Anna Maria Island Sun March 16, 2022

- Named Best Florida Newspaper In Its Class -

VOL 22 No. 23

March 16, 2022

AMI goes green with St. Patrick’s Day parade This year’s St. Patrick’s Day parade had the luck of the Irish with perfect weather and thousands lining the parade route from Holmes Beach through Anna Maria.

KRISTIN SWAIN | SUN

Above, These little leprechauns wanted to make sure everyone along the parade route got a sweet treat.

Right, Staff from the Freckled Fin toss beads to onlookers. Below, even the dogs came to the parade in their best green outfits. Left, this little paradegoer gets into the groove, dancing as the AMI Privateers came down the street.

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

ANNA MARIA ISLAND - It’s time to get your green on because St. Patrick’s Day is back on the Island.

After a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade took to the streets of Holmes Beach and Anna Maria with thousands lining the parade route to watch bagpipe players, marching bands, the Anna Maria Island Privateers and even a few leprechauns strolling by, gifting onlookers with beads, candy and other baubles.

With Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer leading the way, the parade made its way down Marina, Palm and Gulf drives before turning down Pine Avenue to end at The Center of Anna Maria Island.

Previously, the parade was brought to the Island by restaurateur Sean Murphy and The Beach Bistro.

Though Murphy walked in this year’s parade, the 2022 St. Patrick’s Day festivities were sponsored by The Center of Anna Maria Island and Darcie Duncan of Duncan Real Estate and Anna Maria Island Homes.

INSIDE NEWS LETTERS OUTDOORS RESTAURANTS REAL ESTATE SPORTS CLASSIFIEDS

4 6 20 22-23 24-29 32 34

dream beach wedding. In The Sun’s AMI Wedding Guide. 16 PLAN YOUR

Anna Maria Island, Florida

NEW RULES would require golf

carts to be registered. 3 FINAL vote on clam project expected this week. 4

The Island’s award-winning weekly newspaper www.amisun.com

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MARCH 16, 2022

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Golf cart regulations considered Holmes Beach commissioners are discussing creating a registration program for golf cart owners.

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

HOLMES BEACH – Commissioners are trying to figure out a way to regulate golf carts, but they’re split on how to enact regulations without penalizing residents.

At a March 8 work session, Holmes Beach commissioners continued a discussion on enacting a registration program for golf carts that would only allow homesteaded city residents to drive them within city limits and give the operation of the vehicles on city streets a sunset period.

A golf cart is defined as being capable of traveling up to 20 mph and is not required to be registered with the Florida Department of Motor Vehicles. In contrast, a low-speed vehicle (LSV) may look similar to a golf cart, but can travel at speeds up to 25 mph and must have a state-issued license plate and insurance. Golf carts, unlike LSVs, are only allowed to be driven in the city of Holmes Beach, not in Anna

Maria or Bradenton Beach.

If the new regulations pass, golf carts in Holmes Beach will be required to have a registration issued by the city. They would need to have insurance in case of an accident and would be allowed to be operated only during daylight hours, a custom commonly practiced now. The registration would be a one-time issue for residents because the operation of golf carts in the city would have a sunset period of five years.

Though the sunset period was initially proposed by city staff at 10 years, commissioners agreed 3-2 to lower the sunset period to five years, after which the vehicles would not be allowed to be operated in the city. The exception would be for operation at the Key Royale Golf Course.

With an eye toward preventing golf carts - which don’t have the same safety features as an LSV - from being rented to visitors, Mayor Judy Titsworth said she’d like to make whatever regulations are adopted by the city as painless as possible for residents. She also said she’s unconcerned with having golf cart owners pay for the registration, especially since it’s a one-time expense, one that she said the city could potentially absorb.

If the regulations pass a vote during a regular commission meeting, City Attorney Erica Augello said that commissioners should set a deadline for golf cart registration, suggesting a three-month deadline from the time the regulations are passed. No golf carts would be allowed to be registered in the city after that date and no golf carts could be operated in Holmes Beach legally without the registration.

After the meeting concluded, Commissioner Pat Morton said he’s changed his stance on the potential for golf cart regulations. Rather than requiring current owners to have a host of new equipment placed on the carts for them to operate legally, Morton said he’d rather grandfather in current golf carts for homesteaded residents.

“I don’t want to penalize the residents,” Morton told The Sun. Adding to what he’d like to see happen, Morton said he’d prefer to have golf carts registered to homesteaded residents for the lifetime of the golf cart. After the golf carts die, a new one couldn’t be purchased.

The regulations will go back before commissioners for further discussion at a future meeting.

ANNA MARIA GARDEN CLUB | SUBMITTED

From left, fifth-grade Anna Maria Elementary students Zoe Bourgoing, first place, Layla Quesenberry, second place, and Lily Plummer, third place, created this year’s winning flower show posters.

Garden Club hosting flower show Wednesday ANNA MARIA – The Anna Maria Garden Club will host its annual flower show and silent auction on Wednesday, March 16 from 1-3 p.m. at Roser Memorial Community Church, 512 Pine Ave. The flower show and silent auction are open to the public. This year’s show will include a People’s Choice Award to be voted on by show attendees and Garden Club members.

Small gifts will be awarded to the winners of each category. Garden Club members who display their arrangements will specify in advance whether their arrangements will be donated to the silent auction.

Proceeds from the silent auction will benefit the AMI Garden Club. Light refreshments will be served. The posters for this year’s show were designed by fifthgrade students at Anna Maria Elementary School.

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ISLAND NEWS

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MARCH 16, 2022

IN BRIEF

Extra beach parking for spring break The Anna Maria Elementary School parking lot is being made available for free public parking during spring break and several other holidays this year.

An agreement between Manatee County and School District officials was reached last week, giving the county use of the school’s 60 or so parking spaces during spring break, which is from March 12-20.

Signs have been posted along Gulf Drive informing motorists they may park for free in the school lot from dawn to dusk during the break.

The agreement also allows free parking on Memorial Day weekend, May 28-30; Fourth of July weekend, July 2-4; and Labor Day weekend, Sept. 3-5.

KRISTIN SWAIN | SUN

Host Ginger Huhn strikes a pose with Roser church members who served as models for the Roser Guild’s annual Style Show.

Watch out for car thieves Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer wants to help all city residents and visitors stay safe over the spring break holiday, specifically by making sure their vehicles are locked. With more people planning to visit Anna Maria Island over the coming weeks and a recent increase in car thefts, Tokajer is warning the public to make sure vehicles are locked and keys are never left in cars. For anyone with a garage door opener in their car, Tokajer reminded people that leaving the car unlocked or keys in the car means that a thief can also access your home with the garage door opener.

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

The Reimagining Pine Avenue project proposes new and upgraded sidewalks and crosswalks.

Reimagining Pine Avenue meeting Thursday The Anna Maria City Commission will participate in a Reimagining Pine Avenue work meeting on Thursday, March 17, at 2 p.m. Commissioners will discuss the latest plans for the sidewalk and crosswalk safety improvements proposed along Pine Avenue. The commission’s Tuesday, March 8, work meeting was canceled. The canceled meeting was to feature commission discussion on Mote Marine’s exhibit plans for the educational outreach center to be installed at the T-end of the City Pier.

Stepping out in style High fashion at bargain prices is on display during the annual style show.

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

ANNA MARIA – Showing off their head-to-toe outfits from the Roser Guild Thrift Shop, models displayed just a few of the possibilities for having a stellar fashion closet without designer prices during the annual style show and Guild luncheon.

The sold-out event began with a homemade luncheon provided by the ladies of Roser Memorial Community Church. The menu included a French-style roasted garlic chicken sandwich with a lemon pasta salad, arugula wrapped in prosciutto and mini raspberry tuxedo cheesecakes with chocolate ganache. As diners enjoyed their food and listened to the musical stylings of Brandon Kouri on the piano, models took the runway to show off styles selected from the offerings at the Roser Guild Thrift Shop.

All of the outfits, from hats and earrings to clothing and shoes, were chosen by each of the models with each model having first dibs on any of the items from the thrift store they wished to take home.

Some of the items displayed during the fashion show included a Coach handbag, Calvin Klein dress

KRISTIN SWAIN | SUN

Brandon Kouri tickles the ivories to the delight of diners during the annual luncheon and style show. Kurt Huhn takes a stroll down the runway in a dapper golfing outfit. and other designer offerings available for purchase at bargain prices, along with jewelry and other items.

Once the show concluded, attendees were treated to an exclusive opportunity to purchase garments from the fashion show before traveling across Pine Avenue to peruse the thrift shop.

All proceeds from the style show and the thrift shop go to help fund the Roser Guild’s scholarships, programs and other community outreach missions.

MARCH 16, 2022

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Final vote pending on proposed clam, seagrass projects The clam and seagrass restoration projects were first proposed in mid-January.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA – A final city commission vote on a $50,000 funding request for proposed clam and seagrass restoration projects is expected on Thursday, March 24.

During the Anna Maria City Commission’s March 10 meeting, Mayor Dan Murphy said he expects to receive by Friday, March 18 a final, formal written proposal from local restaurateur, businessman and environmental activist Ed Chiles and the group that includes representatives from the Gulf Shellfish Institute, The Diatom Initiative and Sea & Shoreline.

The group seeking the funds believes the projects would significantly improve the water quality in the offshore and inland waters where they would be conducted.

Regarding the final proposal and pending commission vote, Murphy said, “We’ve been talking about this for quite some time and it’s time to come to a conclusion.”

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

Left to right, Ed Chiles is leading the efforts to secure funding for the proposed clam and seagrass restoration projects. Commissioner Jon Crane opposes the $50,000 funding request. Retried marine biologist Randy Edwards appeared before the commission in February.

First presented to the commission on Jan. 13, the funding request that Chiles said could produce up to an additional $100,000 in matching funds from private donors has been met with continued opposition from Commissioner Jon Crane. Crane questions the effectiveness of clams when it comes to filtering red tide (Karenia brevis) and other harmful elements from the natural waters in which they’re placed.

The group’s original proposal called for a total of 20,000 southern hard clams and sunray Venus clams to be placed in the proposed project areas in Tampa Bay and Bimini Bay. On Jan. 26, Diatom Initiative founder and

clam hatchery operator Curt Hemmel proposed placing 1-2 million southern hard clams in those waters instead, with sunray Venus clams no longer part of the proposal.

When appearing before the commission in early February, retired marine biologist Randy Edwards expressed his opposition to the expenditure of American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds for a clam restoration project. Edwards’ opposition is based on his belief that clams possess limited water filtration capabilities and effectiveness.

As an alternative, Edwards recommended using $50,000 in ARP funds on a nutrient removal project that would

target nitrates and phosphates from rainwater and tidal waters before they enter the water.

At the request of Commissioner Robert Kingan, the commission later discussed using the $50,000 to install additional vertical infiltration drainage trenches, but no final decision was made regarding the use of federal funds to do so.

Commissioner Deanie Sebring has expressed her continued support for the proposed restoration projects and the funding request.

The March 24 commission meeting will begin at 6 p.m.

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OPINION

The Anna Maria Island Sun newspaper 3909 East Bay Drive, Suite 210, Holmes Beach, FL, 34217 Phone: (941) 778-3986 email: news@amisun.com | ads@amisun.com | classifieds@amisun.com

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MARCH 16, 2022

EDITORIAL A long time coming

B

ack in the dark ages of flower power and love beads, everyone in Manatee County knew these three things about Anna Maria Island.

Anna Maria was the rich end of the Island.

Holmes Beach was the residential, kids and dogs, heart of the Island.

Bradenton Beach was the Island’s seamy underbelly, with our beloved Gregg Allman (God rest his soul) and everyone else and their brothers and sisters doing drugs funneled through Cortez.

But now it’s 2022.

The cheapest shack in Bradenton Beach is in the six digits. It ain’t seamy no more.

There are not nearly as many dogs and kids in Holmes Beach.

And Anna Maria is still rich, but so is the rest of the Island.

People in most of the rest of the world would look at us and marvel at the stocked shelves in Publix – even with pandemic shortages – the restaurant prices, the Bentleys, the yachts at Galati Marine, the $16 million house on the beach, the sheer wealth that is now AMI. It’s not that we’re ungrateful to the tourists who have made our local businesses and real estate market thrive. Not at all.

But when it becomes front page news that a 1927 cottage in Bradenton Beach has been saved instead of being replaced with a three-story vacation rental (www.amisun.com/2022/03/06/historic-island-cottage-saved/), it just makes us a little melancholy.

It’s been a long time coming, but the change has come.

The Anna Maria Island Sun Staff Publishers Mike Field Maggie Field Editor/CEO Mike Field Layout Ricardo Fonseca

Reporters Cindy Lane Joe Hendricks Kristin Swain Jason Schaffer Columnists Louise Bolger

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Save the empanadas

My wife and I were extremely disappointed when we went to buy empanadas from the empanada and pasta lady at the Anna Maria farmer’s market this past Tuesday. She explained that the city of Anna Maria told her she could no longer sell empanadas because it competed with another business in the city (presumably a restaurant) that sold empanadas.

If true, this is outrageous! What about free market and competition? There are generally two fruit vendors at the market. Does one of them have to leave? If I wanted to open a pizza restaurant or donut shop, would the city of Anna Maria not allow this since there are already businesses selling these products? Is a business that sells empanadas one morning per week really a competitive threat?

Seems to me they are serving two

distinct customer bases (eat-in versus dine-out). The empanada lady stated she may no longer participate at the market since this product represented a significant part of her business. To be honest, my wife and I might as well take our business elsewhere. I can buy produce at Publix or go to the Coquina Market that is open two days per week for specialty items.

If the empanada lady is truly being stifled, I say boycott the farmer’s market.

Tom Potter Holmes Beach

Community loses legal giant With the recent passing of Lamar Matthews, our legal community, and our community as a whole, has lost a true giant, legend and friend. As an attorney for almost 60 years, Lamar was the epitome of excellence and profes-

Outdoors Editor Rusty Chinnis

Classified ads Bob Alexander

Advertising director Shona Otto

Graphics Elaine Stroili Ricardo Fonseca

Ad assistant Pamela Lee

Digital/Social Media Editor Cindy Lane

Accounting John Reitz Leslie Ketchum Distribution Bob Alexander Tony McNulty Connor Field

sionalism in every sense of those words. He was deeply admired by his peers, as well as by the judges in this circuit. He was a kind and generous man. He was deeply involved in our community and public service and he received many honors and awards, including awards for professionalism, trial excellence, and outstanding service to the judiciary.

Watching Lamar in the courtroom was always an absolute pleasure. His knowledge, preparation, presence and decorum should be a model and inspiration for all attorneys. His passionate dedication made our legal community a much better place. He certainly inspired me and I will miss him greatly, as will so many people in our area whose lives he has touched in countless positive ways.

Charles E. Roberts Chief Judge, Twelfth Judicial Circuit Sarasota

Contributors Tom Vaught Steve Borggren Monica Simpson

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MARCH 16, 2022

ON THE AGENDA

ANNA MARIA

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

2022

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

March 16, 10:30 a.m. – Historic Preservation board meeting March 17, 2 p.m. – Reimagining Pine Avenue special meeting

March 24, 6 p.m. – City Commission meeting

BRADENTON BEACH

107 GULF DRIVE N. FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-7781005

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

March 16, 2 p.m. – Planning

and Zoning board meeting March 17, noon – City Commission meeting

HOLMES BEACH

5801 MARINA DRIVE FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-7085800

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

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Compliance special magistrate hearing March 22, 5 p.m. – City Commission meeting with work session to follow March 23, 9 a.m. – Clean Water Ad-Hoc committee work session MARKYOUR CALENDAR

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16

Beach market, Coquina Beach, 2650 Gulf Drive S., Bradenton Beach, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tortoise Talk, Robinson Preserve, 1704 99th St. N.W., Bradenton, 3:30 p.m.

Seashell art night, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 6:30 p.m. Reserve online manateelibrary.libcal.com/ event/8486984

THURSDAY, MARCH 17 Happy St. Patrick’s Day! RoserRobics, Roser Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, 9:30 a.m., no cost but donations welcome.

“All About Manatees” presented by Dr. Beth Brady, Lecture and Travel Series presented by the Friends

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of the Island Library, Roser Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, 2 p.m.

Sunshine Stitchers knit and crochet, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 2 p.m. Reserve online www.manateelibrary.libcal. com/event/8486577 Thursdays in Paradise Stroll featuring local art, music and food, Bridge Street, Bradenton Beach, 5-8 p.m.

Bingo, Annie Silver Community Center, 103 23rd St. N., Bradenton Beach, 6 p.m.

FRIDAY, MARCH 18

Mahjong Club, experienced players, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 11:30 a.m. Reserve online www. manateelibrary.libcal.com/ event/8486619

SATURDAY, MARCH 19

Robinson Runners, Robinson Preserve, 1704 99th St. N.W., Bradenton, 8 a.m.

Saturday mornings at the Nest, Robinson Preserve Mosaic Nest, 840 Ninth Ave. N.W., Bradenton, 9 a.m. to noon Meditation, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive,

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Holmes Beach, 11 a.m. Reserve online manateelibrary. libcal.com/event/8486560 Native Little One Art Club, Robinson Preserve Mosaic Nest, 840 Ninth Ave., N.W., Bradenton, 1 p.m.

Wine Tasting with Friends, The Center of Anna Maria Island, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria, 4:30 p.m., $50.

Tickets available online centerami.org/events

SUNDAY, MARCH 20

Beach market, Coquina Beach, 2650 Gulf Drive S., Bradenton Beach, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Barry and the Boomers in concert, Roser Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, 4 p.m.

TUESDAY, MARCH 22

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

RoserRobics, Roser Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, 9:30 a.m., no cost but donations are welcome.

Family story time, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m. Register online manateelibrary.libcal.com/ event/8486817

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MARCH 16, 2022

Commissioners plan next steps with county Holmes Beach commissioners are planning their next steps toward building a better relationship with Manatee County commissioners.

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

HOLMES BEACH – In the aftermath of a joint meeting with Manatee County commissioners, Holmes Beach city leaders are trying to figure out their next steps toward building a better relationship with county leaders.

During a March 8 work session, Holmes Beach commissioners went over their notes from the joint meeting, held March 1. They also took public comment on the meeting to help gauge public opinion following the discussion, which primarily revolved around beach parking.

Holmes Beach resident Izzy Skye, representing a group of residents attending the meeting, thanked commissioners for holding firm to their stance on not reopening residential streets near the beach to public parking.

“You cannot pave our paradise to

KRISTIN SWAIN | SUN

While Holmes Beach city leaders want to work with their counterparts in Manatee County, they’re not sure they want to see a large parking garage built at Manatee Beach. put up your parking lot,” Skye said, speaking about the discussion where Manatee County commissioners suggested building a large parking garage at Manatee Beach. “Visitors are coming to see a preserve. This is no place for a concrete jungle.”

About the March 1 meeting, Commissioner Terry Schaefer said, “I think it was a good opportunity to look the county commissioners in the eye and see the kind of people they are.” He added that it was “obvious” that the

primary objective of Manatee County commissioners was to discuss parking, something that Holmes Beach commissioners weren’t willing to change their stance on. But Schaefer said he feels there is still room for more discussions with county leaders, a sentiment echoed by his fellow commissioners.

“It was a beginning,” he said. “I’m not discouraged.”

While Holmes Beach commissioners understand that there are a growing number of Manatee County residents

St. Patrick's Day

and visitors every year who want to go to the beaches on Anna Maria Island, they also feel that it’s the issue of county leaders to provide parking and facilities for the people wishing to access county beaches. Mayor Judy Titsworth said that she doesn’t have a problem with visitors to the Island - she said she welcomes them - however, there is only so much space available on the 7-mile island, about three of which are occupied by the city of Holmes Beach.

HBPD Chief Bill Tokajer said that, using the city’s license plate reader cameras, he counted 9 million cars coming into Holmes Beach across Manatee Avenue in 2020, increasing to 9.6 million in 2021.

In an effort to work with the county to find solutions to parking problems, and hopefully address some of the city’s concerns in a future joint meeting, she said she’s having City Attorney Erica Augello look at the lease for the land where the Island Branch Library sits to see if that parking lot can be used for overflow beach parking while the library is closed without violating the land grant from the Holmes family, SEE PARKING, PAGE 26

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MARCH 16, 2022

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Anna Maria Island now a Monopoly game Forget about Park Place and Boardwalk, it’s Anna Maria Beach and the Gulf of Mexico going for big bucks in Anna Maria Island Opoly.

BY JASON SCHAFFER SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA ISLAND - Since it was first created 87 years ago in 1935, little has changed in the Monopoly board game. A few game pieces have come and gone, but the properties, which are based on real places in Atlantic City, New Jersey, have not changed for the better part of a century.

But now there’s an Anna Maria Island version, courtesy of an Ohiobased company, Late for the Sky, that makes knock-off Monopoly games based on cities and organizations around the country.

After leaving "Go" by rolling the dice in traditional Monopoly fashion, players try to buy the Bridge Street Clock Tower, the Island Players, or Bean Point, rather than familiar properties like New York, Marvin Gardens or Park Place.

If you have the cash, you may even purchase the Gulf of Mexico.

JASON SCHAFFER | SUN

Anna Maria Island Opoly display at Walmart, 5315 Cortez Road, Bradenton. You won’t go to jail, but you may be sent into traffic as punishment.

Forget the railroads - they don’t exist on the Island - but you can try to collect Coquina Beach, Cortez Beach and Holmes Beach for maximum profits.

According to the company’s website, the games are unofficial versions of the popular game, but different in enough ways to avoid infringing on the Monopoly copyright. For instance, there are no hotels; instead, you collect keys to the city. Despite the popularity of the real-life historic Anna Maria City Jail, there is no jail, like real Monopoly; instead, you will be sent to a traffic jam,

which is true to life this time of year.

Late for the Sky Production Company began making board games in 1984. Their first game was Miami Opoly, based on Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. The company’s founder is a graduate of Miami University and her time spent there was the inspiration for the game. The game then spread to 80 major U.S. colleges and universities. There are now hundreds of custom games that include colleges, games for food lovers, educational games and even a game featuring just about every popular breed of dog and cat.

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Other nearby cities with an “Opoly” game include Sarasota and Tampa. The company says it researches the areas by following Facebook groups, local chamber of commerce sites and digging into as much online data as they can find to make the games relevant and fun. If you are new to the Island, this game may not only be a source of family fun, but also send the player to Island businesses and attractions they may have not known about.

Anna Maria Island Opoly is sold exclusively through Walmart and Amazon.

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MARCH 16, 2022

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MARCH 16, 2022

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Commissioners seek resiliency assistance City leaders want to know just how vulnerable Holmes Beach could be to flooding from rising sea levels and a prolonged rain storm.

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

CINDY LANE | SUN

Finally, baseball Major League Baseball owners and players have finally settled their collective bargaining agreement, and spring training begins this week, better late than never. In honor of the start to the season, swing by the baseball-themed neighborhood between Spruce and Cypress avenues in Anna Maria, where statues portray the boys of summer at one of the few remaining baseball houses – “Home Plate.” Milwaukee Braves ballplayers lived in the neighborhood during spring training in Bradenton, where the club trained from 1953-62. Pitcher Warren Spahn, a Baseball Hall of Famer, started the tradition of naming houses with “The Mound,” and others followed: “Home Plate,” “Infield,” “Outfield,” “Shortstop,” “Catcher’s Mitt” and “The Diamond.” While many of the houses are gone, at 208 Cypress Ave., “Home Plate” still sports a door with the names of Spahn and Braves third base player and Hall of Famer Eddie Mathews, who bought the home from him.

5346 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach (941) 778-5788 | hurricanehanks.com

HOLMES BEACH – Commissioners voted unanimously on March 8 to give Mayor Judy Titsworth approval to sign an $80,000 resiliency contract with Progressive Water Resources.

The consulting firm will help city leaders plan for resiliency by completing a "risk assessment, sea level rise vulnerability assessment and excess precipitation vulnerability assessment."

The risk assessment includes an estimate of sea level rise, coastal storm surge and flooding due to heavy rain. Once an estimated sea level rise is determined, a "sea level rise vulnerability assessment" will be conducted to determine the impact of rising waters on the city’s transportation, drainage system, public buildings and facilities, evacuation routes and public utilities. The third part of the contract covers how Holmes Beach could be affected by 10-, 25- and 100-year storm events along with 24-hour rain events.

City Engineer Sage Kamiya said all of these assessments will help city leaders make plans to reduce the potential for damage to the city.

He said they also will assist city leaders in obtaining grant funds to pay for any related resiliency projects by providing data and clear documentation of the threat that rising sea levels and extended rain/storm events place on the city.

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MARCH 16, 2022

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MARCH 16, 2022

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ANNA MARIA – Holmes Beach resident Cash John Nichols, 27, has been charged with criminal mischief after authorities say he smashed an Island trolley’s windows when he was denied a ride because he wasn’t wearing shoes.

Locally Owned and “The trolley made its last stop at the Anna 45 Stores Natio Nichols Maria City Pier at 10:15-10:20 (p.m.) that night and the driver refused to take a patron because he had no shoes on," Manatee County Sheriff's Office Deputy Patrick Manning, of the Anna Maria Unit, told The Sun, regarding the Feb. 11 incident. "The patron became upset and in a fit of rage caused over $200 in estimated damage to the trolley’s door windows."

Nichols was arrested on March 8 and charged with one first-degree misdemeanor count of criminal mischief for damages between $200 and $1,000.

According to the arrest complaint, footage on the trolley security camera showed Nichols being denied access because he wasn’t wearing shoes, then arguing with the driver and ultimately breaking the trolley door windows by pounding on them with his fists. Damage was estimated at $500.

The probable cause affidavit lists Nichols’ current address on Marina Drive in Holmes Beach.

According to court records, Nichols was released on bond and a misdemeanor arraignment hearing is scheduled SEE TROLLEY, PAGE 14

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for Monday, April 11 before Manatee County Court Judge Renee Inman. The records also show Nichols was previously arrested in Anna Maria in 2018 and charged with assault on a Manatee County Sheriff’s deputy, possession of drug paraphernalia and resisting, obstructing or opposing an officer without violence.

On Feb. 28, 2022, after multiple delays and court appearances, Nichols entered no-contest pleas on all three charges stemming from his 2018 arrest. As a result of those pleas, he was placed on probation and assessed $796 in fines, fees and court costs.

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MARCH 16, 2022

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MARCH 16, 2022

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Art Walk spotlights two talented featured artists Two Island art galleries spotlighted talented member artists at the March Art Walk in Holmes Beach.

BY JASON SCHAFFER SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com

HOLMES BEACH - The second Friday of every month is an exciting time for art lovers on the Island, when The Artists’ Guild of Anna Maria Island and Island Gallery West display the work of their featured member artists in the front window of each gallery during monthly Art Walks.

In addition to the galleries, other businesses including The Feast, Restless Natives, Sun and Surf Beach Shop, Original Sand Dollar and The Scavenger Market stay open later to welcome anyone wishing to get a bite to eat or do some after-hours shopping.

The March 11 Art Walk featured two very talented area artists, Tim Cunningham and Sue Elliott.

ARTISTS’ GUILD OF ANNA MARIA ISLAND: TIM CUNNINGHAM

Tim Cunningham has been a member of the Artists’ Guild of Anna Maria Island for a year and is a lifetime member of the Georgia Watercolor Society. After exhibiting at Art Center Manatee, he has found a new home at the gallery, where visitors can view and purchase his watercolor depictions of seascapes painted from photographs he has taken in Florida and the many Caribbean islands he has visited.

“I’ve been painting since I was about 20 years old. I started when I was on my honeymoon in Carmel, California,” Cunningham said. “I’ve been painting for over 40 years, but I’ve never been too prolific. I’ve always had a fulltime job until three years ago, so I would start something then slide it under the bed and get back to it later.”

Cunningham describes his style as pretty tight, sticking to watercolors of beach and island scenes as well as some impressive abstract work. He also only paints places he’s visited in per-

JASON SCHAFFER | SUN

Visitors shop artworks from the 30 member artists at Island Gallery West in Holmes Beach during the March Art Walk. son and photographed himself.

“I grew up in southern California and always lived by the beach. I live on the beach here on the Island and I’ve just always been inspired by the water,” he said.

Cunningham’s work can be seen and purchased at the Artist’s Guild of Anna Maria Island, 5414 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. For more information, call 941-7786694 or visit www.amiartistsguildgallery.com.

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ISLAND GALLERY WEST: SUE ELLIOTT

Sue Elliott’s “Wonderful World,” currently on display at Island Gallery West, is a colorful display of multiple mediums, techniques and inspirations.

Unlike many artists who prefer to stick with one style or medium, Elliott works with just about anything that inspires her at any given time.

“I have a very eclectic style and I like to use any new medium that I can find," she said. "I think

it’s very important not to stick to one thing because life is very short. I use acrylic, I use oil, resin, crackle paint, gold leaf, clay and a little bit of collage. I like to try everything; it doesn’t always work, but it usually does.”

Elliott moved to the area 20 years ago from the U.K. For her first 15 years in America, she enjoyed a successful career with a Fortune 500 company as a process analyst and project manager.

Five years ago, she decided to retire early and take on her passion, which is art. Elliott’s work would have you believe she has been doing art at least part-time for decades, but she didn’t start until five years ago, making her progress in the field all the more impressive.

You can view or purchase Elliott’s work at Island Gallery West, 5368 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, through the end of March.

For more information on Elliott or anything involving the Gallery, call 941-778-6648 or visit www. islandgallerywest.com.

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Your Perfect Wedding Awaits…

From breathtaking beach vistas and perfect sunsets on Anna Maria to our famous buttonwood trees on Longboat Key and rural and rustic farm in Parrish, couples can’t go wrong with Anna Maria Island venues.

Most famous of our locations, The Grand Pavilion at The Sandbar has been a favorite beachfront wedding spot for decades. Tucked among the sea oats and native grasses, the Pavilion is 10 steps from your own secret slice of sugar-sand beach. The Sunset Deck at the Beach House offers the largest beachfront deck of any of Florida’s West Coast venues.

This state-of-the-art facility boasts climate-controlled dining and an unobstructed view of the Gulf of Mexico. Buttonwood Bay at Mar Vista is a location that couples dream about. With majestic buttonwood trees, beachfront footage, and Longboat Key in your sights, your camera needs to be your plus one. The Studio at Gulf & Pine offers indoor elegance surrounded by local art, just steps from the beach. Not far from Anna Maria Island is Gamble Creek Farm, our newest wedding and events destination. With acres of farmland, creek front scenery, and plenty of privacy, Gamble Creek is the perfect venue for the couple looking for that rustic, farm to table experience.

For multiple years now, couples of "The Knot" and “Wedding Wire” have voted The Grand Pavilion at The Sandbar and the Sunset Deck at The Beach House top-rated ceremony and wedding destinations. With perfect venues and an event team that is constantly receiving glowing reviews, Anna Maria Island Venues offers something for everyone. If you are having trouble selecting the perfect destination, ask our team about our All Venue Packages to experience a taste of them all.

MARCH 16, 2022

MARCH 16, 2022

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DARA CAUDILL | WWW.ISLANDPHOTOGRAPHY.ORG

Jana Varcholova and Robin Gupta were married on February 2, 2022 at the Beach House restaurant. The wedding and reception were coordinated by Shawn Rhoton of the Beach House.

Reverend Steve Lortz performed the ceremony. Music was provided by The Time Williams Band, the wedding cake from A Slice of Heaven and Flowers were from Ms. Scarlett’s.

Want your wedding photos to be featured here? Submit them to ads@amisun.com, subject 'Wedding Photos' along with your names, date of wedding and location and phone number for a chance to be featured here*. *Submission of photo not a guarantee for placement. The Sun is not responsible for any copyright infringement.

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OUTDOORS

MARCH 16, 2022

Tie one on Reel Time RUSTY CHINNIS

I

have to begin this article with a confession. I have known how to tie flies for a long time but have been too lazy to tie my own for far too long. First it was guide friends who tied them for me. After that I would tie out of necessity, or buy a few flies for a trip to the Bahamas or Belize.

I found out how rewarding it was to tie a fly and then catch a fish on it a long time ago, too, but it was my last trip to the Bahamas that changed all that.

As it turned out I had again hurriedly ordered some flies from a “reliable” source, choosing a few old classics as well as my current favorite, the Peterson Spawning Shrimp. As it turned out, the flies I ordered didn’t match my expectations, probably more a case of “operator error” on my part. Fortunately, two friends in my party offered me some of their flies. I got bailed out on that trip and despite some challenging conditions managed to catch some quality fish. Then and there I vowed that the next trip I took I’d have a box of my own home-

RUSTY CHINNIS | SUN

The Peterson Spawning Shrimp is a realistic and very effective pattern for a host of species. tied creations. Fast forward to today, 10 days from my next trip to the Bahamas. This time I have seven flies tied and am on track to have a quiver of ammunition that I have confidence in. And confidence is key!

In my experience, flies don’t have to be fancy to catch fish.

They do have to resemble something a local species

feeds on and appear natural in the water. Two of the most reliable patterns mimic baitfish and shrimp. Probably the most basic and one of the most effective and popular flies is the Clouser Minnow, created by Bob Clouser. This was the first fly I learned to tie and is still a favorite. Another favorite is the bendback, a streamer tied to be “weedless” and fished in

shallow water. The bendback is also easy to tie and very effective when properly tied and presented. As mentioned, my current favorite fly and one that’s a lot more complicated to tie, the Peterson Spawning Shrimp, has gotten me tying flies and enjoying the process.

Fly tying is like anything else, the more you do it, the better you get. Then suddenly you

find yourself working a little harder than might be necessary to please both you and the fish.

The effort paid dividends locally when my friend Benny Parrish and I came in second in The Waterman Fly Fishing Tournament, a benefit for Tampa Bay Waterkeeper.

I caught all my fish on the Peterson Shrimp pattern I tie for bonefish. It was after that when I realized almost every species in both fresh and saltwater feed on shrimp, which further boosted my confidence in the pattern. If you currently tie, my advice is to master a fly you have confidence in and then work to make a fly your own. I’m constantly thinking of ways to improve the patterns I fish and finding my enjoyment of fly fishing enhanced by the experience.

I would strongly advise fly anglers to take up fly tying if they haven’t already. Start with a simple travel kit so once you’re committed you’ll be able to continue using it.

Maybe then you’ll upgrade your equipment and even carve out a place dedicated to tying flies. Not only will you enjoy the experience more but you’ll have better quality flies at a much better price. Instruction on tying every imaginable fly is available on YouTube so please excuse me while I "tie one on."

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MARCH 16, 2022

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KRISTIN SWAIN | SUN

Volunteers from the Inspiration Academy baseball team will spend part of their spring break waving signs near Manatee Beach to alert passersby to stay vigilant to prevent drownings.

Bringing awareness to a silent killer With spring break upon us, WMFR leaders are hoping to bring awareness to child drownings.

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

HOLMES BEACH – “Do you hear that silence? That is the sound of drowning,” West Manatee Fire Rescue Fire Marshal Rodney Kwiatkowski said, opening a discussion on the threats posed by not remaining vigilant around water.

Kwiatkowski was joined by Chief Ben Rigney, Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth, Manatee County Commissioners Kevin Van Ostenbridge and Carol Whitmore, Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer, Manatee County Marine Patrol Chief Joe Westerman and Manatee County Assistant Chief of Special Operations Sean Dwyer, among others, to speak at the event held March 10 at Kingfish Boat Ramp.

Of all of the people who spoke during the event, the most powerful and heart-wrenching testimony came from the Bardwell family, who lost their two-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Lylah, in 2021 due to drowning.

Tom and Courtney Bardwell recounted the events leading up to their child drowning in their backyard pool. Tom Bardwell, Lylah’s father, who was home with the toddler at the time of the accident, said that with all of the safety precautions in place to prevent the child from accessing their pool, including a pool fence, he stepped away to take a phone call. In that short amount of time, he said Lylah had apparently tossed a favorite toy over the pool fence and somehow made her way past all of the barriers to keep her out of the water without supervision.

Lylah Bardwell was one of 19 drowning or near-drowning victims under the age of 18 in Manatee County in the past 12 months.

Speaking from her experience, Titsworth said she nearly lost one of her nephews to drowning when he was a child.

Thankfully, she said the boy was found in time and able to be resuscitated. She encouraged everyone to make sure that there is a responsible adult keeping a close watch on everyone in their family or group when in the water, whether at a backyard pool or at the beach.

KRISTIN SWAIN | SUN

The family of two-and-a-half-year-old Lylah Bardwell share the story of how their family changed forever when their daughter drowned in their pool in 2021 despite the family taking precautions to prevent her from getting near the water.

Dwyer echoed Titsworth’s recommendation, saying drowning can happen quickly and in just a few inches of water. He said in addition to making sure there is an adult watching children swim, to swim near a lifeguard, if possible. He also recommended having someone who is CPR certified nearby. Additionally, he recommended making sure all children are properly instructed on how to swim, a sentiment repeated by several of the speakers.

Westerman said that for anyone bringing children to the beach for spring break, make sure you swim where a trained lifeguard can observe and respond if an accident happens. He also encouraged beachgoers to learn about rip currents and how to avoid being sucked under and potentially drowning when encountering one.

He said the first thing to do when you realize you’re caught in a rip current is to not try to fight against it to get to shore. Instead, swim out or allow the current to pull you out, maintaining your head above water, and then swim to the side then back to shore once released from the current. Fighting against the rip current will sap your energy reserves and could increase the chance of drowning.

With spring break fully underway in Manatee County, Kwiatkowski said there will be volunteers stationed in the mornings along Manatee Avenue leading to Manatee Beach waving signs to alert passersby about the initiative to prevent drowning and raise public awareness.

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NEWS BRIEFS Help plant the butterfly garden Holmes Beach Parks and Beautification members are seeking a few volunteers with green thumbs to help them set up the butterfly garden. Volunteers will be needed to come to Holmes Beach City Hall on March 17 beginning at 11 a.m. to help install new plants in the ground according to a plan created by a group of Manatee County master gardeners. Anyone interested in helping out is asked to please bring a shovel or other gardening tools and to wear a pair of gloves. No sign-up is necessary but volunteers can contact the city clerk’s office at 941-708-5800 for more information.

Pirates to invade Moose

The Anna Maria Island Privateers are planning to invade the Moose Lodge in Palmetto this Saturday, March 19 from 5-10 p.m. They’ll have pirate bingo, pirate trivia, raffle baskets, a live band and prizes for best-dressed pirates. The Privateers are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that raises money for scholarships and kids in the community.

For more information visit www. amiprivateers.memberlodge.org.

Sing along with Barry and the Boomers Come out to Roser Memorial Community Church and sing along with all of your favorite songs from the 50s, 60s and 70s as Barry and the Boomers take the stage. The three-man ensemble plays everything from Frank Sinatra to the Beatles and Elvis, among others.

The public is invited to attend.

Doors open at 3 p.m. and the music starts at 4 p.m. Though the concert is free to attend, a free-will offering will be taken. Roser Church is at 512 Pine Ave. in Anna Maria.

Comp plan changes go to state Proposed changes to the Holmes Beach comprehensive plan have passed their first hurdle, receiving a unanimous vote of approval from city commissioners March 8. Now that the changes developed by members of the city’s planning commission, assisted by a team from LaRue Planning, have passed a first public hearing and vote, they head to the state of Florida for review and approval before coming back for additional consideration in Holmes Beach. Once approved by the state and after any required adjustments are made, the new Holmes Beach comprehensive plan will have one final public hearing and vote to be officially adopted by the city commission.

MARCH 16, 2022

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MARCH 16, 2022

What’s all the clammotion about?

ALLCLAMSONDECK.ORG

THE SUN

ALL CLAMS ON DECK

Many of us are very concerned about the increased pressure on our local coastal waters.

The news lately in this regard is not good. There are historic numbers of manatee deaths and a 20 % loss of seagrass in our estuaries. Not only are we seeing more episodes of harmful algal blooms like red tide and Lingbya but they are lasting longer and are often more intense. The tremendous growth that our area is experiencing results in PRUH UXQ R൵ IURP QXWULHQWV OLNH QLWURJHQ DQG SKRVSKRUXV near our shore waters. Inadequate wastewater treatment facilities are one of the major sources of nutrient loading into our national estuaries. The Piney Point spill added over 250 million gallons of heavily nutrient-laden water directly into Tampa Bay. Dave Tomasko, the Director of the Sarasota Bay National Estuary Program, equated that WR VHPL WUDLOHUV GXPSLQJ IXOO ORDGV RI IHUWLOL]HU R൵ WKH Skyway Bridge into Tampa Bay. Indeed, that spill caused a red tide bloom that moved in at the same time to bloom up and wreak havoc for weeks in Tampa and St. Pete waWHUV +DG WKH FXUUHQWV EHHQ GL൵HUHQW WKH PDMRU H൵HFWV WKDW WKH\ VX൵HUHG FRXOG KDYH GHYDVWDWHG RXU ZDWHUV There is a full spectrum of issues that must be addressed to stop nutrient loading into our coastal waters and to promote coastal resiliency. We are living on the edge of the largest gulf in the world. We are the only place in the country that has three national estuaries. These are in large part the nurseries of the Gulf of Mexico. The Gulf 6KHOO¿VK ,QVWLWXWH LV SHUXVLQJ D IHGHUDO VWDWH DQG ORFDO initiative to use our three national estuaries, as a giant laboratory, to bring together the science and data to estabOLVK WKH H൶FDF\ RI XVLQJ ELYDOYHV VSHFL¿FDOO\ FODPV DQG seagrass as biological mitigation strategies to clean water

and promote coastal resiliency.

Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy is recommending that $50,000 of American Rescue Plan funding be allocated to help launch this pilot program. A group of concerned Island residents has put forth a $50,000 challenge match. An approval could ultimately mean a $150,000 investment for clean water.

There will be a presentation about the project at the next Anna Maria City Council meeting on Thursday, March 24 at 6PM, 10005 Gulf Drive, Anna Maria, FL 34216. Contact Anna Maria City Commissioners in support of this important work to promote coastal resiliency and protect the paradise that we love.

•Carol, Carter, Vice-Mayor, amcommcarter@cityofannamaria.com •Jonathan Crane, Commissioner, amcommcrane@cityofannamaria. com •Doris “Deanie” Sebring, Commissioner, amcommsebring@ cityofannamaria.com •Mark Short, Commissioner, amcommshort@cityofannamaria.com •Robert Kingan, Commissioner, amcommkingan@ cityofannamaria.com •Dan Murphy, Mayor, ammayor@cityofannamaria.com Thanks to Senator Boyd and Rep. Will Robinson, the Florida Legislature has approved HB 9161 for $2.5 million in funding to further this clam and seagrass restoration project. With local funding, the City of Anna Maria is poised to be at the forefront of this pivotal clean water work.

More information is available at AllClamsonDeck.org, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Content provided by: The Chiles Group.

Photo credit: Rusty Chinnis

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REAL ESTATE

MARCH 16, 2022

Surfside: More collateral damage I

t’s not surprising that as time goes on, more and more of what I’ll call “collateral damage” surfaces related to the Surfside building collapse on the east coast. This time, it’s related to mortgage qualifying regulations.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the quasigovernment agencies that set the standards for residential mortgage financing, are asking questions about the viability of condo buildings before approving financing. Specifically, they said they would stop buying mortgages from lenders in buildings with significant deferred maintenance or safety issues.

Fannie and Freddie have provided lenders with new in-depth questionnaires to be completed by condo management companies, associations or boards about the condition of the building where financing is being requested. The Catch-22 on this is that the individuals responsible for filling out the form aren’t sure of how - or are indeed qualified - to answer

Castles in the Sand LOUISE BOLGER all the questions. Some of the questions really need to be answered by a structural engineer, or at the very least, a home inspector.

This is a huge potential problem for buyers requiring financing on a condo since the lenders are worried about their financial exposure related to the condition of the buildings they hold the mortgage on. This is already slowing up the loan approval process, particularly for condos in the more affordable price ranges. Of course, this could have a negative impact on the condo market for both condo values and the ability to sell.

Another aspect of this is how mortgage

qualifying regulations will affect volunteer board members and management companies. The more complicated the process and the more likely the risk of liability the more difficult it will be for associations to recruit residents to serve on a condo board. In addition, management companies will have to ramp up their staff to understand and complete additional paperwork. This additional work will certainly be billed back to the associations.

Fannie and Freddie have taken the position that these measures are meant to protect residents from unsafe buildings and to ensure that aging condos are undergoing the necessary repairs and are funded to do so. They have indicated that they will work with associations to minimize disruptions related to the questionnaires, but how long that will take is anyone’s guess.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have enormous power in the real estate market and although they do not set building

codes, they do have the power of the purse when it comes to approving financing. Since they control approximately half of the country’s home loans, and between 7% and 9% of condo and co-op loans, we’re talking about what could be a big impact on the market.

Before you give up on a condo purchase that involves financing, most of what is stated above will not apply to the average condominium association. Buildings that obviously have major structural defects that have been put off and are underfunded will certainly have an issue, but the average building that has been maintained will likely be approved. It may take a little longer for the paperwork to be processed at the beginning, but the end result may actually be beneficial to buyers.

As I’ve said before, collateral damage as a result of the Surfside collapse will be around for a long time, but we’ll get through it.

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MARCH 16, 2022

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Trevor and Katrina Bystrom wed at Wedstock festival Wedstock was a three-day celebration of peace, music and love.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

ZOLFO SPRINGS – Trevor Bystrom and Katrina Lathrop got married on Friday, March 11, during their three-day Wedstock festival.

Wedstock took place at the family-owned East 40 Preserve – an undeveloped 40-acre property in Zolfo Springs, about 90 minutes east of Anna Maria Island.

The couple got married on Friday evening in front of family members and close friends, many of whom camped on the property for the weekend.

Attending family members included Trevor’s parents Jeannie and Dr. Bill Bystrom, a wellknown veterinarian who owns the Palma Sola, Island and Safe Harbor animal clinic. Trevor’s aunt and uncle, Judy and Steve Titsworth, attended; Judy is the Holmes Beach mayor and

Steve owns Shoreline Builders.

Guests also included Katrina’s mother, Anne Lathrop, and several aunts, uncles, siblings, cousins, nieces and nephews.

Erica Benarroch (A Shore Thing Events) helped plan and coordinate the wedding festival, assisted by Caleb Roberts.

Courtney Cole (Wilted Twig) provided the flower arrangements.

Billed as “Three days of peace, music and love” and open to everyone on Saturday and Sunday, Wedstock featured Make It Saucy, Ezios and Rodney’s Jamaican Grill food trucks, yoga by Sydney Weiss, live art, a neon forest, firepits, a Woodstock costume contest, a photo contest, a bass fishing contest, a 40-acre scavenger hunt, an outdoor shower, a Wedstock website and more.

Bradenton Beach City Commissioner Ralph Cole, his wife, Beth, and several family members attended the festival on Saturday, as did Swordfish Grill General Manager Adam Sears, his brother,

DESTINY JASETT | SUBMITTED

Katrina and Trevor Bystrom got married on the family property in Zolfo Springs.

Michael Dolan, and others in their group who rented a motorhome for the occasion.

Attendees with Island ties included Vacasa Assistant General Manager Vivian Balducci, Sandbar restaurant event coordinator Jessica Barhitte, Tide Tables bartender Staci Wilkin-

son, Live Naturally and Cool Beans A.M.I. owners Morgan and Ben Bryant, Kelly Moore Hunt, Casey Hoffman, Adam Jenkins and many more.

MUSIC FESTIVAL

With Trevor Bystrom on lead vocals and acoustic guitar, the

Trevor Bystrom Band kicked off Saturday’s musical entertainment with a set of world music and roots rock that featured several songs written

by Bystrom.

Bystrom’s band features drummer/percussionist James Hershey, violinist Zooey Seraphine, lead guitarist Pedro Arevalo, bassist Juna Serita, percussionist Benny Maldonado and backing vocalist and percussionist Judit Maldonado.

Performing on the Pole Barn Stage or the generator-powered East 40 Lounge stage in the woods near the rear camping area, Saturday’s musical roster included The Zack Yoder Group, Wahh World Fusion, The Al Donadi Band, Jah Movement, Paul Fournier and DJ Fender Bender 2000, with “Qauzi” running sound at the Pole Barn Stage. Sunday’s musical lineup included Sycamore Shade, Dan Signor, Steve Arvey and Koko Ray. SEE BYSTROM, PAGE 26

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BYSTROM: Wed at festival FROM PAGE 25

It’s a dream

A DREAM COME TRUE

While standing by the Wedstock sign along the shore of a large pond, the newlyweds shared their thoughts on their wedding and the festival.

“It’s a dream come true. This is definitely a labor of love. We worked really hard on it and we can feel all the love here this weekend. It’s magical,” Katrina said.

“It’s a perfect party. This is everything I’ve ever wanted. This is our big project and it turned out so awesome,” Trevor said.

While pointing to a nearby canoe, Katrina said, “This place is pretty special to us. We got engaged on that canoe on this lake. We found out we were having a baby the day they bought this property and we were out here when we found out the baby was going to be a boy.”

“After I proposed, I said we could do a Wedstock festival for our wedding.

Let’s make it happen,” Trevor said.

“We thank our crew of Wedstock G.O.A.T.s – greatest of all time – who

come true. This is definitely a labor of love.”

Katrina Bystrom, Bride really made this happen. We couldn’t have done this without them. We’re stoked to spend the weekend outdoors listening to music with family and friends and we got all the weathers: a sunny day, a rainy day and a cold day,” Katrina said.

“The sun’s coming out now. It’s beautiful out here,” Trevor added.

The newlyweds, who were both born and raised on Anna Maria Island, live in Bradenton and plan to honeymoon locally, with a possible trip to Africa in the fall.

PARKING: Commissioners plan next steps FROM PAGE 8

which donated the property to the city.

As a stop-gap measure, Manatee County commissioners voted unanimously on March 8 to enter into an agreement with the Manatee County School Board to use the more than 60 spaces at Anna Maria Elementary School in Holmes Beach as overflow beach parking.

During the joint meeting, Titsworth said that if the county wants to use the school for excess beach parking, they need to provide trash and restroom facilities along with a flashing beacon or crossing guard for the crosswalk.

While county commissioners were amenable to providing portable rest-

rooms and trash cans, they balked at providing a crossing guard or flashing beacon for the crosswalk traversing Gulf Drive.

“I think the dialogue is open and that’s good,” Commissioner Jayne Christenson said, adding that she thinks Holmes Beach commissioners need to step back and assess what they can do to address some of the issues. She suggested rebranding the city as a community across social media and the internet rather than as a vacation destination.

Commissioners agreed to have another work session to discuss potential action items before scheduling another meeting with county commissioners.

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MARCH 16, 2022

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MARCH 16, 2022

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Coquina South boat ramp temporarily closing BRADENTON BEACH – The Coquina South boat ramp in Bradenton Beach will be closed on Monday, March 21 and will remain closed while the public boating facility is renovated and expanded. According to a Manatee County press release, the proposed improvements were designed to help meet the growing needs of boat ramp users. The ramp and docks will be completely closed and fenced off until the work is completed, which is expected to last through October. “Due to the deconstruction and rebuilding processes, no part of the facility will be available for use by boaters who are being invited to visit the Coquina North boat ramp, located approximately a half-mile north at 1507 Gulf Drive S.,” according to the press release.

www.amisun.com

MARCH 16, 2022

Cindy Jones-Burke ke Realtor/Staging Certified Residential Specialistt

Cindy@CJonesRE.com m Direct: 941.773.9770

310 Pine Avenue • Anna Maria, FL 34216

teamduncan.com

www.amisun.com

MARCH 16, 2022

THE SUN

29

AMI Guidebooks are here The Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce has made new Island maps and the 2022 Passport Explorer booklets available. The Passport invites participants to

visit businesses in Anna Maria, Holmes Beach, Bradenton Beach and Cortez. The Passports are stamped each time a business is visited and the holder gets a

free T-shirt when enough stamps are collected. Business can call the Chamber at 941-778-1541 to participate.

your home has never been

WORTH MORE

If you’re thinking of selling, our complimentary home evaluation tool is the best way to get a feel for the market before meeting with one of our expert real estate advisors.

ANNA MARIA

CORAL SHORES

845 North Shore Drive $6,900,000 Shellie Young 941.713.5458

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BRADENTON SCAN CODE TO VIEW YOUR HOME EVALUATION

L I ST W I T H U STO DAY.C O M

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VENICE | 941.412.3323

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Sotheby’s International Realty® and the Sotheby’s International Realty logo are registered service marks used with permission. Each office is independently owned and operated. Equal Housing Opportunity.

Property information herein is derived from various sources including, but not limited to, county records and multiple listing services, and may include approximations. All information is deemed accurate.

30

www.amisun.com

THE SUN

MARCH 16, 2022

Anna Maria mostly satisfied with legislative session City officials remain concerned about the potential consequences of Senate Bill 620.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA – As the Florida Legislature winds to a close, city officials are watching several bills closely.

The 60-day 2022 legislative session began on Jan. 11 and was scheduled to end its 3-day extension on Monday, March 14.

Anna Maria officials remain concerned about legislation that, if signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis, would allow businesses to sue cities and counties for lost revenues incurred as a result of local governmental actions.

They’re pleased that legislation failed that would have capped vacation rental registration fees and legislation that would have required city and county governments to prepare a business impact analysis before adopting a new ordinance.

The Legislature also appears to support two state appropriations requested by the city of Anna Maria for a total of approximately $1.4 million.

STATE APPROPRIATIONS

During the March 10 city commission meeting, Mayor Dan Murphy said state legislators supported the city’s $1.28 million request for state funds to assist with the Reimagining Pine Avenue sidewalk, crosswalk and lighting improvements. Murphy said current and future funding requests for the Reimagining Pine Avenue project could eventually total $5 million, depending on what that project ultimately entails.

State legislators also supported the city’s $207,450 request to help develop a plan for a new and extended Lake La Vista jetty. Murphy said the jetty would extend further out into Tampa Bay and alleviate the need to dredge the channel entrance every two or three years at an average cost of $200,000$300,000.

Murphy said the initial jetty funds would be used for design and engineering. Future funding requests for the construction of a new jetty could potentially bring the total project-related funding requests to about $3 million, he said.

Murphy noted both funding requests are subject to DeSantis’ budgetary approval.

“Nothing’s a done deal, but our lobbyist feels very confident the governor will sign them,” Murphy told the commission.

LOCAL BUSINESS PROTECTION ACT

Senate Bill 620 and its matching bill in the House of Representatives were adopted by the majority vote of the

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

Anna Maria Commission Chair Carol Carter hopes the governor will veto the proposed Local Business Protection Act. Mayor Dan Murphy expressed some concerns about the Local Business Protection Act’s potential impacts. respective legislative bodies. If signed into law by DeSantis, this legislation would allow businesses to sue city and county governments for lost revenues resulting from the adoption or amendment of local ordinances or charter provisions.

According to the matching bills adopted by the Senate and House, “A private, for-profit business may claim business damages from a county or municipality if the county or municipality enacts or amends an ordinance or charter provision that has or will cause a reduction of at least 15 percent of the business’ profit, as applied on a per location basis within the jurisdiction, and the business has engaged in lawful business in the jurisdiction for the three years preceding the enactment of or amendment to the ordinance or charter.”

The proposed Local Business Protection Act notes cities and counties would not be liable for business damages caused by an ordinance or charter provision that’s required to comply with state or federal law; local emergency ordinances or orders adopted under the State Emergency Management Act; a temporary emergency ordinance that remains in effect for no more than 90 days; an ordinance or charter provision relating to growth policies, county and municipal planning and land development regulation, or an ordinance or charter provision related to the adoption of a budget or budget amendment.

Representing Manatee County and a portion of Hillsborough County, Sen. Jim Boyd voted in favor of the legislation. Representing Manatee County, State Rep. Will Robinson Jr. also voted in favor of the legislation. If signed into state law, the legislation would take effect July 1.

POTENTIAL IMPACTS

City Attorney Becky Vose said the proposed state law could make it more

difficult for some cities and counties to regulate adult entertainment businesses and other less-desired business activities. She noted Anna Maria’s code of ordinances already prohibits adult entertainment establishments.

Regarding the legislation’s potential impacts, Murphy said, “The biggest potential impact is in the building department. We do all of our codes by ordinance. If we change an ordinance and a builder sees that it's having an impact on his revenue, not only can the homeowner come after us on a Bert Harris claim but then the builder can come after us.”

Murphy noted the proposed law, if enacted, would only apply to new ordinances, ordinance amendments or charter provisions and would not apply to existing city ordinances and charter provisions.

Commission Chair Carol Carter said a reduction of hours in which landscapers and other service providers are allowed to operate within the city could result in a business owner suing the city for lost revenues.

Through its Home Rule Florida website, www.homerulefl.com, the city of Anna Maria encourages concerned citizens to send emails or letters to DeSantis requesting that he veto the proposed legislation.

“It’s going to go to the governor’s desk, so we’re going to ask him to veto it,” Carter said.

Commissioner Robert Kingan suggested the commission, at a future meeting, adopt a city resolution to be sent to DeSantis in opposition of the proposed law.

It’s going to go to the governor’s desk, so we’re going to ask him to veto it.”

Carol Carter, Anna Maria City Commission chair

FAILED LEGISLATION

Senate Bill 280 proposed cities and counties be required to prepare a business impact analysis before adopting a new local ordinance or amending an existing ordinance. This failed legislation would have potentially subjected local governments to the significant costs associated with preparing budget impact analyses or paying outside firms to prepare them. The Senate bill also proposed making local governments responsible for the suing entity's attorney fees if the suing party prevailed in court.

Another piece of failed legislation, Senate Bill 512, proposed the annual registration fee for vacation rentals be limited to $50 for an individual or $100 for a collective vacation rental registration.

Legislature supports undergrounding request The state Legislature supports the city of Bradenton Beach’s $3 million appropriation request for ongoing efforts to underground utility lines, according to Bradenton Beach City Attorney Ricinda Perry. The request awaits approval by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

www.amisun.com

MARCH 16, 2022

OBITUARIES Marilyn Trevethan It is with great sadness that the family of Marilyn Elizabeth Trevethan announces her passing on March 4, 2022.

She has joined her husband John, son, Scott, and favorite son-in-law, Steve Schuldt, in Heaven.

Marilyn was born in Milwaukee, Wisc., to Harold and Blanche Lubitz, where she was raised with her sister, Barbara.

Over the decades she lived in several Midwest cities until moving to Florida in 1985. A well-known face in Anna Maria Island Real Estate, Marilyn loved making people’s Island dreams come true and happily worked until her late 80s. She started her real estate career on Anna Maria Island with Pat Neal at Neal & Neal, and then with Frank Davis at Island Real Estate, where she was a top producer. She was an original settler of the Perico Bay Club and was a well-known face in many of the local restaurants. She was a bright ray

COVID-19 IN MANATEE COUNTY SCHOOLS

Mar. 8 Anna Maria Elementary - 0 staff, 0 students Manatee County - 0 staff, 0 students Total since first day of school (AME) - 2 staff, 25 students Total since first day of school (county) - 860 staff, 4,510 students Mar. 16 Anna Maria Elementary - 0 staff, 0 students Manatee County - 0 staff, 0 students Total since first day of school (AME) - 2 staff, 25 students Total since first day of school (county) - 862 staff, 4,513 students

of sunshine who brought joy to all and was, and will always be, an inspiration to everyone. Marilyn is survived by her sister, Barbara, and her sons, Mark and Gary; two loving daughters, Allyson Trevethan and Donnalyn Trevethan; three grandchildren, Kimberly Schuldt, Karly Messimer and husband Jeremy, and Trever Schuldt and wife Tasia; and two great-grandchildren, Ethan and Elliot Messimer, who will strive to honor the memory of this generous, loving, wonderful woman. A special thanks to the compassionate staff at Westminster Health Center for the care they gave her in the last few years of her life.

At Marilyn’s request, a gathering to celebrate her life will be a private family affair. Condolences may be made to info@griffithcline.com or on their website www.griffithcline.com/obituary/ Marilyn-Trevethan. The family would be honored to hear your memories of her. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to local animal shelters or food banks.

Patrick Francis Patrick Francis, attorney at law, father of four, and decorated WWII veteran, passed away at age 96 at his home in Cortez, Florida, on Feb. 8, 2022. He died of natural causes.

COVID-19 IN MANATEE COUNTY

Mar. 8 Cases 297 % Positivity 5.14% Deaths 23 % Eligible population vaccinated 63.9% New hospital admissions 21 Mar. 16 Cases 186 % Positivity 3.22% Deaths 11 % Eligible population vaccinated 64% New hospital admissions 17 Source: CDC, Manatee County Schools

Patrick was born on March 15, 1925, in Brooklyn, N.Y., to a large Catholic family. In 1942, at age 17 - fibbing about his birth year - he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps to proudly serve his country in World War II, ultimately earning the rank of first lieutenant.

He fought for two years in the Pacific theater until he sustained massive gunshot injuries in August of 1944. He emerged from a coma three months later and began a rigorous 18-month rehabilitation. He was awarded two Purple Hearts and the Silver Star for his bravery.

In 1946 he married Louise Alford, when both were students at the University of Southern California. They had two daughters, Barbara, born in 1947, and Pamela, born in 1951. Patrick earned a degree at USC in political science and later earned a law degree from Loyola University in Los Angeles.

His second marriage was to Vernice "Birdie" Martin in 1965. His son, Patrick, was born in 1967, and his daughter, Cheryl, arrived in 1970. During the 1960s and '70s, Patrick steadily built his law practice working as a criminal defense attorney. He relished the challenge of legal combat, once telling his son with a wry smile, "It's what I used to do in the Marine Corps, but more lucrative." In 1974 he became one of the founders of the Encino Law Center on

BEACH BEAT HOLMES BEACH

3/2, 5:02 p.m., disturbing a public meeting, 5801 Marina Drive. At 5 p.m. the city’s planning commission started a Zoom meeting at city hall. The meeting was open to the public, at which time two unknown persons joined the meeting.

The first person started playing a video of a man on his cell phone, which abruptly stopped. The second person began playing a video of an unknown male subject naked and wishing a newlywed couple a happy marriage. The video stopped, and the clerk was able to shut down the Zoom meeting. The incident is under investigation.

3/3, 11:32 a.m., found person, 5600 Marina Drive. The officer was dispatched in reference to a missing person whose Onstar was pinging on Gulf Drive. Police Chief William Tokajer was in the vicinity and issued a traffic stop on the vehicle. The driver said she had become lost after coming to the Island from Tarpon Springs. The driver was taken to the police station and a family member was called to take her home and pick

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Ventura Boulevard, where he worked until his retirement in 2016.

Patrick met Marilyn Devin, the love of his life, in the mid-1970s. She was a newscaster at the time at KTLA Los Angeles, and he was smitten. They remained together for close to 50 years.

In 2016, they moved from Los Angeles to Florida, purchasing a home in Cortez, where they enjoyed a breathtaking view of the bay.

Patrick also had an artistic side, evidenced in his enthusiasm for collaborating with the architects who designed his many homes through the years. He also took great pride in his artistic blueprints for the outdoor spaces and gardens. An avid pilot and accomplished sailor, Patrick relished the freedom to fly to San Francisco for lunch or sail to Catalina on a sunny Saturday afternoon for the hell of it.

He is survived by his longtime companion, Marilyn Devin, his four children: Barbara Eide, Pamela Francis, Patrick Francis, Cheryl Francis; five grandchildren, his sister, Dorothy Mason, and Marilyn's two sons, Matthew Hendison and Scott Hendison.

Services will be at a later date. Brown & Sons Funeral Homes & Crematory, 43rd Street Chapel, 604 43rd Street West Bradenton, Florida 34209 is in charge of the arrangements. Condolences may be made to: www.brownansonsfuneral.com

up the vehicle.

3/3, 10:05 p.m., reckless driving, 4000 Gulf Drive. The officer on patrol at the corner of Gulf Drive and Manatee Avenue witnessed a blue, 4-door vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed estimated to be 50 miles per hour. The officer said the vehicle was obviously trying to get away from him as he traveled Gulf Drive, eventually turning onto 5th Avenue, which is a dead-end street. The officer waited for backup to arrive then approached the driver, who denied trying to elude the officer. The driver was given a notice to appear in traffic court on April 4. The officer said the driver had a poor record, having accumulated 11 points in 2021 alone.

3/5, 3:03 a.m. trespass warning, 3007 Gulf Drive. The officer responded to The Anchor Inn in reference to three male subjects that had been involved in a disturbance but were refusing to leave. Upon arrival, the officer talked to an authorized Anchor Inn employee who asked the officer to trespass the subjects.

The three men were told they could not return to the bar for at least a year, and the officer stayed until they had left the premises.

Photos of the three subjects were taken and placed into a case file.

32

THE SUN

SPORTS

MARCH 16, 2022

Moss Builders dominates youth flag football

BY MONICA SIMPSON SPECIAL TO THE SUN

ANNA MARIA – The stage was set at the beginning of the youth flag football season for volunteer coach Ryan Moss and his son, Mason, to sweep the championships in both youth flag leagues.

The task was not an easy one.

The Moss Builders teams each had their worthy opponents, challenging the veteran coach and his teams every step of the way.

At the end of last Tuesday night’s youth flag football playoff action, Moss Builders were the victors in the championship games in both the 8- to 10-year-old and 11- to 13-year-old leagues at the Island’s community center.

In the younger league, Moss Builders faced Prosper Bradenton in the semifinal game, defeating the underdog team by seven points, 3326. Solid Rock Construction defeated Beach Bums in a close one, 26-25, to move them on to the championship game against Moss Builders.

The two squads spent the entire season at the top of the ranks.

Despite two passing touchdowns

by Solid Rock’s QB Van Havell to Colson Mendiola and Mckenna Darak, Solid Rock could not capture the big win.

Isaac Roadman supported his team with a big catch. In addition to a TD reception, Roadman’s teammate, Darak, scored a point after attempt (PAT) and finished the game with four catches.

Mendiola and Havell connected for three receptions in the two halves of championship play.

Team support and big plays came throughout the season by Solid Rock teammates Nixon Conner, Matthew Darak, Braylen Briggs and Obi Roadman.

Impressive statistics were recorded by the younger Moss Builders team last Tuesday night. With Mason Moss at the helm playing quarterback, the team took the first of two championship games for the Moss Builders sponsor.

Throwing for 15 completions, four touchdowns and three extra points, Moss led his team to victory.

His targets were Aidan Guess and younger brother Miles Moss, each with three catches. Miles scored two points with successful PATs. Teammate Turner Worth had an extra point catch, in addition to receiving a touchdown throw from Mason Moss. Moss Builders’ Austin Guess topped the charts with three connections with Mason for a total of 18 points in the 27-15 final game of the season win.

Moss Builders success this season came with the offensive and defensive play of Andre Harwood, Gabrielle Bodnar, Blake Bodnar and Carson Long.

Team Nissan of Bradenton was the championship team’s semifinal opponent in the 11- to 13-yearold age group play. Winning by 10 points, Moss Builders went up against the tough, top-seeded Blalock Walters squad in the big game. Blalock advanced to play Moss Builders after their 15-point win over HSH. The final game of the night was action-packed and in the end was a two-point ballgame, with Moss

The adult flag football games were canceled last week due to rain, delaying the championship game to a date to be determined.

Adult indoor soccer play continued as scheduled, with the championship game on Thursday, March 17 at 9 p.m. at The Center.

MONICA SIMPSON | SUN

The 8- to 10-year-old flag football league champions, team Moss Builders, won the big game at the Island’s community center last week. Pictured left to right: Austin Guess, Andre Harwood, Aiden Guess, Turner Worth, Carson Long, Miles Moss, Mason Moss, and Coach Ryan Moss. Not pictured: Blake Bodnar and Gabrielle Bodnar.

Builders taking home the win 27-25.

Coming into the game as the topranked team, Blalock Walters knew the arm of Ashton Hovda would keep the game within reach, if not take his team all the way. With three passing touchdowns, two to brother Peyton Hovda and one to Liam Proud, Aston and the Blalock squad came close.

Teammate Jackson Zoller sped down the gridiron for six points, taking the football into the endzone. Cale Rudacille, with two critical catches in the game, scored an extra point for Blalock Walters, helping to keep his team on the heels of Moss Builders.

Mazie Zoller and Mattox Caseman wore the Blalock Walters jersey proudly and made key plays for their team all season.

Once again playing quarterback, Mason Moss helped his team win the final game of the night. Moss

threw three touchdown passes against the Blalock defense, hitting Greg Jordan each time.

Jordan and Moss connected 11 times for a total of 21 points, including three total extra points. Moss hit his other target, Luke Winsper, twice to make positive yardage.

The cherry on top in his dual league play this season was Moss’ rushing touchdown in the final game of the season. Taking the football into the endzone, Moss added six points of his own to the record books.

The 11- to 13-year-old championship Moss Builders team chased the season leader, Blalock Walters, all season with the entire team playing at the top of their game.

Matthew Winsper, Austin Guess, Bella Roadman, Addie Guess, Joey Suebert and Maddie Darak played hard and fought hard all season, helping to make Moss Builders champions.

SUN SCOREBOARD TUESDAY, MARCH 8 YOUTH FLAG FOOTBALL – SEMIFINAL PLAYOFF GAMES 8- TO 10-YEAR-OLD LEAGUE Moss Builders Prosper Bradenton

33 26

Beach Bums Solid Rock Construction

25 26

11- TO 13-YEAR-OLD LEAGUE Blalock Walters HSH

29 14

Moss Builders Nissan of Bradenton

27 17

YOUTH FLAG FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

8- TO 10-YEAR-OLD LEAGUE

Moss Builders Solid Rock Construction

11- TO 13-YEAR-OLD LEAGUE

Moss Builders Blalock Walters

27 15 27 25

ADULT CO-ED INDOOR SOCCER – PLAYOFF GAMES Progressive Cabinetry 7 Gulfview Windows & Doors 21 Slim’s Place Mi-Box

6 0

MARCH 16, 2022

FUN IN THE SUN

Across 1 Get ready, as for surgery 5 Dada lover?

9 Breathe like a hot dog 13 Trevi Fountain city 14 "Yeah, right!"

15 Stomach woe 16 "In memoriam" bio 17 Shout 18 Caulking need 19 Dome-shaped frozen areas at the two ends of the Earth 22 Distinctive manner of writing, say 23 Sit-__: protests 24 Bro's sibling 27 One in charge of a depot 32 Throw in 35 Zip, in soccer 36 Slow musical movement

Answers to 03-09-22 Crossword Puzzle.

37 Cognac, crème de cacao and cream cocktail 42 Swahili's language group 43 1950s prez 44 On the __: sneakily 45 Over an extended period 50 Scratch (out), as a living 51 Smidgen 52 Harbor cities 56 Junior high ... and what each set of circles is?

60 "__ Secretary": Téa Leoni title role 63 Ultra-modest skirt 64 Microsoft browser 65 Banishment 66 Enthusiastic 67 Big jump 68 Came's opposite 69 Basketball Hall of

THE SUN

Famer Archibald or Thurmond 70 Share on Facebook, say Down 1 Yorick's skull in "Hamlet" and the dagger in "Macbeth," e.g.

2 Automaton 3 Poet Dickinson 4 Rose features 5 Polite request 6 "Just __ ... " 7 1,760 yards 8 Merged union: Abbr.

9 In addition to 10 Assume a role 11 Bottom line 12 Give it a go 15 Swedish university city 20 Like a prof. emeritus 21 Columnist Landers 24 Transmits 25 Major chip maker 26 Kid's bedtime request 28 "... have you __ wool?"

29 Andalusian aunt 30 Messin' around, in rap slang 31 With 41-Down, boomer's kid 32 "Steal This Book" author Hoffman 33 Had a beer, say 34 "Divine Comedy" poet 38 Utmost degree 39 Eventually and aptly,

after "in" 40 Heart test: Abbr.

41 See 31-Down 46 Young fellow 47 Extra guy who's "out" 48 Scanned bars: Abbr.

49 Of little value 53 Wyoming's state sport 54 Roman wraps 55 Took a nap 56 Brewer's need 57 Etna output

58 Leave the room 59 One of a cube's six 60 Kitty's sound 61 Lumberjack tool 62 Terrible racket

33

34

THE SUN

CLASSIFIED

ANNOUNCEMENTS

FOR SALE

BEACH YOGA ON Wednesdays, Saturdays & Sundays at 8:30am at the end of Pine Ave by the Sandbar Restaurant by donation. www.thriveyogafit.com

TOURING BICYCLE: LYNSKEY, TITANIUM, 'Sportive' 21gear., custom components: Shimano, Bontrager 'Race' carbon fork FSA, ASOO flat spoke wheels: virtually new, $4200 OBO. Call David 941-778-9315

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.

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 THC CLEANING : Residential, Commercial, Rentals, VRBO. Professional and Reliable. Call 941-756-4570 or 941565-3931

EMPLOYMENT 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 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: Mike Field, publisher.

FISHING CHARTERS CAPT. MAC GREGORY Fishing Charters. Full Day, Half Day, Night, Inshore & Near Shore. 941-809-5783 U.S.C.G. Certified/Insured

Call us today! 941-778-3986

CLASSIC BRITISH SEAGULL (1988), QBSeries, Curlew, pristine, no corrosion (used once), 4hp, Original Manual, $950 OBO. Call David in Holmes Beach: 941-778-9315

GARAGE, MOVING, RUMMAGE & YARD SALES

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.

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.

SALE, Years of eclectic collecting! 8:30 am. FridaySaturday, March 18-19.

Costume jewelry, small furniture, antique quilt, more cool stuff. Dealers welcome. No early birds. 515 70th St, Holmes Beach.

Decluttering and Organizing for your home or office. Packing/Unpacking & room revitalization to create comfortable and enjoyable environments. 765404-6608 Free Estimates!

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

LANDSCAPING & LAWN CARE

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

Neil 941-726-3077

R. GAROFALO’S Interlocking brick pavers, driveways, patios, pool decks. Free estimates. Licensed & Insured.

Call Rafael 941-778-4823 or Veronik 941-526-7941

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 18 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.

ISLAND RESIDENT. TREE/ BUSH Trimming, removal.

Sweeping, blowing, weeding. Weekly, bi-monthly or monthly schedule. Pressure washing: driveways, walkways, fences, pool decks/ cages. Call Bill Witaszek 941-307-9315.

SEARAY SPRINKLER SERVICES. Repairs, Additions, Drip, Timer Head Adjustments. Call Rick today Cell 720-299-1661 Office 941920-0775 SHELL DRIVEWAYS & LANDSCAPE. Specializing in Old Florida Seashell driveways and scapes. Also Rock, Mulch, & Soil. Free estimates. Call Shark Mark 941-301-6067

LOST & FOUND LOST PRESCRIPTION SUNGLASSES in black case between Gulf Watch and Beach House Restaurant.

Please call 847-563-8365.

FOUND PACKAGE WITH CAMERA EQUIPMENT including SD cards, Cannon Lenses. Found near 1101 Gulf Dr N Queen’s Gate Resort Call 941-320-2697

MARCH 16, 2022

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.

Paperhanging/removal Faux finishes. Interior painting. Mary Bell Winegarden 941-794-0455 PROFESSIONAL PAINTING SERVICES. Prompt & Reliable. Island Resident.

Quality Workmanship.

Interior/Exterior. Also minor repairs & carpentry. Free written detailed 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 AUTHORITY ONE CLEANING : Residential, Commercial, Construction, Vacation, VRBO Rentals . Also available Pressure Washing, Roof Cleaning, Paver Sealing and Windows. Call 941565-3931.

AMISUN.COM

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 REALTOR FOR HIRE. BUYING OR SELLING on AMI? 17 years experience & USAF Veteran.

Call Kelly Gitt Keller Williams Realty today 941-799-9299.

104 29th STREET UNIT #3 Holmes Beach Fl 34217.

Steps to the beach, Peak a boo views from the unit of the GULF 2 BA/1.5BA. Upstairs unit. Weekly rental great income potential. $950,000 Sharon Hightower RE/MAX Alliance Group 941-3305054

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 513-3821992.

RENTALS: SEASONAL & VACATION TIFFANY PLACE Gulf Front Condo for Rent Incredible views from living room and master bedroom. 2BR/2BA Green Real Estate Call 941-778-0455 SEASONAL RENTAL in PALMA SOLA. 3BR/2BA weekly or monthly rates.

Contact Barb Grace 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 PERICO BAY CLUB rental.

3BR/2BA Available April through October. Call Dave 856-495-7200 SUMMER AT THE BEACH Anna Maria Island.

Updated 5 star Condo.

Available May to November (monthly with multiple month discount) Million $ water view. First floor 2BR/2BA beautiful water view deck, walk to beach, pool, tennis. Smoke free.

Boat dock available. Email NOW rentamiwaterview@ aol.com VACATION RENTAL 2BR/2BA Cozy Cottage.

Tastefully furnished, close to beach, tennis courts and boat ramp in Holmes Beach. Call 941-778-2919 Renting March 26 thru December 31.

TRANSPORTATION AMI TAXI metered-on-callcards accepted. Airport: Tampa $95, Sarasota $50, Clearwater $85, Orlando $195. Call 941-447-8372 or 941-447-8376. amitaxi4u@ gmail.com, www.amitaxi. com ANYTIME TRANSPORTATION to all Airports, Casino, etc. Tampa/St. Pete $80.

Sarasota $40. Pets welcome. Very dependable.

Reasonable rates. Contact Jeanne. 941-779-5095 AIRPORT RIDES- Tampa, St. Pete, Sarasota. Reasonable rates! Call or text Anna 941-932-1600

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