July Fourth parade a blast
Turtle nesting record broken
More turtle nests have already been laid in two months than in the entire six-month record season on AMI.
BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com
ANNA MARIA ISLAND - A 42-year record for sea turtle nests was shattered on July 2 when Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring volunteers counted 2024's 546th nest, exceeding the 2019 record of 544 nests for the whole season.
“We broke our all-time annual nest number count this week, and considering turtles should be nesting through late August/early September, we will be breaking it by quite a bit by the end of the nesting season,” Executive Director Kristen Mazzarella wrote in a July 5 email. “We are very excited about this.”
The sea turtle nesting season extends from May 1 to Oct. 31, but began early.
Mazzarella said that Turtle Watch volunteers have been putting in extra hours on the beach and painting nest stakes to mark the new nests.
“We are excited that so many sea turtles have decided to nest on Anna Maria,” she said. “We can thank the conservation efforts of patrollers that protected nests 25 years ago for producing the hatchlings that are coming ashore (as adults) to nest in such high numbers this year.”
Loggerhead sea turtles take 25-35 years to reach maturity.
Turtle Watch recorded the first nest hatch of this season on June 29 in Anna Maria, and, as of July 5, there have been seven nest hatches.
“When they emerge from the sand, baby turtles (hatchlings) follow the brightest horizon to find their way to the water. Artificial lighting that can be seen from the beach can draw hatch-
Candidates Farrington, Satcher answer voter questions
The winner of the Supervisor of Elections race will be determined by the Aug. 20 Republican primary election.
BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
MANATEE COUNTY – Manatee County Supervisor of Elections candidates Scott Farrington and James Satcher squared off in a June 19 debate hosted by the Lakewood Ranch Republican Club. After the debate, both candidates issued debate-related campaign messages.
In April, Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Satcher to serve the remaining months of the four-year Supervisor of Elections term that Mike Bennett vacated when he retired in March. Satcher was serving as the
District 1 county commissioner at the time. Farrington, then the Supervisor of Elections Chief of Staff, also sought the gubernatorial appointment and resigned from office the day it was awarded to Satcher.
With no Democratic candidate entered in the race, the winner of the Aug. 20 Republican primary election will serve as Supervisor of Elections for the next four years.
When non-party-affiliated candidate Thomas Dell joined the race as a write-in, the Supervisor of Elections primary race became closed to all but registered Republican voters. Because of Dell’s actions, Democrat and non-party-affiliated voters can’t vote in the closed primary. Dell also served as a primary-closing write-in candidate in 2020 and 2012.
PHOTOS BY KRISTIN SWAIN | SUN
The Privateers' ship, Skullywag, had water cannons ready to blast hot paradegoers. Page 11.
Mike LaPensee leaves a lasting legacy
Mike LaPensee created a life filled with love, friendship, hard work and community service.
BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
ANNA MARIA ISLAND –LaPensee Plumbing, Pools and Air co-founder, LaPensee family patriarch and beloved community member Mike LaPensee passed away on June 22. He was 79.
A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, July 14 from 4:30-7:30 p.m. at The Key Royale Club, 700 Key Royale Drive in Holmes Beach. The LaPensee family invites those who knew Mike to drop in, have a rum and Coke and share some memories.
LIFE AND LOVE
After graduating high school in Wayne, Michigan, Mike worked as a baggage
handler at the Metropolitan Wayne County Airport. Mike, his first wife, Sandra, and their son, Michael, moved to Anna Maria in 1967 and their daughter, Michele, was born in 1969. Sandra’s grandfather, Raymond Schuchard, owned Schuchard Plumbing in Holmes Beach and that’s where’s Mike got his start as a plumber.
After he and Sandra divorced, Mike met his second wife, Karen, in December 1976. They married three months later and raised their son, Greg, and daughter, Shawn, in their Anna Maria home, with Michael and Michele visiting regularly. They were married for 47 years.
Mike and Karen founded LaPensee Plumbing in 1985, operating the business from their Anna Maria home for a couple of years before moving it to 401 Manatee Ave. in Holmes Beach.
“It’s hard to put into words a lifetime of loving and living with Mike,” Karen said. “We got married 90 days from the day we met. We did a lot along the way, having these gorgeous kids and grandchildren that are still very close to us. We’re very thankful for that.
“Mike leaves a big hole in this community. He was
try to keep him in our love, thoughts and legacy as long as we can,” Karen said.
According to Karen, Mike died after suffering a major stroke. He had his first cardiac arrest incident shortly before his 46th birthday and from that point on he took heart medications and monitored his cardiovascular system.
“He overcame considerable medical issues and every day he was out there striving to do the best he could and feel as good as he could. I give him a lot of credit for each and every day that he just put one foot forward,” she said.
an outstanding figure. He didn’t know a stranger. He met people very easily. He was very outgoing and had a love of life that you could see all the time in his big old smile. He’s going to be greatly missed professionally, community-wise and in our family. He meant a lot to each and every one of us so we will
“He retired in 2009. After his retirement, I ran the business with our son, Greg, before he passed away in 2021. I’m stepping back a bit now and our daughter, Shawn Shields, and Chad Schweitzer are running it now,” Karen said.
SEE LAPENSEE, PAGE 17
FACEBOOK/LAPENSEE FAMILY | SUBMITTED
Karen and Mike LaPensee enjoyed 47 years of marriage.
ISLAND NEWS
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Fans say goodbye to treehouse
Owner Lynn Tran gave fans of the treehouse an opportunity to say goodbye to the structure over the July Fourth holiday.
BY KRISTIN SWAIN SUN STAFF WRITER | kswain@amisun.com
HOLMES BEACH – The treehouse had its last holiday over the July Fourth weekend.
Owner Lynn Tran opened the property at Angelinos Sea Lodge to fans of the structure to allow them a chance to take photographs and say their goodbyes before the treehouse is demolished.
Tran said the holiday was a fitting way to say goodbye to the treehouse.
Its first appearance in The Sun was in the 2011 July Fourth issue.
The treehouse was constructed in an Australian pine, supported by pilings wrapped in a material resembling tree trunks.
Tran and co-owner Richard Hazen maintain they contacted the Holmes Beach Building Department to inquire if they needed a permit to construct a treehouse before building the structure and were told they did not. However, once the structure was completed, code enforcement officers cited the owners for building without a permit.
The city’s building official at the time said the initial inquiry was for a platform supported by a tree, not the elaborate, two-story structure supported by pilings and featuring windows that was eventually constructed.
The city denied Tran and Hazen’s after-the-fact permit application due to
the structure being unlawfully built too close to the erosion control line.
After fighting the city and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in court since 2011, a final ruling from 12th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Edward Nicholas in February mandated the removal of the treehouse.
Tran and Hazen made a preliminary move to appeal the decision in Florida’s Second District Court of Appeal, but ultimately dropped the appeal, with their attorney stating during a June case status conference with Nicholas that they agreed to tear down the treehouse.
While demolition of the treehouse has not yet been scheduled, the structure is planned for removal by the end of July
in line with a DEP permit that expires on July 31.
MEMORIES
Fans of the treehouse and community members, along with a few curious onlookers, took the opportunity July 4-5 to visit the treehouse and reflect on their happy memories of the structure and express their feelings on the pending demolition. Some also expressed their treehouse memories on social media.
“My husband proposed at the benches to the right of the treehouse,” Misty Turcotte said.
“Always enjoyed walking and checking out the treehouse,” Jan Fitzgerald said. “I loved all the animals in it.”
CDC recommends new COVID vaccine
With at least two new variants of COVID-19 showing up around the U.S., the CDC recommends everyone get an updated vaccine.
BY JASON SCHAFFER SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – While many people have some immunity from COVID-19 through previous exposure or vaccination, new cases are popping up around the U.S., including Florida’s Gulf coast, and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) are recommending that everyone ages 6 months or older get an updated vaccine.
Updated COVID-19 vaccines are expected to be available from Moderna, Novavax and Pfizer in August or September.
On June 27, the CDC recommended the updated 2024-25 COVID-19 vaccine and the updated 2024-25 flu vaccine to protect against severe COVID-19 and flu this fall and winter. According to the CDC, it’s safe to receive COVID-19 and flu vaccines at the same visit.
The CDC says deaths from COVID-19 are at an all-time low since it hit the U.S. in 2020, but for certain groups of people, it can still kill or make them seriously ill, and should not be disregarded as a non-threat. The virus that causes COVID-19 is always
changing, and protection from vaccines declines over time. Receiving an updated 2024-25 COVID-19 vaccine can restore and enhance protection against the virus variants currently responsible for most infections and hospitalizations in the U.S., according to the CDC.
COVID-19 vaccination also reduces the chance of suffering the effects of long COVID, which can develop during or following acute infection and last for an extended duration.
Over the years, the owners added quirky accents to the treehouse, including several animal statues, such as a leopard lounging above a window, a monkey swinging from a vine, a snake and spider on the outside and other assorted creatures.
One couple said that they were married on the beach in front of the treehouse. Another said they had come to visit because they were curious about the treehouse and why it was being removed.
“It will seem weird on our next visit not to see it there,” Anne Douglas Johnson said on The Sun’s Facebook page. “It is sad because it isn’t hurting anything where it is.”
Several people stated their dismay that the treehouse was being torn down though they were thankful for the opportunity to see it one final time.
“It’s such a shame they have to demolish this beautiful treehouse,” Beverley Thomas said.
“It’s such a cool spot,” Michelle RoseCastillo said. “Too bad they couldn’t have worked something out.”
“That was a long fight,” Brandy Orlando said. “I wish it didn’t come to this; many fought for it to stay.”
“They fought a good fight,” Ali Spaid said of the treehouse owners. “It’s truly a shame the city wouldn’t work out a way for it to remain. It’s become an Island staple for the last 13 years, lasted through major storms and this discrepancy is what is taking it down… so much for our unique Island. I hope the owners find comfort knowing how many locals are with them.”
The CDC is recommending that the public get updated COVID-19 vaccines, which will be available in August or September.
Data continue to show the importance of vaccination to protect against severe outcomes of COVID-19 and flu, including hospitalization and death. In 2023, more than 916,300 people were hospitalized due to COVID-19 and more than 75,500 people died from COVID-19 in the U.S. During the 2023-24 flu season, more than 44,900 people are estimated to have died from flu complications.
KRISTIN SWAIN | SUN
While the treehouse is still aloft in its Australian pine perch on the beach at Angelinos Sea Lodge for now, it’s expected to be demolished by the end of the month.
Construction stalls Holmes Beach businesses
Some Holmes Beach businesses have had a hard time bringing in customers with construction becoming a constant around their plazas.
BY KRISTIN SWAIN SUN STAFF WRITER | kswain@amisun.com
HOLMES BEACH – Some businesses have had a hard few years with a lot of it due to ongoing construction at and around their locations.
Businesses in the S&S Plaza on Gulf Drive and along Holmes Boulevard have faced construction woes for well over a year as city and Manatee County projects have obstructed the roads around several businesses.
The city center project to enhance the intersection at Gulf and Marina drives closed primary access to the S&S Plaza and the Island Shopping Center for several months while work was completed.
Prior to, during and after that project, the Manatee County force main replacement also closed access to businesses behind the Island Shopping Center along Holmes Boulevard
and to the S&S Plaza, particularly the western section.
That smaller section is where Just 4 Fun Rentals, Minnie’s Beach Café, AMI Health and Fitness and Edibles N More are located. For part of the time during construction, Minnie’s co-owner, Kathy Smart, said that some days, her restaurant was inaccessible due to the ongoing construction, particularly the force main replace-
ment project that took several months longer to complete than it was initially projected to take and resulted in sections of Holmes Boulevard being repeatedly torn up and repaved.
Sean Murphy, owner of The Doctor’s Office, a restaurant and bar, sent out newsletters during the construction encouraging patrons to visit the establishment, noting that it remained open during the roadway construction.
Construction on the city center project was completed in the fall of 2023 with construction on the force main project completed in spring 2024.
Though the roadway construction is done and all the entrances to businesses are open, currently all the businesses in both sides of the S&S Plaza are struggling with ongoing construction related to the facade of the buildings being updated. Despite ongoing construction on the facade, all the businesses are open with normal business hours.
One of those businesses, Minnie’s, recently made headlines when owners Smart and Mary Doub took to GoFundMe to ask the community for help. After suffering business losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic and long-term construction, the couple asked the public to help with needed funding to assist in saving the café. The community, including visitors and locals who love Minnie’s and its staff, exceeded the $20,000 fundraising goal in less than 48 hours with a total of $26,850 raised at press time for The Sun.
OPINION
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Correction
In the July 3 edition of The Sun, comments in a story about the Gulf Island Ferry service were made by Holmes Beach Commissioner Greg Kerchner. The quotes were incorrectly attributed to Holmes Beach Commissioner Dan Diggins.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Diggins favors ferry service
I read recently The Sun’s piece regarding a Holmes Beach water taxi stop. The quotes attributed to me are incorrect and I implore the Sun to correct the record. I have never spoken to the Visitors Bureau Executive Director Elliott Falcione about my “…concerns regarding the safety of the pontoon boats currently used for service.” Those comments were actually from fellow commissioner Greg Kerchner at our commission meeting on June 25th. During that meeting, I said little on the water taxi initiative. I want to make it clear that I support the county’s initiative to establish a robust water taxi service to the island, including a Holmes Beach landing. The county has a long way to go to make that a functioning reality, but we have to start. And the current fleet of two pontoon boats gives us that start. It’s up to the county to shepherd through a viable plan that will provide another public transportation method for travel to/
from our city. We, as city leaders, have to be willing partners with the county on any water taxi initiative. Let’s just move forward. I say we/us, because I agreed to be the city liaison with the county in the future on this initiative. We live on an island - boats and islands are a natural fit - it’s worked for many island communities around the world. The county commission knows this as they recently approved funding for our new police boat. I am committed to the water taxi initiative because I believe the future for travel to the island has to include a water option.
Palma Sola circus
Caution: This letter may have a tinge of sarcasm! I'd like to compliment the city of Bradenton on their new CBD (Central Business District), campground, marina and boat disposal grounds. Who knew what forward thinking the city had when they allowed 4-5-6 Jet Ski companies to operate on the Palma Sola Scenic Highway in addition to the 2-3-4 horse riding businesses? And then came the various vendors - the jungle float, a hot dog vendor, boiled peanuts and watermelon! And let's not forget the guy who was selling sports jerseys out of his car! As a suggestion for the future, why not a flea market? It would only add minimal traffic to the "scenic" highway and wouldn't
likely increase any accidents. The campground is a nice touch! Maybe Wal-Mart could direct their campers to the causeway. The marina was a definite improvement. It's a great idea that boaters can just drop anchor in the bay and stay for free. Their waste is probably minimal and it's so convenient for them to park a vehicle right by the shore if they need to drive somewhere. Another great idea is to let anyone who has an old decrepit boat to simply abandon it in this area. Maybe it will wash ashore or one can simply tie it to a piling and let the county take care of getting rid of it. Lastly, now that every business seems to have a "sandwich" board advertising it, why not have a real drive-through sandwich shop? Think of the convenience! Finally, as an idea, why not just do away with the scenic highway designation and simply turn the area into a circus? Because that's what it is now!
Changing sides
We want to point out that there is an easy work-around to the closed primary problems that the write-in candidates have created in many of the primaries, if you have a computer available to you and 3-5 minutes to invest in this important democratic process of casting your vote for those whom you wish to represent you.
Dan Diggins Holmes Beach commissioner
Steve Allt Perico Island
WEDNESDAY, JULY 10
One-on-one tech help, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 2-4 p.m.
Island Time Book Club, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 6:30 p.m.
THURSDAY, JULY 11
Seashell shore walk, Coquina Beach south, 2650 Gulf Drive S., Bradenton Beach, 9 a.m.
Sword Fighting for History, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m.
One-on-one tech help, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 11 a.m.
AMI Chamber luncheon, Pesto Bistro & Wine Bar, 8799 Cortez Road W., Bradenton, 11:30 a.m., $22 for members or $30 for prospective members
Sunshine Stitchers Knit and Crochet, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 1 p.m.
FRIDAY, JULY 12
Forty Carrots infant and toddler playtime, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m.
Escape the NEST, Robinson Preserve Mosaic Nest, 840 99th St. N.W., Bradenton, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Mah-jongg for experienced players, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 11:30 a.m.
Summer Game Nights at the NEST, Robinson Preserve Mosaic Nest, 840 99th St. N.W., Bradenton, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
SATURDAY, JULY 13
Mornings at the NEST, Robinson Preserve Mosaic Nest, 840 99th St. N.W., Bradenton, 9
a.m. to noon
Paws and Pages: A Dog Adoption Event, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m.
MONDAY, JULY 15
Digital Sketchbook Studio, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 2 p.m.
TUESDAY, JULY 16
Turtle Tracks and Shorebird Facts, Holmes Beach City Hall, 5801 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m.
Family story time, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m.
Mah-jongg for experienced players, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 11:30 a.m.
WWII on AMI, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 3 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 17
One-on-one Tech Help, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 2 p.m.
Sharks and rays conservation research, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 2 p.m.
THURSDAY, JULY 18
One-on-one Tech Help, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m.
Wild About Wildlife, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m.
Sunshine Stitchers knit and crochet, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 1 p.m.
FRIDAY, JULY 19
Forty Carrots infant and toddler playtime, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m.
Mah-jongg for experienced players, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 11:30 a.m.
SATURDAY, JULY 20
Mornings at the NEST, Robinson Preserve Mosaic Nest, 840 99th St. N.W., Bradenton, 9 a.m. to noon
TUESDAY, JULY 23
Family story time, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m.
Mah-jongg for experienced players, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 11:30 a.m.
Turtle Tracks and Shorebird Facts, Holmes Beach City Hall, 5801 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m.
ON THE AGENDA
ANNA MARIA
10005 GULF DRIVE
For information, call 941-7086130
Please visit www.cityofannamaria.com or contact city hall for more information.
July 18, 1 p.m. – City Commission budget meeting
July 18, 2 p.m. – City Commission meeting
July 24, 9 a.m. – Planning and Zoning board meeting
July 25, 5 p.m. – City Commission budget meeting
July 25, 6 p.m. – City Commission meeting
BRADENTON BEACH
107 GULF DRIVE N.
For information, call 941-7781005
Please visit www.cityofbradentonbeach.com or contact city hall for more information.
July 10, 9 a.m. – City Commission workshop
July 16, 9 a.m. – City Commission budget work meeting
July 16, 10 a.m. – Community Redevelopment Agency budget work meeting
July 17, 1 p.m. – Scenic WAVES meeting
July 18, noon – City Commission meeting
HOLMES BEACH
5801 MARINA DRIVE
For information, call 941-7085800
Please visit www.holmesbeachfl.org or contact city hall for more information.
July 23, 2 p.m. – City Commission special meeting, maximum millage rate
July 23, 2:30 p.m. – City Commission meeting with work session to follow
July 24, 5 p.m. – Planning Commission meeting
July 31, 10 a.m. – Code Compliance special magistrate hearing
ISLAND-WIDE
July 11, 9:30 a.m. – ManaSota League of Cities meeting, Longboat Key Town Hall, 501 Bay Isles Road, Longboat Key
July 16, 6 p.m. – West Manatee Fire Rescue board meeting, administration building, 701 63rd St., Bradenton
Second sea turtle nests in daytime
BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com
ANNA MARIA – More than 100 beachgoers saw an uncommon sight when a nesting loggerhead sea turtle laid her eggs during the day on June 26, the second daytime nesting in a week.
Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring volunteers posted photos and the following on its Facebook page: “What an awesome afternoon in Anna Maria Wednesday! We had a day nester loggerhead! She remained on the beach for approximately one hour. Around 100 people of all ages were very respectful and gave her space. Everyone cheered as she returned to the Gulf!”
“It is not very common to see daytime nesting turtles and we did have two in one week,” Executive Director Kristen Mazzarella wrote in a July 3 email to The Sun. “I do not know what would cause them to nest during the day either. I just know that it is a rare occurrence.”
Mazzarella speculated that with this being a record year for sea turtle nests on the Island, it may just be a matter of numbers or a reaction to disturbances during typical night nesting.
“If you have that many nests, you may see a few daytime nesters,” she wrote. “If a turtle is disturbed and leaves the beach without nesting, she will have to return another time to lay her
nest and that might mean nesting at a time that finds her on the beach in the morning or having to come up during the day.”
She reminded visitors to leave the beach to the turtles at night so that people don't inadvertently disturb a turtle coming ashore or nesting on the beach. Cell phone lights are especially disruptive to sea turtles.
TURTLE TIPS
During sea turtle season, May 1 – Oct. 31, follow these tips to help turtles:
• 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 beach chairs and other objects from the sand from sundown to sunrise; they can deter sea turtles from nesting and disorient hatchlings.
• Fill in the holes you dig in the sand before leaving the beach; they can trap nesting and hatching sea turtles, which cannot live long out of the water. You might also accidentally dig into an unmarked nest. To report large holes or other turtle obstacles, call:
• City of Anna Maria code enforcement — 941-708-6130, ext. 111.
• City of Bradenton Beach code enforcement — 941-778-1005, ext. 227.
• City of Holmes Beach code enforcement — 941-778-0331, ext. 260.
• Level sandcastles before leaving the beach; they can block hatchlings from the water.
• Don’t use balloons, wish lanterns or fireworks; they litter the beach and Gulf, and turtles can ingest the debris.
• 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).
Source: Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring
TURTLES: Nesting record broken
FROM PAGE 1
lings away from the Gulf and into harm’s way,” according to Mazzarella. “In order to ensure that this incredible number of nests results in a record number of hatchlings making it to the water, we need to do our best to provide a turtle-friendly beach.”
NESTING NEWS
Turtle nests laid: 564 (Previous record: 544 in 2019) False crawls: 694 (Record: 831 in 2010) Nests hatched: 7 (Record: 453 in 2022) Hatchlings hatched: 176 (Record: 35,850 in 2022) Hatchling disorientations: 3 Adult disorientations: 31
Source: Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring
ANNA MARIA ISLAND TURTLE WATCH AND SHOREBIRD MONITORING | SUBMITTED
A rare day-nesting loggerhead sea turtle laid her eggs on an Anna Maria beach on June 26.
Least tern colony thriving
Eight new chicks are practicing flying.
BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com
BRADENTON BEACH – A colony of 45 least terns made it through the Fourth of July weekend, according to Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring Executive Director Kristen Mazzarella.
Turtle Watch assigned volunteer shorebird stewards to watch the nesting colony from July 4-7, helping to educate the public about the birds and protect the colony.
“We currently have eight least tern chicks and four pairs still on nests,” Mazzarella wrote in a July 5 email.
“The first few chicks are starting to practice flying.”
Least tern chicks are mobile within a day of hatching.
“At two days the adults lead the chicks around the colony to strengthen their legs and may leave the chicks unattended,” she wrote.
The chicks use chick huts as shelter, allowing the adults to forage offshore for fish. The huts protect them from predators such as fish crows and laughing gulls.
“Chick Crossing” signs have been placed at the north and south ends of the colony. In addition, chick fencing has been placed to deter chicks from going into the beach access area.
Mazzarella reminded beachgoers to be vigilant when near the bird closure and to give the birds plenty of space.
“The chicks do not obey the closure and will travel outside of it. If you see
a bird divebombing you, you are likely close to a chick, so be careful where you are stepping and move away from the birds,” she wrote.
BIRD TIPS
During bird nesting season, February to September, please follow these tips:
• Respect posted areas. Avoid posted nesting and resting areas and use designated walkways.
• Never touch a shorebird chick, even if it’s wandering outside a staked nesting area.
• Teach kids not to chase birds – if 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. Stay at least 300 feet away.
• Avoid posted bird nesting areas and use designated walkways to the beach.
• Pets are illegal on AMI beaches. Keep cats indoors.
• 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 888-404-FWCC (3922).
KATHY DODDRIDGE | SUBMITTED A least tern chick is fed by its parent.
May 2024 tourist tax collections
compared to May 2023
*(Anna Maria Island, Bradenton, Longboat Key, unincorporated Manatee County, Palmetto)
Manatee County’s 5% resort tax, or tourist tax, is collected from owners of accommodations rented for six months or less who charge the tax to their renters, in most cases, tourists. About 50% of the tax proceeds are allocated to Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau tourism marketing efforts, with 20% allocated to beach renourishment. The tax also partially funds tourism-related attractions such as the Bradenton Beach and Anna Maria piers. Amounts shown
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
We both just changed our party affiliation to Republican in less than 8 minutes total. We are now eligible to vote in the Aug. 20 primary elections. Once we have placed our votes, we will simply go back into the website and change back to our preferred voter status. If you, too, would like to make this
were collected in May and paid to the Manatee County Tax Collector’s Office in June. Manatee County totals include Anna Maria Island cities, Bradenton, the portion of Longboat Key within Manatee County, unincorporated Manatee County and Palmetto. To anonymously report a rental owner who may not be paying the tax, call 941-741-4809 or visit http:// www.taxcollector.com/tdt-evader.cfm.
Source: Manatee County Tax Collector
change to allow your voice to be heard, simply visit www.registertovoteflorida. gov, click on “Register or Update” and then “Record Update/Change” and complete the required information. Have your ID readily available as you will need to enter some information contained therein. The deadline to make this change is July 22 for the upcoming primary elections.
C J & Mardi Coury Holmes Beach, FL
Island Fourth of July holiday fun, tragic, record-breaking
The Privateers Fourth of July parade got the four-day holiday weekend off to a good start on Thursday, entertaining residents and visitors from one end of Anna Maria Island to the other with both parade participants and bystanders getting soaked with powerful water cannons. The weekend proved less busy than anticipated, although police reported writing plenty of parking tickets and breaking up arguments over saving parking spaces in public beach parking areas. Tragically, a beachgoer lost his life during the holiday. On the afternoon of July 5, West Manatee Fire Rescue (WMFR) responded to a 50-year-old Pennsylvania man who was pulled from the water unresponsive by bystanders at Cortez Beach near 11th Street N. Efforts to revive the man were unsuccessful and he was later pronounced dead at HCA Florida Blake Hospital. WMFR had reason to believe the death may have been cardiac-related. A near-drowning near lifeguard tower 11 at Coquina Beach occurred the same day. WMFR responded to a 67-year-old Orlando man who suffered cardiac arrest while swimming. He was transported to HCA Florida Blake Hospital but no further information about his status was available at press time. It’s important for anyone enjoying outdoor activities on extremely hot days to remember heat can kill, and proper hydration and time in the shade can save a life.
Sea turtle nests and least tern bird nests fared well over the weekend, according to Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring. Despite more illegal fireworks being set off on the beach than police could keep up with, a colony of 45 least terns appears unharmed, and as of July 2, the Island saw a recordbreaking 546 sea turtle nests, topping the record-breaking 544 nests during the entire 2019 season.
KRISTIN SWAIN | SUN
KRISTIN SWAIN | SUN
KRISTIN SWAIN | SUN
KRISTIN SWAIN | SUN
CINDY LANE | SUN
Cortez Cultural Center seeks volunteer gardeners
Fall planting will include native plants like sea grape and railroad vine.
BY LESLIE LAKE
SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com
CORTEZ – Volunteer gardeners are needed at the Cortez Cultural Center to install native plants under a grant from the Longboat Key Garden Club made to the Cortez Village Historical Society (CVHS).
The Cortez Cultural Center, 11655 Cortez Road W., serves as a landmark welcoming visitors to the historic fishing village.
“In designing this project, we consulted with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Services (IFAS) Extension for Manatee County. IFAS Florida Friendly landscape coordinator Susan Griffith visited our site in February, measured the pH of our soil, and has recommended a list of native plants that would grow well in our sandy, alkaline soil,” according to a CVHS newsletter.
Horticulturist and CVHS volunteer Steve Huber has sketched a vision for the garden.
Zack Yoder gone too soon…
Lead guitarist, lead singer and bass player Zack Yoder was found dead at his Terra Ceia home on Saturday morning, July 6. Zack, 30, was scheduled to perform at Gilligan’s in Siesta Key that afternoon and at the Drift In in Bradenton Beach that night. Natural causes are believed to be the unofficial cause of death. Zack will be missed by his fellow musicians, friends and fans.
CVHS | SUBMITTED
Cortez Village Historical Society volunteer and horticulturalist Steve Huber provided a sketch of the proposed garden at the Cortez Cultural Center.
“In Phase I of the beautification project, we plan to spend the summer clearing out the area and proceed with planting in the early fall,” according to the newsletter.
In April, Allen Garner and Alex Garner removed Brazilian pepper trees and an ailing Australian pine from the front of the Center.
“We expect that the garden will benefit Cortez villagers and visitors as an area of native beauty and
Floridian heritage that is pleasant to wander through, relax in and reflect upon Cortez history and the plants that flourished when our village took root,” the newsletter states. “Equally, our native-plant garden will help support Florida insects, and thus birds, butterflies and other pollinators.”
Plants that will be planted in the fall include muhly grass, railroad vines, dune sunflowers, beach creepers, sea oxeye daisies, orange milkweed, passion flowers, purple and yellow thistles, prickly pear cacti and sea grape shrubs. A garden bench will be installed in the shaded area.
“Native plants require less water than non-natives and grow well without a need for heavy fertilization,” according to the newsletter. “Our garden will not only conserve water usage, but it will also promote a healthier runoff into the tributaries that run into Sarasota Bay, helping to preserve the purity of our estuary.”
The Cortez Cultural Center is open by appointment only in July and August. To volunteer for the gardening project, call 941-8400590 or email cvhs2016@aol.com.
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
Zack Yoder, right, played at the Drift In regularly for the past few years.
BEACH BEAT
BRADENTON BEACH
6/30, 6:21 p.m., Baker Act, 57 Bay Drive
N. Two officers were dispatched to a complaint from the property manager in reference to an Airbnb tenant who had refused to leave the rental unit after having her credit card declined. The officers knocked on the door and announced themselves, but she refused to open the door, even after officers saw her through
Coast Guard rescues boat struck by lightning
On June 30, U.S. Coast Guard Station Cortez crew responded to a vessel 11 nautical miles off Egmont Key that had been struck by lightning. The crew quickly arrived on scene and made contact with the vessel. All five people on board were safe with minor injuries. The crew put the vessel in tow and brought it back to the station.
a window hiding behind the door. The tenant told the officers through the door that if they entered, she would kill them. The property manager was able to assist officers in through a back door. When the first officer entered, the subject was partially undressed and holding a knife. Because of the threats and the knife, the second officer deployed his taser, which had little effect. Eventually, officers were able to take the subject into custody, and due to her mental state, she was detained under the Baker Act and transported to HCA Florida Blake Hospital for treat
HOLMES BEACH
6/29, 8 p.m., information, 100 66th St. The officer was dispatched to the beach access at 66th Street in reference to a turtle nest being struck by a vehicle. When the officer arrived, Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring and Code Enforcement officials were already on the scene. It appeared that a golf cart had been driven onto the beach and struck a turtle nest. Turtle Watch advised that the nest did not appear to be damaged, and that one of the stakes marking the
Emergency Management hosts hurricane season Q&A
With hurricane season underway, Manatee County residents may have questions about storm readiness, flood zones, evacuation levels and where to get official information. To answer those questions, Manatee County Emergency Management is hosting Coffee and Questions at the Emergency Operations Center, 2101 47th Terrace E. in Bradenton, on Friday, July 12 from 10-11:30 a.m.
“It’s a great opportunity to check your readiness,” Manatee County Chief of Emergency Management Matt Myers said. “We’ve been able to assist many residents at our readiness sessions across the county this spring, but we wanted to offer another in-season opportunity to help bring everyone up to speed.”
Not only will those who sign up at mymanatee.org/coffeechat have the opportunity to attend and get their questions answered directly by those in the know, they will also have the chance to visit the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and see where essential county staff and leadership “ride out the storm” during weather-emergency activations. ABC-7 (WWSB-TV) Chief Meteorologist Bob Harrigan will join in the discussion.
OUTDOORS
Catch and release
aking care when we release fish we don’t intend to keep has never been more important. While most anglers are aware that fish populations are vulnerable and not the endless resource we once thought them to be, shrinking habitats and fish populations make the process all the more important. Fishermen who fish mostly for fun have been criticized because many see catching and releasing fish as playing with fish. Anglers, unlike hunters, can pursue their passion and release their prey. Both hunters and anglers are generally great champions of their respective passions and invest their time and money in protecting the habitat and well-being of fish and animals.
Most anglers I know who practice catch and release have no problem with taking an occasional fish home for dinner. It's more about enjoying the sport and trying to be proactive in helping it to remain healthy and viable. There are many species, notable among them, tarpon, that anglers seldom, if ever, kill. Catch and release is not just about releasing fish that you don't want, it's also about safety releasing undersized fish or species that aren't valued at the table. Catch and release in any form is a wise use of the resource, but unfortunately, many anglers don't know how to properly handle fish. When we get cut, bruised or battered, we can head for the local drug store or in more extreme cases, the emergency room. Not so for fish. For them, it's heal or die, and in their world, it's the sick and wounded that first fall prey to predators. What a shame to do the right thing, releasing a big, speckled trout full of roe, only to have it eaten by a shark, barracuda or other predator because it wasn't handled properly.
sharks that ply local waters looking for weak or injured quarry. Enjoy the action but land the fish as quickly as possible. Once you have the fish subdued, the best course is to never take them out of the water. If you've been fighting them for a long time (think tarpon) make sure you revive them properly. If you can reach the water over the gunwale, slowly move the boat forward while holding the fish firmly but lightly. This forces water and oxygen through their gills and helps them recover from oxygen depletion. They'll let you know when they're ready to go.
RUSTY CHINNIS | SUN
It’s illegal and bad practice to remove big tarpon from the water. Here Andy Mill measures a tournament fish as his guide, Doug Kilpatrick, holds it by the jaw before releasing it.
The first step I would suggest is to make sure you match your tackle to the fish you are pursuing. Trying to land a big tarpon on a 20-pound tackle might be okay if you're experienced, but to the uninitiated, it's like announcing a free meal to the
The hook is probably the next most important consideration. Either a circle hook or a barbless hook is usually best for anglers and their fish. The key to keeping fish on a barbless hook is to keep the line tight. Circle hooks are recommended for inexperienced anglers and on fish that tend to swallow the hook, like speckled trout. When you do handle a fish, understand and respect their vulnerabilities. Fish secrete a protective coating that covers their scales and skin. This slime coat acts as a defense against invasion by bacterial, parasitic and fungal pathogens. Whatever hook you use, a de-hooker will keep your
RUSTY CHINNIS
REEL TIME: Catch and release
hands safe and clean, preventing you from inadvertently harming the fish's protective slime coat and protecting hands from sharp gills and teeth. De-hookers come in various shapes depending on how they're used. The simplest is J-shaped and removes hooks in or near the jaw. A circular-shaped longer version allows anglers to remove hooks that are deep in the throat of a fish or the jays of a big fish like a barracuda. Anglers who fish for reef fish like snapper and grouper need to learn how to "vent" fish with inflated swim bladders. Bringing the fish up from deep depths fast bloats the bladder, which must be punctured to allow the fish to reach the bottom. A good presentation of the process is available online.
Anglers that release a trophy-sized fish may want to take home a picture. Here are a few tips that will help you record your catch. Set your exposure in advance and have an idea where in the boat you want to take the picture. The best picture for the fish would be when it's still in the water, but if you do remove the fish, hold it horizontally with one hand near the head and the other hand under the fish’s belly to support its weight. Holding a fish vertically puts a strain on the internal organs and can potentially dislocate its jaw. This is particularly important with large fish. Lastly, eliminate any extraneous objects like rods and focus on the subject.
By being prepared we can get the fish back in the water fast, thus ensuring its chances of survival. Taking the time and having the tools and knowledge to release fish mindfully is a great way to help ensure we have a healthy population of fish now and into the future.
Fishing action heats up
CAPT. RICK GRASSETT
Anglers fishing with me out of CB’s Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key had some action with trout, blues and redfish in Sarasota Bay and tarpon in the coastal Gulf of Mexico recently. I primarily fished the coastal Gulf for tarpon, but fished a few days in the bay when conditions weren’t good in the Gulf or when targeting other species. Fly angler Bob Snover, of New Hampshire, fished shallow water with me and caught and released his first red on a fly. Pat Beckwith, of Sarasota, fished deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay and had some action with bluefish on Clouser flies on another trip.
Longtime friends and clients also had some action with tarpon in the coastal Gulf. Dave Reinhart, of Massachusetts, fished a couple of days with me and was joined by his son, Dan Reinhart, of Vermont, one of the days. They jumped a couple of tarpon on live crabs and we leadered one. Dennis Ondercin, of Ohio, and Cliff and Mason Ondercin, of Sarasota, fished a couple of days with me and had good action, jumping several tarpon and bringing two to the boat. Cliff also fly-fished for tarpon with me on another trip and had a hook-up in tough conditions. Great job!
Tarpon have thinned out but should continue to be an option in the coastal Gulf. Look for snook and juvenile tarpon around dock lights.
Deep grass flats are usually a good option for action with trout.
Our natural resources are under constant pressure from red tides and other algae blooms fueled by residential, industrial and agricultural runoff, toxic spills and intentional releases, freezes, increasing fishing pressure and habitat loss and degradation. Please limit your kill, don’t kill your limit!
CAPT. RICK GRASSETT | SUBMITTED Bob Snover, of New Hampshire, with his first red caught and released on a Grassett Flats Minnow fly while fishing Sarasota Bay with Capt. Rick Grassett recently.
ELECTION: Candidates Farrington, Satcher answer voter questions
OPENING REMARKS
Lakewood Ranch Republican Club Vice President Bruce Stamm moderated the debate, asking questions club members submitted in advance.
During his opening remarks, Satcher said, “I came into politics kicking and screaming. My background is in ministry and that’s not something I’m ashamed of.”
Satcher noted he received 66% of the District 1 votes cast in the 2020 election and was one of the county commission’s most conservative leaders during his time in office.
“On April 12th, the governor of Florida appointed me the Supervisor of Elections and I’m proud to serve in that capacity,” he added.
Farrington said he worked in the Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections office for 10 years before spending the past 11 years working in the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections office and serving as Bennett’s chief of staff.
“I’m going to venture a guess that most of you voted in Manatee County before and I’m also going to say you had a good experience in that process and you trusted that when you cast that ballot, that ballot was counted the way you intended. Mike Bennett, myself and the staff at the elections office did that for 11 years with
LWRRC.COM | SUBMITTED
Former SOE Chief of Staff Scott Farrington hopes to serve as Manatee County’s next Supervisor of Elections.
the highest level of integrity, the highest level of security and that’s what experience gets you. It also gets it to you on a budget, without cutting corners.”
DEBATE TOPICS
The first question Stamm posed sought the name of the candidates’ campaign consultants and consulting firms.
Satcher refused to divulge the name of his campaign consultant and said, “I’m tempted not to answer that question. I don’t know what it has to do with my performance as the Supervisor of Elections. Sure, I have a political consultant.”
Satcher’s Appointment of Campaign Treasurer form lists Wendy White as his campaign treasurer. White shares the same Tampa address as political consultant Anthony Pedicini’s Strategic Image
LWRRC.COM | SUBMITTED Supervisor of Elections appointee James Satcher hopes to retain that position for the next four years.
Management consulting firm.
Satcher, Kevin Van Ostenbridge, George Kruse and Vanessa Baugh successfully utilized Pedicini’s services in 2020 and White is currently also serving as campaign treasurer for Van Ostenbridge, county commission candidates April Culbreath, Ray Turner and Steve Metallo and school board candidate Jonathan Lynch.
After noting that Satcher didn’t answer the question, Farrington said Bennett and one of Bennett’s past associates have provided consultation in an unofficial capacity.
When asked about the experience they’d bring to the elections office, Satcher said, “My experience was in ministry. My experience after that was the county commission.”
Farrington said while working in the
Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections office he earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in information systems management from the University of South Florida. He’s also received a Master Florida Election Certified Professional certificate from the state of Florida and a Certified Election Registrar and Administrator certificate from The National Association of Election Professionals.
The candidates were asked what single change they’d make to the voting process if given total autonomy to do so.
Farrington said he would extend early voting through Election Day rather than ending it the weekend before Election Day.
“If you vote on Election Day, you have to go to your precinct, whether it’s convenient for you or not on that day. I would like to extend it through Election Day and then you could go to whatever precinct was most convenient,” Farrington said.
“I believe we should have a national holiday on Election Day and we should go back to everyone voting on Election Day,” Satcher said, noting that overseas military personnel and those with illnesses and other circumstances could still use absentee ballots.
“I think we’d be better off if we were all voting in person,” Satcher said.
LAPENSEE: Leaves a lasting legacy
When asked what she loved most about her husband, Karen said, “His outgoing personality. He never met a stranger. He was always asking people where they were from and who they were. He was always engaging and he just wanted to make new acquaintances and learn new things.”
As for what she’ll miss most, Karen said, “Everyday living. We had our children together and our business together so we were together all the time. It was quite a bond. He really grew into this grandfather role and he truly loved bragging about his grandkids.”
Mike and Karen have a long history of community involvement and assisting others. For many years they’ve hosted The LaPensee Bowling Tournament (now
FACEBOOK/LAPENSEE FAMILY | SUBMITTED
Mike LaPensee was a beloved and respected figure on Anna Maria Island.
The Greg LaPensee Bowling Tournament) that benefits
The Center of Anna Maria Island. Mike was a member of the Rotary Club of Anna Maria Island and part of an informal coffee club that met at Ginny’s and Jane E’s Café in Anna Maria every Tuesday and Thursday morning.
“Mike was always willing to lend a hand and it was an honor to give back to our community through the years,” Karen said. “Not only
LaPensee Plumbing, Pools and Air is located on Manatee Avenue in Holmes Beach.
did he love his profession as a plumber but he loved where he lived and all the people here.”
Speaking by phone while visiting Reno, Nevada, Mike’s daughter, Michele Crouthamel, now a Texas resident, said, “He was a great dad. He taught me whatever I wanted to learn. He taught me how to clean my first car, fix a toilet and change a tire.
| SUN
You do it the right way, you put pride in everything you do and your work ethic matters. He also taught me about life.
“When my husband, Jereme, and I were raising our two sons, Nathan and Corey, and living in the Virgin Islands, we’d come home every summer and stay with Dad and Karen. We have great summer memories - our boys
going to the shop and being part of LaPensee Plumbing, being part of the Island, riding the Island Trolley and all those summer memories our boys have too. We have a wonderful family unit and we had great dinners around the dinner table when we came to visit. Losing Greg was hard. Losing dad will be hard. There’s so many good memories I’m thankful for.” Nathan and Corey were the little kids shown in the old LaPensee Plumbing ads when the shop was next to Minnie’s Café.
COMMUNITY FIGURE
Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth said, “I was so sorry to hear about Mike’s unexpected passing. Mike loved the community and has been a passionate advocate for
SEE LAPENSEE, PAGE 19
JOE HENDRICKS
OBITUARIES
James Michael “Mike” LaPensee
James Michael “Mike” LaPensee, a long-time resident of Anna Maria, passed away on June 22, 2024 at the age of 79. Mike was born on April 10, 1945, in Detroit, Michigan, to parents Wilfred and Edith (Glasgow) LaPensee. Here he spent his early childhood before moving to Wayne, Michigan. He attended St. Mary’s Catholic School and then Wayne High School where he graduated in 1963. In 1967, he made the move to Florida and settled on Anna Maria Island. In December of 1976 he met the love of his life, Karen, and married her 90 days later in March 1977.
He was notorious for striking up conversations with strangers wherever he went, always leaving them a friend. He was immensely proud of his family and was always bragging about them to friends and strangers alike.
He loved trains, old cars and working on his hobbies - model airplanes, boats and cars were his favorite.
Mike was a loving husband, father and friend and he will be greatly missed.
He is preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Kenneth LaPensee and Wilfred “Sonny” LaPensee; and son, Gregory LaPensee. He is survived by his wife, J. Karen LaPensee; son, Michael J. LaPensee, daughters, Michele (Jereme) Crouthamel and Shawn (Logan) Shields; daughterin-law, Carlee LaPensee; sister-in-law, Nancy LaPensee; brother, Richard (Carol) LaPensee; and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Mike was a plumber by trade, becoming a Master Plumber, and was well-known around the business community for founding LaPensee Plumbing Inc. alongside Karen, which they began in 1985.
He was an active member of the community, whether that was coaching his children’s youth sports teams at The Center in their younger years, attending various events and fundraisers around the island or volunteering with The Rotary Club of Anna Maria Island, of which he was a member.
A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, July 14 from 4:30-7:30 p.m. at The Key Royale Club, located at 700 Key Royale Drive in Holmes Beach, FL 34217. Those who knew him are encouraged to drop in, have a rum and Coke and share some memories.
Brown & Sons Funeral Homes & Crematory 43rd Street Chapel is overseeing the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that donations be made to The Center of Anna Maria Island or The Rotary Club of Anna Maria Island.
COVID: CDC recommends new vaccine
Most people only need one dose of the flu vaccine each season. While the CDC recommends the flu vaccination as long as influenza viruses are circulating, September and October remain the best times for most people to get vaccinated. Flu vaccination in July and August is not recommended for most people, but there are several considerations regarding vaccination during those months for specific groups:
• Pregnant women in their third trimester can get a flu vaccine in July or August to protect their babies from flu after birth, when they are too young to get vaccinated.
• Children, who need two doses of the flu vaccine, should get their first dose as soon as it becomes available. The second dose should be given at least four weeks after the first.
• Vaccination in July or August can be considered for children who have healthcare visits during those months if there might not be another opportunity to vaccinate them.
• For adults (especially those 65 years old and older) and pregnant women in the first and second trimesters, vaccination in July and August should be avoided unless it won’t be possible to vaccinate in September or October.
For more information on vaccines for COVID-19 or flu, visit www.cdc.gov. When new vaccines have become available in the past, they have been offered by Walgreens, CVS and Publix pharmacies on the Island within days of their national release. Consult a doctor or pharmacist with questions or concerns regarding the upcoming vaccine. FROM PAGE 4
LAPENSEE: Leaves a lasting legacy
FROM PAGE 17
our Island community. I spoke with him during our sleigh bell social event and he couldn't say enough as to just how special the event was and how much it meant to him to see all the families enjoying time together. He was a true family man and truly loved the Island.”
Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer said, “Mike was a great man and a blessing to the Island community and the police department. He was loved by many. He will be missed by all.”
Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy said, “Anna Maria has lost one its most kind and thoughtful residents. Mike was a valued citizen of our city and our entire Island community. His generosity and kindness helped so many not-for-profit organizations and those less fortunate. He will be missed but not forgotten.”
Anna Maria Oyster Bar CEO John Horne said, “We so loved Mike. He epitomized the love for Anna Maria Island. He was a fabulous family man, businessman and community man. He loved Anna Maria Island and the Island people loved Michael.”
Island restaurateur and businessman Ed Chiles said, “Mike LaPensee was a great citizen of our Island. He and Karen built a business that was one of the pillars of our community. They supported every community cause and project. His presence will be sorely missed but his legacy of service will live on.”
Duncan Real Estate owner Darcie Duncan said, “Mike was part of the fiber of the Island. He was passionate about our community and ‘no’ was not in his vocabulary. He was a generous man, always willing to give of his time and talents. He had an infectious smile and laughed a lot, although he had his spunky side too. I had the pleasure of him being my ‘pseudo Island dad’ over my lifetime and I will miss him dearly. Someday I’ll see him again at the ice luge. If you know you know.”
Sato Real Estate owner Barbara Sato said, “Mike is Island legend. He embodied the character of a true islander. He started a great honest hardworking family business on the Island that always gave back and continues to give back to the community it serves. Mike always had a smile on his face and made us laugh. The Island has lost another great one.”
Ginny’s and Jane E’s owner Paul Foster said, “Mike was a regular at Ginny’s with the local coffee group that comes in. The group is made up of long-time islanders and Mike fit right in. Mike was a gentleman. I always looked forward to seeing him. He always had something positive to say. He loved Karen and his family and loved talking about them. Mike leaves a huge legacy behind. If a life is measured by how many friends and loved ones you leave behind when you go, Mike was incredibly wealthy.”
Former Holmes Beach Mayor Carol Whitmore said, “Mike and Karen have been close friends of our family since the 70s. Mike was a good, honest man who loved this Island. He always supported our community center and the local issues affecting those who lived here. Many here will never forget him.”
Jim McDaniel, former director of development for The Center, said, “I feel privileged to have known Mike LaPensee. Even more so that he invited me to see his work room where he painstakingly assembled incredibly detailed model ships. ‘Not just anyone gets to see that,’ I was later informed. Mike was generous with his time and wisdom and he and Karen generously supported The Center and the Rotary Club. I’ll miss Mike’s smile, reverence and the care he had for others. He was a person of action and doing ‘the good’ where he saw the need. Godspeed, my friend.”
Wash Family Construction owner Darrin Wash said, “I met Michael in the late 80s at a construction site on Anna Maria Island. I drew an instant liking to him as he spoke construction like he knew everything about
He was very outgoing and had a love of life that you could see all the time in his big old smile.”
Karen LaPensee, wife
it. In a short amount of time, I figured out he actually did know everything. I always looked up to him. He was one of my mentors and a huge supporter of the Wash Family. Michael and Karen always had great business advice for Dawn and I and they helped us grow into the company we are today. He was always proud of
LaPensee Plumbing. He loved his family, his home on Anna Maria and he was a good role model.”
Longtime Anna Maria Island resident Tom Aposporos said, “In recent times, our meetings were occasional and accidental. I never left one of those visits without feeling good about seeing him.”
FACEBOOK/LAPENSEE FAMILY | SUBMITTED Above, Rotarians Ed Misner and Mike LaPensee, right, helped raise money for others in need. Right, Mike LaPensee loved model ships and planes.
MICHELE CROUTHAMEL | SUBMITTED This LaPensee family photo was taken facing Egmont Key.
FACEBOOK/LAPENSEE FAMILY | SUBMITTED
The LaPensee family annually hosts The Greg LaPensee Bowling Tournament that assists The Center of Anna Maria Island.
REAL ESTATE
Bargains on the beach
Realtor.com is part of my everyday life. I check it for new listings, sold listings, open houses and sometimes just to look at the pictures on what may be an otherwise slow day. Sometimes I even learn something I didn’t know, like their recent story about the 10 most affordable beach towns.
Before you get all excited, all three cities on Anna Maria are not on this list. In fact, they are so far off the list that the median list price for number 10 on Realtor.com’s list couldn’t buy you a garage on Anna Maria Island. Nevertheless, knowing there are other beach towns and barrier islands in the country where properties are available within walking distance of the water will give you a new or continued appreciation of this country’s real estate diversity.
Castles in the Sand
LOUISE BOLGER
So, let’s start with Realtor.com’s list. Number 1 is Pascagoula, Mississippi on the Gulf coast, with a median
list price of $164,900. Number 2 is Atlantic City, New Jersey, with a median list price of $239,000. Number 3 is Deerfield Beach, Florida, with a median list price of $239,950. Number 4 is Dennis Port, Massachusetts on Cape Cod, with a median list price of $277,500. Number 5 is Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, with a median list price of $299,500. Number 6 is Corpus Christi, Texas on the Gulf coast, with a median list price of $315,000. Number 7 is Sunset Beach, North Carolina, with a median list price of $340,000. Number 8 is Grand Isle, Louisiana, a barrier island
in the Gulf, with a median list price of $375,000. Number 9 is Newport, Oregon, with a median list price of $399,950. And finally, number 10 is Ocean Shores, Washington, with a median list price of $425,000.
I find these numbers fascinating and some of them surprising. If I could, I would take a field trip to each of them to understand how their sand and water differs from Anna Maria’s.
Anna Maria Island is a 7-mile-long barrier island with pristine beaches and aqua Gulf of Mexico water - we all know that. We also have retained a quaint beach community vibe despite the increase of visitors and developers building mega homes, all of which have brought in more high-quality restaurants and upscale shops. The flurry of annual street fairs, parades and entertainment on the Island continues the small-town feel. The annual Easter egg hunt on the beach
behind the Sandbar Restaurant is something to be seen, as well as the fishing boats coming in to unload the day’s catch at the Cortez docks.
Anna Maria Island is a stone’s throw away from the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport, which is expanding and adding flights almost daily. We’re also within 10 miles of some of the best professional live theatres in the state. Let’s not forget access to the city of Sarasota with its fabulous waterfront, high-end restaurants and more shops and museums. Even little old downtown Bradenton is starting to shine with new hotels, a farmers market and street fairs.
Anna Maria Island, for all the changes it has gone through this century, is still a special place we have to protect at any cost. When people cross the bridge for the first time and wonder what it would be like to live here, we can all tell them, it’s great.
ELECTION: Candidates Farrington, Satcher answer voter questions
Stamm noted the Florida Division of Elections recently presented a report to the Florida Legislature that stated there were very few issues and complaints associated with the 2020 and 2016 general elections in Manatee County. Stamm also mentioned Satcher’s recent request to the county commission to increase the elections office budget and his desire to implement the Clear Ballot ballot imagery system prior to the November election.
Stamm asked what, if any, election issues need to be addressed.
“No system that requires human input is perfect,” Farrington said. “I’ve always said elections would be great if we could take the voters out of it. They would be perfect,” Farrington joked, prompting laughter from the crowd.
“But I am unaware of any circumstance or issue that garnered the scrutiny that would require security measures beyond what we have in place,” he added.
Regarding the Clear Ballot system, Satcher said, “If we have systems in place that the liberals can’t come against and can’t argue there’s anything wrong with them, what’s wrong with having a picture of every single ballot that’s cast? We need to have confidence in this election.”
CLOSING REMARKS
During closing remarks, Satcher said, “The Supervisor of Elections office is really the area that we need to be safeguarding across the state, across the nation and obviously here in Manatee County.”
Regarding the closed primary race, Satcher said, “Every left-wing journalist across Manatee County, they’re only putting out one side of the story and then at the end they say if you want to switch your registration, you can. They want liberals to vote in my election to skew my election the other way. Over and over and over again they’re encouraging election interference, telling Democrats to swap parties and then saying you can still vote however you want in November.”
Farrington then said, “This race is a primary race and it’s a primary race because a write-in filed. That write-in closed the primary, so that means only Republicans can vote. I believe the Supervisor of Elections represents all voters. Elections are not Republican. They are not Democrat. They do not belong to either party. They belong to all voters. If you want to be able to trust your election, you need to be able to trust that the Supervisor of Elections is not bent one way or the other. Every voter, despite party, should have had an opportunity to vote on who they want their supervisor to be.”
I believe the Supervisor of Elections represents all voters.”
Scott Farrington,
Supervisor
of Elections candidate
I think we’d be better off if we were all voting in person.”
James Satcher, Manatee County Supervisor of Elections
POST-DEBATE COMMENTS
On June 24 and 25, the Satcher campaign distributed a campaign message focused on a single comment Farrington made during the debate: “Elections would be great if we could take the voters out of it.”
Satcher’s campaign message said, “You read that right. Big government bureaucrat Scott Farrington believes you are the problem with our elections. Scott Farrington thinks your vote shouldn't count. He's just like the liberals. Don’t let Scott Farrington steal your vote.”
On June 25, Farrington posted a response at his campaign Facebook page: “I hesitate to even acknowledge the negative ‘ads’ sent via text and email to voters in Manatee County. Many of you have reached out with your own thoughts on these types of campaigns and misleading tactics.
“I have served voters in Manatee County for over a decade. And I have done that with integrity and transparency – always with the voter in mind. I said from the beginning that I would run my campaign based
on my experience and ability to do the job. This kind of negative campaigning does not change that.
“I encourage you to watch the entire debate. You can determine for yourself who has the competence, the integrity and the knowledge to protect your elections and your vote.
“The debate starts at the 26-minute mark and the specific question and answer section that was taken entirely out of context for an attack ad starts at the 1:07 mark,” Farrington stated.
The debate video can be found at the Lakewood Ranch Republican Club website, https://lwrrc.com/
PARTY AFFILIATION
Non-Republican voters who wish to vote in the Aug. 20 Republican primary that will also determine or help determine the winners of multiple county commission races can legally and easily change their party affiliation at https://registertovoteflorida. gov before the July 22 deadline.
Bechts, Gonzales win July Fourth golf tournament
Forty-four golfers played in the annual Key Royale Club Fourth of July Rambler/Scramble tournament. From left, finishing in first place was the team of Joe Becht, Madison Gonzales, Tracy Becht and Joseph Becht with a score of 61, 3 under par. Not far behind was the team of Jim and Peter Bailey, Don Grau and Isaiah Wallace at 63, 1 under par. In third place was Greg and Randall Jump, Joe Coyne and Rich Salzburg with a score of 67, 3 over par. Reece Miller won the long drive contest for the men while Debi Wohlers captured the event for the ladies. Closest to the pin on Hole #8 was Debi Wohlers for the ladies and Ryan Kester won for the men. In the putting contest, Tracy Becht beat out all the ladies while Joe Becht won for the men. Following the event, lunch was served with the golfers’ favorite beverages.
Key Royale featuring Artists’ Guild works
The Key Royale Club in Holmes Beach has selected several works of art from the Artists' Guild of Anna Maria Island to hang in the club through November. All artworks are available for purchase by selecting the desired work and bringing the card attached to it to the Artists’ Guild of Anna Maria Island gallery, 5414 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach and making the purchase. For more information, call Sharon Tarras at 715-699-4500 or Jo Anne Curtan at 941809-2488.
SUBMITTED
FUN IN THE SUN
CLASSIFIEDS
ANNOUNCEMENTS
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: TINGLEY LIBRARY in Bradenton Beach is looking for volunteers. Fun and friendly atmosphere. Morning and afternoon shifts. If interested, please contact Library Clerk, Eveann Adams, @ 941779-1208.
THE BEST VOLUNTEER position on the island. The AMI Historical Museum needs docents and bread makers. Call Kathy Primeau at 989-560-6381.
ROSER FOOD BANK needs donations of cash and non-perishable food, PAPER & PERSONAL HYGIENE PRODUCTS. Donations boxes are located at the Church, Moose Club, and Walgreen’s.
HOSPITAL VOLUNTEERS WANTED to assist at our information desk, especially weekends. Great for teens needing volunteer hours (16yrs+). Other assignments available. Please call the Blake Volunteer Office at 941-798-6151.
BOATS FOR SALE
BOATS ARE SELLING VERY WELL. “Business On A Handshake” Your Local Trusted Boat Dealer For 24 Years. I also buy boats. Dave Struber 941-228-3489. Islandboatsales.net
COMMERCIAL SALES, RENT & LEASE
HAVE YOU BEEN thinking of selling? We NEED properties to List for SALE!!! Duplexes, multi family, small resorts? Call BIG Alan Galletto of Island Real Estate to get it SOLD 941-232-2216
CLEANING SERVICE
TOTAL HOME SERVICES CLEANING: Residential, Commercial, Rentals, VRBO. Professional and Reliable. Call 941-756-4570 or 941-565-3931
EMPLOYMENT
EXPERIENCED NAIL TECH, great personality to take over existing clients PT to FT. Tired of where you are come join our salon! Call 941-545-3305.
JOIN DUNCAN REAL ESTATE! Open positions: Bookkeeper, Administrative Assistant, Housekeeping Liaison Apply: Send resume to sybille@ teamduncan.com
FOR SALE
GENERAC GP 6500. Zero Hours. Serious inquires only. Call 610-428-0768
HOME IMPROVEMENTS
RENOVATION SPECALIST ALL carpentry repairs, Wash Family Construction, locally owned and operated CBC 1258250 Call 941-725-0073.
KERN & GILDER CONSTRUCTION, INC New Homes & Remodel. Design/Build. Since 1968. License # CBC 1261150. Call the Office. 941-7781115
JSAN CORPORATION Renovations Construction & Handyman Services 941-243-0995 Lic# CRC1332505 jsancorporation@gmail. com Flooring, Drywall, Painting, Repairs, Kitchen and Bathrooms, Trim & Doors Free Estimates. Credit Cards Accepted.
ISLE TILE specializing in Custom Bath/Shower & Backsplash installation. Pressure washing available. Call 941-302-8759 isletileservices.com
GORILLA DRYWALL REPAIR, LLC. 15+ years of experience. Free Estimates. Let’s solve your Drywall problems together. Call 941-286-0607.
BMF INTERIORS Home repairs and more, No job too small. Please call 786318-8585
A.R.E. Renovation’s WHOLESALE KITCHEN CABINETS DIRECT., Remodeling, Bathrooms. Trim Flooring and Decks Tile and more Free quote, references available. Lic. # CRC.1334176 941-4653045.
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
ISLAND RESIDENT. TREE/ BUSH Trimming, removal. Sweeping, blowing, and weeding. Weekly, bi-monthly or monthly schedule. Pressure washing. Call Bill Witaszek 941307-9315
MOVING & STORAGE
MARTIN’S MOVING YOUR Island movers! Offering dependable, competitive rates. No hidden costs. 941-8095777.
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. Wallpaper installation/ removal. Mary Bell Winegarden 941-794-0455
DONALD PERKINS
ABRACADABRA PAINTING LLC fully insured. 30 years experience. Many Island references. Call 941705-7096
PROFESSIONAL PAINTING SERVICES. Prompt & Reliable. Island Resident. Quality Workmanship. Interior/ Exterior. Minor repairs & carpentry. Free estimates. Bill Witaszek 941-307-9315
POOL SERVICES
FOUR SEASONS POOL SERVICE AND CHEMICAL SERVICES. Certified Pool Operator. 18 + 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
TOTAL HOME SERVICES CLEANING: Residential, Commercial, Construction, Vacation, VRBO Rentals . Also available Pressure Washing, Roof Cleaning, Paver Sealing and Windows. Call 941-5653931.
REAL ESTATE HOMES & CONDOS FOR SALE
Have you been thinking of selling? We NEED properties to List for SALE!!! GULF FRONT, CANAL FRONT, BAY FRONT CONDOS or HOMES ASK for BIG Alan Galletto of Island Real Estate to get it SOLD 941-232-2216
LOOKING FOR A highly motivated real estate broker to buy or sell your next home? Darcie Duncan, Broker Duncan Real Estate a lifelong island resident bringing success to her customers for 30 years. Proven track record brings you results! 941-725-1589
HISTORICAL COTTAGE
409 Pine Ave. $2.2M 4BR/3BA pool. Brenda Boyd May Broker / Owner. All realtors welcome. 941-730-8589
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 513-382-1992.
ANNUAL RENTAL:
2BR/2BA furnished Wildwood Springs condo, no pets. $1850 monthly Call 941-778-4800
ANNUAL RENTAL: Imperial House Condo 2BR/1BA
$2000/mo - Available Aug 1st. 208 A Magnolia Ave. 2BR/2BA $2800/moavailable June 1st. 208 B Magnolia Ave. 2BR/2BA
$2800/mo- available Aug 1st. 407 76th St A Holmes Beach, FL 34216 3BR/2BA $5000/mo- available now with dock slip available for rent. Contact Sato Real Estate for more information. 941-778-7200
2BR/1BA, ANNUAL, carport, laundry room, porch, new central a/c, no pets, short walk to the beach. $2150/mo. Dolores Baker Real Estate. 941-778-7500.
2BR/2BA HOLMES BEACH
$2500/month 2 blocks to beach. Internet and basic cable included until March 2025. 920-7632800
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
SEASONAL RENTAL in PALMA SOLA. 3BR/2BA weekly or monthly rates. Contact Barb Grace 941-201-2190
ANNA MARIA ISLAND CONDOS Large pool, beach access, free WiFi, 1&2 Bedroom $900 to $1200 per week redekercondosonami.com Tim 941-704-7525
CONDO TO RENT IN GATED COMMUNITY (5 mi from Anna Maria) available July till end Nov. - all included! www.floridarentals. com/10943/ 704-9930288
SEASONAL RENTAL IN HOLMES BEACH . Studio apartment Minimum 4 month rental, Available Dec 2024 - April 2025, $8700. 908-914-1282
ANNA MARIA ISLAND
CONDO Available July thru December. Great Value. Beautiful Upgraded 2BR/2BA Incredible water View! Waterfront Patio, Pool, tennis, pickle, walk to beach. Private carport. Excellent Rental terms. Owner/renter. Call/email for pics. Rentamiwaterview@aol. com or 570-239-0431
TRANSPORTATION
ANYTIME TRANSPORTATION to all Airports, Casino, etc. Tampa/St. Pete $85. Sarasota $40. Pets welcome. Very dependable. Reasonable rates. Contact Jeanne. 941-7795095
