Anna Maria Island Sun February 25, 2015

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VOL 15 No. 18

February 25, 2015

Under Egmont:

FOUND!

After years of uncertainty, a family mystery is solved and a piece of history revealed. Pages 24-25.

Latest net ban challenge stymied by high court

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

CORTEZ – Twenty years after a state constitutional amendment imposed a ban on gill nets, the latest challenge by commercial fishermen is dead in the water.

The Florida Supreme Court issued an order on Thursday, Feb. 12, saying “… the court having determined that it should decline to accept jurisdiction, it is ordered that the petition for review is denied.”

“Surprisingly, they refused to accept jurisdiction and will not entertain any motions for rehearing,” said Ronald

INSIDE NEWS OPINION Sun survey business outdoors town crier real estate sports

4 6 7 14 26-27 29 34-39 40

Mowrey, attorney for the Wakulla Commercial Fishermen’s Association, Panacea bait shop owner Ronald Fred Crum and mullet fishermen Jonas Porter and Keith Ward. The plaintiffs sued the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) in 2012, arguing that its rules designed to enforce the state constitutional amendment banning gill nets violates the equal protection rights of commercial fishermen and results in the unintended bycatch that the ban is designed to prevent.

Island, Cortez, to receive resort tax funds Resort tax funds could be used to improve Gulf Front Park, Grassy Point Preserve and museums in Anna Maria and Cortez.

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

The Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC) voted on Monday to recommend three projects on Anna Maria Island and one in Cortez to receive resort tax funds from the Manatee County Commission.

If approved by the commission, all projects would be dollar-for-dollar matches with each organization, similar to the recently completed Bridge Street Pier project in which the county partnered with the city of Bradenton Beach to rebuild the pier.

Anna Maria Island’s three cities generated an average 45.6 percent of Manatee County’s $10.6 million in resort tax collections in 2014, or about $4.8 million, according to county tax collector statistics. Island residents have long complained that,

see NET BAN, page 41

see TDC, page 30

More questions arise in the

air america:

Combining the best of the old with the promise of the new. 14

Anna Maria Island, Florida

cindy lane | SUN

Mayor Shearon recall saga. 3 Cooking seafood with Anna Maria Oyster

Bar owner John Horne.

The Island’s award-winning weekly newspaper

31 www.amisun.com

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FEBRUARY 25, 2015

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FEBRUARY 25, 2015

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Rebuttal letter raises questions Mayor Bill Shearon’s correspondence did not sit well with some who received it.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH – Many city voters who signed the first of two recall petitions directed at Mayor Bill Shearon received a letter of rebuttal from the mayor last week.

In its entirety, Shearon’s letter states: “The following is my response to the recall election. I will be a candidate if there is a special election, I will also be a candidate for re-election Nov. 3rd. To save thousands of dollars of city funds and resources, don’t sign the recall petition. Vote in the regular election Nov. 3rd, not a few months earlier. I am committed to serving the citizens as your mayor.”

The letter is signed, “Thank you for your consideration. Mayor William ‘Bill’ Shearon.”

Next to the mayor’s signature is a telephone number: 737-0159. City Treasurer Sheila Dalton confirmed this is the number for Shearon’s city-issued cell phone.

Acting City Clerk Terri Sanclemente said Shearon’s letter was not produced by the clerk’s office, and the city incurred no postage fees in its distribution.

would have to be shown before someone could be found in violation of the misuse law,” Doss concluded.

Questions raised

When seeking reelection, incumbent candidates are not supposed to use government-issued e-mail accounts for campaign purposes, but is unclear if this also applies to government-issued cell phones.

Sharon Stief, from the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Office, said she was not familiar with election law that addresses cell phones in this manner.

In regard to campaign literature, the Florida Division of Elections Website states: “Any political advertisement that is paid for by a candidate that is published, displayed or circulated before or on the day of any election must prominently state: ‘Paid by (name of candidate), (party affiliation), for (office sought).’”

Shearon’s letter did not include this disclaimer.

Legal consultant Michael Barfield said he would be conducting additional research to determine if Shearon

Questions have been raised as to whether Shearon’s letter constitutes a misuse of city property or qualifies as a campaign or ethics violation.

City policy says, “It is the city of Bradenton Beach’s policy that representatives of our organization who are issued a cellular phone understand the phones are issued for business use.”

The policy does not define business use.

Vice Mayor Jack Clarke signed the recall petition and questions the mayor’s use of city property for campaign purposes.

“When you read the letter, this has nothing to do with city business, because the recall effort is a citizen-led initiative. If the mayor was referring to the forfeiture proceedings, that could be considered city business,” he said.

Florida Commission of Ethics Executive Director Virlindia Doss said it would be improper to comment on a specific incident, but she provided general information referred to in Florida Statute 112.313.

Campaign compliance

What a shame that our beautiful city has this negative cloud lingering over it.”

Steve Schewe, resident and business owner.

“It says public officers and employees cannot use their position or the resources of their position with corrupt intent, for the purpose of benefitting themselves,” she said.

“Corrupt intent means doing something that’s inconsistent with the proper performance of public duties and done with wrongful intent, which means someone was put on notice that they were not supposed to do something, but did it anyway. Those things

see rebuttal, page 9

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ISLAND NEWS

in brief

Cortez Bridge work nears end Crews will work on the Cortez Bridge piles jackets, span locks and complete punch list items this week as the project winds down.

Work on this project included general maintenance and repairs to the bridge span, beams, piling, seawall and bridge tender house. Quinn Construction, Inc. is the contractor on this project.

Chamber gathers downtown The Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce Business Card Exchange is being hosted

by Keller Williams on the Water at 1301 Sixth Avenue W., Bradenton, on Wednesday, Feb. 25, from 5 to 7 p.m. The Business Card Exchange is a please RSVP event.

To get to Keller Williams on the Water, take Manatee Avenue eastbound to downtown, round the first curve it turns into SIxth Avenue.

Take the first right on 14th Street just past Teresa’s Cafe. Take the first left into the parking lot. Go into the building at parking lot level, and take the elevator up to the first floor.

The cost is $5 for members, $10 for prospective members. Drinks, appetizers and great social networking are all included. For more information, visit www.amichamber.org or call 778-1541 to RSVP.

Tour of Homes ticket outlets Tickets for the Island Community Center’s Tour of Homes to be held on Saturday, March 21, are available at the following locations: AMI Sun newspaper, 202 Palm Ave.; AMI Community Center, 407 Magnolia Ave.; Ginny and Jane E’s, 9807 Gulf Drive; The White Egret, 10006 Gulf Drive; Egret’s Nest, 10010 Gulf Drive; Duncan Real Estate, 310 Pine Ave. – all in Anna Maria; AMI Chamber of Commerce, 5313 Gulf Drive; Islander newspaper, 5604 B Marina Drive; LaPensee Plumbing, 401 Manatee Ave.; The Egret’s Landing, 5602 Marina Drive; Island Fitness, 5317 Gulf Drive; Holmes Beach Ace Hardware, 3352 East Bay Drive – all in Holmes Beach; and Crowder Brothers Ace Hardware, 5409 Manatee Ave., Bradenton.

Wild Florida at Robinson Make a date for Wild Florida 101: Finding Romance in Nature, on Thursday, Feb. 26, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Robinson Preserve in Bradenton.

Learn about the courting strategies of the preserve’s resident wildlife in a hike to view a sunset from Robinson Preserve’s observation tower. Afterwards, we’ll whip up a delicious desert over a campfire. The program is suitable for ages 16 and up. Reservations are required; call 941-748-4501, ext. 6039.

Visit our website, www.amisun.com.

Scan this code with your smartphone to go there.

FEBRUARY 25, 2015

City audit looks good ...

A review of the 2014 fiscal year budget revealed significant progress made from the previous year.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH – The efforts of City Treasurer Sheila Dalton and the receipt of $320,000 in cell tower lease revenues were credited as significant contributing factors in the audit of the 2014 fiscal year budget that revealed far fewer problems than in 2013.

“Your revenue went up, and your expenditures went down, with the most significant item being the $320,000 from the cell tower,” Auditor Randy Dillingham told commissioners last week.

According to the audit report, “The assets of the city exceeded its liabilities by $8,668,788. Of this amount, $1,605,881 may be used to meet the city’s ongoing obligations. Of this total amount, $942,085, is available for spending at the city’s discretion.”

Citing the report, Dillingham

joe hendricks | sun

Bradenton Beach Treasurer and Finance Director Sheila Dalton received praise for her work on the city’s budget said the city’s general fund budget, which does not include designated Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) and Tingley Memorial Library Funds, was $1.92 million at the end of the 2014 fiscal year, compared to $1.68 million in 2013.

“Your general fund went up $236,062 this year. That includes the $320,000 that came in for the cell tower. If that money wasn’t

in, the results would have been expenditures exceeding revenues by $83,938. In 2013, expenditures exceeded revenues by $266,314, so there was still an improvement, but without the cell tower you still would have been in a deficit,” Dillingham said.

2014 revenues totaled $2.9 million, with expenditures of $2.62 million. Revenues exceeded expenditures by $292,666, and city expenditures decreased by $105,832.

In addition to the initial lump sum cell tower payment, Dillingham said there was also a $60,000 revenue increase attributed to taxes, state revenue sharing and permit fees.

“We’re on the right track. We’ve made great strides and now the challenge is to move forward,” said Mayor Bill Shearon.

“We’ll get some extra revenue from the cell tower, and with our building department and all the new houses coming up, there’ll be an increase in tax revenue, but we see audit, page 35

... but legal fees continue to climb The city has already spent two-thirds of the amount budgeted for the 2015 fiscal year.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH – Last week, city commissioners approved payment on invoice for $8,528 for attorney fees generated

by Mayor Bill Shearon, his significant other Tjet Martin and resident Jo Ann Meilner in their continued opposition to a 2012 development agreement the city reached with restaurant owner Ed Chiles.

According to the Jan. 31 invoice submitted by the Blalock Walters law firm, $7,208 of that total monthly figure is directly attributed to the city’s successful defense of the emergency injunction Martin and Meilner filed in their unsuccessful efforts to prevent the development of a contractually-obligated,

unpaved public parking lot adjacent to Chiles’ BeachHouse restaurant.

The invoice also notes that at least $925 was spent on a recent nonpublic shade meeting that allowed city commissioners and attorneys to privately discuss the city’s defense of a related and still pending lawsuit Shearon, Martin and Meilner filed against the city in 2012. An additional $302 is attributed to attorney correspondence and review of matters pertinent to one or both legal challenges.

Most of the invoiced expenditures pertained to services provided to the city by attorney Chuck Johnson.

When the invoice was discussed at last week’s commission meeting, Commissioner Jan Vosburgh reiterated her previously stated desire for the costly legal expenditures to come to an end.

“As a resident, taxpayer, and commissioner, I think we should work diligently to end this lawsuit that has gone on way too long,” she said.

If you’re going to go to court, my advice is to take your checkbook and throw it in a really dark, deep place…”

Patrick Shomo Residential property owner Commissioner Janie Robertson and Mayor Bill Shearon questioned some of the expenditures, including the $1,127 spent on a conference between Johnson and see legal, page 35

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FEBRUARY 25, 2015

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Commission to vote on rental licensing The ordinance will likely be ready for first reading this Thursday.

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

ANNA MARIA – After voting earlier this month to get a declaratory judgment on whether short-term rentals are a commercial enterprise in a residential zone, the city commission worked out an ordinance last Thursday that would require rental agents to be licensed with the city.

The commission worked on the plan that was drawn up with input from residents and real estate professionals and then put into legalese by an attorney.

Mayor Dan Murphy said they needed to re-examine the declaratory judgment process because when they voted to seek one, it was not listed on the agenda.

“You needed to reach a consensus

and the vote was three-to-two,” he said. “We should put it on the agenda and vote on it again next week.”

Commissioner Doug Copeland agreed, saying that way there would be no questions.

Meanwhile, City Planner Alan Garrett said he revised the proposed vacation rental ordinance with some changes in the number of bedrooms allowed, the hours renters could use the swimming pools and rental unit requirements.

Commissioner Dale Woodland asked if this ordinance would negate the need for the declaratory judgment and Garrett said yes. The biggest booster of such a judgment, Commission Chair Chuck Webb, was not present at the work session.

Commissioner Carol Carter said they might be running out of time to get a declaratory judgment because of the moratorium on buildings with more than three bedrooms.

Commissioner Nancy Yetter said she talked with residents after they worked on the ordinance previously and they felt that 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. was too long for swimming at the rental homes.

“They prefer 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.,” she said. “Those are the same hours in the rules for commercial pools.”

The ordinance requires every rental property to have a licensed agent if the owner lives out of town and that agent would have to be able to get to the house, in the case of an emergency, within 30 minutes and be available 24 hours per day.

If violations occur repeatedly, the agent will face losing his or her city license. Woodland suggested if there were three violations within a year, the agent would lose the license for the duration of the year plus another year.

Copeland said if an agent has problems with more than one property, he or she might face expulsion.

“If we take a hard stand, it will be effective,” Woodland said. “The agents’ rental agreements are stricter than this ordinance.”

The commissioners made changes, including the pool hours, and they took a consensus to proceed with the ordinance.

Murphy said attorney Susan Trevarthan, who ruled the city couldn’t treat rental properties differently from residential homes, offered to review the ordinance.

The commissioners will review it Feb. 26 at 6 p.m. at the regular commission meeting.

A declaratory judgment action is a lawsuit where the court must declare what rights the parties have.

In the case of Anna Maria, it would require the city to sue the owner of a rental home in a residential area, charging that the owner is using that rental home as a commercial enterprise, which is not allowed in the residential zone.

it’s not what we do that sets us apart.

it’s how we do it.

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OPINION

The Anna Maria Island Sun newspaper Island Sun Plaza, 9801 Gulf Drive P.O. Box 1189 Anna Maria, FL 34216-1189 Phone: (941) 778-3986 e-mail: news@amisun.com | ads@amisun.com | classifieds@amisun.com

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FEBRUARY 25, 2015

EDITORIAL One more disappointment

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ommercial fishermen’s hopes in Cortez and the rest of Florida were dashed against the rocks last week when the Florida Supreme Court closed the door on their challenge to the gill net ban, which has curtailed their livelihoods for two decades.

Their lawyer is considering challenging the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission rules that enforce the net ban at the agency level.

But commercial fishermen, financially crippled by the net ban, have already contributed thousands of dollars to get the case to the Supreme Court, resulting in only a few days in 2012 when lower court decisions allowed them to fish with their banned nets.

Fishing for Freedom’s president has suggested that Florida legislators are another route to try in the attempt to reverse the 1995 constitutional amendment banning gill nets, but many legislators list sportfishing as a hobby in their biographies and would be unlikely to be sympathetic.

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ommercial fishermen and sport, or recreational, fishermen are firmly entrenched on opposite sides, but a closer look reveals similarities that they could use to move forward to a better solution.

They both want fish populations to be sustained.

Neither wants marine mammals or turtles to be entrapped.

They both want to use the gear best suited to their purpose.

But the net ban issue is clouded with emotion, politics and rhetoric.

Even the definitions are cloudy; for example, recreational fishing guides are, themselves, commercial enterprises.

It’s time that all fishermen rise above the things that have kept them at war for so long and take a new look at the commonalities they share, so that they can all fish the waters, which belong to everyone.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Third bridge needed Today was a Monday, and I hope the Florida Department of Transportation reads this. Leaving Anna Maria Island for an appointment in Palmetto just after noon, the Manatee Avenue westbound traffic was crawling, almost bumper to bumper past 75th Street.

Returning via Cortez Road around 3 p.m., the eastbound bumper-tobumper traffic was from SR 789 to the stoplight just east of the Cortez Village. Turning south on the Island, the Longboat Key northbound traffic was crawling, again bumper to bumper as far as could be seen looking south from my street.

Luckily, one let me get through into Fifth Street South.

When will FDOT get the word that our infrastructure has been

The Anna Maria Island Sun Staff Publishers Mike Field Maggie Field Editor/CEO Mike Field

worsening since 1989, and it is their responsibility to correct it, starting with a bridge from the extension of 53rd Avenue to just north of Longboat Pass.

Jim Kissick Bradenton Beach

Common sense 101 Dear fellow Islanders and Tourists: We need to discuss the fourway stop on the north end of Anna Maria at Gulf Drive and Pine Avenue . I know once we get there we have finally gotten out of that long, slow, frustrating line of traffic throughout the Island and we are anxious to get where we are going. This does not warrant you the right to swing a right onto pine without so much as a look around or hesitation. OK, so we aren't all

Layout Ricardo Fonseca

Outdoors editor Rusty Chinnis

Reporters Pat Copeland Cindy Lane Tom Vaught Joe Hendricks

Ad director Chantelle Lewin Ad assistant Chris Boniberger

Columnists Louise Bolger

Classified ads Bob Alexander

that extreme but let's be honest, it's a problem. I live and work in that area. I ride my bike through that four-way stop, I drive in and out of it and I walk across it. Every.

Single. Day. Nine out of 10 people blow that stop sign, constantly. I have almost been hit numerous times and forced into the middle of the street like a ping-pong ball, riding for my life. I am a responsible bike rider and pedestrian. I stop, I wait, I make eye contact, I nod and give the appropriate signals, and when I do cross I do it quickly so as not to inconvenience the drivers. It is not acceptable that I have at least five stories of a near death experience. Moral of this story is, lets pick it up a notch. Drivers: come to a complete stop and wait three

Graphics Elaine Stroili Ricardo Fonseca Web Jocelyn V. Greene Accounting John Reitz

SEE LETTERS, PAGE 7

Distribution Bob Alexander Keith Isner Tony McNulty Contributors Steve Borggren Tom Breiter Troy Morgan Monica Simpson

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FEBRUARY 25, 2015

THE SUN

Book sale soon, raffle under way

THIS WEEK’S SURVEY Editor's note: We are repeating the survey question this week because a glitch on the website prevented online voting. As a result, there is no new pie chart this week.

Do you think Anna Maria should keep or sell the land now called City Pier Park?

Bradenton Beach 107 Gulf Drive N.

2/27: City pier dedication, 5:45 p.m.

3/5: City Commission meeting, 6 p.m.

For information, call 7781005.

Holmes Beach 5801 Marina Drive

2/26: City commission work session, 7 p.m.

3/4: Parks and Beautification Advisory Board, 4 p.m.

For information, call 7085800.

Island-wide

2/27: ULI panel presentation, CrossPointe Fellowship, 8605 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, 9 a.m.

mark your calendar Note: Events are free unless indicated.

Wednesday Feb. 25

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

• I strongly favor keeping it and improving it as a park.

• We should keep it but make it a big parking lot.

• This is a nobrainer - sell it and get it back on the tax roles!

• Keep it and turn it into Cell Tower Park.

Early Settler’s Bread for sale, AMI Historical Museum, 402 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., $5.

Einstein’s Circle discussion on climate change, The Studio at Gulf and Pine, 10110 Gulf Drive, Anna Maria, 11 a.m.

Chair yoga, Anna Maria Island Art League, 5312 Holmes Blvd., Holmes Beach, 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., $8. Register to 941778-2099.

Thursday Feb. 26

View The Sun’s online edition at www.issuu.com/AnnaMariaIslandSun

To vote, go to www.amisun.com or scan this code to vote by smartphone.

LETTERS

seconds. Make eye contact with pedestrians and wave or nod. Pedestrians and bikers: be responsible! Don't stand at a crosswalk looking all confused or staring at your phones, it confuses drivers as to whether you are needing to cross.

Pay attention when you are crossing the street.

Stop, look, make eye contact and make haste.

Anna Maria 2/26: City Commission meeting, 6 p.m.

2/27: City Pier Park Committee, 10 a.m.

3/6: City Pier Park Committee, 10 a.m.

For information, call 7086130.

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FROM PAGE 6

on the agenda 10005 Gulf Drive

The Tingley Memorial Library used book sale will take place Saturday, March 7, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and $1 raffle tickets are now on sale for the 50-50 raffle that will take place the day of the sale, with the winner not having to be present to win. The book sale will feature a wide variety of hardback and paperback books, audio books, videos, puzzles and more. “This provides the funds to buy more books and keeps the library going,” said Tingley Librarian Eveann Adams, who noted that donated books are always welcome. Open Tuesday through Saturday, the Tingley Memorial Library is located at 111 Second St. N. in Bradenton Beach. For more information call (941) 779-1208.

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You may have the right of way but it's still your life being put at risk. We all have lives to live let's make it a little easier on everyone and take a pay-it-forward attitude to the streets this season. I let you go, you let me go and we can all enjoy the beautiful place we are living and vacationing in together.

Amy Kinder Anna Maria

Island Branch Library lecture series program on Southeast Guide Dogs, Holmes Beach City Hall, 5801 Marina Drive, 2 p.m.

Finding romance in nature, Robinson Preserve, 99th Street Northwest and 17th Avenue Northwest, Bradenton, 6 to 8 p.m.

Reserve to 941-748- 4501, ext. 6039.

Friday Feb. 27

AARP Driver Safety course, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 9:30 a.m.

Sign up at library.

Senior Adventures travels to Plant City Strawberry Festival, meet at Annie Silver Community Center, 103 23rd St. N., Bradenton Beach, 10 a.m.

Charlie Bell demonstrating oils mixing chart, Island Gallery West, 5368 Gulf Drive in S & S Shopping Plaza, Holmes Beach, 10:30 a.m. to noon.

Sunday March 1

Beach Market, Coquina Beach, Bradenton Beach, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Bridge Street Market, Bradenton Beach, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Monday March 2

Chair yoga, Anna Maria Island Art League, 5312 Holmes Blvd., Holmes Beach, 11 to 11:45 a.m., $8.

Register to 941-778-2099.

Social bridge games, Roser Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, noon.

Tuesday March 3

Children’s story time, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m.

Duplicate bridge, Church of the Annunciation, 4408 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, 12:30 p.m.

Wednesday March 4

Early Settler’s Bread for sale, AMI Historical Museum, 402 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., $5.

Einstein’s Circle discussion on “Can humor keep us healthy?” The Studio at Gulf and Pine, 10110 Gulf Drive, Anna Maria, 11 a.m.

Saturday Feb. 28

SEE CALENDAR, PAGE 20

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FEBRUARY 25, 2015

EVERYONE IS WELCOME Adult Bible Study 8:45 AM Book Study 9:00 AM

SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICES 8:30 AM and 10:00 AM Children & Youth Church School after the Children’s Message NURSERY AVAILABLE A NON DENOMINATIONAL CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY

t XXX 3PTFS$IVSDI DPN t XXX GBDFCPPL DPN 3PTFS$IVSDI joe hendricks | sun

The fate of these gulf side picnic tables is now up in the air.

Board frustrates Moose lodge manager The Planning and Zoning Board suggests the Moose lodge to remove its Gulf side picnic tables.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH – The Planning and Zoning Board wants the Moose lodge to remove its beachfront picnic tables, and longtime lodge administrator and manager Ernie Casali is not happy about it.

After Wednesday’s meeting, a frustrated Casali said, “Are they telling me I have to get rid of the picnic tables? That ain’t gonna happen. Those tables are over $10,000‌over $1,000 apiece.â€?

The request to remove 13 picnic tables located on the lodge’s gulf front patio is one five stipulations the planning board collectively suggested when recommending approval of a special exception request that would allow the lodge to transfer 50 of its 190-seat seating allowance to a new rooftop dining area.

The lodge is also requesting a rezoning of the property located at 110 Gulf Drive South in order to remove a non-forming property status that would prevent the propose expansion.

The board was divided on the specifics of the special exception allowance, but unanimously supported the rezoning request. In March, the city commission will have final say on both requests, and they can accept or reject any or all of the five special exception stipulations suggested by the planning board.

The suggested removal of the picnic tables stems from board members John Metz and John Burns concerns that the outdoor tables are not included in calculations used to determine parking requirements.

In the spirit of compromise, it was suggested the picnic tables be replaced with chairs and small tables that would not provide enough space for dining.

Moose patrons are allowed to carry food and drinks to the outdoor tables that overlook the Gulf of Mexico, but patio dining and

beverage service is not provided. Because of this, Casali believes the tables should not be included in parking calculations.

Board members James Lynch and Dan DeBaun supported this argument, but DeBaun later voted in favor of the recommended stipulations in order to break a 2-2 gridlock and advance the matter to the commission for final determination. Lynch, the board’s newest member, remained steadfast in his opposition to requesting the tables be removed.

Other suggested stipulations include limiting the lodge’s total seating capacity to 190; creating two additional parking spaces, as already planned; requiring delivery trucks to park in the Moose parking lot rather than the roadside right of way; and requiring 5-foot walls along the north and south second story perimeters.

During the meeting, Casali addressed the rezoning request and said, “We put up $3,000 to speak to you today, and it’s $3,000 we should have never had to come up with, for the simple reason that the city’s out of compliance with their own zoning laws.�

After the meeting, he said, “No matter what information we supplied to a few individuals in there, the answer is going to be the same. They did compromise, but they didn’t make any compromise compatible to what we want. We’ll go before the city council with our issues and see what they have to say.�

Casali also noted that the Moose has beachfront property rights that extend far beyond the patio confines and the lodge has never restricted public access to that portion of its property.

A visit to the Moose lodge after Wednesday’s meeting found visiting members Pat and Bill Jones, and Minnie Brickel, sitting down at one of the picnic tables with beers in hand.

When asked how she would feel if the picnic tables were removed, Brickel said, “I’d be really upset. I just came from Canton, Ohio where it’s 15 degrees.� “You can sit out here, socialize and enjoy a drink. Why take that away?� Bill Jones added.

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FEBRUARY 25, 2015

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file photo

Volunteers package and box meals at the Second Annual AMI Hunger Project in Holmes Beach in 2013.

Feeding Children project Feb. 28 Volunteers are needed to package seal and box healthy meals on assembly lines set up at Roser church.

BY PAT COPELAND SUN STAFF WRITER | pcopeland@amisun.com

Punta Gorda Wild Hog Tenderloin

“

Mar Vista offers a true Florida dining experience.

Situated on picturesque Sarasota Bay guests can sit inside the quaint dining room, outside on the covered deck or under the canopy of 100 year old Buttonwood trees while they enjoy fresh Gulf to table seafood, farm to fork produce, an extensive wine list and a full bar featuring tropical drinks like our Margarona or world famous Pina Colada.

World class cuisine in a historic, authentic Old Florida dive, which makes us a true Original. Come by boat to ICW #39 and tie up at our private dock.

Mar Vista is a true treasure at the north end of Longboat Key in historic Longbeach Village.

�

Anthony Cucci, general manager, Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant & Pub

EAT LIKE A LOCAL DineOriginal.com 15 South Ristorante • Andrea’s • Anna Maria Oyster Bar • The BeacHhouse Restaurant • The Bijou CafÊ • Bridge Street Bistro • The Broken Egg • CafÊ Americano • CafÊ Baci • CafÊ Gabbiano • CafÊ L’Europe • CafÊ Venice • Caragiulos • Cedar Reef Fish Camp • Ciao! Italia • Cosimo’s Restaurant & Catering • The Crow’s Nest • Derek’s • Drunken Poet CafÊ • Duval’s • Euphemia Haye • Fast N Fresh • Gold Rush BBQ • Gulf Drive CafÊ + Tiki • Half Shell Seafood House • Harry’s Continental Kitchens • JPAN Restaurant • Lobster Pot • Lynches Pub & Grub • Madfish Grill • Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant & Pub • Michael John’s • Michael’s On East • mi Pueblo • Ophelia’s On The Bay • Ortygia Restaurant • Pacific Rim • Pattigeorge’s • Pier 22 Restaurant • Polo Grill & Bar • Primo! Ristorante • Riverhouse Reef & Grill • Roessler’s Restaurant • Salute! Restaurant • Sandbar Seafood & Spirits • Savory Street • Sharky’s On The Pier • Siesta Key Oyster Bar • SoMa Creek Side • Village CafÊ • The Waterfront Restaurant on Anna Maria

ANNA MARIA – Feeding Children Everywhere (FCE) is sponsoring its Third Annual AMI Hunger Project at Roser Community Church Fellowship Hall, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, on Saturday, Feb. 28, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Volunteers are needed to package seal and box healthy meals on assembly lines set up and managed by FCE. The group plans to make 50,000 meals to be distributed to children and families through the Manatee County Food Bank.

One meal package costs $1.50 and feeds six people. It is a healthy, nutritious meal of

lentils, rice, dehydrated vegetables and pink Himalayan sea salt for minerals.

Kim Darnell and Mary Selby are heading the fund raising effort. To donate or volunteer as an individual or as a group from your work place, call Selby at 779-1809 or Darnell at 778-3096 or go to the FCE website at www. feedingchildreneverywhere.com and click on Upcoming Events and then click on Third Annual AMI Hunger Project.

You also can give by donating the following items at the event: bottled water; canned chicken, tuna, fruit and vegetables; crackers, granola bars; baby food and formula; powdered milk; dry cereals and peanut butter.

To donate to this event using checks, send to Feeding Children Everywhere, 830 South Ronald Reagan Blvd. Unit 142, Longwood, FL 32750. Add in the memo of the check which event your donation should go towards.

REBUTTAL: Letter raises questions FROM PAGE 3

violated state statutes governing campaigns and elections. “The best that can be said about this is that it shows a lack of good judgment by the mayor,� he said.

Citizen reaction

Bradenton Beach resident and small business owner Steve Schewe said, “What a shame that our beautiful city has this negative cloud lingering over it. I received a patronizing letter from the mayor pressuring me to ‘vote in the regular election, not a few months earlier.’ "Isn’t this the same guy who has cost our city tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees and created what many feel

is a hostile work environment for city employees?

"I encourage him to kindly step back and observe what has occurred here since he took control; and to take his own advice ‘to save thousands of dollars of city funds and resources’ by doing what is best for our small town so that we may move on.�

Resident and small business owner Nancy Kim said, “It feels like he’s trying to influence me and tell me what to do. It’s my choice if I vote in the recall election, and he’s basically saying I’m wasting people’s money if I sign the recall petition. Is he trying to place the blame on us? His letter also struck me as slightly intimidating because he’s not asking in a friendly manner, which I would have appreciated.�

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FEBRUARY 25, 2015

Fire board votes to replace Fire Station 4 The current station will be demolished and a new station build on the site on 67th Street in Bradenton.

BY PAT COPELAND SUN STAFF WRITER | pcopeland@amisun.com

BRADENTON – After getting input from the public at a town hall meeting, West Manatee fire commissioners last week voted to replace Station 4 on 67th Street in Bradenton.

Before the motion was made, Deputy Fire Chief Tom Sousa explained that in 2010 the district began rehabilitating its facilities, with Station 4 as the last one to be done.

During the past year, the board has discussed the options of rehabilitating or replacing Station 4 and possible sites. In July 2014, it approved a design/build team for the station, and in December, the team showed the board options for the station on the current site and on a site nearby owned by the Palma Sola Presbyterian Church.

“It’s time to make a decision,” Sousa said.

Commissioner George Harris made the motion for replacement, and Commissioner Larry Jennis seconded it.

However, Commissioner Randy Cooper said he wanted more information on costs and alternatives.

Commissioner Al Robinson passed out a worksheet showing that Stations 1 and 2 cost less to remodel than estimated and asked, “If we remodel, will we be ahead?”

“Station 4 has been remodeled five times, and it over 50 years old,” Harris pointed out. “It’s apparent that it needs to be replaced. That’s the intent of my motion.”

The motion was approved three to two, with Cooper and Robinson dissenting.

Site selection

Following that vote, Sousa said they must decide on one of two sites. He gave pros and cons of each site.

He said the current site has a sewer line easement that would have to be moved at a cost of $80,000 plus it would cost $30,000 to $40,000 to demolish the current buildings. Its advantage is that it is closer to Manatee Avenue.

Sousa said if Station 4 is demolished and replaced on site, fire crews would workout of the administration building until construction is complete.

He said the church site is adjacent to

Station 4 has been remodeled five times, and it over 50 years old. It’s apparent that it needs to be replaced.

George Harris Fire commissioner the administration building, is bigger and is easier to build on, but there are problems with church parking and issues of getting the fire trucks onto 67th Street and to Manatee Avenue.

Harris made a motion to rebuild the station on its current site, and Jennis seconded it. It was approved unanimously.

Chair David Bishop said they should give the design/build team an idea of how much they want to spend, but Harris said they should give them the district’s requirements and ask for options.

Jennis and Cooper agreed with Harris.

Fire Chief Andy Price said the team would meet with staff to determine their needs, and he would bring back cost estimates.

Other business

Sousa said he is creating a draft of board rules and procedures and suggested the board hold a work session on them in April.

The board approved Scott Ricci and reappointed Stewart Moon to the pension board.

Sousa recommended that the board minutes be less detailed than they have been in the past, but that the board post the minutes and a recording of each meeting on the Website for those who want more information. The board agreed to try it before making a final decision.

The board approved a request by the Supervisor of Elections office to use the administration building as an early voting site for eight days in the 2016 election.

Sousa announced a change to the district’s Website in which a calendar of meetings, meeting agendas and support materials are available under the “Commissioners” tab as “Commission calendar and reports.”

FEBRUARY 25, 2015

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Residents learn about options for Fire Station 4 Officials of the West Manatee Fire District held a town hall meeting to get input from the public.

BY PAT COPELAND SUN STAFF WRITER | pcopeland@amisun.com

BRADENTON – Residents filled the bay of West Manatee Fire Station 4 at 407 67th St. W. in Bradenton last week to learn about options for remodeling or replacing the station.

“The purpose of this open house is to give the public an opportunity to tour the facility and see what’s behind the doors, and then we’ll have an information session and a question and answer period,” Deputy Fire Chief Tom Sousa told the full house.

Sousa said the station was built in 1962 by Westside Fire District as a volunteer station with a meeting room and four bays. In the 1980s, the district began hiring career firefighters and added sleeping quarters, and in 1989 a bay was added to accommodate the ladder truck.

“In 1993, the board hired an architect to tear down the building and rebuild, but they couldn’t afford it,” he continued. “Instead, they did a living quarter addition on the south side, and in 1999, they purchased another engine and extended the front apparatus bay to accommodate the new fire apparatus.”

pat copeland | SUN

A crowd of residents came to Fire Station 4 to learn about options for remodeling or replacing it and to ask questions.

In 2014, the station’s engine ran 850 calls and EMS Medic 8 ran 1,400 calls out of the building. It is staffed 24/7 by three firefighters and two medics.

Sousa said the station is not ADA compliant, has no area for the public and probably only the front section is wind load compliant for hurricanes.

“We’re going to evacuate the Island in the event of a hurricane and relocate our people and apparatus here,” he explained. “The idea is to build a structure that is going to survive

a catastrophic event.”

Questions

Sousa then took questions from the public.

Q: Are you going to tear this building down or build another one?

A: The board will make a decision on Thursday. This building is beyond its life expectancy. It’s had five additions. The most economical way would be to tear it down.

Q: What will you do in the meantime?

A: We’ll relocate our crews to the adminis-

tration facility on Third Avenue.

Q: What’s your time frame?

A: We’re thinking eight to 12 months for construction. From actually turning dirt, six to eight months. We figure 12 months once the board makes a decision.

Q: Do you have any cost estimates?

A: We’ve looked at a lot of fire stations that have been built recently and they range from $1.5 to 3.5 million. This building is 7,000 square feet, and we’ll probably replace it at closer to 9,000.

Q: Have you looked at other locations?

A: On Third Avenue next to our administration building is a large piece of property owned by the Palma Sola Presbyterian Church. That’s a potential site or this site. A year ago the board looked at other parcels but this is the most sensible location.

Q: Is there a plan to build a small fire station Perico?

A: That’s the city of Bradenton’s parcel, but their call volume is east of town, which is their priority right now, so it would be four to five years. If they did a station at Perico, we should partner with them because it would benefit the Island.

Q: Do you have funding?

A: We have a mechanism for funding.

12

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FEBRUARY 25, 2015

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www.amisun.com

FEBRUARY 25, 2015

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13

Island’s county boat ramps to be rehabilitated Coquina North boat ramp was closed last week because it was considered too dangerous to use.

caps has accelerated,” he said. “The ramp is steep and washed out at the bottom and people are having trouble getting their trailers and boats up the ramp.”

Hunsicker said Coquina South would be open during the refurbishment on Coquina North.

The project is budgeted at $1.4 million.

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

BRADENTON – Manatee County is in the middle of rehabilitating all eight of its boat ramps and the ramps on the Island will be next.

Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources Director Charlie Hunsicker, Environmental Program Manager Alan Lai Hipp and Senior Fiscal Analyst Jayne Roberts updated the project at a work session last week.

The county completed projects at Braden River at State Road 64, Highland Shores and Warner’s Bayou. A project at Jiggs Landing started this month, and the four remaining ramps – Coquina North, Coquina South, Kingfish and Ft. Hamer – will be refurbished starting next year.

Plans call for the Coquina North project in 2016, Coquina South in 2017 and Kingfish in 2018. Ft. Hamer will be done this year.

Lai Hipp said each facility would be shut down while it is refurbished, which is why they gave a year for each project.

Owner Steve Traves Outdoor Pro

Coquina South

tOM VAUGHT | SUN

Manatee County closed off Coquina North boat ramp last week because of the sharp dropoff beyond the ramp that has been problem for boaters launching and retrieving their craft.

“We want to put in facilities that are more durable with no wood structure,” he said. “We will be adding restrooms and fish cleaning tables where we can.”

He said they started on the ramps that needed the most attention.

“When we work on a ramp, we want to do everything at once,” he said. “If you don’t, you might miss something that would compromise the improvements.”

He said since some of the ramps had been completed, they have needed almost no maintenance.

Coquina North

Starting in December, Hipp said they would renovate the entire facility and add 20 trailer parking spaces. He explained why they closed it last week.

“The degradation of the seawall and

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“The wooden decks there are showing wear,” Hipp said. “It’s subject to heavy commercial use.”

He said they would add 48 trailer parking spaces. He said the ramp is used by ocean going tugs, and they might extend the docks on both sides of the ramp out to deeper water. Plans also call for additional fishing and docking. The project will start December 2016 and extend into 2017. This project is budgeted at $2.2 million.

Kingfish Boat Ramp

Hipp said they are looking to expand this facility since it is the busiest in the county.

“There is a very deep hole beyond the ramp,” he said. “We will have to replace the seawall.”

This project is expected to cost $1.7 million. see ramps, page 18

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BUSINESS

FEBRUARY 25, 2015

Air America evolves

BY LOUISE BOLGER SUN STAFF WRITER | lbolger@amisun.com

Relationships are the fabric of life. They become the building blocks of who we are and guide our future. Sometimes significant relationships transform into more than just friendship, and that’s when it gets interesting.

Steve Carr and Eric Bergan couldn’t be more different. Carr, a young man with a wife and five children had responsibilities that Began, who was older and a bachelor, couldn’t imagine.

Bergan, a business owner for many years, was looking towards retirement at the same time Carr, who was trying to figure out what to do with his education and experience, was looking towards the future.

About the only thing they had in common was originating from North Dakota, but maybe that

was enough, since somehow they found the right formula for both of them to achieve their goals.

Carr relocated to Florida in 2003 for a job opportunity in engineering and design. In 2009 he and his family moved to Anna Maria because it mirrored the small town community feel where he grew up in North Dakota with the added benefit of a beach.

When Carr started working at Air America, he was literally thrown into the business via Bergan’s hands on training philosophy. With his engineering background and natural mechanical ability, it didn’t take Carr long to figure it all out. By the time he passed his Florida contractor’s exam, he was well on his way to running the business giving Bergan a pathway to retirement.

Unfortunately. fate stepped in and took Bergan unexpectedly last summer throwing Carr again

LOUISE BOLGER | SUN

Steve Carr, president of Air America, has streamlined and automated the business, while providing a personal touch for customers.

Investment Corner

AIR AMERICA

TOM BREITER

AIR CONDITIONING

Passive indexing not always best

& HEATING 3008 Ave C Holmes Beach 941-779-CHIL (2445)

A

into the hands on experience of running a business on his own.

With the help of his wife Julia, who also runs her own business and manages their five children, they pulled it together.

Since June of last year, when Carr became president of Air America, he has renovated his offices, as well as streamlining and automating the business in order to keep better historical records for its local customers, commercial customers and rental businesses. His goal is to maintain the small, accessible, family-run business it always has been by providing a personal touch while keeping overhead and prices down.

Carr has also added a 24-hour dispatch service, enabling customers to be more quickly and efficiently serviced, and he covers the islands as well as all other areas of Manatee County.

Air America offers a full range of air conditioning and heating services, including installation of new units and maintenance of existing ones. It offers service contracts, duct cleaning, leak checking and free estimates.

Carr still goes on many of the service calls himself, understanding the importance of face to face contact, and maintains Bergan’s strategy of fixing rather than replacing equipment whenever possible. Air America’s employees have been with the company for many years, and Carr is very

fter long periods of steadily rising markets, like we’ve experienced for most of the last 5 ¾ years, there is a predictable theme that comes to the forefront of investment conversations. The concept of indexing or passive investing is touted as the best way to go because most actively managed investment funds don’t beat their benchmark indexes during periods of rising markets.

The problem inherent in this argument is that index style investing generally gets riskier as market trends go on for longer periods of time.

Index funds are required to hold their investments in proportion with the index the fund is based on. The most common example is the S&P 500 Index. Most indexes are capitalization weighted, meaning the largest companies as measured by the value of all their outstanding shares have a larger weight in the fund. So, companies like Apple, Exxon Mobil and Microsoft have a higher weighting than smaller companies like AutoZone or the WD-40 Company.

At the end of bull markets, these large companies tend to appreciate more than smaller companies meaning that index-based investors have more of their money in the companies that may be the most over-valued. This works great until the next downtrend starts and the over-valued companies fall more than the average company.

This is what happened to technology stocks in 2000 and financial stocks in 2008.

An active fund manager does not have to maintain index like exposure and, in fact, should be acting to reduce the weight of over-priced securities in the fund. So, one way that active managers may add value is not through beating the market when times are good, but by going down less during market downturns.

Recently, the decline in oil prices hit the high yield corporate bond market hard. In previous years energy companies issued a lot of debt to develop operations in the shale oil and gas fields here in the U.S. In bond indexes, the amount of bond issuance determines the allocation that a bond index fund must hold, so many funds were over-weight energy related bonds when the decline occurred. Some high yield bond index funds were down as much as 20 percent. Most actively managed funds stayed away from the trouble and declined far less.

In summary, we believe there is nothing wrong

see air america, page 15

see breiter, page 15

Monday-Friday: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

All major credit cards accepted

FEBRUARY 25, 2015

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15

breiter: Passive indexing not always best FROM PAGE 14

with indexed or passive investing, but investors should have an understanding of the potential for increased risk at certain times in the market cycle. Index funds do offer some advantages, such a low expense ratios and transparency or what is owned in the portfolio. All these factors should be taken into account when building your portfolio.

Tom Breiter is president of Breiter Capital Management, Inc., an Anna Maria based investment advisor. He can be reached at 778-1900. Some of the investment concepts highlighted in this column may carry the risk of loss of principal, and investors should determine appropriateness for their personal situation before investing. www.breitercapital.com

air america: Business evolving FROM PAGE 14

selective with whom he sends into other people's homes. The entire staff all pulled together this year to assure that Air America continues the policy of honesty, quality and fair pricing it’s been known for.

The Carr family has quickly become part of the community and is planning on being on Anna Maria for a long time.

They own the Air America building and two businesses, and the kids are enrolled in AMI Elementary.

The relationship between Bergan and Carr evolved at the perfect time in both their lives. Air America has kept the best parts of the old business while introducing some new ideas, exactly the way Bergan would have wanted it.

TOM VAUGHT | SUN

Can you hear me now?

The city of Anna Maria held a ground breaking ceremony on the cell phone tower Friday, Feb. 20, at the city hall parking lot. Florida Tower Partners, the group building the tower, also presented the city with it’s first rent payment of $365,000. Subsequent rents will be less than that amount. From left to right: former Mayor SueLynn, former Mayor Mike Selby, former Commissioner Gene Aubry, former Mayor Fran Barford, Mayor Dan Murphy and tower builder representatives Brett Duggeln, Jim Eatrides and Kevin Barile. The tower is expected to be built and running in about six weeks, according to Duggeln.

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THE SUN

Longboat Key to replace vital link The town manager said they might install roundabouts in two locations along Gulf of Mexico Drive

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

BRADENTON – At a joint meeting with Manatee County Commissioners last week, Longboat Town Commissioners and Town Manager David Bullock discussed projects they are working on and invited the county to help out with the expenses. They got no offers.

One project is seen as urgent to avoid a disastrous situation – they want to replace a 42-year-old wastewater line that has been there so long, they can’t check out its condition, according to Bullock.

“Because of its age, it is increasingly difficult to maintain,” he said. “When we shut off the valves one time, they wouldn’t reopen. We had to scramble to get it working again.”

Bullock said they pump two million gallons per day, and there is no appreciable storage facility on the key if it breaks down.

“That’s fine if the pipe is in full working order, but we would have to truck the sewage out if the line is not usable,” Bullock said. “If a shutdown happens during season, there will be wastewater in Sarasota Bay. We can’t avoid it.”

Bullock said the line runs along the bay bottom for 18,000 feet to southwest Manatee County where it connects to the water treatment plant 55,000 feet inland.

It crosses the land where Long Bar Pointe is planned and they have been working closely with the developer to replace the pipe through that location.

Bullock said they would bore a large hole under the bay bottom and then insert pipe and pull it through.

He said they are considering stainless steel or special PVC pipe that would have an expected lifetime of 80 years or more.

“We are contracting with largest boring operation in the world,” Bullock said. “This project is a big deal.”

He said they are trying to get some financial help with the project, and if they do, they would be able to inspect and maybe use the old line as a backup. Construction would start in first quarter of 2016 and would take 12 months, if all goes as expected.

Longboat Pass

Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources Director Charlie Hunsicker updated commissioners on a joint project to dredge Longboat Pass. He said they had three alignments to choose from and picked the middle one. After a few months, they found that it had allowed the sand to cover up one of the other two alignments. When the Army Corps of Engineers saw that, officials ordered it be returned to its original alignment.

Longboat is constructing two adjustable groins to help cut down erosion along the beach, following the renourishment last year. It should be completed by May. The town is dredging New Pass, north of Longboat, in cooperation with the city of Sarasota.

What comes around, goes around

Bullock said following their Urban Land Institute study, like the one being conducted on Anna Maria Island, they are concentrating on converting land around city hall into a town center. He said they are considering putting utilities underground, and they are making plans for rising ocean levels. In addition, there was a surprise.

“We are considering putting in a roundabout on Gulf of Mexico Drive at Broadway to the north and one by Longboat Key Club’s entrance,” he said.

Longboat Key elected officials and residents who go north to Cortez Road to get to the mainland have complained about the roundabout at Bridge Street for years.

FEBRUARY 25, 2015

FEBRUARY 25, 2015

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17

These boys are fascinated with the bees working in the observation hive at last year’s Heritage Day. file photo

Celebrate history at Heritage Day Artisans and crafts persons will be demonstrating arts and crafts as practiced by early Island settlers.

BY PAT COPELAND SUN STAFF WRITER | pcopeland@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA – The Island Historical Society is featuring a Settler’s Market at its annual Heritage Day on Saturday, March 7, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Island Historical Museum complex at 402 Pine Ave., Anna Maria.

Artisans and crafts persons will be demonstrating arts and crafts as practiced by early Island settlers including beekeeping, native gardening, wool spinning, pine needle basket weaving, candle dipping, extracting essence for candles and soaps, bonnet making and weaving.

In addition, there will be a Settlers Market with organic local produce, flowers, Settler’s Bread and baked goods; tours of

Belle Haven Cottage and the surrounding native plant garden; and a display featuring early Spanish settlers by rangers from De Soto National Memorial.

The Three Howies will play bluegrass music all day for listening and dancing pleasure , and an author’s corner will feature Carolyne Norwood with her two Island history books, “The Early Days” and “Tales of Three Cities;” and Don Thompson with "Egmont Key, A History.”

Children can participate in an outdoor bingo card scavenger hunt to get a prize, visit the Community Center’s Children’s Art Booth and delight in balloon toys made by clowns Snowbird and Sparky.

Artists from the Artists’ Guild of Anna Maria Island will be painting coconuts, depicting their favorite spot on the Island or favorite memory, which will be raffled.

Visitors can round out the day with a plate of barbecue by KCB and an ice cream treat.

TOM VAUGHT | SUN

Reading material Shoppers look at the merchandise at the Friends of the Island Branch Library’s annual book sale, held at Roser Community Church on Friday, Feb. 20. Seventy-nine people attended the early bird sale for members Thursday and the sale was open to the public Friday and Saturday.

Proceeds go to the Friends, who help support the library in areas where the county budget lacks.

18

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THE SUN

Drive through closed

Artists’ Guild of Anna Maria Island member Dee Pastorius has some fun with the front of the Guild Gallery at 5414 Marina Drive. A motorist drove his SUV through the gallery front Feb. 13, destroying the plate glass window.

SUBMITTED

BOAT RAMPS: Will be repaired FROM PAGE 13

Money borrowed

The county will be using West Coast Inland Navigation District (WCIND) money and it will have to borrow from future funds to pay for all the work. Plans also call for ending the WCIND grants for the regular dredging of Lake LaVista. Hunsicker explained that in the past, there was a public boat launch at

the old Five O’clock Marina, but it was sold and replaced by houses on Pine Avenue, so the lake is not qualified for the public funds.

Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy said he would seek a permanent fix to the lake so it doesn’t need dredging regularly. He said the city might try to make another channel to provide an outlet for the tidal flow to push the silt out of the lake.

FEBRUARY 25, 2015

FEBRUARY 25, 2015

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19

Heart the Sea beach cleanup Saturday Heart the Sea, a new, local non-profit organization, will host a beach cleanup on Saturday, Feb. 28, at 4 p.m., starting at Longboat Pass at the southern tip of Coquina Beach in Bradenton Beach.

Beach cleaners are encouraged to bring a bucket (no plastic bags) and wear closed toed shoes. Gloves and a few extra buckets will be available. Afterwards, cleaners are invited to the Swordfish Grill, 4628 119th St. W. in Cortez; cleaners who bring their cleaning glove will get a free drink.

"We stand by Heart the Sea because just like us, they believe in making sure this natural habitat where we all live and we all love stays that way for future generations to enjoy,” said Jeff Higgins, marketing director at Swordfish Grill, in a press release.

Heart the Sea’s mission is to protect the ocean and its inhabitants by raising awareness for waterway and beach health.

“Our vision is for the change of human habits for the benefit of the ocean and its animals. Our work is to protect the creatures of God's majestic sea for their overall health and longevity,” founder Jenny Stonehouse said in a press release.

“Beach clean-ups are where tourists and locals alike can share a love for the ocean.

To be intentional about picking up litter has changed people; newbies to Heart the Sea beach cleanups, even children, cannot help themselves from picking up litter whenever they see it after attending one of the cleanups.

All litter eventually ends up in the ocean unless intercepted, and many volunteers are surprised to collect about 5-10 pounds of trash per bucket,” she said.

“About a year ago, I met Hank the heron on the 77th Street beach access with fishing line around his ankle. Hank was wobbling, begging the nearby fisherman for food. I called Wildlife

Education and Rehabilitation Inc who came out to try and catch Hank.

"The volunteer was unsuccessful as Hank did not want to be caught! In our conversation, I discovered that they had been trying to catch Hank for a while. Sadly, Hank did his best to fly down the beach only to be pummeled by another territorial heron. Heart the Sea was born in my heart on that day.

"Because fishing line and other harmful items are found and discarded each month, Heart the Sea beach cleanups are important to the health of our beaches. Supporting Heart the Sea’s cause means increasing efforts to clean the beach and educating tourists and locals in reducing trash on our beach. We meet, we cleanup, we go have a drink.”

For several months, Stonehouse and a small group of volunteers have been meeting in various parts of Anna Maria Island for cleanups. Recently, she submitted Heart the Sea’s articles of incorporation to become a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

To stay up to date on beach cleanups, follow Heart the Sea on Facebook or Twitter. For more information, call Stonehouse at 941-7024SEA.

Litter prevention posters available This is one of the posters being distributed by Keep Manatee Beautiful (KMB) to increase community awareness about the negative impacts of litter – environmentally, economically and aesthetically.

KMB board member Cris Singer created the posers. One of them – Critters Against Litter – has art courtesy of the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.

These educational posters are available at KMB’s Website http://manateebeautiful.com/ under Multimedia - Documents and on Facebook at https://www.facebook. com/pages/Keep-ManateeBeautiful/126609754064163?ref=hl to download for use in printing to display or posting on social media.

20

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FEBRUARY 25, 2015

mark your calendar From Page 7

Gulf Coast Writers group, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 1 p.m.

Thursday March 5

Program on Green Cleaning, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m.

Brenda Alcorn demonstrating gyotaku (fish prints), Island Gallery West, 5368 Gulf Drive in S & S Shopping Plaza, Holmes Beach, 10:30 a.m. to noon.

Ron Mayberry speaks on wildlife photography, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 2 p.m.

Bingo, Annie Silver Community Center, 103 23rd St. N., Bradenton Beach, 7 to 9 p.m.

Refreshments available for purchase.

Sunday

Friday

Monday

Forty Carrots program for babies and children to age 5, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m.

Knitting/crochet group, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 2 p.m.

Chair yoga, Anna Maria Island Art League, 5312 Holmes Blvd., Holmes Beach, 11 to 11:45 a.m., $8. Register to 941-778-2099.

Social bridge games, Roser Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, noon.

Saturday

March 10

March 6

March 7

Naturalist-led wagon tour, Robinson Preserve, 99th Street Northwest and 17th Avenue Northwest, Bradenton, 9 to 10 a.m., first come, first served.

March 8

Beach Market, Coquina Beach, Bradenton Beach, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Bridge Street Market, Bradenton Beach, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

March 9

Tuesday Children’s story time, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m.

Duplicate bridge, Church of the Annunciation, 4408 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, 12:30 p.m.

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www.amisun.com

FEBRUARY 25, 2015

Watercolor workshop

Sue Allen will teach a workshop, Beyond Traditional Watercolor, on Wednesday, March 4, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Crosspointe Fellowship, 8605 Gulf Drive in Holmes Beach.

Her technique emphasizes the unique qualities of water media by pouring and/or splattering watercolor and acrylic paint until a totally original image emerges. She will demonstrate each step in her process and help students solve problems as they arise.

Emphasis will be on design, composition, color and contrast.

The cost is $75 for Artists’ Guild of Anna Maria Island members and $90 for non-members. For information and to register, call 941-778-6694 or visit www.amiartistsguildgallery.com.

Gyotaku workshop at League The Anna Maria Island Art League announces a Gyotaku workshop by Brenda Alcorn on Wednesday, Feb. 25, from 1:30 to 6 p.m. at the Art League, 5312 Holmes Boulevard in Holmes Beach. The cost is $40 for Art League members and $60 for non-members.

Gyotaku is the traditional method of Japanese fish printing dating from the mid-1800s. This form of nature printing may have been used by fishermen to record their catches, but has also become an art form.

A real fish is used in this technique using etching ink. After the fish is inked, the fish is printed onto fine Japanese paper. More than one print can be placed on the paper.

The process includes cleaning the fish, sealing up parts that may leak

SUBMITTED

Gene Aubry will discuss his architecture career on Monday.

Aubry lecture The Artists' Guild of Anna Maria Island will host a free, public presentation by Gene Aubry about his career as an architect on Monday, March 2, at the Church of the Annunciation at 45th Street and Second Avenue in Holmes Beach. Social hour begins at 6:30 p.m. and the program begins at 7 p.m.

After leaving Houston and the fifthlargest architectural firm in the U.S. with 250 architects working under him, Aubry came to Anna Maria in 1985.

He designed the Sarasota Library and the Naples Philharmonic Hall, among other buildings.

Come and hear stories about working with the famous architect Phillip Johnson, John and Dominique de Menil, Houston art patrons, and Mark Rothko to complete the Rothko Chapel at the University of St. Thomas in Houston.

“I only do what I enjoy; being an architect has been fun… I enjoy drawing directly what I see (which resulted in a book of Galveston Historic Buildings) and playing guitar evenings at the Beach Bistro."

For more information, call 941-778-6694 or visit www.amiartistsguildgallery.com or facebook.com/ArtistsGuildofAMI.

THE SUN

21

onto the paper and making a tampo which is used to put the ink on the fish. Alcorn will provide all necessary supplies with the exception of an awl.

Class is limited to six students; scholarships may be available. For more information or to register, call 941-778-2099.

Tapestry exhibit at museum In honor of weaver Robert “Bob” Sailors, who lived in the Cortez School House, now the Florida Maritime Museum, from 1974 until his death in 1995, the museum is hosting a maritime-themed tapestry exhibit, “Stories of the Sea.” This national, juried show features the work of 13 artists as well as a number of pieces from the juror, Becky Stevens. In addition to the museum’s small collection of original works by Bob Sailors, Cortez resident Robin Schock and Sailor’s friend, Bill Bisconteen, will exhibit special pieces from their personal collections.

A free, public reception with live music and light refreshments is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 26, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the museum, 4415 119th St. W. in Cortez. To RSVP, call 941-708-6120.

Art demonstration Saturday Island Gallery West will offer a free, public art demonstration by Charlie Bell on oils mixing chart on Saturday, Feb. 28, from 10:30 a.m. to noon at 5368 Gulf Drive in Holmes Beach.

Seating is first come, first served. For more information, visit www.islandgallerywest.com or call 941-778-6648.

Sun photo exhibit at library “Postcards from the Sun,” an exhibit featuring photographs by Cindy Lane published in the Anna Maria Island Sun, will be featured at the Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive in Holmes Beach, March 3-31. The library is open Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Wednesdays from noon to 8 p.m. For more information, call 941778-6341.

CINDY LANE | SUN

22

www.amisun.com

THE SUN

Boating classes set The Anna Maria Island Sail and Power Squadron will be holding the following boating education course and seminars during March. All classes are held at the squadron building located at 1200 71st St. N.W., Bradenton. Pre-registration is required. Contact Barbara at 941778-4497 to register or visit theiur web page at: www:usps.org/localusps/annamaria.

• America's Boating Course classes on March 2, 4, 9, 11, 16 and 18 and March 23 for review and exam.

The basic boating course, administered by Anna Maria Sail and Power Squadron and approved by the U.S. Coast Guard, teaches the skills and knowledge to safely operate a boat.

Students will be taught Florida rules and regulations governing boating. Specific topics include required equipment, nautical terms, charts, aids to navigation, VHF radio and PWC operation.

Any person born after Jan. 1, 1988, operating a vessel powered by a 10 or more horsepower motor must possess a Florida Boating Safety Identification Card. Passing this course qualifies for this certificate and card.

Courses are held two nights each week for three consecutive weeks

and one night the following week for the exam. Classes begin promptly at 6:30 p.m. and last approximately two hours.

The cost is $55 for individual or $85 for a couple sharing one manual.

• Reading and Understanding Nautical Charts Seminar on Thursday, March 12, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Qualified instructors will cover all facets of nautical charts, including latitude/longitude, water depth, bridge height, aids to navigation, night signals, compass reading, calculating speed, distance, time and basic course plotting. This is a comprehensive seminar for inshore navigation. Required equipment includes parallel rules and dividers.

The fee is $20 per person.

• Basic Electronic Navigation Seminar on Thursday, March 19, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Qualified instructors will show how to use a GPS / chartplotter in a generic format. They cannot instruct individuals how to use their particular device. Individuals must read the manual. The items taught are what a GPS can do and more importantly, what a GPS cannot do and doing an electronic course plot.

The fee is $20 per person.

FEBRUARY 25, 2015

Causeway could benefit from federal funding Each of seven Gulf estuary programs could get up to $2 million.

with a tidal lagoon on the Causeway.

Co-chair Ingrid McClellan said she and member Tom O’Brien would work on a proposal with Alderson.

BY PAT COPELAND

Preserve report

SUN STAFF WRITER | pcopeland@amisun.com

BRADENTON – The Palma Sola Scenic Highway may be eligible for some funding from the Restore Act through the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program, Mark Alderson, SBEP director, told members of the Scenic Highway group recently.

“A year ago, the seven Gulf of Mexico estuary programs extending all the way to Texas were asked to put together a program for possible Restore Act funding,” Alderson said.

He said the Environmental Protection Agency submitted a proposal to the federal RESTORE Council for $2 million for each estuary program. If is it funded the money could be awarded as early as October.

The SBEP is asking each of its partners, of which the Causeway group is one, to submit proposals for projects for using that money. He said a possible project could be a canoe launch

Marcus Campion, of the Manatee County’s Natural Resources Department reported the following on the preserves: • Neal – It’s been up and running a year and has been well received.

There is no move to expand it.

• Ungarelli – A trail, small shelter and picnic table are planned. It may open by summer.

• Perico – The county received bids to connect the two channels, which will create circulation for healthy seagrass beds. It could be open to the public by summer.

• Robinson Preserve expansion – The estimated start date is the end of March, and the estimated completion date is 2017.

In other business, the group plans to resubmit its application to connect the Palma Sola and Bradenton Beach scenic highways through Holmes Beach.

www.amisun.com

FEBRUARY 25, 2015

THE SUN

23

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

Pier ceremony Friday In celebration of the completion of the reconstructed Historic Bridge Street Pier in Bradenton Beach a grand opening ceremony will take place on the pier Friday, Feb. 27, beginning at 5:45 p.m.

The event also marks the completion of many related

tasks that included repainting the pier structures, resurfacing the parking area and replacing the decking that leads from Bridge Street to the pier.

Open to the public, the celebration will include free wine and light appetizers provided by participating establishments

from the Bridge Street Merchants Association. To accommodate the service of adult beverages, the city commission is temporarily waiving the open container prohibition from 5 to 9 p.m. to coincide with the event.

Pancakes galore Guest chefs Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy and Commissioner Doug Copeland cooked pancakes and sausage at the Island Community Center's monthly pancake breakfast Saturday.

The breakfasts are held the third Saturday of each month and the cost is $6 in advance and $8 at the door for all you can eat.

Pat Copeland | sun

Dump the hump

pat copeland | sun

Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer directed traffic while Public Works employee Matt Klym began removing the speed bump on Key Royale Drive Monday morning. The speed bump has been the subject of controversy since it was installed last year.

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TIP-OFFS TO POTENTIAL RIP-OFFS

If you must act now, the offer is probably to good to be true.

You pull the permits? - NO Solici ng door to door â&#x20AC;&#x201C; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Just finished a job down the streetâ&#x20AC;?- NO Unmarked vehicle â&#x20AC;&#x201C; NO No physical address for the office/shop â&#x20AC;&#x201C; NO Be sure the contractorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s phone number is listed in your local directory.

Discount as yourâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s is a â&#x20AC;&#x153;demonstra on homeâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201C; NO Pay everything up-front for a discount? â&#x20AC;&#x201C; NO Ask to see your contractorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s license and check with the FL Dept of Business & Professional Regula on to verify.

Check with your neighbors and friends â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Have they used this contractor before?

Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be afraid to ask for references.

Ask for proof of insurance, both General Liability (to protect your property) and Workers Compensa on (to cover anyone who would get hurt on your job).

Get an es mate/proposal in wri ng.

Make sure it specifies work to be performed.

24

FEBRUARY 25, 2015

www.amisun.com

FEBRUARY 25, 2015

25

Under Egmont: Found

BY CINDY LANE

SUN STAFF WRITER | clane@amisun.com ST. AUGUSTINE – When Rob Whitehurst began looking for the grave of his great-great-grandfather, the Internet was new, with scant information, and research was challenging.

When he learned that John Alexander Whitehurst was buried on Egmont Key in the cemetery next to the lighthouse, it was like striking gold.

He recorded his findings on a website, Findagrave.com, and laid his search to rest.

Years passed. Then in 2015, research by The Sun about the people buried in the Egmont Key cemetery uncovered a handwritten ledger on Ancestry.com showing that 12 people, including Spanish-American War soldiers, an “Indian (Unknown),” and Whitehurst’s great-great-grandfather, had been relocated in 1909 from Egmont Key to the St. Augustine National Cemetery.

The website also pointed to Findagrave.com, and “Rob,” no last name, who was listed as the author of a brief biography of his ancestor. A 50-50 shot that his last name was Whitehurst paid off, and one Google search and two e-mails later, Rob Whitehurst felt like he had struck gold again.

His family had always heard the story that a family member’s remains had been moved, he said, but Whitehurst thought it was probably Daniel Scott Whitehurst, who died in 1862 in Pinellas County at the hands of Confederate forces who attacked him and his cousin, John Whitehurst – both Union sympathizers – while they were getting provisions on the mainland to take back to Egmont Key. In the attack, John Whitehurst was wounded, escaped to his boat and was rescued at sea two days later and taken to Egmont Key, where he had been living with his family under the protection of the Union Navy that occupied the island.

He died from his wounds and was laid to rest in the Egmont Key cemetery, until 106 years ago.

Reunion

The St. Augustine National Cemetery and its dead lie enclosed within a low, white stone wall in the his-

The monument of Major Francis L. Dade, the namesake of Fort Dade on Egmont Key, stands at St. Augustine National Cemetery.

cindy lane | sun

Neighbors

CINDY LANE | sun

John A. Whitehurst’s grave was relocated from Egmont Key to St. Augustine National Cemetery in 1909 where it stands next to Rough Rider John O’Neil’s. toric Old Town section of the oldest city in the U.S. Like a mini-Arlington, uniform white headstones make straight rows under the shade of moss-draped oaks.

The American flag whipped briskly in the breeze off the Matanzas River as Whitehurst walked down the central sidewalk one chilly day last week, getting his bearings. The Google Earth image he had consulted showed the back of most of the headstones, with the inscriptions on the opposite side, but he knew the grave was in section A, and he had a landmark to navigate by.

Three pyramids and an obelisk drew Whitehurst toward the south end of the cemetery. The monu-

ment is the resting place of Major Francis L. Dade and most of his regiment, killed in the Second Seminole War in 1835. Fort Dade, on Egmont Key, was named for him.

Walking toward the monument, Whitehurst called off numbers on the headstones, walking faster as he neared the number he sought. A headstone without a number, naming John O’Neil, stalled him for a moment. Then, he stopped.

He bent down to read 248, and the name, and placed his right hand on his great-great-grandfather’s headstone.

“Here he is,” he said.

The simple stone’s only inscription is “Whitehurst.”

To the right of the grave is a newer headstone, which replaced one like Whitehurst’s. Both have shields traced around the inscription, like others in the cemetery.

According to the headstone, Trooper John O’Neil, of New Mexico, fought with the 1st U.S. Volunteers cavalry regiment, E Troop, in the Spanish-American War, with Teddy Roosevelt’s Rough Riders.

During the war, O’Neil was transported by ship from Cuba to Egmont Key for medical treatment, but there was a lack of medical facilities on the island and he was sent back to the ship, where he died, according to the book, “Egmont Key: A History.” His remains were among the 12 burials relocated to St. Augustine. The Tampa-based Rough Riders organization placed the new headstone in 2004.

That gave Whitehurst the idea to investigate replacing John Whitehurst’s headstone, but he discovered the cost would be prohibitive without assistance from a historical organization, he said.

Still, Whitehurst’s headstone has more information than some of the other relocated Egmont Key dead.

Many headstones in the St. Augustine cemetery read “unknown” or are blank. “Indian (Unknown),” as listed on the St. Augustine cemetery ledger, is nowhere to be found. Neither is Azaline M. Bahrt, of the Egmont Key lighthouse keeper’s family, whose name is listed on a plaque at the Egmont Key cemetery, although her daughter, Marie Bahrt, is recorded at No. 316 and a related infant, Carlotte Bahrt, is at No. 287 in the St. Augustine cemetery.

Private J.A. Brainerd, Company A, 26th Michigan Infantry, is at No. 283. Infantryman James Shannon, listed as Joseph Shannon on the see egmont, page 28

John A. Whitehurst’s grave is in Section A of the St. Augustine National Cemetery CINDY LANE | sun

26

THE SUN

OUTDOORS

FEBRUARY 25, 2015

Cleaning up Sister Keys

O

n Saturday Feb. 21, Sarasota Bay Watch members Larry Stults and I helped expedite an invasive flora cleanup at the Sister Keys off Longboat Key. The work was done by members of the Suncoast Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area group (CISMA) whose mission is "to address the threat to native diversity within the Suncoast CISMA by coordinating and increasing efforts to eliminate or reduce invasive, non-native plants and animals across public and private boundaries."

The Suncoast CISMA is primarily composed of interagency personnel involved in land management, but also a contingent of volunteers from Pinellas, Manatee, Hillsboro and Sarasota counties.

In addition to eradication of invasive species, the group also lobbies and is involved in education through community outreach. They like to partner with groups that manage environmentally sensitive areas. The organization also has meetings and speakers that discuss these issues including fauna like feral cats and coyotes.

Sarasota Bay Watch partnered with the town of Longboat Key to adopt the

Reel Time RUSTY CHINNIS Sister Keys and help with control and enhancement of the area. Members of the Suncoast CISMA present Saturday represented Sarasota County, Manatee County, and the Little Manatee River State Park. Mick Elswick, president of the group, works for Manatee County in ecological resources and also is involved in permitting marine reefs.

He comes from an upland land management background. Damon Moore, also from Manatee County, works as environmental program manager for ecological resources.

Ray Vinson, from Sarasota County, works for the parks recreation and natural resources department. His expertise is prescribed burns. Joe Howard, manager for The Little Manatee River State Park, was also on hand and assisted by Tess Busch, who works at the park as an AmeriCorps intern.

After introductions, members of the

Credit

Members of the Suncoast CISMA work group are, top left, Ray Vinson, Joe Howard and Damon Moore and bottom left, Michael Elswick and Tess Busch and Sarasota Bay Watch Board member Larry Stults. group headed to the islands by boat.

Stults brought his boat to help transport personnel. Elswick and Moore brought a work boat from Manatee

County equipped with machetes, clippers and a supply of garlon, a herbicide see reel time, page 27

tide chart for anna maria city pier feb 25-MARCH 4 Day Date

A.M. High Time Feet

A.M. Low Time Feet

P.M. High Time Feet

Wed 2/25

5:29a 0.87

8:30a 0.79

3:41p 1.98

Thu 2/26

12:14a -0.16

4:42p 1.92

Fri 2/27

1:36a -0.16

5:58p 1.86

2:39a -029

7:17p 1:85

Sat 2/28

12:27a 1.15

P.M. Low Time Feet

Sun Rise Set

Day Date

A.M. High Time Feet

A.M. Low Time Feet

P.M. High Time Feet

P.M. Low Time Feet

Sun Rise Set

6:59-6:28

Sun 3/1

10:38a 1.22

3:26a -0.33

8:20p 1.87

2:11p 0.99

6:55-6:31

Mon 3/2

10:50a 1.28

4:02a -0.32

9:09p 1.88

3:07p 0.85

Tue 3/3

11:03a 1.33

4:30a -0.27

9:48p 1.88

3:52p 0.69

Wed 3/4

11:14a 1.39

4:55a -0.19

10:24p 1.84

4:32p 0.54

6:58-6:29 6:57-6:30 12:53p 1.09

6:56-6:30

6:54-6:31 6:53-6:32 6:5s-6:33

www.amisun.com

FEBRUARY 25, 2015

THE SUN

27

Fish channels when the tide is low Captain Rick Grassett

Anglers fishing with me on my Action Craft flats skiff the Snook Fin-Addict, out of CB’s Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, caught and released trout and Spanish mackerel in Sarasota Bay on CAL jigs with shad tails, DOA Shrimp and flies and trout and snook in Gasparilla Sound near Boca Grande on CAL jigs with shad tails during the past week.

Tony Merlis, from New Hampshire, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Monday.

We fished deep grass flats on both sides of the bay where caught and released trout and ladyfish on Ultra Hair Clouser

flies. One of the best trips of the week was on Tuesday when Frank Zaffino, from Rochester, N.Y., and sons John and Frank, fished Sarasota Bay with me and had great action catching and releasing numerous Spanish mackerel to 5 pounds and trout to 18 inches on CAL jigs with shad tails and Ultra Hair Clouser flies.

With an approaching front and a stiff south wind, fish turned on.

Wednesday’s instructional fly fishing trip was cancelled due to winds above 20 mph. Keith McClintock, from Lake Forest, Ill., fished Gasparilla Sound near Boca Grande with me on Thursday. With

a strong northwest wind, we were hopeful that we could find some protection in the backcountry. With very little water, it was tough, but he had good action with trout to 18 inches and a snook on CAL jigs with shad tails. Friday’s trip was canceled due to the arctic air that blasted us with temperatures in the 30s following the latest front.

I was the instructor for a CB’s Saltwater Outfitters Orvis-Endorsed Fly Fishing School on Saturday, Feb 21. The course, designed for beginning and intermediate fly casters, focused on basics, but also worked with intermediate casters on

correcting faults and improving casting skills. The next school will be on March 7. The cost is $150 per person and includes the use of Orvis fly tackle, a text book and lunch. Contact CB’s Saltwater Outfitters at 941-349-4400 or info@ cbsoutfitters.com to make reservations.

You may find trout, blues, pompano or flounder in channels, troughs, basins or edges of flats, particularly when the tide is low. Look for reds and big trout mixed with mullet schools on shallow flats and edges of bars. Afternoons may fish better than mornings when water is cooler.

reel time: Cleaning up Sister Keys FROM PAGE 26

that is necessary to prevent regrowth of the invasive plants.

On smaller specimens the workers cut the invasive plants and treated the stump with the herbicide. On larger specimens, they would spray the base of the plant. The process is known as basal bark treatment, and the spray must completely encircle the trunk to be effective. They were also careful to make sure the cut plants did not make contact

with the soil as they could potentially re-root.

Moore pointed out a number of invasive species, including an Australian pine that was growing right next to small natives such as spotted bee balm and sea grape. Unfortunately, the invasive species, if not controlled, grow faster and will out-compete the natives.

When treated with herbicide, it takes about a week for the plant to yellow and a month for it to die. By far the most numerous invasive was the Brazilian pepper, followed

by Australian pines and a mix of five or six other species including mahoe, carrot wood and Chinese tallow.

I was surprised at the numbers of peppers that were present. The islands were planted with natives in 2007 and the contractor was responsible for controlling invasive species for five years. That meant that the invasive plants that were present had regrown in just three years. It pointed out the need to keep a vigilant eye on the Sister Keys lest the invasive species once again gain a prominent

foothold on the uplands.

During Saturday's event the participants were able to cover an estimated 80 percent of the islands. Today the Sister Keys are in a much more natural condition thanks to the help of the Suncoast CISMA group.

If you are interested in finding out more about their work or volunteering, check out their Website at www.floridainvasives.org/cismas.html. You can learn more about Sarasota Bay Watch at www. sarasotabaywatch.org.

28

THE SUN

www.amisun.com

FEBRUARY 25, 2015

CINDY LANE | sun

Rob Whitehurst found his great-great-grandfather’s grave last week, which was relocated from Egmont Key to St. Augustine National Cemetery in 1909.

egmont: found FROM PAGE 25

Egmont Key plaque, is at No. 274. Seaman Robert Bentson, of the U.S. Lighthouse Tender Laurel, listed as Benton on the St. Augustine ledger, is at No. 276.

Like “Indian (Unknown),” “Colored Soldier (Unknown)” is nowhere to be found. Charles Williams, at No. 279, was listed as a “colored” soldier on the Egmont Key plaque, but may have been misidentified; his name appears on the St. Augustine ledger directly above the entry “Colored Soldier (Unknown);” the two lines appear to have been mistakenly combined on the Egmont Key plaque.

A few steps away from Whitehurst, at No. 256, is William Rull, who is listed as Rull/Ruth in the St. Augustine ledger, and is identified as a “colored” hospital attendant with the U.S. Marine Hospital Service on the Egmont Key plaque. Southern cemeteries in the 20th century often separated black and white burials, but not here. Whitehurst said his great-great-grandfather, a Southern resident who was a Union sympathizer and scouted for the Union Army, “was right about slavery.”

John Whitehurst’s dying wish was that his three sons, 12, 8 and 6, enter the naval service, according to a report by Lieutenant J.C. Howell, who ordered his burial.

The older two were accepted the month after his death, but his youngest, Harney Butler Whitehurst, was not.

He became the great-grandfather of Rob Whitehurst.

Whitehurst has visited a dozen or so cemeteries to visit family members’ graves, but this one is special.

CINDY LANE | sun

Rob and Georgia Whitehurst visited St. Augustine National Cemetery last week to find Rob’s great-great-grandfather’s grave.

“I didn’t really think about it until now,” Whitehurst said, looking at the headstone. “If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be here.”

www.amisun.com

FEBRUARY 25, 2015

TOWN CRIER

SHINE program needs volunteers

"What’s really happening with climate change and what can we do about it," is the subject of the Einstein’s Circle discussion presented by the Lifelong Learning Academy on Wednesday, Feb. 25, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at The Studio at Gulf and Pine at 10101 Gulf Drive, Anna Maria. The discussion is free, and no registration is required.

Flower expert speaks

Quilting at Island library Join the fun at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 26, at the Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach.

Bring a project and enjoy discussion and some education as you work. For more information, call the library at 778-6341.

Church hosts rummage sale St Bernard's Catholic Church, 248 South Harbor Drive in Holmes Beach will hold its rummage sale on Friday, Feb. 27, and Saturday, Feb 28, from 9 am to noon on both days.

For more information, call 778-4769.

Time to pack meals

29

p.m. starting March 12 and running for eight sessions.

For more information, call the Community Center at 778-1908.

Global warming updated

Dennis Cathcart, from Tropiflora, will speak about bromeliads at the noon, Wednesday, Feb. 25, meeting of the Anna Maria Garden Club at Roser Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria.

The public is invited to attend.

THE SUN

Hearts benefit animals

Three Island Monkeys Gift Shop owner Kande Kerekes poses with her dog, Caesar, in front of hearts that are for sale in an Island-wide fund-raiser for Manatee County Animal Services. The fund-raiser ends Feb. 28, and other businesses where the hearts are for sale are Island Fitness by the AMI Chamber, Island Coffee Haus in Holmes Beach, Paradise Café in the AMI Centre in Holmes Beach, Anna Maria Olive Oil Outpost on Pine Avenue in Anna Maria, the UPS Store #0088 at 75th Street and Manatee Avenue in Bradenton, Island Mail and More in Holmes Beach, Thompson Pre K in Bradenton, Snips Hair Design in Anna Maria, The Paw Spa in Holmes Beach, and Perks for Pets in Bradenton at 75th Street and Manatee Avenue.

mahjong, cards and board games with many prizes awarded starting at 1 p.m., on Wednesday, March 18, at St Bernard Activity Center, 248 S. Harbor Drive, Holmes Beach. Join the group or bring your own game. Desserts and beverages will be served. A donation of $10 is requested. For more information, call 941-792-5983 or 941-792-7433.

Manatee Concert Band plays

The AMI Hungr Project of Feeding Children Everywhere will be packaging 50,000 meals on Saturday, Feb. 28, at Roser Community Church Fellowship Hall, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria.

Volunteers are needed for 1 1/2 hour shifts at 9 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Bring the family and make it a project that will make everyone feel good, especially the children who go hungry in Manatee County.

The Manatee Concert Band, with several members living on the Island, will present its annual Spring Concert at 3 pm on Sunday, March 29, at Neel Performing Arts Center at SCF, 5840 26th St. W, Bradenton. This concert will feature several selections from Broadway hit musicals. There will be a guest percussionist from Kutztown University along with a wide variety of other musical favorites. Admission is free, and everyone is invited.

Center hosts bingo

Gentle yoga time change

Enjoy smoke-free bingo at the Annie Silver Community Center, 103 23rd St. N., Bradenton Beach, every Thursday, from 7 to 9 p.m. through March 26.

There will be cake and coffee for sale.

Contact Linda Yarger at 778-3580 or LyargerL @aol.com for more information.

The Anna Maria Island Art League announce a time change for Gentle Chair Yoga, with instructor Cindy Phillips. Starting March 2, Mondays from 11 to 11:45 a.m. and Wednesdays from 11:45 am to 12:30 p.m. at the Art League, 5312 Holmes Blvd., Holmes Beach. The cost is $8 per class.

Fun and games at church

Social bridge at Roser

St Bernard’s Women’s Guild will host an afternoon of fun and games which will include, bridge, bunco, bingo,

Enjoy social bridge every Monday at noon at Roser Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria. For more information

The Florida Department of Elder Affairs and the West Central Florida Area Agency on Aging need volunteers to join the award-winning SHINE team to help the elderly make decisions on Medicare, health insurance and prescription drug plans.

Volunteers may also make educational presentations to community groups and participate in local health fairs, senior fairs and other outreach and educational events. For more information or to volunteer, call the Elder Helpline at 1-813-740-3888, Ext. 5593.

Volunteer advocates needed

Enjoy duplicate bridge every Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. at the Church of the Annunciation, 4408 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach. For more information, call 8965154.

Florida’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program needs volunteers to join its corps of dedicated advocates who protect the rights of elders who live in nursing homes, assisted living facilities and adult family care homes. The program’s local councils are seeking additional volunteers to identify, investigate and resolve residents’ concerns.

Special training and certification is provided.

All interested individuals who care about protecting the health, safety, welfare and rights of long-term care facility residents, who often have no one else to advocate for them, are encouraged to call toll-free 1-888-831-0404 or visit the program’s Website at http:// ombudsman.myflorida.com.

Greenwich folks to gather

Red Cross needs you

Residents of and Floridians from Greenwich Conn., are invited to the 31st Annual Greenwich/Florida 2015 Reunion at Jacaranda West Country Club, in Venice, Fla., on Saturday, March 14, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for a buffet luncheon. Proceeds will benefit Greenwich Connecticut charities. For information, call Grace Brown at 941429-5423.

The American Red Cross in Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties has an urgent need for volunteers to help train people how to save a life and to assist local families who have lost their home to a fire or other disaster. Volunteer instructors help people learn lifesaving skills such as CPR and First Aid. Disaster Action Team volunteers assists families who have suffered house fires or other disasters with short-term places to stay and other immediate needs, such as getting temporary refills on medications. Volunteers also are trained to provide emotional support for these families.

All volunteer applicants must pass a background check and attend an orientation class. All training is free. American Red Cross volunteers constitute 94 percent of the total workforce to carry out its humanitarian mission to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies. To register or for more information, visit www.redcross. org/fl/Sarasota/volunteer.

941-778-0414 or just come and join the group

Play bridge at Annunciation

Einstein's Circle classes here Lifelong Learning Academy has scheduled classes at the Anna Maria Island Community Center in March. All classses are free and no prior registration is neccesary.

The first class is called "Learning Paradigms for Life Enhancement" and it runs on Mondays from 11 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. starting on March 16 and running for six sessions.

"Spiritual Psychology" runs on Mondays from 2:30 to 3:50 p.m. starting March 9 and running for six sessions.

"Discovering the hidden Talent of Your Other Hand" runs from 11 a.m. to 12:20

30

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THE SUN

FEBRUARY 25, 2015

tdc: Island, Cortez, to receive resort tax funds FROM PAGE 1

prior to the pier project, little of the money made its way back to the Island.

With the following projects, “We’re walking the walk,” Manatee County Convention and Visitors Bureau Director Elliott Falcione said.

Anna Maria Island Historical Museum

The Anna Maria Island Historical Museum in Anna Maria would receive up to $25,000 to improve its curb appeal, front porch and disabled access.

While the beach is the main tourist draw, visitors want a change of pace on cool or rainy days, which the museum provides, according to docent coordinator Jonathan Crane.

“It’s all about the old Florida charm,” he said. “Although it’s waning in some places, there’s one street at least where we got it done, Pine Avenue.”

Grassy Point Preserve

Holmes Beach would use $100,000 to build an elevated boardwalk at Grassy Point Preserve between East Bay Drive and the parking lot, according to a request by Mayor Bob Johnson.

The funding would assist the city in winning a $200,000 grant from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Falcione said. That grant would pay for an elevated boardwalk from the shell loop trail to an observation platform, fishing pier and canoe launch on Anna Maria Sound, providing scenic views of the Manatee Avenue Bridge and the Intracoastal Waterway.

“The peace, tranquility and photogenic nature of the wetlands, uplands and submerged grasslands will greatly enhance our public relations efforts, adding yet another attractive activity for Anna Maria Island visitors,” Johnson wrote in his request.

Visitors and residents can walk, bike or take the trolley to the preserve, TDC member and Holmes Beach Commissioner Jean Peelen said, adding, “Given the situation with the traffic, they wouldn’t have to get off the Island to go to Robinson Preserve or Neal Preserve.”

But no restrooms and only four parking spaces at the preserve concerned TDC member Jack Rynerson.

“I’m not certain it’s fully thought out,” he said. “They need the money now so they get

European visitation to Manatee County 2010

Central Europe United Kingdom Other Total

2011

Central Europe United Kingdom Other Total

2012

Central Europe United Kingdom Other Total

up 3.6% down 8.8% up 5% down 3.2% up 24.3% up 5.7% up 6% up 12.4 percent up 22.2% up 19% up 18.7% up 20.2%

the other grant, but… if they’re dumping trolley loads of people there, Air and Energy is not going to be happy with people knocking on their doors (to use the restroom).”

Water and sewer lines come down the dead-end street that the preserve is on, Rynerson said. “Down the road, if it becomes very popular, those things will be needed,” he said.

The preserve was made for trolley visitation, like John Chappie Park in Bradenton Beach, TDC member David Teitelbaum said, adding, “It’s not an issue.”

The city is negotiating to purchase three adjacent lots for parking and another parcel to increase the size of the 33-acre preserve, Holmes Beach Human Resources Director Mary Buonagura said.

Gulf Front Park

Gulf Front Park in Anna Maria is overgrown with invasive plants, such as century cactus, Brazilian pepper and motherin-law tongue, and is a dumping ground for tires, umbrellas, bottles and other trash, according to Mayor Dan Murphy, who called it a “combination jungle and a dump.”

With $78,900, the city would remove the plants and trash on four tracts of land by hand, due to the protected sea oats and gopher tortoises in the park, and replant native vegetation, he said, adding that the restored park might serve to educate schoolchildren about a native Florida ecosystem.

The project would provide tourists with “Old Florida beach impressions,” Falcione said.

2013

Central Europe United Kingdom Other Total

2014

Central Europe United Kingdom Other Total

up 7.5% up 8.9% up 7.4% up 8.2% up 21.8% up 8% down 4.9% up 12.2%

Source: Manatee County Convention and Visitors Bureau; Research Data Services

Florida Maritime Museum

The Florida Maritime Museum at Cortez would receive $180,548 in matching funds to complete interior renovations on the Burton store, making room for collections and a research library upstairs, which would open up room in the museum for more exhibits, and space for temporary exhibits and classroom space downstairs, Museum Supervisor Amara Nash said.

The store currently is the venue for Music on the Porch once a month.

The Pillsbury boat shop also would be expanded, an event pavilion would be constructed and a touring golf cart would be purchased for tours of Cortez, she said, adding that the museum must raise the matching funds.

Funding the project will intrigue travel writers with “real Florida,” Falcione said.

In other business: • Falcione reported that the CVB is still working on attendance figures for the Bradenton Area Riverwalk Regatta earlier this month, but that early indications are that it attracted many first-time visitors. “The most important thing is the first-time visitor” he said, adding that 95 percent will return.

• Peelen said she is excited about the Urban Land Institute study this week on Anna Maria Island, calling it “the first time three cities have worked together in this way to say ‘What are our common visions?’ We’ve stopped suing each other and begun working together.”

• The TDC elected David Teitelbaum as vice chairman.

FEBRUARY 25, 2015

FOOD & WINE

THE SUN

Panic stricken to perfect

John Horne ANNA MARIA OYSTER BAR

I

can’t tell you how often when I’m invited to dinner at someone’s home how much pressure they put on themselves to cook the perfect meal for me and the fear of not living up to those standards.

When I met Amanda, who’s a better cook than I am, she wouldn’t cook seafood for me. She always thought she couldn’t do it as well as a seafood restaurant owner could. I remember cooking one of my favorite seafood dishes for her early in our relationship, and she watched and helped and said, “That’s it? That’s all there is to it?” I hated to admit it, but, yes, that is all there is to it. Many are apprehensive about cooking seafood, but it is so simple. But then again, after watching people that have cooked for years, like any other profes-

sion, it always appears easy.

We have just returned from a ski trip in Telluride with buds last week and one of my childhood pals, Joe bought salmon to cook one night.

He had a recipe he brought with him from Texas – chili powder crusted salmon. You know those Texans – got be hot to be real food. His apprehension probably peaked as I sat at the counter in the kitchen with a nice hot toddy and watched closely. Maybe a little micro-management follows me on vacation too?? He read the recipe, mixed all his spices and prepped the salmon and followed the recipe almost perfectly. Sautéed to perfection and thrown into the oven to finish. I mentioned

Island grouper can be enhanced with capers, tomatoes and artichoke hearts.

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that usually you flip the filets before throwing them into the oven.

He looked at me like I was nuts.

I’m used to that look, trust me and he reviewed his recipe again. Sure enough. So he pulled pans from the oven and flipped the fish and returned. The result? Perfectly cooked chili-crusted salmon and this from a Texas meat and potatoes guy, who has spent the last 25 years in quantum physics. I wonder if roles were reversed if I could do his job as easily as he just did mine. Doubt it very much.

Try cooking every type of food, you’ll be surprised how easy it can be, but remember, it’s the clean-up that makes it better to eat in a restaurant.

Island Grouper

By JOHN HORNE

Ingredients • Two 6-oz. grouper filets (any meaty local fish will do) • Badia Complete ® Seasoning • Olive oil (EVOO) • Lemon • Fresh diced tomatoes • Capers • Artichoke hearts (quartered) • Garlic butter…or some of both

Method •Season grouper on both sides. Lightly dredge in flour and sauté flesh side down in sauté pan with olive oil. When nicely browned on one side, add garlic butter until melted, then turn fish and add capers, artichoke hearts and tomatoes. Squeeze lemon over all of pan and then top with wine. After all is combined and simmering well, place in pre-heated oven at 350°. Cook until the meat separates easily at the muscle band when you push on the grouper, about 4 minutes in the oven.

• I intentionally left out portions on add-ins. Add as much, as little or skip some of the artichokes, capers or tomatoes as you like. It’s your Island grouper. Make it to your taste • Serve over whatever starch makes you happy and then drizzle with some extra gravy from the pan. Make sure you saved some of the wine for your glass. Enjoy!

31

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33

Free Kids Fishing Tournament a success

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRSPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH – Hosted by the Bridge Street Merchants, the Free Kids Fishing Tournament that took place Saturday on the newlyrenovated Historic Bridge Street Pier helped raise $500 for Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast.

Sponsored by Island Time, Castn-Cage, The Lot, Drift In, Silver Surf Gulf Beach Resort, Fish Hole adventure golf, and The Sun, the tournament featured 47 participants aged 12 and under.

Prizes were awarded for largest fish (measured by length), smallest fish, the most fish, and the most unusual fish.

Max Higgins, son of longtime Public Works Department employee David Higgins and his wife, Laurie, caught the most fish and the biggest fish. Max said he was glad the pier was open and he plans to fish there and eat there more often.

Ryan and Nicholas Flynn caught the smallest fish; Renee Polite caught the most unusual fish, a blowfish; and Skyler Brooks-Miller was deemed first runner-up.

JAKE SPOONER | SUBMITTED

Pictured from left are Free Kids Fishing Tournament winners Max Higgins, Renee Polite, Ryan and Nicholas Flynn and Skyler Brooks-Miller.

Participants were supplied free bait and tackle, and fishing poles were provided for those who did not bring their own. The young fishermen and fisherwomen were also treated to free grilled cheese sandwiches and chocolate milk courtesy of Cast-n-Cage and the merchants association.

The tournament was organized by Fish Hole owner Jake Spooner and former Rotten Ralph’s employee Ed Lyon.

“We did this to bring more exposure to the newly renovated pier, to help out the Big Brothers Big Sisters program and to bring more attention to Bridge Street,” said Spooner, who serves as Bridge Street Merchants treasurer.

“It was a great day. The bite was slow, but everyone enjoyed their time on the beautiful new pier,” he added.

34

THE SUN

REAL ESTATE

FEBRUARY 25, 2015

From big mortgage chill to big mortgage meltdown

I

t’s only February, but the mortgage regulations are going from chilly straight to meltdown, and the temperature has barely broken 75.

In November I wrote a column broadly outlining anticipated changes in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s mortgage guidelines. At that time, Fannie and Freddie had just announced plans to expand credit to borrowers with weak credit and low down payment funds.

These changes were a response to the slow growth in the housing market, as well as pressure from organizations like the National Low Income Housing Coalition to make mortgage funding available to a broader range of buyers.

Since then, Mel Watts, with the Federal Housing Finance Agency that oversees Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, testified before the House Financial Services Committee outlining new guidelines effective at the end of

Castles in the Sand Louise Bolger March. He stated they expect to raise the guarantee fee charged lenders to back loans designed to cover the credit risk on loans guaranteed by the federal mortgage agencies. Presumably, they are anticipating that there will be more mortgage loans available in the future that will have additional risk attached to them.

Two significant changes were made

by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which supports the assumption that riskier loans are forthcoming. In December, Fannie Mae re-launched the 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage offering a 97 per-

cent loan-to-value loan requiring only 3 percent down. This type of loan was suspended in 2013 by request of the federal regulators as a response to both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac going bankrupt after the housing meltdown and having to be bailed out by the taxpayers.

In addition, in early January the president announced that the Federal Housing Administration will begin lowering annual mortgage insurance premiums to make mortgages more affordable and accessible. This means that mortgage insurance, which was generally required on high loan to value mortgages, will be reduced allowing more moderate and low income families to qualify for financing. Great idea in theory, but what this does is sets up these marginal buyers for failure when they can’t meet their monthly payments if they experience even a

minor financial setback.

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, this is exactly what happened when the bubble broke. In fact in 2011, the Securities and Exchange Commission brought civil lawsuits against six former Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac executives charging they defrauded investors. The charge specified that they knew and approved of misleading statements about Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s exposure to subprime loans, loans that they “encouraged” private lenders to make. The most recent information I could find on the status of this lawsuit was from 2013, when the courts ruled against the executives who were attempting to have the lawsuits dismissed.

Just as a point of information, homeowner rates have actually fallen to see bolger, page 37

www.amisun.com

FEBRUARY 25, 2015

THE SUN

AUDIT: Looks good

LEGAL: Fees climbing

FROM PAGE 4

FROM PAGE 4

can’t spend money that we don’t have. We’re very fortunate that in years prior the reserve fund was built, but in the last five years that reserve keeps decreasing, and someday we’re going to run out of money,” he added.

“Being in a coastal community on the Gulf of Mexico, it’s probably wise to have adequate reserves in the event of an emergency,” Dillingham said, noting that a reserve fund equaling 25 percent of the general fund would cover city expenses for three months.

Soon after he became mayor, Shearon proposed, and the commission approved, the creation of treasurer’s position and the separation of the clerk and treasurer’s duties once performed by the late Nora Idso.

“The biggest single step that was taken to bring us back in the right direction was hiring a treasurer, and I give her all the credit for putting our ducks in a row. I think the main credit for a clean audit goes to our treasurer,” said Vice Mayor Jack Clarke.

City Engineer Lynn Townsend Burnett, who was prepared to testify on the city’s behalf if needed.

While he failed to acknowledge the role he and Martin played in initiating multiple legal proceedings, Shearon did express concern that they are straining the city budget.

“All this money we’ve spent is not budgeted, and we don’t have the money for it,” he said.

The city has already spent two-thirds of the $89,000 budgeted for legal fees for the fiscal year that began on Oct. 1 and does not end until Sept. 30.

Commissioner Ed Straight said the city has little control over billable activities once an attorney’s services are requested; and in response to Robertson’s comments, City Attorney Ricinda Perry said the filing of an emergency injunction required an expedited approach to defending it.

“What we got for this was the city won, and he (Judge John Lakin) denied the injunction; and to me, that was a very telling sign from the judge,” Perry said.

During public input, resident Jim Has-

I think the main credit for a clean audit goes to our treasurer.”

Jack Clarke Vice Mayor

Dalton said later, “Although I was flattered by what was said, I also need to give credit to Deputy Clerk Audra Lanzaro. She has been a big help to me by keeping me informed of issues, and letting me know of past practices that will be beneficial to our department. She keeps the department running smoothly.”

35

sett, a Shearon supporter, commented on the injunction hearing he attended.

“Mr. Johnson did a hell of a job,” he acknowledged.

He then recalled that Lakin told Johnson this matter should have been resolved two years ago, and he reminded the commission that the 2012 lawsuit is still in play. He described the judge’s injunction ruling as a “supposed victory for the day,” and concluded by saying, “Be careful what you wish for.”

Residential property owner Patrick Shomo told the commission he has been the plaintiff in two successful lawsuits he filed against the state of Maryland.

In response to Robertson and Shearon’s concerns about some of the legal strategies employed, he echoed City Attorney Ricinda Perry’s explanation that the shorter the time frame the attorneys have to work with, the higher the cost is going to be.

“Generally if you’re going to go to court, my advice is to take your checkbook and throw it in a really dark deep place, forget you actually have it, and try not to look at the balance. My first piece of advice is don’t go to court,” he concluded.

36

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THE SUN

Waste Management proposal misses deadline The city received one other proposal from Waste Pro that met the deadline.

BY PAT COPELAND SUN STAFF WRITER | pcopeland@amisun.com

HOLMES BEACH â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Officials from Waste Management missed the deadline for a request for proposal (RFP) for solid waste and collection services due to a flat tire, according to City Clerk Stacey Johnston.

The deadline was Friday at noon, and Waste Managementâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s proposal arrived at 12:24 p.m. The city received one other proposal from Waste Pro at 8:08 a.m. that day.

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She said Waste Proâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s proposal would be reviewed by a committee that includes Human Services Analyst Mary Buonagura, Code Enforcement Officer David Forbes and Public Works Foreman Gary Blunden. The committee would make a recommendation to the mayor, who would make a recommendation to the city commission. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have an internal process to evaluate proposals and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what we will go through,â&#x20AC;? Mayor Bob Johnson said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not set up as an automatic awarding. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll evaulate the proposals and enter into a negotiated agreement with the provider as outlined in Section 3of the RFP.â&#x20AC;?

According to Section 3 A, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The city of Holmes Beach shall take the following factors into consideration in making a selection for waste management services. Evaluation factors shall be weighted.

The ocntract shall be awarded on value based criteria of professional experience, technical capability an pricing.â&#x20AC;?

Johnston said the mayor authorized her to accept Waste Managementâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s proposal, but no one opened it. The proposals do not become public until March 23, according to the RFP. Waste Management has had the solid waste franchise in the city for 30 years.

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FEBRUARY 25, 2015

Driver Identified Holmes Beach police have identified the driver of the vehicle that crashed through the front window of the Artist’s Guild Gallery on Friday, Feb. 14 and left the scene.

Louis Michael Knowles, 28, of Bradenton, was charged with leaving the scene of an accident with damage, no proof of insurance and no vehicle registration.

Six answer city’s call Six attorneys have responded to a request for proposals for the posi-

THE SUN

37

tion of Anna Maria City Attorney.

The respondants are Robert Robinson, of Kirk Pinkerton PA in Sarasota; S. Frazier Carraway, of Saxon, Gilmore, Carraway and Gibbons, PA, of Tampa; Kelly Fernandez, of Perrson and Cohen PA of Lakewood Ranch; former Bradenton Beach City Attorney Ralf Brookes of Cape Coral; Wade Vose and Becky Vose, of the Vose Law Firm, LLP; and Regina Kardash and Tony Daigneault, of Trask, Metz and Daigneault, LLP of Clearwater.

A task force is interviewing the candidates this week.

BOLGER: Mortgage meltdown FROM PAGE 34

their lowest level in 20 years. As of the fourth quarter of 2014, the rate was 63.9 percent, a rate last recorded in 1994. The rate at the end of 2013 was 65.1 percent. I believe that a falling homeownership rate has more to do with a sluggish economy than tight mortgage

regulations. Opening up mortgages to buyers who really can’t afford it will lead to another financial crisis that the American people will again be bailing out.

So there you have it. We’ve gone from feeling a little chilly to full blown meltdown, and no one in Washington seems to be feeling the heat.

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FEBRUARY 25, 2015

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FEBRUARY 25, 2015

SFUA

Lot Size

Property Description

Anna Maria

Date Sold List Price Sales Price Property Address

SFUA

Lot Size

Property Description

01/16/2015 550,000

510,000

214 S Harbor Dr

1603

3 Br/3 Ba SFR Bank Owned

01/16/2015 439,000

400,000

407 Spring Ave

1192

50x150

2 Br/1.5 Ba SFR

01/16/2015 559,000

525,000

217 N Harbor Dr

1716

60X110

3 Br/2 Ba SFR

01/22/2015 999,000

932,500

521 Magnolia Ave

2818

75x115

5 Br/3Ba SFR

01/16/2015 649,900

615,000

212 N Harbor Dr

2456

4 Br/3 Ba SFR

01/30/2015 1,495,000 1,290,000 111 Maple Ave

2800

100x100

5 Br/4 Ba SFR

01/30/2015 674,900

655,000

507 75th St

1845

90X117

3 Br/3 Ba SFR

01/15/2015 260,000

822

2 Br/1Ba SFR

01/06/2015 824,000

796,000

211 65th St HB

2184

3 Br/2.5 Ba SFR

3940

50X181

7 Br/5Ba SFR

01/07/2015 799,900

800,000

415 Clark Dr HB

2571

3 Br/2 x 1.5 Ba SFR

01/23/2015 895,000

835,000

208 77th St HB

2700

4 Br/4 Ba SFR

01/26/2015 279,999

250,000

3701 E Bay Dr # 8

1544

2 Br/3 Ba Condo

436,000

3802 6th Ave 3802

1725

3 Br/2 Ba Condo

6700 Gulf Dr # 3

1513

3 Br/2 Ba Condo

250,000

522 Pine Ave 2D

01/30/2015 1,250,000 1,000,000 201 S Bay Blvd

39

Real estate transfers of January 2015 Sponsored by Alan Galletto, Island Real Estate Source: Mid Florida Multiple Listing Service

6101 MARINA DRIVE, HOLMES BEACH

Date Sold List Price Sales Price Property Address

THE SUN

Bradenton Beach 01/09/2015 484,000

425,000

1435 Gulf Dr N # 25

1524

3 Br/1.5 Ba Condo

01/05/2015 449,900

01/15/2015 330,000

325,050

1001 Gulf DR S # 1

896

2 Br/1 Ba Condo

01/30/2015 1,049,000 989,000

01/28/2015 375,000

375,000

1007 Gulf Dr N # 214 1259

2 Br/2.5 Ba Condo

1/23/2015 1,599,000 1,500,000 6430 Gulf Dr

1

3192

4 Br/4 Ba Condo

01/30/2015 489,900

465,000

1800 Gulf Dr N # 213 952

2 Br/1.5 Ba Condo

01/09/2015 589,000

551,500

4103 Gulf Dr

3458

50X100

Duplex, Bank Owned

01/02/2015 599,900

580,000

301 17th # 15

3 Br/2.5 Ba Condo

01/19/2015 385,000

325,000

5710 Carissa St

57 X 105 Duplex

01/09/2015 474,900

450,000

306 Clark Dr # A & B 2080

100X100 4 Br/4 Ba Duplex

01/23/2015 200,000

175,500

440 62nd St

1176

2 Br/2 Ba Duplex, Bank Owned

1722

Holmes Beach 01/15/2015 449,900

415,000

503 59Th St

1066

2 Br/2 Ba SFR

01/13/2015 274,900

250,000

449 63rd St

958

2 Br/2 Ba Half-Duplex

01/21/2015 494,000

455,000

7214 Holmes Blvd

1900

3 Br/3 Ba SFR

01/26/2015 519,900

419,000

210 75th St

78x90

Lot

01/23/2015 509,900

469,900

509 65th St

1852

3 Br/3 Ba SFR, Bank Owned

01/20/2015 369,000

300,000

212 82nd St

2536

90X90

Lot

01/30/2015 495,000

475,000

508 74th St

1584

3 Br/2 Ba SFR

40

THE SUN

SPORTS

FEBRUARY 25, 2015

The Saints march past the Colts

BY MONICA SIMPSON SPECIAL TO THE SUN

The Saints in the 11-to 13-year old flag football league at the Anna Maria Island Community Center maintained their perfect record with a win on Saturday against the Colts, a complete team effort. Coached by Darren Horesh, the Saints started the game on defense and saw the Colts take the early lead. With Joe Rogers and Ava Zink as quarterback, an aggressive run by Jacklyn Schlossberg and key catches by Rogers, Roman Langley and Rutger Langley, the Colts put up six points. A critical sack by Saints Hannah McCracken kept the score 6-0.

In the first set of downs for the Saints, the Colts, coached by the Center’s athletic director Matt Ray, could not stop the quick legs and elusive moves of Jackson Hayes. In two plays, Hayes entered the end zone, tying up the game 6-6. The extra point conversion was successful as Morgan Horesh made a diving catch thrown by quarterback Tuna McCracken for the Saints.

The next three possessions proved to be fruitless for both the Colts and Saints. The strong defense of the Saints stopped the Colts with three snaps of the football and no yards gained, turning the ball over to the opponent. Saints player David Daigle had a short rushing gain for five yards.

The combination of T. McCracken and Hayes connected for passing yardage that was short of the first down. In the next set of downs for the Colts, J. Rogers found Rutger Langley for two consecutive complete passes, giving them first down yardage. Zink added 10 yards, bringing the Colts closer to the end zone. In the Colts last attempt to score, T. McCracken blocked the pass of J. Rogers to Rutger Langley, keeping the score 6-7.

Hayes started the Saints’ next possession with another long run. Roman Langley stopped Hayes’ progress with a fantastic flag pull. Eli Brashear, for the Saints, gained a first down with a burst of speed off the line of scrimmage. Daigle followed up with additional short yardage, which lead to the zigging and zagging down the field eluding opponents by Hayes for the Saints’ second touchdown. T. McCracken found Hayes in the end zone for the extra point, taking the score to 6-14.

The Colts’ final possession of the first half of the game started with a

Credit

Rutger Langley, for the Colts, avoids the hot pursuit of the Saints' Hannah McCracken heading for key first down yardage. sack by H. McCracken for the Saints.

With Zink under the center, J. Rogers received the quick pitch behind the line of scrimmage. H. McCracken quickly responded with another flag pull, forcing the Colts to attempt a deep throw at third down. J. Rogers hit Rutger Langley for a 15-yard gain that was soon met with a flag pull by T. McCracken to end the Colts’ drive.

T McCracken quickly fired the ball at Daigle for a substantial yardage, but the time ticked off the clock ending the first half of play.

The second half of the game started with quick changes of possession as both teams failed to find the end zone in the next four possessions.

The Saints started the half as Horesh gained short yardage before he was forced out of bounds with constant pursuit by Madelyn Rogers. The second down catch by Daigle was called back by an Impeding the Rusher penalty by the Saints. Schlossberg’s rush of T. McCracken forced the quarterback to roll to his weak side and throw an incomplete pass, giving the ball back to the Colts.

Rutger Langley took the role of quarterback throwing the ball to J. Rogers for a short gain. The Langley brothers gained yardage just short of the first down with a nice catch by Roman Langley. The Colts’ attempt to make a first down failed with an incomplete

pass by Rutger Langley to J. Rogers.

Hayes took the ball for short yardage for the Saints before Rutger Langley pulled his flag. Hayes and T. McCracken had a botched hand taking the Saints to third down where the undefeated team could not first down.

Taking over on offense, Horesh pulled the flag of Rutger Langley after picking up a few rushing yards. Rutger Langley took the helm to find J. Rogers. Horesh immediately pulled his flag. The strong overall defense of the Saints stopped the Colts again before they could cross midfield.

The first snap of the next possession earned Horesh 10 rushing yards, followed by a short reception by Daigle.

On a critical third down, Daigle caught the throw by T. McCracken. Daigle proceeded to run the ball down the field 25 yards entering the end zone for the first score of the half. On the extra point for the Saints, Daigle hit T. McCracken just short of the goal line leaving the score at 6-20.

The Colts got creative with a fake hand off to Zink. J. Rogers gave the ball to Schlossberg who made a strong run before H. McCracken pulled her flag. With attentive defense, Daigle tipped the pass by J. Rogers to Rutger Langley just before the reception. Uncharacteristic missed flag pulls by H. McCracken, Hayes and T. McCracken allowed Rutger Langley to score a

touchdown for the Colts after a solid run, taking the score to 12-20. Once again the tough defense of the Saints gave J. Rogers nowhere to go on the point after attempt.

The next possession for the Saints seemed like déjà vu. T. McCracken took the snap and handed it off to Hayes, who ran the entire length of the field, scoring a touchdown. Daigle made a stretched out catch in the end zone to add the extra point to the Saints’ lead of 12-27.

With the time on the clock quickly ticking down, the Colts made one last attempt to put points on the board. An incomplete pass, short yardage by Roman Langley and a botched play ended the series for the Colts. Before ending the game H. McCracken gained 10 rushing yards.

Weather permitting, the end of the youth flag football regular season comes to an end this week, with the last game played on Friday, Feb. 27. Playoffs begin on Saturday, Feb. 28.

The Sun Scoreboard Feb. 16: 8-to -0-year old flag football

Bowes Imaging Lions (3-3) AMI Realty Dolphins (1-7)

0 19

Feb. 16: 11-to 13-year old flag football Amanda Richards Salon Cowboys (1-6) Bucs (5-1)

Feb. 19: 8-to 10-year old flag football Seahawks (4-4) Bears (5-3)

Future Guardian Insurance Chiefs (6-2) AMI Realty Dolphins (1-7)

Feb. 21: 8-to 10-year old flag football

AMIRealty Dolphins (1-7) Tyler’s Ice Cream Vikings (2-6)

Feb. 21: 11-to 13-year old flag football

12 39

6 0 21 0

0 25

Lions (3-3) Bucs (5-1)

19 32

Colts (1-5) Saints (5-0)

12 27 see sports, page 41

www.amisun.com

FEBRUARY 25, 2015

THE SUN

41

Net ban: case dealt crippling blow

Men’s golf scores at Key Royale

FROM PAGE 1

Monday, Feb. 16 Individual Low Net Handicap - Morning

1st Place Individual - Tom Bode with a score of 22 2nd Place Individual - Wade LaDue with a score of 26 3rd Place Individual - Matt Behan with a score of 27

Monday, Feb. 16 Modified Stapleford Scoring-Afternoon

1st Place Individual - Three way tie between John Cassese, Art McMillan & Quentin Talbert with a score of 27.

1st Place winning team was Dean Christensen, Tom McDonnell, Art McMillan & Larry Pippel with a score of 25.

Thursday, Feb. 19 Four Person Scramble - Par 32

1st Place Tie with a score of 28 was the team of John Purcell, Ken Rickett, Gary Risner and Jim Stewart along with the team of Bob Blaser, Dale Hudson, Jack Isherwood and Chuck Montgomery.

Women golfers brave the cold Terry Westby won the Key Royale President’s Cup two-day tournament with full handicaps last week. She had a two-day net score of 5l. Helen Pollock came in second with 52.

Fifty-nine women participated in the regular Tuesday morning game in flights. Low gross in flight A: first place, Sue Little with 39, second place, Phyllis Roe and Marlyn Thornton tied with 41. Flight B: first place, Pam Alvord with 43, second place Joyce Brown, Barb Estok, Meredith Slavin tied with 46. Flight C: first place, Terry Westby. Flight D: first place, Markie Ksiazek, Penny Auk, Cate Foy and Valery Tilelli tied with 50. Chip ins on hole No. 7 by Deb Wohlers and Laura Purcell. Birdies were had by Fran Barford, hole No. 7, Liz Lang, hole No. 5, Judy Crowe, hole No. 4 and Valery Tilelli on holes No. 3 and No. 2.

While the Supreme Court is no longer an option, “we can certainly challenge the rules with FWC and NOAA,” Mowrey said, adding that an appeal in federal court is not an option because the net ban is a state – not a federal – issue.

The news was a blow to FISH, the Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage in Cortez, and the Cortez members of Fishing for Freedom, which supported the challenge financially and traveled to Tallahassee to rally before a hearing of the case in May 2014.

“I think it’s a shame that they chose that route,” FISH President Kim McVey said.

At the Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival on Feb.14-15, festivalgoers watched Mark Coarsey, president of Fishing for Freedom’s Manatee County chapter, demonstrate how the banned nets work. He pushed a smaller, male “white roe” mullet through a square of four-inch stretch mesh net, explaining that it could swim through to live and breed another day, while a larger, “red roe” female mullet – worth far more at the dock and therefore most targeted – is effectively caught by the gills.

The banned nets reduce unwanted bycatch and preserve the resource, which is the stated purpose of the constitutional amendment, he said, encouraging festivalgoers to call their legislators to support lifting the ban.

After heated debate, the net ban was approved by Florida voters in 1994 to preserve fish populations and prevent the accidental entrapment of unintended marine life.

The ban became effective in 1995, putting commercial fishermen out of work statewide, and in Cortez.

The Supreme Court’s refusal to hear the case is the latest in two decades of disappointment for commercial fishermen. The blow was especially bitter because one court’s 2012 ruling briefly allowed them to use their banned nets again, twice.

Leon County Circuit Judge Jackie Fulford lifted the net ban by ruling that it was a “legal absurdity” because the FWC rules enforcing the ban allow small stretch mesh nets that catch juvenile fish, while prohibiting larger mesh nets that let juvenile fish go. She wrote that the rules defeat the purpose of the ban, to preserve fish populations.

In a legal tug of war, her ruling was appealed and stayed by the

Florida Attorney General’s office, then reinstated, then appealed and stayed again before being reversed by the First District Court of Appeal, whose ruling the plaintiffs challenged at the Florida Supreme Court.

“The constitutional amendment that has protected Florida’s marine fisheries for more than 20 years is safe and intact once again,” said Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) Florida Chairman Bill Camp in a press release.

“The FWC, Attorney General Pam Bondi and especially Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Glogau all deserve the respect and gratitude of anglers not just in Florida but all over the country for their efforts on this case,” said CCA Florida Executive Director Brian Gorski in a press release.

“They did a fantastic job to ensure that our state remains the sportfishing capital of the world.”

“Everyone needs to pray for all the fishermen because no telling what the FWC and the CCA are going to do to us now!” reads a post on Fishing for Freedom’s Facebook page. “Just know that we will never give up and are already working on something else!”

Shank-Lividoti take crown Action on Feb. 18 saw four teams move on to the knockout round after each went 3 and 0 during pool play. Gene Bobeldyk and Bill Wright took out Don Buchkohtz and Herb Puryear 21 to 15, While Bob Lee walked his way into the final with a

22 to 17 win over Hank Huyghe and Bob Rowley. In the final it was all Lee with a 21 to 6 win over Bobeldyk and Wright and earn bragging rights for the day. On Feb. 21 the second annual Ron Pepka Memorial tournament was held, and it was nice to have

Jackie Pepka attend. Third place went to Bill Fox and Hank Huyghe.

In a tight final, Adin Shank and Dom Lividoti slipped past Bob Lee and Steve Hooper 21 to 19 to win the championship, with second place going to Lee and Hooper.

sports: football and volleyball scores FROM PAGE 40

Swordfish Grill Seahawks (1-5) Bucs (5-1)

47 52

Amanda Richards Salon Cowboys (1-6) Dolphins (5-1)

6 65

Feb. 21: 14-to 17-year old flag football

Eagles (4-3) 32 Island Mail and More Ravens (4-3) 40

18 and over adult co-ed flag football Colts (0-7) Giants (4-3)

26 53

Saints (4-3) Sato Real Estate Rams (4-3)

25 32

Packers (3-4) Tyler’s Ice Cream Vikings (2-5)

Slims Place Falcons (7-0) Dolphins (3-4)

32 26

Adult co-ed volleyball

Salty Prints Bengals (4-3) Sugar Beach Digital Patriots (2-5)

31 12

30 and over adult co-ed flag football

Agnelli Pools and Spas Giants (2-5) 39 Poppos Chargers (5-2) 29 Raiders (6-1) Chiefs (3-4)

50 14

Game 1: Sugar Beach Digital Southern Greens

40 24

25 27

Game 2: Sugar Beach Digital 19 Southern Greens 25 Match Winner: Southern Greens

Adult co-ed volleyball standings Southern Greens Sugar Beach Digital Duncan Real Estate Signarama Game 1: Signarama Sugar Beach Digital

7-0 3-4 3-4 2-5

25 19

Game 2: Signarama 25 Sugar Beach Digital 12 Match Winner: Signarama

42

www.amisun.com

THE SUN

BEACH BEAT Anna Maria

2/6, 8:15 p.m., criminal mischief, 900 block of South Bay Boulevard. The suspect, an employee at the restaurant, was upset and went into the bathroom.

After she left, another employee noticed damage to the bathroom.

Bradenton Beach

2/14, 12:45 a.m., domestic violence, 700 block of Gulf Drive South. An argument between and man and woman who live together ended in shoving when he tried to leave. She was not harmed, and they both agreed to sign a waiver of prosecution so the officer issued them domestic violence victim’s packets. She said she was going to spend the night with a friend. She called a half hour later and said she had bruises all over her body because he hit her. She met with the officers and complained because the male had gotten a domestic violence victim’s packet and then stormed out. The officers took no further action since she did not show them any of her bruises.

2/14, 12:30 p.m., trespass warning, 2400 block of Gulf Drive South. The resort manager asked an officer to issue a trespass warning to an employee who refused to leave saying he had not been paid.

Obituaries Geraldine Grace Azar Geraldine Grace, aka Gerry “The Hat” Azar, died at Blake Hospital on Feb. 2, 2015, with her daughter and grandson by her side. She had a long battle with renal kidney disease.

She is survived by, her daughter; two grandsons; two great granddaughters; and a great-great grandson. She was a passionate volunteer at the Anna Maria Moose Lodge, Blake Hospital and volunteer fire fighter in Foley, Mo. She loved all her people at the Drift Inn and went there almost every night. There are no words that can describe the love she had for her home, the people, and the place on Anna Maria Island.

She wanted to be remembered as she was, a glamour queen girl adorned in flashy clothes, glitzy jewelry, designer sunglasses and her many hats. She was loved by so

2/19, 9 p.m., battery, battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest with violence, 900 Gulf Drive South, Gulf Drive Café. The officer responded to a report of a man driving his vehicle into an ambulance and a railing while trying to park. The officer found the suspect walking toward the entrance.

When asked about his accident, he said he was not aware of it and kept walking. The officer told him to return to his car and he refused, saying he was an attorney and would sue. The officer had to pepper spray him because he refused to cooperate. The suspect also pushed an employee out of his way, according to the employee. The suspect resisted handcuffs and kicked the officer forcefully while being placed in a patrol car. The officer smelled alcohol on his breath and called for a Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) officer to process the accident and do a DUI investigation. He was charged with DUI by the FHP and the other charges came from the Bradenton Beach police.

2/21, 4:50 p.m., possession of cannabis, 200 block of North Cortez Beach. The officer answered a call of lewd lascivious and found the suspect. Upon questioning, he agreed to be searched and the officer found marijuana, It tested positive, and he arrested the defendant.

Cortez

2/7, 10 a.m., burglary to a structure, criminal mischief, San Remo condominiums, Cortez Road West. A party

many and will be remembered until the end of times.

Brown & Sons Funeral Homes & Crematory, 43rd Street Chapel, 604 43rd St. W., Bradenton, FL 34209 was in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers consider a donation to the Anna Maria Island, Women of the Moose. WOTM, 110 Gulf Drive S., Bradenton Beach, FL 34217. Pictures of her would be appreciated to add to her photo album. Send to phxyz@mac.com or mail to Photos, P.O. Box 2183, Seward, AK 99664.

Private services will be held at a later date. Condolences to www. brownandsonsfuneral.com.

Hamlin B. Jones Hamlin B. Jones, 81, of Longboat Key, crossed the bar, Feb. 14, 2015.

Born in Gulfport, Miss., he moved to Longboat Key in 1973. He is a veteran of the U.S. Army during Korea and he served in Germany. He was a computer programmer for IBM working with NASA and was responsible for the computer program launching the first man to the moon. He was the former owner of the Seafood Shack restaurant, and he attended the

FEBRUARY 25, 2015

unknown forced entry to a unit and the laundry room, causing damage.

2/12, 4 p.m., lost item, 12600 block of Cortez Road West. The complainant said she lost her iPhone while riding her bike across the Cortez Bridge. Using a locator program in the iPhone, it showed the phone was in Holmes Beach.

2/16, 4:08 p.m., lost item, 12108 Cortez Road W., Cortez Laundry Mat. A driver’s license was lost.

Holmes Beach

2/8, 3:29 p.m., possession of cocaine, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia, 3300 block of Gulf Drive. The officer pulled over the suspect while he was driving very slow and not wearing a seatbelt. When he approached the suspect’s vehicle, he detected an “overwhelming” odor of marijuana. He checked out the driver’s paperwork and asked where the marijuana was.

The driver said in the center console in a pipe. He admitted to having a marijuana grinder, and the officer also found a bag of white powder.

The driver claimed the marijuana and grinder were his, but not the cocaine.

The suspect was arrested.

2/8, 5:26 p.m., trespass warning, 5500 block of Holmes Boulevard. A foreman at a construction site asked the officer to issue a trespass warning to a party at the scene.

2/10, 12:17 a.m., criminal mischief, 5300 block of Gulf Drive. The complainant

University of Florida on the GI Bill and was a life-long Gator fan.

He was predeceased by parents, James L. and Julia Evelyn (Blackmann) Jones; a son, Hamlin B., Jr.; a brother, James. He was survived by his wife, Lorraine, of Longboat Key; daughters, Kimberly (Dan) Trombley, of St. Petersburg, Adele Jones, of Atlanta, Ga. and Nancy Pronko, of San Diego, Cailf.; a sister, Julia (John) Matter, of W. Palm Beach, Fla.; three grandchildren and his former wife, Barbara H. Jones, of Atlanta, Ga. Crypt-side services with military honors were held on Saturday Feb. 21, 2015, at Royal Palm Memorial Gardens, 5601 Greenwood Ave., West Palm Beach, FL 33407. A celebration of life was held on Monday, Feb. 23, 2015, at the Lazy Lobster of Longboat Key, 5350 Gulf of Mexico Dr., Longboat Key, FL 34228.

Brown & Sons Funeral Homes & Crematory, 43rd Street Chapel, 604 43rd St. W., Bradenton, FL 34209 was in charge of arrangements.

William James Lipke, Sr. William J. Lipke, 79, of Cortez, passed away at home on Feb. 10,

said somebody slashed her rear tire, but she did not want a police report.

2/10, 1:40 p.m., theft from a building, 200 block of 72nd Street. Some outdoor chairs and a table were stolen from a rental property.

2/11. 7:49 a.m., driving with a suspended license, 700 block of `Manatee Avenue.

The officer stopped the driver when a random computer check showed her license had been suspended as of that date for not attending traffic school.

She was ticketed.

2/11, 8:34 a.m., driving with a suspended license, 5600 block of Guava Drive.

The officer ran a computer check on the suspect while observing him and found his license was suspended for lack of insurance. He was ticketed, and his tag was seized.

2/11, 9:11 p.m., failure to acquire a Florida driver’s license while living and working here. The officer stopped the driver because a headlight was not working.

He asked for her license, and she gave him a Mexican license. She said she worked on the Island. He gave her a warning for the headlight and ticketed her for the license infraction.

2/12, 4:09 p.m., driving with a suspended license, 500 block of Manatee Avenue.

The office ran a computer check and found the owner of the vehicle had a suspended license. She admitted she had let her insurance lapsed. He ticketed her and seized her tag.

2015, in the presence of his children and grandchildren after a long battle with cancer.

He was born on Jan. 28, 1936, in Battle Creek, Mich. He graduated from Howe Military School in 1954 before relocating the family business to Bradenton. He continued to operate Riverside Products until his retirement in 1998. He was a longtime member of the Anna Maria Island Moose Lodge and a Sahib Temple Shriner.

He is pre-deceased by his wife of 38 years, Gwen A. Lipke, who passed away at home in 2004. He is survived by his sons, William J. Lipke, Jr. of Bradenton, Dr. James A. Lipke of Charleston, S.C., and Robert Lipke, of Bradenton; and his daughters, Rose Lipke and Julie Guthrie, of Cortez; 10 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren.

A private service with family will be held on Monday, March 2, followed by an informal gathering of friends and family at the Swordfish Grill in Cortez at 5:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made in his name to Tidewell Hospice of Bradenton.

FEBRUARY 25, 2015

FUN IN THE SUN

Across 1 Distinguishing feature 7 “Is this __ time ... to talk of Pensions and Grenadiers?”: Sterne 11 Wailing instrument 14 Hit the big time 15 Quote, as a source 16 Dress bottom 17 1966 Monkees hit 19 Bard’s “prior to” 20 Bright star 21 Basic French verb 22 “‘Beware the Jabberwock, __!’”

24 Warehouse stamp letters 26 “Washboard” muscles 27 Briny expanse 28 “M*A*S*H” nickname 31 Put on the hi-fi 34 Wildly eccentric, briefly 37 Sniffling and sneezing cause

Answers to 02-18-15 Crossword Puzzle.

39 __ carte 40 Roll call response 42 How some suits are made 44 Toys __ 45 Wild outbreak 47 Victimized, with “on” 48 Wine bottle datum 50 Original iPod, as it’s now known 52 Narrow inlet 54 Chick __: light women’s fiction 55 Nordic runners 58 Knight’s job 60 Ice sheet 62 Burned, in a way 64 City area, briefly 65 1968 Impressions hit 68 Get older 69 Yemen city on its own gulf 70 Early ascetic 71 State that’s only nine

THE SUN

43

mi. wide at its narrowest point 72 Had second thoughts about 73 Put away for later Down 1 Abel’s slayer 2 Knight suit 3 Have a jones for 4 Japanese grills 5 Noted victim of temptation 6 Prefix with vision 7 Biting 8 Fin 9 Meteor ending 10 Contract details 11 1971 Tom Jones hit 12 Related to flying 13 Marvel Comics superheroes 18 Emphatic type: Abbr.

23 “Sho ‘nuff” 25 Earthmoving machine, and hopefully not the one driving it 29 G-and-T part 30 Spills, as from a bucket 32 Sheltered, in a way 33 Place for a sale 34 Nimble 35 Rockers Mötley __ 36 1962 hit attributed to The Crystals but sung by The Blossoms 38 Day of films 41 Like 1-800 numbers

43 “I guess” 46 Last bit 49 Grafton’s “__ for Ricochet” 51 One often bordered an

agora 53 Clashing big-time 56 __ tube 57 Part of an act 58 Campus area

59 Yearning 61 Rams’ dams 63 Scott in an 1857 case 66 Campus URL ending 67 Performer’s suffix

44

THE SUN

classified

ANNOUNCEMENTS

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED at AMICC. Help your community by giving of yourself.

Various positions available.

Call Sandee 941-778-1908 ext 0 THE BEST VOLUNTEER position on the island. The AMI Historical Museum needs docents and bread makers. Call Dusty at 941779-7688.

ROSER FOOD BANK needs donations of cash and non-perishable food. Donations boxes are located at the Church, Moose Club, Walgreen's and The Anna Maria Island Sun Newspaper (corner of Gulf and Palm).

OUR DAILY BREAD of Bradenton is looking for volunteer servers 9amnoon. Ask for Penny 941745-2992 1920's thru 1980's Gibson, Martin, Fender, Gretsch, Epiphone,Guild, Mosrite, Rickenbacker, Prairie State, D'Angelico, Stromberg, And Gibson Mandolins/Banjos.

800-401-0440

AUTOMOTIVE SALES & SERVICE POWER WINDOW and LOCK repair. Licensed, mobile, Guaranteed. Call for Free estimate. 941-7801735 MV 46219

BABY SITTER BABY SITTER. Honor student with own transportation. Experienced, References available. Call or text Amanda at 941-713-3219 RED CROSS CERTIFIED baby sitter. Honor student.

Call or text Isabel 941-5457995

BOATS: PARTS & SERVICES & SALES BOATS ARE SELLING Very Well. Season is here-Busy-Busy-Busy.

Islandboatsales.net We Also Buy Boats.

941-228-3489 BOAT SLIPS FOR RENT. Up to 60 feet. Two minutes to Intracoastal Waterway by Cortez, Parrot Cove Marina 941-795-0088

Call us today! 941-778-3986

BAYLINER 26' WEEKEND FISHERMAN Model 2655.

Ciera Mercury V8ALPHA. Great mechanical condition. On Island Locally maintained with trailer $9800 OBO. Call 941-356

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES HIGH CASH PRODUCING Vending Machines .75 Vend = .65 Profit All on Location in Florida Selling due to illness Call 866668-6629 for Details ATTN: COMPUTER WORK. Work from anywhere 24/7.

Up to $1,500 Part Time to Full time $7,500/mo.

Training provided. www.

WorkServices22.com

CARPET CLEANING

RESTAURANT/OFFICE/ RETAIL 1113 sf Kitchen Equipment include Gulf Drive Bradenton Beach $495,000 Call Alan Galletto Island Real Estate 941-232-2216 BAR/RESTURANT 2100 ft2 with lease, includes Liquor License, Furniture and Good Will $599,000 CALL ALAN GALLETTO Island Real Estate 941-232-2216

COMPUTER SERVICES 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

EDUCATIONAL SERVICES

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

MATH COACH- Retired College Professor now has openings for basic math through pre-calculus. Call Myra 941-313-0528

CLEANING SERVICE

EMPLOYMENT

C & T HOUSEKEEPING. For all your cleaning needs. Free Estimates.

Reasonable rates. Senior discount. References available. Call 941-9622512

GIFT SHOP on AMI. Family Owned. Part time. Weekends/Evenings a must. Retirees welcome. Call 813409-7540

CLEANING: RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL & RENTALS. "Have it done your way, we care about our work" Call 941-756-4570

HELP WANTED STYLIST, NAIL TECHNICIAN Current License required.

Flexible hours. Small shop on Island. Call Owner 941538-0225

PRESSURE WASHING AND WINDOWS residential, commercial & resorts. Roofs, buildings, houses, driveways etc.

Call 941-251-5948

PART-TIME DELI CLERK needed. 20-25 hours per week. Must be flexible and have good "people skills".

See April or Jimmy at Jessie's Island Store 5424 Marina Dr, Holmes Beach

ROBIN R. STEVENS CLEANING Service 18 years experience; references Call or text Robin at: 863-2411670

COMMERCIAL SALES/ LEASES/RENTALS ANNA MARIA CITY Gulf Drive Frontage Commercial 2 Lots 104x120 Real Estate only $1,200,000. Call Alan Galletto Island Real Estate 941-232-2216

TWO SCOOPS- Anna Maria Island's Favorite Ice Cream is now hiring part-time associates.

Varied shifts available must be able to work nights and weekends. A great place to work and have a little fun. Looking for a few friendly people.

Food prep. or server experience preferred. Great pay! Apply today. Two Scoops 101 S. Bay Blvd.

Unit A-2, Anna Maria

FEBRUARY 25, 2015

TWO SIDES OF NATUREAnna Maria Island's Largest Little Beach Shoppe’s is now hiring part-time associates. Varied shifts available must be able to work nights and weekends. Retail Experience Preferred. Great pay too! Apply today.

Two Sides of Nature 101 S. Bay Blvd. Unit A-1, Anna Maria PART-TIME MAINTENANCE. Island motel. 15-20 hours/ week. Basic plumbing, electrical, carpentry, building up-keep. Apply 877 N Shore Dr. Anna Maria Call 941-778-2780 SHOW ME YOUR Smart Phone and we will earn money! Sell memberships to Merchants VIP Club. "Ask for Bob" Call 941-761-8455 AIRCRAFT DISPATCH GRADS work with JetBlue, Southwest, PSA and others- start here with 10 week training for FAA certification. Call Aviation Institute of Maintenance 866-314-5838 FLIGHT ATTENDANT CAREERS start here – Learn how to land a job in the friendly skies and prepare for training by the airlines.

Five information packed days in Orlando. Call AIM 888-242-3630.

CAN YOU DIG It? Heavy Equipment Operator Career! Receive Hands On Training And National Certifications Operating Bulldozers, Backhoes, Excavators. Lifetime Job Placement. Veteran Benefits Eligible! 866-912-0572 WELDING CAREERS - Hands on training for career opportunities in aviation, automotive, manufacturing and more. Financial aid for qualified students. Job placement assistance. Call AIM 877-206-7679

FURNITURE CUSTOM COASTAL FURNITURE & CABINETS by Frankie Z. ebay store. Call 941-7261482. 10015 Cortez Rd (corner of 101st) frankiezaff@ yahoo.com 10/22 NEW/ CHANGE until called Zaff

GARAGE, MOVING, RUMMAGE & YARD SALES SALE NIKI’S & GIFT & ANTIQUES SHOP. 5351 Gulf Dr, Holmes Beach. All Sterling & Gold jewelry 10% to 60% off. All Artist Scented Candles 50% off. Select Gifts, Bric-Brac, Art, Dolls, Glassware, Vintage & Costume Jewelry, Miniatures, 30% to 80% off. Wonderful stain glass pieces, Boudoir Lamps, Furniture. Open 7 days 9:30-5.

ROSER THRIFT SHOP Open 9:30am - 2 pm Tuesday, Thursday, Friday. 10 am -1 pm Saturday Annex open same days. Donations accepted Wednesday 9 am. – 11am 511 Pine Ave., Anna Maria. Call 941-779-2733 MOVING SALE SATURDAY February 28. 9am-1pm.

Furniture, misc. Items. You name it-We have it! 7912 25th Ave W Bradenton CORTEZ PARK FEBUARY 27 & 28 8am-1pm. 12507 Cortez Road West conducting annual yard sale.

ANNUAL FLEA MARKET Saturday, February 28.

8am-1pm. Palma Sola Harbor Condos 9400 Cortez Road W. Appliances (large & small) Furniture, Clothing, Sport equipment, Jewelry, linens, books, bikes, plants, shells, organ. Coffee & Lunch available.

THE PINES TRAILER PARK, Bradenton Beach (next to pier) Annual Street Sale plus homemade pies, drinks, hotdogs & sloppy Joes. Saturday February 28 9am-3pm Sunday March 1 9am-noon

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

Neil 941-726-3077 RENOVATION SPECALIST ALL carpentry repairs, Wash Family Construction, locally owned and operated CBC 1258250 Call 941-7250073.

KERN CONSTRUCTION NEW Homes & Remodel.

Design/Build. Since 1968. State License # CRC1327296. Call Jerry Kern 941-504-2222 www. kernconstructioninc.com GET’R DONE DRYWALL, INC Specializing in Remodels & Repairs. Island Resident for 18 years. Call Neil Cell 941-962-1194.

SOUTHWEST HOME IMPROVEMENT Michigan General Contractor 30+ yrs. experience. Large or small projects. Budget minded knowledgeable tradesman will complete your project start to finish: On Time/On Budget.

Call Mike 616-204-8822.

“HONEY DO" HOME Repairs & Handyman Services.

35 yrs experience. Painting, drywall, tile, woodwork. All tasks. Call 941-896-5256 or 941-807-5256 www.honey dohomerepairinc.com HANDYMAN. RETIRED ENGINEER. Electrical (lighting, ceiling fans, receptacles), Wall mounted TV’s.

Small “fix-it” repairs. Light carpentry. Call Jim 941448-7806

HOME SERVICES HANDY MAN FOR HIRE. Worked all trades, no job to small. Satisfaction guaranteed. Free estimates. Call Arthur 941-518-8658 CURLIE JOE'S SITE clean up trash removal. Your trash is our cash. Call today for waste removal.

Big or small we do it all.

941-753-8772

DRAIN CLEANING James VanFossen A.K.A. “RIP” Call 941-301-6077

KAYAK/ PADDLE BOARD RENTAL ROGO SPECIAL: RENT ONE GET ONE FREE! Single Yak / Paddle Boards : $45/ day $150/week Free delivery &pickup on island. Fun Yaks. 918-639-5002

LANDSCAPING & LAWN CARE STRAIGHT SHOT LANDSCAPING. Save water, gas, maintenance fees and the environment! Shell your yard. $50/yd installed. Call Shark Mark 941-301-6067

FEBRUARY 25, 2015

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

Call Rafael 941-778-4823 or Veronik 941-526-7941 ELI’S IRRIGATION New install/repair. Pumps, pools, irrigation, landscape lighting and pressure washing.

Call 941-580-2054 SHELL DELIVERED AND spread $50/yd. Hauling all kinds of gravel, mulch, top soil with free estimates. Call Larry at 941-795-7775, "shell phone" 941-720-0770

LOCKSMITH ISLAND LOCKSMITH, “Lock Around the Clock”.

Licensed/bonded/insured.

Call 941-778-1661 or 941713-4414

LOST & FOUND LOST: GLASSES (PRESCRIPTION). Lost on running route: 64th St. to beach, to White Ave, 83rd St., Marina Dr. Please call 248-7655207 LOST 5'10" JIMMY LEWIS fish surf board near 9th St, Bradenton Beach. blue & white w/ black & silver bag.

Please call or text. 808469-5514 Reward.

LOST SILVER-STONE Bracelet Friday or Saturday December 6 or 7 at Island Player Theater. Please call 941-794-7255 LOST GOLD PINKY ring with amethyst stone vicinity of Cortez Kitchen and Swordfish Grill. Call 941778-8359 LOST PANDORA BRACELET many charms. Great sentimental value. Call 518-365-2702 MISSING 18 INCH GOLD chain with diamond drop, sterling silver seed bracelet , location Blue Water Beach Club between 9/12 & 9/13/2013 heartbroken was gift from husband 45 years ago REWARD please call 863-668-8566 no questions asked

Call us today! 941-778-3986

MASSAGE MASSAGE THERAPY-Reiki, Cupping, Gua Sha. Enjoy quality care in the comfort of your own Home.

10 years experience. Call Sarah 941-301-6400.

MA59074 MASSAGE SPECIAL! "1 HOUR (includes hot stones) $50!" Ginger Young, LMT (MA70460) now at Headquarters Salon, Holmes Beach.

Deep Tissue also available. 941-778-2586, 941-962-1242 or visit www.gingeryoung massage.com

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

TWO MEN and a TRUCK. Movers who care. Local and Long distance. www. twomen.com Call 941-3591904. We sell boxes!

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 941794-0455 WALY PRECISION PAINTING custom painting, pressure washing, commercial/residential, interior/exterior, drywall/stucco, Licensed & insured. Call 941-448-1928 or 941-580-4005 www.

WalyPrecisionPainting.com

PERSONAL SERVICES SMALL ODD JOBS, yard work, walk dog etc. Call George 941-773-5518 THE TINT GUY." Commercial, residential, automotive, marine. Free estimates. All work guaranteed. Over 25 years experience. Mobile service available. Call 941201-2649

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PET SITTING/ HOUSE SITTING

REAL ESTATE HOMES & CONDOS FOR SALE

ARE YOU WANTING to vacation and not worry if your pet is lonely. I will overnight in your home, so your animal can stay in his own environment. Home Sitting is also available.

Great References. Call Mary 941-405-2496

SPACIOUS 3BR/3BA Condominium rarely available in wonderful bay front complex with pool and tennis courts.

Tastefully renovated to include newly tiled kitchen & family room with a peak of the bay and a split bedroom plan. Centrally located in Holmes Beach, with a short walk to shops. Ground-floor unit with covered parking and private storage.

Family oriented and pet friendly. Offered at $450,000. Call Green Real Estate @ 941-7780455

ANNA & LINDSAY’S Dog Walking. $5 per dog walked, $10 Dog wash. $20 for both plus play time.

Contact 917-406-9554.

Anna Maria Island Only.

PHOTOGRAPHY NEW AERIAL AMI PHOTOS. PhotosFromTheAir.com. email: photosfromtheair@ gmail.com or Call 941-7739834

POOL SERVICES FOUR SEASONS POOL SERVICE. AMI & West Bradenton. Certified pool operator. Residential/commercial. {Chemical Service} Licensed & Insured. Call Dennis Clark 941-737-5657 COLE'S TROPICAL POOL SERVICE Call Cole Bowers for all your pool maintenance needs! Affordable and Dependable!! 941-7131893

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AMI VALET LLC Professional parking services. Restaurants, weddings, any & all special events. Insured & Licensed. Years of experience. Call 941-565-0137 AMIValet@gmail.com AT YOUR SERVICE Personal & Professional assistant. Great rates.

References available "Let me do what you are unwilling or unable to do."

Call Cindy 941-812-2238 zicker8@aol.com

FREE! What every REAL ESTATE BUYER or SELLER needs to know!

Go to www.yourmar ketupdate.com for the latest market data.

ELEVATED DUPLEX INCREDIABLE location.

2 blocks to Beach, bay, pier, shops, cafes, bars.

Excellent building site, corner lot. Mature trees/ shrubs 2BR/1BA each side. W/D, dishwasher, tiled. 2 one car garages, covered patio & private patio. 204 A & B 2nd St N, Bradenton Beach $650,000. Call 941-7411096 ACTIVE 55+ COMMUNITY with heated pool and boat docks. Beaches are 5 min. away. Beautifully Remodeled 2BR/2BA, villa with open floor plan. Turnkey Furnished. New Designer kitchen includes Stainless appliances, granite tops and a large island cooktop. New bathrooms and walk in closets with additional storage. Enjoy the convenience of your own washer & dryer within the unit. $169,900. OBO, Call 303-884-9479 BRING YOUR BOAT! Canal villa with no bridges to ICW. Renovated 2BR/2BA villa w/carport, in gated community. 23 foot dock. Open plan, Update kitchen & baths. $260,000 Katharine Pepper, RoseBay International 941-755-2100 or 941-792-9459

1978 MOBILE HOME 8 Church Ave, Bradenton Beach, FL, On Anna Maria Island. 2 blocks From the Beach, short walk to the bay, near Historic Bridge Street The Pines Trailer Park, age 55+ park. Call 419-566-1752 VILLAGE GREEN 4BR/3BA with private guest quarters apartment. Call for Details. $195,000 Realtor 941356-1456. No flood zone.

Minutes to Beach WATERFRONT 4BR/5BA PANARAMIC Water View.

Excellent condition. Heated pool, Boat Slip, 4 car garage $1,300,000. Real Estate Mart. 941-356-1456 or 941-713-9835 VILLAGE GREEN 4BR/3BA configured with a 2BR/1BA guest Quarters. Live in one side with total privacy for guest. Call 941-356-1456 ISLAND GET-A-WAY 1BR/1BA Steps to Beach $57,500 Real Estate Mart.

Call 941-756-1090 or 941713-9835 LARGE 3BR/2BA CONDO at Pine Bay Forest. Minutes from Anna Maria. New A/C unit. $179,900.00. Call 941-792-4395 HARBOUR ISLAND HOME- $40,000. in upgrades! Beautiful! $569,000. Perico Bay Club Villa- Very well maintained! $229,000.

Call Kathleen today!

941-773-0165 Island Real Estate 4BR/3BA HOUSE on 71.5 acres with 18 stall horse barn in Parrish, Florida. Call Steve Georgie 941-321-6253 at Keller Williams Realty

REAL ESTATE: LOTS FOR SALE GORGEOUS LOT (14,160 Sq. Ft) (80 X 177) Located at 1107 Palma Sola Blvd. Stunning views of Palma Sola Bay with great potential for new construction.

For more details contact Gregg Bayer at AMI Beaches Real Estate 941-799-9096

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WATERFRONT PRIVATE LAKE. Building Lot. West Bradenton. Minutes to Beach. Not a Flood Zone.

Call for information. $37,500 Realtor/Owner 941-356-1456

RENTALS: ANNUAL ANNUAL RENTALS WANTED! We have well qualified tenants for beach and mainland annual rentals, Full management or Finders fee.

Call today for details. Ask for Ed. DUNCAN REAL ESTATE 941-779-0304 www.teamduncan.com ANNUAL RENTAL and CONDOMINIUM Association management serviced by (2) offices open 7 days a week! Contact kate@ islandreal.com – 941-3451295 - Island Real Estate of Anna Maria Island, Inc. LOOKING FOR A bright energetic Property Management Team? Call Amberly and Tracy at A Paradise 941-778-4800 to maximize your rental income.

3BR/3BA ANNUAL RENTAL AVAILABLE immediately. 2 car garage, pool, tennis in Perico Island community. $2,300/mo. Contact Kate at Island Real Estate 941345-1295 or email kate@ islandreal.com ANNUAL RENTALS: Holmes Beach, 2BR/1.5BA, 1/2 duplex. Unfurnished, no pets. $1,400/mo. Anna Maria, 3BR/3BA apt., upstairs, Unfurnished, no pets. $1,750/mo. Call Sato Real Estate, Inc. at 941-7787200 or email monica@ satorealestate.com ANNUAL 3BR TOWNHOUSE in PALMA SOLA TRACE. 1 car garage, heated community pool. Brand new! First, Last, Security. Contact kate@islandreal.com or 941-345-1295. Island Real Estate.

ANNUAL 1BR/1BA NEWLY RENOVATED includes water, Dish TV, W/D. No Pets/ No Smoking. $1400/mo.

First, last & Security Call 860-922-3857 LAKEVIEW VILLAGE 2BR/2.5BA Townhouse Condo. Some furniture.

Minutes to Beach Small pet considered $1200/mo.

Realtor 941-356-1456

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Call us today! 941-778-3986

RENTALS: ANNUAL WATERFRONT SHELL POINT. 2BR/2BA. Fully furnished, pool, tennisa courts. No pets/No smoking. $1800/mo. Call 973479-3385

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-$750/ wk Redekercondos.com 941-778-1915

WILLKOMMEN AUF AMI! Besuchen Sie Island Real Estate in einem unserer Inselbüros (6101 Marina Drive oder 419 Pine Ave) mit unserem deutschsprachigen Reservierungsservice und erhalten ein freies Island Real Estate Baseball Cap! Wir geben Ihnen gerne mehr Auskunft über unsere 250 ausgewählte Feriendomizile für Ihren nächsten Urlaub! {AVAILABLE FOR THE 2016 SEASON!} 2BR/1BA home on stilts at 120 Peppertree lane. Renters leaving after 6 seasons. Home has nice upgrades. Looking for 3-4 months renters. Call 813758-3762 BEAUTIFUL 2 BEDROOM HOUSE directly across from the beach on Bradenton Beach. Fabulous beach views. $4000 Available for March 2015 941-345-7675

TOWNHOUSE 2BR/2BA. Available March 21, 2015. $3000/mo Call to book or for info. Realtor 941-3561456

REAL ESTATE: OUT OF AREA NORTH CAROLINA MOUNTAIN Land for sale: a rare find - gently sloping mountain land, 3 1/2 plus acres with building lot, electric, water and septic installed. Storage bldg, apple trees facing south.

Near Cashiers and Lake Glenville. $75,000. Call 941-778-5966.

ROOFING METAL ROOFING SPECIALIST. Call Now for a Free Estimate! Fully Licensed, Bonded & Insured. CCC 04287 866-998-3324

FEBRUARY 25, 2015

TRANSPORTATION AMI TAXI metered-on-callcards accepted. Airport services: Tampa $85, Sarasota $35, Clearwater $75, Fort Meyers $150, Orlando $150. Call 800-301-4816. amitaxi4u@gmail.com, www.amitaxi.com TOWN CAR SERVICES, All airports served. Local and Long distance services available. Call Glen 941225-0072

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FEBRUARY 25, 2015

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