The islander newspaper e edition wednesday, march 14, 2018

Page 1

Barbershop quartet. 21

Offshore archaeology. 16 AsTheWorldTerns share their lucky day. 6

VOLUME 26, NO. 20

Seuss time. 29

Happy St. Patrick’s Day

MARCH 14, 2018 FREE

Meetings

On the government calendar. 4 Environmentalists lose wetland challenge. 4 Holmes Beach hit with 14th Bert Harris suit. 5

Op-Ed

The Islander editorial, reader letters. 6

10-20 YEARS AGO

Looking back. 7

Happenings

Community announcements, activities. 10-11

St. Pat’s parade, Judy remembered. 7, 11

Make plans, save a date. 12-13 Irish pub permit, parking, puzzle? 14 In the audience: ‘The Curious Savage.’ 17 Out and about for ArtWalk. 18

Obituaries. 20 Streetlife. 23 Cops, coffee, conversation. 24 Running the Skyway. 26 Warm or cold, fishing is hot. 27 Spring Fling gala raises funds. 28

ISL BIZ Jeweler crafts expansion. 30 CLASSIFIEDS. 32

The Best News on Anna Maria Island Since 1992

www.islander.org

Pedestrian run over in hit-and-run on Gulf Drive

By Kathy Prucnell Islander Reporter Why aren’t pedestrians safe on Anna Maria Island? Why aren’t there better crime deterrents? Or more lights and security cameras on the streets and bridges? These questions come from a visitor with a crushed leg, foot and back after a vehicle ran him over and sped away from the scene in Bradenton Beach. David Hargrove of Vermont was struck by a GMC SUV at 11:50 p.m. Feb. 25 in the 1000 block of Gulf Drive North between Summer Sands condominiums and the Gulf Drive Cafe. The force of the collision stripped off the SUV’s side-view mirror. Just before the crash, both Hargrove, on foot, and the vehicle were traveling north. “It was very dark. I don’t remember much of any light,” Hargrove told The Islander in a phone interview from Vermont. He was crossing the road to the sidewalk on the east side of Gulf Drive when a darkcolored SUV struck him below his ribs from behind. The vehicle then ran over him.

Hargrove noticed the SUV slowing down after hitting him, but then it sped away. He said that as he crawled to the west side of the road, hoping he wouldn’t get run over again, he noticed the vehicle had a “long set of taillights.” Bystanders heard his cries and called 911. EMS transported Hargrove to Blake Medical Center in Bradenton, where he

By Terry O’Connor Islander Reporter It’s as if the powers that be don’t know it’s high season. The Florida Department of Transportation announced March 8 it would perform maintenance work on the Anna Maria Island Bridge March 18-22. The bridge links Holmes Beach to Perico Island and the mainland on State Road 64/ Manatee Avenue. The DOT said the 9 p.m.-5 a.m. work would cause delays for motorists and drivers were being advised by the DOT to use alternate routes. “You’re kidding me,” said Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy. “Isn’t that incredible?” The following day, responding to concerns, the DOT announced the bridge maintenance would be deferred. Zac Burch, DOT public information officer for District 1, which includes Anna Maria Island, said the routine maintenance would be delayed “until further notice.”

Burch said the DOT received several calls after The Islander began making inquiries. “We decided it was something that could wait,” Burch said. The DOT apparently did not notify local officials, including Murphy and Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer, of the project plans in advance. “I’ve not received word one,” said Tokajer. Murphy and Tokajer called the DOT to request the work be delayed until after tourist season — after April. “If I had my way, I’d say do your maintenance — unless it’s critical — in off-season sometime in May,” Murphy said. “Not during the busiest time of the year.” Earlier in the same week, Bradenton Beach Mayor John Chappie requested Manatee County postpone construction work begun on Gulf Drive in Bradenton Beach for the Force Main 5 project. The county contractor was directed to stop and remove all equipment until mid-April.

Polly Frazer of Pennsylvania runs March 7 near where a pedestrian was struck by a hitand-run driver in a dark-colored GMC SUV south of 11th Street North on Gulf Drive North in Bradenton Beach. Islander Photo: Kathy Prucnell

DOT delays March plans for AMI Bridge

spent five days on the mend. The hospital discharged him when he was able to walk on crutches and travel, he said. “I’m 36. I’m a carpenter. It takes me out of work and driving duties for my family for three months, plus physical therapy. And we’re not insured.” Hargrove, his wife and 5-year-old son were visiting his mother, who owns a condo PLEASE SEE HIT-AND-RUN PAGE 2

Anna Maria Commissioner Carol Carter holds a sample of Kebony, an enhanced wood product, chosen March 6 for the decking in the rebuild of the city pier. See story, page 3. Islander Photo: Bianca Benedí


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The islander newspaper e edition wednesday, march 14, 2018 by The Anna Maria Islander Newspaper - Issuu