Anna Maria Island Sun April 7, 2021 by Anna Maria Island Sun

- Named Best Florida Newspaper In Its Class -

VOL 21 No. 26

April 7, 2021

Officials urgently working to avert Piney Point catastrophe RUSTY CHINNIS | SUN

This is a ground level panorama of the leaking Piney Point gyp stack.

Water from the failing retention area is being pumped into Tampa Bay at Port Manatee. BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

PALMETTO – County, state and federal officials are trying to prevent a potentially disastrous breach of a phosphogypsum stack at Piney Point that has already sprung a leak. Two more trouble spots were identified Monday by an infrared drone as engineers continue to drain wastewater into Tampa Bay from a retention pond dug into the leaking stack.

Early Monday morning, an infrared drone identified what could be a second breach, Manatee County Public Safety Director Jake Saur announced at a press conference Monday afternoon. The first breach emerged last month when water began leaking through a pond liner and the gypsum material behind it began to crumble. Acting Manatee County Administrator Scott Hopes elaborated. “Thermal imaging last night (Sunday, April 4) from the DEP drones identified a number of sites with one concentrated site in the northern portion of the eastern wall

PHOTOSFROMTHEAIR.COM | SUBMITTED

This is the view from above the Piney Point property. SEE PINEY POINT, PAGE 26

Worshippers brave cold Easter sunrise service BY TOM VAUGHT SUN CONTRIBUTOR

HOLMES BEACH – More than a thousand people braved chilly weather at Manatee Beach to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ at the 56th Annual Easter Sunrise Service. The annual event was organized by the Kiwanis Club of Anna Maria Island and performed by members of Roser Memorial Church, the Episcopal Church of the Annunciation, Harvey Memorial Church and CrossPointe Fellowship. Last year, the Kiwanis Club can-

INSIDE NEWS CALENDAR OUTDOORS RESTAURANTS REAL ESTATE CROSSWORD CLASSIFIEDS

4 7 18 21 22 29 30

celed the service due to the COVID-19 pandemic and attendees this year were urged to observe social distancing as they found a place to sit. There was an advisory in the program telling them they assumed liability for their actions and held the organizers harmless. After the service, Kiwanis member Dave Miner was enthusiastic, saying the turnout was larger than expected and may have been a record. Record or not, some saw it as a return toward normalcy that was shattered by the coronavirus more than a year ago.

TOM VAUGHT | SUN

The traditional Easter Sunrise Service returned to the beach this year.

OUR NATURAL

MAJOR improvements could be

resources pay the price of our inaction. In Reel Time. 18

coming to the LBK bridge. 8

Anna Maria Island, Florida

DREDGE pipes break free in storm,

force temporary beach closure. 4

The Island’s award-winning weekly newspaper www.amisun.com

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APRIL 7, 2021

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Lifeguards, law enforcement prepare for busy beach holidays As the busy beach holidays arrive, officials review how they are working together to keep visitors safe at Manatee County beaches. BY JASON SCHAFFER SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com

COQUINA BEACH – Public Safety and local law enforcement agencies are working together to keep the public safe during the busy holiday beach season that began on Easter weekend and runs through Memorial Day weekend. Beach patrol, law enforcement and EMS will be facing new and unique challenges this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Manatee County Public Safety Director Jacob Saur said at a press conference on March 29. “It’s critical for Manatee County to work in unison with our Island partners and local law enforcement agencies,” Saur said, “to keep all beachgoers safe so that they have a safe place to enjoy this Island and this community while they’re on break or taking some much-needed downtime from their hectic schedules.” He reminded residents to expect

JASON SCHAFFER | SUN

Law enforcement officers hold press conference at Coquina Beach. large crowds during this busy season. Manatee County Beach Patrol Chief Joe Westerman spoke about the challenges facing lifeguards and first responders as the busy spring and summer holiday season begins. “We ask a few things of everyone that comes out here,” Westerman said. “One is to always swim in front of a lifeguard, and check with your lifeguard about what the surf and beach conditions are that day. Also, there is no

alcohol allowed on any of our beaches and this isn’t a place to bring pets - we don’t allow any pets on our beaches unless it’s a service animal.” He added that a little planning ahead of time will make for a successful day at the beach. It takes coordination between multiple agencies to keep the public safe at area beaches. Manatee County Emergency Management Chief Steve Litschauer said 13 different agencies

or departments are working together, including all law enforcement agencies on the Island, EMS, Code Enforcement, Property Management and Public Works. Litschauer said communication is essential, and the fact that all 13 agencies are able to communicate effectively is a key factor in the event of an emergency. Holmes Beach Police Chief William Tokajer took to the podium to reiterate the Island’s zero-tolerance policy regarding alcohol on the beach. “No alcohol, no pets, no glass bottles, no fires and no grills unless you’re in a grilling area that’s assigned,” Tokajer said. “It’s important to remember that you’re vacationing in a residential area, so keep the noise down to a respectable level, and remember that we still have a mask order in place and social distancing.” He stressed that these laws will be strictly enforced and that anyone caught drinking alcohol on the beach would be issued a fine, and anyone underage consuming alcohol would be removed from the beach and their parents would be contacted, regardless of their location. SEE SAFETY, PAGE 13

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ISLAND NEWS

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APRIL 7, 2021

IN BRIEF

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

This commercial property at 101 Bridge Street is for sale.

101 Bridge Street for sale

CITY OF ANNA MARIA | SUBMITTED

Two banners hanging on the 101 Bridge Street building in Bradenton Beach publicly note the building and property are for sale or rent. Owned by Radka and Peter Ross, the commercial property has been inactive in terms of business operations since the Freckled Fin closed and later reopened in Holmes Beach in 2018.

The pipes were retrieved and recovered Friday afternoon.

Longboat Key dredge pipes break free The beach at Bayfront Park in Anna Maria was temporarily closed on Friday due to three pipes breaking free from the Longboat Key dredging project staging area offshore of Bayfront Park. Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy said high winds caused the pipes

to break loose late Thursday night/ early Friday morning and he heard them clanging together at about 2 a.m. Murphy met with Longboat Key officials that afternoon and requested the town of Longboat Key provide security guards to enforce the temporary beach closure

until the pipes were removed. The security detail proved unnecessary because at 2:24 p.m. Friday Murphy informed city commissioners that the pipes had been moved and the public safety crisis had been averted.

SUBMITTED

Country/pop singer Chrystal Gayle will perform at The Center in June.

Tickets available for Center concerts The Center of Anna Maria Island has announced a date change and additional concerts as part of the Visit Bradenton Gulf Islands 2021 Concert Series, presented by The Sandbar Restaurant. As previously announced, The Marshall Tucker Band will perform outside of The Center in Anna Maria on Thursday, May 13. Ticket prices range from $60-$75. Best known for her hit song, “Don’t it Make My Brown Eyes Blue,” country/pop singer Crystal Gayle will perform at The Center on Friday June 11. The date for former Journey lead singer Steve Augeri’s concert has been changed to Thursday, June 17. The Grass Roots and special guest Donnie Iris will perform at The Center on Friday, July 2. Sale dates, ticket prices and ticket availability for all shows can be found www.CenterAMI. org, by calling the i-tickets box office at 1-800-965-9324 or by visiting www.itickets.com.

CITY OF ANNA MARIA | SUBMITTED

These pipes washed ashore in Anna Maria early Friday morning.

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THE SUN

First, do no harm A

recent visit to the Mulberry Phosphate Museum was fascinating, with its finds of prehistoric giant ground sloths, mammoths, sharks, manatees and crocodiles, and even a 3000-year-old dugout canoe, all unearthed by equipment used in phosphate mining. Murals show how mining companies in Florida restore the land after the mines are exhausted, even to the point of hosting threatened Florida scrub jays and gopher tortoises. Missing from the diorama is what happens when it all goes wrong. Lining gypsum stacks with material that wasn’t supposed to deteriorate and filling them with wastewater from the Piney Point phosphate mine never sounded like the best idea, but it likely was the most costeffective one. Now that there’s a breach and the ongoing discharge of hundreds of millions of gallons of wastewater

Cindy Lane into local waters to avert a worse one, we’re faced with the prospect of an environmental disaster unseen since the Deepwater Horizon oil spill began in April 2010. Why can’t the wastewater be pumped into containers at Port Manatee instead of into our precious, beautiful and interconnected waterways, where nitrogen and phosphorus from the wastewater are undoubtedly going to feed red tide, and where other toxins may kill fish before the red tide gets them? Containers could be stored indefinitely, or transported to a treatment

plant, which, by the way, could have been mandated on-site when the mine was permitted. Surely there is emergency money for such a solution in the state’s budget, if not the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s budget. If state leaders are not able to come up with a better solution to this crisis than dumping phosphate mining wastewater into the pristine waters that attract our visitors, why continue to spend money on advertising for tourists? Especially this time of year – when it’s spring, and we’re just peeking out from the pandemic – it’s heartbreaking to realize that in the coming weeks, we may see vacations ruined by red tide, fish kills and respiratory symptoms, and maybe things even worse than red tide. We may see vacation rental cancellations and businesses floundering,

just when they’re about to regain normalcy from the pandemic. Thanks to a lack of responsibility, wisdom, foresight and possibly even concern among government officials, visitors and residents will likely be avoiding the beaches this summer – the one place where we almost felt comfortable during the year of the coronavirus. To the families evacuated from their homes just before Easter Sunday, to the people who have spent decades volunteering to plant seagrasses and count scallops and create oyster beds in area waters, to those who make their livings on the water, to the marine life, and to all the people of Tampa Bay, mine owners and state officials owe more than mitigation and an apology. They must choose a solution to this crisis that does no further harm.

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OPINION

The Anna Maria Island Sun newspaper 3909 East Bay Drive, Suite 210, Holmes Beach, FL, 34217 Phone: (941) 778-3986 email: news@amisun.com | ads@amisun.com | classifieds@amisun.com

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The Anna Maria Island Sun Staff Publishers Mike Field Maggie Field Editor/CEO Mike Field Layout Ricardo Fonseca Reporters Cindy Lane Joe Hendricks Kristin Swain Columnists Louise Bolger Outdoors editor Rusty Chinnis Advertising director Shona Otto Ad assistant Pamela Lee Classified ads Bob Alexander Graphics Elaine Stroili Ricardo Fonseca Digital/Social Media editor Cindy Lane Accounting John Reitz Distribution Bob Alexander Tony McNulty Connor Field Contributors Tom Vaught Steve Borggren Monica Simpson

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Thanks for standing up Kudos to (Holmes Beach) Mayor Judy Titsworth! A special thanks and admiration for her standing

up to County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge. Our Anna Maria Island neighbors don’t deserve his bullying and threats. He did, however, deserve her straightforward, nononsense approach. No parking

spaces available for bullies, Commissioner Van Ostenbridge. Keep moving. Kristina Skepton Manatee County resident

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,

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.

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APRIL 7, 2021

ON THE AGENDA ANNA MARIA

10005 GULF DRIVE FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-708-6130

City hall is open to the public with limited capacity and safety protocols in place. Please visit www.cityofannamaria.com or contact city hall for more information. April 8, 2 p.m. – City Commission meeting April 22, 6 p.m. – City Commission meeting

BRADENTON BEACH

107 GULF DRIVE N. FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-778-1005

City hall is open to the public with limited capacity and safety protocols in place. Please visit www.cityofbradentonbeach.com or contact city hall for more information. April 7, 9:15 a.m. – City Commission emergency meeting April 7, 9:30 a.m. – Community Redevelopment Agency meeting April 7, 2 p.m. – Scenic WAVES meeting April 8, 6 p.m. – City Commission meeting April 13, 9 a.m. – City Commission work meeting April 21, 1 p.m. – Planning and Zoning board meeting April 22, noon – City Commission meeting

HOLMES BEACH

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

City hall is open to the public by appointment only. Please visit www.holmesbeachfl. org or contact city hall for more information. April 7, 10 a.m. – Parks and Beautification committee meeting April 7, 6 p.m. – Planning Commission meeting April 13, 6 p.m. – City Commission meeting followed by work session April 22, 11:30 a.m. – Police pension board

meeting April 27, 6 p.m. – City Commission meeting followed by work session

ISLAND-WIDE

April 20, 4:30 p.m. – West Manatee Fire Rescue board budget workshop with regular meeting to follow at 6 p.m., administration offices and on Zoom, 6510 Third Ave. W., Bradenton. For more information, visit www. wmfr.org. MARKYOUR CALENDAR The Island Branch Library is open at 40% capacity. Please wear a face mask/covering. Regular business hours resume on April 12. The Tingley Memorial Library is open. The Center of Anna Maria Island is open with social distancing and face masks required. The Holmes Beach dog park (Scentral Park), skate park, basketball courts, pickleball courts and tennis courts are open. Local preserves are open, including Grassy Point Preserve, Neal Preserve, Perico Preserve and Robinson Preserve. Local beaches are open.

WEDNESDAY APRIL 7

Beach market, Coquina Beach, 2650 Gulf Drive S., Bradenton Beach, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

THURSDAY APRIL 8

Farmer’s Market, Holmes Beach city field, 5801 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursdays in Paradise Stroll featuring local art, music and food, Bridge Street, Bradenton Beach, 5 to 8 p.m.

THE SUN

FRIDAY

WEDNESDAY

Beach market, Coquina Beach, 2650 Gulf Drive S., Bradenton Beach, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Blood drive/food drive, Longboat Island Chapel, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Prevention Plus stroke and vascular screening, The Center of Anna Maria Island, 407 Magnolia Ave. Call 1-888-667-7587 or visit www.stroketesting.com for more information.

Beach market, Coquina Beach, 2650 Gulf Drive S., Bradenton Beach, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

APRIL 9

SATURDAY APRIL 10

Robinson Runners, Robinson Preserve, 840 Ninth Ave. N.W., Bradenton, 8-9 a.m. No reservations required. Saturday mornings at the NEST, Robinson Preserve Mosaic Nest, 840 Ninth Ave. N.W., Bradenton, 9 a.m. to noon. Face masks required. Blood drive/food drive, Longboat Island Chapel, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

SUNDAY APRIL 11

Rise and Shine Power Flow Yoga, Robinson Preserve Mosaic Nest, 840 Ninth Ave. N.W., Bradenton 10:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m., $10 fee payable online. Bring your own yoga mat. Register at https://parks.mymanatee.org/wbwsc/webtrac.wsc/search. html?primarycode=110006 or call 941-7425923 ext. 6042 for more information.

TUESDAY APRIL 13

Farmer’s Market, City Pier Park, 101 N. Bay Blvd., Anna Maria, 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

APRIL 14

THURSDAY APRIL 15

Farmer’s Market, Holmes Beach city field, 5801 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. AMI Chamber Member Networking Luncheon, Discovery Village at Sarasota Bay, 1414 69th Ave. W., Bradenton, Thursday, April 15, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. RSVP at 941778-1541. Cost is $18 for members; $30 for non-members. Face masks required. Thursdays in Paradise Stroll featuring local art, music and food, Bridge Street, Bradenton Beach, 5 to 8 p.m.

FRIDAY APRIL 16

Beach market, Coquina Beach, 2650 Gulf Drive S., Bradenton Beach, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

SATURDAY APRIL 17

MONDAY APRIL 19

Red Cup Kickball League, The Center of Anna Maria Island, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria, 6 p.m.

TUESDAY APRIL 20

Farmer’s Market, City Pier Park, 101 N. Bay Blvd., Anna Maria, 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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APRIL 7, 2021

Study could mean major improvements to Longboat Key bridge Improvements to SR 789’s ¾-mile span from Longboat Key to the Coquina Beach Park entrance are being studied by FDOT. BY JASON SCHAFFER SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com

COQUINA BEACH - The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) District One is conducting a Project Development and Environmental Study (PD&E) for the heavily-traveled and often congested SR 789 bridge from North Shore Road to the Coquina Beach Park entrance. A public meeting was held at the Harbourside Ballroom in Longboat Key on Tuesday, March 16 to begin discussion and present material showcasing multiple options for the potential project. FDOT officials made it clear that throughout the process they would consider a “no-build” option. If the “build” option were to be the result of the study, the project would move to the design phase, and construction plans would then be prepared. Key factors to be evaluated when de-

JASON SCHAFFER | SUN

SR 789 Longboat Key to Coquina Beach bridge. ciding how, when, or if the project will move forward include safety needs, additional right-of-way, traffic performance, and environmental impacts the project could have on this very ecosensitive area. The project process has six main components:

1. Planning - Identifying local multimodal goals. 2. PD&E Study - Documenting the need for the project, developing alternatives to meet needs, and evaluating social, natural, cultural and physical impacts. 3. Design - Conduct land surveys,

prepare construction plans, and identify right-of-way requirements. 4. Right-of-Way - Acquiring right-ofway and providing relocation assistance. 5. Construction - Construction of the project, and inspection of construction materials. 6. Maintenance - Maintaining the facility throughout its design life. The development and analysis phase of the project will take some time. After all impacts and alternatives are thoroughly analyzed, another tentative public meeting will be held in March 2022 to finalize the recommended alternative, followed by a tentative March 2023 public hearing to finalize engineering and environmental reports. If all goes as planned, Location and Design Concept Acceptance is slated for October 2023. Funding is not yet secured for any phase of this project. Projected funding has been proposed as a program over four fiscal years (2021-2025) beginning with the PD&E phase, which is currently ongoing, followed by design, right-of-way acquisition, and construction phases which are not yet funded.

APRIL 7, 2021

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New lifeguard towers offer high-tech public safety solutions. New Coquina Beach lifeguard towers offer high-tech public safety solutions. BY JASON SCHAFFER SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com

COQUINA BEACH - If you head to Coquina Beach in south Anna Maria Island, you may be surprised to find something entirely different than the lifeguard towers you’re used to seeing on American beaches. For decades, there has been little change to the traditional lifeguard tower. A simple structure elevated around 14 feet from the beach surface with an observation deck and a couple of windows overlooking the beachfront on which the guard or guards inside are tasked with keeping safe. If you’ve ever seen an episode of Baywatch, that’s pretty much the industry standard in the United States. A good view of beachgoers, a place to store lifesaving gear, and a bit of shade for lifeguards. After recently being invited to tour lifeguard tower #9 on Coquina Beach, it's evident the 21st century has made its mark on beach safety. This is not a 14-foot observation post. Instead, the tower rises more than 25 feet above the white sand of Coquina Beach and features technology that not only makes the beach safer but also more efficient. Manatee County Beach Patrol Chief Joe Westerman was on hand

to discuss what makes this beach state of the art in terms of safety and technology. “Each one of our new lifeguard towers has a public address (PA) system that will make announcements to the entire beach,” Westerman said, explaining how the PA system makes the beach safer for the public. The system can send messages to entire zones such as all of Cortez Beach or all of Coquina Beach. It can also send individual messages from each lifeguard tower independently. This is useful for announcing dangers in the immediate area, such as rip currents or dangerous marine life. Five prerecorded messages can be played at the push of a button. These include a welcome to the beach message, rip currents, missing or lost child, lightning, and a message letting beachgoers know the lifeguards are leaving for the day. Beach officials can also get on the system live and make any necessary announcement as a situation arises. Westerman said this has been very effective in reuniting lost children that have wandered away from their families to be quickly reunited. Any beach official can simply get on their handheld radio and connect to the towers and call for the parents. Anyone who’s spent a summer in southwest Florida knows that lightning is an almost daily event, and this area is often referred to

JASON SCHAFFER | SUN

A new lightning diffusing system and public address system add high-tech safety to Coquina Beach lifeguard towers. as the lightning capital of America. Storms will suddenly pop up on a beautiful sunny summer day and offer little time for beachgoers to pack up and leave the beach before heavy rain and extreme lightning begin. Simply put; lightning is dangerous. Knowing the seriousness of lightning strikes on the Island, the new lifeguard towers have been equipped with lightning suppression systems. “It blocks the area of lightning, to not be able to strike. It breaks up the ions between the cloud and the ground.” Said Westerman, pointing

to the top of the tower’s flagpole where the suppressors are located. Incredibly, each one of these has a 300-meter range on the large towers. That’s three football field lengths in every direction from each tower. The smaller lifeguard towers have a smaller unit mounted that still offers an impressive 25-meter range of protection. “It’s based off a Tesla concept,” said Westerman, who stressed the importance of not only protecting the public but also the guards. Lifeguards stay on duty during inclement weather and are subject to risks involved with serious summer lightning storms that can see hundreds of strikes during a single meteorological event. Regardless of this new technology, Westerman said nothing is a guarantee. The weather will always surprise us and often doesn’t follow the rules. If you are on the beach and severe weather is coming, get off the beach and seek shelter indoors. While safety nets are great, nobody would recommend you rely on them to continue your day as if nothing were happening. “If the thunder roars, stay indoors” is a great reminder of just how serious Florida storms can be. If you can hear thunder, you can be struck by lightning, even if it seems to be miles off in the distance. A few simple precautions will ensure many more days on the sunny beaches of Anna Maria Island.

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APRIL 7, 2021

Vaccines now available for Floridians 16 and older To register and receive an appointment for a free vaccine offered at a county-run vaccination site visit vax.mymanatee.org or call 311. BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

FLORIDA – As of Monday, all Floridians 16 years and older are now eligible to receive one of three COVID-19 vaccines. According to the Florida Department of Health, all Floridians 18 and older are now eligible for the two-dose Moderna vaccine or the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine – depending on which vaccine is offered at a specific vaccination site. All Floridians 16 and older are now eligible for the two-dose Pfizer vaccine. Those under 18 receiving a shot must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. To register and receive an appointment for a free vaccine offered at a county-run vaccination site in Manatee County, please visit vax.mymanatee.org or call 311. Vaccines are also available at some Pub-

SOURCE: FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

The Manatee County Public Safety Center in Bradenton is one of two county-run vaccination sites. lix, Walgreen’s and CVS locations throughout the state.

VACCINE PASSPORTS PROHIBITED

An order prohibiting businesses, event facilities government agencies and others from requiring proof of vaccination was issued Friday by Gov. Ron DeSantis. The order is being referred to as a “vaccine passport.” On Friday, April 2, Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an Executive Order 21-81 – an order that prohibits businesses, event

facilities, government agencies and others from requiring proof of vaccination, which is also referred to by some as a “vaccine passport.” The governor’s order states: “No Florida government entity shall be permitted to issue vaccine passports, vaccine passes or other standardized documentation for the purpose of certifying an individual’s COVID-19 vaccination status to a third party, or otherwise publish or share any individual's COVID-19 vaccination record

or similar health information. “Businesses in Florida are prohibited from requiring patrons or customers to provide any documentation certifying COVID-19 vaccination or post-transmission recovery to gain access to, entry upon, or service from the business. All businesses must comply with this order to be eligible for grants or contracts funded through state revenue,” the order states. “The requirements in this order do not otherwise restrict businesses from instituting COVID-19 screening protocols in accordance with state and federal law to protect public health.”

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APRIL 7, 2021

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Egg-cellent time had at Moose Lodge Easter party This year’s Easter party took place outside on the beach. BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH – The Anna Maria Island Moose Lodge hosted its first-ever Easter egg hunt on the beach Saturday morning. Moose Lodge #2188 is located along the shore of the Gulf of Mexico. Moose lodge volunteers placed hundreds of eggs in one area in the sand designated for youngsters five years old and under and hundreds more in another area in the sand designated for those six years old and up. The youngsters were provided with beach buckets to put their eggs in and at 10 a.m. sharp, Lodge Administrator Byron Dalton used a bullhorn to issue the command to go find the eggs. Within a few short minutes, every plastic egg was found. “This was a phenomenal experience. We started working on this a few weeks ago. We didn’t know how many eggs we’d need or how many kids we’d have here. We put together close to 1,400 eggs – each one with a piece of candy and a couple with cash in them,” Dalton said. One egg-containing $5 was placed in the area for the youngest kids and one was placed in the area for the older kids. “The turnout was phenomenal. The men and women of the lodge worked together to make this happen and this is the first time to the best of my knowledge that we’ve done it. We’ve had Easter parties inside before,” Dalton said. “We’ve never done it on the beach. We’ve had the Easter Bunny inside,”

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

Bonnie Dubin, Joe Klingler, Steve Boniberger, Tommy the Moose, the Easter Bunny and Lodge Administrator Byron Dalton helped organize the outdoor Easter party. Moose member and event volunteer Steve Boniberger added. “I think this is much more fun and we’re making more people aware of the Moose Lodge this way. Thanks to all the people who came out to see us,” Dalton said. The Easter Bunny and Tommy the Moose were also on hand for the festivities. Sarasota resident Mike Lunde attended with friends and family. After the Easter egg hunt ended, he and his group stood on the beach watching their kids play in the sand on a cool, sunny Saturday morning. “It was awesome. All the kids got to come out and have some fun. It happened quickly because all the kids were super-excited, but it was definitely a good time. My twin daughters were out there running around. It’s a

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relief to get them out of the house and have them interact with other people,” Lunde said. His sister’s son, 10-year-old Tyler Williams, found one of the eggs containing a $5 bill. As part of the same group, Jessica Yawn said, “I think it’s a great opportunity for the kids to get together with all that’s been going on, and to be able to have a good time, be themselves and hunt for eggs. And doing it on the beach makes it even better. There’s no better place to have a good time with friends and children than on the beach.”

RETURNING TO NORMAL

Saturday marked the first day since occupancy restrictions were enacted that the AMI Moose Lodge returned to 100% capacity in terms of guests allowed.

“Everybody is else is open 100% and we figured we might as well too. We talked about it and we’re going to do it and see how it works out. Many of us are going through our second vaccinations so that’s good news, and with the governor lowering the age restrictions things should get even better,” Dalton said. He noted that even at 50% capacity, and with the kitchen temporarily closed, the lodge has been busy. The lodge’s renovated and upgraded kitchen is expected to reopen soon. “We’ve got all our paperwork in. Everything but the feedline for the sprinkler system has been installed. The sprinklers are in and it’s just a matter of getting it hooked up. We’re hoping real soon,” Dalton said.

Visit us for a cold one! We’ve installed 5 Fresh-Aire UV units to provide 1_;lb1-ѴŊ=u;; -bu -m7 v u=-1; 7bvbm=;1ঞomĺ

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SAFETY: Enforcement agencies prepare for busy beach holidays FROM PAGE 3

Chief Tokajer also shared some numbers on just how busy the spring season has been so far this year. “Between March 1 and March 26, we have had 650,000 vehicles come to Holmes Beach alone, which is 24,700 cars a day,” he said. “We have limited parking, so if you want a space, you should come early.” Parking can often be an issue during the busy spring season, but Long-boat Key Police Lieutenant Chris Skinner said his department, as well as others, would strictly enforce parking regulations, and if you park outside designated areas, you should expect a citation. Skinner said his department will increase patrols not only on the streets but on the beaches, as well, during this busy season. Almost exactly a year ago, the agencies were working together to close the beaches because they didn’t know what to expect from the pandemic. Now the same agencies are once again working together to prepare for what will likely be larger-than-normal crowds at area beaches. As more and more people are receiving COVID-19 vaccinations and positivity num-bers continue to slowly go down, many have their eyes on Gulf beaches for a much-needed getaway. It’s important to remember, however, that COVID-19 is still a genuine threat, and if you can’t social distance – or wish to visit businesses on the Island – masks are still required.

Amended noise ordinance on Thursday agenda The Bradenton Beach City Commission will meet at 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 8, a delay of one week due to the Easter holiday. After an emergency operations management COVID-19 update and general public comment, the commission will receive a presentation regarding Shawn Kaleta and AMI Locals’ parking and vacation rental mitigation measures. Under attorney business, the commission will be presented with a city resolution that addresses parking violation fines, a Gulf Drive undergrounding project update, a request for proposals for engineering services associated with a master drainage study update, the second and final reading of an amended noise ordinance, the first reading of an ordinance regarding the expansion of the municipal boundaries to include additional waters south of the Bridge Street Pier and a request for proposals for towing services.

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APRIL 7, 2021

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Easter Bunny visits Island condos The Easter Bunny visited Holmes Beach Villas a day early on Saturday, hiding dozens of minibottles of adult beverages that bunny-eared guests discovered during an egg hunt, along with a golden egg containing a $25 gift certificate to the Freckled Fin and two silver eggs awarding Godiva chocolate bunnies to the finders. The hunt was followed by a potluck lunch, with goodie baskets for dessert.

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APRIL 7, 2021

THE SUN

Establishments, police work to curb open containers Police have recently seen more patrons bringing open containers out of some Bridge Street establishments. BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH – The Bradenton Beach City Commission recently discussed, but took no formal action, regarding Bridge Street bar and restaurant patrons violating the city’s open container ordinance. The commission decided instead to encourage management and staff members at Bridge Street establishments to be more diligent about patrons leaving with open containers. The commission’s discussion was prompted by a request from Police Chief Sam Speciale. Speciale requested the commission consider amending the existing open container ordinance in a manner that would allow officers to ticket and fine bar and restaurant employees who allow patrons to leave an establishment with an open container of alcohol. Speciale did not attend the March 18 meeting, but Lt. John Cosby was on hand to represent the police department’s concerns. City Attorney Ricinda Perry told the com-

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

Lt. John Cosby shared the police department’s position on open container enforcement during a recent city commission meeting. Sports Lounge bartender Johnny Hopper opposed fining bartenders for the actions of their patrons. mission she was reluctant to recommend an ordinance that would place additional enforcement burdens on bar and restaurant employees. Perry said that responsibility should remain with the police officers who already have the authority to issue a citation for an open container violation and who are also trained to deal with potentially intoxicated patrons. Cosby said he, Sgt. Lenard Diaz and Mayor John Chappie recently met with some of the Bridge Street bar and restaurant owners to discuss the increased number of open containers seen on the street. “We’ve asked them to police themselves,” Cosby said, adding that these self-policing

2021

efforts include an increased presence of doormen. “If I have to, I will put four or five cops on the street on select nights and we will write tickets until the cows come home. That is going to deter business and cause other issues. We don’t want to get to that point,” Cosby said. He added that the business leaders they met with felt the same way. “I think the message has been sent loud and clear,” Chappie said, noting the need to maintain Bridge Street’s family-friendly atmosphere. When providing public input, Sports Lounge bartender Johnny Hopper ex-

pressed his concerns about a bartender being fined because a customer walks out with an open container. He said that would be similar to penalizing a retail business employee for a patron’s shoplifting. “We tell somebody you’re not allowed to take that beer outside. They take that beer and put it in their purse or try to hide it and get out the door. We’re more than willing to do anything we need to do to work with the police officers to rectify the situation,” Hopper said. He also noted the Sports Lounge now has a doorman in place six days a week. Daiquiri Deck co-owner Matt Grover spoke next. “We want to be part of the solution. One of the things we’re focused on is over-consumption,” Grover said. He said Daiquiri Deck employees receive training and certification from a third-party vendor on how to recognize and prevent over-consumption, which Grover feels can lead to open container situations. “We want people to be safe. We want to make sure we have that family atmosphere, but we also want to make sure our staff is safe,” he said. Satisfied with what they heard, the commission felt no need to take any additional action at that time.

APRIL 7, 2021

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APRIL 7, 2021

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OUTDOORS

APRIL 7, 2021

The price of inaction Reel Time RUSTY CHINNIS

n Monday, March 26, the latest and hopefully final chapter unfolded in a sordid novel with no redeeming chapters and a far less-than-happy ending. The saga began in the 1960s when the Borden Corporation (yes, the cow) was given a permit by Manatee County to build a processing facility at Piney Point to turn phosphate into fertilizer. In the early 70s, the company went into bankruptcy and literally walked away from the property, leaving the tailings from the processing in giant, toxic mounds on the edges of Tampa Bay. The history of the site is one of mistakes and missteps that would, and probably will, one day fill a novel on the price of inaction. Suncoast Waterkeeper and Tampa Bay Waterkeeper are organizations that I’ve highlighted in this column over the past few years. Both are playing a central role in trying to understand the underlying issues so that they can disseminate current and reliable information to the public. As of Sunday, April 4, we were being told that the collapse of the compromised gypsum stack was no longer imminent, although the area had been evacuated. Meanwhile, untreated, polluted water

from the site is being pumped into Tampa Bay at the rate of 22,000 gallons a minute. Water from the breach in the stack, along with water from additional pumps that are being flown in, is being drained from the stack. That water will most likely be carried into Bishop Harbor to the west and Cockroach Bay to the east. Both are designated as Outstanding Florida Waters. It’s hard to imagine anything positive emerging from this ecological nightmare other than, hopefully, a wake-up call to the public that this is what happens when politicians and public officials don’t follow their mandate to work for the public good. That realization seems to be on the lips of most everyone I talk to, but in truth, this is a shared responsibility. We the citizens are also responsible to hold our elected officials accountable to do the work we elected them to do. This is an example of what can happen when citizens don’t pay attention and let others make decisions on their behalf. This will be an unfolding story of the incalculable damage that results from greed, inaction, lack of accountability and irresponsible actions by parties on all levels, from the county to the highest offices in Florida and beyond. Even now we’re hearing statements claiming the water “meets industry standards, outside of ammonia, nitrate and phosphorus levels,” which is to say, of course, that it doesn’t meet industry standards. Spin isn’t going to play this time.

RUSTY CHINNIS | SUN

Piney Point Creek is one of the waterways that will receive the contaminated gypstack water. Dave Tomasko, executive director of the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program, told me on April 4 that he’s working with Ed Sherwood, director of the Tampa Bay Estuary Program, to calculate pollution loads from the release and they are, in fact, “much worse than I was led to believe.” Both Tampa Bay Waterkeeper and Suncoast Waterkeeper are working to update the public with the latest updates on Facebook. Stay tuned, get involved and hold your elected officials responsible for protecting the public good. In the end, it’s the public and our natural resources that pay the price of inaction.

APRIL 7, 2021

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April brings good offshore, inshore action CAPTAIN 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. Look for Spanish mackerel, false albacore (little tunny), cobia and tripletail in the coastal Gulf this month. Tarpon should also make an appearance in backcountry areas and the coastal Gulf later in the month. Tarpon will become more plentiful

this month 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. Spin anglers might score with a DOA Shrimp, Baitbuster, or 4” CAL Shad Tail while fly anglers might connect with a black Deceiver or Tarpon Bunny fly. Keep your tarpon tackle rigged and ready this time of year so you’re able to take advantage of any opportunity that arises. Snook, reds, and spotted seatrout remain closed to harvest on the west coast of Florida. The Florida FWC has extended a temporary modification of regulations for reds, snook, and trout, in the areas affected by the recent red tide. The area extends from Pasco County, south to the south bank of Gordon Pass in Collier County. Reds, snook, and trout are catch and release only in that zone until May 31, 2021. Full details including exact boundaries can be found at https://myfwc.com/ news/all-news/extendedcnr-220/. Snook should be staging on flats, around sand and oyster bars, on points of islands, and around docks and bridges close

CAPTAIN RICK GRASSETT | SUBMITTED

Mike Perez, from Sarasota, with a snook caught and released on a CAL jig with a shad tail while fishing Tampa Bay with Capt. Rick Grassett. to passes in the ICW. Spin anglers should score with CAL jigs and a variety of plastic tails including the 4” CAL Shad, DOA Baitbusters, or surface walking topwater plugs, like the DOA PT. Fish the edges of bars and potholes when the tide is low and mangrove shorelines or points of islands when the tide is high. 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, CAL jigs with shad tails and jerk worms, DOA Shrimp and Tiny TerrorEyz. Fish peak tidal flows for the best action. Reds will spend more time feeding on shallow flats due to more plentiful bait. I am seeing a decline in reds and big trout in shallow water in many of the areas that I fish, which makes them even harder to catch with lures and flies. 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. I like a 1/16-oz CAL jig with a shad tail or jerk worm for reds in shallow water.

They are easy to fish in shallow water, come in multiple colors and are a good way to find reds. 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 lures, 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 with CAL jigs and a variety of plastic tails or DOA Deadly Combos. 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. Deep grass flats with proximity to passes and usually good due to strong tidal flow. You might also find blues, Spanish mackerel, pompano or flounder mixed with trout on deep grass flats. The same lures, flies and techniques that you use to find trout on deep grass will work for these species, too. SEE APRIL, PAGE 23

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APRIL 7, 2021

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Stormwater fee hike, parking on Anna Maria agenda The Anna Maria City Commission will meet at 2 p.m. on Thursday, April 8. City hall remains open with limited public attendance. The public can also access the meeting via phone by calling 1-929-205-6099 and entering the meeting ID, which is 85392000280. The meeting will begin, as always, with general public comment. The city planner will then lead a public hearing on the 302 Coconut Avenue subdivision. The commission will then discuss a potential stormwater fee increase and also discuss on first reading an ordinance pertaining to stormwater design.

The code enforcement manager will present a parking ordinance review. The commission will also receive vacation rental website presentation. The mayor will provide an update on the efforts to create a Mote Marine educational outreach facility on the City Pier. The consent agenda includes special event permit requests for two beach weddings and a special event permit and fee waiver request for the Snooks Adams kids’ event taking place at City Pier Park from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 29.

THE SUN

REAL ESTATE

APRIL 7, 2021

No inventory – no sales?

emember last March - the week the country shut down - and you raced to the supermarket to stock up on food and toilet paper? My biggest shock was going to Publix on March 17 and seeing about a quarter of the usual supply of fresh meat in the store’s coolers and empty shelves for paper products. I thought, "This is America; where is all the food?" and realized then that life can turn on a dime, or, in this case, on a virus. Thankfully, we’re coming out of the COVID crisis, but the fallout from this past year will go on for some time, changing lifestyles, work habits and in particular, the real estate market. By now everyone knows that the COVID year has been abnormally good for the housing market. The combination of the ability to work remotely, record-low mortgage rates and the desire for individuals and families to move into less densely populated areas has flooded the market with buyers racing to find a new home.

Castles in the Sand LOUISE BOLGER Also, working remotely was largely available to higher-income workers who generally make up the majority of homebuyers. Unfortunately, lower-income workers who may not be able to do their jobs remotely have suffered, as well as young millennials who have become priced out of buying their first home. Florida has benefited from the migration from other states this year - particularly people moving from the northeast who were hit badly by the virus and have endured strict lockdowns. Also, the Florida Realtors Association has recently reported their agents across Florida are seeing a higher number of new clients from California

looking for a less expensive lifestyle with the benefit of the good weather they’re accustomed to. Orlando is seeing a flood of buyers from California, as well as Miami attracting venture capitalists and finance companies. The downside of all of this activity is, of course, the lack of inventory. As reported last week, the supply of single-family homes in Manatee County at the end of February was below one month at .09 compared to February 2020, which was 3.4 months, down 73.5% from last year. The National Association of Realtors reports the inventory level nationally was down 29.5% from last February, therefore, Manatee County is way down compared to the national level. The number of sales in Manatee County in February was up by 12.8% compared to the national number of 9.1%, proving that our inventory is being gobbled up as soon as homes hit the market. Thrown into this potpourri of housing shortage and pent-up buyers is the fact that the mortgage rates have ticked up. The

average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage has risen to 3.09% recently from 2.65% earlier this year, according to Freddie Mac. In addition, they anticipate it is likely to head higher still. Nevertheless, most economists feel this is just a blip in what will continue to be a great housing market that can tolerate an uptick in rates, which will likely remain historically low. Economists also project that Americans have saved during the pandemic - as well as improving their credit positions - and are sitting on a nice pile of cash. As more segments of the economy keep opening and the economy improves, more buyers will be in a strong position to purchase homes even with slightly higher mortgage rates. I personally never want to see empty shelves in supermarkets again, but I would also like to see an improvement in our level of inventory. As previously stated, prices will go up and sales will go down unless we can convince homeowners across the country that now is the time to list. Stay safe.

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APRIL 7, 2021

THE SUN

Police get new ATVs with COVID grant funds APRIL: Good inshore,

offshore action

BY JASON SCHAFFER SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com

HOLMES BEACH - The Police Department has two new Polaris side-by-side ATVs thanks to a grant set aside for COVID enforcement activities by law enforcement agencies. “We decided to get a couple of the Polaris ATVs so we could be on the beach more, and work on social distancing and be able to educate people,” Tokajer said. The grant totaled $43,500, which was enough to acquire two Polaris ATVs, one six-seater and one three-seater. The COVID grant also provided enough money to equip the ATVs with police lights, sirens, and spotlights on the roofs, which are excellent tools for search and rescue operations, Tokajer said. “They’re a great rescue vehicle we’ve already used them to reunite lost children with their families,” he said. “When we were on the fourwheelers, we were unable to do that because it doesn’t have a side seat.” Tokajer also said the vehicles will make beach arrests more efficient, since officers won’t have to walk the suspect off the beach, disrupt-

FROM PAGE 19

JASON SCHAFFER | SUN

Holmes Beach Police Chief William Tokajer shows off new Polaris ATVs procured through COVID grant. ing beachgoers. Officers can simply secure the suspect in the Polaris and drive them away from the scene, just as they would in a normal patrol car, all the while leaving a much smaller footprint. One of the biggest advantages of the Polaris ATVs, he added, is their maneuverability and ability to go places that may be a tight squeeze

for a full-sized patrol vehicle. They can go on-road, off-road, or in the case of a bad traffic tie-up, a little bit of both. Police also ask the public to remember that these are first-responder vehicles and need the same right of way as a police car, ambulance, or firetruck to help keep everyone safe.

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You’ll need to tip your leader with wire or heavy fluorocarbon when blues and mackerel are around. I prefer heavy fluorocarbon and long shank hooks whenever possible since that usually won’t affect the trout bite. Blues and mackerel usually don’t feed on the surface in the bay as 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 mud bottom. There should be good action in the coastal Gulf this month with Spanish and king mackerel, false albacore (little tunny), cobia and tripletail. Look for Spanish mackerel or albies feeding on the surface. You might find tripletail or cobia around crab trap floats. Your tarpon spin or fly tackle can do double duty for cobia and medium spinning tackle or an 8 or 9-weight fly rod will cover everything else. Artificial reefs or natural areas of hard bottom may hold any of these species. When fishing these areas you will need to get your lure, fly or bait down in the water column to the level where fish are located.

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Key Royale golf scores MONDAY, MARCH 29 - MODIFIED STAPLEFORD

1st place team with a score of +12 - Tim Friesen, Buddy Foy, Ken Nagengast, Earl Ritchie 1st place individual (tie with a score of +4) - Ron Buck, Ken Nagengast, Earl Ritchie

TUESDAY, MARCH 30 - LOW NET SCORE Flight A Roxanne Koche Helen Pollock Margrit Layh Judy Christensen

30 32 32 32

Flight B Kay Neal Pam Alvord Annette Hall Flight C Terry Westby Peggi Clauhs Jody Maleeny

31 33 34 29 32 33

Connie Livanos had a chip-in!

THURSDAY, APRIL 1 - SCRAMBLE

1st place -with a score of three under par, Ken Butler, Mike Gillie, Jeff Jump, Jack Lowry

2nd place - with a score two under par, Tim Donnar, Ken Nagengast, Larry Solberg

APRIL 7, 2021

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APRIL 7, 2021

THE SUN

Hopes named acting county administrator Dr. Scott Hopes will resign from the Manatee County School Board when the governor appoints his successor. BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

BRADENTON – It’s official: Dr. Scott Hopes is now serving as the acting county administrator for Manatee County. During the county commission’s Thursday, April 1, land use meeting, the commissioners voted 6-1 in favor of hiring Hopes to serve as acting county administrator for up to one year. Commissioner Reggie Bellamy opposed the Hopes hiring but did not explain his opposition. The commission approved Hopes receiving a $187,000 annual salary after previously rejecting, on March 23, the $210,000 proposed salary privately negotiated by Hopes and County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge. Hopes’ contract requires county commission approval for him to terminate a department head. It has been stated at numerous county commission meetings that Hopes will serve as acting county administrator while a search is conducted for someone to serve in that role on a long-term basis – a position in which Hopes has expressed interest. Hopes was the only candidate of 30 applicants that were given serious consideration for the acting county administrator’s job. At the commission’s request, Hopes will resign as a

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

Dr. Scott Hopes was the only candidate given serious consideration for the job. school board member as soon as Gov. Ron DeSantis appoints his school board successor. The commission wants Hopes to focus solely on his county administrator’s duties. During his first days on the job, Hopes helped guide the county’s response to the unfolding Piney Point reservoir crisis – a crisis that began getting more serious the same day Hopes was hired. Having served as interim acting county administrator since Feb. 23 – when Cheri Coryea’s tenure as county administrator ended – Deputy County Administrator Karen Stewart has returned to her primary duties, which include the oversight, administration and distribution of CARES Act and American Rescue Plan funds to those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

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HOLMES BEACH SOLD 97 52nd Street Hannah Hillyard 941-744-7358 A4468151 $2,350,000

HOLMES BEACH PENDING 307 57th Street Hannah Hillyard & George Myers 941-744-7358 A4493970 $1,000,000

BAY PALMS PENDING 512 68th Street Hannah Hillyard 941-744-7358 A4484565 $985,000

SARABAY ESTATES 2708 Bay Drive Cheryl Roberts 941-266-1450 A4494263 $2,750,000

TIDY ISLAND 73 Tidy Island Boulevard Kathy Valente & Gregory Zies, LLC 941-685-6767 A4477926 $650,000

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NORTH POINT HARBOUR SOLD 605 N Point Drive Hannah Hillyard 941-744-7358 A4469001 $1,799,000

GRAND BAY 3010 Grand Bay Boulevard 482 Michael Nink & Sandi Layfield 941-914-2805 A4495388 $1,295,000

CLARK SPRING LAKE ESTATES 410 Clark Drive Johann Bertram & Hannah Hillyard 941-779-3856 A4494849 $800,000

WEST WIND SHORES SOLD 201 67th Street A Hannah Hillyard 941-744-7358 A4490405 $725,000

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APRIL 7, 2021

PINEY POINT: Working to avert catastrophe FROM PAGE 1

where the temperatures indicate there is water intrusion into the wall at that point,” he said, noting a third area also is being monitored. “There is an area at the top of the berm, around the middle of the eastern wall, that they recognized an extrusion of that wall pushing out about 10 feet,” Hopes said. Late Monday, The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) issued a press release saying news reports about a second area of seepage referenced at the press conference are unsubstantiated. Manatee County emergency management officials have projected a worst-case scenario in which a total collapse of the stack could send a 20-foot wall of water across adjacent property. County officials issued a state of emergency order on April 1, followed by a state of emergency order issued on April 3 by Gov. Ron DeSantis that he later extended to Hillsborough and Pinellas counties. Evacuation orders were issued for residents and businesses in the areas surrounding Piney Point. Those evacuation zones also have since been expanded. According to Manatee County Public Safety Director Jake Saur, 305 households remain under an evacuation order and

the American Red Cross and the county are assisting displaced residents in finding accommodations. On Monday, Saur said approximately 30 people and their pets had taken shelter at local hotels.

This quarter-century debate on what to do with this property needs to come to an end.” Will Robinson, State Representative

CRISIS UNFOLDING

Located in Palmetto, near Port Manatee, the Piney Point property is owned by HRK Holdings, which purchased the property in 2006. A phosphate processing plant operated on the property from 1966 to 1999. Phosphorous and nitrogen are primary ingredients in commercial fertilizer. The Piney Point property contains three, lined phosphogypsum stacks that serve as large retention ponds. The gyp stacks, surrounded by berms made of rock, soil and other materials, have recently held about 880 million gallons of water, which contains high levels of phosphorus and nitrates. On Monday, March 29 – in anticipation of an impending crisis – FDEP issued an emergency order that allowed HRK to begin siphoning water from the leaking stack and transferring it through a pipeline to the deepwater channel at Berth 12 at nearby Port Manatee at a rate of 22,000 gallons per minute, Hopes said. The pipeline was originally used to transport saltwater and dredging sediments from Berth 12 to the

Piney Point containment area that is now breached, he said. At a Sunday morning press conference at the Manatee County Emergency Operations Center, DeSantis said the water currently being discharged into Tampa Bay at Port Manatee is not radioactive but does contain higher-than-desired levels of phosphorus and nitrogen. According to DeSantis, the ongoing siphoning efforts commenced on Wednesday, March 31. There is concern among local fishermen, county commissioners and others that the increased levels of phosphorus and nitrogen being dumped into Tampa Bay could create a marine environment that is more susceptible to algae blooms, including red tide. Port Manatee is located less than 20 miles from Anna Maria Island. About 33 million gallons of water are being pumped into the port waters daily, DeSantis said. That will increase with the

National Guard’s scheduled delivery of 20 additional pumps to help lower the water levels in the failing gyp stack in hopes of preventing a total breach and collapse, he said. On Saturday, Hopes estimated it would take 10-12 days to empty into the bay all 480 million gallons of the water contained in the breached gyp stack, but those estimates changed as more pumps were put in place. Hopes said the retention pond (gyp stack) is currently inhabited by ducks, snook and other wildlife. He said the water in the other two non-breached gyp stacks on the Piney Point property contains high levels of ammonia and is acidic. During Sunday’s press conference, Noah Valenstein, FDEP secretary, said the water being discharged into the bay primarily SEE PINEY POINT, PAGE 28

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LAKEWOOD RANCH | 941.907.9541 SARASOTA - DOWNTOWN | 941.364.4000 LONGBOAT KEY | 941.383.1526 VENICE TO PUNTA GORDA | 941.412.3323

RENTALS | 941.487.6019

Sotheby’s International Realty® and the Sotheby’s International Realty logo are registered service marks used with permission. Each office is independently owned and operated. Equal Housing Opportunity. Property information herein is derived from various sources including, but not limited to, county records and multiple listing services, and may include approximations. All information is deemed accurate.

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APRIL 7, 2021

THE SUN

VACATION 365 YOU’RE CLOSER TO HOME THAN YOU THINK. Check out Lakewood Ranch while you’re in town, and you’ll see why it’s the best-selling community in the country for all ages. You won’t want to leave!

NEW HOMES FROM THE $200S TO OVER $ 1 MILLION * *

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.com 2/23/21 10:57 AM

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APRIL 7, 2021

PINEY POINT: Officials working to avert catastrophe FROM PAGE 26

consists of previously relocated saltwater from the port, “legacy process water,” or previously collected wastewater from fertilizer processing, and stormwater runoff. Valenstein said the only uncontrolled discharge he’s aware of has been the “small amounts of water” discharged into nearby Piney Point Creek. He said flooding was currently the greatest danger posed to the public. Hopes said the predictive model for a full breach of the partially breached gyp stack would result in about 340 million gallons of water descending on the surrounding areas in less than an hour, with the potential for a wall of cascading water 20 feet tall. But Hopes was optimistic that a total breach could be prevented. “We feel much better than we did three days ago with these additional assets being deployed. We’ve got a good plan in place,” he said. DeSantis acknowledged a full breach was still possible and he said that’s what prompted the emergency response from the state. Hopes said the nearby Manatee County Jail, which is located in the evacuation zone, had been sandbagged and staff and inmates were being relocated to the second floor. On Monday, it was announced that 345 inmates were being relocated to an undisclosed location, and approximately 720 inmates were to remain at the jail after being relocated to an upper level of the facility.

MOVING FORWARD

During Sunday’s press conference, Hopes said the liner from the breached retention stack will not be repaired and all of the water contained in the breached stack will be depleted. After the retention area is emptied, it will likely be filled in and capped to prevent future water accumulation, he said. “This could have been resolved over two decades ago,” Hopes said, regarding the lack of previous preventive and corrective actions that resulted in the current crisis. In 2013, county commissioners debated using deep well injection to transport the water in the Piney Point gyp stacks deep into the earth and below the underground aquifer, which feeds into Lake Manatee and serves as the primary source of drinking water in Manatee County. According to former County Commissioner Betsy Benac, the commission never pursued that solution, in part due to public opposition to deep well injection. In December, the cur-

SUBMITTED | BAY NEWS 9

Gov. Ron DeSantis spoke at Sunday’s Piney Point press conference. rent county commission discussed deep well injection as a potential means to clean up Piney Point before a crisis ensued. During Friday night’s press conference, State Rep. Will Robinson (R-Bradenton) stressed the need to address the Piney Point crisis and solve the problems once and for all. “Obviously, our top priority is getting through this emergency that we have today,” he said. Regarding a permanent solution, Robinson said, “This is our top legislative delegation priority for at least a year now. This quartercentury debate on what to do with this property needs to come to an end. It’s frustrating to all of us, and to the residents. Hopefully, everyone can realize now that this has got to end. We have got to stop and clean this property up. I don’t care if it’s private property. I don’t care if it’s been in bankruptcy and foreclosure. Now this property has to finally be cleaned up so we can get this off the minds of our residents, and we’re committed to doing that,” Robinson said. State Sen. Jim Boyd (R-Bradenton) said, “We’re keenly aware of the situation. It’s a legislative priority with the county commission that we deal with that this year. Sadly, tonight, we’re at a point where there is a problem. We’re going to work hard to come up with solutions and get the funding that we need to finally fix this.” During Sunday’s press conference, DeSantis and Valenstein said the state intends to hold HRK fully responsible for any environmental damages associated with the Piney Point crisis. According to the FDEP order issued March 29, “This Emergency Final Order does not preclude the

department from enforcing any criminal or civil liabilities which may arise under Florida law as related to matters herein, nor does it relieve HRK of the need to comply with applicable federal, state, or local laws, rules or ordinances.”

WATER QUALITY CONCERNS

On Monday, Congressman Vern Buchanan (R-Bradenton) toured the Piney Point area by helicopter before participating in an early afternoon press conference. Saur said state and county drone teams are flying over the site every hour on the hour and providing decision-makers with real time aerial views of the site. Saur said the drones can detect temperature changes within the berms, which indicate penetration by the contained water. Buchanan said he asked the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to join the response efforts. Buchanan said the EPA and FDEP are now jointly in command of the situation. The Florida Department of Emergency Management and Manatee County also remain involved in the response efforts. Buchanan shared his concerns about the water being discharged into Tampa Bay. “It’s very concerning to me. I know they’re making some progress, but to see the water spewing out, it looked pretty contaminated to me,” he said, noting the Piney Point crisis impacts the entire Tampa Bay region. “I am concerned about the threats to public safety, homes as well as businesses, and of course marine life. I’m very concerned about the impact on that. We know what that does to our communities. I really hate to see what’s happened in terms

of the algae bloom and red tide, not just here, but across the state. When I see water flowing into Tampa Bay, frankly, it makes me sick,” Buchanan said. “I want to be hopeful and optimistic, but just the fact that we’re running water into Tampa Bay is not a great thing, but the reality of it is it seems like the right thing to do right now,” he added. “I’m not an expert, but you can see in and around where the water’s spewing in there. Around the port – I hate to say it – if you go a couple miles in each direction to me it looks like algae bloom or something, but that’s something for the scientists to determine,” Buchanan said. “I’ve been following red tide for 20 years and that could have a big impact on all of Florida.” Regarding the unaddressed Piney Point environmental concerns that lingered for the past 20 years or so, Buchanan said, “This is something that’s being going on for too long and we’re going to come together collectively between the county, the state and the federal government to make sure we get this resolved quickly. We’re going to make sure we’ve got the resources to fix this permanently – not a patch. The company, HRK, needs to be held completely responsible.” After thanking Buchanan for bringing the EPA and the Army Corps in to assist, Hopes addressed the failing retention area and the breaches in its outer berms. Hopes estimated there were nearly 300 million gallons in the breached reservoir at that time. He said public officials will have a much clearer idea of that status of the reservoir now that the Army Corps is on the scene. “Up to this point, we have been relying, and DEP has been relying on HRK’s third party engineering team. Now we have the Army Corps of Engineers in here with their engineers and we will have an additional independent evaluation,” he said. “If we go from (pumping out) 35 million gallons a day to 100 million gallons per day, within 48 hours we will be at a situation where we will no longer have that risk of that full breach which would send that 20-foot wall of water across,” Hopes said. “The only pool that’s at risk is that southernmost pool where we have identified breaches where we do have some uncontrolled release of water. Regarding the breaches on the eastern wall, the most visible is at the southeast corner where you see the water coming out of the side and then flowing to the north,” he said.

APRIL 7, 2021

FUN IN THE SUN

Across 1 Literary reminder 9 Mideast presidential name since 1971 14 Dutch treat? 15 More green 17 Regular order 18 Hoped-for airport monitor update 19 Word preceding an opinion 20 Chided 22 Base used often 23 "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" playwright 24 Longtime ISP 25 Common picture postcard color 27 Routing preposition 28 Ones bringing charges, briefly 30 "Gotcha" 32 Canal speaker Answers to 03-31-21 Crossword Puzzle.

34 "Gone Girl" girl 35 Buds 36 Limit-enforcing tactic 39 Consort of Shiva 42 Vientiane people 43 Story collection including "Robbie" 47 Trying to lose 49 Comics fight sound 50 Blackjack component 51 Asian noodle dish 52 UFC sport 54 Philosophical principle that rules out unlikely explanations 56 48-Down victim 57 Diamond ploy 59 Preppy collars 60 Garfield's successor 62 "Whew!" evoker 64 Vacanza a dicembre

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65 Quick, provocative reactions, as to current news 66 Finish choice 67 Hoodwink Down 1 Robin's milieu 2 Laertes' sister 3 Place for free rounds 4 1971 title detective 5 Wack 6 Toon storekeeper 7 Vaqueros' props 8 Kutcher's "That '70s Show" role 9 Moisturizer ingredient 10 Sweet treat 11 Mach 1 flier 12 Yellowfin 13 Analgesic brand 16 Starts over 21 Artist who influenced Schiele 26 Marx Brothers straight man 29 Youngest to win six Grammys in one night 31 Its flag has two green stars 33 45 half 34 Excitement 37 Fictional invitation written in currants 38 Seat sides 39 Hangul alphabet user 40 "Lolita" character

Vivian Darkbloom, to Vladimir Nabokov 41 Rival of boxer Robinson 44 Arm on a shoulder 45 "Woe Is I" author

Patricia 46 Least gassy 48 56-Across damager 49 "Cat __": Jane Fonda film 53 Like action heroes

55 Prioritized players 58 Evolutionary diagram 61 Overhead expense? 63 Slugger Mel

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CLASSIFIED

ANNOUNCEMENTS

FISHING CHARTERS

BEACH YOGA ON Wednesdays, Saturdays & Sundays at 8:30am at the end of Pine Ave by the Sandbar Restaurant by donation. www.thriveyogafit. com

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

ANNOUNCEMENT: Who wants to play bridge outside on the patio, or in the park, social distanced and face-masked, Call Kathleen at 314-324-5921 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.

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

CLEANING SERVICE THC CLEANING : Residential, Commercial, Rentals, VRBO. Professional and Reliable. Call 941-756-4570

COMMERCIAL SALES, RENT & LEASE 4 UNIT RESORT style 4-plex: $1,999,900 Holmes Beach fixer upper with View of beach on Gulf Dr. Duplex Near Beach Totally renovated near Beach $795,000. Island Real Estate Call Alan Galletto 941-232-2216

FOR SALE MOBILITY POWERED ADULT 4 WHEEL scooter. Disabled person self driving, suitable for land or air transport. Like New. Call 941-792-0282

“HAMMERED HOMES” (SAVING HOMES SINCE 1984) Handyman services, renovations. Free Estimates & Consulting. Call before making decision, save money. 941-778-3206

GARAGE, MOVING, RUMMAGE & YARD SALES

MR AJ AMI Maintenance and Repairs- All Jobs-Anna Maria Island 941-705-1793 Licensed/ Insured aj@mrajllc.com

YARD SALE SATURDAY April 10th, 9a.m-1pm. at ROSER THRIFT SHOP, Pine Ave., Anna Marie across from Roser Chapel. Clothing, Jewelry, Kitchen items and much more. Please wear mask.

CELTIC PAINTING HOME REPAIRS Fully insured. Free estimates. Call 516360-4085

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 MASTER CARPENTER. Decks-Docks-FencingStairs & Railing. Free Estimates. Handyman Work. Call Richard 941448-3571 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.

EMPLOYMENT SOLO’S PIZZA LOOKING for part time evening cook. Call 941-778-8118

Call us today! 941-778-3986

ISLE TILE EXPERT INSTALLATION of floors, custom showers, backsplash, deck/lanai. Licensed and insured. References available. Call Chris at 941-3028759 please visit website: isletileservices.com

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 STRAIGHT SHOT LANDSCAPE. Specializing in Old Florida Seashell driveways and scapes. Also Rock, Mulch, & Soil. Free estimates. Call Shark Mark 941-301-6067 ISLAND RESIDENT. TREE/ BUSH Trimming, removal. Sweeping, blowing, weeding. Weekly, bi-monthly or monthly schedule. Pressure washing: driveways, walkways, fences, pool decks/ cages. Call Bill Witaszek 941-307-9315.

LOST & FOUND FOUND SUNGLASSES at 77TH Street parking lot in Holmes Beach text 613401-2318 Contact Tim

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

APRIL 7, 2021

“WIZARD OF WALLS”. Established 1980 Prompt quality service. Paperhanging/removal Faux finishes. Interior painting. Mary Bell Winegarden 941-794-0455 PROFESSIONAL PAINTING SERVICES. Prompt & Reliable. Island Resident. Quality Workmanship. Interior/Exterior. Also minor repairs & carpentry. Free written detailed estimates. Bill Witaszek 941-307-9315 CUSTOM PAINTING, Residential-Commercial, Interior/Exterior Professional quality work for over 40 years. Free estimates. Call Larry at 941-400-8754. References available. 40-YEAR PAINTER from Kentucky. Hourly rate guaranteed savings over contractor price. Neat, dependable, equipped, insured. Highly productive. A+ rated by Better Business Bureau for 40 years. 502-817-6786. aapressurewash.com

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

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REAL ESTATE HOMES & CONDOS FOR SALE GULF FRONT CONDOS Vista Grande, WestWinds– CANAL FRONT HOME Holmes Beach –DUPLEXES & MORE Island Real Estate ASK big {Alan Galletto 941-232-2216} HOLMES BEACH 4BR/3.5BA home for sale. 1 ½ blocks from Beach. $1,399,000. Call 724-263-6390 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

REALTOR FOR HIRE BUYING OR SELLING on AMI? 17 years experience & USAF Veteran. Call Kelly Gitt Keller Williams Realty today 941-799-9299.

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. 1BR/1BA DUPLEX in Holmes Beach. Lawn care included. First, last and security deposit required. $1175/mo. Contact A Paradise Realty 941-778-4800

RENTAL WANTED

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, 1BR 6 months $1550/mo. redekercondosonami.com Tim 941-704-7525. AMI UPDATED 5 Star Condo for Rent- Available May to November. (Multi-month discount) Million$ water view, first floor, 2BR/2B, patio, walk to beach, pool, tennis (smoke free) marketreps@aol.com

TRANSPORTATION AMI TAXI metered-on-callcards accepted. Airport: Tampa $95, Sarasota $40, Clearwater $85, Orlando $195. Call 941-447-8372 or 941-447-8376. amitaxi4u@ gmail.com, www.amitaxi. com ANYTIME TRANSPORTATION to all Airports, Casino, etc. Tampa $70. Sarasota $35. Pets welcome. Very dependable. Reasonable rates. Contact Jeanne. 941-779-5095 AIRPORT RIDES- Tampa, St. Pete, Sarasota. Mask & gloves provided. Reasonable rates! Call or text Anna 941-932-1600

FREE

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SEEKING AMI ANNUAL RENTAL Call Kelly Gitt Keller Williams Realty 941799-9299

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

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APRIL 7, 2021

Anna Maria Island Sun April 7, 2021

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