The Islander Newspaper E-Edition: Wednesday, July. 31, 2024
explore the islander archive dating to 1992 at ufdc.ufl.edu.
Week 4: Looking for the pot of gold
marilia clark of garland, texas, wins the fourth week of the islander’s 2024 top notch contest with this July 22 photograph of a child near flotilla drive in Holmes Beach looking toward a rainbow over anna maria Sound. the photographer wins an islander “more-than-a-mullet wrapper” t-shirt and entry into the finals, which offers a grand prize of $100 from the islander and gift certificates from islander advertisers. there are still two weekly winners to come. email entries to topnotch@islander. org. read the contest details on page 12 or online at islander.org.
Top Notch
AM moves forward on Pine Ave. bid
By ryan Paice islander reporter
Improvements to Pine Avenue’s sidewalks might be in sight now that the city has three competitive bids.
City commissioners voted 4-0 July 25 to authorize Mayor Dan Murphy to move forward with a fact-finding process for longboat Key-based Eason Builders Group’s $233,704.73 bid to improve sidewalks from Gulf Drive to North Shore Drive.
Commissioner Charlie Salem recused himself from voting due to his ownership of the property housing the Olive Oil Outpost and ami Outfitters at 401 pine ave.
The city commission rejected four previous requests for proposals to improve the corridor due to a lack of competitive bids. The municipality then pursued piecemeal improvements, resulting in RFPs for blockby-block phases.
Progress made on sea life poaching
Coffee with county candidates
this election cycle, the islander is hosting a coffee with the candidates series, with the first two programs — one on the primary race for manatee county district 3 commissioner and one on the primary race for district 7 — held July 23 and July 24 at the anna maria island Beach cafe at the manatee Public Beach in Holmes Beach.
the islander will hold additional conversations ahead of the general election in november.
Siddique: New blood for D3
By ryan Paice islander reporter
A Republican challenger for the District 3 seat on the Manatee Board of County Commissioners is calling for new blood.
Republican candidate Talha “Tal” Siddique met July 23 with The Islander staff and Holmes Beach City Commissioner Greg Kerchner to discuss his campaign in a Coffee with the Candidates session.
District 3 covers the western side of the county, including all of Anna Maria Island, Cortez and the north half/Manatee County portion of Longboat Key.
Siddique will square off against April Culbreath in the closed Aug. 20 Republican primary election. Culbreath did not respond to an Islander call to meet.
The primary winner will face Democrat Diana Shoemaker and write-in candidate Jeffrey Gray in the Nov. 5 general election.
PleaSe, See DisTricT 3, Page 4
Kruse: Stakes high in D7 race
By lisa neff islander editor
Manatee County Commissioner George Kruse injected a jolt of urgency into an Islander Coffee with the Candidates session July 24 in Holmes Beach.
“This is the people versus the special interests,” Kruse said of his race for reelection in District 7.
Before he can face Democrat Sari Lindroos-Valimaki in the Nov. 5 general election, Kruse must face Kevin Van Ostenbridge in the Tuesday, Aug. 20, Republican primary for the at-large seat.
Van Ostenbridge was seeking reelection in District 3, the west Manatee County area that includes Anna Maria Island, but in late May he scrambled the commission contests and filed to run against Kruse, the lone no vote in some of the most controversial 6-1 board decisions in recent years.
PleaSe, See DisTricT 7, Page 5
By robert anderson islander reporter
Tour boat captains see recent citations made for sea life poaching as a win.
A Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission report July 19 detailed bag limit citations issued between January and June in the waters surrounding Anna Maria Island. While the FWC wrote no bag limit citations for shellfish in the waters of anna Maria Sound or Sarasota Bay, the agency wrote five citations for bag limit violations just outside those waterways, according to the FWC.
A May 24 incident involved two citations for the taking of 29 undersized, outof-season stone crabs near the Sunshine
‘Is this the gunman?’ a composite sketch — first published in the islander 43 years ago — shows an alleged suspect in an island murder-mystery. in this issue, the islander looks back to aug. 1, 1980, and the killings at the Kingfish Boat ramp. turn to page 17 to read an archival report from a journalist at the scene.
PleaSe, See pine avenue, Page 2
PleaSe, See bay poachers, Page 2
The new face of Herb Dolan Park the shoreline at Herb dolan Park, 2501-2599
ave. a, Bradenton Beach, has a new look July 23 following the removal of nine australian pine trees on a June 20 order from Bradenton Beach commissioners. the order also extended to city-owned properties along gulf drive. islander
robert anderson
pine avenue continued from Page 1
Improvements will include installation of pervious brick pavers over Pine Avenue’s existing meandering sidewalks.
t he city received three bids for the first phase of sidewalk improvements, including Eason’s $233,704.73 bid, a $272,796.90 bid from Fort Myersbased Mali Construction and a $665,290.53 bid from C-Squared.
Eason and Mali’s bids were somewhat comparable to a $181,615.64 cost estimate prepared by Bradentonbased George F. Young Inc.
On the other hand, C-Squared’s proposal more than doubled the cost of the other bids and tripled the estimated cost due to a handful of ballooned costs.
C-Squared’s bid included $85,500 for mobilization, more than 12 times Eason’s $7,000 mobilization cost.
the bid included $81,000 for traffic maintenance, almost six times as much as Eason’s $14,000 projected cost for the same item.
C-Squared’s bid also included costs of $111,435 for excavation, $124,108 for crushed granite and $42,607.50 for a 2-inch-thick bedding course of aggregate stone.
For the same items, Eason’s bid included costs of $26,919.20, $25,083.80 and $9,177, respectively.
Murphy said the city could save some money on top of each bid by handling some work, such as thermoplastic markings along the roadway.
He asked for commissioners to vote to allow him to begin the fact-finding process on Eason’s bid.
Commission Chair Mark Short said the competitive bids proved his feelings that C-Squared’s proposals were “abnormally high.”
“While people may be frustrated that we’ve been talking about this project for a couple of years, that just shows we’ve been prudent in how we’ve approached this in terms of … utilizing not just our money, but the state’s money,” Short said.
Commissioner Gary McMullen moved to approve murphy’s recommendation to begin the fact-finding process with Eason.
Commissioner Jonathan Crane seconded the motion, which passed.
There was no public comment.
The commission will meet next at 1 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 8, at city hall, 10005 Gulf Drive. Directions to attend via Zoom can be found on the city’s website, cityofannamaria.com.
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Skyway Bridge in Tampa Bay and, in a May 8 incident also near the Skyway, the FWC cited three individuals for possession of 326 marine organisms, which, according to the citation, is 286 over the bag limit.
“I feel like we’re winning as far as getting the word out,” Capt. Joey Sweet told The Islander July 24. Sweet believes the more aggressive enforcement will result in poachers avoiding the area.
Sweet of Sweet Sunsets and Dolphin Tours of Anna Maria, along with Capt. Katie Tupin of Captain Katie Scarlett Boat Tours in Cortez, Bruce Adamo of Passage Key Dolphin Tours in Anna Maria and Matt and Beth Wright of Island Time Boat Tours in Holmes Beach have been at the forefront of a campaign to protect sea life from illegal poaching since 2022.
They banded together, forming the Habitat Guardian Group, to report a surge in poaching incidents targeting edible shellfish such as whelks, clams, pen shells, sea urchins, and other bottom-dwelling marine life within Sarasota Bay.
Their efforts were prompted in 2022 by the discovery of a mound of empty fighting conch shells on a sandbar in Sarasota Bay. The discovery was a catalyst for heightened awareness among tour operators.
Photos:
Before: australian pine trees shade the shoreline June 20 at Herb dolan Park in Bradenton Beach.
Over the past two years, the captains have documented evidence of sea life poaching in the waters of sarasota Bay and reported their findings to the FWc. Their efforts brought attention to widespread poaching and resulted in multiple citations by the FWC.
Sweet said the FWC, in addition to being on the water, has had a greater presence at boat ramps.
“I have seen trucks. I see one maybe once a week, but I haven’t seen them on the water since the last holiday, July 4,” Sweet said.
He added that HGG captains have been working long hours this summer and, with every charter, they are watching for signs of poachers.
“I am trying to make sure every time we see someone (poaching), we can be right on top of it and making sure the word gets passed among us,” Sweet said.
Sweet said the lower number of poaching events in local waters was evidenced by a slow return of benthic sea life, which had become hard to find.
“today we had people who were able to find some live banded tulip shells, sea urchins and Florida fighting conch,” he said.
“The more organized that we become and the more widespread our efforts, the more effective we become,” Sweet added. “It shows a lot of proactive concern on the part of FWC, even though they are spread thin. I think it shows they are trying to do their job and shut that stuff down.”
tupin said poaching traffic has slowed in sarasota Bay but vigilance is needed.
“We would normally see a lot more activity at this time of year,” Tupin said, referring to poachers.
“They are normally out and about on the new and
Explore The Islander archives
You can peruse the archives of The Islander dating to November 1992 in the uofF Florida digital newspaper collection at ufdc.ufl.edu.
full moon, and we’ve barely seen anything out here,” she added. “i’ve seen more of the fi ghting conchs, some lightning whelks and a few horse conchs.”
More information
For more information on the Habitat Guardian Group, call 941-661-3681.
To report a possible bag limit violation, call the FWC’s wildlife hotline at 888-404-FWCC.
confiscated sea life. July 2023.
islander file Photo
Dismantling underway under court order a stilt-house in the waters off cortez is stripped to the walls July 28. in may, 12th circuit court Judge edward nicholas ordered the builder, raymond guthrie Jr., to remove the structure by Sept. 4 as part of a lawsuit launched by the florida department of environmental Protection. the deP said guthrie built the house on state submerged lands. guthrie has maintained the structure is on the site of a historic net camp. crews, overseen by guthrie, have been working to dismantle the structure since July 13.
Q&A 073124
The Islander poll
Last week’s question
By lisa neff
Jimmy Buffett day is aug. 30 in florida. How would you most like to celebrate?
2%. Parrothead party.
12%. Musical performances.
36%. Margarita toast at 5 o’clock — somewhere.
0%. Lookalike contest.
50%. All of the above.
This week’s question manatee county’s primary elections are tuesday, aug. 20.
A. Already voted by mail.
B. Voting early in-person.
C. Voting Aug. 20.
D. Not voting.
To answer the poll, go online to islander.org.
islander Photo: Scott moore
siddique has worked for the u.s. air Force, u.s. department of Homeland security and the u.s. Department of Veteran Affairs. He currently works as an executive at a software company and is the founder and president of the activist group Speak Out Manatee.
Siddique told The Islander he felt like a “small cog in a large machine” during his time in the military and wanted to make a larger impact by getting involved on the local level.
“I felt that locally … I wanted to have a say on where we’re growing and going,” he said. “Seeing everything going on with the garage and consolidation thereafter, I felt that this isn’t the way I want to see my home grow over the next 10, 30, 50 years, so I wanted to have a say in that.”
Siddique is calling for a new generation of conservative leadership but clarified that he believes in a classical definition of conservatism — limited government involvement and fiscal responsibility — that county officials have strayed from.
He said leadership has failed to adhere to classical conservatism by approving a ballooning budget and allowing debt to triple over the past four years.
Nevertheless, Siddique has faced claims of being a “never Trump” conservative, in part due to his switch to the GOP in 2020.
He argued that he is one of many people who switched to the party in recent years and should not be discounted.
a Bradenton Beach Police department vehicle safeguards the intersection of avenue a and 21st Place July 25 after a power line was downed when an excavator, attempting to extract a truck that was stuck in mud, hit overhead lines, causing the utility pole to snap and topple onto the cab of the dump truck. islander Photo: robert anderson
tal Siddique, a republican candidate for the district 3 seat on the manatee Board of county commissioners, speaks July 23 with the islander.
islander Photo: ryan Paice
“They don’t want to see new voices in the party. They don’t want to see voices that are critical of how things have been run,” Siddique said. “It’s a country club mentality to say, ‘You’re not with us.’”
Siddique added that his primary opponent, Culbreath, is not fit for public office and had made their party a “national embarrassment” due to her history of misconduct as a Manatee County Sheriff’s deputy and “inability” as chairperson to run the Manatee County Republican Executive Committee.
“I don’t think that April has really done anything to benefit our community. in fact, her record has often been about making residents victims, and I don’t think we need somebody like that in power,” he said.
Regarding Anna Maria Island, Siddique expressed opposition to the county’s plans for a parking garage at Manatee Public Beach in Holmes Beach and state-led consolidation of the island municipalities.
He called the consolidation efforts “ridiculous” and said the Legislature never should have passed House Bill 947, which was signed into law last year and allows the county to construct a 36-foot-tall parking garage at Manatee Public Beach, 4000 Gulf Drive.
“It’s big government eating little government,” Siddique said.
He also acknowledged climate change as a real issue and called for the county to implement a consistent program for handling water quality improvement and management.
“My approach is to simply say, ‘I’m not here to implement new levels of control over people. I’m not here to mandate you to get rid of your car and walk everywhere,’” he said. “But I think there is a balance … our party has given space to other voices and we have to start taking it back.”
Election 2024
Dems ‘dialed’ in members of the anna maria island-West manatee democratic club join democratic candidates in a “meet-the-candidates” Zoom call July 15. Jan Schneider and trent miller, candidates in the aug. 20 primary for u.S. rep. Vern Buchanan’s seat spoke, as did state legislative candidate adriaan deVilliers and county commission candidates diana Shoemaker and Sari lindroos-Valimaki. islander Screenshots adriann deVilliers speaks about representation and qualifications July 15 during a Zoom call with the anna maria island and West manatee democratic club. deVilliers is running in november for the district 71 florida House seat held by republican Will robinson Jr.
Early voting begins Aug. 10
The Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Office will hold early voting hours for the tuesday, Aug. 20, primary Saturday, Aug. 10-Saturday, Aug. 17.
Early voting will be daily 8:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. at eight locations in the county.
The location nearest Anna Maria Island is G.T. Bray Park, 5502 33rd Ave. W., Bradenton.
Voters must present a valid photo and signature ID.
For more information, go to the SEO website at votemanatee.com or call 941-741-3823.
— lisa neff
Meetings
By lisa neff
ANNA MARIA CITY
Aug. 8, 1 p.m., commission, budget.
Aug. 8, 2 p.m., commission. 10005 Gulf Drive, 941-708-6130, cityofannamaria.com.
BRADENTON
BEACH
Aug. 1, 6 p.m., commission.
Aug. 7, 9:30 a.m., community redevelopment agency. Aug. 7, 1 p.m., planning and zoning. 107 Gulf Drive N., 941-778-1005, cityofbradentonbeach.com.
HOLMES BEACH
July 31, 10 a.m., special magistrate. CANCELED. Aug. 7, 5 p.m., planning commission. 5801 Marina Drive, 941-708-5800, holmesbeachfl.org.
WEST MANATEE FIRE RESCUE
Aug. 20, 6 p.m., commission. 701 63rd St. W., Bradenton, 941-761-1555, wmfr.org.
MANATEE COUNTY
Aug. 1, 9 a.m., commission, budget. Aug. 6, 9 a.m., commission, work session. Aug. 8, 9 a.m., commission, land use. Aug. 19, 9:30 a.m., tourist development council, Center of Anna Maria Island, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria. 1112 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton, 941-748-4501, mymanatee. org.
Power outage on Avenue A
Holmes Beach sets tax hike, maximum millage for 2024-25
By ryan Paice islander reporter
Some work remains to be done on the city of Holmes Beach fiscal 2024-25 budget.
City commissioners unanimously voted July 23 to use the municipality’s current 2.05 millage rate as the maximum millage for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1.
Commissioner Dan Diggins was absent during the vote.
The city’s 2.05 millage rate is tied with the city of Anna Maria for the lowest on the island, but carrying it over into fiscal 2024-25 would result in a tax increase due to an 11% increase in total taxable property value over this year.
The millage is the amount per $1,000 of property value used to calculate property taxes. The owner of a property appraised at $500,000 with a 2.05 millage rate will pay $1,025 in property taxes.
The 2.05 millage would raise $732,937 more in ad valorem revenue than the city collected this year.
To avoid a tax increase, the city would have to adopt a 1.8489 rollback rate, which would raise the same ad valorem income as fiscal 2023-24.
The owner of a property appraised at $500,000 would pay $924.45 in taxes under the rollback rate.
Now that a maximum millage has been set, the city cannot adopt a rate higher than 2.05 for fi scal
DisTricT 7 continued from Page 1
Kruse July 24 joined Islander publisher Bonner Joy, reporter Ryan Paice, this editor and Holmes Beach Commissioner Greg Kerchner for a Coffee with the Candidates program at the Anna Maria Island Beach Cafe in Holmes Beach. Van Ostenbridge did not attend and did not respond to Joy’s phone invite.
The conversation lasted about 90 minutes, with talk about Kruse’s goals for four more years and his record after nearly four years, which includes leading the way for a fare-free transit system, bringing the Tunnel to Towers veterans village project to Manatee, advancing a multimodal trail system, fighting a drive to rollback wetlands protections, advocating for full impact fees and challenging Van Ostenbridge’s rush to ignore Holmes Beach regulations and build a parking garage at the public beach.
“This is not partisan anymore,” Kruse said of the election. “I mean, let’s be honest. This is a very red county. … It’s most likely going to be who wins the primary.”
The GOP primaries include Kruse versus Van Ostenbridge, Tal Siddique vs. April Culbreath for county commission in District 3 and Scott Farrington vs. James Satcher for supervisor of elections.
Kruse, aligned with Siddique and Farrington, said of the primaries: “This is just effectively good versus evil at this point. This is the people versus the special interests.”
Because of the stakes in a red county, he and others
Plan now for the next holiday!
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2024-25.
city officials have expressed a desire to lower the millage rate for the upcoming fiscal year.
However, city treasurer Cindy Dunham-Tozer said some budget items still need to be determined before the municipality could determine a lower millage.
One of those items is the acquisition of a cottage at 109 48th St. that was built in 1928 and is owned by Frank Dupps.
The city hopes to move the cottage — which is set to be replaced with a new single-family home — to a city-owned lot where it could serve as an educational and historical facility.
Planning and zoning administrator Chad Minor
have encouraged “Hell No! KVO” Democrats and independents to register as Republicans so they could vote in closed primaries.
“Switch, and then vote against me in November,” Kruse said.
the window to switch affiliations closed in late July and, according to the supervisor of elections office, 1,234 Democrats switched to Republican between April 1 and July 25 and 1,200 voters formerly not affiliated with a party also registered as republicans.
Kruse is aided in his campaign by a small group of volunteers, including his wife, who is working on
Property at 109 48th St., Holmes Beach, which owner frank dupps was contemplating demolishing before beginning talks with the city about possibly donating it to the municipality. islander
Photo: ryan Paice
said the city has obtained bids for the cost of moving the structure, but still needs to obtain estimates for establishing a temporary and permanent foundation.
“I think it’s going to be great,” Minor said. “Seems like a good opportunity that, boy, we should strike while the iron’s hot.”
Commissioner Greg Kerchner moved to approve the 2.05 maximum millage rate.
Commissioner Pat Morton seconded the motion, which passed.
There was no public comment. a finalized budget will go before commissioners for a first public hearing at 5:01 p.m. Wednesday, sept. 11, at city hall.
manatee county commissioner george Kruse, who is seeking reelection in the at-large district 7, speaks about impact fees July 24 during an islander coffee with the candidates session at the anna maria island Beach cafe at the manatee Public Beach in Holmes Beach. Kruse’s challenger in the aug. 20 republican primary, Kevin Van ostenbridge, did not respond to an islander invite by phone. islander Photo: lisa neff
marketing. The incumbent said he’s speaking daily — to groups of five and groups of 100 people.
“I tell everyone, ‘Get to church 10 minutes early and fi nd people in the lobby,” he said. “Go talk to people at work. Go knock on your neighbor’s door. Call your friends and family. If you can all touch 10 people, I can get to 20,000 people.
“But it takes everybody realizing there’s a fundamental break in the government of this county and this is not a partisan thing, this is just about good governance.”
If he wins and ousts Van Ostenbridge, Kruse said maybe others on the commission, specifically republicans mike rahn and amanda Ballard, will find their independence and a way to work together.
“There’s a big difference between a 6-1 board with Kevin part of that six and a 6-1 board without Kevin part of that six,” Kruse said. “Kevin’s not one commissioner on that board. Kevin is six commissioners on that board. Kevin is the one with all the money.”
Good vs. evil
One candidate for county commission may have said it best.
When it comes to filling the seats on the dais at the county level, incumbent District 7 Commissioner George Kruse, who is aligned with Tal Siddique, seeking the District 3 seat, and Scott Farrington, who stepped up for supervisor of elections, said of the primaries: “This is just effectively good versus evil at this point. This is the people versus the special interests.”
Even without local polling numbers, I know there’s going to be something like 50% of you who don’t agree, but those are the lines that are drawn in the sand for the 2024 elections — locally and continuing up the ballot to the top and also including some of the Florida constitutional amendments.
Kruse continued in his pleading for votes at an Islander editorial board meeting July 24: “It takes everybody realizing there’s a fundamental break in the government of this county and this is not a partisan thing, this is just about good governance.”
And this is just the primary.
Kruse is running to keep his seat as one of two countywide representatives on the Manatee Board of County Commissioners.
His primary opponent is the D3 incumbent, Kevin Van Ostenbridge, who gave up the race for a second term in his district to run in D7.
In the plot put forth by KVO, as we imagine it, he tagged the scandalous (see The Islander, July 24) executive director of the county Republican Party committee, April Culbreath, to run for his D3 seat, in the hope she could disrupt the campaign of his former opponent, Tal Siddique.
Is it possible KVO didn’t know, as we reported last week, that Culbreath was disgraced as a sheriff’s deputy? She was charged with 12 sustained counts of misconduct, suspended without pay for 808.4 total hours, transferred between bureaus and received multiple letters of reprimand.
When you fill out your ballot, remember, KVO is the person who led the county — and pushed the state — to approve building a monster parking garage at the Manatee Public Beach and pushed for a consolidation study for the three island cities — a study that has yet to be produced for the state.
Then try to return to the plans for good governance
OpinionYour OpinionOur
and a cohesive, cooperative board that George Kruse hopes to build on once KVO is no longer manipulating other board members on behalf of the special interests in Manatee County.
And consider the promise that Siddique — whose resume is as impressive and admirable as any you could imagine, including “top secret” government clearance — gives us with his promise to represent a new generation of old-style conservative leadership — limited government involvement and fiscal responsibility.
He is opposed to the parking garage at the beach and the consolidation of the island cities, telling The Islander, “It’s big government eating little government.”
As a seasoned voice of reason, we support George Kruse in the Aug. 20 Republican primary. And we support political newcomer Tal Siddique in the District 3 Republican primary for the seat that represents Anna Maria Island, Cortez, the northern half of Longboat Key, Perico Island and west Bradenton. We’re counting on your votes to abolish evil and the revenge-style government we have on the BOCC, to nominate Kruse and support his promise to restore good governance and to nominate Siddique, who offers a new, young voice with no ties to corruption in law enforcement or heavy-handed developers and their demands.
Stand up now for good vs. evil, the people vs. special interests, specifically big money developers.
Vote now.
— Bonner Joy, news@islander.org
JULY 31, 2024 • Vol. 32, No. 41
▼ Publisher, Co-editor
Bonner Joy, news@islander.org
▼ Editorial editor lisa neff, lisa@islander.org robert anderson, robert@islander.org
The Islander posted to social media July 17 news that Chiles Hospitality is selling the Sandbar Seafood & Spirits, Beach House Waterfront Restaurant, Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant and Pub, Anna Maria Bake House and an events department to Pinellas-based Beachside Hospitality. Within hours, the post was shared 50 times and dozens of people wrote memories of visits to the island restaurants, as well as congratulations. A roundup of the remarks from social media: You definitely impacted me and my husband. … We have been coming there since 2004 and the Beach House was one of the reasons we purchased our Bradenton condo! We have admired you from afar Ed Chiles knowing, you were always trying to give your best to the public, you were gracious to all your staff, sometimes smiling and greeting your customers!
Rose Ann Healy
I’ve been a patron of the Sandbar since the 1960s. It has always been a unique and special part of Anna Maria’s charm. I wish you the best, Ed, as you move on to your next chapter.
Jill Morris
Ed is going out as the GOAT!! You have done so
much for so many people, you are inspiring. Your love for your employees, this island, this county, this state and our beautiful water. You deserve this so much. Enjoy life, enjoy your family.
Chelsea Matelau
Thank you for great memories with family and friends. Best wishes!
Barb Bellamente
Ed Chiles, my memories of working for you were some of the greatest days of my life. I made lifelong friendships and met my husband working for your organization. I am so happy for you, but sad as knowing I could go back there with you at the helm felt comforting. We were a family in the ’90s working for you, an eclectic group that you took care of. I’ll always miss those days, but am going to miss the culture that you created at The Sandbar. I wish you all of the best in your next chapter in life.
Tina Kelly
You were a great host to tens of thousands of people and their family celebrations. We always enjoyed your restaurants. Happy retirement to you and your family.
Neil Gaines
Kruse
Siddique
Yesterdays’ school days children attend class at anna maria elementary School in Holmes Beach. the photo in the manatee county Public library System archives is not dated. the accompanying information only identifies the teacher as “mrs. H.H. Higgins.” islander Photos: courtesy manatee county Public library System
Women in the anna
School
for a
fry to benefit the organization and school. the photo is not dated.
Women in the anna maria elementary School Parentteacher association are installed into office. the photo is not dated and the women only are identified by their husbands’ names — mrs. richard Stewart, left, mrs. John Hames, mrs. richard Poe, mrs. george cobb and mrs. charles Weaver.
10, 20, 30 years ago
From the July 28, 1994, issue
• the longboat Key town commission voted to withdraw from the Coalition of Barrier Island Elected Officials to protest a letter drafted by Bradenton Beach Mayor Katie Pierola on coalition stationary dealing only with Anna Maria Island issues.
• the Bradenton Beach city council dismissed the city’s community redevelopment agency and moved to take over the advisory board’s duties.
From the July 28, 2004, issue
• anna maria island turtle Watch reported the first sea turtle hatchlings of the 2004 season emerged from nests at Bayfront Park in Anna Maria and Coquina Beach in Bradenton Beach.
• the anna maria island chamber of commerce welcomed people to the Beach House Restaurant in Bradenton Beach for a seminar on hurricane-readiness.
• manatee county told North shore drive beachfront property owners in Anna Maria that no county funds were available to renourish eroding beaches in front of their homes.
From the July 30, 2014, issue
• Holmes Beach public works superintendent Tom O’Brien resigned following an absence related to health problems and poor job performance reviews.
• Bradenton Beach officials were eying a shortfall of more than $400,000 in a proposed fiscal 2014-15 budget that included an across-theboard pay raise for city employees.
— lisa neff
maria elementary
Parent-teacher association prepare
fish
PUBLIC NOTICE
Clerk of Court Operations to Cease at Local History Museums
The Manatee County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller announces its Historical Resources Department will discontinue operations of the Manatee Village Historical Park, Palmetto Historical Park, Manatee County Agricultural Museum, and Florida Maritime Museum at close of business on September 30, 2024.
Beginning October 1, 2024, Manatee County Government will be responsible for the operation of these four historical museums under the County’s Sports & Leisure Department.
The Clerk’s Office expresses its sincere gratitude to the Historical Resources Department staff, and the countless community leaders, volunteers, and local residents for the last forty years dedicated to preserving the history and heritage of Manatee County.
A Historic Legacy
Over the last four decades, in partnership with local municipalities and nonprofits, the Historical Resources Department of the Manatee County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller has led the restoration, preservation, and stewardship of numerous historical structures, boats, a steam locomotive, and the construction of several building replicas in its effort to preserve the material record of Manatee County’s development and history.
The Department has accumulated several awards from state and national associations for its outstanding work in preservation and heritage education. These achievements were made possible through partnerships with nonprofits who have contributed significantly to the stewardship of the historic structures and grounds at each site.
The Department’s staff are museum professionals trained in industry best practices and have served hundreds of thousands of people through site visits, outreach programs, field trips, and Manatee History Day, a thematic history competition that engages local students in historical research and the local affiliate of National History Day.
The Board’s Vote
Despite the Department’s many accolades, on September 12, 2023, the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners voted 6-1 to remove the four historical museums from the Historical Resources Department of the Clerk and terminate Clerk funding for staff and operations.
While the Clerk’s Office disagrees with the Board’s decision, the Office is committed to ensuring a smooth transition so that these museums will continue to serve the community for decades to come.
Anna Maria locks in tax reduction for 2024-25
By ryan Paice
islander reporter
Anna Maria property owners can look forward to a tax reduction in fiscal 2024-25.
City commissioners voted 3-2 July 25 to set a 1.65 maximum millage rate for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1.
Commissioners Jonathan Crane and Mark Short voted “no.”
Short told The Islander after the meeting that he voted in opposition since he preferred Mayor Dan Murphy’s proposed 1.75 millage for a tentative rate from which the city could explore further reductions as the process progressed.
The millage rate is the amount per $1,000 of property value used to calculate property taxes.
The city’s current millage is 2.05 mills. The owner of a property appraised at $500,000 pays $1,025 in property taxes at that rate.
Due to a 14% increase in total taxable property value within the municipality over the past year, the city would have to adopt a rollback rate of 1.8164 mills to avoid a tax increase.
The owner of a $500,000 property would pay $908.2 in property taxes under the rollback rate.
However, the 1.65 maximum millage rate commissioners set for fiscal 2024-25 guarantees a tax reduction.
The owner of a $500,000 property would pay $825 in property taxes at that rate — a 9.17% reduction in
former city commissioner Brian Seymour, a candidate for mayor on the nov. 5 city ballot, applauded commissioners July 25 for pursuing a tax reduction for the new fiscal year.
islander Photo: ryan Paice
Holmes Beach appoints 3 to parks committee
A pair of familiar faces will return to the Holmes Beach parks and Beautification committee alongside a new member.
City commissioners unanimously voted July 23 to reappoint members Kim Gargiule and Mary Lange, as well as appoint Cathy Tobias to the committee.
The P&B is a mayoral advisory board focused on maintaining public parks and green spaces, as well as beautifying the municipality.
Three board members — Gargiule and Lange, as well as second alternate member Loretta Estabrooks — had terms expiring Aug. 1.
Only Gargiule and Lange applied for reappointment.
Tobias also applied for appointment to the board.
Mayor Judy Titsworth recommended reappointing Gargiule and Lange as full members and appointing Tobias to succeed Estabrooks as the board’s second alternate member.
There was no public comment.
Gargiule, Lange and Tobias’ new two-year terms will expire by Aug. 1, 2026.
The P&B is on its annual summer break and is set to meet next at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 2, at city hall, 5801 Marina Drive.
The meeting will be open to the public.
— ryan Paice
Milestones
The Islander welcomes stories about islanders and island life, as well as photographs and notices of the milestones in readers’ lives — weddings, births, anniversaries, travels, obituaries and other events. Submit your story with contact information to news@islander.org.
taxes from the rollback rate and a 19.52% reduction from the current 2.05 millage.
While presenting plans for fiscal 2024-25, murphy proposed a maximum millage rate of 1.75 mills as they continue to review the budget.
His proposed millage rate would have resulted in $4,089,313 in ad valorem taxes, with $1,211,533.48 of that going toward a contingency fund.
Commissioner Gary McMullen asked if the city could lower the millage rate past 1.75 to get closer to its $981,851 contingency fund for this year.
Murphy said a 1.65 millage rate would result in a contingency fund closer to this year’s.
Commissioner Charlie Salem expressed support for setting the millage rate to 1.65 mills, as well as for doubling the current $25,000 property tax exemption for seniors to $50,000.
Changing the senior exemption would require the city to hold two public hearings and adopt an ordinance.
Murphy said he would commit to exploring the idea.
Crane said he supported Murphy’s proposed 1.75 millage rate but 1.65 was too low for a tentative rate. He added that he wanted to find a rate the city could maintain for fiscal 2025-26 so the municipality would not appear unstable.
During public comment, two property owners expressed support for the lowest possible millage.
One of them was former city commissioner and mayoral candidate Brian Seymour. “I want to applaud the mayor and commissioners for considering this,” he said. “I think it’s long overdue with our property values that have doubled — if not tripled — in the 15
years I’ve lived here.”
goal to lower ad valorem taxes for property owners in fiscal 2024-25.
Salem moved to set the maximum millage rate at 1.65 mills.
McMullen seconded the motion, which passed.
Murphy said, “I think you served this city very well in doing so. This is the way government is supposed to work.”
City attorney Becky Vose said she has practiced local government law for 51 years and had never seen such a tax reduction happen.
“I’m really proud of y’all,” Vose said.
Capital expense budget
Murphy also presented the city’s plans for a $10,406,280.63 capital projects budget for fiscal 2024-25.
The bulk of that budget is $6,904,289 for existing projects, including $3,654,059 to improve Pine Avenue sidewalks and for $2,474,995 in stormwater capital improvements.
New capital projects include:
• $288,000 for a public comfort station;
• $175,000 to redesign the island players parking lot, 10009 Gulf drive;
• $94,000 to study permanent solutions to dredging the lake la Vista channel;
• $75,000 for a shade sail on the t-end of the anna maria city pier;
• $70,000 for a shade sail at city pier park, 103 N. Bay Blvd.
The city commission will continue its discussion of the fiscal 2024-25 budget at its next meeting at 1 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 8, at city hall, 10005 Gulf Drive.
anna maria mayor dan murphy, right, speaks July 25 to city commissioners about his
islander Photos: ryan Paice
compiled by lisa neff, calendar@islander.org
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
ONGOING OFF AMI
• First Fridays, 6-9:30 p.m., Village of the Arts First Fridays Artwalk, 12th Street West and 12th Avenue West, Bradenton. Information: villageofthearts.com.
• Second and fourth Saturdays, 2 p.m., Music on the Porch jam session, presented by the Florida Maritime Museum and Cortez Cultural Center, 4415 119th St. W., Cortez. Information: floridamaritimemuseum.org.
• Through August, Island Gallery and Studios “Anna Maria Island Life Through the Eyes of the Artists,” 456 Old Main St., Bradenton. Information: 941-778-6648.
• Through Aug. 15, “To the Moon: Snoopy Soars with NASA,” the Bishop Museum of Science and Nature, 201 10th St. W., Bradenton. Fee applies. Information: 941-746-4131.
• Through Aug. 16, Ringling College of Art and Design Galleries “Jack Dowd: Last Call” installation, 2700 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. Information: 941-359-7563.
• Through Aug. 31, Thursday-Saturday, 7 p.m., 9 p.m., Laser Light Nights, the Bishop Museum of Science and Nature, 201 10th St. W., Bradenton. Fee applies. Information: 941-746-4131.
• Through August, by appointment, Cortez Cultural Center Museum, 11655 Cortez Road W., Cortez. Information: 941-8400590, cvhs2016@aol.com.
Through Sept. 15, Selby Gardens’ “The Florida Highway Men: Interstate Connections,” 1534 Mound St., Sarasota. Fee applies. Information: 941-366-5731.
• Through Oct. 20, “Reimagining Nature: Dali’s Floral Fantasies,” the Dali Museum, 1 Dali Boulevard St., St. Petersburg. Fee applies. Information: 727-823-3767, thedali.org.
SAVE THE DATES
Aug. 10, Freckled Fin’s Celtic Music Festival, Holmes Beach. Sept. 19-29, Island Players’ “Crimes of the Heart,” Anna Maria.
Oct. 19, Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce’s Bayfest, Anna Maria.
MARKETS & SALES
ONGOING ON AMI
Third Thursdays, 4 p.m., Sundown Get Down with the Bridge Street Merchants, Bridge Street, Bradenton Beach. Information: 941778-8565.
ONGOING OFF AMI
• Second Saturdays through Aug. 10, 8 a.m.-noon, Summer
Hands-on at Mote’s outreach center
melbourne resident Brian robichaux July 18 guides the hand of son Blake, 5, to touch a horseshoe crab in an invertebrate touch tank at the mote marine laboratory & aquarium’s marine Science education and outreach center on the t-end of the anna maria city Pier. islander Photo: ryan Paice
Mini-Markets, Old Main Street, Bradenton. Information: realizebradenton.com, 941-301-8445.
SAVE THE DATES
Aug. 15, Sundown Get Down with the Bridge Street Merchants, Bradenton Beach.
Sept. 19, Sundown Get Down with the Bridge Street Merchants, Bradenton Beach.
KIDS & FAMILY ON AMI
Tuesday, Aug. 6
10 a.m. — Family storytime, Island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Information: 941-778-6341.
ONGOING OFF AMI
• First Wednesdays, SOAR in 4 family night, the Bishop Museum, 201 10th St. W., Bradenton. Fee applies. Information: 941-746-4131.
• Third Fridays, Teen Nights, the Bishop Museum, 201 10th St. W., Bradenton. Fee applies. Information: 941-746-4131.
• Second Saturdays, Quest for Kids, the Bishop Museum, 201 10th St. W., Bradenton. Fee applies. Information: 941-746-4131.
• Second Mondays, 2 p.m., Center of Anna Maria Island Adult Book Club, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria. Information: 941-7781908.
LESSONS & LEARNING
ONGOING ON AMI
• Tuesdays through August, 10 a.m., Anna Maria Island and Shorebird Monitoring Turtle Tracks and Shorebird Facts, Holmes Beach City Hall, 5801 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Information: islandturtlewatch.com, info@islandturtlewatch.com, 941-3018434.
SPORTS & FITNESS
ONGOING ON AMI
• Most Fridays, 11:30 a.m., mahjong club experienced players, Island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Information: 941778-6341.
• Most Tuesdays, 11:30 a.m., mahjong club, Island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Information: 941-778-6341.
ONGOING OFF AMI
• Through Sept. 1, Bradenton Marauders home games, LECOM Park, 1611 Ninth St. W., Bradenton. Fee apples. Information: 941747-3031.
OUTDOORS & NATURE
OFF AMI
Thursday, Aug. 1
10 a.m. — Escape De Soto adventure, De Soto National Memorial, 8300 Desoto Memorial Highway, Bradenton. RSVP. Information: recreation.gov, 941-792-0458.
• Saturdays, 9 a.m., Mornings at the NEST, Robinson Preserve, 10299 Ninth Ave. NW, Bradenton. Information: 941-742-5923, mymanatee.org.
SAVE THE DATES
Aug. 14, Robinson Preserve oyster drilling, Bradenton. Aug. 21, Robinson Preserve oyster drilling, Bradenton. Aug. 28, Robinson Preserve oyster drilling, Bradenton.
CALENDAR NOTES
KEEP THE DATES
Through Oct. 31, sea turtle nesting season. Lights out! Through Nov. 30, Atlantic hurricane season. Be prepared! Aug. 26, Women’s Equality Day. Aug. 30, Jimmy Buffett Day. Sept. 2, Labor Day. Sept. 8, National Grandparents Day. Sept. 11, Patriot Day.
Send listings to calendar@islander.org.
ATTENTION RENTAL OWNERS! We meet all your linen and cleaning needs with 5-star service. 18-plus years serving AMI. Our fleet will pick up/drop off daily.
Island happenings
De Soto hosts ‘escape room’
De Soto National Memorial will host an “escape room” adventure at 10 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 1. participants will solve clues to raise a flag.
The memorial is at 8300 Desoto Memorial Highway, Bradenton.
The event, part of the memorial’s summer programming, requires tickets, which can be booked at recreation.gov by searching for De Soto National Memorial. For other info, call 941-792-0458.
Yo, ho, ho: Happy holidays
anna maria island Privateer roger “Hoodat” murphree shares a moment with Santa during the nonprofit’s annual christmas in July celebration, held July 20 at the drift-in ami in Bradenton Beach. the Privateers raised $2,515 for their “kids and community” goals. islander courtesy Photos
dan marsall wins a lotto board at the anna maria island Privateers christmas in July celebration, held July 20 in Bradenton Beach.
Picture paradise gary green’s watercolor “Beach day at Holmes” will be featured in august at island gallery and Studio’s exhibit, “anna maria island life through the eyes of the artists.” the gallery, 456 old main St., Bradenton, will showcase work that celebrates the spirit of ami, according to a news release. for more information, call the gallery at 941-778-6648 or go online to islandgalleryandstudios.org. islander courtesy image
Pickleball how-to at library
It’s kind of like badminton but with balls not birdies. It’s kind of like pingpong but played on a court not a table.
It’s pickleball and it’s the fastest growing consumer participant sport in the world.
And the Island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, will host a program, “Learn How to Play Pickleball,” at 10 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 8. Reservations are required for the adult-only session via mymanatee.org/library.
For more info, call the library at 941-778-6341.
Looking moody
Bernard “Bernie” Sokolowski discusses his photography with nate Welch, known on ami as the Bins Be clean guy. Sokolowski’s use of long exposures and low light turn views of favorite locations into dreamy places. Sokolowski hosted a reception July 24 to show his work at the tea tree cafe, Palma Sola Botanical Park, 9800 17th ave. nW, Bradenton. the show, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., closes July 31. for more, call Sokolowski at 941-807-7001. islander Photo: Bonner Joy
Duck Designs Shop
Annie Silver eyes charter
By robert anderson islander reporter
The Annie Silver Community Center board is seeing some light in its effort to revamp the nonprofit’s charter.
Jim Hassett, longtime Bradenton Beach resident and member of the center since 1992, proposed in May that the board review the charter for the nonprofit that operates at 103 23rd St. N., Bradenton Beach.
Board members then voted to enlist the help of an attorney to scrutinize the document.
Hassett outlined his initial talks with attorneys at the Blalock Walters law firm in Bradenton during a July 24 meeting.
attorneys, he said, verified center members cannot sell the property and, should the nonprofit dissolve, it must do so into another nonprofit.
“We can’t turn around and sell it, which is all I ever wanted to hear,” Hassett said. “I was smiling all over inside to know we couldn’t just get all new blood in here and sell the place.”
Hassett said no plan exists to dissolve the nonprofit, but members want more concrete language on what would constitute dissolution under Florida law.
The center was established in 1952 and incorporated as a nonprofi t in 1955. it is named for annie Silver, an island resident who donated the land.
Hassett said his initiative to revisit the charter was fueled by concern over demographic shifts on the island, marked by increases in real estate development, short-term rentals and a corresponding decline in fulltime resident participation in community activities.
While the center has about 40 members, only a handful attend functions regularly.
in other news, center members got a first look at a center mural design by local artist and center member Robert Reiber. The mural has seaside-theme that includes Annie Silver standing on the shore.
The center board approved $400 for the mural in June and Reiber said he will begin work on the outdoor work in October.
Members also read a letter of gratitude intended to share with municipalities and organizations recognizing the life and achievements of center member Kaye Bell, who died in February.
robert reiber shows annie Silver community center members his design for an exterior mural for the center building. islander
Photo: robert anderson
Cortez’s Florida Maritime museum preserves horse sculpture
By robert anderson islander reporter
Manatee County isn’t horsing around when it comes to the conservation of the Cortez community’s art history.
The Florida Maritime Museum, 4415 119th St. W., Cortez, is undertaking efforts to preserve a sculpture fountain on museum grounds.
The so-called horse fountain sculpture was commissioned by Robert Sailors, a master weaver who repurposed the former Cortez Rural Graded Schoolhouse of 1912 into his studio and residence in 1974.
Sailors, who lived and worked in the building until his death in 1995, was renowned for his art, with pieces shown in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., the Art Institute of Chicago and the Museum of Decorative Arts in Montreal.
Eclectic in nature, Sailors decided his yard needed a metal horse sculpture fashioned in steel.
“Apparently he found a stainless-steel kitchen sink company in Arcadia and he commissioned the piece,” FMM supervisor Tori Chasey said July 24.
The museum is now housed in the old schoolhouse.
Chasey said the sculpture also played a role in a local whodunit.
“It was stolen at one point,” she said. But after coverage of the theft by local news publications, the horse returned to the museum grounds one night.
Chasey said restorative work was funded with a Manatee River Garden Club grant that also provided native plantings surrounding the fountain.
Some FMM history
In 1999, Manatee County acquired Sailors’ prop-
conservator luis Seixas applies a waxing agent to a metal sculpture outside the florida maritime museum, 4415 119th St. W., cortez.
erty, restored it and opened the museum in 2007. The building holds a place on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Cortez historic district.
Young scientists study shipwrecks
Kel roth, community engagement coordinator for manatee county agricultural museum, leads a class on marine archeology July 25 at the island library, 5701 marina drive, Holmes Beach. children learned the basics of marine archaeology and methods scientists use to find, explore and catalog shipwrecks.
islander Photos: robert anderson
following a talk on the fundamentals of underwater archaeology July 25 at the island library in Holmes Beach, children record findings from a mock shipwreck set up by staff from the florida maritime museum and the manatee county agricultural museum.
museum supervisor tori chasey, left, listens as art conservator luis Seixas describes techniques to preserve a horse sculpture to melissa morgan, diane ingram of the manatee county agricultural museum and Betsy lieberman of the manatee river garden club. islander Photos: robert anderson
The museum also maintains other works and structures on the grounds.
To ensure the conservation and maintenance of the horse fountain, the museum enlisted the expertise of conservator Luis Seixas.
Seixas, originally from Portugal, has traveled the world conserving objects and sculptures, working for private collections and institutions in the united states, china and places in Europe including several united Nations Educational, scientific and cultural Organization sites.
Seixas said the FMM sculpture showed signs of patina due to the combined use of steel, copper and aluminum in the construction. Chemical reactions from the metals and environment created a patina requiring conservation efforts.
After completing his preservation work on the sculpture, Seixas gave a presentation on conservation July 24 at the historic Burton Store building on the grounds. the session provided about five attendees with insight into the techniques and challenges of conserving art.
“it’s a lot of science; organic chemistry, physics and the science of materials,” Seixas said. “At the end you have to use your mind to combine all that knowledge and preserve cultural heritage as a conservator.”
Top Notch
Photo contest continues
The Islander’s Top Notch contest continues.
The contest celebrates what still is known as the “Kodak moment,” despite Kodak’s downfall in the switch from film to digital technology.
The contest includes six weekly front-page winners. Each will claim an Islander “More than a mullet wrapper” T-shirt.
One weekly shot will take the grand prize in the contest, earning the photographer a $100 prize from the islander and certificates from local merchants.
There also is a pet photo contest for weekly submissions and a winner announced in the final weeks.
Look online for the rules and other details.
Please, note, each original JPG must be included in a single email with the name of the photographer, date the photo was taken, location and description, names of recognizable people and the address and phone number of the photographer.
All rules at islander.org must be observed.
Now, review your photos and send entries to topnotch@islander.org.
— Bonner Joy
dana guess of Bradenton captures a moment and win’s a weekly honor in the islander’s top notch photo contest in 2022.
Jake colon, 5, listens to florida maritime museum supervisor tori chasey as they research a mock shipwreck July 25 during a class on marine archeology at the island library in Holmes Beach.
AME’s new principal ready for new year
A new principal, new teachers and campus improvements await Anna Maria Elementary students and staff monday, aug.12, the first day of school. Classes in 2024-25 will begin at 8:25 a.m. and end at 3:15 p.m. Students can enter the school as early as 7:55 a.m.
Katie Fradley, AME’s new principal, stepped into her role over the summer, taking the helm from Mike Masiello, who retired at the end of 2023-24.
In a July 19 email to The Islander, Fradley outlined plans for the first semester, including establishing relationships with students and their families, completing an outdoor learning space and increasing school enrollment by promoting the Guy Harvey Academy of Arts and Science.
“I have had a wonderful opportunity this summer to begin to form relationships with the staff, students who attended camp, parents and community,” Fradley wrote. “As I look towards the 2024-2025 school year, I am excited to strengthen all these relationships.”
Parents who have not met Fradley can do so at AME’s back-to-school night Thursday, Aug. 8.
PTO seeks 2024-25 partners
The Anna Maria Elementary Parent-Teacher Organization launched a partnership campaign to seek sponsors for its work at the school in Holmes Beach.
With fundraising, the PTO provides teacher support, playground equipment, tutoring, reading programs, field trips, fifth-grade celebrations and more.
Sponsorship costs range $500-$5,000 and include multiple promotional opportunities, including company logos on PTO T-shirts, company names on the school’s Gulf Drive sign and also logos on event banners throughout the academic year.
Donations must be received by Wednesday, Aug. 31.
Sponsor checks can be made payable to AME PTO and sent to AME, 4700 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, FL 34217.
For more information, contact PTO president Jen Serra at 614-937-2689 or email amepto@gmail.com.
— robyn murrell
AME Calendar
• Monday, Aug. 5, teacher workday, PTO back-to-school breakfast and lunch for teachers.
• Wednesday-Thursday, Aug. 7-8, teacher workday.
• Thursday, Aug. 8, 4:30 p.m., 5:15 p.m., back-to-school night, PTO dinner for staff.
• Monday, Aug.12, first day of 2024-25 for students.
• Saturday, Oct. 26, PTO fall fest, Center at Anna Maria, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria.
Anna Maria Elementary is at 4700 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach.
For more information, call the school at 941-708-5525.
By robyn murrell
The event will have two sessions: one for voluntary pre-kindergarten- through second-grade students 4:30-5:15 p.m. and another for third- through fifthgraders 5:15-6 p.m.
AME this year will welcome returning and new students and also returning and new staff.
New to the staff are Nicole Ditzel, an AME grad, who will teach third-grade, and Julie Gramman, who will be a VPK teacher’s aide.
AME, with the district’s smallest school enrollment, has not seen much change in numbers from last
HB helps with school supplies
The city of Holmes Beach is conducting a drive to collect school supplies for the 2024-25 academic year, which begins Monday, Aug. 12, for Manatee County public schools.
“Help students in need and donate,” read a notice for the Mayor’s Back to School Supply Drive.
Donors can drop supplies at city hall, 5801 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, including crayons, markers, paper, pencils, notebooks, binders, folders, backpacks, glue, scissors and rulers, through Aug. 30.
Consumers can save money on school supplies through Sunday, Aug. 11, during a state sales tax holiday.
— lisa neff
year to this year. AME ended 2023-24 with 185 students. As of July 23, 180 students were enrolled for 2024-25, according to Melissa Parker, district communication specialist.
However, Fradley has a plan to turn around enrollment.
“My next goal is to strengthen enrollment. One way I will do this is through increased marketing of all of the amazing things that make our school so unique,” she said. “One of these is our relationship with the Guy Harvey Foundation.”
Fradley also will oversee campus improvement projects in her first semester, including installing a new backdrop on the playground, adding safety fencing to a loading area of the pickup lane and completing an outside learning deck.
The learning space on the playground was to be completed in April. However, construction didn’t begin until the spring and remained unfinished as of July 24.
“After an initial delay in materials, we will be moving forward with our outdoor Guy Harvey teaching and learning deck,” Fradley said. “This outdoor classroom is just one of the things that will help make our campus more attractive to additional students.”
The space includes a main teaching area and three offshoot areas and it will have Trex decking, sunshades and fans.
The funds to construct the deck came from $1 million awarded for the academy that had to be spent by the end of 2023-24.
Principal Katie fradley in her office July 24. islander courtesy Photo
By lisa Neff
Gloria Dei collects for pantries
Gloria Dei Lutheran Church continues to work to stock local food pantries and invites people to drop off nonperishable food items for its “First Sunday Food Collection” Aug. 4.
“This week, as you are shopping or cleaning out your pantry, consider what you could contribute. Nonperishable items of any type or quantity are welcome,” the church encouraged in its recent bulletin.
Gloria Dei is at 6608 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach.
For more info, call the church at 941-778-1813.
Roser continues GriefShare
Roser Memorial Community Church offers GriefShare: Hope and Healing, a program to help people through loss, at 1 p.m. Wednesdays through Oct. 2.
A notice on the church website, roserchurch.com, said, “You don’t have to go through the grieving process alone. Our group is led by caring people who have experienced grief and want to help you through the difficult days ahead.”
A workbook for the program costs $20.
Roser is at 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria.
For more information about the program, call the church at 941-778-0414.
Gathering
Gathering is the religion section. Please, send announcements, calendar listings and photos to Lisa Neff at lisa@islander.org. Please include a contact phone number and email address.
GoodDeeds Obituaries
Water-based cleanup set
Suncoast Aqua Ventures plans a water-based cleanup in August of Perico Bayou to the opening of Palma Sola Bay.
The event will be 8 a.m.-noon Saturday, Aug. 3, and volunteers will assemble the Robinson Preserve parking lot on Manatee Avenue/State Road 64.
Suncoast Aqua Ventures is seeking volunteers who have kayaks and shallow-draft boats but shoreline work also is needed.
For more info, call Suncoast Aquaventures at 941962-1488 or go online to suncoastaquaventures.com.
Kids’ cleanup contest begins
Islanders 4 Clean Water is recruiting kids for a bucket brigade to clean up beaches.
And the campaign, coordinated out of Holmes Beach City Hall, is conducting a contest to encourage participation.
Here’s how to win, according to a social media post by Islanders 4 Clean Water:
• Collect litter in a 5-gallon bucket at any beach;
• Share on social media a photo of collected litter and tag @cityofholmesbeach;
• Stop by Holmes Beach City Hall, 5801 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, to get a backpack for participating;
• Participants are entered into a raffle for a half-day inshore fishing trip with Capt. Logan Bystrom, who is the son of Mayor Judy Titsworth.
The contest will run through Aug. 31.
For more info, call city hall at 941-708-5800.
Assistance sought on AMI
• Tingley Memorial Library in Bradenton Beach seeks volunteers for morning and afternoon shifts in the “fun and friendly” atmosphere. Info: 941-7791208, bradentonbeachlibrary@gmail.com.
• The Anna Maria Island Privateers group seeks members to build up the group and find an indoor port for their boat-float. Info: 941-896-0797.
• Wildlife Inc. rescue and rehabilitation in Bradenton Beach seeks help tending to injured and sick animals. Info: 941-778-6342.
• Roser Food Bank seeks donations. Roser Memorial Community Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, administers the pantry supported by All Island Denominations. Info: 941-778-0414.
Russell T. Stanley
Russell T. Stanley, 93, of Perico Island, died July 10.
He was born Aug. 8, 1930, to Joseph and Anna Stanley in Newark, New Jersey.
He graduated from Union High School in New Jersey, received his undergraduate degree from Montclair State College and his master’s degree in education from Trenton State College, also in New Jersey.
Mr. Stanley’s career in New Jersey education included teaching science, coaching and as field representative for the New Jersey Education Association, assistant superintendent in Montclair and Princeton, interim superintendent and elementary school principal in Flemington and Lawrence Township.
Retirement brought him to Bradenton and the Perico Bay Club. where he was instrumental in the development of the condo association and served as board president.
Mr. Stanley was an active member at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Holmes Beach and served as a lector, cantor and altar server as well as a Rosarian and member of the Holy Name Society.
He put his time, talent and treasure into everything he did in an effort to make life better for others. He was dedicated to his family, church and community. He was loved by all who knew him and will be greatly missed.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 10, at St. Bernard, 248 S. Harbor Drive, Holmes Beach. Memorial donations may be made to a charity of choice.
Mr. Stanley is survived by Jean, his wife of 73 years; son Russell Jr. and wife Chris; daughters JoAnn Zebroski and husband Phillip, Mari Lou, and Janet Ruebsamen and husband Scott; five grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
Thomas Richey Linsley
Thomas Richey Linsley, 79, former 20-year resident of Holmes Beach, died July 21.
He was born Jan. 20, 1945, in Ithaca, New York, to Thomas H. and Cora. He moved to Pittsburgh at an early age, before he relocated to Holmes Beach in 1995.
Tidings
Compiled by lisa Neff
THIS WEEK
Wednesday, July 31
1 p.m. — Roser Memorial Community Church Grief Share healing support, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria. Information: 941-7780414.
Send announcements, calendar listings and photos to Lisa Neff at lisa@islander.org. Please include a contact phone number and email address.
A celebration of life will be held at a later time. Memorial donations may be made to Gould Farm at gouldfarm. org.
Mr. Linsley is survived by his wife and childhood sweet heart, Ellen; sons Todd and wife Jodi and Gray and wife Shelley; grandchildren Maxwell, Catherine, Jacob and Megan; and his sister, Jane.
He attended American University and worked as linsley a sales executive until retirement. He was known for his entrepreneurial spirit and positive attitude. He will be dearly missed by all who knew him.
Stanley
Looking back: Killing spree at the Kingfish Boat Ramp
By June Alder Islander archives
As I recall, I was the only reporter in The Islander office Aug. 1, 1980, when someone yelled at me to pick up my phone.
My mother was calling.
Her voice was odd, whispery and urgent.
“I’m down here at Foodway. There’s been an accident or something — a man’s been hurt.”
I grabbed my camera and jumped in my car. It took me less than five minutes to round the bend at the Manatee Public Beach. That’s when I saw people milling around near Kingfish Boat Ramp.
I saw a car and boat trailer jackknifed near a pole. I parked and raced over to a scene of chaos.
Sheets were draped over two figures being lifted onto stretchers. They appeared to be children.
A few feet away from the car, medics bent over a man stretched out on the ground.
Close by lay a deeply tanned man in red-and-white striped trunks. He was barely breathing. I could tell by the look on the face of a woman in a nurse’s uniform holding his head that he was close to death.
I moved in closer with my camera. Through the viewfinder, I could see a small hole — about the size of a dime — in the man’s forehead.
Across the street at the Foodway, an ambulance was pulling out. A man had been shot.
I was beginning to realize the enormity of the crime that had shattered the pleasant afternoon.
On Aug. 1, 1980, Juan Dumois, a Tampa physician, his sons Eric, 13, and Mark, 9, and their uncle, Raymond Barrows of Miami, had left the boat ramp for a fishing trip.
Returning about 5 p.m., they loaded their boat onto a trailer hitched to their station wagon. Dumois and Barrows got into the front seat and the boys took seats in the back. Just as Dumois was about to drive off, a man approached. He said he sprained his ankle and asked for a lift.
The man and Dumois hoisted his bike into the boat and the stranger got into the back with the boys before
and others
to man
Aug. 1, 1980, in
were
pulled away. The station
had gone only a few yards when the man shot
and his sons and left.
Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Robert Matzke, working in the yard at his Westbay Cove North condo, observed the man leaving.
Matzke pursued him to the Foodway in his sports car. He encountered the man there. A shot rang out and Matzke became the hitchhiker’s fifth victim.
Most shoppers were unaware as the gunman got into a car that disappeared into traffic.
Barrows survived the shooting but died of a heart attack in May 1982, less than two years later.
that day
“Anna Maria Island,” a pictorial history book of the island by Bonner Joy, is available for $20 at The Islander office, 315 58th St., Holmes Beach. Call or text 941-778-7978 for hours or purchase at islander.org. Joy is publisher of The Islander.
A trailered boat and station wagon are jackknifed near the Kingfish Boat Ramp Aug. 1, 1980. Five people were shot that day.
A Fiat driven by Robert Matzke crashed into another vehicle at the Foodway grocery store on East Bay Drive. Some people at the store thought a crash had occurred but Matzke, a retired Air Force colonel, had followed a man from a crash on Manatee Avenue to the Foodway. There, in an encounter, the man shot Matzke.
The investigation dragged on, artists’ conceptions of the killer were circulated, a reward was offered and more than 100 suspects were questioned but no arrest was made.
Investigators over the years have said the only chance for a solution is that someone will talk.
Will we ever know the killer’s identity or the reason for the massacre on that bloody Friday?
Editor’s note: This story, edited for style and length, first published in The Islander in 1999. June Alder worked for the old and new Islanders, including at the time when the murders occurred. Alder is in the photo below, wearing a camera bag.
Emergency personnel and bystanders respond Aug. 1, 1980, in Holmes Beach, to a crash where three people were fatally shot and one person was injured. A fourth person was fatally
unsolved. Islander reporter June Alder is pictured top left. Islander File Photo
Islander File Photo
Nurses
tend
shot
Holmes Beach. Five people
shot
— four of them died. The case remains unsolved. Islander File Photo
shot at the nearby Foodway on East Bay Drive. The case known as the Kingfish murders remains
Dumois
wagon
Barrows, Dumois
Cops & Courts
Bradenton man guilty of assaulting, resisting police
Bradenton resident Kevin McNamara, 36, will be on probation until July 2026 following his conviction for two criminal charges.
The charges include a third-degree felony for resisting a law enforcement officer with violence and a first-degree misdemeanor for assault on an officer.
The charges stem from an Oct. 20, 2023, incident in which a Holmes Beach police officer found McNamara around 2 a.m. outside of a closed business and asked for his identification.
McNamara could not find his ID, threw his bag at the officer and told him to search for the ID.
The officer dumped the bag’s contents, at which point McNamara approached the officer with clenched fists and punched the officer, when a struggle ensued.
The officer, with the help of backup, eventually arrested McNamara.
McNamara initially pleaded not guilty but changed his plea to no contest at a July 11 court hearing, when Judge Frederick Mercurio of the 12th Circuit Court found McNamara guilty of both charges.
For the third-degree felony, Mercurio sentenced McNamara to 24 months of probation, an eight-hour anger control class and 50 hours of public service work.
For the first-degree misdemeanor charge, Mercurio sentenced McNamara to 12 months of probation to be served concurrently with the felony sentence.
— Ryan Paice
Streetlife
By Robert Anderson and Ryan Paice
Island police reports
Anna Maria
No new reports
The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office polices Anna Maria.
Bradenton Beach
July 19, 118 Bridge St., Sports Lounge, trespass. A Bradenton Beach police offi cer was asked by an employee to assist with a man refusing to pay his bill. The offi cer and employee contacted the man, who paid and was escorted from the bar. Then the man ran inside and threw himself on the ground. He was arrested, taken to HCA Blake Hospital in Bradenton and then to Manatee County jail in Palmetto, where he was charged with trespassing and obstruction without violence.
July 22, 2000 block of Avenue A, larceny. A complainant said a blank check was stolen from their residence or vehicle and made out to an unknown party for $14,300. An incident report was filed and the matter is under investigation.
The BBPD polices Bradenton Beach.
Cortez
July 19, 4528 119th St. W., Cortez Kitchen, larceny. A complainant told an MCSO deputy that a man entered the Cortez Bait and Seafood Market and removed money from a tip jar. An incident report and case number were assigned.
July 21, 12507 Cortez Road W., Tide Tables, Overdose. A man jumped off a restaurant dock. MCSO deputies determined he appeared to have taken narcotics and needed medical attention. Emergency medical services were called and the man was transported to
HCS Florida Blake Hospital in Bradenton for care. The MCSO polices Cortez. Holmes Beach
July 18, 3000 block of Avenue C, suspicious person. Two police officers responded to reports of a suspicious man on private property around 6 a.m. They found a man who ran from them as they approached and so stopped him at gunpoint. After he was handcuffed, he told police he had gotten drunk and woke up at the property. There were no signs he attempted to gain entry to any homes and there were no burglary tools in his possession. The officers released the man.
July 18, Holmes Beach Police Department, 5801 Marina Drive, welfare check/assisting EMS. A woman reported she was worried about her ex-boyfriend and traveled from California to check on him. She provided a Holmes Beach address for his residence. An officer responded to the property, but nobody answered the door. On July 22, an officer responded to reports of an unconscious man at the property and found the ex-boyfriend getting treatment from Manatee County Emergency Medical Services. The man’s wife said he had been eating when he stopped breathing, at which point she called 911, started mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and CPR. The man was transported to HCA Florida Blake Hospital in Bradenton.
July 19, 100 block of 52nd Street, juvenile trouble/obstruction. Two officers responded to a fight and found three juveniles jumping over a fence. The officers ordered them to stop but they continued running. The officers gave chase and detained the juveniles in handcuffs. A witness told police one juvenile tried to strike him with a towel, but he did not want to press charges. The officers transported the juveniles to the HBPD and contacted their parents, who responded to retrieve their children. A bottle of alcohol was found in the vehicle of the juvenile who drove the group to the island, and the owner was issued a citation.
July 20, AMI Mediterranean Xpress, 5316 Marina Drive, fraud. An officer responded to reports of fraud and met with the business owner, who said he discovered a counterfeit $100 bill in a cash register. The bill was used to pay for a $40 meal and the cashier, who did not use a counterfeit detection pen, provided the customer with $60 in change. The owner provided video footage of the transaction.
July 20, Anchor Inn, 3007 Gulf Drive, bicycle
Bradenton Beach mayor catches heat over wrong-number voicemail
By Robert Anderson Islander Reporter
Sorry, wrong number.
A phone call to a friend by Bradenton Beach Mayor John Chappie that went to a wrong-number and a voicemail left for the friend, stirred controversy after the recording was posted on social media.
On the July 25 voicemail, posted on the Manatee Resident BOCC Watchers Facebook page, Chappie asked “Jake” to facilitate a special accommodation for seating at the Daiquiri Deck on Bridge Street for county administrator Charlie Bishop and his party.
Chappie said July 26 he was trying to reach the owner of the building that leases to the Daiquiri Deck in Bradenton Beach, Jake Spooner, a former city commissioner, but, without knowing, reached the wrong number.
“I’ve never done this before. I just got a call from county administrator Charlie Bishop. He is at the Daiquiri Deck and believe it or not, he called me. He’s got a 45-minute wait for a reservation to get a seat,” Chappie said on the voicemail. “And he wanted
BBPD arrests woman for alleged child abuse
By Robert Anderson Islander Reporter
Bradenton Beach Police Department officers July 21 arrested Yanaisy Armas Jimenez, 39, of Plant City, for alleged child abuse.
Officer Ryan Gagliano was dispatched to the beach in the 2900 block of Gulf Drive north in response to reports of a woman hitting a child with a beach chair.
According to an arrest report, when Gagliano contacted Jimenez, she appeared intoxicated.
And witnesses provided the officer with videos and photos of Jimenez striking a child multiple times with a fold-up beach chair.
Jiminez, who according to the report began yelling and screaming at the officer, was detained in handcuffs
theft. An officer responded to reports of a past theft and spoke with the complainant, a man who said his electric bicycle was stolen from outside the bar. He said he noticed the bike missing around 2 a.m. but did not report it immediately, saying he was upset.
July 20, 500 block of 58th Street, disturbance. An officer responded to reports of a domestic disturbance and spoke with a man who received strange texts from his mother. The officer went to the mother’s property, where she advised him that nothing had happened. The officer found no marks or bruises on her or her partner.
July 22, 4100 block of Fourth Avenue, domestic
and placed in a patrol car.
Meanwhile, child protective services officer Lidia Perez with the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office arrived to assist Gagliano and screened Jimenez for alcohol and drugs, yielding a positive result for alcohol.
Jimenez was arrested and taken to the Manatee County jail in Palmetto, where she was facing a charge of child abuse without great bodily harm, a third-degree felony punishable upon conviction with five years in prison or probation and a $5,000 fine.
CPS arranged for a family member to take custody of the child.
Jimenez was released July 23 on a $5,000 bond. Her arraignment will be at 9 a.m. Friday, Sept. 13, at the Manatee County Judicial Center in Bradenton.
battery. An offi cer responded to reports a fi ght and found two brothers who said they got into a scrap. Neither required EMS. Their father told police who was the primary aggressor. The officer arrested the aggressor and transported him to the Manatee County jail.
HBPD polices Holmes Beach. Streetlife is based on reports and narratives from the BBPD, HBPD and MCSO.
to know if I could pull a string for him.”
After the voicemail was received, the unknown recipient shared it for the public to hear on a county watchdog Facebook page.
In a July 26 interview with The Islander, Chappie said, “I received a phone call yesterday evening from a friend. I’ve known Charlie for probably around 15 years. So I figured I’d give Jake a call and from what I understand by the time Jake got back to him, Charlie was already seated with his family.”
“As I said on the recording, I have never done it before and I’ve never, ever done it for myself.”
Chappie downplayed any allegations of favoritism saying he hadn’t expected anything in return.
“People who know me, know,” he said. Chappie declined to identify the person who leaked the voicemail.
Bishop was appointed county administrator in 2023 by the Manatee board of county commissioners.
The Islander reached out to Bishop for comment on the matter July 26 but received no response by press time.
RoadWatch
Eyes on the road
• South Bradenton Beach: Manatee County is nearing the completion of its sewer project on Gulf Drive South. For the latest, go to amiprojects.io.
• City center in Holmes Beach: Manatee County’s final work on a force main project on Holmes Boulevard, Marina Drive and side streets remains open. A project walkthrough was performed but the contractor is completing punch-list items and cleanup. For the latest, go to amiprojects.io.
For area road watch information, go online to swflroads.com or dial 511
— Lisa Neff
Chappie
Midsummer sees sports in cool gym, hot fields, links and pits
By Kevin P. Cassidy Islander Reporter
With five weeks of action in the books in the Center of Anna Maria Island’s indoor soccer league, three teams are still without a loss.
AMI Outfitters boasts a 4-0-1 record to lead the 11-14 division, just ahead of second-place Jiffy Lube, which is 3-1-1. Solid Rock Construction sits in third on a 1-3-1 record, followed by Cloud Pest Control at 0-4-1.
Positive Waves leads the 8-10s with a 3-0-1 record with Solid Rock Construction on their heels with a 2-1-1 record. Gulf Drive Cafe, still without a loss at 1-0-3, holds down third, while 1-2-1 Shady Lady Horticultural Services and 0-4 Progressive Cabinetry completing the standings.
Action July 23 saw Positive Waves come from behind to secure a 5-5 tie against Gulf Drive Cafe in 8-10 action in the gym. First-half goals from Holden Lake, Joseph Caballero and Leo Burns staked Gulf Drive Cafe to a 3-2 half-time lead.
Positive Waves came back to outscore Gulf Drive Cafe 3-2 in the second half to draw even behind the scoring of Parker Svoboda, who fi nished with fi ve goals in the tie. Goalie Kellen Reed helped keep Positive Waves in the game with nine saves. Burns led the cafe with two goals and an assist, while Dallas Biggers, Caballero and Lake each finished with one goal. Everett Hood notched several great saves for Gulf Drive, finishing with 10 saves in the tie.
Solid Rock Construction outscored Shady Lady Horticultural Services 8-5 in the second 8-10 division game of the night. Matthew Darak led the way for Solid Rock with six goals. Miguel Benitez added a goal and an assist, while Samuel Raulerson finished with one goal in the victory.
Action in the 11-14s kicked off July 22 with Jiffy Lube slipping by Solid Rock 2-0 behind two goals
that he took to the house.
Prosper Bradenton received three TD passes from Ray Gardner, including two to Tony Giammari and one to Connor Ludwig in the loss.
Salty Printing slipped past Solid Rock Electrical 21-20 behind two TD passes from Tuna McCracken and two TD catches and 2 extra points from Christian Hampton. Matt Manger added a TD pass and Blake Balaise finished with a TD and an extra point .
Jonathan Moss threw two TD passes and added a receiving score for Solid Rock Electrical. Evelyn Long and Brandon Rolland received TDs in the loss.
from Nolan Anderson. Hudson West had an assist and Cohen Weber came through with 11 saves.
Goalies Hayden Eurice and Isaac Roadman made 13 and 12 saves respectively to help keep Solid Rock in striking distance.
The second 11-14 game saw AMI Outfitters defeat Cloud Pest Control 4-2 behind a hat trick from Wes Saxon. Matthew Darak added a goal and two assists, while Jordan Tobey had nine saves in the win.
David Zupa and Amelia Blunkall each scored a goal, while Kyle Castanga made 18 saves for Cloud Pest Control.
Adult flag football
Floridian Mortgage remains the team to beat just past the halfway point in the adult flag football league season at the community center.
Floridian Mortgage improved to 4-0 on the season with a convincing victory over second place Fishing With Salty, which fell to 3-1. Prosper Bradenton, Salty Printing and Solid Rock Electrical are bunched up at 2-2, while Moss Builders, Slim’s Place and Solid Rock Air Conditioning all have 1-3 records.
Action July 25 kicked off with Solid Rock Air Conditioning outscoring Moss Builders 46-42 behind five touchdown passes from Dominick Otteni — four of them to Zack Price. Zaon Williams added two TD passes and one TD reception for Solid Rock, which also received a pair of TD catches from Zacharieah Anabtawi in the victory.
Ryan Moss threw five TD passes and added a pair of rushing touchdowns to lead Moss Builders. Donte Filletti added three TD catches and Greg Moss finished with two TD receptions for Moss in the loss.
Anthony Mannino ran for two TDs and caught a TD from Cruz Rodriguez to lead Slim’s Place past Prosper Bradenton 22-21. Isaiah Lambert added an extra point and an interception of a 2-point conversion
Continued
Moreover,
We’re
Chase Richardson threw three TD passes and added three interceptions on defense, including one he returned for a TD to lead Floridian Mortgage to a 44-12 victory over second-place Fishing With Salty. Tyler Brewer had a pair of TD catches, while also adding an extra point and a sack that resulted in a safety. Rex Kesten and Jasmine Muldoon completed the Floridian Mortgage scoring with a TD each.
Miguel Rodriguez threw a pair of touchdowns to Jonathan Soultatos for Fishing With Salty in the loss.
Key Royale
news
Golf action last week at the Key Royale Club in Holmes Beach got started with the men’s weekly modified-Stableford system match July 22. There was a log jam at the top of the leaderboard with Tom Nelson, Mike Pritchett and Bill Shuman finishing in a tie for first place with matching plus-3 scores.
The women played a nine-hole individual-low-net match July 23. Jana Samuels earned clubhouse bragging rights with a 2-over-par 34, a stroke ahead of second-place finisher Helen Pollock. Sue Wheeler was alone in third with a 4-over-par 36.
Members gathered July 25 for a nine-hole, threeplayer scramble on a modified course that played to a par 28 to close out the golf action for the week. The team of Fred Miller, Tom Nelson and Gary Razze combined on an even-par 28 to grab first-place honors. The three-
Cassidy
Positive Waves’ Sebastian Cordova attempts to split the defense put up by Gulf Drive Cafe’s Joseph Caballero and Dallas Biggers July 23 at the Center of Anna Maria Island. Islander Photo: Kevin P. Cassidy
Steve Kriebel, left, and Dom Livedoti pose in the winner’s circle July 24 at the Anna Maria City Hall horseshoe pits. Islander Photo: AMI Pitchers
Parker Svoboda’s shot attempt July 23 is blocked by Leo Burns during 8-10 soccer action at the community center. Islander
Photo: Kevin P. Cassidy
Hot temps, hot fishing action put dinner in the fry pan
By Capt. Danny Stasny Islander Reporter
With the water temps in the Gulf of Mexico and the bays pushing beyond 90 degrees, Anna Maria Island anglers are fishing early to beat the heat and find fish that will bite. Targeting and hooking spotted seatrout, redfish and catch-and-release snook requires a little patience — to say the least.
Timing fishing trips during early mornings to correspond with moving tides is advantageous as we move into August. If that doesn’t fit your schedule, plan on fishing deeper water, where cooler temperatures exist on the bottom.
Fishing structure in depths of 30-50 feet is an option. And snapper are infesting our nearshore waters, which provides anglers with some good action on medium-spinning gear, as well as tasty fillets for the fry pan.
Other species, such as lane snapper, Key West grunts and juvenile grouper can be found in these depths, adding some variety to the bite.
Fishing baits toward the surface might also entice Spanish mackerel if you’re looking for more action. Chumming with live shiners is effective to see if any macks are in the vicinity.
Offshore, mangrove snapper and yellowtail snapper are the main focus now that American red snapper season has ended. Both species are being caught with frequency. In fact, limits of both are being reported. And, with the opening of amberjack season in the Gulf, you can bet it’ll be time to start breaking out the heavy spinning gear to commence battle with these bruisers as they patrol the reefs and wrecks in search of a meal.
On my Just Reel charters, I’m seeing action on a variety of species. Spotted seatrout are cooperating during the faster run of the tides, with all sizes of trout being caught by my clients. Deeper grass flats are holding the better concentrations of fish, although most are 13-16 inches. Larger examples are being found on structure in depths of up to 20 feet.
We also are finding decent numbers of mangrove snapper, with most catches 12-14 inches, although some up to 18 inches are taking our bait.
Fishing mangrove shorelines for snook and redfish
some of Ken Nagengast, Earl Ritchie and Ron Vandeman tied the team of Dom Livedoti, Charlie Porter and Jana Samuels with scores of 1-over-par 29.
Horseshoe news
Two teams emerged from pool play during July 24 horseshoe action at the Anna Maria City Hall pits, where Steve Kriebel and Dom Livedoti cruised to a 24-3 victory over Tom Farrington and Jay Disbrow and earned the day’s bragging rights.
Three teams advanced to the knockout stage during the July 27 games. Gersey Fernandes drew the lucky bye and watched as Farrington and Bob Hawks advanced to the finals with a 21-18 victory over Bob Heiger and Gary Howcroft. The finals saw FarringtonHawks rally for a 21-20 come-from-behind victory.
Play gets underway at 9 a.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays at the Anna Maria pits. Warmups begin at 8:45 a.m., followed by random team selection.
There is no charge and everyone is welcome.
is requiring patience as water temps are on the high side for these species. In fact, the better snook bite is occurring along the beaches and passes. As for the reds, mangrove shorelines have fish hiding in the shade under the bushes.
Capt. David White is reporting good action offshore in the Gulf of Mexico, where snapper and yellowtail snapper are being caught daily. Using medium-heavy fishing gear to target these species is most enjoyable as both species turn feisty on the hook. A variety of live and frozen baits are working to lure the tasty fish to the hook.
Moving inshore, White is finding mangrove snapper while working structure in Tampa Bay and in the Gulf of Mexico, with limits of snapper being caught most days. White next turns to the beaches where his sport anglers are taking on catch-and-release snook. Sight-casting live shiners to these fish is enjoyable as the strike is visible in the clear water.
Finally, White is targeting blacktip sharks around Egmont Key, where most shark catches are 4-6 feet.
Capt. Johnny Mattay of Anna Maria Charters is working offshore in the Gulf of Mexico for mangrove and yellowtail snapper over reefs, wrecks and hard-bottom areas. After wrapping up with American red snapper season, Mattay has his sights on limits of mangrove and yellowtail snapper, which is resulting in long sessions at the fillet table and coolers full of fish for clients.
Moving inshore, Mattay is chasing schools of redfish on the shallow flats of Tampa Bay south to Sarasota Bay. Both live and dead baits are working as the coppercolored herds of fish move across the flat devouring everything that resembles a meal. Fishing deeper areas for spotted seatrout is keeping Mattay’s clients busy reeling up trout of all sizes.
Fishing over wrecks and reefs also is yielding action, especially on Spanish mackerel and mangrove snapper. Both are being caught on hatch bait.
Capt. Wes Wildman of Wildman Adventures says fishing is tricky due to the warm water temperatures. On some days, he’s seeing water temps as high as 90 degrees while working the flats.
Wildman says he’s starting his days by targeting snapper around structure in Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. With slower tides during the early morning, Wildman is seizing the moment, as the conditions
Capt. Rick Gross of Fishy Business charters took local Bradenton/ Sarasota anglers Tyson Peco, left, Tim Igalie, Jerry Gerth and Donnie Morro to a nearlimit on mangrove snapper July 26 in Tampa Bay.
are ideal for clients to target snapper. Using small live shiners as bait is yielding snapper up to 17 inches.
As the sun gets higher and the tide starts moving, Wildman is migrating to the flats to target redfish from Tampa Bay south to Sarasota Bay. Most of the schooling fish are slot-size, but they’re providing great action on medium spinning gear. Both live shiners and dead baits are working.
Lastly, Wildman is putting clients on catch-andrelease snook both around mangrove shorelines and along the beaches.
Send high-resolution photos and fishing reports to fish@islander.org.
Neil Pascoe, 13, of Parrish, pulls up a catfish July 25 at the Historic Bridge Street Pier in Bradenton Beach to a roar of approval from diners on the deck at the Anna Maria Oyster Bar. Neil went to the dock with a rod and reel to fish but without other gear — no pliers and no knife. So a diner came to his aid to dehook the fish. The pectoral fins and dorsal fin on the Florida catfish contain venomous spines and care must be taken. Islander Photo: Bonner Joy
Stasny
Nesting notes
By Masha Dolgoff
Henrietta’s off to the races
Ready, set, swim.
Henrietta, a loggerhead released June 24 from the south end of Anna Maria Island, will begin the Aug. 2 Sea Turtle Conservancy’s annual Tour de Turtles marathon.
In the marathon, sea turtles tagged with satellitetracking devices “compete” in a distance swim, which the public can follow on STC’s website at tourdeturtles.org.
Henrietta was tagged after nesting at Coquina Beach in Bradenton Beach and has already returned to AMI once — July 17 — to nest.
But for the Tour de Turtles, that activity was preliminary, like a warmup. STC does not start counting the distance of the marathon participants until all the non-leatherbacks, or chelonians, are tagged and released. So the race will begin Aug. 2.
The Tour de Turtles has two basic purposes:
• To spread awareness about issues facing sea turtles. Each turtle swims for a particular cause. For example, Henrietta will represent light pollution concerns.
• To collect data about sea turtles for conservation efforts.
Dr. Daniel Evans of the conservancy spoke to The Islander July 25 about the scientific value of the Tour de Turtles.
Evans takes tissue and scute samples from the turtles to identify the characteristics of the places where they forage for food.
“It’s often not in the same country as where they nest,” he said.
“We can do a lot here in the U.S. to protect the beaches and the turtles but they go to other countries to find food,” Evans continued. “If they’re being harvested or hunted or there are threats in these other countries, this allows us to be able to start trying to address those issues.”
The characteristics of foraging grounds are part of
the reason leatherbacks are separated from chelonians like Henrietta in the marathons. The leatherback marathon began June 16.
Leatherbacks feed primarily on jellyfi sh in the ocean, which appear as blooms in certain areas.
Unlike major food sources for loggerheads, which remain mostly stationary, jellyfish blooms are likely to move around, forcing leatherbacks to travel a greater distance.
Because of this, leatherbacks were placed in their own category.
In the chelonian category, Henrietta will complete against some sea turtles that do not nest in Florida, like the hawksbill.
Lexie Beach, communications coordinator at the STC, said seeing this endangered sea turtle species was an exciting part of her recent travel to the island of Saint Kitts and Nevis for releases.
“One reason they’re endangered is because they have the most beautiful shell,” she said. The hawksbill shell is emblematic of the classic “tortoiseshell” pattern.
The two hawksbills released from the Caribbean country that will be competing against Henrietta are Twinkles and Sparkle.
Other turtles entered into the marathon, as of July 26, included Grana, Gochujang, Gili and Shelby.
As for Henrietta’s chances of winning the marathon, “historically, the Anna Maria Island turtles have not traveled very far,” Beach said.
However, that is a good thing. “It means they’re
happy and well fed there,” she said.
“The lore of sea turtles is that they go very far away from their nesting beaches,” Evans said. “So for these turtles to be sort of hanging out and sort of sticking around is very unusual.”
Although we’re rooting for Henrietta, even if she doesn’t go far, we’ll be counting that as a win for the good life on and around Anna Maria Island.
From AMITW …
More than halfway through the season, sea turtle nesting on Anna Maria Island is slowing down as hatching is picking up.
Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring has observed an 81% hatch rate in the nests they inventoried as of July 26.
AMITW executive director Kristen Mazzarella described the rate as “excellent.”
Still, turtle watch wants people to keep beaches clean, dark and flat to help hatchlings. In a remarkable success, the least tern colony on the shore in north Bradenton Beach had fledged eight chicks as of July 26.
AMITW. in a weekly report, thanked its volunteers and shorebird coordinator Kathy Doddridge for protecting the colony and educating the public. The colony’s newest chick was observed with the rest of the birds outside the posted area, a reminder to give the birds space near their colony at the 27th Street North beach.
— Masha Dolgoff
About AMITW
The nonprofit collects data on sea turtles and shorebirds. Beach renourishment contracts require monitoring and data and AMITW is compensated for its service. Turtle Talks are Tuesdays at 10 a.m. at Holmes Beach City Hall, 5701 Marina Drive.
As of July 26, AMITW recorded 673 sea turtle nests, 838 false crawls, 129 hatched nests produced 9,508 hatchlings.
For the record
People woke July 22 to news that July 21 was “the hottest day ever recorded on Earth.”
Then people woke July 23 to the news that the new record was an old record, broken by temperatures on July 22.
By Lisa Neff Neff
Global temperatures hit 17.09 degrees Celsius or 62.67 degrees Fahrenheit July 21, breaking the record set July 6, 2023.
The next day, global temperatures broke that record by 0.06 degrees Celsius or 0.1 degree Fahrenheit, according to Copernicus Climate Change Service. The global average temperature July 22 was 17.15 degrees Celsius or 62.87 degrees Fahrenheit.
“What is truly staggering is how large the difference is between the temperature of the last 13 months
TideWatch
Water school enrolls students
The UF/IFAS Extension Manatee County offers an in-depth look at emerging water issues in the region through its Water School program.
The extension service will facilitate discussions and provide presentations on the value of conservation lands, value urban forests, estuary and marine systems, sustainable development, as well as “the Green Stormwater Initiative.”
Water School will be 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 4, at the UF/IFAS Extension Manatee County office, 1303 17th St, W., Palmetto.
Enrollment is $20 per person and includes lunch. To register, go to 2024waterschool.eventbrite. com.
For information about the extension service, call 941-722-4524.
— Lisa Neff
and the previous temperature records,” Carlo Buontempo, director of CCCS, said. “We are now in truly uncharted territory and as the climate keeps warming, we are bound to see new records being broken in future months and years.”
In other science news:
• A team of researchers at the University of Rhode Island and Nova Southeastern University in Florida have been tracking a 26-foot endangered whale shark — “Rio Lady” — with a satellite transmitter for more than four years, a record for whale sharks.
The researchers tracked Rio Lady for about 27,000 miles over nearly 1,700 days from 2018 through 2023.
Rio Lady’s journey has included swims in the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean and out into the Atlantic Ocean south of Bermuda.
• Giant plumes of Sahara Desert dust that gust in the wind across the Atlantic can suppress hurricane formation over the ocean and impact weather in North America, according to a new study in Science Advances.
However, thick dust plumes also can lead to
Dog days dilemma
With almost daily heat advisories, animal welfare groups are cautioning pet owners to beware of the dangers of hot surfaces.
If the air temperature is 90 degrees, concrete will be 125 degrees and asphalt 140 degrees.
Hot surfaces can blister and burn a dog’s paw pads, as well as increase a dog’s body temperature, contributing to risk of heatstroke.
A dog’s normal resting temperature is 99-102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. Any temperature over 104 signals heat stress, according to the American Kennel Club.
Signs of heat stress include uncontrolled panting, excessive saliva, reddening skin and choosing to lie or sit down.
— Lisa Neff
heavier rainfall from landfalling storms.
• Research published in Nature found that during the last ice age about 20,000 years ago, the Gulf Stream was stronger than today because of more powerful winds across the subtropical North Atlantic.
This could mean that if climate change causes a reduction in subtropical winds, as initial research is beginning to indicate, the Gulf Stream also could weaken, which would limit the amount of tropical heat that reaches Europe, cooling that continent and causing higher sea levels in North America.
• The United States lost its only stand of the massive Key Largo tree cactus in what researchers believe is the first local extinction of a species caused by sea level rise in the country.
Salt water intrusion from rising seas, soil depletion from hurricanes and high tides and herbivory by mammals had put pressure on the Florida population and, by 2021, what had been a thriving stand of about 150 stems was reduced to six ailing fragments.
The Key Largo tree cactus still grows on a few scattered islands in the Caribbean, including northern Cuba and parts of the Bahamas.
ITEMS FOR SALE
NEW GENERATOR FOR sale. Generac Power Rush GP 6500. Please, call 610-428-0768. Serious inquiries only.
BOSu HOME GyM, $35, exercise ball, $25, side tables, round, glass top, 2/$19, black chairs, soft leather 2/$20. 941-920-2494.
ANTIQ u E PARTNER DESK: All wood, $500. Inquire at The Islander. 941-778-7978.
FREEBIE ITEMS FOR SALE
Individuals may place one free ad with up to three items, each priced $100 or less, 15 words or less. FREE, one week, must be submitted online. Email classifieds@islander.org. (limited time offer).
TRANSPORTATION
GO l F CART RENTA l S: Fun for residents and tourists! 212-941-2402. GolfCartRentalAMI. com.
2018 CluB CAR: street-legal, high-speed gear box to 25 mph, lED lights with nearly new batteries, bluetooth sound system, rolldown canvas rain protection. In excellent condition. 303-944-8300.
I S l ANDER ARCHIVE u ofF Florida digital newspaper collection at ufdc.ufl.edu.
BOATS & BOATING
HAVE A BOAT and wanna catch more fish, better bait or learn the water? 50-year local fisherman, your boat, my knowledge. Captain Chris, 941-896-2915.
SuNCOAST BOTTOM PAINTING: Professional bottom painting. Mobile. Call 941-704-9382.
CAPTAIN FOR HIRE and boat caretaker services: If you need help with your boat on or off the water, call Captain Dan. uSCG, retired. 772486-8085.
WElCOME ABOARD JOyFISH Charters for private fishing, sunset cruises, and dolphin watching. Check out joyfishcharters.com or follow us on Facebook. Call to reserve, 941840-3181.
21-FOOT C u DD y Cabin: Great for fishing or family pleasure. V6 225 Evinrude motor, Garmin navigation and sonar, tandem trailer. $15,000 or best offer. 941-356-1456.
HELP WANTED
NOW HIRING HAND y MAN: Full-time professional services. $18 an hour and up, based on experience. Call JayPros, 941-962-2874.
REPORTER WANTED: Full- to part-time. Print media, experience required. Apply via email with letter of interest to news@islander.org.
KIDS FOR HIRE
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, 315 58th St. Suite J, Holmes Beach.
SERVICES
IS yOuR HOME or office in need of some cleaning? Well, I’m your girl! local, reliable, professional! Please, give me a call or text, 941-773 -0461.
ClEANING: VACATION, CONSTRuCTION, residential, commercial and windows. licensed and insured. 941-756-4570.
PRESSuRE WASHING, PAVER sealing, driveway, roof, fence, pool area. Also, window cleaning. licensed and insured. 941-565-3931.
BICyClE REPAIRS: Just4Fun at 5358 Gulf Drive can do most any bicycle repair at a reasonable cost. Pick-up and delivery available. 941-8967884.
API’S DRyWAll REPAIR: I look forward to servicing your drywall repair needs. Call 941-5248067 to schedule an appointment.
ClEAN TECH MOBIlE Detailing. At your location. Cars, boats, RVs. Call or text Billie for an appointment. 941-592-3482.
PC OR TECH issues? Not sure where to start? With years of experience, I’ll come to you with reliable solutions. Contact Gavin at 928-587-1309. www.gse.codes.
lOOKING FOR AN EARly BIRD? you can read Wednesday’s classifieds on Tuesday at islander.org. And it’s FREE!
SERVICES Continued
SARASOTA PAINTING: INTERIOR/exterior/ cabinets: Call or text Don, 941-900-9398. Free estimates. Fully insured, twenty years’ experience.
u PluS ME llC: Provides quality coatings for pool decks, driveways, garage floors, patios. Don’t miss out on our pro polishing services, concrete, terrazzo, travertine. 727-623-5050.
RIDEEASy 247 yOuR professional, reliable and courteous car service to airports and events since 2015. you can reach us via text 941-447-7737 or email to mrfort5001@gmail. com. We are available 24/7.
l OOK NO MORE! Residential, vacation rental and commercial cleaning. Give us a call, 941250-8548.
lOOKING FOR SOMEONE who needs me: Clean, house-sit. I can cook, make sandwiches. I can do anything you can do but better! I can run to the grocery store for you. I can walk pets or go out to lunch with you. looking for a part-time job caregiving companion, I am your right arm! I love people and I love helping others. I have references and I’m reliable and dependable. My name is Dena Gray a.k.a. Sparkles! 941-704-9948.
WINDOW ClEANING: COMMERCIAl/residential. Free estimates/insured. We want to earn your business! 207-852-6163.
OuR SERVICES: ClEANING, home repairs, tile, concrete, remodeling, decks, steps, flooring, water drainage solutions, rental 24-hour services. Hurricane shutters and pre-storm service. New, low-cost generator and insulation (starts and runs on propane when power off). No permits needed. Islander, over 40 years here! Call 941404-9163.
STACy’S COMPuTERS: REPAIR and tutoring in your home. Senior/veterans discount. Call Stacy at 941-246-1048.
IS yOuR POOl deck, driveway, or garage floor looking worn out and dated? Bring them back to life with our top-tier resurfacing services! Services offered: Pool deck resurfacing, Slip-resistant, cool-to-the-touch finishes that enhance safety and aesthetics. Driveway resurfacing, durable surfaces that stand up to heavy traffic and harsh weather. Garage floor resurfacing, easy-to-clean, stain-resistant surfaces that look great and perform even better. Don’t wait! Transform your spaces today with our trusted resurfacing services. Contact us now for a free consultation and estimate. Call u Plus Me llC at 727-6235050 or visit u-plus-me.com
BuSINESS-TO-BuSINESS JD’s Window Cleaning looking for storefront jobs in Holmes Beach. I make dirty windows sparkle. 941-920-3840. BEACH SERVICE air conditioning, heat, refrigeration. Commercial and residential service, repair and/or replacement. Since 1987. Call Bill Eller, 941-720-7411. CAC184228.
LAWN & GARDEN
CONNIE’S lANDSCAPING INC. Residential and commercial. Full-service lawn maintenance, landscaping, cleanups, hauling and more! Insured. 941-713-1965.
SHEll DElIVERED AND spread. Hauling all kinds of gravel, mulch, topsoil with free estimates. Call larry at 941-795-7775, or “shell phone” 941-720-0770.
GRIFFIN’S HOME IMPROVEMENTS Inc. Handyman, fine woodwork, countertops, cabinets and wood flooring. Insured and licensed. 941-722-8792.
lANE’S SCREENING SERVICES: Replace your window, door or lanai screens. Many screen options available. Retired veteran serving our community! Free estimates, call 941-705-5293.
l OOKING FOR AN y home improvement? JRCC Home Improvement, handyman service can get the job done. Please, contact us at 413-246-2410. We would love to help.
TI l E-TI l E-TI l E: All variations of ceramic tile supplied and installed. Quality workmanship, prompt, reliable, many Island references. Call Robert, 941-726-3077.
DONA l D PERKINS PAINTING ll C. Interior/exterior/pressure washing. Island references. dperkinspaint@hotmail.com. 941705-7096.
GORI ll A DRy WA ll REPAIR ll C. l et’s solve your drywall problems together. Give us a call at 941-286-0607.
CA ll H y DRO C l EAN. Full-service pressure washing, sealing. Pavers, travertine and natural stone. Window washing too, up to three stories. Call Jacob, 941-920-2094.
A.R.E. RENOVATION’S: WHO l ESA l E kitchen cabinets, direct remodel, bathrooms, trim, doors, flooring, tile. license # CRC.1334176. 941-4653045.
ISlAND HANDyMAN: I live here, work here, value your referral. Refinish, paint. Just ask. JayPros. licensed/insured. References. Call Jay, 941-9622874.
RENTALS
ANNA MARIA GulF beachfront vacation rentals. One- two- and three-bedroom units, all beachfront. www.amiparadise.com. 941-778-3143.
PERICO ISlAND PATIO home for rent. 3BR/2BA, 30-day minimum. Privacy fence/gate, two miles to AMI. Call or text, 859-771-6423. http://pericoislandrental.com/
AVAIlABlE NOW AND season: 1BR/1BA, sevennight minimum. carlesvacationrentals.com Special rates are available. 941-807-1405.
ANN u A l RENTA l : VI ll A home in Perico Bay Club, Bradenton. Gated and 24-hour security. 2BR/2BA, updated. updated kitchen, screened deck and two-car garage. unfurnished. Text 908875-0299 for information.
MORE BANG FOR yOuR BuCK? It’s an old saying, but true when it comes advertising in The Islander. islander.org.
RENTALS Continued
FOR RENT: Anna Maria Island condo. Great value, beautiful upgraded 2BR/2BR. Incredible water view. Pool, tennis, walk to beach. Private carport. Excellent rental terms. Owner/renter. Call/email for pictures, 570-239-0431. marketreps@aol.com
FlAMINGO By THE Bay condo for rent on Palma Sola Bay. Second floor with a view. 1BR/1BA with boat dock. Annual rental, $1,800/month. 941-224-0836.
SEASONAl RENTAl: Bradenton 55-plus community. large 2BR/2BA condo on bay, exceptional views. Elevator and five minutes to bridge. No smoking, No pets. $4,650/month. Three-month minimum. Photos at https://barbaragillespie.wixsite.com/47872024. 732-748-0759
SEASONAl RENTAl IN Holmes Beach available January-April 2025. Elevated townhouse 2BR/1.5BA. Three-month minimum. $4,100/ month plus tax, fees. Call Anna Maria Realty, 941-778-2259 or email dina@annamariareal. com
JANuARy ONly: 2BR/1BA. Close to Cortez Village, 2 miles to beach. Quiet neighborhood but close to great restaurant and shopping, across from Sarasota Bay. 941-773-1552.
CONDO TO RENT in gated community (five miles from Anna Maria). Available July until end November, all included! 704-993-0288. www. floridarentals.com/10943/
2025 SEASONAl RENTAl: Just one block from the beach, single-story 2BR/2BA private residence, screened patio. No smoking/no pets. Monthly. January-April. 64th Street, Holmes Beach. Call 813-833-4926.
2BR/1BA ANNuAl lEASE: Electric/ac/heat all included. $2,975/month. looking for 1 or 2 quiet adults with no pets or smoking. Steps to Gulf. Owner-occupied duplex. Owner, 508496-8480. williamshomes@yahoo.com
REAL ESTATE
WINNIE MCHA l E, REA lTOR, 941-5046146. Dalton Wade Real Estate. you need an aggressive and experienced Realtor in today’s market! Selling island homes, Sarasota and Bradenton areas. Multi-milliondollar producer! “Selling Homes - Making Dreams Come True.”
2BR/2BA HOME for sale. 3,000 sfur. 1,100 sf garage. Steps to beach. $1,449,000. 941-5186329.
CONDO FOR SAlE or lease. 2BR/2BA at the west end of Bradenton Riverwalk. Downtown walk-about community features library, performing art center, creative art center and galleries. Shoppes, fine and casual dining. $280,000. Florida Suncoast Real Estate, Geri Kenyon, 941-725-4374.
PRIVATE SAlE: THE perfect VRBO or private vacation home. Beautiful beachside bungalow direct marina front with peek-a-boo views of Palma Sola Bay. Private boat docks are available. Just off the SR 64 causeway at Palma Sola Bay in the highly sought-after community of Palma Sola Park. This beautiful 2BR/2BA, sleeps 8 with heated salt pool and large tiki bar. $1,200,000. Contact owner, 941-661-6196.
REAL ESTATE Continued
MOuNT VERNON uPDATED villa for sale. 2BR/2BA. 1,246 sf. $309,000. 55-plus vibrant community, heated pool, clubhouse, pickleball, kayak launch, plus more! Boat docks available: $25 application, $10 yearly. 9407 Andover Circle, Bradenton. Keller Williams on the Water, Cathy Roberson, 239-8989123.
CONDO FOR SAlE: 55-plus. 2BR/2BA split 1,100 sf. Bonus room, patio, newer flooring, central air handler, heat, pets welcome. Bradenton ready for immediate possession. $179,900. Call 616-648-1648 for pictures or showing.
I S l ANDER ARCHIVE u ofF Florida digital newspaper collection at ufdc.ufl.edu.
Call for recipes
The Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce is assembling a cookbook, “A Taste of Anna Maria Island,” and needs contributions.
The chamber is collecting recipes from the community and seeking sponsors for categories in the book, including appetizers, salads, soup. poultry, beef, fish, vegetarian, pasta, sides, desserts, beverages, breakfast and crockpot cooking.
Individuals will be listed by name, city and state, while staff or crew affiliated with a business member will be listed by contributor and business.
People can send recipes to info@amichamber. org.
The chamber has not published a cookbook since 2006, according to Amber Tipton, vice president of the chamber.
The chamber plans to release the cookbook in December for holiday sales.
For more information, call the chamber at 941778-1541.
— Bonner Joy
And the nominees are …
The Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce is collecting recommendations for its business-of-theyear awards.
Table talk
Nancy Taussig of Barefoot Weddings, left, and Dan Alderson of Tyler’s Homemade Ice Cream network July 11 at Pesto Bistro & Wine Bar, 8799 Cortez Road W., Bradenton. They attended an AMI chamber event.
Islander Courtesy Photo
To be a successful nominee, a business must have been in operation at least three years and a member of the chamber for at least one year.
Businesses that previously won the award are eligible to win again if they fit into another award category.
Categories include small business, 1-4 employees; medium business, 5-14 employees; large business, 15 or more employees; and nonprofit business.
Nominations must be submitted by Aug. 31. For more, call the chamber at 941-778-1541..
— lisa Neff
Business news Does your business celebrate achievements? Maybe you’re new in business? Email news@islander.org.
By lisa Neff
Thursday, Aug. 1
8-9:30 a.m. — Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce breakfast meeting, Cool Beans AMI, 101 S. Bay Blvd., Unit A, Anna Maria. Fee applies. RSVP required. Information: 941-778-1541, ingrid@amichamber.org.
SAVE THE DATES
Aug. 8, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., AMI chamber luncheon, Mademoiselle Paris, 9906 Gulf Drive, Anna Maria. Send listings to calendar@islander.org.
PropertyWatch
By Carol Bernard
234 Lakeview Drive, Anna Maria, 2,131 sq ft
3BR/3BA pool home on a 10,880 sq ft lot built in 1969 sold 5/24/24 by Grenier to 338 Mirror Lake LLC $2,850,000, list price $3,100,000.
117 Maple Ave., Anna Maria, 2,323 sq ft 3BR/4BA pool home on a 5,001 sq ft lot built in 2019 sold 5/14/2024 by Buck to YZMA LLC $3,000,000, list price $3,200,000.
706 Bay Blvd. S., Anna Maria, 2,551 sq ft 3BR/3BA home on a 5,101 sq ft lot built in 1958 sold 5-21-24 by McGough to 706 S. Bay LLC $3,125,000 list price $3,750,000.
511 South Drive, #A, Anna Maria, 4,074 sq ft 3BR/3BA home on a 20539 sq ft lot built in 1972 sold 5-17-24 by Thrasher to Fallon $3,157,895 list price $3,495,000.
727 N. Shore Drive, Anna Maria, 1,564 sq ft 3BR/2BA home on a 32,156 sq ft lot built in 1976 sold 5-31-24 by Isherwood to 727 N. Shore Drive LLC $4,200,000 list price $4,650,000.
780 N. Shore Drive, Anna Maria, 2850 sq ft 4BR/5BA pool home on a 8,699 sq ft lot built in 2024 sold 5-15-24 by Sunset Reflections LLC to Bamrah $5,200,000, list price $5,499,000.
2110 Ave. A, Bradenton Beach, 1,490 sq ft 3BR/3BA pool home on a 5,001 sq ft lot built in 1979 sold 5-17-24 by Sanderson to Halvorsen for $1,120,000, list price $1,240,000.
209 69th St., Holmes Beach, 2,144 sq ft 4BR/5BA pool home on a 8,547 sq ft lot built in 2018 sold 5/14/2024 by Kamp to Highby View LLC $2,850,000, list price $2,999,000.
5622 Gulf Drive, #1, Holmes Beach, 2,048 sq ft 3BR/4BA Vista Grande condo built in 2006 sold 5-24-24 by Cheek to Amazing Grayce Prop LLC $3,400,000, list price $3,700,000.
532 Key Royale Drive, Holmes Beach, 3,991 sq ft 5BR/6BA pool home on a 15,098 sq ft lot built in 2019 sold 4-22-24 by Joseph to Wall $4,250,000 list price $4,495,000.
Compiled by Island Real Estate staff. IRE can be reached at 941-778-6066, islandreal.com.
