The Islander Newspaper E-Edition: Wednesday, May 31, 2017

Page 1

Big silver hookup. 28 Special pull-out section.

Picnic at the preserve. 13 MAY 31, 2017 FREE

VOLUME 25, NO. 31

The Best News on Anna Maria Island Since 1992 AsTheWorldTerns keep lookout for storms. 6 Avalos sentenced to life in prison. 3 HB commission rejects 7-day rental pleas. 4 Anna Maria extends lobbyist’s contract. 4

Op-Ed

The Islander editorial, reader letters. 6

10-20 YEARS AGO

From the archives. 7

‘Camp’ rises in Cortez waterway. 8

Meetings

On the agenda: Government meetings. 8

Happenings Make plans, save a date. 10-11 Skimmers colonize in Holmes Beach. 12 County OKs funding for BBPD boatlift. 14 AME students soar. 16 Turtle Talks return. 21

Gathering. 22 Obituaries. 23 Streetlife. 25

Naming rights. 27 Sporting news. 28 Good times for anglers in back country. 29 Island music flows in ‘Water.’ 31 Classifieds. 32

www.islander.org

Lifeguards keep AMI beachgoers safe

By Bianca Benedí Islander Reporter Keeping the beaches safe for thousands of beachgoers is no easy task. Summer hours for lifeguards began May 27 and continue through Labor Day weekend. During this period, 16 lifeguards monitor Coquina and Manatee beaches 9 a.m.-7 p.m., searching for signs of inclement weather, dangerous rip tides, panicking swimmers or beachgoers in need of aid. The lifeguards work 365 days a year at the county’s most popular beaches. Manatee Marine Rescue Chief Joe Westerman says the work has changed a lot in the past 20 years. “The nature of ocean lifeguarding has changed,” he said. “Not everyone can do it. …We take a lot of pride in what we do. Manatee County Marine Rescue lifeguard Karl Payne watches over beachgoers May 26 PLEASE SEE LiFeGUArDS PAGE 5 at Coquina Beach in Bradenton Beach. Islander Photo: Bianca Benedí

HBPD arrests butterfly advocate on 3 fraud charges

Kathy Prucnell Islander Reporter A local community activist has been arrested for an alleged scheme to defraud and solicit as a charity without authority. Nancy Ambrose, 58, turned herself into authorities May 24 and was booked at the Manatee County jail. She was released the next day on $4,500 bond. She was a longtime resident of Holmes Beach who moved to Bradenton. She and husband David still own their home in Holmes Beach, as well as the home of her late father. Ambrose The allegations stem from an agreement with the city of Holmes Beach to landscape and maintain the former Anna Maria Island Butterfly Park adjacent to city hall, 5801 Marina Drive. HBPD Detective Sgt. Brian Hall said the investigation began in 2015, triggered by complaints from city officials about Ambrose’s failure to maintain the park and from people who’d purchased but not received memorial bricks in the garden. The garden was in poor condition when,

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Forecast: Above-normal hurricane season

in February 2016, “the city took the garden back from her,” Hall said. The park was spearheaded by Ambrose with backing from Connie Hodsdon of Bradenton in 1999. Part of their effort included fundraising by the sale of engraved bricks for $50-$60. The agreement with the city was inked Oct. 2, 2008, by Ambrose as the Manasota Chapter of the North American Butterfly Association. According to Hall’s investigation, Ambrose failed to register the Manasota chapter as required by the Florida Agricultural and Consumer Services while operating the charity, however, “after separating from the city,” she registered it. Since at least February 2010, Ambrose allegedly organized three fundraising events a year, arts and craft shows held at the Holmes Beach city field and in Bradenton Beach, to raise money for Anna Maria Island nonprofits. Ambrose was the sole authorized signatory on a SunTrust account, opened in August 2007, according to Hall’s investigation. Two accounts had been opened in the PLEASE SEE FrAUD PAGE 2

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An above-normal hurricane season is forecast for the Atlantic region. The Climate Prediction Center at NOAA released its forecast May 25. The Atlantic hurricane season is June 1-Nov. 30. The forecasters put the likelihood of an above-normal season at 45 percent. An average season produces 12 named storms of which six become hurricanes, including three major hurricanes. The government forecast says there is a 70 percent likelihood of 11 to 17 named storms, with winds of 39 mph or higher. The forecast calls for five to nine storms becoming hurricanes, with winds of 74 mph or higher. Two to four of the hurricanes would be major storms, with winds of 111 mph or higher. The lead hurricane forecaster at the CPC, Gerry Bell, said the scientists expect “a weak or non-existent El Niño, near- or above-average sea-surface temperatures across the tropical Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea and average or weaker-than-average vertical wind shear in that same region.” A weak El Niño points to more hurricane activity this year. Also, warmer sea surface temperatures tend to fuel hurricanes. For more about the forecast and hurricane season, see “Storm Avengers: Guardians of the Gulf” special section this week.

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