Anna Maria Island Sun March 15, 2023

Shamrock and roll

When you’re Irish at heart, St. Paddy’s Day is celebrated all week, and Anna Maria Island began wearing the green on Sunday with the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Not to be deterred by ongoing road construction, the parade route shifted north to miss the mess, starting in Holmes Beach and spreading the luck of the Irish to the city of Anna Maria, where the “green village” takes on a new meaning for the holiday. Above, the Anna Maria Island Privateers ship Skullywag was shipshape for the parade. More photos on Page 8.

Multiple departments fight Bradenton Beach fire

Firefighters from West Manatee Fire Rescue, Longboat

Key and the City of Bradenton extinguished a structure fire in Bradenton Beach.

BY JASON SCHAFFER SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH - Black smoke could be seen rising high into the air after a fire started on March 8 at 403 Gulf Drive S., Unit D in a four-unit condo building known as Birds Nest. Bradenton Beach Police Officer Steve Masi and Lt. Lenard Diaz were the first to arrive on the scene after getting through the long line of spring break traffic.

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“Since it was unknown whether the building’s units were occupied, as soon as I arrived, I exited my vehicle and ran towards it,” Masi said in a police report.

SEE FIRE, PAGE 9

Spring break in full swing on AMI

Week two of the busy spring break season is underway, and while traffic, parking and wait times have increased, police report no serious issues.

BY JASON SCHAFFER SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA ISLAND -

Thousands of students, many with their families, have flocked to AMI to escape the still freezing temperatures farther north, trading quizzes and tests for beach volleyball and fun in the sun.

Due to different regions of the country having spring break on

different weeks, the season here on the Island runs from the first week of March through the first week of April, making spring break more than a month long. Traffic will be heavy, parking will be limited, beaches will be busier than any other time of the year and wait times at restaurants will be longer, but there’s plenty of fun to be had if these things are factored in when making plans for a day on AMI. “There is parking, even this time of year,” Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer said. “Saturday, March 11, the Manatee Beach lot was full by 11:15 a.m., but at 3 p.m. there were still 52 clearly marked parking spots that were open. On Sunday, March 12, the

SEE SPRING BREAK, PAGE 12

WAITING FOR THE WATER

TAXI to materialize on AMI. 3

CREWS WORK to keep beaches clean during red tide. 4

SPRING IS IN THE AIR, and with it comes thoughts of weddings.

JASON SCHAFFER | SUN

LEWIS J. UNGER | SUBMITTED West Manatee Fire Rescue and multiple other departments battled a structure fire on March 8 at 403 Gulf Drive S. in Bradenton Beach.

Water taxi agreement revisions continue

revisions acceptable, the city-revised agreement will be returned to county officials for their consideration.

WAITING FOR THE TAXI

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA – City and county officials continue to work on an interlocal agreement that would allow the Anna Maria City Pier to be used as a landing area for Manatee County’s pending water taxi service.

On March 9, Mayor Dan Murphy and the Anna Maria City Commission discussed but took no formal action on the revised interlocal agreement recently received from the county. That document includes the revisions county staff made to the original agreement the city proposed several months ago.

The discussion resulted in additional revisions being requested by the city commission. Those revisions will be included in an updated agreement to be presented during the commission’s Thursday, March 23 meeting or soon thereafter. If the commission deems those

The water taxi service was originally expected to begin in March or April. In October, Manatee County commissioners authorized then-County Administrator Scott Hopes to spend up to $700,000 to design and build two pontoon boats to be used as water taxis. Manatee County will initially own the boats to be managed and operated by the Clearwater-based Clearwater Ferry company.

According to Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Elliott Falcione, the water taxis will travel to and from downtown Bradenton with anticipated stops at the Anna Maria City Pier, the Bradenton Beach Pier and the Coquina South boat ramp in Bradenton Beach, operating from 10:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only. Extended hours and/or additional service days are possible depending on demand. When asked about a starting date for the water taxi service, Murphy told the commission that Falcione would not commit to a specific date but said it would be “right around the corner.”

CITY REVISIONS

The county-revised agreement says the purposes of the water taxi program are “to relieve automobile congestion coming to and from the Island, and to provide an alternative and affordable means of public transportation to and from the Island for Manatee County visitors, residents and service workers.”

City Commissioner Charlie Salem suggested removing the word “service” and making the reference inclusive to all who work on the Island.

Commission Chair Mark Short referenced the proposed agreement language that says the cost of any

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)related improvements, permits or studies required for water taxi dockage at the pier would be the financial responsibility of Manatee County or its water taxi contractor.

Short said those ADA improvements could potentially include safety rails being added to the existing boat landing area near the T-end of the pier.

He noted the proposed language doesn’t address who would cover the costs of any water taxi-related ADA improvements needed elsewhere on the pier in order to serve as a water taxi stop. According to Murphy, the commission would have to approve any changes or improvements made to the pier.

Short also referenced the agreement language that says, “Subsequent maintenance and the cost thereof for the pier shall remain the responsibility of the city.” He suggested the ongoing maintenance remain the responsibility of the county.

Short noted the county-revised version of the agreement references Exhibits A and B, but those exhibits were not included with the document. City Attorney Becky Vose said the city can’t formally enter into the interlocal agreement without being provided with the documents.

The city of Anna Maria has not yet been provided with an estimated starting date for the county’s proposed water taxi service.

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

The City Pier has a boat landing area that may require ADA improvements to be used as a water taxi stop.

IN BRIEF

Police officers to be honored

The Bradenton Beach City Commission will meet on Thursday, March 16 at noon. Bradenton Beach Police Officers Devon Straight and Charles Marose will be presented with a lifesaving award and the commission will be presented with Bradenton Beach’s 2022 crime statistics. The consent agenda calls for John Burns to be reappointed to the Planning and Zoning Board and also seeks commission approval to pay an $18,533 invoice for building official and city planner services. Under new business, the commission will be presented with the first reading of an ordinance that proposes to amend the city’s land development code. The commission will discuss the city’s lobbying efforts in Tallahassee and will be asked to authorize a letter to be sent from Mayor John Chappie to Sen. Jim Boyd and State Rep. Will Robinson Jr.

Pat Copeland scholarship available

This year, the Anna Maria Island Historical Society is celebrating two decades of giving scholarships to Island students pursuing higher education. The annual scholarship is traditionally at least $1,000, but the amount may be more depending on the proceeds from recent Historical Society Settlers’ Bread sales at the city-sponsored seasonal farmer’s market held at City Pier Park. This year, a new category of students qualifies for the Historical Society’s Pat Copeland Scholarship, which can be used for college, trade school or vocational training. In addition to Island residents, students who work at Anna Maria Island businesses are also now scholarship eligible. The scholarship is available to graduating seniors or current students in post-high school education. Applications are available at local high school guidance offices or at the AMI Historical Museum, 402 Pine Ave. in Anna Maria. For more information, please call the Historical Society at 941-778-0492. Applications are due March 31 and the scholarship will be presented in April.

Correction

The Anna Maria Island St. Patrick’s Day Parade is sponsored by Duncan Real Estate, AMI Dolphin Tours, Duffy’s Tavern and Freckled Fin. An article in the March 8 edition stated otherwise.

Local crews keeping beaches clean

BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA ISLAND - After more than three weeks of west winds pushing red tide and subsequent dead fish toward local Gulf of Mexico beaches, an easterly wind shift on Thursday gave beachgoers a slight respite.

“We’ve been fighting the west wind for weeks,” said Mark Taylor, Manatee County Natural Resources employee and the operator of a mechanical beach-cleaning rake. “We appreciate a little break; the east wind is our friend.”

The beach rake that Taylor drives along the beaches has a spring-loaded conveyer with stainless steel tines that scratch the surface of the sand and pick up debris, including dead fish.

“We try to do the public beaches first,” he said. “That’s our priority always. They populate early with fish and it’s been a heavy amount of them.”

The fish go up the belt and are dumped into a 2-yard hopper on

the back of the apparatus. When the hopper is full, Taylor backs up the vehicle to dumpsters at Manatee Beach, Coquina Beach and Bayfront Park and empties the load.

Rather than doing his normal run along Manatee and Coquina beaches, Taylor was sent to the northwest end of Anna Maria Island on Thursday, where the beaches were littered with dead fish.

“The wind is pushing it in today to Bean Point from the rocks and to Bayfront Park,” he said on Thursday.

The predominant types of fish Taylor is seeing on the shore are catfish, pinfish and baitfish.

“The eels, the catfish and the baitfish come first,” Taylor said. “I’m seeing Spanish mackerel, pelagic, and grouper. Today I

SEE CREWS, PAGE 11

Red tide intensifies

BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – For the first time this year, some local waters are showing high levels of red tide.

Water samples taken on March 10 at Longboat Pass showed high concentrations of the red tide organism, Karenia brevis, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). High levels can cause respiratory irritation, shellfish harvesting closures, probable fish kills, water

RED TIDE REPORT

High (respiratory irritation, shellfish harvesting closures, fish kills, water discoloration)

Medium (probable respiratory irritation, shellfish harvesting closures, fish kills)

Low (possible respiratory irritation, shellfish harvesting closures, fish kills)

Very low (possible respiratory irritation)

Background (no effects)

None (no red tide present)

Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission SEE RED TIDE, PAGE 11

LESLIE LAKE | SUN County employee Mark Taylor operates a mechanical beach rake to clear beaches of dead fish.

Hunters Point prevails in dock permit challenge

Judge Bruce

Culpepper’s recommended order still requires final approval by the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s governing board.

BY JOE HENDRICKS

SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

CORTEZ – Administrative

Law Judge Bruce Culpepper has issued a recommended order supporting the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s issuance of a permit for the construction of 49 canal-side dock slips at the Hunters Point Marina & Resort in Cortez.

“Based on the foregoing findings of fact and conclusions of law, it is recommended that the Southwest Florida Water Management District enter a final order granting Cortez Road Investment’s application for the permit to build a dock in the canal and issue ERP (environmental resource permit) Individual Construction

Major Modification Permit 43032468.003,” Culpepper stated in the written recommended order he issued on March 7.

Culpepper’s recommended order will be sent to the water district’s governing board for a final ruling. If the board’s final ruling supports Culpepper’s recommended order, the Hunters Points docks can be built in the man-made, privately-owned canal that surrounds the Hunters Point property on three sides.

Culpepper’s recommended order is based on the multiday administrative hearing he conducted on behalf of the Florida Division of Administrative Hearings (DOAH) over the span of eight days in June, August and September.

In June 2021, the water management district issued Hunters Point developer Marshall Gobuty and his Cortez Road Investments and Finance Inc. ownership group the environmental resource permit/individual construction major modification permit

needed to construct the docks. The permit authorizes Cortez Road Investments to install approximately 4,352 square feet of new piling-supported dock structures and to replace approximately 3,631 square feet of existing piling-supported dock structures.

Cortez Village Marina is located eastward and upland of the Hunters Point property. In July 2021, the Cortez Village Marina’s MHC Cortez Village LLC ownership group filed a petition challenging the issuance of that permit.

MHC Cortez Village asserted the proposed docks would adversely impact safe navigation and increase and impair vessel traffic through the canal by narrowing the canal’s navigable width.

During the hearing, MHC Cortez Village presented the testimony of marina manager Skip McPadden, Capt. Christopher Karentz and others. Cortez Road Investments presented testimony by Gobuty, land title expert Adron H. Walker, Captain Dane Fleming and others. The water management district’s

witnesses included Lauren Greenawalt, who serves as a lead environmental scientist for the district.

THE CANAL

According to Manatee County Property Appraiser records and testimony provided by Walker and Gobuty, Cortez Road Investments owns the portion of the canal that extends eastward from the humpback bridge at 127th Street West to the western boundary of the Cortez Village Marina property. Cortez Road Investments does not own the portion of the canal located directly in front of the marina basin or the remaining portion of the canal east of the marina. Culpepper’s order notes the marina has existed in its current configuration since at least 2008 and a marina facility has operated at that location since at least the 1970s. According to McPadden’s testimony, the marina provides approximately 365 boat storage

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

The proposed Hunters Point docks would be built along the vegetated right side of the canal.

EDITORIAL

Paving paradise

Anna Maria Island is changing and it has been for years. Our little Island has turned into a popular tourist destination and, while we love our visitors, especially the ones who come year after year and participate in the community, it’s hard not to feel like residents are getting pushed out in favor of beachgoers.

A bill is being considered at the state level that would have a parking garage built on the entire parking lot at Manatee Beach in Holmes Beach to overrule local regulations and allow Manatee County commissioners to issue their own building permit instead of going through a special exception request process with the Holmes Beach Commission.

The garage would hold 1,500-1,700 parking spaces after it’s built. What happens to all of the cars that are usually parked at the beach during the proposed two years of construction? Manatee County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge suggests opening all residential streets on AMI to beach parking for the duration of construction. If all residential streets are open to parking, and the four tires off the road street side parking regulations are lifted in the three Island cities, it has the very real potential to be a free-for-all where residents are severely outnumbered and have little to no chance of winning or preserving their quality of life.

Once the garage is built, it would be difficult to impossible to take back residential streets from parking and the garage will have a pay-per-hour system which would either have drivers circling residential streets looking for a free parking place or result in city leaders installing parking meters on the side of every road.

Imagine driving across the Anna Maria Island Bridge and instead of being greeted by a view of the blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico, you see a wall of concrete? Why not compromise and let the county build its parking garage on a different parcel, say the former Bank of America lot that’s only a block from the beach? The county would have to compromise by purchasing another piece of land and the city would have to compromise by allowing the garage to be built, but the existing parking at the public beach would remain open and there would be no need to open more residential streets to public parking for the beach without facilities, such as restrooms, concessions or adequate trash receptacles. If another garage is needed after the first one is built and open, put one up at the south end of the Manatee Beach parking lot. With 30,000-plus cars coming across the Anna Maria Island Bridge every day, it becomes a question of reasonableness and thinking about just how much a 7-mile island can take. We can only hope that our elected officials see reason before it’s too late.

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

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Parking garage won’t solve problems

On March 1, I attended a Town Hall Meeting in Holmes Beach conducted by County Commissioner George Kruse. The main topic of the meeting was the traffic issues on Anna Maria Island and the proposed parking garage. Kruse listened politely, but he had obviously made up his mind that a parking garage should be built in Holmes Beach.

His decision was made with no input from any residents of Anna Maria Island, the people who will be most affected by the building of the parking garage. It’s disappointing that all the county commissioners, Rep. Robinson and Rep. Boyd did not take the time to meet

Contributors

Steve Borggren

Capt. Rick Grassett

Monica Simpson

Tom Vaught

Capt. Kevin Wessel

Capt. David White

Anne Yarbrough

Layout

Ricardo Fonseca

with their Anna Maria Island constituents to gather additional input on a decision of this magnitude. What Kruse did not tell the audience is that the day before the Town Hall Meeting he had voted, along with the other County Commissioners, to endorse the parking garage. He has subsequently stated he is in favor of House Bill 947, legislation that would authorize a parking garage in countymanaged public parks such as at Manatee Beach.

Kruse did admit that Anna Maria Island does not have a “visitor” problem, but rather has a traffic problem. His solution to reducing traffic on Anna Maria Island is to build a parking garage that Manatee County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge has stated could

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

add 1,500 additional parking spaces. How does the building of a 1,500-stall parking garage reduce traffic coming onto Anna Maria Island? Won’t providing 1,500 additional parking spaces only add to the traffic problem? Why aren’t the county commissioners, Rep. Robinson and Rep. Boyd, pursuing other options that would allow visitors to Anna Maria Island while reducing traffic as actively as they are pursuing a parking garage? Why aren’t they moving more quickly to find other solutions such as off-island parking facilities, shuttle services or other mass transit options to reduce the number of cars coming onto Anna Maria Island?

Jeff Dentz Holmes Beach

Accounting

Leslie Ketchum

Co-founding publishers

Mike Field Maggie McGinley Field Family-owned since 2000

ON THE AGENDA

ANNA MARIA

10005 GULF DRIVE

FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-708-6130

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

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 15, 10 a.m. – Department Head meeting

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

March 16, noon – City Commission meeting

March 21, 9:30 a.m. – City Commission work session

HOLMES BEACH

5801 MARINA DRIVE

FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-708-5800

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

March 28, 10 a.m. – Code Compliance special magistrate hearing

March 28, 5 p.m. – City Commission meeting with work session to follow

ISLAND-WIDE

March 21, 6 p.m. – West Manatee Fire Rescue board meeting, administration building, 701 63rd St. W., Bradenton

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15

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

THURSDAY, MARCH 16

Island Morning Book Club, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10:15 a.m.

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

Family Movie Night, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 5:45 p.m.

FRIDAY, MARCH 17

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

SATURDAY, MARCH 18

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

Springfest Festival of Fine Arts and Fine Crafts, city field, 5901 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Meditation, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 11 a.m. Teen Art Club, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 1 p.m.

SUNDAY, MARCH 19

Springfest Festival of Fine Arts and Fine Crafts, city field, 5901 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

MONDAY, MARCH 20

Pioneer Women of Manatee, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 11 a.m.

TUESDAY, MARCH 21

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 22

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

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

THURSDAY, MARCH 23

TreeTots: Nature Numbers, Robinson Preserve Mosaic Nest, 840 Ninth Ave. N.W., Bradenton, 10 a.m.

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

Thursdays in Paradise Stroll featuring local art, music and food, Bridge Street, Bradenton Beach, 5-8 p.m.

AMI Chamber Business Card Exchange and Scholarship Awards, LaPensee Plumbing, 401 Manatee Ave., Holmes Beach, 5 p.m., $5 for members or $10 for prospective members

FRIDAY, MARCH 24

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.

Rock Garden rock painting, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 2 p.m. Robinson Preserve Twilight 5K/10K race, Robinson Preserve, 1704 99th St. N.W., Bradenton, 5 p.m.

SATURDAY, MARCH 25

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

Shamrock and roll

JASON SCHAFFER | SUN

Above, Whiskey Business took their Irish golf cart to the street.

Above right, Camels are part of any traditional St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Right, the Southeast High School Marching ‘Noles entertained the crowds in green.

FIRE: Multiple departments fight Bradenton Beach fire

FROM PAGE 1

“In passing, I saw the building’s owner, and Unit A resident, Mr. Bettona. I asked him if anyone was in his unit or any other and he said nobody was in his, but they were all rented, so possibly, yes.”

Masi ran up to Unit D, which he said he could clearly see was on fire from the outside and touched the door handle to see if it was hot. Since it was only warm, Masi entered the

unit, which was filled with smoke, and said he could visibly see the fire coming from the right side of the condo. He announced himself and asked if anyone was in the unit, lying on the floor to reduce smoke inhalation. After Masi cleared the unit, he went back down to assist with traffic and crowd control with other officers, since fire crews were on the scene at that point.

In a department report,

West Manatee Fire Rescue (WMFR) firefighters note they could clearly see the smoke from the fire as they were crossing the Cortez Bridge into Bradenton Beach. Engine 121 was the first to arrive on the scene and noted heavy smoke and fire coming from the Unit D corner of the two-story-overparking structure building.

The E121 team assumed command and advised a firefighter to stretch a 200foot line to the affected area

while another officer from E121 conducted a 360 check of the building, finding one vehicle and no residents present.

Additional trucks arrived, including ladder engine 139 and trucks from Longboat Key and the City of Bradenton, who also assisted. WMFR’s report notes that fire attack did a good job of extinguishing the fire both interior and exterior and all searches came back negative.

According to Fire Marshal Randy Kwiatkowski, the fire started on the exterior second-story balcony of Unit D, but the exact cause was undetermined.

“Our investigation could not determine the cause of the fire in part because the extent of damage to the area of origin compromised the integrity of the balcony, creating an unacceptable life safety risk to our investigators,” Kwiatkowski said. “I did call Bradenton Beach Building Official Steve Gilbert, who responded and condemned Unit D. There were no injuries to firefighters or residents. Also, one note of extreme importance is, at the time of the fire, there was one resident in Unit D in the shower who heard the sound of a smoke alarm. Because of the working smoke alarm, he escaped the fire unharmed. I cannot stress enough that working smoke alarms save lives.”

The fire marshal said the building is a four-unit, all-wood construction apartment building. Units B, C and D are licensed transient public lodging establishments/vacation rentals and all three were being rented at the time of the fire. Once the building was cleared of hot spots and the area was cleaned of debris, residents of the undamaged units were allowed to return.

“Without the extraordinary professionalism of West Manatee firefighters and our partnering agencies, this would no doubt have ended more tragically,” Kwiatkowski noted.

LEWIS J. UNGER | SUBMITTED Firefighters extinguish a fire in a second-floor condo at Birds Nest Apartments, 403 Gulf Drive S. in Bradenton Beach on March 8.

Two dead manatees reported in local waters

BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com

CORTEZ – Cortez-based boat Capt. Kathe Fannon is seeing firsthand the impact of red tide in local waters.

“It’s pretty bad,” she said on March 10. “We’ve had cancellations, two or three alone today. I’m taking the weekend off.”

Fannon, a fourth-generation Cortezian, conducts sightseeing boat

tours in Sarasota Bay, as well as handson ecotours in which she introduces people to the local marine life. She said that the red tide is impacting marine life other than fish.

“There was a dead manatee recently off Egmont Key by the pilot house,” she said. “I called Mote Marine and they got in touch with FWC (the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission).”

A second manatee was found dead

in the area of the Seafood Shack in Cortez.

“We heard a report that it was by Flamingo Cay and we were looking for it for three days,” she said. “We found it on the third day, but by then it was too late.”

Fannon said the ongoing red tide is preventable.

“Why is it still here?” she asked. “This is something that it never did before. If it lasted four days, we used to be surprised.”

CREWS: Keeping local beaches clean

FROM PAGE 4

dumped a load of fish and one large grouper was in there, probably about 3-foot long.”

At Bean Point on Thursday, dead fish were scattered from the shore to the dune lines more than 60 feet away.

“The full moon we had recently and the huge tides washed the fished up to about a 100-foot span,” said Liza Click, supervisor of the Manatee County Property Management Grounds Division. “We’re seeing sheepshead, trout, catfish, dogfish, a lot of mullet and an occasional big grouper washed up on the sand.”

The county has four rakes to cover the local beaches and has been operating three of them recently.

“This past Sunday we had three beach rakes going off,” Click said

on Thursday. “Winds play a big part in our day. Today was a great day.”

Click, who operates a beach rake, said her day begins at 4:30-5 a.m.

“The good thing is, we’re not in turtle season so I can get out there early,” she said. “I start at Coquina and once I get to Cortez, I’m closer to the buildings and I can get done by 6 or so.”

Click said the dumpsters where the fish are disposed of are emptied three times a week, and the county is getting ready to put down lime under the dumpsters to alleviate the odors of dead fish.

Taylor said that so far the fish kills are less than he saw during the heavy red tide of 2018.

“It’s not as bad as ’18 was,” he said. “In ’18 we had much larger

quantities of fish on the beach. We’re able to manage right now. We had to bring everybody out in ’18. I worked 28 12-hour nights and days then.”

In 2018, Taylor said there was a run of dead horseshoe crabs along with the fish.

“What’s interesting is at Bayfront, it's primarily bay species. It’ll be mullet and trout and sheepshead,” he said. “And then out front (in the Gulf of Mexico), you’ll get the grouper and the mackerel and maybe a pompano even.”

Taylor said thus far, the fish cleanups have been manageable for county crews.

“At some point we have the beach clean each day right now,” he said.

She pointed to fertilizer runoff exacerbating the red tide blooms.

“You can’t have green grass all the time,” she said. “There are golf courses in Manatee and Sarasota counties where the fertilizer runoff goes right to the water.”

Fannon would like to see legislation to help prevent runoff that makes red tide worse.

“It (red tide) is a natural occurrence, but it can’t cure itself,” she said.

RED TIDE: intensifies

FROM PAGE 4 discoloration and detection by satellite. Red tide levels were reported as medium at Kingfish Boat Ramp on Anna Maria Sound just east of Anna Maria Island and at the Rod and Reel Pier in Anna Maria. Medium levels can cause respiratory irritation, shellfish harvesting closures, probable fish kills and detection by satellite. Palma Sola Bay had low levels of red tide.

According to the FWC, red tide was observed at low to high concentrations in 12 samples collected in Manatee County, background to high concentrations in 38 samples collected in Pinellas County to the north and background to high concentrations in 51 samples collected in Sarasota County to the south.

For updated information on red tide, visit the Red Tide Respiratory Forecast at RedTideForecast. com, which tells beachgoers what red tide impacts are expected at individual beaches at different times of the day. The forecast is also available in Spanish at PronosticoMareaRoja.com.

Beachgoers also can get updates at visitbeaches. org, the Mote Marine Laboratory beach conditions reporting system, which documents respiratory irritation and fish kills at local beaches. Call 866-300-9399 from anywhere in Florida to hear a recording about red tide conditions throughout the state.

SPRING BREAK: In full swing on AMI

FROM PAGE 1

beach lot was full by 10:30 a.m., but more than an hour later at 11:50 a.m., there were still 88 clearly marked parking spots near the beach.”

Tampa International Airport issued a statement saying March 11 and March 26 were the two peak travel days for passengers coming to the area for the spring break season. When local Island residents are asked what the busiest day of the year is, the answer is often March 15, as it is a metaphorical bullseye in the middle of spring break season.

“We’re with Lone Star Soccer Club out of Austin, Texas. We have a tournament in Bradenton this week, so we get to spend our spring break here,” said Shelby Hollywood, who is here with three of her friends. “The water is so clear, the beach is beautiful and the people are friendly; we’re having a great time.”

Unlike Miami, Panama City, Daytona Beach and even Siesta Key, AMI isn’t known as a chaotic “party” spring break destination. Many young people come with their families, and the Island doesn’t experience many

of the problems those destinations see year after year. Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach see the highest concentrations of spring breakers on the Island, and neither of those police departments have reported any serious crime or violence so far this season. However, police in all three Island cities warn visitors to practice common sense. Lock car doors and keep valuables out of sight, walk in groups after dark, don’t leave valuables unattended while on the beach, and don’t have pets or drink alcohol on the beach. Alcohol is not permitted on any public beach on AMI, and this is strictly enforced, especially this

time of year.

“We want everybody to have a great time, but we also want everyone to be respectful and responsible,” Tokajer said. “Just remember you are vacationing in a residential area.”

According to the Holmes Beach Police Department, which has license plate readers that count how many cars enter the city each day, the first week of March saw 214,740 cars, for an average of 30,677 per day. The first weekend of week two (March 11-12) there were 36,718 and 35,468 respectively, a significant increase, showing the crowds are growing as the season peaks.

ROSER CONCERT SERIES

SUNDAY MAR 19 • 4:00 PM in the Sanctuary

Doors open at 3:00 PM • FREE-WILL OFFERING

JASON SCHAFFER | SUN

From left, Kayla Pelter, Sloane Guion, Maria Reyes and Shelby Hollywood came from Austin, Texas to enjoy spring break on AMI.

WHERE‛S YOUR COMFORT ZONE?

Cheesecake Cutie to hold children’s benefit

Support local foster parents, foster children research and the Safe Children Coalition at the All Star Children’s Foundation Benefit at The Cheesecake Cutie & Cafe in Holmes Beach on Tuesday, March 21 from 5-7 p.m. The event will feature live music from Mike Sales, food, raffle prizes, drinks and more. The cost is $50 per person and tickets are available at cheesecakecuties. eventbrite.com. Sponsorship opportunities are also available; email jennifer@thecheesecakecutie.com.

AMI Chamber new member orientation

From left, Cheryl Benecke (Chef Cheryl), Diann Roberts (Duncan Real Estate), Justin Ropele (Crowder Brothers Ace Hardware), Deborah Skorupski (Bamboo Dreams Photography), Matthew Cooper (SkyRun Anna Maria), Barbie Gummin (Total Life Care), Dana Sky (Sky Sol Yoga) and Scott Draper (Suncoast Blood Centers) attended the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce new member orientation on March 1 to meet Chamber President Terri Kinder and staff.

Help shelter animals in need

Pups awaiting adoption in Manatee County Animal Shelters need the community’s help to make their days a little brighter. Handsome boy Alpine is asking that anyone who can please donate a Nylabone to help keep him and other shelter dogs awaiting their furever families active and engaged while spending long days in their enclosures. Donations to the dog bone fundraiser can be sent to Renee Ferguson, 210 77th St., Holmes Beach 34217, or purchased through the Manatee County Animal Services Amazon wishlist at http://bit.ly/mcas_amazon. To contact Ferguson about the project, call 609-346-1796. Alpine, looking handsome in his St. Patrick’s Day best, also wants to remind everyone that he’s available for adoption.

. – Submitted | David Barstow

SUBMITTED

SUBMITTED | RENEE FERGUSON

CENTER NOTES

Rock concert

The ORCHESTRA, featuring former members of the Electric Light Orchestra, will perform at The Center on Tuesday, March 21, performing hits including Evil Woman, Do Ya, Mr. Blue Sky and more. Chairs will be provided at the indoor concert. The Sandbar restaurant will have a cash bar on site. No smoking or vaping is allowed on Center property. Free valet parking is available on Magnolia Avenue by the main entrance of The Center. Doors open at 6 p.m., with the opening act at 7 p.m. and the headliner at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $55.

Solar system workshop

The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature presents Our Solar System at The Center. Participants will learn the true size, scale and structure of the solar system through models and movement. The educational workshop is Thursday, March 23 from 10:30-11:45 a.m. Register by Thursday, March 16. The cost is $10 for members, $15 for non-members. For more information, visit Culture@centerami.org or call 941-778-1908.

Potluck dinner

Would you like to meet new people and make new friends? Come to The Center for a potluck dinner on Friday, March 24 from 5-8 p.m. Bring your own drinks and a dish to share. No registration is necessary. For more information, email chris@centerami. org or call 941-778-1908 ext. 217.

Sip N Wick

Make your own candle with Sip N Wick at The Center on Wednesday, March 29 from 6-8 p.m. Step-by-step candlemaking instructions will be provided. Attendees may bring their own wine and take home up to three finished candles. The cost is $50 for members and $55 for non-members. Price includes one candle. Additional candles are $35 each. Register by Thursday, March 23 online at centerami.org/culture or call 941-778-1908.

Health and Wellness fair

Come to The Center on Friday, March 31 from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for a day of physical, mental and emotional well-being at the health and wellness fair. The fair will include yoga classes, cardio workouts, dances and iRestore, as well as workshops dedicated to

meditation, drinking water importance, weight loss and emotional intelligence. There will be CPR training, ice baths with Devs Bevs and a presentation by the Neuro Challenge Foundation. There will be live music by Trevor Bystrom and Paul Fornier. Lunch will be provided by Grub. Food from local vendors will be available for purchase. Children may participate in crafts including making flower crowns with Mindful Blooms and painting with Spread Love Guru. Passes go on sale Wednesday, March 15. All-day passes as well as passes for individual workshops are available. All-day passes are $20 for members and $40 for non-members. View pricing options and purchase passes at centerami.org/ events or call 941-778-1908.

Help clean local beaches

Members of the community are invited to a beach cleanup on Saturday, April 1. Participants will gather at The Center at 9 a.m. and walk together to the Gulf of Mexico to clean up the beach. Trash bags, gloves, water and a light snack will be provided. The clean-up is from 9-11 a.m. For more information, email customerservice@ centerami.org or call 941-778-1908.

Residents spruce up their community

The owners of the Seaside Gardens Civic Association have come together this spring to do a little sprucing up and a little spring cleaning. The group recently repainted the four stanchions marking the entrance to the neighborhood on 62nd and 63rd streets in Holmes Beach along with refurbishing and landscaping the area, adding stone to common areas and seawalls and flying a new American flag in the community park illuminated with a solar light.

SUBMITTED | DAVID BARSTOW

Blooms By The Beach Your

Island Florist

Anna Maria Island's premiere choice for beautiful floral, helping families celebrate all of life's experiences! Some of our most dynamic designs are for weddings held throughout AMI and the surrounding area, offering unique, specially-crafted wedding work to ensure your wedding is spectacular!

Our one-of-a-kind design studio is open to the public five days a week, Tuesday - Friday 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturdays 9:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. offering: daily deliveries and pick-up orders, customized floral for weddings and private events, weekly corporate accounts, support to local nonprofits with fundraising efforts/church services/thank you arrangements and so much more!

Other services and products offered include:

- Tropical flowers - succulent gardens

- Ceramic and basket dish gardens

- Potted orchids - air plants

- Hawaiian leis - balloons

- Chocolates - gourmet gift baskets

- Cheesecakes

- Gift certificates (Both for our shop and other Island businesses)

- Local products and special requests

- Wedding/event decor rentals

Our delivery area includes: Anna Maria Island, Longboat Key, St. Armand's Circle/Lido Key/Bird Key, West Bradenton, North Sarasota Blooms By The Beach schedules all wedding and event consultations for either an in-person visit, via phone or as a Zoom call. For more information about our floral and event services, please visit our website at: www.bloomsbythebeach.com to schedule an appointment or call the shop at 941.778.2555.

Erwin & Monica Jopp celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with their daughter Vanessa, and dear friends who came all the way from Germany to celebrate with them. They were married on October 16, 2022 in Berlin. They love Anna Maria Island, and have had a second home here for many years. They currently reside in Leipzig, Germany. Chuck Caudill provided the music for their special day.

DARA CAUDILL | WWW.ISLANDPHOTOGRAPHY.ORG

Spring is in the air

heard my first whippoorwill almost three weeks ago. It’s one of my favorite times of the year and one of the most productive for anglers who fish with fly, artificial lures or live bait. I like to think of this time of the year as spring training. March and early April can be challenging months, but they can also be very productive. It’s a time when the changing seasons can bring clear skies and balmy breezes one day and high winds and late season cold fronts the next. It’s a good time to keep an eye on the weather and water temperature. Water temperatures that hover in the 70s bring fish out of their winter haunts. It doesn’t matter if it’s winter

one day and spring the next. Even if the weather is unpredictable, anglers know to start watching for the signs of spring. They’ll keep an eye on the Gulf, looking for flocks of diving seabirds as they feast on schools of baitfish that gather off the beaches in their seasonal migration. They know from experience that schools of little tunny, Spanish mackerel, cobia and kingfish will be attracted by and feeding around the schools of bait.

In the bay, trout, redfish and snook will be roaming the flats in search of pilchards, shrimp and glass minnows. Spring is the time when local anglers have a host of piscatorial choices and some of the best conditions, mostly. The weather, while always unpredictable during the changing seasons, seems to be warmer every year. Of course, it’s always possible that a late season cold front can rile Gulf and bay waters. It’s a swing time and the kind of weather that can play with the emo -

tions of the die-hard angler. But hope springs eternal and we know from experience that it won’t be long before spring is here. That’s why it’s time to be prepared, flies tied and tackle ready for that day when it’s no longer a question of when it will happen, but what

species we’ll fish for!

I like this time of year even if it can be exasperating. One day, the flats and Gulf can be barren and the next, the action red hot. When fishing the

RUSTY CHINNIS | SUN

False albacore is one of the most exciting gamefish that swim Gulf waters. Ed Chiles, of Anna Maria, caught this one from striking fish he found under diving seabirds.

RUSTY CHINNIS

Fishermen have good luck with reds, snook, trout

CAPT. RICK GRASSETT

Anglers fishing with me out of CB’s Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key had some action catching and releasing snook and reds on DOA Lures in Gasparilla Sound and Tampa Bay recently. Anglers also caught and released snook on flies and DOA Lures in the ICW at night. Fly anglers fishing deep grass flats had action with trout, pompano and Spanish mackerel on Clouser flies fished on sink tip fly lines.

Red tide has been an issue in and around the passes recently and has been more of an airborne issue in other areas. Due to the nature of red tide, there are areas of clean water, particularly in shallow back country areas.

Elks host veterans fishing day

The members of Bradenton Elks Lodge #1511 partnered with Slicker’s Eatery in Cortez and the Florida Fishing Fleet to give local veterans a day of fishing fun as a thank-you for their service to the country and community.

More than 20 local veterans participated in two days of fishing on Feb. 23 and March 7 aboard the “Savage Lady” with Elks members and Capt. Lance Plowman. After four hours of fishing, Bob Slicker, owner of Slicker’s Eatery, provided the group

with drinks and appetizers while preparing the day’s catch for a meal.

Elks Lodge Project Manager

Mike Dinius said that the two days of fishing were made possible by member donations, a grant from the Elks National Foundation and in-kind donations from the Florida Fishing Fleet and Slicker’s Eatery.

To participate in future local Elks projects, email Dinius at mike@dinius. org. To learn more about the Elks National Foundation, visit www.elks.org/cip.

REEL TIME: Spring is in the air

FROM PAGE 20

Gulf, having a rig on board that can handle a big cobia or kingfish makes good sense and having wire at hand in case toothy kingfish and Spanish mackerel make an appearance can make or

break a day.

If you’re fishing the Gulf and bait isn’t showing on the surface, try fishing areas where they congregate, like artificial reefs, rocks, and ledges. I like to work a top water plug or fly over structure and

Keith McClintock, of Lake Forest, Illinois, fished a couple of trips with me in Gasparilla Sound and Tampa Bay. Stephen Liska, of Naples, joined Keith in Gasparilla Sound and caught and released several snook, trout and a red to complete his slam on CAL jigs with shad tails. Jack McCulloch, of Lakewood Ranch, fished Tampa Bay with Keith and they caught and released several snook and a red on CAL jigs with shad tails.

Jerry Poslusny, of Palmetto, and Rich Hunter, of Longboat Key, snook fished in the ICW at night with me recently and had some action catching and releasing several snook on Grassett Snook Minnow flies and CAL jigs with shad tails.

have often found fish where there was no outward sign of their presence. In the bay, work the areas of the flats on the outside seams of grass flats and the edges and ends of sandy potholes. Pay particular attention to deep grass that’s often present at the end of a pothole and work your casts into the area by casting short and then progressing right over the hole. Top water

Look for reds and trout in skinny water. Deep grass flats are usually a good option for action with trout, blues, pompano, Spanish mackerel and more. Snook fishing around dock lights and bridges should also be a good option now.

Our natural resources are under constant pressure from red tides and other algae blooms fueled by residential, industrial and agricultural runoff, toxic spills and intentional releases, freezes, increasing fishing pressure and habitat loss and degradation. Please limit your kill, don’t kill your limit!

plugs and flies are particularly effective when waters warm and can be an invaluable aid in finding action. Whatever your fishing style or whether you like fishing the Gulf or bays, take advantage of this swing time and you might just be rewarded with the promise of spring.

CAPT. RICK GRASSETT | SUBMITTED Tom Keir, of Cleveland, Ohio, with a pompano caught and released on a fly while fishing Sarasota Bay with Capt. Rick Grassett recently.

SUBMITTED | MIKE DINIUS

A group of military veterans prepares to board the “Savage Lady” for a fishing trip sponsored by the Bradenton Elks Lodge #1511.

Top real estate producers for February 2023

A PARADISE

Helen Ross Pollock – Listing

Jo Anne Curtan - Selling

AN ISLAND PLACE REALTY

Sue Carlson – Listing

Tanya Edwards - Selling

DUNCAN REAL ESTATE

Darcie Duncan – Listing

Joey Hutchinson - Selling

EDGEWATER REAL ESTATE

Lynn Zemmer

Listing & Selling

FRAN MAXON

Stephanie Bell

Listing & Selling

ISLAND REAL ESTATE

Kathleen White and Erin Leathem – Listing

Tom Nelson and Liz Codola - Selling

LOCALS REALTY GROUP

Jessica Adair

Listing & Selling

MICHAEL SAUNDERS

Hannah Hillyard – Listing

Laura Rulon and Betsy Hagen - Selling

MIKE NORMAN REALTY

Kathy Caserta - Listing

Marianne Norman-Ellis Selling

REMAX ALLIANCE GROUP

Christine Kourik - Listing

Cindy Quinn - Selling

SALTY MERMAID REAL ESTATE

Liz Blandford

Listing & Selling

SATO REAL ESTATE

Jason Sato – Listing

James Wilson - Selling

WAGNER REAL ESTATE

Team of Becky Smith and Elfi Starret – Listing

Team of Carmen Pedota and Lori Guerin - Selling

IGW says goodbye at Art Walk

The March 10 Art Walk in Holmes Beach was a big night for Island Gallery West, as they close their doors after 33 years on the Island.

BY JASON SCHAFFER SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com

HOLMES BEACH - Monthly Art Walks

always draw a crowd to Island Gallery West (IGW) and the Artists’ Guild Gallery of Anna Maria Island, as well as many surrounding businesses that participate

in the event. The March 10 Art Walk was bittersweet for IGW, as it was the final day the gallery would be open before closing its doors after 33 years to move to downtown Bradenton.

It was the largest crowd to attend an Art Walk at IGW this season, as most of the 33 member artists gathered to say farewell to both locals and visitors who have visited the member-run co-op art gallery, some for decades. While IGW has issued no official statement on the exact reason for the move, conversations over the past few months have alluded to a rent increase and reduced visitation to the gallery due to ongoing road construction in the direct vicinity of IGW being reasons the move was necessary.

The farewell evening was not a sad event; it was very much the opposite, with most of the artists (none of whom resigned from the gallery because of the move) being excited about the future and more grateful for the past 33 years than sad.

“I’ll miss this place very much, but I’m excited to get in the new space,” member artist Charlotte Sorsen said. “We are going to have a lot more space and will be able to hold classes, demonstrations and a lot of things we just didn’t have the space for here at this location. In the end, it’s going to be a very good thing for all of us.”

IGW officials initially kept the new

location a secret, but now say the new gallery will be located at 456 Old Main St. in Bradenton.

“We’re going to have so much room at this new location,” member artist Judy Goldman said. “We’ll have room for classes, a design studio, an open studio for

JASON SCHAFFER | SUN

Many of the 33 member artists from Island Gallery West gathered to say farewell to their Island home for the past 33 years. The March 10 Art Walk in Holmes Beach was the last day the gallery would open its doors before a move to downtown Bradenton in the near future.

SEE ART WALK, PAGE 31

BEACH BEAT

HOLMES BEACH

3/3, 2:30 p.m., information, 111 Gulf Drive S. On March 3, a victim came to HBPD to report a suspicious incident that happened on Feb. 24. The victim said on that day, he got a text message inviting him to a “Senior Meet-Up” at a bar in Bradenton Beach. He told police that the event seemed to be organized by a group of younger people and did not appear to be affiliated with the bar. The officer said the man was paired with an older woman and they had a few drinks before going to a restaurant. The victim doesn’t remember anything after that, saying he may have been slipped a drug or had a reaction to the alcohol. The victim’s female friend in Georgia reported to police that she got several text messages from the

victim and the female from the “meet-up” and was worried about him. The victim said he waited to report the incident until he returned to the area after going out of state for a few days because his mind wasn’t clear. The friend from Georgia sent the texts and pictures to police, who are working to determine exactly what happened.

3/4, 10:16 p.m., driving without a valid license, 2900 Gulf Drive. While on patrol, the officer noticed a car with a taillight out, so he conducted a traffic stop. When he asked for the driver’s license, she told him she did not have one and the car belonged to a female juvenile passenger’s mother. The officer ran a check on the driver and found this to be her third offense of driving without a license. The driver was arrested and transported to Manatee County Jail. The passenger’s mother was called to the scene to retrieve the car.

Deadline approaches for Privateers scholarships

It’s deadline time once again to apply for an Anna Maria Island Privateer Scholarship. Any local student who has applied to a secondary educational institution such as a trade school,

community college or in- or out-ofstate college or university may apply. The postmark deadline is April 1. To apply, visit www.amiprivateers.org.

OBITUARIES

Major (Maj) Gene Leckie

Major (Maj) Gene Leckie, 91, of Leander, Texas, passed away on Sunday, Feb. 26. Major was born on Oct. 4, 1931, a son of Beatrice (Fairlamb) and Robert G. Leckie. He resided in Saginaw most of his life. Following his graduation from Arthur Hill High School in 1949, he attended Albion College before enlisting in the Navy. He became a Navy Hospital Corpsman HM1 on the hospital ship USS Haven, stationed in Korea for three years. Upon receiving his honorable discharge, Major enrolled in the University of Michi-

gan, where he graduated with a degree in business administration in 1958. On Nov. 19, 1954, Major married Pamela Price of Saginaw and they subsequently had three daughters, Karen, Elizabeth and Melissa.

During his lifetime he was employed in medical sales and in admissions at Saginaw Valley State University. He was a member of the First Congregational Church in Saginaw and Roser Community Church in Anna Maria, Florida. Major was a past member of the Saginaw Club, the Germania Club, the Rotary Club and, most recently, the Kiwanis Club in Anna Maria. Through the years in Saginaw and Florida, he was involved with numerous civic organizations. He was chairman of the board of directors of the Saginaw Art Museum, the PRIDE Christmas Parade (and was selected to serve as the Grand Marshal) and all PRIDE

activities in Saginaw, additionally, Pit and Balcony Community Theater and The University of Michigan Saginaw M Club Chapter. Major served as a member of the board of directors of the Saginaw Club, Kiwanis Club, Friday Night Live Committee and Ethic Festival. He was a very active member of the Gus Macker 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament, the Saginaw Celebration Square Children’s Zoo, First Congregational Church Saginaw and Roser Community Church, Anna Maria. He was commander of Korean War Veterans - Chapter 251.

Major was known for his warm, outgoing personality and all who knew him were instantly a friend. He loved people and was interested in what was happening in their lives. He will truly be missed by his family and many friends.

Surviving Major is his wife of 68 years, Pamela Price Leckie; three daughters, Karen Merrill Leckie Lewis

(Dr. Colin Ross), Elizabeth Garrett

Leckie Hunting, of Rockford, Michigan, and Melissa Gene Leckie; five grandchildren, Major (Lauren) Lewis, Grant (Jennifer) Lewis, Stephanie Lewis Wolslager, Spencer (Katie) Hunting, Erika Hunting (Kirk) Weiss; and 15 great-grandchildren. Major was predeceased by his parents, Beatrice Fairlamb-Leckie and Robert G. Leckie; brother, Robert Leckie, Jr.; and sister, Barbara Leckie-Atwater.

A family Memorial Service was held on March 10 in Leander, Texas. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Kiwanis Club of Anna Maria Island BUGS program - A.M.I. Kiwanis Club https://www. paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_ id=SQHM2ZWWGZLMC, Roser Community Church Food Pantry, P.O. Box 247 Anna Maria, FL 34216 or a charity of your choice.

CANAL: Hunters Point prevails in permit challenge

FROM PAGE 5 slips that include "high-and-dry" slips, outside dry storage and in-water slips. McPadden testified the marina’s average boat size is 26 feet long and the largest boat stored there is 38 feet long and 11 feet wide.

The order notes the canal provides the marina and its clients with their only direct water access to the nearby Intracoastal Waterway.

“Consequently, to reach Tampa Bay or the Gulf of Mexico by boat, marina customers must travel down the canal past Hunters Point,” the order notes.

The order notes there are approximately 18 single-family homes located alongside the canal and many of those homes have existing docks and boatlifts – most of which predate Gobuty’s purchase of the Hunters Point property and canal in 2016.

this end, Cortez Road has and may continue to pursue legal action to ensure that the private homeowners across from Hunters Point comply with Manatee County codes in the configuration and placement of their docks in the canal.”

TESTIMONY GIVEN

The order notes Cortez Road Investments has already implemented several navigational aids to enhance the safe use of the canal. One-way travel along the canal at timed intervals is encouraged to help prevent boats from passing side by side in the canal’s narrowest areas. Mirrors were installed at the 90-degree corners to increase boater visibility. “No wake” signs require boaters to travel at minimum speed and canal users are encouraged to monitor VHF radio channel 9 regarding inbound and outbound canal traffic.

“All witnesses agree that following construction of the dock, boats will still be able to freely travel through the canal one at a time. The proposed dock will not interfere with or prevent a single boater from traversing from the bridge to an upland property.

“The evidence shows that the dock will not reduce the safe navigational width of the waterway any more than the bridge at the entrance to the canal, which is 15 feet wide, or the narrow bottleneck just before the marina where mangrove growth restricts safe movement to one boat at a time,” Culpepper noted in his order.

KATHY HOUCK | SUBMITTED

Celebrate ‘Greg’s Last Dance’ on Saturday

Greg “Grego” Koeper’s life will be celebrated with “Greg’s Last Dance” at the Swordfish Grill in Cortez on Saturday, March 18 from 1-5 p.m. Koeper passed away in February at the age of 67. He was a former Swordfish Grill manager and the former owner of Grego’s Almost to the Beach Tavern.

In his order, Culpepper states: “Mr. Gobuty conveyed Cortez Road (Investments) never authorized any homeowners along the canal to access or use the waterway it owns. Neither has Cortez Road (Investments) given the marina or its customers specific permission to traverse the canal. Mr. Gobuty urged that Cortez Road (Investments) does not necessarily object to boaters using the canal to access Anna Maria Sound. However, Cortez Road (Investments) does intend to take steps to ensure that its property interests and rights to the canal are protected, as well as ensure the safe use of the canal. Towards

Regarding testimony he received, Culpepper’s order says, “Ms. Greenawalt best framed the analysis by acknowledging that the dock, and any boats moored thereto, will undeniably affect navigation through the canal to some extent. The evidence clearly shows that boaters will have to be mindful of a reduced navigable width when traveling alongside Hunters Point, particularly when crossing the three ‘pinch points’ on the north-south channel. However, Capt. Fleming convincingly explained that after the dock is built, the canal will still contain sufficient space for boaters to safely travel between the bridge and the marina.

“It is uncontroverted that the placement of the dock in the canal will affect navigation to some degree. However, the evidence was insufficient to conclude that the dock will constitute an environmental hazard to public health, safety, welfare or property. Similarly, the evidence and testimony do not show that the construction of the dock will cause more than a mere inconvenience to boaters similar to what they already face at the bridge, much less result in a significant impediment to navigation,” the order states.

“Based on the evidence and testimony presented at the final hearing, the undersigned finds that Cortez Road (Investments) and the district presented competent substantial evidence establishing Cortez Road’s entitlement to the permit. Conversely, the marina did not meet its burden of demonstrating that the district should not issue the permit,” Culpepper stated in his order.

REAL ESTATE

Navigating the real estate market

Irecently read a very extensive and well-researched piece in The Wall Street Journal regarding how foreign buyers are back in the United States to buy real estate and relocate their families. As expected, the majority of these buyers are wealthy individuals who are ready to make a move they may have been thinking about and weren’t able to do during COVID-19 lockdowns in their own countries. Well, they’re here now and buying in Florida and other sunbelt states and, naturally, New York City.

Obviously, if you come across a buyer from another country with a pocket full of cash considering your home, it could be your lucky day. That doesn’t mean you still don’t need to adhere to common sense. No one wants to overpay just because they can.

Everyone knows that cleaning, decluttering and making obvious repairs or paint touch-ups is essential in selling your home, however, that isn’t the most important thing to take care of. The most

Castles in the Sand

LOUISE BOLGER

important decision a seller makes is pricing their property correctly and, in a fluctuating market, it’s not as easy as it sounds.

The old real estate adage that all real estate is local should not be ignored. Since anyone reading this will likely be selling a property on the Island or coastline of Manatee County, what you’re really selling is the Gulf of Mexico. Our region has an abundance of waterfront, water view, water peek, canal front, sailboat water, direct access to the Gulf and I’m sure other descriptive wording I haven’t thought of. Every single one of these “water” possibilities changes the value of your home. Reviewing recently closed properties

as close to yours and as recent as possible is a good start. Manatee County’s property website provides access to the public and has every closing available and can be sorted in a variety of ways.

You may have the best waterfront on Anna Maria Island, but if you overprice the property with the assumption that you’ll have plenty of leeway to negotiate, it could be a mistake. You may be missing an entire block of buyers who won’t even look above a certain price point. Pricing a home correctly when it first lists is a much better strategy. Remember there are buyers out there who have been actively looking for just the right thing and have educated themselves in the value of the area. They or their agents are aware of anything new on the market and will know instantly if this property is priced right and worth looking at.

Likewise, pricing a property high because of improvements you have made and perceive to be valuable could be another

mistake. What you value is not always what buyers are looking for, especially if the improvements are dark or not neutral or specific to your tastes.

During the pandemic frenzy you could sell just about anything that had four walls and a door. No one cared if your 10-yearold daughter glued almost impossible to get off stars on her bedroom walls or if your husband insisted on a black guest bath, but now they do. According to Zillow, in December 2021, about 44% of homes sold above list price; in December 2022, only 25% sold above list price. Today’s buyers now have a more critical eye and are calculating how much those stars are going to cost to remove.

Whatever market adjustment we’re going through in the country, remember there are always foreign buyers who want to move here. It’s a confidence in our country and our markets we may take for granted, but others don’t. If they have the confidence, certainly we should also.

‘The 39 Steps’ is outlandish fun

Four actors play over 100 characters in the Island Players’ production of ‘The 39 Steps,’ which runs through March 26.

BY JASON SCHAFFER SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA - When hearing that “The 39 Steps” is an early Alfred Hitchcock film from 1935, comedy is probably not the first thing that comes to mind, especially considering the adaptation by Patrick Barlow actually follows the plot of the film fairly closely.

Those facts noted, there is absolutely nothing serious in the Island Players’ production of this hilarious spoof in which four actors play more than 100 characters in a little more than 90 minutes on stage, leaving the audience little time to catch their breath between laughs from a talented veteran cast.

Colin Brady is cool-headed as Richard Hannay, an English gent who, after a visit to the theater, gets swept up by pure chance into a convoluted plot of murder and international espionage. Sylvia Marnie is a

mysterious German secret agent, a Scottish farmer’s wife and a stranger on a train who wants nothing to do with Hannay, but becomes ensnared in his plight nonetheless.

Mark Shoemaker and Joseph Smith each play dozens of roles without missing a beat. To accomplish this feat, there are a lot of quick costume

changes, many of which take place during the action in front of the audience. To do it any other way would not accomplish what is at the core of “The 39 Steps,” being 180 degrees opposite of what community theater audiences are used to seeing. At the beginning of the play, director Heiko Knipfelberg warns the audience

that there will be special effects including gunshots, strobe lights and dense fog, which all add to the fun, but are not the norm for the Island Players.

Fans of Hitchcock should make sure to keep an eye out for references to many of his other films. Some are subtle, while others are more “in your face” references. It’s all part of the extremely fast-paced fun.

The only thing audiences may have a difficult time keeping up with is the actual plot, but it doesn’t matter, it’s supposed to be that way. Even the protagonist seems lost about what’s going on at times. The laughs come from the journey, which proves the old adage that getting there is often more fun than the destination.

“The 39 Steps’” runs through Sunday, March 26, with daily performances at 7:30 p.m. and a Sunday matinee at 2 p.m. There are no performances on Mondays. Tickets are $25 at the box office and $27 online. The box office is open Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and can be reached by phone at 941-778-5755 or online at www. theislandplayers.org.

JASON SCHAFFER | SUN

From left, Joseph Smith, Sylvia Marnie, Colin Brady and Mark Shoemaker wrap the opening night performance of ‘The 39 Steps’ by the Island Players on March 9.

Orchestra brings ELO hits to The Center

BY JOE BECHT SPECIAL

Eric Troyer and The Orchestra are coming to The Center of Anna Maria Island on Tuesday, March 21.

“We are excited to come to Anna Maria for the first time,” the singer and keyboardist said. “We hear that it is a wonderful place. We play a lot of venues in Florida and this will be our first time here.”

Troyer predicted that Electric Light Orchestra fans will be pleased. “We are going to play all of the hits - ‘Don’t Bring Me Down,’ ‘Can’t

ELO2, which was started by ELO’s

“When Bev decided to move on, we continued as The Orchestra

Ring Sarasota performs at Roser

The Roser Concert Series continues this spring with the uplifting sounds of handbells as Ring Sarasota takes to the stage on Sunday, March 19. The group, under the direction of former Navy bandleader Rick Holdsworth, showcases the ringing of over 200 individual bells and hand chimes rung by a large ensemble of ringers to create a symphony of sound. This year’s concert season theme for Ring Sarasota is “I Wanna Be Like You.” Doors open at 3 p.m. and the free concert begins at 4 p.m. in the Roser Memorial Community Church Sanctuary, 512 Pine Ave. in Anna Maria. A free-will offering will be taken.

and have been performing for over 20 years,” Troyer said.

The band consists of Troyer, former ELO member Mik Kaminski, Parthenon Huxley, Glen Burtnik (formerly of Styx), Gordon Townsend on drums and Louis Clark, son of ELO member Louis Clark Sr.

“Everyone loves the music of ELO,” he said. “Those in attendance are going to have a great time!”

Tickets can be purchased at https://www.itickets.com/ events/470574

COVID-19 low in Manatee County

MARCH 6

Cases 202

% Positivity 8.79%

Deaths 0

% Eligible population vaccinated 74.6% New hospital admissions 23

MARCH 13

Cases NA

% Positivity 9.07%

Deaths 0

% Eligible population vaccinated 74.6% New hospital admissions 40

Manatee County community level of COVID-19 transmission

Source: Centers for Disease Control

35th Annual Springfest this weekend

The Anna Maria Island Art League will hold the 35th Annual Springfest Festival of Fine Arts and Fine Crafts on Saturday, March 18 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, March 19 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Holmes Beach city field, 5901 Marina Drive. Professional artists and crafts persons from across the U.S. will display art at the event, which will also feature live music, food and beverages.

A highlight of the festival is a gala raffle of artwork donated by festival exhibitors. Tickets are $1 each or six for $5 and winners need to be present to win. Proceeds benefit the League’s scholarship fund, which provides classes to children and adults. For more information, call the Art League at 941-778-2099, visit www. islandartleague.org/festivals/ or email artleagueami@gmail.com.

Lot split approved

The Anna Maria City Commission approved a re-platting request on March 9 that allows a residential property at 828 South Bay Blvd. to split into two separate lots to be developed as residential properties. City staff supported the code-compliant replat request that listed John Patrick Gavin, Jeffrey and Molly Hoehn and Troy Baumann as applicants.

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

Two homes will be built on the property currently occupied by one single-family home.

Ever yone BRING

With over two dozen villages, each with its own amenitie s, home types, floorplans, and price range, it’s easy to see why Lakewood Ranch is the countr y’s leader in mult i-generational living We have something for ever y size family and ever y stage of life which makes it easy to live with family, near family or among chosen family

ART WALK: IGW says goodbye

FROM PAGE 23

artists that are learning to paint and even a painting with the pros studio. It will be a lot of things that will give back to the community. It’s kind of sad because we have so much of our heart invested here, but we’re growing; that’s

just how progress goes.”

The Artists’ Guild of Anna Maria Island is now the only remaining member-run artist co-op gallery on the Island and many members there said they are sad to see IGW leave, believing the two galleries helped each

other by providing access to the arts for both locals and visitors alike.

“I’m sad they’re leaving, it’s nice to have more than one gallery because people come and shop then they walk around, so things will change a little bit,” Artists’ Guild member and former president Sharon Tarras said. “We have a meeting in the next few days and we’ll have to talk about restructuring

the Art Walk now that we have lost IGW. Maybe make it more of a Holmes Beach shopping event. It’s not just the galleries involved, there are businesses here that participate, and I’m sure they want it to continue.”

The Artists’ Guild confirmed there are no plans to leave the Island and the gallery will remain at its current location in Holmes Beach.

Sato Real Estate turns it around for championship

BY MONICA SIMPSON SPECIAL TO THE SUN

ANNA MARIA – In an action-packed flag football game, team Pineapple Market Place captured the 11- to 13-year-old league championship against Solid Rock Construction in a close battle last Tuesday night at The Center.

With the 8- to 10-year-old flag football league final game rescheduled due to an event at Anna Maria Elementary School, the top seed Sato Real Estate squad faced the fourthranked Westfall’s Lawn Care and Pest Control last Thursday night.

Sato Real Estate’s 38-7 win against sixth-seed Moss Builders last Monday night earned them their spot in the championship game.

Going into the semifinal game a slight underdog, team Westfall fought their way through two halves of flag football play to win by nine points against Solid Rock.

As the clear favorites, the Sato Real Estate team was shaken when their opponents came out onto the field playing to win.

With the much needed mid-season add-on of Kellen Hunt behind center for Westfall, the Sato team fell behind for the first time in the season with a Westfall touchdown in early play.

In a cleanly physical and exciting game, Sato Real Estate’s Dylan Sato found himself injured and on the bench for several snaps of the football.

Team Westfall continued to play with accuracy and fire, taking advantage of a Sato squad struggling to find its footing in the game.

Self-determined with supportive coaching by volunteer and father Jason Sato, quarterback Brandon Sato lit up the field and ignited the excitement

of the sideline with a game-changing interception. B. Sato’s nab of Hunt’s throw gave the Sato Real Estate team the positive play needed to ultimately win the championship.

Finishing the game with five touchdown passes, two defensive flag pulls and two interceptions, including one for six points, B. Sato was the unofficial game MVP.

Big brother D. Sato caught three of his brother’s throws for touchdowns and had a big defensive stop to help win the game.

Teammates Braylen Briggs and Kellen Reed each were the scoring targets for B. Sato, scoring 12 points in receiving touchdowns.

Scoring three total points, Silas DeWitt, Beau DeWitt and Reed all caught for one point conversion after Sato Real Estate TDs.

The remaining team Sato flag pulls came from Reed, B. DeWitt and Briggs. S. DeWitt had three crucial flag pulls to assist his team defensively.

Game-winning and season-making contributions came from Sato Real Estate players Camden Rudacille and Leo Tyler, helping to make the championship win possible.

Despite the loss, Westfall’s players fought hard until the last second of the final youth flag football game of the season, played before the adult flag football semifinal games.

MONICA SIMPSON | SUN

11- to 13-year-old league champions, team Pineapple Market Place, are, from left (top row), Kaleb Romangnino, Colin Bankert, Cyrus Ryan and Brantley Kobialka; (bottom row), Krosby Lamison, Jack Mattick, Peyton Hovda and Jordan Tobey. Not pictured: Riley Karecki.

MONICA SIMPSON | SUN

8- to 10-year-old flag football league champions, team Sato Real Estate, are, from left, (top row), Braylen Briggs, Camden Rudacille, Kellen Reed and Brandon Sato, (bottom row) Coach Jason Sato, Beau DeWitt, Silas DeWitt, Leo Tyler and Dylan Sato.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

BRIDGE GAMES STARTING up at Roser Church in February. Call 314-3245921 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 nonperishable food, PAPER & PERSONAL HYGIENE PRODUCTS. Donations boxes are located at the Church, Moose Club, and Walgreen’s.

HOSPITAL VOLUNTEERS

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

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

PART TIME LAWN and landscape worker needed as Island Condo. No weekend work. Call 941-778-5915

HOME MAINTENANCE 8 hrs per week $20 per hour Sweep, clean outdoor furniture, vacuum pool, rake, wash windows ,pickup debris, etc Call Dan 941-713-1586

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

FLAT SCREEN TV 22” x 16”

$75 cash only. Call 941343-7332

GARAGE SALE

GARAGE SALE-MULTIBLE ITEMS from a collector. 208 Oak Ave, City of Anna Maria. EVERY Saturday & Sunday thru April 16. 9amuntil.

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 941-7250073.

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 616204-8822.

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, 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 941778-4823 or Veronik 941526-7941

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, bi-monthly 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. 941-8095777.

PAINTING & WALLCOVERING

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

“WIZARD OF WALLS”

Established 1980 Prompt quality service. Wallpaper installation/ removal. Mary Bell Winegarden 941-7940455

DONALD PERKINS

ABRACADABRA PAINTING LLC fully insured. 30 years experience. Many Island references. Call 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 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! 941725-1589

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 941-713-6531

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.

PEACE & TRANQUILITY await! Updated 2BR/2BA, second floor condo in Perico Island. Water & Nature views! Turnkey furnished. $449,000. Contact Karen Parsons Good Life Realty 407-2337059

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