Anna Maria Island Sun June 14, 2023

Condo inspection bill signed into law

The new state law requires condo owners to share in the structural inspection and structural repair costs.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Florida

Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed into law new state legislation that will impact condominium associations and owners.

On June 9, DeSantis signed the legislation recently adopted by the Florida Legislature as Senate Bill 154 and House Bill 1395.

Taking effect on July 1, the new law requires structural inspections of all condominium buildings three or more stories in height and at least 30 years old by Dec. 31, 2024 and again every 10 years thereafter.

Water taxi agreement disappoints Anna Maria officials

The Anna Maria City Pier cannot be used as a water taxi stop without a city commission-approved interlocal agreement.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA – Mayor Dan Murphy and the city commission are not yet willing to sign a proposed interlocal agreement that would allow Manatee County to use the City Pier as a water taxi stop. The county hopes to start its Friday, Saturday and Sunday water taxi service using two covered pontoon boats shuttling between downtown Bradenton and Anna Maria Island this summer. The proposed route for the county-funded service includes multiple stops per service day at the City Pier, the floating dock next to the Bradenton Beach Pier and the Coquina South boat ramp in Bradenton Beach.

During the June 8 city commission meeting, Murphy said he recently received the county’s latest draft of the interlocal agreement, which City Attorney Becky Vose had already briefly analyzed.

SEE WATER TAXI, PAGE 22

Holmes Beach residents organize to fight garage

In accordance with the Florida Building Code, the inspection requirement includes the most common type of condominium building on Anna Maria Island - three-story buildings with two elevated living levels and ground level parking below.

The new law builds upon the state law previously created in 2022 with the adoption of Senate Bill 4-D. The legislation adopted in 2022 and 2023 is in response to the partial collapse of the 12-story Champlain Towers South condominium building in Surfside that killed 98 people in 2021.

The new law applies to all qualifying condominium buildings in Florida regardless of location and it deletes the 25-year inspection requirement

SEE BILL, PAGE 21

A new effort dubbed Paradise Lost is bringing new resources to residents and city leaders fighting against a beachfront parking garage.

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

HOLMES BEACH – A new effort is rising to fight a Manatee Countyand state-led plan to build a parking garage at Manatee Beach.

The effort is being led by a group of concerned city and county residents who hope to convince state legislators to abandon House Bill 947, the local bill backed by Rep. Will Robinson Jr. to circumvent the city’s building regulations and land devel-

opment code to allow a 1,500-plus space parking garage to be built at the county-owned property located in Holmes Beach. The bill passed votes in both the Florida House and Senate without opposition.

As of press time for The Sun it had not been presented to Gov. Ron DeSantis for consideration. Legislators have until June 30 to present the bill. If the bill doesn’t get presented, it dies along with Manatee County commissioners’ immediate plans for the garage. If it is presented and DeSantis signs or ignores it, the bill becomes law upon signing or on July 1, whichever happens first. If he vetoes it, the bill goes back to the House for consideration during the next regular session.

SEE GARAGE, PAGE 24

CINDY LANE | SUN

The Anna Maria City Pier is now in question as a water taxi stop location.

Commission ends commercial activity discussions

Commissioner Mark Short previously expressed concerns about potential commercial activity on Anna Maria’s rights of way and public spaces.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA – The city won’t enact any additional prohibitions or regulations pertaining to commercial activity in city rights of way and other public spaces.

The Anna Maria City Commission reached this unanimous decision on June 8 after further discussing concerns that Commission Chair Mark Short raised during the commission’s May 25 meeting.

On May 25, Short said he didn’t want Anna Maria’s rights of ways and public spaces being overrun with commercial activity similar to what’s occurring along Manatee Avenue at the Palma Sola Causeway in west Bradenton, where

multiple commercial entities offer horseback rides, personal watercraft rentals, kayak and paddleboard rentals and more.

After the May 25 meeting, Mayor Dan Murphy asked City Attorney Becky Vose and City Planner Ashely Austin to review how the city currently addresses commercial activity in rights of ways and public spaces and what more could be done if the commission identified specific problems to address.

During the June 8 meeting, Murphy reminded the commission that additional enforcement efforts might require additional personnel and/or equipment.

Austin said the city’s code of ordinances already prohibits commercial activity in cityowned rights of way, but things get trickier when regulating commercial activity on the beaches. She noted the city already prohibits motorized vessels, including personal watercraft, within 300 feet of Anna Maria’s public beach

areas. She said the city also prohibits using a cart or vehicle on a public beach to offer goods and services.

Vose told the commission there’s state legislation in the form of Senate Bill 170 awaiting Gov. Ron DeSantis’ signature.

If adopted as state law, the state legislation would require local governments to prepare business impact estimates before adopting new regulatory ordinances. The state legislation would also allow courts to award the recovery of attorney fees for those who challenge a new local ordinance. If enacted,

the new state law would take effect Oct. 1. Vose advised the commissioners to act before then if they want to adopt any new regulatory ordinances.

Providing a potential solution to the commission’s commercial activity concerns, Vose said the city of Cocoa Beach previously created small, designated areas where commercial activity is allowed on those public beaches.

Short asked if all of Anna Maria’s beaches are public. Murphy said the majority of the beaches in Anna Maria are privately owned; and those who

own beachfront property that hasn’t been renourished by the county have property rights that in some cases extend into the water.

“It’s not wet sand, dry sand,” Murphy said regarding the private ownership of nonrenourished beaches.

Austin said private ownership creates a gap in the city’s ability to regulate beach activities.

Murphy said the city owns the beach area near the City Pier, the beach area at Bayfront Park and several beach access points and can regulate commercial activity in those areas.

Murphy reminded the commission that Anna Maria residents are among the beachgoers who use beach cabana and beach equipment delivery and set up services and food delivery services, and that those service providers are local business owners.

The discussion ended with the commission reaching a unanimous consensus not to take any additional regulatory action.

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

Commercial activities are prohibited in city rights of way, including those at Bayfront Park.

INBRIEF

New finger docks now in use

As of June 7, most of the new perpendicular finger docks had been affixed to the existing and expanded float ing day dock next to the Bradenton Beach Pier and were already being used by boaters. Originally proposed by City Commissioner Jake Spooner many years ago, the new finger docks provide additional short-term public dockage near the pier. The dock expansion project was funded by the Bradenton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), with Manatee County reimbursing the CRA for 50% of the total project costs.

Reentry tags available

The city of Anna Maria’s hurricane and emergency reentry tags are available to Anna Maria residents, business owners and property owners at Anna Maria City Hall Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The tags allow reentry to the city after storm or other emergency-related evacuations. Proof of residency is required and only one tag is issued per residence, business or property. Anna Maria’s reentry tags do not expire and those who already have one do not need a new one. For more information, call 941-708-6130.

Historic Preservation Board needs applicants

The Manatee County Historic Preservation Board is in need of one new member. Applications are being accepted to fill the vacancy until July 17. The citizen’s advisory board helps to preserve and protect sites in the county that are archaeologically, historically and aesthetically significant. To be considered for the post, applicants must be registered voters in the county, not employed by the county and cannot currently be serving as a member of another land development-related advisory board in unincorporated Manatee County. Board members meet a minimum of four times per year. For more information, contact Bobbi Roy at 941-748-4501 ext. 6878 or email bobbi.roy@mymanatee.org.

Elevating library could create more public parking

The CRA discussed elevating the library building to create a public parking lot below it.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH – Mayor

John Chappie proposes further elevating the Tingley Memorial Library to create a groundlevel public parking lot below the library building.

The city-owned library was built in the early 1990s using $240,000 of the $678,801 that Beulah Hannah Hooks Tingley bequeathed to the city in 1986 to create a public reading room. The remaining funds continue to be used to fund the operations of the library, which isn’t part of the county library system.

The library building is already elevated by approximately 6 feet, but that doesn’t leave enough space below for parking.

Chappie initiated the library discussion during the June 6 Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) meeting.

He said the city doesn’t have the money to purchase additional land for public parking and the goal is to create more public parking spaces on land already owned by the city.

Chappie said he discussed the idea with Building Official Steve Gilbert and Gilbert suggested issuing a request for proposals (RFP) for the architectural and engineering services needed to determine the feasibility of elevating the library building.

CRA Chair Ralph Cole asked

Gilbert if the building could be elevated.

“That’s why we go out and hire an architect, with an engineering firm in back of them, to look at it and tell us that,” Gilbert said, noting the wooden library building sits atop steel beams.

“You can jack up just about any building you want to, it just depends on how many zeros you want to throw under it,” Gilbert said of the potential cost.

He said the combined insight of an architect, an engineering firm and a house moving company would provide the CRA and the city with a better understanding of what’s possible.

“Will it work? Is it feasible? And if it will work, then how do we want to proceed? At that point, you have several decisions to make,” he said.

“I think it’s worth looking into. We need as much parking as we can get,” Cole said.

“I think you’re halfway there,” CRA member Ed Chiles said when suggesting looking further into

the future to account for the city’s continued growth and increase in visitors.

“That’s not going to stop,” Chiles said.

He noted that the library property is located next to the city hall property and the two properties combined would create a large area to work with.

“I think we should look at the whole campus. If you’re going to go up, combine the library and city hall. That’s what we need for the next 30 years,” Chiles said.

Chappie noted there are stateimposed restrictions that limit the use of CRA funds. He said City Attorney Ricinda Perry will write a legal analysis/position paper that supports the proposed use of CRA funds.

“What I’m asking today is to direct Ricinda, myself and Steve to work on an RFP to utilize CRA funds for a public parking lot,” Chappie said.

The CRA members unanimously approved Chappie’s request.

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

The Tingley Memorial Library building was built in the early 1990s.

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

AMI tourism numbers remain strong

According to the latest data, tourism continues to stay strong on Anna Maria Island.

BY JASON SCHAFFER SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA - Research Data Services’ (RDS) Ann Wittine presented her state of tourism update to members of the Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC) on June 5 at a meeting held at The Center of Anna Maria Island.

As predicted in her April 24 address to the TDC, most numbers continue to be on the rise.

Wittine’s report featured the latest available statistics on the Manatee County tourism industry from April. Total visitors and room nights were down slightly from April 2022, but economic impact was up for the month in 2023 with 97,000 visitors (down 2.1%), 220,700 room nights (down 4.1%) and $143,973,100 in economic impact (up 3.4%).

“While we did see a slight decrease in visitation this April over last April, a big part of this is because last year

Easter fell on April 17, but this year it was April 9,” Wittine said. “This is a normal thing. When we see an early Easter, we find the season compresses. While we saw a slight decrease from last year, we see an increase in economic impact, meaning that visitors that are coming are spending more.”

Room occupancy for April was

down slightly (down 2.8%) after being down more than 3% in the last report from RDS, which quoted data from February 2023. The average daily room rate, however, was up 7.9% at $265.70 per day in April compared to $246.30 in April 2022.

The Tampa-based RDS also keeps track of where people come from when they visit the area. The biggest

increase in domestic visitor origin was the Midwest, which was up 5.1% over the same time period in 2022. Globally, travel from Europe fell 13.6% and travel from Canada was down 25.6% over April 2022. Wittine said the reason for the decrease in European and Canadian visitors was due to April 2022 being the first spring these tourists were not under COVID-19 lockdown orders. She said that current numbers are more in line with what is expected.

“As we have been seeing, we have a slight rollback in the number of people coming out of Florida,” Wittine said. “This is expected. The important thing to note is that we are still up 50% over where we were in 2019, so all of the marketing to the nearby markets has had an amazing ripple effect with the visitors continuing to come back.”

Wittine forecast numbers going down slightly at her last address to the TDC, but said at this meeting that rental agencies and condo owners on AMI have reported solid bookings for June and July.

JASON SCHAFFER | SUN

Ann Wittine, of Research Data Services, addresses the members of the Manatee County Tourist Development Council meeting on June 5 at The Center of Anna Maria Island.

The Anna Maria Island Sun Staff

Owner/CEO

Mike Field

Editor

Cindy Lane

General Manager

Bob Alexander

Reporters/Photographers

Joe Hendricks

Leslie Lake

Jason Schaffer

Kristin Swain

Columnists

Louise Bolger

Rusty Chinnis

Contributors

Joe Becht

Steve Borggren

Capt. Rick Grassett

Isis Mavenyengwa

Monica Simpson

Tom Vaught

Capt. David White

Anne Yarbrough

Layout

Ricardo Fonseca

Digital Editor

Kristin Swain

Advertising Director

Shona Otto

Advertising Assistant

Pamela Lee

Classifieds

Bob Alexander

Graphics

Elaine Stroili

Ricardo Fonseca

Distribution

Bob Alexander

Connor Field

Tony McNulty

Brian Smith

Accounting

Leslie Ketchum

Co-founding publishers

Mike Field

Maggie McGinley Field

Family-owned since 2000

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Parking solutions complex

I am a fan of simple. I think we overanalyze many things. However, there are some things that call for higher level thinking. The dilemma of transporting more people to AMI beaches is one of them.

The current knee jerk parking

garage solution from state and county leaders is decades old, tired and simple. It is “Boy howdy, let’s just pour us some more concrete.” It is wrong on so many levels.

There is a lesson here for the electorate. There are going to be other ongoing complex issues that call for creative and innovative

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

thinking. The solutions to these issues will impact us all. We would be wise to elect future leaders who understand the whole picture, are forward thinking and comprehend multiplex relationships. After all, they do have our fate in their hands.

Deb Sneddon Holmes Beach

HOLMES BEACH

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

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

June 19, all day – City offices closed for Juneteenth

June 22, 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, noon – City Commission meeting

June 19, all day – City offices closed for Juneteenth

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

Please visit www.holmesbeachfl.org or contact city hall for more information.

June 14, 9 a.m. – Clean Water Ad-hoc Committee meeting

June 14, 5 p.m. – Planning Commission meeting

June 19, all day – City offices closed for Juneteenth

June 27, 10 a.m. – Code Compliance special magistrate hearing June 27, 5 p.m. – City Commission meeting with work session to follow

ISLAND-WIDE

June 20, 6 p.m. – West Manatee Fire Rescue board meeting, administration building, 701 63rd St. W., Bradenton

EVENTS

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14

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

Island Time Book Club: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 6:30 p.m.

THURSDAY, JUNE 15

Summer Reading: Didgeridoo Down Under, 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. Thursdays in Paradise Stroll featuring local art, music and food, Bridge Street, Bradenton Beach, 5-8 p.m.

FRIDAY, JUNE 16

Forty Carrots, 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.

Create a vision board, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 2 p.m.

SATURDAY, JUNE 17

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

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

TUESDAY, JUNE 20

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.

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

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21

Mah-jongg for beginners, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 11 a.m.

THURSDAY, JUNE 22

Alligator and Wildlife Discovery Center: Animal Encounter, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m.

Sunshine Stitchers Knit and Crochet, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 1 p.m.

AMI Chamber Business Card Exchange hosted by Total Life Care LLC, 5313 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, 5-7 p.m., $5 for members and $10 for prospective members

FRIDAY, JUNE 23

Forty Carrots, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m. Mah-jongg for experienced players, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 11:30 a.m.

SATURDAY, JUNE 24 Robinson Runners, Robinson Preserve, 1704 99th St. N.W., Bradenton, 7 a.m. Mornings at the NEST, Robinson Preserve Mosaic Nest, 840 Ninth Ave. N.W., Bradenton, 9 a.m. to noon

Teen Art Club: Henna Party, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 1 p.m.

Parking analysis sought

The CRA-backed parking analysis would create more parking spaces in an existing city parking lot.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH – The Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) has authorized a $1,400 analysis of an existing city parking lot in hopes of creating additional public parking spaces.

The authorization is contingent on a pending determination from City Attorney Ricinda Perry as to whether restricted CRA funds can be used to fund the parking analysis, which would be conducted by Collier’s Engineering.

On June 6, the CRA members discussed the parking analysis of the city-owned public parking lot next to the cell tower and the public works building presented by Public Works Director Tom Woodard.

CRA member John Chappie said reconfiguring the unpaved parking lot with angled parking spaces and other low-budget improvements could create seven to nine additional parking

The existing parking lot near the public works building might be reconfigured in the near future.

spaces, with four spaces still reserved for public works personnel. Improvements might also include parking for golf carts and bicycles, he said. The parking lot would remain unpaved and stormwater and drainage elements would not be impacted, according to Chappie.

Woodard told The Sun the proposed parking improvements are not directly related to the city commission’s desire to potentially implement paid parking in that lot and other city-owned parking lots and spaces in the CRA district, which extends from the Cortez Bridge to Fifth Street South.

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

Concert for Peace raises funds for Ukrainian refugees

Bob Slicker and the Anna Maria Island Rotary helped raise more than $20,000 for Ukrainian refugees with the 2023 Concert for Peace.

BY JASON SCHAFFER SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA - Slicker’s Eatery owner Bob Slicker and the Anna Maria Island Rotary held their second annual Concert for Peace on June 10 at The Center of Anna Maria Island to raise more money to aid refugees affected by the war in Ukraine.

The event was a success, with hundreds of people coming out for an afternoon of live music in support of the cause.

Slicker’s dedication to this effort began after seeing the devastation caused by the war last year to the people of Ukraine. He held multiple fundraisers that raised more than $60,000 in 2022, and partnered with the Anna Maria Island Rotary to make the most impact with the money.

They were able to team up with a Rotary in Poland to get much-needed aid to refugees in Poland, which borders Ukraine. Items such as medical supplies, refrigerators and even washers and dryers were purchased and distributed to refugees who are living in cramped apartments where a family of five or more may have only one shelf in a community refrigerator.

“What we take for granted, they would do anything for,” Slicker said. “These are good people who get up

and go to work and school just like we do in America. It’s so important that even though this war has been going on for more than a year, we don’t forget that things aren’t getting better for them.”

Slicker took a trip to Poland last year to see firsthand not only how the refugees were affected, but also see how the funds were being distributed by the Rotary. He said what makes the Rotary so important is their transparency. Every penny is accounted for and every item purchased and distributed is documented. Slicker also met and spent a significant amount of time speaking with the refugees through a translator about how they have been affected. He says most of the Ukrainians are hopeful and positive, but many of the stories are heartbreaking, and gave him a new

Bortell’s Lounge for sale

Owner Steve Rose expects Bortell’s Lounge to remain a bar for decades to come.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA – Bortell’s Lounge is on the market with a $7.2 million asking price.

Pat Bucko is serving as the broker for Bortell’s Lounge owner Steve Rose.

understanding of just how good his life is, despite his own problems.

The Concert for Peace featured live music from The Eric Von Band, The Trevor Bystrom Band and some young Ukrainian refugees that are here in Manatee County. There were also dozens of raffle items up for bid and a live auction that raised thousands of dollars. The total amount raised has not yet been announced, but Slicker told The Sun it is well in excess of $20,000 for this event.

Slicker reminds anyone interested that they can still donate to the cause. He has no intention of stopping this effort until the war is over and the Ukrainians can go back to life as it was before the invasion. Go to For Ukraine AMI on Facebook for more information on where these funds will go to work, as well as upcoming events.

According to Bucko’s online listing, the purchase includes the land, the 2,850-square-foot building, the business and a 4COP dual liquor license that allows for consumption on premises and package liquor sales.

According to the listing, “Bortell’s Lounge first opened its doors in 1977 and has been an Anna Maria institution ever since. What makes Bortell’s legendary is the long history with the locals and vacationers that have created lifelong memories and friendships over the past 46 years.

“The current owner purchased the building and business in 2015 knowing it was going to need an extensive remodel and in 2018 he closed the doors and began the process. After three years of planning, engineering, construction and blood, sweat and beers, Bortell’s reopened in 2021,” the listing notes.

When contacted by The Sun, Rose shared his thoughts on selling Bortell’s.

“It’s just time. I always knew I was buying it to do

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN Bortell’s Lounge has been a popular Anna Maria watering hole since 1977.

SEE BORTELL'S, PAGE 10

JASON SCHAFFER | SUN

Ukrainian refugee Daryna Luhanska, right, performed Ukrainian songs at the Concert for Peace.

BORTELL'S: Lounge for sale

FRON PAGE 9

a renovation and I’ve achieved what I wanted to do. I’ve got some other projects I want to do and it’s the right time to move on. I’ve got a couple things in the hopper that I’m excited about but nothing under contract yet,” he said.

“Bortell’s is for sale but people shouldn’t worry. It was a bar for 40 years when I bought it and I developed it in a way that I believe it will stay a bar for 40 more years. I can’t imagine anybody buying it and doing anything other than that. I’m not expecting a quick sale. We’re still pouring drinks six days a

and bringing pizza back beginning on Tuesday (June 13),” Rose said.

“Owning Bortell’s has truly been a dream come true for me. It’s helped me check so many things off my personal bucket list that I had to update my list. I moved to the Island and bought a dive bar. It’s like something from a Jimmy Buffett song. I did not get to this place alone. I owe thanks to everyone who has and does work for me, as well as a huge list of vendors, contractors and sub-contractors, as well as a few people that were just at the right place and time to help us out,” Rose said.

Roser Church

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

SUNDAY WORSHIP

8:30 AM in the Chapel

10:00 AM in the Sanctuar y Nurser y • Children’s Church

ONLINE • Watch LI VE or LATER RoserChurch.com

Sign up to receive the eBulletin at RoserChurch.com/contact-us

The CHAPEL is open during o ce hours for prayer and meditation

Maria • FOLLOW us on Facebook @RoserChurch

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

Steve Rose reopened his renovated Bortell’s Lounge in 2021.

Grant funding available for beachfront properties

BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – To protect nesting sea turtles from unwanted lighting, Kristen Mazzarella, executive director of Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring, is encouraging beachfront homeowners to take advantage of a grant to help retrofit outdoor lighting.

“The Sea Turtle Conservancy (STC) is offering funding to beachfront properties in Manatee County to reduce the negative

impacts of lights on sea turtles. Florida’s beaches host 90% of all sea turtle nesting in the United States. Unfortunately, poorly managed lights confuse and disorient hundreds of thousands of sea turtles each year, which can lead to their deaths,” according to STC.

Through a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, STC is providing money to single-family homes, small condominiums and businesses willing to convert problematic light fixtures and bulbs to wildlifefriendly alternatives.

“STC partners with property representatives and owners to implement these changes by designing cost-effective lighting plans that utilize the best available technology to meet the safety needs of owners and guests. STC’s lighting plans also ensure that properties follow existing lighting ordinances in your area,” according to STC.

“STC conducts day and night inspections of the property,” Mazarella said in a prepared statement. “STC designs an individualized lighting plan for the property owners to approve. Both

Avoid disturbing sea turtles, nests TURTLE TIPS

BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT|llake@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA ISLAND

– It’s been a good week for sea turtles as nest numbers continue to climb, according to Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring Executive Director Kristen Mazzarella.

However, the group has documented several disturbances to nests on Island beaches.

“There were lots of large holes on the beach,” she said, thanking Manatee County’s beach cleaning staff for filling them in. “It’s best if people fill in their holes before they leave the beach. That way, they are not hazards to nesting sea turtles and their hatchlings at night.” The holes also are hazards to people who walk the beach at night.

Mazzarella also reminded people to keep beaches dark at night to avoid disturbing nesting turtles.

“Lights are prohibited on the beach and can disturb turtles that may be nesting a long distance from a light source,” she said. “Several of our nesting

NESTING NEWS

Turtle nests laid: 142 (Record: 544 in 2019)

False crawls: 167 (Record: 831 in 2010)

Nests hatched: 0 (Record: 453 in 2022)

Hatchlings hatched: 0 (Record: 35,850 in 2022)

Source: Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring SEE TURTLES, PAGE 15

parties sign a grant agreement. The grantee receives most of the funding upfront for materials. The grantee orders and installs materials (fixtures and bulbs).”

The grantee then submits a final report and STC completes a post retrofit inspection.

For more information, visit: https:// conserveturtles.org/beachfrontlighting-lighting-and-dune-projects/ or call the STC Lighting Team at 352-373-6441 or email rachel@ conserveturtles.org.

dig into an unmarked nest. To report large holes or other turtle obstacles, call:

During sea turtle season, May 1 – Oct. 31, follow these tips to help turtles:

• Turn off lights visible from the beach and close blinds from sundown to sunrise; lights confuse nesting sea turtles and may cause them to go back to sea and drop their eggs in the water, where they won’t hatch. Light can also attract hatchlings away from the water.

• Don’t use flashlights, lanterns or camera flashes on the beach at night.

• Remove all beach chairs and other objects from the sand from sundown to sunrise; they can deter sea turtles from nesting and disorient hatchlings.

• Fill in the holes you dig in the sand before leaving the beach; they can trap nesting and hatching sea turtles, which cannot live long out of the water. You might also accidentally

• City of Anna Maria code enforcement — 941-708-6130, ext. 111.

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

• City of Holmes Beach code enforcement — 941-778-0331, ext. 260.

• Level sandcastles before leaving the beach; they can block hatchlings from the water.

• Don’t use balloons, wish lanterns or fireworks; they litter the beach and Gulf, and turtles can ingest the debris.

• Do not trim trees and plants that shield the beach from lights.

• Never touch a sea turtle; it’s the law. If you see people disturbing turtles, call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Wildlife Alert hotline at 888404-FWCC (3922).

Source: Turtle Watch

CINDY LANE | SUN

Turtle Watch is using stakes to mark nests upland from their locations on the beach in case of storms.

Scenic Highway extended to Bradenton Beach

The Palma Sola Scenic Highway now connects to the Bradenton Beach Scenic Highway after years of application and review.

BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com

BRADENTON – In a process that took 13 years, the Palma Sola Corridor Management Entity (CME) has reached their goal of extending Scenic Highway status to portions of Anna Maria Island.

“Our goal was to connect one scenic highway to the next,” said Ingrid McClellan, vice-chair of the Palma Sola Scenic Highway CME. “We believed that the resources at Manatee Beach and south to the Bradenton Beach Scenic Highway met the criteria for scenic highway designation.”

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) approved two extensions of

scenic highway status beyond East Bay Drive.

The first extension is a .22-mile segment starting at the intersection of SR 64 (Manatee Avenue) and SR 789 (East Bay Drive), running west along Manatee Avenue to the Gulf Drive intersection.

The second extension continues at the intersection of Manatee Avenue and East Bay Drive and runs south to the City of Bradenton Beach’s northern limit at 27th Street, connecting to the Bradenton Beach Scenic Highway.

The Palma Sola Scenic Highway is designated as an FDOT right-of-way.

Prior to the extension approval, the Scenic Highway had stretched along a 4.5-mile segment of SR 64 from 75th Street in Bradenton on the east to East Bay Drive in Holmes Beach on the west.

At a June 7 CME meeting McClellan read an April 18 letter from FDOT Secretary

Jared Perdue confirming approval of the extensions. Perdue’s letter read in part, “I applaud your efforts to include these new sections, promoting and preserving the natural beauty and aesthetics inherent to your community. These extensions combined help to make the Palma Sola Scenic Highway more cohesive and are a shining example of

what a scenic highway strives to achieve in our Florida Scenic Highway Program.”

McClellan said the timeconsuming approval process began 13 years ago with an initial application.

“It goes before different landscape architects and others at Florida Department of Transportation,” she said.

“Then it gets sent back to us

when other things are needed from us. In 2022, they had no more questions or comments so it went to the Florida Scenic Highway Committee for approval. The application was approved in October 2022 and went to the FDOT secretary in Tallahassee for approval. He reviewed it and then made it official.”

McClellan said at one point she had asked Bradenton Beach officials if they wanted to combine the two scenic highways, but realizing the character of each highway was unique, that idea was not pursued.

She commended FDOT District 1 Coordinator Darryl Richard for his work in achieving the extension approval.

“Darryl really stayed on it,” she said.

McClellan said that signs will be placed at the new end points of the scenic highway.

LESLIE LAKE | SUN

Palma Sola Scenic Highway signs will be relocated to reflect the extension to Bradenton Beach.

WHERE‛S YOUR COMFORT ZONE?

Chamber sets date for June Business Card Exchange

The Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce will host a business card exchange on Thursday, June 22 from 5-7 p.m. at the chamber office, 5313 Gulf Drive N. in Holmes Beach. The event is sponsored by Total Life Care. Light bites and drinks will be provided. Bring business cards to network with area business owners and managers. Anyone who brings a raffle prize will have their business announced when the prize is given away. RSVP by emailing becky@ amichamber.org or calling 941-778-1541.

Get prepared for hurricane season

The Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce will hold their 2023 Disaster Preparedness Seminar on Monday, June 26 from 3-4:30 p.m. at the Island Branch Library Media Room, 5701 Marina Drive in Holmes Beach. Steve Litschauer, deputy director and public safety and emergency management chief for Manatee County, will discuss how to put a disaster plan in place before the unexpected occurs. Topics will include how to prepare for hurricanes, floods and tornados, what to include in disaster kits and more. RSVP by emailing info@amichamber.org or calling 941-778-1541.

AMI Chamber has open position

The Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce is seeking a positive, outgoing, organized, technically savvy self-starter with multiple skills who would like to be part of the community and member-centric service organization. This is a rewarding job for a self-motivated individual who likes to work on projects from the beginning to the end, see results and help businesses grow. For more information and a full job description and required skills, visit www.amichamber.org.

Bigfoot Snook Tournament coming in July Reel

RUSTY CHINNIS

he Fifth Annual Bigfoot Snook Tournament is coming soon to a beach near you. The tournament was the brainchild of Compound Board Shop owner

“My idea was to help level the tournament playing field so younger kids and less experienced fly fishers had a good chance of competing against more experienced fly fishers,” Shields said. “The format also allows kids with a bike to be able to get to a spot as easily as someone with an expensive skiff. All our events are free, so there’s no reason not to participate. Many fly-fishing tournaments are about

pride and ego, and I guess this one boasts that the main objective is to get the community together. After a fun night at the captains’ meeting, anglers are off to walk the beaches and bays on Saturday. I love the relationships that have been formed through our shop and I feel this event is just another way to become friends with other people that share the same passion.”

The tournament organizers assemble great prizes from their sponsors and will be giving away over $1,000 in cash as well as prizes. There are no boundaries with the tournament, so people from all over can participate in the event. The only requirement for anglers is that they must attend the captains’ meeting as well as the weigh-in event where they will show pictures of their catch.

The mandatory captains’ meeting will be held on Friday, July 7 at 6:30 p.m. at the Compound Board

Shop in Sarasota. It's essential that competing anglers are present to secure their spot in the competition. The challenge is exclusively for those who prefer to go fishing on foot. Vessels can be used to reach a favorite spot, but the catch must be made on foot, no fishing is allowed from a floating craft. The best part may be the fact that there is no entry fee. It won't cost anglers a dime to participate!

Shields commented, “We believe in spreading the joy of fishing to all passionate souls. Anglers should mark their calendars for Saturday, July 8 when the tournament officially runs from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. It's a chance to showcase your skills, embrace the camaraderie of fellow anglers, and compete for over $1,000 in cash and prizes for the first-place winner.” To sign up, visit the Compound Board Shop website at www.compoundboardshop.com.

Environmental groups warn against releasing balloons

Marine life including dolphins, manatees and sea turtles can ingest or become entangled in balloons, which can be deadly.

BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com

MANATEE COUNTY – What goes up must come down, but in the release of celebratory helium-filled balloons, it’s the coming down that creates problems.

In addition to adding trash to the waters, deflated balloons can cause marine life to become entangled and die. The balloons also can be ingested by marine life.

In May, researchers from the Sarasota Dolphin Research Program (SDRP) spent five days offshore conducting dolphin research, but they found more than dolphins.

“We collected 76 balloons and other marine debris up to dozens of miles offshore, including two ghost crab trap lines with floats and a beach ball. Most of the balloons had Mother’s Day or birthday messages,” according to the SDRP website.

Mylar balloons are made of synthetic nylon with a metallic coating, are non-biodegradable and can travel long distances.

“They heavily contribute to oceanic waste and animals can become entangled in them or ill from ingesting whole balloons or pieces,” according to the SDRP. “Wayward balloons are also extra dangerous for sea turtles because they resemble jellyfish - one of turtles’ common prey items.”

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) also warns against the release of balloons as being hazardous to marine life.

“Marine and coastal wildlife can become entangled or trapped in many items such as fishing line, crab traps, balloons with attached string, beach furniture and other types of marine debris. In addition, some of these items may be ingested, leading to further harm,” according to the FWC website. “Monofilament fishing line and other plastics (bags, deflated balloons, etc.) can drift into seagrass beds or snag onto floating vegeta tion - a sure path to a slow death if a manatee ingests any of these items

TURTLES: Avoid disturbing sea turtles, nests

FROM PAGE 11

females traveled a long distance out of their way because they were following lights instead of using the brightness of the night sky to find the ocean.”

This year, Turtle Watch is using backup stakes to find or remark nests in case a storm washes away existing stakes.

“They are placed in the dunes but sometimes in the middle of the beach,” Mazzarella said. “We urge people to avoid these stakes and leave them in place. Please call code enforcement or the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission if you see someone disturbing these nests or a nesting site.”

SDRP | SUBMITTED

Researchers from the Sarasota Dolphin Research Program show multiple balloons found floating in local waters that can create hazards for marine life.

The U.S. Coast Guard Station Cortez announced the promotion of Officer in Charge William Flores to Chief Warrant Officer. The Coast Guard issued the following statement: “CWO Flores took charge of the station in June of 2021 and has been an impeccable leader. Under his leadership, countless lives have been saved, illegal operations deterred and several basketball games have been won. Thank you for your dedication to the unit and bettering it every day you've been stationed here.”

Artists’ Guild celebrates beaches in June

When stopping by the Artists’ Guild of Anna Maria Island gallery this month, visitors will be treated to the June feature display themed “Junes and Spoons and Ferris Wheels.” The feature display depicts kids on the beach and beach scenes. The art includes various media, including watercolor, acrylics, mosaics, stained glass and threedimensional work. All art is by local artist members of AGAMI and will remain on display through June 30.

Island Players announce scholarships

Each year the Island Players offers scholarships of $2,000 each to four qualifying graduating high school seniors in the Manatee County School District who have demonstrated excellence in the area of art, dance, music or theater, and who plan to continue to develop these talents at

an even higher level of education next school year. The recipients of this year's scholarships are Madelyn Hotaling, Lakewood Ranch High School; Lily Johns, Braden River High School; Cayden Smith, Saint Stephen’s Episcopal School; and McKenzie Tice, Bradenton Christian School.

Privateers announce July Fourth Parade

The Anna Maria Island Privateers are ready once again to unleash Florida’s longest water battle as they invite everyone to celebrate the nation’s birthday with their annual July Fourth Parade. Sponsored by Sato Real Estate, the parade will begin at Coquina Beach in Bradenton Beach

on Tuesday, July 4 at 10 a.m. and end on Pine Avenue in Anna Maria. Bring a water cannon to battle the Privateers and other parade participants, and expect to get wet. To enter the parade, or for more details, visit www.amiprivateers.org.

The Fox Mercantile opens in Cortez

Ashley Patrone hopes to create more than a retail store, but also a community gathering place.

BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com

CORTEZ – More than seven months after The Sea Hagg closed its doors at 4419 123rd St. Court W., where it stood for 25 years, the space has reopened as The Fox Mercantile under new ownership, and with a very different vibe.

Owner Ashley Patrone’s vision was to create not only a gift and household goods shop, but also a space where the community can meet and socialize.

“We have a long community table outside,” Patrone said. “I’d like this to be a gathering place.”

Gone are the nautical and architec tural items sold at the Sea Hagg, and in their place is a newly-refurbished space where visitors are greeted outside by tranquil gardens, grouped seating areas and a long table under a pergola where visitors can socialize over a cup of shop-brewed coffee.

The expansive interior of the shop holds a blend of upscale household

bar along the back wall.

“The store was named for our 2½-year-old daughter, Foxi,” Patrone said. “The coffee bar is named after her.”

The June 8 grand opening was a busy day packed with shoppers.

“So much of the community is out today,” Patrone said. “I’m very happy to see this.”

Patrone said. “There was about 7 months of cleaning. I had hoped to keep some things from the old place, such as the boat out front.”

Patrone said she has had an online store for about a year, but planned to branch into a brick-and-mortar store.

“This turned out to be the perfect spot,” she said.

She and her husband, Dino, are own ers of Joie Inn on Anna Maria Island. They moved to Florida from California two years ago with their four children.

“I like to say we escaped from California. I love Florida and I love Anna Maria Island,” she said. “It’s a great place for our kids to be kids.”

Anna Maria

LESLIE LAKE | SUN

Above, the exterior space at The Fox Mercantile is designed to be a community gathering spot. Right, The Fox Mercantile owner Ashley Patrone greets shoppers at the June 8 grand opening.

Father’s Day twist

Brian Mathae

ith Father’s Day only a few short days away, I thought it appropriate to feature a Dad-inspired recipe! My Dad would have happily cooked his own Father’s Day dinner - on the barbecue of course! As I’ve mentioned in previous writings, his culinary skills were extremely limited, but as it was with everything he did, he approached cooking with precision and care.

He did enjoy barbecuing, even if he tended to overcook the meat. His and my mother’s cooking habits were learned long ago when proteins had to be cooked to ensure food safety. So, we could only encourage him to take our dinners off the barbecue earlier than theirs. In the end, it all worked out, even if we jokingly made a few choking sounds while chewing on a steak.

Far more frequently we would see burgers on the grill than steaks. The household budget called for burgers. We didn’t really mind one way or another, we were more interested in wolfing down our dinners with a few glasses of milk and heading outside to be with our friends in the long summer daylight. But maybe because of my childhood memories of the burger patties Mom prepared, I have kept the burgers at Hurricane Hanks pure and simple. She stretched the ground beef by adding breadcrumbs, chopped onions and other items which I actually didn’t care for. At

Patty ingredients

(4 servings)

Ingredients

1 1/2 pounds sweet potato

Hanks, our burger patties contain only ground Angus chuck and a bit of salt and pepper. Angus is a breed of cattle known widely for its marbling, consistency and juicy flavors. Ground chuck is made exclusively from the chuck roast, a cut of beef from the shoulder and neck area of the cow which has more marbling and flavor compared to regular ground beef.

But I shouldn’t go on about ground Angus chuck because as the title suggests, today’s recipe is a twist on the traditional burger. No need to fire up the barbecue with this one as

everything is prepared and cooked indoors. Let Dad sit back and enjoy a cold one!

These burgers are actually meatless but packed with flavor nonetheless. People are looking for healthier options and ways to increase plant food sources in their diet. So today we bring you a sweet potato burger. It’s easy to prepare and customize to your individual tastes. Plan ahead so you can add some special ingredients to your shopping list to make these sing to your palate.

We hope you enjoy.

Burger toppings of your choice: Fresh sliced avocado, sliced red onion, sliced tomato, mayon-naise, lettuce, hot sauce,

Pierce the sweet potato all over with a fork and place on a microwave-safe plate lined with a damp paper towel. Microwave on high for 5 minutes, flip over and microwave for 5 minutes more. Remove, slice in half and allow to cool until you can scoop out the flesh into a bowl.

Over medium heat, add one tablespoon olive oil to a saucepan and sauté the onions until soft. Add the garlic, chili pepper flakes, ginger and rosemary and sauté a few minutes more.

Add the mixture to the sweet potato in the bowl and mash together well. Add 1/4 cup Panko and the grated Parmesan cheese and season with salt and pepper. Divide the mixture into four equal portions and press into a patty. Put the egg, flour and remaining Panko into three separate bowls. Lightly coat the patties in the flour, dip into the egg and then the Panko.

In a large skillet over medium heat, add sufficient olive oil until you have about 1/4 inch of oil in the skillet. Fry the patties until golden brown, about 4 to 5 minutes per side. Remove from oil onto a paper towel-lined plate to drain the oil.

Add a patty to a bun and top with selected ingredients.

HURRICANE HANKS

In certain parts of the world, the market place is designed for negotiation. Don’t ever offer full price and don’t ever accept the first negotiation are two commonly employed strategies. It’s a culture that was pretty common in this country in genera tions past. Now it’s rare to purchase a car, an appliance or bike for your child and not pay the asking price.

Even purchasing a home during the past several years has almost lost the art of negotiation with values going crazy and offers being accepted at or well over full price. With the market stabilizing, buyers and sellers are starting to negotiate offers again, but there are other areas in the process of home buying where savings can be achieved. It never hurts to ask.

So, as a buyer or seller, you negotiated the accepted price of a home, but don’t think you’re done. I bet there’s a few things you never thought of. They say a good negotiation is when both parties to the transaction come away thinking they left something on

It can’t hurt to ask Castles in the Sand

LOUISE BOLGER

the table. Every property comes with stuff. It may be stuff that the buyer wants and the seller can’t take with them, making this a good starting place for negotiations.

Furniture is always negotiable even if the seller was planning on taking it. Furniture is expensive to move and, unless there are some valuable pieces, it may not make sense to hire a mover or shipper to relocate it. This is the time when the buyer can evaluate whether the furnishings have value and negotiate an offer to purchase. Not having to furnish a home can mean really big savings. Many homes in Florida come “turnkey” furnished and this can be a financial asset, especially for a second home purchase.

Everyone reading this lives on or near the water. What floats on the water? Boats. If the seller owns a boat and is moving to Colorado, it’s possible to take it off their hands, especially if the buyer was planning on buying one. This is a win-win for all parties. It’s the same with cars. Shipping a car that might be a few years old may not be cost effective for a seller and buyers may be looking for another vehicle for their second home or their upcoming teenager’s driver’s license. There are other ways to reduce expenses when purchasing a property, including negotiating with moving companies who are starting to see a reduction in activity. Try three different moving companies and see what the spread is. Moving companies also have other services like packing and unpacking which, if you ask, you can sometimes get a nice upgrade for not much more money.

As we know, mortgage rates have been fluctuating. Don’t be shy about negotiating

origination fees, underwriting and loan application fees. Even the rate can be negotiated, just make sure the lender isn’t adding fees in the form of points to a negotiated interest rate. According to Freddie Mac, between 2010 and 2021, borrowers who applied with two different lenders reduced their mortgage rate by an average of 0.10%.

Sellers generally pay the broker commission on the sale of a property. Remember that realtor commissions are not regulated and can be negotiated as well. That said, I generally don’t like sellers negotiating realtor commissions since I think it can hurt the marketability of the property. Good negotiating is an art. If you develop the skill to think creatively, you’ll be surprised how much money you can save. My mother grew up in the never pay full price generation. Sometimes this was embarrassing, but most of the time she was right.

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

BILL: Inspection bill signed into law

FROM PAGE 1

adopted last year for condo buildings located within three miles of the coastline.

The new law clarifies that all owners of a condominium building must share the costs of the structural inspections via annual assessments. Condo owners must also share the cost of repairing or remedying any structural distress or weakness identified in a structural inspection.

The law authorizes local governments to enforce the milestone inspection requirements and allows local enforcement agencies to accept an inspection report completed before July 1, 2022 if the inspection and the report comply with the milestone requirements.

The law requires condo associations to provide notice to condo unit owners about the inspection deadlines and inspection findings.

A copy of SB 154 can be found at the Florida Senate website, www.flsenate.gov/

BEACH BEAT

BRADENTON BEACH

Sex offender report

Terry Albert Nicholes, 64, 118 Ninth St. N.

HOLMES BEACH

6/2, 2:25 a.m., resisting officer without violence, 3000 Gulf Drive. The officer observed a group on the beach with open alcohol containers. One subject began

New officers sworn in New Bradenton Beach police officer Ryan Gagliano and new Code Enforcement Officer Evan Harbus were sworn into duty by City Clerk Terri Sanclemente on June 9. Gagliano reported for duty two weeks ago and Harbus reports to duty on June 19.

walking away after the officer told him he was not free to leave. When the officer approached, the subject ran. The officer deployed his taser, but the prongs missed the subject. After a foot pursuit, the officer lost sight of him. The officer found the subject’s father, who called his son’s phone and convinced him to turn himself in. The subject gave the officer an ID that he later admitted was fake. The subject was arrested and transferred to MCSO for transport to Manatee County Jail.

6/5, 10:44 p.m., speeding 30 mph over the posted limit, 700 Manatee Ave. While on patrol, the officer saw a silver sedan traveling at what he estimated to be double the posted limit of 35 mph, also passing a vehicle in a no-passing zone. He then received a readout on the radar screen of 71 mph. After conducting a traffic stop, the driver admitted to both offenses and was cited and given a notice to appear in court for both the excessive speed and passing in a no passing zone.

The Martinique condo buildings in Holmes Beach are the highest on Anna Maria Island.

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

From left, Lt. Lenard Diaz, Officer Ryan Gagliano, Chief John Cosby and Code Enforcement Officer Evan Harbus attended Friday’s swearing-in ceremony.

WATER TAXI: Officials disappointed with agreement

FROM PAGE 1

Murphy said he was sending the proposed agreement to the city commissioners for them to review before accepting, rejecting or revising the agreement at a future meeting.

The original draft agreement the county introduced earlier this year stated the county would pay for any Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or other water taxi-related improvements made to the City Pier.

Murphy and the city commission responded with a revised agreement that proposed the county also be responsible for the ongoing maintenance of any water taxi-related improvements made to the pier.

The agreement Murphy recently received strikes out the city’s recommended revisions and again proposes the city pay for the ongoing maintenance of any water taxi-related pier improvements. The county’s proposed agreement also stipulates the city must reimburse the county for any such improvements if the city signs and later opts out of the water taxi agreement.

Murphy noted the county agreement, as currently written, is supported by the Bradenton Beach and Bradenton city commissions.

“I’m disappointed with what I received. They basically threw our agreement out and now they want us to hurry up and approve

this. There’s some things in this agreement that need serious consideration. It doesn’t bear any resemblance to what we sent out,” Murphy told the commission.

“I hate to be obstinate. I’m not trying to be. I want to be cooperative, but this can’t become carte blanche. The pier is the center of our universe here. There’s things in here that don’t make business sense. I’ve got to have a complete understanding of exactly what they have in mind,” Murphy said.

Murphy said he and Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Elliott Falcione have had many discussions about the proposed water taxi agreement, but no one else from the county staff contacted him or Vose when crafting the proposed agreement.

Murphy plans to meet with county staff within the next week or so. He asked the city commissioners to review the agreement on their own and provide him with any feedback they want shared with county staff.

Murphy said he’s not trying to “poison the well” but he doesn’t believe it’s in the city’s best interest to act quickly and enter into the proposed agreement as currently written.

Throughout the ongoing water taxi discussions that the county initiated in February 2022, the mayor and commission have insisted the

water taxi service provide transportation for Island employees for free or at a discounted rate. The county agreement does not specify any fare rates for water taxi passengers.

“If we refuse to sign their onerous agreement, we could still get some workers coming up to the city by way of Bradenton Beach and then the trolley,” Commissioner Jon Crane said.

During Thursday’s meeting, the commission took no formal action on the county’s proposed agreement.

During past discussions, Murphy noted the City Pier cannot be used as a water taxi stop without a city commission-approved interlocal agreement. He also noted the county must provide the city with a detailed plan that shows exactly where and how the City Pier would be used as a water taxi stop. To date, that plan has not been provided.

There’s some things in this agreement that need serious consideration.”

Dan Murphy, Anna Maria mayor

GARAGE: Holmes Beach residents organize to fight garage

FROM PAGE 1

The first part of the effort, spearheaded by Performance Analysis Expert Allan Levy along with a group of residents, is to sign petitions speaking out against the garage and to write DeSantis encouraging him to veto the bill if it comes to him for consideration.

If the bill becomes law, the second part of the effort is to focus on engaging Manatee County commissioners, who eventually would have to approve a budget, construction plans, building permits and a contractor for the project.

Another part, Levy said, is to make sure that all of the studies required for parking garage development are done in accordance with the law. Of particular note is a traffic congestion study which is required for any parking garage construction in Manatee County.

After observing the congestion created in Holmes Beach near Manatee Beach without the assistance of a large, three-story plus roof parking garage, Levy said his professional experience tells him that the structure would greatly increase congestion for beachgoers, not relieve it.

In fact, he said he believes his

analysis will show the parking garage would create a condensed wall of traffic that would impede emergency personnel when responding to an emergency situation.

If emergency personnel couldn’t get to the site of an accident, fire, medical emergency or to medical care inland, Levy fears it could lead to dramatic increases in deaths.

He also believes the backup of traffic from the parking garage could cause driver delays of two hours or more to get back to the mainland.

Before retiring to the Anna Maria Island area, Levy used his skills for 30 years working with Fortune 50 companies to help them make sound, rational decisions. He’s using those same skills to analyze the problem of the parking garage to see what impact it will have on the area.

The group is hoping to join forces with Holmes Beach city leaders to fight against the parking garage, though no plans have been confirmed at press time for The Sun.

To sign one of the two petitions against the parking garage or learn more about the Paradise Lost effort, visit https:// paradise-lost-109036.weebly.com/.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

THE BEST VOLUNTEER position on the island. The AMI Historical Museum needs docents and bread makers. Call Kathy Primeau at 989-560-6381.

ROSER FOOD BANK needs donations of cash and non-perishable food, PAPER & PERSONAL HYGIENE PRODUCTS. Donations boxes are located at the Church, Moose Club, and Walgreen’s.

HOSPITAL VOLUNTEERS

WANTED to assist at our information desk, especially weekends. Great for teens needing volunteer hours (16yrs+). Other assignments available. Please call the Blake Volunteer Office at 941-798-6151.

BOAT SLIP WANTED

IN SEARCH OF BOAT SLIP for rent or sale (preferably with lift)

Kelly Gitt The Gitt Team KW on the Water 941799-9299

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 Is-land Real Estate to get it SOLD 941-232-2216

CLEANING SERVICE

TOTAL HOME SERVICES CLEANING: Residential, Commercial, Rentals, VRBO. Professional and Reliable. Call 941-756-4570 or 941-565-3931

EMPLOYMENT

TIMBER CREEK Condominiums and Golf Course is now accepting applications for a parttime handyman. Flexible hours. Occasional golf cart maintenance is part of the job. Free golf is a great perk with this position. Interested qualified applicants, please submit your resume to Jan Terpstra via email: janterp@gmail.com.

HVAC OPEN POSITIONS

Service Tech, Installer, Apprentice. Apply at West Coast Air Conditioning, 5437 Gulf Dr #4 or call 941-778-9622

The award-winning ANNA MARIA ISLAND SUN, a weekly newspaper on Florida’s Gulf Coast, is looking for a freelance reporter/photographer to cover events on this tourism-driven island. The ide-al candidate will have reporting and photography experience at a daily or community newspaper and have some experience writing for a news website. Local residents or those with previous local knowledge and willing to relocate here a plus. Resumes and cover letters may be mailed to The Anna Maria Island Sun, P.O Box 1189, Anna Maria, FL 34216, Attention: Cindy Lane, editor.

FISHING CHARTERS

CAPT. MAC GREGORY

Fishing Charters. Full Day, Half Day, Night, Inshore & Near Shore. 941-809-5783

U.S.C.G. Certified/Insured

FOR SALE

2 KAYAKS FOR SALE EPIC V6 TOURER (sit on top kayak) that’s fast and stable; 16’ long, 23” wide and only 35.3 lbs. with a rudder to improve tracking. Also includes Werner Kalliste carbon paddle (very light), kayak stand and cart. $2,000. NECKY MANITOU (sit inside kayak) that’s stable; 14.4’ long, 24” wide and 49 lbs. with a retractable skeg to improve tracking. Also includes Werner Kalliste carbon paddle (very light), kayak stand and cart. $500. Call Tom at 941-779-1957

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

TILE! TILE! TILE! All variations of tile supplied and installed. Quality workmanship. Prompt, reliable, many Island references. Free estimates. Neil 941726-3077

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 Mike Kern 941-778-1115

JSAN CORPORATION

Renovations Construction & Handyman Services 941-243-0995 Lic# CRC1332505 jsancorporation@gmail. com Flooring, Drywall, Painting, Repairs, Kitchen and Bathrooms, Trim & Doors. Free Estimates. Credit Cards Accepted.

API’S DRYWALL REPAIR 15+ years experience. Free estimates. No job too small. Love to help you. Call 941-524-8067.

ISLE TILE specializing in Custom Bath/Shower & Backsplash installation. Pressure washing available. Call 941-302-8759 isletileservices.com

HOME SERVICES

CONCRETE FUSION, CRACK REPAIR sidewalks/ driveways, pool decks, concrete grinding. Why fix 95% of concrete when only 5% bad? Number 1 in concrete repair. Insured. Free estimate. Call Bobby 941-374-7670.

LANDSCAPING & LAWN CARE

R. GAROFALO’S Interlocking brick pavers, driveways, patios, pool decks. Free estimates. Licensed & Insured. Call Rafael 941-778-4823 or Veronik 941-526-7941

SHELL DRIVEWAYS & LANDSCAPE. Specializing in Old Florida Seashell and Lime rock drive-ways and scapes. Also River Rock, Sand, Mulch, & Soil. Call Shark Mark 941-301-6067

ISLAND RESIDENT. TREE/ BUSH Trimming, removal. Sweeping, blowing, and weeding. Weekly, bi-monthly or monthly schedule. Pressure washing. Call Bill Witaszek 941307-9315

MOVING & STORAGE

MARTIN’S MOVING

YOUR Island movers! Offering dependable, competitive rates. No hidden costs. 941-8095777.

PAINTING & WALLCOVERING

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 941-794-0455

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. 10 + 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! Af-fordable 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 941-5653931.

REAL ESTATE HOMES & CONDOS FOR SALE

Have you been thinking of selling? We NEED properties to List for SALE!!! GULF FRONT, CANAL FRONT, BAY FRONT CONDOS or HOMES ASK for BIG Alan Galletto of Island Real Estate to get it SOLD 941-232-2216

LOOKING FOR A highly motivated real estate broker to buy or sell your next home? Darcie Duncan, Broker Duncan Real Estate a lifelong island resident bringing success to her customers for 30 years. Proven track record brings you results! 941-725-1589

RENTALS: ANNUAL

ANNUAL RENTALS WANTED! We have well qualified tenants for beach and mainland annual rent-als, Full management or Finders fee. Call today for details. Ask for Paige DUNCAN REAL ESTATE 513-382-1992.

ANNUAL RENTAL – AVAILABLE NOW. 2BR/1BA, furnished. $4,500/month. First, Last, and Security Deposit required Call Sato Real Estate, Inc 941-7787200 or Email megan@ satorealestate.com

ANNUAL, UNFURNISHED RENTAL 3 miles from AMI in Village Green of Bradenton. 2BR/2BA, large great room and yard. Contact Sato Real Estate at 941778-7200 for showings and more in-formation.

2BA TOWNHOUSE, Palma Sola Trace, clubhouse, pool and more. $2,200 monthly Call 941-7784800

LOVELY, 2ND FLOOR DUPLEX for rent, 3BR/2BA fully furnished with bed linens, dishware, wash-er/ dryer, all the comforts of home. 5 minutes to AMI, quiet, safe. Rent includes all utilities ex-cept electric. Annual $2,800.00. Will consider 3-month, 6-month. No smoking, Call Kelly 941-301-9938

RENTALS: SEASONAL & VACATION

TIFFANY PLACE Gulf

Front Condo for Rent

Incredible views from living room and master bed-room. 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

TRANSPORTATION

AMI TAXI credit cards, cash, Venmo accepted. Airport: Tampa $105, Sarasota $50, St. Pete/ Clearwater $105, Orlando $220. Call 941-447-8372, www.amitaxi.com GOLF

CART RENTALS

ANYTIME TRANSPORTATION to all Airports, Casino, etc. Tampa/St. Pete $80. Sarasota $40. Pets welcome. Very dependable. Reasonable rates. Contact Jeanne. 941-7795095