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Bioluminescence dazzles AMI beachgoers

Bioluminescence dazzles AMI beachgoers

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Anna Maria Island, Community News, Featured.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – The bioluminescent glow coming off the water in recent nights may be related to the aftermath of Hurricane Idalia, according to one local expert.

“This could be related to the nutrient pulse from Idalia,” said Dr. Dave Tomasko, executive director of the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program. “The water came up and much of the grass clippings and yard debris on our landscape got dragged back out into the bay as the water receded. So our water took a little bit of a hit.”

Tomasko said there are several types of organisms that could be responsible for the glowing flashes in local waters.

“It seems most likely to be a dinoflagellate called gonyaulax,” he said. “That’s a type of single-cell organism that’s known to cause California red tide, but not here. Our red tide here is caused by a different organism.”

Another organism, noctiluka, which comes from the Latin meaning “shines by night,” could also possibly be the cause of the glow, Tomasko said.

Tomasko said the organisms are not harmful to humans.

“It’s thought that this lighting is a protection against predators,” he said.

“The neat thing about these organisms is they create light from an enzyme they have that takes chemical energy and turns it into light,” he said. “It has to be there in a high enough amount to see the glow. It’s a neat little show.”

The best time to see the phenomenon is when the sky is darkest, he said.

Tomasko said the bioluminescence has often been seen south of Coquina Beach in Longboat Pass.

“One way to stir them up is to kick at the water, or the waves from a boat will do it,” he said. “I would not advise swimming at night though.”

Idalia erodes Island beaches

Idalia erodes Island beaches

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

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Hurricane Idalia’s storm surge eroded the Island’s renourished beaches, but the full extent of the damage and when it will be repaired is not yet known.

“It could be months before any decision on what efforts will be undertaken is made,” Manatee County spokesman Bill Logan said in a Sept. 8 email to The Sun.

The first step of the process – evaluation by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) – has been completed.

“Jacksonville District completed preliminary damage assessments of all federal shore protection projects Sept. 1-3,” according to David Ruderman of the USACE Jacksonville Corporate Communications Office.

“Non-federal sponsors of federally authorized and constructed coastal storm risk management projects which sustained damages resulting from Hurricane Idalia have until Oct. 1 to apply for rehabilitation assistance under Public Law 84-99,” Ruderman said in an email to The Sun.

As of Sept. 15, Ruderman said requests have been received from Manatee and Pinellas counties.

During the Aug. 29 hurricane, storm surge reached 3-4 feet in coastal areas in Manatee County.

“This is the beginning of what I am told is a long process whereby the beaches are hand-measured, staked-out and surveyed for damage estimates from the storm and what measures may be needed to renourish any impacted areas,” Logan said in the Sept. 8 email.

Sarasota Bay Estuary Program (SBEP) Director Dr. Dave Tomasko evaluated the impact from Hurricane Idalia on the SBEP website.

“With Idalia, even though it was about 100 miles offshore, we were on its strong side, and thus we got the storm surge, even though we mostly experienced just tropical storm level winds,” he wrote. “This storm surge came a few hours before the peak of the full moon high tides.”

Water levels were retreating as the tide was coming up, Tomasko wrote.

“So, the dreaded ‘high tide on top of a storm surge’ did not happen,” Tomasko wrote. “That is lucky, because that could have added another foot or two. Still, water levels were about 3’ higher than they would have been otherwise.”

The last major beach renourishment locally was the 2021 Coquina Beach Storm Damage Restoration project, which placed approximately 74,805 cubic yards of sand at Coquina Beach.

“Beach renourishment projects not only provide recreational beach width for the benefit of residents and visitors, but during storm events, the sand also provides critical protection for structures and infrastructure landward of the beach. In addition, the beach provides critical habitat and nesting areas for protected species such as sea turtles and shorebirds,” according to Manatee County’s website.

Since 1992, Manatee County has participated in eight beach nourishment projects.

Approximately 6.9 million cubic yards of sand from offshore borrow areas have been placed as a result of the county’s and USACE’s beach preservation efforts.

Investigation continues into SeaPort Manatee oil spill

Investigation continues into SeaPort Manatee oil spill

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

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Hurricane Idalia’s storm surge eroded the Island’s renourished beaches, but the full extent of the damage and when it will be repaired is not yet known.

“It could be months before any decision on what efforts will be undertaken is made,” Manatee County spokesman Bill Logan said in a Sept. 8 email to The Sun.

The first step of the process – evaluation by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) – has been completed.

“Jacksonville District completed preliminary damage assessments of all federal shore protection projects Sept. 1-3,” according to David Ruderman of the USACE Jacksonville Corporate Communications Office.

“Non-federal sponsors of federally authorized and constructed coastal storm risk management projects which sustained damages resulting from Hurricane Idalia have until Oct. 1 to apply for rehabilitation assistance under Public Law 84-99,” Ruderman said in an email to The Sun.

As of Sept. 15, Ruderman said requests have been received from Manatee and Pinellas counties.

During the Aug. 29 hurricane, storm surge reached 3-4 feet in coastal areas in Manatee County.

“This is the beginning of what I am told is a long process whereby the beaches are hand-measured, staked-out and surveyed for damage estimates from the storm and what measures may be needed to renourish any impacted areas,” Logan said in the Sept. 8 email.

Sarasota Bay Estuary Program (SBEP) Director Dr. Dave Tomasko evaluated the impact from Hurricane Idalia on the SBEP website.

“With Idalia, even though it was about 100 miles offshore, we were on its strong side, and thus we got the storm surge, even though we mostly experienced just tropical storm level winds,” he wrote. “This storm surge came a few hours before the peak of the full moon high tides.”

Water levels were retreating as the tide was coming up, Tomasko wrote.

“So, the dreaded ‘high tide on top of a storm surge’ did not happen,” Tomasko wrote. “That is lucky, because that could have added another foot or two. Still, water levels were about 3’ higher than they would have been otherwise.”

The last major beach renourishment locally was the 2021 Coquina Beach Storm Damage Restoration project, which placed approximately 74,805 cubic yards of sand at Coquina Beach.

“Beach renourishment projects not only provide recreational beach width for the benefit of residents and visitors, but during storm events, the sand also provides critical protection for structures and infrastructure landward of the beach. In addition, the beach provides critical habitat and nesting areas for protected species such as sea turtles and shorebirds,” according to Manatee County’s website.

Since 1992, Manatee County has participated in eight beach nourishment projects.

Approximately 6.9 million cubic yards of sand from offshore borrow areas have been placed as a result of the county’s and USACE’s beach preservation efforts.

Adult soccer heats up with two ties, two blowouts

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

ANNA MARIA – With the sun’s heat pounding on The Center of Anna Maria Island’s field, the two teams slated to play the week’s opening soccer match walked onto the pitch looking for their first win of the season.

Both the Sandbar Seafood & Spirits and Slim’s Place teams were defeated in week one action.

After more than 40 minutes of play, both teams walked off the pitch still seeking a victory. Ending in a 3-3 tie, team captains Jake Parsons and Yuri Pereira will take their squads into the third week of Island soccer ready for a win.

Spreading out the scoring among the Sandbar team, Justin Fields, Matthew Staggs and Parsons put up a goal each for their team. Fields is also given a tick mark on the score sheet for an assist.

On the other side of midfield, Pereira’s team saw points put up by Kali Richardson, Helio Gomez, and Lindsey Styka for Slim’s Place. The team’s recorded scoring assist came from Richardson.

Team goalies Robb Marshall and Steve Oelfke helped keep the score tied with amazing stops and aggressive play. With six and 11 saves respectively, the two veteran keepers showed why they are a hot commodity in the league.

In 7 p.m. soccer action, Gulf Drive Café and Pool America also started the week looking for a W. Like their opponents before them, the game ended in a 3-3 tie, resulting in a four-way points tie for last place.

Missing the first week, Gulf Drive Café’s captain Kevin Roman was the high scorer in the second game of the night with two goals. Teammate Eliza Faillace, returning this season after a brief break, scored the additional point for the Gulf Drive team.

Charles “Tuna” McCracken made 13 huge saves in the game showing his quick reflexes and reaction time. Roman finished with two saves.

Team Pool America showed a different side of the team after a volatile first showing last week. With emotions in check, the team’s three goals came off the boots of Murat Akay, Landon Ellis, and Luca Vecchio. Austin Nutting and Akay were credited with assists in the game.

The four squads at the bottom of the ranks go into the third week of play to fight for a win.

Pool America starts the plight against Sato Real Estate. The Sato team sits in first place with a 2-0-0 record with a win against Gulfview Windows & Doors, 9-2. In the blowout victory, Amy Ivin knocked out four goals in the game, topping teammate James Noblett, who had a hat trick.

Jamal Duzgun and goalie and team captain Josh Sato had solo goals against Gulfview. With three saves, Sato shared the duties with Daniel Tonkin. Tonkin had a single save in the game.

Team captain Keith Mahoney shot and scored both points for his team. Keeper responsibilities were shared by Gulfview’s Raul Loera, with eight saves, and Curtis Bickler, stopping five shots.

Sandbar goes up against team Ross Built Custom Homes this week in the second game of the night. Ross comes off a big loss against the Moss Builders team. With the final score of 8-3, the team played without their captain Greg Ross.

In the final game of the night last week, Daniel Hampton got the soccer ball across the line for two points for Ross Built, while Nicola Manni had a goal of her own.

Max Gazzo, playing goal for the team again last Thursday night, had eight nice saves against the tough Moss Builders offense.

Two hat tricks for the Moss team helped secure the big win. Erica Nielsen and Gerardo Urbiola Bolanos each scored three goals in the 40-minute match.

Rex Kesten and Brandon Rolland hit the other two strikes that got past Gazzo. Team captain Ryan Moss held down the defense in goal, stopping seven Ross Built shots.

Rounding out three plays, Gulf Drive Café meets Sandbar and Gulfview matches up against top-ranked and undefeated Moss Builders, hoping to shake things up in the standings heading into the October schedule.

SUN SCOREBOARD

 

8- TO 10-YEAR-OLD LEAGUE

WEEK 1

 

Moss Builders 2

La Creperie 0

 

 

Isola Bella Italian Eatery 0

AMI Coconuts 0

 

 

Adrian Griffin Interiors 2

Solid Rock Construction 0

 

 

11- TO 13-YEAR-OLD LEAGUE

 

Solid Rock Construction 7

HSH Design 4

 

 

Cheesecake Cuties 5

The Gitt Team – KW On The Water 0

 

 

SEPT. 14

ADULT CO-ED SOCCER

WEEK 2

 

 

Sandbar Seafood & Spirits (0-1-1) 3

Slim’s Place (0-1-1) 3

 

 

Gulf Drive Café (0-1-1) 3

Pool America (0-1-1) 3

 

 

Sato Real Estate (2-0-0) 9

Gulfview Windows & Doors (1-1-0) 2

 

 

Moss Builders (2-0-0) 8

Ross Built Custom Homes (1-1-0) 3

Castles in the Sand

Property owners with equity may tend to overpay

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

Feeling pretty flush, are you? Most of us who have owned property for several years are pretty happy with the equity we have accumulated. But if you are selling and purchasing another property, be careful. That equity can slip through your fingers at lightning speed.

A recent study by UCLA Anderson School of Management discovered that for every dollar of equity gain that a seller receives, he or she overpays by 7.9 cents on the next home purchase.

There are a few theories about why this is happening, one of which is that with higher equity comes lower capital constraints, allowing buyers to consider larger homes they are willing to pay more for. Also, a buyer with a nice equity cushion can offer more and sometimes will pay more to avoid a time-consuming search for a new home or to place themselves at an advantage above other buyers. Either way, these actions are driving offers higher than they should be.

Naturally, overpaying contributes to escalating housing costs, compounding the effect of fewer homes on the market and pushing up selling prices. This is more bad news for buyers who are competing with high equity buyers who are cornering the market with a lot of equity and cash bidding up prices.

Buyers who overpay for a property are risking that the property values will stay high when the time comes to resell. If a buyer is in the property for the long haul, it might be a smart risk to take for a property you want. However, if a buyer is looking at a short-term purchase they could get caught in an unexpected downturn of the market.

With residential mortgage interest rates approaching 7.5%, not only are buyers caught in the vice, but banks are also starting to see their profit margin caught in the same vice. Applications for home purchase mortgages dropped to their lowest levels since 1995 a few weeks ago, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. Buyers aren’t buying because of low inventory and high rates and potential sellers aren’t selling and giving up their ultra-low mortgages – a perfect storm in a not-so-perfect real estate market.

But there are still high-end buyers who are jumping into the real estate market. The only difference is the jumbo loans these buyers typically are looking for are not as available as they once were. A jumbo loan is a non-conforming loan that exceeds the conventional loan limit set by the government housing authorities. The limit is currently set at $726,200 or higher in some high-cost areas in the country. For instance, Hawaii would be considered a high-cost area. These loans typically were considered low-risk loans the banks kept on their books that attracted wealthy customers, many of whom used the same bank for additional business transactions.

These loans usually carried lower rates than regular mortgages. However, the lower preferential rates for jumbo loans have reversed in recent months and now the jumbos are also approaching 7.5%, forcing home buyers to reconsider their financial options or even whether it’s a good time to buy. Since we’re living in an area with many high-end properties for sale, these higher rates could influence our market.

Whether you’re buying a car or a pair of shoes, it’s the same. If you have more, you pay more and if you pay more, you borrow more. Americans love the best of the best. Be careful that the money doesn’t slip through your fingers.

Flamingos flock to Florida during hurricane

Flamingos flock to Florida during hurricane

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

TAMPA BAY – Hurricane Idalia’s Category 3 landfall in late August brought rain, wind and – surprisingly – flamingos to Florida.

American flamingos were commonly seen in Florida until about 1900 until they were hunted to near-extinction. Today, they are numerous in Mexico and Cuba, where they breed, with a few straying to the Everglades and Florida Bay in winter.

As Hurricane Idalia passed between the Yucatan Peninsula and Western Cuba, strong winds likely swept up flamingos from this region, carrying them to Florida’s coast, according to Audubon Florida.

Sightings have been reported in the Keys, Sanibel Causeway, Punta Gorda, Charlotte Harbor, Clearwater, Treasure Island, Siesta Key and Tarpon Springs, along with locations north of the state.

One flamingo was rescued by boaters in the Gulf of Mexico off St. Petersburg Beach. Nicknamed Peaches, the bird was brought to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Tampa Bay and was then transferred to the Seaside Seabird Sanctuary in Indian Shores for rehabilitation. After a week, Peaches was self-feeding and becoming active.

Before releasing Peaches on Sept. 9 at Ft. DeSoto Park in Pinellas County, Audubon Florida tagged her with a satellite transmitter in the hopes that scientists could learn more about the movements of these birds during storms.

The public is asked to give this and all flamingos in Florida space to rest and feed undisturbed.

“We want these flamingos to stay and raise their families here,” Audubon Florida’s Director of Research Dr. Jerry Lorenz said. “If we give them their space, restore their habitat, and keep their water clean, we can hope for a pink future in Florida.”

Friends, family raise funds for The Center at LaPensee Bowling Tourname

Friends, family raise funds for The Center at LaPensee Bowling Tournament

Written by Monica Simpson on . Posted in Entertainment, Events, Featured.

ANNA MARIA – Sold out again this year, the Greg LaPensee Bowling Tournament was a huge fundraising success on Saturday night at Bowlero Bradenton.

With 64 lanes sold and teams of six bowling in support of The Center of Anna Maria Island, the night was filled with the sounds of crashing pins, laughter and good conversation.

At night’s end, the Salty Dolphins of AMI Dolphin Tours once again were the top team with a combined team score of 974 in a single game.

Bowling pin “trophies” were awarded to Mikie Phetcher, the top female bowler, with a score of 150.

Hunter Parrish, scoring 234, was the top male bowler of the night. This was Parrish’s first individual achievement as a member of the AMI Dolphin Tours team.

King Middle School eighth-grader Cale Rudacille took home top honors as a youth bowler with a high score of 132.

On the flip side of bowling achievements, Keith Mahoney won the coveted Gutter Ball award.

The tournament, named in honor of Greg LaPensee, who passed away on Dec. 21, 2021 at 39 years of age, was once again sponsored by LaPensee Plumbing, Pools and Air. LaPensee’s sons, Preston and Chandler, opened the tournament with the first bowls of the night.

Many of the teams showed their originality and personalities through the costumes they wore at the fundraiser. Five teams were considered for the team costume contest prize.

In the end, the six Jamaican bobsledders, Don and Leah Purvis, Brian and Lauren Johnson, and Gavin and Amy Lee, took home the title of best team costumes.

The fundraiser planning once again was a tribute to the giving spirit that Janae Rudacille has for her Island community. Center staff and Rudacille outdid themselves again this year with a wonderful event featuring many raffle items and silent auction items donated to benefit the nonprofit organization.

The Center staff is grateful to everyone who made this year’s fundraising event an even bigger success than last year. All proceeds from the bowling tournament will go toward the programming and services provided by The Center.

The Center staff, volunteers and bowlers made the Greg LaPensee Bowling Tournament another night to remember.

Oil spill investigation, cleanup continues at SeaPort Manatee

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

PALMETTO – The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) continues to investigate the source of an Aug. 31 oil spill at SeaPort Manatee.

As of Sept. 8, the Coast Guard reported about 19,000 gallons of an oil/water mixture had been removed and 6.4 tons of oily debris was disposed of from the port’s inner basin.

USCG Sector St. Petersburg’s Response Department was notified on Aug. 31 through the National Response Center that there was a visible discoloration of the water at the Manatee County-owned seaport located on Tampa Bay.

“A commercial oil response company has been hired,” USCG Sector Commander Capt. Mike Kahle said on Sept. 1. “They’re applying a boom around the oil. It appears to be contained.” To date, 97% of the oil has been removed from the surface of the water, according to Kahle, who said he expected cleanup efforts to be completed by Sept. 10.

On Sept. 8, Congressman Vern Buchanan toured SeaPort Manatee. He was joined by SeaPort Manatee Executive Director Carlos Buqueras and Kahle.

“Our local waterways, environment and marine life are incredibly important to area residents and Florida’s tourism-based economy,” Buchanan said. “With no evidence pointing to any infrastructure failures or pipeline leaks so far, it looks increasingly likely that someone may have dumped this oil and is failing to come forward. Whether an accident or purposeful, any potential bad actors must be held accountable for putting our waterways at risk.”

According to Kahle, about 19,000 gallons of contaminated water were cleaned up from the port. Of that, approximately 3,500 gallons were heavy, unrefined oil.

“It’s still too early to define where exactly that heavy fuel came from, because we don’t handle a lot of heavy fuel,” Buqueras said.

“Since Aug. 31, SeaPort Manatee’s team has been proactively collaborating with the Coast Guard to assist in response activities,” Buqueras wrote in a Sept. 7 statement. “The Coast Guard has inspected every area of the port, yet to date has been unable to identify the origin of the material.

Oil spill investigation, cleanupcontinues at SeaPort Manatee
A boom is put in place to contain an oil spill at SeaPort Manatee. The U.S. Coast Guard continues to investigate the source of the spill. – Submitted

“Preserving the environment is among our top priorities, which is why we have fully continued partnering with the Coast Guard,” Buqueras wrote. “We have also encouraged tenant businesses at the port to cooperate with the Coast Guard.”

“NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) experts conducted an endangered species analysis of the impacted area and reported no fish or wildlife is affected at this time,” according to a Sept. 6 USCG report.

Due to its location in SeaPort Manatee, the U.S. Coast Guard assumed jurisdiction for the incident, according to Department of Environmental Protection Press Secretary Brian Miller.

According to the Coast Guard’s Facebook page, on Sept. 1, 4,500 gallons of oil/water were removed overnight and an additional 3,000 gallons removed the following day. On Sept. 2, the following was posted: “7,200 gallons of oil/water mixture was removed from the spill Sunday, including a large amount of oil debris. The source and responsible party are under investigation. Clean up operations will continue until we are sure the oil is removed.”

The following day, the Coast Guard reported 4,400 gallons of the oil/water mixture were removed, and stated, “Investigators are sending oil samples to be type-tested to assist in the investigation into the source and responsible party.”

According to that Sept. 3 post, 90-95% of the surface oil had been removed, ship’s hulls were 39-43% cleaned from the oil, and 6.4 tons of oily debris had been removed.

The Coast Guard reported on Sept. 6 that additional samples were taken from three vessels and two pipeline companies for analysis to try to find a match to the spilled oil.

Castles in the Sand

Some homeowners ‘going bare’

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

Florida homeowner’s insurance is one of our favorite cocktail party conversations here on the coast. People who don’t live on the coast think we’re nuts to risk all just for great views and beach access. But we’re not the only homeowners who are being charged more for getting less coverage; it’s the new norm.

If you notice a drone over your roof, don’t be surprised, insurance companies are checking roofs for condition before renewing homeowner’s policies. In an effort to recoup some of their losses in recent years, insurance companies are raising deductibles, requiring new roofs and denying coverage on older homes without strong wind mitigation. With the Gulf waters overheated, we can expect more storms and higher premiums.

The national average for home insurance has gone up 20% from 2022, according to Bankrate.com. As unbelievable as it may seem, 12% of homeowners in the country don’t purchase homeowner’s insurance. About half of them have annual household incomes of less than $40,000, according to a survey by the Insurance Information Institute.

Florida is not alone in experiencing double-digit insurance increases. Companies are raising rates or completely leaving Louisiana and California in addition to Florida. There is, however, a solution for some homeowners who have the funds and nerve.

The insurance industry has a phrase for homeowners who choose not to buy homeowners insurance – it’s called “going bare.” If you own a home with a mortgage, you can stop reading right now, you don’t have the option of going bare since your mortgage lender will require you to carry sufficient coverage to repair or replace your property in the event of a major disaster.

Your lender may also require you to escrow for insurance as part of your monthly payment and then they pay the annual premium. This is, of course, to ensure that the premium is paid and their asset – your home – is insured. If this is an arrangement you have with your lender, it’s possible to ask them to allow you to pay your insurance without having to escrow for it monthly. Usually, you have to have owned your home for several years and have demonstrated a good credit score and your ability to pay your mortgage payment consistently on time.

However, if you’re a gambler, you can “self-insure,” assuming your bottom-line savings will outweigh any repairs you might have to undertake in the event of a storm or fire. Wealthy people say they have enough money saved to rebuild or move even if their house is destroyed, but for the average homeowner, it’s a bit more of a challenge.

A standard insurance policy typically covers the cost of replacement of the home and some of its contents in the event of damage or theft. Some average homeowners who have satisfied their mortgage choose to drop their insurance and bank the annual premium. Sometimes they come out ahead, especially if they have the ability to invest the money not paid for premiums at a good return, but it’s a risk not everyone can or should take. In addition, some homeowners who live in vulnerable waterfront locations are pushed into going bare when their policies are dropped and/or are renewed at a very high rate.

The increased cost of homeowner’s policies is hitting the real estate market heavily. Potential buyers can’t afford the double whammy of higher interest rates and higher insurance premiums, freezing the real estate market further. Pay the price or go bare – no good options.

Reel Time: Opposition mounts against wetlands reduction

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

When the Manatee County Board of Commissioners voted 6-1 (Commissioner George Kruse voted no) to reduce wetland buffers in the county, the audience at the meeting reacted with an audible burst of anger. I was at that meeting and, after speaking in opposition to the measure and listening to a stream of three dozen citizens do the same, it was stunning and sad to experience the government overreach and lack of concern the commission displayed for the voters who elected them. It was clear that the passage of the ill-conceived building industry measure was a foregone conclusion as little to no discussion except Commissioner Kruse’s well-reasoned objection was held. It was apparent that the six commissioners were waiting for the public comment to end so they could advance the measure.

Coming in on the heels of the decision, Hurricane Idalia’s inundation of low-lying areas of the county and barrier islands highlights the importance of wetlands and buffers not only for water quality but also for storm protection. The EPA’s document, “Wetlands: Protecting Life and Property from Flooding,” makes it clear that our coastal areas are particularly prone to flooding and storm damage and are in need of buffers.

“Wetlands in many locations play an important role in flood protection. Nowhere is this function more important than along coastal areas. Coastal areas are vulnerable to hurricanes and other powerful storms, and the flat coastal terrain means that land and property can be exposed to the full power of these storms,” the document says. “Preserving and reconstructing coastal marshes can help reduce storm damage. Coastal wetlands serve as storm surge protectors when hurricanes or tropical storms come ashore. In the Gulf Coast area, barrier islands, shoals, marshes, forested wetlands and other features of the coastal landscape can provide a significant and potentially sustainable buffer from wind wave action and storm surge generated by tropical storms and hurricanes.”

As the date for the final decision, Oct. 5, draws closer, a groundswell of resistance is coming from some expected and unexpected groups. In just the last three weeks, Suncoast Waterkeeper Executive Director Abbey Tyrna has reported requests for presentations to address these concerns from homeowners’ associations, civic groups and even religious organizations. The Save Our Wetlands petition has garnered over 2,000 signatures. The children’s group, Kids for Clean Water, has conducted Zoom meetings to find ways to effectively address what they rightly consider a taking of their future and are organizing to get that message out to the public. There are also moves underway to address this egregious overreach at the ballot box, so expect to see challenges to the commissioners, who take their orders from developers who financed their campaigns instead of the citizens they swore to represent.

What makes this move so deceitful is the fact that prominent developers, who were unable to reduce buffers in lawsuits brought against the county, financed commissioners who are now doing their bidding. While they might win this battle, I’m 100% sure they will lose the war. If the citizens of Manatee County don’t wake up to this threat, generations of Manatee County citizens will suffer the consequences.

Make sure you are part of the solution and not part of the problem. Write letters, call your commissioners, attend meetings and make sure you engage in enlightened self-interest at the ballot box.

Reel Time: Exploring FWC’s School Fishing Club Program

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

Now that the new school year is in session, it is time to register for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) 2023-24 School Fishing Club Program! This annual educational program focuses on teaching young anglers about best fishing practices to help ensure the future of fishing in Florida. With the unfortunate disregard for our resources by elected politicians, it’s more important than ever to prepare youth for the challenges they’ll face in the future.

Exploring FWC’s School Fishing Club Program
We have an obligation to protect water quality and provide opportunities for future generations. – Rusty Chinnis | Sun

To register, club sponsors will need to apply for a Florida R3 Fishing Grant, which is funded by the Florida Youth Conservation Centers Network, Coastal Conservation Association and the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida. This grant will award up to 50 school fishing clubs or teams $500 each to assist with club expenses, such as the purchase of fishing licenses or gear for participants. The grant application period is open now until Sept. 15, but grant funding is not required to participate in the School Fishing Club Program.

Each participating club will be provided with a program curriculum and educational materials to be taught throughout the school year by the club sponsor. The curriculum is comprised of lessons and activities on ethical angling, conservation, Florida’s aquatic habitats, basic fishing gear and general fishing concepts, and is applicable to both fresh and saltwater fishing. Additionally, at least one conservation project activity must be completed each school year and is an opportunity for clubs to earn points for a chance to win prizes.

The deadline for submitting applications is Sept. 15. The application can be found online at the FWC website by scrolling down to Florida’s R3 Fishing Grant Program. Applicants can complete the form online or download the application to submit by email. Please email completed applications to R3Fishing@MyFWC.com. The 2023-24 School Fishing Club Program is supported by partners including Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida, Coastal Conservation Association, Mud Hole Custom Tackle, Pure Fishing and the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame.

The grant program is open to new or existing freshwater and/or saltwater fishing clubs or teams at public, private and charter schools throughout Florida. To be considered for the grant, school fishing clubs or teams must have a minimum of five members and be represented by a school faculty member or parent.

ABOUT THE FISH & WILDLIFE FOUNDATION OF FLORIDA

The Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the FWC and other public and private partners to conserve Florida’s native animals and plants and the lands and waters they need to survive. Operating as a statewide community foundation for conservation, the foundation has raised and donated more than $65 million to conserve nature and our outdoor heritage. More information can be found online.

Contact Brandon Stys at Brandon.Stys@MyFWC.com or 850-617-6012 for more information.

Water main repair on bridge postponed

Water main repair on bridge postponed

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Anna Maria Island, Community News.

MANATEE COUNTY – Due to delays in receiving materials, work to repair and relocate a water main along the Anna Maria Island Bridge on Manatee Avenue is being postponed until late September or October. The county will notify residents when the work will recommence and what impacts to travel it may cause.

Crews will be completing the last phase of the water main pipe repair, installing additional hangers to support the pipe on the east side of the bridge. Due to safety concerns, the work is not possible at night, so there will likely be lane closures and periods of one-way traffic on the bridge.

It is anticipated that the work to secure the pipe will take two to three weeks, according to a press release.

The main source of water to Anna Maria Island, the 16-inch aging water main pipe broke on June 19, causing intermittent drops in water pressure to Island residents. While repairs were underway, the north end of the Island received water through Bradenton Beach via a pipe from the south. The main was brought back into service the week of July 10.

Pickup soccer, Island style

Pickup soccer, Island style

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

ANNA MARIA – For more than a decade, a band of brothers bonded by the game of soccer have played pickup games on Island fields, while building friendships and an ever-growing soccer family, including many sisters in the sport.

Bringing to each game a white shirt and a dark shirt to create two teams, players knew they were in for a friendly, but competitive game of soccer.

With its roots on the Holmes Beach open fields adjacent to the municipal complex on Marina Drive, the players came together weekly, eventually using homemade goals courtesy of Darrin Wash and Wash Family Construction.

The original gang of Islanders included Rico Beissert, Lyn Clarke, Damir Glavan, Josh Sato, Kris Yavalar Chris Culhane, Greg Ross, Darrin Wash and Paul “Ace” Hayward.

Pickup soccer, Island style
From left, top row: Josh Sato, Chris Culhane and Kris Yavalar; second row: Lyn Clarke, Rico Beissert, Damir Glavan and returning players Leslie and Josh Rio; bottom row: Steve Oelfke. – Monica Simpson | Sun

Growing the love of the game, many of the pickup players helped to develop and manned the teams in The Center of Anna Maria Island’s first adult co-ed soccer league in recent history. The league at its origin more than eight years ago was a mix of the pickup players and the parents of The Center’s youth soccer league players.

Among the many players who helped grow the league, Clarke, the oldest Island player at 83, used the pickup games as his Center team’s official practices. On Clarke’s first season roster were experienced players and individuals who had never laced up a pair of “boots” as he called them.

The Center’s league is now comprised of a solid mix of the OGs, former college soccer players and soccer coaches, with sprinklings of first timers and players seeking a fun, competitive environment.

Hayward was one of the pickup players who participated in the first seasons of the Center’s league. The player and coach, like many, brought his infectious passion for soccer to the Island. The Hayward “smiledeep” corner remains at The Center of Anna Maria Island’s soccer field as a dedication to his lifelong passion for the sport and the deep tie he had with this group of Islanders.

Shortly after his death, The Center was the venue for a soccer tournament in his name, with many of the pickup players helping to make the event a success. The second “smiledeep” soccer tournament, dedicated to Hayward, is scheduled at The Center on Saturday, Nov. 11.

As the pickup group grew, a new generation of OGs expanded the group. While there is a consistent core group of players, others come and go as their lives have taken them on and off Anna Maria Island.

The bond is on and off the pitch, with gatherings at Slim’s Place to watch the soccer match of the day and sharing a meal at the local German restaurant to celebrate Octoberfest with some of the German players on the Island.

The love of the sport and the love of country makes this group an amazing collective of individuals from all walks of life, bonded by “football.” With a large contingency of international players, the world’s most popular sport ties together those who made the Anna Maria Island area home after moving to the United States.

Castles in the Sand

New homes a no-brainer for some

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

Sometimes choosing something that you thought was totally out of your range becomes the obvious choice. In a tight real estate market with little inventory, for some buyers, new construction is the best choice.

I don’t need to tell anyone reading this that the sound of hammering has become the backdrop music on Anna Maria Island. New homes are going up all over the place, some built on spec and some custom. This is also happening all over the country to compensate for the national lack of inventory.

Newly-built homes accounted for nearly one-third of single-family homes for sale nationwide in May. Historically, new homes represent between 10% to 20% of the market. Even investors are getting into the new home market to use as rentals or to flip down the road and there are plenty of these buyers represented around the Island.

With no inventory to choose from, buyers across the country are improving new home builders’ bottom line. The big builders are offering incentives to buy one of their new homes, some even with temporary advantageous financing benefits. Based on rising demand, builders are adding more homes to their inventory and buyers are more than happy to find a home that doesn’t need renovation.

As always, what happens on Anna Maria stays on Anna Maria, and very little of what happens in the Midwest or western parts of the country transfers to Florida. But there are still some basic caveats to follow when buying a new home.

Builders always want you to add upgrades to their basis home price. If you can afford major upgrades, better to do it while the home is under construction, but chose your upgrades carefully. Upgrading plumbing and electrical is smarter than upgrading kitchen cabinets, tile and countertops.

Look for areas during construction to cut corners without sacrificing quality. Sounds impossible, but an honest conversation with the contractor may reveal ideas you never thought of.

Read the fine print on the contract. Are appliances included and what are they? Be specific. What paint colors are included in the contract? If everything is getting a couple of coats of builder’s white, what will it cost you to have the builder paint colors in specific areas? New construction contracts usually have construction timelines with deadlines. This frequently coincides with incremental payments either from a cash buyer or draws from a bank construction loan.

Finally, even though it’s new, it may not be perfect. Don’t think that because you have a warranty it covers everything. A warranty on new homes covers items like materials, workmanship, systems and structural defects. A bad paint job may not come under the workmanship umbrella and may require more specific wording in the contract.

It’s also recommended that buyers hire a structural inspector to check the property at specific times during the construction process. This might be before the foundation is poured, and before the drywall is installed to make sure anything behind the walls like electrical work is up to code. The last inspection is at the completion of the home.

Local contractors are pouncing on older Island cottages, calling in the bulldozers and erecting mega homes. With little coming on the market and even less in pristine condition, new construction may be the only viable game in town, a no-brainer for those who can afford it.

Where have all the volunteers gone?

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

Election season is coming up and it’s a strange one this year on Anna Maria Island, mainly because there are no elections being held in any of the three cities. All the qualified candidates are incumbents, leaving no reason for voters to go to the polls in November.

Either residents are happy with their current elected officials or are there no more willing volunteers on the Island.

It may be the latter.

Holmes Beach commissioners are about to amend their city’s charter because only one person qualified to run for the five-person 2024 Charter Review Commission. In Anna Maria, the historic preservation board just dropped its numbers down to three people so that it only takes two volunteers showing up to have a quorum.

Are Island residents just not taking an interest in their city governments anymore or is the lack of volunteers due to residents leaving the Island?

While city leaders in Holmes Beach say their population grew over the past year, U.S. Census data from 2021, the most recent data publicly available, shows a drop in full-time residents across the Island.

Drops in population combined with a lack of willing candidates to run for office could signal a shift that some Manatee County and state leaders are looking for, one that would indicate the three Island cities are ripe for consolidation.

Our communities need some volunteers to step up to work on committees and run for office. Otherwise, it may just be the straw that breaks the Island’s back.