CASTLES IN THE SAND

THE SUN REAL ESTATE

NOVEMBER 18, 2020

Of building permits and contractors

Idon’t have any real statistical knowledge, but my educated guess is there have been a lot of building permits pulled since March. With COVID keeping us inside, it seems like the perfect time to finally start those home improvement projects we kept putting off. But what exactly do you need to do if you’re starting a project and what permits do you need?

According to the Manatee County website, “building permits are required for remodeling projects that involve changes to the building’s existing footprint, electrical system or plumbing. Adding new windows to existing walls usually requires a permit.”

Basically, you are likely to need a permit for any project that goes beyond a simple repair or aesthetic upgrade, including adding supporting walls or taking down load-bearing walls; adding an in-ground concrete pool; building a porch or deck and replacing the roof, backyard shed or concrete sidewalks, driveways or slabs. Get it, you just about need a permit for everything.

Most homeowners hire a professional contractor for major renovations and gener-

Castles in the Sand

LOUISE BOLGER

ally, the contractor pulls the permit. Florida law requires contractors to be licensed and hiring an unlicensed contractor is a violation of Florida Statutes. A contractor cannot obtain a license without possessing a minimum amount of experience and must pass a business management test. They are also subject to a criminal history background check and must not have any outstanding unresolved contracting complaints. Manatee County warns that unlicensed contractors can often underbid licensed professionals because they typically are not bonded or insured and frequently do not carry unemployment compensation insurance for their workers.

If you are planning on hiring a contractor, the first thing to do is ask for their license number and a list of references. Verify the license number

to ensure their license is active and their insurance is up to date. There are county and state contact numbers available on the county website under Permitting Services. Obviously, references should also be verified, and, of course, the best way to hire a contractor is someone who has satisfactorily done work for a friend or neighbor.

Florida does have a provision where homeowners can act as their own contractors. The exemption specifies that as the owner of the property, you may act as your own contractor with certain restrictions even though you do not have a license.

For those of us who own condominiums, not only do you have to abide by state and county laws, you also have to have the permission of your homeowner’s association - a completely separate thing. Since condo owners have a legally binding agreement with their homeowner’s association, you do need approval for remodels, especially those projects that require municipal permitting.

Since condo associations are concerned with maintaining the property as a whole, the welfare of the entire building takes precedence over your

individual rights, particularly when it involves the structural integrity of the building. In addition, condo associations are concerned about noise during the construction project as well as damage to common property involving plumbing and electrical.

Homeowner associations usually require approval for some of the following: Interior or exterior walls, structural floor, ceilings, columns, finish flooring, plumbing, electrical, aesthetic changes to the exterior, especially when window size is involved, and most will also require approval for window replacements.

The good news is that you can paint the interior of your condo and replace moldings, light fixtures and outlets and some other minor improvements without condo permission. But be careful - every condo association has its own set of rules, so better to err on the side of obtaining permission.

Before this pandemic is done, chances are every kitchen, bathroom and home extension in the county will have been touched by a hammer and nails at least once. Know the laws and stay safe.

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

Avenue C crime scene demolished

The triplex at 2514 Ave. C. in Bradenton Beach has been demolished. The demolition of the Avenue C triplex took place last Thursday and the new owners, AMI Partners II LLC, have other plans for the property where Sabrina Dumdei, 37, and Zachary Winton, 34, were found dead on Saturday, Oct. 17. Police Chief Sam Speciale and Det. Sgt. Lenard Diaz both said they believe a murder-suicide occurred, but no final report or conclusions have been released yet.

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN Australian pine benches are planned for a proposed pocket park on Bridge Street.

Post office pocket park to feature pine benches

The Bradenton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) plans to create a pocket park along Bridge Street in front of the Bradenton Beach Post Office. The proposed pocket park is expected to feature six wooden benches made of repurposed Australian pine. The pine benches will resemble the pine benches outside of the Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant in Longboat Key.

The benches are being created through a partnership that includes Sarasota architect Barron Schimberg and Mar Vista owner and CRA member Ed Chiles. Chiles

recused himself from the CRA members’ Nov. 4 discussion and the 4-2 vote in favor of purchasing the Australian pine benches. CRA members John Chappie, Ralph Cole, Marilyn Maro and Jake Spooner preferred the pine benches for that specific location. Members David Bell and Jan Vosburgh favored the traditional white benches found elsewhere throughout the CRA district and the city. The final price for the benches is still being negotiated and additional discussion on the benches and the proposed pocket park is anticipated.

Off the beaten path

A day trip to the quiet places around Anna Maria Island reveals a variety of terrains and wildlife. Clockwise from right: roseate spoonbills nest on a mangrove island in Anna Maria Sound; a great blue heron guards a nest in a nearby mangrove; fields of native grass abound at Perico Preserve; brown pelicans rest atop a mangrove.

CINDY LANE | SUN

CINDY LANE | SUN

MIKE FIELD | SUN

CINDY LANE | SUN

ETA: Impacts Anna Maria Island

FROM PAGE 1

One of the new palm trees recently installed in the roundabout at the east end of Bridge Street lay toppled and blocked a portion of the roundabout, but the tree was righted and standing upright again by midday Thursday.

Lt. John Cosby, of the Bradenton Beach Police Department, said he wasn’t aware of any other downed trees or power lines.

Some mobile homes in the Pines Trailer Park experienced varying degrees of flooding. Pines resident Bill Vincent said he’s never seen the water so high in the streets within the mobile home community.

Wednesday evening, residents in Bradenton Beach, Holmes Beach and Anna Maria noted on Facebook that they were experiencing flooding and/or power outages.

HOLMES BEACH

As Thursday morning unfolded, a steady stream of vehicles proceeded through the standing water along Marina Drive, near the Island Branch Library and Holmes Beach City Hall. The water there appeared to be at least a foot deep, if not higher.

When contacted at 9:40 a.m., Police Chief Bill Tokajer provided an assessment of the storm damage in Holmes Beach.

“We had some serious flooding in some areas. We had more rain than we have seen in quite some time. In some areas, the water was as deep as I’ve seen since I’ve been here. It was really deep on Marina Drive in front of the police department. It was deep further down on Marina Drive and Gulf Drive toward Haley’s Motel,” Tokajer said.

“It was deep going around the bend by the beach. Sixth Avenue was bad, and Avenue B and C had some flooding. I think a lot of it was because of the high tides combined with all the rain. A lot of docks and marinas had water over the edge too,” Tokajer said.

“We didn’t have any injuries. We had quite a few people who got stuck or drove into a ditch. And we had one tree down off of 51st and Fifth that was blocking the road,” Tokajer said.

Throughout the morning and early afternoon, Gulf Drive provided a much drier route through the city than Marina Drive.

ANNA MARIA

Although he was still assessing the damage Thursday morning, Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy believed the city fared well. He said there had been some power lines down on the north end of the city and some residents experienced power outages. Murphy also said there was still standing water and flooding in the general vicinity of Bean Point and elsewhere in the city.

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN A pump helped dewater the parking lot near the Anna Maria City Pier.

A drive through Anna Maria late Thursday morning revealed North Shore Drive covered with standing water near Bean Point. There was also a substantial amount of standing water covering North Bay Boulevard between Jacaranda Road and Alamanda Road.

Significant street and yard flooding also occurred around the intersection of Gladiolus Street and Poinsettia Road.

Murphy said the new City Pier did not appear to suffer any damage during the storm. In 2017, Hurricane Irma inflicted serious damage to the old pier that was later demolished and replaced.

MANATEE COUNTY

At 10 a.m. Thursday, Manatee County Information Outreach Manager Nick Azzara conducted a virtual tropical storm update and press conference via Zoom videoconferencing. Azzara was joined by several county staff members who provided information specific to their departments.

The staff reported no significant damage throughout the county and said most of the damage was limited to flooding, fallen tree limbs, power outages and boats that sank or ran around – including one boat that collided with one of the bridges on the Manatee River.

Emergency Management Chief Steve Litschauer said 30 people took shelter at Manatee High School and left the shelter Thursday morning. He said no one took shelter at Mills Elementary School in Palmetto, so that shelter was closed at 5 p.m. Wednesday.

Azzara said wind gusts of up to 60 mph were reported in Manatee County during the storm and about 8 inches of rain fell in the most heavily rained upon areas that included the coastal regions.

Litschauer said slightly fewer than 3,000 people lost power during the storm and as of Thursday morning, 1,136 still were without power countywide.

Azzara said the county beaches on Anna Maria Island would remain closed for the day and reopen Friday morning. The same was said about the Island Branch Library in Holmes Beach.

The Manatee County School District decided Thursday afternoon that the public schools would reopen Friday morning for in-person learning, as opposed to being limited to virtual learning only, as originally planned.

LOCALLY KNOWN. GLOBALLY CONNECTED. SINCE 1976.

NORTH POINT HARBOUR

718 Key Royale Drive Hannah Hillyard & Johann Bertram 941-744-7358 A4480381 $2,400,000

HOLMES BEACH

97 52nd Street Hannah Hillyard 941-744-7358 A4468151 $2,350,000

COVE SOUND YACHT CLUB

12903 Yacht Club Place Gregory Zies & Kathy Valente 941-779-3081 A4455943 $1,200,000

VILLAS OF HOLMES BEACH

206 52nd Street 3 Kathy Harman 941-900-9828A4464002 $989,000

MAINSAIL BEACH INN

107 66th Street 12 Kristi Berger & Deborah Capobianco 941-730-3801 A4452254 $870,000

TIDY ISLAND

73 Tidy Island Boulevard Kathy Valente & Gregory Zies, LLC 941-685-6767 A4477926$670,000

ANNA MARIA BEACH

109 Palm Avenue Hannah Hillyard 941-744-7358 A4481814 $2,495,000

MAINSAIL BEACH INN

101 66th Street 6 Kristi Berger & Deborah Capobianco 941-730-3801 A4452260 $595,000

MARINA WALK ON HARBOUR ISLE

383 Aruba Circle 201 Hannah Hillyard 941-744-7358 A4466540 $570,000

MAINSAIL BEACH INN

103 66th Street 10 Kristi Berger & Deborah Capobianco 941-730-3801 A4452245 $567,125

TIDY ISLAND

51 Tidy Island Boulevard Kathy Marshall 941-900-9777 A4469997$524,999

SKYWAY ACRES

1285 Bayshore Drive Lynne Callahan 941-720-3278 A4477334 $415,000

PALMA SOLA BAY CLUB

7710 34th Avenue W 301 Hannah Hillyard 941-744-7358 A4481045 $414,900

RAINTREE CONDO

2901 26th Street W 615 Louise Hollander 941-224-4483 A4477164 $120,000

NEW CONSTRUCTION

PALMA SOLA BAY CLUB

3431 79th Circle W 101 Pamela Miller 614-632-2801A4472901$395,000

Dolphin tale

CINDY LANE | SUN

Andrea Herrmann, a marine biologist with the Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Center, displayed one of Winter the dolphin’s prosthetic tails at the Center of Anna Maria Island’s Go Green 2 Annual Kick Off Speaker Series and Starlight Movie Night, featuring “Dolphin Tale – The story of Winter.” The educational event also included a Zoom interview of ocean explorer Philippe Cousteau by Anna Maria Elementary School fourth grader Addy DuToit,

September 2020 tourist tax collections compared to September 2019

Anna Maria Bradenton Beach Holmes Beach Manatee County Total* 79% 51% 57% 50%

*(Anna Maria Island, Bradenton, Longboat Key, unincorporated Manatee County, Palmetto)

Manatee County’s 5% resort tax, or tourist tax, is collected from owners of accommodations rented for six months or less who charge the tax to their renters, in most cases, tourists. About 50% of the tax proceeds are allocated to Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau tourism marketing efforts, with 20% allocated to beach renourishment. The tax also partially funds tourismrelated attractions such as the Bradenton Beach and Anna Maria piers. Amounts shown were collected in September and paid to the Manatee County Tax Collector’s Office in October. Manatee County totals include Anna Maria Island cities, Bradenton, the portion of Longboat Key within Manatee County, unincorporated Manatee County and Palmetto. To anonymously report a rental owner who may not be paying the tax, call 941-741-4809 or visit http://www.taxcollector.com/tdt-evader.cfm. Source: Manatee County Tax Collector

More storm debris collection Saturday

Waste Management and the city of Anna Maria will provide an additional day of storm debris collection on Saturday, Nov. 21. Mayor Dan Murphy said two Waste Management trucks were filled with storm debris on Saturday, Nov. 14, and two more trucks were filled on Monday. Bundled storm debris can be placed in the city rights of way on Friday for pickup on Saturday.

CITY ISLAND – With more than $2 million in grants, Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium and its partners plan to begin work on 16 new projects to mitigate the impacts of Florida red tide.

The Florida Red Tide Mitigation & Technology Development Initiative was established in 2019 with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to unite scientists from around the world to work on red tide.

There are more than 20 research projects underway as part of the initiative, which

includes 12 different partnering institutions and organizations. The first round of projects included innovative projects such as deriving compounds from brewer’s spent grain, a byproduct from the beer brewing process, and testing its ability to control Florida red tide and its toxins.

The second round of projects will range from physical to chemical controls, early prevention to bloom treatment, projects led by universities, independent nonprofits like Mote, and for-profit businesses, according to Mote.

OBITUARIES

Margaret Hoffman

70, of Bradenton, passed away Oct. 30, 2020. Margaret was born in Eugene, OR, but was raised in Queens, NY. She moved to Anna Maria Island in 1992, then moved to NW Bradenton in 2000. Margaret was a proud New Yorker through and through, but so loved her life, home and friends here in Florida. She was an unforgettable presence and never met a stranger. She leaves behind a great void for all who knew and loved her, including her heartbroken husband of 37 years, Paul Hoffman, and her devoted best friend and daughter, Pamela Winn. Services were already held. Brown & Sons Funeral Homes & Crematory 43rd Street Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.

Margaret Hoffman, BEACH BEAT BRADENTON BEACH 11/6, 11:52 p.m., disorderly conduct. Sports Lounge, 118 Bridge St. The subject, a homeless male, was rowdy and started a fight. HOLMES BEACH 11/2, 4:28 p.m., hit and run car crash, 100 38th St. The officer was called to the scene of the accident and observed heavy damage to the car. There were no injuries. Witnesses provided a description of the vehicle, a pickup truck with a Texas plate. The victim called and said she spotted the truck at the Cypress Winds Apartments parking lot. The officer had taken a piece of plastic taillight from the accident scene with him. When he tried to match it to the truck, it matched. The officer left a business card on the truck’s windshield directing the suspect to contact him. 11/4, 10 p.m., possession of marijuana, 3900 Sixth Ave. The officer made a traffic stop and the smell of marijuana resulted in a charge. 11/4, 10:40 p.m., noise violation, 205 79th St. The officer took decibel readings that were excessive and wrote a noise violation cita11/5, 11:40 p.m., DUI, possession of cocaine, a stop. The driver could not find his license and displayed signs of impairment. The officer called for assistance to hold a field admitted to having two drinks. After failenue beach area. Police responded to reports They caught up with the subject, who was arCondolences may be made to www. brownandsonsfuneral.com.

James Michael “Rocky” Stief

On Friday, Nov. 6, 2020, the Stief family lost their hero, James Michael “Rocky” Stief, to lung cancer with COVID-19 complications. Rocky was born in Philadelphia on September 30, 1948 to Adam and Grace Stief.

Prior to opening Stief Plumbing and Heating in 1988, he worked with his family at Jack's Transmissions, where his love for racing began. He was a Harley Davidson enthusiast and loved working on his Mustang. Rocky was a member of the Knights of Columbus Peace Council and a lifetime member of the Tinicum Fire Company (formerly Essington Fire Company). A long-time resident of Tinicum, and affectionately nick-named the "Mayor of Tinicum" by many of his friends, Rocky retired to Bradenton, Florida in 2010.

Rocky is survived by his loving wife of 25 years, Ruth Stief (nee Carter); daughter, Stacey Anne Dettling (Brian) of Portland, Oregon; daughter, Christine Shannon Stief and her fiancé, Richard Sim, of Swarthmore, Pennsylvania; stepson, Gary Joseph Gawbill Jr. of Morton, Pennsylvania; and stepson, Stephen Micheal Gawbill (Nicole) of Lester, Pennsylvania.

He was the adoring Pop-Pop of Mathilde Rose Dettling. Rocky was very close to many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased in death by his parents, and brothers, Jack, Richard and Robert. His tireless love and devotion to his family and friends was evident throughout his life.

Rocky's sense of humor included words of wisdom, such as, “Sometimes the things you want and the things you don’t want are two different things.” A funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2020 at 11 a.m. at St. Madeline Catholic Church, 110 Park St., Ridley Park, PA, 19078. A private burial will take place after Mass.

For those comfortable attending the service, please remember to wear a mask and follow all social distancing guidelines. Information for a live stream for those unable to attend in person will be available at a later date. Brown & Sons Funeral Homes & Crematory 26th Street Chapel, 5624 26th St. W., Bradenton, FL 34207 is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be made to: www.brownadsonsfu-

tion. 700 Manatee Ave. The officer observed a plumber truck accelerate to 60 mph as it left the Island. He caught up with him and made sobriety test. During questioning, the driver ing the test, he was arrested and when they searched the truck, they found cocaine. 11/6, 4:05 p.m., indecent exposure, White Avof a white male exposing himself to females. neral.com.

rested after victims positively identified him.

New chamber board

AMI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | SUBMITTED

From left, Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy installs the new Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors: John Campora, Mike Southwick, Eric Cairns, David Berube, Susanne Arbanas, Katy Demick, Karen LaPensee, Wayne Gunter, Dan Alderson, Diane Phinney, Bev Kilpatrick and Erin Heckler on Saturday, Nov. 7 at the Waterline Resort and Marina in Holmes Beach.

Restaurants Open Thanksgiving 2020

NAME Anna Maria Island Beach Cafe Bridge Tender Inn Daiquiri Deck Drift In Euphemia Haye Restaurant Floridays Woodfire Grill & Bar Gulf Drive Cafe & Kokonut Hut Harry's Continental Kitchens Harry's Continental Kitchens Harry's Grill Island Coffee Haus LLC Pesto Bistro & Wine Bar ADDRESS CITY PHONE Thanksgiving Hours 4000 Gulf Drive Holmes Beach 941-778-0784 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. 135 Bridge St. Bradenton Beach 941-778-4849 11:30 a.m. - 10 p.m. 107 Bridge St. #B Bradenton Beach 941-253-3300 11 a.m. - 11 p.m. 120 Bridge St. Bradenton Beach 941-778-9088 7 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. 5540 Gulf of Mexico Drive Longboat Key 941-383-3633 2 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. 12332 Manatee Ave. Bradenton 941-741-8700 CALL FOR HOURS 900 Gulf Drive Bradenton Beach 941-778-1919 7 a.m. - 9 p.m. 525 St. Judes Drive Longboat Key 941-383-0777 Restaurant OPEN Noon - 8 p.m. 525 St. Judes Drive Longboat Key 941-383-0777 Corner Store 6 a.m. - 11 p.m. 9903 Gulf Drive Anna Maria 941-567-5999 12:30 p.m. - 10 p.m. 5350 Gulf Drive Holmes Beach 941-896-4870 7 a.m. - 12 p.m. 8799 Cortez Road W. Bradenton 941-201-4167 Closed but offering meals by delivery and curbside pickup until noon orders due 11/24) 1200 First Ave. W. Bradenton 941-748-8087 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. 5350 Gulf of Mexico Drive Longboat Key 941-383-0440 Noon - 8 p.m. 5318 Marina Drive Holmes Beach 941-778-3663 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.