The Islander Newspaper E-Edition Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022

To the rescue after Ian

County threats step up island squabble

By ryan Paice islander reporter

Natural disasters usually bring communities together.

But Hurricane Ian — and some statements before the storm made landfall in Florida — may have pushed the governments of Manatee County and Holmes Beach further apart.

Local firefighters assist in storm recovery efforts

north river fire district assistant chief Joe Sicking, assistant leader of a strike team from area fire districts, looks at the destruction Oct. 4 at Legacy Harbour marina in fort myers in the wake of Hurricane ian. the strike team includes 24 personnel and four fire engines, including ones from West manatee, Southern manatee and north river fire districts and cedar Hammock fire control, as well as a rescue team from Bradenton. the team, led by Wmfr chief Ben rigney, responded to 36 emergency calls over 24 hours as a part of its effort to ease the load on area responders, according to Wmfr fire marshal rodney Kwiatkowski. islander Photos: courtesy Wmfr rigney

The squabble got going when county administrator Scott Hopes told the island cities that the county would be shutting off water service to the island before the evacuation was complete.

Hopes then said during a Sept. 27 Manatee County Emergency Operations Center news conference that Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer had requested Hopes and the county keep water services to Anna Maria Island active during the storm on behalf of remaining residents.

“I don’t want the police chief in Holmes Beach calling me to say, ‘Please don’t turn off the water because you know our residents aren’t going to leave,’” Hopes said. “If we were to leave that water on, and then we have a problem, we could have to shut down the entire system for everybody in Manatee County because some people wanted to stay on the island.”

Cortez fishers lend helping hands

By Kane Kaiman islander reporter

They’re casting lifelines to Pine Island.

By land and sea, Cortez-based fishing captains Nathan Meschelle, Lance Plowman, Brian Lacey and others delivered supplies to Pine Island residents and businesses devastated by Hurricane Ian.

Ian hit the island as a Category 4 storm, destroying boats, dozens of homes and collapsing the bridge to mainland Florida.

Beginning Oct. 1, private boat owners,

the U.S. Coast Guard and Florida National Guard provided aid and transportation to stranded residents.

In an Oct. 2 Facebook post, Organized Fishermen of Florida-Cortez Chapter executive director Alexis Meschelle, wife of chapter president and commercial fisher Nathan Meschelle, called for donations of canned goods, medical supplies, clothes, blankets, diapers and baby formula for Pine Island residents, many of whom are commercial

Relief resources

Looking for ways to help with Hurricane Ian recovery? Or looking for ways to get help? Turn to page 19 for local, state and federal resources.

Personnel from a fire district strike team, including West manatee fire rescue, respond Oct. 4

manatee county administrator Scott Hopes speaks during a Sept. 27 news conference, urging people on anna maria island to evacuate ahead of Hurricane ian’s landfall in florida. also pictured, u.S. rep. Vern Buchanan and an interpreter for the deaf. islander Screenshot: Youtube

After the stormHurricane Ian

County downgrades EOC

Manatee County downgraded the status of the emergency operations center Oct. 5 to partial activa tion — maintaining essential recovery and response functions.

“We are continuing to help coordinate poststorm activities,” public safety deputy director Steve Litschauer said in a news release. “This will continue for a long time.”

County assessment teams as of Oct. 5 estimated Hurricane Ian caused $92 million in residential dam ages and $15 million in commercial damages.

The county was using Crisis Track software to compile the assessments and, as assessment teams continued their work Oct. 5, the county reported: seven structures destroyed, 173 structures with major damage, 610 structures with minor damage and 1,809 structures impacted by Ian.

As of Oct. 6, Bradenton Beach was the only island city to log estimates in Crisis Track, according to county information outreach manager Bill Logan.

“They have listed $1.3M in damages in their com munity, with no data on commercial damages,” Logan wrote in an email, referring to Bradenton Beach.

— Lisa neff

AM debris, recycling change

The city of Anna Maria has issued two Ian-related announcements regarding collections of storm debris and recycling.

Effective Oct, 12, the city will no longer pick up large storm debris. Any yard waste must be bundled or bagged for Monday collection.

Also, as of Oct. 10 and until further notice, the collection of recycling is suspended.

Police Chief Bill Tokajer posted a statement Oct. 4 to the HBPD’s Facebook page to “set the record straight” about Hopes “publicly shaming” him and the city’s residents.

Tokajer said he did call Hopes that day to request he “revisit” the order to turn off the water, not for residents remaining behind in spite of the evacuation order but rather on behalf of first responders who were necessarily staying overnight for the safety and welfare of everyone.

“I did not make the request because I wanted water for our residents who refused to leave, but because our first responders … would not be leaving the island until the wind was too dangerous, which at the time of the phone call was not expected till mid-morning Wednesday,” Toka jer wrote.

While Tokajer said there were a few holdouts against the county’s mandatory evacuation order, he praised residents for their efforts preparing for the storm and heeding the evacuation order.

“As Island leaders we could not be prouder of our residents, businesses and property owners as they took Hurricane Ian very seriously, sand-bagging, boarding up businesses, residences. Coming to the city hall and police department to get over 1,100 re-entry tags,” he wrote.

Mayor Judy Titsworth told The Islander Sept. 30 that Hopes’ comments were “very disturbing” and backed up Tokajer’s claims about requesting a delay for the water shut off on behalf of first responders.

“He just goes on and on accusing us of not evacu ating? This was one of the best evacuations we’ve ever done in the city,” Titsworth said. “It was a ghost town out here. … He was just trying to make us look horrible.”

“That was probably the most disturbing thing

SUNSET CRUISES

about this whole response,” she added.

The other cities on the island also reported little to no issues with evacuating residents ahead of the storm.

Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy told The Islander Oct. 7 that the city’s evacuation efforts went smoothly but he spoke to about 12 people the morning after Ian passed who said they stayed during the storm.

Murphy said Tokajer’s concern about turning the water off while first responders remained on the island was valid but he was more concerned about the lack of water if a fire were to occur.

He said he had spoken to the county EOC about his concerns and was promised a water tanker would be placed on the island in the event of a fire.

However, Murphy said, he wasn’t aware if the county fulfilled that promise.

Bradenton Beach Police Chief John Cosby told The Islander Oct. 7 he knew of only about five people who did not comply with the evacuation order and stayed on the island through the storm.

Cosby said many islanders’ recent memory of Hur ricane Irma in 2017 inspired them to find safer places to stay on the mainland.

“They were gone before we told them to leave,” Cosby said.

Hopes did not respond to Sept. 30 and Oct. 7 calls from The Islander.

However, county information outreach manager Bill Logan further explained the decision to shut off water to the island in an Oct. 7 interview with The Islander.

Logan said, regardless of whether the delay was requested for island stragglers or first responders, water services had to be shut down to maintain the sewage and potable water infrastructure.

Logan said potential damage to the infrastructure could have left the county water system contami nated.

He added that the timing of the shut down was to provide time for utility crews to close lift station valves on the island and make it back to safety by nightfall.

titsworth

tokajer

Water taxi gets unanimous approval, but concerns linger

By robert anderson islander reporter

Manatee County commissioners revved up the money machine.

They voted Oct. 6 to authorize spending $1 million-plus on two vessels and the launch of a water taxi service.

Elliott Falcione, executive director of the Bradenton Area Conventions and Visitors Bureau, who has been spearheading the effort to establish a water taxi service in Manatee County, made the request.

The proposed service would be a 40-minute ride with stops in downtown Bradenton, the Anna Maria City Pier in Anna Maria and the Historic Bridge Street Pier and the South Coquina Boat Ramp in Bradenton Beach.

The service would begin with Friday-Sunday operations, 10:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m., and the 50- to 55-foot pontoon-style vessels would carry up to 49 passengers.

The taxi would have different price points: an adult one-way pass would be $8; seniors and children older

AM farmers market returns

The city of Anna Maria this week was resuming its weekly farmers market, which takes place Tuesdays at the City Pier Park at the corner of North Bay Boulevard and Pine Avenue.

The market — the first was set to take place Oct. 11, after The Islander went to press — opens at 8:30 a.m. and runs until about 2 p.m.

The city announced more than a dozen produce and specialty food vendors as of press time.

People can learn more about the market or apply to be a vendor online at cityofannamaria. com or by calling the city at 941-708-6130, ext. 110. — Lisa neff

than 3 would pay $6; a hopper pass for multiple rides would cost $10; while children 3 and under ride free.

Gulf Coast Water Taxi, an offshoot of Clearwater Ferry Services Inc. in Pinellas County, is in negotiations with the county to operate the service, but the county will own the boats.

Clearwater Ferry Services has been under contract with the city of Clearwater since 2015 to run an operation similar to the one proposed in Manatee.

Falcione said staff would bring back a draft agreement between the county and CFS for the board’s consideration.

Despite a unanimous vote Oct. 6 on spending for the water taxi, some commissioners expressed concerns over the funding plans.

Falcione is calling for the county to invest up to $700,000 for the two 49-passenger vessels and carry a lien on the vessels.

Also, the county would subsidize Gulf Coast Water Taxi for up to $350,000 per year for the first two years of service.

Falcione pegged funding for the initiative from Coquina Market revenues, beach concession funds and the tourist development tax.

But the Coquina Market has yet to launch and there’s a county agreement with the island cities for spending the beach concession funds.

Commissioners Carol Whitmore, George Kruse, James Satcher and Misty Servia indicated the beach market is not a viable source of funding since it has yet to begin operating.

Whitmore also said the plan to utilize beach concession revenue to subsidize the taxi could represent a policy change without a vote from the commission.

The agreement between the county, Anna Maria, Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach is to allot funds from the beach concession surplus — money paid to the county by the beach concession contractor above the contract amount — to the cities for projects related to infrastructure and improvements.

“We have $300,000 in that account now and I know the mayors are all coming together to come up and apply for that money for their cities,” said Whitmore. “I’m just telling you: you are interfering with an agreement that as a policy board we haven’t asked you to change yet.”

Satcher motioned to defer the beach market issue until a Nov. 29 meeting in favor of an immediate vote on the water taxi. Commissioner Vanessa Baugh seconded the motion, which passed 6-0, with Whitmore dissenting. The deferral means a delay in the early November opening of the market, as previously proposed by Falcione.

A motion was put forward by Whitmore to allow for the purchase of the two vessels to be used as water taxis. The motion was seconded by Satcher and the vote was 7-0.

The county tourist development council, which will meet Oct. 17 at the county administrations building, is expected to further discuss the water taxi.

Q&A 101222

The Islander poll

Last week’s question

By Lisa neff

Where did you shelter during ian?

41%. Stayed home.

11%. Sheltered with friends/family.

2%. Public shelter.

6%. Booked accommodations.

41%. Traveled far and away.

This week’s question

What’s the no. 1 inconvenience in a power outage?

A. No internet.

B. No TV/cable.

C. No fridge.

D. No lights.

To answer the poll, go online to islander.org.

Watermelon salad balsamic reduction watermelon arugula olive oil basil mint feta

falcione Suzi fox. islander file Photo: Lisa neff

SerVing

Restoration crews bring AMI back online

By ryan Paice islander reporter

Power to Anna Maria Island is back following Hurricane Ian.

For the most part.

Out of the 599 Florida Power & Light customers in Manatee County that remained without electricity as of Oct. 7, only 32 were on the island and in the village of Cortez, according to FPL’s power tracker map.

FPL had restored electrical services for about 2 million out of the 2.1 million of its Florida customers affected by Hurricane Ian as of Oct. 6, according to a news release.

Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy told The Islander Oct. 7 that electricity had been restored to about 99.9% of the city. He said only a handful of properties remained without power due to tree damage to power lines or home electrical lines stripped by wind.

Murphy said restoration took a little longer than the rest of the island, since the city was at the northern

Contractor collects debris at city field an excavator rests Oct. 7 near a debris pile at Holmes Beach city field — between 59th Street, flotilla drive and 62nd Street — where Sarasotabased ceres environmental Services organized for the removal of debris from Hurricane ian. the city will seek up to 75% reimbursement from the federal emergency management agency for the cost of debris removal, which could cost up to $100,000, according to city code compliance administrator Kim charron.

mayor Judy titsworth said ceres will complete the work in stages over the next couple of weeks. islander Photo: courtesy Holmes Beach/Jt thomas

Pine Island fi sher and St. James City Fish Co. owner Roy Kibbe had reached out to his OFF contacts in Cortez after the storm wiped his third-generation fish house off the map.

“People couldn’t get to them,” Alexis Meschelle

Holmes Beach Police chief Bill tokajer, in black, stands Oct. 3 with a BHi energy crew out of Oklahoma dispatched to the city to restore electricity after Hurricane ian. tokajer said he met the crews to thank them for traveling such a long way to help. islander Photo: courtesy HBPd

end, but most of the city had power back by the morning of Oct. 5.

The Islander Oct. 7 that restoration efforts had gone smoothly.

“To my knowledge, I don’t know that we have any areas in the city of Holmes Beach that still don’t have power,” Tokajer said. “We had a couple of hotspots still out there, but we had a couple of crews go out yesterday and get them online.”

“It worked out very smoothly and efficiently,” he added.

Bradenton Beach Police Chief John Cosby told The Islander Oct. 7 that the city also had power almost entirely restored.

Tokajer thanked FPL and the power crews who brought the island and its electricity back online.

He said he’d gone around the island speaking with the crews, many who came from other states to help in the restoration efforts, to thank them for their work.

In addition to Tokajer’s appreciation, several restaurants, including Scott’s Deli, pitched in to keep the linemen and linewomen fed for free.

adam Sears, general manager of Swordfish grill and tiki Bar, left, capt. nathan meschelle and son Zion, Johnny rogers and grant Lucas, members of meschelle’s crew, arrive Oct. 3 back at a.P. fish co. in cortez after a trip to Pine island to deliver supplies. islander Photo: courtesy alexis meschelle

said Oct. 4. “So, we decided we couldn’t wait any longer.”

Later that day, Nathan Meschelle and other fishers loaded Meschelle’s boat, the High Roller, with donations, ice and gasoline, and Oct. 3 made their fi rst delivery.

“We served over 4,000 people today with our first drop,” Alexis Meschelle wrote in an Oct. 3 Facebook post. “Keep sharing, tagging friends and donating. We are taking more trips. Dates, times, and needs are TBD.”

Plowman, owner of Florida Fishing Fleet, a charter fishing company, transported OFF donations to Pine Island — approximately 67 miles away from Anna Maria Island by boat — aboard the Savage Lady the afternoon of Oct. 3.

On Oct. 4, Swordfish Grill and Tiki Bar general manager and OFF member Adam Sears trucked a load of donations to the Pine Island area.

By the evening of Oct. 3, Lacey, a commercial fisher, had trucked three loads of supplies to the mainland near the island.

“One of our suppliers, a good friend is on the south end of Pine Island,” Lacey said Oct. 3. “They lost everything. Gone. I could show you the videos and pictures — it looks like a third-world country.”

Lacey, an eight-year fisher, had planned to drop thousands of stone crab traps in the water Oct. 5, the first day permitted by the state, but is putting the needs of Pine Islanders first this season.

“I’m hoping to be able to drop traps but I’ve got to make sure they’re good before we worry about that,” Lacey said. “A lot of people are hurting right now.”

Chipping in

As of Oct. 4, Cortez fish house owners Karen Bell, of A.P. Bell Fish Co., and John Banyas, of Cortez Bait and Seafood, had donated approximately 80,000 pounds of ice to the Myakka City Community Center at the request of the Manatee County Emergency Operation Center.

Hurricane Ian caused the Myakka River to flood and its waters submerged homes, farms and businesses in the area, leaving residents in dire straits.

Bell’s A.P. Bell Fish Co. provided 15,000 pounds while Banyas’ Cortez Bait and Seafood provided 18,000 pounds, according to West Manatee Fire Rescue Fire Marshal Rodney Kwiatkowski.

Swordfish Grill and Tiki Bar, Banyas’ restaurant adjacent to the Cortez Bait and Seafood docks, provided 36,000 pounds.

To inquire about OFF donation needs and trips, visit the OFF Cortez Chapter Facebook page or call 941-241-9171.

CORTeZ FISHeRS cOntinued frOm Page 1 fishers.

St. James city fish co. staff siphon gas from barrels delivered by cortez fishers Oct. 3 at Pine island. islander Photo: courtesy adam Sears

After the stormHurricane Ian

Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer told

Power crews lineup to restore power in an island neighborhood. islander

Photo: ryan Paice

owners preserve perspective in wake of Ian

safekeeping, allowing them to open the Bradenton Beach location shortly after power was restored.

Restaurant manager Dean Davidson said Oct. 3 that working at the restaurant so quickly after the storm created an “eerie feeling.”

By Kane Kaiman Islander Reporter

Gratitude is the attitude.

As island restaurants and other businesses came back to life the week following Hurricane Ian, owners expressed how thankful they were for a mild impact.

Paul Foster — proprietor with wife Tammy and daughter Amanda of Ginny’s and Jane E’s Cafe and Bakery, the AMI Beach Hut and, with his son Josh and daughter-in-law Brianna, the Porch Restaurant, all in Anna Maria — said he hasn’t lost sleep over closing the businesses and he feels the relief of the older buildings holding up to the storm.

“All this cost seems pretty minimal when you look down at Fort Myers and those businesses are gone for two years. All those business on Sanibel are gone,” Foster said Oct. 4. “They’re not complaining about seven days of lost revenue. They’re gone. So, I feel like we paid a pretty small price for a pretty large storm.”

Power returned sporadically to the island in the days following the storm but Foster and his customers had no trouble keeping things in perspective.

“So many parts of Florida got devastated and lost power, so I think those resources were pulled elsewhere,” he said. “But I didn’t hear anybody complain about it. Whether people had power or not, they were feeling super blessed that they had a house.”

The Fosters were able to fire up generators within 24 hours of Hurricane Ian making landfall Sept. 28.

Power was restored the morning of Oct. 3 and all three businesses reopened.

Feast Restaurant owner Chris Dale closed his Holmes Beach establishment Sept. 27 and reopened the afternoon of Oct. 4, about two days after power was restored at the Island Shopping Center.

Though Dale lost stock to spoilage during the power outage, the 13-year restaurateur is “super thankful” to have dodged a bullet in Hurricane Ian.

“Just looking at the pictures on TV of Fort Myers and Sanibel is really an eye-opener of what it could’ve been like,” he said Oct. 5. “We definitely got lucky. I obviously feel bad for them, but I’m super glad that everybody here got missed.”

Holmes Beach’s Anna Maria Island Centre shopping plaza along East Bay Drive did not reopen until Oct. 4.

In an adjacent strip near the center, Kiwi Style Fish and Chips owner Nicole Tagelagi said her eatery regained power for a short time in the days following the storm but lost it again for several days.

“We lost our stock but that’s nothing compared to losing your business,” she said. “When you look at all the damage in Fort Myers you go, ‘We would’ve

Oct. 3 from Josh and Amy Seaborn of Zeeland, Michigan. The Seaborns almost canceled their weeklong island vacation but decided to chance it. Power was restored to their family’s Runaway Bay condominium the morning of Oct. 2, only hours after they arrived. Islander Photo: Kane Kaiman

lost a house. We would’ve lost a business.’ We’re just grateful but you just know what everyone else is going through just down the road.”

Kiwi Style Fish and Chips restocked the morning of Oct. 7 and opened by noon.

In Bradenton Beach, Wicked Cantina served customers and staged live music Oct. 3.

Power was restored to that portion of Gulf Drive in the early morning of Oct. 1.

In the days leading up to the hurricane, management transported food to their mainland location for

“Just being here in general, knowing that we shouldn’t be here. It’s a weird feeling,” he said. “We’re all thankful for sure. We’re happy to be here, to still have our homes, our jobs.”

Motels and rentals

Bradenton Beach’s BridgeWalk Resort closed Sept. 27 at noon and staff prepared for the worst, transporting records and the resort’s server off the island.

They regained power Oct. 2 and staff began taking motel reservations for that night, according to general manager Angela Rodocker, who said Oct. 3 that management was sending “thoughts and prayers to our neighbors in the South and counting our blessings.”

Island Real Estate owner Larry Chatt said 50 of his company’s renters evacuated prior to the storm.

About 15 of them, all renting longer than a week, returned to their lodgings after the hurricane passed.

Chatt expected 25 of the company’s rental properties to be occupied by Oct. 10, as The Islander went to press.

“We faced some minor inconveniences but we feel blessed with the impact we saw compared to others,” Chatt said Oct. 7. “Most of the island’s property owners understand the risks but it certainly puts things in perspective when you see what’s occurred in Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel and Captiva.”

Ready holidayfor hustle?

Advertisers: Ready for the holidays on AMI? Improve your odds of success and reach The Islander’s readers — residents, seasonal visitors and vacationers — looking to shop and dine, as well as indoor and outdoor fun. For advertising info, call or text 941-778-7978.

Dangerous waters

A 7-foot-long alligator thought to have been displaced by Hurricane Ian arrived at the north end of Anna Maria Island near Bean Point Oct. 8.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission confirmed Oct. 10 that the gator was euthanized due to its injuries. Islander Photo: Courtesy Karyn Fish

After the stormHurricane Ian

Wicked Cantina server Carlos Portillo takes orders

Still reeling

The need is greater than imagined in the wake of

Ian.

We were, after all, spared all but the inconvenience

no power, no water, damaged trees, fences, roofing and lost time.

Looking to the harder hit areas, there is so much to be done that it’s hard to imagine how areas such as Pine Island, Sanibel and Fort Myers Beach will recover.

But as we shake off the stress, we dig in. Islanders were quick to send help to devastated areas, including Myakka City, where we saw aid for the Myakka City PTO, organized by teachers, parents and staff at the school, flow over to help people displaced from flooded homes at the Myakka City Community Center and to Arcadia.

That’s the way it’s done.

Kudos to the folks in Cortez for rolling out help to the Pine Island commercial fishery. Praise to the quick action of Chateau Anna Maria and Bayside Church. To Slim’s Place — already gathering donations for a second trip after a run to Pine Island, this time to Myakka City. And Capt. Scott Moore, who trucked fuel to fishing friends on Boca Grande.

Other folks are mustering for fundraisers and we’ll do our best to keep you in touch.

We are fortunate.

And this will be a long, ongoing effort for our community, too, as we keep our arms, hearts, homes and wallets open to help people in need.

Our printing plant in Fort Myers was without power for nearly a week and faced other challenges, including a nightly curfew, in its effort to get back up and running. We have for two weeks been getting your weekly edition of the “best news” printed at a plant in Ruskin — and many thanks to them for being able to step in and accommodate us on their press.

Here’s a reminder for people who still love to read as we close out National Newspaper Week.

We do it for love.

“We serve as community cheerleader, as well as community watchdog. We are a window into the community. We want your feedback, whether positive or negative. We know we are doing our jobs if we hear from you, our friends, neighbors and subscribers. We are not asking you to bake us cookies (although those who bring us baked goods are welcome to continue to do so). The best way to help us celebrate National Newspaper Week (Oct. 2-8) is to continue to support your local newspaper.” — Harry Hartman, publisher of the Gettysburg (PA) Times.

— Bonner Joy, news@islander.org

Put safety over politics

I’d like to set the record straight.

In a TikTok video, you will see Manatee County administrator Scott Hopes publicly shaming Holmes Beach residents and myself for asking for the water to be left on for our residents who wanted to remain on the island, accusing us of not taking Hurricane Ian seriously — stating that our residents were jeopardizing the water infrastructure for the entire county.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

The county administrator is the one person the island residents, county residents and municipal leaders should be able to look toward for the facts — especially during a storm event.

I did call Dr. Hopes. I asked that he revisit the order to turn off the water to the island at 6 p.m. (Sept. 27) for the safety of first responders. Dr. Hopes stated he was on the way to a meeting at the EOC and would discuss and call me back.

I did not make the request because I wanted water for our residents who refused to leave but because our first responders — the Holmes Beach police, Manatee sheriff’s office, West Manatee Fire and Bradenton Beach police would not be leaving the island until the wind was too dangerous, which at the time of the phone call was not expected till mid-morning (Sept. 28).

Mayor Judy Titsworth had the same conversation with Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge, telling him of the first responder — police and fire needs — telling him the island looks deserted because people are taking this serious and evacuating.

When asked about the evacuation by Dr. Hopes, I advised him that we have clearly put out the message of the mandatory evacuation and the dangers of staying and that most of our residents had taken head to the warnings, but we will always have a few hold outs

that don’t leave.

As island leaders, we could not be prouder of our residents, business and property owners as they took Hurricane Ian very seriously, sandbagging, boarding up businesses, residences, coming to city hall and the police department to get over 1,100 re-entry tags for those who were evacuating to be able to return.

Holmes Beach Police Chief William L. Tokajer

Safe shelter

Kudos to Manatee High school.

My caregiver and I were evacuated there for three days. The staff was excellent; everyone felt safe.

Former Bradenton Beach Mayor Katie Pierola, Bradenton

Albion among the ruins the albion inn, built in the late 1800s in cortez, featured a large

and stone crabs. the hurricane of 1921

coast guard used the inn for a

can be visited

the

We’d

the

to

Looking

Shattered into sticks the hurricane of 1921 broke up docks in the fishing village of cortez. the storm peaked as a category 4 hurricane and made landfall Oct. 25, 1921, near tarpon Springs as a category 3.

10&20 years ago

From the Oct. 9, 2002, issue

• Tourism to the area declined 10% for JuneAugust 2002 compared to the same period in 2001. Officials said the decline was fallout from the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States.

• A Manatee County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team, helicopter and K-9 unit were dispatched to respond to a stabbing at the Tip of the Island pub in Anna Maria. Deputies found a suspect after an hourlong search.

• The ManaSota-88 environmental group filed a petition with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers requesting a hearing on a proposed dredging at Perico Harbor Marina on Perico Island.

From the Oct. 10, 2012, issue

• Holmes Beach announced plans to open Grassy Point Preserve, 34 acres of upland, wetland and mangrove hammocks protected on the bayside of the city with access on Avenue E.

• Manatee County completed improvements to the Island Library and sent out 100 invitations for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the occasion.

• Holmes Beach’s city planner delivered an assessment on construction over the past four years. He said most of the homes built since 2008 appear to be out of character for the beach community.

• The Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau announced a rebranding effort that began with a new slogan: “Bradenton, Anna Maria Island, Longboat Key” with “Florida’s Gulf Coast” underneath.

— Lisa neff

Print Your Own

BB brings Ian damage under control

By robert anderson islander reporter

Bradenton Beach department heads have nearly completed Hurricane Ian damage control.

Mayor John Chappie, Police Chief John Cosby, public works director Tom Woodard and city treasurer Shayne Thompson gave updates Oct. 6 on damage in the wake of Ian.

Cosby, the city emergency manager for 33 years, said the worst damage to city property was to the police and public works buildings, which suffered minor roof damage. There was water intrusion in the main office of the police station.

Cosby said the Florida League of Cities sent a contractor to assess the situation and both buildings were covered with tarps.

He said the Historic Bridge Street Pier had no damage but the canopy for the police boat lift was a loss.

Woodard said the largest damage for city cleanup and repair was from two Australian pines falling on a fence at Herb Dolan Park, 2501-2599 Ave. A.

The hardest hit residential areas in the city were the Pine and Sandpiper mobile home parks but the damage turned out to be less than originally estimated.

Chappie said Bob Welch, filling in for building official Steve Gilbert, was working with the two communities to help get properties up to standard.

Tracy Moon, manager at the Sandpiper Resort, told The Islander no residents were displaced but a few units received roof or awning damage from high winds.

Elsewhere, the focus was on debris removal, as the city made its second collection of debris Oct. 6.

a mobile home that suffered roof and awning damage at the Sandpiper resort in Bradenton Beach during Hurricane ian is temporarily covered Oct. 3 while the owner awaits repairs.

islander Photo: robert anderson

Cosby said the city estimated it removed more than 700 cubic yards of debris Sept 29-Oct 5.

“The city did it on its own,” he said. “We did not activate our debris contractor. We have the equipment to take care of it and we didn’t want to take resources away from the other communities that were hit harder.”

Woodard said the city was piling debris in a parking lot next to public works off Church Avenue and planned to have it hauled off to the Lena Road landfill in the next week.

“All residential cleanup will be completed tomorrow,” said Cosby Oct. 6. “By next Friday, we should be back to normal with the exception to the damage at Herb Dolan park, the BBPD, public works and the top for the police boat.”

Normal garbage collection and street-sweeping schedules were to resume Oct. 10, as The Islander went to press.

Also, public works planned to use the street sweeper to vacuum debris from storm basins.

Chappie praised the response.

“Everybody is all hands-on deck and doing an amazing job,” the mayor said. “We are way ahead of the game getting things done for our community, for our residents and our businesses.”

2022 Elections

League of Women Voters hosts election session

What are the most common voting mistakes?

What are the ballot questions?

The League of Women Voters of Manatee County will answer those questions and more at “Before You Vote” sessions at local libraries, including the Island Library.

The organization will be at the Island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 19.

For more information, go online to lwvmanatee. org or email info@lwvmanatee.org.

Democratic club to host congressional candidate

Jan Schneider, the Democrat challenging U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan in November, will be the guest speaker at a meeting of the Anna Maria Island and West Manatee Democratic Club.

The meeting will be at 11:30 a.m. Monday, Oct. 17, at the Island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach.

Club members also will organize for Nov. 8, filling bags with information about the election and voting opportunities to deliver on the island and in west Manatee County.

Membership in the club costs $25.

To confirm attendance, email Barbara Beckwith at bbeckwith02@gmail.com.

Voting opportunities

Voting in the election is underway, as mail-in ballots went out in late September to those who requested them.

Early in-person voting will begin Monday, Oct. 24, and close Sunday, Nov. 6.

Election Day — with local, state and federal races — will be Tuesday, Nov. 8, with polling 7 a.m.-7 p.m.

Voters can fi nd sample ballots at votemanatee. com.

RoadWatch

Eyes on the road

• Holmes Beach is improving the intersection of Gulf and Marina drives. There will be road and lane closures at Gulf and Marina with marked detours.

Also, the work requires the closure of the eastside trolley stop on Marina Drive north of Gulf Drive. The northbound trolley is taking a detour, going from Gulf Drive, then east on 56th Street to north on Marina.

• Manatee County’s utilities department is working on a force main project along Holmes Boulevard, which can result in some traffic delays and congestion.

For road watch info, go to swflroads.com.

— Lisa neff

— Lisa neff

Schneider

After the stormHurricane Ian

Meetings By Lisa neff

Anna Maria City

Oct. 12, 9 a.m., planning and zoning.

Oct. 13, 2 p.m., commission.

Anna Maria City Hall, 10005 Gulf Drive, 941708-6130, cityofannamaria.com.

Bradenton Beach

Oct. 12, 10 a.m., department heads.

Oct. 19, 1 p.m., planning and zoning.

Oct. 20, noon, commission.

Bradenton Beach City Hall, 107 Gulf Drive N., 941-778-1005, cityofbradentonbeach.com.

Holmes Beach

Oct. 12, 9 a.m., clean water.

Oct. 25, 5 p.m., commission.

Holmes Beach City Hall, 5801 Marina Drive, 941-708-5800, holmesbeachfl.org.

West Manatee Fire Rescue

None announced.

WMFR administration building, 701 63rd St. W., Bradenton, 941-761-1555, wmfr.org.

Manatee County

Oct. 18, 9 a.m., commission.

Oct. 20, 1:30 p.m., commission (land use).

Oct. 25, 9 a.m., commission.

County administration building, 1112 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton, 941-748-4501, mymanatee.org.

Also of interest

Oct. 17, 9 a.m., Manatee County Tourist Development Council, county administration building.

Oct. 17, 2 p.m., Island Transportation Planning Organization, Holmes Beach City Hall.

Nov. 8 is Election Day nationwide.

Nov. 11, Veterans Day. Most government offices will be closed.

Send meeting notices to news@islander.org.

Mote outreach center design set for mid-October reveal

a pelican waits for a meal Oct. 5 at the anna maria city Pier, where mote marine Laboratory has leased space on the t-end from the city of anna maria to house an educational center. mote public relations manager Stephannie Kettle wrote in an Oct. 6 email to the islander that the nonprofit was on track to deliver architectural plans by the city’s Oct. 13 deadline. the city’s other deadlines include beginning construction within seven days of permitting, applying for a certificate of occupancy within 12 weeks of receiving permits and opening the outreach center within four weeks of the issuance of a certificate of occupancy. if mote fails to meet the deadlines for any issues other than “unavoidable delays,” city commissioners can vote to cancel the lease. islander Photo: ryan Paice

HB adopts new budget ahead of storm

Just in time for the new fiscal year.

Holmes Beach city commissioners voted 4-1 Sept. 27 — the day before Hurricane Ian made landfall in Florida — on two motions to adopt a $25,436,242 budget and 2.07 millage rate for fiscal 2022-23, which began Oct. 1.

Commissioner Jayne Christenson voted “no” on both motions.

The adopted 2.07 millage is a 6.10% increase over the 1.9509 rollback rate, which would have netted the city the same ad valorem income as the previous budget, but a decrease from the 2.25 millage used for 2021-22.

The millage rate is the amount per $1,000 of property value used to calculate property taxes. The owner

of a property appraised at $500,000 with a 2.07 millage rate will pay $1,035 in property taxes.

That rate will amount to a tax hike since taxable property value in the city increased by $429,544,799 over the past year, according to the Manatee County property appraiser. To avoid a tax increase, the city needed to adopt the 1.9509 rollback rate.

The owner of a property appraised at $500,000 with a 1.9509 rollback rate would have paid $975.45 in property taxes.

If the city adopted the previous 2.25 rate, which the city used as a tentative rate for 2022-23, the owner of a property appraised at $500,000 would pay $1,125 in property taxes.

— ryan Paice

Tummings

Name goes Here

ON AMI

Monday, Oct. 17

6 p.m. — Author Talk, “Oh, Florida!” by Craig Pittman, Island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Information: mymanatee. org/library, 941-778-6341, @manateelibraries.

ONGOING ON AMI

Throughout October, Anna Maria Island Artists’ Guild features artwork by cancer survivors, Artists Guild Gallery, 5414 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Information: 941-778-6694.

Throughout October, artist Charlotte Sorsen’s “Walking on Clouds” exhibit, Island Gallery West, 5368 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach. Information: islandgallerywest.com, 941-778-6648, @islandgallerywest.

ONGOING AROUND AMI

Through Nov. 27, “Queens of the Air and Empresses of the Arena,” the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, 5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota. Fee applies. Information: 941-360-7390, @ TheRingling, ringling.org.

Through Jan. 15, 2023, “Multiple: Prince Twins Seventh-Seven” exhibit Museum of Fine Arts, 255 Beach Drive NE, St. Petersburg. Fee applies. Information: 941-896-2667, mfastpete.org, @mfastpete.

First Fridays, 6-9:30 p.m., Village of the Arts First Fridays Artwalk, 12th Street West and 12th Avenue West, Bradenton. Information: villageofthearts.com, @villageofthearts.

Second and fourth Saturdays, 2-4 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: floridamaritimemuseum.org, fmminfo@manateeclerk.com, @FloridaMaritimeMuseum.

“Caught in the Storm: 100 Years of Florida Hurricanes” exhibit, Florida Maritime Museum, 4415 119th St. W., Cortez. Information: floridamaritimemuseum.org, fmminfo@manateeclerk.com, @FloridaMaritimeMuseum.

Through May 2023, 9 a.m-2 p.m., Downtown Bradenton Public Market, Old Main Street, Bradenton. Information: 941-932-9439.

SAVE THE DATE

Oct. 29, Realize Bradenton’s Main Street Live, Bradenton. Nov. 3-13, Island Players’ “I Ought to be in Pictures,” Anna Maria.

Nov. 12-March 26, the Museum of Fine Art’s “True Nature: Rodin and the Age of Impressionism,” St. Petersburg.

Nov. 23, Realize Bradenton’s Main Street Live, Bradenton.

Dec. 2-3, Realize Bradenton’s Bradenton Blues Fest, Bradenton.

Dec. 31, Realize Bradenton’s Main Street Live, Bradenton.

KIDS & FAMILY

ON AMI

Friday, Oct. 14

10 a.m. — Forty Carrots, Island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Information: mymanatee.org/library, 941-778-6341, @ manateelibraries.

Saturday, Oct. 15

10 a.m.-9 p.m. — Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce Bayfest celebration, Pine Avenue, Anna Maria. Information: 941-778-1541.

Tuesday, Oct. 18

10 a.m.— Preschool yoga, Island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Information: mymanatee.org/ library, 941-778-6341, @manateelibraries.

AROUND AMI

Friday, Oct. 14

5:30-8 p.m. — Goblin Gathering, G.T. Bray Park, 5502 33rd Ave. Drive W., Bradenton. Information: 941-748-4501.

ONGOING AROUND AMI

First Wednesdays, “SOAR in 4” family night, The Bishop Museum, 201 10th St. W., Bradenton. Fee applies. Information: 941-746-4131, bishopscience.org, @BishopScienceFL.

SAVE THE DATE

Nov. 19, Bridge Street Holiday Tree Lighting, Bradenton Beach.

Dec. 3, Holiday Lighted Boat Parade, Bradenton Beach. Dec. 17, Bradenton Beach Area Merchants Christmas on Bridge Street celebration, Bradenton Beach.

CLUBS & COMMUNITY

ON AMI

Wednesday, Oct. 12

Noon — Off Stage Ladies of the Island Players luncheon, the Porch, 9707 Gulf Drive, Anna Maria. Fee applies. Information: 941932-2798.

6:30 p.m. — Island Time Book Club, Island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Information: mymanatee.org/library, 941-778-6341, @manateelibraries.

Thursday, Oct. 13

11 a.m. — Hispanic Heritage: Latin Cooking, Island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Information: mymanatee.org/ library, 941-778-6341, @manateelibraries.

2 p.m. — Sunshine Stitchers Knit and Crochet, Island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Information: mymanatee.org/ library, 941-778-6341, @manateelibraries.

Friday, Oct. 14

10 a.m. — Senior Adventures group outing to Bradenton’s Red Barn Flea Market, Center of Anna Maria Island, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria. Fee applies. Information: 941-778-1908. Saturday, Oct. 15

9 a.m. — Keep Manatee Beautiful “Love it Like a Local” Coastal Cleanup, Coquina Beach, Bradenton Beach. Information: 941-795-8272.

11 a.m. — Meditation session, Island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Information: mymanatee.org/library, 941-7786341, @manateelibraries. Monday, Oct. 17

11:30 a.m. — Anna Maria Island and West Manatee Democratic Club hosts congressional candidate Jan Schneider, Island Library,

5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Information: bbeckwith@gmail. com.

Wednesday, Oct. 19

Noon — Coloring Club, Island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Information: mymanatee.org/library, 941-778-6341, @manateelibraries.

ONGOING ON AMI

Fridays, 11:30 a.m., Mahjong Club, Island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Information: mymanatee.org/library, 941-7786341, @manateelibraries.

Saturdays, 8:30 a.m., Kiwanis Club of Anna Maria Island meeting, Bradenton Beach City Hall, 107 Gulf Drive N., Bradenton Beach. Information: 941-778-1383, amikiwanis.com.

Wednesdays, noon, Mahjong Club, Island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Information: mymanatee.org/library, 941-7786341, @manateelibraries.

ONGOING AROUND AMI

Tuesdays, 11:30 a.m., Rotary Club of Anna Maria Island lunch meeting, Slicker’s Eatery, 12012 Cortez Road W., Cortez. Information: 512-944-4177, amirotary.org.

Second Tuesdays, 4 p.m., Cortez Village Historical Society meetings, Cortez Cultural Center, 11655 Cortez Road W., Cortez. Information: 941-840-0590, cortezvillagehistoricalsociety.org, @ CortezVillageCulturalCenter

SAVE THE DATE

Oct. 21, Anna Maria Garden Club meeting, Anna Maria.

Oct. 22, Kiwanis Club of Anna Maria Island 70th anniversary luncheon, Longboat Key.

Oct. 22, American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk, Longboat Key.

Nov 5, “Celebrating Brilliance: The Bash at the Bishop,” Bradenton.

Nov. 11, Old Soldiers and Sailors Veterans Day Parade and Ceremony, Anna Maria.

Nov. 18, Anna Maria Garden Club Plant Sale, Anna Maria.

Dec. 16, Anna Maria Garden Club meeting, Anna Maria.

OUTDOORS & SPORTS

ONGOING ON AMI

Tuesdays through Nov. 13, 6 p.m., open volleyball, Center of Anna Maria Island, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria. Information: centerami.org, @TheCenterofAMI, 941-778-1908.

AMI Dragon Boat Team-Paddlers from Paradise practices and meetups, various times and locations. Information: 941-4622626, mrbradway@gmail.com, @PaddlersFromParadise.

ONGOING AROUND AMI

Saturdays, 9 a.m., Robinson Runners run, walk stroll, Robinson Preserve NEST, 10299 Ninth Ave. NW., Bradenton. Information: 941-742-5923, crystal.scherer@mymanatee.org, mymanatee.org. Saturdays, 9 a.m., Mornings at the NEST, 10299 Ninth Ave. NW., Bradenton. Information: 941-742-5923, mymanatee.org.

SAVE THE DATE

Oct. 15, Keep Manatee Beautiful cleanup, Bradenton Beach.

GOOD TO KNOW

KEEP THE DATES

Oct. 14, National Dessert Day.

Oct. 29, National Cat Day.

Oct. 31, Halloween.

Nov. 1, Día de los Muertos.

Nov. 6, daylight saving time ends.

Nov. 8, Election Day.

Nov. 11, Veterans Day.

Nov. 13, World Kindness Day.

Nov. 24, Thanksgiving.

Visit islander.org for the best news on AMI.

Island happenings

Chamber’s Bayfest set for Oct. 15 on Pine Avenue

The Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce will bring a big block party to Anna Maria this week.

Bayfest will fill Pine Avenue from Gulf Drive to Bay Boulevard Saturday, Oct. 15.

The chamber’s 21st annual celebration of community, music, food and fun will begin at 10 a.m. and close about 9 p.m.

Bayfest offerings will include a car show 10 a.m.-3 p.m., arts and crafts vendors, a food court and musical entertainment.

Singer-songwriter Mike Sales will emcee on the music stage, as well as perform.

Four other musical performances will take place:

• 11 a.m., Trevor Bystrom Band;

• 1:45 p.m., Lisa and the Island Hoppers;

• 4:30 p.m., the Karen and Jimmy Band;

• 7 p.m., the Dr. Dave Band.

‘Love it Like a Local’ tackles litter with coastal cleanup

KMB is partnering with the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau on the “Love it Like a Local” cleanup set for 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 15.

Volunteers will assemble at Bradenton Beach’s Coquina Beach south for a safety briefi ng at 9 a.m.

Then organizers will shuttle groups to locations on the island to clean up trash and other items.

For more information, call KMB at 941-7958272.

Senior Adventures offer daytrip to Bradenton

The Senior Adventures group at the Center of Anna Maria Island will daytrip to the Red Barn Flea Market in Bradenton Friday, Oct. 14. The group will depart from the center, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria, at 10 a.m.

a Bayfest crowd on Pine avenue in anna maria. this year’s festival, presented by the island chamber of commerce, will be Saturday, Oct. 15. admission is free. islander file Photo: Jack elka

Surfrider seeks Bayfest help

Suncoast Surfrider Foundation is asking for volunteers to help at Bayfest, which is Saturday, Oct. 15, on Pine Avenue in Anna Maria.

Volunteers are needed 9 a.m.-4 p.m. to help with recycling efforts in coordination with the event organizer, the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce.

Volunteers also will educate festivalgoers about single-use plastics.

“Surfrider is asking for two-hour commitments,” said William Romberger. “Come help the island environment and enjoy some food and drink.”

For more info, call Romberger at 941-504-7821.

The chamber as of Oct. 6 had lined up more than 15 food vendors offering festivalgoers sweet, savory and sipping treats, including burgers, crabcakes, Reubens, barbecue, shaved ice, soulvaki, cheesesteaks, tacos, ceviche, coconut water, cheese pretzels, hot dogs, onion rings, fries, sweet tea, crepes, gyros, seafood boils, sodas, beers, wines and cocktails.

Food vendors include the Anna Maria Island Privateers, Auntie Pj’s Water Ice, Coastal Crab Co., Freckled Fin, J&J BBQ, Kona Ice of Manatee County, My Big Fat Greek Trailer, Nas Philly Steaks, Quiero Mas Tacos, Slicker’s Eatery, Surfing Coconut, Brezel King, Dawg Pound, Tea Jug, Crepe Factory, Thomas German Bakery and the Topsail Steamer.

Some beverage sales will benefit the chamber and its scholarship program.

Admission to the festival is free.

For more information, contact the chamber at 941778-1541.

Fall brings fun, games to community center

The Center of Anna Maria Island is hosting a series of activities this fall, including introductory lessons in canasta.

The center, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria, offers a six-week class at Tuesdays at 12:30 p.m. beginning Oct. 18.

For kids 6-11 years old, the center offers the “GameOn” program Thursday afternoons Oct. 20-Dec. 15.

Attendees will participate in exercises to improve self-confidence, listening skills, eye contact, body language, public speaking, creative thinking and awareness of others.

Howl-O-Scream trip Oct. 15

Spooky season is here, and the Center of Anna Maria Island is set to celebrate.

The nonprofit will host a field trip to Busch Gardens’ Halloween event, Howl-O-Scream, Saturday, Oct. 15, for teenagers in sixth-10th grades.

The field trip will cost $75 for center members and $85 for nonmembers.

The center will provide transportation, which will leave at 6:30 p.m. and return around 2 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 16.

For more information, contact Will Lund at 941778-1908 or youthcoordinator@centerami.org. .

The center also offers:

• A “seed bomb” class for kids in fourth-ninth grades at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13;

• Lessons in capoeira, a Brazilian martial art form that incorporates movement, music and culture, at 6 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays Oct. 17-Nov. 21;

• An AED/CPR certification Class at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 19;

• Youth tumbling classes Oct. 20-Nov. 17;

• A teen babysitting class 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22.

There are fees associated with programs and registration is required.

For more information, call the center at 941-7781908.

Shop

For more information and reservations, call the center at 941-778-1908.

Off Stage Ladies to lunch

The Off Stage Ladies, an auxiliary of the Island Players, will meet for lunch at noon Wednesday, Oct. 12, at the Porch Restaurant, 9707 Gulf Drive, Anna Maria.

The group meets the second Wednesday of the month October-May.

The cost to join the group is $20.

People interested in joining Off Stage Ladies, can contact Roe Duncan at 941-932-2798.

Plant sale Oct. 15

Manatee County’s master gardeners will be selling plants during their volunteer sale Saturday, Oct. 15, in Palmetto.

The date was changed from Oct. 1 due to Hurricane Ian.

The sale will be 8 a.m.-1 p.m. at the county extension service site, 1303 17th St. W., Palmetto.

Shoppers will find houseplants, orchids, wildflowers, trees, shrubs and more — “ll priced to sell,” according to a news release.

For more information, call the extension service at 941-722-4524, ext. 1822.

Get listed Send announcements for this section to calendar@islander.org. The deadline is the Wednesday before the publication date. Include the date, time, location, description and contact for the event.

dan Hopf of maryland checks out a sale of fishing rods Oct. 8 at the 24th annual cortez nautical flea market on the grounds of the florida maritime museum. Hopf, a longtime vacationer to the area, said he decided to make his first visit to the market after reading about the event in the islander. the islander cosponsored the event, which included food, beverages and vendor sales.

County sets tourist tax record for 18th consecutive month

By Kane Kaiman islander report

Tourists continued to shell out for Manatee County rentals in August.

The county gleaned a record-setting $1,547,956 from its monthly “bed tax,” a 5% levy on overnight rentals of six months or less.

The figure represents a 6.9% increase from the August 2021 tourist development tax revenue and a 70.2% increase from the same month in 2019, a prepandemic year the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitor’s Bureau uses as its benchmark.

For 18 consecutive months, earnings from the resort tax have exceeded those from the same month in the preceding year.

Heading into the final month of its fiscal year, the county had earned $27,061,309, $5,396,102 more than October-August of 2021 and $11,816,038 more than the same period in 2019.

Historically, unincorporated Manatee County and Holmes Beach have jockeyed for the top collection.

In August, unincorporated Manatee brought in $581,182 or 37.5% of the earnings pie, while Holmes Beach grossed $505,285 or 32.6%.

Anna Maria brought in $112,936 or 7.3% and Bradenton Beach earned $76,898 or 5%.

Bradenton gleaned $137,188 or 8.9%, Longboat Key grossed $132,302 or 8.5% and Palmetto held down the reporting at $3,347 or 0.2%.

The Manatee County Tourist Development council advises the county commission on resort tax spending.

Per state law, earnings must be used to drive tourism-bolstering initiatives and have funded beach renourishment projects on the island, as well as construction of the new Anna Maria City Pier.

The Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau; the Bradenton Area Convention Center; Realize Bradenton, a nonprofi t dedicated to developing downtown Bradenton, and the Pittsburgh Pirates also receive bed tax dollars.

September resort tax data will be released in early November.

Members of the TDC include County Commissioner Misty Servia, chair, along with Palmetto Mayor Shirley Groover Bryant, Bradenton Mayor Gene Brown, Ed Chiles, Eric Cairns, Jiten Patel, Rahul Patel, Dave Wick and Norma Kennedy.

The next TDC meeting will be at 9 a.m. Monday, Oct. 17, at the Manatee County Administrative Building, 1112 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.

AMI TOURISM:

Endless Season

Tourist tax collections: august 2018: $792,685 august 2019: $909,639 august 2020: $1,185,575 august 2021: $1,448,333 august 2022: $1,547,956

Source: manatee county tax collector

Cortez group greenlights preserve bridge project

By Kane Kaiman islander reporter

Finally, a new bridge Cortez can get behind.

At an Oct. 3 meeting at Fishermen’s Hall in Cortez, the Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage board unanimously voted to allocate $6,000 for the construction of a “major” bridge in the nonprofit’s 100-acre nature preserve at the east of the fishing village.

Former FISH president Allen Garner — a landscape designer who oversaw installation of a shell trail in the preserve in January — will carry out the bridge project.

At the meeting, Garner reported the Bradenton Kiwanis Club has budgeted $14,000 for the project.

FISH’s $6,000 contribution will act as a cushion against the rising cost of materials, Garner said.

He is prepared to begin work in November with a crew of volunteers and will survey two potential locations for the bridge, which will be strong enough to accommodate vehicles.

Currently, the preserve contains five bridges and four small footbridges.

FISH — dedicated to preserving Cortez’s commercial fishing legacy — purchased preserve parcels

in 2000 and 2005 and has been working to restore the sanctuary to its natural state.

Ultimately, the organization seeks to transform the

acreage into a destination for nature-lovers, similar to Robinson Preserve.

At the meeting, FISH treasure Jane von Hahmann reported that the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued the organization permits in mid-September for Phase 4 of the preserve’s restoration.

The Sarasota Bay Estuary Program is seeking around $300,000 for the initiative, which will include earth moving to create waterways and the construction of trails and footbridges.

The project likely will begin in November and take several months to complete.

In 2016, SBEP and the Southwest Florida Water Management District pooled resources to restore nearly half of the preserve.

“Sarasota Bay Estuary Program, I firmly believe we are their project now because all the other projects they’ve been working on are now complete and they need a focus,” von Hahmann said.

The next FISH meeting is set for 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 3, at Fishermen’s Hall, 4515 124th St. W., Cortez.

For more information, call 941-301-4000 or visit fishcortez.org.

former fiSH president allen garner makes a presentation. islander Photo: Kane Kaiman

Jason and Whitney garbarz of chicago enjoy a family meal Oct. 6 with their children, Joey, left, 10, Jaxson, 11, and gunnar, 8, at the ugly grouper in Holmes Beach. the garbarz, repeat island visitors, stayed in anna maria over the columbus day weekend. islander Photo: Kane Kaiman

Ben Kaplan of Sarasota leads musicians in a rendition of “Bartender Blues” Oct. 8 on a stage adjacent to the cortez cultural center at the cortez nautical flea market one-day vendor event. islander Photos: Kane Kaiman

Sweet field trip

anna maria elementary first-grade teacher margaret Van Wormer poses with her class Sept. 23 at dips ice cream, 503 Pine ave., anna maria, where they attended a class/parent ice cream social. islander

AME ‘dodges’ Hurricane Ian bullet

The “little school by the bay” saw little damage from Hurricane Ian.

“The school campus actually did well in the storm,” principal Mike Masiello told The Islander Oct. 1. “Just a couple downed trees and limbs/debris to pick up and, of course, power was out for days.

AME was closed Sept 27-Oct.3 for the storm.

Now the school is open and back to normal operations.

But the disruption prompted a couple of changes at AME:

• Fire and Beach Safety Week, Oct. 3-7, will be rescheduled;

• The Guy Harvey aquarium room will house a virtual aquarium due to the cost of maintaining live aquariums and the impact of power outages, according to Masiello.

Still Masiello said the bayfront school had “dodged a bullet once again” and “thoughts and prayers go out to those south of us, who were impacted much worse by the hurricane.”

AME

• Saturday, Oct. 22, AME-PTO Fall Festival, Center of Anna Maria Island, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria.

• Wednesday, Nov. 2, 1:50 p.m., early release.

• Monday, Nov. 7, 3:30 p.m., PTO board meeting.

• Tuesday, Nov. 8, Otis Spunkmeyer cookie sales.

• Friday, Nov. 11, Veterans Day, no school.

• Tuesday, Nov. 15, 5:30 p.m., PTO dinner in the cafeteria; 6:30 p.m., fourth-grade play in the auditorium.

• Nov. 21-25, Thanksgiving holiday, no school.

• Dec. 7, STEM Night.

• Dec. 5-8, Scholastic Book Fair.

Anna Maria Elementary is at 4700 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach.

For more information, call the school at 941-708-5525.

Old-fashioned AME-PTO fall festival on tap

Island ghouls and goblins of all ages are invited to enjoy timeless fun and get spooky.

The Anna Maria Elementary ParentTeacher Organization and the Center of Anna Maria Island will host a familyfun fall festival Saturday, Oct. 22.

The theme is “Old-Fashioned Community Fall Festival.”

“We will have nostalgic concessions, games like sack races, pumpkin ring toss, a dunking booth, pumpkin patch, bake shop and the best haunted house in the area,” Fall Festival chair Erin Goodier said.

Despite the planning setback of a week, the PTO decided to move forward with its festival.

And the AME community is doing its part to aid others.

The AME K-Kids are selling candygrams at the school until Oct. 28 to fundraise for the Lee County Public Schools’ Hurricane Ian Relief Fund.

— Brook morrison

Goodier wants festivalgoers — island kids and families, neighbors and visitors — to “come together and be thankful that we are still standing,” she wrote to The Islander Oct. 5.

In the aftermath of Ian, she said the PTO was hesitant to put pressure on local businesses and organizations to donate time and money.

However, the event will be an opportunity for islanders to “unwind after the

stress of the past weeks and celebrate the fact that we have been so blessed again,” Goodier said.

The festival will begin at 4 p.m. with a student costume contest and a parade around the center grounds at 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria.

Food trucks will be on site and the bake sale will include coffee, doughnuts and PTO members’ baked goods.

— Brook morrison

&

astner Castner FINE

Photo: courtesy ryan Serra

Stone crab season begins Oct. 15, but Ian stalls crabber

By Kane Kaiman islander reporter

Capt. Brian Lacey is experiencing some crustacean stagnation.

With tags for about 2,850 traps, the eight-year commercial fisher is one of Cortez’s largest stone crab harvesters.

Each year, Lacey and his crew aim to run traps — 400 per trip — into the Gulf of Mexico as soon as the 10-day preseason begins Oct. 5.

This year, however, storm preparation, the needs of Pine Island fishing colleagues devastated by Ian, mechanical issues and weather uncertainties delayed a process that usually enables Lacey to hit the ground running.

“We just got a week and a half behind with the hurricane,” he said Oct. 8, a day after dropping his first 250 traps in the Gulf.

Lacey was distracted by Ian and spent time trucking several loads of gas, water and other supplies, including dog food, to Pine Island, where one of his suppliers and friends, Roy Kibbe, saw his fish house decimated by the storm.

Kibbe distributed the supplies and other donations from Cortez residents to a community in dire straits.

“Boat maintenance is done every year before you go. You don’t want to put 30,000 pounds of gear on a boat that you haven’t gone through every single thing on,” he said. “So, if I’m running to Pine Island, I’m not in the bilge working on the boat.”

Other aspects of the stone crabbing preparation process were up in the air as late as Oct. 3.

Lacey had gas for about two trips into the Gulf and was without bait after the frozen pigs’ feet he stored on Pine Island were lost in the storm.

He sourced supplies later in the week but, weary of other storms brewing, opted to drop a limited number of traps by The Islander’s press time Oct. 10.

“I’m watching. If we’d had our traps out there during (Ian) they’d all be gone,” he said.

When the situation stabilizes, Lacey said he’s confident he’ll catch crabs like past years.

The beginning of last year’s season was no cakewalk, either, as a lingering red tide resulted in traps full of dead crabs.

“And I personally attribute that to the Piney Point dumping, along with other chemicals and fertilizers,” Lacey said. “And you never get it back. If you lose a few weeks of your job, do you get the money back?”

In addition to pollution, regulations instituted in 2020 are impacting Lacey and other crabbers.

The rules — which include a harvest window shortened by two weeks and an increased minimum claw size — are set by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Based on static trap studies, the commission concluded stone crabs likely were overfished.

Lacey said that if he could request two things of lawmakers, it would be to pair scientists with crabbers so they could get an accurate assessment of the stone

rich demarse stands Oct. 7 among about 250 stone crab traps loaded onto the Sherry nicholle as capt. Brian Lacey guides the vessel beneath the anna maria island Bridge on their way to drop the first traps of the harvest season, which begins Oct. 15. islander Photo: Kane Kaiman

crab population’s health and dispel myths about turtles becoming stuck in blue crab traps.

“They need to get an honest opinion of things. Anyone can do a 40-trap sample but that’s not making a living. That’s what the rules are based on now but they don’t get to see what we see,” Lacey said.

The FWC is considering rules that would require blue crabbers to install freshwater turtle escape rings on their traps, alterations that cost $25 a trap.

“At $25 a trap with 1,000 traps, that’s $25,000. Every year we have to do a new build, so that’s more work. And here we are trying to provide good seafood, sustainable seafood, and make a living,” he said.

Lacey, who traps crabs in saltwater areas of the Gulf, including Tampa and Sarasota bays, said he’s never encountered a freshwater turtle.

“I’ve offered their biologists to come out with me for an entire year and count the turtles before they change the law,” he said. “They’ll never see one. But they want to close the area and I don’t know why.”

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By Lisa neff

Roser dispatches volunteers to Englewood for Ian relief

Roser Memorial Community Church volunteers joined a disaster relief operation in the wake of Hurricane Ian, helping in Englewood and other hard-hit areas to the south.

Roser was working with the nonprofit Samaritan’s Purse.

A notice from the church seeking volunteers for an Oct. 5 departure to the south said, “Our work may consist of mudouts, roof tarping, debris cleanup and/ or chainsaw work. Most importantly, SP volunteers share the love of Christ which brings hope and healing to troubled situations. Even if you can’t pull a crowbar without pinching a fi nger, you can care for a homeowner.”

CrossPointe preps for Bayfest

CrossPointe Fellowship in Holmes Beach is coordinating volunteers to help sell soda and water and also do cleanup rounds at Bayfest, which is Saturday, Oct. 15, on Pine Avenue in Anna Maria.

For more information, contact the church at 941778-0719.

Tuesday fun at Annunciation

The Episcopal Church of the Annunciation is holding “Terrific Tuesday” programs, with a theme for each Tuesday of the month.

The first Tuesday is open mic night at 6 p.m.; second Tuesday, trivia night at 6 p.m.; third Tuesday, game night at 5 p.m.; and fourth Tuesday, artistry and history night at 5 p.m.

The church also posted an early notice to save the date of Saturday, Dec. 3, for the Holly Berry sale.

Annunciation is at 4408 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach.

For more information, call 941-778-1638.

St. B readies rummage sale

Donations for a rummage sale at St. Bernard Catholic Church will be collected 9 a.m.-noon Monday, Sept. 26.

Organizers are collecting gently used clothing and accessories, as well as books and other items.

A sale date was not posted.

For more information, call 941-545-7492 or 941778-2607.

Tidings

compiled by Lisa neff

ON AMI

CrossPointe Fellowship, 8605 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach. Info: 941-778-0719, crosspointefellowship.church, @CrossPointeFellowship.

Worship: Sundays, 9 a.m.

Ongoing: Wednesdays, 7 a.m., men’s Bible meeting; Wednesdays, 6 p.m., supper; Wednesdays, Night Blast, 6:45 p.m.; Fridays, 10 a.m. women’s Bible meeting.

Episcopal Church of the Annunciation, 4408 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach. Info: 941-778-1638, amiannunciation.org, @EpiscopalChurchoftheAnnunciationatHolmesBeach.

Worship: Thursdays, 9:30 a.m.; Sundays, 8 a.m., 10:15 a.m.

Ongoing: Wednesdays, 8 a.m., men’s meeting; Tuesdays, 6 p.m. first and second, 5 p.m. third and fourth, Terrific Tuesdays.

Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 6608 Marina Drive. Holmes

Beach. Info: 941-778-1813, gloriadeilutheran.com.

Worship: Sundays, 9:30 a.m.

Ongoing: Wednesdays, 9:30 a.m., social gathering, private home; Sundays, 10:15 a.m., coffee and fellowship.

Harvey Memorial Community Church, 300 Church Ave., Bradenton Beach. Information: 941-779-1912.

Worship: Sundays, 9:15 a.m.

Roser Memorial Community Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria. Information: 941-778-0414, roserchurch.com, @roserchurch.

Worship: Sundays, 8:30 a.m., 10 a.m.

Ongoing: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:30 a.m., Roser Robics; Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. and Saturdays, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Roser Thrift Store; second and fourth Thursdays, 11 a.m., Just Older Youth group programs with brown-bag lunch; Thursdays, 5:30 p.m., Roser Ringers rehearsal; 7 p.m., Thursdays, choir rehearsal; Sundays, 8:30 a.m., adult Sunday school.

St. Bernard Catholic Church, 248 S. Harbor Drive, Holmes Beach. Info: 941-778-4769, stbernardcc.com, @stbernardcc.

Worship: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.; Saturdays, 4 p.m.; Sundays, 8:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m.

Ongoing: Mondays-Fridays, 8 a.m., rosary; Wednesdays, 7:30 a.m., Rosary on the Beach at Manatee Public Beach; Saturdays, 3:30 p.m., confession.

OFF AMI

Christ Church of Longboat Key Presbyterian USA, 6400 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key. Info: 941-900-4903, christchurchoflbk.org, @CCLBK.

Worship: Sundays, 10 a.m.

Ongoing: Wednesdays, 10 a.m., Women’s Bible Study; Mondays, 9 a.m., Men’s Bible Study.

Longboat Island Chapel, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key. Info: 941-383-6491, longboatislandchapel.org, @longboatislandchapel.

Worship: Sundays, 10 a.m.

Ongoing: Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Lord’s Warehouse Thrift Shop; Wednesdays, 10 a.m., Bible study; Mondays, 4 p.m., choir rehearsal.

Temple Beth Israel, 567 Bay Isles Road, Longboat Key. Info: 941-383-3428.

Worship: Fridays, Shabbat, 5:30 p.m.; Saturdays, 10 a.m.

Ongoing: Fridays, 6:45 p.m., choir call.

Chateau AM-Bayside Church feed Myakkans in wake of Hurricane Ian

By Kane Kaiman islander reporter

Talk about above-and-beyond service.

Inspired by a sermon from their pastor at Bradenton’s Bayside Community Church, the Chateau Anna Maria owners Edward “Buddy” Foy Jr. and his wife, Jennifer, mobilized their staff Oct. 2-3 to feed Myakka residents impacted by Hurricane Ian

“The island got power Saturday night and we were going to open Sunday and it just didn’t feel right,” Foy said Oct. 6. “We called a staff meeting around noon and we said, ‘Everyone’s getting paid but we’re not opening.’”

After the stormHurricane Ian

Instead, the Chateau team went to work shopping for food and wares, prepping and setting up their buffet meal, while the Foys coordinated with Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau executive director Elliot Falcione, who said meals were sorely needed in Myakka City.

Wearing Bayside Church T-shirts, the team served about 235 meals Oct. 2 and Oct. 3 at the Myakka City Community Center, about an hour’s drive east from the island.

“They blessed us more than we blessed them. The way they received, it’s hard to even talk about without putting tears in your eyes,” Foy said.

“People tried donating to the church,” he said. “Here they are, I don’t know if they lost everything, but they were working all day long, people were telling me they were bathing in their ponds, their houses were decimated.”

“You could tell they were uncomfortable receiving a gift. These are hardworking prideful people,” he said. “And then for them to walk up to you to try to give you money, it was just so humbling.”

The Myakka City community was headed back

Worship With Us At Our Church

Sunday Ser vice 10:00 AM

The Rev. Dr. Nor man Pritchard

Men’s Bible Study: Monday @ 9:00

Women’s Bible Study: Wednesday @ 10:00

Visitors & Residents Welcome Watch Our 10: 00 AM Ser vice Live: www bit ly/cclbksermons or www christchurchof lbk org (follow YouTube link)

chateau anna maria manager tony Silano dishes up food Oct. 2 in the wake of Hurricane ian at the myakka city community center. many homes and migrant housing were flooded and destroyed in the storm. islander courtesy Photo

to its feet by the evening of Oct. 4, when the Foys reopened the Chateau restaurant the Waterline Hotel in Holmes Beach.

“It was so amazing to see the people of that town,” Foy said. “What great people. Unbelievable resilience.”

Roser Church

After Ian: Resources for recovery, opportunities to aid

compiled by Lisa neff islander editor

Even before electricity returned to their homes or powered their businesses, islanders began organizing to help others in their county and beyond who suffered severe losses in Hurricane Ian.

Some departed to southern counties to help clear debris and create temporary shelters and some hauled food and supplies to survivors.

Looking for ways to help?

The Manatee Community Foundation’s disaster relief fund exists to help county residents recover from Hurricane Ian.

The foundation is supporting relief efforts in partnership with the Bishop Parker Foundation with a 1:1 match.

People can make tax-deductible contributions online at manateecf.org.

The foundation website also features links to other nonprofits and services in the area that offer and accept help, including the American Red Cross of Southwest Florida, Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee, Feeding Tampa Bay and United Way Suncoast Disaster Resources.

To volunteer as part of the broader Hurricane Ian recovery effort, visit Florida’s official volunteer portal at volunteerflorida.org.

Also, a list of agencies with volunteer opportunities can be found on the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster website at www.nvoad.org.

Getting help

Survivors of Hurricane Ian can apply for federal assistance at disasterassistance.gov, call 800-621-3362 or use the FEMA app.

Small Business Administration disaster loans are available to businesses, homeowners, renters and nonprofit organizations in some Florida counties, including Manatee.

Applicants can apply at sba.gov under declaration #17644.

For help with an application, call 800-659-2955 or email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.

GoodDeeds

By Lisa neff

Assistance sought on AMI

• Moonracer Animal Rescue seeks volunteers to offer foster and forever homes for rescued animals, as well as assist with technology. Info: 941-345-2441.

• Roser Food Bank seeks donations. Roser Memorial Community Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, administers the pantry, supported by All Island Denominations. Information: 941-778-0414.

Assistance offered on AMI

• 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 financial help to those who live on the island, go to church on the island, attend school on the island and work on the island. Info: 941-725-2433.

GoodDeeds Organizations: Please, send listings — assistance sought or offered — for GoodDeeds to calendar@islander.org. Please include a contact phone number to publish.

FEMA has authorized National Flood Insurance Program insurance company partners to pay claims based on adjuster reports alone, without a signed proof of loss by the policyholder.

A policyholder still can submit a signed proof of loss later if they have additional covered costs or expenses or if they disagree with the adjuster’s

report.

Survivors experiencing emotional distress can call or text the Disaster Distress Helpline at 800-985-5990 24/7.

People who need assistance clearing and cleaning can call the Crisis Cleanup Hotline at 800-451-1954. Callers are being connected to volunteers from local relief organizations, community groups and faith communities.

Also, a free legal helpline is available for Hurricane Ian survivors who cannot afford attorneys. Call 866-550-2929 to get free help with home repair contracts, insurance claims, re-doing legal documents like wills, price gouging and landlord or tenant issues.

A Home for Seniors helps families find assisted living, memory care, home care, and independent living communities.

We are one of the only senior referral and placement agencies in the U.S. that follows clinical best practice guidelines.

We offer in-person RN assessment prior to placement and we only employ caring individuals that have run and operated senior living communities.

OUR SERVICE

100% FREE

ahfseniors@gmail.com

call 941-780-0281

Team work at the beach

a good laugh? visit the emerson quillin signature store. humor, art, gifts 317 Pine Ave., Anna Maria • emersonshumor.com

Breast Cancer Foundation of Central FL!

We’re working with the Receive 20% off with a donation!

After the stormHurricane Ian

a crew on manatee county’s property management team clears trees and debris Oct. 3 at the manatee Public Beach in Holmes Beach. the county tweeted the photo along with an invite to join the team effort by attending a hiring event and checking mymanatee.org/jobs. islander Photo: @manateegov

Wildlife rehab in demand after hurricane

By robert anderson islander reporter

It’s not only people who faced hardship after hurricane Ian.

Wildlife across the area was displaced by the winds from the hurricane that made landfall near Cayo Costa State Park Sept. 28.

Just as quickly as the storm touched the coast, Wildlife Inc. Education & Rehabilitation Center of Bradenton Beach was inundated with animals needing care.

The center, founded and operated by Gail and Ed Straight, is Manatee County’s only licensed bird, mammal and reptile wildlife rehabilitation facility. The Straights run the rescue from their home, 2207 Avenue B, Bradenton Beach.

Although the island was under an evacuation order and without power and water through the storm, Wildlife Inc. volunteer Krista Carpenter said the Straights decided to stay with the animals in the center.

Soon after the storm passed, the first rescues arrived.

“They opened the bridge up and by 9 a.m. that day

rescued baby squirrels are kept warm while awaiting handfeeding at Wildlife inc. in Bradenton Beach. islander Photo: Krista carpenter

a baby skunk, left without a den in Hurricane ian, is cared for at Wildlife inc. in Bradenton Beach.

there was a baby squirrel delivered to us,” Carpenter said.

And they kept coming.

As of Oct. 5, the rescue had taken in more than 175-200 storm-related rescues, of which 90% were baby squirrels blown from their nests in trees. There also were four skunks, three opossum and various birds delivered from the surrounding area.

“Our team of volunteers has really stepped up since the storm hit,” Carpenter said.

She said the workload more than doubled due to the time-intensive care taken to feed the squirrels.

“They all have to be syringe or bottle fed. It’s liter-

After the stormHurricane Ian

ally five minutes if it’s a good feeding, it’s 10 if it’s a bad feeding.”

“Most of the squirrels that we have gotten have been from the trees that have fallen. One of the hardest things is that they are usually soaking wet from the storm. They don’t have the nest to keep them warm and they get hypothermia,” Carpenter said.

Carpenter advised people who find a baby squirrel displaced from its nest to fi rst, keep the animal warm.

Most rescued squirrels will take 4-6 weeks to rehabilitate for release. The animals will be relocated off the island to properties in eastern Manatee County to avoid a population explosion on the island.

Wildlife Inc. invites the public to support its efforts with cash to purchase food for the animals.

To learn more about Wildlife Inc. go online to wildlifeinc.org or call 941-778-6324

gail tedhams, Wildlife volunteer, feeds a baby raccoon. islander Photo: Brenda Basiley

a baby squirrel is hand fed by Wildlife inc. volunteer Linda O’neal Oct. 5 at the Bradenton Beach rehab center. islander Photo: Krista carpenter

Island

Bradenton man arrested for drug possession

Holmes Beach police arrested Yerick Berrios Colon, 27, of Bradenton, Oct. 1 on a third-degree felony for possession of methylenedioxypyrovaleron, or bath salts, a controlled substance.

An officer was patrolling the closed parking lot at Manatee Public Beach, 4000 Gulf Drive, when he saw a motorist try to pull in.

The officer saw the motorist turn around and park in a private residential parking area. The motorist, later identified as Berrios Colon, then walked toward a beach picnic table area.

The officer spoke with Berrios Colon and saw a

plastic bag containing a white crystal-like substance that field-tested positive for MDPV.

The officer arrested Berrios Colon and transported him to the Manatee County jail, where he was released Oct. 2 after posting $1,500 bond.

If convicted, punishment for a third-degree felony charge includes up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000.

An arraignment will be at 9 a.m. Friday, Oct. 28, at the Manatee County Judicial Center, 1051 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.

— ryan Paice

HB man arrested for driving under the influence

By ryan Paice islander reporter

Holmes Beach police arrested resident John Joseph, 78, Sept. 30 on a second-degree misdemeanor for driving under the influence of alcohol.

Joseph also was charged with a first-degree misdemeanor for resisting a law enforcement officer without violence.

An offi cer saw a motorist drive down Manatee Avenue, which was closed due to a downed power line.

The officer called for backup and conducted a traffic stop.

After backup arrived, the officers spoke with the driver, Joseph, who had glassy eyes and smelled of

alcohol, according to a report.

Joseph declined to perform fi eld sobriety exercises.

The officers asked Joseph to exit the vehicle since he was under arrest for DUI, but Joseph also refused to comply.

The officers removed Joseph from the vehicle and arrested him, then transported him to the police department for processing, where he refused to submit breath samples.

An officer issued Joseph a citation for driving around a detour sign and barricade.

Joseph was then taken to the Manatee County jail, where he was released after posting $2,000 bond.

If convicted, punishment for a first-degree misdemeanor includes up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.

Punishment for a second-degree misdemeanor includes up to 60 days in jail and a fine of up to $500.

An arraignment will be at 9 a.m. Monday, Nov. 14, at the Manatee County Judicial Center, 1051 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.

Streetlife Staff reports

Island police reports

Anna Maria

No new reports.

The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office polices Anna Maria.

Bradenton Beach

Sept. 23, 2513 Gulf Drive N., Circle K, theft. A Bradenton Beach officer was dispatched to a report of shoplifting after a store employee witnessed a man take items and leave the store. The officer found the suspect hiding in beach dunes, consuming the allegedly stolen items. The man was identified by the store employee and arrested for retail theft. He was transported to the Manatee County jail and held on a $150 bond.

Sept 25, 1007 Gulf Drive N., Summer Sands condos, theft. A BBPD officer was dispatched to a call of a stolen vehicle. The officer contacted the owner, took a vehicle description and verifi ed the vehicle had not been repossessed. A search of the area was initiated. The vehicle was entered into a Florida crime database and a case card issued to the victim.

Sept 25, 119 Bridge St., Beach Life AMI, larceny. BBPD offi cers responded to a call of theft after a person took an inoperable bicycle used for decoration at the store. A police report was issued.

The BBPD polices Bradenton Beach.

Cortez

No new reports.

The MCSO polices Cortez.

Holmes Beach

Sept. 30, Holmes Beach Police Department, 5801 Marina Drive, information. A man entered the HBPD to report that his son had been acting aggressive toward him and he was worried it could escalate. An officer provided the man with a Florida Children and Family Services contact number.

Oct. 2, 4100 block of Gulf Drive, seize tag order. An officer saw a motorist fail to stop at an inoperative traffic signal, so he conducted a traffic stop. The officer spoke with the driver, whose license was suspended. The officer seized the vehicle’s license plate and issued a written warning for failing to stop.

Oct. 3, 100 block of 49th Street, battery. An officer was dispatched in response to a 911 hang-up call and found a woman who said she called about a domestic incident with her husband. She showed a bruise on her arm and said her husband pushed her to the ground. The officer spoke to the man, who denied

PLeaSe, See STReeTlIFe, neXt Page

2 Bradenton men arrested for meth possession

By ryan Paice islander reporter

Holmes Beach police arrested Bradenton residents Zachary Kelly, 23, and Richard Kelly III, 24, Sept. 29 on third-degree felony charges for possession of methamphetamine, a controlled substance.

Zachary Kelly also was charged with a seconddegree misdemeanor for driving with a suspended license.

Richard Kelly III was additionally charged with two first-degree misdemeanors for possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana.

An officer saw a motorist fail to stop at an inoperative traffic light, so he conducted a traffic stop.

The officer spoke with the driver, Zachary Kelly, who could not present a license.

The officer searched databases and found there was a warrant for Kelly’s arrest, so he handcuffed Kelly and placed him in the back of his police vehicle.

Another officer searched the vehicle and removed the passenger, Richard Kelly III, who had a glass smoking pipe in his pocket.

The officer handcuffed Kelly and placed him in the back of another police vehicle.

The officers searched the vehicle and found a glass bowl containing 1.2 grams of a crystal-like substance which tested positive for methamphetamine, a glass jar containing 7.6 grams of marijuana and a glass smoking pipe in the center console.

The officers placed the substances in evidence bags and spoke with the pair, who both denied owning the drugs.

he had pushed his wife. The officer arrested the man and transported him to the Manatee County jail.

HBPD polices Holmes Beach.

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

The officers deemed both of them to be in “constructive possession” of the meth due to Zachary Kelly’s ownership of the vehicle and the discovery of a smoking pipe in Richard Kelly III’s pocket, according to a report.

The officer also issued citations to Zachary Kelly for failing to stop at an inoperative traffic light, as well as not displaying registration and having no proof of insurance upon request.

The officers arrested the pair and transported them to the Manatee County jail.

Zachary Kelly remained in custody as of Oct. 6 under a $620 bond.

Richard Kelly III was released Oct. 2 after posting a $2,500 bond.

If convicted, punishment for a third-degree felony charge includes up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000.

Punishment for a first-degree misdemeanor includes up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.

Punishment for a second-degree misdemeanor includes up to 60 days in jail and a fine of up to $500.

An arraignment for the pair will be at 9 a.m. Friday, Oct. 21, at the Manatee County Judicial Center, 1051 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.

Island watch

Cops & Courts

Anna Maria doctor’s Sarasota case moved to drug court

The case against an Anna Maria doctor arrested for fraud was moved from the criminal division to drug court at a Sarasota courthouse.

A hearing in the case against Dr. Michael Dattoli, 65, of Anna Maria, was expected this month.

When Sarasota police arrested Dattoli Dec. 16, 2021, he was accused of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud, criminal use of personal identification information and false and fraudulent insurance claims.

He pleaded not guilty Dec. 21, 2021, and requested a trial, which until recently was scheduled for Oct. 31.

Law enforcement’s investigation dates back more than two years and involved Sarasota police and the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office Pharmaceutical Diversion Unit, which informed the SPD of a prescription fraud case that happened in 2019 and 2020 involving Dattoli.

Investigators with SCSO said two pharmacies involved were in the city and that prescriptions for Diazepam, a controlled substance, were filled three times in the city under Dattoli’s wife’s name, according to the SPD.

The prescriptions were fi lled and picked up by Dattoli, who provided his driver’s license as identification, according to SPD.

A victim of the alleged fraud, who worked at the Dattoli Cancer Center, told SPD that during a check of his controlled substance database, he noticed fraudulent prescriptions written in 2020.

Later, paperwork for the drugs were submitted to Florida Blue for insurance coverage.

A Sarasota County judge signed an order Aug. 8 transferring the case to drug court.

— Lisa neff

Nesting notes

By Samara Paice

AMITW suffers loss

The Florida Shore and Beach Preservation Association in September named Suzi Fox, the late director of Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring, the winner of its 2022 environmental award.

Fox, who died Sept. 30 in Bradenton, had planned to accept the award in person at an FSBPA annual meeting set for earlier this month in Bonita Springs, which was postponed due to Ian.

The award is for “outstanding contributions toward protection of the coastal environment.”

Fox was nominated for the award for three decades of protecting sea turtles and shorebirds and their coastal habitats on Anna Maria Island.

FSBPA’s announcement of the award praised Fox’s leadership of turtle watch, conservation work, public outreach and also her mentorship of school children.

The announcement concluded with a thank you to Fox for her “commitment to protecting beaches, dunes and the resident wildlife for us and future generations to enjoy.”

AMITW, in a Facebook post, shared the news of Fox’s death, writing, “Suzi Fox gave of herself tirelessly to support the sea turtles at AMI. She will be missed.”

Dozens of people responded, including representatives from turtle watch groups across the state and beyond.

“ She was an extraordinary person and will be missed by so many,” South Walton Turtle Watch stated.

Beaches Sea Turtle Patrol on the Atlantic coast

Leslie Paice of fulton, new York, stands Oct. 5 next to the last nest laid on ami of the 2022 season. islander Photo: Samara Paice

said, “Suzi is an inspiration to all of us in the sea turtle community. Sending hugs to her family, friends and fellow turtlers. Her loss will be felt immensely.”

Gulf and East Bay Sea Turtle Patrol said, “Such a sad day for so many. Let her work go on in all of us!”

The week beginning Oct. 3, AMITW volunteers were mourning their loss while also working to wrap up the 2022 turtle nesting season.

Debbie Basilius, AMITW treasurer, said Oct. 5 that she spoke with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission staff to discuss how AMITW moves forward, especially regarding permitting under the FWC.

Basilius said she didn’t have details from FWC but she learned it could be a lengthy process. In the interim, the volunteers will finish the season, which officially ends Oct. 31.

There were three nests left to hatch on island beaches as of Oct. 5: One near the 700 block of North Shore Drive in Anna Maria and two on Coquina Beach

in Bradenton Beach.

Two nests excavated Oct. 1 and Oct. 5 yielded just under 200 unhatched eggs. Both nests were washed over either during a late summer king tide, Hurricane Ian or both.

In one nest, eggs — which are water permeable — were floating in water.

Sea turtle eggs can survive at most four hours under water and their survival rate decreases as the embryo grows, according to the FWC.

The volunteers remain hopeful the remaining nests will yield hatchlings and they continue to monitor them daily.

Esther falls to 9th place

Esther, a loggerhead sea turtle tagged and released June 20 on Coquina Beach in Bradenton Beach as part of the Tour de Turtles, fell to ninth place as of Oct. 5.

The Tour de Turtles hard-shell category started Aug. 1 and can be followed at tourdeturtles.org. The race ends Oct. 31.

Esther traveled 441 miles through Oct. 5.

Tour de Turtles is an educational effort led by the Sea Turtle Conservancy, which started in 2008 to educate and gather research data.

The Waterline Resort, Mainsail Vacation Rentals, both on Marina Drive in Holmes Beach, and AMITW worked with the conservancy to make the tagging of Esther possible.

Each turtle has a cause. Esther’s is light pollution.

About AMITW

amitW is a nonprofit focused on collecting data on threatened or endangered sea turtles. the organization also collects data on shorebirds. the nesting data is required to meet beach renourishment contracts and amitW is compensated by the county for its service.

By Lisa Neff

Advising on Ian

The National Hurricane Center issued 38 advisories as Ian developed and dissipated.

The NHC’s messages create a history of Ian. Here’s an abbreviated timeline:

5 a.m. Friday, Sept. 23: Tropical Depression 9 forms over the central Caribbean Sea about 615 miles east-southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph. There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect.

to Bonita Beach and Charlotte Harbor, 8-12 feet from Bonita Beach to Chokoloskee and 5-8 feet from Chokoloskee to East Cape Sable.

2 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 28: The NHC says, “The eyewall of Ian is moving onshore at Sanibel and Captiva islands.” A station on Sanibel Island reports wind gusts of 98 mph.

3:10 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 28: Ian makes landfall, with catastrophic surge, winds and flooding in the Florida peninsula “ongoing.” Landfall is recorded at Cayo Costa at 3:05 p.m. with maximum sustained winds near 150 mph.

11 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 28 : Ian batters the peninsula with wind, surge and flooding as it moves north-northeast at 8 mph. “The combination of storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline.” Ian is forecast to move across central Florida Sept. 29, turn north Sept. 30 and approach northeastern Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas.

5 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 29: Ian is a tropical storm and still bringing wind, rain and surge in Florida.

neff

5 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 24 : Tropical Storm Ian has formed and is strengthening while moving westward over the central Caribbean. Maximum winds are 45 mph.

5 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 25: TS Ian is expected to rapidly strengthen, with a risk of wind and storm surge for western Cuba. Maximum sustained winds are 50 mph. A hurricane warning is in effect for Grand Cayman and a hurricane watch is in effect for three Cuban provinces.

5 a.m. Monday, Sept. 26: Ian is a hurricane that’s rapidly strengthening and expected to impact Cuba. Maximum sustained winds are 75 mph. A hurricane warning is in effect for Grand Cayman and Cuba. Watches are in effect for the west coast of Florida — from Englewood to the Anclote River. A storm surge watch is in effect for the Keys, Dry Tortugas, Florida Bay, Anclote River south to Card Sound Bridge and Tampa Bay.

11 p.m. Monday, Sept. 26 : Ian is expected to become a major hurricane overnight. Maximum sustained winds are 105 mph. The number of hurricane,

tropical storm and storm surge warnings expands. The NHC warns storm surge could be 5-10 feet for the Anclote River south to the middle of Longboat Key, along with hurricane force winds and, through Sept. 29, 6-10 inches of rain.

5 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 27 : Ian is a category 3 storm moving over Cuba with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph. The hurricane warning for Florida is extended southward and tropical storm warnings expand. For AMI, storm surge could be 5-10 feet. Tropical storm-force winds are expected overnight.

11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 27: Ian has maximum sustained winds of 120 mph and is “expected to cause life-threatening storm surge, catastrophic winds and flooding in the Florida peninsula” Sept. 28. About 4-6 feet of storm surge could be seen on AMI but 8-12 feet is forecast to the south.

5 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 28: Ian is “an extremely dangerous category 4 hurricane” with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph. The storm is 125 miles westsouthwest of Naples and expected to make landfall later in the day. NHC: “Catastrophic wind damage is likely where the core of Ian moves onshore.”

9 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 28 : Ian is about 70 miles southwest of Punta Gorda and the NHC issues an update increasing peak storm surge and only mentioning the following — 12-18 feet from Englewood

11 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 29 : Ian is about 265 miles south-southwest of Cape Fear, North Carolina, with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph.

11 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30: Post-tropical Cyclone Ian is producing heavy rain and flash flooding in North Carolina.

11 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1: Ian is dissipating across southern Virginia, with sustained winds of 15 mph. There are no coastal warnings or watches in effect. The NHC advisory — No. 38 for Ian — is the last.

“There is no love sincerer than the love of food.”

G.B. Shaw

ricane

just before landfall

28.

station on Sanibel island at the time reported wind

of

mph.

shot

Spinning at Anna Maria playground Brothers adam, 7, and Sam duarte, 5, hold on as they spin Oct. 5 on a merry-go-round in the playground at city Pier Park, 103 n. Bay Blvd., anna maria. islander Photo: ryan Paice

Soccer, golf, horseshoes resume in aftermath of Ian

By Kevin P. cassidy islander reporter

After three weeks of action and a break for Hurricane Ian, the standings are pretty tight in the youth soccer league at the Center of Anna Maria Island.

Eduardo Schlueter scored the lone goal for Ross Built, which also received five saves from Steve Oelfke.

Horseshoe news

Horseshoe action at the Anna Maria City Hall pits was short and sweet this past week with two outright winners.

cassidy

Island Real Estate is on top in the 10-and-under division with a 3-0 record, just ahead of 2-1 LaPensee Plumbing. AMI Coconuts and Sato Real Estate follow at 1-0-2, while Solid Rock Construction at 0-2-1 and Cloud Pest Control at 0-3 complete the standings.

HSH Designs leads the 14-and-under division with a 2-0-1 record, while Mac Parkman Foundation is 0-0-1 and Progressive Cabinetry is 0-2.

Action Oct. 4 kicked off for the 10U teams with LaPensee Plumbing edging Solid Rock Construction 2-1 behind a pair of goals from Preston LaPensee and four combined saves from Asher Patel and Owen Mahoney.

Isaac Roadman scored the lone goal for Solid Rock Construction in the loss.

Island Real Estate cruised to a 6-0 shutout victory over Cloud Pest Control behind four goals and an assist from Callin Westfall and two goals from Oliver Barr. Vincent Gollamudi helped preserve the victory with three saves.

The last 10U match of the week was played Oct. 6 and saw Sato Real Estate and AMI Coconuts battle to a 1-1 tie on a goal from Dylan Sato for Sato Real Estate and Riley Karecki for AMI Coconuts.

HSH Designs earned a 4-1 victory in the 14U divisions over Progressive Insurance thanks to a hat trick from Jayden Sparks. Jesse Zaccagnino added a goal and brother Jack made two saves.

Adult soccer action

After two weeks of action in the adult soccer league at the center, Slim’s Place is alone in first place with a 3-0 record. Wash Family Construction follows with a 2-0-1 record and Pool America holds third place at 2-1. Moss Builders and Ross Built are tied at 1-1-1, ahead of Gulfview Windows and Doors at 1-2, Servis First Bank at 0-2-1 and Sato Real Estate at 0-3.

Action Oct. 6 saw Slim’s Place cruise to its third victory 9-6 over Pool America behind six goals and an assist from Joey Hutchinson. Eric Pullen added a pair of goals and Eliza Faillace scored, while PJ Smargisso made six saves in the victory.

Chris Yavalar led Pool America with four goals

tom Skoloda, left, and Steve Kriebel made up the winning team Oct. 8 at the anna maria city Hall horseshoe pits. islander Photo: courtesy ami Pitchers

and an assist and Gerardo Urbiola Bolanos scored two goals in the loss.

Wash Family Construction and Servis First Bank battled to a 5-5 tie in the second match of the evening. Kevin Roman scored three goals and Tyler Brewer had two to lead WFC, which also received eight saves from goalie Mark Long.

Lucky Durmaz scored three goals and Luca Vecchio and Juan Carlos Perez each scored one goal for Servis First Bank in the tie.

Moss Builders and Sato Real Estate played to a 6-6 tie in the third match of the night. Damir Glavan scored four goals to lead Moss Builders, which also received a goal each from Jessica Williams and Daniel Hampton. Ryan Moss came through with 11 saves to preserve the tie.

Daniel Anderson scored a hat trick and Lindsey Styka scored two goals to lead Sato. Pedro Gonzalez scored a goal and Josh Sato added an assist in the tie.

The last match of the night saw Gulfview Windows and Doors edge Ross Built by a 2-1 score behind a goal each from Keith Mahoney and Raul Loera. Tuna McCracken notched seven saves.

MarketWatch

By Lisa neff Anna Maria

Median listing home price: $3.4 million, trending up 36% year-over-year.

Median sold home price: $2.6 million.

Listings: 42 properties, $699,000-$8.4 million.

Bradenton Beach

Median listing home price: $822,000, trending down 29% year-over-year.

Median sold home price: $625,000.

Listings: 33 properties, $449,000-$4 million.

Holmes Beach

Median listing home price: $1.7 million, up 32.9% year-over-year.

Median sold home price: $1.1 million.

Listings: 76 properties, $250,000-$12 million.

Source: realtor.com

The team of Tom Farrington and Bob Baker forged the lone 3-0 record in pool play to win the Oct. 5 games, while Steve Kriebel and Tom Skoloda did the same at the Oct. 8 games.

Play gets underway at 9 a.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays at the Anna Maria pits. Warmups begin at 8:45 a.m., followed by random team selection.

There is no charge to play and everyone is welcome.

KRC news

Golf action at Key Royale Club in Holmes Beach got started with the men’s weekly modified-Stabelford system match Oct. 3. The team of John Kolojeski, Art McMillan and Rich Salzburg brought in the win with a score of 4-under-par 28.

Members played a nine-hole scramble Oct. 6 that saw the team of Gary Alvord, Mike Clements, Eric Lawson and Bob O’Brien combine on a 5-under-par 27 to take clubhouse bragging rights for the day. The team of Marty Hicks, Tom Nelson, Chuck Patrick and Gary Razze matched the 4-under-par 28 carded by Larry Pippel, Kurt Snouffer, Larry Solberg and Steve Vasbinder.

The week culminated Oct. 7 with the annual Oktoberfest Scramble. The team of Leigh and Larry Brattain and Deb and Dave Richardson combined on a 2-under-par 30 to grab first place for the day. The team of Janelle and Mike Clements, Blake Ress and Bill Shuman matched the 1-under-par 31 carded by Nelson Eagle, Jackie Gorski, Tom Nelson and Andi Saia.

Erick Lawson won the putting contest, while Tom Nelson knocked his shot on the third hole 12 feet from the pin to win the closest-to-the-pin contest.

PropertyWatch

By carol Bernard

Island real estate transactions

2409 Ave. C, Bradenton Beach, a 1,674 sq ft 4BR/4BA property on a 5,001 sq ft lot built in 1985 sold 9/8/2022 by Myers to 2409 Ave C LLC for $1,250,000, list price $1,325,000.

214 85th St., Holmes Beach, a 1,398 sq ft 2BR/2BA property on a 9,000 sq ft lot built in 1958 sold on 9/8/2022 by Kramer to Guillaro Worldwide Ent LLC for $800,000, list price $899,000.

6500 Flotilla Drive, #115, Holmes Beach, a 1,622 sq ft 3BR/2BA condo at Westbay Point & Moorings built in 1978 sold 9/9/2022 by Equity Trust to Sayers for $815,000, list price $799,900.

Compiled by Island Real Estate. IRE sales professionals can be reached at 941-778-6066, islandreal.com.

Anna Maria Island

Fishing may be good, but now’s time to focus on areas south

By capt. danny Stasny islander reporter

In such proximity to the aftermath

Hurricane

south and east of us, I hardly find it appropriate

boast about how good the fishing is in the waters surrounding Anna Maria Island.

The fishing is actually quite good throughout the inland waters, as snook, trout and redfish are on the prowl looking for a long-awaited meal after enduring the storm.

And with a noticeable drop in water temperatures, the Spanish mackerel should be fired up along the beaches and in Tampa Bay.

But we need to take a moment to consider the hard ship being experienced by those folks who endured the brunt of Ian.

Now is the time to donate anything you can to agencies such as the Salvation Army and other smaller groups to assist those in need.

We found the Myakka City Community Center in dire need and the Myakka Elementary teachers and parents, organized as Myakka City PTO, taking on the herculean effort.

Remember, we too are a coastal community and I’m sure if we ever experience a situation like Ian, we would be most grateful for any assistance.

We should be thanking our lucky stars on this one, and the best way to do that is to be helpful and come together as a community to administer aid to those in need.

relief to some of the commercial fish houses on Pine Island and to get offshore in the Gulf of Mexico a

Storm leaves boat in lurch

couple of times since Ian.

He says mangrove snapper are the most appar ent bite, with some catches reaching 8 pounds. If you know anything about mangrove snapper you know an 8-pounder is a darn good fish.

Staying closer to shore and the artificial reefs just west of Anna Maria Island, Stock is finding a variety of species, including cobia, permit and barracuda.

Also taking up residence around the reefs are some very large snook and Stock’s clients have been fortu nate enough to put a few on the hook.

Capt. Warren Girle is finding action in Sarasota Bay while working the deeper grass flats. Using live shiners as bait, he’s attracting spotted seatrout, as well as ladyfish and jack crevalle.

On the shallower flats, Girle is excited to see some schooling redfish, as well as quite a few snook.

For the reds, keeping your distance is key, accord ing to Girle. If you get hasty in your approach, the fish will spook. Using baits that can be cast a long distance, such as fresh-cut chunks of ladyfish or a gold spoon, are a good bet for the reds. For the snook, live shiners cast against the mangrove shorelines are a sure thing as long as the fish are in the mood.

Jim Malfese at the Rod & Reel Pier was hustling to get the pier reopened to fishers this week but prior to the storm, he saw plenty of redfish being caught by anglers using live shrimp as bait. Snook fishing was quite good, as well as mangrove snapper. Malfese anticipates the bait to be the same post-storm, although it’s anybody’s guess.

And the pier is now open for business.

Send high-resolution photos and fishing reports to fish@islander.org.

Left: anna maria residents Jim and Patti Bailey’s boat rests Sept. 29 with its stern in the canal behind their home due to boatlift damage that resulted in boat damages from the high winds and water that Hurricane ian sent to anna maria island. islander Photo: courtesy Patti Bailey

Capt. Jason Stock has managed to do his share of

Brett Lance of Holmes Beach shows off two of the red snappers he caught in 160 feet of water on pinfish Oct. 8 while fishing with capt. david White during the extended recreational snapper season.

aBOVe: Jim Bailey, left, stretches over the front of his boat Oct. 5 to reconnect a cable to neighbor Jeff greiner’s boat. the pair moved Bailey’s boat from his dock into tampa Bay waters, where they connected with a professional boat towing company for the trip to a boat yard for repairs. islander Photo: ryan Paice

After the stormHurricane Ian

A S S

ITEMS FOR SALE

BiKe cruiSer, neW tires and seat, $70, chandelier brown, like-new, $20, office chairs, $25. 941-920-2494.

Side taBLeS: BrOWn with glass top. two for $25. 941-920-2494.

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.

FREEBIE ITEMS FOR SALE

individuals may place one free ad with up to three items, each priced $100 or less, 15 words or less. free, one week, must be submitted online. email

, fax

1-866-362-9821.

F

PETS

HeLP reScued PetS! Volunteer, foster, computer help needed! moonracer animal rescue. email: moonraceranimalrescue@ gmail.com.

TRANSPORTATION

gOLf cart rentaLS: fun for residents and tourists! www.golfcartrentalami.com.

BOATS & BOATING

HaVe a BOat and wanna catch more fish, better bait or learn the water? 50-year local fisherman, your boat, my knowledge. captain chris, 941-896-2915.

FISHING

LiVe PinfiSH-SHinerS delivery available. 941-705-1956, text only.

HELP WANTED

BeSt Bar Hiring: Best food, best wages. Hiring for front of the house and back of the house. 941-213-9926.

nOW Hiring HandYman: full-time professional services. $15 an hour and up, based on experience. call JayPros, 941962-2874.

rePOrter Wanted: full- to part-time. Print media, newspaper experience required. apply via email with letter of interest to news@islander.org.

KIDS FOR HIRE

need an aduLt night out? call maty’s Babysitting Services. i’m 16, love kids and have lots of experience. references upon request. 618-977-9630.

KidS fOr Hire ads are free for up to three weeks for island youths under 16 looking for work. ads must be placed in person at the islander office, 315 58th St. Suite J, Holmes Beach.

HEALTH CARE

PriVate dutY: regiStered nurse. Pet lover, non-smoker, fully vaccinated, help with transportation, shopping, light cooking, cleaning. Help with following doctor’s orders, bathing, etc. 10-plus years’ experience. call or text Jessica, 412-851-0840.

SERVICES

need a ride to airports? tampa, St. Pete, Sarasota. gary, 863-409-5875. gvoness80@ gmail.com.

iS YOur HOme or office in need of some cleaning? Well, i’m your girl! Local, reliable, professional! Please, give me a call or text, 941-773 -0461.

cLeaning: VacatiOn, cOnStructiOn, residential, commercial and windows. Licensed and insured. 941-756-4570.

PreSSure WaSHing, PaVer sealing, driveway, roof, fence, pool area. also, window cleaning. Licensed and insured. 941-5653931.

BicYcLe rePairS: Just4fun at 5358 gulf drive can do most any bicycle repair at a reasonable cost. Pick-up and delivery available. 941-896-7884.

cOmPaniOn/HOmemaKer: Honest and reliable offering help with running errands, grocery shopping, house sitting, pet and plant care, light cooking/cleaning, transportation. references available and licensed. call Sherri, 941-592-4969.

aPi’S drYWaLL rePair: i look forward to servicing your drywall repair needs. call 941524-8067 to schedule an appointment.

aLmOSt LiKe HOme pet boarding, days, overnights, weekends, longer periods of time. Pets are accepted on short notice, small, medium size pets only. Location west Bradenton. $20 per day. 941-896-5512.

getting married? i will be your wedding officiant. call rev. James mcubbin, 941253-6649.

HandYman Or cLeaning services: affordable rates. fred, 941-356-1456.

PrOfeSSiOnaL WindOW cLeaning: residential, commercial, free estimates. “We want to earn your business!” 207-852-6163.

aLL cLean and concierge services on ami and surrounding areas. call or text me today for a quote! Peggy, 248-310-0012.

BuSineSS-tO-BuSineSS Jd’s Window cleaning looking for storefront jobs in Holmes Beach. i make dirty windows sparkling clean. 941-920-3840.

BeacH SerVice air conditioning, heat, refrigeration. commercial and residential service, repair and/or replacement. Serving manatee county and the island since 1987. for dependable, honest and personalized service, call Bill eller, 941-795-7411. cac184228.

LAWN & GARDEN

cOnnie’S LandScaPing inc. residential and commercial. full-service lawn maintenance, landscaping, cleanups, hauling and more! insured. 941-778-5294.

BarneS LaWn and Landscape LLc. design and installation, lawn and landscape services, tree trimming, mulch, rock and shell. 941-705-1444. Jr98@barneslawnandlandscape.com.

cOLLinS LandScaPe LigHting: Outdoor lighting, landscaping, irrigation services and maintenance. 941-279-9947. mJc24373@ gmail.com.

SearaY SPrinKLer SerViceS. repairs, additions, drip, sprinkler head/timer adjustments. 941-920-0775.

angeLO’S LaWn care: mow, edge, string trimming, blow. Starting at $20/cut. Licensed/insured. 941-217-9000.

HOME IMPROVEMENT

Van-gO Painting residential/commercial, interior/exterior, pressure cleaning, wallpaper. island references. Bill, 941-795-5100. www.vangopainting.net.

tiLe -tiLe -tiLe. all variations of ceramic tile supplied and installed. Quality workmanship, prompt, reliable, many island references. call neil, 941-726-3077.

griffin’S HOme imPrOVementS inc. Handyman, fine woodwork, countertops, cabinets and wood flooring. insured and licensed. 941-722-8792.

BLindS, SHutterS, SHadeS: motorization. 30 years on ami. call Keith Barnett, Barnett Blinds, 941-730-0516.

iSLand HandYman: i live here, work here, value your referral. refinish, paint. Just ask. JayPros. Licensed/insured. references. call Jay, 941-962-2874.

HandYman and Painting. no job too small. most jobs just right. call richard Kloss. 941-204-1162.

LOOKing fOr an earLY Bird? You can read Wednesday’s classifieds on tuesday at islander.org. and it’s free!

HOLLandS Paint, drYWaLL and handyman services: interior/exterior paint, drywall repair, wall/ceiling textures, stucco repair, pressure washing. Over 25 years’ experience. all work guaranteed. references. Licensed/insured. call dee, 256-337-5395.

Screening SerViceS: replace your old or ripped window, door or porch screens. many screen types available. retired veteran here to serve our community! free estimates, call Lane, 941-705-5293.

caLL HYdrO cLean. full-service pressure washing, sealing. Pavers, travertine and natural stone. Window washing too, up to three stories. call Jacob, 941-920-2094.

SaraSOta interiOr Painting: We specialize in high-end properties. We love to paint! Owner operated. fully insured/ licensed. call or text don, 941-900-9398. instagram: SarasotainteriorPainting.

RENTALS

anna maria guLf beachfront vacation rentals. One- two- and three-bedroom units, all beachfront. www.amiparadise.com. 941778-3143.

Want tO rent: One-car garage in west Sarasota-Bradenton area. 845-304-0911.

annuaL rentaL: 3Br/2Ba, pool, canal with boat lift. Home on Key royale. $8,500/ month. 941-713-1586.

HOLmeS BeacH 2Br/2Ba newer duplex. Beautifully furnished with garage. $2,800/ month plus utilities. 941-778-2824.

VacatiOn 2023 SeaSOn: January, february, march, $5,000/month. 2022 pre-season, $2,000/month. 2Br/1Ba steps to beach, 55-plus condo, pool. real estate mart, 941356-1456.

retaiL SPace aVaiLaBLe! Best location on ami with incredible visibility and access. c&S Plaza, 5600 marina drive, Holmes Beach. 1570 sf ready mid-november! Locations just don’t get better than this for traffic and exposure! george, 847-707-3859.

mOre adS = more readers in the islander.

RENTALS Continued

runaWaY BaY 2Br/2Br condo close to beach. november/december $5,250/month, $1,500/week. Larry 248-760-4000.

REAL ESTATE

Winnie mcHaLe, reaLtOr, 941-5046146. rosebay international realty inc. You need an aggressive and experienced realtor in today’s market! Selling island homes, Sarasota and Bradenton areas. multi-milliondollar producer! “Selling Homes - making dreams come true.”

affOrdaBLe reaL eState services for buyers, sellers, property management or rentals. call fred flis, 941-356-1456.

mOre Bang fOr YOur BucK? it’s an old saying, but it’s still true when it comes to the islander. Look for more online at islander. org.

By Kane Kaiman

Sunny days

Ginny’s and Jane E’s owner Paul Foster is still trying to see the light.

He put windows on the north side of Anna Maria cafe this summer to bring in some light.

“When people come to Florida they want light, right? They want lots of it,” Foster said Oct. 4. “It just made a big difference in our cafe, made it a nicer place to be.”

However, engineering issues are delaying plans for windows or doors on the south wall.

The timeline for the restaurant renovations, moving counter space and the line that forms for ordering some mornings is up in the air, Foster said, but completing the initiative is still very much his goal.

For more on Ginny’s and Jane E’s Bakery Cafe, 9807 Gulf Drive, visit ginnysandjanees.com or call 941-778-3170.

Not calling it off

Couples who sought beach weddings on Sanibel and Fort Myers in November and December are explor-

ing other options in the wake of Hurricane Ian.

Anna Maria Island Wedding Association founder Karen Riley-Love said Oct. 4 she’s fielded a dozen calls from couples exploring an Anna Maria Island destination wedding.

With its cooler weather, October-December is peak beach wedding season in Florida, Riley-Love said, meaning the couples likely will have to settle for Sunday or a weekday wedding if they wish to get hitched on the island.

“I will say that everyone I’ve spoken to has been conscientious about saying how they feel about the people that were affected by the hurricane,” RileyLove said. “Of course, we’ve got a little bit of guilt about having people looking for our services when that just as easily could have been us.”

“So we really do feel for the people that are in Fort Myers and Sanibel, and it’s a difficult position to be in,” she added. “But we want to make sure that we can help people have the weddings they want to have.”

For more information about AMI Beach Weddings, visit amibeachweddings.com or call 941-527-6000.

Polishing the silver

Silver Surf Gulf Beach Resort is poised to shine in February 2023.

By that time, renovations to the Bradenton Beach motel that began in late summer could be completed, Silver Resorts general manager Angela Rodocker wrote in an Oct. 3 email to The Islander.

Silver Resorts comprises Silver Surf Gulf Beach Resort, 1301 Gulf Drive N. and BridgeWalk Resort on Bridge Street.

Hurricane Ian caused “no damages at all” to the motels, Rodocker said, but delayed improvements at Silver Surf, which is not lodging guests during the revamp.

friends and family cheer as Jason Winchester and courtney Lawson of High Point, north carolina, seal their marriage with a kiss Oct. 6 at an ami Beach Weddings ceremony in Holmes Beach. islander Photo: courtesy Love and Style Photography

“We did lose a week in the renovation progress but they were back out there today,” she said.

For more on the resorts, visit silversurfbeachresort.silverresorts.com or call 941-778-6626.

Welcome

We join the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce in welcoming eight new members in September: Longboat Island Chapel of Longboat Key; Island Hoppers Boat Tours of Bradenton; Urgent Dental Care of Bradenton; Doc Side Audiology of Sarasota; Merits Design Group of Anna Maria; Alamanda Villa of Holmes Beach; Duncan Real Estate’s Diana Roberts and Rice’s Appliance and Bedding Center of Bradenton.

For more information, go to annamariaislandchamber.org or call 941-778-1541.

BizCal compiled by Kane Kaiman

AMI CHAMBER

Thursday, Oct. 13

11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. — Luncheon, Slicker’s Eatery, 12012 Cortez Road W., Bradenton. Saturday, Oct. 15

10 a.m.-9 p.m. — BayFest, Pine Avenue, Anna Maria.

Oct. 27, business card exchange, Crowder Brothers Ace Hardware, Bradenton.

Oct. 31, Trail of Treats, chamber office, Holmes Beach.

Info, RSVP: 941-778-1541, becky@amichamber.org.

LBK CHAMBER

Wednesday, Oct. 19

11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. — Longboat Key Chamber Networking

@ Noon, Pesto Bistro and Wine Bar, 8799 Cortez Road W., Bradenton.

Oct. 25, Business, Bats and Boos!, L a Norma Ristorante and Pizza, Longboat Key.

Info, RSVP: longboatkeychamber.com, 941-383-2466.