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VOL 22 No. 10
December 15, 2021
Hunters Point faces dock permit challenge Dock permits for the Hunters Point development are being challenged by a nearby marina. BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
Deborah White’s home and yard are brightly lit and well-decorated.
Bright Holiday Lights contestants spread holiday cheer Ten contestants competed in this year’s Bright Holiday Lights decorating contest. BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
ANNA MARIA – Carol and Larry Craft and the Anna Maria General Store have retained their previous rank as winners of the city’s 3rd Annual Bright Holiday Lights decorating contest. The winners were announced Friday afternoon during the city’s Santa Stops Here event at City Pier Park. Larry Craft was on hand to receive the residential category trophy he and his wife earned for a third consecutive year. “His home over on Gladiola is just fantastic. It’s a work of art and we’re very proud that he’s a resident of our
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JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
The Craft’s front yard is a Christmas extravaganza. city,” Mayor Dan Murphy said when presenting the trophy to Craft. After receiving the trophy, Craft invited all children and those who still have a child-like spirit to see their decorations at 266 Gladiolus St. “I think you’ll find it a little bit amusing as to how Carol, my wife, orchestrates all the decorations in a rather unusual way. We even have a 4-foot tall, 4-foot-long reindeer called
Prancer that she decorates and puts out front. Prancer has false eyelashes, bells from its antlers, stars and all types of decorations on it. Come by and see Prancer,” he said. When interviewed afterward, Craft said, “One of the big reasons for the Christmas decorations is for all the children who come by and enjoy the lights.” SEE LIGHTS, PAGE 32
CORTEZ – The construction of the first Hunters Point Resort & Marina home began last week, but developer Marshall Gobuty is facing a dockrelated permitting challenge from a neighboring marina owner. Development plans for Hunters Point, located on the north side of Cortez Road east of the Cortez Bridge, allow for the construcIt is our tion of 86 single-family homes equipped legal team’s with solar panels and storage batteries that position that Gobuty says will result in the homes producthis petition ing more electricity than they use. is without The plans also include a small marina and 47 merit and that docks to be constructed along the navigation SWFWMD canal that borders the property to the west, correctly north and east. In late July, the issued the Cortez Village Marina (MHC Cortez Village permit.” LLC) filed a petition with the Florida DiviAshley Klearman, sion of Administrative Hunters Point Hearings to revoke a vice president of permit that the Southdevelopment west Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) issued to Hunters Point (Cortez Road Investments and Finance/CRIF). The marina alleges that permitting the development’s new docks will hinder boat traffic for marina customers and nearby private property owners who also use the canal. “Petitioner requests SWFWMD deny the application for, or revoke, the permit; or in the SEE HUNTERS POINT, PAGE 31
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ANNIE Silver Community Center
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pushes to rekindle interest. 3 SANTA stops by for the holidays, Island-style. 4
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