- Named Best Florida Newspaper In Its Class -
VOL 21 No. 39
July 7, 2021
KRISTIN SWAIN | SUN
A festive Fourth of July JASON SCHAFFER | SUN
JASON SCHAFFER | SUN
The Anna Maria Island Privateers took to the streets Saturday in the annual Fourth of July parade, engaging bystanders in fierce water cannon combat, supported by the forces of Hernando DeSoto’s invading conquistadors. After the beads were all launched, the red, white and blue was still flying proudly at the end of the skirmishes, which concluded before heavy rains came. More parade photos on Page 8.
Island building owners warned to investigate structural issues A property manager urges Martinique condominiums - the tallest buildings on AMI – to do an engineering study to avoid a tragedy like the collapse of a condo in Surfside. BY CINDY LANE SUN STAFF WRITER | clane@amisun.com
ANNA MARIA ISLAND - Could a tragedy such as last month’s collapse of the high-rise condominium in Surfside happen here? Some say it could – particularly after a balcony fell off a residence in Holmes Beach last week at 4106 Sixth Ave. (See related story on this page).
INSIDE NEWS 4 LETTERS 6 CALENDAR 7 OUTDOORS 18 RESTAURANTS 20-21 REAL ESTATE 22-26 CROSSWORD 29
In response to the June 24 collapse of the 12-story Champlain Towers South in Surfside, Longboat Key officials sent an open letter to property managers and condominium board members advising them to consider inspecting their foundations and structures. And the property manager for the only high-rises on Anna Maria Island - the two seven-story Martinique condo buildings in Holmes Beach - has advised its board members to do an engineering study. Longboat Key does not have AMI’s three-story height restriction - enacted after the Martinique was built in the 70s - and subsequently has high-rise
LITTLE surf
campers learn to shred the Gulf. 4
Anna Maria Island, Florida
SEE MARTINIQUE, PAGE 27
Collapsed balcony calls other structures into question One home in Holmes Beach has structural issues that are sparking an investigation into other properties built by the same builder. BY KRISTIN SWAIN SUN STAFF WRITER | kswain@amisun.com
HOLMES BEACH – A balcony fell off a resident's home last week, causing no injuries but plenty of concern among city leaders about the quality of construction of similar buildings. While completing a vacation rental inspection at a property on June 28, Code Compliance Officer James Thomas said he stepped out of the back
of the house and noticed something strange – the second-floor balcony of a neighboring home had collapsed. Thomas said he went to the home at 4106 Sixth Ave. to investigate but was denied admittance by the homeowner, Virginia Stewart. Fearing for the safety of the structure’s occupants, Thomas called the Holmes Beach Police Department and West Manatee Fire Rescue for reinforcements. Police officers and Fire Marshal Rodney Kwiatkowski gained him entrance to the home where they were joined by Building Official Neal Schwartz to inspect the damage to the home. SEE COLLAPSE, PAGE 27
PROPERTY OWNER cited again
for destroying protected sea grapes. 9 ISLAND tourism continues
at unprecedented pace. 15 The Island’s award-winning weekly newspaper www.amisun.com
2
THE SUN
www.amisun.com
JULY 7, 2021
www.amisun.com
JULY 7, 2021
THE SUN
3
Baugh reaches settlement in public records lawsuit When deposed under oath, Vanessa Baugh admitted she did not author a county resolution she previously claimed to have written. BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
BRADENTON - County Commission Chair Vanessa Baugh has reached a settlement with paralegal Michael Barfield regarding the Public Records Act lawsuit Barfield filed in December. On June 19, Baugh signed a settlement agreement that required her to pay Barfield $4,319. When contacted on Thursday, July 1, Barfield said he received a check from Baugh the previous day and the check was drawn on her personal bank account. Barfield said he now considers the lawsuit to be “a done deal.” According to the executed settlement document, “Without admitting any liability, the parties recognize that it is in the parties’ best interest to settle the action and claims between them. The parties are entering into this agreement for the purpose of avoiding greater future costs.”
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
Left, Manatee County Commission Chair Vanessa Baugh agreed to pay paralegal Michael Barfield $4,319 to settle the civil lawsuit. Right, shown here at a county commission meeting, paralegal Michael Barfield deposed Vanessa Baugh on May 14. Barfield’s civil lawsuit originally named County Commissioner James Satcher as the lone defendant and Baugh and Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge were later named as codefendants. In April, Satcher and Van Ostenbridge agreed to similar settlement agreements that called for them to collectively pay Barfield $6,000. In May, the Manatee County Commission voted 7-0 in favor of county taxpayers reimbursing Satcher and Van Ostenbridge approximately $56,000 to cover their attorney fees and settlement costs. When the county commission recon-
venes later this month, Baugh will have an opportunity to seek similar county reimbursement for her attorney fees and settlement costs.
BAUGH DEPOSITION
The Sun obtained a transcript of the deposition Barfield conducted of Baugh under oath on May 14. During the deposition, Baugh admitted she did not write the county resolution pertaining to meeting procedures that she presented for county commission adoption on Nov. 19. She also admitted that she previously claimed to have written the resolution herself.
The resolution Baugh presented on Nov. 19 with no advance notice given to the public or the commission as a whole pertained to meeting protocols and what types of commission actions could be taken during a particular type of meeting. The resolution was adopted that day by a 4-3 vote. That commission action preceded Van Ostenbridge’s motion, which was not publicly noticed, to put thenCounty Administrator Cheri Coryea on notice that her termination would be discussed at a future meeting. Several weeks later, the county resolution adopted on Nov. 19 was rescinded by a unanimous commission vote. Tallahassee-based attorney George Levesque represented Baugh at the deposition and throughout the legal proceeding. The deposition transcript provides a verbatim record of the verbal exchanges that occurred regarding the county resolution. “Let's talk about the resolution that was introduced by you at the November 19 meeting. Do you recall that?” “Yes,” Baugh responded. When was the first time that you saw that resolution?” Barfield asked. SEE BAUGH, PAGE 10
4
THE SUN
ISLAND NEWS
IN BRIEF
Storm looms over holiday weekend Manatee County declared a storm-related state of emergency on Sunday afternoon after Hurricane Elsa had been downgraded to a tropical storm from a Category 1 hurricane. The city of Anna Maria declared a state of emergency the previous Friday afternoon before the storm was downgraded. The resolution allows the mayor to enact curfews, close roads and close certain areas of the city while responding to the storm. At press time, Elsa was projected to reach Manatee County sometime Tuesday.
Visit our website, www.amisun.com. Scan this code with your smartphone to go there.
JULY 7, 2021
Surf campers shred the Gulf
The West Coast Surf Shop Surf Camp in Holmes Beach is underway this month and everyone from toddlers to teens is learning to surf, with the cooperation of the Gulf of Mexico’s gentle waves. The campers are known by their surf nicknames.
CINDY LANE | SUN
Shimmer rides it in to the beach.
Congratulations given to Holmes Beach city clerk Holmes Beach City Clerk Stacey Johnston, second from right, became president of the Florida Association of City Clerks during a June 30 ceremony in Fort Myers. From left, Holmes Beach commissioners Jayne ChrisSUBMITTED tenson and Jim Kihm were on hand to celebrate, along with Johnston’s husband, Jeff Johnston, right.
CINDY LANE | SUN
Left, Noserider Nick works on his form. Right, Shreddley McGnarley works up to the nose, with former surf camper, now instructor, Ethan Isaac (aka Bear) keeping the balance.
More road construction on the way HOLMES BEACH – A new roadway paving project is scheduled to get underway soon in Holmes Beach and will cover several areas of the city. Commissioners voted July 1 to contract with Superior Asphalt for $43,177.50 to cover paving at several city intersections. There is no set schedule for which intersections will be paved or when, but work should begin in the coming weeks, with completion by the end of the year. Affected areas will include the intersections of Second Avenue and 47th Street, 67th Street and Gulf Drive, 52nd Street and Holmes Boulevard, Second Avenue and 48th Street, Second Avenue and 49th Street, Second Avenue and 50th Street, 62nd Avenue and Marina Drive, Sixth Avenue and 34th Street, Dundee Lane and Key Royal Drive and the entrance to the condominium complex at 4913 Gulf Drive. Each area will receive a 1.5-inch asphalt overlay.
CINDY LANE | SUN
Left, Baby Killer Whale is up and shredding. Right, Sweet Pea catches a big wave.
CINDY LANE | SUN
Boogie caught the outside break all morning.
JULY 7, 2021
www.amisun.com
THE SUN
5
Citizens weigh in on “Reimagining Pine Avenue” A second public information meeting will be held on Wednesday, July 7. BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
ANNA MARIA – The ongoing efforts to “Reimagine Pine Avenue” may or may not include transforming the throughway into a one-way street. That possibility was among the many alternatives discussed at the town-hallstyle public information meeting held at Anna Maria City Hall on Thursday, July 1. Gerry Traverso, the city’s contracted traffic engineer, served as the main presenter and discussion moderator. The Pine Avenue corridor study area includes Spring Avenue, Magnolia Avenue and those connected portions of Gulf Drive and Bay Drive South. In mid-May, the City Commission authorized the $50,274 “Reimagining Pine Avenue” study conducted by Traverso and the George F. Young civil engineering firm. More than 20 citizens and business owners attended the Thursday morning meeting that lasted an hour and 20 minutes.
CITY OF ANNA MARIA | SUBMITTED
Highlighted in yellow, the study area includes Pine Avenue, Spring Avenue, Magnolia Avenue and portions of Gulf Drive and South Bay Boulevard. Several attendees posed questions and expressed their opinions about the study and the potential actions it may produce. Traverso said a main goal of the study is to increase safety within the Pine Avenue corridor. He shared several observations he and others have made regarding the study area including traffic flow and vehicular interactions with pedestrians, bicycles, golf carts, scoot coupes, skateboards and scooters. Traverso said these alterna-
tive modes of transportation result in fewer cars being on the roads, but also create problems of their own. Traverso said he observed a Fed Ex driver park his truck in a travel lane and unload boxes while parked in the road, which forced other motorists to drive around the truck and into the other lane. Traverso said this creates both safety and operational issues. He said he received positive feedback from the business owners he spoke to about po-
tentially limiting business deliveries to a specific time such as 5 a.m. to 8 a.m. He said he also witnessed a large pickup nearly run over a low riding, three-wheeled scoot coupe. Traverso has safety concerns regarding uncontrolled and mid-block street crossings. Hedges placed between the sidewalks and the road could be used to funnel pedestrians to the crosswalks, he added, and to the designated mid-block crossing areas that could feature beacons that flash while pedestrians are crossing. In response to a question posed by Anna Maria resident Janet Kinghan, Traverso said The Donut Experiment and the Anna Maria General Store might be possible locations for midblock crossings that feature lighted beacons when pedestrians are crossing.
SIDEWALK SAFETY ISSUES
Also discussed were safety concerns created by the lack of sidewalks in some areas. Traverso noted the south side of Spring Avenue has sidewalks but the north side has “sidewalk gaps” that often force people out into the road. SEE PINE, PAGE 13
6
THE SUN
OPINION
The Anna Maria Island Sun newspaper 3909 East Bay Drive, Suite 210, Holmes Beach, FL, 34217 Phone: (941) 778-3986 email: news@amisun.com | ads@amisun.com | classifieds@amisun.com
Like us on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/AnnaMariaIslandSun
JULY 7, 2021
The Anna Maria Island Sun Staff Publishers Mike Field Maggie Field Editor/CEO Mike Field Layout Ricardo Fonseca Reporters Cindy Lane Joe Hendricks Kristin Swain Jason Schaffer Columnists Louise Bolger Outdoors Editor Rusty Chinnis Advertising director Shona Otto Ad assistant Pamela Lee Classified ads Bob Alexander Graphics Elaine Stroili Ricardo Fonseca Digital/Social Media Editor Cindy Lane Accounting John Reitz Distribution Bob Alexander Tony McNulty Connor Field Contributors Tom Vaught Steve Borggren Monica Simpson
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Quid pro quo anyone?
The ongoing feud between Kevin Van Ostenbridge, one of our Trump-Republican county commissioners (that’s what he is proud to say), and Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth is just a power play by this commissioner. He loves to see his picture and name in the press. But his current game is very familiar to what got his hero impeached the first time. He wants more parking and has made it clear he will withhold funds that Holmes Beach deserves until they do something for him. You know “Quid pro quo.” He has learned well from his guy. His recent comments about HB say much about him and his bullying. He said, “City leaders should consider the consequences for their actions before asking for help from the county.” More quid pro quo anyone? I have written many letters concerning parking and had a good
idea for a parking garage, which fell on deaf ears. There is parking on AMI, but you can’t expect to find a space if you don’t come early. I rode through the public beach parking lot on a Sunday at 8 a.m., lots of spaces, 1 p.m., very little. The commissioner is out of touch with what is happening on the Island. The only time he would come out here now would be to try and sell a house. Look for him on a Sunday during a holiday, let me know if you see him. You won’t. Refusing to give the funds to Holmes Beach, which is where the most tourist taxes are made, while fawning over Mayor Murphy (Murphy is a Republican) shows where his interest is. Keep the divide wide Kevin - Republicans against anyone not with them on the Big Lie. By the way, you are ONLY a county commissioner, not someone important. Rick Lewis Anna Maria
Friends of Aaron Lowman
It takes a village to raise a child. Now it is taking a village to heal a child, brother, husband - and as of six weeks ago, a new father - with your love, prayers and positive thoughts. As most of you know, Aaron has a profoundly serious medical condition. The outpouring of love and support from the community sustains us through the ups and downs of Aaron’s fight for his life. Aaron truly feels all of you blanketing him with love and hope. We have no doubt this is exactly what he needs right now. Please continue healing Aaron as you have been. We, and Aaron especially, feel each and every one of your healing vibes. This will be a marathon, not a sprint. Until Aaron can do this himself, his family thanks all of you from the bottom of our hearts. Aaron Lowman’s family
www.amisun.com
JULY 7, 2021
ON THE AGENDA ANNA MARIA
10005 GULF DRIVE FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-708-6130
City hall is open to the public with limited capacity and safety protocols in place. Please visit www.cityofannamaria.com or contact city hall for more information. July 7, 2 p.m. – Reimagining Pine Avenue informational meeting July 8, 2 p.m. – City Commission meeting July 12, 2 p.m. – Reimagining Pine Avenue informational meeting July 22, 6 p.m. – City Commission meeting July 29, 10 a.m. – City Commission meeting
BRADENTON BEACH
107 GULF DRIVE N. FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-778-1005
City hall is open to the public with limited capacity and safety protocols in place. Please visit www.cityofbradentonbeach.com or contact city hall for more information. July 7, 1 p.m. – Planning and Zoning board meeting July 7, 2 p.m. – Scenic WAVES meeting July 21, 1 p.m. – Planning and Zoning board meeting
HOLMES BEACH
5801 MARINA DRIVE FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-708-5800
City hall is open to the public with limited capacity and safety protocols in place. Please visit www.holmesbeachfl. org or contact city hall for more information. July 13, 9 a.m. – City Commission budget work session July 14, 6 p.m. – Planning Commission meeting July 15, 5 p.m. – City Commission meeting with work session to follow July 21, 10 a.m. – Code Compliance special magistrate hearing July 27, 5 p.m. – City Commission meeting with work session to follow
Parts & Services Available
ISLAND-WIDE
July 20, 6 p.m. – West Manatee Fire Rescue board meeting, administration building, 701 63rd St. W., Bradenton MARKYOUR CALENDAR
WEDNESDAY JULY 7
DAN'S FAN CITY
LARGEST SELECTION OF INDOOR & OUTDOOR FANS ANYWHERE!
Wet & Damp Rated Fans! Raindance
Beach market, Coquina Beach, 2650 Gulf Drive S., Bradenton Beach, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visit www.loc8nearme.com/ florida/bradenton-beach/beach-marketat-coquina-beach/6171244/ for more information.
THURSDAY JULY 8
ry Invento d! n a On H
Solara
DC Motor WiFi Enabled DESIGN
YOUR FAN
ASK US HOW
Bradenton
1808 Cortez Road
Open 7 Days A Week
755-3262
Parts, Services & Installation Available
AMI Chamber Sunrise Breakfast, The Cheesecake Cutie & Café, 3324 E. Bay Drive, Holmes Beach, 7:30 a.m. Reserve to 941-778-1541. Wildlife spotlight: Mangroves, Leffis Key, 2351 Gulf Drive S., Bradenton, 9 a.m. Reserve to www.eventbrite. com/e/153131379077. RoserRobics, Roser Church, 512 Pine
THE SUN
Ave., Anna Maria, 9:30 a.m., no cost but donations welcome. Participants asked to bring bottled water and wear a face mask or shield. Farm stand, Holmes Beach City Hall, 5801 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursdays in Paradise Stroll featuring local art, music and food, Bridge Street, Bradenton Beach, 5 to 8 p.m.
FRIDAY JULY 9
Beach market, Coquina Beach, 2650 Gulf Drive S., Bradenton Beach, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visit www.loc8nearme.com/ florida/bradenton-beach/beach-marketat-coquina-beach/6171244/ for more information.
7
Beach market, Coquina Beach, 2650 Gulf Drive S., Bradenton Beach, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visit www.loc8nearme.com/ florida/bradenton-beach/beach-marketat-coquina-beach/6171244/ for more information. Golfing for God, IMG Academy Golf Club, 4350 El Conquistador Pkwy., Bradenton, 2:45 p.m. tee time, 5:30 p.m. Bible study and dinner, $40 for golf and dinner, $20 for dinner. Reservations required. Reserve to www.roserchurch. com/g4g/.
THURSDAY JULY 15
Robinson Runners, Robinson Preserve Mosaic Nest, 840 Ninth Ave. N.W., Bradenton, 8 a.m. Saturday mornings at the NEST, Robinson Preserve Mosaic Nest, 840 Ninth Ave. N.W., Bradenton, 9 a.m. to noon. Face masks required. Origami Club, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m. to noon. Register online at www. manateelibrary.libcal.com. Music on the Porch Saturday Jam Session with Soupy, Cortez Cultural Center, 11655 Cortez Road, Cortez, 2-4 p.m.
Seashell shore walk, Coquina Beach, 2650 Gulf Drive S., Bradenton Beach, 9 a.m. Reserve to www.eventbrite. com/e/15313455175. RoserRobics, Roser Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, 9:30 a.m., no cost but donations welcome. Participants asked to bring bottled water and wear a face mask or shield. Farm stand, Holmes Beach City Hall, 5801 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunshine Stitchers Knit and Crochet, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 2-4 p.m. Register online at www.manateelibrary.libcal. com/calendar. Thursdays in Paradise Stroll featuring local art, music and food, Bridge Street, Bradenton Beach, 5 to 8 p.m.
SUNDAY
FRIDAY
Farm stand, Holmes Beach City Hall, 5801 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Rise and Shine Power Flow Yoga, Robinson Preserve Mosaic Nest, 840 Ninth Ave. N.W., Bradenton 10:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m., $10 fee payable online. Bring your own yoga mat. Register at https://parks.mymanatee.org/wbwsc/webtrac.wsc/search. html?primarycode=110006 or call 941-7425923 ext. 6042 for more information.
Beach market, Coquina Beach, 2650 Gulf Drive S., Bradenton Beach, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visit www.loc8nearme.com/ florida/bradenton-beach/beach-marketat-coquina-beach/6171244/ for more information.
SATURDAY JULY 10
JULY 11
JULY 16
SATURDAY JULY 17
Robinson Runners, Robinson Preserve Mosaic Nest, 840 Ninth Ave. N.W., Bradenton, 8 a.m. TUESDAY Saturday mornings at the NEST, RobJULY 13 inson Preserve Mosaic Nest, 840 Ninth RoserRobics, Roser Church, 512 Pine Ave. N.W., Bradenton, 9 a.m. to noon. Ave., Anna Maria, 9:30 a.m., no cost but Face masks required. donations welcome. Participants asked Meditation, Island Branch Library, to bring bottled water and wear a face 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 11 TORNADO mask or shield. a.m. Register at www.manateelibrary. MARINE GRADE STAINLESS STEEL Family storytime, Island Branch S316 Library, libcal.com/calendar. 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m. Ages 0-5, limit five children and SUNDAY JULY 18 five caregivers. Register online at www. manateelibrary.libcal.com/calendar. Farm stand, Holmes Beach City Hall, Tech help, Island Branch Library, 5701 5801 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 2-4 p.m. a.m. to 4 p.m. Register online at www.manateelibrary. Rise and Shine Power Flow Yoga, libcal.com/calendar. Robinson Preserve Mosaic Nest, 840 OR SEE Ninth OUR Ave. N.W., Bradenton 10:30 RAINDANCE WEDNESDAY a.m. to 11:45 a.m., $10 fee payable Direct Water Contact JULY 14 online. Bring your own yoga mat. 30 Year Warranty Salt marsh planting, Robinson Register at https://parks.mymanatee. Preserve, Valentine House, 1704 org/wbwsc/webtrac.wsc/search. For Over 39 Years and Operated 99th Locally St. W., Owned Bradenton, 8 a.m. to · Fan Expertshtml?primarycode=110006 or call 94145 Stores Nationwide noon. Reserve to www.eventbrite. 742-5923 ext. 6042 for more informaDC Fan com/e/141294350205. tion. Reduce Yo
A/C Bill
8
www.amisun.com
THE SUN
JULY 7, 2021
A festive Independence Day for all The Anna Maria Island Privateers presented their Fourth of July parade on Saturday, a much-anticipated event since the COVID-19 pandemic canceled 2020 festivities. The threat of showers from Tropical Storm Elsa in the Caribbean, downgraded from a hurricane, kept few away from the parade, which spanned the length of the Island. KRISTIN SWAIN | SUN
The Campoamor family dons their patriotic best for the Fourth of July Parade.
CINDY LANE | SUN
Kids and grown-ups, left and above, wave at conquistadors and Privateers during Anna Maria Island’s Fourth of July Parade on Saturday.
KRISTIN SWAIN | SUN
Privateer Jon Swager serves as the Grand Marshal of the Fourth of July Parade July 3 as the AMI Privateers celebrate their 50th anniversary Golden Jubilee.
DOCK & DINE
Cruise to the Pier by land or sea! Boat docking is NOW AVAILABLE at the Pier location! LANDSIDE
6906 14th Street West 941.758.7880
CORTEZ
6696 Cortez Road 941.792.0077
ELLENTON
1525 51st Avenue East 941.721.7773
BRIDGE ST. PIER Bradenton Beach 941.778.AMOB (2662)
www.amisun.com
JULY 7, 2021
THE SUN
9
Owner cited again for destroying sea grapes Two Holmes Beach property owners are in trouble with FDEP after illegally removing sea grapes and other protected vegetation. BY KRISTIN SWAIN SUN STAFF WRITER | kswain@amisun.com
HOLMES BEACH – Two property owners are facing some hefty fines and issues not only with the city but also with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection over the removal of legally protected plant species. One of the property owners received a repeat violation for the removal of sea grapes. At 95 52nd St., which sold on June 10 to new owner TKW Beach LLC/Blanca Veronica Johnson, Code Compliance Officer James Thomas said six different species of protected vegetation were removed, including sea grapes and sea oats, without permission. To top it off, Thomas said the landscaper, Marines Total Services, didn’t have the proper licensing to operate in the city of Holmes Beach. Both the property owner and landscaper, Fausto Ma-
SUBMITTED | HOLMES BEACH CODE COMPLIANCE
KRISTIN SWAIN | SUN
Code compliance officers stopped workers from disposing of sea grapes using a woodchipper.
Where sea grapes and other legally protected vegetation once stood, now there is a barren landscape that FDEP representatives say will have to be remediated by the homeowner.
rines, were given citations for irreversible and irrevocable damage of $2,500 each on June 24. When speaking with Johnson, Thomas said the new owner of the home said she planned to replace the removed vegetation with something else. FDEP representative Shannon Kennedy investigated the damage and is working with Johnson to develop a remediation plan to replace what was lost at the site. The June removal of sea grapes at 52nd Street was
was fined and ordered to remediate the removed vegetation. Thomas said the landscaper that was found removing the sea grapes at the 48th Street property, J&M Tree Service owned by Marco Martinez, was not licensed to work in the city of Holmes Beach. Attorneys for Kaleta submitted paperwork to the city just before the 30-day deadline to appeal the first fine in December 2020. The appeal is still pending, and Thomas said no fines in
the second instance in as many months of protected vegetation being removed without permission in the city. On May 21, local builder and owner of multiple properties in Holmes Beach, Shawn Kaleta, was fined $5,000 for irreversible and irrevocable damage for the removal of sea grapes at 102 48th St. This is the second time Kaleta has been cited by the city for sea grape removal at the site. The first time was in November 2020 when he
the case have been paid by Kaleta or his representatives. A $500 reward is still available to anyone in the public with information concerning the 2020 removal of the sea grapes at 102 48th Street. Thomas said that for the May 2021 removal of sea grapes at the address, FDEP is investigating the incident and remediation of the site will be required. In addition to fines from the city, Kaleta also could face fines from FDEP for the vegetation removal.
10
www.amisun.com
THE SUN
BAUGH: Settlement in lawsuit FROM PAGE 3
“Middle part of November. I don’t recall the exact date,” Baugh responded. Did you draft that resolution?” Barfield asked. “No,” Baugh responded. “Have you previously made statements that you did?” Barfield asked. “Yes,” Baugh responded. “And who drafted the resolution?” Barfield asked. “Object to the form. I’m going to instruct her not to answer,” Levesque responded. Barfield then paused the deposition and asked that Circuit Court Judge Charles Sniffen be contacted by telephone regarding Baugh’s refusal to answer his question. When addressing the judge, Levesque said, “I’m not aware of any cases that would extend that type of public records obligation for disclosure where a private citizen hands a paper document to a government official that would then allow someone requesting the record
to go back to that private citizen and say you have to give me the native file of the document that you provided in hard copy form to the government official. It would be a different story if it was drafted by Commissioner Baugh herself or one of the county staff created that document and then provided it (to) Commissioner Baugh.” Barfield then said, “I think I am entitled to some leeway as to the circumstances of how this record came into existence and whether there are any other records that exist relating to the creation of this resolution. It was a critical document that started this entire case.” When issuing his decision, Sniffen said, “I don’t believe the public records statute permits a wholesale investigation of the thought processes and motivations of the people who are the subject of the request. I think going into what the origin of documents was, who possessed them, when they were processed, things like that go
beyond what is contemplated by the statute.” When the deposition resumed, Baugh told Barfield she received the resolution in the lobby of the county administration building from an individual whom she did not name. Baugh told Barfield she didn’t have an appointment with that individual and that it was a random encounter. Baugh told Barfield she then took a photo of the document and sent the photo to then-Chief Assistant County Attorney Bill Clague. “I wanted to make sure that it was appropriate to bring for our board. I wanted him to look at it and say it was proper,” Baugh told Barfield during the deposition. Baugh said she does not know what became of the original document and she told Barfield she had no additional contact with the individual who provided her with the resolution.
JULY 7, 2021
CRA budget process begins BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
Beautification and the shuttle are among the priority projects for the CRA. BRADENTON BEACH – Expanding the floating dock with more finger docks and undergrounding additional utility lines are two of the priorities identified recently by the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) for the 2021-22 fiscal year beginning Oct. 1. On Tuesday, June 22, the seven-member CRA board participated in the first of at least two budget planning work meetings. Having not yet decided the exact dollar amounts for specific projects, the preliminary planning process is more about establishing project goals and creating budgetary placeholders that may or may not be expended during the coming fiscal year. Continuing the Old Town Tram parking shuttle and fixing the failing Bridge Street brick paver crosswalks also are two more priorities identified by the CRA for the coming fiscal year. According to City Treasurer Shayne
Thompson, the CRA has about $1.1 million in unbudgeted and/or available funds. Thompson added the city expects to receive about $500,000 in additional incremental ad valorem tax revenues and a $100,000 annual contribution from the city’s general fund in the coming fiscal year. CRA funds are to be expended on projects that benefit the CRA district that extends from the Cortez Bridge to the southernmost property lines along Fifth Street South. On June 22, the CRA members also agreed to pursue, or at least create budgetary placeholders, to increase its annual holiday decorating expenditures; make signage throughout the CRA district more consistent; install new streetlights in certain areas; continue its underutilized beautification grant program; install additional bike racks along Bridge Street; remove the stormwater cistern near the Bridge Tender Inn and create a pocket park at the east end of Bridge Street; place more lighting in the pedestrian/bike pathway under the Cortez Bridge; and possibly remove and replace some Australian pines near the Gulf Drive/Cortez Road intersection. CRA members agreed that City Attorney Ricinda Perry will continue as CRA liaison and de facto project manager.
www.amisun.com
JULY 7, 2021
THE SUN
11
Concert series closes with The Grass Roots BY KRISTIN SWAIN SUN STAFF WRITER | kswain@amisun.com
ANNA MARIA – This year’s summer concert series at The Center of Anna Maria Island may be over but it went out with a bang. The Grass Roots brought along Donnie Iris to bring the crowd to its feet one last time for the summer series. Recent rains took the concert indoors, but the crowd didn’t seem to mind. The show opened with Sarasota band Paisley Craze playing some of the best songs of the 60s. Then Donnie Iris took the stage with the band to sing favorites like “Brown Sugar” which had the crowd cheering and on its feet. Donnie Iris and the Paisley Craze get the crowd on their feet at The Center. When legendary rockers The Grass Roots took the stage, the crowd was already worked up into a frenzy and having a great time. The group played favorites including “Baby Hold On,” “Temptation Eyes,” and “Let’s Live for Today.” The concert capped off what’s been an electric concert season at The Center with previous shows including Steve Augeri of Journey, Simon Kirke of Bad Company and The Marshall Tucker Band. The Grass Roots appeared at The Center as a part of the Bradenton Gulf Islands Concert Series sponsored by the Bradenton Area Convention and KRISTIN SWAIN | SUN Visitors Bureau, The Sandbar The Grass Roots rock The Center’s stage in the final show of the 2021 Bradenton Gulf Restaurant and Cedar Cove Islands Concert Series. Resort & Cottages.
5346 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach (941) 778-5788 | hurricanehanks.com
KRISTIN SWAIN | SUN
KRISTIN SWAIN | SUN
Mark Dawson of The Grass Roots kicks off the show with a guitar solo.
Visit us for a cold one! We’ve installed 5 Fresh-Aire UV units to provide 1_;lb1-ѴŊ=u;; -bu -m7 v u=-1; 7bvbm=;1ঞomĺ
5344 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach (941) 779-2337 | hurricaneliquorami.com
12
THE SUN
www.amisun.com
JULY 7, 2021
SUNDAY WORSHIP • 8:30 AM or 10:00 AM
COMMUNITY CHURCH IN PERSON in the Sanctuary Nursery • Children’s Church
Sermon Series by Pastor Neil Crowell
ONLINE • Watch LIVE or LATER www.RoserChurch.com Text ROSER to 22828 to receive the weekly eBulletin The CHAPEL is open during office hours for prayer & meditation
Galatians 5:13
In Christ
You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free.
941-778-0414 • 512 Pine Ave, Anna Maria • FOLLOW us on Facebook @RoserChurch
www.amisun.com
JULY 7, 2021
THE SUN
13
PINE: Citizens weigh in on 'Reimagining Pine Avenue' FROM PAGE 5
“Once they hit the pavement they do not go back to the sidewalk. We have to keep them on the sidewalk and provide this connectivity,” Traverso said, noting sidewalk gaps also exist elsewhere in the study area. “We have a set amount of right of way. We have competing interests. Who do we give the priority - vehicles or pedestrians or bicyclists? Can we do a mix of all?” he said. Regarding potentially transforming Pine Avenue into a one-way street, Traverso said, “If you do that, you can repurpose the lane you’re not using now and convert it to on-street parallel parking, a bike track and sidewalks. There’s a lot of different alternatives you can do.” Meeting attendee Janet Riley lives on Magnolia Avenue and she said she has seen an “insane” increase in traffic on that street in recent years. Riley asked Traverso what he has in mind for Spring and Magnolia avenues. She noted many of those who purchased residential property along those streets did not do so with the intent of their streets serving as an access point to the restaurants, stores, shops and other businesses along Pine Avenue. She also expressed concerns about rerouting additional traffic onto those streets if Pine Avenue is made a one-way street.
THE ONE-WAY STREET IDEA
‛S YOUR COMFORT ZONE? WHERE
Traverso said the pavement is wider on Magnolia than it is on Spring and the potential alternative being discussed would entail Pine Avenue and Magnolia Avenue becoming one-way streets, with Spring Avenue located between them and remaining a twoway street. 34-year Anna Maria resident Sherry Oehler said she, too, is concerned about routing more traffic into those residential areas. Traverso said making Pine Avenue a one-way street is a potential alternative, but it is not the only one. He said
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
Traffic Engineer Gerry Traverso led the “Reimagining Pine Avenue” discussion.
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
Mid-block street crossings could be addressed by designated crossing areas that feature flashing beacons. each proposed alternative will have pros and cons and the mayor and commission will ultimately decide which solutions to carry out. North Shore Café owner Collen Geller said her café installed more bike racks than the city originally requested and she may install more. She suggested encouraging businesses to install or increase the number of bike racks they currently have. She also suggested bike racks be placed at vacation rental homes to further encourage bikes as an alternative mode of transportation. Thursday’s meeting will be followed
by a second public information meeting at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, July 7. Traverso will present his final report and proposed solutions on July 29. During Thursday’s meeting, Traverso noted the project website, www. ReimaginingPineAvenue.com, was launched that morning. After the meeting, Mayor Dan Murphy said, “I was very pleased with the public input we had. We’ve got a lot of different ideas and some very specific concerns were brought up for us to consider.”
14
www.amisun.com
THE SUN
Island loses true friend in Bob “Coop” Cooper Bob Cooper once saved an elderly couple whose car went into the water in Holmes Beach. BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Anna Maria Island lost a beloved figure with the passing of Bob “Coop” Cooper on Saturday, July 3. Cooper passed away at Tidewell Hospice in Bradenton, where he spent the final weeks of his life comforted by Louise Schippers, his girlfriend for the past 16 years. Cooper entered Tidewell Hospice recently because he was suffering from emphysema and some of his organs were beginning to fail. “He’s the most kind-hearted person – a give-you-the-shirt-off-his-back kind of guy. He loved people. He loved helping people. He has a good soul and he’s my love,” Schippers said less than a week before Cooper passed away. Known to many on and around Anna Maria Island as “Coop” or “Coop da Loop,” Cooper is also survived by his son, Bobby Cooper, his daughter, Amber Cooper and his granddaughter Jewelee – all of whom live in the area. Cooper was 62 years old when he passed and he originally hailed from Westfield, Mass. Before Cooper’s passing, Anchor Inn owner Darla Tingler started a GoFundMe page called “Support & Love for Coop da Loop.” The header on the fundraising page says, “COOP - The Myth, the Man, the Legend!” As of Sunday afternoon, the GoFundMe page had raised $4,005 and those fundraising efforts remain active. The funds raised will be used for Cooper’s final expenses and will also assist Schippers with her ongoing living expenses. Island resident and Anchor Inn patron Robert Docherty knew Cooper well. “I’ve been telling people at the Anchor Inn the story of one of the many times Coop and I played pool at the Anchor. Coop was a pro pool player – me, just a sometimes lucky amateur. We were down to the eight ball and Coop told me to hit a certain spot on the rail to do a multiple rail bank. I hit the rail where he indicated and made the shot. He smiled and said, ‘Now you can say you beat me.’ Anytime I’d run into him he’d smile, compliment the shirt I happened to be wearing and say it would look better on him. Those conversations would make me smile,” Docherty recently wrote in a Facebook post about Cooper’s worsening condition. Cooper was a maintenance man at the Club Longboat beach and tennis resort in Longboat Key. “They loved him there. He was like their son. He would do anything and fix anything even if it wasn’t under the auspices of his duties,” said Caryn Hodge, his good friend and former girlfriend of 10 years.
SUBMITTED
Bob “Coop” Cooper enjoyed boating and fishing with friends. Hodge said Cooper’s been a familiar figure on Anna Maria Island for at least 40 years. “He lived life the way he wanted to live and he liked to party. He’d walk in the bar and people would holler ‘Coop,’” Hodge said the week before Cooper passed. “He has a heart of gold. He’d give you the last dime in his pocket.” According to Hodge, Cooper was also a local hero. “Many years ago, there were two older people in a car headed north on Marina Drive, near the marina basin. Something happened and their car went into the water. Coop happened to be passing by and he jumped out, with a cast on his leg, and jumped in the water and saved these two old people. He was hailed as a hero. I was at the Anchor waiting on him and he was late. When he got there, I was mad because he was late. He said, “I had to save two old people from drowning.’ I said that’s a great story, but I’m not believing you. Then I saw the news coverage,” Hodge recalled. Hodge said Cooper liked to collect and repair other people’s discarded items – many of which he would then give to those in need. “He was always trying to help people,” Hodge said. “He worked really hard. In his time off he loved boating, fishing with friends and playing golf; and he liked his beer,” she added. Hodge said some of the volunteers at Tidewell Hospice were amazed at the number of visitors Cooper received during his short stay there. Former Island resident Tracy Eckert said, “Coop was one of the first people I met when I moved to Anna Maria Island 18 years ago. He jokingly said to me, ‘Rumor has it you’re a federal agent.’ With that witty sense of humor, I bonded with him right away. I loved how he provided the Anchor Inn with a library of books that people could take and read. I took many of those books over the years. I never heard a bad word said about him. He was truly one of the good guys.” Holmes Beach resident David Zaccagnino said, “Coop was my neighbor and I knew him for a long time. He was a staple of the Island and a good guy who always had a funny joke to share.”
JULY 7, 2021
www.amisun.com
JULY 7, 2021
THE SUN
15
Tourism update shows record summer visitations likely to continue BY JASON SCHAFFER SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com
BRADENTON - As Anna Maria Island continues to see a record-breaking number of visitors this summer, the question continues to be how long will the season last, and why is this year so different from years past? Anne Wittine, of Research Data Services (RDS), addressed the most recent meeting of the Manatee County Tourist Development Council with some data that shows the current trend and projects how long it will continue. Air travel is a big indicator of how the travel trends related to AMI are progressing. Although not all travelers to Sarasota Bradenton International Airport are coming to Anna Maria Island, it’s acceptable to draw a comparison with arriving flights and the influx of travelers to AMI. While there is normally a drop-off after March, that is not the case this year. Total passengers entering SRQ are up 73.4% over 2020, which
makes sense due to COVID-19 restrictions last year. The number that says a lot is the 32% increase from 2019, which was pre-COVID. These are numbers never seen by SRQ. According to Wittine, much of this can be attributed to travelers being vaccinated and more comfortable with travel. Since January, the Bradenton area has seen a large increase in out-of-state visitors, far outperforming the same period last year. April was the first month that Florida residents outnumbered out-of-state visitors. According to Wittine, this is expected, and we are seeing more Florida travelers than we normally would. According to the research, the area has seen a 638% increase in visitors over April of last year, a 357% increase in room nights, and an economic impact that went from $13,038,000 in 2020 to $102,442,900 in 2021. That’s an increase of 686%. Those were COVID numbers last year, but the increase was 31%,
CINDY LANE | SUN
Record numbers of tourists are predicted to visit into the summer on AMI's beaches, with no signs of slowing down anytime soon. 47%, and 26% respectively over 2019, which was pre-COVID. This shows the recordbreaking numbers continue to show themselves in just about every category measured. “This year is great, but it’s not really typical, so next year is going to present some challenges as we start to get more back to normal,” Wittine said, explaining what appears to be a post-COVID anomaly. “Next
2021
year’s April probably won’t look quite like this one did.” Looking at where visitors are coming from, the Northeast is the largest source, with an increase of 2,217% from 2020. The Southeast is the next largest source of visitors with a 1,738% increase from 2020. The factor that could make this record-breaking summer even more impressive is that Europe and Canada are still
not able to travel to our area. The study showed zero visitors from those locations in April, but with restrictions possibly being lifted soon, it could mean a very large number of European and Canadian visitors coming to AMI. The RDS study also conducted a “Traveler Sentiment Study” that showed record numbers of potential travelers were 82% optimistic about personal health, 76% optimistic about personal finance, and that 40% of people surveyed who were thinking about traveling have already booked. This, also, is a record number. The numbers of people who feel comfortable dining in a restaurant, shopping, visiting indoor attractions and taking domestic flights are also at record post-COVID highs. All of this data shows that travel is a priority for many, and summer is going to continue to be a busy season on the Island. If Europe and Canada loosen restrictions soon, it could be a summer that breaks every record.
16
JULY 7, 2021
www.amisun.com
JULY 7, 2021
17
18
THE SUN
OUTDOORS
JULY 7, 2021
The smoking gun revealed Reel Time RUSTY CHINNIS
L
ocal anglers feared from the beginning that the release of over 215 million gallons of wastewater from the Piney Point debacle could have catastrophic effects on Tampa and Sarasota bays. The fact that each gallon of water held 10 times the nitrogen of raw sewage and that the total release was the equivalent of dumping 200 tons of nitrogen (80,000 bags of fertilizer) in the bay was ominous. Compounding the worrying scenario was the fact that for the second time in as many years, huge swaths of grass meadows from Robinson Preserve to Anna Maria Sound and Sarasota Bay were covered in an algae called lyngbya, a toxic cyanobacteria. That bloom wasn’t caused by the release at Piney Point, but the potential that the release could exacerbate the existing bloom loomed large and would eventually prove likely, as the extent of the bloom was much larger than the year before. Then on May 24, marine researchers from the University of South Florida, in what now appears to be an ill-timed news release, stated: “Early results indicate that the effects of the wastewater discharge were localized in nature, not widespread. “Concentrations of nutrients have declined over time and are now more typical of those in the historical record for this part of Tampa Bay. Model results show that the concentrations of
CAPTAIN DUSTIN PACK | SUBMITTED
This snook was just one of a multitude of fish including tripletail, cobia, redfish, mullet and a plethora of baitfish and other species that succumbed to Tampa's red tide outbreak. nutrients within the discharged water have been diluted at least 1000-fold since the initial release. “A diatom bloom of about 25 square kilometers in size around Port Manatee that formed in response to the discharge has dissipated over time. Diatoms are single-celled microalgae called phytoplankton. Chlorophyll concentrations (a proxy for phytoplankton biomass) are within the range generally observed in Tampa Bay during April and May.” Just this past week a severe red tide outbreak in upper Tampa Bay has called all those predictions into question. In the same news release, to their credit, they did state, “The nutrient chemistry of Tampa Bay is complex. Questions remain about nutrient cycling in response to a rapid influx of wastewater.” Now the current bloom is proving what amounts to, in the
minds of longtime users of the bay like Captain Scott Moore, a “smoking gun.” Moore, who has fished from Sarasota Bay to Port Manatee and beyond since 1970, states categorically, “In all the years I’ve been fishing I’ve never seen a red tide event in that part of the bay that didn’t affect Anna Maria Sound and Sarasota Bay first. Traditionally I fished north of the Skyway because those were rarely affected by all but the most severe blooms.” My experience over the last threeplus decades bears that out. Jacki Lopez, Florida Director of The Center for Biological Diversity agrees. Lopez reviewed the records of red tide occurrences over the last 20 years and says, “The red tide data collected over the years by FWC appears to indicate that it is rare to have red tide in Tampa Bay, and rarer yet to have red tide persist-
ing in Tampa Bay without a massive red tide bloom throughout the region. The timing of the Piney Point discharge and the presence of red tide in Tampa Bay, especially so close to Piney Point seems to suggest that the discharge influenced this ongoing red tide event.” The uncertainty and confusion demonstrate our lack of understanding and failure to act. While red tide events are tracked by satellite, other blooms like lyngbya don’t show up in satellite imagery, which is how scientists model for the predictions they make. This means many harmful algae blooms are not picked up by monitoring programs. The need for a swift and quantum shift in tracking and addressing these nutrients has never been greater. Are we willing to risk reaching a point of no return or will we address these dire warnings before it’s too late?
JULY 7, 2021
www.amisun.com
THE SUN
19
Tarpon move inside, get aggressive in July CAPTAIN RICK GRASSETT
Tarpon will still be a good option this month. Shallow water action for reds and big trout will be best early and late in the day. Some of the best action will be with trout, blues, pompano and more on deep grass flats. Catch-and-release snook fishing in the ICW at night or in the surf should also be good options. Tarpon fishing should be good in the coastal Gulf this month. Large schools of tarpon will dwindle in size and numbers to singles, doubles and small schools of post-spawn fish during July. I usually find tarpon to be aggressive in July, with spawning completed and after a long migration, they usually feed aggressively. I also find them to be more curious this time of the year, often swinging closer to check out the sound of a landing bait, lure or fly. Spin anglers will do best by setting up in travel lanes and drifting live baits under floats while staying ready to sight-cast to fish that may pop up with no notice. The DOA Baitbuster is my “go-to” lure for tarpon. The DOA Swimming Mullet, 4” Shrimp and CAL 4” swimbait are also good choices depending on the situation. This is my favorite time to fly fish for tarpon. The tactics are the same as earlier in the season, anchoring or staking out on travel routes, although fish are in a better mood. Unlike the large tarpon schools that we see around full and new moon phases in June, July fish are usually aggressive. Large schools of tarpon are impressive, but if you spook the lead fish you will spook all of them. Tarpon will thin out towards the end of the month as they begin to move to inside waters of Sarasota Bay, Tampa Bay and Charlotte Har-
CAPTAIN RICK GRASSETT | SUBMITTED
July is a great month to fly fish for tarpon. Justin Hamblet, of Sarasota, caught and released this one on a fly while fishing with Capt. Rick Grassett in a previous July. bor. They move into these areas to rest and feed following spawning. They can be targeted in these areas with flies, a variety of DOA lures or live bait. Also look for tarpon feeding in schools of “breaking” ladyfish in these areas. Snook and reds remain closed to harvest south of State Road 64 in Manatee County on the west coast of Florida, south to the south bank of Gordon Pass in Collier County. Reds and snook are catch and release only in that zone until May 31, 2022. Spotted seatrout will reopen in that zone with a bag limit of three fish per person and a boat limit of six fish per vessel. Trout must be from 15”-19” with one over 19” allowed per vessel. Full regulations can be viewed at https://myfwc.com. This is great news for our fishery. Catch-and-release snook fishing will be a good option this month. With very warm water this time of year, it is important to use tackle heavy enough to land them quickly. Spin anglers should do well fishing lighted docks and bridges in the ICW with CAL jigs with shad tails or jerk worms or DOA shrimp. Fly anglers should do well with clear intermediate sink tip lines and wide profile flies, such as Lefty’s Deceiver or EP flies, since larger
baitfish may be more predominant. Docks and bridges close to passes should be the best ones. You’ll also find snook in the surf, where you can walk along the beach and sight cast to them in shallow water. Gibby’s DT Variation is a “go to” fly for many snook surf anglers. In addition to tarpon, you might find false albacore (little tunny), tripletail or cobia in the coastal Gulf this month. Look for albies feeding on the surface. I have seen large schools of albies “blitz” the beach while tarpon fishing this time of year. They are usually feeding on larger baits, such as threadfins or pilchards, so flies and lures should be sized accordingly. You might even find cobia swimming with tarpon or cruising bars in shallow water along the beach. You can use your tarpon fly or spin tackle for cobia, but a medium spinning outfit or an 8 to 9-weight fly rod will be better suited for mackerel and albies. I also occasionally run into tripletail this time of year, either around a crab trap buoy, navigational marker or floating debris. There are lots of options this month; late-season tarpon, snook in the surf or at night or fishing skinny water for reds or big trout. Tarpon fishing is best when sweat is pouring down your back, but you’ll want to fish early in the day in shallow water. Our natural resources are under constant pressure from red tides fueled by agricultural, industrial and residential runoff, toxic spills, freezes, increasing fishing pressure and habitat loss and degradation; please limit your kill, don’t kill your limit!
20
www.amisun.com
THE SUN
JULY 7, 2021
CINDY LANE | SUN
Sushi supper A pair of white ibis searches for coquinas and crabs for dinner on Anna Maria Island.
Help pioneer the Turtle Trail This year’s sea turtle nesting season may not have the usual turtle talks or nest excavations thanks to COVID-19, but there’s a new, safe way to celebrate sea turtles virtually with neighbors and visitors. Grab a sea turtle stuffed animal, statue, stained glass piece, painting or even a coloring book version and display it in a place where people can see it, like a
TURTLE TIPS During sea turtle season, May 1 – Oct. 31, please follow these tips: • Turn off lights visible from the beach and close blinds from sundown to sunrise; lights confuse nesting sea turtles and may cause them to go back to sea and drop their eggs in the water, where they won’t hatch. Light can also attract hatchlings away from the water. • Don’t use flashlights, lanterns or camera flashes on the beach at night. • Remove all objects from the sand from sundown to sunrise; they can deter sea turtles from nesting and can disorient hatchlings. • Fill in the holes you dig in the sand and level sandcastles before leaving the beach; they can obstruct or trap nesting and hatching sea turtles,
window in a business or a balcony in a residence. which cannot live long out of the water. • Don’t use wish lanterns or fireworks; they litter the beach and Gulf. • Do not trim trees and plants that shield the beach from lights. • Never touch a sea turtle; it’s the law. If you see people disturbing turtles, call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Wildlife Alert hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922).
BIRD TIPS During bird nesting season, March through August, please follow these tips: • Never touch a shorebird chick, even if it’s wandering outside a staked nesting area. • Teach kids not to chase birds – if
When you spot a sea turtle, take a photo and post it on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook with #BradentonAreaTurtleTrail. Follow the hashtag to see if someone spots and shares your sea turtle. You can download a cartoon sea turtle to color at: www.bradentongulfislands.com/turtle-trail. And if you see a real sea turtle, give it space, take a photo and post that too! they’re disturbed, bird parents may abandon nests. • Don’t feed birds – our food is not good for their health, and it encourages them to fly at people aggressively. • If birds are screeching and flying at you, you’re too close. • Avoid posted bird nesting areas and use designated walkways to the beach. • Keep pets away from bird nesting areas; dogs are not allowed on the beach by law. • Keep the beach clean; food scraps attract bird predators such as raccoons and crows to the beach, and litter can entangle birds and other wildlife. • If you see people disturbing nesting birds, call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Wildlife Alert hotline at 888-404FWCC (3922).
JULY 7, 2021
www.amisun.com
THE SUN
21
Red tide persists in local waters BY CINDY LANE SUN STAFF WRITER | clane@amisun.com
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Red tide continues to be detected in Manatee County waters in background to medium levels, according to the most recent Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission weekly report. Water samples showed medium concentrations of red tide near Little Redfish Creek and Mariposa Key. Low concentrations were detected at the Skyway Fishing Pier and School Key (Key Royale on Anna Maria Island). Background concentrations were detected at the Longboat Pass Boat Ramp. No red tide was detected at the Anna Maria Rod and Reel Pier or the Palma Sola Bay Bridge. No red tide-related fish kills or respiratory irritation were reported over the past week in Manatee County.
High
RED TIDE REPORT
(respiratory irritation, shellfish harvesting closures, fish kills, water discoloration)
Very low
(possible respiratory irritation)
Background
Medium
(probable respiratory irritation, shellfish harvesting closures, fish kills)
Low
Parts of Pinellas and Hillsborough counties are experiencing high concentrations of the toxic algae, while Sarasota County has medium levels of red tide close to Venice. Red tide produces a neurotoxin called brevetoxin that can cause respiratory irritation, coughing, and more serious illness for people with severe or chronic respiratory conditions such as asthma, emphysema or COPD, according to the Florida Department of Health. Health officials recommend that people experiencing symptoms stay away from the water, go inside to an air-conditioned space, or wear masks, especially during onshore winds. Consuming shellfish exposed to red tide can cause neurotoxic shellfish poisoning. Health officials also warn against swimming near dead fish and advise keeping pets away from dead fish and seafoam. Pets are not allowed on Anna Maria Island’s beaches.
(no effects)
None
(no red tide present)
(possible respiratory irritation, shellfish harvesting closures, fish kills) Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
22
THE SUN
REAL ESTATE
JULY 7, 2021
East county developments will add to Island traffic
A
fter more than 20 years of living in Florida, I no longer look for vacation destinations that involve beaches and water views. People who have lived north for most of their lives become obsessed with the weather and beach proximity in their travel destination, but for me, it’s the last thing I consider when I travel. I figure that as long as it’s not snowing and the temperature stays above freezing, I’m fine. However, for most of the world, a beach vacation is at the top of their list, and as we all know, Anna Maria Island and the entire coastline of Florida has some of the best in the world. Travel & Leisure Magazine did a study of the most charming small towns in Florida. Anna Maria Island came in second, and they noted that it’s the best-kept secret in Florida. Really? Have you noticed the traffic filtering onto the Island from both bridges recently? No secret about that. Nevertheless, since Palm Beach Island came in number one,
Castles in the Sand LOUISE BOLGER I figure we’re in good company with more affordable restaurants and more accessible beaches. Just when you think we’re done with all these crazy travel rankings, inflating prices, traffic and beach blanket congestion, another one pops up. This time it’s a travel website called Holidu. com, a search and booking website for vacation rentals – again, just what we need, more rental publicity. Holidu.com declared that Coquina Beach is number four in Florida for 2021. They point out the ubiquitous aqua blue waters, picnic areas, availability of fast food and cold drinks. They forgot to mention
the snail’s pace going over the Cortez Bridge and lack of parking once you get there. Our only hope is that Siesta Key, which came in number one, will draw the out-of-town crowds and keep them off our “pristine” beaches. Now that I’ve had my little vent, we can talk about real estate. Those of us who live far west in Manatee County may think what goes on further north and east doesn’t affect us, but unfortunately, it does, and in a very serious way. The most recent plan currently being evaluated by the county planning staff is for the first phase of construction of a 288-acre multiuse development at the northern entrance to the county. Robinson Gateway in Parrish is being planned for the northeast corner of Interstate 75 and Moccasin Wallow Road. The plan is for 542 residential units, 900,000 square feet of retail space, 600,000 square feet of office space, a 1,750-seat movie theatre and 350 hotel rooms in
addition to about 40 acres of open space and parks. This is on top of the North River Ranch development already under construction with 6,000 homes planned. County planners are naturally genuinely concerned about the traffic that all of this new construction will generate. I’m concerned about the amount of traffic all of these new residents to Manatee County will generate when they discover our beautiful beaches that everyone else in the world seems to know about, our small-town vibe, unique shops and trendy restaurants. I guess progress can’t be stopped, but it still makes me sad that our little world is rapidly changing. As far as travel, I actually welcome the change from warm sunny days to chilly gray skies; it makes me grateful for Florida weather when I return home. And that, of course, is the problem. Everyone loves warm weather and sunny skies and will continue to seek it out.
www.amisun.com
JULY 7, 2021
THE SUN
23
NYC couple banking on bugs to be big business An area couple has left the corporate world behind to launch an all-natural insect repellant that is getting a lot of attention. BY JASON SCHAFFER SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com
COQUINA BEACH - Anna Maria Island is home to countless species of palm trees, tropical plants, rare birds, marine life and white sand beaches, but if you’ve spent even a few hours on the Island, you know it’s also home to plenty of insects that love to bite and sting. No-see-ums, mosquitoes, biting flies, ticks, hornets and fire ants are a part of life here, but thanks to a New York couple with a formula and a dream, dealing with them may have gotten a bit less painful. The company is Emma Beans Natural Solutions, and how it came to be is a study in perseverance and innovation. “I was a VP for a pharmaceutical company in New York City and my wife worked for a medical office,” said Dean Miller, who along with his wife, Jeanette, founded Emma Beans. “My wife’s family is from Puerto Rico,
and her great aunt passed away,” Miller said. “While in Puerto Rico helping clean out her aunt’s house, she came across a notebook full of recipes.” Dean said that upon returning to the U.S. and looking more closely, Jeanette discovered a recipe for mosquito repellant and one for pain relief in her great aunt’s notebook. The great aunt had lived in the town of Cuamo, Puerto Rico, which is in a rural mountainous region where people tend to take care of their needs by creating a selfsustainable existence living off the land. “My wife said her aunt would walk out the back door of her small wooden house, always barefoot, and take a machete and just chop herbs. She would bring them in the house and grind them into an oil she would use on my wife when she got bit by mosquitoes,” Dean said, recounting the memories that made his wife want to do something with these formulas after finding the recipes. Being an executive in the pharmaceutical industry, Miller had the means and business connections with people who could take his wife’s idea and set the wheels in motion to bring the product to market. After working on the formulas, the Millers began testing their insect repellant on Long Island and in
JASON SCHAFFER | SUN
Emma Beans owners, Dean and Jeanette Miller, at the Coquina Beach Market. northern New Jersey, both of which have more than enough bugs for a proper evaluation of effectiveness. While creating what would be the formula for Emma Beans “Pesky Bug Stay Away Spray and Hydrating Lotion,” it was important for the Millers to keep it all-natural and good for the skin. The couple also wanted a product that worked on multiple species and smelled good. While many companies go to great
lengths to protect their “secret sauce,” the Millers are more than willing to share what makes their natural, Deet-free product safe and effective. “It contains the most clinically proven, all-natural insect repelling ingredients on the market; well over a dozen ingredients. Things like citronella, lemongrass, cedarwood, patchouli, linseed and even catnip make up the ingredients. The list goes on and on of these proven natural repellants,” Dean Miller said. After perfecting the formula, Dean began hitting the pavement in New York and New Jersey, just walking into bait and tackle shops, corner stores, and anywhere he could get to put the product on their shelves, while still working his VP job in Manhattan. The results were impressive, selling out and getting re-orders from just about every store. By late 2019, the Millers were ready to take Emma Beans to the big box stores. Then came COVID-19, which changed everything. “When March came, my company, which was in New York City, was under a mother company in Thailand,” Dean said, referring to the pharmaceutical firm where he was a V.P. SEE BUSINESS, PAGE 24
24
www.amisun.com
THE SUN
BUSINESS: Couple banking on bugs FROM PAGE 23
“I got a call from the owner of the company and he said that all the outside offices were going back to Thailand,” he added. “My choices were, go to Thailand or be without a job.” The couple ultimately decided to come to Florida instead. Within three weeks of launching the new business, Emma Beans was in more than 100 stores, and virtually all of them were reordering product. The Millers were not necessarily shocked at the response, but considering the state of the world during the pandemic, they were optimistic about the future of Emma Beans. At Jeanette’s urging, the couple began selling Emma Beans at the Coquina Beach Market. It was a good decision, Dean said, because they sold 50 bottles their first day and continue to see great numbers every week. The product is available in shops all over the Island, as well as on Amazon, and through their website, www.peskybugaway. com. You can also stop by their tent at the Coquina Beach Market every Wednesday and Friday, where they are happy to let you try some of their 25 different types of health and beauty products.
NESTING NEWS
Turtle nests laid: 273 (Record: 544 in 2019) False crawls: 325
Nests hatched: 0 Hatchlings hatched: 0 (Record: 35,788 in 2018) Nest disorientations: 8
JULY 7, 2021
www.amisun.com
JULY 7, 2021
THE SUN
25
Fishing tournament to benefit AMOB summer reading program Proceeds from the fishing tournament will benefit AMOB’s summer reading program. BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
BRADENTON BEACH – The second annual West Coast Bottom Brawl fishing tournament launches Thursday to benefit the Anna Maria Oyster Bar (AMOB)'s annual Dive Into Reading summer reading program. Hosted by AMOB, the Hernando DeSoto Historical Society, Joe Anti and Trevor Tilton, the tournament continues through Saturday and features multiple inshore and offshore fishing categories. The weigh-in ceremonies and post-tournament party will take place in the AMOB parking lot near the historic Bradenton Beach clocktower at the foot of the Bridge Street Pier. The inaugural West Coast Bottom Brawl in 2019 featured more than 150 entries and raised more than $3,000 for AMOB’s sum-
mer reading program. The 2020 tournament was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “It’s a fun tournament,” AMOB Managing Partner Lynn Horne said. A pre-tournament captains' meeting will be held at the restaurant’s Bridge Street Pier location in Bradenton Beach on Thursday, July 8 at 6:30 p.m. The team captain is responsible for the safe operation of the vessel and the safety of their crew during the tournament. Each team can consist of up to seven anglers including the team captain. All anglers on a team must fish from the same vessel. The inshore tournament entry fee is $300 per team, the offshore tournament entry fee is $375 per team and the Calcutta tournament (a tournament within a tournament) entry fee is $100 per team. Inshore tournament fishing starts at noon on Friday, July 9, with no lines allowed in the water until that time. Inshore tournament fish to be weighed must be in the weigh-in at the Anna Maria
AMOB | SUBMITTED
The fishing tournament will benefit AMOB’s Dive Into Reading summer reading program. Oyster Bar by noon on Saturday, July 10. The scales open at 10 a.m. for the inshore tournament only. Inshore tournament-eligible species will be snook, redfish, mangrove snapper and a mystery fish to be announced at the captains' meeting. Offshore tournament fish-
ing starts at 6 p.m. on Friday, July 9, with no lines allowed in water until that time. Offshore tournament-eligible species will be red grouper or gag grouper, red snapper, mangrove snapper and a mystery fish. Cash prizes will be given for the winners of the various fishing
categories, including the lady angler and youth angler categories. A youth angler eligible for the youth angler awards must be 14 years or younger on the tournament date. A female eligible for the lady angler awards must be 15 years or older and must catch and reel the fish to the point of gaff. The weight for each species in the closest to the determined weight category will be announced during the captains' meeting. All fish must be caught with hook and line using hand-held rods and reels. No electric reels are allowed. No rotten or mutilated fish will be weighed in. All fish need to be properly iced and cared for. All tournament winners must be present at the awards ceremony to receive their winnings check. Entry forms and fees, tournament rules and more information can be found online at www. desotohq.com/bottombrawl. For sponsorship or additional tournament information, contact Joe Anti at 863-661-2544 or Trevor Tilton at 863-581-5193.
26
THE SUN
Albert G. Few Jr. Albert G. Few Jr. died in Bradenton, FL, on June 29, 2021. Albert was born in Bradenton, FL on June 9, 1921. Reared in the commercial fishing village of Cortez, he was a winter visitor there from 1976 to 1998. He was a resident of Bradenton Westminster Towers since 1998. Few graduated from Bradenton High School in 1939 and attended Florida Southern College at Lakeland. He was a WWII decorated combat fighter pilot, a veteran of the United States Army Air Corps. In the air he flew over North Africa, Pantelleria, Sicily, and Italy. He graduated from the University of Alabama (Roll Tide) with a BS degree in aeronautical engineering. He was a past member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and was an FAAcertified flight instructor in the general aviation community. Employed by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics at Langley Air Force Base, Hampton, VA as an aeronautical research engineer from 1948 to 1956, he published numerous papers and research memorandums on the
www.amisun.com
stability and performance characteristics of aircraft and missiles obtained from extensive wind tunnel investigations at subsonic and supersonic speeds. Few retired in 1976 as a NASA supervisory aerospace engineer serving in most notable programs as Saturn, Apollo lunar launch vehicle and Space Shuttle vehicle aerodynamic design at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, AL under Dr. Werner Von Braun. He was awarded the Marshall Center Director’s Commendation for outstanding leadership and dedicated service to the space shuttle aerodynamic design program. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Bradenton and was a member of the Alabama Emmaus community. Albert was predeceased by his first wife, Clara Elizabeth Makiu Few, and his second wife, Ruth E. Tomichek Few. He is survived by his son, William T. Few of Largo, FL; daughter, Elizabeth F. Booth; granddaughter, Camille; and great-grandson, Henry Middleton of Jacksonville, FL. Services were held Friday, July 2, 2021 at Manasota Memorial Park with final honors by the U.S. Air Force. In lieu of flowers please send memorial contributions to Tidewell Hospice or First United Methodist Church of Bradenton.
Robin Mary Rhodes Robin Mary Rhodes 63, of Anna Maria, died June 19, 2021. Rhodes was born Aug. 21, 1957, in Massachusetts. She grew up in Sudbury where she attended Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School. A devout Christian, she was wed several years to David McCarthy and had a daughter, Maegen. She had a broad resume of local theater, starting with a role in “The Sound of Music” in a local playhouse in New England before making her move to Anna Maria. She appeared in more than 40 roles at the Island Players in Anna Maria. One of her specialties was “chewing out” somebody who ticked her off, no matter how much that person outweighed her. A celebration of life is being planned in August in Anna Maria by her daughter, Maegen McCarthy. Contact her at maemccarthy2016@ gmail.com to share stories and photos of her mother. Rhodes also is survived by a sister, Jan Carlson of Florida; nephews Kevin, Michael and Jack Manning of Massachusetts; niece Jennifer Moulton of North Carolina; and her dog, Buddy.
JULY 7, 2021
BEACH BEAT BRADENTON BEACH
6/27, 4:46 p.m., trespass warning, 100 Bridge St. A parking attendant reported a man sleeping under a building where he was not a guest. The man was warned he was not welcome on the property and was removed and issued a warning.
HOLMES BEACH
6/26, 9:10 p.m., criminal mischief, 3001 Gulf Drive. Property owner reported theft of three commercial grade lights from his business sign. The lights were valued at $1,500. 6/26, 10:23 a.m., trespassing, 3230 East Bay Drive. Husband of property owner reported someone inside vacant home. Owner contacted police wanting to press charges against suspect who was later identified through a photo. 6/27, 12:59 a.m., battery, 5608 Gulf Drive. Police responded to a residence after a 911 call from a female reporting a domestic situation. The female’s husband who she had been arguing with was deemed to be the aggressor and was arrested and taken to jail. 6/28, 12:52 a.m., burglary, 6303 Holmes Blvd. Neighbor reported seeing a thin white male steal a TV from his neighbor’s home. After being called out by the neighbor, the suspect dropped the TV and ran. Police were able to get two fingerprints, but have not yet located a suspect. 6/28, 11:30 p.m., assault on law enforcement/ noise violation, 506 74th St. After arriving at a residence for a noise violation, police confronted a large male who claimed to be in charge of the rental residence where several adults and children were having a party with loud music. The man became belligerent and combative with police. The suspect was arrested and taken to jail and the noise citation was issued to his wife.
www.amisun.com
JULY 7, 2021
THE SUN
27
MARTINIQUE: Building owners warned to investigate structural issues FROM PAGE 1
buildings lining the Gulf side of the key, but buildings of any height and location constructed in a salt-laden beach environment may be affected by corroding rebar and cracking concrete, two of the problems in the Champlain Towers. “It’s not just mid- and high-rise,” Longboat Key’s Planning, Zoning and Building Department Director Allen Parsons said. “Any building that’s counting on rebar and structural cement to hold it up it needs to be maintained.” It’s also not just an issue for Gulf of Mexico-facing properties, he said, but for any property in the beach environment of Longboat Key, Anna Maria Island or any Florida barrier island. Regular maintenance - and continual funding of scheduled maintenance - is key to preventing a tragedy, he said. Florida’s statewide building code does not require maintenance inspections after a building meets the initial code requirements upon construction, nor do Manatee county ordinances or ordinances in Longboat Key, Anna Maria, Bradenton Beach or Holmes Beach. Miami-Dade and Broward counties have such a requirement for buildings
CINDY LANE | SUN
Martinique condominiums are the only high-rise buildings on Anna Maria Island at seven stories tall. The condo property manager recommends an engineering study to be on the safe side. more than 40 years old, said Chris Brown, president of Bradenton-based C&S Community Management, which manages properties in Manatee and Sarasota counties, including Martinique North and South. A Florida law that required that condos over three stories do an engineering study every five years was rescinded due to complaints about high costs, he said. “With what happened in Miami, that looks like it was a very good law,” he
said, adding that several legislators are revisiting it. “I personally expect there will be a new law after what happened.” Brown recommended to Martinique board members on Friday that they do an engineering study of the two sevenstory buildings, Brown said, adding that inspections of foundations can reveal many issues, including hidden water line leaks or irrigation leaks under a building. Forty to 50 years ago, condos were
a new concept, but now that some are half a century old, owners must be vigilant, he said. “If you don’t stay on it, anything near saltwater can have rebar expansion; it chemically reacts with salt and cracks the foundation,” Brown said. “A lot of communities put it off. It costs money. People don’t want special assessments. That’s the hardest thing, people don’t want to pay the money.” Even a single-story building can have rebar issues, he said. “If you happen to be in the wrong place at that moment, it could even happen in a single story. A ceiling collapse could kill you.” If residents see a crack, they should report it immediately. “Follow up on it; find out what the reason is,” he said. “Address it, even if it’s going to cost money. People always need to be conscious of their environment and if you have a gut feeling, check it out.” Condo boards and building managers should address any structural issues with structural engineers, he said. The Surfside accident has so far resulted in the death of 27 people; 115 more remained missing as of press time.
COLLAPSE: Balcony collapse calls other structures into question FROM PAGE 1
A section of a second-floor balcony overlooking the backyard pool area had collapsed, raining debris down on the pool area including large sections of a concrete railing, which damaged the pool pavers below, along with wood and stucco pieces. Thomas said the balcony itself seemed to be a wooden structure on the back of the house that had been coated in stucco, collapsing due to structural issues. The property owner was advised of the international property maintenance code violations at the home and that the structure was deemed unsafe for human occupancy, meaning that anyone staying at the property is doing so at their own peril. Stewart was given a copy of the notice of violation July 1 by Thomas. He said she’s willing to work with the city’s building department to correct the issues on the property. However, if Stewart doesn’t have the structural issues addressed in a timely manner, Thomas said she could face a hearing with the city’s special magistrate to force
SUBMITTED | HOLMES BEACH CODE COMPLIANCE
the issue. Thomas said his goal is compliance and to help make the property safe for the owner to live there, not to take her to a hearing. Of continuing concern to the city is not only the property at 4106 Sixth Ave., but also the ones surrounding it. Stewart’s home was built in 2002 and is now known to have structural issues. Thomas said there are several more matching homes in the same area, all built by the same builder around the same time as Stewart’s, which could all have the same problems and pose a potential safety hazard
to the public. Many of those homes, he added, are currently used as vacation rental properties, making the potential for an accident worse. The name of the builder was not confirmed by city staff, and Manatee County Property Appraiser records for the property did not state the identity of the builder or their company. The Sun has made a public records request for the property records from the city of Holmes Beach. After the June 24 partial collapse of the Champlain Towers South building in Surfside, leav-
Left, Holmes Beach Code Compliance Officer James Thomas posts a notice in front of a home with structural issues on Sixth Avenue. Above, a photo taken by code compliance officers shows where a balcony broke off of a second story, damaging the home and the pool area. ing a known 27 people dead and 115 unaccounted for as of July 5, Holmes Beach city leaders are looking into ways to inspect aging buildings in the Island city to prevent the same kind of tragedy from happening in their neighborhoods. Though Holmes Beach doesn’t have any buildings as large as the 12-story structure in Surfside, there are several aging, multi-story buildings in the city, including
two seven-story condominiums at Martinique (See related story, Page 1). With the partial collapse of a balcony at a home built less than 20 years ago, Thomas said city leaders aren’t taking chances with the safety of residents and visitors. Working with the city’s building department, he said all of the homes built in the same manner as Stewart’s house will be at least visually inspected by city staff if staff members are not allowed on the property by the homeowners. If allowed on the property, a more thorough safety inspection can be conducted. During a July 1 special meeting, Commissioner Terry Schaefer said that following the building collapse in Surfside, he had spoken with Schwartz about the structural status of buildings and homes in Holmes Beach. Schaefer said Schwartz is looking into what can be done to inspect and evaluate buildings in the city to address any potential structural issues before they endanger the public.
28
THE SUN
SPORTS
JULY 7, 2021
A Hayward Cup worth waiting for BY MONICA SIMPSON SUN CORRESPONDENT
ANNA MARIA – The Florida rainy season only elevated the anticipation of the final game of another adult co-ed soccer season. The skies at The Center parted long enough, despite two rain game cancellations and a looming tropical storm, for the #2-ranked C.A.B.B. team to match up against the unlikely opponent, Salty Printing, in the big game. After playing the semifinal games earlier in the night, each team had a minute to mentally and physically prepare for another full game of play. C.A.B.B. defeated Flynn Law 7-2 in the first game of the night, while Salty Printing won the important semifinal game against Slim’s Place with the final score 4-3. Both teams kept the goalkeepers busy in the Paul “Ace” Hayward Cup championship game. League leader, Connor Haughey, had seven recorded saves for C.A.B.B. His counterpart, Matt Marshall, made 13 stops in the game. With a valiant effort, the Salty Printing team scored two goals in the game with power strikes by Gerardo Urbiola and Jessica Williams. Urbiola’s
goal and single assist just was not enough to help his team capture the cup. C.A.B.B. earned the W with goals by Austin Nutting, Luc Vecchio and Timo Vecchio. L. Vecchio was credited with an assist along with teammate Lindsey Styka. The C.A.B.B. players who made the statistics book in the championship game, along with Greg Moss, Rim Robertson and Kali Richardson, who helped them get there, closed out the season on top.
SUN SCOREBOARD TUESDAY, JUNE 29 YOUTH INDOOR SOCCER 8- TO 11-YEAR-OLD LEAGUE Beach Bums Moss Builders
1 3
Shady Lady Solid Rock Construction
5 3
THURSDAY, JULY 1 ADULT CO-ED SOCCER SEMIFINAL PLAYOFF GAMES #3 Flynn Law #2 C.A.B.B.
2 7
#8 Salty Printing #5 Slim’s Place
4 3
ADULT CO-ED SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP GAME #2 C.A.B.B. #8 Salty Printing
MONICA SIMPSON | SUN
3 2
Game delays could not stop the C.A.B.B. adult co-ed soccer team from winning the championship last Thursday night at The Center.
JULY 7, 2021
FUN IN THE SUN
Across 1 Really big hit 6 Numero uno, with "the" 10 One always ready with quick comebacks 13 W.C. Fields persona 14 Strand during a sleet storm, say 16 Green prefix 17 Football non-passing offense 19 Fish eggs 20 __ the table: arrange silverware and such 21 MBA or MFA: Abbr. 22 Behind, or hit from behind 24 Farm song refrain 26 Hasenpfeffer, e.g. 27 Open-and-__ case 30 Get one more card for twice the bet, in blackjack Answers to 06-30-21 Crossword Puzzle.
34 36-Across skunk Pepé 36 Warner Bros. creation 37 Author Tolstoy 38 European peak 39 "Gosh, look at the time" 42 Sundial seven 43 You, to Goethe 44 "Peter Pan" dog 45 Sediment 47 Car engine measure 51 Arthur of tennis 52 "Unforgettable" singer 53 Peter, Paul or Mary 55 Philosophy school with no classes? 58 Biol. or geol. 59 "Bingo!" 62 Australian bird 63 Opening kickoff, say, and what both parts of 17-, 30- and 47-Across
THE SUN
can be 66 Sailor's "Help!" 67 Woodsy path 68 Deed 69 Gallery hangings 70 Bldg. with a pool 71 "I Am of Ireland" poet Down 1 Lat. and Est., once 2 Grimace 3 Em, to Dorothy 4 Nine-digit ID 5 Alpine heroine 6 Astros Hall of Famer Craig __ 7 Cardio readout 8 Blacken 9 Schedule opening 10 Human/canine shape-shifters 11 Screen symbol to click on 12 Open-__ shoes 15 Tidied, as a room 18 Require 23 Cabernet color 24 Summer in Lyon 25 Western bad guys 27 Cut drastically, as prices 28 Prefix for "sun" 29 Elite group 31 Fancy neckwear 32 Mull over 33 Bam, bang or boom 35 Sommelier's menu 40 Complex woven
textile 41 __-Caps: candy 46 Backstabber 48 Fenway team, familiarly 49 SoCal Latinx neigh-
borhood 50 Puerto __ 54 Really cool 55 Big butte 56 Love, in Lima 57 Hat-tipper's word of
address 59 Opposite of baja 60 "Stop right there!" 61 Shipboard yeses 64 Rocker Ocasek 65 Dessert pastry
29
30
THE SUN
CLASSIFIED
ANNOUNCEMENTS WANTED: 8" BY 8" TILE’S from 1980’s with rounded corners bone color... I will buy up to 100 tiles. Call to sell: 941-962-3570 Thanks! BEACH YOGA ON Saturdays & Sundays at 8:30am at the end of Pine Ave by the Sandbar Restaurant by donation. www.thriveyogafit. com AMI TURTLE WATCH needs donations & silent action items for our FUNDRAISER. We can pick up! Call or text 941-713-6531. THE BEST VOLUNTEER position on the island. The AMI Historical Museum needs docents and bread makers. Call Kathy Primeau at 989-560-6381. ROSER FOOD BANK needs donations of cash and non-perishable food, PAPER & PERSONAL HYGIENE PRODUCTS. Donations boxes are located at the Church, Moose Club, and Walgreen’s.
CARPET CLEANING QUALITY COUNTS. CARPET cleaning. Upholstery cleaning. Tile & grout cleaning. Island's favorite cleaner. Manatee Chamber Member. Great price/free estimates. Call 941-7561082
CLEANING SERVICE THC CLEANING : Residential, Commercial, Rentals, VRBO. Professional and Reliable. Call 941-756-4570 or 941565-3931
COMMERCIAL SALES, RENT & LEASE RETAIL SPACE AVAILABLE at Pineapple Marketplace 425 Pine, Anna Maria. 8x10 and 10x10 spaces. Please send all inquiries to PineapplemarketplaceAMI@ gmail.com. Attn: Marcia HAVE YOU BEEN thinking of selling? We NEED properties to List for SALE!!! Duplexes, multi family, small resorts? Call BIG Alan Galletto of Island Real Estate to get it SOLD 941-232-2216
Call us today! 941-778-3986
EMPLOYMENT LANDSCAPE AND GROUNDS TECH at Island Condo. 40 hours per week plus benefits. Call 941-778-5915
FISHING CHARTERS CAPT. MAC GREGORY Fishing Charters. Full Day, Half Day, Night, Inshore & Near Shore. 941-809-5783 U.S.C.G. Certified/Insured
HEALTH CARE HOME CARE PROVIDER with Dennis Church a nursing assistant. 8+ years of experience. Licensed in Florida. SAFER at HOME. Call 815-519-3993 HOME CARE SERVICES with First In Care Home Health Agency. Serving Manatee County 20+ years specializing in senior care services. We offer consistency and reliability to our clients. Federal Level II background screening on all employees. Workers Comp and General Liability Insurance. Services offered 7 days week. Call 941-7468400. Phones answered 24hr per day. FL License HHA 299992454
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 GET’R DONE DRYWALL, INC Specializing in Remodels & Repairs. Island Resident for 18 years. Call Neil Cell 941-962-1194
AMISUN.COM
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. ISLE TILE EXPERT INSTALLATION of floors, custom showers, backsplash, deck/lanai. Licensed and insured. References available. Call Chris at 941-3028759 please visit website: isletileservices.com “HAMMERED HOMES” (SAVING HOMES SINCE 1984) Handyman services, renovations. Free Estimates & Consulting. Call before making decision, save money. 941-778-3206
LANDSCAPING & LAWN CARE R. GAROFALO’S Interlocking brick pavers, driveways, patios, pool decks. Free estimates. Licensed & Insured. Call Rafael 941-778-4823 or Veronik 941-526-7941 STRAIGHT SHOT LANDSCAPE. Specializing in Old Florida Seashell driveways and scapes. Also Rock, Mulch, & Soil. Free estimates. Call Shark Mark 941-301-6067 ISLAND RESIDENT. TREE/ BUSH Trimming, removal. Sweeping, blowing, weeding. Weekly, bi-monthly or monthly schedule. Pressure washing: driveways, walkways, fences, pool decks/ cages. Call Bill Witaszek 941-307-9315. SEARAY SPRINKLER SERVICES. Repairs, Additions, Drip, Timer Head Adjustments. Call Rick today Cell 720-299-1661 Office 941518-6326
JULY 7, 2021
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE: NORMS TOWING gives Notice of Foreclosure of Lien and intent to sell these vehicles on 06/30/2021, 09:00 am at 1855 63RD AVENUE E. BRADENTON, FL 34203, pursuant to subsection 713.78 of the Florida Statutes. NORMS TOWING reserves the right to accept or reject any and/or all bids. 1C3LC46K18N167779 2008 CHRYSLER 6171237 1980 BMW EKHB0199C292 1992 EKH JF1GD61627H520288 2007 SUBARU JTDKDTB38G1129212 2016 TOYOTA WAUR2AFD6DN017392 2013 AUDI NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE: NORMS TOWING gives Notice of Foreclosure of Lien and intent to sell these vehicles on 07/07/2021, 09:00 am at 1855 63RD AVENUE E. BRADENTON, FL 34203, pursuant to subsection 713.78 of the Florida Statutes. NORMS TOWING reserves the right to accept or reject any and/or all bids. 1FAFP404X1F219763 2001 FORD 1MEFM55S3YA628595 2000 MERCURY 2G1WG5E30C1257053 2012 CHEVROLET 4S4WMAPD2M3417133 2021 SUBARU NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE: NORMS TOWING gives Notice of Foreclosure of Lien and intent to sell these vehicles on 07/14/2021, 09:00 am at 1855 63RD AVENUE E. BRADENTON, FL 34203, pursuant to subsection 713.78 of the Florida Statutes. NORMS TOWING reserves the right to accept or reject any and/or all bids. 1G1BN52P5RR191109 1994 CHEVROLET 1GNDM19W0WB202179 1998 CHEVROLET NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE: NORMS TOWING gives Notice of Foreclosure of Lien and intent to sell these vehicles on 07/21/2021, 09:00 am at 1855 63RD AVENUE E. BRADENTON, FL 34203, pursuant to subsection 713.78 of the Florida Statutes. NORMS TOWING reserves the right
to accept or reject any and/or all bids. 1FMCU0D76AKB08116 2010 FORD 1G6KD54Y44U245279 2004 CADILLAC 1YVHP82A195M28656 2009 MAZDA NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE: NORMS TOWING gives Notice of Foreclosure of Lien and intent to sell these vehicles on 07/28/2021, 09:00 am at 1855 63RD AVENUE E. BRADENTON, FL 34203, pursuant to subsection 713.78 of the Florida Statutes. NORMS TOWING reserves the right to accept or reject any and/or all bids. 1G1ZD5ST9LF021875 2020 CHEVROLET 1G2NW12E2XM750607 1999 PONTIAC 2HGES26774H581662 2004 HONDA 3VWC57BU0KM230688 2019 VOLKSWAGEN 5NPEB4AC4BH203138 2011 HYUNDAI W1N4M4GBXMW081086 2021 MERCEDES-BENZ
LOST & FOUND LOST ON MANATEE BEACH. 18" herringbone chain (4mm thick, square link, round clasp, 10k) with 3/4" Spanish gold coin pendant. Please call 585-755-3894. Contact Dennis
MOVING & STORAGE MARTIN’S MOVING YOUR Island movers! Offering dependable, competitive rates. No hidden costs. 941-809-5777.
PAINTING & WALLCOVERING PAINT! PAINT! AND MORE 28 years of experienced interior/exterior custom painting. Pressure cleaning, drywall repairs and texture finishes. Many Island references. Please call Neil for free estimates. 941-812-0507 “WIZARD OF WALLS” Established 1980 Prompt quality service. Paperhanging/removal Faux finishes. Interior painting. Mary Bell Winegarden 941-794-0455
AMISUN.COM
PROFESSIONAL PAINTING SERVICES. Prompt & Reliable. Island Resident. Quality Workmanship. Interior/Exterior. Also minor repairs & carpentry. Free written detailed estimates. Bill Witaszek 941-307-9315
DONALD PERKINS PAINTING LLC fully insured. 30 years experience. Many Island references. Call 941-7057096
POOL SERVICES FOUR SEASONS POOL SERVICE AND CHEMICAL SERVICES. Certified Pool Operator. 10 + Years Experience. Residential/commercial. Chemical Service Licensed & Insured. Call Dennis Clark 941-7375657 COLE'S TROPICAL POOL SERVICE Call Cole Bowers for all your pool maintenance needs! Affordable and Dependable!! 941-7131893
PRESSURE WASHING & WINDOWS AUTHORITY ONE CLEANING : Residential, Commercial, Construction, Vacation, VRBO Rentals . Also available Pressure Washing, Roof Cleaning, Paver Sealing and Windows. Call 941565-3931.
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
www.amisun.com
JULY 7, 2021
BUSINESS & SERVICE DIRECTORY HOME IMPROVEMENT
HOME IMPROVEMENT
THE SUN
31
Call today to place your ad: 941-778-3986 PAINTING
TRANSPORTATION
PAINTING
REAL ESTATE HOMES & CONDOS FOR SALE LOOKING FOR A highly motivated real estate broker to buy or sell your next home? Darcie Duncan, Broker Duncan Real Estate a lifelong island resident bringing success to her customers for 30 years. Proven track record brings you results! 941-725-1589 REALTOR FOR HIRE. BUYING OR SELLING on AMI? 17 years experience & USAF Veteran. Call Kelly Gitt Keller Williams Realty today 941-799-9299.
SPECTACULAR LAGOON WATER views, PERICO ISLAND Completely REMODELED villa 2BR/2BA plus den. 2 car garage, vaulted ceilings, plantation blinds, new windows, porcelain tile floors, all new bathrooms. 11002 Perico Way Bradenton Fl. 34209. $499,900. Sharon Hightower RE/MAX Alliance Group 941-330-5054
RENTALS: ANNUAL ANNUAL RENTALS WANTED! We have well qualified tenants for beach and mainland annual rentals, Full management or Finders fee. Call today for details. Ask for Paige DUNCAN REAL ESTATE 513-3821992.
RENTAL WANTED SEEKING AMI ANNUAL RENTAL Call Kelly Gitt Keller Williams Realty 941799-9299
AMISUN.COM
BRAD FROM THE ANCHOR INN in need of an unfurnished, annual rental... Please contact me at 941704-2357.
RENTALS: SEASONAL & VACATION TIFFANY PLACE Gulf Front Condo for Rent Incredible views from living room and master bedroom. 2BR/2BA Green Real Estate Call 941-778-0455
AVAILABLE AUGUST 1. Monthly rental. Fully furnished newly remodeled., beahcy 2BR/1BA washer dryer. 2.5 miles to beach off Cortez. Close to shopping dining. Quiet area. Across the street from bay. $2800 mo. thru December . Call 941-773-1552. Deposit and cleaning fee. 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 $700/$800/$900 a wk. redekercondosonami.com Tim 941-704-7525 ANNA MARIA ISLAND, Updated 5 Star Condo for Rent- Available September October November. (Multimonth discount) Million$ water view, first floor, 2BR/2BA, patio, walk to beach, pool, tennis (smoke free) marketreps@aol. com Boat/jet ski dock available
TRANSPORTATION AMI TAXI metered-on-callcards accepted. Airport: Tampa $95, Sarasota $40, Clearwater $85, Orlando $195. Call 941-447-8372 or 941-447-8376. amitaxi4u@ gmail.com, www.amitaxi. com ANYTIME TRANSPORTATION to all Airports, Casino, etc. Tampa $70. Sarasota $35. Pets welcome. Very dependable. Reasonable rates. Contact Jeanne. 941-779-5095 AIRPORT RIDES- Tampa, St. Pete, Sarasota. Reasonable rates! Call or text Anna 941-932-1600
32
THE SUN
www.amisun.com
JULY 7, 2021