Meet the candidates. 4
Trick, treat plans. 12
Bones for science. 25
Happy Halloween
VOLUME 25, NO. 52
OCT. 25, 2017 FREE
The Best News on Anna Maria Island Since 1992 AsTheWorldTerns wish for a ‘reel’ pier. 6
Op-Ed
The Islander editorial, reader letters. 6
10-20 YEARS AGO
Looking back. 7
Meetings
On the government calendar. 8 Island officials appeal to state for dollars. 10 Bradenton Beach group forms PAC. 10
Happenings
Community announcements, activities. 12-13
Make plans, save a date. 14
Streetlife. 16 Moose members to the rescue. 17 Post-Irma cleanup continues. 19
Sea turtles wrap up season. 20 Bradenton Beach P&Z reconvenes. 21
Obituaries. 22 AME achieves ‘excellence.’ 24 ‘Something Wicked.’ 27 Season for soccer. 28 Fast-action species keep anglers busy. 29 Business awards. 30 Classifieds. 32
AM chooses longevity for pier
www.islander.org
Festival season begins with Bayfest Oct. 21
By Sandy ambrogi islander reporter “our ancestors gave us a pier that lasted a hundred years. i think we should do the same for the next generation.” So said commissioner doug copeland oct. 17 regarding which path to pursue in rebuilding the landmark anna maria city pier. and so they did. the anna maria city commission voted unanimously oct. 17 to move forward with plans for the rehabilitation of the pier, 100 S. Bay Blvd. the vote was somewhat unexpected, occurring at a special meeting. the wooden structure already was suffering from wear and tear when Hurricane irma roared through the area Sept. 10-11, causing major damage to the site that “is” anna maria to so many visitors and residents. on oct. 17, commissioners listened to Jay Saxena of the city’s contracted engineering firm, Ayres Associates of Tampa, as he narrated a powerpoint presentation showing costs and time lines for the rehab of the pier, including the restaurant and bait shop at the end of the walkway. the engineers working with the city of anna maria are striving to extend the service life of a new pier while maintaining the historical aspects of the original pier. three associates, christopher martin, Jan ash and Hisham Sunna, answered questions and offered detailed explanations in Looking east on Pine Avenue in Anna Maria to Tampa Bay, classic cars share the road their areas of expertise. ayres associates did with pedestrians at the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce’s annual Bayfest. The pLeaSe See Pier page 3 Oct. 21 festival featured music, crafts, food and refreshments. Islander Photo: Jack Elka
Bradenton Beach accolades wind up in another brouhaha
By chrisann Silver esformes islander reporter it is customary in Bradenton Beach for the city commission to award volunteers certificates of appreciation for their service when they leave a board or committee. apparently, timing is everything. at an oct. 19 city commission meeting, an agenda item to award certificates to nine former members of city boards was amended to only include those members who are not being sued by the city. nine board members have resigned since aug. 7, when the city voted to join a lawsuit
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initiated by ex-mayor Jack clarke for alleged Sunshine Law violations against thenplanning and zoning board members reed mapes, John metz, patty Shay and Bill Vincent, along with Scenic Shearon Waves partnership committee chair tjet martin and Waves member rose Vincent. Scenic Waves chair carl parks and members John reed and Bona Lee Wortman also resigned in august. mayor Bill Shearon had included recog-
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nition for the former board members on the oct. 19 agenda. But as the meeting began, commissioner John chappie, who is challenging Shearon in the nov. 7 Chappie election for the mayor’s seat, asked to remove the recognition for the six former board members targeted in the clarke lawsuit. “Because we are not sure if there is a conflict, I think we need to remove the names pLeaSe See BrOuHAHA page 2
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