Anna Maria Island Sun May 19, 2021

- Named Best Florida Newspaper In Its Class -

VOL 21 No. 32

May 19, 2021

City denies Center funding In a 3-2 vote, The Center lost out on $22,500 in funding from the city of Holmes Beach.

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

KRISTIN SWAIN | SUN

HOLMES BEACH – In what’s proved to be a controversial decision, commissioners voted to deny The Center of Anna Maria Island a financial contribution from the city.

The decision was a split one with Commissioners Carol Soustek and Terry Schaefer voting to give The Center an already-budgeted financial contribution of $22,500 and Commissioners Jim Kihm, Jayne Christenson and Kim Rash voting against the donation.

Before the vote took place during a May 11 meeting, Schaefer reminded his fellow commissioners that they had previously decided to donate $5,000 to the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce’s passport program from the approved budget line for charitable contributions, leaving $17,500 in the budget. City Treasurer Lori Hill suggested taking $5,000 from the mayor and commission discretionary fund, which has about $40,000 left in it for the 2020-21 fiscal year after other planned expenditures. She said the city has been contributing at least $22,500 annually to The Center since 1998.

Manatee County Commissioner and former Holmes

The Marshall Tucker Band kicked off the Gulf Island Concert Series May 13 on the field at The Center of Anna Maria Island. See more on Page 11.

Piney Point spill leads to lawsuit Five area environmental groups are suing state and county agencies and a private company for dumping 215 million gallons of polluted water into Tampa Bay earlier this year.

BY CINDY LANE SUN STAFF WRITER | clane@amisun.com

TAMPA BAY – Five conservation groups issued a notice on Tuesday saying they intend to file a federal lawsuit over the intentional discharge of “hundreds of tons of pollutants into Tampa Bay” earlier this year.

The Center for Biological Diversity, Tampa Bay Waterkeeper, Suncoast Waterkeeper, ManaSota-88 and Our Children’s Earth Foundation announced

INSIDE NEWS 4 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 6 OUTDOORS 34 CASTLES IN THE SAND 38 REAL ESTATE 38-42 SPORTS 44 CROSSWORD 45

a forthcoming lawsuit against the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the Manatee County Port Authority and HRK Holdings, the owner of Piney Point, for violations of the Clean Water Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and Endangered Species Act. They claim the defendants are liable for “endangering the public and harming marine ecosystems and endangered species” by failing to maintain the gyp stacks and the waste storage ponds built into them at the closed Piney Point phosphate plant in Palmetto.

After a leak in a gyp stack was discovered on March 26, officials ordered the emergency evacuation of hundreds of nearby Manatee County homes, SEE PINEY POINT, PAGE 40

State COVID-19 testing sites close However, many local pharmacies are still offering free testing at numerous locations.

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

MANATEE COUNTY – Driving past the Bradenton Area Convention Center, you might notice a change in the parking lot. The COVID-19 testing site that’s been a fixture in the southwest corner of the lot for the past several months is closed.

The order to close all state COVID-19 testing sites by May 28 came from the Florida Department of Health on May 11. Two of the first ones to close were in Manatee and

Sarasota counties, both of which were set to close May 15 after testing for the day concluded.

Though the walk-up site at the convention center is no more, Manatee County residents still have options to receive free COVID-19 tests.

Local Walgreens and CVS locations are offering free COVID-19 testing with both rapid tests and more detailed diagnostic tests that take a few days to receive results.

On Anna Maria Island, both CVS and Walgreens offer the diagnostic test. For a rapid test, Islanders will need to drive into town.

To book an appointment for COVID-19 testing at a Walgreens location, SEE SITES, PAGE 37

NEW CORTEZ Bridge in final

FIND ALL your

winners in the Readers’ Choice Contest. 15-31

Anna Maria Island, Florida

SEE CENTER, PAGE 36

design phase. 3 WILD iguanas now call Anna Maria

Island home. 13

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MAY 19, 2021

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Cortez Bridge design enters final phase A new Cortez Bridge is a step closer to reality.

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

HOLMES BEACH – The new high, fixed-span Cortez Bridge is nearing design completion.

Speaking at the May 10 Island Transportation Planning Organization meeting in Holmes Beach, Florida Department of Transportation representatives Roxann Lake and Doug Hershey presented the design plans created by the aesthetics committee for the project.

The project is to replace the existing aging drawbridge with a much taller, fixed-span bridge with a 62-foot marine clearance.

The bridge connects the village of Cortez with Bradenton Beach along Cortez Road. Spanning from State Road 789/Gulf Drive in Bradenton Beach to 123rd Street West in Cortez, the bridge is planned to have two 12-foot travel lanes, two 10-foot shoulders and two 10-foot

SUBMITTED | FDOT

The aesthetics committee designing the look of the new Cortez Bridge has completed a rendering of the proposed design. sidewalks. On the roadway, those numbers translate to two 11-foot vehicle lanes, two six-foot bicycle lanes and two 10-foot pedestrian sidewalks.

The bridge is designed to have dual-column piers below with four

overlooks stationed at different points along the span. Those overlooks, two on each side, will be for pedestrians but are not planned to have benches or other services. A wave design was selected for the pedestrian railings.

The new bridge also is planned to have pier lighting underneath the roadway that can change in color and intensity.

At their next meeting, aesthetics committee members will be faced with a final few decisions, such as the color of the bridge, top-side lighting, retaining wall aesthetics and landscaping for the bridge approaches.

The aesthetics committee is made up of 11 volunteer members from the nearby communities. Their final meeting is planned for June 2021.

FDOT wants to have 60% of the phase II plans completed by August, with final plans due by the end of the calendar year. A public meeting to discuss the bridge replacement is planned for early 2022. Project letting is tentatively scheduled for 2025.

To see all of the plans for the new Cortez Bridge and submit public feedback to FDOT, visit www. cortezbridge.com.

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ISLAND NEWS

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MAY 19, 2021

IN BRIEF

‘Insufficient evidence’ in Morris case A Manatee County Grand Jury found on May 13 that evidence in the Jan. 1, 2009 death of Sheena Morris in a hotel room in Bradenton Beach was insufficient to establish a homicide, according to a press release from 12th Judicial Circuit State Morris Attorney Ed Brodsky.

The Statewide Prosecutor’s office took the case to a grand jury after Morris’ mother, Kelly Osborn, insisted her daughter’s death was not a suicide, as Bradenton Beach police concluded at the scene.

Jurors heard testimony from Bradenton Beach police, Florida Department of Law Enforcement officers, five medical examiners, a crime scene expert and two members of Morris’ family.

Osborne wrote on her Facebook page, “I am disappointed and exhausted from the last 12 years. It was a long fought battle to have Sheena’s case heard. It is my opinion that the ‘evidence is insufficient’ because the Bradenton Beach Police Department failed to do their jobs 12 years ago.”

City leaders support continued mask requirements

Gov. Ron DeSantis may have done away with mask mandates created by local governments in Florida but Holmes Beach city leaders are still supporting businesses that want to require patrons to wear masks when inside their establishments. At a May 11 meeting, commissioners commented that while the governor’s orders have effectively ended their mask mandate, business owners can still require patrons to use face coverings. Commissioner Terry Schaefer commented that for any business facing challenges with mask enforcement, they can contact the Holmes Beach Police Department to have anyone not being respectful of a request to wear masks trespassed off the property. Commissioner Carol Soustek requested that the requirement to wear masks inside continue at city hall.

Holmes Beach hosts vaccine pop up For anyone who still needs a COVID-19 vaccine, the city of Holmes Beach will be hosting a one-day pop-up event. On May 27, anyone age 18 and older can come by Holmes Beach City Hall at 5801 Marina Drive from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. to get a COVID-19 vaccine. The one dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine will be given to participants. No documents will be required to receive the vaccine at the event.

JASON SCHAFFER | SUN

Golfers get ready for the shotgun start of the 22nd Annual AMI Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament.

AMI Chamber Golf Tournament another big success More scholarship money was raised at the sold-out Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce 22nd Annual Golf Tournament at IMG Academy Golf Club.

BY JASON SCHAFFER SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com

BRADENTON - Golfers of all skill levels came out to enjoy a day on the links and support a great cause at this year’s Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament.

The match again was held at the IMG Academy Golf Club in Bradenton, a course known to be challenging for even the most skilled golfers, but enjoyable for players of all skill levels.

“As you can see, it’s a very unforgiving course, but this is a great tournament and a lot of fun,” said one golfer who had just hit his tee shot into a pond. That particular hole offered a new Cadillac to any golfer that could sink a 170-yard hole-in-one. The Cadillac didn’t go home with anyone

JASON SCHAFFER | SUN

at this year’s tournament, but thanks to the generosity of many area businesses, there was an abundance of great swag for the field.

The tournament, now in its 22nd year, is held every May and benefits the Chamber’s Scholarship Program. This year, the Chamber is awarding a $1,000 scholarship to a Manatee County graduating senior seeking a four-year degree, and a $1,000 scholarship to a Manatee County graduating senior

seeking local trade or careerfocused education.

Applications for the 2021 scholarships have already been accepted, and the Chamber will award them Thursday, March 25 at the AMI Chamber Business Card Exchange meeting. Scholarships are funded by the annual golf tournament, as well as other events held by the Chamber.

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Net camp headed back to court Junior Guthrie asks for another extension to save his net camp, but DEP remains opposed.

BY CINDY LANE SUN STAFF WRITER | clane@amisun.com

CORTEZ – For the second time, Raymond Guthrie Jr. is asking a local court to delay its order to demolish a structure he built on pilings in Sarasota Bay in 2017.

In a document filed on May 11 by Bradenton attorney Robert Schermer, Guthrie asks the 12th Judicial Circuit Court in Manatee County to grant a 90-day extension to allow four Florida legislators to help supporters find a way to save what Guthrie calls a net camp.

Net camps, which once dotted the Cortez waterfront in Sarasota Bay, were used to clean, dry and store cotton nets. They declined in the 1970s when net makers began using monofilament nets and were made virtually obsolete by the 1994 Florida gill net ban.

Citing prior net camps his family built on the same spot, Guthrie claimed ownership of the property, but the

FACEBOOK/KEEP THE CAMP | SUBMITTED

The structure built in 2017 is on borrowed time under a court order for demolition. court ruled that the state owns the submerged land under his structure and ordered its demolition by Jan. 24, granting a 60-day extension on March 1 to allow the Florida Legislature time to act to save the structure.

While the Legislature did not act, Sen. Jim Boyd (R-Bradenton), Rep. Tommy Gregory (R-Manatee), Rep. Michele Rayner (D-Manatee) and Rep. Bill Robinson (R-Manatee) sent a letter

on April 29 to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) which initiated the complaint against Guthrie - suggesting the agency work with them to save the net camp.

“It has been rebuilt multiple times and is currently a more modern building than the previous structure,” the legislators wrote. “While the Guthrie Net Camp has lost some of its historic charm, it is an important part of the

history of Cortez. We hope to find a way to save and preserve this small piece of Florida history for future generations to enjoy.”

In Guthrie’s request to the court for a second stay, his attorney states that Guthrie and his siblings are in the process of providing a bill of sale for the structure to an unnamed not-forprofit group that could apply to DEP to lease the submerged land under the structure.

Manatee County commissioners wrote DEP in their second letter of support on April 15 that while the structure does not conform to state standards, they believe that such an organization pledged to “the historical interpretation, facade reconstruction and subsequent maintenance of the structure will restore the net camp to its historical character.”

Whether the structure is owned by a not-for-profit organization is irrelevant, according to DEP spokeswoman Shannon Herbon, who said the agency intends to pursue the demolition.

The case has not yet been set for a hearing.

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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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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 Outdoors editor Rusty Chinnis Advertising director Shona Otto Ad assistant Pamela Lee Classified ads Bob Alexander Graphics Elaine Stroili Ricardo Fonseca Digital/Social Media editor Cindy Lane Accounting John Reitz Distribution Bob Alexander Tony McNulty Connor Field Contributors Tom Vaught Steve Borggren Monica Simpson

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Anti-Center vote 'appalling' It has come to my attention that at Tuesday evening’s Holmes Beach City Commission meeting on May 11, 2021, commissioners voted to not deliver funding of $22,500 (2% of annual budget) to The Center. Considering the funds in question are readily available, and that this funding was approved at the city commission level when they passed this year’s budget, I would love to know how any commissioner could possibly think it's acceptable to vote to reverse course at this late hour.

My husband and I moved to the Island in 2018 from Texas primarily because we loved the sense of community this Island fosters. Our Community Center is the heart of that. Since moving here both my husband and I have participated in intramural sports, our older daughter, Reagan, 4, has played soccer and our younger daughter, Riley, 1, has been dubbed our soccer and kickball team mascot! We have attended numerous fundraisers, fall festivals and family fun days at The Center and look forward to doing so again in the future.

I am appalled that this year, in the midst of a global pandemic, when more than ever, we need to support The Center, commissioners would vote to strip promised

funding. I was under the impression that the job of the commissioner was to try to better the community. In fact, that was what many of you campaigned on.

Kim Rash: "The best candidate for the residents" Jayne Christensen: "Commitment to Community." Furthermore, under community involvement, you literally listed "The Center of Anna Maria Island supporter."

Jim Kihm: Talked multiple times throughout his campaign about engaging with residents to better the community.

I find it extremely concerning that not only are you failing to deliver already-promised funding, but you are also failing to fulfill the campaign promises on which you all ran. Being an active part of this community, I often hear people saying they want more families/full time residents.

Jeopardizing the Center, which is undoubtedly the single greatest resource for families on this Island, is the surest way to guarantee people won't move to AMI and enrich our already wonderful community.

In the year+ since COVID has changed our day-to-day lives, the Center has had to close its doors, suspend programming and forgo fundraisers in an effort to keep our community as safe as possible. So, while 2% of the annual budget may not seem like much,

it is extremely important that they receive that funding, which they have already incorporated into their financial plan.

While it may be within the purview of the commissioners to vote on where funding is allotted, those votes should represent the needs of the constituents they have sworn to serve, so I very much hope that when this matter comes up again on May 25, the commissioners who voted against funding The Center will do the right thing and reconsider their votes.

Christine Shuck Holmes Beach

A baffling action At the May 11, 2021, Holmes Beach City Commission meeting, you voted against continued funding for the Center of Anna Maria Island. Your vote baffles me.

The Center is unique on our Island because of the wide variety of citizens it touches each year along with its direct ties to Anna Maria Elementary School. I would think you are aware The Center provides after-school programs for students at AME along with numerous camps. Some of those students live in Holmes Beach. I would also think you are aware that the folks visiting The Center regularly are not just from the city of Anna Maria. There are actually SEE LETTERS, PAGE 7

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MAY 19, 2021

ON THE AGENDA ANNA MARIA

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

City hall is open to the public with limited capacity and safety protocols in place. Please visit www.cityofannamaria.com or contact city hall for more information.

May 27, 6 p.m. – City Commission meeting May 31, all day – City offices closed for Memorial Day

BRADENTON BEACH

107 GULF DRIVE N. FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-778-1005

City hall is open to the public with limited capacity and safety protocols in place. Please visit www.cityofbradentonbeach.com or contact city hall for more information.

May 19, 10 a.m. – Planning and Zoning board meeting May 20, noon – City Commission meeting May 31, all day – City offices closed for Memorial Day

HOLMES BEACH

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

May 19, 10 a.m. – Code Compliance special magistrate hearing May 25, 6 p.m. – City Commission meeting with work session to follow May 31, all day – City offices closed for Memorial Day

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR FROM PAGE 6

people, like me, who visit The Center three or more times a week. I frequently see Holmes Beach neighbors.

This year, Island families filled soccer leagues, flag football leagues and enjoyed our recent community cookout fundraiser on April 24 designed to Celebrate The Center and help it reach its fundraising goal for this year. The Center is experiencing a deficit at this late point in the fiscal year due because of COVID impacts.

I ask you to reconsider your decision before the next vote on this matter at the May 25, 2021 meeting and also consider working with The Center over the summer in preparation for the 2022 fiscal year budget with an eye toward steadily increasing this annual investment in our local families, businesses and environment.

Vote “Yes” for The Center’s full distribution of $22,500 and fulfill your duty and promise to our community made during your budget development process.

Maureen F. Shuman Holmes Beach

A sad statement We read with dismay the Commission's vote to not live up to its promise of dollars to The Center. For those of

ISLAND-WIDE

May 24, 3 p.m. – Manatee County hurricane season town hall, Holmes Beach City Hall MARKYOUR CALENDAR

WEDNESDAY MAY 19

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

Golfing for God, IMG Academy Golf Club, 4350 El Conquistador Pkwy., Bradenton, 2:45 p.m. tee time, 5:30 p.m. bible study and dinner, $40 for golf and dinner, $20 for dinner.

Reservations required. Reserve to www.roserchurch.com/g4g/.

THURSDAY MAY 20

Seashell Shore Walk, Coquina Beach, 2650 Gulf Drive S., Bradenton Beach, 9 a.m.

Registration required at www.eventbrite. com/e/149739748619.

RoserRobics, Roser Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, 9:30 a.m., no cost but donations welcome. Participants asked to bring bottled water and wear a face mask or shield.

Farm stand, Holmes Beach City Hall, 5801 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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

you who supported the Center and its budget, thank you.

Most communities have a tax-funded recreation department - e.g. GT Bray that provides activities for citizens, all ages, of the community. The Center is our only community recreation "department.”

Jim and I have been avid users and supporters at The Center. Their physical training and classes keep many of us older generation healthy and active.

The before- and after-school, vacation and sports programs provide activities and safe haven for the younger generation children and their parents. And there are programs that would be provided by an Adult Ed program in most communities. User fees are charged for all these activities, but without taxpayer dollars, these activity fees would be exorbitant.

Jim and I are also donors to The Center, as we strongly believe in its necessity. We are active in its fundraising: House Tour, concert series and its Save the Environment program.

That our Center, truly AMI's only recreation department, has to beg for dollars from each city is a sad statement of what our tax dollars are doing.

Please reinstate the $22,500 and perhaps consider more as this is in essence our community's recreation department. Thank you, James and Lenore (Lee) McParland Holmes Beach

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FRIDAY

TUESDAY

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

RoserRobics, Roser Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, 9:30 a.m., no cost but donations welcome. Participants asked to bring bottled water and wear a face mask or shield.

MAY 21

SATURDAY MAY 22

Robinson Runners, Robinson Preserve Mosaic Nest, 840 Ninth Ave. 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. Face masks required.

Whitey Horton Putt-Putt Pub Crawl with the Anna Maria Island Privateers, The Fish Hole Miniature Golf, 115 Bridge St., Bradenton Beach, 10 a.m., $50. Tickets available at www. amiprivateers.org.

Tortoise talks, Valentine House lawn, Robinson Preserve, 1704 99th St. N.W., Bradenton, 2 p.m.

SUNDAY MAY 23

Rise and Shine Power Flow Yoga, Robinson Preserve Mosaic Nest, 840 Ninth Ave. N.W., Bradenton 10:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m., $10 fee payable online. Bring your own yoga mat. Register at https://parks.mymanatee.org/wbwsc/webtrac.wsc/search. html?primarycode=110006 or call 941-7425923 ext. 6042 for more information.

An honest, trustworthy person The priest from St. Bernard church started Rosary on the Beach every Wednesday morning at the Café on the Beach in 2000. That is where we met Theresa and Kim Rash. We spent time praying together and getting to know each other on those beautiful sunrise walks. Over the years, we grew to become the very best of friends. When you meet someone as trustworthy and honest as Kim (and Theresa), you can’t help but become good friends. If anyone ever needs anything or help in any way, Kim is always the first to offer his help. He often helps his friends, the church, or the community at his own expense… he never says no to anyone.

He always says, “I don’t have a hobby like golf or fishing, my hobby is to help my family and my friends.”

We also know for a fact that his word is as good as gold. When we sold Kim and Theresa our townhouse on Holmes Boulevard in 2003, we made a deal with no contracts. Our deal was made on a handshake. We did not close on the house until 10 months later. Kim gave us a large check as a down payment with nothing on paper and no contract, which helped us to go ahead and remodel our new home during those 10 months. Everything about that deal went very well because of the good word of Kim Rash. He is a man of integrity and honesty.

We trust him with our lives and we know that he is one of the best friends

MAY 25

WEDNESDAY MAY 26

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

THURSDAY MAY 27

Farm stand, Holmes Beach City Hall, 5801 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

COVID-19 vaccine pop-up, Holmes Beach City Hall, 5801 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Ages 18 and up only. No documents required.

RoserRobics, Roser Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, 9:30 a.m., no cost but donations welcome. Participants asked to bring bottled water and wear a face mask or shield.

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

AMI Chamber Business Card Exchange, Slicker’s Eatery, 12012 Cortez Road W., Bradenton, 5 p.m. Reservations required.

Reserve to Becky@amichamber.org or 941778-1541.

anyone can have. We are very blessed to know him. He has been good for Holmes Beach and for the residents because you can always count on Kim Rash. The accusations made by a neighbor who has been very difficult to deal with for several months are absolute nonsense. Anyone that knows Kim Rash would know this.

Rich and Laura Clara Weingart Holmes Beach

Dedication appreciated Recently, some unfortunate occurrences happened to one of our city’s most honorable residents.

We all have dealings with people that we just can’t seem to relate to. Our ideals and beliefs are so far apart that no matter how we try there just seems to be friction.

I have known Kim Rash for over 10 years. His dedication to his city, his friendship and his charitable contributions go above and beyond.

I hope this unpleasant occurrence doesn’t shake his resolve and have him question how much his dedication is appreciated.

Renee Ferguson Holmes Beach

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MAY 19, 2021

Red tide remains at low levels

BY CINDY LANE SUN STAFF WRITER | clane@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Low levels of red tide persist in Manatee County, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission weekly report.

Background concentrations were detected at the Palma Sola Bay bridge and in a canal in Anna Maria Sound near Avenue B. Very low concentrations of the toxic algae were detected in water samples at School Key (Key Royale on Anna Maria Island) and the mouth of the Manatee River.

Low concentrations were detected at the Rod & Reel Pier in Anna Maria and in Sarasota Bay at the Longboat Pass boat ramp in Bradenton Beach.

No red tide-related respiratory irritation or fish kills were reported over the past week in Manatee County.

Red tide produces a neu-

rotoxin called brevetoxin that can cause respiratory irritation, coughing, and more serious illness for people with severe or chronic respiratory conditions such as asthma, emphysema or COPD, according to the Florida Department of Health. Health officials recommend that people experiencing symptoms stay away from the water, go inside to an air-conditioned space, or wear masks, especially during onshore winds.

Consuming shellfish exposed to red tide can cause neurotoxic shellfish poisoning.

Health officials also warn against swimming near dead fish and advise keeping pets away from dead fish and seafoam, which can contain high concentrations of algae.

Pets are not allowed on Anna Maria Island’s beaches but are allowed on the Palma Sola Causeway on Manatee Avenue.

Environmental officials say that the nutrients phospho-

RED TIDE REPORT High

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

Medium

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

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION | SUBMITTED

A Bradenton Beach canal in Anna Maria Sound near 2714 Ave. B was filled with rotting plant matter the afternoon of May 10, according to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, which is monitoring water quality after the discharge of polluted water from the former Piney Point phosphate plant last month. Results are pending on the identification of the algae. rus and nitrogen, which feed toxic red tide algae blooms, were present in the 215 million gallons of polluted water discharged last month into Tampa Bay at Port Manatee from one of the closed Piney Point phosphate plant’s retention ponds, built into a gypsum stack. The emergency

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release, which ended April 9, took pressure off the compromised stack, avoiding its collapse and a more serious spill. The polluted water is spreading in Tampa Bay and its estuaries and into the Gulf of Mexico, according to the University of South Florida College of Marine Science.

Low

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

Very low

(possible respiratory irritation)

Background (no effects)

None

(no red tide present)

Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

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MAY 19, 2021

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Anna Maria offers COVID vaccines The city of Anna Maria will host a COVID-19 mobile vaccination clinic on Tuesday, May 25 and Wednesday, May 26 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The mobile vaccination clinic will be located at City Pier Park, 101 North Bay Blvd., across the street from the City Pier.

The clinic will be administering the Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccines for anyone 18 years and older. No appointment is necessary and consent forms will be available. As an incentive to increase the number of vaccinations,

the city of Anna Maria is offering a free Anna Maria souvenir with each vaccination. For more information, call 941708-6130, extension 121. In response to a recent order issued by Gov. Ron DeSantis, the Anna Maria Commission lifted all remaining local COVID-19 emergency orders on Thursday, May 13. Facemasks are no longer required, but remain optional, at city hall, the city annex building and at city-hosted events held on city properties, including City Pier Park.

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Beach Police Chief Willis Howard “Snooks” Adams. Adams served as the Holmes Beach Police Chief from 1962 to 1978 and started this event in 1954 while serving as a member of the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office. In 2010, Adams passed away at the age of 92.

The end of anonymous code complaints

SUBMITTED

Privateers hosting annual Snooks Adams Day The Anna Maria Island Privateers will host their annual Snooks Adams Kids Day event on Saturday, May 29. The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at City Pier Park in Anna Maria, across the street from the City Pier. The event will feature a treasure hunt, games and other fun-filled activities for kids of all ages. Admission is free and kids will receive a free hot dog and drink. The annual event honors the memory of former Holmes

Senate Bill 60 passed votes in the Florida House and Senate during the 2021 legislative session and if Gov. Ron DeSantis signs off on it, the new legislation will end the ability of code officers to investigate anonymous complaints. Holmes Beach commissioners briefly discussed the measure during a May 11 meeting, noting that future complaints to the city’s code compliance officers will need to be made by people willing to identify themselves.

Police Chief Bill Tokajer said it’s in the victim’s, or injured party’s, best interest to identify themselves so that if the issue goes to court or before a special magistrate, officers have someone directly affected by the incident to present, which strengthens the case.

Pickleball surface not changing in Holmes Beach The results of the survey put out to Holmes Beach pickleball players are in and likely won’t make everyone happy. During a May 11 commission meeting, Public Works Administrator Matt McDonough told commissioners that 61 people had responded to the survey over a month and that the results were solidly in favor of keeping the current pickleball courts at city field as-is without changing the playing surface.

That surface has been the talk of players for months, with some complaining it’s too slippery and could cause injuries and with others saying the balls don’t bounce correctly on the court. Rather than looking at changing the playing surface for the pickleball courts, McDonough told commissioners he recommended looking at the landscaping surrounding the courts as a next step. For players preferring a hard surface, the city’s tennis courts, located across the street from the pickleball courts, have been restriped to allow for pickleball or tennis to be played there.

MAY 19, 2021

‛S YOUR COMFORT ZONE? WHERE

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Concerts return to The Center ANNA MARIA – Live concerts are back and the 2021 Bradenton Gulf Islands Concert Series kicked off with a bang as The Marshall Tucker Band took the stage.

The first show of the season at The Center of Anna Maria Island was a little different than in years past. The concert took place outdoors on the nonprofit’s sports fields with mask requirements in place and attendees bringing their own lawn chairs to take advantage of the fresh air and a bit of normalcy after a not-so-normal year.

Local favorite Trevor Bystrom took the stage to perform, getting the crowd warmed up for the main event, southern rockers The Marshall Tucker Band. The crowd cheered, danced and enjoyed drinks from The Sandbar, a presenting sponsor of the concert series.

The Bradenton Gulf Island Concert Series is sponsored by the Bradenton Area Convention Center and Visitors Bureau.

More shows coming to The Center’s stage include Simon Kirke of Bad Company June 11, Steve Augeri June 17 and The Grass Roots with Donnie Iris July 2.

For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit www. centerami.org/events.

- Kristin Swain

KRISTIN SWAIN | SUN

The Marshall Tucker Band kicked off the Gulf Island Concert Series May 13 on the field at The Center of Anna Maria Island. Left, Marcus James Henderson jams out on the keyboard for The Marshall Tucker Band while Chris Hicks plays guitar.

KRISTIN SWAIN | SUN

A sold-out crowd gathered on the field at The Center of Anna Maria Island on May 13 to hear The Marshall Tucker Band take the stage for the first concert of the season. Due to COVID-19 precautions, the show was held outdoors with attendees separated in marked-off areas and providing their own lawn chairs.

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COMMUNITY CHURCH IN PERSON in the Sanctuary Nursery • Children’s Church ONLINE • Watch LIVE or LATER www.RoserChurch.com Text ROSER to 22828 to receive the weekly eBulletin The CHAPEL is open during office hours for prayer & meditation

Essential BIBLE READING

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Plans to use the former Regions Bank property for a parking lot have been scrapped. The property is currently under contract to become a new Publix liquor store and pharmacy if commissioners approve a rezoning for the parcel.

Island Publix plans new liquor store, pharmacy The business expansion would involve taking over the old Regions Bank.

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

HOLMES BEACH – The former Regions Bank building in Holmes Beach may soon be a Publix package liquor store and pharmacy.

Representing the developer on the project, Michael Leeds, planner Rachel Layton with ZNS Engineering and attorney Scott Rudacille presented plans on May 11 to Holmes Beach commissioners to turn the property into an expansion of the Island Publix. The planned liquor store and pharmacy would have one drive-up window for the pharmacy and a walking path connecting the supermarket to the new retail space.

Layton said no changes would be made to increase density or square footage on the space, but most of the existing drive-through lanes would be removed, some parking would be added and a generator would be installed on the site.

As for the building itself, she said it would be dressed up rather than

demolished and rebuilt.

For all of this to be realized, the property has to be rezoned from C-1 to C-2.

In Holmes Beach, C-1 zoning allows primarily for office space or for a financial institution, such as a bank. The property is surrounded by C-2 and C-3 parcels which allow for more commercial uses.

If rezoned to a C-2, it would allow for the former bank building to be used by a retail business, such as Publix.

The property, located at 503 Manatee Ave., has been vacant since 2003.

City Planner Bill Brisson wholeheartedly recommended commissioners approve the rezoning to allow the new tenant to fully utilize the property, something commissioners agreed with.

“This is like a breath of fresh air,” Commissioner Jim Kihm said. “It’s nice to see the site being turned into another productive use. I think this is a good thing for the city.”

Commissioners Terry Schaefer and Carol Soustek echoed Kihm’s enthusiasm for the project.

The rezone application now goes before commissioners and residents for two public hearings and votes starting with the upcoming May 25 meeting.

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Wild iguanas calling Anna Maria Island home They’re not escaped pets, they are wild iguanas, and they are showing up more often on Anna Maria Island.

BY JASON SCHAFFER SUN CORRESPONDENT - jschaffer@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA - If you have noticed the Island’s lizards are looking a bit larger than they used to, you are not alone. More and more residents and tourists are spotting green iguanas on the Island. Some think they are cute, others find them to be quite scary looking, but one thing is undeniable; they are a problem in South Florida, and very little is being done about it.

Burmese pythons, whose population has exploded in the Everglades, are well known to most Floridians. Many outside the state are following the efforts to eradicate these invasive animals due to national press coverage. A television reality show follows a group of snake hunters who capture and kill the snakes and claim a bounty offered by the state of Florida based on the snake’s length and weight. While the pythons are now being found north of the Everglades, they are not an issue on Anna Maria Island.

The same can’t be said for the green iguana.

“In the ’90s, a hurricane came through, kind of the same thing with the pythons, and knocked down a breeding facility, said Kaeli Dye, head keeper at Sarasota Jungle Gardens. “Also, people have released them as pets, and unfortunately, Florida is the perfect climate for an iguana; they love it here.”

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A wild iguana relaxes by the pool Dye said the numbers are huge in Miami and the Everglades, but they are rapidly increasing farther north due to the Florida climate, which is very reptile friendly. A lack of natural predators is also playing a large part in the rapid expansion of iguana territory.

According to experts, including Dye, part of the reason it seems nothing is being done about the advancing iguanas is that - unlike pythons - iguanas are mostly vegetarian. They pose no real threat to native wildlife, other than certain bird eggs they have been known to eat. The problem is the incredible amount of vegetation they can eat, and what vegetation they particularly enjoy. Flowers, decorative plants, garden plants, and just about anything you put in your landscaping can be devoured by these pests in a very short time. Their burrowing can cause infrastructure damage to seawalls, docks and anything else that could be structurally compromised by

underground disturbances. They also move around with ease in the many canals along the coast, so expanding their territory is not the least bit difficult.

Since they are much more exotic looking than a common rat, many people have a hard time thinking of them as pests, but according to wildlife officials, they must be dealt with and humanly dispatched just like a rat or any other nuisance animal.

Gov. Ron DeSantis recently signed a bill banning the sale, breeding, import and ownership of the green iguana as well as the tegu. Those currently owning a pet iguana may keep it and are in no violation of the new law. While this is a beneficial step, statistics say the iguana population is at a point where further action probably will be required to even begin to reverse the population explosion.

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‘Reimagining Pine Avenue’ study approved The Pine Avenue corridor study will also include Spring and Magnolia avenues.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA – Pine Avenue may soon be in for a traffic and safety-related makeover.

The city of Anna Maria is contracting an engineering firm to conduct a detailed traffic and safety study of the Pine Avenue corridor that also includes Spring and Magnolia avenues.

On Thursday, May 13, the city commission authorized the $50,274 project fee associated with an agenda item referred to as “Reimagining Pine Avenue.”

The study results and recommendations will be presented to the commission and the public on July 22.

“We’ve been talking about this for some time, and this is a great way to use some of the money we get from the American Rescue

Plan,” Mayor Dan Murphy said.

He then introduced Gerry Traverso from the George F. Young civil engineering and surveying firm. Traverso serves as vice president of transportation engineering for the firm that’s headquartered in St. Petersburg and has offices in Tampa, Lakewood Ranch and elsewhere in the state. Traverso has more than 25 years of traffic engineering experience and is also a certified project manager who lives in Bradenton and is familiar with the area.

“We know the city of Anna Maria is not the same as the city of North Port. We don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. We tailor each approach to the specific characteristics of the community,” he said.

Traverso said the Pine Avenue corridor is an interconnected network of roads that includes Spring and Magnolia avenues.

The study will help develop solutions to mitigate and alleviate congestion, while also looking at how to more safely accommodate pedestrians, bikes, scooters, golf

move through intersections. A topographic survey for Spring and Magnolia avenues from Gulf Drive to South Bay Boulevard also will be produced.

Data and input will be gathered from residents, business owners, visitors and elected officials through public meetings and the creation of a project website.

“The more you involve the community, the more buy-in you get,” Traverso said.

RESULTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS GEORGE F. YOUNG ENGINEERING | SUBMITTED

The map illustrates the Pine Avenue corridor study boundaries. carts and other alternative modes of transportation.

The study will also include recommendations for delivery trucks and other business-related traffic along the Pine Avenue corridor.

“We know that we have a lot of commercial activity on Pine Avenue. We don’t want to hurt them in any way,” Traverso said.

Stormwater and drainage conditions will be observed and analyzed. That information will be used to help alleviate rainwater ponding that forces pedestrians and bicyclists further out into the streets.

The study also will include data collection, traffic counts and analyzing how vehicles turn and

There will be up to four alternatives produced for each recommended solution, with cost estimates and implementation timeframes included.

“One alternative might be cheap and fast, but what is the return investment? Or do we do a different alternative that will take more time and money but provides a longer-lasting solution? We’ll do a public presentation, and we’ll show you all the alternatives and SEE PINE AVE, PAGE 42

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BUSINESS ANTIQUE/COLLECTIBLE STORE PINEAPPLE JUNCTION 425 Pine Ave. Anna Maria, 216-4226

AUTO SERVICE GROOMS MOTORS & AUTOMOTIVE

5608 Marina Drive Holmes Beach, 896-7898

BAIT & TACKLE SHOP ANNIE’S BAIT & TACKLE 4334 127th St. W. Cortez, 794-3580

BANK HANCOCK WHITNEY BANK 5324 Gulf Drive Holmes Beach, 778-4900

BIKE RENTAL BEACH BUMS RENTALS

427 Pine Ave. Anna Maria, 778-3316

BOATING STORE BRADENTON BEACH MARINA

402 Church Ave. Bradenton Beach, 778-2288

CAR DEALER CONLEY BUICK

800 Cortez Rd W Bradenton, 462-2345

CAR WASH AMERICAN CAR CARE

6412 Manatee Ave. W. Bradenton, 794-5007

CARPET CLEANER FAT CAT CARPET CLEANING 3802 9th Ave. W. Bradenton, 778-2882

CLOTHING STORE IRENE’S RESORT WEAR

5308 Marina Drive Holmes Beach, 778-7605

CONVENIENCE STORE ANNA MARIA GENERAL STORE AND DELI 503 Pine Ave. Anna Maria, 779-9200

DRY CLEANER COURTESY CLEANERS

7421 Manatee Ave. W. Bradenton, 794-5145

ELECTRICIAN ANTHONY’S HEATING AND COOLING 1614 20th St. E. Palmetto, 749-5307

FITNESS THE CENTER / ISLAND FITNESS 407 Magnolia Ave. Anna Maria, 778-5200

FLOOR COVERINGS (TIE) FLOORING AMERICA

3200 Cortez Rd W. Bradenton, 909-2585

WEST COAST FLOORING 4224 26th St W. Bradenton, 748-2187

FLORIST BLOOMS BY THE BEACH

2501 Gulf Drive Bradenton Beach, 778-2555

FRAME SHOP MICHAEL’S

831 Cortez. Rd. W. Bradenton, 752-7772

GIFT SHOP IRENE’S RESORT WEAR

5308 Marina Drive Holmes Beach, 778-7605

THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING US 17 YEARS IN A ROW!

Simply Better

MAY 19, 2021

GROCERY STORE PUBLIX SUPERMARKET

3900 East Bay Drive Holmes Beach, 778-5422

HAIR SALON SALT AND SCISSORS SALON 313C Pine Ave Holmes Beach, 961-4458

HARDWARE STORE ACE HARDWARE

3352 East Bay Drive Holmes Beach, 778-0999

HEAT & AIR ANTHONY’S HEATING AND COOLING 1614 20th St. E. Palmetto, 749-5307

HOME BUILDER ROSS BUILT CUSTOM HOMES 305 67th St W. Bradenton, 778-7600

HOTEL/MOTEL COMPASS HOTEL

12324 Manatee Ave W. Bradenton, 741-9700 SEE READERS, PAGE 17

READERS’ CHOICE 2021

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FROM PAGE 16

JEWELRY STORE IRENE’S RESORT WEAR

5308 Marina Drive Holmes Beach, 778-7605

LIQUOR STORE TIME SAVER

5353 Gul Drive Holmes Beach, 778-1524

MANICURIST JESSICA SALT AND SCISSORS SALON 313C Pine Ave Holmes Beach, 961-4458

MARINA BRADENTON BEACH MARINA

402 Church Ave. Bradenton Beach, 778-2288

MEN’S APPAREL BEALLS

6355 Manatee Ave. W. Bradenton, 761-1606

OUTDOOR SPORTS STORE AMI OUTFITTERS COASTAL GEAR & APPAREL 401 Pine Ave. Anna Maria, 254-4996

PACK & SHIP ISLAND MAIL & MORE

PLUMBER AIR & ENERGY

PAINTER (TIE) RALPH SUKA RICK SCHULTZ

POOL CLEANER STAND UP POOLS

3230 East Bay Drive Holmes Beach, 778-1911

PEST CONTROL ANNA MARIA PEST CONTROL 11610 3rd Ave. E. Bradenton, 778-1630

PET GROOMING THE PAW SPA

5343 Gulf Drive Holmes Beach, 778-0885

555 6th Ave. W. Bradenton, 778-0773

POOL CONTRACTOR TOM SANGER POOL AND SPA LLC 6010 Cortez Road W. Bradenton, 932-1414

REAL ESTATE ASSOCIATE JASON SATO SATO REAL ESTATE INC.

519 Pine Ave. Anna Maria, 778-7200

PET STORE PETCO ANIMAL SUPPLIES

REAL ESTATE COMPANY SATO REAL ESTATE INC.

PHARMACIST TODD CVS PHARMACY

RENTAL COMPANY SATO REAL ESTATE INC.

6757 Manatee Ave. W. Bradenton, 792-1295

611 Manatee Ave. W. Holmes Beach, 778-1411

PHARMACY WALGREENS

3200 East Bay Drive Holmes Beach, 778-0451

519 Pine Ave. Anna Maria, 778-7200

519 Pine Ave. Anna Maria, 778-7200

RESORT ANNA MARIA ISLAND RESORTS The Tortuga Inn 1325 Gulf Drive Bradenton Beach, 778-6611

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RETIREMENT COMMUNITY (TIE) FREEDOM VILLAGE 6406 21st Ave W. Bradenton, 210-6153

SANDPIPER MOBILE RESORT

2601 Gulf Drive Bradenton Beach, 778-1140

SERVICE ORGANIZATION MANATEE CHILDREN’S SERVICES 1227 9th Ave W. Bradenton, 345-1200

SERVICE STATION HOLMES BEACH AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE 5333 Gulf Drive Holmes Beach, 779-0487

SIGN MAKER PAUL WILLIAMS SHOPPING CENTER ISLAND SHOPPING PLAZA 5414 Marina Dr Holmes Beach

SOUVENIR SHOP ISLAND BAZAAR

3304 East Bay Drive Holmes Beach, 778-3443 SEE JUMP, PAGE 18

READERS’ CHOICE 2021

MAY 19, 2021

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FROM PAGE 17

SPA SEA-RENITY BEACH SPA & BOUTIQUE

112 Bridge Street Bradenton Beach, 779-6836

TATTOO FLYING PIGLET INK

119 Bridge St #120 Bradenton Beach, 216-3354

TRAVEL AGENCY SPLENDID ESCAPE 941-724-0508

WINDOW REPAIR SUN WINDOW AND DOOR 7808 Cortez Rd W Bradenton, 794-0311

WOMEN’S APPAREL IRENE’S RESORT WEAR

5308 Marina Drive Holmes Beach, 778-7605

PEOPLE & PLACES ARCHITECT SHADY LADY

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN EMILY ANNE SMITH LLC

527 74th St. Holmes Beach, 778-3113

ART GALLERY ISLAND GALLERY WEST

5368 Gulf Drive Holmes Beach, 778-6648

ATTORNEY NICK SATO

2071 Ringling Blvd. #400 Sarasota, 861-4400

BOAT CAPTAIN JOHN DELEON ANNA MARIA PRINCESS

Bradenton Beach Marina 402 Church Ave. Bradenton Beach, 778-2288

BUSINESS PERSON MIKE ZEPPI ANTHONY’S HEATING & COOLING 1614 20th St. E. Palmetto, 749-5307

BAND JACK’D UP BAND

CATERER MOLLY O’CONNOR TRAVELING GOURMET

BAR & GRILL HARRY’S GRILL

CHARITY WILDLIFE INC.

865-455-1408

9903 Gulf Drive Anna Maria, 567-5999

BARTENDER LEXI DELEON ANNA MARIA PRINCESS.

Bradenton Beach Marina 402 Church Ave. Bradenton Beach, 778-2288

BEACH COQUINA BEACH

Anna Maria, 405-7627

2207 Ave. B Bradenton Beach, 778-6324

CHEF LUIS REYES HARRY’S GRILL

9903 Gulf Drive Anna Maria, 567-5999

CHIROPRACTOR ALIGN CHIROPRACTIC 1611 10th Ave W. Palmetto, 721-8132

MAY 19, 2021

DENTIST ISLAND DENTAL SPA

3909 East Bay Drive #205 Holmes Beach, 778-2204

DOCTOR STEPHEN PELHAM, M.D.

3909 East Bay Drive #100 Holmes Beach, 778-1007

EYE CARE THE EYE ASSOCIATES

6002 Pointe West Blvd.

Bradenton, 792-2020

FINANCIAL PLANNER EDWARD JONES

3226 East Bay Dr. Holmes Beach, 779-2499

INTERIOR DESIGN SALLY TROUT INTERIOR DESIGN 75 Cocoanut Ave. Sarasota, 953-4418

MASSAGE THERAPY AMANDA ESCOBIA RYAN

Sea-renity Beach Spa & Boutique 112 Bridge Street Bradenton Beach, 779-6836 SEE READERS, PAGE 26

READERS’ CHOICE 2021

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T h a n k y o u f o r k e e p i n g u s r o l l i ng .

We ne v e r g e t t i r e d o f s e r v i n g y ou !

2019

2019

Souvenirs & Gifts Recreational Rentals Electric Cart Rentals SUP & Kayak Rentals

427 Pine Avenue, Anna Maria www.beachbumsAMI.com • 941-778-3316

Island Gallery West 5368 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, AMI Voted Anna Maria Island’s Favorite Art Gallery!

Thanks to all you wonderful art lovers and Sun readers that voted for Island Gallery West as your favorite local art gallery! Come visit us soon and see the best artwork the Island has to offer.

Open Tuesday - Sunday 10am-5pm islandgallerywest.com (941)778-6648

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MAY 19, 2021

941.779.2337 9:00 AM - 10:00 PM 7 DAYS A WEEK 5344 3 GULF DRIVE, HOLMES BEACH

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FROM PAGE 18

PERSONAL TRAINER F45

Sr 64 East Bradenton, 567-7434

SCHOOL ANNA MARIA ELEMENTARY 4700 Gulf Drive Holmes Beach, 708-5525

SCHOOL TEACHER PIDGE BARREDA

Anna Maria Elementary 4700 Gulf Drive Holmes Beach, 708-5525

VETERINARIAN CONNOR BYSTROM PALMA SOLA ANIMAL CLINIC 6116 Manatee Ave W. Bradenton, 794-3275

VETERINARIAN CLINIC ISLAND ANIMAL CLINIC

5343 Gulf Drive Holmes Beach, 778-2445

VIEW BEAN POINT ANNA MARIA

WAITER/WAITRESS MELISSA SMILEY UGLY GROUPER

5704 Marina Drive Holmes Beach, 778-4402

YOGA INSTRUCTOR (TIE) LAURA BENNET RACHEL KROLL LISA WIENGARTNER

FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT BAGEL SHOP PARADISE BAGELS & CAFÉ

3220 E. Bay Drive Holmes Beach, 779-1212

BAKERY HOMETOWN DESSERTS

507 Pine Ave. Anna Maria, 896-3167

BARBEQUE SMOQEHOUSE

1701 Gulf Drive N. Bradenton Beach, 242-5340

BREAKFAST GINNY’S & JANE E’S

9807 Gulf Drive Anna Maria, 778-3170

MAY 19, 2021

BURGER HARRY’S GRILL

GOLF COURSE KEY ROYALE GULF CLUB INC.

CAFÉ GINNY’S & JANE E’S

GROUPER SANDWICH UGLY GROUPER

CANDY STORE DIPS ICE CREAM

HEALTH FOOD STORE GNC

CHINESE CHINA 1

ICE CREAM SHOP TWO SCOOPS ICE CREAM

DELI SCOTT’S DELI

ITALIAN RESTAURANT ISOLA BELLA

FESTIVAL CORTEZ FISHING FESTIVAL

LIVE THEATER ISLAND PLAYERS

9903 Gulf Drive Anna Maria, 567-5999

700 Key Royale Drive Holmes Beach, 778-3055

9807 Gulf Drive Anna Maria, 778-3170

5704 Marina Drive Holmes Beach, 778-4402

503 Pine Ave Anna Maria, 778-1706

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1109 Cortez Rd W. Bradenton, 238-6058

3236 East Bay Drive Holmes Beach, 779-2933

6000 Marina Drive Unit D Holmes Beach, 778-3000

GERMAN RESTAURANT OLD HAMBURG SCHNITZELHAUS 3246 East Bay Drive Holmes Beach, 778-1320

101 S. Bay Blvd.

Anna Maria, 779-2422

5904 Marina Drive Holmes Beach, 242-5309

10009 Gulf Drive Anna Maria, 778-5755

MEXICAN RESTAURANT WICKED CANTINA

101 7th St. N. Bradenton Beach, 281-2990 SEE READERS, PAGE 28

Thank you

for voting us your Favorite Mexican Restaurant! www.WickedCantina.com

Dine In Take Out Margs To Go

Live Music Daily ~ Gulf View Dining ~ Full Parking BRADENTON BEACH ~ 101 7th St. N. (941) 281-2990 Daily 7:30am-10pm SARASOTA ~ 1603 N. Tamiami Trail (941) 706-2395 Daily 11am-10pm

Happy Hour 12 - 5 Daily and ALL DAY Sunday

MAY 19, 2021

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MOST ROMANTIC RESTAURANT BEACH BISTRO 6600 Gulf Drive Holmes Beach, 778-6444

NEW RESTAURANT BAMBOO ISLAND BAR

119 Bridge St. Bradenton Beach, 803-6416

NIGHT SPOT DCOY DUCKS

5410 Marina Drive Holmes Beach, 778-5888

PIER ROD AND REEL PIER

875 North Shore Drive Anna Maria, 778-1885

PIZZA OMA’S PIZZA AND ITALIAN RESTAURANT 201 Gulf Drive North Bradenton Beach, 778-0771

PLACE TO SEE SUNSET ANNA MARIA PRINCESS

Bradenton Beach Marina 402 Church Ave. Bradenton Beach, 778-2288

RESTAURANT (OVERALL) THE WATERFRONT

111 S Bay Blvd.

Anna Maria, 778-1515

SEAFOOD RESTAURANT ANNA MARIA OYSTER BAR

Bridge Street Pier Bradenton Beach, 778-2662

SPECIALTY GOURMET VINNY’S ITALIAN KITCHEN

5337 Gulf Drive Holmes Beach, 896-9754

SUB/SANDWICH SCOTT’S DELI

6000 Marina Drive Unit D Holmes Beach, 778-3000

TAKEOUT VINNY’S ITALIAN KITCHEN

5337 Gulf Drive Holmes Beach, 896-9754

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Two Scoops is better than one Sun readers again named Two Scoops Ice Cream as their favorite ice cream shop on and around Anna Maria Island. When discussing the award, owner Dave LaBell said, “We were so excited to win again this year. We are fortunate to have folks vote for us each year. We take great pride in this award and thank those who support this family owned business throughout the year.

We have been serving Two Scoops ice cream for over 15 years now – and our clothing resort stores, Two Sides of Nature, have been doing business for over 25 years. We love Anna Maria Island, and we love our customers who make this business fun and memorable.” Two Scoops offers more than 30 flavors of ice cream, yogurt and sorbet and also serves breakfast and lunch. Two Scoops is located at 101 South Bay Blvd. in Anna Maria. Visit them online at www.twoscoopsami.com.

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

Two Scoops employee Mason Cadmus has deep family ties to Anna Maria Island. Two Scoops Ice Cream offers more than 30 flavors to choose from.

Sun readers hooked on Annie’s Bait & Tackle Owned by Bruce Shearer for the past 26 years, Annie’s Bait & Tackle was again named the area’s favorite bait and tackle shop, according to The Sun’s 2021 Readers’ Choice Awards.

“We’ve got everything you need and we’re reasonably friendly.

We’ve got bait, tackle, ethanol-free gas, oil, safety equipment, cold beer and food,” Shearer said, noting Annie’s also provides offshore and inshore fishing charters. Offering a truly authentic “old Florida” experience with indoor and outdoor seating, Annie’s is also well-regarded as a dining and drinking spot for locals and visitors. “We’re known for our grouper, our Cubans and our burgers. Our burgers are eight ounces. We season it, we cook it in butter and that’s why everybody likes it,” Shearer said.

Annie’s grouper is served as a sandwich, a dinner or as fish tacos.

The “Almost Authentic Cuban” is served regular or spicy and comes with rice and beans. The appetizer menu includes gator, frog legs, steamed garlic mussels and shrimp, buffalo shrimp and more. Regular customer Chris Snider said, “I love Bruce and I love Annie’s Bait & Tackle because they’re real people.”

When asked what he loves about Annie’s, regular customer Joe McClure said, “The people.”

Annie’s is open from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, with live music on Sunday afternoon. Annie’s Bait & Tackle is located at 4334 127th St. W. in Cortez. For more info visit www.anniesbaitandtackle.com.

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

Chris Snider, owner Bruce Shearer and Joe McClure enjoyed cold beers and engaging conversation as afternoon recently gave way to evening at Annie’s Bait & Tackle.

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Daniella, Sal and Fi Mannino are part of the family business operations at Oma’s Pizza and Italian restaurant.

Oma’s Pizza does it again For the 17 years Oma’s Pizza and Italian restaurant in Bradenton Beach has received the Readers’ Choice Award for the favorite pizza among Sun readers. Oma’s is a family affair and Fi Mannino serves as the establishment’s matriarch. “We’re the best. Our food is fresh. My husband comes in every morning and prepares everything from scratch,” she said, noting Oma’s started in Brooklyn, N.Y. and has been at its current location in Bradenton Beach for nearly 45 years. Available for dining in, takeout or delivery,

Oma’s pizzas can be ordered as 14, 16 or 18-inch pies with a wide variety of available toppings. Pizza by the slice is available and the menu also includes Calzones and several hero sandwiches.

Some of the dinner entrees include veal cutlet parmesan, chicken marsala, lasagna and many other traditional Italian dishes. Oma’s Pizza is open daily from 11 a.m. to midnight and is located at 201 Gulf Dr. N. in Bradenton Beach.

View the menu at www.omaspizza.com and call 941-778-0771 or 941-778-0772 to place a takeout or delivery order.

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

Paul Foster and his wife, Tammy (not pictured) own and operate Ginny’s and Jane E’s Café.

Ginny’s and Jane E’s is fresh and friendly Sun readers deemed Ginny’s and Jane E’s Café as their favorite café and favorite breakfast establishment in 2021. Paul and Tammy Foster have owned and operated the café and beach-themed gift store for the past nine years. “I thank everyone for thinking that highly of us. We work hard on our food. Our products don’t include preservatives or nitrates. All of our chicken and pork is organic. Everything we buy is ‘clean’ and people can taste that difference. We have a friendly staff that provides great customer service.

A lot of locals come in and it’s like a small community inside Ginny’s and Jane E’s every morning,” Paul Foster said. Surrounded by books, art and whimsical décor, Ginny’s and Jane E’s is a popular place to enjoy a cup of coffee – and there’s outside seating

too. “We have great coffee that’s locally roasted by Sarasota Coffee and Tea,” Foster said. The breakfast menu includes wraps, sandwiches, burritos, waffles, pancakes, eggs Benedict, lox and more. The lunch menu includes chicken or tuna salad served on fresh croissants and a wide variety of sandwiches, melts, burgers, salads, soups and more. The bakery offerings include pies, quiche, sticky buns and scones. Two signature menu items date back to the sisters who founded their namesake establishment in the old IGA building. “Our cinnamon buns and crème brûlée, Jane started that 20 years ago,” Foster said. Open 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, Ginny’s and Jane E’s is located at 9807 Gulf Drive in Anna Maria. Learn more at www. ginnysandjanees.com.

www.amisun.com

MAY 19, 2021

THE SUN

31

Engineering firm selected for master drainage study update The commission seeks a comprehensive third-party review of the city’s current stormwater retention and drainage systems.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

BRADENTON BEACH – The Bradenton Beach Commission has selected Land & Water Engineering Science as its top choice to update the city’s master drainage study.

The St. Petersburg-based firm is one of three firms that submitted proposals to the city to analyze what’s been done in Bradenton Beach in the past regarding drainage and flood prevention and what might be done differently in the future. Largo-based Utility Consultants of Florida (UCOF) and Bartow-based Madrid/CPWG also submitted proposals.

The master drainage study was last updated in 2006 and the commission wants the update completed by Sept. 30.

During its Tuesday, May 11 work meeting, the commission voted 4-1 in favor of Land & Water Engineering. In a separate 3-2 vote, the commission selected UCOF as its second choice. Commissioner Jake Spooner opposed that selection because he feels Madrid/CPWG is more qualified.

The commission then voted 4-1 in favor of naming Madrid/CPWG as its third choice.

Commissioner Marilyn Maro opposed all three selections because she wanted more time to review the proposals.

City Attorney Ricinda Perry was authorized to begin contract negotiations with Paul Miselis on behalf of Land & Water Engineering. Commission approval of the proposed engineering contract is on the agenda for the Thursday, May 20 commission meeting, which starts at noon.

If a commission-approved contract cannot be negotiated with Miselis, those negotiations would be terminated and Perry would seek authorization to negotiate with UCOF Chief Operating Officer and Project Manager Mark Porter. If a contract cannot be negotiated with either of those firms, Perry would seek authorization to negotiate with Madrid/CPWG CEO Steve Tarte.

MAY 6 MEETING

The commission’s selection process began during the regular commission meeting on Thursday, May 6. Before that meeting, Perry, Building Official Steve Gilbert and Public Works Director Tom Woodard individually ranked the three proposals received.

The ranking categories included familiarity and credentials, past performance with the city of Bradenton Beach, experience with similar projects, current workload and availability, cost, the quality of the firm’s submittal, and references and past projects.

Gilbert and Woodard each gave UCOF the highest total ranking. Perry’s rankings

L to R: Paul Miselis represented Land & Water Engineering Services at the May 11 meeting. City Commissioner Jake Spooner helped convince the commission that Land & Water Engineering Science should be the top choice to conduct the master drainage study update. produced a tie between UCOF and Land & Water Engineering.

None of the principles of the three engineering firms attended the optional presentation and Q&A session noticed on the May 6 agenda, but Greg Stevens and Stuart Rogers from the Tampa-based Colliers Engineering and Design office made a presentation that night on UCOF’s behalf.

After noting that Porter was making a presentation elsewhere in the state that evening, Stevens said Porter would lead the master drainage study update and serve as the conduit between Colliers and the city, with Colliers providing engineering services to UCOF. Porter previously assisted the Community Redevelopment Agency with the Bridge Street utilities undergrounding project and is now assisting with the Gulf Drive South undergrounding project.

Stevens and Rogers spent approximately an hour and 45 minutes discussing the UCOF proposal with the commission. That discussion concluded with the commission requesting more time to consider the proposals and to reconvene on May 11. All three firms were then notified by the city clerk’s office.

When contacted by The Sun later in the week, Porter confirmed that he is not a stormwater engineer and would essentially be subcontracting Colliers to perform engineering services.

MAY 11 PRESENTATIONS

When the May 11 meeting began, Spooner asked Porter if he would be directly involved in the design of the master drainage study update, if selected.

“It’s not that I don’t have the background, I just wanted to bring in people that had more expertise specific to that,” Porter said.

Porter, who does not have an engineering degree, noted he has 27 years of experience with various projects that have also included drainage and roadway elements.

Miselis and Tarte were then given time to present their proposals and answer questions. Miselis said he has a degree in coastal engineering and 27 years of engineering experience that includes seven years with the Southwest Florida Water Management District and five years with Pinellas County in addition to his private sector experience.

“I was basically the county’s stormwater

engineer, so I understand the ins and outs of operations, maintenance and what it takes to deliver a functional stormwater management/drainage network,” Miselis said.

“Land & Water Engineering is a stormwater engineering firm first and foremost. We don’t need subs on this job,” he added.

Tarte said he has 30 years of engineering experience, including the recently completed Pass-a-Grille Way project in St. Petersburg. Tarte said Madrid/CPWG has approximately 100 employees and would not need subcontractors to complete a master drainage study. He also said he’s helped secure more than $60 million in grants for municipal projects.

Miselis and Tarte each said they have extensive experience with stormwater and drainage projects on barrier islands.

COMMISSION DISCUSSION

Chappie said the request for a master drainage study update was partially inspired by Public Works Director Tom Woodard’s concerns about the effectiveness and maintenance demands associated with the existing stormwater and drainage systems designed by Burnett.

Spooner said UCOF’s top rankings were skewed by the points given for past performance in Bradenton Beach. He noted those points were based on utility undergrounding projects, not drainage projects, and without those points, Land & Water would have ranked highest on all three staff evaluation sheets.

Beyond the master drainage study update, Spooner noted the commission is also trying to figure out how to best use a $2.69 million state appropriation for stormwater and drainage improvements. On April 27, the commission questioned the plans Burnett presented that called for most of the state-funded drainage improvements to be made at the Gulf-front street ends at the north end of the city.

The commission wants the state money used to address areas more prone to frequent flooding and standing water – including the intersections at Avenue A and 24th Street North, and Avenue A and 21st Street North. The commission agreed then that it wanted to see additional recommendations from the soon-to-be-selected engineering firm before moving forward with Burnett’s

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

UCOF’s Mark Porter, above, is assisting Bradenton Beach with its utility undergrounding projects and he now seeks the master drainage study update contract.

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

City Engineer Lynn Burnett’s future status as city engineer could be impacted by the city commission’s selection process. plans. The state appropriation requires the city to select a contractor by Oct. 31 and complete the state-funded drainage improvements by June 30, 2023.

According to Perry’s evaluation sheet, the Land & Water Engineering bid was $112,000, the UCOF bid was $95,000 and the Madrid/CPWG bid was $50,000. During the May 11 meeting, Perry said the city doesn’t have the $112,000 sought in the Land & Water Engineering proposal. She said the city only has $50,000 to $60,000 remaining in the 2020-21 fiscal year budget for stormwater and drainage expenditures.

Spooner noted the city spent $168,000 on the state appropriation plans created by Burnett, which may or may not be used.

Spooner said $60,000 in city funds could be allocated in the current budget cycle for the portion of the master drainage study that focuses on the most pressing needs, including the state-funded improvements. He said the remaining funds could be allocated in the 2021-22 fiscal year that begins Oct. 1.

“It’s important that we get this right. Tom doesn’t feel we’ve been going in the right direction and we want a second opinion,” Spooner said.

Commissioner Jan Vosburgh praised Porter’s work on the undergrounding projects but said she doesn’t feel he has the same stormwater engineering expertise as the other firms.

Commissioner Ralph Cole said his priority is to find drainage solutions that work and don’t create additional problems elsewhere.

It was noted during the May 6 and May 11 meetings that hiring an additional engineering firm may impact Burnett’s future status as city engineer.

32

THE SUN

www.amisun.com

Bridge Tender Inn serves Florida style If you’re looking for someplace with history, you’ll appreciate Bridge Street in Bradenton Beach, and the best location for original Florida food with a view is the Bridge Tender Inn and Dockside Bar, located at 135 Bridge Street.

Bridge Tender Inn and Dockside Bar has been around for decades and under the same ownership for 30 years. It’s a landmark in an historic part of Anna Maria Island.

The dining room holds up to 130 people and is perfect for a rehearsal dinner, bridal shower or other gathering. You can reserve the dining room and tailor the Bridge Tender’s menu, featuring fresh seafood and other local dishes, to as casual or as formal as you would like.

For smaller parties, you can reserve a section of the dining room with views of Sarasota Bay, the Bridge Street Pier and Bridge Street. They have also added another area, Doc B’s front porch. The Bridge Tender and Dockside Bar is also accessible by water at Marker 49 and has two docks available for customers.

For more information on the Bridge Tender Inn and Dockside Bar, go to wwwbridgetenderinn.rocks or contact Shannon Dunnan, events coordinator, at tenderinn@aol.com or 941-778-4849.

The Bridge Tender Inn for the taste of real Florida.

MAY 19, 2021

MAY 19, 2021

www.amisun.com

THE SUN

33

DARA CAUDILL | WWW.ISLANDPHOTOGRAPHY.ORG

Ashlee Spady & Mike Thomas were married on Anna Maria Island on April 26, 2021. Chuck Caudill provided the music. Ashlee's brother in law, Peter Percaro performed the ceremony. The reception was catered by Mr Bones. Hair and makeup were by Body & Sol. Ashlee & Mike honeymooned on Anna Maria Island before returning home to Oakland, Maryland.

34

THE SUN

OUTDOORS

MAY 19, 2021

Make the wind your friend Reel Time RUSTY CHINNIS

W

hether stalking bonefish in the Bahamas, poling a flat in Florida for tailing redfish, wading into the Northeast surf for stripers, or casting for sea-run rainbows on the West Coast, anglers spend the majority of their time in anticipation. When we do get on the water, we face the unpredictable forces of weather that can throw hurricanes, fronts, windstorms, clouds and various adverse conditions at us.

If you want to catch permit on a fly, you'll need the advantages a windy day provides. While the world of fishing in general, and fly fishing in particular, present us with many challenges, it’s these challenges that make success all the sweeter.

That’s why we hunt gamefish with imaginative mixtures of feathers, fur, synthetic and tinsel. The excitement of making a presentation to a gamefish you’ve stalked, enticing it to take a fly, and then connecting with your prey through graphite and cork makes all the preparation, time, money and past disappointments worthwhile.

With so many challenges facing a fly angler there is good reason to be as well prepared as possible. Too many anglers wait for months to take the “trip of a lifetime,” encounter willing targets under less than ideal

RUSTY CHINNIS | SUN

Fish are far less spooky on days when there are wind-generated waves. conditions (most often the case) and find their casting proficiency severely tested. The old saying that “luck is opportunity meeting preparedness" is especially true for fly fishers.

Why not develop the mindset from the beginning that everything we do (on the water and off) contributes to turning odds into opportunities?

Preparation comes in many forms, and the most important components are practiced throughout the year.

That means having tackle in top form, as well as knowing how to tie proper knots and flies that imitate your prey’s food. Casting skills are developed over a lifetime, and practice should not be saved for fishing trips, or even the days leading up to a trip. If you can’t get your fly to the fish, all other factors are rendered moot. The best practice is on grass, throwing to targets placed at different distances and angles. Don’t make the mistake of judging your casting

ability by how long a line you can throw. Learn to make a tight (in saltwater), accurate, 40-foot cast first, and then work on distance.

While I’ve been blessed to learn from some top fly casters, I've found the best instructor of all is having a compelling reason. That’s what leads successful fly fishers to learn the basics and practice.

One of the first and most important lessons I’ve learned is to see the wind as friend, not foe. If you’re new to the game, don’t put off a fly fishing trip because the wind is blowing.

On my first trip to the Bahamas, I was face to face with a large school of bonefish just 40 feet away, into a 25 mph

headwind! All those days of avoiding the wind meant that I didn’t have the skills to get the job done! Now I appreciate the windy days because I know that if I can be successful then, I’ll be golden on the nice days. Windgenerated waves provide windows into the water and fish are far less spooky and more readily take a fly. If you can make a short, accurate cast into a 15-knot wind, you’ll excel on those rare “perfect” days.

Practiced fly anglers who are mentally prepared and visualize their outcome (just like top athletes) have a definite advantage. They’re primed when opportunity presents itself as “luck.” The next time you have a chance to go fishing, don’t let the wind dissuade you; make the wind your friend. It will pay dividends in your fishing future.

MAY 19, 2021

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THE SUN

35

It's tarpon time on the water CAPTAIN DAVE WHITE

We are full throttle and heading into summer now. Aside from the uncharacteristic north winds and low pressure, things are going pretty well. Inshore, the snook, Spanish mackerel, redfish, shark and mangrove snapper are keeping us busy.

Although the winds have limited us a bit on fishing areas, we’ve been able to provide good action for our clients.

Offshore, the amberjack, African pompano, mangrove snapper and especially yellowtail snapper have been cooperating nicely. We’ve been able to accomplish a limit of yellowtail almost every trip. We’re also getting the occasional blackfin tuna here and there.

We’re excited about the recent arrival of tarpon. We wait all year for these fish. They’re smart, finicky and fight super hard. A tarpon that is 100 pounds is typically about 16 years old. Males live to be around 30-35 years old, while females live to be 50-plus. A tarpon that was at the Chicago aquarium that was 170 pounds jumped out of the tank and died. This fish was 70 years old! We try to consider this when landing a fish for a quick photo. These fish have lived a very long time through very hostile environments. We want each one to swim away ALIVE! Don’t let ego kill such an awesome animal! Keep ’em in the water! Good luck out there!

CAPTAIN RICK GRASSETT

Tarpon should be plentiful in the coastal Gulf this month as big schools of fish migrate along our beaches. Also look for cobia, tripletail and false albacore (little tunny) in the coastal Gulf. Catch-andrelease snook fishing should also be good in and around passes and in the surf. Fishing should also be good on deep grass flats for a variety of species.

CAPTAIN DAVE WHITE | SUBMITTED

Captain Johnny Mattay, of Anna Maria Charters, wrestles a tarpon boatside.

These fish fight until the end. Every time.

Tarpon fishing should be strong this month as schools of fish increase in size and numbers. They will head offshore to spawn close to new and full moons. Set up in travel lanes along the beach at first light in the morning and cast live crabs, baitfish, DOA Baitbusters and Swimming Mullet to them. I travel well offshore along the beach in the morning to avoid disturbing schools of tarpon that may be traveling close to the beach. Once you’ve reached the area you intend to fish, ease into the beach with an electric trolling motor and set up in your spot. You can anchor or drift, depending on conditions. Give other anglers several hundred yards of space. Since fish may be moving both north and south, setting up too close to another angler may negatively affect their fishing. Tarpon fishing is very dependent on conditions and there are a lot of variables that need to come together to be successful.

Use tackle heavy enough to land them as quickly as possible. When fly fishing, I use 12-weight rods and large arbor reels capable of holding 300-yards or more of backing.

I use a variety of baitfish, shrimp or crab fly patterns fished on floating fly lines.

The shallower the water, the easier it is to get your fly in front of a fish when fly fishing. Stake out or anchor in travel lanes to get shots at them.

When spin fishing, I usually

drift a couple of live baits under a float while we wait for tarpon schools to pass by. Blind casting with DOA Baitbusters or Swimming Mullet, if you’re in the right spot, can also be productive when fish are moving past you but not showing well on the surface. The CAL 4” Shad Tail/Swimbait with a heavy weedless hook is also a good tarpon bait, especially when sight fishing.

Snook and reds remain closed to harvest south of State Rd 64 in Manatee County on the west coast of Florida, south to the south bank of Gordon Pass in Collier County. Reds and snook are catch and release only in that zone until May 31, 2022.

Spotted seatrout will reopen in the south zone with a three-fish-per-person bag limit and a six-fish-per-boat limit. Trout must be from 15”-19” with one allowed per vessel over 19”. Full regulations can be viewed at https://myfwc.com/ This is great news for our fishery.

You should find snook in the surf, in passes and around docks and bridges in the ICW near passes. You can walk the beach and sight fish them in the surf with fly or spinning tackle. Small baitfish fly patterns, CAL jigs with shad tails and jerk worms or DOA shrimp should all work well. The same lures and flies that work in the surf will also work well at night. Snook will congregate in passes around the new and full moons to spawn. They will usually be in deep channels in these areas. Bouncing a DOA TerrorEyz or Baitbuster in bridge channels or passes can be an effective technique in these areas.

Fishing for reds should also be good in June. Look for them over shallow grass along mangrove shorelines or around oyster bars when the tide is high. You’ll find them in potholes or edges of flats when the tide is low. Top water plugs will work well, especially early in the day. I like to cover water with CAL jigs and shad tails or jerk worms to find them. Fly anglers should score with baitfish fly patterns like my Grassett Flats Minnow.

You may find Spanish mackerel, bluefish or pompano in passes or on deep grass flats this month. I like to drift deep grass flats and cast ahead of my drift with CAL jigs and shad tails or jerk worms or DOA Deadly Combos. Fly anglers should score by drifting and casting ahead of the drift with Ultra Hair Clouser flies tied on long shank hooks on an intermediate sink tip fly line. You’ll need to add a few inches of heavy (40- or 50-pound) fluorocarbon when toothy fish are in the mix.

36

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THE SUN

MAY 19, 2021

Anna Maria will continue to support The Center In an addition to its annual funding support, the city plans to share some of this American Rescue Plan funds with Anna Maria’s non-profit organizations.

said helping Anna Maria’s non-profits is important, but it’s equally important to consider how the federal funds can be used to benefit the city and its residents.

“We’ve identified the fact that this money can be used for drainage,” Murphy said.

The city also plans to use some of the federal funds to pay for a Pine Avenue corridor traffic and safety study.

Later in the week, Murphy learned the American Rescue Plan funds for cities with populations of less than 50,000 people could be delayed for as long as 90 days.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA – City officials are considering a $25,000 funding request from The Center of Anna Maria Island.

Chris Culhane, The Center’s executive director, presented the annual funding request on Thursday, May 13; and the meeting packet included The Center’s financial statements.

“As you can see, due to COVID we’re down about 30% in program revenue for the year. Luckily, we’ve been able to mitigate that by cutting our expenses as well.

What you won’t see on there is revenue from events. We also have about $150,000 in lost revenues from events over the past year,” Culhane said.

Culhane noted the first Center-hosted fundraising concert event since the pandemic struck would take place that night with a performance by The Marshall Tucker Band.

Murphy said the city’s annual recreation fund currently has a $35,000 balance and when the city gave The Center $25,000 last year the city didn’t have any other events to fund due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The mayor said the city plans to host several events this year, including the Memorial

ISLAND-WIDE SUPPORT

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

Executive Director Chris Culhane presented The Center’s annual funding request.

Day ceremony, the Fourth of July celebration and the annual Veterans Day parade and ceremony.

AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN

On April 22, the mayor and commission engaged in a preliminary discussion about sharing some of the city’s anticipated $740,000 in American Rescue Plan funds with four Anna Maria based non-profit organizations: The Center, The Anna Maria Island Historical Society, The Island Players and the Anna Maria Garden Club.

During last week’s meeting, Murphy said he needs to know exactly how much the city receives before those non-profit shares can be determined. The city expected to receive its first installment of federal funds

on Tuesday, May 11, but as of Thursday, they had not yet happened.

“I believe we can come back with a recommendation as to what we should give the community center, both from the American Rescue Plan and our recreation fund. Give us two weeks and I think we can come up with an amicable number. I feel strongly that we need to support you and we’ve proven that as a city that we do support our community center,” Murphy said.

Commissioner Mark Short said he completely agreed with the mayor’s comments about supporting The Center and the Island-wide benefits The Center provides, but he also reiterated statements he made in April when sharing the American Rescue Plan money was first discussed. Short

CENTER: Holmes Beach denies funding FROM PAGE 1

Beach Mayor Carol Whitmore said in an email to The Sun that when she left the position of mayor in 2006 the city was donating $30,000 per year to The Center.

Currently, the nonprofit is working to fill the $100,000 budget gap created by pandemic shutdowns and canceled events.

Christenson said that while she personally supports The Center, she’s not sure that taxpayer dollars should be given to one nonprofit. She added that while she understands the donation to The Center from the city was in the approved budget for the 2020-21 fiscal year, she feels that the city’s responsibility is to use taxpayer funds to make the city better for its residents and property owners. She said the city’s taxpayer base should personally choose which organizations they want to donate to. Christenson was not on the city commission when the budget for this fiscal year was approved.

Rash said he had heard concerns from some city residents about city funding of

a nonprofit, leading to his vote against releasing the funding.

Kihm said that while he feels that The Center is a worthy organization, he too feels that taxpayers should decide where they want their dollars donated and then donate personally.

“I am extremely disappointed,” Mayor Judy Titsworth said. “I think this is a punch in the gut and it’s very disappointing if it doesn’t go through.” She said The Center is a huge benefit to the Island and the effort to bring families back to the three Island cities.

Soustek said she was not going to vote against giving a donation that had already been approved by a majority of commissioners during the budget process. She added that if commissioners want to change future donations it should be addressed during the budget process.

“If we make a commitment, we should stand by it,” Schaefer said.

After a plea from the mayor, Kihm said he would put funding for The Center on a future agenda for more discussion.

The decision to not fund The Center was unpopular with some Holmes Beach residents.

“I am appalled that this year, in the midst of a global pandemic, when more than ever we need to support The Center, commissioners would vote to strip promised funding,” Holmes Beach resident Christine Shuck wrote to commissioners in a letter to the editor. “I was under the impression that the job of the commissioner was to try to better the community. In fact, that was what many of you campaigned on.

“I find it extremely concerning that not only are you failing to deliver already promised funding, but you are also failing to fulfill the campaign promises on which you all ran,” her letter continued.

“Without this vital venue, the few families who can afford to live here will no longer have a reason to come live in Anna Maria. If we are going to have to drive off the Island for all our kids’ sports and camps, then what is the point of living here?” resident Mary Catherine

Murphy said he was “extremely disappointed” with the Holmes Beach City Commission’s recent decision to not provide any annual funding for The Center.

“Last year, they gave you less than we did – and they have the largest budget on the Island. I have spoken to some of their commissioners. I made it clear that they have an obligation if we’re going to keep this running,” Murphy said.

Culhane said the Holmes Beach City Commission plans to revisit that decision at its next meeting.

Culhane said there are about 190 annual Center members who live in Holmes Beach, compared to 150-160 in Anna Maria and less than 10 in Bradenton Beach.

County Commissioner Carol Whitmore attended Thursday’s meeting. She told the commission the city of Holmes Beach contributed $30,000 a year to The Center when she was mayor.

Melancon asked in her letter.

“That our Center, truly AMI’s only recreation department, has to beg for dollars from each city is a sad statement of what our tax dollars are doing,” residents James and Lee McParland wrote in their letter to the editor.

In the recreation and open space element of the city’s comprehensive plan, the document which is intended to guide the future of Holmes Beach, it states that in the calculating of the level of parks, open space and outdoor facilities for residents, that city leaders will take into consideration “the city’s contribution to the continued operation of the Anna Maria Island Community Center and the recreational services it provides.”

“I will continue to encourage our citizens of Holmes Beach and visitors to be involved in our community but to respect a person’s right to choose the organization(s) they wish to give a charitable donation to,” Christenson said in a response email to one resident’s concerns about Center funding. “There are many deserving, community-based organizations on the Island and the choice to give should be the individual’s.”

www.amisun.com

MAY 19, 2021

THE SUN

37

Center staff works to close financial gap The Center of Anna Maria Island’s fiscal year-end is approaching and the nonprofit still needs to make up more than $110,000 to close a financial gap.

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

ANNA MARIA – The Center of Anna Maria Island’s fiscal year ends in June, not leaving much time for the organization’s leadership to find the funding to cover a $110,871 financial deficit.

The Center’s March financial statements have been released and it’s not all good news for the Island nonprofit. With a $95,711 net income loss after accounting for expenses, The Center ended March -$110,871 off budget.

That’s not to say that March wasn’t a good month for The Center. Programs brought in $129,125 after direct costs with fundraising

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bringing in an additional $153,275 after direct costs for the fiscal year to date through the end of the month. With year-to-date general, indirect and administrative expenses of $365,191, The Center was left with -$82,790 in net ordinary income. After -$12,921 in capital expenses, which are expected to be reimbursed by Manatee County through the concession fund, The Center closed out the month with -$95,711 in net

income.

The March financials do not take into account the Bradenton Gulf Islands Concert series ticket sales portion received by The Center for hosting the events, which continue through July 2. It also doesn’t consider the contributions currently under consideration by the three Island cities or the fundraising ongoing for The Center’s annual fund and as part of the Go Green 2 initiative.

In The Center’s ongoing $50,000 matching challenge, $80,580 of the $100,000 goal has been raised, as of May 13.

Challengers Remi Drigan, Carol and Bob Carter, the Robert and Kathleen Dobkin Intuitive Foundation and the Eisenbarth Trust all pledged a combined $50,000 in funds to match dollar-for-dollar up to $50,000 in community donations through the end of May. For more information on The Center, visit www.centerami.org.

COVID: State testing sites close FROM PAGE 1

visit www.walgreens.com/findcare/ covid19/testing?ban=covid_vanity_testing. You will be required to fill out a short online form and provide your insurance information. Select Walgreens locations offer drive-thru testing.

To book an appointment at a local CVS, visit www.cvs.com/ minuteclinic/covid-19-testing.

Patients also will have to fill out a short online form and provide insurance information to book an appointment.

For those who don’t want to visit a local pharmacist, at-home COVID-19 test kits are available for purchase. The test kits are available for about $40 and can be purchased in person or online from CVS and other retailers.

Patients will have to take their own nasal sample using the provided collection tools and mail the sample to a designated laboratory for processing.

More information on at-home testing can be found on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at www.cdc. gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/testing/ self-testing.html.

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38

THE SUN

REAL ESTATE

MAY 19, 2021

The never-ending saga of Florida insurance

L

ike a bad soap opera, the Florida insurance storyline keeps repeating itself. This time it’s not even flood insurance, which I touched on two weeks ago; it’s your regular homeowner’s insurance that is breaking hearts all over the Sunshine State.

Here’s an interesting little fact; Florida is the most expensive state in the United States for home insurance, according to the insurance trade group Insurance Information Institute, and premiums are going up. Florida residents are projected to pay on average $2,380 in premiums this year, a 21% increase over 2018. The average American homeowner is expected to pay $1,297 this year, up 4% from 2018.

Some of the reasons Florida’s premiums are going up have to do with claims resulting from two hurricanes, Irma in 2017 and Michael in 2018. As we Floridians know or should know, even if we don’t take a direct hit from a hurricane, no matter where it hits in the state, we’re

Castles in the Sand LOUISE BOLGER all subject to increases in insurance.

Adding to payouts for storms, there is an increasing amount of litigation over insurance claims and sham roof-related claims, as well as increasing rates for reinsurance insurers to mitigate some of their risk.

The end result of this is insurance carriers are experiencing mounting losses and increasing premiums or dropping coverage completely in certain areas.

Some homeowners are being forced to go to Citizens Property Insurance Corp., the state-backed insurer of last resort, which is quickly increasing the number of policies they carry. We’ve been down this road before with flood insurance;

in the end, it’s the Florida taxpayer who gets hurt.

What we don’t know at this point is if it will have any effect on the real estate market. Florida residents and out-of-state buyers are reeling from sticker shock, but will that translate into a cooling of the blow-out real estate market we’re in?

My opinion, for what it’s worth, is it won’t have any significant effect on the value of the real estate market. Individuals relocate to Florida and continue living here for reasons other than insurance premiums. In all respects, Florida is a low-tax state with so many other benefits driving up the population I doubt an insurance increase will change too many minds.

Florida lawmakers have been attempting to change some legislation to help control the growth of insurance premiums with bills that put limits on attorney fees and frivolous lawsuits and claims, hopefully reducing the incentive for homeowners to go forward with false claims.

And all of this is happening at the same time we can expect flood insurance increases in October. FEMA is reviewing its national insurance program. It is estimated that one out of five Florida homeowners (19.8%) should see a decrease in their yearly flood premium. However, one out of 25 (4.2%) should see a yearly rate increase greater than $240. We’ll know more at the beginning of October.

I personally had about a 15% increase when my homeowner’s policy renewed a couple of months ago, and what I hear from other people is about the same. Will it drive anyone out of Florida? I don’t see that happening. When the flood insurance increased several years ago there was a momentary panic, but it evened off when the federal government made some changes, and it had no effect on the real estate market.

There’s always something as the world goes round. Stay safe.

www.amisun.com

MAY 19, 2021

THE SUN

39

Panic pumping causing unnecessary fuel shortage on AMI The recent cyber-attack on the Colonial Pipeline has prompted many on AMI to flock to the pump, causing stations to run out of gas.

BY JASON SCHAFER SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com

HOLMES BEACH - Whether you call it “panic pumping” or “gas hoarding,” it’s causing problems for Island residents.

Anyone who has lived through a hurricane scare saw a familiar sight this week, as motorists lined up to get as much gas as they could. Topping off tanks and even filling multiple gas cans, the long lines seemed to be worth it for many residents and visitors.

Panic buying is not a new phenomenon; a year ago it was very difficult to find toilet paper, despite reports there was never an actual shortage.

However, because of the perceived shortage, the panic buying nationwide eventually lead to a real shortage that lasted for months. While this will almost certainly not be the case with the current gas situation, it is nonethe-

less causing a short-term headache for many area residents.

The Colonial Pipeline moves and supplies gasoline and jet fuel to most of the southeast, running from Texas to New Jersey. It was cyber-attacked by a criminal organization called DarkSide, which demanded a $5 million ransom before they would allow the pipeline’s computer system to once again function. This led to the run on fuel, not only in affected states but in places like Florida which gets almost all of its gas from tanker ships that cross the Gulf of Mexico.

“The numbers were big; we sold a ton of gas,” said Billy Wegman, who works at the Mobile station in Holmes Beach. Wegman said his station hadn’t had any incidents of motorists fighting over fuel or a place in line but did experience the fuel hoarding firsthand.

“The only thing that I really saw was most people that came to fill their tanks up would also come with a gas can,” he said.

There have been reports of people putting gasoline into everything from water jugs to plastic grocery bags. For safety reasons, Florida Statute 526.141 states that fuel may not be dispensed

Perico Bay Club—As Good As It Gets!!

Business As Usual…..Just A Li le Differently.

If you’re looking to buy or sell in Perico Bay Club, or know someone who is, please give me a call!

Give me a call today if you yo ou u’re ’ree lookin looking ngg to Buyy or Sell on Anna Maria Maria Island Mari Islaand or the surrounding ounding ngg aarea! rea eaaa!!

Lynn Zemmer 941 4141 1-730 3030 0-1294 9 94

941.209.1542 I Lynn@Edgewaterami.com www.EdgewaterRealEstateInc.com 106 Bridge Street, Bradenton Beach, FL 34217

JASON SCHAFFER | SUN

Island gas stations left with only premium fuel after “panic pumping.” into a container unless the container bears a seal of approval of a nationally recognized testing agency.

Wegman’s station, as well as the Circle K in Holmes Beach, were both out of regular and mid-grade fuel Thursday. The only thing available at the time was premium grade, with an

average price of $3.55 a gallon.

Nothing but a small amount of premium fuel remains after Island gas hoarding.

“This is ridiculous, these are the same people that bought up all the toilet paper, now they’re taking all the gas, and there isn’t even a problem. There’s no shortage whatsoever; they’re just being ignorant and not listening. It’s really selfish,” Island resident Adam Gour said, as he filled up his boat with premium fuel. “It’s already expensive to fill this thing up to begin with, now I have to spend an extra thirty bucks for a grade of gas this boat doesn’t even require,” added Gour.

Since Gov. Ron DeSantis has issued a state of emergency, it is illegal for gas station owners to price gouge. According to AAA, Florida gas prices have not risen significantly since the Colonial Pipeline outage was first reported.

Drivers in the state were paying an average of $2.89 per gallon of regular unleaded gasoline on Wednesday, two cents higher than at this time last week. Officials say motorists who see price gouging should take photos of the inflated price and report it to county authorities.

40

www.amisun.com

THE SUN

MAY 19, 2021

PINEY POINT: Spill leads to lawsuit FROM PAGE 1

then intentionally discharged 215 million gallons of water into Tampa Bay at Port Manatee to take pressure off a compromised stack, avoiding its collapse and a potentially more serious spill.

The discharge ended April 9, leaving a pollutant plume containing what DEP calls “mixed seawater” - an acidic blend of saltwater and debris from a Port Manatee dredge project, stormwater runoff, rainfall and “legacy process water.”

The “process water” component is wastewater from phosphate processing that contains nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen that feed toxic algae blooms.

“Phosphate companies have had over 70 years to figure out a way to dispose of the radioactive gypsum wastes in an acceptable manner; they have yet to do so,” Glenn Compton, chairman of ManaSota-88, Inc., said in a press release.

Faulting DEP for allowing the storage of dredge waste in gyp stacks that the Army Corps of Engineers warned had structural issues, and for authorizing HRK Holdings to discharge the polluted

water, the conservation groups charge that “Piney Point presents an imminent and substantial danger to human health, our drinking water, the regional economy and the environment.”

“Piney Point was and still is a ticking timebomb,” Justin Bloom, Suncoast Waterkeeper founder and board member, said in a press release. “Instead of appropriately closing this toxic waste site when they had the chance, the DEP allowed the site to become even more perilous, knowing full well the risk of collapse and catastrophic contamination.”

The plume of water continues to spread, according to scientists at the University of South Florida College of Marine Science in St. Petersburg, which developed a forecasting model of where the polluted water will be on any given day. On May 19, the forecast predicts it will be swirling around both ends of Anna Maria Island, into Palma Sola Bay and Terra Ceia Bay, into the Manatee River, around both sides of St. Petersburg Beach, into Tampa Bay and up the Little Manatee River.

RED TIDE

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reports that low concentrations of red tide were detected at the Rod & Reel Pier in Anna Maria and Sarasota Bay at the Longboat Pass boat ramp in Bradenton Beach last week.

Red tide produces a neurotoxin called brevetoxin that can cause respiratory irritation, coughing, and more serious illness for people with severe or chronic respiratory conditions such as asthma, emphysema or COPD, according to the Florida Department of Health.

It can also cause fish kills and can poison shellfish, making them unfit for human consumption.

If the plume of nutrient-rich water from the Piney Point discharge reaches the red tide, “… it’s like adding gasoline to a fire,” Sarasota Bay Estuary Program Executive Director Dave Tomasko said.

BLUE-GREEN ALGAE

DEP is monitoring area waters for blooms of blue-green algae.

No cyanotoxins – the neurotoxins

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA COLLEGE OF MARINE SCIENCE | SUBMITTED

A May 19 forecast of the plume of polluted water released from the Piney Point plant last month shows the water spreading with the tides, currents and winds. The areas of most concern are indicated in orange and yellow. that are produced by blue-green algae – were detected in May 11 water samples. Results taken from samples on May 13 are pending.

However, widespread blooms of the blue-green algae Lyngbya have been reported in Anna Maria Island waters and at Robinson Preserve, the Intracoastal Waterway, Sarasota Bay and Tampa Bay, according to a report by county environmental scientists distributed to county commissioners by Acting County Administrator Scott

Hopes earlier this month.

Contact with Lyngbya can cause itching, burning, pain, rash, blisters and cell death, resulting in loss of superficial layers of the skin, according to the report. Airborne toxins from the algae can cause eye and respiratory irritation.

Excessive growth of Lyngbya can result in damage to seagrass beds and oyster bars, foul odors, oxygen depletion in the water and fish kills.

There has never been a better time to sell your property

BIRD KEY 411 Pheasant Way Robert Sherman

LONGBOAT KEY 4125 Gulf of Mexico Drive #S201 Moriah Taliaferro

ANNA MARIA

$3,295,000 941.313.1301

LONGBOAT KEY $3,998,000 941.504.9910

There has never been a better time to sell your property

209 South Bay Boulevard

Shellie Young

941.713.5458

LONGBOAT KEY

670 Lands End Drive #5 $943,000

6700 Gulf of Mexico Drive #144

Sandy Gillette & Thomas Netzel

Jayne Kocher

941.504.0170

INN ON THE BEACH $2,850,000

210 Sands Point Road $1,599,000 Jenna Dellatorre 315.396.4984

CEDARS EAST $569,900

941.915.6000

858 Evergreen Way $479,000 Mike Seamon 941.586.1802

LAKEWOOD RANCH | 941.907.9541 SARASOTA - DOWNTOWN | 941.364.4000 LONGBOAT KEY | 941.383.1526 VENICE TO PUNTA GORDA | 941.412.3323

RENTALS | 941.487.6019

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.

www.amisun.com

MAY 19, 2021

BEACH BEAT BRADENTON BEACH

5/9, 2:48 a.m., noise complaint, 301 Church Ave. A noisy party with music was shut down.

5/9, battery, Bridge Street Pier.

The victim said he was struck by a male who started a fight over the way he docked his boat. The aggressor hopped on a center console boat and headed toward Cortez.

HOLMES BEACH

5/4, 10 p.m., petit theft, Bali

HOLMES BEACH 103 75th Street 4 Beds 4 Baths 2,737 Sq. Ft. Kathy Marshall 941-900-9777 A4495220 $3,200,000

BRADENTON 2708 Bay Drive 4 Beds 4 Baths 3,689 Sq. Ft. Cheryl Roberts 941-266-1450 A4494263 $2,750,000

LONGBOAT KEY 651 Broadway Street 4 Beds 3/1 Baths 3,320 Sq. Ft. Kathy Callahan & JoDene Moneuse 941-900-8088 A4494571 $1,599,000

LIDO KEY 437 Cleveland Drive 2 Beds 2/1 Baths 2,774 Sq. Ft. Judy Nimz 941-374-0196 A4497923 $1,595,000

ANNA MARIA ISLAND 607, 609, 611 Fern Streets & 610 Rose Street 1,568 Sq. Ft. Hannah Hillyard & George Myers 941-744-7358 A4497933 $5,900,000

BRADENTON 3608 W 54th Drive W J101 & J102 4 Beds 4 Baths 3,776 Sq. Ft. Leah Secondo 941-545-4430 A4497828 $850,000

SARASOTA 707 S Gulfstream Avenue 205 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,320 Sq. Ft. Marci Mcfarland 941-961-3390 A4488641 $795,000

PALMETTO 615 Riviera Dunes Way 205 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,696 Sq. Ft. Cheryl Roberts 941-266-1450 A4497161 $429,000

THE SUN

Hai Resort, 6900 Gulf Drive.

A box with two bracelets and a set of earrings was taken while the owner was not in her room.

5/7, 1:18 a.m., city camping ordinance violation, Kingfish Boat Ramp, 752 Manatee Ave. A homeless male was found sleeping on a picnic table.

41

5/7, 3:30 p.m., driving with no valid driver’s license and possession of marijuana, 100 43rd St. The officer stopped the subject for making an illegal left turn and found the driver had no license. He also found a small amount of marijuana in the car and confiscated it.

LONGBOAT KEY 431 N Shore Road 4 Beds 4/1 Baths 4,641 Sq. Ft. Jodene Moneuse 941-302-4913 A4497877 $2,400,000

HOLMES BEACH 305 57th Street W A & B 4 Beds 3 Baths 2,423 Sq. Ft. Hannah Hillyard & George Myers 941-744-7358 A4498592 $1,795,000

UNIVERSITY PARK 8410 Grosvenor Court 3 Beds 4 Baths 3,453 Sq. Ft. Stephanie Annable 941-376-4100 A4499070 $1,470,000

BRADENTON 1908 72nd Street NW 4 Beds 3/1 Baths 3,368 Sq. Ft. Sharon Ingram 941-224-6447 A4495621 $1,250,000

LONGBOAT KEY 571 Saint Judes Drive 8 1 Bath 391 Sq. Ft. Barbara Dumbaugh & Victoria Lear 941-951-6660 A4480695 $205,000

BRADENTON Palma Sola Bay Club 3420 77th Street Circle W 203 3 Beds 2/1 Baths 1,857 Sq. Ft. Pamela Miller 614-632-2801 A4499769 $563,000

NEW CONSTRUCTION BRADENTON 12375 Lavender Loop 3 Beds 2 Baths 2,240 Sq. Ft. Emmy Lou Gilbert 941-807-1764 A4496427 $425,000

941.896.9981 | MICHAELSAUNDERS.COM

42

www.amisun.com

THE SUN

Bali Hai site plan review on hold Holmes Beach residents wanting to comment on the proposed site plan amendment for the Bali Hai Beach Resort will have to wait a bit longer.

The plan was scheduled for its first public hearing at a May 11 commission meeting. However, Chair Jim Kihm said attorney’s representing the resort’s

owner notified him earlier that day that they need more time to review the draft resolution prepared by city staff.

They also want to potentially have more discussions with the Holmes Beach city planner and building official before they are ready to proceed with seeking approvals, Kihm said. Proposed

changes to the resort include the addition of a bar and spa for guest use. The facilities have already been installed, but construction was not permitted through the city, something the site plan, if approved, would remedy. As of press time the matter had not yet been placed on an agenda.

PINE AVE: Study approved FROM PAGE 14

the pros and cons of each one,” Traverso said.

“We can go from simple to complex,” he said, mentioning striped parking lines or lowering the speed limit as simple solutions.

He said making Pine Avenue a oneway street going south and Magnolia Avenue a one-way street going north would be a more extreme solution.

Each recommendation will include a no-action option that analyzes what happens if nothing is done to address a particular problem: “They stay the same or they get even worse,” Traverso said.

Murphy said the July presentation date allows the commission time to include any desired actions in the 202122 fiscal year budget.

Commissioner Joe Muscatello said he doesn’t want this to be another case of a $50,000 study sitting on the shelf with no action taken.

“We’ve seen that too often,” he said.

Muscatello said if American Rescue Plan funds can’t be used, the commission needs to find the money elsewhere.

“We need to take this seriously and move as quickly as we can,” he said.

Commissioner Jon Crane asked Traverso if the study will take into account the unpredictable behavior of visitors when engineering potential solutions.

“We have tourists who come here and they drive crazy, and they ride bikes crazy and they cross streets without crosswalks – people who act normal at home but don’t act safely here,” Crane said.

Traverso referenced a tourist-heavy area in Treasure Island where visitors drink in the bars on one side of the street and then try to cross a four-lane road to get back to their beachfront accommodations.

He said several technical solutions were explored, but the best solution

came from a landscape architect who suggested planting shrubs to create a natural barrier that forces pedestrians to cross in designated areas. Public Works Manager Dean Jones said hedges used in that manner are an effective low-cost solution that he would support in some locations.

Former commissioner Doug Copeland attended Thursday’s meeting.

While in office, he often expressed concerns about the current configuration of Pine Avenue, which results in vehicles backing out into the street and includes areas with no sidewalks.

During public input, Copeland said, “ I want to applaud you for taking this on. It’s become a major issue. Our infrastructure was designed back in the early 1900s by the Anna Maria Development Company. It served the city well but it’s a hundred years old. We do need something dramatic and I hope you’ll move forward with this.”

MAY 19, 2021

www.amisun.com

MAY 19, 2021

THE SUN

Top real estate producers for April 2021 A PARADISE

Kathy Nunnally - Listing Quentin Talbert - Selling

AN ISLAND PLACE REALTY Billi Gartman & Sue Carlson Listing Billi Gartman & Tanya McCormick - Selling

DUNCAN REAL ESTATE

Joey Hutchinson - Listing Darcie Duncan - Selling

EDGEWATER REAL ESTATE Lynn Zemmer Listing & Selling

FRAN MAXON REAL ESTATE

Cultural Center reopens in Cortez

MICHAEL SAUNDERS Hannah Hillyard Listing & Selling

MIKE NORMAN

Marianne Norman-Ellis Listing Kathy Caserta - Selling

REMAX ALLIANCE GROUP Christine Kourik - Listing Cindy Quinn - Selling

SALTY MERMAID REAL ESTATE Liz Blandford Listing & Selling

SATO REAL ESTATE

Sharon & Tim Villars Listing & Selling

Jason Sato – Listing & Selling

ISLAND REAL ESTATE

The team of Becky Smith & Elfi Starrett - Listing Amanda Schwartz - Selling

Kathleen White and Erin Leathem – Listing & Selling

43

WAGNER REAL ESTATE

The Cortez Cultural Center will reopen Friday, May 28 and Saturday, May 29 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in time to celebrate Memorial Day weekend.

There’s a new display on the Taylor family, many of whom served in the U.S. military; the Adams sons, and Cortez men and women who served in World War II. This includes the oldest living Cortez veteran, Albert Few Jr., who will be 100 on June 9.

Few Jr. served as a fighter pilot in the U.S. Air Force, later serving his country working for NASA. There will be a taste sampling in the gazebo of the refreshing drink, Pimento, imported by local volunteer Barbara Duncan. Local designer Liz Nelson will have vintage jewelry and other creations for sale, and art works by Cortez village artist Linda Molto will be available, as will popular cookbooks, local prints and books by local authors about the history and lore of the village.

44

THE SUN

SPORTS

MAY 19, 2021

Team Blalock Walters remains undefeated

BY MONICA SIMPSON SPECIAL TO THE SUN

ANNA MARIA - Heading into the final weeks of youth soccer at The Center of Anna Maria Island, the Blalock Walters team in the tween league remains the only undefeated team. With a 4-0-0 record, the squad beat Grooms Auto 5-4 last week in a close match-up.

The offense of the Blalock team kept the Grooms goalkeeper Dalton Fox busy with seven saves in the game. The striking prowess of J.M. Fenney put four points on the scoreboard for his Blalock team. Teammate William Pakbaz added a single goal in the game, helping to give his team the victory.

On the other side of the field, the Grooms Auto’s players up front put four shots in the net against keeper Cale Rudacille, who finished the game with four stops.

Chase Johnson is credited with two goals, along with singles by Dennis Gallagher and Jayden Sparks.

AM Bath Time dominated the pitch against HSH, winning the final game of the night with the score 8-1. Victor Albrecht scored the only goal for HSH in the game.

HSH’s goalie Audrey Guess made nine saves in the game against the loaded offense of the AM Bath Time team.

Jack Mattick led the scoring for his team with four goals, followed by a hat trick by Ava Harlan. Teammate Maddox Culhane had a single goal and an assist in the win.

At the goal, Caden Quinby and Mya Ferrari collectively made seven saves for AM Bath Time.

Solid Rock Construction and Shady Lady both got the W last week in the youth soccer league against Beach

Dolphins affected

by Piney Point pollution The Sarasota Dolphin Research Program at Mote Marine is monitoring the dolphin community near Port Manatee for impacts from the April discharge of 215 million gallons of polluted water from Piney Point into Tampa Bay. The former phosphate plant is located in an environmentally sensitive area, near aquatic preserves at Bishop Harbor and Terra Ceia Bay. Since April 5, four days before the discharge ended, scientists have conducted photographic identification surveys to determine which dolphins are being exposed to the highest concentrations of discharged waters, whether they are moving away from the discharges and whether they are having respiratory issues, exhibiting

MOTE MARINE | SUBMITTED

Dolphins known to local scientists since 1990 that live near the Piney Point disaster are moving away from the immediate area. abnormal behavior or developing unusual skin conditions.

Preliminary indications are that fewer dolphins are using the waters near Port Manatee and are mostly congregating more than two miles away from the discharge site. Scientists have identified two dolphins

known to the program since 1990, and another first identified in 2009.

The program, which works with the Chicago Zoological Society, has been studying the dolphin communities along Florida’s central and southwest coast since 1970.

Bums and Tidy MD, respectively, in low scoring games to start the night of soccer action.

Alex Serra had nine saves in the game for his Beach Bums team.

Matching the number of saves, the Solid Rock Construction goalie, Austin Guess, also made nine stops.

The only goal of the game was scored

by McKenna Darak for Solid Rock in their victory.

With five saves, Andre Harwood made the statistics for Tidy MD. Shady Lady’s Tomas Bartos had two saves and Dylan Phillips had four as the goalies for the winning team.

Kirra Quinby scored the lone goal for Tidy MD. With the big leg, Jesse Zaccagnino eluded the Tidy MD goalie twice to score the two points for Shady Lady, with a 2-0-2 record.

SUN SCOREBOARD TUESDAY, MAY 11 YOUTH CO-ED SOCCER WEEK #5 8- TO 10-YEAR-OLD LEAGUE Beach Bums Solid Rock Construction

(0-2-2) 0 (1-2-1) 1

Shady Lady Tidy MD

(2-0-2) 2 (2-1-1) 1

Bridge Tender

(2-2-0) bye

11- TO 13-YEAR-OLD LEAGUE Blalock Walters Grooms Auto

(4-0-0) 5 (2-2-0) 4

HSH AM Bath Time

(0-4-0) 1 (3-1-0) 8

The Gitt Team

(1-3) bye

Anna Maria Island has four Home Rule Heroes Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy, Anna Maria Commission Chair Carol Carter, Holmes Beach Commissioner Jim Kihm and Bradenton Beach Mayor John Chappie were among the local officials who received Home Rule Hero awards last week from the Florida League of Cities. Each year, the League recognizes municipal officials for their efforts in preserving the home rule rights of Florida’s cities during the Florida Legislature’s annual session. Preserving local vacation rental regulation authority was again at the top of this year’s to-do-list.

GAIL LOEFFLER | SUBMITTED

Dan Murphy, Jim Kihm, Carol Carter and John Chappie were among the area’s Home Rule Heroes, shown on far right.

Sign honors the late Margaret Jenkins This flower bed outside the Anna Maria Island Historical Museum now honors the late Margaret Jenkins, the beloved Anna Maria resident who passed away at the age of 90 in February.

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

MAY 19, 2021

FUN IN THE SUN

Across 1 Peak of early 2000s cinema 10 Martin Sheen's first name at birth 15 Doesn't honor 16 Blow away 17 "Let's rock and roll!"

18 Actor Max von __ 19 Verb that sounds like a letter 20 Holders of leaves 22 Rank aboard the Enterprise: Abbr.

23 Turbine blade 25 Moved, as a movie camera 27 "Claws" star __ Nash 31 Get choppers 32 One up, barely 36 Oozy substances 37 Prefix for "six" Answers to 05-12-21 Crossword Puzzle.

38 Class with no struggles 39 Unwieldy thing 40 British boxer Khan 41 Album info 43 Talking points?

45 Role for which Liam got an Oscar nod 46 Show ardor 48 Occupied 52 IPA, say 53 About 5, for coffee 57 Humanities degs.

58 Enjoy a season in a day, perhaps?

60 Therapy subjects 62 Run onstage?

63 Wrap up 64 Judges 65 Duty for the bereaved

Down 1 Patch plant 2 Nostalgi-cool?

3 Beginning 4 Pabst dispenser 5 Journey with strokes?

6 __ noire 7 Gobi locale 8 Search high and low 9 Apt eye rhyme for "bread" 10 Fight in the sticks 11 2019 Emmy nominee Adams 12 Escaped 13 Polar environmental concern 14 Paper departments 21 Approached nightfall 24 In the world 26 Looney Tunes surname 28 Metaphorical margin of victory 29 Contents of some 20-Across 30 Having only two answers 32 Fight over covers, perhaps?

33 Citrusy flavor 34 "The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very __

is an act of rebellion": Camus (attributed) 35 Votes for 42 Succeeds to the max 44 Sri Lankan currency

THE SUN

47 Send to cloud nine 49 WWII sub 50 Gift list addressee 51 Cape Ann's county 54 Nights before

55 Rapper Lil Uzi __ 56 Singer Franklin, Aretha's elder sister 59 Opal, for one 61 Suffix with salt

45

46

THE SUN

CLASSIFIED

ANNOUNCEMENTS

ESTATE 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

ESTATE SALE FRIDAY MAY 21. 9:30-2. 615 Foxworth Lane, Key Royale, Holmes Beach. Must wear Mask.

Rattan: sofa, chairs, glass top table dinnett. 2 nest tables, twin bed, desk, collectables including turtles, sofa bed, book case, Bistro table and chairs, student desk, china cabinet, vaccum, kitchen ware, linens, decorative assesories, china glass, bric-a-brac, other late editions. Sale conducted by Palma Sola Sales. Numbers given out at 8am. See pis at estatesales.net.

AMI TURTLE WATCH needs donations & silent action items for our FUNDRAISER. We can pick up! Call or text 941-713-6531.

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.

CARPET CLEANING QUALITY COUNTS. CARPET cleaning. Upholstery cleaning. Tile & grout cleaning. Island's favorite cleaner. Manatee Chamber Member. Great price/free estimates. Call 941-7561082

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

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

Call us today! 941-778-3986

FOR SALE THE CITY OF ANNA MARIA is accepting sealed bids for the following items beginning on May 11, 2021:2003 John Deere Gator Serial #: W006X4X074360 Located: Public Works 2004 Golf Cart Model E825 VIN#: 5ASAG47474F034225 Located: Public Works The sealed bids must be submitted to the City Clerk no later than May 20, 2021 to the following address: City of Anna Maria Attn: City Clerk 10005 Gulf Drive PO Box 779 Anna Maria, FL 34216. All sealed bids are due no later than May 20, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. The award will go to the highest bidder. Any questions, please contact the Anna Maria City Clerk at (941) 708-6130.

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

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

Neil 941-726-3077 RENOVATION SPECALIST ALL carpentry repairs, Wash Family Construction, locally owned and operated CBC 1258250 Call 941-7250073.

KERN CONSTRUCTION NEW Homes & Remodel.

Design/Build. Since 1968.

License # CBC 1261150.

Call Mike Kern 941-7781115 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.

ISLE TILE EXPERT INSTALLATION of floors, custom showers, backsplash, deck/lanai.

Licensed and insured.

References available.

Call Chris at 941-3028759 please visit website: isletileservices.com “HAMMERED HOMES” (SAVING HOMES SINCE 1984) Handyman services, renovations. Free Estimates & Consulting. Call before making decision, save money.

941-778-3206

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

Call Rafael 941-778-4823 or Veronik 941-526-7941 STRAIGHT SHOT LANDSCAPE. Specializing in Old Florida Seashell driveways and scapes. Also Rock, Mulch, & Soil. Free estimates. Call Shark Mark 941-301-6067 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.

MAY 19, 2021

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

40-YEAR PAINTER from Kentucky. Hourly rate guaranteed savings over contractor price. Neat, dependable, equipped, insured. Highly productive. A+ rated by Better Business Bureau for 40 years. 502-817-6786. aapressurewash.com

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

LOST & FOUND LOST ON MANATEE BEACH. 18" herringbone chain (4mm thick, square link, round clasp, 10k) with 3/4" Spanish gold coin pendant.

Please call 585-755-3894.

Contact Dennis

COLE'S TROPICAL POOL SERVICE Call Cole Bowers for all your pool maintenance needs! Affordable and Dependable!! 941-7131893

PRESSURE WASHING & WINDOWS

RENTALS: SEASONAL & VACATION

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

TIFFANY PLACE Gulf Front Condo for Rent Incredible views from living room and master bedroom. 2BR/2BA Green Real Estate Call 941-778-0455

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.

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, 1BR 6 months $1550/mo. redekercondosonami.com Tim 941-704-7525.

TRANSPORTATION AMI TAXI metered-on-callcards accepted. Airport: Tampa $95, Sarasota $40, 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 $70. Sarasota $35. 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

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.

FREE

HOME DELIVERY

RENTAL WANTED SEEKING AMI ANNUAL RENTAL Call Kelly Gitt Keller Williams Realty 941799-9299

Call for Details

778-3986

www.amisun.com

MAY 19, 2021

BUSINESS & SERVICE DIRECTORY HOME IMPROVEMENT

THE SUN

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Call today to place your ad: 941-778-3986

HOME IMPROVEMENT

PAINTING

HOME SERVICES

TRANSPORTATION

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THE SUN

www.amisun.com

MAY 19, 2021