Anna Maria Island Sun November 16, 2022

Honoring veterans

HENDRICKS | SUN

New Holmes Beach commissioners sworn in

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

HOLMES BEACH - The election is over and two new city commissioners are taking the dais in Anna Maria Island's largest city.

Just hours after the polls closed in Manatee County, Holmes Beach staff and elected officials were joined by friends, family and community members at city hall on Nov. 9 to swear in new commissioners Dan Diggins and Greg Kerchner. Both will be serving their first two-year terms as commissioners.

Mayor Judy Titsworth was also sworn in for her third term as mayor.

Commissioner Pat Morton welcomed both commis sioners to the dais and said he hopes that the city's elected officials will be able to work together in a positive manner going forward.

Commissioner Terry Schaefer echoed Morton's con gratulations and added that he finds it encouraging

on Nov. 9.

that there are still residents in the city who are willing to run for office. "Holmes Beach, unlike our two sister cities, has been blessed with people who have concert ed and concerned interest in our city government and welfare," he said. "I'm happy to have you both."

Anna Maria mayor, commissioners sworn in

Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy and city commissioners Deanie Sebring and Mark Short have been sworn in to their next terms in office. All three incumbent city officials earned additional two-year terms after running unopposed in the recently concluded general election.

Led by City Clerk LeAnne Addy, the swearing-in cer emony took place during the commission’s Nov. 10 orga nizational meeting. After the ceremony, the commission majority selected Short to serve as chair for the next year, with Commissioner Robert Kingan serving as vice chair.

Longtime commission Chair Carol Carter did not seek reappointment to the chair’s position because she and her husband, Bob, are soon moving to Sarasota County and her final commission meeting will be on Thursday, Dec. 15. The commission will then need to appoint someone to serve the remaining 10-11 months of Carter’s current two-year term that expires in November 2023.

Bradenton Beach voters eliminate term limits

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH – City voters have eliminated the term limits that previ ously applied to the city’s mayor and city commissioners.

During the gen eral election that concluded on Nov. 8, Bradenton Beach’s registered voters supported three other amendments to the

Bradenton Beach

supported charter amendment 4, eliminating term limits

JOE

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

voters

for elected officials.

KRISTIN SWAIN | SUN

The new Holmes Beach commission takes the dais for the first time together

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN Dan Murphy was sworn in to serve another term as Anna Maria’s mayor.

Holmes Beach road work causes traffic delays

Road construction, detours and new four-way stops are causing traffic snarls in the heart of Holmes Beach.

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

HOLMES BEACH – Anyone driving through the largest Anna Maria Island city knows that drivers need more patience than usual to make it through the traffic congestion snaking through the center of the community.

With increased traffic due to the start of the winter tourism season and two roadway projects, travel time delays aren’t expected to decrease until at least the end of December.

The issues stem from the start of a longplanned city center roadway renovation project at the intersection of Marina and Gulf drives along with work from a Mana tee County utilities project.

The city center renovations include the addition of sidewalks, crosswalks, green space and lighting through the intersection as well as improvements to bicycle and ve hicular travel lanes. To accommodate the work currently being done down Marina

Drive from the Gulf Drive intersection to just past the Island Branch Library, that section of the road is closed with traffic diverted down Holmes Boulevard and the coastal section of Gulf Drive. Ongoing work includes the installation of concrete curbing and sidewalks, infiltration trench es and new drainage structures as well as regrading and repaving the street.

City Engineer Sage Kamiya said that the

work on Marina Drive is scheduled to be mostly completed by the end of December with traffic lanes reopened as work allows. Once work is completed on Marina Drive, additional work will need to be done on Gulf Drive.

Addressing the somewhat controversial four-way stop temporarily installed at the intersection of Gulf Drive and Holmes Boulevard, Kamiya and Holmes Beach

Police Chief Bill Tokajer released a joint statement on Nov. 4 on Facebook stating that they believe the four-way stop is still the best traffic control method for the area. The statement said they looked into the installation of a temporary traffic light and putting a police officer at the intersection to direct traffic as alternatives. Using a po lice officer to direct traffic was dismissed because the intersection is too narrow to allow for an officer to safely direct twoway traffic and reducing traffic to one lane would cause more traffic delays. Cost also was a factor as that solution would require a full-time police officer to be onsite at the intersection.

A temporary traffic light was also dismissed due to not being considered as effective in moving traffic as the four-way stop.

Adding to drivers’ woes is an ongoing potable water project by Manatee Coun ty which was supposed to be completed prior to the start of the city center proj ect. Instead, both projects are continuing simultaneously with the county project first disrupting traffic along Holmes Bou levard and then blocking off a section of 52nd Street the week of Nov. 7, which kept traffic along that street limited for most of the week.

SUBMITTED | CITY OF HOLMES BEACH

This aerial view shows some of the roadway improvements being made along Marina Drive in Holmes Beach.

ISLAND NEWS

IN BRIEF

Celebrate Thanks-Living

Island residents and visitors in Anna Maria, Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach are invited to the annual Thanks-Living community gathering at City Pier Park in Anna Maria on Saturday, Nov. 19 from 4-6 p.m. Attendees to the free event are asked to bring a dish to share with others and their own beverages. Anna Maria Island Historical Museum docent Judy Hildman will give a short presenta tion on the history of Thanksgiving on Anna Maria Island. The Thanks-Living celebration will also include a singalong led by Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy and Anna Maria resident Bob Carter. For more details, visit www.cityofannamaria.com.

Citizen of the Year nominees sought

The city of Anna Maria seeks nominations for its annual Distinguished Citizen of the Year award. Nomination forms can be downloaded at the city website, www.cityofannamaria.com, or obtained from the city clerk’s office. Nominees can be residents, business owners, civic groups or orga nizations that have existed in Anna Maria for at least two years. The one-page nomination form asks nominators to list two or three reasons why they feel their nominee should win the award. The award dates back to 1989, when former Anna Ma ria Mayor Ernie Cagnini was the inaugural recipi ent. The list of past winners includes Pat Copeland, Doug Copeland, Ed Chiles, Bob Carter, Dick York, Margaret Jenkins, Lynn Brennan, Jack Brennan, Joan Voyles, Barbra Murphy and Carl Augostini, Roser Memorial Community Church and The Anna Maria Island Sun newspaper.

Mote Marine permits authorized

The Anna Maria City Commission has authorized the city’s building department to issue the permits needed for the installation of the Mote Marine Educational Outreach Center inside the vacant city-owned building at the T-end of the City Pier. The commission authorized the permit issuances during its Nov. 10 meeting. The Mote Marine facil ity is expected to open in March 2023.

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New chapter in life awaits Carol, Bob Carter

Carol and Bob Carter have lived in Anna Maria since 2001.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORREPSONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA – Longtime com munity members and city officials Carol and Bob Carter are moving to Sarasota County in December.

The Carters moved into their Anna Maria home in 2001. Carol’s depar ture will create an 11-month vacancy on the city commission to be filled by commission appointment.

Bob’s departure will create a vacancy on the city’s Planning and Zoning Board. In 2019, he and Dick York received Anna Maria’s Distinguished Citizen of the Year award for their work with the Home Rule Florida organization and website.

On Saturday, Nov. 12, Carol submitted her resignation letter to Mayor Dan Murphy.

“Bob and I will be relocating in December to south Sarasota County for a quieter life – at 26 feet above sea level – nearer our

sons and their families in Naples,” she wrote.

“It’s been an honor for me to serve and represent the residents of our city and Anna Maria since Nov. 14, 2013, when I was sworn in as a commissioner for my first two-year term. Now, five terms and almost 10 years later, I resign

my position on the Anna Maria City Commission as of Dec. 16. If acceptable, my final commission meeting would be Dec. 15,” she wrote.

“It is difficult to express how much this experience, with its

Anna Maria planning board members needed

BY

SUN

ANNA MARIA – The city of Anna Maria seeks volunteers to serve on its Planning and Zoning Board.

In an attempt to address the board’s shrinking membership, the city commission adopted an emergency ordinance on Nov. 10 that immediately reduced the board from a maximum of seven members and a minimum of five members to a maximum of five members and a minimum of three members.

HENDRICKS | SUN Mayor Dan Murphy requested the emergency ordinance that reduced the number of planning board members needed to constitute a voting quorum.

The adoption of emergency ordinance 22-908 now allows the planning board to operate with a three-member voting quorum rather than the four-member quorum previously required of a seven-member board.

According to the emergency ordinance, “Whereas, the city of Anna Maria has been experiencing

extreme difficulty filling open spots on the planning and zoning board and is generally experiencing a reduction in the full-time popula tion of residents in the city, it has become apparent that in order to function, the required number of members of the planning and zon ing board must be decreased.”

During Thursday’s meeting, the commission was also presented with the first reading of a corre sponding regular city ordinance, Ordinance 22-909, that when adopted on second and final read ing in December will replace the emergency ordinance and make permanent the five-member board configuration.

DEPARTING MEMBERS

These actions were prompted in part by the recent resignation of

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN Anna Maria Island residents are invited to celebrate Thanks-Living.

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN Bob and Carol Carter attended Friday’s “Old Soldiers & Sailors” Veterans Day parade and recognition ceremony.

An ongoing lack of board members could result in the city commission having to also serve as the city’s Planning and Zoning Board.

JOE HENDRICKS

CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

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Anna Maria honors veterans, military spouses

The Anna Maria Veterans Day parade grows larger every year.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA – The city’s seventh annual Old Soldiers & Sailors Veterans Day parade and post-parade recognition ceremony honored military veterans and their spouses on Friday.

The parade traveled down Pine Avenue and ended at City Pier Park, where the recognition ceremony took place.

Manatee County Sheriff’s Office Dep. Patrick Manning and his wife, Corrie, served as this year’s grand marshals. Man ning recently left the Sheriff Office’s Anna Maria unit for another assignment. In 2007, he retired from the U.S. Army Reserve as a major.

The parade featured five high school marching bands, a Marine Corps color guard, military veterans, first responders, local junior ROTC battalions, a group of children representing The Center, local politicians and business owners, the Anna Maria Island Privateers, former Tampa Bay Buccaneers cheerleaders and more.

The parade attendees included 100-yearold Bradenton resident Elizabeth Shultz,

who served as an Army nurse in England during World War II. Her brothers also served in that war.

As the parade passed by her location in front of Roser Memorial Community Church, Shultz shouted, “Thank you and God bless you” to the parade participants.

The recognition ceremony under the City Pier Park shade sail structure was led by Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy, who ran an Army gunboat in the Mekong Delta dur

ing the Vietnam War in 1968-69.

The ceremony featured an invocation by Bishop Michael Garrison, a flyover featuring a U.S. Coast Guard plane and helicopter, a U.S. Marine Corps color guard and children from The Center presenting military spouses with yellow roses and thank you cards made by the youngsters. Junior ROTC members also presented flags

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JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

These local veterans participated in Friday’s parade.

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

Junior ROTC members presented the veterans with flags and commemorative medals.

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

The veterans were recognized according to the military branch in which they served. SEE PARADE,

3909 East Bay Drive, Suite 210, Holmes Beach, FL, 34217

Phone: (941) 778-3986

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Goodbye for now

I am most proud of my "resident" platform. I ran on that and always held true to it. As I reached out as I bicycled and rode through the neighborhoods, I always let people know that I valued their input on city issues and that I was there if they needed me. I think that is why I received the top votes each time I ran. I was a voice for

the people and a voice of reason.

I never used my role of commis sioner for personal gain.

I helped to strengthen the noise ordinance, I initiated the idea of competitive bidding, promoted better and more sidewalks and better quality of work by contrac tors and encouraged greater trans parency. I tried to make sugges tions that would help to build an honest, transparent government

Drop us a line

Got an opinion, a complaint or a compliment? Is there something you need to get off your chest? Send us a letter to the editor and have your say. There are a couple of ways to do it. The easiest and most direct is to email The Sun at news@amisun.com. Remember to put Letter to the Editor in the subject field. Or you can snail-mail a letter to us at The Anna Maria Island Sun,

and I made decisions that would help to maintain the character of the island. These issues are going to be so important as the commis sion moves forward.

Just because I am stepping down for now does not mean I am gone. I still care about the direction of Holmes Beach.

P.O. Box 1189, Anna Maria, FL 34216. Letters should be kept to 300 words or less and must contain your name and the city in which you reside. Personal attacks and obscene language will not be printed. The Sun reserves the right to edit letters for length or content.

Kim Rash

Former commissioner, Holmes Beach

ANNA MARIA

10005 GULF DRIVE

FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-708-6130

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

Nov. 24, all day – Thanksgiving holiday, city offices closed Nov. 25, all day – Black Friday holiday, city offices closed

BRADENTON BEACH

107 GULF DRIVE N.

FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-778-1005

Please visit www.cityofbradentonbeach. com or contact city hall for more information. Nov. 16, 1 p.m. – Planning and Zoning board meeting

Nov. 17, noon – City Commission meet ing

Nov. 24, all day – Thanksgiving holiday, city offices closed Nov. 25, all day – Black Friday holiday, city offices closed Dec. 1, 6 p.m. – City Commission meeting Dec. 7, 9:30 a.m. – Scenic WAVES meeting

HOLMES BEACH

5801 MARINA DRIVE

FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-708-5800 Please visit www.holmesbeachfl.org or contact city hall for more informa tion.

Nov. 16, 9 a.m. – Clean Water Ad-Hoc Committee meeting

Nov. 24, all day – Thanksgiving holiday, city offices closed Nov. 25, all day – Black Friday holiday, city offices closed Dec. 7, 10 a.m. – Parks and Beautifica tion Committee meeting

ISLAND-WIDE

Nov. 29, 4 p.m. – Manatee County Council of Governments meeting, Bradenton Area Convention Center, 1 Haben Blvd., Palmetto, 4 p.m.

EVENTS

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 16

Science by the Sea, Robinson Preserve, 1704 99th St. N.W., Bradenton, 5:30 p.m.

THURSDAY, NOV. 17

Island Morning Book Club, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10:15 a.m.

Sunshine Stitchers knit and crochet, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 2 p.m. Thursdays in Paradise Stroll featuring local art, music and food, Bridge Street, Bradenton Beach, 5-8 p.m.

Movie night, “The Bad Guys,” Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 6 p.m.

FRIDAY, NOV. 18

Oyster shell drilling, Robinson Preserve, 1704 99th St. N.W., Bradenton, 9 a.m. Forty Carrots, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m.

Mah-jongg Club – Experienced Players, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 11:30 a.m.

Paper crafting for the holidays, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, 2 p.m.

Science by the Sea, Robinson Preserve, 1704 99th St. N.W., Bradenton, 5:30 p.m.

AMI Chamber Member Gala, IMG Golf Acad emy, 4350 El Conquistador Pkwy., Bradenton, 6-10 p.m., $50 per person or $550 for a table of eight. Small Business of the Year Awards, Rotary Person of the Year and the installation of the 2023 chamber board of directors will take place during the gala. Contact the chamber at 941-778-1541 for reservations.

SATURDAY, NOV. 19

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

Saturday mornings at the NEST, Rob inson Preserve Mosaic Nest, 840 Ninth Ave. N.W., Bradenton, 9 a.m. to noon.

Looking for Ithaca, Robinson Preserve, 1704 99th St. N.W., Bradenton, 10 a.m.

Meditation, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 11 a.m.

Paper crafting for the holidays, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 2 p.m.

Looking for Ithaca, Robinson Preserve, 1704 99th St. N.W., Bradenton, 4 p.m.

Lighting of the Christmas Tree, Bridge Street, Bradenton Beach, 5 p.m.

Thanks-living on AMI potluck dinner, City Pier Park, 103 N. Bay Blvd., Anna Maria, 6 p.m. Bring your own beverage and a potluck dish to share.

Ian didn’t stop tourism, it’s boosting it

Local tourism is breaking records compared to pre-pandemic records.

BY JASON SCHAFFER SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com

BRADENTON – The latest tourism statistics shatter the numbers from pre-COVID 2019, according to Anne Wittine, of Tampa-based Research Data Services, Manatee County’s tourism consultant.

Wittine presented her tourism update to the Manatee County Tourist Devel opment Council on Nov. 4 with the latest available statistics related to the tourism industry from September. The number of visitors and room nights and the overall economic impact of tourism on the county’s economy are up from pre-pandemic levels, she said.

“Compared to our benchmark in 2019, pre-COVID, our visitors are up 38.3%, room nights are up 36.7% and economic impact is up 51.4%,” Wittine said. “That’s also considering that most properties lost three days that month due to (Hurricane) Ian.”

Room occupancy for September

was down slightly at 57.7% compared to 59.3% in September of last year, however, it is higher than September 2019 when it stood at 54% pre-COVID. The average daily room rate is up at $174.82 per day this September com pared to $168.04 in September 2021. While the Island is used to seeing a large number of tourists from Florida, those numbers have actually dipped 15.7% from September of 2021, but are

Come celebrate Thanks-Living

on AMI City Pier Park S day, November t 4- P.M.

JASON SCHAFFER | SUN Ann Wittine, of Research Data Services, provides the Manatee County Tourist Develop ment Council with the latest tourism data this month.

TDC recommends $950,000 for water taxi

through Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

TDC members cited funding from three sources – the county resort tax, beach concession revenues and the Coquina Beach Market, which Mana tee County recently began operating.

BY JASON SCHAFFER SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com

BRADENTON – The Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC) unanimously voted on Nov. 4 to recommend that Manatee County commissioners allocate up to $950,000 in resort tax revenue to help fund a water taxi initiative.

Commissioners unanimously sup ported the initiative in October. The service is planned to run from its core stop just east of the Green Bridge in Bradenton to the City Pier in Anna Maria, then go south to the Bridge Street Pier in Bradenton Beach and finally to the South Coquina Boat launch. The water taxi will run Friday

Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) Executive Director Elliott Falcione said the TDC also will be seeking federal and state grants for the project as well, but those may not be available until the service is in operation.

“At this time, we hope to be ordering the vessels within the next few weeks,” Falcione said. “It’s going to be two 49or 50-passenger pontoon-style vessels that will be about 50 feet in length.”

Falcione said they will be using a Florida-based boat builder, but could not give an accurate estimate on how long the construction would take. He cited supply problems that are causing issues in many construction industries for not being able to give a completion date.

Falcione said they also are work ing on a service that could transport employees from the mainland directly to the Island, alleviating problems they have with parking, which is especially difficult during the busy spring tourist season.

JASON SCHAFFER | SUN Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Elliott Falcione asked the Manatee County Tourist De velopment Council to allocate $950,000 in resort tax and other revenues for the water taxi initiative.

Being a blue island economy

Experts shared

perspectives on the environment at a sustainability forum at The Center of Anna Maria Island.

BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | leslielake@aol.com

ANNA MARIA - A panel of environ mental experts discussed ecological threats and offered solutions at a forum at The Center of Anna Maria Island.

Dr. Tracy Fanara, an environmental engineer and ocean scientist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, moderated the “Being a Blue Island Economy: AMI Sustain ability Forum” on Nov. 9.

Tracy gained international attention during the 2018-19 Florida water crisis, during which The Weather Channel coined her “The face of red tide.”

“We were trying to solve a global problem locally,” Fanara told a forum of more than 100 people. “Red tide

blooms are influenced by currents in the Gulf of Mexico… they could be influenced by an ancient sinkhole, blue holes 50 miles off Florida’s coast. We need to understand the systems.”

Fanara formerly managed the Envi ronmental Health Research Program at Mote Marine Laboratory. She is now NOAA’s National Ocean Service Coastal Modeling Portfolio manager.

She pointed to what she called the “ocean economy” in Florida, which encompasses tourism, navigation, rec reation and fisheries.

“To preserve these economics, we need to worry about sustainability,” she said.

Fanara asked the audience to think about what they loved about Florida.

Answers included beaches, fishing, birds, ocean life and weather.

Then she asked the audience to name environmental threats. Answers were urban ization, nutrient pollution from fertilizers, failing infrastructure and single-use plastics.

Roser Church

8:30 AM & 10:00 AM

IN PE RSON • in the Sanctuar y Nurser y • Children’s Church

ONLINE • Watch LI VE or LATER RoserChurch.com

Text ROSE R to 22828 to rece ive t he weekl y e Bulletin The CHAPEL is open during o ce hours for prayer and meditation

their

UFO sighting reported in Bradenton Beach

Nobody is claiming it’s little green men from space, but a Bradenton Beach Police officer saw a strange flying object over Coquina Beach.

BY JASON SCHAFFER SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH –Anna Maria Island is big on tourism, but are they coming from space?

Probably not, but a Braden ton Beach police officer spot ted a strange incident while on patrol at Coquina Beach on the morning of Nov. 5 that left him scratching his head with far more questions than answers.

“I saw a Coast Guard plane flying over the bay, then I watch them turn back toward the Gulf. I thought what the heck is that as I look up and saw a big black thing in the sky,” Bradenton Beach Police Officer Charles Morose said. “I’m estimating based on the size of the plane in the sky, it was at least the size of a car, or maybe a small aircraft.”

Morose said he thinks the Coast Guard plane must have seen the object because it

changed course and came back toward the Gulf, appear ing to follow the object. He says after the plane began to follow the object, which was almost stationary when he first observed it, its speed and trajectory changed rapidly.

“That thing had to be mov ing at least 500 mph,” Morose said. “It just shot off like a rocket toward the horizon and it was just gone. I’m no UFO conspiracy theorist, and I’m not saying it was from space or anything like that, but there

was something in the sky and it was hauling butt.”

Morose said while he has no idea what was in the air over Coquina, he can say with cer tainty it was not a drone or an animal. Morose is in the area daily and knows how drones

fly, and is well-versed in birds that live in the area. To him, it’s an interesting encounter with something strange, and will most likely remain a mystery.

The Sun reached out to the Cortez Coast Guard detach ment, who forwarded the inquiry to their public rela tions department. After calls to multiple departments, we were told they would reach out if they had any informa tion, claiming there was no incident reported in the area on the date and time reported by Morose.

The Bradenton Area Con vention and Visitors Bureau allocates resort tax funds to advertise Anna Maria Island in places such as Germany, Canada and the United King dom, but has no advertising campaigns on any planet beyond ours, leaving this an Island mystery.

If there are aliens coming to the Island, the best residents can hope for is that their supe rior intelligence has allowed them to figure out the biggest question of them all - where do we park our ship without getting a ticket?

5344 Gulf Drive

Holmes Beac h (941) 779-BEER

5350 Gulf Drive

Holmes Beac h (941) 251-3681

5346 Gulf Drive Holmes Beac h (941) 778-5788

CHARLES MOROSE | SUBMITTED

Bradenton Beach Police Officer Charles Morose snapped a picture of a U.S. Coast Guard plane that appeared to be following a strange flying object over Coquina Beach.

CVHS installs new board members

BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | leslielake@aol.com

CORTEZ – The Cortez Village Historical Society (CVHS) installed new board members on Nov. 8, and their first topic was renaming the Cortez Cultural Center after Dr. Mary Fulford Green.

A founding member of CVHS, the late “matriarch of Cortez” died June 9 at age 96. The Cortez native was instrumental in obtaining what is now the nearly 100-acre FISH Pre serve east of the fishing village. She also led the effort to place Cortez on the National Registry of Historic Places.

Board member J.B. Crawford introduced the resolution, which stated in part, “Now, therefore it be resolved that Dr. Fulford Green’s life time commitment to Cortez be rec ognized and that the Cortez Village Historical Society Cultural Center be renamed in her memory.”

While several board members

were on board with the renaming, some other members wanted to continue the discussion before making such a change. In the spirit of compromise, those who did not immediate ly agree with a name change agreed that a plaque honoring Green should be placed on the building.

The discussion was tabled until the next CVHS meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 13 at 4 p.m.

“We would like (CVHS) members to bring their opinions to that meet ing,” outgoing CVHS president Kaye Bell said, adding that those interest ed should email her at cortezbell@ tampabay.rr.com.

The group welcomed its two new est board members at the meeting.

“We wanted to be involved because of our love and admiration for the history and the people of the village,” said Valeri DeCastris, who along with her husband, Dave Beccue, were accepted by the CVHS nominating committee.

Snowbirds from Illinois, the couple lives in Florida seven months

each year, each having extensive vol unteering experience as well as agri culture and science backgrounds.

“We are very fearful that the history of Cortez village and the environs’ history may be lost or compromised,” DeCastris wrote in their application to the nominating committee.

Beccue has a bachelor’s degree in agriculture and a minor in com munication, and a master’s degree in business administration. Now retired, he managed a state park in Illinois.

DeCastris has a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences and a master’s degree in geography and environ mental resources. She is a retired scientist.

“We’re just thrilled to have them,” Bell said.

DeCastris and Beccue join Bell (immediate past president), Craw ford and Linda Molto as members of the CVHS Board of Directors.

New officers are Cindy Rodgers, president; Paul Dryfoos, vice presi dent; Lynn McGinnis, secretary; and Pat Potts, treasurer.

TOURISM: Boosted by Ian

FROM PAGE 8

up 61% from 2019, showing the effect that COVID-19 travel restrictions had on people who didn’t leave Flor ida during the height of COVID. The largest number of visitors to the county from outside Florida are coming from the Midwest, followed closely by the Northeast. Tourists from Europe and Canada are down slightly from 2019; there is no data from 2020 or 2021 since travel from those regions was restricted.

“In terms of the fiscal year, this is a major bench mark. For the very first time, we’ve got visitors staying in commercial lodgings numbering over a million,” Wittine said. “This is up 11% from last year; an all-time record. We have not seen this before. I’ve been saying to Elliott (Falcione, executive director of the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau) that this is a bubble; you guys aren’t going to be able to keep it up, yet you’ve kept it up.”

Wittine also discussed some occupancy barometers related to Hurricane Ian. She said October sold out with people looking for long-term rentals due to the storm. Many of the occupants were from insurance companies, recovery workers and people with dam aged homes farther south.

The Cortez Cultural Center may be renamed in honor of a local legend.

Green

WHERE‛S YOUR COMFORT ZONE?

Tickets available for AMI Chamber Gala

The Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce will hold its Annual Member Gala on Friday, Nov. 18 from 6-10 p.m. at IMG Golf Academy in Bradenton. The gala will feature presentations of the Small Business of the Year awards, Rotary Person of the Year award and the installation of the 2023 Chamber Board of Directors. Dinner and cocktails will be served, with live music by Trevor Bystrom. Table sponsorships are $550 (eight seats) or $50 each for individual tickets. For more information or to order tickets, call the Chamber at 941-778-1541 or visit www.annamariais landchamber.org.

Compass Hotel to host business card exchange

The Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce will host its next business card exchange at the Compass Hotel, 12324 Manatee Ave. W. in Bradenton. The event is set for Thursday, Nov. 17 from 5-7 p.m. and is open to both members and anyone interested in becoming a member. Bring business cards to this net working event, which is an opportunity to meet other area business owners and managers. Also consider bringing a prize for the raffle and a food donation for the Food Bank of Manatee. RSVP at becky@ami chamber.org or by calling 941-778-1541.

Coquina South boat ramp reopens

The Coquina South boat ramp is once again open, following more than eight months of renovations to improve its structural durability, docking capacity and overall functionality. The old boat ramp, located at Gulf Drive South on Bradenton Beach, was demol ished and replaced with an updated, more resilient structure. The new ramp has a double-lane launch with extended armoring. Both the north and south accessory docks have been replaced with approxi mately 500 feet of composite decking to increase docking capacity. ADA-compliant walkway access and accessory lighting has also been installed, along with new concrete seawalls. The $1.7 million project was reopened for public use on Oct. 31.

Scenic Highway CME talks toilets

Committee members

hope to make the Palma Sola Scenic Highway safer for people who need to cross the street.

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

BRADENTON – Members of the Palma Sola Corridor Management Entity are thinking about a public safety project that would see ad ditional restrooms placed on the south side of the causeway.

Members discussed the issue of pedestrians crossing the causeway, a stretch of Manatee Avenue West, to get to and from restroom facili ties. Right now, restroom facilities

are located only on the north side of the road. With vehicular traffic going up to 45 mph when traffic is flowing, and start and stop traffic during heavy use periods, the group agreed that installation of a pedes trian crosswalk wouldn’t make get ting to and from the facilities any safer. They also discussed that pe destrians are more likely to attempt to cross the roadway wherever they like instead of walking to a cross walk, the use of which would also stop the flow of vehicular traffic. Instead, the group agreed to have co-chair Ingrid McClellan represent them at a Bradenton City Council meeting to ask for restroom facili ties to be installed on the south side

of the road. McClellan suggested using portable restrooms instead of attempting to put in a perma nent restroom facility, which would require collaboration with Manatee County leaders to pipe water to the facilities. The modular restroom facilities would have to be handi cap accessible and be cleaned and maintained multiple times a week.

Member Alyson Gilles said she would speak to the manager at a local restaurant with similar facili ties to get an idea of what kind of budget the project would need.

McClellan said she’d work to create a budget for the restroom project for the group’s next meet ing in February.

She said that another potential solution would be to lower the speed along the causeway from where the scenic highway begins west of 75th Street in Bradenton to the start of the Anna Maria Island Bridge from 45 mph to 35 mph. To lower the speed limit would require a recent traffic study for the cor ridor along with the approval of the Florida Department of Transporta tion. Committee members noted that a recent traffic study down the west end of Manatee Avenue has been conducted by members of the Sarasota/Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization.

HOLMES BEACH: New commissioners sworn in

FROM PAGE 1

Offering her congratulations to Titsworth, Commissioner Carol Soustek also compli mented city staff for their work and dedica tion to the city and its elected officials. "Everyone here wants us to succeed," she said, adding that she believes Diggins and Kerchner will find the staff to be a good resource for them going forward.

"My appreciation goes to the staff," Titsworth said. "I couldn't do this job without you and you all make me look really good. We're a team and that's the one thing we weren't when I came on as a commissioner and then as a mayor. The staff wasn't working together as a team. Well, we are now. We've all got the same goal in mind; it's making the city the best

it could ever be and I thank the commis sion for giving me that support. We have a team up here now. And I love it. Are we all going to agree, no, but we will always be a team and that's what I am really looking forward to. Thank you. And thank you two for throwing your hats in the ring."

During an organizational meeting following the swearing-in ceremony,

commissioners unanimously selected Soustek to continue serving as chair with Schaefer continuing as vice chair for the next year.

Diggins and Kerchner take the seats recently vacated by former commission ers Kim Rash and Jayne Christenson. Rash made the decision during candi date qualifying over the summer to not run for a third term. Christenson initially qualified to run for re-election but de cided to withdraw her candidacy prior to the election.

COVID-19 in Manatee County

NOV. 7

Cases 59

% Positivity 10.46%

Deaths 0

% Eligible population vaccinated 73.9% New hospital admissions 24

NOV. 14

Cases 60

% Positivity 8.99%

Deaths 0

% Eligible population vaccinated 74% New hospital admissions 16

Source: Centers for Disease Control

Manatee County community level of COVID-19 transmission

The new COVID-19 booster vaccines aimed at fighting the omicron subvariants are now available at local pharmacies, including CVS and Walgreens in Holmes Beach.

Local church women recognized

Peggy Nash and Mary Baldovini receive a certificate of recognition on behalf of the Roser Women's Guild during a meeting of the Church Women United of Manatee County. The certificate was awarded to the group for their ongoing efforts to support underserved families in Manatee County. Church Women United is collecting supplies for needy families including children. Baby clothes, diapers, children’s books, school supplies, blankets, quilts, women’s hygiene supplies and cleaning supplies are needed. Donations can be dropped off at Trinity United Methodist Church, 3200 Manatee Ave. W. in Bradenton.

SUBMITTED | PEGGY NASH

Festival lures stone crab lovers to fishing village

Above, succulent stone crab claws were the main draw on the menu at the Cortez Stone Crab and Music Festival on Sunday. Below, nautical art brought folks to the Cortez Stone Crab and Music Festival on Sunday in the historic fishing village. Right, Mary brought her pal, Coco, to the Cortez Stone Crab and Music Festival on Sunday.

Early Black Friday Deals

Old-fashioned fun coming to The Center

Kick off the holidays with a day of old-fashioned fun at The Center of Anna Maria Island’s Lester Fam ily Fun Day on Saturday, Dec. 3 from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Center, 407 Magnolia Ave. in Anna Maria. This year’s event is the 20th annual family day spon sored by Chuck and Joey Lester of Holmes Beach. Enjoy pony rides, face painting, bounce houses, a giant slide and more. Burgers and hotdogs will be available for purchase using tickets for 25 cents each, available at the door. Admission is free and Santa arrives at noon escorted by the Manatee High School drumline. A 50/50 golf ball drop from a helicopter is scheduled in the afternoon - the first one in the hole on the field is the winner with the other half of the proceeds going to The Center. Golf balls can be purchased online at www.centerami.org or at The Center. Volunteers also are needed for the event. To volunteer, call 941-778-1908. Event sponsors include Small Town Creamery, Anna Maria Oyster Bar and Duffy’s Tavern.

Holiday boat parade back

The festive holiday season is here, and a favorite event is set to return to Anna Maria Island. The Braden ton Beach Holiday Faire and Boat Parade will launch on Saturday, Dec. 3 from 3-9 p.m. on Bridge Street, which will be closed to cars from noon to 10 p.m. Visitors can get photo opportunities with the 40-foot Christmas tree in the post office parking lot and enjoy shopping, din ing, a visit with Santa and even alcoholic beverages on the street, which are normally prohibited. At 6 p.m. the Bradenton Beach City Pier will be the perfect vantage point to watch the boat parade, featuring dozens of boats lit up sporting holiday themes. To enter a boat in the parade, visit www.boat-parade.com.

Register for Springfest

The 35th Annual Springfest Fine Arts and Fine Crafts Festival will return to City Field in Holmes Beach on March 18-19, 2023. While the event, hosted by the Anna Maria Island Art League, is months away, the deadline to register for early bird pricing at the juried exhibit is Dec. 16. The cost is $40 by Dec. 16 and $50 after. Booth space is limited. For more information, call 941-778-2099.

SUBMITTED

Chuck and Joey Lester hang out with Santa Claus during a Lester Family Fun Day at The Center.

LESLIE LAKE | SUN

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IGW art displayed at Key Royale, Lakewood Ranch

Key Royale Club, 700 Key Royale Drive in Holmes Beach, is displaying works by 20 Island Gallery West artists through the end of January. The Lake wood Ranch ComCenter Professional Building, 9040 Town Center Parkway, also is displaying art works by 14 members of IGW through Jan. 31 in the first-floor lobby.

Island West Gallery is an artists’ cooperative gallery at 5368 Gulf Drive in Holmes Beach, Trolley Stop 15. Gal lery hours are Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more infor mation, visit www.islandgallerywest. com or call 941-778-6648.

SUBMITTED

Works by Island Gallery West artists have been selected to be displayed at the Lakewood Ranch ComCenter Professional Building. Artists include (back row) Marg Williamson, exhibit organizer, Jim Wheeler, Shirley Rush Dean, Darryl Goldman, Susan Swanson and Nancy Casey and (front row) Terri Westbrook, Karen Beach, Sharon Woelfling and Marie Garafano.

Your Perfect Wedding Awaits…

From breathtaking beach vistas and perfect sunsets on Anna Maria to our famous buttonwood trees on Longboat Key and rural and rustic farm in Parrish, couples can’t go wrong with Anna Maria Island venues. Most famous of our locations, The Grand Pavilion at The Sandbar has been a favorite beachfront wedding spot for decades. Tucked among the sea oats and native grasses, the Pavilion is 10 steps from your own secret slice of sugar-sand beach. The Sunset Deck at the Beach House offers the largest beachfront deck of any of Florida’s West Coast venues. This state-of-the-art facility boasts climate-controlled dining and an unobstructed view of the Gulf of Mexico. Buttonwood Bay at Mar Vista is a location that couples dream about. With majestic buttonwood trees, beachfront footage, and Longboat Key in your sights, your camera needs to be your plus one. The Studio at Gulf & Pine offers indoor elegance surrounded by local art, just steps from the beach. Not far from Anna Maria Island is Gamble Creek Farm, our newest wedding and events destination. With acres of farmland, creek front scenery, and plenty of privacy, Gamble Creek is the perfect venue for the couple looking for that rustic, farm to table experience.

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

Want your wedding photos to be featured here? Submit them to ads@amisun.com, subject 'Wedding Photos' along with your names, date of wedding and location and phone number for a chance to be featured here*.

*Submission of photo not a guarantee for placement. The Sun is not responsible for any copyright infringement.

DARA CAUDILL | WWW.ISLANDPHOTOGRAPHY.ORG

Scott & Barbara Brownell celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with family and friends at the Sandbar Restaurant Grand Pavillion on Anna Maria Island. Scott and Barbara were married in Chicago on June 9, 1972. They currently reside in West Bradenton.

DARA CAUDILL | WWW.ISLANDPHOTOGRAPHY.ORG

Scott & Barbara with their daughter Molly, son in law Justin Powers, and their grandchildren, JJ and MacK enzie.

DARA CAUDILL | WWW.ISLANDPHOTOGRAPHY.ORG

Scott & Barbara with daughter Maggie, son in law Greg Kokemuller, and grandchildern Zoe, Leah, and Max.

Becoming a blue economy

gic planning by The Center’s board and staff. Look for more on this important Center vision piece in our soon-to-bereleased Annual Report 2022!”

he title of the program, “Becom ing a Blue Economy” at The Center of Anna Maria Island would have been enough to attract my attention. Add the subtitle, “Sustain ability Forum,” and even the threat of a hurricane wouldn’t dissuade me from attending. The event, the excellent pan elists and the networking opportunities with like-minded citizens proved to be well worth the effort.

Jim McDaniel, The Center’s director of development, kicked off the evening with the following: “Tonight’s program helps The Center expand its mission to tend to the overall wellness of the Island. This mission naturally includes

local businesses, the wellness of our environment and is concerned with in teractions between individuals and our

collective wellness. Tonight’s topic of sustainability is being shaped by and is intricately woven throughout the strate

The first speaker on the panel was Dr. Tracy Fanara (of the Inspector Planet YouTube channel), Coastal Modeling Portfolio manager for NOAA. Prior to that, Fanara was manager of the Environmental Health Research Program at Mote Marine Laboratory. I had met her several years ago when we had both participated in the Longboat Key Garden Club’s fashion show as models. I struck up a conversation with her at the time about red tide and the meeting has stayed with me.

Fanara devised a clever way to il lustrate her presentation on water quality using the block game Jenga in which players (the other speakers on the forum) took turns removing one block (representing their topic)

RUSTY CHINNIS | SUN

From left, Blue Economy panelists Dr. Tracy Fanara and Maya Burke (front) and Island residents and advocates Ed Chiles, Capt. Scott Moore and Dr. Bob Carter (back).

RUSTY CHINNIS

REEL TIME: Becoming a blue economy

FROM PAGE 26

at a time from a tower representing the natural world. First, she had the audience name the things they value most on the Island and the upper blocks were color-coded for swimming, fishing, birds, mana tees and other environmental elements.

After establishing the importance of the blocks to the quality and economy of our coastal life, she introduced Maya Burke, assistant director of the Tampa Bay Estuary Program. Growing up on Tampa Bay in the 1980s, Burke related how she experienced the successes that had restored water quality in the bay, how it inspired her to go into science and how she now sees us backsliding from those successes. She then removed two blocks that underpinned the integrity of our water world.

The next speaker was Bob Carter, an Island philan thropist, member of the Holmes Beach Clean Water Ad-Hoc Committee and a board member at Mote Ma rine who explained how we in this country are lucky because ours is a “first world problem,” meaning we have the resources to solve the problem. He stated that the problem was not resources but the lack of political will that has prevented major actions. Carter then removed two more blocks representing that failure to aggressively address the problems.

The final two speakers need no introduction to Island residents. Capt. Scott Moore and restaurateur Ed Chiles are two passionate, long-time advocates for fisheries, water quality and habitat. Each one spoke eloquently about their experiences growing up in the area and their commitment to preserving the thing they love for family and future genera tions. You can check out Moore’s interview, “Our Waters,” in the recently released PBS series on climate change, “Public Square,” and Chiles’ efforts on behalf of the environment and commercial clam farmers at All Clams on Deck. Moore removed the blocks that finally toppled the tower. Everyone on the panel then agreed to work to prevent that un imaginable tragedy from happening.

The number of participants in the audience was affected by the looming specter of Hurricane Nicole but the public in attendance took advantage of a question-and-answer period after the talk to learn how they can contribute.

You can check out The Center’s many programs and educational opportunities for all ages at www. centerami.org.

Target trout, blues in November

CAPT. RICK GRASSETT

Anglers fishing Sarasota Bay with me out of CB’s Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key had good action catch ing and releasing trout, pompano, blues and Spanish mackerel recently. Fly anglers fished deep grass flats with sink tip fly lines and weighted flies while spin fishing anglers fished CAL jigs with a variety of tails.

A couple of my brothers, Joey Grassett from Seaford, Delaware and Kirk Grassett, from Middletown, Del aware, visited for a few days and had great catch and release action with a variety of species on flies and CAL jigs. Al Hirsch and Fred Bargar, from Sarasota, also fished Sarasota Bay with me and had good action with trout and blues on flies. Massimo and Tatiana Giardina, from Switzerland, also had good action with trout, blues and pompano on flies and CAL jigs with shad tails.

Fish the coastal Gulf for tripletail, Spanish mackerel and false albacore (little tunny) when conditions are good. Deep grass flats are usually a good option for action with trout, blues, pompano, Spanish mackerel and more. Look for reds in skinny water. Snook fishing around dock lights and bridges should also be a good option now.

Our natural resources are under constant pressure from red tides and other algae blooms fueled by residen tial, industrial and agricultural runoff, toxic spills and intentional releases, freezes, increasing fishing pressure and habitat loss and degradation. Please limit your kill, don’t kill your limit!

CAPT. DAVID WHITE

Like the rest of Florida, we here at Anna Maria Charters have dealt with a challenging week of weather. Before Hurricane Nicole, fishing was out of this world. Nice gag grouper,

snook, redfish, jack crevalle and all of the Spanish mackerel you wanted.

The storm churned the Gulf up pretty badly and the water tempera tures dropped down a bit. Naturally, it’s going to take a few days before things get back to normal inshore and closer to the beaches. The past few days, we’ve been focused on

gags, snook, redfish and big jacks to keep our clients busy.

I assume we’re going to be slipping into our wintertime patterns with as many white pelicans and sheepshead as I see infiltrating our area. We should expect some windy days and having to work for it! Good luck out there and catch them up!

CAPT. DAVID WHITE | SUBMITTED Tim Raleigh of St. Petersburg shows off a great Tampa Bay gag grouper caught with Capt. David White of Anna Maria Charters.

CAPT. RICK GRASSETT | SUBMITTED Kirk Grassett with a blue on a fly, caught and released while fishing Sarasota Bay with Capt. Rick Grassett recently.

FORUM: Being a blue island economy

FROM PAGE 10

“We’re destabilizing the things that we love,” she said. “We need to rethink how we can do things we love while preserving things that we love.”

Panelist Maya Burke, the assistant director of the Tampa Bay Estuary Program, said the bottom line is making sure not to lose ground in the progress already made in reduc ing nutrient pollution and nitrogen in the area.

Since Tampa Bay was designated as an estuary of national signifi cance in 1991, the population in the Tampa Bay watershed has more than doubled, Burke said.

“So we’ve shown that economy

and environment aren’t mutually exclusive,” she said. “In fact, they are necessary and reinforcing.”

Burke said that issues like waste water discharges at the former phosphate plant at Piney Point shine a light on lingering problems.

“This is like the sword of Da mocles over our heads about when we’re going to see those discharges occur again,” she said.

Panelist Bob Carter serves as a member of the board of the World Health Organization (WHO) Foun dation and as chair emeritus of the National Aquarium. He is a mem ber and past chair of Mote Marine Laboratory.

“Seventy percent of the Florida

economy comes from coastal coun ties,” Carter said, adding that a financial argument has to be made to people in power or they won’t act on sustainability.

“This paradise can go away,” he said.

Capt. Scott Moore, an ocean stew ard, conservationist and educator, serves on several fishery commit tees, both locally and nationally.

“For me as a fisherman, it all starts from microalgae, then sea grass, then clams,” Moore said. “Without that, we won’t have any fish. It’s all interconnected.”

Panelist Ed Chiles serves on the Gulf Seafood Foundation board, is a founding member of Solutions to

Avoid Red Tide (START), and is a board member of the Gulf Shellfish Institute.

“Clams live through red tide,” Chiles said. “Clams eat red tide. They clean water. Cleaner water, more photosynthesis. More photo synthesis, the better conditions for seagrass.”

He works closely with the United Nations World Tourism Organiza tion (UNWTO) on sustainability initiatives, as his Chiles Hospital ity has been designated as the first Global Observatory for Sustainable Tourism.

“It’s all about getting in the game and doing something,” Chiles said.

REAL ESTATE

Zoom towns

They call them “Zoom towns” because so many of the new residents are working remotely and have given up their city and suburban lifestyles for a more relaxed environment in smaller com munities. It’s no secret that this massive lifestyle change evolved because of CO VID-19, but even now, when the danger of serious infection is substantially reduced, Zoom towns are still popular.

A recent National Association of Real tors survey reported that buyers who purchased homes in the year that ended in June moved a median of 50 miles from their previous residences. This is the highest distance on record, going back to 2005 when the median was a consistent 15 miles. This may not seem like a lot of mileage difference, but 15 miles from Boston, for instance, is still part of the city, but when you go 50 miles, you’re in real country. In New York City and other large metropolitan areas, however, you would need to go a little further than 50 miles to

Castles in the Sand

who have the ability to work remotely chose to relocate now rather than after their retirement date. This gave them an edge before mortgage rates and prices went up further and set them up for easing into retirement.

Indiana; Lafayette-West Lafayette, Indiana; Columbia, South Carolina; Columbia, Mis souri; Raleigh, North Carolina; and Yuma, Arizona.

LOUISE BOLGER

really be getting away from it all.

In the same survey, smaller communities were more popular, with buyers purchas ing 48% of the homes. Again, this is a record and is up from 32% a year earlier. By comparison, traditional suburban home purchases dropped to 39% from 51% the previous year and only 10% of home purchases were in urban areas, down from 13% the year before. Naturally, the increased cost of homes and now the increased cost of financing has certainly influenced buyers.

Home buyers who are getting close to retirement are another influence on the popularity of small communities. Many

Confirming further the demand for homes in smaller communities, The Wall Street Journal/Realtor.com Emerging Housing Markets Indexes came out at the end of October. It reports that the demand for homes in low-cost cities with strong lo cal economies is, in their opinion, “robust.” This annual survey incorporates economic and lifestyle data, including real estate taxes, home appreciation, unemployment, wages and commute time in their 300 big gest metro area rankings.

This survey places the North Port, Sarasota and Bradenton region at number four in the top 10. Unfortunately, as we all know, North Port has taken a big hit from Hurricane Ian since this survey was com pleted, so in next year’s survey it will be in teresting to see where that area is placed.

The other Emerging Housing Markets were in this order: Johnson City, Ten nessee; Visalia-Porterville, California; Elkhart-Goshen, Indiana; Fort Wayne,

Danielle Hale, chief economist at Real tor.com, said, “These more affordable markets continue to offer some opportu nity. It doesn’t mean that they’re not seeing a slowdown in their housing markets, but they’re better positioned generally.” In other words, they had faster home sales and lower unemployment rates than the market as a whole, which is attracting buyers in an otherwise difficult housing market. Further, according to an economist at Nationwide Insurance, the trend toward less expensive housing markets looks like it will continue even if home prices start trending down.

I guess all of Florida needs to be consid ered a Zoom town based on the number of people who have relocated to our state in the past two years. We’re still a state with a lot of smaller, cozy communities, access to waterfront amenities and a friendly business environment. I believe our new diverse residents will only enhance those attributes. Time to pack your laptops and zoom your way to the Sunshine State!

HOLMES BEACH

11/1, 8:30 p.m., information report, 5405 Gulf Drive. While conducting a traffic stop, the officer was approached by a married couple who came out of their residence to speak to the officer about an incident unrelated to the traffic stop. The man said the previous day, after being dropped off by an area transportation service, a white truck pulled up to his driveway and the driver kept calling him towards the truck. The victim said he was uncomfortable with the situation and told them to leave. He said the man then pointed an object at him from inside the truck calling out to him again, but it was dark and he couldn’t tell if it was a gun. The man said he was so uncomfortable that he went inside and loaded his personal firearm in case the men returned. Police searched for the ve hicle on traffic cameras but were unable to locate it.

11/3, 6:15 p.m., burglary to unoccupied conveyance, 700 Manatee Ave. Two of ficers responded to a report of three men boarding a vessel that had run aground on the shoreline near the roadway. When the officers arrived, the men got off the boat and walked toward the police to

speak to them. The men told police they had just moved to the area and were told if a vessel was unoccupied, they could take possession. The men said they used pliers to pry off a lock on the back door and gain entry. Police made contact with the owner of the boat, who told them he wanted to press charges. The three were arrested for burglary and taken to Mana tee County Jail.

11/7, 11:52 p.m., DUI, 300 Manatee Ave. While on patrol, the officer witnessed an LSV (golf cart) hugging the center yellow line on Manatee Avenue turning onto East Bay Drive. After initiating a traffic stop, he approached the vehicle, driven by a female who had a glass of wine in the cup holder and other empty alcohol containers that had red lipstick marks that matched the red lipstick she was wearing. The driver admitted to having drinks at a bar in Holmes Beach because it was her birthday, and said she didn’t understand what she had done wrong, ac cording to the police report. She also said the drinks in the cart must have been put there by someone else and they weren’t hers. When asked to perform a sobriety test, she began walking heel to toe on the yellow line of the road without being asked to do so and was glassy-eyed and smelled of alcohol, according to the police report. The female subject was arrested and taken to Manatee County Jail.

OBITUARIES

George Otto Podd Jr.

George Otto (Gus) Podd Jr. passed away peacefully Friday, Nov. 4 in Bradenton, Flor ida. Born Dec. 23, 1929, Gus was a gradu ate of Lyons Township H.S. in LaGrange, Illinois before attending Brown University. After graduating from Brown, Gus served in the Army Corps of Engineers during

the Korean War. He attended Northwest ern Law School before settling down in Hinsdale, Illinois with his wife, Jackie. Gus tried not to let his banking career inter fere with his golf game and was an active member of several clubs in the Chicago area. He moved to Bradenton following Jackie's death in 2002. He is survived by his three children, seven grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and a younger sister. His family asks that you raise a pint to a life well lived in remembrance of Gus' largerthan-life personality.

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PARADE: Veterans, spouses honored

FROM PAGE 5

and commemorative medals to the veterans as they were recog nized according to the military branch in which they served.

The ceremony also featured the Lakewood Ranch High School band performing “The Star Spangled Banner,” “American the Beautiful” and “The Horse.”

During the ceremony, Murphy thanked the many city staff mem bers who made the Veterans Day events possible with a preparation process that was briefly inter rupted by Tropical Storm Nicole the day before.

After the ceremony, Murphy shared his thoughts on the day.

“It was a great parade and a great ceremony. I’m very pleased with the turnout we had today and I’m looking forward to our next patriotic event on Memorial Day.

These types of events bring our community together. Neighbors get to see neighbors – sometimes they’re meeting new neighbors and sometimes they’re renewing old acquaintances. The parades we host in Anna Maria help create a hometown feel that harkens back to the past,” Murphy said.

“This is our biggest parade we’ve had yet, with more bands and more participants. We had to dodge a hurricane and some stormy weather this morning. The weather was beautiful this after noon and we had a great crowd. It’s heartwarming to see all these people thanking our veterans and spouses for their service and sacri fices. This is a feel-good, patriotic moment,” he said.

When asked about the firsttime participation of the junior ROTC members, Murphy said,

“I think it’s very important that young people participate and see veterans being recognized for their service. These young people are the future and some of them will have to step up in the future to defend our country. It’s good that they can witness what’s going on here today. It’s an important day and an important moment.”

U.S. Marine Corps veteran Chris Gaines was among the youngest veterans to attend Friday’s cer emony, as he does every year.

“It was fantastic. I’m glad they honored everybody, including the veteran’s wives and families,” Gaines said.

“The parade gets better every year. I can’t wait until next year. It’s amazing how Veterans Day is so celebrated these days. It’s long overdue. I’m glad they recognized the veterans. That’s the most im

you cards.

portant thing,” Manning said. Regarding his first experience as a parade grand marshal, he said, “It went by too fast.”

Army Vietnam War veteran Dennis Kretzler drove the Jeep that carried the grand marshals down the parade route.

“It was awesome. It was beauti ful,” he said of the parade and the ceremony.

Peggy Kuehn appreciated the recognition given to military spouses.

“That was very moving. My hus band, Bill, was an Army vet and he passed away 11 months ago tomorrow,” she said.

The recognition ceremony was followed by a free ice cream social held just up the street at the Anna Maria Island Historical Museum.

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN Military spouses were recognized with yellow roses and handmade thank-

CARTERS: A new chapter in life awaits

FROM

responsibilities, has changed my life. I will forever value the trust relationships that have developed for me with my fellow elected of ficials and the Anna Maria city staff members both past and present. That learning curve of all the inner workings between local, county and state officials, our local ordinances, county and state laws and the indominable state of Florida Sunshine Law continued for all my years in office,” she wrote.

“Thank you, Mayor Murphy and commis sioners Short, Crane, Sebring and Kingan for your support and confidence during our years working together for the greater good of our Island community. I hope I am leaving this special place better prepared to meet the challenges ahead,” she stated in her letter.

In his response to Carol’s resignation let ter, Murphy wrote, “It is with a great deal of regret that we accept your letter of resigna tion. Thank you for all that you have done for our city and our Island community to make it a better place to live. You have left a positive and indelible mark on Anna Maria through your many contributions.”

On Friday, the couple attended the city’s “Old Soldiers & Sailors” Veterans Day pa rade and the recognition ceremony at City Pier Park. When asked about their pending move, Bob said he and Carol both grew up in rural areas and want to return to a more rural lifestyle.

“Carol and I have lived on the Island for over 20 years. We’ve really enjoyed it but as we look to where we want to spend the next 10 or 20 years it’s going to be in a more peaceful place. We’re looking at five acres out east in south Sarasota County. We’ll probably have a few animals and invite some of our friends from the Island to come to our ‘petting zoo,’ ” Bob said.

“We’re really looking forward to this chapter of our lives together. We will miss the Island and we’ll be happily and peace fully watching from the sidelines. When we bought here this was a very different place. It was over 70% residential then and now we’re in the low 20%. That was fine for the period that we were here, but we’re look ing forward to a new chapter in our lives together. We have friends in Sarasota and

I’m still within 27 minutes of my office in Sarasota,” Bob said.

When contacted later in the week, Carol said, “We look forward to the next phase of our lives and changing gears for the next 10-15 years if we’re fortunate and our good health continues. I’m 75 and I think it’s time to regroup and do some different things to keep me invigorated,” she said.

As a soon-to-be-resident of unincorporat ed Sarasota County, Carol doesn’t antici pate running for a county commission seat, but she may volunteer to assist the county government in some other fashion.

She also hopes to get involved with the Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast, working on wetland and land conservation and preservation.

“I come from an agricultural background and I hope to get more involved in that type of thing,” she said.

The couple has joined the Church of the Redeemer Sarasota and they plan to get involved in some of the many endeavors taking place there, including the ongoing Hurricane Ian recovery efforts that include repairing and replacing damaged homes and churches. Carol said the church has also helped displaced Afghan refugees get settled in southwest Florida.

“They have all kinds of outreach activities that I’m going to get involved in. I think it’s important to stay active and I want to do that, reinventing myself for the next 10-1520 years,” she said.

Carol was asked what she’ll miss most about living in Anna Maria.

“I certainly will miss the involvement representing people in our city and having them come to me with issues that are im portant to them. I’ll miss being a commis sioner and working with the constituents. I also miss riding my bike or walking up the street to Ginny’s and Jane E’s to have a cup of coffee or tea and chatting with people I know. I’ll miss going to the community center too,” Carol said.

Carol was asked if there’s anything she won’t miss about living in Anna Maria.

“The golf carts, the bicyclists that don’t abide by the rules of the road and the pedestrians that don’t abide by the rules,” she said.

BRADENTON BEACH: Voters eliminate term limits

FROM PAGE 1

city charter and rejected one pro posed amendment.

According to the updated, unof ficial election results posted at the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Office website, 235 voters (51.99%) supported eliminating term limits as proposed in ballot question 4 and 217 voters (48.01%) opposed doing so.

The term limits previously set forth in the city charter limited elected officials to serving three consecutive two-year terms in the same elected office.

Eliminating term limits allows in cumbent Ward 2 City Commissioner Marilyn Maro, who ran unopposed in the election, to serve a fourth consecutive term in office. Had vot ers retained term limits, Maro would not have been allowed to serve another consecutive term and would have term-limited out of office.

Eliminating term limits would have also resulted in Mayor John Chappie and Ward 1 Commissioner Jake Spooner term-limiting out of office in November 2023 after the completion of their current terms.

Bradenton Beach was the only city on Anna Maria Island that had term limits.

Running unopposed, and not im pacted by the term limit vote, Ward 4 Commissioner Ralph Cole also earned another two-year term in office. Maro and Cole will be sworn into their next terms on Monday, Nov. 21 at 10 a.m.

ADDITIONAL CHARTER QUESTIONS

Bradenton Beach voters supported charter amendment question 2, which read as follows: “The current city charter requires a ward com missioner to reside in the ward they represent. Should the city amend its charter to establish a procedure to temporarily fill the ward seat for one term with an at-large commis sioner if no ward resident is avail able or willing to run for office?”

According to the updated unof ficial election results, 248 voters (55.23%) supported charter amend ment 2 and 201 voters (44.77 %) opposed it.

The election results now allow the commission to fill a short-term vacancy with an appointee that lives anywhere in the city.

Voters rejected ballot question 3, which read as follows: “The current city charter requires the city to pro vide a special election to fill a va cancy that results in more than six months from a resignation required by Section 99.012, Florida Statutes.

P&Z: Board members needed

FROM PAGE 4

board member Barbara Zdravecky and the pending departure of board mem ber Bob Carter. Dr. Jose Erbella chairs the board, which also includes mem bers Charlie Salem and David Haddox.

Appointed by the city commission, generally meeting once a month and serving as an advisory board to the commission, the board reviews pro posed ordinances, codes and building regulations that pertain to construc tion, development and other land use issues.

After reviewing the proposed actions, the board submits non-binding recom mendations that the city commission can accept, reject or modify when mak ing its final decisions.

MAYOR’S INSIGHTS

ing Board meeting was canceled and Mayor Dan Murphy addressed the cancellation during Thursday’s com mission meeting.

“I found out last night that we did not have a quorum going forward with the Planning and Zoning Board. With the upcoming meeting, there’s nothing crit ical on the agenda that requires a vote and a quorum. There’s nothing critical at this point. There could be something critical very shortly. I could not allow the city to go on without the ability to get something through the Planning and Zoning Board that might require a quorum. To that end, I asked the city attorney to draft the emergency ordi nance and get that in place as quickly as we can. This is something that came up rather abruptly.”

Murphy said if the city can’t find enough volunteers to serve on the

Should the charter be amended to allow for all vacancies to be ap pointed by the city commission?”

According to the unofficial elec tion results, 267 voters (60%) opposed this proposed charter amendment and 178 voters (40%) supported it.

Retaining this charter provision means the city must continue to hold a special election to fill any commission seat being vacated for more than six months.

By a two-vote margin, Bradenton Beach voters supported charter amendment question 1, which read as follows: “Currently the city char ter vests authority in three arbitra tors to hold forfeiture of office pro ceedings against an elected official with costs to be borne by the city. Should the city revise its charter to eliminate the three arbitrator-panel procedure and replace it with the former forfeiture provision utilizing the city commission to conduct the proceedings?”

According to the unofficial election

board, there are other organizational changes that could be made, including the city commission also serving as the city’s Planning and Zoning Board.

“That’s not really where I want to go,” Murphy said. “I want to get people to participate. My preference is to get these vacancies quickly filled, but as a safety gap measure we put in place this emergency ordinance to continue to get things done. I don’t want anything to be held up.”

The mayor also addressed the chal lenges the city faces in finding volun teer board members.

“It gets tougher and tougher to at tract people. Our population is shrink ing, our population is aging and there’s a lot of reasons people don’t want to serve,” he said.

According to Murphy, some of those reasons include residents not wanting their private lives to become public and their official actions to become subject to media scrutiny, the amount of time and effort required versus the

results, 222 voters (50.23%) voters supported this charter amendment and 220 voters (49.77 %) opposed it.

The results mean the city commis sion can now initiate forfeiture of office proceedings against a sitting commission member without us ing outside arbitrators. Removing an elected official from office still requires the majority support of the city’s registered voters.

Charter amendment 5 pertained to commission actions that require a city ordinance. The ballot question read as follows: “Currently the city charter sets forth actions requiring an ordinance. Should the city amend the charter to remove employee per sonnel benefits and procedures from this section and require actions of the city regarding employee person nel benefits and procedures to be adopted in a public meeting through a resolution of the commission?”

According to the unofficial elec tion results, 259 voters (59.68%) voters supported this charter amendment and 175 voters (40.32%) opposed it. Approval of this amend ment streamlines the manner in which city employee benefits and employee procedures are addressed by the commission.

The charter amendments were pro posed earlier this summer by the city commission-appointed charter review committee that was guided in its re view process by City Attorney Ricinda Perry. The city commission then unanimously supported placing the five committee-recommended charter amendment questions on the ballot.

reward of serving, and a lack of respect and a general sense of frustration with politics, politicians and the political system.

BENEFITS OF SERVING

Departing City Commission Chair person Carol Carter, current Commis sioner Jon Crane and former Commis sioner Doug Copeland all served on the Planning and Zoning Board before serving on the city commission.

“The issues that come before the Plan ning and Zoning Board members expos es them to many of the same issues that also come before the city commission. The planning board is a great spring board and a great educational tool to be prepared to be an effective city commis sioner,” Carter told The Sun.

Those interested in being appointed to the board can obtain an applica tion by visiting the city clerk’s office in person, calling the clerk’s office at 941-708-6130 or emailing the office at amclerk@cityofannamaria.com.

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

Left, the election results allow incumbent Commissioner Marilyn Maro (shown here with her husband, Ed) to serve another term in office. Right, running unopposed, incumbent Commis sioner Ralph Cole earned another term in office.

Youth soccer championship matchups set

BY MONICA SIMPSON SPECIAL TO THE SUN

ANNA MARIA – Leading up to youth soccer semifinal playoff action, four teams in the U10 league took to the pitch at The Center of Anna Maria Island on Nov. 7. Cloud Pest Control lost 2-1 to Is land Real Estate, advancing the team play against LaPensee Plumbing the following night.

The sure foot of Callin Westfall gave the Island Real Estate a goal and assist, while teammate Oliver Barr added a point to the scoreboard for his team.

On defense, goalkeeper Vincent Gol lamudi made three critical saves in his team’s quarterfinal win.

The Island Real Estate offense kept Sawyer Leibfried busy with eight saves for Cloud Pest Control. Offensively for the Cloud squad, David Zupa had the team’s only goal in the game.

Solid Rock Construction easily defeated AMI Coconuts with the final score of 5-2. Solid Rock went on to play Sato Real Estate to determine which team made it to play in the championship game.

Despite a valiant effort by AMI Coco nuts, Solid Rock Construction’s offense was too strong for their opponent.

With two goals, Renan Kesten led the scoring for Solid Rock with two goals. Kesten’s teammates Ruby Kesten, Turner Worth and Matthew Darak each had solo goals in the game.

Isaac Roadman protected his team’s goal in the quarterfinal game, saving two AMI Coconut shots. Roadman’s coun terparts Jordan Steele and Sophia Kerr made a total of four saves against the strong Solid Rock offense.

The two AMI Coconut goals were made by Riley Karecki and Aidan Guess. Guess

was credited with an assist to Karecki’s goal.

In a close one, LaPensee Plumbing went on to defeat Island Real Estate 2-1 in the second semifinal game on Nov. 8.

LaPensee’s big win comes after Solid Rock Construction’s narrow victory against Sato Real Estate. Taking the game into overtime, Solid Rock’s post-regula tion play success gave the team the win, which clinched the first championship game slot for Solid Rock Construction in U10 play.

The U10 championship game was scheduled to take place on Nov. 14. After LaPensee Plumbing and Solid Rock Construction went head-to-head for the championship title, Progressive Cabinetry and HSH faced off for the U14 final win.

Progressive Cabinetry sealed the deal with a win against team Mac Parkman 3-2, paving the way to the team’s road to the U14 championship game Monday night.

SUN SCOREBOARD

NOV. 7 YOUTH SOCCER Island Real Estate 2 Cloud Pest Control 1

Solid Rock Construction 5 AMI Coconuts 2 NOV. 8 YOUTH SOCCER SEMIFINAL PLAYOFF GAMES U10

Solid Rock Construction 4 OT PKs Sato Real Estate 3

LaPensee Plumbing 2 Island Real Estate 1

U14

Progressive Cabinetry 3 Mac Parkman 2

Key Royale golf gets spooky

Dressed in their Halloween best costumes, 54 golfers enjoyed beautiful weather at Key Royale Club for the annual SpooKEY Scramble on Oct. 28. Finishing first in the event with a score of 71 were team members Karen and Cliff Lanning and Brenda and Bob O'Brien. In second place was the team of Pat Wright, John Beaulieu and Dave Deaver with a score of 73. And the third place team was Warren Stevens, John Pala, Nelson Eagle and David Boyd at 74 strokes.

On hole #9, the long drive for the la dies was won by Jenny Huibers, while Pat Wright won for the men. Debi Wohlers captured closest to the pin on hole #8 for the ladies at 5'1". Jim Hill won for the men on hole #3 at 13'9".

NOV. 7

Stableford

First Place - Don Grau +4 Second Place - Jim Hill and Bill Koche +2

NOV. 8 Low Net Score

FLIGHT A

Brenda Solleveld 32 Barb Rinkey 32 Roxanne Koche 30

FLIGHT B

Jana Samuels 37 Mary Lou Dreier 37 Annette Hall 37 Mary Wilkie 36 Jackie Gorski 36

FLIGHT C Jan Turner 36 Terry Westby 33

Mary Lou Dreier had a chip-in on hole 4.

MONICA SIMPSON | SUN

Island Real Estate’s Landon Chatt works to keep possession of the soccer ball last Monday night against Cloud Pest Control in quarterfinal playoff action. Chatt’s teammates Alexander Czajkows ki and Karlie Niehus stay in support positions while Cloud’s Maggie Niedzwick and Thadeous Daniels take strong stances on the field looking to take over on offense.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

BEACH YOGA ON Wednes days, Saturdays & Sundays at 8:30am at the end of Pine Ave by the Sandbar Restaurant by donation. Classes on Tues days & Fridays at 8:30 at 100 Broadway St. on LBK. www.thriveyogafit.com

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

ROSER FOOD BANK needs donations of cash and non-perishable food, PAPER & PERSON

AL HYGIENE PRODUCTS. Donations boxes are located at the Church, Moose Club, and Wal green’s.

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

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

COMMERCIAL LEASE - 419 pine, Anna Maria - Island Real Estate - Larry Chatt 941-345-1288

CLEANING SERVICE

TOTAL HOME SERVICES

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

ENDLESS SUMMER HOME SERVICES Cleaning & Maintenance. Call Angela for your home needs. 941577-3823

EMPLOYMENT

WANTED LICENSED REALTOR! Seeking real estate agent with island expertise to join our highly productive sales team! Contact us at 941-900-4974. All calls confidential

WE ARE HIRING Part Time & Full Time. The White Egret & The Egret’s Nest in City of Anna Maria’ Please contact Pam at 941-7783782

ISLAND RESORT LOOKING for Resort Assistant. 32 to 36 hours per week. Experi ence a plus, will train. Re sumes or Letters of intent can be sent to islands58@ aol.com

The award-winning ANNA MARIA ISLAND SUN, a weekly newspaper on Florida’s Gulf Coast, is looking for a freelance reporter/photographer to cover events on this tourism-driven island. The ideal candidate will have reporting and photography experience at a commu nity newspaper and have some experience writing for a news website. Local residents or those with previous local knowledge and willing to relocate here a plus. Resumes and cover letters may be mailed to The Anna Maria Island Sun, P.O Box 1189, Anna Maria, FL 34216, Attention: Mike Field, publisher.

FISHING CHARTERS

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

FOR SALE

TOPPER FOR F150 Long bed. $50 or Best Offer. Call 941-705-7560.

HEALTH CARE

HOME CARE PROVIDER with Dennis Church a nursing assistant. 8+ years of experience. Licensed in Florida. SAFER at HOME. Call 815-519-3993

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

TILE! TILE! TILE! All varia tions of tile supplied and installed. Quality workmanship. Prompt, reliable, many Island ref erences. Free estimates. Neil 941-726-3077

RENOVATION SPECALIST

ALL carpentry repairs, Wash Family Construction, locally owned and operated CBC 1258250 Call 941-7250073.

KERN CONSTRUCTION

NEW Homes & Remodel. Design/Build. Since 1968. License # CBC 1261150. Call Mike Kern 941-7781115

JSAN CORPORATION

Renovations Construc tion & Handyman Services 941-243-0995 Lic# CRC1332505 jsan corporation@gmail. com Flooring, Drywall, Painting, Repairs, Kitchen and Bath rooms, 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.

HOME IMPROVEMENT

Michigan General Con tractor 30+ yrs. experi ence. Large or small projects. Budget minded knowledgeable trades man will complete your project start to finish: On Time/On Budget. Call Mike 616-204-8822.

HOME SERVICES

CONCRETE FUSION, CRACK REPAIR sidewalks/ driveways. Why fix 95% of concrete when only 5% bad? Number 1 in concrete repair. Insured. Free estimate. Call Bobby 941-374-7670.

LANDSCAPING & LAWN CARE

R. GAROFALO’S Interlocking brick pavers, driveways, pa tios, pool decks. Free esti mates. Licensed & Insured. Call Rafael 941-778-4823 or Veronik 941-526-7941

SHELL DRIVEWAYS & LANDSCAPE. Specializing in Old Florida Seashell and Lime rock driveways and scapes. Also River Rock, Sand, Mulch, & Soil. Call Shark Mark 941-301-6067

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

LOST & FOUND

FOUND: BICYCLE KEY on 52nd St. Call 941-778-9622 to claim.

MOVING & STORAGE

MARTIN’S MOVING YOUR Island movers! Of fering dependable, com petitive rates. No hidden costs. 941-809-5777.

PAINTING & WALLCOVERING

PAINT! PAINT! AND MORE 28 years of experienced interior/exterior custom painting. Pressure clean ing, 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 Win egarden 941-794-0455

DONALD PERKINS

ABRACADABRA PAINTING LLC fully insured. 30 years experience. Many Island references. Call 941-7057096

PROFESSIONAL PAINTING SERVICES. Prompt & Reli able. Island Resident. Qual ity Workmanship. Interior/ Exterior. Minor repairs & carpentry. Free estimates. Bill Witaszek 941-307-9315

POOL SERVICES

FOUR SEASONS POOL SERVICE AND CHEMI CAL SERVICES. Certi fied Pool Operator. 10 + Years Experience. Residential/commer cial. 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, Construc tion, 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 custom ers for 30 years. Proven track record brings you results! 941-725-1589

ATTN REALTORS: Are you thinking about leaving the business to get a salaried job? If you love being a Realtor & need help navigating this new market, call us today for a confidential appt. Kelly Gitt The Gitt Team AMI KW on the Water 941-799-9299

HOUSE FOR SALE 4BR/3BA. 2274 s.f. 329 30th St W, Bradenton, FL 34205. $699,000. MLS # A4545595 Boyd Realty. Call 941-730-8589 bro ker@boydrealty.com

RENTALS: ANNUAL

ANNUAL RENTALS

WANTED! We have well qualified tenants for beach and mainland annual rentals, Full man agement or Finders fee. Call today for details. Ask for Paige DUNCAN REAL ESTATE 513-3821992.

ANNUAL RENTAL-3BR/2BA, pool, canal w/ boat lift home on key Royale. 1700 sq.ft. $8500/mo. Call 941-713-1586

ANNUAL RENTALS – AVAIL ABLE NOW. 2BR/1BA, furnished. $4,500/month. 3BR/2BA, unfurnished. $5,000/month.1ST, Last, and Security Deposit required. Call Sato Real Estate, Inc 941-778-7200 or Email monica@satoreal estate.com

RENTALS: SEASONAL & VACATION

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

SEASONAL RENTAL in PALMA SOLA. 3BR/2BA weekly or monthly rates. Contact Barb Grace 941201-2190

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

TRANSPORTATION

AMI TAXI credit cards, cash, Venmo accepted. Airport: Tampa $105, Sarasota $50, St. Pete/Clearwater $105, Orlando $220. Call 941-447-8372 or 941-4478376. amitaxi4u@gmail. com, www.amitaxi.com

ANYTIME TRANSPORTA TION to all Airports, Casino, etc. Tampa/St. Pete $80. Sarasota $40. Pets wel come. Very dependable. Reasonable rates. Contact Jeanne. 941-779-5095