Anna Maria Island Sun October 16, 2019

- Named Best Florida Newspaper In Its Class -

VOL 20 No. 1

October 16, 2019

A fun fall festival

TOM VAUGHT | SUN

Students from Mrs. Buff’s class march behind a banner from the Anna Maria City Pier Park to The Center after having their costumes judged. The field at The Center was loaded with games and rides, and inside the building there was the haunted house and laser tag. See more photos on Page 11.

Spring Lake recovery slow City leaders hope that Spring Lake is on the road to recovery, however, they expect progress to be slow.

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

HOLMES BEACH – The city’s leaders are hopeful for the recovery of Spring Lake’s waters but warn residents that a full recovery is going to take some time.

Mayor Judy Titsworth briefly touched on the issue in her state of the city address Oct. 8 during a commission meeting, saying that she feels the lake is on the road to recovery though recovery will be slow.

INSIDE NEWS 4 CALENDAR 7 OUTDOORS 24 REAL ESTATE 30-33 ENTERTAINMENT 34 SPORTS 35 CROSSWORD 36

Though the newly installed aeration system is running 24 hours per day now, Development Services Director Eran Wasserman said the lake is expected to improve more rapidly but that it will still take time to see the water begin to clear.

He asks that lakeside residents just be patient with the process as the city’s staff and contractors work to oxygenate the water and mix the water column via the aeration system to make it a healthier environment for fish and for good bacteria to grow to help eat away at the muck on the bottom of the lake, comprised primarily of decayed organic matter.

During public comment, commission SEE SPRING LAKE, PAGE 29

KRISTIN SWAIN | SUN

The aeration system at Spring Lake, seen bubbling in the middle of the lake, is now running 24 hours a day.

BAYFEST comes to

MUSIC FESTIVAL to benefit

Pine Avenue in Anna Maria Saturday. 8

Wildlife Inc. 4

Anna Maria Island, Florida

CITY and WMFR team up for

pickleball tourney. 22 The Island’s award-winning weekly newspaper www.amisun.com

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OCTOBER 16, 2019

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Pier buildings going up Mayor Dan Murphy proposes the creation a pier oversight board.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA – The construction of the new Anna Maria City Pier bait shop began last week with Mason Martin Builders erecting the first bait shop wall on Tuesday, Oct. 8.

On Thursday, Oct. 10, Mayor Dan Murphy provided the City Commission with an update that included photographs of the new bait shop being built on the new pier’s T-end.

Murphy said he, Public Works Manager Dean Jones and Building Official Luke Curtis took a tour of the pier earlier that day and the construction of the new restaurant building had not yet begun.

“We’re making some great progress.

This building is really sound, it’s over-engineered. When I compare to what we saw with the old pier, this is really something.

It’s a monument to stability,” he said.

When asked, Murphy said the installation of the pier decking should be completed in early November, including the section

SCOTT MOORE | SUBMITTED

The first bait shop walls went up on Tuesday, Oct. 8. of the pier damaged by the Sept. 10 barge accident involving i+iconSoutheast’s construction barge.

Murphy said Mason Martin Builders will install the Ipe decking at the T-end of the pier.

CLEANING AND OVERSIGHT

Commissioner Doug Copeland commented on the bird droppings visible on the pier decking in one of the photos and asked how the city plans to deal with that issue once the pier is finished and opened to the public.

Commissioner Dale Woodland noted the city of Bradenton Beach pressure-washes its pier on a regular basis, once a week.

“It’s an issue,” Murphy said, noting that pressure-washing was already scheduled for the current week and the following week.

He also predicted there will be fewer birds on the pier once the public is using it again.

“The wood is so beautiful. When we finally open it, I want people to be able to appreciate that beautiful wood that we chose to build this pier. It’s so impressive,” Murphy said of the Ipe hardwood decking.

The mayor then presented the commission with an idea for future consideration – the creation of a pier oversight board that would include a mix of city residents and perhaps others who possess expertise in finance, development and other skills related to the oversight of a city-owned pier.

“They would advise the commission on maintaining the viability of the pier and taking care of it on a continuing basis,” Murphy said, noting that other cities utilize similar advisory boards.

“The pier is probably the single biggest asset this city owns. If you include the land and the buildings and everything else, you’re probably looking at about $12 million. That’s a huge asset,” Murphy said.

Murphy said he would present the commission with a more formal proposal early next year.

Taking into account the delays caused in September by the potential approach of Hurricane Dorian and then the barge accident, Murphy recently estimated the pier walkway and T-end decking would be open to the public in late January or early February. He anticipates the pier being open to the public while the interior buildout of the restaurant and bait shop continues toward completion.

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ISLAND NEWS

IN BRIEF

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

The Anna Maria Island Sun office has moved to 3909 East Bay Drive, Suite 210, Holmes Beach (the office building across from Publix supermarket). The mailing address, Post Office Box 1189, Anna Maria, Fl 34216, is still the same, as is the phone number, 941-778-3986 and the fax number, 941-778-6988.

BRADENTON BEACH – The Drift In’s Rock & Blues Festival on Saturday Nov. 2, will also serve as a fund-raiser for Wildlife Inc., the Bradenton Beach based bird and animal education and rehabilitation center. Beginning at 12:45 p.m., the music festival will feature performances by Concrete Edgar, Tommy Balbo & The Collective and Dos Macs with Steve Arvey.

Drift In manager Doreen Flynn seeks donations of gift baskets, gift certificates and other items from local businesses to use as raffle prizes for the fundraising efforts. The Drift In is also accepting cash donations and checks made payable to Wildlife Inc. Donations can be dropped off at the Drift In, 120 Bridge Street, Bradenton Beach, or you can call 941-7789088 to have your donation or donated items picked up. Flynn also needs covered dishes brought to the Drift In on the day of the festival.

Founded and operated by Ed and Gail Straight, with assistance provided by volunteers, Wildlife Inc. rescues, cares for and releases injured and orphaned birds and animals. The festival proceeds will assist Wildlife Inc with their food and medication costs and will also help fund repairs needed for the bird and animal enclosures.

For Holmes Beach residents with concerns about the charter amendment questions posed to voters on the November ballot, the city is hosting a town hall meeting to discuss the issues. The meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 23, at 6 p.m. at city hall, 5701 Marina Drive. All interested members of the public and Holmes Beach voters are invited to attend. Charter Review Commission Chair Ed Upshaw will be on hand to answer questions and provide details about the proposed charter amendment questions. Holmes Beach voters will go to the polls Nov. 5.

Former state house member talks impeachment Keith Fitzgerald, professor of political science at New College, specializing in American politics with a focus on institutions and public policy, will speak at the Anna Maria Island Democratic Club’s monthly meeting on Monday, Oct, 21, at the IMG Clubhouse, 4350 El Conquistador Parkway, Bradenton.

Fitzgerald is a former Democratic member of the Florida House of Representatives, representing the 69th District for two terms from 2007 to 2010. He will discuss the impeachment process and implications.

A buffet lunch will be served. The cost is $17 for members and $20 for non-members. Registration begins at 11:15 a.m. No prior reservation is necessary.

Halloween blood drive comes to Island Cupcake Delights at 3324 East Bay Drive in the Island Centre is hosting a blood drive on Thursday, Oct. 24, from noon to 5 p.m.

All donors will receive a free OneBlood Halloween T-shirt, a free cupcake and a wellness checkup including blood pressure, temperature, iron count, pulse and cholesterol screening.

Walk-ins are welcome. To make an appointment, visit www.oneblood.org/donate-now and use sponsor code number 41288.

ID is required. Donors must be at least 16 years old.

Those who are 16 years old need parental permission.

See website for more details. One offer per donor, per donation. Look for the big red bus in the parking lot.

Road report Work continues on the Longboat Key Pass Bridge between Anna Maria Island . Crews are making structural,electrical and mechanical repairs on the bridge. Expect nighttime/overnight lane closures from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sidewalk closures are also expected during construction.

OCTOBER 16, 2019

Music festival will benefit Wildlife Inc.

The Sun has moved

Holmes Beach hosts town hall meeting

Visit our website, www.amisun.com.

Scan this code with your smartphone to go there.

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

Above, Wildlife Inc founder Ed Straight and his wife Gail were named The Sun’s Persons of the Year in 2015. Below, owls are among the many birds and animals cared for by Wildlife Inc.

Beach renourishment set for spring

BY CINDY LANE SUN STAFF WRITER | clane@amisun.com

Storms like 2017’s Hurricane Irma have taken their toll on Island beaches, leaving beachgoers less sand for their chairs and umbrellas, but beach renourishment is scheduled to enlarge those beaches next spring.

Commissioners approved agreements on Tuesday, Oct. 8, between Manatee County and the Army Corps of Engineers to conduct two beach renourishment projects, affirming the county’s ability to pay its share, between $12.7 million to $15.9 million ac-

cording to Michelle Pfeiffer, senior project engineer for Aptim, the county’s beach consultant.

The first is the Central Beach Project between 78th Street North in Holmes Beach to approximately Fifth Street South in Bradenton Beach. The federal government will pay for about 60%, with the state and county funding about 20% each.

The second is the Coquina Beach Project, beginning at Fifth Street South in Bradenton Beach and continuing south to Longboat Key. The state and county will fund that project equally.

County funds for both projects come from the tourist tax.

Conducting the two projects back to back will save the state and county the cost of a second contractor mobilization, around $5 million, according to Charlie Hunsicker, director of the county’s Parks and Natural Resources Department.

The project could begin as early as late February and take six months to complete, with Gulf front properties being impacted no more than three days each, he said.

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OCTOBER 16, 2019

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Pier lease decision pending Mayor Dan Murphy presented pier tenant Mario Schoenfelder with two rent options for his consideration.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA – The pier lease terms being discussed

by Mayor Dan Murphy and long-time pier tenant Mario Schoenfelder will soon be presented to the City Commission for approval or denial.

On Oct. 10, Murphy provided the City Commission with an update on his ongoing lease discussions with Schoenfelder.

Schoenfelder’s current lease expires in December 2020, and he has expressed interest in a new long-term lease that would continue his pier-based restaurant and bait shop operations.

“I met with Mr. Schoenfelder this week. We had a very

We’re at a critical point.”

Dan Murphy, Anna Maria Mayor cordial meeting, exchanging information back and forth,” Murphy said.

“Mr. Schoenfelder is going to provide us with his take on rent by next week. I don’t think it’s a good idea to keep this lease situation open for a lengthy period of time. We’re at a critical point. Based upon what Mr. Schoenfelder’s offer might be, I think it would be good that we consider it as quickly as possible.

As soon as I get that information, I will send that to you and then ask the chair to consider having an emergency meeting so we can discuss it and vote on whether it’s acceptable or not,” Murphy said.

It’s been stated at previous commission meetings that

a new pier tenant would be sought if the city and Schoenfelder can’t reach a mutually acceptable lease agreement.

Murphy and Schoenfelder previously discussed the possibility of the city leasing him designated parking spaces at or near the pier. They have also discussed the shared maintenance of the pier facilities and the tenant’s insurance and property tax responsibilities.

On Sept. 30, Murphy emailed Schoenfelder the city’s proposed rent terms.

“In consideration of the property we have agreed to lease as outlined in my letter of August 23 are the calculated monthly base rent amounts for a 10-year lease agreement, with two five-year extensions,

CITY OF ANNA MARIA | SUBMITTED

The lease negotiations for the city-owned bait shop and restaurant space are coming to a head. not including maintenance costs. There are two options for your consideration,” Murphy wrote.

"Option 1: A monthly base rent amount of $21,600 per month along with either a 3 % annual increase or a CPI

(Consumer Price Index) based annual adjustment, at your option. The adjustment would start at the end of year one and continue annually throughout the term of the lease; SEE LEASE, PAGE 29

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OPINION

The Anna Maria Island Sun Staff Publishers Mike Field Maggie Field Editor/CEO Mike Field Layout Ricardo Fonseca Reporters Cindy Lane Tom Vaught Joe Hendricks Kristin Swain Columnists Louise Bolger Outdoors editor Rusty Chinnis Advertising director Shona Otto Ad assistant Pamela Lee Classified ads Bob Alexander Graphics Elaine Stroili Ricardo Fonseca Digital/social media editor Cindy Lane Accounting John Reitz Distribution Bob Alexander Tony McNulty Connor Field Contributors Pat Copeland Steve Borggren Monica Simpson

The Anna Maria Island Sun newspaper 3909 East Bay Drive, Ste. 210, Holmes Beach, FL, 34217 Phone: (941) 778-3986 email: news@amisun.com | ads@amisun.com | classifieds@amisun.com

Like us on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/AnnaMariaIslandSun

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Support The Center

I attended the Fall Festival Saturday for Anna Maria Elementary School, with the largest turnout I have ever seen. The festival took place at The Center of Anna Maria Island. Again, our Community Center stepped up for the kids that attend Anna Maria Elementary.

My Center has been there while growing up for me, my child and her children. Yes, there are less kids living on the Island since the 80s. Yes, kids on the Island may be from families with a higher income but this is our center.

The Center offers community gatherings, adult programs, exercise programs, after-school and summer programs. I contribute throughout the year, not a lot, but what I can afford. The budget is over a million per year to run The Center and it increases every year thanks to our citizens.

I will not vote for anyone who runs for office that does not sup-

port or votes against funding The Center. Kids are the future of the island.

Read this and please think about contributing. Our center needs the community to keep the doors open.

Carol Whitmore Holmes Beach

A way with words We were intrigued by a recent statement that a "nonprofit and residents were not entitled to the same due process as a developer."

This statement refers to recent litigation in Manatee County whereby Joe McClash and Suncoast Waterkeepers, Inc. challenged the permit issued to Long Bar Pointe LLLP for the Aqua by Bay development There can be no question of the large-scale impact for residents of 2,384 multi-family units, 510 single-family homes, and 78,000 square feet of commercial space.

OCTOBER 16, 2019

Some of the new construction will be 95 feet tall, while an unknown number will be 35-75 feet in height.

After reading the 21-page judgment, we were quite concerned by several statements: "Due process is flexible." "Members of the community" "have fewer due process rights" and a "different level of due process" than the developer who submitted the plan. The residents "do not have a right to have an expert review and provide testimony" and they are not entitled "to meetings with the county outside of a quasi-judicial setting." There is "no automatic right."

We all learned from the Declaration of Independence at an early age that "All men are created equal." After seeing some of the processes in the Florida judicial and government settings, perhaps for residents, as the saying goes, not so much.

Dick and Margie Motzer Holmes Beach

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OCTOBER 16, 2019

ON THE AGENDA

MARK YOUR CALENDAR NOTE: EVENTS ARE FREE UNLESS INDICATED.

ANNA MARIA 10005 GULF DRIVE

For information, call 941-708-6130 Oct. 24, 6 p.m. – City Commission meeting

BRADENTON BEACH 107 GULF DRIVE N.

For information, call 941-778-1005 Oct. 17, 11 a.m. – Pier Team meeting Oct. 17, noon – City Commission meeting Oct. 22, 1 p.m. – City Commission workshop

HOLMES BEACH 5801 MARINA DRIVE

Oct. 22, 6 p.m. – City Commission regular meeting with work session to follow Oct. 24, 11:30 a.m. – Police Pension Retirement Board meeting Oct. 30, 2 p.m. – RFP Comp Plan Selection Committee meeting

ISLAND-WIDE

Oct. 21, 9 a.m. – Manatee County Tourist Development Council meeting, Patricia M. Glass Commission Chambers, 1112 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton

WEDNESDAY OCT. 16

Ukulele class for beginners, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 3 p.m.

Sunset flow yoga, Robinson Preserve, Mosaic NEST, 840 99th St. N.W., Bradenton, 5:45 p.m., $10 cash only.

THURSDAY OCT. 17

Veteran Services Information, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 9 a.m.

Roser-Robics chair-based exercise class, Roser Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, 9:30 a.m.

Book club, Island Branch Library, Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10:15 a.m.

Jam in the Sand, Anna Maria Island Beach Café, 4000 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, 5 to 8 p.m.

Sunset drum circle, Manatee Public Beach, 4000 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, 5 to 7:30 p.m.

SATURDAY OCT. 19

Saturday at the NEST, Robinson Preserve, Mosaic NEST, 840 99th St. N.W., Bradenton, 8 a.m. to noon.

Manatee Audubon Society birding tour, Perico Preserve, 11700 Manatee Ave. W., 8:30 a.m.

Friends of the Island Branch Library Book Sale, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Bayfest, presented by the AMI Chamber of Commerce, Pine Avenue, Anna Maria, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.

SUNDAY OCT. 20

Rise and Shine Power Flow Yoga, Robinson Preserve, 10299 Ninth Ave. N.W., Bradenton, 10:30 a.m., $10.

FRIDAY

TUESDAY

Friends of the Island Branch Library Book Sale, Island Branch Library, Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 9 a.m. to noon for members only, noon to 3 p.m. for the general public.

Roser-Robics chair-based exercise class, Roser Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, 9:30 a.m.

Preschool story time, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina

OCT. 18

OCT. 22

THE SUN

Tree Tots: Light and Dark, Robinson Preserve, Mosaic NEST, 840 99th St. N.W., Bradenton, 10 a.m.

Reserve to 941-742-5757, ext. 4 Conquer the Quicksand of Anxiety and Depression, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 2 p.m.

NEST Nature Afternoon, Robinson Preserve, Mosaic NEST, 840 99th St. N.W., Bradenton, 1-4 p.m.

Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m.

Mahjong, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 11:30 a.m.

Tech help, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 2 p.m.

Tortoise Talks, Robinson Preserve, 1704 99th St. N.W., Bradenton, 3:30 p.m.

Evening bat walk and service project, Robinson Preserve, Mosaic NEST, 10299 Ninth Ave. N.W., Bradenton, 6 p.m.

Backyard and community composting, The Folk School, Florida Maritime Museum, 4415 119th St. W., Cortez, 6 p.m., $23.

FRIDAY OCT. 25

WEDNESDAY

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

Mahjong, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 11:30 a.m.

Sunset drum circle, Manatee Beach, 4000 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, 5 to 8 p.m.

Leffis luminated lantern walk, Leffis Key Preserve, 2350 Gulf Drive S., Bradenton Beach, 6:30 p.m.

OCT. 23

Coloring Club, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, noon.

Ukulele class for beginners, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 3 p.m.

SATURDAY

THURSDAY

OCT. 26

Cortez Nautical Flea Market, Florida Maritime Museum, 4415 119th St. W., Cortez, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Saturday at the NEST, Robinson Preserve, Mosaic NEST, 840 99th St. N.W., Bradenton, 8 a.m. to noon.

OCT. 24

Veteran services information, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 9 a.m.

Roser-Robics chair-based exercise class, Roser Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, 9:30 a.m.

19th Annual

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October 19, 2019 10am-9pm Pine Avenue Anna Maria

Hosted by

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Classic Car Show 10am - 3pm

Live v Music All l Day a

Emcee - Mike Sales 10:30-11:30am Trevor Bystrom Band Noon-1:30 Memphis Rub 2:00-4:00 soulRcoaster 4:30-6:30 Dr. Dave Band 7:00-9:00 Karen & Jimmy Band The Island's Largest & Longest Running Festival!

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Food Court Art & Crafts Vendors Kids Zone & lots of family fun!

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OCTOBER 16, 2019

Bayfest is coming Bayfest is billed as the first festival of the season.

BY TOM VAUGHT SUN STAFF WRITER | tvaught@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA - It’s beginning to look a lot like fall, and the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce is celebrating the season’s first festival at Bayfest on Pine Avenue on Saturday, Oct. 19, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Pine Avenue will be closed and lined with tents offering an assortment of items for sale plus non-profit organizations and more. There will be more than 100 classic and antique vehicles at the Bill Mergens’ Memorial Car Show on the western end of Pine Avenue from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Five musicians and groups will provide music and Mike Sales will emcee.

The musical lineup is Trevor Bystrom Band from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., Memphis Rub from noon to 1:30 p.m., SoulRcoaster from 2 to 4 p.m., The Dr. Dave Band from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. and The Karen & Jimmy Band from 7 to 9 p.m.

Of course Bayfest means good local

FILE PHOTO

The Bill Mergens Memorial Car Show offers antique to exotic automobiles from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. food. Vendors and offerings include Anna Maria Island Privateers with barnacle burgers, walking tacos and buccaneer corn on the cob; Bowled Life salads, acai bowls and avocado toast; Coastal Crab Co., offering crab

cakes, crab cake bits with dipping sauces, crabby fries and lobster bisque; Eliza Ann’s Coastal Kitchen with cobia ceviche; Gran Arepa offering authentic Columbian arepas; Hurricane Hank’s features shrimp lettuce cups and

meatloaf sliders; Kona Ice with flavored shaved ice; Quality Food International serving Greek specialties like lamb and chicken gyros and plates; Subz-n-Grubz serving shrimp tacos, shrimp and rice bowl and fish sandwiches; T&L’s BBQ offering barbecued ribs or chicken, rib bites, pulled pork and more; The Feast with coconut shrimp and conch fritters; The Waterfront serving grouper tacos and pork carnitas; The Ugly Grouper offering pulled pork sliders, smoked wings and grouper nuggets; Tortilla Bay with burritos quesadillas and chips with salsa with queso. There will be beverages from bottled water to soda to adult drinks. No coolers or outside alcohol are allowed.

Transportation options include the free Island Trolley and parking at CrossPointe Fellowship Church, 8605 Gulf Drive, where there will be a free shuttle to Pine Avenue. Some neighborhood parking will be available, but watch out for No Parking signs and if you park along the street, park with all tires off the pavement.

For more information, call the Chamber at 941-778-1541.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17TH, 2019 L I T T L E O V E R H A L F W AY T O

We pretend to be Irish not once, but TWICE a year at the AMOBs! Celebrate with $11.99 Corned Beef & Cabbage and $1.50 Green Beers all day.

FREE MARGARITA LANDSIDE

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With this coupon & purchase of any entree.

Limited to 1 guest, 1 visit, 1 use. Ages 21+ only.

Cannot be combined with any other offer.

Good at all 4 locations. Expires 11/30/19.

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OCTOBER 16, 2019

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Meet the Holmes Beach commission candidates There are four candidates vying for three commission seats on the dais this November in Holmes Beach. In this week’s meet the candidates, we have incumbent Commissioners Rick Hurst and Carol Soustek. In next

week’s issue The Sun will feature incumbent Commissioner Jim Kihm and newcomer Terry Schaefer. Each candidate is giving his/her stance on the issues.

Beach voters go to the polls Nov. 5.

Meet the candidate: Rick Hurst Commissioner Rick Hurst is hoping for re-election to the city commission dais in November.

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

HOLMES BEACH – Commissioner Rick Hurst has his eyes set on a second term after the November election and is hopeful that the city’s voters agree.

Hurst first took the Hurst dais as a commissioner in November 2017. With only three commission seats available and four candidates, Hurst is squaring off at the polls with incumbents Jim Kihm and Carol Soustek and newcomer Terry Schaefer. To help the voters get to know each candidate, The Sun sat down with Hurst to find out where he stands on the issues facing Holmes Beach.

Here are his answers.

WHAT SHOULD THE VOTERS KNOW ABOUT YOU?

I’m heavily involved in the community, I have kids, I’m hardworking. I think I’ve been a good commissioner. I take the job seriously, and I do it because I want to serve my community, and I intend to live here for the rest of my life.

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR THE CITY?

My greatest accomplishment for the city has been reversing the threeyear waiting period between permits for ground level properties … That would’ve been huge for these ground level people. I don’t think anyone realizes how big that was.

When I found out about that and started talking to real estate agents, even builders, and they said you’re basically going to just kill the ground level homes (with the three-year waiting period for 50% rule FEMA compliant renovations). I think that would’ve been devastating.

I also feel I bring my ability to see all SEE HURST, PAGE 25

Meet the candidate: Carol Soustek Holmes Beach Commissioner Carol Soustek is hoping to help make the city more environmentally friendly if she’s re-elected in November.

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

HOLMES BEACH – Commissioner Carol Soustek is seeking a third full term in November when she runs for re-election to one of the city’s three available com- Last name mission seats.

Soustek was first appointed to the city commission in November 2014 to fill the unexpired term of former commissioner David Zaccagnino.

Including Soustek, there are four commission candidates in Holmes Beach – incumbents Jim Kihm and Rick Hurst, and newcomer Terry Schaefer. To help the voters get to know each one better, The Sun is conducting an interview with each candidate to find out where they stand on the issues. Here are Soustek’s answers.

WHAT SHOULD THE VOTERS KNOW ABOUT YOU?

“I am very dedicated. I take it seriously, and I try my honest to do what is best for the community.”

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR THE CITY?

“The VRC (vacation rental certificate program) and the downsizing of bedrooms, control of the number of bedrooms in the building. By controlling that, you’re kind of giving direction to the development community, and we can better direct how we want the community to go.”

WHAT WOULD YOU HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH IN A NEW TERM AS COMMISSIONER?

I hope to accomplish the solar conversion, not only for city hall but try to find a company that will offer discounts by gathering a number of residents who would want to do solar together. I think that faced with the threats that we have of the sea rise, we have to do our part. Even though it’s small, it would count toward the overall if we put solar and fossil fuelfree equipment in the city.”

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST PROBLEM FACING HOLMES BEACH?

“There is more than one. I have three problems that I look at constantly. One is the sea rise because there’ll come a point where I’m not sure we can financially stop it.

Second is greed. Neighbors suing neighbors, that upsets me quite a bit.

And then I worry about the apathy of the community not paying attention

SEE SOUSTEK, PAGE 25

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OCTOBER 16, 2019

EVERYONE IS WELCOME

SUNDAY WORSHIP 8:30 AM in the Memorial Chapel 10:00 AM in the Sanctuary 5:30 PM soul ourn

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KidZone • Pizza & Salad

LOVING CHRIST SHARING HIS GRACE SERVING ALL

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JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

This sign warned folks not to park in the post office parking lot on Saturday afternoon.

Post office parking not allowed yet Cone-mounted signs posted at the entrance to the Bradenton Beach Post Office last weekend reminded drivers that after-hours and weekend parking are not yet allowed for non-post office patrons. As part of an agreement

recently reached by the Community Redevelopment Agency and the United States Postal Service, after-hours and weekend parking will be allowed once new signs are installed that detail the allowed general public parking hours.

Merchants group hosting holiday events Parking fines established by resolution The Bradenton Beach City Commission and the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency will each donate $1,000 to help fund the Christmas on Bridge Street and Holiday Boat Parade events taking place Saturday, Dec. 14. The donations will be made to the newly formed Bradenton Beach Area Merchants group that now serves as an expanded and more inclusive replacement for the Bridge Street Merchants association.

Holmes Beach has a new director of development services Holmes Beach residents may be familiar with the city’s newly hired director of development services. Engineer Eran Wasserman is in the process of transitioning to his new role from his previous role at LTA Engineers where he worked with City Engineer Lynn Burnett. In addition to assisting Burnett with city projects, Wasserman also serves as the city’s emergency management coordinator.

VRC vote postponed to November Holmes Beach commissioners voted unanimously Oct. 8 to postpone the second and final reading of an ordinance adding monthly rentals to the city’s vacation rental certificate program until the Nov. 19 meeting. City Attorney Patricia Petruff recommended the postponement to allow city staff more time to look at any unintended consequences of enacting the ordinance and give recommendations on what the most important safety requirements for monthly rentals may be.

A staff report is expected before commissioners vote on the ordinance in November.

The city of Anna Maria is now establishing parking violation fines by a city resolution that can be more easily changed and moving away from establishing fines in city ordinances that are more time consuming and expensive to change. Parking ticket fines will remain at $35, but city commissioners discussed last week the possibility of raising them at some point to match the $50 fines issued in Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach.

The commission also discussed, but did not act upon, raising the $225 fine for parking in a handicapped parking space to the $250 maximum allowed by state law.

Special magistrate hearing notification expands to email The Anna Maria City Commission has adopted an ordinance that adds email notifications to the means by which those cited for code enforcement violations and parking violations are notified of a pending hearing before the city’s special magistrate.

The email notices will include requests for receipts of the email being delivered and read.

The new policy was adopted because the city’s attempts to notify violators via certified mail are often ignored because violators choose not to retrieve their certified mail – and because the United States Post Office often takes two or three months to return uncollected certified mail.

Because two forms of notice are required, notices of pending special magistrate hearings also will be posted at the Anna Maria Post Office. Hearing notices will still be delivered via regular and certified mail.

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OCTOBER 16, 2019

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PTO kicks Fall Fest up a notch There was more to this year's Fall Festival with a variety of games and activities. Anna Maria Elementary School PTO President Jamie Hinkle thanked the parents, businesses and volunteers from the Manatee High School Key Club for making it possible. She said they agreed they wanted it to be bigger and better, and it was. From the ingenious costumes to the creepy haunted house, it was the best yet.

TOM VAUGHT | SUN

The stage was set with this year’s ghosts, ghouls and some very imaginative costumes worn by all the class winners.

TOM VAUGHT | SUN

It’s one thing to dress up like a baseball player, but to come as a baseball trophy, as Kellan Moore did, was an award winning idea.

TOM VAUGHT | SUN

There was laser tag in the gymnasium.

TOM VAUGHT | SUN

Olivia Inda and Ava Baugh came as two essential household appliances.

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Commissioners vote on stipend increase A move to give Holmes Beach elected officials a raise passed its first reading and vote during an Oct. 8 meeting.

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

HOLMES BEACH – Commissioners passed the first reading of an ordinance to give the city’s elected officials a raise with a 3-2 vote. Commissioners Rick Hurst and Kim Rash voted against the raise.

If the raise passes a second vote, it will give the mayor and commissioners a stipend increase but won’t apply to the currently seated elected officials.

If the ordinance passes a second vote prior to the Nov. 5 election, it can apply to the three newly elected or re-elected commissioners once they’re sworn in.

According to a staff report presented at the Oct. 8 commission meeting, city staff recommended the raise go into effect after the 2020 election to give time for proper notice to the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Office and put all five commissioners and the mayor on the same increased stipend at the same time. Commissioners voted against that recommendation, opting instead to enact it with the coming 2019 election if it passes a final vote.

Previously, commissioners were considering a raise retroactive to 2008, the last time the commission received a raise, using the cost of living allowance, COLA, determined by the Social Security Administration. Instead, they opted to go with a simpler calculation that better allows City Clerk Stacey Johnston to determine what the stipend amount will be in future years for election announcement and fee purposes.

At the suggestion of city staff, City Treasurer Lori Hill averaged the COLA for years 2009-current and came up with an average raise for commissioners of $130 per year, bringing the commissioners’ stipend up from $6,000 per year to $7,430 in 2019.

Because the mayor’s annual stipend is four times the amount of the commissioners’ at $24,000, Hill gave a suggested annual raise amount for that office of $520 per year. The mayor’s stipend was last increased in 2016. Under Hill’s suggestion, the mayor’s stipend would be $25,560 for 2019 and $26,080 in 2020 when Mayor Judy Titsworth is eligible for re-election.

The ordinance is scheduled to go for a second and final reading when commissioners next meet on Oct. 22.

OCTOBER 16, 2019

Parks members start season with project updates Members of the Holmes Beach Parks and Beautification Committee met Oct. 2 for the first time since their summer hiatus to choose new officers and hear updates on park improvements from city staff.

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

HOLMES BEACH – Members of the city’s parks and beautification committee came together Oct. 2 for the first time since May, and they welcomed three new members.

Mary Lange joined the committee as a full member with Carol Hatz and Donna Ryan joining as alternates. With two regular committee members absent, members appointed Allyson Gilles as vice-chair and reappointed Susan Anderson as secretary, leaving the chair position open until the November meeting when they hope the entire committee can be present.

Anderson kicked off the group’s project updates, saying that she’d been working on the city’s adopt-a-spot program and had found three new participants, though the program is still in need of adopters.

In the adopt-a-spot program, adopters help beautify the city by taking care of a small area of greenspace. To volunteer

to adopt a spot in Holmes Beach, contact the city clerk’s office at 941-708-5800 for more information.

Engineer Eran Wasserman provided an update on work at the city’s medians, Grassy Point Preserve and the city field complex.

He said that work on the medians at city center is almost complete with the median at Gulf Drive and Sunrise Lane being planted in the next two weeks. He said that some city parks also are going to be refreshed with new plantings over the next several weeks.

At Grassy Point, he said a meeting took place between city representatives and representatives from the Southwest Florida Water Management District to discuss the possibility of additional nature trails, the installation of a kayak launch and developing the shoreline for resiliency efforts to prevent flooding. Wasserman said the city’s engineers are now looking at permitting for the projects.

At the city field complex, he said the drainage work is complete and with work ongoing, a ribbon cutting is tentatively planned in December for the multi-use field, the newly expanded dog park and the skate park.

The parks and beautification committee meets at 10 a.m. on the first Wednesday of the month October through May at city hall.

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OCTOBER 16, 2019

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PVC railings proposed for Bridge Street Pier White PVC are being considered as an alternative to painting the wood railings.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

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BRADENTON BEACH – The Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) is exploring the possibility of replacing the Bridge Street Pier’s unpainted wood railings with white plastic PVC railings.

On Wednesday, Oct. 2, Public Works Director Tom Woodard encouraged CRA members to consider PVC railings instead of painting if they really want the pier railings to be white.

Woodard made his suggestion in response to the ongoing CRA debate and discussion about painting white the unpainted wooden pier railings and/or the railings on the clock tower boardwalk that leads to the pier.

In recent months, Woodard has consistently opposed painting the wooden railings due to his concerns that Public Works staff would have to continually maintain and frequently repaint them.

CRA member support for painting the pier railings white has waned since the CRA canceled a proposed contract with Lowes Commercial Painting in early September. The members canceled the contract after the painting company requested an additional $3,500 in labor fees above and beyond the $10,900 it originally bid to paint the railings and pier gazebos.

During last week’s meeting, Pines Trailer Park resident Susan Billow said she’s in favor of the pier railings being white because it would make the pier stand out to those crossing the Cortez Bridge. She said it would also help distinguish the pier from

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

The Bradenton Beach CRA continues to discuss and debate the possibility of white pier railings. A small, inconspicuous portion of the Bradenton Beach boardwalk railings will be painted white as a test area. the neighboring mobile home park.

Billow said she really likes Woodard’s suggestion to use white PVC railings.

CRA chair Ralph Cole said the PVC railings could be installed as a test area on the boardwalk first, before committing to replacing all the pier railings.

Woodard said the wood railings could be repurposed and used elsewhere if the CRA decides to replace them.

The members asked Woodard to bring back some preliminary price estimates for the PVC railings. They also asked him to bring back prices for the Trex composite railings he briefly mentioned.

The pier railing discussions remain ongoing, and no final decisions have been made.

TEST PAINTING

Members also discussed painting a small, inconspicuous section of the boardwalk railings white as a test area for paint durability and ongoing maintenance needs.

Given the current lack of support for painting the railings, the CRA members debated the need for a paint test. But Mayor and CRA member John Chappie insisted it be done because the members previously approved doing it.

Chappie spearheaded the recent efforts to paint the pier railings white, but during the Oct. 2 meeting he acknowledged he too is having second thoughts. That said, he still feels the unpainted railings have an unattractive color to them because of the previously applied waterproofing sealant.

Woodard said the test area would be painted as requested.

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OCTOBER 16, 2019

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OCTOBER 16, 2019

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15

Mayor delivers state of the city address Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth counts her first year in office as one of progress for the city.

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

HOLMES BEACH – Mayor Judy Titsworth’s first year in office will come to a close in November. To recognize her first year as the city’s mayor, she took some time during the Oct. 8 commission meeting to discuss some of her favorite accomplishments in the past 11 months.

“This year’s flown by, and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it,” she said.

Titsworth began her address by recognizing the city’s staff, saying that she’s proud of the staff as well as their accomplishments and growth over the past year.

A goal, she said, was to improve customer service across all departments. To that end, Titsworth created the role of director of development services, a position that Eran Wasserman from LTA Engineers is currently transitioning into. She also marked the change to Code Compliance for former Code Enforcement officers

KRISTIN SWAIN | SUN

Mayor Judy Titsworth gives her state of the city address during an Oct. 8 commission meeting. and the promotion of James Thomas as supervisor, along with the creating of another full-time clerk position in that department and their move to the public works annex building among some of the highlights for the year.

Another was the hiring of new Building Official Neal Schwartz. Titsworth took the time to thank John Fernandez, who stepped in to fill the position temporarily after the departure of former Building Official Jim McGuinness. She added that she’s very happy to bring Planner Bill

Brisson on the city staff as a full-time employee. Titsworth also thanked Engineer Lynn Burnett for her efforts on behalf of the city.

She said she’s excited for the improvements to the city’s vacation rental certificate program to help it run more efficiently.

Titsworth also thanked Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer and his department for their work to help keep the city safe and credits the newly installed license plate reader system as an asset to the city’s police officers.

Along with the improvements happening at the city field complex, Titsworth said she’s particularly proud of the dog park expansion and the planned skate park, which will be built with a bowl. She said funds for the bowl were made possible through the efforts of Tom Sanger from Sanger Pools and area contractors who donated materials for the new skate park.

One of Titsworth’s goals for the next year of her term is to see some of the planned improvements throughout the city come to life, including the expansion of a multi-use path along Palm Drive, the widening of the city’s bicycle lanes and continued efforts to improve crosswalk visibility. She said that over the next year, residents can expect to see more stormwater improvements, the addition of fish cleaning stations at the T-end docks rented by the city to residents and that dredging in city canals also will begin.

In her address, Titsworth also took the time to thank each department head for their contributions to the city’s progress over the past year.

“Thank you again, and it has been my honor to serve,” she said.

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OCTOBER 16, 2019

Sunshine lawsuit attorney fees to be argued soon The city of Bradenton Beach seeks to recoup attorneys’ fees incurred during the Sunshine Law lawsuit.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

BRADENTON – On Thursday, Nov. 7, Judge Edward Nicholas will determine if the city of Bradenton Beach is entitled to recover attorney fees from the six Sunshine Law lawsuit defendants.

In July, Nicholas ruled former Planning and Zoning Board members Reed Mapes, John Metz, Patty Shay and Bill Vincent and former Scenic Waves Committee members Tjet Martin and Rose Vincent all violated the Florida Sunshine Law by discussing advisory board business at non-city-sanctioned Concerned Neighbors of Bradenton Beach (CNOBB) meetings in 2017.

“The Sunshine Law prohibits

discussions of public business.

Public business was discussed every time CNOBB met,” Nicholas said in July when issuing his verbal ruling.

Nicholas followed his verbal ruling with a written ruling filed in August.

As the prevailing party in the lawsuit, the city now seeks reimbursement for some or all of the more than $455,000 in legal fees the city has incurred to date since filing the civil website in 2017.

During a preliminary hearing on Tuesday, Oct. 8, Nicholas said the November hearing would only pertain to whether the city is entitled to recover attorney fees from the defendants. If Nicholas rules the city is entitled to those fees, a subsequent hearing would be held to determine the dollar amount to be reimbursed by the defendants.

Nicholas said the entitlement arguments will be the only arguments heard during the two-hour hearing in November. Nicholas told Metz’s attorney, Thomas

MEDIA POOL | SUBMITTED

Attorney Robert Watrous, foreground, represents the city and attorney Thomas Shults, background, represents defendant John Metz.

Shults, he would not allow Shults to continue his efforts to get the court to dismiss the entitlement of attorney fees count included in the lawsuit.

In November 2018, Shults filed that motion to dismiss based his legal argument that the award of attorney fees must be sought from a government agency or

government body and not from the individual members of those government bodies.

“I’m not going to hear a motion to dismiss for failure to join an indispensable party. That ship has sailed. The final judgement (in July) foreclosed that argument,” Nicholas told Shults.

“As far as I’m concerned, that

which is left to be resolved here is the attorneys’ fees issue,” Nicholas said. “I don’t want the lawyers here to spend a lot of time and money and effort on an issue that I am not inclined to hear. I think that needs to be part of your basis for appeal,” Nicholas said.

Mapes, Martin, Metz and the Vincents are now appealing Nicholas’ July ruling to the Second District Court of Appeal in Lakeland. Shay is not participating in the appeal efforts.

Regarding the entitlement of attorneys’ fees, Nicholas said, “It’s an interesting and unique issue. It’s obviously an important issue on behalf of the city and these defendants.”

In May, the six defendants proposed individual settlement offers that collectively sought $60,902 from the city and $24,444 from co-plaintiff Jack Clarke. Some of those settlement offers stated the defendants’ financial demands would increase if the case went to trial and the city lost.

FREE EVENT!

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26th | 8 AM - 1 PM at the Florida Maritime Museum | 4415 119th Street W., Cortez, FL (rain date of Saturday, November 2nd)

To reserve a vendor space* fill out an application at www.FloridaMaritimeMuseum.org or call 941-708-6120. Nautical Craft Vendors contact info@CortezVillageHistoricalSociety.org . * The vendor fee is $35 after October 12.

Parking will be available at the F.I.S.H. Preserve located after 115th Street West going west. The preserve will be on your left.

Partners: Southwinds Magazine

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OCTOBER 16, 2019

THE SUN

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Anna Maria hosting holiday lighting contest

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

Proposed by Mayor Dan Murphy, the city of Anna Maria will host its inaugural Bright Holiday Lights Contest during the upcoming holiday season. Entry forms are now available at city hall and online at www. cityofannamaria.com. To be judged by one city commissioner and two additional volunteers, the holiday lighting contest will feature a competition category for residences and a competition category for businesses. The registration period is

now open and ends on Monday, Dec. 2. The judging will take place Dec. 6 through Dec. 11. The winners will be announced at the city’s Friday, Dec. 13, Holiday Carols in the Park event at City Pier Park.

The new floating dock was temporarily closed on Oct. 4.

Floating dock remains closed The floating dock next to the Bridge Street Pier in Bradenton Beach remained closed this past weekend. On Friday, Oct. 4, the dock was temporarily closed when the connection points holding the metal gangway to the new dock were deemed unsafe and in need of modifications and a new design for the connection points. As of Friday, Oct. 11, Public Works Director Tom Woodard was awaiting an opinion let-

ter from Delta Engineering Senior Project Engineer Glenn Warburton.

“The letter will state the existing conditions are unsafe and have recommendations for the next course of action, which will be to add a new piling to independently support the gangway,” Warburton wrote in his Thursday, Oct. 10, email to Woodard.

Although the dock was closed, two boats were tied up to it Saturday afternoon.

Vendors sought for Cortez arts and crafts sale The Cortez Village Historical Society is sponsoring an art/craft/ yard sale on Saturday, Oct. 26, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Cortez Cultural Center, 11655 Cortez Road W., and vendors are needed.

The sale, which will benefit Blessing Bags, will feature arts and crafts vendors, many beach-themed, and a

yard sale with microwaves, household items, kitchenware and more.

The benefit is in conjunction with the Florida Maritime Museum's Nautical Flea Market.

For more information, or to reserve a space, call Kaye Bell at 941-5380945.

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OCTOBER 16, 2019

Vacation rental advertising ordinance adopted Those who repeatedly advertise excess vacation rental occupancies face fines of five to 30 times the unit’s daily rental rate.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA – The city has a new misleading advertising ordinance as part of its ongoing enforcement of vacation rental occupancy limits.

Adopted on second and final reading on Oct. 10, Ordinance 19-855 amends the city’s original misleading advertising ordinance adopted in 2016. The fines are now established in a new and separate city resolution also adopted last week.

The amended ordinance creates a legal mechanism for the city’s special magistrate to impose fines that range from five to 30 times the rental unit’s daily rate on those who repeatedly advertise excess occupancy limits.

“Repetitive misleading advertisement activity means when a vacation rental ordinance is advertised at an occupancy level that is not permitted under the vacation

rental ordinance, and when discovered and notified of the misleading advertisement by the city, the advertisement is changed to the occupancy allowed, but later is changed to an occupancy that is not permitted under the vacation rental ordinance,” the ordinance says.

“What’s happening is after five days they comply. We close the case, and then they come back again and change it. It’s the repeat offenders we’re trying to address here,” Mayor Dan Murphy told the commission during last week’s meeting.

When presenting the ordinance for first reading in September, City Attorney Becky Vose said she was aware of vacation rentals in Anna Maria advertising 30-person occupancies.

According to Vose, first time offenders will be given a warning and a few days to cure the violation before fines and subsequent enforcement processes begin.

The ordinance states a special magistrate hearing shall be required, and the special magistrate shall determine the proper and appropriate penalty for the first offense violation, not to exceed $200 per day, for which the violation continues after email notice has been sent to the management company, the individual in charge and/or the property

SUBMITTED

The city of Anna Maria contracts a screenscraping company to monitor online vacation rental listings and advertisements. owner if: • The violation is contested, and the special magistrate finds the property to have been in violation; • The violation is not cured within 10 days after an email notice is sent; • The fine is not paid within 20 days after such email notice is sent.

“For repetitive misleading advertising activities, a special magistrate hearing shall be required. The special magistrate shall set the appropriate fine based upon the severity of the violation,” according to the ordinance.

The ordinance notes the severity of the violation could include the number of oc-

cupants advertised and whether the violator has committed misleading advertising before.

The ordinance states fines levied by the special magistrate for repeat violations shall be no less than five times and no more than 30 times the rental unit’s daily rental rate.

“Every day a violation continues shall constitute a separate offense which shall be separately punished,” the amended ordinance states.

In 2015, the city commission adopted a vacation rental ordinance that limits new vacation rentals to a maximum of eight occupants. More than 100 existing vacation rentals were granted additional occupancy limits in order to resolve Bert Harris claims filed by vacation rental owners who had one year to file a claim.

Each registered vacation rental’s occupancy limit is documented as part of the city’s annual vacation rental registration requirements. The city contracts a third-party screen-scraping company to continually monitor the number of occupants advertised at Airbnb, VRBO and other online vacation rental platforms – and those advertisements are compared to the allowed occupancy limit stated in the registration documents.

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OCTOBER 16, 2019

THE SUN

19

Parade participants wanted

TOM VAUGHT | SUN

The city of Anna Maria still seeks participants in its annual Old Soldiers & Old Sailors Parade.

The annual Veterans Day parade will take place along Pine Avenue on Monday, Nov. 11.

Three local high school marching bands have already committed to the parade. The local musical duo Brigid’s Cross also will perform while traveling down the parade route. Local

businesses and organizations are encouraged to enter floats, decorated or historic vehicles or walking groups.

Entry is free and the application deadline is Monday, Nov. 4. Applications can be downloaded at www.cityofannamaria. com or obtained from the city clerk’s office.

The parade will depart from city hall at 1 p.m. and conclude at City Pier Park, where the Veterans

Day ceremonies will then take place, followed by a free ice cream social at the nearby AMI Historical Museum on Pine Avenue. For more information, call Debbie Haynes at 941-708-6130.

Firemen teach safety Last week was fire prevention week and West Manatee Fire Safety personnel held demonstrations with the fire truck they brought and classes in the auditorium. When the fifth-graders came, they opted for a movie instead a demonstration of the fire truck. The movie, “Fire’s Fury,” showed the consequences of leaving a room with a candle burning and what happened when the firefighters came. The family didn’t have a gathering place to go when they got out of the house, so the responders didn’t know if they were going to have to go back in the burning house. The fifth-graders had a lot of answers to questions that firefighters Josh Adkins and Keith Miller asked. They also invited the kids to an open house at Station One at 6510 3rd Ave. W. in Bradenton on Saturday, Nov. 2, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Above, Firefighter Keith Miller holds a smoke detector, which is available for free at the fire station.

TOM VAUGHT | SUN

Featured artist Sue Elliott poses with her acrylics at a reception at Island Gallery West last Friday evening. Elliott also paints portraits of people and animals and more. Her work will be on display through the end of the month.

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OCTOBER 16, 2019

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OCTOBER 16, 2019

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OCTOBER 16, 2019

City and WMFR team up for pickleball tournament Vice Mayor Jake Spooner and WMFR’s Andrew Powers won the inaugural tournament.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH – The city and the Bradenton Beach Fire Lodge volunteers teamed up Saturday afternoon for a pickleball tournament and picnic.

The inaugural tournament was played at Lou Barolo Park on Highland Avenue.

Pickleball is played on court similar to, but smaller than, a tennis court, using rackets that resemble racquetball rackets and plastic balls that resemble Wiffle balls.

The doubles tournament featured twoperson teams that generally consisted of one city representative or family member and one fire lodge volunteer or family member.

Vice Mayor Jake Spooner and West Manatee Fire Rescue firefighter/paramedic Andrew Powers won the tournament, defeating City Attorney Ricinda Perry and fire lodge president Ben Dillon in the finals.

En route to the finals, Spooner and Powers defeated young Molly Dillon and WMFR firefighter/paramedic Adam Baggett in the semi-finals and Mayor John Chappie and WMFR Lt. Andrew

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

Clockwise from top left, Vice Mayor Jake Spooner and firefighter Andrew Powers received pickle-themed trophies from Mayor John Chappie. Vice Mayor Jake Spooner and firefighter/paramedic Andrew Powers used teamwork to win the inaugural pickleball tournament. City Attorney Ricinda Perry and fire lodge president Ben Dillon received Pickle bandages for their second-place finish.

Lauricella in their opening round.

En route to the finals, Perry and Dillon defeated public works department employee Marylou Kelley and 10-year-old Max Powers in the semifinals and Commissioner Ralph Cole and firefighter/paramedic Rob Haygood in their opening round.

The other competitors included City Clerk Terri Sanclemente, her husband Scott, WMFR firefighter/paramedic Jeff Phillips and WMFR family member Donna Reed.

Chappie presented Spooner and Powers with pickle-themed trophies that included the inscription, It’s Kind Of A Big Dill, as a play of words on big deal.

As consolation prizes, Chappie presented Perry and Dillon with tins of Pickle Bandages to help sooth their bruised egos as highly competitive second-place finishers.

“We had tough competition, but it was good clean play, and our side ended up prevailing,” Powers said.

“I’d like to thank everybody for coming. It was a good time had by all,” Spooner said.

“I’d like to thank whoever drew the teams,” Spooner joked, in reference to being paired with his high school friend and past pickleball partner.

“This was a great way to show a sense of community and bring people together. The fire department does so much for everybody, and we appreciate everything they do,” Chappie said.

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OCTOBER 16, 2019

THE SUN

23

Local gulls sick, dying

BY CINDY LANE SUN STAFF WRITER | clane@amisun.com

Island resident Jeannie Bystrom, who frequently rescues pelicans tangled in fishing line, found 23 dead laughing gulls on a trip last week to Passage Key, north of the Island.

It’s the latest place where gull deaths have been reported this month, along with deaths on Anna Maria Island and Lido and Siesta Keys in Sarasota.

“It could be a virus or botulism or red tide,” Bystrom said, adding that terns and sandpipers on the uninhabited Passage Key looked healthy, although she found one dead pelican tangled in fishing line.

Bystrom took one sick seagull to Ed Straight at Wildlife Inc. Education and Rehabilitation in Bradenton Beach, but the gull later died, Straight said. Two others were recovering Friday afternoon, including one found stumbling across Gulf Drive by a Sun reporter.

Save Our Seabirds had seven laughing gulls recovering as of Friday afternoon at its rehab facility on City Island in Sarasota; 10 others died there since the first of the month.

The gulls are lethargic and dehydrated, and may have eaten from a single contaminated source, a technician said.

Sad as it is, population collapses happen in nature from time to time, said Charlie Hunsicker, director of Manatee County's Parks and Natural Resources Department. Like a forest fire paves the way for new growth, the die-off may be nature's way of repairing a problem, he said.

CINDY LANE | SUN

Laughing gulls, like the one pictured here on the wing, are suffering from a mysterious and sometimes fatal illness from Passage Key south to Siesta Key. This gull was found dead on Passage Key last week along with 22 others.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is doing necropsies on several birds and expects results in the next week or two, according to Michelle Kerr, of the FWC’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute in St. Petersburg.

The FWC asks that anyone seeing a sick or dead gull report it on their wild bird surveillance website at http://legacy.myfwc. com/bird/default.asp.

The project, a partnership with the Florida Department of Health, was initiated to support surveillance for bird die-offs and aids in monitoring for Avian Influenza and West Nile Virus.

After a hiatus, red tide appeared in local waters last week in background concentrations at Manatee Beach and Longboat Pass, ac-

RED TIDE REPORT High (respiratory irritation, shellfish harvesting closures, fish kills, water discoloration) Medium (probable respiratory irritation, shellfish harvesting closures, fish kills) Low (possible respiratory irritation, shellfish harvesting closures, fish kills) Very low (possible respiratory irritation) Background (no effects) None (no red tide present)

JEANNIE BYSTROM | SUBMITTED

cording to the FWC. Elsewhere in Florida, background to medium concentrations were found in 10 samples off Lee County and background to high concentrations were found in 15 samples collected off Collier County.

Fecal bacteria were found in the water at Bayfront Park in Anna Maria and south Palma Sola Bay last week, according to the Florida Department of Health.

TURTLE TIPS During sea turtle season, May 1 – Oct. 31, please follow these tips: • Turn off lights visible from the beach and close blinds from sundown to sunrise; lights confuse nesting sea turtles and may cause them to go back to sea and drop their eggs in the water, where they won’t hatch. Light can also attract hatchlings away from the water.

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

• Remove all objects from the sand from sundown to sunrise; they can deter sea turtles

from nesting and disorient hatchlings.

• Fill in the holes you dig in the sand before leaving the beach; they can trap nesting and hatching sea turtles, which cannot live long out of the water.

• Don’t use wish lanterns or fireworks; they litter the beach and Gulf.

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

• Never touch a sea turtle; it’s the law. If you see people disturbing turtles, call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Wildlife Alert hotline at 888404-FWCC (3922).

24

THE SUN

OUTDOORS

October brings spectacular fishing CAPTAIN DAVID WHITE

October is the month for spectacular fishing around Anna Maria Island. Bait is seemingly everywhere.

This has things going crazy around here.

Inshore, the snook fishing is great. Using live shiners is a must for anything inshore right now. The Redfish are starting to chew pretty good as well. Lots of fun on light tackle. For inshore anglers trying to fill a cooler, the underrated Spanish mackerel are loaded off of the beach. When bled immediately and cleaned properly, these fish are extremely tasty. Often used in ceviche and sushi; we love turning people onto these fast fighters.

Mangrove Snapper are thick as well. Any structure will hold theses guys right now.

Offshore, yellowtail snapper, mangrove snapper and red grouper are filling our coolers. American red snapper are opened the last three weekends of the month for recreational anglers as well. Kingfish are starting to show up a little bit. As we get cooler, they should come on in full force. Good luck out there and tight lines.

Tom Tiley, of Union, Ohio, shows off a 24-inch yellowtail snapper on his annual Anna Maria Charters’ trip with Captain David White.

OCTOBER 16, 2019

www.amisun.com

OCTOBER 16, 2019

THE SUN

25

HURST: Holmes Beach commission candidate FROM PAGE 9

sides of an issue and understand how it can impact the city both positively and negatively.

WHAT WOULD YOU HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH IN A NEW TERM AS COMMISSIONER?

Continue to focus on infrastructure issues and figure out how we can roll back or lower the millage rate. I was very disappointed when that didn’t happen this year. And continue to focus on community, bringing the community together.

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST PROBLEM FACING HOLMES BEACH?

Infrastructure. Dealing with potential sea level rise, the cost of the infrastructure changes that are necessary for Holmes Beach, and that includes widening the sidewalks, bike paths, you have crumbling curbs in Key Royale.

Dealing with potential sea level rise is

very expensive, and we have to make sure that we address those needs while trying to reduce the costs to the city The other one I always look at is the people who live in the R-2 zone who want to live a quiet, happy life and then people who own properties that are trying to make money off those properties. That balance, finding the balance that is justifiable, fair, enforceable and can make the R-2 residents in those zones as happy as possible and that is a challenge.

HOW WOULD YOU FIX IT?

The infrastructure has to be dealt with and we have to do it in a systematic manner that minimizes the cost to the residents and that means doing it in a way that we can maximize outside funding as much as possible, which we have been doing …

As a commissioner you try to deal with what’s fair and what’s right. And people do have a right to go to sleep

and it be quiet but people spend a lot of money for a place and have a right to come and enjoy themselves and not be hassled by the police unless they’re totally out of hand …

To me it’s an educational thing …

Infrastructure’s easy to solve. You just put money at it. The challenge is finding the money. But for this situation (noise issues in residential areas) it’s almost an impossible solution. We’ve just got to find the right solution.

Sometimes we don’t always accommodate but that’s because there are other factors.

DO YOU THINK THE RESIDENTS HAVE ENOUGH OF A VOICE IN CITY GOVERNMENT?

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU’D LIKE THE VOTERS TO KNOW?

It’s so different than any other government. They vote, they can show up at the commission meetings. I believe that when people do speak at the commission meetings, we do hear what they say. I can’t think of many situations, if any, where people have spoken that has not made me think of how we can smartly accommodate them.

WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF BEING A HOLMES BEACH COMMISSIONER?

Understanding the impact of every word of every piece of legislation on the entire city, every resident and the community around us. That’s what I try to do.

I am raising a 12 year-old daughter. I am a managing partner of The Freckled Fin, which makes me a Holmes Beach business owner. That provides me a unique perspective that none of the other commissioners or candidates have. And I’ve worked hard and done my best to do a good job for the city, and I believe that I have.

SOUSTEK: Holmes Beach commission candidate FROM PAGE 9

to their government. I was guilty of that way back. That’s why I got into this because my apathy led to the proliferation of all of the vacation houses because I thought everything was fine and it wasn’t, but I wasn’t paying attention and the present commission wasn’t paying attention.

The community must monitor their government. They must pay attention to what’s going on and speak up if they’re not happy with what the commissioners are doing. That scares me, that they don’t care.

HOW WOULD YOU FIX IT?

By bringing more townhall meetings that are open to the public. By appealing through the paper. By explaining some of the actions that we do, like we tried to explain some of the budget items by each department, making

people aware of why we’re doing it.

You have to explain it…

I would love to be able to broadcast the meetings. People are reluctant to come to city hall. I don’t know why.

It’s a nice place … I would like us to be able to go out to them … You have to pay attention to your local government.

That’s your control. If you don’t pay attention to what’s going on up there, before you know it you’re in a very bad situation, and it takes years to get out of it.

DO YOU THINK THE RESIDENTS HAVE ENOUGH OF A VOICE IN CITY GOVERNMENT?

They have a voice, but they don’t use it. City hall is open to anybody, all the records, all the people in there, they talk to you, they’ll help you, but you have to come through the front door.

A lot of people just don’t want to do it.

City hall has to reach out into the community and make contact in any way that we can … I don’t think there’s a commissioner up there that says, ‘don’t talk to me’.

everyone, "How do you want to spend the money?"

SOME SAY THE CITY’S BUDGET NEEDS TO BE CUT. DO YOU AGREE? HOW WOULD YOU ADDRESS THIS ISSUE?

There’s a lot of important parts. I guess caring. If you care about how you do your job, if you care about your community and the people in it, you can be a good commissioner. And caring what happens. That’s the most important thing to me.

We were trying very hard to keep it at a low rollback rate, but when the Bert Harris cases came forward, the city has to protect itself because it only has a limited amount of insurance to protect itself. I feel very confident that we did the right thing and the court will uphold it, but you never know how a judge is going to rule, so we have to put money back, and that’s what we’ve done.

If we win all of the Bert Harris cases, look at the jackpot we have back there.

Maybe we’ll hold a townhall and ask

WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF BEING A HOLMES BEACH COMMISSIONER?

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU’D LIKE THE VOTERS TO KNOW?

I love what I do. I really love directing the way our community is going into the future and safeguarding it.

That’s two very important things for me. I love a challenge, and this city is certainly a challenge.

26

www.amisun.com

THE SUN

OCTOBER 16, 2019

START | SUBMITTED

Under-dock reefs attracting fish

CINDY LANE | SUN

Robinson burn If the trails at Robinson Preserve look and smell like fire tore through them, it did. The Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources Department conducted a prescribed burn last month to remove excess debris, decreasing the chance of wildfires and improving the habitat for wildlife and native plants. Trails remain open.

Three months after Ocean Habitats and START installed 10 mini reefs under the docks at the Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant on Longboat Key, the reefs are full of sea life, including sheepshead, mullet and mangrove snapper. Tube worms, sea squirts, corals and sponges in residence on the reefs are improving water quality by reducing excess nutrients and increasing dissolved oxygen in the water column. Soon, the creatures will be filtering up to 30,000 gallons of sea water every day. You can order a mini reef for $250 with free installation, no tax and a permit waiver from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Email START at colleen@start1.org.

Compass Hotel tops out Stellar Development Inc. celebrated the topping out of The Compass Hotel at One Particular Harbour, 12300 Manatee Ave. W. on Oct. 2. During the event, the Stellar construction team hosted a BBQ luncheon for the construction workers to show appreciation for the safe and timely completion of the exterior of the structure, which overlooks Anna Maria Sound. The hotel is adjacent to the freestanding Floridays Restaurant & Grill, also under construction as part of the One Particular Harbour Margaritaville marina development.

Mainsail announces new managing partner Marriott veteran Andrew Houghton was announced as the new managing partner for Mainsail Vacation Rentals in a recent press release.

The vacation rental arm of Mainsail Lodging and Development was launched earlier this year.

On Anna Maria Island, Mainsail owns and operates the Mainsail Beach Inn, the Waterline Marina Resort and CINDY LANE | SUN

Beach Club and the individual properties making up the primary portion of Mainsail Vacation Rentals.

Prior to coming to Mainsail, Houghton served as the general manager of the RitzCarlton Shanghai, Pudong, and was an area vice-president over the Caribbean and Brazil for Marriott International.

OCTOBER 16, 2019

www.amisun.com

THE SUN

27

Beachfront, award-winning rooms As long as you’re getting married on the beach, why not stay on the beach?

Bungalow Beach Resort, 2000 Gulf Drive N., Bradenton Beach, has won the Top Romance award in the US by tripadvisor.com, and it is located right on the beach – the perfect place to escape between the rehearsal dinner, the ceremony and the reception. With the Gulf of Mexico just steps from your lushly landscaped cedar bungalow, it’s a great place for an extended stay after the bride and groom leave for their honeymoon.

If the bride and groom want to continue their stay, Bungalow Beach Resort, which also won the 2013 Excellence Award from tripadvisor.com, is a very popular honeymoon destination.

Originally a group of beachfront army barracks, each of the Bungalow Beach Resort units retains the old Florida charm that is Anna Maria Island, with modern conveniences inside. And you will stay in luxury with personal touches like baskets of embroidered towels, flowers and candy. Whether you’re getting married or part of the wedding party, pick award-winning Bungalow Beach Resort as your home base where you will cherish those moments when you’re not involved with the ceremony. You’ll want to return when there is nothing to distract you from your stay.

Call Bungalow Beach Resort at 1-800-779-3601 or log onto www.bungalowbeach.com.

OPEN DAILY 7 AM - 9 PM

28

THE SUN

www.amisun.com

OCTOBER 16, 2019

Happy first anniversay to the Wellers. Caitlin Donahue's dream of getting married on Anna Maria Island came true when she and Kyle Weller said "I do" at the St. Bernard Catholic Church, on Oct. 27, 2018. The bride's uncle, Father Scott Donahue, performed the marriage ceremony. The reception was held at the Gulf Drive Café. Music was provided by Chuck Caudill, who sang and performed on ukulele for the first dance. Chuck was also the DJ for their reception. Hair and makeup were

by Body & Sol Wedding Salon on location at the Tortuga Inn, where the bride and groom as well as all of their guests stayed. Caitlin and Kyle honeymooned in Australia and New Zealand, before returning home to Arlington Heights, Ill.

DARA CAUDILL | WWW.ISLANDPHOTOGRAPHY.ORG

Laurie and Pete Donahue, of Arlington Heights, Ill., are celebrating their 34th wedding anniversary with a trip to Kauai where they honeymooned. In the photo are Laurie and Pete, with their children Peter, Caitlin, Meghan and Colleen.

DARA CAUDILL | WWW.ISLANDPHOTOGRAPHY.ORG

www.amisun.com

OCTOBER 16, 2019

THE SUN

29

SPRING LAKE: Slow recovery FROM PAGE 1

candidate Terry Schaefer said he feels the city needs more expert information on the water quality at Spring Lake in order to address the toxicity issues in the water. Speaking on behalf of an anonymous friend who previously worked for the EPA for 30 years, Schaefer offered the friend’s services as a water quality expert to the city at no cost. He asked only that all previous reports on the water quality at Spring Lake be shared with his friend if the city’s leaders decided to work with him.

Titsworth said that the city is currently under contract for water testing at Spring Lake and suggested that Schaefer or his friend contact newly ap-

pointed Wasserman to see if a different expert opinion could be beneficial to the cleanup efforts.

“We appreciate you bringing this to our attention,” she said to Schaefer.

Lakeside resident Tim Gibson also spoke during public comment, saying that he hopes city leaders will consider opening the WaStop valve in the pipe from Spring Lake to the grand canal. Opening the valve would allow for more tidal flow in and out of Spring Lake, replenishing the water. Titsworth said during a previous commission meeting that she’s uncomfortable allowing the toxic water in Spring Lake to filter into the healthy water in the bay. City Engineer Lynn Burnett previ-

ously said that opening the valve, which blocks some tidal waters from entering the lake, would make the surrounding residential properties more vulnerable to flooding with exceptionally high tides and king tides.

During an Oct. 2 discussion with The Sun, Wasserman said that there are some tidal waters coming into Spring Lake, but he’s unsure of how many gallons move in and out of the lake per day.

For now, city leaders say they plan to stay the course and give the aeration system time to work while city staff considers additional options for clearing the lake waters.

LEASE: Decision pending

Mondays

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FROM PAGE 5

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"Option 2: A monthly base rent amount of $18,900 per month, with a $250,000 up-front payment due upon signing the lease. The lease amount would also be subject to the annual 3 percent or CPI increase/adjustments mentioned above,” Murphy wrote.

“These figures are exclusive of the ‘extra rent’ for maintenance outlined in my letter of August 23. Once we have agreed upon the base rent amount, we can then discuss the break point for percentage rent,” Murphy wrote.

Murphy’s email also addressed questions Schoenfelder previously posed about parking considerations. In his Sept. 13 email to the mayor, Schoenfelder estimated there would be 100 to 115 seats inside and outside of the pierbased restaurant and bait shop.

Schoenfelder asked if there’s a limit on the number of parking spaces the city is willing to lease its pier tenant.

“Yes, the number is limited. We will ensure that you will have adequate parking to meet code requirements.

You also may wish to consider valet parking as an option,” Murphy responded.

Schoenfelder asked if the city would consider providing the pier tenant with some form of gated parking to assist with the enforcement of the tenant’s designated restaurant parking only parking spaces.

“Gated parking is not a consideration at this point in time,” Murphy responded.

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F

THE SUN

REAL ESTATE

OCTOBER 16, 2019

Is home ownership threatened?

or most Americans their biggest source of wealth is the equity in their homes. But what if you never own a home? What if being a renter is your fate? How does that impact your future wealth and state of mind?

Homeownership rates for younger Americans have fallen over the past 10 years and are near the lowest levels in more than three decades of record keeping.

About 40 percent of young adults ages 25 to 34 were homeowners in 2018, according to federal date analyzed by Freddie Mac. That is down from about 48 percent in 2001. In addition, the median age of a home buyer is 46, vastly increased than when I purchased my first home at 27. According to the National Association of Realtors, this is the oldest since it began keeping records in 1981. For these young people it’s a vicious cycle of rents going up, and student debit putting more financial pressure on young adults who can’t seem to get a foothold in the American Dream.

Castles in the Sand LOUISE BOLGER Generally, lower homeownership promotes lower growth by forcing older Americans to stay in their homes because there are fewer buyers for entry level properties.

And even though the price of entry level homes has been rising, without savings the pool of buyers keeps shrinking.

So, is homeownership worth it? Sometimes yes and sometimes no, depending on individual needs. These are some of the questions you need to think about: What can I afford? Should I keep paying rent until I find the perfect home, or should I take the plunge now with the goal of trading up down the road?

How long do you plan on staying in the

home? If you know your job may relocate you within a year, maybe you want to wait before spending the money required to get into a home. Or if you’re living in a hot market you may want to go for it with the hope of turning a nice profit in a short period of time.

Even if your job is not a factor, are you the type of person who likes stability or flexibility? Owning a home by definition is not a flexible choice, considering maintenance and repairs that are required in most homes, not to mention the cost of upkeep.

If you want to be foot lose and fancy free, better keep renting.

Finally, your decision may be all about the family. If you have children, the quality of the schools may be your deciding factor.

Do rentals even exist in the school district of your choice or is purchasing a home the only way to provide the best education for your children? Also, property space for kids to run around may require you to purchase a home.

The advantages of owning your home are many. Building equity and establishing good credit being the primary reasons people buy homes. Even with the new tax laws limiting some deductions, many homeowners may still see tax benefits to owning. And of course, the independence of Americans to own their own property and not having to answer to landlords.

Disadvantages of owning start with the finances. It costs more money to own and maintain a home than renting. When you rent, someone else is responsible for the repairs and the cost of those repairs. Renting also insulates you from falling home values, which we all remember has happened.

It’s nice to have a choice in life and a choice in whether you want to own or rent. Unfortunately, it appears we are building an ever-increasing group of permanent renters who may not have another choice. Let’s hope the American dream isn’t shattered forever.

www.amisun.com

OCTOBER 16, 2019

August 2019 tourist tax collections compared to August 2018

Anna Maria Bradenton Beach Holmes Beach Manatee County Total*

THE SUN

31

Gulf Drive lights repaired

3% 2% 4% 14%

Three of the four malfunctioning solarpowered LED lights along Gulf Drive have been repaired.

One of the repaired lights is at the north end of the Gulf Drive/ Bridge Street roundabout, where safety concerns were raised about the temporary lack of lighting there.

The light at the south end of the roundabout was still not working by week’s end, but Public Works Director Tom Woodard said a new LED driver has been ordered and he hopes to have that repair completed this week.

*(Anna Maria Island, Bradenton, Longboat Key, unincorporated Manatee County, Palmetto) Manatee County’s 5 percent 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 percent of the tax proceeds are allocated to Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau tourism marketing efforts, with 20 percent allocated to beach renourishment. Resort tax increases reflect both increased visitation and improved tax collection efforts. Amounts shown were collected in November and paid to the Manatee County Tax Collector’s Office in December. 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

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

This solar-powered light in front of the Sandcastle condominiums was still not working as of last week.

32

www.amisun.com

THE SUN

Top real estate producers for September 2019 A PARADISE

Nicole Skaggs - Listing Quentin Talbert - Selling

AN ISLAND PLACE REALTY Tanya McCormick - Listing Sue Carlson - Selling

COLDWELL BANKER

MICHAEL SAUNDERS

Victoria Sperounes - Listing Debbie Capobianco & Kristi Berger - Selling

MIKE NORMAN

Marianne Norman Ellis - Listing Rochelle Bowers – Selling

REMAX ALLIANCE GROUP

Buky Team - Listing & selling

Cindy Quinn – Listing & selling

DUNCAN REAL ESTATE

SALTY MERMAID REAL ESTATE

EDGEWATER REAL ESTATE

SATO REAL ESTATE

Darcie Duncan – Listing & selling Lynn Zemmer - Listing & selling

FRAN MAXON REAL ESTATE

Stephanie Bell - Listing & selling

ISLAND REAL ESTATE

Alan Galletto - Listing Kathleen White - Selling

Liz Blandford - Listing & selling Jason Sato - Listing Barbara Sato - Selling

WAGNER REAL ESTATE

The team of Carmen Pedota and Lori Guerin Listing & selling

OCTOBER 16, 2019

OCTOBER 16, 2019

www.amisun.com

THE SUN

33

CINDY LANE | SUN

Saharan sunset Red dust from the Sahara desert in Africa creates beautiful sunsets and calms hurricanes, but its iron content also can feed red tide.

Trial set on net camp case

Water quality report Bayfront Park North

Bradenton Beach

Coquina Beach North

Coquina Beach South

Manatee Beach North

Palma Sola South Source: Florida Department of Heath

Moderate Good Good Good Good Poor

A trial date has been set early next year to decide the fate of the net camp that Raymond Guthrie Jr. built in 2018 offshore of the A.P. Bell Fish Co. in Cortez.

The commercial fish house sued the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for ordering the demolition of the stilt structure in Sarasota Bay, claiming the structure is on submerged land owned by the company.

DEP claims state ownership of the submerged land.

Guthrie claims the location of the structure is where his family’s previous net camps stood.

Net camps were used by commercial fishermen to clean, dry and store nets.

The bench trial is scheduled for Jan. 13, 2020.

34

www.amisun.com

THE SUN

OBITUARIES Earl Mowry

Earl Mowry went home to be with his Lord Friday, Sept. 27, 2019.

He is survived by his brothers, Lowell, Richard, and sister, Eileen Sailing; sons Patrick, wife, Becky, and Richard; grandchildren Christopher, Christa, Jennifer and Christle; and many relatives and friends who he cared for deeply.

Earl was married to his beloved Margaret for 66 years prior to her passing.

Earl was born and raised in Ohio. He worked in the electrical and antenna industry after receiving his degree in Chicago.

BEACH BEAT ANNA MARIA

10/4, trespass warning, Bayfront Park, 316 Bay Blvd. The deputy was patrolling the park and found a female sleeping on a sheet. He awakened the female and explained there is no trespassing

In 1954, Earl and Margaret opened a TV repair shop in Holmes Beach, Fla. Earl was active in youth sports with the AMI Community Center, including football and baseball. He was the Boy Scout troop master of Anna Maria Island’s troop 7. Under his leadership the scouts were very active in the community as well as many camping and canoeing adventures. He instilled leadership qualities in the boys and was a great Scout master. Earl was influenced by the teachings and example of Jesus from an early age and trusted Jesus as his Savior and Lord. Through CrossPointe Fellowship he served his community and other areas with needs including buying and shipping supplies for Haiti and leading many mission trips there. He loved the Haitian people

after dark. He issued her a trespass warning.

10/6, lost property, in the Gulf near Spring Avenue. The subject, who is from the United Kingdom but owns property on the Island, said he was swimming and lost his white gold ring with diamonds.

BRADENTON BEACH No new reports

OCTOBER 16, 2019

including those on staff who cared for him at Bradenton Health Care along with the nursing and therapy staff.

A celebration of life was held on Saturday, Oct. 12, at CrossPointe Fellowship 8605 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach.

Ronald G. Edmond Ronald G. Edmonds, long time resident of Holmes Beach, born and raised in Hibbing, Minn., passed away early Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019. He was the son of Eddie and Minnie (Olin) Edmonds (deceased); husband of Judy (Koslowski) Edmonds (deceased); and is survived by his wife Charlene

CORTEZ

No new reports

HOLMES BEACH

10/3, domestic battery, 4909 Gulf Drive.

An argument between two couples turned violent, and a suspect was jailed.

10/5, driving with no license, speeding, 600 Manatee Ave. The officer stopped the driver for speeding and found out he

ENTERTAINMENT Family fun At the Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach: • Wednesday, Oct. 16, Ukulele Class for Beginners, 3 to 4 p.m.

• Thursday, Oct. 17, a veteran’s services professional will be available to help vets with needs, 9 a.m. to noon; Conquer the Quicksand of Anxiety and Depression, 2 to 3 p.m.

• Friday, Oct. 18, Friends Book Sale for library members only, 9 a.m. to noon: Friends Book Sale for the general public, noon to 3 p.m.

• Saturday, Oct. 19, Friends Book Sale, 1 to 3 p.m.

• Tuesday, Oct. 22, Preschool story time, 10 to 11 a.m.; Mahjong Club, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.; Anna Maria Rocks wire wrap program, 2 to 3 p.m.; Tech help, 2 to 4 p.m.

For more information, call the library at 941-778-6341.

Seniors enjoy BBQ On Friday, Oct.10, Senior Adventures will meet at Pig Out, formerly O'Shucks, on Cortez Road West, for lunch at noon. Those who need a ride may call Peg at 941-447-5076.

SUBMITTED

Tickets on sale for Sha Na Na Rock & Roll and doo-wop legends Sha Na Na are coming to The Center of Anna Maria Island for one night only on Saturday, Dec. 14, and tickets are now on sale through the Manatee Performing Arts Center. Seating is limited and reserved for the show. Doors open at 6 p.m. with an unnamed opening act taking the stage at 7 p.m. and the main show beginning at 8 p.m.

Sha Na Na is the first of four concerts scheduled to take place

at The Center this season as a part of a partnership with the Manatee Performing Arts Center and the Manatee County Tourist Development Council.

For more information, contact The Center at 941778-1908 or go online to purchase tickets at https://tickets. manateeperformingartscenter.com/TheatreManager/1/ online?performance=5598. The Center is at 407 Magnolia Ave. in Anna Maria.

(Wilson) Edmonds; daughter Kim (Edmonds) Malone; sons Todd and Chad Edmonds, Jon Hughes and (wife Heather); along with six grandchildren Ashlee, Chase and Caylyn, Jaden, Judith Jade and Tegan and five great grandchildren. There will be a celebration of Ron’s life in the near future on Anna Maria Island. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made in Ron’s name to his beloved AMI Turtle Watch that he spent 20 years happily volunteering at https://islandturtlewatch.com/ get-involved/make-a-donation Arrangements under the care of Shannon Funeral Homes Westview Chapel.

Condolences may be made at www. shannonfuneralhomes.com

had no license.

10/8, forged check, 6600 Gulf Drive. A bookkeeper for Beach Bistro found evidence of an altered check.

10/8,warrant arrest, Manatee Public Beach, 4000 Gulf Drive. The officer took a random computer check on a vehicle and found out a passenger had a warrant for her arrest. He caught up with her at the beach and took her into custody.

OCTOBER 16, 2019

SPORTS

THE SUN

35

HSH Designs remains undefeated on the pitch

BY MONICA SIMPSON SPECIAL TO THE SUN

Three games into the regular season and Team HSH Designs looks to be the team to beat in the youth soccer league at The Center in the eight -to 10-year-old league. Undefeated going into the third week of play, HSH went up against Ugly Grouper missing two critical players.

With the Zaccagnino brothers sick, the Cusack siblings, Ceegan and Clancy, played a tough game against the full HSH Designs squad.

Less than three minutes into the game, Bam Gartman scored the first of two goals, giving his team the early 1-0 lead.

Teammate Dylan Sato hit the net. Along with Gartman’s second goal of the game, HSH had a three-goal lead.

The first half of the game had Cale Rudacille, who made four saves, in the goal for HSH Designs and Ugly Grouper worked with Clancy Cusack as the team’s keeper.

With a three-point lead and after 15 minutes of play, Sterling Holiday took advantage of Ugly Grouper’s goalkeeper out of position to score the fourth goal of the game for HSH. To close out the first half of play, Nixon Conner showed his ball handling skills for his Ugly Grouper team.

Clancy Cusack, credited with seven saves in the game, continued in the keeper position to start the second half of play.

Savanna Coba’s shot was stopped and was followed by a shot by Rudacille that went left of the post.

With four minutes left on the game clock, Coba scored HSH Designs’ fifth and final goal of the game.

MONICA SIMPSON | SUN

SUN SCOREBOARD TUESDAY, OCT. 8 YOUTH SOCCER EIGHT-TO 10 -YEAR-OLD LEAGUE Ugly Grouper HSH Designs

0 (3-0) 5

Moss Builders Ugly Grouper

(1-0-2) 2 (1-1-1) 2

YOUTH SOCCER 11- TO 15-YEAR-OLD LEAGUE

Lancaster Design (2-1) 3 Island Vacation Properties (1-2) 1 Progressive Cabinetry Ugly Grouper

(0-3) 2 (3-0) 6

Above, Ugly Grouper's Malia Keith defends the goal against the hot shot by Sterling Holiday, for HSH Designs last Tuesday night. Below, Dylan Sato patiently waits to attack the ball as he defends against HSH Designs' Riley Karecki on the island's pitch.

36

THE SUN

FUN IN THE SUN

Across 1 It's read monthly 9 Myers partner in personality type research 15 Part of a backup plan 16 "Ni-i-ice!"

17 Walked all over 18 Word on some special plates 19 Klutzes 20 Understand 22 Added conditions 23 Two-tone shirt wearer 24 Word with side or prop 25 Crunch beneficiaries 27 Like 29 Contributed to 30 Issuer of three-part nos.

31 Gulf of __ 32 Exam given in spots?

35 "I know, right?"

36 Hypothetical apocalyptic climate effect 37 Single 38 Transparent collectible 39 Sticker in a garden 40 Issa of "The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl" 41 Islands sound 42 __ stop 43 Hold up 46 Red state?

48 Hideout 50 Term popularized by le CarrĂŠ 51 Have a positive impact

53 Rustic home 55 Outwitted, in a way 56 Completely dominated 57 Div. with MLB's southernmost team 58 Rush hour metaphor Down 1 Gainesville athlete 2 Glowing rings 3 Servers and such 4 Spring honorees 5 Unverified way of seeing 6 Exchanged insults, as competitors 7 Wedding, for one 8 Second chance 9 Gym rat's pride 10 Emu relatives 11 Confident assertion 12 Middle Eastern leader who grew up in Milwaukee 13 What an anchor does 14 Camera initials Answers to 10-09-19 Crossword Puzzle.

21 Sinus-clearing condiment 24 TV comedy pioneer 26 Nonkosher lunch, probably 28 Tiny tunneler 29 Recklessness 30 Wrapped accessory 31 Web-footed animal 32 Group of local amateur teams 33 Oreo O's, e.g.

34 Many Rwandans 35 Sushi bar order 36 Paired conjunction 41 Sole providers?

42 Flora and fauna 43 Crime-fighting sidekick 44 Antipasto morsel 45 "Seinfeld" surname 47 Source of fizz 49 Remark with a sigh 50 Neighbor of Algeria 51 Cubs' home 52 Early EPA concern 54 Scoundrel

OCTOBER 16, 2019

OCTOBER 16, 2019

CLASSIFIED

ANNOUNCEMENTS

COMPUTER SERVICES

BEACH YOGA ON Wednesdays, Saturdays & Sundays at 8:30am at the end of Pine Ave by the Sandbar Restaurant by donation. www.thriveyogafit. com

EMPIRE COMPUTER SERVICE Computer problems fixed in your home or office. The fastest friendliest service around. Serving the Island since 2004. Call 941-739-6424

FACE PAINTER/PORTRAIT ARTIST Island student artist, reasonable price for parties, events, and special portraits. Call/text Lillian 210-380-9691

EMPLOYMENT

THE BEST VOLUNTEER position on the island. The AMI Historical Museum needs docents and bread makers. Call Lynn at 813758-3234 or lbrennan47@ gmail.com ROSER FOOD BANK needs donations of cash and non-perishable food. Donations boxes are located at the Church, Moose Club, and Walgreen’s.

Join the team at the FLORIDA MARITIME MUSEUM to preserve Florida’s fishing and maritime heritage. Assist with collections, school tours and more! Contact 941-708-6120

CARPET CLEANING QUALITY COUNTS. CARPET cleaning. Upholstery cleaning. Tile & grout cleaning. Island's favorite cleaner. Manatee Chamber Member. Great price/free estimates. Call 941-7561082

CLEANING SERVICE THC CLEANING: Residential, Commercial & Rentals. Professional and Reliable. Call 941756-4570

COMMERCIAL SALES, RENT & LEASE

13 UNIT RESORT: $3,999,900 Bradenton Beach on Gulf Dr. WAREHOUSE: 9300 sq ft possible Machine Shop w/ Heavy Duty Elect. Or Car Storage. So many Possibilities. Near SRQ Airport. $595,000. Island Real Estate call Alan Galletto 941-232-2216

Call us today! 941-778-3986

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

LANDSCAPING & LAWN CARE

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

Neil 941-726-3077

R. GAROFALO’S Interlocking brick pavers, driveways, patios, pool decks. Free estimates. Licensed & Insured.

Call Rafael 941-778-4823 or Veronik 941-526-7941

BRIDGE STREET JEWELERS is looking for a part time sales associate. Must be willing to pass a background check. Call 717977-1818

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

HIRING 2 EXPERIENCED part time employees for my small boutique style shop at 315 Pine Ave. Shop is open 10-5 Mon-Fri. and 9-5 on Saturday. Please call Jamie 727-692-8575 for more information.

SOLO’S PIZZA LOOKING for part time evening cook.

Call 941-778-8118

KERN CONSTRUCTION NEW Homes & Remodel.

Design/Build. Since 1968.

License # CRC1327296.

Call Jerry Kern 941-7781115 www.kernconstructioninc.com

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 VARIDESK CUBE CORNER 36, two tier design and keyboard deck.

Heavyweight base for stability. Color black.

Also Varidesk sitting/ standing chair and floor mat. All perfect condition. All pieces new $805. Asking $250. Call Steve 941-724-2728.

GARAGE, MOVING, RUMMAGE & YARD SALES ROSER THRIFT SHOP & ANNEX open 9:30-2p.m.

Tuesday,Thursday and Saturday. Donations preferred 9a.m.-11a.m. Wednesdays.

511 Pine Ave., Anna Maria.

Phone 941-779-2733 ESTATE/GARAGE SALE: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Friday and Saturday, October 18 & 19; 7208 Pointe West Blvd., Bradenton. Recently retired/ downsizing. Household and furniture items and much more! Everything must go!

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GET’R DONE DRYWALL, INC Specializing in Remodels & Repairs. Island Resident for 18 years. Call Neil Cell 941-962-1194 LIGHTHOUSE PROPERTY INNOVATIONS LLC State Certified General Contractor (Lic. #CGC 1515821) New Construction, Renovations & Additions. Call 941-266-7500 MASTER CARPENTER. Decks-Docks-FencingStairs & Railing. Free Estimates. Handyman Work. Call Richard 941448-3571 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.

HOME SERVICES THE HARDWOOD STOP Flooring installation services; Laminate, hardwood, vinyl and tile. Bathroom and shower. Virtually dustless FLOOR REMOVAL License and insured FREE ESTIMATES 941-227-0041 www.thehardwoodstop. com

STRAIGHT SHOT LANDSCAPE. Specializing in Old Florida Seashell driveways and scapes. Also Rock, Mulch, & Soil. Free estimates. Call Shark Mark 941-301-6067

LOST & FOUND FOUND KAYAK. FOUND near Key Royale Bridge Call or text 248 765-5207 LOST ON BEACH Beige Women’s Eye Glasses. $50 REWARD Call John 941705-6068 FOUND DIAMOND RING on Friday July 5 on Coquina Beach. Call Bradenton Beach Police Department 941-778-6311 LOST DIAMOND STONE on Trolley or shops on Anna Maria Island. $500 REWARD. Call 314-324-5921 LOST EYE GLASSES April 19th. Dark men’s frame.

Anthony Peoples Design.

Call 269-344-7960

MOVING & STORAGE MARTIN’S MOVING YOUR Island movers! Offering dependable, competitive rates. No hidden costs. 941-809-5777.

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.

Paperhanging/removal Faux finishes. Interior painting. Mary Bell Winegarden 941-794-0455

PROFESSIONAL PAINTING SERVICES. Prompt & Reliable. Island Resident.

Quality Workmanship.

Interior/Exterior. Also minor repairs & carpentry. Free written detailed estimates. Bill Witaszek 941-307-9315

IMMACULATE WATERFRONT HOME 520 Kumquat Dr. 4BD/5BA 3928sf Coastal Beauty! Prime location on AMI. $2,750,000 Call Charles Buky Coldwell Banker 941-228-6086 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 28 years. Proven track record brings you results! 941-725-1589

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

POOL SERVICES FOUR SEASONS POOL SERVICE AND CHEMICAL SERVICES. Certified Pool Operator. 10 + 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

PRINTING CUSTOM DIGITAL PRINTING "Your printing dream to reality" Specializing in Dye sublimation Printing.

Graphic Design. Performance Active ware. Logo Design. Call Rhonda 330-550-4847

PRESSURE WASHING & WINDOWS AUTHORITY ONE CLEANING : Residential, Commercial, Construction and Vacation Rentals . Also available Pressure Washing, Roof Cleaning, Paver Sealing and Windows. Call 941565-3931.

REAL ESTATE HOMES & CONDOS FOR SALE CANAL FRONT HOMES Holmes Beach – GULF FRONT CONDOS Gulf Place, L’Plage, Vista Grande, SPW, 5400 – DUPLEXES & MORE Island Real Estate ASK Alan Galletto 941232-2216

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RENTALS: ANNUAL BAY HOLLOW CONDO Beautiful 2BR/2BA canal front condo just off the Island with views of the water, boat dock can be available for use, updated gourmet kitchen. HOA approval required, $2,100/mo.

Call Paige 513-382-1992 www.teamduncan.com Duncan Real Estate

ANNUALS AVAILABLE: 1BR/1BA duplex on Island. $1200. 2BR/2BA furnished gulf front $2650 First, last and security-Available immediately. Call A Paradise 941-778-4800 ANNUAL RENTALSANNA MARIA 1BR/1BA steps to beach, onsite laundry. No pets. $1,400/mo. Holmes Beach 2BR/1.5BA elevated duplex steps to beach, covered parking, W/D,DW $1,850/mo.

Fran Maxon Real Estate 941-778-2307 ANNUAL RENTAL AT VILLAGE GREEN Oversized Villa with 2 car garage, premium lake view, 2BR/2BA, fully applianced, unfurnished, very clean. Recent updates include plantation shutters, AC, new paint and large heated pool. First, last plus security. $100 HOA fee. Tenant pays electric/water. Trash and cable included in rent.

REDUCED to $1700/ mo. Available NOW. Please Call (owner) Jim 781-603-2861 jimreilly@ townisp.com

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CLASSIFIED

RENTALS: ANNUAL

LARGE EXECUTIVE HOME Perico, close to beach, 3BR/3BA, available August 1st. $2800/month 1st, last, and security deposit req'd.. Call Sato Real Estate, Inc at 941-778-7200 or email monica@satorealestate.com ANNUAL 2BR/2BA off Cortez, 3.5 mi to beach.

Fenced yard, W/D hook ups, covered parking, non-smoking. $1,100/mo.

Available 11/8 (possibly sooner) 941-721-8480 M-F 9-5, or email mehall@ nclaimsadjusters.com

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

ANNA MARIA ISLAND, Fl Condos. Pool beach access, fully equipped $650-$800/ wk Redekercondos.com 941-704-7525 GREAT RATES! Weekly, Monthly. 3BR/2BA NW Bradenton. Call Grace 941-201-2190 GULF PLACE Gulf Beach Front beautiful 3BR/2BA condo for rent, fully equipped, gorgeous views, heated pool, tennis court.

Call Gayle, Simpson South Realty, 941-812-6489.

SEASONAL RENTAL: North end of AMI 3BR/2 BA beautiful elevated home with pool, 3 min to beach, quiet location, available December 2020, January, February, March 2021. 3 or 4 month let. $5,850 plus taxes. Email gill@sunshineisland.com or Call 941201-6357

TRANSPORTATION

AMI TAXI metered-on-callcards accepted. Airport: Tampa $95, Sarasota $40, Clearwater $85, Orlando $165. Call 800-301-4816. amitaxi4u@gmail.com, www.amitaxi.com ANYTIME TRANSPORTATION to all Airports, Casino, etc. Tampa $70. Sarasota $35. Pets welcome. Very dependable. Reasonable rates. Contact Jeanne.

941-779-5095 AIRPORT RIDES- Tampa, St. Pete, Sarasota. Reasonable rates! Call or text Anna 941-932-1600 ADMIRAL TOWN CAR Professional chauffeur, taxi prices! Airports (1@ $75, 10 $150 to Tampa), Appointments anywhere.

Credit cards accepted. Phil 941-320-1120 admiraltowncar@gmail.com, Licensed & Insured

Call us today! 941-778-3986 OCTOBER 16, 2019

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OCTOBER 16, 2019

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HOME IMPROVEMENT

HOME IMPROVEMENT

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TRANSPORTATION

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OCTOBER 16, 2019