Skip to main content

Year: 2024

No signed agreement released on palm trees

No signed agreement released on palm trees

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News, Featured.

BRADENTON BEACH – After multiple requests by The Sun to the city for the release of a signed agreement in a city partnership with developer Shawn Kaleta for the installation and maintenance of coconut palm trees on Bridge Street, the nearly three-week-long waiting game for the document has thus far come up empty.

The installation of 80 coconut palm trees on and around Bridge Street was approved at an April 3 Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) meeting following assurances by City Attorney Ricinda Perry that a maintenance, hold harmless and indemnification agreement signed by Kaleta would be in place prior to planting in which Kaleta would assume responsibility for maintenance and liability for any damage caused by the palm trees.

The trees were planted the week of April 24.

The first request from The Sun for the signed agreement was made by email on May 6 and received no response. Subsequent email and in-person requests by The Sun were made on May 7, May 15, May 17 and May 23.

The May 15 email request to the agreement received an “out of office” reply. The same day, The Sun emailed Perry requesting a copy of the signed and fully executed agreement.

City Clerk Terry Sanclemente, Mayor John Chappie and Police Chief/Interim Public Works Director John Cosby were among those copied on The Sun’s email request.

In her response, Perry wrote, “I’ll see if the deputy clerks can access the signed agreement. If not, we’ll have to wait until Terri gets back.”

Sanclemente is expected to be back in the office on May 28, after press time for The Sun. She was, however, in the office the week of May 6.

Perry provided a copy of an unsigned, blank draft version of the agreement which did not identify the other party involved with the project and did not include any details regarding the cost of the project or the manner in which the material, installation and maintenance costs would be shared. The agreement is for 30 years.

When asked by The Sun that day for a signed and fully executed copy of the agreement, Perry wrote, “There is a signed agreement. The clerk is out of the office and can provide further documents upon her return.”

The agreement and any other project-associated documents are subject to the Florida Public Records Act and Florida’s Government-in-the-Sunshine Law.

The lingering question remains as to who would be liable for any damage or injuries caused by the trees.

Since the planting of the trees during the week of April 24, things haven’t gone smoothly with the palms.

On May 15, a post on Facebook showed that one of the newly-planted palms apparently had fallen over on Bridge Street. It was replanted on May 17 and secured with a string tied to a metal stake.

On May 24, all the palms that had been planted on Gulf Drive South (State Road 789) were removed due to the trees not being allowed by Florida Department of Transporta­tion (FDOT) regulations. FDOT spokesperson Darryl Richard said coconut palms are not allowed on state roads due to safety concerns about visibility and falling coconuts and limbs.

Chappie was on-site during the tree removal and The Sun asked him about the whereabouts of the palm tree agreement. He responded by deferring questions about the agree­ment to Perry.

OTHER RECENT PARTNERSHIPS PROPOSED

Other public/private partnerships with Kaleta have been proposed this year.

At a Feb. 1 City Commission meeting, Perry presented an offer from the Kaleta-owned Bradenton Beach Marina to act as the city’s harbormaster for a proposed city-owned mooring field near the Bradenton Beach Pier.

“So today the marina said, ‘Would you be interested in us helping you with the mooring balls? And what we can do is basically act as your harbormaster, provide the pump-out service and deal with the people that are paying and something else to think about is the amount you charge people, which they would enforce for us.’ Which would make it so a particular clientele would be able to afford that mooring ball,” Perry said at the meeting.

She described the offer as a potential public/private partnership to protect the city’s dinghy docks and to control derelict vessels.

“I was approached today by the marina, who said, ‘Why don’t you throw mooring balls out there?’ ” Perry said at the Feb. 1 meeting.

Metropolitan Property Ventures LLC purchased the Bradenton Beach Marina from the Bazzy family in 2023. The warranty deed associated with that sale lists Kaleta as the mortgagor and as the president of the Bazzy Marine Corporation. In city meetings, Kaleta is referred to as the marina owner.

Perry said the city doesn’t have the resources or staff to monitor the mooring field. If the marina would be willing to work with the city, the mooring field would be a revenue source for the city, as well as for the marina and would potentially clean up the area.

Derelict vessel removal has been a priority for the Bradenton Beach Police Department and over the years, they have removed dozens of them.

In March, the city commission considered a bid from Kaleta-owned Bridge to Bay Investments for a partnership in a city-wide paid parking contract. Bridge to Bay was one of two bidders with SP Municipal Services as the second bidder.

Under the bid, the proposed paid parking would have included all of Bridge Street, an after-hours parking lot to the east and west side of the police department, the city hall parking lot, the area around the pickleball court on Highland Avenue (with free passes to pickleball players), the shared parking lot with Angela Rodocker at First Street North, Gulf-side parking spaces near the Moose Lodge and future options at the Tingley Library if the building is raised to create additional parking.

At a subsequent meeting, when a decision between the two bids was expected to be made, the city did not accept either bid but instead announced it would consider having city-managed paid parking.

In April, Perry proposed that the CRA partner with Kaleta in the installation of a waterfront pedestrian path running from his marina to Bridge Street on the Pines Trailer Park property he recently purchased. The marina has a new bar the city permitted after it was built and in operation.

The next CRA meeting is scheduled on Wednesday, June 5 at 9:30 a.m. The next city commission meeting is scheduled on Thursday, June 6 at 6 p.m.

Meetings are open to the public and will be held at the Katie Pierola Commission Chambers, 107 Gulf Drive N.

Related coverage: 

Editorial: Palm trees and other shady endeavors

FDOT: Wrong trees, wrong place

Expert outlines optimum coconut palm maintenance

Signed palm tree agreement remains elusive

 

Signed palm tree agreement remains elusive

Expert outlines optimum coconut palm maintenance

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News.

BRADENTON BEACH – With 80 coconut palms planted on Bridge Street last month, questions have arisen among commissioners, downtown merchants and residents about the safety of the trees and their potential for falling fruit and limbs.

Brian Bahder, Ph.D., an associate professor at the University of Florida Institute for Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), whose research includes the study of diseases and parasites infecting palm trees and other tropical plants, responded by email to questions from The Sun about the characteristics of coconut palm trees.

Bahder is affiliated with the Fort Lauderdale Education and Research Center. Among the program efforts there are general maintenance and diseases of palms.

According to Bahder, the fruit from the coconut palm tree can range anywhere from 1 pound to the size of a soccer ball weighing from 5-10 pounds.

“Removal of the fruit on a regular basis is needed. It is easiest before fruit set, so as soon as an inflorescence (flowering) emerges, remove it (ideally before it opens up),” Bahder wrote.

The Bradenton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) approved on April 3 the planting of the coconut palm trees in a partnership with developer Shawn Kaleta based on the assurance of City Attorney Ricinda Perry that a signed maintenance, hold harmless and indemnification agreement would be in place prior to the trees being planted, and that Kaleta would be responsible for tree maintenance and liability for any damage caused by the trees.

As of May 26, that agreement has not been made available to The Sun, despite multiple requests.

The typical coconut production per tree can vary, according to Bahder.

“Each palm’s annual production is also variable on things like age, cultivar, health, location, but once mature, start producing regularly; the range is 50 to 200 coconuts per year,” he wrote. “In cultivation where palms are properly maintained and cared for, I have seen up to 60 or 70 fruit on a single inflorescence (the flower head of a plant).”

Bahder wrote that mature coconut palm trees will produce flowers and fruit year-round.

“The rate will change, it is obviously slower in the cooler, drier months and more rapid in summer. Generally, the fruit set tends to be better in warmer months also,” he wrote.

Bahder recommended planting mature palm trees prior to rainy season and to be mindful of hurricane season.

“If it is a large plant that is transplanted, April is probably better. This way it is in the ground for when the rains begin in April to May, that way it has access to more regular water and helps it establish faster,” he wrote. “However, you can plant whenever as long as you water regularly to get it established. I would probably avoid planting large palms in August and September (peak hurricane season). If they are not rooted and we get hit they could get blown over easier.”

The coconut palms on Bridge Street were planted the week of April 24 and are on a regular watering schedule. The installation of an irrigation system on Bridge Street was discussed at a recent CRA meeting.

Bahder said coconut palms typically do well in the southern third of Florida.

Related coverage:

Editorial: Palm trees and other shady endeavors

FDOT: Wrong trees, wrong place

No signed agreement released on palm trees

Signed palm tree agreement remains elusive

 

Mayor Murphy won’t seek re-election

Mayor Murphy won’t seek re-election

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

ANNA MARIA – Dan Murphy will not seek re-election to another two-year term as the city’s mayor.

During the May 23 city commission meeting, Murphy announced he would not run again in the upcoming city elections.

“I’ve decided not to run in November. It’s been fun. Ten years,” Murphy said while trying to hold his emotions in check.

“This will give us all a chance to think about how we go forward,” Commission Chair Mark Short said in response to the announcement that surprised some sitting in the commission chambers.

“Ten years is pretty remarkable,” Short said. “I want to thank you on behalf of all of us in the city and the staff for everything you’ve done, but I know we’re going to have the opportunity to do that again.”

“I’ve got a few more months and I’m not a lame duck. It’s been an honor,” Murphy said.

While sitting in the mayor’s office after the meeting, Murphy said, “It’s been a pleasure and honor for both myself and the first lady (his wife, Barbara).”

As for what’s next, he said, “I think I might look at other avenues within the community to serve, as well as perhaps looking at some educational opportunities, perhaps at the college level, where I can share some of the knowledge I have about local government and dealing with Tallahassee (home of the Florida Legislature).”

When asked if he has any advice for those interested in being Anna Maria’s next mayor, he said, “I could spend hours and days giving advice about how to do this, but I guess I would just suggest that if you’re going to run, be prepared for a tough job, a full-time job. This is not for amateurs.

“You need to be prepared to pretty much give up your personal life and treat this like a full-time job. It’s not for show and it’s not for glory. There’s certainly not much glory but there’s a great deal of reward. It’s a rewarding job. You can accomplish things that you could never accomplish in a private sector and you can really have an impact on your community – a good impact or a bad impact, the exposure’s there for both,” Murphy said.

Murphy’s leaving office at a time when Anna Maria faces the potential forced consolidation or dissolution of the three Anna Maria Island cities and city governments.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

During his time in office, Murphy guided the city through the adoption of the city’s first vacation rental ordinance in 2015. He led the city’s response to Hurricane Irma in 2017 and the lengthy process of replacing the hurricane-damaged pier. He then guided the city commission through the controversial selection of the two tenants that occupy the city-owned pier, The City Pier Grill and the Mote Marine Science, Education and Outreach Center. Murphy led the city’s preparation and response to several other storms and flooding events and also guided the city through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mayor Murphy won’t seek re-election
Mayor Dan Murphy, left, and City Commissioner Dale Woodland inspected the pier damage inflicted by Hurricane Irma in 2017. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Mayor Murphy won’t seek re-election
The new Anna Maria City Pier was built under Dan Murphy’s guidance. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Murphy formulated the plan that transformed an underutilized city-owned property into City Pier Park and it was his idea to install the shade sail structure under which the seasonal farmers market and annual Memorial Day and Veterans Day events he suggested take place.

Mayor Murphy won’t seek re-election
Mayor Dan Murphy helped transform the former ‘six lots’ property into City Pier Park. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

For the past several years, Murphy played a key role locally and statewide in thwarting the Florida Legislature’s annual efforts to preempt vacation rental regulations to the state and strip local governments of that regulatory authority.

Before his final term expires, Murphy hopes to make some significant headway with the Reimagining Pine Avenue project that’s proved more challenging than originally expected.

WHO’S NEXT?

The mayor is paid approximately $19,500 per year during a two-year term. City commissioners are paid $400 a month.

Anna Maria’s two-week candidate qualifying period for those seeking to serve as mayor or fill one of two city commission seats begins on Monday, June 3 at noon and ends on Friday, June 15 at noon. The qualifying period is preceded by a state-mandated prequalifying period that begins on Monday, May 27.

According to City Clerk LeAnne Addy, qualifying papers will be accepted during the pre-qualifying period but Anna Maria candidates will not be considered qualified until the city’s qualifying period opens on June 3.

Mayoral and city commission candidates are now required to file a Form 6 disclosure form that lists the candidate’s net worth, income sources, debts and tangible assets. Mayors and commissioners are also now required to file additional annual Form 6 disclosure forms while in office.

FDOT: Wrong trees, wrong place

FDOT: Wrong trees, wrong place

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News, Featured.

BRADENTON BEACH – In what Mayor John Chappie characterized as a “mistake,” the city learned the hard way that coconut palm trees are not allowed by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) on Gulf Drive South (State Road 789).

The coconut palm trees that were planted the week of April 24 along the Gulf Drive roundabout and traffic islands at the end of Bridge Street were removed on May 24 after it was determined by FDOT that planting the species was not in compliance with state regulations.

“There’s a right tree in the right place, but this is the wrong tree in the wrong place,” FDOT District One Scenic Highway Coordinator Darryl Richard said on May 24.

That section of Gulf Drive falls under the jurisdiction of FDOT.

“The city didn’t apply for a permit, but even if they had, coconut palms are a species that are not allowed there based on FDOT standards and public safety,” Richard said.

Richard said coconut palms violate sight line and vertical clear zone regulations, making them a safety issue for motorists. Another safety concern with the tree is falling coconuts, he said.

“Palm fronds that would fall into the roadway as well as vertical clearance are safety issues,” Richard said. “Coconuts are also one of the safety factors that could present problems.”

Richard said all his correspondence with the city has been verbal and he met with the mayor earlier in the week.

“He (Mayor Chappie) realized the mistake and decided to remove the palms,” Richard said.

FDOT: Wrong trees, wrong place
Mayor John Chappie, left, is on Bridge Street as the coconut palm trees are removed on Gulf Drive South. – Leslie Lake | Sun

Chappie was on-site during tree removal and spoke to The Sun.

“I won’t make that mistake again,” Chappie said. “FDOT has been really great about explaining and working with us to take care of this.”

The trees were moved by a loader and placed in piles at the paid parking lot owned by Shawn Kaleta at the corner of Bridge Street and Gulf Drive.

FDOT: Wrong trees, wrong place
The removed trees were transported to a temporary resting place. – Leslie Lake | Sun

Chappie didn’t know the exact number of trees being relocated but, according to a site plan prepared by City Attorney Ricinda Perry, there were more than 15 trees.

“We have to be careful of the location because FDOT rules and regulations are pretty strict about sight vision. And that’s what we’re doing,” Chappie said.

Chappie said the trees that were removed will be replanted on Bridge Street.

“We’re just filling everything in,” Chappie said. “If we want to plant some trees, we have to fill out a plan submittal for anything over 24 inches.”

Pictures of the trees being removed and the circumstances surrounding their removal were posted on May 24 on the Anna Maria Island Sun Facebook page, and the coconut telegraph was busy.

“People are already trying to dodge palm fronds to be able to walk down Bridge Street. Should be interesting to see when the coconuts start falling,” Gay Rosnett wrote.

Jeremy Williams wrote, “This whole thing is an embarrassment. The mayor should resign. Lotta funny business mixed up in here.”

FDOT: Wrong trees, wrong place
The removed coconut palms were initially placed in a nearby paid parking lot. – Leslie Lake

The trees that were removed were among the 80 coconut palm trees that were planted in the Bridge Street area in April.

The installation of the trees and a private/public partnership with developer Shawn Kaleta were approved at an April 3 Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) meeting following assurances by Perry that a maintenance, hold harmless and indemnification agreement signed by Kaleta would be in place prior to planting in which Kaleta would assume responsibility for maintenance and liability for any damage caused by the palm trees.

As of May 26, after multiple Sunshine Law public records requests by The Sun for a copy of the agreement beginning on May 6, the city has not provided the document.

The question remains as to who would be liable for any damage or injuries caused by the trees.

On May 24, while at the site of the tree removal, Chappie was asked again about the whereabouts of the signed agreement. He deferred questions to Perry.

Related coverage: 

Editorial: Palm trees and other shady endeavors

No signed agreement released on palm trees

Expert outlines optimum coconut palm maintenance

Signed palm tree agreement remains elusive

Turtle, bird nesting seasons in full swing

Turtle, bird nesting seasons in full swing

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

Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring Director Kristen Mazzarella said the past week has been a strong one for local sea turtles and shorebirds.

“There was a great increase in the number of (turtle) crawls over last week,” she said, with the number of nests increasing from six to 48.

A colony of least terns also is doing well, according to Mazzarella.

“The number of nests in the colony has increased to 12 this week” from four last week, she said of the imperiled shorebirds.

She reminded beachgoers to fill holes in the sand and level sandcastles before leaving the beach, so sea turtles do not get trapped, and steer clear of the posted bird nesting area.

On Tuesday, May 28, Turtle Watch will present a Turtle Tracks and Shorebird Facts presentation at noon at Holmes Beach City Hall, 5801 Marina Drive.

The presentation is free and open to the public.

 

TURTLE TIPS

During sea turtle season, May 1 – Oct. 31, follow these tips to help turtles:

• Turn off lights visible from the beach and close blinds from sundown to sunrise; lights confuse nesting sea turtles and may cause them to go back to sea and drop their eggs in the water, where they won’t hatch. Light can also attract hatchlings away from the water.

• Don’t use flashlights, lanterns or camera flashes on the beach at night.

• Remove all beach chairs and other objects from the sand from sundown to sunrise; they can deter sea turtles from nesting and disorient hatchlings.

• Fill in the holes you dig in the sand before leaving the beach; they can trap nesting and hatching sea turtles, which cannot live long out of the water. You might also accidentally dig into an unmarked nest. To report large holes or other turtle obstacles, call:

• City of Anna Maria code enforcement — 941-708-6130, ext. 111.

• City of Bradenton Beach code enforcement — 941-778-1005, ext. 227.

• City of Holmes Beach code enforcement — 941-778-0331, ext. 260.

• Level sandcastles before leaving the beach; they can block hatchlings from the water.

• Don’t use balloons, wish lanterns or fireworks; they litter the beach and Gulf, and turtles can ingest the debris.

• Do not trim trees and plants that shield the beach from lights.

• Never touch a sea turtle; it’s the law. If you see people disturbing turtles, call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Wildlife Alert hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922).

Source: Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring

 

NESTING NEWS

Turtle nests laid: 48 (Record: 544 in 2019)

False crawls: 39 (Record: 831 in 2010)

Nests hatched: 0 (Record: 453 in 2022)

Hatchlings hatched: 0 (Record: 35,850 in 2022)

Hatchling disorientations: 0

Adult disorientations: 0

Source: Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring

FISH board outlines successes, plans

FISH board outlines successes, plans

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Community News, Cortez.

CORTEZ – It’s been a year filled with successes and a few challenges for the Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage (FISH) as the board laid out plans for enhancements to the FISH Preserve at its annual membership meeting on May 13.

“We’ve been truly blessed from a financial standpoint,” FISH Treasurer Jane von Hahmann reported at the meeting.

Despite being rained out on the second day of the Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival in February, the non-profit netted $43,000, which supports the FISH Preserve. Von Hahmann also reported a $50,000 anonymous donation designated to help pay down the mortgage on Fisherman’s Hall and a portion of the preserve.

“We have some big projects coming up,” she said.

With a $165,000 grant from the Barancik Foundation, the preserve will have trails, two bridges and a picnic area installed. The funds must be used within 18 months. FISH is contributing an additional $15,000 to that initiative.

A donation from Kiwanis of $16,000 will possibly be used toward the cost of a third bridge.

“Phase IV of the preserve is finished; that’s the last and final phase of digging dirt. Now we have the job of connecting everything up with walkable trails,” she said. “Father and son Alan and Alex Garner have been doing work on planning improvements for the preserve for about a year, which includes signage at the preserve, an additional entrance sign and a kiosk where visitors can sign in and obtain educational materials. We are discussing the grand plan with a tower and possibly a canopy walk. We have some big ideas.”

Von Hahmann also noted the November 2023 donation of $50,000 for trails and bridges at the preserve from Dr. Terry Bert, the wife of the late John Stevely. Stevely was one of the original FISH board members.

FISH’s goal for the recent Giving Challenge of $15,000 was exceeded; the organization received nearly $20,000.

Board member Karen Bell gave a festival report.

“It was a good festival, as good as it could be considering the rains,” Bell said.

Bell said FISH donated $4,000 to the Organized Fisherman of Florida for their help in setting up the festival.

Bell also gave an update on the progress of the refurbishment of the old volunteer fire station.

“The fire station used to be Cortez’s only fire station,” she said. “I remember they used to have in the fall, maybe two or three or maybe four mullet fries. It was so cool, the ladies used to bring pies or cakes and big pots of coffee.”

The volunteer fire department had been owned by Anna Maria Fire District and in their deed the building had to go to another non-profit, according to Bell.

“It was deeded to the Florida Institute of Saltwater Heritage,” Bell said. “By fall we should be ready to use it. It’s nice to see it come back to life.”

Team Pool America on top

Team Pool America on top

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

ANNA MARIA – The weather is heating up and so is the adult soccer action at The Center of Anna Maria Island. With one game left in the regular season to be played by each team this Thursday night, week eight action left three teams with five wins and team Pool America on top.

Pool America’s 4-2 win over Beach House Waterfront Restaurant earned the team its fifth win. The 5-1-2 record puts them one win over the Progressive Cabinetry.

Losing by two goals, the Beach House team put two points on the scoreboard with eluding strikes by James Rodrigues and Marco Ruiz. Their teammate and keeper Aaron Frech made 11 stops.

Cody Wright put a hat trick to his season statistics. Adding to Wright’s three goals, Brandon Rolland not only saved seven shots but he is also credited with a goal in the third game of the night.

Closing out the soccer action for the night, second-seed Progressive Cabinetry narrowly lost to the Diamond Turf squad. The loss placed the team solidly one win under the league’s leader.

Progressive Cabinetry’s goalie, Tyler Bekkerus, was kept busy by the Diamond Turf offense. Bekkerus had 12 nice saves, but the Progressive defense could not stop McKenna Ainger and Gerardo Urbiola Bolanos.

Bolanos had two goals to help his team earn the win, while Ainger is also credited with an assist.

The third team to end week eight with five wins was Salty Printing after winning against team Ross Built. In his usual place at goal, Charles “Tuna” McCracken is credited with 10 stops against the shooting of the Ross Built Custom Home squad.

Only the foot of Ted Hurst could get by the Salty Printing defense and past McCracken.

The Ross Built team fought and held Salty Printing to just three goals. Goalie Tim Holly made 12 saves and earned himself a yellow card.

Nate Talucci took his place in the goal for a short time while Holly sat out. Talucci earned another veteran stripe with a save, helping to keep his team in the battle.

Scoring for the Salty squad were Kevin Roman with a solo goal and Tyler Brewer hitting two.

With Mark Long in the goal for the Solid Rock team, Sato Real Estate’s Damir Glavan started the scoring in the first half of play. Teammates Zacharieah Anabtawi and Alex Landy added three points to the scoreboard for the win.

Landy shot for two points as the Sato Real Estate offense moved the soccer ball smoothly down the field.

Long’s counterpart, Paul Jennison for the Sato team had nine saves in the game, besting Long by one.

Holding a place in the middle of the pack, team Sato Real Estate should see the playoffs. Their 4-4-0 record is not as strong as the squad would like, but nice wins come at the best times in the season.

With three teams earning only two wins going into the final regular season game, Solid Rock Construction can work itself off the bottom of the rankings before going into the post-season action.

The last regularly scheduled games will be played on Thursday, May 23. The spring adult flag football season playoff bracket with 10 teams, as opposed to the usual eight, makes it so that the old league adage of “everyone makes the playoffs” is not true this season.

The outcome of the five games of this week’s action is crucial to decide which eight teams will move on to the quarter-final round of the playoffs.

The last teams in the four seeds will play two head-to-head games, resulting in the eighth and final playoff position. These games will be played on Wednesday, May 29. The playoffs start next Thursday night.

At the end of the single-elimination playoff games, the championship title will be earned on Thursday, June 13.

 

SUN SCOREBOARD

 

 

MAY 14 – YOUTH SOCCER – WEEK 7

8- TO 10-YEAR-OLD LEAGUE

 

The Intuitive Foundation (6-1-0) 10

Shady Lady Horticultural Services (1-6-0) 3

 

 

Isola Bella Italian Eatery (2-1-4) 3

Emily Moss Design (1-5-1) 0

 

 

AMI Coconuts (3-3-1) 3

Solid Rock Construction (4-1-2) 0

 

 

11- TO 14-YEAR-OLD LEAGUE – WEEK 4

 

HSH Design (2-2-0) 2

Westfall’s Lawn Care & Pest Control (0-4-0) 1

 

 

Moss Builders (4-0-0) 2

The Gitt Team – KW on the Water (2-1-1) 1

 

 

MAY 16

ADULT CO-ED SOCCER – WEEK 8

 

Sato Real Estate (4-4-0) 4

Solid Rock Construction (1-4-3) 2

 

 

Salty Printing (5-3-0) 3

Ross Built Custom Homes (4-2-2) 1

 

 

Pool America (5-1-2) 4

Beach House Waterfront Restaurant (2-6-0) 2

 

 

Moss Builders (3-3-2) 2

Language Services Association (2-3-3) 2

 

 

Diamond Turf (2-5-1) 4

Progressive Cabinetry (5-2-1) 3

Lower your mortgage rate – it’s possible

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

Last week the big news was the escalation of mortgage rates and the prediction by the mortgage “experts” that we’re not seeing them being lowered anytime soon. This week we’ll touch on ways to maybe achieve a lower rate and help buyers get their foot in the door. There are a few strategies that could help buyers secure a lower mortgage rate now and revisit the loan down the road, but it may not be for everyone.

The first one is a temporary buydown in which a seller, or more frequently a builder, pays an upfront fee to reduce a buyer’s mortgage rate for a specified period of time. It can give a buyer, especially first-time buyers, time to ease into higher payments if they expect their personal incomes will rise in the future or if traditional mortgage rates decline. There are lenders that offer it, but typically builders use it as an incentive for home buyers instead of reducing their price.

There are a variety of temporary buydowns out there with terms that involve number of years and percentage of rate drops. However, all of the temporary buydown arrangements are based on the buyer qualifying for a mortgage based on the current mortgage rate as well as having a high credit score. If you qualify, it’s still worth it, especially in the early years of home ownership, which are always the most expensive.

Another strategy is buying discount points. Essentially what you’re doing is buying the prepaid interest at closing to reduce the size of the mortgage in return for a lower rate. The lower rate is for the life of the mortgage, which can be a substantial savings if you’re planning on living in the home for a long time.

The difficult part of buying discount points and the additional fees that are assessed is that you will require a large down payment. If you have the cash to do this, you need to determine the break-even point, which is the level you save more money than you spend. If this makes financial sense, it could be a good option.

Finally, assumable mortgages can help keep rates down if you can find one. This loan allows a seller to transfer his or her mortgage to a buyer who in turn picks up the remaining loan balance, the repayment period and other terms of the seller’s existing mortgage. All of this sounds great if the seller’s rate is considerably lower than what the buyer can secure at this time. Buyers still need quite a bit of cash to cover the difference between the loan balance and the selling price and they also need to qualify for the loan just like any other mortgage product.

There certainly are a lot of assumable mortgages out there, however, they are generally not conventional mortgages. Most if not all of these loans are government-backed or insured loans by the FHA or VA. It’s also not a simple process for either the buyer or seller and may require some legal advice for the novice.

Getting a lower mortgage interest rate in this financial environment is difficult, but if you have the means, the nerve and a little bit of luck, it could happen. In the meantime, sit tight and see what develops between now and the end of the year. The country is going through many changes and so are the mortgage markets.

Carpe diem

Carpe diem

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

The sound wasn’t exactly deafening but it enveloped me as I stepped out of the car at the boat ramp. Located on the South Carolina side of Lake Russell, an impoundment of the Savannah River, the forest that surrounded the border between Georgia and South Carolina was humming with the sound of cicadas. These insects, known as Brood XIX, have a 13-year life cycle and provide a rare opportunity for fly anglers in the Southeast. Their numbers, truly biblical in proportion, have been estimated in the trillions and when some inevitably fall into the water, carp rise to feed on them.

My wife, Chris, and I had just arrived in Sautee on a yearly vacation to northeast Georgia when I got the call from Unicoi Outfitters owner Jimmy Harris to join him and store manager Wes McElroy to fish for carp. While I was aware of fly anglers targeting carp, this was the first time I had ever had the opportunity and I jumped at the chance. Readers of this column will have heard of McElroy and Harris, both of whom have provided me with some unique opportunities over the years, including fishing for stripers in the Chattahoochee and Lake Lanier and shoal bass on several local rivers. This trip was going to be special.

The weather this spring has been particularly wet, and while I was concerned about the forecast 80% chance of rain, I’ve learned never to cancel a trip based on the weather guessers. As it turned out, it never rained a drop while we were on the water, and we experienced one of the most beautiful days of the trip. McElroy is an excellent fly angler and fly tier and he extensively researches every species he pursues. For this trip, he had tied two dozen flies that almost perfectly matched the brood that would litter the water and bring carp to the surface to feed. We began by slowly moving along the edges of the lake looking for cruising carp. During the first hour, the carp seemed concentrated in certain areas, and we only boated a couple of fish. As the day wore on and the forest warmed, the cacophony intensified, and carp began to rise at almost every cove we visited. The next challenge for me was to time the strike after a carp had taken my fly, a task that proved a bit perplexing. I’m familiar with waiting a split second after a snook hits a top water fly but carp take this patience to a new level. The trick turned out to be to strike only after they had inhaled the fly and turned away. It was such a long wait that we joked about getting a hit, having lunch and then setting the hook. For the balance of the afternoon, we took turns throwing at carp and had some incredible action. In the end, we boated close to 20 fish ranging up to 10 pounds. We left the lake late that afternoon satiated with the action and relived the day on our way back to Clarksville.

If you’re ever in the area, make a point of visiting one or both of Unicoi Outfitters’ excellent shops and inquire about the fishing. There is excellent trout fishing nearby on their private water at Nacoochee Bend as well as other local rivers and lakes. Plan a trip by visiting their website at www.unicoioutfitters.com. Check out the action in this YouTube video: https://youtu.be/zHYhls4VXxY?si=dWGT4hSftCup34US

Officers issuing citations for unregistered boats

Officers issuing citations for unregistered boats

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Boating, Outdoors.

CORTEZ – Marine law enforcement agencies have issued more than 20 citations recently for multiple unregistered and derelict vessels moored in the waters just south of the Cortez Bridge.

“The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) Marine Unit is working closely with FWC (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission) to get derelict boats removed before hurricane season,” MCSO Public Information Officer Randy Warren said on May 17. “Deputies are also patrolling the area and have been writing citations for unregistered vessels.”

Warren said the MCSO Marine Unit has issued four citations in the past several days for vessels with expired registration.

“The FWC works very closely with our partners, including the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, to ensure state waters are safe for boaters and wildlife alike and derelict vessels continue to be a priority,” FWC spokesperson Bradley Johnson wrote in a May 17 email to The Sun.

Johnson said there are currently four derelict vessels in the area that are being actively investigated, with two that are likely to be removed soon.

“There have also been 18 citations written to vessel owners in this area for various “At Risk” violations over the past two months alone,” Johnson wrote.

Local boat captains have expressed concern about the moored boats crowding the harbor, as well as at least four sunken boats that are hazardous to navigation.

Brittany Bull, who owns and rents six of the boats in the area, spoke to The Sun on May 18.

“The way I’ve gotten these boats is I’ll see a boat that is sunken and get hold of the owner and see if I can obtain ownership, and now we have them floating,” Bull said. “They may not look great on the outside but the inside of the boats have been refurbished.”

Bull’s boyfriend, Brian Grimes, said the six boats are rented with a portable air conditioner, generator, bottled water and portable shower. A dinghy is provided for some of the boats to allow renters to get to shore.

“The boats are stationary, they don’t have motors, and they’re anchored out there,” Grimes said.

One of the FWC criteria for an “at-risk” vessel being classified as derelict is that it does not have an effective means of propulsion for safe navigation within 72 hours after the vessel owner or operator receives telephone or written notice, which may be provided by fax, email or other electronic means, stating that from an officer, and the vessel owner or operator is unable to provide a receipt, proof of purchase or other documentation of having ordered necessary parts for vessel repair.

“The Coast Guard has rules so they have to be moved every month to a different location and we just move them a little bit so we don’t get in trouble with the Coast Guard,” Grimes said.

Bull said the Coast Guard comes out to conduct boat safety checks.

The Coast Guard did not respond to a request for comment.

Other ‘at risk’ criteria include a vessel taking on water without an effective way to dewater; spaces meant to be enclosed remaining open to the elements; the vessel listing due to water intrusion; the vessel has broken loose or may break loose from its anchor; and the vessel is tied to an unlawful or unpermitted structure or mooring.

“We prefer to have people remove them on their own. If they don’t remove them, the state will do it eventually,” Warren said. “People might not realize there’s a process to get them physically removed.”

A derelict vessel is any vessel that is left in a wrecked, junked or substantially dismantled condition upon waters of the state, according to Florida Statute 823.11.

The derelict vessel adjudication and removal process can include multiple court hearings and court orders to remove a vessel from state waters. Each derelict vessel owner must also be afforded the opportunity for an administrative hearing by the law enforcement agency investigating the case as well as potential criminal proceedings before the vessels may be authorized for removal, according to Johnson.

Johnson wrote, “FWC makes every effort to work with the vessel owners to have them either remove the vessel from state waters themselves or return it to non-derelict status to minimize the cost to taxpayers. There is a difference between a vessel that is derelict and a vessel that is at-risk of becoming derelict. It is much less expensive to remove an at-risk vessel than it is to remove one already rendered derelict.”

Derelict vessel removals typically cost between $400-$800 per foot to remove. A 30-foot boat, barring any extraordinary circumstances, will cost between $12,000 and $24,000.

“Vessel removals can vary greatly in cost and new derelict vessel cases are constantly being added to the state’s inventory,” Johnson wrote. “On average, 600 new derelict vessels are added to the FWC’s DV database annually. Derelict vessels may be removed by owners, local government entities or the state.”

In an attempt to prevent vessels from becoming derelict on Florida’s waters, FWC initiated the Florida Vessel Turn in Program, a program in which vessel owners may apply to have their at-risk vessels removed from the waters of the state at no charge to them. Guidelines and applications are available at www.FloridaVTIP.com Vessel owners who have received a citation or written warning for a vessel in at-risk condition by law enforcement may apply for this program if they meet the eligibility requirements.

Bradenton Beach gets donation of life vests

Bradenton Beach gets donation of life vests

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News.

BRADENTON BEACH – It’s an all-too-common problem for boaters to have a passenger load that exceeds the number of life vests onboard their craft, according to the Bradenton Beach Police Department (BBPD), which does regular checks of boats in waters around the city

Not only is this a serious safety hazard, it’s not legal. Florida law requires a life vest for every passenger on the craft regardless of age. Insufficient vests can result in a fine and even end the boater’s day on the water.

Thanks to a generous donation from Sea Tow of Cortez, this doesn’t have to be a problem anymore.

“Sea Tow, our corporation, has a nonprofit that’s called the Sea Tow Foundation,” Sea Tow’s Cortez franchise owner, Sam Joseph, said. “Through each franchise, we all pitch in to the foundation. We have life vest stands we set up at boat ramps and marinas, and we also supply those stands with life jackets.”

Joseph said a life vest company that went out of business last year donated about 15,000 life vests to the foundation, and his franchise was able to obtain about 200 of those vests.

“I was talking to Officer Eric Hill from BBPD, and he said instead of giving out tickets to boaters who were lacking in vests, it would be nice to be able to loan them one so they’re in compliance,” Joseph said.

Joseph said they have donated about 70 life vests to BBPD so far, which will keep some onboard their department’s boat to loan to boaters, leaving them to enjoy their day on the water safely and avoid costly fines from the department. There is also a rack of vests on the Bradenton Beach Pier dock for boaters to borrow and return based on the simple honor system, making it easy for boaters to solve a common problem hassle free.

Sea Tow has boats in Cortez, Bradenton Beach and most surrounding areas. They assist stranded boaters by towing them to shore when there are mechanical issues with their personal watercraft. They can be reached at 941-756-3422 or at www.seatow.com. Anyone wishing to donate can use the social media link @seatowfoundation on Facebook, Instagram and other social media platforms.

Editorial: Selling access to the sand

Written by Sun staff on . Posted in Editorial, Opinion.

Manatee County commissioners are on a roll when it comes to disappointing their constituents.

Despite overwhelming protests from the community, commissioners have approved $2.9 million for three pre-design criteria packages for three parking garages, one at Manatee Beach in Holmes Beach.

Even Commissioner George Kruse, whom Island residents were starting to rally around, voted in favor of the budget amendment.

Commissioners’ intent with these packages is to seek a public-private partnership agreement for a private developer and builder to come in with a bid package to build and run these parking facilities. The reason a private company or investor would do such a thing, as was said on the county commission dais on May 14, is so they can profit from the paid parking facility.

There goes Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge’s supposed reason for going around Holmes Beach officials to build the parking garage at the beach, which was to give more people access to the beach. Instead, by this plan, only those willing to pay for the privilege of parking on Anna Maria Island will have access to the beach.

Van Ostenbridge already stated that he has no intention of seeking a reduced or free rate for Manatee County residents. Now he and the other five members of the county commission are actively spending tax dollars to build a revenue stream for the developers – and possible campaign contributors – they select at the expense of taxpayers and Manatee County residents.

Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth is the only Anna Maria Island mayor who has taken a stand against paid parking and doesn’t allow it in her city. Holmes Beach has the only free and truly accessible beach access left on Anna Maria Island and county commissioners have gone all the way to the state Legislature and Gov. Ron DeSantis to make sure that it’s closed to only those willing to pay a premium to access the sand.

With the current slate of county commissioners, this is your tax dollars at work, something voters should remember at the ballot box in the Aug. 20 Republican primary, where many of our local elections are decided, and in the Nov. 5 general election.

Bridge Street Merchants plans monthly street festival

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Entertainment, Festivals.

BRADENTON BEACH – The Bridge Street Merchants Association (BSMA) has big plans for the coming year, including monthly street parties on Bridge Street.

The new monthly event, billed as “Sun Down Get Down,” will be held on the third Thursday of each month beginning on July 18.

“Our plan is for Bridge Street to be closed to traffic and to allow open containers during the event like most small-town street festivals,” BSMA President Derek Williams, owner of the Drift In, wrote in a press release to The Sun. “Each month will have a theme and there will be incentives to visit the merchants. You will see everything from pirates to classic cars, power boats to Spanish galleons, Privateers to conquistadors. Of course each night at sundown, we are bringing back an old Bradenton Beach favorite, the Green Flash beverage.”

BSMA was founded 20 years ago by Angela Rodocker, owner of Bridge Walk Resort, and other local business owners, to bring awareness to the Bridge Street area. Participation in the organization has diminished over the years and came to a near-stop during COVID in 2020, according to Williams.

“Clearly the biggest challenge was lack of participation and engagement by merchants and willingness to make ongoing investments of time and money while running their own businesses,” Williams wrote.

The group took a new approach by promoting specific businesses each week in radio ads and highlighting their participation in Christmas on Bridge Street and the Christmas Boat Parade events. As a result of that advertising, the 2023 schedule had some of the best-attended events seen in years.

“Heading into 2024 we used that momentum and decided to think bigger and year-round,” Williams wrote. “Attracting customers during “season” was one challenge, but how could we get locals and tourists to enjoy and support the area during the slower months?”

City officials and merchants came together and held roundtable meetings and the result is a reorganized BSMA, according to Williams, with a commitment to monthly event schedules, the outsourcing of event management and the chance for outside sponsorship to help with funding.

“We expect over 25 new members to BSMA and hope to raise over $150,000 in annual sponsorship and support,” Williams wrote. “BSMA membership costs will remain reasonable and economical, allowing for businesses of all sizes to participate thanks to our new model for raising funds and utilizing sponsorships to fund events.”

BSMA has received a $15,000 sponsorship from the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, and Williams hopes the city of Bradenton Beach will increase its sponsorship beyond the $40,000 the CRA spends annually on Christmas decorations and seasonal events.

“I’m confident the CRA can find an additional $25,000 annually to help the business community bring life to our little beach town,” Williams wrote. “My goodness, if they can find money for palm trees and water trucks at the last minute, I’m confident they can get behind this new initiative,” Williams wrote.

With parking a challenge in the Bridge Street area, BSMA has created a transportation committee that is working with the City of Bradenton Beach and Manatee County to offer newly designated parking areas, trolley stops, ferry stops, bikes and golf carts.

The 2024 BSMA leadership team includes Williams, Vice President Angela Rodocker and Secretary/Treasurer Beth Vidmar of Paradise Boat Tours.

Two new websites have been launched to support the efforts – HistoricBridgeStreet.com and SunDownGetDown.com.

Safety the focus of National Safe Boating Week

Safety the focus of National Safe Boating Week

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Boating, Outdoors.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – From May 18-24, National Safe Boating Week is a reminder about the importance of being a safe boater.

Anna Maria resident David Haddox is a past commander of the Anna Maria Island Sail & Power Squadron. At the national level, he serves as rear commander in charge of basic public education for the United States Power Squadrons, America’s Boating Club.

In recognition of National Safe Boating Week, Haddox shared some U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) annual boating statistics from 2022. The 2023 stats come out later this year.

According to the USCG, there were 4,040 boating accidents 636 deaths, 2,222 injuries, and property damage exceeding $63 million in 2022. Approximately 75% of the reported boating fatalities were the result of drowning and 85% of those victims were not wearing life jackets at the time. Three of every four boaters who drowned were using boats less than 21 feet in length. Where the boater’s instruction history was known, 74% of the fatalities occurred in boats where the operator had not received boating safety instruction.

According to the USCG, alcohol use is the leading contributor to boating fatalities and was listed as the leading factor in 16% of boating fatalities. Opera­tor inattention, operator inexperience, improper lookout, excessive speed and mechanical failure are also ranked as top contributing factors.

There were 173 accidents where at least one person was struck by a propeller, accounting for 182 injuries and 41 deaths.

Haddox shared some Florida-specific boating regulations:

  • Children under age 6 must wear a properly fitted, USCG-approved personal flotation device (PFD) while on a boat under 26 feet when it is underway.
  • Anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1988 who operates a power vessel of 10 horsepower or greater must have in their possession a Florida Boater Safety Education ID card.
  • Harassing manatees can lead to a $50,000 fine and up to one year in prison.

“Wearing life jackets saves lives. They are called life jackets for a reason. Take a boating safety course for you, your loved ones and the boating community. The next course starts June 8 and continues June 15,” Haddox said.

Safety the focus of National Safe Boating Week
The National Safe Boating Council encourages boaters to wear lifejackets. – www.safeboatingcampaign.com | Submitted

The Anna Maria Island Sail & Power Squadron, America’s Boating Club for the Bradenton area, is offering the two-day boating safety course in June. The course is suitable for beginners through intermediate boaters. The cost is $55 per person or $85 for two boaters sharing instructional materials. To pre-register, call 941-447-7845. For more details, visit the squadron’s website.

“Graduates of our course are issued the card by FWC,” Haddox said. “Our club’s goals are to have fun on the water, to teach the public about boating safety, and to provide free vessel safety checks as a community service. We also provide free, voluntary vessel safety checks to ensure operators have the required equipment on board,” Haddox said.

Tips for a great Memorial Day weekend on AMI

Tips for a great Memorial Day weekend on AMI

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Anna Maria Island, Community News, Featured.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – With less than a week until the busy Memorial Day weekend, the Island is bracing for the good and the frustration that comes with major holidays. This year’s busy spring break season broke records and tourism officials expect nothing less for Memorial Day.

Regardless of how many people flock to the white sand beaches of AMI, with a little planning, it’s not difficult for both locals and visitors to enjoy the holiday with minimal stress.

Many local business owners and employees rely on busy holiday weekends to boost business. For locals, officials in all three Island cities say patience is the best stress reducer.

“My wife and I have a condo here in Holmes Beach, and we know what’s coming on weekends like Memorial Day and July Fourth,” Aaron Blessing said. “You just learn to not go certain places at certain times. Traffic is usually backed up in one direction or the other depending on the time of day; just go the opposite direction. We live in paradise, why stress it? People are going to want to be here, just embrace it. The world has a lot of places going through some horrific things right now, I don’t believe we have any right to complain about a problem most of the planet would kill to have.”

One of the busiest places on the Island every Memorial Day is Coquina Beach. With the most available parking spaces anywhere on AMI, Coquina Beach is popular with day trippers from nearby areas to spend a day in the sun. Even though there are a lot of free parking spaces, it is recommended to get to Coquina Beach very early to avoid being shut out.

“We are seeing Coquina Beach parking filling up by 10 or 11 a.m. on the weekends here in May, which is generally a slower time of year,” Bradenton Beach Police Lt. Lenard Diaz said. “I believe this is going to be a busy Memorial Day weekend, and our department is ready for it.”

Diaz said his advice is to follow the rules and have fun. These rules include no fires, grills, alcohol or pets on the beach. Beachgoers can be fined for all these offenses. Diaz says the biggest problems the department sees on Memorial Day weekend are parking related. In 2023, his department wrote more than 300 parking tickets for illegal parking and will be heavily active in the public beach parking area again this year. Extra officers will be on duty and will not hesitate to cite violators.

“The one thing we want people to know is there is absolutely no saving parking spaces for others,” Diaz said. “This is becoming more of a problem recently, and we want to make it clear that it won’t be tolerated. If you are caught trying to prevent someone from parking in an open space because you are saving it for a friend or family member, you can lose your day at the beach. Parking spaces are first-come, first-served with no exceptions.”

Another popular beach area is Manatee Beach in Holmes Beach, where thousands flock to soak up the sun in an area with concessions, shopping, a tiki bar and public bathrooms. This popular spot is also a source of frustration with visitors who want to get their cars parked and hit the water. According to Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer, there is plenty of free parking and everyone can have a great day at the beach by following a few simple rules.

“We are a family friendly atmosphere, so don’t bring any alcohol, pets or grills. If you want to grill, there are designated grilling areas near the beach you can use,” Tokajer said. “Also, please remember to always park facing the right direction and pay attention to all signage out there. We have a lot of parking throughout the city beyond just the Manatee Beach lot. If you go to the city’s website, there’s a map that shows you all of the auxiliary parking beyond that of the public beach.”

Tokajer says many visitors think there is no parking available on these busy holiday weekends, but he makes daily patrols during these times and has never seen a day when there weren’t spaces available. Tokajer echoes what Diaz had to say about saving parking spaces, saying his department will not tolerate it and will remove problematic offenders from the beach parking areas if necessary.

In Anna Maria, there is not as much public parking and it’s important to look for signs regarding illegal parking. Many streets only allow parking on one side of the street and most private residences will not tolerate parking on their property without prior permission. All rules regarding grills, pets and alcohol on the beach also apply in Anna Maria and are strictly enforced by the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.

Most officials agree on the basics for a great holiday weekend on AMI – Get here early, follow the rules and enjoy the holiday.