Anna Maria Island Sun July 20, 2022

- Named Best Florida Newspaper In Its Class -

VOL 22 No. 41

July 20, 2022

Beach rats are a perennial presence, but Wildlife Inc. suggests installing an owl box as an alternative to rodent poison.

BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | leslielake@aol.com

Hello owls, goodbye rats LESLIE LAKE | SUN

BRADENTON BEACH - In the interest of protecting all the animals along the food chain, a local animal rescue organization is urging Island homeowners to consider a natural alternative to the chemical eradication of rodents.

A strategically-placed wooden screech owl box or barn owl box will attract the owls that naturally prey on rodents, according to the experts at Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Inc. “You can get these boxes online and it’s simple,” Wildlife Inc. volunteer Krista Carpenter said. “You put it in a tree and put a bird feeder near it. As the bird seed falls out of the feeder, rats and mice will gather and then are eaten by the owls in the box.”

Installing an owl box can save many lives.

“From one block of poison, a poisoned mouse could be eaten by a bird, which is then eaten by an animal such as a fox or raccoon. A hawk could eat that fox or raccoon and then a bobcat or coyote could eat that,” causing all their deaths, Carpenter said. “A vulture could eat the last one. The circle of life is also the circle of death.”

That food chain poisoning became apparent recently when Carpenter got a call from the organization’s co-director, Gail Straight, that an American eagle in distress was found on the grounds of IMG Academy in Bradenton.

Surrounded by baby screech owls, Wildlife Inc. volunteer Krista Carpenter displays a screech owl box as a natural alternative to eradicating rodents.

SEE WILDLIFE, PAGE 27

Commission approves Chiles Group’s paid parking The paid parking lot, which serves restaurant patrons and beachgoers, has been operating since February.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA – The city commission has approved an amended site plan that allows the Chiles Group’s Sandbar restaurant to continue to use one of its parking lots for paid public parking.

The commission approval granted on July 14 is for the parking lot already being operated at 9902 Gulf Drive, between Magnolia Avenue and Spring Lane.

As he did during the preliminary Planning and Zoning Board review on June 27, City Planner Chad Minor said the site plan approval process was initiated after the city’s code enforcement department

Page 27

discovered in February that the parking lot was being used for paid parking, which was not an allowable use of that property.

Minor said the paid parking lot is one of nine parking lots the Chiles Group owns or leases to serve the Sandbar.

He added that the lot is located in the residential/office/retail zoning district where paid parking is allowed. The commission-approved site plan brings those 28 paid parking spaces into compliance with city code and those spaces will continue to provide paid parking for beachgoers and other visitors.

The automated payment kiosk installed in February is provided by the Sarasotabased Easy Parking Group owned and operated by Joshua LaRose. LaRose recently told The Sun the fee to park there is $5 an hour or $30 for eight hours.

SEE PARKING, PAGE 31

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

The Chiles Group’s parking lot at 9902 Gulf Drive provides paid public parking for beachgoers and others who may or may not be visiting the Sandbar restaurant.

hatch; one mom is satellite tracked. 8, 9

THE ICONIC OLD

SEA TURTLES

Coquina Beach jetty is being refurbished and lengthened. 11

TRIPADVISOR RANKS

Anna Maria Island, Florida

Robinson Preserve in Top 10%. 12

The Island’s award-winning weekly newspaper www.amisun.com

2

THE SUN

www.amisun.com

Jalapeno Margarita - Blanco Tequila -Pressed lime juice -Agave -Basil -Cilantro -Jalapeno (rocks)

941.778.1515 | 111 South Bay Blvd | Anna Maria Island, FL.

JULY 20, 2022

www.amisun.com

JULY 20, 2022

THE SUN

3

Anna Maria adopts new alcohol ordinance The new ordinance does not change business as usual for existing alcohol vendors and establishments.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA – The city has a new alcohol ordinance that addresses liquor sales, package liquor stores and requires some patrons to cover up.

The city commission adopted Ordinance 2022-901 on its second and final reading during the July 14 meeting.

City Attorney Becky Vose presented the final draft of the ordinance previously discussed by the city commission and the Planning and Zoning Board. Their efforts date back to 2020 when Mayor Dan Murphy vetoed the previously proposed ordinance that would have prohibited males from going shirtless in any establishment that served or sold alcohol, including the outdoor or beachfront areas of those establishments.

The newly adopted ordinance prohibits females from exposing their breasts, with an exception provided to mothers who are nursing their children.

During Thursday’s meeting, Vose re-

viewed the many changes made to the ordinance based on previous commission, planning board and citizen input. She revised the city’s proposed definition of liquor due to Planning and Zoning Board member David Haddox’s concerns about it not specifically exempting prescription drugs and over-thecounter medicines containing alcohol.

The revised definition reads: “Liquor means those substances such as rum, whiskey, gin, mezcal, tequila, brandy, vodka and fortified wines and which is referred to as ‘liquor’ in the regulations of the Florida Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco.”

Vose said the Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco does not regulate prescription drugs or over-the-counter medicines and she feels comfortable with the definition.

The adopted ordinance includes a new definition for package stores: “Package store shall mean a licensed place of business where alcoholic beverages are sold in the original sealed containers as received from the distributor for consumption off the premises only, when such alcoholic beverages include beer, wine and liquor as defined under the rules of the Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco.”

The ordinance allows beer and wine to be served and sold at The Center of Anna Maria Island, The Island Players theater, the

Anna Maria Island Historical Museum and City Pier Park, but liquor sales and service at those locations will require a commissionapproved special event permit.

According to the ordinance, only alcohol purchased from the City Pier tenant, the City Pier Grill & Bait Shop, will be allowed on the pier.

According to the ordinance, all alcoholic beverage establishments shall be located within the commercial (C-1) and/or residential-office-retail (ROR) zoned areas.

As was the case with the previous ordinance, the new ordinance states, “The operator of any restaurant which desires to sell or dispense beer and wine and/or other alcoholic beverages shall first apply for and receive a special use permit.”

Different than a special event permit, a special use permit for alcohol sales must be approved by the city commission and renewed annually by the city clerk. The new ordinance does not require existing alcohol vendors or establishments to do anything different than what they’ve done in the past.

Regarding takeout package stores, the ordinance says a commercial establishment that wishes to sell liquor for off-premises consumption shall first apply for and receive a city commission-approved special use permit. The ordinance states no special use

permit shall be granted to a commercial establishment located within one-half mile of any other commercial establishment, not including restaurants, which sells liquor – meaning a new package store will not be allowed within a half-mile of an existing one.

Commissioner Mark Short asked about a reference to clubs contained in the existing definition of the sale of alcoholic beverages which says, “Sale of alcoholic beverages means any transfer of an alcoholic beverage for a consideration, any gift of an alcoholic beverage in connection with, or as a part of, a transfer of property other than an alcoholic beverage for a consideration, or the serving of an alcoholic beverage by a club licensed under the state beverage law.”

Vose said the club references pertain to clubs and organizations such as an Elk’s club that holds a license that permits them to serve and sell alcohol under different scenarios with a different type of license. Vose said she wasn’t aware of any club licenses currently existing in the city of Anna Maria, but she noted that could change.

“I understand there may be one very near in the future,” Murphy said.

The fines assessed for a violation of the new alcohol ordinance will now be established by city resolution rather than in the ordinance itself.

4

THE SUN

ISLAND NEWS

Visit our website, www.amisun.com.

Scan this code with your smartphone to go there.

JULY 20, 2022

Paid parking discussed during budget meeting

IN BRIEF

Paid parking is seen as a potential revenue source for the city of Bradenton Beach.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com CITY OF BRADENTON BEACH | SUBMITTED

The properties located within the areas designated by a dotted black line could potentially be rezoned by the city commission.

Proposed rezoning hearing delayed The Bradenton Beach City Commission is scheduled to meet on Thursday, July 21 at noon, with an agenda that, at press time, included a public hearing on the proposed rezoning of several properties from Highland Avenue west to Gulf Drive, and from Second Street North to Cortez Road. However, Building Official Steve Gilbert said the public hearing will be postponed to a later date. The properties are currently zoned multi-family residential (R-3) and city staff is proposing rezoning them to mixed use (MXD). The city’s Planning and Zoning Board and some potentially impacted property owners oppose the proposed rezoning. The consent agenda includes a request to purchase two laptops for the administration department and three laptops for the planning and code enforcement departments. The commission also will discuss computer server upgrades and an upgrade to the current Office 365 software. Under new business, the commission will be asked to adopt by city resolution a consolidated fee schedule for the planning and development department. The city commission will also consider recommendations from the recentlyappointed traffic safety team.

Kingfish improvements put on pause A meeting between Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth and Manatee County officials concerning planned changes to the Kingfish Boat Ramp has been canceled because the project has been put on hold, she told commissioners at a recent budget meeting. Titsworth said she is unaware of the reasons for the pause, but is hopeful that county leaders will reconsider some of their controversial plans, including removing more than 80 trees and a popular waterfront shaded picnic area.

BRADENTON BEACH – Paid parking and potential future millage increases were primary topics of discussion during the city commission’s July 12 budget meeting.

The tentative budget discussed on Tuesday proposes $4.17 million in total city expenditures – an increase of $584,618 from the current fiscal year that ends on Sept. 30.

The commission intends to maintain the current 2.3329 millage rate for the 2022-23 fiscal year that begins on Oct. 1.

A significant portion of the city’s expenses will be covered by the $2,005,086 the city anticipates receiving in ad valorem property tax revenues. Due to skyrocketing property values, the city anticipates a significant increase in ad valorem property tax revenues in the coming fiscal year.

City Treasurer Shayne Thompson told the commission this equates to a $291,521 increase in property tax revenues for new fiscal year. He said the city usually sees a $120,000 to $140,000 annual increase in property tax revenues as property values increase by an average of 6-8%, but in this current fiscal year, property values have increased by approximately 17%.

“That is an anomaly, plain and simple. The raise in property values this year is certainly not the norm. Without that increase, we would probably be faced with a millage increase, like it or not,” Thompson told the commission.

Higher property values mean property owners will pay higher property taxes and Mayor John Chappie said the commission does not intend to adopt a lower rollback millage rate that would generate the same amount of property tax revenues as last year while lowering the millage rate for

We’ve got to get it back from the people that are coming here and enjoying our amenities, and the only way to do that is paid parking.”

John Cosby, Bradenton Beach police chief city taxpayers.

Thompson said the city’s reserve fund has been drawn down in recent years and needs to be replenished, and small annual millage increases may be needed in future years to accomplish this.

Thompson said a one-tenth of a percent millage increase on a home with a $1 million assessed value would result in the property owner paying an additional $100 in property taxes. According to Thompson, a one-tenth of a percent millage increase would generate approximately $85,000 in additional property tax revenues during a single fiscal year.

Chappie and Commissioner Jan Vosburgh said they would not support a millage increase this year and they hope to avoid doing so in future years.

Police Chief John Cosby said, “Every year for the past five years I have told you that you need to raise the millage a little bit every year. I do agree with Shayne that it’s something to keep in the back of our mind. I don’t think we’re in trouble yet, but I think next year will be the year we really have to look at it. I think you should heed Shayne’s advice that going up a little bit every year at some point is not going to hurt.”

Chappie noted the commission intends to discuss paid parking in city-owned parking lots as a possible means of generating additional city revenues. That work meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 30 at 9 a.m.

In recent months, Cosby has repeatedly told the commission the police department is underfunded and understaffed when it

comes to policing a city that gets thousands of visitors on any given day. During the budget meeting, he mentioned paid parking as the most likely revenue source for additional policing and also replenishing the city’s reserve fund.

“Paid parking is it. We’ve got to get it back from the people that are coming here and enjoying our amenities, and the only way to do that is paid parking. That could generate a lot of revenue. That would take care of your concern and Shayne’s concerns,” Cosby said.

“I’ve done a little research and Pinellas County just went to $7 an hour for paid parking. It’s an option we need to look at. Your citizens have already told you they want you to find a way to generate revenue outside of a tax increase and this is one way to do it,” he added.

Cosby said the city’s current reserve fund would cover approximately 20-25% of the city’s annual expenses, but a coastal community that’s more prone to storm and hurricane damage should really have a reserve fund that would cover 30-35% of the city’s operating expenses.

“This city has to rely on itself until FEMA can get here to help us. We’re going to have to be selfsufficient and we’re not there yet.

When we do the paid parking, we have to really look at how we’re going to distribute that revenue. I think a percentage of that revenue should automatically go into reserves so we can build a good strong reserve,” Cosby said.

SEE MEETING, PAGE 27

JULY 20, 2022

www.amisun.com

THE SUN

5

Public gets first look at proposed city budget Holmes Beach city leaders held a workshop on July 12, their first discussion of the proposed fiscal year 2022-23 budget.

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

HOLMES BEACH – A first look at the city’s proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year shows increases in most departments, but not in the millage rate.

That doesn’t mean that city taxpayers aren’t in for a property tax increase, though.

Presenting the proposed budget to city commissioners during a July 12 work session, City Treasurer Lori Hill said that she prepared the budget keeping the same 2.25 mills rate as the current fiscal year. But due to a 17% increase in property values citywide, keeping the same millage rate means that owners can still expect to see their property taxes increase for the 2022-23 fiscal year, unless commissioners vote to decrease the millage rate.

While Mayor Judy Titsworth said she’d like to decrease the millage rate, she’s unsure if that will be possible for the coming year due to rising costs. Once city

leaders have a better understanding of what funds they can expect from outside sources, she said commissioners would be able to make a more informed decision before the budget is passed prior to the Oct. 1 start of the new fiscal year.

Hill said that she expects to have more concrete numbers, instead of estimates from state and other revenue sources, by sometime in September.

Commissioners are set to discuss and adopt a maximum millage rate, the rate that they cannot exceed when determining the rate for the 2022-23 fiscal year, during a July 20 regular meeting.

Using a 2.25 mills rate, Hill’s proposed budget shows an increase of $890,358 in ad valorem tax for the city over the current year, upping the amount to an estimated $5,917,325. Hill said she also expects an increase of $555,000 in building permit fees and a $100,000 increase in vacation rental certificate revenue due to the number of units scheduled for renewal in the coming year.

With $10,139,887 in carryover and reserves, the proposed budget shows total revenue estimated at $24,935,231. Expenses are also estimated at $24,935,231, including reserves, to provide the city with a break-even budget for the year.

On the expense side, increased costs mean increased budgets for every city department excluding public works.

A modest $2,099 increase in the mayor/commission budget is planned, primarily due to rising costs. If approved, the budget will increase from $208,506 in the current fiscal year to $210,605.

The general government budget shows an increase to $1,686,174, up $71,075 from the current fiscal year. Much of the increase is due to rising costs for technological services such as email and agenda management services, along with other professional services.

The proposed budget for the Holmes Beach Police Department shows a planned increase of $891,467 to top out at $5,091,806, including grant funds and reserves for vehicle purchases.

Some of the grant funds awarded to the department include $290,000 for the purchase of a police boat, $4,000 for bulletproof vests and $348,000 in planned reserve fund expenditures to help defray the $464,000 cost of purchasing eight fully equipped vehicles for the department.

The building department’s budget shows an expected increase of $174,519 to $1,319,121. Much of the planned

increase in that department is in compensation and taxes for seven full-time employees including the city planner, professional services and general office supplies. Increases in salaries to accommodate another employee account for $129,039 of the planning budget increase with an additional $38,000 in professional services cost increases for employee drug testing, a consultant for CRS Max recertification and Progressive Building updates and inspections.

Despite increases in salaries, overtime, payroll taxes and professional services, the public works department’s budget shows an anticipated decrease of $36,905 from the current fiscal year to $3,920,861. The change results from the removal of American Recovery Act Program funds of $1,078,088 from the department’s financial calculations to a category of their own. Operating expenses, including street resurfacing, rebuilding trolley shelters, clean water algae removal and other items are planned to increase to $782,895, including an estimated $150,000 from excess concession funds to install lighting at trolley stops and flashing beacons at crosswalks.

SEE BUDGET, PAGE 13

6

THE SUN

OPINION

The Anna Maria Island Sun newspaper 3909 East Bay Drive, Suite 210, Holmes Beach, FL, 34217 Phone: (941) 778-3986 email: news@amisun.com | ads@amisun.com | classifieds@amisun.com

Like us on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/AnnaMariaIslandSun

JULY 20, 2022

The Anna Maria Island Sun Staff Owner/CEO Mike Field Editor Cindy Lane General Manager Bob Alexander Reporters/Photographers Joe Hendricks Jason Schaffer Kristin Swain Columnists Louise Bolger Rusty Chinnis Contributors Steve Borggren Captain Rick Grassett Monica Simpson Tom Vaught Captain Dave White 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 Family-owned since 2000

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Beach parking a shell game?

In the July 13 edition on new parking regulations, Mayor Titsworth answers concerns that four wheels off the pavement would encourage people to park on the sidewalk by saying that every road with a sidewalk that would be impeded is a no parking

zone. Chief Tokajer then added that the new regulations don't reduce the number of on-street parking spaces available to the public. This does not seem to calculate. Check out, for example, spaces currently available at the west end of 28th Street. If all four wheels are off the pavement, you are on the sidewalk. So scratch

them as parking spaces available to the public. It seems like Holmes Beach will do anything to help keep Manatee County day trippers off their island with this constant shell game. Van Ostenbridge has a point.

Phil Moore Bradenton

Drop us a line Got an opinion, a complaint or a compliment? Is there something you need to get off your chest? Send us a letter to the editor and have your say. There are a couple of ways to do it. The easiest and most direct is to email The Sun at news@amisun.com. Remember to put Letter to the Editor in the subject field. Or you can snail-mail a letter to us at The Anna Maria Island Sun,

P.O. Box 1189, Anna Maria, FL 34216. Letters should be kept to 300 words or less and must contain your name and the city in which you reside. Personal attacks and obscene language will not be printed. The Sun reserves the right to edit letters for length or content.

www.amisun.com

JULY 20, 2022

ON THE AGENDA

ANNA MARIA

10005 GULF DRIVE FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-708-6130

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

July 26, 10 a.m. – Special Magistrate hearing July 28, 5:30 p.m. – City Commission budget meeting July 28, 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 21, noon – City Commission meeting Aug. 3, 9:30 a.m. – Community Redevelopment Agency meeting Aug. 4, 6 p.m. – 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 20, 5 p.m. – Setting of Maximum Millage Rate public hearing with City Commission regular meeting and work session to follow July 26, 10 a.m. – Code Compliance special magistrate hearing July 28, 10 a.m. – Program for Public Information Committee meeting July 28, 11:30 a.m. – Police officer’s pension board meeting Aug. 3, 5 p.m. – Planning Commission meeting

ISLAND-WIDE

Aug. 2, 4 p.m. – Council of Governments meeting, Bradenton Area Convention Center, 1 Haben Blvd., Palmetto EVENTS

WEDNESDAY, JULY 20

Beach market, Coquina Beach, 2650 Gulf Drive S., Bradenton Beach, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

THURSDAY, JULY 21

Sea Turtle Shell-abration with Mote Marine Aquarium, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m.

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

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

FRIDAY, JULY 22

Beach market, Coquina Beach, 2650 Gulf Drive S., Bradenton Beach, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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

Mahjong Club, experienced players, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 11:30 a.m.

SATURDAY, JULY 23

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

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

THE SUN

7

Life writing workshop, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 2 p.m.

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

AMI Chamber Business Card Exchange, Slicker’s Eatery, 12012 Cortez Road W., Bradenton, 5 p.m., $5 for members or $10 for prospective members. Reserve to 941-7781541.

TUESDAY, JULY 26

FRIDAY, JULY 29

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

Mahjong Club, beginners, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 11:30 a.m.

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

Tech Help, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 2-3:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 27

Beach market, Coquina Beach, 2650 Gulf Drive S., Bradenton Beach, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Musical Motion, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 2:30 p.m.

THURSDAY, JULY 28

Seashell Shore Walk, Coquina Beach, 2650 Gulf Drive S., Bradenton Beach, 9 a.m.

Mad Science Fire and Ice, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m.

Seaside Quilters, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, noon.

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

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

Beach market, Coquina Beach, 2650 Gulf Drive S., Bradenton Beach, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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

Mahjong Club – Experienced Players, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 11:30 a.m.

Burgers and Botox benefiting The PACE Center for Girls, The Tiki, 102 48th St., Holmes Beach, 6-9 p.m. The event is free, Botox is discounted and everyone is asked to bring school supply donations.

SATURDAY, JULY 30

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

Beach cleanup with Surfrider Foundation Suncoast Chapter, 100 N. Shore Road, Longboat Key, 8 a.m.

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

TUESDAY, AUG. 2

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

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

8

www.amisun.com

THE SUN

JULY 20, 2022

Sea turtle nests hatching In the third month of nesting season, the sea turtle nests are hatching on Anna Maria Island beaches.

BY JASON SCHAFFER SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA ISLAND - Plenty of little flipper tracks are on the beach and lots more are on the way as the first loggerhead sea turtle nests of the season begin to hatch.

At least 21 nests have hatched this month so far, according to Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring (AMITW) volunteers.

“After a nest hatches, we must wait for three days and then we excavate to collect data, which is sent to FWC (the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission),” AMITW’s Barbara Riskay said. “The first nest excavated on July 10 resulted in 74 hatched eggs.”

As of July 16, 10 nests have been excavated, showing that 809 hatchlings have made it to the Gulf of Mexico, she said.

While this is a substantial number, it is necessary for female turtles to lay plenty of eggs because only about one in 1,000 turtle hatchlings will make it to adulthood.

While more than 1,050 nests have been laid on the Island so far this season, turtle season continues until Oct. 31, so there will be thousands more hatchlings to come.

The most common turtle to nest on the Island is the loggerhead. Named for its massive, block-like head, the loggerhead is Florida’s most common sea turtle. Adults weigh 275 pounds on average with a shell about a yard long.

The shell, ruddy brown on top and creamy yellow underneath, is very broad near the head and tapers toward the tail. Each of the turtle’s flippers has two claws.

AMY WATERBURY | AMITW

A hatchling loggerhead sea turtle makes its way to the Gulf of Mexico minutes after hatching.

According to the FWC, the main threat that loggerhead turtles face is accidental capture in shrimp and fishing nets such as longlines, which can entangle or snag sea turtles, and finfish trawls, beach seines, drift and gill nets.

When captured in these nets, the turtles cannot escape and

eventually drown.

The development of nesting beaches is also a threat to sea turtles, as their nests can be destroyed, and available nesting sites are limited. Beach armoring, such as building seawalls, is a threat, as the structures prevent the natural maintenance of beaches and sand dunes.

Coastal development also increases artificial lighting which can be detrimental to hatchlings, causing them to migrate toward the artificial light instead of the natural light they use to find the ocean.

Increased predation on nests from raccoons is also a significant threat to nesting sea turtles.

Other threats include exploitation for meat and eggs in some countries, habitat degradation from contaminants and pollutants and boat strikes.

NESTING NEWS

Turtle nests laid: 473 (Record: 544 in 2019) False crawls: 457 (Record: 831 in 2010) Hatched nests: 21 Hatchlings: 1,052 Source: Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring

DOCK & DINE

Cruise to the Pier by land or sea! Boat docking is NOW AVAILABLE at the Pier location!

LANDSIDE

6906 14th Street West 941.758.7880

CORTEZ

6696 Cortez Road 941.792.0077

ELLENTON

1525 51st Avenue East 941.721.7773

BRIDGE ST. PIER Bradenton Beach 941.778.AMOB (2662)

www.amisun.com

JULY 20, 2022

THE SUN

TURTLE TIPS

SUBMITTED

Where’s Esther?

Loggerhead sea turtle Esther has enjoyed a trip to Tampa Bay in the past week before heading south to her last tracked location a few miles off the coast of Venice. She has traveled 209 miles since being satellite tagged on Coquina Beach on June 20 after laying a nest. Esther is one of 15 turtles competing in the Sea Turtle Conservancy’s 13th Annual Tour de Turtles event, with the title going to the turtle that travels the farthest between their tagging date and Oct. 31, the end of sea turtle nesting season. Esther is competing to raise awareness of light pollution, which can disorient nesting and hatching sea turtles. She is sponsored by Waterline Villas & Marinas and Mainsail Vacation Rentals.

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. To report large holes or other turtle obstacles:

2022

9

• City of Anna Maria code enforcement — 941-708-6130, ext.

139 or ext. 129.

• City of Bradenton Beach code enforcement — 941-7781005, ext. 280.

• 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

10

www.amisun.com

THE SUN

COVID-19 in Manatee County JULY 10

Cases 285 % Positivity 25.02% Deaths < 10 % Eligible population vaccinated 72.7% New hospital admissions 83

JULY 17

Cases 330 % Positivity 25.96% Deaths 13 % Eligible population vaccinated 72.7% New hospital admissions 66

Manatee County community level of COVID-19 transmission

JULY 20, 2022

Roser Church

“...a beautiful place to explore your faith...”

SUNDAY WORSHIP 8:30 AM in the Chapel 10:00 AM in the Sanctuary Nursery • Children’s Church

ONLINE • Watch LIVE or LATER

RoserChurch.com

Text ROSER to 22828 to receive the weekly eBulletin The CHAPEL is open during office hours for prayer and meditation 941-778-0414 • 512 Pine Ave, Anna Maria • FOLLOW us on Facebook @RoserChurch

www.amisun.com

JULY 20, 2022

THE SUN

11

Coquina Beach jetty to be refurbished The iconic jetty along Coquina Beach and Longboat Pass was built in the 1950s.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH – The aging wooden jetty at the southernmost end of Coquina Beach is scheduled to be refurbished next spring and extended back to its original length.

The jetty, which extends into the Gulf of Mexico at Longboat Pass, was built in the 1950s and is made of squares of timber that are filled with rocks, according to Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources Department Director Charlie Hunsicker.

“The structure is about 70 years old and it looks sort of like an old railroad bridge.

The waves have been hitting this structure of 70 years and it’s finally taking its toll on the last 40-50 feet. Some of the wood is breaking apart and the fasteners and bolts are rusting out. Some of those rocks are now spewed on the bottom of the Gulf,” Hunsicker said. The iconic jetty will be restored to its original length, around 30 feet, he added.

“The jetty was intended to hold the Coquina Beach sand from going into Longboat Pass and it did its job for the longest time, but it started to get a little leaky. So, about eight years ago, we experimented with put-

The jetty was intended to hold the Coquina Beach sand from going into Longboat Pass and it did its job for the longest JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

time, but it

The Coquina Beach jetty is scheduled to be reinforced in 2023. Built in the 1950s, the Coquina Beach jetty resembles a wooden railroad bridge.

started to get a little leaky.”

Charlie Hunsicker, Director of Parks and Natural Resources

ting in a tube filled with sand and laid it against the north side of the jetty. It’s like a hot dog filled with sand. This tube stopped the movement of sand that would have gone through the leaky part of the jetty. If this tube did its job, we could observe that the pass wasn’t filling in as fast as it had been.

It worked. The tube was only intended to be there for three years, but it’s hung in there ever since,” Hunsicker explained.

“Now we’re going to replace it (the tube) with a permanent and impervious sheet pile wall that will be driven down into

5346 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach (941) 778-5788 | hurricanehanks.com

the sand at the same elevation as the rock jetty. A sheet pile wall is a steel wall that’s driven into the ground. When we put in the sheet pile wall against the existing structure, that will replace the tube of sand, and we are going to

replace the broken-up pieces at the western end of the jetty. There’s not going to be a wall there that you can’t see around, nothing like that. The top of the jetty will stand about three feet above the sand,” Hunsicker said.

Visit us for a cold one!

We’ve installed 5 Fresh-Aire UV units to provide 1_;lb1-ѴŊ=u;; -bu -m7 v u=-1; 7bvbm=;1ঞomĺ

5344 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach (941) 779-2337 | hurricaneliquorami.com

12

www.amisun.com

THE SUN

JULY 20, 2022

Robinson Preserve honored by Tripadvisor Manatee County’s Robinson Preserve has been named by Tripadvisor as a 2022 Travelers’ Choice destination in the top 10% of attractions worldwide.

BY JASON SCHAFFER SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com

BRADENTON - Manatee County’s Robinson Preserve has been named a “2022 Travelers’ Choice” destination by Tripadvisor.

The 682-acre coastal wetland habitat is in the top 10% of attractions worldwide, according to the publication.

Both visitors and locals enjoy exploring the 2.5-mile paved trail as well as the 5 miles of shell coastal trails.

“We bring our bikes out here at least once a month and ride the trails as a family,” said Keith Brisco, of Lakewood Ranch, riding the trails with his wife, Kathy, and three children. “It’s a beautiful ride, and easy even for the younger kids. They love going up the tower; it’s a must every time we come out here.”

The tower Brisco speaks of is a 40-foot observation tower open to

JASON SCHAFFER | SUN

Tripadvisor has recognized Robinson Preserve. the public, with a view that includes four counties and five bodies of water. In addition to walking, running or biking, Robinson Preserve also offers 3 miles of blueways for paddlers to navigate mangrove tunnels, marshes and more connecting to the Manatee River, Perico Bayou and Palma Sola Bay. “This is a great honor,” Manatee County Administrator Scott Hopes said. “It truly reflects the commitment

to preserving and restoring sensitive lands and natural resources.”

The main entrance of Robinson Preserve is located at 1704 99th St. N.W. with another vehicle entrance at 10299 Ninth Ave. N.W. An aquatic entrance for kayakers is at the west end of the Palma Sola Causeway, and a bike- or hike-in entrance is north of the parking lot at the humpback bridge at Perico Island.

JULY 20, 2022

www.amisun.com

THE SUN

13

BUDGET: First public look FROM PAGE 5

The budget for the city’s code compliance department shows a $148,751 increase over the current fiscal year to $789,614, including $100,311 in employee compensation and payroll taxes to cover the cost of adding another employee. A $40,000 increase in court costs for legal services due to appeals and court recorders needed for special magistrate hearings also is planned. Department members also plan to spend $3,000 on a new noise meter and $2,500 on miscellaneous information technology purchases.

Public hearings for the proposed budget are scheduled for Sept. 15 and 27 during city commission regular meetings. Copies of the budget are available to the public in the lobby at city hall, 5701 Marina Drive, and online at www.holmesbeachfl.org.

ANNE YARBROUGH | SUN

Thursday in paradise Sam Wright entertains during the "Thursdays in Paradise Stroll" on Bridge Street in Bradenton Beach on July 14.

‛S YOUR COMFORT ZONE? WHERE

Chamber to host business card exchange The Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce will host its next business card exchange on July 28 at Slicker’s Eatery, 12012 Cortez Road W. from 5-7 p.m.

The fee is $5 for members and $10 for prospective members. Mingle and get to know business owners and managers in the community, and learn what the chamber has to offer. To RSVP, call 942-778-1542 or email info@amichamber.org.

14

THE SUN

www.amisun.com

JULY 20, 2022

ANNE YARBROUGH | SUN

Kids meet Rumplestiltskin Jerry Bickel of Bits N Pieces Puppet Theatre fascinated the crowd with his performance of Rumplestiltskin at the Island Branch Library on July 14. After the show, Bickel deconstructed the puppet theatre so the audience could experience the process behind the curtains.

SUBMITTED

Summer camp fun These young attendees of The Center’s summer camp program painted these clay pots at the Anna Maria Island Historical Museum last week.

www.amisun.com

JULY 20, 2022

THE SUN

15

Mote Marine design process underway The final architectural plans are due in October and the Mote Marine facility is expected to open in March 2023.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA – Mote Marine’s contracted architect, Barron Schimberg, has begun work on the plans for a marine educational outreach center on the City Pier.

The center was originally expected to open in early 2022. In late April, the Anna Maria City Commission gave Mote Marine a lengthy extension that now anticipates the facility opening by March 2023.

During that April meeting, the commission gave Mote Marine until Aug. 13 to begin the long-delayed design and architectural work on the center, to be located in a cityowned building at the end of the City Pier and operated by Mote Marine. The commission also set an October deadline for those architectural plans to be completed and

MOTE MARINE | SUBMITTED

The marine educational outreach center will feature a mix of live, virtual and interactive exhibits. Mote Marine’s educational outreach center will be located in the currently vacant city-owned building at the end of the City Pier. submitted to the city.

Mayor Dan Murphy provided the commission with a brief status update during the commission’s July 14 meeting.

“We have an assurance from Mote Marine that we’re on track. In fact, just yesterday, Mote Marine, along with the architect, were out on the pier taking measurements and doing reviews. That architectural process has already started. They have a

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

signed agreement with the architect.

October 10th is the delivery date back to the commission and that has been reinforced as well. I wanted to give you an assurance that we’re on track this time and things look good. If there’s any variance to that I’ll let you know. I feel comfortable that they’ll meet the deadline of October 10, maybe sooner,” Murphy told the commission.

We have an assurance from Mote Marine that we’re on track.”

Dan Murphy, Anna Maria mayor

16

THE SUN

www.amisun.com

See darkness in a whole new light. Engage your senses as you envision life from a new perspective.

Walk in the shoes of a person who is blind. Step into the world of a veteran adjusting to civilian life. And see for yourself how some of the most intelligent, talented dogs on this planet help people journey beyond the dark.

Discover why everyone is raving about this acclaimed multi-sensory experience. Reserve your seat today.

GuideDogs.org/Dark

Ad sponsored by

JULY 20, 2022

JULY 20, 2022

www.amisun.com

THE SUN

17

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

The wooden walkover bridge at the west end of Elm Avenue will be removed to make way for the unpaved street extension. The construction of a new home at 105 Elm Ave. will impact the view of those who own the beachfront home at 107 Elm.

105 Elm permitting efforts continue A city-issued right of way use permit is needed in order to extend Elm Avenue at the property owner’s expense.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA – Mayor Dan Murphy provided the city commission with an update last week on the right of way use permit sought by property owner Fedora Campbell and Gagne Construction for the construction of a new beachfront home at 105 Elm Ave. In June, the Anna Maria City Commission tentatively approved the requested permit that would allow for Elm Avenue to be extended at the property owner’s expense to provide driveway access to Campbell’s proposed beachfront home.

The tentative commission approval requires the property owner to provide additional drainage in order to help prevent and reduce flooding in that street-end area. The tentative approval also requires the property owner and contractor to modify the existing beach access point.

Murphy told the commission he received those engineering plans the previous day but had not yet had time to fully review them. He also wants the city’s contracted engineers to review the proposed drainage plans.

“I don’t have them ready for you to review today,” Murphy told the commission. “I want to make sure our engineers and my staff completely

understand the impact of what’s going to be done. It looks very good.

They’ve taken the driveway and pretty much made that into a drainage field. We have some questions on elevation. There’s a 3-foot path of 250 sand for beach access that connects straight through to the existing trail that leads down to the beach.

There’s a plan to remove the walkover and replenish that area with native vegetation. All in all, it looks pretty good, but we need to make sure the elevation is adequate. Our engineers looked at it and there’s some questions as to that. I think this whole thing should be resolved as of Monday.”

Murphy suggested tentatively scheduling an emergency city commission meeting this week so the commission can review and approve the additional drainage requirements.

Once approved by the commission, the proposed right of way use permit will be submitted to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for that agency’s review before the city issues the permit.

Dan Gagne asked the commission to schedule an emergency meeting rather than waiting to approve the drainage and beach access plans at the commission’s next regular meeting on July 28. An emergency meeting is scheduled on Thursday, July 21 at 1 p.m.

“If there’s issues, it’s going to go back and forth,” Murphy said concerning the emergency meeting potentially being delayed.

18

JULY 20, 2022

www.amisun.com

JULY 20, 2022

19

20

THE SUN

www.amisun.com

Island Photography & DJ a family affair Anna Maria Island residents Dara and Chuck Caudill have combined their creative talents to offer wedding photography and entertainment under one banner, Island Photography & DJ. Together, they will coordinate the photography and music for your special day.

Dara is a professionally trained photographer who combines the latest in digital technology along with an artistic and creative flair. She blends photojournalistic with traditional styles of photography. "A little fantasy mixed with a little reality," she says. "It's important for the photos to be beautiful!"

Chuck is a professional musician and DJ on Anna Maria Island. In addition to ukulele and acoustic guitar ceremonies, Chuck provides live music and/or full DJ services for the reception. He provides state of the art sound and lighting.

Dara and Chuck are true Island residents, so they specialize in beach weddings. The two know how important it is to have the right professionals for your day, especially if you are having a destination wedding. They were married in Kauai, and the people they hired made it a special day. They want to create that same memorable Island experience for you.

Over the years, they have become friends with many of the couples they helped marry. They find it rewarding when those couples revisit the area and call them to get together.

Both are fully insured and belong to many professional organizations, including the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce. Please check out their websites – www.islandphotography.org and www. chuckcaudill.com – to see what they have to offer. For more info, please email daracaudill@verizon.net or call 941-778-5676.

JULY 20, 2022

JULY 20, 2022

www.amisun.com

DARA CAUDILL | WWW.ISLANDPHOTOGRAPHY.ORG

Tina Washington and Hutch Blackstone were married on the beach of the Sandbar restaurant on December 29, 2021. Shawn Rhoton and Molly Powers, of the Sandbar, coordinated the wedding and reception. Reverend Steve Lortz performed the ceremony. Flowers were

by Blooms by the Beach, and the cake was by Hometown Desserts. Tina and Hutch honeymooned on Anna Maria Island before returning home to Mansfield, Ohio.

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.

THE SUN

21

22

THE SUN

OUTDOORS

JULY 20, 2022

The price of inaction

Reel Time RUSTY CHINNIS

R

ed tide. They’re probably the two words that nobody on or near Florida’s west coast wants to hear and I can understand why, sort of.

Someone who owns a resort hotel, has a restaurant on or near the beach or runs a business that takes people fishing or sightseeing depends on clean, healthy water for their livelihood. It’s easy for the average person to see that these businesses are negatively affected by red tide or even the mere mention of it.

What’s less obvious is that poor water quality affects everyone, from fishing guides to developers, realtors and builders, right down to the plumber sweating pipes in Lakewood Ranch. Humans seem to focus only on the things that directly impact us in the present, finding it easier to “kick the can down the road." I suggest looking your children and grandchildren in the eye and asking yourself, “What part am I taking in creating and protecting the world they will inherit?"

We only must look back at the last five years for two haunting cases in point, starting with the harmful red tide algae bloom that devastated coastal waters from Naples to St. Petersburg and rendered Sarasota

RUSTY CHINNIS | SUN

Hopefully, Suncoast Waterkeeper's legal challenge and settlement with the City of Bradenton addressing the release of polluted water into the Manatee River will help prevent blooms like this one at Robinson Preserve in 2020.

Bay a virtual wasteland. The result?

In the last five years, Sarasota Bay lost most of the seagrass than had regrown in the past 20 years plus, if not more.

As if we needed another example, the disastrous release of over 200 million gallons of polluted process water from the legacy phosphate facility at Piney Point in late March 2021 led to the worst algae bloom in Upper Tampa Bay since the

1970s, killing thousands of tons of sea life. Piney Point is the perfect example of kicking the can down the road and running out of road.

Resident anglers have seen firsthand the decrease in water quality and the resulting loss of habitat, seagrass and its negative effect on local fisheries. Unfortunately, anglers and residents who recently relocated here see “the new normal.” Is it possible that we might

consider what we’re leaving for future generations instead of how it affects self-interest in the here and now? This is not a new problem and I’m sure there were others saying the same thing when we first arrived here. But this is now and the time to act is slipping away.

If you want to see how the officials we elect represent us in enacting rules and regulations to protect our natural resources, consult the League of Conservation Voters at www.lcv.org.

The LCV is non-partisan and tracks the voting records of members of the Senate and Congress on environmental issues in its National Environmental Scorecard. This is a clear indication of how those tasked with representing our interests actually vote. Who we elect is critical to facing this problem. Politics is more divisive now than I can remember, but it’s critical that we elect politicians who represent our interests, not those with no vision who are concerned with division.

In the end, we all suffer the consequences. Vote, and consider joining and working with advocates like Suncoast Waterkeeper, Vote Water and Sarasota Bay Watch, groups working to educate the public, get them involved and hold politicians and municipalities accountable for their votes and action or inaction.

The time to act is the only time there ever is, right now. It won’t happen overnight, but it’s critical we begin now.

JULY 20, 2022

www.amisun.com

THE SUN

23

Pool safety tips for summer The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued pool safety tips as part of their “Pool Safely” campaign.

Pool Safely is a national public education campaign to reduce child drownings, non-fatal submersions and entrapments in swimming pools and spas.

CPSC is working to ensure that drowning and entrapment prevention are important public safety priorities by raising awareness, promoting industry compliance and improving safety at pools and spas.

The Pool Safely campaign emphasizes an important and simple message - adding an extra safety step in and around the water can make all the difference. CPSC estimates that each year nearly 300 children younger than 5 years

old drown in swimming pools and spas and an additional 4,000 children that age go to hospital emergency rooms due to submersion injuries in pools and spas.

These simple water safety tips can save lives:

kids do, too.

• Know how to perform CPR on children and adults.

• Understand the basics of lifesaving so that you can assist in a pool emergency.

STAY CLOSE, BE ALERT AND WATCH

• Install a fence at least 4 feet high around the perimeter of the pool or spa.

• Use self-closing and self-latching gates.

• Ensure all pools and spas have compliant drain covers.

• Install an alarm on the door leading from the house to the pool.

• Keep pool and spa covers in working order.

• Have life-saving equipment such as life rings or reaching poles available for use.

• Always watch children and never leave them unattended.

• Keep children away from pool drains, pipes and other openings.

• Have a charged phone close by at all times.

• If a child is missing, check the pool first.

• Share safety instructions with family, friends and neighbors.

LEARN AND PRACTICE WATER SAFETY SKILLS

• Learn to swim and make sure

Live Like a Local Respect Wildlife

Blue heron

Please dispose of plastic bags; they can choke me!

Anna Maria Island Sun Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring

HAVE THE APPROPRIATE EQUIPMENT

Vacation tips for the perfect trip The Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce has the following tips for the perfect Island visit: • Be diligent about the use of sunscreen and reapply often. The sun is fantastic but can be very intense; nobody wants to miss a single vacation day because of a sunburn!

• Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! The combination of sun, Gulf breezes and beach activity can dehydrate you very quickly. Bring plenty of water and please consider using refillable water bottles. Less plastic is fantastic!

• Each year, sea turtles arrive to lay their eggs. Digging holes in the sand is a lot of fun but please remember to fill the holes in before you leave the beach for the day. Our turtles’ lives depend on it. Sadly, hatchlings often fall into the holes left behind and are unable to climb out.

• Beach chairs, check; umbrella or tent, check; cooler, check; games, towels, toys, check. A lot of stuff to carry to the beach, right? We get it, but please note that we have a city ordinance against leaving anything on the beach overnight, including your trash. Female sea turtles can become entrapped in items left on the beach or may even choose not to dig a nest because of obstacles. we really do love our turtles!

• While it does seem like fun to throw food and watch the gulls go into a “feeding frenzy,” it is never a good idea.

Not only is this bad for the gulls due to lack of nutrition for them, it also causes them to become dependent on humans for food. They become more aggressive and have been known to grab food out of someone’s hand or even their mouth! Once the gulls and crows start growing in numbers in order to get a free meal, they start to invade the nests of other, more delicate bird species and will become more prone to disease because of the increase in their population. Chasing the birds seems like fun too, but if they start to feel harassed or threatened, they won’t lay eggs here anymore. The shorebirds are such a beautiful addition to our beaches, let’s appreciate them from a distance. They are a joy to watch!

• Because our island is a designated turtle nesting and shorebird sanctuary, we do not allow dogs on the beaches on Anna Maria Island. The only exception is for licensed service dogs, not therapy or emotional support animals.

24

www.amisun.com

THE SUN

JULY 20, 2022

Slicker, Rotary continue Ukraine fundraising After the Concert for Peace raised more than $50,000 for the people of Ukraine, Bob Slicker and the Rotary Club of Anna Maria Island are making plans to continue the effort.

BY JASON SCHAFFER SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com

CORTEZ - A partnership between Slicker’s Eatery owner Bob Slicker and the Rotary Club of Anna Maria Island to raise money to buy supplies for the people of Ukraine will continue into the foreseeable future.

The two joined forces after Rotary Club members had a meeting at Slicker’s Eatery and began to discuss ways of helping people affected by a war none of them ever wanted, but have no choice but to live through.

“I knew that if we didn’t do something, the news would stop showing it,” he said. “If you ask people around here today, they say they have to turn it off because it’s so hard to watch because they don’t know what they can do or how to help. For three weeks I prayed about how I could help like we do here after a hurricane.”

Slicker’s prayers were answered when he learned

the club had Rotary partners close to the war zone in both Poland and Ukraine that could not only assist with moving the funds raised, but also physically transport purchased supplies directly into Ukraine where they are needed most.

“When you try to help people, you always wonder where the money is going,” he said.

“The Rotary is very transparent and very reputable; every 'i' is dotted and 't' is crossed.”

Some of the efforts of the Polish Rotarians assisting the AMI chapter include creating a make-shift hospital, setting up a refugee center for families, making much-needed supply runs, and purchasing washers,

JASON SCHAFFER | SUN

Bob Slicker addresses the Rotary Club of Anna Maria Island during a July 12 meeting at his restaurant, Slicker’s Eatery, in Cortez. dryers and refrigerators.

“We visited flats where they have as many as seven people living in one apartment and they are allowed one shelf per

flat in the communal refrigerators,” Slicker said. “Imagine having only one shelf in a SEE UKRAINE, PAGE 25

JULY 20, 2022

www.amisun.com

THE SUN

25

UKRAINE: Fundraising continues FROM PAGE 24

fridge for an entire large family, but they are very grateful to even have that. We want to buy more fridges, more washers and dryers. We have a lot more to do.”

As he addressed the July 12 Rotary meeting, Slicker showed pictures he took on a recent trip to Poland and Ukraine, allowing everyone in attendance to see the people affected by the war and how it has changed their lives.

Slicker said he asked just about everybody he spoke to the same questions, including whether or not they thought this war would actually happen or if it was just a show of strength by Putin that would not escalate into war.

“So many people had the same answer to that question,” he said. “We never thought he was crazy enough to go through with it.”

The Concert for Peace event held on the Island on June 12 raised over $50,000 for the Campaign for Ukraine.

Shortly after that event, the members of the AMI Rotary Club sent $5,000 to benefit Ukrainians, which was matched by a Rotary District in New Hampshire (7870) for a total of $10,000.

The Rotary Club of AMI and Slicker's Eatery partnership has also released an additional $10,000 to President Wojtek Jankowski of the Rotary Club of Czestochowa, Poland. The clubs communicate regularly with those on the ground internationally and on the front lines using WhatsApp. At the close of his presentation to the club members, Slicker announced the next event, a pub crawl through Cortez.

The event is planned to include a trolley ride to four local bars, Clancy’s, R.J. Gators, Slicker’s Eatery and Piano 88. The bar crawl is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 13 from 1-5 p.m. Each pub will also have a gift basket to be raffled with funds also going to the Ukraine relief effort. Raffle tickets can be purchased any time before the event at each location. Event tickets are $75, with at least $45 of each purchase going directly to the Rotary’s Ukraine fundraising efforts after expenses. For ticket information, call Debbie at 941704-3294. Slicker hopes the event will raise around $12,000.

Another Concert for Peace is also being planned for this fall.

2017,2019,2020,2021,2022

Voted Favorite: Live Music, Night Spot, Takeout, Grill and Burger

26

THE SUN

REAL ESTATE

JULY 20, 2022

Adjustable rate mortgages right for some L ess than a month ago, around the middle of July, I reported that the 30-year fixed rate mortgage loan interest rate was nearing 6%. It never went over 6%, but instead started dropping back down.

As of July 15, the average 30-year fixed rate according to Forbes was 5.86% and the average 15-year fixed rate was 4.97%. It may not appear to be a big difference in interest rates, but when you convert it into actual money at the elevated prices of homes, it makes a difference.

The typical U.S. family will spend an additional $400 on their mortgage payment each month than they would have in January, according to the Federal Reserve Bank. It could be the difference between qualifying for a mortgage, not qualifying or looking for a less expensive property, either way, the average prospective homeowner is affected by the

Castles in the Sand

LOUISE BOLGER rate fluctuation and is likely watching the daily activity closely.

To help fill the gap for some borrowers, the interest rates of adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs) are increasing. The Mortgage Bankers Association indicated there was a 3% increase in people applying for ARMs since January.

The popularity of the adjustable rate mortgage peaked in 2009, helping to create the financial crisis.

This was because ARMs carry a lower interest rate than fixed-rate mortgages at the beginning of the loan, then they adjust at regular

intervals based on one of several indexes. This allowed lenders to make loans with ultralow teaser rates to subprime borrowers who, when the rates went up, could not afford the new payment and ultimately let their houses be foreclosed.

Although ARMs certainly have their place in the real estate world, we don’t want to go back to those years. It can be a good option as fixed rates increase to help buyers qualify for a mortgage with the hope of being able to refinance at a later time if the rates go down. The risk in this is the temptation to buy too much house that will end up being too expensive down the road. This was part of the fallout of the financial crisis.

It’s also a good option for buyers who may not plan on owning the property long-term or who are confident their income will increase

enough to keep up with mortgage rates as they adjust. The calculation is whether the monthly payment savings with an adjustablerate mortgage is worth the risk of increased rates.

Don’t let someone talk you into this just because you are crazy anxious to get into a home. Understand the complications and risks associated with an ARM, do the math and avoid being enticed by pricey upgrades just because you realize you will actually qualify for them.

On July 26, the Federal Reserve has its next meeting and it is rumored that the prime rate will increase by 0.75% again this month.

My guess is a couple of months from now, buyers may be wishing they can get a 6% rate.

So, we’ll wait and see what effect, if any, that has on the daily rates.

www.amisun.com

JULY 20, 2022

THE SUN

27

WILDLIFE: Hello owls, goodbye rats FROM PAGE 1

“The person who had called us was a golf pro there, an Australian man who knew what the eagle meant to the United States,” Carpenter said.

Describing the female bird as huge and beautiful, Carpenter knew right away that something was very wrong.

“She put up a little fight but it wasn’t what it should be,” she said. “I noticed there were tented homes nearby and I thought, ‘They use poison.’ The eagle was treated for poisoning but she suc-

cumbed that same day.”

Carpenter described the eagle’s death as miserable and painful. It was caused by ingesting high levels of rat poison.

“Rat poison is basically a blood thinner and causes a slow, painful explosion of organs,” she said. “A rat will go out looking for water after ingesting the poison and in this case that American eagle ate the rat.”

Carpenter said she is not anti-extermination but urged people to try an alternative path with owls, something

she said has been used for years in California wineries as a natural pest control technique.

According to the Wildlife Inc. Facebook page, “Bait boxes filled with what killed the American eagle are put out to control rodents. If an owl box had been put out instead, this American eagle would be alive today. A common barn owl eats three to four rats a night.”

“Of course, the person who put the bait box out didn’t expect the eagle to die,” Carpenter said. “All I’m saying is

think before you take the easy path.

You never know what you’re going to kill.”

Bradenton Beach-based Wildlife Inc. is a non-profit wildlife rescue and rehabilitation organization that is home to a wide assortment of sick, injured or orphaned native wildlife, some of which will be eventually released, as well as to animals who are non-releasable and have found a permanent home there.

For more information, visit www.

WildifeInc.org.

MEETING: Paid parking discussed FROM PAGE 4

OTHER BUDGET MATTERS

As is the case each year, the city’s largest expenses are employee salaries, benefits and retirement fund contributions. City Clerk Terri Sanclemente told the commission that due to budget constraints, she and the other department heads are requesting a 6% cost of living adjustment (COLA) increase for all city employees but are not requesting any additional salary increases.

The police department budget includes enough money to hire one more officer at an approximate cost of $100,000, including the officer’s annual salary and employee benefits.

According to Thompson, the city has received to date $320,296 in American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds from the federal government and expects to receive an additional $320,296 before the current fiscal year ends.

The ARP fund expenditures included in the 2022-23 fiscal year budget allocate

$37,000 for the public works department to buy a new pickup truck and a new GEM cart, $88,000 for two new police vehicles, $20,000 for a Polaris-like ATV to be shared by code enforcement and the police department for beach patrols and $66,600 for server upgrades for the city and police department computer systems.

The budget remains a work in progress and will be finalized and adopted during two public hearings in September.

28

www.amisun.com

THE SUN

JULY 20, 2022

Perico Bay Club—As Good As It Gets!!

CINDY LANE | SUN

Help clean up Greer Island Come out to Greer Island and help members of the Surfrider Foundation Suncoast Chapter clean up trash, litter and other debris. The cleanup is on Saturday, July 30 at 8 a.m. at 100 N. Shore Road on Longboat Key, with volunteers spreading along the beach at Greer Island, also known as Beer Can Island. No reservations are necessary, just come volunteer to help make local beaches a better place. For more information, call William Romberger at 941-504-7821.

Learn to build, program a robot

Play volleyball at The Center

A new technology camp is coming to The Center of Anna Maria Island as mBot robot camp kicks off this month. During the camp, kids entering third grade through fifth grade will learn how to code and teach robots how to work and play, competing against other campers in games and races. While The Center will supply the robots, each camper is required to bring their own smartphone or tablet.

Robot camp runs Monday, July 25 through Thursday, July 28 from 9 a.m. to noon.

The cost is $165 for members or $190 for non-members with reduced fees available for anyone who qualifies. The deadline to register is July 21. Campers can register online at www.centerami.org, by calling 941-778-1908 or at The Center at 407 Magnolia Ave. in Anna Maria.

Learn to bump, set and spike at The Center of Anna Maria Island’s volleyball camp. This skill-building camp is open to kids entering fifth grade through ninth grade of all skill and experience levels. Camp runs Monday, July 25 through Thursday, July 28 from 4-6 p.m. Camp will be held at The Center’s campus at 407 Magnolia Ave. in Anna Maria. The cost is $100 for members of The Center or $125 for non-members with reduced fees available for those who qualify. The deadline to register is July 21. To sign up, visit www.centerami.org, call The Center’s staff at 941-778-1908 or email customerservice@centerami.org.

Business As Usual…..Just A Li le Differently.

If you’re looking to buy or sell in Perico Bay Club, or know someone who is, please give me a call!

Give me a call today if you yo ou u’re ’re e lookin looking ngg to Buyy or Sell on Anna Maria Maria Island Mari Islaand or the surrounding ounding ngg aarea! rea eaaa!!

Lynn Zemmer 941 4141 1-730 3030 0-1294 9 94

941.209.1542 I Lynn@Edgewaterami.com 941.730.1294 | Lynn@Edgewaterami.com www.EdgewaterRealEstateInc.com www.EdgewaterRealEstateInc.com 106 Bridge Street, Bradenton Beach, FL 34217

www.amisun.com

JULY 20, 2022

THE SUN

29

ANNE YARBROUGH | SUN

Summer puddles It’s summertime, and the puddles are forming at the Pines Trailer Park in Bradenton Beach and elsewhere on Anna Maria Island; this downpour was on July 14.

HOLMES BEACH 619 Key Royale Drive Laurie Mock

$2,995,000 941.232.3665

PALMA SOLA POINTE

LONGBOAT KEY VILLAGE

9804 2nd Terrace NW $3,850,000 Amy Royall 941.807.2863

6821 Hughes Street $2,999,000 Jayne Kocher 941.915.6000

COUNTRY CLUB HEIGHTS

SPANISH MAIN YACHT CLUB

1606 42nd Street West $925,000 Nathan Mathers 941.720.0408

583 Spanish Drive South $895,000 Kimberly Freiwald 941.256.6775

your home has never been

VENICE | 941.412.3323

$1,100,000 941.780.2912

Vi ew a r e a l i st i n g s

Contact us for a confidential consultation PremierSothebysRealty.com

WORTH MORE

SARASOTA - DOWNTOWN | 941.364.4000

HOLMES BEACH 6321 Gulf Drive Clint Kasten

LAKEWOOD RANCH | 941.907.9541

LONGBOAT KEY | 941.383.2500

RENTALS | 941.203.3433

Sotheby’s International Realty® and the Sotheby’s International Realty logo are registered service marks used with permission. Each office is independently owned and operated. Equal Housing Opportunity.

Property information herein is derived from various sources including, but not limited to, county records and multiple listing services, and may include approximations. All information is deemed accurate.

30

www.amisun.com

THE SUN

BEACH BEAT HOLMES BEACH

7/5, 11:48 a.m., criminal mischief, 600 Manatee Ave. A witness reported a man driving through the parking lot at West Bay Cove. The unknown male was seen on security footage pushing the security gate arm up until it broke. The security footage was booked into evidence but no suspect was found.

7/8, 8:48 a.m., suspicious circumstances, 120 50th St. The officer was dispatched in reference to a property owner who said his turf front yard had been spray painted. He was able to clean most of the paint off, but thought it may be the city or county. The officer checked with officials and it was determined that neither the city nor

the county painted the yard.

The responsible party remains unknown.

7/9, 12:04 a.m., warrant - contempt of court, 5503 Marina Drive. The officer was informed about a suspect at the listed address that had multiple warrants. The suspect was picked up and transported to a Manatee County Sheriff’s Office deputy in Bradenton.

Upon arrival, the man became uncooperative and as the officers switched handcuffs, he began to urinate on a patrol car. Once placed in the vehicle, he started kicking the partition until the sliding window to the front of the car came open.

The officer called for backup and the man eventually calmed down after the officer told him he would be tased if he didn’t comply. The suspect was eventually booked into the Manatee County Jail.

OBITUARIES Wendell Hall Wendell Hall was born May 8, 1929 in Detroit, Michigan to Arthur and Emma (Eick) Hall.

He was a graduate of Clarenceville High School and served in the U.S. Air Force in Japan after World War II, where he became a sergeant, specializing in weather.

Upon his return to Farmington, Michigan, the eager-to-learn Wendell attended several institutions of higher learning and became a teacher. He first married Joan Mackie and had two children, Timothy Hall and Susan (Hall) Hoelseggen, and later married his life partner Kathleen O'Shea, who he assisted in her significant career at Detroit Edison.

Wendell and Kitty took care of Kitty's brother, Joseph, who struggled in bearing the lifetime marks of his service in Vietnam, and also together adroitly managed

JULY 20, 2022

a number of properties in Detroit for a number of years.

Upon retirement they moved to Florida, settling into the Perico Bay Club gated community which they enjoyed for many years and in which Kitty found a dear friend, Kathy (Deeder) Yanity, who cared for Wendell in his later years on behalf of Kitty.

During his retirement years in Florida, Wendell enjoyed studying the Bible under the tutelage of TV teacher Les Feldick.

Two years ago, Wendell and Kitty moved into Freedom Village, where she expired nearly two years prior to Wendell during COVID-19 when funeral services were not possible. Kitty is survived by her sister, Nancy Constantino, of Fenton, Michigan; her daughter, AnnMarie Scharfand; and her son, Michael.

Wendell died on July 6, 2022, and is survived by his brother, Douglas, and his wife, Judy, and their children, Rebecca and Kenneth; his son, Tim, and his children, Kristen, Anthony, and Melissa; and his daughter, Sue, and her daughter, Marla.

www.amisun.com

JULY 20, 2022

THE SUN

31

PARKING: Commission approves Chiles Group’s paid parking FROM PAGE 1

COMMISSION DISCUSSION

During Thursday’s meeting, Commissioner Jon Crane said, “This is gonna be the first time we’re going to have a paid parking lot in the heart of the city. I would have liked a more full-throated debate focused generally on whether we want paid parking in our city, rather than a site plan amendment that kind of makes that a side-door issue. Having said that, I’ve got no objection to this particular site plan amendment.”

Commission Chair Carol Carter asked Crane if he wanted the commission to discuss paid parking in general at a future meeting.

“No, I think once the camel gets his nose under the flap of the tent it’s over,” Crane said. “If we allow paid parking on a piece of private property in the ROR district it’s going to be harder to deny it and there are a lot of properties that might be affected. I think we’ve already kind of made the decision if we approve this site plan amendment.”

Regarding other properties being used for paid public parking, Minor said those properties would have to meet and maintain their city-imposed parking requirements before offering any additional paid parking to the public.

“I think they would be far and few between,” Minor said. “This one is unique in that they’re able to serve the needs of their

property and they have an excess of parking spaces. If they did not meet the parking standards for the Sandbar itself, I wouldn’t be in front of you today.”

maintain the required number of parking spaces, the paid parking lot would become non-compliant with the city code.

PUBLIC INPUT

Public input from city resident and Roser Memorial Community Church trustee Dan Devine triggered additional discussion regarding the past, current and future use of the church parking lots for paid parking.

“We’ve got records going back 12 years documenting paid parking at our church.

We have four lots that are ROR. I see no reason why (Ed) Chiles should not be able to use his lots for paid parking as long as he’s meeting his regulations. Paid parking is one of two options. The second option is for the city to buy property to provide public parking,” Devine said.

In February, the city commission adopted revisions to the city’s off-site parking requirements. At that time, it was noted the church has parking agreements with several nearby businesses that use the church parking lot.

Roser trustee Dave Cheshire told the commission those parking agreements are based on donations from each business rather than a specific fee sought by the church.

“I was told by one of your trustees just a few months ago that you were not offering paid parking, that you were taking donations. If you’re offering paid parking that’s a change of use,” Murphy told Devine.

During public input, city resident Kris Wisniewski noted the Sandbar is required to have 129 parking spaces and with one parking lot now being used for paid parking still has 161 parking spaces for its patrons.

“Year-round, this seems like a pure money-making parking lot. Only during season would you get close to using that,” Wisniewski said.

Commissioner Deanie Sebring said, “I’m excited they decided to have paid parking and have it available for people that want to come to the beach. Everybody knows I would like to get rid of parallel parking on Pine and it would be wonderful if these people could park there.”

“This is a practical way to solve a huge problem we have on the Island, which is parking,” Chiles Group representative Brooks O’Hara said.

“Now we can provide 28 additional parking spots. It just makes too much sense,” Commissioner Mark Short said.

“It’s a good thing. It just has to be done right,” Mayor Dan Murphy added.

Minor said if the restaurant fails to

ROSER PARKING

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

The parking fee is $5 an hour or $30 for eight hours.

“No, it’s a grandfathered, legal, nonconforming situation,” Devine responded.

“We are grandfathered in and it becomes a taking if you deny it. We have the same rights. I believe Chiles has every right to rent his parking spots and I feel the church has no problem with that as well.”

“Dave Cheshire came here and said it was not operating a paid parking lot, and he’s a representative of the church,” Murphy replied. “I specifically asked him if Roser is offering paid parking and the answer was ‘no we are not.’ There’s nothing grandfathered.”

Minor said city staff is not aware of the Roser parking lot being used for paid parking. He said the church has to first meet its own parking requirements but would have the same right to use its excess parking spaces for paid parking.

32

THE SUN

SPORTS

JULY 20, 2022

Progressive Cabinetry still unbeatable

BY MONICA SIMPSON SPECIAL TO THE SUN

ANNA MARIA – With only one regular season game left to play in the youth indoor soccer season at The Center of Anna Maria Island, three teams are standing out in the rankings.

After a scrimmage game due to a forfeit by the U9 Bridgetender Inn squad, team Blalock Walters shares the top of the ranks with Ugly Grouper and Solid Rock Construction.

Scoring the only goal for Bridgetender Inn, Paul ten Haaf played hard despite not having the support of all of his teammates.

Gavin Angel and Parker Svoboda had two goals in the match-up with solo goals by Evita Moyer and Camden Rudacille.

In the second U9 game of the night, Silas Whitehead shot the only goal for Ugly Grouper in their 3-1 loss against Solid Rock Construction. Two goals by Aidan Guess and a single by Mckenna Darak gave the Solid Rock team the win they needed to be in the three-way tie for first place.

The U13 league played one game on July 12, with Moss Builders hoping to beat the undefeated Progressive Cabinetry team. With the no mercy rule in place in the league, the Progressive team easily won their fifth game 9-1, despite heart-filled play by the entire Moss Builders team.

Mason Moss put Moss Builders on the scoreboard with a solo goal.

Scoring on the Progressive side of the indoor pitch was a team effort as the entire roster put points up.

MONICA SIMPSON | SUN

Blalock Walters’ striker, Cale Rudacille, prepares to send the indoor soccer ball on July 12 at The Center.

Barrett Raina led the scoring for the entire night with four goals. Alonso Valle also got the soccer ball past the goalie-less defense of Progressive Cabinetry.

Ethan Angel, Mattox Caseman and Wyatt Jackson each put an additional point into the record books for team Progressive Cabinetry in the last game of the night.

With the playoffs starting the week of July 18, the championship games are around the corner.

Solid Rock Construction (3-2-0) Ugly Grouper (3-2-0)

SUN SCOREBOARD JULY 12 YOUTH INDOOR SOCCER - U9

Shady Lady (1-3-0) Freckled Fin (1-3-0)

Game rescheduled

Blalock Walters (3-2-0) Win by forfeit Bridgetender Inn (1-4-0) L

3 1

U13

Progressive Cabinetry (5-0-0) Moss Builders (2-3-0)

9 1

JULY 20, 2022

FUN IN THE SUN

Across 1 Toon frames 5 Honking birds 10 U.S. state that hosted the 2002 Winter Olympics 14 Declare openly 15 Comparable to a beet 16 Prefix with physics 17 Like collectible coins 18 Coen Brothers' "Best Original" Oscar-winning output for "Fargo" 20 Roll with the punches 22 Egypt's Mubarak 23 Before, to a bard 24 Weather warning on your cellphone, e.g.

26 Lukewarm 28 Detroit labor gp.

29 Amtrak express 31 Add, as to a list 35 To's counterpart 36 "__ girl!": encouraging Answers to 07-13-22 Crossword Puzzle.

words 39 Informal name for the classic painting "Arrangement in Grey and Black No. 1" 42 Ships' records 43 Yalie 44 Like favorite car radio stations 45 Ibsen's "__ Gabler" 47 Actor Stephen 48 Siri counterpart 50 Sleight-of-hand swindle 56 Green expanse 57 Greek i's 59 Shipwreck site 60 Say "See you mañana," e.g. ... and a hint to each set of circles 63 Rice-like pasta 64 Small bills 65 Freeze over 66 Resign, with "down"

THE SUN

33

67 Senator's helper 68 Mississippi quartet 69 Stun with a zapper Down 1 Diamond weight 2 Sidestep 3 "I speak for the trees" Seuss character 4 Won every game 5 Fuel from a pump 6 Abstain from 7 There's one in "beleive" 8 Reel from a bang on the head 9 Biblical garden 10 Strike caller 11 Mind readers 12 Gaming brand since 1972 13 Cut and collected in bales 19 After-dark period, in ads 21 Tease 25 Served, as soup 27 Delight to the max 30 Force, as to do something 31 Boring tool 32 Vietnamese soup 33 Stubborn in a porcine way 34 Southeast England county 35 Thu. follower 37 Golf driving aid

38 Part of MoMA 40 Stretchy things 41 Grad school grillings 46 Speaker's stand 47 Save 48 Big name in foil

49 "Madam Secretary" star Téa 51 Despises 52 Halloween sheet wearer 53 Big blood vessel

54 Lab rats' challenges 55 Say "I do" without the ado 58 Bruise, to a tot 61 Opposite of WNW 62 Some PCs

34

THE SUN

CLASSIFIED

ANNOUNCEMENTS

ESTATE SALE

BEACH YOGA ON Wednesdays, Saturdays & Sundays at 8:30am at the end of Pine Ave by the Sandbar Restaurant by donation. Classes on Tuesdays & Fridays at 8:30 at 100 Broadway St. on LBK. www.thriveyogafit.com

ESTATE SALE SATURDAY July 23, 9:30-3. 7807 18th Ave NORTH WEST, Bradenton 34209. Tommy Bahama queen bed set, chaise, Bombay chest, 2 screens, fire place, Knoll chair, approximately 25 Lladros, black leather chaise, paintings & prints including Thorten Utz and Robin Hill water colors, Murphy bed sofa, double incliners, Dolphin glass top coffee and end tables, metal art, bikes, wheel chair, some tools, kitchen ware, collectables, clothing, custom jewelry. Lots more.

See pics at estatesales.net.

Sale conducted by Palma Sola Sales. Numbers given out at 8am.

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.

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 at 941-779-1208, between 10-3, Tues. -Fri. only.

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 941-7564570 or 941-565-3931

EMPLOYMENT The award-winning ANNA MARIA ISLAND SUN, a weekly newspaper on Florida’s Gulf Coast, is looking for a freelance reporter/photographer to cover events on this tourism-driven island.

The ideal candidate will have reporting and photography experience at a community newspaper and have some experience writing for a news website. Local residents or those with previous local knowledge and willing to relocate here a plus. Resumes and cover letters may be mailed to The Anna Maria Island Sun, P.O Box 1189, Anna Maria, FL 34216, Attention: Mike Field, publisher.

Call us today! 941-778-3986

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

FOR SALE 20 " ADULT FOLDABLE TRICYCLE - Gray color Cost new - over $300 Looks like new $150 Call 941-524-4760 TOPPER FOR F150 Long bed. $100 or Best Offer.

Call 941-705-7560.

HOME IMPROVEMENTS TILE! TILE! TILE! All variations of tile supplied and installed. Quality workmanship. Prompt, reliable, many Island references. Free estimates.

Neil 941-726-3077 RENOVATION SPECALIST ALL carpentry repairs, Wash Family Construction, locally owned and operated CBC 1258250 Call 941-7250073.

KERN CONSTRUCTION NEW Homes & Remodel.

Design/Build. Since 1968.

License # CBC 1261150.

Call Mike Kern 941-7781115 GET’R DONE DRYWALL, INC Specializing in Remodels & Repairs. Island Resident for 18 years. Call Neil Cell 941-962-1194

AMISUN.COM

JSAN CORPORATION Renovations Construction & Handyman Services 941-243-0995 Lic# CRC1332505 jsancorporation@gmail. com Flooring, Drywall, Painting, Repairs, Kitchen and Bathrooms, Trim & Doors.

Free Estimates. Credit Cards Accepted.

API’S DRYWALL REPAIR 15+ years experience.

Free estimates. No job too small. Love to help you.

Call 941-524-8067.

ISLE TILE specializing in Custom Bath/Shower & Backsplash installation.

Pressure washing available.

Call 941-302-8759 isletileservices.com “HAMMERED HOMES” (SAVING HOMES SINCE 1984) Handyman services, renovations. Free Estimates & Consulting. Call before making decision, save money.

941-778-3206

HOME SERVICES CONCRETE FUSION, CRACK REPAIR sidewalks/ driveways. Why fix 95% of concrete when only 5% bad? Number 1 in concrete repair. Insured.

Free estimate. Call Bobby 941-374-7670.

LANDSCAPING & LAWN CARE R. GAROFALO’S Interlocking brick pavers, driveways, patios, pool decks. Free estimates. Licensed & Insured.

Call Rafael 941-778-4823 or Veronik 941-526-7941 ISLAND RESIDENT. TREE/ BUSH Trimming, removal.

Sweeping, blowing, weeding. Weekly, bi-monthly or monthly schedule. Pressure washing. Call Bill Witaszek 941-307-9315.

SHELL DRIVEWAYS & LANDSCAPE. Specializing in Old Florida Seashell driveways and scapes. Also Rock, Mulch, & Soil. Free estimates. Call Shark Mark 941-301-6067

MASSAGE MASSAGE BY VINNIE Swedish Deep Tissue And More By Appointment Only Call 773-383-0463 Vinnie LMT,CMCE

JULY 20, 2022

MOVING & STORAGE MARTIN’S MOVING YOUR Island movers! Offering dependable, competitive rates. No hidden costs. 941-809-5777.

PAINTING & WALLCOVERING PAINT! PAINT! AND MORE 28 years of experienced interior/exterior custom painting. Pressure cleaning, drywall repairs and texture finishes. Many Island references. Please call Neil for free estimates.

941-812-0507 “WIZARD OF WALLS” Established 1980 Prompt quality service.

Paperhanging/removal Faux finishes. Interior painting. Mary Bell Winegarden 941-794-0455 PROFESSIONAL PAINTING SERVICES. Prompt & Reliable. Island Resident.

Quality Workmanship.

Interior/Exterior. Also minor repairs & carpentry. Free written detailed estimates. Bill Witaszek 941-307-9315

DONALD PERKINS ABRACADABRA PAINTING LLC fully insured. 30 years experience. Many Island references. Call 941-705-7096

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

REAL ESTATE HOMES & CONDOS FOR SALE Have you been thinking of selling? We NEED properties to List for SALE!!! GULF FRONT, CANAL FRONT, BAY FRONT CONDOS or HOMES ASK for BIG Alan Galletto of Island Real Estate to get it SOLD 941-232-2216 LOOKING FOR A highly motivated real estate broker to buy or sell your next home? Darcie Duncan, Broker Duncan Real Estate a lifelong island resident bringing success to her customers for 30 years. Proven track record brings you results! 941-725-1589

REALTOR FOR HIRE. BUYING OR SELLING on AMI? 17 years experience & USAF Veteran.

Call Kelly Gitt Keller Williams Realty today 941-799-9299.

POOL SERVICES

RENTALS: ANNUAL

FOUR SEASONS POOL SERVICE AND CHEMICAL SERVICES. Certified Pool Operator. 10 + Years Experience.

Residential/commercial. Chemical Service Licensed & Insured. Call Dennis Clark 941-7375657

ANNUAL RENTALS WANTED! We have well qualified tenants for beach and mainland annual rentals, Full management or Finders fee.

Call today for details.

Ask for Paige DUNCAN REAL ESTATE 513-3821992.

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

ANNUAL RENTAL IN GATED HARBOUR LANDINGS, 4118 Osprey Harbour Loop, less than 1 mile from gulf sand just across Cortez causeway.

1900+ sq ft 2BR/2BA, screened lanai upper level, with elevator. Full non-conforming 1900 sq ft ground level, currently used with 2 additional BRs, finished storage, with split air units, 3 cars in garage. Rented as furnished. Total living space is more than 3,500 sq ft.

New upscale appliances.

Well maintained, white cabinets, black granite countertops. Photos on line from previous sale do not show latest construction updates.

Call Nelson at 303-9684321 to get more info.

Requires background check, deposit. Offered at $4,000 per month, minimum 12 month lease

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 941201-2190 ANNA MARIA ISLAND CONDO SUMMER SPECIAL Large pool, beach access, furnished, WIFI, 1BR 6 month lease. $1900/mo.

All utilities included. redekercondosonami.com Tim 941-704-7525

TRANSPORTATION AMI TAXI credit cards, cash, venmo accepted. Airport: Tampa $105, Sarasota $50, St. Pete/Clearwater $105, Orlando $220. Call 941-447-8372 or 941-4478376. amitaxi4u@gmail. com, www.amitaxi.com ANYTIME TRANSPORTATION to all Airports, Casino, etc. Tampa/St. Pete $80.

Sarasota $40. Pets welcome. Very dependable.

Reasonable rates. Contact Jeanne. 941-779-5095

www.amisun.com

JULY 20, 2022

BUSINESS & SERVICE DIRECTORY HOME IMPROVEMENT

HOME IMPROVEMENT

THE SUN

35

Call today to place your ad: 941-778-3986 PAINTING

TRANSPORTATION

36

www.amisun.com

THE SUN

JULY 20, 2022

the Team Duncan Difference! ✔ Local-Area Expertise ✔ Outstanding Customer C t Service S i ✔ Experienced Professionals ✔ Proven Performance

Darcie Duncan Broker - Owner

Cindy Jones Sales Associate

Michelle Laade Sales Associate

April Green Martha Jones Robel Sales Associate Sales Associate

Robyn Hawk Paige Rogers Joey Hutchinson Katie Self Sales Associate Sales Associate Sales Associate Sales Associate

Nancy Howle Sales Associate

William Romberger Sales Associate

Lindsey Leech Strickland Mary Anne Muniz Sales Associate Sales Associate

Ben Bryant Sales Associate

Andrea Miller Sales Associate

Home & Condominium Sales • Investment Properties • Vacation Rentals

310 Pine Avenue Anna Maria, FL 34216

TeamDuncan.com

941.779.0304