Anna Maria Island Sun March 01, 2023

Princess Ball an evening to remember

City officials prepare to defend local vacation rental regulations

As currently written, new House and Senate bills would allow multiple vacation rental units to be registered for a single $100 fee.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA – City officials and their allies are gearing up to oppose the newest attempts by the Florida Legislature to preempt more local short-term vacation rental regulations to the state. This year, the Legislature is considering Senate Bill 714 and House Bill 833. Senator Nick DiCeglie (R-St. Petersburg) sponsored SB 714 and State Rep. Wyman Duggan (R-Jacksonville) sponsored HB 833.

In addition to limiting local government’s ability to register, inspect and regulate short-term vacation rentals, the proposed legislation seeks to give the state the exclusive regulation of online advertising platforms such as Vrbo and Airbnb.

The proposed legislation would also impact Florida cities financially by capping the annual vacation rental registration fee that can be charged.

“Local governments may charge a fee of no more than $50 for processing an individual registration application or $100 for processing a collective registration application,” according to SB 714.

SEE RENTALS, PAGE 12

Fire department plans vacation rental changes

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

MANATEE COUNTY – At the urging of members of the district’s fire prevention bureau, West Manatee Fire Rescue’s board has approved changing the status of short-term rentals in the district from residential to commercial.

Fire Marshal Rodney Kwiatkowski first presented the idea to the district’s commissioners during a January meeting. He said that under the

Florida Fire Code, the district has the ability to reclassify the properties for assessment and enforcement purposes. Under the code, short-term rental properties are known as transient lodging, a commercial classification. Changing the classification of the properties is estimated to bring in an additional $1 million annually in assessment revenue. The funds will be used to implement an inspection program. All short-term rental properties in the district will be inspected for fire safety, including where smoke alarms are placed throughout the property, availability and location of fire extinguishers, an easily visible floorplan of the structure with exits clearly identified and

SEE WMFR, PAGE 10

ANNE YARBROUGH | SUN

The Anna Maria Elementary PTO hosted kindergarten through 5th-grade girls for an evening of dancing and treats on Feb. 24. Young ladies wore dresses worthy of any princess and parents dressed to impress, accompanying their girls to the event, an annual favorite at AME. The PTO also hosted a dress drive to ensure all princesses had a dress for their special night out.

ANNE YARBROUGH | SUN

From left, Lilly Guth, June Moore, Tess Bolognone, Miss Sheila (Sheila Zink), Charlie Maize, Siena Suzor, Lexi

Changes are coming for owners and operators of short-term vacation rentals, but it’s the fire department, not the state, that’s making them.

JASON SCHAFFER | SUN Bernie McDermott and his daughter, Erin, paused at the Cinderella carriage at Anna Maria Elementary’s Princess Ball on Feb. 24.

Security guard reports battery at Bradenton Beach Marina

What had been a calm and uneventful evening for a security guard at the Bradenton Beach Marina took a scary turn last Monday night.

BY JASON SCHAFFER SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH - With millions of dollars worth of boats and equipment onsite, the owners of the Bradenton Beach Marina employ an after-hours security guard to prevent property theft, damage, trespassing and illegal after-hours parking.

Violence isn’t a normal part of the job, but that changed the evening of Feb. 20.

Bradenton Beach Police Officer Kyle Orms responded to the marina in reference to a possible battery. When Orms arrived, he made contact with the victim, Francisco Martinez, who said he had been punched in the head by a man who was still on the scene. Orms found the man, later identified as Desmin Shaw, walking back and forth around the marina property.

“I observed that Mr. Shaw had the strong odor of alcohol about his person

and was stumbling and having a hard time keeping his balance,” Orms said in a police report.

Orms handcuffed Shaw and placed him in the back of his patrol vehicle while he continued to speak with Martinez. Since the officer noticed Shaw had several scrapes and bruises, he called EMS to the scene to check on his

physical welfare. The man was determined to not need medical attention.

Martinez told Orms, who by this time had assistance from Holmes Beach police, that he was sitting in his car with his wife when the suspect came up to the car and screamed at him using profanities to get out of the vehicle.

Martinez’s wife said Shaw raised his

fist and attempted to punch her in the face, but she was able to shut her door before he could make contact. Shaw then went to the rear passenger door and jumped in the car, she said, at which point her husband got out and confronted the man. She told police that Shaw then got out of the car and punched Martinez in the face. Martinez used his pepper spray to end the assault, at which time Shaw ran to one of the boats, which he boarded before jumping in the water.

The police report that Martinez was in full security uniform, which carries the same additional penalties as assaulting a firefighter or EMS responder, a felony.

Shaw asked Orms if Martinez and his wife would be pressing charges.

“When he asked if they were pressing charges, I asked him why charges would need to be pressed,” Orms said in his report. “He then backtracked and said he was just assuming the situation.”

Shaw was arrested and charged with burglary for entering the vehicle, as well as battery. He was transferred to the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office before being transported to the Manatee County Jail, where he was later released on $4,000 bond.

SARAH PARSONS | SUN

The Bradenton Beach Marina was the scene of an alleged battery and burglary of a security guard the night of Feb. 20.

IN BRIEF

Sgt. Wren joins MCSO Anna Maria Unit

Sgt. John Wren is now assisting Lt. Lou Licata with the supervision of the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office Anna Maria Unit. Wren and Licata are leading the Anna Maria Unit while Sgt. Brett Getman continues to recover from an on-duty heart attack he experienced in December. When introducing Wren to the city commission on Feb. 23, Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy said, “We have a new sergeant for at least the next few months.” Licata said, “He will be filling in for Sgt. Getman while he’s out.” Licata said it’s not yet known when Getman will return to the Anna Maria Unit that serves as Anna Maria’s contracted police force.

AMOB enhancements on Thursday’s agenda

The Bradenton Beach City Commission will meet on Thursday, March 2 at 6 p.m. The lighter-than-usual meeting agenda includes a presentation to be given by Anna Maria Oyster Bar (AMOB) owners regarding the recently discussed expansion of uses for the city-owned buildings and spaces that AMOB leases from the city. The proposed AMOB enhancements include the addition of a walk-up bar and takeout food kiosk, allowing alcoholic beverages purchased from AMOB to be consumed on the Bridge Street Pier and the installation of a crab trap-themed decorative fence between the pier parking lot and the Pines Trailer Park. The commission will also be asked to authorize payment of a $19,426 invoice from M.T. Causley for building official and city planner services.

Proposed gun legislation concerns city officials

The Florida Legislature is considering legislation that would allow concealed firearms to be carried without a license.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA – Mayor Dan Murphy said he’s received several calls about the Florida Legislature’s efforts to make Florida an open-carry state.

In an open-carry state, you can carry a concealed weapon without a concealed weapon permit.

Murphy and City Attorney Becky Vose expressed their concerns about the proposed legislation during the city commission’s Feb. 23 meeting.

“What is it? Is it something we need to be afraid of? What are the implications of it?” Murphy asked when initiating the commission discussion.

He then asked Vose to provide more insight on the proposed legislation.

“Unfortunately, if the state Legislature passed the open carry law, local governments, whether it be a county or a city, cannot independently regulate the carrying of firearms and the concealing of firearms,” Vose said.

State Rep. Chuck Brannan (R-Lake City) and Rep. Bobby Payne (R-Palatka) cosponsored the original House Bill 543.

On Feb. 21, the House Judiciary Committee ruled favorably by a 16-7 vote on the committee substitute version of the bill presented that day. Mana tee County legislative delegation members Rep. Will Robinson Jr. and Rep. Tommy Gregory were among the committee members who voted favorably on the proposed legislation.

The regular 60-day 2023 legislative session begins on March 7.

According to CS/HB 543, the

revised legislation proposes: “Authorizing a person to carry a concealed weapon or concealed firearm if he or she is licensed to do so or meets specified requirements; requiring a person who is carrying a concealed weapon or concealed firearm without a license to carry valid identification and display such identification upon demand by a law enforcement officer; prohibiting a person who is carrying a concealed weapon or concealed firearm without a license from carrying such weapon or firearm in specified locations; authorizing a nonresident to carry a concealed weapon or concealed firearm in this state if he or she meets the same requirements as a resident.”

The legislation also proposes “removing a requirement that a person who is licensed to carry a concealed weapon or concealed firearm must carry such license while he or she is in actual possession of a concealed weapon or concealed firearm.”

Vose said the proposed firearm legislation is considered to be an “express preemption” of existing city and county laws. If the proposed gun legislation is adopted as state law, a city or county government that attempts to further regulate firearms in any manner would be responsible for all legal fees associated with a legal challenge to the city or county ordinance.

“We’d be paying all their fees, so that makes it particularly concerning,” Vose said. “If this were to pass, there would be absolutely nothing we could do about it.”

“As a city, we cannot pass an ordinance to fight this,” Mayor Dan Murphy said.

Murphy said the city and its citizens can use the city-owned www. HomeRuleFl.com website to send letters to state legislators and Gov. Ron DeSantis expressing their public opposition to the proposed gun legislation.

The Politico.com media website recently reported that DeSantis supports the proposed firearm legislation and would sign it into law if it’s presented to him by the Florida Legislature. If enacted, the new state law would take effect July 1.

Regarding current state law pertaining to carrying concealed weapons, Vose said a concealed carry license can easily and legally be obtained by taking a licensing class. She noted state law prohibits convicted felons or those recently discharged from a mental health facility from obtaining a state-issued concealed carry permit.

“This process isn’t all that cumbersome, but it does keep people who don’t know how to safely handle firearms from having them. This new legislation would allow anyone to conceal-carry. They wouldn’t have to go through a class,” Vose said, adding that she has a state-issued concealed carry permit.

Commissioner Jon Crane said, “My hometown, Lansing, Michigan, just got shot up and this law that’s proposed allows people to carry concealed weapons that aren’t licensed. That’s just crazy.”

Crane said he’s in favor of combating the proposed legislation.

Commissioner Robert Kingan agreed.

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

From left, Lt. Lou Licata and Sgt. John Wren lead the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office Anna Maria Unit.

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN City Attorney Becky Vose shared her insights on the proposed gun legislation. Mayor Dan Murphy said he’s received phone calls from concerned citizens.

Brannan

Seasonal traffic slows even more with construction

HOLMES BEACH – Driving through the center of Anna Maria Island’s largest city isn’t an easy task, especially with two road work projects going on in the same area during the height of tourist season.

The two roadwork projects, one by the city and one by Manatee County, are underway simultaneously, both near the intersection of Marina and Gulf drives.

The city intersection improvement project was scheduled to end in the final days of February, however, some unexpected infrastructure damage was found and had to be addressed, extending the project by a few weeks into March.

The county force main project is expected to continue into April.

Competing with the city project is the Manatee County force main replacement project which has been making its way down Holmes Boulevard, causing headaches for drivers along one of the two detour routes as lanes have been blocked for that construction to take place.

Currently, the work along Marina Drive is continuing with both north and southbound lanes open over the weekends and limited lane closures during the week. On Gulf Drive, the north and southbound

lanes west of the Marina Drive intersection remain closed to Holmes Boulevard, rerouting traffic down 52nd Street.

Drivers can continue to expect intermittent lane closures and traffic congestion through the area until both projects are completed. City leaders ask that pedestrians and bicyclists avoid the area and stay out of the blocked-off construction areas for safety.

Privateers need help with Skullywag

The Anna Maria Island Privateers, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to helping kids in the community, needs help to fix their road-going pirate ship, Skullywag. The ship recently sustained some damage to the drivetrain and needs repairs before it can once again sail the streets of the Island. They have a goal of $1,000 to fix it, and have

set up a donation page and are asking the public for help, whether it be $5 or $500. Any donation will assist in getting the ship shipshape and back on the road so the pirates can continue to serve the community. Anyone interested in donating can visit the Privateers Facebook page at facebook. com/AnnaMariaIslandPrivateers.

KRISTIN SWAIN | SUN Intersection improvements at Gulf and Marina drives are competing with work on a Manatee County force main replacement project.

The AMI Privateers with their ship, Skullywag, which allows them to draw a great deal of attention to their fundraising efforts.

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

Steve Borggren

Capt. Rick Grassett

Monica Simpson

Tom Vaught

Capt. Kevin Wessel

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

Show some respect

I have to express my disappointment at the lack of respect and consideration the Holmes Beach commission gave to the two residents that got up to speak at Tuesday’s meeting.

The residents of our city have been working day and night to save our city from potential takeover. It wasn’t as if there was a room full

of people that wanted to speak. There were just two. Giving them 2 minutes to talk was an insult.

Residents have been writing letters and offering their expertise to form web pages, research documents, write letters, design yard signs and collect petitions.

If they think they can resolve the lack of communicating with legislators and initiating controversial plans such as the elimination of

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,

parking and garage bans on their own, I personally think they are not facing reality. Right now, they need the support of their residents more than ever.

I’m afraid they have just shown a lot of us that our opinions are not worth their time.

Very sad for us and for the future of our city.

Renee Ferguson Holmes Beach

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.

March 9, 2 p.m. – City Commission meeting

March 21, 9 a.m. – Planning and Zoning Board meeting

March 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.

March 1, 9:30 a.m. – Community Redevelopment Agency meeting

March 1, 1 p.m. – Planning and Zoning Board meeting

March 2, 6 p.m. – City Commission meeting

March 15, 10 a.m. – Department Head meeting

March 15, 1 p.m. – Scenic WAVES meeting

March 16, noon – City Commission meeting

HOLMES BEACH

5801 MARINA DRIVE

FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-708-5800

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

March 1, 10 a.m. – Parks and Beautification meeting

March 8, 10 a.m. – Clean Water Ad-hoc Committee meeting

March 14, 2 p.m. – City Commission meeting with work session to follow

ISLAND-WIDE

March 13, 2 p.m. – Island Transportation Planning Organization meeting, Holmes Beach City Hall

EVENTS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1

Creative Aging: Watercolors, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m.

THURSDAY, MARCH 2

AMI Chamber member breakfast, Wicked Cantina, 101 Seventh Ave. N., Bradenton Beach, 7 a.m., $15 for members or $25 for future members

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

FRIDAY, MARCH 3

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.

Paper crafting for adults, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 2 p.m.

SATURDAY, MARCH 4

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

The Invitational Arts and Crafts Show, city field, 5901 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Ask a Master Gardener, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m.

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

Paper crafting for adults, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 2 p.m.

SUNDAY, MARCH 5

The Invitational Arts and Crafts Show, city field, 5901 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

TUESDAY, MARCH 7

Farmer’s Market, City Pier Park, 103 N. Bay Blvd., Anna Maria, 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m.

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

Duplicate bridge, Episcopal Church of the Annunciation, 4408 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, noon

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

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

One-on-one tech help, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 2-4 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8

Creative Aging: Watercolors, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m.

Off Stage Ladies meeting, Cipriano Cucina and Bar, 3561 53rd Ave. W., Bradenton, 11:30 a.m.

Mah-jongg for beginners, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 1 p.m.

Island Time Book Club, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 6:30 p.m.

THURSDAY, MARCH 9

AMI Chamber Member Luncheon, Annie’s Bait and Tackle, 4334 127th St. W., Cortez, $22 for members or $30 for non-members

Friends of the Island Library Jewelry Sale, members pre-sale, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 3 p.m. Thursdays in Paradise Stroll featuring local art, music and food, Bridge Street, Bradenton Beach, 5-8 p.m.

FRIDAY, MARCH 10

Explore Nature: Tower Talks, Robinson Preserve, observation tower, 1704 99th St. N.W., Bradenton, 9 a.m.

Friends of the Island Library Jewelry Sale, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 11 a.m.

ArtWalk, Holmes Beach city center, intersection of Marina and Gulf drives, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, MARCH 11

Robinson Runners, Robinson Preserve, 1704 99th St. N.W., Bradenton, 7 a.m. Pancake breakfast, Roser Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, 8-11 a.m., $8 per person, children under 5 eat free.

Red tide causing respiratory irritation, fish kills

Red tide moves with the wind and tides. One beach can be affected and another nearby can be unaffected.

BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Patchy red tide in local waters is hovering at medium levels, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), causing respiratory irritation and fish kills.

Medium levels of the toxic algae were recorded in water samples on Feb. 20 alongshore and inshore near the Rod & Reel Pier in Anna Maria, the Palma Sola Bay Bridge in Bradenton and Longboat Pass at Bradenton Beach.

Over the past week, respiratory irritation suspected to be related to red tide was reported on Mote’s Beach Conditions Reporting System and/or the Fish Kill Hotline at numerous locations in Manatee and Sarasota counties.

Red tide moves with the wind and

tides, according to the FWC. One beach can be affected and another nearby can be unaffected.

For current information at individual beaches, visit https://visitbeaches.org/ and for forecasts that use FWC and partner data, visit https:// habforecast.gcoos.org/.

Red tide can also cause shellfish harvesting closures. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute's Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) group closely monitors the status of Karenia brevis, the organism that causes red tide, on Florida's coasts, providing technical support to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the agency that regulates approved shellfish harvesting areas, according to the FWC.

Before harvesting in Florida waters, determine open or closed status by visiting the department's Division of Aquaculture website at https://www.fdacs. gov/Divisions-Offices/Aquaculture.

The beach south of Bean Point in Anna Maria was littered with fish last week.

CHERI OLSON | SUBMITTED

Heritage Day honors Island’s past, present

Heritage Day is a free, family-oriented event.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA – The Anna Maria Island Historical Society is hosting its annual Heritage Day celebration on Tuesday, March 14 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The free, family-friendly Heritage Day celebration will take place on the Anna Maria Island Historical Museum grounds at 402 Pine Ave.

Historical Society board member Barbara Murphy provided some details

on the upcoming event.

“We are really looking forward to Heritage Day. We’ll be showing off our museum, the historic Belle Haven cottage and the Island’s wonderful and rich history that dates back over 100 years. We’ll have lots of arts and crafts stationed around the museum area. We’ve got Howie Banfield performing live music for us. We’ll have Poppo’s Taqueria as our food vendor and we’ll be selling fresh strawberry shortcake for $5 a bowl. We’ll have wonderful gift baskets filled with donations from our Island restaurants and businesses and we look forward to our Island resi-

dents and visitors coming to visit us,” Murphy said.

The Heritage Day festivities will also include the Anna Maria Island Priva teers capturing Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy and holding him for ransom in the “Old City Jail” until enough funds are raised to secure his release. Those funds and all other proceeds raised during Heritage Day will be donated to the AMI Historical Society.

During the 2022 Heritage Day event, Donna Stansbury showed attendees how she makes yarn out of sheep’s wool using a pedal-powered spinning wheel.

FMM participating in Manatee Heritage Days

BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com

CORTEZ - As a participant in Manatee County’s 44th Annual Manatee Heritage Days, the Florida Maritime Museum will be hosting special events throughout March.

“We have events going on all month,” FMM Education and Engagement Coordinator Kel Roth said. “We’re giving tours, and having movie nights and our folk school classes.”

Folk school classes begin on Thursday, March 16 from 10-11:30 a.m. with a multi-generational Painting With a Fish class. Students will use synthetic fish models to print traditional Japanese fish paintings.

All ages are welcome; those 18 and under must be accompanied by an adult. The class will also be offered on Wednesday, March 22 from 1011:30 a.m.

Memory Map Writing, on Tuesday, March 21 from 10 a.m. to noon, will offer beginners a writing course using guided imagery. Participants will create a memory map and craft a short piece to take home and use for a poem, prose or story. The class will test out techniques for recalling detailed memories. Materials will be provided.

A free movie under the stars, “Finding Nemo,” will be held on Friday, March 10 at 7:15 p.m. Attendees are asked to arrive by 7 p.m. to pick

a spot in the field. Bring your own blankets and bug spray.

Manatee Heritage Days is supported and organized by the Manatee County Clerk of the Circuit Court’s Department of Historical Resources.

Along with FMM, 16 participating organizations include the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, Friends of the Florida Maritime Museum, Manatee County Agricultural Museum, Manatee County Historical Records Library, Manatee County Public Library, Manatee Genealogical Society and Manatee Village Historical Park. Visit https://www.manateeclerk. com/departments/historical-resources for a full list of events.

Fishing festival nets thousands of attendees

BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com

CORTEZ – Nearly 16,000 people packed the 41st Annual Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival on Feb. 18-19, enjoying live music and local delicacies while perusing art and crafts booths.

More than 9,000 attendees visited the festival on Saturday, with about 6,500 visitors on Sunday, according to organizers.

Described as a “party with a purpose,” the festival was organized by a volunteer committee of the non-profit Florida Institute

for Saltwater Heritage (FISH). Proceeds from the festival support the restoration and conservation of the 98-acre FISH Preserve.

To mark the 100th anniversary of Star Fish Co., this year’s festival was held at the west end of the village in front of the restaurant and seafood market.

Cortez Village Historical Society (CVHS) President Cindy Rodgers reported more than 100 volunteer hours in staffing the festival. Members sold strawberry shortcakes, a tradition started by the late Dr. Mary Fulford Green of CVHS. Volunteers from Cortez Park gathered on Feb. 17 to cut 30 flats of strawberries, and local high school students volunteered at the booth. The non-profit CVHS made $6,467 during the festival with more than 920 shortcakes sold, she said.

WMFR: Department plans short-term rental changes

FROM PAGE 1

other safety measures. Kwiatkowski said that while owners may need to implement some new fire safety measures, they shouldn’t expect to have to do something costly, such as install sprinkler systems.

With the new program comes the hiring of a new fire inspector and administrative assistant for the fire prevention arm of the district to handle the increased workload. The district plans to post the jobs immediately with hiring and onboarding anticipated in July. Kwiatkowski said that there is enough money in the current fiscal year to cover salaries and purchase of new equipment for the new hires until the Oct. 1 beginning of the new fiscal year, when inspections are anticipated to begin.

During a Feb. 21 commission meeting, Kwiatkowski said that he had received good feedback from stakeholders in the local rental industry. The main negative feedback he said he’d received was concerning the percentage increase, not the dollar increase, in annual fire assessment rates. The rate for commercial properties is about twice what it is for residential properties in the district.

District personnel also will be working with already-established vacation rental inspection programs, such as the one in Holmes Beach, to make sure there’s no overlap of efforts and rental owners’ businesses are disrupted as little as possible.

Pine Avenue sidewalk improvements moving forward

The Reimagining Pine Avenue safety improvements are also expected to include future crosswalk and streetlighting upgrades.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA – City leaders are seeking bid proposals for the installation of new permeable paver sidewalks along both sides of Pine Avenue.

On Feb. 23, the commission took three separate project-related actions pertaining to the sidewalk safety improvements.

The commission approved the final plans presented by the George F. Young engineering firm and a $1.28 million grant agreement with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) for the funding of the sidewalk installation stage of the Reimagining Pine Avenue project. The commission also approved a revised request for proposals (RFP) that pertains only to the installation of the new sidewalks.

The original RFP issued last year also included proposed crosswalk and street lighting upgrades. A second RFP issued later that year did not include the street lighting upgrades. Only one firm submitted bid proposals in response to the first two RFPs and the commission chose not to move forward with either proposal.

During Thursday’s meeting, Mayor Dan Murphy said FDOT had some concerns about the previously-proposed raised crosswalks and asked that they be removed from the plans for the state-funded portion of the project. Murphy said the city will address the crosswalk and lighting upgrades

separately and the funding source or sources for those improvements have not yet been fully identified.

Murphy is optimistic the latest sidewalks-only RFP will generate substantially more interest. He said FDOT provided the city with a list of contractors who do this type of work and another company has already expressed interest.

Murphy told the commission the city has and will continue to apply for additional state appropriations in 2023 and 2024 in hopes of securing additional state funds for additional safety improvements along Spring Avenue and Magnolia Avenue.

NEW SIDEWALKS

During the lengthy Reimagining Pine Avenue discussion and planning processes that began in mid-2021, the commission agreed that the new permeable paver sidewalks would fol-

low the same footprints as the existing non-paved walkways that currently meander inward and closer to the Pine Avenue businesses in some areas.

During Thursday’s meeting, Commissioner Deanie Sebring noted that pedestrians often continue walking along the side of Pine Avenue rather than following the meandering paths. Sebring said she doesn’t foresee that pedestrian behavior changing after the new sidewalks are installed.

Murphy said those concerns could be further addressed once a contractor has been selected, but he said changing the plans now would result in the city having to start the planning and approval processes over again.

Murphy noted the porous nature of the permeable paver sidewalks will allow rainwater to drain downward through them.

“It’s going to make a great improvement on the flooding we encounter

during the rainy season,” he said.

The mayor said he’d eventually like to install the same type of permeable pavers along Gulf Drive when replacing those deteriorating sidewalks someday.

As he’s done during previous discussions, Commission Chair Mark Short again sought and received confirmation that the installation of the new sidewalks will not result in the loss of any of the existing perpendicular parking spaces used by Pine Avenue businesses and their patrons. Murphy and project engineer Gerry Traverso assured Short that none of the existing perpendicular parking spaces would be lost.

After the commission approved all three project-related actions, Murphy said, “I think it’s a great project and I look forward to getting this done.”

BEYOND PINE AVENUE

Some of the previous Reimagining Pine Avenue discussions also pertained to the lack of sidewalks, crosswalks and the other safety features along Magnolia and Spring avenues.

During Thursday’s meeting, Short said, “This is great. This is the first step.”

He then said that in the future the commission and the city will still need to address the rest of the greater Pine Avenue corridor that includes Magnolia Avenue, Spring Avenue and portions of South Bay Boulevard and Gulf Drive.

“This is a great step in the right direction but we need to be thinking about where we go from here and not just sit back and say, ‘OK we got this done.’ We need to not lose sight of that as we continue to move forward,” Short said.

“It’s just the end of the beginning,” Commissioner Robert Kingan added.

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

Some pedestrians follow the meandering paths along Pine Avenue, and some don’t.

County seeks manager for beach market

BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH – Manatee

County is making progress in the opening of the Coquina Beach Market after postponing its Nov. 1, 2022 opening.

The Manatee County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) voted during their regular meeting on Feb. 14 to start the bidding process for the management of the Coquina Beach Market for the 2023 season and beyond.

Nancy Ambrose, who was the director for the Coquina Beach Market for the past decade, was ousted by the county in August when the county took over operations of the market. A Change.org petition, “Bring back the Beach Market at Coquina Beach under the management of Nancy Ambrose,” has more than 2,100 signatures.

“Property Management staff members provided a conceptual map with

a new proposed location of the former beach market, maintaining the market’s mission of providing a space for local artisans and vendors to offer their unique products,” according to a county press release.

Located on the south end of Coquina Beach, the new site will offer approximately 80 vendors and customers an enhanced outdoor setting for commerce, the release states. Visitors can access the market from the beach trail as well as from the newly-renovated South Coquina parking lot entrances.

Commissioners also approved $175,000 in improvements to provide lighting and electricity to the market. The space also will be home to future special events.

Plans call for a daytime market on Tuesdays and a night-time market on Thursdays.

The Coquina Beach Market Vendor Coordinator Services Request for Proposals (RFP) can be downloaded from the county’s bids and proposals website at: https://public.mymanatee. org/rfp_post/controller

RENTALS: Officials prepare to defend regulations

FROM PAGE 1

COMMISSION REACTION

Commissioners discussed SB 714 at the Feb. 23 Anna Maria City Commission meeting.

“It pretty much makes us a gatekeeper for people to register a vacation rental,” Mayor Dan Murphy said. “Even with that, you could do blanket registrations. If you’ve got 75 homes in our city, you can just do one blanket registration. It takes away the registration fee we use to enforce our (vacation rental) ordinance. It takes away our being able to regulate the advertising program, which is key to enforcing occupancy.”

This year, the city of Anna Maria is charging an annual registration fee of $84.17 per occupant allowed in accordance with the city’s vacation rental ordinance. This year’s annual fee for fouroccupant vacation rentals is $336, with a six-occupant vacation rental fee of $505 and a 12-occupant vacation rental fee of $1,010. The registration fees are projected to generate approximately $415,000 for vacation rental enforcement during the 2022-23 fiscal year.

“It totally guts everything,” City Attorney Becky Vose said. “It’s a horrendous statute. Hopefully, it won’t pass.”

“What this amounts to for people who live in Anna Maria is a tax increase because the money that’s collected through these registration fees is only collected in order to enforce these regulations. It’s going to have to be made up somewhere else,” Commissioner Charlie Salem said. “This problem stretches over the bridge. We hear more stories about vacation rentals popping up in Palma Sola, west Bradenton and Bradenton. So, this problem, while it’s been acute on the Island, is coming to a neighborhood in Manatee County. The residents of Manatee County and their representatives should be really concerned. It basically amounts to residents funding vacationers’ activities, and I don’t think that’s what their intent is.”

Murphy noted the city has been fighting this annual legislative battle for the past six years. To combat these latest efforts, the city will again rely on its contracted lobbyist and the city-owned www.HomeRuleFl.com website that provides concerned citizens with issue-specific form letters that target key state legislators.

The county-run market was scheduled to open on Nov. 1, 2022.

WHERE‛S YOUR COMFORT ZONE?

Chamber breakfast at Wicked Cantina

The Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce will have a breakfast networking event on Thursday, March 2 from 7:30-9 a.m. at Wicked Cantina, 101 Seventh St. N. in Bradenton Beach. Breakfast will be $15 for members and $25 for potential members. Don’t forget to bring a raffle prize with your company name on it and have your business announced when the prize is given away. Anyone interested in attending can RSVP to becky@amichamber.org or call 941-778-1541.

Chamber members meet the board

The Center of Anna Maria Island hosted the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce’s “Meet the Board of Directors” event on Feb. 23. It was structured and fast-paced, allowing chamber members to interact with chamber directors in a series of 3-minute, one-on-one information exchanges. Participating were Chamber directors Bev Kilpatrick (Anna Maria Island Resorts), John Campora (Edward Jones), Katy Demick (Anna Maria Island Resorts), Bob Slicker (Slicker's Eatery), Dan Alderson (Tyler’s Ice Cream) and Eric Cairns (Cedar Cove Resort & Cottages). Speed networking with Chamber directors were Tami Goudy (Veritas! Pest Management), Pete Robinson (Captain Pete's Charters), Don Hubiak (Sarasota Interior Painting), Barbie Gummin (Total Life Care), Kathryn Sandberg (Fran Maxon Real Estate), Bernard Sokolowski (Starwheel Websites), Brian Sharkey (The Sharkey Agency), John Lappin (Concord Home Mortgage), Mike Lapensee (LaPensee Plumbing Pools & Air) and Liu Yang (NY Foot & Body Massage).

Rotary Club ‘Golfing for Good’

The Rotary Club of Anna Maria Island will hold its “Golfing for Good” golf tournament at IMG Academy Golf Club, 4350 El Conquistador Pkwy. on Monday, April 3. Registration starts at 11:30 a.m. and the scramble begins at 1 p.m. Tournament proceeds benefit Anna Maria Elementary School’s character education literacy program, “Rotary Reader Dolphin” program, Peace Day, “4 Way Tests” essay contest, local high school youth leadership training and Manatee Title I youth “Learn to Swim” program. The fee is $135 per golfer or $500 per team. To register or for sponsorship opportunities, visit www.ami-rotary-golf.square.site/ or call Rotary President Jim McDaniel at 413-210-6921.

Pizzano’s packs a punch with pizza

A couple that has established a successful pizza chain in Orlando is bringing their signature taste to AMI.

BY JASON SCHAFFER SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com

HOLMES BEACH - Nobody is quite sure if being two blocks from the beach makes pizza taste better, but the owners of Pizzano’s Pizza and Grinderz say it’s good for the soul, if nothing else.

While new to AMI, Pizzano’s has been established in Florida for decades, with the first location opening more than 30 years ago in Orlando. Born in Sicily and raised in Michigan, owner Sam Marhi has been connected to AMI long before he opened his restaurant here.

“My family’s vacationed down here for lots of years,” Marhi said. “We always said if the opportunity came up on the Island, we’d love to do a pizza place here. Over the years, not too much became available that fit what we were looking for, then we got lucky enough and this spot came open.”

The spot Marhi speaks of is 5318 Marina Drive in a popular shopping plaza that has ample foot traffic and is highly visible. There are now 11 Pizzano’s; the first nine locations are all in the Orlando area and are still very successful, with the 10th being their Bradenton location.

However, it was number 11 that made Marhi and his wife, Missy, relocate to Anna Maria Island and make it their permanent home. Like so many others, they just want to work hard and live the “Island life.”

Sam and Missy work open to close just about every day in their new location, but always have a smile on their face because they feel fortunate to be in their dream location. The couple met nearly

Paddlers clean up

The AMI Paddlers from Paradise Dragon Boat Team did another beach cleanup in Anna Maria on Feb. 21 thanks to one of their sponsors, Beach Bums. “We picked up four small buckets of trash and bottle caps were the most collected kind of trash. We also had a large piece of a wooden dock with nails,” coach Melinda Bradway said, adding there was some respiratory irritation from red tide. For more information on joining AMI Paddlers from Paradise, call Melinda at 941-462-2626 or email mrbradway@gmail.com.

30 years ago when Sam had just opened his first Pizzano’s and Missy was a customer. A saucy romance began, and the couple has been together, feeding the public ever since.

When asked what the secret to their success has been, Marhi says it’s his attention to the details he says many pizza restaurants no longer do.

make all my pizza dough in-house, and I still make all of our pizza sauces and other sauces in-house. We don’t buy anything frozen or anything pre-made. It makes a big difference, and a lot of places don’t do that anymore, especially out here on the Island.”

Pizzano’s has a large menu that offers something for ev-

also do a Detroit-style Sicilian pizza, wings, subs, various breads and garlic knots, salads, pastas, desserts and grinderz. It should be noted for those from the Northeast that in Michigan, a grinder is similar to a calzone, not another name for a “sub” or “hero” sandwich. Marhi admits there is sometimes confusion due to the origin of the customer, but they’re “keeping it Michigan.”

“A new item we’ve introduced here on the Island is a gluten-free cauliflower pizza crust and we have a dairy-free plant-based cheese option too,” Marhi said. “We’re also in the process of adding some glutenfree pasta to the menu as well.”

Anyone visiting Pizzano’s will be greeted by a friendly staff that seems genuinely happy to see them walk through the door. Many customers have become friends of the staff and a great deal are already on a first-name basis. Pizzano’s is open seven days a week with both carry-out and delivery available during all business hours: Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m.-12 a.m.; Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m.-1 a.m.; and Sunday from 11 a.m.-12 a.m.

To place an order, call 941778-3663 (FOOD) or order online at www.pizzanospizzaami.com. During the busy spring season, delivery and carryout times may be longer

JASON SCHAFFER | SUN

Pizzano’s Pizza & Grinderz owners, Sam and Missy Marhi, have brought their restaurant, a favorite in the Orlando area, to AMI.

Island Gallery West moving off Island

After 33 years on AMI, Island Gallery West and its 30 member artists will soon have a new home in downtown Bradenton.

BY JASON SCHAFFER SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com

HOLMES BEACH - Island Gallery West (IGW) has been operating in the same location for 33 years, but on Friday, March 10, they will say goodbye to AMI and begin the move to downtown Bradenton, where they will open their new gallery in May. They have not yet announced where the new location will be but said the announcement will come soon.

“Our final day will be Friday, March 10 and will include an evening ArtWalk with our featured artist, Terri Westbrook. We would love to see you. We will miss our Island home dearly so please join us to celebrate the past and toast

the future,” the gallery said in a recent press release.

The gallery members did not wish to comment on exactly why they are moving, but ever since a road construction project in Holmes Beach began last year, multiple IGW artists have told The Sun that foot traffic has seriously decreased due to the work being done just a feet away from their parking lot. They think that many tourists likely don’t know how to enter the parking lot due to multiple road closures and changing traffic patterns in the area.

“We asked ourselves how we could continue to grow as a gallery; offering more artist demonstrations and adding hands-on classes in the space we have occupied for 33 years,” member artist Karen Beach said. “Having a larger space would be ideal. We explored the possibilities off-Island and downtown Bradenton is undergoing a

revitalization and that central location would allow us to reach a wider audience in the greater community.”

IGW isn’t the first gallery to leave or dissolve in recent years. While the Island Art

League is still active on AMI, hosting popular events such as Springfest, they no longer have a physical location on the Island. The Studio at Gulf and Pine in Anna Maria is also gone, as well as ArtSpace.

The only remaining gallery with a physical location on AMI after IGW closes its doors will be The Artists’ Guild of Anna Maria Island. After doing significant renovations while closed during the COVID pandemic, the gallery, with more than 100 member artists, says they have no plans to leave the Island.

During the transition period, you can view IGW online and purchase artwork through their website at www.islandgallerywest.com. They also will be operating during regular hours, Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. Some of the artists will be offering special prices on their work at the gallery. Also visit the final ArtWalk they will participate in where the gallery will stay open until at least 7:30 p.m. along with other businesses in the area, including The Artists’ Guild. Island Gallery West is located at 5368 Gulf Drive in Holmes Beach and can be reached at 941-778-6648.

SUBMITTED

Island Gallery West in Holmes Beach is closing its doors and moving to Bradenton.

Gypsea Tides comes to AMI

Gypsea Tides, a new beach boutique with a twist, opens on Marina Drive.

BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com

HOLMES BEACH - In the midst of traffic detours on the Island, there’s a bright spot on Marina Drive.

Gypsea Tides, a newly-opened beach boutique with a twist, is a dream come true for owner Rexann Cecil.

In addition to colorful beach and

casual attire, jewelry, accessories and décor, Cecil also provides fun and sparkly hair adornments.

“It’s been my dream to do this for a long time,” she said. “What I’m doing is different from other places on the Island.”

With either an appointment or for walk-in customers, Gypsea Tides offers hair wraps with beads and a charm, fairy hair strands of multiple colors, mermaid or beaded braids, hair feathers and glitter tattoos.

“These bring me joy and they bring people joy,” she said. “I was

at the Pineapple Marketplace for a year and a half and I was known for the mermaid braids there.”

The boutique clothing, which includes bathing suits, cover-ups, hats, dresses and shirts has a bright and cheerful island vibe.

“I would say the style of the clothes is Beach Boutique,” Cecil said. “The clothes are colorful with lots of florals and tie-dye.”

Much of the jewelry sold in the shop is sterling silver and genuine stone.

SUBMITTED

Rexann Cecil’s dream came true after opening Gypsea Tides, a beach boutique with a twist.

SEE GYSPEA TIDES, PAGE 21

LEGISLATION:

FROM PAGE 4

Crane asked Lt. Lou Licata and Sgt. John Wren from the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office if they had any opinions on the proposed legislation.

Proposed gun legislation concerns city officials

“I have my own opinion, but I’d rather defer to our Sheriff, Rick Wells,” Licata said.

During public input, The Sun asked Vose if the proposed law would allow

someone to walk down Pine Avenue openly carrying a shotgun or an assault rifle.

“It would depend upon how the statute read when it’s passed,” Vose responded.

When asked if the city

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Two John van Zandt Scholarship recipients enter workforce

The scholarship deadline for 2023 is April 1.

BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA – Two John van Zandt Scholarship recipients have graduated and joined the workforce, according to The Center of Anna Maria Island.

Tyler Brewer, of Holmes Beach, was awarded the first JVZ Scholarship. He completed “Building Trades and Construction” at Manatee Technical College and works with Richard’s Plumbing and Electric. Following a five-year appren-

ticeship, he will receive his certification.

Gavin Johnston has completed his course at Manatee Technical College as a firefighter Emergency Medical Technician (EMT).

Two other scholarship recipi ents, Malachi Enger and Nolan Enger, have begun courses to become a computer technician and electrician, respectively.

The scholarship is awarded to a graduating senior pursuing a career that requires certification, licensing or apprenticeship in areas such as the trades, medical

Island Players offering scholarships

The Island Players Board of Directors is once again offering a scholarship of $2,000 to each of four graduating high school seniors in the Manatee County school district who have demonstrated excellence in the areas 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. Interested applicants may download the application package from The Island Players website, www.theislandplayers. org. The deadline for receiving the completed application package is Friday, April 14. Most current GPA transcripts (within 90 days of submission) must be included. Questions or comments may be emailed to ScholarshipCommittee@theislandplayers.org.

technology, cosmetology, computer science or the hospitality industry. The students, or their parents, must be residents or work on Anna Maria Island. Students with full tuition funding from another scholarship are not eligible. This is the third year that scholarships up to $5,000 will be awarded.

Scholarship applications must be sent in by April 1. Winners will be announced on May 3. For more information on applying, visit https://centerami.org/scholarship/

GYPSEA TIDES: comes to AMI

FROM PAGE 16

“The jewelry is high quality at an affordable price,” she said.

Formerly from Colorado, Cecil owned a gift shop there for several years before moving to Florida.

“I had been hoping to open a retail space here for a long time,” she said. “I was driving to Pineapple Marketplace one day and I saw the space here was for lease.”

Planning initially to open last November, some of the challenges she faced included hurricane-based construction delays and road work outside her door.

Cecil closed her booth at Pineapple Marketplace in December and had her grand opening at Gypsea Tides at the end of January.

“It’s been getting better and better,” she said. “We have a steady stream of customers coming in.”

Gypsea Tides is located at 5602-A Marina Drive, at the former White Egret location. For more information or appointments, call 941285-3130.

Suncoast Waterkeeper launches 'Eyes on the Suncoast'

share what you see. Sharing what you see using your phone, social media and the hashtag #eyesonthesuncoast can be invaluable in efforts to preserve water quality and habitat. Here are two ways you can report what you see:

he waters on the Suncoast need the protection of those who love them. You can help Suncoast Waterkeeper (SCWK) do that with a new program the nonprofit launched recently by keeping your “Eyes on the Suncoast” and reporting what you see.

Whether you’re boating, biking, swimming, fishing or walking, everyone on or near the water can help SCWK remind residents and visitors why the Suncoast’s marine ecosystem is worth protecting. Suncoast Waterkeeper can't be everywhere at once, that's why your contributions are vital to their efforts.

SCWK has designed a platform that makes it easy for you to submit and

1. Use the form on their website for bad conditions or pollution reports only. The form will let you post an image, add a description and give the location of the report.

2. Post to Facebook or Instagram. Here is the perfect place to post what you love about the Suncoast and why it’s important to help organizations like SCWK keep it sustainable. A YouTube video walks you through the process on the webpage. Follow these four easy steps to post to your social media platform:

• Upload a picture;

• Include a description of what you’re reporting;

• Provide the latitude and longitude for your location using your phone's

You

clean water, a special sunrise and/or sunset, healthy seagrass or marine scenery.

Post the things we need to be aware of like trash/debris, excessive mangrove trimming, including dead mangroves, fish kills, dead or sick aquatic animals, discolored, foamy or foul-smelling water, sewage spills, algae blooms, gas, oil or grease spills, runoff from construction sites, direct pollution or chemical spills, invasive species as well as other concerns. If you have questions, visit Suncoast Waterkeeper at www.suncoastwaterkeeper.org/eyesonthesuncoast

Don’t underestimate the impact that your contributions can make.

compass or by dropping a pin on a map app; and

• Add #eyesonthesuncoast. Need a couple of tips on what to report?

Post the things that inspire and amaze you - wildlife sightings, clear/

As Margaret Mead, the famous cultural anthropologist said, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed individuals can change the world. In fact, it's the only thing that ever has."

RUSTY CHINNIS

RUSTY CHINNIS | SUN

Local knowledge key to good fishing

CAPT. RICK GRASSETT

There should be good action with reds, trout and snook in skinny water in March as baitfish become more plentiful. Look for Spanish and king mackerel, cobia, tripletail and false albacore (little tunny) in the coastal Gulf. Night snook fishing in the ICW should also be a good option this month.

Regulations have returned to normal for reds and snook in Sarasota, except snook remains closed to harvest in the Charlotte Harbor area. Spotted seatrout have changed in Southwest Florida to a three-fish-per-person bag limit and a six-fish boat limit. Trout must be from 15”-19” with one allowed per vessel over 19”. In my opinion, it’s important to protect larger trout, which are usually female breeders. Full regulations and details for all species can be viewed at https:// myfwc.com/

This should be a good month for snook fishing at night around lighted docks and bridge fenders in the ICW. DOA Shrimp, CAL jigs with shad tails and small white flies, like my Grassett Snook Minnow, usually work well at night since glass minnows and shrimp are the predominant bait. Focus on shadow lines where light meets dark and fish strong tides for the best action. Although snook may also be found in rivers, creeks or canals in March, they will also start to move onto shallow flats, particularly on sunny afternoons when it’s warm. I like larger lures like CAL jigs with jerk worms, CAL 4” Shad Tails, DOA Baitbusters and the DOA PT soft plastic top water lure or wide profile flies like Clousers, Deceivers and EP flies for snook on the flats. Look for early season tarpon that may start to show in backcountry areas. These are usually adult resident fish that are making their way out of rivers and creeks. They may be “laid up” or rolling on deep

grass flats, on edges of shallow flats or along bars when it is calm. An accurate cast with a DOA Shrimp, a Deceiver or Tarpon Bunny fly may result in an explosive strike! Look for them in areas of Sarasota Bay, lower Tampa Bay or in Gasparilla Sound on some of the same deep grass flats where you find trout.

Reds should be more active as the water warms and baitfish become more plentiful. Higher tides, as we head into spring, will allow them to spend more time feeding in shallow water. Look for them over shallow grass, along mangrove shorelines and around oyster bars when the tide is high. You should find them in potholes and along sand bars when the tide is low. I like the shallow flats of north Sarasota Bay for reds this month. I like 1/16-ounce CAL jigs with shad tails and jerk worms to locate reds. Fly anglers should score with my Grassett Flats Minnow fly, fished on a 10’-12’ leader. When using a long leader, be sure you are able to turn it over, otherwise, you’ll need to shorten it until you can. The butt section should be at least 50% of the total length of the leader and stiff enough to

CB’s Saltwater Outfitters holds fly fishing school

CB’s Saltwater Outfitters, 1249 Stickney Point Road, Sarasota, will hold an OrvisEndorsed fly fishing school on Saturday, March 4. The course, designed for beginning and intermediate fly casters, will focus on basic fly casting principles, improving casting skills and correcting faults. Instructor Capt. Rick Grassett will also cover saltwater fly fishing techniques, leader construction

and fly selection. The cost for the class, which will run from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., is $225 per person and includes the use of Orvis fly tackle, a workbook and lunch. Optional instructional guided fly fishing trips are also available for an additional fee. Contact CB’s Saltwater Outfitters at 941-349-4400 or email info@cbsoutfitters.com to make reservations.

transfer energy from your fly line to the leader.

You might also find reds around docks when the tide is low. Look for deep water under docks with a good tidal flow for the best action. A 1/8-ounce CAL jig with a shad tail or grub or a weighted fly fished on a clear intermediate sink tip fly line with a 6’ leader should work well for dock fishing.

You may find big trout in skinny water in many of the same places that you find reds. Blind cast seams where grass meets sand or focus on light-colored bottom, in potholes on top of sand bars, where you may be able to sight fish them. These big fish, usually females, are important to the health of our fishery.

You should also find trout plentiful on deep grass flats along with Spanish mackerel, blues, flounder or pompano. I like to make a series of drifts, casting ahead of the drift with CAL jigs with shad tails, DOA Deadly Combos or an Ultra Hair Clouser fly tied on a long shank hook and fished on a clear intermediate sink tip fly line to locate fish. Also look for birds, bait showering out of the water or boils on the surface that will indicate fish feeding below. When mackerel and blues are around, you may need to add 6” of 40# to 60# fluorocarbon or wire to your leader. Top water plugs and fly poppers also work well when blues and mackerel are around and may help locate them by attracting them from further away. Flounder may be found on sand or mud bottom areas on both shallow and deep grass flats or around docks. Pompano may skip on the surface when you drift or run past them, giving their location away. Fish deep grass flats with a mixture of grass and sand and a strong tidal flow for the best action.

CAPT. RICK GRASSETT | SUBMITTED March should be a great month to fish shallow water. Dave Reinhart, of Massachusetts, caught and released a snook on CAL jigs with shad tails while fishing Gasparilla Sound with Capt. Rick Grassett in a previous March.

Pig roast attendees gathered on the beach between the Moose Lodge and the Gulf of Mexico.

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

Moose Lodge hosts annual pig roast dinner

Proceeds from the annual event benefit various Moose charities.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH – Anna Maria Island Moose Lodge #2188 hosted its fourth annual pig roast barbeque on Feb. 25.

Proceeds raised during the event, open to Moose members and nonmembers, will benefit Moose charities that include the Mooseheart children’s home in Illinois and the Moosehaven retirement community in Orange Park, Florida. Bradenton-based Pig Out BBQ provided the barbeque dinners that sold for $15.95 each. Fundraising activities also included 50-50 raffles. Attendees gathered inside the lodge and many more gathered on the beach between the lodge and the Gulf of Mex-

ico. The event featured two live bands performing on the beachfront patio, including a reunion show by the classic Ted Stevens and the Doo-Shots lineup that included Sun reporter Joe Hendricks.

Stationed in the Moose Lodge parking lot during the event, 14-year-old Manatee High School student Luca Raina displayed the Moose-sponsored go-cart in which he won the Orlando Cup Championship in December. During the event, Lodge Administrator Byron Dalton said, “This is our fourth annual pig roast. It’s been very successful. We’re fortunate to have so many people coming out to help support Mooseheart and Moosehaven and our other Moose charities while enjoying each other’s camaraderie and company. Jimmy, from Pig Out, is doing a phenomenal job and we’re proud to be partnering with them again. We also have Motorworks Brewing here giving out samples of their beer.”

Anna Maria

REAL ESTATE

Real estate market warming up

It’s winter in Florida and it can be a little chilly in the morning, but, if you pay close attention, you may feel a slight warming breeze. However, the breeze I’m talking about is not in the air, but in the real estate market, and it’s starting to stir demand among buyers.

Mortgage rates have fallen by about a full percentage point for a 30-year fixed-rate loan, signaling that the Federal Reserve may be nearly finished lifting interest rates. As of this writing, the average 30-year fixed-rate loan is averaging about 6.79%, but there are loans out there that are as low as 6.46%, and a 15-year fixedrate loan is averaging about 6.22%.

The last time we saw mortgage rates in the 6% range was for several years between 2003 and 2008 after which the rates started dropping. Understandably, new buyers to the market were appalled when the rates went over 7% from a low of 3% since they had never seen rates this high.

Castles in the Sand

LOUISE BOLGER

Redfin reports that the number of people contacting real estate agents to start their buying process has increased from a November low. In addition, real estate contracts rose in December and mortgage applications are up by about a quarter nationally since the end of last year. The real estate market has always been a barometer of how the economy is doing in general because so much of a successful economy is driven by a successful housing market. Goldman Sachs Group economists said this past month “they expect the worst of the downturn has passed and housing is poised to exert less of a drag on economic growth going forward.”

And buyers are hearing the message and getting accustomed to their monthly housing costs being higher if they plan on buying a home. It’s a correction in their thinking which has finally taken hold.

Let’s see if Manatee County residents are also getting the message. These are the January sales statistics reported by the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee.

Single-family homes closed 31.7% fewer homes than January of last year. The median sale price was $505,710, up 5.4%, and the average sale price was $650,544, up 5.8%. Median time to contract was 32 days, compared to 7 days last year, and month’s supply of properties is 3.2 months.

Condos closed 24.4% fewer properties than last January. The median sale price was $345,000, up 14.4%, and the average sale price was $392,332, up 3.4%. Median time to contract was 26

days, compared to 6 days last year, and the month’s supply of properties is 3.2 months.

Cash sales continue to drop 31.6% for single-family and 34.6% for condos. However, inventory is increasing and the median and average sale prices are still in positive territory compared to last year. The combination of increased inventory and values that are holding is a great thing. There are regions around the country who would love to be in our position.

In addition, historically, 6% interest rates are not unusual. What was unusual was when they got down to 3%. We as a country have always survived high interest rates frequently much higher than 6%. Buyers continued to buy even then because owning a home is ultimately the goal of most Americans. So, enjoy the warming trend and be patient it you haven’t felt it yet, it’s coming.

FEB. 20 Cases 294

COVID-19 in Manatee County

10.62%

Manatee County community level of COVID-19 transmission

Source: Centers for Disease Control

Buy jewelry, support the library

The Friends of the Island Branch Library are holding their first-ever jewelry sale as a fundraiser for the library. Gently worn fine, vintage and costume jewelry will be on display and for sale March 9-11. Hundreds of items will be available with many of them priced under $5. The sale starts Thursday, March 9 with a preview sale for the Friends of the Island Library members from 3-7 p.m. The sale opens to the public on Friday, March 10 and Saturday, March 11 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cash, checks and major credit cards all will be accepted. The library is located at 5701 Marina Drive in Holmes Beach.

BEACH BEAT

BRADENTON BEACH

2/18, 4:56 p.m., information, 201 Gulf Drive N. The officer responded to a male subject who said someone had egged his vehicle. The officer saw the vehicle had been hit with two eggs and had not been damaged. The victim said he had an idea who did it, but had no proof. Someone on the scene saw a black pickup truck drive by and throw the eggs, but the tag number came back to a rental vehicle. Due to the fact that no damage was done and little suspect information was available, no further action was taken.

HOLMES BEACH

2/14, 8:23 p.m., trespass warning, 303 55th St. After speaking to the owner of a property set for demolition who lives out of state, the officer was told by the owner that he heard there may be people staying there illegally, and if so, he wanted them trespassed. The officer visited the property and found three males and one female staying in the structure that no longer has power or running water. One male subject said they had permission to be there, but nobody with the authority to approve such a request could be found, so the officer trespassed the group at the owner’s request.

2/14, 6 p.m., petty theft, 5607 Guava St. The officer was notified by dispatch that someone

came to the station to report a vehicle burglary. The victim told the officer that a neighbor witnessed two juveniles going through his car. After looking in the car, the victim told the officer a medical marijuana cartridge his doctor had given him as a sample was missing from the car, but he couldn’t find anything else out of order. A check of the area did not result in any other vehicles being tampered with and no other suspicious activity was noted. The officer was unable to locate the juveniles, but the victim does wish to press charges if they are found.

2/17, 3:30 p.m., resisting without violence/possession of alcohol by a minor, 100 Beach Ave. While on beach patrol, two officers were notified by another officer already on the scene that between 100 and 150 high schoolage juveniles were gathered on the beach and many were drinking alcohol and littering cans and bottles on the beach. While observing the situation, the officers witnessed an altercation between a male juvenile and some other males on the beach. The subject looked to be under 21, but had a beer bottle in his hand which he tossed on the beach when officers approached. When officers asked him to pick up the bottle, he laughed at them and began to walk away. The subject resisted when officers tried to detain him, and had to be taken to the ground to be secured. The juvenile was charged with obstruction without violence and alcohol possession, then taken to HBPD where his mother was called to pick him up.

CENTER NOTES

Science workshop series

The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature will continue its workshop series at The Center of Anna Maria Island throughout March. For children and families, the workshops are on Wednesday, March 1 (Our Solar System) and on Wednesday, March 22 (Paleontology and Fossils), both from 6-7 p.m. For adults, the workshops are on Thursday, March 23 (Our Solar System) and on Thursday,

March 30 (Capturing Science), both from 10:30-11:15 a.m. Each workshop costs $10 for members and $20 for non-members. To register, call The Center before the Thursday prior to the workshop at 941-778-1908.

Adaptive Yoga for Parkinson’s

Adaptive Yoga for Parkinson’s will be held on Thursday, March 2, 9, 23 and 30 from 1-2 p.m. Exercise and movement is an important part of living with Parkinson’s Disease and other neuromuscular conditions. Certified adaptive yoga instructors

Dianne Ochiltree and Edie Deane will conduct the free classes. To register, call The Center at 941-778-1908 or use the MemberMe+app.

Full moon yoga

A Full Moon Yoga fundraiser to benefit Anna Maria Island Historical Society will be held on The Center field on Tuesday, March 7 from 8:30-9:30 p.m. The fundraiser is presented by Devs Bevs and the yoga session will be led by Salty Buddha Yoga and Paddle Company. Attendees are required to make a $10 minimum donation payable to The Center. No pre-registration is required.

The second Mrs. Ringling

How many people know there was a second Mrs. Ringling after Mable died in 1929? John Ringling married socialite Emily Haag Buck in 1930. That marriage is the topic of a Wednesday, March 8 talk, “The second Mrs. Ringling,” with Ellen Brosnahan from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Presented by OLLI, the talk blends historical facts from court transcripts of their divorce proceedings and other sources. It follows the couple from their elegant Park Avenue apartment to the terrace of Ringling’s mansion Ca’ d’Zan. The cost is $20 for members and $25 for non-members. The registration deadline is Thursday, March 2 at either centerami.org/culture or 941-778-1908.

Bingo returns

Bingo will be held at The Center on Friday, March 10 from 6-8 p.m. Cards and blotters are $1 each.

easy The Living is

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OBITUARIES

Thomas Q. McDonnell

Thomas Q. McDonnell, formerly of East Aurora, died peacefully in his sleep on Thursday, Feb. 9, on Anna Maria Island, Florida, from complications from Parkinson’s disease. He was 81.

McDonnell, a veteran of the United States Air Force, served four years as an intelligence officer based in Maui, Hawaii, and Biloxi, Mississippi, among other places. He achieved the rank of Captain.

Upon leaving the Air Force, McDonnell began his professional career under J. Edgar Hoover in the FBI in 1969. He served in Cincinnati, then transferred to Buffalo as a special agent fighting organized crime. He retired from the FBI in 1993.

Upon his retirement, McDonnell became a private detective in Florida. After closing his private investigation business, he earned his real estate license and enjoyed a success -

ful career as a realtor on Anna Maria Island, Florida.

He was an alumnus of The Gow School, Nichols School, St. Francis College in Pennsylvania, and earned his master’s degree from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. In his leisure time, McDonnell was an avid golfer, playing many WNY courses, and later, his favorite course - Key Royale Club on Anna Maria Island, where he was never seen without a Miller Lite in his hand.

McDonnell is survived by sons, Thomas McDonnell Jr., Edward “Ned” (Sarah) McDonnell and Gregory (Robby) McDonnell; daughter, Julia McDonnell; and six grandchildren. He is also survived by seven siblings, Mary McDonnell, John “Hubba” McDonnell, Edward (Ruth) McDonnell, Jean (late Elmer) Covelli, Patrick McDonnell, Nancy (Rodney) Reynolds and Peter (Susie) McDonnell.

He was predeceased by his wife, Barbara, in 2018, and his parents, John Q. and Faith B. McDonnell, of East Aurora.

Funeral services will be held on Anna Maria Island and a memorial service in East Aurora will be planned later this summer, with the dates to be announced.

In lieu of flowers, the family re -

quests memorials/donations to Meals on Wheels of Western New York, 100 James E. Casey Dr., Buffalo, NY 14206-2368, or The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research; Grand Central Station, P.O. Box 4777, New York, NY 10163-4777.

Marilyn “Meo” Diane Fox McIntosh

Marilyn “Meo”

Diane Fox McIntosh, 80, formerly of Anna Maria Island, Florida, died at her Bradenton home on Jan. 27. She was surrounded by her loving family. Born in Fulton, New York on April 27, 1942 to Barbara Jean (Scudder) and Floyd Gerald Fox, Meo was the eldest of three children. She was a descendant of immigrants who sailed to North America on the Mayflower in 1620, and American Revolutionary War hero Nathan Hale was also among her ancestors. She graduated from Fulton High School and Oswego State University.

On Dec. 26, 1962, she married Donald Craig McIntosh of Tampa,

Florida. The couple moved to Anna Maria Island in 1968 with their sons Scott and Brett. Before retiring in 1993, Meo endeared herself to many as a teacher in local schools, including Bradenton Elementary, Palma Sola Elementary, Ballard and Anna Maria Elementary. She co-owned A Classic Shop in Bradenton, a women’s boutique specializing in business attire. She enjoyed traveling to France, Italy, Scandinavia, Canada, Alaska, and to Bend, Oregon. She was an avid birdwatcher and she loved animals. Meo was a breast cancer survivor.

Meo was predeceased by her husband, Craig. She leaves sons, Scott (Beth) McIntosh, of Holmes Beach, and Brett (Patty) McIntosh, of Bradenton; granddaughter, Brooke; brother, Gerald (Diane) Fox of Tucson, Arizona; sister Christine (Jim) Gorman, of Pennelville, New York; her cherished nieces and nephews; and her loyal dog, Lacy. Meo’s wit, wisdom and kindness will be dearly missed.

Honoring her wishes, there will be no services. Please consider making a donation to your favorite pet or wildlife charity in her name, or to Tidewell Hospice.

Ugly Grouper hoping for playoff miracle

BY MONICA SIMPSON SPECIAL TO THE SUN

ANNA MARIA – Last Thursday, The Center’s adult co-ed flag football league closed out the regular season with team Luxury Service undefeated with a 7-0 record.

On the flip side of the coin, the Ugly Grouper squad finished without a win.

The two teams meet up in the quarterfinal round of the playoffs on Feb. 3. A playoff miracle for Ugly Grouper is needed against the high-scoring Luxury team.

The Briley team easily defeated the Ugly Grouper lineup last week 41-0, finishing the season with a 4-3 record.

A late player substitution was made to The Briley Mortgage Team roster with the addition of Jon Moss working behind the center as quarterback.

The change led to a passing game with 30 receiving points, including four thrown by Moss and one by Connor Haughey.

On the receiving side of the scoring, the hot hands and body control by Karri Stephens scored 12 points. Stephens had one defensive stop in the game.

Jesse Skipper, Mike Bolognone and Haughey each had a six-point catch to help The Briley team capture their fourth win of the season.

Skipper had a single flag pull and a sack. Haughey’s game stats include one receiving reception, a single onepoint conversion, seven total catches and stop while on defense.

Topping off the offensive scoring for The Briley Mortgage Team were Jana Whitehead and Alonzo Lemus, each with a point after a touchdown conversion.

The remaining defensive stops included flag pulls by Bolognone, Whitehead and Lemus, with an interception by Lemus.

Despite the loss, the Ugly Grouper players put critical statistics into the books in last week’s game. Kiatrell Zachery led the defense with six flag pulls and one interception.

Credited with an INT while on defense, Limarcus Waller lit up the football field with three catches and four flag pulls.

Daniel O’Connor had two defensive stops, adding to a single by Colton Fox. Contributing offensively, Zachary Blakeney and Devyn Larson each had a catch for important yardage in the game.

With Jon Moss as the QB for Briley Mortgage Team, there is a potential match-up against family members on team Moss Builders.

Brother Ryan Moss, cousin, Greg Moss, and father, Ed Moss, make up nearly a third of the team that defeated The Banks Home Lending Team on

Feb. 23 with a score of 38-19.

Moss Builders finished the season with a 6-1 record and faces Gulf Drive Café in the first round of the adult league playoffs at 6 p.m. on Thursday.

The café team had a single win in the regular season, with a loss handed to them by The Sandbar team in the final week of pre-playoff games.

Almost pulling out a win last week, with the final score 48-41 in Sandbar’s favor, Gulf Drive Café goes into the playoffs as underdogs against the solid Moss squad.

In the final game of the first playoff night, The Briley Mortgage Team snaps against The Sandbar at 9 p.m.

MONICA SIMPSON | SUN

The new QB for The Briley Mortgage Team, Jon Moss, is chased out of the pocket by The Ugly Grouper's Colton Fox at The Center during week seven action.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

BRIDGE GAMES STARTING up at Roser Church in February. Call 314-324-5921 for details.

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.

COMMERCIAL SALES, RENT & LEASE

HAVE YOU BEEN thinking of selling? We NEED properties to List for SALE!!! Duplexes, multi family, small resorts?

Call BIG Alan Galletto of Island Real Estate to get it SOLD 941-232-2216

CLEANING SERVICE

TOTAL HOME SERVICES

CLEANING : Residential, Commercial, Rentals, VRBO. Professional and Reliable. Call 941-7564570 or 941-565-3931

EMPLOYMENT

WE ARE HIRING Part Time & Full Time. The White Egret & The Egret’s Nest in City of Anna Maria’ Please contact Pam at 941-7783782

WATERLINE MARINA RESORT is hiring Resort

Hosts! Located on Holmes Beach in Anna Maria Island, the Waterline resort builds on the Old Florida heritage that so many visitors hold dear, while offering new experiences and distinct amenities in a modern resort. It is where people come to leave the burdens of life for a more balanced state of being. We are looking for passionate, friendly, and service minded individuals who will welcome our guests and provide a unique check-in experience. The ideal candidate should have some hospitality experience, excellent customer service skills, superb communication skills, ability to use tablets and iPad, and be able to stand for extended periods. Email your resumes to bskelton@ mainsailhotels.com if you would like to be a part of the Waterline legacy.

The award-winning ANNA MARIA ISLAND SUN, a weekly newspaper on Florida’s Gulf Coast, is looking for a freelance reporter/ photographer to cover events on this tourism-driven island. The ideal candidate will have reporting and photography experience at a 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, editior.

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

TOPPER FOR F150 Long bed. $50 or Best Offer. Call 941-705-7560.

GARAGE SALE

GARAGE SALE-MULTIBLE ITEMS from a collector. 208 Oak Ave, City of Anna Maria. EVERY Saturday & Sunday thru March 12. 9am-until.

MOUNT VERNON ANNUAL FLEA MARKET. Saturday March 4. 8am-2pm. 4701 Independence Dr. Bradenton. Clothing, shoes, furniture, jewelry, tools, house wares. Lunch, crafts and more!

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

TILE! TILE! TILE! All variations of tile supplied and installed. Quality workmanship. Prompt, reliable, many Island references. Free estimates. Neil 941-726-3077

RENOVATION SPECALIST

ALL carpentry repairs, Wash Family Construction, locally owned and operated CBC 1258250 Call 941-7250073.

KERN CONSTRUCTION NEW Homes & Remodel. Design/Build. Since 1968. License # CBC 1261150. Call Mike Kern 941-7781115

GET’R DONE DRYWALL, INC Specializing in Remodels & Repairs. Island Resident for 20+ years. Call Neil. Cell 941-962-1194

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

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

HOME IMPROVEMENT

Michigan General Contractor 30+ yrs. experience. Large or small projects. Budget minded knowledgeable tradesman will complete your project start to finish: On Time/On Budget. Call Mike 616-204-8822.

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. 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 driveways 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, bimonthly or monthly schedule. Pressure washing. Call Bill Witaszek 941-307-9315

LOST AND FOUND

LOST/MISPLACED MY APPLE- IPhone ( light blue cover ) Saturday at Cortez Seafood Festival .Call Tony Fantetti 863-214-3886

MOVING & STORAGE

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

PAINTING & WALLCOVERING

PAINT! PAINT! AND MORE 28 years of experienced interior/exterior custom painting. Pressure cleaning, drywall repairs and texture finishes. Many Island references. Please call Neil for free estimates. 941-812-0507

“WIZARD OF WALLS”

Established 1980 Prompt quality service. Wallpaper installation/ removal. Mary Bell Winegarden 941-794-0455

DONALD PERKINS ABRACADABRA PAINTING LLC fully insured. 30 years experience. Many Island references. Call 941-7057096

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! Affordable and Dependable!! 941-7131893

PRESSURE WASHING & WINDOWS

TOTAL HOME SERVICES

CLEANING : Residential, Commercial, Construction, Vacation, VRBO Rentals . Also available Pressure Washing, Roof Cleaning, Paver Sealing and Windows. Call 941565-3931.

REAL ESTATE HOMES & CONDOS FOR SALE

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

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

ATTN REALTORS: Are you thinking about leaving the business to get a salaried job? If you love being a Realtor & need help navigating this new market, call us today for a confidential appt. Kelly Gitt The Gitt Team AMI KW on the Water 941-799-9299

GORGEOUS DEEP WATER LOT with 2BR/2BA home in City of Anna Maria with dock and boat lift. Beautiful street. Just one block walk to beach. $2,800,000. Call for showing 941-7136531

BUSINESS & SERVICE DIRECTORY

REAL ESTATE HOMES & CONDOS FOR SALE

VILLAGE GREEN CONDO ~ Maintenance free 2BR/2BA condo with garage. Convenient West Bradenton location, 5 minutes to the beach.

$348,900.00. Call Lisa Varano at Wagner Realty 941-730-9060.

RENTALS: ANNUAL

CANAL FRONT ANNUAL rental. Charming 2BR/2BA secluded cottage. Great location on the north end of the Island. Available April 1st. 2023. $4,000/ month. Call Paige Rogers Duncan Real Estate 513-382-1992.

ANNUAL RENTALS – AVAILABLE NOW. 2BR/1BA, furnished. $4,500/month. Canal front 3BR/2BA home, private pool, boat dock. AVAILABLE 2/1/23. $7,960/mo. First, Last, and Security Deposit required Call Sato Real Estate, Inc 941-778-7200 or Email megan@satorealestate.com

RENTALS: SEASONAL & VACATION

TIFFANY PLACE Gulf

Front Condo for Rent

Incredible views from living room and master bedroom. 2BR/2BA Green Real Estate Call 941-778-0455

HOME SERVICES

SEASONAL RENTAL in PALMA SOLA. 3BR/2BA weekly or monthly rates. Contact Barb Grace 941201-2190

ANNA MARIA ISLAND

CONDOS Large pool, beach access, free WiFi, 1&2 Bedroom $900 to $1200 per week redekercondosonami.com Tim 941-704-7525

SEASONAL RENTAL JANUARY, FEBRUARY, MARCH 2024. 1BR/1BA Bradenton Beach. Small complex, heated pool. Walk to restaurants, beach one block. Call Peggy 941-545-0208.

LUXURIOUS ANNA MARIA ISLAND CONDO for rent. Upgraded granite/ stainless kitchen. Incredible water views through floor length windows. Waterfront patio. Luxury furnishing. First floor 2BR/2BA. King beds. Pool, tennis, walk to beach. Private carport. Monthly Rental May to November. Owner/renter. Flexible terms. 870239-0431 or AMirent@ aol.com

TRANSPORTATION

AMI TAXI credit cards, cash, Venmo accepted. Airport: Tampa $105, Sarasota $50, St. Pete/Clearwater $105, Orlando $220. Call 941447-8372, 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. 941-779-5095