CORTEZ – The Cortez Village Historical Society (CVHS), in partnership with the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program (SBEP) and support from the Florida Maritime Museum, is launching a community education initiative on Saturday, Jan. 31.
The collaborative project is titled “It Takes a Village,” and it highlights the connection between a healthy estuary, sustainable seafood and Cortez’s historic working waterfront.
“Our grant from the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program (SBEP) has made it possible for us to move forward with our mission of preserving Cortez by focusing on maintaining a healthy estuary – a key element of our village’s commercial fishing tradition,” CVHS President Cindy Rodgers said. “This incredible estuary has been a food source for humans for thousands of years and the backbone of the Cortez economy for over a century. Now we will connect thousands of ‘boat to table’ seafood customers, village residents and visitors with an opportunity to help in large and small ways.”
The 98-acre FISH Preserve is located in close proximity to Sarasota Bay. – SBEP | Submitted
The educational initiative will feature bilingual signage, restaurant table cards, walking guides, a new web page and public events – all designed to encourage residents and visitors to take actions that will protect Sarasota Bay.
The initiative will be introduced during the “Cortez: Coffee, Culture & Conservation” event taking place Saturday, Jan. 31, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Cortez Cultural Center at 11655 Cortez Road W.
The event will be hosted by SBEP, CVHS, Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage (FISH) and Florida Sea Grant/UF/IFAS Extension.
The program will include a discussion of the “It Takes a Village” initiative and its goals, followed by a guided tour of the restored FISH Preserve and its new trails and bridges. The enhancements at the 98-acre coastal preserve were made possible by a grant from the Charles and Margery Barancik Foundation.
Attendees will also be invited to take a self-guided tour of Cortez using the new map that features places of interest, key environmental features and the village’s ‘boat-to-table’ restaurants and markets.
“The Cortez community is an important partner for SBEP. Residents deeply care about the health and cultural significance of their local environment; and their new educational initiative, ‘It Takes a Village,’ along with their stewardship of the FISH Preserve, exemplifies that commitment,” said Megan Barry, public outreach manager for the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program.
The Jan. 31 coffee event is free and open to the public, but registration is required. To register visit the EventBrite website.
Learn more at the Cortez Village Historical Society website.
BRADENTON BEACH – The three-day Coquina Beach Seafood & Music Festival kicked off Friday evening, Jan. 23, at the south end of Coquina Beach in Bradenton Beach.
The festival was hosted and organized by Paragon Festivals.
Attending residents and visitors sampled fresh-cooked seafood from vendors serving shrimp, crab, lobster, oysters and other coastal favorites.
Live music filled the temporary festival grounds throughout the weekend, with a rotating lineup of bands performing beach-inspired grooves, classic rock, island rhythms, soulful jams and Cajun-influenced sounds.
Prodigal Sons opened the music festival on Friday evening. – Lance Roy | Sun
Performing as Prodigal Sons, Dana Lawrence, Tom McNulty and Johnny Mac opened the festival Friday night, performing a mix of Americana, Cajun, folk and Irish-inspired tunes. Additional musical performances by Westbound and Down, Twinkle & Rock Soul Radio and others entertained the festival attendees.
Attendees enjoyed a variety of vendors at the festival. – Lance Roy | Sun
Seafood was the focal point of the event, with vendors offering a wide range of dishes including Cajun-fried alligator, coconut shrimp, grouper, red Argentine shrimp and lobster-based specialties. Many meals were prepared on-site, giving guests the opportunity to watch as their food was cooked fresh.
Sandy Heisler, a seasonal resident from Ohio, praised the selection, saying, “Everything is awesome.”
Sandy Heisler, a seasonal resident from Ohio, praised the wide variety of food offerings. – Lance Roy | SunAn artistic shrimp bowl, ready to serve. – Lance Roy | Sun
Several attendees echoed similar sentiments, noting the variety of menu options available.
Atlantic City, New Jersey-based Vagabond Kitchen & Tap House owner Tom Harris has been featured on the Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-ins, & Dives” television show. As a festival vendor, he featured his three-way sandwich combo and his crab cake sandwiches.
Tom Harris takes an order from festival attendees. – Lance Roy | Sun
Before reaching the food, drink and music areas, visitors passed through rows of arts and crafts booths featuring handmade artwork, clothing, jewelry and specialty items that included Caribbean-inspired spirits.
At the Island Dream Waves booth, Corpus Christi, Texas, resident Ryan Engelke showcased epoxy artwork, home goods and décor designed with a coastal theme.
Ryan Engelke showcased epoxy artwork, home goods and décor designed with a coastal theme. – Lance Roy | Sun
The festival offered a relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere, with many guests setting up beach chairs near the music stage or finding shaded spots to enjoy their meals. The beachfront location allowed visitors to enjoy views of the Gulf while attending the event.
Taking place on Saturday and Sunday too, the festival provided attendees with a weekend of food, music and community gathering at a scenic beachfront park.
HOLMES BEACH – More than 70 people attended a Jan. 22 presentation by Friends of the Pelicans Inc. founder Jeanette Edwards.
The presentation was given at the Island Branch Library and those who attended learned about the characteristics of, and the perils to, brown pelicans.
More than 70 people learned about brown pelicans at the Island Branch Library. – Leslie Lake | Sun
Edwards described the changing appearance of brown pelicans during their lifetime.
“A juvenile pelican is full-sized when they leave the nest. They are all gray with very white bellies and they stay like this for the first few years,” she said. “An adult pelican has a silver body, a very black belly, a white head and a white neck; and the interesting thing is, when they are ready to mate the top of their head turns yellow. After they mate, the top of their head goes back to white and they get a brown neck. It’s kind of like a wedding ring.”
Brown pelicans hover up to 100 feet in the air and their wingspan is eight feet.
“As their wing feathers change color, when folded in they make a perfect heart,” Edwards said.
When folded, pelican wings form a heart shape. – Leslie Lake | Sun
“A healthy pelican weighs between four to six pounds, but the ones that we rescue are more like two to three pounds,” she said. “They’re very underweight and often dehydrated.”
One of the perils to the brown pelican is fish carcasses found at fishing piers and boat ramps.
“Their bills act like a cast net as they gather the tiny bait fish into their mouth and they drain all the water out so they can swallow the meal whole,” Edwards said. “Unfortunately, because they have a large bill, they can eat large fish. The carcasses and large fish get lodged in their throat. They can’t get them down and they end up starving to death. If they manage to get a small part down, then often it punctures their stomach and they can die.”
She noted it’s illegal to throw carcasses and fish to pelicans, but that law is rarely enforced.
“That’s something we want to get working on – trying to get a law that says it’s illegal to throw carcasses in the water. Hopefully, that can help with the problem,” Edwards said.
Friends of the Pelicans founder Jeanette Edwards shows chart outline brown pelican deaths from fishing entanglements. – Leslie Lake | Sun
Pelicans can live for 40 years, but Edwards said 30% of them won’t survive their first year.
“The reason is fishing line entanglements are the number one cause of death of brown pelicans,” she said. “They make their homes in the rookeries in the islands along the coast of Florida. They have a specific home and will try to go back, even when they’re tangled up in line or dragging a fishing pole.”
She said bait is most abundant at fishing piers, which is where most entanglements in fishing line happen.
“The longest and highest fishing piers in the country are the Sunshine Skyway fishing piers,” Edwards said. “Every day, pelicans are hooked and entangled at both the north and south pier. We’ve estimated that 10 pelicans a day are hooked.”
Edwards showed videos of pelicans she and volunteers have rescued at Miguel Bay, near the south Skyway fishing pier.
“After being entangled at the fishing pier, brown pelicans go home to their rookeries. This is a sight most people never see, and what we hope to prevent is the way they suffer and die alone and struggling,” she said.
Edwards’ presentation was part of the Friends of the Island Library “Lecture and Travel Series” that takes place each Thursday afternoon through February.
If you love dolphins, all you have to do is walk along any beach on Anna Maria Island and you’re sure to see them. But these are not the “flippers” we’re talking about today. Today, we’re talking about house flippers who may not be quite as friendly.
Call it “get rich quick” or call it “house flipping,” the goal is to buy low, invest very low sums of money to clean and renovate and sell high. If you’re lucky enough to do that consistently, you’re a flipper.
It’s certainly not impossible to become a full-time flipper. In 2024, flipping accounted for 7.6% of all single-family and condo sales nationwide. Since then, there has been a decline and flippers are faced with the same lack of inventory as conventional buyers.
The amount of risk and uncertainty in the flipping business can range from the glory at the top to the failure at the bottom of a real estate transaction.
The worst-case scenario for a flipper is not being able to flip at a price that makes sense and ends up with a reasonable profit. Now, the poor flipper has to not sell and then rent the property, which presents an entirely different set of problems, primarily reducing any potential profit.
The trick is to identify a home with “good bones” and bad hygiene. Trashing out and cleaning may not be glamorous, but it does the trick. Add a coat of soft gray paint and you’ll be surprised how good the white appliances look when the grime is gone.
So how do you start? Research the market and understand local trends, property values and demand. Wherever you are within the distribution of this newspaper, you’re near the water, and that should be your primary goal. Unfortunately, because of last year’s storms, there have been a lot of houses that were damaged or flooded. I would laser focus on one of those if they haven’t already been snapped up.
Securing financing is next. Traditional lenders frequently hesitate to finance investment properties. Flippers love cash or short-term financing and sellers love prequalifications.
In the flipper’s bible, if there is such a thing, you’ll see something called (ARV), which stands for After Repair Value. This is the potential market value after renovations. The rule is that you should pay no more than 70% of the ARV, minus the estimated repair costs to ensure a sufficient profit margin.
Finally, just like any seller, price competitively and market effectively, preferably working with an experienced local real estate agent.
Since you don’t need a license to be a flipper, you can start immediately. But you do need to comply with all state property sales laws. Do a thorough title search, and even though you’re experienced, you may still need the advice of an engineer or home inspector.
After last year, anyone with ownership of a property should have insurance – even if you plan on flipping quickly. If you’re lucky enough to make a profit, you will be subject to capital gains taxes since the government doesn’t give investors any capital gains relief. Forming an LLC is not required but is recommended to protect your personal assets from lawsuits that may arise on your investment property.
In the less sophisticated days of television, there was a show called “Flipper”. Flipper became the pet of two young boys who had adventures that kids on Anna Maria Island could only imagine. Flipping houses is not nearly as charming as Flipper the dolphin, but it could be lucrative if done right.
Everyone is looking for the secret. It’s the secret to getting that perfect grip on the club while moving the arms, legs and torso in just the right way to send a small white ball to a distant cup. Or maybe you’re an angler who wants to find the secret on how to move a fly rod in just the right way to send a hook cloaked in feathers, tinsel and fur to an unsuspecting and vulnerable fish.
Well, after a lifetime of fishing, I think I can answer that question with a short leap of faith: There is no secret.
We actually learned the lesson early in life with the shared experience of learning to ride a bike! In neuroscience it’s referred to as Hebb’s Rule (Hebbian theory), which states that neurons that fire together, wire together – and that’s how we build habits, good and bad.
That’s why it’s important to learn the “physics” of the golf swing, or the fly cast, and then practice. If there is a “secret,” it’s that repetition, not the time spent practicing, is the key.
The basic casting stroke consists of the rod being held in the dominant hand at the base of the fingers with the thumb on top of the cork. The stroke is a combination of moves of the wrist, the forearm and the upper arm. In the “ready” position with the thumb on the cork, the wrist is straight and the butt of the rod is at a 45-degree angle to the forearm. The wrist travels from this “straight” position to a 45-degree down angle and then returns to straight position. The forearm and the upper arm complete the motion.
There are five basic movements that are considered essential:
1.) There must be a pause at the end of each casting stroke, which varies in duration with the amount of line beyond the rod tip. This allows the line to straighten for the next cast and load the rod fully. It’s key that you watch your back cast to perfect your timing.
2.) Slack line should be kept to an absolute minimum. Slack line prevents the rod from loading and applying the proper power to the cast. The most common mistake that creates slack line happens when the rod is started too high, forming a belly in the line between the rod tip and the water. To prevent this, start your cast with the rod tip pointing at or in the water.
3.) To form the most efficient, least air-resistant loops, and to direct the energy of the cast toward the target, the rod tip must move in a relatively straight line. Practice tracing a horizontal line, like a roof eve.
4.) The length of the casting stroke must vary with the amount of line past the rod tip. If you are making a short cast, there is only a small amount of line needed. As the length of line increases, the stroke must be increased to load the rod.
5.) Power must be applied in the proper amount at the proper place in the stroke. In general, the power is applied slowly at first, gradually increasing to a peak at the end of the stroke. There should be a crisp stop at the end of the stroke, forcing the rod to come out of its bend. This is referred to as the “speed-up and stop.”
Like riding a bike, playing tennis or golfing, the only way to master fly casting is to practice on a regular basis. Create a practice schedule you can stick to. Start with short practice sessions on a regular basis to build good habits.
We never get as much time on the water as we want and often work long hours for the opportunity to take that special trip to the Bahamas, Argentina or Montana. Spending time to master fly casting will pay dividends when you connect with that fish of a lifetime, occasioned by a smooth cast and a perfectly placed fly.
HOLMES BEACH – The Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce awarded trolley grants to 17 non-profit organizations from Anna Maria Island and Cortez.
The grant award ceremony was held at the Waterline Villas & Marina on the evening of Thursday, Jan. 22.
After the grant award ceremony ended, Chamber President Terri Kinder explained how the grants are funded and awarded.
“We were giving away trolley grant monetary awards to 17 non-profits and not-for-profits on the Island and in Cortez that applied for the grants and were accepted,” Kinder said.
The trolley grant awards are funded by revenues generated by the advertising placed on the Free Island Trolleys operated by Manatee County.
“We sell the advertising on the trolleys. We are then required to pay the county $60,000 a year, and that helps keep the trolleys free. After the Chamber retains a small percentage to manage the program, the remainder of the advertising revenue has to be given back to the Island and the Cortez communities,” Kinder said.
“This year, we gave away $17,472. Since the beginning of the trolley grant awards in 2024, the Chamber and the Manatee County trolley program (MCAT) have awarded over half a million dollars to Island and Cortez non-profits,” she said.
THE RECIPIENTS
The grant given to Anna Maria Elementary School will be used for the reading and math tutoring program for third, fourth and fifth-grade students.
The grant given to the Anna Maria Island Art League will be used for art education workshops.
The grant given to the Anna Maria Island Garden Club will be used to restore a wind sculpture garden.
The grant given to the Anna Maria Island Historical Society will be used to purchase a large-screen tablet and a floor stand for the tablet.
The grant given to the Anna Maria Island Privateers will be used for operations support for marketing and recruitment strategies.
The grant given to Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch & Shorebird Monitoring organization will be used for “Turtles-to-Go Trunk” hands-on activities.
The grant given to the Annie Silver Community Center will be used to update the grounds.
The grant given to the Artists’ Guild of Anna Maria Island will be used for the Guild’s community market night program.
The grant given to the Cortez Village Historical Society will be used to increase community awareness with the society’s “Cortez: Coffee, Culture & Conservation” events.
The grant given to the Friends of the Florida Maritime Museum will be used for a flat file collections project.
The grant given to the Friends of the Island Library will be used for seating in the reading area.
The grant given to the Island Players will be used for a black backdrop curtain for the theater.
The grant given to the Kiwanis Club of Anna Maria Island will support the All-Island Churches Interdenominational Easter Morning Sunrise Service.
The grant given to the Roser Memorial Community Church will assist in running the church’s Summer Vacation Bible School.
The grant given to the Rotary Club of Anna Maria Island will be used for the Good Citizenship/Character Building program at Anna Maria Elementary.
The grant given to The Center of Anna Maria Island will be used for low to moderate-income family participation in Center programs.
The grant given to Wildlife Inc. will be used to help with the care and feeding of the wildlife.
ANNA MARIA – Making a return engagement and performing iconic songs made famous by Bob Marley and The Wailers, the current version of The Wailers brought their reggae and ska vibrations and bliss to The Center of Anna Maria Island.
Graced with beautiful weather, The Wailers’ outdoor concert on Saturday, Jan. 24, was much warmer than their chilly show in 2025.
The Wailers’ lineup for Saturday’s show featured multi-talented bandleader Aston Barrett Jr. on drums, although he usually plays bass. Barrett Jr. is the son of Bob Marley and the Wailers’ late bassist and bandleader, Aston Barrett.
Bandleader Aston Barrett Jr. usually plays bass, but he played drums at the Anna Maria show. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Saturday’s lineup also featured Wendel “Junior Jazz” Ferraro on lead vocals and guitar, Owen “Dreadie” Reid on bass, Ricky Walters on lead guitar, Miguel “Scooby” Anderson on keyboards and backing singers Andrea Sawyers and Shanna-Lee Fletcher.
The ladies on backing vocals and Owen ‘Dreadie” Reid on bass. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Just after 8:30 p.m., The Wailers’ ‘Roots, Rock, Reggae’ show kicked off with “Lively Up Yourself” and the next 90-minutes or so provided an endless string of well-known reggae classics that included “Is This Love,” “No Woman, No Cry,” “Stir it Up,” “Waiting in Vain” and “I Shot the Sherrif,” with many in the crowd dancing and singing along throughout out the show.
Ricky Walters on lead guitar. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
After a crowd-pleasing version of “Three Little Birds,” Ferraro said, “It’s gonna be alright.”
Before launching into “Jamming,” Ferraro said, “This is your party song right here.”
During the show, Barrett Jr., a fantastic drummer, sang lead vocals on one song. Ferraro also noted Barrett Jr. played the role of his father, Aston Barrett, in the 2024 biopic movie, “Bob Marley: One Love.”
Wendel “Junior Jazz” Ferraro sang lead vocals, played guitar and interacted with the audience. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Before playing “Get Up, Stand Up,” Ferraro used the Jamaican, Rastafarian word, “Irie” when he said, “How are you feeling out there? That sounds like one Irie set of people – it means when you’re feeling so good that nothing can change that vibe.”
He then welcomed his brother Craig to the stage to play drums on a few songs.
The stellar setlist also included “Exodus,” “One Love” and more.
“Junior Jazz” and “Dreadie” during “Redemption Song.” – Joe Hendricks | Sun
The encore set began with Ferraro and Reid performing “Redemption Song” as a duo, followed by full-band versions of “Buffalo Soldier” and the show-ending “Could You Be Loved”
Performing solo, singer/songwriter Dylan Cotrone began the evening with a well-received opening set of his original songs.
Dylan Cotrone was the opening act. – Jeff Higgins/The Center | Submitted
Saturday’s concert was sponsored by the Sandbar restaurant, Cedar Cove Resort and the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. The concert proceeds will benefit The Center’s youth programs.
The Atlanta Rhythm Section will perform at The Center on Saturday, Feb. 14, and John Oates & The Good Road Band will perform at The Center on Sunday, March 1. For tickets and more information, visit The Center website.
Additional photos
Dave Huggins, Caleb Helmer and Lydia Ranallo before the show started. – Joe Hendricks | SunDancing to The Wailers. – Joe Hendricks | Sun“Jamming” with The Wailers. – Joe Hendricks | SunThe crowd near the front of the stage. – Joe Hendricks | SunBrother Craig played drums on a few songs. – Joe Hendricks | SunWendel “Junior Jazz” Ferraro had a beautiful voice. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Alleging a “deliberate, bad faith scheme” related to a $105 million deal struck with Prime Business in 2024, StayTerra Vacations has filed a civil lawsuit against Kiri Stewart, Magnolia Cottages LLC and 10 additional LLCs.
Filed on Dec. 19 with the 12th Judicial Circuit Court in Bradenton, the lawsuit names as plaintiffs StayTerra Vacations LLC, Prime Vacations LLC and GSP Prime Holdings LLC.
The lawsuit names as defendants Kiri Stewart, Magnolia Cottages LLC, 48 Street LLC, 9801 Gulf Drive LLC, 224 Chilson Ave. LLC, 243 S. Harbor Dr. LLC, 518 Spring LLC, 2403 Avenue C LLC, 128 Fillmore LLC, 2210 Avenue A LLC, 103 Park Ave. AMI LLC and 6548 Sabal Dr. LLC.
Developer Shawn Kaleta is not named as a defendant, but he’s mentioned in the lawsuit and he’s listed with the Florida Division of Corporations as the manager of five of the 10 property-specific LLCs named as defendants in the lawsuit.
The lawsuit complaint says the plaintiffs, StayTerra, seek “equitable relief to enforce their agreements with the defendant Seller-KS Property Companies (Stewart’s LLCs) and to recover damages to compensate them for the substantial losses they have already incurred as a result of the defendants’ intentional and material breaches of their contractual obligations.”
“By reason of the deceptive and unfair trade practices employed by defendants Stewart and Magnolia Cottages, plaintiffs have suffered damages in excess of $5 million,” the complaint alleges.
“The founders and owners of the Prime Business who bound the defendant, Seller-KS Property Companies, to the Master PMA (Property Management Agreement) were Shawn T. Kaleta and Roman Eckert, the ‘Founders and Owners’. One of the founders and owners of Prime Business is defendant Stewart’s romantic partner and the father of her children,” the complaint says.
“Plaintiffs respectfully requests this court enter judgement in favor of plaintiffs against defendants, award plaintiffs compensable damages in an amount to be proved at trial, but an amount not less than $5 million, in addition to a temporary restraining order, preliminary injunction and permanent injunction prohibiting the defendants from continuing to engage in unfair and deceptive trade practices,” the complaint says.
The case is assigned to Circuit Court Judge Charles Sniffen.
StayTerra is represented by the Sarasota-based Williams Parker Harrison Dietz & Getzen law firm and the New York City-based Paduano & Weintraub law firm.
The lawsuit
According to the lawsuit complaint, GSP is an investment firm founded in or around 2013 with assets under management of more than $3.5 billion.
“Garnett Stations Partners (GSP), through plaintiff, StayTerra and GSP Prime Holdings, paid approximately $105 million to acquire the outstanding equity interests in Prime and other companies comprising a vacation rental management business,” the complaint says.
“In or around late 2023, GSP identified a potential opportunity in the large, growing and highly fragmented vacation rental management industry. Eventually, in or around January 2024, GSP received an introduction to a prominent real estate developer in Southwest Florida who had founded and built a vacation rental management business comprised of six brands (AMI Locals, Anna Maria Island Accommodations, Anna Maria Vacations, Siesta Key Luxury Property Rentals, Lido Key Vacations and Tropical Sands Vacations), referred to herein as the ‘Prime Business,’” the complaint says.
At the time, Prime Business managed approximately 1,110 vacation rental properties, including approximately 130 properties that were indirectly owned or controlled by the founders of Prime Business through the defendant, Seller-KS Property Companies and certain other LLCs, according to the complaint.
“The founder and owners of the Prime Business recognized that they needed liquidity for their real estate development business and also that GSP was an ideal partner to assist with scaling the Prime Business into a national player in the vacation rental management industry,” the complaint says.
On or around Sept. 18, 2024, GSP, through StayTerra, closed on a transaction with the founders, owners and certain other seller entities to acquire a majority stake in Prime Business.
“The deal was structured through an Equity Purchase Agreement (EPA) pursuant to which plaintiff StayTerra acquired all of the equity interests in Prime and certain other companies comprising Prime Business for a purchase price of approximately $105 million – consisting of approximately $70 million cash and approximately $35 million in rollover equity in GSP Prime Holdings, the ultimate parent company that owns StayTerra,” the complaint says.
Pursuant to conditions of the EPA, the owners/founders of Prime Business agreed they would not do the following for a period of five years:
Compete with Prime Business (StayTerra)
Recruit or hire any employee, service provider or independent contractor of the Prime Business to leave the employ or cease providing service
Contract with any suppliers of Prime Business
The complaint notes each of the founder/owners of Prime Business entered into a contribution agreement with GSP Prime Holdings in which they agreed to contribute their personal goodwill that included close business relationships with customers and vendors, trade secrets and knowledge.
“As a condition to the closing of the transaction, the founders and owners of the Prime Business delivered a Master Property and Rental and Management Agreement,” the complaint says regarding 10 properties on Anna Maria Island or in Sarasota or Bradenton.
The LLC associated with this vacation rental home at 518 Spring Ave. in Anna Maria is named in the lawsuit. – Manatee County Property Appraiser | Submitted
The LLCs for those 10 properties are listed as defendants. The Florida Division of Corporations lists Stewart as the manager of 224 Chilson Ave. LLC, 48 Street LLC, 9801 Gulf Dr. LLC, 243 South Harbor Dr. LLC and 128 Fillmore LLC. Kaleta is listed as the manager of 518 Spring LLC, 103 Park Ave. AMI LLC, 2403 Avenue C. LLC, 2210 Avenue A LLC and 6548 Sabal Dr. LLC. The Najmy Thompson law firm is named as the registered agent for all 10 of the property-specific LLCs named as defendants.
The Florida Division of Corporations lists Stewart as the manager and registered agent of Magnolia Cottages LLC.
According to the complaint, the founders and owners of Prime Business granted Prime the exclusive right to collect management fees for the properties for a minimum of seven years.
“Yet less than thirteen months after pocketing the consideration comprised of approximately $105 million of cash and rollover equity, the defendants embarked on a deliberate, bad faith scheme to eviscerate the benefit of the bargain plaintiffs struck by facilitating purported transfers of the founders’ membership interest in the Seller-KS Property Companies that are subject to the Master PMA to defendant Magnolia Cottages, which is ostensibly owned and controlled by defendant Stewart,” the complaint alleges.
The complaint alleges that in each of the transfer agreements, the founders and owners of the Prime Business, “falsely represented they had the full power to transfer their interests in the Seller-KS Property Companies subject to the Master PMA without obtaining the consent or approval of any other person.”
On Oct. 7, 2025, Stewart and Magnolia Cottages received a cease-and-desist letter from the plaintiffs.
“They were undeterred by that letter and have continued to actively engage in their scheme,” according to the lawsuit.
The complaint alleges, “Defendants Stewart and Magnolia Cottages have assisted the founders and owners of the Prime Business with a ‘shadow listing’ scheme for other properties that indisputably remain subject to the Master PMA.
“Specifically, defendants Stewart and Magnolia Cottages have listed properties that are owned or controlled by the founders of the Prime Business and subject to the Master PMA on Airbnb, VRBO and other booking platforms at prices that are lower than the prices offered by plaintiff Prime,’ the lawsuit further alleges.
Stewart response
On Monday, Jan. 26, Stewart provided The Sun with a written statement that said, “We will vigorously and successfully defend against these claims. The allegations made by Prime are false, misleading and without merit. Prime is a large corporate entity attempting to bully us as homeowners and small property operators by unlawfully seeking control of properties that we own outright.
“Prime previously mismanaged these properties, and we exercised our lawful right as owners to resume control. At no time did we sign away ownership rights or grant Prime authority to possess or control our homes,” Stewart stated.
“Had Prime successfully managed the properties and generated acceptable revenue, we would not have removed them from management. Since self-managing, we have significantly outperformed Prime’s results.
“This lawsuit is a transparent and failed attempt by a Wall Street–backed private equity firm to use the court system to pressure and exploit a small, local business rather than accept responsibility for its own mismanagement,” Stewart stated.
(After this story was published, The Sun learned a similar lawsuit was filed against Jennifer Warren-Kaleta the same day.)
The Clean Water Ad Hoc Committee’s “Hard Pass On Plastics” free reusable bags are available at various locations in Holmes Beach, Anna Maria and Longboat Key. Some of the bags also reference Anna Maria Island and those intended for Longboat Key and beyond do not.
Funded by the city of Holmes Beach for approximately $5,000, the reusable bags are part of the Clean Water Committee’s ongoing efforts to protect and enhance the Island’s water quality – and removing plastic bags from the natural waterways and canals is part of those efforts.
Clean Water Committee members Charlie Mopps and Jennifer Miller displayed the new reusable bags during their January meeting. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Designed for shopping and other uses, the free reusable bags are now available at Holmes Beach City Hall, the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce office in Holmes Beach and the Anna Maria Island Historical Museum in Anna Maria.
Clean Water Committee member Scott MacGregor distributed the free bags during the Jan. 20 Anna Maria Community Farmers Market held at the Roser Church property in Anna Maria and he planned to be there again on Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Clean Water Committee member Scott MacGregor handed out the “Hard Pass On Plastic” bags during the Anna Maria Community Farmers Market. – Scott MacGregor | Submitted
If your business, vacation rental management company or organization would like to help distribute the reusable bags, please contact the Holmes Beach city clerk’s office at 941-708-5800.
MANATEE COUNTY – State and local lawmakers reacted to the proposed development of a cruise ship terminal in northwest Manatee County on the Knott-Cowen tract of land located north of Rattlesnake Key and seaward of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge.
The proposed cruise port, a collaboration between cruise ship terminal operator SSA Marine and Tampa-based Slip Knott LLC, was recently announced on the knottcowencruise. com website.
On Friday, Jan. 23, State Rep. Will Robinson expressed his opposition in a message he posted shared at his personal Facebook page.
“I cannot think of a worse place to put a cruise ship terminal. I’ve tried to build a legacy with my family with the Robinson Preserve on environmental protection and keeping things pristine for future generations. We are at a point now where there is a proposal that would disrupt that,” he wrote.
“To me, this area is in no shape or measure compatible with cruise ships, so economic benefits don’t matter if they’re not compatible. It would permanently change the character of that area to our region’s detriment,” Robinson stated.
SEAPORT MANATEE
On Jan. 23, Florida Senate President Jim Boyd shared on his Facebook page a statement from the Manatee County Legislative Delegation about House Bill 4073 – legislation that pertains to Manatee County’s governance of SeaPort Manatee. That bill, sponsored by Rep. Bill Conerly, sought to restructure the Manatee County Port Authority into an independent district.
Since it opened as Port Manatee on county-owned land in 1970, Port Manatee (now SeaPort Manatee) has primarily been utilized by cargo ships. But Regal Cruises did sail from the cruise terminal’s Berth 9 from 1993 to 2003, according to the SeaPort Manatee website.
“We support the conversation of an independent board to govern and advance a long-term vision for SeaPort Manatee. Under the leadership of experienced, business-focused and community-minded board members, Seaport Manatee will be better positioned to modernize, compete and reach its full potential as an enterprise while prioritizing environmental stewardship and maintaining public accountability. We believe that the filed HB 4073 was well-intentioned. During the Manatee County Delegation hearing, we requested that the public reach out to us with their concerns as the bill progressed through the legislative process. Many of you have contacted our offices, and we appreciate your input,” the delegation’s statement says.
The Rattlesnake Key property is southwest of the Knott-Cowen property. – Manatee County Property Appraiser
“The proposed cruise terminal on Rattlesnake Key has understandably created public angst. While HB 4073 has no direct relationship to a cruise terminal, there are concerns about proposed changes to control and jurisdiction at this critical time. Therefore, we believe it is prudent to pause and withdraw the local bill from further consideration this legislative session and allow for continued dialogue with all stakeholders.”
The delegation stated its goal is to protect the coastal lands along Tampa Bay.
“It is also important to set the record straight on Rattlesnake Key. The island and surrounding wetlands are some of the last remaining undeveloped coastal lands in Tampa Bay and it was our goal to protect them,” the delegation’s statement said.
The delegation’s statement notes there were previous attempts made to purchase the property for conservation.
“In 2022, we successfully secured $23 million in state funding to purchase the property for conservation. Unfortunately, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) did not approve the purchase based on the FDEP appraisal,” the delegation’s statement says.
“In 2024, we again secured approximately $8 million, with the county prepared to contribute additional funds, but negotiations fell apart when the property owner believed the land was worth more. The property has since been sold to a private entity, which is now pursuing a cruise terminal,” the statement says.
“There will be no commercial development or construction on Rattlesnake Key. The intended purpose of the acquisition is to protect its wetlands, wildlife habitat and the natural character of the property in perpetuity,” the Knott-Cowen Cruise website says of the property owned by its subsidiary entity, Rattlesnake Key Preservation Company LLC
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Holmes Beach resident and charter fishing captain Scott Moore said, “We need Manatee County to buy that Rattlesnake Key property and the Knott-Cowen property too. And the other counties, Hillsborough and Pinellas, need to help because they use that land and that estuary too. We also need the state to help, and we need to revisit this.”
Manatee County Commission Chair Tal Siddique represents District 3, which includes Anna Maria Island. He’s now gathering information from environmental groups about the potential impact of a cruise port.
“I’ve reached out to both Sarasota Bay Estuary Program and Tampa Bay Estuary Program to get some data-driven input on what the environmental impact could be. There will be environmental impact,” Siddique said.
He said his position is “neutral” on the proposed cruise ship port.
“Right now, it’s just in the pre-application stages,” he said.
Siddique characterized the economic benefit of the port as “incalculable.”
“I know in my district, many businesses are struggling,” he said.
Siddique also addressed the withdrawal of HB 4073.
“I’m on the board of Port Manatee and I want to stress, this (proposed cruise port) is distinct from that bill (HB 4073),” Siddique said.
ANNA MARIA – The mayor and city commissioners are one step closer to the final adoption of a new parks and recreation ordinance that will establish new regulations for beach cabana and tent rentals.
On Thursday, Jan. 22, the mayor and commissioners were presented with the first reading of a proposed city ordinance that was previously presented in draft form during a Jan. 5 city commission work session.
Mayor Mark Short held up a copy of the city zoning map that shows the Gulf Front Park beach area at the bottom of the page, highlighted in blue. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Beach cabana rentals and all other commercial activities are currently prohibited in the city’s coastal conservation zones and recreation open space zones that encompass most of the public beaches in Anna Maria
Rented beach cabanas and tents will be allowed Magnolia Avenue and Oak Avenue. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
During the Jan. 5 work session, the commission tentatively agreed to allow regulated beach tent and beach cabana rentals only in the recreation open space zone known as Gulf Front Park, which extends from Oak Avenue to Magnolia Avenue and does not include the public beach areas in front of the Sandbar restaurant.
The new city regulations will not allow cabana and tent rentals in the coastal conservation zone in front of the Sandbar restaurant. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
During the Jan. 22 meeting, the commission agreed to maintain the proposed 13-foot by 13-foot (169 square feet) total coverage area for a single tent or cabana, whether rented or privately owned.
The commission decided to revise the proposed ordinance says, “No more than two commercially rented cabanas may be placed within 50 linear feet of each other, measured in any direction.”
Thie Oak Avenue beach access features a dune walkover. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
When providing public input on Jan. 22, Tiffany Adell, from Beach Suites AMI, told commissioners their 6.5 feet by 6.5 feet tents and are much smaller than the 10-by-10 or 13-by-13 cabanas and tents often used by other rental companies.
Adell suggested allowing more smaller tents to be located in the same 338 square feet space to be allowed for two larger side-by-side rented tents. That change will be included in the revised ordinance presented for final adoption in February.
HOLMES BEACH – The Anna Maria Island Club seeks $1,000 donations to help beautify the beach access points in Holmes Beach.
Working in unison with Mayor Judy Titsworth and the city of Holmes Beach, each $1,000 donation will beautify one beach access.
According to a garden club sponsorship opportunities document provided by club member Kathy Morgan-Johnson, “There are 34 beach access points spanning from 28th Street to White Avenue. The AMI Garden Club has worked with the city of Holmes Beach to prioritize points for beautification. This will include adding native plants like sea oats, wildflowers, palm trees and/or sea grapes.
“We would potentially beautify/conceal trash cans (but keeping them useful) also. The city will install and maintain the area and there would be a sign/plaque near the project recognizing the sponsor and the garden club. Our goal is to address as many of these accesses as we are able to in 2026,” the document says.
When asked about the project, AMI Garden Club President Renitia “Reni” Bertoluzzi said, “I was talking to Judy about some different ideas and what she needed for the city. She said one of the things that really need sprucing up is the beach accesses, so we came up with this idea. This is going to make them really beautiful and it gets the community involved too.”
Bertoluzzi said she’s already spoken with 10 individuals or businesses that want to sponsor a beach access in remembrance of a family member or friend, or to recognize a local business.
To sponsor the beautification of a beach access, or learn more about the project, call Bertoluzzi at 941-224-1761 or email president@amigardenclub.com.
Second Place – Ken Nagengast and Bob Paine tied, +3
TUESDAY, JAN. 13 – PLAY WITH FRIENDS DAY
(Playing a team average net score)
First Place Team – Leigh Brattain, Sue Wheeler, Mary Wilkie, 34
Second Place Team – Annette Hall, Judy Menchek, Billy Jean Pinson, 35
Ceal Barry birdied Hole # 7 & Lisa Edmonds chipped in on Hole # 3
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 14 – MEN’S PRESIDENT’S CUP
Forty-three golfers played in the annual Men’s President’s Cup tournament on a cool, windy day. Capturing first place, playing 18 holes of a modified Stableford game, Bruce Christenson and Bob Rowley tied with a score of 38 points. Finishing in second place was John Hackinson with 37 points.
Jim Bailey won the long drive contest from the blue tees while Larry Pippel bested the men from the gold tees. Closest to the pin contest on hole # 3 was won by John Hackinson at 7′ 4,” while Jim Hill won the event on Hole # 8 at 9′ 8″. After the event, lunch was served on the patio along with the golfer’s favorite beverage.
HOLMES BEACH – The Scentral Park dog park in Holmes Beach has been resodded as part of the city’s response to requests and concerns voiced by dog park users during recent city commission meetings and Parks and Beautification Committee meetings.
The dog park users requested more sod and less sandy surfaces, larger shade trees located in different areas, benches being placed side by side, modifications to the dog washing area, electrical service to the shade shelters and more.
Dog park advocate Renee Ferguson played a key role in the recent and planned park improvements. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
During the Jan. 13 city commission work session, dog park user and park advocate Renee Ferguson thanked the mayor, commission and city staff for their efforts that will remain ongoing until all planned improvements are completed. The city has budgeted approximately $29,000 for the past, present and future dog park improvements made or to be made during the current 2025-26 fiscal year that ends Sept. 30
While visiting from St. Louis, Maestro chased and caught his airborne Hurricanine rings while another portion of the dog park was being resodded. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
During the meeting, Mayor Judy Titsworth thanked Commissioner Dan Diggins for the $5,000 donation he made to cover a dog-park related funding shortfall. Portions of the dog park were fenced off during the sod installations, but the park remained open. Featuring large and small dog areas, Scentral Park is located along the 6000 block of Flotilla Drive, near the City Field athletic fields and sports courts.
The new sod was being installed in the large dog area on Jan. 14. – Joe Hendricks | SunThe dog park sod arrived on a semi-trailer. – Joe Hendricks | SunMaestro, from St. Louis, enjoyed his recent visit to Scentral Park. – Joe Hendricks | SunWhile visiting from St. Louis, Maestro, Rick Shetley and Dr. Victoria Meyer stopped by Scentral Park on Jan. 14. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
