Anna Maria Island Sun July 26, 2017

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VOL 17 No. 41

July 26, 2017

Bye bye, Baby Snoots

BY CINDY LANE SUN STAFF WRITER | clane@amisun.com

SUBMITTED

Above, Snooty posing on the side of his pool; left, a young Snooty in 1949; right, Snooty having a leisurely swim.

BRADENTON – Manatee County’s official mascot, Snooty the manatee, drowned on Sunday, July 23, a day after his 69th birthday party at the Parker Aquarium at the South Florida Museum.

The air-breathing marine mammal apparently swam through an open access panel that is normally bolted shut at all four corners and became trapped in a small area used to access the aquarium’s life support system equipment, according to museum officials.

The 30-inch by 30-inch panel is on an aquarium wall underneath a four-footdeep ledge in the aquarium that was designed for Snooty’s comfort at the same depth as his original four-foot-deep pool, said Jeff Rodgers, museum provost and COO, at a press conference. see snooty, page 21

CINDY LANE | SUN

SUBMITTED

Eliza Ann off to the turtle races

BY CINDY LANE SUN STAFF WRITER | clane@amisun.com

Eliza Ann is warmed up and ready to race beginning Aug. 1 in the Sea Turtle Conservancy’s Tour de Turtle migration marathon.

The race’s object is to gather information on sea turtle migration, including the distance they cover and where they go. Turtles in the race are scored on how many miles they swim during the race period.

Loggerhead Eliza Ann nested on Coquina Beach on Anna Maria Island the night of June 19 and was fitted with

CINDY LANE | SUN

Loggerhead mom Eliza Ann was tagged in Coquina Beach on June 19 and begins racing in the Tour de Turtles migration marathon on Aug. 1. see turtle, page 29

INSIDE NEWS OPINION Sun survey OUTDOORS pet evac. pages restaurants real estate Classified

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Learning the

essentials of fly casting. 20

Anna Maria Island, Florida

The center PRESENTS ITS NEW BUDGET TO THE PUBLIC.

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EAT what the locals eat. In Food &

Wine. 22 The Island’s award-winning weekly newspaper

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JULY 26, 2017

JULY 26, 2017

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Marine Rescue chief hoping for more prevention The Manatee County Board of Commissioners will consider additional lifeguards, towers during budget talks.

BY TOM VAUGHT SUN STAFF WRITER | tvaught@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH – Lifeguards in the towers keep a close eye on what’s happening at Coquina Beach and Manatee County Beach in the water, in the sand and sometimes in the parking lot. They blow their whistles if swimmers go out too far or get too rowdy, and they are always aware of rip currents and incoming thunderstorms.

It used to be a laid back situation, especially after school starts, but as vacationers discovered our beautiful beaches, they filled out the down times, and now it’s full speed ahead on every good beach weather day.

This summer has seen at least two drownings and many rescues and

Manatee County Marine Rescue Chief Joe Westerman hopes the Manatee County Commission will find a way to increase staff and increase the number of lifeguard towers.

“We currently have 14 positions for lifeguards plus a Marine rescue paramedic,” Westerman said. “That’s three less than in 2006, before the economic downturn.

“We are having a hard time filling all the positions,” he added, “Our ranks are so thin, we can’t man the lifeguard stands to 7 p.m. We’re at minimal staffing.”

Westerman said the pay scale is a problem.

“They pay better in Sarasota County and along the beaches on the east coast, and that’s always a problem for us,” he said. “You need to pay more to attract qualified applicants.

Manatee County Commissioner Carol Whitmore took note of an Island Sun poll of readers indicating support for increasing the number of lifeguards and towers, but she said

TOM VAUGHT | SUN

A.J. Nelson and Karen Burkett keep watch at Manatee County Beach. the county budget for next year is $1 million short at this time.

"I might go to Tallahassee to get them to allow using tourist taxes to

pay for public safety," she said. Commisssioner Steve Jonsson indicated he would support more lifeguards too.

Westerman, who has worked the beaches of Manatee County for 29 years, says they need to expand their operations and range. The county is considering expanding the number of towers from eight to 11, with the additional three along Cortez Beach, but they could consider more.

“What if we could put one in at Bayfront Park and maybe some up and down the beaches with flags to warn swimmers of dangerous conditions,” he asked. “We could keep an eye on people from the resorts and it would cut down our response time.”

Westerman said the job of marine rescue is prevention.

“If we avert a bad situation before it happens, we’re doing our job,” he said. “It might not be something we can record, like saving somebody, but we’re doing our job when we don’t have to save anybody.”

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ISLAND NEWS

Visit our website, www.amisun.com.

Scan this code with your smartphone to go there.

Commission qualifying starts soon Ten Island-wide commission seats will be up for grabs during the city elections that will begin with early voting in October.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Qualifying for city commission candidates will begin in mid-to-late August and end Sept. 1 Qualified candidates will have just over a month to campaign before early voting starts in early October. The city elections will conclude Tuesday, Nov. 7. The last day to register to vote is Tuesday, Oct. 10 Candidates in Anna Maria and Bradenton Beach must submit qualifying paperwork and fees in person to the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Office, 600 301 Blvd W, Bradenton.

Holmes Beach candidates must submit their qualifying paperwork and fees in person to City Clerk Stacey Johnston.

Qualifying fees for all three cities must be paid from a campaign checking account. Personal checks and cash will not be accepted.

Anna Maria In Anna Maria, three two-year City Commission terms will be decided. Commissioners Carol Carter, Doug Copeland and Dale Woodland currently hold those seats, and all three are eligible to seek reelection.

The two-week qualifying period for Anna Maria candidates begins at noon on Monday, Aug. 14, and ends at noon on Friday, Aug. 25. Commission candidates must pay a $48 qualifying fee and submit the signatures of 10 registered city voters. They must also sign a candidate’s residency affidavit stating they have been a city resident for at least two years.

For more information, visit www.votemanatee. com, call 941-741-3823 or e-mail info@votemanatee.com.

Bradenton Beach The Bradenton Beach city elections will determine who serves the two-year terms for the commission seats currently held by Mayor Bill Shearon, Ward 3 Commissioner Ralph Cole and Ward 1 Commissioner Jake Spooner. Bradenton Beach is the only Island city with term limits, and all three incumbents are eligible for reelection. see qualifying, page 14

JULY 26, 2017

Center presents budget to the public

The Center’s budget proposal left attendees with some questions, ones that Executive Director Kristen Lessig is eager to address.

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

ANNA MARIA — The 2017-18 fiscal year began for the Center of Anna Maria Island July 1 and a new budget is being released to the public.

During a July 19 public meeting, Center Executive Director Kristen Lessig, Board Chair David Zaccagnino and staff members presented a summarized version of the nonprofit’s proposed budget and business plan for the fiscal year to the community.

Zaccagnino opened the meeting by saying the budget for this fiscal year is based on “realistic expectations” with regards to revenue and expenditures.

“We’re trying to be as transparent as possible,” he said. “We’re trying to work to close the gap. I really think this year we’re going to under-promise and over-deliver.”

Zaccagnino estimated the Center loses about $400,000 per year that needs to be made up with donations and revenue. After cutting costs from the previous year by about $150,000, he said this year’s budget totals $1,102,774 with a plan in place to break even.

The 2016-17 fiscal year closed with a loss of $282,102 after $942,540 in revenue and $1,224,642.73 in total costs.

2017-18 by the numbers

In the new fiscal year, the Center board is relying on previous performance numbers and forecasts for future performance to determine what is realistic to expect in the new fiscal year.

Lessig presented a break-even budget with an estimated net income of $330.28 for the year. Total direct costs are estimated to equal $524,650 with $490,527 in indirect costs and $87,596 in administrative costs. Total income is estimat-

Kristin Swain | Sun

Executive Director Kristen Lessig presents a summary of the proposed 2017-18 fiscal year budget to 26 members of the public July 19 at The Center of Anna Maria Island. ed at $1,103,104.

The budget assumes cost reductions of $66,045 with an additional $160,564 in revenue.

Cost savings were found by eliminating professional development opportunities for staff, saving on staff health benefits, reducing labor and staffing, renegotiating third party contracts and reducing marketing, promotion and professional fees. The budget assumes a cost of living increase for membership and revenue fees along with membership participation increases. A new sliding fee structure also is being imposed for reduced and scholarship fees based on need.

Community questions

Holmes Beach Commissioner Carol Soustek said she was disappointed with the lack of information given in the budget presentation while Manatee County Commissioner Carol Whitmore said she was impressed with the staff and presentation.

“It would be reassuring to see a plan for the future beyond the next 12 months,” Holmes Beach Mayor Bob Johnson said.

Holmes Beach Commissioner Jean Peelen had a few questions for Zaccagnino during the public comment section of the program.

Peelen questioned whether or not it was appropriate for board members to do business with the Center. Her issue came from the

existence of a $100,000 loan note on the exercise equipment donated to the Center by former board member Shawn Kaleta.

Zaccagnino said the note requires the Center to pay one percent of the loan back annually, an amount that Kaleta turns around and donates back to the nonprofit.

Sunshine law and transparency

One question from the community currently haunting the Center is whether or not the organization is subject to Sunshine laws, requiring the nonprofit to maintain the same or similar transparency and open records as the Island city governments.

Zaccagnino said he believes the Center is not subject to Sunshine laws due to the low amount of government funding the nonprofit receives.

“We’re going to have to agree to disagree,” he said to Peelen.

“Sunshine has always been a question,” Lessig said in a July 20 conversation with The Sun. She said the nonprofit does not yet have a written opinion on the matter, something she’s encouraging the board to obtain in the face of public scrutiny and the possible threat of a lawsuit over the release of detailed financial records.

In the meantime, both Zaccagnino and Lessig said the Center is cooperating fully with an audit being conducted by John Chambers on

see center, page 30

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JULY 26, 2017

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Investigation into dune destruction continues

TOM VAUGHT | SUN

Ho, ho, ho!

The Anna Maria Island Privateers celebrated Christmas in July on Bridge Street Saturday evening with drawings, a potluck dinner at the Drift In and an appearance by Santa, who spoke with several children and adults. Santa sat with 7-year-old Luke Ignoffo, who was vacationing the Island from Chicago.

Work at 102 77th St., Holmes Beach, remains at a standstill while seaward environmental destruction is investigated by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

Holmes Beach Building Official Jim McGuinness said the removal of sea grapes, sea oats, dunes and mangroves is still under investigation by supervisors at the DEP. Until the investigation is complete, a stop-work order put in place by McGuinness remains in effect.

The property is owned by Gulf Front Paradise, LLC. McGuinness placed a stop-work order on the address July 7 after it was discovered the area cleared at the western end of the property exceeded the space allowed to be disturbed by a DEP permit.

During a July 13 meeting, Commissioner Carol Soustek commended McGuinness and his staff on their efforts to investigate the environmental destruction.

For his part, McGuinness said he’s staying in contact with DEP representatives throughout the investigation and will provide an update to commissioners when available.

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OPINIOn

The Anna Maria Island Sun newspaper Island Sun Plaza, 9801 Gulf Drive P.O. Box 1189 Anna Maria, FL 34216-1189 Phone: (941) 778-3986 e-mail: news@amisun.com | ads@amisun.com | classifieds@amisun.com

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JULY 26, 2017

Sun staff Publishers Mike Field Maggie Field Editor/CEO Mike Field Layout Ricardo Fonseca Reporters Cindy Lane Tom Vaught Joe Hendricks Kristin Swain Columnists Louise Bolger Outdoors editor Rusty Chinnis Ad director Chantelle Lewin Ad assistants Chris Boniberger Sue Otto Classified ads Bob Alexander Graphics Elaine Stroili Ricardo Fonseca Web/Social media Jocelyn V. Greene Cindy Lane Accounting John Reitz Distribution Bob Alexander Tony McNulty Connor Field Contributors Pat Copeland Steve Borggren Sean Murphy Monica Simpson

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Center concerns On Wednesday, July 19, I attended a meeting at The Center. I am a former commissioner in the city of Anna Maria and have an ongoing interest in what once was called the Community Center. The purpose of the meeting was to present this next year’s budget. Unfortunately, this was not in any way a budget presentation.

The meeting was the same as several others I’ve attended: cheerleading about how wonderful The Center is. Department heads came forward to talk about their wonderful programs. The chair of the Board talked about how committed everyone is, how “we have the right team on the field.” The Center director was about 45 minutes late to the meeting. We were told she was getting “more current numbers” from the accountant.

She brought the “budget presentation.”

It was a vague, unclear description of how money would be saved in the future; which then turned into a sales presentation. Attendees were told if they wanted a closer look at the budget they could make an appointment with the director or board chair.

The worst was the question and answer session. The chair was asked essentially why the new chair of the Board, Patty McBean, was replaced with Mr. Zaccagnino. Note: The former board chair, Bill Shuman, resigned the position. Under The Center bylaws, if the chair resigns, the position will be filled by the vice-chair for the remainder of the chair’s term. Patty McBean was vicechair and became chair automatically.

Please note that all of this activity, a new vote, occurred after Ms. McBean asked, as new chair, for all of the board to see all of The Center’s financial books.

This meeting was a continuation of the disrespect and disregard shown by The Center management and board to the residents of this community. The Center board’s treasurer declared that The Center had been completely transparent – to the point of sharing all information with the city of Anna Maria. It was pointed out that they were not being transparent. They were forced to share the information.

I have not been so disappointed in a group as I am in the management and board of the Center. They have been in

Take The Sun Survey on Page 7. the red for the last 10 years. The current debt is $300,000. They are draining the reserve account. They have no accountability. This needs to stop.

Chris Tollette Cortez, Florida

Thanks to the Center I've been seeing a lot of news about the administrative changes at the Center. My grandson, Rylan, is new at the Center and will be attending fifth grade at Anna Maria Elementary School. I feel so lucky we get to live on an Island with such beauty and that Rylan can be involved with the Center. Everyone has welcomed him with open arms. Rylan wanted to "give back" to the staff with ... of course, a dozen donuts. Thank you Dunk 'n Donuts. And again thank you to the Center. Rylan is having a ball there and can't wait to go back everyday.

Peggy Wetmore AMI

Your thoughts?

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 several ways to doit. Visit our website at www.amisun.com and click on the “contact us” link at the top of the home page. Or, e-mail The Sun directly at news@amisun.com. You can mail a letter to us at The Anna Maria Island Sun, Island Sun Plaza, 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. Letters also may be edited for length and content.

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JULY 26, 2017

THE SUN

on the agenda

the sun survey

PREVIOUS QUESTION: Do you favor the idea of installing shade sails at City Pier Park?

15%

7

22%

Possibly, but I'd like to hear some other suggestions as well.

No, they appear to be way too expensive.

Anna Maria 10005 Gulf Drive.

7/27: City Commission budget work session, 5:30 p.m.

7/27: City Commission meeting, 6 p.m.

8/10: City Commission special meeting, 6 p.m.

8/14: Election qualifying period begins, noon.

8/24: City Commission meeting, 6 p.m.

8/25: Election qualifying period ends, noon.

For information, call 7086130.

Bradenton Beach 107 Gulf Drive N.

63%

Yes. They would make the park more user friendly by providing relief from the heat.

The sun survey is not a scientific poll and is used for entertainment purposes only.

THIS WEEK’S SURVEY Yet another traffic study is being done on AMI. What do you think the recommendations should be for alleviating traffic congestion?

• Include the Island mayors in the process every step of the way in the study.

• Get serious about, and lobby hard for, building a bridge from north Longboat Key to the mainland.

• Invest in a massive park and ride program to bring people to the Island. This would have to include a significant increase in the number of trolleys.

• Make the new Manatee Avenue bridge a toll-bridge with a separate, free-pass lane for Island residents only.

• All of the above.

To vote, go to www.amisun.com or scan this code to vote by smartphone.

LIKE us on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/AnnaMariaIslandSun View The Sun’s online edition at www.issuu.com/AnnaMariaIslandSun

7/26: City Commission special meeting, budget and millage, 10 a.m.

7/26: CRA special meeting, budget and millage, 11 a.m.

For information, call 7781005.

Holmes Beach 5801 Marina Drive.

7/27: Police retirement board meeting, 11:30 a.m.

8/2: Planning Commission meeting, 6 p.m.

8/22: City Commission meeting, 6 p.m.

8/24: City Commission work session, 6 p.m.

8/28: Election qualifying period begins, noon.

9/1: Election qualifying period ends, noon.

For information, call 7085800.

Island-wide

8/17: West Manatee Fire Rescue board, administration building, 6417 Third Ave. W., Bradenton, 6 p.m.

mark your calendar Note: Events are free unless indicated.

Wednesday July 26

Natural history hike, Neal Preserve, 12301 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton, 9 a.m.

Reserve to 941-742-5923, ext. 6039, or melissa.nell@ mymanatee.org.

Roser-Robics chair-based exercise class, Roser Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, 9:30 a.m.

FaceBook and smartphone basics, Aging in Paradise Resource Center, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, second floor, 10:30 a.m., $10. Reserve to 941-3836493 or maryannbrady@ aginginparadise.org Coloring Club, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, noon.

Interactive Lecture Series with Sandy Gilbert and Karen Willey, The Studio at Gulf and Pine, 10101 Gulf Drive, Anna Maria, 1 p.m.

Chess Club, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 4 p.m.

Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce July Business Card Exchange, Pineapple Junktion, 425 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, 5 to 7 p.m., $5 per member or $10 per prospective member.

Thursday July 27

Boomer Boot Camp, Roser

Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, 9:30 a.m. One class, $15; five classes, $65; 10 classes, $100.

End of summer dance party, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m.

Culinary Art: Foraging and Fishing with Erik Walker, The Studio at Gulf and Pine, 10101 Gulf Drive, Anna Maria, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., $75.

Mat pilates for seniors, Aging in Paradise Resource Center, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, second floor, 10 to 10:45 a.m., $10 per class. Reserve to maryannbrady@aginginparadise. org or 941-383-6493.

Jam in the Sand, Anna Maria Island Beach Café, 4000 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, 5 to 8 p.m.

Friday July 28

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

Intermediate bridge session, Aging in Paradise Resource Center, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive, 2nd Floor, Longboat Key, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., $10, includes coffee and cookies. Reserve to maryannbrady@aginginparadise.org or 941-383-6493.

Mahjong, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 1 p.m.

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THE SUN

JULY 26, 2017

Island mayors voice traffic study concerns The Island mayors want more communication with FDOT and Stantec as the Island traffic study continues.

BY KRISTIN SWAIN

SUN STAFF WRITER | kswain@amisun.com

LONGBOAT KEY — The Sarasota/ Manatee Barrier Island Traffic Study is underway, but the Island mayors aren’t happy with how things are being handled.

During the July 19 Coalition of Barrier Island Elected Officials meeting held at Longboat Key Town Hall, Holmes Beach Mayor Bob Johnson said he was unhappy with the direction of the study and lack of communication from the Florida Department of Transportation and Stantec, the contractor conducting the study.

“There’s really no roadmap forward on this study at all,” he said. “The real issue is there’s no communication of the process going on.”

“I have the same concerns,” Bradenton Beach Mayor Bill Shearon said. “Things started out real good, but there’s been nothing since this was awarded to the contractor.”

With the Sarasota/Manatee Metropoli-

tan Planning Organization on a summer hiatus until September and a steering committee meeting not planned until late fall, the mayors said they’re concerned the process will be too far underway to accommodate any changes when the opportunity arises for them to express an opinion.

The steering committee, formed of interested parties including Johnson, was originally tasked with helping develop the scope of work for the study. Now, Johnson said he’s unsure of what the purpose of the committee is and hopes it can be redefined to accommodate the Island mayors wishes for the study.

“We need to make Stantec accountable to the steering committee,” Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy said.

“The important thing is to make contact and re-establish the communication agenda,” Johnson said.

With the first phase of the study complete, the BIEO members agreed to contact David Hutchinson with the MPO and Tricia Labud with FDOT to try to reopen the lines of communication.

The first phase of the study, completed June 15, was to combine the results of 19 previously completed studies on the barrier islands to determine what items warranted more investigation by Stantec.

The results were made available during the BIEO meeting.

Alleviating Traffic Congestion

To alleviate traffic congestion in Bradenton Beach, Stantec’s results memo for Phase 1 of the traffic study recommended looking into increasing the northbound roundabout capacity at Bridge Street and Gulf Drive. Another suggestion was to consider changing the structure of the Cortez Road and Gulf Drive intersection to change the flow of traffic.

The development of park and ride locations at 75th Street and Manatee Avenue along with one at Cortez Road and 75th Street is another suggestion to be investigated during the next phases of the traffic study.

A parking survey also is recommended for Anna Maria Island during peak season in January and February to determine actual parking utilization and needs.

The Island traffic study is planned to coordinate with ongoing alternate transportation studies, including one on the feasibility of introducing water taxi services, to present a cohesive plan when the studies are presented.

The Island traffic study officially kicks off in January, though preliminary data collection for the project is ongoing.

FREE HOME

DELIVERY!

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JULY 26, 2017

SUMMER LECTURE SERIES FEATURING

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DISCOVERING GOD’S

THE SUN

9

BIEO members discuss ongoing projects

SUNDAY, JULY 30 one service

JULY 31•The Passionate Church AUG 1•Discovering God’s Next AUG 2•Activate Health and Healing

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JULY 31 TO AUG 2

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A Non Denominational Christian Church COMMUNITY CHURCH • 512 Pine Ave, Anna Maria [near Pier]

The four island mayors discuss ongoing projects in their cities, including a proposed change to vacation rental legislation and county consolidation for Longboat Key.

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

LONGBOAT KEY — Just because the summer season is winding down, it doesn’t mean that projects are stopping in the Island municipalities.

Members of the Coalition of Barrier Island Elected Officials met July 19 at Longboat Key Town Hall to discuss ongoing projects and issues with the potential to affect other Island communities.

Vacation rental regulations

Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy told the other Island mayors his city’s commission is considering submitting a line of vacation rental regulation for consideration to be added to the current state legislation.

Murphy said the line would allow municipalities to treat vacation rental properties as commercial endeavors by local ordinance. Though the petition is in its early stages, he asked the other mayors to consider presenting it to their respective commissions for support.

According to Murphy, there currently is no state congressional sponsor for the legislation amendment.

Sidewalk alternatives

Bradenton Beach Mayor Bill Shearon is considering using crates-like structures that fit together, called turf pavers, instead of asphalt or concrete which tends to crumble when used on sand. The pavers, which can be filled with sand or other turf materials, can hold up to 2,000 pounds each, according to Shearon. He said the city is considering using them to reinforce handicap parking spaces at beaches, provide a hard surface for people with impaired mobility on the beach side of access points and possibly replace some sidewalks near beaches.

“I’m excited about the possibilities,” Shearon said.

Bradenton Beach Vice-Mayor John Chappie said the installation of turf pavers doesn’t require a permit and may be an environmentally friendly solution for Holmes Beach commissioners to consider when discussing a removable structure to allow for disabled access across the sand to the Gulf of Mexico.

Distribution of TDC funds

Holmes Beach Mayor Bob Johnson said he’s hard at work on an initiative to adjust the distribution of Tourist Development Council funds to give the Island cities more of their fair share.

If approved, the funds would potentially be utilized to help cover the added infrastructure costs of hosting see bieo, page 10

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THE SUN

JULY 26, 2017

bieo: Projects discussed FROM PAGE 9

large amounts of tourists on the barrier islands.

Holmes Beach Commissioner Carol Soustek suggested attempting to add the effort to the city’s lobbyist agenda for the coming legislative session.

“It’s like we’re being penalized for being too nice,” she said.

Longboat Key Mayor Terry Gans said he’s not opposed to lobbying for reform in Tallahassee but also believes significant changes need to be made at the county level.

Chappie, who previously served as a Manatee County commissioner, said while the funds are distributed by the county, the allocation of those funds is made by state mandate.

“It would be nice to open that pocket of money up a little bit,” he said. “There’s lots of money in there.”

Longboat Key Town Manager Dave Bullock said the first step would be to convince the state government and tourist industry to allow the funds to be used for “something other than promotion. Currently, infrastructure is not an allowable expenditure for TDC funds. The second step, he said, would be to get the county commission to amend its ordinances to allow the expenditure.

“It’s not an impossible task,” Bullock said.

Soustek said she’d like to pursue the proj-

ect through the cities’ lobbyists.

“The cities are struggling to support infrastructure,” she said.

From two counties to one

A major project is just beginning to be considered for feasibility in Longboat Key. Gans said up for consideration by the city is an initiative to consolidate the city of Longboat Key into one county. Currently, the Sarasota and Manatee County line runs across the island, splitting the northern third of the city into Manatee County with the southern portion in Sarasota County.

Bullock said there were a lot of variables to consider, not the least of which would be the potential cost to residents and property owners as the two counties do not share the same tax rates.

While this isn’t the first time the issue has been up for consideration, Bullock said it is being seriously looked at for viability. If it is a viable alternative for the split city, negotiations would have to be entered into with the county the city would be leaving before the matter was put on a ballot for voter consideration.

Bullock said the conversation was in very early stages.

After taking a break in August, the BIEO will reconvene Sept. 20 at Anna Maria City Hall.

Bahi Ribeye

I’m an Original an original is all about authenticity.

“It’sBeing about taking what’s important to you and

translating it into something amazing for your customers. The Waterfront Restaurant is locallyowned and has been committed to sustainable practices for over a decade. When you dine at The Waterfront Restaurant, you’re not just getting a beautiful bay view in a unique historical cottage: you’re also getting the very best in individually hand-crafted cocktails and thoughtfully innovative local cuisine.

”

Jason Suzor, proprietor, Waterfront Restaurant

The Sarasota-Manatee Originals is a group of locally owned restaurants who share a passion for dining excellence and commitment to our community.

DineOriginal.com 15 South Ristorante • Amore Restaurant • Andrea’s • Anna Maria Oyster Bar • Beach House • The Bijou Café • Birdrock Taco Shack • Blu Island Bistro • Blue Marlin Seafood • Bridge Street Bistro • Café Baci • Café Gabbiano • Café Venice • Cassariano Italian Eatery • Cedar Reef Fish Camp • Ciao! Italia • The Crow’s Nest • Drunken Poet Café • Duval’s • enRich Bistro • Euphemia Haye • Fast N Fresh • Fins at Sharky’s • Gold Rush BBQ • Gulf Drive Café + Tiki • Harry’s Continental Kitchens • JPAN Restaurant • Lobster Pot • Madfish Grill • Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant & Pub • Michael John’s • Michael’s On East • mi Pueblo • Miguel’s Restaurant • Ophelia’s On The Bay • Ortygia Restaurant • Pacific Rim • PIER 22 • Plated Modern Kitchen • Polo Grill & Bar • Primo! Ristorante • Riverhouse Reef & Grill • Roessler’s Restaurant • Salute! Restaurant • Sandbar Seafood & Spirits • Seafood Shack • Siesta Key Oyster Bar • State Street • Stottlemyer’s Smokehouse • Tsunami • Village Café • The Waterfront Restaurant on Anna Maria • The White Horse Pub

www.amisun.com

JULY 26, 2017

THE SUN

11

'Merman' sighted in Bradenton Beach

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH – The mysterious and mythical “Merman” was spotted again last week near the BeachHouse restaurant in Bradenton Beach.

Several beachgoers and passersby reported encounters with the part-man, part-mermaid who enjoys lounging in surf and frolicking in the sand and is known to be sociable and camerafriendly. Usually seen alone, it is not known whether Merman has a mermaid companion that accompanies him on his travels in and around the Gulf of Mexico.

BeachHouse Chef Donald White says Merman appears on the beach from time to time and that’s about all he knows about the colorful local character.

Bradenton Beach Police Chief Sam Speciale said he is aware of the Merman sightings but he knows little else about the mysterious man of the sea.

Erica Johnson is a professional photographer and she briefly encountered Merman during a photo shoot on the beach last week.

“I didn’t get to speak to him to directly, but he seemed real positive and happy, and he spoke with a European accent,”said Johnson, who also works at The Waterfront restaurant in Anna

in brief Chamber gathers on Pine Avenue The Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce meets at Pineapple Junktion at 425b Pine Ave. in Anna Maria, on Wednesday, 26, from 5 to 7 p.m.

Donald White | Submitted Mama Bee & Ms. Monkey | Submitted

Above, Merman appears from time to time on the beach near the BeachHouse restaurant in Bradenton Beach. Ms. Monkey and Mama Bee were among those who encountered Merman last week.

Maria.

A longtime Island resident who wished to remain anonymous said, “He’s the real deal and he might also fight crime, seek This monthly event costs $5 for members and $10 for prospective members.

It’s a chance to network with other business leaders and shop for hidden treasures. For more information or to RSVP, call 941-778-1541.

Animal board has vacancy Manatee County is accepting applications for a vacant seat on the Animal

truth and do other super hero things in his spare time.”

The Sun’s efforts to make direct con-

tact with Merman have thus far proved elusive and are ongoing.

Services Advisory Board. Applicants must not be associated with a Manatee County animal rescue agency. They must have adopted an animal from Manatee County Animal Services within the past two years.

The advisory board meets quarterly or as determined by the advisory board, Time and location would be set by the board. All meetings are publicly noticed.

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. They may be found online at www.mymanatee.org/ advisory_boards For more information, call Sarah Brown, Animal Services Advisory Board liaison for Manatee County Animal Services at 941-742-5933, ext.

8346.

12

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JULY 26, 2017

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DESIGNER MODELS OPEN DAILY | 877.542.0822 | OPHMintoUSA.com 12300 Manatee Ave. W, Bradenton, FL 34209 This material shall not constitute a valid offer in any state where prior registration is required. The facilities and amenities described and depicted are proposed, but not yet constructed. Photographs are for illustrative purposes only and are merely representative of current development plans. Development plans, amenities, facilities, dimensions, specifications, prices and features depicted by artists’ renderings or otherwise described herein are approximate and subject to change without notice. © Minto Communities, LLC 2017. All rights reserved. Content may not be reproduced, copied, altered, distributed, stored or transferred in any form or by any means without express written permission. Minto, the Minto logo, One Particular Harbour and the One Particular Harbour logo are trademarks of Minto Communities, LLC and/or its affiliates. CGC 1519880. 7/2017

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JULY 26, 2017

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13

Open 7 days a week, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Walk-In Clinics provide school and sports physicals, basic vaccines, treat minor emergencies, illnesses, injuries, employer services… And more!

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4647 Manatee Ave. W. | Bradenton 941.745.5999 www.bradentonurgentcare.com

Ankle deep Above, Melissa Smiley doesn't let a little rain and flooding stop her from enjoying her front yard in Anna Maria over the weekend. The city was drenched with 7.6 inches of rain during one 24-hour period from Saturday to Sunday. Below, motorists try to negotiate flooded streets in Holmes Beach.

Member of Manatee Physician Alliance 170306

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14

THE SUN

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JULY 26, 2017

qualifying: Starts soon FROM PAGE 4

The one-week qualifying period begins at noon on Monday, Aug. 28, and ends at noon on Friday, Sept. 1.

Commission candidates pay a $48 qualifying fee and mayoral candidates pay $96. Signatures from other voters are no longer required.

Candidates must be registered voters who’ve lived in the city for at least two years. Bradenton Beach is the only Island city that uses geographical-based voting wards, so commission candidates must live in the ward they wish to represent. At-large mayoral candidates are not subject to ward restrictions.

Registered city voters can vote in all city races.

For more information, visit www.votemanatee.com, call 941-741-3823 or e-mail info@votemanatee.com.

‛S YOUR COMFORT ZONE? WHERE

Holmes Beach

Holmes Beach differs from the other Island cities in that the city clerk oversees the qualifying process.

Candidates must be city residents for at least two years, pay a $60 qualifying fee and submit the signatures of 15 registered city voters.

The Holmes Beach elections will determine who serves three two-year commission terms and one abbreviated, one-year commission term. The one-year term was created last year when Commissioner Marvin Grossman failed to qualify because he tried to pay his qualifying fee with a personal check. After the elections, the commission reappointed him to the vacant seat.

The two-year terms are for commission seats currently held by Jean Peelen, Pat Morton and Carol Soustek, all of whom are eligible to seek reelection.

When qualifying, candidates must state whether they are seeking a two-year or one-year term. If no one qualifies for the one-year term, the commission will appoint someone to fill that seat after the elections.

For more information, call 941-708-5800 ext. 226 or e-mail cityclerk@holmesbeachfl.org.

Join Grego and his amazing racing hermit crabs on the patio every Tuesday at 7:00 PM

4628 119th St S W Cortez C (941)798-2035 swordfishgrill.com Marker 49 by boat

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JULY 26, 2017

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15

WMFR readies non-transport ALS service Fire commissioners move forward with a plan to bring non-transport advanced life support services to district residents.

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

BRADENTON — West Manatee Fire Rescue’s non-transport advanced life support program is well on its way to becoming a reality.

During the July 20 board of commissioners meeting, Chief Tom Sousa presented commissioners with a business plan to get the program up and running. He estimates the entire program will take a total of four years to launch at the district’s three fire stations. The plan is to launch one non-transport ALS fire engine each fiscal year.

Once engines are equipped with trained personnel and ALS equipment, firefighters will be able to provide the same services to the public as paramedics without the capability to transport patients to the hospital. In order to provide the service, firefighters are required to cross-train as paramedics, completing 1,100 hours of schooling along with two months of on-the-job training with certified paramedics.

Sousa said the district currently has four trained firefighter-paramedics, one firefighter who needs two to three months of training to recertify as a paramedic, three firefighters in school with a planned October graduation and five more estimated to graduate in May 2018. For the program to launch, there must be at least one firefighter-paramedic on shift at each station at all times.

Commissioner Larry Jennis questioned how the district would

be compensating firefighters who undertake paramedic training.

Sousa recommended offering an additional $2 per hour in compensation, bringing the hourly salary for a firefighter first class up from $20.19 per hour to $22.19 per hour.

He said the figure has not yet been presented to the firefighters’ union for approval.

Commissioner George Harris said he’d like to know whether firefighters feel the compensation is fair.

“No one is complaining,” Sousa said. “It’s new for us. I think it’s fair.”

Commissioners voted unanimously to approve Sousa to sign a contract with Manatee County Medical Director Dr. David Nonell to lend his services to the district for $25,000 annually.

The function of the medical director will be to allow WMFR’s firefighter-paramedics to operate under

his license, establish step-by-step protocols for the program and assume medical supervisory responsibilities. The district also will be able to purchase medications and other supplies for the program through use of the medical director’s license.

Sousa said the district’s current medical malpractice insurance will cover the medical director and the new program.

A resolution to formally adopt the non-transport ALS service by the district will be presented, along with the fiscal year 2017-18 budget at the August meeting. Once the resolution is formally approved and adopted by commissioners, Sousa said the process to obtain a certificate of public convenience and necessity from Manatee County for the program will begin. The COPCN will give formal approval from the county for the creation of the program.

16

THE SUN

in brief Library volunteers needed The Tingley Memorial Library in Bradenton Beach is temporarily operating

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with reduced hours from 10 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. for the remainder of July due to vacation plans and a shortage of library volunteers during summer months. Those interested in volunteering at the city-owned library in Bradenton Beach can visit the library at 111 Second St. N., call Library Clerk Eveann Adams at 941-779-1208 or

e-mail bradentonbeachlibrary@gmail. com.

Pickleball court opens The new pickleball court at Lou Barola Park in Bradenton Beach, at the corner of Highland Avenue and Fourth Street North, is now ready for play

JULY 26, 2017

and open to the public. The net was installed last week, and City Attorney Ricinda Perry has challenged city staff to compete against one another during the yet to be scheduled ribbon cutting ceremony. Mayor Bill Shearon, who is legally blind, has volunteered to referee the staff competition.

APRIL 26, 2017

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THE SUN

CELEBRATING COASTAL & CLASSIC

SEAFOOD DINING

17

18

THE SUN

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JULY 26, 2017

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JULY 26, 2017

THE SUN

19

Rocks

BY SEAN MURPHY SPECIAL TO THE SUN

T

he milestones of my life have been marked by rocks.

Sounds redundant, but it is true.

I grew up on the rocky shores of

Nova Scotia.

Nova Scotia is just one big rock sticking out into the North Atlantic. The native peoples were Micmac. Nova Scotia is Micmac for Land of Big Rocks and Little Trees.

(No it's not. It's Latin for New Scotland – but the Micmacs can't be blamed for not knowing Latin.)

My first memory is of rocks and water.

I was swinging from a rope hanging off a rock wall.

The incoming tide had me in its sights.

My mom had put me in a harness and tied me to a tree near the rock wall to play. The rope was a little too long. I had toddled over the edge of the wall and was swinging to and fro above the rising waters when my grandmother found me.

Some wish she had left me.

Others claimed that the swinging from a rope was a precursor to a later, fitting judgement.

I grew up on the cove with about 40 cousins.

The cove was surrounded by rocks the size of Volkswagens that we climbed on and smaller rocks that we threw at Protestants.

Slate rocks were the best chucking rocks for distance, but they would swerve and change direction. If your Protestant had a good head start, you just whipped one out there and asked the Holy Ghost for guidance.

The best stones for medium distance accuracy were flat, round, beach stones.

There are lotta guys wandering Nova Scotia with little dents in their heads from those smooth stones.

A major milestone in my life was being able to throw a rock across the cove.

We spent entire days throwing rocks across the cove. I can still remember the satisfying clink as that first rock cleared the water.

Another milestone was swimming across that rocky cove. You were not a “made” cousin until you swam the cove

and you weren't tough until you could swim it while the other cousins threw rocks at you.

One of the more recent milestones in my life is about another kind of rocks.

The Beach Bistro/Eat Here team has opened a craft cocktail bar. A lot of thought has gone into the rocks in the cocktails.

Opening a craft cocktail bar is a natural extension of operating an award-winning restaurant. Like any great culinary creation, a truly wonderful cocktail requires exceptional, authentic ingredients crafted by a skilled artisan. A great cocktail has become an integral part of a memorable dinner with loved ones sharing life’s milestones – first dates, engagements, weddings and anniversaries.

And great cocktails are all about the rocks.

The rocks in cocktails have three purposes – cooling, diluting and presenting.

Different cocktails are inclined to different rates of cooling and degrees of dilution.

Small-batch bourbon is happy to cool slowly and disdains dilution. Beachy Margaritas are best cold immediately and diluted to reduce the inclination to

wander dazed in the hot sun.

The presenting is the rock's biggest impact. A giant sphere in your aged rum is not only cooling, but looks cool.

A cylindrical rock with pretty flowers frozen inside will make your mojito go “wow,” and inspire you to send pictures back home.

My favorite rock is the perfect sphere made in a heavy, metal ice baller. The weight of metal in the two halves of the baller rapidly melts a cylinder of ice into a perfect sphere right before your eyes.

The melting may not improve the efficacy of the sphere, but the theatre is amazing.

They also throw well.

So far, I have been able to launch one of the spherical ice rocks damn near the length of Becky’s lumber yard next door.

And the evidence is gone by morning.

Sean Murphy is the head coach of the incredibly talented team that runs the Beach Bistro; its little sister, Eat Here; and its new craft cocktail bar, The Doctors Office. Some of his articles can be found on the Bistro’s web-site, www.beachbistro.com

Surfside … Anna Maria Island

“Best Restaurant in America” 4.9 out of 5 ZAGAT stars One of only 11 in the entire country

941.778.6444 www.BeachBistro.com

20

THE SUN

OUTDOORS

JULY 26, 2017

Fly casting essentials W

hether you’re a beginning fly fisher or a proficient caster, it’s important to understand the essentials of fly casting. It’s important to know that there is no right or wrong casting style. Fly casting is governed by physics, and there are some essentials that every angler must master, no matter their individual skills or styles. This is the difference between the art (style) and science (physics) of the cast.

It’s important for beginners to understand that fly casting is a lifelong learning experience that can be practice at 9 or 99.

Different people learn at a different pace.

Some people pick up casting quickly and then plateau. Others start slow, but when they finally get it they’ve got it.

It can be compared to learning how to ride a bike. To become a good caster you need to practice, but that practice will reward you with a lifetime of pleasure and provide the opportunity of the company of good friends.

Fly casting differs from spin or bait casting where the weight of the lure or bait loads the rod. The rod then transfers the stored energy of the rod to the lure or bait, which carries it to the target. In fly

Reel Time RUSTY CHINNIS casting the weight of the line loads the rod and the line takes the leader and flies to the target.

The basic casting stroke consists of the rod being held in the hand at the base of the fingers with the thumb on top of the cork. The stroke is a combination of moves of the wrist, the forearm and the upper arm. In the ready position with the thumb on the cork, the wrist is straight and the butt of the rod is at a 45 degree to the forearm. The wrist travels from this straight position to a 45 degree down angle then returns to straight position.

The forearm and the upper arm complete the motion.

There are five basic movements that make up what is referred to as the essentials: 1.) There must be a pause at the end of each casting stroke, which varies in dura-

rUSTY CHINNIS | sun

Fly casting legend Lefty Kreh teaches anglers the nuances of the cast. tion with the amount of line beyond the rod tip. This allows the line to straighten for the next cast.

2.) Slack line should be kept to an absolute minimum. Slack line prevents the rod from loading and applying the proper power to the cast. The most common mistake that creates slack line happens when the rod is started too high, forming a belly in the line between the rod tip and the water. To prevent this, start your cast with the rod tip pointing at the water.

3.) In order to form the most efficient, least air resistant loops and to direct the energy of the cast toward the target, the rod tip must move in a straight line.

Practice tracing a horizontal line like a roof eve.

4.) The length of the casting stroke must vary with the amount of line past the rod tip. If you are making a short cast, there is only a small amount of line needed (which only weighs a small amount). As the length of line increases, the stroke must be increased to load the rod.

5.) Power must be applied in the proper amount at the proper place in the stroke.

In general the power is applied slowly at first, gradually increasing to a peak at the see reel time , page 21

tide chart for anna maria city pier-July 26-august 2 Day Date

A.M. High Time Feet

A.M. Low Time Feet

P.M. High Time Feet

P.M. Low Time Feet

Sun Rise Set

Day Date

Wed 7/26

2:56a 1.71

7:37a 1.14

1:38p 2.52

8:59p 0.22

6:51-8:23

Thu 7/27

3:24a 1.81

8:36a 1.07

2:32p 2.27

9:33p 0.44

Fri 7/28

3:54a 1.92

9:39a 1.01

3:30p 2.02

10:07p 0.67

Sat 7/29

4:26a 2.02

10:50a 0.94

4:35p 1.77

10:42p 0.89

6:51-8:22 6:52-8:22 6:52-8:21

A.M. High Time Feet

A.M. Low Time Feet

P.M. High Time Feet

P.M. Low Time Feet

Sun Rise Set

Sun 7/30

5:02a 2.11

12:07p 0.85

5:56p 1.56

11:20p 1.09

6:53-8:20

Mon 7/31

5:43a 2.18

1:29p 0.72

7:51p 1.45

Tues 8/1

6:32a 2.24

12:05a 1.26

9:51p 1.48

2:45p 0.56

Wed 8/2

7:27a 2.31

1:02a 1.39

11:02p 1.56

3:47p 0.39

6:53-8:20 6:54-8:19 6:54-8:18

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JULY 26, 2017

THE SUN

21

Great time to fish AMI

reel time: Fly casting essentials

Captain Dave White

FROM PAGE 20

end of the stroke. There should be a crisp stop at the end of the stroke, forcing the rod to come out of its bend. This is commonly referred to as the speed-up and stop.

One of the best ways for you to master fly casting is to practice on a regular basis.

Create a practice schedule that you can stick to. Start by practicing three times a week for 10minutes. Any additional time will, of course, be a bonus, but the importance of a regular practice schedule cannot be over emphasized.

There are lots of resources on the internet to help you perfect your cast and lessons with a caster trained by the Fly Fishers International www.flyfishersinternational.org can be invaluable. Some of the best videos to search for online are those by master casters and instructors Joan Wulff and Lefty Kreh.

Locally anglers can research rods and tackle at AMI Outfitters on Anna Maria Island www. amioutfitters.com.

If you’re a beginner it is highly recommended that you get lessons from a professional. Learning and applying the essentials will help casters avoid learning bad habits!

Conditions for fishing the waters around Anna Maria Island have been stellar lately.

From big red grouper offshore to Spanish mackerel filling the bays.

Anna Maria Charters has been enjoying the big snook on the beaches. They typically spawn on the new and full moons.

They move to the beaches and nearshore areas of structure. It's during this time that you can get a few huge fish in a trip. Lots of fun if you enjoy catch and release.

Offshore, I've been getting red grouper, American red snapper, big mangrove and lane snapper as well. Staying in closer is providing nice eating sized mangroves, seatrout and a ton of Spanish mackerel as well. Free lining pilchards on long shanked hooks is a good way to grab these toothy critters. Enjoy the calm waters and stay cool out there.

Captain Rick Grassett

Fly anglers fishing with me, out of CB’s Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, continued to have some action with tarpon recently. We had numerous shots at tarpon each trip, jumping several fish.

Conditions were good some days,

captain DAVE WHITE | SUbmitted

With a little help, 9-year-olds Liza Feltenstein and Kennedy Crain, from Oxford, Miss., hoist up a nice snook caught with Captain David White. however, we dodged thunderstorms and fished windows of good conditions on other days. When fish were happy, high in the water column and moving slowly, we had the best action. Days when fish were deep or moving fast, combined with poor visibility, were tough.

Tarpon fishing should be good next week as many fish are post spawn and

should be aggressive. This is a good time frame to sight fish for snook in the surf.

However, snook season remains closed on the west coast of Florida until Sept. 1, so handle them gently and release them quickly. Fishing lighted docks and bridges in the ICW for snook with flies and DOA Lures also continues to be a good option.

snooty: Bye bye Baby Snoots FROM PAGE 1

The panel is large enough for the museum’s three young rehabilitating manatees, which weigh around 500-600 pounds each, to get in and out, but at 1,300 pounds, Snooty “was not able to extract himself,” he said.

Snooty had an 89-inch girth, museum Communications Manager Jessica Schubick said, adding that manatees are generally unable to swim backwards.

Museum officials are still gathering and reviewing information as to how the panel opened, Rodgers said.

The panel was last opened five years ago, and was not opened more frequently because the system was working, museum CEO Brynne Anne Besio said,

adding that the panel is visually inspected daily by divers in the tank.

Workers discovered that Snooty was missing at 8 a.m. on Sunday, Rodgers said. The aquarium is not monitored overnight.

“It took us some time to figure out exactly how we were going to deal with that situation, but when we finally did get to Snooty, he was no longer alive,” he said.

No foul play is suspected.

“Snooty’s death was a heartbreaking accident and the circumstances are being investigated so we can be sure we know the full details of what happened,” museum officials said in a press release. “We know that our community and Snooty fans around the world share our grief. We

will keep you updated as memorial plans develop.”

Museum staff has experienced an outpouring of concern, love and memories of Snooty, Rodgers said. Grief counselors have been called in to work with staff.

Snooty was the oldest known living manatee, according to Guinness World Records.

Among his many life achievements are participating in research experiments on manatee hearing and communication, an appearance on Captain Kangaroo and making thousands of people happy.

He was born in captivity on July 21,1948, at the Miami Aquarium Tackle Company, located on the Prinz Valdemar, a former Danish warship that had

capsized in Miami harbor in 1926 and became a floating restaurant and aquarium.

Baby Snoots, as he was known then, came to Bradenton in 1949 for the DeSoto Celebration and lived in a pool exhibit at the downtown pier, now home to the Pier 22 restaurant.

He moved in 1966 to the South Florida Museum and was relocated to the new museum in 1993.

Snooty hosted 33 rehabilitating manatees beginning in 1998, when the Parker Manatee Aquarium joined the Manatee Rehabilitation Network.

In 2013, more than 6,000 guests visited the museum for his 65th birthday, the largest crowd the museum had ever seen.

22

THE SUN

FOOD & WINE

JULY 26, 2017

Locals know best Molly Slicker SWORDFISH GRILL

I

had just turned 20 when I got a job leading events around the country. This would usually mean too many airport meals and about five nights a week in cities where I had never been. Which resulted in basically saying goodbye to home-cooking and depending solely on eating every meal out. It was like my very

own broke college kid version of "Eat, Pray, Love," but more like eating a lot, praying I don’t get sick and loving every indulgent bite.

I gave myself two food travel rules: 1) I couldn’t eat at national chain restaurants.

2) I would eat whatever dish for which the city was famous.

My motto: Eat what you’re supposed to eat, where you’re supposed to be eating it. Lobster rolls in Boston, BBQ in Alabama, fish tacos in Malibu, a 32-ounce prime rib in Chicago. OK, maybe that’s not necessarily a Chicago staple, but it

should be a thing everywhere.

I learned a lot while eating my way across the U.S., like trust the locals’ recommendation over all else, always say yes to adding cheese, and when they say Nashville hot chicken, they really mean hot.

But the best part was, I got to come home to the best and freshest seafood in the country. So, when you head to your favorite local restaurant and the wait’s a little long, give them a break. The tourists are eating what they’re supposed to be eating, where they’re supposed to be eating it.

Citrus Grilled Shrimp Ingredients

• 12 skewers (if wooden, soak in water for 30 minutes) • 1 lb. fresh raw shrimp, peeled and deveined • ½ c. fresh squeezed orange juice • ¼ c. fresh squeezed lemon juice • ¼ c. fresh squeezed lemon juice • 2 garlic cloves, minced • 1 tsp. fresh thyme, chopped • ¼ tsp. cayenne pepper • ½ tsp. salt

Directions

Combine citrus juices, fresh thyme and spices in large bowl. Add peeled and deveined fresh shrimp, cover and refrigerate, allowing to marinate for 30 minutes.

Prepare a grill for medium-high heat. Grill shrimp until lightly charred and cooked through, 1–2 minutes per side. Serve shrimp arranged over a bed of greens along with fresh mango salsa.

Fresh Mango Salsa Ingredients

• 3 ripe mangos, diced • 1 medium red bell pepper, chopped • ¼ c. fresh cilantro leaves, chopped • 1 pineapple, diced

Directions submitted

Fresh mango salsa pairs well with citrus grilled shrimp.

In a bowl, combine the prepared mango, bell pepper, pineapple, and cilantro. For best flavor, let the salsa rest for 10 minutes or longer.

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JULY 26, 2017

THE SUN

The following hotels and motels accept pets. Some have limitations on species, number, size and breed, some require pets to be caged before housekeeping services are rendered, some require deposits or extra charges, and some have special pet amenities, such as grassy areas for walking. Call ahead to find accommodations that match your needs, and make a list of several hotels in different parts of the state to be prepared for storms from any direction.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND Anna Maria Island Beach Resort 105 39th Street, Holmes Beach 941-778-7477 ARCADIA Knights Inn 504 S. Brevard Ave. 863-494-4884 Holiday Inn Express 2709 Southeast Hwy. 70 863-494-5900 BRADENTON Best Western Plus 2215 Cortez Rd W 941-238-0800 Best Western Plus 648 67th St. Cir. E. 941-757-5555

BROOKSVILLE Days Inn 6320 Windmere Rd 352-796-9486 Microtel Inn 6298 Nature Coast Blvd 352-796-9025 Quality Inn 30307 Cortez Blvd 352-796-9481 CAPE CORAL Holiday Inn Express 1538 Cape Coral Pkwy E 239-542-2121 DAYTONA BEACH Homewood Suites

By Hilton 165 Bill France Blvd 386-258-2828

Four Points by Sheraton 13600 Treeline Ave S 239-322-1399 Hyatt Place 2600 Champion Ring Rd 239-418-1844 La Quinta Inn 9521 Market Place Rd 239-466-0012 Residence Inn 20371 Summerlin Rd 239-415-4150 Travel Lodge 4760 S Cleveland Ave 239-275-1111 Travel Lodge 13661 Indian Paint Ln 239-561-1117

Courtyard Bradenton Sarasota/Riverfront 100 Riverfront Dr.W. 941-747-3727

Residence Inn Daytona Beach Speedway/Airport 1725 Richard Petty Blvd 386-252-3949

GAINESVILLE Best Western 4200 N.W. 97th Blvd.

352-331-3336

Days Inn 3506 1st St.W. 941-746-1141

DELAND Budget Inn 2801 East NY Ave 386-736-3440

Holiday Inn Express 3905 S.W. 43rd St. 352-376-0004

Days Inn Bradenton – I75 644 67th St Circle E 941-746-2505 Fairfield Inn & Suites Lakewood Ranch 6105 Exchange Way 941-552-4000 Hampton Inn & Suites 309 10th St W 941-746-9400 Hyatt Place Sarasota/ Lakewood Ranch 6021 Exchange Way 941-748-3100 Motel 6 660 67th St. Circle E. 941-747-6005 Sunrise Inn 668 67th St Circle E 941-745-1876

Comfort Inn 400 E International Speedway Blvd 386-736-3100 ELLENTON Red Roof Inn 4915 17th St. E. 941-729-0600 Sleep Inn 5605 18th St. E. 941-721-4933

Motel 6 4000 S.W. 40th Blvd.

352-373-1604 Red Roof Inn 3500 S.W. 42nd St. 352-336-3311 KISSIMMEE Best Western Premier Saratoga Resort Villas 4787 W Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy 407-997-3300

Super 8 5218 17th St. E. 941-729-8505

Econo Lodge 2934 Polynesian Isle Blvd 407-787-4100

FORT MYERS Baymont Inn & Suites 9401 Marketplace Rd 239-454-0040

Motel 6 5731 W. Irlo Bronson Hwy. 407-396-6333

23

24

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THE SUN

LAKELAND Hilton Garden Inn 3839 Don Emerson Drive 863-647-0066

LEESBURG Best Western Plus 1321 N. 14th Street 352-460-0118

La Quinta Inn 1024 Crevasse St. 863-859-2866

The Sleep Inn 2476 Citrus Blvd.

352-326-9002

Motel 6 3120 U.S. Hwy. 98 N. 863-682-0643

OCALA Hampton Inn & Suites 3601 SW 38th Ave 352-867-0300

Residence Inn 3701 Harden Blvd.

863-680-2323 LAKE BUENA VISTA Clarion Inn 8442 Palm Parkway 407-996-7300 Marriott Residence Inn 11450 Marbella Palm Court 407-465-0075 LAKE CITY America’s Best Inn 339 SW Commerce Dr 386-755-6300 Baymont Inn & Suites 3598 US 90 W 386-752-3801 Days Inn 3430 N US Hwy 441 386-758-4224 LAKE MARY Candlewood Suites 1130 Greenwood Blvd.

407-585-3000

Holiday Inn Express 1212 S Pine Ave 352-629-7300 La Quinta Inn & Suites 3530 S.W. 36th Ave. 352-861-1137 Microtel Inn & Suites 1770 Southwest 134th St 352-307-1166 Quality Inn 3434 SW College Rd 352-854-3200 Residence Inn 3610 S.W. 38th Ave. 352-547-1600 Sleep Inn and Suites 13600 S.W. 17th Court 352-347-8383 ORLANDO Hard Rock Hotel 5800 Universal Blvd.

407-503-2000

Extended Stay America 1040 Greenwood Blvd 407-829-2332

Holiday Inn Lake Buena Vista 13351 State Road 535 407-239-4500

La Quinta Inn 1060 Greenwood Blvd.

407-805-9901

La Quinta Inn - Universal Studios 5621 Major Blvd 407-313-3100

Residence Inn 825 Heathrow Park Lane 407-995-3400

Motel 6 - Winter Park 5300 Adanson Street 407-647-1444

Motel 6 International 5909 American Way 407-351-6500 Residence Inn Seaworld 11000 Westwood Blvd.

407-313-3600 Staybridge Suites 7450 Augusta National Dr 407-438-2121 Townplace Suites 11801 High Tech Ave. 407-243-6100 PLANT CITY Comfort Inn 2003 S Frontage Rd 813-707-6000 Knights Inn 301 S Frontage Rd 813-752-0570 PORT CHARLOTTE Country Inn 24244 Corporate Court 941-235-1035

The Wyvern Hotel 101 E Retta Esplanade 941-639-7700 RUSKIN Ruskin Inn 3113 College Ave 813-641-3437 SANFORD Best Western Plus 3401 S Orlando Dr 407-320-0845 SARASOTA Comfort Suites 5690 Honore Ave 941-554-4475 Hibiscus Suites 1735 Stickney Point Road 941-921-5797 Holiday Inn – Lakewood Ranch 6231 Lake Osprey Dr 941-782-4400 Holiday Inn Express 5730 Gantt Rd 941-925-0631

Days Inn 1941 Tamiami Trail 941-627-8900

Holiday Inn Sarasota - Airport 8009 15th St. E. 941-355-9000

Knights Inn 4100 Tamiami Trail 941-743-2442

Hotel Indigo Sarasota 1223 Boulevard of the Arts 941-487-3800

Microtel Inn 4056 Tamiami Trail 941-624-6339

La Quinta Inn & Suites 1803 N.Tamiami Trail 941-366-5128

Sleep Inn & Suites 806 Kings Highway 941-613-6300

Residence Inn 1040 University Pkwy.

941-358-1468

PUNTA GORDA Four Points by Sheraton 33 Tamiami Trail 941-637-6770

Days Inn 5000 N.Tamiami Trail 941-351-7734

Punta Gorda Waterfront Hotel 300 W Retta Esplanade 941-639-1165

Sleep Inn 900 University Pkwy.

941-359-8558

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SEBRING Chateau Elan Hotel 150 Midway Dr 863-655-7200 Holiday Inn Express 4400 US 27 North 863-386-1115 La Quinta Inn 4115 US 27 South 863-386-1000 Quality Inn & Suites 6525 US 27 North 863-385-4500 Residence Inn 3221 Tubbs Road 863-314-9100 SPRING HILL Microtel Inn 4881 Commercial Way 352-596-3444 Motel 6 6172 Commercial Way 352-596-2007 SUN CITY Sun City Center Inn 809 N Pebble Beach Blvd 813-634-3331 TALLAHASSEE Best Western Pride Inn 2016 Apalachee Parkway 850-656-6312 Quality Inn 6737 Mahan Drive 850-656-2938 Econo Lodge North 2681 N. Monroe St. 850-385-6155 La Quinta Inn North 2905 N. Monroe St. 850-385-7172 Motel 6 Downtown 1027 Apalachee Parkway 850-877-6171

Motel 6 West 2738 N. Monroe St. 850-386-7878

Holiday Inn Express 8310 Galbraith 813-910-7171

Quality Inn 3090 N. Monroe St. 850-562-2378

Homewood Suites by Hilton Tampa/Brandon 10240 Palm River Road 813-685-7099

Red Roof Inn 2930 Hospitality Street 850-385-7884

Residence Inn 4312 W. Boy Scout Blvd.

813-877-7988

Residence Inn 1880 Raymond Diehl Road 850-422-0093

TEMPLE TERRACE Residence Inn 13420 N Telcom Parkway 813-972-4400

Residence Inn Universities 600 W. Gaines St. 850-329-9080

Towne Place Suites by Marriott 6800 Woodstork Rd 813-975-9777

Sleep Inn 1695 Capital Circle N.W. 850-575-5885 Staybridge Suites 1600 Summit Lake Drive 850-219-7000

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Suburban Extended Stay Hotel 522 Silver Slipper Lane 850-386-2121

Lake Roy Beach Inn 1825 Cypress Garden Blvd 863-324-6320

TAMPA Clarion Hotel 2701 E. Fowler Ave. 813-971-4710

Roadway Inn & Suites 1911 Cypress Gardens Blvd.

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25

Center Fishing Camp Members of the Anna Maria Island Privateers teach little landlubbers how to fish July 20 at the Anna Maria City Pier during the Center of Anna Maria Island’s summer fishing camp.

KRISTIN SWAIN |SUN

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THE SUN

Center audit report on agenda The Anna Maria City Commission’s Thursday, July 27, meeting will include a presentation from John Chambers regarding his audit of The Center finances.

The mayor and commission will continue discussions on an amended historic preservation ordinance and a previously discussed formula retail/franchise ordinance.

The city attorney will present a resolution that establishes salary ranges for city employees. The mayor will update the commission on proposed shade sails for City Pier Park and his conversation with the McLaren Engineering Group regarding the pier rehabilitation. The meeting will start at 6 p.m., preceded by a budget work session at 5:30.

Sharky's Steak & Seagri ll Anna Maria lsland Full Bar - Carry Out

Thursdays live music Phone (941) 779 - 9151 2519 Gulf Drive N, Bradenton Beach, FL 34217

JULY 26, 2017

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JULY 26, 2017

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Police department getting tasers Tasers will help fill a gap in the police department’s force matrix.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH – The Police Department will soon have nine new tasers and three new police vehicles.

City commissioners discussed both expenditures during their July 20 meeting.

For the first time in city history, officers will be armed with tasers.

Police Chief Sam Speciale first presented his request to lease Taser X2 weapons at the July 12 budget workshop.

“We have a force matrix that goes from least lethal to deadly force. Now, with the amount of people we’re getting out here – and I want to stress that it’s not that things are getting more violent – we’re needing more tools in the toolbox,” he explained.

The force matrix begins with voice commands and excels in severity from hands, batons and pepper spray to the lethal force of firearms. Tasers will provide a powerful, non-lethal option that fills a gap in the force matrix.

“Everyone knows what tasers are and what they do. When you start to pull the trigger, they see the spark and they should know what’s coming,” Special said.

“You can give them a little warning.

If you don’t comply, you’re about to get zapped,” Cosby added.

Breakfast . Lunch . Dinner Gulf View Patio 7:30am-10pm Happy Hour 12-6 Daily Happy Hour All Day Sunday Live Music Nightly

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Axon Enterprise Inc. | Submitted

Bradenton Beach police officers will be soon be carrying Taser X2 conducted electrical weapons.

The tasers are equipped with two darts, which means officers will have two taser shots at their disposal.

Lease and liability

Approved by the commission, the tasers will be leased for five years from Scottsdale, Ariz., based Axon Enterprise Inc., formerly known as Taser International. Axon’s Taser 60 plan calls for five yearly installments of $2,808, plus shipping, handling and tax for a total of $15,205. After five years, the tasers will be replaced, which will require a new lease or purchase agreement.

Last week, Cosby said there would be an additional $400 fee, plus the travel and lodging, to send Officer Josh Betts to training. Betts was certified to use a taser as a member of the Bradenton Police Department, and he will train the other officers.

The Taser 60 plan includes a warranty that provides for the expedited replacement of a damaged taser. More

importantly, it provides $10 million in liability coverage if a taser victim is injured or dies.

City Attorney Ricinda Perry asked if the liability coverage extended to negligence or excessive force. Speciale said it did not, which is why the training is so important.

“You have to use it appropriately.

Sometimes when these things are used people have a heart attack and die and the family would sue. That’s the type of the thing they would cover,” Cosby added.

Perry asked if the department would develop a written taser policy.

“Absolutely. It’ll be just as strong as the firearm policy,” Cosby said.

As administrators, Speciale and Cosby will not carry tasers.

Cosby said later that Bradenton Beach will be the last law enforcement agency in Manatee County to get tasers.

New vehicles

The city will pay $105,276, using a lease/purchase program offered through the Ford Credit program, for three Ford SUV Interceptors initially leased from Bartow Ford. The lease provides a bumper to bumper warranties for four years. After four years, the vehicles will be purchased outright for $1. The vehicles will be paid for using half-cent sales tax revenues received from the county, and the lease contracts still require final commission approval.

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REAL ESTATE

ast week we talked about buying a condo and some of the unique features of owning a condo. This week we’ll review some of the more legal aspect of buying into a Florida condo association or what some describe as a cube in the sky.

Condos may be a cube, but they do have specific legal descriptions, much like a singlefamily home. The buyer of a condominium purchases title to a unit, usually in a fee simple ownership, again just like a single-family home. A condo owner’s exclusive ownership generally extends to the inside of the wall coverings of the condo and includes a proportional share of the common elements, although I have read this interpretation could change from state to state.

Each unit can be bought, sold, leased (per condo regulations) or mortgaged independently. Real estate taxes are assessed individually on each unit and paid directly to the municipality based on the value of the unit and the current mill rate.

Something that is frequently not under-

JULY 26, 2017

Cube in the sky Castles in the Sand Louise Bolger

stood about condominium associations is the common elements. Basically, anything that’s not within the walls of your specific unit is a common element. Some common elements are for the exclusive use of the owner of a unit, possibly boat slips, but things like pools, tennis courts and outside patio areas are for the use of all residents.

The homeowners' association is responsible for maintenance and repairs of anything that is a common element, however, every association has itscondominium documents drawn up differently. In some condos, window maintenance may be the responsibility of the homeowner, not the association, and even in some villa style homeowner associations roofs

could also be the owner’s responsibility.

That’s why it is imperative for buyers who have an accepted offer on a condo to carefully review all the rules, financials and condo documents before finalizing the sale. The state of Florida mandates a time frame of three business days for buyers to review these documents for a resale unit and 15 days for a new condominium unit. Within this period, buyers may rescind their contract without a penalty.

The Florida Condominium Act dictates the process by which condominiums are created, marketed and operated. It defines common elements, describes the maintenance and assessment of common expenses and requires full disclosure of information before the sale of the property.

If you’re familiar with condominium law, you should be aware of some changes to the Condominium Act: The requirement that individual unit owners carry hazard insurance was repealed.

Condo associations may now decide whether to retrofit a building with sprinkler

systems. Lenders are required to pay more in past-due assessments on foreclosed properties. This is an important revision in order to get the banks motivated to fully foreclose on a property, making them rather than the homeowners association responsible sooner for the monthly maintenance fees.

Associations may divert rent paid by a tenant and use it to pay delinquent assessments owned by that unit’s owner. Associations may deny owners or occupants the use of common areas and recreational amenities when the owner is more than 90 days delinquent in paying financial obligations to the association.

This is a nice thought but almost impossible to enforce since most condo associations don’t have condo police.

These are just some of the condominium law provisions in an otherwise very complicated process, which purchasers need to carefully navigate. Make sure you know everything there is to know about the cube in the sky that you’re considering, so the sky doesn’t fall in on you.

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JULY 26, 2017

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turtle: Eliza Ann off to the races FROM PAGE 1

SUBMITTED | STEVE AND LAURA DENK

Set me free Illinois visitors Steve and Laura Denk have a fun story to tell when they return home. They were walking the beach when they saw Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring volunteers releasing loggerhead sea turtle hatchlings into the Gulf. A nest had hatched the night before but two were left inside, so Turtle Watch helped them escape.

Hatchlings are disorienting due to lighting visible from the beach, mostly in Holmes Beach, Turtle Watch Director Suzi Fox said. She plans to accompany Holmes Beach officials on a light survey this week. Turtles set a nesting record as of Sunday, with two more nests on the Island than in all of the 2016 season.

a satellite transmitter, released the next morning, and tracked by the Sea Turtle Conservancy in cooperation with Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch.

Eliza Ann is sponsored by and named for the new restaurant at Waterline Marina Resort and Beach Club in Holmes Beach, which was named for Eliza Ann Plimsoll, the wife of Samuel Plimsoll, who invented of the system of using a waterline painted on boats to prevent overloading.

The turtle has returned twice so far to the Island to nest, but Turtle Watch has not verified that she actually laid nests during those landings.

It’s the second time the Island has entered a turtle in the race – Amie, named for sponsor Anna Maria Elementary School, swam in 2015, finishing in true turtle style in last place, having traveled 207 miles from Anna Maria Island to Everglades National Park. The winner swam 2,341 miles from Costa Rica to New Jersey.

The Sun will follow Eliza Ann’s progress each week.

Nesting News Turtle nests laid: 437 False crawls: 430 Nests hatched: 27 Not hatched: 16

Nests remaining: 394 Hatchlings to Gulf: 1,697 Nest disorientations: 10 Source: Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring

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center: Budget presented to public FROM PAGE 4

behalf of the city of Anna Maria.

“They’re giving us everything we’ve asked for, but they should, for their own protection, get a legal opinion in writing in case this issue comes up again,” Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy said. He added that the city isn’t getting involved in the fight for public records from the Center.

Chambers is scheduled to present his findings to the Anna Maria City Commission July 27 at city hall.

The materials submitted to the city for the audit and the findings will be available from Anna Maria as public records.

For its part, the Center ’s annual audit is scheduled to begin this week and wrap up in September.

Lessig said she feels the issue of transparency is a “talking point to put doubt in people’s minds.”

“We have a fiduciary responsibility to be conscious of who we’re giving information to and how,” she said, adding that she would welcome the opportunity to discuss the issue with community members and better understand what information is being sought that’s not already shared with the public.

The board of directors

It was only a few months ago that the Center ’s board of directors were up to 15 members and considering changing the organization’s bylaws to allow more than the current 17 maximum members. Now the board’s numbers have dropped to nine with the departure July 18 of attorney Sean Flynn.

“It’s a tough gig,” Zaccagnino said of being on the board. He added that many board members had received threatening e-mails and phones calls prompting their resignations.

When he was elected in a 10 to 4 vote over previous vice-chair Patti McBean, Zaccagnino required all remaining board members and staff to sign a nondisclosure agreement to prevent sensitive information from being shared with the public.

Lessig said she feels it’s common for board members to sign nondisclosure agreements. A nondisclosure agreement for staff has been in place in the nonprofit’s employee handbook, she said.

“We’re not trying to hide anything,” she said. “It’s just to protect the business.”

Accounting for details

Though the Center staff did not present the 2017-18 budget to the

public in its entirety, Lessig said the move wasn’t to hide anything but rather to keep the meeting to a manageable time frame.

“The goal was to give a high level budget presentation,” she said.

“The details we can go through with anyone, including any backup materials, whatever those would be.”

Part of the purpose of the budget presentation was to demonstrate the cost savings measures the Center staff have identified and are taking in the current fiscal year to help reduce the nonprofit’s funding gap.

“This is the year to meet budget or we have a contingency to cut programs,” Lessig said. “We need to make this work because the Center doesn’t have a choice. Our only other option is to cut programs. We don’t want to do that.

We’re here to provide services to the community.”

Without cutting programs, the Center ’s new budget relies heavily on achieving $450,000 in private donations. Other sources of revenue include collected program and membership fees, an assumed $44,000 in grant awards, $25,000 from Manatee County, $45,000 from the three Island cities and an endowment disbursal of $12,000 from the Center ’s restricted endowment fund. Fundraising from events such as the Tour of Homes and Murder Mystery Dinner Theater is anticipated to total $416,189 after $163,311 in budgeted costs.

The unrestricted endowment fund was accessed earlier in the month to provide $100,000 in operating capital and $130,000 to build an operating reserve account.

Lessig said a lot of work went into building the 2017-18 budget, with program leaders diving down into membership utilization numbers, direct and indirect program costs and making conservative increase estimates for the new fiscal year.

“We’re not fudging numbers,” she said. “We’re really making changes.”

As part of those changes, board and staff members will meet monthly to go through each department’s expenses in detail and make sure costs and revenue remain aligned throughout the year.

“There is a lot of work ahead,” Lessig said. “We’re not done by just presenting the budget. Now the real work begins to make it happen.”

JULY 26, 2017

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MIKE FIELD | SUN

Good Day Sunshine From left, Islanders Lisa McConnell, George Wilson and Rhonda Gula enjoy themselves at Ferg's sports bar prior to the recent Paul McCartney concert in Tampa.

Gulf sunset Another colorful sunset over the Gulf of Mexico on Anna Maria Island.

TRACY ECKERT | SUBMITTED

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TOWN CRIER

Learn more about the Gulf The Studio at Gulf and Pine features lectures about “Our Gulf” on Wednesday, July 26, from 1 to 3 p.m. Sandy Gilbert, from START (Solutions To Avoid Red Tide) will answer questions and talk about the phenomenon that produces gases that can irritate people at or near the beach. Bring a water sample from your favorite beach or canal and find out the pH, salinity, dissolved oxygen, nitrate and phosphate Karen Willey, director of Around the Bend Nature Tours LLC, will discuss climate change and mangrove migration necessitated by sea level rise. This presentation introduces climate change and discusses causes and possible solutions for our community.

Wednesday is for relaxing The Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, hosts its Coloring Club at noon and its Chess Club at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, July 28. the chess club has a chess master to improve your game. For more information, call the library at 941-778-6341.

Explore Neal Preserve Take a relaxing stroll through one of coastal Manatee County’s treasures and get to know Neal Preserve at 12301 Manatee Ave. W. in Bradenton on Wednesday, July 26, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Naturalist Melissa Nell will lead the group and share tales and facts about the site’s history and natural features.

Learn to identify Florida’s native wild cotton, hear the story of the site’s earliest inhabitants and sample tasty sea purslane on your travels. This program is suitable for all ages.

Reservations are required. E-mail melissa.nell@mymanatee.org or call 941-742-5923 to reserve a spot.

Dance into fall The Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, will host an end of summer dance party starting at 10 a.m. on Thursday, July 27. The fun will be open to families. For more information, call the library at 941-7786341.

Shop and share Senior Adventures, the group where seniors get out of the house and have fun, will be holding their monthly book

JULY 26, 2017

sale and potluck lunch on Friday, July 28, at the Annie Silver Community Center. Call Kaye Bell at 941-538-0945 for more information.

A fun Saturday

The department is going to have an ongoing need for oyster shell that can be turned into mats. Those interested may contact Michelle at 941-742-5923, ext 6035, to set up a training time.

Help with weight control

Kids are invited to build a Pokemon catapault at the Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, on Saturday, July 29, from 2 to 3 p.m. It’s family fun. For more information, call the library at 941-778-6341.

Overeaters Anonymous meets at the Church of the Annunciation, 4408 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, each Thursday at 7 p.m. For more information, call 813494-6518.

Pre-school fun

Rhythm on the beach

Colors of the World is the theme at preschool story time at the Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive in Holmes Beach. For more information, call the library at 941-778-6341.

Enjoy the rhythm of drums at the Sunset Drum Circle at the Anna Maria Island Beach Café, 4000 Gulf Dr, Holmes Beach, on Fridays from 5 to 8 p.m.

There’s no charge to listen; dinner is available.

Manatee County needs help The Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources Department needs help drilling oysters to create oyster mats and vertical oyster gardens. Volunteers are needed if they meet the following criteria: familiar with a drill press; have steady hands; are able to be at Robinson Preserve, 1704 99th St. NW, during open hours; able to volunteer several hours at a time; and be at least 18 years old.

Lose that stress Loren Batsell leads a Guided Relaxation Circle on the first Friday of every month from 5 to 5:45 p.m. at the Anna Maria Island Art League, 5312 Holmes Blvd, Holmes Beach. Donations are requested. A portion of the money will benefit the Art League. For information, call 778-2099 or visit the Art League, open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Personal watercraft ordinance in effect Bayfront Park joins Manatee Public Beach, Cortez Beach and Coquina Beach as public swimming areas that prohibit motorized vessels.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA – The city of Anna Maria now has a permanent ordinance in place that prohibits personal watercraft, boats and other motorized vessels from coming ashore and/or beaching vessels at Bayfront Park.

The ordinance also prohibits motorized vessels from entering the designated swimming area that extends 300 feet from the park’s shoreline, which extends from the Lake LaVista inlet to Hibiscus Street. The city is now in the process of getting final ordinance approval and buoy markers from the state that will visibly mark the protected swimming area.

Preceded by an emergency ordinance adopted before the Fourth of July weekend, the City Commission adopted the permanent watercraft and parks and recreation ordinance on July 13 due to public safety concerns about the growing number of personal watercraft owners using the park.

joe hendricks | SUN

This beach in Holmes Beach is legally assessable by motorized vessels if they come and go at a minimum wake/slow speed.

The ordinance can be enforced by county and state law enforcement officers and the Coast Guard. Violators are subject to a civil penalty of $100. The ordinance also prohibits swimming in the Lake LaVista inlet and jumping into the water from any bridge located within the city limits.

Island-wide restrictions and allowances

The increased presence of personal watercraft at Bayfront Park was at-

tributed in part to Manatee County implementing a no-entry zone at the south end of the Island, from the South Coquina Boat Ramp to the Longboat Pass entrance, in 2015. That no-entry zone also applies to kayakers, canoers, paddleboarders and swimmers, which is not the case in Anna Maria.

Personal watercraft users are still allowed to use the South Coquina Boat Ramp, but not the shoreline, for getting their vessels in and out of the water.

The county prohibits motorized vessels

from entering the designated swimming areas in the Gulf of Mexico from Coquina Beach to the northern groin at Cortez Beach in Bradenton Beach. The county also prohibits motorized vessels from entering the designated swimming area at the Manatee Public Beach in Holmes Beach.

According to Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy, Bradenton Beach Police Chief Sam Speciale and Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer and other city and county officials, this leaves the rest of the Island’s Gulf of Mexico shoreline accessible to motorized vessels that approach at a minimum wake/slow speed of approximately 4 to 7 mph.

Boaters and personal watercraft operators who approach the shoreline in this manner are required to approach and depart on a perpendicular path to the shoreline, and are not to travel parallel to the shoreline within 300 feet of it.

There is limited direct shoreline watercraft access on the bayside of the Island due to it being mostly private property that is protected by seawalls and landscaping or accessible by private docks.

In addition to the South Coquina Boat Ramp, there is the Kingfish Boat Ramp in Holmes Beach; and later this year, the renovated North Coquina Boat Ramp in Bradenton Beach will reopen.

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JULY 26, 2017

Business matters

The Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce has networking events set for August.

The AMI Chamber networking luncheon will be hosted by Enrich Bistro at 5629 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton, on Wednesday, Aug. 2, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The cost is $15 for members and $25 for prospective members.

On Wednesday, Aug. 9, the Boys and Girls Club, 5231 34th Street W., Bradenton, will host the AMI Chamber sunrise breakfast from 7:45 to 9 a.m.

The cost is $8 for members and $16 for nonmembers.

On Wednesday, Aug, 23, Hancock Bank, 5324 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, hosts the AMI Chamber August busi-

THE SUN

ness card exchange from 5 to 7 p.m.

The theme this year is Celebrating Summer Days. The staff at the bank is challenging members to use their noodles to create swim noodle art.

There will be prizes for winners and food and refreshments for all. The cost is $5 for members and $10 for prospective members.

Art history classes set The Anna Maria Island Art League, 5312 Holmes Blvd, Holmes Beach, presents Rolando Rodriguez lecturing weekly on “Classical Moments In History� starting Tuesday, Aug. 1, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The cost is $20 per session.

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The class takes an in-depth look at four key moments where classical, or classically inspired art blossomed.

The class begins with ancient Greek achievements and continues with the high Renaissance, the Dutch school and the French academic school.

Rodriguez, was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. , and studied art history at Brooklyn College. He is a recognized artist in portraiture painting, using either a live model or a sculpture. He will teach how to read a two-dimensional image and translate it into a three-dimensional image.

For more information, call the Art League at 941-778-2099 or visit the Art League on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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JULY 26, 2017

Rental regulations finally taking shape Public hearings on the proposed vacation rental ordinance amendments will take place on Aug. 3 and 17.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH – City Commissioners want to make significant amendments to the original vacation rental regulations contained in the Quality of Life Ordinance adopted in 2015.

That city of Bradenton Beach never implemented or enforced the 2015 ordinance because subsequent commissions never adopted the accompanying fee schedule resolution needed to activate the rental registration program.

On Thursday, July 20, the City Commission asked City Attorney Ricinda Perry to prepare an amended ordinance for first reading and public hearing on Thursday, Aug. 3, and second and final reading on Thursday, Aug. 17.

Mayor Bill Shearon suggested another commission workshop first, but the other commissioners favored a more immediate approach.

“I can’t think of a piece of legislation in this city that’s been vetted more,” Vice Mayor John Chappie said of the numerous previous discussions that have taken place since 2015.

“We’ve talked about it long enough,” Commissioner Ralph Cole added.

The commission unanimously supported Chappie’s suggestion to restrict vacation rental occupancy to two persons per bedroom, plus two additional guests per rental unit.

“I’m happy with the two-plus-two because that’s what everybody’s settling on. I think it’s pretty much an industry standard,” Commissioner Jake Spooner said.

Earlier this year, the Planning and Zoning Board recommended an eight-person occupancy limit after initially reaching majority consensus on two-plus-two.

The amended ordinance will also include the board’s recommendation for mandatory side yard trash pickup for short-term rentals that are not owneroccupied. The rental owners or managers will pay an additional fee for the garbage truck driver to retrieve and return trash and recyclable containers that are currently often left out by the street for days. The commission also requested an

occupancy-based trash can ratio to ensure there are enough containers to hold a week’s worth of trash.

The commission broke new ground by requesting QR (Quick Response) Code stickers be placed near each unit’s main entry rather than the exterior signs called for in the original ordinance. QR Codes utilize abstract looking bar codes that can be read by a cell phone or tablet that will link a responding police or code enforcement officer to a data base that provides 24-hour owner/agent contact information.

Police Chief Sam Speciale suggested QR Codes in response to concerns voiced

by Runaway Bay Association board member Connie Morrow, who said exterior signs might alert potential burglars to possibly unoccupied rental units.

Speciale said the city can use the Building Department’s new software to create and maintain a rental registry data base, using technology not available when the planning board stated its preference for a data base earlier this year.

The commission asked Perry to draft a separate false advertising ordinance that will prohibit rental units from being advertised for more than their registered occupancy.

Rental units will only be inspected if verified complaints are received regarding noise, parking, occupancy or other compliance issues; and the commission favors increasing noise ordinance violation fines when the noise ordinance is amended.

Chappie and Spooner restated their desire to add a part-time code enforcement officer to the current staff that consists of one full-time officer, and Spooner suggested the part-time officer work primarily on Fridays and Saturdays, when vacation rental guests typically arrive and depart.

Registration fees

The commission supports the staff recommended $150 per unit annual registration and licensing fee, which would also apply to individually owned condos used as rentals, but it remains undecided on what to charge multi-unit hotels/motel/ resorts located on a single property.

The commission thinks it’s unfair to charge these establishments $150 per unit, because they are not the ones negatively impacting residential neighborhoods. The commission asked staff to conduct further research and present three fee options at the Aug. 17 meeting.

Pool permitting dispute heating up The city is in a tough position, caught between the county and a private property owner.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH – The city is facing the possibility of being sued by Manatee County and/or developer Shawn Kaleta due to an ongoing pool permitting dispute.

The pool permitting dispute began with a Kaleta-owned, waterfront property he’s developing at 112 11th St. S. Kaleta applied for the city-issued building permit to construct a pool several months ago, but county officials asked the city to not issue the permit because there’s county sewer line in vicinity of the planned pool area that would be near the Sarasota Bay shoreline. The dispute now includes two neighboring Kaleta properties impacted by the same sewer line.

The sewer easement dispute has its roots in a 2001 petition initiative undertaken by

a group of private property owners who asked the city commission to vacate to them individually the parcels of cityowned land east of Bay Drive South, between the road and the shoreline, from Fifth Street South to 14th Street South.

That commission, led by then-Mayor John Chappie, reluctantly approved the vacation requests, in part because there was no community support for a multi-use boardwalk along the city-owned waterfront.

In May, the City Commission authorized Mayor Bill Shearon to spend up to $2,000 on legal services provided by attorney Mark Barnebey in hopes of resolving the three-way dispute out of court. During the Thursday, July 20 meeting, Shearon and City Attorney Ricinda Perry provide an update on the situation.

Shearon said the previouslyapproved $2,000 threshold had been reached, and he requested an additional $2,000, which the commission approved.

Shearon said his recent com-

joe hendricks | SUN

Developer Shawn Kaleta wants to build a pool on this waterfront property and county officials are requesting that he doesn’t. munications with Barnebey led him to believe a mutually acceptable agreement between Kaleta, the county and the city was unlikely.

“The property owner is demanding the city provide a building permit for the pool.

The county has taken the position that the city vacated the land incorrectly. We’re in a damned if we do, damned if we don’t situation. We’re either going to get sued by the property owner, the county or by both,” Shearon said.

Perry said the biggest concern was whether the 2001 vacations provided to private property were valid and enforceable; and if not, what does that mean for the city and those property owners.

Perry agrees that the county is prepared to take the city to court if Building Official Steve Gilbert issues Kaleta his permits, but further delays could result in Kaleta seeking financial damages from the city.

“The city is in a really tough position; I don’t see that you

can win on either side,” Perry said, noting that the city might also have to re-vacate the properties so the county sewer easements can be properly recorded.

Gilbert said Kaleta submitted plans for five different pool locations and offered to build a structural wall on one side of the pipe that would allow 20 feet of access on the other, but the county’s sewer engineer insisted on at least 10 feet on either side.

Perry said she could make a case for the city issuing the permits, because she thinks a judge would take in account that the county never objected to the original vacations in 2001 and never recorded the sewer easements now located on private properties.

“I’m in favor of the property owner here. I think that’s where the judge will go,” Perry said.

Chappie spent the past eight years as a county commissioner. He said similar easement issues exist all over the Island.

JULY 26, 2017

FUN IN THE SUN

Across 1 Was missing 7 Cell download 10 "The Wild Duck" playwright 15 Inclusive term 16 Engage in a bit of selfcriticism 17 Word on a rĂŠsumĂŠ 18 Item with pips 19 Scene when stores open on Black Friday?

21 "I believe in the absolute __ ... of humanity": Gandhi 23 Investment initials 24 CPR provider 25 Certain rider 26 Boost, say 29 Quill __ 31 Superhero preparing to cook dinner?

35 Yachting, perhaps 36 Relies (on)

Answers to 07-19-17 Crossword Puzzle.

37 Eclair big enough to share?

42 Pub patron's words 44 Pole-to-pole link 45 Efficient wall decor for a steel vault?

53 Tirana is its cap.

54 Blu-ray player error message 55 Sandusky's lake 56 N.T. book 58 Comprehended 59 Winery event 62 Just tempting enough ... and what 19-, 31-, 37and 45-Across are?

65 "Move it!"

66 Principle 67 Dickens' "__ Mutual Friend" 68 Fountain offering 69 Minor surgery targets 70 Old spy gp.

71 Heads (toward)

Down 1 Started 2 Like many Schoenberg compositions 3 Cell component 4 Actors Kevin and Richard 5 Article in Der Spiegel 6 Spanish deity 7 "__ you kidding?"

8 Lock up, say 9 '60s Moore role 10 One of an academic octet 11 Sit tight 12 Subject of a 1765 act 13 Defunct carrier 14 O.T. book 20 Woodworking tool 22 More practical 27 Vacation time 28 "Honor Thy Father" author 30 FDR was once its governor 32 Move it 33 Violin attachment?

34 Fresh, to a Frau 37 Farm houses 38 Cape named by Charles I 39 "__ Love": "Carmen Jones" song 40 Demand 41 Decline 42 Org. encouraging vaccination 43 "Bewitched, Bothered

and Bewildered" musical 46 Inedible wrap 47 Affirming retort 48 Rue family tree 49 Wrap up 50 Sibelius' "Valse __"

THE SUN

51 Dead __ 52 "Holy moly!"

57 Cancel the dele 60 __ box 61 Box __ 62 NYC Freedom Tower

locale 63 Nos. on driver's licenses 64 Anniversary no

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THE SUN

Obituaries Joseph Irvin Bobbitt, Sr. Joseph Irvin Bobbitt, Sr. (Irv) went to be with his Lord and Savior on July 14, 2017.

Irv was born on Sept. 29,1927, in Greensboro, N.C. He graduated from New Hanover High School in Wilmington, N.C., in 1945; served as a lieutenant in the 24th Infantry Division in Japan immediately after World War II. He graduated from Duke University in 1952, spent the next 27 years in New York and Mountain Lakes N.J., where he became president of King Container Corp. Moved to Anna Maria, Fla., in 1979, was owner/operator of Shoreland Water Co. in Bradenton. He was saved at Island Baptist Church (now CrossPointe Fellowship) in June of 1983, serving through the years as Sunday school superintendent, deacon and xhairman of the Mission Team. He also served on the administration committee of the Manatee Southern Baptist Association and as a member of the State Board of Missions of the Florida Baptist Convention and as a board member of the North River Care Pregnancy Center.

He is survived by his wife Eloise of 27 years; sons Joseph Bobbitt Jr. (Sandy), of Bradenton, Smith Bobbitt (Lisa), of Houston Texas, sister-in-law Gayle Spear/Bergquist (Richard); grandchildren Elizabeth Soffera (T.J.) Josh Bobbitt (Laura), of Wilmington, N.C.; Lee, Evan and Scott Bobbitt, of Houston Texas, and Geri Nuckols (Philip), of Jonesborough, Tenn.; adoptive granddaughter Tsukasa Sato, of Tokyo, Japan; great grandchildren Thomas and Mathew Soffera, Lily and Gus Bobbitt, Isaac and Mallory Nuckols. A memorial service was held at CrossPointe Fellowship, Holmes Beach, on Saturday July 22. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to North River Care Pregnancy Center or The Mission Team of CrossPointe Fellowship.

Shawn J. Long Shawn J. Long, 52, Bradenton, died July 19, 2017.

He was predeceased by his mother, April DellaCroce; survived by wife, Lisa; sons, Nick and Kyle; father, Joseph; brothers, Kevin and Michael; and sisters, Jen Bowman and Maggie Ingraldi .

Memorial services will be held by the family at a later date. Brown & Sons Funeral Homes & Crematory, 43rd Street Chapel, Bradenton, is in charge.

Condolences www.brownandsonsfuneral.com

Mark Edwin Leasure Mark Edwin Leasure, of Bradenton, Fla., passed July 19, 2017, after a long fight with kidney cancer.

Mark was born Dec 3, 1951, in Greenville, Pa., to Robert & Vivian (Cooper) Leasure. He has been a

resident of Bradenton since 1983. He attended Greenville High School and graduated from Penn State with a bachelor of science in business administration.

He was a member of the Theta Delta Chi Fraternity.

He moved to Newport News, Va., and was in management at Rose's department store. He also worked in the construction field. He moved to Bradenton and managed Circle K stores on Anna Maria Island before going to Honduras with the Peace Corps from 1985-1987.

When he returned, he went to work for Kmart in 1987, where he met and married his wife, Ann, in 1988. His greatest accomplishment is his two sons, Mark, Jr. and Steven. The boys were the light of his life, the apples of his eye, his whole world. In 1990, he started his own business, Leasure's Lawn Service.

He retired in March of 2016. He enjoyed sports of all kinds He was very involved with soccer and baseball with his sons, coaching and managing their teams.

He helped manage an undefeated MSLL team, Wood Title, with friend Bob Knox. He worked many hours as a volunteer and was a recipient of the Volunteer of the Year award. He also liked to spend afternoons at Fratello's with his friends, especially Frank Hayworth and gosh, could he nurse a brewski! Right, guys? He always looked forward to, and was very pleased, to get a visit yearly from friends Dwight and Sharon Walker, from Virginia, when they would visit the area.

He is survived by his wife, Ann Marie (Cryderman, Sprouse, MacIntosh); sons, Mark, Jr. and Steven; stepsons, Michael MacIntosh and Shawn Sprouse (Chandra); granddaughters, Micayla Ann and Lillian Marie MacIntosh; sister Carol and brother-in-law, Harry Ramsey; nephew, Robert; great-nephew, Isaac Ramsey; niece, Susan (Rex Kirby); great niece, Layla; granddogs Sadie and Sport.

He was predeceased by his parents, Robert and Vivian (Cooper) Leasure, brother James and sister Susan.

Visitation was held on Monday, July 24, 2017, at Brown & Sons Funeral Homes & Crematory, 43rd Street Chapel, 604 43rd St. W., Bradenton, FL 34209.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Tidewell Hospice, Inc. Condolences made to www.brownandsonsfuneral.com.

Jacqueline 'Jackie' Bolle Meaker Jacqueline "Jackie" Bolle Meaker, of Holmes Beach, Fla., born July 7, 1932, passed away May 22, 2017.

She is survived by her children Gerrit, Sarah, and Mrs. Matthew (Rachel) Malinowski; and grandchildren Lily Meaker, Jacob and Nicolas Malinowski.

A memorial service will be held Thursday, July 27, 2017 at 2 p.m. at Christ Episcopal Church, 4030 Manatee Ave W., Bradenton.

She will be buried with her daughter Rebecca in Torrington, Conn. Contributions in lieu of flowers may be made to American Association of University Women -AAUW of Manatee County Scholarship Fund.

Charles 'Ed' Walker Charles “Ed” Walker, 73, of Holmes Beach, died on July 16, 2017, at Blake Medical Center of natural causes due to complications with pneumonia. He grew up in Kirkland (Frankfort), Ind., but made Florida his home.

Ed is preceded in death by his parents, Floyd and Neva (Davis) Walker, of Kirkland, Ind. He is survived in death by his significant other, Barbara (San) Slayton; three

JULY 26, 2017

children, daughters, Marsha (Cliff) Bifaro, of Floral City, Fla., and Michelle (preceded in death) (Brad) Stone, of W. Lafayette, Ind. and son, Jack (Jodie) Walker, of Mulberry, Ind. Ed had seven grandchildren, Tosha Sandvold, Jacob Walker (preceded in death), Jason Oliver, Alex Oliver, Zackary Stanfield, Jordan Walker, Shelby Bifaro and Joey Bifaro. He also had 10 wonderful great grandchildren. He had four brothers – Floyd Walker, Larry Walker, Alvin Walker and Richard Walker; and two sisters – Judy Blackburn and Brenda Maggart.

Ed was the most fun loving, caring and a wonderful son, dad and brother. You could not ask for a better person He will be missed so much.

There will be a celebration of Ed's Life at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 5, 2017, at the Anchor Inn on Holmes Beach. Brown & Sons Funeral Homes & Crematory 26th Street Chapel, Bradenton, is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be made to www. brownandsonsfuneral.com.

BEACH BEAT Anna Maria

7/20, lost property, 300 block of N. Shore Drive. A trash can was missing.

7/16, lost property, 800 block of N. Shore Drive. The subject reported her driver’s license was missing.

Bradenton Beach

7/15, warrant arrest, Bridge Street anchorage, 200 Bridge St. The officer was inspecting a boat and he found the owner had a warrant for his arrest.

7/7, resisting arrest without violence and fleeing to elude a law enforcement officer, Coquina Park, 1900 S. Gulf Drive. Police were alerted about a woman in the area threatening to hurt herself. She called her husband, and they traced her phone to Coquina Beach. They found her vehicle in the parking lot, unlocked with her keys and purse inside. While they searched for her, she got in her vehicle and police chased her. She drove toward a patrol car at a high rate of speed and stopped just short of it. They surrounded her car and she would not come out. They finally broke out a window and got her out, having to use pepper spray to subdue her. At the police station, she was calm.

She told police she was stressed because she could not afford to pay for her medications.

7/8, domestic violence, 1800 block of Gulf Drive North.

The subject was arrested after an argument turned violent.

7/19, criminal mischief, 2300 block of Avenue C. The back window of an SUV was smashed out.

7/20, warrant arrest, 200 Bridge Street. The officer smelled marijuana from a car with three males in it.

While investigating, he found one of the males had a warrant for his arrest.

7/21, driving with a suspended license with knowledge, 2200 block of Gulf Drive South. The officer ran a computer check on the subject, and it showed his license was suspended and he had been caught before. He was arrested.

Holmes Beach

7/20, DUI, Kingfish Boat Ramp. A man driving a vehicle was arrested after failing a field sobriety test at the boat ramp.

JULY 26, 2017

classified

ANNOUNCEMENTS

AUTHORITY ONE CLEANING : Residential, Commercial, Construction and Vacation Rentals . Also available Power Washing and Windows. Call 941-2515948

THE BEST VOLUNTEER position on the island. The AMI Historical Museum needs docents and bread makers. Call Lynn at 813758-3234 or lbrennan47@ gmail.com ROSER FOOD BANK needs donations of cash and non-perishable food. Donations boxes are located at the Church, Moose Club, Walgreen's and The Anna Maria Island Sun Newspaper (corner of Gulf and Palm).

AUTO/ BOAT DETAILING PROFESSIONAL PRESSURE WASHING. Residential & Commercial. Window Cleaning, Car & Boat Detailing. Free Estimates. Call or text Adrian's Detailing LLC 941-405-6746

BABY SITTER RED CROSS CERTIFIED baby sitter. Honor student.

Call or text Isabel 941-5457995 NO WORRIES SITTER! Kids, Seniors, Pets. Peggy, R.N. Other Services too. Call 727-902-7784

BOATS: PARTS & SERVICES & SALES ISLAND BOAT SALES If I List It, It's Sold.

"Business On A Hand Shake" Not Using Your Boat, Let's Sell It. I Also Buy Boats. Dave/ Owner 941-228-3489

CARPET CLEANING QUALITY COUNTS. CARPET cleaning. Upholstery cleaning. Tile & grout cleaning. Island's favorite cleaner. Manatee Chamber Member. Great price/free estimates. Call 941-7561082

CLEANING SERVICE TOTAL HOME SERVICE CLEANING : Residential, Commercial & Rentals.

Professional and Reliable. Call 941-756-4570

AMISUN.COM

Call us today! 941-778-3986

THOMPSON CLEANING SERVICE CommercialResidential-Marine.

Island Based Company.

Seasonal Deep Cleaning-Weekly-Occasional.

Call for Free Estimate.

941-281-4951

COMMERCIAL SALES NEED 9300 Sq Ft WAREHOUSE to store your (CAR) collection?

Bradenton, near Airport. $619,000 Island Real Estate Ask Alan Galletto 941-232-2216

COMPUTER SERVICES EMPIRE COMPUTER SERVICE Computer problems fixed in your home or office. The fastest friendliest service around. Serving the Island since 2004. Call 941-739-6424

EMPLOYMENT

HOME TRUE VALUE HARDWARE. 5324 Marina Dr. Holmes Beach has an opening for a part time cashier, 2 days a week. email application to hometvhardware@aol.com or leave app with our cashier.

MARKETING ASSISTANT PART-TIME. Busy office, strong communications skills, computer skills.

Need to be flexible.

Send Resume to PO Box 1394, Anna Maria, Fl 34216

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

FITNESS TRAINER SEE WORLD RECORD (Ten Ton Set Challenge) on YouTube. Trainer of more than 30 champions. Men & Women $400 per hour. Call 727-999-1001

THE SUN

GARAGE, MOVING, RUMMAGE & YARD SALES ROSER THRIFT SHOP: Open 9:30a.m.-2p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, 10a.m.1p.m. Saturday. Annex open till 12p.m. Donations preferred on Wednesdays 9-11a.m. 511 Pine Ave., Anna Maria. 941-779-2733.

HAULING SITE CLEAN-UP to trash outs we can handle it all.

Call us for your dumpsters/ trash needs today 941-7538772

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 # CRC1327296.

Call Jerry Kern 941-7781115 www.kernconstructioninc.com “HONEY DO" HOME Repairs & Handyman Services.

35 yrs experience. Painting, drywall, tile, woodwork. All tasks. Call 941-896-5256 or 941-807-5256 www.honeydohomerepairinc.com HANDYMAN. RETIRED ENGINEER. Free estimates.

“No job too Small”. Repairs, replacements, improvements, wall TV’s, shelves, cabinets, calking etc. Call Jim 941-448-7806 GET’R DONE DRYWALL, INC Specializing in Remodels & Repairs. Island Resident for 18 years. Call Neil Cell 941-962-1194 WALY PRECISION PAINTING: painting, drywall, stucco, and remodeling, commercial/residential, licensed & insured. Call 941-448-1928 or 941-4656324 www.WalyPrecisionPainting.us

BESPOKE SERVICES, MASTER CARPENTER for all home & office repairs. Also painting, decorating, decking & dock repairs,. Large or small works. Reasonable Rates! Island guy for Island work. Call RICHARD 941-448-3571

LANDSCAPING & LAWN CARE

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

Call Rafael 941-778-4823 or Veronik 941-526-7941 SHELL DELIVERED AND spread $55/yd. Hauling all kinds of gravel, mulch, top soil with free estimates. Call Larry at 941-795-7775, "shell phone" 941-720-0770 STRAIGHT SHOT LANDSCAPE. Specializing in Old Florida Seashell driveways and scapes. Also Rock, Mulch, & Soil. Free estimates. Call Shark Mark 941-301-6067

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE NORMS TOWING gives Notice of Foreclosure of Lien and intent to sell these vehicles on 7/26/2017 9:00am at 1855 63rd Ave E Bradenton FL 34203 pursuant to subsection 713.78 of the Florida Statutes.

NORMS TOWING reserves the right to accept or reject any and/or all bids.

FICTITIOUS NAME NOTICE: Notice is hereby given that Frank Zaffina owner desiring to engage in business under the fictitious of “Frankie Z and Co.” located in Manatee County, Florida, intends to register said name with the Division of Corporations, Florida Department of State, pursuant to section 865.09 of the Florida Statutes

LOST & FOUND LOST: LADIES AVIATOR sunglass on Holmes Beach, 65th street. Wed 6/28 Sunset. Reward. 813-546-3982 STOLEN FROM 217 PINE AVE. Art work from front of house. Multi-colored Fish.

REWARD! Call 813-2305900

LOST HEAVY GOLD CHAIN with Blue Stone near 47th Ave in Holmes Beach on December 26. REWARD! Call 908-963-1702

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PETS

LOST MY GRANDMOTHER'S gold wedding band (initials inside and date) at Coquina Beach area. Reward.

Call 407-579-1621

ARE YOU WANTING to vacation and not worry if your pet is lonely. I will overnight in your home, so your animal can stay in his own environment. Home Sitting is also available.

Great References. Call Mary 941-405-2496

MOVING & STORAGE

POOL SERVICES

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

FOUR SEASONS POOL SERVICE. AMI & West Bradenton. Certified Pool Operator. Residential/commercial. Chemical Service Licensed & Insured. Call Dennis Clark 941-737-5657

TWO MEN and a TRUCK. Movers who care. Local and Long distance. www. twomen.com Call 941-3591904. We sell boxes!

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 941794-0455 PROFESSIONAL PAINTING SERVICES. Prompt & Reliable. Meticulous, Thorough, Quality Workmanship. Interior/Exterior. Wall paper removal..

Also minor repairs & carpentry. Free written detailed estimates. Bill Witaszek 941-307-9315 BAYSIDE COMMERCIAL PAINTING. David Padyani Call 941-565-9446 or Larry Zimmer 941-2248123 Licensed & Insured

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

PRINTING CUSTOM DIGITAL PRINTING "Your printing dream to reality" Specializing in Dye sublimation Printing.

Graphic Design. Performance Active ware. Logo Design. Call Rhonda 330-550-4847

REAL ESTATE HOMES & CONDOS FOR SALE

FROM THE HIGH $200’s. Only minutes from the beach, this new active adult community is perfectly located just south of Manatee Ave, off Village Green Pkwy.

Perfectly designed, open 2BR or 3BR/2BA plus den & 2CG floor plans.

Luxurious amenities, pool, spa, gym, pickle ball and fenced-in dog park. HOA only $190/ month. Models open daily. Contact us 941254-3330 www.MirabellaFlorida.com

PERSONAL SERVICES NEED MATH TUTOR? I am a Certified 6th-12th Grade Math Teacher with 30 years experience tutoring. Call 941-524-4171

113 BEACH AVE 3BR/3BA Pool Home. Great location West of Gulf Drive with Direct beach access! $1,055,000 Call Charles Buky Coldwell Banker 941228-6086

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REAL ESTATE HOMES & CONDOS FOR SALE CANAL FRONT HOMES Holmes Bch - Key Royale GULF FRONT CONDOS Gulf Place, La Casa L’Plage, Waters Edge & MORE. Island Real Estate ASK Alan Galletto 941-232-2216 FOR SALE: THE PORCH HOUSE. 2BR/2BA, 2 blocks to beach! Boyd Realty.

Scott May 941-238-8377 or Brenda Boyd May 941-7308589 VIVE LA FRANCE. Visiter Tout Les Courtages De Anna Maria et Bradenton. Avec Robert, Agent Immobilier, Membre Du Manatee Listing Service (MLS). Robert@gulfbayrealty.com 941-730-1291 cell. Gulfbay Realty of A.M, Inc.

REAL ESTATE WANTED ANNA MARIA FAMILY looking to buy Full Time Residence. Ground level 3BR/2BA. Not a Developer.

Call 941-778-8235

Call us today! 941-778-3986

RENTALS: ANNUAL 2BR/2BA CONDO IN CORTEZ at Smugglers Landing. 2 pools and workout room. Tile in most of unit, washer / dryer inside. 40 ft. boat slip. Split floor plan & under building parking.

Background & credit required. $1700 per month & security. BRADENTON 1BR/2BA upstairs condo on 75th St. near St. Peter & Paul . Water, sewer basic cable incl. $925/ mo $925 security dep. $100 application fee.

HISTORIC CORTEZ VILLAGE Wonderful colorful cottage home. 2BR/1BA centrally located . Cottage is 1000 s/f of old Florida charm. Newer carpets, clean appliances, a great place to call home. Carport & Washer /dryer hook up.

Small pet with a $200 fee! Close to beaches of Anna Maria! Background and credit check required for any applicant over 18. 2-3 bedroom executive level townhouse in gated community with Bayview, 2 car garage, private elevator, treetop loft , Almost 2200 S/F. Many amenities including kayaks, pools, workout center, restaurant and bar all on site. Application approval required. Ask for Ed DUNCAN REAL ESTATE 941-779-0304 www. teamduncan.com

ANNUAL RENTAL and CONDOMINIUM Association management serviced by (2) offices open 7 days a week! Contact junew@ islandreal.com – 941-3451295 - Island Real Estate of Anna Maria Island, Inc. 2BR/2BA half duplex in Heritage Pines $995 annual lease. 2BR/2BA furnished in West Bay Cove $1600 annual lease. 1BR/1BA unfurnished duplex on island $1050 annual lease.

2BR/2BA furnished at West Bay Point Moorings $1850 annual lease Contact A Paradise 941-778-4800 BRADENTON: CHARMING UPDATED 2BR/1BA Duplex. 2111B 6th Ave W. $1100/mo First, Last & Security Deposit plus Credit Check. Call 941809-2488 ANNUAL RENTAL- HOLMES BEACH 2BR/1.5BA, carport, storage, W/D hookups $1,720/mo. No Pets, Non-Smoking. Call Fran Maxon Real Estate for details 941-778-2307.

WEST BRADENTON, at Village Green: Private Villa with spectacular views. 2 beds/2 baths, over 2100 SF living area with all new paint, flooring and 2 car garage. Over 55 gated community, no pets, annual lease only at $1900/ mo. Call Gulf Coast Property 941-782-1559, to view www.choosegulfcoast.com Agent Matt Pertosoff

JULY 26, 2017

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

ANNA MARIA ISLAND, Fl Condos. Pool beach access, fully equipped $650-$800/ wk Redekercondos.com 941-704-7525 or 941-7781915 SUMMER WEEKLY RENTALS Available: 2BR/1BA Gulf front from $1,100 per week. 2BR with sleeping loft Bayfront from $1,100 per week, 4BR/3BA Bayside from $1,450 per week. No pools. 2018 SEASONAL RENTALS Available: 2BR/1BA Gulf front from $3,850 per month, 2BR with sleeping loft from $3,850 per month. Three month minimum. Horizon Realty of Anna Maria 941-778-0426 kringco@ tampabay.rr.com NORTH SHORE DRIVE, Anna Maria. 3BR/2BA Seasonal Rental across the street from Gulf.

Heated Pool.

AMIRENTAL.com

AMISUN.COM

GREAT SUMMER RATES! Weekly, Monthly.

3BR/2BA NW Bradenton. Call Grace 941-2012190

TRANSPORTATION AMI TAXI metered-on-callcards accepted. Airport: Tampa $95, Sarasota $40, Clearwater $85, Orlando $165. Call 800-301-4816. amitaxi4u@gmail.com, www.amitaxi.com

ANYTIME TRANSPORTATION to all airports, appointments, casino, cruises, etc. Tampa $60. Sarasota $30. Pets welcome. Very dependable. Reasonable rates. Contact Jeanne.

941-779-5095 ADMIRAL TOWN CAR Professional chauffeur, taxi prices! Airports (1@ $75, 10 $150 to Tampa), Appointments anywhere.

Credit cards accepted. Phil 941-320-1120 admiraltowncar@gmail.com, Licensed & Insured ROGER'S AIRPORT SERVICE. Tampa, St. Pete/ Clearwater, Sarasota/ Bradenton. Call Roger 941773-1469

www.amisun.com

JULY 26, 2017

business & service directory computer service

home improvement

THE SUN

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

HAULING

painting

home improvement

transportation HOME SITTING / PET SITTING

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JULY 26, 2017