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Year: 2024

Preserving home rule rights a top priority

Preserving home rule rights a top priority

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News.

BRADENTON BEACH – City officials are compiling a list of priorities for the Florida Legislature’s 2025 session that starts on March 4.

When fully compiled, the list of Braden­ton Beach’s legislative priorities will be shared with the Florida League of Cities and the city’s contracted lobbying firm.

According to the legislative priorities document discussed during the Sept. 19 city commission meeting, the mayor and commission’s first priority is to preserve the city’s home rule rights and the right to self-government, and to oppose any legislation that attempts to eliminate or reduce those rights. The second priority is to oppose any legislative efforts to preempt short-term vacation rental regulation to the state.

“Home rule is why no two cities are alike,” according to the priorities list. “Strong home rule powers ensure that government stays close to the people it serves. Intrusion on home rule from the state or federal government undermines the constitutional right of citizens to govern themselves.”

The city supports legislation that protects and enhances the quality of our natural waters, addresses sea-level rise and supports the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Florida Forever conservation and recreation lands acquisition program. Bradenton Beach officials support legislation that provides funding for projects that help prevent and mitigate the negative environmental and economic impacts of red tide and other harmful algae blooms.

Property insurance reform is another top priority and the city supports a state effort to address increasing insurance rates, limiting the claim duration process and the unsubstantiated cancellation of insurance policies.

Bradenton Beach officials also would like more equitable sharing of the county’s tourist development tax revenues. The priorities list notes that a substantial por­tion of the county’s tourist development tax revenues are generated in Bradenton Beach and elsewhere on Anna Maria Island. Manatee County currently levies a 5% tourist tax on all short-term resort and vacation rental stays and county voters are now being asked to increase the tax to 6%.

State law restricts how the tourist tax revenues received by a city are spent. Tourist tax revenues can be used for city projects that enhance tourism but cannot be used for law enforcement or projects that enhance streets and roads, drainage and other infrastructure components.

The list notes that Bradenton Beach has a residential population of approxi­mately 1,200 people, but during weekends, holidays and other peak periods, the population can swell to 30,000 people with the influx of beachgoers and other visitors.

The commission supports the Florida Legislature revising the population requirements that currently allows some municipalities, but not others, to use tour­ist development tax revenues for police services and infrastructure improvements.

The city wants the Legislature to protect public rights-of-way by addressing the Advanced Wireless Infrastructure Deployment Act it adopted in 2017. The state act allows wireless providers to place small cell phone transmitters and other wireless devices on utility poles located in city rights of way. The act prevents local authorities from prohibiting, regulating or charging for the placement of small wireless facilities in public rights-of-way except as specified in the bill that caps the rate for device placement at $150 per year.

The commission opposes legislation that would restrict or eliminate the tax revenues generated by the city’s local business tax.

Commissioners support the Florida League of Cities’ legislative priority per­taining to state funding for mental health initiatives, facilities and programs.

City Attorney Ricinda Perry recom­mended adding two more priorities to the list: one pertaining to complete streets project funding and one in support of state funding that would help cities enhance their cybersecurity measures.

Planning board reviews parking regulations

Planning board reviews parking regulations

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Community News.

ANNA MARIA – Planning and Zoning Board members are reviewing the city’s parking regulations with an emphasis on reducing visibility challenges created by parked vehicles.

Joined by City Planner Ashley Austin and General Manager Dean Jones, Anna Maria Planning and Zoning Board members David Had­dox, Dusty Crane, Doug Copeland and Jeff Rodencal participated in parking regulation-related workshops on Aug. 21 and Sept. 19. The board recommendations produced during the workshops will be reviewed again on Oct. 31 before being presented for city commission consideration.

The board and city staff recommend regulation revisions that include prohibiting parking on multi-use paths and designated bike lanes and parking within a visibility triangle at a street intersection. Board members and staff also discussed prohibiting street-side parking within 10 feet of a driveway.

Driveway concerns

Earlier this year, the board mem­bers and city staff assumed city code prohibited street-side parking within 10 feet of a driveway, but they later learned no such prohibition exists.

When discussing a possible driveway-related parking prohibition in August, Copeland said, “When people park directly up to your driveway, you cannot see to get out.”

He noted the lack of visibility experienced when pulling out of a driveway presents a danger to families walking down the street and makes it difficult to see oncoming motorists.

Rodencal agreed but questioned how the city would enforce such a prohibition and notify residents and visitors of that new restriction.

Rodencal also questioned whether eliminating numerous public parking spaces located within 10 feet of a driveway impacts the city’s ability to provide the number of public parking spaces required to qualify for county and state-funded beach renourish­ment projects. He said city staff would need to review the city’s parking plan and determine how many parking spaces would be eliminated.

Copeland said he previously asked the city to install traffic delineators on each side of his driveway entrance. The delineators consist of a white and orange plastic sleeve slipped over a metal fence post. The delineators limit the available parking space and make it difficult to park without the vehicle’s tires encroaching onto the street pavement, which is a parking violation.

The board expressed concerns about the visual aesthetics of install­ing parking delineators at every residential driveway, and there is no desire to install more “No Parking” signs in the city’s residential areas.

“Obviously we don’t want to put up two parking signs at every driveway, but the plastic bollards are really not that offensive and they’re fairly effective,” Copeland said during the August workshop.

Jones said the city would incur the costs of installing and maintaining the parking delineators.

“It’s a great idea, but how do you execute it out in the field?” he asked.

During the Sept. 19 workshop, Jones proposed asking the city commission to consider allowing the public works department to install driveway parking delineators only as requested by residential property owners.

Visibility concerns

During the September workshop, Copeland said he received a call from a resident who expressed concerns about a rental business on Pine Avenue parking their golf carts in the street-side parking spaces located in the city-owned right of way. Austin said that’s not allowed and she would look into that.

Haddox expressed a similar concern about a small commercial truck that’s frequently parked in a city-owned parking space along Pine Avenue. Haddox said the parked truck creates a visibility challenge when exiting the post office parking lot. Crane said a sign located on or near the post office property also limits visibility.

Jones said he would diplomatically share the board’s concerns with those business owners.

Crane reiterated her previously stated concerns about the visibility challenges created by parked vehicles, fences and residential landscaping at the North Bay Boulevard and Poinsettia Road intersection. She said the landscaping at the North Bay and Jacaranda Road intersection also impedes visibility.

Planning board reviews parking regulations
Landscaping limits visibility at the North Bay Drive and Poinsettia Road intersection. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Planning board reviews parking regulations
Landscaping limits visibility at the North Bay Drive and Jacaranda Road intersection. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Crane expressed concerns about the reduced visibility created by the landscaping at the Magnolia Avenue and South Bay Boulevard intersection.

“I agree, that’s a really dicey intersection,” Haddox added. “There’s just too much foliage there when you’re trying to execute a right-hand turn.”

Existing city code says, “On a corner lot, there shall be no parking or loading spaces, structure or planting which materially obstructs the vision of vehicular traffic within 20 feet of the two intersecting street right-of-way lines.”

Rodencal said similar visibility challenges exist throughout the city, and he asked what’s hindering the city’s efforts to address those concerns. Jones said he would research the board’s concerns.

Board member needed

The Anna Maria Planning and Zoning Board seeks a new volunteer member. Serving as an advisory board and recommending body to the city commission, the commission-appointed board meets one Wednesday morning per month to discuss and review matters pertaining to land use, building, development, construction, permitting and more.

To obtain an application, visit www.cityofannamaria.com/residents and click on “forms & permits,” email amclerk@cityofannamaria.com or call 941-708-6130.

Related coverage: Fences, visibility triangles, parking discussed
WMFR presents Phoenix Awards

WMFR presents Phoenix Awards

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Community News, West Manatee Fire Rescue.

MANATEE COUNTY – Staff and commissioners at West Manatee Fire Rescue are celebrating 10 lives saved as they presented Phoenix Awards and a Civilian Service Award.

The district bestows Phoenix Awards on staff members who respond to an emergency where the patient is in cardiac arrest and that patient not only has a pulse and is breathing again when transferred to a medical facility but also is able to recover from the incident. Over a one-year period, WMFR staff had 10 of those incidents allowing for the patients to successfully recover and leave the hospital, including one where a private citizen responded before first responders could get to the scene, helping to save one man’s life after a boat fell on him.

The recipients of the Phoenix Awards were firefighter/medic Jerrod Apple with two awards, firefighter/medic John Balzer, firefighter Nathan Bergbom, firefighter William Bowen, firefighter/medic Casey Fischbach, firefighter Matthew French with two awards, firefighter/medic Gabriel Gonzalez with two awards, firefighter Aston Jasinski, firefighter Gavin Johnston, firefighter Sarah Joseph, firefighter/medic Clayton Lease, Capt. James Leigh, firefighter Dane Miller, firefighter/medic David Miller, firefighter Zackary Misiura, firefighter Chris O’Kelley, firefighter Max Pollock, firefighter/medic Aaron Reese, firefighter Tyler Snyder, Lt. Daniel Tackett, firefighter Jeffrey Taylor with two awards, and firefighter/medic William Thomas.

Private citizen Steve Gulash received the district’s Civilian Service Award after jumping into a canal to rescue Ryan Cahill, who was struck by a falling boat when a cable on a boat lift snapped.

WMFR presents Phoenix Awards
The recipient of WMFR’s Civilian Service Award, Steve Gulash, is thanked by Ryan Cahill for saving his life after Cahill was hit by a falling boat. – Kristin Swain | Sun

“The first week in May, I’m standing on a lift around a boat, up in the air, helping my father-in-law get it ready for hurricane season,” Cahill recalled. “We’re up about 8 feet above the water and the cable snapped. A 10,000-pound boat hit me and broke my arm, broke my knee, broke both my shoulder blades, 50 stitches in my head and four vertebrates. This was just four months ago.”

The Kalamazoo, Michigan resident said the Sept. 10 meeting was the first time that he met the man who saved his life after he fell in the water.

Cahill said that the doctors could not believe that he recovered. He said his family was called to come and say their goodbyes but after several days on a ventilator in the intensive care unit, he began to improve and was able to go home and has made a full recovery from his injuries.

“The impact that you made on my family, my kids, everybody that knows me, I’m forever connected with you going forward and so will they be and thank God for that and thank God for you. Thank you,” Cahill said to Gulash, presenting the award to the man who saw him go in the water and reacted quickly enough to save his life. Firefighters said that when they arrived, Gulash was holding Cahill above the water, and it took six people to pull him out of the canal due to the depth of the water to the height of the seawall.

Cahill said his response was a reaction to all his training as a coach and in law enforcement. He said he felt honored to receive the award among firefighters who stepped up every day to help save lives. “You guys are awesome,” he said.

Police chief named public works director

Police chief named public works director

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Community News.

BRADENTON BEACH – Police Chief John Cosby is also now the city’s permanent public works director.

Cosby previously served as the city’s temporary public works director since longtime director Tom Woodard resigned earlier this year.

On Sept. 19, commissioners voted 4-0 in favor of naming Cosby public works director permanently and paying him an additional $74,747, as outlined in the employee manual, in addition to his $133,000 police chief’s salary.

During Thursday’s meeting, Mayor John Chappie said he initially intended to ask the commission to consider a pay increase for Cosby as he continued to serve as the temporary director but decided instead to ask the commission members to make Cosby the permanent director.

“It gives him the leeway to make some of the more important decisions in the operations of the public works department,” he said.

Chappie said appointing Cosby as public works director provides the city with significant savings because his insurance, pension and other employee benefits are already part of his police chief compensation.

Under Cosby’s leadership, Chappie said the public works department has already produced increased productiv­ity and efficiency, along with better utilization of the department’s existing and new equipment. He attributed that to the leadership skills Cosby developed during his many years with the police department.

“I can’t tell you how much I ap­preciate what he’s been able to do. With that, I would hope you would consider my proposal,” Chappie told the commission.

Before the vote took place, Commis­sioner Deborah Scaccianoce said, “I think Chief Cosby’s done an outstand­ing job wearing that additional hat. You can definitely see all of the things that have improved.”

Scaccianoce also said she’s glad to see the city’s street sweeping truck being routinely used.

“Things are getting done. I think he’s doing a great job,” she added.

Cosby has also long served as the city’s emergency operations manager.

COSBY’S COMMENTS

After the meeting, while standing in front of the public works building located next to the police station, Cosby discussed his public works department duties.

“I’ve been doing it for five months and it hasn’t really been an issue. I take all the paperwork that has to be done for public works home and I do it at home. There haven’t been any issues and hopefully, it stays that way,” he said.

When asked if he enjoys the public works side of things, Cosby said, “Yes. I like to get things done quick. I can move more at the pace I want instead of waiting for other people. It definitely makes it easier to get things done.”

Cosby said Donovan Buss serves as the public works department fore­man and some future departmental restructuring is likely.

“I may make some changes after the first of the year to adjust everybody’s jobs and give everybody a little more responsibility. There’s a lot of talent there and I don’t think it’s being used properly,” Cosby said.

At the police department, Lt. Lenard Diaz has served as Cosby’s second in command since Cosby succeeded Sam Speciale as police chief in 2021.

“The police department is run by the chain of command, from the staff to the sergeant, to the lieutenant, and then to me,” Cosby said.

Sun archive installed at Historical Museum

Sun archive installed at Historical Museum

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Anna Maria, Community News, Featured.

ANNA MARIA – The new Anna Maria Island Sun newspaper archive is now on permanent display at the Anna Maria Island Historical Museum.

The newspapers were preserved by longtime Sun reporter and copy editor Pat Copeland, who passed away in 2023. Her husband, Doug Copeland, built the red oak bookcase that now holds the archived news­papers she saved and stacked in her home office.

On Sept. 19, Copeland and AMI His­torical Society board member Barb Murphy met at the museum at 402 Pine Ave. to discuss the museum’s new installation.

“Pat started saving these Island Sun newspapers and kept all of them up through 2021. She donated them to the museum and the museum wanted to get them bound” with The Sun’s cooperation, Copeland said. “I volunteered to make and donate a new bookshelf for them.”

Joan Bowling assisted Copeland in building the bookcase.

Sun archive installed at Historical Museum
The Sun archives are displayed in a bookcase built by Doug Copeland and Joan Bowling. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

“The beautiful, handcrafted display for The Sun’s bound archive is a heartfelt gesture we appreciate so much,” Sun Editor Cindy Lane said.

The new installation coincides with The Sun beginning its 25th year serving the Island community this week.

Featuring more than 40 newly-bound volumes, The Sun’s archive begins with May 2001 and ends with December 2021. Soon, the collection will span The Sun’s full history from September 2000 through September 2024.

“We are in the process of filling out Pat’s collection and will con­tinue to compile future editions for the display,” said Lane, who has worked at The Sun for 21 years, much of that time with Pat, who was The Sun’s first employee.

“At the same time, for our 25th anniversary year, we are complet­ing a digital archive for people who can’t get to the museum but want access to the historical record and great memories in The Sun,” Lane said.

Sun archive installed at Historical Museum
The Anna Maria Island Sun’s bound archives are on
display for the public’s use. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

“These newspapers are a histori­cal resource. What went on every week in the city is recorded here. And it’s not just Anna Maria. It’s Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach too,” said Copeland, adding that Pat co-founded the Historical Society with Carolyne Norwood.

Copeland, a former city commis­sioner, said he once spent a week at the museum researching several months’ worth of old newspaper stories about Bean Point being sold to a hotel chain that wanted to build a hotel there. The city fought those efforts in court and prevailed and that influenced some of the city’s single-family dwelling zoning restrictions that remain in place today.

“People come in and they love to sit down and pull out a volume they might be interested in,” Murphy said. “Possibly, they had parents or grandparents that were on the Island and told them about a certain story and we try to help them locate that. It’s a wonderful archive of the Island newspapers and the Island’s history and it’s a special feature people can enjoy here at the museum.”

As the slower summer season winds down, the AMI Historical Museum is open free of charge Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The museum will be open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in January, February and March.

“We’ve spent the month of September changing and refreshing some of our exhibits and we are still looking for volunteer docents – people that love the Island and can volunteer their time to help educate the public and the tourists about the history of the Island,” Murphy said.

Learn more about the museum and the historical society at www.amihs.org.

Shack tenants receive eviction notices

Shack tenants receive eviction notices

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Business, Featured, Real estate | Development.

CORTEZ – Business owners on the Seafood Shack property received eviction letters effective Sept. 30, but a Manatee County spokesperson said new agreements with those businesses are possible after the county buys the property.

“It is the intention of Manatee County to make every effort to establish new contracts that include county contract requirements with legacy and/or new vendors once the county is the owner of the property,” Manatee County Information Outreach Manager Bill Logan wrote in a Sept. 20 email to The Sun.

Manatee County commissioners unanimously approved the $13 million purchase at a Sept. 5 land use meeting with the anticipated use of the property as a public boating access facility consisting of a boat ramp, dry storage facility and marina.

The scheduled closing date for the sale is Oct. 7.

Logan said the business owners’ properties are leased on a month-to-month basis.

“The current landlord (owner Vandyk Properties) would not agree to a sale date extension to allow the buyers (Manatee County) an opportunity to evaluate the current leases prior to closing, so the current tenants must vacate their locations per the current landlord’s requirements,” Logan wrote.

Logan wrote that there will likely be no changes to the configuration of the property for 12-24 months after the sale closes to allow the county time to complete an overview of the property and craft plans for future enhancements.

“No work will commence before neighbors, nearby HOAs, and other stakeholders are informed of the impact(s) anticipated and allowed an ample opportunity to engage in that planning process,” Logan wrote.

The property, which consists of seven upland parcels of approximately 5.9 acres and two submerged land leases of 2.9 acres, was appraised at $12.55 million. That appraisal assumed that two expired submerged land leases would be renewed.

“I assume the board will act as a landlord and essentially create a revenue source by leasing slips and continue to lease space to those businesses that are already there,” Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge said at the Sept. 5 meeting. “We’re not looking to put anybody out of work.”

The eviction notices came from Vandyk Properties and advised business owners to vacate the properties by Sept. 30.

“The eviction notice is a legal letter,” said James Morganroth, who has owned Pirate Adventures of Cortez at the Seafood Shack Marina since 2018. “I’m hearing from other businesses here the county is in talks with the owner so that may not happen. That’s the hope for sure.”

Morganroth said he is excited about the prospect of the county installing a new marina and boat slips.

“This property has a lot of potential,” he said.

Annie’s Bait and Tackle, which has existed since the 1950s, is part of the Seafood Shack parcel. Annie’s co-owner, Bruce Shearer, told The Sun on Sept. 20 that he is reserving comment until Tuesday, Sept. 24. Commissioner George Kruse was scheduled to hold an open meeting for area residents on Sept. 23, after press time for The Sun.

Former Piney Point owner fined for 2021 dumping

Former Piney Point owner fined for 2021 dumping

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Featured, Outdoors, Water Quality.

ST. PETERSBURG – A federal judge has found HRK Holdings LLC liable for the intentional dumping of wastewater from Piney Point into Tampa Bay in 2021.

The discharge from the former phosphate processing facility was linked to a widespread red tide and fish kill. More than 215 million gallons of wastewater were discharged into the bay to avert the potential collapse of a phosphogypsum stack that supported a pond where the waste was stored.

The Sept. 18 ruling in a lawsuit filed by five conservation groups imposed a fine of $846,900.

“As a result of the lawsuit, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection separately agreed to fund independent monitoring of the Piney Point disaster’s ongoing harm to Tampa Bay’s water quality,” according to a press release from one of the plaintiffs, the Center for Biological Diversity.

“The court’s ruling exposes the reckless gamble Florida regulators took by letting this toxic waste facility operate without a permit for more than 20 years,” said Ragan Whitlock, a Florida-based attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity. “This outcome can’t undo the terrible harm done to wildlife and Tampa Bay’s water quality, but it should help state regulators see that trusting corporate polluters to oversee their own toxic waste is asking the fox to guard the henhouse.”

Following the 2021 spill, HRK Holdings declared bankruptcy. U.S. District Judge William Jung issued a default judgment finding that HRK had violated the Clean Water Act by discharging pollutants into Tampa Bay without a lawfully issued permit.

“State and local officials knew for years that HRK lacked the financial and operational resources to safely close Piney Point, yet watched this disaster unfold without intervention,” said Daniel C. Snyder, lead counsel for the plaintiffs and director of Public Justice’s Environmental Enforcement Project.

Following the dumping, Tampa Bay experienced a red tide event that killed more than 600 tons of marine life in Pinellas and Hillsborough counties, according to the press release.

“During the 2021 wastewater release, Tampa Bay received more nitrogen – nearly 200 tons – than it usually receives from all other sources in an entire year. The red tides that have plagued Florida are fueled by nitrogen,” the press release stated.

“It’s the communities that rely on these coastal waters who are left holding the bag, forced to deal with the lasting damage caused by HRK’s negligence,” said Abbey Tyrna, executive director of Suncoast Waterkeeper, one of the plaintiffs. “Suncoast Waterkeeper and our partners have stepped up to enforce the laws that the state should have been upholding all along. There is still so much work to be done to clean up after this disaster, and the responsibility to protect our waters needs to be shared between the state and the community.”

“It should be noted too that presently there are no federal, state or local regulations that adequately protect the public from hazards associated with phosphogypsum, and no regulations to require the industry to make final disposition of phosphate wastes in an environmentally acceptable manner,” said Glenn Compton, chairman of ManaSota-88, one of the plaintiffs.

Other plaintiffs are Tampa Bay Waterkeeper and Our Children’s Earth Foundation, represented by Public Justice’s Environmental Enforcement Project, the Center for Biological Diversity, and the law offices of Charles M. Tebbutt.

Sea turtle nests are hatching

Nesting News

Written by Sun staff on . Posted in Environment, Special Sections.

Turtle nests laid: 685 (Previous record: 543 in 2019)

False crawls: 835 (Previous record: 831 in 2010)

Nests hatched: 302 (Record: 453 in 2022)

Hatchlings produced: 20,748 (Record: 35,850 in 2022)

Hatchling disorientations: 55

Adult disorientations: 36

Nests remaining on beach: 17

Source: Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring

Floridian Mortgage holds on for championship

Floridian Mortgage holds on for championship

Written by Monica Simpson on . Posted in Football, Sports.

ANNA MARIA –The Center closed out the adult summer season last Thursday night with three games played, and Floridian Mortgage come out on top after a hard-fought 29-27 game against team Fishing with Salty for the championship title.

After beating Salty Printing in the semifinal round of play, top seed Floridian Mortgage faced the Fishing with Salty team, which defeated Moss Builders in their playoff game 52-33. It was anyone’s game up to the final seconds, as both teams struggled to find their rhythm on the field.

Floridian Mortgage started the game on offense and quickly made a statement with a bomb by Chase Richardson to Tim Holly for a touchdown on the first play of the game. Right out of the chute, Richardson’s team was up 7-0 after Cory Banks scored the point after the score.

Fishing with Salty’s attempts to put points on the scoreboard were cut short after Dina DeJesus started her team on the right foot with a completed pass. Holly’s interception on the next play stopped the drive.

Richardson could not capitalize on the turnover, throwing bad passes and leading to a three-and-out series.

Taking over on downs, Fishing with Salty was ready as the team steadily marched down the field with short passes. Dylan Doyle, on second down, took the football into the pass-only zone in Floridian Mortgage territory.

Scoring its first touchdown, Jonathan Soultatos squeezed through defenders to score for team Fishing, taking the score to 7-6. Doyle scored the extra point.

With the score tied, Richardson’s first target was Holly for a long run after the reception. Rex Kesten caught the football near the endzone after an injury timeout due to a DeJesus injury.

Tracking the front of the endzone, Tyler Brewer caught the ball for Floridian’s second TD of the game, with the finishing touch by Banks.

Leading once again, Floridian Mortgage played strong defense at their own endzone with their opponent in scoring position. Making the stop, Richardson returned to the field with his team, continuing to struggle.

Richardson overthrew Holly but eventually found Kesten for 6 points. Holly added a point to the scoreboard with a catch in the endzone.

After moving the ball to near midfield, Brewer got the call walking just over the first down line with the football overhead. With the clock down to the final minute of the first half of the game, Richardson found Brewer as a second option receiver on second down with the clock running.

With the football sitting on the 7-yard line, Floridian’s hope of scoring before halftime was dashed with another incomplete throw.

On offense, Fishing with Salty was 14 points behind. Rushing Matt Briley, Holly sacked the quarterback in the endzone for a safety, giving team Floridian two points and possession of the ball.

First pass out, Richardson hit Holly, catching for a first down out-of-bounds with less than 10 seconds on the scoreboard clock. An impeding the rusher penalty for Floridian Mortgage and interception in the endzone by Briley ended the first half of play.

Fishing with Salty had the football to start the half with a short yardage play. The second snap resulted in a bomb to Doyle for 6 points. Soultatos scored the extra point, making it a 9-point ball game.

Three incomplete Richardson throws later, Fishing with Salty was back on offense with catches by Octavious Cole. A critical first down catch by Miguel Rodriguez kept the forward progress moving.

On second down, QB Briley kept the ball for long yardage after a quick pitch back from his teammate under center. With the football at the 7-yard line, Soultatos was alone in the right corner of the endzone for the TD.

After the point after conversion by the Fishing squad, Richardson mixed it up, running with the football after a quick pitch from Holly two plays in a row, resulting in a first down with less than 12 minutes left in the game.

Standing his ground and avoiding a penalty, Holly and Soultatos had a standoff at the line of scrimmage as Richardson searched for an open player down field. After two bad passes, Richardson’s throw on third down was not caught by the intended receiver thanks to tight defense by Fishing with Salty.

Fishing with Salty’s Cole caught a big pass on third down for a TD, advancing the score to 29-27. With a possible win in sight, Brewer’s reception in the endzone denied the additional point to team Fishing.

A mid-air collision took Brewer and Briley out of the rest of the game with critical seconds left to play. Despite all their efforts, Fishing with Salty could not make up the large scoring gap made by Floridian Mortgage early in the game.

The game was not pretty, but team Floridian Mortgage was named the league’s champion, winning over Fishing with Salty by two points.

 

SUN SCOREBOARD

SEPT. 12

ADULT CO-ED FLAG FOOTBALL

 

SEMIFINAL

Floridian Mortgage 21

Salty Printing 20

 

 

Fishing with Salty 52

Moss Builders 33

 

 

CHAMPIONSHIP

Floridian Mortgage 29

Fishing with Salty 27

Vintage, or just old?

Written by Louise Bolger on . Posted in Business, Castles in the Sand.

My mother had a favorite expression regarding fashion. “You need to shop where you won’t see yourself coming and going,” meaning, seek out stores with a unique selection of goods.

The same can be said for remodels, where, these days, it seems that every kitchen is white, every bathroom has bowl sinks, and every wall is some tone of grey. I happen to like those combinations, and they are neutral and very good for resale but for individuals who want a little spice in their remodels, there are other venues.

Eco-friendly techniques and materials are becoming more commonplace in renovations and new construction. According to the National Association of Home Builders, many buyers consider green home features to be either essential or desirable. This includes Energy Star-rated windows, triple pane insulating windows, sustainably harvested lumber and components made of recycled materials.

These products are improving indoor air quality and reducing everyone’s carbon footprint in a continued effort to reduce global warming. However, eco-friendly remodels do not lower renovation costs. Prices have come down, but homeowners should still expect to pay a premium for green materials. This could be a good return on investment down the road because sustainable materials are often more durable, require less maintenance and are in demand.

Taking it a step further, and keeping my mother’s theory in mind, searching out reusable and sustainable products to do your renovation can save a considerable amount of money. This can also apply if you donate your old cabinets, appliances and sinks, taking the tax write-off.

Proponents of repurposed products say using reclaimed products is taking something that would otherwise be wasted and giving it new life. These days, when everyone is obsessed with everything new, finding recycled elements for your remodel is not only easy but, in many cases, surprisingly lightly used.

A quick internet search of architectural salvage stores will reveal several right in our backyard. And don’t let the word salvage discourage you; the salvaged or vintage items range from 1920s file boxes to trendy slab dining tables with wooden slabs recycled from their previous life. There are enormous supplies of small items like former moldings and vintage fans that haven’t seen the light of day in decades and are just waiting to add a little interest to your remodeled kitchen.

I had so much fun browsing the websites of these salvage stores I almost forgot what I was actually looking for. My absolute favorite was an Electronic Diagnosis Engine Tester from some era way before computer chips were invented, and the magic vibrating chair looked like it belonged in San Quentin. If you’re lucky enough to find fixtures, cabinets and decorative tiles for your renovation, not only will you save a ton of money, but likely get a better-quality product.

I found three stores specializing in architectural salvage in two minutes: Sarasota Architectural Salvage, Décor Direct Wholesale Warehouse, both in Sarasota, and Schiller’s Architectural Design Salvage in Tampa. These types of salvage stores have an ongoing incoming and outgoing supply of items, so if you’re looking for something specific that is not currently available, stay in touch with the owners and tell them what you need.

We all should do our best to recycle and purchase eco-friendly products. Most of us are somewhere between buying almost nothing to complete a renovation and hiring the most expensive contractor we can find. Even recycling your own cabinets for use somewhere else in your home helps.

And remember, when you go salvage, you’ll never see your kitchen coming and going.

Pitch in at cleanup for cash prizes

Pitch in at cleanup for cash prizes

Written by Rusty Chinnis on . Posted in Outdoors, Reel Time.

Suncoast Aqua Ventures is hosting the Eighth Annual Suncoast Reef and Beach Cleanup, which offers a unique opportunity to win money and prizes while having a positive effect on the coastal environment.

Mark your calendar for Sept. 28-29 to participate in the event at Terra Ceia Sea Breeze Park.

The Reef and Beach Cleanup is not your typical beach cleanup. This unique event turns trash collection into a competitive sport. Cash prizes will be awarded in several categories, including most recyclables, most tires, most anchors and most shoes. Those with access to a boat can even clean up underwater, ensuring our reefs are as pristine as our beaches. Whether you’re a land lover or a certified SCUBA diver, there’s a way for everyone to participate.

Since its inception in 2016, Suncoast Aqua Ventures has mobilized over 2,200 volunteers who have collectively removed an amazing 182,000 pounds of trash from our coastlines and underwater environments. What began as a small local effort has blossomed into a movement that has brought together community members, environmentalists and outdoor enthusiasts from all walks of life.

Cheryl Huntsinger, president of Suncoast Aqua Ventures, reflected on the origins of the event, saying, “We started this organization after witnessing the sheer amount of human debris littering our coastlines and underwater habitats. We knew something had to be done, and what better way to tackle the problem than by bringing people together in a fun, competitive environment? It’s incredible to see how much we’ve accomplished in just a few short years.”

The Eighth Annual Reef and Beach Cleanup is more than just a day of trash collection – it’s a celebration of community, conservation and the power of collective action. Whether you’re here for the competition or to enjoy a day by the water, your participation helps protect our coastal environment for future generations.

Join the group in making a difference while having a blast. Who can collect the most trash and walk away with not just cash, but the satisfaction of knowing they’ve helped keep our shores and reefs clean?

Register at https://suncoastaquaventures.com/event/8th-annual-reef-beach-cleanup/.

For more information, visit www.suncoastaquaventures.com or email Cheryl Huntsinger at suncoastaquaventures@gmail.com.

Island Players kick off 76th season

Island Players kick off 76th season

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Entertainment, Theater.

ANNA MARIA – The Island Players, Manatee County’s oldest community theater, will launch its 76th season on Thursday, Sept. 19 with Beth Henley’s Crimes of the Heart, directed by Players’ veteran director, Mike Lusk.

The play, which won the 1981 Pulitzer Prize, as well as the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best American Play, will garner every emotion from audience members as they are transported to a small Mississippi town to find three sisters who have gathered to await the news of their grandfather, who is living out his final hours at the local hospital. Each of the sisters is dealing with their own life problems, but despite the troubles, there are plenty of laughs as they work to escape the past.

Lusk has directed plays for the Island Players for more than 10 years, most recently, last season’s debut of the hilarious “Farce of Nature,” which left audiences in stitches. Lusk is known for bringing out the best in his cast and crew, while also putting his signature mark on everything he does. If this play follows past trends, this director shouldn’t disappoint.

“You’ll get everything you expect from an Island Players production,” Lusk said. “You’ll get happiness, you’ll get some thoughtfulness and have a good evening of entertainment. This play in particular should make you feel glad to be alive.”

Last season, the Island Players sold out most shows and broke attendance records. To avoid missing out, get tickets as soon as possible. Crimes of the Heart runs from Sept. 19-29. 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. The Island Playhouse is located at 10009 Gulf Drive, Anna Maria, on the corner of Gulf Drive and Pine Avenue.

Sea turtle season slowing to a crawl

Sea turtle season slowing to a crawl

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Outdoors, Sea turtles.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – As the sea turtle nesting season slows down, Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring volunteers continue excavating hatched nests on local beaches.

High surf caused by Hurricane Francine in the western Gulf of Mexico inundated several nests with salt water, which will likely impact their success, but about half the remaining nests are still high and dry.

Several upcoming events will support the non-profit group’s mission of protecting sea turtles.

Painting with a Purpose will raise funds on Sunday, Sept. 22 from 3-5 p.m. at Slicker’s Eatery, 12012 Cortez Road W. The cost is $75 per person and includes painting with a local artist, two glasses of wine and flatbread appetizers. No painting experience is necessary. Seating is limited. Sign up at https://paintingwithatwist.com/studio/bradenton or call 941-795-7928.

Sea turtle season slowing to a crawl
Turtle Watch volunteers Nancy and Bob Brown excavate one of the remaining hatched sea turtle nests on the beach as turtle season winds down. – Submitted | AMITW

The Suzi L. Fox Adopt a Nest Program is open for 2025 adoptions. Each nest adoption includes a certificate of adoption, notification of the plaque placement and the location of your nest. The plaque is mailed to you after the nest has hatched. Next year there are new options. With the Special Request Adopt a Nest, Turtle Watch will offer the ability to choose the general location of the nest and date that the plaque will be posted on the beach, as well as offering a photo of the plaque when placed and notification after the nest has hatched.

“We thank the 259 adoptees that participated in our Suzi L. Fox Adopt a Nest program in 2024. The proceeds from these nest adoptions go towards all the outreach programs and materials we produce to educate visitors and locals about sea turtles and how they can conserve and protect their island habitat,” according to a release from Turtle Watch.

For more information, visit https://islandturtlewatch.com/get-involved/adopt-a-nest/

Turtle Watch Wednesday will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 23 from 4-6 p.m. at Hurricane Hanks, 5346 Gulf Drive in Holmes Beach. The free event features live and silent auctions and live music. VIP tickets are available for $80 per person and include reserved seating, a swag bag and event T-shirt. Call Barbara for reservations at 404-275-9422.

A photo calendar – Anna Maria Life: Through the Lens of Angie Blunt 2025 – is available at the following Island locations: Lazy Turtle, Anna Maria Island Historical Society, Anna Maria Life Vacation Rentals, Ginny’s & Jane E’s, The Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce and Sea-renity Beach Spa & Bou-tiki, as well as online.

Holmes Beach logo

Holmes Beach lowers millage rate

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Community News, Featured, Holmes Beach.

HOLMES BEACH – Property owners are getting a tax break on their 2024-25 property tax bills.

Commissioners voted to reduce the proposed millage rate from 2.05 mills to 1.99 mills, a six-point reduction from what was proposed during a recent budget workshop. Despite the 2.5% reduction, the 1.99 millage rate is still 7.63% over the rollback rate of 1.8489 mills due to increases in property values.

Millage is the rate per $1,000 of assessed property value charged by the city in property taxes. The rollback rate is the millage rate that would give the city the same amount in taxes as the year before.

While commissioners reduced the millage rate below what was previously proposed, Commissioner Dan Diggins wasn’t happy with the decision.

Diggins said he wanted to reduce the millage rate to at least the rollback rate, if not lower, and use either budget cuts or the city’s reserves to make up the difference. Mayor Judy Titsworth said that some of the city’s reserves are already being used to get the millage rate to the proposed 1.99 rate.

“I appreciate that we’ve gotten down to what we’re talking about now, 1.99, but I think it’s time we stopped growing government here a little bit,” Diggins said. “Just for one year, I’d like to see government stop growing for one year and get us back down, if not to the rollback rate, close to the rollback rate. Let’s face it, people are leaving this island, maybe not as often as they were before, but one of the reasons they’re leaving is taxes and insurance. We can’t do anything about insurance but we sure can do something about taxes.”

Diggins went on to say that he’s proud of the work that Titsworth and the city have done to rebuild flagging reserves, but he said it was time to give some money back to the taxpayers. He also said it would only take a 1.9% cut in each city department to reach the rollback rate this year.

“I don’t think that’s too much to ask for,” Diggins said.

Commissioner Terry Schaefer said he felt it was a noble cause to reduce rates or hold them steady as much as possible, but he feels a further reduction in the budget for the coming fiscal year would result in a loss of services. Diggins said he doesn’t want to reduce services, but he feels there’s enough “fluff” to cut the $475,000 that would make the difference between using the rollback rate and using the 1.99 millage rate.

Titsworth said the reason for having so much in reserves is to have money for an emergency situation, such as a hurricane, where the city may get reimbursed for expenses by FEMA, but it requires money up front for items like debris removal. She said the budget had to be increased $50,000 to pay for street sweeping to keep city roads and bike lanes clear for users. She also said she took a look at the budget and made what cuts she felt could be made but doesn’t see where any additional funds could be cut.

“We’re not growing government, we’re doing the best we can to retain property values and keep people safe out here,” Titsworth said.

A second and final public hearing on the millage rate is scheduled on Tuesday, Sept. 26 at 5:01 p.m. at Holmes Beach City Hall, 5801 Marina Drive. Anyone wishing to speak must appear in person during the meeting

2024-25 budget passes first hearing

2024-25 budget passes first hearing

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Community News, Featured, Holmes Beach.

HOLMES BEACH – The city’s proposed 2024-25 budget is over halfway to the finish line to be in place for the Oct . 1 start of the fiscal year.

Commissioners held the first of two public hearings for the proposed budget during a Sept. 11 special meeting. Commissioner Terry Schaefer said the budget that commissioners approved during that meeting was the sixth version.

Currently, the budget proposes a total of $13,916,590 in operating revenues and expenses along with $11,317,006 in total carryover and reserves, including $7,157,500 in general unassigned reserves, the money that the city holds for emergency situations. The total budget, including reserves, is $25,233,595, a difference of $111,639 over the approved 2023-24 fiscal year budget. Titsworth said that some of the reserves, particularly the stormwater reserves, are for projects planned for the current fiscal year that are carrying over to the upcoming fiscal year.

One of the items that changed between the July budget workshops and the current proposed budget was a line item of $307,000 in the public works department budget. The monies were previously set aside for the purchase of an algae harvester, along with training for employees and disposal fees. In the updated budget, Titsworth noted that the harvester would now only be purchased if it could be funded by a grant.

“It’s a placeholder,” Titsworth answered after commission candidate Carol Whitmore expressed concerns about the purchase. Whitmore said she believes the purchase is a duplication of services since Manatee County owns two similar machines that she said the city could borrow if needed.

Titsworth said she doesn’t believe that the city or its residents should have to pay for the algae harvester or for the cost to maintain and utilize it because she believes that problems in other municipalities, such as sewage dumping from the city of Bradenton and the Piney Point wastewater spill in Manatee County, are contributing to Holmes Beach’s algae problems. Therefore, she said the purchase wouldn’t be made until grant funding for the entire cost could be secured, but because the algae harvester is important to the Clean Water Ad Hoc Committee, she left the placeholder in the budget for the purchase. As to the county-owned harvesters, Titsworth told Whitmore that the county algae harvesters don’t meet the needs of the city as they are designed primarily to work in boat ramps, not in canals, which is what the city needs.

Whitmore also said the historic cottage the city is moving to Grassy Point Preserve could be considered a museum, which would be a tourist attraction, and the Manatee County Tourist Development Council might be willing to fund that nearly $100,000 expenditure.

Other items that changed include the removal of a planned new hire for the public works department, increases in insurance costs and a reduction in equipment costs in the Holmes Beach Police Department budget.

Copies of the proposed budget are available online at www.holmesbeachfl.org and in the lobby at city hall during regular business hours.

The second and final public hearing and vote on the budget is scheduled on Tuesday, Sept. 26 at 5:01 p.m. at Holmes Beach City Hall.