The Islander Newspaper E-Edition: Wednesday, July. 22, 2020

Page 1

#AMitogether

VOLUME 28, NO. 39

the Best News on anna maria island since 1992 Astheworldterns look for new home. 6 lease negotiations continue for am pier. 2 county offers small business grants. 2 BB recommends face masks. 4

Meetings. 4 coVid-19 cases continue to rise. 5

Vote Notes. 5

Opinions. 6 10-20 YEARS AGO

looking back. 7

long-range transportation plans reviewed. 8

Streetlife. 8 Beach renourishment off to successful start. 9

Happenings announcements. 10 ame families on deadline for options. 11 Where’s tuna street? 12-13

Gathering.

14

Obituaries.

14

deP presents mangrove workshop. 15

NESTING NOTES.

Hatchlings emerge. 16

surf’s up. 18

Skimming AMI 18 anglers fill coolers for fish fries. 19

PropertyWatch. 20 CLASSIFIEDS. 20

NYT sunday puzzle.

23

islander.org

Holmes Beach prevails — again — over treehouse owners By leslie lake islander reporter

Three swings. Three strikes. After three amended complaints by selfrepresented Lynn Tran and Richard Hazen to challenge the U.S. District Court’s dismissal of their lawsuit against the city of Holmes Beach, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and a host of other defendants, an appeals court shot them down July 17. A years-long legal fight has played out in administrative proceedings, state court and federal court over the elevated, two-story, non-permitted beachfront treehouse Tran and Hazen built in an Australian pine tree in 2011 at 103 29th St., Holmes Beach. Tran and Hazen reside at the property, where they also operate a vacation rental, Angelinos Sea Lodge. According to the decision released July 17 from the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Tran and Hazen’s pleadings remained rife with errors after two opportunities to correct them. In March 2019, they filed a pro se —

lynn tran, standing alongside the treehouse in June 2018 on her beachfront property at 103 29th st., Holmes Beach, discussed her plans for keeping the treehouse with the islander in spite of efforts by the city of Holmes Beach to have it removed. islander file Photo

without legal counsel — complaint in fedThat second complaint was dismissed. eral district court. The court said Tran and Hazen should The city filed a motion for a more definiseek legal advice before filing a third tive statement and the court subsequently amended complaint because it would be dismissed the complaint. their last chance. The pair filed a new complaint and again “The Hazens contend that the district the city asked for a more definite statement Please, see treehOuse, Page 3 or dismissal.

Island businesses receive millions in SBA COVID-19 funds By ryan Paice islander reporter

Federal loans to keep businesses afloat through the COVID-19 pandemic brought more than $15 million to Anna Maria Island. The Small Business Administration July 6 released some details on businesses that received loans through the Paycheck Protection Program, which was created in late March under the federal CARES Act. Several media organizations filed suit in May to compel disclosure of PPP recipients under the Freedom of Information Act. Intended to stabilize the economy, the

Top Notch Week 2: Bright night

sewage spill prompts push to protect bay. 17

JULY 22, 2020 Free

Katy roadman of Holmes Beach won the second week of the islander’s 2020 top Notch photo contest with this photograph of cousins elijah roadman, Jeremiah raulerson, isaac roadman, sam raulerson and obadiah roadman lighting sparklers July 4 on the beach near 73rd street in Holmes Beach. the photographer won an islander “more-than-a-mullet wrapper� t-shirt and entry into the finals, which offers a grand prize of $100 from the islander and gift certificates from islander advertisers, including slim’s Place, island coffee Haus, restless Natives, mr. Bones BBQ and cremesh european restaurant.

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PPP has allowed small businesses to apply for loans of up to $10 million to cover expenses such as rent and payroll. A loan may be forgiven if at least 60% of the money is spent on payroll costs. Otherwise, the loans carry a 1% interest rate and must be paid back within two years.

$150,000-plus For loans greater than $150,000, the SBA listed businesses, a value range, lender and date of approval, as well as some details about a business’ location, based on mailing address. Island businesses received $8.45 mil-

lion-$22.15 million from 24 loans greater than $150,000, according to the spreadsheets provided by the SBA. Businesses in Anna Maria received the bulk of those loans, securing 10, along with a $5.65 million-$14.7 million slice of the pie. Anna Maria businesses also secured the three largest loans on the island. GMI Holdings Co. received $2 million-$5 million, while ELRA Inc. and WELD Inc., both associated with Ed Chiles’ island restaurants, received loans valued between $1 million-$2 million. Please, see COViD-19, Page 2


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