Anna Maria Island Sun January 2, 2019

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- Named Best Florida Newspaper In Its Class -

VOL 19 No. 12

January 2, 2019

Red tide gone with the wind KATIE FIELD | SUBMITTED

Tourists flock to Anna Maria Island’s beaches over the weekend now that red tide has dissipated.

The Sun’s Person of the Year: Dan Murphy

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

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – A NOAA scientist’s prediction that recent storms gave red tide a fatal beating appears to be coming true just in time for high tourist season. For the first time in 14 months, no red tide was in the short-term southwest Florida forecast by the University of South Florida/Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Collaboration for Prediction of Red Tides. Another first – red tide was not found in any water samples collected last week in Florida waters except for one in Manatee County – a background concentration at the Palma Sola Bay bridge, according to Friday’s FWC report. Background concentrations of red tide cause no anticipated effects on people or marine life. NOAA oceanographer Rick Stumpf told The Sun last week that the Dec. 20-21 storm would likely break up the bloom that began in southwest Florida in October 2017 and arrived in Anna Maria Island waters on Aug. 3. The bloom rivaled one in 2004-05 that lasted 14 months. Red tide cells crippled by winds gusting to 50 mph and waves cresting at 10 feet would be unable to swim toward nutrients, he predicted, saying, “If we have

Mayor Dan Murphy continues to lead the city’s efforts to build a new Anna Maria City Pier. KATIE FIELD | SUBMITTED

The line for breakfast at the Anna Maria Island Beach Cafe stretches far out onto the sand Christmas morning. a normal winter this year, this will be the end of the bloom.” No fish kills were reported in Manatee County, but respiratory irritation was reported on Dec. 21 and Dec. 25-26 at Manatee Beach, according to the FWC. Florida red tide, or Karenia brevis, is a type of microalgae that emits a neurotoxin when it blooms. Deadly to marine life, red tide also can make shellfish unfit to eat and can cause respiratory irritation in people. Background concentrations of red tide cause no anticipated effects. Very low levels cause possible respiratory irritation. Low levels cause respiratory irritation, shellfish harvesting closures and possible fish kills. Medium levels cause respiratory irritation, shellfish harvesting closures and probable fish kills. High levels cause all the above, plus water discoloration.

INSIDE

DOLPHIN DASH

NEWS 4 OPINION 6 OUTDOORS 18 RESTAURANTS 20-21 ENTERTAINMENT 23 REAL ESTATE 22-27 CROSSWORD 28 CLASSIFIEDS 29-31

founder inspires kids to run. 3

Anna Maria Island, Florida

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA – Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy is The Sun’s 2018 Person of the Year. Working with the City Commission, city staff and outside contractors, Murphy spent much of 2018 working on getting a new Anna Maria City Pier built. Murphy Already due for significant rehabilitation, the aging pier was closed in September 2017 because of damage sustained during Hurricane Irma. In 2018, Murphy secured $750,000 in pier funding from the state legislature, approximately $800,000 from FEMA and $1.8 million from Manatee County, and his pursuit of funding sources for SEE MURPHY, PAGE 27

LOOK back at the Island in 2018 city by city. 4, 5, 11 AQUA by the Bay challenge denied,

may be appealed. 20 The Island’s award-winning weekly newspaper www.amisun.com


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