Candidate qualifying. 8
AME’s ‘team.’ 21
Center grills. 24 AUG. 23, 2017 FREE
VOLUME 25, NO. 43
The Best News on Anna Maria Island Since 1992 AsTheWorldTerns spy a web of deceit. 6 Sunshine suit embroils Bradenton Beach. 4 Bradenton Beach commission agrees to charter review. 4 Westbay pushes boat canopy removal. 5
Op-Ed
The Islander editorial, reader opinions. 6
10-20 YEARS AGO
Looking back. 7
Meetings
On the gov’ calendar. 8 Make plans, save a date. 10
Happenings Announcements. 11
Aqua changes plans, hearing continues. 12 Message of love. 13 WMFR reviews budget. 14
www.islander.org
Cortez hopes to sway DOT: Spare village, repair bridge
By terry o’connor islander reporter Battle lines are drawn as decision time for the cortez Bridge draws near. the florida department of transportation has announced it is leaning toward the largest replacement option for the bridge. the dot emphasized it has not yet decided to build a $72 million, 65-foot vertical-clearance fixed bridge, but it is the favored option. the new bridge will have a service life of 75 years, the dot projects. it is not the favored option for some locals, who will gather 1:30-3:30 p.m. Saturday, aug. 26, at fishermen’s Hall, 4511 124th St. W., cortez, to discuss strategies for lobbying DOT decision-makers to fix the existing bridge. “We’re fighting the big bridge,” said Linda molto of cortez. molto said many cortez residents want the bridge repaired and preserved as an iconic representative of the “low-rise” fishing village it serves. a dot study indicated the bridge can be repaired for $4.5 million but it will again need repair in 10 years and will be “substandard” throughout the rest of its life. the meeting is to prepare for the dot public hearing at 5 p.m. thursday, aug. 31,
The 60-year-old Cortez Bridge opens in February for a boater with Cortez and the U.S. Coast Guard-Station Cortez in the backdrop. The DOT will host a final public hearing Aug. 31 to consider options for the bridge. Islander Photo: Jack Elka at Kirkwood presbyterian church, 6101 cortez road W., Bradenton. the hearing would be the last before the dot chooses to repair or replace the bridge that opened in 1957 with great fanfare, including dignitaries at a ribbon-cutting and elephants and circus performers in the
Top Notch
Streetlife. 18 Obituaries. 19
Natural anomalies on nesting beaches. 22 Quaint bridges? 23 Sports: Footballs unbeatens fall. 24 Anglers mixed bag. 25
ISL BIZ Restaurant rollover. 26 Classifieds. 28
Top Notch: Week 6, Reel-ing in iconic atmosphere
Bill Shafer of Anna Maria wins the sixth and final week of The Islander’s Top Notch photo contest with this image of the Rod & Reel Pier in Anna Maria. “Tonight, at our favorite place,” he writes of his entry. For the winning photograph, Shafer receives an Islander “More than a mullet wrapper” T-shirt. He also is a finalist in the contest, with a grand prize of $100 from The Islander. Pet photo entries are still welcome — deadline Aug. 25. Stay tuned next week for the Top Notch, top prize photo and pet winner.
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opening promenade across the new bridge. nancy deal of Holmes Beach accused the DOT of deliberately scheduling the final public meeting at a time when many residents and opponents are still “up north.” “convenience is dot’s concern, not pLeaSe See BriDGe page 2
Owners win HB-Bert Harris skirmishes
By Kathy prucnell islander reporter Homeowners Bob and ellen mccaffrey posted a win Aug. 7 as the first of many ongoing Bert Harris cases in the city of Holmes Beach made its way to court. corporate owners of 106 75th St., Swackhamer investments Vi, Bmeehan investments Vi and Kmeehan investments Vi, registered a similar win. in both cases, the property owners survived motions that attacked their complaint and accompanying appraisals. the city faces more than $24 million in damages from 53 claims under the Bert J. Harris Jr. private property rights protection act. it has a $1 million insurance policy in place to cover the claims. four of the 53 claims have advanced to lawsuits. city attorney patricia petruff told pLeaSe See SkirmiSh page 3
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