Anna Maria Island Sun January 25, 2023 sm

County commission to discuss reinstalling Confederate monument

The Confederate monument was removed in 2017 and damaged in the process.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

BRADENTON – On Tuesday, Jan. 31, the Manatee County Commission will discuss reinstalling a Confederate memorial monument that was removed from its downtown Bradenton location in 2017.

The monument stood in front of the Manatee County Historic Courthouse near the Manatee County Judicial Center. The two buildings share a public courtyard.

According to the meeting agenda, county commission authorization will be sought for County Administrator Scott Hopes or his designee to reinstall the monument at its previous location on the courthouse property.

In August 2017, a large protest and counter-protest took place at the monument location with many sides of the Confederate monument debate represented. Before the scheduled protest occurred, the county commission voted 6-1 to encase the monument in a plywood shell to protect it from vandalism.

After the protest, on Aug. 22, the county commission voted 4-3 in favor of removing the monument at an undisclosed time, in part for public safety purposes. The work crew

AMI fights back against state representatives

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

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – As state representatives discuss bypassing Holmes Beach codes to build a parking garage and dissolving the three Island cities, locals aren’t taking it lying down.

Residents, property owners, business owners, visitors and others who love the Island just the way it is have banded together to get the word out and reach out to Manatee County’s state legislative delegation members in an effort to have their voices heard in Tallahassee.

Led by Holmes Beach resident Laurel Nevans, 950 people had joined Save AMI Cities as of Jan. 23. The Facebook group is dedicated to making the people’s voices heard at the local and state level on both issues. The battle is focused on a parking garage. Manatee County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge wants to build one at Manatee Beach, a property owned by the county but located in Holmes Beach. Before those plans got off the ground, city commissioners voted to not allow multi-level parking structures in their city, a stance echoed by city leaders in Bradenton Beach and Anna Maria. Van Ostenbridge warned city leaders at a public meeting that there would be consequences to their actions.

Bradenton Beach Commission opposes state attacks on home rule

City officials and their allies hope to defeat state legislators’ efforts to usurp local building codes and dissolve the three Island cities.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH – Protecting home rule rights will be the city commission’s top priority during the state legislative session that convenes on March 5.

Home rule rights and the ability to self-govern at the local level were already a top priority before Bradenton-based State Rep. Will Robinson Jr. and the Manatee County legislative

delegation announced their shared desire to preempt home rule rights at the state level so Manatee County can build a public parking garage in Holmes Beach. The delegation, which also includes Republican state senators Jim Boyd and Joe Gruters and state representatives Tommy Gregory and Mike Beltran, are also requesting a state-funded study regarding the potential dissolution or consolidation of the three Island cities.

During the Bradenton Beach Commission’s Jan. 19 meeting, commissioners unanimously agreed that fighting the state legislators’ latest efforts to eliminate the city’s home rule rights would be a top priority for

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

The Confederate monument previously stood at the old courthouse across the street from the Manatee County administration building.

Salem, Seymour seek city commission seat

Andrew recovery efforts in south Florida. He then served as legislative director and chief of staff for a U.S. Senator and he finished his time in D.C. working as a public policy director for Microsoft.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA – On Thursday, Jan. 26, the city commission will appoint Charlie Salem or Brian Seymour to fill the commission seat recently vacated by Carol Carter.

Commissioners Mark Short, Jon Crane, Robert Kingan and Deanie Sebring will decide whether Salem or Seymour serves the remaining months of Carter’s twoyear commission term, which expires after the city elections in November.

The sitting commissioners will base their decision in part on the presentations Salem and Seymour gave during a city commission workshop on Jan. 19. The two commission applicants each answered the 24 questions they received in advance as part of a new vetting process recommended by Mayor Dan Murphy.

When filling past commission vacancies, applicants were simply given a

few minutes to address the commission before the appointment was made. During Thursday’s workshop, Salem and Seymour were given as much time as they needed to address the commission.

The questions were received before State Rep. Will Robinson Jr. and other state legislators who represent Manatee County expressed their desire for the state to preempt the city of Holmes Beach’s building codes so Manatee County can build a public parking garage. Those same legislators also seek a state-funded study pertaining to the potential dissolution of the three Island cities and its city governments.

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS

Salem was born and raised in Miami. He and his husband, Scott Toland, moved from Washington D.C. to Anna Maria in 2017. They own a commercial building on Pine Avenue that’s leased to two businesses. Salem serves as a board member for The Center and in 2021 was appointed to the city’s Planning and Zoning Board.

After earning a bachelor’s degree in political science and government and a doctorate degree in law, Salem worked in Tallahassee as a special counsel for the State of Florida’s Office of Planning and Budgeting. He then moved to Washington D.C. to run a state office of federal affairs pertaining to the Hurricane

In reference to Robinson and other state legislators, Salem said, “I’m really concerned about our permanent resident population and the ability of our citizens to be able to govern themselves. That is something I think I could help bring some focus to.”

Seymour was born and raised in the Washington D.C. area and moved to Anna Maria 14 years ago. He spent 20 years working for Marriot International before becoming the owner/operator of the Anna Maria General Store & Deli. He and his business partners also operate the City Pier Grill in space leased from the city.

Seymour was elected to the city commission in 2016 and earned a second term running unopposed in 2018. He resigned from office in September 2019 to devote more time to his business ventures and private life. While in office, Seymour served as commission chair and as vice mayor. Seymour said this is a good time for him to return to the commission.

Both commission applicants expressed concerns about state legislators’ latest efforts to take away cities’ home rule rights.

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

Charlie Salem (left) currently serves on the city’s Planning and Zoning Board. Brian Seymour (right) previously served as a city commissioner for three years.

ISLAND NEWS

IN BRIEF

Alternate street side parking in effect

When parking in Anna Maria, pay attention to the annual alternating street-side parking changes that have occurred along specific sections of Gladiolus Street, Elm Avenue, Fern Street, Magnolia Avenue, Newton Lane, Palm Avenue, Fir Avenue, Palmetto Avenue, Coconut Avenue, Jacaranda Road and Sycamore Avenue. Parking in these areas is allowed according to the signs that have now been moved to the other sides of those streets. Vehicles must park in the direction of the flow of traffic with all tires off the pavement.

Commission appointment to be made Thursday

The Anna Maria City Commission will meet on Thursday, Jan. 26 at 6 p.m. After general public comment, the commission will appoint either Charles Salem or Brian Seymour to fill the commission seat recently vacated by Carol Carter. After the newly-appointed commissioner is sworn in, the mayor will make his commission liaison assignments. The city attorney will then present the second and final reading of a new ordinance that will limit food truck operations to private properties carrying the C-1 (commercial) zoning designation. The consent agenda includes the appointment of Lisa Bagwell to the Planning and Zoning Board and a special event permit for the AMI Garden Club Fashion Show on Feb. 8.

Dusty Crane joins planning board

Anna Maria resident Dorothy “Dusty” Crane is now a member of the city’s Planning and Zoning Board. On Jan. 12, the city commission appointed Crane to serve on the city advisory board that makes land use and other recommendations to the city commission. Crane’s husband, Jon, is a city commissioner.

Corner lot and pool setbacks to be discussed

The Jan. 17 joint meeting of the Bradenton Beach City Commission and Planning and Zoning Board that was to feature discussions on reducing corner lot setback distances and swimming pool setback distances was postponed because Building Official Steve Gilbert was unavailable. The meeting is rescheduled to Tuesday, Feb. 7 at 9:30 a.m.

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Tree house closer to demolition

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

MANATEE COUNTY – Holmes Beach city leaders have won a judgment in their favor in the longdebated case of a two-story beachfront tree house constructed at the Angelinos Sea Lodge.

Now, Mayor Judy Titsworth says the city can seek an order to have the structure removed.

The written order was handed down from the Manatee County Circuit Court late Jan. 20, with Judge Edward Nicholas ruling in favor of the city on four counts.

Tree house and Angelinos Sea Lodge owners Lynn Tran and Richard Hazen alleged that the city leaders violated their due process rights under the Florida constitution when the city refused to issue after-the-fact building permits for the structure. Nicholas ruled that the city’s leaders and representatives did not violate

the tree house owners’ rights. Hazen and Tran are set to meet in a Feb. 3 case management hearing with representatives from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection in front of Judge Charles

Sniffen to discuss any potential settlement negotiations in another case concerning the refusal to issue after-the-fact building permits for the tree house. That case was previously set to go to trial later this year.

Proposed hotel triggers petition, legal advice

City officials have been advised not to comment on the pending permitting process.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH – An online petition opposing a proposed hotel development on Bridge Street and Gulf Drive has garnered more than 3,700 signatures.

Bradenton resident Hunter Jensen, 22, started the petition and addressed it to Manatee County Commission

Chair Kevin Van Ostenbridge, Bradenton Beach Mayor John Chappie and State Rep. Will Robinson Jr. The online petition can be found at: www. change.org/p/manatee-residents-andfriends-against-a-bridge-street-hotel.

Jensen filed the petition in response to the major development permit application and initial site plans the city Building Department received in early December. The permit application lists Shawn Kaleta and Jacob Spooner as the owners of the various properties located along Bridge Street, Gulf Drive South and Third Street South that would be combined to develop the proposed hotel.

Kaleta is a prominent developer and property owner on Anna Maria Island. Spooner owns and operates the Bridge Street Bazaar and The Fish Hole miniature golf course. He leases additional commercial space to the Daiquiri Deck and The Fudge Factory. As a sitting Bradenton Beach City Commissioner, Spooner must recuse himself from any city-related discussions and decision-making associated with the proposed development.

The demolition permit filed in early December for the pending demolition of the Joe’s Eats & Sweets building at 219 Gulf Drive S. lists AMI Plaza LLC as the owner of the property that’s included in the hotel plans. The demolition permit references Gary Parks and Michael Jungquist but does not specify their roles, if any, in the proposed development. The demolition permit doesn’t reference Kaleta or Spooner.

The site plan submitted on behalf of Kaleta and Spooner includes 103 hotel rooms, 126 parking spaces, retail spaces, a dining facility, a hotel lounge, a miniature golf course, a rooftop deck and swimming pool and more.

THE PETITION

In part, the petition states: “Friends

and residents of Manatee County are against the construction of a 103-room hotel at the beginning of Bridge Street. Already a traffic nightmare, an addition of a large hotel on a busy intersection would only increase the volume of traffic on Gulf Drive and Bridge Street. A hotel of this magnitude may change the character of Bridge Street, which many people are worried about. It is important that city and county leaders take our viable concerns into account with the planning of this large hotel. We the people conclude that Bridge Street should remain the way it is and we the public deserve input on developments that effect our community.”

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN Street-side parking along several Anna Maria streets switches sides annually.

FILE PHOTO

The beachfront tree house at Angelinos Sea Lodge in Holmes Beach remains aloft for now, but it may not be for much longer.

CITY OF BRADENTON BEACH | SUBMITTED These conceptual drawings provide a preliminary view of what the proposed hotel might look like

COMMISSION: Opposes state attacks on home rule

FROM PAGE 1

the city and its contracted lobbyist, Dave Ramba.

Prior to the meeting, Mayor John Chappie provided the commissioners with a two-page list that detailed the commission’s 2023 legislative priorities. The list was prepared before Robinson and his fellow state legislators expressed their intentions regarding home rule rights and the potential consolidation or elimination of the three Island cities.

According to the priorities list, “Home rule is why no two cities are alike. Intrusion on home rule from the state or federal government undermines the constitutional right of citizens to govern themselves.”

During the Jan. 19 meeting, City Attorney Ricinda Perry said, “There have been two additions I think the city should implement into this based on the Manatee County delegation meeting: The elimination or consolidation of the Island cities as well as the usurpation of home rule authority on height restrictions for parking garages.”

Chappie then said, “I totally agree. I had a discussion with Rep. Robinson. I voiced my concerns and disappointment and he told me his reasoning,

Bradenton Beach Mayor John Chappie is not happy with the legislative actions sought by Will Robinson Jr. and other state legislators.

The Bradenton Beach Commission is united in its opposition to state legislators' latest attacks on the city’s home rule rights.

which I disagree with. It is concerning. It is disappointing. As I told our representative, government’s supposed to work from the bottom up, not from the top down. This is local stuff. This isn’t even really party politics, it’s about the best type of governance that they think would be best for us. Who do they think they are?” Chappie said.

“Yes, we depend on the state and federal governments for certain things, but we’re responsible at the local level for health, safety and welfare. If we need something, we go to our

legislators. That’s not what happened in this case and it’s a state of affairs. The three Island cities are going to be working together to correct this injustice,” Chappie said.

Chappie said he was meeting with Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy and Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth the following day. He also said that Perry will work with the Florida League of Cities on these legislative concerns.

Commissioner Ralph Cole said state legislators should focus their efforts on providing state funds for underground-

benefit local communities.

Cole questioned whether a state preemption that allows parking garages to exceed city-specific building heights would then lead to the construction of other high-rise structures. He also said Manatee County needs to finish the drainage improvement project at Coquina Beach that’s temporarily reduced parking for beachgoers.

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

Home rule at risk

I would like to thank you for your coverage of the controversial local bills being introduced by Rep. Will Robinson. It is extremely important that we educate all on the dire consequences of loss in home rule.

Cities were founded on the belief that local government understands best the needs of local citizens. The state then determined that cities could legislate themselves. We are currently in a time where the state had giveth and now with precedent, the state can taketh away.

Rep. Robinson has stated that the reason for the first bill on mandating a parking garage at the public beach is because the city would not budge on the reduction in parking in the city. On the contrary, the city of Holmes Beach agreed to the use of AME school, the library, and city hall for additional overflow parking. A suggestion was also made that they purchase the large Bank of America lot that has close and safe access to the public beach for overflow parking. Although county and state leaders choose to lob insults at the city of Holmes Beach, we historically have and continue to be a part of the solution for the county’s failure to plan.

Rep. Robinson has stated that the sole reason for the second bill, a study on dissolving the cities, is due to declining populations on the Island. He even went so far as stating that this is a proactive approach instead of reactive, as this will get ahead of the time when

there are no longer enough residents to maintain three cities. What he said is entirely different than what I heard. Being that this study was not initiated by the city leaders and local bills are historically never controversial, it brings me to ponder on whether the proactive approach that our state representatives are taking was generated years ago with the intended outcome, the elimination of cities.

You see, when the cities lost their ability to regulate vacation rentals taking over the residential districts, this brought an onslaught of developers from all over the country gobbling up every beach house in site. The market value soared, and the local hard-working citizens were pushed out of their homes and forced to move inland. The holdouts remain but are subject to a declined quality of life due to noise, trash, nutrient loads in bays, congestion and no longer having the ability to know their neighbor. As mayor, it is my job to support our residents and businesses and to make decisions to maintain and improve the quality of their lives. Because of these efforts, full-time residents are returning. I have witnessed the drastic increase in property tax that the county receives by no longer being constrained by homestead caps ($17 million in the past 10 years). Add to that, the Tourist Development Tax that was sold to the voters lacking foresight. The voters thought this tax would be a good thing, it would bring money to our cities from visitors

instead of just property owners. What they didn’t understand is what a cash cow it became. The city of Holmes Beach alone has contributed well over $30 million in bed tax to the coffers since its inception with little in return. It isn’t because we haven’t asked. It is because the county commission chose to use it elsewhere.

I don’t think it is a coincidence that this is all happening at the same time entire boards of county commissions are being replaced by potential “yes men” for developers. Campaigns are being driven by strategists, all heavily funded by big developer PAC money. I believe our state representatives have been taking a proactive approach for many years now and it is setting up Florida coastal cities to fail.

Titsworth Holmes Beach

Keep AMI low-rise

Reference recent “bombshell” articles; it appears money and greed have purchased Bradenton power.

Busting height restrictions will destroy our “old Florida” uniqueness and ignores our lessons of Martinique.

Consolidation smacks of power; conquer and control.

Top-down bullying is never good, nor professional or acceptable. The proposals benefit a “noticeable” very few.

Mayor Judy Holmes

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

ANNA

MARIA

10005 GULF DRIVE

FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-708-6130

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

Jan. 26, 6 p.m. – City Commission meeting

Feb. 9, 2 p.m. – City Commission meeting

FROM PAGE 6

BRADENTON BEACH

107 GULF DRIVE N.

FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-778-1005

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

Feb. 1, 9:30 a.m. – Community Redevelopment Agency meeting Feb. 1, 1 p.m. – Planning and Zoning Board meeting Feb. 2, 6 p.m. – City Commission meeting

Islanders wake up, stand up and speak up, for the “rape” of our Island is gaining momentum.

To our county commissioners and state representatives, you were elected to represent our best interests, not those of foreign investors!

You need to visualize how the change to four stories will change the Island. It will not stop at a parking garage!

Bill Hahn Holmes Beach

Robinson right

First of all, I am a believer of home rule. However, when a government creates an atmosphere of dictatorial leadership, it has failed and must be changed. It is time for a change and I think that State Rep. Will Robinson Jr. is on the right track to being the catalyst to do it.

Holmes Beach has long been ruled by Mayor Judy Titsworth who has ruled with an iron hand. The one thing that she and Police Chief Bill Tokajer have created is a system of traffic-related fines that have punished both residents and visitors for a myriad of fines for anything involving traffic. Among the worst action on their part is the elimination of 645 parking spots in Holmes Beach alone. The reason given by the police chief was to help prevent crime in Holmes Beach. Has anyone read the police reports in the local Island newspapers? If you do, you will typically find a domestic dispute, a bicycle stolen, someone urinating in public. Not exactly a Chicago crime wave. Now she so generously allowed homeowners to purchase parking permits on their own property after paying a fortune in property taxes. It is not right.

Millions of dollars every year are spent every year to attract more visitors to “old Florida.” I think not; the slogan should be, Welcome to our Sunny Island, but leave your car at home.

When invited by the county to attend a meeting in 2022, both Ms. Titsworth and Chief Tokajer refused to meet to discuss the parking situation created by them. How is that a sign of open government? You cannot govern properly by shutting the door to discussion. Somehow in the fourth quarter they were convinced to meet, but it was to no avail and nothing positive came out of that meeting. One of the things Ms. Titsworth brought up was that the parking situation was a county problem, not hers,

HOLMES BEACH

5801 MARINA DRIVE

FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-708-5800

Please visit www.holmesbeachfl.org or contact city hall for more information.

Jan. 26, 11:30 a.m. – HBPD police officers pension board meeting Feb. 1, 10 a.m. – Parks and Beautification Committee meeting Feb. 1, 5 p.m. – Planning Commission meeting

and get this, she said they should build a parking garage at the county beach. Now in the latest news she states that she is against such a plan. Talk about flip-flopping.

Ms. Titsworth has said if the county took over, the residents would leave. That is exactly what has been happening under her watch for the past five years because of the construction of six- and eight-bedroom rental properties. This is a fact that family houses built in the 50s or 60s are being bought by developers, torn down and replaced with massive rental houses.

This is not a private island; if you want tourists, treat them like you really appreciate them. Be reminded that the Florida law states that everyone in this state is allowed to walk the beaches. There is also a federal law that backs that up.

My suggestion is to have the Manatee government withdraw the Holmes Beach parking ordinance and have the parking restriction eliminated. They should also dissolve the municipal governments, as an island with three governments in a sevenmile long strip of land is ridiculous.

I suggest that as a first step, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Department take over the police force for the entire Island. They are a professional organization that already has roots on the island and has experience across the entire county.

Have the state create a single entity to govern the entire Island, either as Rep. Robinson suggested as an unincorporated part of Manatee County or establish a municipal government for the entire island.

Anthony Accatatta Perico Island

Open letter to AMI representatives

This is a copy of the letter I have sent to:

Rep. Will Robinson Jr.

Rep. Mike Beltran

Rep. Tommy Gregory

Sen. Jim Boyd

Sen. Joe Gruter

Manatee County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge

It has taken me several days to compose my anger at you and ALL of the other members of the local state legislative delegation. Who do you think you are and how dare you make an attempt to subvert our three local governments? I can’t tell you how disgusted and terrified I am with every one of you. I have always been under the

Feb. 8, 9 a.m. – Clean Water AdHoc Committee meeting

ISLAND-WIDE

Jan. 26, 9:30 a.m. – ManaSota League of Cities meeting, Longboat Key Town Hall, 501 Bay Isles Road, Longboat Key Feb. 7, 2 p.m. – Coalition of Barrier Island Elected Officials meeting, Bradenton Beach City Hall

impression that Republicans believed in as little government intervention as possible. It seems as though that has changed with you. Our democracy is now being taken over by a dictatorship!

I discovered early on that Commissioner Van Ostenbridge, who supposedly represents Anna Maria Island, does not support his constituents, apparently, unless they are investors, realtors or wealthy folks who can line his political pockets. He does not think or care about the residents of our three cities. He certainly appears to be another self-centered politician who is only interested in his own well-being. Now, unfortunately, it has become apparent that ALL of you legislative delegates are only interested in your own political futures. Why don’t you come out to the beach two to three times a month, especially during the summer months, and observe that there is no room for one chair, let alone for a group. The overcrowded beaches are becoming unsafe for all of us. But NO!! We have to continue to advertise all over the world and bring more and more tourists here. And then you complain that there is inadequate parking for the thousands of off-island beachgoers and then threaten us with a four-story parking garage.

I have lived here for 30 years and my parents for 20 years before that, so 50 years of being high taxpaying residents while watching AMI lose its quiet charm, especially in the last 10 years. Do you see what is happening to local residents who are leaving in droves? Do you even really care? No, because you receive more money and support from investors, etc.

Now I wonder if we need to warn residents from Sarasota, Pinellas, Hillsborough and other counties with small coastal communities that they may be next? Why don’t you take over Mar-a-Lago???

Please contact the delegates and voice your dissent before it is too late.

May God help us.

Try ‘park and ride’

My family and I have visited Anna Maria Island for more than 30 years and we have witnessed firsthand how the place is strangling itself with its popularity. Our three-month stay ends at the end of the month and we have never before seen such slow-moving traffic so early in the season.

Feb. 7, 4 p.m. – Council of Governments meeting, Manatee County Administration Building, fifth floor, 1112 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton

EVENTS

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 25

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

A multi-story car park anywhere on the island is not the solution.

Our full-time home is in the Roman city of Chester in the United Kingdom, one of very few ancient walled cities in the world. It too gets swamped with tourists from around the globe, but it has a solution to gridlock - so-called Park and Ride car parks serviced throughout the day, throughout the year, by an excellent hop-on, hop-off bus service. For a small fee, users can leave their cars and ride into the city to be dropped off at numerous points on a set route, while the return is just as simple.

Chester is not unique. Several other UK tourist hotspots have adopted the idea, enabling traffic-free city streets, pedestrianization, cycle routes and a reduction in air pollution and traffic-related accidents.

The irony is that you already have the excellent shuttle bus solution in place, and, unlike the UK, acres of land off the island on which to locate car parks, multi-level or otherwise.

I urge the powers that be to give the idea some thought. Sadly, I don't have a solution to the suggestion that AMI's three cities should be amalgamated, but I suspect that might go away if the car parking was resolved.

Christopher Proudlove Bradenton Beach

Dissolution of AMI cities

The state of Florida appears to have a strong legal argument for the authorization of the founding and dissolution of cities. However, if you take a step back, the formation of cities is commonly driven by a nucleus of local citizens with a desire for better control of their future. The process is rarely initiated by the state Legislature.

Instead, the state Legislature typically responds to the needs of its constituency by approving or denying a grassroots effort for the formation of a city.

Since the state Legislature is unlikely to initiate an effort for the formation of a city, why would it feel it has the mandate to dissolve a city? Isn't it more appropriate to leave the question of dissolution of a city to the local needs of the citizenry with the state Legislature serving the process by approving or denying the request?

Ruth Cawein Anna Maria

Jeff Rodencal Anna Maria

LETTERS

FROM

THURSDAY, JAN. 26

Seaside Quilters, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m.

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

Friends of the Island Library Lecture and Travel Series: Ancient Egypt – Gift of the Nile, Roser Church fellowship hall, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, 2 p.m.

Thursdays in Paradise Stroll featuring local art, music and food, Bridge Street, Bradenton Beach, 5-8 p.m.

AMI Chamber Trolley Grant Awards and business card exchange, Seafood Shack, 4110 127th St. W., Cortez, 5-7:30 p.m., $5 for members or $10 for prospective members

FRIDAY, JAN. 27

Forty Carrots, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m.

Mah-jongg Club for experienced players, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 11:30 a.m.

Generation after the Holocaust with speaker Rifka Glatz, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 2 p.m.

SATURDAY, JAN. 28

Robinson Runners, Robinson Preserve, 1704 99th St. N.W., Bradenton, 7 a.m.

Mornings at the NEST, Robinson Preserve Mosaic Nest, 840 Ninth Ave. N.W., Bradenton, 9 a.m. to noon

Hands-only CPR with West Manatee Fire Rescue, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 9 a.m.

Music on the Porch, Florida Maritime Museum, 4415 119th St. W., Cortez, 2-4 p.m.

Starry Night Astronomy, Robinson Preserve expansion parking lot, 840 Ninth Ave. N.W., Bradenton, 6:30-9:30 p.m.

SUNDAY, JAN. 29

Pancake breakfast, St. Bernard Catholic Church, 248 S. Harbor Drive, Holmes Beach, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., $8 for adults, kids under 12 eat free

TUESDAY, JAN. 31

Farmer’s Market, City Pier Park, 103 N. Bay Blvd., Anna Maria, 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m.

Family story time, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m.

Painting with a fish, Florida Maritime Museum Folk School, 4415 119th St. W., Cortez, 10 a.m., $35

Rotary Club of Anna Maria Island meeting, Slicker’s Eatery, 12012 Cortez Road W., Bradenton, 11:30 a.m.

Mah-jongg for experienced players, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 11:30 a.m.

Duplicate bridge, Episcopal Church of the Annunciation, 4408 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, noon

One-on-one tech help, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 2-3:30 p.m. Movies in the Park, “Gallipoli,” City Pier Park, 103 N. Bay Blvd. Anna Maria, 6:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 1

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

THURSDAY, FEB. 2

Sunshine Stitchers Knit and Crochet, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 2 p.m. Friends of the Island Library Lecture and Travel Series: Coaching College Football, Roser Church fellowship hall, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, 2 p.m.

FRIDAY, FEB. 3

Forty Carrots, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m.

Mah-jongg for experienced players, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 11:30 a.m.

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

SATURDAY, FEB. 4

Robinson Runners, Robinson Preserve, 1704 99th St. N.W., Bradenton, 7 a.m.

Mornings at the NEST, Robinson Preserve Mosaic Nest, 840 Ninth Ave. N.W., Bradenton, 9 a.m. to noon

Arts and Crafts Show, city field, 5901 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Navigation, Florida Maritime Museum Folk School, 4415 119th St. W., Cortez, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., $10

Ask a master gardener, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m.

Saturday story time, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m.

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

SUNDAY, FEB. 5

Arts and Crafts Show, city field, 5901 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

MONDAY, FEB. 6

Non-native and invasive plant and animal species talk with Wildlife Inc., Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 11 a.m.

TUESDAY, FEB. 7

Farmer’s Market, City Pier Park, 103 N. Bay Blvd., Anna Maria, 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m.

Family story time, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m.

Duplicate bridge, Episcopal Church of the Annunciation, 4408 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, noon

Rotary Club of Anna Maria Island meeting, Slicker’s Eatery, 12012 Cortez Road W., Bradenton, 11:30 a.m.

Mah-jongg for experienced players, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 11:30 a.m.

One-on-one tech help, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 2-4 p.m.

Movies in the Park, “How to Steal a Million,” City Pier Park, 103 N. Bay Blvd. Anna Maria, 6:30 p.m.

Waste Pro rate increase approved

increased by 30% and the price to purchase new trucks has increased more than that.

Commissioner Jan Vosburgh noted fuel prices have also increased.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH – The City Commission has rejected Waste Pro’s request for an 8.72% rate increase and instead approved a 6.11% total rate increase.

The exclusive franchise agreement the city and Waste Pro renewed in 2016 allows for annual 3.5% rate increases that don’t require city commission approval. Any additional increases require commission approval.

Waste Pro Divisional Vice President Bob ten Haff presented the rate increase request on Jan. 19. In addition to the 3.5% increase already implemented in January, Waste Pro sought an additional 5.22% increase for a proposed total rate increase of 8.72%.

When requesting the rate increase, ten Haaf said Waste Pro’s labor costs have

“We’re simply asking for help so we do not continue to go backwards – and to keep pace with the current market conditions,” ten Haaf said.

Ten Haaf said the Holmes Beach City Commission tentatively approved Waste Pro’s requested 8.72% rate increase and that increase was awaiting final commission approval. He said Longboat Key recently approved a 10% increase and Palmetto approved a 7% increase.

Ten Haff said the 8.72% rate increase in Bradenton Beach would have resulted in the basic residential trash and recycling service rate increasing from $20.03, which already includes the 3.5% increase implemented in January, to $21.08 per month. The residential side door pickup monthly rate would have increased from $34.16 to $35.94 and commercial rates would have also been ad-

justing accordingly depending on container size and frequency of service.

However, the proposed increased rates ten Haaf requested will be slightly lower than what Waste Pro sought because Commissioner Jake Spooner proposed decreasing by half the additional 5.22% increase. Spooner said Bradenton Beach citizens are already dealing with increased costs for many other products and services. The commission approved the additional 2.61% increase proposed by Spooner, bringing the total increase to 6.11% instead of 8.72%.

ADDITIONAL CONCERNS

During Thursday’s discussion, Vosburgh and Spooner asked ten Haaf if the Waste Pro drivers are picking up the trash and recyclable containers along Gulf Drive earlier in the morning as previously requested by the commission.

Spooner questioned why trash collections are still occurring in the residential neighborhoods first thing in the morning and Gulf

Drive collections are occurring later in the day when traffic is heavier. He said a Waste Pro truck had Gulf Drive traffic backed up earlier that day and he again suggested servicing Gulf Drive first thing in the morning and doing the residential neighborhoods later.

Ten Haaf said Waste Pro has tried to adjust its pickup times along Gulf Drive.

“With one road going back and forth, it’s difficult,” ten Haaf said.

In recent months, Mayor John Chappie has repeatedly expressed concerns and frustrations about Waste Pro’s performance regarding the side yard receptacle pickup and return service the city requires for short-term vacation rentals. Chappie has lamented the near-constant presence of Waste Pro trash receptacles left sitting alongside city streets, but those concerns were not discussed during Thursday’s meeting.

According to City Attorney Ricinda Perry, the city’s existing and exclusive franchise agreement with Waste Pro expires in May 2025.

The city commission reduced Waste Pro’s requested rate increase to 6.11%.

AME teachers

become students

Anna Maria Elementary teachers learn about echinoderms, the latest training for their next phase of the Guy Harvey curriculum. The teachers say they are excited to share this with students in the science, math and conservation program, which is the first of its kind in the world.

Bite into all-you-can-eat pancakes

Come to St. Bernard Catholic Church on Sunday, Jan. 29 for an all-you-caneat community pancake breakfast. This breakfast comes with all the fixings, including sausage, eggs, juice and coffee along with fresh, hot pancakes. The

cost is $8 for adults with kids under age 12 eating for free. The fun starts at 9 a.m. and continues until 12:30 p.m. The church is located at 248 S. Harbor Drive in Holmes Beach.

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REPRESENTATIVES: AMI fights back against state representatives

FROM PAGE 1

Now the fight has escalated to the state level with Rep. Will Robinson Jr. initiating a bill to not only override the city’s decision to disallow parking garages but also to break the city’s three-story building height restriction, which is in the city charter. Robinson said he wants to see a four-story parking garage built at Manatee Beach. A four-story garage also would violate the three-story height limitation for unincorporated Manatee County, which is what the Island would likely be merged into if all three Island cities were dissolved by the Legislature.

That possibility arose from state legislative delegation discussions earlier this month to consider hiring the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability to study the feasibility of dissolving the Island’s three cities.

PROTESTORS SPEAK OUT

Members of Save AMI Cities are writing letters to state representatives and looking at other ways to make sure their opinions on the proposed measures are heard.

The Sun reached out to those members to see what they have to say about the two proposals.

“This ‘taking’ of our local cities diminishes our votes and our ability to get those little things done in our communities,” Binky Rogers said. “We have owned in Bradenton Beach for 35 years and lived here permanently for 14 years. I feel that our mayor and city commission have our best interests at heart, and they are very approachable. The ‘bully’ county commissioners will not worry too much about our small Island except, of course, bringing in

more tax dollars from all the high rises that’ll appear. All I can say at this point is think hard about who you vote for. We can’t just ‘pave over paradise and put up a parking lot.’ ”

“I recognize the value of tourism to our little island, but it’s the vibrant, quaint, simple life that we fell in love with and that is slowly being destroyed by developers,” Holmes Beach resident and local Realtor Kelly Gitt said. “I am strongly against the proposal of a parking garage and an advocate of slower speed limits, safe sidewalks/bike lanes and paying a toll to come out to the island. I don’t believe the parking garage has anything to do with protecting our beaches or the slower pace of life we love and appreciate here.”

“I’m a homeowner and small business owner here on AMI,” Bob Casey said. “A parking garage is not the solution and I think the county commissioners know this. How about finishing the parking lot at Coquina? I

could be wrong, but I think they have ulterior motives. If they can overrule our three-story building limit it will be like ringing the dinner bell to all the developers. Then AMI will lose its old-school charm that locals and visitors alike enjoy. Our local governments are not perfect (who is?) but they live among us and have our best interests at heart.”

“The tourist board advertises Anna Maria as ‘a taste of Old Florida,’ then does everything it can to destroy that,” resident Janis Ian said.

“It begs the question of what the motivation is for the county commissioners and legislators to try and control AMI,” part-time Island resident Barbara Trinklein Rinckey said.

Chris Arendt referenced an Urban Land Institute study that notes that additional parking on the Island will not solve issues related to reaching maximum capacity for people and vehicles on the seven-mile Island. Arendt called both proposals by the legislative delegation “sham proposals.”

“It’s intimidation, plain and simple,” Arendt said. “Fact is every single Island conservative I know, and that’s many, are vehemently opposed to both the proposals. That should tell you all you need to know.”

“This is outright intimidation to control our Island towns,” Barbara Quinn said. “A garage won’t help the massive traffic caused by overdevelopment.”

“The Manatee County commission wants to keep their thumb on the cash cow that is AMI,” Laura Siemon Seubert said. “And a certain county commission member didn’t get his way, he essentially ran to ‘daddy’ to step in and make the other kids play with him. The county doesn’t care if we

SUBMITTED

A cool morning leaves the beach in Holmes Beach nearly vacant, even at the height of snowbird season.

turn into another Panama City Beach or Fort Lauderdale. They only see the dollar signs with each bed tax. The ironic thing is a parking garage won’t help the bottom line. The day trippers that will use the parking garage aren’t spending the night. There is no financial gain from a parking garage. And as far as the three cities becoming one? All the charm and uniqueness of the Island will disappear.”

“I thought we lived in the United States?” Bradenton Beach resident Chris Johnson questioned. “Have any of the commissioners talked to the Islanders to see how we feel on the Island? This Island has been in my family’s blood for four generations, and we have protected the Island for years. The beaches are beautiful but there is more to this Island than beaches.”

5344 Gulf Drive

Holmes Beach (941) 779-BEER

5350 Gulf Drive

Holmes Beach (941) 251-3681

5346 Gulf Drive Holmes Beach (941) 778-5788

SUBMITTED | BOB CASEY

Some Anna Maria Island residents, including business owner Bob Casey, pictured here with his wife, Connie, question the motives behind two proposals by state representatives.

| BEVERLY BATTLE

Don’t forget to lock the car

Police in Bradenton Beach warn visitors to lock their cars after a series of recent break-ins.

BY JASON SCHAFFER SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH - For the most part, Anna Maria Island is a pretty safe place to visit, according to local police statistics.

Violent crimes are low, and most serious crimes involving bodily harm involve people who know each other. The fact that it is fairly safe to take a stroll after dark without the fear of bodily harm is part of the draw of the Island; it doesn’t mean there is no crime. A recent series of auto break-ins prove that both locals and visitors must remain aware that even in paradise, opportunistic criminals will strike when visitors let their guard down.

On the evening of Jan. 17, the Bradenton Beach Police Department (BBPD) responded to multiple vehicle break-ins involving theft of property. It’s the time of year that these incidents tend to happen with more regularity.

In 2022, The Sun reported on multiple vehicle burglaries in both Coquina

thefts were crimes of opportunity in which vehicle owners had left doors unlocked and had items such as iPads, cell phones and laptop computers stolen that were often left in plain sight on seats for thieves to easily identify and steal if there was an unlocked door.

ing of a window or damage to the car because of forced entry.

Recent thefts involved vehicles from 17th Street North to 10th Street South and Bradenton Beach police believe it was most likely the same person or group of people that were just looking

for unlocked doors on parked cars.

“No vehicles were broken into by force,” Bradenton Beach Police Lt. Lenard Diaz said. “We believe this was the work of people simply looking for unlocked doors and an easy grab. Since it all happened in the same night, it’s probably the same people in all of the incidents.”

Diaz said the best defense for this type of crime is simple; lock your doors. Crimes of opportunity such as going through a car with unlocked doors or stealing items from unattended beach chairs or tents is common, but preventable if precautions are taken. Smashing windows to break into a vehicle, or physical robbery, are much less common on the Island.

The best advice from police is to enjoy the Island, but occasionally those that show up don’t have the best intentions. Simply locking up valuables and being aware of the surroundings will prevent most incidents. Also, there are almost no cameras on the beach or in beach parking areas, so these kind of crimes are very rarely solved. It’s up to beachgoers to make sure they aren’t leaving themselves vulnerable to crime.

JASON SCHAFFER | SUN

Auto break-ins are more common this time of year, according to the Bradenton Beach Police Department.

Chamber members meet for breakfast

Enjoying a hearty meal at the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce breakfast on Jan. 5 at Judy’s Restaurant in Cortez are, from left, Krista Post (Manatee Children's Services), Dan Alderson (Tyler's Homemade Ice Cream), Katie Knab and Brian Sharkey (The Sharkey Agency), John Lappin (Concord Home Mortgage), Cindy Thompson (Compeer) and Bob Slicker (Slicker's Eatery).

Horne to lead state restaurant association

Anna Maria Oyster Bar owner John Horne is the new chair of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA).

“It’s an incredible honor to lead the FRLA Board of Directors, and I am looking forward to an outstanding year,” Horne said. “Hospitality is the greatest industry in Florida, and it is our collective priority to keep it that way through our statewide and federal advocacy, as well as our commitment to make a difference in our local communities. We’re in the business of helping our guests have memorable experiences and ensuring that Florida remains the greatest place to live, work, and have fun!”

The 2023 Board of Directors Executive Committee includes veteran industry leaders with nearly 230 years of combined experience in hospitality. As Florida’s premier non-profit hospitality trade association, FRLA has provided service to the industry and its members for more than 75 years. The mission of FRLA is to protect, educate and promote Florida's hospitality industry, a nearly $112 billion industry with more than 1 million employees.

Trailers allowed for café renovations

On Jan. 19, The Bradenton Beach City Commission approved by a 3-1 vote a temporary use permit that allows trailers to be placed on the Gulf Drive Café property at 900 Gulf Drive N. The trailers will be used as a temporary kitchen and a temporary freezer and cooler space while the beachfront café undergoes kitchen and dining area renovations and improvements. Mayor John Chappie opposed the temporary use permit due to safety concerns he has pertaining to an area heavily traveled by pedestrians and motorists.

JASON SCHAFFER | SUN

New chickee roof at Swordfish evokes centuries-old style

BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com

CORTEZ - The new roof over Swordfish Grill and Tiki Bar’s patio is not only a shelter from the elements, but a reminder of hundreds of years of local fishing history.

The style is reminiscent of the thatchedroof rancho structures used by Cuban fishermen who traveled to fish the Florida Gulf Coast in the 1700s. The new Swordfish roof consists of cypress tree trunks that were brought from east of the Everglades to make up the impressive 50- by 55-foot structure.

Known as a chickee, the building style has been used for centuries by the Seminole Tribe of Florida and consists of a cypress log frame, open sides and a thatched roof.

According to the rancho exhibit at the Florida Maritime Museum, “Cuban fishermen came to Florida searching for what they could not find along their own coasts in the 1700s.”

The exhibit describes them as the first commercial fisherman of the Gulf, saying that Florida’s proximity to Cuba “made it an easy choice. Fishermen setting up fish-

ing camps along the Florida coast would make two trips a year to Cuba and back. Fishing camps would be set up along the Gulf Coast. Simple structures with walls and palm frond ceiling construction, the huts were used for processing fish.”

Cortez is a designated historic district, and a certificate of appropriateness to build the Swordfish structure was required from the Manatee County Historic

Cortez history lecture at Roser

Preservation Board, which hears requests for development in historic districts.

“While the roof obviously provides shelter, we wanted it to retain the historic character of Cortez,” Swordfish Grill and Tiki Bar General Manager Adam Sears said.

Swordfish made its case to the Preservation Board using historical references, including that 1700s-era Cuban fishermen

worked with Florida’s Native American tribes to erect ranchos, or thatched roof structures, where they lived about six months a year, net fishing and salting the fish, then bringing them back to Cuba.

Aside from one at the Cortez Cultural Center, there are no other remnants of the ranchos in the Cortez fishing village.

The board approved the application on July 11 following a presentation by Drew Desonic, the attorney representing applicant and Swordfish owner John Banyas. Desonic said that the chickee will allow patrons to enjoy the deck with more comfort to get out of the heat, and is designed to complement the existing structure.

For several weeks before construction, the parking lot at Swordfish became a staging area for the roof.

“There was a crew of more than 10 guys hand-shaving these tree trunks,” Sears said. “This was done in an oldschool traditional method.”

The Swordfish Grill’s thatched roof is made of a fireproof synthetic material and the roof itself is hurricane rated to withstand 200-mph winds.

“Our customers will now be able to enjoy the patio rain or shine,” Sears said.

SWORDFISH GRILL AND TIKI BAR | SUBMITTED

The newly-constructed chickee roof over the patio at Swordfish Grill and Tiki Bar will provide shade.

From left, Jane McGinnis, of the Cortez Village Historical Society, spoke on the fishing village’s history as members Dale Beaumariage, Linda Molto and Kaye Bell display a rendering of the commercial fishing docks.

LESLIE LAKE | SUN

Folk School classes begin this month

BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com

CORTEZ - Folk school classes are back at the Florida Maritime Museum following a long hiatus.

“People asked us to bring them back,” Florida Maritime Museum (FMM) Education and Engagement Coordinator Kel Roth said. “Because of COVID, we had not done this in a while.”

The folk skills and heritage crafts of the Cortez fishing village and early communities throughout Florida are at

risk, according to the FMM website.

“The mission of the Florida Maritime Museum is to collect, preserve and share traditional knowledge. The Folk School enables FMM to take this mission a step further with hands-on classes formulated to not only learn and preserve classic skills but to… grow appreciation for the history of Cortez.”

Fish painting, decoupage and navigation classes are currently on the upcoming schedule with more to be added, according to FMM Visitor Services Coordinator Carla Favorite.

On Tuesday, Jan. 31 from 10-11:30 a.m., students will learn Painting with a Fish. Inspired by Gyotaku, a traditional method of printing fish, this interactive painting class will use a synthetic fish model to create a print.

In the spirit of old-time sailors, Capt. Gary will present Navigation Part 1 on Saturday, Feb. 4 with Part 2 on Saturday, Feb. 11, both from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., to teach boaters how to read nautical charts and navigate open waters with traditional methods. In Part 2, “You will get your hands on real nauti-

cal charts and practice using analog tools to plot a course."

Valentine’s Day Oyster Shell Decoupage is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 10 from 10-11:30 p.m. Participants will learn how to decoupage a design and apply gold leaf on a one-of-a-kind oyster shell.

Classes are for adults; class size and cost varies. All classes will be at the Florida Maritime Museum, 4415 119th St. W., Cortez.

For more information and registration, visit floridamaritimemuseum.org.

MONUMENT: County commission to discuss reinstallation

FROM PAGE 1

tasked with removing the monument dropped it and it fractured into at least three pieces around 3:30 a.m. on Aug. 24.

The fractured monument was placed in storage until a new and potentially more suitable location could be found.

Several alternate locations were later proposed and rejected, including Gamble Plantation Historic State Park, where Confederate Secretary of State Judah P. Benjamin took refuge during

the Civil War, and the 1850 Manatee Burying Ground, where Confederate soldiers are buried. The monument currently remains in storage. During past discussions, county staff said the monument would be repaired on site when reinstalled or relocated.

The monument was erected in 1924 with county commission approval by the Judah P. Benjamin Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy. The monument features inscriptions on all four sides.

One side says, “Erected by the Judah P. Benjamin Chapter United Daughters of the Confederacy June 3, 1924,” with the name of Confederate Gen. “Stonewall Jackson” inscribed below.

One side of the monument says, “1861-1865, Lest We Forget,” with the name of the president of the Confederacy, “Jefferson Davis,” inscribed below.

One side of the monument says, “Calm and Noble in Peace. Courageous and Chilvalrous (sic) in War.

True to the Best Traditions of the South. The Confederate Soldier Lives Enshrined in the Hearts of His Grateful Countrymen.”

In that inscription, the word chivalrous is misspelled and the name of Confederate Gen. “Robert E. Lee” is inscribed below.

One side of the monument features an inscription of a Confederate flag and says, “In Memory of Our Confederate Soldiers.”

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Please read carefully. To vote in The Sun’s Readers’ Choice Awards you must use an official entry ballot published in The Sun. Copies and faxes will not be accepted. The ballots will appear in The Sun on Jan. 11, Jan. 18, Jan. 25 Only one ballot per person is allowed. At least 10 CATEGORIES must be filled in for the ballot to count and the entry form must be completed. Complete ballots may be dropped off at The Sun’s office, 3909 East Bay Drive Ste. 210, Holmes Beach. or the Anna Maria Chamber office at 5313 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach. Or you can mail it in to The Sun’s Newspaper, PO Box 1189, Anna Maria, FL 34216. All ballots must be in by January 27, 2023 at 4pm. Prizes in the drawing may not be transferred. Winners are drawn at random from all entries and you don’t have to buy anything to win. Accepting the prizes means winners agree to the use of their names and photographs in subsequent ads and news stories. You must be 18 years or older to participate. Ballots which show signs of tampering will not be counted. We reserve the right to reject any ballot(s) or disqualify any contestant(s).

Murder, mystery and mayhem at The Center

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

ANNA MARIA - The Center of Anna Maria Island’s annual Murder Mystery Dinner Theater is back for its 14th year and this time, everyone’s running away to the circus.

Attendees will be transported to the BJ Whorenum and Dingling Brothers Circus for a night of murder, laughter and more than a few carnival acts at The Center, 407 Magnolia Ave. The show is for ages 21 and older and runs for two nights, Friday and Saturday, Feb.

10-11 with each show having a different ending.

The first night of the run is a sneak peek show which does not include dinner but will have a cash bar onsite. Tickets for Friday night are $35 each with doors opening at 6:15 p.m. and closing at 6:45 p.m.

The Saturday night show will feature dinner along with the show, a cash bar, a raffle and a costume contest for the best circus outfit.

Doors open at 6 p.m. and close at 6:45 p.m. and seating is assigned. The cost to attend Saturday night is $85 per person or $600 for a table

Island Players to host Venice Theater benefit evening

The Island Players, 10009 Gulf Drive, Anna Maria will donate proceeds from their Saturday, Jan. 28 performance of “The Odd Couple, The Female Version” to The Venice Theater to help them rebuild from the substantial damage to the theater as a result of Hurricane Ian. There will be

a 50/50 raffle, a reception at 6:30 p.m., and the program at 7:15 p.m. Anyone not able to attend the show on Jan. 28 may donate. Visit www.theislandplayers.org for more information. Contact the box office by phone at 941-7785755.

of eight. VIP service is available for an additional $25 per person and bottle service is also available for an additional fee.

Sponsorships are also available by emailing info@centerami.org.

This year’s cast includes triple threat writer/director and star Brianna Roberts, Don and Leah Purvis, Ray and Jillian Gardner, Monica Simpson, Mike Shaughnessy, Chris Scott, Clay Spangler and Caleb Roberts.

To purchase tickets, visit www. centerami.org/events.

This year’s show takes place under the big top at The Center of Anna Maria Island.

‘Gallipoli’ featured at Movies in the Park

The weekly Classic Movies in the Park at City Pier Park in Anna Maria features “Gallipoli” on Tuesday, Jan. 31 at 6:30 p.m. Bring a blanket, chair

and refreshments and enjoy a classic film next to the bay. All showings are free and subject to cancellation due to adverse weather.

SUBMITTED | THE CENTER

Artists’ Guild Gallery plans to paint the town

The Artists’ Guild of Anna Maria Island as they welcome a new president and plenty of activities.

BY JASON SCHAFFER SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@ amisun.com

HOLMES BEACH -

The Artists’ Guild of Anna Maria Island is kicking off the new year with a new president and plenty of activities to get the community involved in the arts.

New president Janet Razze is excited about upcoming events.

“I became the president on Jan. 2 and am excited about what we have coming up,” Razze said. “We have our Art Walks we’ll be doing and we’re setting up our classes. We’ll

be doing traveling artists classes where the artists will go to your HOA, or your house.”

Razze said their traveling artists will also focus on going to home schooling groups to work with children interested in exploring the arts. She said these programs are already in place and anyone interested in participating should contact the Guild during business hours for more information.

The Artists’ Guild is also launching their “Paint the Town” event that will take place the entire month of February. The event, sponsored by the Bradenton Islands Arts and Culture division of the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, will feature:

• Daily artist demos in front of the galleryWednesdays thru Satur-

days, 11 a.m. -1 p.m.

• Gallery competitions - Votes for favorite locally-inspired subjects

• Paint Arounds - five artists collaborate on five paintings from 3-5 p.m. on Fridays

• Kid’s activity - Papier-mache’ from 3-5 p.m. on Fridays

• Art Walk – Friday, Feb. 10

• Plein Aire Artists –Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to noon, locations TBD

The Artists’ Guild of Anna Maria Island, an all-volunteer, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, was formed in 1989 to promote and support

creative processes by bringing together all artists to share experiences and expertise and work together to develop and promote the artistic community. The AGAMI Gallery is at 5414 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach.

IGW welcomes two new artists

Island Gallery West welcomes two new member artists to its gallery at 5368 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach.

Carol Farkas has been designing original jewelry for over 30 years. She is inspired by unusual beads and antique crystals. She likes to deconstruct old jewelry and redesign it to get a completely new look. Recently Carol has been making one-ofa-kind scarves, which she likes to refer to as “wearable art.” She welcomes commissions to design scarves to match pieces of clothing in your wardrobe.

Rick Cardoza works out of his home studio in Bradenton, and is an avid landscape painter and outdoor enthusiast. He paints representational acrylic paintings that celebrate the beauty and wonder of nature and landscape scenes. Rick is a member of the Art Centers of Sarasota and Manatee and a former Signature Artist Member and President of the Rhode Island Watercolor Society and an Artist Member of the Cape Cod Art Association.

IGW brings back art demonstrations

Saturday art demonstrations are returning to Island Gallery West. A favorite of both locals and visitors, these unique demonstrations will take place at the gallery every Saturday starting at 10:30 a.m. The Jan. 28 demonstration, “Painting on Clouds,” hosted by Marie Garafano, is a free 1-1/2 hour demo to be held outdoors (weather permitting) at Island Gallery West, 5368 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach. Using oils, the artist will discuss light, composition and colors of clouds. For more information, call 941-778-6648 or visit www.islandgallerywest. com.

The new year is looking good for

JASON SCHAFFER | SUN

Visitors mingle at a recent Art Walk at The Artists’ Guild of Anna Maria Island.

Cool water may lessen winter red tide

BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com

Water temperatures in the 60s and winds from the north may be keeping red tide from worsening in local waters.

“The red tide organism is always around; it’s hardly ever absent,” said Dr. Dave Tomasko, executive director of the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program (SBEP). “The red tide bloom at levels that will kill fish is what we’re concerned about.”

Tomasko characterized Karenia brevis, the organism that causes Florida red tide, as a “cold-blooded organism” that typically originates many miles offshore.

“An increase in temperature of about 20 degrees Fahrenheit is enough to double its growth rate,” he said.

While water temperature is a factor, other factors may be keeping winter numbers at low to medium levels.

“Right now in the winter the winds are out of the north or northeast and that’s helping us by pushing it offshore,” he said. “Also the sun is less intense now and there is a shorter amount of sunlight.”

While there is no way to predict what the warmer weather will bring, summer typically has the highest blooms for a number of reasons, Tomasko said.

“There is a longer, stronger sunlight,” he said. “The winds are out of the west and that sea breeze brings it closer to shore. Also, there is more rain runoff in the summer.”

In 2022, Tomasko co-authored a peer-reviewed article in the journal, “Science of the Total Environment,” titled, “Nitrogen-enriched discharges from a highly managed watershed intensify red tide (Karenia brevis) blooms in southwest Florida.”

“Offshore processes explain how red tide begins offshore and moves

High

RED TIDE REPORT

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

Medium

Background

toward shore,” according to the SBEP website. “Yet as blooms meet with the coast, human-contributed nutrients, specifically nitrogen, can influence bloom intensity and duration.”

Tomasko said that while summertime red tide factors can’t be controlled, there are ways to control

making the blooms worse.

“I would caution people not to over-fertilize their lawns, not to blow grass clippings into storm drains or to over-trim mangroves, and to pick up after their pets,” he said.

Very low (possible respiratory irritation)

(no effects) None (no red tide present)

Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

OUTDOORS

Scallopalooza: Welcome to the Clam Jam

Reel Time

RUSTY CHINNIS

n Saturday night, Feb. 11, Sarasota Bay Watch (SBW) will hold its 13th annual major fundraising event, “Scallopalooza: Welcome to The Clam Jam,” at the Sarasota Hyatt Regency Hotel. Last year’s event was a sellout with over 400 community supporters in attendance and, if history is any indication, this year will be too.

SBW’s Executive Director Ronda Ryan, who has been with Sarasota Bay Watch since 2007, continues to spearhead the group’s education and restoration efforts. Sarasota Bay Watch’s shellfish restoration efforts resulted in nearly 1 million clams being released in 2022 alone. Their work highlights the need for action to protect the local marine ecosystem. As a part of

that “natural system,” clams filter algae that have been growing in excess and affecting water quality and clarity in the bay. Reduced water quality and clarity negatively affects seagrass growth, a necessary component for a healthy ecosystem. Seagrass beds provide essential habitat and food to all creatures in the bay, including humans.

Sarasota Bay Watch Board President Brandon Taaffe and members of the event committee, Brian Jung, Al Jeffery, John Ryan and Ernesto Lasso De La Vega, helped Ryan organize an event that highlights the importance of and support for local nonprofits stressing the significance of clean water.

The evening’s activities will include live music, an open bar and a large silent auction that includes artwork, event tickets, and merchandise of every description. After dinner, a live auction will feature packages including travel, fishing trips and much more.

One of the best parts of the event is the opportunity to mingle with some of the re-

gion’s most passionate environmental supporters and to share the common mission for protecting Sarasota Bay. De La Vega, who leads the clam restoration efforts, will be back to update participants on SBW’s projects, which include the first-ever clam lease in Sarasota Bay that is dedicated to restoration.

To get involved with the work SBW is doing to protect Sarasota Bay and support their mission, visit www. sarasotabaywatch.org. As their motto says, “A healthy bay is everybody’s business,” literally and figuratively!

COMMISSION: Opposes state attacks on home rule

FROM PAGE 5

Commissioner Jake Spooner said state legislators should focus more on undergrounding projects, stormwater and drainage improvements and other infrastructure improvements.

ADDITIONAL PRIORITIES

Another home rule-related legislative priority pertains to the continued local regulation of short-term vacation rentals. The city commission supports legislation that repeals the state preemption of the local regulation of short-term rental properties.

“Please reject efforts to restrict our abilities to locally respond to the needs of our community,” the priorities list says.

The commission supports property insurance reform that would address

increasing insurance rates, claim duration processes, policy cancellations and benefits assignments.

Commissioners also support the expanded use of Manatee County’s 5% tourist development tax – much of which is generated by lodging establishments on Anna Maria Island. The priorities list notes Bradenton Beach has a resident population of approximately 1,200 people, but during weekends, holidays, peak tourist periods and busy beach days, more than 30,000 people occupy the city at any given time. The commission supports legislation to expand the use of those restricted tourist development tax revenues to also help fund additional policing services and infrastructure improvements.

The commission supports the preser-

vation of the communication services tax and the local business tax and opposes legislation that modifies, restricts or eliminates municipalities’ authority to levy or collect those tax revenues that help fund city services.

The commission also supports legislation that provides recurring funding sources for programs and projects that preserve and enhance water quality

AM COMMISSION: Salem, Seymour seek seat

FROM PAGE 3

APPLICANT PRESENTATIONS

Regarding the most important responsibilities of a city commissioner, Salem listed protecting quality of life, ensuring public safety and being a responsible steward of taxpayer dollars.

“I haven’t held elected office, but I’ve been around both the legislative and executive branches of government,” Salem said.

Seymour said it’s important to be open and approachable to everyone and to be open-minded and educated about other people’s concerns.

“Take the personal out of your decisions and do what’s best for the entire community,” he said.

Regarding his skills that would benefit the city, Salem listed “Understanding the political and the policy processes, how the levers of government work and how we can use the resources we have to impact that process.”

Regarding the state legislators’ latest

efforts to eliminate the Island cities’ home rule rights, Salem said, “I have a background in putting together coalitions. I would use that experience to help craft a strategy to work with the commission, the mayor and our lobbyist on this issue.”

Regarding his beneficial skills and traits, Seymour said, “I believe I’m pretty openminded. I might go into a discussion with an opinion but you can change my mind. I’m open to both sides of an idea. I also tend to look at the benefit to others before I look at a benefit to myself.”

Salem and Seymour agree that street paving, stormwater and drainage projects and the pending Pine Avenue safety improvements are the city’s top three core objectives, but neither believes installing bike paths along Pine Avenue and preserving the existing parallel parking spaces should be an either/or proposition. Both said they want to learn more as to why bike paths can’t be installed without eliminating the street-side parking spaces.

If forced to choose one or the other, Seymour said he’d keep the existing parking spaces.

Regarding additional priorities, Salem said, “Given recent developments, I’d say home rule is also very important and something I’ve been working on as part of planning and zoning is restoring the balance between vacationers and the residents. I think that’s also important for home rule. If we don’t have an active population and voter base that cares about the city, we’re not going to be able to withstand the influences from outside of our Island that are trying to govern us.”

Seymour said, “We could potentially lose home rule and they could throw all those codes and ordinances out the window and we could become a high-rise city. That scares me.”

Seymour thinks the city should also prioritize utility infrastructure improvements.

“I think this Island and our city has a considerable problem with utility infrastruc-

and/or mitigate the negative environmental and economic impacts of red tide and other harmful algae blooms that threaten public waterways.

The commission unanimously approved the revised legislative priorities list that now includes the commission’s opposition to the legislative actions proposed by Robinson and the Manatee County legislative delegation.

ture,” Seymour said.

He noted the 500 block of Pine Avenue loses power for six to 12 days a year, even on sunny days. He also said several Anna Maria properties recently experienced nonstorm-related Spectrum internet service interruptions on two non-consecutive days.

“It really impacts business when we can’t process payments. How can we partner with FPL and Spectrum to make our grid a little more stable?” Seymour said.

Salem and Seymour both said they’d seek re-election in November if appointed.

They both support the 2.05 millage rate that’s remained in effect for several years. Salem favors the lowest tax rate possible and Seymour is open to lowering or raising the millage rate if needed.

They agree that noise ordinance enforcement is important for maintaining residents’ quality of life. Neither owns vacation rental properties and neither has any conflicts of interest they feel would impede their ability to govern.

The three Island cities are going to be working together to correct this injustice.”

John Chappie, Bradenton Beach mayor

Moss, Solid Rock on top as flag football season opens

BY MONICA SIMPSON SPECIAL TO THE SUN

ANNA MARIA – After a successful jamboree to kick off youth flag football, last week The Center’s fields and sidelines were filled with players, coaches, family, friends and cheerleaders for all of the week one action.

In both the 8- to 10-year-old and 11- to 13-year-old leagues, the two teams sponsored by Moss Builders and Solid Rock Construction finished their games with wins. The four teams top the charts along with team Sato Real Estate and team Island Real Estate for the younger league, and Sandhoff Construction and Pineapple Market Place in the tween league.

Starting off the season with four solid flag football games, the elementary school age players razzled and dazzled with exciting play and lots of scoring.

Turner Worth, for Solid Rock Construction, scored 24 points in the 50-6 win last Monday night. Worth’s teammate, Matthew Darak, held onto the football to score one rushing and one receiving TD.

Rounding out the scoring for Solid Rock was Samuel Raulerson and Elijah Roadman with scoring catches each. Quarterback Kyle Sims not only had five passing touchdowns, but also scored two points in a conversion after a touchdown.

On the other side of the football, Tanner Pippins made a nice reception for SynLawn. Oliver

McCallister scored six points with a running touchdown.

SynLawn’s defense played tough against a tough opponent, topped off with an interception by Nolan Anderson.

In a shutout, Moss Builders kept Cloud Pest Control out of the endzone, ending the game with the score 39-0.

Leading team Moss Builders, Aidan Guess played QB and hit his target three times for catching TDs and had a pick six on defense. Miles Moss finished the game with two touchdowns.

Jedi Smith scored a total of three points with point after conversions. Smith’s Moss Builders teammate, Luke Willing, lit up the field with a rushing touchdown, catching for six points and an interception with a run back into the Cloud Pest Control endzone.

Cloud Pest Control’s offense saw nice catches by Jermaine Goode and Maci Sallier.

Sato Real Estate earned their first win against AMI Coconuts. Working as the QB, Brandon Sato threw for two touchdowns to his big brother, Dylan Sato.

Receiving the handoff, B. Sato ran for 12 points to help the Sato Real Estate team win their first game of the season.

Silas DeWitt, Kellen Reed, Camden Rudacille and D. Sato are all credited with extra points to help solidify the W for their team. DeWitt scored two points for Sato Real Estate with an interception on a conversion attempt by AMI Coconuts.

On defense, three interceptions and two defensive touchdowns put more points on the scoreboard for the Sato squad. Rudacille and D. Sato made strong defensive plays to intercept the football and score.

Josiah Figueroa and Preston LaPensee made great catches for touchdowns. LaPensee threw to Figueroa and Matthew Perkins hit LaPensee for a total of 12 points in the game.

Figueroa scored the extra point, giving AMI Coconuts 13 points to end the week one play for the two teams.

In the final game of Monday night football action, Island Real Estate won their first game against Westfall’s Lawn Care & Pest Control. Winning by 20 points, the Maize pairing of Gunnar and Charlee scored for Island Real Estate with rushing TDs.

Off a throw by Sawyer Leibfried, Riley Karecki made a scoring reception for six points and added an additional point after.

C. Maize also made a point after conversion, scoring seven points in the last game of the night for the 8- to 10-year-old league. With five more regular season games, all of the teams in the two youth flag football leagues have a chance to take home the championship titles.

SUN

SCOREBOARD

JAN. 16

8- TO 10-YEAR-OLD LEAGUE WEEK 1

Solid Rock Construction (1-0-0) 50 SynLawn (0-1-0) 6

Moss Builders (1-0-0) 3 9 Cloud Pest Control (0-1-0) 0

Sato Real Estate (1-0-0) 44 AMI Coconuts (0-1-0) 13

Island Real Estate (1-0-0) 32 Westfall’s Lawn Care & Pest Control (0-1-0) 12

JAN. 17

11- TO 13-YEAR-OLD LEAGUE WEEK 1

Sandhoff Construction (1-0-0) 15 Storage Building Company (0-1-0) 6

Solid Rock Construction (1-0-0) 44 Chick-Fil-A (0-1-0) 10

Moss Builders (1-0-0) 26 Shady Lady (0-1-0) 2

Pineapple Market Place (1-0-0) 41 International Resilient Intuitive (0-1-0) 21

JAN. 19

ADULT FLAG FOOTBALL WEEK 2

Solid Rock Construction (1-1-0) 48

The Sandbar (0-2-0) 28

The Briley Mortgage Team (2-0-0) 33

The Banks Home Lending Team (1-1-0) 18

Gulf Drive Café (1-1-0) 40 Ugly Grouper (0-2-0) 12

Luxury Services (2-0-0) 48 Moss Builders (1-1-0) 27

MONICA SIMPSON | SUN

Taking the football down the field for the Dolly Parton's Imagination Library squad, Jett Fischer hustles down the field during a drill with his coach Joseph Cartwright.

As bright as the sun

Joshua & Brianna

Foster

Did you know that sunshine causes the release of endorphins such as serotonin, which is a top contributor to happiness? That must be why everyone’s smiling on the streets of Anna Maria, aside from its undeniable charm and beauty.

Just like the sunshine, a brilliant meal can absolutely bring you to a euphoric state of great happiness and excitement; at least it can for us!

Similar to the feeling you get when you’re enjoying your favorite meal that your mother used to make for you or your go-to meal at your favorite restaurant. So good it might make you do a little “happy” dance at the table or even make you sink deeper into your seat. Feeling every flavor bounce off your taste buds: Happiness.

Bringing the sunshine to your plate, a steak Oscar - sentimental for us. This dish was one of the two entrees we ordered on our first date, 12 years ago, at the humble age of 17. What makes this dish so wonderful is the influence of the crab meat, béarnaise sauce and a butterflied shrimp, and how it can transform your dish. The reason we love béarnaise sauce is its richness. Made from simple ingredients such as egg yolks, vinegar, and clarified butter, béarnaise is flawlessly creamy and packed with herbaceous flavors – including shallots, tarragon, and, in some cases, some peppercorn – infused directly into the sauce! This sauce is derived from hollandaise sauce, typically served with the beloved eggs Benedict dish; the additional herbs are what truly differentiate the two. Maybe we're biased,

Béarnaise Sauce

Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons tarragon-infused vinegar

• 4 cups white wine vinegar

• ½ cup chopped shallot

• ½ cup chopped tarragon

• 1 tablespoon and 1 teaspoon black peppercorn

Reduce by half.

• 4 egg yolks

• 11 ounces hot butter

• 2 teaspoons lemon juice

• ½ teaspoon kosher salt

• 1.5 tablespoons chopped tarragon

Instructions:

All ingredients should be room temperature aside from hot butter. Begin by adding egg yolk and vinegar to a bowl and whip with a hand emulsion mixer until nice and foamy in consistency. Slowly add in the hot butter, followed by lemon juice, salt and tarragon, then serve. SUBMITTED

but béarnaise, although still a simple sauce, takes the cake for us! Sometimes we even pair the béarnaise with grouper or snapper - whichever is fresh. This pairing is not traditional; however, we can’t get enough; these flavors are as bright as the sun.

To our fellow neighbors and travelers we have a few wine selections that bring this meal to the next level. When pairing with your filet Oscar, we suggest a pinot noir. Our personal favorite is the Lemelson pinot noir “Thea’s Selection,” Willamette Valley, Oregon. This pinot noir plays well with all aspects when serving alongside a steak Oscar, starting with the lower tannins. Lower tannins are preferred as they refuse to overpower

the crab meat. The acidity of a pinot noir tends to balance the meat’s sweetness. The bolder the variety, the better the pinot noir will stand up to the bearnaise sauce.

Alternatively, should you dare the non-traditional route, for the fresh catch Oscar we recommend specifically the Louis Moreau chablis of Burgundy, France. Chablis, with its steely character and fresh citrus flavor, pairs well with white fish and its naturally high acidity can counterbalance the béarnaise. Try it with us, or make the perfect Oscar at home and treat yourselves, your family and/or friends to a little bit of sunshine.

THE PORCH RESTAURANT

COVID-19 in Manatee County

JAN. 16

Cases 456

% Positivity 15.65%

Deaths 0

% Eligible population vaccinated 74.4%

New hospital admissions 42

JAN. 23

Cases 435

% Positivity 12.27%

Deaths 0

% Eligible population vaccinated 74.4% New hospital admissions 40

Source: Centers for Disease Control

Manatee County community level of COVID-19 transmission

The

REAL ESTATE

An island in the sun

Iclearly remember traveling to the Caribbean islands when I was still living in the cold northeast and won dering what it would be like to live and work in such a beautiful place. Do high heel shoes become a thing of the past, to be replaced by flip flops, and do you immediately discard anything that says 100% wool, not to mention pantyhose? I did all of this and never looked back except to be grateful that I found this particular Island when I did.

Don’t misunderstand; I am very pro-real estate and most of the homes on Anna Maria Island are tasteful, new and built to current hurricane building codes, making them safer than their one-level ranch ancestors. Nevertheless, these days if I visit a small island, I can’t help comparing it to Anna Maria Island and can’t even imagine what the next 10 years will bring.

For now, let’s see what the December sales statistics for Manatee County have to say, reported by the Realtor Association of

Castles in the Sand

LOUISE BOLGER

Single-family homes closed 29.7% fewer properties from December of last year. The median selling price was $507,000, up 10.2% from last year, but the average selling price was $610,237, down 0.6% from last year. The median time to contract was 27 days this December compared to six days last December, and the month’s supply of available properties is three months this year compared to 0.6 last year.

Condos closed 24.2% fewer properties from December of last year. The median selling price was $344,475, up 13.7% from last year, but the average selling price was $364,057, down 3.6% from last year.

The median time to contract was 19 days compared to six days last year, and the month’s supply of available properties was 2.7 months this December compared to 0.5 last year.

The consensus of opinion is that 2022 has been a change or shift in the market and we are seeing that as well. Dr. Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Association of Realtors, indicates that inflation has been dropping and consumers can expect mortgage rates will likely fall as well.

In addition, although there are fewer sales, we have a significant increase in listings, making more properties available. Our market is still, however, considered a seller’s market per the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee.

An island - really just a spit of sand in the Atlantic Ocean - that made all these feelings come roaring back was a one-day stop at a totally undeveloped island called Half Moon Cay, a private island owned by one of the major cruise companies. The

actual name for this dot of paradise is Little San Salvador Island 100 miles southeast of Nassau in the Bahamas. Half Moon Cay’s size is close to Anna Maria Island’s, but you would never know it driving around. There are only a handful of homes, a beautiful lagoon, a tourist center with shops and a spectacular unspoiled beach.

That said, based on a recent profile of Anna Maria in the Wall Street Journal, Anna Maria, “a tropical oasis,” is Florida’s second-most expensive zip code (34216) as ranked by median listing price, according to realtor.com. Anna Maria city is topped by Miami’s Fisher Island, pretty good company.

As Anna Maria keeps growing and property values keep going up, I wonder what would happen to lovely Little San Salvador if civilization invaded their beach. Every time I read a profile of Anna Maria in a national publication it leaves me shaking in my flip flops, but that’s progress and this is an island in the sun.

BEACH BEAT

BRADENTON BEACH

1/10, 4 p.m., theft, 101 Seventh St. N. A report of a theft was made after a cook at Wicked Cantina said his backpack containing $200 in $20 bills was hanging on a rack next to the backpack of another cook. After work, the victim noticed the money was missing from the backpack. Wicked Cantina provided video footage of another cook taking the money from the bag to police. After an interview with police, the employee admitted to taking the money and gave $50 of the cash back, with a promise to return the rest. The defendant did not return the remainder of the money to police as promised, so a capias was sent out for theft charges.

1/14, 11:50 a.m., information, 300 Gulf Drive S. While on patrol, the officer heard a loud grinding noise off in the distance. As the vehicle approached, he saw it was driving with a flat tire and the wheel rim was what

was making the noise. The vehicle was also leaving a trail of fluid leaking from it. When he attempted to initiate a traffic stop on the vehicle, it did not stop, but did not increase speed. A traffic stop was finally made in the 600 block of Gulf Drive. The driver showed signs of memory issues, and believed he was driving in Tampa, having no idea where he was and appearing disoriented. The driver was Baker Acted after officers spoke with his daughter in another state who said her father was showing signs of dementia. He was taken to Blake Hospital and the vehicle was towed from the scene.

HOLMES BEACH

1/15, 9:32 a.m., Baker Act, 6001 Marina Drive. Two officers observed a subject walking down the sidewalk without his shirt or shoes. He appeared to be talking to himself and upset. Ten minutes later, the officers were dispatched to the public beach where witnesses said he was running at cars and approaching people in a threatening manner. Police made contact with the subject’s fatherin-law who said he was bipolar and off

his medication. Officers learned the man had been approaching females and “scaring them out of their minds,” as well as having multiple encounters with other people that felt threatened by his actions. The subject refused to get into the police vehicle when officers told him he would be Baker Acted and taken to Blake Hospital for his own safety. After a struggle that included the man spitting on officers, he was detained and taken to the hospital for treatment.

1/17, 2:33 a.m., Possession of marijuana less than 20 grams, 3800 East Bay Drive. After a traffic stop for speeding, the officer smelled marijuana in the vehicle. The driver said he did not have a prescription and denied having any drugs in the car. After a search, the officer found a bag containing 10.8 grams of marijuana in the car. No other drugs were located. The driver was issued a warning for the speeding violation and a notice to appear in court for possession of marijuana under 20 grams. The marijuana was seized and placed into evidence.

OBITUARIES

James (Jimbo) Lease

James (Jimbo) Lease passed away on Jan. 14. Born on March 31, 1955, Jimbo grew up on the beaches of Anna Maria Island surfing, fishing and playing music. He was known and loved by many. His family and friends will miss him and his larger-than-life personality. Jimbo is predeceased by his parents, Jim and Loretta Lease; and a brother, Tim Lease. He is survived by his son, Tyson Lease; and his siblings, Kathy Lease Harris, Ken Lease, Tom Lease, Steve Lease, Dan Lease, Terry Lease Williams, Rick Lease, Matt Lease and Jeff Lease; and eight nephews and nieces. The family will plan a service for a later time.

November 2022 tourist tax collections

compared to November 2021

Anna Maria 8%

Bradenton Beach 5% Holmes Beach 3%

Manatee County Total* 33%

*(Anna Maria Island, Bradenton, Longboat Key, unincorporated Manatee County, Palmetto)

Manatee County’s 5% resort tax, or tourist tax, is collected from owners of accommodations rented for six months or less who charge the tax to their renters, in most cases, tourists. About 50% of the tax proceeds are allocated to Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau tourism marketing efforts, with 20% allocated to beach renourishment. The tax also

and paid to the Manatee County Tax Collector’s Office in December. Manatee County totals include Anna Maria Island cities, Bradenton, the portion of Longboat Key within Manatee County, unincorporated Manatee County and Palmetto. To anonymously report a rental owner who may not be paying the tax, call 941-741-4809 or visit http://www.taxcollector.com/tdt-evader.cfm.

Saturday with hits including “Don’t Look Back,” “More than a Feeling,” “Peace of Mind” and many more.

HOTEL: Proposed hotel triggers petition, legal advice

FROM PAGE 4

When asked why he initiated the petition, Jensen said, “I don’t like my voice being suppressed and I think that’s how a lot of people feel about this project.”

When recently contacted by The Sun, Jensen said he’s in his final semester of studying political science at the University of South Florida’s Sarasota-Manatee campus in Sarasota. Jensen said he has many friends and family members in Bradenton Beach but he does not live or work in Bradenton Beach. He said he used to work in Bradenton Beach but he declined to say where. He said he does not own property in Bradenton Beach or Manatee County but is a registered voter in Manatee County.

The 3,700 petition signatures received is far greater than the number of residents and registered voters in Bradenton Beach.

According to the 2020 U.S. Census, Bradenton Beach then had a population of 908

people. According to the Manatee County Supervisor Elections Office, approximately 450 Bradenton Beach voters cast votes in the 2022 city elections.

Jensen’s petition encourages people to contact county commissioners regarding the proposed project, but the county commission has no jurisdiction in this city permitting process.

Jensen said he’s never attended a Bradenton Beach City Commission meeting or a Manatee County Commission meeting. He acknowledged that he’s not familiar with the city’s major development permitting process that will include public hearings before the city’s Planning and Zoning Board and the city commission. The proposed hotel development will ultimately require city commission approval and Jensen said he plans to attend the public hearings.

The petition doesn’t cite any charter provisions, city codes or regulations that would

prohibit the construction of the proposed hotel and Jensen would not say whether he had yet reviewed the actual plans and permitting documents submitted to the city.

CITY INSIGHTS

On Jan. 17, Bradenton Beach Building Official Steve Gilbert provided The Sun with the following statement: “To the best of my knowledge, we have received no further documents, applications, forms, blueprints or any other items related to redevelopment of the property.

I cannot give an estimate as to time frames for public hearings. There are many requirements of the land development code that must be reviewed by staff before we can begin planning for the public hearings. The drawings submitted thus far cannot be considered anything more than very basic conceptual drawings at best.”

Some conceptual renderings indicate

additional hotel units located along one side of the rooftop deck and pool area. City Attorney Ricinda Perry said those units would be considered a partial fourth story and would not be allowed according to the height limits set forth in the city charter.

During the Jan. 19 city commission meeting, Mayor John Chappie said the city’s received numerous emails about the pending quasi-judicial land use approval process. He and Perry cautioned the other city commission members to not discuss or provide public comment on the quasi-judicial major development approval process that will see the mayor and commissioners acting in a legally binding jury-like manner.

Perry said the property owners and developers have the right to a fair, impartial and fact-based permitting process and any variations from the quasi-judicial requirements could be detrimental to the developers and/or the city. Perry said these precautionary measures should also be taken by Planning and Zoning Board members and city staff.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

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

BRIDGE GAMES STARTING up at Roser Church in February. Call 314-324-5921 for details.

THE BEST VOLUNTEER position on the island. The AMI Historical Museum needs docents and bread makers. Call Kathy Primeau at 989-560-6381.

ROSER FOOD BANK needs donations of cash and non-perishable food, PAPER & PERSONAL HYGIENE PRODUCTS. Donations boxes are located at the Church, Moose Club, and Walgreen’s.

HOSPITAL VOLUNTEERS WANTED to assist at our information desk, especially weekends. Great for teens needing volunteer hours (16yrs+). Other assignments available. Please call the Blake Volunteer Office at 941-798-6151.

COMMERCIAL SALES, RENT & LEASE

HAVE YOU BEEN thinking of selling? We NEED properties to List for SALE!!! Duplexes, multi family, small resorts? Call BIG Alan Galletto of Is-land Real Estate to get it SOLD 941-232-2216

COMMERCIAL LEASE - 419 pine, Anna Maria - Island Real Estate - Larry Chatt 941-345-1288

CLEANING SERVICE

TOTAL HOME SERVICES

CLEANING : Residential, Commercial, Rentals, VRBO. Professional and Reliable. Call 941-7564570 or 941-565-3931

ENDLESS SUMMER HOME SERVICES Cleaning & Maintenance. Call Angela for your home needs. 941577-3823

EMPLOYMENT

WANTED LICENSED REALTOR! Seeking real estate agent with island expertise to join our high-ly productive sales team! Contact us at 941-900-4974. All calls confidential

The award-winning ANNA MARIA ISLAND SUN, a weekly newspaper on Florida’s Gulf Coast, is looking for a freelance reporter/photographer to cover events on this tourism-driven island. The ide-al candidate will have reporting and photography experience at a community newspaper and have some experience writing for a news website. Local residents or those with previous local knowledge and willing to relocate here a plus. Resumes and cover letters may be mailed to The Anna Maria Island Sun, P.O Box 1189, Anna Maria, FL 34216, Attention: Mike Field, publisher.

ESTATE SALE

ESTATE SALE FRIDAY January 27 9:30am-2pm and SUNDAY January 29 11am-3pm. 110 49th St, Holmes Beach (please park on side of street that allows permit parking. Do not block driveways or mail boxes). Long time Holmes Beach resident. Oriental rugs, sofa bed, 2 sofa love seats, dining room set, occasional tables & chairs, lamps, period Queen Ann low boy, Antique drop leave, 2 draw stands, 3 high boy bar stools, queen beds, wing and Windsor chairs, 4 sets of china, baskets, bows, collectibles, brass candle sticks, bells, Royal Copenhagen cut glass, Waterford, Lladro, patio furni-ture, clocks, books, water colors, listed artist, garden statues, bird bath, silver plate & stainless flat-ware, refrigerator, nice lines, drafting table, men’s clothing, tools including router table and router. NICE SALE! Sale conducted by Palma Sola Sales. Numbers given out at 8am.

FISHING CHARTERS

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

FOR SALE

TOPPER FOR F150 Long bed. $50 or Best Offer. Call 941-705-7560.

GARAGE/YARD SALE

YARD SALE SATURDAY

FEBRUARY 4. 615 N. Bay Boulevard, City of Anna Maria. 9am-4pm. Vari-ety of goods, fishing rods, books, mirrors etc.

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

TILE! TILE! TILE! All variations of tile supplied and installed. Quality workmanship. Prompt, reliable, many Island references. Free estimates. Neil 941-726-3077

RENOVATION SPECALIST

ALL carpentry repairs, Wash Family Construction, locally owned and operated CBC 1258250 Call 941-7250073.

KERN CONSTRUCTION

NEW Homes & Remodel. Design/Build. Since 1968. License # CBC 1261150. Call Mike Kern 941-7781115

JSAN CORPORATION

Renovations Construction & Handyman Services 941-243-0995 Lic# CRC1332505 jsancorporation@gmail. com Flooring, Drywall, Painting, Repairs, Kitchen and Bathrooms, Trim & Doors Free Estimates. Credit Cards Accepted.

API’S DRYWALL REPAIR 15+ years experience. Free estimates. No job too small. Love to help you. Call 941-524-8067.

HOME IMPROVEMENT Michigan General Contractor 30+ yrs. experience. Large or small projects. Budget minded knowledgeable tradesman will complete your project start to finish: On Time/On Budget. Call Mike 616-204-8822.

ISLE TILE specializing in Custom Bath/Shower & Backsplash installation. Pressure washing available. Call 941-302-8759 isletileservices.com

HOME SERVICES

CONCRETE FUSION, CRACK REPAIR sidewalks/ driveways. Why fix 95% of concrete when only 5% bad? Number 1 in concrete repair. Insured. Free estimate. Call Bobby 941-374-7670.

LANDSCAPING & LAWN CARE

R. GAROFALO’S Interlocking brick pavers, driveways, patios, pool decks. Free estimates. Licensed & Insured. Call Rafael 941-778-4823 or Veronik 941-526-7941

SHELL DRIVEWAYS & LANDSCAPE. Specializing in Old Florida Seashell and Lime rock drive-ways and scapes. Also River Rock, Sand, Mulch, & Soil. Call Shark Mark 941-301-6067

ISLAND RESIDENT. TREE/ BUSH Trimming, removal. Sweeping, blowing, and weeding. Weekly, bimonthly or monthly schedule. Pressure washing. Call Bill Witaszek 941-307-9315

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 esti-mates. 941-812-0507

“WIZARD OF WALLS” Established 1980 Prompt quality service. Wallpaper installation/ removal. Mary Bell Winegarden 941-794-0455

DONALD PERKINS ABRACADABRA

PAINTING LLC fully insured. 30 years experience. Many Island references. Call 941-7057096

PROFESSIONAL PAINTING SERVICES. Prompt & Reliable. Island Resident. Quality Workmanship. Interior/Exterior. Minor repairs & carpentry. Free estimates. Bill Witaszek 941-307-9315

POOL SERVICES

FOUR SEASONS POOL SERVICE AND CHEMICAL SERVICES. Certified Pool Operator. 10 + Years Experience. Residential/commercial. Chemical Service Licensed & Insured. Call Dennis Clark 941-7375657

COLE'S TROPICAL POOL SERVICE Call Cole Bowers for all your pool maintenance needs! Af-fordable and Dependable!! 941-7131893

PRESSURE WASHING & WINDOWS

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

REAL ESTATE HOMES & CONDOS FOR SALE

Have you been thinking of selling? We NEED properties to List for SALE!!! GULF FRONT, CANAL FRONT, BAY FRONT CONDOS or HOMES ASK for BIG Alan Galletto of Island Real Estate to get it SOLD 941-232-2216

LOOKING FOR A highly motivated real estate broker to buy or sell your next home? Darcie Duncan, Broker Duncan Real Estate a lifelong island resident bringing success to her customers for 30 years. Proven track record brings you results! 941-725-1589

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

GORGEOUS DEEP WATER LOT with 2BR/2BA home in City of Anna Maria with dock and boat lift. Beautiful street. Just one block walk to beach. $2,800,000. Call for showing 941-713-6531

RENTALS: ANNUAL

ANNUAL RENTALS WANTED! We have well qualified tenants for beach and mainland annual rent-als, Full management or Finders fee. Call today for details. Ask for Paige DUNCAN REAL ESTATE 513-3821992.

ANNUAL RENTALS – AVAILABLE NOW. 2BR/1BA, furnished. $4,500/month. 3BR/2BA, unfur-nished. $5,000/month. Canal front 3BR/2BA home, private pool, boat dock. AVAILABLE 2/1/23. $9,000/mo. First, Last, and Security Deposit required Call Sato Real Estate, Inc 941-7787200 or Email monica@ satorealestate.com

RENTALS: SEASONAL & VACATION

TIFFANY PLACE Gulf Front Condo for Rent Incredible views from living room and master bed-room. 2BR/2BA Green Real Estate Call 941-778-0455

SEASONAL RENTAL in PALMA SOLA. 3BR/2BA weekly or monthly rates. Contact Barb Grace 941201-2190

ANNA MARIA ISLAND CONDOS Large pool, beach access, free WiFi, 1&2 Bedroom $900 to $1200 per week redekercondosonami.com Tim 941-704-7525

TRANSPORTATION

AMI TAXI credit cards, cash, Venmo accepted. Airport: Tampa $105, Sarasota $50, St. Pete/Clearwater $105, Orlando $220. Call 941447-8372, www.amitaxi. com GOLF CART RENTALS

ANYTIME TRANSPORTATION to all Airports, Casino, etc. Tampa/St. Pete $80. Sarasota $40. Pets welcome. Very dependable. Reasonable rates. Contact Jeanne. 941-779-5095