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VOL 20 No. 45

August 19, 2020

Holmes Beach takes home six Bert Harris wins

Manatee County Circuit Court Judge Charles Sniffen came back with six long-awaited rulings in Bert Harris cases, finding in the city of Holmes Beach’s favor in all six cases. BY KRISTIN SWAIN SUN STAFF WRITER | kswain@amisun.com

JACKIE FEATHERSTON/AME ELEMENTARY | SUBMITTED

Each student has been provided with a plastic desk shield.

Students return to Anna Maria Elementary

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

HOLMES BEACH – The first school year amid the COVID-19 pandemic began Monday morning as about 195 students showed up for the opening day of classes at Anna Maria Elementary School. “This is one of the smoothest openings we’ve had. I was very pleased. It went perfectly this morning,” Principal Jackie Featherston said regarding an opening day that included mandatory face coverings, plastic desk shields and social distancing in response to COVID-19. The opening took place under guidelines adopted in an emergency meeting Friday by the Manatee County School Board and School Superintendent Cynthia Saunders. At that meeting, the board’s policy and operating protocols regarding cloth face coverings and plastic face shields for students, teachers and staff members were revised. SEE AME, PAGE 26

INSIDE NEWS 4 BUSINESS

OUTDOORS

CASTLES IN THE SAND

REAL ESTATE

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JACKIE FEATHERSTON/AME ELEMENTARY | SUBMITTED

MANATEE COUNTY – Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth is celebrating after receiving six judgments from Manatee County Circuit Court Judge Charles Sniffen ruling in favor of the city in the Bert Harris Jr. Act cases. The six cases all involve occupancy arguments with property owners arguing that the city’s limitation on vacation rental occupancy - two per bedroom or six people total - devalue their property. In all six cases, Sniffen ruled against the property owners, stating in the rulings that the first application requirement of the Bert Harris Jr. Act was not met. The Bert Harris Jr. Private Property Act was enacted in 1995 by the State of Florida to provide a way for private property owners to resolve disputes between themselves and a government entity they believe has inordinately burdened the use of their property. In these cases, Sniffen ruled that the property owners were not inordinately burdened by the city’s occupancy restrictions. The property owners are Shawn Kaleta at 204 72nd St., Shawn Kaleta d/b/a 302 55th LLC at 302 55th St., Brian Wien at 111 81st St., Shawn Kaleta d/b/a 307 66th LLC at 307 66th St., R. Carlile Roberts at 6422 Gulf Drive, Unit 5 and Robert and Michele Carl at 118 50th St., Unit A. Without property owners applying to the city for a variance or some other relief from the occupancy limitation and receiving a formal denial of a written request, the first application requirement was not met. The rulings bring all six cases to a close unless there is an appeal filed by attorneys on behalf of the property owners. Titsworth said that she is very happy with the rulings and hopes to soon see an end to the Bert Harris cases which have cast a shadow over city hall since 2017. While the six cases mark a win for the city, Holmes Beach city leaders are not out of the woods yet.

Students are required to wear masks or cloth face coverings when riding the bus and throughout much of their school day.

SEE BERT HARRIS, PAGE 12

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AUGUST 19, 2020

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City Pier grill and bait shop bids due Friday The grill and bait shop bids will be opened Friday afternoon. BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA – Restaurateurs and entrepreneurs interested in operating a takeout grill and bait shop on the new Anna Maria City Pier have until 1 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 21 to submit their proposals. At that time, the proposals received will be opened inside the commission chambers. The bidders’ names will be announced but the bid details will remain confidential until the proposals are reviewed and then discussed in a public meeting with city commissioners. A nonmandatory pre-bid meeting took place at city hall Thursday morning, Aug. 13. The meeting provided potential bidders the opportunity to pose questions to Mayor Dan Murphy. Attendees included Anna Maria General Store & Deli owner Brian Seymour, Dips Ice Cream owner Vic Mattay and Graham Slam Fishing Charters coowner Nicholas Graham. Seymour said the trio intends to submit a proposal. Waterfront Restaurant & Craft Bar owner Jason Suzor also attended the

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

The city of Anna Maria seeks a grill and bait shop operator in the building to the left.   meeting. His restaurant is located across the street from the new pier. Patrick Coleman attended the meeting on behalf of F.P. Growth Partners LLC – the restaurant management company that operates multiple Poppo’s Taquerias, including one on Pine Avenue. It was noted later that the LLC’s proposal would not use the Poppo’s menu concepts. Karen Bell, owner of the A.P. Bell Fish Company and the Star Fish Company res-

taurant in Cortez, and part-owner of Tide Tables restaurant, participated via phone. Seymour noted the city’s request for proposals (RFP) states the city will provide the tenant with a four-foot overhead kitchen hood. He said a larger hood would likely be needed. Murphy said the city would cover the cost of a four-foot hood and necessary duct work and the tenant would pay the difference if a larger hood is desired.

Suzor asked if the city had a desired monthly base rent in mind. “No it’s open. It’s probably better to leave it open and let the market decide,” Murphy said. Suzor asked how many people visited the old City Pier. Murphy said he couldn’t provide an exact number, but he said the old pier was the most visited attraction in Manatee County. Regarding the tenant’s responsibility for 10% of the pier maintenance and cleaning costs, Murphy said most of those initial costs would pertain to cleaning the public restrooms. He said he did not anticipate the new pier requiring a great deal of maintenance early on. Seymour noted the RFP also mentions the possibility of the tenant being responsible for 10% of a pier manager’s salary should that position be created. Murphy said he’s not in favor of creating such a specialized position. He feels the city’s Public Works Department can handle the pier responsibilities and if an additional employee is needed the estimated average salary is approximately $40,000 plus benefits. SEE PIER, PAGE 19

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ISLAND NEWS

IN BRIEF

Privateers announce scholarship winners

The Anna Maria Island Privateers will fulfill their mission of “Privateers for Kids & Community” in the form of providing scholarships this year. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was a bleak time to try to raise funds. Many fundraisers had to be canceled due to social distancing, lockdown, closed business and stay-at-home orders. However, the Privateers were still able to raise $12,400 to help seven students with their education. They are: Anthony Cucci - Whitey Horton Scholarship – Florida State University, Tallahassee. Ivelina Kioutchoukova - Sandpiper Resort Scholarship – University of Florida, Gainesville. Eryn LaLonde - Shiprek Scholarship – University of Central Florida, Orlando. Hannah Vreman - $1,750 Scholarship – Palm Beach Atlantic University, West Palm Beach. Dylan Joseph - $1,400 Scholarship – State College of Florida, Bradenton. Aaliyah Everette - $1,400 Scholarship – University of South Florida, Tampa. Arthur Bellamy - $1,400 Scholarship – State College of Florida, Bradenton.

Chamber seeks board members The Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce is seeking nominations for the 2021 through 2023 Board of Directors. Nominees must be members in good standing of the AMI Chamber and must each provide a nomination ballot with the signatures of five member businesses that are also in good standing. Members can nominate themselves or any Chamber member in good standing. Board of Directors nomination forms must be returned by Sept. 4. For more information, email terri@amichamber.org or visit www.annamariaislandchamber.org.

City requests $5,500 in CARES Act funds The city of Bradenton Beach has submitted a request to Manatee County for approximately $5,500 in CARES Act reimbursement funds to help offset the costs the city has incurred in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Give blood, help animals A blood drive to benefit Wildlife Inc. Education and Rehabilitation Center in Bradenton Beach is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 22 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Lakewood Ranch Donor Center, 3025 Lakewood Ranch Blvd. in Bradenton, and Sunday, Aug. 23 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Waterline Marina Resort, 5325 Marina Drive in Holmes Beach. All successful donors receive a free COVID-19 antibody test, a free T-shirt and a chance to win a weekend stay at the Waterline Marina Resort & Beach Club. They also will be able to select one of three charities for a $100 donation in their name. The non-profit Wildlife Inc. treats more than 3,000 birds, mammals and reptiles each year funded by donations, releasing all that can go back into the wild, and educates the public with non-releasable birds at schools, churches, clubs and community events. For more information, visit suncoastblood.org or call 1-866-972-5663.

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AUGUST 19, 2020

Scenic Highway CME talks horses on the causeway

Some Palma Sola Bay residents are hoping to find a way to regulate the horse riding businesses operating on the causeway. BY KRISTIN SWAIN SUN STAFF WRITER | kswain@amisun.com

MANATEE COUNTY – The horses being ridden for profit along the causeway are again causing a stir, this time with members of the Palma Sola Scenic Highway Corridor Management Entity (CME) and some nearby residents who live along Palma Sola Bay. The subject of horseback riding in the bay came up during an Aug. 12 meeting of the CME. The group discussed the matter themselves and heard from two residents who live on the bay. Robert Lombardo and Clif Gaus, two long-time bay residents, both spoke during public comment, asking for help from CME members in seeking regulation for the horse riding businesses. Lombardo, who has lived for nearly 40 years on the bay, said that he initially became concerned about the businesses when he saw the horseback riding take off in 2016. After speaking with local elected officials and not garnering any interest in the issue, he said he backed off, only to renew his efforts in October 2019. “I can’t ignore it anymore,” he said, noting that he’s seen a steady increase in the horse riding excursions and the number of companies operating on the causeway. Lombardo’s concerns include water quality and the destruction of seagrasses where the horses are ridden in the water off the beach. He said that he sees horse excrement float by his dock regularly which leads to concerns for him about fishing and swimming in the water. Lombardo said that he spoke about his concerns with Julie Espy, Program Administrator of the Water Quality Assessment Program with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. While he said Espy agreed that there is cause for concern with both

KRISTIN SWAIN | SUN

The horse riding businesses that work along the causeway are causing concern for Palma Sola Scenic Highway Corridor Management Entity members and nearby residents. environmental and water quality impacts, she said the issue needs to be handled at a local level. While Lombardo said he doesn’t want to put anyone out of business, he wants a structure in place that helps protect the area’s natural resources, including seagrasses, from destruction. Gaus said that having so many businesses operate along the causeway corridor takes away from the beauty of the scenic highway and also reduces the number of people who can enjoy the causeway beaches. In addition to excrement and broken seagrasses, he said he’s also seen a horse break loose and run close to children playing on the beach. With so many horses, he said it discourages people from using the causeway and it creates issues with swimming in the water and using the beaches with excrement floating through the water and washing up on beaches. Gaus presented members with two aerial photographs, one of the north side of the causeway from 2016 and another from 2019. While he assumes that the difference in coloring is due to sand being exposed rather than seagrasses being present, he said that the 2019 map clearly shows a difference where the horses commonly walk.

Shawn Duytschaver, a CME member and owner/operator of Surfer Bus, said that he’d previously proposed the idea of an equestrian trail along the side of the causeway that would keep the horses in one section that is clearly marked. He said that the issue is the way that the horses walk in the water digs up not only seagrass but also sand and would eventually create a channel, requiring the trail to be moved to another area. Co-chair Ingrid McClellan said that before the CME group approaches any elected officials, they need to have concrete data to show the damage to the area. She suggested going to the Southwest Florida Water Management District and the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program to get seagrass data from the past several years. Member Mike Meehan suggested that all the trailers parked on the side of the causeway, some on sidewalks, with horses blocking or constantly crossing the sidewalk could create a safety hazard that would need to be addressed. Nancy Simpson with the Sarasota/Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization said that there potentially are several issues for her organization to address, including beach erosion caused by damage SEE CME, PAGE 24

AUGUST 19, 2020

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Bridge Street undergrounding project completed The undergrounding of utility lines has long been envisioned by CRA Chair and City Commissioner Ralph Cole. BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH – The utility poles have been removed along Bridge Street and a portion of Bay Drive as the final step in undergrounding the utility lines. The utility pole removals began Tuesday night and were completed Wednesday morning. The undergrounding project was initiated and funded by the Bradenton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA). CRA Chair Ralph Cole began advocating for undergrounded utility lines in 2016. During the current 2019-20 fiscal year, the CRA budgeted $493,853 for its undergrounding project. To date, $306,956 has been spent and the CRA anticipates an additional $30,000$50,000 in additional costs yet to be paid. The undergrounding project was overseen and guided to completion by City Attorney Ricinda Perry, with

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

Before the undergrounding project was completed, utilities lines cluttered the Bridge Street skyline. Utility lines no longer clutter the skyline near the Bridge Tender Inn. contracted consulting assistance and support provided by CDM Smith Chief Operating Officer and Project Manager Mark Porter. In addition to her oversight of the CRA’s contractual obligations, Perry spent numerous hours on Bridge Street working directly with Florida Power & Light and FP&L-approved contractor Wilco Electrical to get the undergrounding project completed. During Tuesday’s CRA budget meeting, Cole commented on the pole removals to take place that evening.

“Tonight is going to be a wonderful thing. We’re really going to get a vision of what undergrounding looks like. The reason I always said start with Bridge Street and work our way out is we’ll get an idea what it looks like. I think it’s a worthwhile project even though it can be expensive – and even though it was time consuming and took longer than we thought it would. Now we have that under our belt and we have a better idea of what we’re looking at,” Cole said. On Wednesday morning, Perry ref-

erenced the pole removals in a post at her personal Facebook page. “I have always admired my dad for his brilliance and the way he built the power lines in central Pennsylvania. I had the opportunity to rebuild the city of Bradenton Beach Bridge Street, which included undergrounding all the overhead lines. I am so pleased to say this morning, at 6:20 a.m., my project is complete and was a success,” Perry wrote in her post. SEE BRIDGE STREET, PAGE 10

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OPINION

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The Anna Maria Island Sun Staff Publishers Mike Field Maggie Field Editor/CEO Mike Field Layout Ricardo Fonseca Reporters Cindy Lane Joe Hendricks Kristin Swain Columnists Louise Bolger Outdoors editor Rusty Chinnis Advertising director Shona Otto Ad assistant Pamela Lee Classified ads Bob Alexander Graphics Elaine Stroili Ricardo Fonseca Digital/Social Media editor Cindy Lane Accounting John Reitz Distribution Bob Alexander Tony McNulty Connor Field Contributors Tom Vaught Pat Copeland Steve Borggren Monica Simpson

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

A smile and a hug I was very sad to see one of the shining smiles on our Island had passed away. Priscilla Seewald was the person that no matter what was going on, good or bad, she always had a smile and hug. Priscilla was a fixture at Roser Church and many other organizations on the Island, volunteering for almost anything. I could not let time pass without thanking Priscilla for her kindness and love for our Island. Time moves on, but I canâ€™t imagine not

seeing her smiling face anymore. Thank you, Bruce, for sharing your lovely wife. Carol Whitmore Holmes Beach

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.

AUGUST 19, 2020

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ON THE AGENDA

HOLMES BEACH

ANNA MARIA

5801 MARINA DRIVE FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL 941-708-5800

10005 GULF DRIVE FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-708-6130

City hall is open to the public with limited capacity and safety protocols in place. Please visit www.cityofannamaria.com or contact city hall for more information. Aug. 27, 6 p.m. – City Commission meeting Sept. 7, all day – City offices closed for Labor Day holiday Sept. 10, 6 p.m. – Budget hearing and City Commission special meeting

City hall is currently closed to the public. All meetings will be held virtually until further notice. Aug. 19, 10 a.m. – Code Compliance special magistrate hearing Sept. 7, all day – City offices closed for Labor Day holiday Sept. 9, 6 p.m. – Planning Commission meeting Sept. 10, 6 p.m. – City Commission meeting with work session to follow

BRADENTON BEACH

ISLAND-WIDE

107 GULF DRIVE N. FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-778-1005

City hall is open to the public with limited capacity and safety protocols in place. Please visit www.cityofbradentonbeach.com or contact city hall for more information. Aug. 20, noon – City Commission meeting Aug. 25, 9:15 a.m. – City Commission emergency special meeting Aug. 26, 1 p.m. – Planning and Zoning Board meeting Sept. 2, 9 a.m. – Capital Improvement Plan meeting Sept. 2, 9:30 a.m. – Community Redevelopment Agency meeting Sept. 2, 2 p.m. – Scenic WAVES meeting Sept. 3, 5:05 p.m. – Community Redevelopment Agency tentative fiscal year 2021 millage and budget meeting Sept. 3, 5:35 p.m. – City Commission tentative millage and budget hearing Sept. 3, 6 p.m. – City Commission meeting Sept. 8, 10 a.m. – City Commission work meeting Sept. 10, 1 p.m. – Department Head meeting

Aug. 25, 6 p.m. – West Manatee Fire Rescue board meeting, virtual meeting, instructions to join the meeting at www.wmfr.org

MARK YOUR CALENDAR August 19 - September 1 The Island Branch Library is open at 40% capacity. Please wear a face mask/covering. Tingley Memorial Library is closed. All classes at area parks and recreation areas are cancelled. The Holmes Beach Dog Park, skate park, basketball courts and tennis courts are open to the public. The Center of Anna Maria Island is open to the public with social distancing and face masks required. Local preserves are open to the public including Grassy Point Preserve, Perico Preserve, Neal Preserve and Robinson Preserve. Local beaches are open to the public.

Daytime turtle nesting Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring volunteer Kathy Doddridge, at right, pictured with Turtle Watch photographer Amy L. Waterbury, recently found a turtle nesting in the early morning hours, her fifth this season. She shared on social media, “Participating on Turtle Watch has truly been a blessing. It gets my day started . . . EARLY . . . and I work with some pretty amazing fellow volunteers. I have had the good fortune to see more female loggerhead sea turtles nest this year than I've seen during my eight years as a volunteer. Two more this week. It NEVER gets old!! And as my turtle friend Amy Lewis Waterbury likes to hear me say, "This is why we do what we do!"

KATHY DODDRIDGE | SUBMITTED

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AUGUST 19, 2020

Commission says farewell to Amy Tripp The city commission will decide later this month how to fill two separate vacancies created by the Tripp’s departure. BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA – Commissioner Amy Tripp has made her final in-person appearance at an Anna Maria City Commission meeting. She will participate in her final meeting via telephone on Aug. 27 and the commission will then begin the process of filling that vacant seat. Earlier this month, Tripp tendered her resignation effective at the end of August. She and her husband, Alan, sold their Anna Maria home and are moving to Black Mountain, N.C. During the Thursday, Aug. 13 meeting, Mayor Dan Murphy presented Tripp with a ceremonial key to the city. “I wanted to take this opportunity to thank Commissioner Tripp.

I wanted to thank her for everything she’s done for the city. She’s been such a contributor in terms of creativity. She’s always been thinking out of the box, always bringing us new ideas. You left a tremendous mark on our city,” Murphy said. He then presented Tripp with a wooden plaque containing a key to the city and said, “In grateful recognition of your contributions, your creativity and your service to the city of Anna Maria. You have a key to the city and you’re welcome to come back and use it anytime.” “Thank you,” Tripp said. “It has been a real positive experience for me. It had its challenges and rewards and I found it very meaningful to sit up here. I’m going to really miss you guys. I loved doing this and it was a fantastic experience.” Commission Chair Carol Carter said, “Amy thank you for your passion, and as the mayor said, for your creativity and all that you’ve added to our commission.” Tripp was appointed to the commission in February 2018

CITY OF ANNA MARIA | SUBMITTED

Commissioner Amy Tripp received a key to the city from Mayor Dan Murphy. and ran unopposed later that year when seeking a full two-year term. Before resigning, Tripp was among those running unopposed for another term in office. In 2016, Tripp voluntarily led the city efforts in creating the bike route and Anna Maria Bike Route Map and Guide that remains available at city hall and many Anna Maria businesses.

FILLING TRIPP’S SEAT

During Thursday’s meeting, Murphy and the commission

ICES ANY HAPPY HOUR PR

discussed how Tripp’s vacant seat will be filled. Murphy said the commission has two options. It can make an approximate eight-week appointment in September and then make a separate two-year appointment that would take effect after the November election results are certified. The commission could also allow the seat to remain vacant until after the elections and make just one appointment. Murphy and Commissioner Mark Short both noted leaving the seat open until mid-November would create the potential for 2-2 tie votes. Murphy said the nonvoting Anna Maria mayor is not authorized to break a tie vote. Carter said she would like more time to think this over and the other commissioners agreed to wait until the Aug. 27 meeting to decide how many appointments will be made. Commissioner Joe Muscatello asked if the two-year appointment could be made in October so the appointee could take office immediately after the November elections. Murphy said that could be done.

Short said the commission has a lot of important decisions to make in the next couple months and having someone in that seat would be beneficial even if the short-term appointee doesn’t want to then serve a full two-year term. As the meeting neared its end, Short said, “Commissioner Tripp, thank you for your service and your leadership. It’s been a pleasure to serve with you and good luck to you and Alan in the snow in North Carolina.” Tripp said she started visiting Anna Maria when she was 19 and never missed a year in Anna Maria before becoming a city resident. “You will see me again,” she promised. “It’s great to have you on the Island and we’ll miss you,” Commissioner Jon Crane said. “I don’t like to think about it Amy, but our loss is Black Mountain’s gain. I imagine you’ll probably be the mayor of Black Mountain in about four years,” Muscatello said, partially in jest.

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BRIDGE STREET: Undergrounding project completed FROM PAGE 5

She also thanked Mayor John Chappie, the entire CRA board, the city staff, the impacted business owners, Wilco, Porter and the many new friends she made while working on the project. Earlier this year, the city of Bradenton Beach received a $2 million appropriation from the Florida Legislature and Gov. Ron DeSantis. The state funds will be used to begin undergrounding some of the utility lines along Gulf Drive, beginning at the north end of the city, which is outside of the CRA district. The state-funded city project is expected to be pursued during the 2020-21 fiscal year that begins on Oct. 1. Videos and photos of the Bridge Street utility poles being removed are posted at www.cityofbradentonbeach.com.

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AUGUST 19, 2020

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THE SUN

Birthday celebrations benefit Blessing Bags Project The charitable efforts included fundraising, donated shoes and a donated vehicle. BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

CORTEZ – Swordfish Grill General Manager Bob Slicker and Blessing Bags Project President Betsy Plante celebrated their birthdays by helping others in need. The Swordfish Grill’s Wednesday, Aug. 12 Happy Hour Extravaganza served as an early birthday party and a fundraiser. Beside the outdoor stage where Tim Chandler performed stood a large box bearing Betsy's name and another bearing Bob's. Inside the boxes were more than 125 pairs of new shoes donated that night and over the past seven days. “We had a competition for who could collect the most pairs of sneakers. Whoever gets the most sneakers gets a pie in the face, so Bob’s telling everybody to put them in my box,” Plante said. Plante’s box contained the most donated shoes, but in a surprise twist it was Slicker who got a pie in the face courtesy of co-master of ceremonies and Facebook Live mixologist Lily “Beatrice” Banyas. “Shoes are something the homeless always need and children grow out of so fast,” Plante said. The adult shoes will be distributed to the homeless and the children’s shoes will be distributed to children later this year as Christmas gifts. “Our mission is to provide basic critical needs to the homeless and less fortunate,” Plante said. “We have a lot of different people right now that need help because of COVID. We’re seeing people now who used to have jobs and

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

In a surprise move, Lily “Beatrice” Banyas delivered the pie to Bob Slicker’s face. Covered with whipped cream, Bob Slicker carried on with his Happy Hour Extravaganza hosting duties. were doing fine. We see families moving in together. I had a family call me that only had two cans of food – one can of beans and one can of SpaghettiOs, that’s all they had.” One of The Blessing Bags Project’s signature activities is giving youngsters backpacks filled with needed goods, and a stuffed toy for comfort. “We handed out backpacks today at the Hunger’s End food pantry. We usually do 35-40. Today we did 70 and ran out. A lot of people who never needed help now need help,” Plante said. For his birthday, Slicker also started a Facebook fundraiser that raised more than $6,400. “We’re blessed to help The Blessing Bags Project with people donating shoes and money. It’s especially important this year because we had two fundraisers planned that we had to cancel – a golf tournament and our annual Giving Back concert. If you look at the donations, there are some very generous ones, but there’s also a lot of $10, $15 and $20 donations. That shows people care and that’s very heartwarming,” Slicker said. “I’ve done this in Rhode Island and in New Hampshire. The people in Bradenton, Manatee County and Sarasota

County have the biggest hearts I’ve ever seen in my ministry work,” Plante said. “The Swordfish Grill is our biggest cheerleader and the people that come to the Swordfish Grill have been supporting us for years. Because of COVID, we had to cancel our two big fundraisers, but they came through on Facebook, raising more than $6,000.”

BLESSED MOBILITY

The giving didn’t stop there. Slicker also donated his used Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo to a Bradenton family who had gone more than a month without a car. Saturday morning, Slicker and Plante delivered the donated vehicle to Michelle and Adam Abelson and their sons Asher and Austin. “We just happened to have a family whose car died and they have two little boys that need to get to school Monday,” Plante said. “I’ve had my Jeep for the longest time. It’s a ‘97 with 200,000 miles on it. It still runs great and I didn’t feel right selling it. I wanted more for the car because it’s been so good to me. And I didn’t want to give a family a car with old tires on it, so my Swordfish Grill team collected money for the tires as a gift from them,” Slicker said.

Slicker’s new ride is a low mileage 2009 Honda Ridgeline. When showing the Abelsons their new vehicle, Slicker said, “I think there’s a skateboard back there,” much to Asher’s delight. “Thank you so much. I cannot believe it. Nothing like this ever happens,” Michelle said. “It’s just in time for the start of school. God works in mysterious ways and we’ve been praying. If you’ve lived without a car, you know what it’s like trying to get groceries for a family, trying to get to the doctor's and trying to get to school. This is going to make our lives so much easier.” When asked where they’d go first, Michelle said, “We might take a ride out to the beach.” Adam is a maintenance man at the apartment complex where they live and the boys attend school at Oneco Elementary. “I’m just truly blessed to be provided with this vehicle,” Adam said. “It allows us to get my family to and from the store and my little ones to school. Being out of district, transportation to school was going to be one of the hardest things we had to deal with.” Learn more about The Blessing Bags Project at www.theblessingbagsproject.org.

Offering the largest selection of spirits, wine & beer on AMI.

5344 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach 941.779.2337 Shop & earn discounts at Hurricane Hanks! Delivery service now available!

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BERT HARRIS: Holmes Beach claims six wins FROM PAGE 1

Cases brought against the city by property owners Mojito Splash LLC, Coral Escapes of Holmes Beach LLC and AMI Breeze LLC have been filed with the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida for an appeal of the Manatee County ruling against their cases earlier in 2020 by Judge Edward Nicholas. No hearings have yet been set for these appeals.

More than a dozen Bert Harris cases are still pending in Manatee County Circuit Court with several having motions for more time to provide answers to the city’s discovery queries heard during an Aug. 31 hearing. Several other cases were given a similar extension in July with an Aug. 10 deadline. No further hearings have yet been set in those cases.

AUGUST 19, 2020

GOOD NEWS We invite you to w ship with us

in the sanctuary! www.RoserChurch.com Click WORSHIP-SIGNUP to review the social distancing guidelines and reserve your seat. If you prefer to stay home, please WATCH LIVE and join the chat on YouTube

Sundays at 8:30 & 10:00 AM After the service WATCH LATER! Call the office if you need assistance. Call the church text ROSER to 22828 to receive the weekly eBulletin. FACEBOOK> follow> see first, join a group. Need help? Call the office! The FOOD PANTRY is open to assist island residents/w kers in need.

The CHAPEL is open during office hours f prayer & meditation. Send PRAYER REQUESTS to info@r erchurch.com call the office. Call the church office if you would like to talk to a PASTOR. A NON DENOMINATIONAL CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY COMMUNITY CHURCH • 512 Pine Ave, Anna Maria [near Pier]

941-778-0414 • www.RoserChurch.com • Facebook @RoserChurch

AUGUST 19, 2020

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AMICCO postpones Symphony on the Sand

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The Board of Directors of the Anna Maria Island Concert Chorus & Orchestra (AMICCO) has decided to postpone its Symphony on the Sand for this year after meeting regularly to examine its options considering the unique circumstances surrounding COVID-19 and its effect on the community. In its eighth season, Symphony on the Sand has traditionally been held on Coquina Beach on the second Saturday each November. Recognized as one of the regionâ€™s premier musical events, it has been attended by more than 4,000 people annually. â€œThe board has been following the news closely as it relates to the safety and well-being of patrons, musicians and vocalists, as well as the surrounding community and audience members who have supported this successful event over the years,â€? board President James Stoltie said. â€œCentral to the conversation has been the health and wellbeing of everyone involved in the production of Symphony on the Sand. Many organizations and individuals work closely together to ensure that every performance is successful and better than the last. The rehearsal time invested by our orchestra and chorus members, along with the planning time of our service providers and volunteers, requires hours of commitment. â€œAMICCO deeply values the relationships created with our community partners and as such we feel that moving forward with Symphony on the Sand 2020 would put all involved at increased and unnecessary risk. While we acknowledge that there are differing perspectives on the topic, we have nevertheless decided to err on the side of keeping our treasured talent, audience members, volunteers, sponsors and community partners safe. The AMICCO Board views the health and safety of our community as the most important factor and underlying priority, and it is in this spirit that we look forward to creating Symphony on the Sand in 2021 and beyond.â€?

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AUGUST 19, 2020

Celebrating 35 years at LaPensee BY LOUISE BOLGER SUN STAFF WRITER

What does it take to stay in business for 35 years? It takes honesty, skill, integrity, innovation and a great family. LaPensee Plumbing, Pools & Air has all of that wrapped up in a creative building where pool tiles sparkle and running water flows through many of the plumbing displays. Mike LaPensee, the patriarch of the family, started LaPensee Plumbing 35 years ago with just his plumbing experience and his Datsun truck. Now, LaPensee owns 55 trucks driven by their experienced staff servicing all of Manatee and Sarasota counties and beyond. LaPensee has expanded not only the number of trucks they own but also the services they offer. In 2015 they added air-conditioning services, including installations, service contracts and emergency services. They also offer ultraviolet filtering systems for airconditioning units exactly like the one they installed in their building to keep their staff safe. Recently they enlarged their building to include a swimming pool showroom

with dozens of tile samples to support their pool service division offering full-service pool maintenance and remodeling. And the final phase of their building expansion is almost ready to accommodate their much-needed expanded office space for their 65 employees and an ever-growing menu of services. In addition, they now offer pipe-lining, a “no dig” technology that cleans the scaling from the main line into the house and installs a resin lining making the pipes like new. For homes with expensive tile floors or vintage terrazzo this is a life saver avoiding floor damage while maintaining the integrity of the main plumbing line. Of course, they have all nature of plumbing services available, from simple faucet installations to bathroom renovations to clearing clogged drainage lines and installing new hot water heaters. In fact, LaPensee is the largest provider of hot water heaters in the tricounty region. This allows them to offer great rates and service to their customers. Take a look at their well-organized and informative website listing all of their many services. Their next planned

LaPensee Plumbing, Pools & Air 401 Manatee Avenue Holmes Beach 941-778-5622 www.lapenseeplumbing.com Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. 24 Hour Emergency Service All Major Credit LOUISE BOLGER | SUN

Shawn LaPensee Shields, Mike LaPensee & Karen LaPensee in their new Pool Showroom. expansion is the addition of a qualified licensed electrical contractor who might like to join their family to round out and support their existing services. It should be noted that LaPensee has not laid off any employees from the beginning of the pandemic in spite of some early slowdown in business.

Cards Accepted They’re meticulous about providing both their office staff, as well as service staff, the best protective materials available to safeguard their customers and staff. In spite of all their business success the heart of LaPensee Plumbing, Pools & Air are the LaPensees. Mike LaPensee is retired but available to share his years of experience when needed; SEE LAPENSEE, PAGE 24

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AUGUST 19, 2020

THE SUN

Waterline resort units on sale now Sales of the 37 twobedroom units at the Waterline Resort officially began at 10:08 a.m. on Aug. 8. BY KRISTIN SWAIN SUN STAFF WRITER | kswain@amisun.com

HOLMES BEACH – If you’ve ever dreamed of owning a piece of the Waterline Marina Resort and Beach Club, now is your chance. The 37 two-bedroom, fully furnished units went on the market at 10:08 a.m. on Aug. 8. Pricing for the units starts in the low $500,000s. Interested buyers can contact the sales office at 727-379-4656, email waterline@cbrealty. com, go to www.waterlinevillas.com or visit the onsite sales office at 5325 Marina Drive in Holmes Beach. The sales of the units are a collaboration between hotel developer Mainsail Lodging & Development and Georgia

Salaverri of Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate. Each of the units, or villas, features two bedrooms, a gourmet kitchen with fullsize appliances, living area and balcony. All units are provided to the owners fully furnished. With Waterline remaining a full-service resort, onsite amenities include a meeting room, fitness room, pool, marina access and a full-service restaurant, Eliza Ann’s. Due to COVID-19 precautions, Eliza Ann’s and the hotel’s bar are currently closed. Owners of the units will be able to stay in the units whenever they’re in town and also put them in a program to be rented as hotel rooms when vacant. All current reservations at the hotel will be honored despite the unit sales. Guests will still be able to make reservations at the hotel through the resort’s website at www. waterlineresort.com.

KRISTIN SWAIN | SUN

You can now purchase a two-bedroom unit at the Waterline Marina Resort and Beach Club for around $500,000. The Waterline Marina Resort and Beach Club was developed by Mainsail and opened in 2018 as the first

full-service hotel on Anna Maria Island, located in the downtown commercial district within walking distance to

salons, restaurants, shops, art galleries and more. It is part of the Marriott Autograph Collection of boutique hotels.

AUGUST 19, 2020

941.779.2337 9:00 AM - 10:00 PM 7 DAYS A WEEK 5344 3 GULF DRIVE, HOLMES BEACH

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AUGUST 19, 2020

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OUTDOORS

AUGUST 19, 2020

Reel Time on The Road

Yellowstone and the Madison River Valley - Part One Reel Time RUSTY CHINNIS

ounding a corner outside of Virginia City, Montana, I pulled to the side of the road to marvel at the vista. From horizon to horizon the Madison River Valley stretched out below, an invitation to one of the most geologically and ecologically diverse regions on earth. For the next week I would be fishing and exploring an area anchored to the south by Hebgen Lake, Earthquake Lake and the Madison River flowing from Yellowstone National Park. The world’s first national park and the largest in North America, Yellowstone sits atop North America's largest volcanic field. The caldera (a large cauldron-like hollow) was formed when land collapsed following the last of three super-eruptions that took place over the past 2.1 million years. It’s a land of steaming springs, geysers, bubbling mud pots and soaring landscapes that almost defy imagination. I began my adventure the next morning entering the park at West Yellowstone in the pre-dawn hours. I explored an area I had not ventured into in my past trips to the area, heading towards the Lamar Valley to the north. Usually crowded with tour buses and visitors in August, I was treated to large stretches of road and scenery devoid of cars and people, a rare and unexpected benefit of the pandemic. That morning felt like the first day of creation and I marveled at the vast volcanic-sculpted landscape, the fields

of grazing bison, antelope, mule deer and soaring eagles. Over the next week I would visit the park two more times, but as I left the park that day, I was looking forward to exploring the fishing opportunities afforded by the Madison River and Lake Ennis. This past summer I had spoken with Captain Harrison King, a friend based in Cortez who splits his time guiding locally and in Montana. When I told him I would be fishing near Dillon, he suggested I let him introduce me to fishing opportunities in the area near Ennis, Montana. Situated on the banks of the Madison River, and flanked on three sides by the Gravelly Range, the Madison Mountains, and the Tobacco Root Mountains, it’s one of the west’s most iconic fly-fishing destinations. I took him up on his offer on Monday and was joined by friend and local restaurateur Ed Chiles, who has a summer home in the area. We began the day on Lake Ennis, a large impounded section of the Madison River where King specializes in targeting large brown and rainbow trout that cruise the lake, rising to the clouds of mayflies and other insects there. Known as "gulpers" for the sound they make as they feed, this is one of my favorite ways to catch trout. The wind was down as we started and we all were able to feed brown and rainbow trout as they picked from the surface. When the wind came up, King returned to the ramp and we trailered his drift boat to the Madison, where we fished a long segment of the river. Once again, I spent quality time just sitting back and absorbing the amazing scenery. Although the fishing was a bit slow that day, Chiles managed to entice several quality rainbow and brown trout to his dry

RUSTY CHINNIS | SUN

Captain Harrison King prepares to release a 20-inch rainbow trout (gulper) that fell for a small dry fly on Ennis Lake. flies. At the end of the day we both agreed that the combination of experiences that day was one of the most unique adventures we had ever had. During my visit I stayed at the Driftwaters Resort, just downstream from Earthquake Lake and facing the magnificent Gallatin Mountains. This RV park features six cabins and the Drift Wood Restaurant where I spent my evenings enjoying the scenery and the culinary creations of chef Tim Sylvester and the service and hospitality offered by his wife, Trudy.

The amazing scenery and fishing opportunities afforded by Montana’s vast wilderness should be on any angler’s bucket list. For accommodations, contact Driftwaters Resort at 406-682-3088 and visit their website at www.driftwatersresort.com. For an expert introduction to the fishing opportunities in Montana or locally, contact Captain Harrison King at 941-525-8495. Check out King and his wife Laura’s Facebook Page at 941 Outfitters. Next week: More fishing adventures in Montana

AUGUST 19, 2020

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Go offshore for red grouper CAPTAIN DAVE WHITE

Offshore conditions have been phenomenal for getting the blue water itch out of your system. It’s been hot and flat out there. Some days, we here at Anna Maria Charters are praying for a breeze. The yellowtail and mangrove snapper are really fired up out there. We like to chum them up and slip a hook into a free-lined bait. This method will yield higher catches for sure. The red grouper fishing has been great as well. Depths of 90 feet to 130 feet have been great. Unsung dead baits seem to work better than live right now. I think the smell entices them into eating when the water temperature is as high as it is lately. Amberjack are in season as well. Although they’re a bit deeper now due to the heat, getting fish in the 40-50 lb. range is common on our trips right now. Inshore, the snapper and Spanish mackerel are the way to get a fresh fish dinner. Although we’re catching snook, redfish, and trout, they’re still closed for harvest. There’s some nice snook on the beach right now. Getting an early start to beat the beach walkers could get you a nice fight from the shoreline. Good luck and stay cool!

CAPTAIN RICK GRASSETT

I hosted a group of friends and clients on my annual destination fly fishing trip to southwest Montana during the past week. Due to the current situation with the coronavirus pandemic, it was a smaller group this year but the fishing was just as good as usual! Rusty Chinnis, from Longboat Key, and I traveled from Sarasota to Bozeman on Sunday, 8/2 and made the 2-1/2 hour drive to Medicine Lodge, on a 100,000 acre working ranch near the Beaverhead River, outside of Dillon, MT. We met up there with Mike Perez and Dennis Kinley, from IN, who drove and met us at the lodge. We fished the Beaverhead and Big Hole Rivers and a spring creek with guide Dave King, owner of King Outfitters (406) 596-0209 in Dillon, and guide Dan Allen. I’ve fished with these guides for almost 20-years when I started fishing Montana.

PIER: Bids due Friday FROM PAGE 3

CAPTAIN DAVE WHITE | SUBMITTED

Joe Strazzante, of Bradenton, shows off a keeper red grouper caught in 130 feet of water with Captain David White of Anna Maria Charters. They work hard, do a great job and know their fishery well. We had great action on 5 and 6-weight fly tackle with brown and rainbow trout to more than 20” on streamers, dry flies, dry/dropper and nymph rigs. The dry fly action was with a variety of grasshopper patterns, sometimes with a nymph dropper, or with a smaller dry fly and a few other bugs. Like fishing everywhere, there were good days and slower days but overall it was great! Equipped with an industrial size kitchen and a large dining room with ranch style seating, it is a great place for our group. Chef Annie Kubicka spoiled us with hearty Montana meals and desserts! The weather and scenery were outstanding with temperatures ranging from a very comfortable mid 40’s in the morning to the mid 80’s in the afternoon with only 15% to 20% humidity, a welcome relief from southwest

Florida’s heat and humidity in August! In addition to beautiful valleys surrounded by rugged mountains, the wildlife is amazing! We saw whitetail and mule deer, moose, pronghorn antelope, wild turkeys, hawks, eagles, ducks, geese and sandhill cranes. Back in Sarasota catch and release snook fishing around dock lights and bridges and trout, jacks, blues and more on deep grass flats should be good options. There should be tarpon in areas of upper Charlotte Harbor and Tampa Bay. Juvenile tarpon in canals and creeks may also be a good option. You might also find them in a few places mixed with snook in dock lights. Our natural resources are under constant pressure from red tides fueled by industrial, agricultural and residential runoff, freezes, increasing fishing pressure and habitat loss and degradation, please limit your kill, don’t kill your limit!

Suzor asked if there are drains and electrical outlets in place to accommodate a live bait well. According to Murphy, there is a 110-volt receptacle in place and drains could be added. Murphy said some bidders might have grandiose plans for bait sales and others might simply propose selling frozen squid. He said a lot people bring their own bait and some catch their own bait from the pier using cast nets. “You could go as far as you wanted on this thing,” Murphy said of the bait offerings. Due to a technical glitch, telephone participants were unable to join the conversation, but as the meeting was ending the glitch was fixed and Bell posed her questions. Bell asked if the grill and bait shop must be open seven days a week. Murphy said it must. In response to Bell’s questions, Murphy said the trash dumpster would be located on a dumpster pad on shore. He said a gas line has already been installed and a cityapproved electric cart could be used to transport supplies from shore to the pier’s T-end. During Thursday afternoon’s regular commission meeting, Murphy provided commissioners with a brief update on the pre-bid meeting. He said a list of interested parties also included Harvey’s Continental Kitchen in Longboat Key and Sherman Baldwin, operator of Hart’s Landing in Sarasota and Paradise Boat Tours in Bradenton Beach. A list of the questions asked and answers given during the pre-bid meeting is posted at www.cityofannamaria.com.

THE SUN

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Bridge Tender Inn serves Florida style If you’re looking for someplace with history, you’ll appreciate Bridge Street in Bradenton Beach, and the best location for original Florida food with a view is the Bridge Tender Inn and Dockside Bar, located at 135 Bridge Street. Bridge Tender Inn and Dockside Bar has been around for decades and under the same ownership for 30 years. It’s a landmark in an historic part of Anna Maria Island. The dining room holds up to 130 people and is perfect for a rehearsal dinner, bridal shower or other gathering. You can reserve the dining room and tailor the Bridge Tender’s menu, featuring fresh seafood and other local dishes, to as casual or as formal as you would like. For smaller parties, you can reserve a section of the dining room with views of Sarasota Bay, the Bridge Street Pier and Bridge Street. They have also added another area, Doc B’s front porch. The Bridge Tender and Dockside Bar is also accessible by water at Marker 49 and has two docks available for customers. For more information on the Bridge Tender Inn and Dockside Bar, go to wwwbridgetenderinn.rocks or contact Shannon Dunnan, events coordinator, at tenderinn@aol.com or 941-778-4849. The Bridge Tender Inn for the taste of real Florida.

AUGUST 19, 2020

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AUGUST 19, 2020

THE SUN

Sharon Bigrigg and Nicholas Graham were married on Aug. 12, 2019, on the beautiful beach of Anna Maria Island. Chuck Caudill provided music for their ceremony. Sharon and Nicholas honeymooned on Anna Maria Island before returning home to Colorado Springs, Colo.

DARA CAUDILL | WWW.ISLANDPHOTOGRAPHY.ORG

Laurie and Pete Donahue, of Arlington Heights, Illinois celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary with their children Peter, Caitlin, Meghan, and Colleen. DARA CAUDILL | WWW.ISLANDPHOTOGRAPHY.ORG

THE SUN

REAL ESTATE

AUGUST 19, 2020

Buy a yard for your Zoom

f you look at a lot of waterfront advertising, you see a commonly used phrase - “buy your boat a home.” Now with COVID-19 influencing almost everything in our lives, pretty soon you’re likely to see this phrase, “buy a yard for your Zoom.” There has been a lot of chatter, including in this space, about the trend of big city dwellers giving up their small expensive apartments and hitting the trail for the suburbs or moving out of state. Now that owning a single-family home is back in vogue, it’s also realigning itself as one of your top assets. Since the 2008 financial crisis burst the housing bubble, it’s taken a long time for housing values to return as well as housing preference to return for younger generations. It took COVID-19 to bring both those aspects of the housing market back into play, pushing up values as a new generation is looking at single-family homeownership as an ap-

Castles in the Sand LOUISE BOLGER preciable asset and a more comfortable form of shelter. The COVID-19 housing bubble that some economists are worried about is different, however, than the one that built up before 2008. This one is driven by the need for more working space to accommodate working and learning remotely for now and for many going well into the future, in addition to recognizing the personal liabilities of living shoulder to shoulder with strangers and the ability to expand geographically where you live and where you work. The housing bubble prior to 2008 was based strictly on making good investments

G ALLETTO T EAM HERE’S AUGUST!!!

and turning a quick profit. Homeowners used their homes as cash registers, maxing out their equity, and investors bought up new construction and resales with an eye to flipping for profit - not a place to live. This housing expansion has firmer legs as buyers are literally changing not only their residences but their lifestyles. Because of this trend, buyers have a different list of wants for their homes, per a survey done by Redfin. The top item they’re looking for is space to work from home and space for children to learn from home, generally a larger home in all areas. They also want more recreational space and a yard, and if they’re giving up their city life they want to pay less. All of this change comes with a more workable floor plan, which now includes gathering areas for the family who may all be working individually in their respective spaces. Summing up Redfin’s survey of home buyers, 21% of buyers want space to work

CALL GALLETTO TEAM 1ST TO SELL OR BUY ANNA MARIA ISLAND Top 1% of Realtors since 1998

from home, another 21% said they want more outdoor space and 7% said they want a place for children to learn from home. This is substantially different from the formal dining rooms and living rooms from the past that were ornamental rather than functional. The real estate market will continue to shift until this virus is beaten, but it will leave radical changes to the market. Right now, sales are way up, inventory is way down and mortgage rates are ridiculously low. We do risk future foreclosures for some homeowners who can’t get on their feet after the virus is gone but there is little doubt the remaining real estate market will look different. So, if you’re doing a lot of Zoom meetings, kick it up a notch and buy a home with a nice yard as your background, it may also turn out to be your best financial asset. Stay safe.

6101 MARINA DRIVE, HOLMES BEACH

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AUGUST 19, 2020

THE SUN

AMI Privateers host â€œOne Night in Tortugaâ€? fundraiser The fundraising festivities featured silent auction items donated by local individuals and businesses. BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

CORTEZ â€“ The Anna Maria Island Privateersâ€™ â€œOne Night in Tortugaâ€? fundraiser raised more than $14,600 to help fund their ongoing â€œPirates for Kids & Communityâ€? mission and their scholarship program. The fundraiser was originally scheduled to take place in March, but was postponed until Saturday, July 25 due to the coronavirus pandemic. â€œWe the Privateers cannot thank enough those who supported our â€˜One Night in Tortugaâ€™ fundraiser,â€? newly-named Privateer Liaison Officer Tim â€œHammerâ€? Thompson said. â€œThanks to all of you who bought tickets to venture out in these trying times, to the folks who donated the prizes for our silent auction and especially to the Seafood Shack for

TIM THOMPSON | SUBMITTED

Pirate women enjoyed themselves at the recent AMI Privateersâ€™ fundraiser. The AMI Privateers raise money to assist local youths. allowing us to invade their Neptune Room for the night and Cox Chevrolet for being a corporate cash sponsor,â€? Thompson said. The silent auction was a key component of the fundraising activities. Auction items included a gourmet dinner and wine party, a fishing retreat that includes a two-night stay and a four-hour fishing charter, a romantic two-night getaway that

packages, a wine and champagne basket, a week of fitness coaching and, of course, a pirateâ€™s sword. â€œFun was surely had by all in a pirate kind of way. And if you missed it, donâ€™t worry. Weâ€™re doing it again in 2021. Again, we thank the community for supporting the Anna Maria Island Privateers,â€? Thompson said.

â€œOur Name Says It Allâ€? SALES AND VACATION RENTALS TWO CONVENIENT LOCATIONS 941-778-4800 800-237-2252

includes a sunset dinner cruise, a Piece of Eight medallion, the use of a skybox at the Manatee Performing Arts Center, a Cox Chevrolet exterior and interior detailing package, a â€œQueen for the Dayâ€? salon package, a signed print by Don Maitz, a â€œNauti Booze Basket,â€? a â€œPirates Life for Meâ€? basket, a Tampa Bay sports fan package, a dragon-themed brandy decanter, two â€œCoffee with a Twistâ€?

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AUGUST 19, 2020

SUBMITTED

Aerial maps from Google Earth in 2016 and 2019 show a difference in the water where horse tours are conducted.

CME: Horses on the causeway FROM PAGE 4

to seagrasses that could potentially damage the roadway, travel time concerns along Manatee Avenue with the trailers backing in and out, and drivers slowing down to look at the horses and horses breaking free of their handlers. Simpson also said that getting the Manatee County Department of Health in on the conversation could shed some light on how the horse excrement affects E. coli, or fecal bacteria, in the bay. She offered to work with Lombardo and Gaus as a private citizen on presentations for the city of Bradenton's planning and city commissioners. Regulation, she said, is a â€œno-brainer,â€? adding that itâ€™s wrong for businesses to profit from taxpayer-funded property without paying anything toward the maintenance of the property or remediation necessary because of the business use. Previously, a representative from Beach Horses, one of the 10 companies that advertise horseback riding on the causeway, spoke to the CME group, suggesting that the businesses be regulated through a registration process similar to taxis. Each horse would be assigned a medallion and only a certain number of horses would be allowed at one time. While the plan was wellreceived by the group, it didnâ€™t make it any further toward becoming a reality. Currently, the horses are considered a method of transportation and are therefore allowed on the causeway. The companies that conduct the horseback riding trips along the beach and

through the water are not required to have any special permits to operate but are not allowed to take cash onsite for services due to a prohibition against conducting business in a Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) right of way. The boundaries between what is a Manatee County park, what is owned by the city of Bradenton and what is an FDOT right of way are blurred and result in an enforcement issue for the area. CME co-chair Craig Keys said he would look into who has authority over the area and report back to the group. After conversations ended, Gaus said he was happy with how discussions with the CME group had gone. â€œI was pleased with their willingness to explore solutions with the city of Bradenton,â€? Gaus said. â€œThe designated â€œScenic Highwayâ€? at the entrance to Anna Maria Island is not a scenic highway in reality. Given the state environmental people will have nothing to do with preventing the seagrass destruction, I think we are left with the city as a remedy. I just canâ€™t believe our state government would not want to even try to regulate a massive destruction of seagrass, the very thing they are charged with doing. It sets a horrible precedent for protecting our bays anywhere in the state. If this is their response, we might as well eliminate the entire Florida Department of Environmental Protection.â€?

LAPENSEE : Celebrating 35 years FROM PAGE 14

Karen is the president; their son, Greg, is the vice president; and their daughter, Shawn LaPensee Shields, is the marketing manager. And the next generation of the LaPensee family has already started with Gregâ€™s two boys and Shawnâ€™s two girls keeping the whole thing a true family affair. As if running a large and growing business isnâ€™t enough to do, the LaPensees also are active in the com-

munity. Karen was the past president of the Anna Maria Island Chamber and currently serves on the boards of both the Anna Maria Chamber and the Manatee Chamber. Shawn , meanwhile, is president elect of the Anna Maria Island Rotary Club. What does it take to be in business for 35 years? Just ask the LaPensee family where itâ€™s all about family and great service at LaPensee Plumbing, Pools & Air.

941.780.8000 CindyQuinnRealtor.com

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AUGUST 19, 2020

THE SUN

Budget constraints to delay stormwater projects Project postponements and other cost cutting measures turned a potential $308,497 budget deficit into an anticipated $7,982 budget surplus. BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH – Budget constraints will delay the start of the Avenue B stormwater and drainage improvement project for an additional year. Budget constraints will also delay for one year a separate stormwater water and drainage improvement project planned for the Church Street North/Highland Avenue area and the floodproofing of city hall. The budget constraints are due in part to lost revenues created by the COVID-19 pandemic and a significant increase in attorney’s fees in recent years. The city of Bradenton Beach’s proposed 2020-21 fiscal year budget still includes $2.69 million in state appropriations for additional stormwater improvements elsewhere in the city, and $2 million in state appropriations to begin undergrounding the utility lines at the north end of the city along Gulf Drive. The proposed budget includes 1.6% cost of living increases and 1.4% salary increases for city employees. Assisted by department heads and city staff, the city commission made these decisions during its Tuesday,

Aug. 11, budget work meeting. The commission briefly discussed increasing the current 2.3329 millage rate to generate additional property tax revenues, but all four attending commission members opposed that idea and opted instead to reduce expenditures by delaying projects. Before the stormwater and floodproofing projects were removed, the budget worksheet prepared by City Treasurer Shayne Thompson listed slightly more than $9 million in total anticipated expenditures and a potential budget shortfall of $308,497. The city’s current 2019-20 fiscal year ends Sept. 30 and the new fiscal year begins Oct. 1. According to state law, city governments are required to operate with balanced budgets. Proposed expenditures cannot exceed proposed revenues, and if a shortfall exists, reserve funds must be used to balance the budget. When contacted Monday, City Treasurer Shayne Thompson said removing these projects from 20-21 budget – and some additional salary cost reductions related to two recent employee retirements – reduced anticipated expenditures by $619,663. Thompson now projects the city’s anticipated expenses to be $8,381,522 and the city’s anticipated revenues to be $8,389,504, resulting in a projected $7,982 budget surplus.

DEPLETED RESERVES

The city’s diminishing reserve funds were among the topics discussed at last week’s budget meeting.

“The city has always had a healthy reserve for unforeseen expenses. We’ve drawn on that reserve the last few years just shy of $950,000,” Thompson told the commission. According to Thompson, the city drew down its reserves by approximately $157,000 in 2017, primarily due to the one-year gap created when the county took over stormwater fee collections. Thompson said the city drew down its reserves by approximately $375,000 in 2018 due to $150,000 in attorney’s fees, $135,000 for the purchase of police vehicles and radio upgrades and $90,000 written off as uncollected stormwater fee debt. “In the past year, we took just over $400,000 out of reserves, primary driven by $326,000 in attorney fees and $41,000 to continue the upgrade for our police department radios,” Thompson told the commission. “We have choices to make, but drawing down that reserve would not be in the city’s best interest,” Thompson said. “As commission’s aware we’re losing northward of $200,000 in COVIDrelated revenues driven by sales tax,” he said. He also noted the city no longer receives $57,000 a year from the water tax. When contacted Monday, Thompson said the city has spent approximately $522,000 to date on the 2017 Sunshine Law lawsuit in which the city prevailed in 2019. SEE BUDGET, PAGE 27

THE SUN

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AME: Students return to the Island FROM PAGE 1

Policy 8450 provides additional flexibility as to when and where plastic face shields can be worn as an alternative to cloth face coverings. The revised policy was adopted before students who selected the brick and mortar learning option returned to school campuses Monday morning. This includes 82% of the students at AME. Students who selected the online eLearning option began their new school at home. Those who selected the hybrid learning method will spend some days at school and some days at home. The revised policy and protocols recommended by Superintendent Saunders now incorporate the latest guidelines included in the “Guidance for K-12 School Administrators on the Use of Cloth Face Coverings in Schools” issued by the CDC on Tuesday, Aug. 11. Those guidelines were not included in the previous policy and protocols adopted the same day they were issued. “A face mask must always be worn on school property, facilities, including school buses and/or engaged in school activities in accordance with Board Policy 8450,” according to the policy’s operating protocols. “CDC recognizes wearing face masks may not be possible in every situation or for some people. In some situations, wearing a face mask may exacerbate a physical or mental health condition, lead to a medical emergency or introduce significant safety concerns. “Adaptations and alternatives should be considered whenever possible to increase the feasibility of wearing a face mask or to reduce the risk of COVID-19 spreading if it is not possible to wear one. Appropriate and consistent use of cloth face coverings may be challenging for some students, teachers, and staff, including: • “Younger students, such as those in early elementary school. • Students, teachers, and staff with severe asthma or other breathing difficulties. • Students, teachers, and staff with special educational or healthcare needs, including intellectual and developmental disabilities, mental health conditions, and sensory concerns or tactile sensitivity,” according to the operating protocols. “CDC recognizes there are specific instances when wearing a cloth face covering may not be feasible. In these instances, parents, guardians, caregivers, teachers, and school administrators should consider adaptations and alternatives whenever possible. “Teachers and staff who may consider using clear face coverings include: • “Those who interact with students or staff who are deaf or hard of hearing, per the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. • Teachers of young students learning to read. • Teachers and students in English as a second language classes. • Teachers of students with disabilities,” according to the operating protocols.

CLEAR FACE COVERINGS

According to the revised operating protocols, “Clear face coverings are not face shields. CDC does not recommend use of face shields for normal everyday activities or as a substitute for cloth face coverings because of a lack of evidence of their effectiveness for source control. Therefore, considering the CDC guidance, the board will make the following allowances to Board Policy 8450:

“A. Students who need a break from their face mask, may do so with teacher permission provided social distancing can be maintained under specific outdoor circumstances (not indoor). “B. Employees who need a break from wearing their face mask while on school property, may do so if alone in their own office or classroom or outdoors maintaining social distancing. An employee may not utilize common space, for example a conference room, break room, stairwell or any unoccupied location for a mask break. A cloth face mask must be worn during all other times and locations. “C. While eating breakfast or lunch or while drinking water, no face covering is required while eating or drinking in designated areas as long as social distancing practices are in place. “D. No face covering is required during physical education classes, recess, or other outdoor activities as long as social distancing practices are in place. Students must wear cloth face masks to and from physical education class and to and from the recess location or activity.

AUGUST 19, 2020

“E. Face shields that completely cover the face, wrap around the face and extend below the chin, will be allowed to be worn by students in Grades PreK-5 and students with disabilities only in the classroom during specific instructional periods as long as either social distancing practices are in place and/or physical barriers of separation are in place between students. A cloth face mask must be worn during all other times and locations. Face shields are not substitutes for cloth face masks nor are being used for normal everyday activities and only allowed in this narrow use. “F. Face shields that completely cover the face, wrap around the face and extend below the chin, will be allowed to be worn by teachers in all grade levels only in the classroom during specific instructional periods as long as social distancing practices are in place between the teacher and the students. A cloth face mask must be worn after specific instruction has been given or when social distancing cannot be followed between teacher and student, and during all other times and locations. Face shields are not substitutes for cloth face masks, nor are they being used for normal everyday activities and are only allowed in this narrow use.”

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AUGUST 19, 2020

THE SUN

Officer departures a growing concern BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH – When presenting his annual budget to city commissioners, Bradenton Beach Police Chief Sam Speciale said another of his officers has accepted a position with a neighboring police department. “I lost another officer yesterday to Holmes Beach because of the pay and benefits. Officer (Frank) Price put in his two weeks’ notice yesterday,” Speciale said. He noted he has an officer who is currently limited to light duty because of a dislocated shoulder. “I’m now two officers down,” Speciale said. Speciale said he’s now lost four officers to the Holmes Beach Police Department in recent years. “The guys are getting a little burned out from doing all

this overtime and everything because of the guys leaving, but they’re trudging through,” Speciale said. Speciale said he’s already conducting background checks and research on a new officer he hopes to hire. Mayor John Chappie noted starting pay for a Bradenton Beach Police Officer is approximately $46,000 per year. “It’s challenging times and we’ve got to figure out a solution,” Chappie said. On a positive note, Chappie said County Administrator Cheri Coryea will recommend to county commissioners an approximate $31,000 increase for the interlocal agreement regarding Bradenton Beach Police Department’s policing of the county-owned beaches and boat ramps located within the city. In past years, the county paid the city $94,236 for those police services. The city’s requested increase would bring that annual figure to $125,000.

BUDGET: Delays stormwater project FROM PAGE 25

The city now awaits a judge’s ruling as to what portion of those attorney fees the six defendants will be ordered to

reimburse to the city. Thompson said the city incurred $77,500 in attorney fees in recent years as a party in a sewage line dispute and lawsuit involving Manatee County and developer Shawn Kaleta. He said the city incurred $41,500 in attorney fees as a result of the 2018 lawsuit the Keep Our Residential Neighborhoods (KORN) political action committee filled against the city regarding four proposed charter amendment initiatives. The revised city budget will be formally presented for final adoption during two public hearings in September. The Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) budget was discussed in a separate meeting last week and those discussions will continue on Tuesday, Aug. 25.

THE SUN

SPORTS

AUGUST 19, 2020

Three teams fight to be first in adult soccer BY MONICA SIMPSON SPECIAL TO THE SUN

With only two weeks of regular season play left in the co-ed adult soccer schedule, three teams rise to the top, fighting for first seed. Once on top alone, Sato Real Estate holds on to one of three top positions with a 4-2 record. Two construction company-sponsored teams, Ross Built Construction and Solid Rock Construction, join Sato in the scramble for the position in the playoffs that would match them up against the eighth seed team. All three teams have two regular season games to play. League regulations utilize head-to-head records as a way to break a tie in the case of more than one team having the same record. Sato Real Estate had a bye last Thursday night, while Ross Built won its game against Vintage Beach 5-3. Greg Ross and Garrett Furman scored two goals each for the Ross Built team. Tyler Pullen also put one in the net for Ross Built, while Chris Circharo served as the protector of the goal for their team with 15 recorded saves. Sean Flynn, Cole Peterson and Jenna Steininger each put a point on the scoreboard for Vintage Beach. Keeper duties were split between David Greene and Ben Sato in the loss. Solid Rock Construction put the second loss in the record last Thursday night against Gulfview Windows and Doors. The win gave Gulfview their second win of the season. Gulfview put eight goals up against Solid Rock off the feet of Keith Mahoney with a hat trick, two goals by Daniel Adan and Raul Loera, and a single by Jesse Kun. Matt Fletcher stopped 10 strikes in the game. Chris Scott and Josh Furman were the

scorers for Solid Rock, battling it out for first place. Teammate Mark Long had five saves against the Gulfview offense. In the first two games of the night, Blalock Walters and Moss Builders tied with the score 3-3 and Beach Bums handily won against Signature Granite with the final score of 11-6. One team ultimately will not make the playoffs, with nine teams in the league. At the end of the regular season on Aug. 27, seed nine will be eliminated, ending the team’s playoff hopes.

SUN SCOREBOARD WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12 ADULT CO-ED SOCCER

Solid Rock Construction Blalock Walters

8 5

Gulfview Windows Beach Bums

6 4

Vintage Beach Signature Granite

2 7

Ross Built Construction Sato Real Estate

THURSDAY, AUGUST 13 ADULT CO-ED SOCCER Blalock Walters Moss Builders

Signature Granite Beach Bums

5 (4-2) 2

(2-2-2) 3 (2-3-1) 3 (2-4) 6 (3-3) 11

Ross Built Construction Vintage Beach

(4-2) 5 (2-3-2) 3

Gulfview Windows Solid Rock Construction

(2-4-1) 8 (4-2) 3

MONICA SIMPSON | SUN

Above, Signature Granite’s Damir Glavan moves the soccer ball around the field approaching Beach Bums defender Connor Haughey last Thursday night. Below, with skillful feet, Kevin Roman, for Beach Bums, looks for the right moment to maneuver around Signature Granite’s Zoran Kolega at The Center.

AUGUST 19, 2020

FUN IN THE SUN

Across 1 Give kudos to 5 Trudge through water 10 News piece 14 Marriott alternative 15 Cake instruction Alice followed 16 Empty-truck weight 17 *Bring dinner to diners, say 19 Gumbo pod 20 Villainous expressions 21 Jamaican export 22 Revolutionary Trotsky 23 To and __ 24 *Discover incriminating information 26 Not yet resolved 29 Yorkie, size-wise 30 Sans accomplices 31 Work on punches 34 Buffalo hockey pro 38 ID checker's concern Answers to 08-12-20 Crossword Puzzle.

39 *Band's cheat sheet 41 Schlep 42 "Sorry to say ... " 44 Apiary unit 45 Yao of hoops fame 46 Connections 48 Storefront covers 50 *Stiletto on a shoe 55 "Not only that ... " 56 Put to work 57 "__ let you know" 58 Stream crosser 61 Word in a hot day simile 62 Sport that involves the moves that start the answers to starred clues 64 Speech quality 65 Olympic blades 66 Molecule component 67 Hearty bowlful 68 Tenant payments 69 Credit union seizure, briefly

Down 1 Fiscal disappointment 2 "Couldn't agree more!" 3 Like crude oil 4 Not at all homogeneous 5 Black and Red 6 Run for it 7 "SNL" alum Cheri 8 Dragon in "The Hobbit" 9 __ Kohl, first chancellor of reunified Germany 10 "Listen to me next time!" 11 "Star Trek" actor George 12 Fielder's fluff 13 Should have said 18 God of love 24 Pool diver's concern 25 Fence support 26 "Sorry to say ... " 27 Forum garment 28 Purpose 32 Oscar winner Mahershala 33 Adversary 35 Sight-unseen encounter 36 Ladder part 37 Incubator contents 39 Last word in the first song of the year 40 Suture, say 43 Showing no wear 45 Pay-for-what-you-

use hotel feature 47 React to cold 49 __ a one: zero 50 Annual pet checkup components

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51 Turn on a shaft 52 Cara of "Fame" 53 Marry on the fly 54 DeGeneres who voices Dory

58 Gershwin heroine 59 Unsavory stuff 60 Saint with a fire 63 Tennis do-over

THE SUN

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

EMPLOYMENT

THE BEST VOLUNTEER position on the island. The AMI Historical Museum needs docents and bread makers. Call Lynn at 813758-3234 or lbrennan47@ gmail.com

TWO SCOOPS – Anna Maria Island’s Favorite IceCream... is now hiring full and part-time associates. Varied shifts available must be able to work nights and weekends. A great place to work and have a little fun…looking for a few friendly people to join our team. Food prep or server experience preferred. Great Pay! Apply today…Two Scoops 101 S. Bay Blvd. Anna Maria.

ROSER FOOD BANK needs donations of cash and non-perishable food, PAPER & PERSONAL HYGIENE PRODUCTS. Donations boxes are located at the Church, Moose Club, and Walgreen’s.

CARPET CLEANING

TWO SIDES OF NATURE – Anna Maria Island’s Favorite Resort wear Store... is now hiring part-time associates. Varied shifts available must be able to work nights and weekends. Great pay, great fun. Retail Experience Preferred. Apply today Two Sides of Nature 101 S. Bay Blvd. Unit A-1, Anna Maria. Two Sides of Nature – owned/operated by your friends at Two Scoops

QUALITY COUNTS. CARPET cleaning. Upholstery cleaning. Tile & grout cleaning. Island's favorite cleaner. Manatee Chamber Member. Great price/free estimates. Call 941-7561082

JESSIE’S ISLAND STORE has immediate openings for full and part time cashiers for both day and night shifts. 2 to 3 shifts per week apply in person at 5424 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach or call 941-778-6903

CLEANING SERVICE

THE AWARD-WINNING ANNA MARIA ISLAND SUN, a weekly newspaper on Florida’s Gulf Coast, (https://amisun. com; www.facebook. com/AnnaMariaIslandSun), is looking for a freelance reporter/ photographer to cover events on this tourismdriven island. The ideal candidate will have reporting and photography experience at a community newspaper and have some experience writing for a news website. Local residents or those with previous local knowledge and willing to relocate here a plus. Resumes and cover letters may be emailed to news@amisun.com or by U.S. Postal Service to The Anna Maria Island Sun, P.O Box 1189, Anna Maria, FL 34216, attention: Mike Field, publisher.

BOATS BOATS ARE SELLING Extremely well, up 300% since Covid. Business the old fashion way, trust. 20 years and hundreds of sold boats. Dave- 941-228-3489 Islandboatsales.net

THC CLEANING : Residential, Commercial, Rentals, VRBO. Professional and Reliable. Call 941-756-4570

COMMERCIAL SALES, RENT & LEASE 13 UNIT RESORT: $3,999,900 Bradenton Beach on Gulf Dr. WAREHOUSE: 9300 sq ft possible Machine Shop w/ Heavy Duty Elect. Or Car Storage. So many Possibilities. Near SRQ Airport. $595,000. Island Real Estate call Alan Galletto 941-232-2216

COMPUTER SERVICES EMPIRE COMPUTER SERVICE Computer problems fixed in your home or office. The fastest friendliest service around. Serving the Island since 2004. Call 941-739-6424

Call us today! 941-778-3986

FISHING CHARTERS CAPT. MAC GREGORY Fishing Charters. Full Day, Half Day, Night, Inshore & Near Shore. 941-809-5783 U.S.C.G. Certified/Insured

AUGUST 19, 2020

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

LANDSCAPING & LAWN CARE

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REAL ESTATE HOMES & CONDOS FOR SALE

TILE! TILE! TILE! All variations of tile supplied and installed. Quality workmanship. Prompt, reliable, many Island references. Free estimates. Neil 941-726-3077

R. GAROFALO’S Interlocking brick pavers, driveways, patios, pool decks. Free estimates. Licensed & Insured. Call Rafael 941-778-4823 or Veronik 941-526-7941

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

CANAL FRONT HOMES Holmes Beach – GULF FRONT CONDOS Gulf Place, L’Plage, Vista Grande, SPW, 5400 – DUPLEXES & MORE Island Real Estate ASK Alan Galletto 941232-2216

RENOVATION SPECALIST ALL carpentry repairs, Wash Family Construction, locally owned and operated CBC 1258250 Call 941-7250073. KERN CONSTRUCTION NEW Homes & Remodel. Design/Build. Since 1968. License # CRC1327296. Call Jerry Kern 941-7781115 www.kernconstructioninc.com GET’R DONE DRYWALL, INC Specializing in Remodels & Repairs. Island Resident for 18 years. Call Neil Cell 941-962-1194 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. ISLE TILE EXPERT INSTALLATION of floors, custom showers, backsplash, deck/lanai. Licensed and insured. References available. Call Chris at 941-3028759 please visit website: isletileservices.com COASTAL INTERIORS Trim, paint, repairs and more 27yrs experience Local 786-318-8585

HOME SERVICES THE HARDWOOD STOP Flooring installation services; Laminate, hardwood, vinyl and tile. Bathroom and shower. Virtually dustless FLOOR REMOVAL License and insured FREE ESTIMATES 941-227-0041 www.thehardwoodstop. com

STRAIGHT SHOT LANDSCAPE. Specializing in Old Florida Seashell driveways and scapes. Also Rock, Mulch, & Soil. Free estimates. Call Shark Mark 941-301-6067

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE: NORMS TOWING gives Notice of Foreclosure of Lien and intent to sell these vehicles on 08/19/2020, 09:00 am at 1855 63RD AVENUE E. BRADENTON, FL 34203, pursuant to subsection 713.78 of the Florida Statutes. NORMS TOWING reserves the right to accept or reject any and/or all bids. 1B4GP54R5VB255493 1997 DODGE 1C4PJLDB2LD530010 2020 JEEP 3FA6P0H77GR254943 2016 FORD 5TDYZ3DCXLS043762 2020 TOYOTA JT2AE09V4S0103714 1995 TOYOTA NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE: NORMS TOWING gives Notice of Foreclosure of Lien and intent to sell these vehicles on 08/26/2020, 09:00 am at 1855 63RD AVENUE E. BRADENTON, FL 34203, pursuant to subsection 713.78 of the Florida Statutes. NORMS TOWING reserves the right to accept or reject any and/or all bids. 1G1BE5SM5G7250075 2016 Chevrolet 1N4BL2AP1AC194776 2010 Nissan 2T1BR32E38C885370 2008 Toyota

LOST & FOUND LOST ON BEACH Beige Women’s Eye Glasses. $50 REWARD Call John 941705-6068

MOVING & STORAGE MARTIN’S MOVING YOUR Island movers! Offering dependable, competitive rates. No hidden costs. 941-809-5777.

“WIZARD OF WALLS” Established 1980 Prompt quality service. Paperhanging/removal Faux finishes. Interior painting. Mary Bell Winegarden 941-794-0455

IMMACULATE WATERFRONT HOME 520 Kumquat Dr. 4BD/5BA 3928sf Coastal Beauty! Prime location on AMI. $2,750,000 Call Charles Buky Coldwell Banker 941-228-6086

PROFESSIONAL PAINTING SERVICES. Prompt & Reliable. Island Resident. Quality Workmanship. Interior/Exterior. Also minor repairs & carpentry. Free written detailed estimates. Bill Witaszek 941-307-9315

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

CUSTOM PAINTING, Residential-Commercial, Interior/Exterior Professional quality work for over 40 years. Free estimates. Call Larry at 941-400-8754. References available.

509 PINE AVE ,ANNA MARIA. $1,690,000. 2 Cottage homes w/pool. Zoned nightly rentals/Retail/Commercial. Furnished w/rentals in place. Virtual Tour Avaliable. Christine Kourik Re/max 941-538-7414

DONALD PERKINS PAINTING LLC fully insured. 30 years experience. Many Island references. Call 941-7057096

POOL SERVICES FOUR SEASONS POOL SERVICE AND CHEMICAL SERVICES. Certified Pool Operator. 10 + 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 AUTHORITY ONE CLEANING : Residential, Commercial, Construction, Vacation, VRBO Rentals . Also available Pressure Washing, Roof Cleaning, Paver Sealing and Windows. Call 941565-3931.

RUNAWAY BAY CONDOBradenton Beach $335,000 water view 2BR/2BA furnished. Virtual Walk thru Tour Available. Christine Kourik Re/Max 941-5387414 TURN KEY FURNISHED VRBO River District Bradenton. Estately Gardens Vacasa. $769,000 Call Brenda Boyd May. Broker owner Boyd Realty. 941-730-8589 SPECTACULAR GULF VIEWS!!! . A must see to appreciate the renovations and furnishings in this 2BR/2BA Anna Maria Island Club unit. Karen Fineout. Wagner Realty. $875K. 941-5183682. HOUSE FLIPPERS DREAM! Beautiful lakefront treed lot with house in Holmes Beach. One block to beach. $650,000. For details contact amiturtles@earthlink. net

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Call today to place your ad: 941-778-3986 HOME SITTING / PET SITTING

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RENTALS: ANNUAL ANNUAL RENTALS WANTED! We have well qualified tenants for beach and mainland annual rentals, Full management or Finders fee. Call today for details. Ask for Paige DUNCAN REAL ESTATE 941-7790304 www.teamduncan. com ANNUAL RENTAL HOLMES BEACH Great location 3BR/2BA. Washer/Dryer, granite counter tops, Large deck. Available September 1, 2020. No smoking. Background check required. $1900/mo + security. Call 603-969-6840 ANNUAL RENTAL SPACIOUS 2BR/1BA with patio, storage, walk-in closet, A/C dishwasher, laundry on South Bay Blvd in Anna Maria. No pets, No smoking. $1325/mo. Call 941-779-9579

RENTALS: SEASONAL & VACATION MONTHLY RENTAL 1BR/2BA apartment with pool access. Bottom floor, pool is unheated, no washer/dryer. Steps to beach. No pets. $3800/ mo rent. Cleaning fee plus 12% tax. Available starting January 1, 2021. Call 941778-0426 TIFFANY PLACE Gulf Front Condo for Rent Incredible views from living room and master bedroom. 2BR/2BA Green Real Estate Call 941-778-0455 FOR LEASE 3BR/3BA. Pine Ave. Pool. Historical home. October-February. Call for details. 941-730-8589 MONTHLY SEASONAL in CORTEZ. 2BR/1BA + office. Extra clean, fenced yard room for boat. No Smoking. Call 615-973-5790 or 941-242-1297

SEASONAL RENTAL in PALMA SOLA. 3BR/2BA weekly or monthly rates. Contact Barb Grace 941201-2190

ROOMMATE WANTED ROOMMATE WANTED VERY PRIVATE. MUST SEE. CALL 941-685-0045

TRANSPORTATION AMI TAXI metered-on-callcards accepted. Airport: Tampa $95, Sarasota $40, Clearwater $85, Orlando $195. Call 941-447-8372 or 941-447-8376. amitaxi4u@ gmail.com, www.amitaxi. com ANYTIME TRANSPORTATION to all Airports, Casino, etc. Tampa $70. Sarasota $35. Pets welcome. Very dependable. Reasonable rates. Contact Jeanne. 941-779-5095

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AIRPORT RIDES- Tampa, St. Pete, Sarasota. Mask & gloves provided. Reasonable rates! Call or text Anna 941-932-1600

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AUGUST 19, 2020

the Team Duncan Difference!

✔ Local-Area Expertise ✔ Outstanding Customer Service ✔ Experienced Professionals ✔ Proven Performance

310 Pine Avenue Anna Maria, FL 34216

TeamDuncan.com

941.779.0304