BRADENTON – West Manatee Fire Rescue District (WMFR) Fire Marshal Rodney Kwiatkowski is the Florida Fire Marshals and Inspectors Association’s 2025 Florida Fire Marshal of the Year.
The award was presented to Kwiatkowski during the opening ceremony of the 77th Annual Florida Fire Prevention Conference on Nov. 3 at the Coral Springs Marriott.
“This award celebrates Kwiatkowski’s exceptional leadership, innovation and commitment to advancing fire and life safety both locally and statewide,” the WMFR press release says.
The press release notes the distinguished honor was bestowed upon Kwiatkowski by his peers and the award is regarded as “one of the highest professional recognitions in Florida’s fire service community.”
Kwiatkowski will also be recognized by the Division of State Fire Marshal and Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia during the 2026 Florida legislative session in Tallahassee. As a tribute to this achievement, Kwiatkowski’s name will be permanently engraved on a trophy displayed in the rotunda of the Florida State Fire College as a lasting symbol of excellence and service to the profession.
Fire Marshall Rodney Kwiatkowski helped launch WMFR’s mandatory vacation rental inspection program in 2023. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
In the press release, WMFR Fire Chief Ben Rigney said, “Rodney’s leadership has elevated our prevention and community risk-reduction programs to statewide prominence. His recognition as Fire Marshal of the Year reflects not only his dedication but the professionalism and teamwork of everyone at West Manatee Fire Rescue.”
The press release notes that under Kwiatkowski’s direction, WMFR has implemented data-driven Community Risk Reduction initiatives, enhanced short-term rental fire safety programs and expanded public education outreach, earning statewide and national recognition for measurable improvements in community safety. And those achievements “underscore WMFR’s ongoing dedication to excellence in engineering, education and enforcement – the core values that continue to define the district’s fire and life safety mission.”
“I am deeply humbled to receive this honor,” Kwiatkowski said in the press release. “It’s truly a career milestone and a reflection of the collective commitment of our WMFR team to protect lives and property through innovation, collaboration and service. I am grateful to Chief Rigney for his continued support, my peers and the Florida Fire Marshals and Inspectors Association for this incredible recognition.”
In the olden days right after World War II when houses were coming out of the ground like spring flowers, homebuyers were typically in their 20s and fully intended to pay off their mortgages. Now, however, the median age of buyers has reached an all-time high of 40 and many will not likely outlive their mortgage.
The White House is working on a plan to introduce a 50-year mortgage to make it easier for Americans to afford homeownership. It’s true that a 50-year mortgage would likely make it easier for buyers to qualify for a home loan. In these high interest, low inventory times, it’s something that will have a lot of appeal to buyers who can’t find any other way to afford a home.
Based on a $400,000 purchase with 20% down and a 6.22% mortgage rate, Freddie Mac estimates the difference between a 30-year mortgage and a 50-year mortgage is about $200 a month. This lower monthly payment will qualify many buyers who otherwise wouldn’t qualify for a loan to finally get into their own home.
It’s one of those “looks great on paper” theories, but is full of danger and buyers who end up being financially overextended. Home mortgages are generally front-loaded with interest at the beginning of the loan term so building equity in the early years of ownership is difficult. Since 50-year mortgages will likely be offered at a higher interest to offset the credit risk to the lender, this will make building equity almost impossible.
For buyers who are still in their 20s and plan on living in a home for a long time, the case can be made that this is a good choice. But as stated, buyers are older now, jobs may not be forever, and marriages and partnerships come with a high rate of breakups. Nevertheless, a 50-year mortgage could be just the right option for buyers who are very confident in their life choices and are able to live conservatively to overcome future bumps in the road.
Last week, we published the October sales statistics, which were all positive numbers compared to last year. However, the numbers were skewed because of the negative effect of the hurricanes in 2024.
However, the national sales also rose to an eight-month high in October, helped by the small decline in interest rates. The national median existing home price in October rose to $415,200, a 2.1% increase from a year earlier, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). As a comparison, Manatee County’s median single-family home sale price this year was $481,000, an increase of 0.2% from last year. The NAR also reports that prices are falling in some southern and western markets, giving buyers more of a negotiating edge.
In spite of buyers having an increased level of comfort in the market, Redfin reports that there are more than a half-million more sellers than buyers in the national housing market in October. This is the biggest gap on record going back to 2013.
Many old homes in the Northeast have a “mortgage button” embedded in the newel post of their stairway. The tradition is that when the mortgage is fully paid, the wooden button is replaced with an ivory one so everyone coming into the home knows the home is mortgage free… a nice tradition that unfortunately we won’t be seeing much of in decades to come.
Winnie, a female loggerhead sea turtle, came in tenth place in a field of 12 turtles in the Sea Turtle Conservancy’s Tour de Turtles Race that began on Aug. 1. She traveled 458 miles in the Gulf of Mexico since she was satellite-tagged and released after nesting on Coquina Beach on June 23 and 307 miles since the race began. The Tour de Turtles Race ended on Oct. 31.
Winnie swam to raise awareness about the threat of light pollution and how lighting near shore can negatively impact nesting sea turtles and their hatchlings.
Her participation in the 2025 Tour de Turtles was sponsored by Hurricane Hanks and Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring.
BRADENTON BEACH – Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) members discussed hiring a separate CRA attorney at an Oct. 20 meeting after learning that the city could be out of compliance with statutory requirements.
CRA Chair Scott Bear, Police Chief John Cosby and city Treasurer Shayne Thompson attended a Florida Redevelopment Association meeting from Oct. 14-17 in West Palm Beach.
“First and probably foremost, one of the things they told us is it is probably not a good idea, in fact in one session, it was also suggested that it was illegal, to have the city attorney be the CRA attorney,” Bear said. “So, we need to look for a CRA attorney through Trask. My understanding is they do have a CRA attorney who can help us, so we need to engage that person really quickly.”
The CRA board discussed compliance with statutory requirements at the Oct. 20 meeting. – Leslie Lake | Sun
The city has retained the Trask Daignault LLC law firm on an interim basis with Erica Augello as lead attorney. Retired City Attorney Ricinda Perry formerly represented both the city and the CRA.
“We’re finding out that we need specific knowledge attorneys for certain things,” Cosby said. “One size fits all is out the window, so I 100% agree with chairman Scott, we have to get this person on as fast as possible. I asked Terri (City Clerk Terri Sanclemente) while we were there to call the firm, and she spoke with Erica.”
Cosby said the Trask firm has an attorney that specializes in CRAs and expressed an interest in meeting with them once the agreement with the firm is signed, which was scheduled at the Oct. 23 commission meeting.
Bear said that there were two statutory updates, one in 2019 and one in 2024, that impact the CRA board.
“We need to do a couple things,” Bear said. “The update required that as of Dec. 1 this year every CRA must submit a status report. We’re going to need to work with the CRA attorney, once that person is under contract to get on that report, because we’ve got about a month to put it together and then brought back to this board for approval.”
Bear said the 2024 update stipulates there cannot be events in the CRA without a specific plan.
“The other thing is, during an event, you have to have a table set up with a handout that you provide to people that are there explaining how the event helps with the redevelopment of the CRA,” Bear said. “So, we’re going to have to pretty quickly work with someone to get that together and then figure out how we’re going to man a booth and do the handouts and explain it. That’s going to be a big issue for events within the CRA going forward. It could result in some really ugly actions if it were proven not to be consistent with that statute.
“One of the other things that I took away was in 2019 there was legislation that said every CRA will sunset in 2039 regardless of what is in the plan,” Bear said. “So, our current CRA plan has us going into 2046 or 47. That doesn’t matter, the legislation sunsets us in 2039, unless and this was the thing I took away, unless we do a resolution from the CRA to the city commission requesting approval to extend the sunset beyond 2039. So, we’re going to need to get that resolution done quickly.”
Bear said the legislation set a date of March 1, 2026 to have the resolution approved and in place.
“The last thing I took away is, there are very specific things that need to be included in the CRA plan and also on the website,” Bear said. “We do have a CRA page on the city website, so we’re OK there. One of the first things I think we need to do is get the CRA attorney to review our plan and make sure it’s complying with the legislation.”
“I think the three of us have a clear path forward, we just have to get the right people into place and move forward,” Cosby said.
“Some of the presenters have availed themselves to help us,” Thompson said. “One had been the CRA director in Palmetto, and Delray Beach has expressed an interest to help us as we move forward.”
The Bradenton Beach CRA district extends from the south side of the Cortez Bridge to the southernmost property lines along Fifth Street South.
BRADENTON BEACH – The 2024 hurricanes may have taken the animatronic figures, the bubble machine and the hearse that the Bridge Tender Inn was known for at Halloween, but the party will still go on this year.
“The animatronics were destroyed in the storms, and we haven’t had the funds or time to replace them. The priority was fixing the building,” said manager Sue Shinka, adding, “It took us 15 years to get all the animatronics.”
This giant skeleton greets those who enter the haunted alleyway. – Leslie Lake | Sun
The Bridge Street alley on the west side of the Bridge Tender is decorated with skeletons, and, as in years past, there will be a kids’ costume contest, a dog costume contest and an adult costume contest, all with cash prizes.
The costume contest for dogs starts at 5:30 p.m. – Leslie Lake | Sun
“We’re still doing Halloween, but it’s going to be a little more low-key,” Shinka said.
The Bridge Tender Inn party on Friday, Oct. 31 at 135 Bridge St. features Brigid’s Cross playing music at 2 p.m., a kids’ costume contest at 5 p.m., a dog costume contest at 5:30 p.m., Justin Rector playing music at 6 p.m. and an adult costume contest at 10 p.m.
HOLMES BEACH – About 30 residents attended a neighborhood meeting held at the corner of Holmes Boulevard and 56th Street on Oct. 24.
The meeting pertained to a $1.73 million sea level rise resiliency and drainage project that will begin soon. The project is expected to improve drainage along portions of 55th Street, 56th Street, Holmes Boulevard, Gulf Drive and Marina Drive.
The 45-minute outdoor meeting provided residents and property owners the opportunity to ask questions and share their concerns about the short-term project impacts. Attendees were provided with a one-page handout that includes a project map and a QR code linked to the project webpage.
The one-page fact sheet distributed at the meeting highlights in yellow where the new pipes will be installed and included a project-related QR code linked to the city website. – City of Holmes Beach | Submitted
According to the project overview provided at the stormwater management page of the city website, “The city of Holmes Beach is undertaking a major infrastructure improvement along Gulf Drive to address the growing impacts of sea level rise and frequent flooding. This project focuses on enhancing the city’s stormwater management system in one of its most flood prone corridors, where tidal events and heavy rainfall often overwhelm existing drainage.
“The work includes upgrading stormwater pipes, installing new catch basins and reshaping swales to improve water flow and reduce standing water. These improvements are designed to increase the system’s capacity, improve drainage efficiency and reduce the risk of roadway and property flooding. The Gulf Drive project is part of a broader city-wide strategy to modernize stormwater systems and prepare for future coastal challenges.”
The Tampa-based Harris-McBurney Company is the project contractor and Herb Raybourn, from the RESPEC engineering and consulting firm, is the engineer of record.
Herb Raybourn, left, is the project’s engineer of record. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Public Works Project Manager Matt Gorman facilitated the Oct. 24 meeting, joined by Interim Public Works Director Anthony Benitez, Raybourn, Detective Brian Hall, Harris-McBurney Vice President Shawn Gilbert, Harris-McBurney Project Manager John Kettell and Harris-McBurney Maintenance of Traffic (MOT) Safety Director Tom Newton.
Public Works Project Manager Matt Gorman, Interim Public Works Director Anthony Benitez and Harris-McBurney Vice-President Shawn Gilbert answered questions asked by meeting attendees. – Joe Hendricks | SunJohn Kettell, left, is Harris-McBurney’s project manager and Tom Newton is the company’s maintenance of traffic safety director. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Gorman said the project is the first phase of a proposed multi-phase resiliency and drainage effort.
“The goal of this project is to improve drainage along 55th and 56th – getting the drainage flowing the correct way, from west to east,” Benitez said, noting the discharge point will be the marina basin along Marina Drive.
“We’re putting 48-inch pipe in,” Kettell added.
Commissioner Dan Diggins asked if residents would see noticeable drainage improvements when the phase 1 project is completed.
“There will be some drainage improvement associated with phase 1,” Raybourn said. “Obviously, when the entire project is developed that improvement will be better, but there will be improvement with phase 1.”
Gilbert anticipates construction starting in about 30 days and the project being completed in about four months.
He said there will be a lot of digging and residents will experience some inconveniences.
This map posted at the city website shows the project impact areas highlighted in red. – City of Anna Maria | Submitted
Gilbert and Kettell said any portions of brick paver driveways impacted by the project will be removed, stored and reinstalled. Concrete driveways will be replaced and property damage will be repaired.
“There is going to be disruption and we’re going to do our best to work with all the residents and make it a smooth process,” Benitez said.
“You may be parking on the road one night, but it won’t be two nights,” Kettell said. “Hopefully, you can access your driveway every day, but we can’t promise you that.”
“You will still be able to get to your home,” Gorman said.
Hall said short-term streetside parking will be allowed if needed and police officers and code enforcement officers will be informed to not issue parking tickets in those impacted areas. Diggins recommends hanging a reentry tag from the parked vehicle’s rearview mirror so officers know the parked vehicle belongs to a resident.
Gilbert said Newton will be at the job site making sure the rerouted and detoured traffic flows as smoothly as possible. Newton said he used to be a police officer in Hillsborough County and he knows how to manage traffic.
“We’re going to have to close particular roads for a short period of time. As soon as that’s done, we’ll open that up and move to another location,” Newton said, noting some street closures may last a week or longer.
After referencing traffic problems experienced during a previous city project, one attendee said, “Signs alone do not help. You need some kind of enforcement out there. If you lived on this block, you couldn’t get out of your driveway without someone cursing at you about cutting in line.”
Kettell said the construction company will do its own utility location work before construction begins. If there’s a conflict between a drainage pipe and an existing waterline, the water will be turned off for a few hours while an additional waterline is installed to circumvent or accommodate the new drainage pipe. Kettell said residents, property owners and vacation rental management companies will be notified of any anticipated or emergency water shutoffs and his cell phone number will be provided.
Regarding the dewatering pumps that will be used to remove water where digging occurs, Kettell said Harris-McBurney uses pumps that are quieter than those used by some other construction companies and the pumps will be covered with dog house-like temporary structures that further minimize the noise.
“We’d appreciate it if you didn’t turn our pumps off, because people do,” he said.
Raybourn and Benitez said the $1.7 million phase 1 project is being 50% funded by a Resilient Florida grant and 50% funded by the city.
Diggins, Gorman and Kettell told residents to contact them with any concerns that arise during the construction process and several residents thanked the city officials and company representatives for meeting with them.
HOLMES BEACH – The three winners in the four-candidate Holmes Beach City Commission race will be known after in-person voting concludes on Tuesday, Nov. 4.
Carol Soustek, Terry Schaefer, Steve Oelfke and Jessica Patel seek the two-year commission terms to be determined by Holmes Beach voters.
On Nov. 4, in-person voting will occur at the Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The election results will be published that evening at www.amisun.com.
According to the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Office, there are currently 2,210 registered voters in Holmes Beach and 473 voters requested vote-by-mail ballots for the city election.
THE CANDIDATES
Soustek, a retired corporate accountant, was appointed to the commission in 2014 and then elected to serve additional two-year terms in 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021 and 2023.
Schaefer, a retired bank executive, was elected to the city commission in 2019 and re-elected in 2021 and 2023.
In February, Oelfke, a skilled nursing facility administrator, and planning commissioner at the time, was appointed to fill the commission seat vacated by long-time Commissioner Pat Morton. Oelfke seeks his first term as an elected commissioner.
Patel, a creator and executive director for a non-profit organization and a former journalist, is a first-time candidate.
CANDIDATE FORUM
On Sept. 24, The Sun hosted a 90-minute candidate forum. A partial recap of the forum appeared in the Sept. 29 issue of The Sun and at www.amisun.com and focused on the candidates’ opening remarks and their views on the city’s hurricane recovery efforts, the city budget and millage rate, stormwater and drainage expenditures and the annual stormwater fees paid by Holmes Beach property owners. That night, the candidates also shared their thoughts on several other issues, some of which are recapped below.
REZONING REQUESTS
In response to a question submitted in advance by a Sun reader, the candidates discussed rezoning requests that seek to increase the zoning density and intensity for the use of a property.
“The last rezoning question that came to us was two years ago and we rejected it, when the Lutheran church asked to redevelop two of their three parcels into residential,” Schaefer said. “Our commission has taken a stand not to allow rezoning to increase density.”
Terry Schaefer seeks re-election. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Soustek said the city’s comprehensive plan is the commission’s guiding document for rezoning requests.
“You use that as your guide and we’ve done that very well,” she said.
She noted the commission is bound by law to approve a proposed site plan that complies with city codes and regulations; and the failure do so could result in the city being sued.
“The comprehensive plan is our directive,” Oelfke said. “It can help commissioners make decisions that are going to be in the best interests of the residents.”
“One of first things I did when I decided to run was read that comprehensive plan. I agree it’s not the solution,” Patel said regarding rezoning requests.
Patel noted the comp plan also addresses affordable housing, which remains in short supply.
“When you have four grand a month to spend on a place and you can’t afford to live on this Island, it’s a problem. Maybe changing some ordinances to allow for density where families can live in those areas, that should be open for discussion,” she said.
GLORIA DEI PROPERTY
Earlier this year, the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church’s representatives rejected the city’s $3 million offer to purchase the property and church building for use as a public facility. The property is currently listed for $9.9 million based on the seller’s assumption that the property can be rezoned for residential or commercial development.
“Don’t give up on the city getting the Gloria Dei property,” Soustek said.
As for rezoning the church property, she said, “Again, you use the comprehensive plan. If they met the rules, we’ve got to give it them, but they are very stringent rules.”
Carol Soustek seeks re-election. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“There’s a significant opportunity to keep the structure and the density as it is,” Oelfke said. “I want to see that property and that structure used to benefit the residents and I think it’s worth some money to do that.”
Jessica Patel seeks election for the first time. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“We definitely should not be rezoning it,” Patel said. “We should keep it as it is. We should be looking at different ways to use that property to potentially bring in revenue for the city.”
“The position that the city took was much more realistic than the position that the church took,” Schaefer said. “We made a legitimate offer of $3 million for the property. We had four agencies in the city that wanted to rent space from us.”
SPEED TABLES
The city plans to soon install two speed tables along Key Royale Drive, between Marina Drive and the Key Royale Bridge. At the time of the forum, three speed tables were anticipated.
Soustek said she’d be OK with just one speed table but something needs to be done to discourage speeding there.
Oelfke reluctantly agreed that something must be done, but he wants the speed tables to be constructed in a manner that allows motorists to pass over them while traveling at or near the 25 mph speed limit. He’d also like to see a roundabout constructed at the Marina Drive/Key Royale Drive intersection to make it safer and easier for Key Royale traffic to access Marina Drive.
Patel said the Key Royale residents she spoke with oppose the speed tables and feel the city is taking an unnecessary action to address a small number of speeding motorists.
Schaefer said, “This all started with a request of those neighbors living on the most narrow part of Key Royale Drive. This was not a city initiative. It was the city listening to its constituents about the concerns they had.”
CITY MEETINGS
The candidates discussed what might be done to increase public attendance at the twice-monthly city commission meetings usually held on Tuesdays at 2 p.m.
Oelfke said he has the flexibility to leave work to attend afternoon meetings but many other residents do not so it might be better to hold city meetings in the evening.
“As a commissioner, I need to hear their voices,” he said, noting that meeting times don’t matter if the residents feel the commission isn’t listening to them.
Patel, who works full-time, said more people might show up for evening meetings, in part because many parents have to pick their kids up from school in the afternoon.
“When you have a four-hour meeting, that’s a real sacrifice,” she added.
Patel suggested the city make a greater effort to promote the city meetings on social media.
Regarding the forum attendance that evening, Schaefer said, “I wish we had this type of attendance at our meetings.”
He then noted city meetings are promoted on the marquee sign in front of city hall, noticed on the city website and Facebook page and noticed in the emails the city clerk’s office distributes to registered subscribers.
“All you have to do is contact the city clerk. She will add you to the list. It goes out well in advance of the meetings so you know what the topics are,” he said. “Please show up, because that is the best way to hear directly from the public.”
Soustek said the meetings times changed from evenings to afternoons a couple years ago and that made no impact on meeting attendance.
“We have some loyal people that come because they want to know what’s going on, but we don’t see new people unless something on the agenda affects them,” she said.
ADDITIONAL MATTERS
The four candidates agree that paid parking near city-controlled beach access points might be inevitable but none of them support doing it now.
The four candidates agree that beach cabana rentals should remain an allowed activity but additional commercial beach activities that could include watercraft rentals and food and drink vendors present potential concerns.
The candidates agree that vacation rental-related noise ordinance complaints have declined in recent years in most neighborhoods and relations have greatly improved between the city and the short-term rental owners and managers.
All four candidates said they would support the city contracting with a firm to conduct a residents’ survey that asks residents which city issues and concerns are most important to them.
CLOSING REMARKS
During his closing remarks, Schaefer said it would have been nice to run unopposed but he thanked Patel for running. He said that’s another example of the willingness Holmes Beach residents have when it comes to serving on city boards and committees.
“I’m willing to do that and I think I’ve been a contributor. I realize everybody doesn’t agree with every decision I make, but that’s our system. I sleep well at night and there isn’t a decision I made that I regret or believe was wrong. I look forward to serving the city for another two years,” he said.
Soustek said she wants to work more aggressively with the city’s Clean Water Ad Hoc Committee, Suncoast Waterkeeper and other organizations to help address the off-Island sewage spills that negatively impact the Island’s water quality.
She said she’s not giving up on the city’s purchase of the Gloria Dei property and she said the city and its residents must continuing fighting to protect the city’s home rule rights from state legislators who feel a “one law fits all” approach is best.
“I like my job and I want to continue to be your commissioner,” Soustek said.
Oelfke said, “I’m a listener and I care, and I think that’s going to bear good results for the city – to have a city that listens to every stakeholder that’s involved with the city. I want to do things that are going to help the residents.”
He, too, stressed the importance of protecting the natural waters that surround the Island.
Patel said, “I like to help people, I like to make a difference and sometimes you need fresh eyes. Where can we do better, what can we see differently and how can we navigate this in a new and different way? Sometimes you need to visualize new ways, new paths and new ideas. Sometimes you just need something new.”
The Holmes Beach candidate forum video can be viewed here.
ANNA MARIA – An estimated 150 people, and maybe more, attended the City Block Party at City Pier Park on Oct. 24.
Hosted by the city of Anna Maria from 5-8 p.m. and blessed with beautiful weather, the Friday evening event was the first City Block Party of the fall-winter season and served as the follow-up to the inaugural block party in late May.
Attendees included Anna Maria residents, visitors, elected officials and city staff members joined by Holmes Beach residents, a few dogs and anyone else who dropped by the community celebration.
The block parties celebrate friendship and community. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Code Enforcement Manager Dave DeZutter and Code Enforcement Officer Tom Collins grilled the hot dogs provided by the city, Bortell’s Lounge donated some free pizzas and Mayor Mark Short brought some Cuban sandwiches from the Anna Maria General Store.
Code Enforcement Officer Tom Collins and Code Enforcement Manager Dave DeZutter grilled the hot dogs.
Attendees brought their own beverages and chairs and many brought dishes, snacks and desserts to share with others.
The Stockton Brothers provided the live music that provoked joyous dancing and an evening closing sing-along under the City Pier Park shade sail.
The Stockton Brothers brought their musical talents to the party.
Joined by his wife, Pat, and several friends at the Oct. 24 party, Mayor Short said, “It’s our first block party this season. We’ve got a great crowd tonight. I’ve said this many times recently, but this is another step in the right direction of getting us back to normalcy after last year’s hurricanes. This is important because it’s all about the community, getting people back together and renewing friendships and acquaintances. It’s the city’s block party, but it’s for everybody on the Island and we’re looking forward to the next one in November.”
Standing beside the mayor, local builder Tyler Lancaster said, “Mark’s done such a good job out here bringing the community together after the hurricanes. It’s beautiful what he’s done.”
Weather permitting, additional Friday evening block parties will be held on Nov. 21, Jan. 9, Feb. 13, March 13 and April 10, with no party during the December holidays.
Accompanied by his husband, Scott, and a visiting friend, City Commissioner Charlie Salem said, “It’s been a great night. The Stockton Brothers are incredible and the fact that this event came out of a couple people in the community wanting to get back to normal is a great thing. Kudos to Mark for putting it together.”
Commissioner Charlie Salem, Commissioner Chris Arendt and Mayor Mark Short feel it’s important to foster Anna Maria’s sense of community. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Accompanied by his fiancé, Annamaria, Commissioner Chris Arendt said, “I think it’s wonderful to see the community gathering together again, celebrating our survival and revival in the post-hurricane era and looking forward to our City Pier getting rebuilt.”
Commissioner Gary McMullen also attended the block party.
When asked what brought her to an Anna Maria event, recently married Holmes Beach resident and Anna Maria Garden Club member Becky LoMenzo said, “These incredible people, this great music and this community you’ve just got to love.”
Andrea Routh, Kathy O’Roark and Alice Zago enjoyed the party and the music.- Joe Hendricks | Sun
Holmes Beach resident Andrea Routh was joined by visiting Kansas City residents Kathy O’Roark and Alice Zago.
“I love The Stockton Brothers and that’s one of the reasons I came down here,” Routh said.
ANNA MARIA – The hurricane-damaged contents of the city-owned buildings at the T-end of the City Pier have been removed.
The content removal is the first step of cleaning, remediating and repairing the pier spaces leased to The City Pier Grill and the Mote Marine Science Education & Outreach Center.
During the Oct. 23 city commission meeting, Mayor Mark Short provided a recap of the content removal efforts that began on Oct. 21 using a barge, as the pier is otherwise inaccessible without its walkway. Short and city staff provided commissioners with photos of the two interior pier spaces as and after the contents and some of the hurricane-related mud and muck were removed. Short said mold is present in the buildings as well and that will also have to be remediated.
During a previous city commission meeting, Short said Mote Marine had not yet informed him as to whether or not the Mote facility will return to the pier space provided rent-free by the city. Earlier this year, City Pier Grill operator Brian Seymour said he and his business partners hope to return to the pier if an extended lease can be negotiated to include some additional modifications they are requesting.
During the Oct. 23 meeting, Short said the repair and remediation work for the T-end buildings will occur simultaneously with the construction of the new City Pier walkway to be built by Tampa Bay Marine Inc.
Short said he was told the first solid concrete pilings are expected to arrive on Nov. 3, weather permitting, and the first batch of pilings will be installed and then tested upon delivery.
The exhibit tanks and other contents were removed from the Mote Marine building. – City of Anna Maria | Submitted
Commissioner Charlie Salem asked if any of the pier building contents were salvageable. Short said that’s up to the pier tenants to determine and the contents were delivered by barge to a nearby marina for the tenants to inspect and relocate or discard.
Salem asked if the pier buildings remain structurally sound. Short said he didn’t see any signs of structural unsoundness but the drywall, ceiling tiles and some of the other interior elements require replacement.
In response to another question from Salem, Short said nothing he saw during his Oct. 21 visit led him to believe the previous estimate of approximately $800,000 to remediate and repair the T-end buildings will increase.
Short recently told commissioners the total City Pier replacement project cost is now expected to be between $6.2 million and $6.9 million, including the $4.64 million walkway replacement contract with Tampa Bay Marine.
BRADENTON BEACH – Police Chief and Public Works Director John Cosby warned commissioners of continuing financial implications for the city from the 2024 hurricanes at the Oct. 23 city commission meeting.
“Via Roma, Tradewinds, Runaway Bay and Tropic Isles are not open at this time, and are not occupied. They are still going through the process,” Cosby said. “The reason I’m telling you this, and the concern is, none of these properties are going to be up by the end of the year. So, we’re still going to have a tax issue next year and evaluations end this year. When we get our numbers in June, it’s going to be greatly affected by this.”
According to the Manatee County Property Appraiser’s Office, “A homeowner may be eligible for a refund of a portion of property taxes paid for the year in which the catastrophic event occurred if the property was uninhabitable for at least 30 days due to a catastrophic event.”
Cosby said there are 11 empty lots at commercial businesses that aren’t currently operating, 12 unoccupied properties where all the necessary improvements haven’t been completed and 31 properties where the building was either torn down or destroyed by the hurricanes.
“There are quite a few permits that are out, and quite a few more coming to get permits, so it’s going to be another year before we see some relief,” he said. “We’ll see what happens as we move forward.”
Cosby also alluded to issues with FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) reimbursements to the city for hurricane-related expenses.
“We are having some pain with FEMA, I don’t know where it’s going and I don’t want to hit the panic button, but we are definitely having some issues with them, to the point where I had to ask the state to step in and help,” Cosby said. “We could have some financial issue with what FEMA’s willing to pay for. When I hear, I’ll let you know.”
Code Enforcement Officer Evan Harbus then spoke about city properties that are scheduled for demolition.
“The house at 1202 Gulf Drive S., tomorrow morning there will be a demolition crew and they will demolish the concrete area,” Harbus said. “The home will be removed in the next week and a half.”
Harbus said Queens Gate Resort at 1101 Gulf Drive N. will also be completely taken down.
BRADENTON BEACH – The city commission unanimously approved Mayor John Chappie’s recommendation that Erica Augello as lead attorney and the Trask Daigneault LLP law firm be appointed as interim city attorney for up to six months.
Augello, also the city attorney for Holmes Beach, did not attend the Oct. 23 commission meeting.
City officials sought an interim city attorney to serve before they choose a permanent replacement for retired City Attorney Ricinda Perry.
Following an interview by commissioners at an Oct. 7 emergency special work meeting, Chappie made the recommendation to contract with the Clearwater-based Trask Daigneault LLP law firm with Augello as lead city attorney.
“In going through the proposal material, you have the whole gamut of areas of law that we need help on,” Chappie said. “I think it will be very beneficial not to have just one attorney but to have a team.”
Augello said at that interview that she would be the first point of contact and the person who attends city meetings.
Commissioners questioned Augello and attorney Robert Eschenfelder at the Oct. 7 meeting about topics that included potential conflicts between Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach, Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) experience, fees and the role of city attorney.
“I’m not entirely comfortable with Erica because of her role in Holmes Beach,” Vice-Mayor Deborah Scaccianoce said at the Oct. 23 meeting. “I do like the law firm, but we do have six months to work through this and make sure everything goes smoothly, so I’m open minded.”
Chappie said he thought there could possibly be some issues at times.
“If any issue arises and you have that concern, I would identify it as soon as you can and bring it up to Miss Augello and I’m sure she will respond appropriately to the concern,” said attorney Robert Lincoln, who has been representing Bradenton Beach since Perry’s retirement.
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Sea turtle season officially ends on Oct. 31. Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring volunteers are monitoring the one remaining nest left on the Island and checking it daily to see if it hatches.
In the last week, Turtle Watch volunteers hosted a booth at Bayfest on Oct. 18 and held their annual fundraiser, the Sixth Annual Suzi Fox Turtle Watch Wednesday, on Oct. 22.
Excited raffle winner Cory Jackson at the live auction benefiting the Sixth Annual Suzi Fox Turtle Watch Wednesday fundraiser.- Anne Yarbrough | Sun
“Much fun was had as Turtle Watch and Journey, our mascot, hosted our educational and merchandise booth at Bayfest, teaching attendees about sea turtles and showing off the sea turtle carapace (shell), sea turtle skulls and a view of what a nest looks like underground,” Turtle Watch Executive Director Kristen Mazzarella wrote in an Oct. 24 email to The Sun.
Karen Anderson and Police Chief Bill Tokajer share a moment at the Sixth Annual Suzi Fox Turtle Watch Wednesday fundraiser. – Anne Yarbrough | Sun
Turtle Watch teamed up with Anna Maria Life, which debuted its Anna Maria Life Through the Lens of Angie Blunt 2026 calendars, complete with a raffle for an original Angie Blunt photograph. All proceeds from the calendars go directly to Turtle Watch.
Local photographer Angie Blunt signs copies of her photo calendar. – Anne Yarbrough | Sun
The fundraising event raised more than $30,000 for Turtle Watch.
“More than 70 VIPs attended the party inside Hurricane Hanks and over 250 people attended the event,” Mazzarella wrote. “Highlights were the live auctions for a ride-along with Holmes Beach Chief Tokajer and a ride-along Turtle Watch Experience.”
Mazzarella thanked sponsors A Paradise Realty, Hurricane Hanks/The Pour House/Hurricane Liquors, Slicker’s Eatery, CabanUp, Harbor Lane Court Vacation Rentals, The Anna Maria Island Sun and Mike Sales Music, as well as all the silent and live auction donors.
BRADENTON BEACH – Commissioner Jan Vosburgh has decided not to run for another term.
But Election Day on Nov. 4 may not be Vosburgh’s last day, according to attorney Robert Lincoln, who represented the city at the Oct. 23 city commission meeting.
“This will be an early issue for your new city attorney,” Lincoln told the commissioners. “My understanding of the law is that she will remain in the seat for quorum and meetings until you go through the process of finding a replacement.”
Lincoln suggested that incoming City Attorney Erica Augello confirm his understanding of the law.
“Generally, under Florida law, you don’t leave office until somebody replaces you,” Lincoln said.
“If nobody stepped up right away, she would be in there until replaced?” Commissioner Ralph Cole asked.
“Right. I believe the standard is if nobody ran for your office, you hold on to it,” Lincoln said.
Lincoln said he had not done a deep dive into the issue, but he wanted to raise the issue to commissioners as it might affect the commission’s operations.
“We advertised for people who want to fill the vacant seat. If we didn’t have anyone from that ward step up, then it would be an at-large seat, limited for one year,” Mayor John Chappie said.
Vosburgh has been absent with excuse for the past several commission meetings.
The assistant Supervisor of Elections was unsure of the procedure without first studying Bradenton Beach’s city charter.
According to the charter; “Whenever there is a vacancy, the Commission shall propose by nomination one or more names of willing and qualified successors for the vacancy. The Commission will then vote among the nominees to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the term. If a majority of the Commissioners are unable to fill a vacancy or vacancies after two (2) meetings then the successor shall be chosen by lot by the City Clerk from the nominees proposed.
In the event that no appointee can be found residing in the ward of vacancy, the Commission may appoint an individual who would otherwise qualify for elective office pursuant to Article III. Elections, Section 2. Qualifications of candidates for elective office.”
All national and local publications and real estate websites cover the real estate market. And as I’ve said many times, all real estate is local, so a small town on Big Sur in California will be wildly expensive compared to a small town in Tennessee. It doesn’t mean one is nicer than the other, but it does mean that one area may be preferred over another.
Therefore, when you look at national statistics, keep this in mind. The Case-Shiller National Home Price Index measures home prices across the country. In the 12 months they analyzed, ending in July, home prices rose 1.7%, which was down from 1.9% from the previous year. This was the weakest price increase since July 2023. Based on this report, their conclusion is that the housing market has downshifted to a lower gear, and has essentially stagnated.
New York City, of course, leads the pack with an average 6.4% rise for the year in home prices. Chicago and Cleveland are next highest in increases. By contrast, several Sunbelt and West Coast markets that were recently red-hot are now faring far worse. Our neighbor, Tampa, fell 2.8% for the year, coming in at the bottom of the list of 20 metro areas surveyed. Phoenix, also a hot western city, last year recorded lower prices for homes compared with the same months a year earlier.
Nevertheless, there are signs that the American housing market picked up later in the summer. Sales of pending homes rebounded in August ahead of the Federal Reserve interest rate cut, according to the National Association of Realtors.
Talking about local listings and sales, let’s look at the September statistics published by the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee:
Single-family homes closed 24.4% more properties than last year, and cash sales were up 40.4%. The median sale price was $470,000, exactly the same as last year, and the average sale price was $593,139, down 5.6% from last year. New pending properties were up 9.6%, and the median time to contract was 60 days compared to 47 days last year. Finally, the month’s supply of available properties was 4.2 months compared to 3.9 months last year.
Condos closed 31.7% more properties than last year, and cash sales were up 55.6%. The median sale price was $296,500, down 7.3%, and the average sale price was $306,864, down 12.7%. New pending properties were up 3.7%, and the median time to contract was 92 days compared to 73 days last year. Finally, the month’s supply of available properties was 6.3 months compared to 6.0 months last year.
The Realtor Association sees a steady momentum with buyers returning after a flat 2024. It does look like a slight change going on and as the Case-Schiller National Home Price Index indicated, there seemed to be the beginning of a rebound in August.
Closed sales are up for both single-family and condos in Manatee County, likely reflecting lower list prices. However, what interested me the most was the increase in cash transactions compared to last year, 40.4% for single-family transactions and 55.5% for condo transactions.
You should live where you and your family are comfortable and happy, and if you happen to accrue some equity, that can’t hurt either. Not everyone can live in Big Sur, but Florida also has some amazing views.
Philanthropy in Sarasota and Manatee counties is a well-organized network of foundations and active donors with a strong focus on community resilience, enhancing nonprofits’ capacity to grow and responding to local challenges.
Two of the main nonprofits that work to protect the waters and marine habitat of the area, Sarasota Bay Watch and Suncoast Waterkeeper, have both been able to make a larger impact thanks to grants from local foundations like the Barancik Foundation, the Manatee Community Foundation, the Community Foundation of the Gulf Coast, the Mote Scientific Foundation and the Community Foundation of Sarasota County (CFSC).
In April, CFSC awarded $322,450 to 29 nonprofit organizations to enhance operations, support technology upgrades and strengthen strategic planning in the region.
The Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation played an important role in capacity building for Sarasota Bay Watch and awarded a two-year, $200,000 grant to Suncoast Waterkeeper. In addition, the Mote Scientific Foundation (not related to Mote Marine Laboratory) has been the driving force behind Suncoast Waterkeepers’ ongoing water quality testing.
Last week I had the pleasure of attending an event at the new St. Regis Resort on Longboat Key that was organized by Sarasota Magazine. Sarasota Magazine supports local philanthropic works by highlighting the work of nonprofit organizations, fundraising events and community initiatives across Sarasota and Manatee counties. Through its editorial features and digital outreach, the magazine amplifies the work of nonprofits, raising awareness of their missions, highlighting donor opportunities and celebrating impactful partnerships. By doing so, Sarasota Magazine helps connect the philanthropic community with causes in arts, education, health, environment and human services, enhancing visibility for organizations that might otherwise struggle for recognition.
The St. Regis was the perfect venue for this event. Hotel Manager Kara Hardiman welcomed guests and pointed out that their commitment to the larger community was best summed up by a quote from Lora Whitney (Whitney Beach): “We are determined to create a space of sanctuary that celebrates the natural beauty of our region at the same time as it encourages education, exploration and implores us to slow down and make memories with each other.”
Besides expressing pride in being part of a women-led management team, the resort commissioned a painting by Lauren Marshall entitled, “Matriarchs of The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort.” The painting honors (and they named their exquisite suites after) women who were in their words “… trailblazers whose impact shaped the region’s cultural, scientific and philanthropic landscape.” They include Caroline Astor, the undisputed queen of New York society in the gilded age and Eugenie Clark, the pioneering marine biologist who founded Mote Marine Laboratory in 1955 and broke barriers for women in science. Others include Lora Whitney, Marie Selby, Mable Ringling, Irene Colson (a vital figure in Sarasota’s early African American community), and Katherine Klauber, the president and general manager of the Colony Beach Resort, now home to the St. Regis.
The resort features an “Under the Sea Lagoon” – a 500,000-gallon saltwater habitat containing reef fish, rays and other marine animals, guided by a staff of resident marine biologists/aquarists who educate guests about the ecosystem. Their children’s club, called the Reef Rangers, offers a “marine explorer camp” where younger guests engage with aquatic life and learn about local marine environments and species.
A highlight of the evening was a panel discussion among the leaders of local foundations that centered on the challenges facing nonprofits and the area’s most vulnerable citizens they serve due to federal funding cuts. A part of the discussion centered around strategies to continuing serving the needs of environmental nonprofits that support the basis of the region’s appeal, and those most in need. The evening was an inspiration and a terrific opportunity to get to know and mingle with the region’s most engaged philanthropists.
