Issuu

Top Notch

Week 4: In its glory

Local teen remembered at vigil

Juliana Shook, center, wipes tears from her eyes as she is supported by friends Jahiem Inniss, left, and Jakiyah Newell during a July 30 vigil for slain teen Jann Michael “JM” Feeney. For more, see page 5. Islander Photo: Robert Anderson

BB bar celebrates 100 years with Babe Ruth tribute

By Robert Anderson Islander Reporter

Bradenton Beach’s Drift-In AMI is preparing for a milestone this fall — a 100-year anniversary celebration — and thanks to a longtime patron’s generosity, the festivities will include the donation of a piece of baseball history.

Gary Staniec, a seasonal visitor to Anna Maria Island for decades, is donating a game-used 1934 Louisville Slugger once owned by George Herman “Babe” Ruth. The bat will be mounted permanently on the Babe Ruth Tribute Wall at the bar, 120 Bridge St. Staniec, a self-described sports fanatic and memorabilia collector, found the bat at a card show through

a friend who knew he wanted it for the Drift-In.

Staniec said he was inspired after learning of Ruth’s ties to the bar and seeing Ruth’s signature for the deed to the bar displayed on its wall.

“I said to Derek, you need some stuff that Babe Ruth owned in here.” Staniec recalled.

According to the Drift-In’s website, Ruth — known to sportswriters of the 1920s as “The Sultan of Swat” for his consistent ability to hit home runs — went from customer to owner of the bar. Ruth, who owned a bungalow in the city, was a regular at the local watering hole. The story goes like this: One summer

Anna Maria RFPs draw multiple bids

By Ryan Paice Islander Reporter

The city of Anna Maria has a couple of decisions to make and no shortage of options.

City staff opened bids July 30 for a pair of requests for proposals involving disaster debris monitoring and hauling.

One RFP calls for a contractor to remove disaster-generated debris — other than hazardous materials and household putrescible waste — from public property and rights of way in response emergency events, including hurricanes, red tide and algal events.

Six contractors submitted bids in response to the RFP ahead of the July 30 deadline, including:

• Boynton Beach-based ATL Diversiﬁed Industries;

• Sarasota-based Ceres Environmental Services;

• Louisiana-based Dynamic Group;

• Trenton-based Rapid Response Disaster Services;

• Texas-based TFR Enterprises;

• Ohio-based United Freight Services.

The second RFP calls for a contractor to monitor the recovery efforts of a debris removal contractor in accordance with the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Administration and other organizations’ policies and procedures to “ensure maximum ﬁnancial recovery for the city.”

Two Mississippi-based contractors submitted bids in response to the RFP ahead of deadline: DebrisTech and SDVO Monitoring Services.

The cost of the bids for both RFPs will not be publicly available until 30 days after they were opened or when city commissioners decide to award a contract or reject the bids.

If the city rejects the bids, it can publish new RFPs to seek new responses.

The city commission will meet next at 1 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 14, at city hall, 10005 Gulf Drive.

Directions to attend via Zoom can be found on the city’s website, cityofannamaria.com.

The Babe’s bat up for bid

Gary Staniec shows off his donation to the Drift-In 100-year anniversary — a 1934 Louisville Slugger baseball bat once owned by Babe Ruth. Islander

Courtesy Drift-In AMI

The Best News on Anna Maria Island Since 1992

Bill Shafer of Anna Maria wins the fourth week of the Top Notch contest with this image, taken Sept. 16, 2024, at the Rod & Reel Pier in Anna Maria, before it was damaged by Hurricane Helene in September and destroyed by Hurricane Milton in October. The photographer wins entry into the ﬁnals, which offers a grand prize of $100 from The Islander and gift certiﬁcates from Islander advertisers. See islander.org for contest details. Send entries to topnotch@islander.org.

Photo:

Municipal matters

Pier news, school warning

Anna Maria Mayor Mark Short emailed The Islander Aug. 1 saying he’d had “sort of a slow week this week in terms of newsworthy items.”

He noted the request for proposal to rebuild the walkway for the city pier — damaged by the SeptemberOctober 2024hurricanes — was released July 29.

Short said there is a link on the city website — cityofannamaria.com — that will take people to the RFP. Bids are due Sept. 8 and the city anticipates selecting a vendor by the end of that month.

“Otherwise it was normal business as usual … here in the city,” Short said.

Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth also emailed The Islander Aug. 1 from the Florida Keys, where she was vacationing, but she had no news. She deferred to police Chief Bill Tokajer, who responded Aug. 2 to our request.

The chief emailed us with needto-know news about the new school year, which will begin Aug. ll.

“At the start of the school year, we will begin our speed enforcement at the Anna Maria Elementary School zone,” he wrote.

“Enforcement will take place for vehicles traveling at 10 mph over the 15-mph-posted school zone speed.”

When entering the school zone, motorists will see signage indicating photo enforcement, then signage telling them their speed and a ﬂashing sign indicating the 15-mph school zone.

Tokajer added that HBPD enforcement would be during the times when the ﬂashing lights are activated.

He also told The Islander that warnings would be

Election 2025

Qualifying ahead

Election time is nearing on AMI.

Qualifying to run for elected ofﬁces in Anna Maria will be noon Aug. 18-noon Aug. 29.

Qualifying in Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach will be noon Aug. 25-noon Aug. 29.

The ofﬁces up for election in Anna Maria include three commission seats for two-year terms. The seats currently are held by John Lynch, Charles Salem and Kathleen Morgan. Morgan is an active candidate, according to the supervisor of elections ofﬁce.

In Bradenton Beach, there will be three commission seats and the mayoral post up for election. Seats held by Mayor John Chappie and Commissioners Deborah Scaccianoce and Janet E. Vosburgh for twoyear terms are up in November and the seat held by Commissioner Ralph Cole is up for a one-year term due to a prior change in ward numbering and boundaries. Chappie and Scaccianoce announced they will seek reelection. Vosburgh will not. Cole’s plan is not known.

Holmes Beach’s election will include three two-term commission seats. Steven Oelfke, Terry W. Schaefer and Carol Soustek hold the seats. The incumbents have not announced their plans.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 4.

For more information, go to votemanatee.gov or 941-741-3823.

— Lisa Neff

issued the ﬁrst 30 days. After the warning period, violators will receive $100 citations.

Let’s hope that’s not you getting an HBPD citation.

As an added note from The Islander, you might take note of the posted speed on that stretch of Gulf Drive and throughout most of the city — 25 mph.

— Bonner Joy

Martinique residents help dig out motorist mired in sand

Joe DiClemente and Michel Trotter along with other residents of the Martinique South condominiums in Holmes Beach help a motorist who drove off the road into soft sand at the terminus of 52nd Street July 27. Hurricanes Helene and Milton damaged the asphalt at the location last year. Holmes Beach city engineer Sage Kamiya wrote in a July 31 email to The Islander that the damaged roadway was one of several locations identiﬁed for repairs but a schedule was not determined. Islander Photo: Courtesy Deborah Trotter

Tokajer

Pines Trailer Park homeowners v. PPI hearing pushed back

By Robert Anderson Islander Reporter

A hearing to dismiss a lawsuit ﬁled by the Pines Trailer Park homeowners association against the park owner was pushed to late August.

Originally set for July 28, the hearing was rescheduled for Aug. 29 before 12th Judicial Circuit Judge Edward Nichols via Zoom.

According to court documents, the park owners’ attorney, Pines Park Investors LLC, Shawn Arbeiter, requested the delay. A reason was not stated for the scheduling change.

The homeowners association at the trailer park, 103 Church Ave., ﬁled a lawsuit March 28 against PPI, a corporation managed by developer Shawn Kaleta. The HOA alleges a series of violations related to an attempted closure of the 90-year-old trailer park and seeks more than $50,000 in damages and a court order to block the closure.

PPI purchased the park from the Jackson Partnership LLLP for $16.25 million in August 2023. PPI took over operation of the trailer park and leases sites to mobile homeowners.

The HOA alleges that PPI:

• Issued improper and unlawful eviction notices;

• Failed to follow procedures required under Florida’s Mobile Home Act when either attempting to end or failing to renew lot rental agreements.

The HOA alleges the owner did not provide the legally required 180-day written notice to residents and failed to notify the Florida Division of Condominiums, Timeshares, and Mobile Homes. The suit also claims the owner tried to sidestep disclosure rules by not clearly stating plans to close or repurpose the park, which would have triggered protections under state law. The HOA argues that, as a result, residents were denied time and legal options intended to protect them.

• Neglected maintenance of common areas, including streets and landscaping.

The HOA also accuses PPI of failing to provide adequate residential parking and using 2024 hurricane damages as false justiﬁcation for closing the park.

The city approved home repair permits after hurricanes Helene and Milton. Yet PPI has cited extensive hurricane damage, unpaid lease fees and a potential zoning change as reasons for shutting down the park.

PPI is asking that the lawsuit on the grounds that the HOA lacks legal standing because it doesn’t own the land or leases and can’t challenge decisions about how the park is managed.

The PPI motion to dismiss also claims the lawsuit doesn’t lay out a valid legal claim and relies on speculation or possible future harm.

PPI says the HOA is trying to enforce rights that belong to individual leaseholders not the association.

The company maintains that its actions — including plans to change the land use and end leases — are allowed under its legal and contractual rights.

The Islander spoke to PPI representative Sam Negrin July 22 and again on Aug. 1 and he declined to comment.

The Islander also reached out to HOA attorneys Jeremy Anderson of Anderson, Givens and Fredericks P.A. of Tallahassee by phone Aug. 1 but, as of press time Aug. 4, there was no reply.

The Islander archive is included in the University of Florida George A. Smathers Libraries dating back to our beginning in 1992. It’s all maintained on the library site, searchable by key word, name or date. Look online for The Islander at the UofF Florida digital newspaper collection at ufdc.uﬂ.edu.

The Pines Trailer Park, 103 Church Ave., Bradenton Beach, is the subject of a lawsuit brought by the park’s HOA against the park’s landowner. Islander

Photo: Robert Anderson

Bungalow Beach ﬁghts parking lot denial in Bradenton Beach

By Robert Anderson Islander Reporter

A dispute over parking for a beachfront resort in Bradenton Beach made its way to a special master hearing July 29 at city hall.

The hearing stems from a complaint ﬁled April 25 by Gayle Luper, owner of the Bungalow Beach Resort, 2000 Gulf Drive N. Luper has operated the property since 1999.

She is challenging an April 17 city commission decision at a quasi-judicial hearing, The commission granted a temporary use permit for resort-related activity during reconstruction but speciﬁ cally excluded Luper’s request to operate a paid resort-pass parking lot on the property.

The parking lot in question is on the former site of the resort and the resort’s original parking area at 2000 Gulf Drive N.

When Hurricane Helene struck in late September 2024, it severely damaged many of the resort’s 15 beachfront cottages. The structures were condemned and by Feb. 1, the property — referred to as the “razed parcel” — was cleared.

According to Luper’s complaint, the resort is made up of three interconnected properties: the razed parcel acquired in 1999, a duplex at 2103 Avenue C purchased in 1999 and a single-family parcel at 2108 Gulf Drive N. added in 2024.

The parking lot supported the operation of all parcels.

During an April 17 meeting, city planner Luis Serna recommended denial of Luper’s parking request citing zoning restrictions that prohibit standalone or commercial parking lots in residential areas. The commission agreed and instead allowed limited resort-related parking during construction, subject to a one-year limit and restrictions.

During the special master hearing, Luper’s attorneys, John Anthony and Charles Preston of Anthony & Partners of Tampa, argued that the resort is not seeking to operate a standalone parking lot but rather to continue a longstanding, accessory use that supported resort operations for decades and that the resort depends upon ﬁnancially following destruction of the Gulf-front structures.

Luper testiﬁed that after the storms, the resort never fully shut down and the business continued accepting

reservations for the units across the street, all managed through a consolidated account.

She said the resort charged $50 per parking space before the city issued a cease-and-desist order just a few hours after the resort attempted to resume parking operations in March.

Representing the city, attorney Robert Lincoln argued that the special master lacked jurisdiction to hear the case because the city decision came from a quasi-judicial hearing — not an administrative ruling by city ofﬁcials.

He also raised due process concerns over email statements submitted by people in support of the resort.

However, Anthony argued that the city’s code allows for administrative appeals and pointed to precedent from a 2nd District Court of Appeal case involving the city of St. Pete Beach.

He claimed that Bradenton Beach waived jurisdictional objections by accepting the resort’s ﬁling fees and allowing multiple stages of property restoration to occur before raising the issue.

“So, here (the city is) … after notiﬁcation, after briefing, after everything else and after the check clears, saying that there’s no jurisdiction. I think that is a tacit recognition, that there is in fact, jurisdiction,” Anthony said.

Luper’s counsel also noted that the city received 40 emails in favor of allowing parking and only one in opposition.

Special Master Marisa Powers said she would

County OKs agreement for red tide emergencies

Commissioners July 29 approved a grant agreement setting Manatee County up for state funding in red tide emergencies.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has money to support county governments that need to remove dead ﬁsh and other “biological

debris” during red tide outbreaks.

The agreement the commissioners approved would reimburse up to $100,000 in money spent to remove, transport and dispose of debris.

— Lisa Neff

take the jurisdictional arguments into account as she reviewed both parties’ positions during her 15-day deliberation.

“I don’t have unfettered discretion to come in here and hear anything that the city … or an appellant wants me to hear,” Powers said.

Regarding the emails, Powers said they are not sworn testimony and would be weighed accordingly.

Luper has said she intends to use the parking lot as a source of revenue to support the resort’s reconstruction and pay her employees.

Powers said a written decision on the matter could expected by mid-August.

RUTH TRIBUTE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 night, after an evening of drinks and dancing, the ballplayer and his friends left without paying their tab. Ruth returned the next day to make things right and, after a conversation with the owner, an agreement was reached that ended with Ruth taking over the business. He owned the bar for several years, in part as a tribute to his father, George Sr., who had also been a bar owner.

Flash forward many decades and the Drift-In AMI operates under the ownership of Derek and Helena Williams, who purchased the business from Helena’s parents in December 2022.

Derek Williams said the donation was motivated by Staniec’s love for the island and the bar’s legacy.

“He wanted to give back to the island community and his favorite bar,” Williams said. “He’s been a regular… .He’s been coming to Anna Maria Island for years.”

According to Williams, Staniec spent more than a year searching for the bat after losing out on a previous bid. Once he secured the bat, Staniec built a custom mount to ensure it could be permanently displayed at the bar.

“He made it and then he made the plaque. The year the bat was used was 1934,” Williams said. According to the “Baseball Almanac,” Ruth hit 13 homes runs in the 1934 regular season.

The date of the bat’s installation is pending.

“If he (Gary) wants to come for the 100th anniversary, then we’ll do it then,” Williams said.

The Drift’s centennial celebration is still in the panning phase and is tentatively slated for late September, depending on permit approvals.

“Since we’re a bar with live music, I’m sure we’ll just have fun and games … kind of an open house type of thing,” Williams said.

Attorney John Anthony, standing left, questions client Gayle Luper, center, during a July 29 special master hearing. Seated at the dais is Special Master Marisa Powers. The attorney for the city of Bradenton Beach, Robert Lincoln, foreground, takes notes.

Islander Photo: Robert Anderson

Fireﬁghters, ‘Littles’ excited for ‘Bigs with Badges’ program

By Ryan Paice Islander Reporter

The 2025-26 academic year is about to begin in Manatee County and this year will bring the Bigs with Badges program to fruition at the Ida M. Stewart Elementary School in Bradenton.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast director of impact Brandi McArthur and West Manatee Fire Rescue Marshal Rodney Kwiatkowski spoke with The Islander recently about their excitement to continue the youth mentorship program.

BBBS is a volunteer-supported network that matches adult volunteers with children to help the kids with school, nurture conﬁdence and minimize “risky behaviors.” BBBS of the Sun Coast covers Manatee and Sarasota counties, as well as Collier, DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands and Lee.

Bigs with Badges matches WMFR staff with students at Stewart Elementary, 7905 15th Ave. NW, Bradenton. There, the Bigs will read to the Littles, help them with schoolwork and eat lunch together at Stewart.

The program started late last school year, when ﬁre Chief Ben Rigney, deputy Chief Jay Johnson, Kwiatkowski and ﬁnance clerk Page Larson were matched and introduced to six students. While they got to meet each other, eat pizza and spend some time together, their introduction was cut short by the end of the

school year.

“It took a long time to get matched,” Kwiatkowski, who was matched with two Littles, told The Islander July 30. “So we’ve only met with them that one time at the school.”

In the new year, the Bigs with Badges will visit their Littles monthly.

McArthur told The Islander July 31 that BBBS is excited for the program to get underway.

“The kids were so excited when they got matched. … Every kid that was getting matched with one of the WMFR ﬁreﬁghters could not wait to get their Big,” she said. “And they’re so excited for this program to kick back off.”

WMFR ﬁnance clerk Page Larson, left, ﬁre Marshal Rodney Kwiatkowski, Chief Ben Rigney, and deputy Chief Jay Johnson line up May 27 with their “Littles.” Islander Photo: Courtesy WMFR

McArthur said Littles look up to first responders, so the firefighters made ideal Bigs for kids in need of role models.

“Everybody needs somebody they can look up to,” McArthur said. “To have this person come in that works for the ﬁre department and be their own person that they can have to ask questions of or relate to or get help from. … It’s just huge.”

“It’s just so good to have these professional role models in our society willing to step in and help children succeed,” she added.

McArthur said she hoped WMFR’s involvement is just the beginning for the Bigs with Badges program, which she hopes to expand.

Kwiatkowski was on the same page.

“We’re looking to get more people involved,” he said. “Hopefully, we get more firefighters here and around the county to sign up. … Kids think firefighters are superheroes.”

People can apply to become a Big for BBBS of the Sun Coast by visiting the organization’s website, bbbssun.org.

Community honors slain teen with vigil, call for action

By Robert Anderson Islander Reporter

They went to honor their friend.

A crowd dressed in green gathered under evening skies July 30 in the shadow of the courthouse in downtown Bradenton, united in memory of 16-year-old Jann

Michael “JM” Feeney — an athlete, friend and leader whose death last year left people grappling with the tragedy of a young life ended far too early.

The vigil began at 6:30 p.m. in the courtyard near the Manatee County Judicial Center, drawing neighbors, friends and classmates who stood in a quiet sea of green — JM’s favorite color and now a symbol of his remembrance.

Many people shared stories of how JM impacted their lives and how they are honoring his legacy by choosing to live as he did: with kindness, inclusion and joy.

JM, a student and wrestler at Manatee High School and an athlete at the Center of Anna Maria Island, was shot and killed March 8, 2024, in Bradenton.

According to a letter shared with attendees from his father, Michael Feeney, JM had just wrapped up his season and left home with a smile on his face after enjoying favorite Filipino treats. Eighteen minutes later, he was shot in the yard at a friend’s house by Carter Layne — a teenager he never met.

Plan now for summer!

Is your business ready to make the most of summer and Labor Day? Improve your odds of success with Islander newspaper readers looking to shop and dine, seeking indoor and outdoor fun, and a place to stay for their next visit. Call or text 941-778-7978.

consideration.

At the vigil, attendees were encouraged to channel grief into action.

People also shared recollections of JM.

Jason Ortiz, one of JM’s close friends, remembered meeting JM in eighth-grade.

“I was shy because it was a new school for me, we had just moved,” Ortiz said. “He was the ﬁrst person to come up to me. He introduced me to all his friends and stuff. And now here I am sitting here with like 200 of his friends because he introduced me.”

Evan Talucci, who had known JM since elementary school, shared stories of soccer games and wrestling matches.

“He was an inspiration to us all,” he said.

Neighbor Scott Boyes said, “He was just a joy to be around. Excited, fun-loving.”

“JM, seeing what was happening, reportedly said something like, ‘Tell me that’s not loaded,’” Michael Feeney wrote. “In response, Layne pointed the gun at JM — point blank — and pulled the trigger. The bullet hit JM in the heart. He died instantly.”

According to Feeney’s letter, Layne had been drinking and smoking marijuana and was seen pointing the gun at other people that evening.

Layne, 19, pleaded no contest to manslaughter in July and is scheduled for sentencing Sept. 24.

The Feeney family has asked people to submit letters urging the court to deny Layne “youthful offender”

Sentencing hearing set

Carter Layne, who pleaded no contest to a charge of manslaughter in the death of JM Feeney, is currently in jail awaiting sentencing.

A sentencing hearing currently is scheduled for Sept. 24 at the Manatee County Justice Center, 1051 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.

Feeney

Julian Smith, left and Manatee High wrestling coach Andrew Gugliemini remember JM Feeney during a July 30 vigil. Islander Photo: Robert Anderson

Good news, sad news

Yes, we have news.

There are triumphs, challenges, tragedies, tales that swell our hearts, and we’ve also shared devastation and losses within our community.

Yes, it’s a roller coaster.

And in my 33 years of publishing The Islander newspaper, the community news for and about Anna Maria Island, I’ve made great friends.

I encouraged people to be a part of the newspaper, to help make it better. Among them, I found partners and friends — dear friends — along the way.

It won’t surprise you to learn that one of my staunch supporters and friends is Sean Murphy.

He has a great sense of loyalty, among many attributes, including a love for red wine, good food, politics and conversation. He’s a great storyteller.

He’s a strong, positive community force.

We had good times at the Beach Bistro and more recently at the Doctor’s Ofﬁce.

His parting from our community — when that time comes — will be a great loss, but he so deserves “his time.”

But now, as I wish him well, I’ll let him speak for himself. He’s far better at it than me.

Cheers to you, my friend. Cheers.

Au revoir. — Bonner Joy

Passages

A truly great restaurant is a wonder to behold. I know — I have started a couple of them.

In the last year, I have used all of my connections and talent for recruitment to build another great restaurant on the ashes of the Beach Bistro. The Bistro was as much a school, a way of constantly training people in the discipline of food preparation and service, as it was a restaurant. When the Bistro was treating guests, it was not just creating great dishes, it was creating great memories.

The Bistro and then the Doctor’s Ofﬁce had the power to create those great memories because of the talents and powers of the people working on the team. It’s been an honor to be a member of that team, to sit on the bench with them and be part of their game.

To carry that tradition onward does not require a great chef or a sommelier, it needs a coach, a father and a mother.

Wife Susan and I have reached a stage in our lives where we are very aware that time is precious. We are looking forward to being able to spend more time with our children and grandchildren.

We are fortunate that I already had met the couple with the resources and the character I sought to take my place.

Chris Mann is the “Man” I needed, and wife Olivia provides balance.

Chris and Olivia are in awe of the Doctor’s Ofﬁce as it is, and the heritage it carries with it. They do not want to change it, they want to support it and help the team that is the Doctor’s Ofﬁce carry on.

I won’t describe Chris or Olivia in depth or detail. I believe they are the best thing for the Doctor’s Ofﬁce team — and the team has already accepted them. You will now have the opportunity to get to know them.

I wish them well.

Have fun and thanks for the memories.

— Sean and Susan Murphy

Murphy

A tequila miracle, a bigger plan

Liquor and religion crawled from the primeval onto the doorstep of civilization at around the same time. We learned to make liquor … and then we saw God.

Tequila is one of the liquors that has catalyzed a good many religious experiences.

Some have maintained it is because there are trace elements of mescaline in tequila.

The ﬁercest adherents of this theory were consuming mescaline at the time.

Any true religious epiphany requires some climbing.

Moses climbed to the top of Mount Sinai for the 10 commandments.

Smith climbed up a hill in Jersey.

My religious epiphany required climbing to the top of a light pole in Vancouver in an attempt to steal one of those giant mirrors bus drivers use to see around corners.

I was convinced my capture and gifting of that mirror would make a woman fall in love with me.

I had just met her in a bar at the bottom of the pole.

It was love at ﬁrst sight — for me. Not so much for her.

I knew with a religious certainty that if I could steal that huge mirror and bring it to her that she would fall in love with me, and the piano player would be history.

I climbed the pole, where I perched on pegs to rip and wrench the mirror loose.

I looked down. My tequila-crazed wingman, Val, was only a few pegs beneath me.

“Don’t worry Murph. I’ll get you down. I can carry you down with my ﬁreman carry.”

Val had been harassing our housemates with his ﬁreman carry all week. Flipping us over his shoulder and carrying us about.

A second electric trolley ﬂash and then, like Moses on Mount Sinai … God spoke to me.

“Hey bonehead, you have been drinking tequila and you are going to die when you fall off that pole.”

I saw the light.

“It’s OK Val. I will be OK. I can climb down. To hell with her and her damn piano player. I can live without her.”

I survived the journey down the pole and the loss of my true love. God had other plans for me.

I became a purveyor of tequila miracles to others.

God works in mysterious ways.

— Sean Murphy

It was an evening of salt-tequila-lemon, salt-tequila-lemon, salt-tequila-lemon, lemon-lemon tequila, salt tequila salt, tequila-tequila, tequila, tequila, tequila.

I saw the woman sitting and minding her own business. She was beautiful. I introduced myself, professed my profound and deep affection for her and then proposed, one knee down.

She turned me down. She explained that she was there to listen to her ﬁance, the piano player, but thanks for the offer.

I had to win her heart. It would have to be a grand gesture.

I stepped out of the bar. The blinding ﬂash from an electric trolley line lit up the alley, the mirror on top of the power pole and my heart.

Sean Murphy is proprietor of the Doctor’s Ofﬁce and the Doctor’s Garden, a craft cocktail bar with ﬁne dining in an intimate setting in Holmes Beach.

Letters to the editor

The Islander welcomes your opinion letters. Please, submit your opinion with name, address and contact phone number to news@islander.org. Only your name and city are published.

Letters may be edited for space and style. There is a 250-word limit and anonymous letters will not be published.

Your opinion

Adversely affected

Regarding the editorial in the July 30 issue of The Islander: I also believe that it is fair to acknowledge that those property owners who have received demo permits and those who were classiﬁed as substantially damaged or uninhabitable were reported to the Manatee County Property Assessor’s Ofﬁce on a monthly basis and will receive a deep discount on the value of the improvements portion of their property.

A number of those owners have received notiﬁcation of their assessment decrease to $15 plus the land value.

I have spoken to a staff member at the assessor’s ofﬁce. There are many nuances to this state statute that they follow — all of which favor property owners with damaged properties.

Those affected most severely will see a deserved and substantial decrease in their Holmes Beach and full tax bill this year.

The stormwater vote will adversely affect the neighborhoods with the largest volume of non-hurricane ﬂooding issues and complaints to the city, which was the segment of the engineer’s suggestion resulting in the $2 per 100 square-foot increase recommendation.

I foresee more owners adversely affected by the vote by virtue of projects that will not get addressed.

Holmes Beach Commissioner Terry Schaefer

Letters to the editor

The Islander welcomes your opinion letters

Please, submit your opinion with name, address and contact phone number to news@islander.org. Only your name and city are published. Letters may be edited for space and style. There is a 250-word limit and anonymous letters will not be published.

The big 5-0

Snooty the manatee, a legend at Bradenton’s South Florida Museum — now the Bishop Museum of Science and Nature — emerges from a pool for a photo in 1998. That year, the museum held a 50th birthday for Snooty. Islander Photo: Courtesy Manatee County Public Library System

Q&A The Islander poll

Favorite school supply?

A. Computer/tablet

B. Crayons

C. Scissors

D. Sharpened pencils

To answer the poll and see poll results, go to islander.org.

Connect

Website: islander.org

Facebook: islandernewspaper

Instagram: @theislanderami

News alerts: Register at islander.org

E-edition: Subscribe at islander.org

Frontier set to install ﬁber optics in HB

By Ryan Paice Islander Reporter

Internet customers are getting an upgrade in the city of Holmes Beach.

Texas-based Frontier Communications notiﬁed the city July 30 of its plans to expand access to ﬁber optic service throughout the municipality as part of its commitment to upgrade broadband infrastructure in communities impacted in 2024 by hurricanes Helene and Milton.

Building department administrator Kimberly Charron shared the notice via an email the same day to city administration and staff.

Charron noted that Frontier would begin construction the week beginning Aug. 4 and was expected to take 4-6 weeks to complete the work.

Roadwatch

Eyes on the road

Bradenton Beach street, beach access repairs: Through Oct. 31, Bradenton Beach is making hurricane-related improvements and repairs. Info is available at the BBPD’s Facebook page.

Cortez Bridge utility relocation project: Pipe installation and related activities are ongoing in preparation for the construction of the new Cortez Bridge, scheduled to begin in 2026. De-watering pipes and hoses are being installed along the south side of Cortez. People should expect the presence of work crews and 24-hour pump opera-

10-20-30 years ago

From the Aug. 3, 1995, issue

• Anna Maria Mayor Dottie McChesney asked Manatee County commissioners to hold a hearing on establishing limits to the harvest of certain shellﬁsh.

• Anna Maria commissioners were considering a pay raise for people elected to the ofﬁce — from $300 to $400 a month — and a bump to the monthly stipend for mayor from $600 to $800.

From the Aug. 3, 2005, issue

• Holmes Beach commissioners rejected a recommendation from the city planning commission to enact a moratorium on short-term rental licensing. Sue Normand, chair of the planning board, said, “The city is losing the residential, family character in the R-1 and R-2 districts.”

• Holmes Beach Mayor Carol Whitmore reported that a prospective homeowner inquired about installing a heliport on the home’s roof. City commissioners said noise and nuisance measures would prohibit a heliport.

• Bradenton Beach public works employees reported a problem of human waste being deposited in trash receptacles on Bridge Street. “It’s a health hazard,” said public works director Dottie Poindexter.

From

the Aug. 5, 2015,

issue

The U.S. Coast Guard ofﬁce in Miami was in the initial phase of considering a change to the opening times for the Anna Maria Island and Cortez bridges. Phase 1 involved a review of bridge logs from the Florida Department of Transportation.

— Lisa Neff

The Islander is archived at www.ufdc.uﬂ.edu.

She said Frontier would put out signs and door hangers with a website link, phone number and QR code for people who have questions.

Over the course of construction, Frontier advised that crews will work in public rights of way during business hours and temporary markings will be made to locate existing utilities.

“Frontier is committed to keeping residents informed as construction progresses and will work closely with the city of Holmes Beach to minimize disruptions,” the company’s notice stated.

The city shared the notice Aug. 1 on its Facebook page.

People with questions or concerns can learn more at frontier.com, 813278-0675 or info@ron-solutions.com.

tion until pipe installation is complete. Construction is expected to continue through spring 2026. Regular construction activities are Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Info: 941-306-4660, info@ amiprojects.io and amiprojects.io.

75th Street West at Manatee Avenue West: Manatee County is working on its 75th Street West Improvements Project from 19th Avenue West to Second Avenue West, including at the Manatee Avenue intersection. Motorists can expect delays during roadwork. Info: mymanatee.org/75th.

— Lisa Neff

You can help preserve your community news by investing in the future. The Islander print and E-edition is free for now and we need your help to ensure it stays that way, but quality journalism and

Compiled by Lisa Neff, calendar@islander.org

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

ONGOING ON AMI

• Throughout August, Artists’ Guild of Anna Maria Island exhibit, Artists’ Guild Gallery, 5414 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Info: 941778-6694, amiartistsguildgallery.com.

• Most third Mondays, 1 p.m., Center of Anna Maria Island Book Club, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria. Info: 941-778-1908, centerami.org.

ONGOING OFF AMI

• Throughout August, Island Gallery and Studios exhibit, 456 Old Main St., Bradenton. Info: 941-778-6648.

• Through Aug. 9, “Circus Spectacular 2025,” The Ringling, 5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota. Fee applies except Mondays. Info: 941-359-5700.

• Thursday-Saturday, through Aug. 30, the Bishop Museum of Science and Nature Laser Light Nights, 201 10th St. W., Bradenton. Fee applies. Info: 941-746-4131, bishopscience.org.

• Through Aug. 31, “Life on the Edge” exhibit, the Bishop Museum of Science, 201 10th St. W., Bradenton. Fee applies. Info: 941-746-4131, bishopscience.org.

• Through Jan. 11, Yoshida Hiroshi: Journeys through Light,” The Ringling, 5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota. Fee applies except Mondays. Info: 941-359-5700.

• First Fridays, 6-9:30 p.m., Village of the Arts First Fridays Artwalk, 12th Street West and 12th Avenue West, Bradenton. Info: villageofthearts.com.

• Second and fourth Saturdays, 2-4 p.m., Florida Maritime Museum’s Music on the Porch, 4415 119th St. W., Cortez. Info: 941-708-6120, ﬂoridamaritimemuseum.org.

SAVE THE DATES

• Sept. 18-28, Island Players’ “Janus,” Anna Maria.

• Oct. 18, Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce’s Bayfest, Anna Maria.

• Nov. 8, Nov. 10, Pops Orchestra of Bradenton and Sarasota Rhinestone Cowboys and National Heroes concert, Bradenton.

• Nov. 13-23, Island Players’ “Doublewide, Texas Christmas,” Anna Maria.

• Nov. 16, Island Players’ “Murder by Misadventure” auditions, Anna Maria.

• Dec. 13, Dec. 15, Pops Orchestra of Bradenton and Sarasota A Christmas Carol Concert, Bradenton.

• Dec. 31, Bradenton Alive New Year’s Eve Celebration, Bradenton.

DEVINE DESIGN

LANDSCAPE & LAWN MAINTENANCE INC.

At the Ringling “Muro, 1953,” a woodblock print — ink and color on paper — is on exhibit at The Ringling in Sarasota in “Yoshida Hiroshi: Journeys through Light.” For more information, call the museum at 941-3595700. Islander Image: Courtesy Ringling Museum

KIDS & FAMILY

ONGOING ON AMI

• Most Fridays, 10 a.m., Forty Carrots, Island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Info: 941-778-6341, mymanatee. org.

• Most Tuesdays, 10 a.m., Family Storytime, Island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Info: 941-778-6341.

SAVE THE DATES

• Oct. 31, Bradenton Alive Halloween, Bradenton.

• Dec. 5, Winter Wonderland, Bradenton. CLUBS & COMMUNITY ON AMI

Saturday, Aug. 9

8:30 a.m. — Kiwanis of Anna Maria Island meeting, Bradenton Beach City Hall, 107 Gulf Drive N., Bradenton Beach. Info: 941-7300016.

ONGOING ON AMI

• Most Fridays, 11:30 a.m., mahjong, Island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Info: 941-778-6341.

• Most Tuesdays, 11:30 a.m., mahjong, Island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. Info: 941-778-6341.

SAVE THE DATES

• Aug. 16, Center of Anna Maria Island “Rooted in the Storm: A Community Workshop for Emotional Grounding and Resilience,” Anna Maria.

• Sept. 6, Kiwanis Club of Anna Maria Island meeting, Bradenton Beach.

• Nov. 1, League of Women Voters of Manatee County Unite and Rise for Democracy, Bradenton.

FREE ESTIMATES

www.allin1home.com

• Nov. 8, Friends of Manatee County Animal Welfare Friendsgiving, Palmetto.

LESSONS & LEARNING

ONGOING ON AMI

• Mondays through August, Sea Turtle Tracks and Shorebird Facts with Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch, 10 a.m., Holmes Beach City Hall, 5801 Marina Drive. Info: 941-301-8434, islandturtlewatch. com.

SPORTS & FITNESS

ONGOING OFF AMI

• Through Sept. 7, various dates, Bradenton Marauders baseball, LECOM Park, 1611 Ninth St. W., Bradenton. Fee applies. Info: 941-747-3031, milb.com/bradenton.

SAVE THE DATES

• Sept. 6, Bradenton Marauders Fan Appreciation Night, Bradenton.

• Sept. 6, Center of Anna Maria Island LaPensee Bowling Tournament, Bradenton.

OUTDOORS

& NATURE ON AMI

Monday, Aug. 11

6 p.m. — Full Moon Women’s Circle, Center of Anna Maria Island, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria. Fee applies. Registration required. Info: 941-778-1908, hello@cebterami.org.

Monday, Aug. 11

6:30 p.m. — Sunset Tai Chi at the NEST, 840 99th St. NW, Bradenton. Info: 941-748-4501, mymanatee.org.

ONGOING OFF AMI

• Saturdays, 9 a.m., Manatee County Natural Resources Department’s Saturday Mornings at the NEST, 840 99th St. NW, Bradenton. Info: 941-748-4501, mymanatee.org.

SAVE THE DATES

• Aug. 25, New Moon Women’s Circle at the Center of Anna Maria Island, Anna Maria.

CALENDAR NOTES

KEEP THE DATES

• Through Oct. 31, Sea turtle nesting season continues. •Through Nov. 30, Atlantic hurricane season continues.

• Aug. 8, International Cat Day.

• Aug. 11, Back to school.

• Aug. 26, International Dog Day.

• Aug. 30, Jimmy Buffett Day.

• Sept. 1, Labor Day.

• Oct. 13, Columbus Day.

• Oct. 13, Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

• Oct. 31, Halloween.

• Nov. 11, Veterans Day.

• Nov. 27, Thanksgiving.

AME to host open house

Anna Maria Elementary, 4700 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, will host an open house for the 2025-26 year on Thursday, Aug. 7.

A 4:30-5:15 p.m. session will be held for kindergarten through second-grade students, as well as voluntary prekindergarten students with last names A-M.

A 5:15-6 p.m. session will be held for VPK students with last names N-Z, as well as students in thirdthrough ﬁfth-grade.

For more information, call AME at 941-708-5525 or go to www.manateeschools.net/o/annamaria.

1st bell rings Aug. 11

School District of Manatee County classes in the 2025-26 academic year will begin Monday, Aug. 11.

The school year begins earlier for teachers and staff, with teacher workdays Aug. 4 and Aug. 6-7 and in-service days Aug. 5 and Aug. 8.

The ﬁrst break will be Monday, Sept. 1, for Labor Day.

Community center offers before, after school care

With kids readying for a return to school, the Center of Anna Maria Island is preparing its Beyond the Classroom program.

The center, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria, offers a before and after school program, as well as arranges for pick-ups and drop-offs with Anna Maria Elementary in Holmes Beach.

In Beyond the Classroom, kids can learn about science, art and sports, get homework help and more.

For more information, including fees, go to centerami.org or call 941-778-1908.

— Lisa Neff

Top Notch

Photo contest continues

The Islander’s Top Notch contest continues.

The contest includes six weekly front-page winners. Each will claim an Islander “More than a mullet wrapper” T-shirt.

One weekly shot will take the grand prize in the contest, earning the photographer a $100 prize from The Islander and certiﬁcates from local merchants.

There also is a pet photo contest for weekly submissions and a winner announced in the ﬁnal weeks.

Each JPG must be included in a single email to topnotch@islander.org with the photographer’s name, address and phone number; photo date (must be since Jan. 1, 2024), and location; names of recognizable people in the photo. Look online for more rules.

— Bonner Joy

Island happenings

‘Moments of Truth’ at Ringling

The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art is presenting “Moments of Truth: An Exploration of Journalism’s Past, Present and Future” through Aug. 11.

The traveling pop-up exhibit traces the evolution of journalism and highlights its vital role in defending democracy and combating false information.

The free-to-see show is curated by the St. Petebased Poynter Institute’s media literacy initiative, MediaWise, and takes visitors on a journey through the earliest forms of journalism to today’s news landscape.

The Ringling Museum is at 5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota. For more, go to ringling.org.

Compiled by Lisa Neff

Players selling season tickets

The Island Players theater group is selling season tickets to the 2025-26 production season for the next several weeks.

Tickets for the 77th season cost $125.

The season opener, “Janus,” will run Sept. 18-28 under the direction of Mike Lusk.

Sales for single show tickets will open Sept. 8. Tickets will cost $28.

The season also will include “Doublewide, Texas Christmas,” “Murder by Misadventure,” “The Second Time Around,” and “The Outsider.”

For more information about tickets, shows or the theater group, call 941-778-7374 or go online to www. theislandplayers.org.

Registration ongoing for bowling tournament

Center of Anna Maria Island supporters will have their chance to roll for a cause at the annual Greg LaPensee Bowling Tournament set for Saturday, Sept. 6, at Bowlero Bradenton.

The tournament, presented by LaPensee Plumbing, will bring together community members for an evening of friendly competition and fundraising. Check-in will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the Cortez Road venue, with bowling action scheduled at 6- 8 p.m., followed by awards and rafﬂe drawings.

The event serves a dual purpose: fostering commu-

nity connections while supporting the center’s mission to provide programs and services for people of all ages across AMI.

Sponsorship opportunities range from $275 for lane signage to $750 for signature lane packages that include six players, beverages, custom ﬁshing shirts and prominent logo placement.

Standard lanes accommodating six players are available for $350.

For more, call the center at 941-778-1908 or email info@centerami.org.

Kiwanis to meet

The Kiwanis Club of Anna Maria Island will gather at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 9, at Bradenton Beach City Hall, 107 Gulf Drive N.

The club meets monthly in the summer, with another meeting planned for Sept. 6.

For more information, call Sandy Haas-Martens at 941-730-0016.

Instructor Tuna McCracken helps Maxwell Feiner, 5, line up his bow July 15 during an archery camp in the ﬁeld at the community center, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria. Summer camp at the center has concluded and, following a weeklong closure for maintenance, the center will shift to hosting kids in before and after school programs. Islander Courtesy Photo

Gathering

By Lisa Neff

Roser remodeling sanctuary

Roser Memorial Community Church is remodeling the sanctuary, including constructing a new stage.

During construction, the church will hold 10 a.m. worship in the fellowship hall, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria. The 8:30 a.m. service in the chapel also continues.

Church ofﬁcials expect construction to take 3-4 months to complete.

The effort has involved Darin Autrey, an architect with Zoller Autrey Architects and Adkins Building & Construction, as well as volunteers who helped with planning, fundraising, clearing the sanctuary and setting up the hall.

“The move was very well planned,” said Roser communications specialist Bev Hunsberger.

Roser embarked on a capital campaign last year to support remodeling the choir platform, which was built more than 30 years ago.

For more information about the project or Roser Memorial Community Church, call 941-778-0414 or go to roserchurch.com.

Gathering

Gathering is the religion section in The Islander. Church listings with service times can be found at islander.org. Please, send announcements with contact info to news@islander.org.

GoodDeeds

By Lisa Neff

Assistance offered on AMI

• Roser Food Bank welcomes applicants for food assistance, Roser Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria. Info: 941-778-0414.

• All Island Denominations offers ﬁnancial help. Info: 941-778-4769.

Assistance sought on AMI

• All Island Denominations accepts ﬁnancial donations at P.O. Box 814, Anna Maria, FL 34216. Info: 941-778-4769.

• Anna Maria Island Concert Chorus and Orchestra seeks volunteers, donors and a venue space. Info: info@amicco.org.

• Anna Maria Island Historical Society, 402 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, seeks donations for restoration and volunteers. Info: 608-444-0084.

• Anna Maria Island Privateers seeks a covered building and/or land for the Skullywag, sleigh and other items. Info: amiprivateers.org.

• Florida Maritime Museum in Cortez, which is closed for renovations and repairs, seeks a temporary space — a pop-up space — for public exhibits. Info: 941-708-6120.

• Friends of the Island Library seeks volunteers, including for website management and graphic design. Info: 941-778-4255.

• Island Players in Anna Maria seeks volunteers in every area to “come and be part of our family.” Info: 941-920-1362.

• Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Center in

Obituary

Gary Alvord

Gary Alvord, 77, of Urbandale and formerly of Anna Maria Island, died July 25.

He was born Sept. 27, 1947, in Des Moines, Iowa, to Harry and Thelma (Bennett) Alvord. His family moved frequently during his childhood but eventually settled back in Des Moines.

He had a 27-year career with Ruan Transportation, ending as the company’s president & COO in 2000. He then founded 3PL, a transportation logistics business that grew to

Bradenton Beach seeks gift cards for supplies. Info: 941-778-6324.

Email listings for GoodDeeds to lisa@islander. org.

At your service

Obituaries are offered as a service to residents and families of residents, both past and present, as well as to those people with ties to the island. Submit to news@islander.org. Obituaries are provided free — a service of your community newspaper. Paid obituaries can be discussed with our advertising consultant at 941-778-7978.

over 300 employees.

After retirement in 2008, Mr. Alvord continued to serve on various boards as he and wife Pam split their time between Des Moines and their beloved Anna Maria Island. They became permanent island residents in 2016.

He served as president of the Key Royale Club in Holmes Beach before returning to Des Moines in 2023 as his health declined.

A funeral service was planned for Aug. 6 in West Des Moines.

Memorial contributions may be made to the East High School Alumni Foundation or Lutheran Church of Hope. Online condolences are welcome at ilescares. com. Arrangements were by Iles Dunn’s Chapel. Mr. Alvord is survived by wife Pam; children Jen and husband Patrick Corkrean of Des Moines, Andi and Jamie Laine of Norwalk; grandchildren Kate and Erin Corkrean, Will, Max, and Lily Laine; and brother Mark of Ankeny.

Roser facilities administrator Charles Wade looks over the ongoing work July 22 from the rear of the new chancel. Islander Photo: Courtesy Bev Hunsberger

Stairs in the Roser sanctuary lead to the chancel — the stage where the pastors speack and the choir and musicians perform. Islander Photo:

Courtesy Bev Hunsberger

A crew with Adkins Building & Construction works on a back wall July 17 in the Roser sanctuary. Islander Photo: Courtesy Dick Gilmore

Alvord

Streetlife

Island police reports

Anna Maria

July 23, 100 block of Bay Drive South, stolen vehicle. A Manatee County sheriff’s deputy responded to a call concerning a stolen vehicle. The caller informed dispatch of a possible stolen vehicle parked at the north end of the island. Deputies investigated and an incident report was ﬁled.

July 25, 214 Pine Ave., trespass. A deputy responded to a report of a disturbance on Pine Avenue. According to the caller, two men were arguing outside a business. When the deputy arrived, he learned the dispute began over a parking issue involving the business owner and youths who had used the business’s parking space. The youths’ father had arrived to confront the owner about how his children were treated and an argument ensued. The business owner then requested the man be trespassed from the property. The deputy issued a trespass warning and an incident report was ﬁled.

The MCSO polices the city.

Bradenton Beach

July 23, 200 block of Gulf Drive N., assault. Bradenton Beach police were called to an incident of a woman being assaulted at a trolley stop. According to BBPD reports, a man allegedly punched a woman in the face, damaged her cellphone and exposed himself before fleeing. Officers located a man and the victim identifi ed him as the attacker. He was arrested and charged with battery, exposure of sexual organs and criminal mischief.

July 29, 111 Gulf Drive S., Island Time Bar and Grill, elevator emergency. First responders were called out on reports of people in an elevator stuck between ﬂoors. MCSO deputies and Bradenton Beach police assisted West Manatee Fire and Rescue. No injuries were reported.

The BBPD polices the city.

Cortez

No new reports.

The MCSO polices the village.

Holmes Beach

July 21, Freckled Fin Irish Pub, 5337 Gulf Drive, trespass warning. A Holmes Beach police officer responded to reports of a disturbance and found a man who refused medical attention and would not communicate with police. The manager requested the man be trespassed from the property. The ofﬁcer trespassed the man, who left without issue.

July 23, 600 block of North Pointe Drive, vehicle theft. An ofﬁcer responded to a stolen vehicle call and met with its co-owners. Video showed a man entering the vehicle, which was unlocked with the keys inside, and driving away around 6:30 a.m. They said no one had permission to take the vehicle. A neighbor said someone also had gone through his vehicles. The MCSO later located the vehicle.

July 24, Blue Wave Restoration, 5386 Gulf Drive, suspicious circumstances. An officer responded to reports of potential theft and met with the owner. He told police that employee W9 forms and $2,300 in cash went missing from his ofﬁce. The owner said the property had security cameras and he had contacted the property owner for their footage of the incident. The incident remains under investigation.

HBPD polices the city.

Streetlife is based on incident reports and narratives from the BBPD, HBPD and MCSO.

— Robert Anderson and Ryan Paice

Cops & courts

New Yorker sentenced to probation for reckless driving

Nikki Stocker, 22, of Kings Park, New York, was sentenced July 21 to 12 months of probation as a result of a second-degree misdemeanor charge for alcoholrelated reckless driving.

Stocker was arrested in May 2024 after a Holmes Beach police officer saw her drive through traffic lights that were flashing red at the intersection of Gulf Drive and Manatee Avenue.

The officer conducted a traffic stop and found Stocker displayed signs of impairment. She failed ﬁeld sobriety exercises and registered breath samples of 0.187 and 0.184 milligrams of alcohol per 210 liters of breath. The state’s legal blood-alcohol limit for driving under the inﬂuence is 0.08.

Stocker was initially charged with a second-degree misdemeanor for allegedly driving under the inﬂuence of alcohol.

In February, she signed a deal to participate in Manatee County’s driver enhanced treatment education rehabilitation, or DETER, program.

Due to Stocker’s successful participation in the program, the prosecution amended the DUI charge to alcohol-related reckless driving, to which Stocker pleaded no contest.

Judge Melissa Gould of the 12th Circuit withheld adjudication against Stocker for the charge and sentenced her to probation.

— Ryan Paice

Palmetto man arrested for counterfeit license plate

By Ryan Paice Islander Reporter

Holmes Beach police arrested Palmetto resident Gabriel Pena-Mejia, 28, July 23 on a third-degree felony charge for possession of a counterfeit license plate.

Pena-Mejia also was charged with two seconddegree misdemeanors for failure to register his motor vehicle and knowingly driving with a suspended license.

An officer found a parked vehicle with a door ajar and a temporary Florida paper license plate that “seemed strange in appearance,” according to a report.

The ofﬁcer investigated and found the vehicle was not registered and its registered owner’s license had been suspended.

The ofﬁcer circled the block and returned to ﬁnd the vehicle missing but located it and conducted a traf-

ﬁc stop.

Pena-Mejia, according to a police report, said he did not have a license and that a friend purchased the license plate online and gave it to him to use.

The ofﬁcer seized the fake temporary tag and the vehicle’s title, which did not have Pena-Mejia’s name or signage on it.

The ofﬁcer arrested Pena-Mejia and transported him to the Manatee County jail, where he was released July 24 without a bond.

If convicted, punishments for a third-degree felony charge include up to five years in prison, five years of probation and a fine of up to $5,000.

Punishments for a second-degree misdemeanor include up to 60 days in jail, six months of probation and a ﬁne of up to $500.

An arraignment will be at 9 a.m. Friday, Sept. 5, at the Manatee County Judicial Center, 1051 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.

Palma Sola Causeway grievances aired at Bradenton meeting

Residents near the Palma Sola Causeway are asking the Bradenton City Council for action to address nuisances on the stretch of beach on Manatee Avenue between the mainland and the islands.

Several people addressed council members during a regular meeting July 23 at Bradenton City Hall. Residents raised concerns about commercial operations and signs, overnight camping, fair use, loud music and an

Anna Maria man arrested for habitual trafﬁc offenses

Holmes Beach police arrested Anna Maria resident James Coleman, 26, July 29 on a third-degree felony charge for driving with a suspended license as a habitual trafﬁc offender.

An ofﬁcer saw a vehicle he knew was owned by Coleman, a recognized habitual trafﬁc offender, driving eastbound in the 700 block of Manatee Avenue around 11:55 p.m.

The ofﬁcer conducted a trafﬁc stop and spoke with the driver, Coleman, whose license was suspended.

The ofﬁcer arrested Coleman, who was transported to the Manatee County jail.

He was released July 30 after posting $2,500 bond.

If convicted, punishments for a third-degree felony charge include up to five years in prison, five years of probation and a fine of up to $5,000.

An arraignment had not been scheduled as of July 30.

— Ryan Paice

increasing number of boats in the basin.

“We want everyone to use it and enjoy it,” resident Laura Hahn said of the causeway. “But the residents there need to be able to also use it and enjoy it.”

Mike Galati, who lives about a quarter-mile from the causeway, said he can hear nighttime music from the causeway inside his hurricane-proofed home.

“That’s too much,” he said.

About the boats, Galati raised concerns about sanitation, insurance and anchorage, noting that one vessel pushed ashore during a 2024 storm had been “anchored” with a dumbbell.

The remarks were made during public comment and the council took no action.

Anna Maria Island elected officials have cited causeway concerns during recent discussions about the need to address commercial operations on Gulf beaches.

— Lisa Neff

Island watch

In an emergency, call 911. To report information, call the MCSO Anna Maria substation, 941-708-8899; Bradenton Beach police, 941-778-6311; or Holmes Beach police, 941-708-5804.

Nesting notes

By Lisa Neff

And the race is on

The Tour de Turtles featuring AMI swimmer Winnie the loggerhead is underway.

The Sea Turtle Conservancy’s annual migration marathon ofﬁcially began Aug. 1, though The Islander has been tracking Winnie for more than a month. The loggerhead was tagged with a tracking device June 23 after nesting at Coquina Beach in Bradenton Beach.

Between June 23 and Aug. 1, the tracker showed Winnie had traveled more than 100 miles in the Gulf of Mexico.

The Sea Turtle Conservancy, based in Gainesville, conducts two seasonal marathons — one for leatherbacks, which started earlier this summer, and another for chelonians, hard-shelled turtles, which started Aug. 1.

The races, which date back to 2008, serve multiple purposes, providing scientiﬁc information about migration for research while also providing opportunities to educate people.

For the tour, small, low-wattage devices are attached to the turtles and programmed by a microprocessor.

Polar-orbiting satellites operated by NOAA — the same satellites used for monitoring weather patterns — track the turtles. Instruments attached to the satellites listen for transmitters to determine where the turtles, which must be at the surface, are located.

The data from the transmitters allows researchers to determine the latitude and longitude coordinates of the turtles, the number of dives taken during a 24-hour period, the duration of the most recent dives and water temperatures.

Others in the hard-shell race include green sea turtles Seartina, Miso Speedy, Esmeralda, Ariel and Haven; hawksbills Billy and Rush and loggerheads Moana, Nugget, Clarissa Cobblecrumb and Wassaw Will.

Each turtle has a sponsor — Winnie’s is Hurricane Hanks Grill and Bar in Holmes Beach. Winnipeg,

Canada, is Hanks owner’s hometown.

And each turtle has a cause or concern to spotlight — Winnie’s is light pollution. Other causes include plastic and marine debris, illegal egg harvest, water quality, coastal erosion, boat strikes, coastal armoring, climate change, illegal shell trade and trawl ﬁsheries.

The chelonian tour will end Oct. 31.

For more information, including race maps and charts, go to tourdeturtles.org.

It’s elementary

Class lessons from AMITW, AME

Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring, during the 2024-25 academic year, invited teachers and students at Anna Maria Elementary School in Holmes Beach to compose questions about sea turtles, shorebirds and AMITW’s work on the beaches. This summer, the Islander is sharing AME’s questions and AMITW’s answers.

Teacher Katrina Thomas’ second-grade class: Do sea turtles live on coral reefs?

AMITW: Yes. Hawksbills sea turtles especially like coral reefs because they can ﬁnd their favorite food there — sponges!

Other sea turtle species, like green sea turtles and loggerheads, can also be found on coral reefs.

Winnie’s swim

Winnie, Anna Maria Island’s entry in the 2025 Tour de Turtles presented by the Sea Turtle Conservancy, has traveled about 107 miles since being tagged with a satellite tracker June 23 at Coquina Beach for the research-focused tour. The marathon ofﬁcially began Aug. 1. For more, go to tourdeturtles.org. Islander Screenshot

Talking turtles

The city of Holmes Beach is hosting Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring for weekly talks about sea turtle and shorebird nesting.

Sea Turtle Tracks and Shorebird Facts talks continue most Mondays at 10 a.m. through August at city hall, 5801 Marina Drive.

For more information, call turtle watch at 941-3018434 or go to www.islandturtlewatch.com.

As of Aug. 1, AMITW reported 534 nests, 821 false crawls, 90 disorientations, 135 hatched nests and 9,057 hatchlings produced.

said ‘‘One thing about being narrow-minded

A crowd cheers as Winnie crawls to the Gulf on June 23. Islander File Photo: Robert Anderson

Fish early, dress properly, stay hydrated for ﬁshing success

By Capt. Danny Stasny Islander Reporter

Anna Maria Island anglers are eager to get out on the water to ﬁsh despite the relentless heat and high water temperatures. Although the summertime ﬁshing can be good, dehydration, sunburn and mild heat stroke can be the price of admission.

Stasny

This being said, take extra precaution when planning to spend extended periods of time on the water. Make sure to carry an abundance of ﬂuids, the most important — water. Gatorade and Smartwater also are good choices as they help replenish electrolytes, which can burn out in a hurry when you’re in the heat exerting yourself by catching many ﬁsh. Other items to add to your repertoire should include clothing that is designed to block out UV rays. Lightweight long sleeved shirts are a good choice — preferably ones with a hood attached to keep the sun off your neck and head.

If you don’t have a hoodie, then a wide brim hat will sufﬁce. The bigger the brim, the better, as it will cast shade on your shoulders. Yes, some of those hats can look ridiculous, but when you’re playing at “made in the shade,” you’re not going to care as long as you avoid a burn and keep cool.

You also want to plan your day to beat the heat. Try getting out on the water as early as you can, as the morning hours tend to be slightly cooler than the midday hours when the sun is high.

You may find that the fishing is better during these cooler morning hours, especially when fishing the shallows of the bays and inland waters. The fish feel the heat, too, so it’s best to try to catch them early when they are motivated to feed.

And, remember, don’t be afraid to call it early. If you feel the heat is starting to bother you, it’s time to go in. Take a break in the AC and sip some water to cool off.

Don’t let dehydration settle in on you because recovering can be a lengthy process and possibly a little uncomfortable, too. If you stay hydrated, you also need to ﬁnd shade and only expose yourself to the sun in small doses.

Do these things and ﬁshing in the heat of summer can be enjoyable.

A good angler always knows their limitations, so stay cool out there.

On my Just Reel charters, I’m getting my clients out as early as I can to beat the heat. Not only are the cooler parts of the morning more comfortable, but it seems the ﬁsh are biting better during these times, too.

Spotted seatrout are cooperating quite well during the morning hours, especially while ﬁshing depths of 8-12 feet.

Whether it’s deep grass flats or structure in the bays, these trout are firing off, yielding a great early morning bite. Mangrove snapper are following the same pattern, although they seem to be slightly more tolerant of the high-water temps. In many instances, I’m finding mangoes in the same areas as the trout, which adds variety to the bite.

Spanish mackerel and ladyﬁsh are feeding in the same areas, creating great action on medium spinning gear.

Targeting catch-and-release snook is proving to be

productive on my morning charters. Being out early to target linesiders is imperative, thanks to swimmers and sunbathers frequenting the beaches after 9 a.m., making it harder to ﬁsh.

You may ﬁnd some redﬁsh along the beaches, too, so keep your eyes peeled in case the opportunity presents itself.

Finally, shark encounters are frequent — especially blacktip sharks. Small chunks of fresh-cut mackerel on a hook are quickly being devoured by these predators.

Capt. Johnny Mattay is working offshore in the Gulf of Mexico where he says the American red snapper bite is as good as it gets.

Weighted bottom rigs with conventional tackle is leading to quick limits of quality-size ﬁsh. Baits like live pinﬁsh or frozen sardines are working best.

Mangrove snapper and red grouper are being caught by offshore clients, as well as yellowtail snapper.

Targeting pelagics also can produce action in the Gulf of Mexico. Free-lining live baits or trolling artiﬁcials yields can result in blackﬁn tuna as well as bonita.

Mahi-mahi are frequently being found around weed lines and other ﬂoating debris, providing great action on medium-heavy spinning gear.

Moving inshore, Mattay says spotted seatrout are coming to the boat in a variety of areas, including deep grass ﬂats in the bays, as well as structure in the bays and the Gulf.

Using live shiners as bait with a split-shot is leading to trout catches of all sizes.

Mattay also is putting clients on redﬁsh around mangrove shorelines where oyster bars exist. Casting live shiners in these areas is luring the reds to strike.

In the hotter parts of the day, Mattay is ﬁnding redﬁsh action around deep-water docks with live shiners and dead baits.

Finally, beach ﬁshing for catch-and-release snook is producing some large ﬁsh while cruising the shoreline.

Capt. David White is targeting spotted seatrout with his charters while working the inshore waters

Kacen, 7, and father Kam Griggs of Palmetto show off an American red snapper caught July 12 about 50 miles offshore on live pinﬁsh with Capt. Johnny Mattay of Anna Maria Charters.Mattay said the ﬁsh went home for dinner — many dinners.

of Tampa Bay south to Sarasota Bay. Free-lining live shiners over deep grass ﬂats is yielding catches of all sizes.

Fishing structure in Tampa Bay is leading to good action, especially with the addition of some weight on the rig to get the bait toward the bottom. In these areas, White is putting clients on Spanish mackerel, which adds variety to the bite.

Catch-and-release snook ﬁshing is good, too, says White. Targeting ﬁsh along the beaches and passes yields numerous hookups.

Finally, juvenile tarpon are being caught during the early morning hours before sunrise. Live pinﬁsh and shiners are working as bait.

Send high-resolution photos and ﬁshing reports to ﬁsh@islander.org.

Zane Becker, 10, winds up an iron July 17 during a golf class at the Key Royale Club in Holmes Beach as part of a golf clinic put on by the Center of Anna Maria Island and led by volunteers and club personnel. Islander Photo: Courtesy CofAMI

Center football moves to Palma Sola

By Kevin P. Cassidy Islander Reporter

About midway through the Center of Anna Maria Island’s adult flag football season, the standings are pretty tight, but that’s not the only factor in who comes out on top by season’s end.

Due to the refurbishing of the center’s athletic fields, the remainder of the season will be played at Palma Sola Park in Bradenton.

As it stands now, Solid Rock Construction holds down the top spot with a 5-0 record, just ahead of 5-1 Salty Printing and Solid Rock Electrical and Slim’s Place, both at 4-1. Bubble Binz and Coaster Continent round out the teams with winning records at 3-2, while Moss Builders at 2-3 and Cortez Pump & Sprinkler at 2-4 follow. G.I. Bins is 1-4, Edible Cookie Dough Café 0-4 and 0-6 Reel Coastal Properties complete the standings.

Action Aug. 1 at Palma Sola Park kicked off with Solid Rock Electrical cruising to a 19-0 victory over Reel Coastal Properties behind a pair of rushing touchdowns and a touchdown pass from Cruz Rodriguez. Christian Hampton added a touchdown grab to go along with three receptions and four flag pulls.

Reel Coastal Properties was led by Tyler Brewer and Zachariah Anabtawi, who both finished with seven pass receptions in the loss.

The second game of the evening saw a battle of the bins with G.I. Bins outscoring Bubble Binz 45-33 behind five TD passes from Steve Wolfe, including two each to Christian McPherson and Tristan Szabo. Joey Vigil and Sir Williams also added TD catches, while McPherson also added a pair of interceptions, including one he took to the house.

Solid Rock Electrical’s

Christian Hampton reaches high for a pass as Reel Coastal Properties’ Matthew Briley defends during adult flag football action Aug. 1 at Palma Sola Park in Bradenton. Islander Photo: Kevin P. Cassidy

Solid Rock Electrical defender Zachary Long reaches in front of Reel Coastal Properties receiver Mckenzie Deets Aug. 1 during community center football action at Palma Sola Park in Bradenton. go online to islander.org for more sports pics. Islander

Photo: Kevin P. Cassidy

Dominick Otteni threw four touchdown passes for Bubble Binz, which also received two TD receptions

from Greg Moss and touchdown catches from Brandon Holcombe and Brandon Rolland. Otteni also was huge on the defensive side of the ball, finishing with two interceptions, including one he returned for a TD.

Solid Rock Construction outlasted Slim’s Place 34-33 in a back-and-forth game that left all in attendance in awe. Trailing 33-27 late in the game, quarterback Tuna McCracken hit David Daigle with the game-tying touchdown pass followed by a go-ahead extra-point pass to Kevin Roman.

Slim’s Place attempted a Hail Mary pass but Blake Balais broke up the pass to preserve the victory for Solid Rock.

McCracken finished with four TD passes and a rushing TD, while David Daigle finished with two TD catches. Balais added a TD catch as did Roman.

Chase Richardson threw five touchdown passes for Slim’s Place, which also received two TD catches each from Tyler Reed and Tim Holly. Jasmine Muldoon added a TD catch for Slim’s Place in the loss.

The fourth game of the evening saw Salty Printing outscore Edible Cookie Dough Cafe 45-30 thanks in part to the play of quarterback Miguel Rodriguez. Rodriguez threw six TD passes, including three each to receivers Logan Heath and Corey Von Borstel.

Dallas Buchholtz led Cookie Dough Cafe with four TD passes and a TD run. He connected with Kiatrell Zachery for two scores and found Jacob Ferda for another touchdown in the loss.

The night’s last game saw Moss Builders earn a 42-26 victory over Cortez Pump & Sprinkler behind five TD passes from quarterback Ryan Moss. Ramon Guerrero IV and Anthony Mannino each had two TD catches and James Roadman added a TD catch.

Donte Filletti threw three TD passes and Kei Green added a TD pass to go along with two TD catches to lead Cortez Pump. David Lopez finished with nine catches, including two TD catches in the loss.

Key Royale news

Golf action at the Key Royale Club in Holmes Beach got started July 28 with the men’s weekly modified-Stableford match. Joe Coyne earned clubhouse bragging rights for the day with a plus-4, two points clear of second-place finisher Mike Gillie at plus-4.

The women played a nine-hole individual-low-net match July 29. Helen Pollock took first place for the day with a 2-under-par 30, just ahead of second-place finisher Jana Samuels, who carded an even-par 32. Terry Westby was alone in third with a 3-over-par 35.

Members played a nine-hole scramble to close out the month of July. The team of Mike Clements, Mike Gillie, Dale Miller and Jana Samuels combined to card a 3-under-par 29 and win the day’s proceedings.

Horseshoe action

July 30 horseshoe action at the Anna Maria City Hall pits was short and sweet. Tom Farrington and Gary Howcroft forged the only 3-0 record in pool play and were the champs of the day.

and more!

BAGELS CAFE & CATERING 3220 E. Bay Drive, Anna Maria Centre Shops 941-779-1212

Action Aug. 2 saw two teams advance to the knockout stage. Farrington paired with Tim Sofran to jump out to an early lead and a 22-9 victory over Bob Hawks and Dom Livedoti.

Play gets under way at 9 a.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays at the Anna Maria City Hall pits. Warmups begin at 8:45 a.m., followed by random team selection.

There is no charge to play and everyone is welcome.

Cassidy

We speak bagel, egg-el, breakfast mufﬁns, lunch salads, platters, sandwiches...

By Lisa Neff

When canopies collapse

Suncoast Waterkeeper observed a conservationist’s holiday with the release of data on mangrove health in vulnerable coastal areas.

On July 26, World Mangrove Day, the nonprofit released research gathered by Mangrove Ranger volunteers trained to use drones to survey and map mangrove health in vulnerable coastal areas.

“These ecosystems are under mounting pressure from development, seawall construction, sea level rise and increased runoff,” said Abbey Tyrna, Suncoast Waterkeeper executive director. “Ongoing, consistent monitoring is crucial for understanding how mangroves respond to these threats and for ensuring their survival for future generations.”

Summarizing the mapping results, Suncoast Waterkeeper reported that the rangers “documented damage to mangrove forests across Manatee County following the intense 2024 hurricane season. These forests … rely heavily on their canopy structure for overall

health and resilience. When canopy volume declines, mangroves lose their ability to buffer storm surge, filter water and support biodiversity.”

For example, the healthiest site the team surveyed in 2024, a protected conservation area in Sarasota Bay, showed a 46% loss in canopy by 2025.

“This site, once a model for mangrove health, saw massive old-growth trees snapped in half by hurricane winds, dropping its Mangrove Health Index Score from 90 to 59. This decline illustrates how even the most robust and protected mangroves are vulnerable to increasingly extreme weather events,” Suncoast Waterkeeper reported.

Pointing to a positive development, the organization said a site damaged in 2022 when a sewer pipe blew out saw an 8% increase in canopy volume in 2025, “making it the only site to experience growth.”

At other sites, Suncoast Waterkeeper found that trimming continues to impact the vitality and ecological function of mangroves while the absence of trimming boosts mangrove function and resilience.

Mangroves serve as nurseries for fish and crustaceans, improve water quality and play a vital role in protecting coastal communities from natural hazards — including reducing wave heights in a 500-meter mangrove strip by 50% to 99%.

Mangroves also are a blue carbon solution for combating climate change, as they contain the highest carbon density of all terrestrial ecosystems.

The trees are effective at carbon sequestration, the process of capturing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and carbon storage, the long-term confinement of carbon in plant materials and sediment.

Mangroves cover just 0.1% of the Earth’s surface

Climate shifts, temperatures rise

With the region posting record hot temps in late July, Climate Central published a Climate Shift Index map for florida and calculated that 27 million people across florida, georgia and South Carolina were expected to experience maximum temperatures made three times more likely because of climate change July 28-Aug. 1. The nonprofit also reported: Record heat is outpacing daily cold records and average summer nighttime temps have warmed by 3.1 degrees fahrenheit in the united States. Islander Courtesy Image

but they store 6.23 gigatons of carbon, equivalent to 22.86 gigatons of CO2, according to the Mangrove Alliance, a global coalition of governments, scientists, industry and communities.

How do mangroves capture and store CO2? There are two basic ways:

• CO2 is stored in the root systems, where microbial mats absorb CO2 to produce oxygen.

• CO2 is stored in the plants and soils.

Mangrove forests can sequester about four times more carbon than rainforests and about 10 times more carbon per acre than average land-based forests.

In just a square mile, mangroves can hold as much carbon as the annual emissions of 90,000 gas-powered cars.

Yet, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, which maintains a global list of endangered species, includes mangroves on its “red list” of threatened species. Note that one-fifth of the world’s mangroves exist in Indonesia but they are being lost at a rate of 2% per year due to deforestation.

What happens when a carbon-capturer is destroyed? All that carbon gets released back into the atmosphere.

One organization working on mangrove protections, Conservation International, estimates that as much as a billion metric tons of CO2 are released annually from degraded mangrove forests.

Here at home, we’ve lost thousands of mangrove acres in the Sarasota Bay estuary area to the development of housing, docks and seawalls.

“Mangrove forests are among the most vital and productive ecosystems on the Suncoast. Recognizing their importance, state law protects mangrove trees, but protection on paper is not enough,” said Tyrna, whose organization is pushing for a shift from reactive enforcement to proactive conservation of mangroves.

Neff

Tom farrington and gary Howcroft post the only 3-0 pool play record and were the outright champs July 30 during horseshoe action at the Anna Maria City Hall pits. Islander Photo: Courtesy AMI Pitchers

Allegiant adds route at SRQ

Allegiant Travel Co. announced July 29 the addition of another flight at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport.

The airline will begin nonstop service between SRQ and Toledo Express Airport in Ohio Nov. 20, with fares as low as $59.

“This expansion reflects our commitment to connecting underserved communities with affordable, convenient travel options,” Allegiant chief commercial officer Drew Wells said in a news release. “As the only commercial air carrier in Toledo, this route will give travelers in both regions unprecedented access to exciting destinations across our network.”

“We’re excited to see Allegiant continue to expand its offerings at SRQ,” said Rick Piccolo, SRQ’s president and CEO.

Allegiant offers 35 nonstop routes from SRQ.

The company also recently added a new Florida destination — Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers — as well as a new flight to New Orleans from Punta Gorda Airport.

For more information, go to allegiant.com.

— Lisa Neff

IslBizCal

By Lisa Neff

Thursday, Aug. 7

8 a.m. — Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce breakfast meeting, Harry’s Grill, 9903 Gulf Drive, Anna Maria. Fee applies. Info: terri@amichamber.org, 941-778-1541, annamariaislandchamber.org.

SAVE THE

DATES

• Aug. 14, 11:30 a.m., AMI Chamber business luncheon, Pizzano’s Pizza and Grinderz, Holmes Beach.

• Aug. 21, 4 p.m., Manatee Chamber Small Business of the Year Awards, Palmetto.

• Aug. 28, 5 p.m., AMI Chamber business card exchange, Kern & Gilder Construction, Bradenton.

• Oct. 18, 10 a.m.-9 p.m., AMI Chamber Bayfest, Anna Maria. Send listings to calendar@islander.org.

HB guitarist keeping Grateful Dead’s sound alive

By Ryan Paice Islander Reporter

Almost 30 years since the death of Jerry Garcia, the legendary Grateful Dead guitarist’s sound remains

And Holmes Beach resident Alan Gilman is part of the reason why.

Gilman, who has played guitar for Grateful Dead tribute bands since 1991, told The Islander July 31 about playing Garcia’s sounds for nearly four decades.

Garcia, whose birthday was Aug. 1, co-founded the Warlocks, which in 1965 would be renamed the Grateful Dead. He was guitarist, singer and songwriter for the band until his death on Aug. 9, 1995.

This year will mark the 30th anniversary of Garcia’s death.

Gilman works his days as an anesthesiologist, practicing at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center and Manatee Memorial Hospital.

However, he might be better known for his night work after 34 years of jamming out to Grateful Dead riffs across the Tampa Bay area.

Music has always been a part of Gilman’s life.

He grew up in Long Island, New York, and began to learn music at the age of 4 when his father began teaching him to read music and play the piano.

He learned how to play the guitar at age 11 on an acoustic and got his first electric guitar at 13, and began playing music in garage bands with his friends.

Gilman said he first tuned into the Grateful Dead when he was a college student in Upstate New York. There, he attended his first Dead show in 1979, got hooked on the music and followed them to a number of venues in the region.

“My dad, he was a jazz musician — a pianist —

and loved improvisation and I think it was part of my genetics to appreciate that form of music, where the jams are more freestyle and the songs are varied, not formatted so much as what you’d hear on a record,” he said.

Gilman also joined his fi rst band, Orion, while he was in college. They began by covering songs by The Beatles and the Grateful Dead, then later expanded the repertoire with covers of The Doors and The Kinks.

While he was unable to attend many concerts during his time in medical school, he continued playing music as a rhythm guitar player for a Van Halenstyle rock band.

Following his graduation from medical school, Gilman moved to West Virginia and formed Nexus, his first “true” Grateful Dead tribute band, in 1987.

Over the next four years, he honed the Dead’s sound and song catalogue while playing shows primarily in Morgantown.

In 1991, Gilman moved to Florida and formed another Grateful Dead tribute band, Ugly Rumors, which Deadheads may know as the fl ipped text on the “From the Mars Hotel” album cover.

He went on to join the Estimated Band in 1994, then Uncle John’s Band — whose name is based on a song by the Dead — as its lead guitarist and vocalist in 1997.

           

Gilman played with UJB for 27 years and performed in more than 1,000 weekly live shows at Skipper’s Smokehouse, 910 Skipper Road, Tampa.

The band also has performed at many other

The band members of Morning Dew, a grateful Dead tribute band, include, Christian Walker, left, John Sabal, John Richardson, Alan gilman and Michael garrie. Islander Photo: Courtesy Jaclyn gilman

Alan gilman

County approves $13.5M Mixon Fruit Farms purchase

By Dawn Kitterman

Special from The Bradenton Times

Manatee County commissioners’ unanimous approval for the purchase of the former Mixon Fruit Farms received loud applause July 29.

The proposed future of the property, 2525 27th St. E., Bradenton, as a multifaceted public asset has been under exploration for months, with many residents strongly in favor of the purchase.

The $13.5 million purchase contract for the historic 39-acre farm and event venue includes the public acquisition of the 38,026-square-foot former Mixon Fruit Farms store, event pavilion, equipped commercial kitchen and a 2,538-square-foot house.

An appraisal by the county found the property’s value to be roughly $2 million greater than the negotiated purchase price. However, Janet and Dean Mixon, sellers of the citrus farm, felt it was more important to see the property put to community use than to achieve the highest sale price.

Under the plan presented by county staff, the agritourism tradition of Mixon will continue under county management, with the property remaining a rental venue for weddings and other private events.

Commissioners also approved the addition of four full-time positions, including a park maintenance technician, a grounds custodian, an events coordinator and a natural resources program manager.

The natural resources program manager will develop and manage educational programs focused on water quality and conservation practices, while also implementing other educational initiatives, such as community opportunities to learn about and practice micro-gardening, composting, nutrition and cooperative farming models.

Project plans also include the potential for expanded library services, with more immediate plans to include the stationing of county mobile library vehicles at the site.

Dozens of county residents submitted written public comments in support of the purchase, with several more appearing in person at the county administration building in Bradenton to advocate in favor.

Janet and Dean Mixon also gave comments before the vote.

“I just want to say thank you to all the staff we have worked with at the county,” said Dean Mixon before thanking commissioners for asking detailed

venues across the state, having made regular appearances on the Florida festival circuit. They became one of the best known Grateful Dead tribute bands in the country.

UJB was invited to play for a VIP party at Chicago’s Field Museum each afternoon of the Grateful Dead’s three-day “Fare Thee Well” shows just across the street at Soldier Field in 2015, where the Dead’s remaining members performed for the last time together to celebrate the band’s 50th anniversary.

Over Gilman’s nearly 30 years with UJB, he became well acquainted with Garcia’s signature style on the guitar, but said it never gets old for him.

While the Dead’s music journeyed across genres, Gilman said the “secret sauce” to Garcia’s style was syncopation, where the performance “feels like it’s throwing off the rhythm, but it’s really not, it’s creating more interest in it.”

He added that Garcia’s style was influenced by the fingerpicking of the banjo, his first instrument, as well as the loss of part of his right middle finger in a childhood accident.

Along with a collection of guitars inspired by

questions during deliberation on the item.

“We built our reputation around good people and doing things right, and we want to see that (legacy) continue,” he added.

Janet Mixon also thanked county staff and commissioners, but then, turning to residents seated in the chamber audience, took a moment to direct her gratitude to them as well.

“We look forward to working with you on making

this happen,” Janet told the board. “He is a farmer and I am an educator, and we’d love to be a part of the future of Mixon.”

Commissioners’ deliberations were lengthy and detailed ahead of the vote, an exercise that some said was necessary to publicly air out as many of the nuances and financial considerations at play.

The added conscientiousness was inspired by a letter sent to the county by Florida DOGE officials last week requesting a long list of documents and records, including those related to the proposed Mixon Farms purchase.

By the end of the item’s discussion, commissioners agreed that they were confident county staff had conducted the appropriate due diligence and that the project was fiscally justifiable, with significant community benefits.

Editor’s note: This report, published with permission and edited for length, appeared first at thebradentontimes.com. The Bradenton Times is a digital publication. Former County Commissioner Joe McClash founded TBT in 2008.

The Mixons are residents of Anna Maria Island.

Garcia’s own instruments and tailored to replicate specific eras of the Dead’s sound, Gilman tucks his middle finger back while playing guitar to best emulate Garcia’s sound.

“There is a certain style that he has that uses that ring finger, and the middle finger will just get in your way,” he said with a chuckle.

While Gilman tries his best to emulate Garcia’s style, the Grateful Dead’s love for freestyle jamming keeps the sound fresh.

“That’s what the Grateful Dead’s music is essentially about. It’s about the jams and going places where you haven’t gone before,” Gilman said. “I love the fact that we can play the same song … but it’ll never sound the same and be different each time.”

“It’s the music I love,” he added. “No matter how tired I get, I can’t say I don’t love it.”

Gilman said that one of his favorite Grateful Dead songs to both listen and perform is “Help on the Way/

Slipknot!” due to its challenge and “jam factor.”

Despite stepping away from UJB last year, Gilman remains a part of the Grateful Dead tribute scene as the lead guitarist of Morning Dew. He also tours with Rainbow Full of Sound and experiments with jam sessions as Garcia Sundae.

Gilman said Morning Dew played Aug. 1-2 in St. Petersburg for Garcia’s birthday and was set to play the next weekend, on the anniversary of his death. He said that even 60 years after the Grateful Dead’s creation and almost 30 years after Garcia’s death, the Deadhead community is still going strong.

“We have this feeling like, ‘How long is this going to last?’” Gilman said. “I have people come up to me and say, ‘We remember when our parents came out to hear you guys.’”

“There are a lot of young people that are still into the music. … It’s definitely continuing to get more interest from young people coming in,” he added.

Chocolate Emporium owner Tiffany Searcy and staff are flanked by Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce board members Wayne gunter and Susanne Arbanas at their ribbon-cutting and grand opening celebration Aug. 1 at the new shop, 216C Pine Ave., Anna Maria.

Cheers to chocolate

fruit is sorted and washed at Mixon fruit farms in 1974. Islander Photo: Courtesy Manatee County Public Library System

ITEMS FOR SALE

TREK/ g ARY f ISHER mountain bike (Marlin) for sale! 28-speed. Excellent condition, $60. 773-575-8189.

KENM o RE f R o NT L o AD dryer for sale, $100. Please, call or text 941-302-2285.

offICE CHAIRS: BLACK. Two, like-new, $35 each. 941-920-2494.

ANTIQ u E PARTNER DESK: All wood, $500. Inquire at 941-778-7978.

FREEBIE ITEMS FOR SALE

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).

TRANSPORTATION

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.

SuNCoAST BoTToM PAINTINg: Professional bottom painting. Mobile. Call 941-704-9382.

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.

BOATS & BOATING Continued

BoAT foR SALE: Tidewater 198, Center console, 115hp, Yamaha 4 stroke, only 380 hours, clean, always serviced. Bimini, cushions with trailer. $25,900. 213-221-5801.

HELP WANTED

R o SER CH u RCH SEEKS part-time Assistant f acilities Administrator to cover f riday to Sunday and special events. Read the job description RoserChurch.com/job-opportunity

NoW HIRINg HANDYMAN: full-time professional services. $18 an hour and up, based on experience. Call JayPros, 941-962-2874.

REP o RTER WANTED: f ull- to part-time. Print media, newspaper experience required. Apply via email with letter of interest to news@ islander.org.

KIDS FOR HIRE

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.

SERVICES

IS Y ou R H o ME 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.

CLEANIN g : VACATI o N, C o NSTR u CTI o N, 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. 941-565-3931.

BICYCLE REPAIRS: Just4 f un at 5358 g ulf 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 o R 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, 941250-8548.

ou R SERVICES: CLEANIN g , home repairs, tile, concrete, remodeling, decks, steps, flooring, water drainage solutions, rental 24-hour services. Hurricane shutters and pre-storm service. New, low-cost generator and insulation (starts and runs on propane when power off). No permits needed. Islander, over 40 years here! Call 941-404-9163.

go T DIRTY WIND o WS? f ree estimates/ insured. five-star customer service rating. “We want to earn your business. Downeast Window Cleaning, 207-852-6163.

SERVICES Continued

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

AIRPoRT SHuTTLE: QuALITY transportation, 10 years by Lewber. 352-339-3478.

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.

IN-H o ME S u PP o RT: 26-plus years’ experience. Tammy Roberts, 941-580-4440.

ACHA uff ER4 u fo R TRANSP o RTATI o N anywhere in f lorida. Properly insured and over 40 years in Bradenton. Dennis, 941812-5930.

o NECALL CLEAN u P. Junk removal, water damage, and more. fast, reliable service. Call, 941-544-1260.

NEED A RIDE to the airports? Service to Tampa, St. Pete or SRQ. Call gary at 863-409-5875.

H o ME 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.

A ffo RDABLE PRESS u RE WASHIN g and small job painting. 941-356-1456.

AMI AIRP oRT 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.

SKILLED HANDYMAN, 63, retired. Expert repairs, plumbing, electrical, odd jobs. Ties to island. Quality guaranteed. 704-5607254.

SERVICES Continued

B u SINESS-T o -B u SINESS 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, 941-720-7411. 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.

LAWN & GARDEN

C o NNIE’S LANDSCAPIN g INC. Residential and commercial. f ull-service lawn maintenance, landscaping, cleanups, hauling and more! Insured. 941-713-1965.

C o LLINS LANDSCAPE LI g HTIN g : o utdoor 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.

HOME IMPROVEMENT

VAN- go PAINTIN g residential/commercial, interior/exterior, pressure cleaning, wallpaper. Island references. Bill, 941-795-5100. www. vangopainting.net.

g RI ff IN’S H o ME IMPR o VEMENTS Inc. Handyman, fine woodwork, countertops, cabinets and wood flooring. Insured and licensed. 941-722-8792.

LANE’S SCREENINg SERVICES: Replace your window, door or lanai screens. Many screen options available. Retired veteran serving our community! f ree estimates, call 941-7055293.

L oo KIN g fo R 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.

D o NALD PERKINS PAINTIN g LLC. Interior/exterior/pressure washing. Island references. dperkinspaint@hotmail.com. 941705-7096.

go RILLA DRYWALL REPAIR LLC. Let’s solve your drywall problems together. give us a call at 941-286-0607.

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.

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.

HOME IMPROVEMENT Continued

ISLAND HANDYMAN: I live here, work here, value your referral. Refinish, paint. Just ask. JayPros. Licensed/insured. References. Call Jay, 941-962-2874.

RENTALS

ANNA MARIA guLf beachfront vacation rentals. o ne- two- and three-bedroom units, all beachfront. www.amiparadise.com. 941-7783143.

AVAILABLE N o W AND season: 1BR/1BA, seven-night minimum. carlesvacationrentals. co m 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.

2026 SEASoNAL RENTAL: Just one block from the beach, Single-story 2BR/2BA private residence, screened patio. No smoking/no pets. December-April. 64th Street, Holmes Beach. Call 813-833-4926.

CENTRAL HoLMES BEACH, 3BR/2BA completely remodeled, walk to beach, school, trolley, shopping. Annual, $2,595/month. 941713-6743.

AVAILABLE N o W! ANN u AL rental. Beautiful, bright renovated condo 2BR/2BA, one floor. Perico Bay Club, pool, hot tub, tennis, pickle ball, covered parking. $2,500/month. Call 612-802-8357.

ANNuAL RENTAL: 1BR/1BA Recently renovated, quiet street in Holmes Beach. Steps to a public beach access in Holmes Beach. $2,200/month. first, last and security. 941807-1405.

SN o W BIRD SPECIAL: Discount for multiple months. 2BR/2BA, second floor condo in Holmes Beach. Pool, tennis/pickleball, inunit laundry, Wi f i, screened lanai, covered parking. Available 2025/26 season beginning December 2025. Beautiful, bayside seating area. Pool/beach toys, bikes included. Call Jack, 312-835-2323 for more information/ photos.

STuNNINg fuRNISHED Top-level direct ocean view. 2BR/2BA. Annual or seasonal, available starting Aug.15. Holmes Beach, direct beach access. o wner-operated. Contact 201-3176922.

fo R RENT: 1BR/1BA AND 2BR/2BA in the 55-plus Meadowcroft community off 59th Street W., Bradenton. Call or text Chris for information, 941-580-7665.

RENTAL: f IVE MILES to AMI. 2BR/2BA furnished ranch condo. December through January. $3,000/month. 440-759-3786.

ANN u AL RENTALS AVAILABLE: Several to choose from 2BR, 1BA to 3BR/2BA. All have garages. $1,900 to $5,000 per month. first, last and security. Call Wagner Realty, 941-7782246.

fuRNISHED 1BR CoNDo: Annual or seasonal. Clubhouse, pool, carport, gym, second floor on 18-hole golf course. Close to beaches and shopping. 4460 Ironwood Circle Bradenton. Call 607-343-6001.

LooKINg foR AN EARLY BIRD? You can read Wednesday’s classifieds after 5 p.m. on Mondays at islander.org. And it’s fREE!

RENTALS Continued

AVAILABLE SEPTEMBER: 2BR/1BA. g reat location on Sarasota Bay, quiet street, lined with palm trees. Near Cortez village. Newly remodeled. Rent by the month, $5,500, January, february or March. or weekly rest of year. Call for details or photos, 941-773-1552.

REAL ESTATE

WINNIE MCHALE, REALT o R, 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.”

WATER f R o NT 3BR/2BA MAN ufACT u RED home with ample parking for boat/RV and two cars. Screened-in lanai for enjoying sunsets. Steps away from Parrott Cove Marina and free boat launch. Sunny Shores beach nearby and easy walk or bike ride to Anna Maria Island. Awaiting new owner to complete drywall and decorative flooring. You own the land. Sunny Shores, a friendly community with voluntary homeowners’ association that provides access to clubhouse and park amenities. Ideal vacation home or rental property. Asking price, $250,000. Call 847-436-0938 for more information or tour of home.

RETIREMENT fIXER: 1BR/BA TRAILER: Partially remodeled. Bradenton Beach, $99,999. o ne-minute walk to beach/bay. 831-2122606.

2BR/2BA C o ND o IN Mt. Vernon for sale. fully furnished, on lake with view of Sarasota Bay. Clubhouse, pool, workout room, and hot tub. Minutes to beaches and shopping. Asking $370,000. Call Sharon, 941-7305645.

ANNA

ANNA MARIA

Scan to explore all Anna Maria Island listings!

Jeff & Jennifer Jordan

Andrew & Brooke Doucett

Betsy Hagan

Joe McCall

Chelsea Oelker

Kathy Harman

Dee Munn

Laura Rulon

George Myers

Suzy Korinek

Amy Ward

Hannah Hillyard