Anna Maria Island Sun February 15, 2023

Two rescued from sailboat

A sailboat washed up on the beach near 81st Street in Holmes Beach after an early morning rescue on Feb. 12 by U.S. Coast Guard staff from the Cortez station. The team responded to a distress call from the two occupants of the sailboat, who were able to anchor but were being battered by swells and breaking waves. The crew pulled alongside the vessel and rescued the sailors. The boat broke anchor and washed up on the beach later in the day. Winds were reported at more than 23 mph that day, with waves at 6-8 feet.

Fire district looks at reclassifying vacation rentals

WMFR’s staff is seeking a way to better ensure life safety in area vacation rentals by treating them as commercial properties.

BY KRISTIN SWAIN

SUN STAFF WRITER | kswain@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Vacation rentals are a popular use of residential properties both on the Island and in unincorporated Manatee County where West Manatee Fire Rescue’s district is located. Now district leaders are looking at reclassifying those properties within their district as commercial properties for enforcement and tax purposes.

During a January board meeting,

Legislators change direction on consolidation of AMI cities

The three Island city mayors will continue to discuss the potential voluntary consolidation of shared city services.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA – State legislators say they no longer intend to commission a state-funded feasibility study on the potential consolidation of the three Anna Maria Island cities and their respective city governments.

Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy made that announcement during the Feb. 9 Anna Maria City Commission meeting.

Murphy returned to Anna Maria earlier that day after spending Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in Tallahassee meeting privately with the five members of the Manatee County legislative delegation – Rep. Will Robinson Jr., Sen. Jim Boyd, Sen. Joe Gruters, Rep. Tommy Gregory and Rep. Mike Beltran.

On Jan. 12, Robinson announced that the delegation intended to seek during the upcoming 2023 SEE CONSOLIDATION, PAGE 25

Onshore winds, strong currents stir up red tide on AMI

Fire Marshal Rodney Kwiatkowski presented the idea to the district’s staff and board of commissioners as a life safety concern. With so many people in and out of vacation rentals across the district and limited oversight from government agencies, as a preventative measure, he said he’d like the district’s fire prevention bureau to be able to inspect the properties for safety. Inspections would include looking for items such as properly placed smoke alarms, fire extinguishers, floor plans of the home indicating exit points, emergency lighting and other precautionary measures commonly found in commercial properties. To fund the initiative, he suggested the fire department’s staff

SEE FIRE DISTRICT, PAGE 18

Stormy conditions worsen red tide, an organism in local waters that emits a toxin when it blooms.

BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com

HOLMES BEACH - What a difference a few days and some strong winds can make.

While red tide reports from several days earlier showed low concentrations of Karenia brevis, the organism that causes red tide blooms, conditions changed on Sunday.

SEE RED TIDE, PAGE 18

KRISTIN SWAIN | SUN

LESLIE LAKE | SUN A red flag, signifying strong currents and high surf, flies over the lifeguard station at Manatee Beach on Sunday.

Sample local fishing heritage this weekend

FISH members and community volunteers paint signs, prepare strawberries and fold T-shirts for the upcoming fishing festival.

BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com

CORTEZ – With the Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival just days away, teams of volunteers are making last-minute preparations.

The Feb. 18-19 festival, described by organizers as a “party with a purpose,” is produced by a volunteer committee of the non-profit Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage (FISH). The festival features seafood, live music, arts and crafts, environmental exhibits and children’s activities. One lucky raffle ticket holder will win a wooden kayak refurbished by the volunteers at the FISH Boatworks.

“The money raised at the festival will support the continued restoration of the FISH Preserve,” FISH board member Jane von Hahmann said. The preserve covers about 100 acres of environmentally sensitive land immediately east of the village that is being restored by FISH.

Students from the Bayshore High

School Key Club and the Manatee School of the Arts Key Club painted signs for the festival. The Cortez Village Historical Society (CVHS) sponsored lunch for the students.

CVHS volunteer Kris Martinez oversaw the painting on Feb. 11 at Fisherman’s Hall.

“The kids did a great job on these signs,” she said. “We have some signs we’ve used at past festivals, but they’re

also painting a lot of new ones.”

Community volunteers from the Cortez Trailer Park will also be lending a hand with preparations.

Hundreds of T-shirts will be folded on Wednesday, Feb. 15 in preparation for sale at the festival.

“These will be sold at the festival and they have this year’s logo on them,” Martinez said.

The 2023 festival theme is “Cortez Kind

– over 100 years of commercial fishing.”

An annual traditional food item at the Cortez Cultural Center booth introduced by the late Dr. Mary Fulford Green will be strawberry shortcake. Volunteers from the trailer park will be gathering on Friday, Feb. 17 to cut hundreds of pounds of strawberries.

“The people from the park have helped us with the festival for years,” Martinez said.

The first festival in 1981 drew 500 people. Since then the festival has grown from a one-day event to two days with an average attendance upwards of 15,000 people.

FISH has joined forces with the Artists’ Guild of Anna Maria Island to host a photography show during this year’s festival. Photo contest winners will be announced on Sunday at noon with ribbons to be awarded.

Festival admission is $5 and kids under 12 are free.

The Boy Scouts will offer parking at the FISH Preserve for a $5 donation (free for motorcycles). Remote park and ride is available for a $3 round trip from two locations: G.T. Bray Park, 5502 33rd Ave. Drive W. in Bradenton, and Saturday only, Cortez Baptist Church, 4411 100th St. W.

SUBMITTED

Students from the Bayshore High School Key Club and the Manatee School of the Arts Key Club paint signs to be placed throughout the festival.

Vacation rental registration fees increasing

The annual registration fee covers the cost of enforcing and maintaining Anna Maria’s vacation rental ordinance.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA – Commissioners have established the city’s vacation rental registration fees for the year-long period encompassing portions of 2023 and 2024.

The new fee will be $84.17 for each occupant allowed in accordance with the city’s vacation rental ordinance, adopted in 2015, and also in accordance with approximately 100 Bert Harris claim settlements reached in 2016 and 2017 that allow higher total occupancies at specific vacation rental properties.

The registration fee is increasing by $9.70 per occupant from the $74.47 per occupant fee established last year. For existing vacation rentals, the increased fee takes effect as annual registration licenses are renewed throughout the year.

The annual occupancy-based registration fees are established each year by a resolution adopted by the city commission.

“We do this each year because under Florida law our fees need to be based on the actual cost of enforcing our ordinance,” City Attorney Becky Vose said when presenting resolution R23-786 to commissioners on Feb. 9.

Vose noted Mayor Dan Murphy and City Clerk/Treasurer LeAnne Addy created the proposed fee schedule. The annual registration fee for a one-bedroom short-term vacation rental that allows two guests per bedroom plus two additional guests will be $336.38. The annual fee for a six-occupant vacation rental will be $505.02. The annual fee for a 12-occupant vacation rental will be $1,010.04. The highest annual fee listed in the resolution is $2,440.93 for a vacation rental that allows 29 occupants.

Addy said the annual registration fees are calculated to cover the costs of enforcing the city’s vacation rental ordinance. Those costs include enforcement personnel and vehicles and the lobbying costs associated with the state Legislature’s annual attempts to assign vacation rental regulation to the state rather than the city. The fees also cover vacation rental-related inspection costs, administrative costs and more.

Murphy also noted the annual fee is strictly related to the enforcement of the city’s vacation rental ordinance. Each year he estimates what the city’s total vacation rental enforcement costs will be and then divides that number by the number of registered vacation rental units in Anna Maria. The 2022-23 fiscal year budget adopted in September included $415,110 in projected vacation rental registration fee revenues.

Commission Chair Mark Short asked Murphy if the new fee matched the anticipated vacation rental expenses and revenues included in the 2022-23 fiscal year budget adopted in September.

Murphy said the fee is in line with the projections made for the current fiscal year budget. Addy said registration revenues might be slightly higher than projected due to the ongoing construction of new vacation rental homes.

Corner lot setback requirements discussed

Structures built on corner lots are required to be set back 15 feet from the primary street that serves that property.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH – The city’s 15-foot corner lot setback requirements will remain in place despite recent discussions about potentially reducing those setback requirements to 10 feet.

On Feb. 7, city commissioners and Planning and Zoning Board members spent 90 minutes discussing the corner lot property line setbacks requirements contained in the city’s land development code (LDC).

Tuesday’s meeting resulted in no formally recommended revisions to the existing code, but commission and planning board members agreed that City Attorney Ricinda Perry would be asked to review the existing corner lot setback requirements adopted by a previous city commission in 2016.

The board members also discussed but took no action on the swimming pool setback requirements that used to be 10 feet, were reduced to 3 feet but then later changed back to 10 feet.

CORNER LOTS

In 2016, the city commission approved several LDC revisions recommended by the Planning and Zoning Board. Those revisions included increasing the distance from 10 to 15 feet that a structure must be set back from the property line along the primary street that provides the corner lot’s street address, including corner lots located along the waterfront.

Commissioner Jake Spooner recently proposed returning the corner lot setback to the 10 feet setback that was required before 2016.

Spooner believes the 15-foot setback requirement results in new corner lot homes being built five feet deeper into the property. He feels this can result in a reduced view for a new home built with a

15-foot setback requirement and located next to an older home built with a 10-foot setback requirement.

Mayor John Chappie opposes changing the existing setback requirements. Chappie said reducing the corner lot setback requirement could result in new homes being built with 10-foot setbacks reducing the view of existing homes built with 15-foot setbacks.

Building Official Steve Gilbert said the corner lot setback requirement was increased from 10 feet to 15 feet in 2016 to address setback and buildable area concerns pertaining to properties located along Gulf Drive South, at the south end of the city.

“The original intention was to make sure the lots south of Bridge Street on Gulf Drive were buildable lots because we were having a lot of problems with folks finding out the house could only be 15 feet wide; and there are a few existing buildings down there that are 15 feet wide. That was the primary discussion. There wasn’t a lot of discussion related to the view,” Gilbert said.

Gilbert noted the 15-foot requirement pertains to the side of the house on which the side street provides the driveway access to the home’s main entrance. Noncorner lot structures along Gulf Drive are required to have 25-foot setbacks from Gulf Drive.

As he often does, Commissioner Ralph Cole noted changes made to city codes and ordinances to address one concern or issue often produce unintended consequences elsewhere that didn’t previously exist.

Gilbert acknowledged LDC revisions enacted to address one concern can create new concerns elsewhere.

“What’s good for the goose is bad for the gander,” he said. Longtime Planning and Zoning Board member John Burns participated in the lengthy code revision process in 2016.

During Tuesday’s meeting, Burns said, “What’s the issue that has come up that’s necessitating this meeting? Typically, when something comes up, a problem has been identified by somebody and it’s an issue that’s before the city; not one that’s already been resolved by the city. So, why are we here?

“Because the people’s views are being blocked,” Spooner responded. Burns asked if the construction companies are having an issue with the setback requirements revised in 2016.

“Who specifically is having a problem with the setbacks that were hammered out, which was carefully thought out,” Burns said. Chappie said the city has not received complaints about the existing setback requirements.

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN City code currently requires 15-foot setbacks for corner lots. Before 2016, the setback requirement was 10 feet.

Commission adopts food truck regulations

Working in unison, the recently-adopted city ordinance and city resolution establish Anna Maria’s new food truck regulations.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA – The city has new food truck/mobile food dispensing vehicle regulations in place.

The new regulations are set forth in city resolution R23-787, which the city commission adopted by a 4-1 vote on Feb. 9.

The resolution accompanies the food truck/mobile food dispensing vehicle ordinance, Ordinance 23913, adopted by commissioners on Jan. 26. The ordinance allows food trucks to operate in Anna Maria only on privately-owned properties that carry a C-1 (commercial) zoning designation. The ordinance includes a provision that allows food truck operations elsewhere in the city during city commissionapproved special events.

Resolution R23-787 contains the following regulations:

• Every food truck must be a motorized vehicle with a valid tag; no trailer may operate as a food truck.

• No food truck may be longer than 18 feet.

• No more than one food truck shall be located on any one tax parcel.

• No more than one vendor may operate out of one food truck.

• No food truck shall be permitted to operate before sunrise or after sunset.

• Every food truck operator must provide a trash bin and recycle bin and remove all trash and recyclables from bins and properly dispose of it off-site at the end of each day of operation.

• Every food truck operator shall keep the site of the food truck and surrounding areas clean and picked-up during hours of operation and shall also clean up the site at the end of each day of operation.

• All food trucks shall be in compliance with any and all state,

county and city regulations and laws regarding the operation of food trucks.

Recently appointed Commissioner Charlie Salem initiated a discussion about a proposed regulation that would have required food truck operators to provide temporary seating for their patrons. Salem noted food trucks are often considered “grab and go” dining options and requiring tables and chairs might result in

more objects being placed in the temporary food service area than the city wants.

Commission Chair Mark Short said he proposed the seating requirement as a way to help ensure that food containers and other trash associated with the food truck operation are properly disposed of. Short said it wasn’t his intent to require all food purchased from a food truck to be eaten in the provided seating area.

Short later voted against the resolution after the proposed seating requirement was removed.

Commissioner Robert Kingan questioned whether requiring food truck operators to provide tables and chairs might be considered onerous by the state. The commission adopted the food truck ordinance and resolution in response to a state law enacted in 2020 that prevents local governments from prohibiting food truck operations citywide or countywide. The state law also prohibits local governments from imposing additional licensing requirements and/or licensing fees on food truck operators.

Commissioner Jon Crane asked who would enforce the ordinance and the resolution. Mayor Dan Murphy said the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office and the city’s code enforcement officers would enforce both.

In response to a question posed during public comment, Murphy said any excessive food truck generator noise would be enforced according to the city’s noise ordinance.

FILE PHOTO

Anna Maria’s new mobile food truck regulations have several new requirements.

The Anna Maria Island Sun Staff

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Mike Field

Editor

Cindy Lane

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Bob Alexander

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Joe Hendricks

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Columnists

Louise Bolger

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Contributors

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Ricardo Fonseca

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Bob Alexander

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Family-owned since 2000

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Town Hall meeting needed

Mayor and commissioners:

It appears we have been given a reprieve.

It also appears that we have been given an opportunity.

If you believe the efforts of the residents and their participation in saving our cities is valid, then you also have to believe that any future plans need to be put forth to those same participants.

The solutions need to be discussed openly. Town Hall meetings with all three cities involved. Residents given the opportunity to discuss their ideas.

How is consolidating services going to benefit? Where will the cost savings really be? What can we do to protect our neighborhoods but welcome visitors?

There are a lot of smart involved people in our cities, homeowners just like you. Their ideas and suggestions would go far in showing our county and legislators that we are unified. That our homes are valued investments. That our voices matter.

As elected officials, you need to be willing to embrace ideas that come from places other than the dais.

I welcome the idea of Town Hall meetings that include all officials. We need to get ahead of this reprieve. I think we all know that is just what it is, a reprieve.

The hammer is still hanging over our heads. Let’s show them AMI is unique, valued and deserves to be protected and preserved.

Renee Ferguson Holmes Beach

Say ‘no’ to more

I have been coming to Holmes Beach on Anna Maria Island since 1977. In 2008, my husband and I purchased a home in Holmes Beach.

Over the last 46 years, I've seen a dramatic change to the island. Parking is not as much of a problem as is the over-development of this very small island. The continued teardown of small homes that are replaced with mega-mansions has created huge problems. There is an ordinance (thank God), put in place by our local government, that limits the height of new structures to two stories, although developers have found ways around this ordinance. Developers have purchased multiple lots and increased the number of new builds, each intended for multiple rental visitors that is overwhelming our island's capacity.

This island is 2 miles at its widest point and 7 miles long. That is not changing; more and more building is not the answer. The integrity of AMI is being compromised at its core. The few people

who can stop this overdevelopment are trying, but they need more residential support.

What was once a small fishing village has evolved into a vacation destination. County commissioners do not live here and do not understand the needs and concerns of island residents, who truly know and value the island. Residents do not want to see our island become a tourist hot spot like Fort Lauderdale, Miami Beach or Daytona Beach. Those places have the infrastructure to accommodate the traffic and the large influx of visitors. We do not.

This island has one road (Gulf Drive) with small arteries that feed into Holmes Boulevard and Marina Drive, all of which lead back to Gulf Drive. There is only one way on the island and one way off. That's it. Putting more people on the island and adding a 65' span bridge doesn't change that either. It is only ever going to be an island that is, at its widest, 2 miles wide and 7 miles long. Period!

Stop trying to add more rentals; that is not serving our community. Tourism here is at its capacity. Leave it alone. Say NO to consolidation, NO to more, more, MORE, and enjoy what we have here now. You can't fix perfection.

Dina Ballestrini Holmes Beach

ANNA MARIA

10005 GULF DRIVE

FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-708-6130

Please visit www.cityofannamaria.com or contact city hall for more information.

Feb. 15, 3:30 p.m. – Historic Preservation Board meeting

Feb. 20, all day – City offices closed, Presidents’ Day holiday

Feb. 21, 9 a.m. – Planning and Zoning Board meeting

Feb. 23, 6 p.m. – City Commission meeting

BRADENTON BEACH

107 GULF DRIVE N.

FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-778-1005

Please visit www.cityofbradentonbeach.com or contact city hall for more information.

Feb. 15, 10 a.m. – Department Head meeting

Feb. 15, 1 p.m. – Scenic WAVES meeting

Feb. 16, noon – City Commission meeting

HOLMES BEACH

5801 MARINA DRIVE

FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-708-5800

Please visit www.holmesbeachfl.org or contact city hall for more information.

Feb. 21, 2:30 p.m. – Code Compliance Special Magistrate hearing

Feb. 28, 5 p.m. – City Commission meeting with work session to follow

ISLAND-WIDE

Feb. 21, 6 p.m. – West Manatee Fire Rescue board meeting, administration building, 701 63rd St. W., Bradenton

EVENTS

THURSDAY, FEB. 16

Island Morning Book Club, “For Whom the Bell Tolls” by Ernest Hemingway, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10:15 a.m.

Sunshine Stitchers Knit and Crochet, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 2 p.m.

Friends of the Island Library Lecture and Travel Series: A Day in the Life of a Sea Turtle Volunteer, Roser Church fellowship hall, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, 2 p.m.

Family movie night, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 5:45 p.m.

FRIDAY, FEB. 17

Forty Carrots, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m.

Mah-jongg for experienced players, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 11:30 a.m.

SATURDAY, FEB. 18

Robinson Runners, Robinson Preserve, 1704 99th St. N.W., Bradenton, 7 a.m.

Mornings at the NEST, Robinson Preserve Mosaic Nest, 840 Ninth Ave. N.W., Bradenton, 9 a.m. to noon

Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival, FISH Preserve, 46th Avenue, Cortez, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., $5 for adults, children under 12 free Meditation, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 11 a.m.

Teen art club, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 1 p.m.

SUNDAY, FEB. 19

Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival, FISH Preserve, 46th Avenue, Cortez, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., $5 for adults, children under 12 free

TUESDAY, FEB. 21

Farmer’s Market, City Pier Park, 103 N. Bay Blvd., Anna Maria, 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Family story time, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m. Duplicate bridge, Episcopal Church of the Annunciation, 4408 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, noon

Rotary Club of Anna Maria Island meeting, Slicker’s Eatery, 12012 Cortez Road W., Bradenton, 11:30 a.m.

Mah-jongg for experienced players, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 11:30 a.m.

One-on-one tech help, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 2-4 p.m.

Movies in the Park, “Encanto,” City Pier Park, 103 N. Bay Blvd. Anna Maria, 6:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 22

Mah-jongg for beginners, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 1 p.m.

Town hall with Manatee County Commissioner George Kruse, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 6 p.m.

THURSDAY, FEB. 23

Seaside Quilters, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m.

Green Explorers: Searching for Symmetry, Neal Preserve, 12301 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton, 10 a.m.

Sunshine Stitchers knit and crochet, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 2 p.m.

Friends of the Island Library Lecture and Travel Series: Florida Studio Theater, Roser Church fellowship hall, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, 2 p.m.

AMI Chamber Business Card Exchange and Meet the Directors, The Center, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria, 5 p.m., $5 for members or $10 for non-members

Thursdays in Paradise Stroll featuring local art, music and food, Bridge Street, Bradenton Beach, 5-8 p.m.

Mote Education Outreach Center volunteer info session, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 6:30 p.m.

FRIDAY, FEB. 24

OneBlood blood mobile donations, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 9 a.m.

Explore Nature: Tower Talks, Robinson Preserve, observation tower, 1704 99th St. N.W., Bradenton, 9 a.m.

Forty Carrots, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m.

Mah-jongg Club for experienced players, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 11:30 a.m.

SATURDAY, FEB. 25

Robinson Runners, Robinson Preserve, 1704 99th St. N.W., Bradenton, 7 a.m.

Mornings at the NEST, Robinson Preserve Mosaic Nest, 840 Ninth Ave. N.W., Bradenton, 9 a.m. to noon

Hands-only CPR with West Manatee Fire Rescue, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 9 a.m.

Group addresses illegal advertising on Palma Sola Causeway

BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com

BRADENTON – While advertising of any kind is prohibited on the Palma Sola Scenic Highway, a Florida Department Transportation-designated right of way, it’s not uncommon to see flags and sandwich signs advertising watercraft rentals.

Members of the Palma Sola Scenic Highway Corridor Management Entity (CME) discussed that prohibition, and possible remedies, at a Feb. 8 meeting at the City of Bradenton Public Works Department.

“I pass by there every day. Three Jet Ski companies have their signs in the ground again. That interferes with safety. They can’t have sandwich boards and flag signs,” Scenic Florida’s Ingrid McClellan said. “The C Ponies have their signs on trailers – that’s fine. All that other stuff is illegal. It’s a state right of way and it’s state law.”

Advertising is forbidden under Florida Statute 337.406, which states in part: “Unauthorized use of the public right of way is prohibited by Florida law. Illegal use of the right of way is a crime. Each day a violation continues is a separate offense.”

“It’s about manpower and enforcement,” said Ross Peterson, of the City of Bradenton. “You’d almost need someone out there full time. We’re approaching spring break and there’s dollar signs in their eyes.”

“The only problem is the Jet Skis. All it takes is a police officer to talk to them one time,” McClellan said, suggesting that officials from Code Enforcement and the Bradenton Police Department be invited to the next CME meeting.

New trash cans were another meeting topic.

“I’m concerned about the amount of trash,” said Doug Wimer, whose property is adjacent to the causeway. “I pick up trash almost daily. Cans are filled to overflowing.”

Peterson addressed Wimer’s concerns.

“We have a plan to install 30 more 95-gallon size receptacles on the north and south side, removing existing trash cans,” Peterson said.

The committee also plans to move forward to further research installing restrooms on the south side of the causeway.

“It’s a safety issue for people to cross the street now to use the restroom,” McClellan said.

Twist

surprises cast at Murder Mystery

The show must go on. About 30 minutes into the Murder Mystery at The Center of Anna Maria Island, technical difficulties with audio interrupted the Saturday night performance. The sold-out crowd ate dinner and enjoyed drinks until the audio was fixed and

the show resumed. The circus-themed show, The BJ Whorenum and Dingling Brothers Circus Presents Murder Mystery, was an adults-only event and contained references to current events and people in the local community.

LESLIE LAKE | SUN

Don Purvis as Ringmaster B.J. Whorenum, back, performs with Leah Purvis as Ms. Eezee Peeze, left, and Monica Simpson as Ms. Sleezee Peazee, right, in the Murder Mystery at The Center of Anna Maria Island on Saturday night.

Hopes resigns; Washington appointed

Lee Washington, former county director of community and veterans services, is the new acting county administrator.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

BRADENTON – Manatee County Administrator Scott Hopes has resigned and Lee Washington is now serving as acting county administrator.

Hopes addressed his resignation during an emergency county commission meeting held on Feb. 7.

When addressing the board of county commissioners during the 21-minute emergency meeting, Hopes did not say why he resigned, but during his brief remarks, he did reference the separation agreement that he and Commission Chair Kevin Van Ostenbridge negotiated in advance.

“I believe the agreement makes a clear enough statement, but I do want to thank the board for the opportunity to have served the people of Manatee County for the past 22 months in this capacity. I do believe our team of leaders have accomplished a majority of what the board wanted me to accomplish. I appreciate the employees

who stepped up to the plate and put the board’s priorities at the forefront,” Hopes told the commission.

The separation agreement says the end of Hope’s employment with the county would be considered a “voluntary resignation and separation without cause.”

According to the separation agreement, Hopes will receive 120 days of severance pay and continue to receive his health insurance benefits for six months.

On April 1, 2021, the county commission appointed Hopes to serve as acting county administrator for up to one year after the recently-reconfigured county

commission and then-County Administrator Cheri Coryea parted ways. In May 2021, the commission removed the word “acting” from Hopes’ job title and appointed him to serve as the county administrator.

During Tuesday’s emergency meeting, each of the seven commissioners thanked Hopes for his service.

Van Ostenbridge and Commissioner Vanessa Baugh were among those who noted that 20 minutes after Hopes was appointed acting county administrator, he declared a state of emergency in response to the Piney Point phosphogyp-

sum containment stack breach that led to millions of gallons of contaminated water being discharged into Tampa Bay at Port Manatee.

During Tuesday’s emergency meeting, the county commission unanimously approved Hopes’ separation agreement and unanimously appointed Lee Washington to serve as the acting county administrator. County Attorney Bill Clague said he would present the commission with a resolution that formalizes Washington’s new position during the commission’s regular meeting on Feb. 14.

A press release distributed by Manatee County later that day noted that Washington has served as the county’s director of community and veterans services since February 2022. In 2009, Washington became a Veteran Services Counselor for Manatee County's Veteran Services Division, where he was later promoted to manager in 2013.

The Punta Gorda native served as a U.S. Marine from 1987-98. He then worked as a personal bodyguard in Beverly Hills, California before returning to Florida where he spent 10 years working in banking and mortgages.

In the county press release, Washington is quoted as saying, “I can’t say enough how thankful I am for your confidence.”

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN SUBMITTED

Scott Hopes, left, was named acting county administrator in 2021. Lee Washington, right, is the new acting county administrator.

FDOT installs ‘no parking’ signs on scenic highway

The state of Florida installed 55 signs in state-owned rights of way along Gulf Drive, a statedesignated scenic highway.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH – The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) recently installed dozens of signs along various sections of Gulf Drive that say, “No parking on right of way.”

About 55 signs are located along Gulf Drive South, a scenic highway, near Coquina Beach and the Coquina boat ramps.

In groups of two or three, more signs are located along Gulf Drive North at 11th Street North, along the 1900 block of Gulf Drive North by the La Costa condominiums, between 22nd Street North and 23rd Street North near Katie Pierola Park and between 25th Street South and 26th Street South.

Police Chief John Cosby told The Sun that he requested the new signs from FDOT last year and they were installed last week.

When contacted by The Sun, FDOT Operations Center Engineer Trisha Hartzell said, “The District Traffic Operations office initiated this action to prohibit vehicles parking on Florida Department of Transportation right of way along State Road 789/Gulf Drive South at the request of the city of Bradenton Beach.”

In the past, temporary barricades with “no parking” signs affixed to them were placed along the Gulf Drive South right of way near Coquina Beach to help prevent people from parking in the

state-owned rights of way where parking is prohibited.

When contacted Monday, Cosby said those temporary signs were previously removed at the request of the city’s Scenic WAVES Committee due to concerns about sign pollution along a scenic highway. The Scenic WAVES Committee also serves as the city’s scenic highway board.

According to FDOT’s www.FloridaScenicHighways.com website, the entire 3-mile stretch of Gulf Drive/SR 789 in Bradenton Beach is a state-designated scenic highway.

Leaders in the adjacent city of Holmes Beach, meanwhile, have ordered the removal of several no parking signs from its streets, citing sign pollution as the reason.

Cosby said it’s the state that prohibits parking along the Gulf Drive rights of way and that longstanding parking prohibition has not changed.

“To have proper enforcement, the signs have to be there. It’s hard to enforce the law if you don’t have the proper signs telling people they can’t park there. We need them year-around,” Cosby said.

When asked about the signs being placed along a scenic highway, Cosby said, “There’s already speed limit signs, crosswalk signs, directional signs and other signs along the scenic highway and this is in the areas where we have to have enforcement.”

Roser Church

“...a beautiful place to explore your faith...”

Bradenton Beach police get powerful new training tool

With help from Anna Maria Island Moose Lodge 2188, the Bradenton Beach Police Department has a new training tool.

BY JASON SCHAFFER SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH - Police officers face the unknown every day they put on their uniforms.

In 2022, nine police officers were killed in the line of duty in Florida, and while that number may not seem large in a highly populated state such as Florida, the threat of attack is always on the minds of these men and women as they go to work to protect and serve the community.

Bradenton Beach draws tourists from around the world, and may seem like paradise to many, but nevertheless, there are threats to officers who must train to handle these situations.

The department now has a new tool that can help reach the best possible conclusion in multiple situations.

Thanks to help from the Anna Maria Island Moose Lodge 2188, the Bradenton Beach Police Department (BBPD) can offer training to officers on any situation they may encounter without driving miles to a firearms training facility or gun range, thanks to their new DART training system.

“This is a top-end system for its price point right now,” Officer Steve Masi said. “In DART Creator and DART Studios, we can create anything we want.

If I want a guy to come from 15 yards to two yards in three seconds, I can create it. I can place him in any room I want, I can create walls, and I can give him any behavior I want.”

According to both Masi and Lt. Lenard Diaz, department officers only get two to four training sessions at the gun range a year. When officers do go to the range, they only shoot stationary paper targets that offer little more than accuracy of the officer’s weapons. The DART system allows police to enact real-world situations and even film their own scenarios they can use to train the department.

“We could film a scenario where there is a situation on the beach, then upload it to this program,” Masi said. “We could project this on the side of a building and allow officers to move around and act as if it were a real life or death situation. There are endless training possibilities.”

At a cost of $10,000, the department needed some help securing funds for this vital training tool, and they got it thanks to the Anna Maria Island Moose Lodge 2188 in Bradenton Beach.

Byron Dalton, administrator of the lodge, said the relationship with the BBPD has been in place for a long

time, and they wanted to help in any way they could.

“Part of what we do with the police department is community service,” Dalton said. “We told them if there’s anything we can do to help make the department a better place, just let us know. At that time the lieutenant who is now the chief said we have the perfect thing we’d like to do, can you help us with it? We said, heck yeah and we got involved.”

The AMI Moose Lodge assisted in the purchase of the DART system with a $5,000 donation that covered about half the cost of the system. The remainder of the cost was paid by the department. Masi called it an incredible addition to the department’s resources.

“My number one goal is to go home after work,” Masi said. “Anything can happen in an instant, and how officers react to a serious threat may de-

termine whether they go home alive; this is serious training for serious situations.”

GUN VIOLENCE RARE ON AMI

Even in an area with a relatively low rate of violent crime, it only takes one incident to put officers in a situation where they must decide whether to draw their weapons and possibly have to shoot with innocent bystanders in the area, or deploy other tactics to de-escalate the situation.

The Sun reported last year on an incident in which a man was on a jetty in Coquina Beach with a loaded firearm. Bradenton Beach officers arrived to find the man threatening to harm himself, but even though the officers believed he was not intending to harm them or the public, their job was to end the situation with the best outcome possible for

all parties involved.

“I saw the way he was sitting with his right arm and hand between his legs, and I felt strongly he had a gun in that hand,” Officer John Tsakiri said. “I took out my binoculars to get a better look, but due to the way he was sitting, I still couldn’t see the gun. Lt. Diaz and I were walking towards the subject with our weapons drawn when we got a call on the radio from the MSO (Manatee County Sheriff’s Office) Marine Boat confirming he was holding a gun. The last thing we wanted was for anyone to get hurt, but after continuing to ignore our commands, and at one point starting to stand up, I told Lt. Diaz that if he pointed the gun at us, I would have no choice but to engage him with my firearm.”

JASON SCHAFFER | SUN

Left, Officer Steve Masi demonstrates the Bradenton Beach Police Department’s new DART firearms training simulator in the department’s conference room. RIght, Byron Dalton, administrator of the Anna Maria Island Moose Lodge, takes part in training with the DART system at the Bradenton Beach Police Department.

Businesses make Garden Club fashion show bloom

The Anna Maria Island Garden Club hosts a sold-out fashion show fundraiser.

BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA - The Anna Maria Island Garden Club fashion show, a major fundraiser for the non-profit organization, was a sold-out event.

Held on Feb. 8 at The Center of Anna Maria Island, the show featured fashions, raffles and an art auction.

Money raised will go toward funding two wind sculpture art projects, one to be installed in Holmes Beach and the other in Bradenton Beach. The location of the projects and style of the wind sculptures is still to be determined.

“Our first installation of a Lyman Whitaker sculpture will come from the money we raised last year,” Garden Club raffle co-chair Pat Short said. “Our goal is to do installations in all three cities.”

Attendees at the fashion show and luncheon packed The Center.

“We sold out at 320 tickets,” Short said. “We have over 30 baskets and raffle donations from 107 businesses on Anna Maria Island, Longboat Key and Cortez. We collected over $10,000.”

The Anna Maria Island Elementary School art classes made hundreds of colorful tissue paper flowers to decorate The Center. Nine Island businesses were sponsors: The Center, Becky Sirigo -

tis with Compass Realty, The Porch, Beach Suites, Anna Maria Island Concierge Services, ZoomAround Golf cart rental, Sebring Law, and Adrian Griffin Interior Designs. Wine was donated by Dee Munn and Karen Harlee, the Sunshine Girls. Flowers were provided by Blooms by the Beach, with hair and makeup done by Acqua Aveda.

Eleven Island stores took part in providing fashions: The Island Cabana, Irene’s Resort Wear, Vintage Beach, Azure, AMI Outfitters, Pink & Navy, howluckyAMI, AMI Beach & Dog, Island Charms, Cove and Nomad Collection. Fourteen Island artists donated original art for the silent art auction.

Short credits fashion show organizer Deanie Sebring with the event’s success.

“Deanie is just amazing,” Short said. “The show was always great but in just two years Deanie has brought this show to a new level.”

LESLIE LAKE | SUN

From left, Garden Club volunteers Dawn Moyna and Peggi Clauhs sell raffle tickets. Right, Adrian Griffin and her daughter, Carolina, 2, model mother/daughter Lilly Pulitzer dresses.

WHERE‛S YOUR COMFORT ZONE?

Avocado’s hosts Chamber luncheon

Avocado's Cocina Mexicana and Bar at 6510 Cortez Road in Bradenton hosted the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce Luncheon on Feb. 9, preparing chimichangas, quesadillas, burritos and enchiladas for Chamber members. Attendees include Dan Alderson, Kellie Spring, Brandy Harlan, Joe Becht, Emily Lane, Rick Freeman, Katy Demick, Marlene Masson, Shona Otto, Cindy Thompson, Toni Lyons, Donna Evans, John Lappin, Brian Sharkey, Bernard Sokolowski, Linda Moore and Deborah Skorupski.

Chamber business card exchange at The Center

Join the next Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce business card exchange on Thursday, Feb. 23 from 5-7 p.m. at The Center of Anna Maria Island, 407 Magnolia Ave. in Anna Maria. Mingle with local business owners and managers and meet the board of directors of the Chamber of Commerce and The Center. Beverages and light bites will be served. The cost is $5 for members and $10 for potential members. RSVP to becky@amichamber.org or call 941778-1541.

Chamber to host golf tournament

The Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce will host its annual golf tournament to benefit the Chamber’s scholarship fund on Friday, May 12 at IMG Academy Golf Club in Bradenton. The cost is $550 per team or $150 per golfer. Golfer registration includes golf, lunch, gift bag, greens fees, cart fee, prizes, beer and beverages on course and dinner. For more information and to register, call the Chamber at 941-778-1541 or email info@amichamber.org. Sponsorship opportunities are also available; contact the Chamber for more information.

FEB. 18 & 19, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

$5

•

Contest presented by the Artists’ Guild Gallery of Anna Maria Island (AGGAMI)

•

Parking: The Boy Scouts in partnership with FISH will offer on-site parking at the Preserve which is located one block east of the village, off Cortez Rd, for a $5 dona tion. Golf cart transportation to the festival entrance at 123rd St Ct W will be provided.

Park and Ride: FREE MCAT Bus service from Coquina Beach and GT Bray Park on 59th St W.

Off Site Parking: Available at Cortez Rd. Baptist Church (located at between 99th and 100th St and Cortez Rd) with Free Shuttle to Festival provided by The Monkey Bus.

FOR INFORMATION C ALL 941-301-4000 WWW.FISHCORTEZ.OR

Ethics commission clears Holmes Beach chief

A state ethics board found in Police Chief Bill Tokajer's favor.

BY KRISTIN SWAIN SUN STAFF WRITER | kswain@amisun.com

HOLMES BEACH – Police Chief Bill Tokajer is happy that a state ethics commission cleared him of any wrongdoing in an investigation launched by a former city commissioner.

The Florida Commission on Ethics came back with a ruling in the case on Feb. 1 that their investigation into allegations made by Jayne Christenson found no wrongdoing by Tokajer.

In mid-2022, Christenson filed a complaint with the state board alleging that Tokajer mishandled her personal information to look into her residency following a November 2021 ride-along with a police officer. During the ride-along, Christenson said she provided the officer with her driver’s license so that she could see how the HBPD’s in-car computer system works. Christenson alleged that her license was run a second time days later by the HBPD without her consent and that the information was used by Tokajer to investigate

her residency as a then-sitting city commissioner.

“That’s not the police chief’s job,” Christenson said in a conversation with The Sun. “That is the job of the supervisor of elections. His job is to serve and protect. Where I live isn’t a criminal offense.”

Though Christenson’s primary residence is in Holmes Beach, she and her family also maintain a home in Bradenton. Her residency in the Anna Maria Island city was brought into question several times during her time on the commission dais.

In the complaint, Christenson accused Tokajer of illegally investigating her, using his role as police chief to do so and giving her personal information to the media.

Tokajer said that if she was still a sitting commissioner, he would have filed a counter-complaint against Christenson with the ethics commission.

Tokajer said that due to the risk of being audited by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for use of the department’s use of computer system, he instructed Officer Michael VanHorn, who ran Christenson’s license during the ride-along, to meet with Communications and Records Supervisor Michael

Dinius to put together a file on the incident, since Christenson was an elected official. Tokajer said that FDLE officials audit police use of the Driver and Vehicle Information Database (DAVID) system and statewide law enforcement technology to make sure use of the systems is not abused by officers.

He also added that the investigation into Christenson’s residency while she was still a sitting commissioner was done by then-City Attorney Patricia Petruff.

“For her to say that I used the police

department information is not true,” Tokajer said of Christenson’s complaint. “She knows that I did not run her license, that that was done by Officer VanHorn during a ride-along, and all I did was merely give that information to Patty Petruff at the instructions of the mayor for Patty to complete an investigation because I was not going to investigate a sitting commissioner as the police chief or police department.”

Christenson’s unredacted driver’s license was distributed to the local media after she included a copy in a Dec. 8, 2021 email to Mayor Judy Titsworth and Petruff in an effort to prove her Holmes Beach residency. The email was later the subject of a public records request.

Christenson said she was disappointed in the ethics committee finding but is looking forward to moving on with her life. “My family is a top priority. This is not a top priority for me,” she said.

For his part, Tokajer said, “I want to make sure that our community knows that our police department is not running people’s names covertly, that we’re doing our job and we’re above board in everything we do with transparency, honesty and professionalism.”

SUBMITTED

Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer is happy that the state ethics commission found no wrongdoing on his part in relation to accusations from former Commissioner Jayne Christenson.

Annie Silver elects 2023 officers

The Annie Silver Community Center elected 2023 officers at their last meeting, but still needs volunteers.

BY JASON SCHAFFER SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH - For decades, the Annie Silver Community Center has served the community, providing a meeting place for Island organizations such as the Anna Maria Island Privateers, condo associations, civic events and even wedding receptions.

As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, they provide the center free of charge, asking for donations to help with operating costs. They also serve the community by hosting dinners, bingo and other activities such as Senior Adventures, which offers outings for area seniors in cooperation with The Center of Anna Maria Island.

Center members elected board members and officers last week to oversee the operation of the community center. The officers are President Jim Hassett, Vice-President Donna Kirkpatrick, Treasurer Dianne Coates and Secretary Judy Pruitt.

The board members are: Kaye

Bell, Linda Yarger, Wally Sinn and Bruce Butler. The center needs one more board member to make up the necessary five required by its charter.

“Several of our officers and some of the board members have been in these positions for quite awhile,” Pruitt said. “We really need to find some new members that would be willing to help. They do not have to live here all year. Mainly during January through April or May.”

The Annie Silver Community Center will hold its next dinner, open to anyone in the com -

munity, on Wednesday, Feb. 22 from 5-7 p.m. at the center, 103 23rd St. N. They will serve BBQ chicken, pulled pork, potatoes, mac and cheese, baked beans and rolls. Soft drinks and coffee will also be available.

The center’s next book sale will be on Saturday, Feb. 25 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; a potluck lunch also will be served and everyone is welcome. Bingo is every Thursday at 6 p.m. with pizza and soft drinks available for purchase during the games. Money raised from these activities helps with operating costs.

JASON SCHAFFER | SUN

The Annie Silver Community Center in Bradenton Beach elected their 2023 officers at the Feb. 6 board meeting.

Meet a tortoise at lunch

The public is invited to hear about imperiled gopher tortoises on Feb. 15.

BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA - An opportunity to come face-to-face with a gopher tortoise is being offered by Just Older Youth (JOY) on Wednesday, Feb. 15.

Elena Burke, of the Manatee County Natural Resources Department, will bring the tortoise, Genbu, to a JOY meeting. Burke will discuss the problems Florida’s gopher tortoises are experiencing and tell Genbu’s story.

Genbu suffered injuries from a hit-and-run accident. He was rehabilitated but cannot be released back into the wild.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida gopher tortoises are listed as threatened.

“Gopher tortoises are long-

lived reptiles that occupy upland habitat throughout Florida including forests,

pastures and yards,” according to the FWC. “Gopher tortoises share their burrows with more

than 350 other species, and are therefore referred to as a keystone species.”

Both the tortoise and its burrow are protected under state law.

“Gopher tortoises must be relocated before any land clearing or development takes place, and property owners must obtain permits from the FWC before capturing and relocating tortoises,” according to the FWC. “The gopher tortoise is one of five North American tortoise species and is the only tortoise naturally found east of the Mississippi River. Gopher tortoises can live 40 to 60 years in the wild, though captive tortoises may live more than 90 years.”

JOY meets the first and third Wednesdays of each month at 11:30 a.m. The meeting will be held at the Roser Church Fellowship Hall, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria.

The meeting is open to the public and attendees may bring a bag lunch. Beverages and treats will be served. For more information, visit roserchurch.com.

ELENA BURKE | SUBMITTED

Genbu, a gopher tortoise, will be the subject of a talk by the Manatee County Natural Resources Department.

FIRE DISTRICT: Looks at reclassifying vacation rentals

FROM PAGE 1

look into the possibility of assessing the owners of vacation rental properties in the district as commercial rather than residential properties. If that happens, it will mean a jump of approximately $200 per year, depending on the size of the property, for vacation rental owners and an increase of more than $1 million in funding to the fire district.

To run the program, Kwiatkowski said the district would need two more inspectors and an assistant at an estimated cost of $350,309 per year with

an additional $140,000 needed to pay for department vehicles for the new hires.

Currently, the district charges a fire assessment on residential trim notices at a lower rate than they do for commercial properties. And while multipleunit residential properties are already assessed and inspected as commercial properties, traditionally residential properties, such as single-family homes and duplexes, are still treated as if a full-time resident lives there. Because they are rented, Kwiatkowski said that

under the state’s fire code, the properties are identified as transient public lodging establishments, allowing for them to be inspected by the fire district’s staff. This is the same designation given to a hotel.

In the past three years, Kwiatkowski said that of the 11 residential structure fires on the Island, eight of them were at vacation rental properties. In 2022, he said there were three pediatric drownings or near-drownings on the Island, all of which occurred at rental properties.

He presented the proposed project at a Holmes Beach Code Compliance town hall meeting with vacation rental owners and representatives on Jan. 31, reassuring the rental community that the fire department would be working with local municipalities to make sure that enforcement and inspections would not overlap with those currently taking place on the Island as a result of city efforts to make rentals safer for visitors. He added that the inspections would likely begin taking place in the fall.

RED TIDE: Stirred up by onshore winds, strong current

FROM PAGE 1

With winds out of the west at more than 23 mph churning up the blooms in the Gulf of Mexico and pushing them toward Anna Maria Island beaches, the unmistakable smell – and feel – of red tide permeated a largely empty Manatee Beach.

One visitor from New York was coughing profusely as she left the

beach Sunday morning.

“I wanted to see the beach, but I have asthma and I couldn’t stay long,” she said. “I started coughing almost immediately. This is too much for me.”

Some people experience respiratory irritation (coughing, sneezing, tearing and an itchy throat) when red tide is present and winds blow onshore, ac-

cording to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), while offshore winds can keep respiratory effects experienced by those on the shore to a minimum.

Red tide produces toxins capable of killing fish, birds and other marine animals. The toxins can also cause health problems in humans, including

respiratory irritation when wave action breaks open red tide cells and the toxins become airborne, according to the FWC.

The Florida Department of Health advises people with severe or chronic respiratory conditions, such as COPD, emphysema or asthma, to avoid areas with red tide.

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Art Walk showcases local talent

The latest Holmes Beach Art Walk featured a Paint-Around by several local artists.

BY JASON SCHAFFER SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com

HOLMES BEACH - The Feb. 10 Art Walk brought locals and visitors to two art galleries to see the best of Island art. Participating businesses around the Artists’ Guild of Anna Maria Island and Island Gallery West that normally close earlier stayed open later for the event, which repeats the second Friday of each month.

THE ARTISTS’ GUILD OF ANNA MARIA ISLAND

The Artists’ Guild gallery is hosting several activities this month as part of its Paint the Town event, sponsored by Bradenton Arts & Culture, a division of the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau:

• Daily artist demos in front of the gallery – Wednesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.;

• Gallery competitions - vote for your favorite locally-inspired subjects;

• Paint-Arounds – Fridays from 3-5 p.m., five artists collaborate on five paintings;

• Kid's activity - papier-mâché Fridays from 3-5 p.m.;

• Plein aire artists - Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., locations to be announced at www.amiartistsguildgallery. com.

“We had a great day with our PaintAround today to kick off the Art Walk,” Guild member artist Joanne Wilhelm said. “We have five artists who paint a little, then they switch. So, each work is actually done by five artists. After it’s

finished, we raffle it off. We also did papier-mâché with the children today, which was a great time.”

The Artists' Guild of Anna Maria Island is an all-volunteer, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization at 5414 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. For more information, call 941-778-6694 or visit amiartistsguildgallery.com.

ISLAND GALLERY WEST

Island Gallery West (IGW) offers live music in the parking lot as well as wine and snacks for visitors to enjoy while they chat with member artists and shop the gallery for special works of art to purchase and take home to have a visual reminder of the Island.

February’s featured artist, Karen Beach, has her work on display in the front of the gallery, and anyone who couldn’t make the Art Walk can view the display through the end of February.

IGW also has something special this month with non-member artists invited to showcase their work for the first time in the gallery: Debra Rhoads, who focuses on Florida’s beautiful birds and sunsets; Gail Curry, who calls her design style “Fluid Geometrics” and Lynn Coppinger, who works in a variety of art mediums. Coppinger has since been juried into full membership in the gallery, and is now its newest member artist. Also showing her work this month is Cosette Kosiba, who is displaying her pastel paintings.

The gallery is located at 5368 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. For more information, call 941-7786648 or visit www.islandgallerywest.com.

SUBMITTED

The Artists’ Guild of Anna Maria Island held a Paint-Around on Feb. 10, part of their Paint the Town Celebration. Artists passed around a different painting every 20 minutes so that all artists could work on each painting.

JASON SCHAFFER | SUN

Visitors to Island Gallery West enjoyed wine and snacks while they mingled with the resident artists at last week’s Art Walk in Holmes Beach.

Island Photography & DJ a family affair

Anna Maria Island residents Dara and Chuck Caudill have combined their creative talents to offer wedding photography and entertainment under one banner, Island Photography & DJ. Together, they will coordinate the photography and music for your special day. Dara is a professionally trained photographer who combines the latest in digital technology along with an artistic and creative flair. She blends photojournalistic with traditional styles of photography. "A little fantasy mixed with a little reality," she says. "It's important for the photos to be beautiful!"

Chuck is a professional musician and DJ on Anna Maria Island. In addition to ukulele and acoustic guitar ceremonies, Chuck provides live music and/or full DJ services for the reception. He provides state of the art sound and lighting.

Dara and Chuck are true Island residents, so they specialize in beach weddings. The two know how important it is to have the right professionals for your day, especially if you are having a destination wedding. They were married in Kauai, and the people they hired made it a special day. They want to create that same memorable Island experience for you.

Over the years, they have become friends with many of the couples they helped marry. They find it rewarding when those couples revisit the area and call them to get together.

Both are fully insured and belong to many professional organizations, including the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce. Please check out their websites – www.islandphotography.org and www. chuckcaudill.com – to see what they have to offer. For more info, please email daracaudill@verizon.net or call 941-778-5676.

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CONSOLIDATION: Legislators change direction regarding AMI cities

FROM PAGE 1

legislative session a state-funded study on the feasibility of consolidating or dissolving the three Island cities. During that same meeting, the delegation also announced its intent to file state legislation that could potentially preempt the city of Holmes Beach’s land development code and city charter to allow Manatee County to build a multi-story parking garage on county property to provide more public parking for beachgoers and other visitors.

An outcry erupted from many elected officials and their constituents in the Island’s three cities, Anna Maria, Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach, that state officials were attempting to destroy home rule, the ability of the Island cities to govern themselves. Concerns were voiced that consolidating or dissolving the Island cities would put them under Manatee County’s jurisdiction, eliminating local codes including building height restrictions and paving the way for a new set of rules for development.

Regarding the consolidation discussions he had with Robinson in Tallahassee, Murphy said during today’s meeting, “He has agreed to pull that from the table for this year. That won’t be an item this year. Sen. Boyd agreed.”

During a recent Anna Maria commission meeting, Murphy said that Robinson told him he sought the state-funded consolidation study because he’s received numerous complaints about taxes being too high on Anna Maria Island. The proposed consolidation study would have looked at whether consolidating some or all of the similar public services provided by each of the three Island cities might produce lower property taxes for the Island’s property owners.

CONSOLIDATING ISLAND CITY SERVICES

However, Murphy said, “They would like the three Island mayors to have some formal discussions as to what can be consolidated because they are getting pressure from constituents about the tax rates here on the Island. What can we do from a

service point of view? To that end, I asked the other two mayors to meet with me here at city hall this morning on my return from Tallahassee. We agreed that the three of us will work on what can be consolidated. What’s the low-hanging fruit that can quickly be captured? Long-term and short-term, what can we do here with the idea of saving taxpayers money?” he said.

Murphy said the three mayors will meet every two or three weeks to discuss what can be done regarding the consolidation of shared services. He said the mayors would likely address one potential point of consolidation at a time. He said the three mayors will also solicit input from their commissioners and city staff members and provide their commissions with regular updates.

“I feel comfortable that my fellow mayors will give it a fair and honest shot,” Murphy said.

When asked if he could provide any examples of services that might potentially be consolidated, Murphy said it was too early to do so. He said those details would be released when there’s a solid plan in place. Murphy said listing potential areas of consolidation now could cause city employees in all three cities to become apprehensive about the potential impacts consolidation might have on their jobs and livelihoods.

A few years ago, Murphy proposed consolidating the Anna Maria and Holmes Beach public works departments but those efforts proved unsuccessful.

“We need to have a serious effort on the consolidation. We’ve made efforts in the past and that went nowhere. This time it’s serious and we need to have a serious conversation. I have every confidence, after my meeting this morning with the other two mayors, that we’ll make progress with some form of consolidation,” Murphy said.

Murphy said if left to the state, the forced consolidation of the three Island cities is a possible scenario.

For his efforts, Murphy received a round of applause from the commissioners and others who attended today’s meeting.

PARKING CONCERNS

Murphy said the Legislature’s continued concern about parking in Holmes Beach is not an issue that directly impacts the city of Anna Maria.

“That’s an issue between Holmes Beach and the state. This is not a county issue anymore,” he said.

Murphy referenced the streetside public parking spaces the city of Holmes Beach eliminated during its response to the COVID-19 pan -

demic. Many of those spaces were converted to permit-only parking for residents.

“Approximately 650 parking spaces were eliminated in Holmes Beach. The county, through the state, wants some reprimands for those. They’re gone and they’d like to have them back. I think everybody recognizes that a parking garage is not a panacea. You could put up a dozen and you still wouldn’t have enough, but 650 spots are 650 spots. They were taken and is there some way to get that back?” Murphy said.

He added that the parking reductions in Holmes Beach have “created a lot of angst” with people on the mainland who feel their ability to visit the public beaches has been negatively impacted by those actions.

“Was it the right thing to do or not? At this point, the ship has sailed,” Murphy said of that past decision.

He said Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth has reached an agreement with the Episcopal Church of the Annunciation in Holmes Beach to provide some additional public parking spaces in the church parking lot. Murphy said he was asked to meet with the priest at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Holmes Beach, where Murphy is a member, and there’s a willingness there to also provide some additional public parking spaces.

SUBMITTED

Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy received assurances from state legislators that a state-funded consolidation study will not be sought during the 2023 legislative session.

He has agreed to pull that from the table for this year. That won’t be an item this year.”

Dan Murphy, Anna Maria Mayor

The magic of seabirds

Reel Time

eabirds are one the Suncoast’s prime attractions for anglers, visitors and residents alike. Birds in general, and seabirds specifically, provide a significant boost to Florida’s economy and are a major reason the state ranks as one of the nation’s top wildlife viewing destinations. We are stirred by their song and their aerial displays and are guided to fish as they wheel and dive over schools of bait being plundered by pelagic fish. The haunting sound of a whippoorwill signals the arrival of spring, while the colorful plumage of a spoonbill and the elaborate rituals of herons, terns and

other seabirds heralds the breeding season. We marvel at the graceful flight of a formation of black skimmers, their bills tracing paths across the water’s surface at sunset, as they wheel overhead in a rush of wings.

With all that birds provide us, it’s alarming to learn that species-wide, we’ve lost the equivalent of one in four birds in the last 50 years. The major reason is loss of habitat, and the seabirds we treasure are particularly vulnerable due to the loss of mangroves for nesting and the practice of many seabirds to lay their eggs and raise their young just above a barrier island’s high-water line.

Birds need our help, and there are specific things that anglers and outdoor enthusiasts alike can do to help them. One of the most heartbreaking things anyone can experience is a dead or dying bird garroted in the mangroves by an unsuspecting fisherman’s line.

Anglers who fish the coastal waters of Florida will invariably come into contact with seabirds that inhabit the estuaries of our state. Often that encounter is deadly to seabirds if anglers don’t know the basics of avoiding contact

with or caring for hooked birds. Birds live here, it’s their home and they aid savvy anglers as they search for food. The birds get into trouble when they

RUSTY CHINNIS

RUSTY CHINNIS | SUN

Birds guide us to fish; we should help them in return. SEE REEL TIME, PAGE

February fishing a breeze

CAPT. DAVID WHITE

We had some great weather this last week here on Anna Maria Island! The end of the week got a bit breezy, but the beginning was absolutely amazing. With highs around 76 and breezes light and variable, we’ve had a lot of fun inshore and nearshore lately.

The warmer temperatures seem to have the snook going off right now. We got some good ones this week and lost some good ones! Live pilchards are the ticket right now. We’re also getting a lot of big trout and a few redfish in the mix.

Nearshore, we’re still targeting hogfish when conditions allow. We’re also getting larger sheepshead pretty regularly on the ledges. The warmer temperatures have the mangrove snapper pretty excited, with fish up to 20” seen last week. As I write this, we’re in the midst of a very windy cold front. So I anticipate the snook to turn off a bit and the sheepies to start herding up again! Good luck out there and tight lines!

CAPT. RICK GRASSETT

Anglers fishing with me out of CB’s Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key had some action catching and releasing reds, snook and trout on DOA Lures in Gasparilla Sound and Tampa Bay

recently. Fly anglers also caught and released snook in the ICW at night.

Keith McClintock, of Lake Forest, Illinois, fished a couple of trips with me in Gasparilla Sound. He scored a slam on one trip with several reds, snook and trout caught and released on CAL jigs with shad

REEL TIME: The magic of seabirds

FROM PAGE 26

come in contact with discarded fishing line in the mangroves or they take line to their roosts after becoming hooked.

The incidents of anglers hooking birds can be reduced or eliminated by following a few simple rules. First, never feed birds. This trains birds to look for a handout and leads them to often unsuspecting anglers. Secondly, while you’re fishing, be aware of birds that might be eyeing your bait or lure. It’s easy to pull it out of harm’s way at the last second before a bird dives on it.

If you do hook a bird, make sure that you fight them just like you would a trophy fish to prevent

tails. Jerry Poslusny, of Palmetto, fished Tampa Bay with me on another trip. We worked hard for a slam, with a nice red and snook caught and released on a CAL jig with a shad tail; we found a few trout to seal the deal. With cool, clear water, shallow water fishing has been challeng-

them from breaking the line. Trailing line can be a death sentence for the birds when they return to their roost at night. Care should be taken when handling birds due to their fragile, hollow bones and sharp beaks. First, place a towel over the bird’s head. This will calm them and protect the angler from sharp bills. You can then cautiously remove hooks and unwind line before releasing them.

During nesting season (peaking here May through June) birds are particularly vulnerable, especially those that nest on the beaches of our barrier islands. It’s crucial that humans avoid breeding colonies on public beaches and especially the few places designated as off-limits because of their critical nesting

ing. Jerry and Rich Hunter, of Longboat Key, also fly fished for snook in the ICW at night with me recently and had some action catching and releasing several snook on Grassett Snook Minnow flies.

Look for reds and trout in skinny water. Deep grass flats are usually a good option for action with trout, blues, pompano, Spanish mackerel and more. Snook fishing around dock lights and bridges should also be a good option now as long as water temperatures stay above 60 degrees.

I will be the instructor for CB’s Saltwater Outfitters Orvis-endorsed fly fishing schools on Saturday, Feb. 18, and Saturday, March 4. The course, designed for beginning and intermediate fly casters, will focus on basic fly casting principles, improving casting skills and correcting faults. The comprehensive class will also cover saltwater fly fishing techniques, leader construction and fly selection. The cost for the class, which will run from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. is $225 per person and includes the use of Orvis fly tackle, workbook and lunch. Optional instructional guided fly fishing trips are also available for an additional fee. Contact CB’s Saltwater Outfitters at 941-349-4400 or email info@cbsoutfitters.com to make reservations.

potential. Locally protected areas like Egmont Key and Passage Key are often threatened by unsuspecting and careless beachgoers endangering eggs and young hatchlings. The birds don’t have a voice and it’s left to those of us that appreciate and benefit from them to be their advocates.

If while fishing you see a hooked or tangled bird in an active rookery, don’t approach them during nesting season. Our well-meaning intentions can cause more harm than good by causing startled young birds to fall from the nest.

Taking care of the environment that feeds our passion is everyone’s responsibility. Follow these simple guidelines: be aware of the presence of seabirds, take care in handling them and never feed birds. If you see a bird in distress and it's not nesting season, you can free them. If they swim or fly away on their own that's all you'll need to do. If you believe they are too weak to recover on their own, contact one of the local organizations that rescue and rehabilitate sea birds.

On Anna Maria Island you can call Wildlife Inc. at 941-778-6324. To our south, call Save Our Seabirds on City Island in Sarasota at 941-388-3010. Audubon’s Coastal Island Sanctuaries has an informative website and can be reached by calling 813-794-3784. Join Suncoast Waterkeeper in their efforts to protect mangroves and water quality and join Sarasota Bay Watch’s Annual Fishing Line Cleanup in the fall. Birds of all kinds are a critical component and bellwether of a healthy environment. Let’s all work together to create a vibrant and safe place - for the birds.

CAPT. DAVID WHITE | SUBMITTED Bill Mills, of Flushing, Michigan, shows off a 36-inch snook caught with Capt. David White of Anna Maria Charters.

COVID-19 in Manatee County

FEB. 6

Cases 314

% Positivity 12.94%

Deaths 0

% Eligible population vaccinated 74.5% New hospital admissions 38

FEB. 13

Cases 272

% Positivity 12.42%

Deaths 3

% Eligible population vaccinated 74.5% New hospital admissions 17

Source: Centers for Disease Control

Manatee County community level of COVID-19 transmission

The COVID-19 booster vaccines aimed at fighting the omicron subvariants are available at local pharmacies, including CVS and Walgreens in Holmes Beach.

Top real estate producers for January 2023

Mary

A

Sue

Tanya Edwards - Selling

DUNCAN REAL ESTATE

Darcie Duncan – Listing

Michelle Laade - Selling

EDGEWATER REAL ESTATE

Lynn Zemmer – Listing & Selling

FRAN MAXON

Stephanie Bell – Listing

Sharon Villars-Foraker and Tim Villars - Selling

ISLAND REAL ESTATE

Kathleen White and Erin Leathem – Listing

Josh Bernet - Selling

LOCALS REALTY GROUP

Jessica Adair – Listing & Selling

MICHAEL SAUNDERS

Hannah Hillyard and George Myers – Listing

Kathy Harman - Selling

REMAX ALLIANCE GROUP

Christine Kourik - Listing

Sharon Hightower - Selling

SALTY MERMAID REAL ESTATE

Diana Sinisi – Listing & Selling

SATO REAL ESTATE

Jason Sato – Listing

Victoria Bouziane - Selling

WAGNER REAL ESTATE

Team of Becky Smith and Elfi Starret – Listing

Ed Taaffe - Selling

REAL ESTATE

A question of affordability

Buying a house during the past al most three years can be compared to a rollercoaster ride. You go up and you go down, you scream and you hold your breath waiting for the next hairpin turn. But maybe, just maybe, we’re starting to see the end of the ride.

The National Association of Realtors reported at the end of last year that the sales of previously owned homes, most of the real estate market, slid 17.7% in 2022. Also, on a month-to-month basis, sales fell 1.5% in December for an 11th straight monthly decline, the worst rate since November of 2010.

The housing boom generated by the pandemic and the ability for workers to work remotely accelerated selling prices and demand until the Federal Reserve stepped in to cool the economy and curb inflation by raising interest rates. This took a big chunk out of the ability of buyers to proceed with purchases when borrowing rates more than doubled.

Castles in the Sand

LOUISE BOLGER

As recently as October of last year, mortgage interest rates climbed over 7%, a rate not seen for two decades. This, plus the increased asking price of homes, forced many buyers out of the market since they could not qualify for the additional monthly carrying charges. Now, however, the rates are starting to trend down, and as of Feb. 5, Forbes reported the following average annual percentage rates (APR) rates: 6.37% for a 30-year fixed mortgage and 5.56% for a 15-year fixed mortgage, the two most popular mortgage products.

The forecast for 2023 is that 30-year

fixed-rate mortgage rates will stay within the 5% to 6% range. Freddie Mac forecasts the average 30-year mortgage rate to start at 6.6% in the first quarter and end up at 6.2% in the last quarter of this year and Lawrence Yun, the National Association of Realtor’s chief economist said, “Mortgage rates have fallen for the past few weeks, so I’m very hopeful that the worst in home sales is probably coming to an end.”

The other bit of good news is that the Federal Reserve raised their benchmark interest rate by only a quarter of a percent rather than a full half percent, which they have been doing monthly for some time. All of this may point to the fact that the mortgage rates have hit their peak, advertising to buyers and sellers it may be time to get back in the game.

Next week when we review the January sales statistics, we’ll have a better idea if our local market is starting to

show an increase in sales activity and available inventory. As far as affordability, the asking prices on the Island are as high as ever and the construction of new homes is on practically every street. If the city of Anna Maria is second in Florida’s most expensive median listing price, as recently reported by Realtor.com, it will take a lot to turn that around any time soon.

So, just like getting off the rollercoaster, it takes you a few minutes to get your land legs back under you and wait for your heart to return to a normal beat. Everyone’s hoping this is that time… prices are still high but leveling off, mortgage rates are gradually declining and sellers who have been sitting on their super-low mortgage rates may start to reconsider the financial benefit of selling. However, stand by – there’s always another rollercoaster coming down the track.

OBITUARIES

W.S. (Babe) Sikes

W.S. (Babe) Sikes was born on Aug. 12, 1940 in Cobbtown, Georgia. He died on Dec. 11, 2022 at his home on Anna Maria Island, Florida.

A resident of Anna Maria since the early 1960s, he and his wife bonded over a love of fishing and spent many days and nights with their daughter fishing on The City Pier.

After discovering that office life as an accountant was not what he wanted to do, Babe started working at the Union Camp Paper Mill in Savannah, Georgia. From there, he moved on to become a master mechanic, welder and conductor at Borden’s Chemicals before being recruited to build the critical infrastructure needed to unload cargo ships at the newly emerging Port Manatee. He proceeded to obtain his general contractors license and was a custom builder and contractor on the island and in the Bradenton area for over 50 years. Babe either built or remodeled a significant number of houses on the island during the course of his career. He mentored many younger contractors and tradesmen, and also

owned a glass shop in Holmes Beach for a number of years. There wasn’t anything he couldn’t build or fix, and he always had some sort of project or job in the works. The only exception was when he was busy working on a puzzle at the Island Branch Library, where the puzzle table is named in his honor.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Jimps and Mattie Sikes, the love of his life, his wife, Barbara (Bobbie), and his oldest grandson, Kevin Zatkovich.

Babe leaves behind his daughter, Julie Sikes Zatkovich, his sonin-law, Mark, and his grandsons, Brian and Shaun. He also leaves to treasure his memory his brother, Preston, Preston’s wife, Shelby, and their daughter, Tracy.

No service is scheduled per his request. Cremation was handled by Griffith Cline Funeral Home.

Michael “Mike” P.

Turner

Michael “Mike” P. Turner, 81, of La Porte, Indiana and Bradenton Beach, Florida passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023.

Mike was born on Jan. 10, 1942, in South Bend, Indiana to the late Ben and Bernice (Poncher) Turner.

Mike is a retired steelworker from

Bethlehem Steel after 30 years of service. He was a member of Holy Family Parish, St. Peter Church in La Porte, and a volunteer firefighter with Center Township and Coolspring Township fire departments.

On July 5, 1986, Mike married Aileen Stiller, M.D. who survives. He is also survived by a daughter, Amy (Casey) Sanders of Chicago; sons, Michael (Kathy) Turner of Lake Mary, Florida, Scott (Martha) Stiller of Chicago, Sean (Deanna) Stiller of San Diego, California, and Stephen Stiller of Chicago; grandchildren, Phoenix Sanders, David Michael Sanders, Steven Stiller, and Julia Stiller; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Mark Turner; and a brother, John Turner.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Feb. 11, 2023, at Holy Family Parish, St. Peter Church, 1101 Michigan Ave., La Porte, Indiana, with burial at Pine Lake Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Center Township Volunteer Fire Department, 4504 W. Johnson Road, La Porte, Indiana 46350.

To light a virtual candle, share a story of Mike’s life or leave a message of comfort for his family, please visit esslingfuneralhome.com.

BEACH BEAT

BRADENTON BEACH

2/4, 8 a.m., abandoned boat, 200 Bridge St. While investigating an abandoned vessel that sank in a storm after being struck by lightning, the officer located the owner, who said he did not have the resources to dispose of the boat. He had a bill of sale and a title and volunteered to turn over ownership to the City of Bradenton Beach. This will allow the city to remove and dispose of the craft at no cost to the former owner.

HOLMES BEACH

2/1, 11:51 p.m., burning or burying, 200 52nd St. While on patrol, the officer saw a small campfire in the park at the intersection of Holmes Boulevard and 52nd Street. The subject said he made the fire because it was cold, and he was unaware it was illegal. When asked to get his shovel to put dirt on the fire, the subject brought back a Swiffer wet mop to try to put it out. Another officer on the

scene filled a trash can with water and put the fire out. The subject was issued a citation and notice to appear in court for the violation. The officer noted in his report that he was wearing his summer patrol uniform that evening, which consisted of shorts and a short sleeved shirt. The temperature was 65 degrees at the time of the incident.

2/6, 7:36 p.m., open container of alcohol, 3900 East Bay Drive. Two officers responded to Publix in reference to two men drinking alcohol on the front patio of the store. When they arrived, they made contact with the first man, who was in possession of a half-empty bottle of vodka. He was issued a citation for having an open container of alcohol in a public place. The second man then walked up to the officers as he was exiting the store, and the manager said he had been drinking on the property as well, but was not in possession of anything at the time police arrived so he was not cited. Both men were trespassed from the premises at the request of Publix management.

County adds more buses on route to beach

Manatee County Area Transit (MCAT) is giving people who don’t want to fight traffic an easy way to the beach. Route 3, which travels along Manatee Avenue to Manatee Beach in Holmes Beach, now has three buses running along different sections with the 304 bus running from Village Green Parkway on the mainland to the beach every hour. Buses depart from behind the 7-11 on Manatee Avenue at Village Green Parkway every hour at 15 minutes past the hour with the last hourly bus departing at 7:15 p.m. daily. All buses are free to ride.

‘Encanto’ at Movies in the Park

Enjoy Classic Movies in the Park at City Pier Park in Anna Maria every Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. The Feb. 21 presentation will be “Encanto.” Bring a blanket, chair and refreshments. All showings are free and subject to cancellation due to adverse weather.

Business celebrates new location

A business group, howluckyAMI & friends at 5402 Marina Drive in Holmes Beach, is home to several local vendors and a Sip N’ Shop - local wine available for customers. The Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Feb. 8 to celebrate. From left are Angela Albrecht (Anna Maria Island Wines), Christine Aaron (AMI Guy and AMI Gal), Christine Olson (howluckyAMI & friends), Carol Birrell (howluckyAMI & friends), Dale Ann Miller (howluckyAMI & friends), Carol Soustek (Holmes Beach), Jane Sperlazzi (howluckyAMI & friends owner) and Bev Kilpatrick (AMI Chamber board of directors).

SUBMITTED

easy The Living is

Don’t we all want more time to enjoy life? More time to get things done, to make friends and to nurture relationships. More time to focus on family or for your self. At Lakewood Ranch, we’re all about enjoying life That’s’ why our communit y is filled with shopping, dining , nature, entert ainment and recreation. So that ever ything you may need from day-to-day is nearby and co nveniently located.

Co me see wh y La kewood Ra nch is Americ a’s favori te place to call home!

HOM ES F ROM TH E $300S TO O VE R $1 M*

With two to go, team Luxury Services is 5-0

BY MONICA SIMPSION SPECIAL TO THE SUN

ANNA MARIA – Team Luxury Services remains in the top-ranked position in The Center’s adult co-ed flag football league going into week six of winter league play.

With the win over The Briley Mortgage Team, Luxury stays one game ahead of team Moss Builders. Luxury beat the Moss squad week two in the season.

Matthew Briley did the scoring for his team with two rushing touchdowns. Briley also had three critical stops on defense.

The lack of points after the TD and a successful throwing game kept The Briley Mortgage Team squad playing catch-up the entire game going into halftime scoreless.

Karri Stephens lit up the field for The Briley Mortgage Team with two interceptions, two catches and five flag pulls. Alonzo Lemus caught four catches and had a defensive stop.

Teammate Connor Haughey made three nice receptions and pulled one flag in the game for The Briley team.

In the win, Luxury Services’ QB, Chase Richardson, had four passing touchdowns and a pick six on the

other side of the football. Two of the scoring catches were to Jonathan Soultatos.

Soultatos’ contributions in the game also included six points running the football into the endzone and a flag pull to help stop the opponent’s forward progress.

Teammates Ramon Guerrero IV and Sequiel Marintez each had a receiving touchdown. Guerrero made three defensive stops, while Marintez had two along with a two-point conversion.

Tim Holly was most effective for Luxury Services with three flag pulls and a sack to help with the big win.

Ugly Grouper looks to put their first win in the record books this week against Luxury Services. The Briley team plays Solid Rock Construction, which shares a 3-2-0 record with their next opponent, as well as The Banks Home Lending Team.

Solid Rock Construction kept team Ugly Grouper out of the endzone, shutting them out with the final score 36-0. In a scoring showdown, Moss Builders eked out the win by three points, in the 58-55 win over The Sandbar.

Sharing a record of 1-4-0 with The Sandbar after week five play, the Gulf Drive Café team lost against

The Banks Home Lending team by 20 points. With the championship match up on Thursday, March 16, all eight teams are looking to the end game with a win. The championship game starts at 7 p.m.

SUN SCOREBOARD

TO 10-YEAR-OLD

WEEK 4

Club championship winners

The men and women at Key Royale Club played for the annual club championship on Feb. 1 and Feb. 8. Playing 36 holes of total stroke play golf, Eric Lawson, left, retained the club championship for the men with a score of 134. Finishing second was Gary Risner (138), followed by Tim Donnar (140) in third place. Debi Wohlers, right, won the title for the women with a score of 163. Linda Dorsey finished in second place (166) and Jenny Huibers captured third place (170).

ANNOUNCEMENTS

BRIDGE GAMES STARTING up at Roser Church in February. Call 314-324-5921 for details.

THE BEST VOLUNTEER position on the island. The AMI Historical Museum needs docents and bread makers. Call Kathy Primeau at 989-560-6381.

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.

HOSPITAL VOLUNTEERS

WANTED to assist at our information desk, especially weekends.

Great for teens needing volunteer hours (16yrs+).

Other assignments available. Please call the Blake Volunteer Office at 941-798-6151.

COMMERCIAL SALES, RENT & LEASE

HAVE YOU BEEN thinking of selling? We NEED properties to List for SALE!!! Duplexes, multi family, small resorts?

Call BIG Alan Galletto of Island Real Estate to get it SOLD 941-232-2216

COMMERCIAL LEASE - 419 pine, Anna Maria - Island Real Estate - Larry Chatt 941-345-1288

CLEANING SERVICE

TOTAL HOME SERVICES

CLEANING : Residential, Commercial, Rentals, VRBO. Professional and Reliable. Call 941-7564570 or 941-565-3931

EMPLOYMENT

WANTED LICENSED

REALTOR! Seeking real estate agent with island expertise to join our highly productive sales team! Contact us at 941-900-4974. All calls confidential

WE ARE HIRING Part Time & Full Time. The White Egret & The Egret’s Nest in City of Anna Maria’ Please contact Pam at 941-7783782

The award-winning ANNA MARIA ISLAND SUN, a weekly newspaper on Florida’s Gulf Coast, is looking for a freelance reporter/photographer to cover events on this tourism-driven 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 mailed to The Anna Maria Island Sun, P.O Box 1189, Anna Maria, FL 34216, Attention: Mike Field, publisher.

FISHING CHARTERS

CAPT. MAC GREGORY

Fishing Charters. Full Day, Half Day, Night, Inshore & Near Shore. 941-809-5783

U.S.C.G. Certified/Insured FOR SALE

TOPPER FOR F150 Long bed. $50 or Best Offer. Call 941-705-7560.

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

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

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 # CBC 1261150. Call Mike Kern 941-7781115

GET’R DONE DRYWALL, INC Specializing in Remodels & Repairs. Island Resident for 20+ 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

API’S DRYWALL REPAIR 15+ years experience. Free estimates. No job too small. Love to help you. Call 941-524-8067.

HOME IMPROVEMENT

Michigan General Contractor 30+ yrs. experience. Large or small projects. Budget minded knowledgeable tradesman will complete your project start to finish: On Time/On Budget. Call Mike 616-204-8822.

ISLE TILE specializing in Custom Bath/Shower & Backsplash installation. Pressure washing available. Call 941-302-8759 isletileservices.com

HOME SERVICES

CONCRETE FUSION, CRACK REPAIR sidewalks/ driveways. Why fix 95% of concrete when only 5% bad? Number 1 in concrete repair. Insured. Free estimate. Call Bobby 941-374-7670.

LANDSCAPING & LAWN CARE

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

SHELL DRIVEWAYS & LANDSCAPE. Specializing in Old Florida Seashell and Lime rock driveways and scapes. Also River Rock, Sand, Mulch, & Soil. Call Shark Mark 941-301-6067

ISLAND RESIDENT. TREE/ BUSH Trimming, removal. Sweeping, blowing, and weeding. Weekly, bimonthly or monthly schedule. Pressure washing. Call Bill Witaszek 941-307-9315

MOVING & STORAGE

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

PAINTING & WALLCOVERING

PAINT! PAINT! AND MORE 28 years of experienced interior/exterior custom painting. Pressure cleaning, drywall repairs and texture finishes. Many Island references. Please call Neil for free estimates. 941-812-0507

“WIZARD OF WALLS”

Established 1980

Prompt quality service. Wallpaper installation/ removal. Mary Bell Winegarden 941-794-0455

DONALD PERKINS

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

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

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

TOTAL HOME SERVICES

CLEANING : Residential, Commercial, Construction, Vacation, VRBO Rentals . Also available Pressure Washing, Roof Cleaning, Paver Sealing and Windows. Call 941565-3931.

REAL ESTATE HOMES & CONDOS FOR SALE

Have you been thinking of selling? We NEED properties to List for SALE!!! GULF FRONT, CANAL FRONT, BAY FRONT CONDOS or HOMES ASK for BIG Alan Galletto of Island Real Estate to get it SOLD 941-232-2216

LOOKING FOR A highly motivated real estate broker to buy or sell your next home? Darcie Duncan, Broker Duncan Real Estate a lifelong island resident bringing success to her customers for 30 years. Proven track record brings you results! 941-725-1589

ATTN REALTORS: Are you thinking about leaving the business to get a salaried job? If you love being a Realtor & need help navigating this new market, call us today for a confidential appt. Kelly Gitt The Gitt Team AMI KW on the Water 941-799-9299

GORGEOUS DEEP WATER LOT with 2BR/2BA home in City of Anna Maria with dock and boat lift. Beautiful street. Just one block walk to beach. $2,800,000. Call for showing 941-7136531

VILLAGE GREEN CONDO

~ Maintenance free 2BR, 2BA condo with garage. Convenient West Bradenton location, 5 minutes to the beach. $358,000.00. Call Lisa Varano at Wagner Realty 941-730-7090.

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 513-3821992.

ANNUAL RENTALS – AVAILABLE NOW. 2BR/1BA, furnished. $4,500/month. Canal front 3BR/2BA home, private pool, boat dock. AVAILABLE 2/1/23. $7,9560/mo. First, Last, and Security Deposit required Call Sato Real Estate, Inc 941-778-7200 or Email monica@satorealestate. com

RENTALS: SEASONAL & VACATION

TIFFANY PLACE Gulf Front Condo for Rent

Incredible views from living room and master bedroom. 2BR/2BA Green Real Estate Call 941-778-0455

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

ANNA MARIA ISLAND

CONDOS Large pool, beach access, free WiFi, 1&2 Bedroom $900 to $1200 per week redekercondosonami.com Tim 941-704-7525

TRANSPORTATION

AMI TAXI credit cards, cash, Venmo accepted. Airport: Tampa $105, Sarasota $50, St. Pete/Clearwater $105, Orlando $220. Call 941447-8372, www.amitaxi. com

GOLF CART RENTALS

ANYTIME TRANSPORTATION to all Airports, Casino, etc. Tampa/St. Pete $80. Sarasota $40. Pets welcome. Very dependable. Reasonable rates. Contact Jeanne. 941-779-5095