RESTAURANTS

FROM PAGE 1 her son, Clark, encouraged the couple to relocate to the Island community and that her husband bought their first home before she’d even seen it. They relocated to another home in Anna Maria to accommodate the tower needed for Bob’s tarpon fishing in 1982 and Nash has lived there ever since.

“I feel very blessed,” Nash said. “It’s a nice community.”

Though the community has changed over the years, Nash said she embraces the change, including the visitors who frequent the homes on either side of hers.

“To me, it’s the best place in the world to live,” she said.

The location close to the church, Nash said, has been a blessing because it allows her to spend her days doing what she loves – volunteering to help better the church and community.

As one of the founders of the Roser Guild Thrift Shop, Nash can frequently be spotted checking in new merchandise, straightening shelves and helping customers. In addition to her volunteer work at the thrift shop, Nash is an active member of the women’s guild, the Roser missions committee, which distributes funds to local nonprofits, the Naomi Circle, All Island Denominations, Church Women United and the church’s Grief Share ministry. She’s also a Stephen Minister and volunteers with the Roser-Robics senior workout group. When she has a free moment, Nash can be found taking photographs at church and local events, writing press releases to accompany those photographs to local media outlets or baking batches of her orange cookies to give out at events.

In celebration of her 90th birthday, Nash made dozens of orange cookies and packaged them individually to be given out to everyone in attendance that Sunday at Roser.

The urge to volunteer and give back to the community is something Nash learned from her grandmother and mother and something she’s passed on to her four sons and their families, who she said help out their communities in any way they can.

Speaking about Nash, Roser financial administrator Matt Meehan said her strength, especially in how she approaches life changes, is an inspiration to many.

“I’ve learned a lot from her,” Charles Wade, facilities administrator at Roser, said of Nash. “She’s very, very, very active. We appreciate her and everything that she does.”

“She’s so involved in almost any event, any church event that’s going on. If you go there, you’ll see Peggy there. She’s always around and very engaged. She has a really, really amazing energy,” Brandon Kouri said. Kouri is the assistant director of music ministries at Roser. “She just seems like she’s doing so much all the time. She always has her camera; she’s always snapping wonderful pictures all the time.”

“When I came here in November of 2020, she was one of the first people to greet me. She was sending me emails before I even got here saying ‘we can’t wait for you to be here.’ Every week she’s checking in with me to make sure I’m okay,” Roser pastor Rev. Dirk Rodgers said, commending Nash for her involvement in the church.

“If I described her in one phrase, she’s a constant encouragement. I hope I have that energy in five years, let alone when I get to be her age. I wish I had that energy now,” he said. “She’s definitely an encouragement and example to all of us.”

“She does a lot to bring the community to Roser and Roser to the community,” office administrator Nikkiah Jaworski said. “She just does a ton, as much as she can possibly do, she’ll do and then some. She’ll go the extra mile and never complains.”

“She’s just really, really an amazing lady,” Craig Ramberger, director of music ministries at Roser, said of Nash, adding that he’s nicknamed her the Energizer Bunny because she “just never seems to stop.”

Though she doesn’t see herself stepping away from her volunteer work in the community that she loves, Nash said she hopes to slow down a little bit in the coming year to allow other people to step up and get involved. Wherever people feel led to volunteer, if it’s in a local church, with a theater group, with animals, at a community center or any other organization, she said she hopes they will embrace the challenge and work to make a positive difference in their communities.

“Groups, churches, they always need volunteers,” Nash said. “I hope more people will step up and get involved.”

KRISTIN SWAIN | SUN Peggy Nash takes a break after a day of volunteering at the Roser Guild Thrift Shop.

Kingfish remodel receives funding

MANATEE COUNTY – Plans to renovate the Kingfish Boat Ramp in Holmes Beach are moving forward now that the project is getting more funding.

Manatee County received $4,500,000 in Restore Act funding, administered by the Gulf Consortium and earmarked for the renovation and expansion of the Kingfish Boat Ramp at its current location. Plans include increasing the number of launch ramps, replacing the aging seawall, increasing dock area, paving the parking area and potentially installing permanent restroom facilities.

Once completed, the boat ramp will have three launch lanes to help accommodate the growing number of boaters coming to Kingfish.

The $4,500,000 Restore Act funding does not require any matching funds and is for construction only, though if a bid for the project is received above the awarded amount, Manatee County officials will have to look elsewhere for additional funding. The county has already received $540,000 from the Florida Boater Improvement Program for the design phase of the boat ramp project. As of December 2021, the project was at 60% design completion.

The Restore Act funding for Kingfish was officially accepted by Manatee County commissioners Dec. 14 as a part of the consent agenda.

Dock expansion, utility line undergrounding and stormwater improvements were among the city projects pursued in 2021.

BY JOE HENDRICKS

SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH – The city of Bradenton Beach embarked on some important public projects in 2021 and also welcomed a familiar face as the city's new police chief.

JANUARY

In January, the mayor and city commission learned of the Florida Department of Transportation’s plans to begin construction in 2026 on the new fixed-span bridge that would provide 65 feet of vertical clearance as the replacement for the existing Cortez Bridge drawbridge.

FEBRUARY

Phase II of Manatee County’s drainage and parking lot improvements commenced at Coquina Beach.

MARCH

Former county commissioners Joe McClash and Jane von Hahmann asked the city to join their federal lawsuit that opposes the construction of a fixed-span bridge to replace the Cortez Bridge drawbridge constructed in 1956. The commission ultimately declined.

APRIL

A personal watercraft and a boat collided on the Intracoastal Waterway near Longboat Pass. Tour boat captain Mike Draayom helped rescue the personal watercraft driver and passenger from the water. The accident resulted in two people being taken to the hospital.

The city commission authorized a request for proposals seeking a third-party review of the Master Drainage Study and stormwater and drainage systems designed by longtime City Engineer Lynn Burnett. The commission ultimately selected Utility Consultants of Florida and the subcontracted Colliers Engineering.

MAY

The commission selected Duncan Seawall, Dock & Boat Lift to expand the floating dock, install finger piers perpendicular to the expanded dock and replace the public dinghy dock near the foot of the Bridge Street Pier boardwalk.

The CRA members agreed to increase the CRA’s holiday decorating budget from $15,000 to $40,000.

The Anna Maria Island Moose Lodge’s renovated kitchen reopened. JUNE

The city commission extended the expanded outdoor dining allowances enacted in 2020 as part of the city’s COVID-19 pandemic response. The commission also stated live music would be allowed to continue in the expanded outdoor seating areas.

The Manatee County Commission agreed to provide up to $850,000 in matching county funds for the dock expansion and dinghy dock replacement project.

JULY

Accompanied by Tampa Bay Lightning coach Jon Cooper, the Stanley Cup visited the Bradenton Beach Police Department as part of Cooper’s multi-stop victory lap around Anna Maria Island.

AUGUST

Former Drift In employee and wellknown Island personality David Marshall was struck by a car and seriously injured on Aug. 24 and he passed away on Sept. 5. OCTOBER

CRA members approved a $595,905 dock expansion project contract with Duncan Seawall, Dock & Boat Lift. The dock expansion project will provide short-term public docking for approximately two dozen vessels when the project is completed in 2022 using components pre-manufactured by Golden Marine Systems.

John Cosby was sworn in as the city’s new police chief.

The CRA extended the Old Town Tram pilot program for an additional year. The CRA members’ desire for the tram service to be primarily funded by advertising revenues remains a work in progress. In November, advertising revenues accounted for $4,775 (48%) of the CRA’s $9,975 monthly tram operation costs.

NOVEMBER

Incumbent Mayor John Chappie defeated first-time challenger David Galuszka in the mayor’s race. Running unopposed, incumbent commissioners Jake Spooner and Jan Vosburgh claimed additional two-year terms in office. City voters maintained the existing term limits, which means Chappie and Spooner will term limit out of office in 2023.

A Christmas tree lighting ceremony took place at the Bradenton Beach Post Office as part of the CRA and the Bridge Street merchants’ enhanced holiday decorating efforts.

DECEMBER

The annual Christmas on Bridge Street celebration and the Bradenton Beach Holiday Lighted Boat Parade resumed after being canceled in 2020.

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN The long-desired floating dock expansion project was placed under contract in 2021.

ANNA MARIA: Year in review

FROM PAGE 1 FEBRUARY

The COVID Ribbon Memorial of Florida was unveiled along the beach near the Sandbar restaurant. Created by Anna Maria resident, photographer and artist Cathy Tobias and some of her friends, the colorful art installation consisted of a string of brightly colored plastic ribbons that stretched more than 250 yards and represented each of the more than 27,000 Florida residents who had died of COVID-19 at that point.

The commission voted 4-1 in favor of Mote Marine’s proposed educational outreach center occupying the vacant City Pier building, originally built in 2020 with the expectation of being leased to the operator of a full-service restaurant.

Longtime Anna Maria resident Margaret Jenkins passed away at the age of 90. informing her that her outdoor chicken coop violated city ordinances and had to be removed, much to the chagrin of her and her children.

APRIL

Commission Chair Carol Carter, Mayor Dan Murphy and lobbyist Chip Case played key roles in defeating the Florida Legislature’s latest attempts to preempt vacation rental regulations to the state. Utilizing the city-owned Home Rule Florida website, www.homerulefl. com, the city and its supporters helped defeat Senate Bill 522 and House Bill 219.

MAY

The commission authorized a $50,274 consulting fee for the Reimagining Pine Avenue study that later produced several recommended pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements to be made in 2022, including new sidewalks and new and improved crosswalks. JULY

Duncan Real Estate owner Darcie Duncan celebrated her company’s 20th anniversary.

AUGUST

The Florida Department of Health and the city of Anna Maria hosted a free COVID-19 vaccination clinic at City Pier Park.

Bortell’s Lounge reopened after a threeyear renovation project that was delayed in part by the pandemic.

Sea-level rise expert John Englander recommended the city create a “30-year Rising Seas Master Plan” as part of the efforts to prepare for the sea-level rise and higher tides anticipated in the coming decades.

SEPTEMBER

The city and Mote Marine Laboratory entered into a lease agreement for the Mote Educational Outreach Center. Mote Marine representative Kevin Cooper said he expected the interior buildout and installation to be finished in March, with the facility to open soon thereafter. its seasonal operations and will continue each Tuesday through mid-May.

NOVEMBER

The city’s Old Soldiers & Sailors Veterans Day parade and recognition ceremony returned after being canceled in 2020.

The second annual Thanks-Living community gathering took place at City Pier Park after being canceled in 2020.

Former longtime Anna Maria resident and tour boat operator George Glaser passed away at his Bradenton home at the age of 78.

Anna Maria resident Jana Samuels was seriously injured when the golf cart she was driving was struck by a car that crossed into her travel lane in Holmes Beach.

DECEMBER

Operating with a new name, Santa Stops Here, the city’s annual holiday event returned to City Pier Park after being canceled in 2020. That evening, The Holiday of Treasures Open House holiday event took place at many participating businesses along Pine Avenue. The city also hosted its third annual Bright Holiday Lights decorating contest.