ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Several former Island residents are lending assistance to the fire-stricken areas in Maui, Hawaii.
Fires broke out there on Aug. 8, killing more than 100 people, with many more missing.
“They grew up on the Island and are now living in Hawaii,” said Ronee Brady, owner of the West Coast Surf Shop in Holmes Beach. “I’ve known them since they were coming to the surf shop as kids.”
Josh Riccio, an Anna Maria Island native, is now a firefighter currently working in Maui, Brady said.
“I’ve known Josh since he was a kid,” Brady said. “He just got his badge as a firefighter out there. Josh was just on Anna Maria not too long ago for a visit and went back to Hawaii to this.”
Brady’s granddaughter, Izzi Gomez, is a big wave surfer who grew up on the Island and lives on Maui.
“She’s in California right now, but she has loaned her apartment to people who were displaced by the fires,” Brady said.
Brice Hamilton, a Bradenton native, is out there helping to do what he can, she said.
Helicopter pilot Nick Taylor, another Anna Maria Island native she’s known since he was young, is helping to deliver supplies via helicopter. Taylor has been posting updates on social media.
“We’ve been watching his notifications on Instagram and Facebook and we’re seeing that Nick has been able to deliver supplies there,” Brady said.
Taylor posted on Facebook: “My home and my health are intact… Sorry it took so long to reply, we were without power and cell service on the west side for several days. I spent most of that time at Kapalua airfield helping the Maui fire department to coordinate with all the of the helicopter companies here on Maui, bringing in emergency supplies by air while the roads were closed.”
He added: “All I know is, I can use my hands to help those who need it most, I can use my heart to love on those who have just lost everything, I can use my coin to donate to worthwhile local causes, and my brain will surely come in handy with all of the obstacles ahead.”
The West Coast Surf Shop Facebook page shared an Instagram post from Taylor: “We are so relieved that our AMI Fam @nicktaylor941 @joshriccio @lilripper941 @bricehamilton_ are all safe and sound. This is so heartbreaking, overwhelming and devastating. Maui holds a special place in our hearts and we would like to give back as much as we can for all of the aloha and joy Maui has brought into our lives.”
Taylor asked those who would like to help to send “Prayers, love, donations, legal advice, catastrophic advice, medical assistance, fundraising ideas, housing assistance, FEMA information, etc.”
“We will make sure everything goes directly to the source,” Taylor’s post continues. “We have local boots on the ground shedding all their blood, sweat and tears.”
BRADENTON BEACH – The Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) board voted unanimously to discontinue funding the Old Town Tram at an Aug. 15 budget meeting.
The potential defunding of the tram comes on the heels of another free Anna Maria Island ride service, the Monkey Bus, which has temporarily shut down services while attempting to resolve insurance issues.
The Old Town Tram, a free park-and-ride shuttle service in the CRA district (from the Cortez Bridge to Fifth Street South), is supported by the CRA at a cost of $52,000 annually.
“We have $52,000 set aside for this as a recurring cost in our budget,” City Attorney Ricinda Perry said during the budget discussion meeting. “Is this something that you’re looking at continuing? We have extended and extended and extended the trial period to see if this is a success.”
Launched as a pilot program in November 2020, the Old Town Trams were put in place to help address the lack of parking on and around Bridge Street. The program, using two electric golf carts, is provided by the Sarasota-based Easy Parking Group, owned by Joshua LaRose.
Perry noted that the tram agreement between the CRA and Easy Parking Group is on a month-to-month basis and could be closed this budget year.
“We have had a loose understanding of what is successful. We know that one of the main contributors to why this is not wildly successful is because of what is happening with the construction on the south end of the city,” Perry said, referring to an ongoing sewer project.
Perry noted that changes are coming with regard to Manatee County’s water taxi and she said she has had discussions with Elliott Falcione of the Manatee County Tourist Development Council about how people will make their way to the beach and back, and perhaps the county might want to be in partnership with that endeavor. Perry asked the board: “Do you feel the $52,000 is something you want to continue to invest in that project or is this something we need to look at tapering off and picking up potentially down the road?”
“I think that tram is a waste of money personally,” Commissioner Jan Vosburgh said. “I don’t see any benefit to that tram.”
Commissioner Ralph Cole expressed his belief that the tram service should be run privately.
“I think there’s enough interest out there that a private individual would buy the insurance to do it,” he said.
Mayor John Chappie echoed Cole’s sentiments.
“I’ve said all along that I thought the private sector could handle things. If the businesses want to provide some sort of tram, trolley system, golf carts, they should be the ones to do it,” Chappie said, adding, “We’ve tried this as an experiment. I don’t think it’s been all that successful.”
Chappie noted that a significant change throughout the Island in recent years is the rental of golf carts.
“That’s what the people are driving around in,” Chappie said. “The private sector needs to step up.”
The tram is partially funded by advertising sales.
“No one’s going to do that business,” Commissioner Jake Spooner said. “Josh is not covering his own costs. To think that service is going to keep happening from the private sector – I don’t think is going to happen.”
“If there’s money to be made, somebody will do it,” Bradenton Beach Police Chief John Cosby said.
Spooner said while he doesn’t feel the tram is successful, he thinks it could be more successful after a promenade is built and the ride service has a designated route.
“I think it does serve a purpose, and for $52,000 a year, that’s totally up to the board. My other thought is if we get rid of it and then we get the promenade, it’s hard to get things back,” Spooner said.
“Let’s see if that $52,000 is one of our priorities,” Chappie said. “Let’s move on and see how it shakes out.”
After a line-by-line discussion of other CRA-budgeted projects during the meeting, the tram was not among the approved expenditures.
LaRose declined to comment on the specifics of the CRA vote, but expressed the desire to continue the tram service.
“We would like to keep going,” he said, adding that he has reached out to the city to discuss options. “I haven’t heard back yet, but I have some ideas. We still have service going right now.”
LaRose said the two trams he has in service currently accommodate 4,000 riders a month off season and close to double that in season. One of those vehicles is ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) accessible.
“Right now, we have more value than ever with the construction limiting the amount of parking,” he said. “Our guys tell people where parking is so we’re also an information service.”
The CRA board unanimously approved the following expenditures: 300,000 for paid parking; $38,550 for a grant to monitor seagrass and $20,000 for future monitoring professional services; $300,000 for undergrounding; $40,000 for Christmas on Bridge Street; $25,000 for a fence at Anna Maria Oyster Bar; $10,000 for cultural arts; $75,000 for a resiliency project on Bay Drive South; $106,690 for cistern improvements; $30,000 for sidewalk improvements; $50,000 for district improvements, including trash cans, bike racks, planters and landscaping; $15,000 for signage in the CRA district; and $10,000 for additional improvements.
The next CRA budget meetings are tentatively scheduled on Thursday, Sept. 7 at 5 p.m. and Thursday, Sept. 14 at 5 p.m.
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – A man on a bicycle was killed after a collision with an SUV on Manatee Avenue near the center of the Anna Maria Island Bridge, according to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP). The incident took place on Aug 9 at 12:23 a.m. FHP officers say a 23-year-old Bradenton man was driving eastbound on the drawbridge when he struck a 33-year-old Lancaster, New York man on a bicycle riding in the eastbound lane. The driver of the SUV stopped to lend aid. Troopers say the cyclist was thrown into the concrete barrier, suffering fatal injuries. FHP continues to investigate and has not yet released the names of those involved.
ANNA MARIA – Beating the heat, The Center of Anna Maria Island’s youth indoor soccer league played three nights last week, ending with four teams battling it out for the championship title.
After beating the Intentional Resilient Intuitive team last Monday night in the semifinal game, Solid Rock Construction played against AMI Dolphin Tours in their final game of the season to determine which team would be the 8- to 10-year-old league champs.
AMI Dolphin Tours beat Progressive Cabinetry to gain the second spot in the championship game.
In the big match-up, first seed Solid Rock defeated their top rival after two halves of play by four shots. With the final score 10-6, goalkeeper Isaac Roadman made big moves in the goal to help Solid Rock win it all against AMI Dolphin Tours.
Playing hard against the Intentional Resilient Intuitive team in the 8- to 10-year-old indoor soccer league, Solid Rock Construction earned their championship title. Pictured from left are Assistant Coach Matt Darak, Matthew Darak, Obi Roadman, Isaac Roadman, Elijah Roadman, Turner Worth, Holden Lake, Sam Raulerson and head coach James Roadman. – Monica Simpson | Sun
With nine saves in the game, Roadman helped to keep the AMI Dolphin Tours squad to two goals despite grand efforts by the team’s offense. The team’s defense could not keep Matthew Darak from scoring two goals for Solid Rock Construction.
Teammate Turner Worth scored a solo goal in the game to help secure the win.
On the other side of the hard pitch, Miles Moss had 13 stops in the goal for AMI Dolphin Tours. Playing in both age divisions, Moss maintained his top-notch play for two games last week.
Gunnar Maize and Parker Svoboda both scored outstanding goals in the match-up, but their scoring just was not enough to bring home the win.
In the older league for 11- to 13-year-old youth, the older Solid Rock team lost to team Moss Builders. Ranked #1 going into the game, Solid Rock was the favored team, but the third-ranked Moss Builders squad proved too hard to beat.
In the semifinals, Solid Rock Construction played against the Island Vacation Properties team to solidify their place in the big game. Moss Builders won against Coastline West Team to clinch the second spot.
As the ranking underdog last Wednesday night, Moss Builders turned up their game to win against Solid Rock by two.
Playing goalie for Moss Builders, Magness Rollins was credited with 11 big stops, while Callin Westfall put two points on the scoreboard for his team. Teammate Jackson Wyatt contributed to the win with a goal of his own.
Solid Rock Construction’s Austin Guess saved 11 goals in the game as well, with a single goal by Ryk Kesten to keep the team in the game until the last whistle blew, signaling the end of the game and season.
Rounding out recreational sports action at The Center, adult co-ed flag football play continued last Thursday night. Remaining undefeated, top-ranked Luxury Services eked out the win against Cortez Deep Sea Fishing by a touchdown and one-point conversion, 34-27.
In the second game of the night, team Moss Builders easily ended the game victorious against Sandbar Seafood & Spirits. With the final score, 46-24, Moss Builders advances to the championship game to face Luxury Services on Thursday, Aug. 17 at 8 p.m. at The Center.
I’m working on my 14-hour real estate continuing education course which I am required to do thankfully only every two years to keep my Florida real estate license. Every time I work through the questions and answers I almost always learn something new, and I guess that’s the point. This time I learned about gentrification, and I knew from the very first page that this would be a column.
To quote my course book, “Gentrification is a process of changing the character of a neighborhood through the influx of more affluent residents and businesses. This is a common and often controversial topic in politics and urban planning. Gentrification often increases the economic value of a neighborhood but can force out low-income residents due to the increased cost of rent and higher cost of goods.”
And there’s more, “The gentrification process is typically the result of increasing attraction to an area by people with higher incomes spilling over from neighboring communities.” Does any of this sound familiar to you? It certainly should since we’ve been living through island gentrification for the last 10 to 15 years – we just didn’t give it a name.
Anna Maria Island was discovered by a vast number of vacationers when the Island started hitting national publications at least 10 years ago. At first, I thought what fun, little Anna Maria Island has been discovered, but I never dreamed it would keep going to the degree that almost every month you can find something about Anna Maria Island in print. My family in Connecticut told me that Connecticut Magazine has an advertisement saying to come to Anna Maria Island and its Old Florida charm courtesy of Avelo Airlines.
As recently as January of this year, the Wall Street Journal profiled just the city of Anna Maria “which is on the north end of a 7-mile-long tropical oasis.” They were profiling the city of Anna Maria’s zip code, which they pointed out is home to Florida’s second most expensive ranked median listing price properties. Miami’s Fisher Island is first.
Florida’s growth is no secret. It was growing before World War II and after the war, it boomed. I once heard a lecturer in a real estate seminar say the growth of Florida is primarily due to air conditioning and mosquito control. Now we can add to that the COVID-19 pandemic, which sent hundreds of thousands of new residents and even more new visitors to our shores.
The result is all based on economics. Old Florida cottages and some not-so-old single-family homes are being replaced with huge new homes sporting multi-million-dollar price tags designed to rent to vacationers or flip as the prices keep going up.
Recently in this newspaper, one of our reporters wrote a very enlightening story about the decline in population on the Island. That doesn’t mean fewer people are walking, riding bikes or eating in local restaurants on the Island, it means there are fewer full-time residents. She reported in one year from 2020 to 2021, the Island lost 1,322 residents, 26.75% from Holmes Beach, 4% from Bradenton Beach and 13% from Anna Maria.
Gentrification is all about changing the character of a community and infusing it with tons of money. Sometimes that’s good and sometimes it’s not. Out with the old and in with the new. The only thing they can’t change is the beach – or can they?
In a recent column, I reported how state rules and regulations passed during the DeSantis legislative session limited the protection of local waters at a time when the threat to water quality and habitat destruction has never been graver. Now, according to Suncoast Waterkeeper (SCWK) Executive Director Abbey Tyrna, that threat has come to Manatee County.
In a statement, SCWK responded to newly-proposed changes in the Manatee County Comprehensive Plan with the following:
“Manatee County has proposed removing policies of the comprehensive plan and sections of the land development code to allow for the destruction of our wetlands and wetland buffers. We’re taking action to ensure that another threat to our quality of life, local economy and waterways don’t become a reality. These changes would create permanent damage. Once wetlands are gone, they are gone for good.
“Wetlands are protected ecosystems because they perform a wide variety of important functions, chief among them is their ability to clean polluted water. This function alone should have the county commission and its appointed planning commission fighting to protect these valuable ecosystems in the face of increasingly harmful algae blooms including red tide and lyngbya. Wetlands do more than enhance water quality, they protect us from flooding, provide habitat for Florida fish and wildlife, and replenish our dwindling groundwater supplies.
Dr. Abbey Tyrna, executive director of Suncoast Waterkeeper and a wetland scientist, addresses the Manatee County planning board. – Rusty Chinnis | Sun
“So why would Manatee County Commission want to push changes that would destroy wetlands in the face of these threats? The answer is simple: They want more developable land to put corporate profits before our quality of life, our local economy and water quality.
“It is time to take action to make sure these changes do not become a reality. Will you join us in protecting our wetlands? Add your name to our petition that we are sending to the Manatee Board of County Commissioners online. Together we’ll protect what makes the Suncoast special.”
In what many described as a surprise decision, the Manatee County Planning Commission voted 4-2 on Aug. 10 not to recommend the proposed changes to the commission. At that meeting, Tyrna, as well as many local citizens, including past Commissioner Joe McClash, gave powerful testimony that swayed the majority of the board to vote the proposal down. That deprives the commission of the cover of their planning board. Unfortunately, they are not required to abide by that decision and could vote for the changes. That’s why SCWK, the Manatee County League of Women Voters, ManaSota-88, Speak Out Manatee, the Sierra Club, East Manatee Preservation and Kids for Clean Water are encouraging voters (you) to turn out at this Thursday’s commission meeting, which will be held at the Honorable Patricia M. Glass Chambers at the Manatee County Administration Building, 1112 Manatee Ave. W. in Bradenton. The meeting starts at 9 a.m.
If we, the citizens of Manatee County, don’t speak out, our children and future generations (who have no voice in this decision) will suffer the consequences of our inaction.
HOLMES BEACH – For some children, it was their first day of kindergarten, and emotions ranged from excitement to just plain nervousness. For fifth graders, it was the first day of their last year at Anna Maria Elementary School (AME), and they were ready to enjoy a year of being at the top of the elementary school food chain.
Kindergarten teachers Kiley Flynn and Rachel Frantz lead their students to the classroom after the new parent orientation on Aug. 10, the first day of school at Anna Maria Elementary, as Joshua Cook looks back. – Anne Yarborough | Sun
Dressed to impress, with many sporting new backpacks and their personal favorite outfit, students were ready for the first day of school on the morning of Aug. 10. Parents lined up to drop off their children at AME as Principal Mike Masiello, the school staff, Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer and several Holmes Beach police officers greeted parents and this year’s 206 students.
Police Chief Bill Tokajer greets first-grader Wilder King on the first day of school at Anna Maria Elementary. – Anne Yarborough | Sun
“We had a great turnout for back-to-school night. Parents and students were excited to meet the teachers,” Masiello said. “It’s wonderful to be back in session and see the kid’s smiling faces as they walked into the building for the first day of school. We look forward to a school year full of teaching, learning and all of the wonderful events that make AME such a great school.”
It wasn’t just staff and students who were excited to begin the new school year; parents were also ready for another year at the little school by the bay that many feel is a special privilege for their children to attend.
Jana Wilder smooths her son Abel’s hair on his first day of kindergarten at Anna Maria Elementary. – Anne Yarborough | Sun
“My kids couldn’t wait to get into school this morning,” said Margie Messinger, who has three children at AME. “I have children in kindergarten, second and third grades. They were dressed up and ready to go, and there was quite the welcoming committee this morning. The principal, chief of police and just about everybody was out there; it was great.”
“This is one of the reasons we live here. Anna Maria Island is already amazing, but this school is the cherry on top,” second-grader parent Michelle Urbiola said. “They brought in the Guy Harvey program and I can’t have my kids anywhere else. This is the best place for them and I’m just so grateful.”
MANATEE COUNTY – The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is conducting an extensive study of the Cortez Road corridor from the east end of the Cortez Bridge in Cortez to the tip of U.S. Highway 41 in the West Somerset area.
During the Aug. 1 Council of Governments meeting at the Bradenton Area Convention Center in Palmetto, FDOT Community Planner and Strategic Intermodal System Coordinator Vitor Suguri and Renaissance Planning Managing Principal Frank Kalpakis provided county and city officials with an overview of the study and what it hopes to accomplish.
Suguri said the study, in addition to transportation elements, also addresses land use and future development along the corridor and will look at the relationships between transportation and land use. He said land use has a great impact on transportation and vice versa and the goal is to integrate both approaches in the study.
The study’s first phase includes meeting with and gathering insight from city leaders, residents, impacted stakeholders and property owners, developers and others. Public input meetings will be scheduled, but none have been scheduled yet pertaining to the western portion of Cortez Road that leads to Cortez and Bradenton Beach.
Suguri noted the lengthy Cortez Road corridor passes through multiple areas and neighborhoods that are different from one another and have different needs. He said three of the top 10 most dangerous segments of FDOT’s District 1 roadways in terms of fatal and serious injury crashes are located along the Cortez Road corridor, including the fourth most dangerous portion of the corridor between East 80th Street West (just west of 75th Street) to 30th Street West, near the Bowlero bowling alley. The next portion, from 30th Street West to 44th Avenue is listed as the sixth most dangerous stretch of road in District 1, which Suguri said includes 570 corridors.
According to the presentation, nine crash fatalities and 63 serious severe injuries have occurred along the corridor since 2015.
“It’s very important for us at the department to focus on safety, making sure whatever improvements we’re doing are not just about speeding up traffic. We want to make sure traffic is flowing safely. We want to make sure pedestrians can walk safely to where they’re going,” Suguri said, noting bicyclist safety is another key component.
“We know that just designing a safe roadway is not going to answer all the problems. There are multiple things involved with safety, so we want to take a system-wide approach. It takes all of us to bring it together. It’s policymaking, it’s how we interact with our community, it’s law enforcement and emergency management. It’s everybody working together to bring a good solution and that’s why we want to involve as many people as possible in this plan, so we can come up with good solutions,” Suguri said.
The presentation slide illustrates the most dangerous portions of Cortez Road in terms of vehicular fatalities and serious injuries. – Submitted | FDOT
“It’s a commuter corridor. It provides access to the beaches. It serves multiple functions. It’s important to understand that in terms of developing a vision to respond to and facilitate the type of function that it serves,” Kalpakis said. “We’re looking at traffic conditions today and how conditions will be in the future as the corridor grows and as more people move into the area. Looking at safety conditions and the safety record in the corridor, which is not really good. That’s really the intent; to make sure the transportation strategies that we’re developing will make safe conditions for everyone.”
Regarding the anticipated study timeline, Suguri said, “We have about six months to complete this stage of the project. We’re already conducting interviews. We met with some of the commissioners and we’re scheduling more of those meetings. We have an extensive stakeholder list. We’re going to be engaging with them one-on-one, not only on how the roadway functions, but also on their plans for future development along the corridor.
“We’re also in the process of collecting data. We want to produce an existing conditions report that shows what the corridor is like today, what are the hot spots and where do we need to focus. We’re going to combine that with the information we get from the public to formulate those strategies. By fall and late winter we should have a vision plan and some high-level strategies we can offer,” Suguri said.
Suguri said the next steps include finalizing the transportation and land use existing conditions report, conducting more stakeholder interviews and preparing a community story video.
“It’s best to hear from the community so we can share with the public, so it’s not DOT leading the way, it’s really the community taking leadership,” he said.
Suguri said a visioning workshop is anticipated in October that will give the public a chance to talk to FDOT officials and highlight what they feel are problem areas and hot spots. Suguri said a project website will also be created.
Bradenton Beach Mayor John Chappie expressed support for the study.
“I see this as a great opportunity, especially for the west side to be involved. FDOT is footing the bill on this so let’s get involved. We have traffic issues trying to get to and from the Island and there’s all the development that’s going to be taking place on the west side in the next few years.”
Along the west end of Cortez Road, 86 new homes are currently being built as part of the Hunters Point development, approximately 2,000 residential units are approved for the nearby and pending Peninsula Bay development and 6,500 residential units are approved for the pending Lake Flores development along Cortez Road and the El Conquistador Parkway.
BRADENTON BEACH – Longtime Cortez and Bradenton Beach resident Marty Tupin passed away on Aug. 1, just a few weeks before his 63rd birthday.
Over the years, Marty was a commercial fisherman, a fiberglass and metal fabricator, an artist, a furniture maker, and more. After a portion of his right leg was amputated, Marty spent his final couple years as the ever-vigilant parking attendant at the Drift In bar in Bradenton Beach, where he zipped around on his three-wheeled electric scooter supervising the sometimes challenging two-deep, tandem parking reserved for patrons only.
Marty Tupin spent his final years patrolling the Drift In parking lot. – Submitted
The Drift In, 120 Bridge St., will host a celebration of life on Sunday, August 27, at 2 p.m. Attendees are invited to bring a dish to share and to share their memories of Marty.
Marty’s family will host a celebration of life at the Star Fish Company restaurant in Cortez, at 12306 46th Ave. W. on Sunday, Oct. 1, from 5 to 8 p.m.
Life’s challenges
Marty’s sister, Judy (Tupin) Mossorofo, lives in Venice with her husband, Charles Mossorofo, and they shared their insights on Marty’s colorful and sometimes challenging life.
Marty was born in Medina, Ohio. When he was about a year old and Judy was two, their parents were in an automobile accident in Butler, Georgia that killed their mom, Elsie, a former Manatee County schoolteacher.
Marty’s dad, Lynn, had family ties to the Cortez commercial fishing community and was a commercial fisherman himself. After the accident, he and the children moved to Manatee County, where the siblings lived with various family members before being placed in separate foster homes.
“All four of us got split up. We didn’t grow up together,” Judy said of their fractured family.
Marty loved his son, Cory Herrick. – Submitted
Judy said Marty began his commercial fishing career in Cortez in the 1980s.
“He loved fishing and crabbing. His friends were commercial fishermen and shrimpers and he worked the docks at the AP Bell Fish Company. He loved catching fish and bringing them to all his friends. He fiber-glassed a lot of boats and he was really good at that. He mended nets too. He also loved painting, making metal sculptures and building and painting wooden chairs and benches. He loved working with his hands. He was very creative. He was a fabulous artist. He was a good father and he loved his dogs too,” Judy said.
Marty Tupin spent many years working as a commercial fisherman. – Submitted
Judy can’t remember exactly when it happened, but she said Marty was in a motorcycle accident that seriously injured his right leg and impacted the rest of his life.
“Later, his leg hurt so bad that he couldn’t walk. It got so badly infected that they had to cut the foot off at the ankle. It then spread up his leg and more of his leg was amputated because of bad circulation and sepsis,” Judy said, noting some toes on his left foot were later amputated too.
In mid-July, Marty became seriously ill and was hospitalized. His left leg was amputated in an attempt to save his life and he was later moved to Tidewell Hospice in Bradenton where he spent his final days, visited by family and friends.
Regarding his late brother-in-law, Charles said, “I’m from New York City. I met Marty 23 years ago when I first came down here with Judy. This guy was just beaming with life. He’d tell me stories about being a commercial fisherman and getting off the boat for a burger and a beer at a bar. He certainly had a lust for life and the open sea.
“We didn’t see each other often, but I was close to him. He lived life completely on his own terms and he did it without being malicious. Marty got grumpy sometimes, but he was all heart and we never argued. I taught him it was OK to agree to disagree and we did that for 23 years. He was a remarkable, beautiful man. He had a heart of gold,” Charles said.
Friends aplenty
Drift In Manager Doreen Flynn said, “I called him ‘Mr. Crotchety’ but I loved him and I wish he was still here. He worked here for the past couple of years but I knew him for 15 years. He used to bring me my fish and shrimp and he taught me to freeze fish in water in a bag so it was fresh when you took it out. He was dealt some tough cards but he always kept his head up and he did not want anyone to know he was in pain every day. He will be deeply missed. He drank Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey and Icehouse beer and we’re going to have an Icehouse special on the 27th.”
Joy Nelson hosts bingo and deals bar poker at the Drift.
She said, “Words to describe my friend: arrogant, funny, straightforward, loving, caring, hard-headed and more. There was never a question about what he was thinking about you. You could be a stranger or a great friend and he never held back. He was completely real and he encouraged me to be the same. He didn’t have an easy life, but he won at bar poker all the time, so I figured he was at least lucky at one thing. But after he went into the hospital for the last time, I realized I was wrong. He was lucky that he found our crazy Drift In family and somehow fit in. We could all butt heads at times and then share a drink and laugh together at the end of the night. I miss my friend,” Nelson said.
Drift In patron Mike Cunningham said, “Most people’s first impression of Marty was that he was a little prickly, but if you accepted him as he was and took the time to get to know him you would find he was a straight-up guy and a true friend. I miss his honesty, humor and frankness. The setbacks he had the last couple of years never changed the good things I loved about him.”
Drift In patron Rebecca Brodeur said, “I loved him. I went to see him during his last days. He was a good, old friend. I went to elementary school with him. He was a stinker even on the bus and at school, but he had a good heart and he was a good person. He wasn’t just a parking lot attendant. He was a great fisherman and artist too.”
As an artist, Marty Tupin worked in many mediums. – Submitted
Local musician Mike McConnell said, “Marty was one of those salty characters that made up the diversity at the Drift In. Our relationship was contentious at first but I believe we regarded each other as friends and we worked together at the most unique watering hole in America.”
Marty Tupin enjoyed time spent on the water. – Submitted
Drift In patron Tammi McCoy said, “Every morning I’d pass by on my way to yoga and Marty would always wave to me. I loved Marty. He was a really good guy.
Her husband Greg, said, “You had to avoid that damn scooter he was on because he’d about run you over.”
With the help from the Drift In and Beach’N Bikes & Rentals, Marty’s scooter was donated to Cortezian and fellow-amputee Kathy Barnett, per the family’s request.
Marty’s family donated his mobility scooter to Kathy Barnett. – Submitted
When asked about Marty, AP Bell and Star Fish Company owner Karen Bell said, “He hadn’t been around here a lot lately, but he used to be in the village all the time when he fished and lived up in Popeye’s apartment. He was kind of a jack of all trades who usually crewed on someone else’s boat. He was as committed to his art as much as anything else and he really enjoyed painting fish on glass. He had a good heart, but he also had an edginess to him.”
Marty Tupin enjoyed painting fish on glass backgrounds. – Sarah Santos | Submitted
Charter captain and cousin Kathe Tupin Fannon, said, “Marty had the ability to piss you off but he also had the ability to make you like him. I am sure when he made it to the front gates of Heaven he was explaining to God how to run Heaven.”
Facebook tributes
Marty’s passing also generated many Facebook comments.
Drift In owner Derek Williams wrote: “I bought the Drift-In in December 2022. Marty was one of the first people to offer me a hand. He loved his Drift family and he truly had pride in our business, our parking lot and his job. He earned every tip and he made people laugh.”
Former Drift In bartender Sharon Bell wrote: “Marty was one-of-a-kind for sure; my salty parking pirate. I think his drive and spirit were so strong that he willed himself into living the past few years. He enjoyed being the center of attention and truly loved being generous. I remember him offering his food and if you didn’t take at least a little it hurt his feelings. He was a pot-stirrer for sure, but kind at his core. He was a hard worker that wanted to contribute and be as independent as he could. We are less for not having him around to antagonize us with his antics. He will be missed and always remembered.”
Sarah Santos and Heather McNeal were among Marty’s many friends. – Sarah Santos | Submitted
Charter captain and Sports Lounge bartender Sarah Santos wrote: “I met Marty a little over 12 years ago when I lived across from Starfish Co. in the village. He was the sweetest man and always made me feel like a million bucks! We will all miss him dearly. He was so talented.”
Sunshine Bechler wrote: “Rest in Peace Marty. Thanks for squeezing me in and out a time or two.”
Commercial fishing was one of Marty Tupin’s many passions. – Submitted
If you’re a boater, Sea Grant can use your help. If you are a reader of this column, you know that our waters are suffering from too many nutrients, the various forms of insults that lead to devastating red tide events and other harmful algae blooms (HABS). Florida Sea Grant has launched a survey for the recreational boating community to address discharges from vessels, one of those problems.
According to Victoria Gambale, Clean Vessel Act education coordinator, “This survey is part of a needs assessment that will help determine what educational programming and resources are developed and implemented. It will also be used with other data to determine what and where additional sewage waste disposal resources (pump outs and port-a-potty dump stations) are needed.”
This survey is for anyone who boats recreationally in Florida. The boater can own or rent, and the boat does not need to have a head for the boater to participate in the survey. Although the survey’s primary target is recreational boaters, any commercial boater who serves recreational purposes (like charters, sightseeing tours, etc.) can also participate in the survey.
The survey is estimated to take about 10 minutes or less and is anonymous – they don’t ask for your name, address, phone number, or email. They do ask for your home zip code for analysis purposes.
Information the survey asks for includes questions about your boat, sewage discharge laws, your opinion about pump out and dump station equipment, where you dispose of sewage waste, where you find boating information, standard demographic questions and a few others.
This survey has an “if-then” logic model, so you’re not asked questions that are irrelevant to you. For example, if your boat has an installed toilet with a holding tank, you won’t be asked about port-a-potty dump stations.
Your response is confidential and only accessible to project researchers at the University of Florida. Your response will only be shared once compiled with other respondents.
As part of a comprehensive needs assessment, Florida Sea Grant is also looking at boating infrastructure in the state. More specifically, they are looking to determine how many recreational boats have direct access to the water in each county. They are then comparing that to how many sewage disposal resources (pump outs and port-a-potty dump stations) are available.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Clean Vessel Act Technical Guidelines recommend “As a general guide, at least one pump out station and dump station should be provided for every 300 to 600 boats over 16 feet length overall.” Florida Sea Grant will be using this study to determine if this general guideline is still appropriate, and, if not, to develop a new guideline to target counties in Florida that do and do not meet the guideline.
Based on the results of the needs assessment, they will focus efforts to promote the installation of sewage disposal resources where they are most needed.
Data collection for the study will be completed by June 2024 or earlier, depending on participation rates. Once all the data is collected, it will be reviewed for quality control and analysis. When that is completed, the results will be written up in a report. It is expected that the report will be available by September 2024. The report will be published on Florida Sea Grant’s Clean Boating webpage.
If you’d like to be notified when the report is available or would like more information, please email Gambale at v.gambale@ufl.edu or call 352-562-1134.
Boater survey promotional materials include a poster, postcard and social media graphics and text if you would like to spread the word about the survey.
To keep our waters healthy, we need the help of everyone who enjoys these natural wonders and whose livelihoods depend on them. Most importantly we owe it to future generations so that they too can enjoy their bounty, both spiritually and economically.
There’s a great song from the movie Cabaret that goes something like this: “Money makes the world go ’round, the world go ’round, the world go ‘round.” I like it because it says so much in such a short lyric and is understood by everyone. For buyers and sellers in this real estate market, the money is represented by mortgage interest rates which change so quickly your head could go ‘round and ‘round.
At the July meeting of the Federal Reserve, they raised interest rates by another quarter percent, which was expected, but they did indicate the possibility of easing towards the end of the year. According to Forbes on Aug. 2, the average residential 30-year fixed rate mortgage was 7.47%, not making buyers feel warm and fuzzy.
Interest rates are impacting the real estate sales market as frustrated home shoppers are facing high rates combined with a shortage of available properties that are not moving substantially down. Sellers are happily sitting tight on their 3% mortgages with Cheshire cat smiles on their faces for being so smart.
According to the National Association of Realtors, June sales fell 18.9% nationally compared to June of last year. Manatee County had 17.7% more sales for single-family homes compared to June of last year.
Sale prices are down slightly but still historically high. The national median existing-home price fell 0.9% in June from last year to $410,200, and the Manatee County median sale price for single-family homes was down 4.5% to $525,000. However, based on the new listings coming out daily, I wouldn’t be too worried about our values taking a deep dive any time soon.
There is another way for buyers and those sellers who want to sell to come together despite high rates that may be disqualifying some buyers. Sellers could offer or buyers could suggest that sellers finance a buyer’s purchase of their home. This is called taking back a mortgage and is more common for investment properties but could also offer a solution for some buyers with an interested seller.
Seller financing helps buyers increase their purchasing power by saving on closing costs, setting up escrow accounts, and application fees or paying lower interest rates. It could also help sellers who want buyers to make a full-price or higher offer on the home and are concerned about the property appraising through a conventional bank lender. The transaction is similar to closing with a lender; the buyer receives title to the property at the closing as with a traditional mortgage.
Sellers are assuming the larger risk of taking back a mortgage on their property. If the buyer defaults or doesn’t pay their real estate taxes or insurance, the seller will need to proceed with a foreclosure which is expensive and time-consuming. It’s all a little complicated and risky for all parties including getting a tax advisor involved and, of course, an attorney.
Anxious sellers who have properties that have been on the market for some time could consider holding the mortgage. This could also produce a steady stream of income for the seller if they are in a financial position to delay receiving the proceeds from the sale.
Typically, buyers can negotiate an interest rate lower than the prevailing rate, however, there is a minimum interest rate regulated by the IRS to consider. Sellers could wait out the higher rates hoping for a future decline then apply for a conventional mortgage and pay off the seller.
Money makes the world go ‘round and trying to understand it can make your head explode. Proceed with caution.
BRADENTON – Horses are not the only source of bacteria and seagrass damage in Palma Sola Bay, an expert told the Bradenton City Council.
In a July 26 water quality presentation, Dr. Dave Tomasko, executive director of the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program (SBEP), stopped short of naming horses as a primary cause of elevated bacteria levels and loss of seagrass, instead saying that there are likely multiple causes.
Horseback riding on the north side of the bay has long been debated by the council, the Palma Sola Scenic Highway Committee and water quality organizations.
“People damage the bay by enjoying the bay, we’re not against that at all,” Tomasko said. “SBEP is for access and recreating on the bay but that does cause damage to the bay.”
In his slide presentation to the council, he raised the question, “Do horses pose a risk to the health of Palma Sola Bay? Is this something that might be bothering some people, or is it something that puts the system at risk?”
Two businesses provide horseback riding in the water on the north side of the bay.
Tomasko discussed four metrics related to water quality and health of the bay, and talked about each of their possible sources: Nutrient enrichment, pathogens, physical damage and nitrogen.
“We generate nutrients through our fecal material, through passing urine. We generate nutrients by fertilizing our lawns, not picking up after our dogs,” he said. “We’re going to look at whether or not there is a nutrient-related problem in Palma Sola Bay and if there is, how important might horses be for that.”
Pathogens can be quantified, Tomasko said.
“Pathogens are things that can make you sick. We test for bacteria. We have three types of fecal indicator bacteria – e. coli, enterococci and fecal coliform, and none of those are just specific to humans, to mammals or to animals,” he said. “I can get you millions of fecal coliform bacteria from decomposing grass in a bucket of water. Our indicators are not specific to a source. So, if you find elevated levels of bacteria, it doesn’t mean you know why they’re there. “
Two different locations, one on the north side where horses are ridden and one on the south side where they are not are both sampled by laboratories, he said.
The Florida Department of Health collected more than 50 samples of south-side data and 84% of them were good, Tomasko said.
“On the north side, the values are poor more than any other category. Elevated levels are found more on the north side than the south side,” he said. “The south side doesn’t show elevated levels (of bacteria) except on occasion.”
“Enterococci bacteria is not necessarily from humans or pets or horses. It could be, but it could also be coming from decomposing seagrass meadows,” Tomasko said, noting that seagrass is absent from the south side of the bay.
Tomasko suggested that there is a good way to find out where the bacteria is coming from and that is through quantitative testing.
“My suggestion would be to try find what the bacteria is coming from to know what you should act upon, if anything,” he said. “If I have 3,000 bacteria and one is due to a human, that’s a lot different than if I have 3,000 bacteria and 1,500 is due to a human. There’s a quantitative way to do this.”
Evidence of physical damage to seagrass is apparent, Tomasko said, but could be caused by multiple sources.
“If we walk through seagrass meadows, or run through with a boat propeller, you’re going to scar the grass a little bit,” he said. “Horses are 1,500-2,000 pounds, they’re kind of heavy, but they also have buoyancy. A submerged horse will have some of its weight offset by buoyancy in the water.”
“It’s important to keep in mind we’ve been doing a lot of things to physically damage these habitats. And horses are causing a trail, true, but there’s a lot of boat propeller scars there too.”
With regard to nitrogen levels he said, “If you want your lawn to grow fast or your trees to look green, add nitrogen. So, we’re trying to keep the amount of nitrogen under control in the water.”
Five or six times a year, volunteers go out to measure microalgae in the bay.
“This was a healthier bay 10-15 years ago. We had a 28% increase in seagrass, we had lower nitrogen, we had lower algae and lower phytoplankton,” Tomasko said. “Palma Sola Bay continues to be healthy, looking at the seagrass status, the phytoplankton, the water clarity, it continues to be classified as a healthy system.”
“Would removing these horses reduce some of these issues?” he asked. “Yes, probably in a local sense, but the bay remains healthy and it doesn’t appear that the bay is in some kind of tipping point or close to it.”
ANNA MARIA –City officials rejected Manatee County’s proposed water taxi-related modifications to the City Pier, but negotiations remain ongoing.
On Aug. 3, Mayor Dan Murphy presented the county’s proposed pier modifications to the city commission. The modifications rejected by the mayor and commission included a floating finger dock with submerged pilings attached perpendicular to the existing boat landing at the T-end of the pier. The county also proposed railings and a locked gate that would have provided exclusive access to the county water taxis.
The county’s rejected plan proposed a floating finger dock (in red), and an exclusive water taxi landing area (in yellow) at the T-end of the pier (in blue). – Manatee County | Submitted
The county-funded water taxis will initially be operated from 10:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays between downtown Bradenton, Anna Maria and Bradenton Beach by the county-contracted Gulf Island Ferry company.
“When I saw this, I was not happy with it at all,” Murphy told the commission.
Murphy said the proposed pier modifications would cost the county $300,000, but the city would have to reimburse the county for that amount if the city later decided to opt out of the water taxi program.
Murphy said Anna Maria, like Bradenton and Bradenton Beach, will now agree to pay for the ongoing maintenance of any county-funded pier modifications approved by the city commission.
The mayor and commission are also concerned that the county has not yet provided specific details pertaining to any additional water taxi-related safety modifications needed to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Murphy said the proposed finger dock would require several pilings that would require permitting by the Army Corps of Engineers, which could be a lengthy process.
Murphy said he met with Manatee County Commission Chair Kevin Van Ostenbridge and Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Elliott Falcione on Aug. 1, before the Council of Governments (COG) meeting later that afternoon.
“I told them this is not an acceptable proposal for the city of Anna Maria,” Murphy said. “You need to keep this simple, short, sweet and very cost-effective with minimal or no cost to the city if we decide to cancel,” Murphy said.
“My proposal back to them was just to dock parallel to the existing landing. If there’s any modification that needs to be made, make them to your boat. It’s a lot cheaper to modify a boat than it is to do all this and it requires no permit,” he said.
Murphy said the proposed pier modifications were designed by the county’s contracted engineering firm without any consultation with the city.
He said Van Ostenbridge and Falcione agreed with his simplified approach for the water taxi landing area and will proceed in that direction.
“With what I proposed, they literally could be in business in a couple of days. There’s no rocket science here. Somehow, I think this will come to fruition,” he said.
Regarding the service itself, Murphy said, “I told them this is not the focus of what our city wants for a water taxi, based upon the hours of operation and the days of operation. It’s not what we view as an endgame, but it’s a start in the right direction. I endorse that start and recommend that start because I truly believe there’s a future here in the water taxi to serving this city, particularly as it relates to bringing employees out here. Make it fast, make it economical, make it attractive to employees to bring them out and drop them off here or down in Bradenton Beach. It would have to be efficient and timely. Three days a week with the hours they propose is not going to attract many employees,” Murphy said.
Murphy said Falcione and Van Ostenbridge agreed and they recognize this is just a starting point for a service that will hopefully later be expanded.
“If it works, it works. If it doesn’t work, I don’t want to have to pay a ransom to walk away,” Murphy said.
Commissioner Deanie Sebring said the county’s proposed plan didn’t consider that fishing is a primary use of the City Pier. She said the proposed railing and gated area made no sense.
As an alternative, Murphy said the commission could adopt a city resolution that prohibits unattended boats from being tied up to the pier landing area. Commissioner Charlie Salem said if the water taxis run on a regular schedule, docking at the landing could be prohibited during those 15 intervals.
When commenting on the proposed modifications, Commission Chair Mark Short said, “I hate this. I hate tying up one corner of the pier by putting a fence up. I hate the logistics of putting a dock in. They’re proposing wooden pilings that won’t last in Tampa Bay. Bringing it in sideways makes way too much sense to me. There’s rarely a boat that docks there anyway.”
Short reiterated Commissioner Jon Crane’s concerns that the county still hasn’t presented any proposed ADA compliance modifications and he questioned whether that could include a proposal to install safety railings along the entire length of the pier walkway, where none currently exist.
Echoing Murphy’s comments, Short said the service schedule and rates are not going to encourage Island employees to use the water taxis to commute from the mainland.
“I don’t see any incentive for someone who would want to take this to come out here and work. Maybe that’s the next step,” Short said.
Future expansion
During Tuesday’s COG meeting, Falcione discussed the anticipated future expansion of the water taxi/ferry service. He said the county plans to apply for a grant to purchase a larger, high-speed ferry to transport passengers between downtown Bradenton and Anna Maria, with the two pontoon boats then traveling between the City Pier, the Bradenton Beach Pier and the Coquina South boat ramp.
The Gulf Island Ferry water taxis were recently placed in the water in Cortez. – Manatee County | Submitted
Falcione envisions water taxi/ferry service someday taking place seven days a week with an expanded route and additional stops, including stops near the Bradenton Area Convention Center in Palmetto and the new Marriot hotel currently being built next to it, and at the Powel Crosley Estate near the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport.
Falcione said the initial water taxi service is now expected to begin this fall, to be followed in early 2024 with a program that incentivizes employee ridership. Falcione said the county has already committed $1.4 million to the water taxi/ferry service.
COQUINA BEACH – Nearly a year after the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau took over the management of the Coquina Beach Market from the previous market director, a new manager and opening date for the market have been announced.
Manatee County commissioners unanimously approved Dottie Deerwester from Ready Set Go Tour and Travel as the new market manager on July 25.
“Right now, I am collecting names of possible vendors and will be sending out information by the end of August,” Deerwester said on Aug. 5. “Any interested vendors should text me and I will be in contact with them.”
Deerwester said there will be a maximum of 80 vendors at the market.
The market is expected to open on Oct. 4 at South Coquina Beach and will have year-round operations, according to Manatee County Information Outreach Manager Bill Logan.
Market hours will be Sundays, beginning around 4 to 6 hours before sunset and ending just before sunset, and Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Vendors wishing to be considered for space at the market may text Deerwester at 707-972-5055 with their name, company name, email and type of product to be sold. Alternatively, an email can be sent to dottie@rdysetgo.com
The county received three proposals – from Deerwester, Florida Marketplace Group, LLC and Your Tampa Markets LLC, according to the county license agreement.
“To enhance and promote Manatee County as a unique community, and provide for the comfort in and enjoyment of the use of the park by its patrons, the county hereby grants unto licensee the right and privilege to provide the county with market vendor coordinator services in accordance with the terms, conditions and limitations of this agreement,” according to the franchise license agreement between the county and Deerwester.
The agreement may be terminated at any time with 30 days written notice, according to the license agreement.
The discussion about the market began on Aug. 2, 2022, the county announced in a press release that it would take over the beach market from Nancy Ambrose, its director for the past decade. The release stated in part: “Artisans and other vendors will be back along the Coquina Beach South promenade, once again, when the 2022-23 seasons opens in November as oversight for the market shifts to Manatee County.”
That opening was delayed following Hurricane Ian in September 2022.
“As crews have been deployed around the county to clean up and repair other parks properties, the site prep and rehab work to get the new site (further south on Coquina Beach) ready have been put on hold temporarily,” according to a Manatee County press release. “The official opening date has been delayed from the originally planned Nov. 1.”
