Soccer fans erupt in celebration June 19 as the United States takes on Australia in Seattle in a Group D FIFA World Cup match at Slim’s Place in Anna Maria. Patrons packed the sports bar, 9701 Gulf Drive, to cheer on Team USA to a 2-0 victory. World Cup matches will be a highlight at Slim’s, leading up to the tournament final at 3 p.m. July 19 at New York-New Jersey stadium.
Islander Photos: Robert Anderson
By Ryan Paice Islander Reporter
The Manatee County Beach Patrol is adding a new gadget to its toolbox with the help of the Rotary Club of Anna Maria Island.
County commissioners unanimously voted June 16 to approve a consent agenda that included a $25,000 donation from the club and a budget amendment to purchase a Brinc responder drone to help patrol Anna Maria Island’s coastline.
The drone is designed to aid first responders, in this case, the county beach patrol, by providing a remotecontrolled eye in the sky to locate, assess and address potential rescue situations.
It is equipped with HD and thermal-imaging cameras to scout for drowning victims and missing persons, a loudspeaker to communicate, as well as GPS tracking to provide locational data for responders.
The device also can be equipped to deploy floatation devices and deliver an automated external defibrillator to offshore vessels or other remote locations.
The purchase and operation of the drone is projected to cost $28,798 over the first year and $27,999 in subsequent years, resulting in a $140,794 total cost over five years.
That’s where the Rotary Club comes in.
The AMI club partners with the Bradenton YMCA to provide water safety and swimming lessons for children in the summer in an effort to limit drowning-
related incidents.
Rotary president Jim McDaniel told The Islander June 18 that the $25,000 donation to help the county cover first-year costs is an extension of that effort.
He said the proposal was, at least in part, inspired by two drownings in 2025 off Bean Point in Anna Maria where there are no lifeguards.
“These drownings are absolutely on people’s minds and it makes us more determined,” McDaniel said.
So when beach patrol picked out the drone and explained the cost to Rotary, the club was “pretty quickly” all in.
“Let’s just get it and start using it and see what it saves us and who it saves,” McDaniel said.
He added that while only the first year — which will serve as a trial for the technology — has been funded, the club could contribute more in future years to help sustain the program.
Beach Patrol Chief Chet Brown told The Islander June 18 that the program would help respond to potential emergencies in an appropriate and timely manner, especially in areas where no lifeguards are stationed.
“A lot of times these calls come in that are north on the island or in between Manatee (Public Beach) and Coquina (Beach) where we don’t have lifeguards. We respond blindly, so we don’t know until we get there what we’re getting ourselves into,” he said.
Brown said the drone would be operated from Manatee Public Beach in Holmes Beach, due to its central location on AMI. From there, it could reach Bean Point in about four minutes — a trip that can take about 15 minutes for an on-foot response.
Beach patrol currently has two Federal Aviation Administration-certified drone operators, with three more in training, according to Brown.
Brown added that the drone would be purchased and delivered within the next 30-60 days.
“I think it’s going to be a huge asset to the citizens and the agencies that work out here protecting the people that come to our beaches,” he said.
By Robert Anderson Islander Reporter
Bradenton Beach commissioners voted unanimously June 18 to authorize paying $166,000 to former city attorney Ricinda Perry after her legal counsel demanded payment by June 23 or the city enter a dispute resolution process.
The commission decision marked a sharp reversal from February, when the board directed city attorney Erica Augello to challenge Perry’s invoices after an audit by city treasurer Shayne Thompson identified about $30,000 in questioned charges.
Perry had served as the city’s attorney for more than 20 years before resigning in September 2025.
Augello told commissioners that in a June 8 correspondence, Perry’s attorney had agreed to waive accrued interest if the city paid $166,000 and warned that formally disputing the invoices carried financial risks.
“There’s a chance that the city could be liable for attorney’s fees through this process,” Augello said,
The city of Anna Maria is officially on the clock for a response to former treasurer LeAnne Endres’ discrimination lawsuit.
According to a document filed June 16 with the Manatee County Clerk of Circuit Court, a summons was served June 4 at city hall, 10005 Gulf Drive.
Endres, known as Addy during her employment as the clerk and treasurer, sued the city in April on claims of age and disability discrimination, among other allegations.
She seeks more than $100,000 from the city in general and compensatory damages for its alleged violations of the law.
The city has until June 24 to file a response with the court.
If it fails to do so, the court could issue a default judgment, meaning Endres would automatically win the case in lieu of a response from the city.
The city had not filed a response as of June 19, according to the clerk’s website, manateeclerk.com.
— Ryan Paice
This issue of The Islander contains tips and advice for weathering the Atlantic hurricane season, which began June 1 and continues through November.
The first tropical storm of the season — Arthur — formed June 17 in the Gulf of Mexico off the Texas coastline.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s climatological data, the average date of a first named storm is June 20.
The earliest first named storm on record was TS Ana, which formed April 20, 2003, and the latest first storm was Anita, formed on Aug. 29, 1977.
The earliest storm to impact Florida’s Gulf coast was subtropical storm Alberto on May 28, 2018. — Lisa Neff
By Robert Anderson Islander Reporter
Manatee County commissioners voted unanimously June 17 to direct staff to review and revise a proposed short-term vacation rental ordinance that could establish registration, inspection and operational standards in unincorporated areas, including the village of Cortez.
The directive marked the latest chapter in a debate over short-term rentals. A similar effort stalled last year on a 3-3 vote.
Commissioner Robert McCann, R-District 5, introduced the motion, asking staff to revise a statecompliant ordinance with input from the attorney and sheriff and other county staff.
Residents in unincorporated Manatee have
Manatee County saw about 614,600 visitors January-March, according to quarterly performance numbers presented June 15 to the tourist development council.
The TDC, a nine-member board that advises on tourism programs and resort tax spending, met at the Center of Anna Maria Island, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria, to discuss a few proposed appropriations and the status of tourism in Manatee.
That number included 421,000 visitors in accommodations, spending more than $461 million on lodging, according to Downs & St. Germain Research.
About 29% of people were visiting for the first time. The median age was 60 years and the average party size was 2.7.
Visitors during the quarter put more than $633 million in direct spending into the area economy.
The top origins for visitors? New York City, 6.3%,
Add to 2nd Ave?
Proposed plans would add islands on Second Avenue and Fifth Avenue to block southbound traffic. Read the story, “Second Avenue traffic changes face pushback,” on islander.org. Islander
Grapic: Courtesy Holmes Beach
requested additional oversight, which exists in some local municipalities, including Anna Maria, Holmes Beach and Bradenton.
State law limits a local government’s ability to prohibit short-term rentals or regulate lengths of stay. But a local government can create health, safety and operational requirements, including requiring owners to register with the county, obtain a rental certificate, complete life-safety inspections, designate a local party to respond to complaints and comply with off-street parking limits.
During discussion, Commission Chair Tal Siddique, R-District 3, said a rental ordinance would generally be enforced through code enforcement.
After attending a recent county CDBG-DR event, Rogers said, “I actually went to the pop-up at Bayshore
Joseph St. Germain, president of Downs St. Germain Research, presents a quarterly report on Manatee County tourism to the TDC June 15 at the Center of Anna Maria Island, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria. Islander Screenshot
Minneapolis-St. Paul, 6.3% and Chicago, 5.2%.
The occupancy rate for the quarter was 76.8%, with an average daily room rate of $305.97. Hotels had a higher occupancy rate than vacation rentals.
About 55% of visitors drove to the area. Some 30% flew to Sarasota Bradenton International Airport and 11% flew to Tampa International Airport.
BB ATTORNEY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 referring to the dispute process set state law.
Under Florida’s Prompt Payment Act, local governments must either pay valid invoices or formally dispute them through an established process.
Augello said she had been unable to determine whether Bradenton Beach had a required dispute resolution policy and, after a brief recess, city staff likewise reported that they could not identify one.
The absence of a policy became a factor in commissioners’ deliberations and they subsequently directed Augello to draft a policy for billing disputes.
Perry’s final request for $167,674 was for billings from January 2025 to September 2025.
The billing dispute marked a notable shift in the commission’s previous position on Perry’s work.
In August 2025, commissioners had unanimously approved more than $91,000 in storm-related payments to Perry and publicly defended her billing and emergency response work following hurricanes Helene and Milton the year before.
Months later, Thompson audited Perry’s final invoices and identified billing irregularities.
The treasurer’s internal audit reduced the last billed amount from $167,674 to about $136,904 after identifying questionable charges, including entries reflecting more than 24 billable hours in a day and items the city believed were not authorized under Perry’s engagement agreement.
The dispute came amid other conflicts between the city and Perry, including a formal demand that she return all public records not turned over when she resigned.
on Tuesday evening and found the program staff to be very helpful.” She said her experience is not unique, noting that other Cortez residents are still recovering from the 2024 hurricanes.
“I’d encourage others to take another look at this even if they were initially discouraged. Very glad that they decided to keep the application process open to allow for more flexibility. Hopefully there will also be more pop-ups ... to meet people where they’re at, literally.”
Five people spoke during public comment on the issue. Three supported additional regulations, citing concerns about neighborhood character, noise, parking and enforcement. Two property investors said existing nuisance and code laws should be enforced before new regulations are put into effect.
Manatee County commissioners on June 16 reappointed two “interested citizen” members of the tourist development council — Norma Kennedy and David Wick — to four-year terms.
Both members have served since June 2022. Their new terms expire in June 2030.
Other applicants were James Vadas, Geoffrey Click, Gilles Arditi, Jason Osborne, William Malfese and Aaron Virgin.
The next TDC meeting will be at 9:30 a.m. Monday, Aug. 17, at the Center of AMI, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria.
Two more stats: 87% of visitors surveyed said they were completely satisfied with their trip and 94% said they’re very likely to return.
— Lisa Neff
At the June 18 meeting, Mayor John Chappie questioned the demand from Perry’s legal team and the deadline the city faced.
“I think it’s a little unreasonable to demand that we go into this dispute resolution process, considering the fact it was months and months before we even got invoices to even pay,” Chappie said.
But faced with the absence of a dispute resolution policy and potential litigation costs, commissioners concluded a legal fight might cost more than the roughly $30,000 difference between the audited amount and the settlement demand.
“My recommendation is stop this right here, right now,” Commissioner Ralph Cole said. “Pay the fee, make sure it’s the final end of it.”
Cole added that the commission must “look out
for our tax dollars.”
A motorist drives June 16 on Second Avenue in Holmes Beach. Go to islander. org for more. Islander Photo: Robert Anderson
Mayor John Chappie, left, and commissioners Scott Bear and Deborah Scaccianoce listen June 18 as city attorney Erica Augello discusses disputed invoices submitted by former city attorney Ricinda Perry.
Photo: Robert Anderson
Commissioner Robert Talham said, “Pay her and erase it. Right now, if we do what our attorney advises, we’re not only paying her, but we’re paying our lawyer, too. Just be done with it.”
Vice Mayor Deborah Scaccianoce initially favored making a counteroffer based on Thompson’s audit and Commissioner Scott Bear expressed concern that settling could set a precedent.
“We’re saying the city’s position is we’re always going to fold and make it go away,” Bear said. “And that’s a bad position.”
Despite concerns, the commission unanimously voted to direct Augello to accept the settlement agreement and obtain a release that there will be no future claims from Perry.
By Ryan Paice Islander Reporter
There’s no closure yet for the city of Anna Maria’s second consecutive investigation into a code enforcement manager.
Mayor Mark Short wrote in a June 18 email to The Islander that code enforcement manager Tom Collins remained on paid administrative leave while the city investigated complaints filed about his workplace behavior.
In the meantime, Carrie Nulf is serving as interim code enforcement manager and the department has adjusted its schedule to compensate.
It is the second time this year that the code enforcement department has experienced such an upheaval.
DeZutter investigation, resignation
Dave DeZutter served as code enforcement man-
Work was underway
June 16 on the Anna Maria City Pier walkway decking, but don’t plan a stroll. Mayor Mark Short wrote in a June 18 email to The Islander that work on the decking was set for installation by June 26. He said demolition and remediation work on the T-end — which was deferred until the walkway was usable — was set to begin in the “next couple weeks.”
— Ryan Paice Islander Photo: Robert Anderson
ager before Collins, but was placed on administrative leave by Short in a Feb. 2 email.
According to a Feb. 19 consolidated incident review prepared by city clerk Amber LaRowe, the investigation pertained to seven complaints involving DeZutter, including:
• A complaint filed by Collins about a reported confrontation DeZutter got into with a motorist during a “traffic obstruction situation” in which he used insulting language;
• A complaint filed by Collins about DeZutter commenting on the sexual orientation of a subordinate employee’s dog. Specifically, he is alleged to have asked, “What, is the dog gay?” on observing the male dog’s pink crate;
• A complaint about DeZutter’s alleged profanity and threatening tone during a parking dispute with coworker Jeff Charles;
Free Tupelo Tote for the beach, pool, boat with any Tupelo furniture purchase.
• A complaint about DeZutter displaying his code enforcement badge and making statements implying enforcement action against a neighbor while he was off duty;
• A complaint about a “reported profane outburst about subordinate (Tom Collins).”
All seven incidents were reported over two months, December 2025-January 2026.
DeZutter denied many of the allegations, but the consolidated incident review concluded that “management has determined that (DeZutter’s) continuation in the supervisory role of code enforcement is not consistent with the city’s operational needs or its obligation to maintain a professional and stable work environment.”
DeZutter resigned Feb. 23.
Collins investigation
Collins succeeded DeZutter as code enforcement manager. He was in the position for three months before the city started an investigation into his behavior.
Short emailed Collins May 28 to notify him that he had been placed on paid administrative leave pending that investigation into “allegations concerning your (Collins’) workplace conduct toward female city staff members.”
During his leave, Collins is not to report to work for the city unless authorized by Short, nor communicate with city staff or anyone involved with the investigation, which remained ongoing as of June 18.
Short’s email also established that attorney Garrett Olsen, of the Orlando-based Vose Law Firm, would contact Collins to schedule a remote interview as part of the investigation.
There are no written records of the allegations against Collins. Short told The Islander in his June 18 email that complaints with the city can be filed in a variety of ways, including verbally.
By Robert Anderson Islander Reporter
The application of U.S. Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery is taking shape in Manatee County.
As the funds near, homeowner assistance programs are expanding and Anna Maria Island officials are preparing to seek funding for infrastructure projects to reduce flooding and strengthen storm resilience.
The CDBG-DR program, administered through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, supports long-term recovery through housing assistance, infrastructure improvements and mitigation projects.
In Manatee, $252,711,000 in funding is being distributed through housing and infrastructure initiatives under the Lasting Manatee program.
During a June 16 board of county commissioners meeting, county grants division manager Ashley Schnitker said the housing recovery program continues to gain momentum.
Since a portal opened May 1, 494 pre-applications were started and 313 submitted. Of the latter, 223 applicants were determined eligible to move to a full application stage. Applicants must be able to document their primary residence is in Manatee and their hurricane damage.
Schnitker said application portals will be open until funding is allocated. The county has $107,556,000 for housing initiatives, including $75,556,000 for home
The Kiwanis Club of Anna Maria Island is on hiatus in early summer.
The club’s next meeting will be at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 8 at Bradenton Beach City Hall, 107 Gulf Drive N.
For more information, call Sandy Haas-Martens at 941-730-0016.
Ashley Schnitker speaks to commissioners June 16 in Bradenton about Lasting Manatee and hurricane recovery. Islander Screenshot
recovery, $20 million for the rental recovery and $12 million for the buyout and safe housing program.
The county also is evaluating a proposed housing reimbursement program for eligible homeowners who completed qualifying storm-related repairs.
For municipalities, the infrastructure component of the CDBG-DR program — funded at $130 million — could provide additional resources for public improvements. Applications are due Sept. 1.
For example, Bradenton Beach could seek up to $262,500 and previously released county materials estimated Holmes Beach could seek $862,500 and Anna Maria about $287,500.
There is more than $102.8 million for projects in unincorporated Manatee, including Cortez.
Bradenton Beach Commissioner Scott Bear,
who has served as the city’s liaison in the county’s CDBG-DR planning, said earlier this month that proposed projects include drainage improvements, maintenance to improve stormwater system performance and infrastructure upgrades to reduce flooding.
Any infrastructure funding would require project approval through Manatee’s application process before work can begin.
Southern Smoke Foundation, the nonprofit that offered financial help to many island restaurant workers who lost jobs after hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024, has received a James Beard Award.
Southern Smoke is an Impact Award honoree, along with the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, ReFed and U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, D-New Mexico.
The awards, recognizing the best in the restaurants, were announced this month in Chicago.
For more about Southern Smoke, go to southernsmoke.org. For awards, go to jamesbeard.org/ awards.
— Lisa Neff
‘Shaka’ summer Coaches Andrew Fortenberry and Garrison Clark of AMI Paddleboard & Kayak Adventures pose earlier this month with summer campers in their paddleboarding specialty camp — all part of the summer fun for kids at the Center of Anna Maria Island. The coaches and kids are gesturing a Hawaiian greeting for the aloha spirit known as “shaka.” Islander
Photos: Courtesy CofAMI
By Robert Anderson and Ryan Paice
Streetlife is based on incident reports from the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office and Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach police departments.
Anna Maria
June 8, 700 block of Jacaranda Road, disturbance. One person struck another and a third person intervened. The MCSO responded. No arrests were made.
Bradenton Beach
June 12, Gulf Drive Cafe, 900 Gulf Drive N., disturbance. Two men argued outside the restaurant. One appeared to be intoxicated and the dispute reportedly began over a watermelon. BBPD responded and cleared the scene.
Cortez
No new reports.
Holmes Beach
June 11, 700 block of Manatee Avenue, failure to obey. An officer initiated a traffic stop of a motorcyclist driving without a license plate. The motorcyclist did not pull over immediately but was stopped with the help of another patrol. The cyclist was brought to the ground, arrested and issued two traffic citations.
June 13, 8100 block of Gulf Drive, warrant, resisting law enforcement without violence. An officer responded to a missing person’s report involving an intoxicated woman who was under an arrest warrant out of Texas. The woman was found. While in a patrol car, she began hitting her head against the vehicle. She also resisted verbal commands. Emergency medical services transported her to the HCA Florida Blake Hospital in Bradenton. She then was taken to jail.
June 15, Manatee Public Beach, 4000 Gulf Drive, trespass. An officer responded to reports of a suspicious man recording girls on the beach. A county beach patrol employee pointed out the man, who was asked to leave. When he refused to leave, he was trespassed.
Knowing how to respond to a mental health crisis could save a life, and a free training program at the Center of Anna Maria Island aims to teach just that.
The center will host a Question, Persuade and Refer suicide prevention training class 2-5 p.m. Thursday, July 9.
Participants will learn to recognize warning signs of a mental health crisis, support someone struggling and connect them with professional help.
Organizers say the class equips people with practical tools to intervene through conversation.
The center is at 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria.
To register, contact the center at 941-778-1908 or visit centerami.org.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, you can call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.
— Lisa Neff
now!
Is your business ready to make the most of every day?
Improve your odds of success with Islander newspaper readers looking to shop and dine, seeking souvenirs and memories, indoor and outdoor fun, and even a place to stay for their next visit. Call or text 941-778-7978.
Judge Heather Doyle of the 12th Circuit Court ruled June 11 to withhold adjudication for two seconddegree misdemeanor charges against Holmes Beach resident Kira Noble, 27.
Noble was arrested in Holmes Beach during a traffic stop in November 2025 on a second-degree misdemeanor charge for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and a first-degree misdemeanor for refusing to submit to DUI testing.
By the June 11 hearing, the first-degree misdemeanor had been reduced to a second-degree misdemeanor.
Noble had also participated in Manatee County’s Driver Enhanced Treatment Education Rehabilitation program, which allows successful participants to plead no contest to an amended charge of alcohol-related reckless driving, for which adjudication would be withheld.
Withholding adjudication allows a court to issue a sentence without a formal conviction.
Based on Noble’s participation in the DETER program, her DUI charge was amended to reckless driving with alcohol as a significant factor during the June 11 hearing.
Noble pleaded no contest to both amended charges. Doyle withheld adjudication and sentenced her to serve 12 months probation.
— Ryan Paice
Island watch call 911 in an emergency. Otherwise, call the MCSO Anna Maria substation, 941-708-8899; Bradenton Beach police, 941-7786311; or Holmes Beach police, 941-708-5804.
A map shows closures and detours for the Cortez Bridge utility relocation project. For The Islander’s RoadWatch report, go to islander.org.
The Historic Bridge Street Pier clock tower, 200 Bridge St., Bradenton Beach, erected in 1996, stands stripped of its face and hands June 18 as it awaits renovation. City commissioners approved $8,225 in repairs and upgrades June 18 to the clock’s mechanism, hands and automatic controller to improve reliability and reduce corrosion. Islander
Photo: Robert Anderson
a good laugh? visit the emerson quillin signature store. humor, art, gift@ the
Post Office, 5354 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach. Ask about our custom personal and pet portraits. emersonshumor.com
Merriam-Webster defines “scandal” as a circumstance or action that offends propriety or established moral conceptions or disgraces those associated with it. It also applies to a person whose conduct offends propriety or morality.
Further, the online M-W dictionary lists: Malicious or defamatory gossip.
Indignation, chagrin or bewilderment brought about by a flagrant violation of morality, propriety or religious opinion.
Discredit brought upon religion by unseemly conduct in a religious person.
Conduct that causes or encourages a lapse of faith or of religious obedience in another.
I didn’t expect a scandal, but I can honestly say, I’ve seen it all in just a span of a week.
It seems there’s a candidate for Holmes Beach mayor who’s conduct is aiming for a scandal.
It’s really early in the campaign, but this candidate’s Facebook behavior is unbecoming — as is his past behavior. Maybe it has appeal to Gen Zers, but voters would certainly find it disgraceful.
Speaking for my generation, I think we look for something we call “old-fashioned values,” in our candidates for public office. We look to a public servant as someone who values the people and the office they serve above all. Thanks to HB Commissioner Dan Diggins for promising an ethical campaign.
That brings us to the scandal that one former city clerk brought upon herself — if the alleged accusations are true. She literally used the city as a personal shopping cart and — again, if true — flaunted her gains.
The Catholic Church is another matter. Again, if the allegations we found are true, former pastors and administrators at St. Bernard and the Diocese of Venice are taking advantage of opportunities for personal gain.
Even as a large swath of the church’s followers say they don’t want to know, the diocese wants its financial quagmire dealt with internally — i.e. under the table — much as they do the priests who are pedophiles.
So what happened to the financial committee and local oversight? The $1.3M hurricane insurance payout? Checks cashed at Amscot? A $2M loan to the parish?
Meanwhile, the moral corruption that took place in the city of Bradenton Beach, where the top city officials decided to spare the taxpayers further expense by paying the former city attorney’s invoices — regardless of how padded or false the timekeeping and the financial demands, put the icing on the cake for me. It’s scandalous.
But hey, didn’t we warn you?
— Bonner Joy, news@islander.org
Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Holmes Beach closed after hurricanes Helene and Milton. The property is now listed for sale. Writing on social media about the possibility the property will be used to build homes, people posted:
Anyone consider saving some land for affordable housing for all those that keep this island running — teachers, police, fire, servers, shop owners, etc?
— Carol Warner Golder
The Islander Poll
Are you watching the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
A. Yes, every match I can.
B. Catching a few games here and there.
C. Only when the U.S. plays.
D. Not watching but following the scores.
E. What World Cup?
JUNE 24, 2026 • Vol. 34, No. 35
▼ 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
Mike Sales
▼ Advertising Sales
Lisa E. Hlywa, lisae@islander.org ads@islander.org
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info@, accounting@, classifieds@, subscriptions@islander.org
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Urbane Bouchet
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At least lots 9,10, and 11 should be a city park.
— Brendan Taylor
All others: info@islander.org
Single copies free. Quantities of five or more: 25 cents each. ©1992-2026
WEBSITE: islander.org
Text or call: 941-778-7978. Email news@islander.org
Houses. Super creative.
— Jessica Adams
A community pool would have been so much better.
— Suzanne Murphy
“Single-family” places people can rent for $10k a week.
— David Lemmerman Spooking sea turtles
We have had several sightings of turtles finishing up nesting or just coming in to nest at sunrise, as well as turtles seen coming up to nest at night.
Several turtles have been spooked back to the water as crowds gather around them to get a closer look or take photos.
As such, we urge people to stay off the beach at night so the turtles are not disturbed.
Kristen Mazzarella, executive director, Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch
news@islander.org.
The soundtrack to my Anna Maria Island life is...
Jimmy Buffett vibes and beach classics. 66%
Local musicians all the way. 21% Reggae rhythms. 6%
Steel drum paradise. 5% Blues with a lot of soul. 1%
Skimming online
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The Islander incorrectly stated John F. Agnelli III’s suffix as junior and that he is a builder/contractor. Agnelli, one of two candidates in the Nov. 3 general election for seat 3 on the West Manatee Fire Rescue District’s commission, works for the Boys & Girls Club of Manatee County.
Cortez inn
The Albion Inn was built in 1896 in the Cortez fishing village. The inn was damaged in the 1921 hurricane. The oldest portion of the building, which was originally a store, was preserved and relocated to the Florida Maritime Museum grounds.
Jack Lee Messmer, 71, died June 1 in Bradenton. He was born Sept. 6, 1954, in Martinsville, Indiana, to Bob and Ruth, growing up south of Indianapolis.
A pivotal moment in his youth came when a radio station opened in his hometown. He visited the station and saw how radio equipment worked, leaving him with a lifelong fascination for radio communications.
At Indiana University in Bloomington, he majored in broadcast journalism and soon after began his career at a Midwest radio station.
A highlight of his time in radio came when he teamed with entertainer Tom Bergeron, whose sense of humor was juxtaposed Mr. Messmer’s serious newsreporting demeanor.
His career took him to New York and a career with the Associated Press at its headquarters at Rockefeller Center.
There, he met his future wife, Ellen, a native New Yorker. The two wed shortly before he s transferred to the AP’s Washington, D.C., headquarters.
He later worked for trade publications, including Radio & Records, and wrote extensively about the television industry as well.
After two decades in the D.C. area, the couple moved to Bradenton and worked from a home office.
In retirement, he enjoyed walking his dogs, an afternoon swim, riding a bike or paddling a kayak at Robinson Preserve. He was an avid reader who also found joy in classical music concerts and volunteering at the Palma Sola Botanical Park.
He enjoyed family get-togethers in the North Carolina mountains and was an accomplished chef.
He attended the Episcopal Church of the Annunciation in Holmes Beach, where his roles over the years ranged from acolyte to treasurer.
A memorial service is being planned at the Episcopal Church of the Annunciation, 4408 Gulf Drive,
Holmes Beach. Interment is planned in August at Evergreen Cemetery in Gainesville.
Mr. Messmer is survived by Ellen, his wife of 43 years; brother Jim; nieces Talia and Chloe Stringfellow; nephew Mark; and Heather McAllister, a spiritual daughter.
Mary Lee Zerkel, 86, of Bradenton and formerly of Bradenton Beach, died May 8.
She was born Aug. 11, 1939, in Portland, Indiana, to George and Dorothy Brigham.
She served as a guardian ad litem for many years.
Lee, as she liked to be called, graduated from Portland High School and Warner Beauty School and attended Ball State University.
She loved knitting and crocheting, with difficult projects her favorite. She was a member of the Thursday Knitting Group and the Moose Lodge 2188 in Bradenton Beach.
During her 35 years in Bradenton Beach, she served on the Tingley Memorial Library board, Scenic Waves Committee and volunteered many years with the Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch .
There will be a celebration of life, date to be announced.
Mrs. Zerkel is survived by her husband of 68 years, Marvin; daughters Leslie Gau and husband Steve of Winter Springs and Krista Bazell of Bradenton; son John Bradley and wife Gayle of Tempe, Arizona; brother John and wife Carole of Bradenton, eight grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
In the headlines: June 20, 1996
• A man walked into the First of America Bank on Manatee Avenue in Holmes Beach, waited in line and, when he reached a teller, presented her with a note torn from a legal pad. The note said, “Give me all your money. I have a gun.” He left with more than $2,000.
• The Manatee County hazardous materials unit destroyed a painting of George and Martha Washington in response to a bomb scare at the S&S Plaza in Holmes Beach. A woman had found a package covered by newspapers in the back of her car at the plaza and called 911.
In the headlines: June 21, 2006
• A survey team reported extensive damage to the pilings under the Historic Bridge Street Pier in Bradenton Beach. City officials had hoped to repair a dozen pilings, but officials said 22 needed replacement.
• The Manatee County Health Department reported the waters on the south side of the Palma sola Causeway between the mainland and Perico Island were unsafe for swimming due to a high level of bacteria.
From the June 22, 2016, issue
• Holmes Beach commissioners agreed to move to a first reading a draft ordinance that would ban formula or chain businesses from establishing in Holmes Beach. The proposal contained a sunset date of February 2017.
• Bradenton Beach commissioners decided to not act on a proposal for a building moratorium, leaving the decision to municipal voters in the general election.
— Lisa Neff
• Roser Food Bank, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria welcomes applicants for food assistance. Info: 941778-0414.
• All Island Denominations helps people who fulfill AID’s mission statement with financial needs. Info: 941-778-0414.
Offer help on AMI
• All Island Denominations, P.O. Box 814, Anna Maria, FL 34216, accepts financial donations at. Info: 941-778-0414. Email listings to lisa@islander.org.
Compiled by Lisa Neff, calendar@islander.org
Thursday, June 25
10:30 a.m. — Florida Author Book Club meeting, Tingley Memorial Library, 111 Second St. N., Bradenton Beach. Info: 941779-1208.
• Second and fourth Saturdays, 2-4 p.m., Florida Maritime Museum’s Music on the Porch, Cortez Cultural Center, 11655 Cortez Road W., Cortez. Info: 941-708-6120, floridamaritimemuseum. org.
• Through Aug. 23, “In the Flesh: The Nude in Modern Japan,” The Ringling, 5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota. Fee applies except Mondays. Info: 941-359-5700, ringling.org.
Through Sept. 5, Thursday-Saturday, times vary, Laser Light Nights, the Bishop Museum of Science and Nature, 201 10th St. W., Bradenton. Fee applies. Info: 941-746-4131.
• Through Sept. 16, “The Evocative Lens: Pictorialism and the Rise of Fine Art Photography,” The Ringling, 5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota. Info: 941-359-5700, ringling.org.
Wednesday, June 24
5 p.m. — Kids’ Movie Night, Island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Info: 941-778-6341, mymanatee.org.
Thursday, June 25
10 a.m. — Crazy Balloon Show, Island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Info: 941-778-6341, mymanatee.org.
Saturday, June 27
2-11:30 p.m. — America’s 250th Anniversary Party, Bridge Street, Bradenton Beach. Info: amisouthend.com.
• Through July 31, Road Trip USA: Summer Reading Program at the Island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Info: 941778-6341, mymanatee.org.
• Most Wednesdays and Saturdays through June, Pop-up Play Time, Tingley Memorial Library, 111 Second St. N., Bradenton Beach. 941-779-1208, facebook.com/tingleymemoriallibrary.
• Most Fridays, 10 a.m., Forty Carrots, Island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Info: 941-778-6341.
• Most Tuesdays, 10 a.m., Family Storytime, Island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Info: 941-778-6341. LOCATION CHANGE JUNE 30: Manatee Public Beach.
PREMIUM LINEN & CLEANING SERVICE Thinking of Managing your own property? WE CAN HELP!
20-PLUS
SAVE THE DATES
• July 3, Bradenton Marauders’ Independence Eve fireworks show, Bradenton.
• July 4, Anna Maria Island Privateers 4th of July Parade, islandwide.
• July 4, Longboat Key’s 23rd Annual 4th of July Freedom Fest, LBK.
• July 4, Palmetto Fourth Fest and Fireworks Show, Palmetto.
• July 4, Bradenton Alive’s 4th of July Celebration and Fireworks, Bradenton.
ONGOING ON AMI
• Most Mondays, 10 a.m., AMITW’s Turtle Tracks & Shorebird Facts, Holmes Beach City Hall, 5801 Marina Drive. Info: 941-3018434.
ONGOING ON AMI
• Most Fridays and Tuesdays, 11:30 a.m., mahjong, Island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Info: 941-778-6341, mymanatee.org.
SAVE THE DATES
• July 9, Center of Anna Maria Island suicide prevention program, Anna Maria.
ONGOING ON AMI
• Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Shepherd’s Closet thrift store at the Episcopal Church of the Annunciation, 4408 Gulf
Teambuilding at Bible school
Kids participate June 1 in a teambuilding exercise during vacation Bible school at Roser Memorial Community Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria. The weeklong program involved 67 students, 17 teen volunteers, 15 adult volunteers and 20 kitchen helpers. Islander Courtesy Photo
The Bridge Street Merchants will celebrate America’s 250th anniversary with a party.
The event will be 2-11:30 p.m. Saturday, June 27, on Bridge Street in Bradenton Beach, featuring musical entertainment, local vendors, food, shopping and activities for all ages.
Families can stop by a Kids Zone, which will include a bounce and slide combo, face painting, games, crafts and photo opportunities with “Beach Santa and Mrs. Claus.”
Imagine Circus will perform, with a USA-themed stilt walker, a roaming Hula-Hoop artist and a juggler entertaining guests throughout the event.
For more information, go to amisouthend.com or call a Bridge Street merchant.
Drive, Holmes Beach. Info: 941-778-1638.
• Most Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Saturdays, 9 a.m.-noon, Roser Guild Thrift Shop, 511 Pine Ave., Anna Maria. Info: 941-778-0414.
ONGOING ON AMI
• June 26-28, Full Send Fishing Tournament — Capt. Jason Stock Memorial, Center of Anna Maria Island, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria. Info: 941-778-1908.
ONGOING OFF AMI
• Through Sept. 6, select dates, Bradenton Marauders baseball, LECOM Park, 1611 Ninth St. W., Bradenton. Fee applies. Info: 941747-3031.
• Last Sundays, 8:30 a.m., AMI Run Club, Center of Anna Maria Island, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria. Info: 941-778-1908.
OUTDOORS & NATURE
ONGOING OFF AMI
• Saturdays, 9 a.m., Manatee County Natural Resources Department’s Saturday Mornings at the NEST, Robinson Preserve, 840 99th St. NW, Bradenton. Info: 941-748-4501, mymanatee.org.
CALENDAR NOTES
MARK THE DATES
• Through Oct. 31, sea turtle nesting season.
• Through Nov. 30, hurricane season.
• June, Pride Month.
• July 4, Independence Day.
• Sept. 7, Labor Day.
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Emergency officials say preparation during the Atlantic hurricane season comes down to three stages: get ready before the storm, get going if evacuation orders come and get back safely after the storm passes.
Get ready
A checklist for the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season
❒ Know your evacuation zone.
❒ Have multiple ways to receive alerts — download the FEMA app, sign up for local alerts and note that EAS and Wireless Emergency Alerts require no sign-up.
• Category: Hurricanes are classified in terms of intensity, from Category 1 to Category 5, with 5 being the most intense.
• Coastal flood warning: An alert to expect windforced flooding along low-lying coastal areas.
• Coastal flood watch: An alert to expect significant wind-forced flooding along low-lying coastal areas.
The United States uses the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale for categorizing hurricanes. Damage rises by a factor of four for every category increase.
Category 1
• Wind: 74-95 mph.
• Surge: 4-5 feet.
• Effects: Damage primarily to unanchored mobile homes, shrubbery and trees. Coastal flooding and minor pier damage.
Category 2
• Wind: 96-110 mph.
• Surge: 6-8 feet.
• Effects: Roofing material, door and window damage. Considerable damage to vegetation, mobile homes. Flooding damages piers and small craft. Category 3
• Wind: 111-130 mph.
• Surge: 9-12 feet.
• Effects: Structural damage to small residences and utility buildings, with a minor amount of curtainwall failures. Flooding near the coast destroys smaller structures.
Category 4
• Wind: 131-155 mph.
• Surge: 13-18 feet.
• Effects: Extensive curtain-wall failures with roof failure. Significant erosion of beaches. Terrain flooded well inland.
Category 5
• Wind: 155 mph and more.
• Surge: 18 feet and more.
• Effects: Complete roof and building failure. Flooding causes major damage to lower floors of all structures near the shore.
A guide to hurricane lingo
• Cone of uncertainty: The tracking model that shows the probable path of the storm center but not the size of the storm.
• Evacuation time: The lead-time that a populated coastal jurisdiction must have to relocate residents of vulnerable areas from an approaching hurricane.
• Eye: The relatively calm area near the center of the hurricane, where winds are light, and the sky is often partly covered by clouds.
• Forward speed: The rate of movement of the hurricane eye in miles per hour or knots.
• Hurricane: When winds reach a constant speed of 74 mph or more. These winds blow in a large spiral
❒ Confirm everyone in your household knows the plan.
❒ Check insurance policies and personal documents are current and store copies in a secure, password-protected digital location.
❒ Reinforce your home. Clear drains and gutters, bring in outdoor furniture, consider hurricane shutters.
❒ Build a supply kit with enough food, water, medication, disinfectants and pet supplies to last two weeks.
❒ Keep devices charged and buy backup power banks.
❒ Monitor emergency alerts closely as the storm approaches.
❒ If you’re in a mandatory evacuation zone and officials say go — leave, no exceptions.
❒ Text or use social media to reach family.
❒ Wear protective clothing and a mask when cleaning up mold and debris.
❒ Never touch electrical equipment that is wet or while standing in water.
❒ Stay out of floodwater — it can carry pathogens, chemicals, debris and downed power lines that may electrify the water.
❒ Photograph all property damage and contact your insurer promptly.
around a relatively calm center of extremely low pressure known as the eye of the hurricane.
• Hurricane track: The eye’s line of movement.
• Hurricane warning: An advisory to expect hurricane conditions within 24 hours.
• Hurricane watch: An alert that means hurricane conditions are a possibility.
• Tropical depression: A tropical cyclone with winds of 38 mph or less.
• Tropical storm: A tropical cyclone with winds of 39-73 mph.
• Storm surge: The forceful dome of wind-driven waters sweeping along the coastline.
Got Skip the dog chipped?
Got a kennel for Fennel the cat?
Remember to consider pets in disaster planning.
Some recommendations:
• Visit the vet early in the season;
• Immunize pets;
• Microchip animals;
• Pack a kit that includes an ID collar, rabies license tag, leashes, water and food bowls, medications, food for two weeks, bags for waste disposal, toys and comfort items.
• Pets should have secure carriers or collapsible kennels large enough for animals to stand comfortably and turn around.
• Plan to stay with friends or relatives when sheltering with pets.
• If a readiness plan involves staying in a motel or other lodging, determine in advance what brands welcome animals.
• A good planning resource is petswelcome.com.
One way to stay up to date is to search for hashtags for a storm — like #TSArthur or #HurricaneBertha — on social media.
Additionally, the National Hurricane Center provides updates on X via @NWSNHC and @NHC_Atlantic.
The National Weather Service informs via @NWS and, for local info, via @NWSTampaBay.
A favorite Facebook follow: Meteorologist Denis Phillips at @denisphillipsweatherman.
Local law enforcement agencies also are on Facebook, including @HolmesBeachPD, @ManateeSheriff, @BradentonBeachPoliceDepartment.
Websites
Local Emergency Management: mymanatee.org. FLA Emergency Management: floridadisaster. org.
U.S. Emergency Management: fema.gov.
National Flood Insurance: floodsmart.gov. National Hurricane Center: nhc.noaa.gov. Florida Weather: stateofflorida.com/floridaweather.
FPL outages: www.fplmaps.com.
Volunteer Florida: www.volunteerflorida.org.
American Red Cross: www.redcross.org.
Anna Maria: cityofannamaria.com.
Bradenton Beach: cityofbradentonbeach.com. Holmes Beach: holmesbeachfl.org.
Media resources
TV: Bay News 9, The Weather Channel. Print and digital: The Islander, Islander.org. Radio: WUSF 89.7, NWR KHB32 162.550.
Apps
PulsePoint, CodeRed, MyHurricaneTracker, The Weather Channel, Weather Underground.
5345 Gulf Drive, Suite 300, Holmes Beach www.shorelinebuildersfl.com
Beginning
Evacuation levels are classifi ed using letters A through E. They are not the same as flood zones and do not correlate to the category of a hurricane.
Evacuation Level A is considered to be “lower” than Evacuation Level E and people in Level A generally will be evacuated first.
All mobile homes, manufactured homes, RVs or travel trailers must evacuate when a hurricane evacuation Level A is issued, regardless of where they’re located.
All of AMI, Perico Island and Cortez and Manatee’s coasts are in Level A.
Hurricane evacuation levels are based on hypothetical storm scenarios, factoring in atmospheric pressure, size, speed and track to determine the potential storm surge for the location. The levels represent the potential height of saltwater inundation from storm surge, not freshwater or rainfall flooding.
Got a friend with a mainland condo or a spare bedroom outside the flood zone offering shelter?
Want to build up some big points on the hotel rewards card?
Emergency management officials encourage evacuating residents to consider options other than a public shelter, including hotels or stays with family or friends out of the evacuation zone.
Early in storm season, learn your zone by going to mymanatee.org/evacuationlevels.
In an evacuation, if a public shelter is needed, turn to local media for notices of openings.
Manatee County’s shelter roster, updated as needed at mymanatee.org, includes:
• Mills Elementary, 7200 69th St. E., Palmetto;
• Myakka City Elementary, 37205 Manatee Ave., Myakka;
• Miller Elementary, 601 43rd St. W., Bradenton;
• Freedom Elementary School, 9515 State Road 64 E., Bradenton;
• Gullet Elementary, 12125 44th Ave. E., Bradenton;
• McNeal Elementary, 6325 Lorraine Road, Bradenton;
• Mona Jain Middle, 12205 44th Ave. E., Bradenton;
• Haile Middle, 9501 State Road 64 E., Bradenton;
• Harvey Elementary, 8610 115th Ave. E., Parrish;
• Sugg Middle, 3801 59th St. W., Bradenton;
• Prine Elementary, 3801 Southern Parkway, Bradenton;
• Willis Elementary, 14705 The Masters Avenue, Bradenton;
• Braden River High, 6545 State Road 70 E., Bradenton;
• Buffalo Creek Middle, 7320 69th St. E., Palmetto;
• Oneco Elementary, 5214 22nd St. Court E., Bradenton;
• Rogers Garden, 515 13th Ave. W., Bradenton;
• Williams Elementary, 3404 Fort Hamer Road,
Parrish;
• Witt Elementary, 200 Rye Road, Bradenton;
• Lee Middle, 4000 53rd Ave. W., Bradenton;
• Braden River Middle, 6215 River Club Blvd., Bradenton;
Hope for the best but prepare for the worst.
Reentry tags allow public safety officials to identify people approved to reenter an impacted area following a mandatory evacuation.
• Daughtrey Elementary, 515 63rd Ave. E., Bradenton;
• Johnson K-8, 2121 26th Ave. E., Bradenton;
• Kinnan Elementary, 3415 Tallevast Road, Sarasota;
• Seabreeze Elementary, 3601 71st St. W., Bradenton;
• Tillman Elementary, 1415 29th St. E., Palmetto;
• Manatee High, 902 33rd St. Court W., Bradenton.
In Anna Maria, reentry tags are available at city hall, 10005 Gulf Drive. People can call city hall at 941-708-6130 for more information.
In Bradenton Beach, reentry tags are available at city hall, 107 Gulf Drive N. For more information, contact city hall at 941-778-1005.
In Holmes Beach, residents and business owners can obtain reentry tags from the police department, 5801 Marina Drive. For more information, call HBPD at 941-778-2677.
People also can register for news bulletins from each of the cities.
What to bring: Items to bring to a shelter include pillows, blankets, sleeping bags or air mattresses; clothing; toiletries; towels; folding chairs; quiet games, books; important papers; and irreplaceable keepsakes.
Expect long lines
Motorists await reentry to Anna Maria Island via Manatee Avenue in September 2017 following evacuation for Hurricane Irma. Islander File Photo
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.
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.
❒ 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.
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
By Kevin P. Cassidy Islander Reporter
World Cup experience: A blast
As many of you probably know, the World Cup is being hosted in the United States, Mexico and Canada, lending an opportunity to join resident and good friend Neil Fellowes and his friend Dave Parry from Middlesbrough, England, on a World Cup road trip.
Fellowes and Parry decided to attend England’s first three group games in Dallas, Foxborough, Massachusetts, and East Rutherford, New Jersey.
I went along for the drive to Dallas for the England vs. Croatia game — easily the best of the three matches England had in group play. We drove from Bradenton to Biloxi, Mississippi, the first travel day and next day to Dallas.
While making the drive, I learned that Parry had a group of English lads he’d met over the past eight years or so while following the English national team to Japan, Qatar, Germany, among other destinations.
The lads from all over England can now add the United States to the list.
The experience in Dallas was awesome, as the English and Croatian fans turned out to support their teams and support them they did!
Pregaming in local watering holes saw the teams supported tremendously by their fans. Walking to the stadium, we were greeted by fans singing of songs supporting their squads and English and Croatian flags everywhere.
The game was great, with England pulling out a tense 4-2 victory that had their fans celebrating into the night.
The following morning, we made the long drive to Nashville, Tennessee. The road trip continued for Fellowes, Gary Morren and Parry as they made their way up to the northeast for the second and third group stage games. After staying a second night in Nashville, I flew to Bradenton.
Fellowes and Parry also are planning on attending the round of 32 match in Atlanta and the round of 16
points from Diego Argandona and 12 points from Jeremi King.
Joe Hills scored 29 points in the first two games to lead Q Law and eight points from Lamar Brown in the losses.
Luxury Services advanced to the finals by sweeping past Bradenton Home Inspections 22-20, 21-20 behind 16 points from Miguel Rodriguez, 14 points from Chase Richardson and 13 points from Wesley Jackson.
Tom Parks scored 29 points for Home Inspections, which also received nine points from Paul Hamilton in the losses.
The summer youth indoor soccer league at the center kicked off with matches in the 8-10 and 11-14age divisions.
The regular season runs until July 14, followed July 21 by playoffs.
The 8-10 division got started June 15 with USAFence outscoring Diamond Turf 6-4 behind five goals from Finn Viehman and a goal from Jaxon Dominis. Welles Wright helped preserve the victory with five saves in goal.
Lucas Urbiola and Beauen Kolb scored two goals each for Diamond Turf, which received nine saves from Liam Urbiola in the loss.
The second 8-10 division game of the night saw G.I. Bins defeat Leading Edge Investments 12-8. Caden Greenlee scored five goals and Cason and Colton Sherk each added three goals. Jayceon Farmer completed the scoring for G.I. Bins with one goal.
match in Miami if England advances that far. Safe travels, boys!
Center 3-v-3 league champs crowned
Playoff action in the adult 3-v-3 basketball league at the Center of Anna Maria Island, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria, ended with semifinal and championship matches June 18.
No. 1 seed Paddy Wagon justified its top seeding by defeating No. 6 Luxury Services 16-22, 22-17, 22-17, claiming the spring 3-v-3 adult basketball crown.
William Cliburn provided the offense for Leading Edge with eight goals, while brother Benjamin Cliburn finished with 20 saves in the loss.
Action in the 11-14 division kicked off June 16 with a pair of matches.
Solid Rock Construction opened the season with
Runners of all levels are invited to join a monthly community run club, presented by Freckled Fin Irish Pub of Holmes Beach, at 8:30 a.m. the last Sunday of each month at the Center of Anna Maria Island.
Chris Harris scored 22 points over the three games to lead Paddy Wagon, which received 18 points from Diego Argandona and 16 points from Jeremi King in the victory.
Miguel Rodriguez scored 24 points and Wesley Jackson added 19 points for Luxury Services, which also received 13 points from Chase Richardson in the losses.
Paddy Wagon advanced to the championship match by defeating Q Law Injury Attorneys 14-21, 21-17, 22-5 behind 20 points from Chris Harris, 19
The 3-mile run is free to join and open to all fitness levels.
Optional post-run activities at the center, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria, include a guided cold plunge for $20, nervous system reset and breathwork and a community coffee meetup.
For more information, visit centerami.org or email culture@centerami.org.
The center’s phone number is 941-778-1908.
— Lisa Neff
STEAK HOUSE
1830 59th St W, Bradenton
Call to book private events. modernchopsteakhouse.com
Lox Bagel Platter garden-ripe tomatoes, capers, red onion and fresh lox with cream cheese, made to order on your choice of bagel! Yummmmm.
& LUNCH,
By Capt. Danny Stasny Islander Reporter
With water temps in the mid upper 80s and the “feels like” temp topping 105, anglers are getting on the water early in the morning to beat the heat.
Finding swift moving tides that correspond with the hours just before dawn until around 9-10 a.m. are producing the best action inshore, especially when targeting the shallow flats for snook and redfish.
Stasny
The early morning tides tend to be slightly cooler because they have not been exposed to the intense midday sun, which seems to affect fish and anglers. Slightly cooler water temps give comfort to the fish, triggering them to feed early and then spend the hotter part of the day lounging in the shade of mangroves.
If you find yourself getting on the water during the midafternoon, you may switch tactics by targeting species that inhabit slightly deeper waters. Species like spotted seatrout are a good bet and can be found over deep grass flats in depths of 8-10 feet or more, where water temps are slightly cooler.
You still can target snook and redfish by trying deeper water around docks and bridges. Again, the slightly deeper water may remain cooler, which can yield a more active bite.
Finally, if you just can’t make it out during the morning, don’t rule out the night. Many inshore species are just as apt to feed at night as they are during the day. In fact, during the heat of the summer, you may find them more apt to bite at night. Low light or no light
SPORTS FROM PAGE 14
a 5-3 victory over RAK’s Wings ‘N Things behind three goals from Chandler McRae and two goals from Callin Westfall. Tucker McRae added a pair of assists and Elijah Roadman finished with eight saves in the victory.
Beau Sanson scored two goals and Renan Kesten added a goal for Wings ‘N Things, which received an assist from Jordan Tobey and 19 saves from Ruby Kesten in the loss.
The second 11-14 division match of the night saw GML Coatings edge 82 West Home Inspections by a 6-5 score. William Cliburn scored three goals and Mylo Lee added two goals for GML Coatings, which also received a goal from Mauricio Sandoval Jr. and 14 saves from Kyle Castagna in the victory.
Hudson West scored three goals and Luca Viehman and Joseph Caballero each added a goal for 82 Home Inspections on offense while Everett Hood and Titus Moss combined to make 12 saves in the loss.
Key Royale golf news
Golf action at the Key Royale Club, 700 Key Royale Drive, Holmes Beach, got started June 15 with the men’s weekly nine-hole modified Stableford system match. Mike Cusato lapped the field with a plus-7, four points better than second-place finisher Tom Nelson. Jerry Martinek and Bill Shuman tied for third at plus-2.
Cusato won a skin on the fifth hole and Nelson bagged one on the second hole.
The women played a nine-hole individual-lownet match June 16, with Helen Pollock on top with a
is best during the weeks of summer that are ahead of us, so plan accordingly.
On my Just Reel charters, I’m finding numerous catch-and-release snook while working the flats of southern Tampa Bay. Early morning during good tides are yielding the best action, with some mornings producing 30-40 snook. Typically, as the sun gets higher, the snook bite diminishes and we’re on target for spotted seatrout on the deeper flats in Tampa Bay.
In depths of 8-12 feet, my anglers are finding trout, which seem to bite for much of the day despite where the sun is in the sky.
Mangrove snapper are another option to target in slightly deeper water. Although the larger numbers of snapper have yet to arrive in our inshore waters, my clients are putting some in the cooler.
Lastly, targeting sharks along the beach is filling the gaps. It’s a good bite right now.
Capt. David White is ailing from tarpon fever as he spends every waking hour on the water in pursuit of another trophy catch. White’s days are beginning at 5 a.m. and he rarely gets off the water until after dark.
Morning trips are producing good action along the beach as White is guiding his clients to schools of tarpon that are migrating north and south in the Gulf of Mexico. Casting live threadfin herring among the schools is leading to several hookups in a morning trip.
White is hitting the passes during the outgoing tides
and baiting with live pass crabs, which yields a lot of action. Most catches are 50-120 pounds, with larger examples mixed in.
On windier days, when the passes and beaches are too rough, White is working the bridges, which is yielding catches of all sizes.
Capt. Johnny Mattay of Anna Maria Charters is impressed with the offshore bite in depths of 100 feet or more in the Gulf. American red snapper are dominating the bite at these depths, with limits being caught daily on live and frozen baits by his clients. Live pinfish are barely making it to the bottom before they are devoured by aggressive red snappers.
Frozen baits like sardines and squid are being eaten sooner than later. Red grouper are lurking in these areas and when they’re able to get past the red snapper, they’re eating all baits that cross their path.
Other species being caught offshore include yellowtail and mangrove snapper and plenty of lane snapper.
Moving inshore, Mattay is finding plenty of catchand-release action on snook. Freelined live shiners cast along the edges of mangroves are being inhaled by hungry snook. Redfish are being found in the same areas.
Lastly, deep grass flats are producing action on Mattay’s charters by spotted seatrout.
Send high-resolution photos and fishing reports to fish@islander.org.
England fans, friends
Team England fans Gary Morren of Leeds, front left, Marty Stevens of Redcar, Neil Fellowes of Middlesbrough and now a Bradenton resident, Dave Parry of Middlesbrough, Mark Hall of York, Andrew Cole of Kendal, John Gregory of Ripon, James Wilson of York, some USA fans that snuck into the
Horseshoe news
Horseshoe action on June 17 at the Anna Maria City Hall pits was short and sweet as Steve Kriebel and Gersey Fernandes posted the lone 3-0 record in pool play and were the day’s champs.
Action June 20 saw Dom Livedoti and Gary Howcroft defeat Steve Doyle and Gersey Fernandes 22-16 to win the day’s championship.
Play gets underway at 9 a.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays at city hall, 10005 Gulf Drive. Warm-ups begin at 8:45 a.m., followed by random team selection.
Play is free and all are welcome.
Editor’s note: More sports photos and World Cup video online at islander.org.
By Lisa Neff
Dark clouds came in from the northeast some nights ago at about dusk.
No rain fell at my place, but the thunder boomed and the lightning crackled close and bright and it all made me shout more than once.
We are in a drought and yet we are about a month into the rainy season. The season usually runs from the middle of May until the middle of October. It brings many thunderstorms and with it comes lightning.
The National Weather Service says there are three parts to the season.
The first runs from late May through June and it is the time when severe storms are most likely, with hard rains and much lightning.
The second runs from July into early September and it is the height of the rainy season. The chance of severe weather is less then, but the heavy rain remains and the lightning remains, too.
The third runs from the middle of September into early October and it is the winding down time, when the rainfall varies more because of tropical systems and the first cold fronts of fall.
I came to Florida during the winding-down time in 2005 and I remember a storm that brought such rain that water came in around the skylight of the newspaper office where I worked.
On the island, I have seen thunderstorms bring strong winds and hard rain and lightning that came fast and fierce.
Zap. Zap.
Zap.
The central Florida peninsula, from Tampa Bay to Cape Canaveral, is the lightning capital of the United States. Some meteorologists call it Lightning Alley. About 90% of the lightning in the area comes between May and October and between noon and midnight.
One afternoon in 2023, I was near the north end of AMI when a storm came out of the east. You could see the heavy rain over the bay and you could see bright cloud-to-ground lightning on our side of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge.
I was moving back toward my beach access and I heard a man tell some children to get in the water, saying it was the safest place.
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It was bad advice.
You know that.
People in the water within 20-40 feet of a negative strike and within 400 feet from a positive strike are in lethal zones. The National Weather Service says you should leave the water as soon as a storm approaches and not return until 30 minutes after the last rumble of thunder.
By Lisa Neff
The Sea Turtle Conservancy will bring its annual Tour de Turtles program back to Anna Maria Island with a loggerhead sea turtle release planned Monday, June 29, in partnership with Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring.
Organizers recommend arriving on Coquina Beach in Bradenton Beach around 7 a.m. for an 8 a.m. release. The exact location won’t be announced until the night before or early morning.
What to expect: STC will monitor the beach overnight June 28-June 29 for a nesting sea turtle. Once the turtle has nested, a satellite tracker will be placed on its shell. In the morning, the turtle will be released to return to the Gulf.
Those who don’t want to miss the details to attend can sign up for an email list via conserveturtles.org or go to the event page on Facebook.
The island release is one of about 10 Tour de Turtles events scheduled this summer.
The program, billed as a marathon for sea turtle conservation, follows the tagged turtles as they migrate from their nesting beaches. The loggerhead marathon begins Aug. 2.
Each turtle “swims” to raise awareness for a specific cause, representing a human-driven threat to sea turtles, including:
• Commercial fishing impacts. Thousands of sea turtles are accidentally captured, injured or killed each year in commercial fisheries. Globally, an estimated 150,000 turtles annually are killed in shrimp trawls alone. Loggerheads and leatherbacks face particular risk from longline fisheries due to their feeding habits.
Lightning is a massive electrical discharge that quickly heats the surrounding air up to about 54,000 degrees, according to the NWS. The air expands explosively and sends out a shock wave. As the wave moves through the atmosphere it becomes the sound we know as thunder.
Light travels faster than sound and so you see the lightning before you hear the thunder. The time between the flash and the sound can be used to estimate how far away a lightning strike occurred.
When you were a child, you may have learned the 30 second rule. Count the seconds between the flash and the thunder. Divide the number by five and that tells you the distance in miles. If the thunder comes within 30 seconds, the storm is within six miles. Get safe. Six miles is closer than you think.
As for the recent storm, I know there will be others like it before October. In Florida there always are.
Did you know?
There are Thor Guard lightning protection systems at two places on the island.
One is at Coquina Beach in Bradenton Beach and the other is at Manatee Public Beach in Holmes Beach.
Manatee County installed them last September. When lightning is detected nearby a long horn sounds informing people to seek shelter.
By the numbers
As of June 19, AMITW reported 246 nests, 284 false crawls and 13 adult disorientations.
• Plastic and marine debris. More than 100 million marine animals are estimated to be killed each year by plastic debris. More than 80% of that plastic pollution originates on land. Sea turtles frequently mistake plastic bags, balloons, bottles and packaging for food. Microplastics pose an additional threat.
• Water pollution. Fertilizers, pesticides and other chemicals travel through runoff into waterways, where they enter the food chain.
• Boat strikes. According to the Sea Turtle Stranding Network, boat strikes have tripled in Florida since 1980. Sea turtles have poor hearing and vision above water and often cannot detect an approaching vessel in time to dive to safety.
• Light pollution. Artificial lighting on and near nesting beaches can disorientate sea turtles, drawing them from the water and toward roads, where they die from dehydration, predation or vehicle strikes.
• Climate change. Rising sea levels shrink nesting beaches, while stronger storms erode coastal habitat. Higher incubation temperatures skew turtle gender ratios over time toward females, reducing reproductive opportunities and diminishing genetic diversity.
• Coastal armoring and beach erosion. Seawalls and rock revetments built to protect beachfront property can block turtles from reaching optimal nesting areas, pushing them to nest lower on the beach, where eggs are more vulnerable to wave action and water. Beach erosion can compound the problem.
• Illegal trade. Hawksbill sea turtles have been hunted for centuries to produce jewelry and luxury goods.
For more about the Sea Turtle Conservancy, visit conserveturtles.org or call 352-373-6441.
For more about the tour, go to tourdeturtles.org.
A crowd gathers June 23, 2025, at Coquina Beach for the release of a loggerhead sea turtle, the island’s entry in the Sea Turtle Conservancy’s Tour de Turtles. The loggerhead was tagged with a transmitter after it nested overnight. Islander
Turtle talks
Turtle Tracks & Shorebird Facts is at 10 a.m. Mondays at Holmes Beach City Hall, 5801 Marina Drive.
Wagner Realty announced June 17 that longtime Anna Maria Island real estate professional Robin Kollar has joined the company as a broker associate.
Kollar was formerly the broker/ owner of Gulf Bay Realty, which had an office in downtown Holmes Beach.
She brings more than three decades of experience helping buyers and sellers connect on AMI.
Having lived and worked on the island for many years, Kollar is familiar with the community and is recognized for her local knowledge, according to a Wagner announcement.
Wagner Realty is at the AMI Centre, 3226 E. Bay Drive, Holmes Beach.
To contact Kollar, call 941-713-4515.
For more info, visit annamariahomesales.com.
— Bonner Joy
The Islander newspaper welcomes new members to the Anna Maria Island Chamber roster May 16-June 15.
• Sunny Days Beach & Baby Gear Rentals, Jenn Muczynski, 941-312-1147.
• Bill’s Beach Shop, William Dow, 11904 Cortez Road, Cortez, 941-251-9697.
• Ring Ring Bicycles, Karen Classen, 501 Village Green Parkway, Bradenton, 941-706-8227.
• Rayn’er Shine Properties, Shawna Rayner, 1325 Gulf Drive N., Bradenton Beach, 941-405-3351.
• Will Howard Construction, Will Howard, 6600 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton, 941-301-0519.
• Base Wealth Management, Daniel DiLascia, 413 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, 941-203-6040.
• De Soto National Memorial, Daniel Stephens, 8300 DeSoto Memorial Highway, Bradenton, 941792-0458.
• Friends of De Soto National Memorial, Ann Marie Shields, 941-792-0458.
— Bonner Joy
Curlie Joe’s, an established local business, is entering a new frontier.
Since 1993, Curlie Joe’s has provided dumpster rentals, site cleanup, a building material store and document shredding. Now it offers sand cleaning and grooming.
After the 2024 hurricanes, a lot of contaminants infiltrated the beaches. Some could be removed by hand, but smaller items remained and worked their way up to the surface.
Curlie Joe’s owner Brad Latham said a beachfront property owner contacted him, asking if he could sift sand to give them a clean, safe beachfront for grandchildren at their residence.
Latham went to work. He researched and found a machine — compact and maneuverable — that removes glass, metal, plastic and animal feces from sand, leaving the sand in place.
The machine can be used on beaches, at resorts, restaurants, pathways and golf course bunkers.
For more information, go to sandcleaningandgrooming.com or call 941-753-8772.
— Bonner Joy
BB beach shop project gets variance
An architectural rendering shows a proposed beach-related retail shop at 2509 Gulf Drive N., Bradenton Beach, a property owned by Mark Toomey through Robin Hood Holdings Inc. Bradenton Beach special master Marisa Powers approved a 1-foot variance to the city’s required landscape buffer June 16 so the project can meet parking requirements and provide a 24-foot two-way drive aisle on the 50-foot-wide lot. City staff recommended approval and the variance was granted without conditions. Islander Image: Courtesy Bradenton Beach
These steps can help island businesses strengthen their readiness:
• Inform staff of procedures for storm preparation, closures, employee communications, evacuation responsibilities and reopening steps.
• Confirm insurance policies. Keep policy information accessible digitally and in hard copy.
• Store customer records, financial information, payroll files and operational systems in the cloud.
• Inspect shutters, windows, roofing, doors and outdoor fixtures.
• Establish multiple ways to contact employees, customers, vendors and emergency partners.
• Identify alternate suppliers and maintain inventory of critical materials.
• Take photos and video of buildings, equipment, inventory and interiors.
June 25 5-7 p.m. — AMI Chamber of Commerce business card exchange, Indoor Fairways, 5231 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton. Fee applies. Info: 941778-1541, memberservices@ amichamber.org.
BLACK-AND-RED roll suitcases, $20 each, black handbag, $25, oar/paddle, $20. 941920-2494.
ANTIQUE PARTNER DESK: All wood, $500. Inquire at 941-778-7978.
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).
ANNOUNCEMENTS
LOOKING FOR FRANK from Island Print? He’s available by call or text 941-704-8108. Email frankhtc.fw@gmail. com
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.
BOATS & BOATING Continued
SUNCOAST BOTTOM PAINTING: Professional bottom painting. Mobile. Call 941704-9382.
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.
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.
THE ISLANDER IS looking for a savvy, sharp, sales rep to manage client advertising and hit the road to connect with businesses looking to increase their bottom line by advertising in the newspaper. We’ve got 34 years of experience and results to share. Email news@islander.org.
REPORTER WANTED: Full- to part-time. Print media, newspaper experience required. Apply via email with letter of interest to news@islander.org
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.
SUCCESSFUL FOOD BUSINESS for sale, loaded with potential. In Holmes Beach. No brokers. Call 941-773-6957.
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 TECH 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.
IS YOUR POOL deck, driveway, or garage floor looking worn out and dated? Bring them back to life with our top-tier resurfacing services! Services 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
GOT DIRTY WINDOWS? 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.
ACHAUFFER4U FOR TRANSPORTATION 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.
HOME WATCHER: WHEN you can’t be at home, I’ll watch your home and send video of my inspection. I’m a State Certified Residential Appraiser with background check. 317-997-4056.
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.
WALLPAPER INSTALLATION BY Wizard of Walls, Mary Winegarden. Established in 1980. Prompt, quality service. 941-794-0455 or 919-628-3821.
COMPASSIONATE, RELIABLE IN-home care for seniors and adults who need a helping hand. Our experienced caregivers provide companionship, personal care, respite care, meal preparation, medication reminders, transportation, and more. Private pay, flexible scheduling, trusted and experienced care team. Serving Bradenton, Anna Maria Island, Sarasota and surrounding areas. 941840-3907.
BUSINESS-TO-BUSINESS JD’s Window Cleaning looking for storefront jobs in Holmes Beach. I make dirty windows sparkling clean. 941-920-3840.
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, 941-7207411. 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.
COLLINS LANDSCAPE LIGHTING: Outdoor lighting, landscaping, irrigation services and maintenance. 941-279-9947. MJC24373@ gmail.com
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.
VAN-GO PAINTING residential/commercial, interior/exterior, pressure cleaning, wallpaper. Island references. Bill, 941-795-5100. www.vangopainting.net.
GRIFFIN’S HOME IMPROVEMENTS Inc. Handyman, fine woodwork, countertops, cabinets and wood flooring. Insured and licensed. 941-722-8792.
LOOKING FOR ANY 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.
DONALD PERKINS PAINTING LLC. Interior/exterior/pressure washing. Island references. dperkinspaint@hotmail.com. 941705-7096.
GORILLA DRYWALL REPAIR LLC. Let’s solve your drywall problems together. Give us a call at 941-286-0607.
QUEEN BEE PAINTING: “We Do It Royally.” Interior/exterior painting and pressure washing, pool decks, garage floors, cabinets, popcorn ceiling and wallpaper removal, drywall, door and trim install and repair, window cleaning. Sheryl, 864-884-3380.
TETI TILE: 40 years’ experience in Delaware, now on AMI and surrounds. Tile, marble, murals. Free estimates. Call John Teti, 302983-5774.
TRUE TONE PAINTING: Painting, power washing, epoxy floors. 941-224-4020.
SCREEN REPAIR: WINDOW screens, frame replacement, screen doors, patios, and lanais. Will pick up and deliver window frames. Call Kent, 941-577-2236. Manatee Home Screening.
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.
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 are available. 941-8071405.
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.
ANNUAL RENTALS AVAILABLE: Off Island: One Particular Harbour, 3BR/3BA furnished condo. Lagoon views, covered parking. Country Club-style living, $5,000/month. Hidden Lake, 3BR/2BA furnished lakefront condo, $3,000/month. Other long-term furnished rentals are available. All areas. Applications, first, last and security required for all annual and long-term rentals. Call Wagner Realty, 941-778-2246.
ANNUAL RENTAL/BRADENTON Beach. Furnished 2BR/1BA. Gulf to Bay Community. Includes WIFI, cable, water, weekly trash/ recycle. Electric additional. $2,800/month. Rental availability is from July to December. Contact number, 617-462-0501.
ANNUAL RENTALS: 2100 Ave. A, Bradenton Beach. 3BR/2BA. $3,000/month. Boat slip for rent, 8303 Marina Drive, number five, Holmes Beach. $500/month. 407 71st St., A, Holmes Beach. 3BR/2BA. $2,800/month. Mike Norman Realty, 941-778-6696.
COZY ANNUAL RENTAL: 2BR/1BA, yard, $2,250/month (includes water/trash). No dishwasher. No smoking or pets. 72nd Street. Holmes Beach, 941-447-9672.
WINNIE MCHALE, REALTOR, 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! “Selling Homes - Making Dreams Come True.”
