Anna Maria Island Sun February 3, 2021

- Named Best Florida Newspaper In Its Class -

VOL 21 No. 17

February 3, 2021

County skips using state vaccine signup system

Onewheels to be banned at Anna Maria beaches and parks SUBMITTED | GRANT FULKERSON

Battery-powered Onewheel self-balancing boards are a modern take on skateboards. Sarasota Float Life members enjoy riding together on the beaches of Manatee and Sarasota counties.

The Anna Maria City Commission has made slight revisions to a previously proposed ordinance that, if adopted on second and final reading on Thursday, Feb. 11, will state “No person shall operate or possess a bicycle, motorcycle, motor-driven cycle, motor vehicle, hoverboard, skateboard, electric personal assistive mobility device, trailer or any other device of any sort with one or more wheels on any beaches or any coastal barrier sand dunes located within the city limits, except for small hand-pulled wagons, or walkers or wheelchairs for the mobility impaired.” Ordinance 21-882 would impose similar prohibitions in city parks but would not prohibit riding bikes in city-maintained parks that are not beaches or coastal barrier dunes. Onewheel enthusiast Grant Fulkerson is among the Float Life Sarasota group members who oppose the ordinance.

City leaders decline art show request

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

HOLMES BEACH – While city commissioners have been approving some events to take place at the city field complex, they’re not approving all of the applications they’ve received.

With COVID-19 still a concern in the city, Mayor Judy Titsworth has been bringing temporary use event permits to commissioners for approval instead of approving them herself. During a Jan. 26 meeting, commissioners were presented with two permit applications, one for the April 4 Easter sunrise service on the beach and one for a March art show on city field. And while they

INSIDE NEWS POLITICAL CARTOON OUTDOORS RESTAURANTS CASTLES IN THE SAND REAL ESTATE CROSSWORD CLASSIFIEDS

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approved the sunrise service with conditions, they voted unanimously to reject the temporary use permit application from Blue Ribbon Events for a proposed March 27-28 fine art show to benefit the Roser Food Pantry.

Danielle Lynch, the CEO of Blue Ribbon, joined the meeting remotely to plead her case for the art show.

Lynch said the food pantry would receive $250 along with anything collected from a canned food drive during the event.

Commissioners elected to reject the application due in part because they’ve already approved the Springfest art show, held by the Anna Maria Island Art League in March. They said that due to COVID-19 concerns,

they don’t want to approve too many events to take place within the same month on city property. They also didn’t feel that the proposed show provided enough of a benefit to the local community.

Titsworth said that if it was up to her, she would’ve automatically approved the application.

Commissioner Jim Kihm, who’s voted against any events which could encourage a large crowd to gather on city property, suggested that Lynch bring the idea back later in the year or when the threat of COVID has lessened.

Eligible individuals wishing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in Manatee County still need to sign up with the county standby pool, not the new state website.

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

MANATEE COUNTY – Good news has emerged for some Floridians with the launch of the state’s COVID-19 vaccine signup website. However, it doesn’t change things for anyone wishing to receive their vaccine doses in Manatee County.

The new Florida state website for vaccine preregistration, myvaccine.fl.gov, invites any resident of the state who is age 65 or older, a resident of a long-term care facility, especially vulnerable to COVID-19 or a healthcare professional with direct patient contact, to register their information on the site. Once registered and when vaccines are available, they’re distributed from the federal government to states and then to different counties, where they’re administered. And while some Florida county governments have chosen to participate in the state registration system, Manatee County currently isn’t among them.

To receive a vaccination in Manatee County, qualified individuals are still required to register through either the senior or healthcare worker/ first responder county organized standby pool.

The standby pools can be found online at vax. mymanatee.org or by calling 311 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Information on receiving the vaccine in Manatee County can be found online at mymanatee.org/vaccine.

See related story; Easter sunrise service approved on Page 7.

COMMISSIONER

DOGS on the beach concern

seeks termination of County Administrator Coryea. 4

Anna Maria officials. 11

Anna Maria Island, Florida

SEE COVID, PAGE 28

CITY again questions work at Shawn

Kaleta’s Bali Hai resort project. 8

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Applications reopen for CARES Act funding If COVID-19 has wreaked havoc on your personal or professional finances, there may be help available through Manatee County.

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

MANATEE COUNTY – For residents and businesses still working to recover from the financial effects of COVID-19, more help is coming in the form of CARES Act funds.

Nonprofit organizations that previously received funding through the Manatee County distribution of CARES Act money can extend their funding applications through March 31 to receive the same amount previously distributed. The total amount expected to be distributed is $2.9 million.

As part of the county’s phase three extended spending plan, nonprofits that provide food distribution to Manatee County residents can apply for funds beginning Feb. 26. The county has earmarked $750,000 for the effort.

Community health and wellbeing grants up to $5,000 also are available to nonprofits to assist in reconfiguring their spaces to allow for social distancing and to purchase safety equipment. Up to 100 applicants will

be awarded the funds for a total of $500,000.

The applications are scheduled to open at the end of February.

For homeowners, the mortgage assistance program is reopening the week of Feb. 22, though only 75 applications are planned to be accepted with a total of $500,000 available in funding. The funds will be available to Manatee County homeowners whose mortgage payments are in arrears due to loss of income related to the pandemic.

Small business owners who have not previously received a CARES funding grant with a physical location in Manatee County, 500 employees or fewer and documented financial losses due to COVID-19 can apply for financial assistance. Funds totaling $1 million will be available to brick and mortar and home-based businesses with applications opening on Feb. 8.

Small business owners can also receive up to $5,000 per business for an Open Safe grant to help pay for personal protective equipment, signage, outdoor seating, equipment, supplies and other items. The county plans to accept 250 applications with the application process opening the week of Feb. 8.

The county also has set aside $5 million in funding for vaccine distribution, staffing and COVID-19 testing.

SUBMITTED

Financial support totaling $4.2 million is being made available to Manatee Memorial Hospital and Lakewood Ranch Hospital for personal protective equipment and reimbursement for loss due to business interruption from the governor’s executive order 20-72. That order prohibited elective services at hospitals to make room for additional COVID-19 patients. Blake Medical Center opted out of the funding program.

Applications will be taken through Neighborly.com and the application period will only be open for a short time to allow for the quick distribution of funds. Anyone interested in applying for funds can visit https://www.mymanatee.org/departments/ public_safety/coronavirus_information/manatee_cares to determine their eligibility and the requirements to apply for funding before the opening of the application window.

An emergency rental assistance program to sustain housing, not related to CARES Act

funds, is being made available to help pay rent and utilities in arrears, home energy costs and other related housing expenses.

The total amount available in Manatee County is $12,081,000.

To qualify for the emergency rental assistance program, the applicant must be a U.S. citizen or legal resident, reside in Manatee County, be delinquent on rent or utility payments due to COVID-19 on or after April 1, 2020, qualify for unemployment or be able to prove a reduction in household income or financial hardship due to COVID-19. The applicant also must have a household income of 80% or less below the area median income. The program can provide assistance for up to three months before the applicant has to reapply for additional funding. Manatee County is currently working with local nonprofits to provide utility assistance for utilities not included in rent payments.

Applications will be taken online on Neighborly and open on Feb. 16. More information on the emergency rental assistance program is available at https:// www.mymanatee.org/departments/redevelopment___economic_opportunity/community_development/manatee_cares/emergency_rental_assistance_program.

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ISLAND NEWS

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FEBRUARY 3, 2021

Kruse seeks County Administrator Coryea’s termination

IN BRIEF

The commissioner revealed his extramarital affair with an unnamed woman during the meeting.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

The dock at the end of Seventh Street South requires replacement.

Seventh Street dock closed The city-owned public dock at the end of Seventh Street South in Bradenton Beach is closed and will remain closed until it can be replaced.

Last week, Public Works Director Tom Woodard told city commissioners the dock and dock pilings are unsafe. He said the lowest bid he received to replace the wooden dock with a dock featuring composite planks was $10,000. Woodard said the Public Works Department budget does not have the money needed to replace the dock. It was also noted that there was a plank missing from the dock at the end of 12th Street South.

Parks committee needs new members Holmes Beach’s Parks and Beautification Committee is in need of a couple of new members. Each volunteer serves on the committee for a two-year term. Members meet the first Wednesday of the month from October through May at 10 a.m. and work to help make the city a more beautiful place through working to plan and maintain landscaping in city-owned green spaces. For more information, or to request an application, call 941-708-5800 ext.

221 or email deputyclerk@holmesbeachfl.org.

New member needed for city planning commission The City of Holmes Beach’s planning commission needs a new volunteer member willing to serve a three-year term. Planning commissioners meet at 6 p.m. on the first Wednesday of every month to review proposed ordinances for consistency with the comprehensive plan, land development code and are currently working to update the city’s comprehensive plan. For more information, or to request an application, contact city staff at 941-708-5800 ext.

221 or email deputyclerk@holmesbeachfl.org.

Correction In last week’s issue, the wrong photo was used regarding the Seventh Street South dock that remains closed pending replacement.

MANATEE COUNTY – County Commissioner George Kruse last week called for County Administrator Cheri Coryea’s termination.

During the discussion, Kruse admitted having an extramarital affair, saying that Commissioner Carol Whitmore’s knowledge of the affair factored into his decision to publicly acknowledge it, and he used the word “blackmail” when doing so.

These events transpired during the Tuesday, Jan. 26 Manatee County Commission meeting. In response to Kruse’s public comments, Whitmore retained Sarasota attorney Brett McIntosh.

During Tuesday’s meeting, the commission voted 4-3 in support of Kruse’s motion to put Coryea on notice that her termination would be discussed at a future meeting. Commissioners Vanessa Baugh, Kevin Van Ostenbridge and James Satcher supported Kruse's motion. Whitmore and commissioners Reggie Bellamy and Misty Servia opposed it.

Coryea’s termination will be discussed and likely acted upon during a special county commission meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 17. The meeting will take place at the Bradenton Area Convention Center in Palmetto and will start at 1:30 p.m.

In November, Kruse, Baugh and Satcher supported Van Ostenbridge’s motion to put Coryea on notice that her termination would be discussed and potentially acted upon in January.

In December, the commission unanimously supported Kruse’s motion to reconsider that November decision and they rescinded the termination efforts.

MEETING FALLOUT

Tuesday’s revelations and actions were partially inspired by the public fallout that followed the Friday, Jan. 22 meeting that Whitmore and Kruse had at Whitmore’s request. That meeting took place in a conference room on the fifth floor of the Manatee County administration building in downtown

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

County Administrator Cheri Coryea, left, is once again facing termination. County Commissioner George Kruse, right, discussed his affair before seeking the termination of the county administrator.

Bradenton. Whitmore requested the one-on-one meeting with Kruse so he could share with her his knowledge about affordable housing and how to fund it.

Coryea, Director of Financial Management Jan Brewer and Vickie Tessmer, from the Clerk of the Court’s office, were asked to attend the 8 a.m. meeting. Tessmer took minutes and recorded the meeting. After learning of the meeting that morning, Van Ostenbridge arrived at 8:18, according to Tessmer.

The meeting was noticed at the county’s online calendar and on the county bulletin board. The meeting agenda was not posted at the county website where agendas are typically posted and Baugh, Bellamy, Satcher, Servia and Van Ostenbridge were not directly notified.

In response to how that meeting was noticed and conducted, Baugh placed a discussion item on the agenda for Tuesday’s meeting. The discussion began with Van Ostenbridge expressing concerns that his appearance may have constituted a Sunshine Law violation because his name was not included in the notices.

Satcher also voiced displeasure about not being notified.

Regarding compliance with the Florida Government in the Sunshine Law, County Attorney Bill Clague said, “I am comfortable that all of the participants have complied with the Sunshine Law with respect to this meeting. The fact that a meeting satisfies a Sunshine Law doesn’t necessarily mean it follows all of our practices for transparency or public participation. These kinds of meetings are very rare in the county. I can count on one

hand the number of times I’ve dealt with this in 24 years of practice.”

Clague said he was consulted in advance regarding the meeting format but was surprised he and his office were not notified of the exact time and date.

Regarding future meetings of this nature, Clague said, “There is no protocol in place right now for how they should be handled. If the board wants to direct the county attorney’s office to put one together, we are certainly prepared to do that.”

After further discussion, the commission unanimously supported the following motion recommended by Clague: “I move to direct the county attorney’s office to draft a resolution establishing protocols for meetings between commissioners to discuss business of the county outside of meetings of the full board or other established boards on which they serve, to include a requirement for other commissioners to be invited to attend, and for attendance by an attorney from the county attorney’s office.”

KRUSE SPEAKS

Kruse then spoke at length and began by saying, “First and foremost, I do want to sincerely apologize to the people of Manatee County and my fellow commissioners for the nature of how the meeting on Friday went down. I was told by the county administrator that everything was going to be properly noticed and handled appropriately. While I do believe it was legally and statutorily compliant, I realized the optics were terrible and that was certainly not the intent.

SEE KRUSE, PAGE 5

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KRUSE: Discloses affair, seeks Coryea’s termination FROM PAGE 4

“I realized this was incredibly poorly handled. My first thought was honestly one of surprise that a 30-year public sector employee and a four-term commissioner could so carelessly structure this meeting to result in now rightfully deserved backlash. I chalked it up as carelessness until I was passed troubling information this weekend which leads me to believe there may be more to it than sheer ignorance,” he said.

After pausing for a deep breath, Kruse said, “I would never bring my family situation up on this dais, but in this case I will for the good of Manatee County. Late last year, I did the absolute worst thing a person can do to someone they love – and she’s in the audience right here. I had a short but nonetheless real affair. I’m not going to make excuses for it, nor am I going to ask any of you for forgiveness. Fortunately, because my wife has patience and the heart of a saint, we’re doing fine and we’re working through this together.”

“Why do I come up here and tell you this private and seemingly unrelated information? Well, because while it was going on, one commissioner, Carol

Whitmore, knew about it. Rather than ignore something that didn’t pertain to her, I’ve learned that she actively acquired pictures from while we were out in public. I’ve now learned from people I trust that she’s actively spreading this information, even though she knows it’s over. I believe her intention for obtaining the pictures was to use them to manipulate votes on this board.

“As my wife knows about it, and it is in fact over, the only blackmail she hoped to achieve would be a public embarrassment that would inevitably trickle down to my 11-year-old daughter and my 14-year-old son. What I did to my family is inexcusable, but it doesn’t affect the county or you the citizens. I felt it necessary to get this out there now ahead of time, before there’s even a shadow of a doubt regarding my stance on anything,” he said.

Kruse, who took office on Nov. 17, said, “These past two months have shown me exactly how this county has run in the past – and unfortunately, in the present. It’s run by people wanting for absolute power at any cost.”

He then referenced the previously rescinded efforts to terminate Coryea and her two-year tenure as county

WE’RE GAMEDAY READY! ARE YOU?

administrator.

“Seven weeks ago, I gave this administration the benefit of the doubt to achieve the agenda the majority of Manatee County wants and deserves. I still think we would get a good portion of that work accomplished. What I do not think will change, however, is the toxic culture that doesn’t put the people first. It has now been two years with this administration, so at this point what we see is what we’ll get.”

CORYEA TERMINATION REQUESTED

After noting that his request for the audio recording of the Jan. 22 meeting be posted in the county’s online archives had not yet been fulfilled, Kruse proposed Coryea be put on termination notice for a second time.

“This needs to change now, even if it leads to short-term disruptions I was previously hoping to avoid. I no longer believe that meeting quantitative benchmarks can ever give me assurance or comfort in the continuation of a fundamentally flawed system. I am, therefore, once again bringing up the motion to notice the termination of the county administrator pursuant to the contract and I will leave it up to the will

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

County Commissioner Carol Whitmore disputes the allegations made by George Kruse. of this board to determine whether recent actions deem this with or without cause,” Kruse said.

Commission Chair Vanessa Baugh then called for a five-minute recess, which then turned into the commission’s lunch break.

During the break, Whitmore was asked about Kruse’s allegations. She said the picture was sent to her unsolicited and that she deleted it and did not pass it around. Whitmore would not divulge the name of the woman in the photograph.

WHITMORE RESPONDS

When the meeting resumed, Whitmore spoke first.

SEE KRUSE, PAGE 26

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OPINION

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

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Kruse should resign (This letter was originally sent to the Manatee County commissioners) Manatee County Commissioners, The majority of the county residents want a stable government to lead our county forward. After the latest fiasco at last week’s county commission meeting, it seems we have anything but – and it looks as if it is a reality show of the worst type.

I’m sure that if the county administrator would have had any idea there were ulterior motives behind the meeting between Whitmore and Kruse, she would have never allowed it to happen. The administrator, who takes direction from commissioners and has many other responsibilities, did what was asked of her and moved on to the rest of her responsibilities.

Now because Kruse has made

accusations of Commissioner Carol Whitmore possibly blackmailing him, and since he has put his dirty laundry out on the floor of the commission, why did the county administrator get pulled into this situation? It’s no secret that a known developer, who bankrolled all three new commissioners’ victories, hadn’t wanted Coryea as the county administrator. Maybe someone else is putting the pressure on Kruse because he backed away from her termination the last time it was brought forward to remove her. Also, it is no secret this developer wants someone more in line with his desire to control the county government – and he wants to get an administrator who is more in line with their needs. So here again Kruse’s character is at the forefront, and that is why he should resign. Who is controlling his discussions and possibly the discussions of the other three commissioners?

This county needs to get con-

trol of its path and move forward without all the drama. George Kruse should resign, since his character has come into question – and if he can’t keep his vows to his wife, how should we expect him to keep to his oath as a commissioner? Here again, the county administrator had no involvement in that matter so why should she be removed?

Removing the sitting county administrator at this time, when we are in the middle of the pandemic, would not be prudent. We definitely don’t need to be looking for another administrator. More than ever, this county needs the stability that she has shown during her time as the county administrator.

It is ridiculous that we have a group of four commissioners and a couple developers who want to tear our county apart.

Richard Motzer Holmes Beach

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FEBRUARY 3, 2021

ON THE AGENDA ANNA MARIA

HOLMES BEACH

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

City hall is open to the public with limited capacity and safety protocols in place.

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

Feb. 10, 1 p.m. – City Commission meeting at the City Pier Feb. 11, 2 p.m. – City Commission meeting Feb. 15, all day – City offices closed, Presidents Day

City hall is open to the public by appointment only. Please visit www. holmesbeachfl.org or contact city hall for more information.

Feb. 3, 10 a.m. – Parks and Beautification Committee meeting Feb. 3, 6 p.m. – Planning Commission meeting Feb. 9, 6 p.m. – City Commission meeting Feb. 15, all day – City offices closed, Presidents Day

BRADENTON BEACH

ISLAND-WIDE

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

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

City hall is open to the public with limited capacity and safety protocols in place. Please visit www.cityofbradentonbeach.com or contact city hall for more information.

Feb. 3, 9:15 a.m. – City Commission emergency meeting Feb. 3, 9:30 a.m. – Community Redevelopment Agency meeting Feb. 3, 2 p.m. – Scenic WAVES meeting Feb. 4, 6 p.m. – City Commission meeting Feb. 10, 9:15 a.m. – City Commission emergency special meeting Feb. 11, 10 a.m. – Department Head meeting Feb. 15, all day – City offices closed, Presidents Day

Feb. 8, 2 p.m. – Island Transportation Planning Organization meeting, Holmes Beach City Hall and via Zoom Feb. 16, 6 p.m. – West Manatee Fire Rescue board meeting, administration building, 6510 Third Ave. W., Bradenton and via Zoom

MARKYOUR CALENDAR The Island Branch Library is open at 40% capacity. Please wear a face mask/covering. The Tingley Memorial Library is open.

The Center of Anna Maria Island is open with social distancing and face masks required.

The Holmes Beach dog park (Scentral Park), skate park, basketball courts, pickleball courts and tennis courts are open.

Local preserves are open, including Grassy Point Preserve, Neal Preserve, Perico Preserve and Robinson Preserve.

WEDNESDAY FEB. 3

Beach market, Coquina Beach, 2650 Gulf Drive S., Bradenton Beach, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

THURSDAY FEB. 4

Farmer’s Market, Holmes Beach city field, 5801 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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

SATURDAY FEB. 6

Robinson Runners, Robinson Preserve, 1704 99th St. N.W., Bradenton, 8 a.m. Adult runners participate in a warm-up and then can run, walk or stroll either a 1.6-mile or 3.2-mile route through the preserve. No reservations required.

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

Face masks required.

First Saturday Cleanup, Coquina Beach, 2650 Gulf Drive S., Bradenton Beach, 9-11 a.m. Register at www. manateebeautiful.com or email keep@ manateebeautiful.com.

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Easter sunrise service set to return in 2021 HOLMES BEACH – Commissioners agreed in a four-to-one vote, with Commissioner Jim Kihm dissenting, to allow this year’s Easter Sunday sunrise service to take place on the sand at Manatee Beach, with some conditions.

Attendees at the popular service will be required to wear a mask, have their temperature taken upon arrival, access the service through limited points of entry and social distance, staying within their group during the service.

Representing the Kiwanis Club of Anna Maria Island, Bradenton Beach Mayor John Chappie said the group will make sure masks are made available to those who do not arrive with one and attendees are instructed to social distance and wear masks throughout the service. He said plans are underway to broadcast the popular religious service online and that an online giving option will be available for those who do not wish to contribute in person during the event.

The service begins on the beach before sunrise, ending just as the sun breaks the horizon on Easter Sunday, April 4 this year. Representatives from all six Anna Maria Island churches traditionally participate in the service. All money collected from the service is divided equally between the Island churches and the Kiwanis Club to cover the expenses of the event.

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FEBRUARY 3, 2021

Bali Hai site plan review hits a snag Commissioners have more questions for the owner of the Bali Hai that need to be answered before they’ll consider approving the submitted site plan review.

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

HOLMES BEACH – City commissioners are willing to go to the table with the owner of the Bali Hai Beach Resort, but they still have questions about the submitted site plan currently under review.

Issues between the resort’s owner, local developer Shawn Kaleta, and the city arose in 2020 when code compliance officers and the building official discovered unpermitted work being done on the property along with a bar and lounge being operated without a site plan approval from the city. Despite a stop-work order,

a pending case in Manatee County Circuit Court and an ongoing code compliance case before the special magistrate, photos presented to city commissioners during a Jan. 26 work session show that construction work continued at the property along with the continued operation of the bar and lounge area.

Assistant City Planner Austen Dole presented the proposed site plan amendment given to the planning and building departments by Bali Hai representatives, noting that in addition to the other unpermitted areas, two small spa service rooms had been constructed in the laundry building, also without permits from the city.

While the site plan is being considered by city leaders, Dole said staff recommends that all operations on the property cease until the proper permits can be approved. Despite the argument submitted by the

KRISTIN SWAIN | SUN

Issues between the owner of the Bali Hai and city leaders are still outstanding despite ongoing code compliance hearings, a civil lawsuit and a site plan review. resort’s representatives, City Planner Bill Brisson said that in records dating as far back as 1998 he couldn’t find any prior use of a bar or lounge existing on the property.

Attorney Erica Augello said that part of the issue is that the bar and lounge area is still operating despite the ongoing litigation and code violations.

ICES ANY HAPPY HOUR PR

Mayor Judy Titsworth said she wanted commissioners to go ahead and start the site plan review process to hopefully bring a quick conclusion to the issues between the city and resort owner. To that end, she encouraged commissioners to carefully consider the site plan presented, what questions they have for the resort’s represen-

tatives and what conditions they would like to apply to the site plan approval, such as not allowing wedding festivities, including receptions, to take place at the Bali Hai due to its location amidst residential properties along Gulf Drive.

“We do want him to be successful,” Titsworth said of Kaleta and his venture with the Bali Hai, “but we do want him to play by the same rules everyone else plays by.” She noted that the property has repeatedly been in violation of city codes since Kaleta took over as owner.

City Attorney Patricia Petruff recommended commissioners submit their stipulations for site plan approval to city staff to be written up in some form for discussion at a future work session. Commissioners agreed to readdress the issue at their Feb. 23 work session. No representatives from the Bali Hai were present during the Jan. 26 work session meeting.

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Dogs on beaches concern city officials City ordinance prohibits dogs on public beaches, but service dogs are an exception.

BY JOE HENDRICKS

SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA – Dogs on the beach are a growing concern in Anna Maria.

City officials believe the steady stream of tourists, the lack of verification requirements for service dogs and dog-friendly sheriff’s deputies are contributing factors.

Mayor Dan Murphy initiated discussion on these topics during the Thursday, Jan. 28 city commission meeting. He told the commission he started getting more complaints about dogs on beaches in October and asked the Anna Maria Unit of the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office to increase its enforcement efforts.

“We get complaints, and the complaints are escalating,” Murphy said, noting they’re not all coming from the same people.

As a result of Thursday’s discussion, the city commission informally asked Murphy to put together a proposal detailing the potential cost of using code enforcement officers employed directly by the city to enforce the city’s dog-related regulations.

CITY ORDINANCES

According to Sec. 38-28 of the city ordinances, “It shall

be unlawful for the owner or keeper of any domestic animal to allow such animal on any beaches, coastal barrier sand dunes or parks located within the city limits.”

According to Murphy, this includes the beach at Bayfront Park and the public beach areas near the City Pier.

The ordinance does not prohibit keeping a domestic animal on private beach property, as long as it isn’t allowed to stray onto public beaches, coastal barrier sand dunes or parks.

According to Sec. 14-61, “The owner or custodian of a dog or cat must have direct control of such animal at all times.”

According to Sec. 14-62, “Any feces deposited by a dog or cat on public property, public walks, recreation areas or the private property of others must be immediately removed by the person who has custody or control of the animal, unless otherwise authorized by the property owner.”

SERVICE DOGS AND PHOTOGRAPHS

When addressing the commission, Murphy said, “Part of the problem with this is if it’s a service dog there’s nothing that can be done about a dog on the beach. Under the law, the only thing that’s required is for the person to say it’s a service dog. It doesn’t have to have a license. You don’t have to have a little jacket on it. You don’t have to have anything.

dog that’s just good public relations. My perspective is different than that. Perception becomes reality. If the perception is that we’re allowing dogs on the beach because we have a deputy having their picture taken with a dog, then to me that exacerbates it. I can pursue this further with the sheriff and see if we can have a change of heart in that regard, if that’s what the commission is interested in,” Murphy said.

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

The beaches near the City Pier are among the public places where dogs are not allowed.

The word has gotten out, so everything’s a service dog.”

He then deferred to Commissioner Deanie Sebring, whose diabetic alert dog, Humphrey, is carried in a pouch worn around her chest and torso.

Sebring said the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) does not require the dog owner to carry a card or the dog to wear a vest that designates it as a service dog.

“They don’t want a disabled person to be singled out by your dog actually having a vest or a card,” Sebring said, noting that she carries such a card.

“The only way a service dog can be asked to leave is if it’s behaving in a manner that’s not acceptable. If the dog is behaving, there really is nothing that anyone can do about it. As far as comfort dogs, I believe that’s

a whole different situation.

But there again, it’s someone’s word the police officer has to take,” Sebring said.

Murphy said a new and additional complaint has also recently surfaced: He’s now getting complaints about sheriff’s deputies posing for photos with dogs on the beach, and he’s been asked what signal that sends to others.

“They must come to a conclusion that it’s OK to have a dog on the beach because they’re taking a picture with the deputy,” Murphy said.

Murphy said he discussed this with Anna Maria Unit leader Sgt. Brett Getman.

“He feels very strongly that the people are doing nothing wrong because it’s a service dog. And if they ask for a picture on the beach with a

CANINE CONCERNS

“There’s no bad dogs, there’s only bad people. And bad people don’t pick up their dog feces.” Commissioner Jon Crane said. “Dog feces is one of the two reasons you don’t want dogs on the beach.

The other is they might bite people.”

Crane said he’s not in favor of deputies posing for photos with dogs on the beach, and he’d like to see the sheriff’s office take this entire matter more seriously, but he doesn’t want to pick a fight with the city’s contracted law enforcement agency.

“I wouldn’t mind tripling the fines for people that don’t pick up their dog poop,” he added.

Later in the discussion, Crane said, “I had an experience walking my dogs across the roadside edge of Bayfront Park, which I guess is SEE DOGS, PAGE 27

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NEWS BRIEFS County still seeking beach parking HOLMES BEACH – Mayor Judy Titsworth said she’s been in talks with Manatee County officials and while they’re still seeking additional beach parking in Holmes Beach, she’s not willing to budge on keeping the majority of the city’s residential street parking closed to the public.

Titsworth told commissioners on Jan. 26 that she had spoken with Manatee County Administrator Cheri Coryea and Director of Parks and Natural Resources Charlie Hunsicker about beach parking.

She said the county representatives asked for 700 more spaces in addition to the ones currently available, however, she said she’s unwilling to give the public more parking spaces in residential areas. She suggested the county purchase property near county-maintained public beaches where restroom facilities exist and lifeguards are stationed to facilitate additional parking.

“They need to figure out something else other than spreading

parking into our residential neighborhoods,” Titsworth said.

While some city streets near the beach are residential permit parking only daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., there are still some streets where public parking is allowed, along with the parking available at street end beach accesses and Manatee Beach.

Help fund the treehouse’s defense Treehouse owner Lynn TranHazen has launched an online fundraiser to help fund the legal defense of her beloved beachfront treehouse. The treehouse, located on the sand in front of Angelinos Sea Lodge in Holmes Beach, has long been the subject of litigation between city leaders, who want to have the unpermitted two-story structure removed, and TranHazen and her husband Richard Hazen, who want to keep the treehouse for personal use. Using a GoFundMe page, the couple is now trying to help raise $200,000 toward the legal fees associated with the ongoing case. Currently, there are four cases concerning the treehouse in Manatee County District Court, one appeal in the

Florida Second District Court of Appeals and the couple is appealing to the United States Supreme Court to hear their case. Previously, the court refused to hear the treehouse case. The online fundraiser, first begun in 2013, is still ongoing at https://www. gofundme.com/f/rights-of-treehou se?qid=371b426e34042bd4e2536 18c0ed68e01. As of press time for The Sun, $1,550 had been donated to the cause.

County commissioners appoint two TDC members Manatee County commissioners have appointed two members to the county Tourist Development Council. One opening was for an elected official from the city of Bradenton. Bradenton Mayor Gene Brown was unanimously approved to remain on the TDC for another term. The second position was open for a local hotelier, with Rahul Patel being selected from a pool of five applicants to fill an unexpired term ending June 30, 2021. Patel operates a four-bedroom rental in Lakewood Ranch as Wisdom Group, Inc. Each TDC member is a volunteer and serves a four-year term.

FEBRUARY 3, 2021

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SUBMITTED | HOLMES BEACH CODE COMPLIANCE

Tennis team helps clean up Island beaches The ladies of the State College of Florida Manatee-Sarasota women’s tennis team joined Holmes Beach Code Compliance Officers and representatives from Keep Manatee Beautiful on the sand in Holmes Beach Jan. 29 to help clean trash and debris from the beach. The group cleared 54 pounds of trash from the city and beach.

Commissioners approve wheel-locking device fee

‛S YOUR COMFORT ZONE? WHERE

HOLMES BEACH – Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the first reading of an ordinance assigning fees to the removal of wheel-locking devices, commonly known as boots, in the city.

Previously, commissioners approved the use of wheel-locking devices on vehicles with three or more unpaid parking tickets or on illegally parked golf carts where the owner of the vehicle cannot be readily identified by police officers. Now, if the ordinance determining fees passes a

second and final reading at the next city commission meeting, anyone who finds a wheel-locking device on their vehicle will also have to pay a fee to have it removed.

Chief Bill Tokajer recommended $50 as the fee to remove the device. Parking tickets in the city for illegally parked vehicles were previously raised from $50 to $75. He added that he’s sent a proposal to the mayor’s office for consideration for a system that would allow officers to know almost instantly if a vehicle has

associated outstanding parking tickets. To have the boot taken off, all outstanding parking tickets would have to be paid along with the $50 removal fee. The wheel-locking device placement applies to all vehicles with three or more outstanding parking tickets from Jan. 1, 2020, through the present and all future tickets.

Commissioners are expected to cast a final vote on the ordinance determining fees when they next meet on Feb. 9.

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Magnolia Avenue intersection presents safety concerns On Friday, the Public Works Department trimmed some of the landscaping that was creating visibility issues at the intersection.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA – Anna Maria resident Tim Donnar and his wife, Kathy, are concerned about the visibility at the corner of Magnolia Avenue and South Bay Boulevard.

Donnar shared his concerns with the Anna Maria mayor and commissioners on Thursday, Jan. 28.

Commissioners Joe Muscatello and Deanie Sebring also expressed concerns about the view-obstructing landscaping along Magnolia Avenue on the corner lot of a residential property at 301 South Bay Blvd.

“Magnolia’s got to be one of the busier streets on the Island,” Donnar told the commission. “It’s a cut-through street.

It’ll take you right to Bay, so when you’re heading east toward the water, right before you come to the stop sign, you can’t see anybody coming down Bay that’s

walking on the sidewalk. That intersection is way overgrown.”

He said there have been several occasions when pedestrians have unexpectedly walked in front of his vehicle there.

“I practically took out a family of five the other night because they just came out of nowhere. And when it gets darker it’s worse. Something really needs to happen,” he said.

Donnar said residents familiar with that intersection know to approach with caution, but others may not. He suggested a concave mirror or mirrors be placed there as a temporary or permanent fix.

“I’d hate to see somebody get hurt,” he said.

“I’ll take care of it,” Mayor Dan Murphy said.

Later in the meeting, during his commissioner’s report, Muscatello said, “I’d like to echo the comments we got from Mr. Donnar.”

Regarding Magnolia Avenue, Muscatello said, “We need to look at a longterm plan on what we’re going to do with that street because it’s getting worse by the day. There are tourists walking up and down, babies in strollers, bikes and every other type of rolling apparatus you can image there. I got hit by a car

GOOGLE MAPS | SUBMITTED

Some of the landscaping at the Magnolia Avenue/South Bay Boulevard intersection impeded visibility. on Magnolia. I keep saying it and then I say it again. What can we do as a mayor and commission do to help that out, even temporarily?”

Muscatello said he’d like to engage in a broader Magnolia Avenue discussion at a future meeting.

Commissioner Jon Crane said the city’s planning and zoning board could probably come up with some helpful suggestions.

“That might be a good starting point,” Murphy said.

Muscatello said he’s not looking for pie-in-the-sky solutions but making Magnolia Avenue a one-way street and/ or adding sidewalks might be part of the solution.

Sebring said the corner needs a quick fix right now.

“There’s definitely a problem with the road, but on the corner, it’s a code violation. These people have built sand dunes up to the sidewalk,” she said, noting some of the plantings are at least four feet tall.

“It’s an eyesore and you cannot see past it in any direction. It’s a death trap.

It needs to be cleared,” she added.

Murphy said he would have the code enforcement department take a look at it, and he noted city code contains criteria on corners and intersections.

“They need to push that back the way it’s really supposed to be. I can see somebody getting hurt or killed there,” Sebring said.

The following day, Public Works Department personnel took temporary corrective actions that included trimming back the grasses and palm trees, cleaning and sweeping the road and sidewalk and removing the lower limbs from the sea grapes to create better visibility at that intersection.

Public Works Manager Jones advises anyone else with intersection visibility concerns or other public safety concerns to contact the mayor’s office.

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FEBRUARY 3, 2021

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THE SUN

OUTDOORS

FEBRUARY 3, 2021

Reframe adversity as opportunity Reel Time RUSTY CHINNIS

O

n those winter days when fronts blow away your fishing adventures, turn those lost opportunities into future successes. Reframe the disappointment into an opportunity by using your “found” time to sharpen your game. Reorganize your tackle, and make sure all systems are in perfect order when conditions improve. This is the perfect time to service your outboard, trailer and all the other myriad components that combine for success.

Check all rods and reels for signs of wear and tear, clean fly lines and maybe even spool on some fresh line. This is a chance to correct mistakes before they happen. There’s nothing more frustrating than finally getting on the water, hooking a good fish and losing it to a sticking drag, dull hook or frayed line. Sitting down and making a checklist can help with the organiza-

tion process and assist you in remembering those items that might get overlooked.

Starting with the tackle box or tackle system, go through and make note of any lures or flies that you haven’t used. Put them in a backup box or throw them away. Especially look for corrosion on hooks. It might not be apparent, but even a spot of rust might be a harbinger of disaster. More than once I’ve watched a fish eat my fly, wonder why I missed the hookup only to find the hook was broken.

In the scheme of things, line is inexpensive and warrants a close look. If you have any question about wear and tear or are considering making changes to a new line, this is a good time to take the plunge.

Generally, with spinning tackle, it’s only a small amount of line that sees the light of day.

It’s a good idea to check

line carefully for nicks, corrosion or other signs of wear. If you have any question at all about the condition of the line, change it. It’s probably the cheapest and one of the most important pieces of the equation.

Even if you wash your tackle after every use, it’s a good idea to unspool a couple of hundred feet of line to check for any issues. There’s a good chance that the fresh water you used didn’t penetrate deep into the line or backing. When you do wash tackle, it’s a good idea to use a light stream of water rather than a sharp spray. The water pressure can actually drive salt into the remaining line on the spool.

Reels should be thoroughly cleaned and lubricated once or twice a year depending on how much they’re used. Rod maintenance should include a wipe down with silicone on a clean rag and a close inspection and cleaning of ferrules and reel seats. Make sure to check guides closely for any sign of nicks or cracked ceramic inserts.

I like to lightly sand cork grips to remove the dirt

RUSTY CHINNIS | SUN

On cold and windy days, I take the opportunity to replenish my fly box. and oils that can make them slick and hard.

No matter how good you are about maintaining your gear, a close look at all systems is advisable. It might just reveal an overlooked element. Think of those cold windy days as a prelude and a vital part of your future fishing success.

Today’s adversity can equal the opportunity of a lifetime.

FEBRUARY 3, 2021

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19

Look for shallow water reds, trout this month CAPTAIN RICK GRASSETT

Trout and redfish should be good shallow water options this month. You may also find trout along with blues, Spanish mackerel, pompano and flounder on deep grass flats. Look for sheepshead, flounder, reds and more around docks. Catch and release snook fishing at night around lighted docks in the ICW may be a good option if it’s not too cold. Spanish and king mackerel and cobia may show up in the coastal Gulf by the end of the month.

Snook, reds and spotted seatrout remain closed to harvest on the west coast of Florida. The Florida FWC has extended a temporary modification of regulations for reds, snook and trout, in the areas affected by the recent red tide. The area extends from Pasco County, south to the south bank of Gordon Pass in Collier County. Reds, snook and trout are catch and release only in that zone until May 31, 2021.

Full details including exact boundaries can be found at https://myfwc.com/ news/all-news/extended-cnr-220/.

Since snook are temperature sensitive, I won’t target them following strong fronts when water temperatures dip below 60 degrees. However, I have had some great night trips catching and releasing snook on flies in the ICW at night this time of year. Since larger baitfish aren’t that plentiful this time of year, snook will gorge themselves on glass minnows and shrimp. Small white flies, like my Grassett Snook Minnow, DOA Shrimp (3” or the newer 2-3/4”), DOA Tiny TerrorEyz or CAL Jigs with shad tails and jerk worms will all work well.

You may also find snook in rivers, creeks or canals this month. Fishing may be good in these areas on a blustery day when it isn’t fit to fish anywhere else. I like wider profile flies and lures in these areas due to the baitfish that may be found there. Fly anglers should score with wide profile baitfish patterns, such as Lefty’s Deceiver, fished on a sink tip fly line.

CAPTAIN RICK GRASSETT | SUBMITTED

Tripletail may be an option during February depending on conditions. Martin Marlowe, from NY, caught and released this 14-lb tripletail on a Grassett Flats Minnow fly while fishing the coastal gulf with Capt. Rick Grassett in a previous February.

Spin anglers should do well with CAL jigs and 4” swim baits and jerk worms, DOA Baitbusters or suspending plugs.

Fish the deep spots, usually on outside bends, for the best action.

You might find reds in potholes or along the edges of bars and shallow flats when the tide is low. As the tide rises, they will feed higher on shallow flats, particularly on sunny afternoons. I like 1/16-ounce CAL jigs with shad tails or jerk worms for reds in shallow water. If it is too shallow or grassy to fish an exposed hook, a Mustad or Owner weedless hook will allow you to fish plastic baits in these areas. Fly anglers should score with lightly weighted flies, like Clousers or my Grassett Flats Minnow, with weed guards on floating lines with 10’-12’ leaders. You may also find big trout in skinny water in the same places you find reds. The same lures, flies and techniques that you use to target reds will work for big trout in those areas. I release all over slot trout since they are usually females and I feel that they are important to the health of our trout fishery.

You’ll find trout on deep grass flats. I like flats that have a good mix of grass and sand and good tidal flow. Flats that are close to passes are often good choices since water temperatures may be warmer there. Following fronts, silted up water will cover deep grass flats close to passes, often affecting fishing in those areas. Other good grass flats may be on points or around bars.

I like to drift and cast ahead of my drift with CAL jigs and a variety of plastic tails, DOA Deadly Combos or weighted flies on sink tip fly lines to locate trout.

Once you’ve located them you can shorten your drift or anchor on them.

In addition to trout, you may also find blues, Spanish mackerel, flounder or pompano, depending on water temperature and conditions, on deep grass flats. The technique to find them is the same as for trout, although there may be other clues. Pompano may “skip” on the surface when you drift or run past them giving their presence away. When that happens, set up a drift upwind of where you saw a pompano and cast

ahead of your drift. Blues and Spanish mackerel may force bait out of the water or feed on the surface. You may need to add heavy fluorocarbon or wire when blues and mackerel are mixed with trout on deep grass flats.

Fishing docks is another good option this time of year, especially when the tide is low. You might find reds, sheepshead or flounder under docks.

I like docks that are deep (3’ or more) and have a good tidal flow. Fish the end of long piers to find the deepest water.

Also, look for big boats moored on docks or on boat lifts, which is also an indication of deeper water. Older docks with lots of barnacle and oyster growth usually hold more baitfish and predators. I like CAL jigs with shad tails, grubs or jerk worms or weighted flies fished on sink tip fly lines when fishing docks. Be sure to let your jig or fly get down close to the bottom.

There may be some action in the coastal gulf by the end of the month with Spanish mackerel and cobia.

When the water warms to the high 60s to low 70s, these fish will move into our area from the south as they migrate north. Look for Spanish mackerel on the surface or in passes. Cobia may be swimming on the surface, around buoys, channel markers and crab trap floats or over structure. Tripletail may also be an option during warm ups in the coastal Gulf.

February can be a tough month to fish. With frequent fronts and cool water, fish aren’t always in an eating mood. If you’re able to pick good tides combined with favorable weather conditions, you should be successful. If you don’t have that luxury, you might do better by sleeping in and fishing later in the day when it’s warmer. Our natural resources are under constant pressure from red tides fueled by agricultural, industrial and residential runoff, freezes, increasing fishing pressure and habitat loss and degradation, please limit your kill, don’t kill your limit!

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FEBRUARY 3, 2021

Explore Robinson Preserve’s new section

BY CINDY LANE SUN STAFF WRITER | clane@amisun.com

BRADENTON – A new section of Robinson Preserve is now open for exploration at the southern entrance to the preserve, 10299 Ninth Ave. N.W. County officials celebrated with a ribbon cutting on Friday, Jan. 29, with Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources Director Charlie Hunsicker presiding.

"Bringing the last phase of environmental construction to completion at Robinson Preserve meets a pledge we make every day to our community to prioritize environmental restoration and MANATEE COUNTY | SUBMITTED coastal water quality improveThe rehabilitated habitat at the new Robinson Preserve section is now home to 2,000 ment in ways that allow the public juvenile redfish, released at the ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday. to renew their connections with nature, reaffirm their own health canopy zone - an elevated sidefamily using a monetary pledge and wellness and proudly share walk in the trees - new pavilions, from the Mosaic Company Founthese experiences with family, restrooms, kayak storage tubes, dation of $3.2 million. friends and visitors from around benches and trailside shade strucRobinson Preserve opened to the world," he said. tures. the public in 2007 after habitat After the ribbon cutting, 2,000 The $5.65 million project began improvements were made to the juvenile redfish were released into in 2012 with a donation of the 150- original 482 acres. With the new a nearby rehabilitated habitat by acre expansion parcel to Manatee section and the addition of the the Coastal Conservation AssoCounty from the Conservation Winston tract in 2016, the preserve ciation Florida and Duke Energy Foundation of the Gulf Coast, now exceeds 684 acres.

Mariculture Center. which acquired the land at a The preserve is open seven days The new section features a discounted rate from the Robinson a week from 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

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21

City leaders still unsure about mini reef project The Center of Anna Maria Island’s mini reef environmental project appeared on the Holmes Beach commission’s Jan. 26 work session meeting agenda.

After discussing possible participation in the project by installing several of the artificial mini reefs created by Ocean Habitats at city property underneath city-owned docks, commissioners are still unsure that they want to support the initiative. After hearing from Director of Development Services Eran Wasserman and receiving an update from staff at The Center, commissioners agreed to wait until more information is available on the environmental research being considered for the mini reefs before further considering the project. It’s expected to be addressed again at a future work session.

Public input sought for vacant pier building The city of Anna Maria will host a special meeting on the City Pier on Wednesday, Feb. 10 at 1:30 p.m.

The public meeting will take place on the pier, inside the vacant city-owned building to be discussed. City officials seek public input on the future use of the pier building that still remains vacant. Potential options include a full-service restaurant to accompany the neighboring City Pier Grill, a retail operation and/ or a Mote Marine learning lab.

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REAL ESTATE

FEBRUARY 3, 2021

Real estate outside the box

he first time I heard the expression, “think outside of the box,” was in a real estate seminar when I first moved to Florida. It’s a thought process that can be applied to almost anything in life, from romance to home renovations. But in the real estate market we’re currently in, it has a whole different meaning.

Buyers are in the most challenging real estate market in decades. The severe shortage of inventory is pushing sale prices so far up that many buyers ultimately get eliminated. Even buyers who are well qualified to purchase at higher prices are being outbid on multiple home offers. With the competition fierce, every buyer is looking for an edge, and some are very creative.

Not too many years ago, buyers who wanted to take that extra step in enhancing their offer would write a personal letter to the seller complimenting their lovely home and making their case for why this is the perfect fit for them and their family. Well,

Castles in the Sand LOUISE BOLGER not anymore. Now, buyers are structuring clever ways to make their offers more appealing to sellers. Sometimes, this creativity is sparked by memorabilia around the home or other subtle indications of the seller’s personalities. Buyers have used videos, a promise of donations to favorite charities and even offers with a numeric sequence that will appeal to the seller.

Is any of this worth a try? Maybe - appealing to individual egos and sentimentality can’t hurt. But it still all boils down to money, and no matter how you dress up your offer, unless it’s competitive in price and terms, chances are it won’t make a difference.

Speaking of money, our hot market is spurring a number of bidding wars all around the country. Ken Johnson, a real estate economist at Florida Atlantic University, warns getting caught up in a bidding war and buying at the top of the unusual market we are currently in could be a mistake, especially if your purchase is not a long-term investment.

However, most real estate professionals believe this seller’s market still has a long way to go, assuming interest rates stay down, which is predicted based on signs from the Federal Reserve. Most economists believe long-term shortages will continue, but even if inventory starts to go up as the virus stabilizes, there is still plenty of pent-up buying energy to sustain the market for a long time.

Nevertheless, trying to win in a bidding war takes a lot of due diligence to verify your over-asking offer is the right thing to do. Study up on recent sales and potential changes to the area and calculate how

much work the home will need; it is easy to get taken over by the frenzy.

On the other hand, if you’re stepping back from improving your offer because you think the house may come back on the market, think again. There is not too much of that happening, especially since there is an abundance of cash offers. The Manatee County sales statistics for December showed an increase of 44.1% in cash offers for single-family homes from last year and 19.5% for condo sales. So, if your hope is that the property will not appraise for mortgaging purposes because there aren’t comparable properties available, you will probably be disappointed.

Real estate buying is all about finding the right balance. Do not be afraid to walk away if a particular property isn’t working for you. Sometimes you have to kiss a lot of frogs before one turns into a prince.

Outside the box thinking has never been so important. Stay safe.

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FEBRUARY 3, 2021

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Tourism numbers up but recovery far from over Manatee County tourism numbers for 2020 ended lower than the previous year, but trends are showing a rebound heading into 2021.

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

MANATEE COUNTY – There’s good news and bad news for business owners in local tourism. While the numbers are up, there’s still a long way to go along the road to recovery from the effects of COVID-19.

During the Feb. 1 Manatee County Tourist Development Council meeting, Anne Wittine of Research Data Services presented preliminary end-of-year numbers for 2020 with a look at what trends she’s seeing in Manatee County tourism for the beginning of 2021.

While the number of visitors and nights stayed in local lodging were both down at the end of 2020 compared to the end of 2019, she said a year with COVID-19 has increased the number of visitors to Manatee County from other areas of Florida by 58.1% over the previous year. By the end of December, Wittine said that out-ofstate tourism has rebounded enough that the division between out-of-state visitors and Florida visitors is about even at 49% and 51% respectively.

“It’s an encouraging sign, but we still have a long way to go,” she said.

Another promising note, Wittine said, is that more lodging establishments are seeing visitors coming from typical snowbird markets, including New York state and Michigan, though at a slower rate than the previous year. And while she said the snowbirds are slow to come back in January, lodging manag-

ers are reporting better reservation numbers for March.

In updating TDC members on the visitor sentiment survey, she said that while positive responses decreased in December, they increased in January, something she thinks is tied to increased reservation cancellations in December by people who made holiday travel plans but decided they couldn’t make it.

One way to help increase tourism to the area, Wittine suggested, is to utilize social media channels to help get the word out that the Manatee County area and its attractions are open to visitors.

With all of the lockdowns occurring across the globe, Wittine said her research shows that many people don’t feel comfortable traveling because they don’t believe that the things they want to experience at their destination are open. She recommended tourism

industry stakeholders take to social media to show visitors what kind of experience they can have in the Manatee County area.

Elliott Falcione, director of the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, said that with air travel traffic picking up at the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport, another way to help bring tourists back to the area may be to push the use of the airport as a primary travel hub. He said that while the airport is now home to many direct flights and airlines including Delta, Frontier, American Airlines, Allegiant and Southwest, among others, many travelers still view it as a high cost regional airport. He suggested industry leaders work to help change the public perception of the airport by encouraging tourists to book flights through SRQ.

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THE SUN

FEBRUARY 3, 2021

Chamber awards trolley grants to nonprofits

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

CORTEZ – During the January business card exchange event, members of the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce also gathered together to celebrate the efforts of local nonprofits and give back to the community.

Known locally as the Trolley Grant Awards, the 2020 Giving Back Grant honored nine Anna Maria Island nonprofit organizations – All Island Denominations, Anna Maria Island Art League, Anna Maria Island Concert Chorus and Orchestra, Anna Maria Island Historical Society, Anna Maria Island Privateers, Artist’s Guild Gallery of Anna Maria Island, Kiwanis Club of Anna Maria Island, Rotary Club of Anna Maria and The Center of Anna Maria Island.

Chamber members and award recipients gathered Jan. 28 at the Neptune Room above Seafood Shack in Cortez to enjoy drinks, appetiz-

KRISTIN SWAIN | SUN

The recipients of the 2020 Giving Back Grants, or the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce’s Trolley Grant Awards, gathered with Chamber members Jan. 28 at the Neptune Room above the Seafood Shack in Cortez. ers and a little socially distanced fun before the awards were handed out.

The grants are offered to local nonprofit organizations with money generated from advertising on the Island trolley, which also helps to keep ridership free on the trolleys. In 2020, more than 311,000

riders took the Island trolley and $23,531 was given back to the community in the form of grant funds.

Since the inception of the grant program, more than $398,000 has been given back to local nonprofit and not-for-profit organizations on the Island and in Cortez.

Dredging, renourishment begins at Greer Island Greer Island, also known as Beer Can Island, is growing due to the Greer Island Canal dredging project. The dredging will restore shallow access to Greer Lagoon and make the 30- by 300-foot channel 3 feet deep, according to the Town of Longboat Key. The dredged sand is being placed on Greer Island, east of the Longboat Pass bridge. Construction is expected to continue through March.

CINDY LANE | SUN

www.amisun.com

FEBRUARY 3, 2021

THE SUN

25

Center hopes to begin hosting concerts again The Center would need a city commission-approved special event permit to resume its concert series.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

ANNA MARA – The Center of Anna Maria wants to begin planning and hosting its fundraising concerts again.

In doing so, The Center would be partnering once again with the Manatee County Tourist Development Council.

Anna Maria Commissioner Mark Short, who serves as the commission’s Center liaison, shared this news during the commission’s Thursday, Jan. 28 meeting.

“The Center has, as one of its many fundraisers, sponsored concerts in the

past. With COVID, there was a timeout that was taken with respect to those concerts. Those concerts are a fairly significant fundraiser for The Center.

The Center had a board meeting on Monday. They want to get back into the concert business. They have the promoter lined up and this is in partnership with Manatee County tourism board,” Short said.

Short said the Center board would like to start planning for future concerts, with the first concert to occur no sooner than May, and perhaps later than that, with more to follow later in the year.

Short said The Center board is open to hosting those concerts in the field outside The Center instead of inside the gym and would also consider attendance limitations.

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

Starship, featuring Mickey Thomas, played The Center in January 2020.

“In order to get the ball rolling on this, you have to make deposits on a lot of different things; and often times you can’t get that money back if the event is canceled. I’ve been asked to get this on the table for the commission to give

thought to your temperature or willingness to entertain The Center starting to have these concerts again sometime in the future,” Short said.

To host a concert, The Center needs a city commission-approved special event permit.

Short said he would like further discussion on this issue placed on the agenda for the commission’s Thursday, Feb. 11 meeting, and he would like to invite Center Executive Director Chris Culhane to provide the commission with more information and insight during that discussion.

Commissioner Joe Muscatello said if the concerts are held outdoors, perhaps they could be held during the day, on a Saturday afternoon. He said there would likely be noise complaints if an outdoor concert took place at night.

Women’s Guild hosts gift basket raffle The ladies of the St. Bernard’s Women’s Guild are inviting everyone to come out and view the 30 spectacular gift baskets available in their Valentine Basket Bonanza and pick up a few tasty baked goods at their Super Bowl Weekend Bake Sale.

Each gift basket, worth at least $100, will be on display at the St. Bernard Activity Center, 248 South Harbor Drive in Holmes Beach, over two weekends, Feb.

6-7 and 13-14, with the baskets being raffled off at noon on Feb. 14. All of the baskets can be viewed online at www.stbernardcc.org and on the church’s social media at www.facebook. com/stbernardcc.

Raffle tickets can be purchased in person on Super Bowl weekend, Feb. 6-7, with sweet and savory baked goods also available for purchase. Hours on Feb. 6 are 2-6 p.m. and 8 a.m. to noon on Feb. 7.

On Valentine’s weekend, raffle tickets will be available with the baskets on display from 2-6 p.m. on Feb. 13 and 8 a.m. to noon on Feb. 14. While the baskets will be raffled on Feb. 14, you do not have to be present to win.

Tickets are $20 for 30, $10 for 13, $5 for six and $1 for one.

All proceeds from the bake sale and ticket sales go to help support the Women’s Guild designated charities in Manatee County.

MELISSA RASH | SUBMITTED

The winner of this raffle basket can make themselves a nice chocolate martini just in time to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

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THE SUN

FEBRUARY 3, 2021

KRUSE: Discloses affair, seeks Coryea’s termination FROM PAGE 5

“First of all I want to be very clear, Carol doesn’t break laws and I’m ethical,” she said.

“I was sent a picture maybe two or three months ago. Mr. Kruse was somewhere with another party. It was really very benign, but everybody’s making a big deal out of it. To me it was nothing. It was just two people sitting there talking.

“When he came by my office one day, I said I want you to know that there’s some people in town that are sending pictures around about you. I said I could care less what you do with your personal life. I said you do have the most powerful job in Manatee County and you’ve got a family.

“So, time passed. I saw the picture and I never did anything with it. So then, I get somehow involved with the other party and I hear it’s all over. Then I see him again and I said I heard everything’s all over and that’s good. He said yep, he’s going to work it out. I said that’s good and that was more or less it,” Whitmore said.

“Mr. Kruse mentioned that I was passing it around the community. Those pictures have gotten around the community. I have had close friends that I said something to and I said it’s over,” Whitmore said.

Regarding Kruse’s use of the word blackmail, Whitmore said, “What you said is a terrible accusation and it’s not true.”

Regarding Coryea’s proposed termination, “To pull Cheri into this? First of all, it’s not related. I asked her, as one of her seven bosses, to pull a meeting together.

She passed it on to our clerk and our agenda coordinator. I asked for her and Jan to be at the meeting and that was it,” Whitmore said.

When contacted Wednesday regard-

ing Kruse’s public statements, McIntosh said, “Carol Whitmore would never engage in blackmail. The allegation is false and, frankly, is slanderous. One hopes that Commissioner Kruse’s comments were an emotionally-charged mistake and it’s too early in the process to make any further determination on whether any next steps will be needed.”

TERMINATION DISCUSSION

Commissioner Reggie Bellamy said the commission’s focus should be on providing COVID-19 vaccinations to county residents, including those in his district.

“Whatever direction we go, with or without the county administrator, what are we going to do about getting these people vaccinated?” he said.

“If we move forward with this, this will be a disruption of business at the highest level,” Servia said. “I’m not just talking about Cheri. We’re talking about the whole structure underneath Cheri. I do understand everybody having an opinion about county leadership, I just ask you to think about the timing of this.”

Sharing a differing opinion, Baugh said, “I don’t believe this affects COVID. I don’t believe this county will not continue to move forward. If that’s the case, we have a bigger problem than we thought. Your county does not run just because of your county administrator. It runs because of all the people, including this board.”

Van Ostenbridge then said, “This board, under this administration, I think is hopelessly divided. I don’t see another path forward other than to part ways with the administrator. When I met with her before (in November), I asked for her resignation and said I would make a motion to honor her severance package if she would resign. I’m still good for my word. If you will offer your resignation,

I will immediately make a motion to honor your 20-week severance package in your contract. You’ve been a longtime employee in this county, 30 years, and I think you’re entitled to that.”

POST-MEETING COMMENTS

After the meeting, Kruse was asked why he acknowledged his affair when addressing his concerns about Coryea and the Jan. 22 meeting.

“There’s two reasons. One, I was looking for a real example of how toxic this culture is. And somebody who literally is sitting on pictures of a sitting commissioner and making veiled threats with these pictures is a toxic culture. The second thing is, she (Whitmore) was starting to spread it around.

“I couldn’t wait three months or six months or a year and be voting on things like Animal Services and vote the same way as Carol. Or I vote something down and so does Carol. I’d never live down that sneaking thought in the back of peoples’ heads that those votes were because of something that was hanging over my head. It’s something I needed to get out anyway. She had information and I don’t know what she was going to do with it.”

Kruse said his female companion and Whitmore communicated during the holidays: “I had the other party to this situation sending me text messages worried that we were being blackmailed or were going to be. That was based on conversations she had with Carol.”

Kruse said Whitmore never showed him the photograph and he had not yet seen it.

“Today was the first time I found out it was in a bar. She had it and never sent me the picture and never told me what it was.

In my mind, that’s something she was holding for herself at some point in time.

Why do I come up here and tell you this private and seemingly unrelated information? Well, because while it was going on, one commissioner, Carol Whitmore, knew about it.”

George Kruse, Manatee County Commissioner

What you said is a terrible accusation and it’s not true.”

Carol Whitmore, Manatee County Commissioner The Sun later spoke with several people who said they have seen the photograph of Kruse and his companion.

Some said they were shown the photograph and others said they received it and deleted it. One person familiar with the photograph said it was taken in late November at Peggy’s Corral, a bar in Palmetto. Another person said additional photos of the couple were taken that day. To date, The Sun has not seen or obtained any of those photos.

FEBRUARY 3, 2021

www.amisun.com

THE SUN

27

DOGS: City officials concerned about dogs on beaches FROM PAGE 11

wrong – I was told it is wrong by a sheriff ’s deputy. They didn’t take a picture with me and they shooed me off of Bayfront Park. So, I don’t know how widespread this is, but they handled me appropriately.”

Commissioner Joe Muscatello asked about the fines for having a dog on the beach or not cleaning up after it. Murphy said he thought those fines were $500 and he noted the fine for not cleaning up after your dog applies anywhere in the city.

Muscatello noted Anna Maria beaches are considered bird and turtle sanctuaries: “If that’s what we’re going to be, then we need to stay true to that. We’re a special beach here and we need to maintain that.”

Crane said he’d like to see more enforcement of the city’s leash law, because a dog on a leash isn’t going to chase down a turtle or a seabird.

Raising another concern, Sebring said she often sees dogs “running amok” on the beach after coming off a boat: “I see them pulling up and they don’t put them on leashes. The dogs run up into the dunes and do whatever.”

Muscatello acknowledged it’s difficult to enforce dogs coming off boats, but he still expects the sheriff ’s deputies to enforce the laws: “We need to make sure we’re not opening this up to be a kennel on the beach.”

COVID AND COSTS

“We have some special issues this year with COVID,” Commission Chair Carol Carter said.

Carter said she’s seen social media posts about vacation rental guests bringing four dogs with them. She believes there are more dogs in Anna Maria now due to travelers driving

-

instead of flying. She also said she hears more dogs barking and sees more dog feces on the ground when she’s out walking.

“I don’t think these are owners or residents with their dogs. I think these are visitors who don’t understand our rules. I would like to see us create a little more awareness than what’s being done by the sheriff,” Carter said.

“If the sheriff doesn’t want to take any further action, I think we ought to consider code enforcement helping with some of this. I’m really concerned about the number of dogs running around on the beach.” Carter said, noting that she loves dogs and has had one most of her life.

Muscatello asked if the vacation rental companies make their guests aware of the city regulations regarding dogs on the beach. Murphy said some do and some don’t. Murphy said that information could be added to the list of best practices already provided to vacation rental guests regarding sea turtle protections, beach lighting restrictions and other local regulations.

Sebring noted the only public beach near Anna Maria Island that allows dogs is off-Island, along the Palma Sola Causeway.

Murphy said if the commission wants to use code enforcement officers to patrol beaches, he could come back with a proposal that details the estimated costs.

“It’s going to take vehicles and it’s going to take more bodies – as long as you understand that up front.

We’re going to need a vehicle that can go on the beach,” Murphy said.

“We have to defend this beach. If that’s what it takes, that’s what it takes,” Muscatello said.

28

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www.amisun.com

FEBRUARY 3, 2021

BridgeWalk resort enforcing reserved parking spaces Three reserved parking spaces for BridgeWalk resort guest check-ins date back to the original development approvals granted in 2000.

The last thing I want to

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amsun.com

BRADENTON BEACH – Drivers should pay close attention to the signs when parking in front of the BridgeWalk resort.

BridgeWalk resort owner Angela Rodocker has received additional assurances from the city regarding her exclusive use of three Bridge Street parking spaces. On Thursday, Jan. 21, the Bradenton Beach City Commission adopted Resolution 21-940, a resolution that codifies in writing the verbal agreement Rodocker and her late mother, Barbara Rodocker, reached with the city regarding the development of the BridgeWalk resort and retail shops in 2000.

The three parking spaces along the 100 block of Bridge Street have long been designated for the exclusive use of BridgeWalk resort guests while checking in, but that exclusive use is often ignored by others in search of a hard-to-find parking space, especially on weekends.

The adopted city resolution now supports and further clarifies the development approvals granted in 2000.

When presenting the resolution to the city commission, City Attorney Ricinda Perry said, “That parking agreement is not a new approval.

That was a use that was already granted and approved verbally but missed somehow – we could arguably state it was scrivener’s error

do is have somebody’s car towed away, but we may have to do it to get the message across.”

Angela Rodocker, BridgeWalk resort owner

ANGELA RODOCKER | SUBMITTED

These signs help designate the BridgeWalk resort’s reserved parking spaces.

– in the final approval prepared by the attorney at that time.”

When addressing the commission, Rodocker said, “The reason this even came up is because I kept having to deal with people parking there. From the very beginning of this, I always believed that BridgeWalk had exclusivity over those three spots, and that’s what I think should be honored.”

Rodocker said some drivers in the community have the wrong impression about the public’s use of the reserved parking spaces along Bridge Street. She said she recently had to call the police in response to a verbal confrontation that ensued with a man who questioned the BridgeWalk parking restrictions.

“My staff has had to deal with this on and off for years, so I want my signage to be strong and I will fulfill it – which means it’s going to be uncomfortable for some local

people for a little while,” Rodocker told the commission.

“There’s been way too many verbal things going on between my staff and people. There’s just so much miscommunication, even for the police department. The guys don’t even know what to do if somebody’s parking there and I call. We just need clarification,” Rodocker said.

Rodocker offered to make the three reserved check-in spaces available to the public during nonpeak hours, similar to the afterhours parking allowances provided at the post office parking lot.

Police Chief Sam Speciale said it would be easier for his officers to enforce a parking prohibition that remains in effect at all times, so the BridgeWalk resort parking restrictions will be in effect 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“That way there’s no question

about what those three places are for. That way Angela doesn’t have to deal with people and it’s easier for us to take care of it,” Speciale told the commission.

The commission unanimously supported the resolution request and the resort’s need for the three reserved parking spaces.

Those who continue to improperly park in the reserved spaces now do so at the increased risk of being ticketed and possibly towed. When contacted later, Rodocker said she’ll soon be adding new signs that reinforce the existing signs that say, “Check-in Parking Only Please.”

“I’m so happy that we’re going to get this resolved. The last thing I want to do is have somebody’s car towed away, but we may have to do it to get the message across,” Rodocker said.

COVID: County skips using state vaccine signup system FROM PAGE 1

Though Manatee County residents can register through the state system to receive a vaccine in another county, registering in the state system will not give access to a vaccine appointment in Manatee County at this time. Wherever you receive your first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine is also where you will have to receive the second dose, as vaccine records do not transfer between counties or agencies.

In Manatee County, vaccine recipients are selected at random each week

from those registered in the vaccine standby pool. Operators then call those selected to set up an appointment. If someone is selected and not available to answer the phone when 311 operators call, they’ll try one more time before putting the name back in the standby pool and selecting another.

Anyone who is unable to book an appointment when called does not need to register a second time in the standby pool as duplicate registrations will be deleted. Couples are allowed to register together and be vaccinated at the same

time as long as both people are eligible to receive the vaccine.

There are still more than 100,000 people registered in the county’s standby vaccine pool.

Manatee County officials announced that 5,100 first vaccine appointments were being made available Feb. 2-5 at Bennett Park, 400 Cypress Creek Blvd. in Bradenton, with 1,700 people being vaccinated each day. Recipients of those vaccines were to be notified Feb. 1 by 311 operators.

During a Jan. 26 commission meet-

ing, Manatee County commissioners voted to send a letter to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office asking to be able to open up the vaccine standby pool to those people under age 65 who have a medical condition which makes them more at risk if they contracted the novel coronavirus. After some discussion, commissioners decided to not try to determine which conditions would make someone eligible to receive the vaccination, leaving it to the governor’s office to determine.

FEBRUARY 3, 2021

FUN IN THE SUN

Across 1 Half of a stiff price to pay 4 Chinese food additive 7 Breed from Honshu 12 Sob story makeup 14 __ Nui: Easter Island 15 Jell-O flavor 16 Food for the kitty?

17 *British-owned American hotel chain 19 Robert the Bruce, for one 20 Speak with style 21 Latin "to be" 22 *Went on foot 24 Boys 26 Actress Longoria 27 Substitute for 30 Cat Deeley's role on "So You Think You Can Dance" 33 *Wind chill factor relative Answers to 01-27-21 Crossword Puzzle.

35 Jobs title, once 36 Represent inaccurately 37 Web access co.

38 *Three-time U.S. Open champion 41 "Semper fidelis" is one 43 Veterans 44 Refuge for couples?

45 Italian automaker 46 *Subject of much debate 51 Golfer's transport 53 Night calls 55 Radius neighbor 56 With "The," one of 50 since 8/21/1959, as hinted at by the answers to starred clues 58 Eyeglass frames 59 Have more People come to the house?

60 City near Anaheim

THE SUN

61 Dueling sport 62 Midler of "Hello Dolly" 63 Leb. neighbor 64 Cap initials at Busch Stadium Down 1 Knee-deep (in) 2 Chop-O-Matic maker 3 Anti-harassment movement 4 New Zealand settler 5 Paint spill sound 6 Stable pace 7 In the style of 8 Entered, as data 9 "That went right over my head" 10 Truckloads 11 Heche of "Psycho" (1998) 13 Fixed charge 14 Valerie Harper sitcom 18 Get rid of 23 Christmas __ 25 Boxer who beat Frazier twice 27 Ball game delayer 28 Tuxedo part 29 Former Canadian MLBer 30 Repeat 31 Happy __ 32 Leading edge of cooler temperatures 33 Cuts down 34 Yale alum

36 Thin soups 39 Peter the Great, e.g.

40 401(k) kin, briefly 41 CT scan relative 42 "Sounds good" 44 Utterly confused

46 White with frost 47 Furry swimmer 48 Berth places 49 Not yet achieved, as a goal 50 Art class item

51 Atkins no-no 52 Toward shelter 54 Some parlors, for short 57 Stun

29

30

THE SUN

CLASSIFIED

ANNOUNCEMENTS BEACH YOGA ON Wednesdays, Saturdays & Sundays at 8:30am at the end of Pine Ave by the Sandbar Restaurant by donation. www.thriveyogafit. com BECOME A CERTIFIED YOGA TEACHER! Heal yourself, your family, and friends. Our program is February 19th- August 1st at Thrive Yoga & Fitness.

Call 570-497-7801 or visit https://www.thriveyogafit. com/ryt200-2021 ANNOUNCEMENT: Who wants to play bridge outside on the patio, or in the park, social distanced and face-masked, Call Kathleen at 314-324-5921 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.

BOATS 1993 26’ BAYLINER DECK BOAT 2002 Mercury outboard 225hp. Two Bimini tops, life jackets included.

No trailer $6500 OBO. Call 941-447-2198

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

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

Call us today! 941-778-3986

FEBRUARY 3, 2021

COMMERCIAL SALES, RENT & LEASE

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

LANDSCAPING & LAWN CARE

4 UNIT RESORT style 4-plex: $1,999,900 Holmes Beach fixer upper with View of beach on Gulf Dr. Duplex Near Beach Totally renovated near Beach $795,000. Island Real Estate Call Alan Galletto 941-232-2216

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

Neil 941-726-3077

R. GAROFALO’S Interlocking brick pavers, driveways, patios, pool decks. Free estimates. Licensed & Insured.

Call Rafael 941-778-4823 or Veronik 941-526-7941

EMPLOYMENT P/T HELP WANTED Yard work. $10 per hour. No smoking/No drinking. Call 941-778-7293 THE AWARD-WINNING ANNA MARIA ISLAND SUN, a weekly newspaper on Florida’s Gulf Coast, (https://amisun. com; www.facebook. com/AnnaMariaIslandSun), is looking for a freelance reporter/ photographer to cover events on this tourismdriven island. The ideal candidate will have reporting and photography experience at a community newspaper and have some experience writing for a news website. Local residents or those with previous local knowledge and willing to relocate here a plus. Resumes and cover letters may be emailed to news@amisun.com or

by U.S. Postal Service to The Anna Maria Island Sun, P.O Box 1189, Anna Maria, FL 34216, attention: Mike Field, publisher.

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

GARAGE, MOVING, RUMMAGE & YARD SALES MOVING SALE 209 76th St, Holmes Beach. February 4, 5 & 6 Thursday, Friday and Saturday. 8am-4pm.

Quality/almost new furniture, household goods, pictures, linens, lamps, accessories and more. Mask required.

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 18 years. Call Neil Cell 941-962-1194 JSAN CORPORATION Renovations Construction & Handyman Services 941-243-0995 Lic# CRC1332505 jsancorporation@gmail. com Flooring, Drywall, Painting, Repairs, Kitchen and Bathrooms, Trim & Doors.

Free Estimates. Credit Cards Accepted.

ISLE TILE EXPERT INSTALLATION of floors, custom showers, backsplash, deck/lanai.

Licensed and insured.

References available.

Call Chris at 941-3028759 please visit website: isletileservices.com

“HAMMERED HOMES” (SAVING HOMES SINCE 1984) Handyman services, renovations. Free Estimates & Consulting. Call before making decision, save money.

941-778-3206 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.

STRAIGHT SHOT LANDSCAPE. Specializing in Old Florida Seashell driveways and scapes. Also Rock, Mulch, & Soil. Free estimates. Call Shark Mark 941-301-6067 ISLAND RESIDENT. TREE/ BUSH Trimming, removal.

Sweeping, blowing, weeding. Weekly, bi-monthly or monthly schedule. Pressure washing: driveways, walkways, fences, pool decks/ cages. 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.

Paperhanging/removal Faux finishes. Interior painting. Mary Bell Winegarden 941-794-0455

PROFESSIONAL PAINTING SERVICES. Prompt & Reliable. Island Resident.

Quality Workmanship.

Interior/Exterior. Also minor repairs & carpentry. Free written detailed estimates. Bill Witaszek 941-307-9315 CUSTOM PAINTING, Residential-Commercial, Interior/Exterior Professional quality work for over 40 years. Free estimates.

Call Larry at 941-400-8754.

References available.

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

POOL SERVICES FOUR SEASONS POOL SERVICE AND CHEMICAL SERVICES. Certified Pool Operator. 10 + Years Experience.

Residential/commercial. Chemical Service Licensed & Insured. Call Dennis Clark 941-7375657 COLE'S TROPICAL POOL SERVICE Call Cole Bowers for all your pool maintenance needs!

Affordable and Dependable!! 941-713-1893

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

REAL ESTATE HOMES & CONDOS FOR SALE GULF FRONT CONDOS Vista Grande, WestWinds– CANAL FRONT HOME Holmes Beach –DUPLEXES & MORE Island Real Estate ASK big Alan Galletto 941-232-2216 IMMACULATE WATERFRONT HOME 520 Kumquat Dr. 4BD/5BA 3928sf Coastal Beauty! Prime location on AMI. $2,750,000 Call Charles Buky Coldwell Banker 941-228-6086 HOLMES BEACH 4BR/3.5BA home for sale. 1 ½ blocks from Beach. $1,399,000. Call 724-263-6390 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

BUYING OR SELLING on AMI? Call Kelly Gitt.

USAF Veteran. Keller Williams Realty today 941-799-9299 FOR SALE BY OWNER Single family home. 2BR/2BA 203 84th St. Holmes Beach. Lot size 9000sf Call 440-983-7232 FOR SALE ADORABLE 2BR/2BA condo in four plex. One block to beach.

Fully furnished with pool.

Two car carport. Brenda Boyd May. Broker Boyd Realty 941-730-8589 3BR/3BA CONDO 396 Aruba Circle unit 302 in Marina Walk in Harbour Isle $749k Call Kelly Gitt Keller Williams Realty 941-799-9299

1973 MOBILE HOME: REMODELED interior 2020, new insulation, vinyl roof with transferable warranty, flooring, windows, kitchen-bath, on-demand hot water unit, exterior doors, window shades and lighting. Fully furnished - dedicated parking space $98,500. (Located the Sandpiper Resort 55+ community co-op mobile home park) No land share. Call Erik for appointment 813-6793561

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.

COZY COTTAGE SANDPIPER 55+ Resort. 1 ½ minute walk to Beach or Bay. 1BR/1BA. Washer/ dryer For Sale or Rent. Call 941251-4767. Leave number on machine.

www.amisun.com

FEBRUARY 3, 2021

BUSINESS & SERVICE DIRECTORY HOME IMPROVEMENT

HOME IMPROVEMENT

THE SUN

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

PAINTING

TRANSPORTATION

RENTALS: ANNUAL FOR RENT: BEAUTIFUL ground level 2BR/2BA in Bradenton Beach. Lovely back patios, outdoor shower, mature landscaping, new appliances, gas stove, off street parking. $2,300, gas & refuse costs included. Dogs OK. $30 nonrefundable background check required. Call Lisa Marie 941-720-6674

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 $700/$800/$900 a wk. redekercondosonami.com Tim 941-704-7525

ANNA MARIA BOOKING 2021 - 2022 winter seasons. Beautiful 2BR/2BA ground level home with carport. 1 1/2 blocks to Gulf. Updated granite counter tops, patio w/outdoor furniture, plantation shutters, flat screen TV's in every room & more. Call 941565-2373

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

941-779-5095 AIRPORT RIDES- Tampa, St. Pete, Sarasota. Mask & gloves provided. Reasonable rates! Call or text Anna 941-932-1600

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THE SUN

www.amisun.com

FEBRUARY 3, 2021