The Islander Newspaper E-Edition Wednesday, July 16, 2025
Ready, set, go!
Top Notch Week 1: Summer sparks
Morgan Bryant of Anna Maria wins the first week of The Islander’s 2025
Top Notch photo contest with this photograph, taken July 4 on the beach near the 74th Street access in Holmes Beach. The photographer will be enterted into the finals, which offers a grand prize of $100 from The Islander and gift certificates from Islander advertisers. Islander Contest Photo
Enter Top Notch now
There will be five more weekly winners in the Top Notch contest before the grand prizewinner is selected.
The Islander also is running a pet photo contest.
So what’s in your photo library? Email entries to topnotch@islander. org.
Top Notch
HB pushes higher stormwater fees
By Ryan Paice Islander Reporter
It will only take one vote to nearly double — or more than triple — Holmes Beach’s stormwater assessment fees.
And property owners have few opportunities to voice their feedback.
In a June 26 post on her public Facebook account, Holmes Beach Commissioner Carol Whitmore called for people to attend the commission’s July 22 meeting, where a resolution to increase stormwater assessment fees will be discussed.
“There is not a lot of time for us to hear from our citizens,” Whitmore wrote. “Myself and the commissioners need to hear from you.”
Stormwater fee revenues fund the maintenance and improvement of the city’s drainage infrastructure that filters, drains and directs stormwater into local waterways.
That infrastructure includes about four miles of vertical infiltration trenches, 10 miles of drainage pipes and more than 25 tide valves.
The city’s current stormwater assessment fee is $2.95 per 100 square feet of property, resulting in a $147.5 annual stormwater fee for a 5,000-square-foot
property.
However, city engineer and public works director Sage Kamiya told commissioners during their June 24 work session that the current rate would not support the $21.9 million in stormwater maintenance and improvement projects necessary over the next five years to address flooding concerns.
Those projects include phases D-N of the city’s ongoing stormwater drainage improvements, the installation of numerous tide valves, as well as work on Gulf Drive, Marina Drive, Second Avenue, Sixth Avenue and 27th Street.
To help fund those projects, Kamiya proposed two potential fee increases: from $2.95 to either $4.95 or $9 per 100 square feet of property.
At $4.95 per 100 square feet of property, owners of a 5,000-square-foot property would pay a $247.50 annual stormwater fee — a $100 increase over the current annual fee for the same property.
At $9 per 100 square feet of property, owners of a 5,000-square-foot property would pay a $450 annual stormwater fee — $302.50 more on a yearly basis than they pay now.
Please, see page 9 in this issue or go to islander.org for contest details.
Turtle nest disturbance reported in BB
By Robert Anderson Islander Reporter
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission confirmed July 11 that it is investigating an alleged disturbance of a sea turtle nest July 9 by a family in Bradenton Beach.
The investigation was prompted by witness reports that a group of adults and children dug into a marked sea turtle nest, removed hatchlings and carried them toward the Gulf.
Lisa Harrison of Plant City spoke to The Islander July 11, saying she witnessed the incident.
“We watched them. We took some photos,” Harrison said. She said at one point one of the girls in her party called authorities. “They carried some (hatchlings) out to the water ... .They carried some out to knee-deep (water). Then, when it got dark, that’s when they started digging, like really digging... .It was awful.”
Runners take their mark July 12 for the Run Manatee 5K race at Coquina Beach in Bradenton Beach. The race, the second of three in a series, featured a 5K run and a walk, as well as health and wellness vendors and food trucks. The third race will take place at Rye Preserve in Parrish in November. For more race photos, see page 18. Islander Photo: Jacob Merrifield TURN TO TURTLE NEST, PAGE 15
The Best News on Anna Maria Island Since 1992
Municipal matters
Home again, home again
Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth called in her report to The Islander July 11.
She was in her car and delighted to be taking time off from city hall to drive to the mainland to buy supplies to clean her home, which she was only able to move back into that day.
That’s right, the mayor and wife of a contractor had to wait almost 10 months to have her home remediated and remodeled after last year’s two hurricanes.
And it’s been that tough for a lot of folks across Anna Maria Island, in Cortez and beyond since Hurricane Helene flooded the island with saltwater and brown muck and Milton blew away so much of in its path.
Titsworth’s home is situated on a private road on the bayfront behind Waterline Resort.
It had a famous Southern rock musician as its owner back in 1978-81 — Gregg Allman. And some of us longtime islanders recall the days when Allman called Holmes Beach home.
His son Elijah Blue caught the school bus with my kids and Gregg was kind enough once to stop by my daughter’s soccer team carwash at Huffine’s service station — where Jessie’s Island Store and gas station are now. I recall he drove over in his black Corvette and gave the soccer girls a $100 — and asked that they “not” wash his car.
Apparently, he was protective of the car’s finish. Back to earth, Titsworth said she’s looking forward to attending Commissioner Dan Diggins’ June 15 town hall — after press time for The Islander — 5:30-7:30 at the Island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach.
Diggins said June 11 that he wanted to hear from constituents on city taxes, the budget and stormwater
Bad beach etiquette
a hole is left on an ami beach in June 2023. Holmes Beach, anna maria and the county implemented regulations to prohibit such holes, which can be hazardous to wildlife and humans. Bradenton Beach officials have been discussing the issue. islander File Photo
tax and improvement plans — and whatever might be on their minds.
Finally, Titsworth said she’s committed to imposing sign regulations on the beach, where businesses that rent cabanas are staking out claims on prime spots near beach accesses with unattended cabanas, hoping someone contacts them to rent the cabanas at the spec locations.
In Anna Maria, Mayor Mark Short emailed The Islander July 11 with news that the “demo work on the pier is complete, another step in the right direction as we work towards the rebuild.”
He also noted that the city’s request for proposals for the construction of a new pier walkway is expected to be released by the end of next week.
Stocking up for storms
Must have H20 and more
❒ Water in small bottles for drinking.
❒ Water in gallon containers for cleaning up.
❒ Bottled beverages.
❒ Instant coffee.
For the ‘kitchen’
❒ Nonperishable foods.
❒ Can opener.
❒ Cooking pot or pan.
❒ Utensils.
❒ Plates.
❒ Grill.
❒ Grill tools.
❒ Self-starting charcoal.
❒ Sterno.
❒ Matches.
❒ Aluminum foil.
❒ Plastic bags.
Health and hygiene
❒ Prescriptions.
❒ Insect repellent.
❒ Sunscreen.
❒ Toiletries.
❒ Toilet paper.
❒ Adhesive bandages.
❒ Handwipes.
❒ Tweezers.
❒ Thermometer.
❒ Latex gloves.
Ready to wear
❒ Changes of clothing.
❒ Glasses.
❒ Boots.
❒ Rain jacket.
❒ Umbrella.
❒ Face masks.
Election 2025
Qualifying ahead on AMI
Qualifying to run for elected offices on Anna Maria Island opens in August.
Qualifying in Anna Maria will be noon Aug. 18-noon Aug. 29.
Qualifying in Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach will be noon Aug. 25-noon Aug. 29.
The offices up for election in Anna Maria include three commission seats for two-year terms.
In Bradenton Beach, there will be three commission seats — two for two-year terms and one one-year term —and the mayoral post up for election.
Holmes Beach’s election will include three twoterm commission seats.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 4.
For more information, go to votemanatee.gov or call the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Office at 941-741-3823.
— lisa Neff
In other news, at a July 10 meeting, commissioners adopted an ordinance regarding garden tools and holes on the beach.
“Our ordinance aligns with the county and Holmes Beach in that no garden tools are permitted and holes cannot be more than 1 foot deep,” Short said.
Also at that meeting, Waste Management made a request for the city to amend its existing contract.
Short said WM wants the city to change the collection schedule, which currently provides for trash, recycling and yard debris collection on Mondays. On Thursdays, trash is picked up again.
WM would like, effective Oct. 1, to collect yard debris on Mondays, trash on Tuesdays and Fridays, and half the city to recycle on Tuesdays and half on Fridays.
Short said the commission will discuss the request at its next meeting on July 24.
— Bonner Joy
ADVERTISERS.
Checklist for shopping, packing and stockpiling for the hurricane season
Records and papers
❒ Birth certificates.
❒ Marriage certificates.
❒ Passports.
❒ Social security cards.
❒ Wills.
❒ Insurance documents.
❒ Account numbers.
❒ Irreplaceable photographs.
❒ Water-tight box.
Toolbox
❒ Wrench.
❒ Hammer.
❒ Pliers.
❒ Scissors.
❒ Assorted nails.
❒ Dust mask.
❒ Pocket knife.
❒ Flashlights.
❒ Signal flare.
❒ Extension cords.
❒ Hatchet.
❒ Work gloves.
❒ Trash bags.
❒ Tarp.
❒ Duct tape.
411 and 911
❒ Battery-powered radio.
❒ Earbuds.
❒ Batteries.
❒ Whistle.
❒ Smartphone and power bank.
❒ Solar chargers.
❒ Road maps.
❒ Cash.
❒ Gasoline — full tanks.
❒ Propane tank.
Cleaning
and clearing
Comfort and convenience
❒ Sleeping bag.
❒ Blankets.
❒ Lawn chairs.
❒ Games.
❒ Toys.
❒ Reading materials.
❒ Paper.
❒ Pencil.
❒ Candles.
❒ Lanterns.
❒ Disinfectant.
❒ Chlorine bleach.
❒ Medicine dropper.
❒ Plastic bucket with lid.
❒ Mop and broom.
❒ Rags.
Pet friendly
❒ Kennel.
❒ Medications.
❒ Cat litter box.
❒ Vaccination certificates.
❒ Food.
❒ Treats.
❒ Leash.
❒ Pet pick-up bags.
Also need
BE PREPARED FOR THIS HURRICANE SEASON. SHOP LOCAL. SUPPORT THE ISLANDER’S
Hearing nears for Pines, closure looms
By robert anderson islander reporter
A lawsuit filed by the Pines Trailer Park homeowners association is heading toward a key hearing July 28, when 12th Judicial Circuit Judge Edward Nichols will consider a motion to dismiss the case.
The HOA on March 28 sued the park’s owner, Pines Park Investors LLC, overseen by developer Shawn Kaleta, alleging violations of Florida law after residents received a Jan. 24 eviction notice stating the closure of the park by July 31.
PPI purchased the park for $16.25 million in August 2023. The Pines is a land-lease community where mobile homes, owned by residents, sit on lots owned by a separate property owner, in this case, PPI. Home owners pay monthly for a land-lease.
The HOA is seeking more than $50,000 in damages, along with a court order to stop the closure.
PPI attorneys challenged the suit, citing hurricane damage, delinquent lease payments and a possible zoning change as justification for evictions.
However, the lawsuit notes that the city authorized homeowners to make repairs following hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024, undermining a PPI reason for closure.
The HOA also alleges PPI issued improper notices, neglected maintenance of common areas and failed to provide required residential parking.
The HOA also challenges a March 5 appraisal valuing the park at $16.6 million, which is far less than the $75 million sale price that PPI presented to homeowners. The HOA maintains the price was intended to prevent legitimate purchase.
Homeowners also have taken issue with a “right to purchase” agreement that allegedly waives their legal protections and say some people were pressured into surrendering homes based on misleading statements about the park’s future. For example, a mortgage clause cited in the lawsuit bars changes to zoning or
Roadwatch
By lisa Neff
Eyes on the road
Bradenton Beach street, beach access repairs: Through Oct. 31, Bradenton Beach is making hurricane-related improvements and repairs, including, through July 21, 27th Street North beach access; July 22-24, 26th Street North beach access; July 25-31, 25th Street North, beach access.
Cortez Bridge utility relocation project: Pipe installation and related activities are ongoing in preparation for construction of a new Cortez Bridge, scheduled to begin in 2026. De-watering pipes and hoses are being installed along the south side of Cortez. People should expect the presence of work crews and 24-hour pump operations until installation is complete. Construction is expected to continue through spring 2026. Regular construction activities are 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday. For more, call 941-306-4660, email info@amiprojects.io or go to amiprojects.io.
75th Street West at Manatee Avenue West :
land use until August 2028.
A hearing by a Zoom conference at 2:30 p.m. July 28 is set in PPI’s motion to dismiss the HOA’s claims. Such a motion is a formal request asking the judge to toss out the case or specifi c claims. The request is usually based on the argument that the complaint lacks legal grounds to proceed to trial. The Islander reached out to PPI attorney Shawn Arbeiter by email July 9 but as of press time July 14 there was no response.
Pines Park LLC representative Sam Negrin spoke to The Islander July 10 but declined comment.
Pines Park HOA board member Neil Lind also declined comment July 9.
About the Pines Trailer Park
The mobile home park, 103 Church Ave., Bradenton Beach, is a land-lease community established in the 1930s and situated on the shoreline of Sarasota Bay and just north of the Historic Bridge Street Pier.
a map shows detours and construction zones on and around the cortez Bridge. islander courtesy image
Manatee County is working on its 75th Street West Improvements Project from 19th Avenue West to Second Avenue West, including the Manatee Avenue intersection. For more info, go to mymanatee. org/75th.
▼ Modern Chop Happy Hour Light Bite Specials 4-6, lounge only. ▲ Martini Monday: Signature Martinis, $7, plus 1/2 price lite bites -- lounge only.
▼ Tuesday: $3 Tacos and Margaritas 4-9, lounge only.
▲ Wine Down Wednesday, 5O% OFF Wines by the Glass
▼ Live Maine Lobster Thursdays, plus Happy Hour in the lounge all nite.
The former Pines Park clubhouse on July 8 displays a sign advertising Pines Park Vacation rentals. islander
Holmes Beach’s budget for fiscal 2025-26 might end up about $1.5 million smaller than this year’s spending plan.
But the city’s millage rate might grow.
City treasurer Julie Marcotte presented a $23,703,627 draft budget July 8 to the city commission for discussion ahead of the new fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1.
The draft was prepared with the rollback rate of 2.1812 mills, which would raise $6,735,765, the same amount of ad valorem tax revenue that the city collected this year.
The millage rate is the amount per $1,000 of property value used to calculate property taxes.
At the current 1.99 millage rate, the owner of a property appraised at $500,000 pays $995 in city property taxes.
The rollback rate often represents a decrease in millage on Anna Maria Island due to rising property values year over year.
However, the 2.1812 rollback rate for fiscal 2025-26 represents a 9.6% increase over the current millage due to the impact of last year’s hurricanes on property values.
According to the Manatee County Property Appraiser, total taxable property value within city limits fell from $3,538,699,945 in 2024 to $3,250,149,610 in 2025, an 8.15% decrease.
Under the 2.1812 rollback rate, the owner of a property appraised at $500,000 would pay $1,090.60 in city property taxes.
According to Marcotte, the maximum millage rate allowed by a two-thirds vote of the city commission is 2.5076 mills for fiscal 2025-26.
Under that rate, the owner of a property appraised at $500,000 would pay $1,253.8 in city property taxes.
Any rate higher than 2.5076 mills would require unanimous commission approval.
Commissioner Carol Whitmore said she would not support the rollback rate for the new year. She said an increase in millage, as well as a proposed increase in stormwater assessmentS, would be unfair to taxpayers still recovering from hurricanes Helene and Milton.
“Anna Maria Island” a signed pictorial history book of the island by Bonner Joy, is available for $20 at island mail & Print, 3230 east Bay drive, Holmes Beach, or by mail. Visit islander.org or call 941778-7978. $20 plus postage, if mail order.
“I don’t think we should be raising taxes after a major disaster,” Whitmore said. “How do you think the citizens are going to like that?”
Despite the potential millage hike, the budget is projected to decrease by $1,529,969 next year.
The draft includes roughly $1 million increases in local and storm water revenues, small decreases in 5-center gas tax and half cent discretionary tax revenues, as well as a $3,852,833 decrease in total carryovers and reserves.
On the expenditure side, a $424,422 increase in total personnel services over this year is not enough to make up for a nearly $200,000 decrease in operating expenses, a $1,004,000 decrease in capital outlay expenses and a $751,186 decrease in total assigned and unrestricted funds.
The increase in personnel services can be partly attributed to an average 4.8% salary increase for municipal employees and the potential addition of a 13th officer that would allow the police department to staff a sergeant and three officers per shift.
Whitmore said she also would vote against funding for an additional officer.
“I think we need to hold it tight this year and not add any positions,” she said.
Bound for deep water
Other commissioners supported hiring a 13th officer.
Commissioner Terry Schaefer said the projected $26,788 increase in funding was the police department’s smallest budget increase over his six years on the board and he is “fully supportive” of hiring another officer.
While public works is requesting the city fund a 15th full-time employee in fiscal 2025-26, the total cost of the department’s salaries is projected to drop by $30,058 due to the replacement of some long-tenured employees with newer staff.
Other notable items featured in the draft include $110,000 for a public works dump truck, $75,000 for possible land purchases, $25,000 for the Center of Anna Maria Island and $5,000 allocations to the Anna Maria Island Historical Society, Keep Manatee Beautiful and the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce.
Commissioners will vote to set a maximum millage rate for the upcoming fiscal year at their next regular meeting at 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 22, at city hall, 5801 Marina Drive.
Two budget hearings will take place in September.
reef balls await loading onto a barge July 9 at a manatee county commercial dock at the southeast end of coquina Beach for deployment in an artificial reef program. The program managed by the county natural resources department enhances marine habitats and supports recreational fishing and diving. artificial reefs attract diverse marine life and generate more than $19 million in economic output and help sustain more than 230 full and part-time jobs in the county, according to a Florida sea Grant study. islander Photo: courtesy capt. scott moore
HB Fees coNTiNued From PaGe 1
Kamiya said property owners could ask public works executive assistant Grace Goggin to calculate how the stormwater assessment fee increase would impact the annual fee on their property by calling her at 941-708-5800, ext. 244, or emailing ggoggin@holmesbeachfl.org.
While the current rate would generate $850,000 in revenues in fiscal 2025-26, which begins Oct. 1, the $4.95 rate would generate $1.4 million and the $9 rate would generate $2.59 million, according to Kamiya.
He said without an increase, certain stormwater projects would be scrapped or delayed.
If the city implements the $9 rate, its list of stormwater projects could be completed over the next five years, even if it would require the city to dip a couple million dollars “into the red” to make it happen.
Kamiya said the city needed to decide on the proposed increase soon so it could be factored into the budget for fiscal 2025-26.
The city has until the first week of August to notify the Manatee County Property Appraiser of a stormwater assessment fee increase.
Since the matter was presented as a work session discussion item, no action was taken June 24. However, officials voiced support for increasing the fees.
Mayor Judy Titsworth said stormwater maintenance and improvement projects, such as the $21.9 million worth of plans for the next five years, help preserve property values.
“I think it’s really important to the citizens that we do more for stormwater,” she said.
Commissioner Terry Schaefer said he would support increasing the rate to $9 per 100 square feet of property.
“Obviously, no one wants to go and tax more than necessary, but from a realistic standpoint … the more we have in our own stormwater assessment, the greater leverage we have with regard to grant requests,” Schaefer said. “I can’t think of a better time in the 20 years that we’ve been here to present to our constituents the need to do this.”
Whitmore supported an increase but called for a “major public campaign” to notify the community.
“I think they all understand the reason why we need to do this,” she said. “It’s for the better good for everybody. … But I really want to make sure the public knows.”
Whitmore encouraged property owners to contact Goggin to learn about how the proposed increases would impact them.
Titsworth said the city would post to social media to inform people about the proposed increase.
The resolution to increase stormwater assessment fees will be discussed at the commission’s next regular meeting at 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 22, at city hall, 5801 Marina Drive.
While ordinances require two public readings and votes to adopt, resolutions need one vote. So the July 22 meeting may be the last chance for public feedback.
Plan now for summer!
Is your business ready to make the most of summer and Labor Day? Improve your odds of success with Islander newspaper readers looking to shop and dine, seeking indoor and outdoor fun, and a place to stay for their next visit. Call or text 941-778-7978.
BB mulls fee increases to cover budget shortfall
By robert anderson islander reporter
In response to a projected $350,000 budget shortfall attributed to damage from hurricanes Helene and Milton, Bradenton Beach officials are considering a range of new and increased fees.
City treasurer Shayne Thompson told commissioners July 10 that the city is facing a 14% drop in ad valorem tax revenue due to a state statute that allows property tax exemptions when homes are uninhabitable for more than 30 days following a disaster.
“Putting a dollar figure on that, that’s about $350,000, give or take, wherever that final number lands for property values,” Thompson said.
To address the shortfall, Thompson proposed adjustments to transient lodging establishment license fees, which apply to short-term vacation rentals.
“What we’re proposing is we’ll leave the same fee structure — $150 a year — in place for a home that has up to four occupants. Each occupant above the four would be $100 per occupant,” Thompson said.
The plan is designed to shift the financial burden toward larger, high-occupancy rentals while protecting smaller, “mom and pop” operated properties.
“I hate to use the term ‘party house,’ but the ones that have the largest occupancy that are causing the most burden on infrastructure and staff and what have you,” Thompson said.
Of the city’s 561 licensed rentals, 192 — roughly a third — house four or fewer occupants and would see no change with an adjusted fee structure. However, with the average occupancy at seven, most rentals would see their license fees increase to $450 annually.
“In the opinion of staff, we don’t feel we’re burdening an investor — if you’re renting your property for $11,000 a week … $400 or $600 in the course of a year, can it turn you from renting it? I’d argue no,” said Thompson.
Thompson also recommended several other revenue-generating measures, including:
• Raising parking fines from $75 to $100.
• Increasing planning and building department fees
Bradenton Beach treasurer shayne Thompson presents proposed fee changes to city commissioners and the mayor during a July 10 meeting at city
by 30%–35%, as well as creating a new progressively increasing “stop work” penalty.
• Raising the business tax license fee by 5%.
Thompson said such changes balance the proposed budget and restore city reserves depleted by hurricane impacts.
“The city has to have a balanced budget by statute,” he said. “And without raising taxes … this makes up that shortfall and also puts about $300,000 into reserves for next year.”
Thompson said the figures used to develop the recommendations for commissioners were based partly on existing data, such as the 2.3329 millage rate for the current year and projected ad valorem revenues.
He emphasized that the expected revenue could still change and results could vary depending on commission decisions.
Commissioner Ralph Cole supported the strategy but encouraged the city to also seek additional funding from Manatee County to help cover policing costs driven by tourism.
Mayor John Chappie echoed Cole’s concerns and criticized a state law prohibiting the use of tourist development tax dollars for law enforcement.
“That is outrageous … .It’s logical to use those dollars for law enforcement in a tourist community,” the mayor said.
Commissioner Jan Vosburgh motioned to direct staff to incorporate the proposed fee changes into the proposed 2025-26 budget. Commissioner Debbie Scaccianoce seconded the motion, which passed 5-0.
The next city commission meeting was set for 9 a.m., Tuesday, July 15, at city hall, 107 Gulf Drive N.
About the budget process
Bradenton Beach’s commissionand staff will work on a draft budget and adopt a maximum millage this summer.
Two hearings will be held to adopt a budget in September.
The new fiscal year for the city will begin on Oct. 1.
hall. islander Photo: robert anderson
OpinionOur
What now? A tax increase!
The timing isn’t good.
Many property owners across the island are struggling with remediating ground-floor homes after the impact of hurricanes in 2024.
And many homeowners and business owners are dreading what might come from the current hurricane season.
Meanwhile, some mom-and-pop run businesses in Holmes Beach are trying to come back from the loss of business during city improvements to the “downtown” area that spilled into a county force main project that spanned a year and a half and amounted to lost revenue that was barely survivable.
Consequently, the hurricane damage from Helene and Milton was overwhelming.
Some people are saying that more storm improvements could amount to the straw that broke the camel’s back.
The traffic problems that go with tearing up storm drains and blocking off roads, homes and businesses is tough on residents and visitors and it definitely has a negative impact on our tourist season.
There can be no doubt that a tax increase on properties that triples the stormwater fee from $2.95 to $9 per 100 square feet of property is a damaging blow to people struggling with insurance companies, mortgage companies, renovation and repair contractors and city permitting requirements to get back to a normal life and live in their homes.
And some people are facing double and triple flood and homeowner insurance costs.
We’d like to see city officials and staff press on with government help to pay the cost of stormwater improvements before they burden the taxpayer — especially the taxpayer still struggling with storm damage.
There are enough people taking low offers on their properties and abandoning island life because they can’t face the long haul to come back. Other people are waiting to see what becomes of the threat from another hurricane season before they give island life another go.
But as far as the stormwater improvements go, there also are people wondering what good it could do — especially considering the outcome from the previous projects.
The late Gene Aubry, a renowned architect, used to say, we should accept that we live on an island.
It’s not always possible to drain rainwater when there’s no place for the water to go.
After all, it’s an island.
— Bonner Joy, news@islander.org
Murphy
Absinthe, the green fairy and tulips
The absinthe fan club reads like an A-list of intellectuals and artists from the last 200 years.
Ernest Hemingway, Renoir, Oscar Wilde, Vincent
Van Gogh, Toulouse-Lautrec and even Frank Sinatra. Sinatra was a regular in the back room of The Absinthe Bar on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, where absinthe was served in violation of a worldwide ban.
Absinthe became crazy popular in the 19th century and then was banned through most of the 20th.
green fairy becomes — or so they say.
Absinthe fans tell stories of the mystical experiences they have shared with the green fairy.
One night Oscar Wilde spent an evening sipping absinthe with friends. He was the last to leave the bar.
At end-of-night’s cleanup, the bartender threw buckets of water onto the cobble-stoned floor.
Wilde swore that beautiful tulips sprouted from the stones and that as he floated out the door, he could feel the tulips brushing against his legs.
Many distillers of spirits and liqueurs add flowers and herbs to their creations.
▼ Publisher, editor Bonner Joy, news@islander.org
▼ Editorial robert anderson, robert@islander.org Joe Bird, editorial cartoonist Kevin cassidy, kevin@islander.org Jack elka, jack@jackelka.com lisa Neff, lisa@islander.org ryan Paice, ryan@islander.org
▼ Contributors Jacob merrifield capt. danny stasny, fish@islander.org sean murphy
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▼ Distribution urbane Bouchet ross roberts Judy loden wasco
It was made illegal as a concession to winemakers. The liquor became such a popular indulgence in French society that by 1850 the wine industry grew apprehensive about its loss of market share to absinthe. The French were drinking more and more absinthe and less wine.
▼ Webmaster wayne ansell All others: info@islander.org
The winemakers used a fake news story to create dangerous myths about absinthe.
They blamed absinthe for Jean Lefay’s murder of his family in 1904.
Lefay drank two glasses of absinthe just before killing his wife and kids.
He was a very heavy drinker who had also consumed a bottle of Brandy and two bottles of wine.
The absinthe bans were worldwide but they began to be relaxed in the 1990s, when scientists began to reexamine the exaggerated dangers of wormwood.
Absinthe is most dramatically served from an absinthe fountain.
The fountain is a sculpture of the green fairy supporting a glass vessel of ice water.
Drips of the ice water flow out of tiny taps onto sugar cubes suspended above the absinthe on slotted spoons.
The tiny taps drip icy water onto the sugar and into the absinthe.
The significant flower in absinthe is the flower of artemis absinthium — wormwood.
The wormwood flowers were used in sacrifices to Egyptian gods as early as 1500 B.C.
The psychological properties of absinthe may be traceable to thujone from those flowers.
I found my first absinthe fountain in a tiny bar in Nashville. The diminutive bar sold chocolate all day and at night converted to an absinthe bar.
One look at that absinthe fountain and I had to have one.
It’s at the Doctor’s Office.
And, if you visit, we can introduce you to the green fairy — and walk through a field of tulips.
— sean murphy
sean murphy is proprietor of the doctor’s office and the doctor’s Garden, a craft cocktail bar with fine dining in an intimate setting in Holmes Beach as well as an outdoor “garden” dining area with entertainment — when weather permits.
As the sugared water drips into the clear green absinthe, it creates a swirling, twinkling cloud.
The “green fairy” dances in that cloud.
The more absinthe you imbibe, the more vivid the
Write to us:
Please, submit opinions with name, address and phone number to news@islander.org. Only the name and city are published.
Working on it
General Telephone employees work to lay telephone cable to the Flamingo cay subdivision in February 1976.
islander Photos: courtesy manatee county Public library system a groundbreaking takes place for a “sewage works project” in Holmes Beach. The photo is undated but the date on the shovel reads June 1967.
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The cortez water tower stands behind a line of utility poles near a two-lane cortez road in 1966.
Q&A The Islander poll
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A. As often as possible.
B. Occasionally, with sunscreen.
C. Hardly ever.
D. Never.
To answer the poll and see poll results, go to islander.org.
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10-20-30 years ago
From the July 13, 1995, issue
• The city of Bradenton Beach received a special exception application for the operation of a personal watercraft rental business on a Gulfside beach.
• Bradenton Beach officials were celebrating a year of operation at Tingley Memorial Library, located adjacent to city hall. “We’re being overwhelmed with success,” said John Sandberg, chair of the library board.
From the July 13, 2005, issue
• The headline on the front page read, “Hurricane Dennis brushes island, produces little damage.” The storm made landfall in the Florida Panhandle as a category 3 hurricane. Anna Maria Island was hit with squalls, high winds and surf as the storm passed 150 miles to the west.
• Only in Anna Maria? The code enforcement board discussed for nearly three hours how to measure a fence and then, after deadlocking, delayed a decision in a case involving a homeowner who allegedly violated a height rule with a fence built on a retaining wall.
• An ultralight plane was intentionally landed in Tampa Bay for repairs but then sank. The Bradenton Beach pilot was attempting to move the plane to the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport.
From the July 15, 2015, issue
• The city of Bradenton Beach received several bids to open a restaurant on the Historic Bridge Street Pier, including one from the owners of the Anna Maria Oyster Bar group, which originated at the Anna Maria City Pier.
• Anna Maria’s communications tower on city hall property was nearing completion, with the installation of electrical conduits in early July.
— lisa Neff
The Islander is archived online at ufdc.ufl.edu.
compiled by lisa Neff, calendar@islander.org
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
ONGOING ON AMI
• Throughout July, Artists’ Guild of Anna Maria Island exhibit, Artists’ Guild Gallery, 5414 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Info: 941778-6694. OFF AMI
Wednesday, July 23
7 p.m. — Ancient Skies: Egyptian Astronomy, the Bishop Museum of Science and Nature, 201 10th St. W., Bradenton. Fee applies. Info: 941-746-4131, bishopscience.org.
ONGOING OFF AMI
• Throughout July, Island Gallery and Studios exhibit, 456 Old Main St., Bradenton. Info: 941-778-6648.
• Through July 30, “Art from the Heart: Connectivity,” The Ringling, 5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota. Info: 941-359-5700.
• Through Aug. 3, “Robert Rauschenberg: A Centennial Celebration,” The Ringling, 5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota. Fee applies except Mondays. Info: 941-359-5700.
• Through Aug. 9, “Circus Spectacular 2025,” The Ringling, 5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota. Fee applies except Mondays. Info: 941-359-5700.
• Thursday-Saturday, through Aug. 30, the Bishop Museum of Science and Nature Laser Light Nights, 201 10th St. W., Bradenton. Fee applies. Info: 941-746-4131.
• Through Aug. 31, “Life on the Edge” exhibit, the Bishop Museum of Science, 201 10th St. W., Bradenton. Fee applies. Info: 941-746-4131.
• Through Jan. 11, Yoshida Hiroshi: Journeys through Light,” The Ringling, 5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota. Fee applies except Mondays. Info: 941-359-5700.
• First Fridays, 6-9:30 p.m., Village of the Arts First Fridays Artwalk, 12th Street West and 12th Avenue West, Bradenton. Info: villageofthearts.com.
• Second and fourth Saturdays, 2-4 p.m., Florida Maritime Museum’s Music on the Porch, 4415 119th St. W., Cortez. Info: 941-708-6120.
SAVE THE DATES
• July 28, Center of Anna Maria Island Book Club meeting, Anna Maria.
• Oct. 18, Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce’s Bayfest, Anna Maria.
• Nov. 8, Nov. 10, Pops Orchestra of Bradenton and Sarasota Rhinestone Cowboys and National Heroes concert, Bradenton.
DEVINE DESIGN
LANDSCAPE & LAWN MAINTENANCE INC.
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Ancient Skies at Bishop
The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature presents Ancient Skies: Egyptian Astronomy, an immersive journey into how the ancient Egyptians studied the cosmos.
The Stelliferous Presents event is at 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 23, in the planetarium, 201 10th St. W., Bradenton.
Attendees will learn how the movements of the stars influenced Egyptian agriculture, religion and architecture — from the building of the pyramids to the creation of a calendar.
An admission fee applies.
For more information, call the museum at 941-746-4131 or go online to bishopscience.org.
Island happenings
• Dec. 13, Dec. 15, Pops Orchestra of Bradenton and Sarasota A Christmas Carol Concert, Bradenton.
1 p.m. — Sunshine Stitchers Knit and Crochet, Island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Info: 941-778-6341.
ONGOING ON AMI
• Most Fridays, 11:30 a.m., mahjong, Island Library, 5701
www.allin1home.com
Center hosts book group
The Center of Anna Maria Island will host a book club meeting at 1 p.m. Monday, July 28, at 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria.
This month’s discussion will focus on “Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance” by Alison Espach, a novel hailed as one of the best books of 2022 by NPR and the Chicago Tribune.
Published by Henry Holt and Co., the story has been praised for its unconventional structure and emotional depth, offering a unique take on love, grief and coming of age.
The book follows the story of two sisters whose lives are irrevocably changed by a tragedy, with the narrative unfolding as a poignant, second-person reflection.
Espach’s storytelling has earned her accolades for originality and insight.
For more information, call 941-778-1908.
Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Info: 941-778-6341.
• Most Tuesdays, 11:30 a.m., mahjong, Island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Info: 941-778-6341.
• Aug. 9, Kiwanis Club of Anna Maria Island meeting, Bradenton Beach.
• Sept. 6, Kiwanis Club of Anna Maria Island meeting, Bradenton Beach.
• Nov. 8, Friends of Manatee County Animal Welfare Friendsgiving, Palmetto.
LESSONS & LEARNING
ONGOING ON AMI
• Mondays through August, Sea Turtle Tracks and Shorebird Facts with Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch, 10 a.m., Holmes Beach City Hall, 5801 Marina Drive. Info: 941-301-8434, islandturtlewatch. com.
SPORTS & FITNESS
ONGOING OFF AMI
• Through Sept. 7, various dates, Bradenton Marauders baseball, LECOM Park, 1611 Ninth St. W., Bradenton. Fee applies. Info: 941-747-3031.
SAVE THE DATES
• Sept. 6, Bradenton Marauders Fan Appreciation Night, Bradenton.
OUTDOORS
& NATURE ON AMI
Tuesday, July 22
9 a.m. — Seashell Shore Walk, Coquina Beach, Bradenton Beach, Info: 941-748-4501.
OFF AMI
Saturday, July 19
9 a.m. — Solar observing at the NEST, 840 99th St. NW, Bradenton. Info: 941-748-4501.
• Saturdays, 9 a.m., Manatee County Natural Resources Department’s Saturday Mornings at the NEST, 840 99th St. NW, Bradenton. Info: 941-748-4501.
CALENDAR NOTES
KEEP THE DATES
• Sea turtle nesting season continues. Lights out.
• Atlantic hurricane season continues. Be prepared.
• Aug. 11, back to school.
• Sept. 1, Labor Day.
Top Notch
The Islander’s photo contest continues
The Islander’s Top Notch contest is underway.
The contest celebrates what still is known as the “Kodak moment,” despite Kodak’s downfall in the shift from film to digital technology.
The Kodak moment celebrates “on the spot” photography — unplanned and unstaged — but capturing a memorable moment.
Look to Friday, July 18, for the next deadline.
One weekly shot will take the grand prize in the contest, earning the photographer a $100 prize from The Islander and certificates from local merchants.
There also is a pet photo contest for weekly submissions and a winner announced in the final week of the contest.
Look online this week for rules. All rules at islander.org must be observed.
Please, note, each original JPG must be included in a single email to topnotch@islander.org with:
• Photographer’s name;
• Date the photo was taken — after Dec. 31, 2023;
• Location of the photo;
• Description of the photo;
• Names of recognizable people in the photo;
• Address and phone number for the photographer.
Anna Maria Elementary earns A, again
Anna Maria Elementary received an A on its report card for the 2024-25 school year.
Since 2002, AME, 4700 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, has consistently earned A grades from the state with the exception of a B in 2018.
Schools are graded A, B, C, D or F based on the components for which it has sufficient data.
The grades provide an easily understandable way to measure the performance of a school, according to the Florida Department of Education, which released the grade reports July 7.
“We are thrilled to once again be named an A school by the state of Florida,” AME principal Katie Fradley told The Islander July 8. “This recognition is especially meaningful after a year marked by incredible challenges, including three hurricanes and 42 days off campus. Despite it all, we remained one of the highestperforming elementary schools in the district.”
Fradley, now preparing for a new academic year, added, “I am so proud of the resilience shown by our students, staff and families. We’re excited to carry that momentum into the new school year when school resumes on Aug. 11.”
According to the DOE, 71% of graded schools — 2,461 schools — earned either an A or B grade compared with 64% of schools in 2023-24.
The number of schools earning a D or F decreased
HB commissioner calls for feedback
Holmes Beach Commission Chair
Dan Diggins planned to host a town hall
5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 15, at the Island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, to seek public feedback on the city’s fiscal 2025-26 proposed millage rate and budget and a proposed stormwater fee increase.
The town hall comes a week ahead of the city commission’s July 22 special budget meeting, where the board will set a maximum millage rate for the upcoming fiscal year.
— ryan Paice
from 117 in 203-24 to 71 schools in 2024-25.
The School District of Manatee County’s grade for the year was B.
Back to school: Aug. 11
School District of Manatee County classes in the 2025-26 academic year will begin Monday, Aug. 11.
The school year begins earlier for teachers and staff, with teacher workdays Aug. 4 and Aug. 6-7 and in-service days Aug. 5 and Aug. 8.
The first break will be Sept. 1 for Labor Day.
AME PTO seeks volunteers
The Anna Maria Elementary PTO is seeking volunteers to help organize events in the 2025-26 school year, including a fall festival Saturday, Oct. 18.
The PTO presents a number of events during the year, including the Halloween-themed festival, skate night, teacher appreciation week and the spring gala.
For more information, email amepto@gmail.com or go online to amepto.org.
— lisa Neff
Gathering
By Lisa Neff
Annunciation announces priest in charge
The Episcopal Church of the Annunciation announced in early July that Bishop Douglas Scharf appointed the Rev. Lee Miller as the Priest in Charge.
media, said Lee in July would “be moving his office to Annunciation, getting settled in and relaxing a bit with some vacation time.”
He will begin his new role at COTA Aug. 1.
St. B puts out call for AID
St. Bernard Catholic Church issued a notice that All Island Denominations needs financial donations.
AID, a campaign of the island churches, provides financial support to island residents, workers and school attendee families who have a temporary need.
St. Bernard also encouraged people to support the Roser Food Bank, including issuing an appeal to tourists who can leave food donations, especially canned fruit, at the West Manatee Fire Rescue Station 3, 6001 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, and St. Bernard, 248 S. Harbor Drive, Holmes Beach.
For more information, call the St. Bernard office at 941-778-4769 or the Roser Memorial Community Church office at 941-778-0414.
AM adopts beach hole ban, other code changes
By ryan Paice islander reporter
Anna Maria’s code of ordinances has a few new additions.
City commissioners unanimously voted July 10 on motions to adopt three ordinances, including one similar to Manatee County code involving beach holes and tools for digging them.
The county prohibits metal shovels and holes deeper than a foot on its beaches, but its code only covers county-owned public beaches.
So county officials requested the island cities adopt similar code to create a consistent approach on the island shores.
The city of Holmes Beach adopted such an ordinance in June.
Anna Maria’s newly adopted ordinance brings the municipality in line with its sister city and the county.
It also provides consideration for the city’s property owners along the shore by allowing them to use metal shovels and gardening tools to dig holes for plants on the private beaches behind their homes.
Those holes must be “appropriately filled” within eight hours of digging them or by sunset, whichever is earlier.
The ordinance authorizes code enforcement and police officers to enforce its provisions.
The other two ordinances adopted by the city commission involve window signage and background checks.
The signage ordinance allows signs to cover up to 80% of the total window area — a significant increase from the 20% signage coverage previously permitted.
Nevertheless, it requires a 6-inch vertical strip of each window to remain uncovered and unobstructed for visibility purposes.
Another new ordinance establishes a requirement for the city to conduct criminal background checks for new municipal employees and “as otherwise deemed appropriate on an individual basis” by the city’s mayor.
The city commission will meet next at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 24, at city hall, 10005 Gulf Drive.
Lee has been at St. John the Divine Episcopal Church in Sun City for about two decades.
The church’s announcement, made via social
The church is at 4408 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach.
For more info, call 941-778-1638.
Cops & Courts
Trial, vigil in Bradenton fatal shooting set
A 19-year-old arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of a Bradenton teen who worked and played on Anna Maria Island could go to trial this summer, according to the 12th Circuit Court docket.
Before that, a docket sounding in the case against Carter Thomas Layne of Parrish is set for 9 a.m. July 15 at the Manatee County Judicial Center, 1051 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.
Layne is accused in the death of JM Feeney, 17, of Bradenton, on March 8, 2024, at a residence in NW Bradenton.
A probable cause affidavit from the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office states that witnesses observed Layne, under the influence of alcohol and marijuana, waving a revolver that he said was not loaded.
“The victim … in joking manner said the gun was not loaded. Carter Layne pointed the gun at the victim’s chest and pulled the trigger. … The victim fell
Travel
Out ‘where the bison roam’ Jacob merrifield, a photographer for The islander, reviews the newspaper e-edition featuring his cover photo of a sea turtle release while touring the csKT Bison range during a family vacation. The 18,766acre refuge began in 1908 by rehoming bison on the Flathead indian reservation. The refuge — now home to about 350 bison — is in charlo, montana. islander courtesy Photo
held July 23. islander File
Kevin cassidy
to the ground,” the MCSO report states. Layne was 17 when arrested but is charged as an adult with manslaughter with a weapon, a felony.
A vigil for JM Feeney is set for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 23, outside the judicial center in the Bradenton courthouse square. A news release issued July 9 read, “We will come together to remember and to ask for justice for JM Feeney.”
People who attend are asked to wear green, JM Feeney’s favorite color, and to bring LED candles and signs reading, “JUSTICE FOR JM.”
The teen worked at the Beach House Restaurant in Bradenton Beach and took part in sports at the Center of Anna Maria Island in Anna Maria, where the field was named JM Feeney Sports Park this spring and the JM Feeney Memorial Cup soccer tournament was held in May.
— lisa Neff
island wrestler Jm Feeney, right, is locked up in a match with derrick Baker during a wrestling tournament in december 2017 in Bradenton. Jm Feeney was fatally shot in a Bradenton backyard in march 2024. a vigil will be
Photo:
The weldon family, residents of Virginia, maria, Preston, Jack and John, had lunch July 13 at Tide Tables in cortez with islander publisher Bonner Joy. maria is the daughter of former islander reporter, sandy ambrogi, who died in July 2020.
Streetlife
Island police reports
Anna Maria
No new reports.
The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office polices the city.
Bradenton Beach
July 1, 2600 block of Gulf Drive North, burglary. A complainant told a Bradenton Beach police officer that an envelope containing $8,500 was stolen from his home. The officer noted no signs of forced entry. An incident report was filed.
The BBPD polices the city.
Cortez
July 5, 4628 119th St. W., Swordfish Grill, larceny. A complainant alleged that an unknown man stole her phone after she refused to buy him a drink. An MCSO deputy filed an incident report
The MCSO polices Cortez.
Holmes Beach
July 2, 7200 block of Holmes Boulevard, grand theft. An officer responded to reports of a past theft and spoke with the a resident who said he paid a $2,500 deposit toward a $5,731 garage door and its installation. However, the company never completed the work and did not respond to requests for a refund. The Holmes Beach police officer provided the man a case number and forwarded the case to a detective.
July 3, Manatee Public Beach, 4000 Gulf Drive, arrest warrant. A Holmes Beach police officer responded to reports of a woman who appeared to be distressed inside a changing booth. Manatee County Emergency Medical Services conducted an evaluation and found the woman was not having a medical emergency. The officer conducted a background check and found an arrest warrant out of Texas. He arrested the woman, who was taken to the Manatee County jail.
July 4, Manatee Public Beach, 4000 Gulf Drive, animal cruelty. Two HBPD officers responded to reports of a dog left in a parked vehicle when the outdoor air temperature was 85 degrees. Windows were slightly down and the dog was displaying signs of heat distress. The officers unlocked a door, removed the dog and transported it to the HBPD, where it was given food and water. They also left a note on the vehicle. When the dog’s owner went to the HBPD to retrieve the animal, she said she left it in the vehicle because it was not allowed on the beach. The officer submitted a capias request for charges.
July 5, 100 block of 38th Street, assault on a lifeguard. An HBPD officer responded to reports of an unconscious man on the beach near the 38th Street access. Manatee County lifeguards said they found the man unconscious and attempted to wake him to no avail. When they administered oxygen, the man woke and tried to punch a lifeguard. The man refused to provide identification. He was arrested for obstruction without violence and transported to the county jail.
July 5, Manatee Public Beach, 4000 Gulf Drive, missing person recovery. An HBPD officer found a motorist driving fast into the parking lot around 10:30 p.m., after the park’s closing time. The motorist parked in the lot and, with the car running, went to the beach. The officer informed the man through loud speakers that the beach was closed, at which point he turned back. Checking the license plate in databases showed the vehicle owner was a missing person. Since he appeared under the influence of drugs, EMS was called. They transported the man to HCA Florida Blake Hospital in Bradenton and contacted the person who reported him as missing.
The HBPD polices the city.
Streetlife is based on incident reports and narratives from the BBPD, HBPD and MCSO.
DEP: Trim the tiki space?
Three tiki-style dining shelters placed by the anna maria oyster Bar on the Historic Bridge street Pier, 200 Bridge st., Bradenton Beach, are under review by the Florida department of environmental Protection. The deP says the structures might violate sovereign submerged land lease regulations due to an increase in the restaurant’s operational footprint. However, city attorney ricinda Perry said July 10 that she and amoB owner John Horne are working with the state to find a solution to allow the shelters to remain. islander
Photo: robert anderson
Hit-and-run traffic incident under investigation
By ryan Paice islander reporter
A 48-year-old Chiefland man could face criminal charges after videos from a witness showed him behind the wheel of a vehicle involved in a hit-and-run traffic incident.
Multiple Holmes Beach police officers responded around 4:50 a.m. July 1 to a crash in the 600 block of Manatee Avenue and found a crashed vehicle lying on top of a landscaping boulder and pushing into a standing tree.
The vehicle was unoccupied with visible blood on the driver side and an empty beer bottle with an Anchor Inn koozie on the ground nearby.
Officers searched the area and found the Chiefland man, the co-registered owner of the vehicle, half naked, moaning and injured in a wooded area about 100 yards from the crash.
The man, who displayed signs of impairment, denied driving the vehicle.
He declined a medical evaluation but an officer placed the man in police custody under the Marchman Act and transported him to HCA Florida Blake Hospital in Bradenton.
During a search of the vehicle, police found 19.6 grams of THC gummies and 3.1 grams of marijuana.
Later, an officer spoke with a bartender at the Anchor Inn, 3007 Gulf Drive, who identified the man as a patron who had been drinking at the bar the night before and provided videos showing the man enter his vehicle and drive off in the direction of the crash.
An officer submitted a capias request to the state attorney’s office for potential criminal charges against the man for driving under the influence of alcohol, leaving the scene of a crash with property damage and possession of more than 20 grams of marijuana.
Party with underage drinking could result in charges
By ryan Paice islander reporter
A 48-year-old Tampa woman is facing charges after hosting a party in Holmes Beach where minors consumed alcohol, according to police.
A Holmes Beach officer, around 8:51 p.m. July 3 on Palm Drive, stopped a juvenile holding an open and partially consumed can of High Noon vodka seltzer and placed her in handcuffs.
She said she was 17 and had gotten the beverage from a friend’s parent at their room at the Waterline Villas & Marina, 5325 Marina Drive.
She and another juvenile said the woman provided the alcohol to them and other juveniles, who were staying in another hotel room with access to alcohol and without adult supervision.
The officer transported the juveniles to the Holmes Beach Police Department and contacted their parents.
Then HBPD officers went to the hotel and found a room with eight juveniles and open alcohol beverages
inside.
With help from the Bradenton Beach Police Department and the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, police contacted the juveniles’ parents to pick them up.
An officer spoke with a Tampa woman who admitted to renting the room and purchasing the alcohol but denied furnishing beverages to juveniles.
Police advised the hotel staff about the underage drinking and the involved guests where evicted from their rooms and issued trespass warnings.
An officer filed a capias request to the state attorney’s office for potential charges against the Tampa woman, including 10 counts of child neglect without great bodily harm, 10 counts of contribution to the delinquency of minors and one count of hosting an open house party.
Another officer reported the incident to the Florida Abuse Hotline.
Bradenton Beach moves to regulate commercial cabana setups
By Robert Anderson Islander Reporter
Bradenton Beach is looking into some shady business.
City officials are taking steps to regulate private cabana rental companies operating on public beaches without oversight.
During a July 10 commission meeting, city attorney Ricinda Perry cited existing code that might prohibit such activity.
She pointed to Section 46-37 of the code of ordinances, which defines parks to include beaches and prohibits any structure — temporary or permanent — on park property without a special permit from the city commission.
“That says to me, there can be no tent of any kind, any kind of sun shelter on any part of the beaches because they are a park,” Perry said.
Commissioners then expressed concern that the ordinance’s broad language might unintentionally
penalize casual beachgoers instead of targeting cabana companies that pre-stage rental equipment, using public beaches for private business
“I think, having been at the Manasota League of Cities meetings and having representatives speak from Holmes Beach and Anna Maria, their argument in this regard is the advertisement for gain — for a private business in a public park — and that’s how they’re
Palma Sola beach 2nd most unsafe swim days in state
A national report released July 8 warns that more work is needed to ensure that all waters are safe for swimming, including at the south beach along the Palma Sola Causeway.
To assess beach safety, the Environment America Research & Policy Center and the Frontier Group examined whether fecal indicator bacteria levels exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s most protective “Beach Action Value,” which is associated with an estimated illness rate of 32 out of every 1,000 swimmers.
In 2024, 453 U.S. beaches were potentially unsafe for swimming on at least 25% of the days tested, according to “Safe for Swimming?” report.
Also, more than half of the 3,187 coastal and Great Lakes beaches reviewed exceeded the EPA threshold on at least one day they were tested in 2024, including:
• 54% of East Coast beaches;
• 71% of Great Lakes beaches;
• 84% of Gulf Coast beaches
• 79% of West Coast beaches.
In Florida, there were 243 beaches tested for fecal bacteria in 2024. About 5% of the beaches had potentially unsafe levels on at least 25% of all days tested. About 58% of the beaches tested had poten-
tially unsafe levels on at least one testing day.
Bruce Beach in Escambia County had the most potentially unsafe test days at 36, followed by Palma Sola’s south beach in Manatee County at 20 potentially unsafe test days.
People who swim in polluted waters can get sick; illnesses include nausea, diarrhea, ear infections and rashes.
The report recommended investments to stop sewage overflows and runoff pollution, including investments in nature-based solutions such as vegetated buffers, rain barrels and constructed wetlands.
The report was released as Congress considers funding for the main federal program to stop sewer overflows.
“Enjoying the fresh sea breeze and splash of waves at the beach is a highlight of the summer for many Americans but pollution still plagues too many of the places where we swim,” said John Rumpler, clean water director for Environment America Research & Policy Center and a co-author of the report. “Now is not the time to slash the water infrastructure funding that communities sorely need to stop the flow of nasty bacteria and pollution to our beaches.”
— lisa Neff
suburb of Chicago 106 ‘‘Hey Ya’’ hip-hop duo 109 Product in the paint department
Apt clue for the circled letters
Write by hand not using cursive
Previously
‘‘The ____ is . . .’’
At this point
regulations to curb rental operations on public sand.
She said some cabana companies place empty tents and chairs on the beach, marked with business name, phone number and QR code, allowing beachgoers to rent them instantly with a scan.
“I think our concern should not be with mom and dad trying to protect their kids or elderly people trying to enjoy the beach without getting sunstroke,” she said. “I think we need to look at the companies that are taking advantage.”
“We have cabana companies setting up empty tents with chairs, not rented, five in a row. They’re doing it so if someone comes to the beach and thinks, ‘Oh man, I’d like that tent,’ they scan the QR code and now the business is getting money,” she continued.
Scaccianoce emphasized that such setups amount to unauthorized commercial advertising and use of public property for private gain, possibly without proper licensing, taxation or on-site supervision.
Commissioner Ralph Cole compared the situation to unregulated vendors operating waterside businesses at Palma Sola Bay.
“When I see people (business operators) pull up to the causeway and they pay no rent, they pay nothing, they advertise and they’ve got banners out … they are doing exactly what the cabanas are doing,” Cole said. “It’s getting out of hand. Pretty soon we will just have them lined up all the way up and down the beach and we will have a serious problem. We need to protect our existing businesses that have been here for years and years.”
Commissioner Jan Vosburgh motioned to direct Perry to investigate regulatory options and return with possible changes to the ordinance. Commissioner Scott Bear seconded the motion, which passed 5-0.
rental cabanas line the shore in Bradenton Beach July 9. city officials are considering new
islander Photo: robert anderson
AM officials discuss waste removal complaints, changes
By ryan Paice islander reporter
Waste Management’s services in Anna Maria are coming under question.
So WM corporate staff — including Brenna Haggar, government affairs manager, Luigi Pace, area manager of public sector solutions, and Chris Sawallich, district manager — attended a July 10 city commission meeting to address concerns about the quality of their services.
WM is contracted through June 2026 to remove yard waste, recycling and solid waste on Mondays and also solid waste on Thursdays.
City officials have discussed an increasing number of complaints about declining levels of service in recent months. They called for improvements in service quality, especially the company’s side-door trash and recycling service, which has employees retrieving, dumping and returning waste bins to the side of houses for an extra cost.
Non-homesteaded residential properties within the city, mostly vacation rentals and second homes, must subscribe to the side-door service.
According to a WM representative, the company’s mandatory basic waste removal services in Anna Maria cost $43.71 per month. Back- and side-door services increase that to $45.02 per month.
Haggar opened up the presentation July 10 by acknowledging the city’s concerns. “There are always opportunities for improvement,” she said.
She said one improvement that was implemented is at public beach access points, where WM provided additional receptacles and a Saturday pickup service.
However, one potential adjustment Haggar requested feedback from commissioners on would be a change in service days.
Manatee County implemented new requirements that garbage, recycling and yard-waste pickups occur once per week on the same day throughout unincor-
porated areas.
Those changes will go into effect Oct. 6.
In the meantime, Haggar said such changes require WM to “rebalance” its routes and service days.
Yard-waste removal will remain on Mondays but Haggar proposed shifting recycling and solid-waste collection to Tuesdays and Fridays. Also, recycling would be completed in parts, with WM collecting from half the city’s residences on Tuesdays and the other half on Fridays.
“This could provide a better rhythm,” Haggar said. “We see this as a benefit.”
She asked for the city’s support to make those changes.
Commissioner Gary McMullen said he preferred waste pickup on Mondays, since it allowed trash to be removed after busy weekends.
Haggar said pickup on Fridays instead of Thursdays might mitigate the level of trash buildup over the weekends.
However, for city commissioners, all roads led back to WM’s side-door service.
McMullen asked how employees kept track of which properties paid for the service. He said he pays for the service but his waste receptacles are often left in the road or in his driveway.
Sawallich said trucks are equipped with a tablet so employees can identify properties with side-door service but the city’s large number of non-homesteaded residential properties — about 1,300-1,400 — causes confusion.
He said the company experienced recent turnover, so there are newer employees.
Nevertheless, Sawallich said it is an accountability issue for the management team.
He said the company is exploring ways to help employees identify properties with side-door service, such as placing colored stickers on waste receptacles.
Bradenton Beach raises business tax 5%
By robert anderson islander reporter
Bradenton Beach commissioners approved a 5% increase to local business tax receipt fees after a July 10 public hearing.
City attorney Ricinda Perry read the ordinance into the record: “An ordinance … levying and imposing a 5% increase to the local business tax receipt fees charged for the privilege of engaging in or managing any business, profession or occupation within the municipal limits of the city.”
Perry said, “It’s pretty clear from the title that if you’re operating the business in the city, you need to have a business tax receipt. It’s allowed by state statute … and they’re looking for the modest increase of 5% to the existing base structure.”
Commissioners briefly discussed how the change would apply to various businesses, including charters and cabana rentals operating on public property.
“If I have a charter business, I can pull up to the
turtle nest coNTiNued From PaGe 1
Harrison’s group contacted the volunteer-based Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring, the FWC and Bradenton Beach police.
Police responded first to the 2200 block of Gulf Drive and, based on interviews with witnesses, decided AMITW could best assess the incident.
AMITW executive director Kristen Mazzarella said July 11 that volunteers with the nonprofit responded and determined “there was definitely digging into the nest site.”
“There was a mound of sand outside the nest site,” she said, adding that volunteers found hatchling tracks leading to the water but some hatchlings also disoriented and went toward the road.
“There were five dead (hatchlings) in the road,” Mazzarella said.
A few live hatchlings were released by AMITW.
“If you see a posted nest, that nest is posted to keep you from damaging or disrupting the turtle nest. So that’s why it’s posted like that,” Mazzarella said. “Stay out of the posted area.”
city dock. Do I have to have a business permit for Bradenton Beach, since I’m doing business?” Commissioner Ralph Cole asked, referring to marine charter vessels operating from the city’s finger dock.
Perry said, “If your business activities are utilizing public infrastructure on the city of Bradenton Beach … then it is my opinion that it triggers this requirement.”
Mayor John Chappie asked, “Will this cover the beach cabana rentals that are taking place on the beaches?”
Perry answered, “Any business that fits within the category would be required to have a business tax receipt … the beaches are within the city’s jurisdiction, and as such, people who are operating the business on the beach need to be acquiring a business tax receipt.”
Commissioner Scott Bear motioned to approve the second and final reading of the ordinance. The motion was seconded by Jan Vosburgh and passed 5-0.
She also urged people to avoid using lights near hatchlings, which can disorientate them.
“We don’t want to find them dead in the road because someone left a porch light on or someone is out on the beach with flashlights leading them astray,” Mazzarella said.
Disturbing a sea turtle nest is a felony crime under state and federal law. It is illegal to take, possess, disturb or harass sea turtles, nests and eggs.
Violators can face penalties reaching $100,000 and up to one year in prison.
Read more about nesting on AMI in Nesting Notes, page 19.
People with lights lean into a protected sea turtle nest July 9 in Bradenton Beach, allegedly disturbing hatchlings. authorities are investigating the incident. islander Photo: courtesy lisa Harrison
Commission Chair Charlie Salem said the sidedoor service problems have been an issue for a while and he’s not confident WM has a “magic bullet” to solve them.
“On my street, which is probably 60% nonresidents, I rarely see on the pickup days the cans back at the house. A lot of this hinges on if that gets solved,” he said. “People don’t feel like they are getting value for the money that they are currently paying.”
Commissioner Christopher Arendt suggested implementing side-door service for every property to eliminate confusion.
Public works general manager Dean Jones asked if fees could be restructured to make the service more attractive to residents.
Haggar said they would be willing to explore such a change.
Mayor Mark Short asked commissioners to consider WM’s presentation prior to a follow-up discussion at the commission’s next meeting, at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 24, at city hall, 10005 Gulf Drive.
Reaching for the top
Jordyn autry, 8, runs up a warped wall, an american Ninja warrior obstacle, during a July 3 visit to Jungle Gym, 8100 Park Blvd., Pinellas Park, as part of the center of anna maria island’s summer my way summer camp. islander Photo: courtesy cofami
Full week of AMI sports: football, soccer, golf, horseshoes
By Kevin P. Cassidy Islander Reporter
It was a full week of sports on AMI, starting with flag football and indoor soccer at the Center of Anna Maria Island in Anna Maria.
a touchdown run and a touchdown catch, while Brandon Holcomb finished with two touchdown receptions in the victory.
each added a goal and combined on five saves. AMI Outfitters was led by Koen Klodnicki’s goal on an assist from Wes Saxon, while Jordan Tobey helped with 15 saves.
After three weeks of action, three teams in the adult flag football league at the center are undefeated. Slim’s Place, Solid Rock Construction and Solid Rock Electrical are 2-0, just ahead of Coaster Continent, Cortez Pump & Sprinkler and Salty Printing with 2-1 records. Bubble Binz at 1-1 and Moss Builders at 1-2 follow, while Edible Cookie Dough Cafe, G.I. Bins and Reel Coastal Properties in search of their first wins.
Action last week kicked off July 10 with Moss Builders cruising to a 39-19 victory over G.I. Bins behind six touchdown passes from quarterback Ryan Moss, including three to receiver Anthony Mannino, who led with nine catches. Ramon Guerrero IV, Connor Morse and James Roadmana each added a touchdown catch in the Moss Builders victory.
Antonio Bujarski paced G.I. Bins offense with three touchdown passes, including two to Joey Vigil. Christian McPherson added a touchdown catch and Octavious Cole completed the scoring with an extra point catch.
The second game of the evening saw Coaster Continent outscore Edible Cookie Dough 36-20. Coaster quarterback Matt Manger threw five touchdown passes, including four to Cody Allen. Steven Pavina finished with two touchdown catches, while also throwing for a touchdown in the victory.
Dallas Buchholz threw touchdown passes to George Maize, Sequiel Marintez and Meghan Mitchell in the loss.
The third game of the night saw Bubble Binz defeat Salty Printing 26-14 behind three touchdown passes from Dominick Otteni. Greg Moss finished with
Cory Von Borstel connected with Amanda Baar for a touchdown and a pair of extra points and Miguel Rodriguez added a touchdown run for Salty Printing in the loss.
Solid Rock Construction jumped out to a 27-13 lead over Reel Coastal Properties and held on for a 27-19 victory in the third game of the night. Quarterback Tuna McCracken threw four touchdown passes, including two to Kevin Roman. David Daigle and Jonathan Geller both added touchdown catches to lead Solid Rock in the victory.
Matthew Briley’s two TD passes paced Coastal Properties, which also received a TD reception and a pick-six from Tyler Brewer. Isaiah Lambert completed the scoring with a TD catch.
The last game of the evening saw Slim’s Place obliterate Cortez Pump & Sprinkler 52-18 behind seven TD passes from quarterback Chase Richardson. Jaden Grant hauled in five TDs, while Derrick Carey, Tim Holly and Connor Ludwig added TD catches in the victory.
Kel Green had a TD pass and a TD run for Cortez Pump & Sprinkler, which also received a TD pass and a TD reception from David Lopez and a receiving TD from Jacob Rairigh in the loss.
Indoor soccer action
Westfall’s Lawn Care and Pest Control and Poppo’s Taqueria are the teams to beat in the 11-14 division of the youth indoor soccer league at the center. Westfall is 4-0 and leads Poppo’s by one game. AMI Outfitters is in third at 1-3, while Jiffy Lube completes the standings at 0-4.
Action July 7 saw Poppo’s earn a 5-1 victory over AMI Outfitters behind three goals and three saves from Gunnar Maize. Chandler McRae and Cohen Weber
The second game of the evening saw Westfall’s Lawn Care and Pest Control romp to a 13-3 victory over Jiffy Lube. Kalen Holt, Luca Tolomei and Callin Westfall each scored three goals, while Mylo Lee added a pair of goals. Ashton Bennett and Kyle Castagna chipped in a goal each and Castagna finished with five saves in the victory.
Nolan Anderson led Jiffy Lube with three goals, while Tucker McRae finished with five saves in the loss.
The 8-10 division standings closer, though Revive Nutrition is comfortably on top of the standings with a 3-0-1 record. Diamond Turf is alone in second place at 2-2, while Moss Builders at 1-2-1 and Mi-Box at 1-3 complete the standings.
Action July 8 saw Revive Nutrition outscore Mi-Box 9-6 behind six goals from Parker Svoboda and two goals from Conley Paul. Karver Klodnicki added a goal and also came through with six saves in the victory.
Leo Burns scored all six goals for Mi-Box, while Everett Hood helped keep them in the game with 16 saves.
The last game of the night saw Diamond Turf squeak by Moss Builders 5-4. Rafael Price led Diamond Turf with four goals, while Lucas Urbiola added a goal and made seven saves in the victory.
Jensen Hay scored three goals and added five saves for Moss Builders, which also received a goal from Asher Claire and seven saves from Titus Moss in the loss.
Key Royale golf news
Forty-four Key Royale Club members and guests
Cortez nonprofit OKs $24K post-hurricane tree restoration
By Robert anderson Islander Reporter
The Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage board on July 9 approved a $24,000 budget for tree restoration in the FISH Preserve, aiming to restore coastal hammock canopy lost during the 2024 hurricanes.
Board members discussed the preserve’s rebound following hurricanes Helene and Milton, noting regrowth of plants and rising populations of wildlife.
FISH member Allen Garner, who oversees trail and bridge construction in the preserve, reported strong regrowth of mangroves and rising populations of fiddler crabs, rabbits and birds.
“Both flora and fauna are just blossoming,” Garner said. “We were very bare-looking after the hurricanes, but mangroves and other vegetation have come back very well.”
Still, Garner said, some areas need new trees.
“People talk a lot about losing mangroves and the need for mangrove restoration,” Garner said.
He continued, “But the most endangered habitat we have along our coast is coastal hammock. It basically doesn’t exist in many places anymore. The reason for that is coastal hammock was where people first chose to live — the first people who came here, like in upland areas of Cortez and places like Palma Sola … that was all coastal hammock. Even the bayside of Longboat Key was kind of a coastal hammock area, and they were the first places to be developed.”
Garner proposed two planting options:
• $15,000 to purchase 20 trees,
• $24,000 to plant 50 trees, 36 shrubs and 50 ground-cover plants.
Regardless of the tree number, he recommended purchasing 25-gallon trees to ensure higher survival rates and reduce irrigation needs.
The board decided to budget $24,000 for the larger project to plant native species, such as slash pines and sabal palms.
sports FROM Page 16
played in the annual July 4 tournament that was held at the Holmes Beach golf course July 5.
They played a combination scramble/ramble with a par of 64 and the team of Sue and Bruce Christenson, Dale Miller and Ken Nagengast grabbed first place with a 4-over-par 68.
Jana Samuels captured the putting contest for the women while Charlie Porter won for the men. Samuels also won the long-drive contest, while Jeff Jump won closest-to-the-pin on the eighth hole. Lynn French won straightest drive for the women, while Dan Turner won for the men.
Regular golf action kicked off July 7 with the men’s weekly modified-Stableford system match. Greg Jump earned clubhouse bragging rights with a
of Anna Maria Island.
‘We were very bare-looking after the hurricanes, but mangroves and other vegetation have come back very well.’
— FIsH board member allen garner
Garner said new landscaping should be planted before the dry season begins later this year.
Meanwhile, other work in the preserve is nearing completion.
FISH secured a $165,000 grant from the Barancik Foundation of Sarasota to improve public access to the preserve, which spans 95 acres of undeveloped coastal habitat adjacent to the fishing village.
Trail grading is finished and kayak routes are open, although some signage and bridge naming are pending. Garner expects the project to be completed by October.
FISH’s next meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. Monday, July 21, at the old Cortez firehouse, 4523 123rd St. Court W.
plus-5.
The women took over the course July 8 for a nine hole individual-low-net match that saw Rene Chapman lap the field with an impressive, 7-under-par 25.
Members played a nine-hole scramble July 10 to close out the week of organized outings, with the team of Kevin Breheny, Joe Coyne, Rich Salzburg and Warren Stevens combining on a 3-under-par 29 to earn clubhouse bragging rights for the day.
Horseshoes action
Three teams emerged from pool play July 9 with 3-0 records and settled things in a playoff during horseshoe action at the Anna Maria City Hall pits.
The team of Tom Farrington and Gary Howcroft
Florida Institute for saltwater Heritage board members listen as member allen garner, seated left, describes work underway in the 95-acre FIsH Preserve during a July 7 meeting at the Cortez Cultural Center, 11655 Cortez Road W., Cortez. Islander
FISH board member Karen Bell during a July 7 meeting in Cortez suggested reintroducing mango trees in the village through a giveaway program for local property owners, replacing trees lost to hurricanes Helene and Milton.
The board agreed to research pricing and sourcing for mango trees — particularly in Homestead and Pine Island—with a focus on larger, resilient cultivars such as Valencia Pride and Haden.
— Robert anderson
About FISH
The Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage was established in 1991. FISH, according to its mission statement, is dedicated to the promotion, education and preservation of Cortez and Florida’s commercial fishing and other traditional maritime cultures, including the environment upon which these communities depend.
For more, go to fishcortez.org.
drew the bye into the final and watched as Tim Sofran and Bob Hawks cruised into the final with a 23-9 win over Gersey Fernandes and Tom Bunny. Farrington and Howcroft then defeated Sofran and Hawks by that same 23-9 score to win the day’s proceedings.
Two teams met in the final July 12 after posting the only 3-0 records. Dom Livedoti teamed up with Fernandes to power their way to a 25-6 victory over Hawks and earn the day’s bragging rights.
The action starts at 9 a.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays at the Anna Maria City Hall pits. Warmups begin at 8:45 a.m., followed by random team selection.
There is no charge and everyone is welcome. Go to islander.org for this week’s photos.
Share spots news at news@islander.org.
Photo: Robert anderson
Fish shallow when sun is low, move deep later in the day
By Capt. Danny stasny Islander Reporter
Summertime fi shing is settling in around Anna Maria Island, which means fishing early morning and late evening bites will typically yield the best results.
With water temperatures in the mid- to upper-80s, many fish we target are most active during lowlight conditions because water temperatures are slightly cooler.
If you can combine this time with peak movement of the tide, you should be in store for great summertime action, especially if you’re fishing the shallower waters in the bay for redfi sh and catch-and-release snook.
Once the sun is high in the sky, you might notice a lull in the flats bite. When this happens, it’s time to move to deeper water for slightly cooler water temps. Deep flats of 8-10 feet can yield trout, ladyfish, mackerel and jack crevalle — all worthy adversaries on medium-light spinning gear.
Also, areas like artificial reefs and wrecks in the Gulf of Mexico are an option as mangrove snapper and small groupers should remain active throughout the day because they linger in the cooler water close to the bottom.
Around structure in the Gulf, you might encounter larger fish, including cobia and shark. So be ready with heavy tackle.
And don’t forget to bring water and other liquids to drink throughout the day because this summertime heat can cause dehydration and even heatstroke. Staying hydrated is key to staying out longer in the heat. Long sleeves, hats and sunscreen also help, but staying
they’re off!
hydrated is most important.
On my Just Reel charters, the spotted seatrout bite remains impressive for another week. Many trout in the 14-inch range are being caught, although limits of trout 15-19 inches are being caught daily. Lucky anglers are fighting some over-slot fish measuring up to 22 inches.
Also, Spanish mackerel and ladyfi sh are in the mix, as well as small sandbar sharks.
Catch-and-release snook fishing is good on days where swift moving tides occur. Casting live shiners around mangrove shorelines and oyster bars is producing some nice action for my clients. Sight-casting to snook along the Gulf beaches and passes is resulting in larger examples of linesiders.
Finally, I’m seeing mangrove snapper while fishing deep grass or structure in Tampa Bay.
Capt. David White says he sees many spotted seatrout being reeled in on his charters. Casting live free-lined shiners over deep grass flats leads to limits of trout on most days, with Spanish mackerel and ladyfish in the mix.
White says catch-and-release snook fishing is good for his sport fishers, with all sizes being caught. Casting for redfish along mangrove shorelines yields results for the cooler on most days, especially during the higher stages of the tide.
Targeting tarpon is providing action for trophy hunters and White hopes to hook up on more silver kings around the remainder of the full moon.
Moving offshore, White is hooking into plenty of red snapper, as well as red grouper.
Send high-resolution photos and fishing reports to fish@islander.org.
Hurricane recovery grants offered to captains, guides
Suncoast Waterkeeper and Tampa Bay Waterkeeper are offering emergency grants to recreational fishing professionals still recovering from the 2024 hurricane season.
The funding will come from the International Game Fish Association’s Worldwide Anglers Relief Fund and eligible captains and guides can receive up to $1,000 to cover lost income and recovery expenses.
Charter captains and recreational fishing guides must have been impacted by hurricanes Helene or Milton and operate in the Suncoast or Tampa Bay region.
Coquina
Applicants need to provide a U.S. Coast Guard captain’s license, proof of insurance, a completed W-9 form and documentation of trip cancellations or revenue loss.
The application window will be July 26-Aug. 2, with recipients announced Aug. 15.
To apply, go online to https://bit.ly/WARF_grant beginning July 26.
For more information, go online to suncoastwaterkeeper.org or tampabaywaterkeeper.org.
Suncoast Waterkeeper also can be reached at 239222-2443.
— lisa Neff
is the site of a Run Manatee race and walk July 12. the 5K event, presented by Run With Purpose Nutrition also featured health and wellness vendors, and was the second in a three-race series. the final race in November will take place at Rye Preserve. For more about the series and the November 5K, go to runsignup.com/runmanateeryepreserve. Islander Photos: Jacob
stasny
From start to finish
Beach in Bradenton Beach
Merrifield
Nesting notes
By Lisa Neff
Douse the lights
Enforcement agents and turtle watch volunteers were alerted July 9 to an alleged disturbance at a sea turtle nest hatching out on the shore in Bradenton Beach.
The incident was under investigation as of July 11, but regardless of the outcome, there’s good reason to spell out for beachgoers — including kids — the rules for nesting season. Out on AMI’s shores, we have laws protecting sea turtles. And we have best practices promoted by Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring.
AMITW encourages people to:
• Not use lights on the beach at night;
• Shield or turn off any lights from their beachfront property;
• Leave the shore clear of furniture, toys and litter;
• Keep their distance from nesting sea turtles and hatchling sea turtles.
Encouragement, a polite ask, an educational talk should be enough to protect sea turtles and other animals on AMI but local ordinances, state law and federal acts and regulations also exist for their protection.
Ordinances in Anna Maria, Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach require dark, clean beaches.
Florida statutes restrict the take, possession, disturbance, mutilation, destruction, selling, transfer, molestation and harassment of marine turtles, nests or eggs.
as of July 11, aMItW reported 459 nests, 740 false crawls, 16 hatched nests, 548 hatchlings to the gulf, 24 adult and two hatchling disorientations.
Winnie’s swim
Winnie, anna Maria Island’s entry in the 2025 tour de turtles presented by the sea turtle Conservancy, has traveled about 40 miles since being tagged with a satellite tracker June 23 at Coquina Beach for the research-focused tour. the marathon officially will begin aug. 1. For more, go to tourdeturtles.org. Islander screenshot
Protection is also afforded to marine turtle habitat.
At the federal level, the main protections for sea turtles are found in the Marine Turtle Conservation Act and the Endangered Species Act of 1973, which makes it illegal to harm, harass, or kill any sea turtles, their nests or eggs.
What consequences might a person face for harassing a sea turtle?
Violators can face civil penalties, criminal fines that exceed $100,000 and imprisonment and sometimes investigations do result in arrest or punishment.
Enforcement examples include:
• In 2015, a Florida woman was arrested for harassment after a photo of her riding a sea turtle went viral.
• That same year, a Florida man was sentenced to a month in jail for lifting a sea turtle out of the water.
• In 2017, two tourists in Hawaii were fined $750 for catching and holding a green sea turtle.
About AMITW
AMITW is a nonprofit focused on collecting data on threatened or endangered sea turtles. The organization also collects data on shorebirds. Nesting data is required by beach renourishment contracts and AMITW is compensated by the county for its service.
It’s elementary
Class lessons from AMITW, AME Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring, during the 2024-25 academic year, invited teachers and students at Anna Maria Elementary School in Holmes Beach to pose questions about sea turtles, shorebirds and AMITW. The Islander is sharing AME’s questions and AMITW’s answers.
Teacher Rachel Mauk’s first-grade class: Do the turtles stay with their families?
AMITW: Unlike people, sea turtles do not stay with their families.
The mother sea turtles lay their eggs in the sand and leave their babies — hatchlings — to hatch, find their way out of the nest, and travel to the water.
Even though all the hatchlings come out around the same time, they do not stick together once they reach the water.
Talking turtles
The city of Holmes Beach is hosting Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring for weekly talks about sea turtle and shorebird nesting.
Sea Turtle Tracks and Shorebird Facts talks continue most Mondays at 10 a.m. through August at city hall, 5801 Marina Drive.
For more information, call turtle watch at 941-3018434 or go to www.islandturtlewatch.com.
and Kitty are
Tiki & Kitty’s
T&K love Cat’s Meow, an 8,000 square-foot marketplace! Their vendors offer coastal, cottage, beach, antique, boho, midcentury modern and other home decor styles. They also offer vintage to fine jewelry and vintage vinyl records.
You might want to lace up your skates, as this large, former skating rink has plenty to offer bargain hunters and anyone seeking antiques and unique decor.
You don’t want to miss this collection.
Next door to Cat’s Meow at Blue Flamingo is another “must stop,” boasting three large buildings of quirky, artisan, whimsy, florals and vintage treasures and nauticals, hip and trendy upcycled and repurposed goods, furniture and decor, garden features, candles, jewelry and work by local artisans, as well as Dixie Belle paints.
You’ll also find a new collection from the Gather-
place for fun, funky quirky!
Local Artisans. Upcycled, Vintage Furniture, Decor, Artwork Dixie Belle Paint, Fun Gifts & More! Featuring “The Sea Hagg” collection. theblueflamingo.biz
Adventures in Shopping … Antiques, Art-Tiques and Chic Boutiques!
ing Place and classy nautical furnishings from the Sea Hagg, formerly in Cortez.
We promise, you will find treasures aplenty. Scavengers Marketplace has plenty of vendors to capture your wallet at the Palmetto store, 2100 U.S. 301. There’s always something new to entice you among the vendors’ eclectic collections.
FYI: Scavengers also carries Fusion Paints. The Vintage Vine Market is a favorite for Tiki and Kitty, who love the fine vintage wares and items with a whimsical twist at this store in historic Old Manatee along the newest section of the Bradenton Riverwalk. The location in the 1910 building oozes charm. And they take select consignments by appointment.
And don’t forget, tell people you meet along the way, “The Islander sent me.”
Tiki
leading the way to their favorite shops and boutiques to find unique vintage accents and decor for your home.
aMItW volunteers Hans uwe Duerr and Birgit Kremer conduct an excavation three days after a nest hatched the week of July 7. volunteers Kathy Noonan, elsa Rohow and Peggy Welch observe. Islander Photo: Courtesy amy Waterbury/aMItW
By Lisa Neff
Rising risks
Sometimes being at the top of a list is not desirable.
Florida is at the top of the list of states where the most people and the most properties will be at risk of experiencing “severe coastal flooding” by 2050, according to an assessment by the nonprofit Climate Central.
Florida tops the Climate Central list mainly because it has a very long coast that’s almost at sea level with a high population density. New York is at No. 2, followed by New Jersey and Louisiana.
The Climate Central report is focused on rising sea levels, higher tides, increased rainfall caused by the melting of land-based ice and the expansion of seawater as it warms.
Coastal flooding occurs three times more often than it did 30 years ago and the frequency is projected to increase to 10 times more often by 2050.
I’d like to say that as I read the report, I thought, “Well, 2050 is a long way off. There’s a lot we can do, beginning with doing more to deal with climate change.”
But instead I thought, “That’s just 25 years away. And the risk is based on an assumption that we are dealing with climate change, that global pledged commitments to reduce carbon pollution will be met.”
We’re not on track. We’re not doing what we need to transition to clean energy, improve energy efficiency, reduce emissions from land use and invest in carbon removal technologies.
Alongside the report, Climate Central released a Coastal Risk Finder, an online tool that allows the curious — or concerned policymakers — to focus on an area and adjust outcomes based on action or inaction.
Local impact projections
Take a look at the pollution pathway scenarios for Holmes Beach, the largest of AMI’s cities, for sea level rise and annual flooding in 2050:
July is National Vehicle Theft Prevention Month!
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Upgrade Your Security: Consider installing alarms and immobilizers for added protection.
Your car is an investment—don’t let it fall into the wrong hands! Contact us today to learn more about how we can help secure your ride.
Risk of a severe
in
a u.s. map shows the risks for coastal areas across the
• Deep and rapid cuts: 2.4 foot-flood every year by 2050, 170 homes occupied by 140 people at risk;
• Current commitments: 2.5 foot-flood every year by 2050, 210 homes occupied by 170 people at risk;
• Unchecked pollution: 2.5-foot flood expected every year by 2050, 28% chance of a 3-foot flood in 2050, 290 homes occupied by 230 people at risk.
Let’s zoom in on Anna Maria and look at sea level rise and 10-year flood projections:
• Deep and rapid cuts: A 3.5-foot flood is expected every 10 years by 2050, 95% chance of a 2-foot flood in 2050, 780 homes at risk;
• Current commitments: A 3.6-foot flood is expected every 10 years by 2050, 98% chance of a 2-foot flood in 2050, 810 homes at risk;
• Unchecked pollution: A 3.6-foot flood is expected every 10 years by 2050, 28% chance of a 3-foot flood in 2050, 860 homes at risk.
Now, let’s check the scenarios for Bradenton Beach for sea level rise and a 100-year flood:
Sales tax holidays set
The Florida Department of Revenue is overseeing several “sales tax holidays” signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis.
The Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday runs Aug. 1-31.
Exemptions from sales tax during the period apply to school supplies, equipment, including some electronics, and apparel.
Consumers and businesses will find more details, including qualifying items, at floridarevenue.com/ backtoschool/.
DeSantis also signed into law a permanent sales tax exemption for hurricane preparedness items, including some big-ticket purchases.
Certain batteries, fuel tanks, portable generators, tarps and ground anchors or tie-down kits are now taxfree. Bottled water, first-aid kits and many food items were already tax-free.
• Deep and rapid cuts: 5.8-foot fl ood expected every 100 years by 2050, 94% chance of a 2-foot flood in 2050, 1,700 homes at risk;
• Current commitments: 5.9-foot flood expected every 100 years by 2050, 98% chance of a 2-foot flood in 2050, 1,700 homes at risk.
• Unchecked pollution: 6-foot flood expected every 100 years by 2050, 28% chance of a 3-foot flood in 2050, 1,700 homes at risk.
For Longboat Key, an estimated 3,330 people — 44% of the population — will be in areas at risk from a severe flood in 2050 if current global commitments are met.
The risks appear higher on Pinellas County beaches, where 98% of the population is at risk in Madeira Beach, 97% percent in Treasure Island and 84% in St. Pete Beach.
Those percentages are some of the highest in the United States but the percentage is 100% for one U.S. city — Houma, Louisiana, population 33,242.
Shell collectors to stroll
The Manatee County natural resources department will host a Seashell Shore Walk at 9 a.m. Tuesday, July 22, at Coquina Beach in Bradenton Beach near Longboat Pass.
A notice invited people to join “a relaxing walk on the beach to search for seashells and learn to identify them.”
For more information, call 941-742-5923.
The Islander newspaper is FrEE at Publix Holmes Beach. Stop by the service desk, hold out your hand and say, “Islander, please!” And remind staff you’d like the serve-yourself community news returned to the lobby.
Neff
a sales tax holiday will take place in august for school supplies. Islander Courtesy Image
leFt:
coastal flood in 2050
Florida, according to the nonprofit Climate Central. RIgHt:
united states. Islander Courtesy Images
Cortez cancellation
The business-driven Cortez Stone Crab Festival that annually takes place in the fishing village is canceled for 2025.
A social media post cited “significant challenges” created by hurricanes Helene and Milton last fall for the postponement.
“Among the impacted was the Cortez Bait & Seafood office, which was flooded along with numerous other properties,” stated the post attributed to “the Cortez family of businesses,” including Cortez Kitchen, Swordfish Grill & Tiki, Cortez Bait & Seafood and N.E. Taylor Boatworks.
Since the storms, the businesses have been making repairs and improvements but more work is needed.
“Our owner, John (Banyas), has not yet been able to return to his home, which was destroyed by floodwaters,” the post read. “This stands as a sobering reminder of just how deeply the storms impacted every level of our family-run operations.”
While the fall festival is canceled, a mini-stone crab celebration might be possible at two of the family businesses, Cortez Kitchen and Swordfish Grill.
For more information, go online to swordfishgrillcortez.com or call 941-798-2035.
— lisa Neff
Awards ceremony ahead
The Manatee Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual Small Business of the Year Awards celebration at 4 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 21, at the Bradenton Area Convention Center, 1 Haben Blvd., Palmetto.
An email read, “Join us for one of the most inspiring events of the year. … We’ll shine a spotlight on outstanding local small businesses and nonprofits that exemplify innovation, resilience and community spirit.”
For more, go to manateechamber.com or call 941748-3411.
— lisa Neff
Book for Bayfest
The Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce is taking applications for sponsors and vendors at its annual island celebration of friends, music, food and fun — Bayfest — set for 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, on Pine Avenue in Anna Maria.
A notice from the chamber said vendors must supply tents and tables. The notice also contained some advice:
• Keep menus simple.
• Customers pay cash or credit at the stand.
• Electricity is provided to food vendors — for up to three items and 110 voltage only.
• Food handlers must display their license.
The cost for space is $250 for food vendors and $200-$150 for retail vendors, including artists. Sponsorships cost $550-$300.
Application links are at amichamber.org.
For more, call the chamber at 941-778-1541.
— lisa Neff
Early birds’ breakfast at Compass terri Kinder, left, executive director of the anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce, thanks anna Maria Island Privateers’ Maryann “Maz” Zyla and Roger “Hoodat” Murphy for attending the chamber’s July 7 networking breakfast hosted by Compass Hotel Margaritaville, 12324 Manatee ave. W., Perico Island, where a buffet was served for guests. also chatting with the Privateers are chamber staff amber tipton and new staff member Pearl linn. the Privateers shared their quest for a safe place to park the skullywag, their parade ship, and for new members. Islander Photo: Bonner Joy
By lisa Neff
SAVE THE DATES
• July 24, 5 p.m., Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce business card exchange, Slicker’s Eatery, Cortez.
• Aug. 21, 4 p.m., Manatee Chamber Small Business of the Year Awards, Palmetto.
• Oct. 18, 10 a.m.-9 p.m., AMI Chamber Bayfest, Anna Maria. Send listings to calendar@islander.org.
By lisa Neff
Local real estate pricing
Anna Maria
Median listing home price: $3 million, trending up 3.3% year-over-year.
Median sold home price: $1.7 million.
Listings: 105 properties.
Bradenton Beach
Median listing home price: $1.1 million, trending down 15.1% year-over-year.
Median sold home price: $764,000.
Listings: 86 properties.
Holmes Beach
Median listing home price: $1.6 million, trending up 2.9% year-over-year.
Median sold home price: $1.1 million.
Listings: 180 properties.
source: Realtor.com
Slicker’s sandwiches and socializing
Bob slicker addresses guests July 10 at the anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce business lunch at his restaurant, slicker’s eatery, 12012 Cortez Road W., Cortez. slicker said, “We’re all here to help and we all need help from time to time, so just give me a call.” Most diners chose a Cuban sandwich and compliments were abundant for the food, as well as slicker’s charitable work. the next chamber event will be a business-card exchange at slicker’s, 5-7 p.m. thursday, July 24. Islander
Photo: Bonner Joy
ITEMS FOR SALE
CRAFT BOOKS: NICE variety. Twelve at $15. 941-782-8381, afternoons.
ANTIQUE PARTNER DESK: All wood, $500. Inquire at 941-778-7978.
FREEBIE ITEMS FOR SALE
Individuals may place one free ad with up to three items, each priced $100 or less, 15 words or less. FREE, one week, must be submitted online. Email classifieds@islander.org (limited time offer).
TRANSPORTATION
GOLF CART RENTALS: Fun for residents and tourists! 941-213-5730. www.annamariacartrentals.com
BOATS & BOATING
Have a BOat and wanna catch more fish, better bait or learn the water? 50-year local fisherman, your boat, my knowledge. Captain Chris, 941-896-2915.
SUNCOAST BOTTOM PAINTING: Professional bottom painting. Mobile. Call 941-7049382.
CAPTAIN FOR HIRE and boat caretaker services: If you need help with your boat on or off the water, call Captain Dan. USCG, retired. 772-486-8085.
FOR SALE: 35 Bristol sailboat, Yanmar diesel, new shaft, cutless, log, prop and bottom job, 2024. $12,000. Located on Holmes Beach ready to sail. Bill, 302-494-4096.
CONSTRUCTION
BOATS & BOATING Continued
WelCOMe aBOaRD JOyFIsH Charters for private fishing, sunset cruises, and dolphin watching. Check out joyfishcharters.com or follow us on Facebook. Call to reserve, 941840-3181.
HELP WANTED
ROSER CHURCH SEEKS part-time Assistant Facilities Administrator to cover Friday to Sunday and special events. Read the job description RoserChurch.com/job-opportunity
NOW HIRING HANDYMAN: Full-time professional services. $18 an hour and up, based on experience. Call JayPros, 941-962-2874.
REPORTER WANTED: Apply via email with letter of interest to news@islander.org.
KIDS FOR HIRE
KIDS FOR HIRE ads are FREE for up to three weeks for Island youths under 16 looking for work. Ads must be placed by email, send to classifieds@islander.org.
SERVICES
IS YOUR HOME or office in need of some cleaning? Well, I’m your girl! Local, reliable, professional! Please, give me a call or text, 941-773 -0461.
CLEANING: VACATION, CONSTRUCTION, residential, commercial and windows. Licensed and insured. 941-756-4570.
PRESSURE WASHING, PAVER sealing, driveway, roof, fence, pool area. Also, window cleaning. Licensed and insured. 941-5653931.
BICYCLE REPAIRS: Just4Fun at 5358 Gulf Drive can do most any bicycle repair at a reasonable cost. Pick-up and delivery available. 941-896-7884.
API’S DRYWALL REPAIR: I look forward to servicing your drywall repair needs. Call 941524-8067 to schedule an appointment.
PC OR te CH issues? Not sure where to start? With years of experience, I’ll come to you with reliable solutions. Contact gavin at 928-587-1309. www.gse.codes
saRasOta PaINtINg: INteRIOR/exterior/ cabinets: Call or text Don, 941-900-9398. Free estimates. Fully insured, twenty years’ experience.
RIDeeasy 247 yOuR professional, reliable and courteous car service to airports and events since 2015. you can reach us via text 941-447-7737 or email to mrfort5001@gmail. com We are available 24/7.
LOOK NO MORE! Residential, vacation rental and commercial cleaning. Give us a call, 941-250-8548.
OUR SERVICES: CLEANING, home repairs, tile, concrete, remodeling, decks, steps, flooring, water drainage solutions, rental 24-hour services. Hurricane shutters and pre-storm service. New, low-cost generator and insulation (starts and runs on propane when power off). No permits needed. Islander, over 40 years here! Call 941-404-9163.
aIRPORt sHuttle: QualIty transportation, 10 years by lewber. 352-339-3478.
SERVICES
Is yOuR POOl deck, driveway, or garage floor looking worn out and dated? Bring them back to life with our top-tier resurfacing services! s ervices offered: Pool deck resurfacing, slip-resistant, cool-to-the-touch finishes that enhance safety and aesthetics. Driveway resurfacing, durable surfaces that stand up to heavy traffic and harsh weather. garage floor resurfacing, easy-to-clean, stain-resistant surfaces that look great and perform even better. Don’t wait! transform your spaces today with our trusted resurfacing services. Contact us now for a free consultation and estimate. Call u Plus Me llC at 727-6235050 or visit u-plus-me.com
g O t DIRty WINDOW s ? Free estimates/ insured. Five-star customer service rating. “We want to earn your business. Downeast Window Cleaning, 207-852-6163.
lOOKINg FOR sOMeONe who needs me: Clean, house-sit. I can cook, make sandwiches. I can do anything you can do but better! I can run to the grocery store for you. I can walk pets or go out to lunch with you. looking for a part-time job caregiving companion, I am your right arm! I love people and I love helping others. I have references and I’m reliable and dependable. My name is Dena gray a.k.a. sparkles! 941-524-2234.
a CH au FF e R4 u FOR t R a N s PORtat ION anywhere in Florida. Properly insured and over 40 years in Bradenton. Dennis, 941812-5930.
ONECALL CLEANUP. Junk removal, water damage, and more. Fast, reliable service. Call, 941-544-1260.
NEED A RIDE to the airports? Service to Tampa, St. Pete or SRQ. Call Gary at 863409-5875.
HOM e Wat CH e R: WH e N you can’t be at home, I’ll watch your home and send video of my inspection. I’m a state Certified Residential a ppraiser with background check. 317-997-4056.
AFFORDABLE PRESSURE WASHING and small job painting. 941-356-1456.
aMI aIRPORt sHuttle guy: We pick up from tampa, st. Petersburg and sarasota airports. up to seven passengers with luggage Reliable, licensed and friendly transportation to and from anna Maria Island. aMIshuttle. com. 941-500-3388.
CLEANING SERVICES: Ten-plus years’ experience. Professional, prompt with a flexible schedule. Contact Jessica, 941-900-8051.
s KI lle D H a ND y M a N, 63, retired. e xpert repairs, plumbing, electrical, odd jobs. ties to island. Quality guaranteed. 704-5607254.
BUSINESS-TO-BUSINESS JD’s Window Cleaning looking for storefront jobs in Holmes Beach. I make dirty windows sparkling clean. 941-920-3840.
Isla ND e R a RCHI ve. u ofF Florida digital newspaper collection at ufdc.ufl.edu.
SERVICES Continued
BEACH SERVICE air conditioning, heat, refrigeration. Commercial and residential service, repair and/or replacement. Serving Manatee County and the Island since 1987. For dependable, honest and personalized service, call Bill Eller, 941-720-7411. Residential, call Nate, 941-524-2248. CAC184228.
CLEAN TECH MOBILE Detailing. At your location. Cars, boats, RVs. Call or text Billie for an appointment. 941-592-3482.
LAWN & GARDEN
CONNIE’S LANDSCAPING INC. Residential and commercial. Full-service lawn maintenance, landscaping, cleanups, hauling and more! Insured. 941-713-1965.
sHell DelIveReD aND spread. Hauling all kinds of gravel, mulch, topsoil with free estimates. Call larry at 941-795-7775, or “shell phone” 941-720-0770.
g RIFFIN’ s HOM e IMPRO ve M e N ts Inc. Handyman, fine woodwork, countertops, cabinets and wood flooring. Insured and licensed. 941-722-8792.
LANE’S SCREENING SERVICES: Replace your window, door or lanai screens. Many screen options available. Retired veteran serving our community! Free estimates, call 941-705-5293.
l OOKIN g FOR a N y home improvement? JRCC Home Improvement, handyman service can get the job done. Please, contact us at 413-246-2410. We would love to help.
TILE-TILE-TILE: All variations of ceramic tile supplied and installed. Quality workmanship, prompt, reliable, many Island references. Call Ashdown Flooring, 941-726-3077.
DON al D P e RKIN s Pa IN t IN g ll C. Interior/exterior/pressure washing. Island references. dperkinspaint@hotmail.com. 941705-7096.
g ORI lla DRy Wall R e Pa IR ll C. l et’s solve your drywall problems together. give us a call at 941-286-0607.
tetI tIle: 40 years’ experience in Delaware, now on a MI and surrounds. t ile, marble, murals. Free estimates. Call John teti, 302983-5774.
TRUE TONE PAINTING: Painting, power washing, epoxy floors. 941-224-4020.
SERVICES Continued
CALL HYDRO CLEAN. Full-service pressure washing, sealing. Pavers, travertine and natural stone. Window washing too, up to three stories. Call Jacob, 941-920-2094.
ISLAND HANDYMAN: I live here, work here, value your referral. Refinish, paint. Just ask. JayPros. Licensed/insured. References. Call Jay, 941-962-2874.
RENTALS
ANNA MARIA GULF beachfront vacation rentals. One- two- and three-bedroom units, all beachfront. www.amiparadise.com. 941778-3143.
AVAILABLE NOW AND season: 1BR/1BA, seven-night minimum. carlesvacationrentals. com Special rates available. 941-807-1405.
PERICO ISLAND PATIO home: 3BR/2BA, privacy wall/gate, two-car garage, single floor, high ceilings, screened lanai. Call or text Alison, 859-771-6423.
2026 SEASONAL RENTAL: Just one block from the beach, Single-story 2BR/2BA private residence, screened patio. No smoking/ no pets. December-April. 64th Street, Holmes Beach. Call 813-833-4926.
CENTRAL HOLMES BEACH, 3BR/2BA completely remodeled, walk to beach, school, trolley, shopping. Annual, $2,595/month. 941713-6743.
ava I la B le NOW! a NN ual rental. Beautiful, bright renovated condo 2BR/2Ba, one floor. Perico Bay Club, pool, hot tub, tennis, pickle ball, covered parking. $2,500/month. Call 612-802-8357.
aNNual ReNtal: 1BR/1Ba Recently renovated, quiet street in Holmes Beach. steps to a public beach access in Holmes Beach. $2,200/month. First, last and security. 941807-1405.
2BR/2BA SECOND FLOOR condo with pool available in Holmes Beach. Available for 2025/26 season beginning November 2025. Call Jack, 312-835-2323 for more details and link to site with pictures and details.
HOLMES BEACH WESTBAY Cove condo. Second floor, 2BR/2BA, large lanai with bay view and one block to Gulf. Pools, tennis, pickleball. December - March, $3,800/ month. January - March, $4,000/month. 941778-8456. terryaposporos@gmail.com.
STUNNING FURNISHED Top-level direct ocean view. 2BR/2BA. Annual or seasonal, available starting Aug.15. Holmes Beach, direct beach access. Owner-operated. Contact 201-317-6922.
REAL ESTATE
WINNI e MCH ale , R ealt OR, 941-5046146. Dalton Wade Real estate. you need an aggressive and experienced Realtor in today’s market! selling island homes, sarasota and Bradenton areas. Multi-milliondollar producer! “ s elling Homes - Making Dreams Come true.”
RETIREMENT FIXER: 1BR/BA TRAILER: Partially remodeled. Bradenton Beach, $99,999. One minute walk to beach/bay. 831212-2606.
More ads = more readers in the Islander.
REAL ESTATE
HANDYMAN SPECIAL: 1BR/1BA mobile on Anna Maria Island. $106,500. Real Estate Mart, 941-356-1456.
LOCATION-PLUS HOMES: All minutes to beach and shopping. Palm Gardens, 3BR/2BA, two-car garage, caged pool and RV/boat storage. $467,000. Tanglewood Gardens, upgraded 3BR/2BA, two-car garage, community pool and courts, $550,000. Northwest Bradenton custom-built 2BR/2BA, twocar garage, community pool, spa, boat docks, $795,000. Longboat Key northern village, brand-new home coming soon. 3BR/2BA, two-car garage, water view, $1,600,000. Call Fred at Real Estate Mart, 941-356-1456.
WATERFRONT 3BR/2BA MANUFACTURED home with ample parking for boat/RV and two cars. Screened-in lanai for enjoying sunsets. Steps away from Parrott Cove Marina and free boat launch. Sunny Shores beach nearby and easy walk or bike ride to Anna Maria Island. Awaiting new owner to complete drywall and decorative flooring. You own the land. Sunny Shores, a friendly community with voluntary homeowners’ association that provides access to clubhouse and park amenities. Ideal vacation home or rental property. Asking price, $250,000. Call 847-436-0938 for more information or tour of home.
