The Islander Newspaper E-Edition: Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022 by The Anna Maria Islander Newspaper

FEB. 23, 2022 Free

VOLUME 30, NO. 18

the best news on anna maria island Since 1992 astheworldterns. 6

Q&A 022322.

Runners take off at AME

end-of-year gifts add up for community center. 3

Meetings. 4

bb commission questions engineer’s billing. 5

Opinions. 6

10-20 YEARS AGO

Looking back. 7

runners take off Feb. 19 from the anna maria elementary School for a 5K run on the streets in Holmes beach at the start of the 15th annual Parent-teacher organization-sponsored dolphin dash. Kelly gitt and ame-Pto vice president alana Fleischer were volunteer coordinators, while tom orehowsky from the bradenton runners club timed and announced the races. For more, see page 13. islander Photo: courtesy meghann bankert LeFt: connor Kreger of Saint clair, michigan, comes in first overall at 18:50 in the Feb. 19 ame Pto dolphin dash 5K street race in Holmes beach. islander Photo: nenita daguinotas

WmFr serves up awards. 9

Happenings community events. 10-12

Save a date. 10-11

School days. 13

Gathering. 14

Obituaries. 14-15

2YO saved from drowning in Anna Maria by ryan Paice islander reporter

bb attempt to curry dot favors languishes. 4

ash Wednesday services.

islander.org

Gearing up in Cortez

tales of 2 library ‘friends.’ 15

A 2-year-old boy nearly drowned Feb. 14 after falling into a swimming pool at a vacation rental property in the 200 block of South Bay Boulevard in Anna Maria, according to a Manatee County Sheriff’s Office report. The child’s mother told police she lost track of the kid while upstairs attending to a cable service worker. She said that when she realized the child was missing, she returned to the pool area and found him underwater. She rescued the child from the pool and began CPR while family members at the property, called 911. MCSO deputies and emergency medical services responded around 3:51 p.m. and Bayflite, a helicopter emergency service, transported the child via to Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg. The child was not named. An MCSO deputy investigated the property and found an alarm attached to a door leading to the pool area, designed to emit sound to warn people the door had been opened, but it was determined it lacked batteries. The MCSO report stated, “The child’s condition is improving and the prognosis is positive. There is no further investigation warranted.”

Contradicting speed limits

Cops & Courts. 16-17 Streetlife. 17 Milestones. 18

by Kane Kaiman islander reporter rising waters. 19 Football leads sports at center. 20

capt. Stasny targets sheepshead. 21

Isl Biz: 22

grazing, warmups, taxes

CLASSIFIEDS. 24-25

PropertyWatch. 26

NYT puzzle. 27 islander archive: uofF Florida digital newspaper collection at ufdc.ufl.edu.

an ollie’s Shrimp Shack server hands anna maria island native michael Koczersut a crabcake sandwich Feb. 19 as the crowd peruses a lot lined with food booths at the southern end of 119th Street West at the 40th annual cortez commercial Fishing Festival. the event included music, vendors and kids activities. For more, see page 12. islander Photos: Kane Kaiman rigHt: Florida Sea grant extension agent angela collins shows mila adams of riverview the teeth on a sheepshead Feb. 19 during a festival “dock talk” at the cortez bait and Seafood fish house.

Low-speed vehicle advocates and detractors are all turned around. Florida Department of Transportation community liaison Tanya Merkle muddled the department’s stance on the operation of low-speed vehicles on the island’s state roads — including Manatee Avenue, Gulf Drive and East Bay Drive — at a Feb. 14 Island Transportation Planning Organization Meeting at Holmes Beach City Hall. At the meeting, the ITPO — an advisory body comprising the mayors of Anna Maria, Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach — also discussed future Gulf Drive crosswalk and complete streets projects. During public comment at the meeting, Holmes Beach resident Stuart Bardwell asked Merkle to share the DOT’s position on the operation of LSVs on state roads. Since October 2021, a sign has been turn to speed, Page 2

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speed continued from page 1

posted by the Holmes Beach Police Department on State Road 64/Manatee Avenue with a message reading: “No golf carts or LSV on Manatee Avenue, East Bay Drive.” Bardwell — who said he can no longer reach Publix on East Bay Drive and some other shopping destinations on the island’s main thoroughfares in his low-speed GEM car — told The Islander Feb. 15 the restrictions are based on an email from a former DOT community liaison who “misunderstood” golf cart and low-speed vehicle regulations. In October 2021, Merkle’s predecessor, Jesten Abraham, sent an email to Holmes Beach Commissioner Jayne Christenson stating: “As it stands today, neither low-speed vehicles nor golf carts are allowed on state roads. Any exceptions to this are noted in the Traffic Engineering Manual, chapter 5, and Florida Statute 316.212.” But chapter 5 of the Traffic Engineering Manual and the cited statute pertain to golf carts, not LSVs. According to another statute — 316.2122 — similar in number and not mentioned in the email, the DOT can prohibit the operation of low-speed vehicles on roads under its jurisdiction. Following receipt of Abraham’s email, the HBPD — which received complaints about people driving carts and LSVs across the Anna Maria Island Bridge — placed the sign and began enforcing restrictions. However, at the meeting, Merkle said the DOT defers to the statutes and local ordinances regarding the usage of LSVs on state roads within municipalities. According to statute 316.2122, low-speed vehicles — which must travel 20-25 mph on level ground and be registered, titled, insured and equipped with headlamps, turn signals and other safety accessories — can be utilized on roads with speed limits of 35 mph or less. The speed limits in Holmes Beach on State Road 64/Manatee Avenue, State Road 789/East Bay Drive and Gulf Drive are posted at 35 mph. And there is no ordinance in Holmes Beach prohibiting the use of LSVs on city/state roads.

Bradenton Beach Mayor John Chappie, right, listens as Holmes Beach resident Stuart Bardwell asks Florida DOT community liaison Tanya Merkle, not pictured, to clarify the DOT’s stance on the operation of LSVs on state roads during a Feb. 14 Island Transportation Planning Organization meeting at Holmes Beach City Hall. Islander Photo: Kane Kaiman

Bardwell said he attended the meeting to get verbal confirmation from Merkle after failing to get the department’s stance in writing. Following the meeting, the seven-year Holmes Beach resident sent an email to Holmes Beach Commission Chair Carol Soustek summarizing Merkle’s response and requesting the commissioners discuss the issue at their next meeting. “Now the municipality can take the responsibility and say, ‘We made the decision to ban LSVs and we’re not pointing the finger at FDOT,” Bardwell said. Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer told the Islander Feb. 15 that Merkle’s statements at the meeting contradicted the DOT’s previous stance on the issue and that he had reached out to the department for clarification. As of Feb. 18, the DOT had not replied to Feb. 15 inquiries from The Islander about the department’s stance on LSVs on the island’s state roads.

coming weeks about crosswalk construction projects on Gulf of Mexico Drive and Gulf Drive — from Longboat Club Road on Longboat Key to Manatee Avenue in Holmes Beach. In January, Merkle said the DOT would accept bids for the projects in mid-May. At the meeting, Bradenton Beach Mayor John Chappie said a complete streets study of Gulf Drive in Holmes Beach was “just recently moved up” on the calendar but neither Merkle nor the DOT’s communications team responded to Feb. 15 inquiries from The Islander about the timing of the project by Feb. 18. A complete streets study of Gulf Drive in Bradenton Beach is slated in the DOT’s October draft tentative work program for 2025. Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth, absent from the Feb. 14 meeting, chairs the ITPO and represents the island on the Sarasota/Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization Board in rotation among the island municipalities. Moving to crosswalks, complete streets The next ITPO meeting will be 2 p.m. Monday, At the Feb. 14 meeting, Merkle said the DOT May 9, at Holmes Beach City Hall, 5801 Marina would be meeting with Longboat Key officials in the Drive.

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End-of-year gifts add up to community center success

by ryan Paice islander reporter

What a difference a year — even one month — can make. The Center of Anna Maria Island was $193,952 in the black through December 2021, a month that saw $139,759.18 raised, according to a financial report. The nonprofit’s reported net income marks a $244,158 improvement over last year, when it was $50,206 in the red through the same period. The difference can partially be attributed to an increase in program revenue, which more than doubled from $174,486 in fiscal 2020-21 to $355,608 in fiscal 2021-22. The fiscal year runs July-June. Programming costs increased $42,785 over last year, amounting to $138,337 more in income from programs in 2021-22 than the previous year. However, the center’s fundraising efforts are the biggest reason for this year’s financial success. Despite increasing fundraising costs by almost $200,000, the nonprofit raised $367,677 more than it had at the same mark last year. It recorded $310,757 in fundraising income through December 2021. The center’s annual fundraising campaign for 2021-22, which raised $240,692 in response to a $60,000 matching challenge that ended in January, played a big part in the fundraising boost. “Thanks to the overwhelming community support, the center is currently in an excellent financial position so far this year,” executive director Chris Culhane wrote in a Feb. 10 email to The Islander. Another contributing factor is this year’s Bradenton Area Gulf Island Concert Series, which began with a Dec. 11, 2021, performance by reggae performers, “The Wailers.” The center has not detailed profits or expenses for the concert series but, despite recording $283,288 in fundraising costs, the nonprofit’s December 2021 financial report states, “Still have some concert expenses to pay out,” next to the budget item.

The nonprofit also has yet to complete about $150,000 worth of capital improvements included in its 2021-22 budget. Much of the improvements will be funded by a $40,000 donation from the William G. and Marie Selby Foundation and a $50,000 contribution from the Robert and Katherine Dobkin Intuitive Foundation. The money, restricted for capital uses, will fund new bathrooms with showers on the facility’s second floor and an outdoor heavy-weight workout center. The center also plans to spend $15,000 to remodel the foyer, $5,000 for new air conditioning and $5,000 for “phone system or security cameras.” So far, the center had spent $25,753 of its capital budget on LED lighting upgrades and the “first costs” for the outdoor fitness space, turf and paint, according to Culhane.

Speed was the game for Frank Williams, manager of island mail and Print in the anna maria island centre shopping plaza, in 1987 on the three Sisters raceway in the united Kingdom. Williams maintains his pace now that he’s been in the States for 20-plus years. islander courtesy Photo

Q&A 022322

by Lisa neff

The Islander poll this week’s question

Would you like to see speed limits lowered to 25 mph on state roads in Holmes Beach? A. Yes. B. No. C. Maybe. D. I don’t like 25 mph on city roads. Last week’s question

Florida is designating a state dessert. What should it be? 13%. Strawberry shortcake 76%. Key lime pie. 6%. Orange cake. 2%. Banana pudding. To answer the poll, go online to islander.org. an after-school care student gardens Feb. 4 at the community center. islander Photo: courtesy cofami

Correction

The neighborhood of Holmes Beach resident Winfred Bishop was incorrectly reported in the Feb. 2 edition of The Islander. The report should have stated Bishop, who spoke to the city commission about reducing speed limits, resides in the Bay Palm subdivision on 69th Street.

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Bradenton Beach’s attempt to curry high bridge favors languishes by Kane Kaiman islander reporter

What in stagnation?! Bradenton Beach has not taken a significant step in its Cortez Bridge negotiations in more than eight months. In 2021, the city sought concessions from the Florida Department of Transportation in return for not joining a lawsuit threatening the agency’s plan to construct a 65-foot-clearance fixed-span bridge to replace the 17-foot-clearance Cortez drawbridge chappie in 2026-27. The Cortez Bridge spans the Intracoastal Waterway and links Cortez on the mainland to Bradenton Beach on the island. The city’s chief request in its negotiations with the DOT was for the Perry DOT to foot the bill to bury utilities within and near the footprint of the high bridge. In June 2021, the DOT rejected a $4.8 million undergrounding proposal advanced by city attorney Ricinda Perry and asked the municipality to scale down the request, as well as demonstrate how the construction of the high bridge would necessitate buried utilities. Bradenton Beach public works consultant Mark Porter reworked the proposal, reviewed by Florida Power and Light, before sending it to the city in September 2021. The project’s $4.8 million price tag

Pedestrians traverse the cortez bridge Jan. 20. the Florida department of transportation plans to replace the 17-footclearance drawbridge with a 65-footclearance fixedspan bridge in 2026-27. islander Photo: Kane Kaiman

remained the same. When City Commissioner Jan Vosburgh asked for an update on the negotiations at a Feb. 17 commission meeting, Perry said she had not sent the second proposal to the DOT. She said she had, however, spoken with DOT attorney Angela Tucker to tell her the proposal’s cost had not changed. Perry said she reached out to Tucker the week of Feb. 7 to schedule a phone call. Since mid-August 2021, Perry and Bradenton

Beach Mayor John Chappie have not responded to The Islander’s inquiries about the status of the negotiations. Perry told commissioners Feb. 17 the DOT placed a gag order on city staff and officials. “What’s going on is the DOT did ask that the city kind of take a step back from addressing media inquiries until DOT and the city have had an opportunity to communicate on the questions that come in so that we both know what the other one’s thinkings and concerns are before we put them out there in the public as a lopsided thought,” Perry said. “And I thought that was a fair, healthy way to keep the communication healthy and open. So, I haven’t by ryan Paice responded to the media but I have been trying to islander reporter bradenton beach keep the communication going with the DOT and the Bradenton Beach officials are exploring changes resident anne mayor,” she said. to minimum size requirements for development. Leister speaks In July 2021, before the city opted not to join the City commissioners reached consensus Feb. 3 to Feb. 3 to comlawsuit, Perry repeatedly referred to the municipality’s direct staff to review potential changes to the city’s missioners about horse-trading with the DOT as negotiations. 7,500-square-foot minimum area requirement for lots a 7,500-square“I want to be very careful, because we’re in negoand provide recommendations. foot minimum lot tiations, understanding that the reason for the negoCommissioner Jake Spooner sparked the discusrequirement for tiations is (the DOT) did not want to see the city of sion by stating that the city’s current code did not make new development. Bradenton Beach become a party to the lawsuit. That sense because most lots are 5,000 square feet. islander Photo: is the appeal of us working together. To avoid all that,” He said the requirement prohibited property ryan Paice she said at a July 1, 2021, commission meeting. owners from reconfiguring lots that are less than 7,500 After the July 1 meeting, Perry and DOT District 1 square feet, since “new” lots would be created. He Secretary L.K. Nandam began characterizing the negoMayor John Chappie said the requirement was put proposed changing the city code to allow people to PLeaSe, See bb FaVors, neXt Page reconfigure lots as long as the original square footage in place to prevent large developments from dividing lots and increasing population density in a coastal allowing some lot reconfigurations where a it could is maintained. impact views. Spooner said the current code encourages people zone. Chappie suggested sending the item to the city’s He said he was concerned with changing the to combine lots, leading to “party house” vacation rentals, since property owners could not develop small requirement because the state may find issue with planning and zoning board for review. “It definitely needs a lot of thought,” Commisincreasing density and residents may find issue with lots. sioner Ralph Cole said. City attorney Ricinda Perry said the current code could be interpreted to allow reconfigurations without compiled by Lisa neff, calendar@islander.org official changes. She said the commission could adopt Anna Maria City West Manatee Fire Rescue a resolution establishing its interpretation of the code Feb. 23, 2 p.m., commission. None announced. to allow certain reconfigurations. Anna Maria City Hall, 10005 Gulf Drive, 941WMFR administration building, 701 63rd St. Resident Anne Leister said during public comment 708-6130, cityofannamaria.com. W., Bradenton, 941-761-1555, wmfr.org. that the discussion pertained to her, since her home was built in 1930 on two lots. She said that if her home Bradenton Beach Manatee County did not meet city setbacks, she would be required to Feb. 23, 2 p.m., ScenicWAVES. March 1, 1:30 p.m., commission (special). demolish the house so they could develop something March 2, 9:30 a.m., CRA. March 3, 9 a.m., commission (land). in one plat. March 2, 2 p.m., ScenicWAVES. CANMarch 7, 6 p.m., environmental land manageThe proposed changes may allow Leister to reconCELED ment. figure her lots so she can develop a second plat without March 3, 6 p.m., commission. March 8, 8:30 a.m., commission. removing her home. March 16, 2 p.m., planning and zoning. March 22, 9 a.m., commission. “I’d like to keep it versus knocking it down to have March 17, noon, commission. County administration building, 1112 Manatee two separate usable lots,” Leister said. Bradenton Beach City Hall, 107 Gulf Drive N., Ave. W., Bradenton, 941-748-4501, mymanatee. The commission also: 941-778-1005, cityofbradentonbeach.com. org. • Reached consensus to revisit a $2,910.33 invoice from LTA Engineers, city engineer Lynn Burnett’s Holmes Beach Also of interest Cortez-based firm due to concerns about increasing March 1, 10 a.m., parks and beautification. Feb. 28, 9:30 a.m., Sarasota/Manatee Metropolicosts to design and permit proposed beautification March 1, 5 p.m., planning commission. tan Planning Organization, Holiday Inn Sarasotaplans; March 8, 5 p.m., commission. Bradenton International Airport, 8009 15th St. E., • Unanimously voted to approve the ScenicMarch 9, 10 a.m., clean water. Sarasota. WAVES Committee’s 2021 annual report for submisMarch 22, 10 a.m., code complaints. March 1, 9 a.m., Manatee County/Holmes Beach sion to the Florida Department of Transportation; March 22, 5 p.m., commission. joint meeting, county administration building. • Unanimously voted to approve a second/final Holmes Beach City Hall, 5801 Marina Drive, Please, send meeting notices to calendar@ reading and vote for an ordinance establishing a pen941-708-5800, holmesbeachﬂ.org. islander.org and news@islander.org. sion plan for police officers.

BB commission discusses minimum sizes for lots

Meetings

Feb. 23, 2022 THE ISLANDER | islander.org Page 5 ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

BB ofﬁcials grill engineer, question growing project fees by ryan Paice islander reporter

One of Bradenton Beach’s beautification projects is drawing scrutiny as the bills pile up before landscaping work even begins. City commissioners Feb. 17 questioned a $2,910.33 invoice from LTA Engineers — city engineer Lynn Burnett’s firm — for work revising designs for a project that remains stuck in the Florida Department of Transportation’s permitting process. The project would beautify a stretch of DOT right of way by adding landscaping along the west side of Gulf Drive/State Road 789 from 11th Street North up to the S-curve around the Gulf Drive intersection with Avenue C. The DOT awarded the city a $104,246 grant to complete the project and, as of Feb. 17, the city had spent more than $50,000 on engineering and design bills. The $2,910.33 invoice would bring the project’s design and engineering costs to $51,115.56, according to city treasurer Shayne Thompson. The city budgeted $129,020 to complete the work. The engineering invoice first went before the commission Feb. 3, but Burnett was not at the meeting and the board decided to push the item forward due to bb FaVors continued From Page 4

tiations as informal discussions. “As far as whether or not DOT has rejected the proposal and are the negotiations over, one, I want to be abundantly clear — and the DOT has emphasized this a million times over — these are not negotiations. These mcclash are not settlement proposals. That is not what this is about. This is a working relationship between the city of Bradenton Beach and the FDOT as it relates to the impacts that are coming from this bridge,” Perry said at the Feb. 17 meeting. Perry told commissioners she has advanced the city’s interests to the best of her ability. “I never made a commitment to any of you commissioners that I would guarantee you that we could get this money for the city out of that bridge proposal. I said that I would advocate for that,” Perry said. In addition to the utility undergrounding, commissioners directed Perry to negotiate for other concessions, including street lights for Gulf Drive. “I promised and made a commitment to you that I would make those concerns known. I fulfilled my promise to you. If you feel misled that I painted a bright picture of we could get some really great things out of this bridge and I have let you down that I haven’t been able to make that happen, I’m sorry. I will say I’ve done my best and I’m continuing to pursue it,” she said. “It’s a slow process. We know government is not rapid-fire on working through things. But the mayor

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concerns about increasing costs. Burnett, at the Feb. 17 meeting, told commissioners the increasing costs were due to an extensive DOT review process that required revisions to the city’s plans. She said the latest revisions, burnett billed on the invoice, were the result of the DOT’s request for the city to remove trees from its plans for the right of way. Commissioner Ralph Cole said the city should not be charged for the revisions because Burnett should have known the DOT wouldn’t allow trees in the right of way. “That’s what we pay professionals for,” Cole said. “I am not happy paying $50,000 for this.” Commissioner Jake Spooner said the city was in a “sticky situation” by moving forward amid increasing costs. He suggested the commission explore adopting an ordinance requiring them to set not-to-exceed spending amounts for all projects. Burnett said she understood their concerns but she could not have foreseen the difficulties posed by the DOT’s expedited review process when preparing a cost estimate. She said she would not oppose the commission’s

In other matters… City commissioners: • Reached consensus to direct the city attorney to review Holmes Beach’s resolution requesting Manatee County and the state review phosphate mining and processing regulations for consideration; • Voted 4-1 to approve an application for a $10,000 grant from the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program to fund educational signage at city parks. Cole voted against approving the application. The commission will meet next at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 3, at city hall, 107 Gulf Drive N. The meeting will be open to the public with masks recommended.

and I are both still in communication,” she added. In March 2020, four complainants — former County Commissioner Joe McClash, former County Commissioner and Cortez resident Jane von Hahmann and Cortez residents Linda Molto and Joe Kane — challenged the DOT’s decision to build the high bridge in federal court. In March 2021, Bradenton Beach commissioners unanimously voted to make the city party to the lawsuit but, some officials reversed their positions in the months to follow. On Aug. 5, 2021, days before the Aug. 13 deadline to join the suit, Chappie and Commissioners Marilyn Maro and Ralph Cole indicated they would vote against joining the complainants and favored continuing discussions with the DOT. Chappie, Maro and Cole highlighted the expense of the lawsuit as a chief concern. Vosburgh and Commissioner Jake Spooner said they were in favor of joining the suit, though the commission did not formally vote on the matter. At the Feb. 17 meeting, Chappie and Perry reiterated their rationale for keeping Bradenton Beach out of the suit. The mayor and attorney maintained the city would have spent money only to find out the city could not join the lawsuit, citing the megabridge fighters’ unsuccessful attempt to add the nonprofit Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage to their complaint. In August, the foursome erred when they filed an amended complaint that named FISH a party to the

suit instead of filing a separate motion to include the Cortez nonprofit. After a judge ordered the document stricken from the record, the complainants opted not to pursue motions to add FISH to the dispute. Cortez is in unincorporated Manatee County and Chappie and Perry also pointed out that the complainants never formally asked the other island municipalities or the Manatee Board of County Commissioners for support. “They just wanted Bradenton Beach. And that was the other driving reason for, I think, why this commission decided not to go forward in that regard,” Perry said. “Like, if you want one government, you should ask for all the governments, especially the main one that is impacted by this, Manatee County. It’s their residents who are asking for help.” In August 2021, McClash said he had spoken with county commissioners, most of whom indicated they had no interest in challenging the DOT. He has also said the complainants intended to first secure the support of Bradenton Beach, the island municipality at the bridge’s western terminus, before reaching out to Holmes Beach and Anna Maria leadership. Bradenton Beach, which passed a resolution against the high bridge in 2019, is the only island municipality to formally oppose the structure, though Mayor Dan Murphy of Anna Maria and Mayor Judy Titsworth of Holmes Beach previously have said the megabridge would be a bad fit for Anna Maria Island.

decision to scrap the project in view of the rising costs. However, Burnett said the city should receive DOT approval for a permit within the next few weeks. She added that work on the project could be completed by June 2023. Mayor John Chappie suggested the commission withhold action on the LTA invoice until a future meeting, so they could invite DOT landscape architect Darryl Richard to explain the review process and commissioners agreed. The commission also reached consensus to hold a special meeting on the project and invite Richard.

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Opinion

Our

A big comeback for Cortez

Do you know what they mean when they say, “You’ve come a long way, baby”? Those of us who watched TV commercials, well remember the phrase that was popularized — if not contrived — as an advertising slogan for a brand of cigarettes — Virginia Slims Alas, it was a man’s game. Pat Martin, who never smoked, developed the “You’ve Come a Long Way, Baby” 1968 campaign for Chicago’s Leo Burnett ad agency to promote cigarettes — a campaign that took square aim at women. It became one of the best-known slogans in advertising history, a catchphrase that became part of our everyday culture. And the success of the brand and the slogan — sexist as it was — led to sponsoring a tennis tour and other marketing devices in the ’70s. The Slims campaign switched in the 1990s to “It’s a woman thing.” And maybe from there, the campaign and the cigarette industry got what it deserved — a downhill run. But not in Cortez. In the “little village that could,” fighting their way back in the face of adversity is commonplace. They’ve come a long way since the 1995 net ban, when the state limited fishing gear and left fourth- and fifth-generation fishing families to ponder their future on the water. And they survived a bad-weather year, low proceeds and waning interest from recent fishing festivals and a cancellation due to the COVID-19 pandemic last year only to come back on top. The seafood festival with a purpose — to fund the mission of the Florida Institute of Saltwater Heritage to preserve the commercial fishing way of life in Cortez and enhance and maintain the 95-acre FISH Preserve that’s a buffer from development — came a long way this year. It’s was gratifying — if not just a wee bit scary — to see the sea of people in Cortez taking part in the festival. Drinking, eating, enjoying music, learning about commercial fishing and marine life, and taking in the sun and the atmosphere that seemingly only Cortez can provide. Aaaaah. Cortez. You’ve come a long way, baby, from the times I knew in the 1970s when people from the outside were discouraged from visiting the docks and the fish houses. A time when women were discouraged from working the boats and the nets. In fact, the festival was born from a movement at the docks to make people feel welcome in Cortez. And, wow, what a success they’ve made of it. — bonner Joy, news@islander.org

FEB. 23, 2022 • Vol. 30, No. 18 Publisher, Co-editor bonner Joy, news@islander.org ▼ Editorial editor Lisa neff, lisa@islander.org Joe bird, editorial cartoonist Kevin cassidy, kevin@islander.org Jack elka, jack@jackelka.com Kane Kaiman, kane@islander.org brook morrison, brook@islander.org ryan Paice, ryan@islander.org ▼ Contributors Karen riley-Love Samara Paice amber Sigman capt. danny Stasny, fish@islander.org nicole Quigley ▼ Advertising Director toni Lyon, toni@islander.org ▼ Webmaster Wayne ansell ▼ Office Manager, Lisa Williams info@, accounting@, classifieds@, subscriptions@islander.org ▼ Distribution urbane bouchet ross roberts Judy Loden Wasco (All others: news@islander.org) ▼

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Your

Opinion

Poll again on pier use

I remember the discussion prior to the rebuild of the Anna Maria City Pier that the new pier would be as similar as possible to the old pier. The old pier had an indoor restaurant. I am pretty sure individuals would use such a restaurant repeatedly but they would not use the Mote Marine education center repeatedly. Please poll the island before granting that wonderful potential restaurant space for something that would not draw multiple visits from the public. Keep the pier as it was, with a restaurant. Karen McDonald, Bradenton Beach Editor’s note: The Anna Maria commission held a series of public meetings to discuss pier uses, including workshops on the pier, prior to engaging with Mote Marine on the lease.

Not hearing in HB

I’m disappointed in Holmes Beach commissioners, particularly Carol Soustek, Terry Schaefer and Pat Morton, and Mayor Judy Titsworth. I think our city representatives are tone deaf to the dwindling community of full-time residents, as it doesn’t seem they heard residents who spoke Feb. 8. They approved the new speed limit under the guise of public safety but ignored larger issues that this change in speed limit fails to address, namely pedestrians and LSVs. Lowering the speed limit will increase LSVs on the road, create congestion at times outside of usual bumper-to-bumper traffic but still doesn’t adequately address pedestrian safety. Schaefer quoted during the meeting that pedestrians hit by cars are more likely to survive when vehicles are going 25 mph but what about preventing pedestrians from getting hit? The city needs to invest in flashing lights at cross-

Skimming online …

Web (register for free news alerts) islander.org Facebook @islandernewspaper Twitter @ami_islander Instagram @theislanderami Pinterest @islandernewspaper E-edition For $36 a year, e-edition subscribers have access to the weekly e-edition with page-by-page views of all the news, photos, columns, community announcements and advertisements. And subscribers receive breaking news notices. To subscribe online, visit islander.org. For other subscriber services, call our newspaper office at 941-778-7978.

Have your say

The Islander accepts letters of up to 250 words. Please, email news@islander.org. walks, better lighting on roadways, rerouting LSVs to side streets and enforcing regulations. I see police officers pulling cars over all day in front of city hall where it was recently lowered to 25. This just puts more stress on local businesses trying to bring in off-island workers. The city is a desirable place to vacation but it is becoming a place that is not desirable to live or work. Commissioners may pay attention when businesses close and less places are available to tourists. Aaron Drake, Holmes Beach

Feb. 23, 2022 THE ISLANDER | islander.org Page 7 ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

10&20 years ago

Parked at the Sandpiper

From the Feb. 20, 2002, issue

• Holmes Beach planners decided to begin a visioning process and were preparing to hold neighborhood-based meetings to talk about the city’s future. • A downturn in tourism in January 2002 cost island businesses about $5 million but business owners were expecting a strong spring break. • SueLynn took the oath of office and was sworn in as mayor in Anna Maria. At her first commission meeting, she announced the return of workshop sessions.

the Sandpiper mobile resort, 2601 gulf drive n., bradenton beach, in the 1970s. the park still occupies the northernmost part of the island’s southernmost city.

10&20 years ago

From the Feb. 22, 2012, issue BBQ in BBeach the rib King restaurant, 2519 gulf drive n., bradenton beach, is open for business in 1982. the property currently houses Sharky’s Seagrill restaurant and over the years has been the site of a grocery, delicatessen and other restaurants, including the Sandnickle, Vienna Waltz and crown & thistle. islander Photos: manatee county Public Library System

• Crews from Florida Dock and Dredge spread sand on the Tampa Bay shoreline near the Anna Maria City Pier collected during a dredging in Bimini Bay and the inlet. • Bradenton Beach commissioners agreed to move forward with a plan to contract for a cell tower near the police and public works department buildings. • A late 2011 pedestrian fatality in the 800 block of Gulf Drive North in Bradenton Beach fueled a conversation at city hall about pedestrianroad safety on the island. • Anna Maria commissioners weren’t on the party line, coming in against the idea of a cell tower rising at Roser Memorial Community Church. The commission was working on an ordinance allowing for a tower. — Lisa neff

Find the islander dating to november 1992 online at the uofF digital newspaper collection at ufdc.ufl. edu.

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Page 8 THE ISLANDER | islander.org Feb. 23, 2022 ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Eagles fans ﬂock to center ﬁeld

don Felder greets an enthusiastic audience Feb. 20 at the center of anna maria island in anna maria. the former guitarist for the eagles played as part of the bradenton gulf islands concert Series presented in partnership with the bradenton area convention and Visitors bureau and the manatee county tourist development council. the series continues with a richard marx concert march 23 and Felix cavaliere’s rascals april 2. islander Photos: nenita daguinotas

don Felder greets a lineup of fans.

don Felder greets a loyal audience of eagles fans.

Futuristic mystery launches into 2069 the center of anna maria island hosted the 2069 island odyssey murdery mystery Feb. 19. tickets included dinner, a show, cash bar and a raffle. islander Photo: courtesy Jenny oelfke

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WMFR serves up annual district awards West manatee Fire rescue capt. Paul Hopkins thanks chief ben rigney and fire commissioners Feb. 15 with handshakes after being honored for 20 years of service and awarded the district’s 2021 officer of the Year award, which he received for serving as a “prime example of leadership.” islander courtesy Photos: WmFr

WmFr firefighters and staff, as well as family, watch Feb. 15 as district leaders announce the 2021 award winners in the meeting room at the district administrative building, 701 63rd St. W., bradenton.

Islander archive 24/7

The Islander was invited to take part in a pilot project with the University of Florida George A. Smathers Libraries. Our collection of printed newspapers, beginning with the first edition in 1992, is maintained on the library site, searchable by key word, name or date. Look for Islander in at the UofF Florida digital newspaper collection at ufdc.ufl.edu.

WmFr firefighter/paramedic gabriel gonzalez shows off a trophy Feb. 15 naming him the district’s 2021 rookie of the Year.

WmFr firefighter/paramedic robert Haygood holds a plaque Feb. 15 naming him the district’s 2021 Firefighter of the Year for his “unmatched determination” and desire to help people.

WmFr Lt. dan tackett poses Feb. 15 with a plaque celebrating his 20 years of service with the fire district.

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Island happenings

Page 10 THE ISLANDER | islander.org Feb. 23, 2022 ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

compiled by Lisa neff, calendar@islander.org.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT ON AMI Saturday, Feb. 26 9 a.m.-10 a.m. — Members’ early access to Friends of the Island Library book sale, outdoors, Island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Information: mymanatee.org/library, 941778-6341. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. — Friends of the Island Library book sale, outdoors, Island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Information: mymanatee.org/library, 941-778-6341. ONGOING ON AMI Throughout February, Anne Abgott exhibit, Artists’ Guild Gallery, 5414 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Information: 941-778-6694. Throughout February, Joanna Karpay’s “For the Birds” exhibit, Island Gallery West, 5368 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach. Information: islandgallerywest.com, 941-778-6648. Throughout March, Sue Elliott’s “Wonderful World mixed-media exhibit, Island Gallery West, 5368 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach. Information: islandgallerywest.com, 941-778-6648. Second Fridays, Art Walk, downtown Holmes Beach around Gulf and Marina drives. Information: 941-778-6648, 941-7786694. AHEAD ON AMI March 3-20, Island Players’ “A Comedy of Tenors,” Anna Maria. March 11, Center of Anna Maria Island bingo night, Anna Maria. March 13, Island Players’ “The Psychic” auditions, Anna Maria. March 19-20, Art League of Anna Maria Island’s Springfest, Holmes Beach. March 23, Center of Anna Maria Island concert with Richard Marx, Anna Maria. March 23, Friends of the Island Library 40th anniversary open house celebration, Holmes Beach. March 23, Annie Silver Community Center community dinner, Bradenton Beach. April 2, Center of Anna Maria Island concert with Felix Cavaliere’s Rascals, Anna Maria. April 8, Center of Anna Maria Island bingo night, Anna Maria. ONGOING OFF AMI First Fridays, 6-9:30 p.m., Village of the Arts First Fridays Artwalk, 12th Street West and 12th Avenue West, Bradenton. Information: villageofthearts.com. Saturdays, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Bradenton Farmers Market, Main Street, downtown Bradenton. Information: realizebradenton.com, 941-301-8445.

‘A Comedy of Tenors’ to take the stage

The Island Players will bring American playwright Ken Ludwig’s “A Comedy of Tenors” to the stage in March. Preston Boyd is directing the play and stage manager is Priscilla Boyd. The cast features James Thaggard, Mikey Lynch, Valerie Lipscomb, John Ambruzzi, Katie Zanders, Colin Brady and Sharon Bartley. The theater publicity team says playgoers should be “prepared to laugh hysterically” because “what could possibly go wrong in one hotel suite with two wives, three girlfriends and four tenors about to perform the concert of the century with a soccer stadium filled with fans?” The play will open Thursday, March 3, and run through Sunday, March 20. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. The theater, 10009 Gulf Drive, Anna Maria, is dark Mondays. Masks are required during performances. Tickets are $25. The box office is open 9 a.m.-1 p.m. MondaySaturday and an hour before showtime. For more information, call the box office at 941-778-5755. 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. Through August, “Seeing the Invisible” augmented reality exhibit, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, 1534 Mound St., Sarasota. Fee applies. Information: selby.org, 941-366-5731. AHEAD OFF AMI

6341. Tuesday, March 1 10 a.m.— Family storytime, Island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Information: mymanatee.org/library, 941-7786341. ONGOING ON AMI Tuesdays, 6:30 p.m., Anna Maria Movies in the Park, City Pier Park, 103 N. Bay Blvd., Anna Maria. Information: 941-708-6130. ONGOING OFF AMI First Wednesdays, 5:30 p.m., “Soar in 4 Family Night, the Bishop Museum of Science and Nature, 201 10th St. W., Bradenton. Fee applies. Information: soarin4.org, 941-746-4131. Saturdays and Sundays, 3 p.m., Tales Under the Tree, the Bishop Museum of Science and Nature, 201 10th St. W., Bradenton. Fee applies. Information: bishop.org, 941-746-4131. AHEAD OFF AMI ton.

April 30, De Soto Heritage Festival Grand Parade, Braden-

CLUBS & COMMUNITY ON AMI Wednesday, Feb. 23 11:30 a.m. — Anna Maria Island and West Manatee Democratic Club meeting, Center of Anna Maria Island, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria. Information: bbeckwith02@gmail.com. Noon — Anna Maria Island Historical Society members luncheon, museum grounds, 402 Pine Ave., Anna Maria. Information: 941-778-0492. Thursday, Feb. 24 10 a.m. — Seaside Quilters, Island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Information: mymanatee.org/library, 941778-6341. 2 p.m. — Sunshine Stitchers Knit and Crochet, Island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Information: mymanatee.org/ library, 941-778-6341.

March 4, “Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience opens, Sarasota. March 5, Manatee Pride Festival, Bradenton. ONGOING ON AMI March 12, Palma Sola Botanical Park sale, Bradenton. Thursdays, 6 p.m., bingo night, Annie Silver Community Center, March 12, Florida Maritime Museum’s “Movies at the Maritime” 103 23rd St N., Bradenton Beach. Information: 941-757-6029. features “Jaws,” Cortez. Fridays, 11:30 a.m., Mahjong Club, Island Library, 5701 Marina March 12, Mote Marine Party on the Pass, Sarasota. Drive, Holmes Beach. Information: mymanatee.org/library, 941-778Fridays, March 18-April 29, Music in the Park series, Braden6341. ton. Saturdays, 8:30 a.m., Kiwanis Club of Anna Maria Island meeting, Bradenton Beach City Hall, 107 Gulf Drive N., Bradenton Beach. KIDS & FAMILY Information: 941-778-1383. ON AMI Mondays, 12:30 p.m., Anna Maria Bridge Club, Roser Memorial Community Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria. Information: Friday, Feb. 25 10 a.m. — Forty Carrots, Island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, 205-910-6344, 941-778-0414. Tuesdays, 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m., Farmers Market in the Park, City Holmes Beach. Information: mymanatee.org/library, 941-778-

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Island happenings

Feb. 23, 2022 THE ISLANDER | islander.org Page 11 ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Kiwanis to meet

The Kiwanis Club of Anna Maria Island will hear Feb. 26 from Xavier Colon, the regional district governor for the Kiwanis clubs. The club meets Saturdays at 8:30 a.m. at Bradenton Beach City Hall, 107 Gulf Drive N. The club also is organizing its Easter sunrise service, which will take place at the Manatee Public Beach in Holmes Beach. For more information, call Sandy Haas-Martens at 941-778-1383.

Friends stage big book sale ‘Wonderful World’ at HB gallery Work by mixed-media artist Sue elliott will be featured throughout march at island gallery West, 5368 gulf drive, Holmes beach. Her exhibit is “Wonderful World” and the title is inspired by the song “What a Wonderful World,” which elliott likes to play while working. a reception with the artist will take place during the downtown art Walk Friday, march 11. For more information, call the gallery at 941-778-6648. islander courtesy Photo

Pier Park, Pine Avenue and Bay Boulevard, Anna Maria. Information: 941-708-6130. Tuesdays, 11:30 a.m., Mahjong Club, Island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Information: mymanatee.org/library, 941-778-6341. Tuesdays, noon, duplicate bridge, Episcopal Church of the Annunciation, 4408 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach. Fee applies. Information: 703-582-7755. Through March, Friends of the Island Library 40th anniversary celebration, Island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, and other venues. Information: 941-778-6341.

Checking for a win People check their bingo cards after a call at the annie Silver community center, 103 23rd St. n., bradenton beach. bingo is back at the center, played thursdays at 6 p.m. into the spring. islander Photo: Lisa neff meetups, various times and locations. Information: 941-462-2626, mrbradway@gmail.com.

AHEAD ON AMI

OFF AMI

March 12, Women of the Moose Great American Cleanup, Bradenton Beach. March 15, Anna Maria Island Historical Society Heritage Day, Anna Maria. March 16, Anna Maria Island Garden Club Flower Show, Anna Maria.

Friday, Feb. 25 6 p.m. — Photography challenge gallery presentation, Robinson Preserve north at the Valentine House, 1704 99th St NW, Bradenton. Information: mymanatee.org, 941-742-5923. Saturday, Feb. 26 9 a.m. — Master Gardener Tour, Perico Preserve, 11700 Manatee Ave. W., Perico Island. Information: mymanatee.org, 941-7425923.

OFF AMI Tuesday, March 1 11:30 a.m. — LBK Democratic Club, Sarasota Yacht Club, 1100 John Ringling Blvd., Sarasota. Information: howardrv@gmail.com.

ONGOING OFF AMI

Wednesdays, 4 p.m., Tortoise Talk education program, Robinson Preserve north, 1704 99th St NW, Bradenton. Information: ONGOING OFF AMI mymanatee.org, 941-742-5923. Tuesdays, noon, Rotary Club of Anna Maria Island meeting, Saturdays, 8 a.m., Robinson Runners running club, RobinCompass Hotel by Margaritaville, 12324 Manatee Ave. W., Perico son Preserve expansion, 840 99th St. NW, Bradenton. Information: Island. Second Tuesdays at 5 p.m. Information: 941-920-2505. mymanatee.org, 941-742-5923, ext. 6047. Saturdays, 9 a.m., Saturday Mornings at the NEST nature OUTDOORS & exploration, Robinson Preserve expansion, 840 99th St. NW, BraSPORTS denton. Information: mymanatee.org, 941-742-5923, ext. 6047. Saturdays once a month, Manatee County Audubon Society ON AMI workday, Felts Preserve, 4600 24th Ave. E., Palmetto. Information: Thursday, Feb. 24 manateeaudubon.org, zholmes003@gmail.com. 9 a.m. — Seashell shore walk with Manatee County Parks AHEAD OFF AMI and Natural Resources, Coquina Beach South, Bradenton Beach. Reservations required. Information: 941-742-5923. March 5, Manatee FITFest and 5K race, west Bradenton. ONGOING ON AMI AMI Dragon Boat Team—Paddlers from Paradise practices and

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The Friends of the Island Library will present its annual book sale Feb. 26, offering “gently used” books and other items for gentle prices. The general public sale will be 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday outside the library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. An early-access sale for “Friends” members will be at 9 a.m. Memberships can be purchased at the library during regular hours. Also for sale are Friends of the Island Library member tote bags, which event organizers encourage people to bring to the sale for “a special book buying opportunity.” Proceeds from the annual sale support the nonprofits’ campaign for library improvements, enrichment and education. The rain date will be Saturday, March 5. For more info, call the library at 941-778-6341.

GOOD TO KNOW KEEP THE DATES Thursday, March 17, St. Patrick’s Day. Sunday, March 13, daylight saving time begins. Friday, April 1, April Fool’s Day. Friday, April 15, Tax Day. Friday, April 22, Earth Day. Sunday, May 1, May Day. Thursday, May 5, Cinco de Mayo.

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Page 12 THE ISLANDER | islander.org Feb. 23, 2022 ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Fishing fest rocks Cortez after gap year

by Kane Kaiman islander reporter

The hand stamp read “MULLET.” And, boy, did the Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage ink a lot of hands Feb. 19-20. As if to make up for the celebration’s pandemic gap year in 2021, thousands poured into the fishing village of Cortez for the 40th annual Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival. Festivalgoers had an array of activities to enjoy, including live music and “dock talks.” Local acts, including the Eric Von Band and Soupy Davis and the Band, lit up a stage in the lot adjacent to the village’s “trap yard” at the southern end of 119th Street West. The lot also hosted 16 food booths serving everything from boiled crawfish and crabcake sandwiches to cakes of the funnel and strawberry-short varieties. Karen Carpenter, a Cortez Village Historical Society volunteer who helped with the nonprofit’s strawberry shortcake booth, said the organization purchased 132 pounds of strawberries for the event and sold out its desserts at 2 p.m. Feb. 19. CVHS, which has hosted the dessert booth at the festival since the early 1990s, did not sell out of shortcakes in 2020 until the afternoon of the second day. “We had a crackerjack team from the Manatee

aboVe LeFt: eric Von of the eric Von band performs Feb. 19 on the main stage at the cortez commercial Fishing Festival, as the festival crowd moved shoulder to shoulder through a lot lined with food booths at the southern end of 119th Street West. islander Photo: Kane Kaiman

School for the Arts Key Club and they sold over 1,000 shortcakes,” Carpenter said. “After a year off, everybody was really ready to come together.” On the dock at John Banyas’ Cortez Bait and Seafood fish house on the waterfront, educators from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Florida Sea Grant gave “dock talks.” With real critters as props, Theresa Bert, a 32-year FWC research scientist, discussed the physiology and life cycle of Gulf Coast crustaceans while Angela Collins, a Florida Sea Grant extension agent, taught crowds how to identify native fish. At a third station in the fish house, people handled live crabs and shrimp in a wide tank. Banyas told The Islander Feb. 19 he opens up his space to the demonstrators each year to educate the public about local aquatic species and the commercial

fishing industry. “People that just don’t know or have never been here before, they get to understand a little bit about what this is about,” Banyas said. “We always want to educate people and give them a true understanding of commercial fishing. When the industry is alive, thriving and well, the habitat is thriving, alive and well.” Banyas, who also owns Swordfish Grill, an adjacent restaurant, said 20% of the proceeds from their booth at the festival and from a rum-coconut booth would go to FISH, the nonprofit that sponsors the celebration and manages the 100-acre nature preserve east of Cortez. “It’s a good day and it’s mainly for FISH. It’s for the preserve over there and it’s their day to make money to pay for the wetlands that we’re protecting,” he said.

Tiki & Kitty’s Let’s go shopping!

Tiki and Kitty are ready for the first day of spring — even if it’s nearly a month away. They’re always ready to visit their favorite thrifts and boutiques. Kitty says, “Let the spring shopping begin!” Cat’s Meow has 7,700 square feet of vintage, unique and repurposed items. You may want to lace up your skates, as this large vintage skating rink has plenty to offer bargain, antique, unique hunters. Plus,

Your place for fun, funky

there’s a mancave and a cool clothing boutique. You don’t want to miss this vast collection of vendors. Blue Flamingo offers hip and trendy upcycled and repurposed goods, furniture and decor, from antique cameras to garden features, candles, jewelry and work by local artisans. They also offer Dixie Belle paints. Blessed and Distressed is a tastefully designed store — so inviting, you’ll want to stay and visit — filled with collectibles and work by local artists. The store is in Palma Sola Square, around the corner from

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Winn-Dixie. It offers 30-plus vendors, including vintage, upcycled, shabby chic, fanciful frocks and local crafts and art. You won’t be disappointed. You Never Know Thrift has everything you could want: clothes, kitchenwares, small appliances, furniture, DVDs and autographed sports memorabilia. The inventory is constantly changing. We keep going back. You never know what you will find. Scavengers Marketplace welcomes you to peruse the goodies for a good cause at the Island Shopping Center in Holmes Beach. Purchases at the store benefit Moonracer No Kill Pet Rescue — our favorite pet rescue group. Founder Lisa Williams is The Islander office manager and, along with board member/Islander sales rep Toni Lyon, leads the rescue efforts. FYI: Scavengers also carries Fusion Paints. And don’t forget, tell people you meet along the way, “The Islander sent me.”

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Indoor market with 15 vendors & artisans Vintage, Unique & Shabby Chic Furniture Coastal, Nautical & Rustic Home Décor Antiques & Collectibles Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm Sunday 12-5pm Fri-Sat 10am-7pm Sunday 12pm-5pm Island Shopping Center

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Feb. 23, 2022 THE ISLANDER | islander.org Page 13 ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

AmE NEWS by brook morrison, brook@islander.org

AME-PTO Dolphin Dash has runners on toes

It was a “runderful” day. Participants took their marks Feb. 19 for the 15th annual Dolphin Dash 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run. All ages gathered early in the parking area at Anna Maria Elementary School, 4700 Gulf Drive, to sign in and receive race numbers and swag. The 2022 Dolphin Dash T-shirt design was created by fifth-grader Lily Plummer. AME students, teachers, beginners and experienced runners raced their way through the streets of Holmes Beach in two events. Proceeds from the event benefit the AME ParentTeacher Organization. Event co-organizer Kelly Gitt acknowledged the Bradenton Runners Club, Tom Orehowsky and Ann Darling. “I would like to thank them for their time and effort,” said Gitt. The 5K began at 8 a.m., after the volunteer race coordinator, Orehowsky, explained the rules and the route at the starting line. Connor Kreger crossed the finish line first at 18:49 minutes, putting him on top overall and No. 1 male finisher, while Anna Neal of Durham, North Carolina, led for the women at 20 minutes. The 1-Mile Fun Run started at 9 a.m. and mostly AME students competed. Brandon Sato, 7, crossed the finish line first in under 8 minutes. After the races, medals were awarded to winners of each age group. And the AME-PTO comes out the overall winner with another race well done and well run, and the proceeds to show for it.

cooper bess, 8, is the ame dolphin dash 5K winner among under-9 runners Feb. 19. bess, who came to run from Lithia, said with a smile, “i’m glad i won but my dad’s cheering was kind of embarrassing.” islander Photo: brook morrison

AME Calendar

• Tuesday, March 1, 6:30 p.m., third-grade play in the auditorium. • Wednesday, March 2, spring picture day. • Friday, March 11, record day, no school. • March 14-18, spring break.

ame fourth-graders mary tess bolognone, left, June moore and Lexi baugher sing the national anthem Feb. 19 at ame to help start the 15th annual dolphin dash 5K and 1-mile Fun run. islander Photo: brook morrison

WHAT MAKES US HUMAN

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Page 14 THE ISLANDER | islander.org Feb. 23, 2022 ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Gathering by Lisa neff

Ash Wednesday observed

Local churches will observe Ash Wednesday, the start of the Lenten season, March 2. The Episcopal Church of the Annunciation, 4408 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, will hold services at 7 a.m., noon and 7 p.m., according to their website. Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 6608 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, will hold a service at 10 a.m. Roser Memorial Community Church, 512 Pine Ave, Anna Maria, will hold a service at noon. St. Bernard Catholic Church, 248 S. Harbor Drive, will observe Mass at 8:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Roser readies breakfast

Roser Memorial Community Church will serve a pancake breakfast 8-11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 26. The church has not served breakfast since the start of the pandemic precautions almost two years ago. The church website said, “Invite your friends and neighbors and stop by for a Roser-style pancake breakfast. For $7, enjoy pancakes, sausage, syrup and/or melted butter, applesauce, biscuits and gravy, juice and coffee or tea.” There is no charge for children under the age of 5. Also, the Roser Guild Thrift Shop will be open 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Roser is at 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria. For more information, call the church at 941-7780414.

Annunciation hosts sale day

Most Wednesdays, 8 a.m., Episcopal Church of the Annunciation men’s breakfast meeting. Wednesdays, 9 a.m., Roser Church Hope Seeds packing. Wednesdays, 9 a.m., Roser Freedom through Faith Meditation program. Wednesdays, 9:30 a.m., Gloria Dei social gathering, Anna Maria Island Beach Cafe, Holmes Beach. Wednesdays, 6:45 p.m., CrossPointe Fellowship Wednesday Night Blast. Thursdays, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Roser Thrift Shop sales. Thursdays, 10 a.m., Longboat Chapel Shifting Sands support meeting. Thursdays, 4 p.m., Roser Church handbell class. Thursdays, 7 p.m., Roser Church chancel choir rehearsals. Thursdays, 9:30 a.m., Roser Church Roser Robics fitness. Saturdays, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Roser Thrift Shop sales. Mondays, Wednesdays, Saturdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Longboat REGULAR WORSHIP Chapel thrift store sales. Mondays, 4 p.m., Longboat Chapel choir practice. Monday-Friday Tuesdays, 9:30 a.m., Roser Church Roser Robics fitness. 8:30 a.m. — St. Bernard Catholic Church, 248 S. Harbor Drive, Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m., Gloria Dei Lutheran Church Pastor’s Holmes Beach. Information: 941-778-4769, stbernardcc.com. Book Group Zoom meetings. Thursdays 9:30 a.m. — Episcopal Church of the Annunciation, 4408 Gulf SPECIAL DATES Drive, Holmes Beach. Information: 941-778-1638, amiannunciation. Feb. 26, 8-11 a.m., Roser Church, pancake breakfast. org. Feb. 26, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Annunciation white elephant sale. Saturdays March 1, Shrove Tuesday. 4 p.m. — St. Bernard Catholic Church. March 2, Ash Wednesday. Sundays 8 a.m. — Episcopal Church of the Annunciation. 8:30 a.m. — St. Bernard Catholic Church. 8:30 a.m. — Roser Memorial Community Church, 512 Pine Georgene ‘Gigi’ ‘George’ Adkins Ave., Anna Maria. Information: 941-778-0414, roserchurch.com. 9 a.m. — CrossPointe Fellowship, 8605 Gulf Drive, Holmes Georgene “Gigi” “George” Adkins, 66, of BradenBeach. Information: 941-778-0719, crosspointefellowship.church. ton and formerly of Anna Maria Island, died Jan. 27. 9:15 a.m. — Harvey Memorial Community Church, 300 Church She was born July 8,1955, and moved to Florida Ave., Bradenton Beach. Information: 941-779-1912. in 1990. 9:30 a.m. — Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 6608 Marina Drive. Mrs. Adkins blessed people with her sense of Holmes Beach. Information: 941-778-1813, gloriadeilutheran.com. humor and love of life, embraced living to the full10 a.m. — Roser Church. est and wherever she went family, 10 a.m. — Christ Church of Longboat Key Presbyterian USA, friends and fun were sure to follow. 6400 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key. Information: 941-900She was a Christian, spreading 4903, christchurchoflbk.org. love and kindness through her life. 10 a.m. — Longboat Island Chapel, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive, She never met a stranger. Longboat Key. Information: 941-383-6491, longboatislandchapel. She was a talented artist, a spirorg. ited soul and a lover of sunsets, but adkins 10:15 a.m. — Episcopal Church of the Annunciation. will be remembered best for her role 10:30 a.m. — St. Bernard. as mother, sister, grandmother, aunt and friend.

Tidings

a picnic basket awaits a new owner. the episcopal church of the annunciation in Holmes beach will hold a white elephant sale 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 26. islander courtesy Photo

Obituaries

The Episcopal Church of the Annunciation will hold a white elephant sale 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 26, offering shoppers bargains on treasures and gentlyused household goods. ONGOING EVENTS The church is at 4408 Gulf Drive, Holmes Wednesdays, 7:15 a.m., St. Bernard Rosary on the Beach, Beach. Manatee Public Beach, Holmes Beach. For more information, call the church office at Wednesdays, 7 a.m., CrossPointe Fellowship men’s Bible 941-778-1638. meeting.

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At your service

Obituaries are offered as a community service to residents and families of residents, both past and present, as well as to those people with ties to the island. Submit to news@ islander.org. Obituaries are provided free — a service of your community newspaper. Paid obituaries can be discussed with advertising specialist Toni Lyon at 941-7787978.

Family and friends are invited to a celebration of life 4-7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 27, at the pavilion at the Sandbar Restaurant, 100 Spring Ave., Anna Maria. Memorial donations may be made to the Anna Maria Island Art League at islandartleague.org/product/donation/. Mrs. Adkins is survived by her children, Eric Clark and wife Wendy, Emily Van Leeuwen and husband John, James Adkins and wife Christina; sisters Francene Schoch and Linda Simpson; grandchildren Tristin Negron and husband Carlos, Cameron Conley and James and Sydney Adkins; and many loving family members and friends.

Richard Freeman 3.

Richard Freeman, 73, of Anna Maria, died Feb. He was born Sept. 20, 1948, in Evanston, Illinois. Mr. Freeman moved at age 20 with friends to Aspen, Colorado. His love for the mountains grew over the years and he eventually settled outside Caribou Ranch near Nederland, where he operated a sawmill busi-

Freeman

ness. He met his future wife, Pat, and daughter Nikki and moved to Anna Maria in 1989. He obtained a real

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Feb. 23, 2022 THE ISLANDER | islander.org Page 15 ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Island Library ‘friend’ plans next chapter, new adventures By Lisa Neff Islander Editor

Islander Pam Leckie is starting a new chapter. She and husband Major arrived to Anna Maria Island from Saginaw, Michigan, around 2005 and soon after became involved in many facets of island life. Now they’re preparing to relocate to a suburb of Austin, Texas, where a daughter lives. “This has been a good, good time for us,” Leckie said. “We’ve had a lot of years here and we’ve enjoyed every minute of it.” The Leckies arrived to Anna Maria Island the way many transplants arrive — at the invitation of family. Their daughter had purchased a condo in Holmes Beach and invited the parents for a visit. “She kept saying every year, ‘Come down and see my place,’” recalled Leckie, a retired juvenile probation officer. Finally, they visited and fell in love with the island. They rented as snowbirds and then decided to relocate and rent annually. “It was a big thing for me, because I was very, very involved up north,” Leckie, 92, said. “I hated to give all that up but it was a good move, the best.” But she didn’t give up community involvement, she just traded places. After settling on AMI, the Leckies became involved in civic, church and community affairs.

Pam Leckie stands in February in a fiction section at the Island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Islander Photo: Lisa Neff

Pam Leckie worked for a while at Ginny’s and Jane’s at the Old IGA, led the Roser Food Pantry effort, joined committees at city hall, volunteered at the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce and the Island Library and helped lead the Friends of the Island Library. She was still fairly new to AMI when she offered to work the library stacks.

As the library and its support group celebrate a 40th anniversary at the 5701 Marina Drive location, Leckie looked back on her involvement with the institution. Some people browse a library, finding their way around using the Dewey Decimal system. Leckie knows the Island Library front to back, shelf to shelf, having helped restock materials after a renovation. “The library has so much to offer,” said the fiction reader. “It’s not just books like it used to be. Anything you can want, you should check the library. Anything that pops into your mind. It’s just a really great resource for a community and we’re lucky to have it.” She also reflected on her 14-15 years with the Friends group, including a stint as president. “Such very good people, just the best people,” Leckie said. “You know, when you go into a new community, there are certain spots you need to pick to go to, to meet people, unless you want to be isolated,” she added. A library is such a spot. And, as she prepared for her next chapter, Leckie made sure a library was near her new home. The library, she said, will be among her first stops. Asked whether she will volunteer, Leckie answered, “You better believe it.” Friends of the Island Library president Julie Perry has led the group through pandemic times into a 40th anniversary celebration. Islander Photo: Lisa Neff

Friends president leads group — pandemic to celebration By Lisa Neff Islander Editor

Book lovers rejoiced last spring in the parking lot of the Island Library, where the beloved Friends of the Island book sale took place. “It was liberating,” Friends president Julie Perry said Feb. 2, as the group was preparing for another sale this week. After nearly a year of pandemic-related disruptions and adjustments, people arrived last year to the parking lot to support the Friends’ cause, to fill a bag with bargain books and to enjoy the return of a tradition. “I was just so happy to see the Friends there,” said Bradenton Beach resident Janae Gilbert, visiting the library Feb. 2. “It just brought me comfort. I felt like life was kind of back to normal.” Perry has guided the support group through two years of the pandemic, the return of its major fundraiser and into a celebration to mark the 40th anniverobituaries from page 14

estate license and became a top producer in island property sales. His quick wit and many stories along with his friendliness and desire to help others continued over the years. He was well known and loved by many and will be greatly missed. The family hopes to announce a service and celebration of life at a later date. Mr. Freeman is survived by his wife of 31 years, Pat; daughter Nikki and husband Bo Kohlmeye; granddaughter Avaya; mother Marsha Freeman; sister Nancy Attia; and brother William.

sary of the library at its 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, location. Perry, who is retired, was volunteering at the library when she discovered the Friends group, which coordinates activities, holds events and raises money for library materials and improvements. Her professional background is in health insurance and she worked in Rochester, New York, and Milwaukee before her move to northwest Bradenton. She came for a part-time residency in 2014 and realized after one winter she “never wanted to go back.” Perry became involved with the Friends when Pam Leckie was president in 2015 and, during a conversation at the library Feb. 2, they shared mutual admiration. “We’ve got a wonderful board now,” said Leckie, who resigned the board in January to prepare for a move to Texas. “She’s been a fantastic president. Of Perry’s three years at the helm, Leckie said, Looking back to the spring of 2020, when the library closed due to the pandemic and then reopened Mark Romeo with new rules and protocols, Perry lauded the library Mark Romeo, 68, of Bradenton Beach, died Feb. staff for being “frontline workers, 100%.” And Leckie praised Perry: “Julie kept us all 7. together and did a wonderful job of that. That’s hard He was born Oct. 25, 1953, in Tampa. to do, keep a group together when they can never get Mr. Romeo operated an irrigation business. A service for Mr. Romeo will be at 2 p.m. Satur- together. … That was a pretty tough road to do.” Perry said the hard work was fulfilling, worthday, Feb. 26, at Bayside Community Church, 6609 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton. Memorial donations while. “This library is such a community resource,” she may be made online to Wounded Warrior, support. said. “It’s more than just resources. It’s a commuwoundedwarriorproject.org Mr. Romeo is survived by his three sons, Jason, nity place to gather. It’s where you find friends. It’s Justin and Christopher; and granddaughters Emma where you find people of like minds. It’s just beyond books.” and Elianna.

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Page 16 THE ISLANDER | islander.org Feb. 23, 2022 ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Cops & Courts

FDLE crash investigation: THC, Xanax in motorist’s system, victim sues By Ryan Paice Islander Reporter

A Nov. 29, 2021, traffic collision may have been the result of one driver’s drug-induced impairment. A Feb. 7 laboratory report from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement found Ellenton resident Michael Fitzgerald, 59, had tested positive for THC and generic Xanax after he swerved into oncoming traffic and collided with a golf cart driven by Anna Maria resident Jana Samuels, 79. The collision, which occurred at about 11:47 a.m. in the 6800 block of Palm Drive in Holmes Beach, left Samuels in critical condition and resulted in her hospitalization at Blake Medical Center in Bradenton. Samuels remained in the intensive care unit as of Feb. 14, according to daughter Shona Otto. Fitzgerald, a delivery driver for New Port Richeybased Trulieve Inc., a chain of medical marijuana dispensaries, displayed signs of impairment during the incident and allowed first responders to draw blood for drug and alcohol testing during medical treatment. In lieu of test results, police cited Fitzgerald for careless driving and sent the blood draw to the FDLE for lab testing. Authorities had not charged Fitzgerald with driving under the influence — a second-degree misdemeanor for a first-time offense — as of Feb. 18, according to

People stand Nov. 29, 2021, around a golf cart that was struck head-on by a vehicle that swerved into its lane, leaving the cart’s operator, Anna Maria resident Jana Samuels, in critical condition. Islander File Photo: HBPD

the Manatee County Clerk of Court’s website, records. suffering, disability, disfigurement, mental anguish, manateeclerk.com. loss of capacity for the enjoyment of life” and more. Samuels attorney, Allan Crosby Crane of the A hearing to discuss the complaint had not been Tampa-based Morgan & Morgan law firm, filed a civil scheduled as of Feb. 17. lawsuit Dec. 22, 2021, against Fitzgerald and Trulieve, seeking at least $30,000 in damages and requesting a jury trial. The complaint alleges that, due to the collision, Samuels “suffered bodily injury and resulting pain and

Slow it down A bicyclist rides Feb. 17 on the far right of heavy traffic on Marina Drive in Holmes Beach where the city reduced the speed limit to 25 mph. The citywide speed limit was lowered in February by resolution. Islander Photo: Ryan Paice

Michael Fitzgerald’s vehicle came to a resting place Nov. 29 in a tree after crashing on Palm Drive in Holmes Beach into a golf cart driven by Anna Maria resident Jana Samuels. Islander File Photo: HBPD

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Feb. 23, 2022 THE ISLANDER | islander.org Page 17 ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Streetlife

Cops & Courts

Staff reports

Island police reports

Anna Maria Feb. 11, 200 block of Oak Avenue, assault. The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office responded to a complaint from an individual who said a bicyclist purposely ran into him. A deputy searched but did not locate a suspect in a gray hoodie and baseball cap. Feb. 13, Gulf Drive, reckless driver. The MCSO took a complaint for a caller regarding a motorist in a black Toyota Camry driving recklessly, “almost hitting people” and traveling south in the northbound lane. Feb. 18, 300 block of Tarpon Street, ID without consent. The MCSO was investigating a complaint from a woman alleging her U.S. Social Security number was used by an unknown person to open a cellphone account. The MCSO polices Anna Maria. Bradenton Beach Feb. 11, 500 block of Gulf Drive North, larceny. A Bradenton Beach police officer responded to a call from a woman who said her bicycle was stolen Feb. 7-11 from a parking garage. The cable securing the woman’s bicycle was severed, as well as a cable for another bicycle that was not stolen. The woman was issued a case number and a victims’ rights pamphlet. Feb. 12, 200 block of Second Street North, criminal mischief. A BBPD officer responded to a call from a woman who said her vehicle was vandalized. The woman said she moved a bucket filled with rocks in the driveway of a residence in order to park there. She said she believed the bucket was placed in the driveway to deter people from parking. On returning to her vehicle, the woman reported the bucket was filled with larger rocks and placed back on the driveway. She also saw scratches on her vehicle. The officer contacted the residents, who denied any involvement. The vehicle owner was issued a case number and victims’ rights packet. BBPD polices Bradenton Beach. Cortez No new reports. The MCSO polices Cortez. Holmes Beach Feb. 9, 5200 block of Gulf Drive, suspended

Tampa man convicted for lewd behavior by ryan Paice islander reporter

Judge Heather Doyle of the 12th Judicial Circuit Court ruled Feb. 8 to find Tampa resident Joseph Traugott, 62, guilty of a first-degree misdemeanor for the exposure of sexual organs. Manatee County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested Traugott June 26, 2021, after a complainant reported he removed his clothing and masturbate in front of her and two relatives on the south side of Passage Key. Passage Key is a national wildlife refuge that people are prohibited from visiting — other than wading in the waters around the small island. Traugott, who was wearing a mesh thong, reportedly fled after the complainant screamed for him to stop what he was doing. MCSO marine units arrested Traugott and license. A Holmes Beach police officer located and stopped a vehicle pinged by the city’s license plate recognition system. The driver’s license was suspended and there was a seize order for the license plate. The officer issued a court summons, confiscated the license plate and had the vehicle towed. Feb. 10, 700 block of Manatee Avenue, no license. An officer measured a motorist driving 57 mph in a 35-mph zone and conducted a traffic stop. The driver did not have a license. So, the officer issued citations and a court summons. Feb. 11, Publix Super Market, 3900 E. Bay Drive, child neglect. An officer saw a vehicle being driven without a license plate, so he conducted a traffic stop. The driver did not have registration for the vehicle and appeared to be living out of the vehicle with her juvenile son. After speaking with the child, the officer summoned child protective services and notified an

brought him to the Kingfish Boat Ramp in Holmes Beach, where another officer took custody of Traugott and transported him to the Manatee County jail. Traugott was released June 27, 2021, after posting a $15,000 bond. Despite Traugott’s July 2, 2021, not guilty plea and demand for a jury trial, he pleaded no contest at a Feb. 8 pre-trial conference. Doyle sentenced Traugott to serve 12 months of supervised probation, participate in a psychological evaluation and complete 75 hours of public service. The sentence also includes orders prohibiting Traugott from contacting the victims and returning to Passage Key, as well as disposed one of two $7,500 bonds paid upon Traugott’s release from jail. abuse hotline. The driver agreed to sign over temporary custody to CPS. The officer issued a written warning for driving without registration. Feb. 11, Dunkin Donuts, 3302 E. Bay Drive, trespass warning. An officer responded to reports of a disturbance and found a couple arguing about their relationship. The restaurant manager asked the officer to trespass them from the property. The officer issued a trespass warning and the two left without issue. Holmes Beach Police Department polices Holmes Beach. Streetlife is based on incident reports and narratives from the BBPD, HBPD and MCSO. Island watch: In an emergency, call 911. To report information, call the MCSO Anna Maria substation, 941-708-8899; Bradenton Beach police, 941-778-6311; or Holmes Beach police, 941-708-5804.

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Page 18 THE ISLANDER | islander.org Feb. 23, 2022 ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Milestones

5 couples share 50th wedding celebrations

Five couples gather on the beach Feb. 15 to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversaries — which fall within months of each other. “We’ve all been friends for a long time,” wrote rita o’malley of Westminster, maryland, who said she and husband Jerry visit the island often. “We’ve been coming to ami for the past six years and we all thought what a wonderful place and time to celebrate.” islander courtesy Photos

Dolphin researcher honored for lifetime achievement randall Wells of the Sarasota dolphin research Program is the recipient of the Kenneth S. norris Lifetime achievement award from the Society for marine mammalogy. islander courtesy Photo

Randall Wells, vice president of marine mammal conservation for the Chicago Zoological Society and director of the CZS’s Sarasota Dolphin Research Program, received the Kenneth S. Norris Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society for Marine Mammalogy. The announcement was made earlier in February during a virtual membership meeting. “A Norris Award winner’s career has significantly altered the course of marine mammal science,” said society president Charles Littnan. “Dr. Wells far exceeds this bar. His contributions to our understanding of dolphin biology, ecology and behavior, and his commitment to providing opportunity and his knowledge to young researchers is unparalleled.” Wells said of the award, “I am truly honored by this award and humbled by the list of folks who have received it before me.” He said most of the credit for the program’s success over the past 50-plus years is due to “the efforts of a superb team of staff, students and volunteers, as well as the support of the Chicago Zoological Society.” Wells cofounded the program in 1970, making it the world’s longest-running study of a wild dolphin population.

They ‘do’ ron and carol rogers of denton maryland, dan and Lynn Hopf of Parkton, maryland, mike and Joanne Hoyt of bradenton, Jim and Linda Zambelli of Hanover, Pennsylvania and mike and becky isaac of Frederick, maryland, celebrate their “i do’s” — 50 years of marriage — with a toast and t-shirts.

Small green turtles wash up dead from Tampa Bay three juvenile green turtles — about 12-15 inches in diameter — floated ashore on South bay boulevard in anna maria within days of one another, resident david mcgough said Feb. 18. Suzi Fox, executive director of anna maria island turtle Watch and Shorebird monitoring, said the sea turtle deaths had been documented, data collected and reported to the Florida Fish and Wildlife conservation commission and no other action was needed. islander Photo: david mcgough

Click! The Islander welcomes news of the milestones in readers’ lives. Send notices — along with contact info — to news@islander.org.

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Feb. 23, 2022 THE ISLANDER | islander.org Page 19 ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

tidal water from a mangrove swamp at the east end of 29th Street in Holmes beach covers a block during a king tide in 2019. the incidence of nuisance flooding will increase with sea level rise. islander File Photo

By Lisa Neff

How high?

We could see a century of sea level rise in 30 years. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released a report Feb. 15 that involved work by a half dozen federal agencies. Together the agencies concluded that the United States will experience as much sea level rise by 2050 as it experienced from 1920 to 2020, severely impacting communities, economies, ecosystems. The analysis, based on tide gauges, satellite observations and neff modeling, projects sea levels along the coastline will rise — on average — 10-12 inches over the next 30 years. The sea level rise will not be uniform but instead impact coastlines differently based partly on land subsidence and compaction of sediments. Rise in the next three decades is anticipated to be 14-18 inches for the Gulf coast; 10-14 inches for the East coast; 4-8 inches for the West coast; 8-10 inches for the Caribbean; 6-8 inches for the Hawaiian Islands; and 8-10 inches for northern Alaska. The sea level rise by 2050 will create a profound increase in the frequency of coastal flooding, even in the absence of storms or heavy rainfall. “By 2050, moderate flooding — which is typically disruptive and damaging by today’s weather, sea level and infrastructure standards — is expected to occur more than 10 times as often as it does today,” Nicole

Rising waters

The next 30 years: Sea level along the U.S. coastline is projected to rise 10-12 inches on average, as much as the rise measured in the years 1920 to 2020. More flooding projected: Sea level rise will create a profound shift in coastal flooding over the next 30 years by causing tide and storm surge heights to increase and reach farther inland. Emissions matter: About 2 feet of sea level rise along the U.S. coastline is increasingly likely between now and 2100 because of emissions. Failing to curb emissions could add another 1.5-5 feet of rise by century’s end.

“What we’re reporting out is historic,” NOAA administrator Rick Spinrad stated with the release of the study. Spinrad called the findings a wake-up call for the United States — “A wake-up call that comes with a silver lining: It provides us with information needed to act now to best position ourselves for the future.”

Did you know? The two major causes of global mean sea level rise are the expansion of ocean water as it warms — thermal expansion — and the added water from land-based ice as it melts. Both processes are driven by increased global temperatures associated with greenhouse gas emissions. Source: noaa At a local level, any vertical land motion that may be occurring — from either natural or anthropogenic LeBoeuf, NOAA’s ocean service director, said in a factors — can cause changes in relative sea level. statement to news media. The report indicates that “moderate” flooding will Visit islander.org for the best news on AMI. occur more frequently in 2050 than “minor” nuisance flooding occurs today. “Major” flooding is expected to occur five times as often in 2050 as it does today. Federal officials released the report during a news conference, where they described sea level rise as a clear and present danger, called on communities to become more resilient in the face of rising seas and stressed the need to reduce greenhouse gases that cause º/ iÀiÊ ÃÊ Ê ÛiÊÃ ViÀiÀÊÌ > Ê climate change. Ì iÊ ÛiÊ vÊv `°»ÊpÊ ° °Ê- >Ü The report says current and future emissions will determine the amount of additional sea level rise — the greater the emissions, the greater the warming and the greater the likelihood of higher sea levels. Above 5.5 degrees F of global warming, much UÊ iÊ ÊUÊ >ÀÀÞÊ"ÕÌÊUÊ"«i ÊÇÊ >ÞÃÉ££\Îä greater sea level rise becomes possible for the United ÊÊx{äÈÊ >À >Ê À ÛiÊUÊ Ã > `Ê- «« }Ê i ÌiÀ States and globally because of the potential for rapid iÃÊ i>V ÊUÊ {£°ÇÇn°xä Ó melting of ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica.

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Football leads sports at center, golf and horseshoes carry on by Kevin P. cassidy islander reporter

The Super Bowl may be in the record books but football dominates the field at the Center of Anna Maria Island TBT has surged to the top of the standings in the adult flag football league. A 5-1 record puts them a game ahead of Prosper Bradenton, Solid Rock Construction and Moss Builders — all 4-2. We The Best cassidy Lenders holds down fifth place at 3-3, followed by Shady Lady and Cortez Deep Sea Fishing at 2-4. Sandbar Restaurant completes the standings at 1-5. Action Feb. 17 got started with a barn burner between Cortez Deep Sea Fishing and Shady Lady. Cortez Fishing held on for a 44-43 overtime victory behind six touchdown passes from Tuna McCracken. McCracken threw two touchdowns passes each to Cole Carter, Luis Campos and Ava Zink. Campos, who finished with 15 receptions, also added three extra points and a quarterback sack on defense. Connor Haughey led Shady Lady with four touchdown passes and two rushing touchdowns. Tim Holly had six catches, including two for touchdowns, while Jay Waller and Jasmine Muldoon both finished with TDs and an extra point in the loss. TBT cruised to a 30-13 victory over Solid Rock Construction in the second game of the evening behind five touchdown passes from Matt Briley. Yandy Rocamora led all receivers with seven catches, including three for TDs, while Jeremy Rodriguez finished with two TD grabs. Solid Rock Construction managed an offensive touchdown when Anthony Mannino found Christian Hampton open in the end zone. Hampton completed the scoring with a pick six on defense. Moss Builders outscored Sandbar Restaurant 45-24 thanks in part to a Ryan Moss-to-JB Shuck connection that produced three TDs. Moss, who finished with five TD passes, also connected with Jesse Griffin and Lindsey Styka, while Michale Bolognone ran in a TD. Matt Manger threw touchdown passes to Zach Routh, Donald Dietch III and Bradley Coleman to carry Sandbar in the loss. The final game of the evening was a tight affair that saw We The Best Lenders slip past Prosper Bradenton by a 20-18 score. Dominick Otteni threw three touchdown passes, including two to Brandon Kull, who also received a TD catch and a 2-point conversion from Tyler Brewer in the victory. Jonathan Moss connected with Greg Moss for

tim Sofran, center, holds the trophies for sweeping the competition at the anna maria horseshoe pits in the past week. He teamed up Feb. 16 with former anna maria commissioner tom Skoloda, left, for the win and then won it all Feb. 19 with del reese. islander Photo: ami Pitchers

cortez deep Sea Fishing receiver Luis campos hauls in one of his two touchdown receptions as Shady Lady’s Jay Waller gives chase during Feb. 17 adult flag football action at the center of anna maria island. islander Photo: Kevin P. cassidy

three TDs in the loss. Youth ﬂag football resumes Youth football action at the center resumed Feb. 14 after a rainout in the previous week’s action. Moss Builders is on top of the 8-10 division with a perfect 5-0 record and Solid Rock Construction is on their heels at 4-1. Beach Bums and Prosper Bradenton share third place at 3-2, followed by Shady Lady and Bradenton Beach Parasailing at 2-3. Progressive Cabinetry at 1-4 and Mac Parkman Foundation at 0-5 complete the standings. Blalock Walters with a 4-0 record sits comfortably atop the 11-13 division standings. BW’s closest pursuers are Moss Builders at 3-2, while Nissan of Bradenton, HSH Designs and Investigative Lawyers Group follow at 2-2. Miz & Hiz Biz are 1-3 followed by Wash Family Construction at 0-4. Action in the 8-10 division kicked off with Prosper Bradenton cruising to a 24-2 victory over Shady Lady behind a passing TD and a pair of TD runs from Grady Sandhoff. Landon Sinphay chipped in with a touchdown run, while Cayson Travis completed the scoring in the victory with a TD reception. Shady Lady was led by Luca Vieman, who intercepted an extra point attempt and returned it for a safety. The second 8-10 division match up saw Bradenton Beach Parasailing earn a 20-0 shutout win over the Mac Parkman Foundation team. Connor Fountain threw two touchdown passes and added a touchdown reception on a pass from Kellen Hunt to lead the Parasailing, which also received touchdown grabs from Tess Bolognone and Jackson Kennedy in the victory. The third 8-10 division game of the night saw Solid Rock Construction double up on Progressive Cabinetry 23-12. Van Havell hooked up with Colson Mendiola on a pair of touchdown passes, while Nixon Conner ran for a touchdown. Oliver Morrison-Tirpak and Gunnar Maize each ran for a touchdown for Progressive in the loss. The final 8-10 division match saw Moss Builders outscore Beach Bums 33-20 behind a big game from Mason Moss. Mason threw TD passes to Austin Guess, Aidan Guess and Miles Moss, while also running for a pair of TDs. Brandon Sato threw three touchdown passes for Beach Bums in the loss. Action in the 11-13 division got started with firstplace Blalock Walters outlasting HSH Designs 27-19. Ashton Hovda threw four touchdown passes, including one each to Peyton Hovda, Mattox Caseman, Liam Proud and Cale Rudacille for the win. Jack Mattock threw a pair of touchdown passes to Emma Raulerson and ran for another score to carry

Anna Maria Island Tides

Date

Feb 23 Feb 24 Feb 25 Feb 26 Feb 27 Feb 28 Mar 1 Mar 2

6:05a 4:48P 6:01p 7:29p 8:51p 12:27p 12:32p 12:40p

HIGH

0.9 3:52p 2.2 — 2.2 — 2.2 — 2.2 — 1.3 9:58p 1.3 10:55p 1.4 11:46p

2.1 — — — — 2.2 2.2 2.1

8:33a 12:26A 1:56a 3:07a 4:04a 4:49a 5:28a 6:00a

LOW

0.8 -0.3 -0.5 -0.7 -0.8 -0.8 -0.7 -0.5

— — — — — 3:34p 4:34p 5:25p

LOW

Moon

— 3rd — — — — 1.1 0.8 0.6 New

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

HSH Designs. Nissan of Bradenton held on for a 20-16 victory over Investigative Lawyers Group behind TD passes from Charlie Rogers and Rowan Benford. Brennan Gunter had a pair of TD grabs, while Colten Shook and Rogers each added TD catches for the victory. Landon Sallier accounted for the Lawyers’ score with a pair of TD runs and a two-point conversion. Moss Builders demolished Miz & Hiz Biz 35-14 behind TD passes from Mason Moss to Matthew Winsper, Greg Jordan, Bela Roadman and Joey Suebert. Suebert also scored a pick-six on defense. Jack McCarthy connected with Baily Cain for a TD, while Frankie Coleman ran for a score and added a 2-point conversion for Miz & Hiz Biz. Key Royale golf news The week that was at Key Royale Club got started Feb. 14 with the men playing their weekly modifiedStableford system match. The team of Hoyt Miller, Chuck Patrick, Dave Richardson and Rich Salzburg combined on a plus-7 to earn clubhouse bragging rights for the day. PLeaSe, See sports, neXt Page

Shady Lady defender Shawn balvin applies some serious pressure on cortez deep Sea Fishing player matteo Ferris during their Feb. 17 flag football match at the center of anna maria island. islander Photo: Kevin P. cassidy

FITFest, 5K run at Robinson

Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources wants to put some spring into March. The county will host the inaugural FITFest event, promoting healthy living Saturday, March 5, at the Robinson Preserve expansion, 840 99th St. NW, Bradenton. The event will feature fitness workshops, vendors, food and beverage sales, DJ’d music and a 5K run. Hours will be 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m. To register for the run, go online to runsignup.com/ manateefitfest. For more information about the event, call the county at 941-742-5923. — Lisa neff

Feb. 23, 2022 THE ISLANDER | islander.org Page 21 ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Rely on weather to target sheepshead inshore, nearshore By Capt. Danny Stasny Islander Reporter

It’s prime time for sheepshead. The sheepshead bite is near full swing for anglers on the waters around Anna Maria Island. Fishing structure in Tampa Bay and in the Gulf of Mexico is producing good action on sheepies of all sizes. Try to pick calmer days — with light breezes from the east — if you plan on venturing into the Gulf, Stasny allowing for an examination of spots on the reefs until you find a concentration of fish. On breezier days, there also are options available. Fishing residential docks and seawalls can produce sheepshead action, too. Plus, you may find some redfish and black drum. Another option is to work the natural contours on the beach, where the bite may require more of a search, particularly for areas not frequently renourished. An abundance of sandfleas brings the sheepshead to the beaches. But most beaches that are renourished often appear void of the little crustaceans. Do your homework and you should find success. And, if you’re lucky, you may find pompano or black drum foraging, as sand fleas are in their diet, too. For anglers hoping to find something other than sheepshead, the warmer days between cold fronts are triggering spotted seatrout to move out of their wintertime haunts to feed on deeper grass flats. When the waters are colder, spotted seatrout tend to seek deep water in canals or in the open waters of the Gulf or Tampa Bay to find a more steady, tolerable environment. In these waters, food for the trout may not be abundant, if it exists at all. So when water temperatures become favorable once again, the trout move back to the flats to feed. This creates an opportunity for the angler to find large amounts of trout — very hungry trout. Many hungry fish means plenty of action. This will apply to the snook bite in the

Aidan Suppicich, 14, shows off a nice jack he caught and released Feb. 13 with Payton Bledsoe, 13, in a canal at Flamingo Cay. The friends were cruising on foot with three rods and some lures, looking for a bite in the canals on the cay and at some of the ponds on Perico Island, where they also caught and released a snook and a lady fish. Islander Photo: Bonner Joy

upcoming weeks, as long as we don’t experience a cold March. What did that groundhog say about winter? On my Just Reel charters, I’m finding the sheepshead accommodating to my clients. Large spawning fish, 5-6 pounds, are being caught frequently as well as numerous smaller fish in the 2-3 pound range. I’m finding the best action on calmer days, when I can spend time working the artificial reefs in the Gulf of Mexico and Tampa Bay. On windier days, I’m fishing inshore around docks and canals, finding fish and a

sports from page 20

Harvey Shovers earned individual honors with a score of plus-5, a point ahead of Debi Wohlers and two points clear of Marty Hicks, Richardson and Salzburg. The women played a nine-hole individual-lownet match in two flights Feb. 15. Jenny Huibers fired a 1-under-par 31 for the low-net round of the day and first place in Flight A. Nina McSparren was a shot back in second, while Roxanne Koche and Monica Lawson tied for third at 1-over-par 33. An even-par 32 by Jane Perkins gave her first place in Flight B by two strokes over second-place finisher Judy Menchek. Pam Alvord and Laney Davis shared third place at 3-over-par 35. On Feb. 17, the members played a nine-hole shamble, where all members of the foursome finish out the hole from the best tee shot of the group. The team of Ron Buck, Tim Donnar, Tony Donnelly and Jeff Jump matched the 5-under-par 27 carded by Bob Barrett, Jim Holtgreve, Terry Schaffer and Greg Shorten for a first place tie. Second place went to the team of Mike Cusato, Eric and Monica Lawson and Dave Rinckey with a 4-under-par 28.

horseshoe pits Feb. 16 saw three teams advance to the knockout round with 3-0 records during pool play. The bye to the finals went to Tim Sofran and Tom Skoloda who watched as Bob Baker and Bob Brown eliminated Tom Farrington and Jerry Disbrow 23-11. Sofran and Skoloda took advantage of the free pass to the finals Horseshoe news with a 23-15 win over Baker and Brown. Horseshoe action at the Anna Maria City Hall Sofran found himself back in the winner’s circle

wind break, although the bite is not comparable to the reef bite. Capt. Warren Girle also is finding a good sheepshead bite while fishing reefs and wrecks in the Gulf of Mexico. He reports that live shrimp on a knocker rig is resulting in many hookups on the convictstriped fish. Most catches are 2-3 pounds, although larger fish are mixed in for the lucky angler. While targeting the sheepies in the Gulf, Girle is seeing Key West grunts, juvenile grouper and a few mangrove snapper. Moving inshore on the flats of Sarasota Bay, Girle is finding respectable numbers of spotted seatrout. Drifting and jigging with soft plastics or using live shrimp under a popping cork is yielding good numbers of these species. Mixed in with the bite is an occasional jack crevalle or ladyfish. Capt. David White’s clients are putting their share of sheepshead in the baitwell while working nearshore structure. Using live shrimp on a bottom rig is leading White to many 2-5 pound sheepshead. Calm, days are yielding a better bite. Accessibility to the structure in open water is key to finding good numbers of fish, says White. On windier days, White is putting a trip together by fishing sheltered areas — docks and canals — where sheepshead are munching on barnacles and some redfish and black drum also are hooking up. Jim Malfese at the Rod & Reel Pier says sheepshead are starting to arrive, although the masses of striped fish that commonly congregate under the pier have yet to make a showing. Malfese anticipates the sheepie bite to turn on in full swing in the next couple of weeks. Right now, pier anglers using live shrimp are catching a few sheepies, as well as an occasional black drum. Once the sheepies take up residence to nibble the barnacles off the pilings under the pier, the real bite will occur. Keep a watchful eye out for this bite. It’s a good one. Send high-resolution photos and fishing reports to fish@islander.org. Alan Sharaf of Massachusetts, left, Kevin Hendrickson of Georgia, and Steve Hudgen, also of Massachusetts, show off some of their Feb. 18 catch — a mangrove snapper, flounder and sheepshead. The trip fished offshore with Capt.Warren Girle and used shrimp for bait to catch a variety of species.

Feb. 19, this time teaming up with Del Reese to forge the lone 3-0 pool-play record to earn the bragging rights for the week. Play begins at 9 a.m. 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.

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Page 22 THE ISLANDER | islander.org Feb. 23, 2022 ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

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biz

By Kane Kaiman

Grazing, warmups, tax time

Changing the local ﬂavor A new chef-driven modern market in Holmes Beach promises to bring some innovative eats to the area. Graze Street AMI, set to open at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 22, after The Islander went to press, will feature sandwiches, charcuterie, dips, soups and other to-go options. Offerings will include pickled watermelon rind, Chinese five-spice Kaiman pickles and a chocolate chip cookie “on steroids,” owner Heather Hernandez said Feb. 16. Hernandez co-owns Graze Street with husband Jason. The cookies — filled with Oreos, butterscotch and dark chocolate — and a variety of pickled items will accompany other options, including tomato and turkey kale soups, as well as whipped feta and caramelized onion and shallot dips. After a year of preparation, she said opening the shop completes another part of the couple’s culinary dream, a vision they began pursuing in 2019 when they left the corporate restaurant industry. The Hernandez’s founded Blade and Tine Culinary Consulting in 2019 and moved to the island in 2020.

brothers mikey and andy Silbaugh of West coast air conditioning and Heating, stand Feb. 16 in front of a truck at their shop, 5347 gulf drive, Suite no. 4, Holmes beach. the business has been in the Silbaugh family since 1986. islander courtesy Photos

They have been catering for Beach Suites AMI, a luxury concierge service, for more than a year. Graze Street AMI in the Anna Maria Island Centre shopping plaza at 3218 E. Bay Drive, Holmes Beach, will operate 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday. For more information, visit grazestreetami.com or call 941-896-6320. The dog days of winter Florida’s coldest months usher in “no-heat” season for a Holmes Beach HVAC company. This year is no exception. West Coast Air Conditioning and Heating sees an influx of “no-heat” calls every year when the temperature dips below 50 degrees at night and 70 degrees

during the day, according to business owner Mikey Silbaugh. December 2021 was relatively mild, so heating season didn’t begin until January, when colder weather forced island renters and residents to fire up heating coils and heat pumps that hadn’t been activated for nearly a year. However, the advent of heating season doesn’t mean the end of cooling season. Cold tolerance varies by customer and West Coast AC frequently receives calls for no heat and no air conditioning on the same day. With the first few colds snaps and accompanying no-heat calls behind them, West Coast AC technicians have solved fewer heating problems in February. But pool heating issues at rental properties and HVAC installation and maintenance and duct work keep the team busy, Silbaugh said. WCAC in the Holmes Business Center at 5347 Gulf Drive, Suite 4, Holmes Beach, has served the island community for 47 years. Mikey Silbaugh’s father, Michael Silbaugh, purchased the business in 1986. Silbaugh’s father; his mother, Mary; and his brother, Andy, contribute to the outfit’s success. “My brother works here with us. My service manager, I trained him by hand. So he’s been with us for 14 years now, so it’s very much a family atmosphere, and I just think people like that, especially if they’re looking to keep it local,” Mikey Silbaugh said. For more information, visit acandheatingbradentonfl.com or call 941-778-9622. ’Tis the season And, for a select few, it’s the most wonderful time of the year. “I love the tax season,” Ben Cooper, of Ben and Karen Cooper Taxes and Accounting, said Feb. 14. “I enjoy the challenge of making the proper return and getting the proper refund.” The Coopers, a husband-and-wife taxes and accounting team operating in the Bradenton and Anna Maria Island area since 1993, have seen it all over the PLeaSe, See isL biZ, neXt Page

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BACVB presses ahead with water taxi project by Lisa neff islander editor

Manatee County tourism officials are springing a request for water taxi proposals. “We’re on the cusp of going out,” Elliott Falcione, executive director of the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, said in reference to a request for proposals from potential water taxi operators. Falcione was addressing a Feb. 14 meeting of the Manatee County Tourist Development Council in Bradenton, briefing members on the goal of launching a water taxi service between the mainland and Anna Maria Island. Falcione didn’t speak at length during the hourlong meeting but said a pilot waterborne service could launch this summer. Falcione said costs, schedules and even routes for such a service can’t be known until proposals are submitted. “Stay tuned,” he advised the council. “We’re on it.” In other business, the TDC heard reports on marketing in the United Kingdom and visitor trends and data for December and January. • About the UK market: Jan. 11, the day some pandemic-related testing and travel restrictions were lifted in the UK, is known in the tourism industry as “Sunshine Saturday.” That day, travel bookings from the UK began to surge and, according to Ela Ayhan of London-based GOSH PR, many of those travelers want to come to the United States. About visitor data and trends: Anne Wittine of isL biZ From Page 22

years. “There are changes every year. You have to keep up with it — the rules, the laws and your continuing education,” said Ben Cooper, who has been professionally filing taxes since 1969. Some wrinkles this year include recording pandemic stimulus checks and taking advantage of the expanded child tax credit. This year, the Coopers began preparing tax returns Jan. 2. The deadline for filing a return with the Internal Revenue Service is April 18. Ben Cooper said he expects to churn out more filings than in 2021 as word-of-mouth continues to spread of the Coopers’ friendly, personalized service. “And we’re here year-round,” he said. “We don’t run and hide when the season is over.” The firm cranks out income tax returns for individuals, corporations, partnerships, LLC’s and other types of businesses. In the early stages of the season, the Coopers can finish a return in about 10 days. The turnaround time can increase as the deadline approaches, so Ben Cooper encourages prospective clients to visit the office, 4401 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton, as soon as possible. Karen Cooper handles most of the firm’s accounting and payroll duties and boasts a speedy turnaround time. She crunches numbers for about 35 individuals, businesses and homeowners associations — including The Islander. For more information, call the office at 941795-7048 or email benacooper@aol.com or kacooper77777@aol.com. And as always… …Got biz news? Contact Kane Kaiman at kane@ islander.org or call The Islander office at 941-7787978.

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COMPILED BY KANE KAIMAN

AMI Chamber

AMI TOURISM: Endless Season Kim “Friday” monday of the united Kingdom shared a photo Feb. 7 from the St. Pancras international train Station in London of a kiosk displaying a digital poster promoting anna maria island to travelers and visitors there. monday, who once visited ami, sent the photo to local Frank Williams. islander courtesy Photo

Research Data Services told the council the area likely will see “the pace of growth slow but still see growth” in the tourism industry. Wittine said accommodations occupancy in January was at 89% compared with 44% in January 2020 and 71% in January 2019. Looking at December 2021, occupancy was at 66.7%, up 20.8% from 2020 and up 1.2% from 2019. Room nights that month were up 28.6% from December 2020 to 176,000 and economic impact was up 54.8% to $80,284,700. Visitors from the Midwest were up 59.3% in December 2021 compared with December 2020 and up 48.2% from the Northeast. Typical party size was about the same — 2.3 in December 2020 and 2.5 in December 2021 — but the length of stay increased from 5.9 days to 6.2 days. “It’s always great news coming from you,” TDC Chair and County Commissioner Misty Servia said at

SAVE THE DATE March 3, member breakfast, Breezy Bakery, Cortez. March 10, member luncheon, Annie’s Bait & Tackle, Cortez. Information, RSVP: 941-778-154, info@amichamber.org.

Other events THIS WEEK 5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 24 — Longboat Key Chamber Annual Meeting, chamber ofﬁce, 5390 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key. Info/RSVP: longboatkeychamber.com, 941-383-2466. SAVE THE DATE March 22, Manatee Chamber Annual Politics and Pints, Bradenton. Info/RSVP: manateechamber.com, 941-748-3411.

Business news Planning new services?

New in business? Celebrating achievements? Submit to news@islander.org. Please, remember to include a contact number and name.

the conclusion of Wittine’s report and near the meeting’s end. The next TDC meeting will be at 9 a.m. Monday, April 18, at the Manatee County Administration Building, 1112 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.

About the TDC

The Manatee County TDC makes recommendations to county commissioners concerning the operation of the projects set forth in the tourist development plan and allocating tourist development tax revenue — the 5% resort tax collected on rentals of six months or less. The council consists of nine members appointed by county commissioners. The current council includes citizens Jack Rynerson of Bradenton and Vernon DeSear of Palmetto; hoteliers Jiten Patel of the Holiday Inn Sarasota-Bradenton Airport in Sarasota, Eric Cairns of the Cedar Cove Resort in Holmes Beach, Ed Chiles of the Waterline Hotel in Holmes Beach and Rahul Patel of the Red Roof Inn in Ellenton; and Bradenton Mayor Gene Brown, Palmetto Mayor Shirley Groover Bryant and Manatee County Commissioner Misty Servia, who serves as TDC chair. Husband-and-wife culinary team Jason and Heather Hernandez are all smiles Feb. 19 at their new graze Street ami, a chef-driven modern market slated to open Feb. 22. the shop — at the anna maria island centre shopping plaza, 3218 e. bay drive, Holmes beach — will feature sandwiches, charcuterie, baked goods and more. islander courtesy Photo

Visit islander.org for the best news on AMI. MORGAN LEWIS REALTY

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Page 24 THE ISLANDER | islander.org Feb. 23, 2022 ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

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

ANNOUNCEMENTS

KIDS FOR HIRE

WHite WicKer deSK and chair. Harvey Link Lexington, glass-top. island-style. $300. 708567-2120.

Wanted, garage For storage of golf cart and bikes. need electric. call dave, 716-545-0887.

dePendabLe, reSPonSibLe, Fun babysitter for hire. 13 years old, island local. available in June. 941-526-9090.

notice iS HerebY given that the undersigned, desiring to engage in business under the fictitious name of ted Webb intends to register the said name with the Florida department of State, division of corporations, tallahassee, FL and/or clerk of court of, manatee, FL. ted Webb. 3706 30th ave. W., bradenton, FL 34205.

antiQue babY carriage: Wood and wicker. Proceeds benefit moonracer animal rescue. email for photos: moonraceranimalrescue@ gmail.com. antiQue Partner deSK: all wood, $500. inquire at the islander office, 315 58th St. Suite J, Holmes beach. 941-778-7978.

GARAGE SALES

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.

FLea marKet: 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Feb 26. Furniture, clothing, sporting goods, jewelry, linens, books, miscellaneous. two years of stuff! Palma Sola condos, 9400 cortez road W., bradenton.

LooKing For an earLY bird? You can read Wednesday’s classifieds on tuesday at islander.org. and it’s Free!

Sandy’s Lawn Service Inc. ESTABLISHED IN 1983

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

HoLmeS beacH KeY royale neighborhood 10th annual yard sale event! 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 26. Follow Key royale drive to multiple canal homes with top notch goods!

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Kitchen and Bath Remodeling Specialist Replacement Doors and Windows

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Longboat KeY’S biggeSt and best royal rummage Sale XiV: noon-4 p.m. Friday march 4, $5 admission, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, march 5, free admission. St. mary Star of the Sea, 4280 gulf of mexico drive, Longboat Key.

Residential & Condo Renovations Kitchens • Bath • Design Service Carpentry • Flooring • Painting Commercial & Residential

References available • 941-720-7519

LOST & FOUND Found: Wedding ring. Found at Walmart on cortez road, bradenton. 518-822-7315.

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

AdoptA-Pet

HELP WANTED

Bobby needs YOU!

SaLeS aSSociate Wanted: Full-time. call, email or apply in person at Sun and Surf, 5418 marina drive, Holmes beach. 941-778-2169. sunandsurfjenn@aol.com.

Bobby is a male lab/dobie mix, 8-9 months old, about 50-pounds and needs a caring family. To meet this cutie, call Lisa Williams at 941-345-2441 or visit The Islander ofﬁce in Holmes Beach. For more about pet adoption, visit moonraceranimalrescue.com.

got a Van or SuV? deliver flowers for local bradenton florist. Part-time, 3-4 days week. extra days at holiday. 941-755-1540. 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 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 eXPerience cna For hire! 1. Skilled. 2. respite. 3. Long-term 4. Home health. i have 22 years in the medical field, i love what i do, serving the elderly. contact information: 941-580-4440. tee0123@yahoo.com. breaKtHrougH counSeLing center: Jim rimi, Karen gallo rimi, Licensed christian counselors. marriage, anxiety, depression, life coaching. breakthroughcounselingcenter.org. Free initial consultation. email breakthroughcounselctr@ gmail.com. call 908-689-2021.

SERVICES need a ride to airports? tampa $65, St. Pete, $55, Sarasota, $30. 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. 941-744-7983. PreSSure WaSHing, PaVer sealing, driveway, roof, fence, pool area. also, window cleaning. Licensed and insured. 941-565-3931. bicYcLe rePairS: Just4Fun at 5358 gulf drive can do most any bicycle repair at a reasonable cost. Pick-up and delivery available. 941-8967884. 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. concrete FuSion: #1 in crack repair, sidewalks, driveways. don’t replace 95 percent of good concrete if only five percent is cracked. Free estimates. Fully insured. call bobby, 319693-8800 or 941-374-7670.

the islander is essential news. check out the website, islander.org.