BRADENTON BEACH – The Christmas season will be sparked with the illumination of more than 20,000 lights on a 42’ Christmas tree on Saturday, Nov. 18.
The Light Up Bridge Street family event from 5:30-8:30 p.m. is free. In addition to the tree lighting at dark, there will be caroling, pictures with Santa, face-painting, hot chocolate and a screening of the movie, “Elf.”
The holiday event is sponsored by the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), the city of Bradenton Beach and local merchants.
“A special guest will flip the single switch to light up the small town with a big tree,” according to a press release from Sea-renity Beach Spa owner Amanda Escobio Ryan.
Attendees will gather in the post office parking lot at 116 Bridge St. for a crowd sing-along hosted by the Sweet Adelines Magic of Manatee, an award-winning a cappella women’s chorus.
The evening’s festivities will also include raffle tickets for Turning Points of Bradenton and an ornament walkabout. Pictures with Santa will allow children to share their holiday wishes, keepsake photographs will be available and volunteers will do face painting.
Attendees are advised to bring a chair and blanket for the movie, along with canned food donations for the Manatee Food Bank. Popcorn, hot chocolate and other refreshments will be available nearby.
“The lighting of the Christmas tree is a moment of enchantment and tradition, illuminating the holiday season with a radiant glow. As the sun sets and darkness descends, families and communities gather in anticipation. With a flick of the switch, the tree bursts into a breathtaking display of twinkling lights, casting a magical aura over the surroundings,” according to the website, lovebradentonbeach.com. “It symbolizes unity, hope and the spirit of giving. The shared experience fosters a deep sense of togetherness, reminding us of the joys of love, generosity and the enduring magic of Christmas.”
The event will also honor the late Bradenton Beach Mayor John Shaughnessy, who passed away on May 4. Shaughnessy was a Bradenton Beach commissioner for six years, vice mayor and served as mayor from 2011-13.
“As twilight descends, we gather to honor a community pillar, Mayor John Shaughnessy. Recognizing his unwavering dedication and transformative leadership, we celebrate a leader who embodies the spirit of unity. Mayor Shaughnessy, a beacon guiding us through challenges, is a testament to the strength of our town. Join us in expressing gratitude for his commitment, acknowledging his contributions that have shaped our community. Together, let’s illuminate the night in honor of a leader whose legacy inspires us to build a brighter, more connected future for all,” the website says.
BRADENTON BEACH – In the second Planning and Zoning Board public hearing on a proposed 106-room hotel project, the board today unanimously recommended that Bradenton Beach commissioners approve the project with conditions.
The property on Bridge Street and Gulf Drive South, owned by Shawn Kaleta, a local developer, and Jacob Spooner, a Bradenton Beach city commissioner, would also feature a 60-seat restaurant, 2,485 square feet of retail space and 99 parking spaces.
Monday’s six-hour hearing was a continuation of a Nov. 1 meeting where P&Z members raised questions about parking, potential water shortages and traffic impacts. Twelve people voiced their opposition, with 13 additional emails received in opposition to the project. One Bradenton Beach homeowner indicated that he is prepared to file a lawsuit if the project is approved.
The Bradenton Beach Commission will discuss the project on Thursday, Nov. 16 at noon.
HOLMES BEACH – This year’s second Holmes Beach Market Night on Nov. 10 drew no shortage of people coming out to holiday shop during extended hours at retailers in and around the Island Shopping Center.
“We couldn’t find a parking space. This place is packed,” Julie Wilcox said. “I’m glad we did though, because this is really cool. There’s a pirate playing a ukulele on the sidewalk and everybody has ice cream on their face. This is a blast!”
Market Night replaces the former Art Walks from years past. Since Island Gallery West moved its Holmes Beach gallery to Bradenton, a rebranding was in order.
“We went around over the summer dropping off letters and letting businesses know what we were going to do,” Artists’ Guild of Anna Maria Island President Janet Razze said. “We changed the name to Market Night so more people would participate. Island Gallery West relocated, and we wish them well, but we felt like it’s not really an Art Walk anymore, so we wanted to get all of these businesses together.”
The family-friendly event sponsored by the City of Holmes Beach and Bradenton Area Arts and Culture is held on the second Friday of the month, with the exception of next month, when it will be on Friday, Dec. 1 to coincide with the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce’s tree lighting.
The event continues through April 12, 2024 featuring the Island Shopping Center and the following merchants: Artists’ Guild Gallery of Anna Maria Island, D Coy Ducks, Small Town Creamery, howluckyami, Pizzano’s Pizza, Irene’s Clothing Store, Sand Dollar, The Feast, Hurricane Hank’s, Freckled Fin and The Doctor’s Office. Each business will stay open late, featuring live music, demos, refreshments and more.
On Dec. 5-6, the Science and Environment Council, the region’s network of 43 leading science-based environmental organizations, will offer the community a two-day summit at Van Wezel Hall in Sarasota that will explore solutions for balancing growth with nature and reducing our impacts.
Since 1930, the population of Sarasota and Manatee counties has grown from 35,000 to 891,000 people. The growth has resulted in significant degradation, fragmentation and loss of natural habitats and the fish and wildlife they supported. The summit will offer the public a lively, thought-provoking and entertaining experience that will include lectures, panel discussions, storytelling, film and music.
Dozens of national, regional, and local experts will share the stage with local storytellers and Americana songwriter Karen Jonas and her band. Australian documentary filmmaker and regenerative environmental leader Damon Gameau will be the summit’s keynote speaker and will screen his film, “2040.”
Florida’s favorite storyteller and author, Carl Hiaasen, journalist Craig Pittman, and local dolphin whisperer Randy Wells will contribute to an unforgettable and entertaining evening of Florida stories.
U.S. News and World Report ranked the Sarasota metro area as the second fastest-growing place in America in 2023-24. Ongoing challenges with impaired waters, recurrent algal blooms and declining fish and wildlife make it clear that we cannot continue to grow the same way we have in the past.
This is particularly important to convey to voters who will need to elect leaders who understand that our economy and quality of life depend on a healthy, resilient natural environment. A recent decision by the Manatee County Commission to reduce wetland buffers, a move in the opposite direction, points to the urgency of informing the public. Nature cleans our air and water, supports fish and wildlife, promotes public health and drives our economy.
An important book by Florida author Jack Davis, “The Gulf, the Making of an American Sea” (winner of the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for history), is highly recommended to show residents what has been lost and the importance of protecting what we still have. Floridians whose families have lived here for generations know this story well. For four years running, participants in Sarasota County’s annual Citizen Opinion Survey have identified population growth and development as the county’s biggest issue.
We’ve done it before. Since the 1970s, our region has often led the state with bold, community-driven environmental initiatives. Residents rallied to protect South Lido Beach Park, Emerson Point, Sister Keys and Casperson Beach. We banned phosphate mining in Sarasota County and adopted the first summer ban on fertilizer use. We established Sarasota Bay, Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor as estuaries of national significance and empowered three National Estuary Programs to protect and restore them. We protected the Myakka River and more recently the Little Manatee River as state-designated Wild and Scenic Rivers. In November 2020, 71.34% of Manatee County voters agreed to increase property tax by .15 mills and authorized purchasing $50 million in bonds to acquire, improve and manage land to protect drinking water sources and water quality, preserve fish and wildlife habitat, prevent stormwater run-off pollution and provide parks.
Our communities overwhelmingly support our natural environment, and we have exceptional environmental organizations with highly qualified and dedicated people who work to conserve and restore it. Now it’s more critical than ever that we elect leaders who listen to the will of the people. I highly recommend this summit as a learning experience and a call to action. See you there.
BRADENTON BEACH – It was a feast for all five senses as hundreds gathered at Coquina Beach for the 2023 Symphony on the Sand.
The smell of gourmet food filled the air as the 45-piece Anna Maria Island Concert Chorus & Orchestra (AMICCO), under the accomplished baton of Maestro Alfred Gershfeld entertained the crowd with the backdrop that only a Gulf coast sunset can provide.
Beachgoers may have not had the opportunity to enjoy the food and drinks that came with buying a ticket to this year’s Symphony on the Sand in Bradenton Beach, but they were welcome to dance on the beach while soaking in a beautiful sunset while enjoying the music. – Jason Schaffer | Sun
“This is literally the most beautiful thing I have ever seen, and I’ve traveled the world,” said Lisa Stadtler, visiting the Island from New Jersey. “I asked my husband where the heck we were. This doesn’t even seem real. The weather is perfect, the sunset is stunning and this music is just amazing.”
The Nov. 11 event celebrated Veterans Day, and veterans were at the center of the show. Every table was adorned with American flags, and the AMICCO proudly played plenty of patriotic tunes to honor the many veterans in attendance. People danced in the white sand and waved flags as the music filled the air.
“America has its problems, but I think no matter how much we may disagree on politics or policy, we all agree our veterans are what have secured our place as the best country in the world,” Sam Crowder said. “We live over in Bradenton and try to never miss this. It rained last year, but this weather is just amazing; what a blessing.”
HOLMES BEACH – Located in the former Island Gallery West at 5368 Gulf Drive, the new Edibles N More Old Time Country Store isn’t a traditional hemp product retailer.
Owner Mel Wendel says while many people are praising the benefits of hemp-based edibles and other hemp-based products for their personal wellness, they are often uncomfortable with the kind of stores that sell them. Her goal was to change the way people shop by integrating these federally legal products with an old-time country store.
“We didn’t want to bring a vape store mentality over to Anna Maria, because we know how special the Island is,” Wendel said. “We wanted to make sure our store blended in with everything that already existed there. The country store offers plenty of gifts and unique products that appeal to everyone who may not be interested in the hemp products.”
Wendel has mobile trucks and is also a distributor of hemp products, and says it’s important for her to help her customers find what is right for their needs. She says it’s her goal to be a good steward of the hemp industry.
Edibles N More is open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
HOLMES BEACH – A police investigation of an incident involving leaving the scene of an accident led to an unrelated arrest when a man allegedly burglarized the car involved in the investigation.
The Nov. 1 incident began at 5:18 p.m. as Holmes Beach Police Department Officer Alexander Hurt was dispatched to the Doctor’s Office restaurant in reference to a hit-and-run accident.
When Hurt arrived, he saw Officer Franklin Price speaking with a heavily intoxicated man in the parking lot. Hurt was advised that the man was a passenger in a vehicle that had struck a parked vehicle.
“Myself and Officer Price began speaking with the male to figure out where the other party had gone,” Hurt said in his official report. “I met with Matthew Jeronimo, who was the on-duty bar manager at the time of the incident. Jeronimo stated that he witnessed two heavily intoxicated subjects walk into the bar and request service. Jeronimo advised that due to their extremely intoxicated state, they were both refused service and asked to leave.”
Hurt said Jeronimo advised him that after a brief argument with the two men, they both left. He then saw them walk to a car and meet a female subject, later identified as Amelia Saavedra, 44, of Bradenton, who got into the driver’s seat of the car. Jeronimo said Saavedra then put the car in reverse and struck a pink Toyota parked next to her vehicle, before driving away south on Holmes Boulevard. Jeronimo said the vehicle that was struck belonged to an employee of the bar, and he quickly ran outside to get the plate number before calling police.
“While in the middle of our investigation, a female matching the description of the driver stumbled up to us and began yelling at the male we were speaking to,” Hurt said in his report. “The female was positively identified by Jeronimo as the driver of the vehicle. I placed Saavedra under arrest for leaving the scene of an accident and transported her to HBPD.”
Adkins was able to locate the suspect vehicle, a white Mazda CX-5, around the corner from the scene, where it had struck a raised boardwalk attached to a business. Saavedra claimed she never drove the vehicle and it was her boyfriend who had been driving. The two men were not charged in the incident.
Adkins waited with the white Mazda, parked in a space off Gulf Drive just west of Holmes Boulevard in front of Vinny’s Italian Kitchen, while the tow truck made its way to the scene.
“I was awaiting a tow truck to arrive for this vehicle so I was sitting about a car length and a half away on the side of Gulf Drive with my emergency lights activated,” Adkins said in his report. “I observed a white male with a neon orange shirt walk past my vehicle, past the Mazda, and then towards a pickup truck that was parked a couple spaces away. The male then turned around while also looking around and began walking towards the driver side of the Mazda.”
Adkins said it appeared the man saw the keys to the Mazda on the vehicle’s driver’s side roof, which had been placed there for the tow truck driver. He then went to the front passenger window, looked inside and opened the door. As the male subject reached into the vehicle, not noticing the police car only a few feet away, Adkins got out of his patrol vehicle and ordered the man, later identified as Adam Fleming, 34, of Bradenton, to get on the ground while pointing his taser at him. Fleming did not comply, and while he did put his hands above his head, he did not go to the ground as ordered. Adkins was able to get close enough to Fleming to take him to the ground and secure him in handcuffs.
“Fleming alleged he walked past my vehicle and was looking at utility markings that were painted on the ground and noticed the white SUV. He stated he then wanted his jacket and thought that the Mazda looked similar to the white Ford SUV he came to the area in earlier,” Adkins said in his report. “Due to this, he stated he then went into the vehicle to see if his jacket was there. It was clearly visible that the Mazda did not have any jacket in plain view in the area that he was entering. I asked Fleming if he was certain that the Mazda was the car he rode in earlier and he stated no, he was not certain. I asked him why he went into the Mazda if he didn’t know if the vehicle was the same one he rode in earlier and he listed reasons such as the incident was a mistake, an accident, and also alleged it happened because he was drunk. I however did not observe any obvious indicators of alcohol impairment.”
The owner of the Mazda, Saavedra, who was already under arrest, was asked if she wanted to press charges, to which she said yes. She also said she did not know Fleming and he had not ridden in the vehicle. Adkins placed Fleming under arrest for unarmed burglary to an unoccupied conveyance and for resisting an officer without violence. Fleming was taken to the Holmes Beach Police Department, then transported to Manatee County Jail. Saavedra pled not guilty and was released on $120 bond. Her court date is Dec. 5 in front of Judge Melissa Gould. Fleming was later released on $2,000 bond after pleading not guilty. He is due in court on Dec. 15 to face the charges in front of Judge Stephen Whyte.
ANNA MARIA – The city’s eighth annual “Old Soldiers & Sailors” parade and veterans recognition ceremony paid tribute on Nov. 10 to those who served and still serve in the U.S. military.
Army Veteran and former Holmes Beach Mayor Bob Johnson served as the parade’s grand marshal. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
At 9 a.m., the Manatee High School JROTC led the parade down Pine Avenue to City Pier Park. Parade Grand Marshal, Vietnam combat veteran, retired U.S. Army Major and former Holmes Beach Mayor Bob Johnson followed in a city-owned Jeep, accompanied by his wife, Denise.
The Manatee High School JROTC marched in the Old Soldiers & Sailors Parade. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Next came the Lakewood Ranch High School marching band, followed by a group of local veterans, a Gem cart carrying U.S. Congressman Vern Buchanan and his wife, Sandy, and a golf cart driven by Mayor Dan Murphy, accompanied by his wife, Barbara.
The Lakewood Ranch High School marching band participated in the parade and the post-parade ceremony. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
The parade featured the Braden River High School marching band, two West Manatee Fire Rescue vehicles, a group of children from The Center of Anna Maria Island, a blue Ford Mustang carrying three veterans, a group of Tampa Bay Buccaneer cheerleader alumni, the Manatee High School marching band and a pickup truck carrying 101-year-old World War II Army veteran John Skeen pulling a trailer sign that said, “Military Matters.”
A group of kids from The Center walked the parade route. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
The Southeast High School marching band arrived late and missed the parade but played near the foot of the City Pier after the veterans’ ceremony ended.
Before the ceremony began, Buchanan said, “It’s a great parade and we have a lot of veterans out here today.”
Regarding his role as grand marshal, Johnson said, “I served in the Army for 21 years, from 1964 to 1985. Participating in something like this triggers a lot of memories.”
The veterans’ recognition ceremony took place at City Pier Park. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Held under the City Pier Park shade sail structure, the recognition ceremony began with Murphy’s welcoming remarks, the invocation by Rev. Gordon Zanetti, the presentation of the colors by the Manatee High School JROTC and the national anthem performed by the Lakewood High School marching band.
As a veteran himself, Mayor Dan Murphy has a great appreciation for those who served. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Murphy recognized Johnson as the parade marshal and thanked Buchanan, an Air National Guard veteran, for the federal legislation and assistance he’s championed as a member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.
Congressman Vern Buchanan spoke during the veterans’ ceremony. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Standing at the podium, Buchanan said, “It’s truly an honor to be here today to pay tribute to the brave men and women who have proudly served in our Armed Forces. President Calvin Coolidge once said, ‘A nation which forgets its defenders will be itself forgotten.’ On this Veterans Day, let’s take a moment to offer our deepest gratitude to all who served.”
Murphy then called forward the city staff members and thanked them for their planning and hard work.
When calling forward the veterans’ wives, spouses and significant others, Murphy said, “I’d like to welcome and thank the most important people in every veteran’s life. I know how difficult your job was while we went off on our adventures. Thank you for everything you did to support us during that period of time,” Murphy said.
Each wife, spouse and significant other received a yellow rose.
Before calling the veterans forward according to the military branch in which they served, Murphy said, “These are individuals who offered up their time, their careers and even their lives, if necessary, to defend our country. These are our veterans.”
Each veteran received a ceremonial medal that commemorates the “Old Soldiers & Sailors” parade and the city of Anna Maria’s 100-year anniversary.
The veterans received these commemorative medals.
“These are the folks that put their lives on the line to defend our country. We owe them a big round of applause and big ‘thank you’ for what they’ve done,” Murphy said.
Murphy then invited everyone to attend the ice cream social at the nearby Anna Maria Island Historical Museum, featuring free ice cream donated by Tyler’s Gourmet Ice Cream.
After the ceremony, U.S. Army veteran and current Manatee County Veteran of the Year Rick Jensen said, “Anna Maria does a fantastic job every year for Veterans Day and Memorial Day. It means everything to see all the veterans who served this county and did their duty.”
Army Veteran Rick Jensen appreciated the city’s efforts. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
When sharing his final thoughts, Murphy said, “I’m pleased with the turnout we had. It’s so important for the veterans in our community to be recognized and honored. As a veteran myself, this event is very moving for me; and the colors being presented and the national anthem being played evoke a deep sense of patriotism.”
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth said she was told the city of Bradenton will be included in the Anna Maria Island consolidation study being conducted by the Florida Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (OPPAGA).
On Nov. 8, Titsworth had her first study-related virtual meeting with OPPAGA representatives. Later that day, she contacted The Sun and said OPPAGA Staff Director of Government Operations Emily Leventhal told her the city of Bradenton will be included in the consolidation study and will be considered as one of several potential annexation options if the three Island cities and city governments are to be eliminated by the state.
Titsworth said she was told that Bradenton Mayor Gene Brown would soon receive a letter from OPPAGA informing him that the city of Bradenton will be included in the consolidation study and may be considered as an annexation option. Titsworth said there were two other witnesses in the room with her during her meeting with OPPAGA representatives.
The following day, Titsworth posted a lengthy consolidation study-related statement at the city of Holmes Beach’s Facebook page titled “The Future of Anna Maria Island: The Fate of Our Cities Are at Stake.”
“In continuing to keep our Holmes Beach residents, property owners and friends informed on issues facing our city, it is important to share with you updated information on the OPPAGA study initiated by our state leaders, and specifically what I learned during yesterday’s OPPAGA Entrance Conference,” Titsworth stated.
“Legislative leadership has tasked this research team, with the support of the entire Manatee Delegation, to conduct an immediate study and to review the potential benefits of consolidation of municipal services and/or government structures for Anna Maria Island.
“During the conference, it was revealed that the city of Bradenton and Manatee County are also included in this study, though they have not yet received correspondence from the research team. There will be large record requests starting next week that the cities will need to respond to, along with more tailored follow-up requests, interviews and potential site visits that will be conducted along the way.
Titsworth
“The research team is anticipating a completion date for July 2024 to present their results to legislative leadership. These recommendations will then be presented to the senior leadership person, most likely (state Representatives) Will Robinson or Jim Boyd. If leadership decides that the report should be published, it will then be available to the cities and the public. Otherwise, the findings and recommendations remain confidential and exempt from public disclosure. It is anticipated that the data gathered and analyzed will provide state leaders with the information needed to determine the fate of our cities,” Titsworth stated.
“The biggest concern I have with this study is that neither the residents nor city officials asked for it. They were not consulted about the development of the scope and remain unaware of the motivations behind this emboldened act of the Legislature. It is my understanding that we are the only coastal cities in Florida being threatened by consolidation, though we may not be the last as there have been more than 80 bills passed by the state Legislature in recent years that have greatly diluted home rule.
“It is unclear what the path forward looks like if state leaders move to consolidate, especially when it is an act not supported by the cities and citizens which are directly impacted. Is a referendum by the people even necessary when the decision is made at the state level? Is the governor tasked to appoint a board to write a new charter, zoning districts, comprehensive plan and land development codes? Is a new charter even needed, or will one city absorb the others; and if so, which city?
“Will the new board respect current density and height restrictions? If there is a new charter, are the grandfathered minimum length of stay restrictions for resort housing to be preserved or will they be removed, turning neighborhoods into motels?
“I urge all citizens to pay attention to decisions being made at the local and state level. Do these leaders have your best interests at heart? These decisions will have a profound effect on quality-of-life issues. Our unique small-town identities and a century of history could soon be lost to consolidation and to the neighboring city of Bradenton,” Titsworth stated.
Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy and City Commission Chair Mark Short participated in their first virtual meeting with OPPAGA representatives on Nov. 7.
When asked about that meeting later in the week, Murphy said, “Commissioner Mark Short and I did indeed meet with OPPAGA representatives this week. I feel obligated to first inform our city commissioners as to the status of the study. I will discuss what was covered at our next city commission meeting on Thursday, Nov. 16.”
Last week, Bradenton Beach Mayor John Chappie also participated in his first virtual meeting with OPPAGA representatives. As of Monday afternoon, Chappie had not responded to The Sun’s requests for comment on his meeting with OPPAGA officials.
Study requested
OPPAGA serves as the research and analysis arm of the Florida Legislature and supports the Legislature by providing data, evaluation, research and objective analyses used to make legislative decisions.
Since the AMI consolidation study was first requested in January by the Manatee County legislative delegation, the general assumption was if the cities of Anna Maria, Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach were consolidated by the Florida Legislature, the three Island cities would either be consolidated into one Island city and city government, or the three cities would be annexed into Manatee County and the three existing city governments would be eliminated. The possibility of the three Island cities being annexed into the city of Bradenton adds a new twist to the ongoing consolidation discussions.
The delegation consists of Sen. Jim Boyd (R-Bradenton), Rep. Will Robinson Jr. (R-Bradenton), Sen. Joe Gruters (R-Sarasota), State Rep. Tommy Gregory (R-Lakewood Ranch) and State Rep. Mike Beltran (R-Apollo Beach).
Boyd
Touted in part as a means to reduce property taxes for Anna Maria Island property owners, the study pertains to the potential consolidation of the similar services currently provided separately by all three Island cities and/or the possible consolidation of the three cities or the elimination of the three cities and their respective city governments.
The delegation put the study request on temporary hold to provide the three Island mayors time to discuss and devise potential areas of consolidation services with potential cost savings to be identified with law enforcement, code enforcement, public works, building departments and permitting and other services currently provided by all three cities. Those mayoral consolidation discussions produced no tangible results.
On Aug. 21, Boyd and Robinson sent letters to three Island mayors informing them of the delegation’s renewed pursuit of the OPPAGA consolidation study.
On Oct. 31, Murphy and Short received a letter from OPPAGA Coordinator P.K. Jameson; Titsworth and Chappie received similar letters.
In her letter to Murphy and Short, Jameson wrote, “As directed by the Legislature, the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability is reviewing the potential benefits of consolidating municipal services and government structures for Anna Maria Island.
“OPPAGA expects to begin this review immediately. To assure the least disruption to your agency, OPPAGA staff would like to meet with you or your representative to discuss the procedures for this review. Your office will be contacted in the near future to establish an appropriate time and place for the meeting. Thank you for your cooperation. If you have any questions, please contact Emily Leventhal.”
Additional responses
On Nov. 9, The Sun emailed Leventhal seeking confirmation that she told Titsworth the city of Bradenton would be included in the study and considered as a potential annexation option. That email also contained questions about the actual implementation of any consolidation or annexation actions.
Later that day, The Sun received a phone call from OPPAGA General Counsel Janet Tashner.
“Unfortunately, we’re not able to comment; and I can tell you it’s a little early for these questions. The study just began,” Tashner said.
Tashner was asked if she could at least confirm whether the city of Bradenton will be considered as one possible annexation option.
“They’re not going to know what those possibilities are until the study’s complete,” Tashner said.
On Nov. 9, The Sun emailed Bradenton Mayor Gene Brown and Public Information Officer Jeannie Roberts inquiring as to whether Brown had yet received any correspondence from OPPAGA, Boyd or Robinson regarding the consolidation study.
Roberts responded with an email that said, “The city of Bradenton is advising media to contact the offices of Rep. Will Robinson or Sen. Jim Boyd, as this is a state initiative.” The Sun again asked Roberts or Brown to provide a copy of any OPPAGA-related correspondence Brown received or receives.
On Monday morning, Bradenton Records Management Liaison Officer Bill Ackles acknowledged The Sun’s records request. As of Monday afternoon, no consolidation study-related correspondence was yet provided and Brown had not responded to The Sun’s inquiry.
On Nov. 9, The Sun emailed Boyd seeking his insight on the city of Bradenton being included in the consolidation study. As of Monday afternoon, Boyd had not responded.
Robinson response
On Nov. 9, The Sun emailed a similar inquiry to Robinson. On Nov. 10, Robinson called The Sun and spoke briefly about the consolidation study. He said the city of Bradenton is one of many possible consolidation/annexation options. The other options could also include no consolidation or annexation at all, consolidating the Anna Maria Island cities into one Island city or annexing the Island cities into Manatee County.
“To make the most complete decision, the delegation has asked that the OPPAGA study analyze each and every option, including doing nothing,” Robinson said later via text message.
On Nov. 10, Robinson provided The Sun with a lengthy written statement regarding the OPPAGA study and what prompted it.
Robinson
“Growing up, my mom and dad would take me to Anna Maria Island a lot. We would visit for the day, go to the beach and bring a bagged lunch, as we didn’t have a lot of money. I still enjoy to this day going out there. It is paradise. My public battle on beach parking and access is solely focused on allowing all families the chance to enjoy our great beaches, including those that cannot afford to live on the Island or pay the high weekly vacation rental fee,” Robinson stated.
His statement addressed the state legislation adopted and approved by Gov. Ron DeSantis earlier this year which allows Manatee County to build a three-story parking garage at Manatee Beach in Holmes Beach despite the city’s continued opposition.
“Unfortunately, roadblock after roadblock was put up by the city of Holmes Beach to reasonably solve this issue and the Legislature was forced to act. That (parking garage) bill passed unanimously – all Republicans and all Democrats in both the House, 116-0, and the Senate, 39-0. The mayor of Holmes Beach blamed the Legislature for not understanding the issue. Believe me, they did.
“Many members could not believe the restrictions put in place by Holmes Beach to take away parking that had existed for decades, with the goal of making it more difficult to allow anyone to visit the Island. In that battle, many residents on the Island reached out to ask that we look at the political structure of the Island. Because of the over-regulatory policies, traffic and ability to sell homes at a high price, residents are fleeing the Island.
“About a year ago, the Manatee County legislative delegation unanimously requested a study from OPPAGA to analyze all the political options for the Island. Senator Boyd and I met with the three Island mayors earlier this year and they asked for us to pause the OPPAGA study so they could work on coordinating services. The delegation paused the study, in good faith, to allow that important work to continue. Unfortunately, the mayor of Holmes Beach blocked any progress, fearing that would lead to consolidation. Senator Boyd and I sent another letter to the mayors asking them to work on coordination. Mayor Chappie outlined wonderful suggestions and Mayor Murphy committed to find ways to save taxpayer money. Unfortunately, the mayor of Holmes Beach once again offered no help or coordination. Left with no option, the independent state agency, OPPAGA, has begun work on the study. The Island cannot function long-term with residents fleeing, selling their homes and creating more vacation rentals, budgets souring with out-of-control regulation – like in Holmes Beach restricting reasonable beach parking.
“The study will look at all options available to make the Island stronger and more efficient. On a 7-mile stretch of land, do we really need three police departments? Do we need three building departments or public works departments all with different standards and ways of doing things? Do we need three city commissions and three mayors with never-ending rising revenues but a plummeting resident population?” Robinson stated.
“I don’t have all the answers to any of these questions because we don’t have the data, and I have not heard from all the residents. The OPPAGA study will look at all options, including doing nothing. The study will take several months to complete and it is my strong opinion that if a change is made, the (existing) building height on the Island should be 100% legally protected from going any higher, as that is critical to the charm and quality of life on the Island,” Robinson stated.
“Even though the mayor of Holmes Beach continues to block progress and any reasonable coordination, I urge the mayors to get back in a room and find ways to save taxpayer money. I am happy to play whatever role you need and offer any help. The Legislature is forced to proceed with this study because residents have asked us for help and some have told me they are scared to speak up for fear of repercussions from the city of Holmes Beach.
Robinson noted none of the 2023 city commission races on the Island were contested and all eight incumbent commissioners seeking reelection ran unopposed. He noted there hasn’t been a contested commission on the Island since 2021.
He noted that as of 2023, Bradenton Beach had 644 registered voters, Anna Maria had 925 and Holmes Beach had 2,638.
“As the voting population continues to dwindle, will there be enough eligible islanders to fill all of the mayor and commission seats? Overall, the Island has lost a significant amount of its voter population in 15 years, even as Florida has exploded in growth. Over the last 20 years, the Island has exploded in vacation rental growth, while the resident and voting population has plummeted. That trend does not seem to be ending. And, just to the north, the town of Longboat Key has more population than all three Island cities combined and is on a bigger island,” Robinson stated.
“Now, more than ever, we need to make the Island stronger and more efficient to bring down taxes, reduce unnecessary regulation and preserve our beautiful beaches for everyone. This study will provide invaluable data that will allow us to review every feasible option available for the Island. It is imperative the Island gets on a better path that reduces taxes, unnecessary and burdensome regulations and is more welcoming to all residents, most especially in greater Manatee County, who also pay taxes to support our beautiful beaches,” Robinson stated.
Titsworth has consistently maintained that her city government is not attempting to restrict parking.
Financial impacts
Consolidating the three Island cities into one Island city or annexing the three cities into the city of Bradenton or Manatee County would have significant financial impacts. If the three Island cities were consolidated into one Island city, the annual property tax revenues currently received by each respective city would be controlled by the Island’s newly-created governing body.
If the three cities were annexed into the city of Bradenton, that city would then receive those property tax revenues. If the three Island cities were annexed into Manatee County, the county would receive those property tax revenues.
For the current tax year, the taxable value of all properties in Holmes Beach is $3.14 billion. The total taxable value in Anna Maria is $2.03 billion and $981 million in Bradenton Beach.
A property owner’s tax bill is calculated using the annual millage rate established by each specific governing body. Anna Maria and Holmes Beach’s current 2.05 millage rates are the lowest in Manatee County. The millage rate in Bradenton Beach is 2.3329 mills. The millage rate in Bradenton is 5.8351 mills and Manatee County’s 2023-24 millage rate is 6.2326 mills.
One mill equals $1 in property taxes owed per $1,000 of assessed taxable property value.
The millage rate calculation formula is: Taxable value divided by 1,000 multiplied by the millage rate equals the property tax owed.
ANNA MARIA – With youth soccer taking the week off for fall festivities, the adult co-ed recreational soccer league was the only play on The Center’s pitches last week.
Four exciting and competitive games last Thursday night were played by the eight teams whose members fought hard for seven weeks in the regular season. The teams that finished in the bottom half of the rankings did not make it easy on their opponents, leading to two shootouts in overtime.
In a close match-up, Gulfview Windows & Doors, led by captain Keith Mahoney, battled it out against a worthy adversary, team Sato Real Estate. Josh Sato, captain for Sato Real Estate, worked with his friends and teammates for two halves of quarter-final soccer only to come up short in the end.
The Sato squad finished the regular season in fourth place, just ahead of Gulfview. With nine saves in the game, keeper Ben Sato and the team’s defensive efforts let one too many in the goal.
Giving B. Sato time to run on the field, J.D. Webb took over as goalie for a short stint. One Gulfview shot got by Webb, contributing to Mahoney’s team’s victory.
Raul Loera saved nine shots as the goalie for Gulfview, while offensively Leo Gonzalez secured a goal and made an assist to Jesus Martinez. Martinez finished the game with a hat trick, pushing his team to the next level of playoff battle.
Amy Ivin and James Noblett played tough offensively for Sato Real Estate, each scoring a goal to close out the season for the team. J. Sato was credited with an assist.
Game two of the night was a defensive battle royale with a final score of 1-1 at the end of timed play. Between three goalies on two teams, 20 goals were saved in the 44 minutes of official regulation play.
For Ross Built Custom Homes, keeper Max Gazzo made 13 recorded saves, while Chris Klotz and Nate Welch shared the goalie responsibilities with three and four saves, respectively, for team Pool America.
Scoring goals was a struggle for both teams. Daniel Hampton scored Ross Built’s only goal during timed play off of team captain Greg Ross’ assist. Opponent Murat Akay scored the only goal for Pool America during the two halves of the game.
Pool America’s team captain Eduardo Schlueter kept his team’s head in the game leading to the night’s first shootout in overtime. Out of five assigned penalty kick shooters for each team, there was only one winner.
Under the pressure of taking the PK shots, Ross Built shooters Ethan Hampton and Andrew Ross both made the first two shots for the team, and that was all that was needed to move their team forward to another week of soccer.
Nate Welch was the first kicker for Pool America and the only shooter for the team to successfully make a PK attempt.
The 8 p.m. game started a bit late but proved to be worth the wait. In the final seconds of the game, team captain Kevin Roman proved why he is a clutch player in the league, controlling the soccer ball and striking the game-winning shot.
Roman’s much-needed goal gave him another hat trick in the season, finishing with three points in the game. Heilo Gomez’s single goal helped make the Gulf Drive victory possible, along with Javier Rivera’s assist and the team’s strong defense.
Once again, goalkeeper Charles “Tuna” McCracken saved the day with nine huge stops. McCracken’s counterpart, Robb Marshall, had a strong season and game with eight saves for the Sandbar Seafood & Spirits team.
Led by Jake Parsons, the Sandbar squad finished low in the rankings, but fought hard all season and made the quarter-final playoff game an exciting nailbiter.
With the crowd cheering with every shot, John Cruz, Justin Fields and Alex Villanueva each got the Sandbar supporters roaring with their goals. Scoreless last Thursday, Sandbar’s Matt Staggs had two assists, contributing to the W.
Those who stayed for the fourth and final round one playoff battle were happy they did. The action-packed game between first-place Moss Builders and last-place Slim’s Place did not disappoint and led to another shootout.
Both team’s goalies, team captain Ryan Moss for Moss Builders and Steve Oelfke for Slim’s Place, finished regulation play with six saves.
Coming off Gerardo Urbiola Bolanos’ pass, Moss Builder’s Erica Nielsen scored the only goal for her team, while Kris Yavalar put the only point on the scoreboard for Slim’s Place.
At the final whistle, signaling the end of regulation time, Slim’s Place’s captain, Yuri Pereira, pulled his shooters together.
Dean Hinterstoisser and Urbiola Bolanos were the first two shooters for Moss Builders. Both players made their shots, perceivably setting the tone for future PKs, especially after the missed shot by Steve Adair, shooting first for Slim’s.
The three subsequent Moss Builders misses, along with goals made by Slim’s Place’s Thomas Mangotic and league founding players Damir Glavan and Yavalar sealed the deal for the underdog team’s rise to the semifinal bracket.
To start the playoff action this week, Slim’s Place will face #5 Gulfview Windows & Doors on Thursday, Nov. 9 at 7 p.m. In the second semifinal game, third-ranked Ross Built Custom Homes matches up against the No. 2 regular season finishers, Gulf Drive Café.
The final two that survive Thursday night’s battles on the Island soccer field will play to see who takes home the Hayward Cup honors on Thursday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m.
This week’s soccer play leads up to the “smiledeep” soccer tournament on Saturday, Nov. 11 at The Center, honoring Paul “Ace” Hayward, of the Hayward Cup. The tournament is a fundraiser benefitting the community center’s soccer programs. The day’s soccer action will start at 9 a.m. with open play to watch with friends and family if you are not part of the action.
SUN SCOREBOARD
NOV. 2 – ADULT CO-ED SOCCER
QUARTER-FINAL PLAYOFF GAMES
#5 Gulfview Windows & Doors 4
#4 Sato Real Estate 2
#3 Ross Built Custom Homes 1 winner in overtime PKs (2-1)
Once upon a time, there was a great tradition in real estate where sellers listed their homes, buyers made an offer and eventually, both parties met in the middle and, like magic, you had a sound transaction. We haven’t seen much of that tradition recently, but don’t give up, you may start to see more of it.
Sellers, if you can find one, are more receptive to certain requests than they had been previously. Despite hearing that homeowners don’t want to give up their ultra-low mortgages, there is always someone who needs to sell their home. Since the pool of buyers has dwindled recently because of higher interest rates and lack of inventory, motivated buyers need to find sellers out there who are also motivated and more flexible than they were two to three years ago.
The obvious buyer strategy is to ask for money or something that costs money. With mortgage interest rates getting close to 8%, every penny in the hands of a buyer is a valuable one. Offering or asking for help with closing costs isn’t a new concept. Buyers who may be short on cash but qualify for financing may ask sellers to provide a credit at closing to be used for closing costs unrelated to their mortgage rate. This amount can usually be rolled into the financing for qualified buyers and the seller could easily be netting the same.
Sellers know or certainly should know what the flaws in their homes are. They may not want to take on a renovation project but are faced with buyers who may again be short on cash for repairs or adverse to doing renovations. Sellers can agree to make specific improvements to the home before closing. This agreement can be negotiated between buyer and seller so that both feel they come out pretty much with what they want and can close the property.
The next concept is a little more complicated but again includes money passing from the seller to the buyer. Sellers can agree to lower a buyer’s mortgage interest rate, known as a rate buy-down, by offering to pay closing costs in the form of points. If a buyer can reduce points, their mortgage rate can be lowered, resulting in a lower monthly payment. Points are typically 1% of the loan amount, so if a seller gives two points to the buyer on a $300,000 loan, that’s $6,000 the buyer doesn’t have to come up with.
Finally, sellers need to consider capital gains in a conversation with their tax attorney or preparer. A seller who is in a position where they may have large capital gains on the sale of their property needs to know exactly what those gains could be in real money. Entering a negotiation with this knowledge is important since the seller and the buyer may not be that far apart on their offers and counter offers if you calculate what it may cost the seller in additional capital gains. Knowing ahead of time how much flexibility you have between the sale price and capital gains could save the transaction and still net the seller almost what he wants. Holding out for an exact number embedded in your brain could kill the deal and keep you from moving on.
Go out there and make magic. Beat the bushes to bring those sellers out from the scrub. An old high school friend of mine’s mother would say, “There’s a lid for every pot.” And even though she was talking about boyfriends, the principle is the same. Go find your pot.
Suncoast Waterkeeper teamed up with Sarasota Bay Watch last weekend when they conducted their 2023 Annual Sister Keys Cleanup. The event was a collaboration of the two non-profit organizations, the Town of Longboat Key and Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant. Close to 50 volunteers worked for four hours on the island and around the mangrove fringes collecting trash and recyclable items. This year’s harvest was especially large, fueled by the storm surge that hit the area during Hurricane Idalia. One of the most unusual items in the cleanup’s 15-year history was uncovered during the event, an 18-foot wooden “sharpie” sailing craft. John Hoover made another impressive find when he uncovered a blown glass sphere. In all, volunteers collected over 1,000 pounds of trash from the islands.
The Sister Keys were originally slated for development in the early 60s as the Shangri Isle Club and were once again threatened in 1989 when they went up for sale at $1 million. That spurred a group of citizens to form the Sister Keys Conservancy to buy and preserve the islands as a nature preserve. The Town of Longboat Key purchased the islands in 1994 with a stipulation that the keys would never be developed.
The islands underwent a million-dollar mitigation in 2007 that removed all invasive species, planted native flora and created a 2-acre wetland. Today, mature mangroves dominate the waterways and are rich with crustaceans, minnows, juvenile finfish and wading birds. Native species planted on uplands, first created from the dredging of the Intracoastal Waterway in the late 1800s, have matured, making the islands one of the best examples of a thriving native marine environment in coastal Florida.
The cleanup is part of a continuing two-pronged effort to clear the islands of trash and prevent the resurgence of invasive species.
Kayakers and those without a boat were ferried to the island by volunteer boaters Benny Parrish, Mark McBride and Tim Thurman.
Back at the Longboat Key Boat Ramp, event volunteers loaded the debris to be retrieved by the town’s public works employees. All plastics and cans were collected in separate green bags provided by SBW and recycled. The volunteers were treated to a box lunch and beverages provided by the Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant and the Chiles Group, who have been supporters of the event from the beginning.
The Sister Keys Clean Up is just one of many projects that SBW is involved in. In 2021, SBW planted clams in the bay in an ongoing restoration effort. Other cleanups are conducted at various locations throughout the bay, including an annual monofilament cleanup and more.
Suncoast Waterkeeper is a Sarasota-based advocacy non-profit committed to protecting and restoring Florida Suncoast’s waterways through enforcement, fieldwork, advocacy and environmental education for the benefit of the communities that rely upon these precious coastal resources. Their efforts have been responsible for major initiatives to hold municipalities responsible for mandates established in the landmark 1982 Clean Water Act. SCWK also conducts bi-monthly water testing of inland coastal waters. For more information on the groups’ missions and to become a member, visit their websites, www.sarasotabaywatch.org and www.suncoastwaterkeeper.org.
ANNA MARIA – The Island Players are back with the second production of their historic 75th season. “Later Life” by A.R. Gurney, directed by Preston Boyd, is a romantic comedy about a couple that reunites decades after a brief encounter and gets a second chance at love.
“Gurney wrote this play in 1993 and it is set in 1993,” Boyd said. “The purpose for him to write this story was to explore second chances in relationships. People can relate to the fact that we have one or two in our lives that we let get away.”
The action takes place entirely on the large balcony of a high-rise apartment building in the heart of downtown Boston. We meet the host, Sally, a middle-aged high society woman who brings her friend, Austin (Mark Shoemaker), a well-mannered Bostonian out onto the balcony while she finds her friend Ruth, (Valerie Lipscomb), who is in town visiting from Las Vegas after recently separating from her husband. It’s a set-up and what is quickly apparent is that Ruth has one over on Austin – she remembers a time they met decades earlier and he doesn’t. The encounter happened many years before while he was in the Navy on the Isle of Capri.
Ruth is rather flirtatious towards the divorced Austin, but their attempts at rekindling turn into an evening of interrupted conversation as guests keep coming out onto the balcony, breaking in and disrupting Ruth and Austin’s growing connection.
Although not integral to the core plot, the interrupting guests are the source of plenty of laughs and all are played by the same actors. Daphne Du Frane, whom we first meet as Sally, goes on to play at least half a dozen women, with Joseph Smith performing as all the men. In a series of perfect wigs and costumes, they parade in and out, making it difficult for Ruth and Austin to have their meaningful “get to know you all over again” conversation.
All four actors do a superb job and have a solid understanding of their characters, making this one of the most polished performances in recent Island Players history. “Later Life” is not the traditional comedy that audiences who frequent the Island Playhouse may be used to, but this show is a nice departure from the norm and certainly memorable.
“Later Life” runs through Sunday, Nov. 12, with performances Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and a Sunday matinee at 2 p.m. Tickets are available for $28 at the box office or by calling 941-778-5755, or $30 online at www.theislandplayers.org. The theater is located at 10009 Gulf Drive on the corner of Gulf Drive and Pine Avenue in Anna Maria.
HOLMES BEACH – A man was arrested for resisting an officer with violence and transported to the Manatee County Jail after injuring a city police officer at a shopping plaza, according to a police report.
The incident occurred on Oct. 20 at around 2:05 a.m. While patrolling a shopping plaza in the 3300 block of East Bay Drive, Officer Andrew Adkins said he saw a man standing next to the door of Cheesecake Cutie and Cafe.
“Upon sight of my marked patrol vehicle, he began walking away from the door,” Adkins said in his report. “I turned around and got out with the subject, later identified as Kevin McNamara, on the sidewalk of the restaurant. It should be noted I was in full police uniform. I asked him what he was doing, and he explained he was walking home from work and stopped to meet with a friend. I looked and did not see anyone else.”
Adkins said he tried to explain to McNamara, 35, of Sarasota, that what he was doing was suspicious since all of the businesses in the plaza were closed and the area was private property. McNamara argued that it was public property, and he had a right to be there, becoming agitated, according to the report.
When asked for his ID, McNamara began searching through a bag but became more agitated and eventually threw the bag at Adkins and told him to find it. Adkins dumped the contents of the bag on a table and, while doing so, McNamara approached him, becoming more agitated as he was told to stand back.
“I tried to get him to step back but he took a slightly bladed stance, clinched his fists, and got less than a foot away from me. Kevin was visibly angry and told me twice to ‘do something, bro,’ ” Adkins wrote in his report. “At this point, I felt that violence against me was about to take place, so I told him he was under arrest. Kevin turned around and I went to put his hands behind his back, but he quickly spun back around towards me and punched me on my left side. I grabbed ahold of Kevin to try and gain control, but he also grabbed ahold of me. I struggled to get control of him because he was also trying to control me, and we fell to the ground.”
McNamara refused to comply with orders to stop resisting arrest, according to the report. Another office arrived at the scene and the two officers were able to get McNamara in handcuffs. In McNamara’s bag, the officers found his ID along with two hypodermic syringes and two knives.
Adkins sustained injuries including lacerations to his head and neck.
McNamara requested medics for a high heart rate that he felt was getting worse, so Manatee County EMS was called. EMS came and cleared him, and he refused further treatment.
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Vacation rental company Airbnb is employing artificial intelligence to help reduce the number of properties rented for the exclusive purpose of throwing a party.
The purpose of the technology is to help owners of vacation rentals managed by Airbnb to avoid the hassle of dealing with renters whose primary purpose is to have a disruptive party.
On Anna Maria Island, noise ordinances are in place in Anna Maria, Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach. Police in all three cities respond to multiple potential noise violations every week.
“I think it’s a great idea,” Bradenton Beach Police Lt. Lenard Diaz said.
Last week when The Sun spoke to Diaz, his department had three written reports regarding his officers responding to noise complaints. Those numbers climb significantly around holidays.
Damage to homes is also a concern for owners, many of whom live outside Florida and can’t respond immediately to problems with renters.
Airbnb’s AI and machine learning, which learns the patterns of renters who may be potential party risks, block some renters from procuring properties. One of the key components involves blocking one- and two-night rental reservations that are tagged as high-risk. In addition to the length of the trip, AI also looks at the distance from the destination and whether the booking is last minute. Airbnb has also instituted mandatory anti-party attestation that makes it clear that parties are banned and, if the rule is broken, suspension or removal from the platform could result.
“While disruptive parties are rare, we want to try to reduce the risk of them even more,” said Naba Banerjee, head of trust and safety at Airbnb. “Our AI anti-party system is an important tool in helping us to do that.”
The anti-party system was launched before Halloween last year in the U.S. and Canada and saw significant results. Airbnb says there was a decrease in reports of disruptive parties compared to previous years when the system was not in place. In Florida, 11,300 bookings were blocked during the initial launch in 2022. AI is unique and it learns more the longer it is in use, so the technology is expected to become exponentially more efficient. Numbers for Halloween 2023 are not yet available, but the company expects similar, if not better results than last year.
Airbnb says it has also implemented a dedicated portal for law enforcement, as well as a neighborhood portal where neighbors of rental properties can report concerns, at www.airbnb.com/neighbors.
Other steps the company is taking include a 24-hour safety line for hosts to contact Airbnb’s safety team, as well as a free noise sensor for hosts in the U.S. and Canada.
