BEACH BEAT

BRADENTON BEACH

6/14, 10:30 p.m., alleged battery, 120 Bridge St. Subject sitting on the patio area of Drift In was allegedly assaulted by an unknown male who was later identified. 6/17, report of stolen property, 2312 Gulf Drive. Beach items taken from parking area at Sunset Terrace.

HOLMES BEACH

6/9, 11:24 p.m., possession of paraphernalia, 3200 Sixth Ave. Suspect found in possession of a marijuana bong and THC wax residue during traffic stop. 6/12, 4:34 a.m., trespass warning, 5909 Flotilla Drive. Complainant said she woke up to unknown subject in her bedroom who appeared to be on some kind of substance, then her husband scared him away. Suspect was located and issued a trespass warning. 6/14, 2:23 a.m., possession of drugs, 4000 Gulf Drive. Four juvenile suspects were found in possession of multiple prescription pills and mushrooms after a traffic stop. 6/16, 12 a.m., possession of marijuana, 3900 Gulf Drive. After hearing a loud “shriek,” officers approached four males to see if they were in danger. They had no ID, but did have marijuana and blunts. They were cited for possession.

The Holmes Beach Police Department responds to a call.

JASON SCHAFFER | SUN

TOURISM: Having some effect on crime

FROM PAGE 1 "We’re also responding to the normal calls for service and doing directed patrols at night," Warren said. "Deputies are constantly reminding people to lock their cars, secure their valuables, and pay attention to the rules of the beach and the posted parking restrictions."

In Holmes Beach, it appears the trend is an increase in crime. Holmes Beach Police Chief William Tokajer said the department has seen a rise in crime over the past two months. The department reports four stolen vehicles over that time compared to one stolen vehicle in all of 2020. The chief also said there were three larcenies, two aggravated assaults and one rape in the month of May alone. For reference, there were no reported rapes in 2020.

“During Memorial Day weekend, we saw 31,000 cars a day cross into Holmes Beach. You have 4,000 of the nicest people in the world here, then on one weekend you add 31,000 cars with two to six people in each car, which means 40,000 or more people in the city, and they are not all welcome guests,” said Tokajer, speaking about visitors who don’t have the best interests of the Island in mind when coming for vacation.

According to Bradenton Beach Detective Sergeant Lenard Diaz, his department has fallen somewhere in the middle. Bradenton Beach has seen a huge influx of visitors since the relaxing of COVID restrictions but officers are generally pleased with the way visitors are behaving when staying in Bradenton Beach.

“We’ve had two or three stolen cars this year, and we normally don’t have any, so yes, there’s been an increase in that," Diaz said. "Burglaries, domestics, I haven’t seen an increase. All of that’s pretty much the same. You can definitely tell when dealing with people that there’s stress in their lives due to all of this, and they’re more likely to go off when we’re dealing with them than before COVID,” said Diaz, adding that his department understands the tension after not being able to travel for a long time.

All three police departments work hard to remind visitors that most crimes on the Island are crimes of opportunity. Simple precautions such as not bringing valuables to the beach, locking your car and room, walking in groups late at night, carrying flashlights during those walks and using common sense will make for a safe and enjoyable day at the beach.

Holmes Beach

commissioners voted to go through with a rezone from C-1 to C-2 of a former bank property to allow for a new Publix retail venture.

BY KRISTIN SWAIN

SUN STAFF WRITER | kswain@amisun.com

HOLMES BEACH – Despite resident protests, it looks like a new Publix liquor store and pharmacy are coming to Anna Maria Island.

During a June 8 meeting, Holmes Beach commissioners three to two, with Commissioners Kim Rash and Jayne Christenson dissenting, to pass the final reading of an ordinance rezoning 503 Manatee Ave., the former Regions Bank building.

The plan is currently for the building to be rehabilitated to provide an expansion for the existing Publix grocery store in Holmes Beach. The former bank property is planned to house a liquor store and a pharmacy with a walking path between the two properties so that patrons can easily access both stores without having to move their vehicles.

Some Holmes Beach residents were not happy with the change with many sending in emails to commissioners asking them to deny the petition to change the zoning on the property from C-1, which is a commercial zone primarily allowing office space, to C-2 which allows for retail and restaurant uses.

Brian Mathae spoke out against the rezone, saying that it sets a precedent in the community to rezone other C-1 properties which would in turn potentially increase the property value and price out other people, such as medical professionals which he said are in short supply on the Island.

Bob Bolls, the owner of the previous Bank of America property, said he thinks the rezone will cause traffic issues. When he purchased his property, he said he proposed to open a branch of his car carrier recovery service there as well as an open pit barbeque restaurant. In his discussions with the city, he said he was greeted with negativity at every turn and eventually dropped his plans, opting to put the property up for sale instead.

While some residents are worried that the rezone of the former Regions Bank property will lead to the installation of a fast food restaurant if plans with Publix fall through, City Attorney Patricia Petruff said that while fast food restaurants without a drive thru would be an allowable use in the C-2 zone, the property would have to go through a site plan approval for the new use along with a traffic study to determine the impact the new use would have on the surrounding area.

Ed Chiles honored at TDC meeting

BY JASON SCHAFFER

SUN CORRESPONDENT jschaffer@amisun.com

BRADENTON - At the conclusion of Monday’s Manatee County Tourism Development Council (TDC) meeting, Chiles Group owner Ed Chiles was honored by the Council for 25 years of service as a TDC member. Several of his employees and friends quietly entered the meeting at the Manatee County Admin Building to be on hand as Chiles was presented with an inscribed compass by Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) Executive Director Elliot Falcione.

“A leader is someone people want to follow. A leader is a great mentor. A leader is a great listener. A leader is someone who steps up in good times and bad. A leader is consistently unselfish, consistently humble, and consistently runs like a John Deer motor,” said Falcione, speaking of Chiles, who he refers to as his mentor.

Chiles is owner of the Chiles Group, who’s restaurants include The Sandbar in Anna Maria, Beach House in Bradenton Beach and Mar Vista in Longboat Key. Chiles is passionate about conservation, especially concerning the area’s water. He is involved with more than a dozen businesses, committees, and organizations involved with conservation of water, marine life, coastline, and red tide prevention. Chiles Group restaurants utilize responsibly sourced local fish and organic produce from their two organic farms: Gamble Creek Farm of Parrish, and 3 Boys Farm of Ruskin.

“If I would have know you were doing this, I wouldn’t have worn shorts,” Chiles joked after being surprised by the TDC, before wiping back a few tears as he thanked his fellow TDC members for the honor.

JASON SCHAFFER | SUN The Manatee County TDC honors Ed Chiles for 25 years of service

PROJECT: County supports Bradenton Beach dock expansion

FROM PAGE 1

The finger docks will extend perpendicularly from the existing floating dock installed in 2019 – and the floating dock will be extended to the east to accommodate additional finger docks. Duncan will also construct the new dinghy dock that will replace the aging dinghy dock near the entrance to the Bridge Street Pier.

Duncan’s bid came in at about $616,000 to $624,000, depending on some additional piling options included in the proposal. Duncan’s bid does not include any additional work on the showers or restrooms.

When presenting the funding request to county commissioners, Mayor John Chappie said the finger docks would increase public dockage near the Bridge Street Pier from seven spaces to 26 or 27 spaces. The existing and soonto-be expanded docking facilities are free to the public on a first-come, firstserved basis, and overnight docking is not allowed.

Chappie said the matching funds would also be used to renovate the existing public shower facilities and increase the size of the public restrooms; and to create a terminal-like area at the entrance to the pier for the Old Town Tram parking shuttles that service the CRA district.

Chappie also mentioned the possibility of a water taxi service someday running from downtown Bradenton to Bradenton Beach.

“There’s been a lot of discussion over the years with regards to a water taxi. Bradenton Beach could be a stop for the water taxi. There will be a space available for that as well,” he said.

COUNTY SUPPORT

“This project is exactly what the county needs because it’s beneficial to all residents of the county,” District 3 County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge said. “You’re inviting day trippers to come by boat to dock at Bridge Street. They can patronize the businesses on Bridge Street, and the Island is thin there so people will easily be able to access the beach from that point. It’s a great way to bring additional visitors into your city without having a major impact on your residents. I’m very pleased with the relationship we have with Bradenton Beach and their efforts to try and be as inclusive as they can, knowing they’re a destination city.”

Commissioner George Kruse then said, “I love this. This is such a great idea and I’m 100% in support of this. This is needed and I appreciate it.”

Commissioner Carol Whitmore noted the county also provided matching funds for the installation of the floating dock.

“This all ties in, we’re just adding more capacity. This is what the tourist tax is about. If we do a water taxi and people are staying in Bradenton they can hop on the (water) taxi at Pier 22 and come on out,” Whitmore said.

“The water taxi would start in downtown Bradenton, utilizing the parking garage,” Chappie said, expressing hope that this might help reduce the number of cars coming to Anna Maria Island.

Regarding the long-desired water taxi service, Commission Chairwoman Vanessa Baugh said, “That should have been done years ago.”

Regarding the dock expansion project, Baugh said, “It’s a great project – and what makes it so great is that the county and the city are working together to make this happen.”

Commissioner Misty Servia chairs the TDC board that serves as a recommending body to the county commission. She noted the TDC board supports the project and the funding request, as does she.

Commissioner James Satcher liked the project so much that he proposed increasing the county funding.

“We should increase it by $282,000. He’s got other things he’s planning on doing, plus he’s got the water taxi,” Satcher said.

Satcher did not provide any documentation to support his proposed $282,000 funding increase.

“That’s not how this works,” Kruse emphatically said of Satcher’s suggestion.

County Attorney Bill Clague advised the commission to simply approve or reject each funding request cited in the proposed county ordinance that also included separate funding requests from the cities of Anna Maria and Holmes Beach.

“I have to advise you against trying to move dollars around. I would ask that you just vote each of these up or down,” Clague said.

Van Ostenbridge made a motion to approve the Bradenton Beach funding request as presented and he rejected Satcher’s efforts to amend the motion to increase it by $282,000. The commission unanimously supported Van Ostenbridge’s motion.

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN At right, the finger docks will increase public docking at the floating dock near the Bridge Street Pier. The aging dinghy dock (above) used by liveaboard and transient boaters will be replaced with a new dock.

I’m very pleased with the relationship we have with Bradenton Beach and their efforts to try and be as inclusive as they can, knowing they’re a destination city.”

Kevin Van Ostenbridge, Manatee County Commissioner

JUNE 23, 2021 FUN IN THE SUN THE SUN 29

Across

1 Pretend to be 4 Center 9 Foot, in zoology 12 "Isn't __ Lovely": Stevie Wonder hit 13 Toyota until 2006 14 Posted 15 Time for an Oktoberfest tradition? 17 Erase 18 Deplorable sort 19 Where to find letters on tracks 21 Medical events in a 1977 Robin Cook thriller 23 Movie about a Jewish wedding staple? 24 Celebrity chef Garten 25 Set of values 28 Thinks intently (over) 29 Impedes, with "up" 31 Paramedic letters 32 Old brew revived in the 2000s 33 Festive Brazilian gathering? 38 Rapper will.__ 39 Stick in a lock 40 Jazz vocalist Laine 42 See 14-Down 45 Charged 47 Reservoir creator 48 One in a line of frolicking sea creatures? 50 Increases, with "up" 52 Creator of a sci-fi "Traveller" 53 Schroeder's toy 55 Getting __ years 56 Wedding reception highlight ... and a feature of four puzzle answers 60 Rolled __ 61 Conceptualize 62 One may be bruised 63 MIT, for one 64 "Cool!" 65 Yang's opposite

Down

1 Nile danger 2 John of "Star Trek" (2009) 3 1967 Etta James hit 4 Target section 5 Nastase on the court 6 Archaeological site 7 Jerks 8 Member of Genghis Khan's horde 9 Write (in) tentatively 10 Ultimate objective 11 Weather headliners 13 Reason 14 With 42-Across, corrosive substances 16 Camping letters 20 Shakespeare's plays are full of them 21 Slangy smoke 22 Heavy weight 23 Glowing barbecue bit 26 Orioles, e.g. 27 Medical care gp. 30 Bits 32 Prefix with sail 34 __ metabolism 35 Recyclable item 36 Source of status 37 Tide table term 41 Sounds heard at an ashram 42 Blessing evokers 43 Colombard grapes product 44 Part of, as a gang 45 Live 46 Sports news 49 Like the Hollow Tree Factory bakers 51 Santa __ 53 Exam for jrs. 54 "Leave __ me" 57 Stephen of "The Crying Game" 58 Movie SFX 59 DMV wait time, seemingly

Answers to 06-16-21 Crossword Puzzle.