Anna Maria Island Sun September 13, 2017

VOL 17 No. 48

- Named Best Florida Newspaper In Its Class -

September 13, 2017

Irma’s impact felt across the island Lengthy power outages plague residents Extended coverage Pages 3-5, 20-21

joe hendricks | SUN

jamie burns | SUbmitted

joe hendricks | SUN

Uprooted trees, upper left, and downed power lines were common on the Island following Hurricane Irma. In Cortez, only the mast of this sunken boat, upper right, was visible. Above, the Cortez Bait and Seafood Fish Market sustained structural damage.

INSIDE NEWS OPINION Sun survey sean murphy restaurants real estate police reports classifieds

4 6 7 25 26 28-31 35 37-39

oysters: Fresh,

delicious, and ecofriendly. 32

Anna Maria Island, Florida

CENTER FINANCES SLOW TO RECOVER.

9

PLANNERS approve moratorium

extension. 15 The Island’s award-winning weekly newspaper

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THE SUN

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SEPTEMBER 13, 2017

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SEPTEMBER 13, 2017

THE SUN

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Island escapes Irma-geddon Sustained power outages were prevalent in Anna Maria and Holmes Beach.

“We have crews out there as we speak working to restore service to one of the main power lines that’s serving the Island, and we’re hoping that’s going to be energized tonight. I don’t think that’s going to restore service to all customers, but it’s a good start,” McDermitt said.

McDermitt said the power restoration begins with lines that service hospitals, police, fire and rescue and 911 centers, while also working on major thoroughfares populated by grocery stores, banks, pharmacies and other critical services before servicing the lines that feed residential neighborhoods.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Hurricane Irma passed over the Island Sunday afternoon and early Monday morning and left in its wake varied degrees of damage, including ripped up roofs and structures, toppled trees and downed electrical lines that led to widespread power outages.

The trees and debris littered and blocked roadways, but were quickly removed by Public Works personnel.

And for an Island that often floods in a hard rain, the standing water was only bad in a few places.

Anna Maria

A tour of the Island Monday morning revealed sporadic damage. The roof of the bait shop at the end of the Historic Anna Maria City Pier was mostly gone.

Irma also peeled back exterior panels on the cell tower next to City Hall.

Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy said

joe hendricks | SUN

Hurricane Irma’s powerful winds skinned the roof off the bait shop at the end of the Historic Anna Maria City Pier. some beachfront homes suffered wind damage and efforts were being made to contact nonresident homeowners.

The mayor said the biggest concern was the citywide power outages. Tuesday afternoon, Murphy participated in a conference call with Florida Power & Light (FP&L) representative Rae Dowling, who said power would be restored

to customers on Florida’s west coast no later than Friday, Sept. 22, but hopefully sooner. Murphy advises residents to plan accordingly.

Later that evening, FP&L spokesman Dave McDermitt said the Sept. 22 date was a worst-case scenario, but every effort was being made to restore power sooner.

Holmes Beach

In Holmes Beach, a building in the Cayman Cay condominium complex sustained extensive roof damage. Large chunks of roofing material landed near Gulf Drive and a debris field lined one side of the building.

Manatee Public Beach remained closed Tuesday afternoon, and the two traffic lights on Manatee Avenue remained dark; as did the signal at the see IRMA, page 18

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ISLAND NEWS

in brief

Anna Maria meeting still a go Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy said the Thursday, Sept. 14, City Commission will take place even if the electricity has not been restored to City Hall in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma. Murphy said the meeting might even take place outside if need be. As of Tuesday, the meeting agenda had not yet been posted at the city website (www.cityofannamaria.com), but it will likely be posted in advance of the 6 p.m. meeting.

County commission meeting rescheduled This week’s regular meeting of the Manatee County Commission has been moved to Monday, Sept. 18.

Acting Commission Chair Robin DiSabatino and County Administrator Ed Hunzeker decided to move the meeting to next week to allow more people to participate. The meeting had originally been rescheduled for Thursday, but was moved again.

School reopening date set Manatee District Schools, including Anna Maria Island Elementary, will be closed to students until Monday, Sept. 18, so that school facilities and grounds can be restored and rehabilitated for students and staff. All athletic events, practices and extra-curricular activities are also cancelled until Monday, September 18.

Giving Back postponed Due to Hurricane Irma, the Thursday, Sept.

14, Giving Back fund-raiser at the Swordfish Grill was postponed until Thursday, Oct. 19.

The fund-raiser will benefit The Blessing Bags Project that assists homeless adults and children. The fund-raiser will feature live music from Doug Deming and the Jewel Tones, TC & Randy and Ted Stevens and the Doo-Shots.

The event was nearly sold out, but information pertaining to remaining ticket availability can be obtained by calling 941-798-2035.

Visit our website, www.amisun.com.

Scan this code with your smartphone to go there.

SEPTEMBER 13, 2017

Anna Maria Island peeks out from Hurricane Irma

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

The storm sends thousands scrambling for cover but delivers less damage locally than most expected.

Hurricane Irma has passed Anna Maria Island without the feared storm surge, allowing islanders to take their first deep breath after a tense few days.

Bridges to Anna Maria Island opened Monday at 3 p.m., and lines of people, some who had waited since early morning and managed to remain mostly civil to each other, streamed to the Island to survey the damage.

They found that power is out in some places in Anna Maria. Power lines were downed by trees and trees were downed by Irma, some toppling over from the roots.

Bright House cable is down, so most have no television or Internet.

Most traffic lights are out, with drivers mostly treating the intersections as four-way stops and waving each other through.

Water is running, but a boil water notice is in effect on the Island until further notice, probably within a day or two, according to Manatee County Emergency Operations officials. They ask that you limit water usage if your power is out, because sewage may back up as some lift stations are without power.

Beaches are covered with seaweed, but erosion appears minimal. The National Weather Service predicted before Irma hit that up to 8 feet of storm surge would wash over flood zone A, which includes the Island, but it did not happen.

Good wishes

People all over the world have offered encouragement to Anna Maria Island residents on The Sun's Facebook page.

We made a storm joke on Facebook that when everyone evacuated the Island, it rose a foot and perhaps was a bit safer from storm surge. One or two people took the

KRISTIN SWAIN | SUN

Flooding at Waterline in Holmes Beach was caused by heavy rains, not storm surge from Hurricane Irma. jest seriously, but most saw that it was a stress relief post. Sue Hummel Cinka said, "To AMI... probably the best way to handle stress, laugh in its face... your humor came at just the right time."

A short while later, we posted a photo of the Rod & Reel Pier gated shut, with a message, "Godspeed AMI. We will see you on the other side."

More than 23,000 well-wishers and friends responded to the post to give us hope, many recalling their memories of Anna Maria Island vacations and many more sending prayers.

Locals told each other to stay safe, checked on where they were riding out the storm and encouraged each other that they would help rebuild the Island.

A surfer from South Carolina sent good vibrations. A reader quoted Winston Churchill, "If you're going through hell, just keep going." Another reader from England told us "keep calm and carry on."

They told us to fight back. They told us hang in. They told us things would be different in the

morning.

And they were. After the storm passed, Barbara Irving in Devon, UK, wrote, "Hope you are all okay there on AMI, been worrying about you all night."

When we found power and a wireless signal, we reported that Irma had veered east of the Island.

Dave Barker posted, "Best news I've heard all day." Patricia Golden said, "Thank goodness, was very worried for you all and that little paradise." Mary Pat Walsh gave us pause with her post, "So glad to hear you didn't experience the devastation that some endured."

People helped each other out on Facebook, like the friend suggesting that someone get resident tags to get back onto the Island before the next storm, Hurricane Jose, which everyone on Anna Maria Island is watching closely as it is heading towards the east coast of Florida.

FEMA has declared Manatee County a disaster area. If you have flood damage, register at 1-800621-FEMA (3362).

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SEPTEMBER 13, 2017

THE SUN

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Irma forces Islanders to flee Island residents faced tough choices when deciding whether to stay or go in the face of a potential Category 5 hurricane.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Before Hurricane Irma arrived with predictions of Category 4 or 5 force winds that never materialized, many Anna Maria Island residents evacuated to safer locales.

Some headed to hotels and homes in Bradenton while others headed to north Florida, Georgia and beyond.

On Facebook and in person, several people commented on how difficult the decisions to go or stay became as the storm intensified: and many said they felt they had no clear-cut options in terms of hunkering down or leaving town.

Some, including Anna Maria

Caryn Hodge | Submitted

While in Panama City Beach, Anna Maria resident Ruth Uecker impersonated the Weather Channel’s Jim Cantori.

City Commissioner Dale Woodland, decided to ride the storm out in their Island homes. Woodland said in recent years he’s invested in a new roof, hurricane windows and protective window panels and felt safe in testing the efficiency of his home improvements.

Speaking by phone during the storm Sunday night, Woodland said his home was holding up well and he felt like he was in a Disney-like virtual reality version of a hurricane.

Awaiting the storm

On Friday, a mandatory evacuation order was issued

and it was declared that traffic coming onto the Island would cease at 6 p.m. Saturday.

With the evacuation in progress, the Island looked more like a ghost town than a tourist town Friday evening. Several businesses, resorts and homes were boarded up, some with pithy spray-painted messages

addressed to Hurricane Irma.

The Historic Anna Maria City Pier was already closed and three young adults riding scooters down Pine Avenue were the among the only ones out and about. Anna Maria Commissioner Nancy Yetter and her husband Mike had just pulled out of town, headed for a relative’s house in Wesley Chapel, and they left sandbags at their door step as parting gift for Irma.

Before leaving town, Anna Maria Commissioner Brian Seymour enjoyed the raucous hurricane party taking place at Hurricane Hank’s in Holmes Beach. The establishment’s boarded up windows advertised $1 beers and on this night, it was the liveliest spot on the Island.

All the businesses on Bridge Street in Bradenton Beach were closed except for the Drift In, where BeachHouse see STORM, page 12

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OPINIOn

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

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SEPTEMBER 13, 2017

EDITORIAL Near miss

It may not have been as disastrous as feared, but Hurricane Irma's impact on Anna Maria Island is something few will soon forget.

As of Tuesday night, power had not returned to many on the Island, with hopes fading that restoration would be coming any time soon.

Florida Power & Light spokesmen say it could be Sept. 22 before the electricity goes back on. And without power, pumping stations have failed, creating all kinds of potential wastewater problems. As a result, residents are being told not to flush toilets, take showers, drink tap water without boiling it or do their laundry.

The storm weariness can be seen on the faces of people already disrupted by lengthy evacuations.

And this was just a glancing blow. Many in the direct path of the storm are much worse off.

Yet normalcy already is returning, although some might think its taking its sweet time.

Stores are reopening, supplies of food and fuel are becoming available again.

The lifestyle we have known these many years is visible.

For the most part, islanders have weathered this storm with the grace and compassion for which they are known.

But it will be even better when we can crank the AC and flush the toilets.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Partnering with visitors I am writing this letter regarding the issues that face our community center.

I was fortunate enough to grow up in Anna Maria. My grandfather built the old beach house we call home in 1925. My father continues to reside there and most of the time it is filled with family and friends. I no longer live on the island but continue to spend a great deal of time enjoying our beautiful beach.

Memories of my childhood at the youth center are some of my most treasured and I speak for my family and childhood friends who were lucky enough to spend time there. The Island of my youth is long gone but the community center where my siblings, childhood friends and I spent many hours of our time is still there. I am deeply saddened that this wonderful part of Anna Maria is in such a dire financial situation. (See Page 9 in today's Sun.) Years ago there were many permanent residents. We knew most everyone.

The “youth center” as we knew it was built by Islanders, business owners and legends of baseball, and strengthened by families. The demographics in 2017 are very different. We used to have residents that were invested in the community and were very philanthropic. According to the Manatee County Property Appraiser's office there are only 918 homesteaded properties (on all three cities) out of

Take The Sun Survey on Page 7.

6,623 properties. These numbers obviously have a negative effect on the community center. This will not change Are there ways we can involve our visitors and ask for their help in supporting and preserving this part of Island history?

In my local community, I sit on the board of a non-profit and we are always exploring ways to support our mission.

For example, we mirrored Goodwill’s “round up” program. Consumers who shop locally are asked if they would like to round up their purchase to the nearest dollar with the additional monies going to support a local cause. We also participate in Amazon Smile, which donates a small percentage of purchases to a designated non-profit. A unique outreach that has generated great success has been “restaurant week,” a designated week each year that highlights local cuisine and benefits the community. These are just a few strategies we have used to generate income for specific community needs. We need to consider alternatives such as these to support The Center.

We are a small community that shares our beautiful Island with visitors from far and near. Let’s also explore ways to involve these visitors. Isn’t it time to partner with those who enjoy our paradise?

Together we can make a difference. Let the beautiful memories continue.

Beth Dietrich Conner

Lawsuit misguided The number of voluntary resignations continues to grow daily from city committee members in Bradenton Beach. It's obvious that these people are uncomfortable serving a city that chooses to sue its own citizens.

As you may know, at the urging of the city attorney, the current Bradenton Beach commissioners decided to take part in a lawsuit against some members of the Planning and Zoning and the Scenic Waves committees alleging that they violated the Sunshine Law. One has to wonder: - Why did the city attorney and the commissioners decide to take such drastic action against these citizens who volunteer their time to serve their community?

- Why are the city attorney and the commissioners so driven to punish these individuals?

As we all know, elections are coming up later this year. I urge all voting citizens to familiarize yourselves with the names of the commissioners who voted in favor of this outrageous action when you cast your votes on Tuesday Nov. 7, 2017.

Patricia Shay Bradenton Beach

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SEPTEMBER 13, 2017

THE SUN

on the agenda

the sun survey

PREVIOUS QUESTION: How are you preparing for hurricane season?

75%

Anna Maria 10005 Gulf Drive.

Stocking up on water, batteries and canned goods.

9/14: City Commission meeting, first budget hearing, 6 p.m.

9/28: City Commission meeting, final budget hearing, 6 p.m.

For information, call 7086130.

Bradenton Beach 107 Gulf Drive N.

0% 0%

Making reservations at Disney World.

Buying a generator.

25%

Visiting the local purveyor of distilled spirits.

The sun survey is not a scientific poll and is used for entertainment purposes only.

THIS WEEK’S SURVEY Did you evacuate or stay on the Island during Hurricane Irma?

• We evacuated early.

• We left, but not until the last minute.

• We rode it out on the Island.

9/13: CIP committee meeting, 11 a.m.

9/13: Special City Commission pre-bid meeting, 1 p.m.

9/13: Neighborhood work shop for Herb Dolan Park, 3:30 p.m.

9/13: Neighborhood work shop for Annie Silver Community Center parking lot, 4:30 p.m.

9/14: Department head meeting, 1 p.m.

9/21: City Commission meeting, noon.

9/21: CRA second millage and budget hearing, 5:05 p.m.

9/21: City Commission second millage and budget

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

LIKE us on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/AnnaMariaIslandSun View The Sun’s online edition at www.issuu.com/AnnaMariaIslandSun

The Anna Maria Island Sun staff

Editor/CEO Mike Field Layout Ricardo Fonseca Reporters Cindy Lane Tom Vaught Joe Hendricks

Kristin Swain Columnists Louise Bolger Outdoors editor Rusty Chinnis Ad director Chantelle Lewin Ad assistants Chris Boniberger

Classified ads Bob Alexander Graphics Elaine Stroili Ricardo Fonseca Web/Social media Cindy Lane Jocelyn V. Greene Accounting John Reitz

Distribution Bob Alexander Tony McNulty Connor Field Contributors Pat Copeland Steve Borggren Sean Murphy Monica Simpson

hearing, 5:30 p.m.

9/25: Bid opening, 2 p.m.

9/26: City Commission work shop, 1 p.m.

9/27: CIP Committee meeting, review bids, 9 a.m.

For information, call 7781005.

Holmes Beach 5801 Marina Drive.

9/14: City Commission work session, 6 p.m.

9/20: Building Department Community Forum, 6 p.m.

9/26: City Commission meeting, final budget hearing, 6 p.m.

9/28: City Commission work session, 6 p.m.

For information, call 7085800.

Island-wide

9/13: West Manatee Fire Rescue district commission board meeting, administration building, 6417 Third Ave. W., Bradenton, 6 p.m.

9/20: Barrier Island Elected Officials meeting, Anna Maria City Hall, 2 p.m.

mark your calendar Note: Events are free unless indicated.

941-383-6493.

Wednesday

Friday

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

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

Beginner soap making, The Folk School at Florida Maritime Museum, 4415 119th St., Cortez, 1 p.m.., $35.

Reserve to 941-708-6120 or www.floridafolkschool.org.

Chess Club, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 4 p.m.

Intermediate bridge session, The Paradise Center, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive, 2nd Floor, Longboat Key, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., $10, includes coffee and cookies.

Reserve to maryannbrady@ theparadisecenter.org or 941-383-6493.

Mahjong, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 1 p.m.

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

Thursday

September 16

September 13

Publishers Mike Field Maggie Field

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September 14

Boomer Boot Camp, Roser Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, 9:30 a.m. One class, $15; five classes, $65; 10 classes, $100.

Zumba and mat pilates for seniors, The Paradise Center, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, second floor, 10 a.m., $10 per class.

Reserve to maryannbrady@ theparadisecenter.org or

September 15

Saturday Ecofitness scavenger run, Robinson Preserve, 1704 99th St. NW, Bradenton, 8 a.m.

International Coastal Cleanup kickoff, Coquina Beach Gulfside, 2650 Gulf Drive S., Bradenton Beach, 9 a.m. Reserve to amy.may@ mymanatee.org or 941-7425923, ext. 6044.

SEE CALENDAR, PAGE 8

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THE SUN

mark your calendar The Southwest Florida Folk Forum, The Folk School at Florida Maritime Museum, 4415 119th St., Cortez, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., $25, includes lunch. Reserve to 941-708-6120 or www.floridafolkschool.org.

LEGO Excavation, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 2 p.m.

Monday September 18

National Estuaries Week Naturalist-Led Wagon Tour, Robinson Preserve, 1704 99th St. NW, Bradenton, 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

Artist Talk with Cynthia Herrick, The Studio at Gulf and Pine, 10101 Gulf Drive, Anna Maria, 1 p.m.

Tuesday September 19

Boomer Boot Camp, Roser Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, 9:30 a.m. One class, $15; five classes, $65; 10 classes, $100.

Mahjong for beginners, The Paradise Center, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive, 2nd Floor, Longboat Key, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., $10, snacks are provided. Reserve to maryannbrady@theparadisecenter. org or 941-383-6493.

Preschool Story Time: Fiesta!, Island

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

Wednesday September 20

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

Thursday September 21

dise Center, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive, 2nd Floor, Longboat Key, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., $10, includes coffee and cookies.

Reserve to maryannbrady@theparadisecenter.org or 941-383-6493.

Mahjong, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 1 p.m.

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

Boomer Boot camp, Roser Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, 9:30 a.m. One class, $15; five classes, $65; 10 classes, $100.

Zumba and mat pilates for seniors, The Paradise Center, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, second floor, 10 a.m., $10 per class. Reserve to maryannbrady@theparadisecenter.org or 941-383-6493.

Book Club, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10:15 a.m.

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

Saturday

Friday

Tuesday

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

Intermediate bridge session, The Para-

Preschool story time: Who Knows About Burrowing Owls?, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m.

September 22

September 23

Pottery Making parts 1 and 2, The Folk School at Florida Maritime Museum, 4415 119th St., Cortez, 10 a.m. to noon, $75. Reserve to 941-708-6120 or www. floridafolkschool.org.

Marbled Papers, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 2 p.m.

Monday September 25

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

September 26

SEPTEMBER 13, 2017

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SEPTEMBER 13, 2017

THE SUN

9

Center finances slow to recover The Center lost more money than expected in July, but board Treasurer Jim Froeschle is still hopeful for financial recovery.

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

ANNA MARIA — Leadership at The Center of Anna Maria Island is still hopeful for financial recovery despite disappointing July results.

In a Sept. 5 email, board Treasurer Jim Froeschle said the overall July results came in at a loss of $24,300, $8,100 below the budgeted loss of $16,200.

Froeschle attributes the loss to shortfalls in program income in fitness, sports and youth programs.

Despite results being up from the previous year’s numbers at $34,100, the numbers still fell short of the planned $45,000 in income.

“Results in program activity were encouraging as revenue jumped significantly from last year, but the gains fell short of the very ambitious goals for the month of July,”

he wrote in the email.

Fundraising came in for the month at $25,252, well below the previous year’s $53,327 result.

Froeschle said part of the shortfall between this fiscal year and last year is the loss of a $20,000 donation from the discontinued Food and Wine on Pine event.

In positive financial news, total indirect costs remained unchanged from the previous year at $38,027, coming in 4 percent lower than budgeted. Overhead costs came in on budget at $42,248.

“Overall, a decent start to the fiscal year but it clearly highlights the challenge in front of us to achieve the large program revenue gains projected in the plan and to boost other revenue sources from past levels,” Froeschle said.

The Center’s August board meeting was canceled due to scheduling conflicts. Meetings resume at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 27, at the Center, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria.

file photo

Financial results for July were disappointing for The Center.

A great Happy Hour Just Got Better!

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Crispy Wings $5

Coconut Shrimp Salad $10

Sliders with Sautéed Onions $10

Our new Happy Hour runs Monday through Friday, 11:30 until 5. 2-4-1 Domestic drafts, House wines, Signature cocktails, and Well drinks. Plus, we have some great lunches starting at under $8. And, there’s plenty of fresh shrimp, fish, clams, burgers, salads and a cuban sandwich that’ll rock your taste buds.

Come by, grab a drink, have a bite, relax on our new, all-weather deck and enjoy the view.

Gulf front dining just south of the Cortez bridge BeachHouseDining.com

SPECI AL

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THE SUN

irma: Impact still being felt FROM PAGE 3

corner of Gulf Drive and Marina Drive, where temporary stop signs reminded drivers that nonoperational traffic signals are to be treated as four-way stops.

Holmes Beach residents Joe and Jaynie Christenson and their son, Evan, spent Tuesday afternoon removing a fallen tree from their driveway and cleaning debris from their yard. Jaynie said Joe spent Monday night in the powerless house due to concerns that their home was more susceptible to looters and burglars because the alarm system was not operational. Jaynie Christenson questioned the need to allow nonresidents back on the Island during an extended power outage.

Police Chief Bill Tokajer said his de-

partment was still running on generators as of Tuesday evening.

Bradenton Beach

At least one trailer in the Pines Trailer Park in Bradenton Beach lost its roof, which landed on the hood of a parked car. On 12th Street North, part of a metal structure blew off a home and landed against the van in the driveway. Some soffits at Bradenton Beach City Hall were ripped loose and a large limb from the banyan tree at the Annie Silver Community Center snapped and partially blocked Avenue C. The canopy at the Shell gas station was also damaged.

The Historic Bridge Street Pier sustained no visible damage and none of the boats in the nearby anchorage

SEPTEMBER 13, 2017

broke free and crashed into the pier.

Most businesses along the north side of Bridge Street had power, but some businesses along the south side of the street did not. Most residents on the south end of the city had power, but some households on the north end did not.

the second floor to the storm’s elements. The restaurant also lost two signs, including the three-dimensional grouper sign. CEO Jed Lippincott said the restaurant was still without power Tuesday evening.

Swordfish Grill General Manager Bob Slicker said some areas of his restaurant had power and some didn’t.

The same applied to the homes in the historic fishing village.

“I have power, but my neighbor across the street doesn’t,” Slicker said.

Cortez

The Cortez Bait & Seafood Fish Market on Cortez Road sustained significant damage to its exterior façade.

Two houses in the village had trees fall on them; a mobile home in Cortez Park suffered significant roof damage; and a large sailboat in the Cortez Cove Boatyard tipped on its side.

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SEPTEMBER 13, 2017

THE SUN

11

Changes proposed for SUN Trail Changes to the planned Manatee County portion of the SUN Trail take users through the congestion of a main vehicular traffic artery.

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

MANATEE COUNTY — A big change is planned for the proposed Island SUN Trail.

The trail, planned as a multi-use path for cyclists, joggers and pedestrians, was approved early in the year by the Sarasota/Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization to be submitted to the Florida Office of Greenways and Trails Systems as an east-west loop.

The western section of the loop extends across the Green Bridge through Bradenton to Holmes Beach where it travels south through Longboat Key to St. Armands Key before going over the Ringling Bridge to Sarasota.

Changes to the trail path are occurring from where the trail enters Bradenton to the Island segment of the path.

According to a new map from FGTS, the connector segment is proposed to be rerouted from a scenic, residential path to Manatee Avenue.

Kristin Swain | Sun

Rather than taking a scenic route through residential areas and the main gates of Robinson Preserve in northwest Bradenton, the western branch of the proposed SUN Trail is now planned to extend down Manatee Avenue to the Island.

Previously, the trail was anticipated to travel along the Manatee River, utilizing roads including Riverview Road which is already designated as a sharrow road, to take users of the multi-use path to the main entrance of Robinson

Preserve. From there, users could take advantage of the parks paths to connect to Manatee Avenue or continue through a planned expansion connecting to Perico Preserve further west on Perico Island.

Users would then cross the

Anna Maria Island Bridge to Holmes Beach and progress south on East Bay and Gulf Drives to Bradenton Beach before crossing to Longboat Key. Some portions of the trail, including those on the Island, are planned as complete

streets featuring widened sidewalks and multi-directional dedicated bicycle lanes. Other sections will be a widened sidewalk multi-use path or sharrow lanes, designated vehicular traffic lanes shared with cyclists.

The new map shows the river view route deleted with the new route going straight down Manatee Avenue, bypassing the county’s preserves and taking users down one of the county’s most used vehicular thoroughfares.

What remains unclear is where the changes originated from, Manatee County or the state. Lynn Burnett, engineer to all three Island cities, and representatives from FGTS did not return requests for comment prior to press time for The Sun. The draft map, currently a part of the five year plan for FGTS extending from 2018 through 2022, will be voted on during the organization’s December meeting. The public is invited to comment on the map, including the new revisions, through Nov. 15.

Comments can be directed to Samantha Browne at Samantha.browne@dep.state.fl.us or mailed to Office of Greenways and Trails, 3900 Commonwealth Blvd., MS 795, Tallahassee, FL 32399.

THE LARGEST SELECTION OF SPIRITS, WINE AND BEER & THE FRIENDLIEST SERVICE ON THE ISLAND See us in store for weekly specials and a new rewards program!

9:00 am - 10:00 pm 7 Days a Week 5344 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach 941.779.2337

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SEPTEMBER 13, 2017

storm: Irma forces Islanders to flee FROM PAGE 5

chef Donald White and others enjoyed a last night out before Irma’s arrival.

Up the street, the staff at Island Time Bar and Grill was buttoning up the restaurant and closing for the weekend.

At no point during the storm were the bridges raised, and there was never a time where someone could not leave the Island.

We had a

After the storm

could.”

Early Monday morning, sheriff’s deputies were stationed at the entrances to the Cortez Road and Manatee Avenue bridges. Access was restricted to first responders, county and city personnel, members of the media and a select few others who had legitimate reasons to return as Irma’s remnant winds and rains still lingered.

Law enforcement officers patrolled the Island assessing downed power lines and downed trees. Public works personnel from all three Island cities then rolled out the heavy equipment and chain saws and cleared the streets as best they good, sometimes marking downed power lines for all to avoid and others to repair.

At the Bradenton Beach/Holmes Beach border, a Holmes Beach officer greeted the few who passed from city to city.

At 3 p.m. Monday afternoon, access to the Island via the Manatee Avenue bridge was granted to returning residents and business owners who had hangtags and ID. Holmes Beach Police

little trouble finding gas, but we found it where we Caryn Hodge Anna Maria resident

joe hendricks | SUN

Sgt. Russell Schnering, from the Manatee County Sherriff’s Office, accepts an explanation from a woman who needed to get back on the Island early for family reasons.

Chief Bill Tokajer said residents and business owners were given two hours to check out their properties before unrestricted access was granted to others at 5 p.m.

In Bradenton Beach, unrestricted access via to the Cortez Bridge and the Longboat Key Bridge was granted. Bradenton Beach Police Chief Sam Speciale said he opted for unrestricted access immediately so contractors and other service providers could respond to calls from residents and business owners.

Coming Home

Like those who headed north the

previous week, those returning home faced the fear of not finding gas along the way.

Bradenton Beach residents Steve Schewe and Nancy Kim retreated to Macon Georgia. On Monday night, they called from Ocala and said they had enough gas to get home, but they wanted to know if there was any gas for sale in Bradenton. There were told there was not.

The Drift In was open again Monday night, as was Oma’s restaurant, whose pizzas found there way to the bar courtesy of Swordfish Grill manager Adam Sears.

Tuesday afternoon, Anna Maria resident, Caryn Hodge, her mom and fellow city resident Ruth Uecker, and Hannah the dog traveled home from Panama City Beach. While calling from I-75, Hodge said, “We had a little trouble finding gas, but we found it where we could.”

Hodge works for the Chiles Group and she wanted folks to know that the BeachHouse in Bradenton Beach and Mar Vista in Longboat Key were opening Wednesday.

“We’re inviting everyone to come in and have some real food instead of those hurricane snacks,” Caryn said, noting that the Sandbar remained closed because of power outages.

The Publix in Holmes Beach opened Tuesday morning and other businesses followed as Island life began to return to normal.

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SEPTEMBER 13, 2017

THE SUN

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Deadline approaches for Holmes Beach rental registration Oct. 1 is the deadline for property owners to register for the city’s vacation rental certificate program.

• • • • • • • • • • • •

TIP-OFFS TO POTENTIAL RIP-OFFS

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

You pull the permits? - NO Solici ng door to door – “Just finished a job down the street”- NO Unmarked vehicle – NO No physical address for the office/shop – NO Be sure the contractor’s phone number is listed in your local directory.

Discount as your’s is a “demonstra on home” – NO Pay everything up-front for a discount? – NO Ask to see your contractor’s license and check with the FL Dept of Business & Professional Regula on to verify.

Check with your neighbors and friends – Have they used this contractor before?

Don’t be afraid to ask for references.

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

Get an es mate/proposal in wri ng.

Make sure it specifies work to be performed.

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

HOLMES BEACH — Vacation rental property owners only have a few weeks left to register for the city’s vacation rental certificate program before they find themselves in violation of the law.

Holmes Beach Code Enforcement officers will start issuing violations to property owners who have not registered for the program by Oct. 1. Participation

in the program is required for all short-term or vacation rental units. Properties rented seasonally, annually or monthly are exempt from the requirement.

To be compliant with the program, property owners are required to obtain a current and correct rental business tax receipt and apply for a vacation rental certificate. Once the application is processed, code enforcement officers will schedule an inspection of the property. Once completed, if no issues are found, property owners receive a two-year rental certificate decal to be placed in a prominent place in the unit.

Rental owners who fail to register their property by the deadline

may receive a citation and be ordered to appear before the code enforcement special magistrate.

The special magistrate can issue fines of up to $250 per day for a first violation or $500 per day for a repeat violation for every day the property is out of compliance.

Cited property owners also may be responsible for court costs, attorney fees and administrative costs.

To register for the vacation rental certificate program, visit www.holmesbeachfl.org. Anyone with questions or concerns is asked to contact Code Enforcement Officer James Thomas at 941-708-5800 or email codeenforcement@holmesbeachfl. org.

Beware of fraudulent repair offers Following the landfall of Hurricane Irma, many Floridians are now assessing their homes and property for damage and taking steps to make temporary repairs before filing insurance claims.

CFO Jimmy Patronis and Insurance Commissioner David Altmaier encourage Floridians to be prompt in notifying their insurance companies and cautious of repair deals that sound too good to be true.

“If an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is and could be fraud,” said CFO Patronis. “Opportunistic scammers may attempt to defraud Floridians following Hurricane Irma, and I encourage all Floridians to be vigilant in guarding against fraud. Consumers should report suspicious activity

ASAP by calling 1-877-693-5246.”

Here are the top tips for consumers currently navigating the insurance claims process: • Notify your insurance company first. Many insurance companies have reporting deadlines, so it is important to act quickly. Take steps to make temporary repairs that prevent further damage, but remain in contact with your insurance company regarding any outside vendors that are brought in to make repairs. If you need help locating contact information for your insurance company, click here to access the Office of Insurance Regulation’s (Office) directory. Helpline experts working the Insurance Consumer Helpline at 1-877-693-5236 can also help Floridians locate their insurance

company’s contact information.

• While making temporary repairs, obtain the licensing or training credentials of all thirdparty vendors before signing any work agreements. Beware of fly-by-night repair companies and hire only licensed and reputable vendors. Use the Department of Business and Professional Regulation’s Contractor License lookup to make sure all contractors are properly licensed and bonded.

• Fully review all documentation you are asked to sign and ask questions to make sure you understand the agreements you are signing. Ask specifically who is responsible for paying the vendor - you as the consumer, or your insurance company. For SEE REPAIRS, PAGE 14

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THE SUN

Planning commission approves moratorium extension Holmes Beach’s formula business moratorium could continue through February 2018 if approved by city commissioners.

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

HOLMES BEACH — Formula businesses may have to wait a little while longer before setting up shop in Holmes Beach.

During the Sept. 6 meeting, planning commissioners voted a proposed extension of the moratorium blocking the businesses from opening in the city was consistent with the comprehensive plan in a 4-1 vote with Planning Commissioner Scott Boyd dissenting.

The moratorium places a temporary ban on formula, or chain businesses opening in the city. That ban has now extended for over one full year and is currently scheduled to end Oct. 31 after the approval of one six

month extension. If the second extension passes city commission vote it will expire Feb. 28, 2018.

Boyd said he believes when the first extension was approved, it was time to make determining how to regulate formula businesses a priority for city commissioners. Back in February, he had promised to not agree to a second moratorium extension and in this instance wanted to uphold his previous decision.

City Planner Bill Brisson said the research behind the moratorium is causing delays in establishing regulations, not inattention from city commissioners.

“Some things are more complex than others,” he said of the nuances of the regulations under consideration.

“I see no reason why it’s not consistent,” Planning Commissioner Barbara Hines said. “It’s not like they (city commissioners) haven’t been diligently working on it. I think we’re on strong grounds

to say ‘yes, it is consistent.’”

According to Brisson, only about six businesses in the city qualify under the proposed regulations currently before city commissioners as formula businesses. Stores such as gas stations, pharmacies, hardware and grocery stores that provide a service to the community that does not have a mom and pop store presence are exempt. Other exclusions include formula businesses that were begun in Manatee or Sarasota counties and those already established in Holmes Beach.

City commissioners are considering different regulations for each of the different commercial zones in the city.

“If you look at it city-wide, this city doesn’t have formula businesses, or it has very few,” Brisson said.

With planning commission approval, the moratorium extension goes before city commissioners at their next regular meeting for a vote.

SEPTEMBER 13, 2017

Open 7 days a week, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Walk-In Clinics provide school and sports physicals, basic vaccines, treat minor emergencies, illnesses, injuries, employer services… And more!

4647 Manatee Ave. W. | Bradenton 941.745.5999 www.bradentonurgentcare.com

Member of Manatee Physician Alliance 170306

REPAIRS: Beware of fraud FROM PAGE 13

more information about how an assignment of benefits for repairs works, visit the DFS webpage at www.myfloridacfo.com/Division/ Consumers/AssignmentofBenefits. htm.

• If considering the assistance of a public insurance adjuster, ask for identification to verify that the

adjuster is licensed. Visit the Hurricane Irma Insurance Resources website to verify the license of any Florida insurance agent or adjuster.

• Understand how much a public insurance adjuster charges as well as what services are included before signing any contract.

• If you suspect fraud or suspicious activity, report it immedi-

ately by calling 1-877-693-5236.

You concerns will be referred to insurance fraud investigators.

The Insurance Consumer Helpline (1-877-693-5236) is available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to answer all insurance-related questions for Floridians and businesses.

Join Grego and his amazing racing hermit crabsevery Tuesday at 7:00 PM

4628 119th St W Cortez (941)798-2035 swordfishgrill.com Marker 49 by boat

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SEPTEMBER 13, 2017

THE SUN

15

tourdeturtles.org

Eliza Ann update Eliza Ann is still in second place in a field of 15 competing in the Sea Turtle Conservancy’s Tour de Turtle migration marathon. She is now headed toward the Bahamas, following a swim under Hurricane Irma. The event tracks where sea turtles swim and scores them on the distance they cover. Eliza Ann was satellite tagged after nesting in Coquina Beach on June 19.

She is sponsored by Waterline Marina Resort and Beach Club in Holmes Beach.

CINDY LANE | SUN

Nothing gold can stay Summer’s coming to an end this month; enjoy!

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facebook | submitted

Tides recede at an alarming rate In the hours leading up to Hurricane Irma’s arrival, the water in Sarasota Bay receded to an alarmingly low level, causing concerns about a catastrophic storm surge that, thankfully, never happened.

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THE SUN

17

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THE SUN

SEPTEMBER 13, 2017

Mayor rejects recusal request Three attorneys believe Mayor Bill Shearon should recuse himself from matters pertaining to Sunshine lawsuit.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH – Despite the advice of two attorneys, Mayor Bill Shearon refused to recuse himself from a shade meeting pertaining to a Sunshine Law lawsuit in which his significant other, Tjet Martin, is a defendant.

The shade meeting took place Wednesday, Sept. 6, in the basement conference room inside the police department headquarters. Shade meetings provide City Commissioners and their legal representatives an opportunity to discuss legal strategies outside of a public meeting, but shade meetings are opened in public setting before the session exempt from Florida Sunshine law begins.

Usually the opening segment is a quick and uneventful formality, but that was not the case last week.

The lawsuit initiated by the city and former mayor and city commissioner Jack Clarke alleges Concerned Neighbors of Bradenton Beach (CNOBB) members Reed Mapes, Tjet Martin, John Metz, Patty Shay, Bill Vincent and his wife Rose Vincent violated the Sunshine Law when they discussed potential city board and committee business while serving as Planning and Zoning Board members or Scenic Waves Committee members.

Sarasota Attorney Robert Watrous is representing the city, with assistance provided by City Attorney Ricinda Perry and paralegal and Sunshine Law expert Michael Barfield.

During the shade meeting’s public opening, Watrous said he was uncomfortable discussing the city’s legal strategies with Shearon present because of his relationship with Martin.

Watrous said he was also concerned about Shearon casting a vote in any case-related decision making that occurred that day, but he said it was up to the commission members, not him, to decide if Shearon participated.

“I have serious concerns about you participating. That’s troublesome, to put it mildly,” Watrous told Shearon.

When detailing his concerns, Watrous referenced a June 10 email

joe hendricks | SUN

Attorney Robert Watrous, left, asks Mayor Bill Shearon, right, to recuse himself from the Shade meeting. in which Bill Vincent mentioned a telephone conversation he had with Shearon about recruiting Mapes to join CNOBB. Watrous said this amounted to Shearon serving as a “founding force” of CNOBB, even though he’s not a member and has not attended any of the group’s meeting.

He also suggested CNOBB was acting as a “shadow government.”

Watrous and Perry reminded Shearon that he took an oath to protect the city’s best interests and they pleaded, to no avail, for him to do the right thing and recuse himself.

Shearon said he would not recuse himself because it was his duty as mayor to participate in the shade meeting.

“It’s not acceptable to me,” he said.

Shearon said he and all the other commissioners are bound to the same vow of secrecy when it comes to sharing matters discussed in a shade meeting.

“All of us are in the same boat,” Shearon said.

Shearon said he had no financial gain or loss at stake in the court case

despite Martin and the other defendants facing the possibility of having to reimburse the city and/or Clarke for the legal fees they incur.

It was also noted that because Shearon is legally blind, Martin assists him in reading his city related e-mails.

“That fact that you would have a defendant in a lawsuit read your e-mail didn’t occur to you,” Watrous said to Shearon.

Watrous and Perry referenced a memo containing a legal opinion offered by attorney Morgan Bentley.

Bentley, who has twice chaired the Florida Commission on Ethics. Bentley also believes Shearon should recuse himself from any shade meetings and decision making pertaining to this case. Watrous told Shearon that refusing to recuse himself could expose him to an ethics charge.

Shearon said he would not recuse himself without speaking to his own attorney first, and after further debate the commission went into their private session that lasted approximately two hours.

I have serious concerns about you participating.

That’s troublesome, to put it mildly.”

Robert Watrous Attorney

When the meeting was reopened to the public, it was agreed that future case-related e-mails and documents would be printed and hand delivered to Shearon by Police Chief Sam Speciale so Shearon can read the documents on his own using a visual aid.

SEPTEMBER 13, 2017

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Women take note The Anna Maria Island Art League, at 5312 Holmes Boulevard, Holmes Beach, is hosting a “Women’s Wellness Series,” presented by Casey Hoffman with featured guest Laurel Rund from 2 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 16. The cost is a $30 offering. Rund will present “This puzzle called life, how did I get from there to here?”

Each three-hour workshop retreat focuses on the mind (guest speaker, Author Laurel Rund), Body (restorative yoga) and spirit (meditation practice). Bring a mat, pillow and blanket.

Laurel will have some unique items for purchase.

Laurel D. Rund is an author and a self-taught artist. She attended Queens College, NY in 1960. At the age of 64, Laurel’s life was impacted when her husband of 42 years passed away in 2009.

After a successful career as a businesswoman, and as a mother and wife, an unforeseen new chapter in Laurel’s life emerged – and the Essence of Laurel was born. Laurel unearthed a whole new purpose and way of being.

During this time, Lau-

rel wrote a book about her grief and healing, “Emerging Voices Living On: A Journey through Loss to Renewal,” which contains her heartfelt, imaginative and stirring poetry and art. And, Laurel’s unique and inspirational artwork was birthed as “Art from the Heart”.

There will be door prizes by: Hive Creations and The Village Mystic Pre-register by calling 941-778-2099 or at Anna Maria Island Art League, which is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

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SEPTEMBER 13, 2017

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SEPTEMBER 13, 2017

IRMA STORMS THROUGH

21

The hurricane leaves Anna Maria Island a mess, but still functioning

joe hendricks | SUN

After the storm, these two ducks were found standing in a puddle near the backdoor of Annie and Steve Leister’s home in Bradenton Beach.

joe hendricks | SUN

Above, this battery operated electric car came to an abrupt stop when it hit this fence in Steve and Annie Leister’s backyard in Bradenton Beach.

Right, this trailer in Cortez Park was among the many local structures that suffered roof damage.

MAGGIE field | SUN

Trees of all sizes were no match for the powerful winds brought by Hurricane Irma.

JAMIE BURNs | SUbmitted

joe hendricks | SUN joe hendricks | SUN

The canopy at the Shell station in Bradenton Beach was damaged by Hurricane Irma.

joe hendricks | SUN

Hurricane Irma redirected the street sign at the corner of Magnolia Avenue and Crescent Drive. The Kingfish boat ramp sign was ripped apart during the storm.

KRISTIN SWAIN | SUN

joe hendricks | SUN

This van parked at the corner of 12th Street North and Gulf Drive in Bradenton Beach was joined Monday morning by part of a metal structure that broke lose in the hurricane winds.

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SEPTEMBER 13, 2017

SEPTEMBER 13, 2017

OUTDOORS

THE SUN

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tide chart for anna maria city pier-SEPTEMBER 13-20 A.M. High Time Feet

A.M. Low Time Feet

P.M. High Time Feet

Wed 9/13

5:04a 2.5

1:14p 1.5

9:07p 1.6

11:06p 1.5

Thu 9/14

6:17a 2.5

10:39p 1.7

2:36p 0.2

Fri 9/15

7:43a 2.5

1:07a 1.6

11:14p 1.7

3:45p 0.2

Sat 9/16

9:07a 2.5

2:40a 1.5

11:41p 1.8

4:39p 0.2

Day Date

P.M. Low Time Feet

Sun Rise Set 7:15a / 7:37p 7:15a / 7:36p 7:16a / 7:35p 7:16a / 7:34p

Day Date

A.M. High Time Feet

A.M. Low Time Feet

P.M. High Time Feet

P.M. Low Time Feet

Sun 9/17

10:15a 2.5

3:50a 1.3

Mon 9/18

12:04a 1.9

4:46a 1.1

11:11a 2,5

5:58p 0.3

5:35a 0.9

12:04p 2.5

6:28p 0.5

6:19a 0.8

12:49p 2.45

6:55 0.75

Tues 9/19 Wed 9/20

12:22a 2.0 12:40a 2.0

5:23p 2.5

Sun Rise Set 7:17a / 7:32p 7:17a / 7:31p 7:18a / 7:30 p 7:18a / 7:29p

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SEPTEMBER 13, 2017

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SEPTEMBER 13, 2017

THE SUN

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Hurricanes, rocks and summer reruns

BY SEAN MURPHY SPECIAL TO THE SUN

Hurricanes.

After I have done everything I can to prepare - plywood, ice, water - and there is nothing left but the worrying, I put on my old hockey helmet and watch reruns of The West Wing.

This week Irma required that I pick a rerun to pass as an article. I wish my rerun was as good as West Wing. Hell, I wish our government was as good as West Wing.

Throwing rocks seemed a good topic for a time when God and Irma seemed to be doing a lot of that.

Glad you all made it. Hug a cop - they had to stay behind and stay up the whole time.

Rocks….

The milestones of my life have been marked by rocks.

Sounds redundant, but it is true.

I grew up on the rocky shores of Nova Scotia.

Nova Scotia is just one big rock sticking out into the North Atlantic. The native peoples were Micmac. “Nova Scotia” is

Micmac for “Land of Big Rocks and Little Trees.”

(No it's not. It's Latin for “New Scotland” - but the Micmacs can't be blamed for not knowing Latin.)

My first memory is of rocks and water.

I was swinging from a rope hanging off a rock wall.

The incoming tide had me in its sights.

My mom had put me in a harness and tied me to a tree near the rock wall to play.

The rope was a little too long. I had toddled over the edge of the wall and was swinging to and fro above the rising waters when my grandmother found me.

Some wish she had left me.

Others claimed that the swinging from a rope was a precursor to a later, fitting judgement.

I grew up on the cove with about forty cousins.

The cove was surrounded by rocks the size of Volkswagens that we climbed on and smaller rocks that we threw at Protestants.

Slate rocks were the best chucking rocks for distance but they would swerve and change direction. If your Protestant had a good head start you just whipped one out there and asked the Holy Ghost for guidance.

The best stones for medium distance accuracy were flat round beach stones. There are lotta guys wandering Nova Scotia with little dents in their heads from those smooth stones.

A major milestone in my life was being able to throw a rock across the cove.

We spent entire days throwing rocks across the cove. I can still remember the satisfying clink as that first rock cleared the water.

Another milestone was swimming across that rocky cove. You were not a “made” cousin until you swam the cove and you weren't tough until you could swim it while the other cousins threw rocks at you.

One of the more recent milestones in my life is about another kind of rocks.

The Beach Bistro – Eat Here team has opened a craft cocktail bar. A lot of thought has gone into the rocks in the cocktails.

Opening a craft cocktail bar is a natural extension of operating an award-winning restaurant. Like any great culinary creation, a truly wonderful cocktail requires exceptional, authentic ingredients crafted by a skilled artisan. A great cocktail has become an integral part of a memorable dinner with loved ones sharing life’s milestones - first dates, engagements, weddings and anniversaries.

And great cocktails are all about the rocks.

The rocks in cocktails have three purposes...cooling, diluting and presenting.

Different cocktails are inclined to different rates of cooling and degrees of dilution.

Small-batch bourbon is happy to cool slowly and disdains dilution. Beachy Margaritas are best cold immediately and diluted to reduce the inclination to wander dazed in the hot sun.

The “presenting” is the rocks biggest impact. A giant sphere in your aged rum is not only cooling but looks cool.

A cylindrical rock with pretty flowers frozen inside will make your mojito go “wow”, and inspire you to send pictures back home.

My favorite rock is the perfect sphere made in a heavy, metal ice baller. The weight of metal in the two halves of the baller rapidly melts a cylinder of ice into a perfect sphere right before your eyes.

The melting may not improve the efficacy of the sphere but the theatre is amazing.

They also throw well.

So far, I have been able to launch one of the spherical ice rocks damn near the length of Becky’s lumber yard next door.

And the evidence is gone by morning.

Surfside … Anna Maria Island

“Best Restaurant in America” 4.9 out of 5 ZAGAT stars One of only 11 in the entire country

941.778.6444 www.BeachBistro.com

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THE SUN

Share your skills As The Folk School at Florida Maritime Museum, at 4415 119th St. W., Cortez, continues to grow and the staff is in search of teachers with traditional Florida Folk Skills.

The study of Florida folklore is the study of the traditional beliefs, legends, and customs of Floridians which can encompass a multitude of cultures such as Cuban, German, circus arts, Native tribes and many more. Teachers should be an expert at a traditional art or skill who have either passed on, or gained their knowledge from within their cultural group.

Below are some examples of traditional skills: Nautical; sail making, boat building, boat models, sail making, making/reading nautical charts and maps.

Heritage Crafts and Skills; leather work, shoe making, blacksmithing, whip making, sweet grass baskets, bahamian straw work, garifuna crafts and dance, Cuban dance, traditional fiber art, wood carving, sundials, native plants, native species, quilting, candle making, soap making and knitting.

Preserving your family history; oral history training, conservation training and genealogy’ Traditional food and beverages; native edible plants, Cuban, Jamaican, Bahamian, Greek, Minorcan and seafood cooking classes.

Folk Music; fiddle, banjo, mandolin, cigar box guitar and other folk instruments may be applicable This is not an inclusive list. If you have a folk skill that you think may be applicable, visit https://floridafolkschool.org/become-instructor/. For more information call 941-708-6120.

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SEPTEMBER 13, 2017

SEPTEMBER 13, 2017

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facebook | submitted

Irma strands manatee Local volunteers rescued this manatee in Sarasota Bay after it was stranded by a severe receding tide that precluded Hurricane Irma

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REAL ESTATE

SEPTEMBER 13, 2017

What have we learned from Harvey I

’m writing this on Labor Day from the safety of my brick and mortar condo facing Anna Maria Sound where the sun is shining brightly. But out in the mid-Atlanta Hurricane Irma is whirling around threatening Puerto Rico and Cuba making it just a little too close to the Florida coast for comfort.

Texas has barely begun to recover from the catastrophic flooding created by Hurricane Harvey and there are many lessons to be learned from this devesting hurricane not the least of which is the spirit and bravery of the American people.

Citizens pitching in to help each other in some of the most creative ways anyone has ever seen. They saved children, the elderly, pregnant women, horses, cattle, deer and hundreds of household pets all with the same grace and caring.

Castles in the Sand Louise Bolger Not since Dunkirk at the beginning of World War II have a flotilla of private vessels spontaneously organized and pitched in to do what needed to be done.

Now it’s up to the politicians to do what needs to be done and it starts with finding an equitable way to finance the rebuilding. At the top of the list of things that needs to be addressed is the National Flood Insurance Program, a government subsidized flood insurance program which has been around for 50 years. Congress began tinkering

with this, pardon the pun, “under water” program in 2012 by passing the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act. The act was a colossal failure putting homeowners who did have flood insurance facing rate increases as high as 100 percent or more risking the marketability of their properties.

Congress quickly recognized the error of their ways after innumerable calls from their constituents and amended the program by capping the amount of premium increase that was allowed. Well the piper is back and he wants to be paid to the tune of roughly $25 billion in debt. In fact, in January the program had to borrow another $1.6 billion from the Treasury just to pay the interest on the debt.

Now the program is scheduled to expire on September 30th, and has

only $5.8 billion left it can borrow from the Treasury to meet new claims according to Congress. So here we are, members of Congress are discussing a number of options ranging from a temporary renewal of the program to a more comprehensive fix designed to return the program to solvency. Call me crazy but isn’t it the job of the men and women in Congress to fix things permanently not just punt until the next election.

Of course, homeowners with flood insurance are the lucky ones, sort of. They at least can make a claim on the damage to their properties up to a maximum of $250,000 for rebuilding and $100,000 for personal possessions, although based on the amount of flooding it doesn’t see BOLGER, page 31

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CNOBB amendments will be on ballot City voters will determine the fate of three proposed charter amendments.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH – After three commission votes, threats of a lawsuit and lingering concerns about legal insufficiencies and procedural errors, the Concerned Neighbors of Bradenton Beach (CNOBB) charter amendment questions will be placed on the Nov. 7 ballot.

This decision was reached during a special meeting Mayor Bill Shearon scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 7, as Hurricane Irma approached.

Despite concerns and criticisms expressed by the city clerk, city attorney and the four city commissioners, the commission voted 5-0 in favor of forwarding the CNOBB amendments to Supervisor of Elections Mike Bennett for inclusion on the November ballot that will also determine the winners of the mayor’s race and the Ward 3 commission race.

During public comment, CNOBB member Reed Mapes said the city

joe hendricks | SUN

CNOBB member Reed Mapes threatened to take the city to court if the CNOBB-supported charter amendments were not placed on the Nov. 7 ballot. could expect to see a lawsuit filed if the charter questions where not placed on the ballot. Commissioner Ralph Cole said he felt like the commission was being forced into placing the amendments on the ballot in order avoid another lawsuit.

During previous meetings, CNOBB members and their attorney, Bob Hendrickson, claimed the charter amendment questions did not have to be accompanied by a city commission approved resolution or ordinance, but

Supervisor of Election Mike Bennett told the city clerk he would not place the questions on the ballot with the resolutions or ordinances required by state law.

CNOBB member John Metz said the charter amendments represented democracy and a desire for a more responsive city government.

Proposed amendments

The ballot questions seek city voter support to eliminate the city’s four city com-

mission wards and make all commission seats at-large seats. CNOBB members believe this would produce more candidates for City Commission seats.

If adopted by city voters, this charter amendment would also create the potential for the majority of the commission seats to be filled by commissioners from the same neighborhood, organization, trailer park, condo building or circle of friends.

A second amendment looks to reduce commission candidate’s residency requirement from two years to one. In 2015, city voters voted 236-116 in favor of increasing the nine-month residency requirement to two years. In 2016, the vote was 165-116 in favor of retaining the two-year requirement.

A third amendment looks to restrict the City Commission from interpreting the city charter by way of commissioninitiated ordinance or resolution. This amendment is in response to past ordinances and resolutions that clarified the mayor’s authority to supervise department heads and control meeting agendas in a weak mayor form of government. see cnobb, page 30

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cnobb: amendments on ballot FROM PAGE 1

City response

Last week, City Attorney Ricinda Perry again questioned the legality of the amendments as written, the legality of the petition signature gathering process that did not follow required procedures, the legality of ballot language that was revised after petition signatures were obtained, and the legality of restricting the commission from interpreting the city charter by which it governs.

Vice Mayor John Chappie was critical of Mayor Bill Shearon’s decision to direct Perry to prepare the resolutions for a special meeting without the support of the other commissioners.

Commissioner Jake Spooner was critical of the CNOBB members’ desire to circumvent

the traditional charter review process after the commission previously agreed to form a charter review committee and hold a special charter amendment election next year.

“There’s still so many errors that can be challenged. Now there’s a storm bearing down on us and our city attorney’s asked to stop everything and write this resolution. The whole thing is just ridiculous and it goes on and on. We’ve already said we’d have a special election and get this done right. It wasn’t done properly. It’s just absurd,” Spooner said.

Chappie, Cole and Commissioner Marilyn Maro each expressed support for the existing commission wards and this will likely be a hot topic during the upcoming commission campaigns.

SEPTEMBER 13, 2017

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Soles for souls These three big bags of children’s shoes by Layla Copeland, of Dynastic Footwear, were given to Church Women United through Roser Church guild recently, just in time for school opening.

Several times a year, new shoes and money, especially for shoes and uniforms, are collected and distributed to children in need through the Soles for Little Souls program. Dynastic Footwear has donated designer shoes to Church Women United for several years, and they have been distributed through elementary schools in Manatee County and more recently at the One Stop Resource Center to help the homeless move into permanent homes.

SUBMITTED

bolger: What have we learned from Harvey FROM PAGE 28

look like $250,000 is going to do it for most homeowners.

Homeowners who do not have flood insurance are at the mercy of the Federal government who hopefully will step up and find the money someplace to help them despite their lack of purchasing insurance when they had the opportu-

nity. Remember, if you have an outstanding mortgage on your property and live in a flood zone your lender will require you to carry flood insurance. If you have no outstanding mortgage you are not required to carry flood insurance but that would be a gigantic mistake.

As I look at the shopping list staring at me from the edge

of my desk I noticed it’s composed entirely of non-perishables. I’m thankful that I like canned tuna and wonder will I ever use those cans of Sterno.

Stock up, be safe, be kind to your neighbors and pray that your representatives in Congress somewhere find more wisdom than they’ve shown in the past.

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ANNA MARIA ISLAND 620 N Point Drive Kathy Valente 941-685-6767 A4184866 $770,000

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FOOD & WINE

SEPTEMBER 13, 2017

Oysters: fresh, delicious and eco-friendly Dave Gallagher Beach house restaurant

T

he next time you have oysters at the Beach House waterfront restaurant, you’ll be helping to reclaim and restore a precious, underwater habitat.

Each and every empty shell is collected, bundled and placed in the local waters in an effort to develop new oyster beds.

Whether it’s a dozen chilled and freshly shucked or the delicious Oysters Rockefeller, with every bite, you’re helping a notable, local cause.

The Gulf Coast Oyster Recycle & Restoration Project is one of the most recent of sustainable initiatives that the Chiles Restaurant Group – owners of the Beach House waterfront eestaurant have been a leader in chartering a path to protect our local resources.

The project was funded with a $5,000 grant awarded by the Tampa Bay Estuary Program to initiate a one-year, oyster shell pilot program for Manatee County.

One of the goals is to increase oyster shell recycling countywide and then have it expand to nearby counties. The implementation team includes the Chiles Restaurant Group, Solutions to Avoid Red Tide (START), several departments of Manatee County government, University of Florida

IFAS/Extension and the Gulf Shellfish Institute.

The restoration project specifically involves oyster restoration, but it’s execution will positively impact many other aspects of daily lives by providing a hatchery for new oysters, reducing shoreline erosion, improving water quality and revitalizing the oyster and other marine habitat to increase the local food supply.

One oyster can filter 9.6 gallons of salt or estuarine water in one day, creating cleaner environments for swimming and recreational uses and aquaculture and natural habitats.

Starting in March of this year, the group began facilitating the collection, cleaning and transportation of used clam and oyster shells from its three seafood restaurants to the local Manatee County Perico Preserve to aid in the restoration of oyster and clam habitats.

“We just hit a new milestone of over 25,000 pounds of shells that have been collected, cleaned and recycled from all three of the Chiles Group restaurants,” according to Dave Gallagher, general manager of the Beach House.

“My favorite oyster dish is straightforward and simple – freshly shucked, chilled and served on ice with tangy hot sauce, lemons and saltines.

"If you’re looking for something a bit more exotic, then go for the Oysters Rockefeller – rich with the creamy flavor of spinach, melted Parmesan and the right balance

Oysters Rockefeller

from the Beach House restaurant

Ingredients:

1 dozen oysters 2 Tbs. butter 1/2 c. chopped white onion 1 Tbs. flour 1/4 c. half and half 2 Tbs. cream cheese 1/8 c. heavy cream 1 tsp. chicken base 1/2 c. grated Parmesan cheese 2 c. cooked and well drained spinach ½ c. of grated Manchego cheese ½ c. of cooked crumbled bacon

Method:

Danielle Rutelli / Mom Wife Foodie blogger

Oysters Rockefeller are rich with the creamy flavor of spinach, melted Parmesan cheese and a dusting of bread crumbs. of texture with a dusting of bread crumbs.”

Florida oysters are available year round, however, the harvest ramps up in fall as water temperatures begin to drop. Fall and winter are the perfect time to enjoy the area’s famous oysters. The cooler months are when oysters taste their absolute best.

Right now, the Beach House has extended its Happy Hour from

open until 5 p.m. with 2-4-1 drink specials including domestic beers, house wines, signature cocktails and well drinks.

So we suggest you take a break, have some oysters and enjoy the amazing view from the all-weather beach front deck.

For the full Oysters Rockefeller recipe visit BeachHouseDining. com/OystersRock

Melt butter add onions and cook until clear on medium to high heat.

Stir in flour.

Whisk in half and half, heavy cream, chicken broth and cream cheese.

Cook until thickened.

Stir in spinach.

Let mixture cool at room temperature.

Add Parmesan cheese to thicken as it cools.

Once completely cooled, spoon generously onto individual shucked and cleaned oysters.

Top with Manchego cheese and crumbled bacon pieces.

Cook at 450 degrees for 12 minutes or until tops are bubbly and cheese is melted.

SEPTEMBER 13, 2017

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SEPTEMBER 13, 2017

TOWN CRIER

ongoing need for oyster shell that can be turned into mats. Those interested may contact Michelle at 941-742-5923, ext 6035, to set up a training time.

Spread some kindness

Help with weight control

Senior Adventures will spread a little love around at Annie Silver Community Center, 103 23rd St. N., Bradenton Beach starting at 10 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 15, with an opportunity to paint “happy rocks.” They will also show a movie, the name is yet unknown, and there will be lots of popcorn. For more information, call Kaye Bell at 941-538-0945.

Overeaters Anonymous meets at the Church of the Annunciation, 4408 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, each Thursday at 7 p.m. For more information, call 813-494-6518.

Rhythm on the beach

Racing to win On Saturday, Sept. 16, at 8 a.m., athletes are invited to join the Manatee County Parks and Recreation Department at Robinson Preserve, 1704 99th St. NW for an eco fitness scavenger run. Participants may come alone or form a team to solve a series of ecological clues to lead them to areas in the preserve. Once at those locations, they will perform a mini fitness challenge.

Then on to another location until they cover all of them and back to the starting line. Running will cover approximately three miles Questions about the event can be directed to preston. higdon@mymanatee.org or erin.struzzieri@mymanatee.org.

Circle the wagons In celebration of National Estuaries Week, the Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources Department is hosting a wagon tour of Robinson Preserve at 1704 99th St. NW, on Monday, Sept.

18, from 9 to 10 a.m. and 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. The tour guide will explain the preserve’s estuarine ecology, history, resident wildlife, flowers and describe preserve highlights during this free tour.

This program is sponsored by Restore America’s Estuaries, CITGO Petroleum Corporation, Tampa Bay Estuary Program, and Sarasota Bay Estuary Program and it is suitable for all ages. Arrive a minimum of 15 minutes in advance.

Meet at the wagon loading ramp near the screened in pavilion. Seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Story time at the library Trudy Bell, the children’s librarian, reads stories on Tuesday, Sept. 19, 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. This is a fun event for the kids and their parents with music, dancing and may a craft or two. For more information, call the library at 778-6341.

Help for veterans A representative from Manatee County’s Veteran Services Division will be at the Island Library, 5701 Marina

submitted

Movie planned for JOY On Wednesday, Sept. 13, the public is invited to join JOY (Just Older Youth) for a screening of the movie “The Hiding Place,” the story of Corrie ten Boom and her family who were caught hiding Jews and sent to a Nazi concentration camp where they witnessed atrocities by the Germans. Ten Boom survived to be a “Tramp for the Lord.” The movie was produced

by Billy Graham’s organization and is listed as “one of the best movies of 1975.” The movie is a little long (2 hr 20 min) so JOY will be serving lunch for $5 (Publix sandwiches and other goodies) to eat during the showing. Log onto www.roserchurch.com/joy or call the Church office at 941- 778-0414 to RSVP. Drive, Holmes Beach, every Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon to provide assistance, information and referral. They will also be available to book appointments for more in-depth counseling sessions as needed. Call the library at 941-778-6341 for more information.

Enjoy the rhythm of drums keeping the beat at the Sunset Drum Circle at the Anna Maria Island Beach Café, 4000 Gulf Dr, Holmes Beach, on Fridays from 5 to 8 p.m. There’s no charge to listen and dinner is available at the café.

Senior talk trash Senior Adventures will meet an hour earlier, 9 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 22, to take a tour of the Manatee/Sarasota recycling trash sorting facility in Sarasota that was dedicated in February of this year. The group will depart from the Annie Silver Community Center, 103 23rd St. N., Bradenton Beach at 9 a.m. They will stop for lunch after the tour. Call Kaye Bell at 941-538-0945 to reserve your seat.

Reaching out to long-term patients

Transplanting plants

The Center, of Anna Maria Island, needs volunteers to help carry out its programs. Those interested may join The Center’s Director of First Impressions, Amy Talucci, on the first Thursday of every month, from noon to 6 p.m. for more information and to attend an orientation. For more information, call The Center at 941-778-1908.

Florida’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program has advocate positions available in Manatee County. Volunteers visit with residents of nursing homes, assisted living facilities and adult-family care homes to ensure they are treated with dignity and respect.

Training and certification are provided and volunteers participate in council meetings, administrative assessments and complaint resolution in facilities.

If you would like to become an ombudsman and make a difference in your community, visit ombudsman. myflorida.com, search for us on Face book or call 1-888-831-0404.

As part of its celebration of National Estuaries Week, the Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources Department is asking for a plant pull at Perico Preserve, 11700 Manatee Ave. W., on Friday, Sept. 22, from 8 to 11:30 a.m.

The harvested plants will be replanted at the Robinson Expansion the next day to help restore the old farmland to its natural state. This program is sponsored by Restore America’s Estuaries, CITGO Petroleum Corporation, Tampa Bay Estuary Program, and Sarasota Bay Estuary Program and it suitable for all ages. Reservations are required by emailing coral.bass@mymanatee. org or calling 941-742-5757 ext. 2.

Lose that stress

Music on the beach

Loren Batsell leads a Guided Relaxation Circle on the first Friday of every month from 5 to 5:45 p.m. at the Anna Maria Island Art League, 5312 Holmes Blvd, Holmes Beach.

Donations are requested. A portion of the money will benefit the Art League.

Batsell practiced wellness for more than 20 years, She is a nationally board certified Doctor of Oriental Medicine and licensed Acupuncture Physician. Chairs will be provided or students may bring a mat. Attendees will be given verbal cues throughout the process to calm the body, mind, and spirit. Comfortable clothing is suggested. For more information, call 778-2099 or visit the Anna Maria Island Art League, open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Enjoy Jam in the Sand on Thursdays at the Anna Maria Island Beach Café, 4000 Gulf Dr, Holmes Beach, from 5 to 8 p.m. It’s free and it’s fun. Enjoy dinner while you listen.

Center seeks volunteers

Manatee County needs help The Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources Department needs help drilling oysters to create oyster mats and vertical oyster gardens. Volunteers are needed if they meet the following criteria: familiar with a drill press; have steady hands; are able to be at Robinson Preserve, 1704 99th St. NW, during open hours; able to volunteer several hours at a time; and be at least 18 years old. The department is going to have an

Robinson Preserve by night The Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources Department is sponsoring a sunset starlight paddle at Robinson Preserve at 1704 99th St. NW, on Friday, Sept. 22 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Explore the salt marches with WayneAdventures and take advantage of low tide to watch the sunset from the sandbars of the Manatee River. Bring your camera for great shots of egrets, herons and roseate spoonbills. This is an easy paddle that can be enjoyed by beginning kayakers. Participants must have their own canoe or kayak and safety gear including a light. All participants must wear a life jacket. Reservations are required.

Call 941-742-5757 ext. 7

www.amisun.com

SEPTEMBER 13, 2017

BEACH BEAT Anna Maria

8/19, trespass warning, Bayfront Park, 316 N. Bay Blvd. The deputy found two people sleeping in the picnic area and told them not to come back.

8/31, found property. 803 S. Bay Blvd. An abandoned bike was found.

Bradenton Beach 9/2, possession of drugs, 104 Gulf Drive S. The officer spotted the defendant sleeping on private property. While checking him out, an officer found marijuana and cocaine on him. He was arrested.

Driving with a suspended license, 2000 Gulf Drive S., Coquina Park. The officer spotted an expired tag on a car driven by the defendant. A computer check showed her driver’s license was suspended. She was arrested.

Cortez

8/22, burglary to a conveyance, 4300 block of 126 Street West. A burglar broke a window to enter the vehicle and steal items.

8/23, violation of a domestic disturbance injunction, 4500 block of 123rd Street West.

The officer responded to a domestic violence complaint and found no physical harm.

The officer found out there was an injunction against one of the parties and arrested him.

8/24, motor vehicle theft, 4200 block of 126th Street West. The victim said she returned to her home from traveling and found her vehicle had been stolen.

9/4, criminal mischief, 4400 block of 123rd Street Court West. Two tires were slashed.

Holmes Beach

8/24, driving with no license, 6700 Palm Ave. The officer ran a computer check on the license plate and found out the owner had no driver’s license. He was ticketed.

8/24, driving with suspended license, posses-

sion of marijuana. The officer spotted the defendant, who he knew had a suspended license, driving. He stopped the driver and found marijuana in the car. He arrested the driver.

8/24, alcohol on the beach, Manatee County Beach, 4000 Gulf Drive. The officer found a vehicle illegally parked in a handicap spot. He saw two females having relations on the beach and in possession of alcohol. They were ticketed.

8/26, theft, 200 block of Peacock Lane.

The victim was away for a few days and when she returned, she found items missing. She confronted her boyfriend, who admitted stealing and pawning them. The case was given to the detective. The defendant was arrested in jail where he was incarcerated for another offense.

8/28, burglary, 500 block of 71st Street.

The caretaker of the house called police when he found the front door of the house had been damaged and a safe was on the floor with its door removed.

8/28, burglary, 500 block of 71st Street (different house). The homeowner

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came back from a trip and found a rifle had been removed and 18 reels were taken from 18 fishing rods. The officer found the front door had been damaged to gain access to the house.

8/29, driving with no license. The officer ran a computer check and found the driver had no license. He was ticketed.

8/29, driving with no license, 3900 East Bay Drive. The officer ran a computer check and found out the driver had no license. He was ticketed.

8/31, driving with a suspended license, 6400 Gulf Drive. The officer ran a computer check and found the drive had a suspended license. She was ticketed.

8/31, driving with no valid license, 8100 Marina Drive. The officer took a computer check on license plates and found the driver had no license. She was ticketed.

9/2, lost item, not stolen, Dollar Tree, 3260 East Bay Drive. The subject said he stopped at the store and while there, he used the restroom. Later, while at Coquina Beach using his metal detector, he discovered his pistol, for which he has a permit, was missing.

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FUN IN THE SUN

Across 1 Card __ 6 "The Hobbit" being 9 Tied accessory 14 Cameron Indoor Stadium college hoopster 16 It has a backup 17 Feigns innocence 18 Like Zitronen 19 Inexperienced 20 Tons 21 First 22 Acidity nos.

24 Virtue of the 2010 Olympic champion ice dancing team Virtue and Moir 26 Gershon of "Killer Joe" 27 It involves pockets 29 Some crosses 31 Alley ending?

32 Freelancers' encls.

34 Ross Sea sight 35 Captain's dir.

36 Does some political maneuvering 40 Tokyo-born artist 41 Lit __ 42 Kennel pickup area 43 Coin first minted in 13th-century France 44 Challenging pitch 46 Baryshnikov, at birth 48 What "c" may mean in South Africa 50 "One can say everything best over __": George Eliot 52 Corp. treasurer, perhaps 53 Playground comeback 55 __ Dei

57 Bodybuilder Ferrigno 59 Ballerina Shearer 60 Eccentrics 62 Big name in auditing 63 Police-search discovery 64 Colorful Danish export 65 B.C. neighbor 66 10th-century English king Down 1 It takes you to the top 2 Sadie Hawkins creator 3 Reaction to excessive attention to detail 4 "__ Troyens": Berlioz opera 5 Krabappel of "The Simpsons" 6 More wicked 7 Unplugs in a big way 8 Traveled alone, perhaps 9 Lhasa __ 10 Urban Dictionary content 11 Post-washing warning

Answers to 09-06-17 Crossword Puzzle.

12 Game for two 13 Roofing material 15 Bridge column word 23 Gouge 25 Festoon 28 Clinging type 30 Calyx part 33 Aleppo's land 36 Marlboro Man contemporary 37 Again 38 Frat founded in 1855 at Ohio's Miami University 39 Gp. that includes Nigeria 45 Country with the largest surface area of water 47 Amble (along) 49 Statue subject 51 "__ and His Empire": 1972 Pulitzer-winning biography 54 Mare's mouthful 56 Terrier type 58 Like many eBay items 61 One hanging out in a coll. office?

SEPTEMBER 13, 2017

SEPTEMBER 13, 2017

classified

ANNOUNCEMENTS THE BEST VOLUNTEER position on the island. The AMI Historical Museum needs docents and bread makers. Call Lynn at 813758-3234 or lbrennan47@ gmail.com ROSER FOOD BANK needs donations of cash and non-perishable food. Donations boxes are located at the Church, Moose Club, Walgreen's and The Anna Maria Island Sun Newspaper (corner of Gulf and Palm).

AUTOMOTIVE SALES & SERVICE 2007 HONDA SILVERWING For Sale. One owner, 600 cc auto transmission motorcycle, 15,000 miles. Many additions, well maintained, garage kept.

Excellent condition. $4000 Call 941-778-2553

BABY SITTER RED CROSS CERTIFIED baby sitter. Honor student.

Call or text Isabel 941-5457995

BOATS: PARTS & SERVICES & SALES

COMMERCIAL SALES NEED 9300 Sq Ft WAREHOUSE to store your (CAR) collection?

Bradenton, near Airport. $619,000 Island Real Estate Ask Alan Galletto 941-232-2216

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

EMPLOYMENT

NOW HIRING-Part to full time screen printer in small island business. Will train, starting at $10. Call 941778-6541 for appointment.

FISHING CHARTERS CAPT. MAC GREGORY Fishing Charters. Full Day, Half Day, Night, Inshore & Near Shore. 941-809-5783 U.S.C.G. Certified/Insured

CARPET CLEANING

FOR SALE

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

BE FIRST IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD! Bat House made of cedar. Hang in back yard. Bats eat 3000 bugs a night. $45. Call 941778-5345

TOTAL HOME SERVICE CLEANING : Residential, Commercial & Rentals.

Professional and Reliable. Call 941-756-4570 THOMPSON CLEANING SERVICE CommercialResidential-Marine.

Island Based Company.

Seasonal Deep Cleaning-Weekly-Occasional.

Call for Free Estimate.

941-281-4951

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

AUTHORITY ONE SERVICES. Residential/Commercial/Vacation Rentals & Construction Cleaning.

Also Power Washing, Windows, Paver Sealing & Roof Cleaning.

Ask about your Senior Citizens Discount Call 941-251-5948 or 941565-3931

ISLAND BOAT SALES Not Using Your Boat, Let's Sell It. "Business On A Hand Shake" I Also Buy Boats. Dave/ Owner 941-228-3489

CLEANING SERVICE

Call us today! 941-778-3986

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.

License # CRC1327296.

Call Jerry Kern 941-7781115 www.kernconstructioninc.com “HONEY DO" HOME Repairs & Handyman Services.

35 yrs experience. Painting, drywall, tile, woodwork. All tasks. Call 941-896-5256 or 941-807-5256 www.honeydohomerepairinc.com HANDYMAN. RETIRED ENGINEER. Free estimates.

“No job too Small”. Repairs, replacements, improvements, wall TV’s, shelves, cabinets, calking etc. Call Jim 941-448-7806 GET’R DONE DRYWALL, INC Specializing in Remodels & Repairs. Island Resident for 18 years. Call Neil Cell 941-962-1194 WALY PRECISION PAINTING: painting, drywall, stucco, and remodeling, commercial/residential, licensed & insured. Call 941-448-1928 or 941-4656324 www.WalyPrecisionPainting.us DECKOUT MASTER CARPENTER Everything Patio & Dock Decking Work Repair, Replace, Maintenance Work, Cleaning, Treatments, New Decks.

Also Handyman/Painting work to home or office.

Call RICHARD Bespoke Service 941-448-3571 Island Resident.

BAR STOOLS (4). Light wood, palm tree hand painted on seat. 24” tall $40 for all 4. Call 941776-5774

HAULING SITE CLEAN-UP to trash outs we can handle it all.

Call us for your dumpsters/ trash needs today 941-7538772

LANDSCAPING & LAWN CARE

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

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

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SHELL DELIVERED AND spread $55/yd. Hauling all kinds of gravel, mulch, top soil with free estimates. Call Larry at 941-795-7775, "shell phone" 941-720-0770 STRAIGHT SHOT LANDSCAPE. Specializing in Old Florida Seashell driveways and scapes. Also Rock, Mulch, & Soil. Free estimates. Call Shark Mark 941-301-6067

LOST & FOUND FOUND NECKLACE PENDANT near Anna Maria Post Office. Call 941-7733182 LOST DOG BLACK Chihuahua gray on face 14 years old. Call 941-705-5574.

LOST GOLD BRACELET with toggle clasp & charm with 50th anniversary engraved.

Sentimental value. Lost in vicinity of Palm Ave. in Anna Maria. Call 407-8730078.

LOST: LADIES AVIATOR sunglasses on Holmes Beach, 65th street. Wed 6/28 Sunset. Reward. 813546-3982 LOST MY GRANDMOTHER'S gold wedding band (initials inside and date) at Coquina Beach area. Reward.

Call 407-579-1621

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

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

PAINTING & WALLCOVERING PAINT! PAINT! AND MORE 28 years of experienced interior/exterior custom painting. Pressure cleaning, drywall repairs and texture finishes. Many Island references. Please call Neil for free estimates.

941-812-0507 “WIZARD OF WALLS” Established 1980 Prompt quality service.

Paperhanging/removal Faux finishes. Interior painting. Mary Bell 941794-0455

PROFESSIONAL PAINTING SERVICES. Prompt & Reliable. Meticulous, Thorough, Quality Workmanship. Interior/Exterior. Wall paper removal..

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

BAYSIDE COMMERCIAL PAINTING. David Padyani Call 941-565-9446 or Larry Zimmer 941-2248123 Licensed & Insured

PERSONAL SERVICES NEED MATH TUTOR? I am a Certified 6th-12th Grade Math Teacher with 30 years experience tutoring. Call 941-5244177

PETS PET SITTING ON Island or Near By in home. References available. Call 941-524-0534 for info and scheduling.

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

Great References. Call Mary 941-405-2496

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

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

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

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PROFESSIONAL PRESSURE & WINDOW WASHING AUTHORITY ONE CLEANING : Residential, Commercial, Construction and Vacation Rentals . Also available Power Washing, Roof Cleaning and Windows.

Call 941-251-5948

REAL ESTATE HOMES & CONDOS FOR SALE FROM THE HIGH $200’s Only minutes from the beach, this new active adult community is perfectly located just south of Manatee Ave, off Village Green Pkwy.

Perfectly designed, open 2BR or 3BR/2BA plus den & 2CG floor plans.

Luxurious amenities, pool, spa, gym, pickle ball and fenced-in dog park. HOA only $190/ month. Models open daily. Contact us 941254-3330 www.MirabellaFlorida.com 113 BEACH AVE 3BR/3BA Pool Home. Great location West of Gulf Drive with Direct beach access! $1,055,000 Call Charles Buky Coldwell Banker 941228-6086 CANAL FRONT HOMES Holmes Bch - Key Royale GULF FRONT CONDOS Gulf Place, La Casa L’Plage, Waters Edge & MORE. Island Real Estate ASK Alan Galletto 941-232-2216 SLIGHTLY OFF THE ISLAND. 3BR/2BA completely renovated Lake House, five miles from the beach.

No Condo/HOA Fees, No Deed Restrictions, No Traffic. Huge Boat/RV Storage Area $334,900. www.6909-32nd.com. For Sale By Owner. 941-7955225 HARBOUR ISLE on Anna Maria Sound coach home, 2289 sq ft, 3BR/2BA, screened lanai, retreat, 2 car garage, gated, Beach Club, New marina under construction. Summer special $599,900. Must see!

Call today 941-779-4999 Dave Lorman Re/Max Alliance Group

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REAL ESTATE HOMES & CONDOS FOR SALE PERICO BAY CLUB! Open & Bright, with high ceilings! Updated kitchen & near pool!

2BR/2BA - $212,000 Call Anna Maria Sales Team 941-773-0165

RENTALS: ANNUAL BRADENTON: 1BR/2BA upstairs condo on 75th St. near St. Peter & Paul . Water, sewer basic cable incl. $900mo $900 security dep. $100 application fee on site.

Application approval required. 2-3 bedroom executive level townhouse in gated community with Bayview, 2 car garage, private elevator, treetop loft , Almost 2200 S/F. Many amenities including kayaks, pools, workout center, restaurant and bar all on site. Application approval required. Ask for Ed DUNCAN REAL ESTATE 941-779-0304 www. teamduncan.com

Call us today! 941-778-3986

ANNUAL RENTAL and CONDOMINIUM Association management serviced by (2) offices open 7 days a week! Contact junew@ islandreal.com – 941-3451295 - Island Real Estate of Anna Maria Island, Inc. 2BR/2BA/1 CAR GARAGEsingle family home. $1400/ mo annual lease. Cortez area. 2BR/2BA furnished condo at West Bay Cove.

Annual lease $1600/mo.

Call A Paradise 941-7784800 ANNUAL RENTALS- Gulf Front 1BR/1BA $950/mo No pets/Non-Smoking; Steps to Beach 1BR/1BA $950/mo, Non-Smoking; Holmes Beach 2BR/1.5BA, carport, storage, W/D hookups $1,650/mo. No pets/ Non-Smoking. Call Fran Maxon Real Estate for details 941-778-2307.

WEST BRADENTON, AT VILLAGE GREEN: Private Villa with spectacular lake views. 2 beds/2 baths, over 2100 SF living area with all new paint, flooring and 2 car garage. Villa is fully applianced (washer/dryer too) and unfurnished. Over 55 gated community, no pets, {annual lease only} at $1895/mo. Please call Jim with questions at 781-6032861 or Matt Pertosoff at www.choosegulfcoast.com at 941-782-1559.

ANNUAL HOLMES BEACH 2BR/2BA. Steps to Beach & Shops includes Dishwasher, Washer/Dryer trash. No Smoking/No Pets $1695/ mo + utilities. First, Last & Security. Call 860-9223857

TWO STORY 3BR/2BA Townhouse in Bradenton Beach. Large master bedroom w/ large Jacuzzi bath tub, separate shower. Steps to Beach. View of Gulf & Bay. Large deck. Washer/ Dryer, Parking for 3 cars.

Available Now. $1800/ mo Call 941-782-8556 ANNUAL RENTAL: Anna Maria City, 2BR/2BA half duplex, totally remodeled, unfurnished. NO PETS! $1,500/mo - 1st, last, and security req'd. Call Sato Real Estate, Inc. at 941778-7200 or email monica@satorealestate.com ANNUAL RENTAL: ELLENTON 3BR/2BA/1CG 1070 sf. One year lease $1195/mo. Spacious Yard. Call 941-893-7325

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

ANNA MARIA ISLAND, Fl Condos. Pool beach access, fully equipped $650-$800/ wk Redekercondos.com 941-704-7525 or 941-7781915

SEPTEMBER 13, 2017

SUMMER WEEKLY RENTALS Available: 2BR/1BA Gulf front from $1,100 per week. 2BR with sleeping loft Bayfront from $1,100 per week, 4BR/3BA Bayside from $1,450 per week. No pools. 2018 SEASONAL RENTALS Available: 2BR/1BA Gulf front from $3,850 per month, 2BR with sleeping loft from $3,850 per month. Three month minimum. Horizon Realty of Anna Maria 941-778-0426 kringco@ tampabay.rr.com GREAT RATES! Weekly, Monthly. 3BR/2BA NW Bradenton. Call Grace 941-201-2190

TRANSPORTATION AMI TAXI metered-on-callcards accepted. Airport: Tampa $95, Sarasota $40, Clearwater $85, Orlando $165. Call 800-301-4816. amitaxi4u@gmail.com, www.amitaxi.com ANYTIME TRANSPORTATION to all airports, appointments, casino, cruises, etc. Tampa $60. Sarasota $30. Pets welcome. Very dependable. Reasonable rates. Contact Jeanne.

941-779-5095 ADMIRAL TOWN CAR Professional chauffeur, taxi prices! Airports (1@ $75, 10 $150 to Tampa), Appointments anywhere.

Credit cards accepted. Phil 941-320-1120 admiraltowncar@gmail.com, Licensed & Insured ROGER'S AIRPORT SERVICE. Tampa, St. Pete/ Clearwater, Sarasota/ Bradenton. Call Roger 941773-1469

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SEPTEMBER 13, 2017

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

HAULING

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SEPTEMBER 13, 2017

Vacation Rentals • Sales • Property Management

TeamDuncan.com • 941.779.0304

310 Pine Avenue Anna Maria, FL 34216