Anna Maria Island Sun April 5, 2023

Heavenly theatrics

Sunday’s sunset had it all – dramatic clouds, birds, a sailboat and an explosion of color at the last moment that sent beachgoers scrambling for their phone cameras.

Garage bill rolling through House

The parking garage bill has one more stop before getting the green light from the Florida House of Representatives.

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

TALLAHASSEE – Proponents of a parking garage facility at Manatee Beach in Holmes Beach had a good week in the state capital with a bill allowing the construction of the garage passing its final committee meeting in the Florida House of Representatives.

The bill, sponsored by Manatee County Rep. Will Robinson Jr. and supported by Manatee County commissioners, passed the Local Admin -

istration, Federal Affairs and Special Districts Subcommittee, Regulatory Reform and Economic Development Subcommittee and State Affairs Committee, all with unanimous favorable votes despite some Holmes Beach residents and city officials speaking out against the proposal.

Now the bill goes for a second reading and vote on the House floor before moving to the Senate, if approved, where it will undergo a similar committee approval process before making its way to the floor for a vote. If the parking garage bill passes votes in both the House and Senate, it will make its way to Gov. Ron DeSantis to either be rejected or signed into law on July 1.

SEE GARAGE, PAGE 9

Proposed legislation could impact AMI condo owners

The proposed legislation further clarifies inspection and reserve funding requirements to eventually be imposed on some condominium owners.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

TALLAHASSEE – Two bills currently working their way through the Florida Legislature could significantly impact condominium associations and condominium owners on Anna Maria Island and throughout the state.

Working in unison, Senate Bill 154 and House Bill 1395 seek to clarify and expand the condominium-related legislation the Legislature adopted

during a special session last year as Senate Bill 4-D.

The House of Representatives’ staff analysis for HB 1395 also addresses the origins of SB 4-D.

“On June 24, 2021, Champlain Towers South, a 12-story beachfront condominium building in the town of Surfside, partially collapsed resulting in the death of 98 people. In response, during Special Session, 2022D, SB 4-D was enacted to provide building safety inspection requirements (milestone inspections) and reserve requirements (structural integrity reserve study) for condominium and cooperative association buildings.”

SEE LEGISLATION, PAGE 15

Man drowns in Bradenton Beach

Bradenton Beach police officers were the first on the scene after bystanders found a drowning victim in Bradenton Beach.

BY JASON SCHAFFER SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH – Beachgoers reported a drowning victim on the beach south of Cortez Road on March 27 just before 5 p.m. Bradenton Beach Police Department Officer Kyle Orms was the first to respond, finding eight to 10 people gathered around an older man lying on the beach. Later identified as Stephen Carmichael, the man was unconscious and a bystander was performing CPR when police arrived.

“I approached the subject on the ground and had the bystander stop performing CPR so his vitals could be checked,” Orms said in his report. “I was unable to find a pulse on Mr. Carmichael, and thus immediately resumed CPR. I also observed that Mr. Carmichael was blue and purple in the face while performing CPR.”

Several bystanders told Orms that

the victim had been found floating in the water, and four young men had pulled him out of the water onto the beach. Officer Charles Marose arrived on the scene shortly after Orms and used an AED device which they connected to the victim’s chest. The AED device did not advise a shock, so CPR

was immediately resumed until fire and EMS arrived and took over treatment.

Carmichael was then transported to HCA Florida Blake Hospital in Bradenton with his wife, who arrived on the scene as EMS was attempting to try to treat the victim.

Orms spoke to the manager of the

nearby Beach House, who provided security footage from the back of the restaurant. The camera showed Carmichael walking into the water, falling backward and struggling in the waves. After five minutes, he could be seen going limp and no longer struggling.

When Orms left the restaurant, he went to Blake to check on the status of Carmichael, and upon arrival was told by hospital staff the victim had arrived at 5:22 p.m. and was pronounced dead at 5:35 p.m.

Orms spoke with the victim’s wife, who said her husband had gone to the beach with a couple of friends and had been sitting behind the Moose Lodge at 100 Gulf Drive S. She said he had arrived at the beach at around 1:30 p.m. and that he had not complained of anything health-related, but had undergone several previous heart surgeries. She said that around 4:30 p.m. her husband walked into the water. When he did not return, she saw the emergency lights and began walking in that direction.

The cause of death finding is pending the medical examiner’s complete investigation and an autopsy report.

JASON SCHAFFER | SUN

Bradenton Beach police responded to a drowning victim south of Cortez Road on March 27.

IN BRIEF

Paid parking on CRA agenda

The Bradenton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) will meet at city hall on Wednesday, April 5 at 9:30 a.m. CRA members will discuss an extension of the Old Town Tram contract, paid parking for citycontrolled parking spaces, the conversion of an unused stormwater cistern at the east end of Bridge Street and the Anna Maria Oyster Bar’s contributions to the tourist-friendly improvements proposed for the Bradenton Beach Pier and pier area. CRA members will receive an update on the finger piers to be installed near the pier, an update on the utility line undergrounding project taking place in the CRA district and an update on CRA policing activities. The consent agenda includes a $4,335 monthly invoice from the Easy Parking Group for parking tram services and a three-month invoice from City Attorney/ CRA Liaison Ricinda Perry totaling $5,858.

Water taxi agreement on Thursday’s agenda

The Bradenton Beach City Commission will meet on Thursday, April 6 at 6 p.m. Commissioners will discuss a new design for the city’s hurricane re-entry tags. The mayor will issue a proclamation pertaining to National Arbor Day and the commission will receive a request for the Scenic WAVES committee to coordinate the city’s annual National Arbor Day activities. Under old business, the commission will discuss potential parking and traffic improvements and receive an update on the search for a new code enforcement officer. Under attorney business, the commission will receive an update on Bradenton Beach Pier improvements proposed by the Anna Maria Oyster Bar. The commission will also discuss a lease amendment for the AMOB restaurant that operates in the pier space leased from the city. The commission will discuss an interlocal agreement with Manatee County for the use of the Bradenton Beach Pier as a water taxi stop. The consent agenda includes a request from city staff members to attend the annual hurricane conference and a request for stormwater pipe cleaning services. The commission will be asked to authorize payment of a $2,495 invoice from Lou’s Police Distributors, a $20,307 three-month invoice from City Attorney Ricinda Perry and a $4,238 invoice from the USA Fence Company for repairs made to the hurricane-damaged fence surrounding the children’s playground at Herb Dolan Park.

Silver Surf seeks bike rental rack

The Bradenton Beach Planning and Zoning Board will conduct a public hearing at city hall on Wednesday, March 5 at 1 p.m. pertaining to a special use permit application received from the Silver Surf resort to install an automated, self-service bicycle rental rack for resort guests. Silver Surf is located in an R-3 (multiple-family dwelling) zoning district. The board’s recommendation will be forwarded to the city commission for final consideration.

Piney Point well to begin operations

After a disastrous spill two years ago, wastewater from the environmentally unstable Piney Point site will begin filling a new deep injection well this week.

BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com

PALMETTO – Two years after an intentional discharge of contaminated water stored in ponds atop the Piney Point phosphogypsum stacks, Manatee County utilities crews will begin disposing of the remaining wastewater in a new deepwater injection well.

Operations will begin this week, according to a March 28 statement from Manatee County Information Officer Bill Logan.

The well will hold Piney Point's process water in a confined saltwater aquifer over a half mile below the surface under the Floridan aquifer, the state’s drinking water source.

The phosphate process water, which will be drained from the reservoirs on nearby phosphogypsum stacks, will be pretreated before injection.

Work on the pre-treatment facility has been underway since earlier this year, according to Logan.

OPPOSITION

Local environmental group ManaSota-88 opposes the deep injection well on several grounds, including that wells are subject to failure, and that leaks of the contaminated water - which is also slightly radioactive - could poison the state’s drinking water.

ManaSota-88 is among five environmental groups, including Sarasota-based Suncoast Waterkeeper, that sued the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) and Piney Point owner HRK Holdings LLC on June 24, 2021 seeking to hold both responsible for negligence in managing the site. A pretrial conference is scheduled on July 12 in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida in Tampa; a trial is scheduled for Aug. 7.

In a separate lawsuit, HRK Holdings was sued by FDEP in Manatee County Circuit Court in 2021, a case that remains open with no hearings scheduled.

In 2021, FDEP authorized the emergency discharge of 215 million gallons of wastewater from the former phosphate plant into Tampa Bay to avoid a potential flood after a leak was discovered in the waste storage system. Surrounding homes and businesses were evacuated.

From March 30 to April 9,

2021, the wastewater poured into the bay, adding an estimated 186 metric tons of nitrogen, exceeding typical annual nitrogen loads in a matter of days, according to a report released by the Tampa Bay Estuary Program. The nitrogen worsened toxic cyanobacteria blooms that peaked in June, followed by a bloom of toxic red tide algae that caused fish kills, triggering the cleanup of more than 1,600 metric tons of dead fish, according to the report.

The well, drilled to a depth of 3,300 feet, was completed by Fort Myers-based Youngquist Brothers Inc., working with consultants ASRus of Tampa and Manatee County utilities staff. By working with FDEP, crews were able to expedite the well project.

“The cooperation and collaboration with the DEP have been key in getting this project fast-tracked,” Manatee County Utilities Director Evan Pilachowski said. “We are so pleased that we are to this point in the process already.”

“We are excited to write the final chapter of this Piney Point story,” Manatee County Commission Chair Kevin Van Ostenbridge said. “The teamwork involved in this important project - from the receiver to the DEP, to the consultants and our hard-working staff - have brought this to fruition.”

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN The Chiles Hospitality group already operates a paid parking lot in Bradenton Beach.

FILE PHOTO

The deep injection well at 3105 Buckeye Road is complete and ready to receive wastewater from the former Piney Point phosphate plant.

Concealed carry bill signed into law

Holmes Beach city leaders agreed to voice their opposition to a state bill allowing people to carry concealed firearms without a permit. Their opposition came too late.

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

HOLMES BEACH – City leaders are fighting against several bills being considered by the Florida Legislature this year, but their opposition to one bill came just as the proposed legislation found its way to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ desk for final approval.

The governor signed the concealed carry bill into law on Monday in a closed-door session with members of the National Rifle Association.

During a March 28 city commission meeting, Commissioner Terry Schaefer suggested the board draft and send a letter to state leaders opposing Senate/House Bill 543.

The bill allows anyone to carry a concealed weapon or firearm with or without a firearm license or any training in how to properly use the weapon. Approval of the bill makes it allowable for people from other states to carry concealed firearms and weapons while in the state of Florida.

Open carry of a firearm would still be limited to those with a special license from the state, such as law enforcement officers.

“My big concern is that we will have people with no knowledge of firearms that can just carry one. You need a license to drive a car, but you won’t need a license to carry a firearm,” Holmes Beach

Police Chief Bill Tokajer said. “It doesn’t make sense to me that you don’t have to have some type of training and education and knowledge of the laws pertaining to the use of firearms. What is stand your ground? What wouldn’t qualify? All of that is taught when you go for your concealed weapons permit. And if they circumvent the concealed weapons, we have people out there with firearms who are legally carrying them that have no education about them. If you add that to the people that are illegally carrying firearms, it just adds more problems for law enforcement down the road. We do take a lot of guns off of people out here.”

Schaefer noted that his objection to the bill was not due to the school shooting that occurred on March 27 in Nashville, but was due to his

wanting to take a stand against the easy availability of firearms to anyone wishing to purchase one and use it without training or knowledge of the person’s reasons for acquiring the weapon.

“You never know what someone’s intent is with a firearm,” Schaefer said.

Though commissioners agreed to send the letter of opposition to state leaders, their objections came too late.

Under the new law, firearms and other weapons are allowed to be concealed carried by anyone who can legally purchase the weapon. The bill excludes people who have been found guilty of a felony or committed to a mental institution. It also does not allow firearms to be carried onto the grounds of a government building, school or polling place.

19 YEARS IN A ROW

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

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

The good fight

If there is anything positive that comes from the recent attacks on home rule, it is how this threat has brought people from all over the world together in a fight to save Anna Maria Island and the three cities responsible for creating and retaining its character.

Anna Maria Island continues to receive recognition for being one of the best small coastal towns with its old Florida charm. I am proud of past policymakers and thank them for preserving our cities and creating a great destination for families to enjoy a day at

the beach and the best place to live on Earth.

With numerous bills threatening our cities each year, our responsibility as engaged citizens and leaders has become much more essential. Detrimental decisions made today may not be able to be undone. Once paradise is lost, only a hurricane can wash away the many mistakes made by man. We have not listened to alternatives presented by transportation experts such as the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and FDOT. The ULI study suggested using shuttles or regional transit from the mainland to transport visitors to the Island.

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,

A 1,500- to 1,700-space parking garage doesn’t even come close to being a solution. The county and state’s unwillingness to take heed of studies paid for by county and state funding is unfathomable.

I truly appreciate all citizens for keeping up efforts in opposing big government and the continued attacks that these bills inflict on our cities.

“A hundred years after we are gone and forgotten, those who never heard of us will be living with the results of our actions.” –

Oliver Wendell Homes

Judy Holmes Titsworth Mayor, Holmes Beach

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.

ON THE AGENDA

ANNA MARIA

10005 GULF DRIVE

FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-708-6130

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

April 7, all day – City offices closed, Good Friday

April 13, 2 p.m. – City Commission meeting

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 information.

April 5, 9:30 a.m. – Community Redevelopment Agency meeting

April 5, 1 p.m. – Planning and Zoning Board meeting

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

April 7, all day – City offices closed, Good Friday

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 5, 10 a.m. – Parks and Beautification Committee meeting

April 5, 5 p.m. – Planning Commission meeting

April 7, all day – City offices closed, Good Friday

April 11, 2 p.m. – City Commission meeting with work session to follow

April 12, 9 a.m. – Clean Water Ad-hoc Committee meeting

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

ISLAND-WIDE

April 18, 6 p.m. – West Manatee Fire Rescue board meeting, administration building, 701 63rd St. W., Bradenton

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

EVENTS

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5

History of the Manatee River, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 11 a.m.

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

THURSDAY, APRIL 6

Sunshine Stitchers Knit and Crochet, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 2 p.m. Thursdays in Paradise Stroll featuring local art, music and food, Bridge Street, Bradenton Beach, 5-8 p.m.

FRIDAY, APRIL 7

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.

Paper Crafting for adults, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 2 p.m.

SATURDAY, APRIL 8

Robinson Runners, Robinson Preserve, 1704 99th St. N.W., Bradenton, 7 a.m. Mornings at the NEST, Robinson Preserve Mosaic Nest, 840 Ninth Ave. N.W., Bradenton, 9 a.m. to noon

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

Paper Crafting for adults, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 2 p.m.

TUESDAY, APRIL 11

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 12

Mah-jongg for beginners, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 1 p.m. Island Time Book Club: “The House in the Cerulean Sea” by TJ Klune, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 6:30 p.m.

THURSDAY, APRIL 13

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

FRIDAY, APRIL 14

Seashell shore walk, Coquina Beach south, 2650 Gulf Drive S., Bradenton Beach, 9 a.m.

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 15

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

Nature’s Origami, Robinson Preserve Mosaic Nest, 840 Ninth Ave. N.W., Bradenton, 12:30-2:30 p.m. Meditation, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 11 a.m. Teen Art Club, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 1 p.m.

TUESDAY, APRIL 18

Farmer’s Market, City Pier Park, 103 N. Bay Blvd., Anna Maria, 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Family story time, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.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.

Roser choir presents Easter cantata

All invited to Easter Sunrise Service

SUBMITTED

The Easter Sunrise Service will be live-streamed here. Donations can be made through PayPal.

On Easter Sunday, April 9 at 6:30 a.m., Kiwanis of Anna Maria Island will celebrate the 58th anniversary of the Easter Sunrise Service at Manatee Beach, 4000 Gulf Drive in Holmes Beach. The crowd normally numbers 1,200-2,000 people. Ample parking is available and the Manatee County trolley will be running at 6 a.m. The Anna Maria Beach Café will open at 6:30 a.m. Bring chairs or a blanket to sit on and dress for the weather. Representatives from Island churches include Father Matthew Grunfeld, of the Episcopal Church of the Annunciation, who will deliver the invocation; Rev. Stephen King, of Harvey Memorial, who will deliver scriptures; Rev. Dirk Rodgers, of Roser Church, who will deliver the sermon; Douglas King, of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, who will deliver the benediction and Matthew Nowicki, director of faith formation at St. Bernard Catholic Church, who will deliver the offertory. Inspirational Easter music for singing along will be provided. All are welcome to join in. The offertory collected will be divided among the participating churches and the Kiwanis Club of Anna Maria for their SCF Key Club Scholarship program.

SUBMITTED

The Roser Cantata Choir, chamber orchestra and Roser Ringers Handbell Choir presented “Festival of Faith,” a cantata by Joseph Martin, on Palm Sunday, April 2, at Roser Memorial Community Church.

GARAGE: Bill rolling through house

FROM PAGE 1

Holmes Beach residents and local officials haven’t been silent when it comes to the parking garage bill. Mayor Judy Titsworth, along with members of city staff, made the journey to Tallahassee for the first of three committee hearings on March 15 to speak out against the bill. Members of the group Save AMI Cities sent letters to members of each committee in lieu of appearing in person. Police Chief Bill Tokajer sent letters opposing the parking garage to each committee. Commissioner Greg Kerchner appeared in person in the capitol on March 31 to speak at the final committee hearing.

While Manatee County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge is a vocal supporter of building the three-story parking garage, estimated to have 1,500-1,700 spaces – as opposed to the approximately 430 parking spaces currently available in the Manatee Beach parking lot – County Commissioner George Kruse said he’s approaching the proposition cautiously. Kruse said he wants to see numbers and how spending around $45 million to build the garage would benefit the county’s residents at large.

If approved, the garage construction is anticipated to begin in 2024 and take about two years to complete. The provisions of the bill would allow Manatee County to issue its own building permits for the project, bypassing approvals by Holmes Beach, where parking garages are only allowed by special exception.

Plan for holiday parking problems

Anna Maria Island’s largest city has more than 2,000 available public parking spaces for beachgoers, but that doesn’t mean they’ll be easy to get to over the Easter holiday weekend. Anticipating it to be one of the busiest beachgoer weekends of the year, Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer is asking everyone to observe the city’s regulations to make the best out of their trip to the beach. Unless otherwise marked, parking is allowed on city streets and at beach accesses where all vehicles can be safely parallel parked with all four tires off the road. Parking spots at or near beach access points are marked with numbered green signs. Golf cart-only parking is indicated with signs and marks on the roadway. Lock vehicles and make sure to not leave any items within view. A map of public parking areas can be found online at www.holmesbeachfl.org.

Holmes Beach detours continue

Road closures on Marina Drive between 57th and 59th streets, along with 58th Street between Marina Drive and Holmes Boulevard, will continue through April 7 from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. The closures are due to undergrounding work by Spectrum. Detours around the area are located along Holmes Boulevard via 57th and 59th streets.

This map shows where drivers, cyclists, pedestrians and all other travelers along Holmes Beach streets can safely travel during road closures caused by Spectrum undergrounding work.

KRISTIN SWAIN | SUN

In Holmes Beach, signs like these mark parking spaces near beach access points.

Kids invited to learn about environment

Environmental education activities will be featured at a free event at the Cortez Cultural Center.

BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com

CORTEZ - A free, educational familyfriendly event at the Cortez Cultural Center on Saturday, April 29 will focus on the environment.

The backdrop for the hands-on learning activities is the FISH (Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage) Preserve – about 100 acres of environmentally sensitive land east of the historic Cortez fishing village.

“Children of all ages and families will have opportunities to learn about water conservation, mangroves, fish and fowl and life safety, through stories, music, art activities, a pop-up mangrove tent and a guided tour of the preserve,” according to the center. “Explore the heritage of our Cortez pioneers through an interactive hunt inside the Cortez Cultural Center.”

Experts also will be on hand to tell

stories and answer questions about Cortez, one of Florida’s last remaining traditional fishing villages.

In tandem with the event, students from Rowlett Academy will teach the basics of the 7 Habits of Highly Effective Kids and People at interactive booths. Students’ musical performances will also be featured.

The event is part of Remake Learning Days, a national initiative whose goal is: “A celebration of innovative experiences and opportunities for youth to develop their sense of creativity, perseverance and curiosity. These events are designed to be hands-on, relevant and engaging educational experiences for youth of all ages (pre-K through high school) and their families, caregivers and educators,” according to the RLD website.

This is the first year that the center has participated in the event to help meet its goal of teaching children to become good stewards of the land and water and to help protect natural resources for future generations.

The event will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Parking is free at the FISH Preserve at Cortez Road and 116th Street West.

Mote exhibits begin to arrive

Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy emailed city commissioners on March 30 that the Mote Marine education outreach center is on track for a May 5 grand opening ceremony. “All inspections of the new Mote facility on the Anna Maria City Pier have been successfully completed and the CO (certificate of occupancy) has been issued,” he wrote. “Mote will be installing the aquatic tanks and other display items between now and opening day.” Some marine exhibit housing arrived last week.

Mote Marine’s education outreach center is scheduled to open on May 5.

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

Court documents provide an overview of the legal arguments presented on behalf of two defendants.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

CORTEZ – A civil lawsuit regarding residential docks located in a canal owned by the Hunters Point Marina & Resort remains unresolved and the court filings continue.

Filed with the 12th Judicial Circuit Court in Manatee County on June 3, 2022, and assigned to Judge Edward Nicholas, the civil lawsuit filed by Hunters Point developer Marshall Gobuty’s Cortez Road Investments and Finance Inc. (CRIF) ownership group named canal-side property owners Jonathan and Sheila Graham, Mark Ibasfalean, Jacquelyn Shepard, Timothy Fitzpatrick, Mary Norman and Wendy and George Kokolis as defendants.

At the time, each defendant owned residential property across the canal along the western edge of the Hunters Point property.

The lawsuit alleges the docks, boat lifts and other structures associated with those residential properties extended more than 25% into the canal now owned by Gobuty and Hunters Point.

A May 3 Zoom hearing

Canal dock dispute lingers on

before Nicholas is scheduled regarding the Kokolis’ request to withdraw the Mackey Law Group as counsel.

According to the motion filed on March 16, “differences have arisen between Mackey Law Group and Wendy and George Kokolis that require Mackey Law Group’s withdrawal from further representation.”

On March 10, Judge Nicholas issued an order authorizing attorney Fred Moore to represent the Grahams and replace their previous attorney, David Levin.

THE ALLEGATIONS

The lawsuit complaint alleges the defendants are maintaining docks, boat lifts and other structures on and in the privatelyowned Hunters Point canal and are doing so without the authorization of the canal owner.

With the exception of a boat lift the Kokolis’ installed in the canal in early 2022, most of the other docks, lifts and structures were in place when Gobuty purchased the Hunters Point property and canal in 2016.

The lawsuit seeks the removal of the Kokolis’ boat lift. It also seeks the removal or relocation of the other docks, lifts and structures referenced in the lawsuit.

In July, Gobuty’s attorney, Susan Martin, sent the defendants a letter that said, in part:

“Your dock, vessel and associated structures are not in compliance with Manatee County

regulations because they exceed 25% of the width of the canal. We believe that we can amicably resolve this issue without the costs associated with protracted litigation.” After receiving their court summons, the defendants hired attorneys to represent them.

DOCK OWNER’S DEFENSE

On Dec. 6, Levin filed a motion for summary judgment on behalf of the Grahams. That document notes

Jonathan Graham acquired the canal-side property from his father, Donald Graham, in 2012. At that time, a dock and boat lift already extended from the Grahams’ property into the waters of the abutting canal. The motion states a member of the Graham family has owned the property since 1987

and in 1994 Donald Graham obtained from Manatee County a construction permit to build a boat lift at the alreadyexisting dock.

In 2015, Jonathan Graham obtained from Manatee County a construction permit to remove and replace the existing dock with a new dock to be located in the same footprint as the existing dock, with the previously installed boat lift remaining where it was.

“The issued permit stated the new dock would not exceed 25% into the canal,” the motion for summary judgment notes.

The motion references a public hearing held by the Manatee County Commission in January 2018. While seeking commission approval for the Hunters Point development, attorney Caleb Grimes testified that Gobuty filed a declaration which

allows homeowners along the canal to maintain and repair their docks.

In December 2021, Graham was notified that Gobuty filed a complaint against him with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) regarding the alleged non-compliance of the Grahams’ dock and boat lift. In January 2022, FDEP notified Graham the investigation did reveal any FDEP violations.

In August 2022, Gobuty filed a complaint with the Manatee County Code Enforcement Department alleging the Grahams’ dock was built without a permit and potentially exceeds the county regulation that prohibits structures from extending more than 25% of the width of the canal.

The ensuing investigation conducted by Code Enforcement Supervisor Kristopher Weiskopf concluded the Grahams’ dock and lift were permitted, approved and no violations existed.

“Nevertheless, CRIF has continued to maintain its action against the Grahams, even after knowing that the allegations made against the Grahams were not supported by the material facts necessary to establish its claim,” according to the motion.

The Grahams later withdrew their request for a summary judgment and the Feb. 2 hearing associated with that request was canceled.

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

Several property owners who live alongside this canal are named as defendants in a 2022 lawsuit.

Floating seaweed headed for east coast

sum Belt, has gotten smaller in the past month, but had grown to twice its size the month before.

BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA ISLAND - A

5,000-mile-wide seaweed mass is headed toward Florida, but it will likely have little, if any, impact locally, according to one local water quality expert.

“We shouldn’t get as much locally as they will in Southeast Florida,” Sarasota Bay Estuary Program Executive Director Dr. Dave Tomasko said. “It probably won’t have an awful lot of implications for us.”

Tomasko said the seaweed mass, known as the Great Atlantic Sargas-

“What people are concerned about is the temperature allowing it to grow,” Tomasko said. “The Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf are getting warmer due to climate change.”

He said there are four species of sargassum - two that float and two that are attached to the bottom of the sea.

“This is one that floats and is transported by big currents,” he said. “The east coast of Florida Gulfstream is only one mile offshore of West Palm. Here in the Gulf, the seabreeze extends further offshore. This will be a bigger issue in Miami and West Palm.”

When the seaweed makes landfall and decomposes, it creates a hydrogen sulfide gas.

“As it rots, it gives off a substance called hydrogen sulfide,” according to the Manatee County Department of Health (DOH). “Hydrogen sulfide has a very unpleasant odor, like rotten eggs. Although the seaweed itself cannot harm your health, tiny sea creatures that live in sargassum can cause skin rashes and blisters. Hydrogen sulfide can irritate the eyes, nose, and throat. If you have asthma or other breathing illnesses, you will be more sensitive to hydrogen sulfide. You may have trouble breathing after exposure,” according to DOH.

“The hydrogen sulfide is toxic and has a strong rotten egg odor,” Tomasko said. “It’s very thick and for just one example, sea turtles can’t lay eggs. It’s not good for swimming, tourism or wildlife.”

Sargassum is a kind of macroalgae that has existed for centuries.

“Back to the time of Christopher Columbus, there were mentions of sargassum,” Tomasko said.

DOH offered the following cautions about sargassum:

• Always supervise children at the beach.

• Avoid touching or swimming near seaweed to avoid being stung by organisms that live in it.

• Use gloves if you must handle seaweed.

• Stay away from the beach if you experience irritation or breathing problems from hydrogen sulfide, at least until symptoms go away.

• Close windows and doors if you live near the beach.

The Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt will likely miss Southwest Florida, an expert says.

WHERE‛S YOUR COMFORT ZONE?

CENTER NOTES

Ice baths

Experience the benefits of ice baths at The Center of Anna Maria Island with Devinne Whittaker of Devs Bevs. Ice baths can reduce inflammation and swelling, relieve sore muscles, improve exercise recovery, improve mental health and support immunity. The event will be held on Wednesdays from April 5 through April 26 from 9 a.m. to noon. The cost is $10 for members and $10 plus the cost of a day pass for non-members. No registration is required.

All-day camp

While the kids are off from school, keep them busy at a Youth All-Day Camp. The camp is open to students from K-5th grade and will be held on Friday, April 7 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The cost is $55. To register, or for more information, call 941-778-1908 or email Aris Thompson at aris@ centerami.org.

Healthy hearing seminar

A Healthy Hearing open house with Optimum Hearing Care will be held on Friday, April 14. To make an appointment, go to optimumhearingcare.com.

Blood drive

The OneBlood Drive will be held on Tuesday, April 18 from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Give the gift of life by donating blood.

Unleash the possibilities

Interactive dog training sessions will be held for all dogs four months old and older on Wednesdays from 6:15-7:30 p.m. on April 19, April 26, May 3 and May 10. The cost is $100 for members and $120 for non-members. The 4-week class covers basic puppy training and behavioral skills. Each training class will teach two basic commands followed by supervised playtime socialization. Katie Mae Hart, owner and primary trainer at SIT! (Social Interactive Training), uses reward-based training methods that are gentle, reliable and easy to learn. Register by April 13.

Pickleball lessons

The Center offers pickleball lessons with Josh or Janet. To schedule a lesson with Josh, call 941-518-0655. To schedule a lesson with Janet, call 813-625-4356.

For more information, call 941-778-1908. The Center is located at 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria.

LEGISLATION: Could impact condo owners

FROM PAGE 1

As of Monday morning, SB 154 and HB 1395 proposed mandatory inspection timelines for condo buildings that are at least three stories tall and 30 years old or older, with additional inspections required every 10 years after that. According to the staff analysis of HB 1395, there are currently more than 2 million Floridians occupying condo buildings that are 30 years old or older.

According to SB 154, “If a building reaches 30 years of age before December 31, 2024, the building’s initial milestone inspection must be performed before December 31, 2024.”

The new legislation would delete from last year’s legislation the 25-year milestone inspection requirement for buildings located within three miles of the coastline. Regardless of coastline proximity, all qualifying condo buildings would be subjected to the 30-year inspection requirements.

The term “milestone inspection” refers to a structural inspection of a condo building and its load-bearing elements, walls and primary structural systems. To be conducted by a licensed architect or engineer, the milestone inspection is to determine

the general structural condition of the building as it pertains to safety and to identify any maintenance, repair or replacement needed for those structural components.

The proposed legislation would also require impacted condo associations and condo owners to create and set aside reserve funds for structural inspection studies and for any needed structural repairs or maintenance activities which would include roof replacements and exterior painting. Condominium owners

are currently allowed to waive stateimposed reserve requirements.

CLARIFICATION PENDING

As of Monday morning, the proposed legislation would likely impact the most common form of condo buildings on Anna Maria Island: those with ground-level parking areas and two elevated, habitable living levels above the parking.

Further and final clarification is still being sought as to whether groundlevel parking will be counted as a story

when determining how many stories a condo building has. If ground-level parking is counted as a story, the impact on Anna Maria Island would be significant. If not, the impact would likely be limited to the seven-story condo buildings at the Martinique condo complex in Holmes Beach.

Height limit restrictions imposed by all three Island cities now prohibit the construction of any buildings more than three stories tall and ground-level parking counts as a story. Bradenton Beach Building Official Steve Gilbert said he’s not aware of any three-story condo buildings on the Island that feature ground-level living units rather than ground-level parking.

On these issues, St. Petersburg-based lobbyist Travis Moore is representing the Florida Legislative Alliance which is part of the national Community Associations Institute. Cortez condo resident and former Bradenton Beach condo resident Connie Morrow is the delegate for the Florida Legislative Alliance and her focus is on condominiumrelated issues.

On Monday morning, Moore and

SEE LEGISLATION, PAGE 24

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

The seven-story Martinique condo buildings in Holmes Beach would likely be impacted by the proposed legislation.

Sgt. Getman returns to Anna Maria Unit

Sgt. Brett Getman returned to full duty on March 29.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA – After suffering a major heart attack in December, Sgt. Brett Getman is back on duty and again leading the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) Anna Maria Unit.

Getman’s heart attack occurred on Dec. 19. He returned to his full-time law enforcement duties on March 29.

“On Wednesday, the 29th, I was released to come back to full active duty. It feels great. I was a little anxious about getting back to work for the first time in a couple months, but I love being out here in Anna Maria. I love the citizens. I love the businesses. I have a great relationship with everybody, so it’s good to be back to what I like to call my second home,” Getman said.

When his heart attack occurred, Getman was on duty, filling out a report and working in the MCSO satellite office in the city hall building. Dep. Jared Leggett was also in the office at that time and his quick actions likely saved Getman’s life.

LIFESAVING EFFORTS

On Jan. 3, Getman and Leggett participated in a press conference held at city hall.

“I came back to the office and started doing my report. I was sitting at the desk typing and everything just went black,” Getman said during the press conference. “Thank God Dep. Leggett was in the office with me. If he wasn’t there, I would not be here. The medics treated me quickly and transported me to Blake (HCA Florida Blake Hospital in Bradenton).”

Getman referred to his heart attack as a “widowmaker” – the type of heart attack that occurs when the heart’s largest artery is blocked.

During the press conference, Leggett said, “We do a lot of our reports in our cars. On this day, I went back to the office. We started having a conversation about what we were going to charge the defendant with. Just after we finished our conversation, he fell out of his chair. At first, I thought he was having a seizure. I checked for a pulse. He didn’t have one. I started CPR immediately and started doing chest compressions.

“On the desk, where he sits, was the AED (defibrillator). I grabbed the AED after two rounds of CPR. I hit the shock button and gave him his first round and started CPR again. About five or six minutes in, Sgt. Tommy Fraser from the

Holmes Beach Police Department showed up and was able to relieve me on CPR so I could go get a VBM (breathing device) and start working on his airway. I had one in my truck.”

Leggett was a firefighter and an EMT before he joined the sheriff’s office 11 years ago.

LIFESTYLE CHANGES

While standing outside of city hall Friday morning, Getman discussed his return to work, his recovery and the lifestyle changes he’s made.

“I’ve dropped a significant amount of weight. I live off chicken, fish and a lot of vegetables. I’m drinking a lot of water and staying hydrated – no soda and no carbonization whatsoever. I’m exercising and walking a couple miles a day. It’s a definite lifestyle change, but

when you’re given that second chance you don’t want to take it for granted,” he said.

Getman’s heart attack reshaped his outlook on life.

“It changes a person. It changed me wholeheartedly. You look at a lot of things differently. You don’t take things so seriously and you don’t let the little things bother you anymore. You just can’t. You just move on. I’m thankful every day that I can wake up and come back to work and look at the ocean and spend time with my family and see everybody,” Getman said.

“It’s cliché to say you’re thankful, but I can’t thank Jared enough for being there when he was, and West Manatee Fire Rescue and Sgt. Fraser from Holmes Beach, Dr. Baig and all the medical staff. You’re indebted to them for the rest of your life. It’s still emotional at times, when you sit back and think about it, but life goes on and you’ve got to live it,” he said.

Getman acknowledged there’s a certain amount of stress associated with being the leader of a law enforcement unit.

“Thankfully, I have a good administration that gives me a lot of support. They are taking on more of the workload that I used to carry. With that, I’ll be able to manage everything else out here just like I used to and it will be just fine,” he said.

Getman’s return coincides with the Island’s peak tourist season.

“The city’s busy. It’s nice to see everybody out and about. It’s nice to see all the activity and all the kids around. I’m just enjoying the scenery out here,” he said.

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

After suffering a heart attack, Sgt. Brett Getman is happy to be back at work again.

Carters receive Lifetime Spirit Award

The Manatee Community Foundation presented former longtime Anna Maria residents Carol and Bob Carter with the Mary E. Parker Lifetime Spirit Award on March 29. The award recognizes the Carters for their many decades of community service and the generous financial support they’ve provided to many local organizations and causes. “We were surprised, honored and humbled by receiving this recognition. We are so grateful for the opportunity to support these great organizations who do so much amazing work for others. We are blessed,” Bob Carter said about the award. The awards ceremony took place at the Bradenton Area Convention Center in Palmetto.

BOB CARTER | SUBMITTED Carol and Bob Carter were honored for their community spirit.

Anatomy of a fishing rod

very angler’s fishing rod, be it a spinning rod, a fly rod or a casting rod, is constructed in a similar way and has the same basic parts. Have you ever wondered why one rod is more expensive than another? Knowing the basic components of a rod will help you understand its construction, action and why one rod costs what it does. This is valuable information in determining which rod is best for you.

A rod’s blank is constructed from a product known as prepreg. This fibrous material is impregnated with resin and wrapped around a mandrel, which is removed after the blank is formed, giving the rod its basic round shape. This blank holds the guides, ferrules, handle, reel seat and fighting butt.

Prepreg has fibers that have a unidirec-

tional (straight) orientation. The fibers can be made of different materials including fiberglass, graphite, boron or Kevlar. Some rods are made (laid up) from a prepreg that has additional fibers that run around or at an angle to the unidirectional fibers. This gives the rod additional strength and influences flex, stiffness - and price.

A rod’s scrim refers to a lightweight material that forms an additional lining under the primary fibers and helps in working the material when it is wrapped around the mandrel. Scrim can be straight or woven and adds what is known as “hoop strength” to the finished rod.

The parts of a rod consist of a blank with

a butt section, a fixed hood, a reel seat, a sliding hood, a locking ring, handle, guides, ferrules and a tip. The butt section is the cork part of the rod behind the reel seat that fits into a fighting harness or into the stomach when playing a fish. On a spinning

SEE REEL TIME, PAGE 21

RUSTY CHINNIS

RUSTY CHINNIS | SUN

Fishing action warms up with weather

CAPT. RICK GRASSETT

Anglers fishing with me out of CB’s Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key had good action catching and releasing snook, reds and trout in skinny water in Gasparilla Sound recently, while anglers fishing deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay had action with trout, Spanish mackerel and blues on DOA Lures. Fly anglers had decent action catching and releasing snook in the ICW at night.

Dave Reinhart, of Massachusetts, fished a couple of days in Gasparilla Sound near Boca Grande with me and had good action catching and releasing reds, snook and trout on CAL jigs with shad tails. Keith McClintock, of Lake Forest, Illinois, fished the same area with me before heading back north and finished up strong by catching and releasing a 34” snook! Martin Marlowe, of New York, fly-fished for snook in the ICW at night with me recently and had good action catching and releasing several snook on Grassett Snook Minnow flies.

Look for reds and snook in skinny water. Deep grass flats are

usually a good option for action with trout, blues, pompano, Spanish mackerel and more. Snook fishing around dock lights and bridges should also be a good option now.

Our natural resources are under constant pressure from red tides

and other algae blooms fueled by residential, industrial and agricultural runoff, toxic spills and intentional releases, freezes, increasing fishing pressure and habitat loss and degradation. Please limit your kill, don’t kill your limit!

REEL TIME: Anatomy of a fishing rod

FROM PAGE 20 and casting rod, it’s where the nondominant hand holds the rod. The reel seat is where the reel foot is placed either on or near the blank, while the hoods secure the reel to the rod. The fixed hood is the metal receiver where one end of the reel foot is placed. The sliding hood is the rear receiver that holds the other end of the reel foot. The locking ring is a nut that puts pressure on the sliding hood and holds the reel securely in place. The cork handle is where the dominant hand is placed. Guides hold the line along the

length of the blank. The ferrules connect the sections of a rod. The tip, as the name implies, is the section at the top of the rod.

You may also have heard the term “taper.” A rod’s taper refers to the diameter of a rod from the butt to the tip. The taper affects the rod’s action. Most rods have either a fast action (stiff) or a slow action (flexible).

When you’re shopping for a new outfit, knowing the parts and construction of a rod will help you make an informed decision. The most important part of the rod and the one that most

High

affects its price, and your buying decision, is the blank. The materials and the method of construction of the blank determine its price. The least expensive rods are made from fiberglass while the expensive ones are constructed with graphite, boron and Kevlar. While fiberglass may be good for a beginner, the more expensive rods are a better choice for the seasoned angler. Armed with this information you’ll have the knowledge you need to determine how much you spend on a rod. This decision can positively affect your angling efficiency and enjoyment.

RED TIDE REPORT

(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 Dave Reinhart, of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, with a redfish caught and released on CAL jigs with shad tails while fishing Gasparilla Sound with Capt. Rick Grassett.

Water quality report

Water quality at area beaches based on March 27 monitoring of enterococcus bacteria, which can pose an increased risk of infectious disease.

Source: Florida Department of Heath

Dredging planned at Longboat Pass

BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District is seeking public input for planned maintenance dredging projects in the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW).

Longboat Pass at the southern end of Anna Maria Island is one of the project’s target areas. The ICW is 9 feet deep and up to 100 feet wide and runs north and south along the eastern side of Anna Maria Island.

"The envisioned maintenance dredging will address seven discrete sections (cuts) of the 160-mile-long waterway, which extends from the mouth of the Anclote River in the north to the mouth of the Caloosahatchee River in the south,” according to a press release. The Anclote River is in Tarpon Springs and the Caloosahatchee River is in the Fort Myers area.

Public comments on the planned project

may be submitted through Friday, April 21. Email CESAJ-GIWW-Navigation@usace. army.mil or submit comments by U.S. Postal Service mail to:

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District, Attn: Kathryn Lebow, 701 San Marco Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32207. More information is available at http:// www.saj.usace.army.mil/GIWWCRtoAR/.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers seeks public input for its planned dredging of the Intracoastal Waterway.

Longboat Pass is included in dredging plans.

LEGISLATION: Could impact condo owners

FROM PAGE 15

Morrow were among those who participated in a Zoom meeting with State Rep. Vicki L. Lopez (R-Miami/Dade), the original sponsor of HB 1395. Monday’s discussion addressed the possibility of amending the proposed legislation in a manner that would not impact three-story condo buildings with ground-level parking and two upper living levels. According to Morrow, Lopez was at least open to the idea, but Moore said he doesn’t expect that change to happen.

When contacted late Monday morning, Moore said, “If you have three stories, including ground-level parking, this will affect you.”

One- and two-story condos would not be affected by the proposed legislation as it currently stands.

Moore noted change is always possible during a legislative session.

“This is a snapshot of where we are right now. There are changes being contemplated. They are moving through the legislative process that ends May 5th. As of right now, they’re working to make it very clear that if it’s three floors or more, it affects you,” Moore said.

According to Moore, most of the condo-related legislation passed in 2022, 2023 and 2024 would not take effect before Jan. 1, 2025.

When interviewed on Saturday, Moore said prior to the 2022 adoption of SB 4-D, Florida had no inspection standards in place for aging condo buildings. During the 2022 session, the Senate members focused more on inspection requirements and the House members focused more on reserve funds and other financial elements. The resulting legislation left gaps legislators and others are now trying to address.

INSPECTIONS AND RESERVES

Under the legislation, if an initial phase 1 structural inspection identifies structural deficiencies that require structural repairs, a more-extensive phase 2 inspection would be required.

“All these reports and inspections go to the condo owners and the local building official. If they find damage that has to be addressed, they’ll be told

by the local building department that they have to get this done and they have 365 days to start the repairs. The building officials are the ones with the ability to enforce this, or to condemn a building. The condo associations can’t just say, ‘We’ve got these repairs that need to be done’ and do nothing about it,” Moore said. Moore said condo boards

provide their association members with a fully-funded annual budget that includes reserves for four specific categories. The association members then vote on whether or not to waive state-imposed reserve funding requirements that would increase their annual assessments.

“With a condo, you might have a hundred different owners that all have a say. So, the decisions are not made the same way regarding maintenance and keeping the buildings well-fortified,” Moore said.

“After Dec. 31, 2024, you can no longer vote to waive the reserves on these structural integrity items. Painting is considered structural because of the waterproofing element. You could waive reserves on other things like renovating the clubhouse or buying new pool furniture. There are some condo associations that

Anna Maria

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

The three-story La Costa condominiums in Bradenton Beach could be impacted by the proposed legislation. SEE

BY MONICA SIMPSON SPECIAL TO THE SUN

ANNA MARIA – With youth soccer underway with Spirit Week, the adult co-ed soccer league continued with action-packed play on Thursday night.

Game one of week two once again did not disappoint as Duncan Real Estate’s Charles “Tuna” McCracken lit up the goalkeeper box with catlike reflexes and 11 recorded saves. After a close loss in week one play, the Duncan squad had something to prove against team Pool America.

With cries from Pool America’s Chris Klotz to keep the soccer ball away from Duncan Real Estate’s captain Kevin Roman, the veteran player seemed to do exactly what he spiritedly pleaded with his teammates not to do.

To his defense, Roman was all over the soccer field last Thursday night. The single goal and two assists by Roman do not even begin to

Pickleball courts closed for construction

The Holmes Beach pickleball courts, located in the city field complex at 5901 Marina Drive, are closed for construction through April 10. City leaders announced that the closure, which began April 3, is for landscap ing and court improve ments. No play will be allowed on the courts during the renovations, however, the adjacent tennis courts are striped for pickleball as well as tennis and will remain open to the public.

McCracken saves game

describe his presence on the field.

In a close 4-2 game, team Pool America just could not keep the soccer ball away from the feet of Roman or get past the hands of McCracken. The scoring for Duncan was spread among three other hot feet.

Single goals by Eric Pullen, Tim Holly and Murat Akay put three more points on the scoreboard and ultimately gave Duncan Real Estate their first win.

Taking their first loss of the season, Pool America managed to get two shots past McCracken.

Off a pass from Dean Hinterstoisser, Klotz scored his only goal in the game. In the loss, Pool America’s Hinterstoisser put the other point on the board for his team.

Robb Marshall made eight stops in the fifth game of the season.

With the end of week two, six teams have a 1-1-0 record.

Solid Rock Construction’s team ended the night of soccer with a 7-2 win over Sandbar Seafood &

Spirits. The win put the team on the top of the chart with two wins. Going into week three seeking their first win, Gulfview Windows & Doors lost to Sato Real Estate by one goal.

Week one’s season opener win ner, Vintage Beach, lost to Moss Builders by four goals. This Thursday’s results should shake up the rankings going into mid-season play.

SUN SCOREBOARD - MAR. 30

ADULT CO-ED SOCCER WEEK 2 Duncan Real Estate (1-1-0) Pool America (1-1-0)

Sato Real Estate (1-1-0) Gulfview Windows & Doors (0-2-0)

Moss Builders (1-1-0) Vintage Beach (1-1-0) 4

Solid Rock Construction (2-0-0) 7 Sandbar Seafood & Spirits (1-1-0) 2

Stride for stride, Sam Parker for team Pool America and Duncan Real Estate's Erica Nielsen fight for position and possession of the soccer ball at the Island's community center. Parker and Nielsen not only represent their teams on the pitch, but also The Center as the marketing and communications manager and youth program manager.

Key Royale Club seniors compete for club championship

SUBMITTED

MONICA SIMPSON | SUN

Above, from left, Brenda Solleveld, with an 80, won second place in the ladies’ Key Royale Club Senior Scratch Tournament (70 years of age and over), with Linda Dorsey, with a 79, taking first place and Pam Lowry, with a 92, taking third.

Left, Tom Nelson, with a 70, left, and Bob Paine, with a 73, won the first and second place awards in the men’s Key Royale Club Senior Scratch Tournament (75 years of age and over), with Jim Hitchen, not pictured, taking third place with a 75.

REAL ESTATE

Real estate potpourri

Think of the real estate market as one big pot. Into the pot you throw in the asking price of a property, selling price, availability of properties, mortgage interest rate and your personal credit score. When you analyze all these ingredi ents, you’ve got a pretty good idea of the active real estate market and your ability to purchase.

Last week we discussed the Manatee County sales for the month of February, in which closed sales were down and the median selling price was up for both condos and single-family properties compared to last year.

Nationally, however, sales of single-family homes were down over twice what ours were, 22.6% compared to 10%, according to the National Association of Realtors. Nationally, the median single-family sales price fell 0.2% compared to last year to $363,000. Manatee County’s median single-family selling price was up 2.5% to $490,000 compared to last year. So far, our

Castles in the Sand

LOUISE BOLGER

local market, although slowly adjusting, is outpacing the national market.

As for interest rates, as of this writing, the average 30-year fixed rate is just below 7%, which generally gives a boost to the number of sales. Remember last week we talked about buyers being “rate sensitive” – this may wake them up. However, the Federal Reserve at a March meeting raised the baseline rate by a quarter percent, hinting that they may be slowing down these regular increases. Every time there is a rate increase, we hold our breath to see what, if any, impact there will be on the home mortgage market.

I also noticed the number of cash buyers

is gradually going down every month. In February, cash buyers for single-family homes were down 20.5% from a year ago and cash buyers for condos are down 23.9% from last year. It’s hard to say how much impact interest rates have on cash buyers. Buyers with cash frequently offer an all-cash contract, which enhances their negotiating ability, and then take a mortgage on the property after closing. With higher and fluctuating interest rates, that will likely change the cash buyer’s thinking on this strategy.

Finally, with interest rates higher than a year ago, credit scores are more important than ever. A small boost to your credit score can make a big impact on the cost of buying a home. Raising your credit scores in the time before applying for a mortgage is the most tangible way to reduce costs related to purchasing a home. You may not have any control over the increase in prices or lack of inventory, but credit scores are totally in your control.

The object is to get that credit score at or over 760 to obtain the most advantageous interest rate. The first thing to do is look at your credit report from all three of the credit reporting agencies. Check for errors, such as someone who has fraudulently attempted to get credit under your name, if a loan is not recorded as paid or a credit card you dropped is still showing as active.

Don’t apply for any new credit or financing until your home shopping and mortgage application is completed. If possible, pay down your debts or ask for a higher limit on your credit cards. Lenders consider how much debt you have compared to how much your line of credit is. It’s always better to have more credit available even if you don’t need it.

I never said it wasn’t complicated to buy a home and a potpourri of knowledge is essential. Shakespeare’s witches may say that the real estate market is all trouble and toil, but in the end, it’s all worth it.

OBITUARIES

James Christopher Corrigan

James Christopher “Chris” Corrigan, of Braden ton, passed away unexpectedly on Jan. 5 2023. He was loved by many and is greatly missed.

Chris was born in Tucson, Ari zona on Oct. 12, 1959 and spent his early years on Anna Maria Island when his family came back to their roots. His grandparents, Jack and Ellen Marshall, were long-time Realtors on Anna Maria Island. Chris attended Anna Maria Elementary and Bayshore Middle School. He spent his high school years in Chicago, Illinois and Syracuse, New York. After high school, he returned to Anna Maria and spent the rest of his days in the area.

He had a passion for music and learned to play the drums at an early age. Chris was a very talented musician who worked hard to perfect his style. He became a well-known local drummer and played in a number of bands through the years, including but not limited to The Hammerheads, Razing Cain, Chandler, Gunn and Corrigan, No Exit, The Go Devils and The Scott Pichard Band. He also sat in with a number of bands from the Tampa Bay area. Rock, country, jazz, blues, he played it all.

Also known for his keen sense of humor, he could put anyone at ease instantly, from his hilari-

ous Halloween costumes to his never-miss-a-beat one-liners. He had a knack for landscaping and owned a yard service where he worked part-time. At one time he was a volunteer at Sarasota radio station WQSR-FM 102.5 ComLine on their allrequest night.

He brought much joy and happiness to our family and his world of friends, fellow musicians and people who enjoyed his music as well as those he encountered daily.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Jacqueline Prieto; stepdad, Mike Prieto, of Bradenton, Florida; brother, John Corrigan, of Atlanta, Georgia; and stepbrother, Michael Prieto, of Ogden, Utah. He is survived by his sister, Lisa Corrigan, of Sarasota, Florida; nephew, Shae Corrigan, of Cape Coral, Florida; half-sister, Melissa Corrigan, of South Burlington, Vermont; half-brother, Seth Corrigan, of San Francisco, California; step-sisters Liat Hart, of Bradenton, Florida and Miki Wagner, of Magnolia, Mississippi; as well as aunts, cousins and many close friends who loved him dearly.

A Celebration of Life is planned for Sunday, April 16, 2023, from 2-6 p.m., at The Island Community Center at 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria, Florida 34216. Chris played a lot of benefits for others over the years, and now it’s his turn. The memorial will feature the Poppa Grump Band and Chuck Caudill, as well as a number of other fellow musicians who want to come celebrate his life.

Special thanks to Nick Patsios and Chuck Caudill, his dear friends, for organizing the memorial tribute. Any musicians that would like to be included, please contact Nick Patsios or Chuck Caudill.

BEACH BEAT

BRADENTON BEACH

3/22, 12 p.m., abandoned boat, 200 Bridge St. While on patrol, the officer saw a fiberglass dinghy beached on the shoreline just north of the Bradenton Beach dinghy dock. The dinghy was approximately 9 feet long and had no identifying markings. The officer said he reached out to the boating community and had no success in locating the owner. No further action was taken.

HOLMES BEACH

3/21, 9:03 p.m., information, 5501 Marina Drive. The officer responded to a possibly intoxicated male yelling at two females on the street. The mother and daughter said while they were walking on the west side of Marina Drive, a man started yelling obscenities at them, at one point saying “you can’t escape me.” The mother described the man as slender with brown hair and holding a beer. The description matched a man known to police, but when shown a picture, she said it looked like him but due to it being dark, she couldn’t be sure. No suspect has been found or identified.

3/25, 9:41 p.m., inactive, 201 North Harbor Drive. The officer responded to the listed address in response to a suspicious person the property owner believed was casing the property to commit a crime. The homeowner said there was a person on the property that was surrounded by a 4-foot-high fence that would have to be climbed in order to enter. He said the man appeared to be looking around before going to the front door and ringing the doorbell. The homeowner said he had previous instances of people coming onto his property without permission. Nothing was reported missing, but video footage was given to police.

3/28, 9:01 a.m., possession of marijuana, 4700 Second Ave. While assisting another officer on a traffic stop, the officer smelled the strong odor of marijuana and cigarillo packages were visible in the vehicle, commonly used for marijuana. When asked if there were any drugs in the vehicle, the driver surrendered a bag of marijuana that was less than 20 grams. The officer also found a glass pipe, a grinder and a digital scale inside the vehicle. The driver was issued a citation for possession of marijuana less than 20 grams.

City hosts Earth Day art contest

The city of Holmes Beach is calling artists of all ages to submit their original artwork for the 2023 Earth Day Poster Contest. The focus of the artwork should be sustaining the local ecosystem and keeping waterways clean, with the theme, “Islanders 4 Clean Water.” The contest is open to artists of all mediums and ages. The final piece must be original and submitted as a drawing, painting or digital piece 11 inches tall by 8.5 inches wide. Participants in the contest must include their name, age and contact information with the submission. The artist’s name can be on the back of the artwork, but not on the front. Artwork can be submitted at city hall, 5801 Marina Drive, or by email to pwadministrator@ holmesbeachfl.org. There is no fee to enter. Only one entry per person is allowed. Submissions are due by Friday, April 14 and two winners, one child and one adult, will be announced on Saturday, April 22 on the city’s Facebook page.

LEGISLATION: Could impact condo owners

FROM PAGE 24 haven’t been reserving funds for 20 years. They’ll need to catch up and their association assessments will go up,” Moore said.

Moore noted some longtime condo owners now live on fixed incomes but over the years their condos accumulated increased equity and value. Moore said it probably won’t happen during the current legislative session, but efforts will be made to create a program that would allow condo associations to take out a loan and allow condo owners who can’t afford to write a $10,000 to $20,000 assessment check to pay back their portion of the loan when they sell their unit.

“If you want to just write the check that’s fine, but there should be an option that allows people some flexibility,” Moore said.

The Senate and House bills have each already passed through two committee stops with the unanimous support of Republicans and Democrats alike.

Moore is confident additional amendments made in the two bills’ final committee stops will produce matching bills to be sent to the Senate and House floors for final votes, and then to Gov. Ron DeSantis to sign into state law.

“We’ve been working with the Governor’s office and all indications are that he’s on board. Anything can happen with the legislative process, but it is expected to pass,” Moore said.

CONDO OWNER INSIGHT

Morrow and her husband, Bill, live in a three-story condo building in Cortez. They also own a condo in a two-story building at Runaway Bay in Bradenton Beach.

“The whole point of this is safety and the management of safety. The collapse of Surfside exposed the fact that Florida condo owners have been able to vote every year to not fund a reserve. With this legislation, associations will have to have a reserve for critical structural components. It forces people to budget and set up a stream of revenue through the annual association assessment to fund those structural elements.

“Condominium owners on Anna Maria Island are going to be compelled to

have a reserve study done, with a focus on the structural elements. They are going to have to build a plan to address the major structural elements and estimate when those structural elements will need to be repaired or replaced. The next thing is to build a strategy to collect the resources to be able to fund those repairs and major maintenance,” Morrow said.

When asked what happens to a condo association that currently has no reserves set aside, Morrow said, “They will have to establish a reserve and begin contributing to that reserve in order to meet the structural requirements identified through the structural integrity reserve study. They’re going to have to start saving. If they’ve lived and owned in that building, they’ve contributed to its natural deterioration. What we have done previously here in Florida is to allow owners to ignore those obligations. Now the state is saying we have no choice. We cannot ignore those structural elements.”

Morrow supports the efforts to help find alternative funding support for condo owners and associations.

When asked if the proposed legislation is good or bad, Morrow said, “This is an improvement over last year. They had to come back for a special session and what they pushed out had a lot of gaps, but it was a needed step in the right direction. Now they’re going through the process of refining it and cleaning it up and this is good.”

The condo associations can’t just say, ‘We’ve got these repairs that need to be done’ and do nothing about it.”

Travis Moore, lobbyist

Ever yone BRING

With over two dozen villages, each with its own amenitie s, home types, floorplans, and price range, it’s easy to see why Lakewood Ranch is the countr y’s leader in mult i-generational living We have something for ever y size family and ever y stage of life which makes it easy to live with family, near family or among chosen family

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.

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

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

WE ARE HIRING Part Time & Full Time. The White Egret & The Egret’s Nest in City of Anna Maria’ Please contact Pam at 941-7783782

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

Two Sides of Nature – Anna Maria Island’s Favorite Beach Shoppes –Resort Wear, Gifts & More.. is now hiring friendly and happy full-time & 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

FOR SALE

GEM 2020 E4 GOLF CART

Mileage 258 White/Perfect condition/ Garage kept Price $17K Text 910-9886883 to schedule showing

GARAGE SALE

GARAGE SALE-MULTIBLE ITEMS from a collector. 208 Oak Ave, City of Anna Maria. EVERY Saturday & Sunday thru April 16. 9amuntil.

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

ATTN REALTORS: Are you thinking about leaving the business to get a salaried job? If you love being a Realtor & need help navigating this new market, call us today for a confidential appt. Kelly Gitt The Gitt Team AMI KW on the Water 941-799-9299

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.

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. Canal front 3BR/2BA home, private pool, boat dock. AVAILABLE 2/1/23. $7,960/ mo. 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.

ANNUAL AMI RENTAL $3200 per month includes all utilities, cable, WiFi 2 BR/1.5BA Over 55 No pets/smoking Call 507382-8880.

BUSINESS & SERVICE DIRECTORY

HOME IMPROVEMENT HOME IMPROVEMENT PAINTING

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

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.

HOME SERVICES

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. 941-773-1552.

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. 941-779-5095