The Islander Newspaper E-Edition: Wednesday, July 17, 2019 by The Anna Maria Islander Newspaper

Tracking turtles. 22

retirement vow. 17 Astheworldterns say ‘no’ to red roof pier. 6

AMITW July 14: 442 nests, 552 false crawls, 18 hatched nests, about 1,025 hatchlings to the sea.

Surfin’ Sunday. 24 JULY 17, 2019 FREE

VOLUME 27, NO. 38

Tourist tax collections cool in May. 3 AM commission OKs pier plank fence. 3

budget talks

HB considers 2019-20 budget proposals. 4

Meetings

On the government calendar. 4 HB approves tax exemption for rentals. 5

Op-Ed

The Islander editorial, reader letters. 6

10-20 YEArs Ago

From the archives. 7

BB CRA approves white paint for pier. 8

Save a date. 10

Happenings

Community activities. 11 AM launches city pier negotiations. 13

Streetlife. 14 Sunshine lawsuit heads to trial. 16.

Gathering. 18

Obituaries. 19 HB ramps up plans for new skatepark. 20 Preserve cleared after fish kill. 21 No butts left behind. 23 Sports on AMI. 24 Inshore fishing remains hot. 25 ISL BIZ: AMOB owners honored. 26

PropertyWatch. 28 CLASSIFIEDS. 28 NYT crossword. 31

The Best News on Anna Maria Island Since 1992

www.islander.org

Trees downed at coquina despite protest

By Ryan Paice Islander Reporter The Bradenton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency looked for the silver lining in the removal of 103 Australian pine trees from Coquina Beach. Following Manatee County’s decision to remove more than a tenth of the beach’s 991 Australian pine trees to make way for the first phase of a Coquina parking lot drainage improvement project, CRA members said they hoped the time and budgeting is right to ask the county to join a multimodal transportation partnership with the city. County contractors removed 97 Australian pine trees from the south parking area and along the Coquina Beach access road Piles of 97 Australian pine trees Manatee County felled to make way for a parking lot July 10. Six other Australian pine trees along improvement project at Coquina Beach remain alongside an access road July 11. The PLEASE SEE TREES, PAGE 2 tree stumps have yet to be removed. Islander Photo: Ryan Paice

liftoff: Islanders remember Apollo 11 moon mission

By Lisa Neff Islander editor Bradenton Beach resident Mike Norman witnessed the launch — and history in the making. So did Holmes Beach resident Sandee Shea, who remembered the events of July 16, 1969, as ground-shaking monumental. That morning, Apollo 11 moon mission astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins lifted off from Launch Pad 39A at Cape Canaveral in Florida. “I was at the launch of Apollo along

with hundreds of others,” Norman told The Islander. “After it went up, it left a huge cloud shaped exactly like a question mark.” This month, with NASA celebrating the 50th anniversary of the mission, many people in the United States are remembering where they were for the liftoff, the moonwalk and the splashdown. The Apollo 11 objective, according to a NASA history, was to complete a national goal set by President John F. Kennedy May 25, 1961: To perform a crewed lunar landing PLEASE SEE APOLLO 11, PAGE 12

Top Notch Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin poses for a photograph on the moon. Islander Courtesy Photo: NASA

Week 4: Sunset stroll in the surf William Shafer, of Anna Maria, wins the fourth week of The Islander’s Top Notch photo contest with this photograph taken mid-summer on the beach near Magnolia Avenue in Anna Maria. Shafer won an Islander “More-than-a-mullet wrapper” T-shirt and entry into the finals. The next deadline is noon, Friday, July 19.

2 n JuLy 17, 2019 n THE ISLANDER

TREES CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 the access road were previously removed. The county plans to replace the Australian pine trees with 83 green buttonwood trees, 10 gumbo limbo trees and 10 shady lady black olive trees in the grass near the playground. Bradenton Beach commissioners opposed the tree removal, which county officials said became a necessity after the city issued a construction permit for the project. Building official Steve Gilbert said the city could not revoke the permit and stop work since the project met the city’s land development code. While city officials failed to stop the tree removals, CRA members were excited with the prospect of getting the county onboard with plans to partner on multimodal transportation improvements, namely a jitney trail for shuttling people between the parking at Coquina Beach — the biggest island parking lot — and Bridge Street. “We can use this controversy to help move this project along,” local restaurateur Ed Chiles, an

appointed member of the CRA, said at the July 10 meeting. He added that he feels strongly against Australian pine trees, which are non-native, but the public’s outcry in opposition to their removal might help convince the county to further improve the multimodal transportation aspects of the area. “The county wants to make sure the island is happy,” Chiles said. City attorney Ricinda Perry said the situation may be the city’s best opportunity to realize the jitney trail project, which has been on a backburner for years. CRA Chair Ralph Cole, a city commissioner, said the trail would lighten parking — which he said is the CRA district’s biggest issue — on Bridge Street. Chiles motioned to direct Perry and city engineer Lynn Burnett to coordinate with county officials on plans for the project, and city commissioner Jake Spooner, a CRA member, seconded the motion. CRA members voted 6-0 to approve Chiles’ motion. Commissioner Randy White, a CRA member, was absent with excuse.

MCSO arrests woman for Anna Maria gold theft

A Manatee County sheriff’s deputy arrested a former Anna Maria woman for dealing in gold and silver coins allegedly stolen from her landlord. Amanda Miller, 39, was arrested July 12 on a warrant for two counts of dealing in stolen property. The felony counts are punishable by up to 15 years in prison and $10,000. Miller Laurie Higgins reported a theft June 7 of gold coins valued at more than $100,000 from her home on Magnolia Avenue. She said she noticed the coins were missing April 22, but was gathering documents before filing a report.

According to Higgins’ post, Miller, who also is known as Amanda Culpepper, rented an apartment at her home and failed to pay rent, telling Higgins she was broke and widowed. Higgins told her Facebook followers that she waited for months while investigators built a case against Miller, a former tenant. Higgins said Miller filed restraining orders against her, attempting to keep her from her home. Higgins also reported a theft and intruders at her home in January, saying she saw six males run out her back door and down the stairs as she was returning home with Miller. Higgins reported $50 stolen, adding Jan. 10 that she was still taking inventory.

Mike Norman, of Bradenton Beach, who brought the tree removal at Coquina Beach to the city’s attention and helped collect 1,010 signatures on a petition opposing the removal, stands May 24 next to an Australian pine tree on the Coquina access road. Islander File Photo: Ryan Paice

Socializing

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THE ISLANDER n JuLy 17, 2019 n 3

Tourist tax collections cool in May, summer hits peak

By Sandy Ambrogi Islander Reporter Totals rose over May 2018, but short-term rentals on Anna Maria Island werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t as busy in May as during the spring break months of March and April. Tourist tax collections for Manatee County were up for May 2019 over May 2018, according to the collection report released July 3 from the Manatee County Tax Collector. Short-term rentals â&#x20AC;&#x201D; those rented less than six months â&#x20AC;&#x201D; generated $1,093,869.51 in May, up $147,645.80 over the May 2018 total of $946,223.71. Holmes Beach led the island collections with $243,588.25 gross, accounting for 22.27% of tourist tax dollars collected in the county. Anna Maria rentals generated $142,709.93, 13.05% of county collections. Bradenton Beach short-term rentals generated 7.43% of county collections, or a total of $81,295.56. A look at the tax collections in island cities from 2016-19 shows the city of Anna Maria increasing its tourist tax dollar contributions. Totals rose from $123,988.43 in 2016 to $129,095.37 in 2017 and

AMI Tourism: Endless Season $139,636.01 in 2018. Bradenton Beach, the island city with the lowest tourist tax collection, topped out with $88,974.75 in 2017, then slid back to $79,584.21 in 2018. Bradenton Beach generated $73,749.69 in 2016. Holmes Beach had its highest collection of tourist tax dollars in May 2016 at $244,402.58. The city has failed to reach that May mark again, generating $195,997.20 in 2017 and $188,877.52 in 2018. With the number of lodging rooms increasing, competition for customers continues to grow. Walter Klages, of Research Data Services of Tampa, said the number of rooms in Manatee County increased 8.3% from 8,402 to 9,097 rooms between April 2018 and April 2019. Meanwhile, stricter rental regulations and code

enforcement rules continue to evolve. And, tourists continue to travel to the shores of Manatee County, resulting in millions of dollars for the tax coffers. The money is collected by the state and gets funded back. State law requires resort tax funds be used for tourist-related projects only. The money funds the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Bradenton Area Convention Center, as well as ongoing tourism-related entities such as Realize Bradenton, the Pittsburgh Pirates, and projects such as beach renourishment. Tourist tax collections are reported in arrears, and May numbers were released July 3. Juneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s numbers will be released Aug. 1. The county tourist tax rate is 5%. The tax, also known as the bed tax or resort tax, is collected on overnight rentals of less than six months.

Anna Maria prototype for plank fencing approved

Old engraved pier planks will soon border Anna Mariaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s City Pier Park. Anna Maria commissioners met July 11 for a special meeting to consider a prototype fence built using the engraved planks removed from the city pier after it was deemed destroyed by Hurricane Irma in 2017. The engraved planks were sold and installed as part of the City Pier Centennial in 2010-11 in a partnership by the City Pier Restaurant and The Islander newspaper. Commissioner Doug Copeland made the motion to approve construction of the fence at City Pier Park across from the city pier at the corner of Pine Avenue

and North Bay Boulevard, and Commissioner Dale Woodland seconded the motion. The vote to approve was 4-0, with Commissioner Carol Carter absent with excuse. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to get these planks out and back in the public eye as soon as possible,â&#x20AC;? Commission Chair Brian Seymour said. Anna Mariaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s public works department built the prototype the week of July 1 and now will continue the construction around the perimeter of the park. Mayor Dan Murphy estimated the cost at $2,000, excluding labor. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Cory Cole

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Approved July 11 by Anna Maria commissioners, the prototype fence, including engraved planks salvaged from the demolished city pier, will be built at City Pier Park at the corner of Pine Avenue and North Bay Boulevard. Islander Photo: Cory Cole

4 n JuLy 17, 2019 n THE ISLANDER

Holmes Beach considers 2019-20 budget proposals

budget talks

By ChrisAnn Silver Esformes Islander Reporter Holmes Beach is ready for the next fiscal year. “Stay calm and budget on” was the motto for Holmes Beach city treasurer Lori Hill as she prepared the 2019-20 proposed city budget. The current fiscal year ends Sept. 30. Commissioners and staff met July 8-9 in work sessions led by Hill to consider the proposed budget and millage rate for the DR-420, the form required by the state to assess the city’s tax base. The maximum millage rate will be presented at the commission meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 23, at city hall, 5801 Marina Drive. Hill said that, based on discussions with Mayor Judy Titsworth, the city is using the rollback rate for the new budget. The rollback rate, the millage needed to collect the same tax as the current year from property owners, is 2.1226 mills. State law defines a tax increase as anything over the rollback rate. The rollback rate keeps next year’s taxes for Holmes Beach residents the same,” Hill said. Millage is $1 per $1,000 of assessed property value. At 2.1226 mills, the ad valorem tax on a property valued at $600,000 would be $1,273.66. The tax rate for 2018-19 is 2.25 mills. If the city opts to use that rate — the proposed maximum millage rate — property tax on a $600,000 property would be $1,350. According to Hill’s budget report, ad valorem tax revenues from the rollback rate are projected at $4,234,993 for 2019-20, a decrease of $20,850 or 0.49%, from $4,255,843 in 2018-19. The total taxable assessed valuations for the city for 2019 is $2,101,932,610, according to the Manatee County Property Appraiser’s Office. For 2018, assessed value was $2,089,205,492. Budget plans “Overall, there weren’t a lot of changes to the budget compared to prior years,” Hill said July 8. The proposed budget of $15,863,864 reflects a 0.26% decrease from the current year’s $15,906,032. Hill said the most notable cost differences in the

Election 2019

The qualification period to run for city commission in Anna Maria in the November election opens Monday, Aug. 19. Municipal elections on Anna Maria Island will be Tuesday, Nov. 5. Three commission seats with terms of two years will be up in Anna Maria. Qualifying for office in the city will be noon Aug. 19-noon Aug. 30. The terms for incumbents Doug Copeland, Carol Carter and Dale Woodland are up for election. Three commission seats with terms of two years will be up in Holmes Beach. Qualifying for office in the city will be noon Aug. 26-noon Aug. 30. Seats held by Commissioners Jim Kihm, Carol Soustek and Rick Hurst are up for election. Two seats — held by Commissioners Jake Spooner and Randy White — and the mayoral post held by John Chappie will be up in Bradenton Beach. Qualifying for office in the city will be noon Aug. 26-noon Aug. 30. The last day to register to vote in the election will be Oct. 7. For more information about becoming a candidate or registering vote, go online to votemanatee. com. — Lisa Neff

Holmes Beach city treasurer Lori Hill presents the proposed 2019-20 fiscal year budget July 8 to the mayor and commission during a meeting at city hall, 5801 Marina Drive. Islander Photo: ChrisAnn Silver Esformes

‘

Overall, there weren’t a lot of changes to the budget compared to prior years. — Holmes Beach treasurer Lori Hill

’

budget as proposed, would be staffing, a compensation study totaling $16,000, records storage and scanning at a cost of $7,000, land development code and comprehensive plan revisions totaling $180,000 and enhancements to Grassy Point Preserve at $162,500. She also planned for increased lawsuit reserves and an updated website, totaling $12,000. She said there is an anticipated revenue increase of $42,420 in collections for the city’s vacation rental certificate program. City planner Bill Brisson, formerly contracted as a consultant for the city while an employee of La Rue Planning and Management Service of Fort Myers, is

Meetings

now a staff member. As a contractor, La Rue is budgeted to receive $105,000 for the current fiscal year. As a part-time employee, Hill said he would earn about $70,000 in 2019-20, dependent upon the hours he logs. The salary for the new director of development services, a post held by Barney Salmon, is set at about $145,000, including benefits, according to Hill. Hill said both positions are accounted for in the proposed budget. Additionally, the budget includes an increase of about $97,000 in personnel services for an additional code enforcement clerk. The proposed budget also includes $40,000 for a new code enforcement vehicle and a golf cart. The police budget includes a $12,000 increase for the coming fiscal year. If approved, Police Chief Bill Tokajer will receive $51,000 for 17 Florida Department of Law Enforcement compliance computers, $30,000 for an information technology contractor, as well as $21,165 for bulletTokajer proof helmets and $4,000 for bulletproof vests. Additionally, the police department is leasing eight vehicles for eight years for $500,000 in payments spread over four years. The cost is $15,625 per vehicle. The department is setting aside a reserve fund to cover interest and purchase of the next set of vehicles, according to Hill. “One of the things this commission is charged with is making sure the citizens of this city are protected,” Commissioner Carol Soustek said. “The best way we can do that is Soustek to make sure our police department is staffed with very good people, and they are, and give them the best equipment we can.” The city also added $250,000 to a Bert Harris contingency fund with $500,000 from 2018-19 reserves, for a total of $750,000, in addition to coverage in a $1 million insurance policy maintained with the Florida League of Cities. “We will determine next budget year if we need to continue to increase (item) this based on where we are in defending our cases,” Hill said. The budget will be assimilated into an ordinance that will require two public hearings and two votes for adoption before the fiscal year begins Oct. 1. Aug. 26-30, candidate qualifying. Holmes Beach City Hall, 5801 Marina Drive, 941-708-5800, holmesbeachﬂ.org.

Anna Maria City July 17, 5:30 p.m., special magistrate. CANCELED West Manatee Fire Rescue July 25, 6 p.m., commission. None announced. July 31, 10 a.m., historic preservation board. WMFR administration building, 6510 Third Ave. Aug. 8, 6 p.m., commission. W., Bradenton, wmfr.org. Aug. 13, 4 p.m., planning and zoning. Aug. 19-30, candidate qualifying. Manatee County Aug. 21, 5:30 p.m., special magistrate. July 23, 9 a.m., county commission. Aug. 22, 6 p.m., commission. July 30, 9 a.m., commission (budget). Anna Maria City Hall, 10005 Gulf Drive, 941Aug. 1, 9 a.m., commission (land use). 708-6130, cityofannamaria.com. Aug. 6, 9 a.m., county commission. Aug. 20, 9 a.m., county commission. Bradenton Beach Administration building, 1112 Manatee Ave. W., July 18, 11 a.m., pier team. Bradenton, 941-748-4501, mymanatee.org. July 18, noon, commission. July 23, 1 p.m., commission. Of interest July 30, 10 a.m., CRA (budget). July 30, 4 p.m., Manatee County Council of Aug. 26-30, candidate qualifying. Governments, Bradenton Area Convention Center, Bradenton Beach City Hall, 107 Gulf Drive N., 1 Haben Blvd., Palmetto. 941-778-1005, cityofbradentonbeach.org. Aug. 20, 2 p.m., Coalition of Barrier Island Elected Officials, Anna Maria City Hall. Holmes Beach Sept. 16, 9 a.m., Manatee County Tourist DevelJuly 23, 6 p.m., commission. opment Council, Sarasota-Bradenton International July 25, 11:30 a.m., police retirement. Airport, 5900 Airport Lane, Sarasota. July 31, 10 a.m., special magistrate. Nov. 5, general election. Aug. 7, 6 p.m., planning commission. Send notices to calendar@islander.org and Aug. 27, 6 p.m., commission. news@islander.org.

Visit www.islander.org for the best news on AMI.

THE ISLANDER n JuLy 17, 2019 n 5

Holmes Beach approves business tax exemption for rentals

By ChrisAnn Silver Esformes Islander Reporter Holmes Beach is eliminating one tax in lieu of another. It’s also eliminating an unnecessary process for owners of residential rental properties. The final reading of an ordinance exempting owners of rental units from the city’s business tax was approved July 9 by the commission after being tabled at the commission’s June 27 meeting. Before voting on the exemption in June, city commissioners unanimously agreed to take the ordinance off the table to allow city treasurer Lori Hill to prepare a revenue-cost analysis of the business tax revenue from rentals as it compares to the vacation rental certificate revenue. Hill made her presentation July 9. “The benefit of eliminating the rental business tax is to save time and confusion for our citizens that rent out their homes weekly, monthly and annually,” she said. Businesses in Holmes Beach, including rentals, were previously subject to the business tax. Hill said owners of “residential rentals,” defined as monthly or annual rentals, must pay the business tax annually, which is regulated at $31.90 per unit and yields $44,000 in annual revenue. Owners of weekly “vacation rentals” must pay the RBT and also pay $150 every two years for the VRC program, yielding an annual revenue of $80,850 for the city. She said the proposed change would eliminate the business tax for weekly vacation property owners, but they would pay $427 every two years for the VRC, which would yield $230,153 in revenue from 1,078 units. The city also would establish a VRC program for monthly rentals, with a $280 fee every two years for 319 such units, amounting to $44,660 in revenue. The proposed change would increase the annual VRC program revenue by $150,000.

Hill said eliminating the business tax would “cover the break-even cost for the VRC program, eliminate the need for additional staff and provide our citizens and rental agents the convenience of processing applications and paperwork one time every other year instead of three times in two years.” Commissioner Kim Rash asked if the city could further increase revenue from the VRC program, beyond the proposed change. City attorney Patricia Petruff said a regulatory program requiring a fee cannot be a moneymaker. “The program should be designed to fund itself,” she said. Police Chief Bill Tokajer said the proposed monthly rental program would be placed in an ordinance and, if approved, would offset the revenue lost if the business tax is dropped. Commission Chair Jim Kihm said without the business tax, the city would lose track of the 229 annual rentals in the city. “To me it seems there’s an advantage of knowing what those properties are,” he said, adding that an owner renting annually may lose a tenant and decide to rent monthly to fill the gap. Soustek said she’s concerned if the city changes regulations for monthly and annual rentals it could confuse owners and enforcement could become difficult. Commissioner Rick Hurst said annual rentals are common in most cities and he has not heard of them being charged a separate tax. “I don’t know if that’s a normal thing to do for a community on annual rentals,” he said. Petruff responded that it varies between communities. She said more than 40 years ago, the state provided the city with the opportunity to have a revenue source through a rental license program, and the city opted to join. “It was just a revenue source at a time when cities didn’t have a lot of opportunities for revenue

sources,” she said. Petruff said that since staff is saying it costs more to manage the business tax than the revenue it produces, it might be time to remove it. Kihm asked for a consensus to keep the business tax for annual rentals, but no agreement was reached. A motion to eliminate the rental business tax passed 4-1, with Soustek voting “nay.” The next commission meeting will be at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 23, at city hall, 5801 Marina Drive.

AM P&Z elects vice chair

Jeff Rodencal is the new vice chair of the Anna Maria Zoning and Planning Board. With Monica Beard’s June 11 resignation from the P&Z, election of a new vice chair was in order. Board members approved Rodencal as chair by a 3-0 vote during their July 9 meeting. Bob Carter and Jose Erbella were absent from the meeting. Board member Mark Short motioned to appoint Rodencal and Margaret Jenkins seconded. Rodencal Before the motion, Chair Jonathan Crane said, “I feel like there is someone right around here that could do it,” referring to Rodencal. Rodencal said he was honored. He said he feels the board is in good hands with Crane as its chair and his own title as vice chair is honorary. Beard, the youngest person to serve on the board, resigned to focus on her final semester in college. Crane said the city is seeking a candidate to fill the vacancy left by Beard’s resignation. — Cory Cole

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Opinion

Our

When things go off track

Sometimes you know something is wrong, but you can’t put your finger on it. Well, thanks to Islander “carternist” Joe Bird and his terns for suggesting a red roof for the Bradenton Beach city pier and other structures in what the city calls its “historic district” is just wrong and why. The obvious answer from the Bird’s perspective? Bird poop will look really bad on a red roof. Worse than the natural tin color. Thanks, Bird. Are we alone in thinking it’s a big mistake to paint the pier as well as the restaurant and the suite of accessory buildings white? The pier already has a charming, village appeal with its pastel colors and, if there’s a vision for the city, we’d like to see it align with what’s at the pier now. As they say in the restaurant business, 86 it. The red-and white-theme is overdone by chain stores and motels. Meanwhile, we hope the city officials in Bradenton Beach put some bite in their bark and halt the progress on the paved parking lot at Coquina Beach. Has anyone considered why the county wants better drainage than the sand provides? Or whether it matters, providing most people wouldn’t use the parking lot during a rainstorm? When did this drainage project become a priority for our tax dollars? And even if the Australian pine trees are non-native, none of the alleged problems for residential areas are true for the beach. Do we care that nothing grows under a pine tree? If it storms and branches break, will we be there to care? Would a fallen tree impede traffic flow on Gulf Drive. No. No. No. Stop with the improvements and leave our beach natural. So many people love it and so do sea turtles. So, please, Bradenton Beach, send the county packing. For another tax-saving move, Bradenton Beach should stop the vindictive, politically motivated lawsuit against six residents who previously acted in the city’s best interest, volunteered for much more than their duties on city boards and deserve little more than a proverbial slap on the wrist — if anything — for meeting and discussing ways to improve city government and the city where they reside. The suit has cost the six defendants $200,000 collectively, and it has cost the taxpayers even more. It continues to divide the city. — Bonner Joy

JULY 17, 2019 • Vol. 27, No. 38 ▼ ▼

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Publisher and Editor Bonner Joy, news@islander.org Editorial Lisa Neff, editor, lisa@islander.org Sandy Ambrogi, sandy@islander.org Joe Bird, editorial cartoonist Kevin Cassidy, kevin@islander.org Cory Cole, cory@islander.org Jack Elka, jack@jackelka.com ChrisAnn Silver Esformes, chrisann@islander.org Brook Morrison, brook@islander.org Ryan Paice, ryan@islander.org Kathy Prucnell, kathyp@islander.org Contributors Jesse Brisson Karen Riley-Love Capt. Danny Stasny, fish@islander.org Advertising Director Toni Lyon, toni@islander.org Office Staff Lisa Williams, manager Vicki McIntyre, office assistant, reader advocate info@, accounting@, classifieds@, subscriptions@islander.org Distribution Urbane Bouchet Judy Loden Wasco Ross Roberts (All others: news@islander.org)

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Opinion

Your

Kind to cruisers

We wanted to thank the good Samaritan and the Bradenton Beach police officer who came to our rescue July 4, during the Anna Maria Island Privateers parade. My husband and I were driving our 1974 Stingray Corvette in the parade, as we have done every year for as long as we can remember. About 1.5 miles into the parade, our car decided it was hot and tired, and we were stuck. Thankfully, folks kindly helped us pop the vehicle into gear, stopped traffic and turned the car around and we were able to get back home safely and the parade could continue. Jim and Sue Simpson, Bradenton Beach

Islander archive 24/7

Some years ago, The Islander was invited to take part in a pilot project with the University of Florida George A. Smathers Libraries. We donated our collection of printed newspapers covering from the first edition in 1992 to the digital era of 2005, as well as the digital editions. It took some time, but it’s all on the UofF digital library site now, all searchable by key word, name or date. It’s simple, easy and available 24/7. There’s 27 years, 52 weeks a year, the complete collection of The Islander, online at ufdc.ufl.edu. You’ll find The Islander at the UofF library among the digital stacks, now and into the future. Find weekly editions of The Islander — 1992 to present — online in the University of Florida Digital Library at ufdc.uﬂ.edu.

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THE ISLANDER n JuLy 17, 2019 n 7

‘Action’ on AMI A film crew works on a set in Holmes Beach, a location for the movie “On an Island with You,” circa 1948. The MGM film starred Esther Williams, Ricardo Montalban, Peter Lawford and Anna Maria Island. Islander Photo: Courtesy State Archives of Florida/ Joseph Janney Steinmetz

Docked on the bay

Shrimp boats dock on Sarasota Bay in Bradenton Beach in January 1958. Islander Photo: Courtesy State Archives of Florida/Don Marks

10&20 years ago In the headlines: July 14, 1999

The head of the Florida Department of Community Affairs said federal and state authorities were leaving to municipal leaders the responsibility of interpreting the “50% rule” for construction at existing properties. Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch reported the Blue Water Beach Club in Holmes Beach to conservation agencies after a light at the property disoriented at least 83 hatchling sea turtles. Many of the hatchlings died on Gulf Drive. The Manatee County Commission OK’d plans by Holmes Beach to realign a planned soccer field with the baseball stadium under construction at city field. Former Bradenton Beach Mayor Katie Pierola opened a campaign account as she prepared to launch a bid for the county commission.

In the headlines: July 15, 2009

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A group tasked with steering improvements to the Palma Sola Scenic Highway sought support for extending the designation to include East Bay and Gulf drives in Holmes Beach from Manatee Avenue to the Bradenton Beach border. Manatee County announced commercial boat rental businesses could not use a newly established launch site at Bayfront Park in the city. The city owns the park but the county maintains the property and had approved a launch for canoes and kayaks. Manatee County announced plans to remove a deteriorated pier at Manatee Public Beach in November under a permit from the state. The county said it build a 300-foot pier, which did not happen. — Lisa Neff

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8 n JuLy 17, 2019 n THE ISLANDER

Bradenton Beach CRA approves pier makeover, white paint

By Ryan Paice Islander Reporter A tentative deal to paint the Historic Bridge Street Pier white has been struck. The Bradenton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency voted 6-0 July 10 to approve a $10,900 contract with Largo-based L&T Brothers to paint the pier white, except for the decking, top rail and roof. The project is based on designer Emily Anne Smith’s proposal for a white pier with a red roof. Commissioner Randy White, also a CRA member, was absent with excuse. Mayor John Chappie’s motion established public works manager Tom Woodard as the contact for L&T, as well as specified that approval is dependent on PPG Industries providing paint for the job at the same price it proposed earlier this year. The paint cost is included in the contract with L&T. L&T president Mike Lowe, who presented the contract to CRA members at the meeting, said paint prices fluctuate and PPG might not be able to match the price it previously quoted the city. Lowe added that L&T would need two days without rain to prep the pier, as well as 12-16 dry days to complete the job. He recommended waiting until after the rainy summer season and suggested painting the pier in October or November. CRA members agreed to a 30-day timeline for L&T beginning Oct. 15. The city will pay L&T a $1,090 down payment, or 10% of the contract cost, before paying $2,180 for every completed fifth of the job until reaching 80% completion. The last 10% of the contract cost will be held as a retainer for completion. The CRA was formed to promote restoration, growth and tourism for the district — bordered by Cortez Road, Sarasota Bay, Fifth Street South and the Gulf of Mexico — using incremental tax revenue from Manatee County after the area was declared blighted in 1992. The agency consists of the mayor, four city commissioners and two appointed members, currently restaurant owner Ed Chiles and resident David Bell. The CRA hired Smith in 2018 to produce an aesthetic vision for the district, which prompted the push for a paint job. Chiles motioned to stop the paint job, citing Woodard’s concerns with maintenance costs, but withdrew

Emily Anne Smith, during a meeting July 10, discusses with the Bradenton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency a plan to paint the structure of the Historic Bridge Street Pier white. Islander Photo: Ryan Paice the motion after city attorney Ricinda Perry said the CRA already voted twice to paint the pier white and proceed with the bidding process. She said the CRA could stop the process only if there was a valid legal reason. Perry called the project a “test case” for the efficacy of painting high-traffic public structures that are subject to harsh conditions, such as salt spray and Florida sunlight. CRA members also discussed installing starboard as a cutting board for gutting fish along the top rail of the pier after it is painted. Other projects CRA members have approved four other vision projects put forth by Smith, including constructing a gazebo outside the Bridge Street post office, replacing the trolley stop outside city hall, installing a flag tower at the pier and building a “Welcome Sunset

Tower” alongside Gulf Drive. Perry, previously directed to prepare bidding documents for the projects, said she still needed direction to move forward. She said building official Steve Gilbert reviewed plans for the post office gazebo and told her the CRA needed to survey the property, as well as produce engineering plans for the flagpole foundation — which is to be relocated during the project — to move forward with permitting. Smith said she was almost finished coordinating with Charles Sego, of Anna Maria-based Sego & Sego Structural Engineering & Interiors, for the engineering plans. City engineer Lynn Burnett estimated the survey would cost $5,000 and the engineering plans around $2,500. She suggested Woodard handle the survey process. CRA members voted 6-0 on Chiles’ motion to direct Woodard to complete the survey of the post office property while Smith finishes coordinating with Sego. Perry said the new trolley stop at city hall is complicated because it requires approval from the Florida Department of Transportation, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and Manatee County Area Transit. Smith said MCAT was enthusiastic about the project, but she had not communicated with the DOT or DEP about permitting. Burnett estimated a permit from each department would cost $6,500, bringing the total permitting cost to $13,000. CRA members voted 6-0 on a Chiles motion to direct Burnett and city staff to contact the DOT and DEP about permits for the trolley stop, while Smith coordinates with Sego for a cost estimate for the job and meets with Gilbert to review engineering plans. Perry said the only problem with the flag tower is whether the pier foundation can handle the weight of the structure. She said Smith and Gilbert should meet and confirm the structural soundness before she moves forward with the procurement process. Lastly, Perry said there are permit issues for the “Welcome Sunset Tower” with both the DOT and DEP. She recommended the CRA put the project on hold. CRA members agreed to table the project without a motion and vote.

Work begins to install Bradenton Beach’s ﬂoating dock

By Ryan Paice Islander Reporter Excitement is in the air in Bradenton Beach, where a long-awaited project is finally coming to fruition. Work to install the Historic Bridge Street Pier’s floating dock began July 10 after two years of navigating choppy waters. Hecker Construction, the company the Bradenton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency hired to deliver and install the dock, began preparing to drive resin composite piles from a barge to form the floating dock’s foundation. Hecker had delivered dock materials to the South Coquina Boat Ramp, where the contractor will load materials onto a barge. The city came to an interlocal agreement with Manatee County, which owns and maintains the boat ramp, earlier this year for its use. The agreement allows the city to use the ramp as a loading facility through June 1, 2021, enough time to complete the floating dock, as well as the installation of a police boat ramp and finger docks. Commissioner Ralph Cole, who serves as chair of the CRA, which is facilitating the dock project, previously estimated Hecker could install up to four of 25 pilings per day. Also, Eric Shaffer, a project manager

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at Hecker, previously said installation should take 6-8 weeks. Cole said permits for finger docks and a police boat lift are being reviewed and processed. “I was told they shouldn’t be a problem,” he added. The floating dock replaces an old dock damaged by a storm and removed for public safety. The project has had a turbulent history. The CRA contracted Technomarine Construction in 2017 to manufacture and install the dock for

$119,980, but troubles arose and Technomarine failed to meet numerous deadlines. So the city severed its relationship and reached a settlement in 2018. The settlement specified that Technomarine was not to be paid more than the $83,682 it had received from the CRA. CRA members later decided to hire Hecker, a Gibsonton-based marine construction company and Technomarine subcontractor to assemble, deliver and install the dock.

Bradenton Beach website still ‘coming soon’

By Ryan Paice Islander Reporter The city of Bradenton Beach’s website reads, “Website Coming Soon!” But is it? CivicPlus, the company the city hired to design and host a new website, estimated a June 17 public launch for www. cityofbradentonbeach.com, but the new website remained unreleased July 10. City clerk Terri Sanclemente wrote in a July 9 email to The Sanclemente Islander that CivicPlus and the city were “shooting for” a launch of June 17, but the date “was not a deadline.” She wrote that the city and CivicPlus were “making sure the documents that are uploaded to the new site are ADA compliant and there are a few details that still need to be addressed.” She added

that there is no set timeline for the launch. The city took the site offline in October 2018 because it didn’t comply with the U.S. Americans with Disabilities Act, a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on disability. To comply with the ADA, public websites must limit visuals to those that do not cause seizures for viewers. Sites also must provide audio assistance for people with visual disabilities. When city officials learned a disclaimer would not insulate the city from a lawsuit, they suspended the website. CivicPlus trained city staff to keep the site compliant during a March 20 webinar. Holmes Beach took its site offline in March and launched a limited site June 27. The city provided no estimated date for the completion of the site. Anna Maria’s municipal website did not come down, but it does display a notice: “Our site is currently under construction.”

THE ISLANDER n JuLy 17, 2019 n 9

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10 n JuLy 17, 2019 n THE ISLANDER

The Islander Calendar

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LooKiNG AheAD oN AMi Aug. 24, Kilts on coquina Beach, Bradenton Beach. oct. 19, Anna Maria island chamber of commerce Bayfest, Anna Maria.

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Throughout July, “Three cheers for the red, White and Blue” display, Artists’ Guild Gallery, 5414 Marina Drive, holmes Beach. information: 941-778-6694. Throughout July, pat o’Neill exhibits “The Wonders of Florida,” island Gallery West, 5368 Gulf Drive, holmes Beach. information: 941-778-6648. second Fridays, downtown holmes Beach art walk, various venues. information: 941-778-6694, 941-778-6648.

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Through July 27, Art center Manatee Member exhibition, 209 Ninth st. W., Bradenton. information: 941-746-2862. Through Aug. 25, Marie selby Botanical Gardens “in Dialogue with Nature: Glass in the Gardens” show, 900 s. palm Ave., sarasota. Fee applies. information: 941-366-5731. second and fourth Thursdays, 2-4 p.m., shanty singers, Florida Maritime Museum, 4415 119th st. W., cortez. information: 941-708-6120. First Fridays, 6-9 p.m., ArtWalk in the village of the Arts, around 12th street West and 12th Avenue West, Bradenton. Also, saturdays after the ﬁrst Fridays. Information: villageofthearts@gmail.com. second and fourth saturdays, 1-4 p.m., Music on the porch, Florida Maritime Museum, 4415 119th st. W., cortez. information: 941-708-6120. Through sept. 8, “interpolations: Artwork from the ringling and Monda collections,” John and Mable ringling Museum of Art, 5401 Bay shore road, sarasota. Fee applies. information: 941- 3595700. Through sept. 29, “Natasha Mazurka: order systems,” John and Mable ringling Museum of Art, 5401 Bay shore road, sarasota. Through Dec. 31, “Always ready” U.s. coast Guard exhibit, Florida Maritime Museum, 4415 119th st. W., cortez. information: 941-708-6120. LooKiNG AheAD oFF AMi July 27, Florida Maritime Museum’s round robin Jam acoustic music, cortez.

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Thursday, July 18 10 a.m. — “Mad science: Up, Up and Away” children’s performance, island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, holmes Beach. information: 941-778-6341. Friday, July 19 10 a.m. — Forty carrots parenting program, island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, holmes Beach. information: 941-778-6341. Saturday, July 20 2 p.m. — island family crafting, island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, holmes Beach. information: 941-778-6341. Tuesday, July 23 10 a.m. — preschool storytime, island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, holmes Beach. information: 941-778-6341.

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Send your social news, weddings, anniversaries, births, travel photos, fishing, sports and event news and photos to news@islander.org. SHARE THE FUN.

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Wednesdays and saturdays, 9 a.m., horseshoes pitched, Anna Maria city hall, 10005 Gulf Drive, Anna Maria. information: 941-7086130. Wednesdays and Fridays, 9:15 a.m.-10:30 a.m. pickleball, center of Anna Maria island, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria. Fee applies. information: 941-778-1908. Thursdays, saturdays and Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Legends Tennis, center of Anna Maria island, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria. Fee applies. information: 941-778-1908. Most Fridays, 11:30 a.m. or 1 p.m. (call for times) mahjong games, island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, holmes Beach. information: 941-778-6341. saturdays, 9 a.m.-12 p.m., pickleball, center of Anna Maria island, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria. Fee applies. information: 941-778-1908. Mondays, AMi Dragon Boat Fun and Fitness club, time depends on tides, 417 63rd st., holmes Beach. information: 941462-2626. Mondays-saturdays, 7:30-10:30 a.m., round robin Tennis, center of Anna Maria island, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria. Fee applies. information: 941-778-1908. Most Tuesdays, 11:30 a.m., mahjong games and instruction for beginners, island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, holmes Beach. information: 941-778-6341. oNGoiNG oFF AMi various dates and times through Aug. 29, Bradenton Marauders baseball games, LecoM park, 1611 Ninth st. W., Bradenton. Fee applies. information: 941-747-3031.

CLUBS & COMMUNITY oN ANNA MAriA isLAND Thursday, July 18 2 p.m. — sunshine stitchers Knit and crochet club, island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, holmes Beach. info: 941-778-6341. Saturday, July 20 11 a.m. — Meditation, island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, holmes Beach. information: 941-778-6341. Wednesday, July 24 Noon — coloring club, island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, holmes Beach. information: 941-778-6341. oNGoiNG oN AMi First Wednesdays, 10 a.m., Ask A Master Gardener in collaboration with the Manatee county Agriculture and extension service, island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, holmes Beach. information: 941778-6341. Thursdays, 9-11 a.m., veterans services assistance, island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, holmes Beach. information: 941-7786341. Third Thursdays, 11:45 a.m., successful Women Aligning Together meets, Bridge street Bistro, 111 Gulf Drive s., Bradenton Beach. Fee applies. information: 941-345-5135. second Fridays, 6 p.m., AMi resident community connections, center of Anna Maria island, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria. information: 941-778-1908. Tuesdays, noon, rotary club of Anna Maria island, Bridge street Bistro, 111 Gulf Drive s., Bradenton Beach. information: 941718-0291. Tuesdays, 2-4 p.m., Tech help, island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, holmes Beach. information: 941-778-6341.

LooKiNG AheAD oN AMi Through Aug. 3, “summer circus spectacular” show, historic Aug. 8, sightMobile vision testing, holmes Beach. Asolo Theater, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail, sarasota. Fee applies. inforLooKiNG AheAD oFF AMi mation: 941-351-9010. Through sept. 30, “hippos: A Truly Big show” poster exhibit, oct. 26, Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium’s oceanic eveJohn and Mable ringling Museum of Art, 5401 Bay shore road, ning gala, sarasota. sarasota. Fee applies. information: 941- 359-5700. LooKiNG AheAD oFF AMi oct. 19, Mote Marine Aquarium’s Fish, Fun and Fright night.

GAMES, SPORTS & OUTDOORS oNGoiNG oN ANNA MAriA isLAND Through July 31, youth indoor soccer, center of Anna Maria island, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria. Fee applies. information: 941-778-1908.

GOOD TO KNOW sAve The DATes

sept. 2, Labor Day. sept. 8, Grandparents Day. sept. 11, patriot Day. Sept. 23, ﬁrst day of autumn. sept. 29, rosh hashana.

Island happenings Privateers deck the halls for Christmas in July

The Anna Maria Island Privateers will deck the halls of a Bridge Street bar to celebrate Christmas — in July. The nonprofit dedicated to “kids and community” will host its annual Christmas in July celebration beginning at 5 p.m. Saturday, July 27, at the Drift In lounge, 120 Bridge St., Bradenton Beach. Santa and his sleigh will arrive at about 6 p.m. Plans include a raffle for a liquor basket, a lotto and a potluck supper. The privateers asked that attendees bring a dish to share or a $5 donation for supper. For more information, call the bar at 941-7789088.

THE ISLANDER n JuLy 17, 2019 n 11

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Camp competitions continue at center Sam Wade, left, 7, Zach Cave, 8, and Bam Gartman, 8, hold their trophies July 2 during the beach olympics at the Center of Anna Maria Island, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria. Islander Photo: Courtesy Ashley Friszman

Weekly Specials! ‘Dancing’ on display

“Water Dancing #1-Rhumba” by watercolorist Susana Spann, of Cortez, is displayed at the Art Center Manatee, 209 Ninth St. W., Bradenton, through July 27 in the members’ exhibition. Spann won first-place for the artwork. She also recently received a “best of color” prize at the Green Mountain Watercolor Exhibition in Waitsfield, Vermont, for the painting “Dianna in Wonderland.” Islander Courtesy Photo

Kids play, look for summer reads

A.J. Dean, left, 8, and brother Elias, 3, from Madison, North Carolina, visit the children’s section at the Island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. “We love it here on Anna Maria Island,” A.J said July 2. Islander Photo: Brook Morrison

Kids enjoy luau at the library

Stephen “Big Tiki” Boros performs while a toddler dances July 11 during, Big Tiki and the Mai Tai’s concert at the Island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. “A Universe of Stories,” a program for kids at 10 a.m. Thursdays continues through July 25. Islander Photo: Nenita Daguinotas

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12 n JuLy 17, 2019 n THE ISLANDER

The view of the full lunar disc during the astronauts’ The earthrise viewed from the lunar orbit on the return trip. Islander Courtesy Photo: NASA Apollo 11 mission. Islander Courtesy Photo: NASA

Marion and Judy Duncan, of Anna Maria, captured this photograph while at Cape Canaveral — known as Cape Kennedy at the time — before the launch of Apollo 11 on July 16, 1969. APOLLO CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 and return to Earth. Norman recalled, “There were oohs and aahs in hopes that the question mark meant nothing. And sure enough, it didn’t.” Sandee Shea, of Holmes Beach, also witnessed the launch and shared this recollection: “When the rocket went off, the sound was very loud even though we were 4 miles away. And then, soon, we began to feel these waves of sound passing by and through us, slight at first but growing stronger by the seconds.” Shea said windows rattled and some panes blew out. “The rocket took off up into the sky, with the fire trail behind the rocket lighting up a bright orange flame, and shaking the ground we were standing on,” she said. She had moved to Titusville in June 1965, recently married and eager to go to work as an engineering assistant with the Boeing Co., a NASA contractor hired to set up and perform the process to launch Apollo. “You are familiar with the count off 5-4-3-2-1,” Shea said. “Well, there were many, many things to check off before the count got to that level. It definitely was an exciting time in my life.” About the launch, Shea said it was glorious. Marion and Judy Duncan, of Anna Maria, shared this remembrance in an email to The Islander: The couple “spent the night on the beach at the cape to watch the early morning launch, enduring overhead

mosquito control spraying by helicopter. “We then traveled across the state to visit friends in Anna Maria and became so enchanted that we met with Realtor Jack Marshall and purchased our property on Willow Avenue.” Two hours, 44 minutes after the launch, a second burn pushed Apollo 11 into a translunar orbit. The first color TV transmission to Earth from Apollo 11 occurred July 17, 1969, during the translunar coast of the Columbia command and service module/the Eagle lunar module. The next day, Armstrong and Aldrin put on their spacesuits and climbed through the docking tunnel from the Columbia to the Eagle to check out the lunar module and to make a second TV transmission. Four days after the launch, while Collins orbited the moon in the command module, Armstrong and Aldrin landed Apollo 11’s lunar module, Eagle, on the moon’s Sea of Tranquility and became the first humans to set foot on the lunar surface. An estimated 650 million people watched Armstrong’s televised image and heard his voice as he NASA’s Mission Control celebrates Apollo 11’s took “...one small step for a man, one giant leap for return to Earth on its splashdown in the Pacific mankind” July 20, 1969. Ocean July 24, 1969. The Duncans were watching the moonwalk on a television set at Resort Sixty-Six in Holmes Beach when a telephone call sent them over the moon. “We received a call from the adoption agency in Illinois that we should return to meet our new daughter, Darcie,” they wrote to The Islander.

Darcie Duncan was born July 13, 1969. Marion and Judy Duncan, of Anna Maria, were watching the Apollo 11 moonwalk when they received a call to meet the child they were adopting.

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THE ISLANDER n JuLy 17, 2019 n 13

No-swim advisory posted on south side of Palma Sola Bay

By Kathy Prucnell Islander Reporter The Florida Department of Health issued a noswim advisory for a Palma Sola Bay beach after tests July 8 and July 10 confirmed bacteria in the water exceeded safe swimming guidelines. Every two weeks, the department tests waters off statewide beaches — including those on Palma Sola Bay and Anna Maria Island — for enterococci bacteria. The impacted Palma Sola beach is about 1,000 feet west of 81st Street on the south side of the causeway. The bacteria can cause gastrointestinal issues, including vomiting and diarrhea, according to Tom Larkin, director of Manatee County Environmental Health. Until the advisory is lifted, Larkin said people should look to other beaches if they want to swim and should never swim in coastal waters with open cuts or wounds. If a cut occurs in the water, he recommends prompt and proper wound care.

Larkin said he hoped to retest the Palma Sola site the week of July 15, “after the rains let up,” and would resume routine testing the week of July 22. The DOH website at www.floridahealth.gov states the no-swim advisory was issued due to tests measuring 70.05 or greater of enterococci in 100 milliliters of water. Specifically, according to Larkin, samples taken July 8 at Palma Sola showed 24,196 colony forming units of in 100 milliliters of water. Two days later, he said the enterococci level fell to 422 colony forming units, but remained outside the safe swimming guidelines of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The DOH typically takes a second sample within 24 hours after a first test shows the guidelines were exceeded, he said. A year ago in July, tests from the same beach showed 988 colony forming units growing together in 100 milliliters of water and a second test found 75 colony forming units in the same amount of water. Larkin said July 12 he suspects the high bacteria counts in July are due to heavy rainfall amounts.

“We know untreated stormwater runoff can negatively impact the bacteria counts… when rains sweep across lawns and streets and into the bay,” he said. Another reason for high bacteria levels can be sewage spills. As far as recent sewage discharges into the bay, Larkin said he’s not heard of any from the state Department of Environmental Protection, Manatee County Utilities Department or the city of Bradenton. When high levels of enterococci are discovered, Larkin said his department contacts the state EPA to check a 1-mile radius for sewage outflows. According to DEP spokeswoman Shannon Herbon, the last sewage spill into Palma Sola Bay occurred Feb. 23, 2018. Between December 2017 and February 2018, more than 6 million gallons of raw sewage found its way into the bay due to contractors rupturing sewer lines. Regardless of the reason for high bacteria, according to Larkin, beachgoers should heed the sign posted on the south side of the Manatee Avenue west of 81st Street and stay out of the water in Palma Sola Bay until testing meets EPA guidelines.

Anna Maria City Pier goes ‘dark for storm,’ lease negotiations launch

By Cory Cole Islander Reporter When a theater is closed, actors and directors call it “dark.” Heavy rain bands passing over Anna Maria Island from Tropical Storm Barry, which was churning in the northern Gulf of Mexico the week of July 8, caused the Anna Maria City Pier to go “dark.” Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy said weather can be an issue in projects like this, though, he said the pier is on track for on-time completion. Murphy said, weather permitting, work on the electrical wiring would begin the week of July 15. The rain did not dampen lease negotiations for the pier. Murphy said he received information requested from each city commissioner as to the preferred terms for a new lease for the pier restaurant and bait shop. He then spoke with each commissioner about their ideas and concerns. Mario Schoenfelder holds the lease to manage and operate the pier, including the restaurant, until December 2020. Murphy, in a July 12 email to The Islander, the said the potential contract terms were sent to Schoenfelder,

including nine possible options. Those options include choices on premises, parking, use, the term of the lease, maintenance, insurance and taxes, the type of lease and the potential base rent — plus a 3% per year increase/decrease based on pier revenues. The city’s proposed hours of operation for both the restaurant and bait shop would be 7 a.m.- 9 p.m. seven days a week, with breakfast, lunch and dinner served, unless otherwise specified by the landlord. The draft contract also states the tenant would pay the expense of any buildout required for occupancy and must enter a contract with the landlord’s approved

contractor. The city proposed a build timeline of 90 days after the landlord delivers the space to the tenant. Murphy said by outlining the negotiation terms, the process would go faster. The new pier, estimated cost to $5.9 million, including demolition and construction expenses, replaces the 1911-built wooden pier, which had many renovations, but was destroyed in September 2017 by Hurricane Irma. The original pier supported tourism to Anna Maria — with steamships and ferries arriving from Tampa with day visitors.

Travelers

Back in Berlin Andreas Goeller and wife Michaela, of Holmes Beach, read the island news — and promote an island favorite — while vacationing in Berlin, where they were born. The Goellers visited the Brandenburg Gate, as well as other sites, during the two-month holiday. The city website describes the Brandenburg Gate as Berlin’s most famous landmark — a symbol of Berlin and German division during the Cold War that now stands as a national symbol of peace and unity. Islander Courtesy Photo

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The Islander welcomes news of the milestones in readers’ lives — weddings, anniversaries, travels and other events. Send notices and photographs with contact information to news@islander.org.

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Bradenton Beach man arrested for Flamingo Cay burglary

A man sent to state prison in 2012 for multiple burglaries was arrested July 8 in Flamingo Cay — a community located between Perico Island and the mainland — for similar crimes. Kyle Dale, 32, of Bradenton Beach, was arrested by Manatee County sheriff’s deputies for burglary of an unoccupied dwelling and Dale conveyances, motor vehicle theft and possessing identification belonging to another person without consent. Dale allegedly confessed to MCSO investigators, saying he knew the homeowner, who also owned the

without permission. Dale was transported to the Manatee County jail, where he was released after posting $13,500 bond. In four combined 2011 cases, Dale was sentenced to 59.175 months in prison after convictions for possessing drugs, dealing in stolen property and burglaries from vehicles in the 200 block of 17th Street North of Bradenton Beach and the 5400 block of Marina Drive in Holmes Beach. Dale was released from prison in November 2015, according to online records. His arraignment for the July arrest is set for 9 a.m. Friday, Aug. 2, in the Manatee County Judicial Center, 1051 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.

and two males. July 4, Circle K, 103 Gulf Drive S., Marchman Act. Bradenton Beach police took a 42-year-old Kentucky man to a medical facility after officers determined he was unable to care for himself. July 4, Coquina Park, 2000 Gulf Drive S., vehicle burglary. A pocket knife and prescription sunglasses valued at $430 were stolen after the owner left them in an unlocked vehicle. July 5, Sports Lounge, 118 Bridge St., disorderly intoxication. An intoxicated 59-year-old man was observed picking fights with passersby on the sidewalk outside the bar. He was arrested and transported to the station and the Manatee County jail. Bradenton Beach is policed by BBPD. Cortez June 12, 3600 block of 115th Street Court West, information. A man in a golf cart threatened a woman who was walking a dog, saying he would shoot the dog if she walked it down the street again. He then aimed and drove his golf cart at the dog and dog walker, veering before colliding with them. Cortez is policed by MCSO. Holmes Beach June 27, 300 block of 61st Street, suspicious incident. An owner signed up for the Holmes Beach police department’s house check program after finding a broken window, items ransacked and other evidence of unauthorized people staying in the unit. June 27, Manatee Public Beach, resisting arrest/ disorderly conduct. A Manatee County lifeguard attempted to diffuse an argument involving a 35-yearold Brandon man who knocked a cup out of the hands of another beachgoer. The man swore at the lifeguard, who requested police assistance to trespass the man. A struggle ensued with police and the man pulled away while being handcuffed, causing officers to fall to the ground. An officer used a taser on the man, who was transported to Manatee Memorial Hospital in Bradenton for a medical check due to the taser deployment and then to the jail. June 28, 2800 block of Gulf Drive, information.

A property manager called police about an unauthorized person living in a rental unit and a suspicious man seen leaving a bicycle in the dunes outside the house. A door was found open. No forced entry was found. June 29, Manatee Public Beach, 4000 Gulf Drive, theft. Two beachgoers went into the Gulf and left a bag containing their belongings in the sand near upland vegetation. About an hour later, they returned to find the bag had been dumped and two iPhones and a wallet containing a driver’s license and Social Security card were missing. July 1, 400 block of 62nd Street, theft. A 10-foot metal chain cordoning off an owner’s driveway was stolen between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. The chain was valued at $30. July 1, 4400 block of Gulf Drive, vehicle burglary. An unknown person entered an unlocked vehicle and stole $85 and the key to a pickup truck. July 3, Island Bazaar, 3304 E. Bay Drive, counterfeit money. A man returned a fake $10 bill, advising a clerk he had received the bill in change. Police seized the bill and placed it in evidence. July 4, 3000 block of Gulf Drive, marijuana ordinance. Police pulled over an SUV driver for speeding and noted the odor of marijuana. The driver told an officer the drug belonged to a passenger. The passenger was ticketed for possessing less than 20 grams of marijuana after admitting got scared and threw his drugs under the SUV. Holmes Beach is policed by Holmes Beach Police Department. Streetlife is based on incident reports and narratives from the BBPD, HBPD and MCSO.

By Kathy Prucnell

Island police reports

Anna Maria June 20, 200 Fir Ave. and the beach, abandoned property. A Manatee County sheriff’s deputy found a makeshift swimming hole, umbrella and other items left overnight on the beach and filled the hole with sand. The items, including the umbrella and a bag of garbage, were taken into MCSO storage. Anna Maria is policed by MCSO. Bradenton Beach July 3, 941 Deli, 119 Bridge St., criminal mischief. A deli manager reported a man, who was delivering coupons for a company, hit his head on a concrete staircase and left. He returned with a can of orange spray paint and painted the staircase where he hit his head. The manager estimated $500 in damages to the building. July 3, Sports Lounge, 118 Bridge St., bar fight. Witnesses reported a fight erupted among a number of people. Pool sticks were involved. At least one person was transported to Blake Medical Center in Bradenton for a hand injury. Police unsuccessfully searched the vicinity for an alleged female assailant

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In the event of an emergency, call 911. To report information on island crime, call the MCSO Anna Maria substation, 941-708-8899; Bradenton Beach police, 941-778-6311; or Holmes Beach police, 941-708-5804.

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boat on the canal behind the house. MCSO deputies were called to the scene at about 1 p.m. after one of the victims and a witness detained Dale at the victim’s home in the 10400 block of Spoonbill Road West. Dale told deputies he entered a private dwelling, vessel and vehicle midday July 6 and stole multiple items, including personal paperwork, passports, nautical charts, infrared guns, flares, boat manuals, books and men’s clothing. He took some of the stolen items to his home in Bradenton Beach, according to the MCSO report. The report also states Dale stayed at the residence and drove the homeowner’s vehicles for two days

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THE ISLANDER n JuLy 17, 2019 n 15

Man pleads no contest to Holmes Beach DUI

Bortie Too nests again

A screenshot taken July 14 shows Bortie Too, a female loggerhead, returning to shore overnight July 13 to nest on the beach near 66th Street, behind the Mainsail Beach Inn in Holmes Beach. The sea turtle has been wearing a satellite tracking device since June 21, when it was tagged by Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring and the Sea Turtle Conservancy as part of the Tour de Turtles marathon for research, after nesting on Cortez Beach in Bradenton Beach. To track Bortie Too, visit conserveturtles.org/trackingmap/?id=226

Unlicensed driver arrested with pot, gets probation

More than 20 grams turns a misdemeanor marijuana offense into a felony. Jose Eduardo Barajas, 19, pleaded no contest June 4 to possessing 24 grams of cannabis, drug paraphernalia and driving without a license in connection with an arrest in Bradenton Beach. Judge Gilbert A. Smith Jr. withheld adjudication on the felony cannabis charge and ordered a six-month community control with a 10 p.m.-6 a.m. curfew followed by 18 months probation, 50 hours of public service and a drug evaluation. Bradenton Beach police stopped Barajas for speeding Feb. 28 in the 700 block of Gulf Drive South after he sped around the roundabout at Gulf Drive South and Bridge Street in a Mazda SUV. Police found the marijuana, plastic bags and a digital scale, as well as a loaded handgun in a search of Barajas’ vehicle. Barajas said the gun belonged to a friend who’d left it in the vehicle. Smith found Barajas guilty on the misdemeanor counts of possessing paraphernalia and no driver’s license, sentenced him to credit for time served and ordered him to forfeit a firearm. The judge also assessed Barajas $728 in costs and fines.

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Anchorage troubles

Manatee County Sheriff’s Deputy Mark Ribeiro, left, listens to Josh Laughlin and May Galloway July 3 at the Manatee County Judicial Center. Ribeiro testified to Laughlin’s boating infraction during a March marine patrol of Sarasota Bay south of the Historic Bridge Street Pier in Bradenton Beach. The judge sided with Ribeiro, ruling that a lantern on a dinghy Laughlin was motoring provided insufficient light under the law. The boater paid the $90 fine. Islander Photo: Kathy Prucnell

Roadwatch

Eyes on the road

The Florida Department of Transportation and Manatee County posted the following for the week of July 15: State Road 684/Cortez Road: Crews are installing new lighting at various locations along State Road 684/Cortez Road from Gulf Drive in Bradenton Beach to Ninth Street West in Bradenton. Expect nighttime/overnight lane closures. PowerCore Inc. is the contractor. Longboat Pass Bridge: Major repairs on the Longboat Pass Bridge on Gulf Drive between Bradenton Beach and Longboat Key take place through the summer. Overnight work requires decreasing lane sizes, flagging operations and occasional lane closures. Work is to end in August. For the latest road watch information, go online to ﬂ511.com and swﬂroads.com or dial 511.

A ﬂagger manages early morning traffic on Gulf Drive/State Road 789 in Bradenton Beach as repair work continues on the Longboat Pass Bridge. Islander Photo: Lisa Neff To view conditions via cameras on the bridges and main roads, go online to smarttrafficinfo.org.

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16 n JuLy 17, 2019 n THE ISLANDER

Plaintiff pleas for continuance fail, BB Sunshine trial begins

Defendants, left, and plaintiffs, right, are seated July 15 for a civil trial in a lawsuit filed in August 2017 by Bradenton Beach ex-Mayor Jack Clarke and the city, alleging Sunshine Law violations by former board members John Metz, Reed Mapes, Patty Shay, Bill Vincent, Tjet Martin and Rose Vincent. Islander Photos: ChrisAnn Silver Esformes By ChrisAnn Silver Esformes Islander Reporter Bradenton Beach was rejected on its request for more “sunshine.” The trial began the morning of July 15. An emergency hearing and deposition took place July 11, days before the nonjury trial began for Bradenton Beach and ex-Mayor Jack Clarke versus six former board members who they allege violated Florida’s Government-in-the-Sunshine Law. A judge denied the city’s motion to file a second amended complaint and continue the trial date, made by Robert Watrous, attorney for the city and Clarke, in an emergency pretrial hearing. However, the judge allowed the plaintiffs time to again depose defendant John Metz July 12. The hearing The lawsuit, filed in August 2017 by Clarke and joined by the city, alleges Sunshine Law violations by former P&Z board members Metz, Reed Mapes, Patty Shay, and Bill Vincent, and Scenic Waves Partnership Committee members Tjet Martin and Rose Vincent, all of whom were members of the now-defunct grass-roots group Concerned Neighbors of Bradenton Beach. Clarke and the city allege the six defendants

violated Sunshine Law by discussing city matters at CNOBB meetings and through emails, texts and phone calls. Clarke was absolved by the city of paying any legal fees for the case. As of July 12, the defendants and 10 witnesses had been deposed in the civil suit. A motion to amend the initial complaint to include further evidence obtained July 3 by the city and for a 45-day continuance before beginning the trial was denied by 12th Judicial Circuit Judge Edward Nicholas. During the July 11 hearing for the plaintiffs’ motion, Watrous argued that he and paralegal Michael Barfield had heard and read references to a July 14, 2017, CNOBB steering committee meeting during discovery, but had not been provided with a recording of the meeting. Watrous said attorney Jim Dye, who was representing Mapes, Martin, Shay and the Vincents before they went pro se earlier this year, said July 11 he’d mailed Watrous and Metz’s attorney Thomas Shults CDs Dec. 22, 2018, with recordings of the July 14, 2017, meeting. Watrous claimed July 11 he did not receive the recording until July 3 — the day after Metz’s deposition — when Shults provided it as part of the exhibits

Paralegal Michael Barfield, left, Bradenton Beach city attorney Ricinda Perry, court reporter Joann Zeck, attorney Thomas Shults and his client, defendant John Metz, prepare July 12 for Metz’s deposition at city hall, 107 Gulf Drive N. Islander Photo: ChrisAnn Silver Esformes

Bradenton Beach drafts resolution for KORN initiatives

By Ryan Paice Islander Reporter The city of Bradenton Beach is taking steps to put a trio of petition initiatives on the November ballot. City commissioners reached a consensus July 11, directing city attorney Ricinda Perry to draft a resolution to place three initiatives, successfully petitioned by the Keep Our Residential Neighborhoods political action committee on the next municipal ballot. The charter amendment questions by KORN for the 2018 city ballot, include: • Prohibit construction of a multilevel parking garage in the city; • Require commission vacancies be filled by election; • Prevent construction within setbacks. A fourth question, to establish a full-time city manager, lacked the required number of verified signatures,

according to the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections office. Perry brought the resolution before commissioners seeking confirmation to proceed with drafting the document, despite some concerns. She said that while Judge Lon Arend of the 12th Judicial Circuit Court ruled that the city has the discretion to determine the language of the ballot initiatives, KORN attorney Robert Hendrickson instructed the city not to change the PAC’s language for the initiatives. However, KORN’s proposed language exceeds word limits for ballot initiatives, according to Perry. Commissioner Ralph Cole asked her if such an issue would hinder inclusion of the initiatives on a ballot. Perry said the SOE would make that determination. Perry said the commission would hold a first reading and public hearing on the resolution in August.

for trial. According to Watrous, upon listening to the July 14, 2017, meeting, he heard Mapes discussing a pending matter before the P&Z Board regarding the Bridge Tender Inn and Dockside Bar in Bradenton Beach. Shults argued against the motions. Shults said Watrous was sent the materials from Dye at the same time he received the CD. So Watrous also should have received the recording. Additionally, he said Watrous likely would have continued to contact him to obtain the recording had he not received it. Watrous argued that if he’d had the recording, he would not have had to twice ask for it from Shults, who Watrous said replied, “None,” in an email, both times he inquired. “If I’d had this tape, it would’ve been a huge, additional lynchpin of my case,” Watrous said. “On my proposed amended complaint, in bold letters, I would’ve been saying, ‘Based upon the July 14 meeting, Mr. Mapes violated the Sunshine Law and made reference to the Bridge Tender Inn, when that had been at the prior P&Z hearing.’ I would’ve had a smoking gun.” Nicholas denied the motion for a continuance and the motion to amend, but allowed the plaintiffs to again depose Metz the next day. He said the scope of the deposition must be “limited to the tape and the meeting surrounding July 14, 2017.” Another Metz deposition Three days before trial, Metz again was deposed, this time by city attorney Ricinda Perry. At the onset, there was a dispute about the scope of Perry’s questions for Metz, which resulted in a stalemate — the judge could not be reached for clarification — and a limited deposition. Perry asked Metz, who did not attend the July 14, 2017, meeting, but had recently listened to the recording, if he heard Mapes refer to a land swap that occurred in 2001 between the city and the Bridge Tender Inn. Metz said that he did recall Mapes mentioned the land swap and a “P&Z thing.” During the deposition, Barfield played portions of recordings from the CNOBB meeting, in which Mapes could be heard discussing the land swap, but the discussion was terminated. At the time of the CNOBB meeting, the P&Z had continued a June 21, 2017, public hearing for expansion of the Bridge Tender Inn. The quasi-judicial hearing was continued until the applicant could provide more information about the proposed development. In such hearings the board sits as the judge, and can only hear evidence presented as part of the hearing, either testimony or as exhibits. On July 21, Metz filed a records request with the city for information about the restaurant, including the land swap. Perry closed the deposition, reserving the right to reopen the deposition if the judge agree to widen the scope of questioning.

Wedded

bliss by the sea …

THE ISLANDER n JuLy 17, 2019 n 17

Minuette Costello and Robert DeJonge of Ocala are wed on the beach at the Harrington House Beachfront Bed & Breakfast Inn, Holmes Beach, by the Rev. Charlie Shook. The 91-year old pastor performed about 2,500 weddings over the past 25 years. Islander Photos: Jack Elka The Rev. Charlie Shook, center, recites the marriage vows July 11 at a beach wedding for Minuette Costello and Robert DeJonge at the Harrington House Beachfront Bed & Breakfast Inn, 5626 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach.

The Rev. Charlie Shook is escorted to his final wedding service on the beach at the Harrington House Beachfront Bed & Breakfast Inn, 5626 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, by his bride, Lois Finley. Lois Finley, left, Harrington House owner Jo Davis, center, and the Rev. Charlie Shook share a toast following the final wedding performed by Shook at the inn on the beach. Finley and Shook have been together 31 years.

Pastor ties his final knot of thousands on AMI

West coast beach wedding

Drs. Lexa Murphy and Alex Pratt marry June 15 on Orcas Island, Washington. The bride is the daughter of Susan Timmins and Sean Murphy and she grew up on Anna Maria Island, attending Anna Maria Elementary. The groom is the son of Melissa and Dick Pratt and was born and raised in Seattle. The newlyweds live in Seattle, where she works as a clinical pediatric psychologist and he is an internal medicine physician. Their siblings — Ben Murphy and Catherine Pratt — were the officiants for the ceremony. Islander Courtesy Photos

By Sandy Ambrogi Islander Reporter It was a breezy day on the beach, and the good reverend was doing what he had done hundreds of time before: Serving as an officiant for a wedding ceremony. “He always put a realness into every wedding,” Jo Davis, owner of the Harrington House Beachfront Bed & Breakfast Inn in Holmes Beach, said July 12 of the Rev. Charlie Shook of Anna Maria. Shook performed his final beach wedding July 11 at the B&B, as the late afternoon wind blew and the waves rolled onto the shore. He had officiated the exchange of wedding vows more than 2,500 times in the past 25 years, according to his wife, Lois Finley. Shook had moved from Maryland and Finley from Joplin, Missouri, when they met three decades ago. They became a couple. And stayed that way. Finley opened an ice cream-candy shop in Anna Maria named Mama Lo’s. Shook taught a Sunday school class at the Longboat Island Chapel on Longboat Key, became their pastor and still preaches there occasionally. “He was there last week preaching,” Finley told The Islander July 12. “He can preach anybody under the table to this day.”

Shook always received the first call when weddings were being organized at Harrington House. Following the wedding that marked his retirement, Davis said, “We are so grateful to have had Charlie with us for all these years and that we were a part of his life.” “He has always had such a way with people. He is wonderful. Calm, considerate, and he put all the brides and grooms in a relaxed atmosphere. And sometimes, that’s not easy.” Davis said Shook put a little counseling into his wedding duties, making certain people understood the meaning of their vows. Finley said the couple now plans to hit the golf course as soon as the weather cools down. But, for the time being, mahjong will probably occupy her husband, she said. “Who knows? He might even write another book. His first one was ‘Hiding Behind the Pulpit.’ All I know is that he is still just full of stuff,” Finley said of Shook, with a laugh. Meanwhile, Davis was somewhat sanguine about Shook no longer navigating the soft sand with his cane to marry folks. “For us, we wish him all the best and thank him for all these years. I hope to see him again soon,” she said. And for Finley and Shook, maybe they’ll continue their honeymoon.

18 n JuLy 17, 2019 n THE ISLANDER

Gathering

After the 10 a.m. worship service Sunday, July 21, at Roser, church volunteers will serve refreshments in the fellowship hall, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria. Islander Courtesy Photo

Roser promotes mission, hosts musician

Roser Memorial Community Church will host musician Joshua Cundiff for its 8:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. worship services Sunday, July 21. Joshua, a student at Manatee School for the Arts and State College of Florida, has been playing guitar for eight years and the violin for six years. A news release said he would play classical guitar, performing his own arrangement of Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” and “See You in My Dreams.” The church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, also will highlight the mission of the month — Mercy Ships, a nonprofit providing clean water, reliable electricity and health care centers around the world. A news release said Roser will welcome Mercy Ships representative Ginny Stehle, who will provide information about the organization’s work. Following the 10 a.m. service, Roser volunteers, led by Pam Ladd, will serve refreshments at a social with a luau theme in the fellowship hall. For more information, call the church at 941-7780414. For more information about Mercy Ships, go online to mercyships.org.

About railroads

Jim Zientara, associated with the Florida Railroad Museum in Parrish, will address Roser Church’s Just Older Youth Wednesday, July 24, in the Roser fellowship hall, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria. The program will begin at 11 a.m., and lunch is offered for a $5 donation. For more information, call the church at 941-224-1347. Islander Courtesy Photo

Pam Ladd will lead Roser volunteers in serving refreshments after worship July 21.

Bible schoolers have ‘a-mazing’ day

Children line up to for the “Maze” during the final day of Vacation Bible school June 28 at CrossPointe Fellowship, 8605 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach. Islander Photos: Nenita Daguinotas T-Shirts $10 @ The Islander, 3218 E. Bay Drive, HB.

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Online arrangements available Sarasota (941) 312-6371 | Manatee (941) 213-9234

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SUNDAY WORSHIP 8:30 AM IN THE CHAPEL or 10:00 AM IN THE SANCTUARY 10:00 AM Nursery

8:45 AM Adult Sunday School

A NONDENOMINATIONAL, CHRISTIAN CHURCH • EVERYONE IS WELCOME!

512 Pine Ave • Anna Maria

PO Box 243, Bradenton Beach 34217

Loving Christ • Sharing His Grace • Serving All COMMUNITY CHURCH

Call for a ride to the 10:00 AM Worship Service

“Anna Maria Island,” a pictorial history book of the island by Bonner Joy, is available for $20 at The Islander office, 3218 E. Bay Drive, Holmes Beach. Joy is publisher of The Islander newspaper. She moved to AMI in 1975 and launched the newspaper in 1992.

simple burials

Art by Joan Voyles

simple cremations

Campers, ages 5 to 12, sing to celebrate the final session of vacation Bible school at CrossPointe Fellowship June 28.

941-778-0414 • www.RoserChurch.com • www.facebook.com/RoserChurch

Growing in Jesus’ Name Sunday Service 10:00 AM

Adult Sunday School Follows Service

The Rev. Dr. Norman Pritchard SERMON: Joseph 6, God and Providence

Men’s Bible Study - Mondays: 9:00 AM Women’s Bible Study - Wednesdays: 10:00 AM

Visitors & Residents Welcome • Childcare Available Watch our 10:00 AM service live. Log onto our website & follow the YouTube link.

6400 Gulf of Mexico Dr.

•

941.383.8833 (oﬃce)

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www.christchurchlbk.org

Gathering happenings Worship Services

Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. — St. Bernard Catholic Church, 248 S. Harbor Drive, Holmes Beach. Information: 941-778-4769. Thursday 9:30 a.m. — Episcopal Church of the Annunciation, 4408 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach. Information: 941-778-1638. Saturday 4 p.m. — St. Bernard, Holmes Beach. 5 p.m. — Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 6608 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Information: 941-778-1813. Sunday 8:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. — Christ Church of Longboat Key Presbyterian (USA), 6400 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key. Information: 941-383-8833. 8:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. — Roser Memorial Community Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria. Information: 941-778-0414. 8:30 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. — Harvey Memorial Community Church, 300 Church Ave., Bradenton Beach. Information: 941-7791912. 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. — St. Bernard, Holmes Beach. Information: 941-778-4769. 9 a.m. — CrossPointe Fellowship, 8665 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach. Information: 941-778-0719. 9 a.m. — Episcopal Church of the Annunciation, Holmes Beach. 9:30 a.m. — Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Holmes Beach. 10 a.m. — Longboat Island Chapel, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key. Information: 941-383-6491. 11 a.m. — Worship, Cortez Church of Christ, 12111 45th Ave. W., Cortez. Information: 941-216-6286. ONGOING EVENTS Wednesday 7 a.m. — Men’s Bible study, CrossPointe, Holmes Beach. 8 a.m. — Men’s breakfast, Church of the Annunciation, Holmes Beach. 10 a.m. — Women’s Bible study, Christ Church of Longboat Key Presbyterian (USA), Longboat Key. 9 a.m. — Men’s Bible study, Christ Church of Longboat Key Presbyterian (USA), Longboat Key. 10 a.m. — Tai chi exercise, Gloria Dei, Holmes Beach. 11:30 a.m. — Prayer partners, Gloria Dei, Holmes Beach. 7 p.m. — Bible study, Cortez Church of Christ, Cortez. Thursday 9:30 a.m. — Roser-robics, Roser Church, Anna Maria. 10 a.m. — Women’s Bible study, Gloria Dei, Holmes Beach. Saturday 3 p.m. — Confession, St. Bernard, Holmes Beach. Sunday 8:45 a.m. — Adult Sunday school, Roser Church, Anna Maria. 9 a.m. — Adult book study, Roser Church, Anna Maria. 10:15 a.m. — Fellowship, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Holmes Beach. 10 a.m. — Bible study, Cortez Church of Christ, Cortez. 10:30 a.m. — Life group, CrossPointe, Holmes Beach. Tuesday 9:30 a.m. — Women’s prayer, CrossPointe, Holmes Beach. 9:30 a.m. — Roser-robics, Roser Church, Anna Maria. Special events Sunday, July 21 8:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. — Music and mission special worship, Roser Church, Anna Maria. Wednesday, July 24 11 a.m. — Just Older Youth lunch and program with the Florida Railroad Museum, Roser Church, Anna Maria.

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Obituaries

Joyce Stauffacher Brown

THE ISLANDER n JuLy 17, 2019 n 19

George C. Wilson

George C. Wilson died July 8. Mr. Wilson worked at the Anna Maria General Store in Anna Maria, where he was known to friends as Jorge Suave. As of The Islander press time, friends and colleagues were organizing a celebration of life for Monday, July 22, according to a post on Facebook. The store, in a statement on its Facebook page, said, “George was an Wilson integral part of our success and will be missed tremendously! He loved to tell our customers stories about the island, music, his favorite sports team the Pittsburgh Steelers, and, it seemed, if you told him where you were from he had probably lived there or visited and had a story. “As a retired teacher, he was always looking to make kids happy, whether it was giving them a lollipop or tending to the fish in our fish tank and involving the kids in the feeding process. “His spirit will live on within all of us.”

Joyce Stauffacher Brown, 93, of Homes Beach, died July 12. She was born Nov. 30, 1925, and was raised in Wisconsin. She was proud of her 100% Swiss heritage. She and her husband Jerry had celebrated their 65th anniversary when he died in 2013. They lived for many years overseas in Cyprus, Austria, Germany, Panama and Okinawa, and they traveled and vacationed extensively in the United States and abroad. They moved to Holmes Beach Brown shortly after Mr. Brown retired in 1980 and were members of the Key Royale Golf Club and the Manatee County Audubon Society. Mrs. Brown loved the outdoors and was an avid golfer, hiker and camper. She birded around the world, but particularly enjoyed the birds right on the beach in front of her home, as well as at Leffis Key in Bradenton Beach and the Celery Fields in Sarasota. Josefine E. Zahner She also enjoyed playing bridge with her friends, especially her great pal Ann. Josefine E. Zahner, of Holmes Beach, died July The family hopes friends will remember Mrs. 3. Brown by raising a glass at sunset and toasting “to She was born Jan. 25, 1928, in Stockheim, GerMom and the manatees.” many, and married Josef A. Zahner in She is survived by her three children, Kathy Calvert 1950. and husband Rick of Maryland, Sue Grove Ka and husThey owned and operated a motel band Harry of California, and David Brown and wife in Lake City before retiring to Holmes Norma of Virginia; grandchildren Casey, Laura and Beach. Claire Calvert, and Lyndsey Grove Longo and husband She was devoted to her family, Nick, Ryan, and Derek Grove. friends and church. Zahner She enjoyed gardening and was John Clason an amazing cook and baker. She was dearly loved by her family and all who John Clason, 63, died July 4 in Bradenton. He was known to friends as “Jew- knew her. A funeral Mass will be held Monday, July 22, at eler John” of the Golden Isle Jewelers St. Bernard Catholic Church, 248 S. Harbor Drive, and he lived in Manatee County for Holmes Beach. Memorial donations may be made more than 40 years. He moved from Connecticut to to the church, 248 S. Harbor Drive, Holmes Beach Florida when he was 21 and loved FL 34217, or Epiphany Catholic Church, 1905 S.W. fishing, the ocean and the state’s Epiphany Court, Lake City FL 32025. Clason She is survived by her children Ingrid and huswarm climate. Almost all of Mr. Clason’s 43 years in Florida were band Fred Haines, Joseph and wife Pam, Rosa and spent in Bradenton and Anna Maria, where he owned a husband Ottmar Schickner, and Marie; grandchilPine Avenue jewelry store, Golden Isles Jewelers, for dren Sabrina and husband Gary Osterholt, Brant and wife Rebecca Haines, Priscilla and husband Thuryears. He was an avid reader and especially enjoyed the ston Rosenlund, Suzanna, Matthias Schickner, and series of books by Randy Wayne White that follow the Carmen and husband Ercan Bal; great-grandchildren Isabella, Savannah, Truett and Lounis; and sisters adventures of “Doc Ford” in Florida locales. He loved and cherished his family and will be Rosa Baumgartner and Rita Danner, of Stockheim. greatly missed. A celebration of life will be held in Connecticut. The family thanks his longtime friends and neighbors in the area for their comfort and support. DonaAt your service tions may be made to the Salvation Army. Obituaries are offered as a community service Mr. Clason is survived by his brother George and in The Islander newspaper to residents and family of wife Diane of Cheshire, Connecticut; sister Dallas residents, both past and present, as well as to those Vensel and husband Fred of Gold Canyon, Arizona; people with ties to the island. Submit to news@ nephew Matthew and wife Stephanie and their sons islander.org. Connor and Gavin, all of Cheshire, Connecticut. Islander obituaries are free, including a photo and posting on the website. Paid obituaries can be discussed with adverYou can catch all the news tising consultant Toni Lyon. Call The Islander at 941-778-7978. online at islander.org

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20 n JuLy 17, 2019 n THE ISLANDER

HB engineer presents project budget, city updates service contract

By ChrisAnn Silver Esformes Islander Reporter The city engineer has her hands full with Holmes Beach. City engineer Lynn Burnett delivered a report on plans and funding for her proposed 2019-20 engineering services and capital improvement projects at a July 9 budget workshop. Later that day, at a regular meeting, commissioners unanimously approved an updated service agreement with Burnett’s firm, LTA Engineers, with a stipulation that city staff must present the commission within four months an evaluation of Burnett’s rates compared with rates from other firms in the area. 2019-20 proposed budget Several new engineering items were added to the proposed public works department budget for 2019-20, including $75,000 total at a rate of $115 per hour for professional services from LTA employee Eran Wasserman, for emergency management and training, as well as $37,750 for LTA’s work on National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System reporting and audit. “This is a permit issued to Manatee County and its sub-jurisdiction partners, and we are responsible every year for reporting any illicit discharges and total improvements for stormwater,” Burnett said of the NPDES report. “(Stormwater improvements) will reduce the pollutant loadings to the bay and we have to capture that data.” She said a permit, renewed every five years, was issued in April 2018 and reporting requirements include an assessment of data collection and accuracy. “Our permitting requirements have greatly increased over what the state and federal governments have required in the past,” she said. “They are looking much more closely at that than they ever have, with this new permit.” She said 2019-20 also will be the first year the city has undergone an audit for the community rating system. The CRS system allows the city to have a reduction in National Flood Insurance Program rates and will be evaluated in the field by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. It amounts to “a lot more detail than what has been done in the past,” Burnett said. Capital improvement projects include stormwater infiltration and drainage improvements at $617,295; seawall replacements at $160,875; basin improvements at $646,594; bike-ped path improvements at $250,000;

Seawall, storm drain and street improvements are planned for the Holmes Beach business center, the area near the intersection of Gulf and Marina drives, in fiscal year 2019-20. Islander Photo: ChrisAnn Silver Esformes dredging at $104,000; street, curb and crosswalk improvements at $405,000; parks facilities at $62,500; and Key Royale bridge repairs at $80,000. The projected cost for engineering services for stormwater design, permitting and surveying for 2019-20 totals $161,499, a slight increase over $156,715 in 2018-19. The projected engineering cost for all other capital improvement projects totals $86,800, also an increase from $52,723 in 2018-19. Funding sources identified for the projects include a grant from FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, the Southwest Florida Water Management District, Manatee County distributed 5th cent gas tax and the state distributed the 1/2 cent discretionary tax. Contract amendment At the July 9 city meeting, Burnett presented a proposed updated services agreement for her engineering firm, LTA, to the mayor and commissioners. The most noticeable change to services is that Burnett would serve as the city’s certified floodplain manager at a cost of $175 per hour. Responsibilities include CRS certification duties, FEMA training for hazard mitigation, land development code revisions, planning for sea level rise planning, grant applications, pre- and post-disaster planning and recovery and workshops and presentations regarding floodplain management. Commission Chair Jim Kihm asked about the length of the agreement.

City attorney Patricia Petruff said it is an ongoing contract with an option for termination by either Burnett or the city. “One way to stop the agreement is not to approve any projects that Ms. Burnett might bring to you,” Petruff said. Kihm said LTA’s proposed services for 2019-20 total more than $400,000 and asked if the city has looked into rates from other firms. Petruff said Burnett’s contract was competitively bid in 2010. “We have used Ms. Burnett with good results since 2010,” Petruff said. She said the commission could choose to leave the contract as-is without the proposed amendment, could approve the amended contract or bid out the city’s engineering services. She added that not all engineering firms want to do public sector work, as work in the private sector can be more profitable and working for the city prohibits other, similar work within the jurisdiction. “There’s a lot to be said for history and knowledge,” Mayor Judy Titsworth said. “And Lynn’s got a tremendous knowledge base on this small island. She’s been here her whole life as well, and I have not ever seen anyone with as much energy and brilliance. I’m in awe.” Titsworth was opposed to issuing an RFP. Burnett said her rates have not changed since she signed on with Bradenton Beach, her only other client, in 2003. She said she pooled her competitors’ rates and has continued to monitor them. “I have no intention of raising my rates,” Burnett said. “I am not here because of a check. I am here because I love this island, and I want to see it succeed.” She also said she splits the costs of meetings she attends for both cities, including the Sarasota/Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization and the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council. Additionally, she said she has raised nearly $2.8 million in grants for Holmes Beach since 2010. Kihm recommended the commission approve the amended agreement and asked staff to check rates of comparable firms. “If you haven’t raised them since 2003, I think that will speak for itself,” he said. “I just feel we have a responsibility to the citizens of the city to ensure we are getting a good deal for the level of service.”

New chair, new members seated on HB planning board

By ChrisAnn Silver Esformes Islander Reporter The Holmes Beach planning commission has undergone a makeover. At its July 10 meeting, city clerk Stacey Johnston swore in Greg Kerchner and Jim McIntire as new planning commissioners. Kerchner’s term will expire July 1, 2020, and McIntire’s term will expire July 1, 2021. Both members were filling partial terms vacated by Thomas Carlson and Jayne Christenson. Additionally, Scott Boyd and Sylvia Harris were reappointed through 2022 to the commission, with Harris changing from regular member to alternate. Following the swearing in, commissioners voted on officers for the upcoming year, with Boyd voted in as the new chair and Barbara Harris as vice chair. Former Chair Charles Stealey told the commission he would be resigning from the commission because he sold his home and will be moving off Anna Maria Island. Johnston said she would discuss the resignation with Commission Chair Jim Kihm, who will address filling Stealey’s spot. In other matters, commissioners discussed moving forward with applications for a planner to assist with comprehensive plan revisions. Johnston told the planners that five companies bid on the comp plan project, including Calvin Giordano and Associates of Clearwater, CH Planning of Philadelphia, KCI Technologies of Tampa, La Rue Planning of Fort Meyers and S&ME Inc. of Orlando. The bid opening was July 2.

Holmes Beach city clerk Stacey Johnston, left, swears in new planning commissioners July 10, including Greg Kerchner, left, returning Commissioner Sylvia Harris, now an alternate, new commissioner Jim McIntire and returning commissioner Scott Boyd. Islander Photo: ChrisAnn Silver Esformes The group reached consensus that Boyd, who helped write the request for proposals, would represent the planning commission on a bid-ranking committee, which also will comprise Mayor Judy Titsworth, Commissioner Carol Soustek, human resources analyst Mary Buonagura, treasurer Lori Hill and Eran Wasserman, a consultant with the city’s engineering firm, LTA Engineers. The planning commission also discussed a draft of policies and procedures, including attendance requirements, and city codes of ethics and conduct, provided

by Stealey. The commission reached consensus on the policies and procedures document. They agreed that formal action will be taken at the next meeting, after the city attorney determines the format. The commission also unanimously voted to adopt the city’s code of ethics with minor changes and agreed the code of conduct is sufficient. The next planning commission meeting will be at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 7, at city hall, 5801 Marina Drive.

THE ISLANDER n JuLy 17, 2019 n 21

County workers, volunteers remove rotting fish from preserve

By Sandy Ambrogi Islander Reporter Michael Elswick made the prediction June 27. “I would speculate the decomposition of large volumes of algae outside Robinson waterways may act to lower dissolved oxygen further. We’re bracing for a fish kill and will act quickly to remove those as necessary,” the division manager of Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources said. Over the long Fourth of July weekend, Elswick’s prediction came true and crews from Manatee County began clearing dead fish from Robinson Preserve in west Bradenton. On July 5, Elswick and his team noticed fish floundering in the preserve. Elswick also noted there were no fish moving about in nearby Tampa Bay or Anna Maria Sound. “It’s like they all huddled up in Robinson looking for some fresh water. It was their last place of refuge,” he said. But Robinson proved no haven. Mats of Lyngbya “gumbo” algae, a type of cyanobacteria or blue-green algae common in the summer months around Anna Maria Island, were so thick the week of June 24-July 1 that county crews removed them by dragging them out to the sound. But remnants decaying in Robinson’s mangroves and clumps of the algae that fell to water bottoms sucked out oxygen.

The fish suffocated. “They were not poisoned, as in the case of red tide fish kills,” Elswick told The Islander July 10. “There were no toxins that killed them.” The county took algae samples from the preserve July 10, and no toxins were found. Also, there were negative results for harmful algal. County crews worked July 6-8 removing dead fish. Mullet, sand perch and sheepshead suffered the most casualties in the fish kill, but some snook and redfish also died. On July 9, the county’s volunteer education division led a group to Robinson to help with the cleanup. Elswick pointed out that despite the fish kill, it was mostly business as usual for visitors to the preserve. “The kayakers, the canoers, you can’t keep people out of Robinson. Yes, there is a lingering smell, but that didn’t stop them from visiting,” he said. Rain July 5-7, along with cooler temperatures, helped relieve the lack of oxygen, Elswick said. If water is too hot, dissolved oxygen levels go down. Fish are cold-blooded animals, and use more oxygen at higher temperatures because of their metabolic rate, thus depleting levels further. Decaying plants on the water’s bottom also contribute bacteria, which further use up oxygen. “The fish were jumping all over today,” Elswick said July 10.

Clayton McCurry, senior ranger with Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources Department, stands in Robinson Preserve July 8 over buckets of dead fish removed during a cleanup. Islander Courtesy Photo: Michael Elswick

Island officials take steps to oppose offshore drilling

By Ryan Paice Islander Reporter The cities of Anna Maria, Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach are taking steps to protect Gulf waters. Bradenton Beach commissioners voted 4-0 July 11 to approve a resolution opposing offshore oil drilling activities, including seismic airgun blasting, which can harm marine life and coastal economies. Commissioner Randy White was absent with excuse. The Trump administration’s plan to expand offshore drilling in U.S. waters drove environmental organizations, including Oceana, to lobby municipalities along the Gulf and East coasts to adopt resolutions opposing such activities. Hunter Miller, a campaign organizer with Oceana, made presentations on Oceana’s model resolution to the cities of Anna Maria and Holmes Beach in May. While the city of Bradenton Beach was left out of the presentation tour, Vice Mayor Jake Spooner heard of Miller’s presentations and wanted to bring a resolution to oppose offshore drilling to the commission. “I don’t feel like I need to elaborate,” Spooner

said. “It’s our whole economy.” City attorney Ricinda Perry said she modeled the city resolution after non-binding resolutions presented by Oceana and adopted in other municipalities. In Holmes Beach, at a July 9 work session, commissioners reached consensus to consider a draft resolution at a future meeting. “I believe everyone is against any kind of offshore drilling in the Gulf,” Commissioner Carol Soustek said. “I don’t think there’s any question about destruc-

tion.” Commission Chair Jim Kihm agreed. “I think there are enough other locations in the United States to provide us with the petroleum products that we need without jeopardizing our offshore resources at this time,” he said. The city of Anna Maria adopted a resolution June 13 to oppose offshore drilling activities. Editor’s note: Islander reporter ChrisAnn Esformes contributed to this story. Fishing vessels gather concentrated oil and burn it in the Gulf of Mexico. Fishers in 2010 conducted the “in situ burn” in partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard and BP. Islander File Photo: U.S. Navy/ Justin E. Stumberg

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22 n JuLy 17, 2019 n THE ISLANDER

Chairs were placed in the early hours of July 9 to protect an overnight loggerhead nest near 1900 Gulf Drive in Bradenton Beach prior to volunteers from AMITW marking the nest. Islander Photo: Courtesy AMITW

Nesting news By ChrisAnn Silver Esformes

Sea turtle season intensifies on Anna Maria Island

By ChrisAnn Silver Esformes Islander Reporter Sea turtle season is in full swing on Anna Maria Island. Loggerheads are nesting and hatchlings are emerging by the hundreds from nests on island beaches. If nesting numbers continue to escalate, Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring could Esformes observe a new record for sea turtle nests on the island, as it has for the past three years. As of July 14, AMITW reported 18 hatched nests with 1,025 hatchlings to the Gulf of Mexico, compared with three hatched nests and 88 hatchlings on the same date in 2018. Also, as of July 14, 442 loggerhead nests were documented on AMI, as compared with 430 in 2018. The turtles nesting on Anna Maria Island’s shore mostly are loggerheads, a protected species. They nest on the beach through October, usually at night, digging a small pit, about a foot wide and 18-24 inches deep, and leaving behind about 100 eggs in the clutch to the care of Mother Nature before returning to the water. Suzi Fox, AMITW executive director, said there is a problem with people on the beach at night when sea turtles emerge to nest. “I know people are excited to see the turtles on the beach at night,” Fox said. “However, if people keep disturbing their nesting attempts, they are going to love these creatures to death.” She said people need to maintain a distance of at least 100 feet from nesting turtles and should not use their cellphones to take photo or video of sea turtles on

TURTLE WATCH Tuesdays in July, 10 a.m., informational Turtle Talk, crosspointe Fellowship, 8605 Gulf Drive, holmes Beach. information: 941-778-5638.

As of June 30, AMITW reports 343 nests and 416 false crawls on the island.

the beach, as it could disrupt a nesting attempt, causing the turtle to return to the water without laying eggs. The morning of July 9, volunteers walking the beach looking for signs of nesting, spotted a circle of chairs surrounding a nest laid the night before, according to Fox. She said when turtle watch volunteers identified the nest, the man who had placed the chairs said he used them to mark the nest because he wanted to ensure people knew it was there. “I know he meant well, but what he didn’t realize is that by doing that he destroyed the evidence we use to determine if the turtle nested or returned to the water without laying eggs,” Fox said. She said she is concerned that resort and rental managers are not providing guests with turtle watch materials at check-in, or talking with them about turtle nesting. “Visitors need to see the materials that we give to island resorts and rental agencies, but they also should be told what the rules are,” Fox said. Hatchlings, like nesting female sea turtles, emerge and follow their instincts toward the reflection of the moon and stars on the Gulf of Mexico. Light visible from the shoreline can disorient nesting turtles and hatchlings, leading to predation, dehydration, exhaustion and death. Beachfront properties need low, shielded exterior lighting with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission-compliant bulbs and indoor lights must be either turned off or concealed by curtains or blinds. The first hatchlings of the season emerged overnight July 3, with about 25 of the turtles disorienting toward the dunes, allegedly due to lighting visible from the beach. As of July 14, of 18 hatched nests, four have had disorientations. Fox said property owners by law must fix noncompliant lighting, which should have been addressed before nesting season began May 1.

“Here we are in July and any lighting concerns should have been handled in April,” she said, adding that most of the problems are related to properties that have been out of compliance for years. However, she also said new construction, including the recently renovated Anna Maria Beach Resort, on the Gulf at 6306 Gulf Drive in Holmes Beach, formerly the Blue Water Beach Club, was the alleged source of one of the disorientations. Fox is working with code enforcement in Anna Maria, Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach to address the issues. “For the most part, things are going well, as evidenced by our numbers,” she said. “Now it is up to code enforcement, property owners and people who love our turtles to get us in tiptop shape.”

Resources for turtle nesting season

To report unattended beach gear or large holes on the beach, call code enforcement: • Anna Maria, 941-708-6130, ext. 139 or 129. • Bradenton Beach, 941-778-1005, ext. 280. • Holmes Beach, 941-708-5800, ext. 247. To read about turtle-friendly lighting, visit: • myfwc.com/seaturtle and click on “Sea Turtles and Lights.” To report sick, injured, entangled or dead sea turtles, call: • FWC Wildlife Alert Hotline, 1-888-4043922, #FWC or *FWC on a cellphone or text Tip@ MyFWC.com. To reach Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch, contact executive director Suzi Fox: • 941-778-5638 or suzifox@gmail.com. To learn more about sea turtles and conservation around the world, visit Sea Turtle Conservancy: conserveturtles.org.

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Don’t forget … You can read it all online at islander.org

THE ISLANDER n JuLy 17, 2019 n 23

A black skimmer feeds a chick a cigarette butt on the Gulf shore in St. Pete Beach. Karen Catbird, of Largo, took the photograph, which circulated widely — on social media and in the news — after she posted the image on her Facebook page. Islander Courtesy Photo

By Lisa Neff

No butts left behind

A black-and-white poster of a man — his face wrinkled, his hair greasy, his eyes dull — adorned the wall of the principal’s office in my elementary school in the mid-1970s. “Smoking is very glamorous” read the print on the American Cancer Society PSA depicting a decidedly unglamorous guy. The message was not lost on 10-year-old kids who wouldn’t worry about wrinkles for 40 years but recognized hideous. Smoking isn’t glamorous, it’s Neff deadly, we learned. Two other posters displayed in the office depicted cartoon owls instructing kids to “give a hoot, don’t pollute” and “don’t be a dirty bird.” For good reason, the anti-litter posters shared a wall with the anti-smoking poster. On Anna Maria Island, we know that those who clean up our beaches find more discarded cigarette butts than any other type of litter. The trend holds nationally and internationally, according to data from the nonprofit Ocean Conservancy. Tobacco litter presents a threat to wildlife, as birds, fish and marine animals can mistake cigarettes — which contain toxins, nicotine, carcinogens — for food and ingest the butts. The plastic cellulose acetate composition of cigarette filters actually acts as a conduit for the heavy metals in tobacco products, including arsenic, manganese, cadmium and lead. And the toxins in tobacco litter leach into water — a cigarette butt dropped into a liter of water can kill half the lab minnows exposed to the solution in 48 hours. To address the problems, anti-litter groups, such as Keep America Beautiful, partner with local governments to place “Bin the Butt” ashtrays near beaches, as well as distribute pocket ashtrays. Surveys show some success with such efforts, but some environmental groups and politicians would go beyond making ashtrays available at public beaches to banning smoking at public beaches.

Maine, Hawaii and New Jersey have imposed restrictions on beach smoking, as have some other coastal communities. For the 2019 session, state Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, introduced a bill that would have prohibited smoking tobacco on public beaches. The measure, which died in committee, would have authorized law enforcement to issue a civil citation for smoking and

set a maximum penalty of $25. Expecting similar legislation to be sponsored in 2020, the environmental group ManaSota-88 in June issued a statement endorsing a beach smoking ban: “A ban on smoking on the public beaches would help reduce the litter from cigarette butts, reduce the health risks associated with second-hand smoke and promote a healthy lifestyle.” The statement said ManaSota-88 “fully supports local and state efforts to reduce the irresponsible disposal of cigarette butts on public beaches.” Stephen P. Leatherman also has endorsed a ban. If you don’t recognize the name, maybe you know of Leatherman as “Dr. Beach,” who on Memorial Day weekends since 1991 has issued a list of top beaches. Leatherman is based in Florida and many of his lists included Sunshine State beaches, but might that change? He uses 50 criteria to evaluate beaches, and he acknowledged this year in an op-ed that he assigns extra credit for beaches where smoking is banned. “Nothing restores the body and soul like a beach vacation,” Leatherman wrote. And then he stated a but about butts: “But sitting down on the sand and finding a nasty cigarette butt touching my hand spoils the whole experience.”

Sand serves as an ashtray for a discarded cigarette. In addition to littering beaches, toxins from discarded cigarettes and butts poison wildlife, including shorebirds and marine life. Islander Courtesy Photo

DEP offers grants to deal with sea level rise

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection put coastal communities on notice. Communities can apply in August for a new round of grants to address sea level rise. Earlier this month, the DEP’s Florida Resilient Coastlines Program awarded nearly $1.6 million in grants in 30 coastal communities in 17 counties. Locally, Longboat Key received $45,443 to assess the town’s vulnerability to sea level rise and recurring flooding. Tampa, St. Petersburg and St. Pete Beach also received grants. Grant recipients must use the funding to assess

vulnerability to sea level rise, create adaptation plans, amend comprehensive plans, set objectives and policies and promote regional coordination. Grant awards help finance projects to assist coastal communities in meeting requirements set in 2015 in the Peril of Flood Act, which requires that coastal communities include a coastal management element in comprehensive plans. The fiscal year 2020-21 grant application cycle opens Aug. 1. For more information, go online to floridadep.gov/ resilience.

Sticker salute

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s new manatee decal features original artwork and a $5 donation for the sticker goes to research, rescue and management efforts to conserve the species. The FWC also debuted a new sea turtle decal — a tradition in July. A news release said collectors place the waterproof decals on vehicle bumpers, boats, laptops, water bottles and coolers. For more information, including details on how to get a decal, go online to myfwc.com/manatee and click “decals.” Islander Courtesy Photo

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24 n JuLy 17, 2019 n THE ISLANDER

Soccer played indoors, golf rained out, horseshoe plays on

Indoor soccer action is ongoing in the gym at the Center of Anna Maria Island, with competition in two age divisions. Standings in the intermediate age group have Ugly Grouper and Moss Builders in a virtual tie for first. Ugly Grouper is 3-0, while Moss Builders has played one less game and stands at 2-0. Island Vacation Properties follows with a 1-2 record, while Solid Rock Construction and Cloud Pest Cassidy Control are both 0-2. Action July 9 opened with Moss Builders cruising past Island Vacation Properties with a 6-0 score. Mason Moss and Jackson Titen scored three goals each to lead IVP to victory. The second match of the evening saw Ugly Grouper earn a 3-0 victory over Solid Rock Construction. Jesse Zaccagnino scored two goals, while brother Jack Zaccagnino added a goal to the victory. The standings in the advanced age group have G&G Yardscaping leading the three-team division with a 3-1 record. Ugly Grouper and AMI Locals follow with matching 1-2-1 records leaving them in a tie for second. G&G Yardscaping opened July 9 with a 5-1 victory over Ugly Grouper. Ryan Joseph led the way with three goals and an assist, while Connor Samblis added two goals and two assists. Peyton Harlan completed the offensive effort with an assist in the victory. Angelina Albrecht notched the lone goal for Ugly Grouper in the loss.

A lone surfer takes advantage of the last swells in the Gulf of Mexico from Hurricane Barry July 14 at the White Avenue beach. Islander Photo: Kevin P. Cassidy

Horseshoe news Horseshoe action at the Anna Maria City Hall horseshoe pits was short and sweet the week of July 8, as neither session needed a knockout round to determine a winner. Action July 10 saw Bob Heiger and Steve Doyle forge the lone 3-0 pool play record to earn the day’s bragging rights. Tim Sofran walked his way to the winner’s circle with the only 3-0 record during July 13 action. Play gets underway at 9 a.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays at the Anna Maria City Hall pits. Warmups community,” Porrata said. “So we expect this kind of begin at 8:45 a.m. followed by team selection. facility to get the same response.” There is no charge to play and everyone is welPorrata also provided renderings of a Y-shaped come. skate bowl — similar to an above-ground swimming pool, about four feet deep and custom-built, but about Key Royale news three times the size of an average swimming pool at Golf was rained out last week at the Key Royale 800 square feet. The bowl also would be reinforced Club in Holmes Beach. with steel. The commission previously approved the skate park, not to exceed $150,000, with an option to include the skate bowl if $100,000 could be raised from grants or donations before construction commences. Porrata said the bowl would complete the park. He said it would draw more advanced skaters, and that might keep younger skaters on good behavior. “It would make your job easier,” he said to Police Chief Bill Tokajer. Commissioner Rick Hurst asked Tokajer if he had any possible donors. “I have reached out to multiple different areas for donations,” Tokajer said. “So, hopefully, somebody will pony-up.” In February, Burnett said the city had about six months to raise grant money for the skate bowl, which would add about four weeks to the project, which is expected to be completed in March 2020. G&G escaped with a 5-3 victory over AMI Locals in their second match of the night. Joseph scored five goals to lead the victors, which also received two assists from Peyton Harlan and an assist from Ava Harlan. Carsyn Deligans scored three goals to lead AMI Locals in the loss. Indoor soccer continues every Tuesday evening with the action kicking off at 5 p.m.

Holmes Beach ramps up plans for new skate park

By ChrisAnn Silver Esformes Islander Reporter A new skate park is ramping up. And could include an expansion if the city can stoke donations for the park amenities. In February, the city commission approved an amended contract with American Ramp Co. to replace the skate park in the recreational complex at city field, adjacent to city hall, 5801 Marina Drive. At a July 9 meeting, city engineer Lynn Burnett and ARC’s lead designer, Tito Porrata, presented conceptual renderings for the park. Burnett said construction documents should be ready for the next city commission meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 23, at city hall, 5801 Marina Drive. Porrata said the concept for the design is a “beginner-intermediate, very user-friendly street course,” including rails, steps, pyramids and pipes as props for skaters. He said the skatepark will have “all the basics, within a modest size,” Porrata said. He said there will be a buffer of 16 feet from Marina Drive. He said ARC recently built a similar skate park in Gulfport and received positive reviews. “It’s just a really positive enhancement for the

Paddlers for turtle watch

A rendering shows an updated skate park for the recreational complex adjacent to Holmes Beach City Hall, 5801 Marina Drive. Islander Photo: Courtesy Holmes Beach

Southernaire Fishing Charters

The AMI Paddlers from Paradise dragon boat racing team supports Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch’s work to monitor sea turtle nesting on the island. Pictured are turtle watch volunteer and paddler Jill St. John, left, on the beach with paddlers Melinda Bradway and Diane Goolsby. The team adopted two nests in May and donated $270 to turtle watch. Bradway, in an email to The Islander, said team member Gail Trombley organized the campaign and collected donations from the members. Islander Courtesy Photo

Anna Maria Island Tides

Date

July 17 July 18 July 19 July 20 July 21 July 22 July 23 July 24

HIGH

2:52a 3:10a 3:27a 3:44a 4:06a 4:33a 5:05a 5:41a

1.5 1.5 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 2.0

12:05p 12:43p 1:23p 2:06p 2:52p 3:44p 4:44p 5:58p

HIGH

2.7 5:20a 2.6 6:06a 2.5 6:55a 2.4 7:46a 2.3 8:42a 2.1 9:42a 1.9 10:50a 1.7 12:06p

LOW

1.4 1.4 1.3 1.2 1.2 1.1 1.0 0.9

7:53p 8:24p 8:55p 9:27p 10:00p 10:34p 11:09p 11:46p

-0.1 -0.1 0.0 0.2 0.3 0.5 0.7 0.9

AM City Pier tides; Cortez high tides 7 minutes later — lows 1:06 later

Moon

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THE ISLANDER n JuLy 17, 2019 n 25

Inshore fishing action remains hot despite wet conditions

By Capt. Danny Stasny Islander Reporter Anglers around Anna Maria Island are finding some decent inshore action as long as they don’t mind getting wet. Brief but frequent thunder showers are sweeping through the coastal areas and, at times, the rain can be heavy. As long as lightning isn’t present, many anglers choose to cover up and brave the rain in search of a Stasny bite. Fishing shallow flats along the mangrove shorelines of Tampa Bay is yielding decent action on catchand-release snook. Many of these fish are in mid-migration toward the beaches, with the intent of spawning, although there are plenty of fish available on the flats if you know where to look. Casting free-lined shiners in these areas is attracting a bite. Catch-andrelease spotted seatrout are being caught on the flats, too, and while targeting the trout, you may encounter Spanish mackerel and ladyfish. Deeper water in Tampa Bay is host to mangrove snapper on fishing wrecks, reefs and bridges, which are providing near limits — a maximum five per person and 10 inches. Most snapper are 10-12 inches, although bigger fish are in the mix. Moving offshore, anglers are enjoying action on American red snapper, as well as gag and red grouper. An assortment of baits, ranging from frozen sardines and squid to live pinfish or shiners, can get the job done. On my Southernaire charters, I’m finding catchand-release snook and trout on the flats provide good action for my clients. Free-lining smaller shiners — hatch bait — under a popping cork is working to attract both species, especially the trout. Moving out to deeper areas —wrecks and reefs — is resulting in some mangrove snapper and Spanish mackerel for the coolers. Both seem to be attracted to the hatch bait as opposed to the larger shiners. For the snappers and macks, I’m chumming with live and dead baits to improve the bite. Jim Malfese, longtime baitmaster at the Rod & Reel Pier, is seeing an increasing amount of migratory fish being reeled up from the Tampa Bay waters. With the arrival of the large schools of hatch bait, predators — mackerel, jack crevalle and ladyfish — are beginning to frequent the pier in search of an easy meal. Casting silver spoons, small jigs or Gotcha plugs is a great way to get these fish on the hook. Fishing with live shrimp also is producing action at the pier, especially on keeper mangrove snapper. Capt. Aaron Lowman is targeting catch-and-release snook throughout the flats of southern Tampa Bay. Fishing shallow grass flats adjacent to mangrove

Fishing Charters Capt. Warren Girle

Katryna Cruz, of Miami, shows off her red grouper July 5 at the Holmes Beach dock on 63rd Street. She caught the fish in the Gulf in 140 feet of water on a live pinfish while on a charter with Capt. David White of Anna Maria Charters.

shorelines is yielding good action on fish 20-30 inches. Moving to slightly deeper grass flats is producing action on catch-and-release spotted seatrout for Lowman’s anglers. Many slot-size fish — 15-20 inches — are being caught and released. While targeting trout, Lowman is putting clients on macks and ladyfish. Fishing structure — reefs and wrecks — is producing the bite, and mangrove snapper also are being found in these areas. Capt. Warren Girle is finding action in Tampa Bay by fishing structure — reefs, wrecks and rock piles. Fishing the surface in these areas with free-lined live shiners is producing Spanish mackerel, mangrove snapper and some juvenile gag grouper. Moving to the flats with depths of 2-4 feet, Girle is targeting snook. Although catch-and-release, these fish provide great rod-bending action. Catch-and-release spotted seatrout also are coming to the hook on the flats, especially during swift-moving tides. Moving offshore, Girle is putting mangrove snapper in the 16-inch range in the cooler, as well as a few grouper. Capt. David White of Anna Maria Charters is tracking some good inshore action in Tampa Bay, fishing structure for Spanish mackerel and mangrove snapper. Small live shiners free-lined or on a weighted rig are producing the bite. While inshore, White is finding numerous blacktip sharks willing to take a bait. Fresh-cut chunks or Spanish mackerel are working nicely as bait. Moving offshore, White is putting anglers on their share of red grouper and American red snapper. Fishing at depths of 100-150 feet is yielding the best results. For bait, frozen sardines, squid and live pinfish are producing. Capt. Jason Stock continues to find a stellar offshore American red snapper bite for his clients. Live and frozen baits are producing this bite. Along with the

snapper, anglers are reeling up red and gag grouper. Fishing for yellowtail and mangrove snapper is producing good action, especially on light tackle. Freelining baits into a chum slick where the fish are feeding is yielding keeper-sizes of both fish. Lastly, Stock continues to pursue the tarpon bite along the beaches and passes of Egmont Key and Anna Maria Island for trophy photos. Send high-resolution photos and fishing reports to fish@islander.org.

On vacation from Edinburgh, Scotland, Lauren Hogg, left, 10, and brother Callum, 9, took their first fishing trip July 12 with Capt. Warren Girle, and exceeded the success of their parents. They fished inshore with live shiners for bait and released their catch of spotted seatrout after a trophy photo.

CAPT. AARON LOWMAN 'ULF "AY &ISHINGs4ARPON 53'! ,ICENSED AND )NSURED

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26 n JuLy 17, 2019 n THE ISLANDER

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New owners, events

There’s a new postman in town It’s official. As of July 5, there is a new owner at Island Mail and More, 3230 E. Bay Drive, Holmes Beach. Ivan Barnsley, from the United Kingdom, purchased the full-service mailing depot from Rebecca and Eric St. Jean. “We will be around for a while,” Rebecca told The Islander, saying the couple will assist the owner with the transition. “Then we will figure out what we are doing next.” In addition to shipping with major carriers, Island Mail and More offers packing and printing, internet, fax and passport services. Store hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays. For more information, call 941-778-1911 or visit the website at islandmailandmore.com. Stop in and give the new owner an island “hey.” Complimentary eye services in Holmes Beach Edward Jones is seeing things more clearly. The financial planning office at 3226 E. Bay Drive, Holmes Beach, is sponsoring the Sightmobile by the Eye Associates 9-11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 8, outside the office in the Anna Maria Island Center.

MIKE NORMAN REALTY EST. 1978

 Real Estate Sales  Vacation Rentals  Annual Rentals  TOProperty Management STEPS BEACH Adorable 3 BR with large pool located just steps the beach Service and bay with water views. Historic  toConcierge Bridge Street, City Pier, great shops and restaurants just a We’re about our Customer short walk“Serious” away. Selling “turn-key” furnished. Service! $699,000

AMOB owners honored for impact on students

John and Amanda Horne have impacted hundreds of young lives. Now comes the impact for them. The Anna Maria Oyster Bar owners recently received the Impact Award from Leadership Florida for the Dive Into Reading initiative. LF seeks to activate, educate and engage emerging and existing leaders in the state. The Hornes developed the summer reading program in 2017 to combat the “summer slide,” to help students who stop learning or fall back when not in the classroom. Leadership Florida honored the couple at its annual meeting with the Impact Award, presented to a business or nonprofit for “a specific project or body of work whose impact is currently transforming the future of its region or beyond, and has the potential to transform Florida as a whole,” according to the nonprofit’s website. Dive Into Reading pairs volunteer mentors with including two of the Anna Maria Oyster Bars, the Bishop Museum of Science and Nature and Gecko’s on State Road 70. Kids receive breakfast, manners tutoring, are read aloud to and then read pair with volunteers to read one elementary students at locations around Bradenton,on-one. Students take books home at the conclusion of the program. In June, Dive Into Reading hosted 364 children with the help of 360 mentors at four locations. Children from 11 elementary schools participated. “John and I are incredibly humbled by this award but, truly, Dive Into Reading is a community project.

Without all of the support from our school district, the Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading, fellow restaurants, businesses, local government, libraries and, of course, our incredible staff and volunteers, none of this would be possible,” Amanda Horne wrote July 11 to The Islander. “This award really belongs to this wonderful group who step up every year to help our children be successful and live their best life,” she added. The award is not the first for the program. In 2018, the Hornes expanded Dive Into Reading with a $10,000 check from the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation for its 2018 Restaurant Neighbor Award.

Free glaucoma and distance vision screening will be offered and no dilation is necessary. Patients should bring driving glasses for readings during the testing, which will take less than five minutes. For more information, call Beth Bridges at 941737-0861 or email Edward Jones at johncampora@ edwardjones.com.

Real estate company opens second island location Keller Williams on the Water has a new business suite at 2501 Gulf Drive N., Bradenton Beach. The location is the second on the island for real estate couple Jen and Mark Bowman. A celebratory ribbon-cutting was to be at 5 p.m. Tuesday, July 16, and the public was invited to stop by for light bites and libations. Stay busy, islanders!

PERICO BAY CLUB, AS GOOD AS IT GETS! NEW

LISTI

Amanda and John Horne, left, accept Leadership Florida’s Impact Award for their Dive Into Reading program June 22 at the organization’s annual meeting at the Disney Grand Floridian Resort in Orlando. Islander Courtesy Photo

Professional Service to Anna Maria Island Since 1974

BUYING OR SELLING? CALL DOLLY. (Many of my clients become good friends.)

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THE ISLANDER n JuLy 17, 2019 n 27

Early-risers gather to network

compiled bY Sandy Ambrogi

AMI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Wednesday, July 24 5 p.m. — Business mixer, Anna Maria Beach Resort, 6306 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach. Members $5, guests $10. AMI CHAMBER ONGOING Through Aug. 31 Membership drive, with incentives offered. Through Sept. 30 Nominations accepted for small business of the year award in four categories. For more information, call 941-778-1541 or email info@amichamber.org. LONGBOAT KEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Business news

Tuesday, July 30 5 p.m. — Business After Hours, Anna Maria Oyster Bar on the Pier, 200 Bridge St., Bradenton Beach. Members $5, guests $10. Does your business celebrate achievements? Maybe For more information, call 941-383-2644 or email info@lbk- you’re new in business or your staff deserves kudos. chamber.com. Submit your information to news@islander.org.

Chef Pavel Hasenohrl, of Cremesh European Restaurant, 7232 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton, rolls dough July 6, during a breadmaking class at the eatery. Cooking classes are every other Saturday through September and reservations are required. For more information, go online to cremeshrestaurant.com or call the restaurant at 941-896-9422. Islander Photo: Courtesy Loretta Young

John Renkawitz, left, of Bekins Moving Solutions, leans in for a photo July 9 with Judy Lukacs, of Trustco Bank, and Patti Wesley, of Westminster Manor, during the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce breakfast at the Ugly Grouper, 5704 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Chamber members noshed on pancakes, French toast and breakfast tacos while catching up on business news.

Tami and Don Gaudy, owners of Veritas! Pest Management, smile over coffee July 9, during the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce early-riser breakfast at the Ugly Grouper in Holmes Beach. The next chamber mixer will be at 5 p.m. Wednesday, July 24, at a familiar location fully renovated with a new name, Anna Maria Beach Resort, 6306 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach. The cost is $5 for members and $10 for guests. Islander Courtesy Photos

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28 n JuLy 17, 2019 n THE ISLANDER

I S L A N D E R C L A S S I F I E D S ITEMS FOR SALE

ANNOUNCEMENTS

LEESA KING MATTRESS: Two years old, barely used. Pristine condition, cover zips off to clean. Free. Call 941-226-0192. COUPON: SAVE $5 on the only patented sandless beach blanket. Use AMI5@sandlessblanket.com or purchase at the Beach Hut across from Ginny’s and Jane E’s OLD IGA on Gulf Drive, Anna Maria or call 855686-sand. ANTIQUE PARTNER DESK: All wood, $1,000. Four antique office chairs: Perfect for eclectic dining set or conference table. The Islander newspaper, 3218 E. Bay Drive, Holmes Beach. 941-778-7978. FREEBIE ITEMS FOR SALE Individuals may place one free ad for up to three items, each $100 or less, 15 words or less. FREE, one week, must be submitted online. Email classifieds@islander.org.

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ANSWERS TO JULY 17 PUZZLE

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B A S E A N O S R A Y S R T O T R E A R E A T Y S S E S I E S T S T R A W O E B E R A I L C D T S H E S O R I B E T N U T O U G H U I L E T T E R

BOATS & BOATING Continued

WANTED: WORKOUT DVDs and retired but working XBox, Wii units with games for Ministry of Presence for kids and teens in Haiti. Deliver to The Islander, 3218 E. Bay Drive, Holmes Beach. WANTED: YOUR OLD cellphone for recycling. Deliver to The Islander, 3218 E. Bay Drive, Holmes Beach. AERIAL PHOTOS of Anna Maria Island. View and purchase online: www.jackelka.com. FREE GUN LOCK courtesy of Project Childsafe, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Holmes Beach Police Department. Pick up at The Islander office, 3218 E. Bay Drive, Holmes Beach. Don’t be sorry, be safe. GARAGE SALES ROSER THRIFT SHOP open 9:30 a.m.- 2 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday. Annex until noon. Donations preferred 9 a.m.-11 a.m., Wednesdays. 511 Pine Ave., Anna Maria. Call 941-779-2733. LOST AND FOUND FOUND DIAMOND RING. Coquina Beach parking lot, July 5. Claim at Bradenton Beach Police Department, 403 Highland Ave. PETS HELP RESCUED PETS! Volunteer, foster, computer help needed! Moonracer Animal Rescue. Email: moonraceranimalrescue@ gmail.com.

PONTOON BOAT RENTAL Create life long memories. Call 941-778-2121 or see boatflorida.net. BOAT SLIP: 57-feet large, concrete, for rent in Holmes Beach. Private residence. Call 303-204-0945. FISHING AMI WANNA GO Charter fishing and echo tours, shark charters, feed-the-stingrays and sharks, porpoise watching. 24-foot pontoon. Call Judy for info, 941-757-7246. HELP WANTED IMMEDIATE OPENING: PART-time help for kayak, bike, etc., rentals. Office help. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Just4Fun. 941-896-7884. SEEKING PART-TIME property manager for small beach resort on AMI. Customer service skills imperative. Knowledge of QuickBooks a definite plus! Occasional weekend days required with this position. E-mail resume to beckyjhardy1@ msn.com for consideration. GROUNDSKEEPER POSITION AVAILABLE for resort on Anna Maria. Part-time hours with alternating week-ends. Email resume or self-description. More details: dashbara@ yahoo.com. Include your outdoor and/ or landscape knowledge, and noteworthy “handyman” work history.

BOATS & BOATING BIMINI BAY SAILING: Small sailboat rentals and instruction. Day. Week. Month. Sunfish, Laser, Windrider 17 and Precision 15. Call Brian at 941-685-1400.

PropertyWatch

By Jesse Brisson

Island real estate transactions

By Jesse Brisson Special to The Islander 100 36th St., Unit 7, Palm Gables, Holmes Beach, a 1,816 sfla 3bed/3½bath/2car condo with private pool built in 1952 was sold 06/10/19, McGinnis to Pelayo for $1,750,000; list $1,875,000. 6422 Gulf Drive, Unit 5, L’Plage, Holmes Beach, a 2,181 sfla / 2,401 sfur 3bed/3bath/2car condo with shared pool built in 2003 was sold 06/19/19, Carlile to DePalma Corporation Inc., for $1,320,000; list $1,475,000. 212 Elm Ave., Anna Maria, a 2,156 sfla / 3,072 sfur 4bed/2bath/1car pool home built in 1998 on a 7,700 sq ft lot was sold 06/17/19, Moore to Scheuermann for $1,250,000; list $1,399,000. 531 67th St., Holmes Beach, a 2,094 sfla / 3,000 sfur 3bed/3½bath/2car canalfront pool home built in 1972 on a 8,960 sq ft lot was sold 06/11/19, Origer to Paglia Properties & Investment LLC for $1,170,000; list $1,200,000. 116 81st St., Holmes Beach, a 1,346 sfla / 1,801 sfur 3bed/2bath/1car pool home built in 1945 on a 5,440 sq ft lot was sold 06/07/19, Trixie & The Wood LLC to Biever Sunshine Property LLC for $885,000; list $899,000. 521 77th St., Holmes Beach, a 2,399 sfla / 3,255 sfur 4bed/2bath/2car canalfront pool home built in 1971 on a 9,540 sq ft lot was sold, 06/11/19, Houlas to Romberger for $810,000; list $869,000. 303 64th St., Unit B, Chiki Tiki, Holmes Beach, a 1,316 sfla / 3bed/2bath condo with shared pool built in 1969 was sold 06/07/19, McCullough to White for

plAcE clAssIFIEd Ads onlInE AT WWW.IslAndEr.org $680,000; list $698,000. 412 Spring Ave., Anna Maria, a 948 sfla 2bed/2bath home built in 1935 on a 7,555 sq ft lot was sold 06/17/19, Gulfside Development LLC to Building Blue Ridge LLC for $620,000. 205 82nd St., Unit 205, Cozy Cabana of Holmes Beach, Holmes Beach, a 1,132 sfla / 1,612 sfur 2bed/2bath condo with pool built in 1969 was sold 06/11/19, McCullough to DRBVP LLC for $589,000; list $589,000. 2419 Ave. B, Bradenton Beach, a 2,305 sfla / 3,660 sfur 4bed/2bath duplex built in 1976 on a 5,000 sq ft lot was sold 06/17/19, Patall to Najmy for $575,000. 2211 Ave. C, Bradenton Beach. a 1,614 sfla 3bed/2bath home built in 1947 on a 5,000 sq ft lot was sold 06/10/19, Camboy Holdings LLC to Goodwin for $462,456; list $459,000. 1325 Gulf Drive, Unit 136, Tortuga, Bradenton Beach, a 675 sfla 2bed/2bath condo with shared pool built in 1976 was sold 06/20/19, Kellum to Aamoum for $335,000; list $347,000. 501 Gulf Drive N., Unit 213, Bridgeport, Bradenton Beach, a 1,128 sfla / 1,198 sfur 2bed/2bath condo with shared pool built in 1982 was sold 06/10/19, LBA FIDU Inc. to Earls for $335,000. 3705 E. Bay Drive, Unit 212, Sunbow Bay, Holmes Beach, a 1,146 sfla / 1,247 sfur 2bed/2bath condo with shared pool built in 1980 was sold 06/12/19, Forsythe to Wood for $284,500; list $297,000. 3607 E. Bay Drive, Unit 204, Sandy Pointe, Holmes Beach, a 976 sfla 2bed/2bath condo with shared pool built in 1996 was sold 06/07/19, Arsenault to Ganz for $268,000; list $275,000. Jesse Brisson, broker/associate at Gulf-Bay Realty of Anna Maria, can be reached at 941-778-7244.

THE ISLANDER n JuLy 17, 2019 n 29

I S L A N D E R C L A S S I F I E D S HELP WANTED Continued

LAWN & GARDEN

RENTALS Continued

REPORTER WANTED: Full- to part-time. Print media, newspaper experience required. Apply via email with letter of interest to news@islander.org.

CONNIE’S LANDSCAPING INC. Residential and commercial. Full-service lawn maintenance, landscaping, cleanups, hauling and more! Insured. 941-778-5294.

KIDS FOR HIRE

HOME IMPROVEMENT

KIDS FOR HIRE ads are FREE for up to three weeks for Island youths under 16 looking for work. Ads must be placed in person at The Islander office, 3218 E. Bay Drive, Holmes Beach.

VAN-GO PAINTING residential/commercial, interior/exterior, pressure cleaning, wallpaper. Island references. Bill, 941-795-5100. www.vangopainting.net.

VILLAGE GREEN VILLA: Annual rental by owner. 2BR/2BA, 2154 sf, two-car garage, unfurnished, full appliances, very clean. Many updates, lake view, heated pool, over-55 residence. $1,900/month, first, last, security. $100 HOA application fee. Available now. Call Jim, 781-603-2861, jimreilly@ townisp.com.

NEED A RIDE to airports? Tampa $65, St. Pete, $55, Sarasota, $30. Gary, 863-4095875. gvoness80@gmail.com. CLEANING: RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL, vacation rental. We also offer power washing for pavers and windows. 941-744-7983. SINGING LESSONS: HOLMES Beach with experienced singer from New York. Learn breathing, relaxation, and strengthening techniques to gain vocal freedom and have fun! All styles. Text or call, 941-357-6186. AIRPORT RIDES TO Tampa, St. Pete, Sarasota, from surrounding islands. Super rides, super fares. Call/text Anna, 941BUSINESS-TO-BUSINESS JD’s Window Cleaning looking for storefront jobs in Holmes Beach. I make dirty windows sparkling clean. 941-920-3840. BEACH SERVICE air conditioning, heat, refrigeration. Commercial and residential service, repair and/or replacement. Since 1987. For dependable, service, call Bill Eller, 941-795-7411. CAC184228. ANYONE CAN TAKE a picture. A professional creates a portrait. I want to be at your wedding! www.jackelka.com. 941-778-2711. RELAXING MASSAGE IN the convenience of your home or hotel. Massage by Nadia, more than 25 years on Anna Maria Island. Call today for an appointment, 941-5188301. MA#0017550.MA#0017550.

CHRISTIE’S PLUMBING Family Owned and Operated since 1975

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GRIFFIN’S HOME IMPROVEMENTS Inc. Handyman, fine woodwork, countertops, cabinets and wood flooring. Insured and licensed. 941-722-8792. JERRY’S HOME REPAIR: Carpentry, handyman, light hauling, pressure washing. Jack of all trades. Call 941-447-2198. BLINDS, SHUTTERS, SHADES: Motorization. 30 years on AMI. Call Keith Barnett, Barnett Blinds, 941-730-0516. ISLAND HANDYMAN: I live here, work here, value your referral. Refinish, paint, tile. Just ask. JayPros. Licensed/insured. References. Call Jay, 941-962-2874. HOLLANDS PAINT, DRYWALL and handyman services: Interior/exterior paint, drywall repair, wall/ceiling textures, stucco repair, pressure washing. Over 25 years’ experience. All work guaranteed. References. Licensed/insured. Call Dee, 256-337-5395.

Landscape Design Lawn Care Cleanups Stone Paths Licensed and Insured

HURRICANE

Windows & Doors 941-730-5045 WEATHERSIDE LLC

Bed: A bargain!

King, Queen, Full & Twin, pre-owned from $30 new/used. 941-922-5271 www.sleepking.net

Island Limousine

PROMPT, COURTEOUS SERVICE AIRPORT PERMITTED & LIVERY INSURED IslandLimo.net

RENTALS

Residential -iÀÛ Vi #CFC1426596

U FLY I drive your car anywhere in the USA. Airport runs, anywhere. Office, 941-4476389. 941-545-6688.

TILE -TILE -TILE. All variations of ceramic tile supplied and installed. Quality workmanship, prompt, reliable, many Island references. Call Neil, 941-726-3077.

LIC#CBC1253145

SERVICES

TURN THE PAGE for more rentals...

941-779-0043

ONE BEDROOM CONDO: Beautifully furnished. Bradenton Beach. Annual. Big pool, small complex, one block to beach. Includes electric, water, cable, Wi-Fi. $1,550/month. No pets. 941-447-3071. HOLMES BEACH: WESTBAY Cove. Second floor, 2BR/2BA, large lanai. Pools, tennis, one block to Gulf beach. Aug.-Oct. 15, $2,400/ month, November, December, $2,800/ month, April 2020, $3,200/month. Thirty-day minimum. terryaposporos@gmail, 941-7788456.

$YDLODEOH $We AMI CENTRE, 3218 E. BAY DRIVE, HOLMES BEACH 941 778-7978 • WWW.ISLANDER.ORG

BOXBOXBOX

CLASSIFIED AD ORDER g ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ nder.or___________

la s i . w w tw ____________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ e a___________ n i l n o s d ad ___________ ___________ ___________ ____________ ___________ ___________ e fi i s s a ce cl ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ____________ Pla___________

___________ ___________ ___________

CLASSIFIED RATES: Minimum $12 for up to 15 WORDS. 16-30 words: $20. 31-45 words: $40. BOX ad: additional $4. (Phone number is a "word.")

The deadline is NOON Monday every week for Wednesday’s paper. Run issue date(s) _________

_________

_________ or TFN start date: ______________

Amt. pd _________________ Date _____________ Ck. No.� _________ Cash � _______ By _________ Credit card payment: �

d � u No.

_____________________________________________________

Name shown on card: ____________________________________________card exp. date ______ / ______ House no. or P.O. box no. on cc bill ________________________Billing address zip code ________________ Your e-mail for renewal reminder: ____________________________________________________________

Web site: www.islander.org 3218 E. Bay Drive Holmes Beach FL 34217

E-mail: classifieds@islander.org Fax toll free: 1-866-362-9821 Phone: 941-778-7978

$10 Diner Mugs

@ The Islander, 3218 E. Bay Drive, HB

p ro fe s s i o n a l

PHOTOGRAPHY VIDEO Advertising Real Estate Resorts Restaurants Web/Social Media

941-778-2711

30 n JuLy 17, 2019 n THE ISLANDER

I S L A N D E R C L A S S I F I E D S RENTALS Continued

RENTALS Continued

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

ANNUAL 2BR/2BA HOLMES Beach. Waterfront, boat lift, tropical pool with spillover spa. Available July. $3,550/ month. Call or text 941-730-1086 or 941-704-7336.

ROOMMATE WANTED: 1BR/1BA. Owner gone two weeks/month. $900, plus half utilities. AMI 10 minutes. Deed restricted. Two cats only allowed in the sunroom, outside. One sweet, quiet dachshund. 941-2240681.

All real estate advertising herein is subject to the Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination Familial status includes children under age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians, pregnant women and people securing custody of children under 18. This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. To complain of discrimination, call HUD toll-free at 1-800-669-9777 or for the hearing impaired, call 0-800-543-8294.

SEASONAL RENTAL: ONE-level home, 4BR/2BA, pool, garage, exercise room, close to beach. 7808 Third Ave. W. Bradenton, 34209. Call 703-587-4675. AVAILABLE RENTAL: October-April 2020. 2BR/2BA ground-level with carport and patio. Charming, plantation shutters. 1.5 blocks to Gulf beaches. Updated, granite countertops, recessed lighting, flat-screen TVs in each room. Must see! Anna Maria. 941-565-2373. ANNUAL RENTAL: 3BR/2BA at 7510 15th Ave. NW, Bradenton. Call 703-587-4675. ANNUAL NW BRADENTON: 3BR/1BA (second bath coming). $1,500/month. Real Estate Mart, 941-356-1456. The Islander, Anna Maria Islandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s longest running publication. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s essential news for residents and visitors. Check out the website, islander.org.

ANNUAL RENTAL: BRADENTON Beach, Bayview Terrace, one bedroom, bay in back, Gulf in front. Walk to everything, no smoking, no pets. $1,250/month unfurnished, $1,550/ month furnished. Call 603-969-6840. ANNUAL 3BR/2BA, BRADENTON Beach. Great opportunity. Authentic island house, elevated, washer/dryer. Large Gulf-view porch! Fantastic location, $1,495/month, first, last, $1,000 deposit. Email info to thehummingmask@gmail.com. 941-778-1098. REAL ESTATE HOLMES BEACH: 3BR2BA, caged pool. Open concept, large kitchen. See on Zillow. 218 82nd St. $699,000. 813-390-5747. WATERFRONT ISLAND HOME: 3BR/2BA, two-car garage. Heated caged pool/spa. Boat dock/lift. $699,900. Real Estate Mart, 941-356-1456.

LANDMARK PROPERTY near Rod & Reel Pier, generating over $220K vacation rental income. Fully renovated in 2018. 2/2 1960â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s beachfront house with 3/2 guest house. Offered at $1,950,000 NOT ON MLS OR ZILLOW Pine Avenue double lot zoned residential/retail/ commercial. Currently income producing â&#x20AC;&#x201C; future is your development, restaurant, home, vacation home, retail. Dream it and have it!

Place classified ads online at www.islander.org

Mike Norman Realty INC OFFERING THE BEST SELECTION OF SALES & RENTALS ON ANNA MARIA ISLAND SINCE 1978 www.mikenormanrealty.com 31o1 Gulf Drive, Hholmes Beach 800-367-1617 | 941-778-6696

DREAM VACATIONS FOR YOUR VACATION DREAMS

Offered at $1,400,000. NOT ON MLS OR ZILLOW Holmes Beach gem next to beach, CVS, Publix and free public trolley! Live or vacation on Anna Maria Island with easy on/off access. 3/3, income producing, pool home. Offered at $871,000

PRIVATE SALE PROPERTIES: Bayfront Key Royale extra-large lot with seawall and dock. Offered at $1,999,999. Sun Plaza West, beachfront complex, 2/2, stunning unit. Offered at $515,000. Anna Maria North Shore beachfront home. Offered at $5,200,000. Holmes Beach 3/3.5, canalfront, pool home with dock. Offered at $2,100,000. Palma Sola Bayfront 5/4.5 with dock, boat-lift, pool, theatre, gym and more. Offered at $2,300,000. E XC L U S I V E LY O F F E R E D B Y

Gulf-Bay Realty of Anna Maria Inc. Jesse Brisson - Broker Associate, GRI 941-713-4755 800-771-6043

TOUR OF HOMES FEATURE PROPERTY!

Master Certified Negotiation Specialist. Certified Luxur y Home Marketing Specialist. Voted â&#x20AC;&#x153;Best in Customer Satisfactionâ&#x20AC;? by Sarasota magazine readers since 2015. 5-Star Zillow Premier Agent since 2014.

Premier Sotheby â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s International Realty

islander.org

We LiKe LiKes

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

Shellie Young P.A.

www.shellieyoung.com CELL 941.713.5458

We rOCK OnLine

Come see this custom-built home in Anna Maria with 4beds/6baths/3car. Short walk to direct beach access. Over 3,200 sf under air. Pool and spa, privacy, tons of open space, elevator. No rental restrictions. Featured in this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s community center tour of homes! $1,990,000

facebook.com/ Islandernewspaper

We TWeeT TOO @ami_islander

RELEASE DATE: 7/14/2019

New York Times Sunday Magazine Crossword

THE ISLANDER n JuLy 17,No. 2019 n 31 0707

FLIP ‘PHONES BY EMILY CARROLL / EDITED BY WILL SHORTZ Emily Carroll is a 2016 medical-school graduate now finishing her residency in New York City. She finds crossword constructing ‘‘a nice stress reliever in the little free time I have outside the hospital.’’ This puzzle was initially intended for a weekday (15 x 15 squares), but when she couldn’t make the theme work satisfactorily, she came up with more examples and expanded it into a 21 x 21. This is Emily’s seventh crossword for The Times and her first Sunday. — W.S.

ACRO SS

1 Crawling marine mollusk 8 Victorious cry 14 At first, say 20 So-called “Crossroads of America” 21 Wife in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “Tender Is the Night” 22 Uprights, e.g. 23 Low end? 25 What sunblock blocks, briefly 26 Rushes 27 Hangout on “The Simpsons” 28 One of two for a buck? 30 Somewhat, slangily 32 Go astray 33 Part of town that may be dangerous 35 Tater ____ 38 Extraterrestrial from the planet Melmac 40 Emphatic ending with yes or no 42 Bulging bicep, in slang 43 Raise 44 Wet 48 Agreement for exporting essential oils? 51 Raggedy ____ 52 Around an hour after noon Online subscriptions: Today’s

puzzle and more Answers: than 4,000 past puzzles, page 28 nytimes.com/crosswords ($39.95 a year).

54 Spend all weekend solving crosswords, say, with “out” 55 Dummkopfs 56 Movie-rating org. 58 Semi-essential part? 59 Driver of “BlacKkKlansman” 61 Most pallid 63 Exercise program done in formal attire? 66 Horse operas 68 Top squads 69 Sports-page listings 71 Avoid cooked foods 75 Beyond prim and proper 77 Sturdily built friend on “Friends”? 79 Relative of a flute 82 Statement often starting “I ...” 84 Egg head? 85 Train transportation 86 “Baby Blues” or “Rhymes With Orange” 87 PC key 89 Rita who played Anita in “West Side Story” 92 Setting for many Twins games: Abbr. 93 Spotted animal with a lot of sore spots? 96 Squirrels away 98 “What ____?” 99 Maestro’s gift 100 ____ Rousey, first female fighter inducted into the U.F.C. Hall of Fame

102 Animal in un zoológico 103 First letter of “tsar” in Russian 104 Father of the Constitution 106 PC key 108 Extended family 112 Utterly useless 113 Totally abandon one’s plan 114 Letter-shaped fastener 115 Laugh riot 118 Cause of a work stoppage at a shoe factory? 123 Tropical scurrier 124 Put on a pedestal 125 Charm 126 A cobbler might use one 127 Expunge 128 Word before shot or plot

12 Troy story 13 Joan of Arc, at the time of her death 14 Fit for a king 15 Skin care brand 16 Attorney general under both Bush 41 and Trump 17 Santa ____ winds 18 ____ sauce 19 Symbol on a Mariners cap 24 ____ d’oeuvre 29 Slangy affirmation 31 Rare solo voice in opera 33 Arthur with a Tony 34 UnitedHealthcare competitor 35 Back-comb 36 Multi-time Pulitzer finalist, including for the volume “Lovely, Dark, Deep: Stories” (2014) DOWN 1 Some turban wearers 37 Meet on the down-low 2 Film composer 39 Confines Morricone 41 Fixes up, in a way 3 Doe follower, in song 43 Circuit-board 4 Breaks along the component Panama Canal? 44 Fearsome snake 5 “Well, ____-di-dah!” 45 Stoned 6 Commercial 46 Dumbstruck prefix with lever 47 Undiluted 7 “That’s so-o-o gross!” 8 Is a willing participant? 49 Like Easter Island 50 Full of enthusiasm 9 Runs out of gas 53 Construction girders 10 Here, to Henri 11 Underworld boss 57 Not without sacrifice

31 38 45

33 40

87 94

103

84 89

91 96

100

101

105

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76 Rapid movement of the eye from one point to another 78 Surrealist Tanguy 79 Groups in the quarterfinals, e.g. 80 Loses enthusiasm 81 Elicit a smile from 83 Last Oldsmobile ever produced 88 Sent 90 Pearl clutcher’s cry 91 Bit of brewing equipment 94 “Sure thing, dude!”

102

123

60 Call into question 62 Permeate 64 Shout from a lottery winner 65 Kid-lit character with the catchphrase “Thanks for noticing me” 67 In regard to 70 Big name in 2008 financial news 72 Jurisdiction 73 Stomach 74 Painful paintball mementos

113

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104

77 82

55 61

69 75

49 54

58 64

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95 Boatload 97 Untangle 101 “In your dreams!” 104 2016 film set in Polynesia 105 Reckon, informally 107 Section of a high school yearbook 109 Native Alaskan 110 Popular corn chip 111 What radio signals travel through, with “the” 112 Spring’s opposite

122

113 Nongreen salad ingredient 115 Merest taste 116 Part of a sci-fi film’s budget 117 French way 119 The Braves, on scoreboards 120 One of many extras in air travel nowadays 121 A little fun? 122 Letters on some luggage to New York

Visit WWW.IslAndEr.org for the best news on Anna Maria Island.

Everything you’re looking for

www.annamariaislandresorts.net

877.867.8842

32 n JuLy 17, 2019 n THE ISLANDER