Special this week: Wishes Astheworldterns share bird thoughts. 6
VOLUME 27, NO. 4
Swan song. 5
Holiday happenings. 10
We wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving
NOV. 21, 2018 FREE
Commissioner deposed in Bradenton Beach sunshine case. 4
Meetings On the government calendar. 4
Op-Ed The Islander editorial, reader letters. 6-7
10-20 YEARS AGO From the archives. 7 Holmes Beach multiuse path on hold until mid2019
Happenings Make plans. Save a date. 12-13
Anna Maria parades for veterans. 14 Red tide poses threat to stone crab, mullet fisheries. 15
Howling for coyotes. 16
Get in the game. 17
Gathering. 18
Obituaries. 18 Streetlife. 20
ISL BIZ Best in business. 22 Center youth soccer champs crowned. 24
Giving thanks for excellent fishing. 25 CLASSIFIEDS. 28 NYT Sunday Magazine Crossword. 31
Celebrating the Best News on Anna Maria Island Since 1992
www.islander.org
Holmes Beach mayor’s send-off: Applause By ChrisAnn Silver Esformes Islander Reporter “Positive, positive, positive,” were the closing words Nov. 13 by Bob Johnson when describing the future of the city at his final commission meeting as Holmes Beach mayor. Johnson finished his second term and bid farewell to city officials and staff at the meeting. He was elected to his first term as mayor in 2014 and his second in 2016. He chose not to run for a third term. Johnson first served the city as a member of the island congestion committee in 2013 and was elected later that year to serve on the charter review commission, which he chaired. The charter was updated in November 2014, with 18 amendments approved by the electorate. At the Nov. 13 meeting, city clerk Stacey Johnston highlighted some of Johnson’s accomplishments during his four years as mayor. She said Johnson built up the city’s reserves and “worked extremely hard on getting our budget and our millage rates to what the city needs.” Johnston said Johnson pushed for updates to permitting software, reconstructed the
building department with new staff, implemented the vacation rental certificate program and oversaw improvements to Grassy Point Preserve, as well as development and installation of improved stormwater infiltra-
No easy solution for coyote influx
Red tide recedes, again
By Ryan Paice Islander Reporter Inaction might be the only action when it comes to coyotes on Anna Maria Island. At least, that’s the conclusion of officials in Holmes Beach and Longboat Key for now. Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer said in an interview Nov. 15 that as long as the coyotes do not become aggressive, no action will be taken to remove them. For now, the department will monitor reports of coyotes. Longboat Key officials met with a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission representative about removing coyotes from the town and then decided not to act because any coyotes trapped there would be killed. PLEASE SEE COYOTE, PAGE 3
By Sandy Ambrogi Islander Reporter BayCare physical therapist Terri Ador made home visits Nov. 14-15 on Longboat Key and Anna Maria Island. Later, when she arrived to a client’s home in west Bradenton, she was still coughing. “It’s the red tide over at the beach. It’s still there. It’s like I can almost smell it,” she told The Islander. But, soon after, red tide levels receded again — down to medium concentrations of Karenia brevis, the harmful algae responsible for the bloom. That bloom moved into the Anna Maria Island area Aug. 3 but has plagued the southwest Florida coastline for more than a year. Officials and scientists continue to seek resolutions for the crisis. PLEASE SEE RED TIDE, PAGE 2
tion systems and the city bike path. Additionally, Johnston listed oversight in 2017 of the development of the Waterline Marine Resort and Beach Club among Johnson’s accomplishments. “That’s one of the biggest projects that this city has seen in the last 10 years,” she said. She presented Johnson with a gift on behalf of the city staff, officials and residents — a brass clock in a wooden box engraved with the city seal. Johnson thanked the staff and commissioners for their service while he was mayor and the citizens for giving him the opportunity to serve. “That is the key,” Johnson said. “If we can listen, seek to understand, identify the issues, analyze and figure out what is the best solution for all of us, we make progress.” The gallery of about 40 people at city PLEASE SEE HB MAYOR, PAGE 2 Outgoing Holmes Beach Mayor Bob Johnson shakes hands Nov. 13 with Commissioner Judy Titsworth, mayor when newly elected officials are sworn later this month, as Commissioners Pat Morton and Rick Hurst look on. Islander Photo: ChrisAnn Silver Esformes
HB learns costs for lake, city field improvements By Kathy Prucnell Islander Reporter There were no decisions by commissioners on two hefty Holmes Beach projects, but engineer Lynn Burnett is on the job — working with contractors and reporting her progress. Burnett updated commissioners on Spring Lake and city field — projects with $400,000-plus price tags — at their Nov. 13 meeting. Commissioners have vowed to fix Spring Lake, a small polluted lake between 68th and 70th streets and Holmes Boulevard and Marina Drive. Burnett prepared a chart showing a few proposals, comparing the costs between PLEASE SEE COSTS, PAGE 3