The Islander Newspaper E-Edition: Wednesday, April 19, 2017

Page 1

Cleanup 4 Earth. 16

ArtWalk finale. 13

Sunrise celebration. 22 APRIL 19, 2017 FREE

VOLUME 25, NO. 25

The Best News on Anna Maria Island Since 1992 AsTheWorldTerns preview Grassy Point. 6 New Bert Harris claim hits HB city hall. 3 DOT announces plans to relieve Cortez Road bottleneck. 4 BB approves DOT’s Gulf Drive project. 5

Op-Ed

The Islander editorial, reader letters. 6

10-20 YEARS AGO

Remember when? 7

Loud noise raises concerns in BB. 8

Meetings

On the government calendar. 8 County planners back mega development. 10

Happenings

Community announcements, activities. 12

Make plans. 14-15 Eco-education. 21

www.islander.org

Future bridge plans divulged

By Kathy Prucnell Islander Reporter The future of the bridge linking Cortez to Bradenton Beach is coming into focus. Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage vice president Jane von Hahmann reported April 10 on Florida Department of Transportation plans with potentially dire consequences to the village that was first settled in the late 1880s and on the National Register of Places since 1995. The two DoT moves include: • A plan aimed at solving the 119th Street bottleneck on Cortez Road West. • Apparent DOT leaning toward a 65-foot fixed-span Cortez Bridge. The road project and direction on the Cortez Bridge replacement also were announced by Manatee County Commissioner Steve Jonsson at the April 8 annual Cortez community picnic. Von Hahmann told FISH members at their annual election meeting that what was proposed as “safety improvements” at 119th Street could “literally shut down the village.” FISH is a 180-plus member nonprofit with a mission to protect its commercial fishing culture and the environment. As of April 14, DoT engineers say they PLeASe See DOT plans PAGe 4

Sgt. Robert Spurlock of the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office investigates the April 12 crash on the south side of the Cortez Bridge as firefighter Tyler MacDonald stands by the West Manatee Fire Rescue engine. Islander Photo: Kathy Prucnell

Cortez Bridge head-on crash injures 3

No life-threatening injuries were reported in an April 12 head-on crash where the ramp meets the east side of Cortez Bridge. West Manatee Fire Rescue Lt. Nate Bergbom said emergency medical services took five people to Blake Medical Center in Bradenton. A family of four from Connecticut in a Nissan Rogue was traveling east over the bridge when an oldsmobile sedan attempted to pass another vehicle and struck the Nissan head-on, according to Manatee County Sheriff’s Office public information director Dave Bristow. Bernadeta Wilkins, 32, of North Port, was ticketed for careless driving, passing in a no-passing zone and wearing no seat belt after WMFR firefighters extricated her from

Grassy Point re-opens April 19

Gathering. 22

Streetlife.

23

Holmes Beach recognizes officers. 24 Give Earth a chance. 27 Football playoffs. 28 Clear waters, tough fishing. 29

ISL BIZ

Business news, real estate sales. 30

Holmes Beach city officials will officially reopen Grassy Point Preserve, including new walkways leading to a scenic overlook of Anna Maria Sound, to the public at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 19. Everyone is welcome. Islander Photo: Jack Elka

ZAGAT “Top Restaurants in America”

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Crafted Cocktails

941-213-9926

www.DoctorsOfficeAMI.com

the Oldsmobile, according to first responder reports. Bristow said three adults were injured but “nothing life-threatening.” The two children in the Nissan were not hurt, according to the MCSo report. Bradenton Beach Police Department controlled vehicle traffic at the bridge for about two hours. After the impact, the oldsmobile Alero pointed west in the eastbound lane and the Nissan Rogue faced east, also in the eastbound lane. — Kathy Prucnell

Turtle Watch hits the beach By ChrisAnn Silver esformes Islander Reporter “You all are the first responders, the ambassadors,” Suzi Fox, Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring executive director, said April 11 to more than 80 AMITW volunteers. The group was gathered at CrossPointe Fellowship in Holmes Beach for “Turtle Watch Spring Training,” a meeting led by Fox to prepare new volunteers and update veterans on new policies for the 2017 nesting season. During sea turtle nesting and hatchling season, which runs May 1-oct. 31, AMITW volunteers walk a designated 1-mile stretch of beach just after sunrise, looking for signs of nesting activity the night before and, later in the season, for hatchlings to emerge. When nests are discovered, they are staked for protection and monitored for data PLeASe See TUrTlEs PAGe 2

Florida Trend “Best New” Restaurant

941-778-0411 www.eathereflorida.com


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