County, the Chiles Group, the Gulf Shellfish Institute, and the Tampa Bay Estuary Program.

This event is appropriate for ages 10 and up with parent/guardian supervision. To register, go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ oyster-extravaganza-at-perico-preservetickets-33600321466.

Boat tour for museum Paradise Boat Tours is offering a fundrais-

ing boat tour on Thursday, May 11, at 3 p.m. to benefit the Florida Maritime Museum (FMM). Participants will enjoy a 90-minute adventure through pristine intercoastal waterways aboard a spacious catamaran.

Ninety-five percent of tours see dolphins, and other wildlife. Spotting includes manatees, rays, fish, and birds.

This is a unique opportunity to explore Florida’s coastal heritage, and enjoy stories of authentic Cortez. Captain Sherman, a knowledgeable and enthusiastic guide, will be accompanied at the helm by FMM staff.

Tickets are $30 for adults, $25 for seniors and $20 for children under 12. Guests are welcome to bring their own food and drinks aboard.

Paradise Boat Tours is donating all of the proceeds of this trip to support the efforts of the Friends of the Florida Maritime Museum to preserve and share Florida’s rich maritime heritage! Call 941-708-6120 or visit the museum during regular business hours to make your reservation. Cash, credit card, or check accepted. The tour will leave from the Bridge Street Pier.

Basket weaving at Folk School The Folk School at Florida Maritime Museum, 4415 119th St. W., Cortez, welcomes D.G. Stern, author, basket weaver, and graduate of Harvard College, to host a lightship basket weaving demonstration on Saturday, May 13, from 2 to 3 p.m.

This unique style of basket weaving originated more than 150 years ago by crews manning the lightships off the eastern U.S. coast near Nantucket Island, Mass.

Lightships were not an uncommon sight off the coast of Florida, traveling as far south as the Keys. The crews used North American hardwoods (walnut and oak) and some exotic woods given to them by the whaling industry sailors as a thank you to the lightships for serving as guides. The resulting baskets are both strong and beautiful.

This will be a demonstration of lightship basket weaving along with a short lecture about the history of lightships. The demonstration has a fee of $20 which is due by May 12. No supplies are necessary for this demonstration.

To register, students should call 941-7086120.

Gentle yoga taught The Anna Maria Island Art League, 5312 Holmes Blvd. Holmes Beach hosts gentle chair yoga, with instructor Cindy Phillips on Mondays from 11 to 11:45 a.m. The last class will be May 22.

The cost is $12 per class. Space is limited.

Gentle chair yoga combines breathing with postures to help improve strength, flexibility, balance and tranquility. This class will focus on stretching to foster healing and soothing of the spirit and gaining an overall sense of well being, followed by balance and strengthening poses utilizing a chair as a prop.

Enjoy all the benefits of a regular yoga practice, without having to get down on the floor by using a traditional yoga mat, which makes it suitable for all levels and abilities.

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For more information, call 941-778-2099 or visit Anna Maria Island Art League, 5312 Holmes Boulevard, Holmes Beach, Monday Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Boating instruction for teens The Anna Maria Island Sail and Power Squadron will offer America’s Boating Course for Teens, a special basic boating safety course this summer for teenagers, over five sessions, June 19-23, from 9 a.m. to noon All classes will be held at the squadron’s building located at 1200 71st St. N.W., Bradenton. Parents and family members are welcome to attend.

Any person born after Jan. 1, 1988, operating a vessel powered by a 10 hp or more motor must possess a Florida Boating Safety Identification Card. Completion of the course and a successful written exam certifies the student to receive their state boating ID and state of Florida Boating Certification. The exam will be given and scored on Friday. One adult is requested to attend with the student on Friday from 11:45 a.m. to noon to process state safe boating ID paperwork.

A limited number of full and partial scholarships will be provided to local teens to take the course. Scholarships will be awarded until the available funds are exhausted and reservations taken on a first come-first served basis. A full scholarship requires a $10 non-refundable registration fee to hold the student’s place. A partial scholarship requires a $20 non-refundable registration fee. If no scholarship is requested and approved, the standard $55 nonrefundable fee is required. A $30 manual is included in the cost, and it will belong to the student.

Class size is limited, and pre-registration is required. If there is enough demand, additional classes may be added. To register for the course or for more information, contact Dr. Janet Razze at amispsbridge@gmail. com or call 941-792-0394. If you e-mail, write “Teen Summer Course” in the subject line.

Yoga at the museum Sharon Meier teaches yoga at the Florida Maritime Museum at 4415 119th St. W., Cortez, on Tuesdays at 4:30 p.m. Classes will last for an hour. Meier’s classes are suitable for beginners. Students will need to bring a yoga mat, water and a block and straps if available.

This class is donation based and attendees are asked to arrive 10 minutes early to ensure a prompt start. Reservations are not necessary, but space is limited. If you’d like to reserve a spot, call Kristin Sweeting at 941-708-6120.

Card games at church The Church of the Annunciation, 4408 Gulf Drive, in Holmes Beach, hosts duplicate bridge starting at noon on Tuesdays.

Everybody is welcome.

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APRIL 19, 2017

BEACH BEAT Anna Maria

4/1, Lost property, 100 block of Magnolia Avenue. A recycling bin was missing 4/2, trespass warning, 316 N. Bay Blvd., Bayfront Park. Two homeless people tried to spend the night at the beach.

4/7, stolen, recovered bicycles, Gulf Boulevard at Palm Avenue. Two unlocked bicycles were taken from a spot where people go to watch the sunset.

The deputy put out a radio report and before he could finish a report, he got a call from Holmes Beach police saying they were at a spot where stolen bikes were recovered before. There were no suspects, and the bikes were return to the owners.

obituaries Charles M. 'Mel' Bennett Charles M. "Mel" Bennett, 85, Bradenton, passed away on April 8, 2017. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend to all he met.

Mel was born on Oct. 20, 1931, in Heaters, W. Va., to the late Alva Robinson and Mamie Gay (Singleton) Bennett.

He honorably served his country in the United States Navy. Following his military service, he worked as an automotive mechanic. He has been a long time resident of Anna Maria Island.

Mel was predeceased by his beloved wife, Nancy Rae Carter Bennett, in 2014, and by his three siblings. Survived by his son, Robert (Teri) Bennett; two daughters, Lezlie (Jeff) Nance and Kelly (Dale) Stephenson; five grandchildren; Jeremy (Shawna), Kymberli, Alison, Abigail, Anabelle; two great-grandchildren, Carter and Lyla; sister-in-law, Deloris "Butch" (Jim) Carden; brother-in-law, Richard (Gale) Carter; niece, Shirley (Clint) Bradford Daniels; and many more nieces, nephews and extended family members.

A celebration of Mel's life was held on Saturday, April 15, 2017, at Kirkwood Presbyterian Church, 6101 Cortez Road W., Bradenton. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to Tracey Vita's School of Dance for scholarships, 4181 Ninth Ave. W., Bradenton, FL 34205. Online condolences may be made at www.shannonfuneralhomes.com.

Robert Dale Raisch Robert Dale Raisch, 90, of Bradenton, formerly Holmes Beach, died April

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4/2, trespassing, criminal mischief, 4400 block of Gulf Drive. The complainant called police because she heard a noise on the roof of her home, Then she saw a pair of legs dangling from the roof in her window. She heard a male try to climb down an adjacent tree, and he either jumped or fell to the ground.

Officers found the suspect hiding in the bushes, and she identified him. She said there might have been a second suspect and Manatee County K-9 was called, but they did not find anyone.

4/2, trespass warning, CVS, 611 Manatee Ave. A homeless person, intoxicated and disturbing customers, was re-

moved and issued a trespass warning.

4/3, DUI, possession of drugs, 4200 block of Gulf Drive. The officer saw a car that had hit a tree. When he spoke with the driver, he found his eyes were watery and bloodshot and his eyelids were droopy. When he asked the driver how much alcohol he had consumed, he said, “Too much.” The driver agreed to take a field sobriety test. Based the results, he was arrested and searched and the officer found marijuana and Oxycodone pills.

4/4, hit and run, 4000 Gulf Drive, Manatee County Public Beach. The officer responded to a hit and run report and another officer located the vehicle, a silver Mercedes Benz motor home, and directed the driver back to the scene of the accident. A witness said he saw the motor home hit a Nissan Pathfinder hard enough to pop the trunk open and another witness saw the driver get out,

look at the damage and get back in his vehicle and leave quickly. The driver disputed the claim of damage. The owner was located and said his vehicle was not damaged before the incident.

The officers ticketed the driver for improper backing and leaving the scene of an accident.

4/6, Transit fare evasion, 3900 East Bay Drive. A taxi driver from Sarasota said the suspect could not pay his $80 fare.

When they arrived at Publix, he tried to use his credit cards but they were all refused. He only had $3 and was arrested.

4/9, driving with a suspended license, habitual offender, 400 block of Manatee Avenue. The officer ran a random check and found the defendant’s license was suspended. He performed a traffic stop and found out the vehicle’s tag was altered and the driver’s license had been suspended 22 times. He placed the driver under arrest.

10, 2017. He was born in St Louis, Mo., Nov. 21, 1926, to Alvin L. and Gertrude (Maschmidt) Raisch. He had one brother, William, all predeceased.

He and Laverne (Daume) met at Southeast Missouri State College in Sept. 1946, and married in Jennings, Mo., Dec. 21, 1947. They celebrated 69 years of marriage in December of 2016 at Freedom Village, Bradenton.

He is survived by Laverne, his loving wife of 69 years; four children, Nancy Acton (Dick), Steve Raisch (Kay), Janie Hulbert and Rebecca Smith (Scott); five grandchildren, Emily Steinbraker (George), Holly Acton, Brad Acton, Robert Smith (Michelle) and Amy Smith; and two great grandchildren, Casey and Riley Steinbraker.

He was very proud to have been in the U.S. Navy in WW II, serving in the Pacific. He trained as a radioman and was aboard the U.S.S. Fon du Lac, an attack transport that was on its way to Japan.

He would have been in the invasion but for the dropping of the atomic bomb.

He attended S.E. Missouri State College and the University of Missouri, Columbia, Mo., receiving a bachelor’s degree in forestry in 1950. The summer before his senior year, he worked as a forest ranger in the Nez Perce National Forest in Idaho. He lived in an observation fire tower and was responsible for reporting and extinguishing any fires. He once saw lightning strike a tree miles in the distance, and he had to go put it out before it spread to other trees.

After graduating from the University of Missouri, he worked for the Missouri Conservation Commission in Iron and Reynolds Counties, Mo., as a farm forester helping private or company forest landowners with their timber interests.

He bought and managed 80 acres of timberland there.

In 1957, the family moved to Manhattan, Kan. Bob received a master’s degree in landscape architecture from Kansas State

University while working as an assistant professor and a forester with both the Kansas State Extension Service and the state of Kansas Department of Forestry.

Bob was offered the position of state forester in charge of the forestry program for the state of Indiana in 1962, and the family moved to Indianapolis.

He was the youngest state forester in the country and was responsible for the management of all the personnel and operations of the state forests.

The U. S. Forest Service in Washington, D.C., contacted Bob in 1968 and offered him a position as director of state and private forestry overseeing the Department of Cooperative Forest Management. The family moved, this time, to Springfield, Va. This position required him to travel extensively throughout the country working with the state foresters and their programs. He purchased and managed 26 acres of timberland in southern Virginia.

He was supposed to attend a state foresters’ meeting in Arizona in 1969, but he had to cancel due to a meeting with a congressman over a problem. Thereby he was given the opportunity to attend the 1970 State Foresters’ meeting, in Hawaii as the only Forest Service official to attend.

In the spring of 1972, the U. S. Forest Service transferred Bob to the position of director of the northeast region of the United States. This included another move, this time to Swarthmore, Pa., where he worked out of the Philadelphia office. He covered the area from Maine, south to Virginia and west through Missouri and Minnesota. He continued to support the state foresters and their programs.

In October of this same year, Bob represented the U. S. at the World Forestry Congress in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

While there, he was fortunate to be able to visit Brazil and Uruguay.

Bob was asked to accept a lateral move

to Atlanta in 1980, to assume the position of director of the South East Region to “straighten things out.” He covered the southeastern US from Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, west to Texas and Oklahoma and south to Florida and also Puerto Rico. He served for two years and retired December 1982.

Upon retirement, he joined with a fellow Forest Service retiree, Jim Sabin, establishing their own landscape business called Turf and Tree. He utilized his landscape architecture degree, designing and planting for personal and commercial clients for 10 years, until his final retirement in 1992.

Prior to his final retirement, he purchased a condominium in Holmes Beach, where he was a snowbird until 2004, when he sold his Atlanta house and moved to the Island. The condo overlooked a canal and the Intracoastal Waterway between Anna Maria Island and the mainland of Bradenton. He enjoyed walking the beach, four miles up the shore and back, he played golf and tennis, was active in Kiwanis on the Island and Roser Community Church on the Island, where he served as a deacon.

He was an active Stephen Minister at Briarcliff United Methodist Church in Atlanta and at Roser. An artist, Bob loved to draw and paint and was a published author with articles in several Gulf Coast Writer’s books.

He moved to Freedom Village in June 2016 and was under Hospice care when he passed on 4/10/17.

A celebration of Bob’s life will be held at 2 p.m., Friday, April 21, 2017, in the auditorium of Freedom Village, 6410 21st Ave. W., Bradenton.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers that memorials be made to TideWell Hospice, 5955 Rand Blvd., Sarasota, Fl. 34238 in his memory.

Condolences for the family may be made online at www.shannonfuneralhomes.com.

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FUN IN THE SUN

Across 1 Gothic literature middle name 6 Sound of relief 9 Tells 14 Olympus competitor 15 Lobster __ Diavolo 16 Talked a blue streak 17 Violent whirlpool 19 *Split apart 20 *Working, working, working 22 Bashful 23 Per person 24 Pinch 28 Part of Q.E.D. 29 Asian holiday 31 Transcript fig.

32 GĂŠorgie, to Georgette 35 *1967 NHL Calder Memorial Trophy recipient 37 Sound 39 Game show prize 40 Long tales 41 *Half-hitch kin 43 With 64-Across, tax shelter since 1998 44 "Power" accessory 45 Updike's "Rabbit Redux," e.g.: Abbr.

46 Longtime Saudi king 49 Tater 51 Ancient Israeli fortress 53 Workout "washboards" 56 *"And it took long enough!"

59 *Backup option 62 Vibrator in the larynx 63 Public opening?

64 See 43-Across 65 Low-price prefix 66 Really cracks up

67 Volleyball barrier 68 Carved emblem Down 1 Soprano Gluck and composer Mahler-Werfel 2 Chihuahua lead 3 Stretch out next to 4 Censorship-fighting org.

5 Bahamas port 6 Hiding under the covers 7 Tossed off the covers 8 Poor choice to play 48-Down 9 Creamy cheese 10 Like Olympic pools 11 Picnic invader 12 Moment of stage gratitude 13 __-Cat: winter vehicle 18 Proofer's find 21 U.K. network, with "the" 25 Disco phrase 26 Nursery rhyme surname 27 Strident 28 Cotton swab brand 30 "Conan" channel Answers to 04-12-17 Crossword Puzzle.

32 Bridge positions 33 Cup-shaped bloom 34 "Cheers," across the Channel 35 Ball striker 36 Play area 38 Endorsements 39 Chicken-in-wine stew 42 Movie clownfish 46 One with money to burn 47 1998 Sarah McLachlan song 48 Speaker of the ends of the answers to starred clues 50 Boy in an Irish song 52 Target, for one 53 On __: reveling 54 Carried 55 City destroyed in Genesis 57 Tailgaters' cookers, for short 58 __ Domani: Italian wine brand 59 Sleepover attire 60 Cyberyuk 61 "Just as I thought!"

APRIL 19, 2017

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classified

ANNOUNCEMENTS

COMPUTER SERVICES

THE BEST VOLUNTEER position on the island. The AMI Historical Museum needs docents and bread makers. Call Lynn at 813758-3234 or lbrennan47@ gmail.com

EMPIRE COMPUTER SERVICE Computer problems fixed in your home or office. The fastest friendliest service around. Serving the Island since 2004. Call 941-739-6424

ROSER FOOD BANK needs donations of cash and non-perishable food. Donations boxes are located at the Church, Moose Club, Walgreen's and The Anna Maria Island Sun Newspaper (corner of Gulf and Palm).

BABY SITTER RED CROSS CERTIFIED baby sitter. Honor student.

Call or text Isabel 941-5457995

BOATS: PARTS & SERVICES & SALES ISLAND BOAT SALES. Now's The Time, Busy, Busy, Busy. We Also Buy Boats. “Business On A Hand Shake" Dave/Owner 17 Years.

941-228-3489 1982 16' HOBIE CAT with Trailer. Very good condition. Sails very clean. One owner $1700 obo Call 941-383-2950

CARPET CLEANING QUALITY COUNTS. CARPET cleaning. Upholstery cleaning. Tile & grout cleaning. Island's favorite cleaner. Manatee Chamber Member. Great price/free estimates. Call 941-7561082

CLEANING SERVICE CLEANING: RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL & RENTALS. Professional and Reliable. Call 941756-4570 CLEANING: RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL, Construction and Vacation Rentals . Also available Power Washing and Windows. Call 941251-5948 A GOLDEN TOUCH CLEANING LLC. Commercial/Residential, Eviction, Move in/ out. Free Estimates. No job too big/small. Call Donna 941-705-8113

Call us today! 941-778-3986

EMPLOYMENT

NAIL TECHNITION & STYLIST NEEDED Must have Cosmetologist license. Small shop on Anna Maria Island. Work flexible hours. Call 941-538-0225 TWO SCOOPS – Anna Maria Island’s Favorite Ice-Cream... is now hiring part-time associates.

Varied shifts available must be able to work nights and weekends. A great place to work and have a little fun…looking for a few friendly people. Food prep. or server experience preferred. Great pay!

Apply today…Two Scoops 101 S. Bay Blvd. Unit A-2, Anna Maria.

TWO SIDES OF NATURE – Anna Maria Island’s Largest Little Beach Shoppes... is now hiring full time and part-time associates.

Varied shifts available must be able to work nights and weekends.

Retail Experience Preferred. $10 hour. Apply today Two Sides of Nature 101 S. Bay Blvd. Unit A-1, Anna Maria.

MAINSAIL BEACH INN NOW HIRING: Housekeeper FT 101 66th St, Holmes Beach, FL 34217. For Inquiries Call: 813-849-4127 Or Fax Resume To: 813-6586009

FISHING CHARTERS CAPT. MAC GREGORY Fishing Charters. Full Day, Half Day, Night, Inshore & Near Shore. 941-809-5783 U.S.C.G. Certified/Insured

GARAGE, MOVING, RUMMAGE & YARD SALES ROSER THRIFT SHOP and ANNEX, Open 9:30am.-2 pm Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and 10am. – 1pm. on Saturday. Donations preferred on Wednesdays 9am. -11pm. 511 Pine Ave., Anna Maria. 941-7792733.

AMISUN.COM

FLEA MARKET RADERS REEF parking lot Sunday April 23. 8am-4pm 5508 Marina Dr. Antiques, collectibles, jewelry, furniture, misc. items MOVING SALE - Furniture & House wares Friday, April 21 8am-2pm 208 55th Street Holmes Beach.

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

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BESPOKE SERVICES, MASTER CARPENTER for all home & office repairs. Also painting, decorating, decking & dock repairs,. Large or small works. Reasonable Rates! Island guy for Island work. Call RICHARD 941-448-3571

LANDSCAPING & LAWN CARE

TILE! TILE! TILE! All variations of tile supplied and installed. Quality workmanship. Prompt, reliable, many Island references. Free estimates.

Neil 941-726-3077

R. GAROFALO’S Interlocking brick pavers, driveways, patios, pool decks. Free estimates. Licensed & Insured.

Call Rafael 941-778-4823 or Veronik 941-526-7941

RENOVATION SPECALIST ALL carpentry repairs, Wash Family Construction, locally owned and operated CBC 1258250 Call 941-7250073.

SHELL DELIVERED AND spread $55/yd. Hauling all kinds of gravel, mulch, top soil with free estimates. Call Larry at 941-795-7775, "shell phone" 941-720-0770

KERN CONSTRUCTION NEW Homes & Remodel.

Design/Build. Since 1968.

License # CRC1327296.

Call Jerry Kern 941-7781115 www.kernconstructioninc.com “HONEY DO" HOME Repairs & Handyman Services.

35 yrs experience. Painting, drywall, tile, woodwork. All tasks. Call 941-896-5256 or 941-807-5256 www.honeydohomerepairinc.com HANDYMAN. RETIRED ENGINEER. Free estimates.

“No job too Small”. Repairs, replacements, improvements, wall TV’s, shelves, cabinets, calking etc. Call Jim 941-448-7806 GET’R DONE DRYWALL, INC Specializing in Remodels & Repairs. Island Resident for 18 years. Call Neil Cell 941-962-1194 HOME IMPROVEMENT Michigan General Contractor 30+ yrs. experience. Large or small projects. Budget minded knowledgeable tradesman will complete your project start to finish: On Time/On Budget. Call Mike 616-204-8822.

WALY PRECISION PAINTING: painting, drywall, stucco, and remodeling, commercial/residential, licensed & insured. Call 941-448-1928 or 941-4656324 www.WalyPrecisionPainting.us

STRAIGHT SHOT LANDSCAPE. Specializing in Old Florida Seashell driveways and scapes. Also Rock, Mulch, & Soil. Free estimates. Call Shark Mark 941-301-6067

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE NORMS TOWING gives Notice of Foreclosure of Lien and intent to sell these vehicles on 4/29/2017 9:00am at 1855 63rd Ave E Bradenton FL 34203 pursuant to subsection 713.78 of the Florida Statutes.

NORMS TOWING reserves the right to accept or reject any and/or all bids 3N1CN7AP5CL919828 2012 Nissan

LOST & FOUND FOUND SMALL FRIENDLY domesticated black & white cat near Bean Point.

Needs good home. Call 941-778-1976 LOST KAYAK BIMINI BAY Floated away on Sunday nights storm. Tan Feather Lite.

Please call 941-778-3057 LOST HEAVY GOLD CHAIN with Blue Stone near 47th Ave in Holmes Beach on December 26. REWARD! Call 908-963-1702 LOST MY GRANDMOTHER'S gold wedding band (initials inside and date) at Coquina Beach area. Reward.

Call 407-579-1621

POOL SERVICES

LOST TENNIS BRACELET Gold with Diamonds around. Near Dog Park or Publix. REWARD! Call 941778-2494

FOUR SEASONS POOL SERVICE. AMI & West Bradenton. Certified Pool Operator. Residential/commercial. Chemical Service Licensed & Insured. Call Dennis Clark 941-737-5657

MOVING & STORAGE MARTIN’S MOVING YOUR Island movers! Offering dependable, competitive rates. No hidden costs. 941-809-5777.

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

TWO MEN and a TRUCK. Movers who care. Local and Long distance. www. twomen.com Call 941-3591904. We sell boxes!

PAINTING & WALLCOVERING

PRINTING CUSTOM DIGITAL PRINTING "Your printing dream to reality" Specializing in Dye sublimation Printing.

Graphic Design. Performance Active ware. Logo Design. Call Rhonda 330-550-4847

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 “WIZARD OF WALLS” Established 1980 Prompt quality service.

Paperhanging/removal Faux finishes. Interior painting. Mary Bell 941794-0455 BAYSIDE COMMERCIAL PAINTING. David Padyani Call 941-565-9446 or Larry Zimmer 941-2248123 Licensed & Insured PROFESSIONAL PAINTING SERVICES. Prompt & Reliable. Meticulous, Thorough, Quality Workmanship. Interior/Exterior. Wall paper removal..

Also minor repairs & carpentry. Free written detailed estimates. Bill Witaszek 941-307-9315

PETS ARE YOU WANTING to vacation and not worry if your pet is lonely. I will overnight in your home, so your animal can stay in his own environment. Home Sitting is also available.

Great References. Call Mary 941-405-2496

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REAL ESTATE HOMES & CONDOS FOR SALE

FROM THE HIGH $200’s. Only minutes from the beach, this new active adult community is perfectly located just south of Manatee Ave, off Village Green Pkwy.

Perfectly designed, open 2BR or 3BR/2BA plus den & 2CG floor plans.

Luxurious amenities, pool, spa, gym, pickle ball and fenced-in dog park. HOA only $190/ month. Models open daily. Contact us 941254-3330 www.MirabellaFlorida.com 106 WILLOW RENOVATED Cottage. 1 in from Beach, beautiful pool/spa. Lush landscaping $1,197,000.

Call Charles Buky Coldwell Banker 941-228-6086 CANAL FRONT HOMES Holmes Bch - Key Royale GULF FRONT CONDOS Gulf Place, La Casa L’Plage, Waters Edge & MORE. Island Real Estate ASK Alan Galletto 941-232-2216 PERICO ISLAND Furnished 2BR/3BA townhouse very large floor plan, dining room, walk in closets, den, priced to sell $269,900. Sharon Hightower RE/MAX Alliance Group 941-3305054

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REAL ESTATE HOMES & CONDOS FOR SALE

RENTALS: ANNUAL 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 Ed DUNCAN REAL ESTATE 941-779-0304 www.teamduncan.com

BAY FRONT HOME W. Bradenton Palma Sola 4000 sq.ft. 4 BR/3.5 BA 4 car garage. Stunning Cathedral ceilings. No Island traffic! Island Real Estate ASK Alan Galletto 941-232-2216 LONGBOAT KEY CONDO 1BR/1BA Canal Front, boat dock great water views, Furnished, new kitchen, wood floors, sleeps 6. Mint condition move in ready, beach to bay community with 4 pools, gated. NEW PRICE $219,900. Sharon Hightower RE/MAX Alliance Group 941-330-5054 FANTASTIC WATER VIEWS: PERICO ISLAND Large ground level Villa 2BR/2BA bath, 2 car garage, den, vaulted ceilings in living room, dining room, sunroom, 11002 Perico Way. $339,900. Sharon Hightower RE/MAX Alliance Group 941-330-5054 PERICO ISLES 3BR/2BA Single Family Home. 2 car garage. New Kitchen, Big lanai, Vaulted ceilings. Spectacular Water Views. $425,000 . Sharon Hightower RE/MAX Alliance Group 941-3305054 AFFORDABLE WATERFRONT HOME in Seaside Gardens. 2BR/2BA. Great fishing, boating, fantastic open water bay view. Call Captain Steve 970-8467394. captnse@gmail.com

REAL ESTATE: OPEN HOUSE OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY 1-4 PM DRASTICALLY REDUCED. PRICED TO SELL Beautiful Custom Home, 10 Minutes from AMI Beaches Completely renovated in 2016: new stainless/granite kitchen, NEW ROOF, skylight and hardwood floors. Open floor plan, split bedrooms, large lanai, 2210 sq ft under AC, 3BR/2BA/2CG. $329,900 5320 88th St. W., Bradenton Call 941580-0626

Call us today! 941-778-3986

ANNUAL RENTAL and CONDOMINIUM Association management serviced by (2) offices open 7 days a week! Contact junew@ islandreal.com – 941-3451295 - Island Real Estate of Anna Maria Island, Inc. ANNUAL HOLMES BEACH Small but Cute! Unfurnished 1BR/1BA Available May 15. $900/mo. First, last, security deposit. Credit check. Call JoAnne 941809-2488 2BR/2BA GROUND LEVEL Duplex, Carport, screened in lanai w/d hookups just off the island in Heritage Pines. Pets under 20 pounds with application. $1075/mo Condo application required. A Paradise Realty. Call 941-778-4800 PERICO ISLAND VILLA: 2BR/2BA ground floor villa w/attach garage, water view from most rooms including screen patio.

Comm. pool & tennis. $1750/mo. includes water and basic cable. First, last, & Sec. Dep. Island Real Estate 941-345-1295 HOLMES BEACH 2BR/2BA Steps to beach & shops includes Dishwasher, W/D hook ups, trash. No smoking/pets. $1695/mo + utilities. First, Last & Security.

Call 860-922-3857 ROOM FOR RENT Holmes Beach Monthly includes cable TV and utilities. Call 941-565-0686

RENTALS: SEASONAL & VACATION TIFFANY PLACE Gulf Front Condo for Rent Incredible views from living room and master bedroom. 2BR/2BA Green Real Estate Call 941-778-0455

AMISUN.COM

ANNA MARIA ISLAND, Fl Condos. Pool beach access, fully equipped $650-$800/ wk Redekercondos.com 941-704-7525 or 941-7781915 WILLKOMMEN AUF AMI! Besuchen Sie Island Real Estate in einem unserer Inselbüros (6101 Marina Drive oder 419 Pine Ave) mit unserem deutschsprachigen Reservierungsservice und erhalten ein freies Island Real Estate Baseball Cap! Wir geben Ihnen gerne mehr Auskunft über unsere 250 ausgewählte Feriendomizile für Ihren nächsten Urlaub!

SEASONAL RENTALS AVAILABLE: April, May & June.

HOLMES BEACH: 2BR/1BA ground level. Block to Gulf.

ANNA MARIA (monthly minimum): 2BR/2BA & 2BR/1BA Both ground level and Close to Beach.

2BR/1BA Gulf Front. Second story. Horizon Realty of Anna Maria 941-7780426 kringco@tampabay. rr.com

APRIL 19, 2017

HOLMES BEACH FURNISHED 2BR/1BA Rental open for 2017 & 2018 Season October -May. One block to Beach.

W/D, dishwasher, patio.

Ground level Duplex.

Call to see now. 941778-2891

WINTER 2018- VACATION RENTALS AVAILABLE. 3 month minimum. Prices start at $2,800/mo. Fran Maxon Real Estate 941-7782307.

NORTH SHORE DRIVE, Anna Maria. 3BR/2BA Seasonal Rental across the street from Gulf.

Heated Pool.

AMIRENTAL.com

BRAND NEW LUXURY CONDOS AND FURNISHINGS} Spectacular views from living, kitchen, master. 3BR/3BA. New, quiet complex on Anna Maria Sound. 727482-4766.

2BR/2BA HOLMES BEACH furnished block to beach. Dishwasher, microwave, washer/ dryer. POOL, central A/C, lanai. $1100/mo plus utilities. June 1 thru Jan 1, 2016 Call 847-7696175

TRANSPORTATION AMI TAXI metered-on-callcards accepted. Airport: Tampa $95, Sarasota $40, Clearwater $85, Orlando $165. Call 800-301-4816. amitaxi4u@gmail.com, www.amitaxi.com

AMISUN.COM

ANYTIME TRANSPORTATION to all airports, appointments, casino, cruises, etc. Tampa $60. Sarasota $30. Pets welcome. Very dependable. Reasonable rates. Contact Jeanne.

941-779-5095 ADMIRAL TOWN CAR Professional chauffeur, taxi prices! Airports (1@ $75, 10 $150 to Tampa), Appointments anywhere.

Credit cards accepted. Phil 941-320-1120 admiraltowncar@gmail.com, Licensed & Insured ROGER'S AIRPORT SERVICE. Tampa, St. Pete/ Clearwater, Sarasota/ Bradenton. Call Roger 941773-1469

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APRIL 19, 2017

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Call today to place your ad: 941-778-3986 movers

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APRIL 19, 2017