The Islander Newspaper E-Edition: Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2021

Page 1

VOLUME

SEPT. 15, 2021 FREE

NO. 47

the Best News on Anna Maria Island Since 1992

islander.org

Astheworldterns. 6 Megabridge challengers refine bridge complaint. 3

Q&A 091521

3

Island cities firm budgets.

4-5

Meetings. 4 Opinions. 6 10-20 YEARS AGO

Looking back. 7

‘Never forget’ 9/11. 8 Anna Maria toughens rental regs. 9 tourism numbers climb. 9

Save a date. 10-11

Happenings Announcements. 11-12

AMe news, calendar. 12

get in the game. 13 Where’s Tuna Street.

14-15

Gathering. 16

Obituaries. 16 Cops & Courts. 17 NESTING NOTES. Ant attack. 18

pedestrians perplexed on pine. 19 KRC celebrates Labor Day. 20

Old school fishing, rare catch. 21

ISL BIZ Fall business outlook. 23

CLASSIFIEDS. 24

PropertyWatch. 26

NYT puzzle. 27

Diving in to help marine life

Planting lessons, pulling weeds

Katie Schultz with the National Association of Underwater Instructors hands up debris found Sept. 10 near the Anna Maria City pier. Scientists estimate that more than 11 million metric tons of plastic enters waterways each year — the equivalent of one garbage truck full of trash each minute, according to pepsi Stronger together. Force Blue, a nonprofit uniting military veteran divers, along with pepsi Stronger together, Suncoast Aqua Ventures, NAUI, Keep Florida Beautiful and Keep Manatee Beautiful, took part in the cleanup that launched from Kingfish Boat Ramp in Holmes Beach. More, page 2. Islander photo: Amber Sigman

Anna Maria elementary teacher Maggie Van Wormer and her first-grade garden club take a break Sept. 11 from cleaning up the school’s butterfly garden. parents and other students helped trim shrubs and pull weeds and the kids took home seeds in cups. Van Wormer plans to incorporate lessons in the garden. More school news, p. 12. Islander photo: Nicole plummer

Thank you ,

landers

the ut to all reach o ommunity to d te I wan in our c amily l people e helped my f u f r e d n v wo t ha ond tha ed. and bey ce I was injur so many of in s e in th k upand m bling to iritual s It’s hum nancial and sp e us fi onths. you gav the past few m hab and am r re e port ov orking hard in . k w e m ’ w I ach e ,I onger e and your help tr s g in k c gett lu e m . With so a full recovery all your e y k a a p e m r hope to ver be able to get it! e r n o f ll r ’ I ll neve s, but I’ kindnes ! u o Thank y on Lowman r a A t. p Ca

Dear Is

Kind thoughts Having watched this young man grow and mature, words could hardly describe the tender fondness and warm emotions that came with learning Aaron Lowman is moving forward in his recovery. Just on seeing an email in my inbox from him, I knew there would be good news. the letter goes further to demonstrate what a remarkable young man he has become. With sincere best wishes for continued strides to a healthy life and many fish on the line, we look forward to hearing of more progress. — Bonner Joy

‘Never forget’ RIgHt: Roses are left Sept. 11 outside the West Manatee Fire Rescue station in Holmes Beach at a memorial to firefighters who died in the response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. More, page 8. Islander photo: Lisa Neff

AME records 12th COVID case

By Ryan paice Islander Reporter

A dozen students at Anna Maria Elementary School have been infected with the coronavirus since the 2021-22 school year began Aug. 10. AME had recorded 12 confirmed cases as of Sept. 8. The number ties AME with Abel Elementary School for the 11th-lowest number of confirmed cases among the Manatee County School District’s 56 schools and learning facilities. However, unlike Abel, there were no confirmed cases for staff at the Anna Maria school as of Sept. 8. AME is one of only six schools in the district that has yet to record a confirmed case of COVID-19 among staff members. Palmetto High School recorded the most confirmed cases in the district through Sept. 8, according to the district’s website, manateeschools.net. The Wakeland Support Center had the

least, with two confirmed cases among staff and no student cases. The district has reinstated some safety measures from last year, including daily temperature checks for staff and random checks for students, daily sanitization efforts and limiting non-essential visitors, as well as a mask mandate that was approved in August. However, the mandate contains a clause that allows parents to opt their children out of mask requirements. AME principal Michael Masiello wrote in a Sept. 8 email to The Islander that “roughly” 50% of students were wearing masks. Still, he said the school had reimplemented other safety measures, such as reinstalling plastic desk shields, to prevent the virus’ spread. “Our goal is to keep as many students coming to school as possible and moving forward with face-to-face instruction,” Masiello wrote.

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