VOLUME 30, NO. 31
Remember their sacrifice on Memorial Day
MAY 25, 2022 FrEE
The Best News on anna Maria Island Since 1992
islander.org
K-2 kids star in yearend PJ play
Astheworldterns. 6
Q&A 052522
3
Memorial Day closings. 3 BB retains outdoor biz expansion. 4
Meetings 4 Qualifying ahead. 4
RoadWatch 5 BB commission advances charter questions. 5
Opinions 6
10-20 YEARS AGO
Looking back. 7
HB mayor airs issues on boat ramp plans. 8
Save the date. 10
Happenings Community events. 11
anna Maria elementary youngsters perform a kick line onstage May 17 for their class play, “Pajama Party.” The second-grade/kindergarten production was the final play of the 2021-22 academic year. for more, see page 13.
AM planners split on proposed beachfront home
AMI TOURISM: Endless Season
By Ryan Paice Islander Reporter
Tourney winners. 13
Gathering. 14
Obituaries. 15 Where’s Tuna Street.
16-17
Summer beach safety.
18-19
‘officer of the year’ 20
Streetlife 20 fire district awards. 21 Beach ride-along with aMITW, scientists. 22
Seasons change. 23 Soccer at the center. 24 Tarpon coming in. 25
Isl Biz: 26-27 CLASSIFIEDS. 28-29
PropertyWatch. 30
NYT puzzle. 31
aMe teacher Kelly Crawford cheers for her kindergarten class May 17 during the final play of the school year. Islander Photos: Courtesy Ryan Serra
Capt. David White of anna Maria Charters grips a 140-pound tarpon caught and released on a May 19 charter about 100 yards off the beach. Islander Courtesy Photo
AMI banking on summer tourism By Kane Kaiman Islander Reporter
Fewer visitors, inflation, labor shortages and supply-chain bottlenecks — it sounds like a cruel summer ahead for islanders looking to turn a buck. But entrepreneurs and managers in the rental, restaurant, retail, transportation and recreation sectors are expecting profits in the coming months and some are laying plans to expand their enterprises. Wagner Realty property manager Lisa Varano said about 60% of the outfit’s 110 island rental properties were booked as of May 18, down from about 80% in 2021.
The drop was consistent with Vrbo data indicating bookings were down about 22% for the area. Varano attributes the drop to late-pandemic competition from cruises and other destination locations and the rising prices of airfare and gas. Rental rates on the island, which have increased sharply in recent years, could be motivating would-be visitors to vacation elsewhere, she said. Island Real Estate broker/owner Larry Chatt concurs: “My gut says that the data is going to continue to show that we need to TURN To tourism, Page 3
Plans for a new home at 105 Elm Ave., Anna Maria, are proving to be controversial as permitting moves forward. Planning and zoning board members voted 2-2 May 16 to recommend city commission approval for a right-of-way use permit that would allow the creation of a public driveway to connect Elm Avenue to the currently undeveloped lot, as well as extend utilities to the property. P&Z members Dr. Jose Erbella, who chairs the board, and Bob Carter voted to recommend approval. P&Z members Charlie Salem and Barbara Zdravecky voted “no.” P&Z member David Haddox recused himself from the discussion and vote due to his acquaintance with one of the involved parties, but he did not name a person. P&Z member Maureen Cote, who attended the meeting via Zoom, did not join the meeting in time to participate in the vote. The proposed access drive would be 12 by 68 feet and composed of 12-inch thick rock mixture, aligning with the existing beach access path and a pedestrian bridge. The public drive would connect to a proposed 2,144-square-foot single-family home at 105 Elm Ave. Madison Larkin, an office manager for Gagne Construction, the contractor on the permit, said property owner Fedora Campbell has “dreamed” of building a home on
TURN To BEACHFroNt, Page 2