18 minute read
REAL ESTATE
26 THE SUN REAL ESTATE
Good grief, it’s almost hurricane season
Let me be the first to welcome you to the 2021 North Atlantic hurricane season. Technically, it doesn’t start until June 1, however, based on what we lived through last hurricane season in the middle of a 100-year pandemic, you can’t start too early to prepare.
On April 8, Colorado State University released its predictions for the 2021 hurricane season, predicting an above-average season with 17 named storms, eight hurricanes and four major hurricanes. The average hurricane season is considered 14 named storms, seven hurricanes and three major hurricanes. In addition, the National Hurricane Center will begin tropical storm warnings this year on May 15 just to add a couple of more weeks to our “cone” watching.
And we have a new list of names - one of the things I always look forward to. We start with Ana, then Bill, Claudette, Danny and Elsa for the first five. Wanda is the last and none of us ever wants to see the Greek alphabet again in our lifetime.
By now, even if you have only lived through one hurricane season, you know what to do. Last May, I said that preparing for hurricanes was the exact opposite of preparing for a COVID-19 lockdown in many ways. At the beginning of hurricane season, we clean out our freezers in preparation for losing power for an extended period, as opposed to the beginning of the COVID-19 lockdown, when many of us filled our freezers so we didn’t need to do too much big-store shopping.
However, both natural disasters still require stocking up on non-perishables, water, batteries, canned goods, don’t forget the manual can opener or buy pop tops, ice to get you through a few days, full gas tanks and prescriptions for you and your family.
Now is also the time to think about those window and door coverings if they’re old and vulnerable to high winds. Start planning on where you will move outdoor furniture, plants, awnings and other objects that can become flying missiles in a storm. Boats in the water that can’t be moved to dry storage need to have their lines doubled up and extra lines added.
The mymanatee.org website has a lot of detailed information concerning disaster kits and important papers that should be in a place that can be quickly accessed if you need to evacuate. Also, know where your local shelter is. Even though you think you’ll never need a shelter you may be surprised; I was during Hurricane Irma.
Since flooding goes along with hurricanes, understand which flood zone you live in and even if not required by a lender, purchase flood insurance. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) manages the subsidized program and it’s a prudent investment for all homeowners.
Speaking of flood insurance, FEMA announced an overview of flood insurance premium rate increases that will go into effect on Oct. 1 of this year. This increase was delayed from last year after the agency received pressure from Congress to delay the increases. Keep in mind that Florida is in the crosshairs of FEMA, which always runs a deficit since 35% of their policies are in the state of Florida. More about this as we get closer to the October date.
Since I welcomed you to hurricane season, I hope I can also be one of the first to say on Nov. 30, thank goodness it’s over. Be prepared, and we’ll all get through another year together. Stay safe.
Castles in the Sand
LOUISE BOLGER
WILDLIFE INC. EDUCATION AND REHABILITATION CENTER | SUBMITTED
Fox orphans rescued
Wildlife Inc. Education and Rehabilitation Center in Bradenton Beach received these orphan fox babies after their mother was trapped and released elsewhere. The trapper did not know she had pups. More rescue traps have been set in case more pups are out there.
TURTLE TIPS
During sea turtle season, May 1 – Oct. 31, please follow these tips: • 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 objects from the sand from sundown to sunrise; they can deter sea turtles from nesting and can disorient hatchlings. • Fill in the holes you dig in the sand and level sandcastles before leaving the beach; they can obstruct or trap nesting and hatching sea turtles, which cannot live long out of the water. • Don’t use wish lanterns or fireworks; they litter the beach and Gulf. • Do not trim trees and plants that shield the beach from lights. • 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 888-404FWCC (3922).
SEA TURTLE CONSERVANCY | SUBMITTED
Where’s Bortie?
Loggerhead sea turtle Bortie is headed away from Anna Maria Island Gulf waters, where she was spotted on April 17. Turtle watchers thought she might nest again on AMI - she was satellite-tagged after laying a nest in June 2018 on Coquina Beach (see the red star on the map) - but she swam by, perhaps because red tide appeared in local waters last month. 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!
Perico Bay Club—As Good As It Gets!!
PENDING-1270 Spoonbill Landings Cir
Another One SOLD/1207 Spoonbill Landings
Give me a call today if yo oGive me a call today if you’u re looking ge lookine re to Buy or Sell on Anna Maria Island dyBuy or Sell on Anna M Maria Isla MariaMari anIsla or the surroundi oundi a ng area! a!ng ang areag ng ea
Lynn Zemmer 941 41-1 730 30-0 1294 94 9 941.209. 1542 I Lynn@Edgewaterami.com
www.EdgewaterRealEstateInc.com
Car crashes into Linger Longer resort
A car headed south on Gulf Drive crashed into the Linger Longer resort building at 302 and 304 Gulf Drive South in Bradenton Beach on Saturday evening. The beachfront resort was previously owned by former Mayor Bill Shearon and was sold after Shearon’s recent passing. According to Bradenton Beach Police Chief Sam Speciale, the vehicle crashed through the Linger Longer sign and also damaged a water check valve before coming to rest. The car sustained significant damage and Speciale said the driver was arrested on suspicion of DUI by either the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office or the Florida Highway Patrol. As of press time Monday, a copy of the official crash report was not available to The Sun.
SUBMITTED A car crashed into the Linger Longer resort Saturday evening. The car involved in Saturday’s single-car accident sustained significant damage.
LONGBOAT KEY
4125 Gulf of Mexico Drive #S201 $3,998,000 Moriah Taliaferro 941.504.9910 ANNA MARIA
209 South Bay Boulevard $2,850,000 Shellie Young 941.713.5458 BRADENTON
9601 9th Avenue NW $2,249,000 Louis Wery 941.232.3001 BRADENTON
10327 Bayview Drive $1,500,000 Jason Skowronski 941.812.6090
LOOP OF NW BRADENTON
964118th Avenue CircleNW $949,900 Martha Marlar 941.812.0455 RIVERVIEW LANDINGS
2432 Landings Circle $740,000 Martha Marlar 941.812.0455 BRADENTON
5011Mangrove Point Road $535,000 Joe Ebert 941.932.1487
SARASOTA - DOWNTOWN | 941.364.4000
VENICE TO PUNTA GORDA | 941.412.3323 LAKEWOOD RANCH | 941.907.9541
LONGBOAT KEY | 941.383.1526
RENTALS | 941.487.6019
Bayou beauty
A recent sunset lights up the sky over Bimini Bayou on Anna Maria Island.
MIKE FIELD | SUN
LOCALLY KNOWN. GLOBALLY CONNECTED. SINCE 1976.
BAY ISLES
500 Harbor Point Road Jenifer Schwell 941-780-0968 A4491328 $5,595,000
WEST WIND SHORES
103 75th Street Kathy Marshall 941-900-9777 A4495220 $3,200,000
HARBOUR WALK
541 Fore Drive Debbie Vogler 941-705-3328 A4496407 $1,750,000
THE BEACH RESIDENCES
1300 Benjamin Franklin Drive 1208 Susan Fox & Jonathan Fox, PA 941-544-6648 A4492990 $3,900,000
TENCON BEACH
1511 Gulf Of Mexico Drive 202 Carol Aviles 941-356-6777 A4481414 $3,075,000
BOLLETTIERI RESORT
3608 W 54th Drive W J101 & J102 Leah Secondo 941-545-4430 A4497828 $850,000
ANNA MARIA ISLAND
607, 609, 611 Fern Street & 610 Rose Street Hannah Hillyard & George Myers 941-744-7358 A4497933 $5,900,000
TIDY ISLAND
73 Tidy Island Boulevard Kathy Valente & Gregory Zies, LLC 941-685-6767 A4477926 $650,000
LAGUNA AT RIVIERA DUNES
615 Riviera Dunes Way 205 Cheryl Roberts 941-266-1450 A4497161 $429,000
BAY ISLES
531 Harbor Cay Drive Maureen Horn 941-539-3384 A4494952 $3,800,000
SANDHAMN
5382 Sandhamn Place Maria Beck PA & Jalina Beck 646-531-4118 A4496985 $2,950,000
RUNAWAY BAY
1801 Gulf Drive N 215 Laura Rulon & Betsy Hagen 941-896-2757 A4497778$300,000
WEST WIND SHORES
216 68th Street Rudy Dudon 941-234-3991 A4496801 $3,295,000
SARABAY ESTATES
2708 Bay Drive Cheryl Roberts 941-266-1450 A4494263 $2,750,000
NEW CONSTRUCTION
PALMA SOLA BAY CLUB
3439 79th Street Circle W 201 Pamela Miller 614-632-2801 A4496134 $595,000
FROM PAGE 1 inform their users of the policy provisions. The proposed legislation included a proposed $882,716 state appropriation for implementation and enforcement.
In the Florida League of Cities (FLC) latest “On Tap @ the Cap” legislative update, it was noted SB 522 died in the Senate Rules Committee.
“The original bill would have preempted all regulations of vacation rentals to the state, including the inspection and licensing of vacation rentals. The League worked with various stakeholders to amend the bill throughout the session to narrow the preemption. The (amended) bill would have protected existing vacation rental regulations but preempt cities from specifically regulating advertising platforms,” the FLC update noted.
Co-sponsored by Rep. Jason Fischer (R-Jacksonville), Rep. Lauren Melo (R-Naples) and Rep. Anthony Sabatini (R-Howey-in-the-Hills), HB 219 sought to require advertising platforms to collect and remit specified taxes imposed for certain transactions; preempt regulation of vacation rentals to the state; prohibit local laws, ordinances or regulations from allowing or requiring inspections or licensing of public lodging establishments, including vacation rentals; and require licenses issued by the Division of Hotels and the Department of Business and Professional Regulation to be displayed conspicuously to the public inside the licensed establishment.
The House bill was never fully amended to match the Senate bill that ultimately focused squarely on the remittance and collection of taxes by online advertising platforms.
The House companion bill, HB 219, died in the House Ways and Means Committee.
“HB 219 would have undone any local registration, inspection or licensing requirements specific to short-term rentals adopted since 2011,” the FLC update noted.
ANNA MARIA RESPONSE
As has been the case for several years now, the city of Anna Maria and the city’s contracted lobbyist, Chip Case, were again very active in combating the proposed vacation rental legislation.
This year’s efforts included the city taking over the management of the Home Rule Florida website, www. homerulefl.com, which provides information about proposed vacation rental legislation. The website encourages citizens to contact the governor and the state legislators and provides templates and contact information to make those communication efforts easier.
When asked about this year’s outcome, Mayor Dan Murphy said, “While we are relieved that this bill failed to get to the floor, we are fully cognizant that the lobbyists for big business will be back again next session, if not sooner. They have deep pockets and have gained ground during each session over the past five years.
“This year it was the ‘wolf in sheep’s clothing’ approach, stating they ‘only’ wanted the advertising platforms preempted to state control. By doing so, they would have taken away our ability to regulate occupancy requirements, which is at the very core of addressing noise and congestion issues and complaints,” Murphy said.
City Commission Chair Carol Carter again helped lead the city’s efforts to preserve its home rule rights.
“I want to thank all the people on Home Rule Florida for responding to all the alerts that we sent out about opposing the bills. Once again, the people who care about this situation have made a difference and we were able to keep our home rule rights for vacation rentals for another year,” Carter said.
“Our lobbyist, Chip Case, has been instrumental in these efforts for quite a number of years now. He and the Florida League of Cities have helped voice our concerns to key state legislators in Tallahassee. Chip works very closely with the lobbyist from the Florida League of Cities and we appreciate all of their hard work and effectiveness,” Carter said.
Dan Murphy, Anna Maria Mayor
Florida license plate providing funds to the arts
BY JASON SCHAFFER
SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com
BRADENTON - Whether a local resident or visitor to Anna Maria Island, you have probably noticed the wide variety of Florida license plates available to SUBMITTED residents. From education, Florida’s “State of the Arts” liwhales, support of the cense plate revenue gets funds seas and over a hundred to nonprofits. more, these plates do a great service to nonprofit organizations. At a recent event at the Manatee Performing Arts Center, Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) Destination Sales Managers Aimee Blenker and Vanessa Zigich gave an update on how funds from the “State of the Arts” license plate will continue to benefit area art-related nonprofit organizations.
The Florida Arts License Plate Program was created by the Legislature in 1994, and since its inception, funds collected through the sale of these plates are distributed to the counties where the plates are sold, and are used to support arts programs, organizations, and activities within the specific county. The counties are required to designate a recipient organization to administer the funds which will support arts activities within the specific county. Counties receive funding directly from the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
“To date, the art plate has generated over $10 million for the state’s art programs,” said Zigich, who added the CVB receives $20 from the sale of each art tag in Manatee County.
To be eligible to receive funds from the plate program, the organization must be a Manatee County-based nonprofit arts organization designated as a 501(c)(3) or 501(c) (4). Manatee County based educational institutions can also apply. Any educational institution can apply, but the funding must be for a program specifically for a program involving the arts.
This money is specifically for artists fees, production or expedition expenses and supplies. Administrative expenses, promotions, marketing, and other similar expenses are not covered by the program.
ANNA MARIA ISLAND TURTLE WATCH AND SHOREBIRD MONITORING | SUBMITTED
First nest
Skip Coyne, a volunteer with Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring, checks out the first loggerhead sea turtle nest of the 2021 season on Anna Maria Island. A false crawl, or abandoned nesting attempt, also was logged last week. Turtle season ends on Oct. 31.
NESTING NEWS
Turtle nests laid: 1 (Record: 544 in 2019) False crawls: 1 Nests hatched: 0 Hatchlings hatched: 0 (Record: 35,788 in 2018) Nest disorientations: 0
BEACH BEAT
HOLMES BEACH
4/20, 7:43 p.m., driving with an expired tag, possession of marijuana, 2900 Gulf Drive. The officer stopped the subject after the license plate identified the expired plate. He also smelled marijuana in the car and the driver was given a code violation citation for misdemeanor possession of the drug. 4/21, 12:24 a.m., marijuana ordinance violation, Kingfish Boat Ramp, 752 Manatee Ave. The officer on patrol found a male and female on a hammock after hours with marijuana and paraphernalia nearby. 4/21, 11:30 p.m., trespass after warning, Manatee Beach, 4000 Gulf Drive. A homeless person who had been trespassed last year was caught trying to spend the night at the beach again. 4/22, 11:06 a.m., battery, 3100 Gulf Drive. A driver contacted police saying he was travelling north on Gulf Drive when the object of his complaint was tailgating him and he slowed down. The suspect drove around the complainant and spat water at him as he passed. Both parties talked to the officer and the complainant said he wanted to press charges. The officer wrote a capias request to the state attorney’s office to investigate. 4/23, 11:49 p.m., noise complaint, 5501 Holmes Blvd. 4/24, 2:05 a.m., marijuana code violation, 100 Aqua Lane. Two people were spotted in a pickup truck smoking pot. They got a code violation citation and the police got the contraband to destroy. 4/25, 1:59 a.m., battery, Freckled Fin, 5335 Gulf Drive. The officer was dispatched to the restaurant to investigate a fight and found no fight, but people milling around the street. He talked with a male who had been punched in the face. He declined medical care and refused to prosecute and the officer left. 4/26, 1:30 p.m., indecent exposure, Manatee Beach, 4000 Gulf Drive. The complainants reported a 66-year-old man repeatedly exposed himself to them while sunbathing. The victims identified him. 4/26, 10:05 p.m., noise violation, 2121 77th St.
OBITUARIES
Freda M. Cole
Freda M. Cole.
February 13, 1926 - April 27, 2021
Freda M. Cole, 95, of Bradenton Beach, died April 27, 2021.
She is survived by her husband, Gail; daughters; Debbie (Ed) Morken and Libby (Tom) Taylor; and sons; Gail R. II (Jackie) and Ralph (Beth); 14 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by daughter, Marcy (Larry) Miller.
A Memorial Service Mass will be at St Bernard Catholic Church, Holmes Beach, on June 26, 2021. Arrangements handled by Griffith-Cline Funeral Home.
