ANNA MARIA ISLAND – As residents and business owners return to the Island, officials remind them to be mindful of inherent hazards following a flooding storm.
The Holmes Beach building official’s office issued the following warning: “When power is restored or if you still have power, please ensure that all breakers for any outlet, light fixture or appliance are turned off before turning on your main breaker. Especially for any outlet that is located below the highest water line in your property. This is for all interior and garage or external outlets. Likely, they all had water intrusion and will have salt inside, which can be a fire risk when power is restored. Once all breakers have been turned off and the main breaker is turned on, check each individual breaker as you turn them back on. If you see smoke or any signs of fire, immediately turn the breaker off and consult with a licensed electrician. Do not charge electric vehicles or golf carts in any outlets below the water line that have not been checked and tested.”
Several fires in Holmes Beach during the storm were reportedly caused by lithium ion batteries in golf carts.
Water infiltration into the high-voltage battery of an electric vehicle can lead to damage, heightening the risk of a battery fire, according to the National Fire Protection Association. The fires may erupt instantaneously or manifest days, weeks or even months after exposure to saltwater. Using or charging batteries exposed to floodwaters poses a serious risk of fire.
According to FEMA (the Federal Emergency Management Agency), most hurricane-related deaths occur during the post-impact period, with prominent causes of death and injury being electrocutions from downed power lines, chain-saw injuries and blunt trauma from falling trees.
Floodwaters may contain a variety of hazards that pose a health and safety risk, including sharp objects, sewage, bacteria, chemicals, diseased insects and animals, according to FEMA
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – When Hurricane Helene swept past the Gulf coast, it brought several feet of storm surge that left large amounts of debris, standing water and piles of sand across the Island. A group of Anna Maria Island residents and business owners, led by Realtor Darcie Duncan, has joined forces to help locals affected by the storm.
The group, Anna Maria Island Hurricane Helene Relief, is a place for people to post photos and videos, notify neighbors of available help in the area and organize relief efforts. Started on Sept. 27, the group had more than 5,600 members in less than 48 hours, all sharing resources, updates, information and finding ways to help the community begin the long road to recovery.
Companies and city leaders are invited to post information for community members along with anyone who has photos, videos or supplies to share.
Duncan said she knew watching Helene come in that the Island community would need to mobilize quickly to begin recovery.
“It’s so overwhelming, the amount of help and support people have offered,” she said. As soon as the sun came up after the storm passed, Duncan said people were contacting her to find out how they could help and dropping off supplies by boat at her dock for Island residents.
The group also is organizing a supply drive to gather food, cleaning supplies, clothing, water, hygiene supplies and other necessary items.
The Center of Anna Maria Island is serving as a distribution point for all the supplies. The Manatee Community Foundation is a place for anyone who wants to donate financially to relief efforts. All funds collected will go directly to meet the needs of the Anna Maria Island community.
With power to The Center restored, staff has opened the doors to the community to allow people to come charge their phones or devices, take a break from the heat and access a working restroom. Duncan and The Center’s staff are working to get volunteer teams organized to help community members clean up their homes and businesses as well as distribute supplies.
Meals on Wheels of Manatee County is serving as a drop off location for the supplies coming out to the Island. Duncan said that with the exponential growth of the group and the large amount of resources being donated, it’s been necessary to divert the organization of supply drives and financial donations to larger organizations to make sure that supplies and funding get to where they’re needed the most in the Island community, such as Bradenton Beach, which is still inaccessible by vehicle.
Duncan said supplies are available at The Center for Island residents and business owners, from cleaning supplies to shovels and even hugs. Supplies that are still needed include underwear, clothing and socks. Join at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1982057658882341
BRADENTON BEACH – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, along with federal and state officials, was in Bradenton Beach on Saturday to provide an update on Hurricane Helene recovery efforts locally and statewide.
DeSantis addressed the need for reopening Gulf Drive, which suffered extensive damage that included several feet of sand over the road, buckling and sinkholes following the storm surge from the Category 4 storm.
“Here in Bradenton Beach one of the things we wanted to do is get this road fixed as soon as possible,” DeSantis said. “People were talking about many weeks, we don’t have that kind of time.”
Gulf Drive (SR-789) falls under the jurisdiction of the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). As of Sunday, Bradenton Beach is the only Anna Maria Island city that was not allowing residents to return except on foot due largely to the conditions along Gulf Drive.
DeSantis said FDOT has a temporary fix started on Gulf Drive under an emergency contract.
“It could be finished in five days, but we’re hoping they’ll do better than that,” DeSantis said. “There’s part of the road where you have structural damage. And they’ll do temporary repairs. People will be able to use the road. It’s not going to be a permanent solution, but I’d rather get the road back open so people can use it, then we’ll address it on a permanent basis.”
He said the goal is to get everything functioning so people can get back to their homes and businesses as soon as possible.
At 3 p.m. on Sunday, FDOT was authorized by DeSantis to begin immediate sand removal and clearing of all City of Bradenton Beach local roads, according to a Bradenton Beach city press release.
“Please stay out of their way,” the release states. “The city remains open to foot traffic only.”
DeSantis called the amount of sand on the road in Bradenton Beach “significant” and said he has not seen that amount of sand following the storm in any other part of the state he’s visited.
“I think what we’re going to do, we’re going to store the sand and then if folks here need it for beach renourishment they can use it for beach renourishment,” DeSantis said. “In some areas the sand was 5 feet. That’s pretty incredible.”
Much of Anna Maria Island remains without power. The governor said that sand inhibits the ability to deal with some of the underground transmission lines.
“For folks here, there’s a lot of damage, but there’s no question you’ll be able to bounce back,” he said.
DeSantis was joined by FDOT Secretary Jared Purdue, FEMA Executive Director Kevin Guthrie, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell and Major General John Haas from the Florida National Guard.
Purdue said FDOT solicited bids and got under contract quickly to repair Gulf Drive.
“We’re standing here on State Road 789 which sustained significant damage from Helene and with mounds and mounds of sand, and as soon as the water receded our FDOT team here in District 1 jumped in and immediately started doing damage assessments,” Purdue said. “There’s a schedule of five days, but you heard the governor – there’s a full anticipation we’re going to work around the clock to get this done as quickly as possible.”
“We’ve reopened the Florida Disaster Fund, this is a private fund, this is a tax-deductible charitable contribution you can make. It’s a partnership with our partners in the private sector, other non-government groups who work to help people when things like this happen. It can help fund meals and help displaced people get essential items,” DeSantis said.
He gave the telephone number for the state’s non-emergency information line, which is 800-342-3557 and the Hope Florida line for assistance with food and shelter at 1-833-GET-HOPE.
BRADENTON – Stewart Elementary School, 7905 15th Ave. N.W., has opened its doors to Anna Maria Elementary (AME) students temporarily beginning on Monday, Sept. 30.
In a Saturday afternoon email to Stewart parents, Principal Joe Hougland wrote: “First, I hope you and your families are safe and any damage to your homes is minimal. The same can’t be said for our friends on Anna Maria Island,” the email stated.
Hougland said the Manatee County School District is aware of the serious challenges Anna Maria Elementary faces following the devastating impacts of Hurricane Helene.
“Due to the conditions on the Island and at the school, they will not be able to have classes on the AME campus until the situation on the Island substantially improves,” he wrote.
He noted the importance of getting children back to school. With that in mind, he has been working on a plan with the school district and AME Principal Dr. Katie Fradley for Stewart to host students and staff from AME until they can resume classes on the Island.
“We have room to accommodate them, and we have come up with a plan to keep all students learning and create minimal disruption to the daily school schedule,” Hougland wrote. Starting Monday, Sept. 30th, AME students and staff will relocate to Stewart Elementary temporarily.”
Stewart students and teachers will share existing classrooms with AME students and teachers in a team teaching model to continue education for both schools.
“We have been working with the school district and the AME team on details to make this temporary educational model work,” he wrote.
At morning drop-off and dismissal, the Anna Maria Elementary parents will use the South Catalina neighborhood loop for their students. Stewart families will use the regular car rider line on 15th Ave N.W. Stewart Elementary parents are asked to not use the South Catalina neighborhood entrance in order to keep school arrivals separate.
AME students will begin their dismissal early to lessen the impact on the Stewart car line. Families arriving by golf cart or low-speed vehicles are asked to exercise additional caution due to the increased congestion in the area. Parents and guardians also are not able to attend breakfast or lunch with their students while Stewart and AME are temporarily combined due to lack of space.
“We appreciate your patience and support as we welcome the AME family to our amazing campus,” Hougland stated in the email. “Please do what you can to make them feel welcome and help, if necessary.”
BRADENTON BEACH – In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, the recovery and restoration efforts on Anna Maria Island have begun.
On Friday, return access to the Island was limited to first responders and recovery personnel.
Saturday morning, the Holmes Beach Police Department shared the following return-related information: “The chief and mayor have met and the mayor has asked to let residents and business owners to be allowed to enter the city to start their cleanup efforts. Starting at 10 a.m., property owners and business owners of Holmes Beach and the city of Anna Maria will be allowed to come onto the Island to assess their damages. You must have a reentry tag. There is still no power or water and the roads still have standing water and debris. Drive slowly and safely.
“You can only access the Island by Manatee Avenue. The roads in Bradenton Beach are still impassable. There will be barricades at the city line of Holmes Beach/Bradenton Beach so no one can enter Bradenton Beach through Holmes Beach. Once you enter Holmes Beach, you will be handed a flyer with instructions on where to place your trash and debris,” the statement says.
When contacted by phone at 10:00 Saturday morning, Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer said he and Mayor Judy Titsworth were at the entrance to the city handing out information sheets to returning motorists.
By noon, there was a 90-minute wait along Manatee Avenue to enter Holmes Beach.
Access to Bradenton Beach via the Cortez Bridge and the Longboat Pass Bridge remains restricted to essential personnel only. Some residents and business owners managed to access the Island by boat before the bridge access restrictions were partially lifted.
Access to the Cortez Bridge remains restricted until further notice.
As of Saturday morning, there was no water and electricity service on the Island and cell service remained hit-and-miss. The loss of water service was a decision made by Manatee County officials to protect the county’s water and sewage system prior to the storm surge inundating the Island. Hurricane Helene inflicted the loss of electricity and cell service. The water damage to homes, businesses, automobiles and personal belongings is expected to be immense, painful and, in some cases, life-altering.
Bradenton Beach
Friday morning Bradenton Beach Police Chief John Cosby allowed The Sun to take a self-guided tour of the damage sustained within walking distance of the Cortez Bridge. Due to the bridge access restrictions, The Sun could not get to Holmes Beach or Anna Maria.
Police Chief and Public Works Director John Cosby leads Bradenton Beach’s recovery efforts. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Cosby also serves as the city’s emergency operations manager and public works director. At 8 a.m., he stood at the sand-covered intersection of Cortez Road and Gulf Drive with limited cell phone service trying to communicate with city, county and state personnel as the locally unprecedented damage assessment, recovery and restoration efforts ensued.
“Gulf Drive is under about three feet of sand for the entire length of the city,” he said. “The road underneath the sand has buckled so there are areas where there is no road. We also have sinkholes. The dunes and the beach are gone. We have structural damage to properties, houses that shifted on their foundations, and a lot of flooding. The pier is fine. There’s a boat stuck under the floating dock and finger docks are messed up.”
A cabin cruiser became wedged under the floating dock next to the Bradenton Beach Pier.
Cosby’s not aware of any hurricane-related fatalities or serious injuries.
As the morning unfolded, heavy equipment operators and other recovery personnel began arriving, staging and taking action at the west end of the Cortez Bridge. At 10:30 a.m., the operator of a front-end loader began digging down into the Gulf Drive/Cortez Road intersection to determine how much sand sat atop Gulf Drive.
A front-loader was used to gauge the depth of the sand atop Gulf Drive.
When contacted by phone later in the day, Cosby noted the entire stretch of Gulf Drive in Bradenton Beach is a state road (SR 789) and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has to clear the sand and construct a temporary road before motorists are allowed to return. Cosby stressed the need for residents and business owners to remain patient, as difficult as that is.
“No one is getting out here. The people that are here didn’t evacuate,” he said. “I’ve got about 60 pieces of FDOT equipment moving sand off Gulf Drive. I cannot have people getting in their way. Somebody is going to get hit. I also have businesses and homes that are not secure. I cannot have people wandering around and pillaging because there are no doors and windows. This is not a sightseeing tour and people need to understand that. DOT told me they would be working all weekend but it could take them at a least a week to get all this sand out of here and then they have to lay down a temporary road. Then I’ve got to get my contractor in here to get all the sand off our roads. Nobody’s driving around this city until we have the sand off every road.”
This home along Gulf Drive North sustained damage. – Joe Hendricks – SunHurricane Helene damaged this ground-level home on Gulf Drive North
South of the Cortez Bridge the damage is visible in all directions, with the structures along Gulf Drive appearing to be the hardest hit. Two old ground-level homes and a small two-story duplex near the Gulf Drive/Cortez Road intersection are badly damaged.
The garage at another nearby ground-level home collapsed and the metal roof sits atop a pile of rubble next to the house that’s still standing. A displaced storage shed sat on the sand-covered road near the BeachHouse restaurant.
The garage toppled but the house withstood the storm.A storage shed and patio chairs wound up on Gulf Drive.
The Anna Maria Island Moose Lodge sustained major damage including missing waterfront windows and interior furnishings left in haphazard piles by the incoming and outgoing floodwaters and the sand intrusion.
The AMI Moose Lodge lost several gulf-front windows.Water and sand intrusion damaged the Moose lodge.
The front doors at Oma’s Pizza are open and askew with the glass missing. The restaurant’s side door is gone and uprooted furniture is piled up inside.
The hurricane forced open the front doors at Oma’s Pizza.The hurricane made a mess of Oma’s Pizza.
Similar damage occurred at Wilder’s Pizza, the Island Scoops ice cream shop and the One Stop Shell Shop along the 100 block of Gulf Drive North.
Wilder’s Pizza suffered significant water intrusion.Equipment was strewn about inside Island ScoopsThe One Stop Shell Shop’s exterior was compromised.
Sand was piled up against the front doors of city hall with possible water damage inside. A city-owned work truck sat in a water-filled hole in front of the public works building as Building Official Darin Cushing walked the area conducting door-to-door assessments of the structural damage visible from outside.
A city work truck wound up in a water-filled hole.
Church Avenue was partially flooded with sand piled above the water in some areas. The mobile homes in the Pines Trailer Park appeared to be mostly undamaged on the outside, but the water damage inside is expected to be significant. Pines resident Joe Klingler stayed during the storm and watched the floodwaters inside his mobile home and along Bridge Street rise to approximately four feet.
The Bradenton Beach Pier was littered with toppled benches and debris but appears in good condition. A cabin cruiser that broke free during the hurricane lodged under the floating dock and most of the finger docks are sitting at angles, rather than 90 degrees, to the floating dock they’re connected to.
The finger docks sustained storm damage.
Aside from the unknown flood damage inside, the bars, restaurants and retail shops along Bridge Street appear to be structurally intact; and only one of the city’s recently-planted coconut palm trees toppled over.
A recently-planted coconut palm tree fell during the storm.
North of Gulf Drive, a gulf-front window at the Wicked Cantina is smashed, the interior contents are jostled about and the elevated outdoor deck appears to be at ground level because of all the relocated sand.
The hurricane damaged the Wicked Cantina’s front window.Displaced sand sits as high as the Wicked Cantina’s front dock.This vehicle came to rest atop an air-conditioning unit in the condominium complex next to the Wicked Cantina.
Across the street, the Gulf Drive Café also suffered hurricane damage.
The Gulf-side of the Gulf Drive Café sustained damage.A tiki-table toppled at the Gulf Drive Café.
Anna Maria
When evaluating the city’s recent response to Tropical Storm Debby, Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy said the city would begin utilizing Facebook to provide real-time information before, during and after the next major storm. He made good on that promise.
Friday afternoon, city staff posted the following Facebook message: “The city of Anna Maria has declared a curfew from sunset to sunrise. All people must remain off street during those hours until further notice. The purpose of this action is to prevent looting during the time when there is no electricity and no cellular service.”
The curfew imposed via Murphy’s emergency powers will remain in place until further notice.
Earlier that day, the city posted this message: “At this time, the Island is without power and water. First-in teams are present doing damage and safety assessments. When it is safe to return, reentry tags will be required to gain access.”
When returning to Anna Maria, motorists will encounter a Manatee County Sheriff’s Office checkpoint at the entrance to the city, near CrossPointe Fellowship Church, and be required to present a reentry tag or some other proof of residence or business interest to enter the city. The checkpoint is meant to discourage unwelcome sightseers.
Murphy and his wife, Barb, evacuated their home before the storm but he returned Friday morning to assess the damage and lead the city’s recovery efforts. Speaking by phone Friday afternoon, Murphy said Hurricane Helene produced very little structural damage but significant flood damage. He was told the storm surge was approximately 6 feet high at high tide late Thursday evening and early Friday morning.
“We’ve still got some stuff that’s underwater. The north end, from the Rod & Reel Pier around North Shore is in some serious trouble. I left that area an hour and half ago and I still couldn’t get back in there. It’s not good,” Murphy said.
“Almost every home, except the new and higher ones, likely had some water intrusion,” Murphy said. “The homes along South Bay took on two to three feet of water, some maybe more, from Pine Avenue to Galati’s. Downstairs at my home, my wife’s car went underwater and is destroyed.”
Murphy said the Waterfront and Sandbar restaurants appear to have sustained significant water damage and the privately-owned Rod & Reel Pier is missing some planks.
“I guess we’re in better shape than the other two cities,” Murphy said. “Our roads that run along the Gulf, and even the ones a block from the Gulf, took on a lot of sand but our contractors and staff got the debris and sand pretty much cleaned up,” Murphy said.
Regarding the city’s main business district, Murphy said, “Pine Avenue’s in good shape. We got it cleared early this morning. In our city annex, we had six inches of water but not extensive damage. Most of the businesses, residences and the historical museum on Pine Avenue had water intrusion on the ground floor.”
Murphy said the City Pier weathered the storm but there’s some damage to the pier’s Gulf Island Ferry landing area and there was some water intrusion into the city-owned spaces leased to the City Pier Grill and the Mote Marine Science Education & Outreach Center.
Murphy is not aware of any storm-related injuries or fatalities.
Recovery personnel gathered at the west end of the Cortez Bridge Friday morning
Recovery personnel toured the city assessing the damage.
A large, water-filled hole formed in the middle of Gulf Drive.
The hurricane reshaped the Bradenton Beach shoreline. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
The beach eroded in front of the Gulf Drive Café.
The beach in front of the AMI Moose lodge suffered storm erosion.
Displaced sand covered the Bridge Street/Gulf Drive roundabout.
Bridge Street flooded during the hurricane and water intruded many businesses.
The Gulf Drive Café suffered storm damage.
Many mobile homes in the Pines Trailer Park sustained water damage. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
Church Avenue was still flooded Friday morning.
Sand and water intruded the One Stop Shell Shop. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
The Moose lodge sustained significant damage.
Island Scoops lost some of their front windows.
Hurricane Helene compromised the door and windows at Wilder’s Pizza
Many air conditioners were damaged during the storm.
CORTEZ – Cortez fishing villagers are accustomed to sharks, but not in their backyards.
One longtime resident said a shark brushed against her as she was cleaning up the yard before the floodwaters from Hurricane Helene receded.
Just down the street at Slicker’s Eatery, Bob Slicker had expected some storm impact from Hurricane Helene to his Cortez Road restaurant, even though it’s not on the water, but nothing could have prepared him for the sight that greeted him early Friday morning as the building was flooded with more than 3 feet of water.
“I told my team Thursday, I could just feel it,” Slicker said. “It was like nothing I’d ever felt before and I’ve been living on the water since the 80s. I just knew. It wasn’t a good feeling at all.”
He advised his staff on Thursday to go home and stay safe and he returned to the restaurant in the middle of the night after the storm had subsided.
“Power had gone out about 7 Thursday night. I waited until the sun came up so I could see better,” Slicker said. “Everything in here was askew, chairs, tables, booths. We only have two chest freezers because we have all fresh food – they were flipped over – that’s how deep it was. The plates and everything were floating.”
He said a full dumpster that was behind the building had been pushed to the middle of Cortez Road from the force of the storm.
“It was on its side in the road, that’s how deep and powerful it was,” he said. “The ice machine, which is outside, was broken in two and half of it was wedged against the door.”
Slicker said they will reopen as soon as possible, and that timing will be dependent on a professional clean-up company and the return of electricity.
“In the restaurant business we all live week to week, and I’m trying to get things going so my team has income,” he said as his voice choked with emotion. “My team has been so giving ever since the day we opened.”
Slicker’s has been in operation for about four years.
“I just hope everyone is safe,” Slicker said. “I hope everybody did OK. Take care of your neighbors.”
Adam Sears, general manager of the waterfront Swordfish Grill in the Cortez fishing village, said the restaurant suffered minimal water intrusion and was scheduled to reopen on Sunday.
Adjacent to Swordfish, the recently remodeled Cortez Kitchen took on water and Sears said damage is being evaluated before a reopening date can be set.
“Right now, people in Cortez need help,” Sears said. “There are many people there who lost everything and may not have the means or the ability right now to fix what needs to be fixed. Their walls have gotten wet and need to be replaced before the mold sets in. People who have the ability won’t ask for help, but there are elderly people there who really could use assistance.”
Sears said he and local charter boat Capt. Lance Plowman were out Thursday night on a boat on flooded Cortez roads trying to assist those who needed help.
“Lance’s own house got flooded, but he was out there helping,” Sears said. “Right now we need people who are able to come down with gloves and tools.”
CORTEZ RESIDENTS CLEAN UP
Cortez residents spent the day on Friday dragging waterlogged furniture, carpets and appliances out to the road for trash pickup following Hurricane Helene’s storm surge on Thursday night.
Cortez resident Lydia was cleaning up water on Friday in her 45th Avenue West home.
“I was born and raised in Puerto Rico and I’ve lived through hurricanes there and I’ve never, ever seen flooding like this,” she said.
Power went out on Thursday evening and she and her husband could barely see the waters rise to more than a foot in the house overnight.
She said the family cars were inundated with salt water.
“This car, my husband’s car and my son-in-law’s car, they all got flooded,” she said. “I told my son-in-law two weeks ago, you know, we’re going to get hit with a bad storm. He asked how I knew and I said, ‘Something in here is telling me, we’re going to get hit and we’re going to get flooded.’ I didn’t want to be right.”
Susan Curry, a Cortez resident, was mopping the sand and water off the wood floors in her 1925 bungalow and is expecting to have to replace the home’s electrical system due to water damage.
“These houses have old wiring and the water was sitting in the wires and got into the outlets,” Curry said. “I turned off the main breaker and will have to have an electrician replace the wiring.”
She took a philosophical approach to the storm.
“It was bound to happen,” she said. “And this isn’t even… we could still get hit with a real one, and this will all be wiped out.”
Down the road from Curry’s home, a large tree had fallen onto a boat and garage on 45th Avenue West and was removed on Friday.
DOCKS DESTROYED
Three Cortez docks, the Fulford Dock, Miller Dock and the Star Fish Co. docks, were badly damaged in the storm.
“This dock was just built,” Fulford employee Rucker said.
At the building adjacent to the dock, a boat had smashed into a side wall leaving a sizeable hole.
“That boat was not in Cortez before the storm,” Rucker said. “I think it might have come over from Longboat.”
Parts of the deck of the Miller dock were sagging over the water and at Star Fish Co., slats on the dock were broken and tables had tumbled into the water.
A skiff was sitting in the middle of the road in a puddle of water in front of Star Fish Co. on Friday.
COMMUNITY CHURCH PITCHES IN TO HELP
Members of the Cortez Church of Christ put up a tent and tables filled with sandwiches and cold water to show support for their neighbors.
“We’re doing what we can to help,” Sylvia Bailey said. “People who have lost so much can come by and get something to eat, a drink of cold water and some love.”
Bailey said she has lived in Cortez for many years and this is the worst flooding she’s seen in the village. She said the church, which never had flooded, took on more than a foot of water.
“We’ve had storms before, but nothing like this,” she said.
Tree lands on boat a
and garage following impacts from Hurricane Helene. - LESLIE LAKE | SUN
A boat of unknown origin, smashed into the side of Fulford's in Cortez. - Leslie Lake | Sun
BRADENTON BEACH – The morning after Hurricane Helene, Gulf Drive is buried below at least a few feet of sand, with sinkholes and buckled pavement.
Some homes and businesses sustained structural damage and many more sustained water damage.
The AMI Moose Lodge sustained significant damage. Oma’s Pizza, Wilder’s Pizza, Two Scoops, Wicked Cantina and Gulf Drive Cafe sustained damage including broken doors and windows and wind and water intrusion.
Bridge Street structures appear to be intact. Bradenton Beach floating docks were damaged although the pier appears intact.
The Pines Trailer Park experienced flooding but the mobile homes appear to be intact.
There is no water or electricity on the Island and the bridges remain closed to media, residents, property owners and business owners.
Island officials are asking everyone to stay away until further notice. It may be two or three days or longer before the Island is open.
Wicked Cantina - Joe Hendricks | Sun
Bradenton Beach Pier - Joe Hendricks | Sun
AMI Moose Lodge - Joe Hendricks | Sun
Slice of AMI - Joe Hendricks | Sun
Gulf Drive - Joe Hendricks | Sun
Bradenton Beach - Joe Hendricks | Sun
Hurricane damage from Helene in Bradenton Beach. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
ANNA MARIA – Thursday night heated up as the adult fall soccer league started with five back-to-back games. With two more teams this season, the schedule is compressed to let roughly 100 Island-area men and women hit the pitch for the nine weeks of games leading to the playoffs in late November.
Veteran player and team captain Greg Ross led his team to victory over team Bubble Binz with a score of 4-2. Ross played alongside his twin sons, Andrew and Jake Ross, on the Ross Built Custom Homes squad.
While not credited for a goal, G. Ross struck hard and struck often, finding his sweet spot on the field. Jake and Andrew each had a goal, adding to the two points put up by Jack Gibson.
In an uncharacteristic position at goal, Kevin Roman made five important stops off the boots of the Bubble Binz offense. Osvaldo Cabello protected the goal for team Bubble Binz, making six saves after two halves of soccer action.
Cabello’s teammates James Knowles and Gerardo Urbiola Bolanos scored the goals for Bubble Binz, helping to keep the team in the first game of the season.
AMI Dolphin Tours and Language Services Associates took to the pitch next. Ending in a 3-3 draw, each team recorded seven saves after 40 minutes of regulation play.
Making the saves was Julian Bejarano for team Language Services. AMI Dolphin Tours split the duty between Tyler Bekkerus, with three big stops, and Aaron Frech, with four stops. Frech took over in goal after Bekkerus left the field with an injury.
Scoring for AMI Dolphin Tours were Robert Fellowes, Erica Nielsen and Frech. On the other side of the field, Luis Martinez, Alex Quintero and Juan Rodriguez put the points on the scoreboard.
Team Pool America dominated in the third game of the night against Gulf Drive Café. Pool America’s Chris Klotz and Gulf Drive’s Charles “Tuna” McCracken each had 10 saves in the game.
Four all-important goals got past McCracken for his team’s 5-1 loss. McCracken is credited with the assist on Gulf Drive Café’s only point, scored by Javier Rivera.
On the other side of the field, Murat Akay and Lucas Wilson each put two past McCracken, while Dean Hinterstoisser had a solo goal in the team’s win.
The Sato Real Estate goalies Josh and Ben Sato were kept busy making eight and nine saves, respectively. Their counterpart, Steve Oelfke, made five recorded stops in his team’s three-goal win.
Offensively and defensively strong, the Hampton Painting team held Sato Real Estate to two goals by Logan O’Brien and team captain J. Sato. Hampton’s captain, Daniel Hampton, scored two goals, along with Tim Holly. Their teammate Ethan Hampton scored his first goal of the season against the Sato defense.
Ending the night with a big win, Solid Rock Construction beat the Moss Builders team 5-2. Ryan Moss’ eight saves, in addition to goalie efforts by Karri Stephens with two stops, just was not enough against Keith Mahoney’s team.
Led by James Roadman, the Moss Builders team managed to score two goals against Solid Rock with strikes by Stephen Adair and Alexis Bellamy.
Playing in her second game of the night, Nielsen scored another goal. Julio Cantu got one by the Moss Builders’ keeper.
With the only hat trick of the game, Mahoney scored three of the team’s five points to close out week one of adult soccer on the Island.
If you loved shoulder pads, Cabbage Patch Kids and the Rubik’s Cube, you probably loved the 80s. But one thing not to love about the 80s was the home buying affordable rate, which has just been outdone this past June.
Today’s housing market is the most difficult in decades. This has been an ongoing frustration for first-time home buyers in the Gen Z and Millennial generations. Home buying affordability dropped last fall to the lowest level since September 1985, and it fell near that level again in June.
The good thing for the mid-80s buyers is they had much more housing supply. Homes became more affordable as mortgage rates fell in subsequent years, adding to the inventory. In September 1985, 72% of consumers said it was a good time to buy a home, according to the University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment survey. In June 2024, just 12% said the same.
And it gets worse. According to the National Association of Realtors’ affordability index, in January 2021, a family needed an income of $49,152 to afford the median-priced single-family home with a 20% down payment. In June 2024, just three years, the family would need an income of $110,544 to make the same purchase. Added to this is the cost of property taxes, home insurance, car insurance and a list of other expenses related to homeownership that have increased.
In addition to the affordability rate, there is the number of home sales. The existing home sales slid in 2023 to the lowest level since 1995 and have held at lower levels in the first half of 2024.
There is a group of buyers, however, who are somewhat unfazed by the affordability rate that first-time buyers are facing. And those, of course, are the wealthy. The high-end market is doing a lot better than the 30-year-olds looking for their first home. Wealth allows people to care more about having their ideal home than holding on to a 3% mortgage rate. They know they can always refinance later if the rates drop. But nonluxury buyers typically finance their purchases and are more sensitive to interest rates.
The Federal Reserve met last week and took action on interest rates for the first time in several years, cutting their rate by half a percentage. This does not always translate into lower mortgage rates, which have been going down and are now just above 6%, but it might, and it could also have a positive effect on restoring confidence in the market.
Now it’s time for the August Manatee County home sales, reported by the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee. Single-family homes closed 0.2% fewer this August compared to last August. The median sale price was $494,000, down 5.9%, and the average sale price was $609,789, down 14.8%. There were 3.6% more new listings and the month’s supply of available properties was 3.9 months, up 39.3%.
Condos closed 11.2% fewer this August. The median sale price was $329,990, down 8.1%, and the average sale price was $385,931, down 2.0%. New listings were up 3.8% and the month’s supply of available properties was 5.7 months, up 7.27%.
If I were spinning, I could say it’s summer and it’s always slow, condo buyers are still cooling off in their northern homes and more new listings is a good thing. But I won’t insult your intelligence; the market is slow, and I think we have a few more months before we can get a real read on what’s going on.
No one really wants to go back to the 80s – didn’t we all hate Cabbage Patch Kids? Hopefully, an adjustment in mortgage rates will benefit non-luxury buyers and move the market up. A rising tide lifts all boats.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is rolling out an initiative to assist in the derelict boat removal process for some municipalities.
At a September meeting, FWC commissioners approved rule amendments creating a block grant option within the FWC derelict vessel and public nuisance vessel removal grant program.
The FWC Boating and Waterways Section proposed the option to allow for additional reimbursement for ongoing vessel removals in areas that remove a substantial number of derelict vessels annually.
A derelict vessel is any vessel that is left in a wrecked, junked or substantially dismantled condition in the waters of the state.
Eligible governments must have removed 40 or more vessels within three of the preceding five calendar years.
However, smaller municipalities such as Bradenton Beach may not qualify for the block grants.
According to Bradenton Beach Police Chief John Cosby, approximately 25 derelict and abandoned boats have been removed by the city from waters in the past five years.
Local boat captains have expressed concern about sunken and unregistered boats south of the Cortez Bridge off the fishing village of Cortez, in Manatee County. In May, marine law enforcement agencies issued more than 20 citations for multiple unregistered and derelict vessels.
“Our goal is to keep improving our waterways by removing as many DVs as possible,” said Maj. Bill Holcomb, FWC boating and waterways section leader. “This amendment will allow local governments that have DV removal experience and are familiar with the process an option to remove these vessels more efficiently. They can remove eligible DVs and submit for reimbursement from their awarded block grant.”
As of June 1, there were 700 derelict vessels listed in the FWC derelict vessel database statewide.
“These vessels cause the destruction of valuable seagrass resources and endanger marine life. They also threaten human life, safety and property as they drift on or beneath the surface of the water or block navigable waterways, posing a navigational hazard to the boating public,” according to an FWC press release.
The funding for each block grant award is based on a formula that includes the average number of vessel removals for the applicant and the statewide average cost per removal.
For more information about the derelict vessel removal grant program, visit MyFWC.com/boating, select “Grant Programs” then “Derelict Vessels Removal Grant Program.”
Two years ago, I had the honor of meeting Dr. John Bowden, who was collecting samples in the area for a study of PFAS (forever chemicals) in local waters. Bowden is an associate professor at the University of Florida who works on measuring emerging pollutants in a wide variety of matrices. He was a guest speaker at a Suncoast Waterkeeper fundraising banquet and I volunteered to help him leading up to the event.
While Bowden was in the area, he was commissioned to conduct a study of drinking water on Anna Maria Island by Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth and the Holmes Beach Clean Water Committee.
According to Titsworth, “Growing up and living on the water my entire life, I have witnessed a decline in water quality. It is more important than ever for everyone to decrease their impacts on the water.”
Now there’s an opportunity to help Bowden with a new study that should be of importance to all Island residents. Currently, he has a Ph.D. graduate student working on a project to measure emerging pollutants in fish muscle. To date, they have an extensive set of fish samples but are looking to expand the study. They are hoping to connect with anglers and fishing guides to see if they can obtain a small piece of fish muscle harvested when fish are cleaned for their study. They only need about 1-2 grams from each fish.
If you can help, all data will be shared with participants, and you will be anonymous in any publication. If interested, please share an address and they will send tubes that the small muscle plugs can be put into to send back to them. They have a FedEx account for the shipment of the samples.
Their goal is to generate data that will allow them to help determine the safest fish to consume and better fish consumption advisories.
While they are open to receiving samples from all types of fish, these are the fish species they are most keen on getting samples from (species in bold represent ones they have no samples for yet): Mahi, sailfish, snapper, grouper, tuna, amberjack, wahoo, monkfish, tilefish, swordfish, hogfish, flounder, striped mullet, American red snapper, triggerfish, sheepshead, tripletail, barrelfish, kingfish, cobia, grunts and drum, as well as any others that are available. They are interested in some freshwater fish as well, including catfish, bass, etc.
This is a great opportunity for local guides and anglers to help identify the safest species for consumption. For more information and to participate, contact Dr. John Bowden at john.bowden@ufl.edu.
ANNA MARIA – Manatee County’s oldest community theater, the Island Players, kicked off its 76th season on Sept. 19 with a production of Beth Henley’s award-winning “Crimes of the Heart,” which runs through Sunday, Sept. 29 at the Island Playhouse, 10009 Gulf Drive.
While the play is a drama, there are ample moments of laughter as the audience is drawn into a family of four sisters who are brought together after one of them commits a criminal act. All the sisters have their own personal issues, and their grandfather (who never appears on stage) is in the hospital, adding drama to their already complicated lives.
Most of the story is learned through the conversation of the sisters, whose life problems cover everything from a failed career, death, love and infidelity to a racial issue. The topic of suicide plays so centrally into the plot that during the introduction of the play, director Mike Lusk gives the audience a telephone number for the suicide hotline to call if they are having personal issues. But the play manages to make the suicide aspect poignant, and even the source of a few laughs.
While not as slapstick or hilarious as many of the Island Players’ productions in the past couple of seasons, there is plenty to love about Crimes of the Heart. Lusk cast the play well, with most of the actors familiar to anyone who is an Island Players’ regular. Even on opening night (first night audiences are most likely to see mistakes by the cast), the performance was nearly flawless and full of genuine emotion, brilliantly acted by a talented veteran cast.
Anna Maria Island is beyond fortunate to have the Island Players, and Crimes of the Heart is another example of why a night at the theater is one of the best options for anyone looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the real world.
Last season, the Players sold out most shows and broke attendance records. To avoid missing out, get tickets as soon as possible. Tickets are available at www.theislandplayers.org, at the box office beginning one hour prior to the show or by calling the box office at 941-778-5755.
MANATEE COUNTY – While residents were hunkering down during the wind and rain as then-Tropical Storm Debby swept by the Gulf coast on Aug. 4, West Manatee Fire Rescue’s A shift was responding to multiple calls.
Over the course of a 24-hour shift, the department’s staff responded to more than 50 calls. WMFR Commission Chair Derrick Warner was so impressed with the team’s work and dedication during the storm that he presented them with a Commissioner’s Unit Citation Award during a Sept. 10 board meeting at the district’s administration building.
The Unit Citation Award is given to a crew, unit or entire department for exemplary performance during a fire or other emergency where the participants act as a team to efficiently bring the situation under control. Receiving the award for work during Debby are firefighter/medic Jerrod Apple, firefighter/medic John Balzer, firefighter Nathan Bergbom, firefighter William Bowen, Lt. Cameron Frazier, firefighter/medic Gabriel Gonzalez, Deputy Chief Jay Johnson, firefighter Gavin Johnston, Fire Marshal Rodney Kwiatkowski, firefighter Brooks Larkin, Capt. James Leigh, Battalion Chief Tyler MacDonald, firefighter Samuel Martinez, firefighter Dane Miller, firefighter Chris O’Kelly, Chief Ben Rigney, firefighter Tyler Snyder and Training Chief Mark Tuttle.
During an August board meeting, commissioners voted unanimously to bestow the award on the group for their response efforts during the storm.
“They functioned well as an organized team to deliver emergency services over 50 times in one shift. Their mission was to reduce the devastation of Hurricane Debby on Aug. 4, 2024, and they did a great job,” Warner said of the team. “It’s certainly a reflection on their training, their organization, their leadership and their ‘get it done’ attitude. The board of commissioners is deeply grateful and appreciative of the efforts demonstrated by shift A and the others over a very long day.”
BRADENTON BEACH – It was a beautiful day for a Back to School Bash on Bridge Street as the Bradenton Beach Merchants Association held its third Sundown Get Down street party on Sept. 19.
The event, scheduled on the third Thursday of every month through Dec. 19, offers attendees the chance to try out the unique offerings of the city’s diverse array of businesses. Information tents at both the west and east ends of Bridge Street explained discounts and freebies offered by local businesses.
Sophia Troxler enjoyed the Sundown Get Down Back to School Bash on Bridge Street. – Jason Schaffer | Sun
This month’s event had a Back to School Bash theme, and plenty of families were on hand to enjoy some fun in the sun.
Sundown Get Down’s upcoming themes are:
• Oct. 17: Pumpkins and Palms in Paradise
• Nov. 21: Coastal Harvest Hoedown
• Dec. 19: Sandy Clause Beach Celebration
During each Sundown Get Down event from 4-9 p.m., Bridge Street is closed to auto traffic and open alcohol is permitted. The event offers sporting competitions for prizes and a chance to fish in a kiddie pool for prizes.
The Monkey Bus runs a complimentary shuttle service to and from the free parking lot at Coquina Beach and paid parking lots in the area offer half-priced rates during the event.
BRADENTON BEACH – Two educational “Wildlife of Anna Maria Island” signs will soon be placed in John Chappie Park.
The park, 1400 Gulf Drive N., is across the street from the Bermuda Bay Club condominium complex. The identical 60″ x 24″ angle-mounted, high-pressure laminate signs will be placed at two locations along the sand trails in the natural surroundings of the city-owned park located between Gulf Drive South and the Gulf of Mexico. The signs will not be placed on the beach directly west of the park.
The Bradenton Beach Scenic WAVES Partnership Committee is spearheading the sign project. On Sept. 19, Scenic WAVES Vice-Chair Ingrid McClellan presented the mayor and city commission with an invoice for the completed design work and the cost estimate for the sign manufacturing. She also asked the commission to choose the color of the signposts. The commission opted for green posts.
The colorful and informative signs will include images of the wildlife found on Anna Maria Island, including manatees, bottlenose dolphins, cownose rays, pelicans, loggerhead sea turtles, green turtles, gopher tortoises, ospreys, royal terns and several other shorebirds, fiddler crabs, Atlantic bay scallops and more.
The signs will include the following educational messages:
• Leave only footprints;
• Fill in holes;
• Obey posted closures;
• Lights out May-October (sea turtle nesting season);
• Give birds space;
• Do not feed wildlife;
• Protect dune vegetation; and
• Be seagrass safe.
The sign design cost $3,503, with the city paying $1,003 of that using funds from the John Chappie Park fund. The cost to manufacture and ship the two signs and the mounting posts is $3,007. A mini-grant from the Tampa Bay Estuary Program will cover $2,500 of the manufacturing costs and the remaining $507 will be donated personally by McClellan and Scenic WAVES committee member Cathy King.
As an additional educational component to the sign installations, the non-profit Keep Manatee Beautiful organization will donate 68 thumb drives to teachers, schools and community centers in Manatee County. The thumb drives will contain informational materials provided by the Tampa Bay Estuary Program, the Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring organization and the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce. The thumb drives will be accompanied by poster-sized versions of the wildlife signs.
While addressing the commission, McClellan noted the long-anticipated sign project was initiated in 2016. She expects the signs to be installed in December.
Mayor John Chappie, the park’s namesake, praised McClellan’s presentation and expressed his appreciation for all the work she and the committee put into the project.
Now there’s an opportunity to help Bowden with a new study that should be of importance to all Island residents. Currently, he has a Ph.D. graduate student working on a project to measure emerging pollutants in fish muscle. To date, they have an extensive set of fish samples but are looking to expand the study. They are hoping to connect with anglers and fishing guides to see if they can obtain a small piece of fish muscle harvested when fish are cleaned for their study. They only need about 1-2 grams from each fish.
