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Year: 2020

Scenic Highway CME talks horses on the causeway

Scenic Highway CME talks horses on the causeway

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Community News, Featured, Health.

MANATEE COUNTY – The horses being ridden for profit along the causeway are again causing a stir, this time with members of the Palma Sola Scenic Highway Corridor Management Entity (CME) and some nearby residents who live along Palma Sola Bay.

The subject of horseback riding in the bay came up during an Aug. 12 meeting of the CME. The group discussed the matter themselves and heard from two residents who live on the bay.

Robert Lombardo and Clif Gaus, two long-time bay residents, both spoke during public comment, asking for help from CME members in seeking regulation for the horse riding businesses.

Lombardo, who has lived for nearly 40 years on the bay, said that he initially became concerned about the businesses when he saw the horseback riding take off in 2016. After speaking with local elected officials and not garnering any interest in the issue, he said he backed off, only to renew his efforts in October 2019.

“I can’t ignore it anymore,” he said, noting that he’s seen a steady increase in the horse riding excursions and the number of companies operating on the causeway. Lombardo’s concerns include water quality and the destruction of seagrasses where the horses are ridden in the water off the beach. He said that he sees horse excrement float by his dock regularly which leads to concerns for him about fishing and swimming in the water.

Lombardo said that he spoke about his concerns with Julie Espy, Program Administrator of the Water Quality Assessment Program with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. While he said Espy agreed that there is cause for concern with both environmental and water quality impacts, she said the issue needs to be handled at a local level.

While Lombardo said he doesn’t want to put anyone out of business, he wants a structure in place that helps protect the area’s natural resources, including seagrasses, from destruction.

Gaus said that having so many businesses operate along the causeway corridor takes away from the beauty of the scenic highway and also reduces the number of people who can enjoy the causeway beaches. In addition to excrement and broken seagrasses, he said he’s also seen a horse break loose and run close to children playing on the beach. With so many horses, he said it discourages people from using the causeway and it creates issues with swimming in the water and using the beaches with excrement floating through the water and washing up on beaches.

Gaus presented members with two aerial photographs, one of the north side of the causeway from 2016 and another from 2019. While he assumes that the difference in coloring is due to sand being exposed rather than seagrasses being present, he said that the 2019 map clearly shows a difference where the horses commonly walk.

Shawn Duytschaver, a CME member and owner/operator of Surfer Bus, said that he’d previously proposed the idea of an equestrian trail along the side of the causeway that would keep the horses in one section that is clearly marked. He said that the issue is the way that the horses walk in the water digs up not only seagrass but also sand and would eventually create a channel, requiring the trail to be moved to another area.

Co-chair Ingrid McClellan said that before the CME group approaches any elected officials, they need to have concrete data to show the damage to the area. She suggested going to the Southwest Florida Water Management District and the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program to get seagrass data from the past several years.

Member Mike Meehan suggested that all of the trailers parked on the side of the causeway, some on sidewalks, with horses blocking or constantly crossing the sidewalk could create a safety hazard that would need to be addressed.

Nancy Simpson with the Sarasota/Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization said that there potentially are several issues for her organization to address, including beach erosion caused by damage to seagrasses that could potentially damage the roadway, travel time concerns along Manatee Avenue with the trailers backing in and out, and drivers slowing down to look at the horses and horses breaking free of their handlers.

Simpson also said that getting the Manatee County Department of Health in on the conversation could shed some light on how the horse excrement affects E. coli, or fecal bacteria, in the bay.

She offered to work with Lombardo and Gaus as a private citizen on presentations for the city of Bradenton’s planning and city commissioners.

Regulation, she said, is a “no-brainer,” adding that it’s wrong for businesses to profit from taxpayer-funded property without paying anything toward the maintenance of the property or remediation necessary because of the business use.

Previously, a representative from Beach Horses, one of the 10 companies that advertise horseback riding on the causeway, spoke to the CME group, suggesting that the businesses be regulated through a registration process similar to taxis. Each horse would be assigned a medallion and only a certain number of horses would be allowed at one time. While the plan was well-received by the group, it didn’t make it any further toward becoming a reality.

Currently, the horses are considered a method of transportation and are therefore allowed on the causeway. The companies that conduct the horseback riding trips along the beach and through the water are not required to have any special permits to operate but are not allowed to take cash onsite for services due to a prohibition against conducting business in a Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) right of way.

The boundaries between what is a Manatee County park, what is owned by the city of Bradenton and what is an FDOT right of way are blurred and result in an enforcement issue for the area. CME co-chair Craig Keys said he would look into who has authority over the area and report back to the group.

After conversations ended, Gaus said he was happy with how discussions with the CME group had gone.

“I was pleased with their willingness to explore solutions with the city of Bradenton,” Gaus said. “The designated “Scenic Highway” at the entrance to Anna Maria Island is not a scenic highway in reality. Given the state environmental people will have nothing to do with preventing the seagrass destruction, I think we are left with the city as a remedy. I just can’t believe our state government would not want to even try to regulate a massive destruction of seagrass, the very thing they are charged with doing. It sets a horrible precedent for protecting our bays anywhere in the state. If this is their response, we might as well eliminate the entire Florida Department of Environmental Protection.”

Related coverage

 

Scenic Highway group seeks to solve horse problems

 

County moves to regulate horses in bay

 

Pinellas County bans water horses

Birthday celebrations benefit Blessing Bags Project

Birthday celebrations benefit Blessing Bags Project

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Community News, Cortez.

CORTEZ – Swordfish Grill General Manager Bob Slicker and Blessing Bags Project President Betsy Plante celebrated their birthdays by helping others in need.

The Swordfish Grill’s Wednesday, Aug. 12 Happy Hour Extravaganza served as an early birthday party and a fundraiser. Beside the outdoor stage where Tim Chandler performed stood a large box bearing Betsy’s name and another bearing Bob’s. Inside the boxes were more than 125 pairs of new shoes donated that night and over the past seven days.

“We had a competition for who could collect the most pairs of sneakers. Whoever gets the most sneakers gets a pie in the face, so Bob’s telling everybody to put them in my box,” Plante said.

Plante’s box contained the most donated shoes, but in a surprise twist it was Slicker who got a pie in the face courtesy of co-master of ceremonies and Facebook Live mixologist Lily “Beatrice” Banyas.

Birthday celebrations benefit Blessing Bags Project
In a surprise move, Lily “Beatrice” Banyas delivered the pie to Bob Slicker’s face. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

“Shoes are something the homeless always need and children grow out of so fast,” Plante said.

The adult shoes will be distributed to the homeless and the children’s shoes will be distributed to children later this year as Christmas gifts.

“Our mission is to provide basic critical needs to the homeless and less fortunate,” Plante said. “We have a lot of different people right now that need help because of COVID. We’re seeing people now who used to have jobs and were doing fine. We see families moving in together. I had a family call me that only had two cans of food – one can of beans and one can of SpaghettiOs, that’s all they had.”

One of The Blessing Bags Project’s signature activities is giving youngsters backpacks filled with needed goods, and a stuffed toy for comfort.

“We handed out backpacks today at the Hunger’s End food pantry. We usually do 35-40. Today we did 70 and ran out. A lot of people who never needed help now need help,” Plante said.

Birthday celebrations benefit Blessing Bags Project
Patrons and employees of the Swordfish Grill donated more than 125 pairs of shoes to The Blessing Bags Project. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

For his birthday, Slicker also started a Facebook fundraiser that raised more than $6,400.

“We’re blessed to help The Blessing Bags Project with people donating shoes and money. It’s especially important this year because we had two fundraisers planned that we had to cancel – a golf tournament and our annual Giving Back concert. If you look at the donations, there are some very generous ones, but there’s also a lot of $10, $15 and $20 donations. That shows people care and that’s very heartwarming,” Slicker said.

Birthday celebrations benefit Blessing Bags Project
Covered with whipped cream, Bob Slicker carried on with his Happy Hour Extravaganza hosting duties. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

“I’ve done this in Rhode Island and in New Hampshire. The people in Bradenton, Manatee County and Sarasota County have the biggest hearts I’ve ever seen in my ministry work,” Plante said. “The Swordfish Grill is our biggest cheerleader and the people that come to the Swordfish Grill have been supporting us for years. Because of COVID, we had to cancel our two big fundraisers, but they came through on Facebook, raising more than $6,000.”

 

Blessed mobility

The giving didn’t stop there. Slicker also donated his used Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo to a Bradenton family who had gone more than a month without a car. Saturday morning, Slicker and Plante delivered the donated vehicle to Michelle and Adam Abelson and their sons Asher and Austin.

“We just happened to have a family whose car died and they have two little boys that need to get to school Monday,” Plante said.

“I’ve had my Jeep for the longest time. It’s a ‘97 with 200,000 miles on it. It still runs great and I didn’t feel right selling it. I wanted more for the car because it’s been so good to me. And I didn’t want to give a family a car with old tires on it, so my Swordfish Grill team collected money for the tires as a gift from them,” Slicker said.

Slicker’s new ride is a low mileage 2009 Honda Ridgeline.

When showing the Abelsons their new vehicle, Slicker said, “I think there’s a skateboard back there,” much to Asher’s delight.

Birthday celebrations benefit Blessing Bags Project
On Saturday, Bob Slicker, right, donated his Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo to Michelle, Adam, Austin and Asher Abelson. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

“Thank you so much. I cannot believe it. Nothing like this ever happens,” Michelle said. “It’s just in time for the start of school. God works in mysterious ways and we’ve been praying. If you’ve lived without a car, you know what it’s like trying to get groceries for a family, trying to get to the doctor’s and trying to get to school. This is going to make our lives so much easier.”

When asked where they’d go first, Michelle said, “We might take a ride out to the beach.”

Adam is a maintenance man at the apartment complex where they live and the boys attend school at Oneco Elementary.

“I’m just truly blessed to be provided with this vehicle,” Adam said. “It allows us to get my family to and from the store and my little ones to school. Being out of district, transportation to school was going to be one of the hardest things we had to deal with.”

Learn more about The Blessing Bags Project at the organization’s website.

Anna Maria Elementary students return

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Community News, Featured, Schools.

UPDATED Aug. 17, 2020 – HOLMES BEACH – The first school year amid the COVID-19 pandemic began Monday morning as about 195 students showed up for the opening day of classes at Anna Maria Elementary School.

“This is one of the smoothest openings we’ve had. I was very pleased. It went perfectly this morning,” Principal Jackie Featherston said regarding an opening day that included mandatory face coverings, plastic desk shields and social distancing in response to COVID-19.

The opening took place under guidelines adopted in an emergency meeting Friday by the Manatee County School Board and School Superintendent Cynthia Saunders. At that meeting, the board’s policy and operating protocols regarding cloth face coverings and plastic face shields for students, teachers and staff members were revised.

Policy 8450 provides additional flexibility as to when and where plastic face shields can be worn as an alternative to cloth face coverings.

The revised policy was adopted before students who selected the brick and mortar learning option returned to school campuses Monday morning. This includes 82% of the students at AME.

Students who selected the online eLearning option began their new school at home. Those who selected the hybrid learning method will spend some days at school and some days at home.

The revised policy and protocols recommended by Superintendent Saunders now incorporate the latest guidelines included in the “Guidance for K-12 School Administrators on the Use of Cloth Face Coverings in Schools” issued by the CDC on Tuesday, Aug. 11. Those guidelines were not included in the previous policy and protocols adopted the same day they were issued.

“A face mask must always be worn on school property, facilities, including school buses and/or engaged in school activities in accordance with Board Policy 8450,” according to the policy’s operating protocols.

“CDC recognizes wearing face masks may not be possible in every situation or for some people. In some situations, wearing a face mask may exacerbate a physical or mental health condition, lead to a medical emergency or introduce significant safety concerns.

“Adaptations and alternatives should be considered whenever possible to increase the feasibility of wearing a face mask or to reduce the risk of COVID-19 spreading if it is not possible to wear one. Appropriate and consistent use of cloth face coverings may be challenging for some students, teachers, and staff, including:

  • “Younger students, such as those in early elementary school.
  • Students, teachers, and staff with severe asthma or other breathing difficulties.
  • Students, teachers, and staff with special educational or healthcare needs, including intellectual and developmental disabilities, mental health conditions, and sensory concerns or tactile sensitivity,” according to the operating protocols.

“CDC recognizes there are specific instances when wearing a cloth face covering may not be feasible. In these instances, parents, guardians, caregivers, teachers, and school administrators should consider adaptations and alternatives whenever possible.

“Teachers and staff who may consider using clear face coverings include:

  • “Those who interact with students or staff who are deaf or hard of hearing, per the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
  • Teachers of young students learning to read.
  • Teachers and students in English as a second language classes.
  • Teachers of students with disabilities,” according to the operating protocols.

Clear face coverings

According to the revised operating protocols, “Clear face coverings are not face shields. CDC does not recommend the use of face shields for normal everyday activities or as a substitute for cloth face coverings because of a lack of evidence of their effectiveness for source control. Therefore, considering the CDC guidance, the board will make the following allowances to Board Policy 8450:

“A. Students who need a break from their face mask, may do so with teacher permission provided social distancing can be maintained under specific outdoor circumstances (not indoor).

“B. Employees who need a break from wearing their face mask while on school property, may do so if alone in their own office or classroom or outdoors maintaining social distancing. An employee may not utilize common space, for example a conference room, break room, stairwell or any unoccupied location for a mask break. A cloth face mask must be worn during all other times and locations.

“C. While eating breakfast or lunch or while drinking water, no face covering is required while eating or drinking in designated areas as long as social distancing practices are in place.

“D. No face covering is required during physical education classes, recess, or other outdoor activities as long as social distancing practices are in place. Students must wear cloth face masks to and from physical education class and to and from the recess location or activity.

“E. Face shields that completely cover the face, wrap around the face and extend below the chin, will be allowed to be worn by students in Grades PreK-5 and students with disabilities only in the classroom during specific instructional periods as long as either social distancing practices are in place and/or physical barriers of separation are in place between students. A cloth face mask must be worn during all other times and locations. Face shields are not substitutes for cloth face masks nor are being used for normal everyday activities and only allowed in this narrow use.

“F. Face shields that completely cover the face, wrap around the face and extend below the chin, will be allowed to be worn by teachers in all grade levels only in the classroom during specific instructional periods as long as social distancing practices are in place between the teacher and the students. A cloth face mask must be worn after specific instruction has been given or when social distancing cannot be followed between teacher and student, and during all other times and locations. Face shields are not substitutes for cloth face masks, nor are they being used for normal everyday activities and are only allowed in this narrow use.”

Three teams fight to be first in adult soccer

Three teams fight to be first in adult soccer

Written by Monica Simpson on . Posted in Soccer, Sports.

With only two weeks of regular season play left in the co-ed adult soccer schedule, three teams rise to the top, fighting for first seed. Once on top alone, Sato Real Estate holds on to one of three top positions with a 4-2 record.

Two construction company-sponsored teams, Ross Built Construction and Solid Rock Construction, join Sato in the scramble for the position in the playoffs that would match them up against the eighth seed team.

All three teams have two regular season games to play. League regulations utilize head-to-head records as a way to break a tie in the case of more than one team having the same record.

Sato Real Estate had a bye last Thursday night, while Ross Built won its game against Vintage Beach 5-3. Greg Ross and Garrett Furman scored two goals each for the Ross Built team.

Tyler Pullen also put one in the net for Ross Built, while Chris Circharo served as the protector of the goal for their team with 15 recorded saves.

Sean Flynn, Cole Peterson and Jenna Steininger each put a point on the scoreboard for Vintage Beach. Keeper duties were split between David Greene and Ben Sato in the loss.

Solid Rock Construction put the second loss in the record last Thursday night against Gulfview Windows and Doors. The win gave Gulfview their second win of the season.

Gulfview put eight goals up against Solid Rock off the feet of Keith Mahoney with a hat trick, two goals by Daniel Adan and Raul Loera, and a single by Jesse Kun. Matt Fletcher stopped 10 strikes in the game.

Chris Scott and Josh Furman were the scorers for Solid Rock, battling it out for first place. Teammate Mark Long had five saves against the Gulfview offense.

In the first two games of the night, Blalock Walters and Moss Builders tied with the score 3-3 and Beach Bums handily won against Signature Granite with the final score of 11-6.

One team ultimately will not make the playoffs, with nine teams in the league. At the end of the regular season on Aug. 27, seed nine will be eliminated, ending the team’s playoff hopes.

Sun Scoreboard

Wednesday, August 12
Adult Co-Ed Soccer

Solid Rock Construction 8

Blalock Walters 5

 

Gulfview Windows 6

Beach Bums 4

 

Vintage Beach 2

Signature Granite 7

 

Ross Built Construction 5

Sato Real Estate (4-2) 2

 

Thursday, August 13
Adult Co-Ed Soccer

Blalock Walters (2-2-2) 3

Moss Builders (2-3-1) 3

 

Signature Granite (2-4) 6

Beach Bums (3-3) 11

 

Ross Built Construction (4-2) 5

Vintage Beach (2-3-2) 3

 

Gulfview Windows (2-4-1) 8

Solid Rock Construction (4-2) 3

AMICCO postpones Symphony on the Sand 

Written by Tom Vaught on . Posted in Entertainment, Music.

The Board of Directors of the Anna Maria Island Concert Chorus & Orchestra (AMICCO) has decided to postpone its Symphony on the Sand for this year after meeting regularly to examine its options considering the unique circumstances surrounding COVID-19 and its effect on the community.

In its eighth season, Symphony on the Sand has traditionally been held on Coquina Beach on the second Saturday each November. Recognized as one of the region’s premier musical events, it has been attended by more than 4,000 people annually.

“The board has been following the news closely as it relates to the safety and well-being of patrons, musicians and vocalists, as well as the surrounding community and audience members who have supported this successful event over the years,” board President James Stoltie said.

“Central to the conversation has been the health and well-being of everyone involved in the production of Symphony on the Sand. Many organizations and individuals work closely together to ensure that every performance is successful and better than the last. The rehearsal time invested by our orchestra and chorus members, along with the planning time of our service providers and volunteers, requires hours of commitment.

“AMICCO deeply values the relationships created with our community partners and as such we feel that moving forward with Symphony on the Sand 2020 would put all involved at increased and unnecessary risk. While we acknowledge that there are differing perspectives on the topic, we have nevertheless decided to err on the side of keeping our treasured talent, audience members, volunteers, sponsors and community partners safe. The AMICCO Board views the health and safety of our community as the most important factor and underlying priority, and it is in this spirit that we look forward to creating Symphony on the Sand in 2021 and beyond.”

Castles in the Sand

Buy a yard for your Zoom

Written by Louise Bolger on . Posted in Business, Castles in the Sand.

If you look at a lot of waterfront advertising, you see a commonly used phrase – “buy your boat a home.” Now with COVID-19 influencing almost everything in our lives, pretty soon you’re likely to see this phrase, “buy a yard for your Zoom.”

There has been a lot of chatter, including in this space, about the trend of big-city dwellers giving up their small expensive apartments and hitting the trail for the suburbs or moving out of state. Now that owning a single-family home is back in vogue, it’s also realigning itself as one of your top assets.

Since the 2008 financial crisis burst the housing bubble, it’s taken a long time for housing values to return as well as housing preference to return for younger generations. It took COVID-19 to bring both those aspects of the housing market back into play, pushing up values as a new generation is looking at single-family homeownership as an appreciable asset and a more comfortable form of shelter.

The COVID-19 housing bubble that some economists are worried about is different, however, than the one that built up before 2008. This one is driven by the need for more working space to accommodate working and learning remotely for now and for many going well into the future, in addition to recognizing the personal liabilities of living shoulder to shoulder with strangers and the ability to expand geographically where you live and where you work.

The housing bubble prior to 2008 was based strictly on making good investments and turning a quick profit. Homeowners used their homes as cash registers, maxing out their equity, and investors bought up new construction and resales with an eye to flipping for profit – not a place to live. This housing expansion has firmer legs as buyers are literally changing not only their residences but their lifestyles.

Because of this trend, buyers have a different list of wants for their homes, per a survey done by Redfin. The top item they’re looking for is space to work from home and space for children to learn from home, generally a larger home in all areas. They also want more recreational space and a yard, and if they’re giving up their city life they want to pay less. All of this change comes with a more workable floor plan, which now includes gathering areas for the family who may all be working individually in their respective spaces.

Summing up Redfin’s survey of home buyers, 21% of buyers want space to work from home, another 21% said they want more outdoor space and 7% said they want a place for children to learn from home. This is substantially different from the formal dining rooms and living rooms from the past that were ornamental rather than functional.

The real estate market will continue to shift until this virus is beaten, but it will leave radical changes to the market. Right now, sales are way up, inventory is way down and mortgage rates are ridiculously low. We do risk future foreclosures for some homeowners who can’t get on their feet after the virus is gone but there is little doubt the remaining real estate market will look different.

So, if you’re doing a lot of Zoom meetings, kick it up a notch and buy a home with a nice yard as your background, it may also turn out to be your best financial asset. Stay safe.

School district revises face covering policy and protocols

School district revises face covering policy

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Community News, Manatee County, Schools.

MANATEE COUNTY – The Manatee County School Board and School Superintendent Cynthia Saunders have revised the boards policy regarding cloth face coverings and plastic face shields for students, teachers and staff members.

The revised Board Policy 8450 and its operating protocols adopted during an emergency school board meeting Friday provide more flexibility as to when and where plastic face shields can be worn as an alternative to cloth face coverings.

When the new school year begins on Monday, many students will return to their school campuses for in-person learning. Some students will remain home and utilize online eLearning and others will use a hybrid learning method that includes both on-campus and at-home learning.

The revised policy and protocols recommended by Saunders now incorporate the guidelines included in the “Guidance for K-12 School Administrators on the Use of Cloth Face Coverings in Schools” issued by the CDC on Tuesday, Aug. 11. The latest CDC guidelines were not included in the policy and protocols school board members previously adopted on Tuesday.

“A face mask must always be worn on school property, facilities, including school buses and/or engaged in school activities in accordance with Board Policy 8450,” according to the revised policy.

“CDC recognizes that wearing face masks may not be possible in every situation or for some people. In some situations, wearing a face mask may exacerbate a physical or mental health condition, lead to a medical emergency or introduce significant safety concerns.

“Adaptations and alternatives should be considered whenever possible to increase the feasibility of wearing a face mask or to reduce the risk of COVID-19 spreading if it is not possible to wear one,” according to the revised protocols.

“Cloth face coverings should not be placed on:

  • Children younger than 2 years old.
  • Anyone who has trouble breathing or is unconscious.
  • Anyone who is incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the cloth face covering without assistance.”

“Appropriate and consistent use of cloth face coverings may be challenging for some students, teachers, and staff, including:

  • Younger students, such as those in early elementary school.
  • Students, teachers, and staff with severe asthma or other breathing difficulties.
  • Students, teachers, and staff with special educational or healthcare needs, including intellectual and developmental disabilities, mental health conditions, and sensory concerns or tactile sensitivity,” according to the revised protocols.

“While cloth face coverings are strongly encouraged to reduce the spread of COVID-19, CDC recognizes there are specific instances when wearing a cloth face covering may not be feasible. In these instances, parents, guardians, caregivers, teachers, and school administrators should consider adaptations and alternatives whenever possible. They may need to consult with healthcare providers for advice about wearing cloth face coverings,” according to the revised protocols.

“Consider use of clear face coverings that cover the nose and wrap securely around the face by some teachers and staff. Clear face coverings should be determined not to cause any breathing difficulties or over heating for the wearer.
“Teachers and staff who may consider using clear face coverings include:

  • “Those who interact with students or staff who are deaf or hard of hearing, per the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
  • Teachers of young students learning to read.
  • Teachers and students in English as a second language classes.
  • Teachers of students with disabilities,” according to the revised protocols.

Policy revisions

“Clear face coverings are not face shields. CDC does not recommend use of face shields for normal everyday activities or as a substitute for cloth face coverings because of a lack of evidence of their effectiveness for source control. Therefore, considering the CDC guidance, the board will make the following allowances to Board Policy 8450:

“A. Students who need a break from their face mask, may do so with teacher permission provided social distancing can be maintained under specific outdoor circumstances (not indoor).

“B. Employees who need a break from wearing their face mask while on school property, may do so if alone in their own office or classroom or outdoors maintaining social distancing. An employee may not utilize common space, for example a conference room, break room, stairwell or any unoccupied location for a mask break. A cloth face mask must be worn during all other times and locations.

“C. While eating breakfast or lunch or while drinking water, no face covering is required while eating or drinking in designated areas as long as social distancing practices are in place.

“D. No face covering is required during physical education classes, recess, or other outdoor activities as long as social distancing practices are in place. Students must wear cloth face masks to and from physical education class and to and from the recess location or activity.

“E. Face shields that completely cover the face, wrap around the face and extend below the chin, will be allowed to be worn by students in Grades PreK-5 and students with disabilities only in the classroom during specific instructional periods as long as either social distancing practices are in place and/or physical barriers of separation are in place between students. A cloth face mask must be worn during all other times and locations. Face shields are not substitutes for cloth face masks nor are being used for normal everyday activities and only allowed in this narrow use.

“F. Face shields that completely cover the face, wrap around the face and extend below the chin, will be allowed to be worn by teachers in all grade levels only in the classroom during specific instructional periods as long as social distancing practices are in place between the teacher and the students. A cloth face mask must be worn after specific instruction has been given or when social distancing cannot be followed between teacher and student, and during all other times and locations. Face shields are not substitutes for cloth face masks nor are they being used for normal everyday activities and are only allowed in this narrow use,” according to the revised protocols.

Waterline resort units on sale now

Waterline resort units on sale now

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Business, Real estate | Development.

HOLMES BEACH – If you’ve ever dreamed of owning a piece of the Waterline Marina Resort and Beach Club, now is your chance.

The 37 two-bedroom, fully furnished units went on the market at 10:08 a.m. on Aug. 8. Pricing for the units starts in the low $500,000s. Interested buyers can contact the sales office at 727-379-4656, email waterline@cbrealty.com, go to the realty website or visit the onsite sales office at 5325 Marina Drive in Holmes Beach. The sales of the units are a collaboration between hotel developer Mainsail Lodging & Development and Georgia Salaverri of Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate.

Each of the units, or villas, features two bedrooms, a gourmet kitchen with full-size appliances, living area and balcony. All units are provided to the owners fully furnished. With Waterline remaining a full-service resort, onsite amenities include a meeting room, fitness room, pool, marina access and a full-service restaurant, Eliza Ann’s. Due to COVID-19 precautions, Eliza Ann’s and the hotel’s bar are currently closed.

Owners of the units will be able to stay in the units whenever they’re in town and also put them in a program to be rented as hotel rooms when vacant. All current reservations at the hotel will be honored despite the unit sales. Guests will still be able to make reservations at the hotel through the resort’s website.

The Waterline Marina Resort and Beach Club was developed by Mainsail and opened in December 2017 as the first full-service hotel on Anna Maria Island, located in the downtown commercial district within walking distance to salons, restaurants, shops, art galleries and more. It is part of the Marriott Autograph Collection of boutique hotels.

Related coverage

Waterline hosts Kings for Kids Fishing Tournament

Eliza Ann’s opens at Waterline

Waterline Marina Resort opens

Remembering Priscilla Seewald

Remembering Priscilla Seewald

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Anna Maria Island, Community News.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Priscilla Seewald may be gone but she’s left behind the positive impact she made on not only her community but also the people in it.

Seewald passed away on July 22 and was honored with a memorial service Aug. 8 at Roser Memorial Community Church where she was a long-time member. Due to COVID-19 precautions, the service was limited to 50 people with priority given to Seewald’s family, however, they did give permission to the church to live stream the service on the Roser YouTube channel for all of her friends and family who couldn’t be present.

A Holmes Beach resident for many years, Seewald leaves behind her husband, Bruce, daughter, Lisa Turner, and son-in-law, Wayne Turner, along with two grandchildren, Rutger and Angelica Hope Turner, as well as a sister, Judith Stermer and her family. Seewald also leaves behind a legacy of many years of service on Anna Maria Island.

Many Island residents will know Seewald from her volunteerism. She could be found helping stamp booklets at the entrance of homes on The Center of Anna Maria Island’s Tour of Homes, ringing bells during the holidays to help raise money for the Salvation Army and serving as a volunteer at Anna Maria Elementary School.

Seewald also was a former president for and award-winning lifetime member of the Anna Maria Island Garden Club. When not volunteering elsewhere, her friend Beth Bernet recalled Seewald delivering flowers to friends, neighbors, church members who were homebound and others that were on her mind.

Bernet said she recently received a message from Seewald offering to deliver flowers to her, not because of an illness but because she said she wanted to give them to someone that wouldn’t ordinarily receive flowers.

At Roser, Seewald was an active member, deacon, mission committee member, music committee member, Sunday school teacher, Roser Women’s Guild member, food pantry volunteer, thrift shop volunteer and a favorite teacher of the children at Roser’s annual Vacation Bible School.

“I got to take pictures at Vacation Bible School as co-director. I got to run around to all the stations, and I loved going to Priscilla’s station because you could hear a pin drop,” Bernet said in a July 26 tribute to Seewald during Roser’s church service. “She commanded attention as she taught those children those Bible stories. And she also always got to be the one to give out M&Ms to the children, so it was a favorite station and not only because of Priscilla. All of those little hands stretched out waiting for those M&Ms, it was just, I’ll always think of Priscilla when I eat M&Ms.”

Seewald also worked with All Island Denominations and the Roser Food Pantry to ensure that the less fortunate children attending Anna Maria Elementary School would have enough food over summer break.

“Priscilla is an example of how we want to be a saint,” Bernet said.

“Priscilla Seewald was a very special Christian friend to many of us who are a part of Roser Church and the Guild,” friend Peggy Nash said. “We will always remember her friendly smile, laugh and willingness to help many of us. She was fun to be with. Priscilla was always happy to help and will be greatly missed by many of us.”

“Heaven gained a great new angel and we lost a great lady,” Peggy Anthony said of Seewald.

In addition to remembrances by her friends, Nancian Hall wrote several poems dedicated to Seewald, all of which can be viewed online. In lieu of flowers, Seewald’s family asks that memorial donations be made in her honor to the Roser Food Pantry.

County judge leaves Holmes Beach case

County judge leaves Holmes Beach case

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Community News, Holmes Beach.

MANATEE COUNTY – Manatee County Circuit Court Judge Edward Nicholas has recused himself from taking any action in a lawsuit involving both the city of Holmes Beach and the owners of the Bali Hai Beach Resort.

The order of recusal was completed by Nicholas on Aug. 3 and filed with the Manatee County Clerk of Court on Aug. 4. No reason was given for the recusal.

The recusal came after a July 31 order from Judge Charles Sniffen on the city’s emergency motion for ex-parte relief in the matter. The order states that Sniffen reviewed the emergency motion because Nicholas was not available and that he denied the city’s motion. Sniffen additionally ordered that the entirety of the motion and all requests for relief should be heard by Nicholas or another assigned judge on or after Aug. 3.

At press time for The Sun, the case had not yet been reassigned to another judge and a hearing date had not been set.

The case revolves around the city’s assertion that work was done at the Bali Hai without a permit and in violation of a stop-work order issued by Holmes Beach Building Official Neal Schwartz.

According to the lawsuit filed on May 22, Schwartz and Code Enforcement Supervisor James Thomas visited the property on Jan. 24 and observed extensive work being done on the property without a permit. Schwartz issued a stop-work order and notified West Manatee Fire Rescue Fire Marshal Rodney Kwiatkowski that the structure under construction also was being occupied. Kwiatkowski verbally ordered the occupants to cease, desist and vacate the premises.

Schwartz and Thomas returned to the property on March 2 and noted that additional work had been started in violation of the stop-work order. Due to the scope of the work observed, the lawsuit states that the work would require a major site plan review before it could be approved and permitted by the city.

As of the filing of the lawsuit, the city asserts that the resort is still in use and that no permits have been applied for, no site plan has been submitted for review and no certificate of completion, allowing for occupancy of the building, has been issued. As a result of the allegedly unpermitted work, a multi-purpose room was transformed into a bar/lounge area which also is a change of use.

Through the lawsuit, the city seeks an injunction to either comply with the city’s ordinances and codes or to cease use of the building where the work took place until it’s fully compliant with all building codes.

The Bali Hai is a beachfront resort with 43 rooms, a private pool and a private lounge for guests of the resort. The hotel is located at 6900 Gulf Drive in Holmes Beach.

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Center reports positive end of year results

Center reports positive end of year results

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Anna Maria Island, Center of Anna Maria Island, Community News.

ANNA MARIA – It was a rough fiscal year for The Center of Anna Maria Island but the nonprofit managed to close the year June 30 with $8,761 in net income, only $945 short of the budgeted $9,706.

The Center’s end of year financials exclude an $84,215 Paycheck Protection Program loan which is planned to be accounted for as government/grant income in the 2020-21 fiscal year. As long as the loan funds are used solely for approved expenses, such as keeping employees on the payroll.

Program revenue and costs ended the year at $293,843, $54,287 better than the $239,556 budgeted, primarily due to $51,712 in direct cost savings.

General, indirect and administrative expenses came in at $514,865 for the year, $56,800 better than budget. After factoring in those expenses, operations ended the year at -$221,022, $111,088 better than budget.

Fundraising is where The Center took the hardest financial hit. After canceled concerts, special events and the Tour of Homes, the nonprofit brought in $447,516 in fundraising revenue, 22% below the budgeted $575,704 amount. Direct fundraising costs amounted to $244,372, $5,200 below budget. After costs, the fundraising cost center ended with $203,143, a loss of $137,988 compared to the budget.

The Center’s total revenue for the year came in at $1,065,914, $172,771 below budget. Total expenses for the year were $1,057,153, $186,826 below budget.

While Executive Director Chris Culhane said in an email to The Sun that a new budget for the 2020-21 fiscal year which began July 1 is almost complete, he added that he doesn’t know when the budget will be approved by the board. The Center’s board meetings have been on hold since early in the year due to COVID-19 shutdowns and precautions. Typically the board members meet once per month at The Center in executive session followed by a meeting open to the public.

Despite previous closures due to COVID-19, The Center remains open to the public with safety precautions in place, including a requirement to wear masks while inside the facility, along with practicing strict sanitization procedures and social distancing.

For more information on the programs currently being offered at The Center and what steps are being taken to ensure guest and member safety, visit the nonprofit online.

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BB seal

Dueling parking garage amendments slated for fall ballot

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News.

BRADENTON BEACH – Bradenton Beach voters will likely see two parking garage questions on their general election ballots this fall.

Both parking garage questions are expected to be presented to city voters as proposed amendments to the city charter, but the Bradenton Beach Commission will simultaneously seek a judge’s ruling on the legality of the first parking garage ballot question.

The first parking garage ballot question addresses the city-wide parking garage prohibition first sought in 2018 by the Keep Our Residential Neighborhoods (KORN) political action committee formed by Reed Mapes and John Metz. The second ballot question will ask city voters if they want to allow one parking garage to be built in Bradenton Beach.

There are currently no proposals to build a parking garage in Bradenton Beach and the construction of a stand-alone, multi-level parking garage is currently prohibited by the city’s comprehensive plan and land development code (LDC). However, the comp plan and LDC prohibitions adopted by the commission in 2018 could be reversed by a future commission. A parking garage prohibition or parking garage allowance added to the city charter could only be reversed by city voters.

Both parking garage questions were formalized with the adoption of City Ordinance 20-518 during Monday morning’s special city commission meeting.

When presenting the ordinance on first reading on Thursday, Aug. 6, City Attorney Ricinda Perry said she made slight modifications to the KORN question that now reads as follows: “Should the charter of Bradenton Beach be amended to prohibit the building of any multi-level parking garages within the city of Bradenton Beach? All other parking garages, facilities and structures are allowed as permitted by local law.”

The second charter amendment question – suggested by Perry and first discussed by the commission in June – reads as follows: “Should the city amend its charter to: (1) Prohibit the approval, development and building of any stand-alone parking garage structures in all residential zoning districts; (2) Prohibit any multi-level parking garage, structure, or facility exceeding a total density of one multi-level parking garage within the entire municipal limits; and, (3) Establish a mandatory city-wide voter referendum to increase the multi-level parking garage density?”

When discussing the second question Thursday evening, Perry said, “County commission has now been asking for solutions to parking and I know that Carol Whitmore was one of the commissioners suggesting a parking garage. The (city) commission has made it very clear that they don’t want to see a parking garage in the city. Nonetheless, the city is putting it out there to see what the voters are wanting to do.”

According to Perry, if voters approve both amendments, neither would be enacted because they would be in conflict.

According to Perry, Monday was the final day to submit ballot items to the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Office for inclusion on the fall ballot.

Monday morning, the commission, minus Commissioner Jan Vosburgh, adopted by a 4-0 vote the following motion: “A motion to approve the second reading and adoption of Ordinance 20-518 to the extent of preserving a timely placement of ballot language on the 2020 general election, with a directive to Ricinda Perry to coordinate with Chuck Johnson and schedule a hearing in front of Judge Nicholas to argue that land use matters do not belong in a city charter.”

Commission actions

The city now seeks a ruling from Circuit Court Judge Edward Nicholas regarding the legality of the KORN amendment first sought in 2018. When the city commission refused to place on the 2018 ballot the parking garage question and three additional charter amendment questions proposed by KORN, KORN filed a lawsuit against the city.

In March, Nicholas ruled the city did not have to place KORN’s charter amendment questions on a future ballot. Nicholas felt the city addressed most of KORN’s concerns via the alternative charter amendments recommended by the Charter Review Committee and approved by city voters. When issuing his ruling, Nicholas said he would consider future arguments regarding the parking garage question that had not been posed to city voters.

Johnson represented the city in that case. On June 18, Perry told the commission KORN attorney Robert Hendrickson emailed Johnson regarding the lingering parking garage issue.

“It’s not been ordered by the judge to put it on the ballot, but Mr. Hendrickson has indicated KORN will continue to take this to court and try to force the city to put it on the ballot. Do you want to put it on the ballot and kill that argument or do you want to fight it in court?” Perry said that day.

After much debate that day regarding the legalities of addressing a land-use issue in the city charter in contrast to current state law, and the legal precedent that might establish, the commission voted 3-2 to move forward with two parking garage ballot questions.

On Monday, Mayor John Chappie asked Perry if the commission could place both parking garage initiatives on the ballot but still seek a ruling from Nicholas.

“If the city feels strongly that a parking garage, as a land-use regulation, doesn’t belong in the charter, you could still appeal this ordinance to the judge as a new cause of action,” Perry said of the city appealing its own ordinance.

“As it relates to the current lawsuit by KORN, he could issue a mandate that this be taken off the ballot and not voted on. He could direct that to the supervisor of elections. I believe we could still go to Judge Nicholas and say we did this in good faith moving it forward, but we still strongly object to it and feel it should not be put in front of voters,” Perry said.

She expressed confidence that a hearing could be held before November and it was noted mail voting begins in October.

“On Nov. 3, if it all got voted on and it all got passed, it could still be thrown out by the judge. He could basically nullify the votes that came in,” Perry said.

Solid Rock Construction dominates at The Center

Solid Rock Construction dominates at The Center

Written by Monica Simpson on . Posted in Soccer, Sports.

After a full night of soccer the night before, Solid Rock Construction dominated the pitch against Beach Bums. With the win, the team lead by Chris Scott in the scoring for the night won its third game in the season.

Scott finished the game with five goals, followed by James Lynch scoring four points and Chris Culhane with a solo goal in the victory. Mark Long made 10 saves in the match.

Beach Bums’ Amy Ivan was top scorer with two successful strikes. Teammates Neil Fellowes, son Robert Fellowes and Kevin Roman all made a goal giving their team five points.

Blalock Walters took the win against Signature Granite with the score 7-3. Ryan Hogan and Jessica Williams each put two points on the scoreboard, with singles by Derek Crooks, Matt Plummer and Matt Staggs.

On the other side of midfield, Damir Glavan, Zack Lieb and Kris Yavalar scored for Signature Granite, but the team effort just was not enough last Thursday night.

Sato Real Estate eked out a win after their first loss Wednesday night. Hakan Toka and Nate Welch were the only scorers for Sato Real Estate. Moss Builders found two points at the foot of Brent Moss in the 3-2 loss.

The final game of the evening and week ended with a tie between Vintage Beach and Gulfview Windows and Doors.

Joey Hutchison scored four of the five goals for Vintage Beach, with the solo goal by Nick Bouchard. Goalies David Greene and Ben Sato were busy protecting the net with seven and 10 saves, respectively.

Gulfview’s scorers were Daniel Adan with a hat trick and Keith Mahoney with a single goal in the game. Matt Fletcher was recorded with a goal to complete another night of adult co-ed soccer at The Center.

Sun Scoreboard

Wednesday, August 5
Adult Co-Ed Soccer

Moss Builders (2-2) 2

Vintage Beach (2-1-1) 5

 

Solid Rock Construction (2-1) 8

Signature Granite (1-2) 4

 

Ross Built Construction (2-2) 10

Gulfview Windows (0-4) 5

 

Sato Real Estate (3-1) 2

Beach Bums 3

 

Thursday, August 6
Adult Co-Ed Soccer

Solid Rock Construction (3-1) 10

Beach Bums 5

 

Blalock Walters (2-1-1) 7

Signature Granite (1-3) 3

 

Sato Real Estate (4-1) 3

Moss Builders (2-3) 2

 

Vintage Beach (2-1-2) 5

Gulfview Windows (0-4-1) 5

Reel Time on the Road: Montana’s Big Hole and Beaverhead Rivers

Reel Time on the Road: Montana’s Big Hole and Beaverhead Rivers

Written by Rusty Chinnis on . Posted in Outdoors, Reel Time.

When Robert Redford introduced fly fishing to popular American culture in the 1992 movie, “A River Runs Through It,” he also introduced them to the storied trout streams and rivers of Montana. Although I had been a fly fisher for some time this, like so many other anglers, was my introduction to this beautiful part of the world. Since then, over the years I have had the pleasure to fish many of the iconic trout rivers and streams in Montana, Idaho and Wyoming.

While I was always enthralled with the scenery that a float trip opened up to anglers, it was a trip to Oregon last year that expanded my horizons. My wife Chris and I were on the Deschutes River when we found out that you couldn’t fish from the boat there. The fishing consisted of stops to wade for trout and steelhead. What that trip taught me was to take breaks from fishing during a float to sit back and really appreciate the scenery.

When I had the opportunity to take a trip to Montana and experience some famous rivers I had never fished, I signed on. My friend, Captain Rick Grassett, has been leading trips to Montana every year for the past two decades and this year I joined him on the trip. This was an opportunity to fish the Beaverhead and the Big Hole Rivers near Dillon, Montana. The group was hosted by Dave King of King Outfitters and stayed at the Hansen Ranch, a working cattle ranch, an hour southwest of Dillon. Over five days we fished various sections of both rivers as well as a day on a private section of the Beaverhead that included a spring creek. Not only did we have wonderful fishing, but we were also treated to some spectacular scenery and wildlife only available during a float. I did my share of catching wild rainbow, brown and cutthroat trout but also took breaks to just sit back and take in the scenery and the moose, wild turkeys and mule deer that were visiting the river to drink.

We fished dry flies with nymph droppers which gave us a chance at explosive surface strikes from aggressive trout but also allowed us to explore the deeper sections of the river where trout feed on various stages of insects that develop there. My largest trout, a 22” brown, was taken on the private section of the Beaverhead and attacked my hopper imitation with a vengeance. We were alternately guided by King and Dan Allen on our drifts and they provided excellent instruction in reading the river and working the fly line to deal with the various seams and back eddies, to create a natural drift for our flies.

The days of fishing were the highlight of the trip followed closely by the appetizers and meals we enjoyed back at the lodge courtesy of Annie Waltz Kubicka. Kubicka prepared food that combined eye and palate appeal, a consistent topic of conversation and praise from the group.

If you haven’t experienced the fishing and scenery along one of America’s wild rivers, I highly recommend it. Grassett runs yearly trips to Montana. For more information and to experience this fantastic fishery, contact him at 941-350-9790. Contact King Outfitters at 406-596-0209 or visit his Facebook page at King Outfitters. Next week Yellowstone and the Madison River Valley.

Castles in the Sand

COVID causes changes in housing market

Written by Louise Bolger on . Posted in Business, Castles in the Sand.

Lots of people these days are telling themselves, “If this is the one life I have to live, maybe I need to set some priorities.” According to national and local real estate sales statistics, a lot of those priorities involve lifestyle and where to live, both of which are being turned upside down.

When the coronavirus hit in mid-March and everything shut down, it seemed like everyone was heading for the hills to hunker down. If you were lucky enough to own a second home in an area where the infection rate was lower and the amenities better, you were among the lucky. Now with the ability to work and educate remotely, those second homeowners are reconsidering turning their second homes into their first homes, completely reversing their lifestyle.

Second home sales in resort and rural communities have seen a surge in recent months. Buyers are looking for second homes where they can comfortably live long term or forever. This is no surprise to Florida generally and our area in particular, where properties are literally flying off the market. As of this writing per realtor.com, here is a quick unscientific analysis of properties for sale vs. properties already pending.

Manatee County has 4,934 properties listed for sale – 35% of them pending. Anna Maria city has 82 properties listed for sale – 30% of them pending. The combined cities of Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach have 241 properties listed – 24% of them pending. Cortez has 27 properties listed for sale – 22% of them pending.

These are significant percentages of pending properties which backs up the positive June Manatee County sales statistics. Also, in June, Manatee County had 20% more pending single-family homes compared to last June and pending condos were up for the same period by 17.7%.

Not only has the virus had an effect on the second home market, it is also having an effect on the increase of suburban home sales. In recent years, the suburbs were looked on by young singles and families as a very “uncool” place to live.  Brady Bunch 1950s homes where many millennials and generation X young adults grew up had very little draw to this generation, who gravitated to cities and urban centers.

Well, a lot of that has changed since March, and urban dwellers are re-evaluating what’s really important to them and their children and are perceiving the suburbs as safer, cleaner and overall polished, the exact reason their parents and grandparents moved there in the first place. And it’s not only young employees viewing the suburbs differently, it’s also their employers. Working remotely does not require long and expensive commutes into city centers where commercial real estate costs are exorbitant.

Naturally, the suburbs close to big cities like New York City are benefiting the most; moves from New York City to Connecticut have more than doubled from last year. However, the trend is nationwide – what could be bad about a conference call overlooking the Gulf of Mexico.

The world is shifting on its axis and it only took a few months and a nasty virus to make that happen. Maybe COVID-19 did us all a favor by forcing us to reevaluate our priorities; it wouldn’t be the first time a major world-wide event compelled us to readjust our thinking, and it won’t be the last time. Stay safe.