VOLUME
JUNE 16, 2021 Free
NO. 34
the Best news on anna maria island Since 1992 astheworldterns. 6 am commissioner resigns. 2
Q&A 061621
islander.org
on the move
3
treehouse owner: more fines ‘unjust.’ 4
Meetings. 4 BB tweaks pandemicrelated dining regs. 5
Opinions. 6 10-20 YeArs Ago
Looking back. 7
HB oKs commercial rezone. 8
Save the date. 10 center welcomes ‘Bad company.’ 11
RoadWatch. 12 Streetlife. 12 storm ready. 13
Gathering. 14 father’s day tribute. 14 HB approves $22.5K for center. 15 Walkers plead for trail improvements. 16 county disconnect on HB call for help. 17
NESTING NOTES. 1st shorebird nests observed. 18
firing up for dad. 19 adult soccer playoffs underway. 20 fishing gets hotter. 21 county oKs funding for BB pier. 22 ISL BIZ. networking with Pirates in margaritaville. 23 cLASSIFIEDS. 24
PropertyWatch. 26
NYT puzzle.
a sea turtle makes its way back to the gulf of mexico June 10 after nesting near 77th Street in Holmes Beach. anna maria island turtle Watch and Shorebird monitoring volunteers Kathy doddridge and carla Boehme discovered the loggerhead on the beach shortly after dawn — a rare daylight sighting — and marked the nest. islander Photo: courtesy Kathy doddridge Preschooler grady niedzwick poses June 4 in his graduation cap with teacher Pam Bertrand as other graduates from the School for constructive Play wait on top of the slide to receive their honors. the school operates at gloria dei Lutheran church in Holmes Beach. more, page 11. islander Photo: courtesy SfcP
Moving on up
county gives nod to county declares ‘war’ Privateers, cities $500K for Mote center with HB over parking, concede, move July 4 denies $283K request parade to July 3 on Anna Maria pier By amy V.t. moriarty islander reporter
They said yes! Manatee County commissioners unanimously voted June 8 in favor of spending $500,000 to prepare the vacant 1,800 squarefoot space at the T-end of the Anna Maria City Pier, 100 S. Bay Blvd., for a Mote Marine Laboratory outreach center. The funds are raised from a 5% bed tax on accommodations of six months or less. The Manatee County Tourist Development Council recommended approval earlier this year. With live marine exhibits, seminars, workshops and other educational components along with community partnerships, Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy told county commissioners the center would be an asset to the county and the entire west coast of Florida. They heartily agreed. “I think it is one of the most exciting projects from an educational and tourist development standpoint. So I’m really excited that we’re going to see this come to the Anna Maria pier,” Commissioner Misty Servia said. She chairs the TDC. County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge, whose District 3 encompasses Anna Maria Island, said the center is “exactly what turn to MOTe, Page 2
By ryan Paice islander reporter
The conflict between Manatee County and Holmes Beach over the city’s parking restrictions has escalated into a war. Manatee County commissioners fired the first shot June 8 when they voted 5-2 to deny a request for $282,910 from Holmes Beach due to its parking restrictions along some roadways. Commissioners Reggie Bellamy and Misty Servia voted “no,” stating that the improvements would benefit the county. The city implemented a park-by-permit system last summer to reduce parking along some residential streets when people flooded island beaches as many other Florida beaches remained closed due to the pandemic. The system involves selling decals to residents and property owners to allow them to park a vehicle in one of 645 spots where the city prohibited public parking 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Several county commissioners have criticized the changes, claiming the reduction in spaces created an “unwelcoming environment” for those who must travel to enjoy the beaches. County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge and Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth met June 7 with county administrator
turn to parKinG, Page 4
REAL CHEFS REAL FLAVOR
By amy V.t. moriarty islander reporter
The celebration for the Fourth of July 4 will come a day early on Anna Maria Island. The Anna Maria Island Privateers’ annual Independence Day Parade was set to step-off from Coquina Beach in Bradenton Beach at 10 a.m. July 4 and travel north to Anna Maria. Each city in May approved the nonprofit’s parade plan. It was an oversight all the way. And it seemed a done deal for the largest island celebration in more than a year due to the coronavirus pandemic. But July 4 is a Sunday. And in a letter to the Privateers and leadership in the three cities, the Rev. Ed Moss of CrossPointe Fellowship in Holmes Beach requested a change to avoid clashing swords with Sunday morning’s religious services. The Privateers agreed and, as of June 14, so had two of the three island cities. “Because the Privateers celebrate and honor our country’s freedoms and independence for all Americans, we have elected to change the July 4 parade to July 3 to allow island church parishioners and followers of Christ to attend Sunday morning services without any disruption,” AMIP president turn to parade, Page 3
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