BEACH BEAT

BRADENTON BEACH

11/29, 5:45 p.m., criminal mischief/vehicle, 103 Gulf Drive S. While inside the Circle K, the officer was notified by a tow truck driver who had parked in the parking lot that a man in a truck pulling a mullet boat had shoved him on the steps. When the truck driver left, he found his front tire had been cut and was flat. Video from the Circle K shows the man pulling the boat appeared to cut the tire. While the truck driver was waiting for a repair service to come with a new tire, the man pulling the boat drove past and yelled, “I got you.” Officers searched the boat ramps for the truck, but nothing was found. Damage to the tire was $250. 11/29, 1:41 p.m., property damage, 117 10th St. N. An officer was dispatched in reference to a vehicle that backed into a concrete wall of a condo complex. The driver explained he was an Amazon delivery subcontractor and he left the vehicle to deliver a package and forgot to put it in park. A minute or so later he saw the truck roll backward and crash into the wall. The driver was issued a case card and a representative from the condo complex was issued a victim’s rights packet.

HOLMES BEACH

11/24, 9:34 a.m., operating vehicle with canceled/suspended license, 4100 Gulf Drive. While on patrol, the officer conducted a traffic stop after running the plate on an orange Honda and finding it to be linked to a driver with a suspended license. When the officer approached the vehicle, the female driver admitted her license was suspended due to a financial responsibility issue. The driver was given a citation and a date to appear in court. A licensed driver was called to pick up the vehicle. 11/25, 10:15 p.m., information report, 4700 Gulf Drive. The officer was dispatched in reference to a possible traffic crash involving a pedestrian. Upon arrival, the female complainant was being treated by EMS. The victim said 30 minutes earlier she was crossing at the crosswalk in front of Anna Maria Elementary School when she was struck by a vehicle traveling north on Gulf Drive. She said she was hit and knocked to the ground but immediately got up and began speaking to the female driver of the vehicle. She said the driver said she was sorry and had not seen her crossing. A witness backed up the victim’s statement. Both parties said the driver did not seem impaired and left the scene at the conclusion of her discussion with the victim. The victim declined to go to the hospital and no further action was taken. 11/26, 3:02 a.m., information report, 4000 Gulf Drive. The officer on patrol observed the suspect vehicle roll through a flashing red signal without coming to a complete stop and initiated a traffic stop. The driver and occupant were asked to step out of the vehicle after a backup officer arrived because the odor of marijuana smoke was strong. The driver admitted to a small amount of marijuana in a makeup container under the seat. The officer found the container which did have a small amount of marijuana and some white powder residue in a separate bag, which the driver said was cocaine but belonged to a friend. The driver was issued citations for possession of marijuana under 20 grams, possession of paraphernalia and traffic violations.

RED TIDE REPORT

High

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

Very low

(possible respiratory irritation)

Medium

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

Low

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

Background

(no effects)

None

(no red tide present)

Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Perico Bay Club—As Good As It Gets!!

Business As Usual…..Just A Li le Differently. If you’re looking to buy or sell in Perico Bay Club, or know someone who is, please give me a call!

Give me a call today if yo oGive me a call today if you’u re looking ge lookine re to Buy or Sell on Anna Maria Isla yBuy or Sell on Anna M Maria Isla MariaMari nd d or the surroundi a ng area!

anIsla ounding aoun a!ding g ng area ea Lynn Zemmer 941 41-1 730 30-0 1294 94 9 941.209.1542 I Lynn@Edgewaterami.com www.EdgewaterRealEstateInc.com 106 Bridge Street, Bradenton Beach, FL 34217 941.730.1294 | Lynn@Edgewaterami.c www.EdgewaterRealEstateInc.com om

Double Deez hot dogs coming soon

Bradenton Beach residents Vince and Debbie Scaccianoce will soon open their Double Deez restaurant in the space next to the Anchor Inn previously occupied by Mr. Bones BBQ. The new Holmes Beach eatery will feature Chicago-style hotdogs and more, with homemade meatballs offered on Wednesdays. Vince Scaccianoce said the couple hopes to open in January if they can acquire the needed restaurant equipment during the ongoing supply shortages and supply chain disruptions.

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN Double Deez will operate in the space previously occupied by Mr. Bones BBQ.

BOAT PARADE: draws happy holiday crowd

FROM PAGE 1

“This is amazing that you guys have something like this. My husband and I had no idea how this would work. When we heard boat parade, we thought they would be coming down the road pulled by trailers,” laughed Janelle Cox, of Bristol, Virginia.

The evening was more than just the boat parade. There was live music at the bars, Santa was hanging with the Anna Maria Island Privateers by the town Christmas tree in the post office parking lot and shops stayed open late to keep the festivities going late into the evening.

If you didn’t make it to the parade, don’t worry; there’s plenty of time to enjoy Bridge Street, which currently features the most Christmas lights ever placed on any single street in the history of Anna Maria Island. The 40-foot tree (also a record for the Island) and all the lights will remain lit through the end of the month, and many shops are staying open late for holiday shopping.

CRASH: Resident seriously injured

FROM PAGE 1 According to the crash report narrative, “Driver of vehicle #1 (Fitzgerald), while driving north, crossed the centerline for unknown reason and struck vehicle #2, a golf cart, that was southbound, head-on. Driver of vehicle #1 appeared impaired by suspected drug influence. Driver of vehicle #1 cited for careless driving and DUI investigation ongoing.”

The crash report notes the driver was given a drug test and the results of that blood test were pending. According to the report, Fitzgerald was not suspected of alcohol use. Samuels was not suspected of drug or alcohol use.

According to the crash report, New Port Richeybased Trulieve Inc. is the owner of vehicle #1. Trulieve Inc. operates several medical marijuana dispensaries throughout Manatee County and Florida.

The report notes Samuels was ejected from the golf cart and transported to Blake Medical Center in Bradenton. As of Dec. 2, she remained at Blake and continued to receive treatment for the serious injuries she sustained.

Samuels, a well-known Island resident, is the mother of Anna Maria Island Sun Advertising Director Shona Otto.

When contacted at the hospital Dec. 2, Otto said, “She sustained some critical, life-threatening injuries, but she’s hanging in there. She’s had a few surgeries and more are expected. I know my mom would appreciate the outpouring of support that’s come from the community and her many friends on the Island. This is going to be a long road ahead for her.”

According to Manatee County court records, in June 2020, a vehicle registered to Fitzgerald received a red light camera citation for failing to stop at a red light signal at the intersection of Cortez Road and U.S. 41. The fine for that citation was later paid. In 2007, Fitzgerald received a careless driving citation for a crash that resulted in property damage to another vehicle; the fine was later paid.

SUBMITTED Jana Samuel’s golf cart was heavily damaged in the head-on crash.

32 THE SUN FOOD & WINE

DECEMBER 8, 2021

Sweet memories Cookies

Brian Mathae

HURRICANE HANKS

Even at this stage in my life, I have yet to find how my parents accomplished everything they did on a daily basis, working full time jobs, raising children and yet still being able to knock out an amazing amount of very time-consuming cookies for our Christmas celebrations. They loved to entertain, and that meant a large variety of cookies beautifully laid out on platters for all of our visitors. The platter of cookies had to be overflowing with a wide selection so that if a guest had only one favorite there would be a sufficient amount of it to satisfy their sweet tooth. Cookies were also gifted to neighbors and co-workers, brought along when visiting others, and, of course, packed with us to share with our school classmates.

I recall that as a kid running in and out of the house, I noticed my mom was baking but never really understood or appreciated how much time she spent and how efficient she must have been to create so many cookies. My mom aimed to please and she knew her traditional Austrian cookies were winners. It delighted her to do what she did year after year. Both of my parents grew up in Austria during World War II when many things, including food, were scarce. Being able to provide food after having lived through those times was likely also a driver for all that she did.

In the last few years before her passing, she wasn’t able to produce the volume or variety that she once did, but that didn’t stop her from her traditions. She focused on a few of the all-time favorites and made as many of those as she could. The cookie distribution list grew to include my dad’s golf club and woodcarvers club along with the senior center staff and a long list of others. People would half-jokingly ask her when the cookies would be ready. When her health deteriorated to the point she needed help, my dad stepped in to assist. He was always ready to lend a hand to anyone at any time. We laughed about his assistance only because of the man he was. He had huge strong hands from a lifetime of working in construction; watching him perform the delicate work was fun to watch. And, of course, while he said he was only assisting, he actually took over. As he often did, he reengineered the entire process. For years, my mom would roll the dough into long strips and then cut it into pieces and shape it into crescents. But that was too imprecise for him. He modified a jerky gun into a cookie press and made a food safe marked measuring stick to ensure each cookie was of the exact same width and length.

Last Christmas he was alone, but remained strong. He continued mom’s tradition and made cookies by himself and shared them with all around. Sadly, neither of them is around this Christmas. In honor of them, I am pleased to share this recipe with you. Merry Christmas to you and all those special to you.

SUBMITTED

It's Christmas time, and that means cookie time.

Ingredients (40 cookies)

2 cups all-purpose flour 1 cup unsalted butter, softened 2 large egg yolks 1 cup ground almonds 1 1/2 tsp vanilla sugar 3/4 cup confectioners’ sugar Pinch of salt

Dusting

1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar 1 1/2 tsp vanilla sugar

Directions

Place all ingredients in a large bowl and knead until well combined. Form the dough into a ball, wrap with plastic wrap and chill for at least one hour. While preheating the oven to 350F, cut off small pieces of dough and roll them by hand into small logs about 1/2 in thickness and 4 inches long on a floured cutting board. Shape into crescents and place on a non-stick baking pan. Bake on the middle rack for about 12-15 minutes until the edges begin to turn brown. To dust the cookies, combine the confectioners’ sugar and vanilla sugar and sprinkle over the cookies with a sifter two minutes after they are removed from the oven. Let cool completely then dust the cookies a second time.