The Islander Newspaper E-Edition: Wednesday, May 17, 2023

Astheworldterns 6

Offer on table for Pines Trailer Park. 2

Q&A 051723 3

am aims to use fed funds for Pine. 4

Meetings 4

Cortez area faces growth pressure. 5

Opinions 6

10-20 YEARS AGO

Looking back. 7

Seaside Gardens focus of HB-FEma debate. 8

Save the date. 10

AMI Happenings

Up and coming. 11

PTO party, plans. 12-13

Gathering. 14

Obituaries 14-15, 17

market season ends. 18

NYT puzzle 18

Cops & Courts 20

RoadWatch 21

Feds show concern for Skyway birds. 23

Spring soccer winds down. 24

Clear skies, clear water, good fishing. 25

NESTING NOTES 26

Rising and relocating. 27

CLASSIFIEDS. 28-28

a West manatee Fire Rescue crew extinguishes a brush fire may 10 at the Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage Preserve, 11655 Cortez Road W., Cortez.

Islander

40-year-old accused of setting fire to Cortez preserve

By Robert anderson Islander Reporter

Manatee County sheriff’s deputies

arrested a 40-year-old Bradenton man May 10 for allegedly setting fire to a preserve in Cortez.

Jody D. Young faces a charge of malicious land burning. He’s accused of setting fire to the Florida Institute for Saltwater

Heritage Preserve, 11655 Cortez Road W., Cortez, according to the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.

Witnesses said they saw Young use a lighter to set the fire.

The preserve is open to the public — owned and maintained by the nonprofit Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage to protect the Cortez coastline and provide a buffer to

Lucky or not, sailboat freed from island shoreline

an employee from Nokomisbased abbotts’ Construction Services operates an excavator into the night may 8 in an attempt to dig Lucky Us 2 out of the sand where it was partially buried after months onshore. more, page 17.

Islander Photo: Courtesy Greg Kerchner

Find The Islander archive dating to 1992 online at ufdc.ufl.edu.

development for the village.

There were several 911 calls reporting the fire at 5:31 p.m. May 10.

Fire Marshal Rodney Kwiatkowski said the West Manatee Fire Rescue District had a rapid response to the fire, which covered a 50-by-50-foot area and was extinguished

Photo: Courtesy Roque Pastorius

Offer to buy Pines Park includes 5-year break for homeowners

By Robert anderson Islander Reporter

Homeowners in the Pines Trailer Park, 103 Church Ave., Bradenton Beach, received notice May 8 of an offer from an unknown entity seeking to purchase the park land.

The notice was prepared by attorney David A. Luczak, representing the Jackson Partnership, which owns the land on the bayside in the city’s historic district.

The property is one of two mobile home parks on Anna Maria Island — both are in Bradenton Beach.

The notice outlined an offer that includes a purchase price of $16,250,000 for park-owned land, as well as any park-owned mobile homes, recreational vehicles, equipment, materials, vehicles and buildings.

The notice also indicated the offer would allow the buyer to pay an initial nonrefundable deposit of $1 million within three days of execution of a purchase agreement, followed by 15 days of due diligence.

At the end of due diligence, the buyer would deposit another $1 million.

Closing would come 45 days after successful completion of due diligence, unless the buyer and seller agreed to extend the deadline.

The notice also stated the seller, Jackson Partnership, would hold a purchase-money mortgage of $8,125,000 at 4.50% for five years with no pay-off option. It also included a two-year option to continue the mortgage. The buyers would make interest-only payments on the mortgage for fi ve years or, in the event of enacting the option, for seven years.

Based on the terms of the mortgage, the buyer would not be able to seek a land use change — currently the 2.785-acre park is designated M-1, mobile home park, in the city’s comprehensive plan. So it would remain M-1 during the five years of mortgage financing.

An attorney who reviewed the notice for The

The Pines Trailer Park, 103 Church ave., Bradenton Beach, is on the market. Homeowners received notice of a purchase offer earlier this month. Islander Photo: Robert anderson

Islander noted that it appeared someone involved in the deal “has a heart.”

The attorney indicated the mortgage provision would allow the buyer to retain the use as a mobile home park and the trailer owners to retain their landleases for five, maybe seven years, and stay in their homes, as opposed to an outright buyer/developer that might evict people.

It is not known what entity submitted the offer for the property and Jackson Partnership continued to operate under a veil of nondisclosure.

The partnership, with Richard and William Jackson as officers, listed the park land for sale Jan. 25 for $16 million.

As required under the Florida Mobile Home Act, they first offered the park to the homeowners association for purchase. The law requires a park owner to give 45 days’ notice of an intent to sell to unit owners and gives those homeowners the first right of refusal.

Homeowners in February voted to form a cooperative to rally for the purchase of the land but negotiations between the property owner and the HOA failed

April 20 due to a lack of funding, according to Bill Gorman, a real estate professional hired by Pines homeowners to help facilitate the purchase of the park from the ownership.

The property went on the open market April 21.

A listing for the park, which accommodates 87 residential trailers and abuts the Historic Bridge Street Pier, is on the website for Yale Realty & Capital Advisors at yaleadvisors.com.

The Islander reached out to the Jackson Partnership May 8 and May 10 but, as of Islander press time, there had been no response.

within 15 minutes.

WMFR was dispatched at 5:31 p.m. and arrived to the preserve at 5:34 p.m. They were assisted by Cedar Hammock Fire Rescue.

Young was arrested after being identified by a witness who had called 911, Kwiatkowski said.

He was in custody May 13 at Manatee County jail in Palmetto on a charge of third-degree felony malicious land burning. A conviction on the charge could result in a sentence of 10 years in prison.

Bond was set at $1,500.

Young’s arraignment will be 9 a.m. June 16 at the Manatee County Judicial Center in Bradenton.

Roque Pastorius, a Cortez resident, was on his way home and saw the fire as it was being extinguished.

“I just happened upon the scene,” said Pastorius, who arrived as WMFR and Cedar Hammock crews were pulling in.

He continued, “They hadn’t even started spraying water on it yet. The firefighters were running around getting the hoses and water turned on. So I shot a few pictures.”

FISH treasurer Jane von Hahmann told The Islander May 12 that the fire was set in an area that would have acted as a natural fire break.

Commercial fishing industry workers in Cortez share their perspectives in 5 new videos.

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Holmes Beach pedestrian crash

Police vehicles block the intersection may 12 at marina and Gulf drives, where a truck driven by michael Ritchie, 43, of Bradenton, collided with two pedestrians crossing Gulf Drive, according to Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer. The incident was reported around 1:45 p.m. Officers from the Holmes Beach Police Department arrived first to the scene and called the manatee County Sheriff’s Office for an assist. manatee County Emergency medical Services transported the injured pedestrians, miriam and Deborah Trotter of Holmes Beach, to HCa Florida Blake Hospital in Bradenton. Deborah Trotter was treated and released the same day, while miriam suffered critical injuries and was on life-support as of may 15. Tokajer said the pedestrians had the right of way in the crosswalk. The driver, Ritchie, was cited for “failing to yield right of way to pedestrian at intersection with traffic control device,” according to the HBPD. Tokajer also said he could not recall an injury at the intersection since he became chief 10 years ago. The intersection previously had no crosswalks. They were added in the 2022-23 city center improvement project, which is still ongoing. Islander Photo: Courtesy HBPD

PRESERVE FIRE CONTINUED FROm PaGE 2

“We were blessed because it was right along the freshwater pond area,” she said. “So it was pretty easily contained. It would have reached water had it kept going.”

Von Hahmann added, “I’ll be interested to watch and see how well things grow back.”

The preserve is undergoing the final phase of a four-part initiative to restore the land to its original natural state.

Crews, working under an $800,000 Sarasota Bay Estuary Program grant remained focused on non-native tree removal and land clearing and SBEP staff scientist Jay Leverone said the fire did not interfere with the work.

“It was a very unfortunate thing,” Leverone said May 11. “Fortunately, people saw him actually starting the fire and called 911. So the emergency response was very quick. It didn’t get very far … and was not

directly within the section that we are currently restoring on the eastern portion of the property.” SBEP, in partnership with FISH, is removing invasive trees, constructing a tidal wetland, planting native trees and is committed to routine maintenance for up to three months after completion of the project.

FISH also is partnering with the Southwest Florida Water Management District to mitigate drainage and filtration issues at the Sarasota Bay RV Park, 10777 Cortez Road W., Bradenton.

Allowing water from the park, adjacent to the preserve, to run through a wetland of mangroves will create natural filtration and keep pollutant-rich waters from entering the bay, according to Leverone. Leverone, in a May 11 interview with The Islander, said the phase 4 project is on track to be completed in June.

Q&A 051723

The Islander poll

Last week’s question

By Lisa Neff

Snowbirds returned north to find ice and snow in April and May. What’s “cold” weather?

22%. Below 60 degrees

31%. Below 50 degrees.

33%. Below freezing.

14%. Single-digit temps.

This week’s question

Do you have a “landline” phone at home?

A. Yes, it’s what I use.

B. Yes, but it only gets spam calls.

C. No, not for years.

D. No, never did.

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

AM designates remaining ARPA funds for Pine Ave. lighting

By Ryan Paice Islander Reporter

U.S. American Rescue Plan Act funds helped the city of Anna Maria lighten flooding in the municipality.

Now what’s left of the money might help light Pine Avenue.

City commissioners unanimously voted May 11 to approve Mayor Dan Murphy’s recommendation to designate the municipality’s remaining $182,848.90 in ARPA funds to improve Pine Avenue lighting.

They also stipulated that the lighting improvements would be handled outside of the Florida Department of Transportation’s purview due to disagreements over preferred lighting for the roadway.

ARPA is a $1.9 trillion stimulus bill signed by President Joe Biden in March 2021 to aid financial recovery during the COVID-19 pandemic. The act provided $350 billion to states and local governments to replace lost revenue, support public health and economic response or invest in public infrastructure.

The city received $882,504 via the stimulus bill and had spent or designated $699,655.10 by May 11.

That money was apportioned for three items:

• $3,737.06 in donations to island nonprofit organizations;

• $407,000 for stormwater infiltration infrastructure improvements;

• $288,918.04 toward the first phase of Pine Avenue improvements.

The city’s stormwater infiltration improvements have been completed for the year but Pine Avenue improvements are still to come.

The city plans to improve the commercial corridor

Meetings

ANNA MARIA

May 25, 6 p.m., commission.

By Lisa Neff

CITY

May 29, 10 a.m., Memorial Day ceremony and city centennial celebration.

Anna Maria City Hall, 10005 Gulf Drive, 941-708-6130, cityofannamaria.com.

BRADENTON BEACH

May 17, 10 a.m., department heads. CANCELED

May 17, 1 p.m., ScenicWAVES.

May 18, noon, commission.

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

HOLMES BEACH

May 19, 11:30 a.m., police pension fund.

May 23, 5 p.m., commission.

May 24, 5 p.m., planning.

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

by installing meandering paver sidewalks, as well as adding and enhancing crosswalks and street lighting.

The work largely will be funded by a $1,288,440 state appropriation and the ARPA money.

However, the city’s first request for proposals issued May 2022 only returned one $2 million bid from Sarasota-based C-Squared CGC, Inc.

So the city issued a second RFP, and narrowed the job down to sidewalk improvements in an effort to attract smaller bids.

C-Squared was once again the only bidder, submitting a package of two bids, including a $1,096,578.25 price to install pervious brick pavers, and a $1,229,530.75 price to install flex pavers, a porous paver made of shredded rubber.

The city was ready to begin contract negotiations with C-Squared last summer but the DOT — the administrator of the state appropriation for the proj-

WEST MANATEE FIRE RESCUE

None announced.

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

MANATEE COUNTY

May 23, 9 a.m., commission.

May 24, 9 a.m., commission (land use).

June 6, 9 a.m., commission.

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

ALSO OF INTEREST

May 18, 4-7 p.m., community hurricane preparedness expo, Bradenton Area Convention Center, 1 Haben Blvd., Palmetto.

May 22, 9:30 a.m., Sarasota/Manatee MPO, Holiday Inn Sarasota-Bradenton Airport, 8009 15th St. E., Sarasota.

Memorial Day is May 29. Most government offices will be closed.

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

anna maria commissioners listen may 11 as mayor Dan murphy, right, tells them about options for spending the city’s remaining federal aRPa funds.

ect — asked the city to submit plans for review.

After reaching an interlocal agreement with the DOT, the city issued a third RFP, once more seeking bids to complete sidewalk improvements. For a third time, C-Squared was the lone bidder.

The city had not fulfilled an April 27 records request from The Islander for a copy of the bid as of May 12.

Nevertheless, commissioners voted April 27 to reject the bid after deeming it to be too expensive for the sidewalk improvements.

Instead, they agreed to repackage Pine Avenue sidewalk and crosswalk improvements together to attract more bidders to a bigger project.

Dias discussion

Murphy recommended putting the remaining ARPA funds toward Pine Avenue lighting, an aspect of the improvement plan that was removed.

He said the city had no funds in the annual budget for Pine Avenue lighting.

Murphy said adding lighting back into Pine Avenue improvements could inflate the project and potentially attract more bidders.

He added that they should stipulate the lighting improvements be excluded from the DOT’s purview.

Commissioner Deanie Sebring voiced support for Murphy’s recommendation, saying lighting improvements were “desperately” needed for Pine.

Commission Chair Mark Short proposed using the money to fund the addition of shade sails over the playground at City Pier Park, 103 N. Bay Blvd.

Nevertheless, Short said he’d also support using the money for Pine Avenue lighting improvements.

Commissioner Robert Kingan moved to approve Murphy’s recommendation and Sebring seconded the motion, which passed.

There was no public comment.

The commission will meet next at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 25, at city hall, 10005 Gulf Drive.

Islander

Photo: Ryan Paice

Cortez area facing growing development pressure

By Robert anderson Islander Reporter

The Cortez area has become a veritable wild west of development.

Cortez has a reputation as a fishing village on the west side of Manatee County but a broader area extends to Palma Sola and Sarasota bays and is about 5 square miles.

This area comprises 3,272 acres of real estate, starting at Palma Sola Boulevard and extending westward to the Intracoastal Waterway.

The historic village lies in the southwest corner, along the coast, from the FISH Preserve on the east side to the ICW on the west, Cortez Road on the north and the bay on the south.

In recent times, the economy of the area has begun to depend less on fishing and plant nurseries and more on waterfront restaurants and an ever-expanding housing market for those migrating to Florida for residency and investment opportunity.

The area surrounding the village is seeing a construction boom.

Peninsula Bay

Peninsula Bay, located north of Cortez Road near 115th Street West, was approved for rezoning by Manatee County commissioners in 2016.

The site includes 358.5 acres of land.

The largest pending project in the area, Peninsula Bay will be a mixed-use development with 1,950 residential units, an eight-room bed-and-breakfast inn, 90,000 square feet of commercial space, dry storage for 200 boats, a boat ramp and marina basin.

The project also will include a 67-acre lake.

Ready for summer season?

Is your business ready for the summer season on AMI? Improve your odds of success with The Islander’s readers — residents, seasonal visitors and vacationers — looking to shop and dine, as well as indoor and outdoor fun. For advertising info, call or text 941-778-7978.

Peninsula Bay is the brainchild of farmer-turneddeveloper Whiting Preston of Palmetto, president of Manatee Fruit Co. and a member of a family that has farmed west Manatee properties for generations.

This spring, Manatee County contractors cleared trees and other vegetation alongside Cortez Road adjoining the Peninsula Bay site — which triggered speculation the development was starting up work.

However, county strategic planning manager Odgen Clarke said the county is installing a 20-inch force main pipe along Cortez Road for wastewater service.

The project, scheduled for completion in spring 2024, is between 119th Street West and 87th Street Court, within the county rights of way.

Construction involves extending a 20-inch diameter pipe about 10,000 linear feet to add capacity and relieve excess demand on a 24-inch gravity main line during heavy rainfall and higher system flows.

The county website describes the project as a wastewater resiliency program, meant to improve system reliability and guard against sewage overflows.

The Islander reached out May 5 to Whiting Preston by phone and text regarding construction start dates for Peninsula Bay.

Preston confirmed May 12 the work being done by the county but did not comment on the Peninsula Bay project.

Seafood Shack

Vandyk Properties, a Canadian-based development company, listed the 5.6-acre Seafood Shack parcel north of the village for sale April 28.

Bids were to start at $15 million and due this month.

Vandyk in 2014 bought the property, including a

650-seat restaurant and banquet hall, a 100-slip marina and six acres of undeveloped land. The purchase also included Annie’s Bait and Tackle Shop, 4334 127th St. W., and a homesite at 4327 127th St. W.

The marina was built in 1971 by the late Ham Jones, who built the restaurant a year later.

A listing with Coldwell Banker on Crexi.com showed the property as being on the market for 15 days from April 13.

The listing included the 5.6-acre parcel and its submerged land lease.

Real estate professionals involved with the sale said the property had a deadline — a call for an offer due by May 15, which is the date The Islander went to press.

A call for offer is a closed-bid auction process. All property information is gathered and marketing material is distributed. A best and final bid date is set and the seller reviews all offers on that day.

The Islander reached out to Vandyk Properties by phone May 9 but, as of press time, no Vandyk representative responded.

Hunters Point

Hunters Point, 12444 Cortez Road W., Cortez, is an 18.3-acre development with 86 homes and resort units, 47 boat slips and a community center.

This development is now underway, also on the north side of Cortez Road.

Cortez Road Investments and Finance is the owner of Pearl Homes, the developers of Hunters Point, and is a Florida-based homebuilder with multiple sustainable housing projects underway in the Sarasota-Bradenton area.

Hunters Point is building zero-energy homes along the privately owned Hunters Point Canal, which provides access to the Intracoastal Waterway.

The right of way on Cortez Road bordering the Peninsula Bay property may 11, where trees and other vegetation were removed to accommodate a manatee County wastewater project. Islander Photo: Robert anderson

a span of projects in Cortez — pink highlights show the Peninsula Bay property, green/yellow outlines Hunters Point and red denotes the Seafood Shack parcel. Islander Image: Google Earth screenshot

What went wrong?

Something went wrong May 12 at a new crosswalk where people can cross Gulf Drive at Marina Drive in Holmes Beach — where to our recollection, there hasn’t been a serious pedestrian injury in all the years the intersection lacked a crosswalk.

The intersection and the signaling needs a good lookover by a team of safety engineers. Putting stripes on the road does not make a safe crosswalk. It takes the synchronization of many factors — speed, signal timing and people who put safety first.

Let’s hope any need for addressing safety issues at the intersection comes together quickly and the two pedestrians struck by a truck May 12 recover.

As of Islander press time May 15, their conditions were not known.

On another matter, we’re awaiting the outcome of a bill that passed the Florida Legislature that will go to the governor for consideration. Ron DeSantis now determines the fate of Manatee Public Beach for people who love that spot on the shoreline in Holmes Beach.

From input to our newspaper and on our social media, local voices strongly oppose a parking garage at the beach.

But it’s about more than home rule.

It’s not in anyone’s best interest to shut down the beach and the cafe to build a garage and shut out the people who love to walk the sand in the mornings, sunbathe by day and cherish sunset on the shore.

Instead, we’d much prefer they invest in putting a pier back on the Gulf, where fishers can cast their lines, surfers plunge in for a long ride to shore and many a couple once pledged their lives together.

One Holmes Beach resident, commenting on the parking garage bill, suggested, “The only way to stop the garage now is to convince (Gov.) DeSantis that parking garages are well known to be Disneyesque bastions of woke critical race theory where people supporting gun regulations will gather.”

Adding, “Anything is worth a try.”

OK. Here’s the try: Governor, don’t Disney-fy AMI. Please, veto the bill.

And readers, please, join us in asking the governor to veto the parking garage bill. You can record your comment at 850-717-9337.

And maybe all of us can turn our thoughts to whether the county board will carry out their threats.

We have a pretty good voting bloc going on this issue.

We just need to stay in the fight.

— Bonner Joy, news@islander.org

Dear governor

Editor’s note: The following letter is addressed to Gov. Ron DeSantis. The letter was condensed for print. To read the full letter, go to holmesbeachfl.org.

As mayor of the city of Holmes Beach, I am writing to request you veto HB 947 when it is presented for your signature.

Skimming online

Website: islander.org

Facebook: islandernewspaper

Twitter: @ami_islander

Contact DeSantis

▼ Publisher, Co-editor

Bonner Joy, news@islander.org

▼ Editorial Editor Lisa Neff, lisa@islander.org

Robert anderson, robert@islander.org

Joe Bird, editorial cartoonist

Kevin Cassidy, kevin@islander.org

Jack Elka, jack@jackelka.com

Brook morrison, brook@islander.org

Ryan Paice, ryan@islander.org

▼ Contributors

Karen Riley-Love

Jacob merrifield

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)

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis can be reached at 850-7179337, www.flgov. com/email-the-governor/ and on Twitter at @GovRonDeSantis.

My constituents, my commissioners and I do not support this bill and are concerned about the effects its passage will have not just in the citizens, business owners and visitors … but also the larger implications of government overreach. What this bill seeks to accomplish can and should be done at the local level not through the state Legislature, especially without the support of the local government it directly impacts and without inclusion of the electorate by way of referendum.

HB 947 is a local bill that allows Manatee County — a non-charter county — through its board of commissioners to construct a parking garage on county property located within the jurisdictional boundaries of Holmes Beach without having to abide by the laws, rules and regulations of the city, including its charter, comprehensive plan and land development code. In fact, the legislation specifically prevents the city from having any regulatory control over its permitting or construction. …

As you know, Holmes Beach is one of three cities on the barrier island of Anna Maria Island. There are two vehicular access points to the barrier island: one via SR 64 through the city of Holmes Beach which

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ends directly at a Manatee County public beach and the second via SR 684 through Bradenton Beach. …

The county-owned park referenced in HB 947 is the public beach at the end of SR 64, which presently contains a shell-surface parking lot, public sanitation facilities and retail and dining establishments.

Because of the location the public beach relative to the ingress/egress point to the island, traffic and parking have become substantial issues for the barrier island cities.

The cities have repeatedly attempted to work with the county on ways to alleviate these issues but at no point in any discussions has the county approached the city about redeveloping its property to contain a parking garage. The introduction of HB 947 is a textbook example of putting the cart before the horse. …

On behalf of myself, the Holmes Beach elected officials and staff, Holmes Beach citizens and business owners and the visitors of the city, please accept our appreciation for your consideration of this matter.

We ask that you avoid setting a troubling precedent and veto HB 947 and let Free Florida truly be free.

Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth

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We bring you all the news about three city governments, community happenings, people features and special events … even real estate transactions … everything you need if your “heart is on Anna Maria Island.”

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BBQ in BB mayor Dick Connick, left, and members of the Bradenton Beach Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department advertise a barbecue chicken dinner at the firehouse on Second Street North, where today’s Bradenton Beach voters cast their election ballots. The cost of the dinner? $1.25 donation. The photo is not dated in the manatee County Library System archives.

10&20 years ago

From the May 14, 2003, issue

• The most expensive property sale in Anna Maria island history — at the time — took place May 12, 2003, in Bradenton Beach, when David Teitelbaum purchased the 55-unit Tortuga Inn at 1325 Gulf Drive. Teitelbaum said he would keep the property as a hotel and signed ResortQuest Inc. for on-site property management.

• Anna Maria residents began locking doors and securing garbage cans after a resident photographed a fox eating garbage. Manatee County Sheriff’s Sgt. John Kenney said he doubted there was only one or two foxes in the city.

• A Holmes Beach resident in the 7500 block of Gulf Drive North filed a police report alleging someone stole orchids valued at $4,000 from his garden. The man had planned to sell some at an annual flower show in Miami and he suspected the thief either had the same idea or would sell them at a flea market. One orchid was valued at $800.

From the May 15, 2013, issue

• Bradenton Beach developer David Teitelbaum was named the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Tourism Partner of the Year for 2012 during a ceremony in Palmetto.

• Holmes Beach Mayor Carmel Monti was the victim of a vehicle burglary that resulted in the theft of his .38 caliber handgun from his personal vehicle, a 2001 Toyota SUV.

• The periodic dredging of Anna Maria’s Lake LaVista inlet finished and boats again could navigate the channel, even at low tide. Before the dredge, even getting a boat through the channel at high tide was difficult.

Print Your Own Memories

— Lisa Neff

Taking the plunge

People swim, splash and dive from a platform in the Gulf of mexico in Bradenton Beach. The photo is dated 1923-26. Islander Photo: manatee County Public Library System archives

Seaside Gardens residents hash over FEMA improvements

By Ryan Paice Islander Reporter

Potential changes to Seaside Gardens in Holmes Beach has neighbors talking.

A handful of Seaside Gardens residents attended a May 9 city commission meeting to discuss a proposal to allow owners to raise their homes above the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s base flood elevation height.

The Seaside Gardens community was established in the 1960s by John E. Holmes Sr., the namesake of Holmes Beach, and developed into a neighborhood of 110 individually owned ground-level duplex units.

The commission discussion began at an April 25 work session and was sparked by a Seaside Gardens property owner who asked the city if they could raise the level of one of the three units in a single structure.

The ground-level structures are currently noncompliant with FEMA standards, so elevating them would bring them into compliance without the need for other changes, such as rezoning.

Since the structures are FEMA noncompliant, they are subject to the agency’s 50% improvement rule, which prohibits owners from improving their properties by more than 50% of the structure value.

An elevated structure that complies with FEMA standards would not be subject to the same limitation.

City planning and zoning administrator Chad Minor said Seaside Gardens property owners seeking to elevate their properties would need to establish nonhabitable areas, like a garage, on the ground floor.

Property owners otherwise wouldn’t be allowed to expand their homes, since any floors above ground level must be built to match the footprint of the existing building.

A couple of city officials expressed support for the idea but Commissioner Pat Morton — who lives in a Seaside Gardens triplex — was the first to voice concern, calling it a “disaster” for the community. Public opinion on the matter appeared to be mixed.

Holmes Beach commissioner named ‘Home Rule Hero’

Holmes Beach Commissioner Terry Schaefer, left, holds an award may 11 alongside mayor Judy Titsworth recognizing Schaefer as a Florida League of Cities’ 2023 “Home Rule Hero” for “being a champion in the defense and protection of municipal home rule.”

Islander Photo: Courtesy Holmes Beach

Seaside Gardens resident Walter Warren said he began working with the city almost two years ago on making his property FEMA compliant.

“If an Irma had come and hit us, those houses would have folded like a deck of cards,” he said. “Somebody’s got to begin and start the ball rolling forward.”

Warren acknowledged that elevating units would be “a little different” for the community but urged the city to allow for improvements.

David Calcanis, a Seaside Gardens resident and homeowner’s association board member, said property owners in the community should not be allowed to elevate their units one at a time due to the impact on neighbors. He said multiple units could be rebuilt at once to be FEMA-compliant if they were damaged in a storm.

“It’s just a concern of quality of life for the people around, not only the look and feel of the community,” Calcanis said.

Seaside Gardens resident Donna Blohm, who lives next to Warren’s property, said she and her husband live and work in their home full-time.

She said construction to elevate Warren’s unit

would negatively impact their lives.

a Seaside Gardens stanchion at the corner of 63rd Street and marina Drive in Holmes Beach welcomes people to the neighborhood.

“I just can’t even tell you how our professional life is going to suffer. Not only our personal lives,” Blohm said.

Commissioner Terry Schaefer asked the Seaside Gardens board to provide the city with a consensus of its residents on the issue.

Schaefer told The Islander May 10 that he believed public speakers had sparked a healthy dialogue.

“I think what last night revealed is an awareness of the long-term concern from a FEMA aspect and the sensitivity within the Seaside Gardens community of the disruption,” Schaefer told The Islander May 10.

“This is not a knee-jerk decision. This is going to take time to determine, from an engineering standpoint, what can be done,” he added. “Whatever decision is made in the future, I hope, would have a consensus of approval from the community.”

Another work session to discuss the matter had not been scheduled as of May 14.

The commission will meet next at 2 p.m. Tuesday, June 13, at city hall, 5801 Marina Drive.

Directions to attend via Zoom can be found on the city’s website, holmesbeachfl.org.

Island flags at half-staff following Texas shooting

flag

Holmes Beach

may

to lower flags to honor the victims of the may 6 allen, Texas, mass shooting that left nine people, including the perpetrator, dead. The cities of anna maria and Bradenton Beach also lowered their flags in accordance with the order. Islander

Photo: Ryan Paice

Islander Photo: Ryan Paice

HB receives bids for skimmer, algae removal RFPs

By Ryan Paice Islander Reporter

Cleaning local waters might be an expensive undertaking.

Holmes Beach city engineer Sage Kamiya announced to Clean Water Committee members May 10 that two of three bids received in response to a pair of requests for proposals came in higher than expected.

The CWC was established by the city to act as an advisory board for the city commission and focuses on coordinating community activity, philanthropy and government action to improve water quality on Anna Maria Island.

One of the board’s first recommendations was for the city to purchase an aquatic weed harvesting vessel or hire a contractor to collect and dispose of algal mats and fish kills when they occur to reduce foul odors and the water’s nitrogen load.

The recommendation is one of a few mitigation steps the CWC proposed to handle Lyngbya wollei, also known as “brown gumbo” algae, which can clog the surfaces of local canals and emit a foul odor.

The city issued two RFPs in March — one for a marine debris skimmer vessel and another for algae removal services.

The city received one $587,060 bid from Wisconsin-based D&D Products Inc.’s Aquarius Systems in response to its RFP for a skimmer vessel.

The number includes the $526,460 cost of the vessel, $15,600 for delivery and placement in a city canal, as well as an optional $45,000 warranty.

The city would not receive the vessel until 16-20 months after the order, according to the proposal.

Kamiya said the bid was “well outside our budget,” so the city applied for a grant from the Tampa Bay Estuary Program to help fund the purchase.

He said the odds of its success were “slim,” so he was trying to find other funding opportunities.

Committee Chair Ron Huibers said he would like the city to apply for Manatee County Tourist Development Council funds to help pay for the skimmer vessel since it would benefit tourism by clearing local waters and eliminating foul odors.

City Commissioner Terry Schaefer, who was attending the meeting as commission liaison, said the county board likely would shoot down any TDC grant proposal due to its ongoing feud with the city over

parking along residential roadways.

Nevertheless, Huibers said he wanted to pursue such a grant and put the ball in the county commission’s court.

“I’d like them to almost say no to us and that way the ball is in their court,” Huibers said.

CWC members reached consensus to direct Huibers, Kamiya and city Commissioner Greg Kerchner, who serves as TDC liaison, to work to craft a proposal.

On the other hand, Kamiya said one of the two bids the city received in response to its RFP for algae removal services was “reasonable” and voiced support with moving forward with contract negotiations.

That proposal was submitted by Winter Gardenbased Sea & Shoreline LLC to provide algae harvesting and removal services for $5,525 per acre.

The price includes $70 per hour in labor, $120 per hour for a diver, $400 daily cost for a skiff and $700 per 20 cubic feet per container for disposal.

The city also received a $820,500 lump sum bid from Myakka City-based Rick Richards Inc. to provide the same services.

That number includes a $12,936 per acre cost,

more than twice the price of Sea & Shoreline’s bid.

Bioremediation testing grant

Another CWC recommendation to address local water quality involved bioremediation testing using Cape Coral-based Ecological Laboratories’ product, Microbe-Lift.

The product contains a naturally occurring bacteria that breaks down dead algae and reduces nitrates and odors, as well as improves water clarity and quality.

The city applied for a Florida Department of Environmental Protection innovative technologies grant to fund tests of the product in Spring Lake.

Tests would involve applying treatments of the product to the waterway and then sampling the results.

However, the DEP denied the city’s innovative technologies grant application — one of 45 it received this year — due to limited funding, according to Kamiya.

“I don’t see any reason why we wouldn’t try again,” Kamiya said. “I haven’t given up on it.”

The CWC will meet next at 9 a.m. Wednesday, June 14, at city hall, 5801 Marina Drive.

Giving boaters the slip

crane barge may 11 for a finger dock addition to the Historic Bridge Street Pier floating dock in Bradenton Beach. The improvement to the pier at the east end of Bridge Street is the result of a $850,000 manatee County tourist development tax allocation and will allow additional slip space for boats, as well as a kayak launch. The extension, scheduled for completion by June 30, will allow better access to Bradenton Beach by boat. Currently, the finger dock offers seven spaces, while the expansion will allow 26 boats to dock. Islander Photos: Robert anderson

Tiki & Kitty’s

There’s just no time for spring cleaning while Tiki and Kitty map out their time for spring shopping at their favorite thrifts and boutiques.

Blue Flamingo is home to hip and trendy upcycled and repurposed goods, furniture and decor, garden features, candles, jewelry and work by local artisans. They also offer Dixie Belle paints.

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, former skating rink has plenty to offer bargain, antique, unique hunters. Plus, there’s a mancave and a cool clothing boutique. You

Miss us? WE MISS YOU AMI!

Stop by at our other locations:

Scavengers Marketplace SRQ

1175 N Washington Blvd

Scavengers Palmetto

2100 US Hwy 301

don’t want to miss this vast collection of vendors. Blessed and Distressed is a tastefully designed store — so inviting, you’ll want to pull up a chair — with collectibles and work by local artists. The store is at Palma Sola Square, around the corner from WinnDixie. It offers 30-plus vintage, upcycled, shabby chic and artsy vendors. You won’t be disappointed.

Scavengers Marketplace invites you to visit its many vendors at the Palmetto store, 2100 U.S. 301, where a portion of your purchase benefits Moonracer No Kill Pet Rescue — our favorite pet rescue group. Founder Lisa Williams leads the rescue efforts and also works at The Islander as office manager.

FYI: Scavengers also carries Fusion Paints.

Your place for fun, funky quirky!

Great work from Local Artisans Upcycled, Repurposed, Vintage Dixie Belle Paint, Fun Gifts & More! theblueflamingo.biz

Adventures in Shopping … Antiques, Art-Tiques and Chic Boutiques!

And don’t forget, tell people you meet along the way, “The Islander sent me.”

Wed-Sat 10-5

Palma Sola Square

Winn Dixie Plaza 615 59th St. W. Bradenton 941-896-8800

Dru Love, Owner Dru@bdVintage.com

Duncan Seawall operates a

Schaefer

Kamiya

by Lisa Neff, calendar@islander.org.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT ON AMI

Thursday, May 18

10:15 a.m. — Island Morning Book Club, Island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Information: 941-778-6341.

ONGOING OFF AMI

Throughout May, Island Gallery and Studios, 456 Old Main St., Bradenton, showcases “It’s All About the Light” by Marie Garafano. Information: 941-778-6648.

Through May 28, “Gods and Lovers: Painting and Sculpture from India,” the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, 5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota. Info: 941-360-7390, ringling.org.

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

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

Second and fourth Saturdays, 2-4 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.

SAVE THE DATE

May 25, The Bishop Laser Light Nights opens, Bradenton. Dec. 1-2, Bradenton Blues Fest, Bradenton.

KIDS & FAMILY

ONGOING OFF AMI

Through May 21, Mote Marine Aquarium’s “Voyage to the Deep” exhibit, 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota. Fee applies. Information: 941-388-4441.

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

SAVE THE DATE

May 27, Anna Maria Island Privateers’ Snooks Adams Kids Day, Holmes Beach.

CLUBS & COMMUNITY ON AMI

Wednesday, May 17 11 a.m. — Red tide lecture, Island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Information: 941-778-6341.

Thursday, May 18

Island happenings

Calling kids to Kids Day

The Anna Maria Island Privateers invite kids to sail into summer with Snooks Adams Kids Day.

This year, the nonprofit dedicated to “kids and community” is partnering with the Holmes Beach Police Department — a return, of sorts, to the original event, which was founded by the late Snooks Adams, longtime law enforcement officer and 25-year Holmes Beach police chief, to mark the end of the school year.

The activities will be Saturday, May 27, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at city fi eld, 5800 block of Marina Drive, Holmes Beach.

Privateers will lead children in a series of games and activities, including a treasure hunt.

They also will serve kids a lunch that includes hot dogs, pizza and beverages.

A notice on social media invited “the bigger kids” who want to enjoy lunch to make a donation.

The Privateers assumed responsibility from Adams for hosting the party in the 1980s.

For more information, call Jennifer Mais at 941-812-2943 or email liaison@amiprivateers. org

2 p.m. — Sunshine Stitchers, Island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Information: 941-778-6341.

Saturday, May 20 11 a.m. — Meditation session, Island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Information: 941-778-6341.

ONGOING ON AMI

Most Wednesdays, 1 p.m., mahjong club beginners, Island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Information: 941-7786341.

Most Fridays, 11:30 a.m., mahjong club experienced players, Island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Information: 941778-6341.

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

ONGOING OFF AMI

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

NATURE, FITNESS & SPORTS ON AMI

Thursday, May 18

9 a.m. — Trail Team Thursday volunteer work, Leffis Key Preserve, 2350 Gulf Drive S., Bradenton Beach. Information: 941-7425923.

A Hair Day Salon & Spa

Friday, May 19 9 a.m. — Seashell Shore Walk with Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources, Coquina Beach, 2300 block of Gulf Drive, Bradenton Beach. Information: 941-742-5923.

ONGOING ON AMI

AMI Dragon Boat Team-Paddlers from Paradise practices and meetups, various times and locations. Information: 941-462-2626, mrbradway@gmail.com.

ONGOING OFF AMI

Through Sept. 3, Bradenton Marauders baseball, LECOM Park, 1611 Ninth St. W., Bradenton. Fee applies. Information: 941-7473031.

Saturdays, 7 a.m., Robinson Runners run, walk stroll, Robinson Preserve NEST, 10299 Ninth Ave. NW., Bradenton. Information: 941-742-5923, crystal.scherer@mymanatee.org, mymanatee.org.

Saturdays, 9 a.m., Mornings at the NEST, Robinson Preserve, 10299 Ninth Ave. NW, Bradenton. Information: 941-742-5923, mymanatee.org.

SAVE THE DATE

Oct. 7, Florida Maritime Museum Cortez Nautical Flea Market, Cortez.

GOOD TO KNOW

KEEP THE DATES

May 20, Armed Forces Day.

Music Lessons: Guitar, Piano, Ukulele, Saxophone and Drum

Used & Consigned Musical Instruments

Open JAM 1st Wednesdays

941.896.9089

playitagainjams.com 8208 Cortez Road W., Ste.5, Bradenton

Compiled

Kids gather for a story at a past Snooks adams Kids Day on amI. Islander File Photo: Lisa Neff

Island happenings

Bishop selling Laser Light Nights tickets

They’ll trip to “the Dark Side of the Moon” and go beyond “the Yellow Brick Road.”

Laser Light Nights — featuring music by Pink Floyd, Elton John, Led Zeppelin and other “favorite artists” are returning to the Bishop Museum of Science and Nature in Bradenton.

Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights May 25-Sept. 2, the museum is hosting laser light shows with music accompaniments.

The series will begin with a 7 p.m. Thursday, May 25, show featuring the music of the Beatles and a 9 p.m. show featuring David Bowie.

The series will continue with:

• Friday, May 26, Pink Floyd;

• Saturday, May 27, Prince at 7 p.m., Bruno Mars at 9 p.m.;

• Thursday, June 1, Jimi Hendrix at 7 p.m., Zeppelin at 9 p.m.;

• Friday, June 2, Elton John at 7 p.m., Queen at 9 p.m.

• Saturday, June 3, Pink Floyd;

• Thursday, June 8, Rage Against the Machine at 7 p.m. and Metallica at 9 p.m.;

• Friday, June 9, Motown at 7 p.m., Outkast at 9 p.m.;

Center fires up flavors

The Center of anna maria Island puts out a crawfish boil with side dishes and refreshments for an annual outdoor party may 6.

Islander Photos: Courtesy CofamI

RIGHT: The crawfish boil included a performance by the Stockton Brothers as well as children’s games and a Kentucky Derby hat contest.

Center offers dog training

Experiencing “ruf times” in the dog park?

The Center of Anna Maria Island, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria, will offer a four-week class in socializing dogs Wednesdays at 6:15 p.m. beginning June 7.

“Each training class will teach two basic commands, followed by supervised playtime socialization,” according to a news release.

Katie Mae Hart, owner and primary trainer at Social Interactive Training, will lead the class, using what the center described as “reward-based training methods that are gentle, reliable and easy to learn.”

Odd Duck Designs Shop

Dogs of all ages — with owners — are welcome.

Enrollment costs $100 for members and $120 for nonmembers.

Registration is required by Thursday, June 1. For more information, contact the center at culture@centerami.org or call 941-778-1908.

• Saturday, June 10, Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez, Christina Aguilera and more at 7 p.m. and Taylor Swift songs from “Midnights” at 9 p.m.

Other nights will feature the music of Lady Gaga, Lizzo, the Weeknd, Beyoncé, U2, Bob Marley, the Doors, KISS, Journey, Foo Fighters, Nirvana, the Rolling Stones znd Aerosmith. There is a cost to attend.

For more, go to bishopscience.org or call the museum at 941-746-4131.

GoodDeeds

Assistance sought on AMI

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

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

Assistance offered on AMI

• Roser Food Bank welcomes applicants who live and/or work on Anna Maria Island for food assistance, Roser Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria. Info: 941-778-0414.

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

AME-PTO puts on the ritz, a night of Hollywood Glam

The ballroom at ImG is transformed into a Hollywood soiree for the amE-PTO gala may 13. Twinkling lights, a checkered dance floor and a ceiling of stars adorned the room for the event. Islander

Photos: Brook morrison

Guests at the amEPTO’s spring gala may 13 mingle before being treated to a dinner sponsored by the Chiles Group, entertainment and auctions featuring items donated by local businesses and school classes.

AME TSA members design, explore underwater robotics

anna maria Elementary fifth-grade Technology Student association members test an underwater robot by retrieving rings in a pool april 28. Students built the drone as a tool to explore the waters of anna maria Sound. Islander Photos: Courtesy amE/Pidge Barreda

aBOVE: Holmes Beach residents Barb Thul, left, and Kristen Coffman pose may 13 with cardboard Elvis during the amE-PTO spring gala at ImG academy Golf Club in Bradenton. LEFT: Eugene and Jessica Nock toast may 13 to an evening of fun and fundraising at the anna maria Elementary’s spring gala, held at ImG academy Golf Club in Bradenton may 13 with a “vintage Hollywood” theme.

amE students pose may 5 wearing T-shirts provided by the city of Holmes Beach for the Islanders 4 Clean Water initiative.

amE fifth-grader maggie Niedzwick cuts pipes april 28 to help construct an underwater robot. The TSa members were able to see how and why ROVs are used to explore areas of the ocean that are too difficult for humans to investigate.

amE TSa members Jacob Winstead, left, and Luke Willing work together april 28 on building a remotely operated underwater vehicle.

Welcome, new PTO board

The 2023-24 anna maria Elementary Parent Teacher Organization board secretary morgan Blackburn, left, stands with treasurer Jamie Hinckle, vice president Caroline Liebfried and president Jen Serra after their swearing-in may 10. Islander Photo: Courtesy amE

New AME-PTO board installed

Officers for the 2023-24 Anna Maria Elementary Parent-Teacher Organization board were sworn in May 10 at the final board meeting of the 2022-23 school year.

AME-PTO president Jen Serra, vice president Caroline Liebfried, secretary Morgan Blackburn and treasurer Jamie Hinckle will begin their duties in July.

“I am looking forward to next year and working hard to help more families feel connected to our school and each other as well as providing funds that enrich the daily lives of our students,” Serra told The Islander May 12.

The new board was voted in unopposed for the new school year, which will begin Aug. 10.

Meanwhile, AME students joined in a May 5 walkathon led by Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth to promote an islandwide effort to keep Anna Maria Island’s waterways clean.

“Islanders 4 Clean Water is a campaign to bring attention to the quality of our waters, from conserving fresh water to reducing the usage of single-use plastics, to challenging a friend, there is always something you can do to help do your part,” reads the mission statement at holmesbeachfl.org.

The 2022-23 school year is nearing its conclusion, with a field day set for Friday, May 19, followed by the fifth-graders’ graduation and final day of classes Friday, May 26.

— Brook morrison

amE students and parent Nicole Plummer walk a lap may 5 during a walkathon to benefit Islanders 4 Clean Water.

AME Calendar

• Wednesday, May 17, math state assessments.

• Friday, May 19, field day.

• Monday, May 22, fifth-grade awards, AME auditorium.

• Tuesday, May 23, fifth-grade luncheon.

• Friday, May 26, last day of school for students.

• Thursday, Aug. 10, first day of 2023-24 school

AME is at 4700 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach.

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

Achievements

The Islander welcomes notices of school honors. Email news@islander.org.

Holmes Beach mayor Judy Titsworth, left, along with anne and ashley Chiles hand out T-shirts may 5 during a walkathon for the Islanders 4 Clean Water awareness campaign.

By Lisa Neff

CrossPointe sets vacation Bible school dates

CrossPointe Fellowship will host “A-maze-ing Holidays” vacation Bible school in June for children ages 4 to the sixth-grade.

Hours will be 6-8:15 p.m. Monday-Thursday June 19-22 at the church, 8605 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach.

Registration is open online at crosspointefellowshipchurch or vbs.mycpf.org.

For more information, call the church offi ce at 941-778-0719.

Roser to host Bible school

Roser Memorial Community Church will host vacation Bible school Monday-Friday June 5-9.

Hours will be 5:30-8:30 p.m. and include dinner. Bible school is open to kids ages 4 years old through the fifth-grade.

Roser is at 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria.

For more information, go online to roserchurch. com or call the church office at 941-778-0414.

Gathering is the religion page for The Islander. Send notices to calendar@islander.org. Please, include a phone number for publication.

Obituaries

Hugh Grant Holmes

Hugh G. Holmes, 96, died May 8 at home in Holmes Beach surrounded by family. He was born Nov. 13, 1926, on Anna Maria Island to John E. “Jack” and Catherine. He graduated from Bradenton High School in 1944 and joined the U.S. Navy. He was accepted into the Offi cer Candidate Program and attended Georgia Tech, University of South Carolina and Howard College. He was honorably discharged from the Navy at the end of World War II.

He met the love of his life, Jean, at Foster Drugs in downtown Bradenton and they were married 74 wonderful years.

Mr. Holmes was a devoted and loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and great-greatgrandfather. Although he served many aspects of his country and community, his family always came first.

He was an avid golfer and loved his time on the course with his wife and friends.

Some of his accomplishments and volunteer services include: Civil Air Patrol; U.S. Power Squadron; chief of the Anna Maria Volunteer Fire Department, which brought the first fi re truck to the island; and Anna Maria Island Erosion Control Board. He was a

Tidings Compiled by Lisa Neff

ON AMI

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

Worship: Sundays, 9 a.m.

Ongoing: Wednesdays, 7 a.m., men’s Bible meeting; Fridays, 10 a.m. women’s Bible meeting.

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

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

Ongoing: Wednesdays, 8 a.m., men’s meeting; Mondays, 1 p.m., book group.

Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 6608 Marina Drive. Holmes Beach. Info: 941-778-1813, gloriadeilutheran.com.

Worship: Sundays, 9:30 a.m.

Ongoing: Sundays, 10:15 a.m., coffee and fellowship.

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

Worship: Sundays, 9:15 a.m.

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

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

Ongoing: Wednesdays, 2:45 p.m., May 17, June 7, June 21, July 21, Aug. 9, Golfing for God, Bradenton; first and third Wednesdays, 11:30 a.m., Just Older Youth group.

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

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

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

OFF AMI

Christ Church of Longboat Key Presbyterian USA, 6400

founder and CEO of Island Bank.

He owned and operated Holmes Construction Co. Inc. until the early 1970s and was responsible for the construction of many of the houses, motels and condominiums and commercial buildings on the island.

A service will be held at Roser Memorial Community Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, where Mr. Holmes was a lifelong member, at 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 17. A reception will follow in the fellowship hall, then a private family burial. Memorial donations may be made to the Islanders 4 Clean Water campaign in care of Holmes Beach City Hall, 5801 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, FL 34217 and Roser Memorial Community Church, P.O. Box 247, Anna Maria FL 34216.

For those unable to attend the service, it can be viewed on the Roser YouTube channel, youtube. com/@roserchurch.

Arrangements were by Shannon Funeral Homes. Online condolences may be made at shannonfuneralhomes.com.

Mr. Holmes is survived by his wife, Jean; son Hugh Jr. and wife Chris; daughters Deborah and husband Glenn Hall, Cherri and husband Johnny Rigney, Jean and husband Bill Bystrom, Holmes Beach Mayor Judy and husband Steve Titsworth; 19 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

Longboat chapel conducts 2-day blood drive

The Longboat Island Chapel will conduct a two-day blood drive.

The event will be 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday, May 19, and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, May 20, in the parking lot, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key.

Appointments are not needed.

For more information, call the chapel office at 941-383-6491.

Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key. Info: 941-900-4903, christchurchoflbk.org.

Worship: Sundays, 10 a.m.

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

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

Worship: Sundays, 10 a.m.

Ongoing: Wednesdays, 10 a.m., Bible study.

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

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

SPECIAL DATES & EVENTS

May 19, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., blood drive, Longboat Island Chapel.

May 20, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., blood drive, Longboat Island Chapel.

June 5-9, vacation Bible school, Roser Church.

June 19-22, vacation Bible school, CrossPointe.

GET LISTED, CHANGE LISTINGS

Seasons change and so do schedules. Please, send listings and/or changes in worship calendars and other events to calendar@ islander.org.

John Shaughnessy, former BB mayor, dies

By Robert anderson Islander Reporter

Bradenton Beach officials and staff remembered the achievements of a past city leader.

John Shaughnessy, 88, a former mayor and commissioner, died May 4.

Shaughnessy, born Sept. 1, 1934, hailed from Connecticut. He moved to Bradenton Beach in 2002 with a history in public transportation.

He served as mayor November 2011-November 2013. He also served as a commissioner for six years. He was a resident of the Sandpiper moblie home resort, where he contributed to the transition to a co-op. Commissioners held a moment of silence for Shaughnessy during their May 4 meeting.

Mayor John Chappie, who conducted the moment of silence, remembered Shaughnessy: “He was a great mayor, lived here a long time. Friendly, knowledgeable. He was just such a great guy. He passed yesterday and we are sorry to have to say it.”

City attorney Ricinda Perry also reflected on Shaughnessy’s impact.

“He was a great friend and was important in my younger years of being a city attorney,” she said. “He taught me a lot of things. He was a man of grace and style and he did a lot for the city.”

City clerk Terri Sanclemente, who swore Shaughnessy into office years ago, recalled the man: “He was a really good mayor and an even better friend.”

Shaughnessy was instrumental in the implementation of a number of projects in Bradenton Beach,

Holmes

Looking back at the life of Hugh Holmes

By Ryan Paice Islander Reporter

The city of Holmes Beach and Anna Maria Island have lost a key figure in their development.

Hugh G. Holmes died May 8 at home on Sunrise Lane in Holmes Beach at the age of 96, only miles from where he was born Nov. 13, 1926, in Anna Maria.

Holmes was the second son of Catherine and John E. Holmes Sr., the namesake of Holmes Beach.

As a child, Holmes was enrolled a year early as a kindergartner at the Anna Maria School, where the community center — now the Center of Anna Maria Island — is located.

Holmes left the island in early 1932 to be closer to his mother’s family in Boston, as her health was failing.

Two years after she died in August 1932, the Holmes family returned to Anna Maria, where the young brothers reenrolled at the school.

After the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941 and the United States became involved in World War II, the Holmes brothers worked shifts as spotters to report local aircraft and ship activity to the U.S. Coast

Guard.

Hugh Holmes graduated Bradenton High School in 1944 and joined the U.S. Navy. He again returned to the island in 1946 and soon after met his wife of 74 years, Jean.

Holmes became chief of the Anna Maria Volunteer Fire Department and was responsible for bringing the fi rst fi re truck to the island, was founder and CEO of the Island Bank, served on the Anna Maria Island Erosion Control Board, as well as owned and operated Holmes Construction Company.

He is preceded in death by his brother, John E. Jr.. and his daughter and son-in-law, Donna and Don Rowe.

His is survived by his wife, Jean and daughters Deborah Hall, Cherri Rigney, Jean Bystrom and Judy Titsworth and son, Hugh Jr.

Titsworth, who was elected Holmes Beach mayor in 2018, told The Islander May 10 that her father was most of all a family man.

“My parents gave us the perfect childhood,” she said. “Dad was always there to help us with everything we wanted to do. He built us forts. We were wildlife

including a city-controlled sanitation plan, repairs to the Historic Bridge Street Pier and initiating a milliondollar match from Manatee County to get the pier replanked with synthetic decking.

His efforts also resulted in the funds to place benches and lights on the pier.

And, Perry said, Shaughnessy was active in bringing in the cell tower, 403 Highland Ave., in 2012 by pushing for a lease agreement.

rescuers back then, so he helped us splint wings of seagulls. … He always gave us his time.”

Titsworth said he was an outdoorsman who loved to golf, boat and fish.

She said his health had begun to decline in recent years but she was happy her father could pass away at home, “looking at his view of the bay and surrounded by everyone.”

“As a teenager, he always said ‘I want to buy that lot and raise my family there.’ And that’s exactly what he did,” she said.

Commissioner Terry Schaefer, who announced Holmes’ death at a May 10 Clean Water Committee meeting, said he felt “privileged” to know Holmes and his wife.

“I always found him to be such a down to earth and genuine individual,” Schaefer said. “They were very, very capable citizens doing their part to improve our quality of life. … His death is certainly a loss to the family but also a loss to the community.”

A service will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 17, at Roser Memorial Community Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria.

“He realized if we contributed the land, then we could have a lease with the cell tower and have money in perpetuity for the city. We make money off of it to this day,” Perry said.

She added, “He was extremely relatable to anyone in any walk of life and had a very fatherly presence. He genuinely cared about everything that went on and listened with his heart. He was kind of the patriarch to the city to a large extent.”

John Shaughnessy, who died earlier this month, officiates at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the reopening of Bradenton Beach’s Historic Bridge Street Pier in 2015. Shaughnessy, in speaking to the crowd gathered on the pier, told them that “for 94 years, the spirit of this pier has been here. This day is also the culmination of the spirit of those who dedicated their efforts to make this day possible. a group of people brought together one purpose.” Islander File Photo

Hugh and Jean Holmes celebrate their 74th anniversary with family

Storm-wrecked sailboat freed from island shores

By Ryan Paice

Islander Reporter

After spending about three months wrecked on the shores of Anna Maria Island, Lucky Us 2 sailed — or was, at least, towed — into the sunset.

Michigan resident James Golembiewski, owner of the 1981 Young Sun 35-foot sailboat, told The Islander May 12 that the boat was docked in Tarpon Springs after it was floated earlier that week with the help of an excavator and local fishers.

The boat will remain in Tarpon Springs until next year, when Golembiewski plans to set sail on another voyage that will take him around the island.

Background

Golembiewski, 37, is a professional tree climber, but wanted to branch into sailing, and he purchased the sailboat in Jacksonville last November.

His childhood friend from Michigan, Nick, has sailing experience and joined Golembiewski for a voyage from Jacksonville to Anclote — a 400-mile trip around the Florida peninsula.

The pair made it most of the way there without issue, even picking up another passenger, but began to run into trouble by Feb. 11.

The vessel’s sail ripped early that day, so they

crafted a makeshift sail from its remains using a technique called “reefing.”

The makeshift sail took them another 50 miles before they began experiencing storm conditions, forcing them to drop anchor and shelter in the hopes the weather would die down.

After trying to wait out the storm for several hours, it had begun to worsen, and the crew voted to call the U.S. Coast Guard for rescue.

A Coast Guard crew found the vessel in 6-9-foothigh waves and 25-knot sustained winds, anchored the boat and managed to escort its three passengers to shore without issue.

The next morning, the boat was found wrecked on the shore near 78th Street in Holmes Beach with a severed anchor and extensive damage.

Neither Manatee County nor the city of Holmes Beach wanted to shoulder the cost of removing the vessel, so Golembiewski launched a GoFundMe campaign seeking $15,000 to fund its removal.

The campaign raised $7,568 from 185 donors by the time the boat was removed May 9.

Removal

After multiple efforts to remove the boat with less costly methods, Golembiewski decided to break the bank on a gamble.

Golembiewski hired Nokomis-based Abbotts’ Construction Services with $5,200 from the GoFundMe account for a one-time shot May 8 to dig the boat’s partially buried keel out of the sand and drag the vessel free.

He also paid $500 each to local fishers Sergio Valdivieso and Zachary Linebaugh to help tug the boat into deep water, and another $1,000 for Valdivieso to tow Lucky 2 to Tarpon Springs as the bow pulpit was too damaged to sail.

Golembiewski said much of the remaining GoFundMe campaign money was taken via the website’s transaction fees, 2.9% plus $0.30 for every donation received.

“We’ve definitely exceeded the money the GoFundMe brought but it helped out a ton,” Golembiewski said.

Excavation efforts began around midday May 8 and continued until around midnight, when the boat was dragged to the edge of the water, according to Golembiewski.

By the morning, the tide rose and, after bailing water from inside the vessel, the boat was floating.

As Valdivieso and Linebaugh pulled the vessel deeper into the Gulf, Golembiewski secured the boat and readied it to be towed to the Anna Maria City Pier, where it was temporarily docked.

Obituaries

Mark M. Pastorius

Mark M. Pastorius, 65, of Apple Valley, Minnesota, died April 30.

He was born Jan. 10, 1958, to Maynard and Delores Pastorius. He grew up in Little Canada, Minnesota, where he graduated from Kellogg High School, class of 1977.

He had a love for the open road, riding his motorcycle and visits to Florida.

His father was a local caption for more than 30 years who still serves the Cortez Coast Guard Auxiliary. Mother Delores is a local artist of many years with the Artists’ Guild of Anna Maria Island, as are his sister-in-law Dee Dee and sister Jody.

Services will be June 29, at Mueller-Bies Funeral Home in Roseville, Minnesota. Memorials may be made at muellerbies.com.

Mr. Pastorius is survived by his son, Blake Hatlestad; longtime girlfriend Christine Miller; parents Maynard and Dee Pastorius of Bradenton; sister Jody and husband Tom Tschida; and brothers Todd and wife Dee Dee, and Roque and Kathy of Cortez.

The boat was towed to Tarpon Springs later the same day, where Golembiewski plans to complete repairs and store the vessel until next year’s voyage.

“I want to apologize to anybody who I have upset with my boat being there,” Golembiewski said. “We would love to return to Anna Maria Island next year with the boat completed.”

He added that, by the time he returns, he might have his captain’s license, after a jump start on com-

Obituaries

Jeffrey ‘JT’ Edward Tarr

Jeffrey “JT” Edward Tarr, 65, of Bradenton, died April 30.

He was born June 3, 1957, in New Brunswick, New Jersey, to Josephine and John Tarr.

He was raised in Winchester, Kentucky.

Mr. Tarr, also known as “JT,” had a long career in the service industry, including at the Beach Bistro and the Bistro at the Concession golf club in Bradenton.

He was what his family called a “talented badass artist and an amazing step father.”

His artwork can be found at the Beach Bistro and Doctor’s Office, both in Holmes Beach, and adorning walls all across Florida and places far and wide.

Mr. Tarr is survived by his brother Jack of Lexington, Kentucky, and his children, Riley Petty and Regan Kelly, both of Bradenton.

pleting the course with his time ashore.

Other damages, qualms

While the boat was resting on the beach, it was pillaged and vandalized, causing some $10,000 in additional damage, according to Golembiewski.

He said someone broke the cabin doors, after which people began taking items as souvenirs.

Golembiewski said the city also damaged the boat by stapling paper notices and flyers to the hull, then stapling more to the vessel after the older ones fell off.

He also blamed the city for removing the vessel’s boom and ropes from the mast but said city staff and officials denied removing any items.

Golembiewski said he’d like to meet with city officials and staff to discuss the issue while he is still in Florida.

“We’re upset with the city,” he said, but “I’m willing to sit down with them.”

Golembiewski added that he hopes people who removed items from the vessel, such as a carved boom rest with Lucky Us 2 and a dolphin figure, might find it in their hearts to return the items or fund their replacement.

Meanwhile, Golembiewski May 12 launched another GoFundMe campaign, “Help Us Repair Lucky Us 2,” to raise $10,000.

Pastorius

JT Tarr at a sidewalk sale with his artwork.

James Golembiewski stands on the beach april 10 with his sailboat, Lucky Us 2, which crashed on the shores of Holmes Beach after a storm the night of Feb. 11. Islander Photo: Ryan Paice

The Lucky Us 2 is back on the water may 9 in the Gulf of mexico after it was dug out, dragged and floated away from the shore the night before. a pair of Cortez fishermen brought their boats to assist and tow the vessel. Islander Photo: Ryan Paice

Anna Maria’s outdoor market closes up shop for summer

By Ryan Paice Islander Reporter

Another successful farmers market season recently wrapped up in Anna Maria.

The 2022-23 season was slowing down before it ended May 9, evidenced by the absence of some of the 14 vendors.

The market is held under the shade sails at City Pier Park, 103 N. Bay Blvd., Anna Maria, and runs from fall to late spring.

It began in 2017 as a way to draw people to Pine Avenue during the closure and reconstruction of the city pier, and has since become a staple for the city.

Dynasty Guacamole employee Jimmy Hernandez — who sells guacamole, salsas and ceviche — told The Islander May 9 that Dynasty participates in a handful of markets across south Florida and Anna Maria’s is one of the best.

“It’s a really good market and a really good place,” Hernandez said. “It’s one of our best markets.”

“Unfortunately, it’s the last day, but we hope to come back in October,” he added. “We’d like to continue for the full year.”

On the other hand, Blooms by the Beach employee

Sharon Lave told The Islander May 9 that she’d like to see the city explore opening additional parking and marketing for the event heading into next season.

She said a lack of parking in the area put a cap on how many people could visit the market and she heard from some people who didn’t know about the event.

Blooms by the Beach first joined the market last year, selling bouquets, succulents and hanging plants.

Lave said the market had slowed down after Easter, resulting in some vendors ending the season early, but said it had been a good season overall.

“For the most part, it’s been a good year, especially in the wintertime when we have a lot of snowbirds here,” Lave said. “It’s slow but steady now.”

Roman Strykowski, an employee of Surferdude Cooks, a distributor of Marek’s Authentic Polish Food, told The Islander May 9 that he has bittersweet feelings about participating in the market.

He said he used to live in Fort Myers before Hurricane Ian, which devastated his home, so he was jealous of how well the Anna Maria Island community

weathered the 2022 storm.

“I like it here, it’s nice,” Strykowski said. “But the first day I came here I had tears in my eyes. As a former islander, to see this, where everything is prehurricane is heartbreaking.”

Strykowski now lives in Lehigh Acres and travels more than two hours to participate in the market, which he praised.

Nevertheless, he also agreed with Lave’s suggestion for additional parking and marketing heading into 2023-24.

“This year’s market was very successful and received many compliments from residents, visitors and vendors,” city clerk LeAnne Addy wrote in a May 12 email to The Islander.

However, Addy wrote that the market’s fate isn’t certain — city commissioners will determine this summer “if and when” the market will be continued and for what duration.

If the market continues in 2023-24, vendors will be able to apply on the city’s website, cityofannamaria.com.

Meet AM’s new deputy clerk

Fransheska Berrios, the city of anna maria’s newest deputy clerk, poses may 11. The city hired Berrios in april to fill a role that had remained empty since Debbie Haynes retired in December 2021. Berrios previously worked as deputy/utility clerk for the town of magnolia Park. Islander

BY LEWIS ROTHLEIN AND JEFF CHEN / EDITED BY WILL SHORTZ

No. 0507

Lewis Rothlein is a yoga instructor and jazz-piano enthusiast in Asheville, N.C. Jeff Chen is a writer and professional crossword constructor in Seattle. This is their third collaboration for The Times. The theme idea was Lewis’s. To find the best examples, Jeff wrote code and sifted the results from the database at XWordInfo.com, which has about 240,000 answer words from past Times crosswords. — W. S.

Shoppers peruse fresh fruits and vegetables may 9 at the Fibela Produce stand at the anna maria Farmers market at City Pier Park, 103 N. Bay Blvd., during the last day of the 2022-23 season. Islander Photo: Ryan Paice

Photo: Ryan Paice

Privateers put on foodie fest in the field

The anna maria Island Privateers gather may 13 on city field in Holmes Beach for a food truck and music festival. The event featured food vendors and band performances. Islander

aBOVE: Vendors arrive and set up at Holmes Beach’s city field before noon may 13 for a food truck festival presented by the anna maria Island Privateers. Food, refreshments, games, vendor booths and musicians served up fun for all ages at the event. The Privateers will return to the park Saturday, may 27, for the annual Snooks adams’ Kids Day — a tradition for island youths to celebrate the end of the school year.

Islander Photo: Jacob merrifield

Photo: Courtesy Jennifer mais/amIP

Streetlife Staff reports

Island police reports

Anna Maria

No new reports.

The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office polices Anna Maria.

Bradenton Beach

May 5, 100 block of Cortez Road W., Baker Act. Bradenton Beach police officers responded to reports of a man behaving erratically in traffic near the west end of the Cortez Bridge. Officers located a man standing in the roadway who said he had ingested methamphetamine. When offi cers attempted to take the man into protective custody, he became combative. A police stun gun was used to subdue the man, who was transported to HCA Florida Blake Hospital in Bradenton under the Baker Act, a Florida law providing for mental health examination and treatment.

May 5, 700 block of Gulf Drive, hit-and-run, reckless driving, lack of insurance. The BBPD arrested a 19-year-old from Lakewood Ranch for reckless driving and fleeing an accident with damage after she allegedly drove into another vehicle and drove away.

The BBPD polices the city.

Cortez

May 9, 4110 127 Street W., Seafood Shack, burglary. An MCSO deputy responded to a call concerning a burglary of electronic equipment from a boat moored at the marina. The complainant reported that he discovered the components, valued at $7,000, missing after leaving them aboard overnight.

The MCSO polices Cortez.

Holmes Beach

May 2, Manatee Public Beach, 4000 Gulf Drive, open alcohol container. An officer from the Holmes Beach Police Department found a man allegedly involved in a retail theft earlier that day sitting on the beach after hours with several open alcoholic beverages on the ground. The officer told the man the beach was closed and issued a citation for open alcohol containers. The man left the area without issue. The officer submitted information regarding the theft to the state attorney’s office.

May 5, 700 block of Gulf Drive, assisting law enforcement. An officer responded to assist the Bra-

denton Beach Police Department in a hit-and-run case and found the offending motorist, who allegedly rearended another driver. The victim provided video of the incident. A BBPD officer arrested the driver after reviewing the victim’s video and interviewing her and her passengers, who provided false information about the incident.

May 6, 100 block of 52nd Street, open alcohol container/underage drinking/marijuana. Two officers responded to a commotion and found juveniles drinking alcoholic beverages. The officers issued a citation to one person holding an open alcoholic beverage and submitted information about another juvenile found in possession of 2.3 grams of marijuana. The officers contacted parents to pick up the kids.

May 6, 400 block of 74th Street, grand theft. An officer responded to reports of a theft and found a juvenile who said a group of boys she’d been with at the beach took her phone and fled. She declined to cooperate with the officer or provide information about the boys. Her friend contacted one of the boys, who said they had left the phone at a gas station in Bradenton. The officer contacted the Bradenton Police Department, which was unable to locate the phone. The juvenile and her father did not want to press charges.

May 7, 400 block of Highland Avenue, assisting law enforcement. An HBPD officer responded to assist the BBPD with a physically combative subject and found three BBPD officers trying to place a man in handcuffs. The officer used his stun gun on the man three times before the subject was handcuffed. The HBPD officer assisted others in transporting the man into a Manatee County Emergency Medical Services ambulance.

May 8, 200 block of 84th Street, criminal mischief. An officer responded to reports of a vandalized mailbox and spoke to the renter’s daughter. She said her family discovered their mailbox damaged, as if someone had tried to pry it open, but there was no missing mail or suspicious packages. The officer photographed the damaged mailbox.

May 8, Manatee Public Beach, 4000 Gulf Drive, trespass warning. An officer saw a motorist illegally parked in a marked Manatee County Area Transit bus

Cops & Courts

Bradenton resident arrested for assault in Cortez

Manatee County Sheriff’s Office deputies May 5 arrested George Rodriguez-Bernece, 23, of Bradenton, for an alleged assault on another man in the 700 block of 45th Avenue West in Cortez.

The MCSO said Rodriguez-Bernece punched out the window of a man’s vehicle after seeing an ex-girlfriend with the man and then punched the man in the face.

Deputies arrived and arrested Rodriguez-Bernece for burglary with assault, a felony, and two counts of criminal mischief.

He was transported to the Manatee County jail in Palmetto and was released the same day on a bond amount of 22,f00.

If convicted of burglary with assault, RodriguezBernece could face up to 15 years imprisonment and a fine of up to $10,000.

If convicted of criminal mischief, he could face up to 60 days of jail and a fine of up to $500 for each count.

He entered a not-guilty plea May 8.

Formal arraignment will be at 9 a.m. Tuesday, June 6, at the Manatee County Judicial Center, 1051 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.

— Robert anderson

Island watch

In an emergency, call 911. To report info, call the MCSO Anna Maria, 941-708-8899; Bradenton Beach police, 941-778-6311; Holmes Beach police, 941-708-5804.

turnaround lane in the parking lot after closing hours. The officer spoke with the driver, who became “argumentative and agitated.” The officer issued a trespass warning and parking citation to the man, who left without issue.

HBPD polices Holmes Beach.

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

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‘Kindness’ congrats

Holmes Beach code compliance officer Nate Brown, right, smiles may 9 alongside mayor Judy Titsworth, left, who awarded Brown with the Nate Brown Kindness award. “Nate has a gentle spirit that personifies the ethos of the award,” Titsworth said. The mayor said the award was named after Brown, its first recipient, due to his “positive nature and the good will he brings to work every day.” The award will be presented to a city employee every three months for showing kindness during the course of their duties.

Islander Photos: Ryan Paice

HB recognizes Police Week

BELOW: Holmes Beach mayor Judy Titsworth, left, stands may 9 with Police Chief Bill Tokajer and members of the Holmes Beach Police Department after presenting a proclamation recognizing the week beginning may 15 as National Police Week, which honors law enforcement officers for their work and sacrifice.

Eyes on the road

• City center in Holmes Beach: A Holmes Beach contractor continues work near the intersection of Gulf and Marina drives on infrastructure improvements. Traffic patterns can change. For the latest, check the city’s page on Facebook.

Also, Manatee County is working on a force main project. The contractor the week beginning May 8 was performing excavation activities on Holmes Boulevard. For the latest, go to amiprojects.io.

• Gulf Drive in Bradenton Beach : Manatee County is relocating and replacing sewer lines. The contractor the week beginning May 8 was preparing the area on the west side of Gulf Drive South between 11th Street South and 13th Street South for installation of the main line. Public parking along the west side of Gulf Drive South between Sixth Street South and 10th Street South reopened. Public parking along the west side of Gulf Drive South between 10th Street South and 13th Street South is closed. For the latest, go to amiprojects.io.

For area road watch information, go online to swflroads.com or dial 511.

— Lisa Neff

Catching a breeze in Holmes Beach

Holmes Beach parks and beautification committee members reached consensus may 3 to recommend the addition of a wind sculpture behind the trolley stop at the Island Library, 5701 marina Drive, Holmes Beach.

Islander Photo: Ryan Paice

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RoadWatch

State issues draft Clean Water Act permit for Piney Point

By Lisa Neff Islander Editor

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection issued a draft permit under the Clean Water Act for the Piney Point phosphate facility in late April.

Piney Point’s last permit expired more than 20 years ago.

The state issued the draft permit following the filing of litigation by Public Justice’s Environmental Enforcement Project and Charles M. Tebbutt on behalf of the Center for Biological Diversity, Tampa Bay Waterkeeper, Suncoast Waterkeeper, ManaSota-88 and Our Children’s Earth Foundation.

“It’s good that the facility will get an updated permit after 22 years but it’s too little, too late to fix the environmental burden Piney Point has put on Floridians and our environment,” Ragan Whitlock, a Floridabased attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity, said in a news release.

Piney Point, long defunct as an operation, still contains the remains of the phosphate mining process — phosphogypsum stacks topped with hundreds of millions of gallons of toxic process wastewater, stormwater and tons of dredged spoil.

Two years ago, after decades of troubles at the site, about 215 million gallons of polluted wastewater was dumped into the Tampa Bay estuary in an attempt to avoid a larger catastrophe — the collapse of a stack.

The 2021 wastewater release dumped into Tampa Bay more nitrogen — about 180 metric tons — than the bay usually receives from all other sources in a year.

And following the release, Tampa Bay experienced a deadly red tide.

“We are only two years removed from one of the worst environmental disasters we’ve seen,” said Justin Tramble, executive director of Tampa Bay Waterkeeper. “We saw dumpsters of dead fish, an obliteration of our watershed and our fishery. Tampa Bay is

resilient but Piney Point’s continued impacts have no doubt tested that resiliency.”

A push to remove the wastewater and close Piney Point got underway with an injection of state money and, in April, Manatee County began injecting the wastewater into a deep injection well about 1,500 feet below the Florida aquifer.

Recent testing of the waste being injected into the well showed high levels of arsenic, which can cause cancer, and chloride, which can erode pipes.

The wastewater also contains sulfate pollution at levels 16 times greater than what the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency determined is safe in drinking water, according to Public Justice.

The DEP, in a news release, said the renewal of the permit is to reflect the closure work at the site.

The draft permit includes discharge limits, including for nutrients to ensure the protection of Tampa Bay, as well as monthly and quarterly monitoring and reporting requirements to ensure compliance with permit conditions.

The notice of the draft permit was issued April 28, opening a 30-day comment period.

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The south gypstack at Piney Point in manatee County. The county is now pumping water from Piney Point into a deep injection well about 1,500 feet below the Florida aquifer.

Statements in accordance with Rule 62-620.555, Florida Piney Point Phosphogypsum Stack System FL0000124-006-IW1S/NR can be sent to Lance Kautz, environmental administrator in the DEP’s phosphate management project in the division of water resource management, via email to dwrmiw.pm@floridadep. gov or by U.S. mail to 13051 N. Telecom Parkway, Suite 101, Temple Terrace, FL 33637-0926.

TideWatch

Red tide lingers

By Lisa Neff

The red tide organism, Karenia brevis , was detected in Southwest Florida during the week ending May 14.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reported K. brevis was observed at background to very low concentrations in Manatee County, very low concentrations in Pinellas County and background to low concentrations in Sarasota County.

There were no reports of fish kills or respiratory irritation for Manatee.

For more information, go online to myfwc.com/ research/redtide/statewide/.

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Feds show concern for bird casualties at Skyway pier

By Lisa Neff Islander Editor

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service committed to exploring options to address the injury and death of Tampa Bay birds at the Sunshine Skyway Fishing Pier State Park.

The commitment was stated in a May 3 letter to conservation organizations that called for federal help as the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission pursued new regulations for fi shing at the state-owned park.

“The issue of bird entanglement and the associated injury and mortality at the site is concerning,” the FWS stated in a letter to Elise Pautler Bennett, a senior attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity in St. Petersburg.

In late February, the state proposed a rule change to modify fishing regulations and directed staff to refine the proposal to protect bird populations before a final hearing.

Over the past two years, volunteers with Friends of the Pelicans have rescued more than 2,300 birds and documented more injuries and deaths, leading to declines in the rookeries in the Tampa Bay National Wildlife Refuge.

Conservationists say the fishing pier is deadlier to birds than other piers in the state, partly because the pier’s length and height make it difficult to rescue hooked or entangled birds and partly due to the number of fishing poles and the maze of lines in the water the birds must navigate.

Options under FWC consideration include education requirements, seasonal gear restrictions, limiting the number of sets of hook-and-line fishing gear, gear restrictions on a portion of the pier and deterrents.

“The impacts from pier fishing to sea birds are very real,” said Barbara Howard, president of Friends of the Tampa Bay National Wildlife Refuges. “We see these impacts on the national wildlife refuges in Tampa

Bay and see our nesting numbers dropping. … Unfortunately, the problem will not resolve itself. It will only get worse if we don’t intervene.”

Representatives from Howard’s organization and other conservation groups, writing to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in December, questioned the impact of the state’s possible changes and asked the federal government to enforce the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to protect pelicans and other Tampa Bay

Resources for hurricane updates

Twitter

• National Hurricane Center: @NWSNHC, @NHC_atlantic.

• National Weather Service: @NWS, @NWSTampaBay

On the web

• County: mymanatee.org.

• State: floridadisaster. org.

• Federal: fema.gov., nhc.noaa.gov

News

• The Islander: islander.org

• Bradenton Herald: bradenton.com

• Herald-Tribune: heraldtribune.com

birds.

The conservation groups said to date no state agencies or the concessionaire on the pier — Pier Associates — had “taken adequate steps to avoid, minimize and mitigate the overwhelming amount of take caused by the operation of the Skyway Fishing Pier. Without the service’s enforcement of the MBTA, we are gravely concerned that the continued operation of the Skyway Fishing Pier will continue to contribute to the catastrophic decline of coastal bird populations in Tampa Bay.”

The FWS response, signed by Jerome Ford, assistant director for the Migratory Bird Program in Washington, D.C., states that the service is committed “to exploring options with others to find a resolution” and “the issue will require the collaboration of many entities.”

The letter does not state a commitment to applying the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which prohibits the purposeful and incidental take of migratory birds without prior authorization from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Ford encouraged the conservation groups — FTBNWR, the Center for Biological Diversity, Friends of the Pelicans, Conservancy of Southwest Florida and the American Bird Conservancy — to share their ideas with Mike Oetker, acting Southeast regional director with the service.

Their ideas, as outlined in their December letter to the FWS, include instituting a one person-one pole limit, closing the north end of the south pier, arranging for regular removal of line under the pier, limiting gear to one hook per line, contracting with a wildlife rescue organization to hire two full-time rescuers and prohibiting:

• Line-cutting when a bird is hooked or entangled;

• Anglers from leaving baited poles unattended;

• Using treble hooks, sabiki rigs and other multihook gear.

an entangled pelican at the Sunshine Skyway Bridge rock revetment is rescued by a Friends volunteer. Islander Photo: Courtesy Center for Biological Diversity/Capt. Nick Graham

Spring soccer winds down, golfers, horseshoers mix it up

By Kevin P. Cassidy Islander Reporter

Let no one say sports are not competitive at the community center.

Upsets marked the first round of the adult soccer league playoffs May 11 at the Center of Anna Maria Island.

Semifinal action continues May 18 when Moss Builders takes on Pool America at 7 p.m. followed by Sandbar squaring off against Vintage Beach at 8 p.m. The winners will meet in the championship match at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 25.

Youth soccer winding down

TJ Hagey scored two goals and Andre Harwood made 11 saves for Am I Coconuts in the loss.

Cassidy

The action kicked off with No. 1 seed Duncan Real Estate losing 5-3 to No. 8 Moss Builders. Moss, which won only two games in the regular season, received two goals each from Gerardo Urbiola Bolanos and Adam Bujarski. Also chipping in on the scoring was Cemal Duzgan, who finished with a goal and an assist, while David Moss finished with eight saves in the victory.

Kevin Roman scored two goals and Erica Nielsen added goals for Duncan Real Estate, which also received an assist from Tyler Brewer and seven saves from Tuna McCracken in the loss.

The upsets continued in the second match as No. 7 seed Vintage Beach edged No. 2 seed Sato Real Estate 5-4 behind three goals and an assist from Joey Hutchinson and a goal each from Danny Free and Damir Glavan. Mandy Sky added an assist and PJ Smargisso finished with nine saves in the victory.

The third match of the night saw No. 3 Sandbar Restaurant outscore No. 6 Solid Rock Construction

5-3 to continue the upset trend. Danny Hampton and Matthew Staggs scored two goals each to lead Sandbar, which also received a goal from Alonso Murillo and assists from Daniel Anderson and Silas Banyas in the victory.

Stephen Adair scored two goals and Amy Ivin added a goal for Solid Rock, which also received an assist from James Roadman and five saves from Steve Oelfke in the loss.

No. 5 Pool America earned an upset victory over No. 4 Gulfview Windows & Doors, but it took a penalty-kick shootout to determine a winner. The teams battled to a 3-3 tie in regulation. Pool America received single goals from Dean Hinterstoisser, Jamie Hutchinson and Christopher Klotz while Jana Whitehead scored two goals and Keith Mahoney added a goal for Gulf View in the tie.

In the penalty-kick shootout, Nate Welch, Eduardo Schlueter, and Jamie Hutchinson converted their spot kicks for Pool America, while Mahoney was the lone Gulf View player to convert, giving Pool America the victory.

Final seedings for the 8-10 youth soccer division are set, while the 11-14 division still has a week left of regular season matchups at the center.

Cheesecake Cutie lost its first match of the season, but held onto the No. 1 seed at 5-1, just ahead of No. 2 Sato Real Estate, which finished 4-2. Cutie and Sato earned byes into the semifinals, awaiting the results of No. 3 seed Westfall’s Lawn Care & Pest Control versus No. 6 seed Am I Coconuts, which will meet up at 6:15 p.m. May 16, while No. 4 Solid Rock Construction will meet up with No. 5 Island Real Estate at 7 p.m.

The regular season action concluded May 9 with three matches, starting with Westfall’s 2-0 victory over Solid Rock. Callin Westfall scored a pair of goals and Kason Price made seven saves in the shutout win.

Isaaac Roadman made five saves and Carson Long made two saves for Solid Rock in the loss.

The second match of the night saw Island Real Estate earn a 3-0 victory over Cheesecake Cutie. Preston LaPensee scored two goals and had an assist and Colton Sullivan added a goal. Miles Moss made five saves to help preserve the victory for IRE.

Sawyer Leibfried made three saves for Cheesecake Cutie in the loss.

Sato Real Estate cruised to a 4-2 victory over Am I Coconuts in the last match of the night behind two goals from Dylan Sato and 10 saves from goalie Vincent Gollamudi. Brandon Sato and Salvatore Vera both finished with a goal and an assist in the victory.

SportsShort

By Lisa Neff

Community center sets summer sports schedule

Play ball!

What kind? Kickball. Football. Soccer.

The Center of Anna Maria Island is registering athletes for three sports leagues:

• Youth indoor soccer for kids ages 3-14 will run June 13-Aug. 8. Games at the center, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria, will be played 5:30-9 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays.

Player evaluations and a draft will be 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 30, for kids 11-14 and 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 31 for kids 8-10. There will be no evaluations for age divisions 3-4 and 5-7.

The cost is $10 for members and $100 for nonmembers.

Registration is required by Friday, May 26 to avoid a late fee.

• Adult kickball runs June 19-Aug. 14, with games played 6-9 p.m. Mondays.

The center is registering teams at $500 each.

Registration is required by Monday, June 5, to avoid a late fee.

• Adult flag football runs June 15-Aug. 10, with games 6-9 p.m. Thursdays.

The last day to register is Tuesday, May 30, with a draft set for 7 p.m. Thursday, June 1, following a pickup game for new players at 6 p.m.

The cost for the season is $10 for members and $120 for nonmembers.

For more information, contact Tyler Bekkerus at recreation@centerami.org or 941-778-1908, ext. 210.

With one week remaining in the regular schedule, Gulf Drive Cafe holds a slim lead over second place Moss Builders for top seed. Gulf Drive Cafe is 4-1-1, while Moss Builders is 3-1-2, two points back in the standings. Gulf Drive Cafe takes on winless Shady Lady Horticultural Services in its final match May 16, while Moss Builders squares off against third place HSH Designs in its final regular-season match.

Action May 9 saw Gulf Drive Cafe and HSH Designs battle to a 3-3 tie. Jayden Sparks, Josiah MacDonald and Theo Aupelle each scored goals and Cyrus Ryan made nine saves to help preserve the tie.

Sterling Holiday scored two goals and Braelyn Curtis added one goal to lead HSH Designs, which also received five saves from Chase Castagna in the draw.

The last match of the night saw Moss Builders and Shady Lady battle to a 2-2 tie. Mason Moss and Callin Westfall each scored a goal to lead Moss, which also received 10 saves from Austin Guess in the tie.

Ryk Kesten and Dominick Zupa each scored a goal and Jack Zaccagnino made six saves to help preserve the tie.

KRC golf news

Golf action at the Key Royale Club in Holmes Beach got started May 8 with the men playing their regular nine-hole modified-Stableford match.

Mike Gillie grabbed first place with a plus-4, one point ahead of second-place finishers Ron Huibers, Greg Shorten and Quentin Talbert, who tied for second at plus-3. Larry Brattain and Roger Rottschafer tied for third place at plus-2.

The Key Royale women played a nine-hole individual-low-net match in two flights May 9.

Helen Pollock fired a 3-under-par 29 to run away with first place in Flight A. Pam Lowry, Betsy Meyer, Sharon Tarras and Lori Waggoner all finished at evenpar 32 in a four-way tie for second place.

Connie Livanos and Gloria LaDue both carded 2-under-par 30s to tie for the top spot in Flight B. Jackie Gorski and Judy Menchek were another stroke back in second place.

Leigh Brattain won the low putts contest on 14 putts with Livanos one putt back in second.

Horseshoe news

Two teams emerged from pool play with 3-0 records and settled things in the finals during May 10 horseshoe action at the Anna Maria City Hall pits. The championship match was all Tom Farrington, as he walked his way to a decisive 21-6 victory over Dom Livedoti and Bob Hawks to earn the day’s bragging rights.

The May 13 games were another two-team affair with Tim Sofran and Billy Silver taking on Bob Baker and John Yaroch. Sofran and Silver were nursing a 17-15 lead when Silver emphatically ended the match on a double-ringer to win the day’s championship 23-15.

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

There is no charge to play and everyone is welcome.

Anna Maria Island Tides

Clear skies bring clear water, variety to AMI anglers

By Capt. Danny Stasny Islander Reporter

With minimal amounts of rain, Anna Maria Island fi shers are out enjoying the crystal clear waters in the inland areas and in the Gulf of Mexico.

Fishing the artificial reefs and wrecks west of Anna Maria Island is beginning to gear up as migratory species — kingfish and bonito — are passing through the region.

Following those fish are plenty of sharks, if you fancy hooking into a large predator.

Bottom fishing around structure in the shallower areas of the Gulf is yielding action. Mangrove snapper and juvenile grouper can be found. Try chumming to raise the snapper off the bottom for some great action on medium spinning tackle. And, in the clear water, you can watch the snapper as they frolic through the chum, making them quite targetable.

Moving inshore, the deep grass flats of Tampa Bay south through Anna Maria Sound to Sarasota Bay host a variety of fish. Spotted seatrout can be targeted while free-lining live shiners or small pinfish on the edges of the sandy potholes. Mixed in are some large rogue Spanish mackerel, as well as jack crevalle, ladyfish and bluefish. You might even encounter the blues following the trout on the end of your line, fiercely biting off its tail.

Targeting catch-and-release snook on the shallower flats is worth an attempt. I’m not seeing as many snook as in previous Mays but their numbers should improve as we near June. Redfish are following suit with most being found around mangrove shorelines or docks with deep water.

Lastly, a tidbit of advice. It’s time to dust off your tarpon gear. Numerous catches are occurring around the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, which means the “beach bite” is near.

On my Just Reel charters, I’m working the deeper

flats of Tampa Bay, which is yielding great action on a variety of species. Spotted seatrout 14-22 inches are being caught consistently, although some days, the migratory species — macks, ladyfish and Jack crevalle — are moving in and dominating the bite. For most anglers, this is OK, as all of those fish are worthy adversaries on medium spinning gear. And, on many occasions, they are a welcome sight, adding flash and variety to the bite.

Targeting sharks around the sandbars in Tampa Bay is entertaining. And, with an abundance of jacks and macks available, getting bait for the toothy predators is easy. Sight-casting to the sharks as they patrol the shallow sandbars is most exciting. On many occasions, my clients and I are watching them eat the bait, and it doesn’t get any better than that, y’all. For sheer excitement, the experience is a crowd-pleaser.

Justin McElroy at the Rod & Reel Piers says he’s seeing quite a variety of fish being caught while he spends his mornings covering for Jim Malfese, who’s staying home due to an injury.

Catch-and-release snook are beginning to take up residence under the pier as it’s a great spot to take a break and have a snack before heading toward the beaches to look for a mate. Pier fishers baiting with live shrimp and pinfish are hooking into snook of all sizes.

Mangrove snapper also have it made in the shade, as they congregate under the pier among the pilings, waiting for anglers to drop a perfectly placed live shrimp in front of their noses. The fish can be tricky, as their keen eyesight aides them in deciphering whether to eat the bait, so using the lightest fluorocarbon leader you can will help trick them into biting.

Migratory species such as mackerel and jack crevalle can be had as they pass by the pier. Casting artificials — silver spoons or speck rigs — is a great way to try your luck with these high-speed predators.

Lastly, the highlight of the week has to be tarpon. McElroy reports he’s seen numerous silver kings hooked and jumped, with a few actually staying on the line long enough to be dehooked on the beach adjacent to the pier.

Capt. Warren Girle is working the nearshore reefs,

which is yielding a few different species. Kingfish are available in these areas, weighing in at 10-25 pounds. Free-lined shiners on a wire rig are working best.

Amid the kingfish are quite a few sharks, according to Girle, and they’re taking baits and even taking half a kingfish as it’s reeled to the boat.

Once the kingfish and shark action slows, Girle is chumming over the reefs to lure mangrove snapper out of their hiding places. This technique is yielding mangoes measuring 14-16 inches.

Moving inshore, Girle is finding action in Sarasota Bay on snook, redfish and trout, although he expects to be spending most of the next 4-5 weeks on the hunt for tarpon.

Capt. David White is spending his mornings inshore fishing around Tampa Bay.

Fishing over deep grass flats is resulting in a variety of species, including macks, bluefish, jack crevalle and spotted seatrout. All are responding to live shiners free-lined among chummers. The fish are worthy adversaries on medium spinning gear, especially the migratory fish — the macks, jacks and blues. As for the trout, their fighting ability and stamina pale to the other species, although their worthiness is proven on the dinner plate, where they are a favorite among inshore anglers.

After that bite does down, White is leading clients to shark-fishing, which is always a crowd pleaser for anglers looking to pull on a big fish.

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

Stasny

PJ Wharton of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, joins the 36-inch club with this fatty trout he caught may 11 while on a charter fishing trip with Capt. Danny Stasny of Just Reel Fishing.

Capt. David White wrangles a blue marlin he caught last week on a busman’s holiday to abaco Island in the Bahamas.

Capt. David White holds up a tarpon for a trophy photo april 27 on a guided fishing trip in Tampa Bay with 15 boats and captains.

Do’s and don’ts for sea turtle nesting season

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission recommends people follow these guidelines for sea turtle safety:

Nesting notes

anna maria Island Turtle Watch executive director Kristen mazzarella, center yellow shirt, with volunteer Carla Boehme, center blue jacket, and two beach bystanders at a site near 30th Street in Holmes Beach where, as of may 12, amITW had staked four loggerhead nests. Islander Photos: Kathy Caserta

One of four loggerhead nests on the shore at the 30th Street beach access is staked and marked may 12 by amITW volunteers. The nests will incubate in the sand and, without incident such as waves or standing water inundating the nest or predation by animals, about 100 loggerhead sea turtles will hatch in about 60 days.

• DO turn off or adjust lighting along the beachfront to prevent nesting sea turtles from becoming disoriented and moving toward the glow of light on land, instead of natural light reflecting on the surface of the water. Indoor lights should be turned off, with curtains closed after dark, and outdoor lighting should be turtlefriendly bulbs. Use fixtures low to the ground and shielded from view at the shoreline.

• DON’T use flashlights or camera flashes on the beach at night. They can distract nesting sea turtles and cause them to return to the water.

• DO clear the way at the end of the day. Nesting female sea turtles can become trapped, confused or impeded by gear left on the beach at night. Remove items such as boats, tents, rafts and beach furniture and fill in holes or level sand castles before dusk. Holes trap turtles and can injure people.

Call code enforcement to report unattended property or large holes on the beach.

anna maria code enforcement — 941-7086130, ext. 139 or ext. 129.

Bradenton Beach code enforcement — 941-778-1005, ext. 280.

Holmes Beach code enforcement — 941778-0331, ext. 260.

Report sick, injured, entangled or dead sea turtles to the FWC Wildlife alert Hotline, 1-888404-3922, #FWC or *FWC on a cellphone or text Tip@myFWC.com.

amITW executive director Kristen mazzarella told The Islander by text may 12 that “nesting activity is strong.” She said they’re getting new nests nearly every day. “Looking to be a good nesting season!”

Kathy Caserta, a resident of the area, agreed. She gets up in the morning and looks for nests — with four and counting since the first nest of the season — april 18 — nearby.

as of may 13, amITW had identified 20 nests and 12 false crawls.

For more, contact amITW director Kristen mazzarella at annamariaturtlewatch@gmail.com or 941-232-1405.

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

Volunteers called to Leffis Key

Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources will host a volunteer work day — “Trail Team Thursday” — at Leffis Key in Bradenton Beach.

Volunteers are called to the preserve, 2351 Gulf Drive S., Bradenton Beach, at 9 a.m. Thursday, May 18, to “help with some finish work on the railroad tie water bars installed last fall,” according to a notice from the county.

Students can earn service hours for the project.

Registration is required.

For more information, contact Matthew Tschirgi at 941-742-5923, ext. 6035.

By Lisa Neff

Rising and relocating

Researchers are mapping Florida’s future. And using different scenarios to predict the impact of sea level rise on the state as early as 2040.

The quick takeaway from the “Florida’s Rising Seas” report is some populations will be displaced by sea level rise in Manatee County in the next 17 years.

Gulp.

Neff

The report, released this spring by 1000 Friends of Florida and the University of Florida Center for Landscape Conservation Planning, doesn’t even contain a best-case scenario where there is no displacement. Gulp.

The statewide analysis deals with sea level rise, population growth and development patterns and aims to identify how Florida over the next two decades can accommodate new arrivals to the state while also dealing with the loss of land and housing to sea level rise.

The research considers two scenarios:

• Sprawl 2040 assumes 2019 densities and development patterns will continue and factors in the impacts of sea level rise on lands and the need for population

Shell collectors to stroll shore

Calling beachcombers.

The Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources Department will host a “Seashell Shore Walk” at 9 a.m. Friday, May 19, at Coquina Beach in Bradenton Beach.

A notice from the county invited people to join “a relaxing walk on the beach to search for seashells and learn to identify them.”

Participants also will learn about ethical seashell collecting methods.

Reservations are required.

For more information, contact Elena Burke at elena.burke@mymanatee.org and 941-742-5923, ext. 6036.

— Lisa Neff

maps for central Florida show two scenarios for the impact of population growth, development and sea level rise in 2040. Islander Images: Courtesy UF/1000 Friends of Florida

relocation;

• Conservation 2040, the better alternative to Sprawl 2040, projects the same population growth and sea level rise by 2040 but emphasizes protecting sensitive land for conservation and assumes development will be 30% more compact.

Both scenarios are based on four assumptions:

• Florida’s population will grow 23% by 2040;

• Sea level will rise by 0.25 meters;

• Residents on lands to be lost to sea level rise will relocate — half within the same county, with overflow to nearby counties, and half to out-of-state locations;

• Likelihood of future development of land will vary depending on location and characteristics.

Based on the assumptions, Florida will see its population grow to 24,406,000 by 2040, requiring new development to accommodate the new residents.

Compounding the impact of the population growth will be the loss of land and displacement of established residents due to sea level rise — a million acres lost in 17 years, resulting in the relocation of 205,000

WE ROCK ONLINE

people.

“Florida’s protected natural lands will experience the brunt of sea level rise,” the report states. “Most of these lands will be in South Florida, known for its low elevations and preponderance of wetlands.”

In central Florida, with the highest amount of land and the largest population of four regions, growth is projected to climb 28%.

The researchers estimated the loss of land to sea level rise at 88,000 acres — about 1% of the total land — including 58,000 acres of protected natural land.

For the region that includes Anna Maria Island, the estimated number of residents who will relocate due to sea level rise by 2040 is 65,000.

“The Gulf Coast will be hardest hit,” the report states. “With Pinellas, Manatee, Hillsborough, Sarasota and Pasco counties having the highest relocations.”

About 1.77% of Manatee County’s population or 9,474 people would be directly impacted by sea level rise, with an estimated 4,737 displaced out of state, according to the report.

3 BEDROOM POOL HOME. STEPS TO BEACH

Move-in ready, elevated 1,745 SF, 3 bedroom home built in 2012 in a friendly, quiet neighborhood just steps from the beach. Home offers NEW A/C, elevator, an open floor plan, 10-foot vaulted ceilings, two balconies, on-demand hot water, 2+car garage, additional space for a studio/den/office area, as well as room for a workshop and ample storage. Reliable underground power. Entertain pool side at the covered paver patio and bar. Heated swim-sized pool with a Cobo sun shelf and changing room. Hurricane-resistant windows and doors help to meet FEMA’s requirements for lower home and flood rates. R1 zoning. $1,798,500

MIKE NORMAN REALTY EST. 1978

ITEMS FOR SALE

COmPLETE VERTICaL BLIND system: Draw cord, turn and pull, white and brown slats. 108 inches. Excellent-plus condition. $49 or best offer. 941-778-5542.

FaUX FIREPLaCE: $49 or best offer. 941778-5542.

PaNINNI maKER: CUISINaRT, stainlesssteel, like new, $45. 941-920-2494.

CHaIR: BLaCK, SOFT cushion $15/ each and office chair, white, $10. Side tables, brown with glass top. 2/$20. 941920-2494.

UNSPLIT maHOGaNy FIREWOOD for sale. Call Bill, 724-986-0314.

aNTIQUE PaRTNER DESK: all wood, $500. Inquire at The Islander office, 315 58th St. Suite J, Holmes Beach. 941-778-7978.

Sandy’s Lawn Service Inc.

Paradise Improvements 941.792.5600

RDI CONSTRUCTION INC.

AdoptA-Pet

Oh, those eyes!

Bella is an 8-year-old mixed-breed lovebug!

She’s neutered and has all vaccinations — ready to meet her new family! Call Lisa Williams at 941-3452441 or visit The Islander office in Holmes Beach. And for more about pet adoption, visit moonraceranimalrescue.com.

SPONSORED By

ANSWERS TO MAY 17 PUZZLE

FREEBIE ITEMS FOR SALE

Individuals may place one free ad with up to three items, each priced $100 or less, 15 words or less. FREE, one week, must be submitted online. Email classifieds@islander. org, fax toll-free 1-866-362-9821. (limited time offer)

ANNOUNCEMENTS

SPECIaLIZING IN BaCHELORETTE parties. Call michael Sue Scott. Intuitive reader. 941726-1234. www.michaelsuescott.com

LOST & FOUND

LOST: SmaLL TWO-year old black, longhaired cat. Last seen 69th Street and marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Katie mae, 941-7057179.

PETS

HELP RESCUED PETS! Volunteer, foster, computer help needed! moonracer animal Rescue. Email: moonraceranimalrescue@ gmail.com.

TRANSPORTATION

GOLF CaRT RENTaLS: Fun for residents and tourists! www.GolfCartRentalamI.com.

BOATS & BOATING

HaVE a BOaT and wanna catch more fish, better bait or learn the water? 50-year local fisherman, your boat, my knowledge. Captain Chris, 941-896-2915.

SUNCOaST BOTTOm PaINTING: Professional bottom painting. mobile. Call 941704-9382.

FISHING

FUN aND FISH: Skiff rental. 24-foot Carolina skiff. Live bait and fi shing equipment included upon request. Call 941-704-9382.

HELP WANTED

aCTIVITy PERSON NEEDED for beach resort. Part-time, 20-24 hours/week. For more details, please, call 941-779-2804.

NOW HIRING HaNDymaN: Full-time professional services. $18 an hour and up, based on experience. Call JayPros, 941962-2874.

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

KIDS FOR HIRE

NEED aN aDULT night out? Call maty’s Babysitting Services. I’m 16, love kids and have lots of experience. References upon request. 618-977-9630.

KIDS FOR HIRE ads are FREE for up to three weeks for Island youths under 16 looking for work. ads must be placed in person at The Islander office, 315 58th St. Suite J, Holmes Beach.

SERVICES

IS yOUR HOmE or office in need of some cleaning? Well, I’m your girl! Local, reliable, professional! Please, give me a call or text, 941-773 -0461.

CLEaNING: VaCaTION, CONSTRUCTION, residential, commercial and windows. Licensed and insured. 941-756-4570.

PRESSURE WaSHING, PaVER sealing, driveway, roof, fence, pool area. also, window cleaning. Licensed and insured. 941-5653931.

BICyCLE REPaIRS: Just4Fun at 5358 Gulf Drive can do most any bicycle repair at a reasonable cost. Pick-up and delivery available. 941-896-7884.

COmPaNION/HOmEmaKER: Honest and reliable offering help with running errands, grocery shopping, house sitting, pet and plant care, light cooking/cleaning, transportation. References available and licensed. Call Sherri, 941-592-4969.

aPI’S DRyWaLL REPaIR: I look forward to servicing your drywall repair needs. Call 941524-8067 to schedule an appointment.

PROFESSIONaL WINDOW CLEaNING: Residential, commercial, free estimates. “We want to earn your business!” 207-8526163.

aIRPORT RIDES: SaRaSOTa, St. Pete, Tampa. Call/text, Vita, 941-376-7555.

PaRaDISE PET CaRE: Pet specialist. Walking, sitting, vet visits. Training and love. Jason, 908-720-1688.

HaNGIN’ ON amI: We hang artwork, mirrors, TVs, etc. Furniture assembly. Local references available. 941-720-3126.

ISLaND LIGHTSCaPES & SECURITy: Landscape lighting and home security installation. Quality service by Island residents. 941-7203126.

PROFESSIONaL CaR SERVICE to all local airports. 24/7, 365. Eamonn, 941-4477737.

EXTRa HELP aT home or on vacation. organization, cleaning, sitting, errands. very competent. Gemma, 805-570-1415.

BUSINESS-TO-BUSINESS JD’s Window

Cleaning looking for storefront jobs in Holmes Beach. I make dirty windows sparkling clean. 941-920-3840.

BEaCH SERVICE air conditioning, heat, refrigeration. Commercial and residential service, repair and/or replacement. Serving manatee County and the Island since 1987. For dependable, honest and personalized service, call Bill Eller, 941-795-7411. CaC184228.

CLEaN TECH mOBILE Detailing. at your location. Cars, boats, RVs. Call or text Billie for an appointment. 941-592-3482.

The Islander newspaper is FREE at Publix Holmes Beach. Just stop by the customer service desk, hold out your hand and say, “Islander, please!” And maybe remind staff you’d like the serveyourself community newsrack returned to the lobby.

LAWN & GARDEN

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

BaRNES LaWN aND Landscape LLC. Design and installation, lawn and landscape services, tree trimming, mulch, rock and shell. 941-705-1444. Jr98@barneslawnandlandscape.com.

COLLINS LaNDSCaPE LIGHTING: Outdoor lighting, landscaping, irrigation services and maintenance. 941-279-9947. mJC24373@ gmail.com.

SEaRay SPRINKLER SERVICES. Repairs, additions, drip, sprinkler head/timer adjustments. 941-920-0775.

SHELL DELIVERED aND spread. Hauling all kinds of gravel, mulch, topsoil with free estimates. Call Larry at 941-795-7775, “shell phone” 941-720-0770.

mP LaWN maINTENaNCE now accepting new clients. Call Dante, 941-730-9199. mp@ mplawnmaintenance.com.

HOME IMPROVEMENT

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

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

GRIFFIN’S HOmE ImPROVEmENTS Inc. Handyman, fine woodwork, countertops, cabinets and wood flooring. Insured and licensed. 941-722-8792.

ISLaND HaNDymaN: I live here, work here, value your referral. Refinish, paint. Just ask. JayPros. Licensed/insured. References. Call Jay, 941-962-2874.

HaNDymaN aND PaINTING. No job too small. most jobs just right. Call Richard Kloss. 941-204-1162.

SCREENING SERVICES: Replace your old or ripped window, door or porch screens. many screen types available. Retired veteran here to serve our community! Free estimates, call Lane, 941-705-5293.

CaLL HyDRO CLEaN. Full-service pressure washing, sealing. Pavers, travertine and natural stone. Window washing too, up to three stories. Call Jacob, 941-920-2094.

SaRaSOTa INTERIOR PaINTING: We specialize in high-end properties. We love to paint! Owner operated. Fully insured/ licensed. Call or text Don, 941-900-9398. Instagram: SarasotaInteriorPainting.

RENTALS

aNNa maRIa GULF beachfront vacation rentals. One- two- and three-bedroom units, all beachfront. www.amiparadise.com. 941778-3143.

PERICO ISLaND PaTIO home for rent. 3BR/2Ba. two-car garage, fully renovated. 30-day minimum. Privacy fence/gate, two miles to amI. available July 1- December 25, 2023. #bluerockingchair instagram/fb. 859-771-6423.

aNNUaL 2BR/1Ba IN Bradenton Beach. 150 yards to Gulf. $2,650/month includes utilities and appliances. No smoking or pets. First/ last/security. 508-496-8480. williamshomes@ yahoo.com

BEaUTIFULLy FURNISHED, aNNUaL rental in Beach Harbor Club, Longboat Key. 2BR/2Ba with views of the bay, laundry and condo amenities include pool, grill, with both bay and beach access. $200 application required. $3,800 month plus fi rst and last month’s rent and $1,000 deposit. Call mike Norman Realty, 941-778-6696. 3101 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, FL 34217.

HOLmES BEaCH annual rental available now. Fully furnished. 3BR/2Ba elevated duplex. $4,000 per month plus utilities. Contact us at 941-778-4410 for more details.

ON aNNa maRIa Island: total remodel, ground-level, 2BR/1.5Ba in 55-plus community. Beach across street, furnished, pool, library, parking, annual rental, $3,200 per month. Includes WIFI, all utilities, no pets, no smoking, Call Tim, 507-382-8880.

BEaCH LIFE! 55-PLUS park: 1BR/1Ba. Beach just across the street! Furnished, pool, parking, annual rental. $1,695 month, includes all utilities except electricity. Vetting by the office. No pets. 831-212-2606.

1BR/1Ba GUEST aPaRTmENT: Holmes Beach. Renovated and furnished available June 1. Pets considered. $2,000/month. 305-793-8980.

FOR LEaSE: 2BR/2Ba condo available yearly. 55-plus community, ground fl oor, carport, pool clubhouse and golf available. No pets. $2,200 per month plus security. 440-7243126.

OFF-SEaSON RaTE: 90-180 days flexible. 2BR/2Ba Wildwood Springs. $1,800/month. Turnkey furnished. Real Estate mart, 941356-1456.

RaRE COmmERCIaL OFFICE space for lease, 101 S. Bay Blvd., Suite B2, 900 sf. above amI post office with great visibility, five exterior sign spaces, newly renovated, can come furnished, rent includes utilities, $4,500 per month, two-year lease minimum. Call Lisa, 941-799-1766.

WINNIE mCHaLE, REaLTOR, 941-5046146. Rosebay International Realty Inc. you need an aggressive and experienced Realtor in today’s market! Selling island homes, Sarasota and Bradenton areas. multi-milliondollar producer! “Selling Homes - making Dreams Come True.”

CLaSSIC FIXER-UPPER home. Private golf course, panoramic views. Half-plus acre. Caged pool, minutes to beaches. $719,000. Real Estate mart, 941-345-1456.

The

Manatee chamber to host ‘Politics & Pints’

Drink up.

The legislative session is ended.

The Manatee Chamber of Commerce will recap the 2023 Florida legislative session with its traditional “Politics & Pints” event at Oscura, 816 Manatee Ave. E., Bradenton.

The event — a roundtable conversation on politics with state lawmakers — will be 4:30-6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 30.

The chamber ushered in the session with another high-carb event — “Pancakes & Politics.”

For more information or reservations to “Politics & Pints,” contact the chamber at 941-748-3411 or info@manateechamber.com.

Danielle mahon, Topsail Steamer owner, and manager Tiffany Kaminski welcome guests may 9 to the grand opening of their restaurant in the mainsail Plaza at 5321 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach. mahon, founder and CEO, opened her first brick-and-mortar location in 2017 in Topsail Island, North Carolina. She now has seven locations, including amI, and they ship steamer pots to all 50 states. Islander

Photos: Toni Lyon

Share the news Does your business celebrate achievements? Please, share the news with “isl biz” readers. Send details to news@islander.org.

Once Upon A Beach

Cole Klaren focuses on hot seafood and veggies tumbling from a strainer pot onto a steamtable at Topsail Steamer. The restaurant served guests may 9 at a grand opening for the seafood concept, where customers pick their seafood, take it home in a steamer pot, cook and enjoy! Topsail is at 5321 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach.

Winners of an Islander T-shirt at the amICofC luncheon may 11 at the Porch in anna maria are Bob and amy Verhelst with Liberty Title of the South. Islander Photo: Toni Lyon

The anna maria Island Chamber of Commerce networking luncheon was a sold-out event at the Porch Restaurant in anna maria. members networked while enjoying cheeseburgers, fish and chips, chicken sandwiches and summer salads. From left are Brianna

PropertyWatch

By Carol Bernard

Island real estate sales

122 Hammock Road, Anna Maria, a 1,871 sq ft 3BR/3BA pool home on a 13,199 sq ft lot built in 1967 sold 4/14/2023 by Russell to 511 BHP LLC for $2,220,000, list price $2,450,000.

611 Gulf Drive N., #D11, Bradenton Beach, a 829 sq ft 2BR/2BA Imperial House condo built in 1969 sold 4/11/2023 by Radojcsics to Lanza for $450,000, list price $499,000.

1207 Gulf Drive S., Bradenton Beach, a 1,192 sq ft 2BR/2BA home on a 5,001 sq ft lot built in 1930 sold 4/18/2023 to Herrmann to Airhead N Bed LLC for $1,900,000, list price $1,900,000.

703 Manatee Ave., #11, Holmes Beach, a 1,179 sq ft 2BR/2BA Westbay Cove condo built in 1977 sold 4/17/2023 by Ronan to Bendier for $585,000, list price $585,000.

4255 Gulf Drive, #126, Holmes Beach, a 1,367 sq ft 3BR/2BA Island Village condo built in 1981 sold 4/18/2023 by Rueger to Pierce-Kee for $600,000, list price $619,900.

610 Gladstone Lane, Holmes Beach, a 1,873 sq ft 3BR/2BA pool home on a 9,975 sq ft lot built in 1972 sold 4/13/2023 by Goolsby Trust to Hogan for $1,300,000, list price $1,495,000.

5909 Flotilla Drive, Holmes Beach, a 2,780 sq ft 5BR/3BA home on a 8,002 sq ft lot built in 1992 sold 4/13/2023 by Ross to Flotilla Drive 5909 LLC for $1,600,000, list price $1,800,000.

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

Co-owner Brianna Foster introduces guests from the anna maria Island Chamber of Commerce may 11 to the Porch Restaurant in anna maria. Islander

Photo: Toni Lyon

Winners of the amICofC may 12 golf tournament accepting their awards at the ImG clubhouse restaurant after their round are Brady Chapman, Derek Williams, Steve monroe and, not pictured, mike Holmes. The team was sponsored by the Drift Inn. Islander Photo: Courtesy amICofC

Gagnier, Island Real Estate; John Lappin, Concord Home mortgage; Brian Sharkey, the Sharkey agency; amy Verhelst, Liberty Title of the South; Toni Lyon of The Islander; James Berger, Compass Hotel; Bernard Sokolowski of Starwheel Websites; and Tiffany miles, Island Real Estate. Islander Photo: amICofC

The Tyler’s Homemade Ice Cream family — Laura, Rob, Dan and Sandy alderson — tee up in style may 12 at the amICofC golf tournament at the ImG academy Golf Club in Bradenton. Islander Photo: Toni Lyon