On March 1, I attended a Town Hall Meeting in Holmes Beach conducted by County Commissioner George Kruse. The main topic of the meeting was the traffic issues on Anna Maria Island and the proposed parking garage. Kruse listened politely, but he had obviously made up his mind that a parking garage should be built in Holmes Beach.
His decision was made with no input from any residents of Anna Maria Island, the people who will be most affected by the building of the parking garage. It’s disappointing that all the county commissioners, Rep. Robinson and Rep. Boyd did not take the time to meet with their Anna Maria Island constituents to gather additional input on a decision of this magnitude. What Kruse did not tell the audience is that the day before the Town Hall Meeting he had voted, along with the other County Commissioners, to endorse the parking garage. He has subsequently stated he is in favor of House Bill 947, legislation that would authorize a parking garage in county-managed public parks such as at Manatee Beach.
Kruse did admit that Anna Maria Island does not have a “visitor” problem, but rather has a traffic problem. His solution to reducing traffic on Anna Maria Island is to build a parking garage that Manatee County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge has stated could add 1,500 additional parking spaces. How does the building of a 1,500-stall parking garage reduce traffic coming onto Anna Maria Island? Won’t providing 1,500 additional parking spaces only add to the traffic problem? Why aren’t the county commissioners, Rep. Robinson and Rep. Boyd pursuing other options that would allow visitors to Anna Maria Island while reducing traffic as actively as they are pursuing a parking garage? Why aren’t they moving more quickly to find other solutions such as off-island parking facilities, shuttle services or other mass transit options to reduce the number of cars coming onto Anna Maria Island?
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – After more than three weeks of west winds pushing red tide and subsequent dead fish toward local Gulf of Mexico beaches, an easterly wind shift on Thursday gave some beachgoers a slight respite.
“We’ve been fighting the west wind for weeks,” said Mark Taylor, Manatee County Natural Resources employee and the operator of a mechanical beach-cleaning rake. “We appreciate a little break, the east wind is our friend.”
The beach rake that Taylor drives along the beaches has a spring-loaded conveyer with stainless steel tines that scratch the surface of the sand and pick up debris, including dead fish.
“We try to do the public beaches first,” he said. “That’s our priority always. They populate early with fish and it’s been a heavy amount of them.”
The fish go up the belt and are dumped into a 2-yard hopper on the back of the apparatus. When the hopper is full, Taylor backs up the vehicle to dumpsters at Manatee Beach, Coquina Beach and Bayfront Park and empties the load.
Rather than doing his normal run along Manatee and Coquina beaches, Taylor was sent to the northwest end of Anna Maria Island on Thursday, where the beaches were littered with dead fish.
“The wind is pushing it in today to Bean Point from the rocks and to Bayfront Park,” he said Thursday.
The predominant types of fish Taylor is seeing on the shore are catfish, pinfish and baitfish.
“The eels, the catfish and the baitfish come first,” Taylor said. “I’m seeing Spanish mackerel, pelagic, and grouper. Today I dumped a load of fish and one large grouper was in there, probably about 3-foot long.”
At Bean Point on Thursday, dead fish were scattered from the shore to the dune lines more than 60 feet away.
“The full moon we had recently and the huge tides washed the fished up to about a 100-foot span,” said Liza Click, supervisor of the Manatee County Property Management Grounds Division. “We’re seeing sheepshead, trout, catfish, dogfish, a lot of mullet and an occasional big grouper washed up on the sand.”
The county has four rakes to cover the local beaches and has been operating three of them recently.
“This past Sunday we had three beach rakes going off,” Click said on Thursday. “Winds play a big part in our day. Today was a great day.”
Click, who operates a beach rake, said her day begins at 4:30-5 a.m.
“The good thing is, we’re not in turtle season so I can get out there early,” she said. “I start at Coquina and once I get to Cortez, I’m closer to the buildings and I can get done by 6 or so.”
Click said the dumpsters where the fish are disposed of are emptied three times a week, and the county is getting ready to put down lime under the dumpsters to alleviate the odors of dead fish.
Taylor said that so far the fish kills are less than he saw during the heavy red tide of 2018.
“It’s not as bad as ’18 was,” he said. “In ’18 we had much larger quantities of fish on the beach. We’re able to manage right now. We had to bring everybody out in ’18. I worked 28 12-hour nights and days then.”
In 2018, Taylor said there was a run of dead horseshoe crabs along with the fish.
“What’s interesting is at Bayfront is primarily bay species. It’ll be mullet and trout and sheepshead,” he said. “And then out front (in the Gulf), you’ll get the grouper and the mackerel and maybe a pompano even.”
Taylor said thus far, the fish cleanups have been manageable for county crews.
“At some point, we have the beach clean each day right now,” he said.
Red tide intensifies
For the first time this year, some local waters are showing high levels of red tide.
Water samples taken on March 10 at Longboat Pass showed high concentrations of the red tide organism Karenia brevis, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). High levels can cause respiratory irritation, shellfish harvesting closures, probable fish kills, water discoloration and detection by satellite.
Red tide levels were reported as medium at Kingfish Boat Ramp on Anna Maria Sound just east of Anna Maria Island and at the Rod and Reel Pier in Anna Maria. Medium levels can cause respiratory irritation, shellfish harvesting closures, probable fish kills and detection by satellite.
Palma Sola Bay registered low levels of red tide.
According to the FWC, red tide was observed at low to high concentrations in 12 samples collected in Manatee County, background to high concentrations in 38 samples collected in Pinellas County and background to high concentrations in 51 samples collected in Sarasota County.
For updated information on red tide, visit the Red Tide Respiratory Forecast at RedTideForecast.com, which tells beachgoers what red tide impacts are expected to be at individual beaches at different times of the day. The forecast is also available in Spanish at PronosticoMareaRoja.com.
Beachgoers also can get updates at visitbeaches.org, the Mote Marine Laboratory beach conditions reporting system, which documents respiratory irritation and fish kills at local beaches.
Call 866-300-9399 from anywhere in Florida to hear a recording about red tide conditions throughout the state.
CORTEZ – Administrative Law Judge Bruce Culpepper issued a recommended order supporting the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s issuance of a permit for the construction of 49 canal-side dock slips at the Hunters Point Marina & Resort in Cortez.
“Based on the foregoing findings of fact and conclusions of law, it is recommended that the Southwest Florida Water Management District enter a final order granting Cortez Road Investment’s application for the permit to build a dock in the canal and issue ERP (environmental resource permit) Individual Construction Major Modification Permit 43032468.003,” Culpepper stated in the written recommended order he issued on March 7.
Administrative Law Judge Bruce Culpepper presided over the permit challenge hearing. – Submitted
Culpepper’s recommended order will be sent to the water district’s governing board for a final ruling. If the board’s final ruling supports Culpepper’s recommended order, the Hunters Points docks can be built in the man-made, privately-owned canal that surrounds the Hunters Point property on three sides.
This rendering illustrates the proposed Hunters Point dock locations along the canal. – Hunters Point | Submitted
Culpepper’s recommended order is based on the multi-day administrative hearing he conducted on behalf of the Florida Division of Administrative Hearings (DOAH) over the span of eight days in June, August and September.
In June 2021, the water management district issued Hunters Point developer Marshall Gobuty and his Cortez Road Investments and Finance Inc. ownership group the environmental resource permit/individual construction major modification permit needed to construct the docks. The permit authorizes Cortez Road Investments to install approximately 4,352 square feet of new piling-supported dock structures and to replace approximately 3,631 square feet of existing piling-supported dock structures.
The Cortez Village Marina is located eastward and upland from the Hunters Point property. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Cortez Village Marina is located eastward and upland of the Hunters Point property. In July 2021, the Cortez Village Marina’s MHC Cortez Village LLC ownership group filed a petition challenging the issuance of that permit.
MHC Cortez Village asserted the proposed docks would adversely impact safe navigation and increase and impair vessel traffic through the canal by narrowing the canal’s navigable width.
During the hearing, MHC Cortez Village presented the testimony of marina manager Skip McPadden, Capt. Christopher Karentz and others. Cortez Road Investments presented testimony by Gobuty, land title expert Adron H. Walker, Captain Dane Fleming and others. The water management district’s witnesses included Lauren Greenawalt, who serves as a lead environmental scientist for the district.
The canal
According to Manatee County Property Appraiser records and testimony provided by Walker and Gobuty, Cortez Road Investments owns the portion of the canal that extends eastward from the humpback bridge at 127th Street West to the western boundary of the Cortez Village Marina property. Cortez Road Investments does not own the portion of the canal located directly in front of the marina basin or the remaining portion of the canal east of the marina.
Culpepper’s order notes the marina has existed in its current configuration since at least 2008 and a marina facility has operated at that location since at least the 1970s. According to McPadden’s testimony, the marina provides approximately 365 boat storage slips that include ‘high-and-dry’ slips, outside dry storage and in-water slips. McPadden testified the marina’s average boat size is 26 feet long and the largest boat stored there is 38 feet long and 11 feet wide.
The order notes the canal provides the marina and its clients with their only direct water access to the nearby Intracoastal Waterway.
“Consequently, to reach Tampa Bay or the Gulf of Mexico by boat, marina customers must travel down the canal past Hunters Point,” the order notes.
The order notes there are approximately 18 single-family homes located alongside the canal and many of those homes have existing docks and boatlifts – most of which predate Gobuty’s purchase of the Hunters Point property and canal in 2016.
In his order, Culpepper states: “Mr. Gobuty conveyed Cortez Road (Investments) never authorized any homeowners along the canal to access or use the waterway it owns. Neither has Cortez Road (Investments) given the marina or its customers specific permission to traverse the canal. Mr. Gobuty urged that Cortez Road (Investments) does not necessarily object to boaters using the canal to access Anna Maria Sound. However, Cortez Road (Investments) does intend to take steps to ensure that its property interests and rights to the canal are protected, as well as ensure the safe use of the canal. Towards this end, Cortez Road has and may continue to pursue legal action to ensure that the private homeowners across from Hunters Point comply with Manatee County codes in the configuration and placement of their docks in the canal.”
Testimony given
The order notes Cortez Road Investments has already implemented several navigational aids to enhance the safe use of the canal. One-way travel along the canal at timed intervals is encouraged to help prevent boats from passing side by side in the canal’s narrowest areas. Mirrors were installed at the 90-degree corners to increase boater visibility. “No wake” signs require boaters to travel at minimum speed and canal users are encouraged to monitor VHF radio channel 9 regarding inbound and outbound canal traffic.
Safety pilings and new signs were recently installed in the canal near the Cortez Village Marina. – Hunters Point | Submitted
Regarding testimony he received, Culpepper’s order says, “Ms. Greenawalt best framed the analysis by acknowledging that the dock, and any boats moored thereto, will undeniably affect navigation through the canal to some extent. The evidence clearly shows that boaters will have to be mindful of a reduced navigable width when traveling alongside Hunters Point, particularly when crossing the three ‘pinch points’ on the north-south channel. However, Capt. Fleming convincingly explained that after the dock is built, the canal will still contain sufficient space for boaters to safely travel between the bridge and the marina.
Several of the 86 Hunters Point homes have already been built and some area awaiting new docks. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“All witnesses agree that following construction of the dock, boats will still be able to freely travel through the canal one at a time. The proposed dock will not interfere with or prevent a single boater from traversing from the bridge to an upland property.
“The evidence shows that the dock will not reduce the safe navigational width of the waterway any more than the bridge at the entrance to the canal, which is 15 feet wide, or the narrow bottleneck just before the marina where mangrove growth restricts safe movement to one boat at a time,” Culpepper noted in his order.
“It is uncontroverted that the placement of the dock in the canal will affect navigation to some degree. However, the evidence was insufficient to conclude that the dock will constitute an environmental hazard to public health, safety, welfare or property. Similarly, the evidence and testimony do not show that the construction of the dock will cause more than a mere inconvenience to boaters similar to what they already face at the bridge, much less result in a significant impediment to navigation,” the order states.
“Based on the evidence and testimony presented at the final hearing, the undersigned finds that Cortez Road (Investments) and the district presented competent substantial evidence establishing Cortez Road’s entitlement to the permit. Conversely, the marina did not meet its burden of demonstrating that the district should not issue the permit,” Culpepper stated in his order.
TALLAHASSEE – As the Florida legislative session opens this week, lawmakers have two companion bills to consider that critics say would remove longstanding constitutional and judicial protections of freedom of speech and of the press.
If passed, Senate Bill 1220, “Defamation and Related Actions,” filed by Jason Brodeur (R-Lake Mary), and House Bill 991, “Defamation, False Light, and Unauthorized Publication of Name or Likenesses,” filed by Alex Andrade (R-Pensacola), will not only have a chilling effect on free speech in traditional news media outlets but on people who publish their views in social media, according to Bobby Block, executive director of the Tallahassee-based First Amendment Foundation.
“HB 991 is officially called the Defamation, False Light, and Unauthorized Publication of Name or Likenesses Bill. But First Amendment activists like me who have read it call it the “Death to Public Discourse Bill,” Block wrote on the foundation’s website news alerts page.
“This legislation would also subject bloggers, community groups, average users of social media – in short everybody who wants their voices heard – to the untold financial and emotional burdens of lawsuits,” according to Block, who suggests that Floridians “protect your freedom of speech by using yours to tell your representatives to throw out HB 991.”
The Freedom of the Press Foundation, a New York-based 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization whose mission statement asserts that it “protects, defends, and empowers public-interest journalism in the 21st century,” views the bills as a threat to a landmark court case protecting a free press.
The 1964 U.S. Supreme Court defamation case, New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, “ruled that when suing for defamation, plaintiffs who are public officials have to prove actual malice – that their critics knew their statements were false or recklessly disregarded the truth. Later decisions extended the requirement to other public figures at the center of newsworthy debates,” wrote Seth Stern, director of advocacy for the foundation, in a guest column for the Tampa Bay Times.
The difficult-to-prove standard is necessary, in the court’s opinion, written by Justice William J. Brennan Jr., because “debate on public issues should be uninhibited, robust and wide open,” including “vehement, caustic and sometimes unpleasantly sharp attacks on government and public officials.”
In addition to judicial protection, “The freedom of speech and of the press is enshrined in the First Amendment to the Constitution and is necessary to promote the vigorous dialogue necessary to shape public policy in a representative democracy,” according to a recent article in the Federal Communications Law Journal advocating state legislation to protect those freedoms.
The proposed Florida bills would have the opposite effect.
Bills would undermine defamation law
If the House bill passes, a statement by an anonymous source – such as the FBI’s Mark Felt (“Deep Throat”), who helped Washington Post reporters uncover the Watergate scandal during the Nixon ad- ministration – would be presumed false in a defamation action. HB 991 also provides that a public figure does not necessarily need to prove actual malice to win a defamation lawsuit, which has long been the standard under Times v. Sullivan. It also removes non-elected public employees from the definition of “public figure,” enabling them to more easily win defamation lawsuits.
The bill also extends the definition of “defamation” from traditional media to include any “utterance on the Internet.”
Of particular concern to Florida news organizations is how the bill, and its companion in the Senate, would change how reporters work with anonymous sources.
According to Florida law (Flori- da Statute 90.5015), a professional journalist is “a person regularly engaged in collecting, photographing, recording, writing, editing, reporting or publishing news, for gain or livelihood, who obtained the information sought while working as a salaried employee of, or independent contractor for, a newspaper, news journal, news agency, press association, wire service, radio or television station, network, or news magazine.
In Florida, professional journalists have “a qualified privilege not to be a witness concerning, and not to disclose the information, including the identity of any source, that the professional journalist has obtained while actively gathering news. This privilege applies only to information or eyewitness observations obtained within the normal scope of employment and does not apply to physical evidence, eyewitness observations, or visual or audio recording of crimes. A party seeking to overcome this privilege must make a clear and specific showing that:
• The information is relevant and material to unresolved issues that have been raised in the proceeding for which the information is sought;
• The information cannot be obtained from alternative sources; and
• A compelling interest exists for requiring disclosure of the information.”
Both the House and Senate bills remove the professional journalist’s privilege regarding anonymous sources in defamation lawsuits.
BRADENTON BEACH – Residents of the Pines Trailer Park must soon decide if they have the desire and the means to collectively purchase for $16 million the 2.78-acre waterfront property their mobile homes sit upon.
In late January, the Jackson Partnership LLLP which has long owned the mobile home park informed residents and the residents association of its desire to sell.
Under state law, the potentially impacted mobile homeowners must be given the first opportunity to buy the mobile home park property before it can be sold to anyone else.
According to three Pines residents who spoke on the condition of anonymity, at least two sales-related community meetings have been held in the Pines Trailer Park community building. During those meetings, residents were informed that they’d have approximately 45 days to determine if they can secure the $16 million needed to purchase the park.
The park contains 87 individual lots, which equates to $183,908 per lot. Some residents live in the park year-round and others reside there on a seasonal basis. It is not clear what would happen to the existing mobile homes if the homeowners are unable to buy the park or whether another potential buyer is waiting in the wings.
The park’s management and park residents have not responded to requests for on-the-record comments regarding the potential sale.
State statute
Section 723 of Florida Statutes addresses the sale of mobile home parks and reads as follows: “If a mobile home park owner offers a mobile home park for sale, she or he shall notify the officers of the homeowners’ association of the offer, stating the price and the terms and conditions of sale. The mobile home owners shall have the right to purchase the park, provided the homeowners meet the price and terms and conditions of the mobile home park owner by executing a contract with the park owner within 45 days unless agreed to otherwise, from the date of the notice.
“If a contract between the park owner and the association is not executed within such 45-day period, then – unless the park owner thereafter elects to offer the park at a price lower than the price specified in her or his notice to the officers of the homeowners’ association – the park owner has no further obligations,” according to the statute.
“If the park owner thereafter elects to offer the park at a price lower than the price specified in her or his notice to the homeowners, the homeowners, by and through the association, will have an additional 10 days to meet the price and terms and conditions of the park owner by executing a contract.
“If a mobile home park owner receives a bona fide offer to purchase the park that she or he intends to consider or make a counteroffer to, the park owner’s only obligation shall be to notify the officers of the homeowners’ association that she or he has received an offer and disclose the price and material terms and conditions upon which she or he would consider selling the park and consider any offer made by the homeowners.
“The park owner shall be under no obligation to sell to the homeowners or to interrupt or delay other negotiations and shall be free at any time to execute a contract for the sale of the park to a party or parties other than the homeowners or the association,” according to state statute.
BRADENTON – Former Swordfish Grill Manager Greg “Grego” Koeper passed away on Feb. 22, at the age of 67.
In the early 2000s, Koeper was the owner/operator of Grego’s Almost to the Beach Tavern on Palma Sola Boulevard and that’s where his infamous NASCRAB (National Association for Safe Crab Racing at Bars) hermit crab races began.
Koeper is survived by his wife, Kathy Houck; stepdaughter, Aspen Houck; daughter, Kristin; son, Clyde; granddaughter, Cecilia (C.C.); mother, Yvonne; sister, Jan; and brothers, Chris, John and Bill. Koeper’s life and legacy will be celebrated with “Greg’s Last Dance” at the Swordfish Grill in Cortez on Saturday, March 18 from 1-5 p.m.
Koeper retired from the Swordfish Grill when he was 65 and last May he was diagnosed with melanoma, which would eventually take his life.
Houck and Koeper married on Aug. 21, 2022. March 17 would have marked their 23rd anniversary as a couple.
“We met at the Seahorse, where Slicker’s Eatery is now. Our friends Dawn Marie and Gloria decided he and I needed to meet,” Houck said.
“He died too young. He was my best friend. He lived his life to the fullest. He was happy-go-lucky and always smiling. He was caring and giving. He was good at making people feel comfortable, wanted and loved. He never met someone that didn’t leave as a friend,” Houck said.
When asked what she’ll miss the most, Houck said, “His friendship, his companionship and his smile. The whole person.”
Koeper’s daughter and son live out of state but were able to visit before his passing.
“Clyde brought C.C., so we got to spend time with them. The whole family was here in the house with us and that was nice,” Houck said.
PITTSBURGH ROOTS
Koeper was born and raised in Pittsburgh. He served in the U.S. Coast Guard and then worked at Houlihan’s restaurant in Station Square, where he was named Pittsburgh’s #1 bartender in 1986. Koeper moved to Bradenton from New York, when his first wife was transferred to Manatee Memorial Hospital.
“He was an unbelievable human being. Everybody loved the guy,” his youngest brother, Chris Koeper, said. “We’ve lived here since 1990 and I’ve never heard one bad word about him. He was the best man I ever met. He was the most selfless human being on this planet. Before he died, he looked at me with tears in his eyes and said, ‘I’m just glad this is me and not someone else I love.’”
WORKING MAN
During his time in the greater Bradenton area, Koeper explored many professions.
“He tried all kinds of different things. He used to work at an English pub on Cortez Road. Every Friday he’d dress up in a different costume and people came in to see what he was wearing,” Houck said.
Greg Koeper used to wear a different costume to work each Friday. – Kathy Houck | Submitted
At various times, Koeper worked as a maintenance man on Longboat Key and also tried his hand as a golf caddy. He also worked at Annie’s Bait & Tackle, Ace’s Lounge and the Palm Aire Country Club.
As for how the NASCRAB races began, Houck said, “He saw it at a bar in Illinois and thought it would be a good gimmick so he brought it to Grego’s Almost to the Beach Tavern. It was such a big hit. It was absolutely crazy how everybody reacted to it. It got to a point where we had to give out tickets to get a crab because people were sitting there all afternoon waiting to get one.”
Grego’s NASCRAB races became a popular attraction at the Swordfish Grill. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
After Koeper’s passing, many of his friends shared Facebook comments that referenced turn signals.
“When the tourists would come down, everyone would complain because they wouldn’t use their turn signals. Greg would end the crab races by saying peace, love and happiness. That catchphrase turned into peace, love and use your turn signals. He was trying to put that thought in their heads before they drove home,” Houck said.
The NASCRAB races later resumed at the Swordfish Grill.
Greg Koeper was the master of ceremonies for the Swordfish Grill’s NASCRAB races. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“He loved working with everybody at the Swordfish Grill. He and Bob Slicker put together such a great team that’s carrying on that legacy. They’re doing what they watched Greg and Bob do. Greg was so proud of the kids who started working there and are now grown up,” Houck said.
FATHER FIGURE
Kathy Houck’s daughter, Aspen Houck, was 19 when she met Koeper.
“He loved golf. We played golf every Saturday at Pinebrook and then everybody would go to Grego’s,” Kathy Houck said.
Aspen Houck, Greg Koeper and Kathy Houck shared many memorable moments together. – Aspen Houck | Submitted
Now 43, Aspen Houck said, “Growing up, my mom and I golfed with my real dad. My dad said women don’t use the drivers and the woods. He said women can only use irons. Then Greg comes along and asks why we didn’t use our woods and drivers. He forced us to start using our drivers and woods. It turns out my mom and I are really good golfers when we can use all the clubs in our bag.
“When I was young and moving from apartment to apartment, Greg and Mom would keep my clubs at their house and Greg would carry them to the golf course from me. That became an ongoing joke. I called him ‘Dad’ and I always said, ‘Hey Dad, thanks for carrying my s—’ (expletive). That’s what I said to him the night he passed: First, I said, ‘Thanks for always being my dad when you didn’t have to be’ and ‘Thanks for always carrying my s—,’ ” Aspen Houck said.
“One of his sayings was, ‘Fun is key.’ He taught me not to jump to conclusions and to always try to be a better person,” she added.
A TRUE FRIEND
Slicker owns and operates Slicker’s Eatery in Cortez. Before that, he was the general manager of the Swordfish Grill. He knew Koeper for 30 years.
“Greg and Kathy have been to every major event in my daughter Molly’s life – her wedding and every dance recital, baseball game and basketball game. She looks at them as Uncle Greg and Aunt Kathy,” Slicker said.
Greg “Grego” Koeper and Bob Slicker were friends for 30 years. – Submitted
“I cooked for Greg at Grego’s. I brought Greg to the Swordfish Grill in 2012 or 2013. He was the first person I hired. I hired him to do the crab races once a week and he ended up being a manager and working there full-time.
“Greg had a way of making people feel special. He was all-in on every conversation and every moment of life. He gave love and never passed judgment. Greg didn’t hold grudges and he realized the value of every day. He always said, ‘Kindness is key.’ He taught me to always be kind and he taught me by example. He also taught me how to get on stage with a microphone. He taught me that it’s okay to make fun of yourself, but it’s not okay to make fun of other people,” Slicker said.
Dressed as an elf, Greg Koeper assisted Santa during the Swordfish Grill Christmas parties that benefited underprivileged youngsters. – Submitted
Current Swordfish Grill General Manager Adam Sears worked with Koeper for many years.
“He was selfless. He was a very humble guy and he never wanted any recognition for what he did. He was always willing to help with the Blessing Bags Project charity events, the kids’ Christmas parties and the Nancy Franklin golf tournaments. He had a carefree attitude and he was always in a good mood. He used to say ‘groovy’ all the time and he was the grooviest dude I ever met,” Sears said.
HOLMES BEACH – There’s a bill in the Florida House of Representatives that would allow a three-story parking garage to cover the entire parking lot at the Manatee County-owned Manatee Beach.
If HB 947 passes both houses and is signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, Island visitors and residents could be facing at least two years of construction, according to Manatee County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge.
The possibility of a parking garage first came up during a 2022 meeting between county and city leaders to discuss issues related to beachgoer parking in Anna Maria Island’s largest city. Later in the year, city leaders passed an ordinance banning parking garages in Holmes Beach, though a special exception for the use could still be sought with approval of the city commission. In a talk with The Sun last week, Van Ostenbridge said he’d planned to move forward with a proposal for a parking garage on the county-owned beach property but felt that city leaders “kept moving the goalpost.” So, he posed the issue to state legislators.
If the parking garage is approved at the state level, the proposed structure would be three stories tall, remaining within the city’s height restrictions – unlike previous garage plans of four stories – but still two stories higher than the existing concession stand. The exception to the height restriction would be the elevator shaft, which would extend above the top level of the garage to allow beachgoers to access rooftop parking.
The structure would only require building permits from the county, not from the city where it would be located, according to the bill.
Van Ostenbridge said the proposed structure would stretch across the entirety of the parcel – from the 10-foot required setback on the south side at West Coast Surf Shop to the northern boundary of Gulf Drive – and house between 1,500-1,700 parking spaces along with new restroom, concession and retail facilities. The cost of the project is estimated at $45 million.
Van Ostenbridge said construction would take about two years. During those two years, the currently existing 427 parking spaces at the public beach would be unavailable, so he said all of the residential streets on the Island would have to be opened to public parking to accommodate beachgoers. Currently, all three Island cities have limited public parking available on residential streets, requiring all four tires of a vehicle parked street-side to be off the pavement.
Once the garage is completed, Van Ostenbridge said that parkers would have to pay a nominal fee to use the garage spaces, such as $2 per hour, to help the county recoup the money spent to build the structure.
Holmes Beach mayor’s response
In a letter last week to county commissioners, Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth reiterated her opposition to the proposed parking garage and urged state and county leaders to come to the Island to see the currently available parking and how it’s used by beachgoers.
“As mayor of one of the many cities in Manatee County, I once again welcome each of you on a tour,” Titsworth said in the letter. “I understand decisions have and will continue to be made by your board, many of which will have a profound effect on the quality of life for our citizens, guests and business owners. I hope that you will each be able to gain valuable knowledge as to why Holmes Beach is not only one of the most special places on earth to live but also an extremely popular tourist destination to which people come from all over the world each year to visit.
“For the past three years now, Holmes Beach citizens have found to be on our heels defending against false narratives by county leaders,” she wrote. “These stem from city leaders finally putting a limit on the number of secondary beach parking that could safely be accommodated in residential neighborhoods. I hope that you will accept my offer for a visit as this will not only provide you with the needed insights in making sound decisions but will allow you to see that as citizens of Manatee County, we have always been and continue to be part of the solution. The lack of available parking for county residents is not a result of parking limitations at the beaches. It is a result of growth in our county which is evidenced by the hours spent sitting in traffic trying to get to and from work on weekdays and to get to and from the beach on weekends and holidays.”
On March 3, Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer said that over the previous seven days, Holmes Beach had an average of 31,099 cars per day coming into the city. Titsworth said there are 4,783 parking spaces available in Holmes Beach for beachgoers, including those at vacation rental properties. Over 2,000 of those are public parking spaces.
Van Ostenbridge said that he doesn’t feel that Holmes Beach is at maximum capacity for beachgoers on average, with the exception being the highest points of tourist season, which is typically the most crowded in mid-March. Titsworth disagrees.
“There will never be enough,” she said in a Feb. 28 commission meeting. “There will never be enough parking spaces to accommodate everyone who wants to come to the beach.”
BRADENTON BEACH – An unidentified 80-year-old man who strolled to the end of the Bradenton Beach Pier at the end of Bridge Street on Friday escaped injury due to the heroic efforts of two Anna Maria Oyster Bar (AMOB) employees.
On the afternoon of March 3, the man took a stroll down the pier with his wife. According to witnesses on the scene, he was leaning over the railing at the end of the pier where the water is the deepest when his glasses fell into the water. The man then made a quick decision to jump in the water to get them back, but was unable to get back up the pier and was in danger of drowning.
According to AMOB employees, when the man went in the water, his wife immediately called the restaurant first, instead of 911, because she knew someone could respond much more quickly, and that’s exactly what happened. As soon as the hostess got the call, employees Roo Tuttle and Frederick Brown ran to the end of the pier as fast as they could. Tuttle then jumped in the water to help the man, who could not get footing to climb back up to the pier.
“He was floating and holding on to part of the pier after he swam to where he could get some footing, but could not get to a ladder that was nearby,” Brown said. “Roo just jumped in the water and pushed up his feet to lift him up, and I grabbed his hands and pulled while she pushed. We got him out safely, and everybody was unhurt.”
Manatee County Sheriff’s Office Marine Rescue Unit (MCSO) was the first to arrive on the scene, followed shortly after by Bradenton Beach police and EMS. The man told responders he was unhurt and did not require any EMS treatment. Brown said after the man dried off, he thanked them for being good Samaritans and got on his bike and rode away. Brown also said that the man being a bicycle enthusiast and physically fit probably made a big difference in his ability to be rescued.
A call from The Sun to MCSO confirmed they responded to the scene and the incident was listed as a near-drowning of an 80-year-old male, however, they did not record the man’s name. Bradenton Beach Police also had no report of the man’s name. The AMOB employees said they were more focused on his welfare than his identity, so nobody on the scene could confirm who the victim was.
In the end, the question everyone was asking was whether or not the man got his $700 glasses back.
He retrieved them and held on to them for the entire ordeal, and rode away on his bike wearing them. While this incident has a happy ending, Marine Rescue and Bradenton Beach police both warn that it’s not worth the danger of jumping off the pier if someone drops a cell phone or a pair of glasses. There won’t always be someone close to save a life.
It’s that time of year again. You know, when the average high temperature is approximately 74.1 degrees Fahrenheit, the UV index is 6 and the dew point is a very comfortable 58. Oh… and the traffic to the beaches is bumper-to-bumper and stretches west of 75th Street along Manatee Avenue and Cortez Road, respectively. Thousands of those headed to Anna Maria Island are vacationing, staying in one of the roughly 3,500 vacation rental properties or the dozens of resort-style hotels. Spring breakers from the north are here to enjoy some much-deserved sun and fun. These vacationers are welcomed with open arms; however, there is a lot of information they need to know to fully enjoy their time here and return home safely. Our local beaches, pools and waterways pose a significant safety risk.
Studies show:
Drowning kills about 4,000 people each year in the United States;
Drowning is the leading cause of death for children 1-4 years old;
There are about 8,000 emergency department visits for nonfatal drowning each year;
Injuries and deaths from drowning cost the United States $53 billion in 2020;
DROWNING IS PREVENTABLE.
This March, in an ongoing effort to combat these risks, the West Manatee Fire Rescue District continues its annual Drowning Prevention Campaign. This campaign is designed to bring awareness to the drowning risks those living and playing in our community face, as well as to educate the public on how to safely enjoy water-related activities.
A volunteer waves a sign to raise awareness about water safety near Manatee Beach. – Submitted | WMFR
WMFR’s Fire & Life Safety Bureau, with the assistance of local elementary school teachers and other volunteers, kicked off this campaign with a sign-waving event on March 4 at Manatee Beach. Join WMFR in its effort to make sure everyone has a relaxing, fun and, most importantly, safe Spring Break in 2023.
Anna Maria Island is changing and it has been for years. Our little Island has turned into a popular tourist destination and, while we love our visitors, especially the ones who come year after year and participate in the community, it’s hard not to feel like residents are getting pushed out in favor of beachgoers.
A bill is being considered at the state level that would have a parking garage built on the entire parking lot at Manatee Beach in Holmes Beach to overrule local regulations and allow Manatee County commissioners to issue their own building permit instead of going through a special exception request process with the Holmes Beach Commission.
The garage would hold 1,500-1,700 parking spaces after it’s built. What happens to all of the cars that are usually parked at the beach during the proposed two years of construction? Manatee County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge suggests opening all residential streets on AMI to beach parking for the duration of construction. If all residential streets are open to parking, and the four tires off the road street side parking regulations are lifted in the three Island cities, it has the very real potential to be a free-for-all where residents are severely outnumbered and have little to no chance of winning or preserving their quality of life.
Once the garage is built, it would be difficult to impossible to take back residential streets from parking and the garage will have a pay-per-hour system which would either have drivers circling residential streets looking for a free parking place or result in city leaders installing parking meters on the side of every road.
Imagine driving across the Anna Maria Island Bridge and instead of being greeted by a view of the blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico, you see a wall of concrete? Why not compromise and let the county build its parking garage on a different parcel, say the former Bank of America lot that’s only a block from the beach? The county would have to compromise by purchasing another piece of land and the city would have to compromise by allowing the garage to be built, but the existing parking at the public beach would remain open and there would be no need to open more residential streets to public parking for the beach without facilities, such as restrooms, concessions or adequate trash receptacles. If another garage is needed after the first one is built and open, put one up at the south end of the Manatee Beach parking lot. With 30,000-plus cars coming across the Anna Maria Island Bridge every day, it becomes a question of reasonableness and thinking about just how much a 7-mile island can take. We can only hope that our elected officials see reason before it’s too late.
Sarasota Bay Partners Grants are competitive awards for projects in the Sarasota Bay watershed that promote habitat and water quality restoration, environmental education, community involvement and stewardship to improve the overall quality of Sarasota Bay and its tributaries. Stormwater runoff, sewage spills, leaking septic tanks and a thousand other insults threaten the health of Sarasota Bay. Add in warming temperatures, rising sea levels and altered weather patterns, all of which will continue to impact our natural and built environments.
I’m often asked what an individual or a group can do to be part of the solution instead of part of the problem. One way to make a difference is to take advantage of the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program’s Bay Partners Grants. The SBEP was formed with the aim to protect Sarasota Bay and its environment, the economic engine of the region and the reason most of us live here. Local actions like this help prepare our communities and estuary for these changing conditions. There are many opportunities to engage. These include but are not limited to:
Planting shade trees in highly paved urban areas;
Installing rain gardens and bioswales to filter runoff from impervious surfaces;
Diverting gutter downspouts from impervious surfaces to planter boxes, garden beds or other permeable areas, or to rainwater harvesting systems like rain barrels and cisterns; and
Implementing living shorelines or seawall modifications that will allow mangroves to “migrate upslope.”
Recently, Banyan Bay Condominium on Longboat Key took advantage of a grant to turn an area they had nicknamed the “swamp” into a vibrant area that beautified the grounds, created a natural pollinator garden for birds and insects and helped protect the section of Sarasota Bay that fronts the property. The project was led by residents Terri and Dr. Jeff Driver. Their experience and the outcome are best expressed in Terri’s own words. According to Driver, “We had some uncertainty about whether our proposed project would fit the requirements for a grant from SBEP Partners. A friend recommended we call SBEP and simply ask if they would look at our space and situation and see if it was appropriate for a grant proposal.
“On a very tight timeline and on short notice (because the proposal was due in about two and a half weeks), SBEP grant manager Darcy Young visited our property and evaluated our proposed site, agreeing that it was exactly what would help Sarasota Bay if re-planted to native species. SBEP was very helpful in response time and providing guidance to complete our grant application.
“SBEP recommended a couple of native plant nurseries, but Annie Schiller at Florida Native Plant Nursery was very responsive. On very short notice, Annie visited, evaluated our proposed renovation area and very quickly provided a list of plant species and number to be planted specific to our wet and dry areas. She also reminded us about mulch requirements. We called Annie the morning our proposal was due to make changes and Florida Native Plant Nursery provided updated estimates two hours before our proposal was due. They were very responsive to changes. Once we received the grant, Florida Native Plant Nursery brought the plants in and helped with recommended placement. Our community members planted all 134 plants, creating a new native forest at The Banyan Bay Club.”
On Feb. 27, members of the press and the condo association attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony to dedicate the new space and celebrate their investment in protecting Sarasota Bay while improving the condominium grounds, a true win/win experience.
Although the next grant deadline is a year away (2024), now is an excellent time to plan how you can take advantage of this program and make a difference while enhancing your place in the bay’s watershed. For more information and to apply for a grant, go to https://sarasotabay.org/get-involved/apply-for-a-grant/.
BRADENTON BEACH – City officials are pursuing two potential public-private partnerships with the Bradenton Beach Marina’s new principal, developer Shawn Kaleta.
One partnership pertains to proposed improvements to the city-owned parking lot next to the cell tower and the Public Works building, adjacent to the marina. Another pertains to the multi-use trail that passes through the marina property.
During a March 1 Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) meeting, City Attorney Ricinda Perry and Mayor John Chappie referred to Kaleta as the marina’s new owner. A mortgage and security agreement dated Jan. 10 lists the Bazzy Marine Corp. as the mortgagor and the Holiday, Florida-based Capital Property Ventures LLC as the mortgagee. The agreement references “a principal amount of $14 million from mortgagor and Aquabiz LLC.” Kaleta signed the agreement as the mortgagor and as president of the Bazzy Marine Corp.
According to the Florida Division of Corporations, John Porreca is listed as the registered agent and authorized person for Capital Property Ventures LLC. Aquabiz LLC lists attorney Louis Najmy as its registered agent and Kaleta and Daniel Courtney Zoller Jr. as managers.
When previously contacted by The Sun on numerous occasions and asked whether Kaleta purchased the marina from the Bazzy family, Najmy declined to comment. Former marina president Mike Bazzy also declined to comment.
CRA discussions
During the CRA meeting, Perry initiated the parking lot discussion and noted that the CRA members previously authorized Colliers Engineering to put together a parking plan. The plan Perry presented shows 23 parking spaces at the cell tower. Perry said the goal is to create a nicer parking lot and one that’s compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
This preliminary parking lot plan was presented to CRA members. – City of Bradenton Beach | Submitted
“You have that plan in place. A property owner in the area is desirous of actually building out that parking plan and doing all the landscaping and markers, but they didn’t want to pay for installing pavers,” Perry said.
She identified the property owner as Kaleta and said Building Official Steve Gilbert wants to see an engineered parking plan before moving forward with the proposed improvements.
“We want to make clear that this is a public parking lot. We want to make sure that whatever’s put in there is low maintenance. It’s our parking lot. We’ll be maintaining it,” Chappie said.
“Do you have any objection with my office moving forward with that private individual to develop that parking area with either shell or some type of rock in that area?” Perry asked CRA members.
The CRA members unanimously approved a motion authorizing Perry, Gilbert, Woodard and Chappie to finalize the parking lot improvement plans and coordinate with Kaleta on the parking lot improvements.
Multi-use trail
During the same meeting, Chappie and Perry initiated two separate discussions about the multi-use trail that passes under the Cortez Bridge and passes through the marina parking lot along the south side of the bridge.
The multi-use trail passes under the Cortez Bridge. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
In reference to the pending Cortez Bridge replacement project, Chappie said the existing multi-use trail under the bridge will be replaced by a new trail that’s hopefully wide enough to accommodate golf carts and other low speed vehicles too.
Chappie said city staff is researching the exact location of the city easement on the marina property that provides access to the trail area under the bridge.
“Working with Ricinda, we can talk with Kaleta to assure that’s part of our scenic right of way. I don’t think there’s going to be an issue,” Chappie said.
The multi-use trail that passes under the Cortez Bridge also passes through the Bradenton Beach Marina property. – Joe Hendricks Sun
Later in the meeting, Perry initiated discussion about connecting the multi-use trail under the bridge to the multi-use trail along Gulf Drive South that passes by Cortez Beach. She mentioned the CRA members’ long-held desire to create a dedicated tram path along Gulf Drive South with a potential crossing point at Fifth Street South, which provides access to Bay Drive South, Bridge Street and the trail that passes under the bridge.
“I have talked to Shawn Kaleta about his purchase at the marina – actually, it was Mike Bazzy and Shawn Kaleta together – and walked their property, walked all the way down through Bridge Street and up and down Third Street talking about what the city is doing and what Mr. Kaleta is doing in that area. There was interest by him to work together with the city. He’s also talked to Elliott Falcione with the TDC (Tourist Development Council) about doing a major improvement to the multi-use trail that the city has,” Perry said.
She noted Kaleta owns a lot of properties in those areas and said he’s expressed interest in working with the city, and potentially the TDC, in providing some construction assistance to further enhance that corridor that’s heavily used by pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists.
Perry asked the CRA members if they were interested in formulating a workplan and a budget to pursue the trail improvements.
CRA Chair Ralph Cole said, “It’s part of the goal to make this a more walkable community, which gets cars off the road. It’s a nice walk down to Bridge Street from the north end hotels and vacation rentals. I think it’s a good idea any time you can get help with funding. It’s a win-win situation.”
CRA member David Bell expressed concerns about the large number of pedestrians that walk along Bay Drive South between Bridge Street and Third Street South, where there are currently no sidewalks.
The portion of Bay Drive South between Bridge Street and Third Street South is heavily traveled by pedestrians, motorists, bicyclists and others. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“Until we resolve that bottleneck, there’s really no point adding more traffic to that area that’s already dangerously overpopulated with cars, pedestrians, bicycles and trams. Until we resolve that, I don’t want to see us add more traffic to that area,” Bell said.
In response, Cole said, “One of our main objectives in the CRA district is to bring people to the CRA district. What we’re doing is going to make it safer and create a pathway so you don’t have everybody walking down Gulf Drive.”
Perry sought and received authorization to formulate a plan to connect the multi-use trail from Gulf Drive South to the Cortez Bridge using Fifth Street South and Bay Drive South as connecting streets, with Bell casting the lone opposition vote.
ANNA MARIA – Coming off a hilarious run of Neil Simon’s “The Odd Couple, The Female Version,” the Island Players are ready to take the audience for a ride across England and Scotland to stop an international gang of spies, with four actors playing more than 150 characters in a comedic adaptation of the Alfred Hitchcock thriller, “The 39 Steps.”
Director Heiko Knipfelberg promises that audiences will see things they aren’t used to seeing at an Island Players production, including special lighting and sound effects and non-stop action. When asked to describe how an Alfred Hitchcock film could become a zany comedy, Knipfelberg offered this quote from The New York Times to sum it up: “Mix a Hitchcock masterpiece with a juicy spy novel and a dash of Monty Python, and you have ‘The 39 Steps.’ ”
The play is adapted by Patrick Barlow from the novel by John Buchan, but the Hitchcock film is at its core.
“The authors of the play included most of the film, almost verbatim in a stage production,” Knipfelberg said. “They’ve taken license in certain areas, certainly in the way they’ve used the characters. We have a female lead who plays three characters and a male lead who plays himself throughout the whole play, but then we have two clowns who play about 60 characters each. Unlike Hitchcock’s version, this is very much a comedy.”
“The 39 Steps” runs from Thursday, March 9 through Sunday, March 26, with daily performances at 7:30 p.m. and a Sunday matinee at 2 p.m. There are no performances on Mondays. Tickets are $25 at the box office and $27 online. The box office is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and can be reached by phone at 941-778-5755 or online.
HOLMES BEACH – Like many artists in the area, Island Gallery West’s March featured artist, Terri Westbrook, is inspired by nature and places she has lived and traveled, including Charleston, South Carolina and the Gulf Coast of Florida.
Working primarily in pastel media, she brings brilliant color to her nature scenes, including landscapes and waterscapes.
“My paintings are journal entries, revealing my response to what I see when I’m out in nature, or my emotions about a place I visited many years ago,” Westbrook said. “Making art is like meditation for me. I hope people enjoy my pieces that come from my heart.”
While many artists have been practicing their craft for a great deal of their lives, Westbrook discovered her love for creating art later in life. Through both in-person and online instruction, she learned the basic principles and honed her skills from there. Her featured work is currently on display in the front window of the gallery, and all art is available for purchase.
Westbrook will be on hand to discuss her work and answer any questions at the Art Walk on Friday, March 10 from 5:30-7:30 p.m., the final day to visit IGW before it closes its doors on the Island permanently and moves to its new location in downtown Bradenton. Many other member artists will also be there as well. Make sure to enter the raffle for a chance to win one of Westbrook’s paintings. There will also be complimentary wine, snacks and live music.
Island Gallery West is located at 5368 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, Trolley Stop 15. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, with March 10 as the final day. Visit the gallery website or call 941-778-6648 for updates about the art and 30 member artists of the gallery.
ANNA MARIA – With the close of the first round of playoff action concluded at The Center of Anna Maria Island, the top-ranked team in each of the three leagues easily defeated their opponents.
In the 8- to 10-year-old league, top-ranked Sato Real Estate won their quarterfinal game against SynLawn with a final score of 47-12.
Scoring 18 rushing points and 12 receiving points, the Sato team spread the scoring around the squad. QB Brandon Sato found his brother, Dylan, for a scoring reception and six points.
Sato finished the game with four defensive flag pulls on the other side of the football.
Silas DeWitt was the other B. Sato target for a receiving touchdown. DeWitt made three stops on defense and had two one-point conversions in the game.
Scoring on the ground, B. Sato got the call and scored six points. His run of scoring included two pick-sixes and a two-point conversion after a Sato Real Estate score.
With a total of three interceptions, defensively B. Sato was on fire, adding six flag pulls to his game stats.
Kellen Reed kept it on the ground and scored 13 points with two touchdowns and a single one-point conversion. With a single flag pull, Reed added to his team’s 14 total defensive stops in the Feb. 27 game.
SynLawn’s Nolan Anderson stayed on his feet for 12 rushing points for his team. Anderson made five huge defensive stops with his flag-pulling skills.
Oliver McCallister made a single catch in the game. Teammates Will Breslin, Tanner Pippins and Luther Sasser each had key flag pulls against Sato Real Estate.
The strong efforts of team SynLawn just were not enough against the tough Sato squad.
In this week’s action, Sato Real Estate went up against team Moss Builders. Moss Builders, ranked sixth at the end of the regular season, finished last week against third-ranked Island Real Estate with a win.
On the same night, Solid Rock Construction faced Westfall’s Lawn Care & Pest Control in quarterfinal play in the 8- to 10-year-old league.
Playing last Tuesday night at The Center in the 11- to 13-year-old league quarterfinal action, top-ranked Pineapple Market Place solidly defeated the Chick-fil-A team with a score of 39-20.
No upsets in the first round of playoffs with Moss Builders winning over Intentional Resilient Intuitive. Shady Lady Horticultural Services won over Storage Building Company by 14 points.
In the semifinal round of play on March 7, Pineapple Marketplace saw Shady Lady Horticultural Services on the gridiron. Moss Builders played Solid Rock Construction for the final spot in the championship game.
In the first round of adult co-ed flag football playoff action, there were no surprises in last week’s play. First seed Luxury Services kept Ugly Grouper out of the endzone, with a final score of 96-0.
Finishing the regular season in second place, Moss Builders easily won against Gulf Drive Café, up 25 points at the final whistle.
Team Solid Rock Construction beat sixth-ranked The Banks Home Lending Team, while The Briley Mortgage Team secured their spot in the next round of playoffs with a victory over The Sandbar.
This Thursday, four adult flag football teams take to the Island’s football field to determine who goes on the final game of the season.
On Thursday, March 9 at 7 p.m., Luxury Services vs. The Briley Mortgage Team will start the night off. Solid Rock Construction and Moss Builders meet in the second game of the night.
In all of The Center’s flag football leagues, there can be only two teams that battle it out for the title “champions.” The end-of-season victors will be named in the coming weeks.
Recently, Banyan Bay Condominium on Longboat Key took advantage of a grant to turn an area they had nicknamed the “swamp” into a vibrant area that beautified the grounds, created a natural pollinator garden for birds and insects and helped protect the section of Sarasota Bay that fronts the property. The project was led by residents Terri and Dr. Jeff Driver. Their experience and the outcome are best expressed in Terri’s own words. According to Driver, “We had some uncertainty about whether our proposed project would fit the requirements for a grant from SBEP Partners. A friend recommended we call SBEP and simply ask if they would look at our space and situation and see if it was appropriate for a grant proposal.
