Sarasota Bay Watch (SBW) is conducting its annual Sister Keys clean-up on Saturday, Nov. 4. The event is a collaboration with Suncoast Waterkeeper, the Town of Longboat Key and Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant. Volunteers will work for four hours on the island and around the mangrove fringes collecting trash and recyclable items. After the event, volunteers will load the collected debris into a truck provided by the Town of Longboat Key Public Works for disposal. All plastics and cans will be collected in separate green bags provided by SBW and recycled. The volunteers will then be treated to a box lunch courtesy of the Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant, a longtime supporter of the event.
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 on sale for $1 million. That spurred a group of citizens to form the Sister Keys Conservancy in an attempt to buy and preserve the islands as a nature preserve. 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 to remove all invasive species. Native flora was planted and a two-acre wetland was created. Today mature mangroves dominate the waterways, which are rich with crustaceans, minnows, juvenile finfish and wading birds. Native species planted on uplands 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 clean-up is part of a two-pronged ongoing effort to clean the islands of trash and support the resurgence of invasive species. The Longboat Key Marine division will be patrolling the Intracoastal Waterway to slow boaters. Kayakers and those without a boat will be ferried to the islands by volunteers.
The Sister Keys clean-up is just one of many projects that SBW is involved in. In recent years, SBW has planted over 1,000,000 clams in the bay and recently obtained a restoration lease in Sarasota Bay, a first of its kind, in its ongoing restoration effort. Other clean-ups (including underwater) are conducted at various locations throughout the bay, as well as an annual monofilament cleanup and much more.
Suncoast Waterkeeper (SCWK) is a Sarasota-based non-profit committed to protecting and restoring the 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 that hold municipalities responsible for mandates established in the landmark 1982 Clean Water Act. SCWK also conducts bi-monthly water testing of inland coastal waters. To learn more about the work of these organizations and join the effort, check out their websites at www.suncoastwaterkeeper.org and www.sarasotabaywatch.org.
Halloween is next week, so as you’re decorating your home with spooky and creepy stuff from the Dollar Store, think about the spine-chilling increase in population right here in Manatee County.
There’s a good reason why the traffic on the roads never seems to take a break and why your favorite doctors are all of a sudden working weeks out for an appointment. So far this year, the population of Manatee County is reported as 429,125. We grew by 29,420 in three years, per the U.S. Census. In April of 2010, the population was 322,833 per the U.S. Census, an increase of over 100,000 residents in not quite 13 years. Manatee County is the 15th most populated county in Florida out of 67 counties.
The above numbers, of course, do not include the scary number of visitors and part-time residents flowing into Manatee County every year. They also do not include the many thousands of residents that will be added to the county when the large construction projects are completed.
Lake Flores, Aqua by the Bay and Peninsula Bay, all on the southwest side of the county near or on the bay are already being developed or getting ready to start. The east and southeast sides of the county are exploding with plans for new subdivisions with good access to the interstate. In addition, all this construction is coming on the heels of the construction of both a new Cortez Bridge and Anna Maria Island Bridge. Are you scared yet?
Selling a property always involves disclosing anything that can be a material change to the value of the property. This usually involves structural issues not obviously observed and even appliances and air conditioning and heating systems. And, since we’re in scary season, you will be happy to know that you don’t need to disclose if your house is haunted, or if there was a murder or death in the home.
Also, there is no obligation I could find that a homeowner must disclose construction projects near the property, even if that construction could be a nuisance. Nevertheless, everything you know should be disclosed. This is not only the right thing to do, but it will also protect you as a seller from potential future lawsuits.
At least one thing that’s not haunted this Halloween is the September sales reported by the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee.
Single-family homes closed 46.9% more properties than in September of last year. The median sale price was $503,495, down 2.6%, and the average sale price was $661,608, up 6.0%. The median time to contract was 29 days versus 19 days last year, and the month’s supply of available properties was 2.9 versus 2.7 last year.
Condos closed 48.6% more properties. The median sale price was $350,000, up 3.9%, and the average sale price was $402,480, up 0.3%. The median time to contract was 46 days versus 15 days and the month’s supply of properties was 3.3 months versus 1.9 days last year.
One interesting statistic in the September report is that cash sales are up for both single-family homes, 38.3%, and for condos, 58.3%. I suspect this has a lot to do with the high interest rates on new mortgages.
The Association of Realtors sums up the market this way, “While closed sales registered an unusually high year-over-year growth, median prices stayed relatively stable.”
Spooky or not, those are the numbers that reflect sales transactions booked during the slow summer months. We’ll see how that changes when we get into the selling season. Happy Halloween.
ANNA MARIA – City commissioners got their first look at the preliminary plans for proposed safety improvements along Spring and Magnolia avenues as part of the expanded Reimagining Pine Avenue project.
The new plans complement the initial Pine Avenue plans the Anna Maria City Commission approved in 2022 but have not yet acted on. The commission later agreed to include Spring and Magnolia in an expanded Reimagining Pine Avenue project that will hopefully attract more interest from construction companies than the initial stand-alone Pine Avenue project did.
The current fiscal year budget includes $3.34 million for the expanded project, including $2.69 million in state appropriations and $283,412 in American Rescue Plan funds.
When presenting the “starting point” plans on Oct. 19, Project Engineer Gerry Traverso said, “The concept is the same. Provide sidewalks and pedestrian safety.”
The plans call for permeable paver sidewalks to be installed along both sides of the entire length of Spring Avenue and all but a few portions of Magnolia Avenue, including the area where The Center of Anna Maria Island parking spaces extend to the street. Portions of those streets currently have no sidewalks and/or sidewalks on just one side of the street. The permeable paver sidewalks are also expected to improve drainage.
The plans include several new crosswalks and the removal of existing landscaping that currently impedes motorists’ view of pedestrians and bicyclists.
The plans include $765,000 for street lighting, but Mayor Dan Murphy said the lighting improvements will be pursued as a separate, city-funded project. Using state funds subjects the city to the Florida Department of Transportation’s limited lighting options.
Minus lighting, the estimated cost is $1.95 million for Spring Avenue and $1.55 million for Magnolia Avenue. Murphy said he’ll need and seek additional state appropriations to help fund the expanded project.
Commission insights
Commissioner Charlie Salem questioned the exclusion of a sidewalk where The Center parking spaces abut Magnolia.
“That area’s not safe the way it is. People are walking in the road,” he said.
Providing an answer that didn’t fully satisfy Salem, Traverso said pedestrians would be directed to cross Magnolia before they reach The Center parking spaces.
Commissioner Robert Kingan inquired about installing a bike path along Magnolia or Spring. Traverso said there’s not enough city-owned right of way to do so and doing so would negatively impact the existing drainage trenches.
“It’s a tight corridor,” Traverso said.
“The only way to put in a bike path would be to make each of those streets one-way and then we would have the room,” Kingan suggested.
Traverso noted he and the commission received strong public opposition to the previously discussed and discarded concept of making Pine Avenue a one-way street, with either Spring or Magnolia serving as the corresponding one-way street for traffic traveling the other way.
Commissioner Mark Short said the Pine Avenue opposition was strong because the corresponding one-way traffic would have subjected a residential street to heavier traffic and more delivery trucks and commercial vehicles.
During public input, former commissioner Doug Copeland said making Spring and Magnolia one-way streets and eliminating one vehicular lane on each street would provide space for wider sidewalks and for bike paths constructed on the unused travel lanes.
Commissioner Jon Crane stressed the need for community outreach and generating as much public input as possible. Salem suggested mailing notices to Spring and Magnolia property owners. Murphy agreed and said public input will be solicited during future commission workshops.
“We can fine-tune this and make it better. The object is to start the process,” Murphy said.
ANNA MARIA – The city is buying the building and property at 307 Pine Ave. for $1 million to relocate the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office substation.
For the past several years, the city has leased the building and used it as a city hall annex for the building department and public works department. The 2,021-square-foot building will be the new headquarters for the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office Anna Maria Unit led by Sgt. Brett Getman.
The Anna Maria Unit is currently housed in a small area on one side of the nearby city hall building. The building department will return to city hall and the public works office will remain at the rear of the annex.
On Sept. 27, the city received a letter from property owner Lizzie Vann’s attorney offering to sell the building and property to the city. After privately discussing the potential purchase with each city commissioner, Mayor Dan Murphy publicly presented the proposed purchase to the commission on Oct. 19.
Murphy said a commercial property appraiser appraised the value at $1.1 million. He noted Vann’s offer would expire the following day and she wants to close the sale in November.
The city currently pays $55,405 a year to lease the building and property. The lease expires in 2.5 years. Murphy said if the city didn’t buy the building, someone else would, and that would create uncertainty as to whether the city could continue leasing the much-needed space.
Rather than paying more than 5% interest on a 10-year commercial loan, Murphy suggested using a variety of existing city funds for the purchase. He recommended taking $481,851 from the general contingency fund set aside for unanticipated expenses during the 2023-24 fiscal year, leaving $500,000 in remaining contingency funds. He proposed using $268,149 in additional contingency funds allotted for various individual capital improvement projects and using $250,000 earmarked specifically for future land purchases.
Murphy said the cash purchase would leave the city with enough reserve funds to cover 48% of the city’s annual operating costs, well above the 25-30% best practices recommended for coastal communities.
“I don’t see a depreciable impact on our reserves. We’re still in a good financial position with $2.2 million in reserves,” he said, adding that the city’s closing costs would be approximately $1,000.
“I highly recommend we purchase this property while we can. I believe there’s other buyers interested and what do we do in two and a half years when that lease expires?” he said.
Commissioner Robert Kingan said the purchase price equates to less than $500 per square foot, not counting the land.
“To my way of thinking, this is a very advantageous purchase,” he said.
Commissioner Jon Crane said, “The downside to not doing it is who’s going to buy it and what are they going to do there besides kick the city out. I’m all for it.”
“I agree. It definitely seems like a good buy and we definitely need the space,” Commissioner Charlie Salem said.
“It is a very good opportunity for the city and we will still have $2.2 million in reserves,” Commission Chair Mark Short said.
The commission voted 4-0 in favor of the purchase.
The Anna Maria Unit is currently housed in a small portion of the city hall building. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
After the meeting, Sgt. Getman said, “We’re thrilled and excited to move down to the city annex. During holidays and special events, we have nine to 12 deputies here. This will provide us with more adequate space to house our personnel and vehicles.”
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – The Manatee County Commission approved an interlocal agreement that allows the Anna Maria City Pier to serve as a Gulf Island Ferry stop.
Approved on Oct. 10, the agreement requires the county to pay for any ferry-related pier improvements needed to accommodate the county-funded ferries.
In September, the Anna Maria Commission approved the county’s request to attach two, non-submerged composite pilings to the pier’s existing boat landing area to accommodate the ferries, at an estimated cost of $10,000.
County commissioners also approved an amendment to an interlocal agreement reached with the city of Bradenton Beach in 2021. That agreement pertains to the recently completed dock expansion project that included attaching 13 perpendicular finger docks to the floating day dock by the Bradenton Beach Pier and also replacing the nearby dinghy dock.
In 2021, the county agreed to reimburse the Bradenton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) for 50% of the dock expansion project costs, not to exceed $850,000 in matching county funds. The amended agreement allows the CRA to construct a $403,900 ferry waiting area near the dinghy dock, where a stormwater cistern was removed. That expenditure will count toward the matching funds limit but the county will reimburse the CRA for 100% of the waiting area costs.
Duncan Seawall will construct the waiting area that includes decking, a canvas-covered pergola and some covered tables. On Oct. 19, the city commission approved the new CRA project.
According to City Treasurer Shayne Thompson, $534,398 remains of the $850,000 matching funds limit, from which $403,900 will be deducted. The extended agreement gives the CRA until Sept. 30, 2024 to finish the waiting area and any additional pier and dock improvement projects eligible for reimbursement.
Dock discovery
During a recent visit to the floating dock, the county’s contracted engineer and contracted ferry operator concluded the dock is too low to accommodate a ramp that provides ADA-compliant access for passengers.
Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Elliott Falcione serves as point man for the long-desired ferry service. He told The Sun that the county now plans to use the dinghy dock as an alternative ferry landing. The dinghy dock is stationary and higher than the floating dock. Falcione said the ferries will not carry the previously discussed boat-mounted access ramps but portable or dock-mounted ramps could be used where needed.
“There will be safe access and ADA compliance,” Falcione said of the ferry stops that also include the Riverwalk Day Dock in downtown Bradenton and the county-owned Coquina South boat ramp.
Falcione expects service to begin around Thanksgiving and initially operate from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Fridays. Saturdays and Sundays. He said the schedule can then be adjusted based on consumer demand.
“I’m excited that we’re as close as we’ve been,” he said. “Once we get this running, we work on how we transport the service workers.”
Falcione said one of the two ferries was recently damaged when its roof came in contact with a dock piling while docked in Cortez.
“That’s in repair but it doesn’t delay this operation,” he said.
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
The floating dock in Bradenton Beach, above, is too low to be used as a ferry landing. The Bradenton Beach dinghy dock, right, will serve as an alternative ferry landing
BRADENTON – Holmes Beach Superintendent of Public Works and City Engineer Sage Kamiya was back in front of the Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC) at its Oct. 16 meeting. Kamiya appeared to answer questions and concerns brought up by TDC members after his initial presentation requesting tourist tax funding for a city-long multimodal path at an Aug. 21 meeting.
Kamiya noted that there is a path for walkers and bicyclists that runs along a portion of Marina Drive, but it needs improvement. The proposed new path would begin around the 2800 block of Gulf Drive and continue almost the entire length of the city to where Gulf Drive and Marina Drive merge in the 8000 block. The proposal calls for the path to be separated from the road by a grassy buffer area to keep people using the path further separated from the road, improving safety.
Connecting the path to the city’s 30 beach access points is also part of the plan, which would begin with the 65th and 66th Street access points near the center of the city. The city would also like to see the installation of educational signs along the path, allowing users to learn about the wildlife they may encounter, such as shorebirds and sea turtles, as well as Island flora.
The budget estimate for the entire project totals $2,436,727 with half of the money going to the Gulf Drive path improvements, $1,293,238. The remainder would be designated for Marina Drive path improvements, engineering design, flashing crosswalks and educational signage. Although the plan is ambitious, Kamiya told the TDC that it would be implemented in phases, with the first phase focusing on the city center area on both Gulf Drive and Marina Drive. The phase one estimate is $1,133,401, with $399,460 coming from the city and the remaining $733,948 being requested from the TDC.
The TDC’s recommendation of whether or not to allocate funds collected through the 5% tourist “bed tax” on vacation rental units for projects such as this often leads to county commissioners’ approval.
Rather than approve or deny the funding at the Aug. 21 meeting, the TDC unanimously chose to have the matter brought to the Oct.16 meeting in hopes of getting answers to questions multiple board members had, such as whether or not the path would eliminate public parking spots, and more specific answers as to which side of the street the path would be and a more specific timeline, among other concerns and questions.
Kamiya confirmed that no part of the project would take away public parking spaces, something more than one TDC member showed concern about at the Aug. 21 presentation, nor would any future phases. He also assured the TDC that the city would seek other funding sources for future phases.
Bradenton Mayor Gene Brown echoed concerns he had at the Aug. 21 meeting regarding the multi-phase proposal.
“Sometimes I’m not in favor of projects being done in phases, because sometimes the next phase doesn’t get done,” Brown said. “I don’t think you addressed that. What was that million dollars you were talking about?”
“The city did receive a Resilient Florida grant to look at the entire Gulf Drive that could include funding a path,” Kamiya responded. “We are not just here holding our hands out asking for funds. We are looking at every case we can to get as much done as we can.”
After a lengthy discussion on the multimodal path project, a motion to defer to the Dec. 4 TDC meeting was passed unanimously.
HOLMES BEACH – In 2012, Holmes Beach resident Jamie Kimble was murdered at a Tampa
intersection during an act of domestic violence. She was shot by an ex-boyfriend, who took his own life a short time later.
Jamie Kimble often visited the beach near where her memorial now stands. – Kimble family | Submitted
On Thursday, Oct. 19, Jamie’s parents, Jan and Ron Kimble, dedicated a memorial in her honor at the beach access point at 72nd Street in Holmes Beach. The Kimbles live in Charlotte, N.C. and own a second home in Holmes Beach.
Oct. 19 was Purple Thursday, a national day of action taking place each October during Domestic Violence Awareness Month. On that day, people are encouraged to wear purple as a symbol of domestic violence awareness.
The city-approved memorial features two large rocks with plaques embedded in them, two engraved benches and three painted poles connected by rope. One plaque says, “This beachside oasis is dedicated in loving memory of Holmes Beach resident Jamie Kristine Kimble, a beautiful courageous woman. May her spirit continue to live on to help others avoid the ravages of domestic and dating violence. Love you more, sweet Jamie!”
Engraved in a large rock, this plaque is dedicated to Jamie Kimble. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
The other plaque says, “If you or someone you know is being victimized by domestic violence, these resources can help. For warning signs, go to JKFFC.org. 24 Hour Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-7233. For help without saying a word, text ‘Survivor’ to 69922.”
This plaque provides guidance for domestic abuse and violence victims. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Inscribed in the benches are the words “Love,” “Resilience,” “Courage,” “Healing,” “Hope” and “Justice.” Placed in front of the large rocks and benches were small rocks painted by part-time Island resident Marilia Clark, who also painted the memorial poles. The rocks contained messages that included “Stop Domestic Violence. Speak Up.” Two ladybug figurines were placed on the benches symbolizing Jamie’s love for ladybugs.
This painted rock carries a powerful message. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
The dozen or so people who attended the ceremony included family members, friends, the detective who worked Jamie’s homicide case, the off-duty police officer who was the last to see her alive and an Indianapolis couple who lost two daughters in the same act of domestic violence.
Family members, friends and others helped commemorate the Jamie Kimble memorial. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
During his opening remarks, Ron said, “This is a special memorial for Jamie, but it’s for victims everywhere. It’s also for the community at large. This is a special place. Jamie lived at 306 B 72nd Street. She ran on the beach, she laid on the beach and she would enter the beach at this very location.”
Jan and Ron Kimble spoke during the Oct. 19 memorial dedication ceremony. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Jan mentioned the Jamie Kimble Foundation for Courage they founded after Jamie’s death and said, “We didn’t want this to happen to any other family – to have to deal with the loss and the grief. Our goal is to see a future without domestic violence.”
Holmes Beach City Commissioner Terry Schaefer said, “The Kimble family and our staff succeeded in creating this beautiful and meaningful tribute to their loving daughter Jamie. We are saddened as a city that one of our own could be taken as a victim of domestic violence.”
Char Young, executive director of Hope Family Services, said, “I would like to say their story is unique. The unfortunate reality is, it isn’t.”
Young noted that Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody visited the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office on Oct. 12 in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month and announced the expansion of Project Protect into Manatee and Hardee counties. Project Protect provides free doorbell cameras to survivors of domestic violence to help them feel more secure.
Parents’ worst nightmare
Two days before the memorial dedication, Jan and Ron spoke about their only child, her life, her death and the recovery process that followed.
From 2008 to 2011, the Kimble family spent many holidays on Anna Maria Island. In 2017, after Jamie’s death, Jan and Ron bought their Holmes Beach home.
Jan, Jamie and Ron Kimble enjoyed many Anna Maria Island vacations together. – Kimble family | Submitted
Jamie graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. After moving from Orlando, she lived in Holmes Beach for six months while working for the Charlotte-based Coca-Cola Consolidated company. She’d just been promoted and was preparing to move to Dallas, Texas.
Three and a half months before her death, Jamie broke up with her longtime boyfriend, Luis Roberson Rodriguez. He’d moved to Kansas City for a job but Jamie wanted to stay with Coca-Cola Consolidated, work in Dallas for a year or two and work her way back to Charlotte.
“They had broken up five, six, seven times before in the six years they were together. He was never physically abusive that we know of but there was a lot of emotional, psychological, mental abuse and jealous rage,” Ron said.
According to Ron, Rodriguez drove from Kansas City to Orlando to retrieve his gun from his parents’ house. He then drove to the Tampa airport and waited for Jamie to return from a Labor Day weekend trip to England.
“He was there in baggage claim waiting for her. He convinced her that he would take her to the hotel in Tampa where she was staying to work her territory the next day,” Ron said.
A short time later, they were both dead.
“The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department showed up at our door at midnight and told us our daughter had been killed by her ex-boyfriend. I can’t tell you the amount of grief, horror, shock, sorrow and sadness those words brought,” Ron said.
“It was like it wasn’t happening, like it couldn’t be real,” Jan said.
“Now, our grief is not as much grief now as it is sorrow; and the grief isn’t as raw. While we silently grieve, we celebrate Jamie’s life,” Ron said.
“We miss her every day. We talk about Jamie so people remember her and know her. We share her story to help others who may be in abusive relationships. We want them to realize if Jamie could lose her life, it could happen to you as well,” Jan said.
The Jamie Kimble Memorial is located at the 72nd Street beach access. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
MANATEE COUNTY – Following petitions from environmental groups, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) says that reclassifying Florida manatees from a threatened to an endangered species may be justified.
In 2017, the status of manatees was changed from endangered to threatened following signs the species was recovering. Since then, seagrass destruction related to algae blooms on Florida’s east coast has spiked manatee mortality.
“Originally listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 1973, manatees have never truly recovered,” according to a prepared statement from the Center for Biological Diversity. “The FWS announced its final rule downlisting the West Indian manatee from endangered to threatened on March 30, 2017, despite hundreds of manatees still dying each year from boat strikes, habitat loss and other causes.”
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.”
An endangered species is “any species which is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range,” according to the act.
Due to the declining manatee population in recent years, two petitions were submitted to FWS by the Center for Biological Diversity, Harvard Animal Law & Policy Clinic, Miami Waterkeeper, Save the Manatee Club and Frank S. Gonzalez Garcia to increase protections for the mammals.
“Pollution-fueled algae blooms sparked an ongoing mortality event that has contributed to unprecedented Florida manatee mortality approaching 2,000 deaths in 2021 and 2022 combined,” according to the Center for Biological Diversity. “This two-year record represents more than 20% of all manatees in Florida. Manatee experts predict more malnourished and starving manatees with fewer births for years to come.”
Unchecked pollution, wastewater treatment discharges, leaking septic systems, fertilizer runoff and resulting algae blooms and seagrass destruction led to the unprecedented manatee mortality event in the Indian River area in 2021-22.
As of Oct. 6, 476 known manatees died in Florida waters so far this year, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
One petition requested the reclassification of the West Indian manatee, including the Antillean and Florida manatee subspecies, as endangered species under the ESA. Another petition requested the Puerto Rico population of the Antillean manatee be listed as endangered. Both subspecies are currently classified under the ESA as threatened.
FWS announced on Oct. 11 that reclassifying the West Indian manatee from threatened to endangered may be justified.
“The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has completed two 90-day findings on Endangered Species Act petitions to uplist the West Indian manatee and the Puerto Rican population of the Antillean manatee. Based on the Service’s review, both petitions present substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that the petitioned actions may be warranted,” according to a statement from the FWS.
“Today’s decision, known as a 90-day finding, is the first procedural step toward providing much greater protections for the imperiled species. The Fish and Wildlife Service must now conduct a thorough review of the best available science before determining whether to increase protections under the Endangered Species Act,” according to a statement from the Center for Biological Diversity.
A decision is due by Nov. 21.
The environmental groups lauded the decision to review the manatee’s status.
“This is the right call for manatees and everyone who cares about these charming creatures,” said Ragan Whitlock, a Florida-based attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity. “I applaud the Fish and Wildlife Service for taking the next step toward increased safeguards. Manatees need every ounce of protection they can get.”
“We are pleased that the Fish and Wildlife Service recognizes the need to reevaluate its ill-timed decision to downlist the Florida manatee,” said Patrick Rose, an aquatic biologist and executive director of Save the Manatee Club. “There can be no doubt that the service needs to immediately rebuild its manatee recovery program through increased staffing and funding. While the two remaining manatee recovery staff members are doing an incredible job in the face of unprecedented environmental assaults upon the manatees and their habitat, they must have more help right now to forestall this continuing emergency.”
The ESA allows citizens to petition the FWS to add species to the list of endangered and threatened wildlife, remove species from the list, and reclassify species on the list.
“The positive response is a welcome sign of hope for both subspecies of the West Indian manatee, the Antillean manatee and the Florida manatee, to once again thrive and inspire future generations,” said Frank S. González García, a Puerto Rican engineer.
“The service has a long history of working to save the manatee from extinction since it was one of the first species listed under the 1967 precursor to the Endangered Species Act,” FWS Acting Southeast Regional Director Mike Oetker said. “We are committed to ensuring we are getting the most updated scientific information during this status review to protect and recover the species.”
Manatee tips
• Obey posted signs for manatee slow-speed zones;
• Wear polarized sunglasses to see manatees in your path;
• If you observe a manatee mating herd – several manatees gathered as males vie to mate with a female – watch from at least 100 feet away. Coming any closer might disrupt the mating or endanger you; adult manatees typically weigh more than 1,000 pounds;
• Never feed or water manatees as they will become habituated to people, which could put them at risk of injury;
• Stow trash and line when underway. Marine debris that blows overboard can become ingested by or entangled around manatees;
• Report stranded or dead manatees to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Wildlife Alert hotline at 1-888-404-FWCC (3922).
HOLMES BEACH – Despite the recent Manatee County Commission vote to reduce wetland buffers, a city building official says it won’t be as easy as putting a shovel in the ground to build near wetlands.
Holmes Beach commissioners met on Oct. 10 to discuss the reduction in wetland buffers as part of a larger discussion on building standards and state legislative priorities.
Building Official Neal Schwartz kicked off the conversation by noting that just because the size of the protective buffer zones has been reduced by the county to lesser state levels, it doesn’t mean people can start building in wetland areas.
In Anna Maria Island’s largest city, he said that before any building near wetlands can begin, plans must first be approved by the city. In addition, he said the Florida Department of Environmental Protection also would have to approve the plans.
“Even though it’s allowed to be built on, it’s the Department of Environmental Protection that’s going to give us our final say so,” Schwartz said.
Because of the work that city leaders have done to help protect wetlands and reduce the flood risk to properties, he said the city is now rated a FEMA category five and should receive that flood plain designation within the next two months. Property owners can contact their flood insurance companies to get an added discount on their policies that he said could be retroactive to the date the designation was awarded. Once he receives more information, Schwartz said he would add it to the city’s website.
Commissioner Terry Schaefer said that in light of the recent county decision on wetland buffers, he added protection of wetlands to the list of state legislative priorities for the city. Unfortunately, he said, he’s seen no action on behalf of the five-member Manatee County Legislative Delegation to move on any of the city’s legislative priorities since he’s been on the city commission.
Other items on the list include protection of home rule, restrictions on vacation rentals and addressing water quality concerns.
PALMETTO – The environmentally unstable Piney Point phosphate processing site is moving towards closure with the completion of work on the first of four wastewater collection ponds, according to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
The work on the pond, built to contain industrial wastewater from phosphate processing operations, is substantially complete, according to FDEP. A liner has been installed on top of the pond, which is located at the top of a phosphogypsum waste stack. A new stormwater control system has been installed and grass has been planted to reduce soil erosion.
On March 25, 2021, Piney Point owner HRK Holdings LLC notified FDEP of a possible leak in the lining of one of the other three ponds, which is now in the process of closure. Five days later, FDEP authorized the emergency discharge of 215 million gallons of industrial wastewater from the pond into Tampa Bay to maintain the integrity of the gypsum stack and avoid a potential flood. Surrounding homes and businesses were evacuated.
From March 30 to April 9, the wastewater poured into the bay, adding an estimated 186 metric tons of nitrogen, exceeding typical annual nitrogen loads in a matter of days, according to the Tampa Bay Estuary Program. The nutrient exacerbated toxic cyanobacteria blooms that peaked in June, followed by a bloom of toxic red tide algae that caused fish kills, triggering the cleanup of more than 1,600 metric tons of dead fish.
On Aug. 5, 2021, FDEP filed a complaint in the 12th Judicial Circuit Court in Manatee County, initiating enforcement action against Piney Point owner HRK Holdings LLC. In the complaint, the agency requested a judgment against HRK of $50,000 a day in civil penalties for each day that it failed to remove process water at Piney Point, and $15,000 per day for failure to provide FDEP with financial assurance. The total maximum penalties for all of HRK’s violations total $119,745,000, according to the complaint.
“This action enforces compliance with the state’s environmental laws and all of HRK’s existing authorizations, orders and agreements with the department. The department is seeking the maximum allowable penalties and recovery of costs and damages under existing laws and regulations,” according to FDEP.
On Jan. 3, 2023, FDEP filed a motion for a default final judgment against HRK claiming in part that HRK failed to remove groundwater from Feb. 15, 2019 to May 15, 2022, and failed to meet groundwater standards on 18 separate occasions, equating to $270,000 in penalties. The case remains open.
On Dec. 16, 2021, FDEP issued a permit to Manatee County to build an underground injection well on Buckeye Road to receive industrial wastewater from Piney Point. The well began receiving the wastewater from the site on April 4, 2023. To date, more than 97 million gallons of wastewater have been transferred to the well.
BRADENTON – Members of The Rotary Club of Anna Maria Island say their Learn to Swim program was another big success this year.
Thanks to fundraising efforts by the Rotary, as well as a $4,000 grant from the Bishop Parker Foundation Fund of the Manatee Community Foundation, 82 area children were able to participate in the program this year at the Bradenton YMCA. There were four eight-day sessions, with half taking place in June and half in July at a cost of $80 per child, which was 100% covered by fundraising efforts, such as the Rotary’s annual golf tournament. The tournament was held on April 3 and raised $20,000.
The AMI Rotary says because this is Florida and children are around water more than most places in the country, it is vitally important that they can swim, but many families aren’t able to afford swimming lessons or regular access to a pool. It’s not only a way to possibly save lives, but offers a fun experience for kids who might not normally be exposed to swimming.
The program is three-pronged, with AMI Rotary providing the funds, the Manatee County Boys and Girls Club finding the children in need of the program, and the Bradenton YMCA providing the pool and instructors to give the lessons. All three organizations are 501(c)(3) non-profits.
“From 2018-2020, Florida had the highest unintentional drowning death rate among children 0-9 years of age,” Rotary Club of AMI President Kathy Rylander said. “We are working hard to change the statistics. Serving over 500 local children in six years is a huge accomplishment for our club and we hope to serve hundreds more in the future.”
BRADENTON BEACH – A Palm Harbor woman was recently hospitalized after being attacked by raccoons.
Bradenton Beach Police Officer Devon Straight responded to the Oct. 7 incident at the Tradewinds Resort, 1603 Gulf Drive.
The reporting person, whose name was not given in the police report, told Straight he had heard screaming coming from the resort’s pool area and went to investigate. He found the victim, Beverly Murphy, 59, on the ground calling for help with several raccoons around her. He said the raccoons ran away when help arrived on the scene. The caller and some other guests of the resort took Murphy inside a room to assist her in treating her wounds until EMS arrived.
“I spoke with Beverly, who stated she was chased by the group of raccoons before falling down and landing on her wrist, which was possibly broken as a result,” Straight said in his report. “While on the ground, the raccoons continued to bite and scratch both of her legs, leaving multiple wounds.”
Straight searched the area but was unable to find the raccoons. He said there is no way to know if the attack was because of a possible rabies infection, or the animals getting used to being fed by humans, though he said the latter was the more likely scenario.
Before becoming a police officer, Straight worked with his grandparents at Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Inc., a Bradenton Beach wild animal rehabilitation organization.
EMS arrived and transported Murphy to HCA Florida Blake Hospital for treatment. Manatee County Animal Control was called but did not respond to the scene. The Sun contacted Manatee County Animal Welfare about the incident but did not receive a statement before press time.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), raccoon attacks on humans are rare, but can occur even if the animal is not rabid. This is mostly due to people feeding them, making the animals more comfortable around people than they naturally should be. A rabid raccoon is usually dead within one to three days of becoming infectious, and if bitten by a rabid raccoon, effective post-exposure treatment is available.
The CDC says to observe a raccoon’s behavior before calling for assistance. Look for:
• Staggering gait;
• An animal seemingly oblivious to noise or nearby movement;
• Erratic wandering;
• Discharge from eyes or mouth;
• Wet and matted hair on face;
• Repeated high-pitch vocalization;
• Self-mutilation;
• Unprovoked aggression.
A raccoon showing these signs may be rabid or infected with canine distemper or feline parvovirus. Call animal control or the police department if concerned.
When I first started fly fishing, I would buy my flies from local fly shops and occasionally, guide friends would supply me with the flies I was using. Eventually, through necessity, I started tying flies and quickly found out how rewarding it was to catch a fish on a fly I had tied myself. While I tied the flies I used locally, I still ordered flies that I would take on my trips to the Bahamas. That habit changed too on a bonefishing trip a couple of years ago.
I had ordered some flies the lodge I was visiting recommended from a “reliable” source, choosing a few old classics as well as a current favorite, the Peterson Spawning Shrimp. As it turned out, the flies I ordered didn’t match my expectations. Fortunately, two friends in my party offered me some of their flies. I got bailed out on that, vowing then and there that the next trip I took I’d have a box of my own home-tied creations. Fast forward to today and it’s less than a month from my next trip. This time I’ll have the flies I have confidence in. And confidence is key!
The Peterson Spawning Shrimp, one of the most dependable flies for bonefish, is adaptable for a host of other saltwater species. – Rusty Chinnis | Sun
In my experience, flies don’t have to be fancy to catch fish. They do have to resemble something a local species feeds on and appear natural in the water. Two of the most reliable patterns mimic baitfish and shrimp. Probably the most basic, and one of the most effective and popular flies, is the Clouser Minnow, created by Bob Clouser. This was the first fly I learned to tie and is still a favorite. Another favorite is the bend back, a streamer tied to be weedless and fished in shallow water. The bend back is also easy to tie and very effective when properly tied and presented. As mentioned, my current favorite fly, one I tied originally for bonefish and now use locally for redfish, tripletail and snook, the Peterson Spawning Shrimp, has me immersed in tying flies and I’m enjoying the process more than ever. Fly tying is like everything else, the more you do it, the better you get. As in fly casting, golf, tennis and any other endeavor, repetition is key, so it’s better to tie often instead of for long periods of time.
If you currently tie, my advice is to master a fly you have confidence in and then work to make a fly your own. I’m constantly thinking of ways to improve patterns I fish and finding my enjoyment of fly fishing enhanced by the experience.
I would strongly advise fly anglers to take up fly tying if they haven’t already. If you want to explore tying but aren’t fully committed, start with a simple but quality travel kit that you’ll be able to use even after setting up a place to tie at home. I think you’ll find that you enjoy the fly-fishing experience even more and, as a bonus, you’ll have better quality flies at a much better price. Instructions on tying every imaginable fly are available on YouTube.
ANNA MARIA – The Center’s youth soccer leagues completed week five of recreational sports last week with five hard-fought games. In the first game Tuesday night, The Porch narrowly defeated team AMI Coconuts 3-2, in the 8- to 10-year-old league.
It was the first win of the season for The Porch while their opponents played this week also looking for their first victory.
The Porch’s Titus Moss had two goals and an assist, while teammate Luke Willing shot one goal and passed the soccer ball to Moss on one of his successful strikes.
Goalkeeper Santiago Cantero made four saves for The Porch. Working non-stop on the other side of the pitch, Kason Price had 13 stops for AMI Coconuts.
The team’s offensive charge was led by Beau Canup and Simon Messinger, each with one goal in the match.
With Adrian Griffin Interiors off with a bye week, Isola Bella Italian Eatery matched up against the undefeated Moss Builders. Keeping their record unblemished after four games, the Moss team outscored team Isola Bella by one goal, 3-2.
Asher Patel’s hot foot scored the two goals for his team, keeping them in the game. Teammate Trinity Miller worked hard to protect the Isola Bella Italian Eatery team goal. Miller had four stops against the Moss Builders offense.
Striking hard was Gunner Maize with two goals. Parker Svoboda scored a solo goal, helping the Moss Builders team go into week six playing one game ahead of the Solid Rock Construction team.
Keeping Isola Bella to two points, Miles Moss had seven saves for the Moss squad.
Matthew Darak’s hat trick was no match for the La Creperie team. Despite tough play and eight saves by La Creperie goalie Sawyer Leibfried, the team could not make enough shots to win.
Solid Rock goalie Carson Long made eight critical stops for his team. Louis Bacon scored the only point for La Creperie, leaving the team with a 1-2-2 record.
In the 11- to 13-year-old youth soccer league, the other Solid Rock Construction team held on to second place with the 6-3 win against The Gitt Team/KW on the Water.
Luke Dellenger scored three goals in the game, while teammates Turner Worth and David Zupa shot for two goals and a single respectively.
Sharing the goalkeeping duties for Solid Rock was Jack Zaccagnino with five saves, denying The Gitt Team offense during his time at the net, and Obi Roadman with a big stop.
Despite the loss, The Gitt Team never stopped fighting for position on the field and the shot. Leading the offensive scoring was Callin Westfall with two goals.
Ryk Kesten scored a goal for his team. Austin Guess is credited with three nice saves against the Solid Rock shooters.
Also with a 6-3 final score, team Cheesecake Cutie defeated HSH Design. Cecelia Kroth scored two points for HSH. Sterling Holiday got past Cheesecake goalie Thomas Holly with a goal of his own.
Holly finished the game with four saves. Counterpart Cyrus Ryan made six stops and Jasmine Sparks had two while in goal for HSH Design.
Doing the scoring for the Cheesecake squad with single goals each were Tristan Hagey, Josiah MacDonald, Charlee Maize and Kegan McGlade.
Preston LaPensee scored two goals and made two assists for the winning team, helping the Cuties team move to a 3-0-2 record.
The Cheesecake Cuties team remains at the top of their league, with the final regular season games to be played on Tuesday, Oct. 24 at The Center of Anna Maria Island.
The islands underwent a million-dollar mitigation in 2007 to remove all invasive species. Native flora was planted and a two-acre wetland was created. Today mature mangroves dominate the waterways, which are rich with crustaceans, minnows, juvenile finfish and wading birds. Native species planted on uplands 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 clean-up is part of a two-pronged ongoing effort to clean the islands of trash and support the resurgence of invasive species. The Longboat Key Marine division will be patrolling the Intracoastal Waterway to slow boaters. Kayakers and those without a boat will be ferried to the islands by volunteers.
