Anna Maria Island Sun September 28, 2022

Sunset before the storm

Anna Maria declares state of local emergency

Mayor Dan Murphy is authorized to take all actions necessary and appropriate to protect human life and property.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA – In response to the anticipated approach of Hur ricane Ian, the Anna Maria City Commission has declared a tem porary state of local emergency.

The commission took this action during an emergency commission meeting held Saturday afternoon, during which the commission ad opted city resolution R22-783.

According to the resolution prepared by City Attorney Becky Vose, “The mayor is authorized to take all actions necessary and appropriate to protect human life and property subject to the limi tations of Section 252.33, Florida Statutes.”

The resolution further autho rizes the mayor to use all lawful authority granted to the city and the federal, state, county and city emergency management laws, rules, regulations and orders.

The state of local emergency will remain in effect until Satur day, Oct. 1, unless it’s revoked early. The commission can also extend the state of local emer gency in additional seven-day

increments if necessary. In the absence of the mayor, the emer gency powers would transfer to Commission Chair Carol Carter.

The declaration allows the mayor to establish curfews, limit business hours, prohibit or restrict pedestrian and vehicular movement, declare certain areas off limits, prohibit alcohol sales, prohibit unauthorized or improp er gasoline sales and prohibit the use of county-supplied fresh water for any purpose other than cooking, drinking, bathing and sanitary uses.

“It’s unfortunate, but situations like this can bring out the worst

SEE EMERGENGY,

AMI prepares for Ian

BY JASON SCHAFFER SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA ISLAND -

As Ian quickly approached Anna Maria Island at press time, visitors were leaving and residents were anxiously waiting to see what happens next.

The one thing that wasn’t happening is panic.

On Sunday, there was gas at most of the stations on the Island, and no line to get it. The Publix in Holmes Beach had plenty of bread, toilet paper, nonperishables and no long lines. All three bridges were free of gridlock, and the streets were generally quiet.

“If I were staying right on the water, I would prob ably leave, but we’re a couple streets back, so I would

CINDY LANE | SUN

Anna Maria Island’s beachgoers enjoyed a tranquil sunset just before unwelcome visitor Hurricane Ian was predicted to arrive. For updates, visit amisun.com.

JASON SCHAFFER | SUN

Evacuation route signs are posted at various points on the Island.

Mannie gets hurricane ready

Mannie, the Drift Inn’s mannequin mascot, is readied for Hurricane Ian’s possible arrival in Bradenton Beach.

Getting ready for Ian

Residents line up to pick up sandbags at Coquina Beach on Sept. 24 ahead of potential impacts from Ian. As of Sept. 26, press time for The Sun, Ian was a tropical storm located southwest of Cuba and expected to strengthen into a hurricane before making landfall somewhere on the western coast of Florida on Friday, Sept. 30, according to predictions from the National Weather Service. Ian is expected to strengthen into a category three or four hurricane as it passes through the Gulf of Mexico before weakening prior to making landfall in Florida. With the storm anticipated to pass by Anna Maria Island sometime on Thursday, local residents began making plans over the weekend to evacuate or shelter in place. As of Sept. 25, the Manatee County Emergency Operations Center was open and at a level two activation with additional staff and resources being secured as needed. No shelters in Manatee County had been opened and no hurricane warnings had yet been issued for the area.

DOREEN FLYNN | SUBMITTED

RUSTY CHINNIS | SUN

IN BRIEF

Turtle Watch fundraiser postponed

The Fourth Annual Turtle Watch Wednesday fundraiser scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 28 to benefit Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shore bird Monitoring will be re-scheduled due to the approach of Hurricane Ian.

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Drowning victim identified

Holmes Beach police officers have identified 55-year-old Bradenton resident Martha Geiser as the woman whose body was found floating just offshore on Sept. 20 in Holmes Beach. Police responded to a call for a possible drowning around 8:30 a.m. Several witnesses told officers they had seen Geiser earlier in the water swimming out toward the swim buoys. Her body was found and pulled to shore by bystanders and marine rescue personnel. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Officers do not suspect foul play and preliminary autopsy results indicate that her cause of death was drowning.

Sandpiper shareholders reject $48 million offer

The 120 shareholders of the Sandpiper Resort Co-Op rejected MHM Communities’ $48 million of fer to purchase the mobile home community prop erty in Bradenton Beach, multiple sources stated. Shareholder Rob Edward commented on Face book, “It was a company called MHM. They are buying trailer parks all over Florida. The offer was $48 million. I was at the (shareholders) meeting. They tried to sugarcoat everything but the majority of residents saw through their B.S. and voted no.” Another Sandpiper resident said that MHM’s $48 million offer would have resulted in each of the 120 shareholders receiving $400,000, but the annual maintenance fees would have also increased to $5,000. Some Sandpiper residents are shareholders who also own their mobile homes. Some nonshareholder residents own their mobile homes but do not own a share of the Sandpiper property and pay a fee for the use of the property.

Charter government presentation postponed

Due to illness, attorney Wade Vose, on behalf of the city of Anna Maria, was unable to give his county charter government presentation during the Sept. 14 Coalition of Barrier Island Elected Offi cials meeting. Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy said Vose’s presentation will be rescheduled for a future meeting.

Correction

The turtle hatchling photo in the Sept. 21 edition of The Sun was taken by Amy Waterbury. The cap tion named a different photographer.

Anna Maria budget adopted

The adopted budget includes increased funds for street paving and stormwater and drainage projects, as well as Pine Avenue improvements.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA – The city com mission has adopted the $11.4 million 2022-23 budget crafted by Mayor Dan Murphy.

Adopted by the city commission on Sept. 22, the budget for the new fiscal year that begins on Oct. 1 maintains the 2.05 property tax millage rate, which Murphy noted remains the lowest on Anna Maria Island.

When summarizing the budget developed over the summer with city commission input and assis tance from the city staff, Murphy said the budget addresses three core elements: street paving and resurfacing, the Reimagining Pine Avenue safety improvements and drainage and stormwater projects and maintenance.

The adopted budget includes $798,000 for street paving and resurfacing, which according to Murphy, represents a $23,000 in crease from the current fiscal year that ends on Sept. 30.

Murphy said the city’s perimeter streets have been repaved and the focus now turns to some of the interior and side streets.

The adopted budget includes $1.75 million for stormwater and drainage improvement projects and the maintenance of the city’s existing stormwater and drain age system. Murphy said this represents a $373,000 and a 27% increase over what was budgeted in the current fiscal year.

Of that, $1.2 million is budgeted for new stormwater and drainage improvements. Representing a 19% increase, the adopted budget also includes $529,000 for stormwater and drainage maintenance, which Murphy said is $140,000 more than what was budgeted in the current fiscal year.

Murphy provided the commis sion with a five-year comparison of these key expenditures. Murphy said five years ago the city spent $162,000 on street paving, com pared to the $799,000 budgeted in the coming fiscal year.

According to Murphy, the city budgeted $935,000 for stormwater improvements and maintenance five years ago compared to the $1.75 million included in the 202223 fiscal year budget.

Murphy said these increased ex penditures over the past five years have reduced flooding on the city’s perimeter streets, along Pine Avenue and near the City Pier.

“We’ve done a really good job and I think there’s still a lot more to go,” he said of those ongoing efforts.

AD VALOREM REVENUES

The city will experience a $610,000 increase in ad valorem property tax revenues during the coming fiscal year, which Murphy said represents a 21% increase over the current fiscal year.

The additional property tax revenues will be spent on paving,

the Pine Avenue improvements and stormwater and drainage improvements. Murphy noted the city is using the additional tax revenues on expenditures that directly impact the quality of life in Anna Maria.

The 2022-23 budget also in cludes a $920,000 contingency fund that can be used for unfore seen expenses that include the increased labor and material costs for city projects. Murphy said this represents an 89% increase over the $488,000 contingency fund included in the current fiscal year budget.

Murphy noted the contingency fund can be spent as needed without the need to make budget amendments or adopt budgetrelated city ordinances.

“It gives us a great deal of flex ibility,” he said.

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JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

The city of Anna Maria budgeted $1.75 million for stormwater and drainage improve ments and maintenance for the coming fiscal year.

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

Street paving remains a budget priority for the city of Anna Maria.

Commissioners one step closer to budget approval

Holmes Beach commis sioners voted 3-1 to approve the first reading of the city’s proposed 2022-23 fiscal year budget.

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

HOLMES BEACH – The start of a new fiscal year is quickly approach ing and city leaders are working to have a new budget approved just in the nick of time.

Commissioners voted 3-1, with Commissioner Kim Rash absent and Commissioner Jayne Christenson dissenting, to pass the first reading of the 2022-23 proposed budget and millage rate.

The millage rate in the Island city is being lowered for the first time in years, dropping from 2.25 mills to 2.07 mills. Though the millage rate is smaller, it does still rep resent a 5.75% increase over the rollback rate of 1.9509 mills due to increases in property values.

The millage rate is assessed per $1,000 of assessed property value. The rollback rate is the millage rate that would need to be used by city leaders to gain the same amount of property tax revenue as the previ ous fiscal year.

City Treasurer Lori Hill previ ously created the city’s proposed budget for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1 using a 2.25 millage rate. She said that the new rate approved by commissioners represents about a $400,000 reduction in tax rev enue. To make up for the decrease in revenue, she said some projects, including getting hurricane win dows for city hall, were put off until future fiscal years. She also iden tified about $480,000 in potential grant funding for the coming year.

While Christenson said she’s happy that commissioners are able to reduce the millage rate, she said she felt they could do better for the city’s residents. She said she feels the rate reflects the city’s strained relationship with Manatee County leaders and that she wants to work

toward mending that relationship.

“I think we need to mend fences and look for another income source other than our taxpayers,” Chris tenson said.

When Manatee County commis sioners voted to approve the coun ty’s budget, they agreed to provide $54,000 for Holmes Beach police of ficers to patrol Manatee Beach and Kingfish Boat Ramp, however, they denied additional funding, blam ing the city for a failed attempt at remodeling the boat ramp.

Holmes Beach Commissioner Terry Schaefer said he feels that the city’s proposed budget of $25,336,242, including $6,375,912 in carryover and reserves, is fair considering the challenges the Island city and its residents face. In his estimation, the city tax makes up about 13% of property owners’ total tax bill.

“What are you willing to do without?” he asked, naming roads, infrastructure, parks, police and code enforcement, all line items in the proposed budget. “Everyone on

the commission takes this seriously. I think this is a fair budget.”

Resident Margie Motzer stood up during public comment, noting that in her research, the city of Holmes Beach stands at $7,000-8,000 per capita per resident, a significant difference over similar cities in Florida which come in at $2,0003,000 per resident. She said she’s concerned that taxpayer funds are going more to tourists than to city residents.

“When I came on to the commis sion, the city was broke and we had to raise taxes,” Commissioner Carol Soustek said. “We had to put this city into a position where it didn’t drown every time it rains. It took a lot of money and a lot of expertise. I don’t compare myself too much to other cities. I know what we’re do ing here and what we’re doing with every dollar.”

A final public hearing for the proposed budget is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 27.

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Per capita expenditures high in Holmes Beach

We hear Holmes Beach residents are concerned about the $25+mil budget, even taking into consid eration that resources are ulti mately going to tourist numbers well beyond our basic population. Supporting the tourist numbers is a whole other issue warranting another dialogue not to be ad dressed here.

To achieve a better comparative understanding of city spending, we calculated expenditures per capita for about 150 Florida cities. We also gathered relevant infor mation by contacting the Mana tee County Property Appraiser, the city treasurer, TaxWatch in Tallahassee and former commit tee members regarding form of

government. We looked at num bers from several perspectives, but pared down to similar cities, that is, coastal cities with similar popu lations and tourist numbers. We discovered cities that have been recognized for their value and cities with high customer satisfac tion in the $2-3K per capita range. Holmes Beach is in the $7-8K per capita range, and that is even tak ing grants into consideration.

After realization that the city was running in the upper scale comparatively, we branched out into categories like the “best Florida coastal towns.” From a list of the 30 most expensive Florida cities, there were only six with higher per capita expenditures, and they were cities like Jupiter Island, famously known for Tiger Woods, and cities in the Palm

Beach and Miami Dade areas, home of many celebrities.

In analyzing ways to curb spend ing, two suggested areas might be in contractor contracts and staffing. Noticeably, the city center project increased almost $300K via contract addendums even before project initiation; the skate park contract had no specs; the con tract regarding the pickleball court surface selection could have used different analysis. Perhaps staffing expenditures of comparable cities could be studied.

We are confident that concerted initiatives could streamline spend ing, and measures could be taken to achieve a quality of life com mensurate with city expenditures.

Richard and Margie Motzer Holmes Beach

Drop us a line

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 email 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.

ANNA MARIA

10005 GULF DRIVE

FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-708-6130

Please visit www.cityofannamaria. com or contact city hall for more information. No meetings scheduled

BRADENTON BEACH

107 GULF DRIVE N.

FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-778-1005

Please visit www.cityofbradenton beach.com or contact city hall for more information.

Oct. 5, 9:30 a.m. – Community Redevel opment Agency meeting

Oct. 5, 2 p.m. – Scenic WAVES meeting

Oct. 6, 6 p.m. – City Commission meeting Oct. 12, 10 a.m. – Department Head meeting

HOLMES BEACH

5801 MARINA DRIVE

FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-708-5800

Please visit www.holmesbeachfl.org or contact city hall for more information.

Oct. 5, 5 p.m. – Planning Commission meeting

Oct. 11, 5 p.m. – City Commission meet ing with work session to follow Oct. 12, 9 a.m. – Clean Water Ad-hoc Committee meeting

ISLAND-WIDE

Oct. 11, 2 p.m. – Coalition of Barrier Island Elected Officials meeting, Bra denton Beach City Hall

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 28

Aging Series: Disaster planning for older adults, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m. Turtle Watch Wednesday benefit ing Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring, Hurricane Hanks, 5346 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, 4-6 p.m. Subject to change depending on Hurricane Ian.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 29

Seashell shore walk, Coquina Beach, 2650 Gulf Drive S., Bradenton Beach, 9 a.m. Seaside Quilters, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m.

Sunshine Stitchers Knit and Crochet, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 2 p.m. Thursdays in Paradise Stroll featuring local art, music and food, Bridge Street, Bradenton Beach, 5-8 p.m.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 30

Forty Carrots, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m. Mahjong Club, experienced players, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 11:30 a.m.

SATURDAY, OCT. 1

Robinson Runners, Robinson Preserve, 1704 99th St. N.W., Bradenton, 7 a.m.

Saturday mornings at the NEST, Rob inson Preserve Mosaic Nest, 840 Ninth Ave. N.W., Bradenton, 9 a.m. to noon.

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

MONDAY, OCT. 3

Hardware Tony’s 90th birthday bash, The Home True Value Hardware, 5324 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 12-2 p.m.

TUESDAY, OCT. 4

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

Mahjong Club, beginners, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 11:30 a.m.

Rotary Club of Anna Maria Island meeting, Slicker’s Eatery, 12012 Cortez Road W., Bradenton, 11:30 a.m.

One-on-one tech help, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 2-4 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 5

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

THURSDAY, OCT. 6

AMI Chamber of Commerce Sunrise Breakfast, Compass Hotel by Mar garitaville at Anna Maria Sound, 12324 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton, 7:30 a.m., $10 for members or $18 for prospective members. Reserve to 941-778-1541.

Anna Maria Island gets its name back

With a little help from a local vet and The Sun, FDOT has replaced a sign that misspelled Anna Maria Island.

BY JASON SCHAFFER SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA ISLAND - The new sign is up, and visitors can once again rest assured that they are headed to the island they intended to visit.

A sign telling motorists they were 5 miles from “Anna Marie Is” was recently installed on Manatee Avenue near 75th Street after an accident destroyed the original sign.

Local veterinarian Denise Vondrasek noticed the error and called The Sun, which called Bradenton Area Convention and Visi tors Bureau (CVB) Executive Director Elliot Falcione. He was not available for comment at the time, and an office staffer said it was not something their department handles.

Several calls to three regional depart ments of the Florida Department of Trans portation yielded results after a representa tive said a work order would immediately be submitted to correct the error.

JASON SCHAFFER | SUN

The sign on Manatee Avenue just west of 75th Street, above, replaced one destroyed in an accident, but misspelled Anna Maria Island. Below, the new sign was corrected.

After The Sun’s original story about the sign, CVB Communications Manager Nich olas Azzara said he made a subsequent call to assure the work order was put into place to resolve the issue.

The island is the largest source of tourist tax funds in Manatee County.

BY LESLIE LAKE

SUN CORRESPONDENT | leslielake@aol.com

CORTEZ - A litter cleanup is planned for the fishing village of Cortez and volunteers are welcome to join.

The Cortez Village Cleanup, sponsored by Keep Mana tee Beautiful, will begin on Saturday, Oct. 1 at 9 a.m. at the Florida Maritime Museum (FMM), 4415 119th St. W.

“We’re starting here at the museum and will pick up litter on the streets of Cortez all the way to the water,” said Tori Chasey, FMM supervisor. “If we have time, we’ll head over to the FISH Preserve.”

The cleanup, with all sup plies provided by Keep Mana

Help clean up Cortez

tee Beautiful, runs until noon and is followed by lunch and soft drinks for the volunteers.

“This is the first one we’ve done in Cortez in my memory,” she said. “We could always use help.”

Keep Manatee Beautiful is a non-profit organization estab lished in 1991 as an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful and Keep Florida Beautiful, with its stated goal to “Inspire com munity involvement through its commitment to making Manatee County a cleaner and more beautiful environment.”

For information or to sign up, visit www.manateebeauti ful.com.

Cortez Cultural Center gears up for fair

Dozens of local craft vendors are set to participate in the Oct. 8 fair.

BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | leslielake@aol.com

CORTEZ - With vendor spots nearly filled, a handful of opportunities remain for sellers to participate in the Cortez Cultural Center Arts and Crafts Fair on Saturday, Oct. 8 from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“We have 32 vendors right now, with really nice local crafts,” said Kaye Bell,

president of the Cortez Village Histori cal Society, which operates the center.

She said there is room for up to six more vendors.

“This year we have something new - someone who sells hair accessories and does hair braiding,” Bell said. “That will be fun.”

In addition to crafts, Bell said that hot dogs and drinks will be available for purchase at reasonable prices.

Bell organized the first craft fair, a fundraiser for the non-profit center and museum, in 2018.

“This is a fundraiser for the mu

seum,” Bell said. “We are completely grassroots. We don’t have any funding or grants, the museum is communitysupported.”

The Cortez Cultural Center, 11655 Cortez Road, has an extensive collec tion of Cortez historical records on display, including books, documents and photos relating to the families who have shaped the Cortez commercial fishing village.

“Our aim is to preserve the historic records and photos of the historic fish ing village of Cortez, Florida. It was founded in the late 1880s by fishermen

from Carteret County, North Carolina, Key West and St. Augustine, Florida,” according to the Cortez Cultural Center website.

Next door to the Center, the Florida Maritime Museum will be hosting a nautical flea market from 8 a.m. to noon the same day.

The flea market advertises deals on fishing and nautical gear.

Free parking is available at the FISH Preserve on Cortez Road next to the Cortez Cultural Center.

For more information, visit cortezvil lagehistoricalsociety.org.

LESLIE LAKE | SUN

The Cortez litter cleanup will kick off Oct. 1 at the Florida Maritime Museum.

WMFR board says goodbye to commissioner

BRADENTON – It’s the end of an era at the West Manatee Fire Rescue district as a longtime commissioner steps down from the board.

Commissioner George Harris announced his retirement from the fire district’s board during a Sept. 13 meeting. Harris, who has served the district as a commissioner since 2014, had already elected to not run to retain the office in this year’s November election. With a move out of the district im minent, Harris will no longer be eligible to sit on the fire board once he moves.

During the meeting, he said the sale of his residence in West Manatee’s district is

set to close by the end of the month, putting him just one month shy of serving for eight full years on the dais.

In honor of his service to the district, Har ris’ fellow commissioners presented him with a plaque commemorating his time as a commissioner and all gave their compli ments for his accomplishments during his time and congratulations on his retirement.

Harris thanked both his fellow commis sioners and the fire district staff for their support over the years.

“It’s been a lot of fun,” he said of his time on the fire district dais.

Roser Church

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8:30 AM in the Chapel

10:00 AM in the Sanctuar y Nurser y • Children’s Church

ONLINE • Watch LI VE or LATER RoserChurch.com

Text ROSE R to 22828 to rece ive t he weekl y e Bulletin

The CHAPEL is open during o ce hours for prayer and meditation 941-778-0414 Maria Facebook

KRISTIN SWAIN | SUN

Fellow Commissioners Al Robinson, Larry Jennis and Robert Bennett congratulate Commissioner George Harris on his retirement from the fire board.

AME celebrates Peace Day

BY JASON SCHAFFER

SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com

HOLMES BEACH - Each year, the International Day of Peace is observed around the world on Sept. 21, and each year, students at Anna Maria Elemen tary School (AME) hold a celebration of peace at the school known as Peace Day.

The International Day of Peace was established in 1981 by the United Na tions General Assembly (UN). Two decades later, in 2001, the General As sembly unanimously voted to designate the day as a period of non-violence and cease-fire after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Each year the UN designates a specific theme for the day, and this year’s theme was “End racism, build peace.”

Students spent the day putting on performances, flying international flags and enjoying presentations from guest speakers such as Rotary Club of Anna Maria Island President Jim McDaniel. During his presentation to the stu dents, he used three different kinds of apples to explain how - just like the apples - people may look different on the outside, but are the same on the inside, regardless of race.

The Manatee High School Drum Line was also on hand to perform.

“Every grade level got up and sang a song for Peace Day,” AME principal Mike Masiello said. “Every class also did a different craft project, some did shirts, some did Peace Day plates, and they all did bulletin boards with themes like what does Peace Day mean to you. It’s a lot of fun and the kids learned a lot about diversity while having a great time.”

Masiello also said his staff and stu dents are thrilled to be able to once again have events like Peace Day where students, parents and staff can all get

together in person after two years of no activities or restricted activities due to COVID-19. He said as long as there are no drastic changes regarding COVID, all the plays and gatherings this year are back to the way they were pre-COVID.

“Racism continues to poison institu tions, social structures, and everyday life in every society. It continues to be a driver of persistent inequality. And it continues to deny people their funda mental human rights," according to UN

Secretary-General António Guterres. “It destabilizes societies, undermines democracies, erodes the legitimacy of governments, and the linkages be tween racism and gender inequality are unmistakable.”

SUBMITTED

Students perform for peers and parents during Anna Maria Elementary School’s annual Peace Day celebration.

SUBMITTED

Left, special Peace Day shirts were worn by many students during Anna Maria Elementary’s 2022 Peace Day celebration. Right, Anna Maria Elementary School students display flags from around the world.

Singers of all ages needed for Roser cantata

Calling singers of all ages and experi ence levels! Craig Ramberger, director of music ministries at Roser Memorial Community Church, is preparing a spe cial Christmas cantata this year, one that includes both youth and adult singers.

This year’s cantata is entitled “The Gift” and singers as young as age

8 are welcome to come and partici pate in the production. The can tata will be one of several planned performances including youth at Roser as a part of the church’s new youth performing arts program. The program is being developed by Ram berger to nurture children’s passion for singing, performing and other elements of the dramatic arts. He said he hopes to grow the program and create more performance op

portunities in the future, such as a youth musical.

Adults and older singers also are needed for the cantata choir. Sing ers do not need experience or to be a member of the church to participate, though they do need a love of song and willingness to perform. Cantata choir rehearsals begin on Thursday, Sept. 29 and continue each Thursday evening into December from 6:45-8 p.m. Each singer will receive a musical

score and recording of the cantata so they can practice at home in between scheduled rehearsals.

Youth singers will begin their re hearsals on Wednesday, Oct. 5 and con tinue practices on Wednesdays from 6:15-7 p.m. in the sanctuary.

For more information, contact Ram berger at craig@roserchurch.com or call 941-781-0414.

Roser is located at 512 Pine Ave. in Anna Maria.

Chamber breakfast at Compass Hotel

The Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce will host its next breakfast at the Compass Hotel on Thursday, Oct. 6 from 7:30-9 a.m. The fee is $10 for members and $18 for prospective members. Feel free to bring a raffle prize with your company name on it, as well as plenty of business cards for this buffet breakfast networking event. RSVP to becky@ami chamber.org or call 941-778-1541 by Tuesday, Oct. 4.

Bridge Tender Inn Halloween party approved

The Bradenton Beach City Commission approved a special event permit for the Bridge Tender Inn’s an nual Halloween party on Monday, Oct. 31 from 2-10 p.m. The permit allows for the temporary closure of Bay Drive South between Bridge Street and Third Street South.

Register now for Anna Maria Veterans Day Parade

The City of Anna Maria is now accepting applica tions for the 2022 Old Soldiers and Sailors Veterans Day Parade on Friday, Nov. 11 at 1 p.m. The parade honors all veterans, actively serving military person nel and veterans organizations. Veterans will lead the parade down Pine Avenue and be recognized at a brief ceremony at City Pier Park after the parade. Area civic organizations such as Kiwanis, Lions and Rotary are also encouraged to join in the parade, as are school and youth groups, local businesses, marching bands, dance and sports teams and any one else interested in participating. Participants may march, walk, or drive in vehicles or floats. For more information and to register your organization, call Amy Moriarty at 941-708-6130 or email amsradmin@ cityofannamaria.com.

Holiday events coming to Bridge Street

Bradenton Beach city commissioners approved a special event permit for the Bridge Street merchants’ Christmas tree lighting ceremony on Saturday, Nov. 19. The commission also approved special event per mits for the Christmas on Bridge Street celebration and the Holiday Boat Parade planned for Saturday, Dec. 17.

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Jason Sato – Listing & Selling

WAGNER REAL ESTATE

Miguel Rosa - Listing

Chantelle Lewin - Selling

SUBMITTED

Where’s Esther?

Megan Thee Turtle has passed Esther, who has now dropped to 9th place in the 2022 Tour de Turtles. Loggerhead sea turtle Esther, who was satellite tagged on Coquina Beach on June 20 after nesting, appears not to be the least bit interested in racing after spending the month of September relaxing off the coast of Englewood. She must have gotten a taste of the laid back attitude of Anna Maria Island after laying her eggs here; her nest hatched last month. Esther has traveled 373 miles since the start of the Sea Turtle Conservancy’s 13th Annual Tour de Turtles race on Aug. 1, adding only 16 miles in the past week. Esther is one of 15 turtles competing in her division with the title going to the turtle that travels the most dis tance between Aug. 1 and Oct. 31. Esther is competing to raise awareness of light pollution, and is sponsored by Waterline Villas & Marinas and Mainsail Vacation Rentals.

Turtle hatchlings break second record

Turtles keep records on AMI - first hatchlings, now hatched nests.

BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | leslielake@aol.com

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – 2022 is shaping up to be a record year for the local loggerhead sea turtles.

This past week the number of hatched nests reached 453 - edging out the 2018 record of 447.

Last week a record 35,850 hatchlings made it to the Gulf of Mexico, exceeding the prior record of 35,788 set in 2018. Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch volunteer Bar bara Riskay said there are more to come.

“It will continue to grow as there are nests to still hatch,” she said.

Turtle Watch also counts nests that were not laid, known as false crawls, identified by tracks left by nesting mothers that did not dig nests.

The last time turtles set a record on AMI was in 2019, when a record number of nests were laid at 544. This year’s number has stood at 531 nests

Anna Maria Island.

laid for the past several weeks. Sea turtle nesting season ends on Oct. 31.

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Dinner party, or just dinner

Brian Mathae

hen you are hosting friends and family, it’s always nice to present a dish that looks like you spent hours in the kitchen devoted to making their meal a special memory. If you are hosting a dinner party, this recipe will make your guests ooh and aah. But it’s also a straightforward, fairly easy recipe that makes a delicious meal with enough leftovers for a day or two. And who doesn’t love leftovers!

A variety of meats can be used in this recipe, you just need to know the cook time and temperature for the type of meat you choose. If preparing for a dinner party, you may want to use something like veal. A boneless veal shoulder roast would be a great choice here. You may have to contact a butcher and order it ahead of time, but if it’s for a special meal, you are probably

Roasted Pork Tenderloin

stuffed with Spinach Prosciutto

Ingredients (12 servings)

4 pork tenderloins, butterflied about an inch thick

2 pounds fresh spinach, stems removed, rinsed and dried

2/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 pound thinly sliced prosciutto

4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 1/2 cups low sodium chicken or vegetable stock

planning in advance anyway. Veal is a very tender meat that has a delicate flavor and texture. Due to its delicate nature, it should not be cooked beyond an internal tempera ture of 130 degrees Fahrenheit. So keep that digital temperature probe nearby!

Pork tenderloin is a favorite of mine. A

1/2 cup dry white wine

1 teaspoon flour mixed with 1 tablespoon water Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Ensure spinach is dry, pressing any water from it between tea towels. In a medium bowl, mix the spinach, Parmesan cheese, garlic and 2 table spoons olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.

Preheat the oven to 325 F. Butterfly the pork ten derloin into approximate 1-inch-thick portions and lay on a work surface cut side up and season with salt and pepper. Using half of the prosciutto, lay it

tenderloin is a long thin muscle located in side the ribcage. A tenderloin is the leanest cut of meat, so it’s a healthier choice. Pork has a slightly higher fat content than veal and therefore is full of flavor in compari son. It’s also readily available and relatively inexpensive so extensive pre-planning isn’t

in single layers with each piece slightly overlapping. Spoon the spinach mixture along the center of each tenderloin. Carefully roll the tenderloins as tightly as possible. Wrap them with the remaining prosciutto and tie with kitchen string at 2-inch intervals. Heat the remaining olive oil in a large ovenproof skillet to medium-high temperature. Place the pork tenderloins in the skillet and cook until browned all over. Remove tenderloins onto a plate. Pour off any fat from the skillet and return it to heat. Carefully add 1/2 of the stock and bring it to a boil. Use a spoon or spatula to scrape any bits of meat from the bottom of the skillet. Return the

required. And don’t forget, today’s pork is not what you may have grown up on. Pork producers have worked diligently at meet ing changing consumer demand. Today’s pork is very lean, with 16% less fat and 27% less saturated fat compared to pork produced just 20-30 years ago. Even though pork is forbidden in a number of religions and even illegal in certain countries, it is still the most consumed red meat in the world.

I also think pork is more versatile for a recipe like this because you can stuff it with different ingredients based on the season or whatever you are craving. So this recipe is ideally suited to a Thanksgiving dinner, Christmas dinner or any other special occa sion. Sweet and savory items pair equally well with pork more so than most other meats. Stuffing ideas include cranberries and pecans; andouille sausage; apples and pumpkin seeds; spinach and prosciutto; spinach and mushroom; poached pears and blue cheese; butternut squash and sage; figs and gorgonzola; cornbread, apples and cranberries and on and on.

Today’s recipe is a roasted pork tender loin stuffed with spinach prosciutto. But feel free to use your creativity - any of these combinations or a combination of your own will surely be a hit. Just make sure you cook pork to an internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit. We do hope you enjoy.

tenderloins to the skillet and roast them in the oven for about 55 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 145 F. If necessary, cover the tenderloins to prevent the prosciutto from browning too much. Transfer the tenderloins to a cutting board and cover with foil. While they rest, skim off the fat from the skillet. Add the remaining stock and place over high heat. Add the wine and scrape any bits from the bottom of the skillet. Once boiling, add the flour and water mixture and simmer until it thickens slightly. Season with additional salt and pepper if you like. Cut the pork tenderloins into slices, drizzle with pan sauce and serve immediately.

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING LOCAL SMALL BUSINESS.

HURRICANE HANKS

OUTDOORS

Brunch for the Bay

Reel Time

RUSTY CHINNIS

runch for a cause with Suncoast Waterkeeper at the group’s annual Brunch for the Bay fundraiser.

This year’s brunch will be held at the Bradenton Yacht Club on Saturday, Oct. 15 from noon to 3 p.m. Monies raised from the event will go to help fund Suncoast Waterkeeper’s (SCWK) mission to protect and restore the Florida Suncoast’s waterways through enforcement, field work, advocacy and environmental education.

The group uses the funds raised to advance water quality enforcement ac tions and campaigns like their Eyes on the Suncoast and Sick of Sewage cam paigns. SCWK has been effective in

educating the public about man-made pollutants (stormwater and sewage) and enforcement with legal challenges to municipalities on Sarasota Bay and surrounding waters. Their investiga tion of Sarasota County’s sewage system revealed a shocking pattern of longstanding, systematic infrastructure failures and disregard for public health and water quality.

To consolidate its sewage system, the county had decommissioned two tertiary, or advanced wastewater treat ment (AWT) plants, to better centralize their operations. However, the remain ing plants that Sarasota County leaders increasingly relied upon employed only secondary treatment, leaving billions of gallons of highly nitrogenated waste water as a byproduct.

At the same time, demand for the reclaimed irrigation water from the county was disappearing as developers,

RUSTY CHINNIS | SUN

Suncoast Waterkeeper's actions seek to prevent degraded water that leads to harmful algae like this bloom in Sarasota Bay.

Fly fishing school starts soon

CB’s Saltwater Outfit ters, 1249 Stickney Point Road, Sarasota, will host Orvis-Endorsed fly fishing schools on Nov. 12, Jan. 14, Feb. 4, Feb. 18 and Mar. 18 from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Siesta Key. The courses, designed for beginning and intermediate fly casters, will focus on basic fly cast ing principles, improving casting skills and correcting faults. Instructor Capt. Rick Grassett will also cover salt

water fly fishing techniques, leader construction and fly selection. The cost for the class is $225 per person and includes the use of Orvis fly tackle, a workbook and lunch. Optional instruc tional guided fly fishing trips are also available for an additional fee. Call CB’s Saltwater Outfitters at 941-349-4400 or visit info@ cbsoutfitters.com to make reservations.

County commissioners to fund clam seeding program

The Manatee County Commission will provide $9,500 to Solutions To Avoid Red Tide (START) for clams to be planted in Sarasota Bay to improve water quality. To date, 400,000 clams have been planted in the bay and are filter ing 4 million gallons of water every day in cooperation with the Sarasota Bay Watch Clam Seeding Program.

TURTLE TIPS

During sea turtle season, May 1 – Oct. 31, follow these tips to help turtles:

• Turn off lights visible from the beach and close blinds from sundown to sunrise; lights con fuse 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, lan terns or camera flashes on the beach at night.

• Remove all beach chairs and other objects from the sand from sundown to sunrise; they can deter sea turtles from nest ing 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 can not live long out of the water. To report large holes or other turtle obstacles, call:

• City of Anna Maria code enforcement — 941-708-6130, ext. 111.

• City of Bradenton Beach code enforcement — 941-7781005, ext. 280.

• City of Holmes Beach code enforcement — 941-778-0331, ext. 260.

• Level sandcastles before leaving the beach; they can block hatchlings from the water.

• Don’t use balloons, wish lanterns or fireworks; they litter the beach and Gulf, and turtles can ingest the debris.

• 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 dis

turbing turtles, call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Wildlife Alert hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922).

NESTING NEWS

Turtle nests laid 531 (Record: 544 in 2019)

False crawls 490 (Record: 831 in 2010)

Nests hatched 453 (Previous record: 447 in 2018)

Hatchlings 36,514 (Previous record: 35,788 in 2018)

Source: Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Moni toring

REEL TIME: Brunch for the Bay

FROM PAGE 18

in managing nitrogen in their storm water runoff, turned to less polluted options, such as well water or highly treated reclaimed water from the city of Sarasota.

Most recently, SCWK filed a suc cessful challenge requiring the city of Bradenton to fix its wastewater system to prevent the continued release of millions of gallons of partially treated wastewater to the Manatee River.

Reports from the Sarasota Bay Estu ary Program point to the section of Sarasota Bay covered by the Sarasota action as one bright spot in an other wise troubled bay.

You can help support the group’s efforts and learn about their ongoing

campaigns in the Suncoast region by attending the fundraising event. This year SCWK is celebrating 50 years of the Clean Water Act by looking back at the group’s successes under the law and looking ahead at some immediate challenges.

The Clean Water Act allows Sun coast Waterkeeper’s members to bring citizens suits against polluters which benefits all of the citizens and busi nesses that depend on a healthy bay.

At the event, participants will meet the group’s new Executive Director, Abbey Tyrna. Justin Bloom, founder of Suncoast Waterkeeper, will discuss the importance of these cases in restoring the bay and SCWK’s plans to continue to advocate for the enforcement of pollution laws.

Also speaking at the event is Ph.D. candidate Nick Castillo, representing the Bonefish and Tarpon Trust. His talk is entitled, “Does the Clean Water Act protect you from prescription drugs?” Castillo will educate participants on how prescription drugs make their way into Florida waters and eventually into the fish many of us eat.

There has been a lot of news about plastics in our water recently, but we’re just starting to see coverage about the threat of the so-called “forever chemi cals,” like PFAS and PFOS. University of Florida Assistant Professor Dr. John Bowden will be in attendance to discuss his research on the subject. Bowden was recently hired by the Holmes Beach Clean Water Ad-hoc

Committee and tested tap water on Anna Maria Island that is served by the Manatee County water utility. Meet ings are open to the public and every one is encouraged to attend and hear what was discovered in your drinking water and what it might mean for your health.

Anglers can learn how the group’s efforts are supporting an environment conducive to healthy fisheries, now and for future generations.

Please purchase your tickets today for the annual Brunch for the Bay by visiting the SCWK website at www. suncoastwaterkeeper.org/brunchforth ebay2022.

The Bradenton Yacht Club is located at 4307 13th St. W. on Snead Island.

Help clean up the beach

The Center of Anna Maria Island is host ing monthly beach cleanups. Beginning on Saturday, Oct. 1, volunteers can gather at The Center, 407 Magnolia Ave. in Anna Maria, to walk to the White Avenue beach access. Cleanups are scheduled from 9-11 a.m. on the first Saturday of each month from October through May. The Center’s staff will provide trash bags, gloves, water and a light snack for volunteers. Participants of all ages are welcome to attend and no preregistration is needed. Volunteers are asked to depart from The Center as a group. For more information, call 941-778-1908.

Get tutoring help at The Center

CENTER NOTES CENTER

Could your student benefit from a little extra help in school? The Center of Anna Maria Island is offering after school tutoring beginning Oct. 3 and continuing through April 26 for kids in kindergarten through fifth grade. Tutoring is offered by Anna Maria Elementary School teacher Maggie VanWormer and can be sched uled in a group or individual session. The cost for a group session for students in grades kindergarten and first grade is $25 per 30-minute session for members or $35 per session for non-members. Individual sessions are offered at $35 for Center members per 30-minute session or $45 for non-members. The cost for students in grades two through five is $55 per hour for individual sessions or $65 for non-members. Group sessions are avail able at $35 per hour for members or $45 for non-members. Registration is required by Thursday on the week before your child attends a session. For more information, or to register, call 941-778-1908.

Fitness classes launch for kids

Kids ages 8-17 are welcome to come out to The Center of Anna Maria Island for a youth foundation in fitness program, de signed to foster children’s and teens’ inter est in fitness and working out. Participants will learn healthy and enjoyable ways to get fit and improve their sports performance in a small group environment. The program is suitable for all skill and experience levels. Participants will meet from 5:15-6 p.m. on Oct. 3, 6, 10, 13, 17, 24 and 27. For more in formation, or to register, call 941-778-1908.

Take a trip with Senior Adventures

For seniors looking for a way to have some fun and meet new friends, The Center of Anna Maria Island’s staff is hosting three trips with Senior Adventures. On Wednes day, Oct. 5 the group will travel from The Center to the James Museum of Western and Wildlife Art in St. Petersburg. The van will leave the Island’s community center at 10 a.m. The second trip for the month will be to the Red Barn Flea Market on Friday,

Oct. 14, leaving at 10 a.m. The third and final trip for the month will be to the Lucky Frog Restaurant in Bradenton. For that trip, the van will leave The Center at 11 a.m. All trips are limited to 14 people and have a $5 fee for van transportation. Additional fees may apply for tickets and food, depending on the excursion. For more information, or to register, call 941-778-1908.

Party at Pumpkin Palooza

Just in time for fall, The Center of Anna Maria Island’s Pumpkin Palooza is back for its second year. The all-day camp for students in kindergarten through fifth grade takes place from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 7. Students will participate in lots of fall-themed fun throughout the day from a pumpkin volcano experiment to games and even a pumpkin pie-eating contest. The cost to attend Pumpkin Palooza is $55 per child. Registration is required by Sept. 29. For more information, or to register, call 941-778-1908.

Learn the art of Capoeira

Come out to The Center of Anna Maria Island and join a six-week course exploring the Brazilian martial art of Capoeira. The program is designed for beginners of all ages. Classes will be held on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6-7:30 p.m. at The Cen ter, 407 Magnolia Ave. in Anna Maria be ginning Oct. 10. While students ages 10 and under are welcome, a parent or guardian is asked to accompany these participants at least to their first class. The cost for the series is $80 for Center members or $90 for non-members. Registration is required by Oct. 6. For more information, or to register, call 941-778-1908.

CENTER NOTES

FROM

Pedal for Parkinson’s at The Center

Instructor Stephanie Belill is hosting a stationary bicycle workout class de signed specifically for those suffering with Parkinson’s disease at The Center of Anna Maria Island. The one-hour exercise sessions will be held from 1-2 p.m. every Tuesday from Oct. 11-Nov. 22. Classes are free though there is a maximum capacity of nine people. To register, call The Center at 941-7781908.

Have a scary good time with The Center

Travel to Busch Gardens Tampa and go to Howl-O-Scream with The Center. The nonprofit’s staff is inviting teens in sixth through 10th grade to

board the bus and head to the popular Halloween event. Ride rollercoasters, stroll through scare zones and step into haunted houses if you dare. The cost is $75 for members or $85 for non-mem bers, plus extra for food, beverages or souvenirs at the park. The bus rolls out from The Center, 407 Magnolia Ave. in Anna Maria, at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 15 and returns at 2 a.m. For more information, or to sign up, call 941-7781908.

Learn mah jongg at The Center

Beginners are welcome to learn to play the ancient game of mah jongg at The Center of Anna Maria Island. Classes begin on Oct. 18 and continue every Tuesday from 10 a.m. to noon through Nov. 22. All students are required to attend the first lesson to be a part of subsequent classes. The cost is $100 for Center members or $110 for non-members. All classes take place at The Center at 407 Magnolia Ave. in Anna Maria. For more information, or to register, call 941-778-1908.

Anna

REAL ESTATE

Higher interest rates affect property values

When are husbands like mortgage lenders? The answer is when they ask really good financial questions. Mine asked an interesting one the day the mortgage rates hit 6% as predicted. Since we, like so many other homeowners last year, refinanced at just under 3%, his question was what would the monthly payment be at today’s 6% rate? After a quick little calculation using my mortgage amortization app, even I was surprised.

As of this writing, the average rate on a 30-year fixed rate mortgage hit 6.29%; last year the rate was 2.86%. Accord ing to Freddie Mac, the last time rates were this high was in the middle of the financial crisis almost 14 years ago. At that time, the country was in a serious recession and may be in one now. At the last meeting of the Federal Reserve, the benchmark rate was raised again to 0.75%.

Castles in the Sand

LOUISE BOLGER

So, what does this mean in real money for potential homeowners? It means hundreds of dollars more every month to repay their mortgage, not to mention thousands of dollars over the life of the loan. It’s one more negative that buy ers are dealing with along with a sharp decline in the stock market hitting their savings, the continued lack of inventoryeven though there is some movement in that direction - and home prices that are still not substantially moving downward. And certainly, the biggest challenge will be the ability of buyers to qualify for these more expensive loans.

As of August, the median sales price na tionally for an existing home was $435,000, a consistent but slow decline in price growth.

As a comparison, here are the Manatee County August sales statistics, reported by the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee.

Single-family homes closed 17% fewer homes compared to August of last year. The median sale price was $525,000, up 22.1%, and the average sale price was $655,261, up 13%. The median time to contract was 13 days, up 160%. New listings are down 8.4% and the month’s supply of inventory is 2.5 months.

Condos closed 11.3% fewer properties compared to August of last year. The median sale price was $352,495, 28.2% higher, and the average sale price was $404,094, 33.5% higher. The median time to contract was 13 days, up 85.7%. New listings are down 12.8% and the month’s supply of inventory was 1.8 months.

Inventory is slightly up and closed sales are somewhat down, no surprise there. Here’s what the President of the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee has to say: “As expected, and as it’s been trending all year, the residential real estate market seems to have peaked, and the curve is flattening out.”

I believe, as the rates move up - and we’re not done yet - fewer and fewer homeown ers will stop considering moving and giving up their low interest rate mortgages. This will surely further impact the available inventory keeping prices high. In addition, Florida has the added benefit of a constant flow of incoming new residents which will have more of a positive effect on sale prices than in other parts of the country.

The just under 3% rate my husband and I were able to lock in last year was by far the lowest rate we ever had in almost 50 years of homeownership, probably never to be seen again.

OBITUARIES

Lynn Cee Kaplan

Lynn Cee Kaplan gained her angel wings on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022 after a long, courageous and fierce battle with cancer. Beloved by all who knew her, she showed her heart of gold to her friends, her Anna Maria Oyster Bar work family and every guest she came into contact with dur ing her 17 years as part of the Anna Maria Oyster Bar Cortez family. She is survived by a brother and sister, many dear friends and her dearest friends, Christine Estes and Bill Cannady, who cared so lovingly for her during her final year. There was a graveside service on what would have been her 61st birthday on Friday, Sept. 23, 2022 at Skyway Memorial Gardens, followed by a reception at the Anna Maria Oyster Bar Landside. Brown & Sons Funeral Homes & Crema tory 43rd Street Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. We extend our gratitude to My Breast Friends 941, Tidewell Hospice and the Women’s Resource Center for their care. Condolences may be made to www. brownandsonsfuneral.com.

BEACH BEAT

BRADENTON BEACH

9/16, 2:38 a.m., noise complaint, 1604 Gulf Drive N. The officer was dis patched to a loud noise complaint where renters were talking loudly and playing loud music in violation of the city noise ordinance. The officer made contact with the renters and told them if they did not lower the noise level, which includes no outdoor music after 10 p.m., then further ac tion would be taken. The renters said they understood and would take their party indoors for the remainder of the evening. No further action was taken.

9/19, 9:05 p.m., retail theft, 103 Gulf Drive S. The officer was dispatched to

Circle K in reference to a retail theft. The store manager said a man was wandering around the store and after several minutes he observed the man putting multiple items in his personal bag then attempting to leave the store without purchasing the items. When the manager confronted the man, he told him to get out of the way and left the store. There was security footage, but police said it was not clear and they didn’t recognize the subject.

HOLMES BEACH

9/14, 8:30 a.m., grand theft, 700 Key Royale Drive. After a round of golf at Key Royale Golf and Country Club, a man left and didn’t realize he had left his golf clubs on the cart at the club. The club usually keeps found clubs in a stor age shed until the owners return, but when he called, they said they did not have them. Key Royale was able to pull

video footage that showed a truck pull ing up and someone taking the clubs. There was no clear video of the truck’s registration, but the victim planned to provide serial numbers for the clubs. The clubs are valued at $3,000.

9/14, 11:55 p.m., grand theft, 8314 Marina Drive. The officer made contact with a man who said his kayak was stolen from a dock it was tied to on Marina Drive. A small motor and paddle were left behind nearby, leading police to believe it was taken after dark and the thief didn’t realize they were there. The victim lives on a boat anchored nearby, and said the kayak was his only transportation to and from his boat. There were security cameras on a nearby home facing the dock, but the owners could not be reached. There are no suspects in the theft at this time.

COVID-19 low in Manatee County

SEPT. 19

Cases 87

% Positivity 11.65%

Deaths 0

% Eligible population vaccinated 73.3%

New hospital admissions 5

SEPT. 26

Cases 80

% Positivity 10.2%

Deaths 4

% Eligible population vaccinated 73.4%

New hospital admissions 33

Manatee County community level of COVID-19 transmission

Source: Centers for Disease Control

New Guild artist brings the

The Artists’ Guild of Anna Maria Island’s newest displaying artist, Wendy Butcher, a passion multiple thrives

BY JASON SCHAFFER SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com

HOLMES BEACH – There’s a new displaying artist at the Artists’ Guild of Anna Maria Island and she’s all about color.

Mixed-media artist Wendy Butcher grew up in upstate New York before spending seven years in Scottsdale, Arizona and finally settling in Sarasota. A self-professed lover of art since age 9, she said she enjoys exploring different creative directions and mediums.

“I use a lot of different mediums – watercolor, acrylic, pastels – and I love photography,” Butcher said. “Nature is always what I draw pictures of and I also love doing portraits. I’m definitely not afraid to try different things.”

She says in addition to wanting to move to the Gulf coast for the sunshine and beauty of the area, she was looking for a place that has a significant pres ence in the art community.

“It seemed like there wasn’t a strong local art com munity in Phoenix; it was very narrow compared to here,” Butcher said. “It seems like everybody comes together here. This is why I’m excited about working

Artists’ Guild of Anna Maria Island’s new member, Wendy Butcher, has her artwork on display at the Guild Gallery.

with the gallery. I want to help promote the artists and elevate them more. I just want to do what I can to help the art community on Anna Maria Island.”

In addition to her work as an artist, Butcher does graphic design and is currently revamping the gal lery’s website. Her colorful artwork is on display and available for purchase at the Guild Gallery, 5414 Ma rina Drive, and at her online store at www.society6. com/wbdesigns.

The gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, visit www. amiartistsguildgallery.com.

JASON SCHAFFER | SUN

EMERGENGY: Anna Maria declares state of local emergency

FROM PAGE 1

in people. People do things that they wouldn’t normally do. I understand that. You have to be a little bit tolerant of it, but we can’t let it take the whole shebang down,” Murphy told the com mission.

The emergency authorization allows the mayor to use all available sources of the city government to cope with the emergency or disaster, including emergency expenditures not to exceed $10,000. The mayor may confiscate merchandise, equipment, vehicles or property needed to alleviate the emer gency, with reimbursement to be made within 60 days.

The mayor is authorized to address price gouging practiced by anyone charging more than the normal aver age retail price for any merchandise, goods or services sold during the emergency.

Murphy said the resolution adopted that day was identical to the local state of emergency declaration enacted in 2017 prior to the approach of Hurri cane Irma.

“It does give the mayor broad sweep ing power. It is something that could be abused. We all have to live together and I believe that communication is key to making this work,” Murphy said.

The mayor said he would seek the insight of the individual commissioners before taking any emergency action he feels requires their input.

“I wish you all well and hopefully this

will not have to be used, but we have it in our arsenal if we need to use it. I will keep you posted on a regular basis,” Murphy said.

REENTRY TAGS

Murphy mentioned the city-issued reentry tags that allow Anna Maria resi dents to return to their homes or busi nesses if entry restrictions are enacted. Murphy said those who already pos sess reentry tags do not need to obtain news ones. One reentry tag is issued per household, with two tags issued for households with special needs. Four re entry tags are issued for the Anna Maria businesses. Reentry tags are not issued to vacation rental guests. Reentry tags can be obtained at Anna Maria City Hall. Carter noted the city experienced some reentry issues after Hurricane Irma – issues attributed in part to those entering Anna Maria Island via Bra denton Beach.

“We had people coming out here sightseeing,” Murphy said.

Murphy noted Bradenton Beach experienced minimal impacts during Hurricane Irma, whereas the impacts in Anna Maria included fallen trees and limbs, downed power lines, extended power outages and significant damage to the City Pier and pier buildings.

Murphy said he planned to address reentry issues during a meeting being hosted by the Manatee County Emer gency Operations Center.

“It has to be better controlled. The individual cities on the Island have got to be communicating with each other,” Murphy said. “The county is in charge. Ultimately, they make the decision for reentry.”

SANDBAGS

Murphy mentioned the city’s free sandbagging area at the northwest end of Bayfront Park. The sand and empty bags are provided for free, but users are asked to bring their own shovels.

“We’ve been fleeced out of a lot of sandbags by people coming in and taking 60 to 70 sandbags at a time. There will be a limit of 15 sandbags per vehicle,” Murphy said.

Deputy Patrick Manning noted the county, for the first time, had already delivered to Bayfront Park a dozen pal lets of free sandbags.

“They were gone by 9 o’clock. They were pre-filled by the jail inmates,” Manning said.

IAN: AMI prepares for storm

FROM PAGE 1 stay unless they forced us to evacu ate,” said Sam Bogert, who is visiting Bradenton Beach with her two sis ters. “We all live in Naples, so we’re no strangers to hurricanes. You have to take them seriously, but freaking out doesn’t do anybody any good.”

Bogert and her sisters were not alone in keeping a calm attitude to ward the storm. Many of the people The Sun spoke to said they were looking forward to hurricane parties and many didn’t have much confi

dence that the storm would be any more than a heavy rainmaker.

“My wife and I live in Kansas City, but everybody we talk to that lives here says this is how it always goes with these things,” said Brent Crowder, who is staying in Holmes Beach. “They tell you on the news it’s going to slam right into the area, then they turn away at the last minute. We don’t get a refund unless there’s a mandatory evacuation, so we’re stay ing put unless they force us out.”

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

Free sandbags are available at the northwest end of Bayfront Park in Anna Maria.

Youth soccer heats up at The Center

BY MONICA SIMPSON SPECIAL TO THE SUN

ANNA MARIA – In the heat and hu midity of the early evening Island air, the youth soccer program kicked off week two of action at The Center.

The U7 league play finished with the Beach Bums team taking on team Freckled Fin.

Wearing Beach Bums purple, volun teer coach Brooke Svoboda instructed her team, including Caroline Svoboda, in last Tuesday night’s developmental league game.

With teammates Isabella Disalvo, Mason Gazzo, Henry Leibfried, Grady Niedzwick, Juliette Sato and Lucas Ubiola, Caroline ran up and down the soccer field against their Freckled Fin opponents and friends.

Beach Bums goals were matched by Freckled Fin in a league where the players and fans keep unofficial score.

Led by their volunteer coach Karri Stephens, team Freckled Fin scored goals and defended against their tough but friendly adversaries on the field.

Stephens’ squad, including indoor powerhouse Jade Ptak, matched well against the Beach Bums team.

Ptak is joined on the pitch by her teammates Harper and Kinsley Aver ill, Alivia Flores, Cayden Lee, Micah Palmer and Noah Merone.

Moving up an age group, the U10 players entered their second week of competitive recreational play.

Cloud Pest Control could not find the goal in their loss to AMI Coconuts. The win marked AMI Coconuts’ first win of the season thanks to a goal by Riley Karecki.

Sato Real Estate captured their first win with four goals by Dylan Sato and a single by Camden Rudacille. On offense, Brandon Sato logged an assist in the game. Gunnar Maize did his part on defense to get the W for Sato Real Estate with two saves in the goalkeeper position.

On the other side of the field, Asher Patel had three great saves for the La Pensee Plumbing team. His teammate, and fellow goalie, Owen Mahoney, made two big stops in the game.

Scoring for LaPensee was Preston LaPensee. LaPensee finished the game with two goals.

After tying in week one against Sato Real Estate, Solid Rock Construction could not pull out the win against Is land Real Estate.

In the two-point loss, Matthew Darak scored the only point for the Solid

Rock team. Isaac Roadman made four nice stops against the Island Real Es tate offense.

Running the scoreboard for Island Real Estate, the hot foot of Callin West fall scored all three goals for his team. Vincent Gollamudi protected the net for the Island Real Estate team in their second win in the fall youth soccer season.

In the U14 league, team Progressive Cabinetry had a bye week in week two play. The battle between the HSH team and team Mac Parkman ended in a 4-4 tie.

HSH spread the scoring among Austin Guess, Jesse Zaccagnino and Jayden Sparks. Dominik Zupa scored all four goals for his team.

Zupa’s Mac Parkman teammate Cyrus Ryan was credited with five stops as keeper for his team. Jack Zac

cagnino matched Ryan’s game save re cord with five of his own in the evenly matched game.

As youth soccer plays toward the mid-season mark, adult soccer Thurs day night action at The Center is proving to be competitive and action packed with week three play this week.

SUN SCOREBOARD

SEPT. 20

YOUTH SOCCER – WEEK 2 U10

AMI Coconuts (1-1-0) 1 Cloud Pest Control (0-2-0) 0

Sato Real Estate (1-0-1) 5 LaPensee Plumbing (1-1-0) 2

Island Real Estate (2-0-0) 3 Solid Rock Construction (0-1-1) 1 U14 HSH (1-0-1) 4 Mac Parkman (0-0-1) 4

SEPT. 22

ADULT SOCCER – WEEK 2

Slim’s Place (2-0-0) 7 Servis First Bank (0-2-0) 5

Pool America (1-1-0) 4 Gulfview Windows and Doors (1-1-0) 3

Wash Family Construction (2-0-0) 4 Sato Real Estate (0-2-0) 0

Ross Built Construction (1-1-0) 3 Moss Builders (1-1-0) 2

MONICA SIMPSON | SUN

Lucas Urbiola takes the strong defensive position for Beach Bums against Kinsley Averill for Freckled Fin. Fin teammates Noah Merone, Alivia Flores and Harper Averill rush in for support in the second week of the youth soccer season.

FUN IN THE SUN

ANNOUNCEMENTS

BEACH YOGA ON Wednes days, Saturdays & Sundays at 8:30am at the end of Pine Ave by the Sandbar Restaurant by donation. Classes on Tues days & Fridays at 8:30 at 100 Broadway St. on LBK. www.thriveyogafit.com

THE BEST VOLUNTEER position on the island. The AMI Historical Museum needs docents and bread makers. Call Kathy Primeau at 989-560-6381.

ROSER FOOD BANK needs donations of cash and non-perishable food, PAPER & PERSON AL HYGIENE PRODUCTS. Donations boxes are located at the Church, Moose Club, and Wal green’s.

HOSPITAL VOLUNTEERS WANTED to assist at our in formation desk, especially weekends. Great for teens needing volunteer hours (16yrs+). Other assignments avail able. Please call the Blake Volunteer Office at 941-798-6151.

COMMERCIAL SALES, RENT & LEASE

HAVE YOU BEEN think ing of selling? We NEED properties to List for SALE!!! Duplexes, multi family, small resorts? Call BIG Alan Galletto of Island Real Estate to get it SOLD 941-232-2216

CLEANING SERVICE

TOTAL HOME SERVICES CLEANING : Residential, Commercial, Rentals, VRBO. Professional and Reliable. Call 941-7564570 or 941-565-3931

KIMBERLY’S BOCO CLEAN ING is accepting new clients for general home cleaning services call 252940-3293 for free estimate Bradenton Palmetto area 10/5 NEW Hillenbrand EMPLOYMENT

HOUSEKEEPER F/T, PT, Ho tel on Anna Maria Island. Contact Rick 813-7354373.

PERSON OR PERSONS for home maintenance. 2 days per week,4 hours per day,$20/hr Clean furniture, deck ,windows, etc Call 941-713-1586

EMPLOYMENT

NOW HIRING ENTHUSIAS TIC front desk and sales person and Esthetician. Leah Chavie Skincare 6646 Cortez Rd W, Bradenton 941-896-7225

The award-winning ANNA MARIA ISLAND SUN, a weekly newspaper on Florida’s Gulf Coast, is looking for a freelance reporter/photographer to cover events on this tourism-driven island. The ideal candidate will have reporting and photography experience at a commu nity newspaper and have some experience writing for a news website. Local residents or those with previous local knowledge and willing to relocate here a plus. Resumes and cover letters may be mailed to The Anna Maria Island Sun, P.O Box 1189, Anna Maria, FL 34216, Attention: Mike Field, publisher.

FISHING CHARTERS

CAPT. MAC GREGORY Fishing Charters. Full Day, Half Day, Night, Inshore & Near Shore. 941-809-5783 U.S.C.G. Certified/Insured

FOR SALE

TOPPER FOR F150 Long bed. $100 or Best Offer. Call 941-705-7560.

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

TILE! TILE! TILE! All varia tions of tile supplied and installed. Quality workmanship. Prompt, reliable, many Island ref erences. 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 # CBC 1261150. Call Mike Kern 941-7781115

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API’S DRYWALL REPAIR 15+ years experience. Free estimates. No job too small. Love to help you. Call 941-524-8067.

ISLE TILE specializing in Custom Bath/Shower & Backsplash installation. Pressure washing available. Call 941-302-8759 isletileservices.com

HOME SERVICES

CONCRETE FUSION, CRACK REPAIR sidewalks/ driveways. Why fix 95% of concrete when only 5% bad? Number 1 in concrete repair. Insured. Free estimate. Call Bobby 941-374-7670.

LANDSCAPING & LAWN CARE

R. GAROFALO’S Interlocking brick pavers, driveways, pa tios, pool decks. Free esti mates. Licensed & Insured. Call Rafael 941-778-4823 or Veronik 941-526-7941

SHELL DRIVEWAYS & LANDSCAPE. Specializing in Old Florida Seashell driveways and scapes. Also Rock, Mulch, & Soil. Free estimates. Call Shark Mark 941-301-6067

MOVING & STORAGE

MARTIN’S MOVING YOUR Island movers! Of fering dependable, com petitive rates. No hidden costs. 941-809-5777.

PAINTING & WALLCOVERING

PAINT! PAINT! AND MORE 28 years of experienced interior/exterior custom painting. Pressure clean ing, 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 Win egarden 941-794-0455

DONALD PERKINS ABRACADABRA PAINTING LLC fully insured. 30 years experience. Many Island references. Call 941-7057096

POOL SERVICES

FOUR SEASONS POOL SERVICE AND CHEMI CAL SERVICES. Certi fied Pool Operator. 10 + Years Experience. Residential/commer cial. Chemical Service Licensed & Insured. Call Dennis Clark 941-7375657

COLE'S TROPICAL POOL SERVICE Call Cole Bowers for all your pool maintenance needs! Affordable and Dependable!! 941-7131893

PRESSURE WASHING & WINDOWS

TOTAL HOME SERVICES CLEANING : Residential, Commercial, Construc tion, Vacation, VRBO Rentals . Also available Pressure Washing, Roof Cleaning, Paver Sealing and Windows. Call 941565-3931.

REAL ESTATE HOMES & CONDOS FOR SALE

Have you been think ing of selling? We NEED properties to List for SALE!!! GULF FRONT, CA NAL FRONT, BAY FRONT CONDOS or HOMES ASK for BIG Alan Galletto of Island Real Estate to get it SOLD 941-232-2216

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RENTALS: ANNUAL

ANNUAL RENTALS WANTED! We have well qualified tenants for beach and mainland annual rentals, Full man agement or Finders fee. Call today for details. Ask for Paige DUNCAN REAL ESTATE 513-3821992.

ANNUAL RENTAL-3BR/2BA, pool, canal w/ boat lift home on key Royale. 1700 sq.ft. $8500/mo. Call 941-713-1586

ANNUAL RENTALS – AVAIL ABLE NOW. 1BR/1BA, fully furnished, includes util. $3,000/month. 2BR/2BA, unfurnished. $3,300/ month. 3BR/3BA, unfur nished. $4,500/month.1ST, Last, and Security Deposit required. Call Sato Real Estate, Inc 941-778-7200 or Email monica@satoreal estate.com

RENTALS: SEASONAL & VACATION

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SEASONAL RENTAL in PALMA SOLA. 3BR/2BA weekly or monthly rates. Contact Barb Grace 941201-2190

ANNA MARIA ISLAND CONDOS Large pool, beach access, free WiFi, 1&2 Bedroom $900 to $1200 per week redekercondosonami.com Tim 941-704-7525

TRANSPORTATION

AMI TAXI credit cards, cash, Venmo accepted. Airport: Tampa $105, Sarasota $50, St. Pete/Clearwater $105, Orlando $220. Call 941-447-8372 or 941-4478376. amitaxi4u@gmail. com, www.amitaxi.com

ANYTIME TRANSPORTA TION to all Airports, Casino, etc. Tampa/St. Pete $80. Sarasota $40. Pets wel come. Very dependable. Reasonable rates. Contact Jeanne. 941-779-5095

AIRPORT RIDES Sarasota, St. Pete, Tampa. Call/Text Vita 941-376-7555.