ANNA MARIA – On Nov. 16, each of the three Anna Maria Island mayors received a letter requesting information from the Florida Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (OPPAGA), which is conducting a study on consolidating city services and governments.
The study was requested in January by the Manatee County Legislative Delegation that consists of Sen. Jim Boyd (R-Bradenton), Rep. Will Robinson Jr. (R-Bradenton), Sen. Joe Gruters (R-Sarasota), Rep. Tommy Gregory (R-Lakewood Ranch) and Rep. Mike Beltran (R-Apollo Beach).
On Nov. 16, Mayor Dan Murphy and the Anna Maria City Commission discussed the OPPAGA study, the request for information received earlier that day and the initial Zoom meeting that Murphy and Commission Chair Mark Short had with OPPAGA representatives on Nov. 7.
Speaking first, Short said he learned during the Zoom meeting that OPPAGA Staff Director Emily Leventhal is overseeing the three-person team assigned to conduct the study.
“The scope of their project is to look at the possibility of consolidating services across the three Island cities; and separately, to do an analysis of the consolidation of government structure (the three city governments),” he said.
Short said that each city will be analyzed separately, but the analysis and data pertaining to all three cities will likely be combined into a single report.
“Their goal is to provide options with respect to what could be done and provide both pros and cons with respect to each of those options. They told us they are not making recommendations about what to do. It is unlikely they will recommend any specific course of action,” Short said.
Short said the first step for the city is to provide OPPAGA with the requested information by Dec. 8, if possible. He said OPPAGA representatives will also interview city officials as the study continues.
“They will then prepare a report that will be made available to the state Legislature. That report will be made available to them, not to us. Their goal is to have this analysis done by July of 2024. Probably the most surprising thing I heard on this call was that they are not obligated to share their report with us,” Short said.
After noting that OPPAGA is exempt from public records requests, Short said, “They will share it if the Legislature authorizes them to share it with us. Otherwise, they have no obligation to share with us whatever’s in this report, which, personally, I found to be extremely disappointing.”
Mayor Dan Murphy hopes the OPPAGA study can help reduce property taxes. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Murphy provided an overview of the questions posed and information requests made in the letter. Most of them pertain to city services, but there’s also a three-part question about the potential consolidation of the three Island cities and their governments, he said.
The information request period spans from 2018-23. OPPAGA requested a list of current services the city provides, including, but not limited to, law enforcement, public works projects, public safety, elections, solid and liquid waste disposal treatment, code enforcement and building and planning services. OPPAGA wants email addresses and contact information for the appropriate city official to contact for each service listed, and the total budgeted amounts and actual expenditures for each service.
OPPAGA also wants a description of how the city services provided by Anna Maria could be consolidated with the other two Island cities.
Commissioner Robert Kingan said he doesn’t see how the projected cost savings for the consolidation of services between three cities can accurately be estimated.
Regarding the potential consolidation of the three city governments, the OPPAGA request letter says, “Please provide the following information on government consolidation: A description of the benefits and challenges to individual citizens as well as to government operations related to the following potential options for local governance on Anna Maria Island.
“Option 1: All three cities on Anna Maria Island are consolidated into one new city on the island.
“Option 2: All three cities on Anna Maria Island were incorporated as part of the city of Bradenton.
“Option 3: All three cities on Anna Maria Island remain as incorporated municipalities on the island and work to consolidate existing services where that makes sense,” the request letter says.
OPPAGA’s request for information does not mention Manatee County as a possible consolidation/annexation option.
Commission discussion
Murphy said he received a phone call from Bradenton Mayor Gene Brown the previous day and Brown told him he had not received any consolidated study-related correspondence from Boyd or Robinson.
According to Bradenton Public Records Liaison Bill Ackles, as of Nov. 18, Brown and the city of Bradenton had not received any correspondence from OPPAGA.
In the consolidation study-related letter that Boyd and Robinson sent to the three Island mayors in August, the state legislators stated their goal was to reduce property taxes by consolidating similar services provided by each Island city.
“If the purpose of this study is to reduce taxes, which is what they said at the very beginning, there might be some good in this,” Murphy said.
However, noting that Anna Maria’s property tax millage rate is 2.05 mills and Bradenton’s millage rate is 5.8 mills, he added, “Can you imagine what that would do to your taxes?”
Short noted the two biggest tax levies on an Anna Maria property owner’s tax bill are the taxes levied by Manatee County and the taxes levied by the Manatee County school district. Short said property taxes levied by the city of Anna Maria only account for approximately 10% of a property owner’s total tax bill.
“I think this is something we can embrace and we might get some good out of it and we might be able to shave people’s tax bills,” Murphy said. “I met with a couple yesterday who showed me their tax bill of $50,000 for their home. They’re not homesteaded. They’re retirees from Atlanta. They built a house and didn’t take into consideration the tax implications. Granted, a lot of that is the school board and Manatee County, but a portion of it is ours. I think the push in the next budget year is to reduce our ad valorem taxes. If OPPAGA can help us do that, let’s do it. If we can reduce taxes, we can attract more people to live here,” Murphy said.
Commissioner Jon Crane said, “I’m going to exercise my right to be a little skeptical.”
During public input, Anna Maria resident John Kolojeski suggested the city do some legal research on annexation and whether the state Legislature can force a community to be annexed into another community.
Confused? Of course you are, if you’re a potential buyer. We are living through a very dysfunctional housing market and the maze doesn’t look like it’s ending any time soon. Should you buy, should you rent or should you find a tiny accessory home? The answer is different for everyone.
Buying has almost always been favored over renting when it comes to housing. For some, renting is considered “throwing money away” while buying is an “investment.” The truth is the answer is much more nuanced and really depends on what is the right fit for you.
Renting is a short-term solution as opposed to homeownership, which is much more of a commitment in terms of finances, time and labor than renting. Nevertheless, the argument for home ownership has always been building equity and doing as you please with your property.
In today’s real estate world, homeownership is very elusive to first-time buyers. Inventory is in short supply, interest rates are rising and particularly in Florida, insurance is totally unpredictable from one renewal to the next. Right now, the cost of buying a home versus renting one is at the most extreme since at least 1996. The average monthly new mortgage payment is 52% higher than the average apartment rent, according to CBRE, a global commercial real estate services company.
A person buying a home today will pay 60% more for monthly repayment costs than if they had bought the same house three years ago. As a comparison, rents rose by 22% over the same period, a little ahead of the inflation rate but far below the cost of purchasing on a monthly basis.
If the home you’re considering buying is a long-term investment and you can scrape up the monthly costs with a little extra for inevitable repairs, then in the long run you’re better off. But this decision is an individual one based on job security, family needs and the desire to grow equity.
Trying to fill the lack of the affordable property gap are tiny homes or ADUs (accessory dwelling units). These are typically small apartments tucked away in the backyard, over garages or extended out from the main house. They are getting a second look from buyers who are building, and contractors are providing options for these units as part of new construction. This is a growing trend to keep an eye on.
Finally, I feel that in the best interest of homebuyers, I must mention this last item. Realtors – specifically The National Association of Realtors (NAR) – are facing two federal antitrust trials relative to commissions charged. Realtor commissions are typically 6% shared between the listing and the selling agents, creating a potential conflict of interest. Keep in mind this is not set in stone and sellers can ask for a lower rate before they enter into a listing contract.
The first of these two antitrust cases was decided by a jury against the NAR on Oct. 31. The decision will be appealed, and it could take years before there is any final conclusion. The second case has not gone to trial yet, but we can assume there will be more antitrust cases going forward.
This ruling and others that may be coming can possibly change the way business is done in the real estate community. I know how hard most real estate professionals work and how much experience they offer their clients; therefore, I’m staying neutral.
Well, if you were confused before, I just made it a little more confusing. However, renting or buying should not be confusing, it should be well thought out before moving forward.
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth said she was told the city of Bradenton will be included in the Anna Maria Island consolidation study being conducted by the Florida Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (OPPAGA).
On Nov. 8, Titsworth had her first study-related virtual meeting with OPPAGA representatives. Later that day, she contacted The Sun and said OPPAGA Staff Director of Government Operations Emily Leventhal told her the city of Bradenton will be included in the consolidation study and will be considered as one of several potential annexation options if the three Island cities and city governments are to be eliminated by the state.
Titsworth said she was told that Bradenton Mayor Gene Brown would soon receive a letter from OPPAGA informing him that the city of Bradenton will be included in the consolidation study and may be considered as an annexation option. Titsworth said there were two other witnesses in the room with her during her meeting with OPPAGA representatives.
The following day, Titsworth posted a lengthy consolidation study-related statement at the city of Holmes Beach’s Facebook page titled “The Future of Anna Maria Island: The Fate of Our Cities Are at Stake.”
“In continuing to keep our Holmes Beach residents, property owners and friends informed on issues facing our city, it is important to share with you updated information on the OPPAGA study initiated by our state leaders, and specifically what I learned during yesterday’s OPPAGA Entrance Conference,” Titsworth stated.
“Legislative leadership has tasked this research team, with the support of the entire Manatee Delegation, to conduct an immediate study and to review the potential benefits of consolidation of municipal services and/or government structures for Anna Maria Island.
“During the conference, it was revealed that the city of Bradenton and Manatee County are also included in this study, though they have not yet received correspondence from the research team. There will be large record requests starting next week that the cities will need to respond to, along with more tailored follow-up requests, interviews and potential site visits that will be conducted along the way.
Titsworth
“The research team is anticipating a completion date for July 2024 to present their results to legislative leadership. These recommendations will then be presented to the senior leadership person, most likely (state Representatives) Will Robinson or Jim Boyd. If leadership decides that the report should be published, it will then be available to the cities and the public. Otherwise, the findings and recommendations remain confidential and exempt from public disclosure. It is anticipated that the data gathered and analyzed will provide state leaders with the information needed to determine the fate of our cities,” Titsworth stated.
“The biggest concern I have with this study is that neither the residents nor city officials asked for it. They were not consulted about the development of the scope and remain unaware of the motivations behind this emboldened act of the Legislature. It is my understanding that we are the only coastal cities in Florida being threatened by consolidation, though we may not be the last as there have been more than 80 bills passed by the state Legislature in recent years that have greatly diluted home rule.
“It is unclear what the path forward looks like if state leaders move to consolidate, especially when it is an act not supported by the cities and citizens which are directly impacted. Is a referendum by the people even necessary when the decision is made at the state level? Is the governor tasked to appoint a board to write a new charter, zoning districts, comprehensive plan and land development codes? Is a new charter even needed, or will one city absorb the others; and if so, which city?
“Will the new board respect current density and height restrictions? If there is a new charter, are the grandfathered minimum length of stay restrictions for resort housing to be preserved or will they be removed, turning neighborhoods into motels?
“I urge all citizens to pay attention to decisions being made at the local and state level. Do these leaders have your best interests at heart? These decisions will have a profound effect on quality-of-life issues. Our unique small-town identities and a century of history could soon be lost to consolidation and to the neighboring city of Bradenton,” Titsworth stated.
Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy and City Commission Chair Mark Short participated in their first virtual meeting with OPPAGA representatives on Nov. 7.
When asked about that meeting later in the week, Murphy said, “Commissioner Mark Short and I did indeed meet with OPPAGA representatives this week. I feel obligated to first inform our city commissioners as to the status of the study. I will discuss what was covered at our next city commission meeting on Thursday, Nov. 16.”
Last week, Bradenton Beach Mayor John Chappie also participated in his first virtual meeting with OPPAGA representatives. As of Monday afternoon, Chappie had not responded to The Sun’s requests for comment on his meeting with OPPAGA officials.
Study requested
OPPAGA serves as the research and analysis arm of the Florida Legislature and supports the Legislature by providing data, evaluation, research and objective analyses used to make legislative decisions.
Since the AMI consolidation study was first requested in January by the Manatee County legislative delegation, the general assumption was if the cities of Anna Maria, Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach were consolidated by the Florida Legislature, the three Island cities would either be consolidated into one Island city and city government, or the three cities would be annexed into Manatee County and the three existing city governments would be eliminated. The possibility of the three Island cities being annexed into the city of Bradenton adds a new twist to the ongoing consolidation discussions.
The delegation consists of Sen. Jim Boyd (R-Bradenton), Rep. Will Robinson Jr. (R-Bradenton), Sen. Joe Gruters (R-Sarasota), State Rep. Tommy Gregory (R-Lakewood Ranch) and State Rep. Mike Beltran (R-Apollo Beach).
Boyd
Touted in part as a means to reduce property taxes for Anna Maria Island property owners, the study pertains to the potential consolidation of the similar services currently provided separately by all three Island cities and/or the possible consolidation of the three cities or the elimination of the three cities and their respective city governments.
The delegation put the study request on temporary hold to provide the three Island mayors time to discuss and devise potential areas of consolidation services with potential cost savings to be identified with law enforcement, code enforcement, public works, building departments and permitting and other services currently provided by all three cities. Those mayoral consolidation discussions produced no tangible results.
On Aug. 21, Boyd and Robinson sent letters to three Island mayors informing them of the delegation’s renewed pursuit of the OPPAGA consolidation study.
On Oct. 31, Murphy and Short received a letter from OPPAGA Coordinator P.K. Jameson; Titsworth and Chappie received similar letters.
In her letter to Murphy and Short, Jameson wrote, “As directed by the Legislature, the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability is reviewing the potential benefits of consolidating municipal services and government structures for Anna Maria Island.
“OPPAGA expects to begin this review immediately. To assure the least disruption to your agency, OPPAGA staff would like to meet with you or your representative to discuss the procedures for this review. Your office will be contacted in the near future to establish an appropriate time and place for the meeting. Thank you for your cooperation. If you have any questions, please contact Emily Leventhal.”
Additional responses
On Nov. 9, The Sun emailed Leventhal seeking confirmation that she told Titsworth the city of Bradenton would be included in the study and considered as a potential annexation option. That email also contained questions about the actual implementation of any consolidation or annexation actions.
Later that day, The Sun received a phone call from OPPAGA General Counsel Janet Tashner.
“Unfortunately, we’re not able to comment; and I can tell you it’s a little early for these questions. The study just began,” Tashner said.
Tashner was asked if she could at least confirm whether the city of Bradenton will be considered as one possible annexation option.
“They’re not going to know what those possibilities are until the study’s complete,” Tashner said.
On Nov. 9, The Sun emailed Bradenton Mayor Gene Brown and Public Information Officer Jeannie Roberts inquiring as to whether Brown had yet received any correspondence from OPPAGA, Boyd or Robinson regarding the consolidation study.
Roberts responded with an email that said, “The city of Bradenton is advising media to contact the offices of Rep. Will Robinson or Sen. Jim Boyd, as this is a state initiative.” The Sun again asked Roberts or Brown to provide a copy of any OPPAGA-related correspondence Brown received or receives.
On Monday morning, Bradenton Records Management Liaison Officer Bill Ackles acknowledged The Sun’s records request. As of Monday afternoon, no consolidation study-related correspondence was yet provided and Brown had not responded to The Sun’s inquiry.
On Nov. 9, The Sun emailed Boyd seeking his insight on the city of Bradenton being included in the consolidation study. As of Monday afternoon, Boyd had not responded.
Robinson response
On Nov. 9, The Sun emailed a similar inquiry to Robinson. On Nov. 10, Robinson called The Sun and spoke briefly about the consolidation study. He said the city of Bradenton is one of many possible consolidation/annexation options. The other options could also include no consolidation or annexation at all, consolidating the Anna Maria Island cities into one Island city or annexing the Island cities into Manatee County.
“To make the most complete decision, the delegation has asked that the OPPAGA study analyze each and every option, including doing nothing,” Robinson said later via text message.
On Nov. 10, Robinson provided The Sun with a lengthy written statement regarding the OPPAGA study and what prompted it.
Robinson
“Growing up, my mom and dad would take me to Anna Maria Island a lot. We would visit for the day, go to the beach and bring a bagged lunch, as we didn’t have a lot of money. I still enjoy to this day going out there. It is paradise. My public battle on beach parking and access is solely focused on allowing all families the chance to enjoy our great beaches, including those that cannot afford to live on the Island or pay the high weekly vacation rental fee,” Robinson stated.
His statement addressed the state legislation adopted and approved by Gov. Ron DeSantis earlier this year which allows Manatee County to build a three-story parking garage at Manatee Beach in Holmes Beach despite the city’s continued opposition.
“Unfortunately, roadblock after roadblock was put up by the city of Holmes Beach to reasonably solve this issue and the Legislature was forced to act. That (parking garage) bill passed unanimously – all Republicans and all Democrats in both the House, 116-0, and the Senate, 39-0. The mayor of Holmes Beach blamed the Legislature for not understanding the issue. Believe me, they did.
“Many members could not believe the restrictions put in place by Holmes Beach to take away parking that had existed for decades, with the goal of making it more difficult to allow anyone to visit the Island. In that battle, many residents on the Island reached out to ask that we look at the political structure of the Island. Because of the over-regulatory policies, traffic and ability to sell homes at a high price, residents are fleeing the Island.
“About a year ago, the Manatee County legislative delegation unanimously requested a study from OPPAGA to analyze all the political options for the Island. Senator Boyd and I met with the three Island mayors earlier this year and they asked for us to pause the OPPAGA study so they could work on coordinating services. The delegation paused the study, in good faith, to allow that important work to continue. Unfortunately, the mayor of Holmes Beach blocked any progress, fearing that would lead to consolidation. Senator Boyd and I sent another letter to the mayors asking them to work on coordination. Mayor Chappie outlined wonderful suggestions and Mayor Murphy committed to find ways to save taxpayer money. Unfortunately, the mayor of Holmes Beach once again offered no help or coordination. Left with no option, the independent state agency, OPPAGA, has begun work on the study. The Island cannot function long-term with residents fleeing, selling their homes and creating more vacation rentals, budgets souring with out-of-control regulation – like in Holmes Beach restricting reasonable beach parking.
“The study will look at all options available to make the Island stronger and more efficient. On a 7-mile stretch of land, do we really need three police departments? Do we need three building departments or public works departments all with different standards and ways of doing things? Do we need three city commissions and three mayors with never-ending rising revenues but a plummeting resident population?” Robinson stated.
“I don’t have all the answers to any of these questions because we don’t have the data, and I have not heard from all the residents. The OPPAGA study will look at all options, including doing nothing. The study will take several months to complete and it is my strong opinion that if a change is made, the (existing) building height on the Island should be 100% legally protected from going any higher, as that is critical to the charm and quality of life on the Island,” Robinson stated.
“Even though the mayor of Holmes Beach continues to block progress and any reasonable coordination, I urge the mayors to get back in a room and find ways to save taxpayer money. I am happy to play whatever role you need and offer any help. The Legislature is forced to proceed with this study because residents have asked us for help and some have told me they are scared to speak up for fear of repercussions from the city of Holmes Beach.
Robinson noted none of the 2023 city commission races on the Island were contested and all eight incumbent commissioners seeking reelection ran unopposed. He noted there hasn’t been a contested commission on the Island since 2021.
He noted that as of 2023, Bradenton Beach had 644 registered voters, Anna Maria had 925 and Holmes Beach had 2,638.
“As the voting population continues to dwindle, will there be enough eligible islanders to fill all of the mayor and commission seats? Overall, the Island has lost a significant amount of its voter population in 15 years, even as Florida has exploded in growth. Over the last 20 years, the Island has exploded in vacation rental growth, while the resident and voting population has plummeted. That trend does not seem to be ending. And, just to the north, the town of Longboat Key has more population than all three Island cities combined and is on a bigger island,” Robinson stated.
“Now, more than ever, we need to make the Island stronger and more efficient to bring down taxes, reduce unnecessary regulation and preserve our beautiful beaches for everyone. This study will provide invaluable data that will allow us to review every feasible option available for the Island. It is imperative the Island gets on a better path that reduces taxes, unnecessary and burdensome regulations and is more welcoming to all residents, most especially in greater Manatee County, who also pay taxes to support our beautiful beaches,” Robinson stated.
Titsworth has consistently maintained that her city government is not attempting to restrict parking.
Financial impacts
Consolidating the three Island cities into one Island city or annexing the three cities into the city of Bradenton or Manatee County would have significant financial impacts. If the three Island cities were consolidated into one Island city, the annual property tax revenues currently received by each respective city would be controlled by the Island’s newly-created governing body.
If the three cities were annexed into the city of Bradenton, that city would then receive those property tax revenues. If the three Island cities were annexed into Manatee County, the county would receive those property tax revenues.
For the current tax year, the taxable value of all properties in Holmes Beach is $3.14 billion. The total taxable value in Anna Maria is $2.03 billion and $981 million in Bradenton Beach.
A property owner’s tax bill is calculated using the annual millage rate established by each specific governing body. Anna Maria and Holmes Beach’s current 2.05 millage rates are the lowest in Manatee County. The millage rate in Bradenton Beach is 2.3329 mills. The millage rate in Bradenton is 5.8351 mills and Manatee County’s 2023-24 millage rate is 6.2326 mills.
One mill equals $1 in property taxes owed per $1,000 of assessed taxable property value.
The millage rate calculation formula is: Taxable value divided by 1,000 multiplied by the millage rate equals the property tax owed.
ANNA MARIA – With youth soccer taking the week off for fall festivities, the adult co-ed recreational soccer league was the only play on The Center’s pitches last week.
Four exciting and competitive games last Thursday night were played by the eight teams whose members fought hard for seven weeks in the regular season. The teams that finished in the bottom half of the rankings did not make it easy on their opponents, leading to two shootouts in overtime.
In a close match-up, Gulfview Windows & Doors, led by captain Keith Mahoney, battled it out against a worthy adversary, team Sato Real Estate. Josh Sato, captain for Sato Real Estate, worked with his friends and teammates for two halves of quarter-final soccer only to come up short in the end.
The Sato squad finished the regular season in fourth place, just ahead of Gulfview. With nine saves in the game, keeper Ben Sato and the team’s defensive efforts let one too many in the goal.
Giving B. Sato time to run on the field, J.D. Webb took over as goalie for a short stint. One Gulfview shot got by Webb, contributing to Mahoney’s team’s victory.
Raul Loera saved nine shots as the goalie for Gulfview, while offensively Leo Gonzalez secured a goal and made an assist to Jesus Martinez. Martinez finished the game with a hat trick, pushing his team to the next level of playoff battle.
Amy Ivin and James Noblett played tough offensively for Sato Real Estate, each scoring a goal to close out the season for the team. J. Sato was credited with an assist.
Game two of the night was a defensive battle royale with a final score of 1-1 at the end of timed play. Between three goalies on two teams, 20 goals were saved in the 44 minutes of official regulation play.
For Ross Built Custom Homes, keeper Max Gazzo made 13 recorded saves, while Chris Klotz and Nate Welch shared the goalie responsibilities with three and four saves, respectively, for team Pool America.
Scoring goals was a struggle for both teams. Daniel Hampton scored Ross Built’s only goal during timed play off of team captain Greg Ross’ assist. Opponent Murat Akay scored the only goal for Pool America during the two halves of the game.
Pool America’s team captain Eduardo Schlueter kept his team’s head in the game leading to the night’s first shootout in overtime. Out of five assigned penalty kick shooters for each team, there was only one winner.
Under the pressure of taking the PK shots, Ross Built shooters Ethan Hampton and Andrew Ross both made the first two shots for the team, and that was all that was needed to move their team forward to another week of soccer.
Nate Welch was the first kicker for Pool America and the only shooter for the team to successfully make a PK attempt.
The 8 p.m. game started a bit late but proved to be worth the wait. In the final seconds of the game, team captain Kevin Roman proved why he is a clutch player in the league, controlling the soccer ball and striking the game-winning shot.
Roman’s much-needed goal gave him another hat trick in the season, finishing with three points in the game. Heilo Gomez’s single goal helped make the Gulf Drive victory possible, along with Javier Rivera’s assist and the team’s strong defense.
Once again, goalkeeper Charles “Tuna” McCracken saved the day with nine huge stops. McCracken’s counterpart, Robb Marshall, had a strong season and game with eight saves for the Sandbar Seafood & Spirits team.
Led by Jake Parsons, the Sandbar squad finished low in the rankings, but fought hard all season and made the quarter-final playoff game an exciting nailbiter.
With the crowd cheering with every shot, John Cruz, Justin Fields and Alex Villanueva each got the Sandbar supporters roaring with their goals. Scoreless last Thursday, Sandbar’s Matt Staggs had two assists, contributing to the W.
Those who stayed for the fourth and final round one playoff battle were happy they did. The action-packed game between first-place Moss Builders and last-place Slim’s Place did not disappoint and led to another shootout.
Both team’s goalies, team captain Ryan Moss for Moss Builders and Steve Oelfke for Slim’s Place, finished regulation play with six saves.
Coming off Gerardo Urbiola Bolanos’ pass, Moss Builder’s Erica Nielsen scored the only goal for her team, while Kris Yavalar put the only point on the scoreboard for Slim’s Place.
At the final whistle, signaling the end of regulation time, Slim’s Place’s captain, Yuri Pereira, pulled his shooters together.
Dean Hinterstoisser and Urbiola Bolanos were the first two shooters for Moss Builders. Both players made their shots, perceivably setting the tone for future PKs, especially after the missed shot by Steve Adair, shooting first for Slim’s.
The three subsequent Moss Builders misses, along with goals made by Slim’s Place’s Thomas Mangotic and league founding players Damir Glavan and Yavalar sealed the deal for the underdog team’s rise to the semifinal bracket.
To start the playoff action this week, Slim’s Place will face #5 Gulfview Windows & Doors on Thursday, Nov. 9 at 7 p.m. In the second semifinal game, third-ranked Ross Built Custom Homes matches up against the No. 2 regular season finishers, Gulf Drive Café.
The final two that survive Thursday night’s battles on the Island soccer field will play to see who takes home the Hayward Cup honors on Thursday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m.
This week’s soccer play leads up to the “smiledeep” soccer tournament on Saturday, Nov. 11 at The Center, honoring Paul “Ace” Hayward, of the Hayward Cup. The tournament is a fundraiser benefitting the community center’s soccer programs. The day’s soccer action will start at 9 a.m. with open play to watch with friends and family if you are not part of the action.
SUN SCOREBOARD
NOV. 2 – ADULT CO-ED SOCCER
QUARTER-FINAL PLAYOFF GAMES
#5 Gulfview Windows & Doors 4
#4 Sato Real Estate 2
#3 Ross Built Custom Homes 1 winner in overtime PKs (2-1)
Once upon a time, there was a great tradition in real estate where sellers listed their homes, buyers made an offer and eventually, both parties met in the middle and, like magic, you had a sound transaction. We haven’t seen much of that tradition recently, but don’t give up, you may start to see more of it.
Sellers, if you can find one, are more receptive to certain requests than they had been previously. Despite hearing that homeowners don’t want to give up their ultra-low mortgages, there is always someone who needs to sell their home. Since the pool of buyers has dwindled recently because of higher interest rates and lack of inventory, motivated buyers need to find sellers out there who are also motivated and more flexible than they were two to three years ago.
The obvious buyer strategy is to ask for money or something that costs money. With mortgage interest rates getting close to 8%, every penny in the hands of a buyer is a valuable one. Offering or asking for help with closing costs isn’t a new concept. Buyers who may be short on cash but qualify for financing may ask sellers to provide a credit at closing to be used for closing costs unrelated to their mortgage rate. This amount can usually be rolled into the financing for qualified buyers and the seller could easily be netting the same.
Sellers know or certainly should know what the flaws in their homes are. They may not want to take on a renovation project but are faced with buyers who may again be short on cash for repairs or adverse to doing renovations. Sellers can agree to make specific improvements to the home before closing. This agreement can be negotiated between buyer and seller so that both feel they come out pretty much with what they want and can close the property.
The next concept is a little more complicated but again includes money passing from the seller to the buyer. Sellers can agree to lower a buyer’s mortgage interest rate, known as a rate buy-down, by offering to pay closing costs in the form of points. If a buyer can reduce points, their mortgage rate can be lowered, resulting in a lower monthly payment. Points are typically 1% of the loan amount, so if a seller gives two points to the buyer on a $300,000 loan, that’s $6,000 the buyer doesn’t have to come up with.
Finally, sellers need to consider capital gains in a conversation with their tax attorney or preparer. A seller who is in a position where they may have large capital gains on the sale of their property needs to know exactly what those gains could be in real money. Entering a negotiation with this knowledge is important since the seller and the buyer may not be that far apart on their offers and counter offers if you calculate what it may cost the seller in additional capital gains. Knowing ahead of time how much flexibility you have between the sale price and capital gains could save the transaction and still net the seller almost what he wants. Holding out for an exact number embedded in your brain could kill the deal and keep you from moving on.
Go out there and make magic. Beat the bushes to bring those sellers out from the scrub. An old high school friend of mine’s mother would say, “There’s a lid for every pot.” And even though she was talking about boyfriends, the principle is the same. Go find your pot.
Suncoast Waterkeeper teamed up with Sarasota Bay Watch last weekend when they conducted their 2023 Annual Sister Keys Cleanup. The event was a collaboration of the two non-profit organizations, the Town of Longboat Key and Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant. Close to 50 volunteers worked for four hours on the island and around the mangrove fringes collecting trash and recyclable items. This year’s harvest was especially large, fueled by the storm surge that hit the area during Hurricane Idalia. One of the most unusual items in the cleanup’s 15-year history was uncovered during the event, an 18-foot wooden “sharpie” sailing craft. John Hoover made another impressive find when he uncovered a blown glass sphere. In all, volunteers collected over 1,000 pounds of trash from the islands.
The Sister Keys were originally slated for development in the early 60s as the Shangri Isle Club and were once again threatened in 1989 when they went up for sale at $1 million. That spurred a group of citizens to form the Sister Keys Conservancy to buy and preserve the islands as a nature preserve. The Town of Longboat Key purchased the islands in 1994 with a stipulation that the keys would never be developed.
The islands underwent a million-dollar mitigation in 2007 that removed all invasive species, planted native flora and created a 2-acre wetland. Today, mature mangroves dominate the waterways and are rich with crustaceans, minnows, juvenile finfish and wading birds. Native species planted on uplands, first created from the dredging of the Intracoastal Waterway in the late 1800s, have matured, making the islands one of the best examples of a thriving native marine environment in coastal Florida.
The cleanup is part of a continuing two-pronged effort to clear the islands of trash and prevent the resurgence of invasive species.
Kayakers and those without a boat were ferried to the island by volunteer boaters Benny Parrish, Mark McBride and Tim Thurman.
Back at the Longboat Key Boat Ramp, event volunteers loaded the debris to be retrieved by the town’s public works employees. All plastics and cans were collected in separate green bags provided by SBW and recycled. The volunteers were treated to a box lunch and beverages provided by the Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant and the Chiles Group, who have been supporters of the event from the beginning.
The Sister Keys Clean Up is just one of many projects that SBW is involved in. In 2021, SBW planted clams in the bay in an ongoing restoration effort. Other cleanups are conducted at various locations throughout the bay, including an annual monofilament cleanup and more.
Suncoast Waterkeeper is a Sarasota-based advocacy non-profit committed to protecting and restoring Florida Suncoast’s waterways through enforcement, fieldwork, advocacy and environmental education for the benefit of the communities that rely upon these precious coastal resources. Their efforts have been responsible for major initiatives to hold municipalities responsible for mandates established in the landmark 1982 Clean Water Act. SCWK also conducts bi-monthly water testing of inland coastal waters. For more information on the groups’ missions and to become a member, visit their websites, www.sarasotabaywatch.org and www.suncoastwaterkeeper.org.
ANNA MARIA – The Island Players are back with the second production of their historic 75th season. “Later Life” by A.R. Gurney, directed by Preston Boyd, is a romantic comedy about a couple that reunites decades after a brief encounter and gets a second chance at love.
“Gurney wrote this play in 1993 and it is set in 1993,” Boyd said. “The purpose for him to write this story was to explore second chances in relationships. People can relate to the fact that we have one or two in our lives that we let get away.”
The action takes place entirely on the large balcony of a high-rise apartment building in the heart of downtown Boston. We meet the host, Sally, a middle-aged high society woman who brings her friend, Austin (Mark Shoemaker), a well-mannered Bostonian out onto the balcony while she finds her friend Ruth, (Valerie Lipscomb), who is in town visiting from Las Vegas after recently separating from her husband. It’s a set-up and what is quickly apparent is that Ruth has one over on Austin – she remembers a time they met decades earlier and he doesn’t. The encounter happened many years before while he was in the Navy on the Isle of Capri.
Ruth is rather flirtatious towards the divorced Austin, but their attempts at rekindling turn into an evening of interrupted conversation as guests keep coming out onto the balcony, breaking in and disrupting Ruth and Austin’s growing connection.
Although not integral to the core plot, the interrupting guests are the source of plenty of laughs and all are played by the same actors. Daphne Du Frane, whom we first meet as Sally, goes on to play at least half a dozen women, with Joseph Smith performing as all the men. In a series of perfect wigs and costumes, they parade in and out, making it difficult for Ruth and Austin to have their meaningful “get to know you all over again” conversation.
All four actors do a superb job and have a solid understanding of their characters, making this one of the most polished performances in recent Island Players history. “Later Life” is not the traditional comedy that audiences who frequent the Island Playhouse may be used to, but this show is a nice departure from the norm and certainly memorable.
“Later Life” runs through Sunday, Nov. 12, with performances Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and a Sunday matinee at 2 p.m. Tickets are available for $28 at the box office or by calling 941-778-5755, or $30 online at www.theislandplayers.org. The theater is located at 10009 Gulf Drive on the corner of Gulf Drive and Pine Avenue in Anna Maria.
HOLMES BEACH – A man was arrested for resisting an officer with violence and transported to the Manatee County Jail after injuring a city police officer at a shopping plaza, according to a police report.
The incident occurred on Oct. 20 at around 2:05 a.m. While patrolling a shopping plaza in the 3300 block of East Bay Drive, Officer Andrew Adkins said he saw a man standing next to the door of Cheesecake Cutie and Cafe.
“Upon sight of my marked patrol vehicle, he began walking away from the door,” Adkins said in his report. “I turned around and got out with the subject, later identified as Kevin McNamara, on the sidewalk of the restaurant. It should be noted I was in full police uniform. I asked him what he was doing, and he explained he was walking home from work and stopped to meet with a friend. I looked and did not see anyone else.”
Adkins said he tried to explain to McNamara, 35, of Sarasota, that what he was doing was suspicious since all of the businesses in the plaza were closed and the area was private property. McNamara argued that it was public property, and he had a right to be there, becoming agitated, according to the report.
When asked for his ID, McNamara began searching through a bag but became more agitated and eventually threw the bag at Adkins and told him to find it. Adkins dumped the contents of the bag on a table and, while doing so, McNamara approached him, becoming more agitated as he was told to stand back.
“I tried to get him to step back but he took a slightly bladed stance, clinched his fists, and got less than a foot away from me. Kevin was visibly angry and told me twice to ‘do something, bro,’ ” Adkins wrote in his report. “At this point, I felt that violence against me was about to take place, so I told him he was under arrest. Kevin turned around and I went to put his hands behind his back, but he quickly spun back around towards me and punched me on my left side. I grabbed ahold of Kevin to try and gain control, but he also grabbed ahold of me. I struggled to get control of him because he was also trying to control me, and we fell to the ground.”
McNamara refused to comply with orders to stop resisting arrest, according to the report. Another office arrived at the scene and the two officers were able to get McNamara in handcuffs. In McNamara’s bag, the officers found his ID along with two hypodermic syringes and two knives.
Adkins sustained injuries including lacerations to his head and neck.
McNamara requested medics for a high heart rate that he felt was getting worse, so Manatee County EMS was called. EMS came and cleared him, and he refused further treatment.
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Vacation rental company Airbnb is employing artificial intelligence to help reduce the number of properties rented for the exclusive purpose of throwing a party.
The purpose of the technology is to help owners of vacation rentals managed by Airbnb to avoid the hassle of dealing with renters whose primary purpose is to have a disruptive party.
On Anna Maria Island, noise ordinances are in place in Anna Maria, Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach. Police in all three cities respond to multiple potential noise violations every week.
“I think it’s a great idea,” Bradenton Beach Police Lt. Lenard Diaz said.
Last week when The Sun spoke to Diaz, his department had three written reports regarding his officers responding to noise complaints. Those numbers climb significantly around holidays.
Damage to homes is also a concern for owners, many of whom live outside Florida and can’t respond immediately to problems with renters.
Airbnb’s AI and machine learning, which learns the patterns of renters who may be potential party risks, block some renters from procuring properties. One of the key components involves blocking one- and two-night rental reservations that are tagged as high-risk. In addition to the length of the trip, AI also looks at the distance from the destination and whether the booking is last minute. Airbnb has also instituted mandatory anti-party attestation that makes it clear that parties are banned and, if the rule is broken, suspension or removal from the platform could result.
“While disruptive parties are rare, we want to try to reduce the risk of them even more,” said Naba Banerjee, head of trust and safety at Airbnb. “Our AI anti-party system is an important tool in helping us to do that.”
The anti-party system was launched before Halloween last year in the U.S. and Canada and saw significant results. Airbnb says there was a decrease in reports of disruptive parties compared to previous years when the system was not in place. In Florida, 11,300 bookings were blocked during the initial launch in 2022. AI is unique and it learns more the longer it is in use, so the technology is expected to become exponentially more efficient. Numbers for Halloween 2023 are not yet available, but the company expects similar, if not better results than last year.
Airbnb says it has also implemented a dedicated portal for law enforcement, as well as a neighborhood portal where neighbors of rental properties can report concerns, at www.airbnb.com/neighbors.
Other steps the company is taking include a 24-hour safety line for hosts to contact Airbnb’s safety team, as well as a free noise sensor for hosts in the U.S. and Canada.
WASHINGTON – Federal funding is coming to Florida to support two environmental initiatives critical to the state – the protection of manatees and harmful algal bloom research.
A press release from Congressman Vern Buchanan’s office announced that the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed two of his amendments to the Interior and Environment government funding bill.
The first proposal dedicates $1.15 million for the rescue and rehabilitation of manatees.
In October, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) began the process to consider reclassifying manatees from “threatened” to the more critical “endangered” status under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Buchanan introduced the Manatee Protection Act to officially uplist the marine mammal in 2021.
According to the FWC, almost 2,400 manatees have died in Florida since 2021, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) estimates that there are approximately only 6,500 West Indian manatees in Southeastern U.S. waters.
The ESA defines a threatened species as “any species which is likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range.” Threatened species receive protection through separate regulations issued under Section 4(d) of the ESA.
The ESA defines an endangered species as “any species which is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range.” Endangered species are automatically protected by prohibitions of several types of “take,” including harming, harassing, collecting or killing, under Section 9 of the ESA.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a species must be listed if it is threatened or endangered due to any of the following five factors:
1. Present or threatened destruction, modification or curtailment of its habitat or range;
2. Overutilization for commercial, recreational, scientific or educational purposes;
3. Disease or predation;
4. Inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms; and
5. Other natural or human-made factors affecting its continued existence.
In 2016, Buchanan objected to the FWS downgrading the manatee’s designation from endangered to threatened, saying the FWS may have been using outdated data to support the reduction in protection. The manatee had been listed as an endangered species since 1966.
The second proposal will provide $2.5 million to the National Water Quality Program to enhance research into harmful algal blooms, including red tide.
“Over the last several years, the Gulf Coast has experienced severe levels of red tide,” Buchanan said. “Red tide is caused by toxin-producing algae that is extremely deadly to fish and other marine life and adversely affects tourism in the Suncoast region.”
In 2022-23, Manatee County cleared nearly 5 tons of dead fish and debris from area beaches due to a red tide outbreak.
“These commonsense proposals will help ensure the survival of the iconic Florida manatee and combat red tide, which for too long has wreaked havoc on marine life, our waters and the many businesses that rely on Florida’s tourism-based economy,” Buchanan said. “I am very pleased to see these measures pass with broad bipartisan support and look forward to working to see them enacted into law.”
According to Buchanan’s office, he also introduced the Protecting Local Communities from Harmful Algal Blooms Act, which would amend the Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to include algal blooms in the definition of a “major disaster.” This change would require the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) to provide both technical and financial assistance to states suffering from outbreaks of harmful algal blooms like red tide.
CORTEZ – In the culmination of more than two decades of planning, fundraising and hard work, the Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the FISH Preserve on Nov. 3.
At nearly 100 acres, the preserve is on the south side of Cortez Road, an oasis of natural beauty in stark contrast to the multiple construction projects nearby. The preservation and non-development of the preserve, adjacent to the Cortez fishing village and bordering the waters of Sarasota Bay, was precisely the goal of FISH members in 2000 when they began fundraising to purchase the property.
“The FISH Preserve came close to getting paved over by developers, however, the community came together to purchase the property in the nick of time,” according to the FISH website.
The invitation-only ribbon-cutting featured speakers Dr. Dave Tomasko, director of the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program (SBEP); Dr. Jay Leverone, staff scientist with SBEP; FISH Treasurer Jane von Hahmann; EPA Region 4 Regional Administrator Jeaneanne Gettle and Manatee County Commissioner and SBEP policy board member Kevin Van Ostenbridge.
A special guest at the ribbon cutting was Dr. Theresa Bert, the widow of John Stevely, who was instrumental in the planning and purchase of the preserve’s parcels, and of the Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival that funded it.
Tomasko applauded what he said was the perseverance and resilience of the FISH board in making the preserve a reality.
“That’s what it takes to succeed,” he said. “This is the light at the end of the tunnel to keep what they had.”
“This is a celebration,” Leverone said. “It’s really moving to have this actually done.”
His participation with the project goes back 10 years.
“We paid for the plans and the permits and we were shovel-ready,” he said. “We were just waiting for the money for the shovels to start. That was the last hurdle we had to overcome. I guess I was the conductor, but I had a great orchestra behind me.”
Leverone said the Biden Infrastructure Law (BIL) funding of $700,000 was critical in the completion of Phase IV.
“We talked about preserving this; what it looked like before I’m not sure we wanted to preserve it,” he said. “Over time, it really needed a facelift. The goals of what we wanted this property to look like have finally become realized.”
Leverone said 10,000 native plants have been planted recently.
Dr. Jay Leverone leads a tour of the FISH Preserve. – Leslie Lake | Sun
“We have committed the estuary program to one year of maintenance of the plants,” Leverone said.
“Finally, we’re not quite done. We have and we continue to look to foundation or public funding for bridges, trails, signage, kiosks,” he said. “We want to make this publicly friendly, publicly usable. We want people to come and enjoy this.”
Gettle said that the preserve is “an inspiring story for us all.”
Van Ostenbridge recalled his youth when the preserve land was a hangout for teens.
“I never thought at the time we’d ultimately be turning this into a wetland mitigation project; it was essentially a dump site and a hangout site in what we all assumed was going to a subdivision – a waterfront subdivision,” Van Ostenbridge said. “It’s thanks to the foresight of (former Manatee County) Commissioner von Hahmann and the FISH board that we ended up here and when EPA came up with the money, that we were shovel-ready.”
Plaques were presented to Leverone and Bert in recognition of their contributions to the preserve.
“In recognition of your outstanding dedication to the restoration of Sarasota Bay and the FISH Preserve and the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program and the Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage,” Tomasko read from Leverone’s plaque.
“There’s one person that could not be with us today,” von Hahmann said. “This is a gentleman who was part of the original purchase of this program, who was part of the original board that was FISH in 1992, he was part of Sea Grants and sat on the board. And we lost him last year to a battle with cancer.”
Von Hahmann then asked Theresa Bert to come to the podium to accept a plaque on behalf of her late husband.
“In memory of John Stevely, without his dedication to, and passion for, the FISH Preserve and the village of Cortez, the FISH Preserve restoration project never would have been accomplished. Gone but not forgotten,” von Hahmann read from the plaque.
“This is indeed a momentous day, because our only son’s wife is at this moment in the hospital having our first grandchild,” Bert said.
“I think I have a surprise for you guys perhaps,” Bert said. “In John’s and our will, we put $50,000 to be willed to the FISH Preserve. What I would like to do is donate that $50,000 to the FISH Preserve now, specifically for trails and bridges. So this will help build those.”
The preserve is fully restored, but public recreation is currently limited to a few foot trails.
“When you build things to make them more natural, you make the divisions. Water is so important,” von Hahmann said. “Because you can’t access the west side from the east side so now we have to do these bridges and connective trails, so people can use the entire property.”
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Mayors in the three Island cities received a trick on Halloween in the form of a letter from the Florida Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (OPPAGA). The Oct. 31 letter states that the Florida Legislature has directed the organization to begin reviewing the potential consolidation of services and government entities on Anna Maria Island.
The OPPAGA study is expected to begin immediately.
While Mayor Dan Murphy of Anna Maria declined to comment on the study and Mayor John Chappie of Bradenton Beach was unable to comment due to illness, Mayor Judy Titsworth of Holmes Beach spoke to The Sun concerning the pending study.
“I’m feeling really threatened,” Titsworth said. “I’m not concerned about the city of Holmes Beach’s worthiness to be a city. I feel the city will show when audited that we have every right to be a city. We’re thriving. We didn’t ask for this study and neither did the residents. It’s not supposed to be government from the top down, it’s supposed to be a government for the people, by the people and that’s not what’s happening in this case. We didn’t ask for this.”
The study into whether or not certain services among the three Island cities should be consolidated or the cities themselves merged into one came about as a result of a Manatee County legislative delegation meeting in January in which delegation members brought up consolidation without warning to the three Island governments.
Legislators have since demanded that the three mayors work to consolidate services themselves. In the past, Titsworth said she’s hosted regular meetings of the three Island mayors and that some efforts to standardize services across the Island have been made. During an October legislative delegation meeting, neither consolidation nor the pending study was mentioned.
As the study progresses, representatives from OPPAGA are expected to meet with city leaders and staff in each Island city. Items ranging from tax rates to expenses, staff numbers, services offered, utilities, infrastructure, number of voters and number of residents are all expected to be analyzed during the study.
While most OPPAGA studies are conducted at the request of a municipality’s residents or government leaders, this one was requested by state leaders. And though it’s not common, state leaders have the ability to present a bill to the Legislature for a vote to consolidate the three Island cities without the input of city leaders, property owners or voters.
Typically a municipality is only dissolved at the state level when the city is insolvent or the level of residents has dropped to such a small number that it can’t sustain the city’s government. Titsworth said that Holmes Beach doesn’t suffer from either problem. She added that she also believes the cities of Anna Maria and Bradenton Beach are still strong despite a recent lack of people running for office in those municipalities.
“No one wants to lose their incorporation,” she said, adding that she plans to show her city’s strengths at every turn during the auditing process. “The best thing we can do right now is work harder to prove them (state leaders) wrong and show the strength of the community and city.”
In the Sea Turtle Conservancy’s Tour de Turtles race, which ended on Nov. 1, loggerhead sea turtle Suzi finished in fifth place in a field of 11 sea turtles, having traveled 1,355 miles. Sea turtle Bella took first with 1,534 miles. Suzi was released from Coquina Beach after nesting and being satellite-tagged on June 27. She soon headed to the Yucatan Peninsula, where she has remained for several weeks. Suzi swam in the race to bring attention to the cause of light pollution and how lighting near shore can negatively impact nesting turtles and their hatchlings. She was named in honor of Suzi Fox, the late executive director of Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring, which sponsored her along with the Coastal Wildlife Club and Waterline Marina and Resort.
ANNA MARIA – Going into the final game of adult co-ed soccer regular season play, team Pool America seems to be gelling at the right time. At the start of the season, the 2-4-1 team struggled to find their footing on The Center pitch.
Looking to repeat their championship success from last season, captain Eduardo Schlueter led the Pool America team to its second win against third-ranked Ross Built Custom Homes.
The Pool America squad was the underdog in this match-up based on their record, but the Ross Built defense could not contain the scoring power behind their opponents last Thursday night.
Scorers Murat Akay, Enrique Claderas, Chris Klotz and Sam Parker were among the teammates who kept Ross Built keeper Max Gazzo busy at the net.
Akay and Claderas each had two goals for Pool America, while Klotz and Parker had solo goals. Teammate Drew Jacobson has one assist in the game to help his team score against the Ross Built defense.
Despite his never-ending efforts in goal, Gazzo’s 11 physical and fully committed saves just were not enough for Ross Built Custom Homes. Gazzo’s counterpart, Nate Welch, played keeper for Pool America and was credited with six saves.
Team captain Greg Ross’ solid play assisted Ethan Hampton’s scoring effort and his single goal. Ross had a goal of his own, showing why he is one of the most consistent scorers in the league.
These two teams find themselves going head-to-head in the first round of the fall soccer season’s playoffs on Thursday, Nov. 2 at 7 p.m.
Last week, in the second game Thursday night, brothers Josh and Ben Sato shared the team Sato Real Estate goalkeeping duties against seventh-place Sandbar Seafood & Spirits. The Satos had a total of 10 saves, with three made by B. Sato.
In the fourth-ranked position, Sato Real Estate showed why the team was the heavy favorite coming into the game. Strong on both the defensive and offensive side, the Sato Real Estate team won the game against the Sandbar 7-3.
Sato’s scoring came off the foot of James Troxler with a hat trick, and scores by Amy Ivin and James Noblett, each with two goals. Her ability on the field, with a scoring assist, shows why Ivin is always selected early like a hot commodity.
Gulfview Windows & Doors won 2-1 against team Slim’s Place. Finishing the regular season with one win, Slim’s Place’s keeper Steve Oelfke kept on his toes for 40 minutes of regulation play and 16 credited stops.
Soccer coach Stephen Adair had Slim’s Place’s only goal in the team’s last regular season game.
On the other side of the pitch, captain Keith Mahoney and Jesus Martinez each scored for fifth place Gulfview. Goalkeeper responsibilities were in the hands of Leo Gonzalez and Chris Culhane, each with six saves in the night.
Culhane, who typically plays on the pitch where needed, showed his goalie talents with six big saves to help his team to their win. Raul Loera came up with six stops of his own against the last seed Slim’s Place.
Gulfview Windows & Doors plays against Sato Real Estate to kick off playoff action at The Center this Thursday at 6 p.m. Moss Builders takes on Slim’s Place at the end of the night.
After six weeks of soccer action at The Center, second place Gulf Drive Café defeated the previously undefeated Moss Builders team with a final score of 5-1. Holding their opponent to only one point, the Gulf Drive Café team earned their fifth win of the season.
Charles “Tuna” McCracken had 10 championship-caliber saves. His teammates put the points on the scoreboard, including two by captain Kevin Roman. Single points scored by Hello Gomez, Javier Rivera and Juan Vega solidly paved the team’s way to playing the Sandbar squad in the quarter-final round of playoffs.
Gulf Drive’s Eliza Faillace had an assist in the team’s scoring against Moss Builders.
The single goal by James Roadman was the only point on the scoreboard for the Moss Builders team.
Captain Ryan Moss and Karri Stephens shared the goalie position last Thursday night. The four stops by Moss and two by Stephens in goal were not enough to keep the team undefeated after seven games of regular season play.
With eight teams going into the adult soccer playoffs at The Center, only two will take to the field on Thursday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. to start the Paul “Ace” Hayward Cup championship game.
Condos are all over Florida, representing every imaginable price range. People live in them full-time, part-time or invest in them. They’re a very flexible real estate resource, but are they meant for you?
A condominium is a privately-owned individual unit within a community of other units. In general, the owner usually owns the interior of their condo and the structural components of the exterior walls. Condo owners jointly own shared common areas within the community, such as pools, garages, elevators, gyms and boat slips. Some condos are in high-rise buildings, mid-rise buildings, detached villas or semi-attached villas. In waterfront communities in Florida, you will even find condo associations of boat slips. You name it and it probably can become a condo as long as it abides by Florida condominium laws.
Condo communities are popular because they provide an easy, turn-key way of life. There is low homeowner maintenance – no lawns to mow, pools to clean or peeling paint to address. Many condo associations have secured gated entrances and some have on-site security personnel. It’s easy to make new friends and socialize if you’re new to the area. There are many affordable condo associations in Manatee County. They come in all shapes and sizes, but there are also some very high-end associations, mostly with water or beach access. Finally, condo living usually offers many amenities ranging from pools, clubhouses, barbecue areas, gyms and dog parks.
So that’s the good stuff, but what about the bad stuff? The biggest complaint about living in a condo community is the rules of the homeowner’s association. If you’re not a good, follow-the-rules kind of person, you may be in for a shock. Just about everything from trash to noise to pets to paint color to patio furniture could very well have a rule attached to it.
Also, condo associations are essentially small businesses and, in some cases, not so small. HOAs are required to maintain reserves for maintenance of the property, funded by the collection of monthly or quarterly dues. This is always the biggest cause for concern with condo owners who sometimes feel they have no real input on how much money is spent to maintain the property.
Associations are organized with an elected board of directors, and, with some limitations, they make the decisions on behalf of the community. If you don’t like what they have decided, the only thing you can do is run for the board yourself or not vote for some or all the directors at the next election. Since participating in a condo board can be tedious and time-consuming, it’s not that easy to get volunteers, so be careful what you wish for in a dispute with a board member.
Condo owners are sometimes worried about their investment since they don’t have complete control of their assets and maintenance decisions. The only thing I can say here is before you buy, go over the financials of the association as well as condo documents with a fine-tooth comb and see if this is the place for you.
I’ve written columns like this before, and I always point out that communal living is not always easy and, unless you have a “condo personality,” it may not be the right choice for you. If your neighbor isn’t quite making their trash into the trash bin and it ends up on the ground, you may not like it, but it’s one of those adjustments condo living requires. The good part is you’ll always find a friend to help you pick it up.
Privacy choicesWe use Google Analytics to understand readership and improve the website. Analytics cookies are optional and can be accepted or declined.Privacy Policy
