#AMItogether
VOLUME 28, NO. 24
APRIL 8, 2020 FREE
the Best news on Anna maria island Since 1992
Astheworldterns find a ‘silver lining.’ 6 mom and pops employ survival skills. 4
Meetings. 4 Voter registration open. 4 coVid-19 reaches Ami, county numbers rise. 5
Opinions. 6 10-20 YEARS AGO
Looking back. 7
Gathering. 8 easter arrives to isolation.
Obituaries. 8
islander.org
COVID-19 on AMI, curfew, rental bans begin By ryan Paice islander reporter
Efforts to counter the spread of COVID-19 reached new heights just as data showed the virus found its way to Anna Maria Island. Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a “safer at home” order April 1 to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus the same day the first confirmed case was reported from Holmes Beach. The Holmes Beach statistic is one of
Manatee County’s 136 confirmed cases, including three deaths and 31 hospitalizations, as of April 6. Across the state, the number of people infected deSantis with the virus has ballooned. There were 136 confirmed cases in the state March 16 and 12,350 cases as of April 6, according to the Florida Department of Health.
Small Town hearts
county downshifts island trolley service. 9 community center issues #StayHomechallenge. 10 coVid-19 closings, cancellations. 10
DeSantis’ “safer at home” order, intended to flatten the curve and slow the spread of COVID-19, limits people to essential activities, including work for some, pet care, attending religious services, assisting a loved one or friend and participating in exercise under social distancing guidelines. Essential services that can continue operating include medical care, public safety, law enforcement, utilities, public works, critical manufacturing, transportation, communications and information technology, financial, food, agriculture, government and some community-based operations. The order took effect at 12:01 a.m. April 3 with an expiration date of April 30. DeSantis also issued a pair of executive orders April 2 to improve the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity’s Reemployment Assistance Program and provide relief from mortgage foreclosures and evictions for 45 days. However, the order did not relieve the obligation to make mortgage and rent payments. At the county level April 3, commissioners voted 5-2 to enact an immediate 11 p.m.-5 a.m. countywide curfew, as well as give law enforcement agencies the ability to enforce group gathering restrictions on private property, not including residence interiors. PLeASe, See COVID-19, PAge 3
Home-learning help. 11
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island law enforcement responds to safer-athome order. 13
Streetlife. 13
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ILL-FATeD JoURneY. Bradenton Beach man dies at Sarasota hospital after becoming sick on a cruise.
‘He died alone — he suffered alone’
NESTING NOTES. 14
By matt deYoung the grand Haven tribune in the forecast. 15 Holmes Beach to repair failing seawalls. 16
RoadWatch. 16 Anna maria pier opening pushed to April. 17 Aces on the course. 18 fishing: As good as it gets. 19
PropertyWatch. 20 CLASSIFIEDS. 20
ISL BIZ takeaways, delivery. 22
NYT puzzle. 23
#AMItogether
gabriella gilbert, left, and her mom, Lindy, stand outside the Small town creamery in the island Shopping center, 5404 marina drive, Holmes Beach. they decorated the sidewalk with hearts to send a message to islanders after closing the creamery indefinitely due to coVid-19. for more, see the story on Page 22. islander courtesy Photo
Guide to aid during COVID-19 crisis
The Islander applied its “Storm Avenger” approach to prepping for hurricane season. Click here. The Islander compiled a guide to advice Go there. and assistance, using local, state and federal Watch this. government sources, as well as community An abundance of advice and informa- resources in Manatee County and university tion exists for people, organizations and extension services. businesses struggling to cope with day-today obligations, while also dealing with Staying safe the extraordinary — a pandemic, the global First and foremost, stay home when posspread of COVID-19. sible and social distance when you cannot. To help readers attend to basic needs Take temperature readings. Wash hands with PLeASe, See HELP, PAge 4 while coping with a public health crisis, By Lisa neff islander editor
Megan Sheehan and her siblings say they did their best to talk their father out of boarding a cruise ship in Florida in March. But Tom Sheehan — described as “stubborn as a goat” by his son, Kevin — wouldn’t listen. Tom and his wife, Jill, boarded the Costa Lumiosa in Fort Lauderdale with another couple on March 5, joining about 1,400 others on board. Little did they know that at least one passenger on the ship was infected with COVID-19 and, over the course of the next few weeks, many others aboard would also become sick. For Tom, the decision to board the cruise ultimately cost him his life. An ill-fated journey Megan Sheehan lives in Grand Haven, Michigan, nearly 1,300 miles from her father, who was living in Bradenton Beach. Megan’s pleadings with her father to skip the cruise – with planned stops in Italy, Antigua, Puerto Rico, Spain, the Canary Islands and France — were shrugged off. “Me and my brothers begged him not to go,” she said. “I’m not sure why he decided to go. That was his take — it’s still over there and I’m going to be fine. Plus, the cruise line PLeASe, See SHEEHAN, PAge 2