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Year: 2020

Brad Lisk’s life celebrated in true Island style

Brad Lisk’s life celebrated in true Island style

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Anna Maria Island, Community News, Obituaries.

HOLMES BEACH – The life and legacy of longtime Island resident and Dcoy Ducks’ bartender Brad Lisk was celebrated Saturday with a boat brigade, an ash spreading ceremony in the Gulf of Mexico and an after-party.

Brad passed away at the age of 51 on March 25 after suffering a massive heart attack on March 20 – a heart attack preceded by previous heart issues. He left behind his two sons, Shane Pelkey Lisk and Tanner Pelkey Lisk, both of whom share their dad’s strong ties to Anna Maria Island.

Brad Lisk’s life celebrated in true Island style
Brad Lisk coached youth baseball on the Island for years. – Submitted

At 6:10 p.m., on Saturday, June 13, a procession of about 20 boats that departed from Longboat Pass arrived offshore at 68th and 69th streets in Holmes Beach. The commercial fishing boat Savage Lady flew a large banner on the starboard side that said, “Hang Loose Brad Lisk.”

The boat brigade was greeted by dozens of people gathered on the beach, many of whom wore commemorative T-shirts featuring a sketch of Brad on the front and on the back the now infamous photograph of Brad at a Tampa Bay Buccaneer’s game holding a sign that said, “WILL Q.B. FOR BEER.”

Some on the beach swam out to the boats or used paddleboards to get there.

“If more people were like my dad, we wouldn’t have the issues we have today.” Shane Pelkey Lisk

At 6:30, Shane came ashore via personal watercraft and waded onto the beach carrying a tequila bottle containing his father’s ashes. A circle formed and Stetson Matthews was the first to share his thoughts.

“He took me under his wing and I’ve never met a person like Brad Lisk. He was laid back, but he could still guide people in various directions. We’re all here for him,” Mathews said.

Dennis Doran pointed to the Tampa Bay Rays jersey he wore and said, “Brad bought this for me. Everybody I talked to said, ‘I was his best friend.’ That’s the way he treated everybody.”

Brad Lisk’s life celebrated in true Island style
Brad Lisk’s friends gathered on the beach to celebrate his life. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Shane then spoke.

“I would like to say a prayer for my father. My dad loved peace, love and harmony. He treated everyone equal. No matter who you were, the color of your skin, what you looked like, what background you had, my father loved everyone equally.

“My dad taught me to love and cherish everything you have. If I wasn’t happy, he’d tell me, ‘Is there a roof over your head? Is there food on your plate? If you don’t like this, go find somewhere else to live.’ But you know what? I always came back,” Shane said.

He referenced the many years his dad spent coaching youth baseball and said, “He always took care of the Island kids. We always had a team where we were the oddball team. The kids didn’t have much and he would load everyone up in a truck and we would always get to practice or a game.”

He also said, “If someone needed someone to talk to, he was always the guy to give them advice. He always treated everyone with the same respect. If more people were like my dad, we wouldn’t have the issues we have today.”

Shane then waded into the Gulf of Mexico, said his father’s name aloud and began spreading his ashes as the people on shore cheered and the boats blew their horns.

Before rejoining the boat brigade, Shane encouraged everyone to stop by Dcoy Ducks to see the shrine erected in his dad’s honor. The shrine featured photograph books, framed photographs, framed concert tickets, a painting by Logan Huck, photographs projected on a video screen and more.

As folks arrived at the bar, Dcoy Ducks’ general manager Richie Brown shared his thoughts.
“Brad was a legend. He was an incredible friend, an incredible employee and the best bartender on the Island, hands down. People from all over the country would come to the bar and the first thing they said was, ‘Is Brad working tonight?’ He was a great father, a great friend and the Island will never be the same. He was an icon,” Brown said.

“Dcoy Ducks sends our thoughts and prayers to Brad’s sons, Shane and Tanner,” Brown said, noting the challenges of putting together a celebration of life during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dcoy Ducks’ bartender Lisa O’Connell said Brad worked there for about 10 years and started as a doorman, which didn’t last long.

“He had the personality to be behind the bar. I love him with all my heart,” O’Connell said.

Having made his way from the beach to the bar, Mike Lacher said, “Back in the ’80s and ’90s we went to probably 100 concerts together. He was a great guy and a great friend to everyone. I knew him for 40 years and we first met in Boy Scouts.”

Lacher was at the Bucs’ game captured in the photograph and later used for the commemorative T-shirts.

“I think it was back in the ’80s. We were 1-13 that year. We were absolutely horrible,” Lacher said.

Youth and experience take football championship

Youth and experience take football championship

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

Quarantine delays pushed the end of the spring adult co-ed flag football season almost into the summer, with the final games played last Thursday night at The Center.

After threats of rain, in high humidity, team Firkins Automotive eked out the win in the championship game to end another football season, with the final score 26-25. In the final seconds of the game an extra point conversion kept the game from going into overtime play.

Moss Builders may have finished second, but the all-around talent and veteran experience of the squad made the team the favorite going into the match-up.

Team captain Ryan Moss had three passing touchdowns in the game, with his scoring targets Jordan DeMers and Dina Calvary. Calvary had eight receptions in the game. Moss brother Jon had two catches including an extra point conversion.

Teammate Bradley Coleman had the football hit his hands twice for yardage. On defense he made a huge play with an interception that he ran back for a touchdown.

The efforts of Moss Builders could not stop Firkins Automotive’s enthusiastic play.

The youthful squad was smartly led by Jason Sato, who has played in the league since its inception, along with Chase Richardson, who has played in area leagues for years. With three touchdown passes in the statistic books, Sato threw the extra point pass that sealed the deal for Firkins.

Cory Banks and Matt Briley had extra point catches to their credit in the big game. Richardson made a TD reception, along with teammates Briley and Banks to put a total of 26 points on the scoreboard to win the championship game.

COVID-19 heavily impacting tourism

Written by Cindy Lane on . Posted in Business, Tourism.

The coronavirus pandemic has sickened the local tourism industry, but local officials plan to ask the state for a shot in the arm by moderating some vacation rental restrictions, the Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC) learned on Monday.

April visitation to the county was down 82.3%, occupancy was down 83.4% and the average daily rate was down 26.4% from the previous April, said Anne Wittine, of Research Data Services, the county’s tourism consultant.

However, she said, “It is a testament to the strength of Manatee’s tourism industry… that year to date we are only down 12.1% in visitation and 11.7% in economic impact.”

A new traveler sentiment survey indicates that optimism about traveling has been down due to concerns about health, she said.

The first week of June, 34% of those surveyed said they thought the state was reopening from COVID-19 shutdowns too quickly; the second week of June, as coronavirus cases spiked, that sentiment increased to 42%.

People surveyed are feeling less safe from the first to the second week of June about dining in a restaurant, shopping, participating in outdoor recreation, going to indoor attractions, visiting friends and relatives, going to the beach, going to theme parks and visiting a new destination, she told the TDC.

Among the biggest concerns about traveling during COVID-19 were not being able to return home, being quarantined away from home and flight cancellations.

A survey question, “Is this a destination you would be interested in visiting?” resulted in a loss of confidence from 28.9% the last week in May to 22.7% the second week of June.

However, Wittine said there is reason for optimism that sentiments are turning around.

“We asked people what one word is that would describe their feelings about tourism,” she said. The first week of June, people were saying, “Absolutely no,” but by the second week, the majority sentiment had changed to “cautious,” she said.

Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) Director Elliott Falcione said that many visitors to the area are making 12- to 14-hour drives to come here with their family, a slight difference in the county’s typical visitor profile of older couples.

Manatee County Commissioner Carol Whitmore commented that the survey shows the hesitancy of visitors to come to the county, probably due to the spike in COVID-19 cases.

“It’s telling me that people aren’t ready yet, but I think we need to stay in their faces,” she said.

CVB to request change in COVID guidelines

On Tuesday, June 16, the CVB was scheduled to ask the Manatee County Commission to amend county vacation rental guidelines on COVID-19 to allow visitors from certain states that are currently prohibited, Falcione said.

“It will give our vacation rentals a lot of flexibility,” he said.

Under current guidelines, visitors from states that have 700 cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 people are restricted, he said.

If the commission approves the amendment, the county administrator could ask the state Department of Business and Professional Regulation to eliminate that restriction and instead limit the restricted areas to those identified by the governor as high risk (currently New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Louisiana).

Reservations would be required to be longer than the quarantine period established by the state and groups of visitors would still be limited to no more than 10 people, or fewer depending on municipal occupancy limits, according to the recommendation.

The next TDC meeting is scheduled on Monday, Aug. 17 at 9 a.m., tentatively at Holmes Beach City Hall.

In other business:

  • John Horne, of the Anna Maria Oyster Bar and the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, reported that some local restaurants have not yet opened for various reasons, including concerns about being profitable at 50% capacity. He thanked Gov. Ron DeSantis for allowing expanded outdoor dining, municipalities for relaxing their criteria on signage to allow restaurants to advertise that they’re open, and the CVB for lobbying to get short-term vacation rentals open.
  • Mark Stuckey, of the Sarasota/Bradenton International Airport, reported that traffic has increased from 10,000 to 40,000 passengers since COVID-19 restrictions were lifted, but traffic is down 21% year to date. Airlines are requiring passengers to wear masks at all times and the airport has installed Plexiglas windows and increased sanitization measures to protect passengers, he said.
  • CVB website manager Emily Knight reported that the CVB stopped advertising for tourism on its website on March 16 due to European borders closing, causing website traffic to drop; traffic rebounded when beaches were reopened in May. A COVID-19 page was added to advise prospective visitors about updates and a “Bring Bradenton Home” page was added to let people virtually experience the destination. In April, a message was launched that “The Bradenton Area Misses You Too.”
  • Sean Walter, of the CVB’s sports marketing program, reported 40 canceled events due to COVID-19, a loss of $35 million. However, 20 tentative events have been scheduled at Premiere Sports Campus from 2020-2022. Visitation outreach will focus on drive markets due to visitors’ concerns about flying, he said.
  • Michele Schulz, of the Manatee County Tax Collector’s Office, reported that her office has posted a message on its website in conjunction with the CVB that “Tourism is back!” The office sent emails to more than 5,000 people and letters to nearly 2,500 to refer them to the website, since many were not visiting it due to not having to pay tourist taxes while vacation rentals were closed.

Spike in COVID-19 cases follows reopenings

Written by Cindy Lane on . Posted in Community News, Featured, Health.

Manatee County had the highest spike in COVID-19 cases in a month on Thursday, June 11, with 56 new cases reported by the Florida Department of Health.

Statewide cases also spiked that day with 1,663 new cases.

The CDC ranks Manatee County fifth among Florida counties for the number of COVID-19 deaths.

The increases come within three weeks of the May 21 reopening of Florida vacation rentals from state-imposed closures intended to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Gov. Ron DeSantis reopened beaches, restaurants, retail stores and state parks on May 4, hair and nail salons on May 11, and gyms on May 18.

The incubation period for the coronavirus, or COVID-19, is up to 14 days, with more than 97% of people developing symptoms withing 11.5 days of becoming infected, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

From May 13 to June 11, new cases of COVID-19 trended upward both countywide and statewide.

As of June 11, 1,309 people in Manatee County with the coronavirus have been reported, with 114 people who died from the disease.

The CDC ranks Manatee County fifth among Florida counties for the number of COVID-19 deaths.

No cases were reported in Anna Maria or Cortez and fewer than five were reported in Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach combined.

Statewide as of June 11, there have been 70,971 people with COVID-19 in Florida, and 2,877 people have died from the disease – more than the number of people who died in the attack on the World Trade Center in New York City on Sept. 11, 2001, which killed 2,753 people, according to the Encyclopedia Brittanica.

The CDC predicts more than 3,500 more cases in Florida by July 1.

Nationwide, 2,038,344 cases of coronavirus have been reported, with 114,625 deaths.

Related coverage

State health officer: ‘Wear your mask’

 

 

Tips for staying safer from coronavirus

Groceries

Order groceries online or use curbside pickup. If you must shop in a store, stay at least 6 feet away from others, cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face covering, go during hours when fewer people will be there and if you are at higher risk for severe illness, find out if the store has special hours for people at higher risk and shop during those hours. People at higher risk for severe illness include adults 65 or older and people of any age who have underlying medical conditions or are immune compromised. Disinfect the shopping cart with disinfecting wipes if available. Do not touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. If possible, use touchless payment (pay without touching money, a card or a keypad). If you must handle money, a card, or use a keypad, use hand sanitizer right after paying.

Deliveries, mail and takeout

Use delivery services when possible, having bags of ordered food left on a home doorstep. Limit in-person contact if possible. Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer after accepting deliveries or collecting mail.

Banking

Bank online when possible. If you must go inside the bank, use hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol after any deposit, withdrawal, exchange, drive-thru visit or use of an ATM.

Wash your hands thoroughly when you arrive home.

Getting gas

Use disinfecting wipes on handles and buttons before you touch them (if available). After fueling, use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds when you get home or somewhere with soap and water.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Castles in the Sand

Million-dollar surprises

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

The last time I wrote my million-dollar update published on March 18, we had no idea what a challenge the next months would be. I ended this column with the wish that the next three months wouldn’t have too many surprises, and here we are – one startling surprise after another.

A lot has happened since mid-March, and as reported, the April Manatee County sales statistics were down in all areas, but the sales prices were up, reflecting many sales that were under contract prior to mid-March. When the May sales statistics are posted later in the month, we’ll likely see more of the same.

However, based on a survey of more than 300 homebuilders, the sales of newly-built homes went up 21% in May from a year earlier. Economists are saying this survey offers a potential look at the sales activity yet to come around the country after the decline in March and April.

In addition, the Mortgage Bankers Association reported mortgage applications for home purchases at the end of May rose for the seventh straight week, up 17% from last year. The speculation is that buyers who may have been thinking of buying next year are moving up their agenda. Part of this is concern about another surge in the coronavirus and buyers’ desire to move out of states or cities where the most infections were. The fear of being quarantined again is motivating buyers to get out of Dodge now and not wait for the other shoe to drop. Not surprisingly, sales were strongest in Florida, up 59% from a year ago, and down in the northeast and California.

Complicating things are rioting in major cities around the country, driving homeowners to consider relocating to safer regions, and the rise of remote working. The rioting will hopefully stop, but the emergence of remote working is probably here to stay.

Major national companies like Facebook anticipate 50% of the workforce will be working remotely within five to 10 years. Even major banking operations have indicated that although they may retain a presence in major cities, remote working is in the best interest of both them and their employees.

What does this mean to the housing market going forward? At the very least there will be a major change in how workers live and work, or as the Zillow chief executive phrased it, “the great reshuffling.”

Let’s see what the upper end of our real estate market has produced in February, March and April. The closed sales are from the Manatee County Property Appraiser’s office and the available properties are from realtor.com as of this writing.

On the market in Cortez, there are four properties listed between $1,299,000 and $1,300,000, the same as the last analysis. The city of Anna Maria has 73 properties listed over $1 million; the last analysis had 63. There is one listed over $6 million, three listed over $4 million, eight listed over $3 million and the balance between $2 million and $1 million. The combined cities of Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach have 69 properties listed; the last analysis had 93 listed. They range from one over $7 million to two over $5 million, three over $4 million and four over $3 million. The balance is between $2 million and $1 million.

As you can imagine, sales are way off. Cortez had no sales over $1 million, same as last time. The city of Anna Maria had four, all under $2 million; the last time they had 16. And Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach had five, also all under $2 million; the last time they had 24.

Remember, real estate sales are always a lagging number and half of what we’re looking at was prior to shutdown and half during shutdown. I’m positive things will look better next time. Stay well.

Reel Time: Passing on the passion

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

Thinking back at the significance fishing and the outdoors has had on my life, I’m constantly reminded of the importance of protecting the resource so future generations have access to the same opportunities we’ve had. That’s why you read so much in this column of the need to get involved in issues revolving around water quality. What’s equally important is how we introduce children to the natural world and fishing.

I was reminded of this last week when I was contacted by Chris Marsh. who is visiting the Island from Atlanta with his wife, Laura, and their two girls, Ruth and Rachel. The girls leave home for college this year and the parents had planned to take them to Montana on a “trip of a lifetime” fishing adventure. When the pandemic changed their plans, they decided to drive to Anna Maria, where they found Heron’s Landing, an accommodation they fell in love with. As so often happens in life, what appeared to be a setback turned into a fantastic adventure for parents and the girls. It began with a memorable afternoon fishing with Captain Logan Bystrom. In Chris’s words, “They now know the real thrill of sportfishing,” after jumping several tarpon and landing two.

Reel Time
Captain Logan Bystrom prepares to release a tarpon as Ruth Marsh looks on. – Rusty Chinnis | Sun

Chris originally called me thinking I was a guide but I was happy to introduce them to Jenny Moore and the Anna Maria Boat Company. The new company is run by Moore and her husband, Captain Justin Moore, who are longtime friends that I knew I could depend on to find a competent guide for the day. Not an easy task during the height of tarpon season. They didn’t disappoint and on Sunday Captain Kyle McWorther, who works with the Moores, introduced them to Anna Maria Sound and our fantastic inshore fishing.

Those first experiences on the water leave indelible memories and it was apparent that Chris and Laura had learned that lesson. His description of introducing the girls to fishing dovetailed with what I consider fundamental to transmitting the love of fishing.

First and foremost, we should strive to make fishing uncomplicated and as much fun as possible. Creating unrealistic expectations can discourage young anglers and be the difference between the kindling of a passion or an aversion to the activity.

The basics of fishing are not complicated to learn, are easy to teach children and don’t require expensive equipment. If there’s a cardinal rule to getting kids interested in fishing, it’s to make sure and keep them engaged. Children are naturally curious; they love to play in and on the water and are fascinated by the creatures they find there. Catching fish isn’t their main objective and you shouldn’t make it the focus of an outing. It’s important to plan a trip that includes other activities like swimming, wildlife identification and snorkeling as well as fishing.

Being on the water provides an excellent opportunity to teach kids about their environment and boating safety skills. It’s important to let kids be a part of the adventure, and getting them involved is a great way to interject a stealth lesson in responsibility in children. Give them things to be in charge of, such as making sure everyone knows where the safety equipment is.

Don’t start children out with cheap fishing rods and reels. Provide them with decent equipment that’s light and manageable. An ultra-light rig with 6-pound test line is a great way to start. Try and think like a kid when fishing. Children would rather catch a dozen pinfish in a half-hour than wait a half-hour for a chance at a bigger or better fish. Action is paramount; kids are easily bored and distracted.
Consider starting kids fishing with a small popping cork that they can watch for signs of action. If you can start teaching kids that the enjoyment of the adventure isn’t measured by the number or size of fish you catch, you’ll teach them an important lesson that many fishermen never learn. If you can make the experience interesting for them, even if they don’t catch anything, they are more likely to want to do it again. Kids might be more interested in collecting shells, counting crabs or looking for manatees or dolphin than fishing, so be sensitive to what’s bringing them pleasure.

It’s also important to emphasize safety, bending down the barbs on fishing hooks and making them aware of fish with sharp teeth and stingers like catfish and stingrays. These first experiences on the water are very important and you should consider a plan of action in advance in case the fishing isn’t great. The last thing you want to do is bore kids by sitting on a spot too long. Keep your eyes and ears open and you might learn a lesson or two from them!

The Marshes started their girls in stocked ponds initially hooking and landing the fish for them. According to Chris Marsh they quickly grew out of that and were fascinated by creatures large and small, including tadpoles, and even seaweed.

Those formative years were apparent when they told him, “Dad, you threw that cast net for hours at a time for us, that must have been so exhausting!”

Take your kids fishing, make it uncomplicated and fun and they’ll learn lessons and have memories that last a lifetime. Captain Logan Bystrom can be reached at 941-713-1265 and at his website. Contact McWorther and the Anna Maria Boat Company at 941-228-8973 and check out their website. Reservations are available at Heron’s Landing by contacting Maureen Kraker at 713-498-3549.

Anna Maria City Pier opens Friday

Anna Maria City Pier opens Friday

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Featured.

Updated June 18 at 11:45 p.m. ANNA MARIA – The new Anna Maria City Pier will reopen at 8 a.m. on Friday, June 19, and Mayor Dan Murphy and city Commissioners Carol Carter and Amy Tripp will be among those on hand to greet the first pier visitors.

Because of the ongoing COVID-19 concerns, Friday’s pier opening will be a soft opening with no ribbon-cutting ceremony and no invited special guests. A more celebratory grand opening ceremony will take place at a future date.

For starters, the new City Pier will be open on a limited basis on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from  8 a.m. until 5 p.m. The pier will remain closed Monday through Thursday and signs will be posted near the pier regarding the limited visitation hours.

“It’s a nice-looking pier and you’re going to be proud of it when you go out there,” Murphy said during the Thursday, June 11 city commission meeting.

“We can expand the hours. This is just temporary,” he said of the initial pier visitation restrictions.

Murphy said the limited visitation hours take into account three factors: the COVID-19 pandemic, the final touch-up work still taking place on the pier and the possibility that the future restaurant and bait shop tenant may soon want to begin the interior buildouts of those city-owned pier buildings.

“It’s a nice-looking pier and you’re going to be proud of it when you go out there.” – Dan Murphy, Anna Maria Mayor

Murphy said there will be one sheriff’s deputy stationed on the pier and another deputy stationed on shore while the pier is open. He said the deputies will use their best judgment as to how many people are allowed on the pier at a time.

Pier lease negotiations

During last week’s meeting, Murphy told the commission his ongoing fact-finding discussions with Ugly Grouper restaurant co-owner Mike Ross are going well.

“We’re to the point now where we’re discussing the maintenance options, who’s going to do what,” Murphy said.

Murphy said he expects Ross to come before the commission in late June or early July with a formal lease proposal.

Pier lease settlement

During last week’s meeting, City Attorney Becky Vose said the settlement discussions with current and soon-to-be former pier tenant Mario Schoenfelder and his attorney have been cordial and remain ongoing, but a proposed settlement figure has not yet been reached.

Schoenfelder recently requested a $65,000 settlement to terminate early his current lease for the old City Pier that expires on Dec. 15. Vose was recently authorized to try to negotiate a lower settlement figure. She told the commission she does not yet have a revised settlement figure to present for commission consideration.

Parking issues spur protest, dialogue

Parking space reduction spurs protest, dialogue

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

HOLMES BEACH – It’s been just over one week since city leaders enacted a plan to limit parking on residential streets on the west side of the city, angering some residents, business owners and visitors.

Now city leaders are considering making changes to the city’s land development code to help ease some of the community’s parking concerns.

The week started with an online petition aimed at convincing city leaders to reverse a decision to block off-street parking in residential neighborhoods west of the city’s main corridors of Gulf, Marina and Palm drives, gaining more than 10,000 signatures from locals and visitors.

It ended with a letter from Florida Senate President Bill Galvano (R-Manatee) and Rep. Will Robinson (R-Manatee) asking Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth to consider retracting the parking regulations.

Titsworth responded that city leaders are considering changing the land development code to allow businesses and churches to charge for beach parking. She added that she’s also meeting with Manatee County leaders to discuss parking and has approached the Manatee County School District to determine if the lot at Anna Maria Elementary School can be used for overflow beach parking. Another potential solution is to issue parking permits to residents.

The new parking regulations eliminated 1,102 on-street parking spaces, leaving 1,307 spaces available within a quarter-mile of the beach, including the Manatee Beach parking lot.

Work vehicles where employees are performing maintenance, construction or other commercial services at a property are not affected by the parking regulations and may still use street parking on any Holmes Beach street while they are completing work at a nearby residence or business.

Holmes Beach was the last of the three Island cities to enact strict parking restrictions.

The issue

Holmes Beach, while the largest of the three cities on Anna Maria Island, is only about 1.91 square miles on a seven-mile island. Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer said that about 18,000-23,000 cars cross into the city on a daily basis with that number more than doubling on holiday weekends. And while not everyone is going to the beach, a large number of people are, and that number is continuing to grow as more people move to Manatee County each year. Despite the growing demand for parking spaces, he said there’s just no more space in the city to accommodate more people and that beach parking in neighborhoods is problematic for residents who end up with beachgoers parked on their property and often leaving behind trash or attempting to use outdoor facilities, such as hoses and swimming pools, as their own.

Titsworth said that the beach parking in residential neighborhoods creates a public health concern due to the lack of restroom facilities, limited trash disposal options and lack of lifeguards outside of the Manatee Beach area. Manatee Beach is a public beach at the end of Manatee Avenue in Holmes Beach that is home to more than 300 public parking spaces, restroom facilities, showers, a full restaurant and playground, and the waters are watched over by lifeguards. Within the residential neighborhoods, she said there is no space to install these types of facilities. Tokajer said that even if facilities could be added, there’s simply no way to meet the demand for beach parking.

The residential street parking also poses a problem for trash collection vehicles, mail trucks, EMS vehicles and fire department trucks, which have a difficult time navigating the sometimes narrow streets. If visitors are parked up and down the street, the vehicles may not be able to get through, which particularly concerns city officials in the event of an emergency.

The protest

While some residents are happy with the new parking regulations, some are not and have taken to social media, email and public forums to air their grievances with the city.

Residents who live on the east side of the city say they cannot easily access the beach if parking in residential neighborhoods is closed to them. Some residents who live in the area where the no parking signs went up are concerned because street parking that they use for visitors, family members and extra vehicles is now gone.

Some business owners are worried about having to police their own lots to stop beachgoers from using the spaces reserved for customers as beach parking. Some also fear that the reduction in parking will mean a reduction in the number of people who patronize local restaurants and shops, just reopened from COVID-19 shutdowns.

During a protest held on June 9 at Holmes Beach City Hall, more than 50 people gathered with signs to demonstrate their frustration with city leaders and their opposition to the removal of on-street parking spots. Besides city residents and business owners, Manatee County residents came to express concern about their ability to access beach parking.

Many spoke out against what they called an abuse of power by the city’s mayor, police chief and commissioners to change parking regulations while the city is still under a state of emergency due to COVID-19 and commissioners are meeting virtually rather than in person at city hall. Many people argued that the decision had been made without public notice and input.

While the discussion was never formally put on a city commission agenda, it was discussed in the virtual meetings, which are open to the public, beginning in April and has been reported in The Sun 10 times since parking was first limited in the city to encourage social distancing during the governor’s stay-at-home order for Florida residents.

At press time for The Sun, the petition on change.org had garnered more than 11,400 signatures. Another petition bearing 68 signatures of residents, business owners and Island workers was presented to city leaders during the June 9 commission meeting asking commissioners to reconsider the parking regulations.

The June 9 meeting was attended by more than 120 people who called in or joined through their computers and more than a dozen spoke up about parking regulations during public comment with more sending in comments by email to be read by commissioners.

Resident comments

Holmes Beach resident, business owner and commission candidate Rick Hurst spoke first during public comment, noting that he had sent commissioners a petition with more than 200 signatures requesting that the new parking regulations be rescinded. He argued that commissioners did not get enough public input on the plan before it was implemented.

Bradenton Beach vacation rental owner John Little said that in his estimation, the city of Holmes Beach is “100% dependent on visitors” and that by not allowing street parking in residential neighborhoods, the city wasn’t being very welcoming to visitors.

Holmes Beach resident Karen Gertz-Casper said she’d like to know what the city will be doing to help residents who have lost their parking and easy beach access.

Manatee County Commissioner Carol Whitmore said that out of the more than 400,000 county residents that she represents, she’s had several complaints about the city’s new parking restrictions and that the residential street parking has traditionally been available to beachgoers to use. Whitmore added that she also was concerned about the way the restrictions were enacted.

Manatee County residents Stephanie Ham, Meagan Cox and Jason Hall all spoke against the parking restrictions, stating that county residents have a right to the parking and to access the Island’s beaches.

Holmes Beach residents Gale Tedhams and Renee Ferguson spoke in favor of the parking restrictions, though Tedhams was concerned about how to handle visitors coming to her home who need parking. Ferguson stated that she wants people to come to the beach but agrees that there will never be enough parking to meet the demand. She said that she believes the parking issue in Holmes Beach was created by Manatee County leaders who advertise the Island’s beaches and then provide limited facilities for visitors to use, including parking spaces.

The solution

While a solution to the issues brought to their attention by residents, visitors and business owners has yet to be proposed by city leaders, some options are being considered at coming commission meetings and work sessions, including allowing businesses and churches to charge people to use their parking lots and issuing parking permits for residents.

In the short term, Tokajer said that bike racks can be added at beach access points to accommodate more cyclists and that he plans to add at least two golf cart-only parking spaces at each beach access point where parking is available. Four disabled accessible spots and a ramp are planned for installation at the 52nd Street beach access. He also said that residents who need to use street parking for a family gathering, event or other short-term use can contact the police department, tell the dispatcher how many people are expected and when, and officers will temporarily cover the no parking signs in that area to accommodate the needed street parking.

To follow along with what’s happening at city hall, visit www.holmesbeachfl.org.

Watch out for rental fraud

Watch out for rental fraud

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

HOLMES BEACH – Investigations are ongoing in at least three cases of rental fraud that have occurred in the last month.

The vacation rentals were rented out without the owner’s or property management company’s knowledge or consent and the funds for the rentals were transferred to a party that doesn’t represent the owner. Visitors arrived only to find out that they really didn’t have a booking at the property they thought they’d reserved.

Now Holmes Beach police officers are warning rental owners to be on the lookout for any fraudulent advertisements for their properties, and are warning visitors to be careful how they book their next vacation.

The first instance was reported to HBPD on May 21, when officers responded to 309-A 58th St., where renters were occupying a property that had not been rented through the owner, Jerry McBrayer, or Island Vacation Properties, the company that manages the vacation rental.

McBrayer said that he went to the property to do some work while the property was unoccupied during the COVID-19 shutdown and was surprised to find people staying there. After calling Island Vacation Properties to confirm that the property was supposed to be unoccupied, the police were called and, according to the police report, the renters were packing to leave when officers arrived on the scene.

The renter, Danielle Skinner, said that she had paid a total of $1,080 to rent the property through Cashapp after finding an advertisement for the rental on Craigslist. She said throughout correspondence the correct names were used for the owner and she never thought it was a fraudulent transaction. Upon arrival at the rental, Skinner told police that the code to unlock the door of the unit that she had received was incorrect. She called Island Vacation Properties as their sign was in front of the rental and was mistakenly given the correct code through an answering service. She and the rest of her party had been staying at the property since May 18.

Also on May 21, one rental owner got in front of a fraudulent post advertising his property when a phone call alerted him to the issue. Cameron Simmons, who lives in Ontario and owns a property that he and his wife rent long term at 449 63rd St., found out that his property was being fraudulently advertised on Craigslist without his knowledge using information from his VRBO advertisement. Simmons told police that he received an email and a phone call about the post and attempted to have the Craigslist post taken down without success.

Massachusetts resident Karen Johnson told HBPD officers May 24 that she was halfway to Holmes Beach before she started feeling that something was wrong with her rental transaction. Johnson said that she found an ad on Craigslist for 119 52nd St. She sent an $800 deposit for the rental through Zelle and said that communication with the man she rented the property from, Douglas King, broke down when she was halfway to Florida, with him refusing to respond to multiple messages. Johnson contacted HBPD, telling them that King said he lives at 113 31st St. in Holmes Beach, which turned out to be a professionally managed vacation rental property.

Chief Bill Tokajer said that rental property owners and managers can help protect their properties and potential visitors from fraud by periodically searching their property’s address online to see if any advertisements they don’t recognize come up.

Tokajer said that visitors to the area can help to protect themselves by only renting vacation rentals through reputable companies and paying special attention to any advertisements on Craigslist. A good way to determine if a potential transaction is fraudulent, he said, is by how the person renting the property asks for payment. Red flags include having to send money by wire transfer, only using one certain type of credit card or through a prepaid card like Green Dot. Another red flag is a strange PayPal account associated with the payment or using other cash transfer apps. The amount of the rental also could be a red flag. If a deal on a marketplace site like Craigslist looks too good to be true, it very well might be. Research prices in the area for similar rentals to determine if it seems like the amount advertised is on par with what similar units are renting for.

Visitors should also pay close attention to the rental agreement they receive. A fraudulent rental agreement was shared with The Sun that lists an invalid company and contact information for the owner, has multiple spelling and spacing errors and doesn’t list the address of the property being rented. The occupancy listed also is above the maximum legally allowable limit of two people per bedroom or six people, whichever is greater, and no vacation rental certificate number is provided. The owner’s name and signature also don’t match.

If you think you have been a victim of fraud or your property is being advertised without your consent, contact the HBPD at 941-708-2677.

Bower, Van Ostenbridge will square off in November

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

Updated June 18, 2020 at 10:22 a.m. MANATEE COUNTY – The winner of the District 3 Manatee County Commission race between non-party-affiliated candidate Matt Bower and Republican candidate Keven Van Ostenbridge will be decided in the general election in November.

In a previous story, The Sun mistakenly reported the District 3 race would essentially be decided in the Tuesday, Aug. 18, Republican primary due to the write-in candidacy of Nathan Meyer and the lack of a Democratic candidate.

According to Sharon Stief, Chief Deputy of the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Office, Bower qualified as a Republican candidate on Monday, June 8, the first day of the one-week qualifying period. But on Friday, June 12, the final day of qualifying, Bower requalified as a candidate with no party affiliation.

Because of this change, Stief said neither Bower nor Van Ostenbridge’s name will appear on the primary ballot in August. Had Bower run as a Republican, this winner of this race would have been decided in the August primary.

“When he (Bower) came in to change his party affiliation that put the entire race on the general election ballot.  It won’t be on the primary ballot at all,” Stief said when contacted Tuesday afternoon.

Bower and Van Ostenbridge’s names will appear on the general election ballot in November. All registered voters in District 3, regardless of their own party affiliation, will be able to vote in that race that determines who fills the District 3 seat currently held by Steve Jonsson. Jonsson is not seeking reelection after one term in office.

Stief said Bower collected enough petition signatures to avoid paying the $3,441 qualifying fee when he first qualified as a Republican. Stief said those petition signatures no longer applied when Bower requalified later in the week as a non-party-affiliated candidate. Therefore, Bower then had to pay the qualifying fee.

As of Tuesday, Van Ostenbridge reported $93,581 in campaign contributions and Bower reported $870. Meyer reported no campaign contributions and as a write-in candidate name will not appear on any ballots during the 2020 election cycle. Nor will the names of any other write-in candidates.

District 7

Due to the write-in candidacy of Parrish resident Thomas Dell, and the lack of a Democratic candidate, the countywide District 7 at-large August primary race featuring former County Administrator Ed Hunzeker and Bradenton resident George Kruse will be closed to registered Republican voters only.

Hunzeker and Kruse are both running as Republicans and the lack of a Democratic challenger means the winner of District 7 Republican primary race in August will later fill the commission seat to be vacated Commissioner Betsy Benac. After two four-year terms in office, Benac decided not to seek reelection.

The closed District 7 primary race means registered Democrats and registered non-party-affiliated voters in Manatee County – including those who live on Anna Maria Island or in Cortez – will not be allowed to vote in the primary race that decides who fills Benac’s seat.

Hunzeker has thus far reported $105,760 in campaign contributions, Kruse reported $28,050 and Dell reported zero campaign contributions.

An option for non-Republicans

Florida is a closed primary state and write-in candidates who do not fundraise or actively campaign are often used by both the Republican and Democratic parties to close primary races in which the opposing party does not have a candidate.

There is a process that allows Democrats and non-affiliated independents to help determine the winners of the District 7 at-large race. Non-Republican voters who wish to cast votes in the District 7 primary race in August have until Monday, July 20 to change their party affiliation to Republican. Changing one’s party affiliation is legal and can be done as often as one wishes.

Voters who switch their party affiliation will cast primary votes using a Republican ballot. Changing party affiliation has no impact on the general election ballot used by all county voters. After the August primaries, party affiliation can be switched again.

Switching party affiliation can be done online.

Party affiliation can also be switched by email or standard mail. For more information, call the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Office at 941-741-3823 or email info@votemanatee.com.

District 1 and 5 races

Incumbent District 1 Commissioner Priscilla Trace is the only Manatee County Commissioner facing a Democratic challenger in the general election. Democrat Dominique Shauntel Brown also seeks the District 1 seat and in November she will face off the winner of the District 1 Republican primary that also includes Republican James Satcher III. Write-in candidate James Hengel is also in this race, but his name will not appear on the primary or general election ballots.

Trace has thus far reported $51,724 in campaign contributions. Satcher reported $100 and Brown and Hengel reported no campaign contributions.

Write-in candidates Carol Ann Felts and Christopher Gilbert closed the District 5 County Commission primary race featuring incumbent Republican Commissioner Vanessa Baugh and there is Democratic candidate in that race so Baugh has reported $77,620 in campaign contributions but she is essentially running unopposed and will serve another term in office.

Holmes Beach logo OLD

Holmes Beach election takes shape

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

Judy Titsworth

HOLMES BEACH – Mayor Judy Titsworth will have another two-year term in office, but it remains to be seen if Commissioners Kim Rash and Pat Morton will join her for two more years on the dais.

Both Rash and Morton qualified to run for re-election in 2020, but this year they’ll face challengers Jayne Christenson and former Commissioner Rick Hurst in the Nov. 3 election.

Holmes Beach election takes shape
City Clerk Stacey Johnston swears in Commissioner Pat Morton in 2018. – Kristin Swain | Sun

With no one else throwing their hat into the ring for the mayor’s position, Titsworth is automatically reelected for her second term as mayor. She will officially be sworn in again in November with the two commissioners-elect during the city commission’s annual organizational meeting once the election results are certified.

Holmes Beach election takes shape
Kim Rash

Rash is campaigning for his second term in office, having been first elected in 2018. Morton was first elected to the city commission in 2003 and is seeking his 10th term in office, having served eight two-year terms and one one-year term in 2017.

Running for a potential first term on the dais is Holmes Beach resident Jayne Christenson. Throughout the years, Christenson has served on various city committees including the planning commission and parking committee. If elected, this will be her first time as one of the city’s commissioners.

Jayne Christenson

This year’s surprise entry into the commissioner’s race is former city commissioner Rick Hurst. Hurst is a Holmes Beach resident and also is one of the owners of the Freckled Fin, a local restaurant and live music hotspot.

Holmes Beach election takes shape
Rick Hurst

After losing his spot on the dais in 2019 to Commissioner Terry Schaefer, Hurst took a year off from local politics, resurfacing recently on social media protesting the city’s new parking regulations. If elected, this would be Hurst’s second term as a commissioner.

In the commissioner race, the top two vote-getters will take the two available commission seats.

The 2020 general election is Nov. 3.

Island churches welcome parishioners

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

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – While the Island’s six churches were forced to close their doors to the public due to COVID-19 precautions, they’re now beginning the process of slowly and safely reopening.

CrossPointe Fellowship

8605 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach

CrossPointe Fellowship has opened its doors to the public for worship services at 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. on Sundays with Children’s Church at 9 a.m. and Life Groups for all ages at 10:30 a.m. Everyone is invited to attend in person while maintaining proper social distancing. Face masks/coverings are optional. For those who don’t yet feel comfortable attending in person, services also are available to join online.

The Episcopal Church of the Annunciation

4408 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach

The Episcopal Church of the Annunciation is open to parishioners who want to worship in person for 8 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. services on Sundays. Attendees are asked to wear a face mask and physical distancing measures are being enforced. For parishioners who aren’t comfortable attending an in-person service, the church is continuing to stream the 9:30 a.m. service live on Facebook. Anyone who would like to attend a service is asked to reserve a space by calling the church office from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Gloria Dei Lutheran Church

6608 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach

Gloria Dei Lutheran Church is not open for worship services until September, though church leaders say they will reassess the situation in August. Until then, parishioners and the public can join Rev. Doug Kings for 9:30 a.m. services every Sunday online at YouTube.

Harvey Memorial Community Church

300 Church St. N., Bradenton Beach

Harvey Memorial Church is still closed to the public for the time being but parishioners and the public can still worship online with Rev. Stephen King on Facebook.

Roser Memorial Community Church

512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria

Roser Memorial Community Church is open for Sunday worship services at 8:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. Attendees are required to wear a mask or face covering and reserve a seat at their desired time to attend by noon on Saturday. Once on site, ushers will guide parishioners to their seats where they are asked to remain throughout the service. Visit Roser Church or call 941-778-0414 to attend. For parishioners who aren’t yet comfortable attending in-person services, the 10 a.m. worship service will continue to be streamed online. The Roser Memorial Chapel is open Monday through Friday during church office hours for individual prayer and reflection. A sanitation station is located inside the door.

St. Bernard Catholic Church

248 S. Harbor Drive, Holmes Beach

St. Bernard Catholic Church has reopened its doors to the public and is welcoming parishioners to daily Mass Monday through Friday at 8:30 a.m. with a 4 p.m. Saturday vigil and 8:30 a.m. Sunday Mass. Attendees are required to wear a face mask or covering and observe social distancing. Confession is currently suspended until further notice. To attend church services, please contact the church office at 941-778-4769 or visit the website.

Residents question parking restrictions

Residents question parking restrictions

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

HOLMES BEACH – Beach parking has been the subject of much discussion among not only Holmes Beach residents, but also Manatee County residents, visitors, property owners and business owners. It’s not just any beach parking that’s under discussion, but that which takes place in residential neighborhoods.

The plan

Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer presented a plan to commissioners in April proposing to ban right of way and streetside parking in neighborhoods west of Gulf Drive in the south part of the city, Marina Drive in the middle and Palm Drive in the north once COVID-19 precautions were lifted. Those precautions prohibit all right of way, streetside and beach access parking.

The plan was agreed to and about 200 signs were ordered.

The banners announcing the parking ban were scheduled for removal on June 6, with beach access parking opening the same day. New signs banning streetside parking were placed along most of the streets close to the beach and the plan was officially launched, unfortunately on a rainy weekend.

Tokajer said he expects to have to tweak the new parking plan as issues are identified and find some exception for residents whose homes don’t have enough parking on their lots.

Mayor Judy Titsworth said she is working with residents who live on one of the affected streets who need an exception, whether that’s for their own vehicles or the vehicles of visitors to their homes. Some residents, Titsworth said, have asked not to have the signs placed on their side of the street, a request which is considered on an individual basis and has been honored by the city.

Tokajer said having some sort of permit for residents also is being considered as a potential next step, however, he added that this first step, keeping parking off of the westside city streets, needs to be implemented and evaluated.

Under the new plan, the city of Holmes Beach has 1,303 parking spaces available including 334 at Manatee Beach, 22 for beach access after hours at Hancock Bank and the remaining spaces located at beach access points and along city streets. The 1,303 spaces mark a reduction of 1,102 spaces from the previously available 2,405. According to a parking study completed and shared by Titsworth and Tokajer, the city has 479 spaces to qualify for beach renourishment funding, more than the required amount.

Holmes Beach isn’t the only Anna Maria Island city with parking restrictions. Bradenton Beach doesn’t allow parking on any rights of way within the city. The city of Anna Maria allows parking only on certain sides of the street, requires that all four vehicle tires be off the pavement and recently instituted a fine of $100 to $225 every two hours for parking violators. Contrary to some reports, the city of Holmes Beach has not raised its parking violation amount, which remains at $50.

The complaints

While Tokajer said during the May 26 commission meeting that he’d received primarily positive response to the new parking plan, during the week of June 1, some residents took to social media and email to express their dislike of the plan.

Chief among the detractors is former Holmes Beach commissioner Rick Hurst. Hurst, who owns the Freckled Fin in Holmes Beach and also is a Key Royale resident, said the parking restrictions would prevent people in his neighborhood, on the east side of the city, from being able to easily drive to and park at the beach. He also said he’s concerned that a reduction in parking will hurt businesses, like his restaurant, that he said are patronized by people going to the beach.

Fellow Key Royale resident Don Purvis also had concerns about being easily able to access the beach. Purvis said he feels a reduction in parking could cause businesses like his real estate company who have their own parking lots to have to police the lots to keep beachgoers from taking up the spaces needed for customers.

Holmes Beach resident Dave Welch said he’s concerned not only about being able to easily access the beach, but also about residents who live near the beach not being able to use the streetside parking in front of their homes for guests or general overflow parking from their homes. While many homes in Holmes Beach have driveways or other onsite parking large enough to accommodate one car per bedroom, some older homes have smaller driveways that were grandfathered in and the residents rely on the street parking.

New Holmes Beach resident Nicole Kaleta said she and her husband recently purchased and renovated a home in the city after starting a vacation rental company there several years ago. Now, she said it saddens here to see the no parking signs, no parking banners and construction signs throughout the city.

“This is not at all what I had in mind for living on the friendly welcoming island we fought so hard to move to nor is it the one we continually work so hard to welcome visitors to,” Kaleta said in an email to The Sun. “I am so saddened to see locals unable to enjoy their own beaches, businesses unable to host patrons and the attitude of the Island be one of negativity and unwelcomeness. We should be living in an era of embracing and supporting each other, not making life more difficult.”

Island property and business owner Mike Thrasher said his concern is how the decision was made. He said he felt the decision was made without public input and is an abuse of power, a sentiment echoed by some Island residents and many Manatee County residents despite both Tokajer and Titsworth stating that the decision was made in a public meeting, held by teleconference, and has been discussed regularly in subsequent meetings. Some comments on social media indicated that people would like to have a town hall meeting, where the options for parking are discussed and community members can have their say before a plan is implemented.

Manatee County Commissioner and Holmes Beach resident Carol Whitmore spoke out against the new parking strategy, both via email and on social media, saying the city has removed a practice that has been in place for many years – parking for the beach along residential streets – and that the decision was made while the city is under a state of emergency due to COVID-19.

In response to Titsworth’s concern that not only would Holmes Beach continue to bear the brunt of parking for the Island’s beaches but that there are not public facilities outside of Manatee Beach for beachgoers to utilize, Whitmore suggested placing portable toilets at beach access points that she said could potentially be placed and maintained by Manatee County.

Petition and protest

On social media, many Manatee County residents expressed concern about the new parking restrictions, with many saying it’s unfair of the city to block off parking that county residents may need for beach parking.

A petition was created on www.change.org to ask city commissioners to repeal the parking decision and keep all streetside parking in the city open in Holmes Beach. As of June 7, the petition had more than 9,400 signatures. The city of Holmes Beach has an estimated population of just over 4,000 residents. A group also is planning to gather at Holmes Beach City Hall during the June 9 commission meeting, even though city hall remains closed to the public due to COVID-19 precautions and the meeting will be held via teleconference. Many of the attendees have stated their intention to speak on the matter of streetside beach parking during public comment.

WHO, CDC agree face masks vital to reduce COVID-19

Written by Cindy Lane on . Posted in Community News, Health.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has reversed its stance on face masks, now agreeing with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), saying masks should be worn in public to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

New information shows masks can provide “a barrier for potentially infectious droplets,” according to the organization, which previously said there was not enough evidence to say that healthy people should wear masks.

“In light of evolving evidence, the WHO advises that governments should encourage the general public to wear masks where there is widespread transmission and physical distancing is difficult, such as on public transport, in shops or in other confined or crowded environments,” WHO Director General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Friday.

Choose the right mask fabric

 

The WHO recommends a minimum of three layers of non-stretch fabric for non-medical masks, constructed as follows:

– an innermost layer of cotton or cotton blends;

– an outermost layer of polypropylene, polyester or their blends, which may limit external contamination from penetration through to the wearer’s nose and mouth;

– a middle layer of synthetic non-woven material such as polypropylene or a cotton layer which may enhance filtration or retain droplets.

 

Source: World Health Organization

 

According to the CDC, a “significant portion of individuals with coronavirus” do not experience symptoms. As a result, these individuals can unknowingly spread the virus to those around them. Cloth face coverings can help prevent those who may have COVID-19 and not know it from spreading the virus, as well as keep healthy people from inhaling it.

The CDC continues to urge people to remain at home as much as possible and practice social distancing, remaining 6 feet away from all others to help prevent spread of COVID-19.

WHO and the CDC each have links showing the proper way to put on, wear and remove a face covering.

Additional prevention tips include:

  • Wash your hands often
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces
  • Avoid nonessential travel

For general information on COVID-19 in Florida, visit Florida Health, email covid-19@flhealth.gov or call 866-779-6121.

Celebrate turtles

Written by Cindy Lane on . Posted in Outdoors, Sea turtles.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – World Sea Turtle Day is Tuesday, June 16, and you can celebrate with the Sea Turtle Conservancy on the birthday of its founder, Dr. Archie Carr.

Carr is remembered as the father of sea turtle biology and the conservation movement that engendered groups like Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring, which works with the Sea Turtle Conservancy each year to satellite tag a turtle on local beaches and follow her travels.

Sea turtles have been nesting on beaches since the time of dinosaurs, about 110 million years, and have remained mostly unchanged. They contribute to the well-being of sea life and the environment in many ways. For example, green sea turtles, which nest on Anna Maria Island, eat seagrass; like regular grass, seagrass needs to be kept short to ensure it’s healthy and continues to grow along the ocean floor and provide a place for the breeding and development of many species of fish. Leatherback and hawksbill sea turtles help keep the populations of jellyfish and sponges in check.

Here’s how you can celebrate sea turtles on Tuesday and every day of the year:

  • Turn off your lights. If you live in or are vacationing in a beachfront residence, turn your beach-facing lights off or close your blinds or curtains. Lights cause nesting and hatchling turtles to wander. Owners, install sea turtle-friendly lighting to help mothers and hatchlings go in the right direction.
  • Clean up the beach. Remove any trash from the beach that might hinder a turtle’s nesting. Also, knock down sandcastles and fill in holes so that the ground is flat and there is nothing in the way of hatchlings when they’re making their way to the Gulf of Mexico.
  • Plastic that ends up in the ocean gets eaten by turtles because they believe the plastic is jellyfish. Over 100 million marine animals are killed each year due to plastic debris, so buy and use products that decrease the use of plastic.