Final game of season. 16 Astheworldterns look forward to 2019. 6
VOLUME 27, NO. 8
Showtime at amE. 17
‘Constructive’ concert. 22
Merry Christmas, Happy New Year
DEC. 26, 2018 FREE
Coyote forums educate, ease concerns on Longboat Key. 4
Meetings
On the government calendar. 4 Winter arrives, islanders bid good riddance to red tide. 5
Celebrating the Best News on Anna Maria Island Since 1992
Flashback 2018
Op-Ed
The Islander editorial, reader letters. 6
10-20 YEarS ago
From the archives. 7
Happenings
Community announcements, activities. 10-11
Make plans, save a date. 12-13
Gathering. 20
Obituaries. 20
About 100 people watch June 19 as Bortie, a loggerhead sea turtle with a satellite tracker attached to its shell, makes tracks in the sand on its path to the Gulf of Mexico. Islander Photo: Jack Elka
Remembering an island activist who took challenge to Supreme Court. 21
Streetlife. 25 FISH pulls in funds, spruces up preserve. 26
Palma Sola boat ramp to close for work. 28 Perfect present: Gift of fishing. 29
iSL BiZ Old, new spiffed up. 30 CLASSIFIEDS. 32 NY Times Sunday Crossword. 35
Treehouse owners file new suit
By Kathy Prucnell Islander Reporter The treehouse saga continues in Holmes Beach with yet another lawsuit. owners Lynn Tran and Richard Hazen opened a new case Dec. 10 with a sworn petition asking the 12th Circuit Court to end the daily fines against them and prevent the treehouse’s Tran demolition. The petition for a temporary injunction names the city of Holmes Beach and the florida Department of environmental Protection as respondents. The city in 2016 ordered Tran and Hazen PLeASe See TreeHOUSe, PAGe 2
am pier tenant ready to forge new lease
Anna Maria charter committee seated, meets. 26
‘Would you rather’ protect manatees? 27
www.islander.org
Workers in June begin removing engraved planks from the boardwalk of the Anna Maria City Pier walkway before it was demolished. Islander Photo: Jack Elka
Year in review on AMI
Part 1 Compiled by Lisa Neff Islander editor The storm-damaged Anna Maria City Pier came down in 2018 as city officials continued an effort to build a new structure anchored at the east end of Pine Avenue. What did not come down despite a fullcourt press by Holmes Beach city officials? An unpermitted treehouse built years ago on the beachfront. The dispute over the structure remained rooted in the courts, sprouting in new directions. Also in the first half of 2018 — The
Islander will review the second half of the year in the Jan. 2 issue — barrier island officials worked to address traffic congestion, a state transportation department pronounced its support for a high bridge on Cortez Road, Bradenton Beach citizens organized to amend their city charter and Holmes Beach citizens recommended a change in the form of city government. A look back at the first half of 2018: January Supreme Court nixes treehouse PLeASe See FlASHBACK, PAGe 8
By Ryan Paice Islander Reporter Mutual interest is stirring up prospects for a new Anna Maria City Pier lease with the current tenant. Mayor Dan Murphy wants to begin formal negotiations on a new deal with pier tenant Mario Schoenfelder as soon as possible. Having held the lease for 18 years, Schoenfelder is hopeful about negotiating a new agreement. “The city was fine with the lease (when it was drafted in 2000) and I was fine with the lease at that point in time, but over the years — it’s been 15-20 years now — I have my experience with this contract,” Schoenfelder said in a phone interview Dec. 18. “I know a lot of things happen that are not covered by the contract, and other things that are covered by the contract that never had to be. So I think it is a good idea to start with a new lease.” PLeASe See pier, PAGe 3