Anna Maria Island Sun October 11, 2023

County commissioners vote to reduce wetland buffers

More than 30 people spoke at a public hearing in opposition to the change.

BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com

BRADENTON – Manatee County commissioners reduced wetland buffers in a 5-1 vote on Oct. 5, defaulting to the less restrictive state of Florida minimums from more restrictive county standards.

Buffers between sensitive wetlands and new upland development are reduced from 50 feet to 25 feet. Buffers between outflowing wetlands and new upland development are reduced from 30 feet to 15 feet.

Prior to the public comment session of the meeting, Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge gave an indication that he would not be swayed by the upcoming speakers.

“The government is being asked to provide a land buffer - that’s the taking of property rights away from the citizen,” he said. “Is the juice worth the squeeze? That’s the ultimate question here.”

His conversation then took a political turn. He said he felt the board was being targeted by “radical climate activists” because the board is

SEE COMMISSIONERS, PAGE 11

Expert to review ‘big red flag’ in zoning irregularities

City officials discovered that some properties in Bradenton Beach exceed the number of allowed units per acre, which would be highly problematic if a natural disaster destroyed them and they were rebuilt.

BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH – In what City Attorney Ricinda Perry described as a “concerning situation” at an Oct. 5 city commission meeting, a city building official has determined that several properties in the city do not conform to the building code.

“When we were looking at this and looking at zoning, comp plan and future land use designations, we had

an ‘oh my’ moment,” Perry said. “What we discovered, Runaway Bay - all the condominiums - Tortuga, Silver Surf, Bridgewalk, Old Bridge Village, all of these appear to be triggered in some way by this provision on first blush.”

Perry displayed the text of the city’s high-density residential code, which says there may be up to nine single-family detached homes per acre with at least 1,000 square feet each or 18 duplex units per acre with at least 700 square feet each. For multi-family residential properties having three or more units, each must be at least 700 square feet, with up to 18 units allowed per acre. For hotel/motel/ transient lodging units with at least six units, each having at least 300 square feet, the allowable density is up to 18 residential units per acre.

Lawmakers go silent on consolidation

Lawmakers did not bring up their proposed study on the consolidation of the three AMI cities at the Oct. 5 meeting as expected.

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

BRADENTON – The Manatee County Legislative Delegation did not address their plans for a consolidation study of Anna Maria Island cities as expected at an Oct. 5 meeting, the deadline they set for the three Island mayors to respond to their September request for information on the issue.

However, participants made no mention of the proposed state study on the consolidation of the three Island cities into a single municipal government. A September letter from Sen. Jim Boyd (R-Bradenton) and Rep. Will Robinson (R-Bradenton) to the mayors said that the state lawmakers expected a response before the Oct. 5 meeting from each of them on how they were working together to consolidate services, or they would go forward with demanding a consolidation study.

Each mayor responded that while they are in favor of the proposed study if its results would help reduce the burden on taxpayers, they were not in favor of consolidation.

The city of Holmes Beach was the only Island city with representation

SEE ZONING, PAGE 8 SEE CONSOLIDATION, PAGE 27

All three mayors sent their responses prior to Oct. 5 and the study was expected to be a topic of conversation at the meeting, held at Bradenton City Hall.

RUSTY CHINNIS | SUN

Wetlands are protected at Grassy Point Preserve in Holmes Beach. Other wetlands in Manatee County just lost some protections.

Old Town Tram needs business support to continue

City funding for the free ride service ends on Dec. 31.

BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH – The message from the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) board was clear at an Oct. 4 meeting - if the Old Town Tram service is to continue, funding will no longer come from the CRA, but instead needs to come from the business community.

The CRA has been subsidizing the free park-and-ride service at a cost of $52,000 per year since it began in November 2020.

Using two electric golf carts, the tram was launched as a pilot program to help address the lack of parking on Bridge Street and bring customers to the shopping and dining area.

The annual funding for the tram service was cut from the city’s 2023-24 budget, but CRA board members agreed at a Sept. 6 meeting to a $10,000 expenditure to keep the service going until the end of 2023.

“This isn’t a free ride, we’re giving you so much money as a temporary thing and we want you to be able to make it on your own,” Mayor John Chappie said to Joshua LaRose at that Sept. 6 meeting before agreeing to the $10,000 payment. LaRose is the owner of Sarasota-based Easy Parking Group and is the provider of the tram service.

That funding was based on the understanding that LaRose and CRA Chairman Ralph Cole would work together to look at options to make the service self-supporting. One option included LaRose securing additional advertising from the businesses that benefit from having customers brought to their doorsteps.

At the Oct. 4 meeting, City Attorney Ricinda Perry read from an email submitted by LaRose offering costsaving proposals.

“He was asking during this time to be given a trial period with a single cart in the CRA district (from the Cortez Bridge to Fifth Street South), but also go outside the CRA district down past Cortez (Road),” she said. “He is also

going to be continuing his efforts to try to get some additional advertisers.”

“If we get more advertisers in, then it’s possible to privatize it,” LaRose said. “I’m not going to keep a service for Bridge Street that they want but don’t want to pay for.”

“I don’t think it’s the taxpayer’s responsibility to pay for this,” Vosburgh said. “I think it should be up to the businesses.”

Cole said the merchants who benefit from the tram service should support the service if they want it.

“I’m going to put the awareness out there right now. If they (businesses) want to keep it, they need to let us know that,” Cole said.

Perry asked the board if they were in agreement with the reduction to one cart and also for the authority for the tram to go outside the CRA district.

“If the CRA doesn’t receive anything from the business community, then we will put it on the agenda at the December meeting for a final decision,” she said.

“I’m fine with terminating it now,” Chappie said. Vosburgh agreed.

Member Jan

has been a vocal opponent of the CRA funding of the tram.

Spooner said he would like to continue service until Dec. 31 and expressed disappointment that businesspeople aren’t coming out to help support the tram.

The CRA voted to continue the service until Dec. 31.

Vosburgh

LESLIE LAKE | SUN

Old Town Tram owner Joshua LaRose speaks to the Bradenton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency about continuing the service.

IN BRIEF

Pine Avenue project expanded to Spring, Magnolia

The Reimagining Pine Avenue project will also include Spring and Magnolia avenues.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

Old Soldiers and Sailors wanted

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

The city of Anna Maria will host its annual “Old Soldiers & Sailors” Veterans Day parade and recognition ceremony on Friday, Nov. 10 at 9 a.m. On Sept. 21, Mayor Dan Murphy told the city commission that four high school marching bands have already agreed to participate in this year’s parade. The parade will begin at the north end of Pine Avenue and end at City Pier Park, followed by a veterans recognition ceremony under the shade sail structure. The city invites local organizations and businesses to participate in the parade. Applications can be downloaded at cityofannamaria.com.

Holmes Beach hosts open house

City leaders in Holmes Beach will be celebrating Florida City Governments Week with an open house on Tuesday, Oct. 17 from 10 a.m. to noon. The open house is an opportunity for the public to meet city staff and learn more about and tour city departments. The festivities take place at Holmes Beach City Hall, 5801 Marina Drive. Florida City Governments Week runs from Oct. 16-22.

Fill shoeboxes for children in need

It may not feel like it outside, but the holidays are just around the corner. Kicking off the season is Samaritan’s Purse with Operation Christmas Child. The annual project collects and delivers shoeboxes filled with gifts to children in need in more than 150 countries around the world. Donors take the boxes and fill them with much-needed items including toiletries, school supplies and a “wow” toy gift to brighten a kid’s day. This year, the deadline for filling and returning a shoebox to be shipped out before the holidays is Nov. 12. Locally, Roser Memorial Community Church is serving as a shoebox donation center. Shoeboxes are available to pick up in the narthex of the sanctuary on Sunday mornings and in the church office and Roser Chapel lobby Monday through Friday. Donors can fill a shoebox online at www.roserchurch.com/give by donating $20 or $30 and marking it for Operation Christmas Child. The Roser Board of Religious Education members will take monies donated online to shop for shoebox items. Donors also can fill a bag with supplies and drop it off at the church office. For more information, call 941-778-0414.

ANNA MARIA – Additional planning is underway for the expanded Reimagining Pine Avenue project which now also includes Spring and Magnolia avenues.

The long-discussed project includes the installation of permeable brick paver sidewalks along both sides of Pine Avenue, new and improved crosswalks and new streetlights along the commercial corridor. The sidewalks will meander in areas where the unpaved paths currently curve inward toward the businesses. The permeable pavers are expected to improve drainage along Pine Avenue.

The expanded project will also include safety improvements along Spring and Magnolia avenues, both of which run parallel to Pine Avenue. Portions of Spring and Magnolia currently lack sidewalks and crosswalks.

The purpose of the expanded project is to increase safety for pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and others who use the three streets that comprise the Pine Avenue corridor. Commissioners discussed eliminating the parallel parking spaces along Pine Avenue, but did not vote to do so.

The city’s 2023-24 fiscal year budget includes $3.34 million in projected Reimagining Pine Avenue-related expenditures. The funding sources are $2.69 million in state appropriations, $283,412 in federal American Rescue Plan funds and $367,781 in impact fees, property tax revenues and funds carried over from the previous fiscal year budget.

On Sept. 21, Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy provided the city commission with a project status update. He said in the coming weeks he’d be meeting with project engineer Gerry Traverso, of the George F. Young engineering firm, regarding the proposed safety

improvements to be made along Spring and Magnolia avenues. The city commission-approved plans that Traverso created for the initial Pine Avenue safety improvements were completed more than a year ago.

Murphy said the engineering firm will provide a comprehensive view of the improvements that could be made along Spring and Magnolia and incorporate those improvements with the existing Pine Avenue plans.

He said he will bring the commission a list of recommendations as to what can be done in the entire Pine Avenue corridor using the state, federal and city funds already earmarked for the project.

“By the end of October, you will have a list of plans and ideas of what we can do with Magnolia, Spring and how it ties into Pine,” he told the commission.

“This won’t be as complicated as Pine because you’re looking at two similar residential streets,” Murphy added, noting the Pine Avenue plans were more complex because Pine Avenue serves as Anna Maria’s primary commercial district.

As was the case with the original Pine Avenue planning process that began in 2021, the planning and decision-making process for the proposed Spring and Magnolia improvements will include public input being provided by residents and business owners before any final decisions are made.

“It’s the start of the finalized plan. Similar to how we did Pine Avenue,” Murphy said of the pending planning process.

Commissioner Charlie Salem asked if it’s possible to ask the engineering firm to look at the alleyway that runs parallel to Pine Avenue, behind the businesses on the west side of the street.

Regarding the city-owned alley that already contains stormwater and drainage elements, Murphy said, “That’s one of the things I asked him to look at, that swale behind the stores there. What are the possibilities of using that for some mode of transportation?”

After the expanded project plans are completed, the city will issue a new request for proposals (RFP) seeking bids from construction firms interested in installing the safety improvements.

In the past year or so, the city issued three RFPs for the Reimagining Pine Avenue project. Each of those RFPs generated one bid proposal from the same construction firm. Because only one firm bid on those RFPs, and because the quoted prices were higher than the city hoped for, all three of those bids were rejected. The mayor and commission hope expanding the project to include Spring and Magnolia avenues will make the project more attractive and lucrative to more construction firms, which could generate more bid proposals for the expanded project.

These local veterans participated in last year’s parade.

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

The intent is to make Pine Avenue safer for pedestrians, bicyclists and other users.

Commissioners reach out to absent board member

Correspondence

prepared by the City Clerk will be delivered to Vice-Mayor Marilyn Maro with 15 days to respond.

BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH –

The months-long excused absence of City Commissioner and Vice-Mayor Marilyn Maro was a topic of discussion at the Oct. 5 City Commission meeting.

Mayor John Chappie said Maro has been absent with excuse for more than six months. The reason for her absence is undisclosed.

“I want to address this particular matter based on

conversations the clerk’s office has been having with the state of Florida,” City Attorney Ricinda Perry said. “We have been following guidance from them. At this point, there needs to be some direction given to the city clerk to make sure we’re carrying out our procedural requirements.

“The position that each of you have has been given by the electorate,” Perry said.

“It is an office that carries with it responsibilities to the public and it’s not something anyone here on their own, including the clerk, can mandate, or take away rights that the people have

installed upon an individual who is holding the office.”

In accordance with procedural guidelines from the Florida Commission on Ethics, commissioners unanimously authorized City Clerk Terri Sanclemente to prepare correspondence to Maro allowing 15 days for a response: “It is directed based on the response from Vice-Mayor Maro if further accommodations shall be provided by the city. If no further accommodations are requested, then the commission shall provide notice at the next commission meeting regarding roll call attendance of Ms. Maro and will identify future absences without excuse,” the motion stated.

“If no accommodation is

requested, then we would want to bring that back to you based upon a time that you would allocate to provide notice at a public meeting to require roll call attendance of Ms. Maro to identify future absences with or without excuse based upon the response the city receives,” Perry said.

“We have been in contact with Vice-Mayor Maro right before summer started. Ms. Sanclemente had communication with her,” she said. “We’ve been providing reasonable accommodation based on circumstances. A financial disclosure form has come out as well, and we’re asking that be provided to the state.”

A second motion that was passed unanimously stated:

“A motion to direct the city clerk to take all reasonable steps to have a financial disclosure form personally delivered to Vice-Mayor Maro in accordance with the Florida Commission on Ethics and to direct the city clerk and city attorney to work with the State of Florida on behalf of Commissioner Maro.”

“We want to provide assistance to her to do all the things that need to be done, including ethics training that has to be done every year,” Perry said.

Commissioner Ralph Cole made both motions, which were seconded by Commissioner Jan Vosburgh. Commissioner Jake Spooner was absent with excuse from the meeting.

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Bicycle riders, take care I like the green, but can someone please explain how bikes are supposed to maneuver from the outside bike lane to the inside lane at the Gulf/Marina Drive intersection? It doesn’t seem very safe even using the hand directions for cyclists.

Retha Robinette Holmes Beach

a letter to us at The Anna Maria Island Sun, 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.

ON THE AGENDA EVENTS

ANNA MARIA

10005 GULF DRIVE FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-708-6130

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

Oct. 19, 6 p.m. – City Commission meeting

BRADENTON BEACH

107 GULF DRIVE N. FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-778-1005

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

Oct. 18, 1 p.m. – Scenic WAVES meeting

Oct. 19, noon – City Commission meeting

HOLMES BEACH

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

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

Oct. 17, 10 a.m. – City Hall open house

Oct. 18, 5 p.m. – Planning Commission meeting

Oct. 24, 10 a.m. – Code Compliance Special Magistrate hearing

Oct. 24, 5 p.m. – City Commission meeting with work session to follow

Oct. 26, 11:30 a.m. – Police Officer Pension Board meeting

ISLAND-WIDE

Oct. 16, 9 a.m. – Manatee County Tourist Development Council meeting, Manatee County Administration Building, 1112 Manatee Ave., Bradenton

Oct. 17, 5 p.m. – West Manatee Fire Rescue board meeting, administration building, 701 63rd St. W., Bradenton

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 11

Off Stage Ladies meeting, Modern Chop, 1830 59th St. W., Bradenton, 11:45 a.m. Call Roe Duncan at 941932-2798 to join.

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

Island Time Book Club, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 6:30 p.m.

THURSDAY, OCT. 12

Creature Feature: Orb weaver spider, Neal Preserve, 12301 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton, 10 a.m.

AMI Chamber of Commerce luncheon, The Lazy Lobster, 5350 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, 11:30 a.m., $22 for members or $30 for prospective members

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

FRIDAY, OCT. 13

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

Mah-jongg for experienced players, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 11:30 a.m. Adult fingerpainting, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 2 p.m.

SATURDAY, OCT. 14

Mornings at the NEST, Robinson Preserve Mosaic Nest, 840 Ninth Ave. N.W., Bradenton, 9 a.m. to noon

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

Solar Eclipse Watch Party, Robinson Preserve Mosaic Nest, 840 Ninth Ave. N.W., Bradenton, 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

MONDAY, OCT. 16

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

TUESDAY, OCT. 17

Farmer’s Market, City Pier Park, 103 N. Bay Blvd., Anna Maria, 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Seashell shore walk, Coquina Beach, 2650 Gulf Drive S., Bradenton Beach, 9 a.m. Rotary Club of Anna Maria Island meeting, Bridge Street Bistro, 111 Gulf Drive S., Bradenton Beach, 11:30 a.m. Family story time, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m.

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

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 18

Indigenous People of Florida: From First Peoples to Conquest, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 11 a.m. One-on-one tech help, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 2-4 p.m.

ZONING: Expert to review ‘big red flag’ in irregularities

Many properties in the city exceed the number of allowable units, making them “non-conforming,” according to Perry. City officials say that has no immediate effect, but that if a natural disaster forces rebuilding, current codes would apply, potentially forcing the elimination of some units.

Perry said Angela Rodocker, owner of Silver Surf and Bridgewalk, expressed concern about her properties.

“She has 1.22 acres on Old Bridge Village, and I think it was 28 units. According to this language, she is not allowed to have that - if something happens - if she wants to expand it,” Perry said.

Currently, these buildings and others are considered to be legally non-conforming, she said.

“That’s important, it’s legal, it can sit there, but it’s non-conforming with the comp

plan,” Perry said, explaining that the city code does not allow those owners to expand their developments.

Perry said if there’s a natural disaster, they can rebuild only on their current footprint.

“But you have to look at the next part, which is what concerned (Building Official)

Steve Gilbert. You must meet all other comprehensive plan requirements,” she said.

Perry used the example of a property having 56 units per acre, more than the allowable density of 18 per acre. If there is a disaster causing the units to be replaced, the building can be rebuilt in the same footprint, but each unit now has to be a minimum of 700 square feet.

“The concern is if I build a 400-square-foot unit to fit all these in and I’m now required to increase that to 700, which one of the property owners is going to be told you don’t have a unit because you have to meet that standard in order

to rebuild from a hurricane?” Perry said. “Who do we tell you don’t have a home anymore to?”

Perry said that it’s important to protect current property owners.

“I don’t want to scare anybody too terribly much, but it is something very important to make sure we protect property owners who have gone through

the proper channels and make sure we don’t take away their existing property rights and as it stands I can tell you there is concern that we have created a substantial amount of legal non-conformities,” she said.

COMMISSION TO ENGAGE EXPERT

“So what staff would like to do with your blessing, is we want to see how big the problem is, if in

fact it is a problem,” Perry said. “It jumps out at us as a big red flag and we need to get to the bottom of it. In order to figure out what kind of problem we’re looking at, we need to have our city planner, Luis Serna, go into the land development code, the comprehensive plan, look at this provision and then go out and find all the properties that have been triggered by this.”

She asked for approval to have an analysis done by Serna to determine how many units exist on a property and if he can, with ease, find out when those units were approved, and by what mechanism.

“Then also figure out what the average square foot is per unit, what the lot coverage is and the floor ratio,” Perry said. “Those were the things that were tweaked and touched and you have to comply with in order to rebuild after a natural disaster or fire and see what

LESLIE LAKE | SUN

Commissioner Jan Vosburgh, Mayor John Chappie and Commissioner Ralph Cole discuss non-conforming properties in Bradenton Beach that could be drastically impacted if rebuilt after a natural disaster.

Judy Kuhlman had strong ties to Bradenton Beach

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH – Longtime

Bradenton Beach visitor and homeowner Judy Kuhlman passed away on Sept. 23 at the age of 81.

Judy was born in 1942 in Fremont, Ohio and was laid to rest in the Harris-Elmore Union Cemetery in her hometown of Elmore, Ohio on Sept. 30.

Judy is survived by her husband, Richard “Dick” Kuhlman, her son, Bret Richard Kuhlman, his wife, Dr. Stephanie Kuhlman (Liebmann) and two grandchildren, Luke Richard Kuhlman and Jilian Rose Kuhlman. Judy and Dick celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary on Sept. 5.

HISTORIC COTTAGE

In the late 1940s, Judy’s grandparents, Floyd and Florence Myers, purchased a 29-foot 1948 Airstream trailer, trailered it to Bradenton Beach and parked it on a vacant beachfront lot they bought at 2214 Gulf Drive N. The Kuhlmans still own the trailer that remains in place today, surrounded and engulfed by the 1,180-square-foot beachfront “3 Pines Cottage” Floyd gradually built around it.

“The trailer is still inside the house. It’s our kitchen," Dick Kuhlman said. Florence decided she couldn’t live in an Airstream so Floyd added a living room, a bedroom, a bathroom, a second bedroom and a porch between 1947 and 1955. He had retired from

his truck stop business in Ohio, the A Station, and they were living in Bradenton Beach fulltime.

During his time in Bradenton Beach, Myers was the first president of the newly-formed Annie E. Silver Shuffleboard Club, which later evolved into the still-active Annie Silver Community Center at 103 23rd St. N.

According to an old newspaper story displayed inside the Community Center, Myers and Chris VanEss conceived the shuffleboard club and wanted to buy the property from Annie Silver to accommodate the soon-to-be-built shuffleboard courts.

Instead, Annie Silver donated the land and Myers, VanEss and P.J. Franzoni are listed as trustees on the warranty deed dated Dec. 23, 1955. Floyd died in 1958 and Florence continued to live in the cottage until her death in 1982.

“Judy and I started dating in 1959, I think, and we got married in 1964. Judy started coming down in 1948 or

'49. She came once or twice a year and sometimes stayed with her grandmother for the summer,” Dick said.

“My first visit was in the spring of 1965. I was in grad school at Ohio State and Judy was working for Chem-Abstracts in Columbus after we both graduated from Bowling Green State University. Being from Northwest Ohio, and growing up near Lake Erie, we really enjoyed it. There was not a lot going on on the Island in those days. There might have been two or three restaurants. There was Trader Jack’s and Pete Reynard’s and very little else. It was quiet and we had a good time. We came down frequently and stayed with Judy’s grandmother. We did that for many years,” Dick said.

Judy and Dick purchased her late grandmother’s cottage in 1983. They also purchased, and many years later sold, the neighboring fishing cottage Judy’s grandparents owned next door at 2216 Gulf Drive N. Built in 1915, the

fishing cottage was then renovated by its current owner and renamed “The Love Shack.”

Judy and Dick continued to use 3 Pines Cottage as their vacation home and they also rented it out to others. In 2000, they contracted with Wagner Realty to manage the vacation rental aspects of their property. Wagner Realty has an office directly across the street from the cottage.

Regarding Judy’s passing, Wagner Realty Property Manager Lisa Varano said, “We’re going to miss her. They’re probably one of our oldest clients out here.”

Varano said the cottage’s kitchen, a bedroom and a half-bath are still located in the original Airstream trailer.

Wagner Realty Marketing Manager Jeannie Flynn said, “Wagner Realty will be forever grateful to Judy Kuhlman and her grandparents for contributing towards a rich heritage in

The late Judy Kuhlman’s grandparents moved to Bradenton Beach in the late 1940s.

WAGNER REALTY | SUBMITTED JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

Dick and Judy Kuhlman enjoyed vacationing in and around Bradenton Beach for five decades. The 3 Pines Cottage continues to serve as the Kuhlman family’s vacation home and also as a beachfront vacation rental.

Kruse asks public for project ideas

MANATEE COUNTY – In a statement released after an Oct. 6 Manatee County Commission vote to reduce wetland buffers, Commissioner George Kruse said he wants to hear from the public about projects residents want to see happen.

Kruse was the lone dissenting vote on the reduction of wetland buffers.

“Cutting our buffers was clearly a development change against general public interest,” Kruse said in his statement. “After the meeting, however, I started thinking about all the to-dos and wish list items regarding our current development process that I’ve been sitting on, patiently waiting for our promised comprehensive plan and land development code update.”

Some of the items he said he’d like to see before the commission include a vote on a finalized impact fee study,

facility investment fees, incentives to discourage clear-cutting when a new development is put in and the limits of the future development area boundary line on the east side of the county.

Additionally, he asked for residents to submit ideas by email of projects, changes or improvements they’d like to see in the county’s land development code.

“If the rest of the BOCC (board of county commissioners) believes it should be making one-off changes for wetland buffers to negatively affect your quality of life, let’s collectively work on some meaningful public initiatives to improve your current and future quality of life in Manatee County,” Kruse said.

Kruse, one of two Manatee County at-large commissioners, can be reached by email at george.kruse@ mymanatee.org.

comprised of Republicans, and claimed that environmental groups were using children as “political pawns.”

The remarks drew groans from the audience.

Commissioner Mike Rahn said, “I’d like to get back to stormwater questions and concerns.”

During the public comment portion of the land use meeting, more than 30 people, including representatives from the scientific community and private citizens, spoke during the four-hour public hearing. Additionally, nearly 500 public comments were emailed to commissioners prior to the meeting, most opposed to a reduction in wetland protections.

Brice Claypool, 15, represented environmental advocacy group Kids for Clean Water at the meeting.

“I’m not a political pawn,” he said. “People ask me why are you doing this? And that’s because I love our local environment. I’ve been watching terrible things happen to our environment. I fear everything I love about our community is at risk of being lost. We need to start taking care of our waters. I’ve been dismayed by this board reducing protections for our waters despite the papers and evidence to support this.”

Claypool presented an open letter to the commission signed by 100 local youth.

Colin Curtis outlined what he sees as threats to the local environment.

“I’m a fisherman and I’ve seen the demise of water quality in Manatee County,” Curtis said. “We have three things going against us in Manatee. First, It’s low elevation, which means a slow drainage of our contaminants.

Vote to reduce wetland buffers

Having a narrow buffer zone exacerbates this process. Second we have a low tidal exchange. This is not enough to clean our rivers and estuaries of the contaminants including fertilizers that sink to the bottom. Third and most importantly are the overzealous developers, assisted by you guys. The common people of this county deserve clean water over the profits of developers.”

Glenn Compton spoke on behalf of ManaSota-88, a non-profit organization with a stated goal of protecting the public’s health and the preservation of the environment.

“We own four lots in Manatee County, they would be described as coastal wetlands,” Compton said. “We don’t feel there’s a government taking of our property, because you can’t do things like take down the mangroves or build a seawall. We feel there are rules and regulations in place that need to be followed for the benefit of the community and the environment. So we don’t believe the idea that wetland buffers is a taking of land by the government.”

Compton said that the board is expanding the role of government by encouraging development in a floodprone area.

“You’re going to have to provide services when the storm comes,” he said. “You’ll probably have to have federal flood insurance programs that will become more numerous in Manatee County. After the storm has passed, you’re going to have to deal with post-storm assistance which will be a cost to the taxpayers. This is an expansion of government into private property rights.”

Ken Piper said the purpose of this proposal is to “continue a policy of easy

development for crony capitalists.”

“This proposal subjects the county to more state control,” Piper said. “True conservatives wish to retain local control while favoring smaller government. The problem with protecting the fee simple property rights of developers is that ignores the property rights of the rest of us. The problem is you are claiming you are enhancing the property rights of the developer and you’re forgetting about the taxpayers’ investments through their property and their infrastructure.”

Chris Costello of the Sierra Club asked the board not to make this a partisan issue.

“It can’t be political, it can’t be partisan,” she said. “I refuse to believe Republicans care less. Your decision today will decrease protections. Do not make this a partisan issue, please.”

John Mast, representing the ManateeSarasota Building Industry Association, spoke in favor of the amendment.

“The primary objective of changing the comprehensive plan is to streamline and smooth the efficiency of the permitting process,” Mast said. “This alteration aims to minimize duplication in government regulations, ultimately reducing the time required for permitting procedures.”

Abbey Tyrna, executive director of Suncoast Waterkeeper, spoke to the board.

“I’m here not only representing Suncoast Waterkeeper, but the 2,331 signatures we received on our Save Our Wetlands petition,” she said. “We’re eliminating protections for all viable wetlands.”

Rusty Chinnis, of Suncoast Waterkeeper and The Sun’s outdoors columnist, said more protections,

not less, should be in place to protect the water.

“This is not being anti-development. Development is going to happen, but we need to consider smart development,” said Chinnis, a former builder. “Please carefully consider what you’re doing here. Everybody who comes here, who buys these homes here, come here because of the water quality. These are our waters. We shouldn’t be looking to the state. We should be looking to Manatee County and concerned, wise and informed commissioners.”

At the end of the meeting, Commissioner Jason Bearden made a motion to approve the change to the comprehensive plan. The motion was seconded by Van Ostenbridge, with a 5-1 vote in favor. Commissioner Ray Turner was absent from the Oct. 5 meeting. Commissioner George Kruse cast the lone dissenting vote.

The ordinance reads in part: “Adoption of an ordinance of the Board of County Commissioners of Manatee County… amending policy herein so that the county’s wetland impact mitigation standard and its wetland buffers requirements for isolated wetlands is consistent with state standards; allowing for engineering solutions to be considered adjacent to environmentally sensitive coastal wetlands; deleting text from the above-cited objectives regarding wetlands to achieve consistency with state standards.”

The hearing was the second on the reduction of wetland buffers. The first, on Aug. 17, ended in a 6-1 vote in favor of transmitting a comprehensive plan text amendment to the state of Florida, effectively reducing Manatee County wetland buffers. Kruse was also the lone voice of dissent in that vote.

Cortez welcomes fall with market

The Florida Maritime Museum and the Cortez Cultural Center opened their doors for the 25th Annual Cortez Nautical Flea Market and arts and crafts fair on Saturday. Exhibits at the museum showcase the state's maritime history, while the Cortez Cultural Center exhibits the history of the fishing village’s founding families.

Springfest applications now available

Each year, the Anna Maria Island Art League hosts the Springfest Festival of Fine Arts and Fine Crafts, featuring art, education, entertainment and food. Visitors will find handcrafted items offered for sale by talented artists at City Field in Holmes Beach on March 16 and 17, 2024. Vendor applications are now available at www.islandartleague.org.

Holmes Beach Night Market begins

The City of Holmes Beach and Bradenton Area Arts and Culture are kicking off the new Holmes Beach Night Market on Friday, Oct. 13 from 5-7:30 p.m. The event will take place monthly through April 12, 2024, featuring the Island Shopping Center and the following merchants: Artists’ Guild Gallery of Anna Maria

Island, D Coy Ducks, Small Town Creamery, How Lucky AMI, Pizza’s Pizza, Irene’s Clothing Store, Sand Dollar, The Feast, Hurricane Hank’s, Freckled Fin and The Doctor’s Office. Each business will stay open late, and there will be live music, demos, refreshments and more at the family-friendly event.

ISIS MAVENYENGWA | SUN

Above, handcrafted cigar box instruments were among the items at the event.

Right, Randy Taylor had elephant ear plants for sale.

Roser Church

“...a beautiful place to explore your faith...”

SUNDAY WORSHIP

8:30 AM in the Chapel

10:00 AM in the Sanctuar y Nurser y • Children’s Church

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The CHAPEL is open during o ce hours for prayer and meditation

941-778-0414 • 512 Pine Ave, Anna Maria • FOLLOW us on Facebook @RoserChurch

Anna Maria Elementary School students dressed in their red, white and blue for Celebrate Freedom Week on Sept. 29. Celebrate Freedom Week encourages instruction on the intent, meaning and importance of the Declaration of Independence.

AMI HISTORICAL SOCIETY | SUBMITTED

AMI Historical Society members Carolyn Orshak and Barbara Murphy recently bid farewell to Salty Sol.

AMI Historical Museum reopens

Salty Sol, the taxidermy sailfish, has retired from public life at the Anna Maria Island Historical Museum after hanging around for more than 25 years. After a brief closure to refresh and reconfigure the museum at 402 Pine Ave. in Anna Maria, the museum reopened for the season on Oct. 3. With free admission, the museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. From January through March, the museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

AMI HISTORICAL SOCIETY | SUBMITTED Settler’s Bread available

Homemade Settler’s Bread can be purchased at the seasonal farmers market every Tuesday from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at City Pier Park in Anna Maria. Using an old-fashioned recipe, Settler’s Bread is baked and sold by Anna Maria Island Historical Society volunteers. The bread sales proceeds are used to provide annual scholarships to local students.

Island artist featured at Palma Sola Botanical Park

Joanne Pattison, a member artist at the Artists’ Guild of Anna Maria Island, is the October Featured Artist at Palma Sola Botanical Park.

BY JASON SCHAFFER SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com

BRADENTON - The trees, plants and flowers are an inspiration to many who visit Palma Sola Botanical Park, but for one Island artist, they are works of art waiting to be painted.

Joanne Pattison, a member artist at the Artists’ Guild of Anna Maria Island in Holmes Beach, is the featured artist at the park for the month of October, with 23 of her watercolor paintings on display in the galleria.

Pattison enjoys painting plein air, or outdoors. With the majority of her work featuring local flora, Pattison says the park

is the perfect place to put her inspiration on canvas.

“Palma Sola Botanical Park got a grant from Art in the Park so they started having featured artists each month,” Pattison said.

Pattison said she didn’t always paint plein air, but now it’s her preferred method because she can see the three-dimensional flower or tree, as opposed to a picture, which doesn’t capture

the depth she sees in person. Like many Island artists, Pattison said she is inspired by the natural beauty of the area.

“The local beauty here is amazing,” Pattison said. “I’m originally from New York, but I’ve been here since the 1970s. It wasn’t until I came to Florida that I started painting. You just walk around and see the beauty everywhere when you’re here.”

Anyone wishing to meet Pattison will have two chances this month. She will be at the park on Thursday, Oct. 12 from 4-7 p.m. for a reception, as well as the Art in the Park new artist reception on Sunday, Oct. 29 from 4-7 p.m. The Oct. 29 event will also feature Trunk or Treat for the kids and complimentary light bites and beverage tastings by Tea Tree cafe for the adults.

Palma Sola Botanical Park is located at 9800 17th Ave. Hours are from 8 a.m. to dusk every day and admission is free.

The Artists’ Guild of Anna Maria Island’s ‘Paint the Town’ returns with multiple upcoming events at the gallery in Holmes Beach.

BY JASON SCHAFFER SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com

HOLMES BEACH - As the weather begins to cool, outdoor activities are returning to Anna Maria Island, and a popular one is the Artists’ Guild of Anna Maria Island’s (AGAMI) “Paint the Town.” Debuting last year, “Paint the Town” is a series of monthly activities hosted by AGAMI, many of which are outdoors.

JOANNE PATTISON | SUBMITTED Island artist Joanne Pattison is the Featured Artist at Palma Sola Botanical Park for the month of October. The tree pictured grows at DeSoto National Memorial in Bradenton.

‘Paint the Town’ begins this week

JASON SCHAFFER | SUN

Art lovers browse works of art from more than 50 member artists at the Artists’ Guild of Anna Maria Island in Holmes Beach.

Coquina Beach Market reopens after more than a year

The market is open three days a week.

BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH – Coquina Beach Market vendor Christine Barrett loves her new office.

“Look at this,” she said. “My ‘office’ has the most beautiful view. What could be better than this?”

Barrett, of Five Acre Woods woodworking crafts, was at one of 80 vendor spots at the long-awaited Oct. 5 opening of the market on Coquina Beach.

“It’s been fairly busy today,” said Barrett, adding that she had been a vendor at the “old” Coquina Beach Market, located north of the current Manatee County-run market, but pulled out because of the construction at the beach.

Marketgoers perused offerings of clothing, foods, decorative items and jewelry on opening day. A ribbon-cutting will be held at the market on Wednesday, Oct. 11 at 10 a.m.

The market will be open on Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 6 p.m.

Nancy Ambrose ran the market for 10

years before Manatee County took over operations in August 2022. Originally slated to open in November 2022, the market was delayed by damage from Hurricane Ian and parking lot construction. Vendors who would like to participate in upcoming markets may visit Coquinabeachmarket.org and text name, company name, product and email address to 941-840-0789 or email the information to info@coquinabeachmarket.org.

Bayfest organizers seek sponsors, vendors

Anna Maria Island’s biggest and longest running festival, Bayfest, will be held on Saturday, Oct. 21 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Pine Avenue in Anna Maria. Each year, Bayfest features food, drinks, art and craft vendors, live music and more for the entire family. Sponsorship prices and availability, as well as vendor rules and applications, can be downloaded at www.amichamber.org or call Terri Kinder at 941-778-1541 for more information.

LESLIE LAKE | SUN

Above left, shoppers peruse the Beach Market offerings on the Oct. 5 opening day. Above right, Vendor Christine Barrett stands behind her woodworking booth.

Pool America shuts out Slim's Place

BY MONICA SIMPSON SPECIAL TO THE SUN

ANNA MARIA – With just one win, team Pool America moved from the bottom of the ranks in the adult co-ed soccer league to fourth place. The team, led by team captain Chris Klotz, took the pitch against the winless Slim’s Place squad.

Sharing the bottom of the ranks just minutes before, Pool America shut out the Slim’s Place team 7-0.

Posting nine saves in the game, Klotz helped move his team up the ladder in the keeper position. Teammate Luca Vecchio had a hat trick during 40 minutes of regulation play.

Scoring three goals against Slim’s Place goalie Steve Oelfke, Vecchio shares scoring honors with Nate Welch and Austin Nutting. Oelfke had eight total saves in the week five game.

Pool America’s Sam Parker sent a shot that bent into the net for her solo goal of the night.

Gulf Drive Café won its third game of the season, 6-1, against the Sato Real Estate team. Putting 14 saves in the statistics, Charles “Tuna” Mc-

Cracken worked hard at the net for the Gulf Drive team.

Ben Sato made 10 stops in the goal across the field from McCracken. Both teams’ offenses kept the opposing goalkeepers on their toes the entire game.

On offense, the only point for Sato Real Estate came from last-minute team add-on, Lyn Clarke. Clarke’s goal was on an Amy Ivin assist. Ivin is a weekly high scorer and offensive powerhouse.

Shooting for the win, Gulf Drive Café’s team captain, Kevin Roman, scored five goals, with a single by Alejandro Aviles. Aviles provided a nice pass to Roman, resulting in one of his many points in the game.

In a nailbiter, the Ross Built Custom Homes team took the win by one goal over Gulfview Windows & Doors, 7-6. Gulfview’s captain, Keith Mahoney, scored three goals in the match along with teammate Jesus Martinez.

The two hat tricks kept the Gulfview team in the game, but the scoring efforts of the Ross Built squad eked out the victory. With two goals each, Daniel Hampton, Ethan Hampton and Greg Ross put six points on the scoreboard, while Selena Gonzalez-Salinas had a solo goal.

Gulfview’s Raul Loera is credited with six saves. Helping Ross Built capture its fourth W of the season, keeper Max Gazzo made seven huge stops against the Gulfview offense.

Team Moss Builders remains unde-

feated and at the top of the ranking after a three-point win over the Sandbar Seafood & Spirits squad in the final game last

With the final score of 7-4, Moss’ Dean Hinterstoisser’s hat trick complimented the goals by teammates Rex Kesten, James Lynch and Gerardo Urbiola

Their strong team play is part of the reason the Moss Builders team is dominating the league after five weeks. Hinterstoisser and Urbiola Bolanos each had two assists. Lynch is noted with a single assist. Captain Ryan Moss continues to be a force in the net as the goalkeeper for his team, with 10 saves Thursday night.

Across the field, seven saves were made by Robb Marshall for the Sandbar team. His efforts, along with two goals by Aaron Frech and Matt Staggs, helped the squad fight hard through the two halves of Island soccer.

With only two games left before adult co-ed soccer playoffs begin, the postseason match-ups are still up in the air. One game behind Moss Builders, Ross Built Custom Homes is within reach of finishing the season on top.

Welcome to Freedom Village

Freedom Village is a premier Life Care senior living community that features beautiful living accommodations and a full range of health care services at our scenic 34-acre campus located in West Bradenton.

Our community provides financial security and peace of mind in a safe, friendly, and comfortable environment where daily living is stress-free, and friendships come easily Simply stated, we take care of our residents for life.

If you, or someone you know, would benefit from senior living in our community, please join us for a free luncheon to learn more. RSVPs are required by calling 941-231-7434

MONICA SIMPSON | SUN

Pool America’s Enrique Claderas races past Lindsey Styka and Stephen Adair, playing for Slim’s Place, in the Island’s co-ed soccer league.

Giving back Reel Time

Seagrass was growing back and there was cause for hope and celebration. Red tides and algae blooms still occurred, and nitrogen levels increased, but we seemed to be on a hopeful track.

consider myself extremely lucky to have spent the last 40-plus years on an island in an area celebrated as the Suncoast. As an ardent angler, I’ve explored the bays, estuaries, islands and Gulf and feel incredibly blessed for the opportunities I’ve had. Like other anglers, I share the desire to “give back,” to work to protect this incredibly rich and diverse habitat after experiencing our effects on its health over time.

When I arrived here in 1981 the waters of the Suncoast were beginning to recover from decades of unregulated dredge and fill projects, stormwater runoff, overfishing and inadequate sewage systems. Over four decades I saw bag and size limits created to protect fish stocks and watched as waters begin to recover as insults were addressed.

Unfortunately, all that was so laboriously gained over half a century has been lost in just the last six years. Seagrass beds disappeared, lyngbya blooms, late summer occurrences since the 1980s, exploded in early spring and blanketed the already stressed grass beds and left shorelines lined in anoxic milky white water. Populations of some fish species plummeted and businesses suffered.

One of the advantages anglers have living in and fishing an area over time is the ability (given your eyes and mind are open) to gain insight into the seemingly inexorable changes that occur around you over time. As I’ve worked with like-minded individuals to protect mangroves, fish stocks and the waters of our bays and Gulf, I always wondered why harmful algae blooms, a/k/a red tides, were reported by the Spaniards in the 16th and 17th centuries. There wasn’t overpopulation to throw

the system off balance. The answer to that question came to me as I read the accounts of those same Spaniards, Cuban fishermen and indigenous Indians in Jack Davis’ Pulitzer Prize-winning book “The Gulf, The Making of an American Sea.” In those pages, I learned about accounts relating to instances of the skies turning dark as thousands of seabirds passed overhead on a cloudless day, of fish schools so thick that

it wasn’t much of an overstatement that you could walk their backs across broad stretches of the inland bays.

Suddenly it became clear to me (caveat, I’m no scientist) that the same red tides that polluters discount with “it’s natural” (like cancer’s normal is my retort) may have been nature’s way of attempting to keep the waters balanced. Before man left his scars on the ecosystem, the explosion of life was kept in check by this organism that’s triggered by excess nitrogen. It dawned on me that harmful algae blooms may function like forest fires in a natural system. Now the same marker nitrogen, produced by human activity, triggers longer and more intense outbreaks that track population growth.

Every time I’m at the beach and see young children splashing in the surf with gleeful enthusiasm and fishing the local piers I have to wonder, what kind of world will we leave these kids? My experiences, the lessons I’ve learned, and the camaraderie of friends on the Suncoast have been an incentive to give back for all we’ve been given. To be sure in these strange and uncertain times these efforts can verge on being depressing. That’s why I have to constantly remind myself of the words of the Dalai Lama, “If you work to save the world and the world is lost, no regrets.”

MICHAEL RITER | SUBMITTED

Hudson Fisher caught his first redfish in Longboat Pass with his grandfather, Michael Riter, also known as Pickle. Will his children have the same opportunity?

RUSTY CHINNIS

Fall fishing fine

CAPT. RICK GRASSETT

Fly anglers fishing with me out of CB’s Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key had good action with a variety of species in Sarasota recently. Pat Beckwith, of Sarasota, fished deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay and had good action catching and releasing numerous trout, pompano and more on Clouser flies. Rusty Chinnis, of Longboat Key, and I scouted the coastal Gulf on a couple of trips and caught and released several false albacore, Spanish mackerel and a tripletail on flies. With plentiful baitfish and stone crab traps now being placed in the coastal Gulf, it may be a strong fall season.

Look for reds in skinny water and snook and juvenile tarpon around dock lights. You should also find snook in the surf. Deep grass flats are usually a good option for action for trout and seasonal species.

Our natural resources are under constant pressure from red tides and other algae blooms fueled by residential, 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. RICK GRASSETT | SUBMITTED Pat Beckwith, of Sarasota, with a pompano, caught and released on a fly, and Rusty Chinnis, of Longboat Key, with a tripletail, caught and released on a fly, both while fishing with Capt. Rick Grassett.

Where’s Suzi?

SUBMITTED

Suzi, a loggerhead sea turtle released from Coquina Beach after nesting and being satellite-tagged on June 27, has been zigzagging in the Gulf of Mexico near the Yucatan Peninsula for the past several weeks. In a field of 11 sea turtles in the Sea Turtle Conservancy’s Tour de Turtles race, she is in sixth place, having traveled 873 miles. Suzi is swimming to bring attention to the cause of light pollution and how lighting near shore can negatively impact nesting turtles and their hatchlings. She was named in honor of Suzi Fox, the late executive director of Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring, which is sponsoring her along with the Coastal Wildlife Club and Waterline Marina and Resort. Visit The Sun’s Facebook page for weekly updates in “Where’s Suzi?” and visit amisun.com for weekly updates on turtles nesting activity in “Nesting News.”

Holmes Beach gas station for sale

A Mobil gas station in Holmes Beach is on the market with Keller Williams on the Water with an asking price of $2.2 million. The gas station and convenience store, 3015 Gulf Drive, is owned by Pey Petroleum. According to the real estate listing, the 1,677-square-foot building is located on a 0.3-acre property and was built in 1966. The parcel is zoned C-3 for high-intensity commercial use.

PAINT: Event begins this week

FROM PAGE 15

The events are intended to include visitors and residents in the rich art life on Anna Maria Island through activities that include artists’ demonstrations, a People's Choice Award and Paint-A-Round events with gallery artists. The events will be held during one week each month.

October “Paint the Town” activities are:

• Oct. 10-12 - Sidewalk art demonstrations and sales;

• Oct. 13 - Paint-A-Round in the AGAMI Gallery parking lot. Five painting set-ups will be in front of the gallery. Five AGAMI artists will move around every 15 to 20 minutes to work on the paintings. When completed, visitors can

buy a raffle ticket for one of the collaborative art pieces;

• Monthly People's Choice Award in the gallery. Visitors will be asked to place a dot on the label for up to three works of art. Winners will have ribbons placed next to the works with the most dots.

The Artists' Guild, an allvolunteer, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, was formed in 1989 to promote and support creative processes by bringing together all artists to share experiences, expertise and work together to develop and promote the artistic community. The gallery is located at 5414 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Anna Maria

August 2023 tourist tax collections compared to August 2022

Total*

*(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 tourism-related attractions such as the Bradenton Beach and Anna Maria piers. Amounts

shown were collected in August and paid to the Manatee County Tax Collector’s Office in September. 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

Carbonara, from Rome to Longboat Key

Debra Murphy

VENTURA'S ITALIAN KITCHEN

Simple. Fresh. Delicious. These are the words I would use to describe the most famous dish in Rome, carbonara. Now, as an American, I would proudly like to say that carbonara is an American dish, and some may tell you that, because the U.S. soldiers in Rome after WWII would bring their daily eggs and bacon to the Roman cooks and ask them to prepare a meal for them. But if you do your homework, there are many uses around many different regions of Italy long before our soldiers were in Rome. You could find versions in Naples dating as far back as the 1700s and in northern Italy in the 1800s. Some ingredients may have changed, but the simplicity of the four ingredients remained the staple, egg, pork fat, cheese and black pepper. Eggs should be the freshest you can find; they are the star of the dish. Organic eggs are brighter in color and add more flavor.

The pork fat, guanciale, is preferred by the Romans, but pancetta is perfectly acceptable. I am told bacon is not acceptable, but on a recent visit to Rome, a very famous restaurant we dined at served crispy bacon as a garnish. So when in Rome…

Cheese, your favorite version of Parmigiano; there are even recipes I have come across that had Swiss! At Ventura’s, we use Romano, it is a little saltier than our Parmigiano we use and works well with the eggs.

Pasta along the way also varies, but

Carbonara

Ingredients per serving

1 egg, 1 yolk

2 ounces guanciale or pancetta

½ cup Romano cheese

Freshly ground pepper

1 tablespoon salt for pasta water

6 ounces pasta

Pasta water reserve

Directions:

Boil pasta in salted water to al dente

Crack eggs and beat with Romano cheese, temper with a little pasta water

Saute guanciale or pancetta, set aside

Add drained pasta to new sauté pan, add egg mixture and mix constantly over low heat, adding pasta water until pasta is coated with the egg sauce. Remove from heat, add pancetta and a little oil reserved from meat and black pepper. Toss and serve.

the Roman tradition is rigatoni or spaghetti. Some people prefer an egg pasta over a traditional semolina pasta.

In the southern part of Italy, near the beaches, seafood was added, while in the north, the egg yolk was not mixed in, but dressed on top. Variations over the years have had all types of vegetables, including mushrooms, truffle, onions, peppers and even eggplant.

At Ventura’s, we keep it simple. Four ingredients over spaghetti with each entrée being cooked to order. Carbonara is a simple recipe, but she can be tricky, and as Ventura’s chefs will attest to, she is true Italian, a work of art, and sometimes a bit temperamental.

Pasta needs to be cooked al dente. When cooking it, use salt, go ahead add a little more to the water, and wait for

that water to boil, a rapid boil. As your water needs time to boil, open a bottle of your favorite white wine. I have found the Sicilian white wines pair nicely. We have chosen Feudo Disisa Lu Bancu Catarratto, Montreale, IT 2020, which was featured on Forbes magazine’s Twelve Best Wines of 2022.

You will find Ventura's just over the

Longboat Key bridge from Anna Maria Island, on Bishop’s Bayou, tucked in the corner of Whitney Plaza at 6814 Gulf of Mexico Drive. Ventura’s offers indoor and al fresco dining along the water, online ordering, takeout and delivery to Bradenton Beach and all of Longboat Key. Buono!

SUBMITTED

Making lemonade out of a lemon real estate market

Sometimes it looks like the national real estate market and the highinterest mortgage rates are nothing but lemons. But one startup company has found a way to turn the lemons into lemonade.

Assumable mortgages are something that was not uncommon back in the more civilized real estate era. Many conventional mortgages had an assumable clause built into the mortgage, giving lenders another source of potential borrowers. Those days are long gone except for government mortgages, including VA and FHA loans, which usually still contain an assumable clause.

What is an assumable mortgage?

An assumable mortgage allows sellers to transfer their mortgage loan to the buyer purchasing their home. An assumable transaction doesn’t replace an old mortgage with a new one, but instead transfers the old mortgage to the new owner. The seller is relieved of the remaining mortgage liability and

Castles in the Sand

LOUISE BOLGER

the balance of the outstanding loan is subtracted from the purchase price. The buyer, of course, must come up with cash to cover the balance of the purchase price.

Roam is the name of a new real estate startup launched several weeks ago in a handful of states, including Florida, who - for a fee - will search out properties with assumable mortgages. They will handle the paperwork and work through the system and the seller’s mortgage company on behalf of both buyer and seller to facilitate the mortgage transfer and property sale. Roam’s goal is to attract lenders and investors who can place new loans for the balance of the

selling price, possibly at higher rates to compensate them for holding the assumable mortgage at lower rates. It’s not for a novice but, if successful, could open more available properties for buyers.

There are always good and bad points to anything new to the marketplace. If something looks too good to be true, it may be. Some of the pros for purchasing an assumable mortgage are lower interest rates, an obvious benefit for the buyer. Having an assumable mortgage gives significantly more exposure to a seller’s property. Closing costs will be lower and no appraisal is necessary, saving more money, and the buyer is assuming less debt.

The negative side of an assumable mortgage is a larger down payment, which is fine if a buyer has a lot of home equity or cash. Buyers still need to meet the lender’s credit and income requirements, and the buyer does not have a choice of lender.

Buyers who are assuming a VA-backed

mortgage won’t be entitled to another VA loan until the assumed loan is paid off. Therefore, if you are getting VA benefits you may need to wait a while to qualify for another loan.

You may also be required to carry mortgage insurance depending on the amount of loan assumed and the loanto-value ratio.

As I pointed out, this is a balancing act and not for everyone. Assumable mortgages could work great if you’re buying from a family member. If you don’t want a federal loan and are more comfortable with a conventional mortgage, it won’t work. Sellers with an assumable mortgage who may be having a problem selling their property could benefit by using it to make their home more desirable and advantageous to buyers.

Lemons or lemonade, the yin and yang of the real estate market. Just one more thing to add to the confusion.

BEACH BEAT

BRADENTON BEACH

10/2, 7:47, no valid driver license, 700 Gulf Drive S. While on patrol, two officers observed a vehicle traveling at 39 mph in a 25 mph zone. When they pulled the vehicle over, the driver admitted to not having a valid driver license. While talking to the driver, the officer smelled the strong odor of unburnt marijuana. A search of the vehicle turned up nine grams of marijuana. The driver was cited for not having a license and the marijuana was confiscated for destruction.

HOLMES BEACH

9/28, 12:42 a.m., Marchman Act, 3000 Gulf Drive. The officer saw a man sitting in the bike lane along Gulf Drive with his back to traffic. The officer stopped to talk to the man, who had

bloodshot eyes and slurred speech. The man also had an open plastic bottle of alcohol sitting on the road beside him. The officer said the man was unable to move off the roadway on his own and asked him if someone could pick him up and take him home. The contacts he gave the officer did not answer the phone when the officer called, so the decision was made to put him in protective custody under the Marchman Act. The man was taken to Centerstone for treatment.

9/29, 12:18 a.m., trespass warning, 5410 Marina Drive. The officer responded to D Coy Ducks bar in reference to an intoxicated customer the bartender wanted trespassed from the property. The officer found the man around the corner in the nearby laundromat and determined the man was intoxicated. The man was trespassed from the bar and informed he would be arrested if he returned.

OBITUARIES

Charles Edward “Buddy” Coale

Charles Edward “Buddy” Coale, 55, passed away on Oct. 5, 2023, in Sarasota, Florida after five months in the hospital. Buddy was born on May 16, 1968 in Maryland and spent most of his life there. Buddy graduated from Havre de Grace High School in 1986. For many years, he worked for his dad and Dal-Col. He also volunteered at the Darlington Volunteer Fire Company. In his free time, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, crabbing and lounging on the beach on Anna Maria Island. He was predeceased by his

father, Joseph (Joe) Coale. Buddy is survived by his mother, Joanne Coale; sisters, Debra Raymond and K. Denay (John) Coale-Hunter; daughter, Aubrey (Alec) Stevens; granddaughter, Adeline Stevens; nieces, nephews, and numerous Coale family.

A Memorial Service is planned on Saturday, Oct. 21 at 11 a.m. at Grace Memorial Episcopal Church. Brown & Sons Funeral Homes & Crematory 26th Street Chapel is in charge of arrangements. Memorial donations may be made to Grace Memorial Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 135, Darlington, Maryland 21034 or Darlington Volunteer Fire Company, 2600 Castleton Road, Darlington, Maryland 21034.

Richard "Dick" Grimme

Richard "Dick" Grimme, 95, passed away on Aug. 23, 2023. Dick was born on Sept. 27, 1927 in Dayton, Kentucky. He was

preceded in death by his beloved wife of 59 years, Nancy. He is survived by his two sons, Tom (Cindy) of Bradenton, Florida, and Greg (Karen) of Kettering, Ohio; three grandchildren, Brad (Stephanie), Jackie, Christine (Greg) Vereb; and one greatgrandchild, James. A resident of Holmes Beach since 1987, he enjoyed following the Tampa Bay Rays, Buccaneers and following news and current events. An avid golfer, he was a member of the Key Royale Golf Club where he enjoyed playing golf and socializing with friends. Donations in Dick's memory can be made to Tidewell Hospice Inc., 5955 Rand Blvd. Sarasota, Florida 34238 or to St. Jude Children's Hospital (stjude.org/donatetoday). A funeral Mass will take place at St. Bernard Catholic Church, 248 South Harbor Drive, Holmes Beach, Florida on Saturday, Nov. 4 at 11 a.m.

Sports Lounge hosting farewell party

The Sports Lounge will host a going away party for long-time bartender Patrick Edwards on Thursday, Oct. 12. Edwards is moving to Fort Lauderdale to begin a new career as a boat salesman and his farewell party will start at 4 p.m. and last well into the night. “What will I miss about Patrick? Every thing,” his co-worker Courtney McGough said. “He’s been a staple of this bar for five-and-a-half years. He’s been a great bartender, a great friend and he’ll be missed.” Edwards spent the past 12½ years working on Bridge Street, working at Island Time for several years before moving on to The Sports Lounge. When asked what he’ll miss about the lounge and Bradenton Beach, Edwards said, “The people. I made a lot of great friends on this Island over the years. I had a lot of great times and I have a lot of great memories.” Chef Ezio will be cooking up some of Patrick’s favorite dishes free of cost and bartenders Ryan and Shannon will be serving drinks all night long. The Sports Lounge is located at 118 Bridge St. in Bradenton Beach.

CONSOLIDATION: Lawmakers go silent

FROM PAGE 1

at the meeting. Attending were Mayor Judy Titsworth, Commissioner Terry Schaefer and City Attorney Erica Augello. When it was time to speak, Schaefer took to the podium to discuss the importance of home rule.

“Over the past three years alone, 81 bills have been passed by the Legislature that have critically diluted home rule,” Schaefer said. “We have had our

differences with you over two home rule issues recently, however, we are encouraged by the process and sincere discussions occurring with your leadership and the Island’s three mayors. We all hope to produce the best outcome for Island residents, visitors and stakeholders and appreciate the opportunity to work with you in earnest.”

The only member of the delegation to speak to Schaefer’s comments was Boyd. He

said that while he agrees with Schaefer’s statements on home rule, the place where the two differ is on the governance of land use.

During a meeting held in January, the delegation brought up the consolidation study and voted in favor of it. They also presented a local bill to allow Manatee County to build a three-story parking garage at Manatee Beach in Holmes Beach against the city’s land develop-

Holmes Beach Commissioner Terry Schaefer speaks on behalf of the city to members of the Manatee County Legislative Delegation on Oct. 5.

ment code and local ordinances. That bill passed at the state level during the 2023 legislative

ZONING: Expert to review ‘big red flag’ in irregularities

property rights have become legal non-conformities, because from what I understand, this commission wants to protect what’s been approved and given to people.”

“I think it’s only fair that if it (the data from Serna) triggers those areas, we need to let those people know what’s going on,” she said. “Then you can decide on that data. Do we send it over

to the land planning agency and let them decide and possibly adjust the language as needed?”

“I have talked with Steve (Gilbert),” Mayor John Chappie said. “We need more data to see if it is major and we need our planner - Luis Serna - to do this data collection and bring it back to the city commission. Then we on the city commission will decide if we need to do something. Or send it to the Planning and Zoning Board to review this. But it’s

important it comes back to the commission first.”

Commissioner Jan Vosburgh urged that the data collection process be done quickly.

Perry read a draft motion: “A motion to authorize Luis Serna to work with staff to review the city’s comprehensive plan as it relates to the number of units for the comp plan designations by looking at all existing developments six units or greater, and providing an analysis to

session and gained Gov. Ron DeSantis’s signature despite local opposition.

the city commission identifying the floor area ratio, lot coverage, number of units and average square footage together with any information with the date of approval and the development approval mechanism to the city commission.”

Cole made the motion and Vosburgh seconded it. Commissioners approved it unanimously. Commissioners Jake Spooner and Marilyn Maro were absent with excuse from the meeting.

FROM PAGE 8

KRISTIN SWAIN | SUN

KUHLMAN: Strong ties to Bradenton Beach

real estate and being part of Wagner Realty’s history since its beginnings in 1939 on the Island.”

Judy and Dick continued to visit 3 Pines Cottage least once a year, until Judy’s ongoing bout with multiple sclerosis (MS) made those Florida visits too challenging. Dick said they didn’t return in 2022 or 2023, but he plans to visit for six weeks next March.

WELL-TRAVELED COUPLE

“Judy developed MS when she was 34. She was a fighter and she fought MS until she died. She was a chemist. She started with Merck in New Jersey. I was with Esso at the time in New Jersey. Before that, she was an Army wife in Germany, North Carolina and Texas. She taught Army kids at an elementary school in Fort Bragg,” Dick said.

“Then we moved to New Jersey and she became a literature scientist for Merck. Then she started her own antique business, ‘Judy’s Bygones.’ Then I changed jobs and we went to St. Louis. We were there 18 years and she became involved in philanthropy. Then I got transferred to Richmond, Virginia. After five years there, I transferred to Detroit and she loved that, being closer to Elmore. I worked there until I retired in 2010 and we moved back to our hometown of Elmore, which is where we started.

“We were gone 50 years and then we came back. We went from Elmore to Bowling Green, to Columbus, to

Texas, to West Germany, to North Carolina, to St. Louis, to Richmond, to Southfield, Michigan and back to Elmore,” Dick said, noting their return visits to Bradenton Beach remained constant during those five decades.

At the time of her passing, Judy remained a member in good standing of the Annie Silver Community Center.

“We have them in our living will and trust for when I pass away,” Dick said.

CHANGING TIMES

Dick mentioned how the taxes and other expenses associated with owning a beachfront cottage have increased over the years.

“The taxes are so bloody high down there. You have to rent the place out or you couldn’t afford it. When we bought the place, the taxes were about $600-$700 a year. Now they’re almost

$18,000 a year. And then you’ve got your insurance for $6,000, your water, sewer, electricity, internet, pest control and lawn maintenance. If you don’t earn at least $25,000 (from rentals) you’re in the hole,” he said.

He also noted another significant change that took place over the years.

“The big change on the Island as far as we’re concerned – and it was a negative and a positive, and mostly positive – was after the storms of 1986 or '87 the Army Corps of Engineers later renourished the beaches.”

According to Charlie Hunsicker, the director of Manatee County’s Natural Resources Department, after reaching a renourishment agreement, Manatee County and the Army Corps initiated the first beach renourishment efforts in Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach in November 1992 and completed them in March 1993.

“Before that, there was a seawall 50 feet from our windows, with steps leading down to the water. At high tide, we could hear the water slapping against the seawall. The storms took our seawall out. We had to put a new one in and it cost us about $60,000. Then they renourished the beach to what it is today. The seawall is invisible and it's under the sand. That was a huge change,” Dick said.

“Before that, the only people that went on your beach was you. There were rock jetties on both sides of our beach and it was very private. Now it’s totally public. You lost your privacy, but on the other hand it brought all this new money in from people who want to walk and jog and go up and down the beach. It’s been a real plus, but I think the old-timers miss their privacy,” he said.

WAGNER REALTY | SUBMITTED ANNIE SILVER COMMUNITY CENTER | SUBMITTED Floyd and Florence Myers brought their Airstream trailer to Bradenton Beach in the late 1940s. Floyd Myers, fourth from left, was the first president of the Annie E. Silver Shuffleboard Club.

FUN IN THE SUN

ANNOUNCEMENTS

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

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

HOSPITAL VOLUNTEERS

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

COMMERCIAL SALES, RENT & LEASE

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

CLEANING SERVICE

TOTAL HOME SERVICES CLEANING

: Residential, Commercial, Rentals, VRBO. Professional and Reliable. Call 941-756-4570 or 941-565-3931

EMPLOYMENT

EXPERIENCED HAIR STYLIST NEEDED! Take over a full book of Business. Please stop by for an interview. A Hair Day 9516 Cortez Rd. 941-795-5227

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

AMANA 20 GAS STOVE. Electric ignition, very good condition. Oven is off by 20 degrees. $300. Call 516-641-2770

GARAGE SALES

ONE DAY ONLY! Saturday. 9am-1:00pm October

14. Tools, saws, drills, air compressor, a/c equipment, much more. Cash only. 512 Bayview Drive, Holmes Beach.

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

TILE! TILE! TILE! All variations of tile supplied and installed. Quality workmanship. Prompt, reliable, many Island references. Free estimates. Neil 941726-3077

RENOVATION SPECALIST

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

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

GET’R DONE DRYWALL, INC Specializing in Remodels & Repairs. Island Resident for 20+ years. Call Neil. Cell 941-9621194

JSAN CORPORATION

Renovations Construction & Handyman Services 941-243-0995

Lic# CRC1332505 jsancorporation@gmail. com Flooring, Drywall, Painting, Repairs, Kitchen and Bathrooms, Trim & Doors. Free Estimates. Credit Cards Accepted.

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

ISLE TILE specializing in Custom Bath/Shower & Backsplash installation. Pressure washing available. Call 941-302-8759 isletileservices.com

GORILLA DRYWALL REPAIR, LLC. 15+ years of experience. Free Estimates. Let’s solve your Drywall problems together. Call 941-286-0607.

LANDSCAPING & LAWN CARE

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

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, and weeding. Weekly, bi-monthly or monthly schedule. Pressure washing. Call Bill Witaszek 941307-9315

LOST & FOUND

LOST WALLET AROUND Judy’s Restaurant. Please call 313-310-3290. REWARD

LOST KEY FOB at Pickle ball courts in Holmes Beach. Please call 941778-2919.

LOST GOLD RING High School Graduation with PA on Top. Please call 941243-1444

MOVING & STORAGE

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

PAINTING & WALLCOVERING

PAINT! PAINT! AND MORE

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

“WIZARD OF WALLS”

Established 1980

Prompt quality service. Wallpaper installation/ removal. Mary Bell Winegarden 941-794-0455

DONALD PERKINS ABRACADABRA PAINTING LLC fully insured. 30 years experience. Many Island references. Call 941-705-7096

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

POOL SERVICES

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

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

PRESSURE WASHING & WINDOWS

TOTAL HOME SERVICES CLEANING: Residential, Commercial, Construction, Vacation, VRBO Rentals . Also available Pressure Washing, Roof Cleaning, Paver Sealing and Windows. Call 941-5653931.

T & B PRESSURE WASHING Licensed & Insured. Driveways/sidewalks, Roofs, Pool cages, Fences, House (soft wash/ downstream). Call 813638-7636. tandbpressurewashing@yahoo. com Family owned and operated.

REAL ESTATE HOMES & CONDOS FOR SALE

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

LOOKING FOR A highly motivated real estate broker to buy or sell your next home? Darcie Duncan, Broker Duncan Real Estate a lifelong island resident bringing success to her customers for 30 years. Proven track record brings you results! 941-725-1589

419 CLARK ,HOLMES BEACH, 2909 sqf Ranch -Weekly rental zone. Boat slip avail. Furnished. Great Price. Christine Kourik, Remax 314-440-7574

104 29th HOLMES BEACH 3BR/2BA, private deck. Furnished. View of the beach. Zoned weekly rental. Christine Kourik, Remax 314-440-7574

TIRED OF HURRICANE SEASON & want to sell? Call Kelly The Kelly Gitt Team Proud Veteran Keller Williams on the Water 941-799-9299

RENTALS: ANNUAL

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

SUNNYSHORES/ SAGAMORE ESTATES

AREA: Annual rental, home with 3BR/1.5BA. Includes washer, dryer, screened in patio, parking under carport, and access to boat ramp and park by Palma Sola Bay. $1,900 per month. Call 941-705-0532

ANNUAL HOLMES BEACH 4BR/3BA $3980/mo + utilities. Walk to beach. 2BR/2BA $2500/mo + utilities.Please Call 860-922-3857.

RENTALS: SEASONAL & VACATION

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

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

ANNA MARIA ISLAND

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

SEASONAL RENTALAVAILABLE Jan- March 2024 3 mo min. Westbay Point & Moorings 2BR/2BA ground floor waterfront unit. Beautiful open water views. $6,000/mo + taxes/fees. Contact Fran Maxon Real Estate for details 941-778-2307.

TRANSPORTATION

AMI TAXI credit cards, cash, Venmo accepted. Airport: Tampa $105, Sarasota $50, St. Pete/Clearwater $105, Orlando $220. Call 941447-8372, www.amitaxi. com GOLF CART RENTALS

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

Sales Associate

Katie Self

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Sales Associate

Lindsey Leech Strickland Broker Associate Tom Aposporos

Sales Associate

Martha Jones Robel

Sales Associate April Green Sales Associate

Michelle Laade Cindy Jones

Darcie Duncan

Sales Associate Diann Roberts Sales Associate Sales ssociate Broker Associate Sales Associate Paige Rogers Sales Associate

Robyn Hawk