~ 20TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION ~
VOL 21 No. 12
December 30, 2020
Lynn Tran and Richard Hazen have another problem with the city – until the fines and code compliance issues with their treehouse are cleared up, they can’t get VRCs for their four rental units. BY KRISTIN SWAIN SUN STAFF WRITER | kswain@amisun.com
Treehouse owners clash with city over VRC renewals CINDY LANE | SUN
The Holmes Beach treehouse is causing new problems for its owners, who can’t get permission from the city to lease their vacation rentals until it’s torn down or comes into compliance.
HOLMES BEACH – The beachfront treehouse built by Lynn Tran and Richard Hazen is the story that just keeps on giving. While the owners are still appealing a court ruling ordering the destruction of the treehouse, they now have a new issue – they can’t renew their vacation rental certificates. Code Compliance Officer James Thomas said that he’s been working with the owners of Angelinos Sea Lodge - the home of the controversial treehouse - to get the issues resolved between them and the city so that they can get the VRCs, which allow them to rent the four short-term vacation rental units on their property. While Angelinos previously had VRCs for the units, Thomas said that city code prevents him or his fellow officers from renewing the certificates due to the outstanding code violations and fines on the property related to the treehouse, which is under a court order to be torn down. He added that the code compliance department has been advised by the attorney handling the treehouse case for the city, Randy Mora, to not issue any VRC renewals on the property until the code issues are cleared up. SEE TREEHOUSE, PAGE 28
Jack Brennan, Kathy Smart share Sun Person of the Year honors BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
ANNA MARIA – Roser Food Pantry chairman Jack Brennan is one of those people who feels obliged to take on tasks others are unwilling or unable to do. In addition to chairing the food pantry, Brennan also serves on the city of Anna Maria’s Historic Preservation Board. In recognition of his communityminded efforts, Brennan has been named as one of the Sun’s Persons of the Year for 2020. The Roser Food Pantry was founded in 2010 under the leadership of Roser Memorial Community Church members Pam and Major Leckie. Brennan was not part of those formative efforts, but
he’s served as the church’s food pantry chairman for the past four years. In that role, he guides the operations that provide free food for Anna Maria Island residents in need. The food pantry also assists Island Brennan employees who live off-Island. It also provides Publix gift cards to residents and workers who qualify. During a recent visit to the food pantry, Brennan was asked how 2020 compared to past years in terms of donations received and the demand for assistance. SEE BRENNAN, PAGE 27
Kathy Smart enjoys giving back to the community through food, friendship and love at Minnie’s Beach Café. BY KRISTIN SWAIN SUN STAFF WRITER | kswain@amisun.com
HOLMES BEACH – When you walk into Minnie’s Beach Café you’re not just walking into another of Anna Maria Island’s amazing restaurants, you’re walking into a family’s home. And that family is helmed by Kathy Smart. The staff at Minnie’s treats everyone coming in, from local regulars to vacation first-timers, as family while the staff really is extended and chosen family. That is something Smart says
INSIDE STEVE BORGGREN 4 QUIRKY FLORIDA STORIES 15 OUTDOORS 18 CASTLES IN THE SAND 20 REAL ESTATE 20-25 RESTAURANTS 26 CROSSWORD 29 CLASSIFIEDS 30
COVERAGE of our 20th Anniversary begins on Page 3.
Anna Maria Island, Florida
is especially important when bringing someone new onboard. She’s been working with some of the same people since before she, her spouse Mary and other business partners, Smart who’ve since retired, bought the café when it was Brian’s Sunny Side Up many years ago. Smart moved to Florida in 1989 from Cape Cod and when she came to check on a friend’s house on the Island, it was love at first sight. She relocated from Holiday a few days later in 1991 and never looked back. Smart first started working at the local restaurant, now known as Minnie’s Beach Café, SEE SMART, PAGE 27
STAFFERS SHARE MEMORIES OF
THEIR TIME IN THE SUN. 8, 11, 12 A COLLECTION from 20 years 20 YEARS
of Sun photographs. 16-17
The Island’s award-winning weekly newspaper www.amisun.com