Celebrating 25 years Happy Thanksgiving
VOLUME 26, NO. 4
NOV. 22, 2017 FREE
The Best News on Anna Maria Island Since 1992
Experience the joy of giving, Share our wish. Bert Harris suits hit Holmes Beach. 3 CNOBB to dissolve, rebrand. 4
Op-Ed
Opinions. 6
10-20 YEARS AGO
Looking back. 7
Meetings
Government meets. 8 Taking the oath. 8 Ospreys return to steeple. 9 Center banks on donors for revenue. 11
Happenings
Community announcements, activities. 12-13 Island calendar. 14-15
Obituaries. 17 Roser readies Thanksgiving dinner. 17 Rally for Puerto Rico. 18 Silver celebration for The Islander. 19 Recalling 1950s elephant ride. 20 Get in the game. 21
Streetlife. 23
Busing cuts create hardships. 24 Zillow’s ‘wow.’ 27 Soccer final 4 set. 28 Angling winds. 29
ISL BIZ 30-31 Classifieds. 32
www.islander.org
Bradenton Beach declares open commission seat
By chrisann Silver esformes islander reporter in a series of unanimous votes, the sitting Bradenton Beach commission and mayor utilized their final meeting to take care of some lingering business. the commission addressed the vacant seat on the dais and an ordinance to enact approved charter amendments. the commission seat held by mayorelect John Chappie will be filled by appointment at a special meeting immediately proceeding the dec. 7 commission meeting. a motion was made to advertise the seat, which became open as of the nov. 20 swearing-in ceremony, when chappie assumed his role as mayor. applicants have until dec. 1 to complete the process. the motion passed unanimously. the commission also discussed the charter amendment approved by electors on the nov. 7 ballot that removed the four-ward structure, allowing commissioners to serve citywide.
Mayor-elect John Chappie and outgoing Mayor Bill Shearon shake hands at city hall Nov. 16 prior to Shearon leaving office and Chappie’s swearing in. Islander Photo: ChrisAnn Silver Esformes
as a result, nominees for chappie’s seat can reside anywhere in the city. additionally, commissioners unanimously approved the first reading of an ordinance to enact the three charter amendments that were approved nov. 7. The public hearing and final reading of the ordinance will be at 6 p.m. thursday, dec. 7.
Attorney agrees to court-ordered discipline
By Kathy prucnell islander reporter Chuck Webb will be suspended from practicing law for 60 days if florida Supreme court justices agree with his plea and a referee’s recommendation. Webb, a licensed attorney for 31 years and former anna maria city commissioner, having served several terms before losing a bid for re-election in 2016, Webb signed a “conditional guilty plea for consent judgment” oct. 10. the referee, 20th circuit Judge alane cheryl Laboda of Lee county, accepted his plea the same day. Webb said his law partner Dennis Wells will take over the practice for the two months of his absence and he blamed judges and the judicial system for his plight. “i had to settle. i didn’t have any choice. It was trial by ambush,” Webb told The islander nov. 16. Facts underlying Webb’s disciplinary case pertain to his representation of david and Jane guy. Webb’s plea and Laboda’s report were filed Nov. 6 in the disciplinary case, now pending in the state’s highest court. david guy is deceased, according to his daughter, nina guy, who wrote to the
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islander in may, saying her parents lost three properties and their life savings due to Webb’s “unethical actions.” Laboda recommended Webb be found guilty of violating ethics that govern attorneys, including rules prohibiting conflicts of interests, certain transactions and pursuing non-meritorius claims in the guys’ representation. Although Webb said research led him to believe he had “good faith legal basis” to pursue the security interests, he admitted to breaking the rules in the conditional plea. if the justices agree with the recommended discipline, Webb’s license to practice will be suspended — with an automatic reinstatement after two months — and he will be ordered to stop foreclosing liens against clients’ homes, as well as a one-year probation, which requires: • Attending a Florida Bar Ethics School. • Implementing recommendations from a florida Bar-appointed consultant’s analysis of Webb’s office procedures and record -keeping. • Paying the cost of the consultant as well as about $4,000 in costs to the florida Bar. According to facts outlined in Webb’s plea and the referee’s report: pLeaSe See DisCiPLine page 5
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commissioners next approved a threemonth extension of the building moratorium. the most recent extension lapsed nov. 6. However, because it had previously been adopted, city attorney ricinda perry said enacting the extension would not be a problem. pLeaSe See bb oPen seat page 2
Search ends for missing boater
the u.S. coast guard ended its search for missing boater fraser Horne — a winter resident of cortez — at 5:37 p.m. nov. 19. the coast guard reported efforts to locate Horne were called off after a twoday search by air and sea in a 5-mile radius of egmont Key, covering more than 2,100 square miles. Horne, of calgary, canada, was reported missing at 6:15 p.m. nov. 17 by his wife after departing cortez for egmont Key with his dog aboard his 30-foot boat, gold n rush, and not returning, according to michael de Nyse, agency spokesman and petty officer 1st class. Michele Horne thanked the Coast Guard and said toula, their golden retriever, was at home and in good health, according to the release. “Suspending a search is the most difficult decision I have to make and our thoughts and prayers go out to Horne’s family and friends,” wrote capt. Holly najarian, St. petersburg commander in the release. a 29-foot vessel from the coast guard station in Cortez was first to find Horne’s boat near mead point at the north end of perico island at 11:15 p.m. nov. 17, de nyse said. the boat was found in shallow water, pLeaSe See Missing boater page 3
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