Anna Maria Island Sun May 29, 2024

City recognizes veterans on Memorial Day

No signed agreement released on palm trees

The coconut palm tree agreement is a public/private partnership between developer Shawn Kaleta and the city of Bradenton Beach.

BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH – After multiple requests by The Sun to the city for the release of a signed agreement in a city partnership with developer Shawn Kaleta for the installation and maintenance of coconut palm trees on Bridge Street, the nearly three-week-long waiting game for the document has thus far come up empty.

The installation of 80 coconut palm trees on and around Bridge Street was approved at an April 3

Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) meeting following assurances by City Attorney Ricinda Perry that a maintenance, hold harmless and indemnification agreement signed by Kaleta would be in place prior to planting in which Kaleta would assume responsibility for maintenance and liability for any damage caused by the palm trees.

The trees were planted the week of April 24.

The first request from The Sun for the signed agreement was made by email on May 6 and received no response. Subsequent email and in-person requests by The Sun were made on May 7, May 15, May 17 and May 23.

The May 15 email request to the city clerk for a copy of the signed

Mayor Murphy won’t seek re-election

Dan Murphy has been the Anna Maria mayor for the past 10 years.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA – Dan Murphy will not seek re-election to another two-year term as the city’s mayor.

During the May 23 city commission meeting, Murphy announced he would not run again in the upcoming city elections.

“I’ve decided not to run in November. It’s been fun. Ten years,” Murphy said while trying to hold his emotions in check.

“This will give us all a chance to think about how we go forward,” Commission Chair Mark Short said in response to the announcement that surprised some sitting in the commission chambers.

“Ten years is pretty remarkable,” Short said. “I want to thank you on

behalf of all of us in the city and the staff for everything you’ve done, but I know we’re going to have the opportunity to do that again.”

“I’ve got a few more months and I’m not a lame duck. It’s been an honor,” Murphy said.

While sitting in the mayor’s office after the meeting, Murphy said, “It’s been a pleasure and honor for both myself and the first lady (his wife, Barbara).”

As for what’s next, he said, “I think I might look at other avenues within the community to serve, as well as perhaps looking at some educational opportunities, perhaps at the college level, where I can share some of the knowledge I have about local government and dealing with Tallahassee (home of the Florida Legislature).”

When asked if he has any advice for those interested in being Anna Maria’s next mayor, he said, “I could spend hours and days giving advice

SEE PALMS, PAGE 11

SEE MURPHY, PAGE 19

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

With Mayor Dan Murphy serving as master of ceremonies, veterans were recognized according to their military branch during Anna Maria’s Memorial Day Patriotic Symphony Salute at City Pier Park. The Palmetto High School Junior ROTC presented the colors, and the Anna Maria Island Concert Chorus and Orchestra performed “The Star-Spangled Banner” and other patriotic songs to honor those who gave their lives for their country.

Longboat Key considers joint regulation of mangroves with AMI cities

FDEP

Environmental Manager Hannah Westervelt outlined the process at a Longboat Key Town Council meeting.

BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com

LONGBOAT KEY – With an eye toward teaming up with the three Anna Maria Island cities to obtain Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) authorization to regulate mangroves, the Longboat Key Town Council invited FDEP Environmental Manager Hannah Westervelt to speak at its May 20 meeting.

“We’ve been discussing with the communities in Anna Maria Island possibly working to put together a joint program to preserve the mangroves on our two islands,” Longboat Key Town Manager Howard Tipton said.

Westervelt provided a slide presentation beginning with an overview of the Mangrove Trimming and Preservation Act (MTPA) of 1996.

“The legislative intent of the Mangrove Trimming and Preservation Act is to protect mangroves,” Westervelt said.

She noted that the MTPA protects both living and dead mangroves and does distinguish between the two, however, dead mangroves provide structure and habitat.

“Something to think about,” she said. “Don’t remove mangroves because they’re dead. Contact me first, please.” Westervelt discussed the process for local governments to obtain FDEP delegation authority over mangroves.

“I know that’s been a topic of discussion here so I wanted to talk about that,” she said. “Local agencies are able to adopt delegation. Something that is important to note is that they’re not allowed to limit the exemptions if they do get that authority.”

Westervelt said it’s up to local government to apply for that authority and FDEP will assist in the process.

“We have pre-meetings before that application is submitted so we can assist wherever needed,” she said. “But essentially it is up to that local agency to determine if they have the needed number of resources and the budget available for this project.”

Anna Maria City Commission Chair Mark Short, commissioners Gary McMullen and Charlie Salem and Building Department General Manager Dean Jones attended the May 20 Longboat Key Town Council meeting.

During the May 23 Anna Maria City Commission meeting, Short said he reached out to Westervelt and asked if it’s possible for FDEP to notify the city before any FDEP-approved mangrove removals take place in Anna Maria.

“If a property owner wants to alter their mangrove – alter basically means to do anything other than trim – they

have to go to DEP to get the permit. DEP has no requirement to inform the city that a property owner has made this request,” Short said.

“I asked her if the city of Anna Maria formally requested DEP to inform us if any such permit requests are made for a property in Anna Maria, they would inform us. She did not see any reason why they could not honor that but that would require approval at a level higher than she is. So, I have asked the mayor to work with the city attorney to draft such a request to send to FDEP,” he said.

“If it can be approved, then going forward we can have this ability when a property owner does request to alter the mangroves on their property,” Short said. “I’m not saying it’s going to make everything right, but it sure seems to make sense to me that we at least know what’s going on.”

- Sun Correspondent Joe Hendricks contributed to this story

ISLAND NEWS

IN BRIEF

Scan this code with your smartphone to go there.

CBD resolution finalized

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

Former mayor now an octogenarian

On May 14, former Bradenton Beach Mayor Jack Clarke celebrated his 80th birthday surrounded by his wife, Karen, several family members and a few close friends at the Swordfish Grill in Cortez.

Pedestrians directed to lighted crosswalks

The new Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon crosswalks at 11th and Ninth Streets South in Bradenton Beach are not activated for use and should not be used by pedestrians, according to a press release from Manatee County. Instead, pedestrians should use the activated crosswalks on Gulf Drive South at Fifth Street South and south of 13th Street South.

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

Surferdude Cooks owner Roman Strykowski wants to continue selling authentic Polish meats and other products at City Pier Park.

Tuesday produce sales on temporary hold

The ongoing sale of produce, meat and other products on Tuesdays at City Pier Park in Anna Maria is temporarily suspended until the city receives proof that all of the five vendors are properly insured. Fibela Produce, Hahn’s Lemonade, Spiked Pickles, Mr. Fun Guy Mushrooms and Suferdude Cooks want to continue selling their products in the park now that the city-sponsored farmers market has ended for the summer. On May 23, Murphy told the city commission he didn’t expect the Tuesday sales to resume on May 30, but he does expect them to resume as soon as the vendors are issued a new special event permit or permits by the city after providing proof of being individually or collectively insured.

ANNA MARIA – The city commission has adopted a resolution providing the sales and registration requirements allowing existing CBD and hemp sellers to continue those sales by acquiring city-approved grandfathering status.

City Attorney Becky Vose presented Resolution 24-796 to the city commission on May 23 and the commission unanimously adopted the resolution on first and final reading. Vose plans to present the accompanying grandfathering registration form on June 13.

The adopted resolution and the still-pending registration form will work in unison with a recently amended city ordinance prohibiting the sale, processing or manufacturing of any product derived from cannabis (marijuana) plants – including medicinal marijuana, CBD and hemp products – while creating grandfathering exceptions for businesses that already sold limited amounts of CBD and/or hemp products as of April 1.

There are currently no full-blown CBD stores in Anna Maria and the commission’s goal is to prevent that from happening. The grandfathering provision cannot be obtained by an existing business or a new business after July 1.

The recently-adopted grandfathering provision, the newly-adopted city resolution and the soon-to-be-approved registration form satisfy the mayor and commission’s regulatory concerns while still allowing those few existing businesses to continue selling the CBD and hemp products that few realized were illegal in Anna Maria until earlier this year.

CBD and hemp products are legal statewide but Anna Maria is an exception to that rule, similar to a dry city or county that doesn’t allow alcohol sales. State-compliant CBD sales are allowed in the neighboring city of Holmes Beach, throughout Bradenton and in unincorporated Manatee County.

RESOLUTION

PRESENTED

When presenting the resolution to the city commission on May 23, Vose said, “As you recall, we did change our marijuana ordinance

having to do with businesses that have a fixed physical location, not to include mobile sales, in the city of Anna Maria and sell products that would otherwise be prohibited in the ordinance. This would allow them to continue.”

The resolution states all grandfathering applications must be submitted to the city by July 1 on forms to be provided by the city.

“In addition to information about the grandfather applicant and location, the grandfather applications must include a listing of relevant products sold by the business and the quantity of such products that were purchased/sold from March 1-31 and photographs of then-current supplies of relevant products,” the resolution states.

The resolution also states, “Grandfather applications must be submitted under oath and notarized.”

Vose noted the resolution gives the mayor the authority to oversee and tweak the registration and enforcement processes as needed.

COMMISSION INSIGHTS

Commissioner Gary McMullen questioned the need for the grandfathered businesses to list and photograph their CBD and/or hemp product inventory and whether that might be burdensome for the business owners.

“It’s in the very recent past and they should be able to give us that information,” Vose responded. “Then they’d give us photographs of then-current supplies of the product so we have some kind of feel for the product they have.”

Vose said there’s a finite number of hemp and CBD products already being offered for sale in Anna Maria and those business owners already have a pretty good idea of what they have and how much they’re selling.

“I don’t think this will be terribly burdensome, but if it ends up being terribly burdensome, there is the authority for the mayor to tweak this,” Vose said. “We don’t want a gift shop that happens to sell some CBD products to all of the sudden turn into a head shop where 95% of what they sell are these products.”

Commissioner Charlie Salem said, “I think the intent is to make sure we’re not going beyond the grandfathering. Let’s let them continue what they’ve been doing but you don’t want them to be exclusive dealers of a much broader set of these products. I think this is a way to make sure there’s something on record so we all can rest easy that they’re going to comply with what they get through the grandfathering.”

“This resolution effectively is putting a stake in the ground,” Commissioner Mark Short said, noting the resolution states that grandfathered businesses can’t increase their CBD or hemp product offerings. “It’s limiting them to where they were at as of April 1st.”

Short noted the city is aware of three Anna Maria businesses currently selling CBD or hemp products, but there might be more.

The North Shore Café offers food and drink items made with hemp powder that contains trace amounts of THC. The Cool Beans AMI coffee shop sells CBD items in addition to its coffee, food, beverage and other offerings. AMI Beach & Dog Supply sells canine-grade CBD products among its many other offerings.

Mayor Dan Murphy said the plan is to contact every business that operates in Anna Maria and ask them if they’re carrying any CBD or hemp products. If so, they have until July 1 to register for the grandfathering provision. Murphy said the business owners will be given a copy of the resolution so they know what’s expected of them.

“I’m not going to make it burdensome,” Murphy pledged. The city’s efforts to regulate CBD sales come at a time when additional CBD restrictions proposed by the Florida Legislature are still awaiting a final decision by Gov. Ron DeSantis. If the state decreases the allowed potency and THC content of CBD products, Anna Maria’s CBD grandfathered sellers must comply with the new state law.

TURTLE TIPS

During sea turtle season, May 1 – Oct. 31, follow these tips to help turtles:

• Turn off lights visible from the beach and close blinds from sundown to sunrise; lights confuse nesting sea turtles and may cause them to go back to sea and drop their eggs in the water, where they won’t hatch. Light can also attract hatchlings away from the water.

•Don’t use flashlights, lanterns or camera flashes on the beach at night.

• Remove all beach chairs and other objects from the sand from sundown to sunrise; they can deter sea turtles from nesting and disorient hatchlings.

• Fill in the holes you dig in the sand before leaving the beach; they can trap nesting and hatching sea turtles, which cannot live long out of the water. You might also accidentally dig into an unmarked nest. To report large

Turtle nests in daytime at Bayfront

Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring volunteer Hans Uwe Duerr found

holes or other turtle obstacles, call:

• City of Anna Maria code enforcement — 941-708-6130, ext. 111.

• City of Bradenton Beach code enforcement — 941-778-1005, ext. 227.

• City of Holmes Beach code enforcement — 941-778-0331, ext. 260.

• Level sandcastles before leaving the beach; they can block hatchlings from the water.

• Don’t use balloons, wish lanterns or fireworks; they litter the beach and Gulf, and turtles can ingest the debris.

• Do not trim trees and plants that shield the beach from lights.

Least tern colony thriving on beach

BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH – Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring reports that a colony of least terns on the beach is thriving.

• Never touch a sea turtle; it’s the law. If you see people disturbing turtles, call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Wildlife Alert hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922).

Source: Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring

As of May 24, there are 15 birds on nests and 29 individuals inside the fenced-off area. One nest has been lost to an unknown cause, according to a release from Turtle Watch Executive Director Kristen Mazzarella.

“There are still some individuals courting and making scrapes (nests) so it's possible there may be more nests in the coming days,” Mazzarella wrote.

“As of yet, we have no chicks, but the first few nests should be due very soon.”

In an effort to keep new chicks from traveling out of the posted area towards the busy 27th Street beach access, Turtle Watch volunteers have installed

"chick fencing," as chicks are mobile soon after they hatch and are likely to leave the posted area.

“We ask folks to keep their distance from this posted colony as the birds are very susceptible to disturbance and we want them to stay on their nests to protect the eggs from heat and predators,” Mazzarella wrote.

Anna

this loggerhead sea turtle laying a rare daytime nest in the early morning hours of May 19 at Bayfront Park in Anna Maria.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND TURTLE WATCH AND SHOREBIRD MONITORING | SUBMITTED

Palm trees and other shady endeavors

Someone once posed the question: “If a tree falls in a forest and no one hears it, does it make a sound?”

The Sun poses a similar question: If the city attorney says there’s a signed agreement for the ill-fated Bridge Street palm tree planting project but nobody has seen it, does the agreement really exist? In early April, the Bradenton Beach Community

Redevelopment Agency (CRA) that includes the mayor and city commissioners approved planting 80 coconut palm trees along Bridge Street.

According to City Attorney Ricinda Perry, the CRA was to contribute $40,000 toward the project and developer Shawn Kaleta and/or one of his LLCs would kick in another $10,000.

Perry told the CRA members there would be a

TO THE EDITOR

Kapok tree appreciated

Thank you for the recent article, “Kapok tree relocated to Anna Maria,” by your correspondent Joe Hendricks. I must confess that the construction site is close to my home in Anna Maria and I pass by regularly on my daily neighborhood jogs and morning walks with my dog.

When the fence surrounding the construction site was opened several weeks ago, I first noticed the giant tree and thought that it was destined to be cut down based on the bands that had been stretched around its trunk and roots. Much to my delight and surprise I learned from Mr. Hendricks’ wellresearched article the heartening story of a conscientious construction company (Ross Built Custom Homes), a top-rated and highly skilled landscape architect (Michael Gilkey) and a couple of future homeowners who together combined to give Anna Maria an arboreal landmark for years to come.

As one of the ever dwindling fulltime owner-residents of Anna Maria (only about 20% of us), I say we need more of this.

John C. Kolojeski

Anna Maria

Thanks to lifesavers

I just wanted to send out a huge thank you to those little girls praying for my mom on the beach and just everyone who helped us and sent prayers and good vibes when she almost drowned on May 18. She was just knee-deep, trying to get her feet wet and relax, but suddenly, a rip tide pulled her in. I saw the waves crossing in that telltale way and shouted a warning, but the current grabbed her so quickly. I went right after her, and we fought the current for what felt like forever - 5 to 7 minutes - before we finally broke free. First, I need to thank our amazing family. Your bravery was incredible, and we literally owe you our lives. Susan Vanpolen Baker, thank you for

signed maintenance, indemnification and hold harmless agreement in place before the trees were planted. The trees were planted in late April with no signed agreement in place.

A couple of weeks ago, one of the new palms toppled onto a Bridge Street sidewalk and had to be replanted.

Last week, FDOT told the city to remove the new palms planted in the Gulf Drive-Bridge Street roundabout.

Gulf Drive is a state road and FDOT doesn’t allow coconut palms to be planted along state-owned roads because they limit visibility and contain large falling objects like coconuts and palm fronds.

You’d think someone with the city or the city’s often-contracted landscaper would have known about this pesky little state rule – or at least checked to see if there was such a pesky little state rule. But that kind of foresight doesn’t mesh with the city’s “You can do it right when you do it over” approach to project management.

So now we know that coconut palms aren’t cool along a state road but they’re still OK standing alongside the highly-traveled, highly-populated city-owned Bridge Street.

To date, Perry and the city have not provided The Sun with a copy of the signed agreement, despite the multiple public records requests made during a two-week period. Perry told us we had to wait until the city clerk returns from her vacation on May 28 before we can see the elusive signed document.

getting 911 on the line so fast. Also, a big shout-out to the four young kids on the sandbar who helped us get to safety. I've been worried about how scared you must have been, and I hope you know how much your help meant to us.

Thanks to everyone who helped when we made it to shore, the beach support team, and the EMS crew. I especially want to thank the officer who was so compassionate and understanding when I was completely overwhelmed.

Thanks to the Blake Hospital Emergency Department nurses and security officers for their compassion, and especially ICU nurses Jen and Allen; all of them on the Blake team are literal lifesavers. They lived up to their titles and then some. Thanks to them, my mom, Christine Hanners, is alive and well. We thank God and all of you who were there to help.

A special note to my siblings: Nikki Henderson, Felicia, Bernice, Warren and Brandon Schmiddy, you guys jumped in the car and drove 20 hours from Michigan with the babies!

Mom woke up strong when you walked into the room. That moment was priceless.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you to everyone who helped, prayed or just sent good thoughts our way. Your support has meant the world to us.

A huge shout out to the Seventh Avenue crew, Frankie Bandini and Nancie, they really helped Jason Milton prep for her arrival and the amazing food they brought to make life so much easier when we got home. Although we tried to have her birthday celebration at the beach we spent her birthday in the hospital with an amazing team and ended the day with all her kids in one place! Mom is an amazing woman. We love her so much. I'm so grateful we were able to all be here for her recovery and celebrate her life! She is here and healthy and ready to start running again! With the most sincere gratitude,

Amber Milton Holmes Beach LETTERS

ON THE AGENDA EVENTS

ANNA MARIA

10005 GULF DRIVE

FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-708-6130

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

June 13, 2 p.m. – City Commission meeting

June 19, all day – City offices closed, Juneteenth

BRADENTON BEACH

107 GULF DRIVE N.

For information, call 941-778-1005

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

June 5, 9:30 a.m. – Community Redevelopment Agency meeting

June 5, 1 p.m. – Planning and Zoning board meeting

June 6, 6 p.m. – City Commission meeting

June 19, all day – City offices closed, Juneteenth

HOLMES BEACH

5801 MARINA DRIVE

FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-708-5800

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

June 5, 5 p.m. – Planning Commission meeting

June 10, noon – Election qualifying begins for mayor and city commission seats, continuing through June 14 at noon

June 11, 2 p.m. – City Commission meeting with work session to follow

June 12, 9 a.m. – Clean Water Ad-hoc Committee meeting

June 19, all day – City offices closed, Juneteenth

ISLAND-WIDE

June 10, 9:30 a.m. – Manatee County Tourist Development Council meeting, The Center of Anna Maria Island, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria

June 18, 6 p.m. – West Manatee Fire Rescue board meeting, administration building, 701 63rd St. W., Bradenton

WEDNESDAY, MAY 29

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

THURSDAY, MAY 30

Green Explorers: Searching with Snorkels, Neal Preserve pavilion, 12301 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton, 10 a.m.

One-on-one tech help, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m. to noon

Seaside Quilters, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m.

Sunshine Stitchers Knit and Crochet, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 1 p.m.

FRIDAY, MAY 31

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

SUNMED business card exchange, 6676 Cortez Road W., Bradenton, 5-8 p.m.

SATURDAY, JUNE 1

Mornings at the NEST, Robinson Preserve Mosaic Nest, 840 99th St. N.W., Bradenton, 9 a.m. to noon

Whiskers and Words: A Kitten

Adoption and Foster Event, Island

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

TUESDAY, JUNE 4

Summer Turtle Talks, Holmes Beach City Hall, 5801 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m.

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

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

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5

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

THURSDAY, JUNE 6

AMI Chamber of Commerce sunrise breakfast, Mademoiselle Paris, 9906 Gulf Drive, Anna Maria, 8 a.m., $15 for members or $25 for prospective members

Comic book writing for kids, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m. One-on-one Tech Help, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m. to noon. Sunshine Stitchers Knit and Crochet, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 1 p.m.

Local restaurant to close its doors

A

non-renewed lease means that Peach’s Restaurant in Holmes Beach is closing its doors after service on Father’s Day.

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

HOLMES BEACH – A local favorite for more than two decades, Peach’s Restaurant in the Anna Maria Island Shopping Center will close its doors for good on Sunday, June 16.

The Father’s Day closure was announced on social media on May 22 along with the news that a second Peach’s location in Ellenton would also be closing its doors on the same day. The shopping plazas where both restaurants are located are owned by Benderson Development.

Management for the local restaurant chain said that the decision to shutter both locations was made by

Benderson, which refused to renew leases for the two locations, citing their plans to move in a different direction with both plazas.

Representatives for Peach’s said that the leases both expire on June 30. They added that the closure of both locations affects approximately 40 employees who will be relocated to one of the chain’s six other area restaurants, if possible.

The Holmes Beach Peach’s has been open since 2001 with the Ellenton location opening in 2002.

While the restaurant’s management said they’re actively looking for new locations, nothing has been decided yet.

Representatives for Benderson did not return calls for comment by press time.

Fans of the Holmes Beach restaurant took to social media to express their dismay at the unexpected closure.

“Oh, we are heartbroken to hear this news,” Angie Blunt

said, adding that Peach’s is her family’s favorite restaurant on Anna Maria Island and that the staff is like an extended family. Resident and local activist Laurel Nevans offered to get signatures for a petition or help arrange a protest if the restaurant’s management thought it would help them hold on to the Holmes Beach space. The restaurant’s management replied that while they

appreciated the help, they were told a new lease had already been signed for the space by an undisclosed tenant.

“We never imagined it wouldn’t be renewed,” they said of the lease with Benderson.

“This is so sad,” Island visitor Lisa Roberts said. “Visiting Peach’s for breakfast on the first and last morning of our holiday has been a family tradition every time we have visited Anna

Maria Island/Holmes Beach from the U.K. over the last 20 years. We would also treat ourselves to lunch at Peach’s Ellenton on our shopping trip. So sad for you all. I do hope you find new locations. We return in April and hope to see you.”

“Have been visiting the Island for over 30 years and Peach’s is always a ‘must do’ on our list,” Debby Reed Howard said. “So very sorry to lose this landmark on AMI.”

“We are sad that we have to close, and we will miss making memories with everyone,” the restaurant’s management said. “AMI is a very special and unique Island, and we are so grateful to have been a part of it!”

The remaining Peach’s locations are at 3201 Manatee Ave. W. in Bradenton, 7315 52nd Place E. in Bradenton, 4292 Bee Ridge Road in Sarasota, 5240 State Road 64 in Bradenton, 6386 N. Lockwood Ridge Road in Sarasota and 1230 Jacaranda Blvd. in Venice.

The final day for Peach’s Restaurant in Holmes Beach will be Sunday, June 16, Father’s Day.

WMFR rate increase approved

MANATEE COUNTY – With no public comment offered, West Manatee Fire Rescue commissioners voted unanimously to approve a 7.4% rate increase for the 2024-25 fiscal year beginning on Oct. 1.

Property owners in the district, including Anna Maria Island, Cortez and unincorporated Manatee County, can expect to see the increase show up on their trim notices this fall.

While the rate increase equals an additional $740,236 for the district, taxpayers can expect to see a more modest increase in their taxes, around $26 for residential properties and about $58 for commercial properties.

The district’s non-ad valorem assessment rate is based on the size of a building instead of the value. The base rate for a residential property in the 2024-25 tax year will be $236.22 for the

Fire marshal receives international designation

MANATEE COUNTY – Officials at West Manatee Fire Rescue have something to celebrate with one of their own receiving international accolades for excellence.

Fire Marshal Rodney Kwiatkowski was recognized on May 20 by the Commission on Professional Credentialing. Kwiatkowski is one of only 242 fire marshals worldwide to receive the designation.

The voluntary program is designed to bring recognition to individuals demonstrating excellence in seven different components – education, professional development, professional contributions, community involvement, technical competence and association membership. Part of the accreditation process is a peer review. Each person receiving the designation must meet all of the organization’s strict criteria.

Kwiatkowski also has recently been

first 1,000 square feet with an additional charge of $0.1392 per square foot over 1,000. The commercial rate is planned at $587.06 for the first 1,000 square feet with an additional charge of $0.2542 per square over that.

The increase in revenue is projected to help the district’s staff save for large-budget items such as the replacement of fire engines and to pay for the new vacation rental fire safety inspection program.

Under the new program, transient public lodging establishments (TPLEs), commonly known as short-term rentals, are viewed as commercial properties. Those properties are assessed as such and also are subject to a fire/life safety inspection by the district’s fire prevention bureau.

For more information, visit www. wmfr.org.

KRISTIN SWAIN | SUN

WMFR Fire Marshal Rodney Kwiatkowski is one of only 242 fire marshals worldwide to complete the international designation process with the Commission on Professional Credentialing.

chosen by the National Fire Prevention Association to help clarify fire code language, particularly concerning transient public lodging establishments, or vacation rentals.

KRISTIN SWAIN | SUN

WMFR welcomes new firefighters

West Manatee Fire Rescue welcomed two new firefighters to its ranks during a May 21 board meeting at the administration building. Training Chief Mark Tuttle, left, administered the oath to firefighters Diego Gutierrez and Samuel Martinez.

FDOT: Wrong trees, wrong place

The city relocated newlyplanted coconut palm trees from Gulf Drive - State Road 789 - due to noncompliance with FDOT standards.

BY LESLIE LAKE

SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH – In what Mayor John Chappie characterized as a “mistake,” the city learned the hard way that coconut palm trees are not allowed by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) on Gulf Drive South (State Road 789).

The coconut palm trees that were planted the week of April 24 along the Gulf Drive roundabout and traffic islands at the end of Bridge Street were removed on May 24 after it was determined by FDOT that planting the species was not in compliance with state regulations.

“There’s a right tree in the right place, but this is the wrong tree in the wrong place,” FDOT District One Scenic Highway Coordinator Darryl Richard said on May 24.

That section of Gulf Drive falls under the jurisdiction of FDOT.

“The city didn’t apply for a permit, but even if they had, coconut palms are a species that are not allowed there based on FDOT standards and public safety,” Richard said.

Richard said coconut palms violate sight line and vertical clear zone regulations, making them a safety issue for motorists. Another safety concern with the tree is falling coconuts, he said. “Palm fronds that would fall into the roadway as well as vertical clearance are safety issues,” Richard said. “Coconuts are also one of the safety factors that could present problems.”

Richard said all his correspondence with the city has been verbal and he met with the mayor earlier in the week.

“He (Mayor Chappie) realized the mistake and decided to remove the palms,” Richard said.

Chappie was on-site during tree removal and spoke to The Sun.

“I won’t make that mistake again,” Chappie said. “FDOT has been really great about explaining and working with us to take care of this.”

The trees were moved by a loader and placed in piles at the paid parking lot owned by Shawn Kaleta at the corner of Bridge Street and Gulf Drive.

Chappie didn’t know the exact number of trees being relocated but, according to a site plan prepared by City Attorney Ricinda Perry, there were more than 15 trees.

“We have to be careful of the location because FDOT rules and regulations are pretty strict about sight vision. And that’s what we’re doing,” Chappie said.

Chappie said the trees that were

LESLIE LAKE | SUN

Newly-planted coconut palm trees are relocated from Gulf Drive (State Road 789) due to non-compliance with FDOT standards.

removed will be replanted on Bridge Street.

“We’re just filling everything in,” Chappie said. “If we want to plant some trees, we have to fill out a plan submittal for anything over 24 inches.”

Pictures of the trees being removed and the circumstances surrounding their removal were posted on May 24 on the Anna Maria Island Sun Facebook page, and the coconut telegraph was busy.

“People are already trying to dodge palm fronds to be able to walk down Bridge Street. Should be interesting to see when the coconuts start falling,” Gay Rosnett wrote.

Jeremy Williams wrote, “This whole thing is an embarrassment. The mayor should resign. Lotta funny business mixed up in here.”

The trees that were removed were among the 80 coconut palm trees that were planted in the Bridge Street area in April.

The installation of the trees and a private/public partnership with developer Shawn Kaleta were approved at an April 3 Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) meeting following assurances by Perry that a maintenance, hold harmless and indemnification agreement signed by Kaleta would be in place prior to planting in which Kaleta would assume responsibility for maintenance and liability for any damage caused by the palm trees.

As of May 26, after multiple Sunshine Law public records requests by The Sun for a copy of the agreement beginning on May 6, the city has not provided the document.

The question remains as to who would be liable for any damage or injuries caused by the trees.

On May 24, while at the site of the tree removal, Chappie was asked again about the whereabouts of the signed agreement. He deferred questions to Perry.

PALMS: No signed agreement released on palm trees

damage or injuries caused by the trees.

agreement received an “out of office” reply. The same day, The Sun emailed Perry requesting a copy of the signed and fully executed agreement.

City Clerk Terry Sanclemente, Mayor John Chappie and Police Chief/Interim Public Works Director John Cosby were among those copied on The Sun’s email request.

In her response, Perry wrote, “I’ll see if the deputy clerks can access the signed agreement. If not, we’ll have to wait until Terri gets back.”

Sanclemente is expected to be back in the office on May 28, after press time for The Sun. She was, however, in the office the week of May 6.

Perry provided a copy of an unsigned, blank draft version of the agreement which did not identify the other party involved with the project and did not include any details regarding the cost of the project or the manner in which the material, installation and maintenance costs would be shared. The agreement is for 30 years.

When asked by The Sun that day for a signed and fully executed copy of the agreement, Perry wrote, “There is a signed agreement. The clerk is out of the office and can provide further documents upon her return.”

The agreement and any other project-associated documents are subject to the Florida Public Records Act and Florida’s Government-in-theSunshine Law.

The lingering question remains as to who would be liable for any

Since the planting of the trees during the week of April 24, things haven’t gone smoothly with the palms.

On May 15, a post on Facebook showed that one of the newly-planted palms apparently had fallen over on Bridge Street. It was replanted on May 17 and secured with a string tied to a metal stake.

On May 24, all the palms that had been planted on Gulf Drive South (State Road 789) were removed due to the trees not being allowed by Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) regulations. FDOT spokesperson Darryl Richard said coconut palms are not allowed on state roads due to safety concerns about visibility and falling coconuts and limbs.

Chappie was on-site during the tree removal and The Sun asked him about the whereabouts of the palm tree agreement. He responded by deferring questions about the agreement to Perry.

OTHER RECENT PARTNERSHIPS PROPOSED

Other public/private partnerships with Kaleta have been proposed this year.

At a Feb. 1 City Commission meeting, Perry presented an offer from the Kaleta-owned Bradenton Beach Marina to act as the city’s harbormaster for a proposed city-owned mooring field near the Bradenton Beach Pier.

“So today the marina said, ‘Would

you be interested in us helping you with the mooring balls? And what we can do is basically act as your harbormaster, provide the pump-out service and deal with the people that are paying and something else to think about is the amount you charge people, which they would enforce for us.’ Which would make it so a particular clientele would be able to afford that mooring ball,” Perry said at the meeting.

She described the offer as a potential public/private partnership to protect the city’s dinghy docks and to control derelict vessels.

“I was approached today by the marina, who said, ‘Why don’t you throw mooring balls out there?’ ” Perry said at the Feb. 1 meeting.

Metropolitan Property Ventures LLC purchased the Bradenton Beach Marina from the Bazzy family in 2023. The warranty deed associated with that sale lists Kaleta as the mortgagor and as the president of the Bazzy Marine Corporation. In city meetings, Kaleta is referred to as the marina owner.

Perry said the city doesn’t have the resources or staff to monitor the mooring field. If the marina would be willing to work with the city, the mooring field would be a revenue source for the city, as well as for the marina and would potentially clean up the area.

Derelict vessel removal has been a priority for the Bradenton Beach Police Department and over the years, they have removed dozens of them.

In March, the city commission considered a bid from Kaleta-owned Bridge to Bay Investments for a partnership in a city-wide paid parking contract. Bridge to Bay was one of two bidders with SP Municipal Services as the second bidder.

Under the bid, the proposed paid parking would have included all of Bridge Street, an after-hours parking lot to the east and west side of the police department, the city hall parking lot, the area around the pickleball court on Highland Avenue (with free passes to pickleball players), the shared parking lot with Angela Rodocker at First Street North, Gulf-side parking spaces near the Moose Lodge and future options at the Tingley Library if the building is raised to create additional parking. At a subsequent meeting, when a decision between the two bids was expected to be made, the city did not accept either bid but instead announced it would consider having city-managed paid parking.

In April, Perry proposed that the CRA partner with Kaleta in the installation of a waterfront pedestrian path running from his marina to Bridge Street on the Pines Trailer Park property he recently purchased. The marina has a new bar the city permitted after it was built and in operation.

The next CRA meeting is scheduled on Wednesday, June 5 at 9:30 a.m. The next city commission meeting is scheduled on Thursday, June 6 at 6 p.m. Meetings are open to the public and will be held at the Katie Pierola Commission Chambers, 107 Gulf Drive N.

9:00 a.m. TO 10:00 p.m. DAILY 5344 Gulf Drive Holmes Beac h (941) 779-BEER hurricaneliquors.com

“ This place has an amazing collection of spirits.” Josh

“Spent t he week in Anna Maria Island and out of all the liquor stores on t he island, t his is by far t he best one, wit h t he best prices and t he most selection. The staf f was very friendly ” Heat her

“ The guys here was very helpful and knowledgeable. They had some great choices on bourbon.

“ These guys had t he best selection , decent prices, and were overall just good people.” Matt hew

“Great assor tment of spirits and competitive prices.” Nyor

“Amazing selection knowledgeable staf f and best ser vice on t he island” Vicky

Expert outlines optimum coconut palm maintenance

Fruit from a coconut palm can weigh up to 10 pounds.

BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH – With 80 coconut palms planted on Bridge Street last month, questions have arisen among commissioners, downtown merchants and residents about the safety of the trees and their potential for falling fruit and limbs.

Brian Bahder, Ph.D., an associate professor at the University of Florida Institute for Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), whose research includes the study of diseases and parasites infecting palm trees and other tropical plants, responded by email to questions from The Sun about the characteristics of coconut palm trees.

Bahder is affiliated with the Fort Lauderdale Education and Research Center. Among the program efforts

there are general maintenance and diseases of palms.

According to Bahder, the fruit from the coconut palm tree can range anywhere from 1 pound to the size of a soccer ball weighing from 5-10 pounds.

“Removal of the fruit on a regular basis is needed. It is easiest before fruit set, so as soon as an inflorescence (flowering) emerges, remove it (ideally before it opens up),” Bahder wrote.

The Bradenton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) approved on April 3 the planting of the coconut palm trees in a partnership with developer Shawn Kaleta based on the assurance of City Attorney Ricinda Perry that a signed maintenance, hold harmless and indemnification agreement would be in place prior to the trees being planted, and that Kaleta would be responsible for tree maintenance and liability for any damage caused by the trees.

As of May 26, that agreement has not been made available to The Sun, despite multiple requests.

The typical coconut production per tree can vary, according to Bahder.

“Each palm’s annual production is also variable on things like age, cultivar, health, location, but once mature, start producing regularly; the range is 50 to 200 coconuts per year,” he wrote. “In cultivation where palms are properly maintained and cared for, I have seen up to 60 or 70 fruit on a single inflorescence (the flower head of a plant).”

Bahder wrote that mature coconut palm trees will produce flowers and fruit year-round.

“The rate will change, it is obviously slower in the cooler, drier months and more rapid in summer. Generally, the fruit set tends to be better in warmer months also,” he wrote.

Bahder recommended planting mature palm trees prior to rainy

season and to be mindful of hurricane season.

“If it is a large plant that is transplanted, April is probably better. This way it is in the ground for when the rains begin in April to May, that way it has access to more regular water and helps it establish faster,” he wrote. “However, you can plant whenever as long as you water regularly to get it established. I would probably avoid planting large palms in August and September (peak hurricane season). If they are not rooted and we get hit they could get blown over easier.”

The coconut palms on Bridge Street were planted the week of April 24 and are on a regular watering schedule. The installation of an irrigation system on Bridge Street was discussed at a recent CRA meeting.

Bahder said coconut palms typically do well in the southern third of Florida.

SUNDAY WORSHIP

8:30 AM in the Chapel 10:00 AM in the Sanctuar y Nurser y • Children’s Church ONLINE • Watch LI VE or LATER RoserChurch.com

Sign up to receive the eBulletin at RoserChurch.com/contact-us

AME welcomes new principal

Willis Elementary

Assistant Principal Katie Fradley has been named the new principal at Anna Maria Elementary.

BY JASON SCHAFFER SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com

HOLMES BEACH - Anna Maria Elementary School (AME) Principal Mike Masiello announced his retirement earlier this month, and Willis Elementary School Assistant Principal Katie Fradley has accepted the job.

The Sun recently spoke to her regarding her new position.

“My career spans 34 years. Thirty of those years were spent right here in Manatee County and four of them in Hawaii,” she said.

“I hold a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from FSU, a master’s degree in reading from USF and a Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction from USF. I’m a teacher at heart and was a teacher for 21 years at Braden River, Sea Breeze and Rowlett. When I left the classroom, I served as a reading coach at Moody Elementary, a literary coach at a private school in Hawaii, and an instructional specialist with the school district. I then moved into administration in 2020 when Mr. Masiello hired me as assistant principal at Ballard Elementary School. After working at Ballard for two years, I moved to Willis Elementary School, a large school in Lakewood Ranch with tremendous family involvement, as assistant principal.

“I look forward to bringing my own passion and excitement for teaching and learning to AME, as well as carrying on

the traditions that have been established throughout the years,” Fradley said. “As I settle into the role, I look forward to seeing how I can maintain the unique historical qualities of the AME experience while ensuring that the students are also provided with opportunities for growth and success.

“AME is magical!” she said. “I love its charm, starting with its traditions, small student body, family-like atmosphere and community involvement. The partnership with the Guy Harvey Foundation has so much potential to have a major impact on our community, and I look forward to being very involved. I am so excited to get to know each of the families and to support and nurture every child as they move through the AME experience.”

Principal Masiello, who has been at AME since 2020, said he was retiring to spend more time with his family, and requires surgery in the coming months with a lengthy recovery time and felt it was the right time to step down.

“I love AME and it’s been an amazing time here at this special school,” Masiello said, adding that he believes the school is in very good hands.

“Getting to be involved in the Guy Harvey Academy has been a highlight of my time here, and I know the school will continue to grow and provide a learning experience like no other. I wish the new principal the best,” said Masiello, whose retirement wraps up an almost 30-year career in the Manatee County School system.

KATIE FRADLEY | SUBMITTED

Anna Maria Elementary School’s newly appointed principal is Katie Fradley.

AME fifth graders celebrate their graduation with a glow party.

CENTER NOTES

Center offers fitness class

Join Ksenia Klue at The Center of Anna Maria Island beginning on Tuesday, June 4 for a strength and cardio fitness class, including a variety of movements with high intensity to challenge your entire body. Each class will vary and incorporate different exercises to keep your body strong and healthy. All ages are welcome. The class is held at 407 Magnolia

Ave. on Tuesdays from 9:15-10:15 a.m. and on Fridays from 8-9 a.m. The cost is free for members and $25 for non-members. To register for Center programs or for more information, email customerservice@centerami.org or call 941-778-1908.

EDITORIAL Palm trees and other shady endeavors

The Florida Public Records Act says the city has to promptly acknowledge public records requests, respond in good faith and make “reasonable efforts” to figure out who has the requested document and where it’s stashed. City officials who break the state law can be fined $500 or removed from office if they try really hard to hide or withhold the requested document.

Perry and Mayor John Chappie were copied on our multiple and still ongoing requests for a signed agreement. Perry gave us an incomplete and unsigned draft version of the agreement that didn’t mention the project partner’s name. She also sent us some emails that showed us how hard she tried to collaborate with Team Kaleta’s lawyers to make this deal happen.

According to the unsigned version of the agreement, Team Kaleta is supposed to maintain the palm trees at their expense for the next 30 years. The unsigned agreement doesn’t specifically mention coconuts or palm

fronds and it doesn’t specifically require Team Kaleta to pluck those pesky buggers from the trees before they drop on some unlucky person’s head, child or 1962 Corvette.

The unsigned agreement does however require Team Kaleta to comply with reference Exhibit A – a blank space that calls for a yet-to-beseen site plan that shows specifically where each new tree was planted – and Exhibit B: “Guidelines for the Management of Coconut Palms.”

The “Guidelines” inform us that coconut palms can grow to be over 100 feet tall, may live 100 years and “regularly shed coconuts and large fronds, which may expose people and property to injury and damage.”

The all-knowing ‘Guidelines” also say, “To minimize this risk, coconuts and fronds must be regularly removed prior to their fall. In certain instances, coconut palms may possess structural defects that increase the risk of failure of a portion or all of the palm.”

Thank you, wise city leaders. What could go wrong?

The “Guidelines” say any coconut palms that show serious defects,

conditions or weather damage must be removed (by Team Kaleta) within 14 days of being told to do so. Given that one tree already toppled onto a Bridge Street sidewalk on a sunny day, what’s the over/under on how many palms are going down during our upcoming “more active than usual” hurricane season?

In the absence of the signed agreement, it appears the first tree likely fell before the agreement was signed and dated by Chappie and Team Kaleta. If that first falling tree injured a person, place or thing with no signed agreement yet in place, who would have been liable - the city, Kaleta or both?

The unsigned agreement is also supposed to indemnify (lawyerspeak for “protect”) the city and the CRA against any future liabilities and lawsuits associated with the troublesome palm trees. If someone or something gets clocked by a falling tree, frond or coconut, that unfortunate soul gets to do battle with Team Kaleta’s army of lawyers, while the city sits on the sideline screaming, “Leave us alone, we’re indemnified!”

Mayor Chappie frequently laments the negative impacts that super-sized short-term vacation rental homes, aka “party houses,” have on Bradenton Beach’s residential neighborhoods, but he’s OK taking project money from the Island’s biggest developer of “party houses.”

Instead of sharpening their pencils and wisely managing CRA and city funds for future projects, the mayor and city commissioners are taking the lazy and easy way out by enabling Perry to pursue funding partnerships with Team Kaleta.

In the past year or so, Perry proposed the CRA or city partner with Team Kaleta to improve the city-owned parking lot near the Team Kaleta-owned marina. She also suggested the city partner with Team Kaleta for a Team Kaleta-controlled mooring field near the pier.

In early April – the same day she proposed the ill-advised, poorlyexecuted palm tree project – Perry proposed the CRA partner with Team Kaleta to install a waterfront

FWC announces 2024 Lionfish Challenge NESTING NEWS

f you’re a diver, you’ve seen first-hand how lionfish invade the reefs and threaten the balance that sustains many offshore species. You’ve probably also heard of the Lionfish Challenge, an opportunity to help reduce the population of this invasive species.

Here’s a chance for divers and anglers, both commercial and recreational, to make a difference while enjoying Florida’s reefs and wrecks.

The Lionfish Challenge, from May 24Sept. 2, is sponsored by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

The challenge is a free summer-long lionfish tournament open to recreational and commercial competitors of all ages in Florida. More than 195,000 lionfish have

since it began in 2016. In its ninth year, the Lionfish Challenge goal remains the same - remove as many lionfish as possible in just three months.

Participants will compete in either the commercial or the recreational division, with grand prizes to the top competitors in each division.

Prizes will be awarded in tiers as follows:

• Tier 1 - Harvest 25 lionfish (recreational) or 50 pounds of lionfish (commercial);

• Tier 2 - Harvest 75 lionfish (recreational) or 100 pounds of lionfish (commercial);

• Tier 3 - Harvest 150 lionfish (recreational) or 200 pounds of lionfish (commercial);

• Tier 4 - Harvest 300 lionfish (recreational) or 400 pounds of lionfish (commercial);

• Tier 5 - Harvest 600 lionfish (recreational) or 800 pounds of lionfish (commercial).

To read the full tournament rules and register, visit FWCreefrangers.com/ lionfish-challenge.

Keep up with the challenge on Facebook.com/fwcreefrangers.

Turtle nests laid: 96 (Record: 544 in 2019)

False crawls: 86 (Record: 831 in 2010)

Nests hatched: 0 (Record: 453 in 2022)

Hatchlings hatched: 0 (Record: 35,850 in 2022)

Hatchling disorientations: 0

Adult disorientations: 0

Source: Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring

RUSTY CHINNIS

OBITUARIES

Karyn Ann Budnick

Karyn Ann Budnick, beloved daughter of Gary and Sandra Budnick, passed away peacefully on April 20, 2024 in North Franklin, Connecticut. Karyn was born June 18, 1965 in Oak Harbor, Washington.

As a special needs person, she faced many challenges during her lifetime. Karyn was supported and uplifted by the teachers and caregivers who were part of her journey. They helped her to reach her full potential. Karyn resided at the Holton Road Group Home in North Franklin, Connecticut. She loved the wonderful nurses and

Memorial Day weekend traffic a jam session

Memorial Day weekend is a popular time to visit AMI, and on Sunday, traffic was backed up for hours. According to Bradenton Beach police, the traffic at its heaviest was bumperto-bumper on Gulf Drive from Longboat Key to 67th Street in Holmes Beach. Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer said on Sunday morning that traffic coming to the Island on Manatee Avenue was backed up to 63rd Street in Bradenton and that travel time to the Island was about two hours at that point.

support staff who cared for her. She looked forward to weekly phone calls from her parents and their visits, when they would bring her favorites, coffee and pizza.

Karyn is survived by her parents, Gary and Sandra Budnick; sister, Debbi (John) Blomgren; brother, Brian (Julia) Budnick; niece, Jayden Budnick; and nephews, LJ (Gina) Blomgren and Jack Blomgren.

Karyn was predeceased by her brother, Jared Budnick; and her grandparents, Walter and Helen Budnick and Harold and Paula Shepard.

Karyn is also survived by several aunts, uncles and cousins in Connecticut.

A celebration of Karyn’s life will take place in June at Harkness Memorial Park, Waterford, Connecticut.

JASON SCHAFFER | SUN

MURPHY: Won't seek re-election

about how to do this, but I guess I would just suggest that if you’re going to run, be prepared for a tough job, a full-time job. This is not for amateurs.

“You need to be prepared to pretty much give up your personal life and treat this like a full-time job. It’s not for show and it’s not for glory. There’s certainly not much glory but there’s a great deal of reward. It’s a rewarding job. You can accomplish things that you could never accomplish in a private sector and you can really have an impact on your community – a good impact or a bad impact, the exposure’s there for both,” Murphy said.

Murphy’s leaving office at a time when Anna Maria faces the potential forced consolidation or dissolution of the three Anna Maria Island cities and city governments.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

During his time in office, Murphy guided the city through the adoption

of the city’s first vacation rental ordinance in 2015. He led the city’s response to Hurricane Irma in 2017 and the lengthy process of replacing the hurricane-damaged pier. He then guided the city commission through the controversial selection of the two tenants that occupy the city-owned pier, The City Pier Grill and the Mote Marine Science, Education and Outreach Center. Murphy led the city’s preparation and response to several other storms and flooding events and also guided the city through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Murphy formulated the plan that transformed an underutilized city-owned property into City Pier Park and it was his idea to install the shade sail structure under which the seasonal farmers market and annual Memorial Day and Veterans Day events he suggested take place.

For the past several years, Murphy played a key role locally and statewide in thwarting the Florida Legislature’s annual efforts to preempt vacation

rental regulations to the state and strip local governments of that regulatory authority.

Before his final term expires, Murphy hopes to make some significant headway with the Reimagining Pine Avenue project that’s proved more challenging than originally expected.

WHO’S NEXT?

The mayor is paid approximately $19,500 per year during a two-year

term. City commissioners are paid $400 a month.

Anna Maria’s two-week candidate qualifying period for those seeking to serve as mayor or fill one of two city commission seats begins on Monday, June 3 at noon and ends on Friday, June 15 at noon. The qualifying period is preceded by a state-mandated prequalifying period that begins on Monday, May 27.

According to City Clerk LeAnne Addy, qualifying papers will be accepted during the pre-qualifying period but Anna Maria candidates will not be considered qualified until the city’s qualifying period opens on June 3.

Mayoral and city commission candidates are now required to file a Form 6 disclosure form that lists the candidate’s net worth, income sources, debts and tangible assets. Mayors and commissioners are also now required to file additional annual Form 6 disclosure forms while in office.

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy will leave office later this year.

REAL ESTATE

Everyone’s talking about home prices

Ichallenge you to enter a room with at least four adult homeowners and not hear the conversation eventually gravitating to the price of homes.

Some of the conversation centers on fear that what their home is worth is just a moment in time and will completely disappear, others think they caused the high value of their home because they’re so smart and others probably think who cares, I’ll worry about it when it’s time to sell. Wherever you are in this conversation, the effect of home prices will have a major influence on your future.

According to a recent analysis by ResiClub of the Case-Shiller National Home Price Index, home prices have surged 47.1% since the start of 2020, easily outstripping the gains seen in recent decades. By comparison, home prices in the 1990s and 2010s grew a respective 30.1% and 44.7%.

In addition, home price growth so far this decade is on the verge of surpassing all the growth seen in the 2000s. During that

Castles in the Sand

LOUISE BOLGER

period, housing prices skyrocketed 47.3%, including an 80% spike before the 2007 housing market crash.

There are several driving forces behind the spike in prices. Some of the reasons are underbuilding because of a rapid rise in mortgage rates and expensive construction materials. Available home supply remains down 34.3% from the typical amount before the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020. Remember these are national profiles; what happens locally and especially in Florida does not always follow the national trend. All of this is complicated by sellers who are locked into record-low mortgage rates and are reluctant to sell, further limiting the available supply of properties. Currently,

about 80% of mortgage holders have a rate below 5%. That’s a lot of people who don’t want to move.

Nevertheless, prices continue to increase and, per the National Association of Realtors, the median single-family home price grew 5% from a year ago. This increase was confirmed in 93% of the metro areas in the country during the first quarter.

Two of the fastest-growing markets in the country, Texas and Florida, may be starting to see a softening of prices. Again, all real estate is local, so let’s see what the April sales statistics for Manatee County reported by the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee look like.

Single-family homes closed 3.5% more properties compared to last year and condos closed 7.8% more properties compared to last year. Keep in mind these are lagging numbers for contracts probably written a couple of months before.

The median sale price for single-family homes was $530,000, down 7.0%, and the median sale price for condos was

$352,420, down 7.5%. The average sale price for single-family homes was $718,603, down 2.3%, and the average sale price for condos was $435,292, down 3.7%.

The median time to contract for singlefamily homes was 44 days compared to 28 days last year, and for condos, it was almost the same at 44 days this year compared to 27 last year. New listings are up for both single-family at 17.1% and condos at 24.2%. Finally, the months’ supply of available properties is up to 3.9 months for singlefamily and 6.3 months for condos.

You don’t have to be a mathematician to see that inventory has surged, resulting in a more competitive market and longer selling periods. Selling prices are already down and could be further impacted because of the additional competition. The best way to discuss what your homes are worth among friends is probably not to. No one gets the credit for it and no one will get the blame if prices start to level off. I’m with the guy who says, “I’ll worry about it when it’s time to sell.”

Palm trees and other shady endeavors

EDITORIAL

pedestrian path that runs from Team Kaleta’s marina, past Team Kaleta’s mobile home park and ends at the city-owned pier.

Who is Perry working for? The city or Team Kaleta? When proposing these public-private partnerships, she sings the praises of a developer good-hearted enough to help fund CRA and city projects, but what she, the mayor and the city commission are really doing is selling the city down the Intracoastal Waterway.

Somehow, the sister cities of Anna Maria and Holmes Beach manage to fund their capital projects without financial aid from Team Kaleta. And in both those cities, the city attorneys focus on the basics - providing legal advice and

legal services to their respective city leaders and city staff.

In most cities, a city attorney’s sole job is to dispense legal knowledge. City attorneys don’t usually serve as de facto city managers, project managers and project initiators. But in Perry’s defense, she’s just filling the leadership void created by Bradenton Beach’s weak mayor form of city government, and the weak mayor and weak commission gladly let her do it.

With the threat of state-imposed consolidation looming over the three AMI cities, there’s chatter in local political circles that Chappie wants to serve as the Island-wide mayor if that happens. That leadership scenario might scare some folks, but Island Mayor Chappie and Island Attorney Perry could then partner with Team Kaleta to plant coconut palms and other seeds of dissent throughout the rest of the consolidation fiefdom.

Horsing around

On May 22, Tom Farrington, left, and Bob Heiger were too tough for the competition after the pair posted the only 3-0 record and were crowned champs for the day. Farrington stayed perfect for the week this time with partner Steve Augustine after they went 3-0 on May 25 and won the day’s competition.

BEACH BEAT

BRADENTON BEACH

5/17,10:40 a.m., grand theft, 2601 Gulf Drive N. The officer responded in reference to a possible theft. He spoke with the victim, who said her electric bike had been stolen. The victim said the bike has a broken battery and she kept it on the side of her house but did not have security cameras in the area. She said the bike has a value of $4,000. No suspects had been identified, but the victim is gathering photos and more information which police hope can help them locate the bike. The case remains open.

HOLMES BEACH

5/16, 2:20 a.m., probation violation, 4000 Gulf Drive. While on patrol near the Manatee Beach entrance, the officer observed a pickup truck drive through the flashing red light without stopping. The officer initiated a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, who was a juvenile. The adult in the passenger seat admitted to being on house arrest and said he was not allowed to be out without authorization. The driver was cited for running the light, and his parents were called to pick him up from the scene since he did not have a valid license. The passenger was processed, then transferred into the custody of the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.

ANNA

SPORTS

Island youth soccer playoffs underway

ANNA MARIA – The final days of school added to the excitement of the first two rounds of youth soccer playoffs played last week at The Center of Anna Maria Island. On Monday night, four games were played and the teams advancing to round two were determined.

In an exciting finale, team AMI Coconuts beat out the Emily Moss Design squad in post-regulation play penalty kicks. Emily Moss Design’s goalkeeper Miles Moss earned top honors in this demanding position with the Outstanding Goalie award.

Isola Bella Italian Eatery won out over team Shady Lady Horticultural Services by one goal, advancing along with the team in pink to Tuesday’s round two play of matches for the 8- to-10-year-old league. Winning Most Improved Player accolades for the season, Shady Lady’s Leo Tyler played hard all season, honing his skills each game.

The older kids played last Monday night with Moss Builders sitting out as the first-place finishers at the end of the regular season. Westfall’s Lawn Care & Pest Control and HSH Design came out on top over Solid Rock Construction and The Gitt Team, respectively.

The Gitt Team roster nearly swept the 11- to-14-year-old league awards this season. Teammates

Jasmine Sparks, Gunnar Maize and Charlee Maize won the league’s Defensive MVP, Most Improved Player and Sportsmanship awards, respectively.

Co-league MVPs Brittany Robertson and Mason Moss played with dedication for team HSH and Moss Builders, respectively, during the season to earn their awards. Both teams moved past round one of the playoffs.

Wednesday night’s soccer play solidified this week’s two championship game opponents. With their wins, The Intuitive Foundation and Solid Rock Construction earned their places in the final game of the season for the elementary school age co-ed soccer league.

The three goals scored by The Intuitive Foundation squad were off the feet of Gunnar Maize and Parker Svoboda, league co-MVP, alongside Solid Rock’s Everly Chaplinsky. Maize’s two goals against team AMI

Coconuts solidly put his team in the championship game against Solid Rock Construction.

Despite winning Defensive MVP honors for the season, Aiden Guess scored the only goal in Solid Rock’s game against the Isola Bella Italian Eatery team. Isola’s Carson Long was honored with the Sportsmanship Award this season for his age group.

Night two for the tweens and teens last week only had one match-up with Westfall’s Lawn Care & Pest Control getting a big win against team Moss Builders. The Westfall win put them in the final game of the spring youth soccer season this week against HSH.

Adult players completed the regular season battles on the pitch this past Thursday night with Pool America finishing at the top of the standings. The big kids will finish spring sports at the Island community center in June.

SUN SCOREBOARD

MAY 21

YOUTH SOCCER – ROUND ONE PLAYOFFS 8- TO 10-YEAR-OLD LEAGUE

AMI Coconuts 1 Winner in a postgame shootout Emily

Island Youth Soccer League award winners

Co-MVP

MONICA SIMPSON | SUN

Co-MVP - Everly Chaplinsky, Solid Rock Construction, Tuna McCracken

MONICA SIMPSON | SUN Sportsmanship - Carson Long, Isola Bella Italian Eatery, Tuna McCracken

MONICA SIMPSON | SUN

Outstanding Goalie - Miles Moss, Emily Moss Design, Tuna McCracken

MONICA SIMPSON | SUN

Co-MVP - Brittany Robertson, HSH Design, Tuna McCracken

MONICA SIMPSON | SUN

- Parker Svoboda, The Intuitive Foundation, Tuna McCracken

MONICA SIMPSON | SUN Most Improved - Gunnar Maize, The Gitt Team, Tuna McCracken

MONICA SIMPSON | SUN Defensive MVP - Aiden Guess, Solid Rock Construction, Tuna McCracken

MONICA SIMPSON | SUN Sportsmanship - Charlee Maize, The Gitt Team, Tuna McCracken

FUN IN THE SUN

CLASSIFIEDS

ANNOUNCEMENTS

THE BEST VOLUNTEER position on the island. The AMI Historical Museum needs docents and bread makers. Call Kathy Primeau at 989-560-6381.

ROSER FOOD BANK needs donations of cash and nonperishable food, PAPER & PERSONAL HYGIENE PRODUCTS. Donations boxes are located at the Church, Moose Club, and Walgreen’s.

HOSPITAL VOLUNTEERS

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

BOATS FOR SALE

BOATS ARE SELLING VERY WELL. 24 years, "Business On A Handshake" 21' - 65'. Islandboatsales.net I Also Buy Boats. Dave Struber- 941-228-3489

COMMERCIAL SALES, RENT & LEASE

HAVE YOU BEEN thinking of selling? We NEED properties to List for SALE!!! Duplexes, multi family, small resorts? Call BIG Alan Galletto of Island Real Estate to get it SOLD 941-232-2216

CLEANING SERVICE

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

COMPUTER REPAIR

STACY’S COMPUTERSREPAIR & Tutoring in your home. Senior/Veterans discount. Apple & PC’s. Prompt, Friendly, Patient. Call Stacy 941-246-1048

GARAGE SALE

313 SPRING AVENUE, ANNA MARIA, Fri May 31 & Sat Jun 1 from 9am to 1pm, multifamily, 910 797-2254: Sofa sleeper, tables, desk, household, books, pictures, kilim rugs, sheet music, videos, American Girl clothes; men's, women's, girl's 5-8 clothing and shoes

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

RENOVATION SPECALIST ALL carpentry repairs, Wash Family Construction, locally owned and operated CBC 1258250 Call 941-725-0073.

KERN & GILDER

CONSTRUCTION, INC New Homes & Remodel. Design/Build. Since 1968. License # CBC 1261150. Call the Office. 941-7781115

JSAN CORPORATION

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

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

ISLE TILE specializing in Custom Bath/Shower & Backsplash installation. Pressure washing available. Call 941-3028759 isletileservices.com

GORILLA DRYWALL REPAIR, LLC. 15+ years of experience. Free Estimates. Let’s solve your Drywall problems together. Call 941-2860607.

BMF INTERIORS Home repairs and more, No job too small. Please call 786318-8585

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

ISLAND RESIDENT. TREE/ BUSH Trimming, removal. Sweeping, blowing, and weeding. Weekly, bi-monthly or monthly schedule. Pressure washing. Call Bill Witaszek 941-307-9315

MOVING & STORAGE

MARTIN’S MOVING YOUR Island movers! Offering dependable, competitive rates. No hidden costs. 941-8095777.

PAINTING & WALLCOVERING

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

“WIZARD OF WALLS”

Established 1980

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

DONALD PERKINS ABRACADABRA PAINTING LLC fully insured. 30 years experience. Many Island references. Call 941705-7096

PROFESSIONAL PAINTING SERVICES. Prompt & Reliable. Island Resident. Quality Workmanship. Interior/ Exterior. Minor repairs & carpentry. Free estimates. Bill Witaszek 941-307-9315

POOL SERVICES

FOUR SEASONS POOL SERVICE AND CHEMICAL SERVICES. Certified Pool Operator. 18 + Years Experience. Residential/commercial. Chemical Service Licensed & Insured. Call Dennis Clark 941-7375657

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

PRESSURE WASHING & WINDOWS

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

REAL ESTATE HOMES & CONDOS FOR SALE

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

LOOKING FOR A highly motivated real estate broker to buy or sell your next home?

Darcie Duncan, Broker Duncan Real Estate a lifelong island resident bringing success to her customers for 30 years. Proven track record brings you results! 941725-1589

FOR SALE - PERICO

BAY CLUB Waterfront Beauties! 2 & 3 bedroom models w 2 car garages! Call Today for more info! Erin Leathem at The Anna Maria Sales Team at Island Real Estate 941448-5616

FOR SALE - 5400 GULF

Completely updated coastal beauty! Gulf Front 55+ neighborhood community! Call Erin Leathem at The Anna Maria Sales Team at Island Real Estate 941448-5616

HISTORICAL COTTAGE

409 Pine Ave. $2.2M 4BR/3BA pool. Brenda Boyd May Broker / Owner. All realtors welcome. 941-730-8589

FOR SALE: $325K 4410

Fairways Blvd #406 beautifully remodeled golf course view; $365K 840 Audubon Perico Bay Club; $475K 910 41st St Ct W NO HOA built in 2022 w/Boat or RV storage; $2M 201 72nd St Holmes Beach updated duplex w/established rental history. Kelly Gitt The Gitt Team Keller Williams on the Water 941-799-9299

RENTALS: ANNUAL

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

ANNUAL RENTAL: 2BR/2BA furnished Wildwood Springs condo, no pets. $1850 monthly Call 941-778-4800

MONTHLY RENTAL

2BR/2BA Condo furnished. Bayside location in Holmes Beach. 5 minute walk to Beach, shopping, dining. Call for pictures and details. 630-290-3511

ANNUAL RENTAL: 611 Gulf Dr N. C15 Bradenton Beach, FL 34217, Imperial House Condo 2BA/1BA $2000/mo - Available Aug 1st. 208 A Magnolia Ave. 2BD/2BA $2800/moavailable June 1st. 208 B Magnolia Ave. 2BD/2BA $2800/mo- available Aug 1st. 407 76th St A Holmes Beach, FL 34216 $5000/ mo- available June 1st. Contact Sato Real Estate for more information. 941778-7200

RENTALS: SEASONAL & VACATION

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

SEASONAL RENTAL in PALMA SOLA. 3BR/2BA weekly or monthly rates. Contact Barb Grace 941-201-2190

ANNA MARIA ISLAND

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

FOR RENT (SUMMER AT THE BEACH) AMI updated 5 star condo. Available May to November (monthly with Multi-month discount). Million$ water view, first floor, 2BR/2BA, beautiful water view deck, walk to beach, pool, tennis (smoke free/no pets) Owner/renter email NOW marketreps@aol. com or 570-239-0431

TRANSPORTATION

ANYTIME

TRANSPORTATION to all Airports, Casino, etc. Tampa/St. Pete $85. Sarasota $40. Pets welcome. Very dependable. Reasonable rates. Contact Jeanne. 941-779-5095