Anna Maria Island Sun July 17, 2024

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Manatee surprise

herd of manatees takes a morning excursion along the beach on Anna Maria Island, delighting surprised beachgoers.

Settlement reached in Piney Point litigation

Conservation groups applaud the new restrictions.

BY LESLIE LAKE

SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com

PALMETTO - Prompted by a 2021 lawsuit by multiple conservation groups, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) has agreed to allow more oversight of discharges from the Piney Point phosphate facility.

The settlement agreement also establishes enforceable limits on pollution discharged into Tampa Bay and provides for taxpayer funding to monitor Piney Point’s impacts on Tampa Bay’s water quality.

“The Piney Point phosphogypsum stack is a mountainous heap of toxic waste topped by an impoundment of hundreds of millions of gallons of pro-

cess wastewater, stormwater and tons of dredged spoil from Port Manatee,” according to a press release from the plaintiffs, The Center for Biological Diversity, Tampa Bay Waterkeeper, Suncoast Waterkeeper, ManaSota-88 and Our Children’s Earth Foundation.

Three years ago, after discovering a leak in the facility’s reservoir liner, regulators ordered the discharge of 215 million gallons of wastewater from the gypsum stack into Tampa Bay to avert a collapse and flooding.

“During the 2021 wastewater release, Tampa Bay received more nitrogen - nearly 200 tons - than it usually receives from all other sources in an entire year. The red tides that have plagued Florida are fueled by nitrogen,” according to the press release. “Following the release, SEE PINEY POINT, PAGE 29

Pedicini consulting for Satcher, Van Ostenbridge, Turner

Political consultant Anthony Pedicini plays a significant role in Manatee County elections and politics.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

MANATEE COUNTY – During a recent Supervisor of Elections debate, candidate James Satcher refused to acknowledge that he’s using Anthony Pedicini as his political consultant.

Manatee County Commission candidates Kevin Van Ostenbridge and Ray Turner are also utilizing the campaign consulting services of Pedicini and his Tampa-based Strategic Image Management (SIMWINS) consulting firm.

In 2020, Pedicini helped Satcher,

Van Ostenbridge, George Kruse and Vanessa Baugh win their respective Manatee County Commission races and he remains actively involved in Manatee County politics.

SUPERVISOR’S RACE

On April 12, Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Satcher, then the District 1 county commissioner, to serve the remaining months of the four-year term that Supervisor of Elections Mike Bennett vacated when he retired in March.

Bennett’s longtime Chief of Staff Scott Farrington also sought the gubernatorial appointment and he resigned after DeSantis appointed Satcher, who had no previous experience working in an elections office or supervising an election.

Mike LaPensee celebrated

Mike LaPensee’s life was joyously celebrated at the Key Royale Club in Holmes Beach on Sunday, July 14. Mike passed away on June 22 at the age of 79. Standing near a table filled with Mike’s model boats, cars, trains, planes, photographs, awards, medals and other keepsakes, his wife of 47 years, Karen, personally greeted almost every guest that entered. Attended by family members, friends, community members, business associates, elected leaders and more, Sunday afternoon’s celebration featured free rum and Cokes and a vast and impressive food spread that included shrimp, w boards, eggrolls, hush puppies and sandwiches. “Mike would be proud. This is a hell of a spread,” Holmes Beach resident John Clarke said.

Around 6 p.m., shots of Ron Zacapa rum were distributed and Karen proposed a toast. “Mike LaPensee would be absolutely thrilled to have you all here tonight drinking his top-shelf Zacapa,” she said, noting he did not like limes in his rum and Cokes. “I can’t thank you enough for coming here tonight to celebrate this wonderful man with me. We all loved him. We’ll all miss him. Here’s to Mike.” Friends and family members then shared their Mike stories and memories. Roser Church member Dale Watson noted that Mike was a dedicated church mem ber. Mike’s brother, Richard LaPensee, said, “He was a wonderful brother. I’ll miss him dearly.”

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

Clockwise above, Karen LaPensee made a toast to her late husband, Mike. Mike LaPensee’s drink of choice was a Zacapa rum and Coke with no lime. Richard LaPensee will miss his brother, Mike. Mike LaPensee’s models, awards, medals, old photos and more were displayed in his honor.

ISLAND NEWS

IN BRIEF

Sewer project nears completion

Scan this code with your smartphone to go there.

City presents 2024-25 budget

MANATEE COUNTY | SUBMITTED

The installation of a sewer pipe along Gulf Drive South extending into lateral roads will be subject to a final project review at the end of this month.

A final project walkthrough is scheduled for the end of July for the Bradenton Beach Sewer Improvement Project. The project began early in 2023, and included the installation of approximately one mile of 10-inch and 8-inch pipes along Gulf Drive South with lateral service connections extending from the gravity main down Sixth to 13th Street South. The contractor is working to complete restoration of the impacted areas along project side streets, along with the parking area on the west side of Gulf Drive South, according to a Manatee County press release. The new Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB) crosswalks at 11th and Ninth Streets South are expected to be activated in late July. Pedestrians wishing to cross Gulf Drive South should use the currently activated crosswalks at Fifth Street South and south of 13th Street South near the Coquina North boat ramp.

Commissioners to discuss paid parking

Bradenton Beach commissioners will discuss approval of a paid parking contract at a meeting on Thursday, July 18 at noon. In addition to the paid parking discussion, old business will include the Scenic WAVES Partnership Committee’s wildlife educational sign layout. New business will include the city’s official position regarding the Longboat Key Pass Bridge replacement preference, removal of police department cars 4, 5 and 6 from the City Asset List for auction and Duncan Seawall’s Pier X bracing replacement. Department head requests include a request for a budget amendment for the Planning Department for attorney fees and planning services. The meeting will be held at the Katie Pierola Commission Chambers, 107 Gulf Drive N.

Stormwater work scheduled

The city of Anna Maria has released the following street-by-street work schedule for the stormwater and drainage maintenance and improvements taking place during the next few months. The schedule is subject to change due to weather or other unforeseen events:

• Gulf Drive, July 10-24

• Gulf Boulevard, July 24 to Aug. 13

• Palm Avenue, Aug. 13-27

• Willow Avenue, Aug. 27 to Sept. 10

• Cedar Avenue, Sept. 10-24

• Mangrove Avenue, Sept. 24 to Oct. 8

• Oak Avenue, Oct. 8-22

• Maple Avenue, Oct. 22 to Nov. 5

Holmes Beach city leaders took a deep dive into the proposed budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year beginning on Oct. 1.

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

HOLMES BEACH – City leaders are working to keep property taxes as low as possible despite property values increasing an estimated 11.8%. To do that, they’re planning to keep the millage rate at 2.05 mills for the coming fiscal year and cut expenses from the proposed 2024-25 fiscal year budget.

City Treasurer Cindy DunhamTozer presented the proposed budget to commissioners and Mayor Judy Titsworth during a July 9 budget work session. The total budget is estimated to break even at $24,750,162 including $11,007,006 in reserves and carryover. The total represents a cut of $742,676 from the current year’s budget.

Outlining some of the larger expenses for the year, she said that all the city’s insurance rates were increased by providers by an average of 5% with a 40% increase in flood insurance. Dunham-Tozer added that $322,000 also was set aside to purchase an algae harvester boat. Another $100,000 is planned to be set aside for unplanned attorney fees and court costs. She also noted that business in the city’s building department, which

Holmes Beach to hold

budget hearings

Holmes Beach city leaders will hold two public hearings for the proposed 2024-25 budget and millage rate this fall. The meetings are scheduled on Wednesday, Sept. 11 and on Tuesday, Sept. 24 at 5:01 p.m. During

is designed to be self-sustaining from permit and inspection fees, is expected to slow over the next fiscal year.

MAYOR AND COMMISSION

The total mayor and commission budget for 2024-25 is expected to top out at $261,779, an increase of $2,414 over the current year. The primary reason for the increase is an additional $2,214 in mayoral and commission pay and accompanying payroll taxes. A $200 increase in utility services is also expected.

GENERAL GOVERNMENT

The general government budget, including the city clerk’s office, treasurer and human resources department, shows a modest increase of $87,575 to a total of $2,032,900. Though minor increases are noted in line items including postage, software and employee recognitions, the largest increase is $31,659 in employee insurance.

POLICE DEPARTMENT

The Holmes Beach Police Department’s budget is anticipated

both meetings, commissioners will continue budget discussions and vote on both the proposed budget and millage rate. The public is invited to express comments and ask questions during the meetings. The new millage rate and budget must be adopted before the Oct. 1 start of the fiscal year.

to come in at $5,485,088 for the year, an increase of $829,631 over the current year, though $225,000 of that amount is scheduled to come from reserves to purchase three vehicles. In recent years, city leaders opted to switch from leasing vehicles for the police department to purchasing them, potentially allowing for a longer lifespan for the use of the vehicles. The city is eligible to purchase three of the remaining eight vehicles from the lease term, eliminating the need for brand-new vehicles. Another big-ticket item is employee insurance, which is anticipated to increase by $142,033. Employee compensation shows a $290,786 increase along with a $55,000 increase in required overtime.

BUILDING DEPARTMENT

The building department’s budget is expected to come to $1,568,496 total, a $375,183 increase over the current year. An estimated $235,805 of the increase is expected in

SEE BUDGET, PAGE 23

City leaders propose stable millage rate

HOLMES BEACH – City leaders met on July 9 to discuss the upcoming 2024-25 fiscal year budget, proposing to keep the millage rate at 2.05 mills. Though the millage rate would remain the same as in the current fiscal year, property owners can plan to see a slight increase on their TRIM notices in the fall due to increases in property values on Anna Maria Island.

City Treasurer Cindy DunhamTozer said that she’s been

working with the mayor and department heads for months to try and produce a tight budget, eliminating unnecessary expenditures and putting off other expenses to future fiscal years.

For the coming fiscal year, city leaders are anticipating $6,905,630 in revenue from property taxes based on a 2.05 millage rate. That amount is a $732,937 increase over the previous year, or 11.87%.

The millage rate is the rate paid

per $1,000 of assessed property value as determined by the Manatee County Property Appraiser’s Office. Some property owners are entitled to discounts on the assessed value of their property, such as the homestead exemption, which gives property owners a discount on taxes for maintaining a home as their primary residence. Property owners will have a chance to have their voices heard as the city hosts two budget and millage hearings in September.

Bradenton Beach budget audit shows healthy financial status

BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH – The city is in good financial shape going into the 2024-25 fiscal year, according to an independent audit presented to the city commission on July 10.

The annual audit for 2023-24 was conducted by CPAs Randy Dillingham and Jeff Gerhard of CS&L Accounting.

“The audit itself is a 54-page document this year. Because of the adoption of the two pension plans, there was quite a bit of information; the report grows from year to year,” Dillingham said.

Gerhard presented an overview of city finances, and the three city funds – the general fund, the CRA fund and the library fund.

“Looking at government as a whole, as of Sept. 30 there is a little over $5 million in total assets and about $1 million in liabilities with the reminder of that being fund balance so there’s $3.9 million in fund balance in total,” he said.

The general fund has $3.7 million in assets and $745,000 in liabilities.

“That includes about $510,000 in ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds that haven’t been used yet so not a true liability, there’s cash there to offset that,” Gerhard said. “The general fund had a positive gain of $675,000, which is good.”

The CRA had a decrease of $458,000.

“That’s doing what the CRA is supposed to be doing and utilizing those funds for that specific purpose. It’s good to wind those funds down as you receive them,” Gerhard said.

The unassigned fund balance was $1.9 million.

“That’s 47% of your 2023 expenditures, so a good healthy number of monies available for spending in the fiscal year 2024-2025 and beyond,” he said. “Overall, a good healthy balance sheet there.”

The city has two sets of financial statements – one on an accrual basis and one on the fund level, a modified cash budgetary basis.

“Overall, there is $2.6 million of unrestricted funds and positive $748,000 in increase this year on

that accrual basis,” Gerhard said.

The library fund has no real revenue sources, so the fund’s costs exceed revenues because of salary expenses.

Following the presentation, Mayor John Chappie credited city staff and teamwork with a good financial report.

“Thank you to Terri (City Clerk Terri Sanclemente) and Shayne (City Treasurer Shayne Thompson). Again, it proves how great a job you do for our citizens and our community,” Chappie said. “This is one of the best reports that we’ve ever had, it shows our city is a healthy community financially and that we take seriously the financial responsibilities that we have to protect tax dollars.”

OPINION

EDITORIAL

All’s fair in politics and party affiliation

Interim Manatee County Supervisor of Elections

James Satcher thinks voters who switch their party affiliation to participate in closed primary races are engaging in “election interference.”

Satcher, a hyper-partisan, far-right conservative, made these remarks during a recent Supervisor of Elections debate with moderate Republican candidate and former elections office Chief of Staff Scott Farrington. Satcher complained about “left-wing journalists” reminding non-Republicans that they, too, can participate in the closed Republican primaries simply by switching their party affiliation to Republican.

In addition to determining who wins the Supervisor of Elections race, the Aug. 20 primary will determine which Republican countywide District 7 county commission candidate, George Kruse or Kevin Van Ostenbridge, faces Democrat Sari Lindroos Valimaki in the general election; and which Republican District 3 county commission candidate, Tal Siddique or April Culbreath, faces Democrat Diana Shoemaker in the general election.

“They want liberals to vote in my election to skew my election the other way. They’re encouraging election interference, telling Democrats to swap parties,” Satcher bemoaned. But he offered no criticism of Thomas Dell, the bogus write-in candidate who closed the supervisor’s race to Republicans only. Had Dell not “interfered,” all Manatee County voters could vote in the supervisor’s race.

Farrington said elections belong to all voters regardless of party affiliation and every voter should have a say in who serves as elections supervisor. Farrington comes off as a man of principle and experience who believes partisan elections should be conducted in the most non-partisan way possible. Satcher comes off as a divisive, party-first buffoon who wants to be the fox guarding the henhouse while collecting a hefty paycheck from county taxpayers.

Satcher and company can whine about “election interference,” but the ability to change party affiliation is a long-standing, perfectly legal political practice that provides concerned citizens the ability to combat the political trickery used to close primary races to one party only – a tactic Democrats also use when given the rare opportunity.

The party affiliation listed on a voter registration card doesn’t define the cardholder or their political beliefs. It’s simply a ticket into races that would otherwise be closed. Party affiliation doesn’t matter in the general election but it can be easily reversed before then.

Voters have until July 22 to switch party affiliation at registertovoteflorida.gov, where they’ll be asked to provide their driver’s license number, the last four digits of their Social Security number and their current address for verification purposes. Voters should check their sample ballots to determine if changing party affiliation affects their ability to vote in other races they’re currently eligible to vote in. Gov. Ron DeSantis erred in appointing Satcher to serve as interim Supervisor of Elections. Manatee County voters, including those who switch their party affiliation, can now right that wrong. Primary elections have consequences and there’s a lot at stake in Manatee County in 2024. Choose wisely.

email: news@amisun.com | ads@amisun.com |

EDITORIAL

Common sense

The right to free speech is protected by the First Amendment. It’s a longheld Constitutional right cherished by Americans and is the foundation of a free press.

The vandals who took over the Capitol building in Washington D.C. on Jan. 6, 2021, said they were exercising that right. But they went beyond the boundaries of the law that protects free speech and peaceable

demonstration, descending into the realms of anarchy and crime. One of them, from Bradenton, was sentenced last week to 18 months in prison.

The shooting of former President Donald Trump at a Pennsylvania political rally on Saturday descended even further into the criminal realm; had the gunman survived, he would likely have been charged with attempted murder.

Taking over government buildings and attempting assassinations used to be ideological horrors that happened in “other” countries whose names and boundaries were always changing and whose presidents were always fleeing.

The U.S. is not baseball, apple pie

and ’57 Chevys anymore, if it ever was. King and the Kennedys changed everything. But all of us – Democrats, Republicans and everyone in between – can surely agree that extremist minorities on either side don’t speak for the majority, that a young man’s murderous decision does not define a party, or a nation, and that using free speech rights to incite hatred, fear and distrust will only ensure more of the same.

It’s time to reset and turn our ideological devices back on.

If we’re lucky, the Constitution – or, at least, common sense – will be the first thing that pops up on our search engines.

The Anna Maria Island Sun Staff

Owner/CEO

Mike Field

Editor

Cindy Lane

General Manager

Bob Alexander

Reporters/Photographers

Joe Hendricks

Leslie Lake

Jason Schaffer

Kristin Swain

Columnists

Louise Bolger

Rusty Chinnis

Contributors

Steve Borggren

Capt. Rick Grassett

Monica Simpson

Layout

Ricardo Fonseca

Digital Editor

Kristin Swain

Advertising Director

Shona Otto

Advertising Assistant

Pamela Lee

Classifieds

Bob Alexander

Graphics

Elaine Stroili

Ricardo Fonseca

Distribution

Bob Alexander

Connor Field

Tony McNulty

Brian Smith

Accounting

Leslie Ketchum

Co-founding publishers

Mike Field

Maggie McGinley Field

Longboard

SPECIAL TO THE SUN

To err is human, the old axiom goes, and we Republicans proved ourselves all too human in 2020 when we put Kevin Van Ostenbridge (KVO) on the Manatee County Board of Commissioners (commission). Now, in 2024, we have the opportunity to prove ourselves insane, as well, by doing it all over again.

Van Ostenbridge currently holds the commission’s District 3 (Dist-3) seat, meaning it was Dist-3 residents, me included, who voted him onto the commission in 2020. Dist-3 covers Cortez, the three Anna Maria Island cities, the Palma Sola area, and the northwest part of Bradenton.

When Van Ostenbridge filed his election papers early this year, they were for his Dist-3 seat.

Then, in late May, KVO announced he had terminated his Dist-3 campaign and was now running for the commission District 7 (Dist-7) seat. Dist-7 covers all of Manatee County. What happened was, KVO and April Culbreath, a friend and ally of his, had swapped election campaigns. So he is the Dist-7 candidate now, and she is running for his Dist-3 seat. Culbreath, you may have read, carries some interesting baggage herself.

Cleanup in aisle 3

The reason for the KVO-Culbreath switcheroo is Van Ostenbridge knows his chances of rewinning the Dist-3 seat are nil. He misrepresented himself to Dist-3 voters in 2020, and his conduct these past four years has so angered Dist-3 communities and residents that most Dist-3 voters –people of all political stripes – can hardly wait to throw the bum out.

Because commission Dist-7 has approximately five times more residents than Dist-3, Van Ostenbridge figures its commission seat is one he can win. The disdain he has earned for his Dist-3 blunders and plunders will be diluted considerably in Dist-7’s much larger voter base. Also, KVO will have the financial and other support of his posse (those he controls) and those who control him. Money is no object for many of them, and money yields votes (and, as we painfully know, pays for scurrilous campaign ads).

Van Ostenbridge also figures that, should he win the Aug. 20 commission Dist-7 Republican primary election, the November general election is his to lose. Unfortunately, I have to agree with him on this, and many others do as well.

In fact, I am hearing that a sizable number of you Democrats and No Party Affiliations have changed your voter registrations to Republican so you, too, can

vote on Aug. 20 to end KVO’s reign.

Hopefully, more of you will do the same – enough more to ensure George Kruse, KVO’s Republican opponent and the current Dist-7 seat holder, wins the Dist-7 Republican primary election.

If you too wish to vote in the Aug. 20 Republican Dist-7 primary, the deadline for changing voter registrations to Republican is this July 22. You can change yours easily online, and then back again after Aug. 20 (as you know, in the November general election you can vote for any candidate on the general election ballot you like, regardless of your and his or her party affiliation).The Election Office web address is: https://www.votemanatee.com/. Its helpline number is: 941-741-3823.

Also, if you wish to vote by mail in the Aug. 20 Republican primary, the deadline for enrolling in the Election Office’s VBM directory is Aug. 8. This can be done online or by telephone (to remain active in the VBM directory, you must reenroll every two years).

Back in 2020, when Van Ostenbridge was running for his commission Dist-3 seat, his campaign rhetoric was similar to what it is now. In short, KVO said he was a principled, free-market conservative, detests government waste, wants Manatee County to run more businesslike, and will

work with fellow commissioners to find common-sense solutions to residents’ problems. This sounded good, but what a crock of brown gumbo algae it turned out to be!

Upon joining the commission, Van Ostenbridge essentially declared himself the new sheriff in town and bullied his way into the powerful chairman position. Then, poof, Campaign KVO, the wouldbe principled conservative, became Commission Chair KVO, an unabashed, spend-happy, crony-capitalist. And the constituents whose problems he said he would work to solve? Well, they obviously are not us ordinary and regular tax-paying residents.

Thus, it comes as no surprise Van Ostenbridge’s developer/builder cronies and other real estate-industry benefactors have amassed for him a huge 2024 campaign fund. Per June 25 Election Office records, it is $234,300 so far, a staggering sum for county-level elections. It is four times more than what the other two Dist-7 candidates have received, combined.

Ergo, one cannot help wondering if some of Van Ostenbridge’s various misfeasances

SEE SPECIAL, PAGE 23

EVENTS

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.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 24

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

THURSDAY, JULY 25

Marine Archaeology for Kids with the Florida Maritime Museum, 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.

AMI Chamber Business Card Exchange with Slicker’s Eatery and the Monkey Bus, Slicker’s Eatery, 12012 Cortez Road W., Cortez, 5 p.m., $5 for members or $10 for prospective members

FRIDAY, JULY 26

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 27

Mornings at the NEST, Robinson Preserve Mosaic Nest, 840 99th St. N.W., Bradenton, 9 a.m. to noon

Tuesday, July 29

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.

ANNA MARIA

10005 GULF DRIVE

FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-708-6130

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 941-778-1005

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

July 17, 1 p.m. – Scenic WAVES meeting July 18, noon – City Commission meeting

HOLMES BEACH

5801 MARINA DRIVE FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-708-5800

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

Holmes Beach ferry stop discussed

A possible Holmes Beach ferry stop remains the subject of debate.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

HOLMES BEACH – City elected officials are discussing with Manatee County tourism officials whether to add a Gulf Island Ferry stop in Holmes Beach.

Currently, Manatee County’s contracted ferry service stops in downtown Bradenton, the Anna Maria City Pier and the Bradenton Beach Pier, with an additional stop in Palmetto being planned.

On June 10, the Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC) recommended county commission approval of the city of Holmes Beach’s $500,000 request to help fund the installation of multi-use paths along portions of Marina Drive and 65th Street. At the recommendation of Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Elliott Falcione, the TDC members included in their recommendation a stipulation that to receive those funds, the city must also negotiate in good faith with the county regarding a Holmes Beach ferry stop.

Tying funding for improvements to public safety with adding a ferry stop in Holmes Beach “is disheartening,” Mayor Judy Titsworth said, noting that a pedestrian-vehicular accident on Marina Drive recently took the life of a pedestrian. “That alone

warrants approval (of the funding request).”

At the request of Titsworth, Commissioner Dan Diggins attended the TDC meeting in place of Commissioner Greg Kerchner, who serves as the city commission’s TDC liaison.

When called upon by TDC member Gene Brown, Diggins expressed his support for a ferry stop in Holmes Beach.

Falcione and Diggins agree that the privately-owned bayside docking area at the Waterline Resort is the ideal spot for a ferry stop, but that would require the property owners’ support.

“We should have a landing in Holmes Beach. I think it’s absurd we don’t,” Diggins told the TDC members. “It’s common sense. We

live on an Island. Why should we not have a ferry landing there?”

On June 17, Diggins and Falcione were present for a trial ferry docking session along the Waterline Resort’s bayside seawall. Diggins told The Sun the trial docking session went well.

On June 25, the Holmes Beach commission discussed a possible ferry stop and Diggins currently remains the only commission member fully supportive of that endeavor.

DIGGINS LETTER

The Sun’s reporting of the June 25 meeting mistakenly attributed to Diggins ferry-related safety concerns that were expressed by Commissioner Greg Kerchner, which prompted Diggins to send a

We live on an Island. Why should we not have a ferry landing there?”

letter to the editor that appeared in the July 10 issue.

In his letter, Diggins said, “I have never spoken to Elliott Falcione about my ‘concerns regarding the safety of the pontoon boats currently used for service.’ 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. I am committed to the water taxi initiative because I believe the future for travel to the island has to include a water option,” Diggins's letter said, in part.

DAN DIGGINS | SUBMITTED

Chateau Anna Maria restaurant owner Buddy Foy Jr. joined Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Elliott Falcione and Holmes Beach Commissioner Dan Diggins for the June 17 ferry docking trial session at the Waterline resort.

Dan Diggins, Holmes Beach commissioner

First Sundown Get Down goes retro

BY LESLIE LAKE

SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH – The first Sundown Get Down street party on Bridge Street on Thursday, July 18 will have a retro beach party theme.

Bridge Street will be closed at noon to vehicles in preparation for the 4 p.m. start time. Multiple free parking and transportation options will be available.

The free, family-friendly street party will feature the Gulf Coast Corvette Club displaying their favorite convertibles ranging from 1963 to 2022. Activities will include discounts and specials by retail, restaurant and entertainment merchants, an interactive scavenger hunt with prizes, a Kid Zone and live entertainment.

“We are thrilled to bring Sundown Get Down to the community,” said Derek Williams, president of the Bradenton Beach Merchants Association. “These events are designed to celebrate the unique charm of Bridge Street, support our local businesses, and create memorable experiences for residents and visitors alike. We invite everyone to come enjoy these fantastic evenings.”

Free parking lots are on the lot at the corner of Gulf Drive South and First Street North, behind the Bridge Walk Resort, the 400 block of Highland Avenue and south of the Public Works facility. Additional free parking is available at both Coquina and Cortez Beaches, and the Island’s free trolleys will transport visitors to Bridge Street. The Monkey Bus will also be providing complimentary shuttle services from

JILL MCGARRY MARKETING | SUBMITTED

New monthly street parties are sponsored by the Bradenton Beach Merchants Association and the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Coquina Beach parking to Bridge Street. The paid parking lot at the corner of Gulf Drive South and Third Street South will reduce its $15-perhour rate by 50% for the event. Sundown Get Down is supported by the Bradenton Beach Merchants Association and the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Upcoming monthly themes are:

• Aug. 15: Pirate Powerboat Plunder

• Sept. 19: Under the Sea Back to School Bash

• Oct. 17: Pumpkins & Palms in Paradise

• Nov. 21: Coastal Harvest Hoedown

• Dec. 19: Sandy Clause Beach Celebration

For more information on Sundown Get Down, visit:

• sundowngetdown.com

• facebook.com/sundowngetdownbradentonbeach

• instagram.com/sundown_get_down

Artists invited to enter Springfest show

The Anna Maria Island Art League is accepting submissions for the 2025 Springfest Festival of Fine Arts and Fine Crafts on March 8-9 at City Field in Holmes Beach. Besides fine art, Springfest offers food, entertainment and community education. For information, visit www.islandartleague.org.

Sea turtle nests disturbed at Coquina Beach

BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH – Upon seeing a group of six people digging around a marked turtle nest at the south end of Coquina Beach on Saturday, two early morning walkers did exactly what they were supposed to do - contact authorities.

“We saw a group of people digging with their hands into the nest. They were laughing and taking selfies and when we told them that it was illegal they became really rude,” one of the observers said.

The observers, Charlotte and Teri, contacted the Bradenton Beach Police Department non-emergency line.

“If they would have said, ‘Sorry, we didn’t know,’ I would have walked away, but instead they continued on to disturb two more nests,” Teri said.

An officer came out and contacted the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

“There were four women and two men,” Charlotte said. “One of the women was put in handcuffs.”

After about an hour, FWC officers arrived, the women said.

“FWC showed up and I showed them the nests and he said he wanted me to sign the report,” Teri said. “When the other FWC gentlemen came over, they had a conference and said I didn’t need to sign a report, because there was no wet sand, even though you can clearly see the nest they disturbed.”

Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring Executive Director Kristen Mazzarella was notified of the incident and sent a volunteer out to check the nests.

“What that tells me about the wet sand is that they didn’t dig too deeply because the sand below the surface is wet,” she said. “But you should never put your hands inside a turtle nest enclosure.”

an FWC biologist responded to a report of a sea turtle nest disturbance on Coquina Beach. Once on scene FWC officers and biologists surveyed the nests and did not locate any evidence of the nests having been disturbed. FWC officers also spoke to the individuals who were near the nests and educated them on sea turtle nests and their

Mazzarella said the two women did the

“Each of the three cities has a nonemergency telephone line,” she said. “The

number for FWC is posted at each nest.”

If you see people disturbing turtles, call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Wildlife Alert hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922), or 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.

Henrietta returns to AMI to nest again

Since her release on June 24 from Coquina Beach after nesting and being satellite-tagged, female loggerhead sea turtle Henrietta returned to Anna Maria Island beaches to nest a second time before taking off into the Gulf of Mexico.

She has covered 112 miles at a speed of .26 miles per hour since her release. Henrietta will compete in The Sea Turtle Conservancy’s Tour de Turtles race, which begins on Aug. 1. She is swimming to bring attention to the cause of

light pollution and how lighting near shore can negatively impact nesting turtles and their hatchlings. Henrietta is sponsored by Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring and Hurricane Hanks.

Left, unknown people allegedly disturbed a turtle nest at Coquina Beach. Above, the surface of a marked turtle

More than half of AMI’s turtle hatchlings disoriented by lights

BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – With Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring volunteers attending to a record number of nests on the beach, a disturbing trend has emerged – high disorientation numbers. Both nesting and hatching turtles can become disoriented by lights, attracting them away from the Gulf of Mexico. “Fifty-five percent of the nests that are hatching are disorienting,” Turtle Watch Executive Director Kristen Mazzarella wrote in a July 12 email. “Right

NESTING NEWS

Turtle nests laid: 636

(Previous record: 543 in 2019)

False crawls: 804

(Record: 831 in 2010)

Nests hatched: 43

(Record: 453 in 2022)

Hatchlings produced: 2,390 (Record: 35,850 in 2022)

Hatchling disorientations: 24

Adult disorientations: 35

Source: Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring

now, nearly 2,400 hatchlings have emerged, but many of them disoriented and may not have made it to the Gulf. If we can prevent disorientations, it will help ensure that this record year means that a record number of hatchlings make it into the Gulf.”

Mazzarella is grateful that many people are finding some of the disoriented hatchlings and rescuing them from perils, like the road or pool skimmers.

“We ask that rescuers call AMITW when they find these hatchlings. Please do not put hatchlings you find into the Gulf as this might not be

the right course of action for their survival,” she wrote.

A nesting turtle wound up in the road last week.

“Fortunately, she was found by patrollers in the morning and, with the help of several Turtle Watch volunteers and Manatee County Sheriff's Office, she was safely returned to the water,” according to Mazzarella.

Disoriented by streetlights, a nesting loggerhead sea turtle wandered onto Gulf Drive on June 26 and was struck and killed by a vehicle.

“We continue to educate the public

about lighting and how it negatively impacts sea turtles. Please close your blinds and shut off unnecessary exterior lights or use turtle-friendly, shielded bulbs,” Mazzarella wrote. “If you are on the beach at night, please do not use any lights whenever possible and use red LEDs pointed down at the ground when you need to use lights. Any light that is brighter than the horizon could disorient turtles away from the Gulf and into danger.” If you see a hatchling in distress on Anna Maria Island, call the 24/7 Turtle Watch hotline at 941-301-8434.

Roser Guild announces 2024 scholarship winners

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

ANNA MARIA – The Roser Guild scholarship committee is recognizing local students with scholarships. The Guild announced its newest scholarship winners for the 2024-25 school year, Bryanna Sparks and Kelly Skubick. The two join six students who had their scholarships renewed for the upcoming school year – Hannah Ferguson, Tory Ziemer, Laila Singer, Sam Wright, Matthew MacGregor and Isabella Degenhardt.

Skubick plans to attend the University of South Florida

and major in health science with the goal of becoming a dermatologist.

Sparks plans to attend the University of Central Florida where she will major

in biology to earn a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree with the goal of becoming a pediatrician.

Each scholarship winner receives $1,000 per semester paid to their school. The Guild raises funds for the scholarships, along with other community support endeavors, by operating the Roser Guild Thrift Store located at 513 Pine Ave. in Anna Maria. Scholarship recipients who maintain a 2.75 grade point average are eligible for scholarship renewal for up to four years. For more information, visit www.roserchurch.com.

ROSER CHURCH | SUBMITTED Bryanna Sparks

ROSER CHURCH | SUBMITTED Kelly Skubick

Trespassing turtle lays nest in protected bird nesting area

A loggerhead sea turtle nested inside of the posted least tern enclosure in Bradenton Beach last week. Her nest will now be protected not only by the enclosure, but also by an army of least terns, which were probably startled at the event.

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 888-404FWCC (3922).

Source: Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring

KATHY DODDRIDGE | SUBMITTED

First least tern chick takes flight BIRD TIPS

A least tern colony in Bradenton Beach consists of 45 birds and eight new chicks.

BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH

– At a colony of 45 least terns, eight chicks vary in ages from one to four weeks and the oldest chicks are gaining their flight feathers and prac ticing flying.

On July 8, shorebird monitor Kathy Doddridge witnessed the first chick taking several solo flights over the Gulf of Mexico.

According to a release from Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring, the remaining chicks are extremely mobile and can be seen using the “Chick Crossing” signs as shade.

“Their tiny footprints indicate they are moving outside the enclosure and even down to the water line,” according to the release. “Beachgoers are asked to watch for chicks that may decide to explore

outside the posted area. Do not pick them up and move them. Allow the least tern adults to call the chicks back into the enclosure.”

The colony has 22 nests and three birds are sitting

on eggs. Those eggs are expected to hatch by the end of July.

Chicks are using both washed-up seaweed and chick huts as shelter. The chick huts also protect the chicks from predators such as fish crows and laughing gulls. With assistance from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), fish crow effigies were installed inside the enclosure to deter crows from stealing eggs from the remaining nests.

Members of Turtle Watch and the Manatee County Audubon Society volunteered as beach stewards over the Fourth of July holiday weekend. They educated hundreds of visitors and residents about the importance of protecting these threatened shorebirds.

During bird nesting season, February to September, 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 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.

• Dogs are not allowed on the beach by law. 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

The first least tern chick tests its wings at a colony in Bradenton Beach.

AMI community ‘rises up’ for River

Young River Anasis is battling a rare immune deficiency disorder and the community is rallying around him and his family.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA – The Anna Maria Island community is coming out in support of Mackenzie Morgan, Jonathan Anasis, their 3 1/2-month-old son, River Anasis, and their young daughter, Vayda Anasis.

On July 13, the Rise Up for River Benefit: A Community Rally for Hope and Healing event took place at The Center of Anna Maria Island. Co-hosted by the Anna Maria-based Waterfront Restaurant, Rise Up for River served as a fundraiser for River’s ongoing battle with Primary HLH (Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis), an

extremely rare genetic immune deficiency disorder.

The fundraising activities included live and silent auctions and raffles featuring items donated by the greater Anna Maria Island business community. The event also included live music by Trevor Bystrom and guests, Caribbean food and more.

When contacted on Sunday, Center Executive Director Chris Culhane said he probably wouldn’t have a final fundraising total until Tuesday.

According to the family’s GoFundMe page, “Support River’s Fight Against Primary HLH,” River was born “healthy, happy and normal” on March 30. He later developed a 103.5-degree fever and was taken to Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg, where he was tested for sepsis and acute liver failure. River tested

MACKENZIE MORGAN | SUBMITTED

The staff and volunteers at The Center came to the aid of Jonathan Anasis, Mackenzie Morgan and their children, River and Vayda.

positive for rhinovirus and enterovirus, was placed on antibiotics, steroids and other medications and later diagnosed with Primary HLH.

Since then, River has had a bone marrow aspiration, a lumbar puncture/spinal tap and blood, platelet and plasma transfusions and

he’ll need a bone marrow transplant and chemotherapy to survive.

“Our family is down to one income and beginning to struggle with expenses. Any donation is greatly appreciated by our family,” Morgan stated on the GoFundMe page.

As of Sunday afternoon,

the GoFundMe page had raised $22,659 of the original $25,000 fundraising goal.

Sunday morning, Morgan shared this message on Facebook: “Huge thank you for everyone involved in making the #riseupforriver benefit. Thank you for all the continued love and support! Was a great turnout yesterday.”

When contacted later in the day, she said, “The event was great. So much love and support from the community.”

She also expressed her thanks to The Center, The Waterfront Restaurant, Slim’s Place, Karen Place, Dee Munn, A.J. Latteri and everyone else who assisted with and attended the Rise Up for River fundraiser. If you’d like to help, please visit the “Support River’s Fight Against Primary HLH” GoFundMe page.

Beachfront, award-winning rooms

As long as you’re getting married on the beach, why not stay on the beach?

Bungalow Beach Resort, 2000 Gulf Drive N., Bradenton Beach, has won the Top Romance award in the US by tripadvisor.com, and it is located right on the beach – the perfect place to escape between the rehearsal dinner, the ceremony and the reception. With the Gulf of Mexico just steps from your lushly landscaped cedar bungalow, it’s a great place for an extended stay after the bride and groom leave for their honeymoon.

If the bride and groom want to continue their stay, Bungalow Beach Resort, which also won the 2013 Excellence Award from tripadvisor. com, is a very popular honeymoon destination. Originally a group of beachfront army barracks, each of the Bungalow Beach Resort units retains the old Florida charm that is Anna Maria Island, with modern conveniences inside. And you will stay in luxury with personal touches like baskets of embroidered towels, flowers and candy. Whether you’re getting married or part of the wedding party, pick award-winning Bungalow Beach Resort as your home base where you will cherish those moments when you’re not involved with the ceremony. You’ll want to return when there is nothing to distract you from your stay.

Call Bungalow Beach Resort at 1-800-779-3601 or log onto www. bungalowbeach.com.

Want your wedding photos to be featured here? Submit them to ads@amisun.com, subject 'Wedding Photos' along with your names, date of wedding and location and phone number for a chance to be featured here*.

*Submission of photo not a guarantee for placement. The Sun is not responsible for any copyright infringement.

Rachael and Jefff were married on April 23, 2024 at The Sandbar Restaurant.

BLOOMS BY THE BEACH | SUBMITTED Katie and Bobby were married on Anna Maria beach on April 23, 2024

BLOOMS BY THE BEACH | SUBMITTED Lindsey and Dominic were married at Holmes Beach on April 14, 2024

BLOOMS BY THE BEACH | SUBMITTED

OUTDOORS

Restoration efforts go big

Reel Time

n July 14, I had the pleasure of working with Damon Moore from Oyster River Ecology (ORE) and a film crew from the Ringling College digital filmmaking program to document and install 1,050 vertical oyster garden anchors (VOGAs) on ORE’s restoration aquaculture lease site known as the Eileen Reef in the upper Manatee River. This 10-acre site is the beginning of an effort to bring bivalve restoration to a scale that can noticeably clean local waters. The following is the schedule that Moore set up for the day’s effort.

• 7 a.m. – ORE boat only; tow VOGAs on work floats over to Eileen Reef from Colony Cove stag ing area (staged the day before).

• 8:30 a.m. – Make final go or no go call on the weather. (The weather was perfect!)

• 9:30 a.m. – Everyone:

- Arrive at Fort Hamer Boat Ramp;

- Confirm participants have signed waivers;

- Safety meeting/questions/etc.

• 10 a.m. – All boats depart Fort Hamer Boat Ramp for Eileen Reef

• 10:30 a.m.

- Arrive at Eileen Reef and anchor boats at the staked-out area.

- Provide task instructions

• 11 a.m. – Work as a team to install 1,050 VOGAs within the marked area.

• 1 p.m. – Depart Eileen Reef for Fort Hamer Boat Ramp. ORE boat to return work floats and empty bins to Colony Cove staging area then return to Fort Hamer Boat Ramp.

• 1:30 p.m. – Arrive at Fort Hamer Boat Ramp and group dismiss.

• 3-4 p.m. – Damon to retrieve the cargo trailer and floats from the Colony Cove staging area.

floats with VOGAs to the site, the Suncoast Waterkeeper (SCWK) patrol boat with board members Rob Brown and Orion Morton, which carried the camera crew, their equipment and several volunteers, and Mike Elswick, who brought a boat with SCUBAnauts volunteers.

The planting was a huge success, and everyone was impressed with the speed with which volunteers worked.

RUSTY CHINNIS

RUSTY CHINNIS | SUN

Damon Moore shows the results of his experiment after three months to find a suitable structure to attract oysters.

Fish early, late in hot July

CAPT. RICK GRASSETT

Tarpon will still be a good option this month. Catch and release night snook fishing in the ICW or in the surf should also be good options. With water temperatures pushing 90 degrees, shallow water action for reds and big trout will be best early in the day.

Tarpon fishing should be good in the coastal Gulf of Mexico in July, which is my favorite month to fly fish for tarpon. Large schools of tarpon will dwindle in size and numbers to singles, doubles and small schools of post-spawn fish. With spawning completed and after a long migration, I find tarpon to be aggressive and curious in July. 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 more aggressive. Large schools of tarpon are impressive, but if you spook the lead fish, you will spook all of them. Smaller baitfish, shrimp and crab patterns seem to work well late in the season.

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 Harbor. They move into these areas to rest and feed following spawning

where they can be targeted in these areas with flies. Also look for tarpon feeding in schools of “breaking” ladyfish in these areas. I have done well fishing inside areas late in the season with wide-profile flies such as Lefty’s Deceiver or EP flies. When tarpon show up to feed in ladyfish schools, cast to feeding tarpon and strip the fly very slowly to present a large profile to fish cruising the edges of the school and to avoid ladyfish bites.

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. 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. The same flies that work at night usually also work in the surf, although be observant of the size baits that are present in the area you are fishing so you can “match the hatch.” Gibby’s DT Variation is a “go to” fly for many snook surf anglers.

Reds should be very active in shallow water this month. With plentiful baitfish

There should still be good fly fishing action for tarpon

this tarpon on a fly while fishing the coastal Gulf

and higher tides, they should spend more time feeding over shallow grass flats. Look for them along the edges of bars or in potholes when the tide is low or along mangrove shorelines and around oyster bars when the tide is high. You’ll also find big trout in many of the same areas where you find reds, but the bite for big trout is usually best early or late in the day. I tie my Grassett Flats Minnow in a larger size this time of year to match the size and profile of pilchards or pinfish that are plentiful. Fly poppers and Gurglers may draw some big explosions! In my opinion, it’s important

to protect larger trout, which are usually female breeders.

I like to drift deep grass flats and cast ahead of my drift with weighted flies on sink tip fly lines to find fish. Diving birds or baitfish “dimpling” on the surface are signs that predators may be present. A drift anchor will slow your drift to a more manageable speed if it’s windy. You may find Spanish mackerel, blues or pompano mixed with trout on deep grass flats. You’ll need to add 6” of 60-pound fluorocarbon to your leader when toothy fish are in the mix.

CAPT. RICK GRASSETT | SUN

in July. Jeb Mulock, of Bradenton, caught and released

with Capt. Rick Grassett in a previous July.

FERRY: Holmes Beach stop discussed

MAYOR’S EMAIL

On July 11, Titsworth sent a ferry stop-related email to Diggins, Kerchner and Falcione.

Titsworth’s email first addressed Diggins’ letter to The Sun.

“I read your letter to the editor in the newspaper this week and I find it necessary to respond as I feel there could be some confusion as to your liaison role. Greg Kerchner is the acting liaison for the TDC. He had asked someone to cover for him at a meeting as he was going to be out of town and could not attend. This in no way means that you were to assume the liaison role for the TDC.

“Liaisons are merely to attend meetings and to inform the mayor and city commission of any pertinent information gained while attending these meetings. This attendance does not give liaisons the authority to speak on behalf of the mayor or city commission,” Titsworth stated in her email.

Titsworth’s email also included a statement addressed to Falcione. “Please feel free to reach out to our director of development services

The Waterline resort’s bayside seawall might be considered as a Holmes Beach ferry stop location.

for assistance and in scheduling your pre-site plan application with the property owner and our city staff once you have established a proposed docking location. If there is anything I can do to help, don’t hesitate to ask.”

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

When commenting on Titsworth’s email, Diggins said, “My number

They have never brought a plan forward.”

Judy Titsworth, Holmes Beach mayor

that I am against a ferry stop in the city. This isn’t at all true. I have told Elliott (Falcione) for years to bring us a plan. We do not have a pier in our city; therefore, it won't be as easy as adding stops in the other cities,” she wrote.

HENDRICKS | SUN

one goal is to improve relations with the county. We really do need each other and it just seems we are a few agreements away from having a better relationship. A water taxi stop may be the first step. It means a lot to the county.”

On July 14, Titsworth emailed some additional comments to The Sun.

“For years, I have been accused by the city of Bradenton and the county

“I told them (the county) that if they find a property then the procedure is to have the owner make a site plan application to the city with the planning department and that I would make certain that it got to the commission for consideration. They have never brought a plan forward. Being that this site plan application may be coming before them, commissioners are to stay neutral on this application until staff has had a chance to report on the application and a public hearing is had.”

JOE

BUDGET: City presents 2024-25 budget

FROM PAGE 4

employee compensation with a $73,058 increase in employee insurance and $5,000 for the purchase of a drone.

PUBLIC WORKS

Coming out at $4,072,583, the city’s public works department budget is showing a proposed increase of $656,981 for the 2024-25 fiscal year. Much of that increase is due to pulling $307,000 toward the purchase of an algae harvester boat, $120,000 for the purchase of two pickup trucks and increases in employee insurance and compensation.

CODE COMPLIANCE

Where the city really saw some cost savings is in the code compliance department, where the planned budget dropped by $281,551 to a total of $620,594. The largest decrease is in employee compensation, which dropped $199,365 due to 50% of the code compliance staff transferring to the building department.

SPECIAL: Cleanup in aisle 3

SPECIAL TO THE SUN

FROM PAGE 7

and malfeasances can be explained by the generosity of his big-money campaign benefactors.

Especially things KVO has done or promoted that otherwise make no sense at all, such as the notorious Manatee Beach parking garage.

The garage is the $40-$45-million, multi-level, pay-to-park parking garage that Van Ostenbridge is clamoring to erect on the sands of beautiful Manatee Beach in the island City of Holmes Beach on Anna Maria Island. KVO justifies this parking garage on the unsupported notion that this beach is underused due to a shortage of convenient, publiclyavailable parking spaces that prevents off-island County residents and visitors from using and enjoying the beach on weekend and other high-use beach days.

Van Ostenbridge knows this unsupported notion is false. Knowledgeable officials and KVO’s own eyes tell him the predominant impediment to

off-islanders using Manatee Beach on high-use beach days is the terrible, bumper-to-bumper, snail-pace-orworse traffic they face just getting over to Anna Maria Island. Moreover, this geographically small neighborhood beach is not underused. On high-use beach days, with “just” the 425 onsite parking spaces it currently has, the beach typically is packed shoulder-toshoulder and umbrella-to-umbrella with beachgoers.

It is no wonder commission Dist-3 residents and others are so angry about the garage.

It will make a terrible traffic situation substantially worse, congestionwise and public-safety-wise; it will sully the natural pristine beauty of this Gulf Coast beach; it will put the beach’s iconic, uberpopular beachfront establishments out of business; it will eliminate all 425 existing fee-free onsite parking spaces; and, during its projected two-year-plus construction phase, there will be no onsite parking opportunities at all.

Although the animosity created by the garage is reason enough for

Van Ostenbridge to cancel his Dist-3 campaign and pursue George Kruse’s Dist-7 seat, KVO is also vindictive. Kruse has angered KVO by raising important questions that beg for answers before the county proceeds any further with the garage. Shame on Kruse to want the county to run itself businesslike.

In closing, I will leave you with another old axiom: Every vote counts. And in an election as close as the Aug. 20 commission Dist-7 Republican primary threatens to be, every vote is important. Van Ostenbridge has had his way with our county long enough, so let us work together to stop the hurt now.

And let us commission Dist-3 residents combine forces to see that Van Ostenbridge’s ally and proxy, April Culbreath, loses her Aug. 20 commission Dist-3 Republican primary election to her opponent, Tal Siddique.

Jerry Newbrough Holmes Beach

CINDY LANE | SUN

A white ibis leaves its feeding grounds on an Anna Maria Island beach and heads home to roost.

The eyes eat before the mouth

n many ways, dining can be as much a visual experience as one of tasting and olfactory enjoyment. After all, it is referred to as “culinary arts.” During my early training as a chef, I always loved the expression, “The eyes eat before the mouth.” I let it steer me in how any menu item was going to be sent to the guest. From a psychological standpoint, it sets the tone for your perception of how enjoyable what has been ordered is going to be. Make no mistake, the creation must still smell and taste great, but seeing something that is visually stimulating absolutely starts your mind down that road. On the opposite side, a great preparation that is just sloppily sent to the guest will not have the same level of enjoyment as if it had a proper presentation. That being said, I believe that it is still important that a focused presentation should never be allowed to diminish a preparation’s quality. Hot food should be hot, cold food should be cold, and flavors should never suffer for artistic presentation.

I was in a discussion recently about whether it was appropriate for customers who were posting Google, Yelp, Trip Advisor or any other type of reviews to be taking multiple photos of their dishes at the table. My response was that I thought it was great! I replied that when it happens

to me, I am flattered. I actually used once again the expression, “The eyes eat before the mouth” because I thought it fit perfectly with why we love posting photos of what we are about to consume. Let me be clear, I love customers who post photos, but if you are setting up stage lighting and are so over the top that it affects other diners, you may have issues and need to get a hobby! Visual stimulation also factors in long before food and beverage are in the picture. The restaurant’s interior and exterior aesthetics as well as the feel of its décor begin the process of your dining experience. If you are turned off by an operation’s ambiance,

Eggplant Napoleon

Serves 4

Ingredients

2 small or 1 extra large eggplant

2 cups flour

3 eggs and 1.5 cups milk (whip together to make egg wash)

4 cups seasoned bread crumbs (Italian)

3 cups olive oil

1 recipe Ricotta Pistachio Mousse (below)

2 cups shredded mozzarella (we use a mozzarella and aged provolone blend)

½ cup shaved Asiago cheese

1 quart marinara sauce

Directions Peel and slice the eggplant at ½ inch thick as rounds; put through standard breading practice by dipping each slice into the flour, and then into the egg wash, and then into the seasoned breadcrumbs.

SUBMITTED

you perceive all aspects of your dining experience. Adversely, if the feel of the

comfortable, it can positively impact what is to come. This is not to say that ambiance will make up for bad food or service, but it can definitely elevate or demote how you perceive all other elements. My final thought is that a great dining experience should stimulate all of your senses.

Pesto Bistro and Wine Bar is a quaint Italian, French and Mediterranean-influenced restaurant located 2.5 miles east of Anna Maria Island on Cortez Road.

Bring olive oil to a high temp in large sauté pan and fry each slice until golden brown on both sides. Lay on paper towels to absorb excess oil. Layer as follows - eggplant, scoop of Ricotta Mousse, mozzarella, Asiago, eggplant, scoop of Ricotta Mousse, mozzarella, Asiago, top with marinara and bake at 350 degrees F until top is slightly browning and napoleons are hot in center (minimum 160 degrees). Finish with a little more heated marinara when served.

Ricotta Pistachio Mousse

Thoroughly mix the following ingredients together:

2 cups ricotta

¼ cup toasted pistachios finely chopped

2 eggs

¼ cup grated Romano or Parmesan cheese

2 ounces Asiago cheese

1 teaspoon salt

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REAL ESTATE

Appraisals an art form

The last time I did a column about property appraisals was almost four years ago in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic when the real estate market was all over the place and a fair appraisal was difficult to achieve. Fast forward to 2024 and things haven’t changed that much. An accurate appraisal is still difficult for some of the same reasons.

In 2020, property values were soaring as a result of people relocating to Florida during COVID and inventory was scarce. We still have some of that going on with values up and inventory low, although the inventory aspect is beginning to level off.

Whether you are buying a new home, refinancing your existing home loan, or selling your home, it’s important to assess the value of the property. A buyer’s lender uses an appraisal not only to assess the value of the property but also to determine such things as your interest

Castles in the Sand

LOUISE BOLGER

rate and required down payment.

The property appraiser is only looking at the value of the property. Whether or not a buyer personally qualifies for the mortgage being applied for is secondary to the value of the property. However, the appraiser’s final value determination has a very profound effect on the mortgage being approved. For example, if the appraisal comes in short it will dictate the amount of mortgage the buyer will be approved for. In this case, the lender may ask for additional funds as a down payment from the buyer or ask the buyer to renegotiate the sale price, lowering the amount of the required mortgage. This is

why the job of an independent appraiser is so important.

The appraisal fee is billed to the buyer and becomes part of their closing costs. The buyer is also entitled to a copy of the appraisal, which should be reviewed by the buyer for accuracy. Although appraisers are professionals who generally stand by their final analysis, they can make mistakes in square footage, lot size, updates, omissions and other provable details that could influence the property’s value.

In addition, one of the biggest disagreements on property appraisals is the comparable properties the appraiser has used to support the value. Since appraisers rarely go into a property for sale or one that has just closed, they can only decide by driving by and reading listing information. If you feel the value is incorrect and the appraiser will not make an adjustment, there are government resources where a complaint can be

filed, especially if this is preventing the mortgage from being approved. According to the National Association of Realtors, a critical issue impacting appraisals is appraiser shortages, similar to so many other job-related shortages businesses are experiencing. There are stringent educational requirements and regulations that add to the ability to recruit more appraisers. However, I recently read that appraisers are among the highest-paying trade jobs this year with a median income of over $64,000. I have met many appraisers and, in my opinion, it is a very nice career, especially if you have an interest in the real estate market, have a friendly personality and are computer savvy.

Appraisers are mandated to develop a report that is impartial, objective and represents an independent opinion of the value of the property. This is why home appraisals have always been more of an art than a science, now more than ever.

CONSULTING: Pedicini consulting for Satcher, Van Ostenbridge, Turner

Farrington and Satcher now face each other in the Republican primary race that concludes on Aug. 20. With no Democratic candidate in the general election, the primary will determine who serves as Manatee County’s Supervisor of Elections for the next four years.

On June 19, the Lakewood Ranch Republican Club hosted a debate between Farrington and Satcher. The first question posed by the moderator sought the names of the political consultants and the consulting firms being utilized by the two candidates.

“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 responded without disclosing the name of his consultant or consulting firm.

After noting that Satcher didn’t answer the question, Farrington said he’s received informal consultation from Bennett and one of Bennett’s past associates. According to Farrington’s campaign treasurer’s reports, he had spent no money on political consulting services as of July 13.

On June 19, Manatee County

According to Satcher’s campaign treasurer’s reports, Satcher has paid Pedicini’s SIMWINS consulting firm $41,445 during the current 2024 election cycle. On June 21, two days after the debate, Satcher’s Supervisor of Elections campaign paid SIMWINS $40,000 for media services. On Feb. 6, Satcher’s now-suspended District 1 county commission campaign paid SIMWINS $1,250 for consulting services. On March 15, Satcher’s District 1 campaign paid SIMWINS $195 for a WebElect subscription.

ADDITIONAL CLIENTS

In late May, Van Ostenbridge suspended his District 3 reelection bid and decided instead to run against Kruse in the countywide District 7 race that now pits two sitting commissioners against each other. According to campaign treasurer’s reports, Van Ostenbridge’s campaign paid SIMWINS $98,420 for consulting services as of June 28. On June 24, Van Ostenbridge’s District 7 campaign paid SIMWINS $83,500 for media services. On Nov. 2, Van Ostenbridge’s District 1 campaign

paid SIMWINS $3,915 for campaign consulting services. On Feb. 26, Van Ostenbridge’s District 1 campaign paid SIMWINS $3,950 for advertising and consulting services.

To date, Turner’s District 1 campaign has paid SIMWINS $17,510. On June 17, Turner’s campaign paid SIMWINS $11,565 for services related to a petition mailer. On Jan. 31, April 23 and May 18, Turner’s campaign paid SIMWINS $1,250 for consulting services on each of those occasions.

FACEBOOK | SUBMITTED

Political consultant Anthony Pedicini has become a major figure in Manatee County politics.

LWRRC.COM | SUBMITTED

Supervisor of Elections candidate James Satcher refused to provide the name of his political consultant, Anthony Pedicini.

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN Kevin Van Ostenbridge’s campaign recently spent $83,500 for campaign-related media services provided by SIMWINS.

CENTER NOTES

Book Club

The Center of Anna Maria Island, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria, welcomes all adults to a free book club held on the second Monday of each month at 2 p.m.

The book to be discussed on Monday, Aug.12 is All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker. Feel free to bring a book to swap.

Ice Baths with Dev

Drop in and experience the benefits of ice baths at The Center with Devinne Whittaker of Devs Bevs Wednesdays and Saturdays

from 9 a.m.-noon. The cost is $20 for members and $25 for nonmembers. No pre-registration is required.

To register for Center programs or for more information, email The Center at customerservice@ centerami.org or call 941-7781908.

PINEY POINT: Settlement reached

Tampa Bay experienced a deadly red tide that

After the spill, the owner of the site, HRK Holdings LLC, filed bankruptcy and proceedings began to permanently remove the wastewater from the facility and close it.

Treated wastewater from the site is currently being pumped into a deep well in eastern Manatee County.

The conservation groups requested that U.S. District Court Judge William Jung hold HRK responsible for violating the Clean Water Act by discharging pollutants into Tampa Bay without a lawfully issued permit.

of our community,” Suncoast Waterkeeper Executive Director Dr. Abbey Tyrna said. “Additionally, it imposes critical restrictions on key pollutants, ensuring a more sustainable and healthier future for our bay.”

“The Piney Point disaster shook the Tampa Bay community to its core. It wasn’t too long ago that shorelines once teeming with life were littered with all kinds of dead fish for months. If you had previously found it swimming in Tampa Bay, it was likely dead after Piney Point,” said Justin Tramble, executive director of Tampa Bay Waterkeeper.

“This brings some closure to the past and shifts the focus to making sure mechanisms are in place to prevent even more tragedy in the future.”

“A strong, enforceable Clean Water Act permit for Tampa Bay’s most problematic polluter is long overdue,” said Ragan Whitlock, a Floridabased attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity. “It shouldn’t have taken a disastrous pollution event and legal action to prompt our state regulators to do their job, but we’re hopeful this permit is a step toward eliminating the looming threat this site has posed for decades.” FROM PAGE 1

“The settlement establishes a new standard of transparency for the water quality exiting the plant, a crucial step in safeguarding the well-being

The wastewater discharged in 2021 into Tampa Bay continues to spread throughout the estuary and into Sarasota Bay, according to the press release.

“The gyp stacks at Piney Point represent the true legacy the phosphate industry will leave behind in Florida - perpetual spending of taxpayer monies and risks to the public’s health and the environment,” said Glenn Compton, chairman of ManaSota-88 Inc. “There is no economically feasible or environmentally sound way to close an abandoned phosphogypsum stack.”

CONSULTING: Pedicini consulting for Satcher, Van Ostenbridge, Turner

On Dec. 26, Turner’s campaign paid SIMWINS $750 for campaign notecards. On Dec. 7, Turner’s campaign paid SIMWINS $1,250 for consulting services. On Nov. 7, Turner’s campaign paid SIMWINS $195 for an online subscription.

Satcher, Van Ostenbridge and Turner each list Wendy White as their campaign treasurer, as do District 1 county commission candidate Steve Metallo, District 3 county commission candidate April Culbreath and District 3 Manatee County School Board candidate Jonathan Lynch. White’s Campaign Accounting Services LLC lists the same Tampa address as Pedicini’s SIMWINS firm. According to their campaign treasurer’s reports, Metallo, Culbreath and Lynch did not list any campaign expenditures made to Pedicini or SIMWINS as of June 28.

KVO ATTACK AD

On July 8, Kruse published a lengthy written rebuttal at his CommissionerKruse.substack.com website.

“Before qualifying even ended, over $50,000 of airtime was bought to run an attack ad entirely devoid of facts,” Kruse wrote. “As he (Van Ostenbridge) can’t run on any fact-based record, the assumption is the baseless attacks will continue until Aug. 20. The broadest of their attacks is that I’m a liberal, communist, Democrat, RINO (Republican in Name Only), whatever term they have on hand at that time. Their definition of ‘conservative’ is so warped at this point that it’s lost all meaning. They have fought tax cuts, spent your hard-earned money freely on pork projects they can campaign on, grown government to stratospheric levels and weaponized their power against their residents and your voice. No self-respecting Republican would want to be associated with whatever brand of ‘conservative’ these people are.

Van Ostenbridge’s campaign is currently airing a TV campaign ad that makes the following claims about Kruse: “When radical environmentalists backed by George Soros attacked our property rights, spineless Kruse sided with Soros. When the liberal media called DeSantis the village idiot for securing our elections, Kruse sided with the liberal media. Spineless George Kruse, so liberal he’s basically a Democrat.”

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

Appointed County Commissioner Ray Turner is using Anthony Pedicini’s SIMWINS consulting firm for his current election campaign.

“They further try to claim that any news (agency) is liberal if they don’t bow down to their corrupt and destructive actions. Even The Observer, by far the most conservative paper in town, was called the ‘liberal media’ in their pathetic TV ad for daring to have an opinion different than theirs,” Kruse wrote.

Regarding the ad’s claim about his views on DeSantis, Kruse wrote, “I’m not a member of a cult and I don’t blindly believe every single thing a politician does is correct. I fully believe the governor made a huge mistake appointing our

current Supervisor of Elections (Satcher) over a far more experienced and qualified candidate in Scott Farrington. I would venture to guess 99% of informed Manatee County residents feel the same way. These are non-partisan issues that need the voice of the entire electorate.”

Regarding non-Republicans switching their party affiliation to Republicans to vote in the Republican primary, Kruse wrote, “The other side has no problem filing fake ghost candidates as write-ins to lock down primaries so they can use their ‘more conservative than you’ playbook.”

During the recent debate, Satcher referred to the completely legal practice of changing party affiliation as “election interference.”

“When we recommend non-Republicans change their party to have a voice in the governing of their county, it’s called election interference,” Kruse wrote. “Their playbook only works if they can con the furthest right of the base. If others start paying attention, they have no counter for that.”

Kruse noted July 22 is the deadline for voters to change their party affiliation at registertovoteflorida.gov.

BY MONICA SIMPSON SPECIAL TO THE SUN

Adult flag football heats up

ANNA MARIA – Island youth resumed indoor soccer action by packing in two weeks’ worth of games into one for the 11- to 14-year-old league. Later in the week, the big kids matched up for the second week of adult co-ed flag football after taking a week off for Independence Day.

Missing the arm, speed and leadership of Charles “Tuna” McCracken in game one, the Salty Printing squad came into week two against team Fishing with Salty hoping to get their first win of the sea son. The Salty Printing team faced solid league veterans Dina DeJesus and Jonathan Soultatos along with Octavius Cole and Matthew Briley. The game looked to be an even match during the first several minutes of play, but Salty Printing just could not find their footing defensively. The defensive statistics of both teams tell the story in the 34-12 win for Fishing with Salty.

Salty, flag pulls by DeJesus, Doyle, Cole and Rodriguez added to the difficulty the Salty Printing team had scoring.

Team captain Miguel Rodrigues’ defense not only stopped Salty Printing, but also added to the scoring. Briley had a pick-six, interception and four flag pulls to add to his season stats on defense.

Teammates Dylan Doyle and Soultatos each made critical defensive stops with sacks on the Salty Printing quarterback. Soultatos’ two sacks and two flag pulls were complemented by his offensive achievements in the game.

QB Rodriguez hit Soultatos for eight catches, two for touchdowns. The combination also connected in the endzone with a two-point conversion after a touchdown. Rounding out his game, Soultatos threw for six points to the QB as his team captured its second win of the season.

Adding to the defensive onslaught for Fishing with

In addition to Briley and Soultatos’ work on the offensive side of the game, Fishing with Salty’s Anthony McCance caught a Rodriguez pass for a touchdown totaling 24 offensive points in the win.

Despite the 22-point loss, the Salty Printing team walked away knowing it’s still early in the season. All of the teams struggling to find their first win have five regular season games to gel before the start of playoffs.

Their inability to make stops crippled the team last week. Flags seemingly slipped through the Salty Printing players’ hands. Their loss was not for the lack of trying or talent.

The team had nine flag pulls in two halves of play, with the hot hands of Danny Hampton making five. Hampton also kept the team’s energy high with an interception off the throw of Fishing

with Salty’s Rodriguez, catching intended receiver Soultatos running the wrong route.

The team displayed sparks of what is possible in the first half, scoring all 12 of their points off of touchdown passes caught by Balais and McCracken, classmates and friends since attending Anna Maria Elementary School.

The Salty Printing team dropped some easy passes in the second half of the game that seemed to be the beginning of the end for the offensive successes.

Also undefeated going into week three action is Floridian Mortgage, easily winning over Solid Rock Electrical, and team Prosper Bradenton. Prosper won by seven points against Solid Rock Air Conditioning.

Searching for their first win of the season, along with Salty Printing, team Slim’s Place lost against Moss Builders. Moss Builders sits middle of the road in the standing with one win and one loss.

Horseshoe results

Tom Farrington, left, and Gary Howcroft ended up in the winner's circle on July 10 at Anna Maria Horseshoes after winning the final 21-4 over Dom Livedoti and Gerson Fernandes. Then on July 13, Farrington teamed up with Bob Hawks and posted the only 3-0 record during pool play and won the day’s competition.

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

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HOME IMPROVEMENTS

RENOVATION SPECALIST

ALL carpentry repairs, Wash Family Construction, locally owned and operated CBC 1258250 Call 941-725-0073.

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JSAN CORPORATION

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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

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Prompt quality service. Wallpaper installation/ removal. Mary Bell Winegarden 941-794-0455

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ABRACADABRA

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

POOL SERVICES

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REAL ESTATE HOMES & CONDOS FOR SALE

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2BR/2BA HOLMES BEACH

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MOUNT VERNON

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Keller Williams on the Water, Cathy Roberson, 239 898 9123

RENTALS: ANNUAL

ANNUAL RENTALS

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RENTALS: SEASONAL & VACATION

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TRANSPORTATION

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