Anna Maria Island Sun April 19, 2023

Over the rainbow

As they say here in Florida, if you don’t like the weather, just wait a minute. Monday morning’s rain cleared up with a rainbow curtain call off Anna Maria Island.

Turtle season begins under Mazzarella’s watch

A new executive director at Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring will oversee sea turtle and bird nesting.

BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA ISLAND

– As Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring volunteers begin checking the beaches this week for early sea turtle nesting activity, its new executive director, Kristen Mazzarella, takes over the watch from the late Suzi Fox.

“I envision following in Suzi’s legacy

and to keep it going how it has been with the great community involvement,” Mazzarella said. “My goal is to keep the community educated, engaged and involved.”

Mazzarella has an extensive background with both turtles and shorebirds. She was a senior biologist at Mote Marine Laboratory for 15 years. She was on turtle patrol for 25 years in North and South Carolina and also worked with the Audubon Society for 15 years.

“The group of volunteers (with Turtle Watch) has been very welcoming,” she said. “Manatee County has been amazing; they clearly care a lot about the environment.”

SEE MAZZARELLA, PAGE 28

Opposition to vacation rental legislation continues

The proposed legislation would end the ability of local governments to regulate online vacation rental advertising.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA – City officials continue to lead the opposition to proposed state legislation that would curtail local governments’ ability to regulate shortterm vacation rentals.

Senate Bill 714 and House Bill 833 seek to preempt the regulation of vacation rentals to the state, specifically to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR).

According to the April 15 staff analy-

sis provided to House of Representatives Commerce Committee members, HB 833 would still allow local governments to create local vacation rental registration programs and charge an annual registration fee, but the fees could not exceed $50 to register a single vacation rental home or unit, or $100 to collectively register vacation rental homes or units.

The proposed legislation would make the regulation of online vacation rental advertising platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo exclusively the state’s responsibility and take enforcement abilities away from local governments.

The staff analysis notes the proposed legislation would not supersede the

SEE RENTALS, PAGE 31

Mazzarella

City launches clean water campaign

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

HOLMES BEACH – Elected officials in all three Anna Maria Island cities are working together to help bring awareness to ways to keep local waterways cleaner.

The Islanders 4 Clean Water campaign started in Holmes Beach with Mayor Judy Titsworth and the city’s Clean Water Ad-Hoc Committee, made up of interested parties from all across Anna Maria Island and west Bradenton. Officially launching on Earth Day, Saturday, April 22, Titsworth said that city leaders from Anna Maria and Bradenton Beach have all agreed to join the campaign.

Participants are urged to “take the plunge” literally by filming themselves plunging into an area body of water and posting it on social media with the hashtags #cityofHolmesBeach and #Islanders4CleanWater.

In addition to taking a swim, participants can pledge to take 10 different actions to help conserve and protect clean water.

• Conserve fresh water. Turn off taps while brushing teeth, run

dishwashers with full loads instead of cleaning dishes by hand and take shorter showers;

• Reduce and eliminate use of chemical fertilizers in outdoor flower beds and on lawns where the chemicals can run into storm drains to be dumped in the bay;

• Landscape with Florida-friendly plants and trees;

• Use eco-friendly and water-safe pesticides;

• Properly dispose of hazardous household items;

• Reduce polluted stormwater runoff;

Water quality report

Bayfront Park North Good Bradenton Beach Good Coquina Beach North Good Coquina Beach South Good Manatee Beach North Good

Palma Sola Bay South Good

Source: Florida Department of Health

• Reduce personal usage of singleuse plastics;

• Be informed and report to the city or appropriate authorities when you see problems in the community;

• Work, live and play responsibly in waterways and on the beach;

• Share these tips and challenge a friend.

Visit Islanders4CleanWater.com to obtain a checklist. Once you’ve completed each of the 10 action items, return the marked list to the city of Holmes Beach to be entered into a raffle to receive an eco-friendly prize for taking steps to help preserve local waterways.

SUBMITTED | CITY OF HOLMES BEACH

The city of Holmes Beach is launching a clean water campaign to help residents and visitors learn how they can make the waters in and around Anna Maria Island more beautiful.

Anna Maria hires new deputy clerk

The city of Anna Maria has hired Fransheska Berrios to serve as its next deputy clerk. For the past 10 years, she’s served as the deputy town clerk/utilities clerk for the town of Mangonia Park. Berrios currently lives in West Palm Beach and will soon relocate to the greater Bradenton area, reporting for duty during the first week of May. Berrios will succeed Deputy Clerk Debbie Haynes, who announced her retirement in late 2021 but has continued to assist the city on a part-time basis. Mayor Dan Murphy announced the hiring during the April 13 city commission meeting. “After having interviewed some very strong candidates, I believe we have found a jewel,” Murphy said. City Clerk LeAnne Addy then provided commissioners with copies of Berrios’ resume. “We lucky to have her. I’m anxious for her to become part of the team,” Murphy said. “What impressed me the most when we went through the interview process was her people skills, and people skills in that job are a must. She’s going to represent the city well.” Speaking by phone, Berrios said, “Thank you very much. I’m very pleased to accept this position as your new deputy clerk. I’m eager to make the move to that beautiful area. I look forward to meeting all of you next month.”

Resiliency grant authorized

The Anna Maria City Commission authorized Mayor Dan Murphy on April 13 to sign a $75,000 resiliency grant agreement with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Murphy said the state funds will be used to conduct a study pertaining to floodwater mitigation and future sea level rise in Anna Maria. Murphy noted that although much work has taken place in Anna Maria in recent years to address flooding, there are still areas in the city that flood during heavy rains. Murphy said the study will help identify whether pumps and pipes should be installed in certain areas where vertical infiltration trenches already exist. Murphy said the study, when completed by the city’s contracted engineering firm, will allow the city to seek additional state funds to make the drainage and sea level rise mitigation improvements identified in the study.

Paid parking study on Thursday’s agenda

The Bradenton Beach City Commission will meet on Thursday, April 20 at noon and will conduct a public hearing regarding the second reading of Ordinance 23-547 pertaining to setback requirements for outdoor dining areas. The commission will then conduct a public hearing on an outdoor dining-related special permit use for the Wicked Cantina restaurant, and an unrelated special use permit for an automated bike rental rack at the Silver Surf resort. Commissioners will hear a presentation on vacation rental property inspections and be presented with city proclamations for Water Conservation Month and Professional Municipal Clerks Week. Under old business, the commission will continue its discussion on surveying city alleys as part of the anticipated alley clearing and reclamation efforts. Under new business, the commission will discuss a paid parking study and the purchase of a new police vehicle. The consent agenda includes a price quote request for a new welcome sign for the Bradenton Beach Pier; approval of a $6,000 invoice from Georgia Carpet and Floors, approval of a $6,250 payment to Manatee County for police radio maintenance and access fees and two invoices totaling $21,703 for contracted services provided by the building official and the city planner.

Centennial celebration planning continues

The centennial celebration will shed light on the challenges Anna Maria’s first mayor faced.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA – Plans continue to take shape for the city’s centennial celebration at City Pier Park on Memorial Day.

The celebration of Anna Maria’s 100th anniversary is scheduled on Monday, May 29, shortly after the city’s annual Memorial Day Patriotic Symphony Salute at 10 a.m. at City Pier Park, which is expected to last approximately 45 minutes.

During the April 13, city commission meeting, Mayor Dan Murphy provided an update on the centennial celebration planning process.

“This event is coming together nicely,” he said.

Murphy asked the Anna Maria Island Historical Society to come up with some interesting historical information about the city of Anna Maria when and shortly after the city was incorporated with the state as a chartered city.

“I’m looking forward to what they come up with. It’ll be interesting,” Murphy said. “Mitch Davis was the first mayor. We’ll talk about him a little bit, the founding of the city and what the conditions were like at that time. We’re not going into the Beans and the Rosers and all that. That was all before the city was founded. This is focused on the founding of the city and what struggles the first mayor went through.”

Longtime Anna Maria Island resident Tom Aposporos will serve as the centennial celebration’s master of ceremonies and the orchestra will stick around to play some of the songs that were popular

when the city was officially founded in 1923.

Murphy said commemorative centennial flags will be created and alternately paired with the American flags to be displayed on the light poles along Gulf Drive and Pine Avenue. Murphy said extra commemorative flags might be

made available for purchase. Anna Maria Island Garden Club member and City Commissioner Deanie Sebring said the garden club would like to donate a 100-year commemorative bench to be placed near the recently installed City Pier Park wind sculptures that the garden club helped fund.

AMI HISTORICAL SOCIETY | SUBMITTED Mitch Davis served as Anna Maria’s first mayor.

This event is coming together nicely.”

Dan Murphy, Anna Maria mayor

Mote Marine facility opening May 5

The Mote Marine education outreach center will be open to the public free of charge.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA – The grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Mote Marine education outreach center on the City Pier remains on track for Friday, May 5.

The ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. in City Pier Park, across the street from the pier, and be followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the pier entrance.

During the April 13 city commission meeting, Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy said invitations were sent to Anna Maria city commissioners and other city and county officials.

Murphy expects the ceremony to last approximately 45 minutes. After the mayor’s introductory remarks, Mote Marine President and CEO Dr. Michael Crosby will speak. Some of the attending city and county officials may also make brief remarks.

Portions of Pine Avenue, North Bay Boulevard and South Bay Boulevard will be closed during the ceremony.

The grand opening ceremony is open to

the public and the Mote Marine education outreach center will open to the public right after the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Featuring live and virtual marine life exhibits, the outreach center will then be open daily at no cost to the public.

At the recommendation of the Manatee County Tourist Development Council, the Manatee County Commission provided $500,000 in county funds for the interior buildout of the city building and the installation of the Mote Marine exhibits. Mote Marine is leasing the city building rent-free but will operate and staff the outreach

center at its own expense.

“This has been a long, long, long, long, long time coming. We’re finally here,” Murphy said. “We’re at the cusp of opening it up and I’m really excited. I think it’s going to bring a lot to the city in terms of education. When we pursued this, it was about awareness and education.”

Murphy referenced the commission discussions and public debate that ensued in 2020 and 2021 and pertained to whether the larger of the two city-owned pier build-

ings should be leased to a full-service restaurant operator or be used for some other purpose. After multiple efforts to secure a restaurant operator fell short, the commission majority decided to pursue the Mote Marine facility instead.

“Do we have hamburgers or do we have knowledge? We opted for knowledge,” Murphy said of that decision-making process.

Commissioner Robert Kingan noted the city actually got both because the smaller pier building is already leased to the operators of the City Pier Grill & Bait Shop.

Kingan said he visited the pier facility the previous day and saw workers installing the backgrounds and displays associated with the live and virtual exhibits.

“I think it’s going to be a resounding success,” Kingan said.

“It’s all about public awareness and knowledge and research. The pier is the jewel of this city and has been for over 100 years. We’re dedicating it to science and research and knowledge about the environment and clean water,” Murphy said.

Commissioner Jon Crane said, “I, for one, am absolutely thrilled.”

“It’s exciting for it to finally be open,” Commissioner Deanie Sebring added.

MOTE MARINE | SUBMITTED

The Mote Marine education outreach center will feature several live exhibits. Grand opening ceremony invitations were sent to city and county officials.

The Anna Maria Island Sun Staff

Owner/CEO

Mike Field

Editor

Cindy Lane

General Manager

Bob Alexander

Reporters/Photographers

Joe Hendricks

Leslie Lake

Jason Schaffer

Kristin Swain

Columnists

Louise Bolger

Rusty Chinnis

Contributors

Joe Becht

Steve Borggren

Capt. Rick Grassett

Monica Simpson

Tom Vaught

Capt. Kevin Wessel

Capt. David White

Anne Yarbrough

Layout Ricardo Fonseca

Digital Editor

Kristin Swain

Advertising Director

Shona Otto

Advertising Assistant

Pamela Lee

Classifieds

Bob Alexander

Graphics

Elaine Stroili

Ricardo Fonseca

Distribution

Bob Alexander

Connor Field

Tony McNulty

Brian Smith

Accounting

Leslie Ketchum

Co-founding publishers

Mike Field

Maggie McGinley Field

Family-owned since 2000

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Kiwanis offers thanks

On behalf of the Kiwanis Club of Anna Maria Island, we would like to thank our churches who took part in our 58th Annual Easter Sunrise Service. The attendance was fantastic and the weather didn’t disappoint. Thank you to the AMI Beach Café for the location, Chuck Caudill for providing the sound system, Morgan Bryant for her lovely voice, the City of Holmes Beach, the Holmes Beach Police Department for helping with the parking and the Anna Maria Island Sun newspaper for their coverage.

Another “thank you” goes to Casey Hoffman of Real Island TV, who, for the first time, livestreamed our service, which you

can watch on YouTube.

We had our members and their families helping to make Easter special for everyone.

Lastly, a huge “thank you” to the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce, which awarded our club a Trolley Grant to help defray expenses. With this and the generosity of those who attended, we will be able to share the net proceeds with the churches and our scholarship fund.

We look forward to seeing everyone next year for our 59th Easter Sunrise Service.

Sincerely,

Sandra K. Haas-Martens Kiwanis Club of Anna Maria Island, secretary Holmes Beach

Drop us a line

Got an opinion, a complaint or a compliment? Is there something you need to get off your chest? Send us a letter to the editor and have your say. There are a couple of ways to do it. The easiest and most direct is to email The Sun at news@amisun.com. Remember to put Letter to the Editor in the subject field. Or you can snail-mail a letter to us at The Anna Maria Island Sun,

Beach forecast

According to current science, rising sea levels will go up more than a foot by 2050. That's 27 years from now.

That means the beaches will be about gone. Gone! There won't be much reason to go to the beach, or to have a parking garage, or to have big bridges to nowhere.

Thanks, Tom Matheson Manatee County

P.O. Box 1189, Anna Maria, FL 34216. Letters should be kept to 300 words or less and must contain your name and the city in which you reside. Personal attacks and obscene language will not be printed. The Sun reserves the right to edit letters for length or content.

ANNA MARIA

10005 GULF DRIVE

FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-708-6130

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

April 27, 6 p.m. – City Commission meeting

BRADENTON BEACH

107 GULF DRIVE N.

FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-778-1005

Please visit www.cityofbradentonbeach.com or contact city hall for more infor-mation.

April 19, 10 a.m. – Department Head meeting

April 19, 1 p.m. – Scenic WAVES meeting

April 20, noon – Commission meeting

HOLMES BEACH

5801 MARINA DRIVE FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-708-5800

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

April 25, 5 p.m. – City Commission meeting with work session to follow

ISLAND-WIDE

April 25, 1 p.m. – Coalition of Barrier Island Elected Officials meeting, Braden-ton Beach City Hall

EVENTS

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19

Author Event: Sarah Penner, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, noon.

THURSDAY, APRIL 20

Island Morning Book Club: “The Light in Hidden Places,” Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10:15 a.m.

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

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

Family Movie Night, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 5:45 p.m.

FRIDAY, APRIL 21

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

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

SATURDAY, APRIL 22

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

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

Hands-Only CPR with West Manatee Fire Rescue, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 9 a.m. Suncoast Bonsai Society, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 1 p.m.

TUESDAY, APRIL 25

Farmer’s Market, City Pier Park, 103 N. Bay Blvd., Anna Maria, 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Family storytime, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m. Mah-jongg for experienced players, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 11:30 a.m. Rotary Club of Anna Maria Island meeting, Slicker’s Eatery, 12012 Cortez Road W., Bradenton, 11:30 a.m. Duplicate bridge, Episcopal Church of the Annunciation, 4408 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, noon

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

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26

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

Make seed balls, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 1 p.m.

THURSDAY, APRIL 27

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

Sunshine Stitchers Knit and Crochet, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 2 p.m.

AMI Chamber Business Card Exchange and Pat Copeland Scholarship Awards, Anna Maria Island Historical Society Museum, 402 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, 5-7 p.m., $5 for members or $10 for prospective members.

FRIDAY, APRIL 28

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

Mah-jongg for experienced players, Island Branch

Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 11:30 a.m. Rock garden rock painting for adults, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 2 p.m.

SATURDAY, APRIL 29

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

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

Starry Night Astronomy, Robinson Preserve Mosaic Nest, 840 Ninth Ave. N.W., Bradenton, 8-10 p.m.

TUESDAY, MAY 2

Farmer’s Market, City Pier Park, 103 N. Bay Blvd., Anna Maria, 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m.

Duplicate bridge, Episcopal Church of the Annunciation, 4408 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, noon

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

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

FISH Preserve begins final phase of restoration

BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com

CORTEZ - Long awaited improvements to the 98-acre FISH Preserve are coming to fruition.

Land has recently been cleared on the north side of the preserve in preparation for Phase IV, the final phase of the preserve restoration plan.

“This should be complete by late June,” Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage (FISH)

Treasurer Jane von Hahmann said.

A tentative timeline for the final phase was discussed at an Aug. 1, 2022 meeting, when FISH board members originally anticipated permitting for the Phase IV project in October or November, followed by a release of funding.

The funding will pay for land contouring, drainage and earth moving and opens the door for the addition of loop trails and footbridges.

As in 2016, when the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program (SBEP) completed the restoration of nearly half of the preserve through a cooperative funding agreement with the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) and FISH, the Phase IV funds will be managed by SBEP.

“We are committed to finish Phase IV with trails and bridges for connectivity,” von Hahmann said, estimating a cost of more than $300,000.

The FISH Preserve is the only undisturbed parcel of land on north Sarasota Bay, von Hahmann noted. It was conceived as a barrier between encroaching development and the historic commercial fishing village of Cortez.

The area has served as a critical fisheries habitat for the section of Sarasota Bay south of Cortez referred to as “the kitchen,” with its bounty of fresh seafood.

“We have owned the prop-

erty since 2000 but we’ve been working on this project since 2009-2010,” she said.

In 2000, the organization and community members came together to raise the money to purchase the land immediately east of the village. The first $60,000 mortgage payment was raised from donations made by citizens and conservation-minded companies.

“This parcel of land is one of the only untouched waterfront properties on Sarasota Bay and one of the last true working waterfronts in the state of Florida. The preserve came close to getting paved over by developers, however, the community came together to purchase the property just in the nick of time,” according to the FISH website. “This initial land purchase has been paid off. Since 2005, FISH has been able to purchase several additional parcels of land within the FISH Preserve’s boundaries that remained in private hands.”

The annual Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival, held in February of each year, and donations from more than 700

FISH members and friends enabled FISH to pay off that mortgage in 2005. No federal or state funds were used.

LESLIE LAKE | SUN

The land on the north side of the FISH Preserve has been cleared for the final phase of its restoration.

Board tackles causeway issues

Board members discussed overnight parking, advertising signs and litter on the Palma Sola Causeway.

BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com

MANATEE COUNTY – Members of the Palma Sola Scenic Highway Corridor Management Entity (CME) discussed violations including overnight parking, advertising signs and litter on the Palma Sola Causeway during an April 12 meeting.

CME committee members are tasked with overseeing the highway, which includes the causeway, the segment of SR 64 (Manatee Avenue West) that spans Palma Sola Bay.

CME member Ingrid McClellan distributed photos of some violations at the meeting. One photo depicted a pickup truck parked in front of a sign forbidding overnight parking.

“A gentleman with a red truck, he was just parked there 24/7 for months,” McClellan said. “So I said ‘Trisha (Trisha Hartzell, Manatee County Operations Center engineer for District 1), can we just put up a no overnight camping sign?’ and she did, and you see where that truck is parked in front of that sign where it says no overnight camping? So now the sheriff or anybody can cite him and he doesn’t park there overnight anymore.”

“It doesn’t matter how many signs you put up there, it has to be enforced,” City of Bradenton Public Works Section Manager Craig Keys said.

“She (Trisha) said now there’s a sign and you can just call the Florida sheriff’s office, so they can go tag them,” McClellan said. “There’s a sign there now with the number.”

Another violation - businesses advertising jet ski rentals and parasailing on the causeway - came up at the meeting.

“You know how you have wraps or logos on your car?” McClellan said.

“They can do that but they can’t have sandwich boards, wind signs, banners. They can’t have any of that. That is all called advertising.”

Florida Statute 337.406 prohibits the display of advertising on rights of way. The Florida Department of Transportation lists prohibited uses of rights of way that include any use that interferes with the safety and efficiency of the road; sale, display, or free distribution of any merchandise, goods, property or services; and storage, servicing or non-emergency repair of vehicles.

McClellan read a response to an email she had sent to Bradenton Police Department (BPD) Capt. William Knight over her concerns with violations on the causeway. For code violations, Knight asked her to call code enforcement, but for violations of the law, the point of contact is Sgt. Joseph Kelly, of the BPD Patrol Division.

“For issues pertaining to alcohol consumption, overnight parking or other issues that can be addressed more immediately, please contact our non-emergency line,” Kelly wrote in an email to McClellan. “I will say from experience with the causeway in years past it is something we always have to keep an eye on.”

The discussion then turned to the possibility of adding restrooms on the south side of the causeway. There are currently restrooms on the north side.

“I don’t see a need for a second one,” McClellan said. “Maybe the county can put portalets at the boat ramp.

“There is at least one portalet at most of our boat ramps,” Manatee County Parks Maintenance supervisor Liza Click said. “I would have to find out.”

There are currently two portable toilets at Kingfish Boat Ramp, Click said.

Members noted that a large clump of Brazilian peppers on the north side of the causeway across from Palma Sola Boulevard is a problem area.

“I walked back there a month ago and there were two sinks, a boat awning and a couple of bikes,” CME member Mike Meehan said. “The more you can clear that stuff out of there the better it’s going to be in terms of the overall vibe of the causeway.”

“The county has funds, the DOT has funds,” McClellan said.

Keys said the city also has funds to do its part in clearing that area.

Trash cans also were discussed.

“What I’ve noticed is during the process of unloading, some of the trash will blow away,” Meehan said.

“If you could put a liner in those cans, an elastic liner with drawstrings, then stuff won’t blow all over the place.”

Meehan said new trash cans on the causeway have been an improvement overall over the old ones.

At the meeting, Megan Barry of the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program was approved as a new member of the CME and Nina Venter and Grace Scigousky of the Sarasota/Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) were approved as technical advisors.

The next CME meeting is set for Wednesday, Aug. 9 at 3:30 p.m. at the City of Bradenton Public Works Department conference room, 1411 Ninth St. W.

LESLIE LAKE | SUN

Advertising signs are displayed on the Palma Sola Causeway in what committee members say is a violation of the law.

Roads open, some construction to continue

HOLMES BEACH – Anna Maria Island motorists, rejoice. The Island’s main thoroughfare has reopened to motorists, bicyclists, pedestrians and travelers of all kinds. Unfortunately, the reopening of the road and removal of some of the orange barrels and cones decorating Marina and Gulf drives doesn’t mean that construction in the area is completely over.

Giving a report to city commissioners during an April 11 meeting, Holmes Beach Director of Development Services Sage Kamiya announced that the traffic light at the intersection of Marina and Gulf drives had become operational that afternoon. With paving completed in the area, major work to

improve the intersection and update infrastructure was completed. However, Kamiya said that some paving work is still needed in the area. He added that he expects that to be done in about three weeks, in early May, and will result in lane closures on both Marina and Gulf drives. He added that the contractors working with the city on the project had agreed to do the work primarily during overnight hours, so most lane closures will take place at night rather than during the day. While some things still need to be done, such as some cleanup work, Kamiya said the largest item to still be completed in the area is lighting, which is expected to be installed over the coming weeks.

“...a beautiful place to explore your faith...”

AME students sample fruits of their labor

Over the past couple of months, Anna Maria Elementary School students grew and harvested their own vegetables and herbs on the school’s Holmes Beach campus. On April 13, they walked to The Doctor’s Garden to enjoy a meal prepared by the restaurant staff with vegetables from their garden.

Left, students get a healthy treat as a reward for their hard work growing fresh vegetables and herbs.

Students participate in speech contest

Left, fourth and fifth graders participated in the Anna Maria Elementary School speech contest on April 13. Right, Cooper Pitkin took first place, MaryTess Bolognone took second place, and Mazzy Cacic took third place. The first-place winner goes to the district contest in May.

Anna Maria Elementary School fifth graders gather for a photo after The Doctor’s Garden cooks prepared them a meal of vegetables and herbs they grew in their student garden.

Featured artist combines nature, stained glass

The stained glass artwork of Artists’ Guild of Anna Maria Island President Janet Razze is on display through April 30.

BY JASON SCHAFFER SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com

HOLMES BEACH - The final Holmes Beach Art Walk of the winter/spring season on April 14 offered a chance for the public to meet many of the talented local artists who are members of the Artists’ Guild of Anna Maria Island (AGAMI), including April’s Featured Artist, Janet Razze.

Unlike many artists who tend to specialize or prefer working in a single media, Razze uses watercolor, oil, acrylic, and in the case of her feature display, stained glass. She is a second-generation stained glass artist, learning the art form from her father beginning at a young age.

“I’m really inspired by nature, in fact, I started out as a biology teacher,” said Razze, whose display will be in the front window of AGAMI through the end of April. “I really enjoy doing stained

glass, and as you can see by this display, I incorporated different shells from around the world in these stained glass pieces, and the name of the shell is in the title of each, so the observer knows what they

are looking at.”

Razze offers unique stained glass works, and recently created a series of fish that glow in the dark after a laborintensive process of applying a special acrylic paint that

charges in the sunlight and glows in the darkness.

The art walk, which included many businesses in the Holmes Beach Shopping Plaza, will be the last of the season. Razze, who is also the AGAMI president, says they may restructure the event before its return in the fall of 2023.

“Since Island Gallery West moved off the Island, we are the only gallery left, so we may change the name to something else and do some restructuring,” Razze said.

The Artists' Guild, an allvolunteer, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, was formed in 1989 to promote and support creative processes by bringing together all artists to share experiences and expertise and work together to develop and promote the artistic community. The AGAMI Gallery is located at 5414 Marina Drive in Holmes Beach and displays member artwork.

JASON SCHAFFER | SUN

The Artists’ Guild of Anna Maria Island’s April Featured Artist, Janet Razze, stands in front of her front window display titled, ‘Sally Sells Seashells by the Seashore.’

WHERE‛S YOUR COMFORT ZONE?

Chamber lunchmates

The Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce held its members’ lunch on April 13 at Floridays Woodfire Grill & Bar, 12332 Manatee Ave. W. General Manager Cris Rodgers welcomed members, including, from left at the front table, Aaron Clough (Ace Handling), Bob Verhelst (Liberty Title of the South), Shona Otto (Anna Maria Island Sun) and Rick Freeman (Haskell Termite & Pest Control).

Scholarships to be announced

The Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce’s next Business Card Exchange is scheduled for Thursday, April 27 from 5-7 p.m. at the Anna Maria Island Historical Society, 402 Pine Ave. in Anna Maria. Bring business cards and mingle with Island business owners and managers at this networking event. The annual Pat Copeland Scholarship Awards given by the Historical Society will be announced at the event. Space is limited, so RSVP to becky@amichamber.org or call 941-778-1541.

Silver potluck lunch set

The Annie Silver Community Center, 103 23rd St. N., Bradenton Beach, will hold its next book sale and potluck lunch on Saturday, April 22 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Everyone is welcome. For more information, call Dianne at 724-787-1418.

Post office holds food drive

The employees of the Bradenton Beach Post Office request that travelers heading home drop off any leftover non-perishable food at the post office at 116 Bridge St. For locals, the Letter Carriers Food Drive is Saturday, May 13, the largest one-day food drive in the country. This is the time of year when the food pantries start to run very low from their holiday donations. Please help restock their shelves and leave any non-perishable food at or in your mailbox with the flag up for your letter carrier to collect.

CENTER NOTES

Senior outings

Seniors interested in exploring the attractions in Bradenton, Sarasota and St. Petersburg are invited to join The Center of Anna Maria Island’s VIP Seniors group. On Friday, April 19, take a trip to Detwiler’s Farm Market. The Center van will leave at 9:15 a.m. and return around 2 p.m. On Monday, April 24 from noon to 2 p.m., The Center will host a VIP lunch. On Wednesday, April 26 at 10:30 a.m., “Word Games and Wisdom” will be

held at The Center. On Thursday, April 27, have dinner at Floridays Woodfire Grill and Bar. The Center van will leave at 4 p.m. and return by 8 p.m. There will be a $5 fee for transportation and participants will pay for whatever they eat, drink or buy during the outing. Trips are limited to 14 people and pre-registration is recommended. To reserve your spot, call 941-778-1908.

Summer camps

Registration is open for summer camps for children and teens. The camps run from June 5 through July 8 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. For children go -

ing into kindergarten through fifth grade, The Center offers “Summer My Way” camp, which gives participants the choice to explore and choose the topic that interests them. They can practice teamwork with a weekly sports camp or explore art and science with a weekly discovery camp, and they can also experience new adventures at a specialty camp. Each week has a different theme and includes a field trip to places such as the Museum of Science and Industry, Bowlero and Jumpin’ Fun. For kids going into sixth through ninth grade, Adventure Time campers will go on two different field trips each week to places such as Adventure

Island, Dave and Busters and Top Golf. Trips are on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Kids and teens can also participate in specialty camps and workshops, with options such as tennis camp, cooking camp, sailing camp and more. Days and times vary by camp, and are Monday to Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Camp prices vary by week. For those who qualify, The Center offers reduced fees. You can sign up through The Center website or by calling 941-778-1908 or emailing customerservice@centerami.org. The Center is located at 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria.

Non-conforming lot discussion delayed

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA – The city of Anna Maria has delayed until May 11 a city commission discussion pertaining to the combining of two or more nonconforming lots.

During the April 13 city commission

meeting, City Attorney Becky Vose asked commissioners to delay the discussion to a future date and time. Vose said the Planning and Zoning Board recently reviewed the proposed ordinance and recommends that the commission deny the proposed ordinance.

Section 114-135 of the city’s code of ordinance addresses nonconforming lots and parcels. According to the existing city code, non-conforming lots and lots of record located in any zoning district which do not conform

to the minimum requirements of lot dimension or lot area may be used for construction of permitted uses as long as the construction complies with all spatial and bulk requirements and all regulations applying to conforming lots and parcels.

The proposed ordinance contains new language that says, “Provided, however, if two or more platted lots have been combined, or used together at any time for a unified development, or recognized as one lot under a single

parcel ID, such combined lots shall not be utilized separately for use as individual lots for construction unless and until each such individual lot is conforming as to minimum dimension and lot area as required under the then applicable building lot requirements standards at the time of requested development or redevelopment.”

City Planner Ashley Austin said there are 37 lots in Anna Maria that could potentially be impacted by the proposed ordinance.

Mayor proposes parking alternative

Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth continues to try to find an acceptable alternative to the three-story, 1,500-plus-space parking garage at Manatee Beach proposed by House Bill 947, which awaits a vote on the Florida House of Representatives floor. During an April 11 commission meeting, Titsworth said she’s been sending bill sponsor Rep. Will Robinson Jr. weekly parking counts, all of which

show that not all of the available spaces in the city are being used by beachgoers, even on busy weeks and weekends, including spring break. To address the stated concerns of state lawmakers, she proposed designating 220 spots near beach access points as Manatee County resident-only parking spaces. While she said she doesn’t believe that the parking garage proposal is really for beachgoers

but more for a transit stop for parking and transportation to other parts of Anna Maria Island, she said she’s working to address the parking issues voiced by Robinson in hopes he will table the bill. Though she hadn’t received a response other than a brief text promising to talk soon, Titsworth said she hopes to have a meaningful conversation with Robinson before the bill goes to a vote.

No decisions on the proposed ordinance will be made until May 11.

Blooms By The Beach Your

Island Florist

Anna Maria Island's premiere choice for beautiful floral, helping families celebrate all of life's experiences! Some of our most dynamic designs are for weddings held throughout AMI and the surrounding area, offering unique, specially-crafted wedding work to ensure your wedding is spectacular!

Our one-of-a-kind design studio is open to the public five days a week, Tuesday - Friday 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturdays 9:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. offering: daily deliveries and pick-up orders, customized floral for weddings and private events, weekly corporate accounts, support to local nonprofits with fundraising efforts/church services/thank you arrangements and so much more!

Other services and products offered include:

- Tropical flowers - succulent gardens

- Ceramic and basket dish gardens

- Potted orchids - air plants

- Hawaiian leis - balloons

- Chocolates - gourmet gift baskets

- Cheesecakes

- Gift certificates (Both for our shop and other Island businesses)

- Local products and special requests

- Wedding/event decor rentals

Our delivery area includes: Anna Maria Island, Longboat Key, St. Armand's Circle/Lido Key/Bird Key, West Bradenton, North Sarasota Blooms By The Beach schedules all wedding and event consultations for either an in-person visit, via phone or as a Zoom call. For more information about our floral and event services, please visit our website at: www.bloomsbythebeach.com to schedule an appointment or call the shop at 941.778.2555.

DARA CAUDILL | WWW.ISLANDPHOTOGRAPHY.ORG Nick & Chelsea Barden were married 9 years ago on Anna Maria Island. Chuck Caudill provided the music. Reverend Charlie Shook performed the wedding ceremony. Flowers were by Silvia, and the cake was made by Hometown Desserts. Nick & Chelsea are photographed here in 2023 with their family. Tim & Stacy Barden from Otisville, MI, Nick, Chelsea, their sons Blake and Jay from Otisville, MI, and Justin & McKenzie Barden from Clarkston, MI.

Successful fishing trip planning

lanning any fishing trip can be a challenge given the peculiarities of weather and the idiosyncrasies of fish. Add a few thousand miles, a different language and an exotic species or two, and some serious planning is

Chances are you’ve been looking forward to this trip for a long time and, finally, you’ll have the opportunity to do nothing but eat, fish, sleep and repeat for a week or more. More than likely, it’s taken a tremendous amount of time and money to get this opportunity, so it makes good sense to develop a plan to assure that you have the best possible chance of success.

Deciding where to go and when are the first decisions you’ll make. While it’s not impossible to book your own trip, knowing the best time, tides and lodging can be daunting. In addition, juggling the details of plane reservations, transfers, accommodations and guides can increase the challenge of putting together a self-guided trip.

A knowledgeable outfitter or travel host can provide you with the experience and insider information that will allow you to immerse yourself in the experience instead of the details. Even when using an outfitter, you’ll need to do some research to assure you’ve matched your angling needs and expectations to your chosen destination. There are a lot of resources online, including some great groups on Facebook, but you’ll need to vet those sources.

When choosing an outfitter or destination host, be aware that knowing what you want from your trip and asking the right questions are impor-

tant to fulfilling your expectations. For example, some of the best fishing is available at sites that have the least amenities. If you require a certain level of service or are traveling with nonfishers, you’ll want to research locations that offer specific conveniences as well as good fishing. While you won’t want to plan your trip based on secondhand information, you’ll find it can be helpful to talk to others who have made the trip you’re planning. Ask the outfitter or host for a number of references and question them carefully. Make sure they have been to the location recently and at the time of the year you plan to visit.

In foreign countries (the Bahamas is a foreign country), you’ll be hardpressed to replace items you forgot to pack, particularly fishing tackle. This is one case when it’s probably better to pack more than you think you’ll need,

RUSTY CHINNIS | SUN A knowledgeable guide can take you to fish. It’s your responsibility to put a fly where the fish can see it.

RUSTY CHINNIS

April fly fishing forecast promising

CAPT. RICK GRASSETT

This is a great month for snook on shallow flats. Reds and trout will also be more active as the water warms and baitfish become more plentiful. You might find Spanish mackerel, blues and pompano in passes or on deep grass flats. You should also find Spanish mackerel along with false albacore (little tunny), cobia and tripletail in the coastal Gulf of Mexico this month. Tarpon should also make an appearance in bay or backcountry areas or along beaches by later in the month.

Tarpon will become more plentiful as resident fish make their way out of rivers and creeks and early arriving migratory fish begin to show along beaches, particularly by the end of the month.

Water temperature in the Gulf is a key factor with 80 degrees being an optimum temperature. As the water warms towards that, fish will become more plentiful. Resident fish may be rolling on deep grass flats in some of the same places that you find trout, laid up on edges of shallow grass flats or along sand bars. Fly anglers might connect with a black Deceiver or Tarpon bunny fly fished on a

12-weight fly rod with a floating or clear sink tip fly line depending on depth. I always have tarpon tackle, rigged and ready, on the boat this time of year.

Regulations have returned to normal for reds and snook in Sarasota. Spotted seatrout have changed in southwest Florida to a three-fish-per-person bag limit and a six-fish boat limit. Trout must be from 15”-19” with one allowed per vessel over 19”. In my opinion, it’s important to protect larger trout, which are usually female breeders. Full regulations and details for all species can be viewed at https://myfwc.com/.

Snook should be staging on flats, around sand and oyster bars, on points of islands and around docks and bridges close to passes in the ICW. Fish the edges of bars and potholes when the tide is low and mangrove shorelines or points of islands when the tide is high. I like wide profile flies, such as Lefty’s Deceiver, my Grassett Flats Bunny or EP flies for snook on the flats.

You’ll also find snook around docks and bridges in the ICW. Night snook fishing should be productive with small white flies,

like my Grassett Snook Minnow fly, shrimp patterns or Shrimp Gurglers. Fish peak tidal flows for the best action. Reds will spend more time feeding on shallow flats due to more plentiful bait. Look for them in potholes, the edges of bars and around docks when the tide is low. You should find them higher on flats over shallow grass or around mangrove shorelines when the tide is high. My Grassett

Flats Minnow is my “go to” fly for reds. It fishes well in shallow water and its bend-back design makes it very weedless. You may also find big trout in skinny water in many of the same places that you find reds. The same flies and techniques used to find and catch reds will also work for big trout.

Trout should be plentiful on deep grass flats. I like to drift and cast ahead of my drift. Look for trout on deep grass flats with a good tidal

REEL TIME: Successful fishing trip planning

FROM PAGE 20 within reason. Making a packing list and checking it before your departure will pay dividends. Most destinations provide lists that you can use to make sure you don’t forget anything important. While their recommendations are a good place to start, customizing your own travel list can help ensure that you have what you need while streamlining the amount of baggage you take.

Many tropical fishing destinations are very near the equator, so anglers need

to pay special attention to the sun. Long-sleeved pants and shirts (with sun protection) are advisable along with a high SPF waterproof sunscreen. Polarized glasses with glare guards and a fishing hat with a dark (under) brim are mandatory and a second pair of each should accompany you. For many of my fishing adventures, I’ve used a full-face mask and gloves for sun protection. Recently, I started wearing a fishing hoodie with thumb holes that protect my face, hands and wrists. I

find hoodies much more comfortable and invested in several that have bamboo fibers woven in. Invest in a good pair of flats wading boots and a sling or fanny pack with a water bottle holder and you’ll be good to go.

You can be a consummate planner and still fail to properly plan if you aren’t comfortable with your cast. Pay special attention to casting into the wind and being able to place an accurate 40-foot cast. Practicing these skills well in advance on grass will greatly in -

flow and a mixture of grass and sand. Fly anglers should score with weighted flies on sink-tip fly lines.

I tie Clousers with Ultra Hair on long shank hooks so that they are durable and will hold up to toothy and rough mouth fish.

You might also find blues, Spanish mackerel, pompano or flounder mixed with trout on deep grass flats. The same flies and techniques that you use to find trout on deep grass will work for these species, too. You’ll need to tip your leader with wire or heavy fluorocarbon when blues and mackerel are around. I prefer heavy fluorocarbon and flies tied on long shank hooks, since that usually won’t affect the trout bite. Blues and mackerel usually don’t feed on the surface in the bay like they do in the open Gulf, but you may see bait showering or boils indicating fast-moving fish feeding just below the surface. Pompano may “skip” when you run or drift past them, giving their location away. When that happens, circle back upwind and drift the area. Flounder are often found in potholes, on the edges of bars or on mud bottom.

crease the pleasure of your adventure. The success or failure of any fishing adventure will vary due to conditions beyond your control, but being mindful of the things you do have control over can make or break your trip. Be prepared, practice casting and do your homework up front, ask good questions of knowledgeable sources, and be flexible. The time and effort you expend in planning the trip will pay in dividends of tight lines and lasting memories.

RED TIDE REPORT

High (respiratory irritation, shellfish harvesting closures, fish kills, water discoloration)

Medium

(probable respiratory irritation, shellfish harvesting closures, fish kills)

Low

(possible respiratory irritation, shellfish harvesting closures, fish kills)

Very low (possible respiratory irritation)

Background (no effects)

None (no red tide present)

Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

CAPT. RICK GRASSETT | SUBMITTED

Venice winter resident Frank Zaffino with a snook caught and released on a fly while fishing the ICW at night in a previous April.

Top real estate producers for March 2023

A PARADISE

Kathy Woodruff – Listing & Selling

AN ISLAND PLACE REALTY

Sue Carlson – Listing

Tanya Edwards - Selling

DUNCAN REAL ESTATE

Cindy Jones – Listing & Selling

EDGEWATER REAL ESTATE

Lynn Zemmer – Listing & Selling

FRAN MAXON

Stephanie Bell – Listing & Selling

ISLAND REAL ESTATE

Josh Bernet – Listing

Alan Galletto - Selling

LOCALS REALTY GROUP

Ryan Hackney - Selling

MICHAEL SAUNDERS

Hannah Hillyard – Listing

Kathy Harman - Selling

MIKE NORMAN REALTY

Marianne Norman-Ellis - Listing & Selling

REMAX ALLIANCE GROUP

Sharon Hightower - Listing

Cindy Quinn - Selling

SALTY MERMAID REAL ESTATE

Liz Blandford – Listing

Diana Sinisi - Selling

SATO REAL ESTATE

Jason Sato – Listing

James Wilson - Selling

WAGNER REAL ESTATE

Ed Taaffe – Listing & Selling

AMI Rotary raises funds for kids

Between their golf tournament and their Wagon of Cheer giveaway, the Anna Maria Island Rotary Club raised more than $20,000 to help kids.

BY JASON SCHAFFER SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com

CORTEZ - It’s going to be a great summer for close to 100 area children thanks to the fundraising efforts of the Anna Maria Island Rotary Club.

According to Rotary President Jim McDaniel, their annual golf tournament held on April 3 raised about $20,000. Two days later, on April 5, the club gathered at Slicker’s Eatery in Cortez to give away their “Wagon of Cheer,” which they had been selling raffle tickets for over previous weeks. The wagon contained over $1,800 worth of prizes including more than two dozen bottles of premium spirits and a vacation voucher.

“The biggest chunk of this

money is going to the swimming program,” AMI Rotary President Jim McDaniel said. “We now have more money than we thought we would have, so this year we are looking to find out if we can get more kids in the summer program to learn to swim. Our goal was to get 80 Title I kids that the Boys and Girls Club identified, but we may be able to do more.”

The AMI Rotary says because this is Florida and children are around water more than most places in the country, it is vitally important that they are able to swim, but due to circumstances out of their control, many families aren’t able to afford swimming lessons or regular access to a pool. It’s not only a way to possibly save lives, but offers fun for kids. The program is three-pronged, with AMI Rotary providing the funds, the Manatee County Boys and Girls Club finding the children in need of the program, and the Bradenton YMCA providing the pool and instructors to give the lessons, which take place over four weeks in June and July. All

JASON SCHAFFER | SUN

From left, Kathlene Gignac, Roger Gignac, Dennis Schuermann, Pam Bawden, Bob Slicker, Paul Caputo, Joe Vollmann, Michael Bettner, Rebecca Gill, Jim McDaniel, Susan McDaniel, Kathy Rylander, Tom Hagan and Mike LaPensee share a toast after awarding the AMI Rotary Club’s “Wagon of Cheer” to the lucky winner, Paul Caputo, on April 5 at Slicker’s Eatery in Cortez.

three organizations are 501(c)(3) non-profits.

“Most of these kids have little swim experience, and some of them have never been in a pool,” AMI Rotary member and former President Judy Rup said. “We also have satellite sessions at local schools in the summer.”

Rup and McDaniel didn’t have

an exact number of children that had completed the program, but say it’s around 500 since they began in 2016. That number factors in the fact they were unable to have the lessons in 2020-21 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition to the swimming program, the AMI Rotary also gives three scholarships to area

high school students who display student leadership, as well as to literacy programs at Anna Maria Elementary School. The Rotary does not have a physical location, so they have many of their meetings and events at Slicker’s Eatery in Cortez, owned by Rotary member Bob Slicker.

“I just love being a part of this,” Slicker said. “This organization is free to choose how to use the money raised, it’s not mandated by the national Rotary. In addition to all of the local people who benefit from the outstanding work, we would not have been able to send tens of thousands of dollars to those affected by the war in Ukraine without the help of the international Rotary Clubs in Eastern Europe and here at home. I went over there and saw firsthand how much this organization can accomplish; it’s amazing.” Slicker, in partnership with the AMI Rotary, plans to hold a second “Concert for Peace” in the coming months to help the Ukrainian people with vital necessities to carry on living in the war-torn area.

Anna Maria

Gulfview rallies to tie Duncan

BY MONICA SIMPSON SPECIAL TO THE SUN

ANNA MARIA – With the completion of week three of the adult co-ed soccer spring season, team Gulfview Windows & Doors is still in search of their first win. The team fought back on April 13 against Duncan Real Estate with hard-striking goals by Keith Mahoney to tie the ballgame 5-5 in the last minutes of the matchup.

Duncan Real Estate’s team captain, Kevin Roman, started the scoring in the game early in the first half, kicking in his only goal in the game. Despite the single goal, Roman worked the soccer field both on offense and defense, giving his teammates scoring opportunities.

Javier Rivera scored the second goal for Duncan with a shot ricocheting off the left post. The third goal, shot by Nicholas Cavalluzzi, kept the Duncan Real Estate squad in the lead.

Working the field, Mahoney scored a total of four goals in the game for Gulfview Windows & Doors, with a single by Kris Yavalar.

Rounding out the goalmaking for Duncan Real

Estate, Murat Akay shot the next goal, taking the score to 4-2. Shooting the fifth goal, Akay gave his team a two-point lead, after a Gulfview goal.

Duncan goalie, Charles “Tuna” McCracken, despite his amazing saves, saw his team’s lead diminish as Mahoney scored the tying goal. Finishing the game with 15 saves, McCracken continues to be one of the toughest goalkeepers in the league.

McCracken’s counterpart, Mark Long, made 17 saves in the game, always keeping the Duncan team in the Thursday night battle.

With the tie, team Duncan Real Estate moves into third place along with Sato Real Estate with a 2-1-1 record. The Vintage Beach team tied the Sato squad with four goals each.

Sandbar Seafood & Spirits holds on to the top spot with a win over Pool America

by one goal. Solid Rock Construction shares the top spot with the Sandbar team, earning nine points in the season.

Going into the fifth week of play, Moss Builders has a 2-2-0 record after losing to the Solid Rock team.

More than mid-way through the season, the top position is still up for grabs. All eight teams in the league continue to vie for the championship title.

MONICA SIMPSON | SUN

Gulfview Window & Doors' John Cruz and Duncan Real Estate's Tim Holly race for position to gain possession of the soccer ball in last Thursday night's adult co-ed game at The Center.

REAL ESTATE

Contingency clauses

The word “contingent” is defined as “subject to chance,” something that no one wants to hear in a real estate transaction. However, every contract to purchase real estate is likely to have contingency clauses. It’s up to both the buyer and seller to understand what the chance you are taking is and either as sume the risk or don’t sign the contract. Contingent clauses are commonly attached to an offer to purchase real estate and are included in the real estate contract. Essentially, a contingency clause gives parties to the contract the right to back out of the contract under certain circumstances that must be negotiated between the buyer and seller.

Virtually anything can be written into a real estate contract as a contingency, from replacement of a roof to including the owner’s boat in the sale, but the most common items are as follows:

• Financing Contingency: A financing contingency or a mortgage contingency

Castles in the Sand

LOUISE BOLGER

gives the buyer time to apply for and obtain financing for the purchase of the property. This protects the buyer, who can back out from the contract and reclaim their earnest money in the event they are unable to secure financing from a legitimate lender. Keep in mind that in today’s real estate culture, most sellers will want to see a mortgage preapproval from a buyer before they enter into a transaction with them.

• Appraisal Contingency: Contracts that include a financing contingency will also contain an appraisal contingency. If an appraisal by an independent appraiser comes in under the agreed-upon purchase price,

the contract can be canceled or the price and/or terms can be renegotiated.

• Home Sale Contingency: This gives the buyer a specified amount of time to sell and settle their existing home in order to finance the new one. Again, this protects the buyer but puts the seller at a disadvantage since their property is basically off the market. This was done all the time in the good old days of real estate when most buyers and sellers had more patience, and the real estate market was not as competitive.

• Inspection Contingency: This allows the buyer to have the home inspected within a specified time period, typically five to seven days. It also protects the buyer, who can cancel the contract or negotiate repairs based on the findings of a professional home inspector. There is also a required termite inspection from a qualified termite inspector in order to obtain financing. These are the standard contingencies, but I recently read about an innovative contin-

gency regarding the buyer’s job status that’s happening with the job market in turmoil, especially in the tech sector. It’s known as the employment contingency, stating that if the buyer is laid off from their job before closing, they can back out of the deal. There could be a 30-day or more time frame for the buyer to find another job that will still qualify them for a mortgage, but either way it’s a dicey position for a seller to be in. Nevertheless, with the real estate market getting softer, buyers feel more confident asking for contingencies compared to a year ago. The process of purchasing real estate is fraught with chance; the chance you may not find the right home, the chance that your offer will not be accepted, the chance the home will not pass inspection and the chance that your financials may not allow you to purchase the property. Think of contingency clauses to your contract as just one more chance you have to take in a lifetime of chances.

OBITUARIES

Marylou Kelley

Marylou Kelley, 62, of Holmes Beach, Florida, passed away at 5:50 a.m. in her sleep on Monday, April 10, 2023, in the home she shared with her companion of 19 years, William “Billy” Limburg. She was born Aug. 27, 1960, in Grand Rapids, Michigan to Bruce and Mary (Maycroft) Kelley.

She is survived by Bruce and Billy, as well as her only child, Ian (Christy) Tomlinson, of Davenport, Florida; five granddaughters, Allyson Williams, Darien, Chloe and Abigail Tomlinson, all of Florida, and Chasity Tomlinson, of Indiana; a grandson, Devin Tomlinson, of Michigan and a great-grandson, Jensen Spelts, of Indiana. She is also survived by a brother, Jim (Connie) Kelley, of Michigan; sister, Judy (Eric) Birdsall, of Michigan, and sister Susan Kelley, of Florida.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Mary; two sisters, Terry and Cheryl; and brother, Daniel.

Marylou traveled the country in her youth but found a home on Anna Maria Island. She was looking forward to retirement from the city of Bradenton Beach to spend more time relaxing and visiting with friends at the Stray Cat Saloon and making her piece of the world more beautiful one craft project at a time. Marylou was loved by many and will be greatly missed.

A celebration of life for all who wish to attend is being hosted by Billy Limburg on Saturday, April 29 from 1-3 p.m. at the Sports Lounge, 118 Bridge St. in Bradenton Beach, Florida.

Christos (Chris) Sakas

Christos (Chris) Sakas, 68, of Cor tez, Florida, passed away on April 7, 2023. Chris was born in Baindridge, Maryland to the late Harry and Freda Sakas. Chris grew up in Lake Hiawatha, New Jersey, and gradu ated from Parsippany High School in 1972. Following high school, Chris served in the U.S. Navy from 1972-76. Some of his service was as an aircraft mechanic aboard the USS Saratoga CV-60. After returning home from the Navy, Chris worked at his father’s luncheonette called Harry’s Corner in South Hackensack, New Jersey for many years. He moved to Bradenton, Florida in 1990, and started working at Fast Eddie’s Place on Anna Maria Island, and later The Anchorage. He worked at several restaurants on the island through the years. Chris is survived by his daughters, Jessica (Kristian Korner) and Melanie Sakas; sisters, Alexandra (John) Hefferon, and Pamela Kelly; along with nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, Harry and Freda Sakas; and brother, Dan Sakas.

Services will be at Sarasota National Cemetery at a later date. Brown & Sons Funeral Homes & Crematory 43rd Street Chapel, 604 43rd St. W., Bradenton, Florida 34209 is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be made to: www. brownandsonsfuneral.com.

BEACH BEAT

BRADENTON BEACH

4/6, 6:01 p.m., lost/stolen property, 100 Ninth St. N. The officer responded to a residence regarding a report of a lost or stolen license plate. The complainant said when he came home from work, his license plate was missing, but he could not be sure it was on the vehicle when he went to work that morning. The officer found no evidence of tampering, and no witnesses saw anyone take the plate, so no further action was taken.

HOLMES BEACH

4/7, 11:45 a.m., fraudulent use of a handicap placard, 4000 Gulf Drive. While on patrol at Manatee Beach, the officer saw a man park in a handicap space. When the officer approached the subject, he alluded to being deaf, but appeared to have earbuds in his ears and to be listening to music. The officer ran the vehicle’s license plate and discovered the vehicle to be registered in Florida, but the handicap placard was from Ohio. The officer later made contact with the subject,

who communicated by typing on his phone. He eventually advised that the placard was probably his father’s. The placard was seized and placed into evidence.

4/10, 1:37 p.m., grand theft of motor vehicle, 128 48th St. Police were contacted by a female victim who had rented a golf cart, which was taken from the listed address. The rental company was contacted and they said the cart was equipped with GPS, which showed the cart to be at 3201 East Bay Drive. The victim went to that address and witnessed a Hispanic male get off the cart and jump a nearby fence. Police arrived and searched the area, but the suspect was not found.

4/11, 2:13 p.m., grand theft, 5102 Fifth Ave. The officer was dispatched in reference to a stolen bicycle. The victim said her husband noticed the bike was missing from the exterior side of their rental unit. The rental agency had video footage of the theft, which they provided to police. The officer said the theft was clearly visible, and the suspect matched the description of a man wanted for theft of a golf cart the previous day. The video was placed into evidence.

MAZARELLA: Turtle season begins under a new watch

FROM PAGE 1

Mazzarella said one of the Turtle Watch board members contacted her during their search for an executive director to see if she was interested in the position.

“I knew Suzi and I had worked with her on various projects,” she said. “I feel that this organization is so important because it’s a conservation program where both the community and the municipalities are very involved.”

A core group of 20-25 volunteers who have undergone training with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) conducts nesting beach surveys, but Mazzarella said volunteers are always needed and welcome.

During the nesting beach surveys, which run from mid-April to the end of

October, volunteers patrol every day, keeping an eye on each nest until it has hatched, Mazzarella said.

“That training is done for this year, but certainly volunteers are needed to help with outreach and our adopt-anest program,” she said.

FOX’S LEGACY

Fox began as a volunteer for Turtle Watch in the 1990s. In 1996, she became the FWC’s turtle permit holder for the Island, adding nesting shorebird monitoring and protection to her duties.

She eventually took leadership of Turtle Watch as executive director and under her directorship, the organization grew.

“In three decades, we monitored 7,339 turtle activities, protected 4,454 nests,

Turtle lighting workshop Wednesday

As turtle nesting season approaches, the Holmes Beach Code Compliance Department is planning a turtle lighting workshop on Wednesday, April 19 at 10 a.m. with a PowerPoint presentation of turtle lighting best practices and discussion and questions to follow. The workshop will be at Holmes Beach City Hall, 5801 Marina Drive. Lights can confuse nesting and hatching sea turtles. During turtle season - May 1 to Oct. 31- do not use flashlights, lanterns or camera flashes on the beach at night, and close blinds facing the water from sundown to sunrise. For information or to RSVP, email jclayton@holmesbeachfl.org or call 941-932-6147.

301,694 turtle eggs, and watched 271,680 hatchlings depart to become a future generation of loggerheads that will return to the region as they reach maturity,” according to the Turtle Watch website.

Last season, local loggerhead sea turtles broke two records.

The number of hatched nests reached 453 in September, edging out the 2018 record of 447, and a record 35,850 hatchlings exceeded the prior record of 35,788 set in 2018.

The first official day of turtle nesting season on Anna Maria Island, May 1, will be proclaimed “Suzi Fox Day” in the city of Bradenton Beach.

At the Jan. 5 Bradenton Beach City Commission meeting, the proclamation was issued to honor Fox, who served as the organization’s executive director until her death on Sept. 30, 2022.

The proclamation states in part, “Suzi Fox led the organization and its league of volunteers for sea turtle protection to include protection for critical shorebirds.”

The proclamation credits Fox with reaching out to and educating the public about sea turtle and shorebird habitat.

“Suzi’s actions have led Anna Maria Island to expand on ecotourism opportunities and on further educating

the public and future generations about our sea turtle and shorebirds habitat and the crucial role we play in ensuring their existence in the future.”

SUBMITTED

Kristen Mazzarella will take over leadership duties at Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring.

RENTALS: Opposition to vacation rental legislation continues

authority of condominiums, cooperatives or homeowners’ associations to restrict the use of their properties and prohibit short-term vacation rentals.

LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

On April 12, HB 833 successfully passed through the House Ways & Means Committee by a 13-10 vote. State Rep. Will Robinson Jr. (R-Bradenton) was among the 13 members who voted favorably on the bill.

HB 833 previously successfully reported out of the House’s Regulatory Reform & Economic Development Subcommittee on March 29.

The bill was scheduled to be discussed and po -

committee stop for the bill before it can be brought to the floor for a final vote by all House members.

SB 714 was scheduled to be discussed and potentially voted on by the Senate’s Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment and General Government Committee on Tuesday, April 18. This is the second of three committee stops scheduled for the Senate bill.

On May 13, SB 714 successfully passed through the Senate’s Regulated Industries Committee by a 5-2 vote.

The proposed legislation will die if it does not successfully pass through three preliminary committees.

The 60-day legislative

LOCAL CONCERNS

Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy provided the city commission with an update on the city’s opposition efforts on April 13, noting the issue is the city’s primary legislative focus this year.

Murphy referenced the emails and letters that continue to be sent to state legislators through the cityowned and managed Home Rule Florida website, www. HomeRuleFl.com.

“It’s very impressive the amount of mail that this little city has generated. It didn’t all come out of this city. It comes from across the state because of our website. The lobbyist has assured me our efforts have not gone unnoticed, but we need to keep the pressure on,” Murphy told

lines. The Democrats are voting no and the Republicans are all voting yes. If it sails through along party lines, which it very well might do, it’ll then go to the governor’s desk for signature. If the governor sees that we already have all these letters, he’s going to think twice before he would sign off on it knowing there’s mass opposi-

tion amongst the public,” Murphy said.

Murphy said it’s premature to start lobbying Gov. Ron DeSantis before the proposed legislation reaches his desk.

“The governor’s not going to interfere in the legislative process,” Murphy said. “We need to save our thunder for when and if this thing gets to his desk.

That’s when we really need to put a full-court press on.”

Commissioner Charlie Salem asked if the city’s lobbyist has at least informed DeSantis that the proposed vacation rental legislation might be headed his way. Murphy said that’s a good idea.

Murphy implored the city commissioners to urge their constituents to continue sending emails and letters to the Senate and House committee members who will determine whether the proposed bills make it to their respective floors for a final vote.

Murphy said the city’s recent labeling of the proposed legislation as a “party house bill” has gained a lot of traction in Tallahassee.

City Clerk LeAnne Addy and her staff manage the Home Rule Florida website that issues email updates and calls to action to those registered to receive them. The website contains pre-formatted email messages users can use to quickly and easily contact multiple state legislators at one time.

During the April 13 meeting, Addy said HomeRuleFl.com users have sent 30,489 emails to state legislators since the legislative session began in March.

“I’m very impressed by the work LeAnne and the mayor are doing,” Commissioner Jon Crane said. “I’m very impressed with the use of party house branding for this issue.”

“It takes away our right to regulate occupancy and they can jam as many people into a house as they want,” Murphy said in response.

Commissioner Deanie Sebring said most people who vacation in Anna Maria don’t want to stay next to a “party house.”

“If I was going on vacation and renting a house, I wouldn’t want all that madness next to me because it would ruin my vacation,” she said. “If you want to party, don’t rent a place in Anna Maria. Rent it someplace else.”

“It’s a family destination,” Commission Chair Mark Short added.

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

The city of Anna Maria currently has the authority to regulate vacation rental activities.

3 Out of this world?

4 Went to a tutoring session, say

5 Many a godmother

6 Fret (over)

7 Judge who hit 62 home runs in 2022

8 Galaxy, for one

9 Set one's sights on

10 "All the Birds in the Sky" Nebula winner __ Jane Anders 11 Monopolize

12 Prefix with dermis

ANNOUNCEMENTS

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

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

HOSPITAL VOLUNTEERS

WANTED to assist at our information desk, especially weekends.

Great for teens needing volunteer hours (16yrs+). Other assignments available. Please call the Blake Volunteer Office at 941-798-6151.

BOAT SLIP WANTED

IN SEARCH OF BOAT SLIP for rent or sale (preferably with lift)

Kelly Gitt The Gitt Team KW on the Water 941799-9299

COMMERCIAL SALES, RENT

&

LEASE

HAVE YOU BEEN thinking of selling? We NEED properties to List for SALE!!! Duplexes, multi family, small resorts?

Call BIG Alan Galletto of Island Real Estate to get it SOLD 941-232-2216

AMAZING OFFICE SUITE/ flex space for lease directly on Pine Ave! 900 sqft. newly renovated space, perfect for a professional office. Open floor plan, high ceilings and tons of natural light, extremely desirable unit conveniently furnished w/ 3 workstations. Private bathroom, central A/C, elevator, balcony facing the water. You simply won’t find another space like this on the island, it is quiet and has a ton of visibility above the post office for locals & tourists to see. Annual lease, up to 3 year term available(2 min), monthly rent $4500, all utilities included: electricity, internet, & water. Must carry GL & contents insurance. Please email lisa@purkel.com for more info or call Lisa 941799-1766

CLEANING SERVICE

TOTAL HOME SERVICES

CLEANING : Residential, Commercial, Rentals, VRBO. Professional and Reliable. Call 941-7564570 or 941-565-3931

EMPLOYMENT

PART TIME LAWN and landscape worker needed as Island Condo. No weekend work. Call 941-778-5915

WATERLINE MARINA RESORT is hiring Resort

Hosts and Night Auditors! Located on Holmes Beach in Anna Maria Island, the Waterline resort builds on the Old Florida heritage that so many visitors hold dear, while offering new experiences and distinct amenities in a modern resort. It is where people come to leave the burdens of life for a more balanced state of being. We are looking for passionate, friendly, and service minded individuals who will welcome our guests and provide a unique check-in experience. The ideal candidate should have some hospitality experience, excellent customer service skills, superb communication skills, ability to use tablets and iPad, and be able to stand for extended periods. Email your resumes to bskelton@ mainsailhotels.com if you would like to be a part of the Waterline legacy.

NOW HIRING THE ISLAND CABANA come join our team. Full or part time, flexible hours 9:30-5:30 Pay based on experience. Fun, fabulous, fashionable place to work. Submit resume islandcabana@ gmail.com

HOME MAINTENANCE 8 hrs per week $20 per hour

Sweep, clean outdoor furniture, vacuum pool, rake, wash windows, pickup debris, etc Call Dan 941713-1586

HOUSEKEEPER/CLEANER FOR ISLAND RESORT.

Weekends a must, can be flexible. Email islands58@ aol.com

TWO SIDES OF NATURE

– Anna Maria Island’s Favorite Beach Shoppes – Resort Wear, Gifts & More.. is now hiring friendly and happy fulltime & part-time associates to join our team. Varied shifts available must be able to work nights and weekends.

Retail Experience Preferred. Great Pay and Great Fun! Apply today Two Sides of Nature 101 S. Bay Blvd. Unit A-1, Anna Maria – Bayview Plaza.

The award-winning ANNA MARIA ISLAND SUN, a weekly newspaper on Florida’s Gulf Coast, is looking for a freelance reporter/ photographer to cover events on this tourism-driven island. The ideal candidate will have reporting and photography experience at a daily or community newspaper and have some experience writing for a news website. Local residents or those with previous local knowledge and willing to relocate here a plus. Resumes and cover letters may be mailed to The Anna Maria Island Sun, P.O Box 1189, Anna Maria, FL 34216, Attention: Cindy Lane, editior.

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 SALE

GARAGE SALE-MULTIBLE ITEMS from a collector. 208 Oak Ave, City of Anna Maria. EVERY Saturday & Sunday thru May 7. 9amuntil.

GARAGE SALE FRIDAY & SATURDAY April 21 & 22. 9am-1pm. 307 61st St Holmes Beach. Tools, pictures, cars, yard tools, generator 8400. Ladders and much more.

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

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

Neil 941-726-3077

RENOVATION SPECALIST

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

KERN CONSTRUCTION

NEW Homes & Remodel. Design/Build. Since 1968. License # CBC 1261150. Call Mike Kern 941-7781115

JSAN CORPORATION

Renovations Construction & Handyman Services 941-243-0995 Lic# CRC1332505 jsancorporation@gmail. com Flooring, Drywall, Painting, Repairs, Kitchen and Bathrooms, Trim & Doors Free Estimates. Credit Cards Accepted.

API’S DRYWALL REPAIR 15+ years experience. Free estimates. No job too small. Love to help you. Call 941-524-8067.

ISLE TILE specializing in Custom Bath/Shower & Backsplash installation. Pressure washing available. Call 941-302-8759 isletileservices.com

HOME SERVICES

CONCRETE FUSION, CRACK REPAIR sidewalks/ driveways, pool decks, concrete grinding. Why fix 95% of concrete when only 5% bad? Number 1 in concrete repair. Insured. Free estimate. Call Bobby 941-374-7670.

LANDSCAPING & LAWN CARE

R. GAROFALO’S Interlocking brick pavers, driveways, patios, pool decks. Free estimates. Licensed & Insured. Call Rafael 941-778-4823 or Veronik 941-526-7941

SHELL DRIVEWAYS & LANDSCAPE. Specializing in Old Florida Seashell and Lime rock driveways and scapes. Also River Rock, Sand, Mulch, & Soil. Call Shark Mark 941-301-6067

ISLAND RESIDENT. TREE/ BUSH Trimming, removal. Sweeping, blowing, and weeding. Weekly, bimonthly or monthly schedule. Pressure washing. Call Bill Witaszek 941-307-9315

LOST AND FOUND

LOST/MISPLACED MY APPLE- IPhone (light blue cover ) Saturday at Cortez Seafood Festival .Call Tony Fantetti 863-214-3886

MOVING

& STORAGE

MARTIN’S MOVING

YOUR Island movers! Offering dependable, competitive rates. No hidden costs. 941-809-5777.

PAINTING & WALLCOVERING

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. Wallpaper installation/ removal. Mary Bell Winegarden 941-794-0455

DONALD PERKINS ABRACADABRA

PAINTING LLC fully insured. 30 years experience. Many Island references. Call 941-7057096

PROFESSIONAL PAINTING SERVICES. Prompt & Reliable. Island Resident. Quality Workmanship.

Interior/Exterior. Minor repairs & carpentry. Free estimates. Bill Witaszek 941-307-9315

POOL SERVICES

FOUR SEASONS POOL SERVICE AND CHEMICAL SERVICES. Certified Pool Operator. 10 + Years Experience. Residential/commercial. Chemical Service

Licensed & Insured. Call Dennis Clark 941-7375657

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

PRESSURE WASHING & WINDOWS

TOTAL HOME SERVICES

CLEANING : Residential, Commercial, Construction, Vacation, VRBO Rentals . Also available Pressure Washing, Roof Cleaning, Paver Sealing and Windows. Call 941565-3931.

REAL ESTATE HOMES & CONDOS FOR SALE

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

LOOKING FOR A highly motivated real estate broker to buy or sell your next home? Darcie Duncan, Broker Duncan Real Estate a lifelong island resident bringing success to her customers for 30 years. Proven track record brings you results! 941-725-1589

GORGEOUS DEEP WATER LOT with 2BR/2BA home in City of Anna Maria with dock and boat lift. Beautiful street. Just one block walk to beach. $2,800,000. Call for showing 941-7136531

VILLAGE GREEN CONDO ~ Maintenance free 2BR/2BA condo with garage. Convenient West Bradenton location, 5 minutes to the beach. $348,900.00. Call Lisa Varano at Wagner Realty 941-730-9060.

BUSINESS & SERVICE DIRECTORY

HOME IMPROVEMENT

HOME IMPROVEMENT PAINTING

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 Paige DUNCAN REAL ESTATE 513-3821992.

ANNUAL RENTALS – AVAILABLE NOW. 2BR/1BA, furnished. $4,500/month. First, Last, and Security Deposit required Call Sato Real Estate, Inc 941-7787200 or Email megan@ satorealestate.com

ADORABLE 2 BR/1BA

COTTAGE in Holmes Beach. Just steps from the gulf. $2550/mo, annual. Dolores Baker Real Estate 941-7787500.

HOLMES BEACH ELEVATED

2BR/2BA duplex garage & screened lanai. Nice quite area $2400/mo annual Call 970-331-1042

RENTALS: SEASONAL & VACATION

HOME SERVICES

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

SEASONAL RENTAL in PALMA SOLA. 3BR/2BA weekly or monthly rates. Contact Barb Grace 941201-2190

ANNA MARIA ISLAND

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

SEASONAL RENTAL JANUARY, FEBRUARY, MARCH 2024. 1BR/1BA Bradenton Beach. Small complex, heated pool. Walk to restaurants, beach one block. Call Peggy 941-545-0208.

STARTING JUNE 15, 2BR/1BA, monthly. Fully furnished, wifi, washer dryer. 2 miles from beach off Cortez road. Across from bay. $2400 per mo. Ask about possible weekly. 941773-1552.

THREE MONTH MIN. vacation rental Jan thru Mar, 2BR/1BA, 2 miles from island, off Cortez Rd. Across from Bay. Fully furnished, wifi, washer dryer. $4000 per month. 941-773-1552.

Holmes Beach Rental 1 room apartment/studio with large bathroom, kitchen, bed alcove, private patio & parking. Available December 15, 2023 thru April 15, 2024 Total $8,400 Call 908-914-1182

TRANSPORTATION

AMI TAXI credit cards, cash, Venmo accepted. Airport: Tampa $105, Sarasota $50, St. Pete/Clearwater $105, Orlando $220. Call 941447-8372, www.amitaxi. com GOLF CART RENTALS

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