CORTEZ – The recent hurricanes took their toll on the 98-acre FISH (Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage) Preserve.
Allen Garner, a retired landscape architect who has been working on the preserve for many years, gave a report on the post-hurricane impact at a Jan. 6 FISH meeting.
“The hurricanes were just the beginning in a whole new era in our history as far as the preserve goes. The amount of devastation plus what’s carrying through into other things has been very significant,” Garner said.
He said the trees have thinned out to such an extent that very few shady areas remain.
“You might be able to find some shade in some patches of the mangroves, but it’s very sunny out there,” Garner said.
He said the preserve is losing weakened native pine trees due to an infestation of beetles.
“The native pine trees in the preserve, we’re losing nearly all of those, and the reason for it is because of a little beetle called an ips beetle that’s always around and they bore into the trees and lay their eggs,” he said. “In a healthy pine tree, the sap is toxic basically to the water bug, it kills it off. But if the tree’s weakened from sitting in salt-saturated soil and it’s too weak, then the larva win.”
He said mature pine trees are turning brown.
“The pines didn’t die from the salt water,” Garner said. “They got weakened and the beetles moved in and that’s what’s killing them off. They’re dying now rather than three months ago.”
Due to the abundance of sunlight reaching the soil, there has been a proliferation of seed distribution.
“Everything is starting to sprout, both good and bad,” he said. “The two things that have significantly started sprouting are the Australian pines and the mangroves. The mangrove seeds got everywhere. They’re sprouting on top of hills, between two crab traps, in our yards, in shell parking lots, all over.”
Garner had been working on removing the remaining Australian pines over the past several months.
“One of the things we’re going to have happening as we go into spring are the Brazilian pepper trees, the carrotwoods, all the invasive things. It’s going to be an overwhelming number and it’s going to be this year,” Garner said.
He suggested FISH hire one or two people to go through the preserve weekly over the next four or five months and pull out seedlings of the invasive species. Garner said spraying is not an option.
“The problem with spraying is we’re going to have all the good stuff sprouting too and we want to pull out the pepper trees and not pull out the native things,” he said. “Spraying becomes a bad overkill approach.”
He said by summer, the seedlings will be too big to pull out by hand.
Garner said he would have to train potential subcontractors, and he recommended FISH allocate funds for the new few months for the seedling removal project.
A motion to spend up to $1,500 a month for the next six months to pay one or two people to pull the unwanted seedlings was approved unanimously by the board.
Garner said for the past three months he has been doing mostly restoration of the preserve following the storms, but is making progress on the work funded by the Barancik grant.
In June of 2024, the FISH board approved a proposal by Garner to complete the public accessibility project at the FISH Preserve in fulfillment of a grant from the Barancik Foundation.
Garner is working on the following projects:
• Design and build two new bridges; one sufficiently strong and sized to accommodate both pedestrians and maintenance vehicles and the other for foot traffic;
• Grade and create 12,000 square feet of shell trails;
• Build a portable information kiosk;
• Create and install a FISH Preserve entrance sign, four education signs, four orientation signs and 12 trail markers;
• Build two picnic shelters;
• Provide and install four picnic tables and six benches; and
• Provide construction support for completion of the Bradenton Kiwanis-funded bridge.
“We have been putting pilings in and probably finish up the pilings tomorrow or the next day for the bridge,” he said at the Jan. 6 meeting.
Garner began the grant project in July.
The total budget for the project is $180,000 with the grant amount being $165,000 and FISH providing the additional $15,000. The grant application for the FISH Preserve Enhanced Public Access Project was approved on Feb. 9, 2024.
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – The consolidation of the three Anna Maria Island cities appears unlikely according to a consolidation study-related letter sent to the three Island mayors last week from State Rep. Will Robinson Jr. and Sen. Jim Boyd.
“The OPPAGA study confirms what we have discussed over the past year,” the letter says. “Merging or eliminating cities could negatively impact the unique and special character of the Island and could have a detrimental impact on issues like building height. The lower height of buildings on the Island must be valued and maintained at all costs. Anna Maria Island must never become a high-rise community and anything that would cause that to happen would be a nonstarter to us.”
Dated Jan. 9, the letter accompanied the completed OPPAGA (Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability) consolidation study report emailed to Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth, Anna Maria Mayor Mark Short and Bradenton Beach Mayor John Chappie on Jan. 8. The mayors then shared the report and the letter with their respective city commissioners.
OPPAGA is a research arm of the Florida Legislature.
The issuance of Boyd and Robinson’s letter and the sharing of the completed 25-page OPPAGA study coincided with the Manatee County Legislative Delegation meeting held in Bradenton on Jan. 9. Robinson, Boyd and the other state legislators who comprise the Manatee County Legislative Delegation announced their desire for a consolidation study in 2023.
The consolidation study was requested at a time when Robinson, Boyd and former Manatee County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge were at odds with Holmes Beach officials regarding public parking for beachgoers and the county’s desire to construct a parking garage at the county-owned Manatee Beach in Holmes Beach.
In 2023, Robinson filed legislation that resulted in the Florida Legislature and Gov. Ron DeSantis authorizing the county to construct a three-story parking garage at Manatee Beach despite the city’s existing prohibition on multi-level parking garages and substantial public opposition. In August, the county commission reversed course and terminated the parking garage design process.
While pursuing the consolidation study, Robinson and Boyd repeatedly expressed their desire for the three Island cities to reduce operating costs and lower property taxes by consolidating some of the similar services provided by all three cities.
The study
The 25-page OPPAGA report begins with an executive summary that says the Legislature directed OPPAGA to analyze the potential benefits of consolidating the services provided by the three Island cities and present options for the potential restructuring of the Island’s governance.
The OPPAGA Anna Maria Island consolidation study report has been made public. – OPPAGA | Submitted
The study notes the Island’s permanent resident population declined 42% between 2007 and 2023, from 8,449 residents to 4,915. It also notes that 66% of the new vacation rental properties developed in Manatee County between 2000 to 2023 were developed on Anna Maria Island.
“There are some municipal services on the Island that could be streamlined through interlocal agreements, contracts or government reorganization. This streamlining of services could result in savings for Island residents,” the report says.
The report notes all three cities provide administrative, building and planning, public works, code enforcement and emergency management services; and Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach have their own police departments. Anna Maria contracts with the Manatee County Sherrif’s Office for law enforcement services. Using data provided by the cities, the report summarizes each city’s revenues, expenditures, outstanding debt and reserve funds.
The report references four government restructuring options:
Leaving the Anna Maria Island governmental structure as is;
Combining the three Island cities into one new city;
Including the three cities as part of unincorporated Manatee County; and
Including the three cities as part of the city of Bradenton.
The analytical report does not include a recommendation of any of the consolidation options, but provides considerations and potential impacts for each consolidation option.
In regard to maintaining the status quo, the report states the duplicated services and the financial impacts created by those duplications would continue and each city’s property tax rates would remain the same. Maintaining the status quo would also avoid the expense, time, effort and disruption of city governance, and Island residents would not have to change their addresses.
Regarding the one city, county and Bradenton consolidation options, the report notes each of those options may produce economies of scale and cost savings but would also result in the elimination of each city’s charter, code ordinances, land development codes and comprehensive plan. Consolidation would also eliminate the current city commissions and advisory boards and require the restructuring of existing municipal contracts.
Robinson and Boyd’s letter notes that Manatee County government and the school district have also been encouraged to become more efficient and lower their taxes and millage rates.
“We know that cutting taxes and finding efficiencies is challenging, but we believe it is possible to accomplish this with hard work and now with this OPPAGA study as a roadmap,” the letter says.
“As we head into the 2025 Legislative Session, we would like to hear from you prior to Feb. 13 on ways you all believe services can be streamlined and better coordinated,” the letter concludes.
Mayors respond
In her Jan. 9 email to The Sun, Mayor Titsworth wrote, “I appreciate the time and effort that the team put into this study. I also look forward to working with the Island mayors, the new county board members and our state leaders in identifying efficiencies to decrease taxes for our citizens. I am pleased that the threats of consolidation and or elimination of our cities has passed and I appreciate the respect our Legislature has for home rule.”
During the Jan. 10 city commission meeting, Mayor Short read aloud some key points contained in Robinson and Boyd’s letter.
“I have reviewed the report,” he said. “I don’t necessarily agree with some of the data that’s in there, but it’s there. I need to digest this some more. I’d like the commission to do the same.”
Short said the report contains some inaccuracies, including some inaccurate financial figures, and he intends to issue a formal response to the report.
Commission Chair Charlie Salem thanked Short, city staff and former mayor Dan Murphy for ensuring the OPPAGA team received the data and information they requested. He also credited the citizens who sent emails and letters of opposition to the state legislators opposing consolidation and reinforcing the importance for the Island cities to maintain their home rule rights.
In conclusion, Short said, “This was an Island-wide effort. This wasn’t just us. It was all three cities, as well as support from others off-Island. I take comfort in this letter, but I’m not 100% convinced that it’s completely done.”
When contacted on Jan. 10, Mayor Chappie said he was glad the state legislators shared the report with the Island mayors, which is not a legal requirement.
Chappie also questions some of the figures and facts stated in the study, but he feels the study reinforces the unique characteristics of the three Island cites and the need to maintain local governance.
Chappie feels the three cities can use the OPPAGA report to help address Boyd and Robinson’s ongoing cost-cutting and tax reduction concerns.
“This is going to be a tool to help us look at ourselves as a community and how we can better our community,” he said.
CORTEZ – Multiple fire crews quickly knocked down an early morning fire on Dec. 29 at a boat repair business at 4412 123rd St. W., preventing damage to adjacent homes. The fire, however, destroyed a Cortez workshop on the property owned by Matthew Minnis and Jenny Krohn.
The two have been living in an RV in their driveway following flooding and damage from Hurricanes Helene and Milton to their home next to the workshop.
Krohn set up a GoFundMe page, “Rebuild our home and businesses in historic Cortez Village,” and wrote that they had been trying to get their home and businesses back to livable and workable conditions when the fire broke out in the workshop.
“Helene and Milton flooded our home and both businesses with 4 feet of water. We were able to get our businesses back to being somewhat workable, but the house requires more work,” she wrote. “This morning, a fire erupted on the boat repair side and destroyed the building as well as the contents.”
She stated their insurance company canceled their homeowners insurance two years ago due to the location and they’ve been unable to acquire insurance, adding, “FEMA has been of no help.”
“We are asking for donations to help demo the building and rebuild the shop, and replace the thousands of dollars of tools,” she wrote. “We still have the house to re-sheetrock and replace the electrical. We were trying to rebuild after the hurricanes on our own, but this fire is just too much.”
According to West Manatee Fire Rescue incident reports, multiple units responded to the fire call and found a fully involved open warehouse-type building used for boat maintenance and repairs.
The owner was trying to pull equipment and trailers away from the fire. All of the contents inside the building were on fire, including a pick-up truck that began leaking gasoline. Some of the fire crews focused on protecting adjacent residences.
HOLMES BEACH – On New Year’s Eve, BlueWave Restorations co-owner Jason Edwards, 51, was fatally electrocuted in Anna Maria while assisting a friend.
After Edward’s passing, the Holmes Beach-based company formed in early September issued a press release that says, “On New Year’s Eve, Jason tragically passed away at a private residence on Los Cedros Drive in Anna Maria while helping a friend connect electric to an RV. It was ruled an accidental incident and that Jason died instantly.”
The press release notes the property owner where the accident occurred was a former BlueWave Restorations client but was no longer an active company job site.
“Jason had connected his friend with the property owner as a personal favor – a testament to his selfless and giving nature,” the press release says.
“Jason Edwards was more than a leader at BlueWave Restorations; he was the heart of the company. Known for his joyful spirit, unwavering kindness and ability to lift everyone around him, Jason embodied the company’s commitment to serving the community with compassion and care. Jason’s light touched not only his co-workers and clients but also the broader Anna Maria Island community,” the press release says.
In the press release, BlueWave Restorations co-owner Pete Dospel said, “We are heartbroken by the loss of Jason. He wasn’t just my business partner; he had become one of my closest friends. Jason’s dedication to his work, his community and the people in his life was unmatched. His generosity, integrity and infectious positivity will be deeply missed but never forgotten.”
In the press release, Edwards’ longtime colleague and friend, Gabe Lugo, said “Jason wasn’t just my coworker; he was my brother. He had this incredible way of making everyone feel valued and seen. Whether it was a tough day at work or a personal struggle, Jason was always there with a smile, a kind word, and a helping hand. His absence leaves a hole that can never be filled, but his memory will live on in the way he touched our lives.’”
The press released noted BlueWave Restorations suspended its operations for the remainder of the week and any impacted clients would be contacted this week regarding their ongoing projects.
The press release says Edwards “built a life defined by generosity, warmth and service to others” and “Jason’s legacy will live on through the company’s dedication to the values he so deeply embodied – kindness, generosity and excellence.”
MEMORIAL SERVICE
According to the press release, Edwards was born in Newport News, Va. on Feb. 20, 1973. He moved to Winter Springs as a young child, attended Oviedo High School, in the greater Orlando area, moved to Bradenton with his family in 1991.
According to the updated press release, Edwards is survived by his mother, Diane Edwards, his father, David Edwards, his brothers Aaron and Andrew Edwards, his sister Megan Edwards, his nieces Alexis, Freya and Audrianna and his nephews Tyler, Andrew Marley and Braelyn.
Edwards’ funeral services will be held Saturday, Jan. 11, from 2-4 p.m., at Roland Toale and Sons Funeral Home at Manasota Memorial Park. The Funeral home is located at 1212 53rd Ave E. in Bradenton.
Jason’s mom, Diane, organized the “Honoring Jason Edwards: Memorial Fund” GoFundMe fundraising page that contains the following message: “On behalf of the entire Edwards family, it is with a heavy heart that I share the untimely death of my son, Jason Edwards. Jason was an avid animal lover, collector of crystals and rocks, enjoyed restoring and repurposing furniture and gadgets, grilling in the yard, playing rock-n-roll, especially Stevie Nicks, and never left without giving his famous ‘tootles’ goodbye. He was a beloved son, brother, uncle, great-uncle, nephew and cousin. He loved hanging at the beach, always lending a helping hand to friends and family, near and far, and never asked for anything in return. The funds we collect will go towards his memorial service and any other related expenses.”
COMMUNITY MOURNS
News of Edwards’ passing spread quickly on Facebook and many who knew him expressed their condolences and their sense of grief and loss.
Eva Medcroft handles marketing and publicity for BlueWave Restorations and she wrote, “I and everyone here at BlueWave (and probably just about everyone you ever met) will miss you deeply. You were such a kind and gentle soul that lifted the spirits of everyone around you. I feel blessed to have known you.”
Nancy Ileana Granados wrote, “Friend, you served your purpose on earth to your very last breath. You were an Angel walking among us. You helped and blessed many. Your beautiful soul and bright light will definitely be missed. Rest in peace.”
Lora Donley wrote, “The world lost a good one on the last night of ‘24. May we all realize how quickly life can change and adjust our ‘25 priorities.”
Nick Sciortino wrote, “One of the best guys around. A loss that has been felt by many people. He would do anything for anyone without asking for anything in return. Such a tragic loss for his family and friends.”
Doug Goerlitz wrote, “As his clients, we warmed up to him at our first meeting and it only grew from there as we started working together. Such a heartbreaking loss. RIP Jason.”
Jason’s brother, Aaron Edwards, wrote, “Thank you for the kind words about my brother. He was definitely one of a kind and will be truly missed by everyone.”
BRADENTON – A 66-year-old Bradenton resident had his leg amputated on Nov. 11 after coming in contact with flesh-eating bacteria (vibrio vulnificus) at a time when confirmed vibrio vulnificus cases are on the rise statewide.
The man came in contact with the flesh-eating bacteria while wading and fishing in Sarasota Bay, near the IMG Academy Golf Club along El Conquistador Parkway in Bradenton.
According to a family member, the longtime Bradenton resident went fishing in Sarasota Bay on Nov. 3 and his shoe or boot rubbed his skin on the back of his leg raw, creating an open wound near his Achilles tendon. The man fished in that location again on Nov. 5.
On Nov. 9, he began experiencing uncontrollable diarrhea, vomiting, severe leg pain and skin discoloration between his ankle and his knee. After being hospitalized, his leg was amputated on Nov. 11. As of Friday, Nov. 15, he was recovering but he remained unconscious and faces a long recovery process, the family member said.
CASES INCREASE
According to the Florida Department of Health (FDOH) website that is updated every Friday, vibrio vulnificus is a naturally occurring bacteria found in warm, brackish saltwater. The flesh-eating bacteria enters the body through the direct ingestion of contaminated water or through open wounds, cuts or scrapes.
Confirmed cases of vibrio vulnificus increased after Hurricane Helene passed through Florida in late September.
According to the FDOH website, “In 2024, Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Lee, Pasco, Pinellas and Sarasota Counties experienced unusual increase due to the impacts of Hurricane Helene. In 2022, Collier and Lee Counties experienced unusual increase due to the impacts of Hurricane Ian.”
According to FDOH, 81 cases of vibrio vulnificus have been confirmed in Florida so far in 2024, with 16 reported deaths. In 2023, 46 cases were confirmed statewide, with 11 deaths.
In 2022, there were 74 confirmed cases and 17 deaths.
There’s been one confirmed case of vibrio vulnificus in Manatee County in 2024 and two in Sarasota County, with no vibrio-related deaths in either county. In 2023, there was one confirmed and fatal case in Manatee County and six cases and two fatalities in Sarasota County. This year, Pinellas County leads Florida with 15 confirmed cases and three deaths.
FDOH INSIGHTS
On Friday, FDOH Communications Director Jae Williams provided some additional insights and information about the flesh-eating bacteria.
Williams said the increase in confirmed 2024 cases and deaths is specifically correlated to Hurricane Helene. He noted there was also a spike in reported cases in 2022 after Hurricane Ian.
“Hurricanes bring a ripe environment for vibrio. They bring storm surge and rain and then we have that brackish water that vibrio needs. Hurricanes bring a lot of contamination and it’s not just debris and household materials. We have sewage lines ruptured and garbage cans spilling over. There’s a lot of opportunity for this standing water to become contaminated. When the storm surge recedes and the rain goes away, you still have standing water baking in the Florida sun for several days. That’s where vibrio’s able to develop. Vibrio is not necessarily in floodwater, but it’ sin contaminated water. Regardless of the contamination source, it’s warm, shallow, brackish, stagnant water. That’s where you’re going to find it. You’re not going to find it in the middle of the Gulf ,the middle of Lake Okeechobee or in the middle of a moving river,” Williams said.
“With hurricanes, not only is the environment more conducive to vibrio, but people often find themselves needing to wade through standing floodwater. There are many reasons to stay out of floodwater… but the scariest would be vibrio,” Williams said.
Regarding the Bradenton man, Williams said, “If he was fishing in the (first) week of November, that would not be attributed to either of the hurricanes. Unfortunately, this is just one of those regular cases we see throughout the year.”
Williams said Florida averages about 35 confirmed vibrio vulnificus cases and 10-12 deaths per year. FDOH doesn’t test Florida waters for vibrio vulnificus or issue vibrio vulnificus advisories when a confirmed case is reported because the harmful but short-lived bacteria usually washes away or dissipates before the area can be tested.
“There’s no way for us to go back and find it,” Williams said, noting that each confirmed case is reported to the health department. “Vibrio vulnificus is a reportable disease in Florida. If a health care facility diagnoses someone with vibrio vulnificus, that facility is required by law to report that to the Department of Health.
“It’s rare, but it’s scary and its serious. It’s unfortunate that this man’s leg was amputated, but he’s very lucky they got it before he died,” Williams said. “If you wade in standing water and develop severe flu-like symptoms, get medical attention immediately.”
Williams was asked if vibrio presents a risk to dogs and other animals.
“Certainly,” he replied. “If they ingest it or have open wounds, they are at risk the same way a human would be. Pets shouldn’t be in shallow, standing water either.”
MANATEE COUNTY – The Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (BACVB) is engaged in post-hurricane marketing to help bring tourists back to Anna Maria Island.
BACVB Executive Director Elliott Falcione discussed the tourism bureau’s crisis management plan and post-hurricane marketing efforts during the Nov. 14 Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC) meeting.
Falcione said every tourism bureau should have crisis management plans for hurricanes and other extreme weather events, red tide, oil spills and more.
After hurricanes Helene and Milton, the tourism bureau worked side by side with the Manatee County Public Information Outreach office that conveys the county’s hurricane-related information and actions to the local and regional media.
Shown here at the recent Lynyrd Skynyrd concert, Elliott Falcione leads the county’s tourism marketing efforts. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“What we’re doing is monitoring what they’re telling the community and then we’re taking that message, sometimes tweaking it, to talk to our target market,” Falcione said.
“Let’s be careful with the types of adjectives we use locally that could confuse or potentially embellish our target market. We always want to be 100% honest, consistent, but one word that was used by an official related to tourism – they used the word ‘clobbered.’ ‘We were clobbered on the west coast of Florida.’ The optics of that is ‘leveled.’ Those are adjectives that are going to cost more (tourist tax) money to correct,” Falcione said.
Regarding the bureau’s post-hurricane actions, Falcione said they quickly assessed the damage, talked to industry members, talked to city officials on Anna Maria Island and responded directly to emails from disgruntled tourists who were not getting refunds or credits for their canceled vacation accommodations. He said the bureau sent goodie bags that included beach towels and Tervis tumblers to some of those disgruntled tourists, which he hoped would produce some positive social media feedback.
Falcione said the bureau doesn’t tell people how to run their businesses, but they did relay those cancellation refund and credit concerns to some of the Island’s vacation rental management companies.
Falcione said the county contracts public relation firms that monitor the local, national and international media coverage of news items that could impact the county’s tourism marketing efforts.
“CNN and the Weather Channel really did a poor job of the messaging, the embellishment. You have journalists that find the destructive area as the backdrop. And then it’s out there, so then we have to go and correct that messaging,” Falcione said.
Falcione said the annual TDC budget always includes $1 million for emergency marketing and $500,000 is being used “to attack our primary and secondary markets, radio influencers.”
Those efforts included bringing radio journalist Larry Richert from KDKA Radio in Pittsburgh down to do a live broadcast from the Bradenton Beach Pier on Nov. 15.
“If he’s saying the beaches are beautiful, Anna Maria Island is open for vacationers, they’re going to believe him,” Falcione said.
“We are seeing curb appeal get better every day, every week. We’re now correcting the mis-messaging. We’re cross-checking that with social media. We’re cross-checking that with our website. Every day a business reopens, it’s shown on a map. Now we are, through digital advertising, blitzing our secondary markets and we’re partnering with Visit Sarasota on our primary markets through digital advertising; and probably in about three weeks to a month, we’re partnering with Visit Florida on a dollar-for-dollar co-op to overlay all of our target markets,” Falcione said.
ADDITIONAL BUSINESS
The TDC members supported Falcione’s request to recommend county commission approval to temporarily provide the city of Bradenton Beach with $375,000 in tourist tax revenues to repair the unrepaired portion of the hurricane-damaged floating dock next to the Bradenton Beach Pier. When FEMA reimburses the city, the city will return that $375,000 to the county.
Having lost his county commission primary race, County Commissioner Ray Turner will vacate his role as TDC chair, with a new chair to be appointed by the county commission. Palmetto Mayor Shirley Groover Bryant and vacation rental industry representative Ed Chiles are also vacating their council seats and their replacements will soon be appointed.
The council approved Falcioe’s request to recommend county commission approval of a $100,000 expenditure to serve as seed money for the Realize Bradenton’s new Bradenton Art and Music Festival (BAM) that will replace the annual blues festival that has been moved to Lakewood Ranch. The BAM festival will take place along the Bradenton Riverwalk on Saturday, April 5.
The council supported Falcione’s recommendation to seek county commission approval of a $50,000 expenditure to support a Multi-Cultural Festival to take place at LECOM Park in Bradenton in July.
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – At a time when some Anna Maria Island property owners are trying to save their hurricane-damaged homes, developer Shawn Kaleta is seeking investors to help him redevelop Anna Maria Island with a focus on luxury accommodations.
On Nov. 8, The Sun obtained a copy of a prospectus-like document containing the title: “Anna Maria Island Development Fund.” The seven-page PDF document that references Kaleta and his business endeavors includes the following quote: “Our vision is to revitalize and elevate Anna Maria Island, enhancing its appeal as a premier luxury destination. Similar Destinations: Naples, Florida.”
The document also states, “Outdated homes have been impacted in the storms, leaving room for only new, safer luxury construction.”
AMI Development Fund
The second page of the AMI Development Fund document bears the title “Developer Shawn Kaleta and Team” and states: “Leading the Island Development Fund is Shawn Kaleta, a seasoned 20+ year Anna Maria Island real estate developer who owns over 1 Billion in real estate assets and is Anna Maria’s largest real estate holder. Over the past 20 years, Shawn has owned, developed and constructed over 1000 homes on the island and has played an integral role in building Anna Maria into the luxury vacation destination it is today. On top of his personal holdings and developments, Shawn and his companies own and operate many businesses on Anna Maria including 3 property management companies, 3 hotels, 2 restaurants, a real estate brokerage, and a marina as well as many other businesses in Key West, Siesta Key, Lido Key and Casey Key.
“Due to Shawn’s insatiable appetite for the continued improvement and growth of Anna Maria Island, property values will continue to rise as they have under his influence for the past 20 years while he continues to transform the island into one of the top vacation destinations in the country.”
The third page, titled Market Outlook and Future Vision, states in part: “Growth of Real Estate Prices on Anna Maria: The vast improvement of housing quality on the island will lead real estate values to appreciate rapidly. Projected FED (federal) interest rate reductions will see an increase in property values of real estate at a 15-20% rate. Vacation Rental market provides high rental rates for end users to capitalize on.”
Page 4, titled “Investment Details,” notes that the goal is to raise $50 million in the next 3 to 3.5 years, with 10% of the funding to come from the general partner (Kaleta) and 90% to come from the limited partner investors with a 50-50 general partner/limited partner profit split. Apparently, in exchange for his 10% investment, Kaleta would receive 50% of the profits and the other investors would share the remaining 50% of the profits.
Page 4 contains the following bullet points:
“Investment and returns to be distributed upon sale of each home;
Each home treated as its own individual deal;
Sale of home for investment and leisure purposes;
Investments will be redistributed at a first in first out basis;
No management fee.”
Page 4 also states: “18-22% expected yearly IRR” regarding the internal rate of return on the investment.
Targets
Page 5 contains a cash flow analysis for two residential properties located on Anna Maria Island.
The cashflow analysis of the first property is for an “Inland Lot – New Build” at 110 Ninth St. N. As of Nov. 4, the 110 9th St LLC was registered as a Florida Limited Liability Company with the Florida Division of Corporations. The LLC lists attorney Louis Najmy as its registered agent and Kaleta as its manager.
This home at 110 Ninth St. N. in Bradenton Beach suffered hurricane damage. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
According to the Manatee County Property Appraiser’s Office, the only property with that address on Anna Maria Island is located in Bradenton Beach, not Anna Maria, as the prospectus claims. The FEMA market value of that home was $787,128 as of Jan. 1. The owner is listed as the Constance C. Novak Trust.
FEMA market value is the improvement value (the structure or structures on the property) plus 15%, according to Bradenton Beach Building Inspector Darin Cushing.
The cost analysis lists a $900,000 land purchase price, an additional $10,000 in closing costs and $910,000 as the capital required. Regarding the construction costs, the cashflow analysis lists $50,000 for design and permitting, $1.325 million for hard costs and $325,000 for soft costs, totaling $1.7 million on construction costs.
The cashflow analysis includes an additional $170,000 in construction loan interest expenses, bringing the total estimated construction cost to $2.78 million, with an estimated sale value of $4.5 million. The cashflow analysis does not provide any additional details on the design and permitting costs or the hard costs and soft costs.
The home at 709 Fern St. in Anna Maria sold for $855,000. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
The cashflow analysis for the second property is for an “Inland Lot – Renovation” at 709 Fern St., Anna Maria. As of Nov. 4, the 709 Fern LLC was registered with the Florida Division of Corporations. The LLC lists Najmy as its registered agent and Kaleta as its manager.
According to the Manatee County Property Appraiser’s office, that property contains a ground-level, single-story residential structure with a FEMA market value of $626,678 as of Jan. 1. The owner is listed as the Karen E. Sparks Declaration of Trust.
The cost analysis lists an $800,000 land purchase price, with an additional $10,000 in closing costs totaling $810,000 for the capital required. According to the Stellar MLS listing, the home and property at 709 Fern St. sold on Nov. 8 for $855,000, which is $55,000 more than the purchase price listed on AMI Development Trust document.
The MLS listing includes this note: “Storm damaged selling as is. Options available: remove structure and build new on a beautiful island location or maybe restore this charming beach cottage to its original state adding flood proofing technology.”
The cashflow analysis for the 709 Fern St. property lists $5,000 for design and permitting, $50,000 for hard costs and $95,000 for soft costs, totaling $150,000 for projected construction costs. The analysis lists $960,000 as the total project cost, with an estimated sale value of $1.5 million.
For the 110 Ninth St. property, the “Investor IRR Analysis” lists no anticipated capital return in year one and a $1.202 million capital return in year two. Regarding the 709 Fern St. property, the Investor IRR Analysis lists a $729,000 investment and a $961,500 capital return in year one.
The final page of the seven-page document is a “build gallery” that contains six renderings of interior views and patio and pool views of a non-specified property or properties.
On Friday afternoon, The Sun reached out to Kaleta and Najmy seeking seeking comment on the Anna Maria Island Development Fund. No response was given.
Asset amendments
The AMI Development Fund document states that Kaleta owns three property management companies and a real estate brokerage.
According to the Florida Division of Corporations, the Prime Vacations LLC created for that property management company in 2021 still listed Kaleta as its LLCs authorized person and Najmy as its registered agent as of April 25.
On Oct. 30, an amendment to the articles of organization for the Prime Vacations LLC was filed and now lists the Plantation, Florida-based CT Corporation System as LLC’s current registered agent and the New York City/Park Avenue-based GSP Prime Buyer LLC as the LLC’s manager. Kaleta’s managerial status with Prime Vacations LLC is now listed as “removed.”
On April 25, the AMI Locals LLC associated with the AMI Locals real estate company listed Kaleta as its manager and Najmy as its registered agent. On Oct. 30, those articles of organization were amended in a similar manner which now lists CT Corporation System as the LLCs current registered agent and GSP Prime Buyer LLC as the LLC’s manager, with Kaleta’s managerial status “removed.”
It is not known what, if any, ownership share Kaleta still has in AMI Locals and Prime Vacations.
MANATEE COUNTY – The Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Office is taking steps to minimize the impacts back-to-back hurricanes have on the general election that concludes Nov. 5, with vote-by-mail ballots already being cast and in-person early voting beginning Monday.
On Friday, the elections office issued a press release on behalf of acting Supervisor of Elections James Satcher.
“Despite these challenging times, we know that Manatee County is a resilient community. Our priority is to make sure you can exercise your right to vote in this important upcoming election,” Satcher said in the press release.
“For those committed to voting in person, we encourage you to take advantage of our eight early voting locations that were not impacted and remain the same. You can find these locations at www.VoteManatee.gov. Early voting begins on Monday, Oct. 21, and runs through Saturday, Nov. 2, from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.,” the press release says.
The press release notes five polling locations were directly impacted by the hurricanes and the following changes have been made for in-person voting on Nov. 5.
Precinct 301 voters in Anna Maria and Precinct 305 voters in Holmes Beach will vote at the Island Branch Library in Holmes Beach, 5701 Marina Dr.
Precinct 307 voters in Bradenton Beach will now vote in Longboat Key at the Longboat Island Chapel, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive.
Precinct 409 voters in Bradenton will vote at the State College of Florida in Bradenton, 5840 26th St. W.
Precinct 421 voters in Bradenton will now vote at the Trailer Estates Recreation Hall in Bradenton, 6814 Canada Blvd.
Voters can visit the supervisor of elections website to verify their polling location.
Oct. 24 is the final day to request a mail ballot to be mailed to you and Nov. 5 is the final day to request a mail ballot for in-person pickup at the elections office, 600 301 Blvd. W. in Bradenton. If picking up a mail ballot in person, the elections office asks that you call in your ballot request ahead of time, if possible, at 941-741-3823, to expedite the process.
Gov. Ron DeSantis announced his election-related executive order during a press conference held in Anna Maria in front of the Hurricane Helene-damaged Rod & Reel Pier. – Joe Hendricks | SunWhen the governor appeared in Anna Maria after Hurricane Helene, the hurricane-damaged Rod & Reel Pier remained partially intact. It was later destroyed by Hurricane Milton. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
An executive order issued by Gov. Ron DeSantis on Oct. 3 allows vote-by-mail ballots to be mailed to an address that is different than the address currently on file with the elections office. These types of vote-by-mail address changes can be done by e-mail or phone. In addition to maintaining a vote-by-mail request on file, you must provide your driver’s license number or social security number to verify the identity of the voter making the address change.
Completed mail ballots can also be dropped off at any early voting location or at the Supervisor of Elections Office.
Additional information
Regarding voters displaced by the hurricanes and voters unable to receive mail at their residence, the supervisor of elections website says the United States Post Office is delivering vote-by-mail ballots where possible and vote-by-mail ballots that cannot be delivered are being held at the voter’s local post office for pick up. Manatee voters affected in this manner can contact the elections office 941-741-3823 for assistance.
Regarding postage requirements, the elections website says, “The postage required to return a vote-by-mail ballot is $1.01. It is the voter’s responsibility to apply accurate postage on all mail, including vote-by-mail ballots. However, vote-by-mail are coded by USPS as special mail and will be delivered to the elections office without delay, no matter the postage applied.”
On Oct. 16, with supervisor-elect Scott Farrington observing as an audience member, the Manatee County Canvassing Board tested and certified the vote-by-mail and in-person ballot scanners to be used during the election and the new Clear Ballot audit system to be used to conduct a post-election audit of every ballot cast.
Elections office staff helped test the ballot scanners. – Joe Hendricks | SunSupervisor-elect Scott Farrington attended the canvassing board meeting. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
For more election-related information, visit www.VoteManatee.gov , the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Facebook Page, call 941-741-3823 or email info@votemanatee.gov.
CORTEZ – In a display of resilience following recent back-to-back hurricanes, both Cortez fish houses are moving forward with the seasonal stone crab harvest.
Stone crab harvesting season runs from Oct. 15 through May 1.
“One boat went out today,” Karen Bell, owner of A.P. Bell Fish Co., responded by text on Oct. 15 to a question by The Sun about the viability of this year’s season. “There definitely will be a season.”
Stone crabs are harvested for their claws and then returned to the water where the claws will regenerate. The claws are a delicacy in seafood shops and restaurants.
The season will also continue this year at John Banyas’ Cortez Bait and Seafood, Inc., according to Swordfish Grill General Manager Adam Sears.
He responded to The Sun by text, saying, “We have gear in the water.”
According to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) regulations for commercial harvesting of stone crabs: “Traps may be placed in the water and baited 10 days prior to the opening of the stone crab season. Please be aware that once placed, you may not tend to the traps until the start of the season, at which time you may begin harvesting.”
A Manatee County Historical Society plaque in front of Star Fish Company references a long history of determination in Cortez and reads in part: “Records show that by 1897 Cortez was a thriving fishing community with stores, a school and other refinements. The fish houses and other shoreline structures were virtually destroyed by the high waters and winds of the 1921 hurricane, but the determined residents rebuilt.”
In order to allow residents time to recover and rebuild from the two recent hurricanes, the 12th annual Cortez Stone Crab & Music Festival was canceled this year.
“We look forward to bringing back the festival better and stronger next year,” according to organizers.
CORTEZ – A distribution center of donated food and supplies has been set up in Cortez in front of the Star Fish Co.
According to Star Fish employees Dana and Nicole, supplies will continue to be distributed at least until Friday, and possibly longer. The two women helped distribute supplies to community members on Oct. 15.
For the time being, hours are noon to 4 p.m. at the supply distribution point.
“We’ve had people from all over bringing food and all kinds of supplies,” Dana said. “People have really come together to help.”
Beginning on Wednesday, Oct. 15, another distribution center will be set up at the Sunny Shores Clubhouse for Cortez residents.
“We will have supplies, snacks, water, etc.,” according to a What’s Happening Cortez Facebook post by Betsy Halliwell Plante. “We will open on Wednesday, Oct. 16 and daily hours will be from 11:30-2 only. Lunch will be provided from 11:30-1.”
Donations of cases of water and Gatorade are needed at both distribution points.
BRADENTON – Stewart Elementary School, 7905 15th Ave. N.W., has opened its doors to Anna Maria Elementary (AME) students temporarily beginning on Monday, Sept. 30.
In a Saturday afternoon email to Stewart parents, Principal Joe Hougland wrote: “First, I hope you and your families are safe and any damage to your homes is minimal. The same can’t be said for our friends on Anna Maria Island,” the email stated.
Hougland said the Manatee County School District is aware of the serious challenges Anna Maria Elementary faces following the devastating impacts of Hurricane Helene.
“Due to the conditions on the Island and at the school, they will not be able to have classes on the AME campus until the situation on the Island substantially improves,” he wrote.
He noted the importance of getting children back to school. With that in mind, he has been working on a plan with the school district and AME Principal Dr. Katie Fradley for Stewart to host students and staff from AME until they can resume classes on the Island.
“We have room to accommodate them, and we have come up with a plan to keep all students learning and create minimal disruption to the daily school schedule,” Hougland wrote. Starting Monday, Sept. 30th, AME students and staff will relocate to Stewart Elementary temporarily.”
Stewart students and teachers will share existing classrooms with AME students and teachers in a team teaching model to continue education for both schools.
“We have been working with the school district and the AME team on details to make this temporary educational model work,” he wrote.
At morning drop-off and dismissal, the Anna Maria Elementary parents will use the South Catalina neighborhood loop for their students. Stewart families will use the regular car rider line on 15th Ave N.W. Stewart Elementary parents are asked to not use the South Catalina neighborhood entrance in order to keep school arrivals separate.
AME students will begin their dismissal early to lessen the impact on the Stewart car line. Families arriving by golf cart or low-speed vehicles are asked to exercise additional caution due to the increased congestion in the area. Parents and guardians also are not able to attend breakfast or lunch with their students while Stewart and AME are temporarily combined due to lack of space.
“We appreciate your patience and support as we welcome the AME family to our amazing campus,” Hougland stated in the email. “Please do what you can to make them feel welcome and help, if necessary.”
BRADENTON BEACH – In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, the recovery and restoration efforts on Anna Maria Island have begun.
On Friday, return access to the Island was limited to first responders and recovery personnel.
Saturday morning, the Holmes Beach Police Department shared the following return-related information: “The chief and mayor have met and the mayor has asked to let residents and business owners to be allowed to enter the city to start their cleanup efforts. Starting at 10 a.m., property owners and business owners of Holmes Beach and the city of Anna Maria will be allowed to come onto the Island to assess their damages. You must have a reentry tag. There is still no power or water and the roads still have standing water and debris. Drive slowly and safely.
“You can only access the Island by Manatee Avenue. The roads in Bradenton Beach are still impassable. There will be barricades at the city line of Holmes Beach/Bradenton Beach so no one can enter Bradenton Beach through Holmes Beach. Once you enter Holmes Beach, you will be handed a flyer with instructions on where to place your trash and debris,” the statement says.
When contacted by phone at 10:00 Saturday morning, Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer said he and Mayor Judy Titsworth were at the entrance to the city handing out information sheets to returning motorists.
By noon, there was a 90-minute wait along Manatee Avenue to enter Holmes Beach.
Access to Bradenton Beach via the Cortez Bridge and the Longboat Pass Bridge remains restricted to essential personnel only. Some residents and business owners managed to access the Island by boat before the bridge access restrictions were partially lifted.
Access to the Cortez Bridge remains restricted until further notice.
As of Saturday morning, there was no water and electricity service on the Island and cell service remained hit-and-miss. The loss of water service was a decision made by Manatee County officials to protect the county’s water and sewage system prior to the storm surge inundating the Island. Hurricane Helene inflicted the loss of electricity and cell service. The water damage to homes, businesses, automobiles and personal belongings is expected to be immense, painful and, in some cases, life-altering.
Bradenton Beach
Friday morning Bradenton Beach Police Chief John Cosby allowed The Sun to take a self-guided tour of the damage sustained within walking distance of the Cortez Bridge. Due to the bridge access restrictions, The Sun could not get to Holmes Beach or Anna Maria.
Police Chief and Public Works Director John Cosby leads Bradenton Beach’s recovery efforts. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Cosby also serves as the city’s emergency operations manager and public works director. At 8 a.m., he stood at the sand-covered intersection of Cortez Road and Gulf Drive with limited cell phone service trying to communicate with city, county and state personnel as the locally unprecedented damage assessment, recovery and restoration efforts ensued.
“Gulf Drive is under about three feet of sand for the entire length of the city,” he said. “The road underneath the sand has buckled so there are areas where there is no road. We also have sinkholes. The dunes and the beach are gone. We have structural damage to properties, houses that shifted on their foundations, and a lot of flooding. The pier is fine. There’s a boat stuck under the floating dock and finger docks are messed up.”
A cabin cruiser became wedged under the floating dock next to the Bradenton Beach Pier.
Cosby’s not aware of any hurricane-related fatalities or serious injuries.
As the morning unfolded, heavy equipment operators and other recovery personnel began arriving, staging and taking action at the west end of the Cortez Bridge. At 10:30 a.m., the operator of a front-end loader began digging down into the Gulf Drive/Cortez Road intersection to determine how much sand sat atop Gulf Drive.
A front-loader was used to gauge the depth of the sand atop Gulf Drive.
When contacted by phone later in the day, Cosby noted the entire stretch of Gulf Drive in Bradenton Beach is a state road (SR 789) and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has to clear the sand and construct a temporary road before motorists are allowed to return. Cosby stressed the need for residents and business owners to remain patient, as difficult as that is.
“No one is getting out here. The people that are here didn’t evacuate,” he said. “I’ve got about 60 pieces of FDOT equipment moving sand off Gulf Drive. I cannot have people getting in their way. Somebody is going to get hit. I also have businesses and homes that are not secure. I cannot have people wandering around and pillaging because there are no doors and windows. This is not a sightseeing tour and people need to understand that. DOT told me they would be working all weekend but it could take them at a least a week to get all this sand out of here and then they have to lay down a temporary road. Then I’ve got to get my contractor in here to get all the sand off our roads. Nobody’s driving around this city until we have the sand off every road.”
This home along Gulf Drive North sustained damage. – Joe Hendricks – SunHurricane Helene damaged this ground-level home on Gulf Drive North
South of the Cortez Bridge the damage is visible in all directions, with the structures along Gulf Drive appearing to be the hardest hit. Two old ground-level homes and a small two-story duplex near the Gulf Drive/Cortez Road intersection are badly damaged.
The garage at another nearby ground-level home collapsed and the metal roof sits atop a pile of rubble next to the house that’s still standing. A displaced storage shed sat on the sand-covered road near the BeachHouse restaurant.
The garage toppled but the house withstood the storm.A storage shed and patio chairs wound up on Gulf Drive.
The Anna Maria Island Moose Lodge sustained major damage including missing waterfront windows and interior furnishings left in haphazard piles by the incoming and outgoing floodwaters and the sand intrusion.
The AMI Moose Lodge lost several gulf-front windows.Water and sand intrusion damaged the Moose lodge.
The front doors at Oma’s Pizza are open and askew with the glass missing. The restaurant’s side door is gone and uprooted furniture is piled up inside.
The hurricane forced open the front doors at Oma’s Pizza.The hurricane made a mess of Oma’s Pizza.
Similar damage occurred at Wilder’s Pizza, the Island Scoops ice cream shop and the One Stop Shell Shop along the 100 block of Gulf Drive North.
Wilder’s Pizza suffered significant water intrusion.Equipment was strewn about inside Island ScoopsThe One Stop Shell Shop’s exterior was compromised.
Sand was piled up against the front doors of city hall with possible water damage inside. A city-owned work truck sat in a water-filled hole in front of the public works building as Building Official Darin Cushing walked the area conducting door-to-door assessments of the structural damage visible from outside.
A city work truck wound up in a water-filled hole.
Church Avenue was partially flooded with sand piled above the water in some areas. The mobile homes in the Pines Trailer Park appeared to be mostly undamaged on the outside, but the water damage inside is expected to be significant. Pines resident Joe Klingler stayed during the storm and watched the floodwaters inside his mobile home and along Bridge Street rise to approximately four feet.
The Bradenton Beach Pier was littered with toppled benches and debris but appears in good condition. A cabin cruiser that broke free during the hurricane lodged under the floating dock and most of the finger docks are sitting at angles, rather than 90 degrees, to the floating dock they’re connected to.
The finger docks sustained storm damage.
Aside from the unknown flood damage inside, the bars, restaurants and retail shops along Bridge Street appear to be structurally intact; and only one of the city’s recently-planted coconut palm trees toppled over.
A recently-planted coconut palm tree fell during the storm.
North of Gulf Drive, a gulf-front window at the Wicked Cantina is smashed, the interior contents are jostled about and the elevated outdoor deck appears to be at ground level because of all the relocated sand.
The hurricane damaged the Wicked Cantina’s front window.Displaced sand sits as high as the Wicked Cantina’s front dock.This vehicle came to rest atop an air-conditioning unit in the condominium complex next to the Wicked Cantina.
Across the street, the Gulf Drive Café also suffered hurricane damage.
The Gulf-side of the Gulf Drive Café sustained damage.A tiki-table toppled at the Gulf Drive Café.
Anna Maria
When evaluating the city’s recent response to Tropical Storm Debby, Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy said the city would begin utilizing Facebook to provide real-time information before, during and after the next major storm. He made good on that promise.
Friday afternoon, city staff posted the following Facebook message: “The city of Anna Maria has declared a curfew from sunset to sunrise. All people must remain off street during those hours until further notice. The purpose of this action is to prevent looting during the time when there is no electricity and no cellular service.”
The curfew imposed via Murphy’s emergency powers will remain in place until further notice.
Earlier that day, the city posted this message: “At this time, the Island is without power and water. First-in teams are present doing damage and safety assessments. When it is safe to return, reentry tags will be required to gain access.”
When returning to Anna Maria, motorists will encounter a Manatee County Sheriff’s Office checkpoint at the entrance to the city, near CrossPointe Fellowship Church, and be required to present a reentry tag or some other proof of residence or business interest to enter the city. The checkpoint is meant to discourage unwelcome sightseers.
Murphy and his wife, Barb, evacuated their home before the storm but he returned Friday morning to assess the damage and lead the city’s recovery efforts. Speaking by phone Friday afternoon, Murphy said Hurricane Helene produced very little structural damage but significant flood damage. He was told the storm surge was approximately 6 feet high at high tide late Thursday evening and early Friday morning.
“We’ve still got some stuff that’s underwater. The north end, from the Rod & Reel Pier around North Shore is in some serious trouble. I left that area an hour and half ago and I still couldn’t get back in there. It’s not good,” Murphy said.
“Almost every home, except the new and higher ones, likely had some water intrusion,” Murphy said. “The homes along South Bay took on two to three feet of water, some maybe more, from Pine Avenue to Galati’s. Downstairs at my home, my wife’s car went underwater and is destroyed.”
Murphy said the Waterfront and Sandbar restaurants appear to have sustained significant water damage and the privately-owned Rod & Reel Pier is missing some planks.
“I guess we’re in better shape than the other two cities,” Murphy said. “Our roads that run along the Gulf, and even the ones a block from the Gulf, took on a lot of sand but our contractors and staff got the debris and sand pretty much cleaned up,” Murphy said.
Regarding the city’s main business district, Murphy said, “Pine Avenue’s in good shape. We got it cleared early this morning. In our city annex, we had six inches of water but not extensive damage. Most of the businesses, residences and the historical museum on Pine Avenue had water intrusion on the ground floor.”
Murphy said the City Pier weathered the storm but there’s some damage to the pier’s Gulf Island Ferry landing area and there was some water intrusion into the city-owned spaces leased to the City Pier Grill and the Mote Marine Science Education & Outreach Center.
Murphy is not aware of any storm-related injuries or fatalities.
Recovery personnel gathered at the west end of the Cortez Bridge Friday morning
Recovery personnel toured the city assessing the damage.
A large, water-filled hole formed in the middle of Gulf Drive.
The hurricane reshaped the Bradenton Beach shoreline. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
The beach eroded in front of the Gulf Drive Café.
The beach in front of the AMI Moose lodge suffered storm erosion.
Displaced sand covered the Bridge Street/Gulf Drive roundabout.
Bridge Street flooded during the hurricane and water intruded many businesses.
The Gulf Drive Café suffered storm damage.
Many mobile homes in the Pines Trailer Park sustained water damage. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
Church Avenue was still flooded Friday morning.
Sand and water intruded the One Stop Shell Shop. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
The Moose lodge sustained significant damage.
Island Scoops lost some of their front windows.
Hurricane Helene compromised the door and windows at Wilder’s Pizza
Many air conditioners were damaged during the storm.
MANATEE COUNTY – Staff and commissioners at West Manatee Fire Rescue are celebrating 10 lives saved as they presented Phoenix Awards and a Civilian Service Award.
The district bestows Phoenix Awards on staff members who respond to an emergency where the patient is in cardiac arrest and that patient not only has a pulse and is breathing again when transferred to a medical facility but also is able to recover from the incident. Over a one-year period, WMFR staff had 10 of those incidents allowing for the patients to successfully recover and leave the hospital, including one where a private citizen responded before first responders could get to the scene, helping to save one man’s life after a boat fell on him.
The recipients of the Phoenix Awards were firefighter/medic Jerrod Apple with two awards, firefighter/medic John Balzer, firefighter Nathan Bergbom, firefighter William Bowen, firefighter/medic Casey Fischbach, firefighter Matthew French with two awards, firefighter/medic Gabriel Gonzalez with two awards, firefighter Aston Jasinski, firefighter Gavin Johnston, firefighter Sarah Joseph, firefighter/medic Clayton Lease, Capt. James Leigh, firefighter Dane Miller, firefighter/medic David Miller, firefighter Zackary Misiura, firefighter Chris O’Kelley, firefighter Max Pollock, firefighter/medic Aaron Reese, firefighter Tyler Snyder, Lt. Daniel Tackett, firefighter Jeffrey Taylor with two awards, and firefighter/medic William Thomas.
Private citizen Steve Gulash received the district’s Civilian Service Award after jumping into a canal to rescue Ryan Cahill, who was struck by a falling boat when a cable on a boat lift snapped.
The recipient of WMFR’s Civilian Service Award, Steve Gulash, is thanked by Ryan Cahill for saving his life after Cahill was hit by a falling boat. – Kristin Swain | Sun
“The first week in May, I’m standing on a lift around a boat, up in the air, helping my father-in-law get it ready for hurricane season,” Cahill recalled. “We’re up about 8 feet above the water and the cable snapped. A 10,000-pound boat hit me and broke my arm, broke my knee, broke both my shoulder blades, 50 stitches in my head and four vertebrates. This was just four months ago.”
The Kalamazoo, Michigan resident said the Sept. 10 meeting was the first time that he met the man who saved his life after he fell in the water.
Cahill said that the doctors could not believe that he recovered. He said his family was called to come and say their goodbyes but after several days on a ventilator in the intensive care unit, he began to improve and was able to go home and has made a full recovery from his injuries.
“The impact that you made on my family, my kids, everybody that knows me, I’m forever connected with you going forward and so will they be and thank God for that and thank God for you. Thank you,” Cahill said to Gulash, presenting the award to the man who saw him go in the water and reacted quickly enough to save his life. Firefighters said that when they arrived, Gulash was holding Cahill above the water, and it took six people to pull him out of the canal due to the depth of the water to the height of the seawall.
Cahill said his response was a reaction to all his training as a coach and in law enforcement. He said he felt honored to receive the award among firefighters who stepped up every day to help save lives. “You guys are awesome,” he said.
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