WASHINGTON – Federal funding is coming to Florida to support two environmental initiatives critical to the state – the protection of manatees and harmful algal bloom research.
A press release from Congressman Vern Buchanan’s office announced that the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed two of his amendments to the Interior and Environment government funding bill.
The first proposal dedicates $1.15 million for the rescue and rehabilitation of manatees.
In October, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) began the process to consider reclassifying manatees from “threatened” to the more critical “endangered” status under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Buchanan introduced the Manatee Protection Act to officially uplist the marine mammal in 2021.
According to the FWC, almost 2,400 manatees have died in Florida since 2021, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) estimates that there are approximately only 6,500 West Indian manatees in Southeastern U.S. waters.
The ESA defines a threatened species as “any species which is likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range.” Threatened species receive protection through separate regulations issued under Section 4(d) of the ESA.
The ESA defines an endangered species as “any species which is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range.” Endangered species are automatically protected by prohibitions of several types of “take,” including harming, harassing, collecting or killing, under Section 9 of the ESA.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a species must be listed if it is threatened or endangered due to any of the following five factors:
1. Present or threatened destruction, modification or curtailment of its habitat or range;
2. Overutilization for commercial, recreational, scientific or educational purposes;
3. Disease or predation;
4. Inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms; and
5. Other natural or human-made factors affecting its continued existence.
In 2016, Buchanan objected to the FWS downgrading the manatee’s designation from endangered to threatened, saying the FWS may have been using outdated data to support the reduction in protection. The manatee had been listed as an endangered species since 1966.
The second proposal will provide $2.5 million to the National Water Quality Program to enhance research into harmful algal blooms, including red tide.
“Over the last several years, the Gulf Coast has experienced severe levels of red tide,” Buchanan said. “Red tide is caused by toxin-producing algae that is extremely deadly to fish and other marine life and adversely affects tourism in the Suncoast region.”
In 2022-23, Manatee County cleared nearly 5 tons of dead fish and debris from area beaches due to a red tide outbreak.
“These commonsense proposals will help ensure the survival of the iconic Florida manatee and combat red tide, which for too long has wreaked havoc on marine life, our waters and the many businesses that rely on Florida’s tourism-based economy,” Buchanan said. “I am very pleased to see these measures pass with broad bipartisan support and look forward to working to see them enacted into law.”
According to Buchanan’s office, he also introduced the Protecting Local Communities from Harmful Algal Blooms Act, which would amend the Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to include algal blooms in the definition of a “major disaster.” This change would require the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) to provide both technical and financial assistance to states suffering from outbreaks of harmful algal blooms like red tide.
CORTEZ – In the culmination of more than two decades of planning, fundraising and hard work, the Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the FISH Preserve on Nov. 3.
At nearly 100 acres, the preserve is on the south side of Cortez Road, an oasis of natural beauty in stark contrast to the multiple construction projects nearby. The preservation and non-development of the preserve, adjacent to the Cortez fishing village and bordering the waters of Sarasota Bay, was precisely the goal of FISH members in 2000 when they began fundraising to purchase the property.
“The FISH Preserve came close to getting paved over by developers, however, the community came together to purchase the property in the nick of time,” according to the FISH website.
The invitation-only ribbon-cutting featured speakers Dr. Dave Tomasko, director of the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program (SBEP); Dr. Jay Leverone, staff scientist with SBEP; FISH Treasurer Jane von Hahmann; EPA Region 4 Regional Administrator Jeaneanne Gettle and Manatee County Commissioner and SBEP policy board member Kevin Van Ostenbridge.
A special guest at the ribbon cutting was Dr. Theresa Bert, the widow of John Stevely, who was instrumental in the planning and purchase of the preserve’s parcels, and of the Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival that funded it.
Tomasko applauded what he said was the perseverance and resilience of the FISH board in making the preserve a reality.
“That’s what it takes to succeed,” he said. “This is the light at the end of the tunnel to keep what they had.”
“This is a celebration,” Leverone said. “It’s really moving to have this actually done.”
His participation with the project goes back 10 years.
“We paid for the plans and the permits and we were shovel-ready,” he said. “We were just waiting for the money for the shovels to start. That was the last hurdle we had to overcome. I guess I was the conductor, but I had a great orchestra behind me.”
Leverone said the Biden Infrastructure Law (BIL) funding of $700,000 was critical in the completion of Phase IV.
“We talked about preserving this; what it looked like before I’m not sure we wanted to preserve it,” he said. “Over time, it really needed a facelift. The goals of what we wanted this property to look like have finally become realized.”
Leverone said 10,000 native plants have been planted recently.
Dr. Jay Leverone leads a tour of the FISH Preserve. – Leslie Lake | Sun
“We have committed the estuary program to one year of maintenance of the plants,” Leverone said.
“Finally, we’re not quite done. We have and we continue to look to foundation or public funding for bridges, trails, signage, kiosks,” he said. “We want to make this publicly friendly, publicly usable. We want people to come and enjoy this.”
Gettle said that the preserve is “an inspiring story for us all.”
Van Ostenbridge recalled his youth when the preserve land was a hangout for teens.
“I never thought at the time we’d ultimately be turning this into a wetland mitigation project; it was essentially a dump site and a hangout site in what we all assumed was going to a subdivision – a waterfront subdivision,” Van Ostenbridge said. “It’s thanks to the foresight of (former Manatee County) Commissioner von Hahmann and the FISH board that we ended up here and when EPA came up with the money, that we were shovel-ready.”
Plaques were presented to Leverone and Bert in recognition of their contributions to the preserve.
“In recognition of your outstanding dedication to the restoration of Sarasota Bay and the FISH Preserve and the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program and the Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage,” Tomasko read from Leverone’s plaque.
“There’s one person that could not be with us today,” von Hahmann said. “This is a gentleman who was part of the original purchase of this program, who was part of the original board that was FISH in 1992, he was part of Sea Grants and sat on the board. And we lost him last year to a battle with cancer.”
Von Hahmann then asked Theresa Bert to come to the podium to accept a plaque on behalf of her late husband.
“In memory of John Stevely, without his dedication to, and passion for, the FISH Preserve and the village of Cortez, the FISH Preserve restoration project never would have been accomplished. Gone but not forgotten,” von Hahmann read from the plaque.
“This is indeed a momentous day, because our only son’s wife is at this moment in the hospital having our first grandchild,” Bert said.
“I think I have a surprise for you guys perhaps,” Bert said. “In John’s and our will, we put $50,000 to be willed to the FISH Preserve. What I would like to do is donate that $50,000 to the FISH Preserve now, specifically for trails and bridges. So this will help build those.”
The preserve is fully restored, but public recreation is currently limited to a few foot trails.
“When you build things to make them more natural, you make the divisions. Water is so important,” von Hahmann said. “Because you can’t access the west side from the east side so now we have to do these bridges and connective trails, so people can use the entire property.”
BRADENTON BEACH – Wilder’s Slice of AMI pizzeria is now open at 103 Gulf Dr. N. in the space previously occupied by the Tahini Beach Café.
The new business is co-owned by Ryan Wilder, the owner of the Wilder’s Pizza in downtown Bradenton, and Bradenton Beach businessman Walter Loos. Loos also owns the Island Scoops and Island Donut Company businesses and is the new co-owner of the Island Rider shuttle service.
“We finally got our Slice of AMI,” Wilder said. “We have a downtown location as well, Wilder’s Pizza, and we’ve been there three years.”
Wilder’s Slice of Ami is located across the street from a small, undeveloped, city-owned beachfront park and sits alongside a busy Gulf Drive South sidewalk heavily used by Bradenton Beach visitors. Wilder believes Slice of AMI’s lower prices will also appeal to Island locals.
“We’re trying to offer the best product for a reasonable price out here on the Island. Slices are $3 and every day we have a two-slice special: two slices with a topping and a drink for $8. Two slices with a topping and a beer is $10,” he said.
“We serve slices, small, medium and large pies. We have the best wings around and our Philly steak and cheese is the best on the Island,” he claimed. “We have meatball subs and fresh salads. We offer vegan items, including vegan pizza made with a cauliflower-based crust and vegan cheese. We have some gluten-free pasta dishes as well.”
The menu also includes smashburgers, Parmesan hoagies, fresh subs, gyros, a grouper sandwich, dessert, cappuccino, coffee and more.
The Wilder’s Slice of AMI menu features a wide variety of food offerings, – Wilder’s | Submitted
“In the next week or so, we’ll start offering brunch Thursday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to noon. We have a bacon, egg and cheese sandwich on homemade focaccia bread and peaches and cream French toast on our homemade Italian bread,” Wilder said.
On non-brunch days, Wilder’s opens at 11 a.m. Wilder’s closes at 11 p.m. Monday through Saturday and closes at 9 p.m. on Sundays.
As for why he chose Bradenton Beach, Wilder said, “We love it here. We have great beaches and great sunsets and our patio’s right across the street from the beach. We do sunset drink specials: $3 drafts, $5 house wines and $5 wine-based cocktails. We have a Wilder-Rita and Wilder Punch, a bloody Mary and spiked cappuccino.”
He then said, “We are also tied in with Island Rider shuttle service. We’ll come pick you up and we’re also delivering with golf carts and electric bikes; and very soon, we’ll be serving the Drift In, the Sports Lounge and Tommy Knockers too.”
Takeout and delivery orders can be placed online at the Wilder’s Slice of AMI website or by phone at 941-900-1584.
BRADENTON BEACH – The Bridge Tender Inn in Bradenton Beach threw a spectacular party on Halloween night.
With that end of Bay Drive South closed for the occasion, the Halloween street party featured a pet costume contest, an adult costume contest, an afternoon trail of treats for youngsters, a multitude of larger-than-life automatons, smoke-filled bubbles, a haunted house, palm readers, live music by Brigid’s Cross and more.
Wayne, from ‘Wayne’s World,’ had a stare-down with one of the Bridge Tender Inn automatons. – Joe Hendricks | SunThis wicked automaton stood watch at the tiki bar entrance. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
And once again, the fun-filled party raised more than $1,000 for the Sarasota-based Vintage Paws Sanctuary that provides homes, medical treatment and assistance for older dogs and terminally ill dogs, including some who’ve been orphaned by the deaths of their senior owners.
Tommy Folmar and Sharon Parker dressed as America’s most popular couple – Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
While enjoying a cocktail, Bridge Tender Inn owner Fred Bartizal said, “We’ve been hosting our Halloween party for about eight years and it gets bigger and better every year. The haunted house is in the dining room and it’s the best we’ve ever had… We do this to draw people to the area and some who’ve never been here before. People have a lot of fun and we raise a lot of money for Vintage Paws.”
A Halloween-themed Jeep and a ghoulish automaton were part of the lavish Halloween decorations. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Paulie Baker, from Brigid’s Cross, served as the master of ceremonies and announcer for the pet costume contest that started around 5:15 p.m. He served in the same role for the adult costume contest that started around 8:30 p.m.
‘Abby the Halloween Witch’ won the pet costume contest. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“Abby the Halloween Witch” won the pet costume contest that featured four decked-out dogs.
“It was a knockdown drag-out decision by the judges between ‘Abby the Halloween Witch’ and ‘Molly the Racecar Champ,’” Baker announced.
Abby’s win earned her a dog bowl and a Frisbee. Molly finished a close second. Sunrise (dressed as Santa’s helper) and the stylish canine tandem of Ocean Lee and Lovey Lee tied for third place.
‘Molly the Racecar Champ’ finished second in the pet costume contest. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
After the contest, Bridge Tender Inn General Manager Sue Shinka said, “We put everything into our party and it shows. It’s a lot of work, but it’s worth it.”
Shinka said she expected the party to attract 500 or more revelers, adding, “We had a bunch of kids here this afternoon for the trail of treats. We put the lights on and everything and some of them got a little scared.”
The haunted house featured this spooky, skeletal gathering. – Bridge Tender Inn | Submitted
Assistant General Manager Shannon Dunnan said, “This is our best haunted house. It’s very creepy and scary.”
Bridge Tender Inn employee Beth Murphy said, “I’ve been here six years and this is the best one yet, for kids and adults.”
‘Lieutenant Dan’ won the adult costume contest. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Dressed as Lieutenant Dan from the “Forrest Gump” movie, Frankie won the adult costume contest and took home a $100 Bridge Tender Inn gift certificate.
Sporting canes and cocktails, a trio of women dressed as “Three Blind Mice” finished second.
‘Three Blind Mice’ finished second in the costume contest. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Adorned in green evening gowns and dressed as “Saturday Night & Sunday Morning” Lory and William claimed third place in the costume contest.
William and Lory’s costumes represented the difference between Sunday morning and Saturday night. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
When contacted the next day, Shinka said, “As we walked around, people told us it was the best Halloween party ever. We had people coming out of the haunted house laughing and smiling. Victor spent two and a half weeks working on the haunted house and he did a great job.”
Smoke-filled bubbles filled the Halloween air. – Joe Hendricks | SunCostumed party-goers danced in the street. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Mayors in the three Island cities received a trick on Halloween in the form of a letter from the Florida Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (OPPAGA). The Oct. 31 letter states that the Florida Legislature has directed the organization to begin reviewing the potential consolidation of services and government entities on Anna Maria Island.
The OPPAGA study is expected to begin immediately.
While Mayor Dan Murphy of Anna Maria declined to comment on the study and Mayor John Chappie of Bradenton Beach was unable to comment due to illness, Mayor Judy Titsworth of Holmes Beach spoke to The Sun concerning the pending study.
“I’m feeling really threatened,” Titsworth said. “I’m not concerned about the city of Holmes Beach’s worthiness to be a city. I feel the city will show when audited that we have every right to be a city. We’re thriving. We didn’t ask for this study and neither did the residents. It’s not supposed to be government from the top down, it’s supposed to be a government for the people, by the people and that’s not what’s happening in this case. We didn’t ask for this.”
The study into whether or not certain services among the three Island cities should be consolidated or the cities themselves merged into one came about as a result of a Manatee County legislative delegation meeting in January in which delegation members brought up consolidation without warning to the three Island governments.
Legislators have since demanded that the three mayors work to consolidate services themselves. In the past, Titsworth said she’s hosted regular meetings of the three Island mayors and that some efforts to standardize services across the Island have been made. During an October legislative delegation meeting, neither consolidation nor the pending study was mentioned.
As the study progresses, representatives from OPPAGA are expected to meet with city leaders and staff in each Island city. Items ranging from tax rates to expenses, staff numbers, services offered, utilities, infrastructure, number of voters and number of residents are all expected to be analyzed during the study.
While most OPPAGA studies are conducted at the request of a municipality’s residents or government leaders, this one was requested by state leaders. And though it’s not common, state leaders have the ability to present a bill to the Legislature for a vote to consolidate the three Island cities without the input of city leaders, property owners or voters.
Typically a municipality is only dissolved at the state level when the city is insolvent or the level of residents has dropped to such a small number that it can’t sustain the city’s government. Titsworth said that Holmes Beach doesn’t suffer from either problem. She added that she also believes the cities of Anna Maria and Bradenton Beach are still strong despite a recent lack of people running for office in those municipalities.
“No one wants to lose their incorporation,” she said, adding that she plans to show her city’s strengths at every turn during the auditing process. “The best thing we can do right now is work harder to prove them (state leaders) wrong and show the strength of the community and city.”
CORTEZ – Twelfth Judicial Circuit Court Judge Edward Nicholas denied motions to dissolve lis pendens claims last week that were filed against the owners of three properties located along the Hunters Point-owned canal in Cortez.
A lis pendens claim notifies potential buyers and others of a pending lawsuit involving a property and its owners. If someone purchases a property with a lis pendens attached, the new owner inherits the lawsuit responsibilities. A lis pendens can impact the ability to sell a property, obtain financing or obtain title insurance.
The lis pendens were filed as part of an ongoing lawsuit that attorney Susan Martin filed in June 2022 on behalf of Hunters Point developer Marshall Gobuty and his Cortez Road Investments and Finance (CRIF) ownership group. Gobuty and CRIF are currently developing the Hunters Point community that includes 86 solar-powered-homes and 49 proposed boat slips.
This illustration indicates where the Hunters Point homes and docks will be located. – CRIF | Submitted
The lawsuit names Jonathan and Sheila Graham, George and Wendy Kokolis, Mark Ibasfalean, Mary Norman, Timothy Fitzpatrick and Jacquelyn Shepard as defendants. The defendants’ properties are located across the canal from the Hunters Point property.
In May, Martin filed a lis pendens on the dock and boat lift associated with the property at 4305 126th St. W. owned by the Grahams; she filed another against the boat lift the Kokolis’ installed in the west end of the canal in 2022 by their vacant lot at 4319 126th St. W. In June, Martin filed a lis pendens on the dock and lift associated with Ibasfalean’s property at 4217 126th St. W.
A lis pendens claim was filed against George and Wendy Kokolis regarding their canal-side vacant lot, left, and a boat lift installed in 2022. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
In early October, Martin filed amended lis pendens that assert that CRIF also owns the canal bulkheads (seawalls) and 5.7 to 3.3 feet of the uplands landward of the bulkheads used by the Graham, Kokolis and Ibasfalean families.
The lawsuit alleges the defendants installed and maintain docks, lifts and other structures in the canal without authorization from the canal owner. Most of the docks and lifts were installed before Gobuty purchased the Hunters Point property and man-made canal in 2016. The lawsuit alleges the defendants’ docks and lifts extend more than 25% into the canal, which, if true, would violate Manatee County dock regulations. The defendants deny their docks and lifts extend more than 25% into the canal – or did when installed with county-issued permits.
A 2022 lawsuit alleges the Grahams’ boat lift and dock, on the left, extend too far into the canal. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Other canal-side properties are not named in the lawsuit and Gobuty has repeatedly stated he doesn’t want to deny canal access to the defendants and other canal-side homeowners. He said he wants all boats and lifts located completely within the 25% threshold. He also wants dock owners to obtain proper liability insurance and enter into use agreements with CRIF.
Several docks and boat lifts are located on the canal, across from the Hunters Point property currently being developed. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
CRIF filed the lawsuit days after filing a civil lawsuit against MHC Cortez Village LLC, the owners of the Cortez Village Marina east of the Hunters Point property. That still-pending lawsuit seeks to prohibit marina clients from using the CRIF-owned portion of the canal that provides access to the Intracoastal Waterway.
CRIF filed that lawsuit in response to the marina owners’ 2021 challenge of the Southwest Florida Water Management District-issued permit that initially allowed the proposed Hunters Point docks. The marina owners alleged the docks would narrow the canal and significantly impact navigation for marina clients and others.
Taken from a Hunters Point dock, the photo indicates how much navigable space remains in the west end of the canal where docks exist on both sides. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
In May, the water district’s governing board issued a final order in support of an administrative law judge’s recommended order that states the new docks would not significantly impact navigation and should be allowed.
The marina owners appealed the final order and the dock construction remains on hold until the appeal is resolved.
In September, Martin filed the amended lawsuit complaint that asserts that CRIF also owns the bulkheads and portions of the upland properties along the canal.
Lis Pendens
Nicholas issued his ruling during a virtual hearing on Oct. 30 that pertained specifically to motions filed to dissolve the lis pendens.
Attorneys Ivan Reich and Steve Conteaguero represented CRIF. Attorney Richard Green represented the Kokolis’ and attorney Fred Moore represented the Grahams. The attorneys spent most of the hearing debating the merits and legality of the lis pendens claims. There was also discussion, but no ruling, on CRIF’s bulkhead and upland ownership claims.
“Cortez Road Investment and Finance is going after some landowners to bully them off a canal to make them remove boat structures, boat lifts and watercraft under the idea that the landowners must come to CRIF and get permission to utilize the canal,” Green said.
This sign affixed to the Graham’s dock and boat lift states they were legally permitted in 1994. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Green doesn’t dispute CRIF’s right to file lis pendens on the canal and items placed in it, but he disputes the notion that the lis pendens can include the uplands that CRIF claims to own landward of the bulkhead the Kokolis’ use.
Moore agreed with Green’s assertions. He also said the lis pendens filed against the Grahams could cause substantial financial harm by impacting their ability to sell their home and property in a declining real estate market. Moore suggested that CRIF be required to secure a lis pendens bond that would protect the Grahams from a “wrongful lis pendens claim.”
Reich said property deeds and a recently completed land survey serve as duly-recorded instruments that support the lis pendens’ legality.
When discussing the Florida Statutes applicable to the historic use of someone else’s land, Reich said, “What is the dispute here? It’s a trespass action. You’ve come into our property and you’ve built stuff. It’s an ejectment action and we’re seeking to kick you off that portion of the property on which you’ve infringed. I think the defendants are trying to assert squatters’ rights. It doesn’t work that way anymore.”
When denying the motions to dissolve, Nicholas said, “While I’m sympathetic to the Grahams and the challenges that may result from the lis pendens, that’s largely the purpose – to not get into a circumstance where a third-party purchaser claims they weren’t aware of an issue of this nature. I reserve jurisdiction for determining what bond, if any, is appropriate. As to whether the lis pendens are appropriate, that’s not a particularly close call.”
BRADENTON BEACH – A long-awaited public hearing by the Planning and Zoning Board on a proposed 106-room hotel at the intersection of Bridge Street and Gulf Drive South brought an overflow crowd to city hall, many of whom were opposed to the hotel project.
At the Nov. 1 meeting, WMFR Fire Marshal Rodney Kwiatkowski ensured the room’s 51-person capacity was adhered to. Audio of the meeting was streamed outside for those who were not allowed to enter due to over-capacity.
Some public hearing attendees stood outside city hall and listened to the hearing through an outdoor speaker because the commission chambers were full. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
The Land Development Code application for the yet-unnamed Bridge Street hotel project includes the hotel, a 60-seat restaurant, 2,485 square feet of retail and 99 on-site parking spaces. Property owners Shawn Kaleta, a local developer, and Jacob Spooner, business owner and Bradenton Beach city commissioner, made the application on Dec. 2, 2022.
This architectural drawing included in the planning board meeting packet refers to the proposed resort hotel as ‘The Bridge Hotel.’ – City of Bradenton Beach | Submitted
The 4.5-hour meeting consisted of city staff recommendations, public comments and a presentation by applicant’s representatives.
No resolution was reached, leading to a continuation of the discussion scheduled on Monday, Nov. 13 at 10 a.m.
“We are meeting today for a public hearing to consider a major development consisting of a resort hotel, retail space, and parking, along with an ordinance by the City of Bradenton Beach amending the zoning atlas of the city of Bradenton Beach, for 1.61 acres, more or less, of real property located at 101, 105 and 117 Bridge Street, and 106, 108, 110 and 112 Third Street South, establishing a Planned Development Overlay District within the C-1 and C-2 zoning districts, providing for findings and providing for an effective date,” P&Z Chair Bill Morrow said at the start of the Nov. 1 meeting.
Planning and Zoning Board members Fred Bartizal, John Burns, Bill Morrow and Dan Morhaus reviewed the proposed hotel plans. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Planning and Zoning Board members were asked to confirm that they had no ex-parte communications concerning the project and that they had no conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise, in the hotel project. Board members Morrow, Fred Bartizal, John Burns and Dan Morhaus replied that they did not. Ken McDonough was absent with excuse from the meeting.
“There are two matters to be voted on,” attorney Robert Lincoln said, representing the Planning and Zoning Board in the quasi-judicial hearing. “One will be the question of the proposed major development, the site plan, and it has to meet the enumerated criteria, I think it’s section 407 or 410 of the code. The other question before you today is whether or not to approve the planned development overlay rezoning. That involves a separate vote and motions, and a separate, different criteria. You have to apply the competent substantial evidence you hear today to the extent you hear it, to the various criteria.”
“The interpretation of the code, the legal questions, are generally up to you,” Lincoln said to P&Z members. “In interpreting the code, you can take the advice of your city planners.”
The vacant former Freckled Fin property and the vacant former Joe’s Eats & Sweets property are part of the applicants’ planned development overlay district rezoning request. – Joe Hendricks | SunShawn Kaleta’s Bridge Street Resort LLC owns the Island Time Inn on Bridge Street that would be demolished to make room for the new hotel. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
The Planning and Zoning Board is a recommending body that will either recommend city commission approval or denial of the proposed hotel project. The city commission has its own public hearings scheduled on Thursday, Nov. 16 at noon and on Thursday, Dec. 7 at 6 p.m.
City planner recommends approval, with conditions
City planner Luis Serna AICP presented the staff report.
“I will just summarize the important parts (of my report),” Serna said. “To summarize the project, the parcels total approximately 1.6 acres. They’re located in a mixed-use Bridge Street Commercial Land Use category and the Bridge Street Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) district. The parcels currently contain commercial uses, including a hotel, two restaurants, previously developed vacant land and attached single-family dwellings… The applicants are proposing to develop this under the PD (planned development) regulations which are intended to provide flexible zoning overlays with the submission of a custom plan of development for the site.”
Bradenton Beach Building Official Steve Gilbert, left, and City Planner Luis Serna, right, recommend approval of the proposed hotel project. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Serna read from his Oct. 25, 2023, memorandum to the Planning and Zoning Board in which he cited the applicable land development code requirements: Sect. 211.4, Criteria for Zoning Map Amendments; Section 307.13, PD Overlay District and Section 410.7, Review of Major Development Plans.
In reading a section that provides for the review criteria for major developments, Serna said, “The project currently proposed 17 parking spaces that partially encroach into the right of way of Third Street South. This parking encroachment is similar to existing parking encroachments that occur along Bridge Street. This issue may be addressed as a component of the proposed PD review.
“The use will not cause substantial injury to the character of the area, and the value of the other property in the neighborhood, if subject to the conditions recommended below,” he said.
The proposed resort hotel plans include a rooftop deck and swimming pool. – City of Bradenton Beach | Submitted
Those conditions are that the hotel will be furnished with blackout curtains and education about the protection of sea turtles and prevention of ambient lighting from rooms facing the beach, and the applicants will provide an easement for access to the trash receptacles at Daiquiri Deck at 107 Bridge St.
“There is some encroachment into parking spaces on the right of way,” Serna said. “That could be handled as a part of the planned development process.”
Following Serna’s presentation, P&Z members drilled down on parking, potential overload of water volume and usage, traffic impacts and turtle lighting.
“There were two or three different times you said you were in agreement but requested additional information on some critical items to make a decision,” Morhaus said to Serna. “How can we evaluate this without the responses?”
Planning and Zoning Board member Dan Morhaus is concerned about the applicants’ request to reduce the project’s total parking requirements. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“That’s regarding concurrency management,” Serna said. “We have not received any information on that. Perhaps the applicant can address that.”
Serna said the applicants did provide reports on water and sewer usage as well as traffic impacts, and he is requesting additional information about adequate fire flow.
“If you had 106 rooms with toilets, will our sewage system be able to handle that?” Morhaus asked.
“We would have to have evidence from county utility companies,” Serna said.
Morrow expressed concern about the hotel lighting and its impact on sea turtles.
“The plans that were submitted were sea-turtle friendly fixtures with amber bulbs,” Building Official Steve Gilbert said.
“How many parking spaces are required for a 106-room hotel?” Burns asked Serna. “According to the attorney (Lincoln), we’re looking at a major development. We can’t look at PD until we’re done with deciding which way we’re going with the major development and then they’re asking for a rezone to the PD.”
“While you look at major development plan, you’re looking at what’s proposed,” Lincoln said. “They’re allowed to ask for relief.”
Lincoln referred to the process as a “chicken and egg thing.”
“They go together,” he said. “Rezoning is contingent on the site plan. The site plan is the basis for asking for relief on the PD.”
“We can’t see the degree of relief that is being asked for,” Burns said. “If we’re going to let them ask for it, we may as well know how much. We have a hotel of 106 rooms, how many spaces are required?”
“One space per unit and an additional 10%,” Gilbert said. “That’s 117 spaces and 15 for the restaurant.”
Serna said 133 total spaces are required, and the applicants are proposing 99 spaces.
Planning and Zoning Board member John Burns wants to know exactly how many hotel parking spaces the applicants propose and how many parking spaces the city’s land development code could require. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Burns asked if that includes staff.
“Right now, we’re looking at 117 for the hotel for patrons and staff,” Burns said. “Now we’re at 132? The restaurant is going to require staff.”
Serna said general standards for restaurants apply to patrons and staff.
“We would need to ask the applicant what the intended operation was to get a number,” Burns said. “We have no indication of how many retail units there are.”
“One space per 250 square foot gross floor area for retail,” Gilbert said.
“So, 2,450, we’re looking at 10 parking spaces?” Burns said.
“There’s 17 (spaces) on Third Street South,” Gilbert said. “There’s a number of existing spaces at the Daiquiri Deck that are shared. That is nine additional spaces and one or two handicapped spaces.”
It was noted that approximately two-thirds of each of those proposed 17 street-side parking spaces would be located on city-owned right of way.
The 17 proposed hotel parking spaces along Third Street South, shown at the bottom of this illustration, would be partially located on the city-owned right of way. – City of Bradenton Beach | Submitted
“This would be the utilization of city right of way,” Burns said. “This being the shared land use on both Third and Second (Bridge Street) where the property owners own a piece and the city owns a larger piece.”
“Those parking spaces, about two-thirds of each of those are owned by the city,” Burns said. “If those are removed, then we have a further reduction. The other issue is those parking spaces on Third have their access restricted to go through the hotel multi-use property. This is under the strict control of the facility, meaning the public has no access to public lands provided by the city. This is why I’m asking on the parking requirement.”
The parking report provided by the applicants is too vague for actual use, Burns said.
“When you add all these up, it comes up as more than 133. So, the applicant is asking for a reduction in parking? That issue concerns me,” Burns said.
“They’re talking about using shuttle services as a reason for reduction in parking,” he added. “We have taxpayer-supported parking spaces and we have taxpayer-supported conveyances that would be used for private enterprises.”
Morhaus suggested reducing the number of hotel rooms to meet the city’s parking requirements.
Public Comment
Seminole, Florida-based attorney David Blum and land planner Misty Servia were retained by Bradenton Beach property owners Bob Bolus and Christine Johnson, and hotel opponent Hunter Jensen. Servia said they also were representing the neighborhood surrounding the hotel. In a departure from the three-minute time limit to speak for individuals and five minutes for those representing others, Blum and Servia requested 30 minutes to address the board. They were granted 15 minutes.
During the hearing, attorney David Blum, left, represented Bradenton Beach condo owner and part-time resident Bob Bolus, right, and a group of citizens who oppose the proposed hotel. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“The applicant in this situation is seeking rezoning of a PD district, but the staff has not advertised or analyzed rezoning, which is a quasi-judicial matter,” Blum said. “The staff report indicates the applicant is adding the PD overlay administratively, which goes against statute.”
Blum asked for public records, which he was told were voluminous and would be provided after the meeting, based on what he said were comments by Bradenton Beach City Attorney Ricinda Perry.
“The comment is improper for a city attorney in a quasi-judicial hearing,” Blum said. “We shouldn’t have these conversations outside this hearing.”
Blum presented a copy of a Facebook conversation in which Perry apparently “liked” a comment supporting the hotel project.
Attorney David Blum presented a copy of a Bridge Street hotel-related Facebook comment that City Attorney Ricinda “liked” with a thumbs-up emoji. – Joe Hendricks | SunOn Dec. 22, City Attorney Ricinda Perry posted this Facebook comment at the Island Ratz Unite Facebook page in response to other comments that were critical of the newly-proposed hotel project. – Facebook | Submitted
“There is no mention of rezoning in the notice,” Blum said. “The notice is defective which renders this proceeding subject to challenge.”
Servia, a former Manatee County commissioner and a certified land use planner with 34 years of experience, spoke next.
“I want to make sure Bradenton Beach does the right thing,” she said. “I want to make sure you follow your comprehensive plan and land development code. This redevelopment opportunity is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I want everyone to come together and get it right.”
Certified land use planner Misty Servia said the city’s comprehensive plan limits hotel/motel/transient units to 18 units per gross acre. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Servia read from the city’s comprehensive plan.
“This policy states that hotel/motel/transient units are limited to 18 units per gross acre,” Servia said. “That’s very important because that’s also transcribed in your zoning and land development code. The comp plan cannot be modified with the PUD zoning, and your comp plan limits the density to 18 hotel units per acre.”
The proposed hotel with 106 rooms on 1.61 acres is clearly inconsistent with the comprehensive plan, she said.
“The number of units should be decreased to 28 hotel rooms,” Servia said. “And the height or usable stories be reduced to three to comply with the comp plan.”
Servia also addressed what she said was a deficiency in parking for the hotel.
“The parking study was provided by the applicants because they can’t meet the minimum standard in your land development code,” she said.
After the meeting, Servia told The Sun that Bolus is prepared to file and fund a lawsuit if the project is approved by the city commission.
Twelve people spoke in opposition to the hotel project, many citing traffic and noise concerns. Two speakers, Jim Hassett and Drift In owner Derek Williams, spoke in favor of the hotel project.
On behalf of himself and other Capri Condo owners, Colorado-based architect Steve Steinbicker expressed the group’s opposition to the proposed hotel. The Bradenton Beach condo that he shares ownership of is advertised as an Airbnb vacation rental and is registered with the city as a vacation rental. – Joe Hendricks | SunLongtime Bradenton Beach resident Jim Hassett spoke in support of the proposed resort hotel. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Additionally, 13 emails opposing the project were read into the record by Deputy City Clerk Christine Watson.
Applicant’s presentation
Stephen Thompson, a land attorney with the Najmy Thompson law firm, represented the project applicants. The presentation also included land planner Susan Swift, traffic engineer Nathan Poole and project manager and architect Shaun Luttrell.
Architect Shaun Luttrell and attorney Stephen Thompson represent property owners and project applicants Shawn Kaleta and Jake Spooner. Kaleta and Spooner did not attend the public hearing. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“This may be the most important decision the city is going to be making about Bridge Street,” Thompson said. “I think the city has been planning for this type of development for many years.”
Planning and Zoning Board member Fred Bartizal posed questions about hotel access for delivery trucks and garbage trucks and the use of city-owned rights of way for hotel-affiliated parking spaces. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
The Bradenton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency, comp plan and land development codes identify Bridge Street as the commercial center, he said.
“We felt the city had laid the groundwork for this type of development, because all your plans really encourage this type of use,” Thompson said. “When you take this proposal and you match it against your CRA plan, this plan meets the goals of your plan.”
The Fudge Factory and Fish Hole miniature golf properties owned by Jake Spooner’s Bridge Street Bazaar Inc. are included in the hotel plans.- Joe Hendricks | Sun
Thompson said this is a superior plan and will set the standard for redevelopment in the Bridge Street area.
“We’re not asking for any special waivers on height,” Luttrell said. “We’re 29 feet above the design flood elevation. I hope I can put that concern to rest.”
In traffic and parking mitigation efforts, he said there will be shuttle service to and from the airport and a charge for onsite hotel parking to encourage the use of shuttle service.
Luttrell showed a slide showing parking spaces on Third Street South.
“I’m having an issue with the parking,” Morhaus said. “They’re asking for a variance and taking away 17 spaces from the city.”
Luttrell said an option would be to integrate parallel parking on Third Street.
“The fundamental issue appears to be parking,” Thompson said, suggesting that a revised parking plan be presented at the next meeting.
Poole said, based on a traffic study, the hotel will generate a car every two minutes.
“We’re not talking about a major traffic generator here,” Poole said.
Certified land use planner Susan Swift said the number of hotel rooms allowed should be based on the commercial development’s floor area ratio and not the 18 units per acre stated in the city’s comp plan. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Swift, an AICE-certified planner, disputed Servia’s claim that 18 units per acre apply to hotels.
“That density is meant for residential,” Swift said. “We don’t use units per acre, we use Floor Area Ratio (FRA) for commercial use.”
Swift also explained that the rooftop pool area is not to be considered a fourth floor.
“The LDC explains that excludes open-to-the-air areas,” she said. “This project does meet the height requirements.”
The experts disagree
“She’s wrong,” Servia said about Swift’s comments following the meeting. “They are grasping at straws. The comp plan states there are 18 units allowed per acre. If it only went by FAR, there would be hotels springing up all over.”
“You can never waive the comp plan,” she said. “It’s the law.”
The Nov. 13 meeting will be open to the public, but, as it is a continuation of the Nov. 1 meeting where public comment was closed, there will be no opportunity for members of the public to speak.
(Sun reporter Joe Hendricks contributed to this story)
In the Sea Turtle Conservancy’s Tour de Turtles race, which ended on Nov. 1, loggerhead sea turtle Suzi finished in fifth place in a field of 11 sea turtles, having traveled 1,355 miles. Sea turtle Bella took first with 1,534 miles. Suzi was released from Coquina Beach after nesting and being satellite-tagged on June 27. She soon headed to the Yucatan Peninsula, where she has remained for several weeks. Suzi swam in the race to bring attention to the cause of light pollution and how lighting near shore can negatively impact nesting turtles and their hatchlings. She was named in honor of Suzi Fox, the late executive director of Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring, which sponsored her along with the Coastal Wildlife Club and Waterline Marina and Resort.
That’s the motto that long-distance swimmer Diana Nyad had imprinted on her teammates’ T-shirts, and on her soul, as she made her fifth attempt to swim 110 miles from Cuba to Key West in 2013.
The film, “Nyad,” with Annette Bening in the starring role, debuted Nov. 3 on Netflix, celebrating the victory, and the journey.
“Our team lived by the credo onward! We failed. We got back up, learned from our experience and pressed ever onward!” Nyad said.
Jodie Foster and Annette Bening as Bonnie Stoll and Diana Nyad in ‘Nyad,’ now streaming on Netflix. – Netflix | Submitted
In 1978, at age 28, Nyad swam for 41 hours and 49 minutes through heavy weather, jellyfish stings and recurring vomiting in a shark cage that hindered her progress when three of its four engines died, falling short of her goal.
The following year, she made history, accomplishing the longest continuous swim in history – 102.5 miles – from Bimini to Florida.
Then for more than three decades, the woman who had broken the 50-year-old record for swimming around Manhattan Island gave up on her Cuba-to-Key West dream and just stopped swimming.
Until she turned 60.
You’re lucid, but you drift off into deep philosophical places. ‘What is the meaning of life?’ ‘Is there a God?’ ‘What am I doing with my life?’ – Diana Nyad
The milestone transformed her swimmer’s burnout into a consuming fire, a drive to make the most of the rest of her life, and to inspire other 60-somethings who had given up on their dreams to dive back into life.
Once she got wet, it all came back to her, the metronomic activity, taking strokes in rhythm with favorite songs she sang in her head and the descent into an alpha state, where hallucinations sometimes arise; she thought she saw lizards in the bottom of her shark cage in 1978.
Nyad began training and made two attempts in 2011 to swim the distance from Cuba to Key West. After those efforts and another in 2012 were cut short by box jellyfish stings and storms, Nyad finally reached her goal in 2013 at age 64, becoming the first person to swim from Cuba to the Keys without a shark cage.
The film celebrates her dedication and what she learned leading up to and during that 52 hours and 54 minutes in the water.
“One, we should never, ever give up. Two, we’re never too old to chase our dreams. Three, it looks like a solitary sport, but it takes a team,” Nyad told a cheering crowd in Key West after she set foot on the beach in 2013, portrayed in the film by actors, followed by actual footage of the event.
Long-distance swimmer Diana Nyad trained off Anna Maria Island for her swim from Cuba to Key West. – Dee Brady | Sun
The team supporting her numbered more than 30 people, including experts on navigation, weather, sharks and nutrition, and her personal coach and friend, Bonnie Stoll, portrayed in the film by Jodie Foster.
Nyad’s search for a suitable boat to accompany her on her swim led to Coral Island Yachts, which built Voyager I and recommended it for the project. Team member Dee Brady, who captained Voyager I during Nyad’s training and final swim, is a former sales assistant with The Anna Maria Island Sun, which interviewed Nyad in 2010.
Nyad began training in local Tampa Bay and Gulf of Mexico waters in 2010 for her first try for the swim in 33 years.
During a long-distance swim, thoughts become as deep as the ocean below, she said.
“You’re lucid,” she said, “but you drift off into deep philosophical places. ‘What is the meaning of life?’ ‘Is there a God?’ ‘What am I doing with my life?’ ”
The Florida native said she chose to make the swim from Cuba to Key West because of the “magical history between Cuba and the U.S.”
Relatively few Americans visit Cuba under U.S.-imposed travel restrictions, but the swim was personal, not political, she told The Sun.
“I didn’t make it all those years ago,” Nyad said.
Two of my favorite activities are riding my bike and fishing. Often, my fishing adventures involved a boat. While I still fish more from a boat, biking allows me a way to get in some excellent fishing without having to do the work of getting the boat in and out of the water. This option has opened a new avenue for getting in some fishing and a ride.
For anglers who don’t have easy access to a boat, a bike can take you to some excellent angling opportunities. A good example is Robinson Preserve in Manatee County. The park is a treasure for walkers, bikers, kayakers and anyone who enjoys the outdoors. It also provides access to Perico Bayou and Tampa Bay. In addition, it also holds a maze of canals that, based on recent observations, hold some terrific fishing. On a bike ride to the park recently, I encountered several anglers who had used their bikes to access the bridges that span the preserve’s canals and outlets to Tampa Bay. When I reached a favorite spot for a water break near the bay, I saw two anglers far out on a shallow flat I’ve fished many times from my boat. Nearby, leaning against a picnic table were their two bikes with rod holders. I took some pictures along the shoreline and, eventually, the two anglers waded to shore nearby. They had experienced a productive morning of fishing, seen no other anglers and landed some nice redfish and trout.
Although it doesn’t take more than a medium-light spinning rod rigged with an artificial lure to get in the game, I saw other bikers transporting live shrimp and even cast nets for catching bait. My preferred rig is an 8-pound spinning outfit or 8-weight fly rod with a 25- or 30-pound leader. I’m confident in the flies, plugs and jigs I fish, so that’s what I use and what I catch fish on. I double my standing line with a Bimini twist or a spider hitch and then tie my leader to the double line with a blood knot. After tying on a fly, topwater plug or jig with a non-slip mono loop, I stick a spool of leader and a couple of extra flies or lures in my pocket, and I’m good to go.
This time of the year is perfect for the wade fishing opportunities a bike provides access to. All you’ll need is a pair of wading boots or old tennis shoes and a change of pants for the ride home. Bikes can quickly get you to the places you’d find hard to reach, even by boat. You can plan your outing by consulting access points (Google Maps) online, then pack your gear and use your bike to explore some of the area’s less accessible fishing gems.
Try using your bike to expand your fishing horizons. Whether it’s a quick ride to a local pass or one of many local parks near Anna Maria Island, you’ll be surprised at the opportunities it will open up for you.
ANNA MARIA – Going into the final game of adult co-ed soccer regular season play, team Pool America seems to be gelling at the right time. At the start of the season, the 2-4-1 team struggled to find their footing on The Center pitch.
Looking to repeat their championship success from last season, captain Eduardo Schlueter led the Pool America team to its second win against third-ranked Ross Built Custom Homes.
The Pool America squad was the underdog in this match-up based on their record, but the Ross Built defense could not contain the scoring power behind their opponents last Thursday night.
Scorers Murat Akay, Enrique Claderas, Chris Klotz and Sam Parker were among the teammates who kept Ross Built keeper Max Gazzo busy at the net.
Akay and Claderas each had two goals for Pool America, while Klotz and Parker had solo goals. Teammate Drew Jacobson has one assist in the game to help his team score against the Ross Built defense.
Despite his never-ending efforts in goal, Gazzo’s 11 physical and fully committed saves just were not enough for Ross Built Custom Homes. Gazzo’s counterpart, Nate Welch, played keeper for Pool America and was credited with six saves.
Team captain Greg Ross’ solid play assisted Ethan Hampton’s scoring effort and his single goal. Ross had a goal of his own, showing why he is one of the most consistent scorers in the league.
These two teams find themselves going head-to-head in the first round of the fall soccer season’s playoffs on Thursday, Nov. 2 at 7 p.m.
Last week, in the second game Thursday night, brothers Josh and Ben Sato shared the team Sato Real Estate goalkeeping duties against seventh-place Sandbar Seafood & Spirits. The Satos had a total of 10 saves, with three made by B. Sato.
In the fourth-ranked position, Sato Real Estate showed why the team was the heavy favorite coming into the game. Strong on both the defensive and offensive side, the Sato Real Estate team won the game against the Sandbar 7-3.
Sato’s scoring came off the foot of James Troxler with a hat trick, and scores by Amy Ivin and James Noblett, each with two goals. Her ability on the field, with a scoring assist, shows why Ivin is always selected early like a hot commodity.
Gulfview Windows & Doors won 2-1 against team Slim’s Place. Finishing the regular season with one win, Slim’s Place’s keeper Steve Oelfke kept on his toes for 40 minutes of regulation play and 16 credited stops.
Soccer coach Stephen Adair had Slim’s Place’s only goal in the team’s last regular season game.
On the other side of the pitch, captain Keith Mahoney and Jesus Martinez each scored for fifth place Gulfview. Goalkeeper responsibilities were in the hands of Leo Gonzalez and Chris Culhane, each with six saves in the night.
Culhane, who typically plays on the pitch where needed, showed his goalie talents with six big saves to help his team to their win. Raul Loera came up with six stops of his own against the last seed Slim’s Place.
Gulfview Windows & Doors plays against Sato Real Estate to kick off playoff action at The Center this Thursday at 6 p.m. Moss Builders takes on Slim’s Place at the end of the night.
After six weeks of soccer action at The Center, second place Gulf Drive Café defeated the previously undefeated Moss Builders team with a final score of 5-1. Holding their opponent to only one point, the Gulf Drive Café team earned their fifth win of the season.
Charles “Tuna” McCracken had 10 championship-caliber saves. His teammates put the points on the scoreboard, including two by captain Kevin Roman. Single points scored by Hello Gomez, Javier Rivera and Juan Vega solidly paved the team’s way to playing the Sandbar squad in the quarter-final round of playoffs.
Gulf Drive’s Eliza Faillace had an assist in the team’s scoring against Moss Builders.
The single goal by James Roadman was the only point on the scoreboard for the Moss Builders team.
Captain Ryan Moss and Karri Stephens shared the goalie position last Thursday night. The four stops by Moss and two by Stephens in goal were not enough to keep the team undefeated after seven games of regular season play.
With eight teams going into the adult soccer playoffs at The Center, only two will take to the field on Thursday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. to start the Paul “Ace” Hayward Cup championship game.
Condos are all over Florida, representing every imaginable price range. People live in them full-time, part-time or invest in them. They’re a very flexible real estate resource, but are they meant for you?
A condominium is a privately-owned individual unit within a community of other units. In general, the owner usually owns the interior of their condo and the structural components of the exterior walls. Condo owners jointly own shared common areas within the community, such as pools, garages, elevators, gyms and boat slips. Some condos are in high-rise buildings, mid-rise buildings, detached villas or semi-attached villas. In waterfront communities in Florida, you will even find condo associations of boat slips. You name it and it probably can become a condo as long as it abides by Florida condominium laws.
Condo communities are popular because they provide an easy, turn-key way of life. There is low homeowner maintenance – no lawns to mow, pools to clean or peeling paint to address. Many condo associations have secured gated entrances and some have on-site security personnel. It’s easy to make new friends and socialize if you’re new to the area. There are many affordable condo associations in Manatee County. They come in all shapes and sizes, but there are also some very high-end associations, mostly with water or beach access. Finally, condo living usually offers many amenities ranging from pools, clubhouses, barbecue areas, gyms and dog parks.
So that’s the good stuff, but what about the bad stuff? The biggest complaint about living in a condo community is the rules of the homeowner’s association. If you’re not a good, follow-the-rules kind of person, you may be in for a shock. Just about everything from trash to noise to pets to paint color to patio furniture could very well have a rule attached to it.
Also, condo associations are essentially small businesses and, in some cases, not so small. HOAs are required to maintain reserves for maintenance of the property, funded by the collection of monthly or quarterly dues. This is always the biggest cause for concern with condo owners who sometimes feel they have no real input on how much money is spent to maintain the property.
Associations are organized with an elected board of directors, and, with some limitations, they make the decisions on behalf of the community. If you don’t like what they have decided, the only thing you can do is run for the board yourself or not vote for some or all the directors at the next election. Since participating in a condo board can be tedious and time-consuming, it’s not that easy to get volunteers, so be careful what you wish for in a dispute with a board member.
Condo owners are sometimes worried about their investment since they don’t have complete control of their assets and maintenance decisions. The only thing I can say here is before you buy, go over the financials of the association as well as condo documents with a fine-tooth comb and see if this is the place for you.
I’ve written columns like this before, and I always point out that communal living is not always easy and, unless you have a “condo personality,” it may not be the right choice for you. If your neighbor isn’t quite making their trash into the trash bin and it ends up on the ground, you may not like it, but it’s one of those adjustments condo living requires. The good part is you’ll always find a friend to help you pick it up.
CORTEZ – The stone crab harvest is being celebrated in a big way at an annual festival in the historic fishing village.
The 11th Annual Cortez Stone Crab and Music Festival will be held at the Swordfish Grill and Tiki Bar parking lot the weekend of Nov. 11- 12 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., featuring music, local seafood, crafts and of course, lots of stone crab.
“The festival celebrates the heritage of Cortez and the kickoff to stone crab season,” Swordfish Grill General Manager Adam Sears said.
The theme of the 11th annual Cortez Stone Crab and Music Festival is “Crack a Cold One.” – Submitted
The festival was the brainchild of John Banyas, a fourth-generation fisherman from Cortez and owner of Swordfish Grill and Tiki Bar, Cortez Bait and Seafood Inc. and N.E. Taylor Boatworks, named for his grandfather.
Sears said the festival attracts upwards of 5,000 attendees and more than 2,000 pounds of stone crab is sold.
This year’s theme is “Crack a Cold One,” since stone crab is best served cracked and cold.
Stone crab season runs from Oct. 15 to May 1. Stone crabs are harvested for their claws and then returned to the water, where the claws will regenerate.
In addition to stone crab, many other local seafood favorites will be available. The festival also will feature a Kid Zone with face painting and other kid-friendly activities. Vendors from throughout Florida will be selling arts and crafts, including marine and beach-inspired art. Live music is scheduled both days on two stages.
The festival has a charitable component. All proceeds from draft beer sales will benefit the non-profit Bradenton-base Blessing Bags Project, dedicated to providing basic critical needs to the homeless and less fortunate.
“Big Storm Brewery is graciously donating the beer trailer,” Sears said.
The festival will be held rain or shine at 4628 119th St. W., Cortez., and a large, covered seating area will be available. Festival admission is $5, with kids under 12 free.
Parking is available at the FISH Preserve, next to the festival, at a cost of $5 per vehicle. Parking proceeds will benefit the non-profit Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage (FISH).
SATURDAY’S MUSIC
Festival main stage
10 a.m. – Mikey Silbaugh of Concrete Edgar
Noon – Mushroom Soup
2 p.m. – Uncle John’s Band
4 p.m. – Doug Deming and the Jewel Tones
Swordfish Grill Tiki Deck stage
11 a.m. – Ted Stevens
3 p.m. – Stockton Brothers
7 p.m. – Tim Chandler
SUNDAY’S MUSIC
Festival main stage
10 a.m. – Ted Stevens and the Doo Shots
Noon – Berry Oakley and Friends
2 p.m. – Twinkle and Rock Soul Radio
4 p.m. – Trevor Bystrom’s RX featuring Zion Albert
ANNA MARIA – Hurricane Idalia caused many travelers to cancel their trips to Anna Maria Island in August, Research Data Services’ Ann Wittine told the Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC) on Oct. 16.
The Tampa-based consultant’s report featured the latest available statistics related to the tourism industry in Manatee County from August 2023 compared to August 2022. In August, the total number of visitors was down by 2% and economic impact was down slightly, by .01%. Room nights were also down slightly from August 2022, by .2%.
“The important thing to know is that even though visitors are down slightly, the economic impact remains flat, so the visitors that came, on an economic basis are leaving more of an economic impact on their destination,” Wittine said.
Room occupancy for August was down slightly by 3% after being down 2.6% in the last report, which quoted data from June 2023. The average daily room rate, was up 4.2%, at $183.63 per day in August 2023 compared to $176.22 in August 2022.
The consultant for the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau also tracks where tourists are coming from when they visit the area. The largest increase in any visitor origin came from Canada, up 40% over the same period in 2022. Travel from Europe has risen 5.8%. The largest domestic visitor origin was the Northeast, which was up 5.3% over the same period in 2022.
“Opportunity markets, which are essentially markets west of the Mississippi, are seeing growth,” Wittine said. “The biggest of these markets is Texas, where we’re seeing a lot of growth.”
She said the number of visitors in fiscal year-to-date in Manatee County was 983,900 as of the end of August. The economic impact of those visitors was $1,579,797,500, up 6.4% from the same period in 2022.
HOLMES BEACH – After a year and a half, a second attacker in a 2022 battery case has been sentenced to prison.
On Oct. 12, Judge Stephen Whyte of Manatee County’s Twelfth Judicial Circuit Court sentenced John William Bartholow, 18, of Ellenton, to three years in state prison along with one year of community control and six years of probation following his release. He also was sentenced to 16 weeks of anger management classes, substance abuse and mental health evaluations and treatment and 100 hours of public service work for his role in the March 23, 2022 attack on Evan Purcell, 41, at Anna Maria Elementary School. He must also write a letter of apology to the victim.
Bartholow pled no contest to the felony charge of aggravated battery with great bodily harm.
Bartholow
Purcell, a Holmes Beach resident, was walking his dog with his 10-year-old niece when he came upon some teenagers breaking bottles, drinking alcohol and vandalizing AME property. According to police, Purcell yelled at the group to stop what they were doing, resulting in the group of teens becoming aggressive. Although Purcell waved a pocketknife as he feared for his safety, it was not a deterrent. He was knocked to the ground and beaten with a wooden object, possibly a skateboard.
Bartholow was one of three suspects arrested in the attack. Cameron Evans, 20, of Sarasota, was given a similar sentence last March. The identity of the juvenile involved in the attack was not released.
Bartholow was also convicted of felony criminal mischief in a separate case, and has nine unrelated criminal charges pending for burglary and attempted burglary of an unoccupied conveyance.
Since the incident, several security measures have been put in place at Anna Maria Elementary to deter loitering on school grounds after hours. Locking gates have been installed at all vehicle entrances and “No Beach Parking” signs have been posted to keep the lots clear during the day.
