29 minute read
EDITORIAL CARTOON
6THE SUN OPINION The Anna Maria Island Sun Staff
Owner/CEO Mike Field
Editor Cindy Lane
General Manager Bob Alexander
Reporters/Photographers Joe Hendricks Jason Schaffer Kristin Swain
Columnists Louise Bolger Rusty Chinnis
Contributors Steve Borggren Captain Rick Grassett Monica Simpson Tom Vaught Captain Dave White
Layout Ricardo Fonseca
Digital Editor Kristin Swain
Advertising Director Shona Otto
Advertising Assistant Pamela Lee
Classifieds Bob Alexander
Graphics Elaine Stroili Ricardo Fonseca
Distribution Bob Alexander Connor Field Tony McNulty Brian Smith Accounting Leslie Ketchum Co-founding publishers Mike Field Maggie McGinley Field
3909 East Bay Drive, Suite 210, Holmes Beach, FL, 34217 Phone: (941) 778-3986 email: news@amisun.com | ads@amisun.com | classifieds@amisun.com Like us on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/AnnaMariaIslandSun
Drop us a line
Got an opinion, a complaint or a compliment? Is there something you need to get off your chest? Send us a letter to the editor and have your say. There are a couple of ways to do it. The easiest and most direct is to email The Sun at news@amisun.com. Remember to put Letter to the Editor in the subject field. Or you can snail-mail a letter to us at The Anna Maria Island Sun, P.O. Box 1189, Anna Maria, FL 34216. Letters should be kept to 300 words or less and must contain your name and the city in which you reside. Personal attacks and obscene language will not be printed. The Sun reserves the right to edit letters for length or content.
ANNA MARIA
10005 GULF DRIVE FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-708-6130 Please visit www.cityofannamaria. com or contact city hall for more information. June 9, 2 p.m. – City Commission meeting June 20, all day – Juneteenth holiday, city offices closed June 22, 2 p.m. – Planning and Zoning board meeting June 23, 6 p.m. – City Commission meeting
BRADENTON BEACH
107 GULF DRIVE N. FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-778-1005 Please visit www.cityofbradentonbeach.com or contact city hall for more information. June 15, 9 a.m. – City Commission and Community Redevelopment Agency joint workshop June 15, 1 p.m. – Planning and Zoning board meeting June 16, noon – City Commission meeting June 20, all day – Juneteenth holiday, city offices closed
HOLMES BEACH
5801 MARINA DRIVE FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-708-5800 Please visit www.holmesbeachfl.org or contact city hall for more information. June 8, 10 a.m. – Clean Water ad-hoc committee meeting June 14, 5 p.m. – City Commission meeting with work session to follow June 20, all day – Juneteenth holiday, city offices closed June 28, 10 a.m. – Code Compliance special magistrate hearing June 28, 5 p.m. – City Commission meeting
ISLAND-WIDE
June 15, 2 p.m. – Coalition of Barrier Island Elected Officials meeting, Anna Maria City Hall June 21, 6 p.m. – West Manatee Fire Rescue district board meeting, administration building, 701 63rd St. W., Bradenton
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8
Beach market, Coquina Beach, 2650 Gulf Drive S., Bradenton Beach, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Island Time Book Club, “Rock Paper Scissors” by Alice Feeney, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 6:30 p.m. Reserve online manateelibrary.libcal.com/event/8962546
THURSDAY, JUNE 9
Stories from the Sea Puppet Theater by Kate Adams, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m. AMI Chamber Luncheon, Bunny and Pirates, 12404 Cortez Road, 11:30 a.m., $18 for members or $30 for prospective members. Reserve to 941-778-1541 Sunshine Stitchers Knit and Crochet, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 2 p.m. Reserve online manateelibrary.libcal.com/ event/9178657
FRIDAY, JUNE 10
Beach market, Coquina Beach, 2650 Gulf Drive S., Bradenton Beach, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Forty Carrots, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m. Mahjong Club, experienced players, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 11:30 a.m.
SATURDAY, JUNE 11
Robinson Runners, Robinson Preserve, 1704 99th St. N.W., Bradenton, 8 a.m. Saturday mornings at the NEST, Robinson Preserve Mosaic Nest, 840 Ninth Ave. N.W., Bradenton, 9 a.m. to noon Origami Club, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m. Reserve online manateelibrary. libcal.com/event/8962112 Music on the Porch, Florida Maritime Museum, 4415 119th St. W., Cortez, 2-4 p.m.
SUNDAY, JUNE 12
Concert for Peace benefiting the people of Ukraine, The Center of Anna Maria Island, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria, 4-8 p.m.
Police chief shares more funding, staffing concerns
Police Chief John Cosby continues to express concerns about the need for more police funding.
BY JOE HENDRICKS
SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
BRADENTON BEACH – Police Chief John Cosby is again voicing concerns about the police department budget and staffing shortages after an incident involving two Bradenton Beach police officers.
During the June 1 Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) meeting, Cosby provided an update on the policing efforts in the district.
Noting that Bridge Street is filled to capacity on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, Cosby said, “You can’t fit any more people down there.”
He said there are now issues with patrons lingering late at night after the businesses close.
“I only have two officers on. It’s hard to disperse that many people,” Cosby said, noting an incident involving a vehicle that left the Drift In parking lot during the early morning hours of May 29.
According to the probable cause report, an officer saw a vehicle driven by Steven Davis reverse at a high rate of speed and fishtail out of the Drift-In parking lot with no headlights on before striking a signpost. After eventually being wrestled to the ground and pepper-sprayed, Davis was arrested for resisting arrest and disorderly intoxication (see related story, page 9).
As that arrest took place, Davis’ companion, Torrie Kronk, was arrested for disorderly intoxication for the alleged verbal abuse she directed toward the arresting officers.
“One subject had to be wrestled to the ground. They wound up going to the hospital,” Cosby said. “They were tied up at the hospital for seven hours. An officer has to stay with them the entire time they’re there. The second person who was arrested also claimed injury and also went to the hospital and was there for seven hours. From 3 o’clock to 7 in the morning there were no officers available to take any calls in Bradenton Beach unless it was a priority call. Our mutual aid contracts with the other cities and the county only call for them to come out if we have a priority call. So, any other type of call went ignored until 7 o’clock – until the day shift officer came in.”
Cosby said the two officers were supposed to get off duty at 3 a.m. but wound up working until 10 a.m. and had to be back to work at 5 p.m. Sunday evening.
“I have eight patrol officers. I’m down two right now, and I have some that are taking vacation. I’m down to five people to cover all the shifts. I need more staff,” Cosby said. OTHER ISSUES
Cosby described the recent Memorial Day weekend as “total mayhem.” He said Manatee County Commission Chairman Kevin Van Ostenbridge rode with Manatee County Marine Rescue personnel that Sunday and witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by law enforcement and public safety personnel.
“He was in awe of what was going on out here. He responded with them to the fight calls we had over parking issues, which were multiple, and the sheer amount of traffic. There’s too many people coming here. There’s no place to put them,” Cosby said.
“It’s not my job to come up with an answer. This is a political issue. It’s your job to work with them (the county) to figure something out,” Cosby told the CRA members – five of whom also serve on the city commission.
Cosby said he’s raising from $35 to $40 the hourly rate the department charges the CRA for off-duty policing services in the CRA district that includes Bridge Street. He said other law enforcement agencies in the area charge $40-$45 for off-duty policing.
“If you can’t pay it, then we can’t provide the service. I can’t expect my people to go out there and not make the same amount of money other officers at other agencies are making,” Cosby said.
Regarding staffing shortages, Cosby said, “Myself and Lt. Diaz are covering shifts. I just don’t have anybody. I’m hoping to be back to a full staff in July. I have not been at full staff for three and a half years. Again, you’re getting what you pay for,” Cosby said.
CRA Chairman Ralph Cole said the CRA and the city commission have to figure out how to address the ongoing police funding concerns and he noted other city services may need to be reduced. Cole said the city needs more financial support from Manatee County and the other taxing authorities that place additional burdens on the city’s police department.
CRA member John Chappie noted the county-owned beaches and boat ramps make up one-third of Bradenton Beach and help attract 14,000-20,000 people to the city on any given Saturday or Sunday.
PREVIOUS COMMENTS
During the May 5 commission meeting, Cosby and two residents voiced their concerns about the city having one officer available to respond to an incident involving 10 people, a possible fight and a gun.
During that meeting, Cosby said more officers and more funds are needed if the city’s police department is going to keep up with the additional policing demands created by the constant influx of tourists and the continued growth in Manatee County.
Bridge Street arrest ties up police for hours
Bradenton Beach police were tied up for hours after an intoxicated man refused to cooperate with officers during an arrest on Bridge Street.
BY JASON SCHAFFER
SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com
BRADENTON BEACH - An encounter between police and an intoxicated couple on May 29 turned into an hours-long struggle to diffuse a situation that put both the police and the public in danger.
Bradenton Beach Officers Devon Straight and Roy Joslin were on routine foot patrol at 2:30 a.m. on Bridge Street when they heard a verbal disturbance coming from a male and female leaving the Drift In bar, according to the police report. The officers didn’t see the couple get in their car, but they heard the vehicle rev its engine repeatedly, then reverse at a high rate of speed, fishtailing without any lights.
Straight said the vehicle almost hit a sign and posed a hazard to large groups of people gathered in the area, so he and Joslin used their flashlights to signal the vehicle to stop and they checked on the welfare and condition of the driver.
Later identified as Steven Clayton Davis, of Bradenton, the driver became verbally abusive with the officers and showed signs of intoxication, including slurred speech and bloodshot eyes, according to the report. Davis put his car in park, but refused to open the door and get out of the vehicle after the officers asked him to do so. Officer Joslin opened the unlocked door from the outside and ordered Davis to exit the vehicle, which Davis refused to do. The officers began to extract Davis from the vehicle to prevent any danger to the public, officers and the suspect.
Once Davis was out of the vehicle, both officers attempted to detain him in handcuffs, which he resisted with force, according to the report. After the officers secured him in handcuffs, he was taken to a patrol vehicle. While the officers attempted to put him in the back of the patrol car, Davis refused to sit in the back seat properly and leaned forward and dropped face first onto the pavement. As the officers attempted to get Davis off the ground, he yelled and threatened the officers, refusing to cooperate. He also managed to slip his handcuffed arms under his legs so the cuffs were on the front of his body. During the struggle with officers, who had no backup at the time, a Monkey Bus driver arrived on the scene and assisted officers in gaining control of the suspect, helping them get him into the back of the vehicle.
After Davis was placed in the back of the patrol vehicle, officers say he used his handcuffed hands, which were still on the front side of his body, to try to break the window of the patrol car. The officers then opened the door again, warning Davis that he would be pepper
SEE ARREST, PAGE 14
Proposed Bradenton Beach charter amendments
Five questions will be placed on the fall ballot for the registered voters of Bradenton Beach to approve or reject.
BY JOE HENDRICKS
SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
BRADENTON BEACH – The city commission has voted to place five charter amendment questions recommended by the charter review committee on the ballot for the city elections that will conclude on Nov. 8.
The commission’s final adoption of a city ordinance containing the five ballot questions is scheduled for final adoption during the commission’s Thursday, June 16 meeting.
The questions will appear on the ballot seeking from the city’s registered voters a “yes” vote for approval or a “no” vote for rejection.
The ballot questions are:
1. FORFEITURE OF OFFICE
Currently the city charter vests authority in three arbitrators to hold forfeiture of office proceedings against an elected official with costs to be borne by the city. Should the city revise its charter to eliminate the three arbitrator-panel procedure and replace it with the former forfeiture provision utilizing the city commission to conduct the proceedings? 2. TEMPORARY AT-LARGE FILLING OF VACANCIES
The current city charter requires a ward commissioner to reside in the ward they represent. Should the city amend its charter to establish a procedure to temporarily fill the ward seat for one term with an atlarge commissioner if no ward resident is available or willing to run for office?
3. FILLING OF VACANCIES BY APPOINTMENT
The current city charter requires the city to provide a special election to fill a vacancy that results in more than six months from a resignation required by Section 99.012, Florida Statues. Should the charter be amended to allow for all vacancies to be appointed by the city commission? 4. QUALIFICATIONS AND TERMS OF OFFICE
Should the city amend its charter to remove term limits and maintain two-year terms for all elected positions with an effective date of June 16, 2022, in order to allow currently seated elected officials the ability to run for office, if otherwise termed out?
5. ACTIONS REQUIRING AN ORDINANCE
Currently the city charter sets forth actions requiring an ordinance. Should the city amend the charter to remove employee personnel benefits and procedures from this section and require actions of the city regarding employee personnel benefits and procedures to be adopted in a public meeting through a resolution of the commission?
CHARTER: Amendments won’t eliminate supra-majority votes
FROM PAGE 3 SUPRA-MAJORITY RETAINED
The commission directed Perry to draft an ordinance containing five of the six charter amendment questions recommended by the charter review committee on May 19, rejecting a sixth proposed ballot question pertaining to supra-majority votes.
The charter currently says an affirmative supra-majority vote of at least four of the five commission members shall be required to approve any comprehensive plan amendment (including map or text amendments), rezoning, special exception, variance or the vacation of any city right of way.
During Thursday’s meeting, Perry proposed new charter language that said, “The commission shall clarify and define supra-majority in the city of Bradenton Beach Land Development Code, as well as establish the number of elected officials required for a supramajority vote.”
Perry said she included the supramajority question in the first reading of the ordinance because it could be removed during first reading but could not be added to the ordinance if not publicly noticed as such.
Perry suggested retaining the fourfifths supra-majority commission vote – and subsequent city voter approval – to vacate any city-owned right of ways, while allowing the commission to decide if a supra-majority or simple majority vote is required for other actions that currently require the supramajority support of the commission.
Perry questioned what would happen if one commission member had to recuse themselves from such a vote. The commission agreed that the applicant would then need the approval of all four remaining commission members.
Commissioner Ralph Cole said amending the charter as the charter review committee and Perry proposed could result in three or fewer votes being needed to approve a comprehensive plan amendment that would allow a stand-alone parking garage.
Chappie said he likes the higher fourfifths standard for certain commission actions, even though it makes the approval process tougher for developers.
During public input, city resident and Planning and Zoning Board member John Burns asked why the supra-majority question was included in the ordinance after the commission rejected it on May 19. Burns said he likes the higher threshold for certain commission actions and he wants it to be harder, not easier, for the commission to govern when addressing issues of this nature.
5346 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach (941) 778-5788 | hurricanehanks.com Visit us for a cold one!
We’ve installed 5 Fresh-Aire UV units to provide
Holmes Beach parking changes planned
Commissioners are
considering joining the other two Island cities by mandating that all four vehicle wheels be off the pavement when parked on the side of the road.
BY KRISTIN SWAIN
SUN STAFF WRITER | kswain@amisun.com
HOLMES BEACH – More parking changes are being proposed for Anna Maria Island’s largest city, but this one doesn’t affect the number of available parking spaces, just how they’re used.
During a May 24 work session, commissioners heard a proposal from City Engineer Sage Kamiya to join the cities of Anna Maria and Bradenton Beach in requiring all vehicles parked on the sides of city streets to have all four wheels off the road.
If enacted, the proposed regulations would provide an exception for temporarily parked vehicles such as landscaping trucks and other work vehicles while work is being done on the property.
“I’m all for this,” Commissioner Carol Soustek said.
Commissioners agreed to move the proposed parking changes to a first reading and vote at an upcoming regular meeting.
Kamiya said the change would align Holmes Beach’s regulations with those of its sister cities. Mayor Judy Titsworth added that the proposed four wheels off the road change would not affect the number of parking spaces currently available to the public along city streets.
While the change would be applied citywide, Titsworth said that Key Royale may be exempted from the regulations, maintaining two wheels off the road parking, due to the wide width of the community’s streets. She also added that since Key Royale is separated from the rest of Holmes Beach by a bridge, it makes it easier to define the boundaries for officers enforcing parking regulations.
Other changes to parking being considered include designating parking spaces at beach accesses and along city streets where public parking is allowed by using bollards and rope, creating a parking map and adding additional rapid flashing beacons to city crosswalks.
Kamiya said that all of the changes combined work together to help commissioners realize the vision of becoming a safer community for people using all forms of transportation.
KRISTIN SWAIN | SUN If commissioners enact new proposed parking regulations, vehicles will have to be parked with all four tires off the road.
WHERE‛S YOUR COMFORT ZONE? NEWS BRIEFS
Travel with Senior Adventures
The Center of Anna Maria Island and Senior Adventures have two summertime trips planned for older residents who want to have a good time. The first trip will be to the Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Tampa. The bus leaves The Center on Friday, June 10 at 10 a.m. The second trip will be to the Red Barn Flea Market on Wednesday, June 22 with the bus leaving at 9 a.m. To reserve a spot, or for more information, contact The Center at 941-778-1908.
Improve your sports game with Coach Ray
Coach Ray Gardner is coming back to The Center of Anna Maria Island to teach kids strategies to improve their sports performance with a specialty camp from Prosper for Kids. Campers entering third through sixth grades are welcome to join the fun and learn how to use sports as a way to enhance mental, physical and spiritual strength. Participants can expect to learn teamwork and work ethics while improving their athletic skills and building relationships while working out. The Prosper for Kids camp runs June 13-16 from 4-6 p.m. at The Center. The cost is $115 per camper for Center members or $140 for non-members. Advanced registration is required by calling 941-778-1908 or visiting The Center at 407 Magnolia Ave. in Anna Maria.
Sign up for chess camp
There’s a new camp coming to The Center of Anna Maria Island this year with the launch of chess camp. The beginner camp for children entering third through fifth grade are welcome to join the fun and learn some new skills on the chessboard. The camp will be taught by the Manasota Chess Center and runs from June 13-16 from 9-11 a.m. The cost is $75 for Center members or $85 for non-members. Chess players can sign up by calling 941-778-1908 or visiting The Center at 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria.
COVID-19 IN MANATEE COUNTY
May 29 Cases 246 % Positivity 18.76% Deaths < 10 % Eligible population vaccinated 72.3% New hospital admissions 35 June 5 Cases 289 % Positivity 22.39% Deaths <10 % Eligible population vaccinated 72.4% New hospital admissions 33
Source: CDC
ARREST: Ties up police for hours
FROM PAGE 9 warning Davis that he would be pepper sprayed if he didn’t calm down, according to the report. Not heeding the warning, Davis continued to try to leave the patrol car, resulting in officers pepper-spraying him and finally gaining some control of the tense situation.
Holmes Beach officers arrived on the scene to provide backup, since Straight and Joslin were the only officers on duty in Bradenton Beach. After Holmes Beach officers arrived, Joslin was able to deal with the suspect’s female companion, Torrie Ann Kronk, who had been screaming threats and insults at the officers throughout the ordeal. Kronk was later arrested for obstruction for her role in the incident.
Straight then took Davis to the police station for decontamination, standard procedure when anyone is pepper-sprayed by police, according to officers. Straight used cool water from the hose in the police department parking lot until the suspect was satisfied he was decontaminated. Joslin meanwhile completed arrest paperwork on Kronk.
Davis refused to sit on the bench in the police station quietly while he was processed. He threatened to kill the officers repeatedly while being processed, according to the report, and continued to resist arrest by trying to kick over a shelf containing valuable police equipment, resulting in the officers having to cuff his feet to the bench to prevent any damage during processing.
Davis was charged with obstruction and disorderly intoxication in a public place causing a disturbance.
Due to injuries Davis sustained when he fell on his face trying to escape the police vehicle during the arrest, he was taken to the hospital before being transported to Manatee County Jail.
“The whole ordeal lasted from 2:30 a.m. to close to 7:30 a.m. because they struggled and there were injuries and were taken to the hospital,” Bradenton Beach Police Lt. Lenard Diaz said. “It should be a simple misdemeanor arrest, but because of the injuries and the fact there was a male and female and you have to keep two officers with the female, it takes our officers away from the road.”
During the process of arresting the suspects, which took about five hours, there were no Bradenton Beach officers available to take calls for other emergencies.
The department continues to seek funding for more staff to prevent similar situations in the future.
Holmes Beach Hummer not just for show
The Holmes Beach Police Department has restored a military surplus Hummer, making it the most capable life-saving vehicle on the Island.
BY JASON SCHAFFER
SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com
HOLMES BEACH - The Holmes Beach Police Department has a new tool that can not only turn heads, but also save lives.
On the Island, it’s not uncommon to see a Ferrari or Rolls Royce passing by in traffic, but drivers are doing a double-take when they see a fully marked military Hummer that looks like a regular police SUV went to the gym and hit the weights. The vehicle is the latest addition to the Holmes Beach Police Department’s fleet, and it’s not just for show.
“We didn’t need any taxpayer money to get this Hummer on the road. When the vehicle came to us it was a mess. This thing had a big plant growing in the back, it was dirty, it had obviously been outside for years,” Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer said. “We took it and washed it, sandblasted it, had the interior Rhino-coated, painted it, added the graphics and all the detail work.”
The Hummer was nicknamed "Stormtrooper" after one of Holmes Beach’s dispatchers said the white vehicle looked like a stormtrooper from Star Wars. The vehicle was acquired through the 1033 program, which allows participating police departments to buy military surplus equipment, including vehicles such as the Hummer.
“We are a part of the 1033 program. We signed up as a city to make sure we’re in compliance with what the government says we need to be,” said Tokajer. “After the storm Irma came through and we had to do a couple of high water rescues, we had three of our trucks that sat up pretty high damaged due to water. Since we have to save people, we began looking for a Hummer.”
Tokajer wasn’t just looking for any Hummer, he wanted one with an intake snorkel that sticks up from the engine about 3 feet. This allows the engine to take in air and run completely submerged in water. The Hummer also has an exhaust pipe that rises more than 3 feet from the rear of the vehicle, preventing it from stalling out in water that can rise above the windshield.
“I’m always looking for ways to improve the equipment for the department that doesn’t cost the taxpayers any money,” Tokajer said, adding that the Hummer was set to cost $500 initially, but since it needed a little more work than advertised, the $500 was dropped and the only initial fee was the cost to have it towed to Holmes Beach.
Tokajer said his officers did most of the work on the vehicle installing lights, paint, new parts and more. The total cost to restore the 1999 Hummer to like-new condition was only $2,000 due to the extra effort by the officers. The $2,000 came from the department’s maintenance budget, leaving taxpayers to pay nothing. He said the damage that regular police vehicles may not incur in a high water situation thanks to the Hummer could save money in the long run.
Tokajer said there is more equipment his department is currently working to secure through grants that will not require taxpayer dollars, including a boat and some new radios. He estimates the department has gotten over $1 million in funding from other sources that did not put a burden on the taxpayers over the past nine years.
JASON SCHAFFER | SUN The Holmes Beach Police Department’s rescue Hummer is not only a headturner, but it can also save lives due to its military capability.
JUNE 8, 2022 FOOD & WINE THE SUN 17
Island fresh
Brian Mathae
HURRICANE HANKS
While vacation is always a pleasure, particularly one in Europe, coming back to AMI is such a great feeling. It feels like home because it is home. It’s a comfortable and casual lifestyle compared to the bustle of big cities and the crowded subway cars. It’s also where we see the friendly and welcoming faces of our friends, neighbors and staff and customers of our businesses. Also, after a few weeks away, it’s exciting to come home and see how things have grown in the yard. The avocados are getting bigger and the mangos are turning red.
I love living in a climate where you can grow virtually anything in your yard. Fresh is best and home grown is better yet! Mango has always been one of my favorite fruits, due to both the sweetness and flavor. It’s interesting to note that many of the mango cultivars were started and named right here in Florida. If you have a mango tree in your yard, I encourage you to do some sleuthing and determine exactly which cultivar you have. There are unique taste and texture characteristics to each one.
Today’s recipe incorporates the soon-to-ripen local mangos into a fresh and bright salsa. A mango salsa is commonly used as a garnishment for meat and fish dishes. Because this recipe incorporates the protein right into the salsa, it’s really a meal in and of itself.
While salsa is the Spanish word for sauce, it has its foundations in Central America, where chili and tomatoes were domesticated and cultivated thousands of years ago. The wild tomato is indigenous to Ecuador and Peru but the Aztecs and other Central American nations were the first to domesticate the plant. The Aztec recipe included tomatoes, chilies, squash seeds and even beans. A Franciscan missionary in Mexico in the 1500s wrote extensively about Aztec life, including documenting food common to the culture. Salsa was mainly consumed as a condiment with seafood, turkey and venison.
While hot sauces were starting to be manufactured in the U.S. in the 1800s, manufacturing of dippable salsa didn’t really start until the 1940s. Since then, variation after variation has been produced and marketed. Thankfully, someone understood the delightful combination of chili, tomato, sweet fruits and other complimentary ingredients.
Today’s recipe is exactly that, traditional salsa with a few additional ingredients to add flavor, texture and enjoyment. I’ve included crab meat, so this is a perfect dish as an appetizer or light dinner. As always, modify this recipe as you see fit, eliminating ingredients unpalatable to you or substituting canned or frozen ingredients when fresh aren’t available.
We do hope you enjoy. Buen provecho
Summer Crab Salsa with homemade tortilla chips
Salsa ingredients
1 pound lump crab, fresh or frozen 1 ear fresh corn, grilled 2 tomatoes, chopped 2 tablespoons finely chopped onion 1 ripe avocado, chopped 1 large mango, chopped 1 jalapeno, seeded and chopped 1 medium red pepper, seeded and chopped 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped 1 large lime, juiced 2 tablespoons olive oil Salt and pepper to taste
Tortilla Chips ingredients
12 Corn tortillas Course salt
Salsa directions
Remove kernels from corn and place in a large mixing bowl. Add tomato, onion, avocado, mango, jalapeño, and red pepper and toss to incorporate. In a large measuring cup stir together the oil, lime juice, cilantro and salt and pepper. Pour over the mixture and toss gently to mix. Gently fold in the crab meat, ensuring to keep the crab pieces as whole as possible. Cover and chill for at least one hour so the flavors can blend.
Tortilla Chips directions
Preheat the oven to 350 F. Cut each tortilla into six wedges. Spread the wedges onto a baking sheet in a single layer so the wedges do not overlap. Bake for about 6 minutes. Remove from the oven, sprinkle with a bit of salt, and turn wedges over. Return the wedges to the oven and bake another 6 minutes until the wedges are just starting to brown. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with a bit of salt. Once cool, transfer to a serving dish or bowl.
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