The Islander Newspaper E-Edition: Wednesday, June 21, 2017

Page 1

‘No’ retreat. 2

August opening. 4

Beans: ‘Anna Ma-rye-uh’ 15 JUNE 21, 2017 FREE

VOLUME 25, NO. 34

The Best News on Anna Maria Island Since 1992 AsTheWorldTerns spin out of control. 6 HB commission holds firm against giving more to center. 4

Op-Ed

The Islander editorial, reader letters. 6

10-20 YEARS AGO

Looking back. 7

DEP, Cortez stilt-house builder to meet. 8

Meetings

On the calendar. 8 Cortez Bridge study anticipation. 9

Happenings

Community activities, announcements. 10-11 HB discusses franchise ban. 13 County charter workshop held. 14 Bradenton Beach to keep lobbyist. 16

Gathering.. 18 Obituaries. 19

Streetlife.

Nighttime beachgoers disturbing nests. 22

Endless summer and sunscreen. 23

Center debt prompts board conflict, leadership turmoil

By Bianca Benedí islander reporter the center of anna maria island saw within the past two weeks two board officers resign, unresign and a board vote via email to replace its chair. on June 9, board chair Bill Shuman emailed vice chair patty mcBean announcing he wanted to step down. mcBean, who joined the board in october 2015, became interim chair upon Shuman’s resignation and called an emergency meeting June 12, seeking a vote of confidence. However, at the meeting, Shuman expressed a desire to retain Shuman his chair seat. according to mcBean’s notes from the meeting, Shuman was allowed to stay on as a board member. Jim froeschle also announced his resignation Zaccagnino as treasurer at the meet-

ing. But by June 14, froeschle had requested to be reinstated on the condition that the board vote to remove mcBean as chair and replace her with former Lessig Holmes Beach commissioner david Zaccagnino, who had been added as a board member april 26. froeschle circulated the email calling for the vote to remove mcBean as chair. Froeschle June 12 was Zaccagnino’s first meeting since joining the board. But first on the agenda June 12, McBean outlined a short-term plan to improve the center’s financial situation, according to her notes. By May, the center’s deficit had reached more than $250,000, a pattern froeschle claimed in previous meetings would continue without additional government funding.

By Sandy ambrogi islander reporter all three cities on anna maria island said no to medical marijuana dispensaries. But anna maria’s largest restaurant operator has quite another take on the matter. ed chiles, owner of a trio of restaurants — Sandbar restaurant in anna maria, Beach House in Bradenton Beach and mar Vista dockside restaurant Chiles and pub on Longboat Key — will soon hold a share in one of a handful of marijuana cultivation licenses issued by the florida department of Health. all he lacks is the governor’s signature

on the bill. chiles has partnered with 3 Boys farms of ruskin and, after an almost 18-monthlong legal ordeal to name five growers in all of florida, 3 Boys emerged victorious in a may ruling by administrative Law Judge John Van Laningham. Laningham ruled alpha foliage, known as Surterra therapeutics, should have been ineligible to receive an initial operator license in 2015, due to a change of ownership. on may 23, Laningham recommended the florida department of Health award a license to 3 Boys farm and plants of ruskin. 3 Boys farms, a competitor in the initial medical marijuana license selection, was virtually tied in the scoring used to determine the awards, but lost to alpha for the rights to the Southwest florida region, which includes manatee and Sarasota counties. chiles, along with ted Laroche, who holds other investment interests with chiles, bought into the ruskin farm in 2013 as nonmajority partners. the organic growing operation has been awarded the governor’s environmental Leadership award and is the pLeaSe See Farm page 3

Local restaurateur farms medicinal ‘greens’

1 soccer team chases perfection. 24 Summer fishing. 25 Chamber warns of tech-support scam. 26 Real estate sales. 27 Classifieds. 28

www.islander.org

3 Boys Farm in Ruskin logo and website project a hippie vibe. Islander Courtesy Graphic

ZAGAT “Top Restaurants in America”

941-778-6444 www.BeachBistro.com

Crafted Cocktails

941-213-9926

www.DoctorsOfficeAMI.com

mcBean and others were critical about the continued spending in view of past months’ losses and, subsequently, the department heads offered to substantially cut their budgets. mcBean said her short-term plan included placing endowment funds that were already withdrawn in escrow, implementing an immediate hiring freeze, a requirement that purchases and employee terminations be approved by board members, and a request pLeaSe See CeNter page 5

Sean Murphy, left, and Rex Hagen in January 2016 at the Beach Bistro in Holmes Beach. Islander Photo: Bonner Joy

Island altruist, legend Hagen, 89, dies

Just days from his 90th birthday and a celebration planned by friends to toast rex Hagen’s many years of friendship and generosity, Hagen died June 17. Hagen and his late wife Helen were major contributors on anna maria island, having funded tennis courts at the then-anna maria island community center in the 1970s, and again funding a rehab of the courts at the center of anna maria island in 2016. rex and Helen helped fund the skate park in Holmes Beach and, more recently, he donated money for improvements at city pier park in anna maria, although, due to controversy over city funding restrictions, the money was returned. He and Helen were annual donors for many years to the city of Holmes Beach, with funding earmarked for recreation. in recent years, he served on the center board of directors and gave generously. more recently, he signed on as Sean murphy’s first partner in the Doctor’s Office — a craft bar in Holmes Beach. For more, see obituary, page 19.

Florida Trend “Best New” Restaurant

941-778-0411 www.eathereflorida.com


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