Anna Maria Island Sun February 4, 2015

FREE

VOL 15 No. 15

February 4, 2015

Outnumbered

A native brown pelican is outnumbered by true snowbirds – white pelicans that migrate here each winter.

Residents hammer parking plan Chair Judy Titsworth asked residents to write letters stating their opinions on the issue.

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

HOLMES BEACH – Although city commissioners took the item off the agenda last week, they allowed people who had come to oppose the Island Congestion Committee’s parking proposal to speak at both the Tuesday’s

INSIDE NEWS OPINION Sun survey Outdoors Real estate Sports Obituaries CROSSWORD

4 6 7 26-27 34-39 40 42 43

work session and Thursday’s meeting.

The committee’s proposal is to eliminate street and right of way parking in residential zones R-1 through R-4, except for residents, property owners and renters that obtain decals from the city.

Chair Judy Titsworth said it was taken off the agenda because the city is working with Manatee County to make sure there is enough parking see parking, page 38

UNDER EGMONT:

Finding history in Egmont cemetery.

8-10

Anna Maria Island, Florida

CINDY LANE | SUN

Mayor suggests non-voting mayor The mayor’s means of communicating his ideas was met with criticism and concern.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH – Mayor Bill Shearon suggested the Charter Review Committee (CRC) amend the city charter in a manner that would alter the structure of the city government and redefine the roles of elected officials, but his method of

communicating these ideas raised questions about adherence to previously discussed commission policy and Sunshine Law compliance.

Non-voting mayor?

Shearon suggested the city switch to a non-voting strong mayor, who serves as administrator and part-time city manager, taking direction from five at-large commissioners, one of whom would serve as commission chair. see mayor, page 39

CORTEZ COMMERCIAL

Fishing Festival Feb. 14-15. 18 Deputies and FireFighters

honored.

The Island’s award-winning weekly newspaper

22 www.amisun.com

2

THE SUN

www.amisun.com

FEBRUARY 4, 2015

www.amisun.com

FEBRUARY 4, 2015

THE SUN

3

Mayor receives recall petition forms Mayor Bill Shearon’s rebuttal was due Tuesday.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH – On Thursday morning, Police Chief Sam Speciale presented Mayor Bill Shearon with an envelope containing copies of the 109 verified recall petitions that signify a successful first step in the efforts to force a special election that would determine whether the mayor is removed from office before his term expires in November.

The exchange took place at the rear of the city clerk’s office, out of sight from the public.

Headed by former Commissioner Pete Barreda, the Committee to Recall William Shearon needed at least 100 verified signatures from registered Bradenton Beach voters in order for the recall process to continue.

A representative of the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections returned the petition forms to the clerk’s office Thursday morning, and acting City Clerk Terri Sanclemente made certified copies to present to the mayor.

joe hendricks | sun

With recall petitions in hand, Police Chief Sam Speciale asks Mayor Bill Shearon to join him at the rear of the clerk’s office so the hand-off can take place out of the public eye.

Ten of the 119 petitions submitted to the elections office were rejected due to improper dates, outdated addresses, or signatures that did not match those on record.

These events took place on the

morning after Shearon’s 101-year-old mother, Louise, passed away.

He was given five days to resign or provide a 200-word written rebuttal to the original petition charges that allege he twice violated state Sunshine Law in

respect to communications with other commissioners.

Shearon said he would not resign, which meant he had until Tuesday to submit his rebuttal to the clerk.

The rebuttal will accompany the original charges on an updated petition form, and the recall committee will have 60 days to submit the signatures of at least 15 percent (119) of the city’s 791 active registered voters.

Those who signed the first petition can sign again.

If at least 119 signatures from the second petition drive are verified by the elections office, Shearon will again be given five days to resign. If he chooses not to, the chief judge of the circuit court will order a special election to take place not less than 30 days or more than 60 days after the five-day period expires.

Shearon said he was not surprised the recall committee successfully gathered the signatures needed to proceed.

“I had more than 100 people vote against me,” he said, referring to the 2013 election in which he defeated incumbent Mayor John Shaughnessy by a 149 to 132 margin. see mayor, page 4

4

THE SUN

ISLAND NEWS

in brief

City to control busy intersection The Anna Maria City Commission voted to make the intersection of Magnolia Avenue and Gulf Drive a four-way stop to help drivers who have trouble getting onto Gulf Drive from Magnolia.

Mayor Dan Murphy said that intersection is extremely busy during season, and he would like to try the four-way stop on a seasonal basis from the end of February through Easter.

Commissioner Chuck Webb said he was concerned a stop sign on Gulf Drive would back up traffic. Resident Ruth Uecker said the traffic volume at the intersection makes it one of the busiest on the Island. The commission voted unanimously to do it.

Beer and wine OK at public beach Holmes Beach city commissioners agreed at last week’s work session that they want to allow the consumption of beer and wine only at the public beach without a permit. The consumption of beer and wine will continue to be allowed during events on the city field with a temporary use permit.

Visit our website, www.amisun.com.

Scan this code with your smartphone to go there.

FEBRUARY 4, 2015

Moratorium approved on first reading

The moratorium will be in effect in the R-2, R-3 and R-4 zoning districts.

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

HOLMES BEACH – City commissioners approved a moratorium ordinance on first reading at their meeting Thursday’s. The second reading will be Feb. 10 The moratorium is in effect in the R-2, R-3 and R-4 zoning districts; includes remodeling or new construction of residences with four or more bedrooms or sleeping rooms, with four per side for duplexes; and will be in place for a maximum of nine months. The effective date is Jan. 15.

City Attorney Patricia Petruff said there are seven pending permit applications that were submitted before Jan. 15, and they will not be affected.

At Tuesday’s work session, resident Dan Diggins had asked, “Four bedrooms is not a mega house. What problem are you trying to solve with the moratorium?”

Commissioner Marvin Grossman replied, “It gives all citizens an opportunity to come up and talk and speak feely, and then we can make some intelligent decisions based on the information. We don’t have the answers right now.”

“Our neighborhoods are being destroyed because the houses being built are only for rental purposes with tiny bedrooms and bathrooms and small living spaces,” Commissioner Jean Peelen added. “They were never intended for families or retired couples to live in.

“They are destroying the residential neighborhoods. We’re losing our snowbirds, retired couples and potential residents. There’s a drastic change in our community and what I would consider the destruc-

what I would consider the destruction of our residential community.”

Jean Peelen City Commissioner tion of our residential community.”

Commissioners will be discussing the moratorium at every Thursday work session beginning Feb. 12.

Mary Pat Swami, of the Friends of the Island Branch Library, addressed the Anna Maria Island Kiwanis Club at breakfast meeting recently at the Anna Maria Island Beach Cafe and received a $500 donation from their foundation. She announced that the Friends would hold a book sale Feb. 20 for Friends members and Feb. 21, from 9 to 3 for the general public at Roser Memorial Church.

From left: President Dave “Watchdog” Miner, Foundation Treasurer Sandy HaasMartens, Swami and Kiwanis members Major Lecke and Al Guy.

Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer reported at last week’s city commission meeting that he met with county officials who said they are planning improvements at Kingfish boat ramp in three to four years.

Plans include widening the launch area to accommodate four boats, paving the area and repairing the seawall.

Board to hold additional work sessions

SUBMITTED

MAYOR: Receives recall petitions

Corrections

FROM PAGE 3

The correct address for the new TV show, “To the Rescue: The Journey to No Kill,” is http://totherescuetv.com. Click on “Episodes.”

If a special election takes place, Shearon said he intends to place himself on the ballot as a replacement candidate for himself, should he be removed from office.

It was generally assumed that Vice Mayor Jack Clarke would take over as mayor if Shearon was ousted, but

Legal consultant Michael Barfield assisted with the defense of the recent city parking lot injunction, but as a non-attorney he did not represent the co-defendants.

in our community and

Check for Friends

Kingfish ramp to be refurbished

Holmes Beach city commissioners agreed last week to hold additional work sessions on life safety issues and the moratorium. Life safety work sessions will follow the regular city commission meetings on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month, and moratorium work sessions will be held the second and fourth Thursdays of the month.

There’s a drastic change

citing state statute, Shearon noted that additional candidates are allowed to appear on the recall ballot.

According to state law, the ballot would read as follows: “(name of person) should be removed from office” or “(name of person) should not be removed from office,” followed by a list of potential replacement candidates.

“I have a lot of supporters and this will be like running a campaign,” he said, of a potential mid-term special election.

Shearon said that regardless of what happens with the recall effort, he will run again in November.

“I’m not going anywhere,” he said.

www.amisun.com

FEBRUARY 4, 2015

THE SUN

5

Mayor explains why he pulled the plug Mayor Dan Murphy said the original project did not take into account the needs or the impact on the city and was poorly communicated.

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

BRADENTON BEACH – When Mayor Dan Murphy cancelled a dredging job that would have allowed the contractor to leave the spoil from the dredging on City Pier Park all summer, he got some complaints.

The unexpected news that C&M Dredging, of Ellenton, was going to dredge out Lake LaVista and leave the dredged material, called spoil, on City Pier Park in bladders while it dried until August was unacceptable to Murphy, according to a letter to Manatee County Commissioner Carol Whitmore.

The project, which was financed by the West Coast Inland Navigational District (WCIND), was not a collaboration with the county government, as Murphy earlier thought.

In his letter to Whitmore, Murphy said that in the 2011-2012 time frame,

tOM VAUGHT | SUN

City Pier Park before workers took away equipment and machinery after the job was cancelled. the city requested the county help dredge portions of Lake LaVista. That request was forwarded to WCIND, which put out a request for proposals and obtained the necessary permits without informing the city of what was being requested and what its impact would be.

“This was all handled by WCIND in what was an apparent information vacuum,” the letter said.

Murphy said the city was not informed of who the winning bidder was or when the project would commence.

He said the city was surprised when the contractor unloaded equipment to start

the project a few weeks ago.

“In 2012, the city agreed to allow the use of a small portion of our ‘dead tree park’ (which we are currently trying to develop) for 30 days to accomplish the work,” according to the letter. “When the dredge company arrived in January 2015, we were informed that WCIND had allowed the use of the entire park, not just the space we had agreed to in 2012. Secondly, I was informed that they would be placing the bladders in the park to allow affluent to be processed and the bladders would be in place until August.”

Murphy said the spoil would smell foul in the heat of the summer.

In addition, Murphy included a letter to residents around Lake LaVista from C&M Dredging offering to dredge out areas behind their homes at a cheaper rate since the equipment would already be there.

The letter was dated Jan. 20, 2015.

“The budget for this project was $60,000,” Murphy told a meeting of the City Pier Committee Friday. “In comparison, the cost to dredge out a small area behind the city jail was estimated to be $44,000, so the company was going to make more money dredging behind the homes.”

6

THE SUN

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

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

FEBRUARY 4, 2015

EDITORIAL Under Egmont

S

ometimes you really have to dig for a story to hit pay dirt.

Months of unearthing fascinating facts about underground and underwater Egmont Key in U.S. military cemetery records, at Ancestry.com, in books and newspapers, on government websites and in interviews with the Seminole Tribe, underwater archeologists, authors and historians sent us 15 feet below the Gulf, up a lighthouse, down red brick roads, on sandy deadend trails and all the way to a jackpot or two, resulting in the two-part series, Under Egmont.

Robert Redford, George Clooney and Brad Pitt, listen up: Somebody really ought to make a movie about this place.

Robert E. Lee surveyed it.

Teddy Roosevelt built the lighthouse. A Rough Rider was buried there. So was a Seminole chief, a descendant of one of the original Pilgrims, several children and so-called “colored” and Chinese troops whose names were left unrecorded.

T

here was yellow fever, typhoid fever, a successful escape by an Indian woman and the ongoing romance of a historic lighthouse whose lens was stolen by rebels to keep Union troops from finding them.

There is a Civil War ship that sank offshore and is a military gravesite and, as of last month, is an archeological preserve.

We also discovered some descendants of people buried on Egmont and were able to tell one of them where his great-great-grandfather is buried, making all the struggles with careless bookkeeping, fictionalized histories, narrative oversights and the lack of records, and respect, for Native Americans and Black Americans entirely worthwhile.

We think you should call it Under Egmont.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dredging decision ill-advised Regarding Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy’s reported decision to terminate the dredging of Lake LaVista.

This totally ill-advised decision should be readdressed immediately.

Dredging maintains the flow of water and therefore the health of the canal system. Right now, there are several areas where the water depth is measured in inches, not feet.

Clogging of the interior canal system will prevent access by manatees and other sea life, have an unfavorable impact on seabirds and lead to deterioration into a swamp. Think smells, mosquitoes trash. Not good for residents or tourists.

A large number of island residents (including my wife and I) live on or near Lake LaVista. But many others use it, including boaters, kayakers (an Island business) and fishermen.

It is a precious resource that many

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

Islanders and tourists value and appreciate. Its presence is one of the reasons we have not joined the exodus of taxpayers in the face of the rental property onslaught.

The tourism encouraged by the county and state creates dollars that flow away from the city and are not returned. Why does it make sense to prevent the flow of funds to a worthwhile conservation project?

Lake LaVista is a large part of the area of the city. How will letting it deteriorate not unfavorably impact the city?

Finally, if the dredging company has the requisite permits, then presumably the project has been vetted by the appropriate environmental authorities, who are admired for a rigorous permitting process. I infer they recognize the value of Lake LaVista. We do, and it seems you might do so as well.

The mayor and commissioners should review this decision with 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

the facts at hand.

George H Talbot, MD Anna Maria

Thank you, AMI Chamber The Anna Maria Island Rotary Club wishes to express deep gratitude to the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce for our trolley fund grant. We love this wonderful Island, our home. The money will be spent in support of our many year-round AMI projects.

Some of our programs benefitting the good people of the Island include free dictionaries given to every third-grader at Anna Maria Elementary School, offering enrichment programs at the school, supporting the AMI Community Center, installing a bench at the public beach, as well as volunteering at numerous Island activities.

Joe Praetor, President AMI Rotary

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

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

www.amisun.com

FEBRUARY 4, 2015

THE SUN

the sun survey

on the agenda

LAST WEEK’S QUESTION: Should the city of Holmes Beach allow the consumption of alcohol on publicly owned land?

Bring on the party.

Anna Maria

19%

10005 Gulf Drive

2/6: City Pier Park Committee, 10 a.m.

2/9: Environmental Education and Enhancement Committee, 6 p.m.

2/12: City Commission work session, 6 p.m.

For information, call 7086130.

Bradenton Beach 107 Gulf Drive N.

2/4: Capital Improvement Projects Committee, 10:30 a.m.

2/4: Pier Team, 11 a.m.

2/5: City Commission meeting, 6 p.m.

2/10: City Commission workshop, 1 p.m.

2/11: Planning and Zoning Board meeting, 1 p.m.

46%

No, there's really no need for it and it could be a dangerous liability.

36%

Of course, as long as the setting is strictly controlled.

THIS WEEK’S SURVEY Now that the Super Bowl is over, the NFL should:

• Forget about it because nobody cares

• Forget about it.

What's done is done.

• Hire independent football pressure checkers for every game.

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

2/12: City Commission/ Department Head meeting, 1 p.m.

2/12: Charter Review Commission, 3 p.m.

For information, call 7781005.

Holmes Beach 5801 Marina Drive

2/4: Parks and Beautification Advisory Board, 4 p.m.

2/10: City commission meeting and work session, 7 p.m.

2/12: City commission work session, 7 p.m.

For information, call 7085800.

Island-wide 2/11: Palma Sola Scenic Highway Committee, Bradenton Public Works, 1411 Ninth St. W., Bradenton, 4 p.m.

mark your calendar Note: Events are free unless indicated.

Wednesday

• Pursue deflate gate and punish those responsible.

7

Jan. 28

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, The Studio at Gulf and Pine, 10110 Gulf Drive, Anna Maria, 11 a.m.

Couch to 5K fitness program, Robinson Preserve, 99th Street Northwest and 17th Avenue Northwest, Bradenton, 5 to 6 p.m.

Reserve to 941-748- 4501 ext. 6044.

Thursday Jan. 29

Quilting group, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m.

Couch to 5K fitness program, Robinson Preserve, 99th Street Northwest and 17th Avenue Northwest, Bradenton, 5 to 6 p.m.

Reserve to 941-748- 4501, ext. 6044.

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

Friday Jan. 30

Edible plants of winter, Robinson Preserve, 99th Street Northwest and 17th Avenue

Northwest, Bradenton. 9 to 10:30 a.m. Reserve to 941748-4501, ext. 6039.

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

Book sale, Annie Silver Community Center, 103 23rd St. N., Bradenton Beach, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Saturday Jan. 31

Tracie A. Godri demonstrating acrylic medium, abstracts, Island Gallery West, 5368 Gulf Drive in S & S Shopping Plaza, Holmes Beach, 10:30 a.m. to noon. eBook tablet help, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 2 p.m.

Sunday Feb. 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 Feb. 2

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

Register to 941-778-2099.

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

8

THE SUN

www.amisun.com

FEBRUARY 4, 2015

Under Egmont: Unearthing Egmont’s mysteries

Second in a series

BY CINDY LANE

SUN STAFF WRITER | clane@amisun.com

EGMONT KEY - Underneath Egmont Key, there’s even more history than its century-and-a-half-old lighthouse, the ruins of its Spanish-American War fort and its 1905 red brick road, now used mostly by gopher tortoises.

Underneath Egmont are real people who really made history in the 1800s.

From Anna Maria Island’s north end, you can see the key’s landmark lighthouse, which stood watch as Colonel Teddy Roosevelt and his Rough Riders left for the Spanish-American War in 1898.

Just beyond the picket fence surrounding the lighthouse keeper’s home is one of two cemeteries on the island.

Another, older one used from 19031912 near Fort Dade, on the western side of the island facing the Gulf of Mexico, has been reclaimed by the sea along with some of the ruins of the fort, with no known records of its location or occupants.

But the “new” one, used in the last half of the 19th century, is well kept. Covered in clean white sand, an American flag flies overhead, and white crosses approximate the locations of gravesites.

The crosses bear no names, but two plaques list the dead whose names are known and describes those who are not.

Among the 40 occupants - and former occupants – of the Egmont Key Lighthouse Cemetery is the descendant of one of the Mayflower Pilgrims, a Seminole Indian chief, a Rough Rider, a Southerner who was a Union sympathizer and many victims of yellow fever and typhoid fever who died on Egmont during the Civil War (1861-65).

More Civil War dead lie aboard the wreckage of the Naval vessel U.S.S. Narcissus, which sank offshore at the end of that war and was dedicated last month as an archeological preserve and recreational dive site (see The Sun’s Jan. 28 edition).

The key has seen other wars. Fort Dade was built to defend Tampa Bay during the Spanish-American War. In the 1920s and 1930s, it was a hideout for bootleggers during the war against alcohol - Prohibition. During World War II in the 1940s, it was used as a training base.

But the first wars involving Egmont Key were the Seminole Wars.

The Seminoles

In the 1840s and 1850s, the U.S. Army detained Seminole Indian prisoners on Egmont Key, a natural fortress because of its limited accessibility.

CINDY LANE | sun

The Egmont Key cemetery dates back to the mid-1800s.

One escaped, one committed suicide, and some died from disease and other causes.

Each of the two plaques at the cemetery lists the names of 20 people who are or were once buried there. On one plaque, five members of the Seminole tribe and their dates of death on Egmont Key are listed: Chief Tommy (Sept. 5, 1857); Seminole child, 12 months (April 24, 1852); Seminole child, 6 months (June 12, 1852); Seminole boy (July 27, 1852); and Seminole girl (1857).

In an ornate, but apparently hastily handwritten ledger at the St. Augustine National Cemetery, 12 of the 20 people whose names are on that plaque are listed as having been relocated from Egmont Key to St. Augustine and reburied on June 2, 1909.

One of them is referred to as “Indian (Unknown),” possibly Chief Tommy.

The Seminole Tribe does not discuss where its deceased tribe members are buried, spokesman Gary Bitner said.

But the tribe’s Historic Preservation Office does not consider the Egmont plaques accurate records.

“Most of what exists was originally recorded by U.S. Army soldiers, who did not speak the language of the Seminoles and who were holding the Seminoles against their will – not a situation likely to foster the accurate transfer of information,” he said. “As a result, no one really knows who is buried there.”

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service also vacillated on that point in a 2007 report on Egmont Key, writing that the cemetery was “the most likely location

of any Seminole burials.”

Despite what the plaque says, Chief Tommy was a Muskogee Indian, not a Seminole, according to Don and Carol Thompson in their book, “Egmont Key: A History.”

But a Seminole leader imprisoned on

Egmont, Tiger Tail, also may have been buried in the cemetery, according to the book, in which they repeat a legend that he ate ground glass and died rather than remain in jail. see egmont, page 9

FEBRUARY 4, 2015

www.amisun.com

THE SUN

9

egmont: Unearthing Egmont’s mysteries FROM PAGE 8

Without acknowledging the existence of any burial sites on Egmont, Seminole tribe members visited there in 2013 in commemoration of a successful escape. In 1858, a year after the death of Chief Tommy and one Seminole child on Egmont, Seminole Polly Parker was taken from Egmont to join the Trail of Tears, the U.S. government’s deportation of Native Americans to Oklahoma and elsewhere. She escaped in north Florida.

That same year, Seminole leader Billy Bowlegs, who led the last Indian uprising against federal troops, also was briefly detained on Egmont after he surrendered.

The St. Augustine twelve

The 12 people who were buried at Egmont Key and reburied at St. Augustine National Cemetery lie in the same cemetery as Major Francis L. Dade, who was killed in an ambush in Florida with most of his regiment in the Second Seminole War in 1835. He is memorialized with a pyramid monument at the St. Augustine cemetery and at the fort named for him on Egmont Key. Ten of the 12 Egmont dead who were relocated were soldiers, sailors,

ST. AUGUSTINE NATIONAL CEMETERY | SUBMITTED

Some of the Egmont Key dead whose bodies were relocated to St. Augustine National Cemetery in 1909. a hospital worker, a Seminole Indian, and family members of the lighthouse keeper. The handwritten St. Augustine ledger lists them as: • William Rull, a so-called “colored” hospital attendant, who is listed as Rull or Ruth in the St. Augustine ledger; • Infantryman Joseph Shannon, listed as James Shannon on the St. Augustine ledger; • Seaman Robert Bentson of the U.S. Lighthouse Tender “Laurel,” listed as Benton on the St. Augustine ledger; • Indian (Unknown), which corresponds with the only adult Seminole

listed on the Egmont plaque, Chief Tommy; • Charles Williams, who is listed as a “colored” soldier on the Egmont plaque, but not on the St. Augustine ledger, where his name is directly above the following entry; • Colored Soldier (Unknown); • Private J.A. Brainerd, Company A, 26th Michigan Infantry; • Child of Azaline M. Bahrt, listed on the Egmont plaque as Marie Bahrt, of the lighthouse keeper’s family; • Azaline M. Bahrt; • Infant, listed on the Egmont plaque as Carlotte Bahrt.

The Rough Rider

One of two remaining names on the St. Augustine ledger is listed only as O’Neil.

According to the Egmont plaque, that’s Private John O’Neil, 1st U.S. Volunteers, Cavalry - Teddy Roosevelt's regiment. O’Neil was a Rough Rider in the Spanish-American War. O’Neil was transported by ship from Cuba to Egmont Key for medical treatment, but due to a lack of medical facilities on the island, he and other wounded and sick soldiers were sent back to the ship, where he died, according to “Egmont Key: A History.”

The Tampa-based Rough Riders charitable organization placed a grave marker on O'Neil's grave in St. Augustine in 2004.

The Union sympathizer

CINDY LANE | sun

Seminole Indians were held in Fort Dade’s jail cells on Egmont Key during the Seminole Wars.

Efforts are in progress to renourish the Gulf-facing beaches to stem the erosion of Fort Dade.

The last of the 12 on the St. Augustine ledger is, simply, Whitehurst.

On the Egmont plaque that lists Civil War burials, his name is set apart from the other 19, who served in Union forces in the Civil War. John E. Whitehurst is prominently labeled a “Civilian and Union Sympathizer.”

That does not sit well with the descendants of the Whitehursts, who were mostly Southern sympathizers during the Civil War, said his greatgreat-grandson, Rob Whitehurst, 63, a retired production sound mixer from Tampa who has worked on Christian films including "Courageous," "Fire-

FLORIDA STATE PARKS | SUBMITTED

The headstone of John O’Neil, Trooper, 1st U.S. Volunteers Cavalry Regiment E, one of Teddy Roosevelt’s Rough Riders, stands in St. Augustine National Cemetery. proof" and "Facing the Giants."

His ancestor died of gunshot wounds in 1862, according to the plaque.

Here’s the rest of the story, compiled from Rob Whitehurst’s family history search and other sources.

John Whitehurst, whose middle initial actually was A. for Alexander, was a Union sympathizer who occasionally served as a civilian scout for the Union Army. Before the war, he was a farmer, according to the 1860 U. S. Census for Hillsborough County, Fla. He and his family were among 200 or so Union sympathizers living on Egmont Key, which was under the protection of the Union Navy that occupied the island with the Union Army as part of the blockade of the South.

The island had first been held by Confederate forces, which hid the lighthouse lens so the Union forces couldn’t find Southern blockade runners approaching the coast, leaving the Union to use the lighthouse only as a watchtower, according to the Thompsons’ book.

Whitehurst and his family had been transported to Egmont aboard the sloop, Mary Nevis, which made mail, freight and passenger runs from the Manatee River to Fort Brooke in Tampa.

The family was safer on Unionoccupied Egmont because they did not want to secede from the Union and were opposed to slavery, a dangerous political position to have in the South, said Richard Sanchez, president of the Egmont Key Alliance, a non-profit citizen support organization dedicated to protecting, restoring and preserving the key.

But it wasn’t totally safe.

One night in 1862, Whitehurst and see egmont, page 10

10

THE SUN

www.amisun.com

FEBRUARY 4, 2015

egmont: Unearthing Egmont’s mysteries buried elsewhere, but did not know for sure whose remains they were, or where they were relocated.

Now, with the name Whitehurst appearing on the St. Augustine ledger above the other 11 names from the Egmont plaque, he does.

“This is awesome, and I thank you for contacting me concerning John,” he said. “He was right. He was right about slavery, and he gave his life in those beliefs.”

The pilgrim’s progress

CINDY LANE | sun

Against odds, life goes on at Egmont Key. A red brick road connecting Fort Dade with military outbuildings has survived more than a century on the island.

FROM PAGE 9

and a third man named Arnold, left Egmont in a boat to get provisions at John's Pass in Madeira Beach. Confederate forces opened fire on the men, and Daniel fell dead while John managed to get to their boat and into open water. But he had been shot and was mortally wounded, and “laid two days in the boat exposed to the rays of an August sun,” according to a report of Lieutenant J.C. Howell, the commander of the U.S.S. Tahoma.

He was rescued “by a refugee named Clay,” and brought to Egmont, where he died at age 46 in early September.

Howell ordered the burials of both Whitehurst men, Arnold being unaccounted for, but did not specify where they were laid to rest.

His report on John Whitehurst continues: “His dying request was that his three little sons should be received into the United States naval service.”

The muster rolls of the U.S.S. Tahoma show that two of his sons, Christopher Columbus Whitehurst, 12, and Winfield Scott Whitehurst, 8, lied about their ages and enlisted on Oct. 4, 1862. The former was lost at sea; the latter was discharged from the ship Ino, which was the ship of Coxswain Michael J. Sullivan, 19, the last Civil War sailor to be buried in the Egmont cemetery. He had been in pursuit of Confederates when his musket accidentally discharged, fatally wounding him.

The youngest son, Harney Butler Whitehurst, who at about 6 had no hope of joining the Navy, is the great-grandfather of Rob Whitehurst, who said that he had heard that the remains of a family member had been unearthed and

On the same Egmont plaque as Whitehurst is William H. Bradford, listed as an Acting Master’s Mate, who died on July 29, 1864, at age 22 of yellow fever, along with 14 others on Egmont in July and August of that year.

He was unmarried and had no children, said his sixth cousin twice removed, Brice Bradford, of Alexandria, Va., a self-described “geek” who fortuitously left his trail on www.ancestry.com.

He and William H. (Hopkins) Bradford are both descended from William Bradford VI (1718-1781), the great-grandson of William Bradford, who came to America from England on the Mayflower in 1620 and became governor of the Plymouth colony the following year.

“Gov. William Bradford had but one son, Maj. William Bradford IV (16241703), who fathered four sons, all of whom saw military service,” Bradford said. “It is no surprise, then, that even several generations later, William Hopkins Bradford chose to serve in the Navy. Even my own grandfather, Gilbert Lee Bradford (1922-2010), chose to serve in the U.S. Coast Guard based on his inherited love of the open sea and the spirit of discovery instilled from his Bradford pedigree.”

Gov. William Bradford kept a journal that is preserved at the Pilgrim Hall Museum in Plymouth, Mass. A passage about the pilgrims who died in the New World could almost speak for those buried on Egmont Key.

ROB WHITEHURST | SUBMITTED

Rob Whitehurst is the great-great-grandson of one of the soldiers buried on Egmont Key. He was the production sound mixer on the films “Fireproof,” “Facing the Giants” and “Courageous.”

“But their condition was not ordinarie; their ends were good & honourable; their calling lawfull, & urgente; and therfore they might expecte ye blessing of God in their proceding. Yea, though they should loose their lives in this action, yet might they have comforte in the same, and their endeavors would be honourable. They lived hear but as men in exile, & in a poore condition; and as great miseries might possibly befale them in this place… ther was nothing but beating of drums, and preparing for warr, the events wherof are allway uncertaine."

According to a family Bible, the staff writer’s family is descended from Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee, who surveyed Egmont Key in 1849.

Who was Egmont?

Egmont Key was named for John Perceval, the second Earl of Egmont and a member of the Irish House of Commons. His titles included Lord of the Bedchamber to the Prince of Wales (assisting the king with dressing, and guarding him while he slept) and First Lord of Admiralty. He died in 1770.

The title Earl of Egmont died with the death of the childless Thomas Frederick Gerald Perceval, the 12th earl, in 2011.

Who owns Egmont Key?

CINDY LANE | sun

The Egmont Key lighthouse was built in 1858 on the site of the 1848 original, which was destroyed in a storm.

Egmont Key has been the property of the U.S. Department of the Interior since 1974. Prior to that, it was owned by the U.S. Department of Defense, previously known as the U.S. Department of War. The key has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1978. It has state and federal designations as Egmont Key State Park and Egmont Key National Wildlife Refuge.

www.amisun.com

FEBRUARY 4, 2015

THE SUN

Spectacular Views of Anna Maria Island with an incredible home and lifestyle to match Enjoy the warm Florida sunshine year-round!

I N T RO D U C I N G

NEW WATERFRONT RESIDENCES ON FLORIDA’S LAST PRIVATE ISLAND Overlooking the classic, old Florida beach community of Anna Maria Island, Harbour Isle features awardwinning Minto Island Coach Homes. Resort-style amenities include a kayak launch, pool with private cabanas, fire pit and outdoor kitchen and dining areas. A proposed marina and the Beach Club currently under construction on the shores of Anna Maria Sound include a private clubhouse and resort-style pool.

All in the heart of the vibrant Bradenton-Sarasota area. Yours for an incredible waterfront value.

Our Secret Is Out! Anna Maria has been named one of the Sunshine State’s “10 Best Secret Beaches� by USA Today/10Best.com and one of only four “Old, Classic Florida� destinations by the Wall St. Journal.

Award-winning Designs – Enduring Quality – Incomparable Value

Exquisite Island Coach Homes from the $400s LEED Certified – Move-in Ready – Maintenance Included

No CDD fees!

Unlike other communities, Harbour Isle does not burden you with Community Development District (CDD) fees, which saves you thousands of dollars during your home ownership.

(877) 542-0822 ~ mintofla.com 12300 Manatee Ave. West, Bradenton, FL 34209 On SR 64, turn right just before the Anna Maria Bridge.

For location, hours of operation and further details about our award-winning communities throughout Florida, visit mintofla.com. Š Minto Communities, LLC 2015. Not an offer where prohibited by state statutes. All rights reserved. Content may not be reproduced, copied, altered, distributed, stored or transferred in any form or by any means without express written permission Artist’s renderings, dimensions, specifications, prices and features are approximate and subject to change without notice. Minto, the Minto logo, Harbour Isle and the Harbour Isle logo are trademarks of Minto Communities, LLC and/or its affi liates. CGC 1519880. 2/2015

11

12

THE SUN

www.amisun.com

FEBRUARY 4, 2015

www.amisun.com

FEBRUARY 4, 2015

THE SUN

13

Board discusses pool and fire regs for rentals The mayor will work with staff and gather information in order to present a report to commissioners.

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

HOLMES BEACH – Commissioners heard from swimming pool and fire personnel to help them determine whether to establish pool and fire safety regulations for rental properties and at what level.

When asked by Chair Judy Titsworth at Tuesday’s work session what opportunities they have regarding swimming pools, Tom Sanger, pool contractor for LaPensee Plumbing and Pools, said pools on rental properties “are not governed like commercial pools, so you don’t have the same safety features.”

“They get a lot of high use, and they’re very difficult to maintain at times. It takes a well rounded service technician to make sure they are taking care of the pool the proper way.”

Commissioner Marvin Grossman asked about the capacity of pools at residential rentals, and Sanger said the bathing load is determined by the number of gallons of water the pool holds and the turnover rate, which establishes the flow of water moving through the filtration system.

“Anything past 10 to 12 people is where you start to get excessive,” Sanger added. “It also depends on how frequent your service is. On most of the rental properties, we’re giving twice-aweek service.”

Two situations

Commissioner Jean Peelen said there are two situations – how to retrofit existing pools and what to require for new construction. Sanger said engineers would have to make the determination on new construction.

Peelen asked about requiring twice a week service, and Sanger said it depends on the size of the pool and its

filtration system and added, “No one shies away from twice a week service if they know they’re going to have better water quality.”

Commissioner Carol Soustek asked about guards on pool drains, and Sanger said the Florida Building Code requires them.

Peelen asked about safety fences and Sanger said, “You have to have certain safety mechanisms in place when you build pools, whether its door alarms, window alarms or a mesh fence. There also are motion sensors for the water.”

Peelen asked if the capacity of the house is a factor and acting Public Works Supervisor Jon Betcher said no.

Grossman asked if the capacity of a pool is posted, and Betcher said not in residential.

“There’s no way to tell how much the pool is going be used,” Sanger pointed out.

“You have to make sure the people taking care of it are doing their homework.”

Fire safety

Fire Inspector Jim Davis, of West Manatee Fire Rescue, told the board that the district does not have jurisdiction over one and two family residential structures.

“In a lot of vacation rentals that we do inspect, there are some very proactive agencies that have their own safety programs,” he said.

Davis pointed out that the fire district became aware of the problems of vacation rentals, especially the duplexes built closely together, in 2002 and made a presentation at a meeting of Island elected officials.

Chair Judy Titsworth said they were not elected officials then and asked Davis if any other communities have imposed regulations. Davis said Longboat Key has and said they should consult incoming Fire Chief Tom Sousa, who was with the Longboat Key Fire Department for 30 years.

Titsworth then began reading from a list of suggestions for fire safety suggestions submitted by resident Dick Motzer.

However City Attorney Patricia Petruff

Building code and Florida Statute

It takes a well rounded service technician to make sure they are taking care of the pool the proper way.”

Tom Sanger Pool contractor pointed out, “You are reading aloud from a list Mr. Davis doesn’t have in front of him, and he may not have the authority to speak on behalf of the fire district.

“He came here to give us some information. It might be more prudent for this commission to ask the mayor to send a letter and ask the fire district to provide this commission with an official statement as to their recommendations because we’ve tonight seen that they do not have the authority to regulate.”

Titsworth asked the mayor to do so.

Soustek asked Betcher what the city regulates regarding fire safety in its building code. Betcher said regulations are minimal and include separation between the garage and living area, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and compliance with setbacks.

Larry Chatt, of Island Real Estate, said there are regulations for resort housing dwellings in the Florida Statutes.

“We are required to have fire extinguishers, a map that shows where the fire extinguisher is and the forms of egress, emergency lighting and smoke alarms,” he explained. “All those items we have to annually inspect.”

He said most Island agencies hire other companies to do the inspections, and most also hire pool services for their pool maintenance.

At Thursday’s work session on swimming pool safety, Peelen said she wants more information from experts and city staffers.

“We’re trying to find out what people are complaining about and then giving the mayor direction to give staff to see if there’s something we should change or if we have the ability to change it,” Titsworth said.

Mayor Bob Johnson said he is working with staff and gathering information on swimming pools and fire safety in order to present a report to commissioners.

Commission approves Bert Harris settlements In a special meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 28, Anna Maria City Commission voted to approve settlement offers on the final four properties out of the seven that warned the city of an impending lawsuit.

The letters were written by the developers who are building new houses and they feel new building size restrictions would take away value of the projects. The city was obligated to make an offer by last month and they

had to ask for extensions of the deadline because they had not had time to see and approve the settlements.

They approved the last four settlement offers to Eric Abrahamson, for projects at 104 Magnolia Ave., 607 N. Bay Blvd., 508 Spring Ave. and 857 North Shore Drive.

Two weeks earlier, they approved settlement offers for two Sean Kaleta projects, and the last project was a redesign of a home that has been settled.

14

www.amisun.com

THE SUN

FEBRUARY 4, 2015

LOOKING FOR THE PERFECT SPOT FOR A PARTY? CONTACT US TODAY!

AWARD-WINNING BEERS BREWERY TOURS FULL LIQUOR & WINE DELICIOUS FOOD GEST LAR R BEEDEN LIVE MUSIC GAFRLORIDA IN SMOKE-FREE BAR OPEN 365 DAYS | 11AM - MIDNIGHT | MOTORWORKSBREWING.COM 1014 9th ST W., BRADENTON, FL 34205 | (941)567-6218

submitted

The city's new Website features photos of landmarks, scenic views and events.

New city Website unveiled The city of Bradenton Beach activated its new Website Thursday morning.

“We are now in the process of updating all the documents, calendars and other information,” said Police Chief Sam Speciale.

In addition to his police duties, Speciale now serves as the city’s webmaster, working with England-based development technician Keiron Skillet.

When asked about the Website’s features, Speciale said, “You’ll find news, notices and the city calendar; you’ll be you’ll be able to get agendas for future and past meetings and search documents and minutes. We can put whatever we want on it, and we hope

to eventually include the ability for citizens to pay fees and fines online.”

The new Website utilizes WordPress technology.

“It’s user friendly, and we can change the text, pictures and look of the screens.

In the past, we had to ask someone to do that for us,” Speciale said.

Giving credit where credit is due, Speciale said, “The majority of the work, approximately 90 percent of it, was done by Ric Gatehouse.”

Gatehouse, a former city and longtime web and e-mail contractor, passed away last year.

The new city Website can be accessed at www.cityofbradentonbeach.com.

FEBRUARY 4, 2015

www.amisun.com

THE SUN

33RD ANNUAL

CORTEZ COMMERCIAL

FISHING

FESTIVAL

FEB. 14 & 15

ADMISSION KIDS 12 & UNDER

$3 FREE

PROCEEDS BENEFIT F.I.S.H. PRESERVE

10 A.M. TO 6 P.M.

www.cortez-fish.org For information call 941-254-4972

The festival is located at the East end of town adjacent to the Florida Maritime Museum on 119th St. W. to the Bay. Offsite free parking is available at: • G.T. Bray Park (with $2.50 round trip shuttle to Cortez) (5502 33rd Ave Dr W., 34209 -- turn east off 59th St. onto 33rd Ave Dr) • Coquina Beach (with $2.50 round trip shuttle to Cortez) • One block east of the village, off Cortez Road (5-minute walk)

LIVE MUSIC COMMUNITY DISPLAYS EXPANDED KIDS AREA LARGER PARKING AREA NAUTICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ART

15

16

THE SUN

0 ) 6$7 681 &/26('

7+ 67 &7 : &257(= )/ 7+ 67 &7 : &257(= )/

­

www.amisun.com

FEBRUARY 4, 2015

FEBRUARY 4, 2015

www.amisun.com

THE SUN

17

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

18

THE SUN

www.amisun.com

FEBRUARY 4, 2015

Fishing festival on radar

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

CORTEZ – Grouper groupies, get ready for the 33rd Annual Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 14 and 15, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the historic Cortez fishing village.

Enjoy music, dancing, nautical art and crafts, a marine life touch-tank and more, topped with plenty of fresh seafood and culinary options for land-lubbers.

If you love grouper all year around, not just on Valentine’s Day weekend, the festival is tailor-made for you with its theme, “I’m a Grouper groupie!”

Grouper is highly prized for its flaky, pure white flesh. A uniquely local Florida seafood, about 80 percent of all the grouper harvested in the U.S. comes from Florida’s west coast waters; about one-quarter of that comes across the docks in Cortez. So, if you want to learn more about grouper or sample it fresh, the festival is the place for you.

There really are a whole group of groupers; more than 160 species worldwide. The stupendous goliath grouper commonly grows to 500-600 pounds – the state record is 680 pounds. But

FILE PHOTO

Seafood and art attract schools of people to the Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival. these giants don’t reach the dinner table; they are protected as is the more tropical Nassau grouper.

The most common grouper found in restaurants and markets is the red

grouper, followed by gag and yellowedge. Some of the other types landed for food include black, scamp, yellowfin and snowy grouper.

People often ask “Which is the most

delicious?” Some old-time anglers have their favorites, but as the young folks say, “It’s all good.”

Not only are grouper good to eat, they are fascinating creatures. It may be hard to believe, but they change sex during their lives. During the early part of their lives they are females, but as many as 10 years later they turn into males.

Learn more or just enjoy them at the festival.

Admission is $3, with children under 12 free. Proceeds benefit FISH, the Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage, to restore the FISH Preserve east of Cortez village.

Head west toward the beaches on Cortez Road to the entrance at the Florida Maritime Museum, 4415 119th St. W. Offsite parking is available at G.T Bray Park and overflow parking is at 5502 33rd Ave. Drive W., Bradenton (turn east off 59th Street onto 33rd Avenue Drive.) or at Coquina Beach with a shuttle bus to Cortez ($2.50 round trip). Free expanded parking is east of the village off Cortez Road, a five minute walk from the gate. Pay parking is available in the western part of Cortez village.

FEBRUARY 4, 2015

www.amisun.com

THE SUN

19

TOM VAUGHT | SUN

This area of Gulf Front Park will be cleared, and the cactus will most likely be spared.

TDC to discuss Gulf Front Park money If approved, the city could finish the project this year.

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

ANNA MARIA – Mayor Dan Murphy announced at last Friday’s City Pier Park Committee meeting that funds to complete landscaping for Gulf Front Park may be forthcoming from the Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC).

Murphy said he was going to request funds from the group that controls tourist bed tax funds, and at the meeting, he said he had received word from TDC Director Elliott Falcione that he was recommending they give half of the $76,000 estimated to complet clearing and landscaping the remaining parcels of the beachfront park. It is TDC policy to have the participating cities pay half. He also said he had asked for up to $50,000, if needed, for the project. Murphy will have to address the TDC at its upcoming meeting.

At a Jan. 22 city commission meeting,

Murphy had good news about the first portion of the project.

“The northern two tracts have been cleaned,” he said. “We had “17,000 in the budget for that job, and it came in at around $16,000.”

The mayor said the city still has $9,000 left in the budget and the Environmental Education and Enhancement Committee might come up with ideas for that money, especially since the city would have to come back to pull out weeds that grow again.

The city commission decided to clear out a lot of the undergrowth in the beachfront park and make it into an educational and recreational area with native plants. The commission decided not to remove Australian pines, which are non-native but provide shade and homes for birds and other wildlife.

The plan splits the park into six tracts, with two of them cleared of invasive, exotic plants.

The contractor for the work was Shady Lady Horticulture Services, of Anna Maria.

20

www.amisun.com

THE SUN

FEBRUARY 4, 2015x

Tree house lawyer responds to city Tree house attorney David Levin made three arguments to the city’s response.

couple appealed it in October 2014.

Levin made three arguments to the city’s response.

BY PAT COPELAND

First argument

SUN STAFF WRITER | pcopeland@amisun.com

HOLMES BEACH – Tree House attorney David Levin has responded to the city’s response to an appeal to a circuit judge’s ruling.

The ruling upholds the Code Enforcement Board’s 2013 order to remove the violations or demolish the structure on the beach at Angelino’s Sea Lodge at 103 29th St. by Aug. 28, 2013.

In September 2013, the board imposed a fine of $100 per day on tree house owners Lynn Tran and Richard Hazen for failure to comply. The couple appealed both the order and the fine, and in March 2104, they were granted a stay from the order imposing the fine.

However, in September, the judge upheld the board’s original order, but the

H O L I S T I C

The first argument was that the city’s code is unconstitutional due to a conflict with Florida Statute (FS). The city’s code states that no structures are allowed in the area 50 feet inland from the Erosion Control Line (ECL).

However, Levin said that FS Section 161.053 allows the Department of Environmental Protection to grant permits for structures seaward of the Coastal Construction Control (CCCL) line which will not interfere with the natural functioning of the coastal system and that the CCCL is landward of the location of the ECL on the property.

He said the tree house would not interfere with the natural functioning of the coastal system because it is similar to pile support elevated viewing platforms, gazebos and lifeguard stands.

W E L L N E S S

C E N T E R

&

S PA

:LGLE:KLI< :LGLE:KLI< e &8JJ8>< e (I>8E@: ,B@E 8I< I< e & &8JJ8>< 8>< e ( (I>8E@: ,B@E 8I< %*ƫ.!(%!"ƫ,.+#. )/ƫƫđƫƫ *5ƫ%*/1. * !/ƫ !,0!

941.778.8400 | 2219 Gulf Drive N. | Bradenton Beach, FL 34217

Wellness.com llness.com License MM#28923

In addition, he said the purpose of Section 161.053 is to regulate construction seaward of the CCCL, not prohibit it, therefore, the city’s code is in conflict because it prohibits such construction, and the conflict violates another section of FS, making the 50foot setback unconstitutional.

Second and third arguments

Levin’s second argument was that findings of guilt based solely on hearsay result in a denial of due process.

He said the code board’s finding must be based on competent, substantial evidence, but the survey the board relied on the determine that the tree house is located within the 50-foot setback was hearsay.

Levin pointed out that the building official testified that he never set foot on the property or took measurements, nor did anyone else from the building department, but relied on the survey supplied by Tran and Hazen.

However, the survey did not contain the signature and certification of the licensed surveyor or the date of the survey. Further, the survey contained notes not made by the surveyor that stated that the structure encroaches into the setback, which constitute hearsay.

Levin’s third argument was that equitable estoppel bars the city from enforcement against Tran and Hazen.

He said Hazen asked an official in the building department whether the city had any regulations for building a tree house and was told it did not.

The petitioners “incurred substantial expenses in good faith reliance upon the statements made by the city’s official. It would be highly inequitable and unjust for the city to be permitted to now ‘snatch the welcome mat away’ from the petitioners causing them considerable hardship.”

In addition, Levine has asked the District Court of Appeal for oral arguments in the case.

www.amisun.com

FEBRUARY 4, 2015

THE SUN

21

AME PTO plans fund-raiser The annual Spring Fling dinner-auction offers parents a fun, relaxed evening of food, auctions, entertainment and dancing.

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

HOLMES BEACH – The Anna Maria Elementary School PTO is making plans for its largest annual fund-raiser, Spring Fling.

This event is for adults and it features a dinner from area food dispensers and restaurants, auctions for class art projects and theme baskets, entertainment and dancing plus babysitting.

It usually has themes such as

“Eighties Extravaganza,” “That 70s Party,” “Psychedelic ‘60s,” “Giddy Up Gala,” “Beach Bash,” “Pirates of Anna Maria,” “The Love Boat,” and “Dancing in the Streets.”

PTO President Amy Talucci chaired the meeting where members discussed a theme and one suggestion that got a lot of attention was “Dinner and a Movie,” where guests could dress up like movie stars and pose for the camera.

The PTO members are looking at Friday, May 15, for the date.

It will be held at the Anna Maria Island Community Center. The group will meet every Wednesday at 8:45 a.m.

In other news, the PTO changed the father-daughter dance to a student-parent dance with moms and sons welcome.

The PTO also changed the father-daughter dance to a studentparent dance with moms and sons welcome

It could be held at the Anna Maria Island Community Center on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14. The PTO is looking for a volunteer to organize the dance

Distinctive Homes for Casual Lifestyles CBC060236

www.GagneConstruction.com

22

www.amisun.com

THE SUN

FEBRUARY 4, 2015

The Deputy of the Month works here Dep. Steve Stewart rescued a woman from a suicide attempt with the help of Holmes Beach Officer Joel Fleischer.

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

ANNA MARIA – A woman is alive because of the heroics of a Manatee County Sheriff’s Office deputy and a Holmes Beach police officer. Last week, the Sheriff’s Office named Deputy Steve Stewart its Deputy of the Month for January.

On Nov. 18, 2014, Stewart was dispatched to a home in Anna Maria regarding a woman who had previously tried to kill herself with carbon monoxide poisoning from a running car. When he arrived, Stewart found a running car inside the locked garage.

He also found the house was locked.

Stewart forced his way into the house discovered the 44-year-old woman

tOM VAUGHT | SUN

Holmes Beach Officer Joel Fleisher and Manatee County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Steve Stewart saved a women’s life, and Stewart was honored as the Deputy of the Month. unconscious inside the car. He immediately called for EMS and shut off the engine. He checked the woman’s

heartbeat and breathing and found although her breathing was shallow, she was still alive. Stewart knew he

Firefighters, commissioners honored Former Fire Commissioner Larry Tyler said he would run for a seat again to push for his goal of consolidating fire departments countywide.

BY TOM VAUGHT

SUN STAFF WRITER | tvaught@amisun.com

West Manatee Fire Rescue held an awards ceremony Thursday, Jan. 29, at its Bradenton headquarters. Firefighters were honored for tenure and for accomplishments and the two veteran fire commissioners who were not reelected last November were recognized.

One-year service awards went to firefighters Zach Benshoff, Cameron Moeller, Chris Catarzi, Cameron Frazer, Thomas Price and Jacob Sulkowski.

Chad Brunner and Jorden McPherson got awards for five years of service.

Ten-year awards went to William “Buddy” Bowen, Ben Dillon, Bill Kimbrell, Keith Miller,

Jeff Phillips, Jeff Taylor and Mike Petrosino.

Capt. Randy Moore was honored for 15 years, Captain James Lee got an award for 20 years and Chief Andy Price, who is retiring this year, was honored for 35 years.

Firefighter Josh Adkins was Rookie of the Year, Firefighter of the Year went to Tyler MacDonald and Captain Ryan Moore was Fire Officer of the Year.

Former commissioners Scott Ricci and Larry Tyler received special recognition as well as pension board member Catherine Van Velzen.

Tyler was given a golden axe for his 18 years on the board and afterward, he said he was disappointed with the election results.

“I was hoping for another term,” he said. “I have more to accomplish like consolidating the departments in the county.”

He said he would run in the next election.

had to get the woman outside to fresh air, but she had disarmed the garage door opener mechanism, so he forced the door open.

That’s when Holmes Beach Officer Joel Fleisher arrived, having heard the radio traffic. They both returned to the car to get the woman out. Her pulse and breathing were weakening and he used a sternum rub to increase her breathing. The two continued to monitor her until EMS arrived.

Manatee County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Paul Davis praised Stewart and Fleischer for working together to save her life.

Stewart said after it was over, he had a bad headache, and Fleischer told him it was from breathing so much carbon monoxide.

The Sheriff’s Office awarded Stewart a plaque and a commemorative coin and Beall’s department store gave him a gift card.

Longevity reward Deputy Matt Kiernan, of the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office patrol on Anna Maria Island, was honored recently for his 10 years of membership in the Sheriff’s Office emergency services detail, which handles logistics for hostage situations.

He was given a commemorative coin and a plaque.

TOM VAUGHT | SUN

FEBRUARY 4, 2015

www.amisun.com

THE SUN

23

Legion to remember chaplains’ selfless heroism As their torpedoed ship sank in World War II, the Catholic priest, rabbi and two Protestant ministers gave their own life preservers to soldiers and went down praying with those who couldn’t escape.

On Saturday, Feb. 14, at 11 a.m., American Legion Kirby Stewart Post 24, 2000 75th St. W., Bradenton, will conduct its 57th annual memorial service for the four chaplains who are “now immortal,” said Post 24 Commander Richard Alvarez, who made the announcement.

On Feb. 3, 1943, the United States Army transport Dorchester was transporting more than 900 troops to an American base in Greenland. Aboard the ship were four chaplains of different faiths: Rev. George Fox (Methodist), Jewish Rabbi Alexander Goode, Rev. Clark Roling (Dutch Reformed), and Father John Washington (Roman Catholic).

Around 1 a.m., a German U-boat fired a torpedo that struck the Dorchester.

The explosion killed 100 men. Panic

Owner Steve Traves Outdoor Pro

set in among the men on board, many of them trapped below decks. The chaplains sought to calm the men and organize an orderly evacuation of the ship. As life jackets were passed out to the men, the supply ran out. The chaplains removed their own life jackets and gave them to others. They also helped as many men as they could into lifeboats and then linked arms and, saying prayers and singing hymns, went down with the ship Alvarez said the post’s memorial

service will include the harrowing, yet heroic story presented by four Post 24 legionnaires. Post 24’s nationally acclaimed Honor Guard, following the service, will assemble outside and fire a 21-gun rifle salute in remembrance of the chaplains’ bravery and sacrifice.

Following the service, free and open to the public, a lunch and beverages will be served to all in attendance. For additional information regarding the ceremony, call 941-794-3489 or e-mail post24@tampabay.rr.com.

AMI OUTFITTERS

PADDLEBOARDS & KAYAKS FLY-FISHING INSTRUCTION TECHNICAL CLOTHING

Coastal Gear & Apparel

YOUR PROFESSIONAL OUTDOOR STORE

7 days 9 to 6 505 Pine Avenue Anna Maria amioutfitters.com 941-254-4996

24

FEBRUARY 4, 2015

www.amisun.com

FEBRUARY 4, 2015

25

26

THE SUN

OUTDOORS

FEBRUARY 4, 2015

Fishing books save valuable time

A

lot of the things we learn over the years are the result of our time on the water. There’s no experience like firsthand experience. Having said that, there is a lot to learn from others who have come before us or who have extensive knowledge on a particular subject. In other words, there’s no reason for us to reinvent the wheel. Books on fishing and boating can inform us in ways that would take valuable time on the water to learn. There are a couple of books that will soon be released that I would recommend to anglers and boaters.

One of the books that I want to make you aware of is a Florida Sportsman Magazine re-release of a perennial favorite, "Baits, Rigs & Tackle," by Vic Dunaway and Rick Ryals.

The late Dunaway authored "Baits, Rigs and Tackle" in 1973, and it became the most widely used reference book in most angler’s library. Dunaway covered rigging for every kind of fishing from fresh water bream to the mighty blue

Reel Time RUSTY CHINNIS marlin, as well as covering bait from grubs to live bonito. In this extremely popular tome, he discusses all these subjects with an eye to make them effective at catching every fish that swims.

The book sold a million copies.

However it’s been 40 years since it was published, and obviously much has changed in the fishing world. New innovations like fluorocarbon and braided lines are now available to anglers as well as a new generation of tackle Dunaway could never have imagined. These products help anglers catch fish in many ways and are available in tackle shops, big box stores and on the Internet.

That’s why "Baits, Rigs and Tackle" has been republished in 2015.

I can’t think of anyone more knowledgeable about these subjects than Captain Rick Ryals and the staff of Florida Sportsman magazine. These people live (literally) and breathe fishing. It’s their job, and they have pooled their knowledge of the subject to present the ultimate how-to book and DVD. Available for beginning and expert anglers alike, there’s something for everyone in this book.

Ryals covers the subject in depth from fishing for panfish with a cane pole in a pond to high-speed trolling for wahoo in the ocean.

“Much of the information in the book has stood the test of time. The most effective ways to catch bass, sea trout or stripers hasn’t changed much over the past 25 years, and what you get in BRT is not the most of anything – but the best – of what you need to know to be a successful angler.

“We’ve added video to help readers understand these proven tips and techniques and the time to become a

successful angler can be cut in half,” explained Blair Wickstrom, publisher of Florida Sportsman magazine.

The two hundred and twenty six page book lists for $21.95 and will be available in the spring of this year.

Another notable release from Florida Sportsman is "Sportsman’s Best: Boats," an indispensable guide to buying, rigging and running your new or used boat. This book will help you make an informed decision if you’re looking for a recreational fishing boat from 14 to 38 feet that you can trailer. James Crounse and the editors of Florida Sportsman have created an insightful and up-todate book that will provide you with the information and guidance to make your time on the water more enjoyable and safer.

The book has 256 pages of valuable information, tips, helpful and practical guidance that you’ll find relevant to whatever type of boat you’re looking for, see reel time, page 27

FEBRUARY 4, 2015

www.amisun.com

reEl time: Fishing books can save time

Catching blues and bonito

FROM PAGE 26

whether its for fishing, family fun or both. All this information is richly illustrated with hundreds of full-color pictures. When you need help choosing the right boat, this book could prove invaluable. In “Sportsman’s Best: Boats” prospective buyers will find the most popular types of recreational boats for both fresh water and saltwater. Hull and deck design, types of motors and accessories that will meet the needs of a fisherman or a recreational boater are all covered.

In the book you’ll have access to trailering requirements, storage, safety guidelines, launching, docking and much more. All information examined is explained with helpful photos and illustrations. In addition, fishermen will find advice on rigging to maximize their time on the water with tips on how to find fish. Included with each book is a DVD that features author Dave East explaining the basic concepts of boat rigging, boat maintenance and safe operation.

Whatever your level of experience, I’m betting that you can benefit from reading books written by people that make fishing and boasting their livelihood. In addition books are a good way to get in a little arm chair angling when the weather or anything else keeps you off the water.

THE SUN

Captain Ray Markham

I rarely use topwater lures this time of year. Water temperature in the lower 60s moves inshore species to the bottom where they find water that’s heated by the sun in the shallows. So, when someone asks if I use topwater lures in the winter, my canned answer is no, since the majority of my fishing is inshore in backcountry waters. However, this isn’t always the case.

An often overlooked fishery here in the winter and spring is for near shore species like bluefish and false albacore, a.k.a. little tunny or bonito. Both can be found along the beaches just outside major passes feeding on baitfish that are flushed out of the bays.

Bluefish and false albacore are both schooling fish. To find them, look for signs of a surface disturbance or flocking birds. Both are voracious feeders with bluefish having razor sharp teeth. A school of these fish surround baitfish, forcing

Submitted

A Gulf coastal bluefish caught in the midst of a feeding frenzy off the beaches at Bean Point. them to the surface. Once on top, a vicious frenzy begins as these fish slash through the bait with mouths open, chomping and chewing.

Lures these fish will take are varied including spoons and jigs, but top-

27

water poppers and chuggers like the MirrOlure 87MR Popa Dog, Rapala Popper Pro, Saltwater Rebel Super Pop-R, and Storm Chug Bug all create a surface disturbance imitating a feeding frenzy, drawing attention from blues and bonito. These fish are so competitive, that when one fish strikes a lure, several try to get in on the action. The topwater strike is visual and about the most exciting one in fishing.

Bluefish range from 2 to 6 pounds here. Bonito average 10 to 12 pounds and are extremely strong fighters.

Strikes from both are visual and savage, so lures must be tough.

Hooks can get bent and straightened, but can be replaced with 4X strong hooks. Lures that are in the 4- to 5-inch size are just large enough so that they are not swallowed.

While most folks would put bluefish or bonito near the bottom of the list as table fare, for pure fishing excitement you need to pop the top for these brawlers.

28

www.amisun.com

THE SUN

FEBRUARY 4, 2015

Brockman leaves legacy at Chamber Mary Ann Brockman wants to concentrate on her family and herself after she trains her successor.

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

HOLMES BEACH – Her office is comfortable, but small, and there is a lot of history inside in the form of news stories and photos in boxes and scrapbooks. Mary Ann Brockman also has a lot of history in her head.

When she announced her intention to retire from leading the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce last month, it was a decision brought on by changes in her life and her desire to go a new direction.

“It has been a lot of fun. I love it, and I would probably not want to retire, but I think it’s time for a new outlook,” she said. “I need to spend time with my family. I have six grandchildren and one greatgrandchild, and I want to get to know them better and have them know me.”

Brockman was there 36 years ago when the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce was reformed from an earlier attempt to represent businesses.

Back then, there was an Island Businessman’s Association, which included mainly real estate businesses, but members needed an organization with a broader base. There had been a Chamber earlier, but it closed shop and in 1979, attorney Richard Carter drew up the papers and they were in business again.

tOM VAUGHT | SUN

Mary Ann Brockman says she will look forward spending more time with family when she retires, and she might do some volunteer work, but not at the Chamber.

The position of Chamber director was held by a part-time person for a while, and then a full time director was hired.

Later, Brockman was hired, and in 1999, she took over as executive director.

“When that happened, we had 160 members,” she said. “Now we have over 600.”

Brockman said she loves the social aspect of the job and might seek a voluntary position after she retires, but not at the Chamber.

“I’m too used to being in control,” she said with a laugh. “I’d like to take a month off to just relax and then look for something part-time.”

Asked about how she would like to be remembered, she said professional accomplishments.

“We have been consistent with helping the businesses,”

she said. “Our main focus has been on helping the businesses.”

She said one project she worked on was trying to save enough funds in case of an emergency, which is always a possibility during hurricane season. She said she wants the Chamber and its members to be able to rebuild after a disaster, although she hopes it never happens.

Brockman will stay on until a replacement is chosen and trained, which could take a few months, but she wants to be remembered as having her focus on the Chamber members.

“I feel like I’ve been doing what I should do, but I do it with passion,” she said. “I never though that I would be able to give it up.”

www.amisun.com

FEBRUARY 4, 2015

THE SUN

29

Sean Murphy charms the audience The restaurant owner told how he shops for quality ingredients for the dishes he serves.

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

HOLMES BEACH – He didn’t tell all, but Sean Murphy enlightened a packed house at the Island branch Library recently on how he gets the ingredients for the dishes that have won honors for Beach Bistro over the past 35 years, including a Zagat rating of 29 out of 30, the best of any restaurant in Florida.

It was a two-hour talk that started with a free sample of a tangy soup for everyone who attended.

“This might be the first time in history that an audience enjoyed alcohol at the library,” Murphy said.

He then spoke of the ingredients and where they came from including the maple syrup from Nova Scotia, which is the country where he was born, and his remark drew applause from some attendees who apparently live there. He said the syrup goes well with one of his new dishes, butternut squash pancakes. He said he received his first Golden Spoon award 25 years ago. He said his other establishment, Eat Here, follows the same rules of quality

ingredients. Murphy said the secret of his acclaimed offerings is buying from people he knows and trusts.

His speech was laced with humor, and he offered an insight into the politics of the Island today, where so many people are stressed about the sharp increase in tourism and the switch from owner-occupied homes in the residential areas to vacation rentals.

“At a meeting 22 years ago in which the audience was against building a tall bridge to replace a drawbridge, the late Snooks Adams was listening to everyone complain about how it would bring more people to the Island,” Murphy said. “As the meeting continued, Snooks pointed out, ‘I didn’t want all of you to come here.’”

Murphy said he gets his chickens from a quality supplier, his lamb from farms in Iowa and Colorado, and he buys only USDA Prime rated beef, adding only 1 percent of the beef purchased is rated prime.

Then, he talked about seafood.

“When some restaurants say they serve Gulf shrimp, that means from the Gulf of Thailand,” he said, adding the seafood in other countries is raised in water that is polluted with human and industrial waste because their water standards are not as strict as those in the United States.

He said he gets fresh seafood

from Cortez, and he talked about grouper.

“Some of the fish they call grouper is from a genetically linked type of fish, but it’s not what you would think it is,” he said. “Some dealers inject trisodium phosphate into the fish so the fish will retain water and weigh more, which means the dealers make more money.

“Some of the people who are used to that stuff don’t believe the real grouper is real,” he added. “We buy our grouper from AP Bell (in Cortez).”

He said that 90 percent of the seafood consumed in America comes from Asia and of that amount, only 2 percent is inspected.

Murphy talked about his attempts to expand, saying he opened other restaurants with some partners, but that led to a corporate mentality. He said when that happens, the bottom line shifts from the quality of the product to raising the profit.

Murphy drew loud applause after he covered subjects such as how to boil lobster.

He said the worst new idea of the year is “artisan toast,” which he described as “Wonder Bread with Jif (peanut butter),” at $10 a slice.

He reiterated how important it is for him to buy from people and families he knows to keep up the quality of the food he serves.

tOM VAUGHT | SUN

Restauranteur Sean Murphy walked among the audience as he talked about food and fine dining.

30

www.amisun.com

THE SUN

FEBRUARY 4, 2015

Peppertree Press founder talks about publishing Julie Ann James started Peppertree Magazine for writers and readers and then opened Peppertree Press to help other writers get published.

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

HOLMES BEACH â&#x20AC;&#x201C; In this age of instant communications where books can be rented to read online instead of bought, it is increasingly harder to get published.

Publishers donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to waste time or money on limited interest books, so many writers turn to the Internet to get someone to read their works.

Author Julie Ann James tried and failed several times before she took matters into her own hands and started Peppertree Press, in Sarasota. Her company is now publishing books by local authors, and in one case, a successful author who doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t like the way publishing houses market her books.

James spoke recently about her company and the publishing process before the Gulf Coast Writers club at the Island Branch Library.

James said she has been writing since she was a little girl, and she is an entrepreneur by spirit. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I raised three children and wrote â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Mommy Talk,â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I never sold one copy.â&#x20AC;?

She also said she saved the regret letters publishers sent when they turned down her submissions.

Jamesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; dislike for the system began when she wrote a childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s book and submitted it. The publisher asked for more, which she wrote and submitted, but it never published any of them.

She started Peppertree for writers and readers, and it was a success, but she wanted more. She decided to make publishing available for everyone, for a price. She can provide the author with proofreading, artwork for the cover and possibly inside the story, and she can distribute the authorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s publication through a worldwide network. She said she is selective about who her customers are, but not

tOM VAUGHT | SUN

Above: Julie Ann James displays one of her books while talking at the Island Branch Library.

Right: She shows some handwritten notes. She said when she writes, she doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t use notes or an outline. She just starts writing. due to their product. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t work with anybody who is rude, egotistical or is a plagiarist,â&#x20AC;? she said.

James also publishes poetry. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Poets are fun to work with,â&#x20AC;? she added.

No outlines

James has written a number of books, and she talked about how she does it.

She said she opens up the computer and starts keying in words. â&#x20AC;&#x153;No plan; no outlines,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Just start.â&#x20AC;?

One of her customers had been published by a big publisher, but she didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t like it. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Leslie Glass went to Peppertree instead of a big house because she said it was

faster to get her books printed and ready for distribution,â&#x20AC;? James said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;She also designs her own covers.â&#x20AC;?

James said she got a call from a person who wanted to make a Leslie Glass book into a movie.

While Peppertree helps authors get a book together and launched on big publisher Websites, her company does not promote the books. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the work for the author.

Since Peppertree Press opened, it has published 695 titles, 35 of which are now selling. The youngest author was a secondgrader and the oldest was 97. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We get a lot of personal remembrances,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They write them for their families.â&#x20AC;?

Peppertree Press published compilation books from the Gulf Coast Writers, and they will soon be working on another.

James has found her niche in the business world and through her efforts, many local authors are finding their niche in the world of writing.

 Â?Â? Â? Â?  ­ Â&#x20AC; Â&#x201A;Â&#x192;Â&#x201E;Â&#x2026;Â&#x2020;Â&#x2020; Â&#x2026; Â&#x192; ­ Â&#x2026;Â&#x2021; Â&#x201E;Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2026;

Â&#x2030;

www.amisun.com

FEBRUARY 4, 2015

THE SUN

31

Holmes Beach cancer survivor lobbies for cancer research Nancy Ambrose, of Holmes Beach, recently traveled to Washington, D.C. to call on Congress to support lifesaving policies that help people prevent and fight cancer. She joined 600 other American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) volunteers and staff from all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and Guam to urge lawmakers to increase federal funding for cancer research and prevention programs, co-sponsor legislation that would improve patients’ quality of life and support legislation to remove cost barriers to colorectal cancer screenings for seniors.

During her meetings with lawmakers and staff, Ambrose emphasized the importance of ensuring that lifesaving colorectal SUBMITTED cancer screenings are affordable ACS CAN Volunteer, Nancy Ambrose receives, top ten Lights of Hope recognition at a ceremony for seniors. Unfortunately, many in Washington DC. Americans avoid this lifesaving screening because they can’t afford the out-of-pocket costs. The new care, which addresses the pain, programs. She reminded lawmakhealth care law waives co-pays for stress and other side effects that ers of the critical importance of the colonoscopies in the private insurcan accompany a cancer diagnosis federal investment in the National ance market, but Medicare patients and treatment. Palliative care is Institutes of Health, the National can still be charged when a polyp appropriate for patients of any age, Cancer Institute and the Centers for is found and removed during the at any stage of any serious illness Disease Control. procedure. to improve their quality of life and As part of this year’s ACS CAN Ambrose and other advocates that of their loved ones. They asked Leadership Summit and Lobby Day, urged lawmakers to support legisla- lawmakers to co-sponsor bipartisan Ambrose and other advocates attion that corrects this problem and legislation that would make it read- tended training meetings and a Voleliminates the potential of surprise ily available to those who need it. unteer Recognition Dinner. Florida bills for many seniors.

Ambrose also voiced concern over ACS CAN Staff member Bobbie Advocates also told lawmakers the derailment of federal funding McKee said, “We are so proud that about the importance of palliative for cancer research and prevention Florida volunteer Nancy Ambrose

was recognized as 2014 ACS CAN ACT Leader of the Year. Florida volunteers were also included in the top ten Lights of Hope recognition. Nancy Ambrose made her way to the stage again for this accomplishment along with Anne and Len Yordon.”

On Lobby Day, ACS CAN volunteers and staff headed off to meet members of Congress in their signature blue ACS CAN shirts for meetings in each of the Senate and House offices. Lobby Day culminated with a candlelight ceremony called Lights of Hope with 16,000 lights around the U.S. Capitol Reflecting pool and spelling out Hope and Cure up the steps to the Capitol. Each light honored a cancer survivor or memorialized a loved one who lost the fight. The summit concluded on Wednesday with a keynote address by Olympic gymnast and ovarian cancer survivor Shannon Miller and a presentation of a corporate recognition award to CVS Health’s Thomas Moriarty for their leadership in promoting public health and wellness by removing tobacco products from their stores.

"This year alone 114,560 people will be diagnosed with cancer in Florida. On behalf of everyone who has ever heard those terrifying words, 'You have cancer,' I made sure that I emphasized we need to make the fight against cancer a national priority,” Ambrose said.

Sign up for Citizen Fire Academy The West Manatee Fire Rescue District will be holding its Citizen Fire Academy, starting Tuesday, Feb. 17, at the administration building, 6417 Third Avenue West, Bradenton. The academy is for residents who want to learn more about their fire district and how it handles emergencies.

There will be a series of four ses-

sions. They are free, but registration is required. Sessions will meet weekly on Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m.

Participants will tour West Manatee Fire Rescue facilities and the Manatee County Emergency Operations Center.

Session 1 includes apparatus, special operations, EMS code demonstrations/CPR/AED, fire and EMS training,

reserve and cadet programs and a fire extinguisher demonstration.

Session 2 includes an Emergency Communications Center tour and overviews of emergency management, the communications center and EMS. Session 3 includes a station tour, various drills and a Marine 7 display.

Session 4 includes fire commission-

ers, the district’s strategic plan, the firefighters’ association, the Terry Ferrell Foundation and graduation.

Log on to the fire district website at www.wmfr.org for a schedule of classes and to fill out an application.

For further information, call the district administration at 941-761-1555.

Sweet Adelines Show Featuring “Main Street” International Barbershop Medalists

2 pm Sat.,

Feb.14th

$18 (cash or check)

Neel Performing Arts Center at State College of FL 5840 26th St. W., Bradenton

792-6427

32

www.amisun.com

THE SUN

Learn Chinese brush painting A workshop with Renee Vickery on Chinese brush painting is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 11, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at CrossPointe Fellowship in Holmes Beach. For more information, call 941-778-6694 or visit www.amiartistsguildgallery.com.

Left, "Fallen Lotus Petal," by Renee Vickery SUBMITTED

Learn to make silver jewelry Artist Betsy Kennedy will demonstrate the art of making sterling silver jewelry on Saturday, Feb. 7, from 10:30 a.m. to noon, at Island Gallery West, 5368 Gulf Drive in Holmes Beach.

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

â&#x20AC;&#x2122; n i m m a l S n o m l $ .99 Sa

See

At Yo u

OB AM

!

Any ny 2 Salmo Salmon Dinners

21

S

Every Wednesday John ohnn

Ga aaryy Gary

Tim

Steve

n ses whe o r s d e e

W h o n

Lynn

FREE

a Margarita On Us!

A

Limit one per person, per visit. Expires Feb. 28, 2015 With this coupon and purchase of entrĂŠe.

Good at all 3 locations. Ages 21+ only.

HAPPY HOUR EVERY DAY! 11am-5pm & 8pm-close LANDSIDE

CORTEZ

ELLENTON

941.758.7880

941.792.0077

941.721.7773

(1.5 miles north of SRQ Airport)

(5 min from Anna Maria Island)

( Take I-75 Exit 224 west)

6906 14th St. W. on US 41

6696 Cortez Rd.

1525 51st Ave. E.

FEBRUARY 4, 2015

FEBRUARY 4, 2015

www.amisun.com

Group prepares for ULI The Urban Land Institute study group is finalizing details for the ULI team’s arrival on Feb. 22 to conduct interviews for its study of the Island.

The group decided last week that the ULI team should take a boat tour of the Island’s bay side and Long Bar Pointe, across Sarasota Bay from the Island.

“It would be beneficial for them to see the habitat that we will lose with Long Bar Pointe,” committee member and environmental coordinator Nancy Deal said.

The group discussed a possible police escort for the land-based bus tour of the Island due to traffic con-

THE SUN

gestion in Bradenton Beach.

The Sandbar restaurant was chosen to cater a reception for the ULI team at The Studio at Gulf and Pine.

Robinson wagon tour Roll through Robinson Preserve in a covered wagon on Saturday, Feb. 7, from 9 to 10 a.m.

Your tour guide will explain the preserve's history, resident wildlife, flowers and preserve highlights.

The program is suitable for all ages.

Arrive a minimum of 15 minutes in advance. Seats are available on a first-come, first served basis.

33

Valentine’s date at Robinson Celebrate Valentine's Day early on Tuesday, Feb. 10, from 6 to 8 p.m. with master naturalist Melissa and chefs Brian and Aedan by taking your mate on a wild date to Robinson Preserve.

Enjoy a spectacular sunset from the observation tower, we'll learn about what really happens with the birds and the bees. Love is in the air as we discuss the courting strategies of the preserve's resident wildlife.

Afterwards, we'll relax and whip up a delicious desert over a campfire.

The program is suitable for ages 16 and up. Reserve to 941-748-4501, ext. 6039.

34

THE SUN

REAL ESTATE

FEBRUARY 4, 2015

The joy of lower interest rates

Y

ou’re probably following closely the cost of a tank of gas and are really happy these days when you drive in and fill up. But have you also noticed the drop in the price of getting a home mortgage? If not, you need to pay close attention.

Whether you’re in the market for a new home or are considering refinancing an existing mortgage, what goes on in the mortgage interest rate market is something that has an effect on all aspects of the economy. Overall the real estate market has been performing well below what was anticipated on a national level.

Slow moving home sales have the effect of also slowing down other indicators in the economy like the sale of furniture, appliances, hiring of workers in the building trades, as well as any service that is required to maintain a home. It’s one big interrelated system that trickles down from one level to another starting

Castles in the Sand Louise Bolger with the sale of a home.

Now, however, we may start to see the market spring back to life with interest rates dropping to levels not seen in almost two years. In mid-January the average rate on a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage was 3.73 percent, the lowest since May 2013 per Freddie Mac. For burrowers with high credit scores, the rates can even be lower.

What this means to a buyer who applies for a $300,000 mortgage at a rate of 3.73 percent compared to what was considered a good rate towards the end of last year of 4.50 percent is the difference of $135 a month. This extra savings

not only gives homeowners more spending power to pump into the economy as a whole, but also allows many burrowers to qualify for a higher mortgage on a more expensive home.

Lower rates could also benefit homeowners who want to refinance existing mortgages, which also could get a boost with the decision by the White House to cut the fees charged on certain federal loans. Banks point out, however, that there is a smaller pool of homeowners who want to refinance since currently two thirds of fixed-rate mortgages have interest rates of 4.5 percent or below.

Lenders are aggressively calling their clients who have existing mortgages with interest rates over 4 percent and encouraging them to refinance at this time.

According to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association, mortgage applications rose 49 percent in the first week of January from the previous week and 30 percent from a year ago, so obviously at

this point the lower rates are attracting homeowners to refinance. As we discussed last week, there are fees attached to new mortgages, and these fees also apply to refinanced mortgages.

In addition to bank fees, lenders will require new title searches, title insurance, survey, escrow account and insurance payments just as if you were purchasing a new home. The total cost of these fees vs. the length of time you plan to live in your home have to be considered against the monthly savings when deciding if a refinance is practical.

The latest drop in rates was unexpected coming on the heels of a typically slow period during the holidays, but if rates continue to fall, it will really start to get everyone’s attention. Maybe falling mortgage interest rates aren’t quite as exciting as falling gasoline prices, but they could have a larger big picture effect on your finances.

www.amisun.com

FEBRUARY 4, 2015

THE SUN

35

Sidewalk construction discussed City and state officials are looking at an 18-month timetable for the construction of a new sidewalk along Gulf Drive.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH – The estimated timetable for the construction of a sidewalk along the west side of Gulf Drive was discussed during a recent Island Transportation Planning Organization meeting.

Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) representative Roxann Lake said the construction of a sidewalk that would extend from the BeachHouse restaurant to the Gulf Drive Café would take approximately 18 months to complete.

This announcement caught Mayor Bill Shearon somewhat by surprise, and he voiced his disappointment that the long-discussed $75,000 to $80,000 FDOT-funded project would not be completed sooner. Shearon said his interest in the project dates back to discussions that took place five years ago.

When contacted later in the week,

joe hendricks | sun

A state-funded sidewalk is in the works for this stretch of land west of Gulf Drive, near the Cortez Road intersection.

FDOT Public Information Specialist Robin Stublen said the recentlydiscussed time table takes into account the six months it takes for FDOT’s rights of way division to write detailed descriptions of the privately-owned

properties on which the sidewalk will be located, if the needed land easements can be secured by the city.

The FDOT property descriptions are linked to Bradenton Beach Police Department Lt. John Cosby’s ongoing efforts to

secure the property easements from the Imperial House, Gulf Watch and Bridgeport condominium complexes.

The easements are required because the sidewalk is proposed to be built on undeveloped land west of Gulf Drive that is owned by the three condominium communities located east of Gulf Drive, just north of the Cortez Road intersection. The privately owned, undeveloped tracts of beachfront property provide beach access for condo residents.

“Nothing’s really changed and the important thing is we’re moving forward with this project,” Stublen said, noting that a sidewalk does already exist along the east side of Gulf Drive in that area.

While attending Friday’s pier opening ceremony, Cosby said, “The main thing is they (FDOT) haven’t said no, and we are still working on the easements.”

In regard to the acquiring the needed easements, Cosby said it appears as though the two of the condominium community boards have the authority to grant the easements, while one of the easements may require the approval of the individual unit owners.

36

www.amisun.com

THE SUN

FEBRUARY 4, 2015

joe hendricks | sun

From left, Courtney Pledge and Ray Fowler assist the city with its cell phone upgrades.

City upgrades cell phones The new phones and data cards will improve mobile communications for employees and police officers.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH – Ray Fowler and Courtney Pledge from the Verizon Wireless Government Sales Team set up shop inside city hall Thursday morning, delivering and activating new iPhones, Samsung cell phones and wireless data cards for city officials, employees and police officers.

City Treasurer and Finance Director Sheila Dalton explained the conversion.

“When I started working for the city, the average Sprint bill was around $1,100. When I was checking into lowering the city’s landline service, I was informed that we could get on the state’s contracted rate, so I stayed with Sprint and got our average monthly bill lowered to around $850,” she said.

“Chief Speciale sent me a quote from his contact at Verizon sent him.

I reviewed it, gained some clarifica-

tion, and we thought migrating the cell service would save the city on service costs. I am expecting our monthly bill to run around $600 per month with Verizon, and we will be getting free mobile-to-mobile minutes so employees out in the field can communicate with each other,” she added, noting that because the city received a $250 credit for each old phone turned in, the upgrade resulted in no upfront costs.

Only a handful of the new phones are smart phones, and Speciale said the phones provided to officers and employees have a 200-minute limit in addition to the unlimited mobile to mobile minutes. He emphasized the upgraded devices are intended for city business, not for frequent personal use, and those who exceed their limits will be responsible for any additional usage fees.

The seven new data cards will provide better connectivity for the department’s police cruisers.

“This is part of the transition to our new cell tower,” Speciale said, in reference to Verizon being one of the tower’s two primary carriers.

Bridge maintenance continues Crews on Cortez Bridge are working on the bridge piles and pile covers, installing bridge span hatches, and completing electric work in the bridge

tender house. The Florida Department of Transportation urges motorists to use caution while driving on the bridge.

Experience waterfront living at Anna Maria’s newest and most exclusive community.

Gated, deed

restricted waterfront community starting in the $400s Model homes starting at $1,395,000 Deep water canals with no bridges to open water Lots

Contact Kelly Baldwin today for more information. www.AnglersCoveAMI.com

Kelly Baldwin REALTOR®

941.404.9396

KellyBaldwin@michaelsaunders.com KellyBaldwin.michaelsaunders.com

61 S. Boulevard of the Presidents | Sarasota, FL 34236 941.388.4447 | michaelsaunders.com

FEBRUARY 4, 2015

www.amisun.com

THE SUN

5871 Gulf Of Mexico Dr Longboat Key Christina Landry

37

#A3996985 $7,900,000 941-376-4498 941-388-4447

Familiar Faces Exceptional Service International Relationships AC,CITY,ADR,OH,OHEAD

510 58th St Anna Maria Island Cheryl Roberts

AC,CITY,ADR,OH,OHEAD

6024 Shore Acres Drive Bradenton Jody Shinn

AC,CITY,ADR,OH,OHEAD

272 Sapphire Lake Drive # 202 Bradenton Robin Bowman

AC,CITY,ADR,OH,OHEAD

12510 Harbour Landings Drive Cortez Patty Brooks

AC,CITY,ADR,OH,OHEAD

#M5841853 $2,699,000 4913 Gulf Drive Anna Maria Island 941-266-1450 941-748-6300 Kimberly Roehl

#A4111958 $1,745,000 941-447-9988 941-748-6300

AC,CITY,ADR,OH,OHEAD

#A4112169 $1,400,000 3908 Bayside Dr Bradenton 941-705-5704 941-748-6300 Cheryl Roberts

#M5846838 $1,299,000 941-266-1450 941-748-6300

AC,CITY,ADR,OH,OHEAD

#A3994191 $644,000 7001 Gulf Of Mexico Drive #23 Longboat Key #A4108442 $599,000 941-779-5000 941-907-9595 Maureen Horn 941-539-3384 941-383-7591

AC,CITY,ADR,OH,OHEAD

#A4112033 $460,000 3771 Rainforest Court Bradenton 941-545-1194 941-748-6300 Maria Christenson

#A4110798 $389,900 941-920-3583 941-748-6300

michaelsaunders.com s 4400 Manatee Avenue W s Bradenton, FL s 941.748.6300

38

www.amisun.com

THE SUN

FEBRUARY 4, 2015

B est E scape A nyone C an Have

PAT GRANT | SUBMITTED

Just married Carol Lewis and Charlie Azizi were married in a small casual ceremony Saturday, Jan. 31, at Bayfront Park in Anna Maria. From left to right in front are: Chantelle Lewin, Carol Lewis, George Wilson and Dee Brady. In the back row are Wayne Lewin and Charlie Azizi. Congratulations Carol and Charlie from all your friends at The Sun.

parking: Residents hammer plan FROM PAGE 1

to qualify for beach renourishment and she added, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I consider this a huge change, and we want to make sure it will solve our problems.â&#x20AC;?

79th Street residents speak

Several residents of 79th Street came to Tuesdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work session to object to the plan.

Rose Mary Patterson said she was attending with four other residents of 79th Street who share her sentiments and said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have no parking problem. Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s being proposed doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t apply to us.â&#x20AC;?

She asked if the question would be on a ballot for a vote. â&#x20AC;&#x153;No. It wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be on the ballot,â&#x20AC;? Titsworth responded. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a proposal. Our planner is looking into it, and we asked the attorney to draft an ordinance because that brings out things we may not see.

Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re at the very beginning to see if itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s feasible.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;If there is no parking problem in front of your house, why would you want to buy a permit?â&#x20AC;? Patterson asked. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I put shell parking in front of my house for my guests and people knock on my door and ask if they can park and walk to the beach. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I say, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Help yourself. Enjoy the beach.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; They donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t run over my plants, they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t leave garbage or human waste. No one in my immediate area has parking prob-

lems from my home all the way to Marina Drive.â&#x20AC;?

Wendy Holcomb, of 79th Street, agreed with Patterson and said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t like the idea of paying $10 for vehicles to park in front of my home or for my guests. The things Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m reading in the paper are scaring me.â&#x20AC;?

Commissioner Jean Peelen said it is â&#x20AC;&#x153;being turned into an issue of those people over there that have a problem. People have been coming to me and saying itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not just a beach problem, but also one for streets with houses with three or four of those rental houses with four to eight bedrooms. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They have to have eight parking places but thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 30 people and whatever number of cars parked up and down the street.

People are pleased that weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re thinking about restricting parking on the right of way.â&#x20AC;?

More objections at meeting

Perico resident Ed Siemaszko said he and his wife come to the beach at 48th Street a couple of times a week and stressed, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I assure you I have never dropped a diaper or a used condom or left trash anywhere. I have never seen the horrible descriptions that some local residents claim people leave there. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If you enact this proposal, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll have to find somewhere else to spend my money. Excluding

non-residents from the beaches is a bad idea. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not the solution to your parking problem.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a boldface arrogant attempt to transform the public beach adjacent to Holmes Beach into the private playground for beachfront residents.â&#x20AC;?

Jerry West, a member of the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s beautification board, said the plan will inconvenience many people, and the committee has not done enough planning and study on the issue. Alan Wurzbach agreed and said the committee has not prepared a proper summary.

Resident Sue Wheeler said if the rentals are causing a problem, make renters park on the rental property, and if the residents on some streets are having a problem, address those streets, not the entire city. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is no problem in my neighborhood. Why should I have to pay to park in front of my house?â&#x20AC;? she asked.

Deb Wing, of the AMI Chamber of Commerce, said the Chamber promotes tourism and pointed out, â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are trying to keep access to the Island free â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the trolley, the bridges, the parking. We have major competition for tourists, and we gain those people by giving them free access.â&#x20AC;?

Titsworth advised residents to watch for the issue to return to the agenda and write letters stating their opinions.

1301&35: ."/"(&.&/5 p 3&"- &45"5& 4"-&4 p 7"$"5*0/ 3&/5"-4

Contact Us Today!

Rentals@IslandVacationProperties.com www.IslandVacationProperties.com p

www.amisun.com

FEBRUARY 4, 2015

mayor: Suggestion FROM PAGE 1

The current structure consists of one commissioner from each of the four wards, and a voting mayor who serves as chair and administrator.

The mayor’s position pays $9,600 a year.

Shearon suggested a salary increase for a hybrid mayor-manager who could serve three consecutive three-year terms, while commissioners remain limited to three twoyear terms.

Other suggestions include limiting the number of times an absent commissioner can participate via video conferencing and requiring voter approval to sell, buy, vacate, or lease city property.

Message delivered

Shearon presented his “CRC considerations” in an e-mail sent to committee chair Rick Bisio on Tuesday, Jan. 27, one day prior to the volunteer committee’s first meeting.

He also sent it to City Attorney Ricinda Perry, the city clerk and Commissioner Jan Vosburgh, the commission’s CRC liaison.

His e-mail signaled a departure from procedure discussed earlier this month when the CRC was formed. At that meeting, Shearon agreed with Perry and Vice Mayor Jack Clarke that commissioners should submit their written suggestions to Vosburgh during commission meetings or work sessions, and Vosburgh would deliver them to Bisio.

Bisio did not mention the e-mail at Wednesday’s CRC meeting, which dealt mainly with organizational and procedural matters.

Ideas explained

Thursday morning, Shearon discussed his suggestions.

Addressing the idea of a non-voting mayor, he said, “This takes the mayor out of the legislative loop. The mayor would carry out policies and procedures legislated by the commission, and the mayor could talk to commissioners and commissioners could talk to the mayor, like they do in Anna Maria and Holmes Beach. That way you can get things done.”

If voting wards were eliminated, Shearon believes voters would still ensure that one area of the city is not over-represented or under-represented.

Shearon was asked why he did not present his suggestions at a public meeting, as previously discussed.

“It’s very cumbersome. I would have to fill out an agenda request and have back-up.

I just exercised my right, just as any other citizen, to provide information to the committee,” he said.

When asked if he felt directly e-mailing Vosburgh was a Sunshine violation, Shearon said, “We did not have a two-way communication. I can send anything to any commis-

sioner I want; that’s my right. It would be a Sunshine violation if Jan responded. Then it’s a two-way communication, and the violation is hers. If I respond to her response, then both of us are in trouble,” he said.

Shearon’s e-mail did not include a “do not respond” disclaimer, but Vosburgh did not respond.

Delivery questioned

Clarke was among those to express concern about the mayor’s actions.

“Based on the discussion we had at the Jan. 8 meeting, it was my understanding that we developed a clear-cut path of communication with the Charter Review Committee that would not violate Sunshine Law. Mayor Shearon unilaterally chose to circumvent that. In addition, by sending an e-mail and copying it directly to a sitting commissioner, who is in a position to vote on the finished product, this could be a violation of Sunshine Law,” Clarke said.

During Wednesday’s CRC meeting, Perry reminded the committee that they too are subject to Sunshine restrictions regarding communications outside of a public forum.

Afterwards, when asked about Shearon’s e-mail, Perry said, “For two or more elected officials or committee members to communicate verbally or in writing on the content of the charter review work product outside of a public meeting could result in Sunshine violations, because the committee will be presenting it to the commission for official action.”

THE SUN

More legal opinions

39

Michael Barfield, a legal consultant for a firm that specializes in Sunshine litigation, agrees.

“I believe the city attorney is correct. The Florida Attorney General has warned about one-way communications between public officials and strongly discouraged them. The mayor’s cavalier attitude about the Sunshine Law is very risky. The law applies to every step in the decision-making process, and one-way communication is certainly part of the process,” Barfield opined.

Attorney Robert Lincoln included two alleged Sunshine violations in a lawsuit filed against Shearon last year, and he weighed in on Shearon’s interpretation of what constitutes a violation.

“There are opinions from the Attorney General that indicate that an e-mail from one commissioner to other commissioners that is maintained as public record and does not directly solicit a response is not a violation, unless other commissioners reply. But, it comes with clear warnings: if a commissioner replies, both are in violation because both engaged in the discussion, and in my view, the commissioner who solicited the discussion is more culpable. The Attorney General’s office has also been very critical of the publication of positions to other commissioners. He is playing a dangerous game,” Lincoln said, noting that he supports the idea of a non-voting mayor.

40

THE SUN

SPORTS

FEBRUARY 4, 2015

Giants fall short to the Packers

BY MONICA SIMPSON SPECIAL TO THE SUN

Giants Packers

33 45

Under the quarterbacking leadership of Charles Buky, the Packers brought their season record to 2-2 with an exciting win over the Giants Thursday in the Anna Maria Island Community Center’s 30 and over co-ed flag football league. Despite great diversity and teamwork, the Giants could not capture their first win, but kept it close until the last 10 minutes of the game.

With seven touchdowns, Scott Flisio was the target of Buky throughout night.

The second play of the game, at their own fiveyard line, Buky found Flisio deep down field for the first score of the evening. With the missed extra point, the Packers quickly went up 0-6. The one-two punch of Flisio-Buky soon connected again taking the game to 0-13.

The Giants answered back with 12 minutes left in the first half. Quarterback Jason Sato lead his team down the field and ended the strong drive with a run

by Jesse Brisson from the Giants 10-yard line. Bris-

monica simpson | submitted

Quarterback Jason Sato makes a play.

son’s speed and agility tightened the score to 6-13.

It would not take long before Buky found Flisio again to put six more points on the scoreboard for the Packers. With a surprise option, Sato pitched the football to Greg Ross, who launched a bomb from the Giants’ own 15-yard line to Sato, who was able to beat one defender to score the second touchdown for

the Giants. Frank Agnelli scored the first point after of the evening, taking the score to 13-19.

In the high scoring contest, the Packers continued to drive the ball with a pass taking Will Schenerlein to the Giants’ 10-yard line that lead to another touchdown.

The Giants continued to knock on the Packers’ door answering with a touchdown and extra point of

Ladies take advantage of good weather Another big turnout for the Jan. 27 Tuesday morning golf. A low net, low gross game was played along with the first round of the President’s Cup handicap tournament. A Flight: Helen Pollock, first low gross with a 40; Debi Wohlers, second low gross with 41; Tootie Wagner, Mary Lou Dreier, Joy Kaiser, first low net tied with 32. B Flight: Carol Patterson, first low gross with 42; Joyce Brown, second low gross with 45; Carol Duncan,

first low net with 28; Sue Wheeler, Meredith Slavin; tied 2nd with 31. Flight C: Carol Lathrop, Sally Martin; first low gross tied with 49; Terry Westby, Jan Turner; first low net tied with 29. Flight D: Marcia O’Brien; first low gross with 50; Valerie Tilelli, Susan vanOrsdel; first low net with 36. Helen Pollock and Marty Clark had birdies, and Helen Pollock, Billie Jean Gordon and Judy Christensen had chip-ins.

their own by Agnelli. With seven seconds left on the clock, the Packers scored another touchdown pass from Buky to Flisio. The extra point was scored by the Packers’ lone female player, Katlyn Lemmond.

The hurry up offense of the Giants successfully ended the first half of the game with another long ball

by Sato to Agnelli just as the last second ticked off the clock. With the point after, the Giants found themselves only down by one touchdown.

The back and forth battle continued into the second half. The Giants started the half off with a bang, quickly scoring seven points with a short pass to Brisson, who ran it in for the touchdown.

Ross tied up the game with his extra point reception, bringing the score to 33-33.

Bucky hit Flisio again after a 20-yard gain by

Jim Ptack, scoring another touchdown. The Giants took over possession looking to tie up the score again, but were held to three snaps before having to give the ball back to the Packers. Uncharacteristically, the Packers were not able to find the end zone during this possession, giving the Giants another chance to tie the game.

The Giants’ controlled the ball, marching it down the field and gaining first down yardage with a short throw from Sato to Ross across mid-field. Sato hit Ross again for a 10-yard gain.

Seeing the end zone, Sato scrambled and was chased out of the pocket by Lemmond. Just before crossing the line of scrimmage, Sato launched the ball to Ross for a large gain short of the goal line. The Giants offense walked off the field disappointed after Sato could not connect with Agnelli.

Flisio caught two more passes for the Packers. On third down, Buky hits Flisio long just past the Giant defender for the last Packer touchdown of the evening.

With 59 seconds left in the game, the Giants worked the field. Sato’s long pass to Agnelli was tipped by Flisio causing an incomplete pass.

Two more Giants’ snaps closed out the game with a 33-45 victory for the Packers.

The Packers face the Raiders at 8 p.m. on Thursday.

The Raiders had their first loss of the season against the still undefeated Chargers. At 9 p.m., the Giants play the Vikings, who beat the Chiefs in last week’s match up. The Chiefs go head-to-head against the Chargers at 7 p.m. to start the night’s adult football action.

www.amisun.com

FEBRUARY 4, 2015

TOWN CRIER

Story time at the library Misty Wright, the children’s librarian, reads stories on Tuesday, Feb. 3, at 10 a.m. Kids between toddler and five years of age are welcome as are their parents at the Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. For more information, call the library at 778-6341.

Group discusses ending it all Einstein’s Circle, a free discussion through the Lifelong Learning Academy, will ask,” Whose life is it anyway?” on Wednesday, Feb. 4, at The Studio at Gulf and Pine at 10101 Gulf Drive, Anna Maria from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

They will delve into the use of unproven drugs and choosing one’s own time and manner of death. No registration is required.

Writers discuss hero’s journey The Gulf Coast Writers will meet on Wednesday, Feb. 4, at 1:15 p.m. at the Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Lindy Tucker, artist and author will lead a lively discussion of the archetypical hero’s journey. Listen and learn from Tucker’s very personal experiences chronicled with love and humor in the story of “Oddvark and The Yellow Kazoo.”

For further information, contact Sylvia Price at 778-3209.

Book club meets The Mana-Tweens Book Club meets at the Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, on Wednesday, Feb. 4, at 6 p.m. to discuss a book. For information on the group, call 778-6341.

41

Manatee County does not allow dogs within the park. The market is wheelchair accessible. Contact Nancy Ambrose at 941-518-4431 for more information.

Cheeseheads to gather It’s time for those Green Bay Packers fans to pour into St. Bernard Catholic Church, 248 S. Harbor Drive, Holmes Beach. The 57th Annual Wisconsin Day celebration will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 11, starting at 10 a.m. for registration.

This event, which has been held annually since 1957, brings together Wisconsinites who moved here or are vacationing here. Attendees are urged to bring a potluck dish. Slow cookers and crock pots are welcome. The organizers will supply baked beans, coffee and hot water for tea.

There will be live polka music for dancing or listening, 50/50 raffles and door prizes. The cost is $5 per person, and the event lasts until about 2:30 p.m. For more information, call Ken at 941-746-2312 or Joy at 941-707-0149.

THE SUN

Garden club to invest in projects

Annual sale set

The Church of the Annunciation, 4408 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, is holding its annual White Elephant Sale on Saturday, Feb. 14, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

In addition to a wide array of bargains, members also will be offering soup, sandwiches, Church of the Annunciation pickles and baked goods. Admission is free, but early birds can shop Friday, Feb. 13, from 4 to 6 p.m. for $5. For more information, call the church at 778-1638.

Local author addresses retirement Festival for Butterfly Park set Holmes Beach author Dan Hazewski, of the recently published book, “Exit Right: Avoiding Detours and Roadblocks Along the Baby Boomer Highway,” will be at the Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, on Thursday Feb. 5, at 2 p.m.

His presentation, “Exit Right: Avoiding Crisis in Aging,” offers a humorous and interactive approach addressing many of the issues that may face us as we age.

Hazewski has been a financial planner for more than 30 years. “Exit Right” and this presentation are the result of those years. He is a selfproclaimed “snowflake,” spending his time between Anna Maria and his northern home in upstate New York since 2002. The presentation is free and open to the public.

Try your luck at bingo 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 information.

Island author speaks Anna Maria author and composer Alice Moerk will speak on creativity in her research as she writes her novellas at the Dancing Crane Art Gallery in the Village of the Arts, 1019 10th Ave. W., Bradenton, on Saturday, Feb. 7, at 2 p.m. Moerk’s two most recent novels are “NewFoundSouls” and “PasTimes.”

The event is sponsored by the National League of Pen Women as a compliment to its winter art exhibit at the gallery.

Supporters of the Anna Maria Island Butterfly Park at Holmes Beach City Hall are holding an arts and crafts show on Saturday, Feb. 7, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 8. from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Holmes Beach City Hall field, 5801 Marina Drive.

There will be vendors offering jewelry, glass, photography, art, apparel, food and more, just in time for one’s valentine. Local favorite Patchouli will provide the music and sell CDs on Saturday. Bring a lawn chair and enjoy the music.

Admission is free, and there’s ample parking. Contact Terri at 352-344-0657 or Nancy at 941-518-4431 or visit tnteventsinc.com for more information.

Celebrate Mardi Gras The Church of the Annunciation, 4408 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, is holding its Mardi Gras celebration on Saturday, Feb. 7, at 5:30 p.m. There will be an open salad bar, a choice of three entrees, dessert and dancing with a live DJ. The cost is $20 per person. Call 778-1638 for reservations.

Beach Market scores a touchdown For those who want to enjoy extra fresh produce for their Super Bowl feast, the Beach Market at Coquina Beach regularly has produce vendors with items straight from the farm.

The market, at 2650 Gulf Drive S., Bradenton Beach, at the trolley stop/ concession stand area has unique vendors, and it has added many new ones. In addition to produce, they offer arts and crafts, jewelry, local artists, scarves, apparel, pottery, purses, health and beauty items, music and more.

The Anna Maria Garden club has some money for groups or individuals working on gardening or environmental projects. Donations to these applicants will be awarded in April.

Each year the club donates to groups that exemplify its mission to stimulate the love of gardening and the protection of plants and birds. Applicants may write to the Anna Maria Garden Club, c/o Zan Fuller, 529 67th St., Holmes Beach, FL 34217. Letters must be received by Feb. 27. For more information, call 778-2607

Social bridge at Roser Enjoy social bridge every Monday at noon at Roser Church, 512 Pine Ave, Anna Maria. For more information 941-778-0414 or just show up.

Play bridge at Annunciation Enjoy duplicate bridge every Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. at the Church of the Annunciation, 4408 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach. For information, call 896-5154.

Sweet Adelines to perform The Magic of Manatee Sweet Adelines Chorus performs “A Topsy Turvy Year” on Saturday, Feb. 14, at 2 p.m. at Neel Performing Arts Center, 5840 26th St. W., Bradenton. Guest performers Main Street, 2014 International Men’s Barbershop Quartet Bronze Medalists, will also make an appearance. Tickets are $18. Call Una at 941792-6427 or log onto www.magicofmanatee.com for more information.

Fishing fun for kids The Bridge Street Merchants, Cast N Cage restaurant, The Lot Garden Shell Design, Island Time Bar and Grill, Silver Surf Resort, the Drift In and Fish Hole Mini Golf and the Anna Maria Island Sun are sponsoring a free Kids Fishing Tournament on the Bridge Street Pier on Saturday, Feb 21, starting at 10:30 a.m. This event is for kids 12 and younger.

Bait will be provided, and a limited number of fishing poles will be available for use. Participating anglers will be treated to free grilled cheese sandwiches. Registration will begin at 10:30 a.m., and fishing runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

42

www.amisun.com

THE SUN

BEACH BEAT Anna Maria

1/25, 5:10 p.m., assist other agency, 200 block of South Bay Boulevard. The deputy assisted EMS on an overdose.

Bradenton Beach

1/22, 5:45 p.m., disturbance, resisting without violence, Bridge Street Pier, 200 Bridge St. The officer responded to a report of an argument where one party pulled down his pants. They found him on the pier and while trying to arrest him, he resisted, but the police prevailed.

1/26, 4 a.m., trespass warning, Bus stop at Coquina Park, 2650 Gulf Drive S. Police told a homeless man who was sleeping at the beach to move on.

Cortez

1/24, 4:41 a.m., first-degree grand theft, 4110 127th St. W., Seafood Shack dockage. The victim, a charter captain, arrived at the dock to find his 42-foot fishing boat was missing. It was valued at $150,000.

1/27, 2:15 a.m., domestic batter by strangulation, 10100 block of Cortez Road West. The couple has lived together for more than three months and had been drinking when a verbal dispute arose.

The male pinned the female against the wall with his hands around her neck. She got free from the hold, but he slapped her before fleeing. He was later arrested in Holmes Beach.

Holmes Beach

1/17, 10:45 p.m., battery, obstructing a law enforcement officer, 5912 Marina Drive, Island Gourmet. The officer responded to a report of a person in he parking lot resembling a hit and run driver from an earlier accident. When he arrived, the defendant was talking on her cell phone. He told her to put down the phone while he conducted an investigation. She was defiant to the point where she had to be handcuffed.

Officers smelled alcohol on her and asked for a Sheriff’s Office deputy to conduct an investigation. She resisted being put into the patrol car and kicked an officer in the chest and face. She had to be double cuffed and shackled for her own safety and to prevent damage to the patrol car. It took four deputies to get her into a jail cell. They had to use pepper spray. She refused to talk with investigators.

1/19, 12:10 p.m., larceny/theft, 5351 Gulf Drive, Nikki’s Island Treasures. The storeowner said someone shoplifted jewelry from her store on two occasions.

1/20, 11:13 a.m., driving with a suspended license, no registration, no proof of insurance, 5800 block of Marina Drive.

The officer ran a random computer check on a vehicle and found the owner’s license was suspended. He was given citations.

1/20, 5:20 p.m., driving while intoxicated, possession of drug equipment, 700 block of Manatee Avenue. The officer observed a pickup ahead of the car in front of him swerve severely while travelling east on Manatee Avenue.

The truck swerved onto the sidewalk on the Anna Maria Bridge and then

Police recover stolen car, paraphernalia

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

HOLMES BEACH – Police recovered a stolen car and arrested two suspects while investigating a report of narcotics sales in front of Walgreens on Saturday, Jan. 17.

Around midnight, an officer spoke to the occupants of a red Volkswagen with Michigan plates. A computer check showed the VW was stolen out of St. Petersburg. They arrested 30-year-old Jason Woods, of Tarpon Springs, without incident. During the police investigation, 33-year-old Hope Alicia Williamson, of St. Petersburg, said she had borrowed the car from someone in St. Pete. Dispatch contacted the person who said the pair had stolen it from him. The man said he was the car’s mechanic, not the owner.

She said the mechanic might have reported it stolen because its owner came back from Michigan.

When the officer had the couple get out of the car, Williamson adjusted

the strap on her bra, leading him to suspect she was hiding something. He called the Manatee County Sheriff’s Woods Williamson Office to a female deputy to conduct a search of the woman.

The officer went to his vehicle where Williamson was and found a pipe with a mesh filter and possible drug residue on it. Williamson said she took it out of the VW, hid it in her bra and left it in the patrol car.

The suspects were sent to jail. The jail called later and said they found some Valium pills in her underwear.

Williamson was charged with motor vehicle theft, possession of a controlled substance, introducing drugs into the county detention facility and possession of drug paraphernalia. Her bond was set at $50,000.

Woods faces a charge of grand theft auto and his bond was set at $1,500.

Arraignment was set for Feb. 20, at 9 a.m. for both of them.

corrected and traveled into the oncoming lane. The officer stopped him on the mainland. As he neared the truck, he was “overwhelmed” by the smell of alcohol and marijuana. The female driver fumbled trying to get her license, registration and proof of insurance, even though the documents were in her hands. The officer waited for backup and performed a field sobriety test, which she failed. The officer arrested her and checked out her vehicle and found drug paraphernalia on her passengers. Their parents were called to pick them up, but the driver went to jail.

1/22. 3 a.m., battery, 500 block of 72nd Street. Police responded to a report of a disturbance. Two victims said the suspect attacked them as they entered their home. She punched a female in the face twice and knocked her over a couch. She punched the other female in the stomach as she tried to call police. The suspect left before police arrived and the officers left the victims with domestic violence packets after they said they did not want to press charges.

1/23, 7:56 a.m., driving with a suspended license, no registration. The officer ran a random check on the suspect vehicle and found the driver had a suspended license. He stopped the driver, who had no registration with him.

1/23, 5:16 p.m., fraud, 600 block of Foxworth Lane. The victim said workers were laying sod at her neighbor’s house and asked a worker for an estimate on her lawn. He told her $800 and said he needed half of it up front. She gave him $400, and after a week, he hadn’t shown up, so she called police.

FEBRUARY 4, 2015

Obituaries Patti Brainard There will be a celebration of life for local musician Patti L. Brainard “Patti B.” at Ace’s Live, 4343 Palma Sola Blvd., on Sunday, Feb. 8, beginning at noon. Acts will include Jimi Gee, Karen Klarich w/ Concrete Edgar, Mindy Simmons, Scott’s Garage, Mad Beach Mafia, Lisa Larkin, Mark Skey, Mitch Clark Band, Waking Giants, Soul Purpose, Tucci, Steve Arvey and Rebecca Bird, with an open jam at the end of the night. Some of the artist will be performing some of her original material in honor of this local music legend.

Brainard, a local singer, songwriter and bass player, passed away Dec. 28, 2014, after a very short battle with cancer. Originally from Jacksonville, she moved to the Sarasota/Bradenton area in the late 70s after extensive touring of Canada and the United States with the all female show band W.O.W. After arriving in the area she joined the very successful 80s local band Samurai. In the mid 90s she fronted her own group Patti B. ‘n’ DeBoyz. In the 2000s, she found success in several projects including Dan Toler’s final project, Toler/ Tucci Band, and once again fronting her own band, Bridge Street favorite Patti B. Band. She has encouraged and inspired so many with her musical ability and her positive attitude.

She would have been 59 on Feb. 1.

Ellen honored On Jan. 11, Anna Maria Island Chamber board member Ellen Aquilina was given the Woman of the Year award from Manatee County Successful Women Aligning Together (SWAT). Her daughter, Pam Levi Gillette, knew about the award and made sure she got to the awards ceremony.

SUBMITTED

FEBRUARY 4, 2015

FUN IN THE SUN

Across 1 "Mad Men" productions 4 Bark elicitor 9 Lax 13 Force (open) 14 Close-fitting dress 15 Powerful dept.?

16 Striking painting of paddles, net and ball?

19 Uber 20 Facebook button 21 Truncation abbr.

22 Austin of "Knot's Landing" 23 Extraordinary northern bird?

26 Statistician's challenge 28 Plot component 29 "__ thoughts?"

30 Reasonable 32 Purim heroine 34 Mythological figure who touched 16-, 23-, 46- and

Answers to 01-28-15 Crossword Puzzle.

55-Across?

36 Available 39 Anthony Hopkins' "Thor" role 40 Channel for old films 43 Noodle 44 "I'm not kidding!"

46 Alaskan insects?

51 Chief Justice Warren 52 Subjects of some conspiracy theories 53 Specks on cartes 54 Enthralled 55 Overdevelop a high plain?

60 It may be cautionary 61 "I shall be late!" speaker of fiction 62 Letter director 63 Narrow opening 64 Indo-__ languages 65 Nixon has two

Down 1 Angry Birds, e.g.

2 "Happy Days" setting 3 Cooperative action 4 "Dexter" airer, for short 5 Write 6 Scout rank 7 Top story 8 Uniform material 9 Sprinkling on French fries?

10 Free sample limitation 11 Top story 12 Cab driver?

14 One of a pair of Mad adversaries 17 Off the __ 18 Arthur of "The Golden Girls" 22 Sched. uncertainty 23 Witness __ 24 Sharp feeling 25 Rowing beneficiaries, for short 27 Z-zebra link 31 Dashboard Confessional's genre 32 Changes, in a way 33 Without 34 Rosebud's owner 35 "Cool, man!"

36 Things 37 __ color 38 Fictional pilot with the iconic line, "Laugh it up, fuzzball" 40 Circus staple

41 Sun block 42 "The Producers" screenwriter Brooks 45 Milk dispenser 47 Help

THE SUN

48 Uber 49 "The View" alum Joy 50 Milk carton words 54 Snitch 56 18th Amendment op-

43

poser 57 Cops' org.

58 Harvard grad Jeremy who's now a Laker 59 Rises

44

THE SUN

classified

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

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 STRUGGLING WITH DRUGS or Alcohol? Addicted to Pills? Talk to someone who cares. Call The Addiction Hope & Help Line for a free assessment. 855-972-6607 TOP CASH PAID for old guitars! 1920's thru 1980's Gibson, Martin, Fender, Gretsch, Epiphone, Guild, Mosrite, Rickenbacker, Prairie State, D'Angelico, Stromberg, And Gibson Mandolins/Banjos. 800401-0440

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. www.Islandboatsales. net We Also Buy Boats. 941-228-3489

AMISUN.COM

Call us today! 941-778-3986

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

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

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

EMPLOYMENT

CLEANING SERVICE

IMMEDIATE OPENINGS FAMILY Owned Gift Shop on AMI. Part time. Evenings/weekends a must. Retirees welcome. Inquire at 727-244-5906

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

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

HELP WANTED STYLIST, NAIL TECHNICIAN. Current License required. Flexible hours.

Small shop on Island. Call Owner 941-538-0225

CLEANING: RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL & RENTALS. "Have it done your way, we care about our work" Call 941-7564570 PRESSURE WASHING AND WINDOWS residential, commercial & resorts. Roofs, buildings, houses, driveways etc.

Call 941-251-5948

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 RESTAURANT/OFFICE/ RETAIL 1113 sf Kitchen Equipment include Gulf Drive Bradenton Beach $495,000 Call Alan Galletto Island Real Estate 941-232-2216

PART TIME OPENING in our Ladies Boutique & Gift Shop. Approximately 20 hours per week.

Sundays a must! Call 941-504-8007 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.

WELDING CAREERS Hands on training for career opportunities in aviation, automotive, manufacturing and more.

Financial aid for qualified students. Job placement assistance. Call AIM 877206-7679

FOR SALE

BAR/RESTURANT 2100 ft2 with lease, includes Liquor License, Furniture and Good Will $599,000 CALL ALAN GALLETTO Island Real Estate 941-232-2216

DISH TV STARTING at $19.99/month (for 12 mos.) Save! Regular Price $34.99 Call Today and Ask About Free same day Installation! Call Now! 855588-1161

COMPUTER SERVICES

FURNITURE

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

CUSTOM COASTAL FURNITURE & CABINETS by Frankie Z. ebay store.

Call 941-726-1482. 10015 Cortez Rd (corner of 101st) frankiezaff@yahoo.com

FEBRUARY 4, 2015

SINGLE BEDS $75. Foosball-Air Hockey Table $100.

Gas pool heater $100. Kids bikes $10 each. Antique secretary desk $500 Call 941-356-1456

GARAGE, MOVING, RUMMAGE & YARD SALES SALE NIKI’S ANTIQUES & GIFT SHOP. 5351 Gulf Dr, Holmes Beach. Sterling & Gold jewelry 50% to 60% off. Select gifts, collectables, miniatures, books, bric-brac, glassware, crystal, Black memorabilia 30% to 80% off. New line of designer soaps, candles, & Essence oils. 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

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 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

HOME SERVICES 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

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

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

MOVING & STORAGE

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

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

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

ELI’S IRRIGATION New install/repair. Pumps, pools, irrigation, landscape lighting and pressure washing.

Call 941-580-2054

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

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 i PHONE 5s in Bradenton area Call 215-3706683 REWARD! 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 FOUND PRESCRITION GLASSES Ralph Lauren corner of Manatee and East Bay, Holmes Beach.

Call 419-769-1610

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 941-2012649

FEBRUARY 4, 2015

classified

Call us today! 941-778-3986

PET SITTING/ HOUSE SITTING

REAL ESTATE HOMES & CONDOS FOR SALE

MOBILE DOG GROOMING call for appointment www. furrytails4grooming.com or 941-795-0303

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. Anna Maria Island & West Bradenton. Certified pool operator. Residential/ commercial. Licensed & Insured. Call Dennis Clark 941-737-5657

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

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

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

ELEVATED DUPLEX 2BR/1BA each side.

Washer/dryer, dishwasher, tiled, 2 one car garages, privacy covered patios & stairways. 2 blocks to beach, bay, pier, shops, cafes and bars. Excellent building site, mature trees & shrubs. Corner lot. 204 A & B 2nd St N, Bradenton Beach $650,000. Call 941-741-1096

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

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

AMISUN.COM

LESS THAN 100 YARDS from beach! Completely renovated mobile home. 55+ No R/E taxes. 1BR/1BA $58K. Anna Maria Island. Facebook: "320Sandpiper" or 978335-1115.

SPACIOUS 3BR/2BA CONDOMINIUM rarely available Grand Cayman model in Perico Bay Club with pool, tennis courts and new activity center. Tastefully renovated to include new flooring, kitchen, master bath, lanai and hurricane windows. Ranch style unit with vaulted ceilings and 2 car garage. Offered for sale by owner at $375,000. Call 269806-9903 for details.

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 LAKESIDE BUILDING LOT in West Bradenton. No deed restrictions. No flood zone $37,500 OBO. Call Fred Owner-Realtor 941-3561456

REAL ESTATE: OPEN HOUSE WATERFRONT OPEN HOUSE 517 70th St., Holmes Beach. Ideal vacation home or annual rental in Key Royale. Join us Feb. 8th 12-4pm with special PRIZE GIVEAWAY. Offered

by Nicole Vollmer, Premier Real Estate - 941-224-2245 nicole@coastalowner.com

THE SUN

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.

AMI ANNUAL 2BR/2BA. Steps to beach, shops, restaurants, & trolley. No smoking/no pets. $1450/ mo. First, Last & security.

Call 860-922-3857 ANNUAL RENTAL AVAILABLE January 19 3BR/3BA, private pool, 2 car garage in well maintained community of Perico Island. $2,500/mo plus utilities and pool care. Contact Kate at Island Real Estate 941-345-1295 or kate@ islandreal.com ANNUAL RENTAL Holmes Beach, 2BR/2BA, 1/2 duplex. Unfurnished, no pets. $1,400/mo. Call Sato Real Estate, Inc. at 941-7787200 or email monica@ satorealestate.com

45

RENTAL WANTED

ANNUAL 3BR TOWNHOUSE in PALMA SOLA TRACE. 2 car garage, heated community pool. Brand new! First, Last, Security. Contact kate@islandreal.com or 941-345-1295. Island Real Estate.

LOCAL COUPLE SEEKS annual home rental on the island. Excellent references.

410-336-3184

WESTBAY POINT & MOORINGS Condo. Annual rental 2BR/2BA $1650/mo. No pets/no smoking. Call 773620-8804

METAL ROOFING SPECIALIST. Call Now for a Free Estimate! Fully Licensed, Bonded & Insured. CCC 04287 866-998-3324

HOLMES BEACH SPACIOUS 1BR/1BA non-smoking.

Laminate floors, laundry, lanai. Small pet considered. Steps to beach and shopping. $800/month + utilities. Call 941-779-9470

TRANSPORTATION

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!

ROOFING

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

46 THE SUN

classified

Call us today! 941-778-3986 FEBRUARY 4, 2015

www.amisun.com

FEBRUARY 4, 2015

business & service directory computer service

home improvement

home improvement

THE SUN

47

Call today to place your ad: 941-778-3986 movers

painting

transportation

48

THE SUN

www.amisun.com

FEBRUARY 4, 2015