Florida is portrayed in the news as an odd place, where a cigar-chomping man holds an alligator’s jaws open so his dog can break free and a developer relocates protected gopher tortoises in the middle of the night so he can get approval to build on his land.
Being part of Florida, Anna Maria Island is no different.
We’re, well, a bit quirky.
We have Roger the mannequin, a second-floor patio resident who was kidnapped and dismembered with his head left on the beach, only to be returned in pieces by the mystery assailant when The Sun publicized his plight (Roger is reassembled, has a girlfriend, and is feeling much better).
Second Place
That is so… Florida
2021
In the “What a way to run a government” category, Bradenton Beach mayoral candidates Bill Shearon and Jack Clarke got the same number of votes in 2015 but didn’t have a runoff. They cut playing cards to decide the winner. Shearon drew the ace of clubs and won.
We have quirky people who built a tree house partly on the public beach on phone poles disguised as tree trunks that faked out a city inspector and has been in litigation for years now, and one who built a net camp built on phone poles in the middle of Sarasota Bay, which also has been in litigation for years now.
The U.S. Supreme Court finally had to weigh in on a case involving local commercial fisherman John Yates, who was taken to court by wildlife officials for tossing undersize fish overboard after being caught. He was prosecuted under a law prohibiting document shredding, and the case became known as the “fish-shredding” case. After being jailed for 30 days, he won, but quit fishing and opened a gift shop with his wife.
We had long-distance swimmer Diana Nyad train here to swim from Havana to Key West – hiring a Sun staff member to captain one of her chase boats – and successfully fight her way into Cuban waters only to be defeated by jellyfish.
We’ve had a coyote walk down the beach like someone’s dog; razorbills – which look like penguins – swimming in the Gulf due to a lack of food in their northern waters; and octopus raiding fishermens’ stone crab traps.
It’s an interesting Island. Pick us up or visit us at amisun.com and see what happens next!
MANATEE COUNTY – The county is giving a New Year’s gift to its seniors. The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine arrived in Manatee County on Dec. 28 and distribution to seniors age 65 and older will begin on Dec. 30.
During a Dec. 29 press conference held via Zoom, Manatee County Information Outreach Manager Nicholas Azzara said that 3,500 doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine had arrived in the county and that appointments for distribution of those vaccines to seniors aged 65 and older are now open.
The first two days of vaccine distribution, on Wednesday, Dec. 30 and Thursday, Dec. 31, will take place at the Manatee County Department of Public Safety complex at 2101 47th Terrace E. in Bradenton. Up to 300 people per day are expected to be vaccinated at the Department of Public Safety. On Friday, Jan. 1, the vaccine distribution center will be moved to Bennett Park at 400 Cypress Creek Blvd. in Bradenton. At Bennett Park, appointments are planned to be booked through Jan. 4 with up to 500 people vaccinated per day. Both sites will be drive-thru vaccination sites.
To book an appointment, visit the Manatee County website to complete the Department of Health vaccine screening and consent form. Print out a copy of the consent form which will be required onsite before a vaccine can be administered. Once that is complete, an Eventbrite site will open up to allow you to schedule an appointment to receive the vaccine. If the website is busy, Azzara said to please keep trying. If you do not have computer access, please call the Manatee County Department of Health at 941-748-0747 for assistance.
Once you have an appointment, please arrive at the vaccine location on time and with a copy of your consent form, registration ticket from Eventbrite and photo identification to prove your age. All vaccine recipients are asked to stay in their vehicles unless directed to exit by onsite medical personnel. Anyone with a history of allergic reactions to vaccines will be asked to remain for 15-30 minutes after receiving the vaccine for observation.
While the 3,500 doses of the vaccine received by the county won’t come close to vaccinating all of the more than 100,000 residents at or over age 65, more vaccines are promised by the Florida State Attorney General’s Office to be on the way once Manatee County’s supply dwindles down to 500. As more vaccines arrive, more appointments will be available online for qualified individuals trying to get the vaccine.
There is no charge to receive the COVID-19 vaccine through the Manatee County vaccination site.
There are no residency requirements to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in Manatee County. However, once the first dose of the vaccine is received, the recipient must receive the second dose in Manatee County. Vaccine records will not be able to be transferred to another state or facility. For the Moderna vaccine, a second dose must be administered 28 days after the first dose. While Manatee County does not yet have the Pfizer vaccine, that one has a 21-day period before a second dose must be administered. Illegal immigrants with valid photo identification who meet the age requirement will be able to receive the vaccine in Manatee County.
Manatee County Chief of Emergency Medical Services James Crutchfield said that once initial doses of vaccine are administered, a system will be set up for those requiring a second dose to register for vaccine appointments.
Residents of assisted living, nursing homes or other long-term care facilities will receive a vaccine from the staff of those facilities. Hospital staff and patients requiring the vaccine will receive their vaccinations at those facilities. The vaccines allotted to local hospitals will not be made available to the general public at this time.
For anyone who cannot get to one of the county-run facilities to receive their vaccine, Crutchfield said that plans for localized community vaccination distribution are being made though those vaccinations will take place further down the road. Right now, he said the priority for Manatee County is to get as many people vaccinated as quickly as possible to work toward herd immunity, expected to occur when 70-80% of the population has been vaccinated.
Currently, there is no timeline for when the vaccine will be made available to people less than 65 years old in the state of Florida.
While the Manatee County appointment site is a stop-gap for the time being, a state registration site for vaccinations is expected to be launched in two weeks.
For questions about the vaccine, dial 311.
Even once you receive a vaccination, county health officials still recommend practicing safe social distancing, wearing masks and frequent handwashing.
ANNA MARIA – Roser Food Pantry chairman Jack Brennan is one of those people who feels obliged to take on tasks others are unwilling or unable to do.
In addition to chairing the food pantry, Brennan also serves on the city of Anna Maria’s Historic Preservation Board.
In recognition of his community-minded efforts, Brennan has been named as one of the Sun’s Persons of the Year for 2020.
The Roser Food Pantry was founded in 2010 under the leadership of Roser Memorial Community Church members Pam and Major Leckie. Brennan was not part of those formative efforts, but he’s served as the church’s food pantry chairman for the past four years.
In that role, he guides the operations that provide free food for Anna Maria Island residents in need. The food pantry also assists Island employees who live off-Island. It also provides Publix gift cards to residents and workers who qualify.
During a recent visit to the food pantry, Brennan was asked how 2020 compared to past years in terms of donations received and the demand for assistance.
“It’s been very surprising. Demand has been low and donations have been high. The donations have been terrific. It’s only now picking up to our average of 100 bags of food distributed per month. For a while, it was 40-50 bags a month. I’m not sure why demand this year has been low, except that so many food banks and food kitchens have opened up because of COVID-19,” Brennan said.
Roser Food Pantry chair Jack Brennan displays a document pertaining to the food pantry building renovations that began in 2009 and were completed in 2010. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
As chair, Brennan often purchases needed food items at Publix. While shopping, he tries to find ‘buy one, get one free’ offerings that save the pantry money. He also helps organize the volunteers.
“At first, I did it because my wife, Lynn, volunteered and I assisted her. Then Lynn got so busy with the museum and other things and I took it over more or less by default. I enjoy it. I enjoy the people and I enjoy the volunteers,” Brennan said.
He noted the food pantry could currently use a few more volunteers because some of the more vulnerable volunteers have taken a temporary hiatus due to the pandemic.
$30,000 donation
Brennan recently learned the Roser Food Pantry would receive up to $30,000 from the Mayors Feed the Hungry organization that’s been assisting Manatee County with the distribution of COVID-19-related federal CARES Act funds.
The $30,000 contribution is intended to offset food distribution expenses the pantry has incurred since the pandemic arrived in Manatee County in March.
Brennan recently met with Roser Memorial Community Church Financial Administrator Matt Meehan to ensure that the food pantry services justified a $30,000 donation. They did.
“I don’t feel right taking a $30,000 donation if I didn’t do what was necessary to get that donation. The donation is going to help a lot,” Brennan said.
Blessing Box
Located at 511 Pine Ave. in Anna Maria, the food pantry has a new Blessing Box affixed to the exterior wall that faces the street. Inside the Blessing Box are food items that can be taken at any time by those in need.
The inspiration for the Blessing Box occurred in August, when the Brennans were vacationing in the Hendersonville, N.C. area and Jack saw a newspaper story about a local church’s Blessing Box.
The Roser Food Pantry in Anna Maria now features a Blessing Box that can be accessed any time. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“It dawned on me that that’s my way of being open not just Mondays and Wednesdays, but 24/7. This is something that will always be available every day, 365 days a year,” Brennan said.
Brennan said the Blessing Box might provide free food for those who are reluctant to visit the food pantry during regular hours.
If you’d like to volunteer, donate food or money or need food assistance, call 941-778-0414 or visit www.roserchurch.com/food-pantry/.
Historic preservation
Brennan serves as the acting chair of the three-member Anna Maria Historic Preservation Board which also consists of Thom Wagner and Gary McMullen. Brennan said the volunteer board should ideally consist of five members and two alternates.
This year, the board has nearly completed its efforts to formally certify The Island Players theater and the Anna Maria Historical Museum as historic structures.
The board can also assist a homeowner or building owner or property owner who wishes to have their structure or property voluntarily certified as historic.
Brennan said a historic designation could provide a homeowner with property tax relief and may also provide relief from FEMA’s 50% renovation rule – a federal rule that limits the value of the annual improvements that can be made to an existing ground-level structure.
Jack Brennan is assisting with the efforts to certify the Anna Maria Historical Museum as a historic structure. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Brennan serves on the preservation board in part because of a previous research request that Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy made of him. Murphy made his request after the Urban Land Institute released its Anna Maria Island report in 2015. The report recommended a greater Island-wide emphasis on historic preservation.
“I did almost two years of research,” Brennan said. “I like being involved with the city, but I do not want to be a commissioner and I do not want to be the mayor.”
Praise offered
Charles Wade serves as facilities administrator at Roser Memorial Community Church and works closely with Brennan on the food pantry operations.
“Jack is a very good person. He’s very close with us as a Christian and as a fellow man who loves to help people. The food pantry is his passion,” Wade said.
“Jack’s into so many different things but he’s always got humanity in mind and he’s always looking to do good things. He’s just a great person,” food pantry volunteer Dale Dohner said.
“Jack is the ‘Jack of all trades.’ He is the foundation of our Historic Preservation Board and he is literally doing God’s work with the food pantry. What a wonderful world it would be if we had more Jack Brennans,” Murphy said.
HOLMES BEACH – When you walk into Minnie’s Beach Café you’re not just walking into another of Anna Maria Island’s amazing restaurants, you’re walking into a family’s home. And that family is helmed by Kathy Smart.
The staff at Minnie’s treats everyone coming in, from local regulars to vacation first-timers, as family, while the staff really is extended and chosen family. That is something Smart says is especially important when bringing someone new onboard. She’s been working with some of the same people since before she, her spouse Mary and other business partners, who’ve since retired, bought the café when it was Brian’s Sunny Side Up many years ago.
Sun Persons of the Year
2020 – Jack Brennan, Roser Memorial Community Church and Kathy Smart, Minnie’s Beach Cafe
2019 – Doug Copeland, Anna Maria commissioner
2018 – Dan Murphy, Anna Maria mayor
2017 – Bob Slicker, Swordfish Grille manager
2016 – Rev. Ed Moss, CrossPointe Fellowship
2015 – Kenneth A. (Andy) Price Jr., chief, West Manatee Fire Rescue
2014 – Gail and Ed Straight, Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Inc.
2013 – Charlie Hunsicker, director, Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources Dept., and Rick Spadoni, Coastal Planning
2012 – Mike Selby, Anna Maria mayor
2011 – Roser Food Pantry
2010 – Rex Hagen, Hagen Family Foundation
2009 – Charlie Hunsicker, director, Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources Dept.
2008 – Cindi Harrison, Anna Maria Elementary School
2007 – The Legacy III – Emily Anne Smith, Lea Ann Bessonette, John Chappie
2006 – Suzi Fox, director, Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch
2005 – Cindy Thompson, Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce
2004 – Gene and Elizabeth Moss, Roser Memorial Community Church
2003 – Officer Pete Lannon, Holmes Beach Police Dept.
2002 – Sean Murphy, Beach Bistro
2001 – Carol Whitmore, Manatee County Commissioner; former Holmes Beach mayor
Smart moved to Florida in 1989 from Cape Cod and when she came to check on a friend’s house on the Island, it was love at first sight. She relocated from Holiday a few days later in 1991 and never looked back. Smart first started working at the local restaurant, now known as Minnie’s Beach Café, back when it was Brian’s Sunny Side Up in 1995. Though she’s moved from the Island to West Bradenton, Smart’s commitment and dedication to the Island community remains as strong as ever, something that really shines through the darkness of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It all happened so fast,” she said of watching the effects of the pandemic on her restaurant, which Smart said was packed on St. Patrick’s Day, the day restrictions on restaurants and bars were announced in Florida. Immediately afterward, she said restrictions kicked in quickly with occupancy dropping to 50%, then 25% and then to nothing as dining establishments were forced to close their doors to customers. The closure of the restaurant didn’t stop Smart and her staff from trying to reach the community, however.
During the pandemic, Minnie’s was open for takeout customers. It was also open to anyone in the community who needed food or some grocery items and couldn’t get to the store or afford to pay for food.
Smart offered free breakfast and lunch to children, no questions asked, noting that parents would otherwise have to take their children to King Middle School, the closest pickup location for food from Manatee County Schools, for “a sack lunch with a sandwich. They weren’t going to do that. I have a restaurant. Why not help?”
She also offered free meals to local seniors and grocery items for sale through the restaurant for anyone who didn’t want to take their chances in a local grocery store. And when someone needed something and wasn’t able to get to Minnie’s to pick it up, Smart and her staff made sure that person got what they needed.
“I don’t think I did anything that anyone else wouldn’t do,” she said.
And while Smart was working to help the community, when Minnie’s was in financial trouble over the summer due to the pandemic shut down and restrictions, the community reached out and helped the restaurant and its staff in return.
Smart said the outpouring of support and love from the community was both overwhelming and wonderful.
“Without the community, we would’ve shut down in August,” she said. “You do what you can do. Maybe I did help some people out but they help me out a lot.”
Now, though the restaurant is open for dine-in and takeout customers, Smart said things are still tough financially but she hopes for a better future for herself, her staff and the restaurant that she loves.
“It’s scary. It’s very scary,” she said of the ongoing pandemic. She added that when the shutdowns and restrictions began in March, she thought it would only be a month or so before things were under control and went back to normal. Now, nearly 10 months later, she hopes that the COVID-19 vaccines will help bring things back to a semblance of how they were.
“I hope that by spring the Island can go back to the way it was,” Smart said, adding that she also hopes that people will soon be able to visit without fear of catching the virus and that her staff will be able to work without having the same fear.
For right now, she said the restaurant is doing more takeout business than it used to and her plan is to “go with the flow and hope that things work out for the best for everyone.”
Smart’s hope going into the new year is that the pandemic will bring people closer together rather than pushing them apart, that she can keep Minnie’s Beach Café going, that the virus goes away and that everyone will finally be safe.
To the community that has embraced her and her business, Smart simply said, “Thank you so much.”
HOLMES BEACH – The beachfront treehouse built by Lynn Tran and Richard Hazen is the story that just keeps on giving.
While the owners are still appealing a court ruling ordering the destruction of the treehouse, they now have a new issue – they can’t renew their vacation rental certificates.
Code Compliance Officer James Thomas said that he’s been working with the owners of Angelinos Sea Lodge – the home of the controversial treehouse – to get the issues resolved between them and the city so that they can get the VRCs, which allow them to rent the four short-term vacation rental units on their property.
While Angelinos previously had VRCs for the units, Thomas said that city code prevents him or his fellow officers from renewing the certificates due to the outstanding code violations and fines on the property related to the treehouse, which is under a court order to be torn down. He added that the code compliance department has been advised by the attorney handling the treehouse case for the city, Randy Mora, to not issue any VRC renewals on the property until the code issues are cleared up.
Thomas said that Tran and Hazen will have to work with the city’s building department to make the treehouse a legal structure on the property, which is unlikely, since they tried to get after-the-fact permits for the structure a few years ago and were given a long list of reasons why former Building Official Jim McGuinness denied those permits. Some of those issues are that the supporting posts are not buried far enough in the sand to appropriately support the treehouse structure according to code, the treehouse is not accessible to the disabled and it’s located too close to the erosion control line to be legally permitted. Holmes Beach Building Official Neal Schwartz did not return a request for comment from The Sun.
Thomas said their other option is to pay the code compliance fines and remove the treehouse to clear the code issues on the property.
If the treehouse is either made legal under city permits or torn down, he said the VRC renewals for the four vacation rental units can be processed. Until those renewals are granted, Thomas said that the units have to remain closed to visitors.
As of Oct. 15, the daily accrued code fine against the treehouse owners was $95,600. With fines accruing at $50 per day, that adds about another $3,650 through Dec. 27. As of Dec. 22, City Treasurer Lori Hill said the treehouse owners owe the city $184,914 in legal fees.
In response to the city’s Oct. 16 denial of the renewal of the VRCs, Tran and Hazen submitted a letter to the city Oct. 19 stating that they had received a legal opinion on the renewal denials and believe they were issued in error for several reasons. One of those reasons is that there are still three pending appeals in Manatee County Circuit Court, and the owners also are appealing to the United States Supreme Court for a second time to review the case.
Another reason is that the treehouse isn’t a habitable structure on the property and is for the personal use of the owners, not vacationers at the property. The other listed reasons are the loss of income due to lost reservations on the property with the VRCs not renewed on time and the fact that the VRCs were both initially issued and renewed once by the city during the time that the treehouse has been standing on the property. The owners’ legal opinion came from attorney David Levin.
Thomas said that he’s found both Tran and Hazen to be receptive to efforts to resolve the situation but until a resolution is reached, the Angelinos Sea Lodge remains closed to guests.
Tran and Hazen did not return requests for comment from The Sun.
MANATEE COUNTY – County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge has provided paralegal Michael Barfield with a call log that details calls made and received on his personal phone.
As the District 3 county commissioner, Van Ostenbridge represents Anna Maria Island, Cortez, the Manatee County portion of Longboat Key and west Bradenton.
Van Ostenbridge provided Barfield his phone records last week in response to the public records request Barfield made on Nov. 20.
As of Monday afternoon, Barfield said he had identified most of the calls listed in Van Ostenbridge’s call log, but he was still reviewing those records.
Van Ostenbridge’s phone log reveals who he talked to, when he talked to them and for how long, but it does not provide any details on the content of those phone conversations.
The Florida Sunshine Law prohibits members of the same county or city commission from discussing official or foreseeably official county business in any setting other than a properly noticed public meeting. The Sunshine Law does not prohibit members of the same elected body from discussing matters unrelated to their official government business.
Van Ostenbridge and Baugh calls
Van Ostenbridge was elected on Nov 3.
According to the call log he provided to Barfield, Van Ostenbridge and Baugh communicated by phone 15 times between Nov. 4 and Dec. 1. Their calls totaled 129 minutes and ranged in length from one minute to 23 minutes.
Van Ostenbridge and Baugh spoke for 17 minutes on Nov. 5, 23 minutes on Nov. 12, 14 minutes on Nov. 13, 10 minutes on Nov. 16 and for six minutes and 11 minutes on Nov. 18.
One day later, during the special county commission meeting Van Ostenbridge requested, Van Ostenbridge made a motion to put County Administrator Cheri Coryea on notice that her termination would be discussed on Jan. 6.
Baugh, Satcher and Commissioner George Kruse supported the motion made by Van Ostenbridge with no advance notice given to the public. But on Dec. 10, Kruse withdrew his support for further discussion on Coryea’s termination and those efforts have now ceased.
During the Nov. 19 meeting, Baugh also introduced a county resolution pertaining to commission meeting procedures, which was adopted by the same 4-3 vote with no advance notice given to the public.
When contacted Monday, Van Ostenbridge provided the following response via text message: “Vanessa Baugh is a very good friend and we speak regularly. I turned over all my calls with the other commissioners in the spirit of transparency. I did not discuss county business on any of those calls.”
County Commissioner Vanessa Baugh has provided paralegal Michael Barfield with a copy of her personal call log. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
When contacted Monday, Baugh provided a similar response: “Just personal conversations between two people who became friends on the campaign trail. We campaigned very closely together and forged a friendship.”
Calls with other commissioners
According to Van Ostenbridge’s call log, he engaged in five phone conversations with Satcher between Nov. 7 and Nov. Nov. 24. Those calls totaled 39 minutes and included a 21-minute call on Nov. 7 and a 13-minute call on Nov. 24.
According to his call log, Van Ostenbridge initiated two phone conversations with Commissioner Misty Servia: a nine-minute call on Nov. 8 and a 13-minute call on Nov. 17 – the same day Van Ostenbridge, Satcher and Kruse were sworn in as commissioners.
Regarding her phone conversations with Van Ostenbridge, Servia said, “I endorsed Kevin and we had a friendly relationship, with messages of ‘Congratulations on being sworn in,’ and, ‘Are you getting settled into your new office?’ I wanted to see him grow and succeed. It goes without saying that I was extremely disappointed when he suggested firing our county administrator, and I had no idea that he planned to do that just hours after being sworn in.”
According to his call log, Van Ostenbridge engaged in three phone conversations with Kruse between Nov. 4 and Dec. 1, for a total of 15 minutes.
According to his call log, Van Ostenbridge initiated a one-minute call to Commissioner Carol Whitmore on Nov. 16 and Whitmore initiated consecutive one-minute and five-minute calls to Van Ostenbridge on Nov. 18.
Additional calls
Private citizens who do not hold public office or work for a local governmental agency are not subject to the Sunshine Law, but Van Ostenbridge’s call log provides additional insight into those he’s in frequent contact with.
According to his call log, Van Ostenbridge and developer Carlos Beruff had nine phone communications for a total of 67 minutes between Nov. 11 and Nov. 21.
The pair spoke for 15 minutes on Nov. 11, for 17 minutes at 7:25 p.m. on Nov. 17, for seven minutes at 1:24 p.m. on Nov. 19 and for a total of 14 minutes on Nov. 20 during three consecutive calls that occurred between 6:39 a.m. and 7:17 a.m.
According to Van Ostenbridge’s call log, he spoke to developer Michael Neal six times for a total of 91 minutes between Nov. 12 and Nov. 20; and to developer Pat Neal three times for a total of 21 minutes.
According to his call log, Van Ostenbridge and Bradenton Mayor Gene Brown engaged in 10 phone conversations for a total of 80 minutes between Nov. 16 and Nov. 20.
According to his call log, Van Ostenbridge and campaign supporter Bob Spencer, from West Coast Tomato, spoke nine times for a total of 55 minutes.
Barfield comments
When contacted Monday, Barfield commented on the calls made between commissioners.
“They would have you believe that all these calls were completely about friendship, but it appears they were taking steps behind the scenes to terminate Cheri Coryea, and to bring forth Commissioner Baugh’s resolution,” Barfield said.
“There’s still pieces of the jigsaw puzzle that are missing. Unfortunately, the picture coming into focus raises very troubling concerns about commissioners routinely chatting with each other on key dates surrounding the efforts to terminate the county administrator,” Barfield said.
Paralegal and Sunshine Law expert Michael Barfield continues to investigate the private communications of four Manatee County commissioners. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Barfield also commented on some of the other phone calls that took place.
“When you start piecing everything together, it tells me there are some key people acting as conduits between the commission, as well as the commissioners talking among themselves,” Barfield said.
Barfield said he was still reviewing the call log he received from Baugh on Christmas Eve. His partial review of Baugh’s calls between Nov. 3 and Nov. 11 indicate Baugh engaged in four calls with Van Ostenbridge and 12 calls with Kruse during that period.
According to Barfield, attorney George Levesque, from the GrayRobinson law firm in Tallahassee, is representing Baugh, and attorney Morgan Bentley is representing Van Ostenbridge.
MANATEE COUNTY – Manatee County has a FEMA-funded, county-managed beach renourishment project planned for Coquina Beach in early 2021.
The county is also partnering with the Town of Longboat Key on a beach renourishment project that includes the construction of five permeable rock groins.
The Town of Longboat Key also plans to conduct an emergency dredging operation on Greer Island, also known as Beer Can Island, at the northern tip of the key.
These projects were presented and discussed at the Tuesday, Dec. 15 Manatee County Commission meeting.
Coquina Beach renourishment
Tom Pierro, principal engineer with Coastal Planning and Engineering, presented the county’s Coquina Beach renourishment plan.
The county-owned beach is located in Bradenton Beach at the southern end of Anna Maria Island. Pierro said the Coquina Beach renourishment project pertains to a mile-and-a-half stretch of beach in that area.
Pierro said the beach area is managed locally by the county and does not contain the required infrastructure elements to have been included in the recently-completed Anna Maria Island beach renourishment project that received significant federal funding.
Pierro said the beach sand lost during Hurricane Hermine in 2016 and Hurricane Irma in 2017 qualified the Coquina Beach renourishment project for FEMA funds.
About 200,000 cubic yards of sand can be removed from Longboat Pass, he said, adding that the county plans to use about 70,000 cubic yards of that available sand for the Coquina Beach renourishment project. He said the rest could possibly be made available to the Town of Longboat Key to renourish the beach at the end of Gulfside Road.
Pierro estimated the Coquina Beach renourishment project will cost approximately $3 million. He said the project plans are complete, and expects the contract to be awarded in January and the work to begin in February or March. Pierro said the project must be completed by the end of May to preserve the FEMA funds.
Greer Island dredging
Representing the Town of Longboat Key, Senior Project Manager Charlie Mopps presented the Greer Island emergency dredging plan.
Mopps said the purpose of the dredging operation is to improve and restore boat and kayak access to Greer Island lagoon near the Longboat Pass Bridge. Mopps said the emergency dredging project calls for the removal of about 1,000 cubic yards of sand in a 30-foot stretch of the lagoon.
The Greer Island lagoon will be dredged to improve accessibility for boaters and kayakers. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Mopps said the dredging contract has been awarded to Duncan Seawall, Dock & Boat Lift. The dredging project is expected to begin soon and take only a few days to complete once started. Mopps said the sand removed from the lagoon will be stored for later use with the Longboat Key beach renourishment project.
This photographic comparison illustrates how the Greer Island channel opening has narrowed over the past two decades. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Beach renourishment and groins
On behalf of the Town of Longboat Key, Al Browder, vice president of the Olsen Associates firm, provided county commissioners with an overview of the Longboat Key beach renourishment project.
The project is divided into three segments. Occurring first, segment 1 will include the north end of the key and Greer Island. The segment 1 plans call for the installation of five permeable groins and the addition of approximately 200,000 cubic yards of beach sand.
Browder said the beach renourishment sand will come from the town’s permitted borrow areas more than a mile offshore of Passage Key.
Browder said the low-crested permeable rock groins will complement two existing concrete groins located near the street end at North Shore Road. He said the goal is to slow the rate of sand flow and erosion in that area.
The existing concrete groins near the north end of Longboat Key will be joined by five new permeable rock groins.- Joe Hendricks | Sun
“The purpose here is to maintain sandy beach conditions along the Gulf. It has been a running battle to protect the north tip of Longboat Key and maintain the recreational value and the environmental habitat in the lagoon itself,” Browder said.
Browder said the segment 1 project is anticipated to start in February or March and take about 180 days to complete. When the segment 1 work is complete, some additional dune vegetation and mangrove restoration will take place along the Greer Island lagoon.
The segment 2 plan calls for 350,000 cubic yards of beach sand to be placed in the center section of the key’s Gulfside beach areas.
Listed in the Town of Longboat Key’s presentation as optional and dependent on available funds, the segment 3 plans call for 160,000 cubic yards of beach sand to potentially be placed at the south end of the key.
These discussions resulted in the county commission authorizing the county administrator to execute an interlocal agreement with the Town of Longboat Key that provides $2.69 million as the county’s contribution to the town’s renourishment project.
The accompanying adoption of Resolution 20-199 authorized a short-term loan not to exceed $1.99 million from the county’s general fund to its beach erosion control fund. The remaining $700,000 of the county’s contribution to the town project will come from the county’s beach renourishment reserve fund.
The commission also approved the town’s request for the easements needed for groin installations.
New Year’s resolutions have spawned more jokes than life changes. Still, it’s a good idea to look back on the past year and reflect on what worked and what didn’t.
An example might be remembering a fish lost to a failed knot. Resolve to always carefully tie knots, wetting them and carefully tightening them. The same applies to sharpening hooks, checking the drag and inspecting line for nicks and abrasions.
Tackle and organization are certainly places to start, but extend that same thinking to other equipment like your boat and motor, waders, push pole, trolling motor and wading boots. As experience teaches us, it’s the little things that we overlook that come back to haunt us. On the water, consider thinking out of the proverbial “box” by altering your routine strategy. Many anglers go fishing with a plan and never deviate from it. They start at one spot and hit all the usual “holes” during the day. A different option? Try planning to fish only places you’ve never explored before. I’ve done this and been amazed at how many unique areas and new opportunities I’ve found. Make a note of the moon phase, tide stage, wind direction and water temperature. Looking at the same places with this information and “new eyes” can be revealing.
Mark McBride, Bobby Lopez and Dan Madole found these impressive grouper in Tampa Bay. – Rusty Chinnis | Sun
Also consider trying a new place altogether. There are lots of beautiful and productive destinations within a few hours north and south of Anna Maria. Drive two hours north and you can explore the Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge and just north of there, Homosassa, Crystal River, and Yankeetown. Less than two hours south and you’re in Charlotte Harbor and adjacent to Pine Island Sound. Too far? Anyone with a boat can leave Anna Maria and be fishing in fresh water in less than an hour. The Manatee and Braden rivers provide anglers with a variety of fish from tarpon to catfish, redfish to bass. Both rivers also have numerous launch sites for boats, kayaks and paddleboards.
It might even prove useful to review how you approach fishing. If you’re a fly caster, look at ways you might improve your casting and consider learning how to cast with your non-dominant hand and tie flies. Anglers who use conventional tackle might want to try artificial lures instead of always relying on live bait.
I have a final suggestion that might be the most important. Get involved in working to keep our waters fishable and swimmable. Join with like-minded individuals, write letters to policymakers, attend commission meetings and lobby state officials to protect our water quality, habitat and fisheries. All the well-intended resolutions won’t amount to much if we don’t. No matter how long you’ve been fishing or what your level of competency, there’s always room for improvement. Environmental advocacy, a general review of your tackle, technique and the opportunities available to you can only improve your enjoyment of fishing moving into 2021 and beyond. Happy New Year!
Happy New Year, are we all just about done with this year? I certainly am. Nevertheless, Anna Maria’s real estate market is not done, and this year has been an immensely successful one in spite of the pandemic.
Anna Maria’s popularity has exploded during the last 10 years, much of it fueled by newspaper and magazine articles about our “Florida Postcard, Old Florida” island. The latest love affair with Anna Maria is in Coastal Living Magazine’s end-of-year issue, just in time for tourist season, if we indeed have one this year. Coastal Living has written before about Anna Maria, but this particular version has to be the purple prose of Anna Maria stories.
The writing is so elaborately infused with the glory of our beaches, “near-dizzying,” the lure of Pine Avenue “hums with the old and the new simultaneously,” with restored homes that are now galleries, restaurants, bakeries, museums and bike rental shops.
Now, to be fair, all of this is true, but if I were reading this right now in snowy shut-down New York City, I would be fighting my way down I-95 to get here. In fact, I might just fight my way over the Cortez Bridge to see what I’m missing. I think it’s great that all of the businesses mentioned in the piece are getting credit and exposure for making Anna Maria such a sought-after island, but “double-decker building of delights” – please. I’ll let you figure out which restaurant they mean.
Practically every month this year, when I review the closed sales numbers in Manatee County, I get excited, and this month is no exception. So, let’s look at the November Manatee County closed sales reported by the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee.
Single-family homes closed 40.3% more properties in November this year compared to last year. Cash sales were up 52%, the median sale price was $350,500, up 7.2%, and the average sale price was $463,015, up 15.6%. The median time to contract was 19 days, up 55.8% and the month’s supply of properties was only 1.6 months, down 51.5%.
Condos closed 58.9% more properties in November this year compared to last year. Cash sales were up 77.4%, the median sale price was $237,250, up 10.3%, and the average sale price was $265,013, up 5.3%. The median time to contract was 34 days (no change from last year) and the month’s supply of properties was only 2.3 months, down 45.2%.
The month’s supply of available properties hit a new low, meaning if you’re looking for a single-family home or a condo, you will have slim pickings. Because of this, the median and average sale prices continue to push up with no end in sight. Fortunately, with mortgage rates also at an all-time low, buyers can qualify for a higher amount of financing. In addition, the percentage of cash transactions is extraordinary. Cash continues to be king and will easily make or break a deal. I expect December’s numbers will be slightly lower based on the surge of COVID-19 infections combined with the holidays, but we’ll see if that’s true.
Finally, I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge the recent Longboat Key sale of $16.5 million – the highest registered sale in the history of Sarasota and Manatee.
Even if my writer’s critical eye has taken some exception to Coastal Living, I’m still happy they wrote about Anna Maria. It’s good for business and great for real estate. I just wonder what George Emerson Bean and Charles Roser would have thought. Happy New Year and stay safe.
BRADENTON BEACH – Paradise Boat Tours General Manager Sherman Baldwin questions the county’s request that he no longer refuel his tour boat at the county-owned loading dock near Longboat Pass.
The loading dock and seawall are located near the mouth of the pass, at the south end of the Coquina South boat ramp area.
For several years, Baldwin and his employees have used a modified pickup truck to refuel the tour boat at the county-owned loading dock, rather than pay the higher cost of refueling at a marina.
Concerns expressed
On Monday, Dec. 14, Baldwin addressed his concerns in an email to county commissioners, County Administrator Cheri Coryea and several county staff members.
His email noted he’s been using the county loading dock for nearly seven years.
“During this time, our refueling operations have been inspected by The United States Coast Guard, the Florida Wildlife Commission, Manatee County Marine Sheriff’s deputies and Bradenton Beach officials. All without incident or infraction. Two years ago we were asked to elaborate in writing our refueling protocols by the city of Bradenton Beach prompted by the Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources Department, specifically Alan Lai Hipp. All seemed good,” Baldwin stated in his email.
The fuel travels through a hose from the storage tank in the bed of a pickup truck and into the tour boat’s two 44-gallon fuel tanks. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“However, six weeks ago sheriff’s deputies informed us that they have been instructed to prevent us from refueling there anymore, and that it was Alan Lai Hipp who they received their instructions from. In fact, if we refueled there again, we would be subject to arrest,” Baldwin wrote.
“We invested over $10,000 in modifications to a Ford F150 to be in compliance with federal regulations and now we are told to cease fueling operations without hearing or recourse. Marina fuel is over $2 more per gallon than the street price. This additional cost will force us to terminate at least one employee due to an increased fuel cost of over 65%, representing almost $650 per week loss. We were informed that our only option is to attend and speak at public comment at a commission meeting,” Baldwin wrote.
His email then stated his intent to refuel at the county dock at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 17 – even at the risk of arrest.
On Tuesday, Dec. 15, Coryea sent the commissioners the response she received from Parks and Natural Resources Director Charlie Hunsicker and his staff.
“This vendor was observed using this facility without permission in reports we received from Property Management Parks Maintenance and Public Safety Marine Patrol staff over several months – prior to our department issue of written notice to discontinue unauthorized use in 2019,” Hunsicker stated in his email to Coryea.
“In February of 2020, we engaged in several written exchanges with the vendor in response to letters of concern posted by this vendor to the board of county commissioners which asked for permission to continue private vessel refueling operations at this location. This operator refuses to accept our recommendations as manager of this dock space which have been clearly and repeatedly communicated with him,” Hunsicker wrote.
“Despite claims to the contrary, this private business operator never received permission from our department to operate a private vessel fueling operation at this location; nor does the city of Bradenton Beach have any record of approval.
“Despite the operator’s assurance that he has the capability to safely operate his private business from this facility, there are substantial risks to the county unique to marine operations to continue to allow this operation from an unstaffed public facility without extensive provisions for release of liability waiver, environmental damage insurance and other risk management driven considerations,” Hunsicker wrote.
“Use of this dock previously has been limited to and allowed for heavy construction vendors under contract to the city of Bradenton Beach for public pier and dock repairs, the State of Florida for maintenance activities for the Longboat Pass Bridge and Longboat Pass maintenance, and to Manatee County for deployment of material for offshore artificial reef sites and beach renourishment related construction activities.
“Moreover, if a private vendor of any size or complexity were to request to be allowed to operate at this county public facility, any business proposition would have to be thoroughly vetted through a competitive process to open this opportunity to any prospective vendor who would likewise enjoy the benefit of using this public facility without the charges invoked at many private marinas in Manatee County that offer commercial fueling capabilities,” Hunsicker wrote.
Commission discussion
During public comment at the Tuesday, Dec. 15 county commission meeting, Baldwin read his email aloud to county commissioners.
During the discussion that followed, commissioners Vanessa Baugh and Kevin Van Ostenbridge were among those who expressed strong opposition to a business owner being arrested for refueling his boat.
County Attorney Mickey Palmer told the commission the loading dock is located in a county-owned public park and trespassing someone from that public space is not advised.
Palmer also said he’s not aware of any county code or regulation that currently prohibits refueling at the county dock. Palmer recommended the county “stand down” and take no action until this matter is further researched and sorted out.
Commissioner Carol Whitmore expressed concerns about other commercial boat owners, operators and fishermen engaging in similar fueling activities if Baldwin is allowed to do so.
The commission was in unanimous agreement that boat fueling is not a desired activity at that location.
Van Ostenbridge made a motion directing the county attorney’s office to prepare a document that formally prohibits refueling activities at the loading dock – and potentially at county boat ramps as well. That document is expected to be discussed and potentially adopted in January.
Refueling resumes
On Thursday, Dec. 17, Baldwin and Capt. Justin Jones resumed their refueling operations at the county dock.
Captain Justin Jones assisted with last Thursday’s refueling activities. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Baldwin said he realizes a county prohibition is likely forthcoming, but he can still experience at least one month’s worth of fuel cost savings until then. Baldwin said he’s looked for alternative locations to continue refueling in this manner and has not found one.
Baldwin said one refueling operation provides enough fuel for 10-12 boat tours, and Paradise Boat Tours operates as many as six tours per day.
Four Anna Maria Island Sun staff members have won 12 awards in the Florida Press Club’s 2019 Excellence in Journalism Competition.
Political cartoonist Steve Borggren swept the Editorial Cartooning category, earning 1st, 2nd and 3rd place awards.
Outdoors columnist Rusty Chinnis earned 3rd place in the Environmental News category for “Elephant in the Bay,” about water quality in Sarasota Bay, and 3rd place in the Light Features category for “We’ll see,” about allowing for flexibility in plans for a fishing trip.
Digital Editor Cindy Lane won 2nd place in the Online Multimedia Package category for “Pool, beach lifeguards train together,” which included a video and photo gallery with the online story.
Lane won 2nd place in the Lucy Morgan Award for In-Depth Reporting for “County moves to regulate horses in bay,” a series on a move to ban rental horse businesses from Palma Sola Bay, and 3rd place in the “That is So …Florida” category for “Florida flotsam washes up on European beaches,” a story about four plastic cups from the Anna Maria Island Beach Café that were found in England, France, Portugal and the Azores.
Trash the Turtle – Kristin Swain | Sun
Reporter Kristin Swain won 1st place in the Light Features category for “Sculpture illustrates local trash problem,” a story about a sculpture called “Trash the Turtle” by artist Wendell Graham, created from trash collected by Longboat Key Turtle Watch.
Once again, late December’s cold winds have blown in, dropping water temperatures and requiring anglers to adjust their strategies. Winter fishing can be challenging, but there are opportunities for some excellent action for anglers who adjust their tactics and “think” like a fish.
While there are no magic bullets, awareness of conditions and perseverance can pay dividends when the thermometer plunges.
Ken Watkins landed this sheepshead on a DOA Shrimp on a sun-warmed winter day. – Rusty Chinnis | Sun
Popular species including snook, redfish and trout will often concentrate in areas where the surrounding waters are more moderate. Snook, the most sensitive, will migrate to rivers, canals and protected bays where the sun heats seawalls, dark bottom and the surrounding water. Areas where shallow bays and bayous funnel temperate water on afternoon outgoing tides can be particularly productive.
When fishing, pay attention to water that receives the most sun during the day. Sun-warmed areas that are protected from cold winter winds produce conditions that are more desirable to cold-stressed species. The wind moves the water, keeping it from absorbing the sun’s rays. A combination of sun exposure, depth, and the color of the bottom all figure into the warm water equation.
When the weather prevents the sun from moderating water temperatures, look for deeper pockets to harbor fish. The deeper areas warm more slowly, but they also cool more slowly. Channels, holes under big boats in canals, deep potholes on the flats and boat basins are all potential refuges for fish during cold weather. Rivers and creeks are also good sanctuaries, depending on the conditions.
While many local species are negatively affected by the cold water, many, like trout and redfish, have a high tolerance. Others actually thrive on it. The best examples are sheepshead and black drum. These fish, while shunned by some anglers, are hard fighting, challenging to hook, and excellent to eat. Target sheepshead and drum around structure where they feed on barnacles and crustaceans like crabs and shrimp. One way to attract these species is to scrape barnacles from pilings on an outgoing or incoming tide. A small live shrimp or shrimp-tipped jig fished among the “chum” are good options. A small, stout and sharp hook is advised for a sheepshead’s tough mouth. A quick hookset is required for these bait stealers. It’s often said that you need to set the hook a split second before they bite! Tackle sensitive enough to detect their stealth bite is recommended.
Once you find the ideal conditions, remember to slow your presentation. Lures and bait fished slowly, and close to the bottom, will generally draw more strikes than a quick retrieve. If you’re in a promising area make sure you try varying your retrieve before moving on.
Another option for inshore anglers is to slow troll large swimming plugs along inshore ledges in the bay for grouper. Prime spots include areas along the Intracoastal Waterway as well as limestone outcroppings and structure in the Tampa Bay ship’s channel. Use your senses, experiment, be persistent, and you can experience some very good fishing during our cooler winter months.
ANNA MARIA – The city of Anna Maria has named four winners in this year’s Bright Holiday Lights decorating contest.
On Friday, two winners were announced in the residential category and two winners were announced in the business category.
Carol and Larry Craft’s home at 266 Gladiolus St. and Debbie White’s home at 313 North Bay Blvd. tied for first place in the residential category, which featured seven entries this year. The Crafts are repeat champions, having previously won the residential category in the inaugural Bright Holiday Lights contest in 2019.
The residential entries also included the Coolidge home on Magnolia Avenue, the Marshall home on Gladiolus Street, The Coneys home on Hammock Circle, the Carter home on Willow Avenue and the O’Neill home on Beach Avenue.
Beach Bums and The Anna Maria General Store – which also includes Dips Ice Cream – tied for first place in the business category, which featured six entries. The business entries also included Salt & Scissors, Island Cabana, the AMI Historical Museum and Sato Realty.
The entries were judged Thursday evening by Laura Micciche from the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce, City Commissioner Carol Carter and city of Anna Maria Managerial Assistant Nick Poulin.
The judges were chauffeured around town in a golf cart piloted by Mayor Dan Murphy. Each judge ranked each entry on a one-to-five scale for street appeal, originality/creativity and design/use of lights.
Winners awarded
Late Friday afternoon, Murphy, Santa and Deputy Clerk/Code Enforcement Manager Debbie Haynes hopped in a city golf cart to deliver trophies to the winners.
The first stop was at the Craft home.
“Thank you for decorating so nicely this year,” Santa said when presenting the trophy to Carol and Larry Craft.
“We’re just hoping other people will start decorating,” Larry said.
“You might have accomplished that. We had more participants this year than we did last year. We’re thrilled about that,” Haynes said.
When asked why they put so much effort into their Christmas decorations, Larry said, “Because people walk by and smile when they see this.”
“To spread Christmas spirit,” Carol added, noting this is the 17th year they’ve decorated their Anna Maria home.
The Craft’s decorations include large pieces of driftwood and new this year are a lifelike replica of a reindeer and the Talavera Mexican pottery Nativity scene Larry gave Carol as a Christmas gift last year.
Having been informed that White was not home, the trio proceeded to the General Store.
A visit to White’s home the previous night revealed a whimsical decorating theme that includes an inflated unicorn and a festive table display.
Business winners
“Thank you so much,” Anna Maria General Store business owner Brian Seymour said when Santa presented him with the colorful blue trophy.
Seymour then handed the trophy to Thomas Powers, the General Store manager who designed the winter wonderland theme that includes a dazzling array of blue, white and purple lights.
“When you walk under all the lights it’s real pretty,” Powers said.
When asked how it felt to tie for first place, Powers said, “Awesome. I wasn’t expecting it. Thank you so much.”
“We’re happy we were recognized for the effort our team put in. We took our cue from what they’ve done up at City Hall. We’re happy to be among all those that participated because it really does make the street look more inviting during the holidays,” Seymour said, noting he hopes to also decorate the new City Pier Grill next year.
Beach Bums co-owner Lauren Sato accepted the trophy from Santa on behalf of the staff and the company that assisted with the “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” themed decorations that feature an inflatable likeness of actor Chevy Chase and several other references to the Christmas comedy classic.
“They worked really hard on it. It’s been fun to hear everyone’s response and watch everybody get a smile out of it,” Sato said.
“We had wonderful entries this year and the displays were absolutely phenomenal. We appreciate everybody participating,” Haynes said before returning to city hall, where Santa received visits from youngsters while seated in the city’s Bright Holiday Lights display.
The Craft's holiday display includes a new Talavera Mexican pottery Nativity scene. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
Debbie White’s holiday display includes a festive dinner table. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
Debbie White’s home on North Bay Boulevard tied for first place in the residential category. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
The winter wonderland light display was designed by Anna Maria General Store manager Thomas Powers. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
The Crafts added a lifelife reindeer to their display this year. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
Driftwood and the word “Rejoice” are among the decorations displayed by Carol and Larry Craft. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
Beach Bums co-owner Lauren Sato received a trophy from Santa Claus.- Joe Hendricks | Sun
With its “Christmas Vacation” theme, Beach Bums tied for first place in the business category. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
