brings Christmas cheer

Renegades motorcycle club delivers Christmas joy

Drift In owner Joe Cuervo recently sold his Bradenton Beach business to his son-in-law and daughter.

BY JOE HENDRICKS

SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH – The Bradenton chapter of the Renegades motorcycle club made its annual Christmas gift delivery to the Drift In in Bradenton Beach on Dec. 19.

This year’s recipient family was Tasha (no last name provided), her two-year-old son, Colt, and her four-year-old son, Rocket.

The club members arrived aboard their motorcycles Monday evening accompanied by an SUV filled with Christmas gifts for the family. The gifts were displayed on an outdoor table for a group photo before being loaded into Tasha’s vehicle. The boys were allowed to open one gift that night and together they opened their new 78-piece Kid Connection Dinosaur Gate Play Set.

“It’s really nice,” Tasha said of the Renegades’ charitable efforts.

Renegades’ member Tim “Chopstixxx” Miller said the club’s charitable efforts were inspired by his own family.

“My brother, Dave, started this over 15 years ago. Our mother, Suzie Miller, passed away on Dec. 19, 2001. She struggled raising three boys herself, so it’s a way honor her and to give back to the community,” Miller said.

“We go to our regular bars in the community and get cash donations. Through a third party, or one of the churches, we find a family who’s not affiliated with the club and get in touch with the parents to make sure they’re actually in need and comfortable with us doing this. We get a Christmas list of what the kids want and we go out and buy the gifts. We do well enough that we can usually take care of two families. We start collecting money around Halloween and this year we got about $1,500 from people in the community. The wives, girlfriends and kids do the shopping,” Miller explained.

“We’re a family-oriented club. We’re friendly and approachable. We do family days and birthday parties and we get together and cook. We like helping people and we’ve never had any issues,” Miller added.

Drift Manager Doreen Flynn said, “This is our fifth year of doing this with them. The name of their club is the Renegades, but they have a lot of heart and soul, and they care about the community.”

Unrelated to this event, the Drift In also partners with the Anna Maria Island Privateers to assist underprivileged families during the Christmas holidays.

“We do these things because we want to give to people who need it,” Flynn said.

Flynn was present for the Renegades’ Christmas delivery, but she wasn’t working that night because she recently fell at work, injuring her arm, and missed a few weeks of work after returning from a cruise vacation.

The Renegades gave Flynn a Christmas card containing a cash donation to help offset some of her missed earnings.

“They gave me the most beautiful card and took up a collection for me because I’ve been out of work for a few weeks. I so appreciate it. I’m flabbergasted. I never expected a thing like that, but that’s how generous they are. We all help each other,” Flynn said.

Long-time Drift In owner Joe Cuervo said, “They’re a great group of guys and they like to donate to families in need. They’ve been doing it for a long time. We collect money and donate it to them, and they use that and the other money they collect to go out and buy presents for the kids.” OWNERSHIP CHANGE

On Dec. 15, Cuervo sold his share of the Drift In business and property to his son-in-law, Dereck Williams and his wife, Helena, who is Joe and Angie Cuervo’s daughter.

Derek is the president and CIO of the Bradenton-based Williams Wealth Management Group. In February 2021, he and Cuervo purchased the previously leased Drift In building and property in Bradenton Beach from Grant Thormier. That purchase occurred after Cuervo sold the Drift In bar in Bradenton that he also operated on leased property.

“We’re a community-oriented family business,” Williams said. “Helena and I are happy to continue Joe and Angie’s legacy. We love what Doreen’s done to make relationships with our patrons and the local community and we want to continue to support the community.

“I’m a Bradenton native. There’s been a lot of changes in our community. We want to keep certain things the same, but we also want to make the Drift In all it can be. We’re excited to be able to help Joe and Angie retire comfortably and we look forward to doing anything we can to make the Drift In even better,” Williams said.

When asked how he plans to enjoy his retirement, Cuervo said, “I’m going to play some golf, do some fishing, do some woodwork and travel a lot.”

The Renegades motorcycle club delivered a table full of Christmas gifts to an underprivileged family.

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

Come out to City Pier Park in Anna Maria for a showing of the Alfred Hitchcock classic “Dial M for Murder” starring Ray Milland, Grace Kelly and Robert Cummings. The movie starts on Tuesday, Jan. 3 at 6:30 p.m. Bring a blanket, chair and refreshments and enjoy a classic film next to the bay. All showings are free to the public and subject to cancellation due to adverse weather conditions.

Art on display at city field

The Anna Maria Winter Arts and Crafts Show is coming to Holmes Beach city field just in time to celebrate cooler weather. The event will feature fine art pieces along with crafts, accessories, jewelry and other items. The fun comes to the Island for two days only, Saturday and Sunday Jan. 14-15 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Event organizers will contribute $500 of the show’s proceeds to the Roser Food Pantry.

CENTER NOTES

Learn about living, exercising with Parkinson’s

If you or someone you love is living with Parkinson’s disease, The Center of Anna Maria Island is hosting a free workshop to help community members learn to help manage symptoms through exercise and self-care. The program, Living and Exercising with Parkinson’s Disease, takes place on Tuesday, Jan. 3 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at The Center, 407 Magnolia Ave in Anna Maria. Provided by the Neuro Challenge Foundation for Parkinson’s, the workshop material will address symptoms of the disease and how the right physical activity can help improve quality of life. The workshop also kicks off a new specialized fitness program, Pedaling for Parkinson’s, designed especially to help those with the disease. The fitness class takes place every Tuesday beginning Jan. 3 at 1 p.m. Space is limited for the fitness class to nine people. An adaptive yoga class will be held on Thursday, Jan. 26 at 1 p.m. to help those with Parkinson’s and other neuro-muscular conditions manage symptoms. All classes are free to the public, though space is limited and pre-registration is suggested by calling 941-778-1908.

Youth hip hop dance classes begin

Two new dance classes are coming to The Center of Anna Maria Island in the new year designed to teach children the art of hip hop dance. Classes begin Jan. 5 and continue each Thursday through March 31. Taught by Crystal Krause, the classes will teach kids the fundamentals of hip hop and provide them with an opportunity to show off their new skills at the end of the program with a recital for family and friends. Classes for children ages 9 and younger take place from 5:45-6:45 p.m. with those ages 10 and older taking to the dance floor from 6:45-7:45 p.m. The program cost is $150 for Center members or $180 for non-members. The deadline to register is Dec. 29. A late registration fee of $10 applies after the deadline. For more information, or to register, visit www.centerami.org or call 941-778-1908.

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Santa, Mrs. Claus visit Holmes Beach shopping center

Santa and Mrs. Claus made a last-minute trip to Holmes Beach to hand out cookies Dec. 23 at the Island Shopping Center. The couple, dressed festively in their holiday attire, greeted customers with cookies and good cheer. They didn’t even seem to mind the chilly 50-degree weather on their trip to Florida before returning to the North Pole so Santa could prepare to deliver presents on Christmas Eve.

16 THE SUN OUTDOORS DECEMBER 28, 2022

Stand up for mangroves

Reel Time

RUSTY CHINNIS

Readers of this column are familiar with the rampant illegal mangrove trimming in Manatee County and the efforts of Suncoast Waterkeeper (SCWK) to address them. That frustration led to SCWK Executive Director Abbey Tyrna contacting the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) expressing the group’s frustration and giving specific examples of policy failures. I’m printing that letter here because I couldn’t say it better. Dec. 22, 2022 Florida Department of Environmental Protection Compliance Assurance Program, S.W. District

RE: Professional Mangrove Trimmer Accountability for Multiple Mangrove Trimming Violations in Manatee County

Dear FDEP District Staff,

Recently, there has been a ramping up of citizens’ complaints relating to mangrove trimming permit violations in Manatee County. In addition to the outstanding complaints at Long Bar Pointe, 223 41st Street N.E., and 10218 46th Ave. W. in Bradenton, there have been new complaints filed at 521 Broadway St. in Longboat Key and Mount Vernon Condominiums on Cortez Road at 27°27'11.0"N 82°39'22.0"W. Suncoast Waterkeeper has a substantial interest in mangrove regulation and enforcement in Sarasota Bay and beyond. Mangroves in Manatee County particularly concern Suncoast Waterkeeper, our members and the communities that rely on these precious coastal resources. Unlike neighboring Sarasota County, where approximately 80% of the natural shoreline and mangrove coverage has been hardened and removed, Manatee still retains significant and ecologically important mangrove coverage. We believe that the 1996 Mangrove Trimming and Preservation Act violations are commonplace.

In an effort to curb violations, Suncoast Waterkeeper investigated whether the mangrove trimmer at Aqua was licensed under state law to perform the work conducted in February 2022. Unfortunately, the search did not yield the desired results because the department does not keep a database of all licensed mangrove trimmers. While in most professions, if a licensed professional breaks the law performing their job, their license is questioned, scrutinized and there is a formal process to hold the individual accountable for their poor job performance. Unfortunately, this is not the case in Florida, and we believe that a lack of accountability for the licensed professional will lead to more mangrove loss. Moreover, undertaking regulated actions without an appropriate

SUBMITTED | GREG YAGLE This photograph shows the importance of mangroves to protect property. The foreground property in Englewood was protected from damage during Hurricane Ian while the adjacent property with no mangroves was devastated.

SEE REEL TIME, PAGE 17

Fishing warms up despite cooler temperatures

CAPT. RICK GRASSETT

You may find reds and big trout concentrated in potholes in January. Action with trout, blues, Spanish mackerel, pompano and more on deep grass flats can be good, depending on conditions. There should also be good catch and release snook action in rivers, creeks and canals this month, although fishing docks for snook and other species is also a good option. It may be worth checking the coastal Gulf for tripletail, cobia, false albacore (little tunny) and more when it’s warm.

Spotted seatrout has reopened to harvest in southwest Florida with a three fish per person bag limit and a six fish boat limit. Trout must be from 15-19 inches with one allowed per vessel over 19 inches. In my opinion, it’s important to protect larger trout, which are usually female breeders. Snook remains closed to harvest in the Charlotte Harbor area. Full regulations and details for all species can be viewed at https://myfwc.com/.

Snook are temperature sensitive so I won’t target them if the water temperature dips below 60 degrees. However, fishing lighted docks in the ICW at night with lures and flies can be very good in January. Small white flies, like my Grassett snook minnow, gurglers and shrimp fly patterns will work well for fly anglers. Spin anglers should score with CAL jigs with shad tails or 4-inch jerk worms, DOA Tiny TerrorEyz and DOA 2.75-inch and 3-inch shrimp. Fish during peak tidal flows for the best action.

You should also find snook in rivers, creeks and canals this month. Fish deeper water in outside bends to locate snook where you may catch them with CAL jigs and shad tails or jerk worms, DOA Baitbusters or diving/suspending plugs. You may also find reds, juvenile tarpon and even largemouth bass in the same areas depending on salinity.

Reds should be a good option this month. You’ll find them concentrated in potholes when the tide is low. Fly anglers should score with lightly weighted flies fished on a 10-12-foot leader with a floating fly line. Reds feed on crustaceans this time of the year, so crab and shrimp fly patterns should work well. They may tail on shallow grass flats when the tide is low. You’ll need weedless rigged plastic baits or flies with weed guards to target tailing reds. A CAL shad tail on a weedless hook or a DOA shrimp rigged weedless and fished backwards are a couple of my favorite lures for tailing reds.

You may also find reds around docks, along with snook, sheepshead, flounder and more. Little Sarasota Bay has numerous oyster bars and docks that often hold reds in January. Work CAL jigs slowly along the bottom for the best action. You’re likely to find big trout in many of the same areas that you find reds. The same lures, flies and techniques that are used for reds will also work for big trout.

CAPT. RICK GRASSETT | SUBMITTED Capt. Rick Grassett caught and released this trout on a CAL jig with a grub while fishing Sarasota Bay in a previous January.

REEL TIME: Standing up for mangroves

FROM PAGE 16 license should, like other regulated occupations, have consequences for the individual trimming or removing mangroves in violation of the Mangrove Trimming and Preservation Act.

We fear that the lack of penalties for these numerous illegal actions will send a message to licensed professionals and their clients that mangroves can be illegally altered and removed without consequences. There are no better examples of this than FDEP’s recent findings from its inspection at 10218 46th Ave. W. in Bradenton and Long Bar Pointe. Both properties have had previous enforcement cases. The property at 10218 46th Ave. W. had an enforcement case in 2013 for the same violation. In 2013, no penalties were enacted and the case was closed nearly two years later when a followup inspection concluded that the mangroves had recovered on their own. Without consequences, the homeowner once again hired a tree trimming service to alter the mangroves on her property illegally. This aggressive trimming is known to harm these protected tree species and was the impetus for the Mangrove Trimming and Preservation Act.

Long Bar Pointe also had an enforcement case in 2021 and closed without penalties in April of this year. Unfortunately, the second aggressive trimming event reported in January 2022 has led to a significant amount of tree debris in the estuary contributing to a localized harmful algal bloom in the spring. According to Sarasota Bay Estuary Program Director Dr. Dave Tomasko, “That portion of the bay has much more macroalgae than most of the rest of our bay, and a preliminary nitrogen loading estimate suggests that a localized nitrogen load [coming from the mangrove trimming debris] is likely playing a role in the problems we see in that part of the bay.” The summary letter issued to the FDEP by Long Bar Pointe on Oct. 7, 2022 noted that the mangrove trimmers did not know they were supposed to remove the debris from the water. According to that same letter, penalties are forthcoming. However, there have been no updates on Oculus since Oct. 7. Meanwhile, Sarasota Bay continues to be negatively impacted by decomposing mangrove material, and communities scarred by illegal trimming and removal are increasingly vulnerable to hurricanes and suffer a reduction in overall resilience.

Finally, the complaint filed on Oct. 14, 2022 for the property at 223 41st St. N.E. in Bradenton has no complaint or inspection report logged. Can you please provide us with a file or link to a complete set of documents in DEP's possession related to 2022 trimming at Long Bar/Aqua, 223 41st St. N.E., and 10218 46th Ave. W.? We are not sure if there are other documents related to the trimming, investigating and penalties of these filed complaints.

We want to see the regulatory framework accomplish environmental protection in Manatee County and elsewhere. We hope that enforcement actions and penalties will be strong enough to incentivize future compliance with Florida law. We also want to see licensed and unlicensed trimmers who break the law held accountable for their actions.

We encourage DEP to consider this and all other pertinent information. We recommend that you follow through on appropriate actions to protect our local waterways and the integrity of our environmental laws and regulations.

Thank you,

Abbey Tyrna, Executive Director & Waterkeeper

Rusty Chinnis, Board Chair

Justin Bloom, Founder & Board ViceChair

The damage to mangroves is a loss for every citizen in Manatee County, whether they are fishermen, restauranteurs, builders, realtors, homeowners or developers. These plants clean the water, protect every species that swims and feeds in local waters and are critical to protecting property from storm events like Ian. Get involved, call your commissioners and state representatives and demand accountability. If we don’t do it, no one else will. Happy Holidays.