The Islander Newspaper E-Edition: Wednesday, August 18, 2021

Page 1

VOLUME

AUG. 18, 2021 Free

NO. 42

The Best news on Anna Maria Island Since 1992

COVID spikes, govs ramp up

Astheworldterns. 6 FISH casts for support in bridge battle. 2

Q&A 081821

islander.org

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By Ryan Paice Islander Reporter

Anna Maria to host vaccine pop-up. 4

Some local governments are ramping up COVID-19 countermeasures again as the number of confirmed cases crescendo, marking the largest wave yet in the state. Manatee County closed its six public libraries Aug. 12-22 in an effort to quash an outbreak that began at its downtown Central Library, according to administrator Scott Hopes during an Aug. 13 news conference. Hopes said the outbreak began the week beginning Aug. 9 with six confirmed cases and had resulted in 17 additional cases by the news conference. “The source may have been an IT worker in neighborhood services, which goes to all of our libraries,” Hopes said. “To ensure that our libraries were not going to be a source of COVID infections to the public, those libraries will be closed for approximately 10 days, allowing us to determine that we have cleared the outbreak in the library system.”

Anna Maria eyes increased spending. 5

Meetings. 4 Opinions. 6 10-20 YEARS AGO

Looking back. 7

election qualifying begins. 8

Save the date. 10

Happenings Community activities. 11

TuRn To Covid, PAge 4

School district reinstates CoVId protocols. 13 Where’s Tuna Street.

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Gathering. 16 Obituaries. 16 Streetlife. 17 Anna Maria greenlights Bayfest. 17

NESTING NOTES. 18 disorientations equal losses.

Red tide resources. 19 Beach Bums take soccer crown. 20 go north for clear water, fishing success. 21

TideWatch. 21 ISL BIZ: up, down, ’round AMI. 22 CLASSIFIEDS. 24

PropertyWatch. 26

NYT puzzle. 27

Bridge Battle By Kane Kaiman

AME is back ... Back on the bus, back on campus! Bus attendant Susan nye, left, and Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer, right, help Anna Maria elementary School students off their bus Aug. 10 for the first day of the 2021-22 school year. The day marked the first day of the school year for 64 Manatee County schools, which welcomed back 50,953 students, 6,631 employees, as well as 3,595 teachers and paraprofessionals. Islander Photo: Ryan Paice

That’s all folks! Marilia Clark of Holmes Beach captured this eye-catching image of a “perched flamingo” in her hometown July 2. The photographer is the winner of the final week of the The Islander’s 2021 Top notch photo contest and a “Morethan-a-mullet wrapper” T-shirt, as well as entry into the finals, which offers a grand prize of $100 from The Islander and gift certificates from Islander advertisers. Look to the Aug. 25 issue for the announcement of our grand-prize winner. And then, honorable mentions and the winner of the pet photo contest.

Top Notch Week 6 finale: In the pink

Mediation next milestone in Cortez Bridge battle By Kane Kaiman Islander Reporter

Will the DOT settle down? Legal representation for a group of five complainants — including the Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage, a Cortez nonprofit — and the Florida Department of Transportation will meet with mediator Stephen Tabano, a Tampa attorney, Aug. 25 to attempt to resolve a legal dispute related to the size of a replacement for the Cortez Bridge. FISH joined the suit Aug. 13 with four complainants, former Manatee County Commissioner Joe McClash, former County Commissioner Jane von Hahmann — a Cortez resident and FISH treasurer — and Cortez residents Linda Molto and Joe Kane, to challenge the DOT’s decision to replace the 17-foot-clearance Cortez drawbridge with a 65-foot-clearance fixed-span structure in 2026-27. The anti-megabridge coalition advocates for the construction of a 35-foot-clearance

TuRn To bridge, PAge 3

Award-Winning Surfside Dining Call For Reservations: (941) 778 - 6444


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