Anna Maria Island Sun September 26, 2018

- Named Best Florida Newspaper In Its Class -

VOL 18 No. 50

September 26, 2018

City purchasing pier pilings directly Purchasing the pier pilings directly will save the city nearly $12,000.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

A future of peace TOM VAUGHT | SUN

Kindergartners at Anna Maria Elementary School celebrated Peace Day last week.

See the story on Page 25.

Mayoral candidates speak out

ANNA MARIA – A second request for proposals (RFP) for the construction of the Anna Maria City Pier has been issued, and city officials have decided to purchase the spun concrete pier pilings directly.

During the City Commission’s Sept. 13 meeting, Mayor Dan Murphy said Oct. 5 is the deadline for construction firms to submit their pier proposals.

“We’ve already gotten some feedback from some new people who are extremely interested in bidding. Some of them are rather large companies that do work world-wide, so that’s encouraging,” Murphy told the commission.

The new RFP was issued earlier this month after the original RFP produced only two bids – both of which exceeded the $2.5 million Murphy and the commission anticipated spending on the construction of the pier platform.

In response to the original RFP, Speeler & Associates, the firm that demolished the old pier, bid $3.72 million. I+iconsoutheast, the firm building the new pier in St. Petersburg, bid $4.13 million.

The construction specifications were then modified in the second RFP in hopes of lowering the cost without impacting the quality of the pier to SEE PILINGS, PAGE 31

Mayoral candidates Joshua Linney and Judy Titsworth answered questions from Holmes Beach residents during The Sun’s 2018 candidate forum.

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

HOLMES BEACH – Mayoral candidates Joshua Linney and Judy Titsworth are ready for the November election. The two took to the dais at city hall to answer questions from Sun readers during the 2018 candidate forum held Sept. 19.

Abbreviated answers to some questions from the forum are below but, to hear all the questions, answers and rebuttals, visit The Sun’s social media page at www.facebook.com/annamariaislandsun.

INSIDE NEWS 4 OPINION 6 CALENDARS 7 OUTDOORS 22-23 SCHOOL 25 REAL ESTATE 26-31 ENTERTAINMENT 32 SPORTS 34-35

GAIL SWAIN | SUBMITTED

Holmes Beach mayoral candidate Judy Titsworth answers a question while fellow candidate Joshua Linney looks on during The Sun’s candidate forum held at city hall.

IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT IS THE JOB OF THE MAYOR?

Linney: “The job of the mayor is to dutifully execute the will of the commission and represent the city in a legal capacity. I think that I am pretty much trying to mimic

that now without even having been elected.”

Titsworth: “The mayor is the chief executive officer of the city, and he’s administrator of all the SEE MAYOR, PAGE 33

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

The city of Anna Maria has decided to directly purchase the spun concrete pier pilings upon which the new pier will be built.

FOOD AND WINE: Reminiscing

STATE promises $2.2 million for red tide. 5

about rouladen. 21

ISLAND Players present a murder

Anna Maria Island, Florida

mystery. 14 The Island’s award-winning weekly newspaper www.amisun.com

2

THE SUN

www.amisun.com

SEPTEMBER 26, 2018

www.amisun.com

SEPTEMBER 26, 2018

THE SUN

3

Commission candidates discuss the issues Holmes Beach commission candidates took to the dais Sept.

19 to discuss their goals for the city from city manager and red tide to communication and cooperation.

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

HOLMES BEACH – It’s getting closer to November and the day when residents will go out to the polls to cast their vote for who will take the two available seats on the city commission.

To help voters make their decision, The Sun hosted its 2018 candidate forum Sept.

19 at city hall. Candidate answers to some of the top questions asked are below. To hear the entire forum, visit www.facebook. com/annamariaislandsun.

WHAT, IN YOUR OPINION, IS THE JOB OF A COMMISSIONER?

Morton: “My theory of being a commissioner for a few years now is that I talk with the citizens and with the community.

If they come to me with something, I work with them to try to get the best for each.”

Purvis: “I believe the responsibility of the job is truly to represent all the residents

GAIL SWAIN | SUBMITTED

Holmes Beach commission candidates Pat Morton, Don Purvis and Kim Rash answer questions from Sun readers during the 2018 candidate forum. here, and I think that requires somebody who is moving in multiple different circles, knows a lot of different people, is involved in different aspects of our community and whether that’s understanding what’s going on with small business or what’s going on right now in R-2, in R-1, what’s going on, all of those things matter.”

Rash: “To represent the residents of Holmes Beach. To listen to them and see what their needs are as a resident.”

IF ELECTED, WHAT ARE YOUR TOP THREE PRIORITIES TO TACKLE?

Morton: “My big thing is infrastructure. It

was let go for so many years. Now we’re in the process of getting it processed through.

The second, my biggest thing is bicycle and pedestrian safety … The life safety of the Island. We need to get beach accesses opened up, so they can go to pick somebody up.”

Purvis: “Well I would say for me that number one is, as we look at the impact tourism has had on our city for all of us, where that is, where it’s been, where it is now, and, most importantly, where that’s headed and how to responsibly move forward in that manner. Number two, right now for me is infrastructure … Third for me is pedestrian/cyclist safety.”

Rash: “Again, I think the top three things all have to do with residents.

One, I’ve been out walking and talking and what I’ve been hearing the past couple weeks is all about property taxes. How their property taxes just keep going up and if they don’t raise the millage their property value goes up so they’re writing a larger check this year than they did last year … The other thing is a peaceful way of life for the residents … The third thing is I think we need tighter restrictions for the demo of properties and the building of new houses to make sure they’re built right and they’re not inconveniencing the whole neighborhood while they’re building them.”

WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE HARDEST TASK THE CITY HAS TO DEAL WITH RIGHT NOW?

Morton: “I would say the rental program, getting that up to where it needs to be.”

Purvis: “I would say the biggest challenge … is cooperation.”

Rash: “I think keeping residents is the hardest task the city has to deal with right now.”

SEE COMMISSION, PAGE 11

4

THE SUN

ISLAND NEWS

IN BRIEF

Chiles, CVB, tourism award winners Rhea Chiles, the late widow of former Florida Senator and Gov. Lawton Chiles, is the 2018 Florida Tourism Hall of Fame inductee.

Known as an influential force in her husband’s policy initiatives, Rhea Chiles made many contributions to Florida tourism, including the establishment of Florida House, the Polk Museum of Art and the Studio at Gulf and Pine in Anna Maria.

The honor, presented by VISIT FLORIDA during the annual Florida Governor’s Conference on Tourism Sept. 12-14 in Orlando, recognizes contemporary and historic figures whose vision, creativity and drive have had a positive and significant impact on the development of Florida as a desirable visitor destination.

The Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau earned the Bronze Award for Holiday Travel TV Special for “Sun, Sand and Holiday Fun” during the Flagler Awards ceremony at the conference.

Live traffic coverage available Manatee and Sarasota counties have joined together to offer the latest information on road and traffic conditions via computer.

A new Regional Traffic Management Center Traveler Information website, www.smarttrafficinfo.org and Twitter handle @941_Traffic give local drivers a more accurate picture of local traffic conditions than ever before.

The new site, launched last week, offers live views of more than 470 intersections across two counties from 220 cameras across the region.

There are cameras on both approaches of the Anna Maria Island Bridge, on SR 64 (Manatee Avenue) and the Cortez Bridge.

Construction ordinance set for second reading On Thursday, Sept. 27, Anna Maria Commissioners are expected to adopt on second and final reading an amended construction ordinance that will place an 18-month time limit on new residential construction. Builders who do not complete their development projects within the 18-month timeframe will be subjected to additional permitting fees or $100 daily fines. Thursday’s 6 p.m. meeting will be preceded by the second and final budget hearing at 5:30 p.m.

Correction: The annual Giving Back fundraiser raised more than $23,000 for the Feeding Empty Little Tummies organization in 2016. A recent Sun story incorrectly stated that amount was raised for The Blessing Bags Project last year.

Visit our website, www.amisun.com.

Scan this code with your smartphone to go there.

SEPTEMBER 26, 2018

Charter amendment packets delivered

City voters will decide the fate of seven proposed charter amendments and a request to rezone a city park.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH – City residents and property owners have been sent a 165-page information packet detailing the seven charter amendment questions on the 2018 ballot.

The packets mailed by the city clerk’s office also include information on the city’s request for voter approval to rezone Katie Pierola Sunset Park from the R-3 multi-family residential zoning district that does not allow public parks to the public recreation area zoning district that does.

The charter amendments were recommended by the volunteer Charter Review Committee (CRC) that consisted of Mary Bell, Debra Cox, Anne Leister, Randy Milton and Dan Morhaus.

Serving as the city’s constitution, the city charter can only be amended with the support of city voters. The proposed amendments will be on the ballots for the general election that concludes on Nov. 6, with vote by mail ballots going out in early October.

Four charter amendment questions pursued by the Keep Our Residential Neighborhoods (KORN) political action committee will not be on the ballot and are the subject of lawsuit KORN filed against the city.

CHARTER AMENDMENTS

Amendment 1 proposes a return to the four City Commission wards city voters eliminated last year in support of a charter amendment proposed by the Concerned Neighbors of Bradenton Beach (CNOBB). That amendment made all Bradenton Beach commission seats at-large seats.

The CRC members spent a great of time debating the ward system that previously required candidates to run from the ward they lived in. Milton, Cox and Leister strongly supported a return to the wards. They felt wards help prevent a consolidation of power from one part of town while also giving residents a greater sense of familiarity with their ward representative.

Amendment 2 seeks to better define the residency requirements for commission candidates by requiring them to prove their city residency

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

Katie Pierola Sunset Park is currently zoned for multi-family residential use instead of as a city park. by presenting three of the following items: Florida driver’s license or state ID, Manatee County voter registration card, property tax bill, vehicle registration, residential lease, bank statement, tax return or declaration of domicile.

The amendment also seeks to restore the requirement that commission candidates be registered to vote in Bradenton Beach, a requirement eliminated by a CNOBB-initiated amendment last year.

Amendment 3 seeks to clarify that the city operates with a balanced commission form of city government. This would not change the city’s form of government. It would simply declare in writing that the city’s current form of government – often referred to a weak mayor form of government – grants equal legislative and executive authority to all five commission members.

Amendment 4 addresses KORN’s thus far unsuccessful efforts to force the city to hire a full-time city manager given the authority to hire and fire city staff, including the city’s five charter officials: the city attorney, city clerk, building official, public works director and police chief. This amendment would ensure that the commission retains the sole authority to hire and fire charter officials, even if a city manager is hired.

Amendment 5 seeks to make consistent two different sections of the city charter that address City Commission candidates’ qualifications. The existing inconsistencies were created by the CNOBB amendment that eliminated commission wards but did not fully address other references to wards found elsewhere in the charter.

Amendment 6 seeks to give city

voters the ability to determine who fills a commission vacancy occuring when there are six months or more left in a two-year commission term. The vacancy would be temporarily filled by commission appointment, but during the next general election city voters would determine who serves the remainder of the term. This amendment would address resign to run scenarios that involve a sitting commission member tendering a pending resignation that doesn’t take effect until after the election, which in turn creates a long-term vacancy on the commission. Vacancies of less than six months will still be filled by commission appointment.

Amendment 7 proposes the charter be clarified to state that citizen-initiated charter amendment referendums be conducted according to the city charter. The current charter language directly references citizen-initiated ordinances, but there are debates as to whether this also applies to charter referendums.

When presenting their proposed charter amendments to city commissioners earlier this year, KORN members John Metz and Reed Mapes stated their beliefs that KORN was required to follow state law but not city charter when pursuing citizeninitiated charter amendments.

This was a central argument in the recent court hearing at which City Attorney Ricinda Perry argued that the charter and state law both apply to citizen-initiated charter amendment process. KORN’s attorney, Robert Hendrickson, argued the petitioners only needed to follow state law. The judge’s ruling is expected in early October, but it will not impact the 2018 ballot.

www.amisun.com

SEPTEMBER 26, 2018

THE SUN

5

State promises nearly $2.2 million for red tide

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

Nearly $2.2 million in newly-allocated state funds will be used to develop weapons to fight red tide, not just study it, Mote Marine Laboratory CEO Dr. Michael Crosby announced Monday.

It’s the first initiative to do something other than monitor and research the Karenia brevis algae that causes red tide, Crosby said.

Red tide is an algae bloom that produces neurotoxins deadly to marine life and shorebirds. It also poisons shellfish and causes respiratory irritation in people. Florida has been under a state of emergency due to red tide since August, with the bloom affecting tourism and residents along the southwest coast of Florida from Englewood to St. Petersburg, beginning last fall.

The new funds will be used to test and launch new weapons against red tide, including clay and ozone, Crosby said.

Mote will work with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, the University of South Florida and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to conduct new field testing of an improved clay technology focused on killing red tide,

CINDY LANE | SUN

Fish killed by red tide washed up on an Anna Maria Island Beach last week. Manatee County is raking the beaches every day. different from previous, unsuccessful clay experiments, he said.

Laboratory tests on clay will begin within days, and small field experiments will begin in about six weeks, FWC Executive Director Eric Sutton said, explaining that the results of the experiments will dictate when and if it can be used on a large-scale basis.

Ozone already is being tested in canals in Boca Grande and is proving to successfully

remove the Karenia brevis algae that causes red tide. Red tide water is pumped into an ozone conductor, where the ozone kills the red tide and re-oxygenates the water without releasing ozone into the environment, according to Mote Senior Scientist Dr. Richard Pierce.

“One thing we have to be careful of is to do no harm,” Crosby said, explaining that many things kill red tide, but also kill ma-

rine life. When red tide dies, it releases any remaining toxin it holds, he said, adding, “We don’t want to make matters worse.”

One day, Crosby said, “We should be able to forecast red tide events the same way we forecast hurricanes.”

While hurricane forecasts focus on physical forces, red tide forecasting also includes chemical and biological factors, making it more complex, he said.

Red tide has been documented along Florida’s Gulf Coast since the 1500s. While its causes are natural, Crosby said that nutrients can affect its duration and intensity.

“As much as we all would like to be able to point our finger at one or two or three particular things, red tide is just not that simple,” he said.

Coastal waters are naturally nutrient-rich whether there are human beings living there or not, Crosby said.

However, “each and every one of us every day in our life is contributing to nutrients flowing from the terrestrial environmental into the coastal environment,” he said.

“Each of us can decrease the amount of nutrients in our own yards, planting more native vegetation. Each and every one of us does have a role to play in this.”

CLEAN WATER IS HEALTHY WATER IS

Filter out the bad and only keep what’s good for your body with a Pentair Water Filtration System

STAY HEALTHY WITH A WATER FILTRATION SYSTEM

425 STARTING AT

$ NSF42, NSF 53, and NSF 58 certified

INSTALLED

Simply Better

6

THE SUN

OPINION

The Anna Maria Island Sun newspaper Island Sun Plaza, 9801 Gulf Drive P.O. Box 1189 Anna Maria, FL 34216-1189 Phone: (941) 778-3986 e-mail: news@amisun.com | ads@amisun.com | classifieds@amisun.com

Like us on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/AnnaMariaIslandSun

SEPTEMBER 26, 2018

The Anna Maria Island Sun staff Publishers Mike Field Maggie Field Editor/CEO Mike Field Layout Ricardo Fonseca Reporters Cindy Lane Tom Vaught Joe Hendricks Kristin Swain Columnists Louise Bolger Outdoors editor Rusty Chinnis Ad director Chantelle Lewin

Ad assistants Chris Boniberger Dianne Martin Classified ads Bob Alexander Graphics Elaine Stroili Ricardo Fonseca Digital/Social Media Editor Cindy Lane Accounting John Reitz Distribution Bob Alexander Tony McNulty Connor Field Contributors Pat Copeland Steve Borggren Monica Simpson

kkkk

Got an opinion, a complaint or a compliment? Is there something you need to get off your chest? Send us a letter to the editor and have your say. There are a couple of ways to do it. The easiest and most direct is to e-mail The Sun at news@ amisun.com. Remember to put Letter to the Editor in the subject field. Or you can snail-mail a letter to us at The Anna Maria Island Sun, P.O. Box 1189, Anna Maria, FL 34216. Letters should be kept to 300 words or less and must contain your name and the city in which you reside. Personal attacks and obscene language will not be printed. The Sun reserves the right to edit letters for length or content.

Take The Sun Survey on Page 7.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Spring Lake thank you Being an Island resident for 27 years, I've done my share of complaining about many local issues, especially when I felt our fovernment could do a better job for its residents. My intent and my suggestions have always had but one goal – the betterment of our Holmes Beach community.

Recently, I've been pleasantly surprised with some very positive reactions to my longstand-

ing problem with pollution in the Holmes Beach city owned Spring Lake. The problem has been highlighted with recent articles in the local paper and a live report on Sarasota's ABC network television station, Channel 7.

In a recent meeting at the Manatee Court House, Holmes Beach Commission Chair Judy Titsworth advised me that efforts were under way to find solutions to the problem. As a follow-on, today Sept.21,

we were visited by Commissioner Carol Soustek and Code Enforcement Officer James Thomas, who provided additional encouragement.

It's easy to complain, but it's also easy to pass on appreciation to those who deserve it. From my wife Ellen and I, a sincere thanks to those now working to restore this environmental gem.

Robert McCaffrey Holmes Beach

www.amisun.com

SEPTEMBER 26, 2018

THE SUN

Family fun at city field with National Night Out The third annual National Night Out is coming to Holmes Beach city field from 4 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 2, bringing lots of family fun at the community gathering.

Features for this year’s event include food, baked goods, games for children, bounce houses, a big slide, and a dunk booth where attendees can try their luck at dunking Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer.

Community organizations also will be sponsoring informational booths with some giveaways. Some children will go home with new bicycles, sponsored by local businesses, or backpacks full of school supplies, sponsored by The Sun.

The event is free to the public to attend and is sponsored by the HBPD and the city of Holmes Beach. Code Enforcement Officer James Thomas will provide music and entertainment throughout the afternoon.

To make this year’s event an even bigger success than previous years,

7

ON THE AGENDA ANNA MARIA 10005 GULF DRIVE

the HBPD is seeking community sponsors for attractions, donations and giveaways.

Donations sought include beverages, bicycles, school supplies, backpacks and funds to cover items that aren’t donated for the event.

Sponsors also are sought to provide food, snacks, beverages, bounce houses, slides and other games suitable for children. To donate funds by check, make them payable to The Police Special Projects Fund.

To donate, volunteer or for more information, contact Sgt. Vern McGowan or Officer Josh Fleischer at 941-778-2677 or watch@holmesbeach.org.

For information, call 7086130 Sept. 27, 5:30 p.m. – City Commission budget hearing Sept. 27, 6 p.m. – City Commission meeting

BRADENTON BEACH 107 GULF DRIVE N.

Work continues on the city of Anna Maria’s multi-use trail. The hardboard siding is now in place along Gulf Drive in preparation of the paving that will soon occur. The multi-use trail will extend from the entrance of the city to Willow Avenue, which connects to North Shore Drive and provides an alternative route for pedestrians, joggers, bicyclists and others who wish to avoid the heavy traffic along Gulf Drive.

5801 MARINA DRIVE

For information, call 7085800 Sept. 27, 11 a.m. – Police Retirement Board meeting Oct. 2, 4-8 p.m. – National Night Out

MARK YOUR CALENDAR NOTE: EVENTS ARE FREE UNLESS INDICATED.

WEDNESDAY SEPT. 26

Vitamin N: Mindfulness in Nature Silence Stroll, Robinson Preserve, 1704 99th St. N.W., Bradenton, 9 a.m.

Reserve to 941-748-4501 ext.

6039.

Coloring club, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, noon.

Hispanic Heritage: Folk Tales and Tropical Birds, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 3:30 p.m.

Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce September Business Card Exchange, Wagner Realty, 2217 Gulf Drive N., Bradenton Beach, 5 to 7 p.m., $5 per member or $10 per prospective member. Reserve to 941-778-1541 or info@amichamber.org.

SEPT. 27

Multi-use trail progressing

HOLMES BEACH

For information, call 7781005

THURSDAY JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

Sept. 26, 10 a.m. – CRA special meeting

Veteran Services Information, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 9 a.m.

Roser-Robics chair-based exercise class, Roser Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, 9:30 a.m.

Seaside Quilters, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m.

Zumba and mat pilates for seniors, The Paradise Center, 567 Bay Isles Rd., Longboat Key, 10 a.m., $10 per class.

Reserve to maryannbrady@ theparadisecenter.org or 941-383-6493.

Jam in the Sand, Anna Maria Island Beach Café, 4000 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, 5 to 8 p.m.

FRIDAY SEPT. 28

Forty Carrots, Island Branch

Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m.

Uncommon edibles, The Folk School at Florida Maritime Museum, 4415 119th St. W., Cortez, 10 a.m., $13.

Intermediate bridge session, The Paradise Center, 567 Bay Isles Rd., Longboat Key, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., $10, includes coffee and cookies. Reserve to maryannbrady@theparadisecenter. org or 941-383-6493.

Mahjong, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 1 p.m.

Sunset drum circle, Manatee Beach, 4000 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, 5 to 8 p.m.

SATURDAY SEPT. 29

CPR Training, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 9 a.m.

Wildlife spotlight: wading birds, Mosaic NEST, Robinson Preserve, 1704 99th St. N.W., Bradenton, 9 a.m.

Reserve to 941-742-5923 ext.

6036.

MONDAY OCT. 1

Social bridge games, Roser Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, noon.

TUESDAY OCT. 2

Roser-Robics chair-based exercise class, Roser Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, 9:30 a.m.

Preschool story time, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m.

Yoga for Seniors, The Paradise Center, 567 Bay Isles Rd., Longboat Key, 10 a.m., $10. Reserve to maryannbrady@theparadisecenter. org or 941-383-649 Mahjong, Island Branch SEE CALENDAR, PAGE 33

8

www.amisun.com

THE SUN

SEPTEMBER 26, 2018

SMN?L ;L

HHì ';LCì ) S APP ONION STRAW HIPS AUCE FISH & C AMOB BURGER ITA AMOB MARGAR ITA AMOB MARGAR

H KIDS MEAL PENNY AN INC H KIDS MEAL PENNY AN INC

$10.99 $9.99 $3.50 $3.50 $0.52 $0.44

149029

$35.43

SUBTOTAL

$2.48

TAX 7% ARGARITA)

COUPON #1 (M

TOTAL

$6.49

$3.50

$34.31

LANDSIDE

6906 14th Street West 941.758.7880

CORTEZ

6696 Cortez Road 941.792.0077

ELLENTON

1525 51st Avenue East 941.721.7773

BRIDGE ST. PIER Bradenton Beach 941.778.AMOB (2662)

www.amisun.com

SEPTEMBER 26, 2018

THE SUN

EXCLUSIVELY BRANDS & DESIGNS ONLY FOUND AT BEALLS! EXTRA

20

%

OFF

SAVINGS PASS

SALE, REGULAR & CLEARANCE MERCHANDISE Excludes BEVs, BOBs & select brands

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2018 Use promo code EXCLUSIVE on BeallsFlorida.com

SHOP SAVINGS THROUGHOUT THE STORE & AT BEALLSFLORIDA.COM

EXCLUSIONS: BEVs (Bealls Extreme Values), BOBs (Bealls Outstanding Buys), BirkenstockŽ, CobianŽ, Columbia, Hook & TackleŽ, Huk™, Levi’sŽ, Life Is GoodŽ, Melissa & DougŽ, Natural LifeŽ, NikeŽ, Nomad™, Oscar MikeŽ, PelagicŽ, ReefŽ, SakrootsŽ, SawyerŽ, Simply SouthernŽ, Under ArmourŽ, VionicŽ and additional online exclusions may apply. Valid for use on a qualifying merchandise purchase in Bealls Stores, by phone at 800-569-9038, on Click & FindŽ kiosks and on BeallsFlorida.com only. Bealls Bucks, Coast2Coast RewardsŽ & dollaroff discounts will be applied prior to percent-off total purchase discounts. Savings Pass must be presented at time of purchase. Limit one (1) Savings Pass per purchase. Cannot be applied to prior purchases, gift card purchases, existing Bealls Florida credit balances, taxes, or shipping charges and c annot be used with Employee Discount or any other offer. Savings Pass is applied to qualifying items on a prorated basis; returns will be credited at the return price on your receipt. Not valid at Bealls Outlet. Bealls Stores & BeallsFlorida.com are operated

by Bealls Stores, Inc. and Beall’s Westgate Corporation. SP01

ŕ Ž OV\YZ JVSK ŕ Ž :^LH[ MYLL ŕ Ž OV\YZ OV[ ŕ Ž 0UZ\SH[LK ^HSS ŕ Ž )7( MYLL ŕ Ž 7YPU[LK SVJHSS` PU -SVYPKH

$1 SPENT = 2 POINTS

5

Earn a $

RewardsÂŽ Reward for every 200 pointsâ€

when you use your Bealls Florida Credit Card.†â€

Once you’ve earned 200 points, we’ll email your reward.â€

$1 SPENT = 1 POINT

when you use any other form of payment.

Rewards are valid for 60 days and can be used in-store or at BeallsFlorida.com.â€

Point balances that don’t convert into a reward expire after one year.†See below for details.

†Receive a $5 Reward for every 200 points with a max of $50 Reward in a single day. Points are calculated at the end of every day, and a Reward is issued within 72 hours of the following day. Coast2Coast Program is provided by Bealls Stores, Inc. and its terms may change at any time. This Program is NOT affiliated with or related to the Bealls Outlet Rewards Program in any way. To receive rewards via email, please visit BeallsFlorida.com/rewards for full Terms & Conditions. ††Subject to credit approval.

Comenity Bank issues the Bealls Florida Credit Card. C2C05

Go to BeallsFlorida.com for hours & locations.

Bealls Stores & BeallsFlorida.com are operated by Bealls Stores, Inc. and Beall’s Westgate Corporation. GE01

10 bealls buck$

GET $

FOR EVERY $50 YOU SPEND

Receive $10 Bealls Bucks when you make a qualifying merchandise purchase of $50 or more (before taxes) in Bealls Stores only. Bealls Bucks, Coast2Coast RewardsÂŽ & dollar-off discounts will be applied prior to percent-off total purchase discounts. Maximum of $120 Bealls Bucks awarded per guest. Bealls Bucks have no cash value and can be redeemed in-store only at Bealls S tores. Bealls Bucks must be presented and surrendered at time of purchase; any remaining balance will be forfeited. Bealls Bucks cannot be earned on purchases of gift cards or applied to prior purchases, gift cards, taxes or existing Bealls Florida credit balances. Not valid at Bealls Outlet S tores. Offer cannot be earned or combined with Employee discount. OP13A

9

10

www.amisun.com

THE SUN

SEPTEMBER 26, 2018

OVERLOOKING ANNA MARIA SOUND

Live the

Lifestyle at One Particular Harbour

Open House

YOU’RE INVITED

Sunday

1:00 – 3:00 PM

396 Aruba Circle #403, Bradenton, FL 34209

September 30th

Enjoy light bites & refreshments If you can’t attend our open house, call today and schedule your personal tour. 877-542-0822

A nna Mari – Vote d To a Island p 10 Beach

Sunset V ie

ws

Marina, Dining & Enter tainment

MOVE-IN READY WATERFRONT RESIDENCES FROM THE HIGH $400s Sheltered from the wind, there’s a private island paradise waiting for you to come ashore... where LVODQG VW\OHG UHVLGHQFHV RÎ? HU VWXQQLQJ VXQVHW YLHZV D GHHSZDWHU PDULQD SURYLGHV GLUHFW DFFHVV WR WKH Gulf of Mexico, and dockside dining and boat drinks are served with a license to chill. Hurry, before this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity sails away!

Brand New Vacation Homes • Short-Term Rental Opportunity • Florida’s Last Private Island

Try the Margaritaville Lifestyle Before You Buy! Ask about our 3 days/2 nights

One Particular Getaway

for Only

$229*

(877) 542-0822 | OPHMintoUSA.com

*Price excludes taxes. Costs of trip including airfare and expenses will be reimbursed up to $500 at closing. Purchase must be made within 90 days of One Particular Getaway visit. Receipts for airfare and H[SHQVHV PXVW EH VXEPLWWHG LQ RUGHU WR EH UHLPEXUVHG IRU H[DFW H[SHQGLWXUHV 7KH UHLPEXUVHPHQW FRVW LV QRW WR H[FHHG 7KLV PDWHULDO VKDOO QRW FRQVWLWXWH D YDOLG RÎ? HU LQ DQ\ VWDWH ZKHUH SULRU UHJLVWUDWLRQ LV required. The facilities and amenities described and depicted are proposed, but not yet constructed. Photographs are for illustrative purposes only and are merely representative of current development plans.

'HYHORSPHQW SODQV DPHQLWLHV IDFLOLWLHV GLPHQVLRQV VSHFLČ´ FDWLRQV SULFHV DQG IHDWXUHV GHSLFWHG E\ DUWLVWVȇ UHQGHULQJV RU RWKHUZLVH GHVFULEHG KHUHLQ DUH DSSUR[LPDWH DQG VXEMHFW WR FKDQJH ZLWKRXW QRWLFH Š Minto Communities, LLC 2018. All rights reserved. Content may not be reproduced, copied, altered, distributed, stored or transferred in any form or by any means without express written permission. One Particular Harbour and the One Particular Harbour logo are trademarks of Margaritaville Enterprises, LLC and are used under license. Minto and the Minto logo are trademarks of Minto Communities, LLC and/or its DÉ?

OLDWHV &*& 023+

www.amisun.com

SEPTEMBER 26, 2018

THE SUN

11

Bike share owners hope for city cooperation The owners of Mobile Muttley’s are hoping to bring their bike share service to the Island with the help of local businesses and the three cities.

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

ANNA MARIA – The men behind Mobile Muttley’s are asking for permission to put their bike share service docks in multiple locations along Anna Maria Island. Local lawmakers aren’t sure the Island is ready for the service.

Tracey Thrall and Tom Pechous appeared before members of the Coalition of Barrier Island Elected Officials during the September meeting to present their plan for the bike share service and get feedback from the Island mayors.

Mayors Bob Johnson and Dan Murphy were in attendance, as well as commissioners from the three cities.

Pechous pitched the share service as a home-based business with solarpowered docking stations with bicycles located throughout the Island. Ideally, he said the company would like to place

some docking stations on private property and some on city-owned property or rights of way.

Users would have to download an app to their smartphone and, after entering their information, payment information and agreeing to a liability waiver, could use the app to unlock a bicycle. When the user finishes with the cycle, it could be returned to any available Mobile Muttley’s dock on the Island. He said the venture is fully insured and believes it would serve as a deterrent for lower quality systems coming to the Island.

Holmes Beach Commissioner Carol Soustek was concerned about the safety of riders and how the company would communicate the rules of the road to visitors renting bicycles. Thrall said the bicycles will come equipped with lights for nighttime riding, however, riders will have to provide their own helmets if they wish to use one.

He said all riders are required to sign a waiver before renting the bicycle, available through the app. Pechous said literature on local bicycle laws and regulations will be available for riders to consult through the app.

As far as locations go, Pechous said

KRISTIN SWAIN | SUN

Owners of Mobile Muttley’s, a bike share service, Tom Pechous and Tracey Thrall present their business plan to BIEO members Dan Murphy and Bob Johnson at Anna Maria City Hall. the company has received a lot of interest from private businesses, but he still wants to pursue the project with the

cities in the hopes of placing rental stations on city-owned property.

Anna Maria Commissioner Carol Carter said she’d rather see the stations located on private property rather than city-owned property. She said allowing one business to work on the city property could open up issues with other vendors wanting to put their business on city property and open the city to liability issues.

Holmes Beach Commissioner Judy Titsworth agreed, noting that parking may also be an issue if users decide to drive to a bicycle pick up point and leave their car for the day to ride around the Island.

Thrall said the three commissions’ biggest concern should be a dockless system coming to the Island with or without their consent, which could lead to bicycles being left on sidewalks, in people’s yards and in the streets.

Murphy said that the BIEO made a special exception for Mobile Muttley’s to appear at the meeting, noting that it’s not the practice of the organization to accommodate commercial business pitches. He said no decisions on the service could be made at the meeting.

COMMISSION: Candidates discuss the issues FROM PAGE 3

ARE THERE ISSUES THAT YOU THINK THE CITY ISN’T HANDLING EFFECTIVELY? HOW DO YOU PROPOSE TO IMPROVE THE CITY’S APPROACH?

Morton: “We’re working things through, but it takes time to get there.”

Purvis: “Well, you know, the issue that probably jumps out biggest to me

and this is, once again, not a knock against anybody, it’s just that in my business every day I see vacation renters, I see people come in to purchase property, wanting, having the same dream we did of having the opportunity to live here one day and I realize that the best way to get a lot of these people who come to our city to understand what is expected of them is to get

ahold of them before they get here.”

Rash: “The biggest things they have to deal with is the traffic.”

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR CITY TO A STRANGER?

Morton: “I think we have a very friendly city here. The people here are very into what’s going on, and I think we’re in tune to what’s going on.”

Purvis: “It’s paradise. There’s a reason why when we stumbled upon it; we made sure to find a way to make this where we would end up.”

Rash: “We have some of the most beautiful beaches in the world right here. It’s just an unbelievable place to relax, unwind and breathe in the salt air. It’s just a great place to call home.”

Wine Special

5346 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach (941) 778-5788 hurricanehanks.com

Rawson’s Retreat Cabernet Sauvignon ŪƐƓĺƖƖ ņ 0o Ѵ; Ŗ Beringer Founders Estate Pinot Noir ŪƐƑĺƖƖ ņ 0o Ѵ; Ŗ * until September 30, 2018 or while quantities last with dine-in purchase of two entrees.

See us for full details.

www.amisun.com

THE SUN

Commissioners consider emergency beach access Holmes Beach commissioners are considering widening a few beach access paths to allow better emergency vehicle access by police and fire department vehicles.

Commissioner Pat Morton broached the conversation during the Sept. 13 meeting, noting that there’s a 15-block span along Gulf Drive between beach accesses that can accommodate the allterrain vehicles used by the Holmes Beach Police Department, Manatee County Sheriff ’s Department and

West Manatee Fire Rescue. Police Chief Bill Tokajer said ideally there should only be three to four blocks in between usable access points to help make response faster and reduce the probability of vehicles getting stuck in the sand.

Commissioner Judy Titsworth agreed to put the matter on a future work session agenda for discussion, though she said she’d like to look at locations where minimal alterations to vegetation and dune systems would be necessary.

SEPTEMBER 26, 2018

Loving Christ • Sharing His Grace • Serving All COMMUNITY CHURCH

SUNDAY WORSHIP 8:30 AM IN THE MEMORIAL CHAPEL or 10:00 AM IN THE SANCTUARY Call for a ride to the 10:00 AM Worship Service

10:00 AM Nursery & Church School 8:45 AM Adult Sunday School 9:00 AM Adult Book Study

A NON-DENOMINATIONAL, CHRISTIAN CHURCH • EVERYONE IS WELCOME!

512 Pine Ave • Anna Maria

12

941-778-0414 • www.RoserChurch.com • www.facebook.com/RoserChurch

www.amisun.com

SEPTEMBER 26, 2018

THE SUN

13

Red tide varies locally

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

The most recent report from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) shows that red tide increased in waters off Anna Maria Island during the week ending Sept. 21.

Forecasters predict medium concentrations of red tide on the north end of the Island and high concentrations on the rest of the Island through at least Sept. 24.

The Sept. 21 report shows that Manatee County red tide levels are from 5 percent to 25 percent higher than the previous week. High concentrations were found in water samples on Sept.

17 at Longboat Pass and Cortez Beach, both in Bradenton Beach. Medium concentrations were found on that date at the Rod & Reel Pier in Anna Maria and at the Palma Sola Bay bridge.

Background concentrations of red tide cause no anticipated effects. Low levels can cause respiratory irritation, shellfish harvesting closures and possible fish kills. Medium levels can cause respiratory irritation, shellfish harvesting closures and probable fish kills. High levels can cause all of the above, plus water discoloration, which was reported on Sept. 14.

Respiratory irritation was reported from Sept. 14-19 at Coquina Beach in Bradenton Beach and from Sept. 13-20 at Manatee Beach in Holmes Beach.

The last reported fish kill in Manatee

End of Summer Happy Open at 11:00 AM Hour Now Through September 29th Monday - Friday 11:00 am - 6:00 pm Saturday 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Lunch Specials Daily 4628 119th St W Cortez (941)798-2035 swordfishgrill.com Marker 49 by boat

SUBMITTED

County was on the Manatee River at Bishop’s Point on Sept. 14.

Red tide is a type of algae that emits a neurotoxin when it blooms. Deadly to fish, sea turtles, marine mammals and shorebirds that feed on affected fish, red tide makes shellfish unfit to eat, and can cause respiratory irritation in people, especially those with asthma, COPD or other respiratory diseases.

MANATEE RED TIDE DEATH TOLL CLIMBS

At least 149 manatees have died during the red tide bloom that has plagued southwest Florida since October 2017,

and which reached Anna Maria Island on Aug. 3.

To date, 56 dead manatees tested positive for red tide, and red tide is suspected in 93 manatee deaths, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Nine manatee deaths have been recorded in Manatee County so far this year, six in Anna Maria Sound and Sarasota Bay; none are confirmed from red tide.

So far this year, 638 manatees have died in state waters, compared to 538 in all of 2017.

14

www.amisun.com

THE SUN

SEPTEMBER 26, 2018

Weather sets mood for Island Players’ debut ‘’The Unexpected Guest,’ by Agatha Christie runs through Sept. 30, and tickets are available at the ticket office or online.

BY TOM VAUGHT SUN STAFF WRITER | tvaught@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA – It was a dark and stormy night as the Island Players performed “The Unexpected Guest,” a murder mystery from the pen of Agatha Christie, on Thursday, Nov. 20.

Flashes of lightning and the booms and crackles of thunder from a storm outside permeated the performance, adding to the murder mystery ambience. At one time, the power failed, and the lights went out briefly as emergency lights on both sides of the stage replaced them.

And what a show it was as they opened the 70th season of Manatee County’s oldest dramatic troupe. The first show was well paced and well played by the cast.

Director Heiko Knipfelberg also had a lead part in the play as Michael Starkwedder, a traveler who drove off the road during a heavy fog and entered the home of Richard Warwick, played by Jack Abene, who sat in his wheelchair dead from a bullet. His wife, Laura, played by Island Players President Sylvia Marnie, told Starkwedder she had murdered her abusive husband, a hunter who liked to shoot at wild animals and pets that strayed onto his property. Knipfelberg and Marnie worked well together, setting the stage for the rest of the story. Both are talented veterans of the Island

TOM VAUGHT | SUN

From left to right: Heiko Knipfelberg AS Michael Starkwedder, Kristin Mazzitelli as Sergaent Cadwaddler, Colin Brady as Henry Angell, Dan Coppinger as Inspector Thomas, Valerie Lipscomb as Miss Bennett and Mark Shoemaker as Julian Farrar. On the sofa: Sylvia Marnie as Laura Warwick and Caroline Cox as Mrs. Warwick.

Players’ stage and their performances were flawless.

After hearing a dazed Laura Warwick’s story, Starkwedder went to work, planting items in the room and wiping some items of fingerprints so the detectives would be persuaded to shift the blame to one of the other characters living in the house in Britain. He said he did it because he didn’t want to see a pretty woman go to prison.

A note about the play’s British heritage, every one of the characters had believable accents. There’s nothing more distracting than listening to a performer drop his or her accent.

Enter Inspector Thomas, played by Daniel Coppinger. He was great as a veteran investigator who pushed for answers. He was upstaged at times

by Kristin Mazzitelli, who played Sergeant Cadwaller. She was hilarious as his aide, taking notes and answering the phone.

Valerie Lipscomb as Miss Bennett, Colin Brady as Henry Angell and Caroline Cox as Mrs. Warwick played their roles well and Mark Shoemaker, who entered late, was great as a romantic interest.

There was one performance that outshined them all. Jeffrey Steiger played Jan Warwick, the deceased son who had special mental needs. His performance was real and real scary at times. It alone is worth the price of a ticket.

There is a surprise ending, of course, but you’ll have to see it yourself.

On that magical night as the Island Players’ 70th season began, “The Unexpected Guest,” co-produced by Bortells Lounge, is an example of why people keep coming back to the little playhouse on the Island.

For tickets, call the ticket office at 941-778-5755, or go online to www. theislandplayers.org.

TOM VAUGHT | SUN

Celebration There was a champagne celebration of the Island Players’ 70th anniversary Thursday evening before the showing of “The Unexpected Guest.” Left, Island Players veterans Priscilla and Preston Boyd and right, Off Stage Ladies pictured are, front row: Nancy Maloney, Charlene Doll and back row: Susan Turner, Nancy Ambrose, Roe Duncan, Carol Heckman.

WHEN YOU THINK FANS, THINK DAN'S!

DAN'S FAN CITY LARGEST SELECTION OF INDOOR & OUTDOOR FANS ANYWHERE! TORNADO

DESIGN

MARINE GRADE S316 STAINLESS STEEL

YOUR FAN

ASK US HOW

OR SEE OUR

RAINDANCE

Direct Water Contact 30 Year Warranty 45 Stores Nationwide Parts, Services & Open 7 Days A Week Installation Available Locally Owned and Operated · Fan Experts For Over 35 Years

Bradenton

1808 Cortez Road

755-3262

‛S YOUR COMFORT ZONE? WHERE

SEPTEMBER 26, 2018

www.amisun.com

THE SUN

15

Bradenton Beach Commission adopts 2018-19 budget Bradenton Beach’s budget includes pay raises, COLA increases and longevity bonuses for city employees.

the Anna Maria Oyster Bar. Adopted separately, the CRA budget projects $1.06 million in expenditures in the 2019-19 fiscal year, but some projects listed in the budget, including a $144,000 irrigation system, may not be pursued in the next 12 months. The adopted CRA budget does not reference the $568,000 recently approved for undergrounding the utility lines on Bridge Street and that expenditure, when made, will require a budget amendment.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH – The City Commission has adopted its budget for the 201819 fiscal year that begins Oct. 1.

Adopted on second and final reading last week, the 2018-19 budget anticipates $3,736,638 in total general fund revenues, $3,682,068 in total general fund expenditures and a net gain of $54,570.

The adopted budget maintains the 2.3329 millage rate, but property owners whose taxable property values have increased will see their property tax bills increase accordingly.

The adopted budget anticipates $2.58 million on general fund revenues, including $1.4 million in ad valorem taxes, $94,512 from the voter-approved half-cent sales tax and $78,750 in vacation rental licensing and registration fees.

The new budget includes 6 percent pay raises for all city employees and police officers. The budget also provides for a newlyenacted 2 percent cost of living allowance

MAYOR’S COMMENTS

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

City hall is operating within budgetary means, according to Mayor John Chappie.

(COLA) increases for city employees this year and tiered longevity bonuses. These increases do not apply to the contracted city attorney, building official and city planner.

Nor do they apply to the mayor, who makes $800 a month or the city commissioners, who make $400 a month.

According to City Treasurer Shayne Thompson, the pay raises, COLA increases and longevity bonuses total $126,036 in additional city expenditures for the 2018-19 fiscal year.

The budget calls for $1.14 million in police department expenditures, including $658,000 in regular salaries and wages. The budget projects $164,648 in police department revenues, including $98,948 from Manatee County for patrolling Coquina Beach and the Coquina boat ramps.

The adopted budget includes $293,187 for streets and roads projects and $166,294 for storm water projects.

The budget projects $86,750 in pier revenues collected from the city’s pier tenant,

The budgets were adopted on final reading on Wednesday, Sept. 19. Earlier that afternoon, Mayor John Chappie shared his thoughts on the process and the end results.

“I think it was an excellent process. A lot of things have come together since our city clerk (Terri Sanclemente) was hired some years ago. A friend of mine, Pat Glass, who was involved in local government for many years told me this long ago: The budget is the single most important item that you deal with in government. It’s a reflection of where you’ve been, where you are and where you’re going. It is our outline for what we’ll be doing, and everything is based on that budget,” Chappie said.

SEE BUDGET, PAGE 19

16

www.amisun.com

THE SUN

SEPTEMBER 26, 2018

Two for One Happy Hour Weekdays Until Five.

Signature Cocktails / Domestic Drafts / House Wines / Wells

open daily _\ / 400 feet south of the Cortez Bridge on the Gulf

BeachHouseDining.com

$10 OFF WHEN YOU SPEND $30 $10 OFF it’s our way of saying thanks for being a local customer.

Come in for lunch or dinner, bring the coupon, spend $30 and you’ll get an instant $10 off. The coupon is good for drinks, food and merchandise. Open daily 12pm.

on any purchase of $30 or more

Coupon must be presented at time of purchase. No cash value. Applies to a single total purchase. Valid at all three restaurants. Limit one per customer per purchase. Cannot be combined with other offers. Offer expires 10/7/18.

Code: Summer

Sandbar Seafood & Spirits

The Deck at the Beach House Waterfront Restaurant

Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant & Pub

Anna Maria Island 941.778.0444 SandbarDining.com

Bradenton Beach 941.779.2222 BeachHouseDining.com

North Longboat Key 941.383.2391 MarVistaDining.com

www.amisun.com

SEPTEMBER 26, 2018

THE SUN

The following hotels and motels accept pets. Some have limitations on species, number, size and breed, some require pets to be caged before housekeeping services are rendered, some require deposits or extra charges, and some have special pet amenities, such as grassy areas for walking. Call ahead to find accommodations that match your needs, and make a list of several hotels in different parts of the state to be prepared for storms from any direction.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND Anna Maria Island Beach Resort 105 39th Street, Holmes Beach 941-778-7477 ARCADIA Knights Inn 504 S. Brevard Ave. 863-494-4884 Holiday Inn Express 2709 Southeast Hwy. 70 863-494-5900 BRADENTON Best Western Plus 2215 Cortez Rd W 941-238-0800 Courtyard Bradenton Sarasota/Riverfront 100 Riverfront Dr. W. 941-747-3727 Days Inn 3506 1st St. W. 941-746-1141 Days Inn Bradenton – I75 644 67th St Circle E 941-746-2505

Harry's Grill 9903 Gulf Dr Anna Maria www.harrysAMI.com 941-567-5999

Fairfield Inn & Suites Lakewood Ranch 6105 Exchange Way 941-552-4000 Hampton Inn & Suites 309 10th St W 941-746-9400 Hyatt Place Sarasota/ Lakewood Ranch 6021 Exchange Way 941-748-3100 Motel 6 660 67th St. Circle E. 941-747-6005

Quality Inn BradentonSarasota N. 6727 14th St. West/US 41 N. 520-257-4521 Sunrise Inn 668 67th St Circle E 941-745-1876 BROOKSVILLE Days Inn 6320 Windmere Rd 352-796-9486 Microtel Inn 6298 Nature Coast Blvd 352-796-9025 Quality Inn 30307 Cortez Blvd 352-796-9481 CAPE CORAL Holiday Inn Express 1538 Cape Coral Pkwy E 239-542-2121 DAYTONA BEACH Homewood Suites

By Hilton 165 Bill France Blvd 386-258-2828 Residence Inn Daytona Beach Speedway/Airport 1725 Richard Petty Blvd 386-252-3949 DELAND Comfort Inn 400 E International Speedway Blvd 386-736-3100 ELLENTON Red Roof Inn 4915 17th St. E. 941-729-0600

Sleep Inn 5605 18th St. E. 941-721-4933 Super 8 5218 17th St. E. 941-729-8505 FORT MYERS Baymont Inn & Suites 9401 Marketplace Rd 239-454-0040 Four Points by Sheraton 13600 Treeline Ave S 239-322-1399 Hyatt Place 2600 Champion Ring Rd 239-418-1844 La Quinta Inn 9521 Market Place Rd 239-466-0012 Residence Inn 20371 Summerlin Rd 239-415-4150 Travel Lodge 4760 S Cleveland Ave 239-275-1111 Travel Lodge 13661 Indian Paint Ln 239-561-1117 GAINESVILLE Best Western 4200 N.W. 97th Blvd.

352-331-3336 Holiday Inn Express 3905 S.W. 43rd St. 352-376-0004 Motel 6 4000 S.W. 40th Blvd.

352-373-1604

17

THE SUN

www.amisun.com

SEPTEMBER 26, 2018

URRICAN

E

H

18

REA DY

Are You Ready for the Storm?

Pick up our

Free Hurricane Brochure

3

with tips to help you be prepared

$ OFF

YOUR PURCHASE OF $15

Limit 1. No cash value. Items may not be split across transactions.

Coupon must be surrendered. Cannot be combined with other Pet Supermarket coupons or promotions, used while price matching or applied to previous orders. Cannot be used for gift cards, animal, vet or grooming. Offer valid in-store only until 11/30/2018.

Bradenton East

Bradenton Central

Bradenton West

4238 53rd Ave. East 941-727-7058

4315 26th St. West 941-758-4411

7208 Manatee Ave. West 941-761-0312

Over 100 Locations in Florida • PetSupermarket.com

SEPTEMBER 26, 2018

www.amisun.com

BUDGET: Adopted by commission FROM PAGE 15

that connection and why it’s so important to participate in your local government and the budgetary process. As mayor, it’s part of my duties and responsibilities to work with

staff and create the budget. Our staff has done an amazing job, and the commission was participating throughout this whole process. This is a balanced budget, and there is no deficit spending. The city of Bra-

THE SUN

denton Beach is living within its means,” he added.

When asked about the pay increases, Chappie said, “Payroll is the most expensive item in a budget. We have a great staff, and we compared our pay to what other communities in the area are paying. We’ve lost a couple police officers in the last year to Holmes Beach because they pay more,

and Bradenton Beach has been struggling to get in the middle of the pay scale that people should be getting. We’re catching up and giving the raises that are needed so we don’t lose qualified, experienced employees. We are doing it within our means without raising taxes and the millage rate hasn’t increased,” Chappie concluded.

FREE EVENT!

21st Annual

Inaugural

Oktoberfest SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20th | 8 AM - 1 PM at the Florida Maritime Museum | 4415 119th Street W., Cortez, FL (rain date of Saturday, October 27th)

For more info or to reserve a vendor space* fill out an application at www.FloridaMaritimeMuseum.org or call 941-708-6120. Nautical Craft Vendors contact Linda Fowler at 270-791-1366. * The vendor fee is $35 after October 13.

Parking will be available at the F.I.S.H. Preserve located after 115th Street West going west. The preserve will be on your left.

Presented by: Partners & Sponsors: Southwinds Magazine

19

20

www.amisun.com

THE SUN

Turtles breaking records

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

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – The good news is there are more loggerhead sea turtle nests and hatchlings so far this year than ever before on Anna Maria Island.

Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring has recorded 534 nests and counting, compared to the 2017 record of 488, and 33,669 hatchlings and counting, compared to last year’s record of 25,379.

The bad news is that the number of nesting mothers and hatchlings getting confused due to lights that are not in compliance with local ordinances is fast approaching the record high number of 55 set last year, according to Director Suzi Fox. On Monday, Bradenton Beach officials agreed to allow the installation of

TURTLE TIPS During sea turtle season, May 1 – Oct. 31, please follow these tips: • Turn off lights visible from the beach and close blinds from sundown to sunrise; lights confuse nesting sea turtles and may cause them to go back to sea and drop their eggs in the water, where they won’t hatch. Light can also attract hatchlings away from the water.

• Don’t use flashlights, lanterns or camera flashes on the beach at night.

• Remove all objects from the sand from sundown to sunrise; they can deter sea turtles from nesting and disorient hatchlings.

• Fill in the holes you dig in the sand before leaving the beach; they can trap nesting and hatching sea turtles, which cannot live long out of the water.

• Don’t use wish lanterns or fireworks; they litter the beach and Gulf.

Where’s Bortie?

Remaining in 11th place in a field of 13, loggerhead sea turtle Bortie continues to swim off Everglades National Park in the Sea Turtle Conservancy’s 11th Annual Tour de Turtles. Bortie has traveled 169 miles since the race began on Aug. 1. The event is part of the organization’s research project tracking satellite-tagged turtles to determine where and how far they migrate. Bortie was satellite tagged and released on Coquina Beach on June 19 after nesting, and is sponsored by the Conservancy, Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring, Waterline Marina Resort in Holmes Beach and Bortell’s Lounge in Anna Maria, for which she is named.

Bortie’s nest hatched successfully in August.

SEA TURTLE CONSERVANCY | SUBMITTED

six turtle-friendly lights within the city limits that Turtle Watch will purchase as models for all three Island cities and Florida Power & Light to see.

The lights are designed for different environments, such as parking lots, driveways and streets, Fox said, adding that the lights will be installed in time for next year’s sea turtle season, which begins on May 1, 2019.

Of the 45 disorientations recorded so far this year, two were in Anna Maria, with the rest in Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach, she said.

Only 46 nests remain on the Island, and those should hatch by the end of turtle season around Halloween.

Until then, Turtle Watch requests that beachgoers not use flashlights, lanterns or camera flashes on the beach at night, and keep blinds and drapes drawn on windows and doors facing the Gulf of Mexico.

• Do not trim trees and plants that shield the beach from lights.

• Never touch a sea turtle; it’s the law. If you see people disturbing turtles, call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Wildlife Alert hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922).

NESTING NEWS Turtle nests laid: 534 (all-time AMI record) False crawls: 543 Nests hatched: 419 Not hatched: 69 Nests remaining: 46 Hatchlings hatched: 33,669 (all-time AMI record) Nest disorientations: 45 Source: Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring

SEPTEMBER 26, 2018

SEPTEMBER 26, 2018

FOOD & WINE

THE SUN

Reminiscing about rouladen

Brian Mathae

Rouladen (4 servings) Ingredients

W

• 1 1/2 lbs. round steak, cut into long 1/4 inch filets • Mustard, ideally German stone ground mustard • 1/2 lb. pork belly or alternatively thick sliced bacon • 16 oz. jar of pickle spears, cut in half lengthwise • 2 large onions, diced • 3 Tbs. butter • 2 c. beef stock • 3 bay leaves

HURRICANE HANKS

hile planning for our Octoberfest specials at Hurricane Hanks, chef Harvey and I discussed many interesting and delightful German inspired dishes. All the possibilities sounded absolutely delicious to me. This is all the more true because I am in the middle of a 30-day cleanse and my diet has been restricted to a well balanced protein shake and vegetables.

I’ve been running at full speed since landing on the Island. Updating and running two businesses takes more time than I thought! Its only with hindsight that I realize I should have kept a dairy of the daily ups and downs that happened so far in our journey. It would have made a best seller list somewhere for sure.

Unfortunately, all those ups and downs started affecting my health. Extremely long hours, stress and the hospitality lifestyle took a toll. At some point I realized changes needed to be made, but I always put my health behind the business. With enough prodding from my personal trainer Colin, who truly is an exceptional person, I now have a plan that puts me in front.

But more importantly, the menu items we discussed for an Octoberfest menu brought back so many fond memories.

Both of my parent immigrated from Austria and met in Canada. They brought with them food and traditions that we still enjoy as a family today. As children and teenagers we were very fortunate to spend many summers in Europe, spending time with our large family and enjoy-

Directions

SUBMITTED

Rouladen is the perfect comfort meal and is ideal for a Sunday family dinner.

ing authentic food.

The traditional recipes come from a time when food was scarce and simple.

They made do with what they had.

Modern recipes can be overcomplicated and require ingredients that you need to search for in specialty shops. Whereas, the biggest and best ingredient in every one of my grandmother's dishes was love. After all these years I still crave to eat those meals again. One of those, which we will be featuring on our Octoberfest menu, is rouladen.

Rouladen is enjoyed in many countries in Europe with some ingredient

variations. Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic and countries in between like Austria have all developed recipes. Since beef is the main ingredient, it would have been saved for special occasions like a Sunday family dinner.

Today, its a perfect comfort meal. You do have to plan ahead somewhat as the beef should be thinly sliced. A visit to the butcher is in order to get thin, long slices of round steak or even veal. When you prepare the recipe, cook like a grandmother adding copious amounts of love. Enjoy.

Lay filets on a cutting board or other large surface. Pound with a meat hammer to tenderize.

Spread a generous amount of mustard on top.

Place strip of bacon, pickle spear and diced onions at one end.

Slowly roll the filet lengthwise until formed in a roll. Hold together with toothpicks.

Heat large skillet over medium heat and melt butter. Sauté rolls on all sides in butter until browned. Add beef stock, remaining onion and bay leaves, reduce heat and simmer for about 1 hour. Remove rolls from saucepan and make a gravy from the drippings, thickening with flour if necessary.

Ideally serve with braised red cabbage and spaetzle. Alternatively you can serve with roasted vegetables and egg noodles simply finished in butter.

21

22

THE SUN

OUTDOORS

SEPTEMBER 26, 2018

Fly fishing the Deschutes Reel Time RUSTY CHINNIS

T

he sky was just beginning to lighten as my wife Christine and I crossed the high desert from Bend, Oregon on our way to the Warm Springs Indian Reservation and a rendezvous with our guide Elke Kirk (Littleleaf) and his wife, Alysia. The stark buttes and mountains in the distance were silhouetted against a pink horizon, massive and featureless except for the relief of their jagged contours. To the west the snow capped volcano Mount Jefferson framed the surreal landscape.

I had been investigating the fishing opportunities in advance of our trip to Oregon when I first learned about Elke (pronounced Elk), an American Indian guide on the Deschutes, a famous steelhead river that’s a major tributary of the Columbia River. Elke and other guides on the reservation have access to 39 miles of the river that’s off limits to other anglers. While the river is best known for its steelhead runs, it’s also home to rainbow trout, including a native species known as redsides.

These trout are famed for their fighting ability born of the swift currents they spend their lives in.

We met Elke and Alysia in Warm Springs, and after transferring equipment to their drift boat we donned our waders and jumped in their truck for

the drive to the launch area on the Deschutes. On the way we stopped at a spring that Elke claimed was tested as the second cleanest drinking source in the country. A quick taste confirmed the purity of the clear, cold liquid. A few miles down a rough dirt road and we were at the launch spot, hardly more than a clearing in the stream side vegetation. While they were getting the boat launched and prepared, I waded the edges of the river with a dry fly and and got several takes that I wasn’t able to connect with.

In conversations prior to the trip, I had learned that anglers are not able to fish out of the boat on the Deschutes. When I queried Elke he related that they had almost lost the native SEE REEL TIME, PAGE 23

CHRISTINE KILLEEN | SUBMITTED

Rusty Chinnis with a 19-inch redsides trout he caught on the Deschutes with guide Elke Kirk.

www.amisun.com

SEPTEMBER 26, 2018

THE SUN

23

Offshore fishing is great CAPTAIN DAVE WHITE

Conditions around our little Island have been phenomenal despite the presence of red tide in the south and nearshore areas.

The winds have been low and fishing has been great.

Redfish are schooling up in big numbers in Tampa Bay. It’s not uncommon right now to have multiple hookups at the same time.

Chumming heavily is key to keeping the rest of the school preoccupied and eating while you’re landing the fish on the line. Redfish and snook are closed from the Manatee river, south on past Naples to Gordon’s pass. The FWC is taking appropriate measures to ensure these fish aren’t taking a further hit from anglers after the red tide.

It’s more important than ever to get educated on why our waterways need to be monitored for pollution and fertilizers. We’ve really felt the negative affects of deregula-

CAPTAIN DAVE WHITE | SUBMITTED

Matt Bower, of Bradenton, releases a gorgeous African pompano on Sept. 20 caught on a jighead tipped with squid. tion and poor choices in south Florida water management. It’s sad to see the toll it’s taken on our beautiful Island and our surrounding areas.

Offshore fishing is great right now. We have been running out

past 25 miles to find good, clean water. Red grouper, all varieties of snapper, amberjack and my favorite, African pompano are being caught with regularity.

All of these fish fight hard and are great eating. You never know

what you could get on the other end out there. That makes for a lot of fun and excitement. Hopefully you get a chance to take advantage of these flat conditions and catch your own dinner.

REEL TIME: Fly fishing the Deschutes FROM PAGE 22

population of trout due to anglers dragging them in the swift current while drifting.

Not fishing from the boat meant we passed by many promising shorelines and pockets, instead stopping and wading some of the river’s most productive stretches.

The unanticipated advantage was that we were better able to enjoy the awesome scenery on what turned out to be a spectacular day.

Instead of hitting one bank and then another, constantly eyeing the river, I was able to sit back and appreciate the buttes, canyons and incredible geological formations that line the river.

On the first stop Elke set up my seven weight Hardy fly rod with a steelhead fly and positioned me on a gravel bar at the confluence of

the Warm Springs and Deschutes River. On my fourth cast I hooked up to a fish that he thought was a steelhead due to the strong runs it made into my backing. After working the fish from the current into a seam of slower water Elke was able to bring it to the net. As it turned out it was a native Redsides rainbow that measured close to 20”. According to Elke the fish was a trophy, as the fish average from 13-16 inches.

The balance of the day I fished some of the most beautiful water and scenery I have ever encountered. The sky was blue, the sun warm and both Christine and I reveled in the beauty that surrounded us. As fly fishers know some of the best days, weather wise, can be some of the most challenging and this day was a

case study. While I was able to get some action on smaller trout on dry flies the Redsides and steelhead proved elusive the rest of the day. That in no way dampened our enthusiasm or enjoyment of the day that ended with an incredible drive over native lands back to “civilization.” The day was an excellent introduction to the Deschutes and a delightful adventure with a native guide. Both Elke and Alysia shared stories of the river, the land and the legends that abound in this wild and remote part of Oregon. This float is recommended for fishers and non-fishers alike as the scenery is spectacular and the river features some exhilarating rapids. Elke can be reached by visiting his web site at www.littleleafguides.com or by calling (541) 615-0402.

24

www.amisun.com

THE SUN

SEPTEMBER 26, 2018

Planning board supports dock request The request is consistent with previous docks permitted throughout the city.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH – The Planning and Zoning Board recommends City Commission approval of George and Wendy Kokolis’ request to build a 120-foot-long non-commercial dock and boat lift at the end of Fifth Street South.

The planning board’s recommended approval came in the form of four separate motions made at the board’s Wednesday, Sept. 19, meeting. The dock request is for a residential property at 110 5th Street South.

Attorney Patricia Petruff represented the Kokolises at the meeting which they did not attend. Petruff said the entrance to the fourfoot-wide dock would be located near an existing opening in the mangrove shoreline. If additional mangrove trimming is needed, this could require additional permitting that is beyond the scope of the Planning and Zoning Board.

“I believe the dock is the minimum length required to obtain adequate water depths for the small boat that will be there. I think that’s borne out by the length of the other docks in the area. A dock is not going to adversely impact property values – I think it might actually enhance property values.

The owner does have riparian rights for access to the water and adjacent properties have docks, so it’s not a request that’s out of line,” Petruff said during the public hearing.

Petruff said the Kokolis’ permitting requests are consistent with previous dock permitting requests granted throughout the city.

When asked about the current use of the residential property, Petruff said it has been used an annual rental in the past, but that may have changed. She said the

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

Property owners George and Wendy Kokolis want to build a 120-foot dock at the corner of Fifth Street South and South Bay Drive. Below, the proposed dock would be built near this existing gap in the mangrove shoreline.

dock and the boat lift would be used by renters and/or the property owners.

Petruff noted that surveyor Leo Mills walked 110 feet out into the water to gauge the water depth and the need for dock of that length.

The Kokolis’ four-part request includes: • The city granting of an easement for the small piece of city land between the road and the water at the corner of Fifth Street South and Bay Drive South; • A special use permit for a noncommercial boat dock and boat lift in the Public Recreation Area

(PRA) zone district; • A special use permit for a noncommercial dock exceeding 65 feet length from the mean high- water line; • A request to reduce to the south setback from the dock and boat lift to 10 feet instead of 25 feet.

The planning board unanimously recommended approval of all four requests. The meeting was chaired by vice-chair John Burns in the wake of former chair Jim Lynch’s recent resignation.

The Kokolis’ request will now be forwarded to the City Commission for final approval.

www.amisun.com

SEPTEMBER 26, 2018

THE SUN

25

Students sing praises of peace Anna Maria Elementary Peace Day is held in conjunction with World Peace Day each year.

BY TOM VAUGHT SUN STAFF WRITER | tvaught@amisun.com

HOLMES BEACH – Anna Maria Elementary (AME) students expressed hopes for peace at the school’s 17th Annual Peace Day last Friday on the front lawn of the campus.

The annual celebration began after the September 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon when thousands of Americans lost their lives. The Rotary Club of Anna Maria Island helped the school’s effort by purchasing a Peace Pole, a monument that displays the message "May Peace Prevail on

Earth” in the language of the country where it has been placed and usually additional translations, according to Wikipedia.

The theme of this year’s celebration was The Right to Peace, and after speeches

by AME Principal Jackie Featherston and Rotary Club Past President Rupp, the attendees stood for the Star-Spangled Banner and Pledge of Allegiance.

The Manatee High School Drumline performed as AME students marched with them with flags of other countries, many of them home nations of Island students.

Students of each grade performed songs or read essays and poetry of peace.

AME Guidance Counselor Susan Tabicman organized this year’s celebration and said it went well, adding that events like these could hopefully plant the seeds for a better world in the future.

TOM VAUGHT | SUN

Students sing a song of peace at Anna Maria Elementary School's Peace Day.

Reading rules at AME The Anna Maria Elementary School Book Fair will be held Monday through Wednesday, Oct 1 through 3, with a book sale in the Media Center on the second floor from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. each day. Members of the public are welcome to shop each day.

The theme of this year’s event is “Read into the enchanted forest.”

Activities culminate on Wednesday with Literacy Night from 5 to 7 p.m. with a number of activities

in addition to the book sale in the music room. They include: • Watercoloring with Marie in Mrs. Querrard’s classroom; • Reading with the Dogs in Mrs.Goffred’s classroom; • Origami Treasures in the Speech room; • Enchanted Forest Bingo in Mrs. Lashway’s room; • Renaissance Dancing in Mrs. Jordan’s classroom; • Kings/Queens Crown making

in Mrs. Crawford’s room; • Enchanted Name Tags Photo Booth in Mrs. Fisher’s classroom; • Puppet Making in Mrs. Redeker’s class; • Storytelling with ventriloquist Sandi Syler.

In addition, the PTO will hold a bake sale in the school lobby, and there will be dinner available consisting of hamburgers and hot dogs in the cafeteria.

FILE PHOTO

Jennifer Kopelman reads stories to the kids in Mrs. Jordan’s room during last year’s Literacy Night.

26

THE SUN

REAL ESTATE

SEPTEMBER 26, 2018

Cash rules “N

ever count on making a good sale.

Have the purchase price be so attractive that even a mediocre sale gives good results.” Warren Buffett said this in 1963 in an era when not everyone considered the bottom line the most important thing. Now, however, not only is the sale and the sale price the most important thing, cash is also becoming one of the most important elements of a real estate transaction.

It’s true that real estate transactions go more smoothly when homebuyers are paying with all cash. Closing times are shorter, and there is less stress for both buyers and sellers waiting for the inevitable shoe to drop. Loan applications take longer than expected, the one last piece of documentation is not readily available and interest rates are going up forcing a reevaluation of qualifications. But cash avoids a lot of those issues, making a cash buyer extremely attractive.

According to the National Association of Realtors Economist’s Outlook, the share of

Castles in the Sand LOUISE BOLGER cash buyers dropped to just 21 percent in 2017.

That compares with a national average of 31 percent between 2011 and 2013 and as high as 57 percent in Florida in 2012.

Well, Florida is still humming with cash buyers at least in our area. The July sales statistics for single-family homes bought with all cash was up 22.7 percent from last July and for condos up 17.5 percent from last July. For the month of August, however, the cash buyers were off for single-family homes down 8.1 percent but for condos they were up 20.8 percent.

And in an interesting article I recently read, Detroit is finally digging out of its deep depression and starting to sell real estate. The

median home price as of this writing in Detroit is $32,428; the medial home price nationwide is $234,000. The percentage of homes bought in Detroit for cash as of this writing was 87 percent, and nationwide it was 28 percent.

Obviously, the historic low prices in Detroit are generating all cash offers, many from investors and flippers. Flippers may be just what Detroit needs where many homes have permit issues and condition problems preventing buyers from applying for a conventional mortgage.

But let’s see what’s happening in Manatee County for the month of August: Closings were up for both single family at 0.2 percent and seriously up for condos at 26.9 percent.

Single-family median sale price was $296,000, up 3.2 percent from last August, and the condo median was $190,000, up 3.8 percent. The average single family sold for $393,126, up 4 percent, and the average for condos was $222,249, up 2.8 percent. The median time to sell for single family was 94 days and for condos 93 days, and the months’ supply of

single-family homes was 3.9 percent and for condos only 3.6 percent.

Nationally, the number of sales is holding steady down, just 1.5 percent for August, prompting Lawrence Yun from the National Board of Realtors to comment that the housing market is heading to an equilibrium, more good news for the economy.

The August median national single-family sale price was $264,800 with a 4.3 monthly supply of properties.

Essentially what we have here is good news for Manatee County and the country generally with some regions doing better than others, and inventory is still down all over pushing selling prices up. In Manatee County not only is cash king, but condos are also king, with soaring sales and prices.

Everyone loves cash and always will, but don’t let it scare you away from jumping into the pool. You can avoid the sharks by keeping your credit clean and saving your pennies, so you’ll look as good as king cash.

www.amisun.com

SEPTEMBER 26, 2018

THE SUN

27

Center reports positive summer numbers The Center remains in the black by $12,310 in the first month of the new fiscal year.

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

ANNA MARIA – The Center of Anna Maria Island’s board reported good news as they close out the first month of the new fiscal year. Though board treasurer Christine Hicks warns that in the coming months July’s good results may cause a financial dip for the nonprofit.

During the September board meeting, Hicks gave the financial report which shows the Center ending the month of July with $12,310 in net income, $68,141 over budget in a month where the organization was planning a $55,832 loss according to the budget.

In her report, Hicks said the large variance from the budget was due primarily to the delay of capital expenses for new equipment not coming in until August and September, which will throw off those months when the financials are complete. She said The Center also saw higher than budgeted revenue

KRISTIN SWAIN | SUN

Board members Don Purvis, Lisa Pierce, Kathy Morgan and David Zaccagnino, along with Executive Director Chris Culhane, take a first look at the two new matching vans purchased primarily with monies received from the Manatee County-held excess concession funds. numbers with total program revenue coming in at $62,916, with youth programs, adult sports and fitness all coming in above-budgeted numbers. For the month of July, board members had budgeted $47,664 for program revenue.

The increase in revenue gave them an unexpected $15,252 boost, though Hicks said that variance was primar-

ily due to a donation of $18,500 from the city of Anna Maria to help pay for youth programming. After direct costs, the total program income closed out the month at $34,088, $26,759 above budget.

Adding in general and administrative costs, The Center finished out the month with a $7,616 loss from op-

erations which was $24,426 over the budgeted loss of $32,042 expected for the month. Fundraising income came in at $19,926 for the month after direct costs. Hicks said that number was $9,000 lower than the previous year due to no interest income coming in from accounts held with the Manatee Community Foundation.

Executive Director Chris Culhane said the board was able to purchase two slightly used 2016 matching vans to transport children and seniors using $25,000 allotted from Manatee County commissioners from the excess beach concession fund and by trading in the older, larger van The Center was using.

The two vans were delivered to The Center on Sept. 17.

The board also welcomed two new members at the September meeting, Kathy Morgan and Lisa Pierce.

Culhane said the search continues to fill two vacant positions at The Center, operations director and development director.

The Center’s financial reports and annual report for 2017 are available online at www.centerami.org.

28

www.amisun.com

THE SUN

Chamber presents culinary treat

SUBMITTED

Birthday surprise Rodney Rich, bar manager at the Waterfront restaurant in Anna Maria, celebrates his 42nd birthday with friends at Eliza Ann's Coastal Kitchen in the Waterline Resort in Holmes Beach.

Wagner Realty at 2217 Gulf Drive N. in Bradenton Beach hosts the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce September business card exchange on Wednesday, Sept. 26, from 5 to 7 p.m. Attendees are invted to experience a traditional Spanish menu created by local favorite, award-winning Chef Frank Skolinsky. He'll be making his famous paella complemented with side dishes that will bring in the flavors of Old Florida.

Mike Sales will entertain with live music and there will be door prizes and liquid refreshments. Come visit an Island business that happens to be Manatee County’s oldest real estate agency.

The cost is $5 for Chamber members and $10 for prospective members.

SEPTEMBER 26, 2018

SEPTEMBER 26, 2018

www.amisun.com

THE SUN

29

Anna Maria Oyster Bar owner John Horne congratulates pancake eating contest winner Josh Bell, of Bradenton, as the Mauraders' mascot tries to feed him another pancake.

TOM VAUGHT | SUN

Pancakes galore on the pier Anna Maria Oyster Bar owner John Horne and his wife, Amanda, hosted a pancake eating contest last Sunday on the Bridge Street Pier in Bradenton Beach. It was “just for fun,” Amanda Horne said, and it turned out that way.

The winner, Josh Bell, of Bradenton, is a lean muscular man who plowed ahead of the competition that included Bradenton Mayor Wayne Poston, Sarasota Herald-Tribune columnist Vin Mannix, State House candidate Will Robinson and Pittsburgh Pirates Senior Director of Florida and Dominican Republic

Operations Jeff Podobnik, who were the celebrity contestants.

As the action began, the joking did too, and several times pancakes seemed to “jump” off Podobnik’s plate and “dove” into the bay, but he didn’t stand a chance with Bell chewing away at his flapjacks.

After receiving the winner’s $200 Oyster Bar gift card, Bell said he had never competed before, except with friends in an informal setting, and when asked if he wanted to the annual hot dog eating contest on the Island, he said, “No.”

30

www.amisun.com

THE SUN

5 1 Y

T F E

L

L N O

SEPTEMBER 26, 2018

What if.. ..you could OWN your DREAM HOME

FOR ONLY $1,219/mo !!

-

$1,218.75 monthly payment on a $300,000 loan for the first 10 years of a 40-year fixed mortgage Years 1-10 are interest only payments and years 11-40 are conventional mortgage payments Locked in monthly payment over life of loan Only available through our preferred lender

CONTACT US:

LISA MORRISON NMLS ID 383634 Loan Consultant

lisa.morrison@mscmortgage.com

/LPLWHG 7LPH /RFNHG LQ 0RUWJDJH 5DWH ,QFHQWLYH ª0RUWJDJH 5DWH ,QFHQWLYH« RQO\ YDOLG RQ D QHZ KRPH SXUFKDVH DW 0LUDEHOOD )ORULGD E\ .RUDO *REXW\ 'HYHORSPHQW &R //& RQO\ LI TXDOL´HG EX\HU ´QDQFHV ZLWK 6HOOHU­V DI´OLDWHG OHQGHU ª$SSURYHG /HQGHU« DQG EX\HU VDWLV´HV DOO RWKHU HOLJLELOLW\ FULWHULD 0RQWKO\ /RFNHG LQ 0RUWJDJH SD\PHQW RI LV EDVHG RQ WRWDO ORDQ DPRXQW ZLWK D LQWHUHVW UDWH $35 RI %DVHG RQ D \HDU PRUWJDJH SHULRG ZLWK GRZQ RI ZKLFK \HDUV WR DUH LQWHUHVW SD\PHQWV RI LQWHUHVW RQO\ DQG \HDUV WR DUH SD\PHQWV RI WRZDUG SULQFLSDO DQG LQWHUHVW XQGHU FRQYHQWLRQDO PRUWJDJH FRQGLWLRQV ZLWK WKH VDPH PRQWKO\ UDWH +2$ (VW 7D[HV DQG (VW ,QVXUDQFH &RQWULEXWLRQV WKURXJK GHYHORSHU HQDEOH ORFNLQJ LQ WKH PRQWKO\ SD\PHQW WKHVH FRQWULEXWLRQV PD\ YDU\ GHSHQGLQJ RQ WKH (OLJLEOH +RPH VHOHFWHG WKH FXUUHQW LQWHUHVW UDWH DQG RWKHU UHVWULFWLRQV GHVFULEHG EHORZ 5DWHV WHUPV DQG FRQGLWLRQV RIIHUHG E\ $SSURYHG /HQGHU DUH VXEMHFW WR FKDQJH ZLWKRXW QRWLFH /RFNHG LQ 0RUWJDJH 5DWH LQFHQWLYH PD\ QRW EH FRPELQHG ZLWK DQ\ RWKHU RIIHU XQOHVV H[SUHVVO\ VHW IRUWK LQ %X\HU­V 3XUFKDVH $JUHHPHQW 'RFXPHQWV $OO ORDQV DUH VXEMHFW WR XQGHUZULWLQJ DQG ORDQ TXDOL´FDWLRQ RI WKH $SSURYHG /HQGHU 7KLV LV QRW D FRPPLWPHQW WR OHQG DQG QRW DOO EX\HUV ZLOO TXDOLI\ )RU PRUH LQIRUPDWLRQ DERXW $SSURYHG /HQGHU LWV OLFHQVLQJ DQG RWKHU ´QDQFLQJ LQIRUPDWLRQ SOHDVH UHIHU WR RXU VDOHV RI´FH 2IIHU YRLG ZKHUH SURKLELWHG RU RWKHUZLVH UHVWULFWHG E\ ODZ $OO FRPPXQLW\ DQG KRPH LQIRUPDWLRQ LQFOXGLQJ EXW QRW OLPLWHG WR SULFHV YLHZV DYDLODELOLW\ LQFHQWLYHV µRRU SODQV VLWH SODQV IHDWXUHV VWDQGDUGV DQG RSWLRQV DQG DVVHVVPHQWV DQG IHHV LV QRW JXDUDQWHHG UHPDLQV VXEMHFW WR FKDQJH RU GHOD\ ZLWKRXW QRWLFH 3ULFHV PD\ QRW LQFOXGH ORW SUHPLXPV XSJUDGHV DQG RSWLRQV $GGLWLRQDO OHQGHU RU RWKHU UHVWULFWLRQV PD\ DSSO\ 3OHDVH VHH D 0LUDEHOOD 6DOHV $VVRFLDWH RU &ORVLQJV &RRUGLQDWRU DQG WKH 3XUFKDVH $JUHHPHQW­V WHUPV IRU GHWDLOV ‹ 0LUDEHOOD .RUDO *REXW\ 'HYHORSPHQWV //& $OO ULJKWV UHVHUYHG 5DWHV WHUPV DQG DYDLODELOLW\ RI SURJUDPV DUH VXEMHFW WR FKDQJH ZLWKRXW QRWLFH 06& 0RUWJDJH //& 10/6 ,' /LFHQVHG E\ WKH )/ 2I´FH RI )LQDQFLDO 5HJXODWLRQ DV D 0RUWJDJH %URNHU 6HUYLFHU 0/'

www.amisun.com

SEPTEMBER 26, 2018

THE SUN

31

PILINGS: City purchasing directly FROM PAGE 1

By purchasing them ourselves, we

be built. The construction of the restaurant and bait shop building at the pier’s T-end will be addressed in a separate RFP. Murphy recently said he expected the installation of the pier pilings to begin in late October or early November, barring any unanticipated delays.

save 7 percent in sales tax, which is a significant amount of money.”

Dan Murphy, Anna Maria mayor

PIER PILINGS

During the Sept 13 meeting, Murphy sought the commission’s authorization to directly purchase the concrete pilings from the Canadian-based Pipe and Piling Concrete Products Corporation at a cost of $171,289.

Murphy said the company would store the pilings for up to six months at no cost, and it would cost $400 a month after that if needed.

“We should be well under construction in six months,” Murphy said.

He cited three reasons for the direct purchase.

“They’re available today and if they’re not available two weeks from now or three weeks from now it takes 15 weeks to be manufactured and to arrive,” he said.

“By purchasing them ourselves, we save 7 percent in sales tax, which is a significant amount of money,” he added.

A seven percent savings on a $171,289 purchase equates to $11,990.

Murphy also cited Hurricane Florence’s pending arrival in the Carolinas.

“The cost of pilings could go up in the very near future,” he said.

Commissioner Carol Carter agreed that the hurricane could create a supply and demand risk, and she supported purchasing the pilings directly.

The motion to authorize the pier piling expenditure was approved unanimously.

LO C A L LY K N OW N . G LO B A L LY C O N N E C T E D.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND 505 S Bay Boulevard Debbie Vogler 941-705-3328 A4199179 $1,825,000

ANNA MARIA ISLAND 664 Key Royale Drive Hannah Hillyard 941-744-7358 A4404064 $989,000

L O N G B OAT K E Y 5611 Gulf Of Mexico Drive 5 Laura Rulon 941-896-2757 A4207769 $599,000

ANNA MARIA ISLAND 2509 Avenue C B Laurie M Mock 941-232-3665 A4208192 $583,000

ANNA MARIA ISLAND 1710 Gulf Drive N E Hannah Hillyard 941-744-7358 A4215055 $1,945,000

PA L M E T T O 2715 Terra Ceia Bay Boulevard 704 Toni Lyon 941-928-8735 A4212862 $329,000

ANNA MARIA ISLAND 3705 E Bay Drive 212 Deborah Capobianco 941-704-2394 A4408046 $310,000

PA R R I S H 11764 Shirburn Circle Kristi Berger 941-730-3801 A4411164 $299,000

BR ADENTON 9818 18th Drive NW Pam Blalock 941-737-9376 A4400774 $699,900

ANNA MARIA ISLAND 5300 Gulf Drive 306 Laurie M Mock 941-232-3665 A4400024 $641,000

BR ADENTON 4303 26th Avenue W Ralph & Megg Faillace 941-713-9142 A4409666 $500,000

BR ADENTON 3605 116th Street W Paula Keegan-Bock 941-224-5909 A4406215 $365,000

NEW CONSTRUCTION

MSC MORTGAGE | MSC TITLE | MS&C COMMERCIAL NEW HOMES & CONDOMINIUMS | RENTAL

BR ADENTON 1802 26th Street W Hannah Hillyard 941-744-7358 A4402735 $229,900

8 8 8 . 552 . 52 2 8

BR ADENTON 7610 34th Avenue W 102 Barb Eberhart 941-761-7349 A4404696 $329,990

RENTAL ANNA MARIA ISLAND 5806 Gulf Drive 201 2 Bed 2 Bath 1272 SqFt $1,375 Maria Kagin 941-779-4150 A4402329

michaelsaunders.com L I C E N S E D R E A L E S TAT E B R O K E R

32

THE SUN

ENTERTAINMENT

FAMILY FUN AT THE LIBRARY

At the Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach: • Wednesday, Sept. 26, Coloring Club, noon to 1 p.m.; Hispanic Heritage, Folktales and Tropical Birds, (ages 4 to 10) 3:30 to 5 p.m.

• Thursday, Sept. 27, a veteran’s services professional will be available to help vets with problems, 9 to 11 a.m.; Seaside Quilters 10 a.m. to noon.

• Friday, Sept. 28, Forty Carrots-Partners in Play, 10 to 11 a.m.;Mahjongg Club, 1 to 3 p.m.

• Saturday, Sept. 29, CPR Training, preregistration required, 9 a.m. to noon.

SENIORS MEET AND MUNCH

Senior Adventures members will gather at Annie Silver Community Center, 103 23rd St. N., Bradenton Beach, at 10 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 28, for their monthly book sale and potluck lunch.

For more information on the group, call Kaye Bell at 941-538-0945.

PLANT SALE AT PALMA SOLA

The Palma Sola Botanical Park Plants and More Sale will be held Saturday, Oct. 6, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Park, located at 9800 17th Ave. N.W. in Bradenton. There will be a variety of vendors selling plants, collectibles and arts and craft items, plus food and drinks. Free admission and ample parking. Vendors wanted. For more

information, call 941-761-2866 or email palmasolabp@aol.com.

A LEARNING LUNCH

View the American Heritage Series video, "Why History Matters – Myths of the Judiciary" as JOY (Just Older Youth) meets on Wednesday, Sept. 26, at 11 a.m. at the Roser Community Church Fellowship Hall, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria. Bring a brown bag lunch; beverages and dessert will be provided.

Discover the forgotten and astonishing story of our nation’s foundation in the American Heritage Series. From separation of church and state, to the civil rights movement, the heroism of our founding fathers to the building of our nation’s monuments, this series will inspire every American to reclaim

SEPTEMBER 26, 2018

the true story of our nation.

JOY usually meets the second and fourth Wednesdays each month. For more information go to www.roserchurch.com/joy, call 941-778-0414, or on Facebook @roserchurch.

THE ARTISTS' GUILD

The window at the Artists’ Guild Gallery, located at 5414 Marina Drive in Holmes Beach, will feature beaches, bodies and boats for the month of September. The window will be just a brief sample of the gift items, greeting cards, and art displayed inside, so come in and browse before everybody returns to the Island. Hours are 10 a.m.to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

www.amisun.com

SEPTEMBER 26, 2018

OBITUARIES Sheila Kelleher Rehmann Sheila Kelleher Rehmann, 89, of Bradenton, passed away on Sept. 12, 2018. She was born in Des Moines, Iowa, on Feb. 27, 1929, the third daughter of Marion and Louis J. Kelleher.

She attended Bradford Junior College and upon returning to Des Moines, married John Keith Rehmann. She was a member of the Des Moines Pioneer Club and the Junior League of Des Moines. She did volunteer work for United Campaign, The Child Guidance Center, and was a board member of Children & Families of Iowa.

Sheila moved to Bradenton in 2002, transferring to the Junior League of Manatee County. She was a member of the Palma Sola Botanical Park and St. Bernard Catholic Church in Holmes Beach.

She was predeceased by her former husband and her two sisters; Patricia K. Neal (Bradenton) and Marion K. Flynn (Phoe-

nix). She is survived by her children, Ann “Christy” Poché (Joseph), of Bradenton, and John Keith Rehmann Jr. (Elizabeth), of Bradenton; two grand-daughters; and four great-grandchildren.

Memorial Mass was scheduled in the Chapel at St. Augustin Church in Des Moines on Sept. 26, 2018, with interment at Glendale Cemetery. Brown & Sons Funeral Homes & Crematory 43rd Street Chapel is in charge. Condolences made to www. brownandsonsfuneral.com

William 'Bill' F. Snyder Jr. William “Bill” F. Snyder Jr., 75, of Holmes Beach, , died Sept. 9, 2018, after a short illness. Born July 14, 1943, in Trenton, N. J., Bill Snyder moved to Bradenton in 1957 with his parents, William F. Snyder Sr., and Madeline G. Snyder (Bennett). His parents owned Manatee Lumber for several years, and he was employed by his parents until going to work for IBM in 1966 and again in 1973.

Bill graduated from Manatee High School in 1961. In Nov. 1969, Bill married

MARK YOUR CALENDAR From Page 7

Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 11:30 a.m.

Free memory and lifestyle screening, The Paradise Center, 567 Bay Isles Rd., Longboat Key, 1 p.m. Reserve to maryannbrady@theparadisecenter. org or 941-383-6493.

National Night Out, city field, 5801 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 4 to 8 p.m.

WEDNESDAY OCT. 3

Medicare Made Clear workshop, The Paradise Center, 567 Bay Isles Rd., Longboat Key,

10:30 a.m. to noon, $10 donation suggested with snacks provided.

Reserve to maryannbrady@ theparadisecenter.org or 941-383-6493.

Anna Maria Island Chamber networking luncheon, enrich Bistro, 5629 Manatee Ave., Bradenton, 11:30 a.m., $15 for members or $25 for prospective members. Reserve to 941-7781541 or info@amichamber.org.

Gulf Coast Writers, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 12:45 p.m.

THURSDAY OCT. 4

Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 9 a.m.

Roser-Robics chair-based exercise class, Roser Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, 9:30 a.m.

Zumba and mat pilates for seniors, The Paradise Center, 567 Bay Isles Rd., Longboat Key,10 a.m., $10 per class. Reserve to maryannbrady@theparadisecenter.org or 941-383-6493.

Sunshine Stitchers knit and crochet, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 2 p.m.

Jam in the Sand, Anna Maria Island Beach Café, 4000 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, 5 to 8 p.m.

Veteran services information,

MAYOR: Candidates speak out FROM PAGE 1

city affairs as it relates to our city charter. He’s a leader and it’s important that he’s a responsive leader and that he speaks with the residents, the businesses, embraces the commission and their legislative duties and administrates the staff effectively.”

HOW DO YOU THINK THE THREE ISLAND MAYORS CAN WORK TOGETHER TO BETTER ADDRESS COMMON ISSUES?

Linney: “Well I think it’s very important that we work together.”

Titsworth: “I’ve seen a lot of improvement and I want to thank them all for that … I think consolidation on the loss of home rule and things that we’re all dealing with together, consolidating

ideas, consolidating solutions, sharing things, but I don’t think it’s just our only three Island cities, I think we need to reach out farther.”

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE BIGGEST ISSUE FACING THE CITY TODAY AND HOW WOULD YOU APPROACH DEALING WITH IT?

Linney: “There’s a number of them.

First there’s management. Nothing matters if you don’t do it right and if all we keep doing is changing the problem or shifting the problem or not actually addressing the problem we’re not going to get anything done. I think the management of the city is key and that’s number one.”

Titsworth: “The biggest challenge

THE SUN

Patricia M. Taylor, and they had one son.

In 1973, Bill relocated to Delray Beach, Fla., along with his wife and son to work for IBM a second time. Transferring with IBM to Burlington, Vt., in Dec. of 1980 and then to Manassas, Va., in Aug. 1986. The marriage to Patricia ended in divorce at that time. In December 1988, Bill met Sheralyn Glaser and they were subsequently married in March of 1989. In June of 1992, Bill and Sheralyn relocated to Holmes Beach, Florida.

Bill was predeceased by his father, Bill Sr., in 1996; his sister, Joan Slobodian in 2001; his former wife, Patricia in 2003; his mother, Madeline in 2004; and his wife, Sheralyn in 2014. Survivors include his son, Keith and his wife, Bev (Goebel), of Weeki Wachee; a stepson, Mark and his wife, Heather, of Warren, Ohio; a stepson, Scott and girlfriend, Alyssa, of Garrettsville, Ohio; two stepgrandchildren; a niece, Kathleen Smith (Gallagher), of Bradenton; and two nephews Charles “Mike” Gallagher, of Bradenton, and Christopher, of Florida; and his dog, Maxwell Owen, who was his pride and joy, as well as, several friends of North

FRIDAY

Oct. 5 Forty carrots, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m.

Intermediate bridge session, The Paradise Center, 567 Bay Isles Rd., Longboat Key, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., $10, includes coffee and cookies. Reserve to maryannbrady@theparadisecenter.org or 941-383-6493.

Mahjong, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 1 p.m.

Sunset drum circle, Manatee Public Beach, 4000 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Beach Village.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, Oct. 6, 2018 at. Mansion Memorial Park also known as Groover Memorial Park in the chapel at 10 a.m.

BEACH BEAT HOLMES BEACH

9/15, Possession of an unlicensed firearm, 7200 Gulf Drive. The deputy stopped the suspect for speeding, and he conducted a search of the vehicle, finding a stolen firearm. He ticketed the suspect for speeding before arresting him.

9/20, driving with no valid license, warrant arrest, 4000 SR 789. The officer ran a computer check on the car’s license and found the driver had no license. He also found out the driver was wanted on a U.S. marshall’s warrant. The officer took him into custody.

SATURDAY OCT. 6

Writing workshop – historical fiction, The Folk School at Florida Maritime Museum, 4415 119th St. W., Cortez, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., $78.

NEST Nature Days, Robinson Preserve, 1704 99th St. N.W., Bradenton, 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m.

MONDAY OCT. 8

Social bridge games, Roser Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, noon.

TUESDAY OCT. 9

Roser-Robics chair-based

is water rise and stormwater management because we’re a barrier island …

An issue is the loss of home rule. Our hands are tied on so many avenues that we used to be able to use to effectively police our communities.”

HOW WOULD YOU HELP REDUCE THE EFFECTS OF RED TIDE ON THE COMMUNITY?

Linney: “Shifting the algae into the ocean isn’t a solution, it’s just a different pile up … why haven’t they found a solution to redistribute the algae onto the land, letting the water run through and then taking the product that is the result which is nutrient rich because it’s blooming and use it to fertilize the cane fields it’s coming off of. It seems like solutions like this would be easier than pumping it all the way over 300 miles to the west just so we can push

33

exercise class, Roser Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, 9:30 a.m.

Preschool storytime, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m.

Yoga for Seniors, The Paradise Center, 567 Bay Isles Rd., Longboat Key, 10 a.m., $10.

Reserve to maryannbrady@ theparadisecenter.org or 941-383-6493.

Mahjong, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 11:30 a.m. iPhone and iPad basics, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 2 p.m.

Music Instruction: Mandolin Series, The Folk School at Florida Maritime Museum, 4415 119th St. W., Cortez, 2 p.m., $175.

all the other algae north. It just doesn’t make sense.”

Titsworth: “As mayor get to Tallahassee. As mayor get to Vern Buchannan.

As mayor just get the word out as best as possible about the amount of loss from our restaurants, from our motels, from our resort housing. Yes, we’re all enjoying the no one on the streets right now but we had to pay a really hefty price for that and that’s not right. We have to find a solution.”

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR CITY TODAY TO A STRANGER?

Linney: “Paradise. I don’t care what you say or where you go, all the things the city’s been through in the 43 years I’ve been here it’s still paradise.”

Titsworth: “It’s home. Period.”

34

THE SUN

SPORTS

SEPTEMBER 26, 2018

Ray Day: the man behind the celebration

BY MONICA SIMPSON SPECIAL TO THE SUN

It is not every day that someone is born who will impact just about every person they meet. Sept. 17, 1988, was one of those days.

For years now, since a very young age, Raymond Gardner has been this person to so many. So, in honor of his 30th birthday, Ray Day was born and celebrated in epic way on Sept. 22.

Known as Ray to most, he grew up in Detroit, Mich., with big dreams and goals. He did not always know the grand impact he had on his friends, family, teammates and now his clients as a trainer.

If you look at the “About” section on his Facebook page, you will see that Gardner studied at Central Michigan University, University of Minnesota and Bethany College. Before even reaching college, Gardner made hard life decisions that would eventually help him achieve his goals, including leaving his neighborhood each day to attend school in an all white community.

Believing that he was destined to achieve big things, Ray’s decision to become uncomfortable to grow and better himself, lead to his path to Anna Maria Island.

Forget Gardner’s athletic ability that so many have seen on The Center’s basketball court, football field, volleyball court, and now the soccer field.

Peel away the layers of the man, one will find a person with a talent to bring the best out of people.

With the opportunity to go to college because of sports, Gardner met people from all walks of life, different parts of the country and different backgrounds at the various colleges and universities he attended. Each campus, each relationship opened doors, built bridges and changed lives.

Fast forward to 2014, Gardner started sprinkling his contagious smile and hugs on the people of Anna Maria Island. As the assistant athletic director and director of youth sports at what was known then as the Anna Maria Island Community Center, Gardner made his impacts on not only kids he coached and worked with on the Island but their siblings, parents, other family members and friends.

Gardner’s sudden departure from The Center, along with co-worker and friend Matt Ray, rocked the community, and the magnitude of his influence on

MONICA SIMPSON | SUN

Ray Gardner leads a group of Fit Crew regulars, former clients at other training facilities and friends who have never worked out with him for an hour of fitness and fun at Saturday’s Ray Day at The Center of Anna Maria Island.

The Center was truly realized when he was gone.

As one door closed another eventually opened for Gardner. On his last day at The Center, Gardner was asked what he would be doing if he could do anything. Without hesitation he answered, “I would be a personal trainer.”

After months of personal struggle, the fight in Gardner never left. Each day he worked to better himself, find himself and figure out the next step.

Becoming a personal trainer would soon become a reality, but in truth, as with most successful personal trainers, Ray is a life changer.

In the last three years, Gardner has helped people shed pounds and build muscles, starting his day at 4 a.m., with his first training session at 5 a.m. The bigger picture reveals how this man has also helped people overcome mental obstacles and inspired them to be the best versions of themselves, while many time sacrificing his own personal time for the betterment of his client.

To watch Gardner’s clients get drawn into his aura is like watching fans fawn over a rock star or famous actor. Ladies wait in line to get their post-workout hugs and words of praise. His clients tell friends about their amazing trainer and upload videos to Facebook singing his praises. These clients look forward to getting their daily dose of Gardner.

Gardner will be the first to say that his accomplishments are only possible because of the support and assistance of his friends and family. His pay it forward vision is emphasized at the end of his Saturday group workout sessions at Fit Crew when he asks his clients to name one selfless thing they did for someone that week.

He also makes his own opportunities. If there is something Gardner wants to do, he finds a way. If there is a place he wants to speak his words of gratefulness and inspiration, Gardner will email, call and text everyone and anyone until he gets his invitation.

Through his social media outlet “Ray’s Ramblings,” radio segments, speaking engagements and personal training, Gardner’s message has touched the lives of countless number of children and adults.

It is this love of people and desire to lift up others that makes him one of the most familiar faces in Manatee County.

Gardner cannot go anywhere without being recognized, and usually stopped for a famous Ray hug.

Ray Day 2018 was the natural next step. It started with a goal of having a boot camp style workout at Fit Crew with more than 100 participants, which would break the gym’s record, along with a birthday party open to the public.

The goal was easily met with more

than 160 adults and 16 children sweating with Gardner and the other Fit Crew trainers Saturday morning. The group of Fit Crew regulars, former clients of Gardner’s at other training facilities, and friends who have never worked out with him all gathered for an hour of fitness and fun, ending in 30 push-ups.

Gardner’s day ended with a birthday bash like no other at the Island’s Freckled Fin. Most of the guests in attendance, many who came from out of town to be a part of the celebration, came together to show Gardner their appreciation of his giving heart and talent for making people better for having met him.

From the students and teachers he went to school with over the years to the children at the camps he worked, from his college sports teams to the adult recreational sports team, from coaching to acting in the murder mystery fundraisers, from speaking at elementary schools to one-on-one personal training, Gardner has left his mark and continues to change the lives of people daily.

www.amisun.com

SEPTEMBER 26, 2018

THE SUN

35

Bins Be Clean lights up the field before the storm

BY MONICA SIMPSON SPECIAL TO THE SUN

Thursday night’s spectators and players walked into the Island’s community soccer field area, setting up their lawn chairs and looking to the sky wondering if the night’s action would actually take place. As Team MAR/Kis Insurance and Team Bins Be Clean warm up on the pitch, everyone else is looking at the weather radar on their cell phones and watching the dark skies approaching.

Short three players, the first semifinal game of the evening started with MAR/Kis Insurance struggling against the strong passing game of Bins Be Clean. Francisco Oliviera struck first after an assist by Ricky Anderson.

Diego Felipe hit the second goal three minutes later.

With only four field players and backup goalkeeper David Greene, MAR/Kis Insurance could not stop the offense of Bins Be Clean. After the 11th minute of play, team captain Nate Welsh put

the fourth goal on the scoreboard off another assist by Anderson.

Felipe rocketed a shot that sailed off the hands of Greene and into the net giving Bins Be Clean a four-point lead.

Near the end of the first half of play, the Bins Be Clean defense foolishly left MAR/Kis Insurance’s Omar Polar alone in front of the goal. Polar’s single point ended the first half of play with the score 4-1.

Much needed assistance by two of the missing MAR/Kis Insurance players came in the second half of the semifinal game. Goals by Shay Coleman and Miguel Ajoy tied the game 4-4 with more than 12 minutes left on the scoreboard.

Felipe quickly turned the tide of the game at the 35th minute with another missile shot, giving Bins Be Clean a one-point lead and giving Felipe a hat trick.

With 11 minutes left on the clock, Bins Be Clean’s Darrin Wash played patient soccer, letting the goalkeeper guess the wrong direction. Wash’s first

goal of the season came at the perfect time, moving his team ahead 6-4 just before the storm rolled in taking the field and scoreboard lights out.

In complete darkness, players, friends, family and the referees scram-

bled to clear the field and get to their vehicles before the huge raindrops came down drenching the island.

Adult co-ed soccer action will continue on Thurs., Sept. 27, at 7 p.m.

SUBMITTED

Cup champions!

The Center Select U12 soccer team won the St. Pete Goal to Goal Cup with the final score of 3-2.

Select team goals scored by Jack Mattick, Jackson Pakbaz and game winning goal by Aiden Templeton.

36

THE SUN

FUN IN THE SUN

Across 1 Harmonious groups 7 Maybelline product 14 Role for Miley 15 Sticks 16 Result of too many people fishing?

18 Customer file prompt 19 Lincoln and Grant had them in common 21 Meet halfway 22 Show of support 24 Religious music?

27 Buoyant wood 30 On point 31 ’60s protest gp.

32 Well-versed about sailing ships?

37 Exhilarated shout 38 Fencing gear 40 Dispute between polite fellows?

44 Term.

47 Practical joke 48 Stimulate 49 Problems with cellphone signals?

54 __ corda: played using the piano’s soft pedal 55 Orly arrival 56 Like little-known facts 59 Hungary neighbor 62 “Above my pay grade” ... and, read in four parts, a hint to 16-, 24-, 32-, 40- and 49-Across 65 Dodging

66 Pushes back, say 67 No 68 Antarctic explorer Shackleton Down 1 Golden State traffic org.

2 “Bali __” 3 Nearly zero 4 About 5 Indian noble 6 Cutting 7 George Strait label 8 Munic. official 9 Family ride 10 Shipped stuff 11 Dodges 12 Fix some bare spots, say 13 Take stock of 17 Sixteenth-century year 20 Ivory, for one 22 __ Dhabi 23 Jabber 25 Cut or crust opener Answers to 09-19-18 Crossword Puzzle.

26 Seventh in an instructional 39-Down, perhaps 28 Obstacle 29 Back to back?

33 Pines 34 Very small amounts 35 Volunteer for another tour 36 Final Four game 39 Order 41 Eau in Ecuador 42 Sister 43 It may be iced 44 Showed leniency toward 45 Villa d’Este city 46 Hostility 50 Cattle drivers 51 Navel configuration 52 Shore bird 53 Goal or basket 57 Lenovo competitor 58 Bangalore bread 60 Lodging spot 61 Sports rep.

63 Sot’s affliction 64 East, in Essen

SEPTEMBER 26, 2018

SEPTEMBER 26, 2018

CLASSIFIED

ANNOUNCEMENTS FACE PAINTER/PORTRAIT ARTIST Island student artist, reasonable price for parties, events, and special portraits. Call/text Lillian 210-380-9691

PIERLY MAID CLEANING SERVICE – Two former city pier employees will make your residence, rental, vacation home or business purely shine. Free Estimates. 941-447-2565 or 941-565-0312 KATHY'S QUALITY CLEANING SERVICE: With over 30 years experience . Environmentally Friendly Residential and Commercial Cleaning (Meyers Cleaning Products) Flexible, Friendly and Honest. I clean so you don't have to!

Please call or text for a free estimate: 941-4474660.

THE BEST VOLUNTEER position on the island. The AMI Historical Museum needs docents and bread makers. Call Lynn at 813758-3234 or lbrennan47@ gmail.com ROSER FOOD BANK needs donations of cash and non-perishable food. Donations boxes are located at the Church, Moose Club, and Walgreen’s.

BOATS: SALES & RENTALS 13 FT SUNFISH SAILBOAT with dolly for Sale $1400, Call Brian 941685-1400

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 TOTAL HOME SERVICE CLEANING : Residential, Commercial & Rentals.

Professional and Reliable. Call 941-756-4570

THOMPSON CLEANING SERVICE CommercialResidential-Marine.

Island Based Company.

Seasonal Deep Cleaning-Weekly-Occasional.

Call for Free Estimate.

317-908-9483 AUTHORITY ONE SERVICES. Residential/Commercial/Vacation Rentals & Construction Cleaning.

Also Power Washing, Windows, Paver Sealing & Roof Cleaning.

Ask about your Senior Citizens Discount Call 941-251-5948 or 941565-3931

AMISUN.COM

Call us today! 941-778-3986

COMMERCIAL SALES

WAREHOUSE: 9300 sq ft possible Machine Shop with Heavy Duty Elect. Or Car Storage, So many Possibilities. Near SRQ Airport. $629,000 RESORT: 13 UNITS $4,999,000 Bradenton Beach. Island Real Estate Alan Galletto 941-232-2216

COMPUTER SERVICES EMPIRE COMPUTER SERVICE Computer problems fixed in your home or office. The fastest friendliest service around. Serving the Island since 2004. Call 941-739-6424

EMPLOYMENT

HOUSEKEEPER WANTED. Average two days per week includes some weekends.

Work starts at 11am. Call 941-518-1216.

ISLAND EPISCOPAL CHURCH weeks reliable person to serve and clean up coffee hour. Sundays 9:30-1. $40/week. Call 941-778-1638

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 SALE SATURDAY September 29. 205 78th St, Holmes Beach.

8am-noon. Miscellaneous household goods, purses, wheel chair, walker and more.

HAULING SITE CLEAN-UP to trash outs we can handle it all.

Call us for your dumpsters/ trash needs today 941-7538772

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

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

Neil 941-726-3077 RENOVATION SPECALIST ALL carpentry repairs, Wash Family Construction, locally owned and operated CBC 1258250 Call 941-7250073.

KERN CONSTRUCTION NEW Homes & Remodel.

Design/Build. Since 1968.

License # CRC1327296.

Call Jerry Kern 941-7781115 www.kernconstructioninc.com BATH ROOM & KITCHEN REMODELING. Anna Maria Home Accents. 25 years experience. Call 786-318-8585

DECKOUT MASTER CARPENTER Everything Patio & Dock Decking Work Repair, Replace, Maintenance Work, Cleaning, Treatments, New Decks.

Also Handyman/Painting work to home or office.

Call RICHARD Bespoke Service 941-448-3571 Island Resident.

FENCING, CAN'T GET ANYBODY? Wood, Vinyl. New or Repair. Call Richard. Free Estimates.

941-448-3571 Bespoke Services.

LIGHTHOUSE PROPERTY INNOVATIONS LLC State Certified General Contractor (Lic. #CGC 1515821) New Construction, Renovations & Additions. Call 941-266-7500

HOME SERVICES HOME REPAIR. Anna Maria Home Accents. 25 years experience. Call 786-318-8585

THE SUN

GK HOME & PERSONAL SERVICES *Homewatch Service *Handyman Service *Landscaping & Irrigation Work *Pre and Post Tenant Cleanouts *Storm Board Up's ANYTHING you need help with give me a call!

Local, Reliable and Professional 508-221-7486 THE HARDWOOD STOP Flooring installation services; Laminate, hardwood, vinyl and tile. Bathroom and shower. Virtually dustless FLOOR REMOVAL License and insured FREE ESTIMATES 941-227-0041 www.thehardwoodstop. com DRYWALL, PRESSURE WASHING, Painting, Handyman, Roofing Coating. Total of 80 years experience.

Call 941-565-9446. Ask for Dave

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 SHELL DELIVERED AND spread $55/yd. Hauling all kinds of gravel, mulch, top soil with free estimates. Call Larry at 941-795-7775, "shell phone" 941-720-0770 STRAIGHT SHOT LANDSCAPE. Specializing in Old Florida Seashell driveways and scapes. Also Rock, Mulch, & Soil. Free estimates. Call Shark Mark 941-301-6067

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE: NORMS TOWING gives Notice of Foreclosure of Lien and intent to sell these vehicles on 11/07/2018, 09:00 am at 1855 63RD AVENUE E. BRADENTON, FL 34203, pursuant to subsection 713.78 of the Florida Statutes. NORMS TOWING reserves the right to accept or reject any and/or all bids.

1FTWW32P43ED77166 2003 FORD 1N4AL3AP4FC214348 2015 NISSAN 2T1BU4EE5AC300696 2010 TOYOTA JN8AZ08T44W224033 2004 Nissan

NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE: NORMS TOWING gives Notice of Foreclosure of Lien and intent to sell these vehicles on 11/14/2018, 09:00 am at 1855 63RD AVENUE E. BRADENTON, FL 34203, pursuant to subsection 713.78 of the Florida Statutes. NORMS TOWING reserves the right to accept or reject any and/or all bids.

1FAFP53U27A186345 2007 FORD 1FM5K7B89DGC13873 2013 FORD 1FTPW12V16FA65781 2006 FORD 2B8GP44G71R193260 2001 DODGE 2HGES16304H557677 2004 HONDA 3B7KC23632M222690 2002 DODGE 5TDZZ3DC5HS772327 2017 TOYOTA KNDJD733045301657 2004 KIA

LOST & FOUND LOST WHITE GOLD 18 carat wedding band on Anna Maria Island on beach near Sandbar Restaurant. Call 352-484-4040 if found.

LOST ON AMI near the curve at Bradenton beach in the gulf a small red ricoh underwater camera and a size 14 gold wedding band of 25 years. reward if found. Has very sentimental pictures that I cannot duplicate the camera had a half of a lanyard attached to it and on the clip of the lanyard was my wedding ring. Call 205-223-1548 LOST THICK STERLING Silver Ring between the Moose and Beach House Restaurant. Call 941-2431444

MOVING & STORAGE MARTIN’S MOVING YOUR Island movers! Offering dependable, competitive rates. No hidden costs. 941-809-5777.

TWO MEN and a TRUCK. Movers who care. Local and Long distance. www. twomen.com Call 941-3591904. We sell boxes!

37

PAINTING & WALLCOVERING PAINT! PAINT! AND MORE 28 years of experienced interior/exterior custom painting. Pressure cleaning, drywall repairs and texture finishes. Many Island references. Please call Neil for free estimates.

941-812-0507 “WIZARD OF WALLS” Established 1980 Prompt quality service.

Paperhanging/removal Faux finishes. Interior painting. Mary Bell Winegarden 941-794-0455 PROFESSIONAL PAINTING SERVICES. Prompt & Reliable. Island Resident.

Quality Workmanship.

Interior/Exterior. Also minor repairs & carpentry. Free written detailed estimates. Bill Witaszek 941-307-9315 BAYSIDE COMMERCIAL PAINTING. David Paduani Call 941-5659446 or Larry Zimmer 941-224-8123 Licensed & Insured

PERSONAL SERVICES ADULT DANCE CLASSES. DAYTIME Tap, Jazz, Polynesian. Tue/Wed/Sat @ BellaDanza Studio: 5917 Manatee Av W. 727-709-0199, graybj5722@aol.com, www.

BonnieGray.com CERTIFIED NURSING ASSISTANT Compassionate private in-home care, cooking, doctor’s appointments, shopping, references, flexible schedule, licensed.

Call 941-799-9229

POOL SERVICES FOUR SEASONS POOL SERVICE AND CHEMICAL SERVICES. Certified Pool Operator. Residential/commercial. Chemical Service Licensed & Insured. Call Dennis Clark 941-737-5657 COLE'S TROPICAL POOL SERVICE Call Cole Bowers for all your pool maintenance needs! Affordable and Dependable!! 941-7131893

38

THE SUN

CLASSIFIED

PRINTING CUSTOM DIGITAL PRINTING "Your printing dream to reality" Specializing in Dye sublimation Printing.

Graphic Design. Performance Active ware. Logo Design. Call Rhonda 330-550-4847

PROFESSIONAL PRESSURE & WINDOW WASHING AUTHORITY ONE CLEANING : Residential, Commercial, Construction and Vacation Rentals . Also available Power Washing, Roof Cleaning and Windows.

Call 941-251-5948

REAL ESTATE HOMES & CONDOS FOR SALE

FROM THE LOW $300’s. Only minutes from the beach, this new active adult community is perfectly located just south of Manatee Ave, off Village Green Pkwy.

Perfectly designed, open 2BR or 3BR/2BA plus den & 2CG floor plans.

Luxurious amenities, pool, spa, gym, pickle ball and fenced-in dog park. HOA only $209/ month. Models open daily. Contact us 941254-3330 www.MirabellaFlorida.com

Call us today! 941-778-3986

INVESTOR OPPORTUNITY!! 6BR canal home, approved for 14 guests, in Anna Maria’s quaint shopping area. Restaurants and island beaches just outside your front door! This extraordinary home is also the perfect family getaway and the fisherman’s dream. $2,495,000. Wagner Realty, Karen Day Fineout. 941518-3682 / 800-211-2323. karenfineday@aol.com INCREDIBLE NEW CONSTRUCTION Home 407 Pine Ave! Prime location to shops, restaurants, bay and beach! $2,295,000 Call Charles Buky Coldwell Banker 941-228-6086 CANAL FRONT HOMES Holmes Beach - Key Royale GULF FRONT CONDOS Gulf Place, L’Plage, Vista Grande & MORE. Island Real Estate ASK Alan Galletto 941-232-2216 INVESTOR'S DREAM only 4 houses from the beach, adorable 2BR/2BA cottage North End for $599,000. 2017 income=68K CASH FLOWS. Call Kathleen White Island Real Estate at 941-773-0165.

AnnaMariaSales.com

PERICO BAY CLUB turnkey furnished updated 2BR/2BA condo minutes from AMI. Screened lanai with water views, new A/C and split floor plan for $249,000. Call Kathleen White Island Real Estate at 941-773-0165.

AnnaMariaSales.com BOATER’S DREAM! Updated fully furnished 1BR/1BA condo in Palma Sola Harbour 2 minutes from AMI with private dock and water views for $185,000! Call Kathleen White Island Real Estate at 941-7730165.

AnnaMariaSales.com" 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 26 years. Proven track record brings you results! 941-725-1589

SEPTEMBER 26, 2018

RENTALS: ANNUAL 2BR/2BA CONDO with den, many amenities including pool, clubhouse and covered parking. 2nd floor with golf course view near 43rd St. Some utilities included. &1500/ mo. Last mo. & security required. NO PETS ARE ALLOWED! Condo application required w/ $100 fee. Available 8/15.

Contact Ed DUNCAN REAL ESTATE 941-737-6320 www. teamduncan.com

ANNUAL RENTAL and CONDOMINIUM Association management serviced by (2) offices open 7 days a week! Contact junew@ islandreal.com – 941-3451295 - Island Real Estate of Anna Maria Island, Inc. WEST BRADENTON HOUSE 2BR/1BA/1CG $1495/mo.

Updated, Large fenced yard.

First, Last & Security Deposit.

Credit check. Call 941-8092488 for Appointment.

2BR/2BA GROUND LEVEL in the UTC area. $1500. 1st, last, sec dep. 1BR/1BA GROUND LEVEL in Bradenton Beach. $1200 1st, last, sec dep. No Pets. Call A Paradise Realty.

941-778-4800 ANNUAL RENTAL 1BR/1BA Large back yard, huge shaded common area.

First, Last & $1000 security deposit. No Dogs $1295/ mo. Call 941-705-7463

RENTALS: SEASONAL & VACATION TIFFANY PLACE Gulf Front Condo for Rent Incredible views from living room and master bedroom. 2BR/2BA Green Real Estate Call 941-778-0455 ANNA MARIA ISLAND, Fl Condos. Pool beach access, fully equipped $650-$800/ wk Redekercondos.com 941-704-7525 SEASONAL RENTALS AVAILABLE: Spring, Summer and Fall. CITY OF ANNA MARIA 2BR/2BA Bay Front.

HOLMES BEACH 2BR/2BA 400’ to Gulf Bay. Horizon Realty of Anna Maria 941-778-0426 kringco@ tampabay.rr.com GREAT RATES! Weekly, Monthly. 3BR/2BA NW Bradenton. Call Grace 941-201-2190 HOLMES BEACH 1.5 BLOCKS to Beach.

Completely updated 2BR/2BA. Available December 2018 thru April 1, 2019. $4500/mo Nelson & Associates Real Estate. Call 863-6401864

TRANSPORTATION AMI TAXI metered-on-callcards accepted. Airport: Tampa $95, Sarasota $40, Clearwater $85, Orlando $165. Call 800-301-4816. amitaxi4u@gmail.com, www.amitaxi.com ANYTIME TRANSPORTATION to all airports, appointments, casino, cruises, etc. Tampa $65. Sarasota $30. Pets welcome. Very dependable. Reasonable rates. Contact Jeanne.

941-779-5095

www.amisun.com

SEPTEMBER 26, 2018

BUSINESS & SERVICE DIRECTORY COMPUTER SERVICE

HOME IMPROVEMENT

HAULING

THE SUN

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

PAINTING

PET SITTING HOME IMPROVEMENT

39

TRANSPORTATION

40

THE SUN

www.amisun.com

SEPTEMBER 26, 2018