REAL ESTATE

26 THE SUN REAL ESTATE

OCTOBER 27, 2021

Resident spirit or creaking house?

Halloween is this weekend, so it’s time to discuss the prospect of your house having a real live spirit who has taken up residence. Well, maybe not real live, but a spirit with an agenda.

Many homeowners believe they are sharing their homes with a spirit. They may see actual images or something that looks sort of like a spirit, or they may hear unusual sounds or talking. I’m not here to tell you that there are no such things as spirits who refuse to leave what once was their home, but chances are what you’re hearing are normal sounds and noises unique to every home.

When you move into a new house, it may take a while to figure out that the dripping noise you’re hearing isn’t your roof about to collapse, but the condensation from your air conditioning system. Likewise, houses - especially new construction - may take a while to settle. If you hear what you swear are footsteps from the upstairs bedrooms it may be just the wooden framing taking a little stretch and not the inhabitants of the Indian burial ground next door.

Castles in the Sand

LOUISE BOLGER

On the other hand, sounds could be a subtle warning of impending problems. Appliances are notorious for creating noise when something in the motor is thinking about giving up. Loud compressors in your refrigerator and dishwasher pumps that you’re starting to just notice could be a warning, as well as the never-ending running toilet.

There are so many noises coming into your home from outside sometimes it’s hard to tell if it’s in the house or out. Trees and bushes scratching the windows, small animal claws and pecking birds can certainly drive you crazy. If you live on the water, get used to boat engines, snorting dolphins and jumping fish – it’s all part of the charm and not part of a haunting.

There are, however, homes where the owner truly believes and may even have proof of hauntings. The house used in the movie, “The Conjuring,” in Rhode Island is currently on the market. The present owners have turned their home into a little business by allowing paranormal investigators to spend the night on the property. It’s apparently a nice little business and one they hope to pass on to the new buyers.

One thing that’s not haunted are the Manatee County property values, so here are September’s from the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee:

Single-family homes closed 4.5% fewer properties than last September. The median sale price was $430,000, up 22.9% from last year, and the average sale price was $580,073, up 21.9% from last year. The median time to contract was 48 days, down 29.4% from last year, and the month’s supply of properties is .08 months.

Condos closed 26.4% fewer properties than last September. The median sale price was $285,000, up 29.5% from last year, and the average sale price was $321,810, up 6.9% from last year. The median time to contract was six days, down 85% from last year and the month’s supply of available properties was 0.6 months.

Cash offers are still very dominant in the single-family market, up 53.4%, however, condo cash offers dipped a little - by 6%. September was a slower month, not untypical for this time of year, with sale prices a little flat but with inventory so low we can expect that to turn around quickly as the season begins in full force. The Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee is calling September the “calm before the storm,” so get ready for another record-setting real estate season.

As far as your current home, understand your home’s sounds and investigate anything that sounds out of whack before calling the ghostbusters. Enjoy Halloween and the friendly goblins at your door.

Avelo Airlines adds flights between SRQ and the northeast

BY JASON SCHAFFER

SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com

SARASOTA - As Sarasota Bradenton International Airport moves forward with its mission to continue record growth and expansion, a new carrier will now offer the first non-stop flights between Connecticut and Sarasota.

Avelo Airlines, a relatively new player in the low-cost air travel market, will begin flights from New Haven to Sarasota on Jan. 13, 2022.

SRQ will be Avelo’s sixth destination in Florida. The airline currently serves Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Orlando, Palm Beach and Tampa. Introductory fares will start at $49.

“We are excited to offer this new, convenient and affordable direct service between southern Connecticut and Sarasota-Bradenton,” Avelo chairman and CEO Andrew Levy said. “With our very low fares and HVN’s unmatched convenience, traveling between Connecticut and the Sunshine State is easier than ever.”

Avelo will offer service on Boeing Next Generation 737-700 aircraft on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Flight 306 departs SRQ at 5:50 p.m., arriving HVN at 8:40 p.m., on Tuesdays. Thursdays and Sundays flight 306 departs SRQ at 7:45 p.m., arriving HVN at 10:35 p.m. Return flights will operate Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Flight 305 departs HVN at 2 p.m., arriving SRQ at 5:10 p.m., on Tuesdays. On Thursday and Sundays flight 305 departs HVN at 3:55 p.m., arriving SRQ at 7:05 p.m.

“We are thrilled that Avelo Airlines has chosen Sarasota Bradenton International Airport to be part of their air service network. With low fares and convenient nonstop service, passengers will have an affordable connection between two high-demand destinations. We look forward to welcoming Avelo Airlines to SRQ and we’re confident their service will be a great success and expand in the future,” said Rick Piccolo, Sarasota Bradenton International Airport president and CEO.

New Haven will be the 51st nonstop destination from Sarasota Bradenton International Airport, which is not only one of the fastest-growing airports in America, but according to airport officials, possibly the fastest growing in the world. Currently, SRQ is adding additional fuel storage to keep up with increased demand. Other projects include expanded parking, additional security checkpoints and a central facility to store and maintain rental cars in one place.

SUBMITTED Avelo Airlines has announced the addition of flights from New Haven, Connecticut to Sarasota Bradenton International Airport starting in January 2022.

BEACH BEAT

HOLMES BEACH

10/13, 9:39 a.m., information, Manatee Beach 4000 Gulf Drive. The officer was dispatched to the station in response to a possible theft. The victim stated a library book and some CDs were missing from their car after it was parked at the public beach parking lot. The victim could not say definitively whether the items were stolen, and admitted the car was left unlocked. No further action was taken.

10/13, 4:15 p.m., information, 4700 Gulf Drive. Anna Maria Elementary Principal Mike Masiello called to notify police he had received information that a student brought a pocket knife to school the previous week. The information came from a fellow student. The parents of the students involved were contacted and it was later determined the knife was made of paper and was a prop in a game the students had played on the playground. It was determined there was not a knife on school grounds and the student did not have any access to one at home. No parties ever felt threatened and no crime was committed so no further action was taken.

10/14, 1:44 a.m., resist/obstruct without violence/marijuana, Manatee Beach, 4000 Gulf Drive. Three officers arrived in reference to a suspicious vehicle. After running the vehicle’s tag, it came back to another vehicle and the officers could smell marijuana. Using their night vision equipment, the officers saw two subjects smoking at a nearby picnic table and determined they needed to make contact with the subjects. The driver of the vehicle was not cooperative and was taken into custody. The female passenger gave permission to search the vehicle, in which 30.2 grams of marijuana, a handgun and four fake $100 bills were discovered. The driver was taken to Manatee County Jail. 10/15, 10:30 p.m., seize tag, 700 Manatee Ave. The officer observed the suspect vehicle run a flashing red stop signal at the Gulf Drive and Manatee Avenue intersection. After running a check on the vehicle’s tag, it was found to be invalid. The driver was also operating the vehicle without insurance and with a suspended driver’s license. The officer seized the plate and cited the driver for the other violations. The vehicle was towed from the scene.

10/17, 5 p.m., trespass warning, 5901 Marina Drive. While parked in his vehicle at the Holmes Beach Police Department, the officer was approached by a man who said a group of adult males were at the skate park yelling vulgar and nasty things at cars and people passing by. When the officer approached the group, he observed the group screaming obscenities at golf carts and cars passing by. All the parties involved were issued trespass warnings and left the area without further incident.

OBITUARIES

Jacquelyn Fortuner

Jacquelyn “Jacki” Fortuner, 77, passed away on Oct. 10, 2021, due to injuries from an auto accident. She was born Dec. 27, 1943, in Carbondale, Pa. She moved with her family to Anna Maria Island in 1982 and lived there until her death. She graduated from St. Rose of Lima High School in Carbondale in 1961.

Jacki worked at a variety of jobs over the years, including pharmacy technician, retail sales associate, church organist and medical receptionist. The beach was her favorite place to be. She could be seen daily walking the Island beaches looking for sharks’ teeth. She had quite a collection. She also loved “hair metal” music, attending many concerts during her life.

Jacki is survived by her sister, Jill Puntar; her daughter, Melissa Grosboll; granddaughters, Tanya Laurain and Danielle Grosboll; great grandchildren, Makayla Laurain, Joshua Laurain and Vanessa Laurain and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband of 31 years, Thomas Fortuner; parents, John and Josephine Rushen and daughter, Leigh Fortuner.

A memorial service will be held at a later date still to be determined. Brown & Sons Funeral Homes & Crematory 43rd Street Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, Jacki’s favorite charity to which she selflessly donated for many years. https:// www.stjude.org/. Condolences may be made to www. brownandsonsfuneral.com.

Perico Bay Club—As Good As It Gets!!

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KRISTIN SWAIN | SUN

Two WMFR firefighters receive promotions

Above, Casey Fischbach receives a promotion to firefighter third class with West Manatee Fire Rescue on Oct. 19. Her father, a retired firefighter, presented Fischbach with her new badge. Right, West Manatee Fire Rescue firefighter Clayton Lease receives a promotion to firefighter second class during an Oct. 19 board meeting at the district’s administration building. Capt. Paul Hopkins made the presentation, with Lease’s family and friends present.

BRADENTON – West Manatee Fire Rescue is opening up two positions on its administration staff, one for a finance clerk and one for an administrative assistant.

With administration manager Julie Kichar planning to retire in January 2023, Chief Ben Rigney is working on succession planning so the administrative staff continues to run smoothly. During an Oct. 19 meeting, commissioners voted unanimously in favor of adding two positions - a financial clerk and administrative assistant. Rigney said the positions are being advertised immediately with a planned start date after the first of the year. He added that the new hires will not negatively impact the district’s approved fiscal year 2021-22 budget.

“Let’s not piddle around with this,” Commissioner Al Robinson said during the meeting. “Let’s get it done.”

Both of the new positions will report to Deputy Chief Jay Johnson and will take the place of Kichar’s position when she retires.

For more information on the finance clerk or administrative assistant position with WMFR or to apply, visit www.wmfr.org/now-hiring.

JANNEY: Praise and appreciation at farewell party

FROM PAGE 8 attitude to all with whom she interacts. During her tenure, she has had to explain to telephone callers countless times that there are three distinct and different cities on Anna Maria Island, and she has had fingers pointed in her face and expletives shouted at her while trying to collect various fines and fees. Therefore, in special recognition of her adaptability, dependability, gracefulness and patience, be it now proclaimed on this 21st day of October in the year 2021 by her fellow employees and the mayor and commissioners of Anna Maria that this day shall be called Stephanie Janney Day,” Murphy stated in his proclamation. REPLACEMENT PROCESS

In the short term, Moriarty, Haynes, Addy and Code Enforcement Assistant Manager Sandy Olson will collectively cover the duties performed by Janney while a new administrative assistant is sought.

“It’s going to take all of us to do her job,” Haynes said.

A job description for the administrative assistant position is currently posted on the city website, www.cityofannamaria.com. The job posting can be found at the “employment” link by clicking on the “departments” header at the city homepage.

“We’re also preparing for Debbie to retire in December,” Addy said.

Artist Jody Goldman featured in November

Island Gallery

West in Holmes Beach has announced its November featured artist, Jody Clancy Goldman and her "Walk on the Wild Side" exhibit.

BY JASON SCHAFFER

SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com

HOLMES BEACH - Island Gallery West has 28 member artists from the Island and surrounding areas who choose one artist to be the featured artist of the month, with their work on a special display in the front of the gallery. The featured artist for November is Jody Clancy Goldman, and her exhibit is titled, "Walk on the Wild Side."

Goldman’s first experiences as an artist developed when she was living in Miami and traveling around the world as a flight attendant. The opportunity to see the abundance of wildlife in such diverse environments in the many countries she visited was the primary influence of her painting. It was then that she realized her desire was to concentrate on being a wildlife artist. The diversity in nature is her one and only inspiration.

Goldman believes that being an artist is something one is born to do, and not necessarily learned only at school. She went on to study through practical experience, learning through trial and error, and by studying the works of artists she admires such as Robert Bateman and Carl Brenders.

Jody works primarily in oil, colored pencil and watercolor. Her studio is on the Gulf coast of Florida where she can study and paint exotic birds in the area.

If you would like to meet the artist, she’ll be at Island Gallery West on Thursday, Nov. 4 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. She will be happy to discuss her passion for everything wild!

Island West Gallery is located at 5368 Gulf Drive in Holmes Beach, Trolley Stop 15, on Anna Maria Island. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. Visit www.islandgallerywest.com or call 941778-6648 for updates. Masks are encouraged. Hand sanitizer is available.

JASON SCHAFFER | SUN Island Gallery West in Holmes Beach displays the works of its local member artists.

COCONUTS: Owner faces off with code officers

FROM PAGE 1

Wanda Bell, of Coconuts Management Inc., stated in an email to The Sun that Kaleta bought a number of units in The Coconuts complex and forced the management company to vacate the onsite office on Dec. 19, 2020, after firing the company in favor of his own AMI Locals group. Bell added that the four onsite units still managed by Coconuts Management Inc. are owned by other owners.

Code Compliance Supervisor James Thomas presented the case in front of Special Magistrate Michael Connolly. Thomas alleged that units in the complex are being rented without valid vacation rental certificates (VRC) and advertised for improper lengths of stay, specifically stays for less than seven days.

The property is located in the beachfront A-1 district which, while a residential district, is also home to some of the city’s hotels and motels, along with several condominium units. Thomas argued that The Coconuts is a condominium complex and is subject to the seven-day minimum stay requirements for residential properties in the A-1 district. To rent the units, he said, would also require a valid VRC issued by the city.

Thomas said the infractions before Connolly were repeat violations because a citation had been issued to the units’ owner in June. Attorney for the city, Erica Augello, said the citation had been paid and there had been no challenge submitted to the city by the property owner.

She added that all of the units previously had VRCs but that they expired in June, except for one unit, which she said still has a valid VRC.

Thomas asked Connolly to levy costs for each of the eight cases of $127.24 against the property owner and to charge $250 per day fines in each case retroactive to Sept. 24 until the units are brought into compliance with city codes.

City Planner Bill Brisson said The Coconuts, and specifically, the units in question, do not have a hotel/motel license from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.

Najmy argued that the resort’s management has a license from DBPR that is interchangeable with a hotel/motel license and that the property was built to be a resort, not a residential condominium complex. He added that the property’s units have been regularly rented for nightly stays since The Coconuts was built in the early 1970s. For the one unit that has a VRC, he said he feels it’s improper for the unit to have one and for the city to require it. Out of the 18 units on The Coconuts property, Najmy said 11 of them are rented nightly.

As to the violation of city codes, Najmy argued there are no minimum night stay requirements in the A-1 district and every property should be able to be rented nightly.

Connolly said he would have to rule in all eight cases based on the city codes. He instructed Brisson to forward the sections of code he referenced to determine rental regulations for the A-1 district to himself, Najmy and Augello and for the two attorneys to prepare and email arguments to him based on the sections of code provided.

With a ruling in the eight cases not planned to be issued until at least midNovember, Connolly warned Najmy that if the cases are decided in the city’s favor, his client risks fines of up to $250 per day dating back to Sept. 24 until the units are brought into compliance.

RED TIDE: Medium in Manatee County

FROM PAGE 1

Fish kills and respiratory irritation related to red tide were reported in Manatee County and Pinellas and Sarasota counties, among others.

Red tide produces a neurotoxin called brevetoxin that can cause respiratory irritation, coughing, and more serious illness for people with severe or chronic respiratory conditions such as asthma, emphysema or COPD, according to the Florida Department of Health.

Health officials recommend that people experiencing symptoms stay away from the water and go inside to an air-conditioned space with closed windows and a clean A/C filter. Wearing masks, especially during onshore winds, is also advised.

Health officials warn against swimming near dead fish, and advise keeping pets away from dead fish and seafoam, which can contain high concentrations of red tide. Pets are not allowed on Anna Maria Island’s beaches but are allowed on the Palma Sola Causeway on Manatee Avenue.

Officials also warn that consuming shellfish exposed to red tide can cause neurotoxic shellfish poisoning.

Red tide began appearing in mid-April after 215 million gallons of contaminated water was discharged into Tampa Bay from Piney Point, a former phosphate plant. The water contained the nutrients nitrogen and phosphorus, which act as fertilizer for red tide. The discharge was approved by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) to prevent contaminated water in a holding pond on top of a compromised gypsum stack from flooding the area. Piney Point is the subject of three pending lawsuits and is in receivership. Remaining contaminated water on the site is intended to be stored in a deep injection well; a permit is pending with FDEP.

Updated red tide forecasts are available at habforecast.gcoos.org and at visitbeaches. org.

POST OFFICE: Remains open

FROM PAGE 1

Landlord John Banyas did not renew the lease on the post office in his strip mall at 12112 44th Ave. W. after officials refused to add him to an insurance policy, which he requested after being sued by a man injured by a falling flagpole owned by the post office.

Suncoast Postal District Manager Stephen Hardin said the federal agency is optimistic there will be a long-term agreement reached this week, according to Buchanan, who wrote the agency about the closure.

“I am pleased to see the Cortez post office remain open for now. This offers local residents, many of whom are elderly, a reprieve from any undue burden closing this facility would have caused as the Postal Service works on a more permanent solution,” Buchanan said in a statement. “I will continue my efforts working with the Postal Service to ensure my constituents in the area have convenient mail service.”

Commissioners eye city attorney replacement

With City Attorney Patricia Petruff leaving her role in Holmes Beach, city leaders are looking for a replacement.

BY KRISTIN SWAIN

SUN STAFF WRITER | kswain@amisun.com

HOLMES BEACH – City leaders are on the lookout for a new city attorney and Mayor Judy Titsworth thinks she may have already found that person.

City Attorney Patricia Petruff announced she would be resigning as the city’s legal counsel at the end of the calendar year. Now, Titsworth is putting forward attorney Erica Augello as a potential replacement.

During an Oct. 12 meeting, Titsworth presented Augello as her pick for the new city attorney. Augello already represents the city in code compliance matters and has assisted with other cases for the city in court, including Bert Harris Act complaints, which have been primarily handled by attorney Randy Mora. Augello comes from the Trask Daigneault Law Firm, where she’s been employed since 2014 and a partner since 2019 and has many years of municipal law experience. Despite being suggested by Titsworth to replace Petruff, some commissioners weren’t happy only having one option for the charter position.

Commissioners Jim Kihm and Jayne Christenson voted to send the selection of a city attorney to RFP (request for proposals) to allow for other candidates to apply before anyone is officially selected as Petruff’s successor.

Titsworth said she’s had the city’s charter reviewed by Petruff and other attorneys and it was determined the city didn’t have to go to RFP to hire a new city attorney. Instead, she said the position is appointed by the mayor and then the hiring of the new attorney would need to be ratified by the city commission.

Since the vote to send the matter to RFP failed, commissioners agreed to not make any decision about a new city attorney during the Oct. 12 meeting, instead opting to have one-on-one sessions scheduled to speak to Augello before the matter is taken up at a future meeting.

Petruff