Anna Maria Island Sun November 3, 2021

- Named Best Florida Newspaper In Its Class -

VOL 22 No. 4

November 3, 2021

Runaway Bay condos hit with huge property insurance increase Property insurance increases could soon be felt by other Anna Maria Island property owners.

BY JOE HENDRICKS

SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

Trunk or Treat time!

MORGAN BRYANT | SUBMITTED

Ryan and Emily Moss and their children, Mason and Miles, set a holiday table for Halloween. More treats and trunks on Page 20.

Commission to reconsider Pine Avenue parking reductions City commissioners unanimously agree on the need for sidewalks, crosswalks and street lighting.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA – City officials are reconsidering the elimination of 53 parallel parking spaces in the Reimagining Pine Avenue project.

During a special commission meeting on Monday, Oct. 25, the divided Anna Maria City Commission reached an initial 3-2 consensus in favor of eliminating 53 parallel parking spaces located in the cityowned rights of way along Pine Avenue. But during the commission’s regular meeting on Thursday, Oct. 28, Mayor Dan Murphy recommended a step-by-step

INSIDE NEWS OUTDOORS CASTLES IN THE SAND OBITUARIES REAL ESTATE SPORTS CROSSWORD

4 18-19 22 25 22-27 28 29

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

The proposed changes are intended to improve pedestrian and bicyclist safety along Pine Avenue. decision-making and implementation process that addresses sidewalks, crosswalks and lighting first SEE PINE AVE, PAGE 27

BRADENTON BEACH – The Runaway Bay Condominium Homeowners Association is experiencing a 337% increase in its annual property insurance premiums, an increase that may eventually be felt by other condo associations, resorts, apartment complexes and single-family homeowners on Anna Maria Island and throughout the state.

Frank Witzmann, president of the condo association, said Runaway Bay’s annual property insurance premiums are increasing from $172,152 to $581,259. The increase has resulted in the association’s monthly assessment fee for a one-bedroom condo unit increasing by about $160 per month per unit, with a two-bedroom unit’s fees increasing by about $220 per month per unit, he said.

“We have flood insurance on seven buildings. A different carrier handles that and the flood insurance doesn’t change until June. This was just the property insurance for our buildings, our roofs, wind damage and stuff like that,” Witzmann said.

“In 2021, that policy was carried by American Coastal.

There were all kinds of rumblings about insurance going up so when we prepared our 2022 operations budget we budgeted for what we heard might be a worst-case scenario: a 20% increase for property insurance. At the end of July, we got a surprise letter of non-renewal from American Coastal. The letter went to our insurance agent, Mike Angers.

“The letter said they were not renewing our property policy because the roofs were in poor condition.

That’s interesting because they’ve never set foot on our roofs. Our roofs were replaced in 2008 and we recently spent $20,000 on maintenance and repairs. The roofing company said our roofs are in good condition. This was an arbitrary decision based on market forces. They put the screws to us and said we’re not going to insure you anymore,” Witzmann explained.

“American Coastal told us their sister company, AmRisc, was going to probably give us a proposal to insure us. We found out later on they were not. Over the next couple months, Mike scoured all the possible standard carriers. Nobody was willing to insure us in a reasonable and affordable manner. Most of them did not want to insure us because we are located on a barrier island, we’re framed construction, we’re two stories on ground level and we were built in 1978. We’ve got five condominium buildings, an operations building and a clubhouse,” Witzmann said.

SEE RUNAWAY BAY, PAGE 24

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NOVEMBER 3, 2021

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LSV talks proceed slowly While commissioners know they want seatbelts for each passenger on a LSV, they haven’t yet made any other decisions regarding regulations.

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

HOLMES BEACH – Commissioners continue to discuss making the roads safer through Holmes Beach, particularly for drivers of cars, golf carts and low-speed vehicles (LSVs). Though commissioners made one decision, talks are planned to continue at a future work session.

When commissioners met on Oct. 26 for a work session, Mayor Judy Titsworth warned them that there is only so much they’re going to be able to do to regulate the use of LSVs in the city because they are considered vehicles by the state.

She advised them instead to focus on the golf cart/LSV moratorium they enacted which involves new rental businesses coming to the city.

Police Chief Bill Tokajer said for safety purposes, the things he’d like to see reinforced through commission action is to have individual seatbelts on vehicles for each passenger, require the vehicles to be operated only by licensed drivers, remind drivers that they’re not allowed to operate golf carts and LSVs in bike lanes or on Manatee Avenue, East Bay Drive, or on the beach and require child restraints for small children. If approved by commissioners, those reminders to drivers will go on a sticker to be placed on rental vehicles as a visual reminder to those operating them in Holmes Beach.

Commissioners also are considering pushing the operation of golf carts and LSVs to roads in the city with a speed limit of 25 mph or

less. To do that, commissioners also will need to agree to lower the speed limit in one section of Gulf Drive along the beach from 35 mph to 25 mph.

While commissioners agreed that each passenger needs to have an individual seatbelt, which also will limit the number of riders on the vehicles to the number of seats there are, all other considerations were continued to a future work session for further discussion.

Since commissioners began discussions on the regulation of golf carts, LSVs and rental businesses, some questions have been raised by the community about where the vehicles currently can be operated and whether trying to move the vehicles to more residential roads is a good idea.

Commissioner Carol Soustek said she is in favor of moving the operation of slower-moving vehicles to roads with a 25 mph speed limit to

give motor vehicle drivers traveling along Marina and Palm drives some relief and hopefully lessen road rage in the city.

Addressing the issue of LSVs and golf carts not being allowed on state roads, Tokajer said he’s received memos from both the Florida Department of Transportation and the Florida Highway Patrol ruling that the vehicles are not allowed to be operated on state roads, though they can cross them.

The state roads in Holmes Beach are Manatee Avenue and East Bay Drive. Because the vehicles are not allowed to be operated on Manatee Avenue, Tokajer added that they should not be driven across the Anna Maria Island Bridge.

Under state law, counties and local municipalities are allowed to prohibit the operation of LSVs within their jurisdiction on roads where the operation of those vehicles is determined to not be safe.

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ISLAND NEWS

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NOVEMBER 3, 2021

Bert Harris cases come to a close in Holmes Beach

IN BRIEF Time to fall back

Daylight saving time officially ends on Sunday, Nov. 7 at 2 a.m. Don’t forget to “fall back” and turn those clocks back one hour to get in a little extra sleep this weekend.

Parade participants sought The city of Anna Maria seeks additional organizations, civic groups and businesses to participate in the “Old Soldiers & Sailors” Veterans Day parade on Thursday, Nov. 11. Participants can travel the parade route via vehicle, trailer/float or on foot. Featuring four marching bands, veterans, military vehicles and more, the parade will begin at 1 p.m. and proceed down Pine Avenue from Anna Maria City Hall to City Pier Park. The parade will be followed by a veterans recognition ceremony at City Pier Park. Parade participant applications can be downloaded at the city website, www.cityofannamaria.com, or from the clerk’s office. Participation is free. For more information, call 941-528-6130, ext. 122, or email vetsparade@ cityofannamaria.com.

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

The Old Town Tram parking shuttle pilot program has been extended for up to one more year.

Old Town Tram agreement extended

The Bradenton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) and Joshua LaRose’s EasyParking Group recently entered into an amended agreement that provides for up to a one-year extension of the CRA-funded Old Town Tram parking shuttle pilot program. The CRA members approved the amended agreement with LaRose on Wednesday, Oct. 6. According to the monthly invoice LaRose submitted for services provided in September, advertising revenues generated by the trams covered $4,775 (slightly more than 50%) of the $9,500 owed for the month. The remaining $4,725 is to be paid using CRA funds. First launched in November 2020, the long-term goal is for advertising revenues to cover most or all of the parking shuttle program’s monthly expenses. As was the case with the original pilot program agreement, the CRA members or LaRose can discontinue the tram services at any time during the next year if so desired. In September, the CRA members voted against entering into a longerterm agreement that would have provided LaRose with up to five additional one-year service terms.

Holmes Beach commissioners voted to accept the terms of a global settlement, effectively ending all outstanding Bert Harris cases, but not everyone is happy about it.

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

HOLMES BEACH – After more than five years of legal battles, all the Bert Harris Act cases lodged against the city are officially settled, but some neighbors think officials were too generous to developers.

The Bert J. Harris, Jr. Private Property Rights Protection Act allows for compensation when a new law unfairly affects real property rights.

When city leaders enacted restrictions on occupancy and the number of bedrooms in short-term rental units nearly six years ago, they wound up with more than 60 Bert Harris complaints coming into city hall with many of those going before judges in Manatee County Circuit Court.

Despite winning cases concerning occupancy, there were several still active with appeals to both the circuit and higher courts in Florida, along with a few concerning the maximum allowed number of bedrooms.

In Holmes Beach, the maximum occupancy for short-term rentals is two people per bedroom or six total, whichever is greater. New development of rental properties is also limited to a total of four bedrooms for a single-family property or two bedrooms per side of a duplex.

After holding a shade meeting with attorneys earlier in the month, commissioners met on Oct. 26 to publicly acknowledge the proposed legal settlements and vote to accept four of the five agreements.

The fifth settlement, Mayor Judy Titsworth said, is to be signed by representatives from the Florida League of Cities and states that the league, which has been covering court costs for the city, will not attempt to recoup legal fees from plaintiffs in 24 occupancy cases that the city won.

The other settlements concerning development rights were accepted by commissioners in a 3-2 vote, with Commissioners Jayne Christenson

SUBMITTED | MANATEE COUNTY PROPERTY APPRAISER

The vacant lot outlined in blue could house a single-family home with up to seven bedrooms as a part of the city’s Bert Harris Act case settlements. and Kim Rash dissenting.

Under the settlement terms, the vacant lot at 303 56th St. will be able to be developed into a single-family home with a maximum of seven bedrooms instead of the four currently allowed per city regulations.

The structure would be considered a non-conforming structure under city codes and would be required to meet all other city and state building codes, including setbacks, lot coverage and maximum building height, among others. Should the property owner, local builder Shawn Kaleta, opt to sell the property instead of develop it, the enhanced development rights would not be transferred to the new owner.

At 108 78th St., a single-family property also owned by Kaleta, the settlement allows for a single-family home to be built on the property with a maximum of eight bedrooms. The development rights outlined in the settlement also do not transfer to a new owner should the property be sold before it’s expanded. Similarly, the settlement for 102 77th St. allows Kaleta to construct a single-family home on the property with a maximum of seven bedrooms with the same limitations as the other two settlements.

The settlement between the city and Bryan Zinober, the owner of 105 39th St., allows for the development of two duplexes with a maximum of five bedrooms per side for a total of 20 bedrooms on the property. The non-transferable development rights have an expiration of 25 years from the date of the agreement.

NEIGHBORS OBJECT

While no one from the public

stepped up to speak against most of the settlements, the one concerning development rights of the 56th Street property didn’t go over well with neighbors.

One neighbor, Gary Brill, said that he and his wife purchased their property at 306 56th St. after looking at what the city’s codes would allow to be built on nearby vacant lots. He asked commissioners to deny the settlement with Kaleta and keep to the four-bedroom maximum.

Next door neighbor Margie Motzer also spoke during public comment, noting that with the increased number of bedrooms allowed on the vacant lot next door to her and her husband’s property, if it were to become a vacation rental, their home would be surrounded by rentals with a total of 23 bedrooms and a maximum occupancy of 46 people. Motzer said she feels that allowing the development of a sevenbedroom structure on the property is not in the best interests of residents or in keeping with the city’s comprehensive plan. She added that she wished city leaders had done some outreach to the neighboring residents to inform them of what kind of development could be coming into their neighborhood as a result of the settlement.

“I think they deserve that respect if nothing else,” she said.

Neighborhood resident Nancy Deal also came to the podium to state that she can hear the noise from adjacent rental properties from up to four houses away on some days. She agreed with Motzer that the public should have been notified and involved in the decisionmaking process with city leaders.

SEE BERT HARRIS, PAGE 6

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NOVEMBER 3, 2021

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Engineers propose significant change to flood control project The proposed changes are designed to change the direction in which rainwater and tidal waters flow.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH – The city’s subcontracted engineering firm recommends slightly elevating and raising the grade on Avenue B as part of a forthcoming flood control project.

The city commission supports the design modification and approved the 60% design plans presented by Colliers Engineering & Design Senior Technical Director Greg Stevens during the commission work meeting on Thursday, Oct. 28.

Working as a subcontractor for Utility Consultants of Florida, Colliers is re-engineering the $2.1 million portion of the state-funded flood control project originally engineered by longtime City Engineer Lynn Burnett and LTA

Engineers firm.

The Colliers Engineering team proposes elevating and raising the grade of the road at the south end of Avenue B. The engineering firm believes this will result in rainwater and tidal waters draining to the north instead of flowing to the south as they currently do.

Stevens said this is a significant change to the 30% design plans previously presented to the commission. He said raising the grade of the road and making the additional drainage improvements associated with that change will add about $800,000 to the total project costs.

Stevens and the commission agreed that any funds remaining from the state appropriation could be used to continue making additional drainage improvements further north along Avenue B. Stevens told the commission the proposed design changes would help solve the drainage issues that have long plagued Avenue B and the surrounding area. The flood control project is also being designed and engineered to address

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

The flood control project will also address drainage issues near 21st Place North and 20th Place North. flooding and drainage issues in the nearby vicinity of 20th Place North and 21st Place North.

Mayor John Chappie requested and received assurances from Stevens that elevating the south end of Avenue B will not result in additional water flowing onto the residential properties along that street. Stevens said the water will be discharged to the sides of the road and travel along angled concrete gutters that lead to outfall areas discharging into Sarasota Bay.

Commissioner Ralph Cole sought similar assurances and noted past drainage improvements made near his home created flooding and drainage issues that didn’t previously exist. Cole’s home is not located near the current flood control project area.

Cole also sought assurances that the crown of the road would be constructed exactly as needed to prevent more water flowing to one side of Avenue B than the other.

When explaining the proposed changes, Stevens said, “With the old route, everything is designed to drain to the south and then to the east and out (to the bay). What actually is happening right now is during high tide everything’s draining into the system, backfilling as high as it can go and creating a holding area for saltwater during a high tide event. As soon as low tide comes, it all starts to drain out of the outlet at Avenue A, as well as the outlet presumably on Avenue C. That’s why you actually have water flowing north on Avenue B when the elevations say it should be draining south.

That’s why you have ponding and other issues at the south end. It’s because it’s all trying to flow north during a high tide.”

The commission unanimously supported the proposed design changes.

Stevens said the permitting process will begin soon, while the final design work is completed and brought back to the commission for final approval.

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OPINION

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BERT HARRIS: Cases come to a close in Holmes Beach FROM PAGE 4

“This is not right,” Deal said of the settlement, noting that she’s not in favor of granting additional development rights to property owners who know what they can and cannot build on their property when they purchase it. “You work for us,” she said to commissioners.

“You work for me. This is wrong.”

Titsworth said that while she feels for the Motzers and their neighbors, that the good of one property owner cannot outweigh the good of the entire city.

Attorney Erica Augello said that if commissioners did not agree to the settlements, it exposed the city to about $7 million in claims if the cases were not decided in the city’s favor plus the added expense of attorney fees if and

when the funding from the Florida League of Cities ran out. City leaders have budgeted for only $750,000 to go toward Bert Harris case attorney fees, court costs and potential settlements, if needed.

Commissioner Terry Schaefer said that if he lived where the Motzers do, he would feel the same way about the potential of a seven-bedroom rental property going in next door. However, he added that he believes most Holmes Beach residents would be in favor of the settlement agreements and so he had to vote for them.

“This was a difficult decision,” Commissioner Jim Kihm said. “No one liked the solution being presented but the other option was less palatable.”

Schaefer said that if commissioners decided not to settle the cases, he was afraid of the money it could cost the city down the road, a burden that would likely be put on taxpayers.

Christenson and Rash both said they would like to get community involvement in the decision or at least notify all of the neighboring property owners before voting on whether or not to accept the settlement agreements. Augello said the city is under no obligation to notify adjacent property owners and residents and pushed for commissioners to move forward with the settlements to avoid any additional attorney fees or the possibility of the settlement agreements falling apart.

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NOVEMBER 3, 2021

ON THE AGENDA

ANNA MARIA

10005 GULF DRIVE FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-708-613

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.

Nov. 11, all day – City offices closed for Veterans Day Nov. 17, 2 p.m. – City Commission meeting Nov. 18, 9 a.m. – Special Magistrate hearing

BRADENTON BEACH

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.

Nov. 3, 9:30 a.m. – Community Redevelopment Agency meeting Nov. 3, 2 p.m. – Scenic WAVES meeting Nov. 4, 6 p.m. – City Commission meeting Nov. 11, all day – City offices closed for Veterans Day

Nov. 17, 1 p.m. – Planning and Zoning board meeting Nov. 18, noon – City Commission meeting

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.holmesbeachfl.org or contact city hall for more information.

Nov. 3, 10 a.m. – Parks and Beautification Committee meeting Nov. 3, 5 p.m. – Planning Commission meeting Nov. 9, 5 p.m. – City Commission meeting with work session to follow Nov. 11, all day – City offices closed for Veterans Day Nov. 18, 10 a.m. – Code Compliance special magistrate hearing

ISLAND-WIDE

Nov. 16, 6 p.m. – West Manatee Fire Rescue board meeting, administration building, 701 63rd St. W., Bradenton

MARKYOUR CALENDAR

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 3

Ukulele Instruction for Beginners, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 1 p.m.

Register online at https:// manateelibrary.libcal.com/ event/8315407 Career night at the NEST, Robinson Preserve NEST, 840 99th St. N.W., 6 p.m.

THURSDAY, NOV. 4

RoserRobics, Roser Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, 9:30 a.m., no cost but donations welcome.

Farm stand, Holmes Beach City Hall, 5801 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 8-10 a.m.

Sunshine Stitchers knit and crochet, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 2 p.m. Register online at https://manateelibrary. libcal.com/event/7996414 Thursdays in Paradise Stroll featuring local art, music and food, Bridge Street, Bradenton Beach, 5-8 p.m.

FRIDAY, NOV. 5

Wildlife Spotlight: Waterfowl, Robinson Preserve,

1704 99th St. N.W., Bradenton, 9 a.m.

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

Register online https:// manateelibrary.libcal.com/ event/7958992 Mahjong Club, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 11:30 a.m. Register online https:// manateelibrary.libcal.com/ event/7996698

SATURDAY, NOV. 6

Robinson Runners, Robinson Preserve, 1704 99th St. N.W., Bradenton, 8 a.m.

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

Holiday Craft Fair, Roser Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Keep Manatee Beautiful beach cleanup, Manatee Beach, 4000 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, 9-10 a.m.

Chickee Hut Jammers, Florida Maritime Museum, 11655 Cortez Road, Cortez, noon to 2 p.m.

THE SUN

Native Little One Art Club: Butterflies and Plants, Robinson Preserve, 1704 99th St. N.W., Bradenton, 1 p.m., $60 program fee. Registration required to nativelittleones@ gmail.com or 941-447-8826.

SUNDAY, NOV. 7

Manatee Audubon Society birding tour: Bean Point, Bayfront Park, 316 N. Bay Blvd., Anna Maria, 6:30 a.m.

Registration required at andy21MCAS@gmail.com.

Farm stand, Holmes Beach City Hall, 5801 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 8-10 a.m.

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

Rise and Shine Power Flow Yoga, Robinson Preserve Mosaic Nest, 840 Ninth Ave. N.W., Bradenton 10:3011:45 a.m., $10 fee payable online. Bring your own yoga mat. Register at https:// parks.mymanatee.org/ wbwsc/webtrac.wsc/search. html?primarycode=110006 or call 941-742-5923 ext.

6042 for more information.

TUESDAY, NOV. 9

7

Farmer’s market, City Pier Park, 103 N. Bay Blvd., Anna Maria, 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

RoserRobics, Roser Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, 9:30 a.m., no cost but donations are welcome.

Family story time, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m. Register online at https://manateelibrary.libcal. com/event/8303019 Mahjong Club, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 11:30 a.m. Register online https:// manateelibrary.libcal.com/ event/7996699 Tech Help, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 2-4 p.m. Register online https://manateelibrary.libcal.com/event/7996159 Sustainable Communities Workshop: Paddle Robinson Preserve Expansion, Robinson Preserve 840 Ninth Ave. N.W., Bradenton, 4 p.m. Register online at https://www.eventbrite. com/e/robinson-preserveexpansion-paddle-registration-170194726007

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Commissioners to discuss service animal regulations A code compliance complaint about a goat is leading Holmes Beach commissioners to discuss service and therapy animal regulations in the city.

At the Oct. 26 commission meeting, one resident appeared during public comment to discuss a code complaint lodged not by a neighbor but by a passing boater against his wife’s service animal, a miniature goat. In Holmes Beach, the goat is considered livestock even though it is not being kept for that purpose or bred and is, instead, a

beloved member of a family.

Commissioners agreed that they would like to do what they can to help the family keep their therapy goat and that they need to look at local and state regulations on service animals and therapy animals before determining what qualifies as a service or therapy animal and how to legally allow for unconventional pets as assistance animals.

The discussion is expected to continue at a future work session.

NOVEMBER 3, 2021

Available www.amisun.com

NOVEMBER 3, 2021

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Authoring novels Swain with a focus on happily ever after began as a challenge from her grandmother, Sylvia Swain, who wanted her to write a cheerful, “sweet” romance novel for her to read.

Swain accepted that challenge and it’s launched a new career for the reporter in addition to her work at The Sun. Swain’s debut novel, “A Snowball’s Chance,” is a clean, sweet romance novel about an actress who goes to her hometown to rediscover who she is and finds herself and a whole lot more with the town veterinarian and a little white kitten named Snowball.

Her second novel, “Before Us,” is due out in early Novem-

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Getaway winner Terry “Cookie” Rapert was a big winner at the Oct. 28 Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce’s business card exchange at Slicker’s Eatery in Cortez. Rapert is pictured here with Compass General Manager France Langan and former Privateer President MaryAnn “Maz” Zyla after winning a two-night stay at Compass

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NOVEMBER 3, 2021

Commissioners reconsider virtual participation The only way to guarantee you can participate in a Holmes Beach meeting, whether you’re a member of the public or a commissioner, is to appear in person.

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

HOLMES BEACH – Commissioners are reconsidering allowing those on the dais to participate in city meetings virtually. However, virtual participation in meetings for commissioners, including voting, will be decided on a case-by-case basis and allowed only in extraordinary circumstances.

The topic came up during an Oct. 26

work session meeting. Commissioner Jayne Christenson said she wanted her fellow commissioners to discuss the issue of commissioners being able to participate virtually, by Zoom or other means, in case someone couldn’t physically be at a meeting but still wanted to participate.

The issue was broached in Holmes Beach earlier in the fall when Commissioner Kim Rash was ill and unable to be in chambers for a meeting but still wanted to participate in the conversation with his fellow commissioners. At that time, despite Rash being on Zoom, a majority of commissioners voted against allowing his participation.

During the Oct. 26 work session, both Rash and Christenson questioned that

decision with Rash saying that, at the time, he didn’t know if the vote against his participation was a matter of law or if it was an attempt to silence him on the issues being discussed that night.

City Attorney Patricia Petruff said that the law allows for virtual participation of elected officials, including voting, in the event of an extraordinary circumstance. Unfortunately, she added that no definition was provided for what constitutes an extraordinary circumstance so it would be up to the commissioners present in chambers to determine if someone’s reason for being physically absent qualified. Or, she said, commissioners could determine what in their minds constitutes an extraordinary circumstance and set

guidelines for future meetings.

Christenson said she didn’t want to get “nitpicky” about it or narrow the focus so much that they were trying to determine degrees of illness.

Rather than create a set of guidelines that would determine whether or not a commissioner’s reason for being absent but still willing to participate in a meeting would be an extraordinary circumstance, commissioners opted to continue assessing such issues on a case-by-case basis in the future.

The city’s meetings are still open to the public to view/listen to via Zoom and over the phone, however, anyone wishing to speak during the meeting is required to be in chambers at city hall.

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The holidays are almost here, ushering in a time full of festivities, tradition, merriment, and excess. Giving plays a considerable part in the latter, but it doesn’t have to. After all, wasn’t it more fun to play with the empty box than the gift inside sometimes? That empty box represents possibility, so when it comes to giving, you may just consider thinking outside of it. Now is the perfect time to shell out some love for Mother Nature. She doesn’t expect a lot, and there are so many ways to show her you care. Read on for some inspiration from VRPH ORFDO KRVSLWDOLW\ HPSOR\HHV DQG ¿QG something that touches your heart the way these two missions have touched them.

Homemade gifts are always a big hit, right? Instead of stringing together garland, how about constructing reefs with bagged oyster shells. The Gulf Coast Oyster Recycling and Renewal Program was started in 2017 with help from Robert Baugh, COO at the Chiles Group, whose experience with &KDUOHVWRQ DUHD R\VWHU UHVWRUDWLRQ H൵RUWV helped guide the blueprint of the initiative.

Oysters play such an essential role in our local ecosystem, with the organization deeming them “environmental engineers” for providing habitats to other sea life, reef structures that aid in shoreline erosion, and ultimately reducing unwanted nutrients from entering waterways. What started as a small program

with just The Sandbar, Mar Vista, and The Beach House soon grew into a network of 11 restaurants in the Bradenton area coming together to collect and store shells from their establishments to be used to form new oyster reefs.

That spark set by Baugh ignited a passion throughout the Chiles Group kitchens, where employees picked up on even more ways to recycle food waste. Chefs spearheaded the composting mission in partnership with Gamble Creek Farms to make positive steps towards closing the food loop. All scraps of unused or uneaten products are saved and sent over to the farm, where it’s used to enrich the soil and enhance the growth of their produce.

That produce is then purchased back by the restaurants and used in delicious dishes. They KRSH WR H[SDQG WKHLU FRPSRVWLQJ H൵RUWV E\ enlisting the help of other restaurants in the future, as the GCORR did with their oyster reef renewal program.

As everyone gears up for holiday hauls and festive feasts - don’t forget to set a place at the table for Mother Nature. However you’re able to help, in whatever way makes your passion burn merry and bright, is a step in the right direction.

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NOVEMBER 3, 2021

THE SUN

11

Proposed state legislation threatens local ordinances Sen. Travis Hutson has sponsored two bills that could have significant impacts at the local government level.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA – Anna Maria officials are concerned about proposed state legislation that could potentially usurp local governments’ home rule rights and ability to adopt and amend local ordinances.

City of Anna Maria Senior Administrative Assistant Amy Moriarty provided the city commission with a legislative update on Thursday, Oct. 28. The concerning legislation includes Senate Bill 280 and its companion bill, House Bill 403, as well as Senate Bill 620, which does not yet have a companion bill in the Florida House of Representatives.

SB 280 and SB 620 are sponsored by Sen. Travis Hutson, a Republican whose district office is in Palm Coast. His district consists of Flagler County, St. Johns County and a portion of Volusia County.

SB 280

Some language contained in SB 280 specifically references county governments, but according to a briefing Moriarty recently received from the Florida League of Cities, SB 280 would also apply to local city and town governments.

According to SB 280, “Before the adoption of each proposed ordinance, the board of county commissioners shall prepare a business impact statement. The business impact statement must be posted on the county’s website on the same day the notice of proposed enactment is published and must include a statement of the public purpose to be served by the proposed ordinance.”

As currently written, SB 280 would require the impact statement to include a good faith estimate of the number of businesses likely to be affected by the ordinance, an analysis of Hutson the extent to which the proposed ordinance is likely to deter or encourage the formation of new businesses within that jurisdiction and an analysis of the extent to which the proposed ordinance Giallombardo will impede the ability of businesses to compete with other businesses in other areas of the state and other domestic markets.

SB 280 proposes the governing body must suspend enforcement of an ordinance whose validity is being challenged on the grounds that it is preempted by the Florida Constitution or state law, is arbitrary or unreasonable or is otherwise prohibited by law.

Moriarty provided the commission with an assessment of the proposed legislation.

“The impact assessment would have to be prepared by an outside economist. It’s an unfunded mandate. The bill would allow someone to file a challenge regarding the validity of a drafted ordinance and that would act as an immediate stay. The bill further requires the judge to award attorney fees, costs and damages to the petitioner if they prevail. However, the reverse is not true and there’s no allowance for the city to recoup any financial costs if the city prevails. And the judge would be the determining authority regarding the validity of an ordinance,” she said.

“Our assessment is this is essentially a regurgitation of a bill Sen. (Kathleen)

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JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

Senior Administrative Assistant Amy Moriarty provided city commissioners with a legislative update.

Passidomo attempted to pass a few years ago. It seems to be an attempt at an end-runaround to a years’ old preemption argument and it’s really in place for local governments to take a harder look at what they’re doing and how they’re governing. This one is a ‘poison pill’ bill that has the potential to bankrupt small cities by forcing that outside economist to be hired for every single ordinance being drafted or amended. This already has a lot of traction in the Senate. Without early and continued pressure from local governments it will pass with ease,” Moriarty said.

She noted the House companion bill, HB 403, was filed earlier in the week

by State Rep. Mike Giallombardo and already has wide support.

SB 620

If adopted as filed, SB 620 would allow Florida businesses to seek ordinance-related damages from local and county governments.

SB 620 proposes, “A business that has

engaged in a lawful business in this state for at least three years may claim business damages from a county or municipality if the county or municipality enacts or amends an ordinance or a charter that will cause a reduction of at least 15% of the businesses’ revenue or profit.”

Regarding SB 620, Moriarty said, “If you pass an ordinance, or you even consider an ordinance that could potentially impact even just one businesses’ revenue by 15% or more they can stop you and sue you with this. Exceptions include ordinances adopted or amended in accordance with state or federal law, emergency ordinances, declarations or orders adopted under the state Emergency Management Act or a temporary emergency ordinance enacted for no more than 90 days. It’s another bill aimed at usurping local governments’ authority to amend or enact new ordinances that could impact the business community and it could be very expensive for us and very limiting.”

Moriarty said some of the proposed legislation is already being scheduled for preliminary committee or subcommittee discussion as early as November.

Moriarty said the city is already formulating its responsive action plan and she and City Commission Chair Carol Carter plan to travel to Tallahassee in mid-November to meet with state legislators as part of the city’s initial efforts to prevent the proposed bills from successfully passing through their respective committees and subcommittees.

If needed, Moriarty said the city will use its Home Rule Florida website, www.homerulefl.com, to mount aggressive opposition campaigns and rally support against the legislative efforts that pose yet another potential threat to the city of Anna Maria’s home rule rights.

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FDOT may extend complete streets project limits

NOVEMBER 3, 2021

SUNDAY WORSHIP • 8:30 AM or 10:00 AM

COMMUNITY CHURCH • Sermon Series by Rev. Dirk Rodgers IN PERSON in the Sanctuary Nursery • Children’s Church ONLINE • Watch LIVE or LATER

www.RoserChurch.com

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

HOLMES BEACH – The Florida Department of Transportation is planning a study to determine the feasibility of a complete streets project across Longboat Key and Anna Maria Island.

At an Oct. 25 Island Transportation Planning Organization meeting held at Holmes Beach City Hall, FDOT representative Jesten Abraham said that currently the PD&E study for the project is planned only for state roads on Longboat Key and the Island, stopping in Holmes Beach. However, FDOT is now considering expanding it to go down the Island’s main thoroughfare all the way to Pine Avenue in Anna Maria, he added.

A complete street is one that allows for various modes of transportation

including travel lanes for vehicles, bicycles and pedestrian walkways.

Abraham said the study results are planned to include both short- and long-term solutions to help everyone travel a little more safely on the Island’s main roads. The study is currently planned to take place in fiscal year 2024.

Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth and Bradenton Beach Mayor John Chappie also asked that FDOT consider installing or relocating sidewalks in areas with high traffic and where traffic accidents involving vehicles and pedestrians have taken place.

A discussion on crosswalks in Bradenton Beach is planned to go before the Sarasota/Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization at a future meeting.

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NOVEMBER 3, 2021

THE SUN

13

School mask mandate lifted Anna Maria Elementary School has no current cases of coronavirus, with 13 cases reported so far this school year.

BY JASON SCHAFFER SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com

2021

MANATEE COUNTY - After a sharp decline in positive COVID-19 cases in Manatee County schools, the county’s school mask mandate has been allowed to expire.

As of Oct. 29, when the mandate expired, only two cases of coronavirus were reported among students in the county schools, with no cases among staff.

Anna Maria Elementary School reports no current cases among students or staff, with 13 student cases and no staff cases reported since school began on Aug. 10.

As the 2021-22 school year got underway, so did the Delta variant of COVID-19, and the school district saw more positive cases than before the vaccines were available. In response, the Manatee County School Board took action and enacted the nowexpired temporary mask mandate. The mandate was passed on Aug. 16, just one week after students returned to school on Aug. 10.

On Aug. 24, the board voted 3-2 to extend the mandate, which included an opt-out clause for any student who did not wish to wear a mask. The mandate differed from those in nearby Sarasota and Hillsborough counties that did not have opt-out clauses, putting them in violation of Gov. Ron DeSantis' ban on such mandates.

The school board approved a motion that would allow the superintendent to remove the mandate SEE AME, PAGE 23

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THE SUN

ArtWalk returns to Holmes Beach The city center Holmes Beach businesses and art galleries are kicking off the winter season by hosting the first Second Friday ArtWalk in more than a year. The festivities kick off Friday, Nov. 12 at 5 p.m. and continue until 7 p.m. with galleries and local businesses staying open late to welcome evening shoppers during the special event.

Participating locations include The Artists’ Guild Gallery at 5414 Marina Drive, The Feast Restaurant at 5406 Marina Drive, The Restless Native at 5416 Marina Drive, Sun and Surf Beach Shop at 5418 Marina Drive, The Original Sand Dollar at 5302 Marina Drive, The Scavengers Market Store at 5402 Marina Drive, Island Gallery West at 5368 Gulf Drive and newcomer ARTONAMI at 5604 Marina Drive. ArtWalks are planned to continue monthly through April 2022.

Island library welcomes book donations The Friends of the Island Library are preparing for their 40th Anniversary Book Sale in February 2022 and they need your help.

Donations of gently used books, puzzles, games, DVDs and other media are being accepted at the Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive in Holmes Beach. Donations can be made during library hours or by using the book drop slot outside if the library is closed. All donations are welcome, though books for children and young readers are especially requested. All donated

materials will be for sale at the group’s annual book sale in February with proceeds to benefit the Island Branch Library and continuation of educational and other programming at the library. For more information, call 941-778-6341.

NOVEMBER 3, 2021

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Aqua buildings on the rise The construction of the first multi-unit residential buildings is well underway at the Aqua development in unincorporated Manatee County. The construction of numerous single-family homes also continues on the expansive property located between El Conquistador Parkway and Sarasota Bay. In 2017, Manatee County commissioners approved developer Carlos Beruff’s long-debated plans (formerly known as Long Bar Pointe) that allow for a total of 2,894 residential units, including up to 16 multi-unit condominium buildings between 76 and 95 feet tall. The commission approvals also allow for 78,000 square feet of commercial space and a man-made crystal lagoon.

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Sunken sailboat removed A sailboat that sank and remained partially submerged between the Anna Maria City Pier and the Rod & Reel Pier has been removed. According to Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy, SeaTow removed the vessel around Oct. 21 and Manatee County was responsible for the vessel removal costs.

PRESERVEAMI.COM

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NOVEMBER 3, 2021

THE SUN

15

Artist has unique take on Island landmarks Paul Arnold’s unique artwork is now a calendar, each month featuring a local landmark in his trademark style.

BY JASON SCHAFFER SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA ISLAND - Some artists are inspired by nature, some by the people around them, and some, like Paul Arnold, by the places he liked to hang around growing up on Anna Maria Island.

Although the artist’s work can be found in places like Harry’s Grill, Tide Tables and Minnie’s, Arnold currently resides near Dayton, Ohio.

That doesn’t stop the former Bradenton Beach resident from spending his extra time creating some of the most unique artwork anywhere on the Island.

“We moved here in 1982 and I loved it. My dad, Leroy Arnold Sr., was on the city council when I was in high school in 1986, then actually became mayor of Bradenton Beach in the mid-90s, so we have strong

SUBMITTED

Artist Paul Arnold’s ‘Bridgetender Inn’ is featured in his new calendar of Island landmarks. ties to the community,” said Arnold.

After high school, Arnold was accepted to the prestigious Ringling College of Art and Design, where he worked with some of the nation's best up-and-coming artists including

famed Disney animator Aaron Blaise, who was a friend and classmate.

“I actually auditioned for Disney and didn’t make it, but my friend Aaron Blaise went on to be involved in just about every big Disney proj-

ect of the 90s, including The Lion King,” said Arnold. “He was definitely an inspiration.”

Everyone who sees Arnold’s artwork will see something slightly different, but the one constant is the almost psychedelic vibe. At the same time, they make you wish you were there due to the instant familiarity.

“I call it ‘no rules’ art, because I just want it to be fun and not follow a strict set of rules,” said Arnold.

“I’ve been influenced by album cover art from the 1970s as well as Mad Magazine. I always wanted to work for Mad and that probably shows in my art.”

Arnold currently has a calendar featuring Island locations such as Ginny’s & Jane E’s, the Green Turtle, Skinny’s Place, Bridgetender Inn, Rod & Reel Pier and more Island favorites. The calendars are available at Minnie’s Beach Cafe in Holmes Beach, as are postcards which are also available at some Island gift shops. Arnold welcomes commission pieces; contact him at paulbarnold@yahoo.com.

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NOVEMBER 3, 2021

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NOVEMBER 3, 2021

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OUTDOORS

NOVEMBER 3, 2021

The Center: Clean and green Reel Time RUSTY CHINNIS

T

he Center of Anna Maria Island has long been a valuable resource for the citizens and visitors to the Island. In 2019, under the leadership of the Center’s executive director, Chris Culhane, and the director of development, Jim McDaniel, the Center officially added an environmental dimension to its mission in response to the 18-month red tide that devastated the Island’s marine resources and local businesses.

In 2019, after a conversation with Island entrepreneur and Manatee County environmental leader Ed Chiles, the Center began a relationship with Ocean Habitats Inc., the designer and builder of the Mini Reef. To date, almost 200 units have been distributed and are annually filtering more than 2 billion gallons of water and helping provide habitat for the new growth of an estimated 54,000 fish and 36,000 crabs.

The Center branded its annual fund that year as “Go Green” and hosted Philippe Cousteau, son of the legendary marine explorer and environ-

RUSTY CHINNIS | SUN

A Mini Reef is installed under a local Island dock. mentalist Jacques Cousteau, as its campaign kick-off speaker.

Cousteau develops relationships with the Center and its patrons at Beach Bistro.

In 2020, the Center’s crop of Mini Reefs grew to more than 150 units. Philippe Cousteau came back that year to introduce the Center’s “Go Green 2” campaign keynote speakers from Clearwater Marine Research Institute, Dr. James “Buddy” Powell and Dr. Ann Mari Alvarez. Third-grader

Addy Du Toit interviewed Cousteau before his introduction and shares her passion to protect the environment by having students in local schools trade in their plastic toothbrushes for bamboo brushes. Cousteau fell in love with Addy, as has the community. Addy has also put up recycling receptacles in The Center and spoken to children in the Beyond The Classroom afterschool program. That same year Bradenton Beach

and Anna Maria participated in Mini Reef installations at the Bradenton Beach Pier and AMI Historical Society docks.

In 2021, the Center continued growing its initiative in a newly designated lab space. Grants are awarded to the Center to support the initiative from the Tampa Bay Estuary Program, Sarasota Bay Estuary Program, Community Foundation of Sarasota County, Manatee Community Foundation, the AMI Chamber of Commerce

and private donors. The initiative also partnered with the Blue Waters Coalition, an organization that includes citizenscience groups from the Siesta Key Association and the city of Venice. The Center coordinates visits from these groups and schedules them on data gathering outings and training sessions with the support of Eckerd College’s marine science program, its students and teacher Dr. Jorge Angulo.

Each group has installed Mini Reefs and is developing data gathering with the same data points and methods for future collaboration between sites in a group study to be developed in 2022-23. The Center has events planned between Nov. 21 and Jan. 14 that have members of the community engaged in supporting their environment such as: • Citizen-science participation in Bimini Bay Initiative • Center beach cleanups on the first Saturday of each month at 9 a.m. Volunteers gather at the Center.

• A community scavenger hunt • Holiday turtle painting decoration The Center has an ambitious plan for the future and has programs for all Island residents. Stay tuned for more environmentally focused advocacy, and join the initiative at www.centerami.org.

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NOVEMBER 3, 2021

THE SUN

19

Front heats up the bite CAPTAIN DAVE WHITE

Fishing last week was great around the Island! The fish knew the front was coming and were fattening up with the coming pressure change.

Inshore, snook, trout, redfish, Spanish mackerel and especially mangrove snapper were participating well. The mangrove snapper in the bay seem to be getting bigger and bigger. But I assume that will start to fizzle out as we push further into winter. These fish will be replaced by sheepshead, black drum, and the occasional pompano.

Offshore, the blackfin tuna were pretty thick out there. Lots of fun on live bait or trolling. Mangrove snapper and yellowtail snapper were also filling the fish boxes. We ran into some larger mahi on one of our trips, which is always a welcome addition. The kingfish should start pushing in here close as long as the water quality stays good. We’re anxious to see what the changes in temperature bring.

CAPTAIN RICK GRASSETT

Anglers may find blues, Spanish mackerel and pompano mixed with trout on deep grass flats this month, as well as larger trout in skinny water along with reds. Snook will stage around bars and on shallow flats as they make their move towards winter areas. Action in the coastal Gulf with false albacore, tripletail, Spanish mackerel, blues and more should explode!

Snook and reds remain closed to harvest south of State Rd 64 in Manatee County on the west coast of Florida, south to the south bank of Gordon Pass in Collier County.

Reds and snook are catch and release only in that zone until May 31, 2022. Spotted seatrout fishing has reopened in that zone with a bag limit of three fish per person and a six-fish boat limit. Trout must be from 15”-19” with one allowed per vessel over 19”. Full regulations and details can be viewed at https:// myfwc.com.

Snook should be staging around docks and bridges in the ICW and along sand bars and in potholes on shallow flats. They may be along mangrove shorelines when the tide is high. I like CAL jigs with 3” and 4” shad tails and surface walking topwater lures like the DOA “PT” in shallow water for snook. CAL jigs with shad tails or jerk worms, DOA TerrorEyz, DOA Shrimp and small white flies, like my Grassett Snook Minnow, will work well around dock and bridge fender

CAPTAIN DAVE WHITE | SUBMITTED

Mike Owens, of Bradenton, shows off a nice blackfin tuna caught while trolling with Captain David White of Anna Maria Charters. lights. Fish the strongest tides for the best action.

Reds will spread out on shallow grass flats in November. You should find them along bars, in potholes or around docks. Look for them along mangrove shorelines when the tide is high, but they are just as likely to be roaming with mullet schools in shallow water. CAL jigs with shad tails, grubs or jerk worms and gold spoons should work well for reds in shallow water. Fly anglers may score with lightly weighted flies, such as Clousers, spoon flies or my Grassett Flats Minnow fly.

You may also find big trout along with reds in shallow water this month. The same lures and flies that you use for snook and reds in shallow water will also work for trout. You’ll also find trout on deep grass flats in water from 3’ to 7’ deep. I like to drift and cast quartering ahead of my drift with CAL jigs, DOA Deadly Combos or weighted flies on sink tip fly lines to locate trout. In addition to making a series of drifts to find fish, look for baitfish on the surface or birds to find them.

Blues, Spanish mackerel, flounder or pompano also may be found on deep grass flats this month. The techniques to find them are the same as for trout, although blues and Spanish mackerel may feed on the surface, making them easier to find.

Likewise with pompano that may skip on the surface when you run or drift past them. When that happens, circle back upwind and drift back through the area, casting ahead of your drift. I like a 1/16 or 1/8-ounce chartreuse CAL jig head with a gold grub for pompano. You’ll need to add wire or heavy fluorocarbon when toothy fish are around to keep them from biting you off. You may find flounder on a mixture of grass

and sand, particularly on the edges of bars or in potholes.

There should be good action in the coastal Gulf with false albacore (little tunny), Spanish and king mackerel, blues, tripletail or cobia.

Look for Spanish mackerel, blues or false albacore feeding on the surface to find them. Diving terns or terns hovering just above the surface of the water and moving fast will give their presence away if they aren’t on top. CAL jigs with shad tails and jerk worms and topwater plugs will work well. Fly anglers should score with small white flies, Ultra Hair Clousers, poppers or Crease flies. Look for tripletail around crab trap floats and cast DOA Shrimp, CAL jigs with shad tails or DOA TerrorEyz to them.

Cobia may also be found around crab trap floats, swimming on the surface or over structure. They will require medium-heavy spinning tackle or at least a 9-weight fly rod.

Larger baits like DOA Baitbusters, CAL jigs with 5½” jerk worms or the DOA SnakeKoil should work well for cobia on spinning tackle.

Fly anglers should score with wide profile baitfish patterns.

This a great month for fishing the flats or the coastal Gulf. Since the action in the Gulf is seasonal and will end when it gets cooler, I like to fish there when conditions allow it.

However, if that’s not for you or if conditions won’t allow it, there will be plenty of action for a variety of fish on shallow and deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay. Our natural resources are under constant pressure from red tides fueled by agricultural, industrial and residential runoff, toxic spills and discharges, freezes, increasing fishing pressure and habitat loss and degradation. Please limit your kill, don’t kill your limit!

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NOVEMBER 3, 2021

Trunk or Treat draws crowds to CrossPointe CrossPointe Fellowship’s Trunk or Treat event drew the community together to celebrate Halloween in Holmes Beach last week, with costumes ranging from military to fairy tale to Mr. Potato Head and everything in between.

PHOTOS BY MORGAN BRYANT

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NOVEMBER 3, 2021

THE SUN

21

Wing now assisting county commission Former Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce President Deb Wing, near left, has been hired to provide administrative assistance to the Manatee County Commission. Wing’s duties include assisting Holmes Beach resident and County Commissioner Carol Whitmore, far left.

CAROL WHITMORE | SUBMITTED

Visit us today!

Happy Hour is from 2pm until 5pm!

9707 Gulf Drive, Anna Maria FL. 34216

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REAL ESTATE

NOVEMBER 3, 2021

The subjectivity of home appraisals M

y favorite way to define home appraising is that it’s an art rather than a science. In today’s market, which changes almost on a daily basis, the art has been elevated to the grand master level.

This crazy real estate market has gone on almost as long as we first heard the word COVID-19. Homes are being listed and sold in days, frequently over asking price and continually breaking sales records. A large percentage of recent sales have been all cash, eliminating the need for a property appraisal that a lender would require. However, there are still plenty of good buyers who require financing and are losing properties because of cash offers. This is beginning to turn around a little in parts of the country, leaving buyers with another problem to deal with - appraisals that come in short.

If a lender-required appraisal comes in below the contract price, the buyer

Castles in the Sand LOUISE BOLGER has no choice but to make up the difference, renegotiate the price or walk away from the transaction. In this market, sellers have no appetite to renegotiate the price with other buyers waiting for available homes, so it’s up to the buyer to figure out a way to make it work.

As reported by CoreLogic, about 13% of appraisals came in below the contract price in August. This was down from a recent high of 19.7% in May but above 7.3% back in January of 2020.

This 7.3% is more in line with a normal market, however, this market is moving so fast that it’s sometimes impossible for appraisers to find acceptable sales to

support contract prices. Buyers who are able are making creative decisions, like putting down as little money as possible and reserving extra cash should the appraisal come in low. Some buyers are finding the cash at the last minute and removing the mortgage contingency, allowing the sale to go forward.

A lot of buyers feel the appraisal process is too subjective, but it’s frequently not the appraiser’s fault. Closed sales and pending sales have a lag time, so if you’re analyzing closed or pending sales to support a recent contract you may be actually looking at sales prices that are months old. In this market, that could be a whole different generation of data.

Appraisers say they do incorporate variables like condition and appreciating markets in their determination, but without a comparable sale close to the contract offer, it’s hard to justify.

Motivated sellers can certainly provide information to appraisers, which is still

within the rules, specifically, information about high-end finishes or amenities unique to their location that may make the property more valuable.

To further make the appraiser’s job more difficult, the federal government enacted new guidelines after the housing crisis. These guidelines are intended to keep a space between the appraisers, who need to be independent, and the mortgage brokers and real estate brokers. Nevertheless, according to the National Association of Realtors, in August, 12% of the real estate contracts that were terminated were caused by appraisals issues. This was up from 9% in 2019.

If you’re currently involved in a real estate transaction that requires a home appraisal, have some appreciation of the appraiser’s job. Their goal is to protect both buyers and sellers in a frenzied real estate market with a lot of money at stake. In their own way, they are artists, always looking for the exact mix of color.

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NOVEMBER 3, 2021

AME: Mask mandate lifted FROM PAGE 13

if the 7-day COVID-19 positivity rate in Manatee County reached 8% or less. Otherwise, the mandate was set to expire on Oct. 29. The most recent positivity rate was 2.57%, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

As cases have fallen to almost zero in Manatee County schools, it was expected that the school board would not extend the mandate, and it was not extended at the board's Oct. 29 workshop. The issue could be brought up at the next board meeting, however.

Since the first day of school, there have been 2,576 student COVID-19

cases and 374 staff cases in the county.

One month into the 2021-22 school year, there were more than 300 cases in a single week in Manatee County, and more than 1,000 cases by the end of August.

Those numbers haven’t been above 75 cases per week for the past month.

Another factor that may keep things moving in the right direction is the recent approval of vaccines for children between 5 and 12 years of age. The vaccination rate is currently 62.7% of eligible county residents.

The CDC continues to recommend masks in schools and social distancing whenever possible.

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23

City seeks additional engineering services Colliers Engineering & Design is providing projectspecific engineering services to the city.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH – Commissioners will soon discuss the request for proposals from companies interested in providing the city with general engineering services similar to those long performed by Lynn Burnett’s LTA Engineers.

The firms had until 3 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 28 to submit their bid proposals.

Earlier this year, the city commission selected Utility Consultants of Florida (UCOF) and its subcontracted engineering firm, Colliers Engineering & Design, to review and potentially re-engineer a $2.69 million state-funded flood

control project. The scope of work listed in the recently issued RFP includes additional engineering services for that project and several others.

When approving the issuance of RFP 2021-04 in early October, Mayor John Chappie presented a list of 13 projects and engineering tasks LTA Engineers was currently managing or had planned for the city. The project list included pursuing stormwater, drainage and transportation-related grants, engineering for a resiliency grantfunded living shoreline project along Bay Drive South, assistance with the city’s land use regulations, assistance with stormwater, drainage and transportation-related studies and reporting to state agencies, future improvements for the Old Town Tram parking tram program and the removal of the stormwater cistern at the east end of Bridge Street.

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THE SUN

NOVEMBER 3, 2021

RUNAWAY BAY: Property insurance increase here at Runaway Bay rent them out to some extent. There are probably less than 20 people living here permanently, but that doesn’t change the reality for that small group of people. There are all kinds of economic concerns now,” Witzmann said.

“We set up an emergency task force of owners to look into this and figure out what our options are; and to hopefully bring these costs back in line somehow. We’re going to talk to our local and state legislators.

We’ve got to bring everything we can possibly bear on this basic unfairness. We knew we’d have to pay more, but this increase is just ridiculous,” Witzmann said.

FROM PAGE 1

“In September we were creeping up on our October first deadline to renew and Mike hadn’t gotten anybody so he had to go into the excess market which is made up of more high-risk carriers that usually only assume part of the risk. Our property policy was picked up by seven carriers that all split the risk. It’s called a layered program.

It was the only thing we could do and the price was 337% higher than last year’s policy with American Coastal,” Witzmann lamented.

Witzmann was surprised that Citizens Property Insurance Corporation – the stateaffiliated insurer of last resort – would not provide Runaway Bay’s property insurance.

According to the Citizens website, “Citizens was created by the Florida Legislature in August 2002 as a not-for-profit, taxexempt, government entity to provide property insurance to eligible Florida property owners unable to find insurance coverage in the private market.”

“That’s why Citizens was created,” Witzmann said. “They’re supposed to insure places like us. We’re not some little operation. We have 186 units here. Mike went to them and they refused to insure us. I can understand for-profit carriers refusing to insure us given the market conditions right

INSURANCE AGENT’S PERSPECTIVE JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

Runaway Bay condominium owners are paying significantly higher monthly assessment fees due to a property insurance premium increase. now, but Citizens was created to protect Florida citizens and they’re not doing that in our case. They turned us down when we were grasping at straws and needed their help. Citizens did not do their appointed duty,” he said.

“We had to get this layered insurance program that costs nearly $600,000 a year. Our assessments have gone up proportionately

to cover that and our operations budget for the year went up about 40% because of the insurance. We have some owners who live here who are in their 70s and 80s, living on fixed incomes and well into their retirement funds. This is an increase in their monthly expenses that they did not anticipate and some of them are not going to be able to manage this. Most people who own units

Mike Angers is Vice President of the Brown & Brown Sarasota insurance firm.

As an agent, he focuses solely on condominium insurance.

“I’ve been doing condos for about 26 years. During the last six months, the insurance market’s taken a horrific turn. There are less carriers writing policies and the ones that are writing policies are tightening their underwriting guidelines and increasing their premiums. One of the main factors in the recent increases, non-renewals and SEE RUNAWAY BAY, PAGE 26

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www.amisun.com

NOVEMBER 3, 2021

OBITUARIES Vincent Ujcic Vincent Ujcic, 97, of Holmes Beach, passed away on Oct 15, 2021.

Vinny moved to the Island in 1989 with his wife, Barbara, who preceded him in death. His sister, Alma Jeronimo, was a long-time resident of Anna Maria and encouraged him to buy his beach home in Holmes Beach in 1974. Vinny swam in the Gulf every day into his 90s.

He loved and shared many beautiful sunsets on AMI with friends and family. His neighbors deemed him The Mayor of 78th Street, and he placed a bench on the beach years ago for “All Sundowners” to enjoy.

Vinny was born at home in Manhattan, N.Y., in 1924 to immigrant parents from Croatia and Czechoslovakia.

He graduated from Brooklyn Technical High School in 1942 and then joined the Army Air Force and became a flight

engineer during World War II. After the war, he used the GI Bill to attend Brooklyn Polytechnic, graduating with a degree in chemical engineering.

He worked for Pfizer, Berkley Chemical, GAF and finished his career with Tarkett Flooring as the firm’s plant manager in Whitehall, Pa. Vinny was an avid traveler and loved driving all over the United States to visit his family, friends and many of our National Parks. He crossed the USA numerous times and also travelled to Croatia, Italy, Ireland and Norway during his life. His most notable road trips were his last at 90 and 91 years, to Newfoundland, Canada and Alaska. His longtime buddy, Ralph, also age 90, was his travel companion.

He loved baseball, and after being a Brooklyn Dodgers and Mets fan for decades, he eventually adopted the Rays as his hometown team. He loved attending ball games and spring training games held in Bradenton.

As a volunteer, Vinny supported the efforts of Meals on Wheels and several Alzheimer

support groups. He was a devoted crossword puzzler and once said, “Life is a lot like a crossword puzzle. I find one word and it leads serendipitously to another!”

Vinny is survived by his daughters and sons-in-law Barbara (John) McIntyre; Susan Ujcic (Jared Snyder); Karen (Bob) Pepper; his stepchildren and their spouses, Paul and Evelyn Dravis; Hilary Dravis and Andrew Stark; and Celeste and Manny Mateus; along with his 11 grandchildren, Kelly, Jade, Collin, Delia, Devon, Michelle, Stephanie, Tyler, Avery, Conner and Morgan. Though he did not reach his goal to be the last living veteran of WWII, we all aspire to live the long full life as he did. There will be a Celebration of Life held in early 2022. Brown & Sons Funeral Homes Crematory 26th Street Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.

Condolences may be made to www.brownandsonsfuneral. com.

He is greatly loved and missed.

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ANNA MARIA ISLAND 406 N Shore Drive A & B 2,056 Sq. Ft. Kathy Harman 941-900-9828 A4513270 $2,395,000

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SARASOTA 650 Golden Gate Point 502 2 Beds 2/1 Baths 1,949 Sq. Ft. Douglas Parks 941-400-9087 A4515165 $1,775,000

HOLMES BEACH 4003 5th Avenue 3 Beds 3 Baths 2,200 Sq. Ft. Stacy Haas 941-587-4359 A4514159 $1,750,000

ANNA MARIA ISLAND 2719 Gulf Drive 3 Beds 2/1 Baths 2,119 Sq. Ft. Melinda Alvarez 941-704-0633 A4506596 $1,549,900

THE SUN

BEACH BEAT BRADENTON BEACH

10/22, 11:18 p.m., trespass warning, 2650 Gulf Drive S. The officer responded to the south end of Coquina Park at the request of marine rescue because a person was refusing to leave the water at Longboat Pass, which is clearly marked “no swimming” due to dangerous waters. The swimmer yelled at police saying no such rule existed. The subject also refused to show identification, although a friend produced it for him soon thereafter. The subject was trespassed from county parks.

10/23, 1:50 p.m., trespass warning, 100 Bridge St. The officer responded to the BridgeWalk resort after a report that a homeless man had left items on the property. The representative from BridgeWalk said she wished to have the homeless man trespassed from the property when he returned for the items. The subject did return to the property and was trespassed

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25

by the officer as requested.

10/24, 12:20 a.m., noise complaint, 108 Seventh St. S. The officer responded to a noise complaint. Upon arrival the officer could hear loud music coming from the pool area in the rear of the property. The property owner was notified of the local noise ordinance and was friendly and agreed to take the party indoors. A warning was issued and no further action was taken.

HOLMES BEACH

10/21, 10:37 a.m., burglary, 3802 Gulf Drive #2. The victim stated that when she arrived at the rental unit, she unpacked her vitamins and prescription pills and put them away in a drawer. When the victim went to retrieve the medication the following morning, they were missing. The officers assisted the victim in a canvass of the home but found nothing.

There were no signs of forced entry, and the property owner was interviewed about the cleaning process. The owner did state that a cleaning crew had a set of keys to the unit.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND 112 Mangrove Avenue 4 Beds 2/1 Baths 3,577 Sq. Ft. Hannah Hillyard & George Myers 941-744-7358 A4502423 $4,150,000

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LONGBOAT KEY 230 Sands Point Road 3207 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,602 Sq. Ft. Thomas Cinquegrano 941-284-5049 A4511867 $1,995,900

LONGBOAT KEY 647 Marbury Lane 4 Beds 4/1 Baths 2,651 Sq. Ft. Sandi Layfield 941-914-2807 A4503569 $1,799,000

LONGBOAT KEY 691 Broadway Street 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,189 Sq. Ft. Cindy Fischer 941-465-1124 A4511396 $749,000

BRADENTON 3622 Avenida Madera 4 Beds 3 Baths 2,609 Sq. Ft. Adam Cuffaro 941-812-0791 A4507676 $650,000

941.896.9981 | MICHAELSAUNDERS.COM

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THE SUN

NOVEMBER 3, 2021

RUNAWAY BAY: Property insurance increase FROM PAGE 24

policy cancellations is the roofs. If they haven’t been replaced or updated in the past 15-20 years, the carriers are getting off the account, increasing the premium to an almost unbelievable amount or putting in a restriction called actual cash value which factors in depreciation as well. All those components are not good for the client,” Angers said.

“The driver of this is that a lot of insurance carriers are involved in lawsuits that came down from Hurricane Irma in 2017.

Unfortunately, there were some bad roofers and some bad insurance agents that were pushing fraudulent roof claims so there’s a ton of insurance carriers being sued right now over roof claims. So, these carriers are being really touchy about roofs right now,” he explained.

“With Runaway Bay, there was a non-renewal with American Coastal and they were telling us one of their subsidiaries, AmRisc, was going to release a quote in its place.

About two weeks prior to the Oct. 1 renewal date, they backed out. Brown & Brown is the largest writer of condo policies in the state so we have access to all the carriers. We sent it out to every single carrier in the state.

We also tried Citizens and they declined it three times. We didn’t even have the option to go into that avenue of last resort. It was very painful. We ended up with a layered program where seven different carriers take a portion of the coverage,” Angers said.

Angers expects other Anna Maria Island condo associations and resorts with old roofs to experience similar insurance increases.

“There’s going to be a lot of horror stories, especially out on the islands. It’s a

hit in the gut and it’s tough to deliver that news. I have to deliver a 100% increase tomorrow and a lot of my agent friends are seeing the same thing. The majority of the condo associations renew in the first and second quarter, so they haven’t felt it yet, but they will. It’s getting worse every day.

Things may settle by the first or second quarter of 2022, but I don’t see the rates going down for a while. If you have a newer roof that’s within 15 years old you may be lucky and see an increase in the 20-25% range, but if that roof’s old it’s going to be painful,” Angers said.

“I had a condo association in Lakewood Ranch that ran into the same problem. I had it with some Siesta Key properties too. Most of these are going to be waterfront properties. If there’s not many other carriers competing for these policies, they can charge whatever they want. Limited carriers provide limited competition, which in turn creates a tough environment for the clients.”

UNCERTAIN FUTURE

“I think you’re going to see a lot more Runaway Bays. There’s a lot of buildings on the Island that were built in the 60s and 70s.

Six months ago, if you had a roof that was 15-20 years old and wasn’t leaking – or if you put the coating on it – that was OK. But now the carriers aren’t accepting that. Even Citizens is saying they don’t want it. Excess and surplus insurers are now the insurers of last resort,” Angers said.

“I think the state legislature will have to bend Citizens a little bit because they’re going to have to change the underwriting guidelines. As the market gets worse, you’re going to have more stories like this.

If you don’t have new roofs, you will pay the price.”

Mike Angers, Insurance agent We’re going to need to get some policies from Citizens. Citizens was the avenue of last resort. They would take someone no one else would take.

“Unfortunately, Citizens now has guidelines in place and roofs are a big issue for them too. To date, I’ve had four condo association clients that were declined by Citizens because of their roofs. If Citizens and the standard carriers are declining, you’re left with the excess and surplus carriers that offer the layered programs. They know you’re being declined so they really hit you hard, which is what happened with Runaway Bay. “If you don’t have new roofs, you will pay the price. If you have a roof coating with a 10-year warranty it doesn’t matter because the carriers don’t accept that now. You have to put a whole new roof on,” Angers said, noting that getting new roofs installed may also prove challenging.

“These big associations have to get all the funds together. Then they have to get all the materials and a roofer to do it, and the roofers are as busy as can be right now. It used to be that if you started a roof project and had a contract signed that would be acceptable. Now the carriers want that completed

before they’ll accept it. It’s bad news all the way around.”

According to Angers, state law prohibits condominium associations from self-insuring their buildings.

“Unfortunately, they can’t self-insure.

Florida Statute requires the association to insure to 100% replacement cost, per the most recent appraisal. A homeowner that owns their home without a mortgage can do that, but a condominium association has to have full replacement cost coverage,” he said.

ADDITIONAL IMPACTS

Angers said resorts, apartment buildings and single-family homes are also susceptible to significant property insurance increases.

“A lot of these companies that write policies for condominium associations also write policies for resorts and apartment buildings. It’s the same carriers, so they’re going to have the same guidelines and increases. There are some different players in residential insurance, but they also have the same guidelines and it’s the same thing with the roofs because they got brought into lawsuits as well. It’s going to hit residential homes too and roofs are the big concern. They won’t take a recoating because that’s not considered a new roof.

You have to have a new roof within the past 15-20 years or the carriers are going to pass on it – and the ones that do take it are going to charge a really high premium.

“I had a neighbor who just got a nonrenewal notice because he didn’t put a new roof on. He ended up putting a new roof on and his premium still doubled. If he didn’t have a new roof, he wouldn’t have any coverage,” Angers said.

www.amisun.com

NOVEMBER 3, 2021

THE SUN

27

PINE AVE: Commission to reconsider parking restrictions FROM PAGE 1

and allows commissioners more time to reconsider the need for Pine Avenue bike paths and the potential elimination of the parallel parking spaces.

The city does not intend to eliminate nor significantly impact the privately-owned perpendicular parking spaces associated with the Pine Avenue businesses – as long as those parking areas do not infringe upon city-owned rights of way.

CONSENSUS REACHED

During the Oct. 25 meeting, the commission reached a majority consensus regarding several Reimagining Pine Avenue design options.

These included the locations of the sidewalks and bike paths as well as crosswalk and street lighting improvements and a delivery truck turnaround area near the City Pier.

Commissioners Carol Carter, Deanie Sebring and Mark Short supported the elimination of the parallel parking spaces. Commissioner Doug Copeland and Jon Crane did not.

“I do not believe there should be parallel parking on Pine. I think it’s very dangerous for strollers, bikers, walkers. There’s no space. It should never have been put there in the first place,” Sebring said.

“I’m not feeling good about parallel parking along Pine,” Carter added.

Copeland presented an alternative design option that included sidewalks on both sides of the street, two bike lanes on the same side of the street and parallel parking along the opposite side of the street. Copeland said the most important element for any of the design options is the installation of continuous sidewalks constructed of the same materials, but his overall design concept did not garner the majority support of the commission.

Short asked contracted traffic engineer Gerry Traverso if diagonal parking spaces could be installed along Pine Avenue. Traverso said that would provide fewer parking spaces

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than the parallel parking spaces and work better on a one-way street. Murphy noted the commission previously eliminated the design alternative Traverso proposed that called for Pine Avenue and Magnolia Avenue to become one-way streets.

When choosing between the two remaining design concepts previously proposed by Traverso, the totality of the commission’s Oct. 25 decisionmaking produced a design option that most resembles Traverso’s Alternative 2 option.

Alternative 2 proposes new sidewalks and bike paths along both sides of Gulf Drive. Alternative 3 proposes new sidewalks along both sides of Pine Avenue and a single multi-use trail along one side of the street only.

Both alternatives propose eliminating the existing parallel parking spaces.

The commission unanimously agreed the new sidewalks and bike paths would be constructed of permeable pavers and be installed atop French drain systems that further enhance drainage.

Where applicable, the paver sidewalks will follow the existing footprints of the unpaved meandering paths that pass by several Pine Avenue businesses. Murphy said the sidewalks would extend the entire length of Pine Avenue, from Tampa Bay to the Gulf of Mexico.

The commission unanimously supported the installation of raised crosswalks with flashing beacons that double as speed tables, with additional street lighting to also be installed at the existing and new crossing areas.

The commission unanimously agreed to create a delivery truck turnaround area by the trolley stop and parking lot near the City Pier in hopes of decreasing delivery truck traffic on nearby residential streets.

The Pine Avenue improvements are desired primarily to improve safety for pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and others, with improved traffic flow as a secondary consideration. The commission agreed to pursue the Pine Avenue improvements first and address Spring Avenue and Magno-

lia Avenue as future project phases.

Murphy said Magnolia Avenue will still be repaved as currently planned and budgeted.

The commission made these decisions while facing a Wednesday, Oct. 27 deadline to apply for a state appropriation that, if approved, could provide state funding for the city project.

CONSENSUS RECONSIDERED

On Oct. 28, Murphy suggested the specific design decisions be made one at a time, beginning with the installation of sidewalks along both sides of Pine Avenue and the delivery truck turnaround area, to be followed by the crosswalk installations and street lighting improvements.

Using this approach, Murphy doesn’t envision the commission addressing bike paths and the potential elimination of the parallel parking spaces until June or July. He said the elimination of parking spaces to accommodate bike paths remains “a major bone of contention.”

“The consensus we took was 3-2.

Let’s see what these first three things (sidewalks, crosswalks and lighting) are going to do for us and then we’ll go to the bike path. There might be other alternatives to the bike path, there might not. There might be other alternatives to run a bike path down Magnolia and not disturb any parking on Pine. I want you to have time to think about that and also be able see the improvements, if any, that the first three steps have made. By June or July, you’ll have been through a spring break season. Taking it in bites like this I think is a good approach,” Murphy told the commission.

He said he would bring some of these matters back for discussion at the commission’s next meeting.

City staff member Amy Moriarty told the commission the city has now submitted an initial application for a $1.2 million state appropriation from the state Legislature for the Pine Avenue improvements.

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THE SUN

SPORTS

NOVEMBER 3, 2021

Paddy Wagon, Moss Builders, Miz & Hiz Biz win big

BY MONICA SIMPSON SPECIAL TO THE SUN

Championship game energy filled the air at The Center last week as the adult basketball and youth soccer leagues came to an end with the final games of the season. Three games, three champions.

Last Monday night the action started with hardcourt play as top-ranked Moss Builders faced the number two team, Paddy Wagon.

Both teams came into the game with a 5-1 record, but it was clear from the start that the Moss Builders’ squad would have to play their best basketball to win.

With less than two minutes left in the first half play, Paddy Wagon had a 13-point lead with the score 28-15.

Missed free throws and missed opportunities kept the Moss team from closing the gap before the first buzzer sounded.

Beginning the second half down by 11, Moss Builders started on defense only to have Jeremi King tip in a basket for Paddy Wagon’s 30th point. King took the basketball away from Jordan DeMers for a layup, increasing his team's lead to 15 points.

DeMers found his groove at the free-throw line for Moss Builders, making both shots and taking the score to 32-19.

Missed free throws by Ryan Moss and another basket by King gave Paddy Wagon 34 points, but the Moss Builders team would not quit. A layup by DeMers and threepointer by King advanced the score to 37-22.

Jay Terry added two points to the Paddy Wagon score, followed by another basket by King to give the team a 19-point lead. The increasing deficit forced Moss Builders to call a timeout to regroup with 15 minutes left in the game.

Taking the court after the huddle, Zack Long scored a much-needed Moss Builder’s basket under the net after a Jon Moss pass.

Down by 17 and with new-found energy, Moss Builders played to win.

After being fouled by Long, King went to the line, but missed all three shots.

Moments later, J.B. Shuck found himself on the free-throw line for Moss Builders, making the first two

and missing the last; the score was 41-26.

Paddy Wagon’s Thomas Gish answered back with a 3-pointer.

Teammate Trey Yarn made a goal, pushing the lead back to 20.

With the score 46-26, Long finally put the basketball in the hoop after several attempts. Moss Builders’ Karri Stephens made a nice layup, giving his team their 30th point in the game.

After two Paddy Wagon baskets, Luca Vecchio was called for reaching against the Moss ball handler, putting DeMers on the line with 7:05 on the scoreboard clock. DeMers’ miss left the score at 50-30.

Long hit a three and DeMers made two much-needed free throws, narrowing Paddy Wagon’s lead to 50-35, with a little more than five minutes left in the championship game.

Yarn’s successful three-point shot and a missed three-pointer by DeMers left the score at 53-35.

Despite a foul by J. Moss, Terry could not capitalize at the free-throw line, missing both shots. Terry’s second shot was rebounded by James Roadman who inadvertently put the ball in the Paddy Wagon basket, giving the opponent two points.

Terry’s follow-up layup and missed free-throw by Stephens lead to the three-pointer by Long, ending the scoring at 57-38. Paddy Wagon handily won the big game by 19 points, giving them the title of champions in the adult basketball league.

Tuesday night’s play started with youth soccer action in the 8- to 10-year-old league. After one half of action, the score was 0-0. Free kicks after penalties put points on the scoreboard for each team.

Moss Builders and Solid Rock Construction took it to the last second of regulation play with the score 1-1. Goals by Solid Rock’s Nixon Conner and Moss Builders Mason Moss, put the game into overtime.

Solid Rock’s Isaac Roadman is credited with four saves in the big game, while goalkeeper Asher Patel helped his team in the win with two critical stops for Moss Builders.

After three additional minutes of scoreless play, both teams put their best players on the line for a shootout. Moss’ final goal in post-

regulation play was the winning goal, giving his team the championship title.

Closing out the playoff action for the week, Miz & Hiz Biz shut out the Blalock Walters team 4-0 in the 11to 14-year-old league, earning the team win and the championship. All four goals for the Miz & Biz squad came off the foot of Jackson Pakbaz.

Keeping the game scoreless for Blalock Walters was the defense of Miz & Hiz and the goalie talents of Konnor Oelfke. In the other goal, Mason Moss and Cale Rudacille had two and three saves, respectively.

With the close of another exciting season of adult basketball and youth soccer last week, adult co-ed soccer remains the main attraction going into the holiday season. Can the undefeated Sato Real Estate crew take it all again? Will the Sandbar team find its first win?

Halfway through the season, and playoffs in sight, the Paul “Ace” Hayward cup and championship is anyone’s to claim.

SUN SCOREBOARD MONDAY, OCT. 25 CHAMPIONSHIP GAME ADULT CO-ED BASKETBALL Paddy Wagon Moss Builders

MONICA SIMPSON | SUN

Team Paddy Wagon takes the adult basketball championship over Moss Builders last Monday night. Pictured from left are Jeremi King, Luca Vecchio, Trey Yarn, Sean Green, Andy Shown, Jay Terry and Thomas Gish (not shown, Matthew Stacy).

MONICA SIMPSON | SUN

57 28

TUESDAY, OCT. 26 YOUTH SOCCER 8- TO 10-YEAR-OLD LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

Shutting out their opponent, Miz & Hiz Biz won the championship game to close out the season for the 11- to 14-year-old league at The Center. Pictured from left are William Pakbaz, Jackson Pakbaz, Stephen Wilson, Ava Harlan, Liam Nunez, Chad Nunez, Konnor Oelfke, Cecelia Kroth and Coach Emily Nunez.

Moss Builders

winners in shootout 1 Solid Rock Construction 1

11- TO 14-YEAR-OLD LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME Miz & Hiz Biz Blalock Walters

4 0

THURSDAY, OCT. 28 ADULT CO-ED SOCCER – WEEK 4 Beach Bums (1-3) forfeit Sandbar (0-4)

Win by L

Sato Real Estate (4-0) Emily Moss Designs (1-3)

6 3

Blalock Walters (2-1-1) Slim’s Place (3-0-1)

2 2

The Gitt Team (2-2) Servis First Bank (2-2)

5 3

MONICA SIMPSON | SUN

In the game-ending shootout, 8- to 10-year-old league champions Moss Builders won it all at The Center. Pictured from left are Oliver Barr, Asher Patel, Assistant Coach Michael Bolognone, Landon Sinphay, Miles Moss, MaryTess Bolognone, Assistant Coach Ed Moss, Oliver Morrison-Tirpak, Mason Moss, Coach Ryan Moss and Callin Westfall.

NOVEMBER 3, 2021

FUN IN THE SUN

Across 1 Mirage sights?

10 Hint 15 Puccini's Rodolfo, for one 16 Word with society or system 17 Parties like there's no tomorrow 18 Singular 19 Recipe word 20 Utter 21 Serves, with "out" 22 Considerable number 23 Implore 24 Traditional Mesoamerican fare 27 Name on the 1969 album "Clouds" 28 One may be purposely broken 29 Program access aids 30 Pop-up fare Answers to 10-27-21 Crossword Puzzle.

31 Former NHL forward Tikkanen 32 Nothing more than 33 City ordinance subject 34 Bit of power 35 Green of "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" 36 Contaminate 37 Word in a marriage metaphor 38 __ Aviv 39 Restraining order 40 __ storm 41 Require compliance with 43 Woven line 44 Provoke 45 Oregon's highest mountain 46 Org. with Eagles 49 Squeezable holders 50 Listen

THE SUN

52 Upstanding 53 Regular beach walker's resource 54 Load with jeans, say 55 They don't sting Down 1 Cuba libre ingredient 2 Behaved like 3 Like many Fla. residents 4 Ones often working in small rms.

5 Thelma and Louise, e.g.

6 Turn on 7 "Wuthering Heights" scenery 8 Apart from this 9 Make out 10 Response to a bell 11 __ wine 12 At all 13 Ship's deck sometimes reduced to six letters 14 It's in ice caps and ice sheets 21 Like urban population 22 Giraffe feature 23 Talk a good game 24 Borne out long-term 25 Fictional detective often seen wearing an open aloha shirt 26 Strength of character 27 Cooler 30 Decorative fabric

33 Rights org. since 1909 34 Leaf blower 36 Fencing maneuvers 37 Show time 40 Stiff

42 Eponymous vacuum brand 43 Many a time-share 45 Next in line 46 Tiny tot, in Toledo 47 Commission source

48 Combative deity 50 Part of LLC: Abbr.

51 Pick up

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THE SUN

CLASSIFIED

ANNOUNCEMENTS BEACH YOGA ON Saturdays & Sundays at 8:30am at the end of Pine Ave by the Sandbar Restaurant by donation. www. thriveyogafit.com 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.

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 or 941565-3931

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

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

EMPLOYMENT WE’RE HIRING: Housekeeping Manager, Quality Inspector, and Marketing. Salty Mermaid Real Estate & Vacation Rentals.

Apply Call or email info@ saltymermaidami.com or Call 941-254-6131 Ask for Brandon NOW HIRING CARPENTERS - KERN CONSTRUCTION New homes & Remodels since 1968. Driver’s license & Reliable vehicle.

Benefits: 401K, Holiday/ Vacation Pay. Please call the office 941-778-1115

Call us today! 941-778-3986

WATERFRONT RESTAURANT HIRING experienced line cooks and support staff, offering competitive wages.

Host- Hostess day & evening shifts FT & PT Apply in person any day before noon or from 2-4 pm 111 S. Bay Blvd . Anna Maria Fl. 34216.

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 YARD/ESTATE SALE November 5 & 6. 240 Gladiolus, City of Anna Maria 9am3pm. Tools, lawn, garden, household items, bedroom sets, kitchen table & chairs, books miscellaneous.

Multi-Family Sale

API’S DRYWALL REPAIR 15+ years experience.

Free estimates. No job too small. Love to help you.

Call 941-524-8067.

LANDSCAPING & LAWN CARE

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

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

LOST & FOUND

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

FOUND TURTLE INLAYED silver/platinum ring with inscription ( Pease identity text to confirm). Found on Palm Harbor Dr near Manatee Public Beach. Call 540-312-5299.

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

Neil 941-726-3077

LOST ON MANATEE BEACH. 18" herringbone chain (4mm thick, square link, round clasp, 10k) with 3/4" Spanish gold coin pendant.

Please call 585-755-3894.

Contact Dennis

RENOVATION SPECALIST ALL carpentry repairs, Wash Family Construction, locally owned and operated CBC 1258250 Call 941-7250073.

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.

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

941-778-3206

LOST MEN'S GOLD wedding band in shallow water just south of new rock groin on beer can island.

Very sentimental. Reward, call 941-504-0526

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

NOVEMBER 3, 2021

PROFESSIONAL PAINTING SERVICES. Prompt & Reliable. Island Resident.

Quality Workmanship.

Interior/Exterior. Also minor repairs & carpentry. Free written detailed estimates. Bill Witaszek 941-307-9315 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!! 941-7131893

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 Have you been thinking of selling? We NEED properties to List for SALE!!! GULF FRONT, CANAL FRONT, BAY FRONT CONDOS or HOMES ASK for BIG Alan Galletto of Island Real Estate to get it SOLD 941-232-2216 LOOKING FOR A highly motivated real estate broker to buy or sell your next home? Darcie Duncan, Broker Duncan Real Estate a lifelong island resident bringing success to her customers for 30 years. Proven track record brings you results! 941-725-1589

REALTOR FOR HIRE BUYING OR SELLING on AMI? 17 years experience & USAF Veteran.

Call Kelly Gitt Keller Williams Realty today 941-799-9299.

LOCAL ISLAND RESIDENT REALTOR Over 30 years experience. NOW Offering Discounts / Rebates on ALL Buyers & Sellers. Call for more info 941-538-7414 Text 314-440-7574 Christine Kourik Re/max Alliance Group

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.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND CONDOS Large pool, beach access, free WiFi, 1&2 Bedroom $700/$800/$900 a wk. redekercondosonami. com Tim 941-704-7525 VACATION RENTAL. AVAIL JAN, FEB, MARCH, APRIL. 2BR/1BA fully furnished. $3840 per month. 2 miles to island. Vicrifenbe@aol. com 941-773-1552. Photos avail.

RENTAL WANTED LOOKING FOR A GARAGE RENTAL for a registered + insured 2droor sports car, drive 3-4 times a month, cash payments 978-3800884 SEEKING AMI ANNUAL RENTAL Call Kelly Gitt Keller Williams Realty 941799-9299

TRANSPORTATION

RENTALS: SEASONAL & VACATION

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

TIFFANY PLACE Gulf Front Condo for Rent Incredible views from living room and master bedroom. 2BR/2BA Green Real Estate Call 941-778-0455

ANYTIME TRANSPORTATION to all Airports, Casino, etc. Tampa $70. Sarasota $35. Pets welcome. Very dependable. Reasonable rates. Contact Jeanne.

941-779-5095

SEASONAL RENTAL in PALMA SOLA. 3BR/2BA weekly or monthly rates.

Contact Barb Grace 941201-2190

AIRPORT RIDES- Tampa, St. Pete, Sarasota. Reasonable rates! Call or text Anna 941-932-1600

www.amisun.com

NOVEMBER 3, 2021

BUSINESS & SERVICE DIRECTORY HOME IMPROVEMENT

HOME IMPROVEMENT

PAINTING

THE SUN

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Call today to place your ad: 941-778-3986 TRANSPORTATION

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www.amisun.com

THE SUN

NOVEMBER 3, 2021

the Team Duncan Difference!

Local-Area Expertise Outstanding Customer C t S Service i Experienced Professionals Proven Performance

Darcie Duncan Broker - Owner

Cindy Jones Sales Associate

Michelle Laade Sales Associate

April Green Martha Jones Robel Sales Associate Sales Associate

Robyn Hawk Paige Rogers Joey Hutchinson Katie Self Sales Associate Sales Associate Sales Associate Sales Associate

Nancy Howle Sales Associate

William Romberger Sales Associate

Lindsey Leech Strickland Mary Anne Muniz Sales Associate Sales Associate

Home & Condominium Sales • Investment Properties • Vacation Rentals

BOUTIQUE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT Vacation Rentals • Annual Rentals • Association Management • Home Watch Service

• Dedicated, multi-lingual rental team • Performance tailored to your needs and expectations • Cutting-edge technology • Trusted by generations of Islanders, property owners, and visitors 310 Pine Avenue Anna Maria, FL 34216

Providing a top-no guest experien tch ce You call and we answer – 2 4/7 Always there for our owners Maximize yo ur revenue

TeamDuncan.com

941.779.0304