Anna Maria Island Sun September 6, 2023

Idalia swamps Island

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA ISLAND –

Much of Anna Maria Island experienced historically high storm surge and king tiderelated flooding, but the barrier island survived Hurricane Idalia mostly unscathed.

During the evening hours of Tuesday, Aug. 29 and the overnight and the early hours of Wednesday morning, Hurricane Idalia passed by Anna Maria Island as a category 3 storm, far enough to the west in the Gulf of

Mexico to spare the Island from the worst of its wind damage and storm surge.

On the Island, the hurricane produced significant flooding but minimal structural damage, electrical outages or disruptions of the water and sewer services provided by Manatee County. The storm produced no reported Island fatalities or injuries.

A drive around the Island early Tuesday evening before the hurricane arrived indicated most residents and visitors had already evacuated or retreated

to the safety of their homes and almost all Island businesses were closed. A hurricane party was unfolding at Slim’s Place in Anna Maria and folks were still enjoying libations at the Sports Lounge in Bradenton Beach.

STORM UNFOLDS

While the storm unfolded Tuesday night, many Island residents shared information on Facebook. The Tuesday evening posts included notice of a structural fire in Holmes Beach, limited power outages and rising floodwaters.

The Bradenton Police Department posted that the Palma Sola Causeway on Manatee Avenue, one of the three roads that lead to the Island, was closed due to flooding.

Early Wednesday morning, well before daylight, Bradenton Beach Police Officer Tom Ferrara posted, “Please stay off Gulf Drive in Bradenton Beach. It’s impassable and very dangerous.”

At 4:25 a.m., Lexi DeLeon posted, “Thigh-high flooding through Bradenton Beach. Waves are crashing at beach

entrances and flooding out to Gulf Drive. Both bridges are closed.”

THE MORNING AFTER

The Sun’s attempted trip to the Island at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday morning ended at the foot of the Cortez Bridge, where Manatee County Sheriff’s Office deputies blocked access to the Island while Bradenton Beach officials assessed the storm damage.

SEE IDALIA, PAGE 11

Cortez fishing village inundated by Hurricane Idalia

BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com

CORTEZ – As residents and business owners cleaned up on Thursday following the historically high storm surge from Hurricane Idalia that flooded local roads on Wednesday, the recurring consensus was, “We got lucky.”

“There was no boat damage (to the fleet of fishing boats). We lost a few boards on the dock,” A.P. Bell Fish Co. owner Karen Bell said. “We were very lucky.”

Cortez is one of Florida’s last commercial fish -

ing villages, hugging the north shore of Sarasota Bay. On Wednesday morning, its roads were underwater, but by that evening, the waters had receded and roads were passable.

Before the storm, A.P. Bell workers had secured the fleet of fishing boats with extra dock lines.

“Star Fish sits so high we had no water encroachment,” said Bell, who also owns the Star Fish Co. restaurant and co-owns the Tide Tables restaurant. “But Tide Tables got about 6 inches of water."

SEE CORTEZ, PAGE 27

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

Above, residential properties along Lakeview Drive in Anna Maria experienced significant flooding after Hurricane Idalia swept past Anna Maria Island. Inset, Idalia prompts an evacuation from the Island.

LESLIE LAKE | SUN

Annie’s Bait and Tackle in Cortez sustained damage to its docks following Hurricane Idalia.

Oil spill at SeaPort Manatee reported

Anna Maria centennial celebrations continue

The city of Anna Maria is hosting a sequel centennial celebration at City Pier Park on Sunday, Sept. 10 from 3:30-6:30 p.m. as a follow-up to the initial centennial celebration held on Memorial Day in honor of Anna Maria’s 100th anniversary as a chartered Florida city.

BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com

MANATEE COUNTY –

The U.S. Coast Guard is investigating the source of an oil spill at SeaPort Manatee on Aug. 31.

SeaPort Manatee is a Manatee County-owned port located on Tampa Bay in northern Manatee County.

“We are on scene now working with the port,” U.S. Coast Guard Capt. Mike Kale of Sector St. Petersburg’s Response Department said on Friday.

Kale said his department is actively working

to determine the source of the oil spill, which he estimates at about 3,000 gallons.

“A commercial oil response company has been hired,” Kale said on Friday. “They’re applying a boom around the oil. It appears to be contained.”

Two of the Coast Guard Response Department’s missions are ports, waterways and coastal security and marine environmental

protection.

The spill was noticed on Aug. 31, according to a spokesperson for the Manatee County Port Authority. That was the day after Hurricane Idalia sideswept Manatee County as a Category 3 storm.

“Yesterday, we noticed a visible discoloration within the port’s basin and notified the National Response Center,” Manatee County Port Authority Communica-

tions Director Virginia Zimmerman wrote in a Sept. 1 email. “The U.S. Coast Guard inspected and didn’t set any restrictions on vessel operations.”

Kale said the investigation into the source of the oil remains active.

“We don’t know the source right now, we are continuing to investigate,” he said. “That could take some time to determine.”

The celebration will include food trucks, beer and wine sales, live music and information booths featuring local not-for-profit organizations. A six-piece jazz combo comprised of musicians from the Anna Maria Island Concert Chorus & Orchestra will perform, as they did at the first centennial celebration. The Stockton Brothers, a local acoustic duo, will also perform at the celebration.

“Our target market is local residents, to celebrate our centennial – a continuation of our centennial celebration,” Mayor Dan Murphy said of the September celebration.

The U.S. Coast Guard estimates about 3,000 gallons have been spilled. Containment measures are being taken.

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

IN BRIEF

Commission to consider pickleball courts at Herb Dolan Park

The Bradenton Beach City Commission meeting on Thursday, Sept. 7 at 6 p.m. will include discussions of adding pickleball courts at Herb Dolan North Park, a City Pier update and expenses discussion, turtle-friendly lighting and FPL agreement, a design-build RFP for the Tingley Library, the Bridgetender Halloween party, a disaster debris monitoring RFP and FEMA public assistance grant program services. The meeting will be held at the Katie Pierola Commission Chambers, 107 Gulf Drive N. in Bradenton Beach.

Public hearing set for city budget, millage on Sept. 7

A Bradenton Beach Commission public hearing will be held to discuss millage and the city budget on Thursday, Sept. 7 at 5:30 p.m. Commissioners will discuss the proposed percentage increase in millage, adoption of joint tentative millage resolution 23-963, adoption of joint tentative budget resolution 23-964, first reading and setting of public hearing on joint ordinance 23-549 adopting a budget for fiscal year 2023-24, and the announcement of the final millage and budget hearing date. The meeting will be held at the Katie Pierola Commission Chambers, 107 Gulf Drive N. in Bradenton Beach.

Anna Maria preservation board membership reduced

The city of Anna Maria’s Historic Preservation Board is being reduced from five members to three members. During the Aug. 24 city commission meeting, City Attorney Becky Vose presented the first reading of an ordinance that will formalize the membership reduction that will take effect after the ordinance is presented for second reading and final adoption at a future city commission meeting. Vose said having a threemember board means only two members must be present at a meeting to constitute a voting quorum. A five-member board requires a threemember voting quorum. Vose said the reduction is needed because it’s become more difficult to find five city residents to serve as volunteer board members. Mayor Dan Murphy noted state law allows a three-member board if the city’s population is less than 1,000 people, which is the case in Anna Maria. The commission previously reduced the Planning and Zoning Board membership from five members to three members for similar reasons.

No election, charter commission in Holmes Beach

enforce it if not enough people volunteer to run and serve.”

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

HOLMES BEACH

– There will be no changes on the city commission dais this year. Commissioners Pat Morton, Terry Schaefer and Carol Soustek are all automatically re-elected for another two-year term. All three incumbent commissioners were unopposed when election candidate qualifying ended at noon on Sept. 1, eliminating the need for a November city election in 2023.

This will be Soustek’s fifth full term as a city commissioner. She was first elected in 2015 after

commissioner, serving 17 years on the dais before losing his seat in the 2019 election. He regained his seat in 2021.

This will be Schaefer’s third term as a city commissioner. He was first elected to his seat in 2019.

Not so cut and dry were the Charter Review Commission results.

After only one candidate, Holmes Beach resident William Romberger, qualified for one of the five seats, city leaders had to look to the charter

Pier temporarily closing for maintenance

The Anna Maria City Pier will be closed for maintenance on Monday, Sept. 11 and Tuesday, Sept. 12. The maintenance work will include re-staining the fading pier walkway, replacing some lighting, some additional electrical work and an inspection of the sewer system. The pier closing dates are weather-dependent and could be altered if needed due to inclement weather.

working to appoint an additional four members to the Charter Review Commission. Then Augello weighed in with a different opinion by email.

In her email, Augello said that because there were not five members sitting on the commission, the seats could not be vacated and therefore an appointment couldn’t occur. Under the city’s charter, she said there must be five members, or the review board can’t convene.

“Right now, the city is in a position where it is violating its charter by following the provisions of its charter through no fault of its own,” Augello said. “There is no way to

What this means for city commissioners is that they are now tasked with amending the charter. According to the Holmes Beach charter, a charter review commission must be convened every five years to see if any amendments need to be made to the document by which the city is run. Mayor Judy Titsworth often refers to the charter as the city’s “Bible” during city commission meetings. Without a charter review commission, the scheduled five-year examination of the document in 2024 cannot take place.

Augello said an ordinance needs to be drafted for commissioners to consider to amend the charter to put the operations of the city back in line with the document. This year marks the first time since the city was incorporated in 1950 that not enough people qualified to run for the charter review commission.

Three qualify for reelection in Bradenton Beach

Incumbent Bradenton Beach Mayor John Chappie and Commissioners Jake Spooner and Jan Vosburgh have qualified for reelection.

According to the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections office, the three candidates met the Sept. 1 deadline for qualifying and all are unopposed in the November election.

Chappie has served six terms as mayor of the city. Spooner represents Ward 1 and Vosburgh represents Ward 3. Each will serve two-year terms. As city commission members, Chappie, Spooner and Vosburgh will also serve on the Bradenton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA).

There will be no election in Holmes Beach in 2023 with all three incumbent commissioners returning for another two-year term on the dais.

KRISTIN SWAIN | SUN

The Holmes Beach city commission will remain as is for the next year.

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

Join now for Saturday’s LaPensee Bowling Tournament

Gather your friends. Dust off your bowling ball. Pull out your favorite costume. Join the fun Saturday night at the Greg LaPensee Bowling Tournament.

BY MONICA SIMPSON Special to The Sun

ANNA MARIA - Sat-

urday night’s fun at the Greg LaPensee Bowling Tournament is only days away. With teams of six ready to bowl at the fundraising event, a few lanes are still available for additional teams, but they are going fast.

The pins will start crashing on Saturday, Sept. 9 at 6 p.m. at Bowlero Bradenton, 4208 Cortez Road W. In costume or as you are, join the fun bowling or just hanging out with

friends, raising money for The Center of Anna Maria Island.

Sponsored by LaPensee Plumbing, Pools and Air, the tournament not only includes bowling, but also includes prizes, food, raffles and a costume contest.

Prizes will be awarded to the highest-scoring male, female and youth bowlers, as well as the top-scoring team.

For $350, teams can still sign up for three games of bowling, snacks and shoe rental. Lanes are going fast, and with less than 10 lanes left, the event will certainly sell out.

This family event is one of the most highly anticipated fundraising events of the year for the Island community and The Center. Bowlers of all ages are welcome on the teams of six.

Event sponsors and raffle item donations continue to be accepted at The Center. Reserve your lanes today by contacting The Center at 941-778-1908. Tickets are also available online at www.centerami.org/ events.

All proceeds from the bowling tournament will go to support the programs and services provided at The Center of Anna Maria Island.

FILE PHOTOS

Last year's LaPensee Bowling Tournament featured fun for the whole family.

The Anna Maria Island Sun

Owner/CEO

Mike Field

Editor

Cindy Lane

General Manager

Bob Alexander

Reporters/Photographers

Joe Hendricks

Leslie Lake

Jason Schaffer

Kristin Swain

Columnists

Louise Bolger

Rusty Chinnis

Contributors

Steve Borggren

Jason Gargiule

Capt. Rick Grassett

Isis Mavenyengwa

Monica Simpson

Tom Vaught

Capt. David White

Anne Yarbrough

Layout

Ricardo Fonseca

Digital Editor

Kristin Swain

Advertising Director

Shona Otto

Advertising Assistant

Pamela Lee

Classifieds

Bob Alexander

Graphics

Elaine Stroili

Ricardo Fonseca

Distribution

Bob Alexander

Connor Field

Tony McNulty

Brian Smith

Accounting

Leslie Ketchum

Co-founding publishers

Mike Field

Maggie McGinley Field

Family-owned since 2000

Where have all the volunteers gone?

Election season is coming up and it’s a strange one this year on Anna Maria Island, mainly because there are no elections being held in any of the three cities. All the qualified candidates are incumbents, leaving no reason for voters to go to the polls in November.

Either residents are happy with their current elected officials or are there no more willing volunteers on the Island.

It may be the latter.

Holmes Beach commissioners are about to amend their city’s charter because only one person qualified to run for the five-person 2024 Charter Review Commission. In Anna Maria, the historic preservation board just dropped its numbers down to three people so that it only takes two volunteers showing up to have a quorum.

Are Island residents just not taking an interest in their city governments anymore or is the lack of volunteers due to residents leaving the Island?

While city leaders in Holmes Beach say their population grew over the past year, U.S. Census data from 2021, the most recent data publicly available, shows a drop in full-time residents across the Island.

Drops in population combined with a lack of willing candidates to run for office could signal a shift that some Manatee County and state leaders are looking for, one that would indicate the three Island cities are ripe for consolidation.

Our communities need some volunteers to step up to work on committees and run for office. Otherwise, it may just be the straw that breaks the Island’s back.

Got an opinion, a complaint or a compliment? Is there something you need to get off your chest? Send us a letter to the editor and have your say. There are a couple of ways to do it. The easiest and most direct is to email The Sun at news@amisun.com. Remember to put Letter to the Editor in the subject field. Or you can snail-mail a letter to us at The Anna Maria Island Sun, P.O. Box 1189, Anna Maria, FL 34216. Letters should be kept to 300 words or less and must contain your name and the city in which you reside. Personal attacks and obscene language will not be printed. The Sun reserves the right to edit letters for length or content.

ANNA MARIA

10005 GULF DRIVE

FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-7086130

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

Sept. 7, 5 p.m. – Budget hearing with City Commission meeting following

Sept. 21, 5 p.m. – Budget hearing with City Commission meeting following

BRADENTON BEACH

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

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

Sept. 6, 9:30 a.m. – Community Redevelopment Agency meeting

Sept. 6, 1 p.m. – Planning and Zoning board meeting

Sept. 7, 5:05 p.m. – Community Redevelopment Agency budget meeting

Sept. 7, 5:30 p.m. – City Commission budget meeting

Sept. 7, 6 p.m. – City Commission meeting

Sept. 14, 5:05 p.m. – Community Redevelopment Agency final budget meeting

EVENTS

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 6

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

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

Sept. 14, 5:30 p.m. – City Commission final budget meeting

Sept. 20, 1 p.m. – Scenic WAVES meeting

Sept. 21, noon – City Commission meeting

HOLMES BEACH

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

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

Sept. 13, 9 a.m. – Clean Water Ad-Hoc Committee meeting

Sept. 13, 5 p.m. – Planning Commission meeting

Sept. 14, 5 p.m. – City Commission meeting with work session to follow

Sept. 26, 10 a.m. – Code Compliance special magistrate hearing

Sept. 26, 5 p.m. – City Commission meeting with work session to follow

ISLAND-WIDE

Sept. 12, 6 p.m. – West Manatee Fire Rescue board meeting, administration building, 701 63rd St. W., Bradenton

Sept. 18, 2 p.m. – Island Transportation Planning Organization meeting, Anna Maria City Hall

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

THURSDAY, SEPT. 7

AMI Chamber breakfast, Anna Maria Island Beach, Café, 4000 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, 7:30 a.m., $15 for members or $25 for prospective members

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

Thursdays in Paradise Stroll featuring local art, music and food, Bridge Street, Bradenton Beach, 5-8 p.m.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 8

Forty Carrots, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m. Mah-jongg for experienced players, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 11:30 a.m.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 9

Robinson Runners, Robinson Preserve, 1704 99th St. N.W., Bradenton, 7 a.m. Mornings at the NEST, Robinson Preserve Mosaic Nest, 840 Ninth Ave. N.W., Bradenton, 9 a.m. to noon

Teen Art Club: temporary tattoos, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 1 p.m.

Music on the Porch, Fisherman’s Hall, 4515 124th St. W., Cortez, 2-4 p.m.

MONDAY, SEPT. 11

Medicare 101, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 11 a.m.

TUESDAY, SEPT. 12

Family story time, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m.

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

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 13

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

Island Time Book Club, “Killers of a Certain Age” by Deanna Raybourn, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 6:30 p.m.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 14

Sunshine Stitchers Knit and Crochet, Island

FRIDAY, SEPT. 15

Oyster shell drilling for vertical gardens, Robinson Preserve, 1704 99th St. N.W., Bradenton, 9 a.m. to noon

Forty Carrots, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m. Mah-jongg for experienced players, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 11:30 a.m.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 16

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

MONDAY, SEPT. 18

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

TUESDAY, SEPT. 19

Rotary Club of Anna Maria Island meeting, Slicker’s Eatery, 12012 Cortez Road W., Bradenton, 11:30 a.m.

Family story time, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m.

Island developer facing DUI charges

The State Attorney's office has filed two misdemeanor charges against Shawn Kaleta.

BY JASON SCHAFFER SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com

HOLMES BEACH - A prominent real estate developer on Anna Maria Island is facing two misdemeanor charges after a June 15 incident in Holmes Beach.

On Aug. 11, Assistant State Attorney Christine Neilson filed two charges in Manatee County’s 12th Judicial Circuit Court against Holmes Beach developer Shawn Kaleta: Driving under the influence/unlawful blood alcohol level, a second-degree misdemeanor, and resisting, obstructing or opposing

an officer without violence, a first-degree misdemeanor.

According to the Holmes Beach Police Department (HBPD), Kaleta, 45, was driving his Mercedes SUV when Holmes Beach Police Officer Andrew Adkins observed him speeding on Manatee Avenue. After following the SUV across the Manatee Bridge, he noticed Kaleta was also driving erratically, so he initiated a traffic stop.

The 29-page police report says that Kaleta was uncooperative and refused both field sobriety tests and breath tests to measure sobriety. Adkins’ report also says he was disregarding directions from the officer and using his phone. He also allegedly gave conflicting stories about where he was

Water main repair on bridge postponed

going at the time. Kaleta was taken to HCA Florida Blake Hospital after complaining of dehydration while being processed at the police station. According to Adkins’ report, while at the hospital, Kaleta spent close to an hour locked in a bathroom, eventually being removed by Adkins, and was released after being cleared by hospital staff. The report says Kaleta declined blood and breath tests for blood alcohol levels. He was taken to county jail and released the next day on $620 bond.

A pretrial conference has been scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 24 at 1:30 p.m. at the Manatee County Judicial Center, 1051 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton in Courtroom 6-C.

Work on the water main is set to begin again in late September or early October.

BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com

MANATEE COUNTY – Due to delays in receiving materials, work to repair and relocate a water main along the Anna Maria Island Bridge on Manatee Avenue is being postponed until late September or October. The county will notify residents when the work will recommence and what impacts to travel it may cause.

Crews will be completing the last phase of the water main pipe repair, installing additional hangers to support the pipe on the east side of the bridge. Due to safety concerns, the work is not possible at night, so there will likely be lane closures and periods of one-way traffic on the bridge.

It is anticipated that the work to secure the pipe will take two to three weeks, according to a press release.

The main source of water to Anna

Maria Island, the 16-inch aging water main pipe broke on June 19, causing intermittent drops in water pressure to Island residents. While repairs were underway, the north end of the Island received water through Bradenton Beach via a pipe from the south. The main was brought back into service the week of July 10.

JASON GARGIULE | AMIAERIALS.COM Work continues on the Manatee Avenue Bridge water main.

Tips during extreme heat

BY JASON SCHAFFER SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com

BRADENTON - With temperatures in the 90s and heat indexes regularly continuing to top 100 degrees, it’s important to learn how to deal with Florida’s heat.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), five serious health conditions can result from heat exposure - heat rash, sunburn, heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

Florida's health departments urge residents and visitors to take necessary precautions to stay healthy while the heat wave continues.

The health departments recommend the following safety measures to minimize the risk of heat-related illnesses and emergencies:

• Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water and avoid excessive consumption of caffeine or alcohol, as they can lead to dehydration.

• Avoid direct sunlight and long exposure to the sun. Spend time in air-conditioned environments. If you do not have access to air conditioning, consider visiting public buildings or public spaces with shade. Wear lightweight, loose-fitting and light-colored clothing to help your body regulate its temperature. Protect your head and face with a wide-brimmed hat and use sunscreen to prevent sunburn. Minimize outdoor activities during the hottest parts of the day. If you must be outside, take frequent breaks in shaded areas and avoid strenuous physical exertion.

• Check on vulnerable individuals. Keep an eye on elderly neighbors, young children and individuals with pre-existing health conditions, as they are more susceptible to heat-related illnesses. Ensure they have access to a cool environment and sufficient hydration.

• Never leave children, vulnerable individuals or pets unattended in a vehicle.

IDALIA: Swamps Anna Maria Island

FROM PAGE 1

Nearby in Cortez, Tide Tables restaurant co-owner Bobby Woodson and others watched the water rising over the docks and seawall and creeping up against the restaurant building. Woodson said the restaurant equipment was removed before the storm and even if some minimal interior flooding occurred, he expected to reopen on Friday.

The rising waters also spilled over into the adjacent Cortez Park mobile home park, and all the side streets south of Cortez Road in Cortez were flooded.

A subsequent trip to Manatee Avenue ended east of the causeway, where officers from the Bradenton Police Department blocked access to the roadway leading to the center of the Island. An officer there said return access to the Island was not expected until 2 p.m. or later, after the mid-day king tide subsided.

After an afternoon conference call with the three Island mayors and others, the Holmes Beach Police Department posted on its Facebook page that return access to the city would begin at 4:30 p.m., with no re-entry tags or proof of residency or business interests required.

Before the bridge reopenings were announced, Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer said, “We still have some flooding. The water is receding and Gulf Drive receded much quicker than Marina Drive. We’re hoping that within the next couple hours, it recedes enough so you can discern the difference between the roadway and the ditches.

“The city did well but I think we’re going to see some water damage because the roadways were inundated with high water. I think we had a surge of at least 6 to 7 feet,” he added.

Regarding the fire, he said, “A power line went down on a shed. The shed caught fire, then the fence next to the house caught fire and the house next to the fence caught fire. After FPL shut off the power grid, they (the fire department) quickly knocked down the fire,” Tokajer said.

Tokajer said power outages and downed power lines were minimal and he wasn’t aware of any fallen trees.

When contacted before the Cortez Bridge reopened, Bradenton Beach Police Chief John Cosby said, “We had a lot of water and it just wasn’t safe for people to come back yet. The main road is open and the water’s gone down on the secondary roads that are passable now.

Every street in Bradenton Beach was under a minimum of 2 feet of water, and closer to 3 or 4 feet in some places, including the avenues at the north end of the city. The Gulf flowed over to the bay and that has not happened since the ‘Storm of the Century’ in 1993. It pushed a lot of sand onto Gulf Drive and we needed extra time for Public Works to get the sand off the road to make it passable, which they accomplished in record time. Kudos to them,” Cosby said.

“Bridge Street itself flooded and we had some water intrusion, but I won’t know where until the owners get back. The pier has some damage and we’ve got some boats tied to the pier. Some of the new finger docks may have separated from their connections to the floating dock and we’ll do a full assessment tomorrow,” Cosby said.

SEE IDALIA, PAGE 26

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

Above, the Cortez Park mobile home park was partially flooded on Wednesday morning after Hurricane Idalia sideswept AMI as a Category 3 storm. Below, returning and departing motorists encountered floodwater along Marina Drive in Holmes Beach.

TURTLE TIPS

During sea turtle season, May 1 – Oct. 31, follow these tips to help turtles:

• Turn off lights visible from the beach and close blinds from sundown to sunrise; lights confuse nesting sea turtles and may cause them to go back to sea and drop their eggs in the water, where they won’t hatch. Light can also attract hatchlings away from the water.

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

• Remove all beach chairs and other objects from the sand from sundown to sunrise; they can deter sea turtles from nesting and disorient hatchlings.

• Fill in the holes you dig in the sand before leaving the beach; they can trap nesting and hatching sea turtles, which cannot live long out of the water. You might also accidentally dig into an unmarked nest. To report large holes or other turtle obstacles, call:

• City of Anna Maria code enforcement — 941-7086130, ext. 111.

• City of Bradenton

Beach code enforcement — 941778-1005, ext. 280.

• City of Holmes Beach code enforcement — 941-7780331, ext. 260.

• Level sandcastles before leaving the beach; they can block hatchlings from the water.

• Don’t use balloons, wish lanterns or fireworks; they litter the beach and Gulf, and turtles can ingest the debris.

• Do not trim trees and

plants that shield the beach from lights.

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

WHERE'S SUZI?

In a field of 11 sea turtles in the Sea Turtle Conservancy’s Tour de Turtles race, Suzi, a female loggerhead, is in sixth place. She has traveled 647 miles since her release on June 27 from Coquina Beach, where she was outfitted with a satellite monitor after nesting. She was named in honor of Suzi Fox, the late executive director of Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring, which is sponsoring the turtle along with the Coastal Wildlife Club and Waterline Marina and Resort. Suzi is swimming in the race to draw attention to the cause of light pollution and how lighting near shore can negatively impact nesting turtles and their hatchlings. Visit The Sun’s Facebook page for weekly updates in “Where’s Suzi?” and visit amisun. com for weekly updates on turtle nesting activity in “Nesting News.”

SUBMITTED

After taking an early lead in the 2023 Sea Turtle Conservancy Tour de Turles race, Suzi has been spending a couple of weeks taking a rest and floating around in the same area in the Gulf of Mexico, dropping from first place down to sixth place in a field of 11 sea turtles. Hopefully our girl picks up the pace before the end of the race. Go, Suzi, go!

SOURCE: ANNA MARIA ISLAND TURTLE WATCH AND SHOREBIRD MONITORING

CINDY LANE | SUN Sea turtle nests are marked by wooden stakes and colored tape on Anna Maria Island beaches.

SUBMITTED

Roser hosts blood drive

Step aboard the Big Red Bus on Sunday, Sept. 10 at Roser Memorial Community Church and donate blood. OneBlood will be on site from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. accepting donations. All blood donors will receive a $20 e-gift card, a OneBlood shirt and a free wellness checkup including pulse, temperature, blood pressure, iron count and a cholesterol screening. Appointments are encouraged but not required. To make an appointment, visit www.oneblooddonor.org and use sponsor code 37502 or call 1-888-936-6283. Roser is located at 512 Pine Ave. in Anna Maria.

Roser Church

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The CHAPEL is open during o ce hours for prayer and meditation 941-778-0414 • 512 Pine Ave, Anna Maria • FOLLOW us on Facebook @RoserChurch

Island Players ready for 75th season

BY JASON SCHAFFER SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA - Manatee County’s oldest community theater is getting ready to kick off its historic 75th season on the corner of Gulf Drive and Pine Avenue with “Farce of Nature,” by Hope, Jones and Wooten.

Directed by Mike Lusk, the play opens Sept. 14 and runs through Sept. 24.

Single tickets are now on sale at www. theislandplayers.org or by calling the box office at 941-778-5755. The show is co-produced by The Ugly Grouper.

The rest of the Island Players 75th season will include:

BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com

MANATEE COUNTY

SUBMITTED | ISLAND PLAYERS

• “Later Life” by A.R. Gurney, directed by Preston Boyd, Nov. 2-12, auditions Sept. 17 at 7:30 p.m. Anyone wishing to audition is asked to bring a short resume and plan to arrive in time to complete paperwork.

• “The Mousetrap” by Agatha Christie, directed by Heiko Knipfelberg, Jan. 11-28, 2024, auditions Nov. 5;

• “Communicating Doors” by Alan Ayckbourn, directed by Preston Boyd, March 7-24, 2024, auditions Jan 21, 2024;

• “The Woman in Black” by Susan Hill and Stephen Mallatratt, directed by Kelly Wynn Woodland, May 2-12, 2024, auditions March 10, 2024.

Swimming not recommended following storm

countywide precautionary swim advisory for all public beaches.

– Health officials do not recommend swimming at public beaches due to potential water quality impacts related to Hurricane Idalia.

The Florida Department of Health in Manatee County (DOH-Manatee) issued a

Tests to determine the water quality at public beach locations are expected to begin on Sept. 5.

Until test results are available, DOH-Manatee said that individuals should assume water contact may pose an increased risk of disease or illness.

Health officials recommend

residents should avoid contact with floodwaters that come from an overflow of rivers, lakes or oceans. Floodwater may contain fecal matter from sewage systems and septic tanks, in addition to agricultural and industrial waste. Floodwaters can also hide debris, downed power lines and other hazards. DOH-Manatee suggests

taking the following precautions:

• Follow basic hygiene. Wash your hands with soap and water that has either been disinfected or boiled then cooled or with commercially bottled water before eating and after toilet use.

• Do not allow children to play in floodwater.

• Use 1/4 cup of bleach in one gallon of water to disinfect toys and other items.

• Don't expose open cuts or sores to floodwaters or other contaminated water. The latest testing on area beaches is available on DOH’s website www.floridahealth.gov/ environmental-health/beachwater-quality/index.html.

The Island Players kick off their historic 75th season with ‘Farce of Nature,’ by Hope, Jones and Wooten, running Sept. 14-24.

‘Ice Cream with a Cop’ a hit with Anna Maria Elementary School kids

The Small Town Creamery and Holmes Beach police offered "Ice Cream With a Cop" for Anna Maria Elementary School kids on Aug. 25.

Upper left, from left, Sonny Howle, 6, Det. Josh Fleischer, Cora Cole, 7, Liv Cole, 4, Bayla Lance, 6, and Lt. Brian Hall enjoy ‘Ice Cream With a Cop.’ Lower left, Maximilian and Dennis Miller are the father and son owners of Small Town Creamery in Holmes Beach.

Upper right, Anna Maria Elementary student Bryson Frady, 9, and sister, Addisyn, 3, enjoy delicious ice cream from the Small Town Creamery.

ANNE YARBROUGH | SUN

Exploring FWC’s School Fishing Club Program

for a chance to win prizes.

ow that the new school year is in session, it is time to register for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) 2023-24 School Fishing Club Program! This annual educational program focuses on teaching young anglers about best fishing practices to help ensure the future of fishing in Florida. With the unfortunate disregard for our resources by elected politicians, it's more important than ever to prepare youth for the challenges they'll face in the future.

To register, club sponsors will need to apply for a Florida R3 Fishing Grant, which is funded by the Florida Youth Conservation Centers Network, Coastal Conservation Association and the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida. This grant will award up to 50 school fishing clubs or teams $500 each to assist with club expenses, such as the purchase of fishing licenses or gear for participants. The grant application period is open now until Sept. 15, but grant funding is not required to participate in the School

provided with a program curriculum and educational materials to be taught throughout the school year by the club sponsor. The curriculum is comprised of lessons and activities on ethical angling, conservation, Florida’s aquatic habitats, basic fishing gear and general fishing concepts, and is applicable to both fresh and saltwater fishing. Additionally, at least one conservation project activity must be completed each school year and is an opportunity for clubs to earn points

The deadline for submitting applications is Sept. 15. The application can be found online at MyFWC.com/SFC by scrolling down to Florida’s R3 Fishing Grant Program. Applicants can complete the form online or download the application to submit by email. Please email completed applications to R3Fishing@ MyFWC.com. The 2023-24 School Fishing Club Program is supported by partners including Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida, Coastal Conservation Association, Mud Hole Custom Tackle, Pure Fishing and the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame.

The grant program is open to new or existing freshwater and/or saltwater fishing clubs or teams at public, private and charter schools throughout Florida. To be considered for the grant, school fishing clubs or teams must have a minimum of five members and be represented by a school faculty member or parent.

ABOUT THE FISH & WILDLIFE FOUNDATION OF FLORIDA

The Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida is a nonprofit organization

dedicated to supporting the FWC and other public and private partners to conserve Florida’s native animals and plants and the lands and waters they need to survive. Operating as a statewide community foundation for conservation, the foundation has raised and donated more than $65 million to conserve nature and our outdoor heritage. More information can be found at wildlifeflorida. org.

Contact Brandon Stys at Brandon.Stys@ MyFWC.com or 850-617-6012 for more information.

RUSTY CHINNIS | SUN

We have an obligation to protect water quality and provide opportunities for future generations.

RUSTY CHINNIS

CAPT. RICK GRASSETT

September is one of my favorite months. Reds should be schooling on shallow grass flats and you also might find big trout there at first light. Baitfish along beaches will attract Spanish mackerel, false albacore (little tunny), sharks, tarpon and more. You should find snook around docks and bridges in the ICW. There should also be tarpon around bridges at night and in areas of Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor. Juvenile tarpon from 10 to 30 pounds should be a good option in creeks and canals.

Tarpon should still be a good option this month. Many have moved to inside waters, so you’ll find them around bridges, over deep grass flats or deeper areas. When tarpon move into these areas, they are in a feeding mode. After a long migration and with their spawning duties completed, they need to rest and eat to restore themselves. Ladyfish

Early birds get the fish

will feed in glass minnow schools and tarpon will gorge themselves on ladyfish. I have also seen tarpon “ball” glass minnows into tight schools and eat them by the bucketful!

Fly anglers should score with wide profile patterns, such as Lefty’s Deceiver or EP flies. Small flies, like my Grassett Snook Minnow, tied on a 1/0 or 2/0 hook, are a good choice for tarpon that are feeding on glass minnows.

You should find snook this month around docks and bridges close to passes. They will also start making their move towards shallow flats where you might find them staging along sand bars or in potholes. Fly poppers or Gurglers may draw some big strikes in shallow water at night or early in the day! I often fish lighted docks and bridges for snook before dawn before moving to the flats after daylight. My Grassett Snook Minnow fly is my “go-to” fly pattern for snook at night.

CAPT. RICK GRASSETT | SUBMITTED September is a great month to beat the heat by fishing before daylight. Pat Beckwith, of Sarasota, shows off an over-slot trout caught and released on a fly she tied while fishing with Capt. Rick Grassett in a previous September.

Reds are usually in large schools in September. You may find them in shallow water when the tide is high or along the edges of flats when the tide is low. Look for wakes, some as big as boat wakes, or “pushes” to locate them. If it is calm, a school of reds may look like a nervous patch of water or if there’s a ripple on the surface,

the school may appear as a slick patch of water. Once you’ve located them, try to get in front of them and work around the edges of the school to avoid spooking the whole school. Fly anglers should score with fly poppers, Gurglers and wide-profile baitfish fly patterns. I like to be as quiet as possible in shallow water, using a push pole to move my boat. It is great to find a big school of reds but remember, if you spook one fish you may spook the whole school. Running an outboard may make fish show themselves, but in the long run it will make them harder to catch. I sometimes also find big jacks and blues mixed with schools of big reds in shallow water. Not a bad problem!

Spotted trout fishing should also be good this month. Regulations have changed with a three-fish-per-person bag limit and a six-fish boat limit. Trout must be from 15”-19” with one allowed

per vessel over 19”. In my opinion, it’s important to protect larger trout, which are usually female breeders. Full regulations and details on trout and other species can be viewed at https://myfwc. com/ . Look for big trout in skinny water in many of the same places that you find reds this month. They will be most active in low light, either first thing in the morning or at dusk, particularly if we’ve had an afternoon shower. Cloud cover in the afternoon will also reduce the heating of shallow flats, which usually makes fish more active. The same flies that you use for reds will work well for big trout in shallow water. You may also find trout mixed with blues, pompano, Spanish mackerel, flounder and more on deep grass flats. I like to drift and cast quartering ahead of my drift. Fly anglers should do well with an Ultra Hair Clouser fly fished

SEE EARLY BIRD, PAGE 23

New homes a no-brainer for some

Sometimes choosing something that you thought was totally out of your range becomes the obvious choice. In a tight real estate market with little inventory, for some buyers, new construction is the best choice.

I don’t need to tell anyone reading this that the sound of hammering has become the backdrop music on Anna Maria Island. New homes are going up all over the place, some built on spec and some custom. This is also happening all over the country to compensate for the national lack of inventory.

Newly-built homes accounted for nearly one-third of single-family homes for sale nationwide in May. Historically, new homes represent between 10% to 20% of the market. Even investors are getting into the new home market to use as rentals or to flip down the road and there are plenty of these buyers represented around the Island.

Castles in the Sand

LOUISE BOLGER

With no inventory to choose from, buyers across the country are improving new home builders’ bottom line. The big builders are offering incentives to buy one of their new homes, some even with temporary advantageous financing benefits. Based on rising demand, builders are adding more homes to their inventory and buyers are more than happy to find a home that doesn’t need renovation.

As always, what happens on Anna Maria stays on Anna Maria, and very little of what happens in the Midwest or western parts of the country transfers to Florida. But there are still some basic caveats to follow

when buying a new home.

Builders always want you to add upgrades to their basis home price. If you can afford major upgrades, better to do it while the home is under construction, but chose your upgrades carefully. Upgrading plumbing and electrical is smarter than upgrading kitchen cabinets, tile and countertops.

Look for areas during construction to cut corners without sacrificing quality. Sounds impossible, but an honest conversation with the contractor may reveal ideas you never thought of.

Read the fine print on the contract. Are appliances included and what are they? Be specific. What paint colors are included in the contract? If everything is getting a couple of coats of builder’s white, what will it cost you to have the builder paint colors in specific areas? New construction contracts usually have construction timelines with dead -

lines. This frequently coincides with incremental payments either from a cash buyer or draws from a bank construction loan.

Finally, even though it’s new, it may not be perfect. Don’t think that because you have a warranty it covers everything. A warranty on new homes covers items like materials, workmanship, systems and structural defects. A bad paint job may not come under the workmanship umbrella and may require more specific wording in the contract.

It’s also recommended that buyers hire a structural inspector to check the property at specific times during the construction process. This might be before the foundation is poured, and before the drywall is installed to make sure anything behind the walls like electrical work is up to code. The last inspection is at the completion of the home.

BEACH BEAT

HOLMES BEACH

8/23, 12:30 p.m., petty theft, 5610 Gulf Drive. The officer responded to a property where the property manager said two Tommy Bahama beach chairs had been stolen. While looking around the area, he found a similar chair, but it had a different pattern than the two described. The officer searched the area, including the beach, but was unsuccessful. A report was made and no further action was taken.

8/27, 6:55 p.m., fraudulent use of credit card, 5344 Gulf Drive. A female victim came to the Holmes Beach Police Department to report the fraudulent use of her credit card. The victim told police that whoever took her credit card made three charges in Holmes Beach. The total of the charges was $182.36, but no suspect was found. Both the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office and Holmes Beach police continue to investigate.

EARLY BIRD: Gets the fish

FROM PAGE 21

on a clear intermediate sink tip. In addition to making a series of drifts to find fish, focus on bait schools, breaking fish or diving birds to find fish. You may find tripletail on buoys, crab trap floats or channel markers in inside waters this month. A lightly weighted fly with a weed guard, like my Grassett Flats

Shipmates honored

Minnow, works well for me. The weed guard is important to help prevent snagging crab trap lines.

You may also find tripletail along with cobia, false albacore (little tunny) and Spanish mackerel in the coastal Gulf this month. Look for surface activity to find the mackerel and albies and cast small white

U.S. Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg command visited the Cortez Coast Guard station on Aug. 15 to acknowledge two shipmates and participate in training. Capt. Michael Kahle congratulated MK2 Ashley Griffith and ME3 Angel Cisneros for outstanding work. Griffith was recognized for her hard work and dedication to her job as Assistant Engineering Petty Officer, Victims Advocate, and Command Financial Specialist. Cisneros was recognized for his outstanding work on the station’s Comprehensive Law Enforcement Assessment of Readiness (CLEAR) inspection, which was compliant and displayed the highest knowledge check in District 7.

flies to them. Look for feeding frenzies that begin with ladyfish feeding in glass minnow schools and may end with everything else, including sharks or tarpon, joining the fray. Remember to “match the hatch” to be successful. You may need to add wire to your tippet when toothy fish are around.

While you are looking

for mackerel and albies in the coastal Gulf, you can look for tripletail and cobia. Since stone crab traps haven’t hit the water yet this season, there are fewer places for them to be, so in addition to abandoned crab trap floats, check channel markers, buoys and any floating debris. Artificial reefs are another good area to check.

Marty Tupin’s life celebrated

A celebration of life for the late Marty Tupin was held at the Drift In in Bradenton Beach on Aug. 27. The celebration featured remembrance speeches by family members and Drift In management, a prayer, a reading of the poem “Pennies From Heaven,” a potluck-style buffet, honorary drink specials, live music and musical tributes by Tommy Balbo and an emotional a cappella version of “Amazing Grace” sung by Laurie Weremecki. During the celebration, some of Tupin’s ashes were scattered in the Drift In parking lot that he formerly patrolled as the establishment’s infamous parking lot attendant. More were then scattered from the Bradenton Beach Pier.

Sheriff’s unit gets new storage shed

The Manatee County Sheriff's Office Anna Maria Unit has a new two-bay utility shed to store smaller vehicles in. Previously, some of the vehicles were stored in the open air under the cell tower platform on city hall property. Earlier this year, the city commission approved Sgt. Brett Getman’s re

quest to install a new storage shed. “It allows us to put our UTVs, ATVs and our part-time motorcycle all in one place. It’s a great addition for us to be able to house those vehicles and keep them out of the elements so hopefully they’ll last longer. The city was gracious enough to get us the concrete slab so the sheriff’s office could get the shed installed,” Getman said.

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

IDALIA: Swamps Anna Maria Island

FROM PAGE 11

Cosby said the Longboat Pass Bridge that leads to Longboat Key at the south end of the city would remain closed until further notice Wednesday evening.

When contacted Wednesday afternoon, before the bridges reopened, Sgt. Brett Getman said, “We’re still flooded down here. The water on North Bay is pretty deep. When the bridges open, we’ll be restricting access to residents and business owners. The city fared well. We didn’t lose electricity and there’s not a lot of wind damage. It’s mostly flood damage.”

BACK ON THE ISLAND

The Sun was part of the first wave of people returning to the Island on Wednesday afternoon via the Anna Maria

Island Bridge on Manatee Avenue. Gulf Drive was dry but motorists encountered several inches of standing water on Marina Drive near Keyes Marina, the Island Branch Library and Holmes Beach City Hall. Gulf Drive was free of any significant standing water, but some of the residential streets between Marina Drive and Gulf Drive remained flooded.

At the entrance to Anna Maria, near CrossPointe Fellowship, sheriff’s deputies asked motorists to provide reentry tags, proof of residency or proof of business intentions and those unable to provide that information were turned away.

Nearby, a crew from Manatee County worked to unplug a plugged sewer line.

A portion of Magnolia Avenue, near Ginny’s and Jane E’s Café, was flooded and a safety barricade remained in place. A portion of North Shore Drive near Linda Lane was flooded and remained impassable for some motorists. Around the corner, Jacaranda Road was flooded and remained impassable for some motorists.

Near the City Pier, a barricade blocked one lane of North Bay Boulevard atop the humpback bridge and the roadway north of the bridge was severely flooded, as were several adjacent side streets.

By early Wednesday evening, much of the flooding in Bradenton Beach had subsided. The most visible storm damage was seen at the T-end of the Bradenton Beach

Pier. A cabin cruiser anchored south of the pier broke loose during the storm, crashed into the pier and shattered a portion of the wooden pier railing.

Another cabin cruiser that broke free during the storm was tied up to the pier with its motor running, joined by another large sailboat. Two more sailboats that broke free were tied to the new finger docks connected to the floating public dock.

On Bridge Street, the Drift In bar was the first Island business to reopen that evening.

MAYOR'S THOUGHTS

When contacted Thursday afternoon, Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy said the storm surge and high tide

reached a maximum height of approximately 4 feet in some locations.

“The biggest issue we've had to deal with in the city has been flooding; and secondly, debris on the streets, including sand. We lost nearly 50 yards of beach in some locations, maybe more in others. It’ll take us a while to get the city back to normal. We've had crews and contractors out pumping and clearing the streets. County Commissioners Kevin Van Ostenbridge and Jason Bearden toured our city this morning and promised us whatever help we need to bring our city back to a state of normalcy,” Murphy said.

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

Above, the side streets along Cortez Road were flooded after Hurricane Idalia passed by on Wednesday. Below, standing water remained near the 61st Street/Holmes Boulevard intersection late Wednesday afternoon.

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

Above, Jacaranda Road in Anna Maria experienced significant flooding. Below, North Bay Boulevard remained submerged as of Wednesday evening.

CORTEZ: Inundated

FROM PAGE 1

Tide Tables co-owner Bobby Woodson said they prepared for the storm by moving out large equipment.

“Before the storm, we moved all the equipment out east,” he said. “This isn’t something we wanted to mess around with.”

On Thursday, the equipment - including freezers - was in the back of a moving truck in the Tide Tables parking lot and ready to be reinstalled.

Tide Tables’ interior had been cleaned and dried by Thursday morning, and workers were shoveling yard debris into the back of a truck for removal.

“We expect to be back open by Saturday,” Woodson said, adding, “This could have been a lot worse.”

Boats at Cortez Bait and Seafood fish house that had been pulled from the water before the storm were back in the water Thursday.

In that same complex, owned by John Banyas, are two restaurantsCortez Kitchen, which is undergoing renovation, and the Swordfish Grill and Tiki Bar.

“The parking lot was flooded, but

the restaurants were OK,” Swordfish manager Adam Sears said on Thursday. “Swordfish sits 10 feet above the water so that was fine, and the work at Cortez Kitchen is moving along. That will be open fairly soon.”

Sears said Sunny Shores trailer park on the north side of Cortez Road was hit hard with flooding during the storm. Sunny Shores fronts Palma Sola Bay.

At Annie’s Bait and Tackle, water never got into the building, but the docks there sustained damage.

“The water came up to the building, but it didn’t get in. I’d say we were lucky,” Annie’s manager said. “The docks need to be repaired though. The middle dock is still usable, but the gas dock is trashed. It’s going to take a little while to get this all fixed.”

Cortez residents Cindy Rodgers and Paul Dreyfoos live about a block from the water. The flooding from the roads in front of their house did not impact their home.

“All good here,” Rodgers wrote in an email to The Sun. “Lucky once again.”

Above, Annie's Bait and Tackle in Cortez sustained damage to its docks following Hurricane Idalia. Left, workers at Cortez Bait and Seafood Inc. fish house pulled boats from the water last Tuesday morning in preparation for Hurricane Idalia, which swept the area as a Category 3 storm on Wednesday.

Below left, people shoveled sand into bags at Coquina Beach to keep stormwater from Hurricane Idalia out. Below right, Manatee County workers installed hurricane shutters at the Florida Maritime Museum in Cortez prior to Idalia’s arrival.

Below, workers at A.P. Bell Fish Co. in Cortez secured fishing fleet boats with additional dock lines on Tuesday in

Pickup soccer, Island style

BY MONICA SIMPSON Special to The Sun

ANNA MARIA – For more than a decade, a band of brothers bonded by the game of soccer have played pickup games on Island fields, while building friendships and an ever-growing soccer family, including many sisters in the sport.

Bringing to each game a white shirt and a dark shirt to create two teams, players knew they were in for a friendly, but competitive game of soccer.

With its roots on the Holmes Beach open fields adjacent to the municipal complex on Marina Drive, the players came together weekly, eventually using homemade goals courtesy of Darrin Wash and Wash Family Construction.

The original gang of Islanders included Rico Beissert, Lyn Clarke, Damir Glavan, Josh Sato, Kris Yavalar Chris Culhane, Greg Ross, Darrin Wash and Paul “Ace” Hayward.

Growing the love of the game, many of the pickup players helped to develop and manned the teams in The Center of Anna Maria Island’s first adult co-ed soccer league in recent history. The league at its origin more than eight years ago was a mix of the pickup players and the parents of The Center’s youth soccer league players.

Among the many players who helped grow the league, Clarke, the oldest Island player at 83, used the pickup games as his Center team’s official practices. On Clarke’s first season roster were experienced players and individuals who had never laced up a pair of “boots” as he called them.

The Center’s league is now comprised of a solid mix of the OGs, former college soccer players and soccer coaches, with sprinklings of first timers and players seeking a fun, competitive environment.

Hayward was one of the pickup players who participated in the first seasons of the Center’s league. The player and coach, like many, brought his infectious passion for soccer to the Island. The Hayward “smiledeep” corner remains at The Center of Anna Maria Island’s soccer field

as a dedication to his lifelong passion for the sport and the deep tie he had with this group of Islanders.

soccer tournament in his name, with many of the pickup players helping to make the event a success. The second “smiledeep” soccer tournament, dedicated to Hayward, is scheduled at The Center on Saturday, Nov. 11. expanded the group. While there is a consistent core group of players, others come and go as their lives have taken them on and off Anna Maria Island.

The bond is on and off the pitch, with gatherings

Key Royale golfers active in August, setting record

Aug. 1 - Low Net Score

First Place - Helen Pollock, 31

Second Place - Jana Samuels, 34

Third Place - Sue Wheeler, 35 Meredith Slavin had a chip-in on hole #1

Second Place - Ken Nagengast, Chuck Patrick, Bill Shuman tied, +1

Aug. 8 - Low Net Score

First Place - Helen Pollock and Terry Westby tied, 32

Aug. 15 - Low Net Score

First Place - Helen Pollock and Jana Samuels tied, 30

Second Place - Terry Westby, 37

Aug. 17 - Scramble

Aug. 22 - Low Net Score

First Place - Jana Samuels, 33

Second Place - Terry Westby, 35 Third Place - Betsy Meyer, 36

Aug. 24 - Scramble

Aug. 3 -

Scramble/Shamble

Combo - Par 50

First Place - Don Grau, Dom Livedotti, Peter Maasmann, 48, 2 under par

Second Place - Bruce Christenson, Deb and Dave Richardson, Roger Rottschafer, 49, 1 under par

Aug. 7 - Modified Stableford

First Place - Rod Hammonds and Dom Lividotti tied, +3

Second Place - Jana Samuels and Sue Wheeler tied, 35 Helen Pollock had a chip-in on hole #4

Aug. 10 - Scramble

First Place Team - Mike Cusato, Ed Harrell, Deb and Dave Richardson, 29, 3 under par

Second Place Team - Don Grau, John Kolojeski, Rich Salzburg, Kurt Snouffer, 30, 2 under par

First Place - Deb and Dave Richardson, Rich Salzburg, Kurt Snouffer, 30, 2 under par

Second Place - Mike Gillie, Don Grau, Dom Lividoti, Tom Nelson tied the team of John Kolojeski, Ken Nagengast, Jana Samuels, Bill Shuman, 32, even par

Aug. 21 - Modified Stableford

First Place - Cliff Lanning and Terry Schaefer tied, +3

Second Place - Rich Salzburg, +2

First Place - Ken Nagengast, Deb and Dave Richardson with a recordsetting score of 9 under par

Second Place - Jim Bailey, Ed Harrell, Peter Maasmann, Rich Salzburg, 1 under par

Aug. 28 - Modified Stableford

First Place - Ken Nagengast, +4

Second Place - Don Grau, Art McMillan, Tom Nelson, Kurt Snouffer all tied, +2

home after moving to the United States.

Top row from left: Josh Sato, Chris Culhane and Kris Yavalar; second row: Lyn Clarke, Rico Beissert, Damir Glavan and returning players Leslie and Josh Rio; bottom row: Steve Oelfke.

FUN IN THE SUN

30 THE SUN

ANNOUNCEMENTS

THE BEST VOLUNTEER position on the island. The AMI Historical Museum needs docents and bread makers. Call Kathy Primeau at 989-5606381.

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

HOSPITAL VOLUNTEERS

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

BOAT SLIP WANTED

IN SEARCH OF BOAT SLIP for rent or sale (preferably with lift) Kelly Gitt

The Gitt Team KW on the Water 941-799-9299

COMMERCIAL

SALES,

RENT & LEASE

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

CLEANING SERVICE

TOTAL HOME SERVICES

CLEANING: Residential, Commercial, Rentals, VRBO. Professional and Reliable. Call 941-7564570 or 941-565-3931

EMPLOYMENT

EXPERIENCED NAIL TECH

WANTED! Take over a full book of Business (No Acrylic). Please stop by for an interview. A Hair Day 9516 Cortez Rd. 941795-5227

FISHING CHARTERS

CAPT. MAC GREGORY

Fishing Charters. Full Day, Half Day, Night, Inshore & Near Shore. 941-809-5783 U.S.C.G.

Certified/Insured

HOME SERVICES

MOVING & STORAGE

MARTIN’S MOVING

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

AMISUN.COM

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

TILE! TILE! TILE! All variations of tile supplied and installed. Quality workmanship. Prompt, reliable, many Island references. Free estimates. Neil 941-726-3077

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

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

JSAN CORPORATION

Renovations Construction & Handyman Services 941-243-0995 Lic# CRC1332505 jsancorporation@gmail.com Flooring, Drywall, Painting, Repairs, Kitchen and Bathrooms, Trim & Doors. Free Estimates. Credit Cards Accepted.

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

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

GORILLA DRYWALL REPAIR, LLC. 15+ years of experience. Free Estimates. Let’s solve your Drywall problems together. Call 941-2860607.

CONCRETE FUSION, CRACK REPAIR sidewalks/ driveways, pool decks, concrete grinding. Why fix 95% of concrete when only 5% bad? Number 1 in concrete repair. Insured. Free estimate. Call Bobby 941-374-7670.

LANDSCAPING & LAWN CARE

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

SHELL DRIVEWAYS & LANDSCAPE. Specializing in Old Florida Seashell and Lime rock driveways and scapes. Also River Rock, Sand, Mulch, & Soil. Call Shark Mark 941-301-6067

ISLAND RESIDENT. TREE/ BUSH Trimming, removal. Sweeping, blowing, and weeding. Weekly, bi-monthly or monthly schedule. Pressure washing. Call Bill Witaszek 941-307-9315

LOST & FOUND

LOST WALLET AROUND

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

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

LOST GOLD RING High School Graduation with PA on Top. Please call 941-243-1444

PAINTING & WALLCOVERING

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

“WIZARD OF WALLS”

Established 1980

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

DONALD PERKINS

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

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

POOL SERVICES

FOUR SEASONS POOL SERVICE AND CHEMICAL SERVICES. Certified Pool Operator. 10 + Years Experience. Residential/ commercial. Chemical Service Licensed & Insured. Call Dennis Clark 941-737-5657

AMISUN.COM

POOL SERVICES Cont.

COLE'S TROPICAL POOL SERVICE Call Cole Bowers for all your pool maintenance needs! Affordable and Dependable!! 941-713-1893

PRESSURE WASHING & WINDOWS

TOTAL HOME SERVICES

CLEANING: Residential, Commercial, Construction, Vacation, VRBO Rentals . Also available Pressure Washing, Roof Cleaning, Paver Sealing and Windows. Call 941565-3931.

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

REAL ESTATE HOMES & CONDOS FOR SALE

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

LOOKING FOR A highly motivated real estate broker to buy or sell your next home? Darcie Duncan, Broker Duncan Real Estate a lifelong island resident bringing success to her customers for 30 years. Proven track record brings you results! 941725-1589

RUNAWAY BAY ISLAND CONDO $430,000 Across from Beach. Water views Sold furnished. Christine Kourik Re/max 314-4407574 LOWEST PRICE PROPERTY ON ISLAND

Sales Associate

Katie Self

Sales Associate Joey Hutchinson

Sales Associate

Lindsey Leech Strickland Broker Associate Tom Aposporos

Sales Associate

Martha Jones Robel Sales Associate April Green Sales Associate Michelle Laade Sales Associate Cindy Jones Broker- Owner

Darcie Duncan

Sales Associate

Diann Roberts

Sales Associate Sales ssociate Broker Associate Sales Associate

Paige Rogers Sales Associate Robyn Hawk