Mayor concerned about beach cabana rentals
Concerns about signage on beach cabanas led to new concerns about cabana companies staking out prime beach spots on public land.
BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
HOLMES BEACH – Mayor Judy Titsworth is concerned about beach cabana rental signs and cabanas being placed in prime beach locations before they’re rented.
Titsworth shared these concerns during the June 24 Holmes Beach City Commission meeting. She said it was brought to the city’s attention that company logos and website references appeared on rented beach cabanas.
“You’re not allowed to have signs on the beaches and it’s advertising for businesses. There’s not supposed to be commercial use on preservation (zoned) land,” she said.
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Pines Trailer Park residents remain in dark about park
Residents say they have not received official confirmation of a possible July 31 closure date from park owners.
BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com
BRADENTON BEACH – Pines Trailer Park homeowners are expressing frustration about the lack of communication as a possible park closure date looms on July 31.
A Feb. 4 email to homeowners from Fort Lauderdale-based property acquisition company The Urban Group stated in part: “As you have been previously informed, and as a direct result of the community-wide damage dealt by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, coupled with non-payment of lot rent, Pines Trailer Park is no longer sustainable as a trailer
park, and must be closed, with an official park closure date of July 31, 2025.”
That email also offered homeowners some options, which included turning over title to the mobile homes in exchange for extended tenancy until January 2026 along with state statute-required compensation for abandoned units.
Several Pines homeowners have told The Sun that there has been no confirmation of the closing date either from park owners or The Urban Group.
Pines Homeowners Association
President Neil Lind told The Sun on July 2 that the attorneys for the HOA and Pines owners Pines Park Investors LLC are currently “in negotiations” but said he was not authorized to elaborate.
“I have not heard a thing,” Pines homeowner Mary Mox stated by text on July 3. “No one is talking.”
SEE PINES, PAGE 12
First turtle nests hatch on AMI
BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Sea turtle hatchling season has officially begun with two nests laid on the Island that hatched on July 3.
“Both were good hatches that appeared to go directly to the water,” Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring Executive Director Kristen Mazzarella wrote in a July 4 email to The Sun.
“Now that hatching season has begun, if you see a hatchling turtle going towards the water, please let it crawl so it can get its body stretched out and ready for a long swim,” she wrote.
If you spot a hatchling going away from the water or in danger of any kind, please call the Turtle Watch hotline at 941-301-8434 and a permitted volunteer or staff member
SEE TURTLE, PAGE 9
The first sea turtle nests of the year hatched on Anna Maria Island last week.
SEE CABANAS, PAGE
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN Beach cabanas line the shoreline near the 68th Street beach access on June 26.
LESLIE LAKE | SUN
DeSantis approves state funds for City Pier replacement
The city also expects to receive $2 million in county tourist tax revenues for the pier project.
BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
ANNA MARIA – The city will receive a $1.25 million state appropriation that will assist in the replacement of the Anna Maria City Pier walkway that sustained significant damage during Hurricane Milton last year.
Gov. Ron DeSantis did not veto the city’s appropriation request before signing Florida’s $117.4 billion 202526 fiscal year budget on June 30. Before signing the budget, DeSantis vetoed $567 million in line-item funding requests.
According to Mayor Mark Short, the city will have access to the $1.25 million when the state and city’s new fiscal years begin on Oct. 1.
The Local Funding Initia-
tive Request form that Sen. Jim Boyd (R-Bradenton) filed on the city’s behalf in early February originally sought $2.5 million, but that amount was reduced by 50% during the Florida Legislature’s 2025 session.
“Hurricane Milton destroyed the walkway of the Anna Maria City Pier, including all sewer, electrical and several pilings and has made the building at the end of the pier inoperable,” Boyd’s request form said. “The businesses and organizations that occupy the pier, including Mote Marine's Educational Center, the Gulf Islands Ferry and the City Pier Grill are unable to provide any services due to the damage from the storm’s direct impacts.”
As part of his efforts to secure the $7 million to $9 million needed to complete the pier replacement project, Short anticipates Manatee County commissioners approving a $2 million funding
The city will receive $1.25 million in state funds to replace the missing City Pier walkway.
request on July 29 when that Tourist Development Council-supported request is presented to county commissioners. If approved, the $2 million would come from tourist development tax revenues generated by the 6% tax the county levies on hotel, motel, resort and vacation rental stays of six months or less.
Short and the city also hope to receive up to $4 million in federal FEMA funds as reimbursement for
the pier damage, but those funds are not guaranteed and remain uncertain.
The estimated pier replacement costs include approximately $800,000 to repair and remediate the flooddamaged but structurally sound city-owned buildings at the T-end of the pier. The pier buildings are currently leased to the City Pier Grill operators and Mote Marine and neither entity has officially confirmed their return to the pier when it reopens.
When meeting with Short and some of the city commissioners, Manatee County Commission Chair George Kruse expressed his personal support for the county fronting the city the additional funds needed to complete the pier project, especially if the FEMA funds are not received. Speaking for himself only, Kruse said the city would then be expected to repay some or all of those additional funds to the county.
Short told Kruse, county officials and TDC members that he hopes to complete the pier replacement project by October 2026.
Quality Marine recently demolished and removed what remained of the pier walkway. At some point soon, the city is expected to issue a request for proposals seeking bids from marine construction companies interested in building the new pier walkway and concrete support structure.
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
ISLAND NEWS
IN BRIEF
Commission to discuss trash collection days
The Anna Maria City Commission will meet on Thursday, July 10 at 1 p.m. The meeting will begin with a presentation from Waste Management seeking commission authorization to switch Anna Maria’s trash collection days from Mondays and Thursdays to Tuesdays and Fridays, with recycling collections to be divided between Tuesdays and Fridays. After general public comment on non-agenda items, the commission will be asked to approve in a single action the consent agenda that includes extending the ongoing 2024 hurricane-related local state of emergency declarations and the approval of a city resolution pertaining to an internship program to be added to the city’s employee handbook. Commissioners will be asked to adopt on second reading an ordinance pertaining to criminal background checks for city employees, a city ordinance that will increase the window sign coverage allowed for Anna Maria businesses to 80% and a city ordinance that will prohibit the use of metal shovels and garden tools to dig holes on Anna Maria beaches. The mayor and general manager will also provide their regular capital projects update. Thursday’s meeting can be accessed by phone, and public input can be given, by calling 1-929-205-6099 and when prompted entering the meeting ID: 85392000280. The meeting packet is available at www.cityofannamaria.com.
Commissioners to discuss LDC revisions
Bradenton Beach city commissioners will discuss revisions to the Land Development Code (LDC) as they relate to floodplain management and impervious surface coverage at a commission meeting on Thursday, July 10 at noon. Also on the agenda will be a discussion of city budget revenue sources and a second reading of Ordinance 25-564 regarding a business tax increase. The meeting will be at the Katie Pierola Commission Chambers, 107 Gulf Drive N.
Scan this code with your smartphone to go there.
Pickup truck collides with low-speed vehicle
BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
HOLMES BEACH – A pickup truck collided with a low-speed vehicle (LSV) on Gulf Drive resulting in two of the seven LSV passengers being transported to a walk-in emergency room for non-incapacitating injuries.
The accident occurred at the Gulf Drive and 52nd Street intersection on July 1 at approximately 6:53 p.m.
According to the report obtained from the Holmes Beach Police Department, Vehicle 1 (V1) was a 2004 Chevy Silverado pickup truck owned by a Bradenton man whose age is not listed in the report. The pickup truck was carrying one passenger.
Vehicle 2 (V-2) was a sixpassenger 2025 HDKP-brand electric low-speed vehicle (LSV) owned by Just 4 Fun beach rentals in Holmes Beach. The LSV was driven by a 46-year-old man from Tampa, whose birthday it was, according to the birthdate listed on his driver’s license.
According to the police report, the pickup truck and the LSV were both traveling northbound on Gulf Drive. The LSV was stopped in traffic and attempting to make a left turn onto 52nd Street when the pickup struck the passenger-side rear of the LSV.
“I spoke with D1 (Driver 1) about what had happened and he stated that he was talking to his friend in the front passenger seat and he looked over at him during conversation and when he looked back V2 (the LSV) was stopped in traffic and he could not stop in time. D1 was deemed to be at fault and was issued a citation for careless driving,” according to the reporting officer.
The name of the person who received the citation is redacted in the report.
According to the report, no one was ejected from the LSV but two
Teenager seriously injured in Anna
BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
ANNA MARIA – A 15-year-old golf cart passenger suffered traumatic head and chest injuries after being ejected from a golf cart at the intersection of North Shore Drive and Spring Avenue in Anna Maria on June 30 at approximately 7:45 p.m.
When dispatched to the scene, West Manatee Fire Rescue (WMFR) personnel found a 15-year-old female patient lying on her left side in front of a golf cart, according to the WMFR report.
“Golf cart had no damage noted,” according to the report. “Driver of the golf cart states she
passengers were transported by Manatee County EMS to a Manatee Memorial walk-in emergency room with non-incapacitating injuries. Alcohol use was not suspected as a contributing factor and the LSV sustained minor damage estimated to be approximately $500. Both vehicles were able to leave the scene under their own power. This accident occurred one day after a 15-year-old girl fell out of a golf cart in Anna Maria and suffered traumatic head and chest injuries and was transported by helicopter to Tampa General Hospital.
Maria golf cart accident
WMFR | SUBMITTED West Manatee Fire Rescue responded to the accident scene.
was going 5-10 mph when she went to turn and her friend rolled out of the golf cart and fell onto
the road. Patient was a 15-yearold female. She was initially alert to person, place and event, able to answer question between breaths, but she was spitting up blood and did not have a patent airway.”
The patient was stabilized, placed on a backboard, placed onto a stretcher and moved to an ambulance. WMFR personnel helped establish IV access and set up intubation and fluid administration, according to the report.
The patient was sedated, intubated and transported to the helicopter landing zone at City Field in Holmes Beach, where Aeromed arrived, assumed treatment and transported the patient to Tampa General Hospital.
HBPD | SUBMITTED
The accident occurred at the Gulf Drive and 52nd Street intersection in Holmes Beach.
WMFR vacation rental lawsuit victory stands
The 2024 lawsuit was filed by the owners of two vacation rental units in Holmes Beach.
BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
BRADENTON – C&D Properties of AMI has not timely appealed a judge’s ruling in favor of the West Manatee Fire and Rescue District’s (WMFR) right to levy annual assessments on short-term vacation rental properties at a higher commercial rate rather than a lower residential rate.
The 2024 lawsuit pertained to two condo units 101 67th St. in Holmes Beach owned by C&D Properties. On May 22, 12th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Edward Nicholas issued his written order in favor of WMFR, followed by his final order on May 29. C&D Properties then had 30 days to file an appeal and did not.
On July 2, WMFR issued a written statement that addressed the lawsuit.
“The West Manatee Fire and Rescue District has prevailed on all counts in a legal challenge brought by a shortterm residential property owner over the district’s higher non-ad valorem
assessment rates for such properties.
The plaintiff did not appeal the ruling and the appeal period has now expired,” according to the statement.
“The plaintiff argued that the district’s imposition of a higher ‘commercial’ assessment rate on short-term vacation rental properties was an unlawful regulation and preempted by Florida Statutes. The court rejected
The
Fire Commission has never opposed short-term vacation rentals within the district.”
Ben Rigney, WMFR fire chief
those claims, upholding the district’s authority to increase assessments based on property usage – particularly where such use demands higher service levels and resource allocation from the fire department.
“Florida’s Fire Prevention Code requires elevated life safety standards, inspections and enforcement from fire departments for short-term rentals compared to traditional single-family residential properties. The court confirmed the district lawfully applied its special assessment powers to equitably apportion costs among properties requiring more extensive fire and safety services,” according to the statement.
The statement notes the higher commercial rate is also applied to residentially-zoned assisted living facilities and daycare centers that are also subject to stricter fire code standards.
“Importantly, the court found that the district’s assessments did not constitute a regulation and did not prohibit or limit vacation rental operations, nor regulate the duration or frequency of such rentals,” according to the statement.
“The Fire Commission has never opposed short-term vacation rentals within the district,” Fire Chief Ben Rigney said in the statement. “The Fire Commission believes property owners have the right to choose how they use their homes. However, if they opt to operate a vacation rental, they should bear the additional costs for the inspections and life safety enforcement required by the Florida Fire Prevention Code.”
WMFR is an independent special fire control district that operates three fire stations and serves Anna Maria, Bradenton Beach, Holmes Beach and the unincorporated areas of Cortez, Palma Sola and northwest Bradenton.
WMFR | SUBMITTED
WMFR Fire Chief Ben Rigney commented on the lawsuit in a written statement.
email:
The Anna Maria Island Sun Staff
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Drop us a line
Got an opinion, a complaint or a compliment? Is there something you need to get off your chest? Send us a letter to the editor and have your say. There are a couple of ways to do it. The easiest and most direct is to email The Sun at news@amisun.com. Remember to put Letter to the Editor in the subject field. Or you can snail-mail
a letter to us at The Anna Maria Island Sun, P.O. Box 1189, Anna Maria, FL 34216. Letters should be kept to 300 words or less and must contain your name and the city in which you reside. Personal attacks and obscene language will not be printed. The Sun reserves the right to edit letters for length or content.
ON THE AGENDA
ANNA MARIA
10005 GULF DRIVE
FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-708-6130
BRADENTON BEACH
107 GULF DRIVE N.
FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-778-1005
HOLMES BEACH
5801 Marina Drive
For information, call 941-7085800
Visit www.cityofannamaria. com or contact city hall for more information.
Thursday, July 10, 1 p.m., City Commission meeting
Tuesday, July 15, 9 a.m., Special Magistrate hearing Wednesday, July 16, 9 a.m., Planning and Zoning Board meeting
Visit www.cityofbradentonbeach.com or contact city hall for more information.
Thursday, July 10, noon, City Commission meeting
Tuesday, July 15, 9 a.m., City Commission Workshop Meeting
Tuesday, July 15, 9:45 a.m., City Commission Work Meeting
Visit www.holmesbeachfl.org or contact city hall for more information.
Tuesday, July 8, 2 p.m., City Commission budget meeting Wednesday, July 9, 3:30 p.m., Planning Commission meeting.
ANNA MARIA ISLAND CHURCH SCHEDULES
CHURCH OF THE ANNUNCIATION EPISCOPAL CHURCH
4408 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, Sunday service 9:15 a.m.
CROSSPOINTE FELLOWSHIP
8605 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, Sunday service 9 a.m.
HARVEY MEMORIAL COMMUNITY CHURCH
300 Church Ave., Bradenton Beach, Sunday service 9:15 a.m.
ROSER MEMORIAL COMMUNITY CHURCH
512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, Sunday services 8:30 a.m. and 10 a.m.
ST. BERNARD CATHOLIC CHURCH
248 South Harbor Drive, Holmes Beach, Masses: Saturday, 4 p.m.; Sunday 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.; Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m.
Where’s Winnie?
Winnie, a female loggerhead sea turtle, has traveled 28 miles in the Gulf of Mexico since she was satellitetagged and released after nesting on Coquina Beach on June 23. She will compete in the Sea Turtle Conservancy’s Tour de Turtles Race that begins on Aug. 1. Winnie will swim to raise awareness about the threat of light pollution and how lighting near shore can negatively impact nesting sea turtles and their hatchlings. Her participation in the Tour de Turtles is sponsored by Hurricane Hanks and Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring. Visit The Sun’s Facebook page for weekly “Where’s Winnie?” updates and visit amisun. com for weekly updates on turtle nesting activity in “Nesting News.”
Sea turtle rescued on Anna Maria road
A large nesting loggerhead sea turtle was rescued after wandering into a beach access and traveling down Magnolia Avenue instead of heading back to the Gulf of Mexico.
She was spotted by a driver who called the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, which immediately contacted Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring, according to an email from Turtle Watch Executive Director Kristen Mazzarella.
“With the help of a Manatee County Sheriff's Deputy, Turtle Watch patrollers were able to assist the turtle back down the street and safely back into Tampa Bay,” Mazzarella wrote. “We are working with the local code enforcement to address the light that may have led her astray.” SUBMITTED
TURTLE WATCH | SUBMITTED
Protect Florida manatees, sea turtles with FWC decals
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has released its 2025-26 Florida manatee and sea turtle decals. The waterproof decals feature original artwork and can be placed on vehicle bumpers and watercraft. Each year beginning on July 1, new manatee and sea turtle decals become available for a $5 donation at your local tax collector’s office. These donations directly fund research, rescue and management efforts for Florida manatees and sea turtles, according to an FWC press release.
This year’s decals highlight the best practices for protecting these species while enjoying Florida’s waterways and beaches.
“ 'Manatee Manners' reminds waterway users to mind manatees in our shared aquatic habitats by observing them from a distance, being cautious near seagrass beds and warm-water refuges, avoiding approaching manatees and not
offering food or water to manatees. Practicing manatee manners can help keep both manatees and waterway users safe,” according to the release.
“ 'Protect Florida Sea Turtles: Give Them Space' spotlights the endangered Kemp’s ridley, the smallest of Florida’s sea turtles. Although this species does not nest frequently in Florida, a record 34 Kemp’s ridley nests were confirmed in the state in
ASK TURTLE WATCH
Students from Anna Maria Elementary School submitted questions to Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring Executive Director Kristen Mazzarella about sea turtles. Each week their questions and Mazzarella’s answers are featured in The Sun.
2024. Giving all sea turtles space, removing beach equipment and trash before sundown and keeping beaches dark at night help ensure that both adult and hatchling sea turtles can safely navigate Florida’s beaches and return to the ocean,” according to the release.
You can also support Florida manatees and sea turtles by purchasing a “Save the Manatee” or “Helping Sea Turtles Survive”
MS. THOMAS’ SECOND GRADE CLASS - DO SEA TURTLES LIVE ON CORAL REEFS?
Yes, some sea turtles live on coral reefs. Hawksbill sea turtles especially like coral reefs because they can find their favorite food there - sponges! Other sea turtle species, like green sea turtles and loggerheads, can also be found on coral reefs.
specialty license plate at your local tax collector’s office.
If you observe a dead, injured, sick or entangled manatee or sea turtle, harassment of manatees or sea turtles, or tampering of turtle nests, call FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922). For more information on conservation and management efforts for manatees and sea turtles, visit MyFWC.com/Manatee or MyFWC.com/SeaTurtle. To view and collect decals from previous years (1992-2024), type “decals” into the search bar at MyFWC.com.
NESTING NEWS
Turtle nests laid: 408 - 399 loggerhead, nine green (Record: 543 in 2019)
False crawls: 689 - 671 loggerhead, 18 green (Record: 831 in 2010)
Nests hatched: 2 (Record: 453 in 2022)
Hatchlings produced: 266 (Record: 35,850 in 2022)
Hatchling disorientations: 0
Adult disorientations: 23 - 22 loggerhead, one green
Nests remaining on beach: 406
Source: Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring
TURTLE: First nests hatch on AMI
will respond 24/7 during hatching season.
“Please do not handle hatchlings unless you are taking them out of danger and please do not put turtles directly in the water as they are air-breathing reptiles, and if they are injured or tired, they may not be able to swim,” Mazzarella wrote.
Hatching season also means that it's time for nest inventories. Turtle Watch conducts nest inventories three days after a nest hatches. Volunteers dig up the contents of the nest to determine how many eggs hatched and sometimes will find a straggler hatchling in the nest.
“If you see us on patrol and we are conducting a nest inventory, feel free to come up and watch and we'll be happy to answer any questions you may have,” Mazzarella wrote. “These are fun to watch as you never know what you'll find.” FROM PAGE 1
Privateers’ parade canceled
Rain and stormy weather forced the cancellation of the Anna Maria Island Privateers’ annual Fourth of July parade. On July 3, Privateer Kim “Syren” Boyd issued the following announcement: “It is with profound sadness and regret that the Privateers must cancel the 4th of July celebration parade scheduled for tomorrow morning. After frequent conversations with local law enforcement officials today, and their conversations with the National Weather Service, the risks are too high with the threat of severe thunderstorms and flooding during parade time frames. We must heed to the safety of everyone. The Privateers hope you will understand that our decision was not made without much thought and deliberation as to continue or to cancel. We are sorry for any disappointment but we pride
AMI PRIVATEERS | SUBMITTED
ourselves in putting our communities and Island guests first in our decision. We are grateful for the support we receive from everyone regarding this parade celebration. We hope everyone has a safe and wonderful 4th of July.”
Keep Manatee Beautiful seeks volunteers for sea oat planting
Keep Manatee Beautiful is seeking volunteers for their largest sea oat planting on Saturday, July 26 at 7 a.m. at Coquina Beach.
“We’re looking for up to 300 volunteers to help restore our sand dunes – the first line of defense against storms and erosion. Let’s dig in and make a difference before the height of hurricane season,” according to Keep Manatee Beautiful’s Facebook page.
The planting is expected to last about five hours.
“This is a hands-on event where you'll learn about the importance of
dunes and how sea oats help stabilize them. We will be replacing 12,000 plants in one morning. It's a great way to give back to the environment and enjoy the beach at the same time. Don't miss out on this opportunity to make a difference,” according to the Facebook page.
Volunteers under 16 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
Sign up at: www.eventbrite. com/e/sea-oat-planting-on-annamaria-island-dune-restoration-tickets-1383211124709
Bradenton Boiler Room re-opens
The local Bradenton restaurant and bar, closed since 2020, opens to patrons under new ownership.
BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com
BRADENTON – The cheesesteaks were sizzling on the grills once again as the longawaited Bradenton Boiler Room opened its doors on July 2. Under new ownership and with a new name, the former Boiler Room Bar and Grill at 5600 Manatee Ave. W., owned by Matt Lavallee from 1984 until its closure in 2020, has reopened under the partnership of Cortez business owner Karen Bell and Cortezians Josh and Staci Wilkinson.
“This is something that the town has missed, at a time of a lot of growth, redevelopment and change we’re kind of trying to bring back something that everybody loves, a time-honored tradition,” Staci Wilkinson told The Sun on July 3. “We’re trying to honor the way that it once was and put our own little flair on it as well.”
Bell, owner of A.P. Bell Fish Co., Star Fish and co-owner of Tide Tables Restaurant in Cortez, partnered with the Wilkinsons, both of whom are Cortez residents and had been employees at her restaurants.
“I met Josh at Tide Tables almost 11 years ago and he was in the kitchen, and I was a bartender, and we worked
together as friends for a year, and we fell in love and the rest is history. We’ve been married six years,” Staci said. “We’ve been under one of Karen’s umbrellas for that amount of time. Josh moved over to Star Fish the last two years, so between the two restaurants we’ve worked for her for over a decade.”
The new restaurant layout looks similar the old Boiler Room, with a few changes that include flat screen televisions and one pool table where there had once been two. The menu features cheesesteaks, seven different types of wings, sandwiches, kids’ meals and soups and salads.
The menu description of the cheesesteaks, a staple of the old Boiler Room, states: “What the Boiler Room was known for! In keeping up
with that tradition we offer a cheesesteak with ribeye steak, cheese, onions and peppers all on an Amoroso roll.”
The opening of the restaurant, which had been slated for 2024, was stalled following a series of hurricanerelated challenges.
“Right in the middle of trying to get this restaurant up and running, we were really hard hit by the hurricanes,” Staci said. “We live in Cortez and our house was under 4 feet of water, so obviously what we went through and what Karen went through put us behind. We’re just really excited. It’s been a year and a half in the making.”
The menu recounts the story of the restaurant opening:
“After more than a year of challenges - from replacing plumbing and exhaust
systems to weathering a tropical storm and two hurricanes - we’re proud to finally open our doors. This milestone wouldn’t have been possible without the relentless dedication of partners Josh and Staci Wilkinson and Karen Bell as well as the unwavering support of Matt LaVallee’s original Boiler Room fans who have followed the reopening of this iconic location.”
The Boiler Room was a large part of Josh Wilkinson’s early years.
“My husband grew up right around the corner from here and came here his entire life,” Staci said. “I’m from Orlando and never made it to the Boiler Room. The week that they announced they were closing he brought me here once to see the staple item of his childhood, so I had a steak sandwich one
time and saw a big part of his childhood before they closed the doors forever and ever. But never say never.”
The Bradenton Boiler Room is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
LESLIE LAKE | SUN Bradenton’s Boiler Room opened for business on July 2.
LESLIE LAKE | SUN Bradenton Boiler Room co-owners, Cortez residents Josh and Staci Wilkinson, along with Karen Bell (not pictured), take a quick break from serving patrons at their busy bar and restaurant, above.
PINES: Trailer Park residents remain in dark about park
The Sun emailed Sarasota-based Attorney David Fredericks of Anderson, Givens and Fredericks P.A., who represents the HOA, for comment about the park closure on July 2, but did not receive a response.
The HOA filed a lawsuit in March in part to stop park closure and evictions. Park owners made a motion for the dismissal of that lawsuit. A hearing is scheduled on the motion on Monday, July 28.
PINES HOMEOWNERS REACT TO PARK CLOSURE
Debbie Bouts’ family has a long history with Pines Trailer Park. Her grandparents bought into the park in the 1970s and her parents traveled from Ohio to spend five months there each year for many years.
She said after the 2024 hurricanes, they drove two days from Ohio to replace floorboards in a unit with no electricity and hired someone to clean the trailer out.
“He’s (Shawn Kaleta) keeping us hostage in a way,” Bouts said. “I think this was the perfect storm for him to have the land grab. He was able to take it over. This is breaking our hearts, it’s such a part of the community and he has taken so much from us.”
Bouts is concerned that when people see the current unkempt condition of the park, they will think the homeowners didn’t care.
“We have tried to do a lot even without electricity and plumbing,” she said. “There are a lot of us who
are willing to fight for what’s ours.”
Bouts said she would like a decision on the future of the park to be made soon.
“We’ve paid rent for a year on a place we’re not able to use and we can’t get an answer,” she said. “Our dream is to get our place back. There weren’t any services and we’ve been paying over $1,500 a month. We should have the basic amenities. This is a perpetual whirlpool I find myself in.”
Lorraine D’Agostino and her husband purchased a trailer in the park in 2020 as a vacation getaway from their home in New York. She has a flight booked at the end of July in case the park closure neces -
sitates cleaning out their unit.
She said she would like to say to Kaleta, “Why couldn’t you be honest and communicate with us? If you had really sat down with us and talked to us, you would have gotten a response.”
Another Pines homeowner, who asked not to be named, wrote the following in a text to The Sun which reads in part: “For decades, Pines Trailer Park has been a safe haven - a quiet, close-knit community nestled in the heart of one of Florida’s most picturesque coastal towns. Generations of families have called this place home, with neighbors watching out for one another, sharing tools, memories
and a deep-rooted sense of belonging. But today, that spirit is being tested like never before.”
The homeowner described a change in tone after Hurricanes Helene and Milton and wrote that 80 families were left waiting for clarity and guidance, but instead heard silence.
“Nothing from Mr. Kaleta, the man behind the LLC that now owns our park. Nothing from his investors. Just cold legal notices and whispers of evictions and threats.”
The homeowner said local municipalities seemed paralyzed to challenge Kaleta and seniors on fixed incomes in the parks don’t have the resources to fight back.
“When the new owners bought Pines Trailer Park, we understood that the sale contract included a stipulation: the park was to remain a mobile home community for five years. That was our safety net, our lifeline. And now it seems it’s being ripped away. Is anyone listening?
“Pines Trailer Park isn’t just land. It’s our home. It’s our history. It’s the place where our neighbors became family. We are not just property to be bought, bulldozed and sold off to the highest bidder. We are 80+ families and we deserve to be heard.”
That homeowner said on July 2 that he was told by The Urban Group that no lot rent payments would be accepted after July 31, as more than 80 homeowners wait for official confirmation of a closure date.
LESLIE LAKE | SUN
Lorraine D’Agostino awaits confirmation about a Pines Trailer Park closure date that will impact her 37 Laverne Drive mobile home.
May 2025 tourist tax collections compared to May 2024
*(Anna Maria Island, Bradenton, Longboat Key, unincorporated Manatee County, Palmetto)
Manatee County’s 6% tourist development tax (resort tax) is collected from hotel, motel, resort, condo and other short-term vacation accommodations rented for six months or less.
The amounts shown were collected for May and paid to the Manatee County Tax Collector’s Office in June. A third of the tax revenues are spent on marketing the county as a tourist destination and almost 17% is spent on beach renourishment.
In Anna Maria, May tourist tax revenues increased from $318,188 in 2024 to $406,297 in 2025 – an $88,109 (27.6%) increase.
In Bradenton Beach, May tourist tax revenues decreased from $112,803 in 2024 to $93,365 in 2025 – a $19,438 (17.23%) decrease.
In Holmes Beach, May tourist tax revenues increased from $660,167 in 2024 to $620,641 in 2025 – a $20,474 (3.41%) increase.
In unincorporated Manatee County (the areas located outside of the six chartered municipalities), May tourist tax revenues increased from $770,194 in 2024 to $917,906 in 2025 – a $147,712 (19.17%) increase.
In Manatee County as a whole, May tourist tax revenues increased from $2,520,318 in 2024 to $2,520,318 in 2025 – a $349,445 (16.09%) increase.
Tourist development taxes are also collected in Bradenton, Palmetto and the Manatee County portion of Longboat Key. The revenues are controlled by the Manatee County Commission and can be shared with local municipalities to help fund tourism-related projects and enhancements.
To anonymously report a rental owner who may not be paying the tourist tax, call 941-741-4809 or visit the county’s tourist tax evader webpage at www. taxcollector.com/contact-tourist-tax-evader.cfm.
BEACH BEAT
BRADENTON BEACH
June 27, 10:26 p.m., 600 block Gulf Drive
North. Drug arrest. While on patrol, police reportedly observed a car traveling without lights on. Officers initiated a traffic stop and reported a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. The driver and passenger denied knowledge of marijuana in the vehicle. Police said a search of the vehicle turned up a large plastic bag of
loose cannabis nuggets, a rolled marijuana cigarette, an unlabeled pill bottle containing eight pills identified by their markings as oxycodone and a glass smoking pipe with marijuana residue. Police determined the male passenger, a 21-year-old man from Parrish, had a warrant for failure to appear on a shoplifting charge in Sarasota County. The passenger was charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was transported to the Bradenton Beach Police Department for arrest paperwork, then transported to Manatee County Jail for processing.
HOLMES BEACH
June 24, 9:50 p.m., 4000 block Gulf Drive. Road Rage. Police responded to a report of a road rage incident where one party reportedly pulled out a gun. The reporting party said he was driving slowly due to traffic and pedestrians when a driver in a truck was tailgating him and then passed him in a no-passing zone. The truck driver “brake-checked” him several times causing the driver to collide with the back of the truck. The driver of the truck approached the vehicle and the reporting party said he pulled out a gun and pointed it through his windshield. The driver of the truck retreat-
ed and left, and the reporting party called police. The driver of the truck also called police, and stated that the other party had rear-ended his truck and pointed a gun at him. The truck driver was provided a case number for the incident and he was referred to the State Attorney’s Office. June 25, 1:34 p.m., 4000 block Gulf Drive. Possible fraudulent checks. The treasurer at a Holmes Beach church told police that someone had signed into the church’s bank account and cashed two checks - for $14,000 and the other for $22,000. The treasurer told police she did not recognize the names on the checks.
The following hotels and motels accept pets. Some have limitations on species, number, size and breed, some require pets to be caged before housekeeping services are rendered, some require deposits or extra charges, and some have special pet amenities, such as grassy areas for walking. Call ahead to find accommodations that match your needs, and make a list of several hotels in different parts of the state to be prepared for storms from any direction.
ANNA MARIA ISLAND
Anna Maria Dream Inn 2502 Gulf Dr. N. Bradenton Beach 941-209-1420
Anna Maria Island
Resorts
Tortuga Beach Resort 1325 Gulf Dr. Bradenton Beach 941-778-6611
Anna Maria Motel
808 N. Bay Blvd. Anna Maria 941-778-1269
Queen’s Gate 1101 Gulf Dr. N. Bradenton Beach 941-778-7153
ARCADIA
Knights Inn
504 S. Brevard Ave. 863-494-4884
Holiday Inn Express 2709 Southeast Hwy. 70 863-494-5900
BRADENTON
Best Western Plus 2215 Cortez Rd W 941-238-0800
Compass Hotel
Anna Maria Sound 12324 Manatee Ave W. 941-741-9700
Courtyard Bradenton
Sarasota/Riverfront
100 Riverfront Dr. W. 941-747-3727
Days Inn
3506 1st St. W. 941-746-1141
Days Inn
Bradenton – I75
644 67th St Circle E 941-746-2505
Fairfield Inn & Suites
Lakewood Ranch 6105 Exchange Way 941-552-4000
Hampton Inn & Suites
309 10th St W 941-746-9400
Hyatt Place Sarasota/ Lakewood Ranch 6021 Exchange Way 941-748-3100
Motel 6
660 67th St. Circle E. 941-747-6005
Spring Hill Suites
Bradenton Downtown Riverfront 102 12th St. W. 941-226-2200
BROOKSVILLE
Days Inn
6320 Windmere Rd 352-796-9486
Microtel Inn 6298 Nature Coast Blvd 352-796-9025
Quality Inn 30307 Cortez Blvd 352-796-9481
CAPE CORAL
Holiday Inn Express 1538 Cape Coral Pkwy E 239-542-2121
Hampton Inn & Suites 619 SE 47th Terrace 239-540-1050
DAYTONA BEACH
Homewood Suites By Hilton 165 Bill France Blvd 386-258-2828
Residence Inn Daytona Beach Speedway/Airport 1725 Richard Petty Blvd 386-252-3949
DELAND
Comfort Inn 400 E International Speedway 386-736-3100
ELLENTON
Hampton Inn 5810 20th Ct. E. 941-721-4000
Red Roof Inn 4915 17th St. E. 941-729-0600
ELLENTON
Super 8
5218 17th St. E. 941-729-8505
FORT MYERS
Baymont Inn & Suites 9401 Marketplace Rd
239-454-0040
Hyatt Place 2600 Champion Ring Rd
239-418-1844
La Quinta Inn 9521 Market Place Rd
239-466-0012
Residence Inn
20371 Summerlin Rd
239-415-4150
Travel Lodge
13661 Indian Paint Ln
239-561-1117
GAINESVILLE
Best Western
4200 N.W. 97th Blvd.
352-331-3336
Home Hotel & Suites
3905 S.W. 43rd St.
352-376-0004
Motel 6
4000 S.W. 40th Blvd.
352-373-1604
Residence Inn by Marriott
I-75
3275 SW 40 Blvd
352-264-0000
KISSIMMEE
Ramada Gateway 7470 HWY 192
407-966-4410
Motel 6
5731 W. Irlo Bronson Hwy.
407-396-6333
LAKELAND
Hilton Garden Inn
3839 Don Emerson Drive
863-647-0066
Motel 6
3120 U.S. Hwy. 98 N. 863-682-0643
Residence Inn 3701 Harden Blvd. 863-680-2323
LAKE BUENA VISTA
Marriott Residence Inn 11450 Marbella Palm Court 407-465-0075
LAKE CITY
Baymont Inn & Suites 3598 US 90 W 386-752-3801
Days Inn
3430 N US Hwy 441
386-758-4224
LAKE MARY
Extended Stay America 1040 Greenwood Blvd 407-829-2332
Hyatt Place 1255 S International Pkwy
407-995-5555
La Quinta Inn 1060 Greenwood Blvd. 407-805-9901
Residence Inn 825 Heathrow Park Lane 407-995-3400
LEESBURG
Best Western Plus
1321 N. 14th Street
352-460-0118
Hampton Inn 9630 Us Hwy 441
352-315-1053
OCALA
Comfort Inn 1212 S Pine Ave
352-629-7300
Hampton Inn & Suites
3601 SW 38th Ave
352-867-0300
La Quinta Inn & Suites
3530 S.W. 36th Ave.
352-861-1137
Microtel Inn & Suites 1770 Southwest 134th St
352-307-1166
Equus Inn 3434 SW College Rd 352-854-3200
Residence Inn
3601 S.W. 38th Ave. 352-547-1600
Sleep Inn and Suites 13600 S.W. 17th Court 352-347-8383
ORLANDO
Hard Rock Hotel 5800 Universal Blvd. 407-503-2000
Holiday Inn Lake Buena Vista 13351 State Road 535 407-239-4500
La Quinta Inn - Universal Studios 5621 Major Blvd 407-313-3100
Motel 6 - Winter Park 5300 Adanson Street 407-647-1444
Motel 6 International 5909 American Way 407-351-6500
Residence Inn Seaworld 11000 Westwood Blvd. 407-313-3600
Staybridge Suites 7450 Augusta National Dr 407-438-2121
Townplace Suites 11801 High Tech Ave. 407-243-6100
PLANT CITY
Comfort Inn 2003 S Frontage Rd 813-707-6000
Knights Inn
301 S Frontage Rd 813-752-0570
PORT CHARLOTTE
Comfort Inn 812 Kings Hwy 941-421-7548
Days Inn
1941 Tamiami Trail 941-623-9404
Knights Inn 4100 Tamiami Trail 941-743-2442
Sleep Inn & Suites 806 Kings Highway 941-613-6300
PUNTA GORDA
Four Points by Sheraton 33 Tamiami Trail 941-637-6770
RUSKIN
Holiday Inn & Suites 226 Teco Rd. 813-922-4561
Ruskin Inn 3113 College Ave 813-641-3437
SANFORD
Best Western Plus 3401 S Orlando Dr 407-320-0845
SARASOTA
Comfort Suites 5690 Honore Ave 941-554-4475
Comfort Inn & Suites 5931 Commercial Way 941-342-8778
Courtyard Sarasota Bradenton 850 University Pkwy 941-355-3337
Embassy Suites by Hilton 202 N. Tamiami Trail 941-256-0190
Even Hotel – Lakewood Ranch 6231 Lake Osprey Dr 941-782-4400
Hampton Inn & Suites 8565 Cooper Creek Blvd 941-355-8619
Hibiscus Suites 1735 Stickney Point Road 941-921-5797
Hyatt Place Lakewood Ranch 6021 Exchange Way 941-946-2357
Hyatt Place Sarasota 950 University Pkwy 941-554-5800
La Quinta Inn & Suites 1803 N. Tamiami Trail 941-366-5128
Residence Inn 1040 University Pkwy. 941-358-1468
Days Inn 5000 N. Tamiami Trail 941-351-7734
Sleep Inn
900 University Pkwy. 941-359-8558
SEBRING
La Quinta Inn 4115 US 27 South 863-386-1000
Magnunson Grand 6525 US 27 North 863-385-4500
Residence Inn 3221 Tubbs Road 863-314-9100
Severn Sebring Hotel 150 Midway Dr 863-655-7200
SPRING HILL
Motel 6 6172 Commercial Way 352-596-2007
TALLAHASSEE
Best Western Pride Inn 2016 Apalachee Parkway 850-656-6312
La Quinta Inn North 2905 N. Monroe St. 850-385-7172
Motel 6 Downtown 1027 Apalachee Parkway 850-877-6171
Motel 6 West 2738 N. Monroe St. 850-386-7878
Quality Inn 3090 N. Monroe St. 850-562-2378
Red Roof Inn 2930 Hospitality Street 850-385-7884
Red Roof Inn 6737 Mahan Drive 850-656-2938
Residence Inn 1880 Raymond Diehl Road 850-422-0093
Residence Inn Universities 600 W. Gaines St. 850-329-9080
Sleep Inn 1695 Capital Circle N.W. 850-575-5885
Staybridge Suites 1600 Summit Lake Drive 850-219-7000
Suburban Extended Stay Hotel
522 Silver Slipper Lane 850-386-2121
TAMPA
Quality Inn-Busch Gardens 2701 E. Fowler Ave. 813-971-4710
Holiday Inn Express 8610 Elm Fair Blvd 813-490-1000
Holiday Inn Express 8310 Galbraith 813-910-7171
Homewood Suites by Hilton Tampa/Brandon 10240 Palm River Road 813-685-7099
Hyatt Place Tampa Airport 4811 W. Main St. 813-282-1037
Residence Inn 4312 W. Boy Scout Blvd. 813-877-7988
Sheraton Tampa East Hotel 10221 Princess Palm Ave 813-623-6363
TEMPLE TERRACE
Residence Inn 13420 N Telcom Parkway 813-972-4400
Towne Place Suites by Marriott 6800 Woodstork Rd 813-975-9777
WINTER HAVEN
Howard Johnson Inn 1300 3rd St SW 863-294-7321
Lake Roy Beach Inn 1825 Cypress Garden Blvd 863-324-6320
Roadway Inn & Suites 1911 Cypress Gardens Blvd. 863-324-5994
AMI remembers Dale Woodland
Dale Woodland served eight terms on the Anna Maria City Commission.
BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
ANNA MARIA – Former city commissioner and longtime Anna Maria resident Dale Woodland passed away on June 28 at the age of 76 due to complications caused by dementia.
Dale served eight consecutive two-year terms as an Anna Maria commissioner before leaving office in 2020. He’s survived by his son, Jason Woodland; daughter-in-law, Meghan Woodland; seven grandchildren; younger sister, Melanie; and former wife, Gayle. Dale and Gayle’s son, Scott, passed away in 2020.
After relocating from Canada at a young age, Dale grew up on Mangrove Avenue in Anna Maria with his parents Maxwell and Marguerite Woodland, sister, Melanie and older brother, Christopher.
Maxwell Woodland served as Anna Maria mayor from 1959-62. According to family members, he suddenly disappeared after completing his
tenure as mayor and the family never heard from him again. It was later learned that he died in his home country of Australia in 1963.
Christopher Woodland was a U.S. Air Force pilot and died in a plane crash in the 1970s.
After starting their family in east Manatee County, Dale and Gayle bought the property at 134 Hammock Road in Anna Maria in 1986, when Jason and Scott were teenagers, and there they built the house Dale would call home for most of the rest of his life.
From 1995 to 2020, Dale and Scott owned and operated Woodland’s Quality Pool Care.
In his later years, Dale dated Anna Maria resident Jayne Slade-Dashiell for six and a half years.
Jayne, a nurse, said the first signs of dementia surfaced in March 2022 immediately after Dale had open heart surgery.
“He never really recovered from that,” she said of the memory issues that gradually worsened. While living in her home, Jayne cared for Dale as long as she could.
In mid-2024, Dale’s grandson,
Dale Woodland spent 16 years as a city commissioner.
Michael Stull, moved into Dale’s home and began providing live-in care, assisted by Michael’s girlfriend. They rode out Hurricane Helene at Dale’s home but before Hurricane Milton arrived, the family decided to move Dale to Jason and Meghan’s home in Live Oak.
Dale passed away at The Canopy at Harper Lake assisted living and memory care facility in Lake City.
COMMISSIONER WOODLAND
Dale’s beloved dog, Lucy, accompanied him to the city commission meetings and often wandered around the commission chambers during meetings.
After Hurricane Irma damaged the City Pier in 2017, Woodland was the only commissioner in support of building a new pier atop the existing wooden pilings, or atop new wooden pilings. Mayor Dan Murphy and the other commissioners opted for a new pier built atop concrete pilings instead. Due to damage caused by Hurricane Milton, another pier replacement project is currently in its early stages.
In 2019, Dale filed his qualifying paperwork with the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Office seeking a ninth term, but he was disqualified because he paid his $48 qualifying fee with a personal check instead of a check drawn on a designated campaign account. He then sought commission appointment to his vacated seat but the commissioners appointed Joe Muscatello instead. Dale never sought office again.
(Featuring comments and memories shared by family members and friends, a longer version of this story appears at www.amisun.com.)
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
Who will protect our children’s future?
Reel Time
very time I hear a new angler say, “Wow, this place is paradise,” it takes me back to the early 80s when I met Capt. Scott Moore and began fishing Suncoast waters. I had much the same response so many years ago, and while this place is still a paradise, I’m all too aware of the changes I’ve seen over four-plus decades and how they’ve impacted the fishing and habitat that brought us here in the first place. Those changes haven’t all been bad because prior to environmental regulation (1940s-70s), canal dredging, port expansion, causeway construction, spoil islands, seawalls, marina con-
struction and urban runoff had contributed to an estimated loss of over 6,000 acres of seagrass in Sarasota Bay and 40,000 acres in Tampa Bay. Neighborhoods like Key Royale on Anna Maria Island, County Club Shores on Longboat Key and Bird Key in Sarasota are just a few of the developments that filled seagrass meadows, destroyed mangroves and increased turbidity in bay waters, blocking light from remaining seagrass beds.
From the early 80s through the early 90s, recovery began with the creation of the Tampa Bay National Estuary Program (TBEP) in 1983. The start of coordinated nitrogen reduction plans began in Tampa Bay in 1987. In 1991, the Sarasota Bay National Estuary Program (SBEP) was established and in 1995, regional agencies adopted a seagrass restoration goal of 38,000 acres which was based on 1950s mapping.
Early results from these efforts included improved wastewater treatment, fertilizer and stormwater regulations as well as a public and political focus on the health of local estuaries. At the peak of the recovery between the early 2000s and 2015, Tampa Bay recovered over 40,000 acres of seagrass, which exceeded the restoration goals. Meanwhile Sarasota Bay experienced a steady increase in seagrass coverage to over 13,000 acres by 2016.
During this same period, alarmed anglers organized and formed the Florida Conservation Association (now the Coastal Conservation Association), which began establishing chapters in Florida to lobby for protection of species like trout, redfish and snook. That effort began locally in 1985 with the establishment of the Manatee chapter, and in
SEE REEL TIME, PAGE 21
CAPT. GREG PETERSON | SUBMITTED Capt. Colby Hane releases his daughter Skye’s permit. Our involvement (or inaction) today will determine the fishing future of generations to come.
RUSTY CHINNIS
CABANAS: Mayor concerned about beach cabana rentals
According to Holmes Beach city code: “Any sign to be located on property designated as preservation shall require the approval of the city commission prior to the issuance of a permit with the fee for such sign to be set by the city commission.”
“It was an eyesore, so we asked them to remove all of their advertisements and signage off their cabanas,” Titsworth said.
Cabana rental companies were given until June 27 to remove the signage and advertising from their cabanas before police officers and code compliance officers began issuing citations.
Titsworth noted that federal law prohibits the city from regulating what the signs say but the city can regulate their placement, size and style.
STAKING A CLAIM
Titsworth said that eliminating cabana signage addresses one concern but the city also received complaints about cabana rental companies staking out prime beach locations by placing cabanas and chairs in those locations before they are reserved and rented.
On June 26, beach cabanas occupied a significant portion of the 68th Street beach access shoreline.
“Some of these companies are actually going out first thing in the morning and putting out a lot of their cabanas in a lot of really great spots and they’re claiming them before other people can get to them and they’re not rented,” Titsworth said.
She said some non-reserved cabanas have QR codes on them that allow someone to rent them after they’ve been placed on the beach without a reservation.
“They’re making money off of it and this is public land. How do we allow
commercial activities that include horseback rides, personal watercraft rentals and more.
Titsworth said city code prohibits commercial transactions in public spaces but most of those transactions are now conducted through company websites or online payment services like Venmo and Zelle.
SUN
them to commercialize and make money on public sand when we don’t allow other people?” Titsworth said of the cabana rentals in general.
“We’re looking at these different types of things that could potentially move in there. My goal is that our beaches don’t become the causeway,” Titsworth said in reference to the Palma Sola Causeway along Manatee Avenue in west Bradenton. In recent years, the east end of causeway has become heavily saturated with
Titsworth that said she, City Attorney Erica Augello, Development Services Director Chad Minor and Code Compliance Chief James Thomas are researching what more can be done to regulate commercial activities on the beaches and how other coastal communities address these concerns.
“It gets harder and harder to enforce. Everybody’s trying to make money and they’re doing it now on public land and we’ve got to reel it in,” Titsworth said. “And there’s more things people are going to be coming up with in order to profit off the beaches. What would prevent someone from dropping off 25 kayaks and a QR code and pick them up at the end of the day?”
MAY 23-AUGUST 30
THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY 7PM & 9P M
JOE HENDRICKS |
REAL ESTATE
There are bridges and there are bridges
There are a lot of bridges on the coastline of Florida. They serve as an important function to transport vehicles and people to our beautiful beaches and restaurants. However, there is another type of bridge which also serves an important function – a bridge loan.
Bridge loans are short-term loans that can be used to bridge the gap between buying a new home and selling your previous home. For example, you found the home of your dreams, but you need the equity in your current home for the down payment and closing costs in order to go forward and close on your new home.
Castles in the Sand
arrangements. You can have a monthly payment, interest-only payment or end with a balloon payment. Bridge loans are also used for investment property when the property is purchased, renovated and flipped or resold for a profit.
there will not be any further mortgage contingencies, practically a guarantee to a seller. It’s also faster than a conventional mortgage, which could be attractive to a seller as well.
The flip side of bridge loans are the higher interest rates, which are beneficial to the lender for short-term loans. Remember, the higher interest rates and fees are out of pocket money, so be prepared with some extra cash. In addition, you are essentially paying two mortgage fees until you sell your property and are able to close out the bridge loan.
lenders will also limit the amount you can borrow to 80% of your home’s appraised value. Either way you still need adequate equity in your current home to move forward.
Applying for a bridge loan may be beneficial depending on your financial situation and where you are in the buying and selling process. But make sure to weigh your options and consider alternatives like cash out refinance and home equity loans.
Bridge loans can be acquired in less time than mortgage loans but aren’t offered by banks or credit unions, they’re usually only offered by specialized lenders
Bridge loans can often be available within 72 hours, as opposed to mortgage loans, which can take 30 to 45 days for approval. They run from six months to three years with a variety of repayment
Qualifying for a bridge loan is similar to qualifying for a conventional home mortgage. Lenders will check your debt-to-income ratio, the amount of equity in your current home, credit score and income. Having a large percentage of equity and a high credit score are essential to getting approved.
Having an approved bridge loan could make your offer more competitive since
If a bridge loan sounds too risky or you’re worried about qualifying, there are two other ways to pull the equity out of your home. Cash out refinance allows you to borrow against the existing equity in your home by taking out a new mortgage in excess of what you need to close on the new property. Home equity line of credit (HELOC) also lets you borrow against the available equity in your home. Most
Bridge loans are challenging and should be undertaken only by buyers who are fairly confident they can sell their current residence and have the funds to make the bridge loan payments until such time as it can be closed. It’s also important that you have the personality that will sustain the stress that this financial endeavor will likely create. If not, stick to the physical bridges in and around Anna Maria Island; they don’t cost a penny and the views are spectacular.
LOUISE BOLGER
CABANAS: Mayor concerned about beach cabana rentals
REEL TIME: Who will protect our children’s future?
Commissioner Carol Whitmore questioned whether the use of state and federal funds to renourish the beaches might limit the city’s ability to regulate commercial beach activities, asking whether a city-issued occupational license is required.
Titsworth said occupational licenses pertain to ‘brick and mortar’ businesses that have actual physical locations but some cabana companies don’t have a primary physical location in Holmes Beach.
Commissioner Dan Diggins asked whether Manatee County has any regulations that address commercial activities at the county-owned Manatee Beach. Titsworth said she’s not aware of anything other than the county sign restrictions.
According to county code, “Private vendors, concessionaires providing concession services or activities in county parks may only do so by obtaining a concessionaire permit for such activity, or a franchise
license agreement, and paying a franchise license fee.”
Manatee County uses the same contracted beach concessionaires at Manatee Beach in Holmes Beach and at Coquina Beach in Bradenton Beach.
Commissioner Terry Schafer asked whether the city’s goal is to prohibit beach cabana rentals. Titsworth said that wasn’t the intent, but she questions how the city can allow beach cabana rentals on preservation-zoned public land when other commercial activities are not allowed.
“It’s a fine line. We’ve got to do some more work,” Titsworth said.
A visit to the 68th Street beach access at 10 a.m. on June 26 (a Thursday) revealed beach cabanas lining the shoreline in both directions and occupying much of the area closest to the water. Some cabanas were occupied, some were not and it was not clear which cabanas were rentals and which were not.
FROM PAGE 18
1986 with the Sarasota chapter, the state’s fifth and sixth chapters. Those years between the early 80s and 2016 gave anglers a reason to celebrate achievements that included redfish’s designation as a protected species in 1991 and the Florida net ban in 1995.
Unfortunately, those improvements ended between 2016 and 2020 when warming waters, high rainfall, algae blooms, development pressures and hurricanes like Irma contributed to increased runoff and turbidity. That trend only intensified from 2020 to 2024 and resulted in an estimated loss of 2,000-plus acres in Sarasota Bay (a nearly 20% decline) and over 10,000 acres in Tampa Bay. While there were many factors that contributed to the loss, the 2021 release of over 200 million gallons of nutrient-rich water from Piney Point exacerbated an already serious decline.
that voted at the will of developers when they were up for reelection in 2024.
When the newly-formed commission attempted to reverse the rule reducing wetland setbacks, they were challenged by state agencies while the Florida Legislature was in the process of enacting SB170/HB 1515 in May 2025.
Dubbed “The Mother of All Preemptions,” the bill automatically suspends any local ordinance as soon as it’s legally challenged, even before courts decide on its validity. This bill allows developers or businesses to sue local governments and seek reimbursement for legal costs (up to $50,000), creating a deterrent against passing locally driven rules.
At a time when there should have been serious measures enacted to reverse this decline, just the opposite occurred when commissioners in Manatee County voted (against the will of the citizens) to actually reduce wetland setbacks for developers. This blatant disregard of the public resulted in the replacement of commissioners
This isn’t or shouldn’t be a political issue, but it clearly shines a light on the need for every citizen to be informed about and involved in decisions being made at the local, state and national level that affect them and future generations. Call it “enlightened self interest.” The choice determines who directs the future of the natural resources that form the basis of our environmental and economic future. We either get involved and vote for leaders who protect a future for our children or let our inaction fuel the greed and power struggles that will dominate in our absence.
ISLAND SPORTS
KEY ROYALE GOLF SCOREBOARD
JULY 1- LOW NET SCORE
First Place - Jana Samuels and Terry Westby tied with 31 Second Place - Helen Pollock, 34
Third Place - Anne Klein, 36
JULY 3- SCRAMBLE/SHAMBLE
First Place Team - Jenelle and Mike Clements, Scott Mitchell and Gary Risner, 43, even par Second Place Team - Ron Buck, Charlie Porter, Jenna Samuels and Bill Shuman tied the team of John Hackinson, Jim Hill, Earl Ritchie and Rich Salzburg with 44, one over par
Heiger,
Sofran victorious
Bob Heiger, left, teamed up with Tim Sofran at the Anna Maria Horseshoes pits on July 5 and with the score tied 18-18, Sofran ended it with a double ringer, beating Steve Kriebel and Tom Farrington 24-18 to earn the day’s bragging rights. Bob Hawks and Farrington were too hot to handle on July 2, taking out Sofran and Kriebel 21-6.
ANNA MARIA HORSESHOES | SUBMITTED
FUN IN THE SUN
CLASSIFIEDS
ANNOUNCEMENTS
I HAVE SANDBAGS. Need filled and delivered in Holmes Beach. $2.00 per bag. Penney 941-9936485
COMMERCIAL SALES, RENT & LEASE
HAVE YOU BEEN thinking of selling? We NEED properties to List for SALE!!! Duplexes, multi family, small resorts?
Call BIG Alan Galletto of Island Real Estate to get it SOLD 941-232-2216
CLEANING SERVICE
TOTAL HOME SERVICES CLEANING: Residential, Commercial, Rentals, VRBO. Professional and Reliable. Call 941-756-4570 or 941-565-3931
CONSTRUCTION/ INSURANCE
WE SPECALIZE IN: WIND Mitigation forms, 4-POINT forms, DECK safety and evaluation. State Certified since 1990. Call Mike Conley 941-778-2385. Straight Inspection Service. Veteran Owned
EMPLOYMENT
ROSER CHURCH SEEKS part-time Assistant Facilities Administrator to cover Friday to Sunday and special events. Read the Job Description RoserChurch. com/job-opportunity.
HOME IMPROVEMENTS
RENOVATION SPECALIST
ALL carpentry repairs, Wash Family Construction, locally owned and operated CBC 1258250 Call 941-725-0073.
KERN & GILDER CONSTRUCTION, INC New Homes & Remodel. Design/Build. Since 1968. License # CBC 1261150. Call the Office. 941-7781115. NEW OFFICE ADDRESS: 1878 59th Street W Bradenton, FL 34209
API’S DRYWALL REPAIR 15+ years experience. Free estimates. No job too small. Love to help you. Call 941-524-8067.
GET’R DONE DRYWALL, INC Specializing in Remodels & Repairs. Island Resident for 20+ years. Call Neil. Cell 941-9621194
JSAN CORPORATION
Renovations Construction & Handyman Services 941-243-0995 Lic# CRC1332505 jsancorporation@gmail. com Flooring, Drywall, Painting, Repairs, Kitchen and Bathrooms, Trim & Doors Free Estimates. Credit Cards Accepted.
GORILLA DRYWALL REPAIR, LLC. 15+ years of experience. Free Estimates. Let’s solve your Drywall problems together. Call 941-286-0607.
CCS DRYWALL REPAIRS
We are local. Family owned & operated since 1991. Free Estimates. Licensed/Insured/Bonded. License # SCC131149803 Call 941-713-6531.
HURRICANE DAMAGE?
I’m an Island resident. Pressure washing, tree work, fence repair, mailbox replacement. Also see ads under “Landscaping & painting. Bill Witaszek 941-307-9315
FROM HOME TO BUSINESSES, we build it all. You’re Reliable General Contractor for new construction, water damage, restoration 941-894-7549 or email at@constructionatr.com
BATHROOM REMODEL STARTING at $1999 Limited Time Promotion (labor only) McGhie Construction Inc. State certified CBC 1258471 Call 813-966-3707 Free Estimates
START TO FINISH, Custom Carpentry, Accent Walls, Drywall and much more 941-565-2165
HANDYMAN: Repairing two homes on AMI. Carpentry, painting, flooring, minor electric and plumbing, etc. Self-starter, Work your schedule, full or part time. Call or text Darryl, 813-439-0516.
VOTED #1 FLOORING – ANNA MARIA 2025 - TRADEWINDS TILE & STONE. Tile, Wood , LVT, Stone, Countertops. Expert Installation & Full Bathroom Remodeling Trusted by homeowners, builders & designers. Fully insured & guaranteed. 5917 Manatee Ave W #603, Bradenton 941-8969640 TradewindsTile.com
HOME SERVICE
HATE TO COOK? Long time Island resident. Can help with cooking, laundry and many things around your house. Many compliments on cooking. References available. Please Call or Text 941685-0045.
LANDSCAPING & LAWN CARE
R. GAROFALO’S Interlocking brick pavers, driveways, patios, pool decks. Free estimates. Licensed & Insured. Call Rafael 941-778-4823 or Veronik 941-526-7941
ISLAND RESIDENT. TREE/ BUSH Trimming, removal. Sweeping, blowing, and weeding. Weekly, bi-monthly or monthly schedule. Pressure washing. Call Bill Witaszek 941307-9315
SHELL DRIVEWAYS & LANDSCAPE. Specializing in Old Florida Seashell and Lime rock driveways and scapes. Also River Rock, Sand, Mulch, & Soil. Call Shark Mark 941-301-6067
DEVINE DESIGN LANDSCAPE - Professional Landscape and Design Services for your entire property. Irrigation services, Tree Removal and trimming, Sod, Mulch, Fencing, Pavers and Landscape Lighting. Commercial and Residential. Call 941-4656015 DevineDesign7@ yahoo.com
MOVING & STORAGE
MARTIN’S MOVING YOUR Island movers! Offering dependable, competitive rates. No hidden costs. 941-8095777.
PAINTING & WALLCOVERING
PAINT! PAINT! AND MORE 28 years of experienced interior/exterior custom painting. Pressure cleaning, drywall repairs and texture finishes. Many Island references. Please call Neil for free estimates. 941-812-0507
“WIZARD OF WALLS” Established 1980 Prompt quality service. Wallpaper installation/ removal. Mary Bell Winegarden 941-794-0455
DONALD PERKINS ABRACADABRA PAINTING LLC fully insured. 30 years experience. Many Island references. Call 941-705-7096
PROFESSIONAL PAINTING SERVICES. Prompt & Reliable. Island Resident. Quality Workmanship. Interior/Exterior. Minor repairs & carpentry. Free estimates. Bill Witaszek 941-307-9315
TRUE TONE PAINTING. Painting, power washing, epoxy floors and more, No job too small. Please call 941-224-4020 www. truetonepainting.com
PEST CONTROL
ANNA MARIA PEST CONTROL Call 941-7781630
POOL SERVICES
FOUR SEASONS POOL SERVICE AND CHEMICAL SERVICES. Certified Pool Operator. 18 + Years Experience. Residential/commercial. Chemical Service Licensed & Insured. Call Dennis Clark 941-7375657
COLE'S TROPICAL POOL SERVICE Call Cole Bowers for all your pool maintenance needs! Affordable and Dependable!! 941-7131893
PRESSURE WASHING & WINDOWS
TOTAL HOME SERVICES CLEANING: Residential, Commercial, Construction, Vacation, VRBO Rentals . Also available Pressure Washing, Roof Cleaning, Paver Sealing and Windows. Call 941-5653931.
REAL ESTATE HOMES & CONDOS FOR SALE
Have you been thinking of selling? We NEED properties to List for SALE!!! GULF FRONT, CANAL FRONT, BAY FRONT CONDOS or HOMES ASK for BIG Alan Galletto of Island Real Estate to get it SOLD 941-232-2216
LOOKING FOR A highly motivated real estate broker to buy or sell your next home? Darcie Duncan, Broker Duncan Real Estate a lifelong island resident bringing success to her customers for 30 years. Proven track record brings you results! 941-725-1589
FOR SALE - PERICO
BAY CLUB New Price for 2BR/2BA villa with Water View! 2 CAR GARAGE, open floor plan & high ceilings! $374,400 Call Erin Leathem at The Anna Maria Sales Team at Island Real Estate 941448-5616
FOR SALE. 3BR/2.5BA Town House. No flooding. Beautifully furnished. Walk to shop! $1.1 million CAPETOWN VILLAGE 3BR/3BA Bradenton. $499,000 FURNISHED CONDO with deeded boat dock. Pool . Furnished. Adorable. No flooding. $649,000 Brenda Boyd May. Boyd Realty 941-7308589.
RENTALS: ANNUAL
ANNUAL RENTAL CENTRAL HOMES BEACH 3BR/2BA completely remodeled. Walk to beach, school, trolley, shopping. $2595/mo Call 941-7136743
HOLMES BEACH 209 83rd St.: 2BR/2BA private pool, large screened lanai! $3000/mo. Water, trash, lawn care included. Also pool care. Annual, unfurnished. 1 Year lease. 1st, & $4500 security deposit Call 941-809-2488
BEAUTIFUL PERICO BAY Club Condo! 2BR/2BA, Second Floor Unit $4750/ mo seasonally, $2500/mo annually +Security Deposit Please call 941-7781979 for more details.
YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS this rare opportunity to live on Anna Maria Island. Please call the office at 941-778-1979 to see this 2BR/2BA $2975/ mo renovated home with a beautifully landscaped large backyard.
AMI HOUSE 4BR/3BA Master suite with walk in closet, private study. Large yard. Water view. Walk to Beach. 12 month minimum. Call 203-2231119.
ANNUAL RENTAL
2BR/2BA Palma Sola Bay in a 55+ community. $1850/ mo. includes water, sewer, garbage, cable & wifi. Call or text 304-532-2667
BUSINESS & SERVICE DIRECTORY
RENTALS: SEASONAL & VACATION
ANNA MARIA ISLAND
CONDOS Large pool, beach access, free WiFi, 1&2 Bedroom $900 to $1200 per week redekercondosonami.com Tim 941-704-7525
TIFFANY PLACE Gulf Front Condo for Rent Incredible views from living room and master bedroom. 2BR/2BA Green Real Estate Call 941-778-0455
SEASONAL RENTAL in PALMA SOLA. 3BR/2BA weekly or monthly rates. Contact Barb Grace 941201-2190
SEASONAL RENTALHOLMES BEACH - 2BR/2BA Bayside Condo. POOL, Tennis, Pickleball, Beautifully updated. Available starting December 2025. Call Jack at 312-835-2323 or for photos and details
TRANSPORTATION
ANYTIME TRANSPORTATION to all Airports, Casino, etc. Tampa/St. Pete $85. Sarasota $40. Pets welcome. Very dependable. Reasonable rates. Contact Jeanne. 941-7795095
