The Islander Newspaper E-Edition: Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2021 by The Anna Maria Islander Newspaper

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SEPT. 15, 2021 FREE

NO. 47

the Best News on Anna Maria Island Since 1992

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Astheworldterns. 6 Megabridge challengers refine bridge complaint. 3

Q&A 091521

Island cities firm budgets.

4-5

Meetings. 4 Opinions. 6 10-20 YEARS AGO

Looking back. 7

‘Never forget’ 9/11. 8 Anna Maria toughens rental regs. 9 tourism numbers climb. 9

Save a date. 10-11

Happenings Announcements. 11-12

AMe news, calendar. 12

get in the game. 13 Where’s Tuna Street.

14-15

Gathering. 16

Obituaries. 16 Cops & Courts. 17 NESTING NOTES. Ant attack. 18

pedestrians perplexed on pine. 19 KRC celebrates Labor Day. 20

Old school fishing, rare catch. 21

ISL BIZ Fall business outlook. 23

CLASSIFIEDS. 24

PropertyWatch. 26

NYT puzzle. 27

Diving in to help marine life

Planting lessons, pulling weeds

Katie Schultz with the National Association of Underwater Instructors hands up debris found Sept. 10 near the Anna Maria City pier. Scientists estimate that more than 11 million metric tons of plastic enters waterways each year — the equivalent of one garbage truck full of trash each minute, according to pepsi Stronger together. Force Blue, a nonprofit uniting military veteran divers, along with pepsi Stronger together, Suncoast Aqua Ventures, NAUI, Keep Florida Beautiful and Keep Manatee Beautiful, took part in the cleanup that launched from Kingfish Boat Ramp in Holmes Beach. More, page 2. Islander photo: Amber Sigman

Anna Maria elementary teacher Maggie Van Wormer and her first-grade garden club take a break Sept. 11 from cleaning up the school’s butterﬂy garden. parents and other students helped trim shrubs and pull weeds and the kids took home seeds in cups. Van Wormer plans to incorporate lessons in the garden. More school news, p. 12. Islander photo: Nicole plummer

Thank you ,

landers

the ut to all reach o ommunity to d te I wan in our c amily l people e helped my f u f r e d n v wo t ha ond tha ed. and bey ce I was injur so many of in s e in th k upand m bling to iritual s It’s hum nancial and sp e us fi onths. you gav the past few m hab and am r re e port ov orking hard in . k w e m ’ w I ach e ,I onger e and your help tr s g in k c gett lu e m . With so a full recovery all your e y k a a p e m r hope to ver be able to get it! e r n o f ll r ’ I ll neve s, but I’ kindnes ! u o Thank y on Lowman r a A t. p Ca

Dear Is

Kind thoughts Having watched this young man grow and mature, words could hardly describe the tender fondness and warm emotions that came with learning Aaron Lowman is moving forward in his recovery. Just on seeing an email in my inbox from him, I knew there would be good news. the letter goes further to demonstrate what a remarkable young man he has become. With sincere best wishes for continued strides to a healthy life and many fish on the line, we look forward to hearing of more progress. — Bonner Joy

‘Never forget’ RIgHt: Roses are left Sept. 11 outside the West Manatee Fire Rescue station in Holmes Beach at a memorial to firefighters who died in the response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. More, page 8. Islander photo: Lisa Neff

AME records 12th COVID case

By Ryan paice Islander Reporter

A dozen students at Anna Maria Elementary School have been infected with the coronavirus since the 2021-22 school year began Aug. 10. AME had recorded 12 confirmed cases as of Sept. 8. The number ties AME with Abel Elementary School for the 11th-lowest number of confirmed cases among the Manatee County School District’s 56 schools and learning facilities. However, unlike Abel, there were no confirmed cases for staff at the Anna Maria school as of Sept. 8. AME is one of only six schools in the district that has yet to record a confirmed case of COVID-19 among staff members. Palmetto High School recorded the most confirmed cases in the district through Sept. 8, according to the district’s website, manateeschools.net. The Wakeland Support Center had the

least, with two confirmed cases among staff and no student cases. The district has reinstated some safety measures from last year, including daily temperature checks for staff and random checks for students, daily sanitization efforts and limiting non-essential visitors, as well as a mask mandate that was approved in August. However, the mandate contains a clause that allows parents to opt their children out of mask requirements. AME principal Michael Masiello wrote in a Sept. 8 email to The Islander that “roughly” 50% of students were wearing masks. Still, he said the school had reimplemented other safety measures, such as reinstalling plastic desk shields, to prevent the virus’ spread. “Our goal is to keep as many students coming to school as possible and moving forward with face-to-face instruction,” Masiello wrote.

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page 2 THE ISLANDER | islander.org Sept. 15, 2021 ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Casting off to tackle marine debris

Volunteers head out from the Kingfish Boat Ramp in Holmes Beach Sept. 10 on a mission to remove underwater debris and ghost gear — discarded fishing gear and line — at Anna Maria City pier and Rod & Reel pier. Force Blue and pepsi Stronger together volunteers hand off fishing debris found at the Rod & Reel pier Sept. 10 to a Suncoast Aqua Ventures crew — part of a cleanup effort to save marine life. Scientists estimate that more than 136,000 dolphins, sea turtles and whales get entangled in abandoned fishing gear each year, according to pepsi Stronger together. Islander photos: Amber Sigman

Cleanups continue at Coquina, Palma Sola beaches

Matthew Demaio, a Marine Corp veteran and volunteer with Force Blue, pulls up debris Sept. 10 from tampa Bay near the Anna Maria City pier.

For photos of the Movie in the Park event celebrating local cleanup efforts, turn to page 19.

Diver Jeff gum, a retired U.S. Navy Seal volunteering with Force Blue, surfaces in tampa Bay Sept. 10 at the Rod & Reel pier after collecting discarded fishing line and other gear from the waters.

The International Coastal Cleanup concludes this month with two local cleanups. A cleanup, coordinated by Keep Manatee Beautiful, will be at 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 18, at Coquina Beach in Bradenton Beach. Another cleanup will be at 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 25, along the Palma Sola Causeway on Manatee Avenue. For more information about the coastal cleanups, contact KMB at 941-795-8272 or go online to manateebeautiful.com. — Lisa Neff

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Q&A 091521

Sept. 15, 2021 THE ISLANDER | islander.org page 3 ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Judge’s ruling prompts reﬁned bridge complaint By Kane Kaiman Islander Reporter

Their goal is legal-ease of understanding. Ralf Brookes and Matt Farmer — attorneys for four complainants challenging the Florida Department of Transportation’s decision to replace the Cortez Bridge, a 17-foot-clearance drawbridge, with a 65-foot-clearance fixed-span bridge in 2026-27 — are clarifying their complaint. It is due to be filed in federal court Sept. 15. The bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway connects Cortez on the mainland and Bradenton Beach on Anna Maria Island. The anti-megabridge coalition jumped the gun Aug. 15 when they filed an amended complaint before filing a motion to do so. The amended complaint, crafted by former County Commissioner Joe McClash — one of the complainants who helped forge the case for the anti-megabridge group to avoid legal costs — included the Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage, a Cortez nonprofit, as a new party to the suit. After the filing with FISH was stricken by the judge Aug. 19, the coalition removed the nonprofit, filed the judge’s required motion and requested a fourday extension to allow Brookes and Farmer to refine the pleading.

Looking west Sept. 3 from the water, the 17-footclearance Cortez Bridge. Islander photo: Sherri Kaiman

On Sept. 8, Judge Anthony E. Porcelli of the U.S. District Court in the Middle District of Florida granted the motion to amend the complaint and extended the deadline to file the pleading to Sept. 15. “We’re very excited the court granted our motion and we’re working diligently to make a crystal-clear amended complaint that explains the facts of the law to the judge,” Brookes said Sept. 10. An argument that will be worked into the improved complaint is the assertion that when the DOT was selecting its recommended replacement bridge, the agency improperly utilized a categorical exclusion to avoid conducting a lengthier analysis of the impacts of the high bridge on the natural and human environment. “That’s the main focus of the case. The FDOT said they didn’t need to comply with the National Environment Policy Act,” Brookes said. According to Brookes, NEPA requires a preliminary environmental study before the agency takes “significant action,” which would include constructing a much larger bridge than the existing drawbridge. If the first study indicates there may be a significant impact, a second, more detailed study is required. “They avoided the whole process of looking to see if there is a significant impact and I think they would find that there is one if they actually look,” he said. “They used this categorical exclusion that said, ‘based on our experience, this project will not have a significant impact.’ That’s all they said,” Brookes said. “Yeah, they may build bridges all around the state, but they don’t build bridges to historic commercial fishing villages that bisect the village in two.” The fishing village of Cortez, one of few remaining in the state, has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1995. The high bridge would require the construction of retaining walls 20-feet-tall at their peak that would extend about 700 feet from the waterway through Cortez.

The Islander Poll Last week’s question

On an island pier, I most enjoy: 24%. Walking. 24%. Fishing. 37%. Dining. 7%. Sitting. 7%. Socializing

This week’s question

Island elections are Nov. 2. Are you registered to vote? A. Yes, on AMI. B. Yes, not on AMI. C. No, but plan to be. D. No, no interest. E. No, not eligible. To take the poll, go online to islander.org.

2021 city elections

Registration open

Voter registration ahead of Nov. 2 municipal elections closes Monday, Oct. 4. To register in Manatee County, a person must be at least 18, a U.S. citizen, a Florida resident, as well as possess a valid state ID. To register online go to votemanatee.com. And for more information about registration, either visit the SOE website or call 941-741-3823. Request mail-in ballots Registered voters who want to request mail ballot service can go online to the Manatee County Supervisor of Election’s office at votemanatee.com. Vote by mail ballots cannot be forwarded, with an exception for military service members. — Lisa Neff

budget talks

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AM commission sets 2021-22 millage rate By Amy V.t. Moriarty Islander Reporter

Anna Maria is looking at the lowest millage rate in the county. City commissioners voted Sept. 9 to set the rate at 2.05 mills per $1,000. But maintaining the millage rate at 2.05 will result in a tax increase for Anna Maria property owners, since property values increased $71,033,954 over the last year. Millage, the number of dollars taxed per $1,000 of property value, determines a property owner’s ad valorem tax for a year. At 2.05 mills, for a $500,000 property, an owner would pay $1,025 in ad valorem tax. At the 1.8427 rollback rate, an owner of a property valued at $500,000 would pay $921.35 in ad valorem taxes. The rollback rate — as determined by state statute — is the rate at which the city would collect the same revenue for the next fiscal year as it did this year. The motion to adopt the 2.05 millage rate was made by Commissioner Mark Short and seconded by Commissioner Jonathan Crane. Proposed operating budget expenditures for fiscal year 2021-22 show a 28.5% increase over the 2020-21 budget year, with appropriated expenditures, transfers, reserves and balances totaling $11,024,921. A motion to adopt the tentative budget for the ad valorem tax revenues of $2,966,322 for 2021 was made by Commissioner Deanie Sebring, seconded by Crane and unanimously approved. City attorney Becky Vose will read the budget ordinance for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1 and, after a final opportunity for public comment, commissioners are expected to vote to ratify it at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 23, at Anna Maria City Hall, 10005 Gulf Drive.

Anna Maria Y-to-Y budget 2021-22 proposed budget budget

2020-21

expenditures: $4,409,997.99 $4,222,305 Revenues: $7,977,280.19 $6,825,721.99 Reserves: $3,567,282.20 $2,603,416.99 Millage rate: 2.0500 2.0500 Rollback rate: 1.8427 property value: $1,511,830,337 $1,440,796,383 Budget hearing date: Second reading and final public hearing on the city’s budget will be at 5:30 p.m. thursday, Sept. 23, at Anna Maria City Hall, 10005 gulf Drive.

Meetings

Anna Maria City Sept. 22, 2 p.m., Reimagining Pine. Sept. 23, 5:30 p.m., budget. Sept. 23, 6 p.m., commission. Anna Maria City Hall, 10005 Gulf Drive, 941708-6130, cityofannamaria.com. Bradenton Beach Sept. 15, 1 p.m., planning and zoning. Sept. 16, 10 a.m., commission. Sept. 16, noon, commission. Sept. 16, 5:05 p.m., CRA budget. Sept. 16, 5:35 p.m., commission budget. Oct. 6, 9 a.m., CIP. Oct. 6, 9:30 a.m., CRA. Oct. 21, noon, commission. Bradenton Beach City Hall, 107 Gulf Drive N., 941-778-1005, cityofbradentonbeach.com. Holmes Beach Sept. 15, 5 p.m., budget. Sept. 28, 5 p.m., commission. Oct. 6, 10 a.m., parks and beautification. Oct. 6, 5 p.m., planning. Oct. 12, 5 p.m., commission. Oct. 20, 10 a.m., code. Oct. 26, 5 p.m., commission.

BB commission sets ﬁnal hearing for budget

Some numbers: • Expenses for Tingley Memorial Library are $46,532, with salaries and wages being the largest expense at $21,516; • Stormwater management expenses, $206,026; • Streets and roads expenses, including public works salaries, is at $468,417; • Emergency operations has a budget of $21,500; • Code enforcement spending is about $77,805; • Funding for the planning department is $155,342; • City administration is budgeted at $680,976; • Expenses for police operations are $1,364,577; • Commission expenses are proposed at $155,342. • Attorney fees in the proposed budget — $4,000 for commission, $75,000 for administration, $7,500 for planning and $1,000 for the pier — total $87,500. There were no attorney fees in the police budget. Revenues for the city come from property taxes but also fees, fines, leases, interest and gas taxes. Some details: • In the planning department, the city estimated building permit and plan fees at $300,000; • The Historic Bridge Street Pier lease generates about $44,233 a year and a share in pier concessions about $60,000; • The total revenues from gas taxes are estimated at $89,239, which go to funding street improvements; • Stormwater fee revenue is estimated at $264,907; • Sanitation fees generate about $51,049 in revenue.

Bradenton Beach commissioners are set to adopt a new spending plan of $3.7 million. The final hearing and budget ordinance adoption will be at 5:35 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 16, at city hall, 107 Gulf Drive N. The first hearing was Sept. 9. The Sept. 16 agenda includes a hearing and vote to set the new millage rate for ad valorem taxes, and a hearing and vote to adopt a budget for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1. The proposed millage is 2.3329 mills per $1,000. It is the same rate levied for 2020-21 and adoption of the same rate will result in a tax increase for property owners since property values increased in 2021. Millage, the number of dollars taxed per $1,000 of property value determines a property owner’s ad valorem tax for a year. At 2.3329 mills, the owner of a $500,000 property would pay $1,166 in ad valorem tax to the city of Bradenton Beach. To avoid a tax increase, the city would need to adopt the rollback rate of 2.2254, which is 4.83% less than the proposed rate. The rollback rate represents the rate at which the city would collect the same amount of ad valorem revenue for the coming fiscal year as it did this year. At the rollback rate, an owner of a $500,000 property would pay $1,112 in ad valorem tax to the city. BB CRA set to adopt new Expenses in 2021-22 are projected at $3,752,757 spending plan compared with $2,085,629 this year. The next Bradenton Beach Community RedevelCurrently the proposed budget includes a 5% pay opment Agency meeting will be all about dollars and increase for city employees. cents. The CRA, which determines spending and directs projects for a special district that includes the Bridge BB Y-to-Y budget Street commercial sector, will hold a final hearing at 2021-22 proposed budget 2020-21 budget 5:05 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 16, on a proposed millage expenditures: $3,752,757 $2,085,629 rate and budget for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1. Revenues: $3,873,025 $3,230,760 The hearing and vote on the ordinance establishing Reserves: $120,268 $1,145,131 the CRA’s fiscal 2021-22 spending plan will be at city Millage rate: 2.3329 2.3329 hall, 107 Gulf Drive N. Rollback rate: 2.2254 The CRA held a first reading Sept. 9. property value: $726,194,243 $690,318,688 Budget hearing date: Second reading and final The proposal before the CRA is to back a joint public hearing on the budget ordinance will be at 5:05 millage rate for the CRA and the city of 2.3329 mills p.m. thursday, Sept. 16 for the CRA and 5:35 p.m. for per $1,000. the city commission at Bradenton Beach City Hall 107 This rate reflects a tax increase, as property values gulf Drive N. in the city generally increased in 2021. To avoid a tax increase, the CRA-city would have to adopt a rollback rate — producing the same revenue as 2020-21 — of 2.2254%. The proposed millage exceeds the rollback rate by 4.83%. Nov. 2, Election Day. Expenditures proposed for 2021-22 in the CRA are Holmes Beach City Hall, 5801 Marina Drive, $2,129,627, including administration at $5,000, police 941-708-5800, holmesbeachﬂ.org. at $72,800, planning services at $3,000 and attorney fees at $25,000. West Manatee Fire Rescue The bulk of the CRA money will be spent on capNone announced. ital projects, including $10,000 for living shoreline WMFR administration building, 701 63rd St. W., work, $98,000 for resiliency, $20,000 for arts, $30,000 Bradenton, 941-761-1555, wmfr.org. for beautification, $200,000 for finger docks at the Historic Bridge Street Pier, $550,000 for undergrounding Manatee County utilities, $50,000 for streetlights, $70,000 for pavers, Sept. 15, 1 p.m., commission (work session). $161,000 for a multiuse tram path and $124,727 for Sept. 16, 1:30 p.m., commission (land use). landscaping. Sept. 28, 9 a.m., commission. CRA revenues come from a variety of sources, County administration building, 1112 Manatee including concession funds, state appropriations, interAve. W., Bradenton, 941-748-4501, mymanatee. est income and the bulk of the money from the redeorg. velopment shared revenue generated by property taxes. The property tax funding is incremental tax revenue Also of interest collected by Manatee County since 1992, when the Sept. 15, 2 p.m., Coalition of Barrier Island area was declared blighted. Elected Officials, Anna Maria City Hall. Sept. 27, 9:30 a.m., Sarasota/Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization, Bradenton Area Convention Center, 1 Haben Blvd., Palmetto. Oct. 25, 2 p.m., Island Transportation Planning Organization, Holmes Beach City Hall. — Lisa Neff

Please, send meeting notices to calendar@ islander.org and news@islander.org.

About the CRA The CRA — bordered by Cortez Road, Sarasota Bay, Fifth Street South and the Gulf of Mexico — promotes restoration, growth and tourism by funding capital improvement projects. The board includes the mayor, city commissioners and two appointed representatives, a business owner and resident of the district.

Sept. 15, 2021 THE ISLANDER | islander.org page 5 ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Fire district approves 2021-22 budget, tax assessment rates By Ryan paice Islander Reporter

A new budget is ready for the West Manatee Fire Rescue district’s 2021-22 fiscal year. Fire commissioners unanimously voted Sept. 7 to adopt new fire assessment rates and a $8,222,287 budget in time for the next fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1. The spending plan marks a decrease from last year’s $9,410,362 budget, which was inflated with $1,756,000 in capital outlay expenses mostly to construct the district’s new headquarters at 701 63rd St. W., Bradenton. Rigney The capital outlay budget for 2021-22 is $150,000, with $110,000 in budgeted unassigned reserves to match. Fire commissioners also approved a 4% increase in fire assessment rates that was recommended by staff to cover projected rising costs over the next three years. The decision increases revenue from tax receipts by $351,425. The district’s current rates include a $195.53 resi-

dential base rate and a $0.1153 additional charge for square footage, as well as a $485.94 commercial base rate with a $0.2104 additional charge for square footage. With the current rates, WMFR charges residential property owners $310.85 for a 2,000-square-foot home and $426.17 for a 3,000-square-foot home. Commercial property owners pay $696.37 for a 2,000-square-foot building and $906.80 for a 3,000square-foot building. The new rates will include a $203.35 residential base rate and a $0.1199 additional charge for square footage, as well as a $505.38 commercial base rate with a $0.2188 additional charge for square footage. Property owners will pay $323.28 for a 2,000square-foot home and $443.22 for a 3,000-square-foot home under the new rates. Commercial property owners will pay $724.23 for a 2,000-square-foot building and $943.08 for a 3,000square-foot building. The new rates will go into effect Oct. 1. There was no public comment. The board will meet next at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 19, at headquarters.

Holmes Beach set for 1st reading of 2021-22 budget By Ryan paice Islander Reporter

Holmes Beach is entering the final stages of its budget creation and adoption process for 2021-22. City commissioners were set to hold a public hearing and first reading for a budget for the new fiscal year at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 15, at city hall, 5801 Marina Drive, after The Islander’s press deadline. Commissioners met July 13 to discuss a proposed $20,684,927 budget — $2,805,656 larger than this year’s — but agreed to explore additional items, such as budgeting for commissioner laptops, a new set of dais chairs and a new sound system for the commission chambers. City treasurer Lori Hill told commissioners at the July 13 meeting that she would return to the first reading with cost estimates for the additions. Otherwise, the proposed budget includes several small increases across the board. For expenses, the city projects a $285,864 increase in personnel costs for the Holmes Beach Police Department at least in part for two new employees, including an office staff member and an officer. The city also is slated to spend almost $1 million on stormwater utility projects if the budget is approved. For revenue, the city projects to collect $400,000 in additional building permit sales due to increased construction, $750 in state appropriations for stormwater drainage and $286,679 more from ad valorem tax revenue — if the city adopts the staff-recommended 2.25 millage rate. Millage is the number of dollars taxed per $1,000

Storm ready?

Get your storm supplies and your storm plan in order with The Islander’s Storm-Ready news throughout the season. For advertising requests, call or text 941-7787978.

HB budget, 2021-22 numbers expenses property values tentative millage: Rollback rate: 2020-21 millage:

2020-21 2021-22 $17,879,270 $20,684,927 $2,198,99,831 $2,351,329,436 2.25 2.1178 2.25

of property value. So, at 2.25 mills, a property owner would pay $1,125 in ad valorem taxes for a $500,000 property. Keeping the millage rate at 2.25 is a tax increase for city property owners who have seen a $152,409,605 increase in total values over last year. At the 2.1178 rollback rate — the rate at which the city would collect the same amount of ad valorem revenue as this year — the owner of a $500,000 property would pay $1,058.90 in ad valorem taxes. Commissioners met July 15 and unanimously voted to set a 2.25 maximum millage rate for the upcoming fiscal year. Hill previously said adopting a millage rate lower than the rollback rate may jeopardize around $1.8 million the city is slated to receive from the federal American Rescue Plan Act. The act shelled out $350 billion in relief for state and local governments but prohibits taxing authorities that received relief from using the money to “directly or indirectly offset a reduction in net tax revenue.” A second public hearing and final reading for the proposed budget will be at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 28, at city hall.

WMFR by the numbers Revenues

tax receipts Use of impact Fees Reserves use total revenue

Expenses

Wages & benefits Capital outlay Debt service Operating expenses total expenses

2020-21

$7,529,795 $240,000 $1,391,000 $9,410,362

2020-21

$6,292,671.81 $1,756,000 $226,148.72 $1,135,541.47 $9,410,362

2021-22

$7,881,220 $0 $110,000 $8,252,537

2021-22

$6,727,135 $150,000 $226,149 $1,119,003 $8,222,287

Raise OK’d for ﬁre chief

Fire commissioners also unanimously voted to revise WMFR Chief Ben Rigney’s contract to provide a 15% raise due to complications surrounding the National Fire Academy’s executive fire officer certification program. The district hired Rigney in October 2019 on a five-year contract beginning at $115,000 per year and increasing by 3% every year through 2024. His contract also included a 15% pay raise for completing the NFA’s executive fire officer certification program, which was supposed to take two years to finish. Rigney was accepted into the program but it was reorganized last year at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, then suspended earlier this year due to concerns with the program’s quality. The NFA is in the process of reformulating the program but, in the meantime, Rigney’s contract provided no alternate courses to obtain the 15% raise. So, fire commissioners voted to give Rigney — who had already completed several classes under the program — the raise heading into next year, with no certification requirements. Rigney’s revised contract starts at $140,000 per year, with 3% annual raises through 2026. — Ryan paice

RoadWatch Eyes on the road

The Florida Department of Transportation posted the following notice: • SR 684 Cortez Road at 119th Street: Crews are installing landscaping near the intersection. Lane closures may be required. Estimated completion is in October. • State Road 789/Gulf Drive at intersection with Avenue C south to Ninth Street North in Bradenton Beach: Crews are replacing the east sidewalk with permeable pavers. Expect lane closures and flagging operations, as well as construction noise. The contractor is AF USA Construction Corp. The project is expected to be completed late this year. — Lisa Neff

page 6 THE ISLANDER | islander.org Sept. 15, 2021 ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Opinion

Our

Techies have it covered

So my week, and particularly my weekend, becomes a work-around between matches during major tennis tournaments. And the U.S. Open in New York City is no exception. It was postponed by the pandemic for a few months but better late than never, IMHO. Don’t get me wrong, I’m no big player and not really a big fan of most sports, but tennis caught my attention after my school years — during which I played no sports. I was working for Century 21, a fancy high-rise hotel in Urbana, Illinois, where almost no one, including the boss, was older than 25-30. The young staff pitched in wherever needed and my job often meshed with the restaurant and banquet staff, where I sometimes oversaw large parties and helped with entertainment marketing and staffing for the Club on 21. And so I was there when Arthur Ashe came to dinner. It was the 1970s and he was tennis royalty. A few years later and a move to Anna Maria Island with my kids, found us taking tennis lessons at the youth center. I called on Matt Lease, a full-time center kid back in the day, for instructor Cy Gordon’s name. But I remembered Gordon, who was in his 90s, for the lesson after the lesson. He sat us down on a bench and told us a story every week. Once he told us of a college tournament he played (1900-1910?) where a female German player broke her only racquet. While the other players refused to aid her, Gordon, loaned her a racquet and was surprised to learn the grip fit. We learned what fits, but more so, we learned about sportsmanship. Another center instructor, Hal Fennerty, a Wimbledon umpire, encouraged me to call lines for local tournaments. And a job at the Colony Beach Resort in the mid70s led to an introduction to Nick Bollettieri. My love for tennis was seeded. So with one eye on the U.S. Open finals this past week, I learned that linesmen and lineswomen are a thing of the past at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Technology covers the lines, with very few flaws and nary a contested call. Oh, there’s an umpire. But the person in the tall chair overlooking the court might as well be the IBM genius Watson for all he or she had to say. The times are different. I’m grateful we have a loyal following for our oldfashioned newspaper and a great digital presence.

Your

Opinion Work takes place in September to remove invasive, non-native trees from the FISH preserve in Cortez. “the FISH preserve will never be developed. It is under a conservation easement held in partnership with Manatee County in perpetuity,” says FISH board member Jane Van Hahmann. Islander Courtesy photo

— Bonner Joy, news@islander.org

SEPT. 15, 2021 • Vol. 29, No. 47 Publisher, Co-editor Bonner Joy, news@islander.org ▼ Editorial editor Lisa Neff, lisa@islander.org Joe Bird, editorial cartoonist Kevin Cassidy, kevin@islander.org Jack elka, jack@jackelka.com Kane Kaiman, kane@islander.org Amy V.t. Moriarty, amym@islander.org Ryan paice, ryan@islander.org ▼ Contributors Karen Riley-Love Samara paice Capt. Danny Stasny, fish@islander.org ▼ Advertising Director toni Lyon, toni@islander.org ▼ Webmaster Wayne Ansell ▼ Office Manager, Lisa Williams info@, accounting@, classifieds@, subscriptions@islander.org ▼ Distribution Urbane Bouchet Ross Roberts Judy Loden Wasco (All others: news@islander.org) ▼

Single copies free. Quantities of five or more: 25 cents each. ©1992-2021 • Editorial, sales and production ofﬁces: 315 58th St., Suite J, Holmes Beach FL 34217 WeBSIte: islander.org text or call: 941-778-7978

No ﬁshy business, just preservation

Editor’s note: A discussion on a Facebook page prompted concerns and erroneous statements about development on the FISH Preserve in Cortez. The following letter is from the Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage. Just want to apologize for any scare but don’t jump to conclusions. The Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage Preserve is a “preserve,” which means it is a habitat for creatures, fish, birds, rabbits, tortoises, snakes and lots of plants and our mission is “Dedicated to the promotion, education and preservation of Cortez and Florida’s commercial fishing and other traditional maritime cultures including the environment upon which these communities depend.” Well, this is where Phase 4 of the preserve restoration begins: It begins with the removal of the exotics, especially Australian pine — under which nothing can live or grow — as well as pepper trees and melaleuca. We are leaving a small shaded area of the pines

next to the Florida Department of Transportation pond per our membership’s request. Phase 4 hopefully will be the final phase of reestablishing water connections to the bay and perfecting the upland habitat back to its natural state. Again, we are sorry for any scare but know this: The FISH Preserve will never be developed. It is a conservation easement in partnership with Manatee County in perpetuity. Jane von Hahmann, Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage

Have your say

The Islander accepts original letters of up to 250 words and reserves the right to edit for grammar and length. Letters must include name, address and a phone number (for verification). Email: news@islander.org. Anonymous letters will not be printed. Readers also may comment online. And, we have an active Facebook community. To join the conversation, “like” The Islander on Facebook.

Sept. 15, 2021 THE ISLANDER | islander.org page 7 ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Remembering 9/11 On the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States, the island hosted multiple events, including a concert, memorial service, cookout and remembrance ride. On this “look back” page, the Islander looks back on that day to mark the 20th anniversary of the attacks.

9/11 ride: ‘Let’s roll’ ABOVe AND BeLOW: Motorcyclists travel down gulf Drive toward Coquina Beach during the fifth annual 9/11 Remembrance Ride in September 2011. the event was one of several on the island marking the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the United States.

West Manatee Fire Rescue Chief Andy price addresses a memorial service on the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. Islander File photos: Lisa Neff

A volunteer crew cooks hamburgers for the crowd at gloria Dei Lutheran, where a concert marked the 9/11 anniversary.

10&20 years ago

In the Sept. 14, 2001, issue • Manatee County work crews and the Bradenton Beach sanitation department worked overtime to clean up dead fish on Anna Maria Island beaches left by an outbreak of red tide. • Holmes Beach cell tower owner Crown Castle Inc. agreed to lower the height of its proposed tower from 169 feet to 155 feet after city attorney Jim Dye said the taller tower violated the site plan, which had set the height at 155 feet. Crown Castle officials said they raised the height to accommodate a request from the West Manatee Fire Rescue District. • Sarasota Turtle Watch volunteers delivered about 30 hatchlings to Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch after the hatchlings failed to make it from their nest to the Gulf of Mexico. The hatchlings were disoriented by inshore lights. In the Sept. 14, 2011, issue • West Manatee Fire Rescue Chief Andy Price offered a remembrance during the memorial and concert marking the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States. Gloria Dei Lutheran Church and WMFR in Holmes Beach hosted the event. • Manatee County announced plans to reduce its funding for beach law enforcement in Bradenton Beach in the new fiscal year that was to begin Oct. 1. “As you are aware, Manatee County has had to reduce its operating budgets again for the upcoming fiscal year,” the county said. • U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Longboat Key, organized a town hall meeting on short notice at Holmes Beach City Hall Sept. 10, 2011, and arrived to a full house. — Lisa Neff

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page 8 THE ISLANDER | islander.org Sept. 15, 2021 ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

A memorial in Holmes Beach reminds people to ‘never forget’

In tribute to lives lost

A memorial to firefighters who died in the 9/11 terrorist attacks stands Sept. 11 outside the West Manatee Fire Rescue station in Holmes Beach at 6001 Marina Drive. the district created the memorial, which includes a steel beam salvaged from the World trade Center site, as well as granite markers bearing the names of firefighters who died at the twin towers in New York City. Islander photo: Lisa Neff

By Barry Brooks Special to the Islander

Myself and several others worked very hard to construct the 9/11 memorial at the West Manatee Fire Rescue station in Holmes Beach. The memorial — and the recognition that it’s there — means a lot to retired and current firefighters in the area, including the 12 or 13 retired FDNY fellows in the Sarasota-Bradenton area. Shortly after the 9/11 cleanup was completed, a limited number of small sections of steel beams from the tower were donated to fire agencies wishing to construct memorials in remembrance of the firefighters who gave their lives in response to the attacks on the World Trade Center. In early 2003, WMFR received one of these pieces of steel. The piece, part of the memorial, has a small cross cut out of it, which was a common identifier that an area had been cleared. All other materials for the memorial also were donated. A unique feature is that it holds the names of the brave souls who sacrificed everything at Ground Zero. Prior to my retirement from WMFR, we had a booklet with the name, rank and company of all the firefighters memorialized. There are many others who’ve died since from medical complications, including WMFR volunteer Vic Accurso, who went to Ground Zero for cleanup for two weeks. Vic died in 2018.

District commissioners, officers and staff from WMFR gather Sept. 11, 2017, at the Holmes Beach station for the dedication of the Sept. 11 memorial to firefighters who died in the response to the terrorist attacks on the United States. Islander File photo: Bonner Joy

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Sept. 15, 2021 THE ISLANDER | islander.org page 9 ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Coalition gears up for golf cart concerns

Golf carts concerns will be discussed Sept. 15 at a barrier island elected officials meeting. Exasperated by what some people have expressed as improper use of the vehicles on island roads, officials in Anna Maria and Holmes Beach have taken up the matter in recent months. An agenda for a Coalition of Barrier Island Elected Officials meeting says Holmes Beach Commissioner Jayne Christenson will address her concerns over the proliferation of golf cart rentals. The BIEO, a non-voting gathering of island officials, meets quarterly. The 2 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 15, meeting will be at Anna Maria City Hall, 10005 Gulf Drive. — Amy V.t. Moriarty

Tourist report: visitors arrive to AMI in droves Visitors from the Midwest and Northeast continued to flock to the island in May and June, doubling the number of visitors from those regions from 2020. Traveler reports were on the agenda for the Manatee County Tourist Development Council meeting Sept. 13, held as The Islander went to press. Studies showed an 888.6% increase in visitors from the Northeast in May 2021 over May 2020. Visitors from the Midwest in May 2021 totaled about 13,110, a 983.5% increase over the 1,210 estimated visitors in May 2020. June 2021 saw another increase of vacationers from the Northeast with 11,570, or 234.4% more than in June 2020. Vacationers from the Midwest showed a 100% increase, with 13,170 visitors in June as compared with 6,570 in June 2020. — Amy V.t. Moriarty

AM toughens up vacation rental regulations By Amy V.t. Moriarty Islander Reporter

Short-term rental property owners in Anna Maria are on notice. An amendment to the city’s vacation rental ordinance allows for cancellation of rental registration for unpaid citations, fees or fines. City commissioners unanimously approved the amendment at a Sept. 9 meeting. A resolution that passed Aug. 26 started a clock giving vacation rental owners an ultimatum to pay fines in 60 days or possibly lose the right to short-term rentals. Stipulations in a vacation rental registration agreement between the city and a property owner state the owner’s responsibility for ensuring a property complies with ordinances and that an owner is responsible for any fines for failure to comply. Violation of the noise ordinance — if left unpaid by renters — is an example of a property owner’s responsibility. Also Sept. 9, commissioners held a hearing and first reading of an ordinance regarding mobile homes, but they plan to wait until after an Oct. 18 planning and zoning board meeting to vote on the measure. City commissioners vote on ordinances and legislate while the P&Z reviews proposed ordinances and offers suggestions between first and final hearings. The draft ordinance stipulates “no permits shall be issued for structures located on any lot, tract or parcel within the city” without being in full compli-

Correction

A report in the Sept. 8 issue of The Islander incorrectly stated Manatee County had approved an interlocal agreement with Anna Maria related to city pier improvements for a Mote Marine Laboratory outreach center. Manatee County commissioners are expected to consider the agreement at an Oct. 12 meeting at the administration building in Bradenton.

Murphy

ance with the Florida Building Code and applicable Federal Emergency Management Agency regulations. The ordinance prohibits mobile homes and, additionally storage sheds and other out-buildings.

In other matters • Commissioners wished exiting building official Luke Curtis luck in his endeavors. Mayor Dan Murphy said Curtis resigned effective Sept. 17. • Murphy told commissioners that with only two candidates for three commission seats in November, he plans to address the appointment process at the Sept. 23 commission meeting. At that time, the commission could set a deadline for applicants for the vacant seat. • A “Reimagining Pine Avenue” hearing was tentatively set for 2 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 22. Gerry Traverso will present information requested by commissioners on five options to address safety and traffic concerns on Pine Avenue. Traverso, a VP for George F. Young Inc. was contracted to perform a traffic study and provide recommendations for traffic and pedestrian safety. Traverso’s Aug. 19 presentation of options based on that study left commissioners with questions and Traverso was tasked with compiling answers and more data. • P&Z board member Jose Erbella’s reappointment was unanimously approved by commissioners with Jonathan Crane, who served on the P&Z with Erbella, stating, “I strongly endorse reappointment.” The next commission meeting will be Thursday, Sept. 23, at city hall, 10005 Gulf Drive, immediately following the conclusion of a 5:30 p.m. final reading and vote to ratify the 2021-22 fiscal year budget. For more information, call the clerk’s office at 941708-6130.

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page 10 THE ISLANDER | islander.org Sept. 15, 2021 ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

The Islander Calendar ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

May 5-15, 2022, Island Players “The Psychic,” Anna Maria. OFF AMI

ON AMI

Friday, Sept. 17 6:30 p.m. — “Casablanca” screening, John and Mable RingSunday, Sept. 19 ling Museum of Art, 5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota. Fee applies. 7:30 p.m. — Island Players auditions for “Same Time, Next Year,” 10009 Gulf Drive, Anna Maria. Information: 941-778-5755. Information: 941-359-5700. ONGOING ON AMI

ONGOING OFF AMI

Through Sept. 26, Island Players’ performance of “The Savannah Sipping Society,” 10009 Gulf Drive, Anna Maria. Fee applies. Information: 941-778-5755. Throughout September, “Live Colorfully” membership exhibit, Island Gallery West, 5368 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach. Information: 941-7786648. Throughout September, “Life at the Beach,” Artists’ Guild Gallery, 5414 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Information: 941-7786694.

First Fridays, 6-9:30 p.m., Village of the Arts First Fridays Artwalk, 12th Street West and 12th Avenue West, Bradenton. Information: www.villageofthearts.com. Second and fourth Saturdays, noon-2 p.m., Music on the Porch jam session, presented by the Florida Maritime Museum and Cortez Cultural Center, outdoors, 4415 119th St. W., Cortez. Information: fmminfo@manateeclerk.com. “Battles of the Boneless” exhibit, the Bishop Museum of Science and Nature, 201 10th St. W., Bradenton. Fee applies. Information: 941-746-4131. Through Sept. 26, “Skyway 20/21: A Contemporary Collaboration,” John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, 5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota. Fee applies. Information: 941-359-5700. Through Sept. 26, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens’ “We Dream A World, African American Landscape Painters of Mid-Century Florida, The Highwaymen,” 1534 Mound St., Sarasota. Fee applies. Information: 941-366-5731. Sept. 25-August 2022, “Augmented Reality” exhibit, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, 1534 Mound St., Sarasota. Fee applies. Information: 941-366-5731. Through Oct. 10, “Women in Print” exhibit, John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, 5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota. Fee applies. Information: 941-359-5700. Through Jan. 16, 2022, “Prints, Ceramics and Glass from Japan,” John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, 5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota. Fee applies. Information: 941-359-5700.

AHEAD ON AMI

Oct. 15, Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce Bayfest kickoff, Anna Maria. Oct. 16, Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce Bayfest, Anna Maria. Nov. 12, Anna Maria Island Historical Society Ice Cream Social, Anna Maria. Nov. 4-14, Island Players’ “Same Time, Next Year,” Anna Maria. Nov. 13, Anna Maria Island Concert Chorus and Orchestra’s “Symphony on the Sand,” Bradenton Beach. Nov. 17, Island Players audition for “Blithe Spirit,” Anna Maria. Dec. 10, Holiday Walk of Treasures open houses and Holiday Carols in the Park, Anna Maria. Jan. 9, 2022, Island Players audition for “A Comedy of Terrors,” Anna Maria. AHEAD OFF AMI March 3-10, 2022, Island Players’ “A Comedy of Terrors,” Anna Oct. 9-Nov. 28, Selby Gardens’ annual orchid show, SaraMaria. sota. March 13, 2022, Island Players audition for “The Psychic,” Anna Oct. 15, Ringling’s Noche Cubano Dance Party, Sarasota. Maria. Oct. 14-31, Manatee Players’ “Mamma Mia!,” Bradenton. March 19-20, 2022, Anna Maria Island Art League’s Springfest, Oct. 23, Florida Maritime Museum/Cortez Holmes Beach. Cultural Center Cortez Nautical Flea Market, Cortez. Nov. 13, Anna Maria Island Privateers $5 OFF Black Tie gala, Bradenton. any service when KIDS & mentioning this ad. Nail Salon And, enjoy a glass of FAMILY chardonnay, on us, with a mani/pedi. ON AMI

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Compiled by Lisa Neff, calendar@islander.org. Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Registration: mymanatee.org/library. Information: 941-778-6341. AHEAD ON AMI Dec. 28, ﬁrst Movies in the Park of the season, Anna Maria. ONGOING OFF AMI First Wednesdays, 5:30 p.m., “Soar in 4 Family Night, the Bishop Museum of Science and Nature, 201 10th St. W., Bradenton. Fee applies. Information: soarin4.org, 941-746-4131. Saturdays and Sundays, 3 p.m., Tales Under the Tree, the Bishop Museum of Science and Nature, 201 10th St. W., Bradenton. Fee applies. Information: 941-746-4131. AHEAD OFF AMI Dec. 4, Florida Maritime Museum’s Christmas in Cortez, Cortez.

CLUBS & COMMUNITY ON AMI Friday, Sept. 17 11:30 a.m. — Mah Jongg Club, Island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Registration: mymanatee.org/library. Information: 941-7786341. Saturday, Sept. 18 11 a.m. — Meditation session, Island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Registration: mymanatee.org/library. Information: 941-778-6341. Tuesday, Sept. 21 11:30 a.m. — Mah Jongg Club, Island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Registration: mymanatee.org/library. Information: 941-778-6341. ONGOING ON AMI Saturdays, 8:30 a.m., Kiwanis Club of Anna Maria Island meeting, Gulf Drive Cafe, 900 Gulf Drive N., Bradenton Beach. Information: 941-7781383. AHEAD ON AMI

Oct. 12, ﬁrst Anna Maria Farmers Market in the Park of the season, Anna Maria. Oct. 20, Anna Maria Island Garden Club meeting, Anna Maria. Nov. 11, Veterans Day Parade on Pine and recognition ceremony, Anna Maria. Nov. 6, Keep Manatee Beautiful’s Manatee Public Beach cleanup, Holmes Beach. Friday, Sept. 17 Nov. 17, Anna Maria Island Garden Club Plant Sale, Anna 10 a.m. — 40 Carrots Partners in Play, Island Library, 5701 Maria. Dec. 4, Keep Manatee Beautiful’s Coquina Beach cleanup, Bradenton Beach. ONGOING OFF AMI

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Island happenings

Sept. 15, 2021 THE ISLANDER | islander.org page 11 ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Top takeaways Bill Shafer of Anna Maria collects his winnings Sept. 9 at the Islander newspaper office, 315 58th St., Holmes Beach. Shafer won the grand prize in the newspaper’s top Notch photo contest conducted over six weeks during the summer. He won $100 from the Islander and a bevy of gift certificates from advertisers. Islander photo: Bonner Joy

‘The Savannah Sipping Society’ onstage

The curtain at the Island Players’ theater will open on the 73rd season at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 16. The first play will be “The Savannah Sipping Society,” written by Jones, Hope and Wooten and directed by Mike Lusk. Performances will continue through Sunday, 26, with the cast taking the stage at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. The theater is dark Mondays. The box office is open 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays through the run, as well as an hour before performances. Tickets are $25 each. The theater is at 10009 Gulf Drive, Anna Maria. For more, call the box office at 941-7785755.

Showing at IGW terri Westbrook is a new member of the Island gallery West, 5368 gulf Drive, Holmes Beach. Westbrook works primarily in pastel media. “My paintings are journal entries, my response to what I see when I’m out in nature or my emotions about a place I visited many years ago. Making art is like meditation for me. I hope people enjoy my pieces that come from my heart,” she says. the gallery, closed for renovations, will reopen Sept. 25. Islander Courtesy photos

CAlENDAR FROM pAge 10 ONGOING OFF AMI Tuesdays, noon, Rotary Club of Anna Maria Island lunch meeting, Compass Hotel by Margaritaville, 12324 Manatee Ave. Saturdays, 8 a.m., Robinson Runners running club, Robinson W., Perico Island. Second Tuesdays at 5 p.m. Information: 941-920- Preserve expansion, 840 99th St. NW, Bradenton. Information: 9412505. 742-5923, ext. 6047. Saturdays, 9 a.m., Saturday Mornings at the NEST nature AHEAD OFF AMI exploration, Robinson Preserve expansion, 840 99th St. NW, BraSept. 26, Suncoast Waterdenton. Information: 941-742-5923, ext. 6047. keeper’s Brunch for the Bay, AHEAD OFF AMI Sarasota. Oct. 2, Manatee County Sept. 25, International Coastal Agriculture and Extension Service Fall Plant Fair and Marketplace, Cleanup at Palma Sola Causeway Park, Palmetto. Bradenton. Oct. 16, Paradise Center of Longboat Key’s Making Strides Sept. 25, Sarasota Bay Estuary Against Breast Cancer Walk, Longboat Key. Program’s Tidy Island volunteer planting, Bradenton. OUTDOORS & Oct. 8, Keep Manatee Beautiful’s “Fore the Environment” CharSPORTS ity Golf, Bradenton. Oct. 23, Oct. 30, Nov. 27, Perico Preserve tours, Perico ON AMI Island. Saturday, Sept. 18 9 a.m. — Keep Manatee Beautiful International Coastal GOOD TO KNOW Cleanup, Coquina Beach, Bradenton Beach. Information: 941-795KEEP THE DATES 8272. Sunday, Oct. 31, Halloween. ONGOING ON AMI Sunday, Nov. 7, daylight saving time ends. AMI Dragon Boat Team—Paddlers Thursday, Nov. 11, Veterans Day. From Paradise practices and meetups, Tuesday, Dec. 21, winter solstice. various times and locations. Information: Saturday, Dec. 25, Christmas Day. 941-462-2626, mrbradway@gmail.com. Friday, Dec. 31, New Year’s Eve.

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Larry paul is a new member of IgW. He creates his works using prismacolor pencils, inks and graphite. His art derives from decades of studying and photographing the natural world’s effects on human-made objects. For more information, go online to islandgallerywest.com or call IgW at 941-778-6648.

page 12 THE ISLANDER | islander.org Sept. 15, 2021 ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Island happenings Visitor spreads joy, BOLO for painted rocks By Ryan paice Islander Reporter

While perusing the walkways, paths and beaches of Anna Maria Island, the fortunate may stumble upon an extra-colorful rock. On closer look, they’ll also find a Clark message of kindness. Dallas resident and Anna Maria Island frequent visitor Marilia Clark, 74, told The Islander Sept. 7 that she has painted and placed thousands of small stones across the island, many of which include positive messages, in an effort to spread joy to people who see them. Clark said she has visited the island every summer for nine years in time to celebrate her birthday and she began painting rocks almost four years ago.

Libraries, schools partner on all-access student pass

Students, check this out. The School District of Manatee County and the Manatee County Public Libraries System are partnering to offer an “all access pass.” The initiative helps students access library resources. Students can use their student ID number to access books, magazines, movies and music, as well as tutor services. Students also can reserve books, as well as literacy kits, telescopes, instruments and more. For more information, go online to mymanatee. org or connect with the Island Library — by phone at 941-778-6341 or in person at 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. — Lisa Neff

She said the activity is a part of the worldwide Kindness Rocks Project, an initiative to encourage the painting of rocks to “lift others up through simple acts of kindness,” according to the website thekindnessrocksproject.com. Clark said she’d often hide her rocks and post hints to the Anna Maria Island Life Facebook page, inspiring small scavenger hunts for the embellished stones. She encouraged others to do the same — no applications or credentials required. People can do whatever they want with the rocks if they find one — keep them, leave them, toss them into the Gulf — but Clark hopes the stones inspire a smile here and there. “I have a lot of fun doing it,” she said. “I’ll get up in the morning and make three or four, then go on with the rest of my day … go out on my bike and take a few with me, sprinkling them around.” “After the rock leaves my hands, you know, they’re out into the world,” she added. Clark said she’d seen several social media posts

AmE NEWS By Ryan paice

Parent signs up for council

The Anna Maria Elementary School Advisory Council soon may expand to 17 members. Bradenton resident and AME parent Kristi Kliebert was the only person to apply to join the SAC for the 2021-22 school year as the application window closed Sept. 3, according to principal Michael Masiello. The SAC meets four times a year to foster relationships between the school, parents and teachers, as well as determine school improvements and serve as an advisory board to Masiello. The council currently consists of 16 people, including parents, community members, business owners and school employees. Parents with children moving to middle school are not eligible for SAC candidacy. David Zaccagnino and Janae Rudacille were elected to serve as council chair and vice chair last year, but the SAC will vote to determine new officers for the new year.

Marilia Clark’s hand-painted rocks include ﬂip-ﬂops and island scenes. Islander Courtesy photo

from people who found her rocks and appreciated her positive messages. “That really makes my day,” she said.

AME Calendar

• Sept. 21, virtual Peace Day celebration. • Sept. 23, 3:45 p.m., SAC virtual meeting. • Oct. 7, end of quarter. • Oct. 8, record day, no school. • Nov. 11, Veterans Day, no school. • Nov. 18, 3:45 p.m., SAC virtual meeting. • Nov. 22-26, Thanksgiving break. Anna Maria elementary is at 4700 gulf Drive, Holmes Beach. For more information, call the school at 941-708-5525.

The SAC also will consider approving Kliebert’s membership when it meets at 3:45 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 23, via teleconference. Masiello expressed appreciation for the people who “donate their time” to contribute to the SAC. “It is very valuable to have parents and community member give their input to help make decisions that impact their children and to direct the school,” he said.

Over the moon

The Savannah Sipping Society by Jones, Hope and Wooten Co-Produced by The Off Stage Ladies Directed by Mike Lusk

Sept. 16-26 Four Southern women, all needing to escape their day-to-day routines, are drawn together by fate — and an impromptu happy hour — and decide it’s high time they reclaim the enthusiasm for life they’d lost through the years.

Mason Moss, left, Braelyn Curtis and Michael Spoon, AMe fourthand fifth-graders, Sept. 9 show off the patches they designed for a Student Spaceﬂight experiments program contest intended to inspire a new generation of scientists, engineers and artists. their designs will go on in the competition prior to the spring SSep Mission 16. Islander photo: Courtesy AMe/ SteM teacher pidge Barreda

A Laugh a Minute

Genuinely Entertaining

Endearing Characters

NEW EVENING SHOWTIME: 7:30 PM Tuesday-Saturday 2 PM Sunday Matinees Temps taken upon admittance to theater and masks required.

d TICKETS: $25

The Box Office 9-1, Monday-Saturday, and 1 hour before performances

We ROCk ONliNe

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7:30 PM Sunday, Sept. 19, at the theater for “Same Time, Next Year.” Show dates: Nov. 4-14. For more information go theislandplayers.org or call 941 778-5755. We recommend all actors be vaccinated for Covid-19 prior to auditions.

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Sept. 15, 2021 THE ISLANDER | islander.org Page 13 ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

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page 16 THE ISLANDER | islander.org Sept. 15, 2021 ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Tidings

Gathering

Roser Robics resumed Sept. 9 at the Roser Memorial Community Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria. Mask-wearing is recommended and social distancing will be practiced. The chair-based workout involves exercising with weights or cans of food, which can be donated after class to the food pantry. The fitness class, led by instructor Ann Bodger, takes place at 9:30 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. There is no fee but donations are welcome. For more, call the church at 941-778-0414.

10 a.m. — Roser Church. 10 a.m. — Christ Church of Longboat Key Presbyterian USA, REGULAR WORSHIP 6400 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key. Information: 941-900Monday-Friday 4903. 8:30 a.m. — St. Bernard Catholic Church, 248 S. Harbor Drive, 10 a.m. — Longboat Island Chapel, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Holmes Beach. Information: 941-778-4769. Longboat Key. Information: 941-383-6491. Thursdays 10:30 a.m. — St. Bernard. 9:30 a.m. — Episcopal Church of the Annunciation, 4408 Gulf ONGOING EVENTS Drive, Holmes Beach. Information: 941-778-1638. Wednesdays, 6:45 p.m., CrossPointe Fellowship Wednesday Saturdays Night Blast. 4 p.m. — St. Bernard Catholic Church. Thursdays, 7 p.m., Roser Church chancel choir rehearsals. Sundays 8 a.m. — Episcopal Church of the Annunciation. SAVE THE DATES 8:30 a.m. — St. Bernard Catholic Church. Sept. 15, Yom Kippur. 8:30 a.m. — Roser Memorial Community Church, 512 Pine Oct. 9, ECA potluck supper. Ave., Anna Maria. Information: 941-778-0414. Nov. 6, Roser Church Holiday Craft Fair. 9 a.m. — CrossPointe Fellowship, 8605 Gulf Drive, Holmes Nov. 28, Hanukkah begins. Beach. Information: 941-778-0719. Dec. 4, ECA Holly Berry Bazaar. 9:15 a.m. — Harvey Memorial Community Church, 300 Church Dec. 6, Hanukkah ends. Ave., Bradenton Beach. Information: 941-779-1912. Dec. 12, Roser Church blood drive. 9:45 a.m. — Episcopal Church of the Annunciation. Dec. 24, Christmas Eve. 9:30 a.m. — Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 6608 Marina Drive. Dec. 25, Christmas Day. Holmes Beach. Information: 941-778-1813.

Vincent Mercadante

Assistance sought on AMI

Roser Robics resumes

Obituary

Vincent Mercadante, 90, of Anna Maria, died Aug. 21 surrounded by his family at his home. He was born and raised in Worcester, Massachusetts, and in 1952 was called to serve in the U.S. Army at Brooke Army Medical Center in Texas. He went to the University of Mercadante Tampa on a football scholarship, where he met the love of his life, Larrie Jean, and they married in 1955. He graduated from UT and worked for Oscar Mayer for 33 years, managing the company’s Publix account with so much passion that most people thought he worked for the supermarket. He was a longtime member of St. Bernard Catholic Church and the Holy Name Society. He loved his golf as a member of Key Royale Club and enjoyed every chance he got to play and win charity tournaments. He loved his island community, working the election polls each year and helping countless individuals start up businesses on the island. Also, in retirement, he loved keeping up with sports and his friends, meeting his buddies from Tampa Thursdays for lunch in St. Petersburg. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 23, at St. Bernard Church, 248 S. Harbor Drive, Holmes Beach, with a reception following at the Bradenton Country Club in Bradenton. Masks are respectfully required for attendees. Memorial donations may be made to a favorite charity. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Larrie Jean; daughters Sheree and husband Peter Kent and Dina and husband Pat Osburn; five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

GoodDeeds

• Ministry of Presence Inc. seeks medications and monetary donations to aid earthquake victims in Haiti, donations to The Islander, 315 58th St., Suite J, Holmes Beach, or mail to MoP, P.O. Box 770, Oneco, FL 34264. • Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce seeks volunteers and sponsors for Bayfest in Anna Maria Oct. 15-16, as well as greeters in the chamber office. Information: 941-778-1541. • Senior Adventurers group seeks events coordinators and a van driver for Friday outings. Information: 941-447-5076 • Moonracer Animal Rescue seeks volunteers to offer foster and forever homes for rescued animals. Information: 941-345-2441. • The Roser Food Bank seeks

donations. Roser Memorial Community Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, administers the pantry, supported by All Island Denominations. Information: 941778-0414. • Keep Manatee Beautiful seeks volunteers for cleanups and other efforts. Info: 941-795-8272.

Assistance offered on AMI

• The Roser Food Bank welcomes applicants who live and/or work on Anna Maria Island for food assistance, Roser Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria. Information: 941-778-0414. • AID offers help to those who live on the island, go to church on the island, attend school on the island and work on the island. Information: 941-725-2433. — Lisa Neff

Friends share tribute, fundraise for servicemember lives lost Friends gather Sept. 4 at the home of Casey Marquette on 68th Street in Holmes Beach for a tribute to 13 servicemembers killed in an Aug. 26 attack at an airport in Kabul, Afghanistan. Residents from 65th to 72nd streets attended. the Stockton Brothers, entertained and a video tribute aired on the large screen behind their “stage.” the event was a fundraiser for veteran causes, according to James Craig. Islander photos: Courtesy James Craig

At your service

Obituaries are offered as a community service to residents and families of residents, both past and present, as well as to those people with ties to the island. Submit to news@islander.org. Obituaries are provided free — a service of your community newspaper. Paid obituaries can be discussed with advertising consultant Toni Lyon at 941-778-7978.

SUNDAY WORSHIP • 8:30 AM or 10:00 AM

COMMUNITY CHURCH IN PERSON in the Sanctuary Nursery • Children’s Church ONLINE • Watch LIVE or LATER www.RoserChurch.com Text ROSER to 22828 to receive the weekly eBulletin The CHAPEL is open during office hours for prayer & meditation

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Sept. 15, 2021 THE ISLANDER | islander.org page 17 ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Streetlife

Staff reports

Island police reports

Anna Maria No new reports due to maintenance by the sheriff’s office records department. The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office polices Anna Maria. Bradenton Beach No new reports. The Bradenton Beach Police Department polices Bradenton Beach. Cortez No new reports. The MCSO polices Cortez. Holmes Beach Aug. 31, 5300 block of Marina Drive, warrant. The Holmes Beach Police Department received a ping from its license plate recognition system about a motorist with an active warrant for failing to appear in court for a traffic violation. An officer stopped the motorist, confiscated his license and issued a court summons. Sept. 1, 4900 block of Gulf Drive, speeding. An officer saw a truck traveling faster than the legal speed limit. The officer stopped the motorist, whose license had been suspended, and issued a citation and court summons. Sept. 2, 4200 block of Gulf Drive, battery. A man called the HBPD to report his girlfriend battered him. An officer obtained an affidavit from the man and tried to contact his partner, who did not respond to phone calls. The officer filed a capias request against the woman for battery. Sept. 2, 4000 block of Gulf Drive, warrant. An officer found a man at the Manatee Public Beach after hours. The officer identified the man, who had an arrest warrant out of Polk County. The officer arrested the man and transported him to the Manatee County jail. Sept. 5, D-Coy Ducks, 5410 Marina Drive, trespass warnings. An officer responded to reports of two men fighting in the bar. The officer found the men, who were both intoxicated, and issued trespass warnings to the pair at a manager’s request. Sept. 6, 3700 block of Gulf Drive, burglary. An officer responded to reports of a vehicular burglary and found a couple who said they were reporting that someone had entered their vehicle overnight without permission. The officer documented the missing items, including a purse, and lifted fingerprints from the scene. The officer also searched the vicinity for the items but failed to find anything. There was no video footage of the incident.

Cops & Courts

Staff reports

Holmes Beach resident arrested for DUI

Manatee County sheriff’s deputies arrested Holmes Beach resident Shanna Kennett, 36, Sept. 7 on a second-degree misdemeanor charge for driving under the influence of alcohol. A Holmes Beach Police Department officer saw a golf cart stopped in the middle of 67th Street. The officer approached the vehicle and found a woman, later identified as Kennett, sleeping behind the wheel. She was naked from the waist down with two open beer cans next to her. The officer woke Kennett, who allegedly said she

did not know where she was and admitted to drinking alcohol before driving the vehicle. The officer called the MCSO for a DUI investigation and a deputy arrived and established probable cause to arrest Kennett for DUI. The deputy also issued a citation for possessing an open alcohol container. The deputy arrested Kennett and transported her to the Manatee County jail, where she was released later that day after posting $120 bond. An arraignment was not set as of Sept. 8.

Double anchor foils boat theft, owner looks on

Sex offenders register AM vacation addresses

A 28-year-old Bradenton man was arrested Sept. 4 after an alleged attempt to steal a motorboat that was weighed down by a second anchor in the Gulf of Mexico ran aground. Boat owner Paul Koelkebeck and friends were dining at the Gulf Drive Cafe, 900 Gulf Drive N., Bradenton Beach, and witnessed the attempted theft by Zachary Shattuck, according to a Bradenton Beach police report. Shattuck told arresting officers he had not slept in days and had no idea why he tried to steal the boat. The boaters had double-anchored the vessel just before going ashore when the owner saw a man “driving away with his boat,” according to the report. The owner and friends ran across the beach, calling to the man, who was not aware of the second anchor. Shattuck, who told police he didn’t know how to operate the boat, drove close enough to the shoreline that the owner jumped aboard. That’s when Shattuck jumped off and was surrounded by a gathering crowd that kept him at the scene until police arrived. Police obtained a copy of a video from a witness to the incident. Shattuck was released from custody Sept. 7 and will be arraigned Oct. 1 at the Manatee County Judicial Center in Bradenton for grand theft of a motor vessel, a second-degree felony. If convicted, Shattuck could face up to 15 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. — Amy V.T. Moriarty

A 75-year-old male sex offender registered an Anna Maria address Sept. 8. The man reported a temporary residence in the 300 block of Gulf Boulevard, according to a Florida Department of Law Enforcement Sept. 9 report. He was convicted in March 1995 in Polk County of sexual battery by an adult on a victim under the age of 12 and of sexual battery or solicitation of a child. Another sex offender, a 40-year-old male, registered a temporary residence in the 400 block of Magnolia Avenue Sept.8, according to the FDLE report. The man was convicted in Manatee County in February 2014 for lewd or lascivious molestation of a victim aged 12-15 years old by an offender 18 or older. Sex offenders must register permanent and temporary addresses with the sheriff in the county where he or she resides as well as transient locations unless otherwise ordered by a court. A search of the FDLE sex offender website found one offender residing on 129th Street West in Cortez and one resident offender in Bradenton Beach on Ninth Street North.

— Ryan paice

— Amy V.t. Moriarty

Find the Islander dating to November 1992 at the UofF Digital Newspaper Collection at ufdc.uﬂ. edu.

HBPD polices Holmes Beach. Streetlife is based on incident reports and narratives from the BBPD, HBPD and MCSO.

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page 18 THE ISLANDER | islander.org Sept. 15, 2021 ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Nesting notes By Samara Paice

Fire ants attack turtle nest

Three loggerhead hatchlings were found dead and covered in fire ants in a nest on Bean Point. Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring volunteers Hans Duerr and Birgit Kremer excavated nests Sept. 3 in the dunes in Anna Maria and Bradenton Beach. One of the nests, near the 800 block of North Shore Drive in Anna Maria, produced 60 hatched eggs, three unhatched and three dead hatchlings in the clutch covered in fire ants. It also ended up that Duerr and Kremer suffered fire ant bites. It could not be determined if the turtles were killed while pipping or died before the ants attacked the nest. Predation of sea turtle nests by tropical fire ants, considered an invasive species, is a concern, according to research from seaturtle.org, a nonprofit that consolidates information about sea turtles. Fire ants can harm or kill turtles in the nest or after they hatch. Even after a hatchling makes it to the water, the venom from the fire ant sting can kill or cause an infection that could lead to death. Sea turtle nests are excavated by AMITW to collect important date three days after hatching to allow adequate time for hatchlings to make their way out of the nest on their own. AMITW volunteers occasionally recover a hatchling from a nest, monitor it and release it — if it’s healthy — to the Gulf of Mexico. If the hatchling is deemed unhealthy, it may be taken to Mote Marine Laboratory’s Sea Turtle Hospital for observation. Another nest excavated by volunteers Sept. 3 near Lifeguard Tower No. 6 on Coquina Beach in Bradenton Beach produced 100 hatched and two unhatched eggs. Signs indicated a raccoon disturbed the nest before excavation and possibly ate one unhatched egg.

Anna Maria Island turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring volunteers Hans Duerr and Birgit Kremer excavate a loggerhead nest in the dunes Sept. 3 near the 800 block of North Shore Drive in Anna Maria. Islander photos: Samara paice

A disoriented loggerhead hatchling found Sept. 3 near the gulf Drive Cafe in Bradenton Beach.

In other news a disorientation near the Gulf Drive Cafe, at 900 Gulf Drive N., Bradenton Beach, sent the volunteers looking in the dunes for surviving hatchlings. One hatchling was recovered and observed before being released into the Gulf of Mexico. For more information, go online to islandturtlewatch.com or call executive director Suzi Fox at 941232-1405.

As of Sept. 12, AMItW had identified 420 nests, 557 false crawls and 194 hatched nests on AMI.

Isola Bella

$10 Tees @ The Islander, 315 58th St., HB.

Holmes Beach code compliance supervisor Jt thomas — who also has a following as a DJ — jokes with moviegoers Sept. 8 at the Movie in the park event in city field. the featured film was a documentary, “100 Yards of Hope: the Fight to Save a National treasure.” Holmes Beach Mayor Judy titsworth also addressed the crowd.

BOOKING: OPENTABLE

Harry's Restaurant & Deli Gone Fishing Sept. 6th - Oct. 6th Stay tuned for upcoming Wine Dinners!

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Sept. 15, 2021 THE ISLANDER | islander.org page 19 ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

By Lisa Neff

Pedestrians perplexed on Pine

“Test your GPS. It’ll look like you’re drunk.” The vacationer from Michigan referred Sept. 6 to his GPS tracking from a walking route on Pine Avenue, from Gulf Drive to Bay Boulevard in Anna Maria. Sure enough, when I checked my iPhone after making my way west to east on Pine, the zigs and zags in the mapping mimicked that of an inebriated ambler. Over Labor Day weekend, I surveyed about two dozen people on Neff Pine Avenue, asking them about the existing infrastructure, particularly the pedestrian amenities. All were walking, taking the most environmentally friendly approach to reaching the pier and the beach, as well as patronizing shops and restaurants and checking the scene. All described themselves as vacationers, some visiting for the weekend and some for the week. All expressed no awareness of a city-sponsored effort to “Reimagine Pine Avenue” to improve safety, aesthetics and traffic flow. And many voiced confusion about the walking system they encountered on the main east-west road in the city. If motorists follow the “rules of the road,” pedestrians should expect to follow the “rules of the sidewalk.” But along Pine Avenue, there is no consistency and the rules don’t apply. Instead, there are traditional sidewalks, winding shell-sand paths and, in some spots, no good option for walkers. I loved the walk when I lived at the north end and took it six days out of seven to the post office, but it’s easy to understand the confusion for visitors and also the concerns of residents. Along Pine, when the winding paths begin or shift course, pedestrians will find directional signs that read, “For your safety, please, walk this way.” I’m reminded when I meander along of lost Dorothy as she encounters the Scarecrow in “The Wizard of Oz” and asks, “Now which way do we go?” “That way is a very nice way,” the Scarecrow says while pointing in one direction. And then, “It’s pleasant down that way, too! … Of course, people do go both ways.” However, Dorothy’s path was clearer — she needed only to follow the Yellow Brick Road. On Pine Avenue, it’s walk this way, that way or stroll in the street. One of my favorite family vacation photos is of a herd of Neffs walking on Pine Avenue — on, not along — after their traditional “city jail” photo outside the Anna Maria Island Historical Society Museum. I’m mindful of similar human herds when I motor along on Pine Avenue, as well as the touring bicyclists, who probably were raised on “rules of the road” that don’t seem to apply on or around Pine Avenue. I grew up with the rule to ride on bike paths and, when they’re lacking, ride in the street with the flow of the traffic. But try riding in the street on Pine Avenue and see how many motorists honk and holler at you. Alternatively, you can test the wrath of the walkers as you ride on the sidewalk. And so, what’s in the “Reimagining Pine Avenue” options before city commissioners? Honestly, the 52-page report contains some pretty good ideas. One option — Alternative 1, with just some added pavement markings and new crosswalks — left me cold but I felt kind of giddy about Alternative 2, with its buffered bike lanes and sidewalks on both sides of Pine, plus more crosswalks. I found strong positives in Alternative 3, with an

“Reimagining pine Avenue” involves five options before Anna Maria commissioners, including an option to create one-ways on pine and Magnolia avenues, left, and an option to add bike paths, sidewalks and crosswalks to pine Avenue, right. Islander Courtesy Images

added multipurpose path along the south side of Pine, along with sidewalks on both sides and more crosswalks. I went cold again on Alternative 4, which adds sidewalks along Pine Avenue and on-street parking, but requires bicyclists to share the road with cars and carts. If carried out, this plan likely would deter bicycling or push bicyclists off Pine Avenue. And then there’s Alternative 5, which would make Pine and Magnolia avenues alternating one-way streets

with bike paths, sidewalks, crosswalks and on-street parking. Diagramed on paper, this option looks terrific — the brass ring, the golden ticket, the ruby slipper for cyclists and walkers — but then I don’t live on Magnolia Avenue, which would see an impact from traffic to its mostly residential character. I’m hearing the Scarecrow’s advice again. No wonder city commissioners asked for more information — which they’ll discuss at a meeting this month.

Holmes Beach hosts movie night people watch the movie “100 Yards of Hope: the Fight to Save a National treasure” Sept. 8 at city field, 5801 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. the movie is a documentary film created by Force Blue, a nonprofit that retrains former military divers to complete acts of conservation and restoration, such as removing waste from the seaﬂoor. the event was hosted by city staff and Keep Manatee Beautiful members and sponsored by Force Blue and the pepsi Stronger together initiative. Movie night served as a preview for a Sept. 10 cleanup dive at the Kingfish Boat Ramp, also in Holmes Beach. Islander photos: Ryan paice

the city and pepsi shared goodies, snacks and pepsi-brand refreshments Sept. 8 at Movie in the park night. goodies included t-shirts, water bottles and handsanitizer keychains.

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Page 20 THE ISLANDER | islander.org Sept. 15, 2021 ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

KRC celebrates Labor Day, seeds set for adult football playoffs

The Sept. 9 Thursday scramble at the club saw the TD grabs to complete the scoring in the victory. foursome of Ken Butler, Hoyt Miller, Chuck Patrick Joey Carder connected with Cruz Rodriguez for The Key Royale Club hosted its annual Labor Day and Steve Vasbinder combine on a 4-under-par 28 to the lone Beach Bums TD in the loss. Scramble and luncheon Sept. 6 with a kickoff putting earn clubhouse bragging rights for the day. clinic by club pro Ken Butler. Youth soccer kicks off season After the putting preview at the Adult flag football heads to playoffs The fall soccer season for kids kicked off Sept. 7 Holmes Beach course, 51 golfers teed The regular season of the adult flag football league at the center with five matches on the pitch between up for the nine-hole scramble. Five at the Center of Anna Maria Island has concluded and the 8-10 and 11-14 divisions. teams tied for first at 2-under-par 30, attention turns to Sept. 16 and the playoffs. Blalock Walters kicked things off for the 11-14 prompting a match-your-score tieWe The Best Lending nailed down the top seed by teams with a 3-1 victory over Anna Maria Island Wines. breaker to determine a champ. a tiebreaker over second-place Catalyst and will take Andrew Graham, Jayden Sparks and Savanna Coba Cassidy The team of Jody and Bob on No. 8 seed TMT in the playoff kickoff. Catalyst scored goals to lead Blalock, along with a combined Maleeny, Ken Nagengast and Chris will match up against No. 7 seed Beach Bums. No. 3 four saves from Cale Rudacille and Mason Moss. Nelson took home first place, just ahead of Janelle seed went to Ray’s Ramblings on a 4-3 record. They Angelina Albrecht scored the lone goal for Anna and Mike Clements, Robert Kingan and Eric Lawson. will face No. 6 seed Cortez Deep Sea Fishing, which Maria Island Wines, while Cyrus Ryan notched seven Third place went to Debbie and Dave Richardson, finished 2-5. No. 4 seed TBT will face No. 5 Sandbar saves in the loss. Nelson Eagle and Blake Ress. Restaurant, with both teams at 4-3 in the standings. Miz & Hiz Biz outscored HSH Designs 5-4 in Jenny Huibers captured the long-drive title for the Game times were yet to be announced. the second 11-14 game behind four goals from Chad women, while Gabriel Conn won for the men. Tom In action Sept. 9 at the center gridiron, We The Best Nunez. Cecelia Kroth added a goal and two saves, Nelson won closest-to-the-pin on the eighth hole, stick- Lenders clinched the top seed with a 56-7 thumping while Konnor Oelfke made three saves. ing his shot 3 feet 2 inches from the pin. Other win- of Catalyst behind five touchdown passes from Chase Frankie Coleman led HSH with three goals in the ners were Jake Shaffer in the chipping contest, Dave Richardson on offense and a pick six on defense. Jona- loss, while Hayden Eurice also scored and Jack ZacRichardson on the putting green and Gary Razze for than Soultatas found the endzone three times on five cagnino notched five saves. the straightest drive. catches, while adding a 2-point conversion. Jasmine Action in the 8-10 division kicked off with Beach Lunch and libations followed in the clubhouse, Muldoon added a pair of TD grabs and Tim Holly Bums earning a 5-3 victory over Tidy MD behind a with talk centering on the plans for the upcoming notched one as well. Dom Otteni finished with a pair hat trick from Dylan Sato. Brandon Sato and Turner Oktoberfest Scramble. of TD passes and Luis Campos completed the scoring Worth each added goals and Elijah Brannock helped On Sept. 7, the women dodged raindrops to com- with a 2-point conversion. preserve the victory with eight saves in goal. pete in their regular nine-hole, individual-low-net Jon Moss hit Greg Moss for a TD and an extra Shady Lady slipped past The Gitt Team 2-1 in the match in two flights. point to account for the Catalyst score. second 8-10 game of the night. Tomas Bartos scored Jana Samuels, who birdied the third hole, and Ellen The second game of the night saw TMT outscore and made two saves, while Austin Guess added a Boin both fired 2-over-par 34s — good for a first place Cortez Deep Sea Fishing 47-37 thanks to six touch- second goal for Shady Lady. tie in Flight A. Mary Wilkie was two strokes back in down passes by Keith McQuillen and an astounding Matthew Winsper scored the Gitt goal and Colin second place. six touchdown receptions on 12 catches by Connor Bankert and Owen Purcell shared eight saves in goal. Janet Razze had the low-net round of the day with Haughey. Sir Williams added a TD pass and a TD grab Moss Builders then edged Solid Rock Construca 2-under-par 30. Margrit Layh was alone in second at to round out the TMT scoring in the victory. tion 2-1 behind a pair of goals from Mason Moss and 6-over-par 38, while Terry Westby, who had a chip-in Tyler Brewer threw six TD passes for Deep Sea, six saves from Landon Sinphay. on the ninth hole was another stroke back in third. including three to Tuna McCracken and two to Kevin Nixon Connor scored for Solid Rock, which Roman. Cole Carter completed the scoring with a touch- received six saves spread among Isaac Roadman, down and an extra point in the loss. Andre Harwood and Eli Roadman in the loss. Ray’s Ramblings doubled up on Sandbar with a The action continues next week. 24-12 victory in the third game of the evening. Ryan Moss threw for two scores and added a TD grab to lead Horseshoe news Ray’s offense, which also received a TD pass from For the third consecutive week, there was no need Bobby McMillan and scoring catches from Jordan for playoffs to determine champions at the Anna Maria DeMers and Peggy Smith. Kari Stephens completed City Hall horseshoe pits. the scoring for Ray’s team on a rushing touchdown. The Sept. 8 games saw Jerry Disbrow and Steve Matt Manger paced the Sandbar offense with TD Doyle post the only 3-0 record in pool play, while passes to both Anthony Mannino and Derrick Carey. the Sept. 11 games saw Disbrow team up with Tom TBT won a 25-6 victory over Beach Bums behind Skoloda on the only 3-0 record. The victory was the strong games from Brandon Kull and Matt Briley. Kull fourth in a row for Disbrow. Chris Nelson, Ken Nagengast, Jody Maleeny and Bob Maleeny pose on winning the Key Royale Club and Briley both doubled up on TD passes and both Play gets underway at 9 a.m. Wednesdays and Satadded a receiving TD. Zack Routh finished with two urdays at the Anna Maria pits. Warmups begin at 8:45 Labor Day Scramble. Islander Courtesy Photo a.m. followed by random team selection. There is no charge to play and everyone is welSouthernaire Fishing Charters Make one stop to shop for the Dock! come. By Kevin P. Cassidy Islander Reporter

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Anna Maria Island Tides

Date

Sept 15 Sept 16 Sept 17 Sept 18 Sept 19 Sept 20 Sept 21 Sept 22

6:24a 8:03a 12:12a 12:19a 12:30a 12:40a 12:50a 1:02a

HIGH

2.6 2.6 1.9 1.9 1.9 2.0 2.1 2.2

— — 9:30a 10:38a 11:32a 12:19p 1:01p 1:41p

HIGH

LOW

— — 2.6 2.7 2.6 2.6 2.5 2.3

3:18p 4:19p 2:59a 4:12a 5:05a 5:49a 6:29a 7:07a

0.1 0.1 1.7 1.5 1.2 1.0 0.8 0.6

— — 5:06p 5:45p 6:16p 6:42p 7:05p 7:25p

LOW

Moon

— — 0.1 0.3 0.4 0.6 Full 0.8 1.0

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

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Sept. 15, 2021 THE ISLANDER | islander.org Page 21 ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Going old school: Fishing the Manatee River in September By Capt. Danny Stasny Islander Reporter

Fishing in the Manatee River in September brings rewards, as well as insight into what it’s like to fish “old Florida.” The Manatee River headwaters begin at Lake Manatee, winding and twisting 18 miles in a westerly flow before emptying its dark sweet waters into the aqua waters of Tampa Bay. Its nutrient-rich waters gently meander, creating a brackish habitat that Stasny is most appealing to a variety of flora and fauna. And although development is taking a toll, a lot of the shoreline remains untouched. Mangroves and oysters thrive in the river habitat, creating nesting and foraging areas for many species of birds and mammals, including manatees. Fish also thrive there, especially those tolerant of low salinity levels: snook, tarpon, redfish and trout. Vast amounts of bait gather at the mouth of the river, attracting predators. Other species, Spanish mackerel, jack crevalle and mangrove snapper are attracted to the plethora of food, which adds to the diversity of the marine ecosystem. The beautiful-yet-fragile river provides a perfect recipe for exceptional fishing and, if you indulge me, here’s an example: The sun had not yet risen Sept. 7 as I dropped my anchor on a grass flat in Anna Maria Sound. It was still dark as I mixed up my chum, preparing to throw the cast net in hopes of finding bait. The tide was beginning to trickle in as the morning twilight settled in advance of sunrise. The shorebirds began their morning flight in anticipation of the bait schools that would show up near the surface at first light. I began to chum small amounts behind the boat to attract the shiners. Within five minutes the water began to dimple. The sun was just below the horizon, as orange and pink clouds gathered in the east. I put out another bit of chum and gathered up my 10-foot cast net, preparing my throw. The bait was behind the boat as I threw my net. It quickly sank, engulfing the shiners. I could see them flashing underwater as I pulled the net. It was a good strike. As I emptied a hundred or so baits into the baitwell, my mind filled with anticipation for the day and the fish I might catch. I put more chum in the water and threw the net again. Another full cast. It was time to clean up the boat and go fishing. I aimed the bow into the sun, now creeping over the tree line. As I accelerated, the boat quietly skimmed the calm waters of Anna Maria Sound, making it hard to tell where the water ended and the boat began. Upon arrival in the river, the water was still glassy, reflecting the sun into my eyes. I laid the boat down and idled toward the mangrove shoreline where I planned to fish. I pulled close to shore, watching the bottom finder, I saw 8, 6, then 4 feet. It was low tide. I killed the motor and coasted. At 3 feet, I stealthily dropped anchor. As I looked over the rail, the darkness of the river prevented me from seeing the bottom. I could tell the tide was just beginning to come in by the flow of the grass blades and leaves around the boat. It was time to fish.

Mitch Kuula of New Haven, Michigan, shows off his trophy catch, a long-nose Florida gar, caught Aug. 20 while fishing the Manatee River with Capt. Danny Stasny. The Florida gar is a prehistoric fish with ganoid — bony — scales that have peg-and-socket joints forming a hard armor, with irregular spots on the top of the head, body and fins.

I threw a handful of live shiners — chummers — behind the boat and watched the explosion on the surface. And then another and another. “They’re here,” I thought to myself. I grabbed a medium-light spinning rod and prepared my rig — a new 4-foot 20-pound fluorocarbon leader with a 2/0 circle hook at the terminal end. I gently hooked a shiner and cast. Nothing. I reeled, switched out the bait and cast again. On this cast, I nearly threw the bait in the fish’s mouth. The bait barely hit the water. Bang! The line jumped and instantly the rod bent. The drag screamed out and a snook broke water. It was airborne, then with a splash, the battle commenced with the 26-inch linesider. Not a bad start. As the tide increased, the bite did the same. Spotted seatrout and redfish came to the party. It was one of those days — I felt warm inside. Happy and satisfied by a good morning of fishing. After a few more fish, I got a hard strike. As I pulled back, reeling fast to drive the circle hook in, a 30-inch tarpon erupted from the water. The cackle of his gills as he shook his head in the air and fought the hook echoed over the surface of the calm water. I prayed my 20-pound leader would hold up. The fish jumped again and I heard the pop. The silverking broke the leader, winning the fight. With my hands and arms shaking in excitement, I slowly reeled in the bare line. After a couple of curse words, I re-rigged and cast again. Another quick strike. Was it a tarpon again? No — the way the fish fought was not right for a tarpon. In fact, it was not right for any of the fish familiar to me. As the fish pulled out drag, it shook its head vigorously, jerking the rod in my hand. And then I saw it. A huge beak of teeth slashed back and forth above the surface of the water. It was a long-nose Florida gar —a true exotic catch for our waters. And what a battle it was. Once boatside, I netted the fish, lifting it into the boat. Its hard body armor was rough on my hands as I held it tightly to avoid getting nicked by the sharp teeth along the long nose. The hook was visible halfway up the nose

and was easily removed with pliers. He measured out at 34 inches. It was 9:30 a.m. and the sun was in full force. I was drenched from head to toe in sweat and ready to go home. The dark, sweet waters of the Manatee River had rewarded me with a great morning of fishing and I was satisfied by the cool breeze as I headed back to the marina. I hope this river never changes. I’ve been fishing its waters since I was a boy and I hope to fish them for the rest of my life. It’s a fishing life for me. As for this week’s reports, Jim Malfese at the Rod & Reel Pier is seeing respectable numbers of catchand-release redfish during the morning tides. Pier fishers using live shrimp as bait are frequently hooking into reds measuring 20-30 inches. Using a bottom rig, consisting of at least a half-ounce egg sinker and a 1/0 hook, is proving most effective. Casting this rig under the pier and letting it sit on the bottom in the shaded waters among the pilings is resulting in a bite. While targeting the reds with shrimp as bait, pier fishers are hooking into mangrove snapper and an occasional catch-and-release snook. Most snapper being caught are keeper-size fish measuring 10-14 inches. Limits of these tasty fish are attainable by patient anglers who have an ample amount of live shrimp in their bait bucket. As for the catch-and-release snook, some large linesiders are taking residence under the pier. And, they are not opposed to lazily meandering over to enjoy a small snack of live shrimp. As the old saying goes, elephants eat peanuts — don’t be surprised to hook into a 30+ inch snook while using shrimp as bait. Capt. Johnny Mattay of Anna Maria Charters is finding plenty of fish in Tampa Bay to keep his clients busy, where catch-and-release action is consistently good for snook and spotted seatrout. Both species are responding well to live shiners as bait. Mattay added he’s seen quite a few redfish mixed in on this bite. Fishing structure in Tampa Bay is proving to work out well for clients who want fish to take home for dinner. Mangrove snapper and Spanish mackerel are the predominant bite while structure fishing. And some lucky anglers are reeling up an occasional gag grouper or cobia, says Mattay. Send high-resolution photos and fishing reports to fish@islander.org.

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page 22 THE ISLANDER | islander.org Sept. 15, 2021 ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

isl

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By Kane Kaiman

Awards, bows, bikes, kudos

Oh Henry! Is there space on the mantle for Flagler? AMI Beach Weddings and the Bradenton Area Convention & Visitors Bureau were winners at the 2021 Florida Governor’s Conference on Tourism Sept. 9, when they received Flagler Awards for outstanding tourism marketing. The awards, named for Henry Flagler — a turn-of-the-century oil tycoon who played a large role in Kaiman developing Florida’s Atlantic coast — have been presented since 2000 to businesses that demonstrate exceptional creativity, innovation and effectiveness in their marketing materials. The top three entries in each category receive — from lowest to highest — a bronze, silver or Henry (gold) award. AMI Beach Weddings won a Henry for it’s website, amibeachweddings.com, and a bronze for the Anna Maria Island Weddings Magazine. The Bradenton Area Convention & Visitors Bureau won silver and bronze for it’s “Love It Like A Local” campaign. For more information about AMI Beach Weddings, visit annamariaislandweddings.com or call 941-5276000. For more information about the BACVB, visit bradentongulfislands.com. Riley-Love also was named 2019 Tourism Ambassador of the Year by the Bradenton Area Convention

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and Visitors Bureau and AMI Chamber of Commerce small business of the year for 2020. Hail to the queen Bridge Street became a little more regal Sept. 1 when Lisa Luu — affectionately nicknamed “Queenie” or “Q” by her other half — opened Q’s Creations Boutique, a shop featuring handmade signs, beach apparel and other items at 119 Bridge St., Suite 140, Bradenton Beach. Luu, an Iowan who has visited the island for years, moved to Anna Maria permanently in 2020. To get a feel for the market, she began selling handcrafted signs, cheese boards and furniture at two island vendor markets, the Pineapple Marketplace and Scavengers Marketplace AMI. Some of the handmade items, in addition to jewelry and beach attire, have made their way to her boutique. “I think we carry different items than a lot of other places,” Luu said. “I don’t carry a large quantity of one thing, so you’re going to find something that, when you go out on the streets, not everybody else is wearing.” For more information about Q’s creations, call 941-896-7154 or visit qscreation.com. Lisa Luu, owner of Q’s Creations, welcomes shopStill nailing it Yanin Moreno, owner of Yanin’s nail salon, 7604 pers to her boutique Sept. 9. the shop, 119 Bridge

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Cortez Road W., Suite B, Bradenton, has built a loyal clientele over 17 years in the business. They had no qualms with following Moreno after she moved her business from Sarasota to Bradenton in May. The new shop, tucked away in Rekkas Plaza, is a hidden gem, Moreno said Sept. 9. “A lot of people don’t know that we’re here but once they find out and come in and have the experience, they are very pleased with our work,” she said. What sets Yanin’s apart is artistry, cleanliness and a personal atmosphere. Moreno can freehand designs from pictures her customers bring into the shop, her employees use new instruments and products for every pedicure and, to set the mood, wine is served upon request. “We actually take the time to pay attention to you,” Moreno said. To reach the salon, call 941-896-3934. To see examples of Moreno’s work, visit her Instagram page at @yaninsrq. And as always… …Got biz news? Contact Kane Kaiman at kane@ islander.org or call The Islander office at 941-7787978.

St., Suite 140, Bradenton Beach, opened Sept. 1, offering custom and handmade souvenirs and beach apparel. Islander photo: toni Lyon

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Sept. 15, 2021 THE ISLANDER | islander.org Page 23 ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Summer business sizzled, fall optimism rises on AMI By Kane Kaiman Islander Reporter

Raking it in. Following an extraordinarily busy summer, local business leaders are bullish about the fall — on the heels of a short red tide outbreak and despite COVID19. Business owners in the rental property, restaurant and charter/watersports sectors reported higher-thanaverage volume this summer, which most attributed to Florida’s almost nonexistent COVID-19 restrictions and a reduction in Americans traveling abroad. Island Real Estate owner Larry Chatt said Sept. 8 nearly all his rental properties were booked throughout the summer, compared to 80% in a typical year. “The difference this year, in my humble opinion, was that Florida was open while much of the country was not back in April, when people were starting to make their summer plans,” he said. “It was one of the best summers we’ve ever had. The season kind of just continued through until the first week of August,” Chris Dale, co-owner with brother Joey of The Feast Restaurant in Holmes Beach, said Sept. 7. Anna Maria Princess paddle-wheeler cruises, which operates out of the Bradenton Beach Marina, saw similar success. First Mate Lexi DeLeon said Sept. 7 booking volume was high and steady throughout the summer, due in part to vacationers who were prompted to choose Florida over international destinations because of the pandemic. Traditionally, fall is a two-headed monster for local businesses. With kids back in school, early fall is typically a slower season than the summer. However, as Thanksgiving approaches, things pick up. The island tourist boom usually climbs again around Christmas and peaks in the spring. Like last year, island establishments won’t be able

ANNA MARIA ISLAND �� Marina Isles Lane � Beds �/� Baths �� Sq� Ft� Kate Enis �� A��

The Vinettes pose on the dock July 21 at a family reunion in front of the Anna Maria Princess, a paddlewheeler cruise and events vessel operating out of the Bradenton Beach Marina. Islander Photo: Lexi DeLeon

to count on European customers due to international travel restrictions. However, Chatt anticipates American vacationers taking advantage of opportunities to work remotely will fill the void. Lisa Varano, a property manager at Wagner Realty, said Sept. 7 that while her agency typically sees a 50% reduction in bookings in September and early October, people are still making trips to the island from within the country. She also reported that many Wagner Realty rental properties have been booked for Christmas. Chatt theorized that if COVID-19 cases rise in the northern United States, spurred on by colder temperatures, the island could see a busier fall season than ever, as northerners escape lockdowns in search of outdoor opportunities. Local restaurant owners at The Feast Restaurant, Blue Marlin Seafood in Bradenton Beach and the Beach Bistro in Holmes Beach have learned to overcome challenges presented by the pandemic — includ-

ing higher food and material costs and supply and staff shortages — and they share a rosy outlook for the fall season. At The Feast, Dale said he has overcome shortages of products like to-go packaging by doing business with multiple vendors. While food prices are higher than ever, The Feast is trying to absorb as much of the cost as possible to avoid raising menu prices, he said. To retain staff, Dale has offered his employees ample work hours regardless of customer volume. “We’re projecting a really good fall as long as we don’t get too many more storms and red tide stays away,” he said. Adam Ellis, owner of Blue Marlin, has employed a unique strategy to combat staff shortages — on Sundays, the restaurant closes for private parties. Despite high seafood prices, Ellis said he’s optimistic about the fall, when stone crabs — a Gulf of Mexico delicacy — will be back on the menu.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND �� Fern Streets & �� Rose Street �� Beds � Baths �� Sq� Ft� Hannah Hillyard & George Myers �� A��

ANNA MARIA ISLAND �� Mangrove Avenue � Beds �/� Baths �� Sq� Ft� Hannah Hillyard & George Myers �� A��

please, see outlook, page 26

ANNA MARIA ISLAND �� Cedar Avenue � Beds �/� Baths �� Sq� Ft� Hannah Hillyard & George Myers �� A��

ANNA MARIA ISLAND �� th Street � Beds �/� Baths �� Sq� Ft� Leah Secondo & Lynne Callahan �� A��

LONGBOAT KEY �� Ranger Lane � Beds �/� Baths �� Sq� Ft� Kathy Callahan �� A��

BRADENTON �� Riverview Boulevard � Beds �/� Baths �� Sq� Ft� Kathy Valente & Gregory Zies� LLC �� A��

BRADENTON �� Riverview Boulevard � Beds �/� Baths �� Sq� Ft� Hannah Hillyard & George Myers �� A��

LONGBOAT KEY �� Marbury Lane � Beds �/� Baths �� Sq� Ft� Sandi Layfield �� A��

ANNA MARIA ISLAND �� Gulf Drive � Beds �/� Baths �� Sq� Ft� Melinda Alvarez �� A��

BRADENTON �� st Avenue W � Beds � Baths �� Sq� Ft� Fran DeDona & Pam Goodwin �� A��

LONGBOAT KEY �� Gulf Of Mexico Drive �� Beds � Baths �� Sq� Ft� Michael Moulton �� A��

BRADENTON �� W ��th Drive W J�� & J�� Beds � Baths �� Sq� Ft� Leah Secondo �� A��

LONGBOAT KEY �� Evergreen Way �� Beds �/� Baths �� Sq� Ft� Bill Anderson & Adrienne Scott �� A��

BRADENTON �� th Street Circle W A & B �� Sq� Ft� Louise Hollander �� A��

�� | MICHAELSAUNDERS�COM

page 24 THE ISLANDER | islander.org Sept. 15, 2021 ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

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

ITEMS FOR SALE Continued

HELP WANTED Continued

eLeCtRONIC LOCK FOR front door. Vacation rentals, $150-$190. orinocomarketing@outlook. com.

ANtIQUe OFFICe CHAIRS: perfect for eclectic dining set. Circa 1950 from Anna Maria City Hall. Inquire at the Islander newspaper, 315 58th St. Suite J, Holmes Beach. 941-778-7978.

BOUtIQUe CAReeR OppORtUNItY on Anna Maria Island. Full-time positions available. experienced salesperson position starting at $18. please, email karsen@islandcabana.com.

FREEBIE ITEMS FOR SALE

DIVe SHOp RetAIL associate position. We’re hiring a full-time long-term employee who loves diving and is ready to learn all about the dive industry! ami@ﬂoridaunderwatersports.com. 941-200-0660.

CHANDeLIeR: BROWN MetAL, hardware, $45, Dell keyboards, $10, two bar stools, black/ brown leather seat, stainless-steel, $45, 941920-2494.

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, fax tollfree 1-866-362-9821. (limited time offer)

pAIR NIKe ROSHe, $35, was $115. Aqua/red, size 10, really nice, lightweight, barefoot feel. 941-779-9781.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

BIKeS AND tOOLS: Schwinn 10-speed, $85, Woodshop tools. 941-356-1456.

WANteD: WORKOUt DVDs and retired but working XBox, Wii units with games for Ministry of presence for kids and teens in Haiti. Deliver to the Islander, 315 58th St. Suite J, Holmes Beach.

ANtIQUe BABY CARRIAge: Wood and wicker. proceeds benefit Moonracer Animal Rescue. email: moonraceranimalrescue@gmail.com. ANtIQUe pARtNeR DeSK: All wood, $500. $1,000. Inquire at the Islander office, 315 58th St. Suite J, Holmes Beach. 941-778-7978.

Sandy’s Lawn Service Inc. ESTABLISHED IN 1983

Residential & Commercial Full-service lawn maintenance. Landscaping ~ Cleanups Hauling ~ Tree Trimming. LICENSED & INSURED

Paradise Improvements

941.792.5600

Kitchen and Bath Remodeling Specialist Replacement Doors and Windows

Andrew Chennault

FULLY LICENSED AND INSURED Island References Lic#CBC056755 CBC 1253471

RDI CONSTRUCTION INC. Residential & Condo Renovations Kitchens • Bath • Design Service Carpentry • Flooring • Painting Commercial & Residential

AdoptA-Pet

DIReCtOR-DRIVeR SOUgHt for senior’s at the Annie Silver Community Center and Center of Anna Maria Island. Seeking volunteer senior activity director and van driver for Friday outings. Contact peg Miller, 941-447-5076 or pm3h@ yahoo.com.

ANSWERS TO SEPT. 15 PUZZLE

I F S O

D A N O

S L E P T L A T E

P I E T R E M G R A F

R E C A P

A C U R A

C A S H E S I N V O T E R

O B A M P A R E A S Y S U D O P E C A N N O B L N A P A O N C A R K I L Y I E A N E R O U X S O N D E E D R E D E U S P B I N A Y T E R R R D S E T E T H U D E A R A B E

A D P A G E E A T I N R I P A N N E

HeLp ReSCUeD petS! Volunteer, foster, computer help needed! Moonracer Animal Rescue. email: moonraceranimalrescue@gmail.com.

A/C SeRVICe teCH: experience required. Must have own tools. Full-time with benefits. Drug Free Workplace. West Coast AC, 941-778-9622.