Anna Maria Island Sun May 26, 2021

- Named Best Florida Newspaper In Its Class -

VOL 21 No. 33

May 26, 2021

Lyngbya algae is collecting in canals and causing trouble for boat owners and marine-based businesses.

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

TAMPA BAY – When the thick, slimy algae known as lyngbya gets into a boat motor, the fishing trip, dolphin tour, or sunset cruise is over.

A local tour boat operator fears it may not only stifle business but suffocate sea grass and even marine life if something isn’t done about it.

Capt. Ben Webb, of AMI Dolphin Tours, helped coordinate a cleanup Monday of the Waterline Marina in Holmes Beach at the marina’s expense.

High-pressure water from a hose pushed mats of algae against a seawall, where it was vacuumed into a tanker truck for disposal.

It’s not easy to talk about the smelly mess.

“It’s kind of a catch-22,” Webb said. “If we tell everybody about it, then our businesses drop, but if we don’t tell everybody about it, all of our seagrasses, everything’s gonna die.”

Growing mats of lyngbya can cover large areas and be several feet deep, impeding navigation and recreation, smothering submerged plants and clogging water intakes, according to the University of Florida Institute for Food and Agricultural Science.

“What a pain. It gets into my motor and if I’m not careful, I could overheat and burn up my motor,” said Capt.

Kim Ibasfalean, of Capt. Kim’s Charters in Bradenton Beach, where the algae clogged canals last week.

Mats of algae clog marina, affect business CINDY LANE | SUN

Mats of the blue-green algae, lyngbya, at a Holmes Beach marina are causing problems for local tour boat and fishing charter owners.

Record crowds predicted for Memorial Day Anna Maria Island could see a record number of visitors this Memorial Day, and potentially far beyond.

BY JASON SCHAFFER SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH - With COVID-19 restrictions being lifted, flights back to 100% capacity, people vaccinated and school coming to an end, Anna Maria Island could potentially see a record number of visitors for the Memorial Day holiday. With many service industry businesses already being understaffed, owners and managers are doing their best to prepare.

INSIDE NEWS LETTERS OUTDOORS CASTLES IN THE SAND REAL ESTATE SPORTS CROSSWORD

4 6 18 22 22-27 28 29

According to Research Data Services, which tracks monthly visitor statistics to the Island, there is every reason to believe the number of visitors will likely surpass not only 2020, but preCOVID-19 as well. Data also shows that the length of time people are staying has continued to increase. This is also supported by data from Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ).

Southwest Airlines has added new cities such as Columbus, Houston, and Nashville, and continues to increase the number of daily flights. SRQ is currently the fastest-growing airport in America, and a large number of those SEE MEMORIAL DAY, PAGE 16

SEE ALGAE, PAGE 26

Red tide advisory issued

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

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – The Florida Department of Health in Manatee County has issued a red tide advisory for Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key. Low levels of red tide persist in Manatee County, and fish kills were reported at the 59th Street canal in Holmes Beach on May 18, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission weekly report.

Low concentrations were detected at the Rod & Reel Pier in Anna Maria and the Holmes Beach Boat Ramp.

Very low concentrations were detected in water samples at School Key (Key Royale on Anna Maria Island) and the Longboat Pass Boat Ramp.

Background concentrations of the toxic algae were detected at the Palma Sola Bay bridge.

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. 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. Residents may consider wearing masks, especially if onshore winds are blowing.

SEE RED TIDE, PAGE 16

LAUNCH SUMMER

MEMORIAL DAY salutes planned

with salmon and asparagus salad. In Food & Wine. 17

in Anna Maria, Cortez. 3, 5

Anna Maria Island, Florida

GET READY now for the 2021

hurricane season! 9 The Island’s award-winning weekly newspaper www.amisun.com

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MAY 26, 2021

MAY 26, 2021

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Lack of workers putting stress on Island businesses

BY JASON SCHAFFER SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA ISLAND - As you browse the shops, dine in the restaurants and check into the resorts of Anna Maria Island, you may notice what’s becoming a familiar sight not just on the Island, but in cities and towns across the U.S.; the “help wanted” sign.

The problem? Not enough workers to fill all the jobs.

According to statistics from ZipRecruiter, even though job postings on the site have surged, participation rates among users remain sluggish at best.

There are currently 5 million more job postings on the site than there were at the start of the pandemic, but businesses posting the openings are getting record low responses.

Island businesses seem to be seeing similar results.

“I probably spent $800 to $1,000 on Indeed and didn’t even get a phone call,” said Shawn Waters, owner of Solo’s Pizza in Holmes Beach. “Now I’m going to the high schools because they’re about to get out for summer break. Those kids aren’t on unemploy-

JASON SCHAFFER | SUN

From restaurants to resorts, Island businesses are struggling to find employees for service industry positions. ment, because they haven’t had jobs yet.

“When the big crowds come for Memorial Day and the weeks following, I’m just going to have to take the phone off the hook after take-out times get to 45 minutes and focus on the business inside the restaurant,” Waters added. “I

don’t want to do this, it costs me a lot of money, but I have no choice. I just don’t have the staff to do both.”

Solo’s isn’t the only Island business struggling to find help in the service industry. There are a lot of rental units on Anna Maria Island, and it takes an army of housekeepers to meet the

demand of the record-breaking booking rates at area condos and resorts.

Unfortunately for many of these properties, what was once a job for many, is now being done by a few.

“The service industry has suffered during COVID because they’re in a pay scale where they make more money with the unemployment that they’re getting now. Anything between $12 and $17 an hour, in that pay range, you can’t find what you need, but once that ends, there will be a lot of people looking for work,” said Kathy Wooten General Manager of Queen’s Gate Resort in Bradenton Beach.

Nervousness about returning to a safe work environment has also been cited as a reason for not returning to work, as well as the fact that many job seekers may not have yet realized just how much the job market has heated up. No matter the reason for hesitation, the reality is that there are currently more positions available on Anna Maria Island than there were before the start of the pandemic, and filling them is priority number one for many Island businesses.

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ISLAND NEWS

IN BRIEF

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 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 a member of the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office. Adams passed away in 2010. He was 92.

Business card exchange at Slicker’s The Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce will hold a business card exchange at Slicker’s Eatery, 12012 Cortez Rd. W. in Bradenton, on Thursday, May 27. The Chamber holds these events so local business owners can network, exchange business cards and information, as well as generally get to know each other. Tickets are $5 for Chamber members and $10 for future members. Contact the Chamber at www.annamariaislandchamber.org or call 941-778-1541.

Anna Maria hosting COVID-19 vaccine clinic 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 clinic will be at City Pier Park, 101 North Bay Blvd., across the street from the City Pier. The Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccines will be available 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 please call 941-708-6130, extension 121.

Tumbling program offered by Center If you have kids who love to jump, dance and flip around the house, then The Center of Anna Maria Island’s new children’s program may be just right for your family. Tumble Tots is a six-week gymnastics and dance program where children ages three to five will learn balance, strength and gymnastics skills in each 35-minute per week class. At the end of the six-week program, kids will get to showcase their new skills in a Tumble Tots dance program for parents and friends. Classes take place on Mondays from 4:30-5:05 p.m. and begin on June 7. The cost for the six-week session is $140 for Center members and $160 for non-members. For more information, or to register your child, visit www. centerami.org or call 941-778-1908. The Center is at 407 Magnolia Ave. in Anna Maria.

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MAY 26, 2021

Anna Maria hosting Memorial Day Patriotic Symphony Salute

Last year’s Memorial Day salute was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA – The city of Anna Maria will host its annual Memorial Day Patriotic Symphony Salute at City Pier Park on Monday, May 31.

City Pier Park is located across the street from the Anna Maria City Pier.

Last year’s Memorial Day salute was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Memorial Day salute will take place from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and conclude with the performance of patriotic music by the Anna Maria Island Concert Chorus & Orchestra – with the chorus members not participating in this particular event. The symphonic performance is expected to begin at 10:30 a.m.

The ceremony will begin with a Marine Corps color guard and drummer marching from Roser

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

The Memorial Day Patriotic Symphony Salute will take place at City Pier Park in Anna Maria.

Memorial Community Church to the City Pier Park flagpole for the presentation of the colors and the placement of a memorial wreath.

Mayor Dan Murphy will then recognize the attending members according to the military branch in which they served. Murphy will also recognize the spouses and significant others of the veterans who served their country.

Murphy is an Army veteran and Public Works Manager Dean Jones

is a Marine Corps veteran. During recent city commission meetings, both men have expressed how much this event means to them personally and the many veterans who are part of the local community.

Volunteer members of the For the Love of Anna Maria Island community task force will hand out small American flags to attendees. Commission Chair Carol Carter is a member of that group.

Cortez Cultural Center to honor veterans

BY CINDY LANE SUN STAFF WRITER

CORTEZ - A program honoring Cortez veterans and their families will be held Saturday, May 29, from 9-10 a.m. at the Cortez Cultural Center, 11655 Cortez Road, followed by the opening of exhibits from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The morning program will feature Cortez cousins Bradenton Mayor Gene Brown and his predecessor, former Bradenton Mayor Bill Evers, with a remembrance by native son Darrell Taylor of his father Dan Taylor, who served in the U.S. Navy.

The final tribute after the names are read will be Taps, performed on trumpet by Del Couch,

FILE PHOTO

The Cortez Cultural Center will present a Memorial Day program Saturday, May 29, as part of its grand reopening. who served as a U.S. Air Force bugler from 1968-72.

Tours of the center will include a new exhibit about Dan Taylor and his family. Ongoing exhibits of other veterans

highlight the patriotism and role of the men and women from Cortez, who number 78 in World Wars I and II, with three fatalities. Most served in the U.S. Navy (39), followed by the U.S. Army (16),

U.S. Air Force/Corps (2), U.S. Merchant Marine (2), U.S. Coast Guard (1) and U.S. Marine Corps (1). Four women served, two in the WACS and two in the WAVES. A new feature at the Center is a diorama displaying the different stages of net fishing, made by author John McDonald.

There is no charge for the program or entrance to the exhibits, but donations are accepted and volunteers are welcome.

Limited parking is onsite, accessible traveling east on Cortez Road; additional parking is in the Florida Maritime Museum lot at 4415 119th St. W. with a short walk over the Bonefish Bridge.

MAY 26, 2021

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Bradenton Beach commission proposes eliminating term limits City voters will determine whether the existing term limits are eliminated.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH – In the upcoming fall elections, Bradenton Beach voters will again be asked if they want to eliminate the term limits currently imposed on the city’s elected mayor and city commissioners.

The City Commission last Thursday unanimously supported on first reading an ordinance that provides ballot language for the possible elimination of term limits. The ordinance will be provided to the Supervisor of Elections Office after being adopted on second and final reading on Thursday, June 3.

The ballot language, drafted by City Attorney Ricinda Perry, says: “The current city charter provides that no person may hold the same elected office for more than three consecutive terms, or portions thereof, with each term lasting two years. Should the city amend its

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

Commissioner Jan Vosburgh term-limited out of office and was later elected to serve again.

Mayor John Chappie supports the elimination of term limits. charter removing term limits, while maintaining the requirement that each term shall last for two years?”

Voters will be asked to vote yes or no on that question.

Bradenton Beach is the only city on Anna Maria Island that imposes term limits on its elected officials.

Due to a previously adopted charter amendment regarding commission candidate residency requirements, there was some confusion in 2016 as to whether the city’s term limits had inadvertently been eliminated by the voter-adopted residency amendment. Clarification was then sought from city voters during the 2016 elections and

Bradenton Beach voters determined they wanted the existing term limits to remain in effect.

Those election results resulted in commissioners Ed Straight and Jan Vosburgh term-limiting out of office. In 2019, Vosburgh was elected to serve another two-year term and she plans to seek reelection in the fall. Mayor John Chappie’s term also expires in November and he’s expected to seek another term.

During Thursday’s meeting, Chappie said he’s remained silent on term limits, but he now fully supports eliminating them – in part because there are now fewer fulltime residents and fewer potentially

interested commission candidates in the city.

Vosburgh said she favors eliminating term limits, too. She cited the knowledge that experienced commissioners bring to the commission and the learning curve new commissioners must navigate.

Commissioner Jake Spooner is serving his third term in office, a term that expires in November.

Spooner has run unopposed in all three of his commission races and has not announced whether he will seek reelection, although he has informally expressed interest in serving another term.

Perry also has informally expressed her opinion that Spooner can seek another term because some of his time in office has been served as an at-large commissioner and some has been served as the Ward 1 commissioner. This is due to city voters eliminating and later restoring the city’s four geographically determined commission wards. Perry has not yet provided a formal legal opinion on this matter, nor has the commission directed her to do so.

Take a Moment This Memorial Day to Remember Those Who Made the Ultimate Sacrifice for Our Freedoms

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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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MAY 26, 2021

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

Fund The Center

Holmes Beach commissioners, please reconsider your denial of the annual contribution to the Community Center. There were comments by some that they want their (tax) money spent in Holmes Beach. As a former HB city commissioner and mayor, your money does go towards the citizens of Holmes Beach. The Center offers recreation to the our cities with tennis, soccer, basketball, gym memberships, guest speakers, concerts, art and dance programs.

They also offer children’s sports, summer camps and guest speakers.

Holmes Beach benefits more than the other cities due to our larger population.

According to your comprehensive plan, the Community Center addresses the requirement to provide recreation. Events are not considered recreation. I recall this issue when I was in office and was strongly advised that this was a way to comply with the cities comp plan. It was noted at the Anna Maria Commission meeting that the largest membership at The Center is from Holmes Beach, with a total of 190.

I live on the 8400 block of Marina Drive. I have had three new homeowners move within three houses of mine. ALL permanent from the north to escape high taxes and quality of life. All have at least two children and have joined

the Center for kids soccer etc.

I know many on the board are not longtime residents and maybe don’t have kids that attended The Center. I did at 14 years old, my daughter did and now both my grandsons do. My daughter was born on this Island and moved a few years ago. She drives them to Anna Maria every day and the Community Center in the evenings for kids sports.

Please reconsider the largest city on the Island with the most kids attending, to contribute. I think your budget is around $14 million and $22,000 to comply with your comprehensive plan is minimal.

Carol Whitmore Former Holmes Beach commissioner and mayor

Tall bridge won't help What will the new tall Cortez Bridge do and what will it not do?

It will not improve the business and/or esthetic status of the village of Cortez or the foot of the bridge at Bradenton Beach, as it will cut sharply and recklessly into each area's topography and business district without regard for the dramatic impact on those businesses and residents near each side of the bridge.

It will not improve the traffic flow.

The same amount of cars will be passing over the bridge and onto Anna Maria Island, regardless of whether cars are temporarily halted by the drawbridge or allowed to

drive without a gate to stop them for a few minutes. The same amount of traffic lanes will be present on both the bridge and Island to manage the flow as it happens now.

It will not make it easier for pedestrian traffic and cyclists to travel over the bridge's planned new height and width. It will totally disregard those who walk/ride to and from the Island from various residential and rental dwellings (including the nearby trailer parks) and those who would be hard-pressed to complete the new crossing's down-played steepness and length. It will be especially rough on those countless elderly and physically challenged individuals who already have difficulty passing over the current bridge It will not keep FDOT from having to make future repairs on the new bridge - it will only make the repairs more complex and costly because there will be “more bridge” to contend with.

The new bridge WILL benefit all the rich people with their tall, lavish, expensive boats who won't have to impatiently wait a few minutes to pass while the drawbridge is down. And that should keep a huge smile on the face of Manatee County Commissioner Keith Van Ostenbridge.

Bernie Czarniecki Bradenton SEE LETTERS, PAGE 7

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MAY 26, 2021

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR FROM PAGE 6

Center deserves support Two recent news reports concerning the city of Holmes Beach have both incensed and saddened my husband and me.

The commissioners' vote to withhold promised and budgeted funds to the Center is beyond despicable - it is a repudiation of a longstanding contri-

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, 9 a.m. – Special Magistrate hearing May 27, 6 p.m. – City Commission meeting May 31, all day – City offices closed for Memorial Day June 10, 2 p.m. – City Commission meeting

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 31, all day – City offices closed for Memorial Day June 2, 9:30 a.m. – Community Redevelopment Agency meeting June 2, 11 a.m. – Planning and Zoning board meeting June 2, 2 p.m. – Scenic WAVES meeting June 3, 6 p.m. – City Commission meeting June 8, 9 a.m. – City Commission work meeting

HOLMES BEACH

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

May 27, 10 a.m. – Pop-up COVID-19 vaccine clinic May 31, all day – City offices closed for Memorial Day June 2, 6 p.m. – Planning Commission meeting June 8, 6 p.m. – City Commission meeting with work session to follow June 11, 10 a.m. – Code Compliance special magistrate hearing MARKYOUR CALENDAR

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bution that is very much needed. That Holmes Beach has the money and it was budgeted, only makes the vote more incomprehensible. The Center serves the Island and deserves continued support. It shouldn't have to ask for the money. It should be a given.

Shame on those who do not recognize all the good the Center does for our Island community. They should be embarrassed for ignoring the needs of their community, especially when

published numbers reflecting current membership detail a majority is from Holmes Beach.

The report that the results of a "survey" were in favor of keeping the playing surface of the newly constructed pickleball courts "as is" was similarly unbelievable. Since the Holmes Beach courts opened, pickleball players have been contacting the city regularly with reports of falls, injuries, broken bones, slippery conditions and studies which

showed the netlike surface covering the surface is hazardous, especially in humid climates. Considering the sport is rapidly growing with a fan base that is typically senior citizens, the city should take heed of the dangerous condition it created and take immediate measures to remediate. Will it take a lawsuit before the city corrects a mistake?

Mary Clark and Gabe Buky

The Holmes Beach dog park (Scentral Park), skate park, basketball courts, pickleball courts and tennis courts are open.

Local preserves are open, including Grassy Point Preserve, Neal Preserve, Perico Preserve and Robinson Preserve.

Local beaches are open.

Preserve Mosaic Nest, 840 Ninth Ave. N.W., Bradenton, 9 a.m. to noon. Face masks required.

Snooks Adams Kids Day, Anna Maria City Pier Park, 103 N. Bay Blvd., Anna Maria, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Face coverings or masks required.

WEDNESDAY

SUNDAY

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.

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

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

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.

FRIDAY

MONDAY

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.

MAY 26

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.

FRIDAY MAY 28

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

Robinson Twilight 5K/10K, Robinson Preserve north entrance, 1704 99th St. N.W., Bradenton, 6:30 p.m., $45. Registration required at www.raceroster.com/ events/2021/30867/2021-robinson-preservetwilight-5k-and-10k-run.

SATURDAY MAY 29

The Island Branch Library is open.

The Tingley Memorial Library is open.

The Center of Anna Maria Island is open with social distancing and face masks required.

THE SUN

Robinson Runners, Robinson Preserve Mosaic Nest, 840 Ninth Ave. N.W., Bradenton, 8 a.m.

Saturday mornings at the NEST, Robinson

MAY 30

MAY 31

Memorial Day Patriotic Salute, City Pier Park, 103 N. Bay Blvd., Anna Maria, 10 a.m.

TUESDAY JUNE 1

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.

WEDNESDAY JUNE 2

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/.

JUNE 4

Seashell Shore Walk, Coquina Beach, south pavilion, 2650 Gulf Drive S., Bradenton Beach, 9 a.m. Reserve to www.eventbrite. com/e/152902127379.

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

SATURDAY JUNE 5

SUNDAY JUNE 6

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

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.

TUESDAY JUNE 8

THURSDAY JUNE 3

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.,

Tortoise talks, Valentine House lawn, Robinson Preserve, 1704 99th St. N.W., Bradenton, 8 a.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.

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MAY 26, 2021

Commissioners vote to increase fire assessment rates WMFR commissioners voted 4-1 to increase assessment rates for the 2021-22 fiscal year by 4%.

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

BRADENTON – Property owners in the West Manatee Fire Rescue District in western Manatee County will notice an increase in the fire assessment rate when TRIM notices go out later this year, but it won’t be a big jump in cost.

District commissioners voted 4-1 to increase assessment rates for the 202122 fiscal year. The increase will be 4%, slightly less than the allowable increase of 5.64%.

WMFR gets most of its income from special assessment rates paid by property owners in the district. Since the assessments are non-ad valorem, they’re

not based on a property’s taxable value.

Instead, they are based on the size of the building on the property or set at a flat rate if the property is vacant.

The maximum percentage that the rate can be increased each year is based on personal income growth, or PIG. Though district leaders expected the 2021 number to be much lower, it came in at 6.8% for the state of Florida according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, a division of the U.S. Department of Commerce. The maximum increase considered by WMFR commissioners during their April mid-year budget workshop was 5.64%.

What this means for district taxpayers, including all property owners on Anna Maria Island, in Cortez and the west side of unincorporated Manatee County, is that what you pay annually for fire service is increasing slightly on your next property tax bill.

A 4% increase will bring the resi-

dential property base rate up $7.82 to $203.35 with an increase for properties over 1,000 square feet of $0.0046 to $0.1199 per square foot. For a 2,000-square-foot home, this brings the total rate up from $310.85 to $323.28, a difference of $12.43. The rate for a 3,000-square-foot home would increase from $426.17 to $443.22 and from $541.50 to $563.16 for a 5,000-squarefoot home.

Commercial property owners will notice an increase as well, with the commercial base rate increasing from $485.94 to $505.38 and the per-squarefoot rate increasing from $0.2104 to $0.2188 for buildings over 1,000 square feet. The 4% increase brings the total rate for a 2,000-square-foot commercial property to $724.23 with a 3,000-square-foot building coming in at $943.08 and the rate for a 4,000-squarefoot commercial building increasing to $1,161.92.

Commissioner Al Robinson was the lone vote against raising the assessment rate for the coming year. Robinson has previously been vocal about curbing the department’s spending and lessening the burden of the fire district on property owners.

Despite the increase in assessment rates, WMFR still has one of the lowest rates in Manatee County.

Commissioner David Bishop said the decision to vote whether or not to increase assessment rates is a difficult one. He warned his fellow commissioners that in looking to the future of the district they don’t get too far ahead for the taxpayer base. He said he feels the district could quickly reach a tipping point with costs and that they want to make sure that those costs don’t tip the wrong way, ending up too high to be sustainable.

“It’s a tough vote every year,” Bishop said.

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MAY 26, 2021

THE SUN

9

Stock up on tax-free hurricane supplies

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

Hurricane season is almost here and it’s time to stock up on your disaster preparedness supplies.

Florida’s annual tax-free holiday will stretch across 10 days this year, from May 28 to June 6. During this time, you can buy certain items without paying sales tax.

Applicable items include flashlights and lanterns $40 or less, radios costing $50 or less, tarps $100 or less, coolers $60 or less, batteries $50 or less and generators costing $1,000 or less.

Items to keep in your hurricane or di-

saster preparedness kit include a battery powered or hand-crank radio, flashlight and extra batteries, a battery or solar powered charger for your cell phone, moist towelettes, disinfecting wipes, garbage bags, plastic ties, duct tape, plastic sheeting and a manual can opener. If you plan to board up windows or doors in the event of a storm approaching it can be helpful to have those supplies on hand as well as extra fuel for a generator and a full tank of gas in your car.

For each person in your household there should be a gallon of water available per day for several days as well as several days of non-perishable food. Make sure to include infant

NOAA predicts active Atlantic hurricane season

formula, bottles, diapers, wipes and other supplies for any young children in your household. All prescription and non-prescription medications, glasses, contact lenses, personal hygiene products and a supply of cash should accompany your hurricane kit.

Extra water and food for your pets should also be included. A copy of your pet’s veterinary records, a carrier large enough for them to move around in, water and food bowls and a small litter box, if you have a cat, may be needed in case you have to evacuate.

With COVID-19 still being a healthcare issue, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also recommends adding

SUN STAFF WRITER | kswain@amisun.com

The forecasters at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center are predicting yet another busier-than-average Atlantic hurricane season, with the possibility of 13-20 named storms, six to 10 hurricanes and three to five major hurricanes classified as Category 3, 4 or 5.

To be named, a storm must have wind speeds of 39 mph or higher with a circular rotational pattern.

Hurricanes are named storms with winds of 74 mph or higher, while a major hurricane is consid-

ered one that ranks as a Category 3, 4 or 5 storm with wind speeds of 111 mph or higher.

NOAA forecasters also predict a 60% chance of an abovenormal hurricane season, a 30% chance of a near-normal season and a 10% chance of a belownormal season. Reasons for the predictions include above-average ocean surface temperatures in the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean, no El Nino conditions to suppress hurricane formation and a possible return of La Nina conditions later in the season.

Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30.

For more hurricane tips, visit www. amisun.com/2021/05/10/hurricaneguide/

2021 Atlantic hurricane season names

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

BY KRISTIN SWAIN

face masks or coverings for everyone age two and older in your household, soap, hand sanitizer and extra disinfecting wipes to your disaster kit.

Other items to consider keeping in your kit include copies of identification cards, bank accounts, insurance policies and other important documents, a change of clothing, sturdy shoes, disposable eating utensils, blankets or sleeping bags and a fire extinguisher.

Each year the World Meteorological Organization releases one of six lists of names for Atlantic tropical storms and hurricanes. If this year’s names sound familiar, that’s because they were last used in 2015. This year’s list will move back into rotation in 2027.

If a storm is particularly devastating, the name may be retired, like Hurricane Katrina, and replaced with

a new name. If a hurricane season is particularly active and more than 21 storms form, the additional storms are named after letters in the Greek alphabet.

To be named, a storm has to have wind speeds of at least 39 miles per hour and have a rotating circular pattern.

This year’s names are: 1. Ana 2. Bill 3. Claudette 4. Danny 5. Elsa

6. Fred 7. Grace 8. Henri 9. Ida 10. Julian 11. Kate 12. Larry 13. Mindy 14. Nicholas 15. Odette 16. Peter 17. Rose 18. Sam 19. Teresa 20. Victor 21. Wanda

10

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THE SUN

Mote facility funding requested The city of Anna Maria wants Manatee County’s support in its effort to put a Mote Marine Education Outreach Center on the city pier.

According to Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy, the county will be asked on Tuesday, June 8, to approve the city’s $500,000 request to help pay for the Outreach Center.

If the funding request is supported,

the city will have its share of the startup funds, with Mote Marine covering the remaining $55,600 needed to transform the vacant pier building into an education outreach center. In April, the members of the Manatee County Tourist Development Council unanimously recommended county commission approval of the city’s funding request.

MCAT summer transit program returns Keep a car off the road this summer and reduce the stress of being stuck in traffic by getting a Manatee County Area Transit summer pass. For $25, teens and young adults can get a Summer ConneXion bus pass good June through August on all MCAT buses and Route 99 connecting Manatee and Sarasota counties. Service using the passes begins June 1. Passes are available to riders age 19 and younger.

Passengers can utilize a mobile ticket option on a smartphone or purchase a

physical card pass to be swiped at the fare box when boarding the bus instead of paying a cash fare. All Summer ConneXion riders will have to show their pass and a valid form of identification when boarding the bus. Passes are available to purchase at the downtown Bradenton and DeSoto transit stations or online using the Token Transit mobile ticketing app on your smartphone.

For more information, contact MCAT at 941-747-8621.

MAY 26, 2021

www.amisun.com

MAY 26, 2021

THE SUN

11

Duncan selected for dock expansion project The finger piers would provide additional docking for recreational boaters who visit Bradenton Beach.

ing floating dock, with two additional finger piers that would bring the total number of finger piers to 11. The dock extension would be installed at the east end of the existing floating dock.

The CRA members discussed potentially designating the far eastern end of the expanded floating dock as an area for commercial vessels to load and unload passengers – with no commercial docking allowed elsewhere on the dock or finger piers.

The Duncan proposal includes $40,821 to replace the existing dinghy dock with a new dock made of Trex decking, or $38,815 to replace the dinghy dock with an alternative decking material.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH – Sarasotabased Duncan Seawall, Dock and Boat Lifts is the Community Redevelopment Agency’s (CRA) first choice to install finger piers to the floating dock next to the Bridge Street Pier.

Tampa Bay Marine also submitted a proposal in response to the CRA’s request for proposals (RFP) that also calls for the selected firm to extend the existing floating dock and replace the city-owned dinghy dock near the Bridge Tender Inn. The selection took place during the special CRA meeting on Wednesday, May 19. Prior to the meeting, Bradenton Beach Police Lt. John Cosby, Building Official Steve Gilbert and City Attorney Ricinda Perry individually ranked the two bid proposals received. All three city staff members ranked Duncan higher than Tampa Bay Marine.

According to handwritten notes included on Perry’s evaluation sheet, Duncan’s bid came in at a total of approximately $616,000 to $624,000, depending on some options included in the proposal. The Tampa Bay Marine bid came in at approximately $495,000, with some additional unknown costs pertaining to potential engineering services.

Perry is now authorized to negotiate a contract with Duncan Seawall, Dock and Boat Lifts. The finger docks and

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

The proposed finger piers would be attached to the existing floating dock that would be extended to the east. additional floating dock sections to be installed by Duncan if a contract is successfully negotiated would be premanufactured by the Fort Myers-based Golden Marine Systems.

The CRA members believe working with Duncan and Golden – two firms the CRA has past experience with – would prevent the cost overages and installation delays that plagued the floating dock project originally contracted with Technomarine in 2017 and later installed by the Hecker Construction Company in 2019. Duncan was later contracted to make final repairs and renovations to the floating dock and Golden Marine provided some of the needed materials.

DUNCAN PROPOSAL

Duncan’s proposal includes $248,675 to provide and install nine

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

finger piers that would be 4 feet wide and 31 feet long. The finger piers would be attached perpendicular to the floating dock.

The Duncan proposal includes an additional $39,190 to include two support pilings for each finger pier. The pilings would provide additional stability and security to the floating finger piers that would be attached perpendicular to the floating dock. The CRA members suggested the possible use of just one piling on some of the finger piers in order to provide dock space for larger boats.

It was also noted that the pilings would provide additional protection from the nearby liveaboard vessels south of the pier that frequently break loose during storms and rough seas.

The Duncan proposal also includes an additional $205,565 to provide and install an 80-foot extension of the exist-

COUNTY FUNDS

In April, the Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC) members unanimously recommended that the county commission provide the CRA with up to $850,000 in matching funds for the finger dock/dock extension/dinghy dock project. That funding request is expected to be presented to the county commission on Tuesday, June 8.

The county commission previously provided matching funds for the installation of the floating dock project that was originally contracted for $119,000 and wound up costing approximately $283,000 when finally completed.

The CRA members voted 5-1 in favor of authorizing Perry to negotiate a contract with Duncan. Member David Bell cast the only opposition vote. He said he was not comfortable entering into a contract with Duncan until the final status of the matching county funds is known.

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MAY 26, 2021

AME teacher Karen Paul opens a new door

BY TOM VAUGHT SUN CORRESPONDENT

Karen Paul has put the environment and nature in the forefront of her teaching career.

When the final bell rings on the school year at Anna Maria Elementary this Paul week, it will shut the door on the 38-year career of third-grade teacher Karen Paul, who hails from New York state.

Becoming a teacher was a goal for the college graduate from Buffalo.

After two years, she came to Florida, where her parents frequently vacationed, and talked to Anna Maria Elementary School Principal James Kronus, who hired her.

“Karen was always looking for ways to make learning fun for the kids,” Kronus said from his Bradenton home.

“For instance, she brought her class out to the beach with volunteer parents and made a replica of the Great Wall of China. They had fun and it showed what a monumental project it was.”

Paul was familiar with the Island from past vacations and impressed with the

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Karen Paul’s first class, above, and her last one, above right. school’s location with the bay to the east and the beach three blocks to the west.

She thought it would be a perfect setting to expose the youngsters to nature in the coastal environment.

“She got Around the Bend Nature Tours to come out and the kids would wade out into the Bay and capture sea critters to study and release,” Kronus said. “Somehow they found the mon-

ey to pay Around the Bend for their expertise with some help from parents.”

Paul said she looks forward to retirement and will spend time at Robinson Preserve as a volunteer, and volunteering for the Audubon Society, but she’ll always treasure her time with her students at AME. “I couldn’t have done it without the help of the parents and staff, and

people like Christine Callahan, the school’s volunteer gardener,” Paul said.

“I’m sure I’ll be available to volunteer at the school.”

Some of the programs she pioneered will hopefully continue in one form or another, but this special teacher will be remembered by those students who will hopefully care for nature and the environment in the future.

www.amisun.com

MAY 26, 2021

THE SUN

13

Masks to stay on at Anna Maria Elementary

BY JASON SCHAFFER SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com

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ANNA MARIA - Ever since Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an executive order earlier this month that suspended all local COVID-19 emergency orders and related public health restrictions, it’s been left up to local government and school boards about how to proceed with their individual restrictions.

Anna Maria Elementary is the only public school on the Island, so it has been of particular interest to not only parents and faculty, but also area residents who are eager to see how COVID-19 will be handled at the local level.

According to Anna Maria Elementary Principal Jackie Featherston, students and faculty will continue to wear masks for the remainder of the school year, which is only a few more days; the last day of school is May 27.

“May 25, the school board meets and will specifically address how they will move forward for the 2021-2022 school year. I hope it will be a choice to wear a mask next year,” said Featherston.

The school has had two positive COVID-19 cases. The first was in November of 2020, and the second was February of this year. Accord-

JASON SCHAFFER | SUN

Despite the mask mandate being lifted, students and faculty at Anna Maria El-ementary will continue to cover up until at least the end of the school year. ing to Featherston, both situations required a 14-day teacher quarantine. In the event of a kinder-garten or pre-K case of COVID-19, the entire class, as well as the teacher would be required to quarantine for the same duration.

Students were given the option of virtual learning this year, but Principal Feath-erston said very few did so.

“Eighty percent of students were back in the classroom at the start of the year in August, and by the end of the Christmas break, the number was up to 90%. The stu-

dents were anxious to get back to normal,” said Featherston.

On Thursday, May 20, Dr. Anthony Fauci said he believed President Biden’s goal of 70% of adults getting at least one dose of the vaccine will be reached. Fauci also said that it’s conceivable for middle schools and high schools to be completely mask-free in the fall. Since children under 12 have not yet been ap-proved to get the vaccine, he did not specifically address that age group.

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Judge orders Mapes to pay city $19,760

MAY 26, 2021

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SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH – Circuit Court Judge Edward Nicholas has ordered Sunshine Law lawsuit defendant Reed Mapes to pay the city of Bradenton Beach $19,760.

According to the written ruling Nicholas issued on Friday, May 14, that amount represents $17,998 in attorney fees and $1,762 in interest fees. These are to be paid to the city as remaining reimbursement for the attorney fees the city incurred in its successful pursuit of a 2019 ruling from Nicholas that Mapes and five other city advisory board members violated the Florida Sunshine Law. In July 2019, Nicolas ruled that Mapes and fellow planning and zoning board members John Metz, Patty Shay, Bill Vincent, and Scenic WAVES Committee members Tjet Martin and Rose Vincent, violated the Sunshine Law when discussing matters related to their official public business at a series of non-city-affiliated Concerned Neighbors of Bradenton Beach meetings in 2017.

“The Sunshine Law prohibits discussions of public business. Public business was discussed at every CNOBB meeting. Public business was discussed every time CNOBB met. That was largely the point of the organization,” Nicholas said when issuing his 2019 ruling.

“Do these individuals have a right to assemble? Absolutely. Do these individuals have a right to free speech? Absolutely. Do these individuals have a right to be concerned about their beloved city? Of course.

But once you choose to become part of the government by becoming a member of a government advisory board you are no longer just a spectator. Rules apply, laws apply.

The defendants simply did not follow those rules. The defendants simply did not follow those laws. This is not a close call,” Nicholas said.

In October 2020, Nicholas ordered Mapes, John Metz, and Tjet Martin to collectively pay the city $369,498. Because of an argu-

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

Shown here during the 2019 trial, Reed Mapes has now been ordered to reimburse the city for a portion of its attorney fees. ment set forth by Shay, Nicholas relieved Shay and the Vincents of that shared financial responsibility for the city’s legal fees. Nicholas reached that conclusion when he learned Shay and the Vincents reached settlement agreements with the city before the 2019 trial began. The city commission rejected those three settlement officers because Mapes, Martin and Metz had not also agreed to similar settlement offers that would have alleviated the need for a trial had all six defendants agreed to settle.

In November 2020, Metz and Martin reached a settlement agreement in which they agreed to pay the city $350,000 and drop their appeals of Nicholas’ 2019 ruling. Shay and the Vincents then paid the city $500 each, and the Vincents agreed to drop their appeals.

Shay was the only defendant who did not appeal the 2019 ruling. Mapes is the only defendant still appealing the 2019 ruling.

In his May 14 ruling regarding the attorney fees sought from Mapes, Nicholas wrote, “Mapes was an especially active participant in the Sunshine Law violations committed by the members of Concerned Neighbors of Bradenton Beach in the summer of 2017, appeared eager throughout the litigation to force the city to prove its claims despite multiple audio recordings which documented the violations, and appeared to be disinclined to settle on the plaintiff’s terms.”

Attorney Robert Watrous represented the city in this legal matter, with significant assistance provided by paralegal Michael Barfield and additional assistance provided by City Attorney Ricinda Perry.

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MAY 26, 2021

THE SUN

15

New dash, body cameras coming for HBPD officers HBPD officers are getting new technology to help keep them safe and record their interactions when responding to calls.

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

HOLMES BEACH – Officers in the Holmes Beach Police Department will soon have new technology to help keep them safe while on the job.

Commissioners voted unanimously May 11 to allow Mayor Judy Titsworth to enter into a five-year contract with Watchguard/Motorola for $178,918 over the length of the contract to provide body cameras and dashboard cameras for every HBPD officer and cruiser. The expenditure was already approved as a part of the 2020-21 fiscal year budget process with $35,783 allocated

to launch the program.

Police Chief Bill Tokajer said the officers’ current dashboard cameras are obsolete and the company providing service for them has gone out of the camera business, meaning there’s no support or parts available to fix the devices. With the new equipment, 16 dashboard cameras will be purchased for cruisers and 17 body cameras will be purchased, one for each officer. Officers cannot share the devices because they often respond to issues while coming in to work and the body cameras are calibrated for each officer’s specific height and body composition, Tokajer said.

“Safety is paramount for our police,” Commissioner Jayne Christenson said.

Commissioner Carol Soustek said that she applauded Tokajer for requesting the necessary safety tools for his officers.

Not everyone was excited about

2021

spending more money on the city’s police department.

During the public comment portion of the meeting, resident Alec Graham stepped up to the podium to relate some questions to commissioners that he had already posed to Tokajer about the number of police officers the department really needs.

Graham compared Holmes Beach to the city of Longboat Key, saying he thinks Holmes Beach has too many officers for the size of the city and population.

In his response to Graham, Tokajer said Longboat Key’s police department has a smaller budget than Holmes Beach and does not have the same type of demands placed on it by residents and visitors. While the Holmes Beach resident population may not be that large, coming in at 4,243 residents, Tokajer said 20,000-50,000 visitors come to the city each day to take advantage of

the sun, surf and other activities in Holmes Beach. To police a group that large requires a larger police force, he said. On a slower day with only 20,000 extra people in the city, he said that still leaves one officer for every 6,666 people in the city.

Tokajer said the city has four shift rotations with two officers and one sergeant, two mid-shift officers and one school resource officer whose time is committed to serving at Anna Maria Elementary School when school is in session.

In comparison to Longboat Key, Tokajer said that in 2018, HBPD officers completed 383 arrests while LBKPD officers only completed 60.

In 2019, Holmes Beach arrests fell, but only to 326. On Longboat Key, officers completed 46 arrests the same year. In 2020, Holmes Beach officers made 379 arrests. The information for 2020 from Longboat Key was not available at press time for The Sun.

16

THE SUN

MEMORIAL DAY: Record crowds predicted FROM PAGE 1

passengers are headed to the beach.

“We’ve been sold out for Memorial Day since the beginning of April,” said Dawn Hollar, of the Anna Maria Island Dream Inn. “It was pretty crazy during spring break in March, especially with a limited staff.

We’re expecting more of the same for Memorial Day.” Dream Inn, like many other businesses on the Island, continues to work with a smaller-than-normal crew.

It may come as a surprise, but according to Hollar, Memorial Day and Valentine’s Day are the two busiest holidays of the year.

“Regardless of being sold out and short on staff, we’re still able to handle it. Still ready for everybody to come in, still here with a smile on our face, with clean rooms and a ready staff,” she said.

Wanting to give guests the best experience possible was a sentiment shared by Island business owners and managers. While at times stressful due to the challenges they’re facing from the pandemic, owners expressed optimism that things are returning to as close to normal as possible.

“We’re seeing people who were here in February coming back in June; they’re trying to catch up on lost time,” said Kathy Wooten, General Manager of Queens Gate Resort in Bradenton Beach.

“June, as a general rule, brings families after the kids get out of school, but this year is over the top,” Wooten said. “We are sold out well into July and have been for weeks. We broke records in March, broke records in April, and are about to break our record for May. There’s a frenzy about Anna Maria, I’ve been here 30 years and never seen anything like it.”

As with any busy holiday week on the Island, expect an increased police presence, parking rules being strictly enforced, and much higher-than-average traffic volume.

RED TIDE: Advisory issued FROM PAGE 1

No red tide-related respiratory irritation was reported over the past week in Manatee County.

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 sea foam, 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 phosphorus 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 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.

www.amisun.com

MAY 26, 2021

MAY 26, 2021

FOOD & WINE

THE SUN

Launch summer with salmon and asparagus salad Brian Mathae HURRICANE HANKS

F

ood is soaring to new heights in 2021!

At Hanks, we count ourselves as some of the lucky ones who survived the hardship 2020 brought to the food service industry. As 2021 has been unfolding before us, we are pleased to see a robust recovery. With customer volume ahead of 2019 we are confident the worst is behind us. But something has been lurking in the shadows, trying to throw us off our game. It’s been nagging at us and growing in intensity. I’m hoping and praying it’s reached a crescendo! I guess only time will tell.

“It” is food price inflation.

We are being given all sorts of explanations for the significant

price increase we are seeing in 2021. However, all of these explanations are simply variants and all relate back to a common theme – COVID-19. Sadly, once all of this is behind us, I doubt that prices will return to previous levels.

We are seeing the most significant price increases in our most significant cost items. Cooking oil increased 12% in the month of April alone and has risen 145% since April 2020. In the past 12 months we have also seen the cost of beef tenderloin rise by 50%, the cost of chicken wings by 65% and the cost of scallops by 60%. And there are hundreds more items experiencing similar increases. We get no forewarning; we are simply told the “market” price when we place an order.

Of all the products we buy on a weekly basis, salmon has been a shining light in this mad inflationary darkness. The price has remained relative stable and the product continues to be regularly available

and of good quality. Who could ask for more? Especially when it is one of your favorite meals, as it is mine. Salmon is one of the healthier proteins out there. I’ve featured it before and talked about all the health benefits so I won’t repeat myself here. Let’s just leave it that it’s still affordable! And, therefore, worth celebrating. That makes it perfect for this coming weekend when you will be spending time with your friends and family. Who doesn’t love a Memorial Day food fest?

Memorial Day tends to mark the unofficial start of summer and for many it is their first vacation of the season. It’s a time to gather outside with loved ones and share food. This is a recipe you can prepare ahead of time and finish just before serving. Getting the work done ahead of time lets you focus your time with your loved ones while remembering the fallen and honoring their loved ones. We are grateful for the precious gift they have given us.

Salmon and Asparagus Salad Serves 4

Ingredients

1 lb fresh salmon filet, skin and bones removed 1 lb small potatoes 1 lb asparagus, cleaned and cut into 2-inch lengths 1 head butter lettuce 2 large hard boiled eggs, peeled and quartered 1/3 cup virgin olive oil 1 large lemon, sliced into rings 1 tsp whole black peppercorns 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice 1 tsp grated lemon peel 2 tbs capers 2 tbs Dijon mustard 2 tbs chopped fresh dill 1 tsp sugar 1/2 tsp salt 1/4 tsp course ground black pepper

Directions

• In a small bowl combine the last 8 ingredients and with a whisk slowly beat in the olive oil until it thickens slightly. Set dressing aside.

• In a large skillet heat 1 inch of water until boiling. Add the salmon,

SUBMITTED

lemon slices and whole peppercorns. Once boiling again, reduce heat to low, cover and simmer about 8 minutes. Drain the salmon and cool.

• In a medium saucepan add the potatoes and just enough water to cover them. Heat on high until boiling, then reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer 15 to 20 minutes until the potatoes are just tender. Drain, cut in half and while still warm, toss with 1/4 cup of the dressing.

• In another saucepan heat the asparagus and 1 inch of water to boiling.

Reduce heat to low, leave uncovered and simmer for 5 minutes, ensuring it remains tender crisp. Drain and chill to stop the cooking process.

• When ready to serve, break the salmon into 1-inch chunks. Add the asparagus to the pota-toes and toss with another 1/4 cup of the dressing.

Divide the lettuce among four plates and arrange the salmon, potatoes and asparagus, and the eggs over the lettuce. Drizzle with re-maining dressing and garnish with a few sprigs of fresh dill.

17

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THE SUN

OUTDOORS

MAY 26, 2021

Catch and release perpetuates the species Reel Time RUSTY CHINNIS

C

atch and release used to be a relatively new concept in sport fishing, one that recognized that fish populations are vulnerable and not the endless resource that they were once thought to be. Now the concept is commonplace and has even spawned a sort of backlash, as the "I Kill Fish" sticker on the back of a truck I saw recently attests.

Fishermen who fish mostly for fun have been criticized because many see catching and releasing fish as playing with fish. Anglers, unlike hunters, can pursue their passion and release their prey. Both hunters and anglers are quite often great champions of their respective passions and invest their time and money in protecting the habitat and well-being of fish and animals.

Most anglers I know who practice catch and release have no problem with taking an occasional fish home for dinner. It's more about enjoying the sport and trying to be proactive in helping it to remain healthy and viable. There are many species, notable among them tarpon, that anglers seldom, if ever, kill. Catch and release is not just about releasing fish that you don't want, it's also about safely releasing undersized fish or species that aren't valued at the table. Catch and release in any form is a wise use of the resource, but unfortunately, many anglers don't know how to properly handle fish.

When we get cut, bruised or battered

RUSTY CHINNIS | SUN

Landing a fish as quickly as possible helps them recover and gives them a better chance of survival when released. we can head for the local drug store, or in more extreme cases the Emergency Room. Not so for fish. For them, it's heal or die, and in their world, it's the sick and wounded that first fall prey to predators.

What a shame to do the right thing, releasing a big, speckled trout full of roe, only to have it eaten by a shark, barracuda or other predator because it wasn't handled properly.

The first step I would suggest is to make sure you match tackle to the task. Trying to land a big tarpon on 20-pound tackle might be OK if you're experienced, but to the uninitiated, it's like announcing a free meal to the sharks that ply local waters looking for weak or injured prey. Enjoy the action, but land the fish as quickly as possible. Once you have the fish subdued, the best course is to never take them out of

the water. If you've been fighting them for a long time (think tarpon), make sure you revive them properly. If you can reach the water over the gunwale, slowly move the boat forward while holding the fish firmly but lightly. This forces water and oxygen through their gills and helps them recover from oxygen depletion. They'll let you know when they're ready to go.

The hook is probably the next most important consideration. Either a circle hook or a barbless hook is usually best for anglers and their fish. The key to keeping fish on a barbless hook is to keep the line tight. Circle hooks are recommended for inexperienced anglers and on fish that tend to swallow the hook, like speckled trout. Fish secrete a protective coating that covers the scales and skin. This slime coat acts as a defense against invasion by

bacterial, parasitic and fungal pathogens.

Whatever hook you use, a de-hooker will keep your hands safe and clean, preventing you from inadvertently harming the fish's protective slime coat and protecting hands from sharp gills and teeth. De-hookers come in various shapes depending on how they're used. The simplest is J-shaped and removes hooks in or near the jaw.

A circular-shaped longer version allows anglers to remove hooks that are deep in the throat of a fish or in the jays of a big fish like a barracuda.

Anglers who fish for reef fish like snapper and grouper need to learn how to "vent" fish with inflated swim bladders.

Bringing the fish up from deep depths fast bloats the bladder, which has to be punctured to allow the fish to reach the bottom.

Anglers that release a trophy-sized fish may want to take home a picture. Here are a few tips that will help you record your catch. Set your exposure in advance and have an idea where in the boat you want to take the picture. The best picture for the fish would be when it's still in the water, but if you do remove the fish, hold it horizontally, with one hand near the head, and the other hand under the fish’s belly to support its weight. Holding a fish vertically puts a strain on the internal organs and can potentially dislocate its jaw. This is particularly important with large fish.

Lastly, eliminate any extraneous objects like rods and focus in on the subject.

By being prepared we can get the fish back in the water fast, thus ensuring its chances of survival. Taking the time and having the tools and knowledge to release fish mindfully is a great way to help ensure we have a healthy population of fish now and into the future.

MAY 26, 2021

www.amisun.com

THE SUN

19

CAPTAIN DAVE WHITE | SUBMITTED

Snook are biting well and love the warm afternoon temperatures.

Wind, wind, go away CAPTAIN DAVE WHITE

It looks like the wind is finally going to lie down this week! It’s been relentless out there lately.

We’re looking forward to nicer days ahead.

Inshore, mangrove snapper are starting to show up nicely. Getting fresh fish tacos isn’t too hard for people wanting meat. The snook, Spanish mackerel, redfish and

trout are biting well. Especially the schoolie-sized snook. They are loving the warm afternoon temperature.

Tarpon are hitting the beaches in full force. We have quite a few trips coming up for these silver kings. Pass crabs are definitely the bait of choice when targeting these beautiful animals.

Offshore, the mangrove and

yellowtail snapper are going crazy.

It’s not hard to fill the box with these tasty critters! Also on the menu is red grouper, amberjack, African pompano and the occasional blackfin tuna. We use a variety of baits offshore, ranging from pilchards to Spanish sardines. We’re excited for the rest of the month and also to see what June holds!

SEA TURTLE CONSERVANCY | SUBMITTED

Where’s Bortie?

Is loggerhead sea turtle Bortie headed back to Anna Maria Island to nest? Turtle watchers hope she might! She was satellite-tagged on AMI after laying a nest in June 2018 on Coquina Beach (see the red star on the map). Bortie competed in the Sea Turtle Conservancy’s 11th Annual Tour de Turtles in 2018, placing 10th out of 13 contestants with 351 logged miles.

Turtle nesting season began locally on May 1 and ends on Oct. 31 Please keep beachfront lights out for nesting!

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www.amisun.com

THE SUN

MAY 26, 2021

Local artist takes inspiration from Island beaches Anna Maria Island artist Corey Wright can often be spotted painting on local beaches, taking inspiration from nature as well as from the people who come to enjoy it.

BY JASON SCHAFFER SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH - Stroll along any of the beaches on Anna Maria Island and you’re likely to walk past local artist Cory Wright.

After falling in love with the Island during regular trips here with her family, Wright, her husband and two teenage children decided to sell their home in Apollo Beach and move to AMI. “We would come every single weekend with our kids when they were little, and we would get depressed on Sunday when we had to go home. We finally decided to sell our home and everything in it, remodel the condo and move to the beach,” said Wright, who hasn’t regretted that decision in any way. “Normally moving with teenagers to a three-bedroom condo would be tough - it’s a lot less square footage, but a lot bigger backyard, since our backyard is the beach.”

Wright has enjoyed a long career as a professional artist, beginning at age 15 when she began painting murals and faux finishes. She was able to have a successful career lasting more than 25 years, making a living doing what she enjoyed.

Wright went on to major in painting at the Rhode Island School of Design and spent a year in Italy as part of an honors program.

JASON SCHAFFER | SUN

Artist Cory Wright stands with some of her works at Cove on Bridge St. in Bradenton Beach.

“In 2011 I took a workshop in Tuscany with an artist whose work I really admired. He painted en Plein air, which is a French term meaning out in the open,” Wright said, explaining how her love for painting outdoors really began to take off.

Unlike painting in the controlled environment of a studio, light and shadows are constantly changing when painting outdoors. This is the challenge facing any artist who paints in the en Plein air style. Wright says she usually has two hours to complete a painting when she’s working outdoors. The heat and humidity don’t affect oil paints. The reason for the two-hour window to get a beach painting completed is completely due to the changing position of the sun, which will alter light and shadow, as well as water levels rising or receding.

In addition to painting for sale in galleries and commission work, Cory Wright is also an accomplished teacher. She is happy to work with any artist of any skill level.

“All you need is interest, and an openness to try something new.

Your work may not turn out perfect, but you’d be surprised how many of my first-time students say their work turned out much better than they expected,” said Wright, who offers two-hour lessons on the beach, which includes all supplies. If you’re interested in a lesson with Cory, you can find all the info at her website, www. corywrightart.com.

Artwork by Cory Wright is currently on display and for sale at “Cove” on Bridge St. in Bradenton Beach.

www.amisun.com

MAY 26, 2021

Scott Allen Reid

THE SUN

21

Steve Arvey

SUBMITTED | THE CENTER OF ANNA MARIA ISLAND

Tyler Brewer is congratulated by Center Executive Director Chris Culhane, Chris van Zandt and his mother Dina Franklin as the first winner of the John van Zandt scholarship.

Center announces scholarship winner

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

ANNA MARIA – The first winner of a newly established scholarship fund has been announced.

Manatee High School senior Tyler Brewer is taking an extra $5,000 with him to school in the fall as the inaugural recipient of the John van Zandt scholarship given through The Center of Anna Maria Island.

After graduation, Tyler plans to attend training for a career as an electrician.

“I have lived on Anna Maria Island my whole life,” he said in his scholarship application. “I come from a long line of family members who have lived on Anna Maria Island. I would like to be an electrician and I’ve also thought about going to school to be involved with electrical engineering. I’ve always been interested to be involved in the Florida Power and Light Company.

These two careers have caught my

interest very much. The electrical business will always be needed and I would love to get the opportunity to learn more about it to not only help myself but to help others.”

The scholarship is planned to be awarded annually to a graduating high school senior for tuition or training assistance to prepare to enter the workforce. The award is $5,000, or $2,500 each to two winners determined by the independent committee formed to evaluate applications. Students who live on Anna Maria Island or who have parents who work on the Island are welcome to apply for the scholarship during the annual application period February 1-April 1. Students who already have full tuition funding from another scholarship source are not eligible to receive the John van Zandt scholarship.

This year’s award committee included Ana Shaw, Chris Culhane, Jack Bergbom, Mary Ellen Stahr, Lori Waggoner and Chris van Zandt.

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W

REAL ESTATE

MAY 26, 2021

Crazy rich homeowners

e’re in the “careful what you wish for” zone, not just Floridians, but every homeowner across the country. Prices are up, inventory is low and a lot of potential buyers are really unhappy; where will it end?

Home prices rose around the country during the first quarter of the year to a record level. The median sale price for existing single-family homes was higher in the first quarter compared with a year earlier for most of the metro area tracked by the National Association of Realtors.

They reported that in 89% of the metro areas tracked, median prices rose by more than 10% from last year.

In addition, the National Association of Realtors reported the United States average median single-family home appreciation rate was up 16%. The following are first-quarter median single-family appreciation rates for some of the major areas around the country: Northeast up 22%; West up 18%; South up 15% and Midwest

Castles in the Sand LOUISE BOLGER up 14%. This may be a confusing mouthful, but it boils down to no matter where you live or are trying to buy a home, you’ll pay a lot more than last year.

Realtor.com also reported the number of active listings on their website was down 52% from a year earlier at the beginning of May. The fact that mortgage rates are low, even though they did have a slight blip up, is not significant in some areas since all-cash buyers are representing a large slice of buyers. And Fannie Mae is forecasting median existing-home prices to rise 11.5% in 2021 then slow to a 4% increase in 2022, none of which is good news for buyers who are getting

priced out of the market every month.

Not to mention lenders who are less than enthusiastic about giving mortgages to first-time borrowers, especially if their credit ratings are less than very high 700s.

Before I go into Manatee County’s April sales statistics reported by the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee, comparing April of last year to April of this year will show remarkable changes because April 1 of last year was the beginning of the COVID-19 lockdown and a pause in real estate sales. Regardless, the numbers are incredible, breaking yet another record for single-family median sales price.

April single-family closed sales were up 69.7%, cash sales were up 166.7% and the median sale price was $405,000 up 19.1% a new record. The average sales price was $578,162, up 42.2%, the median time to contract was seven days and month’s supply of available properties was 0.6 months.

April condo closed sales was up 126.8%, cash sales were up 121.7% and the median sale price was $235,000, up 10.8%.

The average sale price was $303,121, up 28.9%, the median time to contract was 11 days and month’s supply of available properties was 0.7 months.

Make note of the cash sales, which keep going up every month. That number is having a significant influence on the market. First-time buyers are not only being outbid they are also being outmaneuvered by cash buyers and quick closings, frequently without an inspection contingency.

Every month, it’s hard to believe the numbers can improve as much as they do. But we are in real estate crazy land, something we all at one time wished for.

Nevertheless, keep in mind that comparisons will be off for the next several months when you compare them to last year because of last year’s lockdowns.

Stay safe.

www.amisun.com

MAY 26, 2021

THE SUN

23

Former Island chief inducted into Hall of Fame

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

FLORIDA – The Florida Law Enforcement Officers’ Hall of Fame welcomed 2020 and 2021 inductees.

During a May 15 ceremony broadcast live on Facebook, the organization welcomed 10 new members, including a former Holmes Beach police chief.

Former Chief William “Jay” Romine was honored as one of the 2020 inductees.

Romine began his career with the HBPD in 1979 as an auxiliary police officer and rose through the ranks to become chief of police in 1993 where he served until retirement in 2013. In 2004 he was also president of the Florida Police Chiefs Association where he helped coordinate disaster response to all areas of the state after several hurricanes hit the state. After retirement from the HBPD, Romine was appointed director of the Law Enforcement Academy at Manatee Technical College where he continues to work. He also was elected as chair of the Florida Criminal Justice training Center Directors Association and leads 40 certified training centers across the state.

Other 2020 inductees include Lawrence Crow Jr. of the Lakeland Police Depart-

SUBMITTED | FLEO

Inductees for 2020 into the Florida Law Enforcement Officers’ Hall of Fame include Lawrence Crow Jr., James Gabbard, William Liquori, William “Jay” Romine, retired police chief from the Holmes Beach Police Department, and Donna Uzzell. ment and Polk County Sheriff’s Office, James Gabbard of the West Palm Beach and Vero Beach Police Departments, William Liquori of the Orlando and Altamonte Springs Police Departments and Donna Uzzell of the Tallahassee Police Department and Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

The Hall of Fame’s 2021 inductees were honored at the same ceremony. They include Irving Heller of the Miami-Dade and North Bay Village Police Departments, Nathaniel Glover of the Jackson-

ville Sheriff’s Office, Sidney Klein of the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Department and Clearwater Police Department, Edward Spooner of the Quincy Police Department, Gadsden Sheriff’s Office and Florida Department of Law Enforcement and John Spottswood of the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.

Inductees were nominated for the Hall of Fame by the Florida Sheriffs Association, Florida Police Chiefs Association, Police Benevolent Association, Fraternal Order of Police and the State

Law Enforcement Chiefs’ Association.

A committee selected the finalists who were approved as inductees by Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet.

The Florida Law Enforcement Officers’ Hall of Fame was created in 2014 by the Florida State Legislature to recognize and honor the law enforcement officers who every day put their lives on the line for the safety and protection of the state’s residents and visitors through hard work, service to the community and exemplary accomplishments.

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SUBMITTED | FLEO

The 2021 inductees into the Florida Law Enforcement Officers’ Hall of Fame include Nathaniel Glover, Irving Heller, Sidney Klein, Edward Spooner and John Spottswood.

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THE SUN

MAY 26, 2021

Van Ostenbridge, Satcher to be reimbursed for attorney fees As of this week, County Chair Vanessa Baugh is the only remaining defendant in the Public Records Act lawsuit.

If we’re paying the bill, we deserve to see what the bill is.”

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

MANATEE COUNTY – County commissioners Kevin Van Ostenbridge and James Satcher will be reimbursed for the attorney fees and legal expenses they incurred as defendants in a Public Records Act lawsuit filed by paralegal Michael Barfield in December.

On May 11, the county commission voted 7-0 in favor of reimbursing Van Ostenbridge and Satcher up to $60,000.

The commission approved the reimbursements without being provided with itemized attorney bills that supported the reimbursement requests.

Citing standard operating procedure, Clerk of the Court and Comptroller Angel Colonneso said the commission-approved reimbursements would not be paid until her office received and reviewed itemized invoices from Van Ostenbridge and Satcher’s attorneys.

According to the non-itemized attorney fee summaries County Attorney Bill Clague

Glen Gibellina, Manatee County resident MANATEE COUNTY/YOUTUBE | SUBMITTED

Kevin Van Ostenbridge provided The Sun on May 12, Van Ostenbridge incurred $26,368 in attorney bills and $281 in additional legal costs for legal services provided by attorney Morgan Bentley and his office, for a total of $26,650. According to detailed invoices provided later by the Clerk of the Court’s Office, Van Ostenbridge received 97.2 hours of attorney services from Bentley’s office.

Van Ostenbridge incurred an additional $7,500 in expenses for legal services provided by attorney Sean Flynn and his office. According to the itemized invoice provided by the Clerk of the Circuit Court office, Van Ostenbridge received 22 hours of legal services from the Flynn Law firm. Van Ostenbridge’s attorney fees and legal expenses totaled $34,150.

According to the non-

MANATEE COUNTY/YOUTUBE | SUBMITTED

James Satcher itemized invoice received from Clague, Satcher incurred $15,750 in attorney fees for 70 hours of service at $225 per hour. According to the itemized invoice later provided by the Clerk of the Court’s Office, Satcher’s total bill was $15,785.

Van Ostenbridge and Satcher’s combined attorney fees and legal costs totaled $49,935. The commission-approved reimbursement also included the $6,000 settlement payment Van Ostenbridge and Satcher agreed to pay Barfield to settle the lawsuit without an admission of liability regarding Public Records Act compliance. The settlement agreement with Barfield was executed in late April.

According to the invoices and settlement agreement, the total reimbursement sought is $55,935.

Commission Chair Vanessa Baugh is now the lone remaining defendant named in Barfield’s lawsuit he filed in December. On May 14, Barfield deposed Baugh under oath. An in-person court hearing before Judge Charles Sniffen is pending.

According to Barfield the purpose of the hearing is to seek a ruling from Sniffen as to whether Baugh fully complied with the Public Records Act and provided all the records he requested.

COMMISSION DISCUSSION

During the May 11 commission discussion, Clague referenced a legal memorandum he included in the agenda packet.

“Florida law allows the county to pay the legal expenses incurred by commissioners in this case, subject to the board

finding that the commissioners were performing their official duties for a public purpose,” the memo stated.

When addressing the commission, Clague said, “The purpose of the law is to prevent what the courts refer to as a ‘chilling effect’ on the performance of official duties by public officials, particularly elected officials.

The idea is that if officials are afraid that they will be forced to pay legal expenses, personally, for doing their jobs, they will be afraid to do their jobs. People will not always agree with the decisions elected officials make and the law recognizes that the place to deal with that is the ballot box.”

SEE FEES, PAGE 25

www.amisun.com

MAY 26, 2021

THE SUN

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FEES: Van Ostenbridge, Satcher to be reimbursed FROM PAGE 24

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

Multi-level construction underway at Aqua The construction of multi-unit and multi-level buildings is underway at Carols Beruff’s Aqua development (formerly known as Long Bar Pointe) along El Conquistador Parkway in west Bradenton. These tower-like structures appear to be the elevator shafts and/or stairwells for the new buildings.

Commissioner Carol Whitmore asked Clague if Van Ostenbridge and Satcher could recuse themselves from the vote if they wished to not give the appearance of personal gain or loss. Clague said they could, but they’d have to leave the room. Neither commissioner recused themselves, nor were they asked to.

Satcher said he was surprised when the lawsuit was filed and originally named him as the first and only defendant, with Baugh and Van Ostenbridge later named as co-defendants. Satcher said it was never his desire or intent to hold back any records Barfield requested.

Regarding the pending vote on the requested reimbursements, Satcher said, “People shouldn’t be bankrupted for being elected.”

PUBLIC INPUT

County residents Matt Bower and Glen Gibellina expressed opposition to the reimbursement requests as presented, in part because the public had not yet been provided with copies of

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People shouldn’t be bankrupted for being elected.”

James Satcher, County Commissioner the attorney bills.

“This bill is excessive,” Bower said of the total reimbursements sought.

Bower said he and more than a dozen other county residents he communicated with were unhappy about the taxpayers being asked to pay the commissioners’ legal bills.

Gibellina said, “Any time there’s a settlement, it’s a red flag. We make deals to save time and money, but at the cost of transparency to the citizens.

Gibellina said the reimbursement request should have been delayed until the public was provided with copies of the attorney bills.

“If we’re paying the bill, we deserve to see what the bill is,” he said.

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www.amisun.com

MAY 26, 2021

ALGAE: Mats of algae clog marina, affect business FROM PAGE 1

It’s also a health threat. Lyngbya can emit cyanotoxins that can cause people hay fever-like symptoms, skin rashes, respiratory and gastrointestinal distress, and, if consumed, liver and kidney damage, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

And the toxins could be affecting marine life, including dolphins.

Some worry that the widespread bloom of lyngbya, a type of blue-green algae that appears brown, could be related to the April release of 215 million gallons of polluted water into Tampa Bay at Port Manatee from one of the closed Piney Point phosphate plant’s retention ponds. The emergency release prevented even more wastewater from being spilled from a pond built on top of a gypsum stack that had begun to crumble. The water contained the nutrients phosphorus and nitrogen. Lyngbya feeds on those nutrients.

Nutrients going into the water from various sources “are definitely the reason we have it,” Webb said.

Since the discharge, fewer dolphins are using the waters near Port Manatee and are congregating more than two miles away from the discharge site, according to the Sarasota Dolphin Research Program at Mote Marine. The program has been monitoring the dolphin community near Port Manatee for impacts from the discharge.

“In the dolphin business, we take people out every day to see these dolphins,” Webb said. “If all this seagrass goes away, what happens then is these dolphins that have been here for years and years and tens of hundreds of years are gonna move on to find better places to feed. We’re so fortunate to have what we do here but this grass is going to die.” Everything in this water is dying. And we just can’t have that here and it’s just time for the business owners to step

RUSTY CHINNIS | SUN

Ben Webb, of AMI Dolphin Tours, organized a cleanup Monday of mats of lyngbya algae at a Holmes Beach marina that was blocking tour and fishing boats. up and say this has to stop.”

Scientists taking water samples to monitor the effects of the Piney Point discharge said on Monday that there is no known connection between the nutrients in the release and any algae blooms.

Red tide is the more pressing threat, particularly in late summer and early fall, according to oceanographer Dr. Robert Weisberg, with the University of South Florida College of Marine Science in St. Petersburg.

“It’s a little too early now to prognosticate about what’s going to happen then,” he said.

Meanwhile, water monitoring continues.

No cyanotoxins – the neurotoxins that are produced by blue-green algae – were detected in the water samples taken in Tampa Bay on May 18, according to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

Results taken from samples on May 20 are pending.

Large-scale removal of lyngbya is difficult, partly because of the potential for damage to seagrass and mangroves in some areas, and partly due to the volume of the algae and its mobility due to winds and tides, according to Damon Moore, with the Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources Department. The department is tracking a lyngbya bloom at Robinson Preserve in west Bradenton.

“It is not feasible to remove the extraordinary biomass of lyngbya during these bloom events on a bay-wide scale,” he wrote to county commissioners earlier this month.

“It is highly probable that even if extensive resources were expended on physical removal of algae mats… that would not be enough to prevent negative consequences

like putrid smell and fish kills because most of the material cannot realistically be removed from the water,” he wrote.

“The scale at which removal would have to occur in such a large and open system is not likely feasible and is cost prohibitive.

Focus should be placed on blocking floating mats entering areas where that is feasible and cleaning it from heavily used areas (i.e. beaches) where mechanical removal is feasible without causing additional natural resource damages.”

Captain Webb issued a dire assessment.

“Everything in this water is dying,” Webb said, following his day of cleaning algaechoked canals. “And we just can’t have that here. It’s just time for the business owners to step up and say this has to stop.”

- Rusty Chinnis contributed to this story.

MAY 26, 2021

www.amisun.com

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WMFR commissioners celebrate new hires West Manatee Fire Rescue’s leadership is celebrating a milestone in May. With firefighter Crystal Tucciarone taking her oath to serve the community May 18 and two more full time firefighters joining the district’s ranks, the district is now fully staffed.

During the meeting, Deputy Chief Jay Johnson said that in addition to the new hires at the district, the advanced life support service offered by WMFR to the community also is increasing with the potential to have 18 fully certified charge paramedics on staff by the end of the year. That number will put six to seven paramedics on each shift across the three WMFR stations.

“It’s been a long time coming and we feel really good about moving forward with that,” Johnson said of the district’s paramedic program.

SUBMITTED | WMFR

Firefighter/paramedic Crystal Tucciarone takes the firefighter’s oath May 18 during a West Manatee Fire Rescue District board of commissioners meeting.

WMFR firefighter promoted to lieutenant Firefighter Jeffrey Philips was officially promoted to the rank of lieutenant with West Manatee Fire Rescue District during a May 18 board of commissioners meeting. His wife and daughter, along with other friends and firefighters, were on hand to celebrate the career milestone with him.

SUBMITTED | WMFR

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THE SUN

SPORTS

MAY 26, 2021

C.A.B.B. on top going into week six

BY MONICA SIMPSON SPECIAL TO THE SUN

ANNA MARIA - After a week off, the men and women of adult soccer took to The Center pitch again for week five action. Three teams ended last week with four wins and C.A.B.B. on top of the leaderboard, with Beach Bums right behind with the same record.

In the second game of the night, C.A.B.B. played against #6 Salty Printing, which finished the night with one win and four losses in the season. Struggling to put a full squad on the field, Steve Oelfke, goalkeeper for Slim’s Place, played back-to-back games, protecting the net for Salty.

In his first game of the night, Oelfke had 10 saves against the Beach Bums shooting roster, despite the loss. Raul Loera got two shots past the opposing team’s goalie. Osvaldo Cabello scored one goal of his own for his team.

At the half, Beach Bums was down by two goals. With five stops in the game, Beach Bums keeper, Tuna McCracken, was supported by a strong defense, allowing the team’s offense to make quick work of the other end of the field.

Team captain Yuri Pereira had one goal in the game along with teammate Emily Fischer. Lucky Durmaz scored two points in the game along with one assist in the team’s win.

With seconds left on the scoreboard clock, Beach Bums tied up the game, making the final seconds all-important.

The Beach Bums team eked out the win during the final seconds of the game, with the official time kept by the field referee.

MONICA SIMPSON | SUN

The battle for position and the win resulted in great soccer action and a close game between Beach Bums and Slim’s Place at The Center last Thursday night.

This week’s play puts C.A.B.B. on the field against Sato Real Estate. Currently, at the bottom of the ranks, the Sato Real Estate team knows that the championship is still within reach. Playoff action starts on Thursday, June 10.

SUN SCOREBOARD TUESDAY, MAY 18 YOUTH CO-ED SOCCER WEEK #5 8- TO 10-YEAR-OLD LEAGUE Bridge Tender Shady Lady

(3-2-0) 2 (2-1-2) 0

Beach Bums Solid Rock Construction

(1-2-2) 5 (1-3-1) 2

Tidy MD

11- TO 13-YEAR-OLD LEAGUE

(2-1-1) bye

The Gitt Team HSH

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

Blalock Walters Grooms Auto

(5-0-0) 5 (2-3-0) 2

AM Bath Time

(3-1-0) bye

THURSDAY, MAY 20 ADULT CO-ED SOCCER WEEK #5 #2 Beach Bums #4 Slim’s Place

(4-0-1) 4 (2-2-1) 3

#6 Salty Printing #1 C.A.B.B.

(1-4-0) 3 (4-0-1) 6

#8 Sato Real Estate #3 Flynn Law

(1-4-0) 2 (4-1-0) 6

#5 Killer Bait #7 Sandbar

(1-3-1) 10 (1-4-0) 2

MONICA SIMPSON | SUN

Key Royale golf scores MONDAY, MAY 17MODIFIED STAPLEFORD

1st Place with a score of +4 (tie) - Mike Gillie, Larry Solberg, Ron Vandeman

TUESDAY, MAY 18 - LOW NET SCORE MONICA SIMPSON | SUN

Flight A Sue Wheeler

30

Connie Livanos Pam Lowry Phyllis Row Pam Alvord

32 32 32 33

Flight B Jackie Gorski Remi Drigan Sally York

31 32 33

THURSDAY, MAY 20 SHAMBLE

1st Place (tie) with a score of one under par - Ron Buck, Mike Gillie, Sam Major, Ken Nagengast tied with the team of Ken Butler, Al Carr, Jack Lowry, Quentin Talbert

MAY 26, 2021

FUN IN THE SUN

Across 1 More certain 6 Gp. with moms, dads and educators 9 "Thereabouts" suffix 12 "Men" or "teeth," grammatically 14 One of Ringo's set 15 __ kwon do 16 Absurd, as a scheme 17 Autodialed annoyance, often at dinnertime 19 Prof's aides 20 System of rules 22 Protection for political refugees 23 German I 25 Philosophies: Suff.

27 Picky details 28 Computer event with a "blue screen of death" 30 Penultimate Greek letter 31 Big Pharma watchdog: Abbr.

Answers to 05-19-21 Crossword Puzzle.

32 Suggest 34 Encroach (on) 38 Musical knack 39 Naughty 41 Black or Red waters 42 Downpour concern 44 Bills with Franklin on them 46 Good times 47 Japanese vegetable 49 Infatuated with, with "about" 50 "__ Land": 2016 Best Picture? Not! 52 Elite English boarding school 53 Deadly "2001" computer 54 "Brideshead Revisited" novelist Waugh 56 Laundry 58 Wall St. takeover 61 Exacts revenge 63 Punctuation that Brits

THE SUN

call a full stop 65 Guggenheim display 66 Johns, to Brits 67 "__ can play!": "It's easy!"

68 Caustic chemical 69 Bowler's target 70 Emails Down 1 Barbecue rod 2 Arm bone 3 *Deadly "game" in "The Deer Hunter" 4 Big Band __ 5 *Ones helping with the horses 6 Expert 7 Low-pitched brass instruments 8 Cookiedom's Famous __ 9 *Stallone nickname, with "the" 10 Henri's "Hi" 11 Pilothouse wheels 13 Lion constellation 14 Severe reprimands, and a hint to the starts of the answers to starred clues 18 Singer Lauper 21 Slight market slide 24 St. Louis hrs.

26 Short skirt 28 Kitchen master 29 Iranian currency 31 *Trio after turtle doves 33 Paris pronoun 35 TV watchdog

36 "Wow!" 37 "No sweat" 40 Letter-shaped fastener 43 October gemstones 45 Italian hour 48 "We're __ schedule

here!"

50 Permitted by law 51 Bugs Bunny animator Tex 52 Ballade's last stanza 55 Website with business

reviews 57 Rejuvenation site 59 "__, James __" 60 Poems of praise 62 Many millennia 64 Deli bread

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CLASSIFIED

ANNOUNCEMENTS

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

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

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

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

KERN CONSTRUCTION NEW Homes & Remodel.

Design/Build. Since 1968.

License # CBC 1261150.

Call Mike Kern 941-7781115 GET’R DONE DRYWALL, INC Specializing in Remodels & Repairs. Island Resident for 18 years. Call Neil Cell 941-962-1194 JSAN CORPORATION Renovations Construction & Handyman Services 941-243-0995 Lic# CRC1332505 jsancorporation@gmail. com Flooring, Drywall, Painting, Repairs, Kitchen and Bathrooms, Trim & Doors.

Free Estimates. Credit Cards Accepted.

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

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

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

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

Call us today! 941-778-3986

“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.

SEARAY SPRINKLER SERVICES. Repairs, Additions, Drip, Timer Head Adjustments. Call Rick today Cell 720-299-1661 Office 941518-6326

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE: NORMS TOWING gives Notice of Foreclosure of Lien and intent to sell these vehicles on 05/26/2021, 09:00 am at 1855 63RD AVENUE E. BRADENTON, FL 34203, pursuant to subsection 713.78 of the Florida Statutes. NORMS TOWING reserves the right to accept or reject any and/or all bids.

1N4BL24E79C114824 2009 Nissan JTLKT324364076819 2006 Scion WBADM6341YGU29140 2000 BMW NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE: NORMS TOWING gives Notice of Foreclosure of Lien and intent to sell these vehicles on 06/02/2021, 09:00 am at 1855 63RD AVENUE E. BRADENTON, FL 34203, pursuant to subsection 713.78 of the Florida Statutes. NORMS TOWING reserves the right to accept or reject any and/or all bids.

4T1BF28B0YU075936 2000 TOYOTA NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE: NORMS TOWING gives Notice of Foreclosure of Lien and intent to sell these vehicles on 06/09/2021, 09:00 am at 1855 63RD AVENUE E. BRADENTON, FL 34203, pursuant to subsection 713.78 of the Florida Statutes. NORMS TOWING reserves the right to accept or reject any and/or all bids.

1GKS2HKC5FR141177015 GENERAL MOTORS CORP 1J4GW48N91C512967

MAY 26, 2021

2001 JEEP 2HNYD18232H547811 2002 ACURA 4T1BF30K42U034492 2002 TOYOTA ZZN33882C000 2000 SEA DOO BOMBARDIER NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE: NORMS TOWING gives Notice of Foreclosure of Lien and intent to sell these vehicles on 06/16/2021, 09:00 am at 1855 63RD AVENUE E. BRADENTON, FL 34203, pursuant to subsection 713.78 of the Florida Statutes. NORMS TOWING reserves the right to accept or reject any and/or all bids.

1FMCU0GX0EUD70462 2014 FORD 1FTEF15N7TLC08586 1996 FORD 1J4GZ58S2TC300109 1996 JEEP 5XXGT4L30GG108114 2016 KIA JA4LS21H33J009890 2003 MITSUBISHI JM1BK12F271644369 2007 MAZDA

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

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

AMISUN.COM

PROFESSIONAL PAINTING SERVICES. Prompt & Reliable. Island Resident.

Quality Workmanship.

Interior/Exterior. Also minor repairs & carpentry. Free written detailed estimates. Bill Witaszek 941-307-9315 DONALD PERKINS PAINTING LLC fully insured. 30 years experience. Many Island references. Call 941-7057096

POOL SERVICES FOUR SEASONS POOL SERVICE AND CHEMICAL SERVICES. Certified Pool Operator. 10 + Years Experience.

Residential/commercial. Chemical Service Licensed & Insured. Call Dennis Clark 941-7375657 COLE'S TROPICAL POOL SERVICE Call Cole Bowers for all your pool maintenance needs! Affordable and Dependable!! 941-7131893

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

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

RARELY AVAILABLE 2BR/1BA CONDO 2 miles from the beach no sign price to sell $155,900, monthly rentals allowed call Erlene Fitzpatrick REMAX Alliance Group 941-2246339. No sign

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.

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

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

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.

www.amisun.com

MAY 26, 2021

BUSINESS & SERVICE DIRECTORY HOME IMPROVEMENT

HOME IMPROVEMENT

THE SUN

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

TRANSPORTATION

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. 941779-5095 AIRPORT RIDES- Tampa, St. Pete, Sarasota. Reasonable rates! Call or text Anna 941932-1600

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MAY 26, 2021