Anna Maria property owners getting tax break
The Anna Maria mayor and city commissioners are lowering the city’s property taxes.
BY JOE HENDRICKS
SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
ANNA MARIA – City property owners will see their property taxes reduced in the coming year.
On July 25, the Anna Maria City Commission voted 3-2 to adopt a tentative 1.65 millage rate for the coming 2024-25 fiscal year that begins Oct. 1. The adopted tentative millage rate can be further reduced before the budget is finalized in September, but it cannot be increased.
Anna Maria’s current 2.05 millage rate has long been the lowest millage rate on Anna
Maria Island and in Manatee County, joined last year by Holmes Beach.
On June 27, Mayor Dan Murphy proposed lowering the millage rate to 1.82 mills, with the possibility of bringing it even lower. When presenting his proposed $10.4 million capital project plan on July 25, Murphy proposed setting the tentative millage rate at 1.75 mills.
“My goal is to reduce the taxes in this city for the first time in history. It’s not a huge cut, but it is a cut. It’s a step in the right direction,” Murphy said, noting the proposed rate would result in Anna Maria property owners paying a lower city tax bill next year.
Murphy said lowering the millage rate to 1.75 mills would
leave the city with a $1.21 contingency fund for the new fiscal year. The contingency fund for the current budget year is $981,851. The non-earmarked contingency fund can be used to cover unexpected expenditures, including hurricane clean up and recovery efforts.
COMMISSION DISCUSSION
During the lengthy discussion that followed, commissioners Gary McMullen and Charlie Salem lobbied for a 1.65 tentative millage rate and Commissioner Kathleen Morgan later joined them in adopting that tentative millage rate.
Commissioners Jon Crane and Mark Short expressed support
SEE TAXES, PAGE 26
Guthrie net camp being demolished under court order
The demolition in progress is the end of a six-year battle to keep the net camp.
BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com
CORTEZ - After a six-year legal battle between Raymond “Junior” Guthrie and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), the net camp he built in 2017 in Sarasota Bay is being dismantled.
FDEP filed a civil suit against Guthrie in 2018 claiming that he had constructed an enclosed docking structure over sovereign submerged lands in Sarasota Bay without a permit.
The FDEP prevailed and on May 7, 12th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Edward Nicholas ordered the structure to be removed in 120 days, making the deadline Sept. 4.
Guthrie maintained that his family had a net camp in that location since his grandfather built one in the 1940s.
SEE GUTHRIE, PAGE 25
Treehouse demolition imminent
The treehouse owners have fought to keep the structure aloft since it was built in 2011.
BY KRISTIN SWAIN SUN STAFF WRITER | kswain@amisun.com
HOLMES BEACH – A controversial treehouse is scheduled to be dismantled by July 31 under a court order from the 12th Judicial Circuit Court for Manatee County.
Treehouse owner Lynn Tran said the city’s building department issued a demolition permit on July 23.
During a June hearing, an attorney for Tran and co-owner Richard Hazen, the owners of Angelinos Sea Lodge, said that a demolition permit from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) expires on July 31, creating the demolition deadline.
The couple has defended the treehouse against claims that it was built illegally since it was built
SEE TREEHOUSE, PAGE 28
CINDY LANE | SUN
The roof was removed from Junior Guthrie’s net camp last week, the first step in its demolition.
LaRose sues Kaleta over parking contract termination
Lawsuit
claims include fraudulent misrepresentation, breach of agreement and unjust enrichment.
BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com
BRADENTON BEACH -
Following Shawn Kaleta’s termination of Easy Parking Group’s (EPG) contract to manage a Bridge Street parking lot, EPG owner Josh LaRose has filed a lawsuit against Kaleta and Beach to Bay Investments Inc. seeking damages in excess of $50,000.
LaRose entered into the agreement on Jan. 12 with Beach to Bay Investments to provide management and operation services in exchange for a percentage of the net revenues generated by Kaleta’s parking lots, after agreed improvements and startup costs were repaid by Kaleta and basic operating expenses deducted from the gross revenues.
The initial term of the agreement was one year, with termination permitted without cause after the first six months with 30 days written notice.
On June 11, LaRose received a letter from Beach to Bay Investments Manager
The lawsuit, filed in the 12th Judicial Circuit Court on July 18, claims fraudulent misrepresentation, unjust enrichment and breach of agreement. The summons was served on the registered agent for Beach to Bay Investments, attorney Louis Najmy, on July 25. He has 20 days from then to respond on behalf of Kaleta, the president of Beach to Bay Investments. Kaleta is the only principal listed for the LLC on the Florida Division of Corporations website.
BREACH OF AGREEMENT CLAIM
The letter to LaRose states in part, “All meter equipment, signage, parking equipment and other equipment installed on the parking lots must be removed by July 26, 2024 or they will become the property of Beach to Bay Investments Inc.”
Sam Negrin terminating the agreement effective July 12, six months from the contract’s inception.
Negrin wrote The Sun in a text message on July 28 that EPG owes money to Beach to Bay.
“We are surprised they sued in response to our letter seeking payment,” he wrote. “We look forward to resolving the issues and recovering the funds owed to us.”
The suit claims that immediately after sending the notice of termination, and prior to July 12, Beach to Bay and/or Kaleta entered the parking lots and removed EPG’s parking app signs, installing new signs with instructions for making payment using a payment app, QR code or Text to Pay system with payments sent directly to Kaleta or his affiliate. Replacement parking meters also were installed and tape was placed over EPG parking meters, according to the complaint.
LESLIE LAKE | SUN
Easy Parking Group is no longer managing the paid parking lot on Bridge Street and Gulf Drive South following Shawn Kaleta’s termination of the company’s contract with Beach to Bay Investments Inc.
ISLAND NEWS
IN BRIEF
Sun shines in press contest
The Anna Maria Island Sun staff earned five awards in the Florida Press Association’s Weekly Newspaper Contest at the 2024 Florida Media Conference on July 26 in Orlando.
Outdoor columnist Rusty Chinnis took home first place in the Outdoor and Recreation category for his Reel Time column, “Vote water,” encouraging voters to select candidates with proven environmental records, and second place in the Serious Column category, the Sally Latham Memorial Award, for “Reel Time: If we don’t do it, who will?” about efforts to stem harmful algae blooms.
Reporter Joe Hendricks won second place in the Feature Story: Non-Profile category for “Painted rock honors young woman,” about a local resident’s discovery of a memorial rock and his search for the family who left it on the Island.
Reporter Leslie Lake won third place in the Hurricane Breaking News Coverage category for “Cortez fishing village inundated by Hurricane Idalia.”
Editor Cindy Lane won third place in the Editorial category for “Smoke, mirrors and AMI’s ‘parking problem’ ” about the surreptitious reasons behind a proposal to build a three-story parking garage at Manatee Beach.
City considering county skimmer boat use
Holmes Beach Commissioner Dan Diggins may have found a way for the city to save a few hundred thousand dollars, if Manatee County leaders are willing to share one of their two algae skimmer boats with the city. Diggins said he’d discovered that the county has two algae skimmer boats that can work in canals that may meet the city’s needs without having to purchase a new boat. Commissioner Terry Schaefer noted that the purchase of a custom algae skimmer boat designed to maneuver the city’s tight canals was already in the budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year but he encouraged Diggins to speak with Public Works Supervisor Sage Kamiya to first see if the county boats would meet the city’s needs and then to talk with county leaders to see if the boats could be borrowed by the city in the event of a red tide or blue-green algae event. The city’s budget is scheduled to be finalized in September.
Food truck ordinance on agenda
Bradenton Beach commissioners will discuss a food truck ordinance at a meeting on Thursday, Aug. 1 at 6 p.m. at the Katie Pierola Commission Chambers, 107 Gulf Drive N. The Aug. 15 commission meeting is cancelled.
Parks committee members reappointed
Two members will be back on the Holmes Beach Parks and Beautification Committee when the group resumes meeting in the fall after a summer break. City commissioners voted to reappoint members Mary Lange and Kim Gargiule as full members with two-year terms expiring on Aug. 1, 2026. Joining the two will be Cathy Sue Tobias as second alternate with a two-year term also expiring Aug. 1, 2026.
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Bradenton Beach budgeting begins
The city of Bradenton Beach anticipates receiving $2.47 million in ad valorem tax revenues during the new fiscal year.
BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
BRADENTON BEACH – City officials will maintain the current 2.3329 millage rate as part of the $4.85 million budget being prepared for the 2024-25 fiscal year that begins Oct. 1.
The proposed budget represents a $359,969 increase over the current fiscal year.
The Bradenton Beach mayor, commissioners, department heads and city treasurer held their first 2024-25 fiscal year budget meeting on July 16.
“The budget is the single most important document that we act on throughout our year. The budget is a reflection of where we’ve been, where we are and where we’re going as a community,” Mayor John Chappie said.
Bradenton Beach’s annual budgeting process begins with each department head preparing a departmental budget that serves as a needs and wish list. The city treasurer then compiles the departmental budgets into a budget worksheet for the mayor and commission to review and tentatively approve department by department. On July 16, the mayor and commission tentatively approved each proposed departmental budget and the proposed 2.3329 millage rate.
City Treasurer Shayne Thompson said he previously met with each department head and commission member and the new fiscal year budget is built on two primary assumptions: maintaining the current 2.3329 millage rate and providing the city’s hourly employees with 8% wage increases and a $500 increase to the tiered longevity bonuses that will now range from $1,250 to $2,500 according to length of time employed by the city. It was noted the city’s salaried department heads would
also receive pay increases, but no exact figures were provided.
“With those assumptions, the budget is very sound,” Thompson said.
Thompson said that he and the city’s department heads will receive 8% salary increases. To keep pace with other cities, the department heads and Thompson, who is not a department head, will also receive “salary equalization adjustments” to be added to their annual salaries.
City Clerk Terri Sanclemente will receive a $10,000 adjustment in addition to an 8% salary increase. An 8% salary increase and a $10,000 adjustment will also be added to the future salary of the yet-to-be-hired replacement for Public Works Director Tom Woodard, who resigned this year.
Thompson and Police Chief John Cosby will receive $5,000 salary adjustments in addition to 8% salary increases. Building Official Darin Cushing is contracted through a third-party firm and his salary is determined by his direct employer.
According to Thompson, the city anticipates receiving $2.47 million in ad valorem tax revenues during the coming fiscal year, compared to $2.26 million during the current fiscal year. Due to increased property values, maintaining the current millage rate will subject Bradenton Beach property owners to higher property tax bills.
Factoring in grants, matching funds and various other taxes and revenue sources, the city anticipates receiving $5.05 million in total revenues during
the new fiscal year, versus $4.56 million in the current fiscal year, Thompson noted some non-ad valorem revenue projections might change slightly before the final budget is published and adopted in September.
During the budget meeting, Thompson said the city hopes to add $225,000 to $250,000 to the uncommitted reserve fund. Cosby said a healthy reserve fund is vital because it can be used to temporarily fund post-disaster recovery and cleanup efforts while awaiting reimbursement from FEMA and other agencies.
THE NUMBERS
Sanclemente proposes $833,347 for administrative department expenditures in the coming fiscal year, including wages and employee benefits, a $74,254 departmental increase.
The budget proposes $208,009 in city commission expenditures, including the mayor’s $9,600 annual salary, each commissioner’s $4,800 annual salary and a $16,000 increase for attorney fees, for a $19,140 overall increase.
Cosby proposes $1.92 million in police department expenditures that include slightly more than $1 million for wages and benefits, a $141,043 overall increase. He also proposes spending $92,400 for emergency management operations and $109,455 for code enforcement.
Acting as the interim public works director since former director Tom Woodard’s recent departure, Cosby proposes $503,199 for street and road
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN Bradenton Beach officials discussed the proposed 2024-25 budget on July 16.
Re-imagining Pine Avenue bid selected
BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
ANNA MARIA – Longboat
Key-based Eason Builders is the city of Anna Maria’s first choice to install new brick paver sidewalks and new crosswalks along Pine Avenue between Gulf Drive and North Shore Drive.
On July 25, Mayor Dan Murphy and the city commission discussed three bids received for the first phase of a multi-phase brick paver sidewalk installation project that’s part of the greater Reimagining Pine Avenue safety improvement project.
The Phase 1 work will consist of brick paver sidewalks being installed atop the unpaved, meandering pedestrian paths along Pine Avenue between Gulf and North Shore. The existing concrete sidewalk on the other side of Pine will remain in place for now.
For the Phase 1 project only, Eason Builders bid $233,704, Tampa-based Mali Construction bid $272,796 and the Sarasota-
based C-Squared construction company bid $665,290. Because C-Squared’s bid was so much higher, Murphy recommended excluding that bid from further consideration.
Murphy noted the Eason and Mali bids were close to the $181,053 previously estimated by the George F. Young engineering firm that designed and engineered the Reimagining Pine Avenue project.
Murphy sought and received commission authorization to engage in further discussions with Eason Builders.
“I’d to go to Eason Builders and do fact-finding and see if I can come back with an acceptable contract with Eason Builders,” Murphy told the commission. “If that fails, I’ll come back to the commission again and try to come back with an acceptable contract from Mali.”
He noted he can only enter into contract discussions with one company at a time.
Murphy said additional cost
Brick paver sidewalks will be installed along the length of Pine Avenue where no concrete sidewalks currently exist.
savings might be realized if the city’s public works department does the pavement striping and marking for the crosswalk installations.
Murphy noted the bids must also be reviewed and approved by the Florida Department of Transportation – the state agency overseeing the city’s expenditure of the state appropriation that is
funding a significant portion of the Reimagining Pine Avenue project.
During the past couple of years, the city previously issued four separate requests for proposals for the sidewalk and crosswalk installations. In all four instances, C-Squared was the only bidder. The city commission rejected all four of C-Squared’s previous
bids because of the proposed cost and the commission’s ongoing desire to receive proposals from multiple bidders.
Commissioner Mark Short said receiving competitive bids for the first time illustrates what the mayor and commission have believed all along, that C-Squared’s bids were abnormally high.
“While people may be frustrated that we’ve been talking about this project for a couple of years, it does show we’ve been prudent about how we’ve approached this utilizing not just our money, but the state’s money,” Short said.
Future block-by-block project phases will result in brick paver sidewalks being installed along the length of Pine Avenue where no concrete sidewalks currently exist.
The phase 2 bids for sidewalk and crosswalk installations between North Shore Drive and Crescent Drive are expected to be revealed and discussed soon.
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Kudos to Anna Maria officials
The City of Anna Maria gave additional funds to The Center of Anna Maria Island and the Island Players in Anna Maria. It's very hard to run a non-profit on the Island, as many can imagine. These organizations work very hard to raise money to keep the doors open for the public to enjoy. Most assume that a non-profit on our Island rakes in the cash; the perception is not correct. The loss of permanent residents affects the bottom line, leaving current residents and visitors to support the non-profits. Thank goodness for the citizens and visitors that do contribute.
The city did not have to help The Center with funds to replace the air conditioner or the roof at the Players.
Thank you to the commission for supporting these two nonprofits that have been in our community for over 60 years.
Carol Whitmore Holmes Beach
Why I joined the Republican party
I want to share a personal journey that led me to become your grassroots, conservative candidate for Manatee County Commission District 3. When
I moved to Florida in April 2021, I decided to leave the Democratic Party and join the Republican Party. Fortunately, thousands upon thousands of ordinary Floridians have done the same. For me, this decision was a result of deep reflection on my life, values and a desire to positively impact my community.
Growing up in a workingclass family in the Washington suburbs, I experienced firsthand the slow decline that forced many families like mine into poverty or on our streets - the American Dream put out of reach. My environment in a blue state taught me government should be the answer and that standing in lines for benefits was normal in America.
Towards my late 20s, after a few tough years, I began to enjoy a successful career and thought again about my early childhood experiences. I felt I could relate to Reagan’s maxim: “Government is not the solution.” My experience changed me and I realized over time one can only help themselves. My beliefs about limited government, personal responsibility and individual liberties aligned more with the Republican Party. I got married, moved to Florida, bought a home and planted my roots - the American Dream
had come true for me. I felt it was the right time to make a change and join the Republican Party.
This journey is not unique; Reagan and Donald Trump both switched parties based on their core values and vision for America. These two great leaders encouraged millions of people to join them and our party. They embraced new Republicans because they switched parties themselves. Our party grows by welcoming those whose values align with ours. We should embrace people for joining the Republican Party, not condemn them like my opponent, April Culbreath, has shamelessly done to me in this campaign. Ironically, she, too, switched parties in 2018 to become a Republican, and I don’t attack her for that decision. As chair of the Republican Party, her poor judgment has failed to bring in new voices and critically needed resources to our party.
Together, we can build a community that reflects the best of who we are. I look forward to continuing this journey with you and would be honored to earn your vote on Aug. 20.
Tal Siddique Bradenton
WEDNESDAY, JULY 31
One-on-one Tech Help, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 2 p.m.
THURSDAY, AUG. 1
AMI Chamber Sunrise Breakfast, Cool Beans AMI, 101 S. Bay Blvd. Unit A4, Anna Maria, $15
One-on-one Tech Help, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m.
Sunshine Stitchers knit and crochet, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 1 p.m.
FRIDAY, AUG. 2
Mah-jongg for experienced players, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 11:30 a.m.
SATURDAY, AUG. 3
Mornings at the NEST, Robinson Preserve Mosaic Nest, 840 99th St. N.W., Bradenton, 9 a.m. to noon
TUESDAY, AUG. 6
Family story time, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m.
Turtle Tracks and Shorebird Facts, Holmes Beach City Hall, 5801 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m.
Mah-jongg for experienced players, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 11:30 a.m.
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 7
Weekly oyster drilling, Robinson Preserve Valentine House, 1704 99th St. N.W., Bradenton, 8 a.m. to noon
One-on-one tech help, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 2-4 p.m.
THURSDAY, AUG. 8
Learn to play pickleball, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m.
One-on-one tech help, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m. to noon
AMI Chamber luncheon, Mademoiselle Paris, 9906 Gulf Drive, Anna Maria, 11:30 a.m., $22 for members or $30 for prospective members
Sunshine Stitchers Knit and Crochet, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 1 p.m.
FRIDAY, AUG. 9
Mah-jongg for experienced players, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 11:30 a.m.
SATURDAY, AUG. 10
Mornings at the NEST, Robinson Preserve Mosaic Nest, 840 99th St. N.W., Bradenton, 9 a.m. to noon
MONDAY, AUG. 12
Sunset Tai Chi, Robinson Preserve Mosaic Nest, 840 99th St. N.W., Bradenton, 6:30 p.m.
TUESDAY, AUG. 13
Turtle Tracks and Shorebird Facts, Holmes Beach City Hall, 5801 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m.
Family story time, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m.
Mah-jongg for experienced players, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 11:30 a.m.
ON THE
ANNA MARIA
10005 GULF DRIVE
FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-708-6130
Please visit www.cityofannamaria.com or contact city hall for more information.
Aug. 8, 1 p.m. – City Commission budget meeting Aug. 8, 2 p.m. – City Commission meeting Aug. 13, 9 a.m. – Magistrate hearing
BRADENTON BEACH
107 GULF DRIVE N.
FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-778-1005
Please visit www.cityofbradentonbeach.com or contact city hall for more information. Aug. 1, 6 p.m. – City Commission meeting Aug. 7, 9:30 a.m. – Community Redevelopment Agency meeting
Aug. 7, 1 p.m. – Planning and Zoning board meeting Aug. 15, noon – City Commission meeting
HOLMES BEACH
5801 MARINA DRIVE
FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-708-5800
Please visit www.holmesbeachfl.org or contact city hall for more information. Aug. 7, 5 p.m. – Planning Commission meeting Aug. 14, 10 a.m. – Code Compliance stakeholder meeting Aug. 16, 11:30 a.m. – Police Officer Pension Board meeting
Island Gallery puts spotlight on AMI
BY JASON SCHAFFER SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com
BRADENTON - Island Gallery and Studios (formerly Island Gallery West) is proud to present a Summer Art Showcase of their featured artists through the month of August. The focus is on the spirit of Anna Maria Island, and includes both paintings and photography that capture the beauty of marine life, landscapes and wildlife unique to AMI.
They’ll also be offering art classes hosted by their professional artists, art demos, which will take place the second Saturday of every month from 10:30 a.m. to noon, and their new Critique Corner the last Saturday of every month from 10:30 a.m. to noon with free interactive discussions on what makes a good piece of art.
Island Gallery and Studios is located at 456 Old Main Street in downtown Bradenton. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Island Gallery and Studios is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
IGS | SUBMITTED
“Beach Day” by Gary Green is one of many paintings that are part of Bradenton-based Island Gallery and Studios’ featured August display, “Anna Maria Island Life Through the Eyes of the Artists.”
and its artist co-operative relies on the generosity of friends in the community to support the mission of providing a more enjoyable and cultural atmosphere for visitors to the downtown area.
Donations help support the gallery
operations, educational programs and free Saturday morning demonstrations that encourage art appreciation for all.
For more information, visit www.islandgalleryandstudios.org or call 941-778-6648.
City sets maximum millage rate
HOLMES BEACH – City leaders voted to set a maximum millage rate for the 2024-25 fiscal year.
Commissioner Terry Schaefer said that while commissioners set the maximum millage rate at 2.05 mills, which will be used by the Manatee County Property Appraiser for fall TRIM notices, that’s the highest the millage rate can go, but is not necessarily the amount that will be used in the final budget.
Millage is the amount per $1,000 of assessed property value paid by property owners to the city as a part of their annual tax bill.
The draft budget presented to commissioners was created with a 2.05 millage rate, the same rate as the current fiscal year, but an 8% increase over the 2023-24 fiscal year due to property value increases. The rollback rate of 1.8489 mills would bring in the same amount of ad-valorem tax as the current fiscal year. The new fiscal year begins on Oct. 1.
City Treasurer Cindy Dunham-Tozer said that she will continue to work over the next month to reduce the millage rate prior to two public hearings on the millage rate and budget in September.
The first public hearing for the budget and millage rate is set for Wednesday, Sept. 11 at 5:01 p.m. with the second and final hearing set for Tuesday, Sept. 24 at 5:01 p.m. The draft city budget can be viewed at www.holmesbeachfl.org.
Commissioner Dan Diggins and Mayor Judy Titsworth were absent from the meeting.
Bradenton fisherman rescues injured motorist
Eric Astemborski was the first to aid an injured motorist.
BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
ST. PETERSBURG – Bradenton
resident Eric Astemborski’s swift actions and quick thinking helped save a motorist who crashed his car on I-275, north of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge.
Astemborski, a commercial fisherman, also owns and operates the St. Petersburg-based Better Bait Company. His grandparents, Bill and Mary Cedar, once owned the Cedar Cove Resort in Holmes Beach.
Around noon on July 24, Astemborski was out on his bait barge near O’Neill’s Marina and the Dick Misener Bridge when he saw a southbound white Tesla veer off the highway at a high rate of speed.
“He crashed about 75 yards behind my bait barge. He hydroplaned across a drainage ditch for about 70-80 yards and just missed a light pole. It’s only a couple feet deep and he was skimming across the top of the water, going pretty fast. When he got to the other side, the car went 20-25 feet up in the air, did a couple flips and landed on the bank,” Astemborski said.
“I rushed off the bait barge, got in my boat and called 911. The Tesla was sitting on the bank, right on the edge of the water. The driver wasn’t thrown into the water. He must’ve climbed out of the car or been ejected. When I found him, he was crawling out of a bush next to the car. I pulled right up to him, and he was kind of walking out
FHP | SUBMITTED
The damaged Tesla was removed from the crash scene. Eric Astemborski, right, pictured with his dog, Luna, rescued an injured motorist.
into the water. When I tried to pull him up in the boat, he said his arm was broken. I jumped in the water, picked him up and made the decision to take him to Maximo Boat Ramp instead of trying to get the paramedics to meet him there. I rushed him to the boat ramp and EMS started giving him medical attention,” Astemborski said.
Astemborski was asked how it feels to potentially save someone’s life.
“I definitely saved him 20 to 30 minutes of being out there by himself. He was way up in the mangroves, and he went across the pond. It wouldn’t have been easy for anybody to get to him. I might have saved his life. He was in bad shape when I found him. When I pulled him up on the boat he lost consciousness, his eyes closed, he quit talking to me and he wasn’t moving. I thought he might be dead.
“He’s lucky to be alive. When I pulled up to the car, I thought for sure somebody would be dead. When I pulled up to him, I asked if anyone else was in the car and he said no. But when he regained consciousness at the boat ramp, when the paramedics were getting him off the boat, he said his 16-year-old
I jumped in the water, picked him up and made the decision to take him to Maximo Boat Ramp instead of trying to get the paramedics to meet him there.”
Eric Astemborski rescuer
ERIC ASTEMBORSKI | SUBMITTED
sister was in the car with him. I rushed back out there yelling for her, looking in the car, looking in the mangroves and I couldn’t find her. By that time, the paramedics had arrived and we were looking through the car trying to find a purse, a cell phone, or anything relating to her. That’s what really shook me up. When I got home, I didn’t know if he was going to be alright. I didn’t know if his sister was trapped underneath the car and we couldn’t see her. The car landed on a bunch of concrete pilings they took down from the Skyway and put on the bank. We couldn’t see underneath the car. Come to find out, she wasn’t actually in the car,” he said.
Astemborski later received a text message from the Tesla driver thanking him for his actions.
“He was discharged the next day,”
Astemborski said. “He’s okay. He’s got a bunch of stitches in his face, he messed up his arm and he had a severe concussion, but nothing life-changing.”
Astemborski hopes to meet up with the driver again under more pleasant circumstances. He did not provide the driver’s name. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the driver, whose name was not released, is 25 years old and was not wearing a seat belt.
Astemborski’s cousin, Steven LaParl, lives in Holmes Beach.
“He was a hero," LaParl said. "He might have saved the guy’s life. He called me right afterward. He was shaken up and didn’t know if the guy was gonna live.”
County administrator seeks favor from mayor
Assisting a fellow government official with restaurant seating is not a crime or an ethics violation.
BY JOE HENDRICKS
SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
BRADENTON BEACH
– Manatee County Administrator Charlie Bishop put Bradenton Beach Mayor John Chappie in an awkward position when he sought the mayor’s assistance in shortening his anticipated wait time at the Daiquiri Deck restaurant.
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
The Daiquiri Deck in Bradenton Beach is a popular dining destination.
After receiving the call from Bishop on Thursday evening, July 25, Chappie, a former county commissioner, attempted to contact Jake Spooner. Spooner, a former city commissioner, owns the three-story commercial building on Bridge Street that contains his ground-level Bridge Street Bazaar retail store. Spooner leases the two upper levels of his building to the Daiquiri Deck but has no ownership stake in the restaurant.
Chappie mistakenly called the wrong number and left his Bishop request-related voicemail on another person’s phone. The following morning, an anonymous source provided The Sun with a recording of the voicemail that had already been shared on Facebook.
During the 59-second voicemail, Chappie, sounding a bit hesitant, said, “Hey Jake, John Chappie here. Ugh… I’ve never done this before. I just got a call from the county administrator, Charlie Bishop. He is at the Daiquiri Deck and believe it or not he called me to see… he’s got a 45-minute wait for a reservation to get a seat and it’s under Madison. He wanted to know if I could pull a string for him. I’m just asking if maybe you could call Daiquiri Deck and let them know, maybe. For Madison is the person – there’s three I believe: Charlie Bishop, his girlfriend and his girlfriend’s daughter, I believe it is. It’s under Madison. If you could let me know. I’ll see what I can do. Take care, thank you.”
When contacted by phone Friday afternoon, Chappie acknowledged leaving the voicemail and being aware of the voicemail being shared on Facebook.
“It is what it is,” he said. “I got a call from Charlie. I consider him a friend. I’ve known him for about 15 years. He was out here, and like anybody, I always try to help out friends and constituents if I can. So, I just made a phone call. I’ve never really done that before. I said that on the tape. From what I understand, he was already seated before Jake even got back to him.”
Chappie acknowledged that he intended to leave the voicemail for Spooner but accidentally left it with another person named Jake.
Regarding the optics of a county official seeking favor from a city official, Chappie said, “People will speculate, but I didn’t look at it that way. I’ve known Charlie for a long time – since I was with the county. I would do the same for anybody else I know.”
When contacted Friday afternoon, Spooner said he did not receive the voicemail in question but did receive a call from Chappie that evening.
The Sun also sought comment from Bishop via his office phone number, his county-issued cell phone number and his county email address. As of Monday morning, he had not responded.
According to the Manatee County website, Bishop joined the county staff as a project manager in 2001. In 2023, the board of county commissioners appointed him county administrator, with a $230,000 annual salary. He replaced interim administrator Lee Washington.
It is not illegal for a county official to ask a city official for assistance getting a table at a busy restaurant, nor does it constitute an ethics violation at the state level.
The county administrator works with county commissioners who have the ability to approve or deny funding requests made by the city of Bradenton Beach and the two other Island cities.
Local business owners helping foster families
Visitors to AMI with leftover food now have a place to donate it, thanks to The Cheesecake Cutie & Cafe owners’ One Ark Foundation.
BY JASON SCHAFFER SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com
HOLMES BEACH - It’s a common occurrence on Anna Maria Island – a family checks into a condo for a week of fun in the sun, hits the grocery store, then finds when it’s time to go home, there’s a pile of leftover groceries. For many, they just leave them behind because they can’t take them on a plane or there’s no room in the car. Everything from bottled water to steaks and chicken wings either gets thrown away or taken home by the cleaning crew. Thanks to a newly-formed nonprofit organization, there’s now an option that can not only avoid waste, but benefit local foster families.
One Ark Foundation, founded by The Cheesecake Cutie & Cafe owners Kane and Jennifer Geils, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting foster families in Manatee County. The Geils’ have been foster parents for six years, and recently took a break in May to focus on their business, but still wanted to stay involved with helping foster families in the area. Already raising more than $17,000 this year, their efforts have helped in many ways,
including getting one area girl a saxophone, obtaining basketball shoes for a foster boy, and many other items.
The Sun spoke to Jennifer Geils, who said food items were needed, and they came up with an idea.
“We’ve put the word out that if you have leftover food on the Island, since we’ve heard the vacationers have asked what to do with it, you can come and bring it here to The Cheesecake Cutie and Cafe,” Geils said. “We’re a drop-off for anything that’s unopened. We collect it and put it into bags, and take it to local foster families, adoptive families and single parent families in the community.”
Geils says since they began taking the donations, they have already been able to help over 30 families in the AMI and Bradenton community. Geils says they find the families in need through working with other local organizations such as Foster the Family and Oasis Church in Lakewood Ranch, among others. She said they also work with the Safe Children’s Coalition of Bradenton, which has been a valuable resource.
“As a foster family, when you get a new child in, there’s a lot going on and you may not be thinking about dinner that day,” Geils said. “You’re worried about how to make this child comfortable, but they have probably not eaten much that day. Even if it’s
just a snack, it’s something that lets the foster parents be relieved of that worry.”
Geils says they get donations of everything from water, soda, nonperishable foods, eggs, bread, meats, paper towels and diapers. The only items they do not accept are alcoholic beverages.
The couple is relying heavily on word of mouth to get the word out about the endeavor, using posts on local Facebook groups and “talk on the street” to spread the message.
Anyone interested in getting involved with helping out One ARK Foundation with this food and supply drive can drop off items directly to The Cheesecake Cutie & Café, 3324 East Bay Drive. Hours are Monday from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Friday and Saturday
ONE ARK FOUNDATION | SUBMITTED People have been dropping off food and toiletries to The Cheesecake Cutie and Cafe in Holmes Beach to be distributed to local foster families by owners Kane and Jennifer Geils’ new “One Ark Foundation.”
from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. For more information on the One ARK Foundation, visit www.
onearkfoundations.org or search One ARK Foundation on Facebook.
Xmas in July will assist local families
On July 20, the Anna Maria Island Privateers and the Drift In bar in Bradenton Beach raised $2,515 to assist local underprivileged families during Christmas. The fundraising raffle prizes included three liquor baskets and a lotto board, with appetizer plates also sold as part of the fundraising activities.
DOREEN FLYNN | SUBMITTED Drift In manager Doreen Flynn and longtime patron Greg McCoy celebrated Christmas in July.
DOREEN FLYNN | SUBMITTED Drift In manager Doreen Flynn is always glad to assist the Privateers.
BY JOE BECHT SPECIAL TO THE SUN
Life changed on AMI during World War II
A presentation on life on Anna Maria Island during World War II filled the lecture room at the Island Branch Library on July 16.
The Island had fewer than 200 residents in 1940, said Kathy Fleck, of the Central Library, and the few from the Island who served in the war were enlisted officers.
By 1940, the steady stream of international tourists ground to a halt because of the conflict in Europe, and tourism was further impacted by gas and rubber rations imposed by the government, causing the population on the Island to decrease to permanent residents.
After the Japanese ambush attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, the Anna Maria Aid Red Cross was formed to aid in the local war effort.
A mandatory coastal nightly blackout was established in the U.S., not to protect sea turtles, but to protect coastal residents from hostile forces. The Manatee County Defense System deputized Air Wardens to enforce
the nightly blackouts and all unessential travel to and from the Island. Night boating and fishing were prohibited, decimating the Cortez fishing economy.
An Island resident, Gordon Gaskill, was a war correspondent in Africa and Italy. He would send graphic firsthand accounts to his wife about what was happening in that war theater.
In the Spring of 1942, soldiers came to Camp Bradenton, later renamed Camp Weatherford, to train. An Army Air Base was established at what is now the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport. The base conducted maneuvers and practice bombings from Passage Key to south of Sarasota Bay. In 1945, a bomb was mistakenly dropped in the backyard of a home on Pine Avenue in Anna Maria. Fortunately, only the windows of the home were blown out and no one was injured. Because of the bases, commerce on the Island increased. Planes were constantly flying over the Island. Soldiers frequented Anna Maria Island for leisure. Beach picnics were
organized for the military. There is a recorded inventory of one such party; the food consisted of many pounds of liver sausage, bologna, potato salad, olives and pickles.
A Military Zone in the Gulf of Mexico was established. Boaters were forbidden to cross the boundaries set by buoys, but a few boaters inevitably pushed the boundaries.
In May of 1942, there was a minor scare on Anna Maria
Island - a suspected mine was found. It was later determined that it was a buoy.
In September of that year, a defense watchtower was built near where City Pier stands.
The war effort on the Island was in full force, and there was a particularly amazing feat - the students of Anna Maria Elementary School, the smallest school in Manatee County, collected the most scrap in the county.
In 1943, the U.S. Coast Guard established a headquarters post on Anna Maria Island. Also that year, Ronnie Davis, the son of a soldier, tragically disappeared. The boy’s disappearance is a mystery to this day as his body was never found. By 1944, soldiers started vacationing on Anna Maria Island, which was a great boost to the local economy.
But 1944 was also a year of tragedy. Three pilots died off AMI’s coast in three separate crashes.
Anna Maria Island entered a boom period after the war ended in 1945. The economy was robust. The Anna Maria Island Home Defense shifted its focus to Island infrastructure and beach erosion.
American soldier and former POW Steve Raymond moved to Anna Maria Island. Raymond was a survivor of the horrific Bataan Death March in the Philippines. His book, “Too Dead to Die” was critically acclaimed, and his firsthand accounts would draw significant crowds to AMI.
Kathy Fleck of the Central Library tells Island Library patrons about life on Anna Maria Island in the 1940s war years.
Six candidates report SIMWINS expenditures
Six county candidates have reported paying the SIMWINS consulting firm a total of $434,983.
BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
MANATEE COUNTY – Three more Republican candidates seeking office in Manatee County have reported campaign expenditures made to Anthony Pedicini’s Tampa-based Strategic Image Management (SIMWINS) political consulting firm.
Pedicini and his firm utilize television ads and campaign mailers to promote their Manatee County clients as true conservatives while painting their Republican primary opponents who may hold more moderate views as liberals.
During the July 13-19 campaign reporting period, District 3 Manatee County Commission candidate April Culbreath, District 1 County Commission candidate Steve Metallo and District 3 Manatee County School Board candidate Jonathan Lynch listed their first reported campaign payments to SIMWINS, according to campaign treasurer reports on the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections website.
On July 18, Culbreath’s campaign paid SIMWINS $46,802 for campaign mailers and $800 for palm cards. Culbreath’s campaign has sent out numerous mailers since her
District 3 campaign began.
On July 15, Metallo’s campaign paid SIMWINS $40,110 for mailers.
On July 15, Lynch’s campaign paid SIMWINS $4,850 for yard signs.
During the same reporting period, Supervisor of Elections candidate James Satcher, District 7 at-large County Commission candidate Kevin Van Ostenbridge and District 5 County Commission candidate Ray Turner made additional payments to SIMWINS.
On July 15, Satcher’s campaign paid SIMWINS $6,484 for text messaging services and $20,000 for a media ad. On July 17, Satcher’s campaign paid SIMWINS an additional $15,000 for a media ad. To date,
Satcher’s campaign has reported paying SIMWINS $82,929.
On July 18, Kevin Van Ostenbridge’s campaign paid SIMWINS $95,000 for a media ad. To date, Van Ostenbridge’s campaign has reported paying SIMWINS $193,420.
On July 17, Turner’s campaign paid SIMWINS $48,562 for mailers. To date, Turner’s campaign has reported paying SIMWINS $66,072.
To date, the six Republican candidates have reported paying SIMWINS a total of $434,983. Mail voting has begun for the primary election that concludes on Aug. 20. In-person early voting will take place at various polling locations Saturday, Aug. 10 through Saturday, Aug. 17 from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
FACEBOOK | SUBMITTED Anthony Pedicini, driving, helped Kevin Van Ostenbridge, standing above, get elected in 2020.
Sea turtle hatchlings increasing
Sea turtle nesting numbers have slowed down as hatching numbers slowly increase, according to Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring Executive Director Kristen Mazzarella.
“We have been seeing excellent hatch success in the nests that we have inventoried
TURTLE TIPS
During sea turtle season, May 1 – Oct. 31, follow these tips to help turtles:
• Turn off lights visible from the beach and close blinds from sundown to sunrise; lights confuse nesting sea turtles and may cause them to go back to sea and drop their eggs in the water, where they won’t hatch. Light can also attract hatchlings away from the water.
• Don’t use flashlights, lanterns or camera flashes on the beach at night.
so far,” she wrote in a July 26 email, with 81% of eggs hatching. “This makes it even more important for everyone to make sure to keep the beaches turtle-friendly so all these hatchlings make it successfully into the Gulf of Mexico. If you happen to see a hatching nest, please do not disturb
• Remove all beach chairs and other objects from the sand from sundown to sunrise; they can deter sea turtles from nesting and disorient hatchlings.
• Fill in the holes you dig in the sand before leaving the beach; they can trap nesting and hatching sea turtles, which cannot live long out of the water. You might also accidentally dig into an unmarked nest. To report large holes or other turtle obstacles, call:
• City of Anna Maria code enforcement — 941-708-6130, ext. 111.
• City of Bradenton Beach code enforcement — 941-778-1005, ext. 227.
• City of Holmes Beach code
the hatchlings, let them hatch naturally. Keep all lights off and make sure they have a clear view of the night sky over the ocean. Light of the night sky is an important cue for hatchlings to find their way to the water. Artificial lighting can interfere with this instinct and lead hatchlings into danger.”
enforcement — 941-778-0331, ext. 260.
• Level sandcastles before leaving the beach; they can block hatchlings from the water.
• Don’t use balloons, wish lanterns or fireworks; they litter the beach and Gulf, and turtles can ingest the debris.
• Do not trim trees and plants that shield the beach from lights.
• Never touch a sea turtle; it’s the law. If you see people disturbing turtles, call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Wildlife Alert hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922).
Source: Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring
Henrietta can’t stay away from AMI
Henrietta, the loggerhead sea turtle that was outfitted with a satellite tracking device and released on June 24 at Coquina Beach, has nested three known times on Anna Maria Island and may be coming back to lay another nest, according to her latest tracking map, which shows her swimming toward the Island. Beginning on Aug. 1, Henrietta will be participating in the Sea Turtle Conservancy’s Tour de Turtles race, swimming to draw attention to the negative impact light pollution has on nesting and hatching turtles. She is sponsored by Hurricane Hank’s and Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring.
NESTING NEWS
Turtle nests laid: 673
(Previous record: 543 in 2019)
False crawls: 838 (Previous record: 831 in 2010)
Nests hatched: 129 (Record: 453 in 2022)
Hatchlings produced: 9,508
(Record: 35,850 in 2022)
Hatchling disorientations: 31
Adult disorientations: 36
Source: Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring
Least tern colony thriving
BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com
BRADENTON BEACH – A least tern colony of more than 45 birds has fledged eight chicks with a few more on the way.
Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring first reported the colony of least terns, a threatened species, the week of May 6. Of the 22 nests, two have birds still sitting on eggs, which are expected to hatch by the end of July.
“We are so happy to see success for the shorebirds this year,”
Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring Executive Director Kristen Mazzarella wrote in a July 26 email. “Our newest addition is spending time together with the rest of the birds, sometimes outside the posted area, so please
Parents feed a least tern chick in Bradenton Beach.
be vigilant and give the birds space when you are near to the colony.”
Mazzarella praised Shorebird Coordinator Kathy Doddridge
and a team of volunteers for protecting the colony and educating the public about shorebird-friendly practices.
BIRD TIPS
During bird nesting season, February to September, please follow these tips:
• Never touch a shorebird chick, even if it’s wandering outside a staked nesting area.
• Teach kids not to chase birds –if they’re disturbed, bird parents may abandon nests.
• Don’t feed birds – our food is not good for their health, and it encourages them to fly at people aggressively.
• If birds are screeching and flying at you, you’re too close.
• Avoid posted bird nesting areas and use designated walkways to the beach.
• Dogs are not allowed on the beach by law. Keep cats indoors.
• Keep the beach clean; food scraps attract bird predators such as raccoons and crows to the beach, and litter can entangle birds and other wildlife.
• If you see people disturbing nesting birds, call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Wildlife Alert hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922).
Clean Water Contest underway
Islanders 4 Clean Water are holding a beach clean-up contest through Aug. 31, offering the chance for kids under 18 to win free prizes. To win, participants need to collect at least a 5-gallon bucket of trash at any beach, take a picture and tag @cityofholmesbeach on social media. Participants can then stop by Holmes Beach City Hall and receive an Islanders 4 Clean Water backpack. For every bucket collected, participants will also be entered in a raffle to win a half-day fishing trip with Capt. Logan Bystrom. For more information, visit Facebook.com/ HolmesBeachPD.
KATHY DODDRIDGE | SUBMITTED
Perico, Palma Sola cleanup Saturday
nce again, Anna Maria Island residents who care about our local waters will have a chance to get involved in cleaning them up during the upcoming Suncoast Aqua Ventures waterbased cleanup on Saturday, Aug. 3 from 8 a.m. until noon. The focus of the cleanup will be Perico Bayou and Northern Palma Sola Bay. There will be about a dozen kayaks available for volunteers, some of which are tandem. Organizers are encouraging those who own kayaks and shallow draft boats to bring them, so no one is left out who wants to be on the water.
The event will launch from the Robinson Preserve kayak launch west of the Palma Sola Causeway on the south side of Manatee Avenue West.
All supplies will be provided, including pickers, bags, gloves, drinks and snacks. All volunteers need to bring are water shoes and refillable water bottles. This area has not been cleaned since before Hurricane Ian, so organizers expect to find a lot of trash tucked into the mangroves.
Please register online at https:// suncoastaquaventures.com/event/ perico-bayou-northern-palmasola-bay-water-based-clean-up/ so organizers have sufficient supplies and refreshments for everyone. If you have any questions, please call Cheryl Huntsinger at 941-9621488.
Suncoast Aqua Ventures was created by a handful of friends in 2016. Inspired by Huntsinger and Troy Brown, a bunch of friends who dive and love the water became concerned with the trash and debris they discovered on the offshore reefs. Instead of complaining, they decided to do something about it. They created a oneof-a-kind competitive event called The Reef & Beach Cleanup and gave cash and prizes in numerous categories to the
The cleanup will be concentrated in the
teams that compete. These events to date have collected over 97,000 pounds of marine debris from our waterways. Volunteers come from all ages and all walks of life. They are water enthusiasts, kayakers, fishermen, scuba divers and anyone who has a passion for the local aquatic ecosystem. Come out and meet some of the many passionate and action-oriented citizens on the Suncoast who turn
their love of the water into action. It’s the work of local nongovernmental organizations like Suncoast Aqua Ventures, their leaders and members that inspire people to preserve our paradise and give them a way to participate in protecting it. If you’re looking for a way to contribute, join the cleanup on Aug. 3. See you there.
SUNCOAST AQUA VENTURES | SUBMITTED
hatched areas of the map.
RUSTY CHINNIS
Target reds, snook, trout in August
CAPT. RICK GRASSETT
Tarpon will move into estuaries this month. You may also find juvenile tarpon in creeks, canals and turning basins. Reds should be schooling on shallow flats and big trout will prowl the same waters at dawn. Also look for trout on deep grass flats mixed with blues, pompano, Spanish mackerel and more. Catch and release snook fishing should be good around lighted docks at night or in the surf. Look for false albacore (little tunny) to possibly show up in the coastal Gulf later in the month.
Tarpon addicts will still be able to get their fix this month. You should still find a few tarpon in the coastal Gulf early in the month. Drifting live baits or casting flies, DOA Baitbusters, DOA Shrimp and DOA 4” CAL shad tails should all work. As tarpon thin out along beaches, they will move to inside waters where you may find them schooling around bridges or rolling on deep grass flats. They will also feed in schools of ladyfish that are feeding on the surface. You should also find juvenile tarpon from 10-30 pounds in creeks, canals, turning basins and around dock lights. Your snook tackle will work fine for smaller tarpon although you’ll need a
leader of 40-50 pounds to keep them from going through it. Fly anglers should score with 8- or 9-weight fly rods, floating or sink tip lines and scaled down tarpon flies. You’ll find snook around lighted docks and bridges in the ICW and in the surf. Small white flies, like my Grassett Snook Minnow, DOA Shrimp or CAL jigs with shad tails and jerk worms should all work well. The same lures and flies will work at night and in the surf, although you should be observant of what size baits are in those areas.
Reds should school up this month, although their numbers have been thinner for the past couple of years. You should find them on shallow flats where they’ll be easier to find when the tide is low. Look for “nervous” water when it is slick calm or a slick patch of water when there is a ripple on the water. They may push a wake that looks like a boat wake. I try to be as quiet as possible in shallow water, poling to locate them. Once you’ve located a school of reds, try to get ahead of them to intercept them, much like tarpon fishing. If you work around the edges of the school, you may be able to catch a few of them before they spook. We often also find big jacks, blues and other predators
CAPT. RICK GRASSETT | SUBMITTED
There should be good action on deep grass flats for a variety of species during August. Jim Dempsey, of Illinois, caught and released this blue on a DOA Deadly Combo while fishing Sarasota Bay with Capt. Rick Grassett in a previous August.
in the mix along with reds. Top water plugs and fly poppers or Gurglers may draw some big bites. The DOA PT-7 top water bait and 4” CAL shad tail should
both work well on schooling reds. Trout fishing should be good this month. You may find a big trout in skinny water at first light. Focus on mullet or bait schools to find them. Top water plugs, fly poppers or Gurglers should be very effective at that time of day. In my opinion it’s important to protect larger trout, which are usually female breeders. Handle them gently, since they may be full of roe. I like the same areas for big trout that I like for reds. Full regulations and details for all species can be viewed at https://myfwc.com/.
After it gets bright and starts to warm up, drop out to deeper grass flats (4’ to 8’) for trout and more. I like to drift and cast ahead of my drift with CAL jigs and shad tails or jerk worms or an Ultra Hair Clouser fly fished on a sink tip fly line. I make a series of drifts to locate fish and then shorten the drift or anchor depending on conditions. Ladyfish may feed in glass minnow schools and if they stay up long enough, it will attract trout, blues, mackerel, tarpon or sharks. Wide-profile plastic baits or flies fished slowly around the edges of breaking fish will help keep ladyfish off your lure or fly and give you a chance to catch a tarpon.
Back to school supply drive underway
The City of Holmes Beach and the Holmes Beach Police Department are hosting the Mayor's Back to School Supply Drive to help Manatee County students in need. Donations will be accepted until Aug. 30 and can be dropped off at Holmes Beach City Hall, 5801 Marina Drive. Supplies needed include crayons, markers, paper, pencils, notebooks, binders, folders, backpacks, glue, scissors, rulers, calculators, cleaning supplies and sanitizer. For more information, visit Facebook.com/HolmesBeachPD.
AME to hold open house
Anna Maria Elementary School is gearing up for a new school year, and invites parents and students to an open house on Thursday, Aug. 8. Kindergarten through second grade will be from 4:30-5:15 p.m. and third through fifth grade will be from 5:15-6 p.m. This is a great opportunity to meet staff, drop off supplies and visit classrooms.
BEACH BEAT
BRADENTON BEACH
7/21, 5:04 p.m., child abuse, 2408 Gulf Drive. The officer responded in reference to a 30-year-old woman hitting a child with a beach chair in front of the listed address. Upon arrival, the officer met with the female suspect, which the officer described as “very intoxicated.” Multiple witnesses took photos and video of the incident, which the officer reviewed, showing the female did strike the child with the chair.
A Spanish-speaking officer and a Child Protective Services officer were called to the scene as the officer placed the suspect under arrest. The CPS officer determined through a field test that the suspect was intoxicated and took custody of the child. The woman was transported to Manatee County Jail.
HOLMES BEACH
7/18, 6:12 a.m., trespassing, 3003 Ave. C.
Two officers responded to a call regarding an unknown male in the driveway of a neighbor’s house. When the officers arrived, the male subject took flight, running into the backyard of the residence. An officer caught up with the subject,
pointed his flashlight and drew his gun, ordering the man to the ground, at which point the man was detained in handcuffs. The male subject said he had been drinking at a nearby bar the night before, and woke up at the scene. A search of the subject’s belongings did not reveal any burglary tools or illegal drugs or weapons. The homeowner did not wish to press charges, only wanting the man to leave the area, so he instructed him to do so, and no further action was taken.
7/18, 7 p.m., obstruction without violence, 100 52nd St. The officer responded to a fight involving multiple juveniles and the caller at the condo building. The officer arrived and made contact with the juveniles, who ran through multiple backyards to evade police. Two juveniles were taken into custody after a short time, and a third walked up to the scene and was identified by one of the juveniles already in custody. All three were detained in handcuffs while the officer spoke to the caller, who said they were playing loud music and began to accost him and tried to hit him with a towel. There was also alcohol in their possession, and an air gun they had reportedly used to shoot out of a vehicle earlier in the evening. The parents of the three juveniles were contacted and juvenile referrals were submitted against the three for obstructing the investigation.
FOOD & WINE
Rhubarb sparks summer memories
Brian Mathae
wning and managing restaurants is a blessing and a curse for a foodie like me. We are surrounded by great fresh products and a talented team that turns them into delectable bites! When we unpack the delivery trucks and I see the fresh produce, seafood and fine cuts of meats, my hunger goes into overdrive. It’s almost like going shopping on an empty stomach when you see great food that you want to eat and end up buying too much. When the chefs and I are creating the dinner specials, we take our time to ensure we get the taste and texture just right. This results in some tasting sessions before we finalize our special for our valued guests. All this to say that the peril of owning a restaurant is an expanding waistline!
Pudding
Many of our regular customers have noticed that I have been able to shed a few pounds over the last few months. I appreciate the recognition because the journey hasn’t been easy. But it has been worth it in so many ways. I have
Ingredients - Pudding
3/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon salt
Zest of one large lemon
3
Ingredients - Pistachio crust
1 cup roasted and shelled pistachios
discuss recipes and direction, but then leave it up to our qualified kitchen staff to execute.
SUBMITTED
so much more energy and far fewer aches and pains. My success has come from intermittent fasting, beach walks and, most importantly, controlling my intake of food. When I’m in one of our restaurant kitchens now, I continue to
Directions - Rhubarb
Preheat oven to 325 F. In a large bowl, add all ingredients and toss until the rhubarb is well coated. Spread the rhubarb on a baking sheet, cover with foil and roast for 20 minutes. Remove foil and roast an additional 15 minutes. Remove from oven and cool. Once cool, spoon equally into 8 serving glasses and chill.
Directions - Pudding
In a medium bowl, whisk together the cornstarch, vanilla extract, coconut extract and 1/2 cup coconut milk. In a medium saucepan whisk together the sugar, salt and remaining coconut oil over medium
Hurricane Hanks and Fifty Three Fifty The Pourhouse certainly have many great menu items for anyone concerned about food quality and quantity. However, in order for me to maintain the intermittent fasting and the caloric deficit I have been focusing on, I have spent a lot more time cooking at home. I am loving the breadth of the product selection at Detweiler’s Farm Market. I was pleasantly surprised to see fresh rhubarb the other day. I instantly had memories of my brother, my cousin and myself sitting in the grass near my mother’s garden with a stalk of rhubarb in our hands. Mom would get us a bowl of sugar and we would dip the rhubarb stalk in the sugar and enjoy the sweet and sour tastes under the beautiful summer sun. While not exactly part of my current eating plan, I did want to feature a recipe using rhubarb because it does have such a great flavor and awoke some great memories for me. Keep your portions small and enjoy!
heat. Whisk often until mixture simmers then slowly pour in the cornstarch mixture while whisking constantly. Continue to cook for a few minutes until the mixture has thickened. Pour mixture into a bowl and chill completely. Once chilled, spoon over roasted rhubarb in serving glasses.
Directions - Pistachio crust
Place pistachios, sugar and salt in a food processor and blend into a course crumb. Add the coconut oil and pulse just until the mixture crumbles together. Top the coconut pudding in the serving glasses with the mixture and serve.
LOCALLY OWNED TO SERVE YOU BETTER
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 Dream Inn 2502 Gulf Dr. N. Bradenton Beach 941-209-1420
Anna Maria Island
Resorts
Tortuga Beach Resort 1325 Gulf Dr. Bradenton Beach 941-778-6611
Anna Maria Motel
808 N. Bay Blvd. Anna Maria 941-778-1269
Queen’s Gate 1101 Gulf Dr. N. Bradenton Beach 941-778-7153
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
Compass Hotel
Anna Maria Sound 12324 Manatee Ave W. 941-741-9700
Courtyard Bradenton
Sarasota/Riverfront 100 Riverfront Dr. W. 941-747-3727
Days Inn
3506 1st St. W. 941-746-1141
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
Spring Hill Suites
Bradenton
Downtown Riverfront 102 12th St. W. 941-226-2200
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
Hampton Inn & Suites 619 SE 47th Terrace 239-540-1050
DAYTONA BEACH
Homewood Suites By Hilton 165 Bill France Blvd 386-258-2828
Residence Inn Daytona Beach Speedway/Airport 1725 Richard Petty Blvd 386-252-3949
DELAND
Comfort Inn 400 E International Speedway 386-736-3100
ELLENTON
Hampton Inn 5810 20th Ct. E. 941-721-4000
Red Roof Inn 4915 17th St. E. 941-729-0600
ELLENTON
Super 8
5218 17th St. E. 941-729-8505
FORT MYERS
Baymont Inn & Suites 9401 Marketplace Rd
239-454-0040
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
13661 Indian Paint Ln
239-561-1117
GAINESVILLE
Best Western
4200 N.W. 97th Blvd.
352-331-3336
Home Hotel & Suites
3905 S.W. 43rd St.
352-376-0004
Motel 6
4000 S.W. 40th Blvd.
352-373-1604
Residence Inn by Marriott
I-75
3275 SW 40 Blvd
352-264-0000
KISSIMMEE
Ramada Gateway 7470 HWY 192
407-966-4410
Motel 6
5731 W. Irlo Bronson Hwy.
407-396-6333
LAKELAND
Hilton Garden Inn
3839 Don Emerson Drive
863-647-0066
Motel 6
3120 U.S. Hwy. 98 N. 863-682-0643
Residence Inn 3701 Harden Blvd. 863-680-2323
LAKE BUENA VISTA
Marriott Residence Inn 11450 Marbella Palm Court 407-465-0075
LAKE CITY
Baymont Inn & Suites 3598 US 90 W 386-752-3801
Days Inn
3430 N US Hwy 441 386-758-4224
LAKE MARY
Extended Stay America 1040 Greenwood Blvd 407-829-2332
Hyatt Place 1255 S International Pkwy 407-995-5555
La Quinta Inn 1060 Greenwood Blvd. 407-805-9901
Residence Inn 825 Heathrow Park Lane 407-995-3400
LEESBURG
Best Western Plus
1321 N. 14th Street 352-460-0118
Hampton Inn 9630 Us Hwy 441 352-315-1053
OCALA
Comfort Inn 1212 S Pine Ave 352-629-7300
Hampton Inn & Suites 3601 SW 38th Ave 352-867-0300
La Quinta Inn & Suites
3530 S.W. 36th Ave.
352-861-1137
Microtel Inn & Suites 1770 Southwest 134th St
352-307-1166
Equus Inn 3434 SW College Rd
352-854-3200
Residence Inn 3601 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
Holiday Inn Lake Buena Vista 13351 State Road 535 407-239-4500
La Quinta Inn - Universal Studios 5621 Major Blvd 407-313-3100
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
Comfort Inn
812 Kings Hwy 941-421-7548
Days Inn 1941 Tamiami Trail 941-623-9404
Knights Inn 4100 Tamiami Trail 941-743-2442
Sleep Inn & Suites 806 Kings Highway 941-613-6300
PUNTA GORDA
Four Points by Sheraton 33 Tamiami Trail 941-637-6770
RUSKIN
Holiday Inn & Suites
226 Teco Rd. 813-922-4561
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
Comfort Inn & Suites 5931 Commercial Way 941-342-8778
Courtyard Sarasota Bradenton
850 University Pkwy 941-355-3337
Embassy Suites by Hilton 202 N. Tamiami Trail 941-256-0190
Even Hotel – Lakewood Ranch 6231 Lake Osprey Dr 941-782-4400
Hampton Inn & Suites 8565 Cooper Creek Blvd 941-355-8619
Hibiscus Suites 1735 Stickney Point Road 941-921-5797
Hyatt Place Lakewood Ranch 6021 Exchange Way 941-946-2357
Hyatt Place Sarasota 950 University Pkwy 941-554-5800
La Quinta Inn & Suites 1803 N. Tamiami Trail 941-366-5128
Residence Inn 1040 University Pkwy. 941-358-1468
Days Inn 5000 N. Tamiami Trail 941-351-7734
Sleep Inn 900 University Pkwy. 941-359-8558
SEBRING
La Quinta Inn 4115 US 27 South 863-386-1000
Magnunson Grand 6525 US 27 North 863-385-4500
Residence Inn 3221 Tubbs Road 863-314-9100
Severn Sebring Hotel 150 Midway Dr 863-655-7200
SPRING HILL Motel 6 6172 Commercial Way 352-596-2007
TALLAHASSEE
Best Western Pride Inn 2016 Apalachee Parkway 850-656-6312
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
Quality Inn 3090 N. Monroe St. 850-562-2378
Red Roof Inn 2930 Hospitality Street 850-385-7884
Red Roof Inn 6737 Mahan Drive 850-656-2938
Residence Inn 1880 Raymond Diehl Road 850-422-0093
Residence Inn Universities 600 W. Gaines St. 850-329-9080
Sleep Inn 1695 Capital Circle N.W. 850-575-5885
Staybridge Suites 1600 Summit Lake Drive 850-219-7000
Suburban Extended Stay Hotel
522 Silver Slipper Lane 850-386-2121
TAMPA
Quality Inn-Busch Gardens 2701 E. Fowler Ave. 813-971-4710
Holiday Inn Express 8610 Elm Fair Blvd 813-490-1000
Holiday Inn Express 8310 Galbraith 813-910-7171
Homewood Suites by Hilton Tampa/Brandon 10240 Palm River Road 813-685-7099
Hyatt Place Tampa Airport 4811 W. Main St. 813-282-1037
Residence Inn 4312 W. Boy Scout Blvd. 813-877-7988
Sheraton Tampa East Hotel 10221 Princess Palm Ave 813-623-6363
TEMPLE TERRACE
Residence Inn 13420 N Telcom Parkway 813-972-4400
Towne Place Suites by Marriott 6800 Woodstork Rd 813-975-9777
WINTER HAVEN
Howard Johnson Inn 1300 3rd St SW 863-294-7321
Lake Roy Beach Inn 1825 Cypress Garden Blvd 863-324-6320
Roadway Inn & Suites 1911 Cypress Gardens Blvd. 863-324-5994
Gardner is back
BY MONICA SIMPSON
ANNA MARIA – The fourth week of adult co-ed flag football had gridiron excitement with three close games and a blowout. After a 46-42 win by Solid Rock Air Conditioning over the Moss Builders squad, team Prosper Bradenton took to the field against Slim’s Place.
With an all too familiar face at the quarterback position, Ray Gardner’s team nearly made an early game point deficit disappear, but two unsuccessful point-after attempts left the team one point short. The loss gave Slim’s Place its first win of the season.
Returning to the game after an Achilles tear, Gardner is older and wiser, and a little quieter on the field.
Finding their groove just a little too late in the first half of the game, Gardner, owner of Prosper Bradenton, threw for three touchdowns. Tony Giammari was Gardner’s target for 13 points, including two TDs.
Veteran player to Center sports, but relatively new to the adult league, the solid hands of Connor Ludwig caught a
touchdown reception, two flag pulls and two sacks. One of Ludwig’s sacks resulted in a safety for the Prosper team.
Ludwig leads the league in sacks so far this season with seven critical stops of the opposing team’s quarterback.
On the other side of the football, Slim’s Place used their ground game to overcome the Prosper defense. Anthony Mannino was the solid playmaker for his team, with 12 rushing touchdowns and one scoring reception off the pass of Cruz Rodriguez.
Slim’s Place’s Isaiah Lambert worked the field scoring three points in the game.
Lambert converted an interception into a two-point return. He also scored one point after a Mannino touchdown.
Teammate Roman Marintez also added a point to the scoreboard after Mannino found the endzone offensively. On defense, Rodriguez made it off the line quick enough to pull Gardner’s flag for two sacks to stop Prosper’s forward progress.
In game three last Thursday night, Salty Printing narrowly won its second game of the season against the Solid Rock Electrical team, 21-20. The close competition on the Island’s football field soon came to an
MONICA SIMPSON | SUN
Prosper Bradenton’s one and only Ray Gardner feels the heat from Cruz Rodriguez for Slim’s Place last Thursday night at The Center.
end as team Floridian Mortgage and the Fishing with Salty squad hit the field for the final game of the night.
The battle between the two top teams was anticipated to be a tight one, but the 44-12 score proves otherwise. The loss gave team Fishing with Salty their first loss of the season going into week five play.
PARKING: LaRose sues Kaleta over parking contract termination
“The agreement prohibits Beach to Bay from terminating the services prior to July 12, 2024 and also prohibits the removal of parking meters and payment signage installed by EPG,” according to the complaint.
FRAUDULENT MISREPRESENTATION CLAIM
The lawsuit alleges that Kaleta falsely represented that he, or Beach to Bay, owned or controlled all the properties on which EPG provided parking management and operation services.
“Shortly after entering into the agreement, Kaleta, the president of Beach to Bay, tore down various structures on three additional properties immediately adjacent to 219 Gulf Drive S. (the property identified in the agreement), namely 101 Bridge St., 105 Bridge St. and 106 Third St. S., and asked EPG to expand its parking management and operation services onto the newly empty land. Kaleta did not tell EPG that the adjacent properties were legally separate and distinct from 219 Gulf Drive S., with different municipal addresses and owners, but rather represented that they were part and parcel of 219 Gulf Drive,” the complaint states.
“EPG does not know if the actual legal property owners are even aware that their properties were used as private parking lots or if they received any portion of the resulting revenues,” according to the complaint.
EPG asked the court to order Kaleta to immediately identify the owners of each of the properties where EPG provided or agreed to provide parking management and operation services, identify the revenues, if any, received by each property owner from the operation as parking lots and indemnify EPG from any actions brought by the owners of the properties.
EPG also provided parking management and operation services for Bradenton Beach properties at 206 Church Ave., 207 Church Ave., 102 Third St. N. and 202 First St. N. The Manatee County Property Appraiser’s office website lists the owner of 206 Church Ave. as D&C Properties of Tampa LLC, with Maria Trim and Mark Dexter of Tampa as principals.
“While all of the properties but one (219 Gulf Drive S.) are owned by LLCs that are effectively owned, at least in part, and/or managed by Mr. Kaleta, Easy Parking Group provided its services under the impression that all of the properties were owned exclusively by Mr.
Kaleta and/or Beach to Bay Investments Inc.,” LaRose’s Sarasota-based attorney, Bailey Lowther, wrote in a July 27 email to The Sun. “Accordingly, all of the parking revenues from the various lots paid by EPG were deposited into the same bank account, presumably belonging to Beach to Bay. If Beach to Bay failed to distribute those revenues properly, i.e. to the LLCs that owned the parking lot properties, EPG potentially faces claims from those LLCs.”
If one or more of those LLCs has members other than Kaleta, Lowther said it raises potential questions that include whether or not all the members of the LLC knew and consented to the property being used as a parking lot, and whether the LLC members received their fair share of the revenues.
“Depending on the ownership and operating agreement of each particular LLC, if the answer to any one of the questions is ‘no,’ my client could very well be sued by one or more of the LLC property owners,” she wrote.
Beach to Bay’s Negrin disputes the claim that Kaleta was using properties he wasn’t entitled to use.
“He is either the owner or agent of all of the properties,” Negrin told The Sun on July 27.
“With respect to 219 Gulf Drive S., which is owned by AMI Plaza LLC, Mr.
Kaleta told my client, and the agreement specifically states, that property was owned by Beach to Bay Investments Inc.,” Lowther wrote. “Also, all of the questions above, and my concerns about the potential liability of my client, are applicable to the owner/landlord of 219 Gulf Drive S.”
According to the Florida Division of Corporations website, the owner of AMI Plaza LLC is Firkins Nissan. Registered agent William Saba confirmed in a July 27 telephone interview with The Sun that Kaleta leases the property from him.
“We have a written lease agreement,” Saba said. “Shawn is entitled to use the property.”
UNJUST ENRICHMENT CLAIM
“EPG, in providing its parking management and operation services, including but not limited to undertaking and incurring inception and start-up activities and costs, to Beach to Bay and Kaleta, conferred benefits on Beach to Bay and Kaleta,” according to the lawsuit complaint. “The reception and retention of the benefits conferred by EPG by Beach to Bay and Kaleta is inequitable unless Beach to Bay and Kaleta are required to pay EPG for the value of the benefits.”
REAL ESTATE
Hot temps, cool market
For some reason, I’m finding this summer more uncomfortable than in past years. I considered that I’m just getting older, but I can’t believe that, or maybe reading the sales statistics every month is getting me hot under the collar.
The June nationwide and local sales statistics both came out the same day on July 23, too late for last week’s paper. The numbers are, to say the least, cool if not frigid. It’s no wonder I’m feeling the heat. Since the national report is printed in most national newspapers you may have already seen it, but it’s my mission to make sure all my readers don’t miss anything. So, these are the nationwide numbers, and the Manatee County statistics will follow for June:
Castles in the Sand
down 11.6%. The median time to contract was 73 days compared to 34 days last year, and active listings were up 72.3%. The month’s supply of active listings was 5.8 months compared to 3.4 months last year.
The national numbers are based on existing single-family homes. The median sale price nationally was $426,900 for June which was up 4.1% from last June. The month’s supply of
available properties was 4.1 months. Manatee County single-family home sales were down 4.1% from last June. The median sale price was $518,950, down 1.2%, and the average sale price was $736,322, up 8.4%. The median time to contract was 57 days compared to 37 days last year. The number of active listings was up 56.6% from last June and the month’s supply of available properties was 4.0 months compared to 2.8 last year.
Condos in Manatee County closed 17.2% fewer units. The median sale price was $344,495, down 6.9%, and the average sale price was $416,198,
The National Association of Realtors reports on the nationwide statistics on their website and the Manatee County numbers are on the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee’s website.
As you can see, the national median sale price is considerably lower than Manatee County’s, even though they report a 4.1% increase from last June.
Manatee County shows a slowdown in the housing market, as does Sarasota. Markets are influenced by a variety of multifaceted factors – rising interest rates, economic uncertainty, seasonal factors, market saturation with available listings, buyer choices and affordability. The opinion of the Realtor Association is that there are
more opportunities for buyers right now, and serious sellers need to adjust their strategies and expectations.
The Federal Reserve has given some indication that interest rates could be falling before the end of the year, which should remove part of the interest rate negative. And with the end of summer and hurricane season, there could also be some pressure lifted off sellers. A real estate broker recently told me when the first snowfall happens in the north, that’s when you start to see the market moving.
Whatever statistics show, it’s still a moment in time, or at least a month in time, and could change next month. Our economy and national conversation is a moving target and could and likely will change with the next news cycle. Therefore, there’s no reason to get hot under the collar. October is just around the corner and I’m not getting older.
LOUISE BOLGER
BUDGET: Bradenton Beach budgeting begins
expenditures, including $366,619 for wages and benefits, a $43,252 overall increase.
Cosby proposes $249,132 for stormwater management expenditures, including $158,566 for wages and benefits, a $15,541 overall increase.
Cushing proposes $498,353 for planning department expenditures, a $31,821 increase. Cushing noted the planning department covers most of its expenses through permitting fees and other development-related fees.
The general fund budget doesn’t propose any new capital or infrastructure improvement projects but does include $119,526 carried over from the current year to complete previously planned projects.
CRA BUDGET
The Bradenton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) fiscal year budget was briefly discussed during a separate budget meeting
that day. The CRA operates as a separate but interconnected city entity with its own budget, revenues, expenditures and projects.
According to the CRA budget worksheet Thompson prepared, the CRA anticipates receiving $799,724 in redevelopment shared revenues, a $164,065 increase. CRA revenues include a mandatory $145,656 contribution from the city’s general fund. Thompson anticipates CRA revenues totaling $948,398, a $167,205 increase.
Thompson anticipates $344,606 for total CRA expenditures, including $213,612 for wages and salaries.
The CRA budget worksheet predicts a net balance of $603,792. According to Thompson, most of the net balance will remain unspent and be carried over into the 2025-26 fiscal year for a utility line undergrounding project to be conducted in unison with the pending replacement of the Cortez Bridge.
GUTHRIE: Net camp being demolished
FROM PAGE 1
In 2017, Guthrie rebuilt the structure “after it had been damaged by a hurricane, using the same pilings and stringers as existed at the time,” according to Manatee County court statements submitted by Guthrie in 2018.
The lone remaining net camp off Cortez – much older than Guthrie’s – is being renovated by the Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage (FISH).
Karen Bell, owner of A.P. Bell Fish Co.,
and a strong supporter of the net camp, expressed disappointment at the removal of the building.
“I just think it’s a shame that DEP or FL didn’t see the significance to this village of these two remaining net camps,” Bell wrote in a text to The Sun. “They represent how fishermen worked in the past and tell the story of how Cortez was settled by North Carolina fishermen so long ago.”
The FDEP did not respond to a request for comment.
Kriebel, Livedoti horseshoe champs
Steve Kriebel, left, and Dom Livedoti powered their way into the winner's circle at AMI Horseshoes after a 24-3 win over Tom Farrington and Jay Disbrow in the final on July 24. It was a three-way showdown on the July 27 with the bye going to Gersey Fernandes while Farrington and Bob Hawks moved into the final after edging out Bob Heiger and Gary Howcroft 21-18. Farrington and Hawks rallied for a 21-20 win over Fernandes to earn the day’s bragging rights.
SUBMITTED
TAXES: AM property owners getting a tax break
for a 1.75 tentative millage rate but for differing reasons opposed adopting the tentative rate at 1.65 mills. Short noted a 1.75 millage rate would be a 15% reduction.
Commissioner Gary McMullen asked if reducing the proposed contingency fund to its current level would lower the millage rate. Murphy said a 1.65 millage rate would produce a $987,000 contingency fund.
“At 1.65, we’d still have a contingency fund that’s almost a million dollars,” Salem said. “We don’t have this opportunity very often. We should take advantage of it and we’re in a good position due in large part to the mayor’s leadership.”
Crane expressed concerns about a 1.65 millage rate negatively impacting the city’s finances in the years to come.
“I’m happy to bring it down to 1.75, but I’d hate to jump to back where we are now the following year,” he said.
Murphy said the city is now benefiting from the street paving and drainage improvements made during the past decade.
“We’ve invested in our infrastructure. Now we can reap that benefit, and it’s not just a one-year benefit,” Murphy said, noting the 1.75 millage rate could be maintained if the city continues to invest wisely in infrastructure maintenance and improvements.
After noting that high taxes and insurance premiums contribute to the loss of permanent residents, Murphy said, “We only play a small part of that tax bill, but I think we need to set an example for the school board, for the county, for all the other agencies.”
Murphy said he asked Sen. Jim Boyd to relay that message to Manatee County’s other taxing authorities.
“Nobody else is doing this. It has to start somewhere and I would
The mayor and city commissioners all agree that property tax owners deserve a tax reduction.
like it to start here tonight,” he added.
PUBLIC INPUT
During public input, Anna Maria businessman and mayoral candidate Brian Seymour encouraged the commission to set the final millage rate at 1.65 or 1.6, even if they set the tentative rate at 1.75.
“I want to applaud the mayor and commissioners. I think it’s long overdue, as our property values have doubled, if not tripled, in the 15 years I’ve lived here. We can be the example for other cities,” Seymour said.
Participating by phone, Barry White said he’s owned a residential property on Spring Avenue property since 2017 and his taxes and insurance premiums have increased astronomically since then.
“Things have gotten out of hand,” White said, noting his total tax bill last year was $33,000, which was reduced from $50,000 because he protested the initial assessment.
Regarding the increased value of his home, White said, “The equity doesn’t help me if I’m not going to sell. I don’t want to sell and I don’t want to rent my property.”
White, 65, has been retired for 31 years.
“I pay $20,000 in school taxes and I get zero return for that. My kids are grown. That’s $20,000 of $33,000 right there,” White said. “Thank you so much for what you’re considering tonight.”
The commissioners then voted 3-2 to adopt the 1.65 tentative millage rate.
Immediately after the meeting, Short said, “I was all for the proposed
reduction to 1.75. I am for reducing the property tax millage rate as much as we can. Since today’s number was not final, and we have the ability to bring it even lower when we have the final numbers, I felt it was
safe going in at 1.75. I’m perfectly fine with 1.65 and we’ll see where we are once the numbers are finalized.”
The next budget discussion is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 8 at 1 p.m.
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
OBITUARIES
Muriel Roseleen "Gigi" Mora
Muriel Roseleen "Gigi" Mora, 82, of Cortez, Florida, passed away peacefully on July 5, 2024, surrounded by her loving family. The youngest of five children, all born and raised in Lakeland, Florida, she spent much of her formative years in the charming communities of Bradenton Beach and Cortez, where she became known as the sweetest person one could ever meet.
Gigi is preceded in death by her parents, Edward and Muriel Gorman; brothers, Jerry and Eddie Gorman; and sisters, Pat Gorman and Joan Pierce. She is survived by her three sons, Patrick (Linda), Blake (Barbara), and Nick (Lauren); daughters, Keverly Sugden (Geoff) and Ansley (Robert); and nine grandchildren, plus a host of extended family and friends who will forever miss her gentle presence. Her favorite thing in the world was to be with family, to simply be in their presence, nothing else. Her legacy of love and kindness will live on in the memories of all who were fortunate enough to know her.
To celebrate Gigi, a Catholic Mass was held at Ss. Peter and Paul the Apostles Catholic Church on July 25. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to St. Jude Hospital, an organization close to her heart.
Throughout her life, Gigi touched the hearts of many with her kindness, generosity and positive, unwavering spirit. She had soft edges, laughed easily and was always welcoming. Her gentle nature and compassionate heart made her a cherished relative, friend and neighbor.
Her family and friends will always remember Gigi as a beacon of love and sweetness, and her memory will be cherished forever.
TREEHOUSE: Demolition imminent
in 2011. The owners have maintained that they contacted the Holmes Beach Building Department to inquire if they needed a permit to build a treehouse and were told they did not. City leaders say that not only did the owners need a permit from the city, they also needed one from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for the two-story beachfront structure, which was built in an Australian pine tree, supported by poles decorated to look like tree trunks and sports windows.
After the fact permit applications to the city were denied due to the treehouse infringing on the erosion control line. Development seaward of the line is prohibited by state law.
In an attempt to keep the treehouse aloft, the owners petitioned the courts, going so far as to petition the U.S. Supreme Court to weigh in on the matter. The high court refused to hear the case and demolition of the treehouse was ordered by Judge Edward Nicholas in the 12th Judicial Circuit Court for Manatee County in February. Tran and Hazen
received an extension of the July 3 deadline to obtain the demolition permit from the city. They hosted an opportunity over the July 4 holiday week for fans to say goodbye to the treehouse.
A compliance hearing is set for Thursday, Aug. 8 at 11:30 a.m. with Nicholas.
FILE PHOTO
The treehouse owners have been in litigation for 13 years.
FUN IN THE SUN
CLASSIFIEDS
ANNOUNCEMENTS
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: TINGLEY LIBRARY in Bradenton Beach is looking for volunteers. Fun and friendly atmosphere. Morning and afternoon shifts. If interested, please contact Library Clerk, Eveann Adams, @ 941-779-1208.
THE BEST VOLUNTEER position on the island. The AMI Historical Museum needs docents and bread makers. Call Kathy Primeau at 989-560-6381.
ROSER FOOD BANK needs donations of cash and nonperishable food, PAPER & PERSONAL HYGIENE PRODUCTS. Donations boxes are located at the Church, Moose Club, and Walgreen’s.
HOSPITAL VOLUNTEERS WANTED to assist at our information desk, especially weekends. Great for teens needing volunteer hours (16yrs+). Other assignments available. Please call the Blake Volunteer Office at 941-798-6151.
BOATS FOR SALE
BOATS ARE SELLING VERY WELL. “Business On A Handshake” Your Local Trusted Boat Dealer For 24 Years. I also buy boats. Dave Struber 941-228-3489. Islandboatsales.net
COMMERCIAL SALES, RENT & LEASE
HAVE YOU BEEN thinking of selling? We NEED properties to List for SALE!!! Duplexes, multi family, small resorts? Call BIG Alan Galletto of Island Real Estate to get it SOLD 941-232-2216
CLEANING
SERVICE
TOTAL HOME SERVICES CLEANING: Residential, Commercial, Rentals, VRBO. Professional and Reliable. Call 941-7564570 or 941-565-3931
CLEANING SERVICESGood prices/good cleaning. Rentals & residences. Corner to corner service. Been on island 20 years. Call 941705-2346.
EMPLOYMENT
EXPERIENCED NAIL TECH, great personality to take over existing clients PT to FT. Tired of where you are come join our salon! Call 941-545-3305.
JOIN DUNCAN REAL ESTATE! Open positions: Bookkeeper, Administrative Assistant, Housekeeping Liaison Apply: Send resume to sybille@teamduncan.com
HOME IMPROVEMENTS
RENOVATION SPECALIST ALL carpentry repairs, Wash Family Construction, locally owned and operated CBC 1258250 Call 941-725-0073.
KERN & GILDER CONSTRUCTION, INC New Homes & Remodel. Design/Build. Since 1968. License # CBC 1261150. Call the Office. 941-7781115
GET’R DONE DRYWALL, INC Specializing in Remodels & Repairs. Island Resident for 20+ years. Call Neil. Cell 941962-1194
JSAN CORPORATION Renovations Construction & Handyman Services 941-243-0995 Lic# CRC1332505 jsancorporation@ gmail.com Flooring, Drywall, Painting, Repairs, Kitchen and Bathrooms, Trim & Doors. Free Estimates. Credit Cards Accepted.
ISLE TILE specializing in Custom Bath/Shower & Backsplash installation. Pressure washing available. Call 941-3028759 isletileservices.com
GORILLA DRYWALL REPAIR, LLC. 15+ years of experience. Free Estimates. Let’s solve your Drywall problems together. Call 941-2860607.
BMF INTERIORS Home repairs and more, No job too small. Please call 786318-8585
A.R.E. Renovation’s WHOLESALE KITCHEN CABINETS DIRECT., Remodeling, Bathrooms. Trim Flooring and Decks Tile and more Free quote, references available. Lic. # CRC.1334176 941-4653045.
LANDSCAPING & LAWN CARE
R. GAROFALO’S
Interlocking brick pavers, driveways, patios, pool decks. Free estimates. Licensed & Insured. Call Rafael 941-778-4823 or Veronik 941-526-7941
ISLAND RESIDENT. TREE/ BUSH Trimming, removal. Sweeping, blowing, and weeding. Weekly, bi-monthly or monthly schedule. Pressure washing. Call Bill Witaszek 941-307-9315
MOVING & STORAGE
MARTIN’S MOVING YOUR Island movers! Offering dependable, competitive rates. No hidden costs. 941-8095777.
PAINTING & WALLCOVERING
PAINT! PAINT! AND MORE 28 years of experienced interior/exterior custom painting. Pressure cleaning, drywall repairs and texture finishes. Many Island references. Please call Neil for free estimates. 941-812-0507
“WIZARD OF WALLS” Established 1980 Prompt quality service. Wallpaper installation/ removal. Mary Bell Winegarden 941-7940455
DONALD PERKINS ABRACADABRA PAINTING LLC fully insured. 30 years experience. Many Island references. Call 941705-7096
PROFESSIONAL
PAINTING SERVICES. Prompt & Reliable. Island Resident. Quality Workmanship. Interior/ Exterior. Minor repairs & carpentry. Free estimates. Bill Witaszek 941-307-9315
POOL SERVICES
FOUR SEASONS POOL SERVICE AND CHEMICAL SERVICES
Certified Pool Operator. 18 + Years Experience. Residential/commercial. Chemical Service Licensed & Insured. Call Dennis Clark 941-7375657
COLE'S TROPICAL POOL SERVICE Call Cole Bowers for all your pool maintenance needs! Affordable and Dependable!! 941-7131893
PRESSURE
WASHING & WINDOWS
TOTAL HOME SERVICES CLEANING: Residential, Commercial, Construction, Vacation, VRBO Rentals . Also available Pressure Washing, Roof Cleaning, Paver Sealing and Windows. Call 941565-3931.
REAL ESTATE HOMES & CONDOS FOR SALE
Have you been thinking of selling? We NEED properties to List for SALE!!! GULF FRONT, CANAL FRONT, BAY FRONT CONDOS or HOMES ASK for BIG Alan Galletto of Island Real Estate to get it SOLD 941-232-2216
LOOKING FOR A highly motivated real estate broker to buy or sell your next home?
Darcie Duncan, Broker Duncan Real Estate a lifelong island resident bringing success to her customers for 30 years. Proven track record brings you results! 941725-1589
HISTORICAL COTTAGE
409 Pine Ave. $2.2M 4BR/3BA pool. Brenda Boyd May Broker / Owner. All realtors welcome. 941-730-8589
RENTALS: ANNUAL
ANNUAL RENTALS WANTED! We have well qualified tenants for beach and mainland annual rentals, Full management or Finders fee. Call today for details. Ask for Paige DUNCAN REAL ESTATE 513-382-1992.
ANNUAL RENTAL 3BR/2BA Pebble Springs condo, upstairs, laundry, avail. 8/1 $2000 monthly. 941-778-4800
ANNUAL RENTAL: Imperial House Condo 2BR/1BA $2000/mo - Available Aug 1st. 208 A Magnolia Ave. 2BR/2BA $2800/moavailable June 1st. 208 B Magnolia Ave. 2BR/2BA $2800/mo- available Aug 1st. 407 76th St A Holmes Beach, FL 34216 3BR/2BA $5000/mo- available now with dock slip available for rent. Contact Sato Real Estate for more information. 941-7787200
2BR/2BA HOLMES BEACH
$2500/month 2 blocks to beach. Internet and basic cable included until March 2025. 920-763-2800
RENTALS: SEASONAL & VACATION
TIFFANY PLACE Gulf Front Condo for Rent
Incredible views from living room and master bedroom. 2BR/2BA Green Real Estate Call 941-778-0455
SEASONAL RENTAL in PALMA SOLA. 3BR/2BA weekly or monthly rates. Contact Barb Grace 941-201-2190
ANNA MARIA ISLAND CONDOS Large pool, beach access, free WiFi, 1&2 Bedroom $900 to $1200 per week redekercondosonami.com Tim 941-704-7525
CONDO TO RENT IN GATED COMMUNITY (5 mi from Anna Maria) available July till end Nov. - all included! www.floridarentals. com/10943/ 704-993-0288
SEASONAL RENTAL IN HOLMES BEACH . Studio apartment Minimum 4 month rental, Available Dec 2024 - April 2025, $8700. 908-914-1282
ANNA MARIA ISLAND CONDO Available July thru December. Great Value. Beautiful Upgraded 2BR/2BA Incredible water View! Waterfront Patio, Pool, tennis, pickle, walk to beach. Private carport. Excellent Rental terms. Owner/renter. Call/email for pics. Rentamiwaterview@aol. com or 570-239-0431
TRANSPORTATION
ANYTIME
TRANSPORTATION to all Airports, Casino, etc. Tampa/St. Pete $85. Sarasota $40. Pets welcome. Very dependable. Reasonable rates. Contact Jeanne. 941-779-5095
Jessica Pierce Sales Associate