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Slim’s Place undefeated in adult soccer action

Slim’s Place undefeated in adult soccer action

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

ANNA MARIA – On the beautiful fall night at The Center, players, friends, family and referees all came together for a night of soccer, grateful to have been spared by Hurricane Ian. Even though the action on the pitch was a bit overshadowed by non-stop conversations of gratefulness on the sidelines and in the stands, the eight adult soccer teams played hard-fought battles.

In the first game last Thursday night, Joey Hutchinson had the hot foot for Slim’s Place. Scoring six of the nine goals in the game for his team, Hutchinson also made an assist in the team’s 9-6 win against Pool America.

Kris Yavalar, for Pool America, lit up the scoreboard scoring the first goal of the game, finishing with four goals and an assist. Yavalar and Hutchinson worked for position on the field throughout the match-up, ending with Hutchinson doubling his scoring record for the season.

At the end of week three, Hutchinson leads the scoring in the league with a total of 12 points and three assists.

Slim’s Place scored three additional goals with a single by Eliza Faillace and two by Eric Pullen. Early in the game, Pullen sailed his strikes over the crossbar. Making the necessary adjustments, Pullen moved into third for scoring. With five goals, Pullen is tied with four other players in the scoring ranks. Amy Ivin, Kevin Roman, Keith Mahoney and Yavalar each closed out the third week of play with five goals.

For Pool America, Gerardo Urbiola Bolano put up two points in the loss. These are the first two points of the season for Bolano.

In the goal, Jack Goodier was credited with two saves in the game. Goodier was relieved by Pool America teammate and captain Chris Klotz, who had an injury in the game. 

Slim’s Place’s P.J. Smargisso made critical saves for his team. Making six stops in the game helped his team to victory.

Ties and close scoring action was the name of the game for the rest of the night. Wash Family Construction tied Servis 1st Bank in game two. The third game of the night ended in a tie between Moss Builders and Sato Real Estate.

Wash Family Construction’s Kevin Roman had a hat trick in the game, while Yuri Pereira made three saves for Servis.

Pereira’s teammates put five goals on the scoreboard with solo goals by Luca Vecchio and Juan Carlo Perez.

Servis 1st Bank’s Ugur “Lucky” Durmaz matched Roman’s hat trick with three goals of his own.

In the keeper position, Mark Long made eight critical saves in the game for Wash Family, keeping them in the game.

Tyler Brewer’s two goals helped to get the Wash Family team to the tie.

Saving 11 shots, Ryan Moss kept the shooting power of Sato Real Estate to six goals. Moss’ team, Moss Builders, made their six shots count, with six points scored in the tie-ending game.

For Moss Builders scoring, Damir Glavan had four goals, with an additional two by Daniel Hampton and Jessica Williams.

Sato Real Estate’s points came at the foot of Danny Anderson with a hat trick and two by Lindsey Styka. Teammate Pedro Gonzalez added a goal in the 6-6 game.

Ending the night, Ross Built Construction matched up against Gulfview Windows & Doors. Gulfview eked out the win with two goals, scored by captain Keith Mahoney and Raul Loera.

In the 2-1 game, Gulfview’s goalie Tuna McCracken supported his team defensively with seven big stops in the game. Steve Oelfke made five critical saves. 

Avoiding the goose egg, off an assist by Raul Castano, Eduardo Schlueter scored Ross Builts’ only goal in the game.

After three games, Slim’s Place is on top with a 3-0-0 record. With more than half the season left to play, can the Slim’s crew stay on top?

Sun Scoreboard

OCT. 4

Youth Soccer

Week 3

U10

LaPensee Plumbing (2-1-0) 2

Solid Rock Construction (0-2-1) 1

 

 

Island Real Estate (3-0-0) 6

Cloud Pest Control (0-3-0) 0

U14

HSH (2-0-1) 4

Progressive Cabinetry (0-2-0) 1

 

 

Mac Parkman (0-0-1) Bye Week

OCT. 6

Youth Soccer

Week 3

U10

Sato Real Estate (1-0-2) 1

AMI Coconuts (1-0-2) 1

Adult Soccer

Week 3

 

Slim’s Place (3-0-0) 9

Pool America (1-2-0) 6

 

 

Wash Family Construction (2-0-1) 5

Servis First Bank (0-2-1) 5

 

 

Sato Real Estate (0-2-1) 6

Moss Builders (1-1-1) 6

 

 

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

Ross Built Construction (1-2-0) 1

New fiscal year off and running at The Center

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Anna Maria Island, Center of Anna Maria Island, Community News.

ANNA MARIA – Anyone who’s been to The Center of Anna Maria Island recently has probably noticed a flurry of construction work.

The nonprofit is in the midst of a number of capital improvements, including having the exterior pressure washed and repainted, replacing the shade sails over the playground, remodeling the foyer, replacing flooring on the first floor and completely remodeling the second-floor bathrooms and showers, just to name a few. Executive Director Chris Culhane said the renovations have been long-planned and are being done in the off-season to lessen the impact on Center members.

The improvements began as summer camps drew to a close and the nonprofit’s new fiscal year began. The new fiscal year started July 1 and financial results from that first month have been released. While the numbers show The Center ending July with -$76,765 in net income after all expenses, it’s not necessarily a negative issue considering that historically, the late summer months are lean months for the nonprofit leading up to high season in the winter and spring with the return of snowbirds and several signature fundraising events.

In July, The Center brought in $105,617 from programs, with $65,696 in direct costs and $62,691 in general, indirect and administrative expenses to create a $22,769 loss from operations. Fundraising brought in $22,855, though coupled with direct costs of $44,385, that cost center ended the month with a $44,300 loss. After $32,465 in capital expenses for the ongoing improvements at The Center, the nonprofit ended with -$76,765 in net income.

To view The Center’s financial statements, visit www.centerami.org.

Castles in the Sand

The Ian effect

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

My friend who lived near me in Cortez calls it the “Cortez Effect.” The legend is that the Native Americans who inhabited the Cortez peninsula put a curse on the storms so they wouldn’t come ashore in their homeland, keeping their burial grounds protected. She and I lived through many storms and almost-storms during the more than 20 years we both lived in Cortez, and we always seemed to dodge the bullet. Well, this time we dodged the biggest bullet of all, and we should all be grateful.

The other question is now that we’re all safe and comfortable, we can start to think about the economic impact of one of the most expensive storms to ever hit Florida. The economists are already addressing this and indicate that Ian will likely negatively affect the economic growth of the country through this year. Typically, when the rebuilding and recovery starts, the economic benefits will be spread out over the next few years. Unfortunately, because of the shortage of construction workers and materials, Florida’s economic comeback could take some time.

The economists’ consensus is that natural disasters have a relatively modest economic impact, especially short term once businesses start to rebuild and reopen. As far as real estate values, Florida’s worst hit regions were also the fastest growing in the state and indeed the country and won’t be permanently damaged. The unemployment rate in both Tampa and Fort Myers were 2.7% in August, lower than the national rate. Both of these regions have seen a rapid influx of new residents during the pandemic. In addition, Florida’s economic growth has outpaced the country’s every quarter since the beginning of 2021.

Long-term Florida residents are used to major storms, and they and the state have prepared for them. In May the state set aside $2 billion to help insurance companies handle claims. That said, you can be sure the fallout for insurance companies will be big. Underfunded companies may go out of business, homeowner’s policies will be dropped, and rates will go up. This is just what we don’t need at a time when attracting new insurance companies to the state has been a challenge. As always, my recommendation is if you have a good homeowner’s policy and you don’t get dropped, live with the possible premium increase and be happy, especially for the next few years.

Finally, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Bureau of Labor Statistics say that the earnings of people affected by hurricanes outpaced other workers who weren’t affected within three years of the storm. As previously stated, this is all because of workers needed to help rebuild and get the economy rolling again.

There will be pain at the beginning a lot of it – just look at those awful pictures from our neighbors not too far south and try and imagine yourself in that situation. Help is needed, mostly donations – especially to the Red Cross – but anything you and your family can do to ease their pain even a little would certainly be appreciated.

I don’t hold a lot of belief in legends, and, as another friend pointed out, maybe the indigenous Native Americans actually studied weather patterns over a period of decades and never really cast spells. But legend or not, we in Cortez and on Anna Maria Island have been extraordinarily lucky, and we shouldn’t forget that eventually, luck runs out. Let’s remember that in 1921 the Cortez fishing village was all but destroyed by a major hurricane.

This is October, the month of Halloween, so let’s hope the Native Americans are still casting their magic spells if indeed that’s the reason. I for one want to believe whatever keeps those storms away, magic spells or the study of weather science. I’ll accept either one as long as it works.

Anna Maria Island dodges Hurricane Ian’s bullets

Anna Maria Island dodges Hurricane Ian’s bullets

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Anna Maria Island, Community News, Featured.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Hurricane Ian inflicted significant damage on some mobile homes in Bradenton Beach, but Anna Maria Island as a whole survived the hurricane without the widespread devastation many feared.

On Monday, Sept. 26, Manatee County ordered a mandatory evacuation of all three Island cities, to be effective the following evening. A drive around the Island just before sundown on Tuesday evening revealed many boarded-up businesses and homes and a mostly deserted and evacuated Island.

Residents, business owners and others were allowed to return to the Island at 10 a.m. on Thursday morning,

Manatee County restored water and sewer service to the Island on Friday morning, but as of late Saturday afternoon, most of the Island remained without electrical power.

In Bradenton Beach, power was restored to the Bridge Street area and the residential area south of Bridge Street on Friday night. The power in those areas went out again Saturday morning and was then restored to some locations.

Bradenton Beach Police Chief John Cosby said the power outage that occurred after the power was initially restored was due to a switching device catching fire and needing to be replaced.

With the power partially restored again, the Drift In bar in Bradenton Beach was the first Bridge Street establishment to reopen late Saturday morning.

“With everything that’s happened in the past few years, including COVID, my team needs to work,” Drift In Manager Doreen Flynn said shortly after the reopening. “I feel sick thinking of all those people who were not as lucky as us.”

As of late Saturday afternoon, several other Bridge Street businesses remained without power or closed for other reasons.

Assistant General Manager Shannon Dunnan said the Bridge Tender Inn & Dockside Bar had power and hoped to reopen early Sunday afternoon.

Island Time General Manager Michael Davis said they did not yet have power as of Saturday afternoon and hoped to have a soft reopening on Monday and be fully reopened on Tuesday.

Bridge Street Bazaar owner Jake Spooner said his business remained closed on Saturday afternoon because there was no power. The Daiquiri Deck also remained closed on Saturday.

Bradenton Beach

On Thursday morning, Bradenton Beach Police Chief John Cosby provided The Sun with a damage assessment.

“We started operations at 3 o’clock this morning and we had the team fully operational by 5 a.m. We did good. The only real damage we had to our city facilities was the police department roof was leaking. The worst damage is in the two trailer parks where some roofs and carports were blown off. We also had some damage to a condo on the 600 block,” Cosby said.

Unlike past storms, none of the live-aboard boats south of the Bridge Street Pier broke free and struck or damaged the pier or floating dock.

“The pier and floating dock did good,” Cosby said. “We’ve got two boats missing, one boat down and one boat – we don’t where it came from – leaning against the bridge. There’s no damage to the bridge and FDOT’s been notified.”

“The cell tower is damaged. It got hit by some flying debris that left some good-sized dents in it. I don’t know if it’s operational or not. Our cell service is terrible right now, so it may have been disrupted,” Cosby said.

Cosby said there was a lot of tree and landscaping debris to clean up, but the main roads had already been cleared by the city’s public works department.

“We had no major power lines down, so that should make it quicker to restore power. Right now, we do not have any power, water or sewer; and we have no idea when those are coming back,” he said Thursday morning.

Cosby noted the county and FPL were dealing with significantly worse damage in eastern Manatee County.

“The east side of the county got destroyed. When the storm went over that way, it was a Cat 2/Cat 3. They were rescuing people off roofs this morning,” he said. “The county’s got a lot to take care of. Hopefully, we can get the utilities up as fast as we can, but I think it’s going to be a while,” he said.

When asked about the city being reopened to those who wished to return, Cosby said, “We’re allowing them to come back. If they want to stay, they can, but there’s no power, no water and no sewer.”

Holmes Beach

When contacted later that morning, Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer said, “We had minimal damage – some trees and limbs. Power’s out. We have no water yet. We have no Spectrum connectivity.”

He also said, “Full access to Holmes Beach through Manatee Avenue was opened at 10 o’clock this morning. Once the Island was deemed an evacuation zone, we limited the number of people that returned to public safety personnel, but we never raise the bridges and we never stop people from leaving the Island.”

Tokajer reflected on what could have been had Hurricane Ian not taken an unexpected turn to the south, including catastrophic damage to the Fort Myers/Sanibel Island area.

“We were truly blessed. The damage and devastation we’re seeing to the south is what we were expecting as a direct hit to our area. It’s truly daunting to see the devastation that happened down there – and to see what a true storm surge looks like in real life, instead of just projections,” he said.

On Friday, traffic coming into Holmes Beach on Manatee Avenue was being detoured south on East Bay Drive because a fallen power pole was leaning on the metal pole that holds the traffic signal.

Anna Maria

When visited in his generator-powered city hall office early that afternoon, Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy said, “We did good. We didn’t take a direct hit. If we had, it would have been devastating for our city. We had a lot of trees down and several wires down, but we have most of that cleared. The city’s without power and water. I have no idea when utilities are being restored. People can come back but it’s not real comfortable without water and power.”

The exterior skin of the Anna Maria cell tower had a large tear in it, but Murphy said he wasn’t aware of any significant structural damage that occurred within the city, other than one home having its front door blown off.

“The only significant problem I see is turned over port-a-potties at construction sites. Several contractors picked theirs up, but one contractor didn’t bother to tie them down or pick them up. That’s a problem and a health hazard, and that’s something we put in our construction checklist,” Murphy said.

In 2017, the damage inflicted by Hurricane Irma led to the City Pier being closed and later replaced. When asked how the new pier fared during its first hurricane, Murphy said, “Our new pier held up fine. There’s no structural damage at all. It was built right. I was concerned – like a father whose daughter goes on her first date.”
Anna Maria residents JoAnn and Anthony Manali chose not to evacuate and rode the storm out at their home and business, Captain Anthony’s Stone Crab Store.
“I was scared and I’ll never do it again. It was worse than I could have ever imagined,” JoAnn Manali said of that experience.

On Friday morning, Murphy was advised that it could take another four or five days to restore power in Anna Maria.

On Saturday, Murphy said the storm debris removal efforts were already underway and storm recovery updates and information were available at the city website.

Hurricane Ian, a day at a time

Hurricane Ian, a day at a time

Written by Sun staff on . Posted in Anna Maria Island, Community News, Featured.

Hurricane Ian caused a burst of activity and emotion on and around Anna Maria Island last week.

On Tuesday, it was projected to make landfall here, but by that afternoon, new projections had it veering slightly south, where it made landfall the next day at Cayo Costa.

Local residents were left feeling both relief and distress over the misfortune of their southwest Florida neighbors, and more than a little apprehension about the next storm.

Here’s what happened while thousands prepared to either face or run from the disaster.

 

Sept. 25 – City leaders in Anna Maria declare a local state of emergency in preparation for Hurricane Ian.

Sept. 26 – City leaders in Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach declare a local state of emergency.

Sept. 26, noon – A mandatory evacuation of zone A, including Anna Maria Island, Cortez and sections of unincorporated Manatee County is issued, effective at 8 a.m. on Sept. 27.

Sept. 26, 2 p.m. – Manatee County schools, libraries and The Center of Anna Maria Island announce closures effective at the end of the day. Trash and yard waste collection cease.

Sept. 26, 5 p.m. – The latest Hurricane Ian update from the National Hurricane Center shows the storm taking a turn for Tampa Bay.

Sept. 27, 8 a.m. – Evacuation of zone A goes into effect. Manatee County shelters open at local schools. The projected track of Hurricane Ian takes a turn for a direct hit to Anna Maria Island.

Sept. 27, 11 a.m. – Manatee County leaders issue mandatory evacuation orders for zone A and B with a voluntary evacuation for zone C.

Sept. 27, 5 p.m. – Water and sewer services are turned off to Anna Maria Island. Traffic to the Island is limited with Manatee Avenue and Cortez Road traffic limited to eastbound only. Anna Maria Island is placed under a flash flood warning. The Island, Cortez, Perico Island, Flamingo Cay and parts of coastal unincorporated Manatee County are placed under a storm surge warning. Manatee County is under a hurricane warning. Hurricane Ian is expected to come onshore near Port Charlotte and hit Manatee County around 2 a.m. Sept. 29 as a Category 1 storm.

Sept. 28, 10 a.m. – Hurricane Ian is upgraded to a Category 4 storm. Manatee County is already experiencing high winds and rain from the hurricane.

Sept. 28, 3:10 p.m. – Hurricane Ian makes landfall as a Category 4 storm with sustained winds of 155 mph at Cayo Costa, near Captiva Island and Sanibel. Manatee County is under a flash flood warning and storm surge warning.

Sept. 28, 5 p.m. – Manatee County lift stations have lost power and water treatment facilities are near capacity. Three potable water main breaks have been identified and two have been fixed. Residents are asked to limit water usage.

Sept. 29, 10 a.m. – Manatee County evacuation orders have been lifted and shelters are closing. Utility crews are assessing system damage. Access to Flamingo Cay and Perico Island is reopened.

Sept. 29, 10:20 a.m. – Holmes Beach police announce that Anna Maria Island is reopened to residents.

Sept. 30, 5 p.m. – Water and sewer utilities are returned to Anna Maria Island. The Island is under a 48-hour boil water notice. Some electrical utilities have been restored, then lost again.

Oct. 1, 5 p.m. – Electricity has been returned at 90% to Anna Maria Island, Perico Island, Flamingo Cay and Cortez. The Center of Anna Maria Island is expected to reopen on Oct. 3 along with county beaches, parks, libraries and other amenities. The weather is sunny and cool, with no storm in sight.

Turtle Watch director Suzi Fox dies

Turtle Watch director Suzi Fox dies

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

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Suzi Fox, a longtime former Island resident and executive director of Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring, died last week at HCA Florida Blake Hospital.

Suzi Fox, director of Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring for more than 30 years, died Sept. 30 at HCA Florida Blake Hospital due to complications from a recent fall. – Cindy Lane | Sun

Fox, 65, died due to complications following a fall at home on Sept. 24, according to family members, who said her death was unexpected. Her son, Dereck Norfleet, said she had been in the hospital for six days prior to her death.

Fox’s interest in the Island’s sea turtles began in 1990. She had moved with her mother and sisters from Michigan to Miami, where she was a hotel manager, then they relocated again to Anna Maria Island. Her turtle career began after she found a turtle nest at Bayfront Park.

She told The Sun in 2011 she felt she had a calling and joined the organization’s 40 volunteers.

“We didn’t go to all the training we go to today,” because so little was known about sea turtles at the time, she said on the occasion of her 20th anniversary with Turtle Watch. Most turtle eggs were dug up and relocated to hatcheries, then the hatchlings were raised for several weeks before their release into the Gulf of Mexico.

As more became known about sea turtles, some in the organization decided to try nature’s way, and leave the eggs in their nests to hatch. Fox agreed to try it for a year.

“I wasn’t certain this was going to work,” she said. “The first nest we left on the beach was at Park Avenue. We saw it hatch and I was so excited.”

In 1996, Fox became the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s turtle permit holder for the Island, adding nesting shorebird monitoring and protection to her duties.

Under her directorship, the organization grew. According to the AMITW website: “For 30+ years Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch (AMITW) has coordinated conservation efforts for 12 miles of Manatee County shoreline. In three decades, we monitored 7,339 turtle activities, protected 4,454 nests, 301,694 turtle eggs, and watched 271,680 hatchlings depart to become a future generation of loggerheads that will return to the region as they reach maturity – in about 30 years.”

Turtle Watch director Suzi Fox dies
Suzi Fox and her late partner, Skip, patrol Anna Maria Island’s beaches for signs of sea turtle nesting. – Cindy Lane | Sun

Sea turtles broke both nesting and hatchling records this year on the Island.

In an email to The Sun from Charlie Hunsicker, director of the Manatee County Natural Resources Department, he wrote, “Words cannot explain the complications of life and fleeting moments mixed with joy of recovery and tragic endings. She will live on each and every time we remember her smile, her passion, and her good works for all the creatures that relied upon her for their very existence on the Island.”

Fox moved from the Island to West Bradenton a few months ago.

She is survived by her son Dereck, his wife Katherine, and their two children, Elizabeth and Ashley. She is also survived by her sister, Nanci Banman and her husband Gene, and her sister, Kendra Fox.

The family said that a memorial service will be planned for later this year at the beach.

Donations in Fox’s memory may be made to Turtle Watch online.

Hurricane Ian takes it easy on Anna Maria Island

Hurricane Ian takes it relatively easy on Anna Maria Island

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Anna Maria Island, Community News, Featured.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Although some damage occurred, Anna Maria Island survived Hurricane Ian without suffering the widespread devastation many residents and business owners originally feared.

As of Thursday evening Sept. 29, most of Anna Maria, Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach remained without the water and sewage services provided by Manatee County and the electrical services provided by Florida Power & Light (FPL).

Before the hurricane arrived, Manatee County ordered a mandatory evacuation of the Island as of Tuesday evening. A drive around the Island just before sundown on Sept. 27 revealed several boarded-up buildings and homes and a mostly deserted and evacuated Island.

Residents, business owners and others were allowed to return to the Island via Cortez Road and Manatee Avenue at 10 a.m. Thursday morning.

Bradenton Beach

At 10:05 a.m. Sept. 29, Bradenton Beach Police Chief John Cosby provided The Sun with his damage assessment.

“We started operations at 3 o’clock this morning and we had the team fully operational by 5 a.m. We did good,” Cosby said. “The only real damage we had to our city facilities was the police department roof was leaking. The worst damage is in the two trailer parks where some roofs and carports were blown off. We also had some damage to a condo on the 600 block.”

Hurricane Ian takes it easy on Anna Maria Island
This home in the Pines Trailer Park was damaged. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

None of the live-aboard boats south of the Bridge Street Pier broke free and damaged the pier.

“The pier and floating dock did good,” Cosby said. “We’ve got two boats missing, one boat down and one boat – we don’t where it came from – leaning against the bridge. There’s no damage to the bridge and FDOT’s been notified.”

“The cell tower is damaged. It got hit by some flying debris that left some good-sized dents in it. I don’t know if it’s operational or not. Our cell service is terrible right now, so it may have been disrupted,” Cosby said.

Cosby said there was a lot of tree and landscaping debris, but the main roads had already been cleared by the city’s public works department.

“We had no major power lines down, so that should make it quicker to restore power. Right now we do not have any power, water or sewer; and we have no idea when those are coming back,” he said.

Hurricane Ian takes it easy on Anna Maria Island
This mobile home in the Sandpiper Resort felt the wrath of Hurricane Ian. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Cosby noted the county and FPL were dealing with significantly worse damage in eastern Manatee County.

“The east side of the county got destroyed. When the storm went over that way, it was a Cat 2/Cat 3. They were rescuing people off roofs this morning,” he said. “The county’s got a lot to take care of. We’re working together and hopefully, we can get the utilities up as fast as we can, but I think it’s going to be a while.”

When asked if folks should return to the city yet, Cosby said, “We’re allowing them to come back. If they want to stay, they can, but there’s no power, no water and no sewer.”

Holmes Beach

When contacted at approximately 11:30 a.m., Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer said, “We had minimal damage – some trees and limbs. Power’s out to about 90% of the people on the Island. We have no water yet. We have no Spectrum connectivity and we’re waiting for them to fix that.

“Full access to Holmes Beach through Manatee Avenue was opened at 10 o’clock this morning. Once the Island was deemed an evacuation zone, we limited the number of people that returned to public safety personnel, but we never raise the bridges and we never stop people from leaving the Island.”

Hurricane Ian takes it easy on Anna Maria Island
The folks at Hurricane Hanks left messages for Hurricane Ian. – Leslie Lake | Sun

Tokajer reflected on what could have been had Hurricane Ian not taken an unexpected turn to the south, making landfall in the Fort Myers area.

“We were truly blessed. The damage and devastation we’re seeing to the south is what we were expecting as a direct hit to our area. It’s truly daunting to see the devastation that happened down there – and to see what a true storm surge looks like in real life instead of just projections,” he said.

Anna Maria

When visited in his generator-powered office at city hall early Thursday afternoon, Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy said, “We did good. We didn’t take a direct hit. If we had, it would have been devasting for our city. We had a lot of trees down and several wires down, but we have most of that cleared. The city’s without power and water. I have no idea when utilities are being restored. I wish I did. People can come back but it’s not real comfortable without water and power.”

The exterior skin of the Anna Maria cell tower was damaged but Murphy said he wasn’t aware of any significant structural damage within the city other than one home having its front door blown off.

“The only significant problem I see is turned over port-a-potties at construction sites. Several contractors picked theirs up, but one contractor didn’t bother to tie them down or pick them up. That’s a problem and a health hazard, and that’s something we put in our construction checklist,” Murphy said.

Hurricane Ian takes it easy on Anna Maria Island
The new Anna Maria City Pier suffered no hurricane damage but remained closed on Thursday. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

In 2017, the damage inflicted by Hurricane Irma led to the City Pier being closed and later replaced. When asked how the new pier fared during its first hurricane, Murphy said, “Our new pier held up fine. There’s no structural damage at all. It was built right. I was concerned – like a father whose daughter goes on her first date.”

Anna Maria residents JoAnn and Anthony Manali chose not to evacuate and rode the storm out at their home and business – Captain Anthony’s Stone Crab Store.

“I was scared and I’ll never do it again. It was worse than I could have ever imagined,” JoAnn Manali said of that experience.

Cortez

Sun reporter Jason Schaffer’s tour of Cortez revealed no significant damage. He said there was slight damage to the Fisherman’s Hall building and some siding damage to a storage building on 124th Street West.

The street sign took a ride in Hurricane Ian’s powerful winds. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

The street sign took a ride in Hurricane Ian’s powerful winds. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

A sailboat came to rest alongside the Cortez Bridge. - Leslie Lake | Sun

A sailboat came to rest alongside the Cortez Bridge. - Leslie Lake | Sun

Fisherman's Hall in Cortez lost a little bit of its siding. - Jason Schaffer | Sun

Fisherman's Hall in Cortez lost a little bit of its siding. - Jason Schaffer | Sun

Manatee County Sheriff’s Office deputies left their post at Cortez Bridge at 10 a.m. Thursday morning. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

Manatee County Sheriff’s Office deputies left their post at Cortez Bridge at 10 a.m. Thursday morning. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

Hurricane Ian damaged this mobile home at the Sandpiper Resort. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

Hurricane Ian damaged this mobile home at the Sandpiper Resort. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

A sailboat stored at the Bradenton Beach Marina fell off its support stands during the storm. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

A sailboat stored at the Bradenton Beach Marina fell off its support stands during the storm. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

The Sand Dollar store in Holmes Beach was ready for the storm. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

The Sand Dollar store in Holmes Beach was ready for the storm. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

This parking lot in Holmes Beach was among the few flooded areas on Anna Maria Island. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

This parking lot in Holmes Beach was among the few flooded areas on Anna Maria Island. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

A dolphin swam near this sunken boat Thursday morning. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

A dolphin swam near this sunken boat Thursday morning. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

This tree fell perilously close to Bradenton Beach City Commissioner Jake Spooner’s home. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

This tree fell perilously close to Bradenton Beach City Commissioner Jake Spooner’s home. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

A displaced screen wound up in this tree near the Pines Trailer Park. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

A displaced screen wound up in this tree near the Pines Trailer Park. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

Hurricane Ian inflicted damage on this mobile home the Sandpiper Report. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

Hurricane Ian inflicted damage on this mobile home the Sandpiper Report. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

This home near Herb Dolan Park in Bradenton Beach suffered storm damage. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

This home near Herb Dolan Park in Bradenton Beach suffered storm damage. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

The crosswalk signal pole near the Sandpiper Resort fell during the storm. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

The crosswalk signal pole near the Sandpiper Resort fell during the storm. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

The Bradenton Beach cell tower was dented during the storm. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

The Bradenton Beach cell tower was dented during the storm. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

Bridge Street resembled a ghost town on Tuesday evening. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

Bridge Street resembled a ghost town on Tuesday evening. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

Bayfront Park in Anna Maria suffered some toppled trees. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

Bayfront Park in Anna Maria suffered some toppled trees. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

Hurricane Ian toppled these signs in Anna Maria. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

Hurricane Ian toppled these signs in Anna Maria. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

Tom Aposporos Jr. was among the last to grab sandbags at Bayfront Park in Anna Maria. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

Tom Aposporos Jr. was among the last to grab sandbags at Bayfront Park in Anna Maria. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

These business owners did not want to get rocked by Hurricane Ian. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

These business owners did not want to get rocked by Hurricane Ian. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

Pine Avenue in Anna Maria was deserted Tuesday evening as the evacuation deadline loomed. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

Pine Avenue in Anna Maria was deserted Tuesday evening as the evacuation deadline loomed. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

The top of the Anna Maria cell tower was damaged. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

The top of the Anna Maria cell tower was damaged. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

Anna Maria Island prepares for Hurricane Ian

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Anna Maria Island, Community News, Featured.

SEPT. 29, 10:20 A.M. UPDATE: Holmes Beach police have announced that Anna Maria Island is back open for residents.

SEPT. 29, 10 A.M. UPDATE: Manatee County evacuation orders have been lifted and shelters are closing this morning. Utility crews are assessing system damage. Anna Maria Island is still closed to residents with drivers being turned around at the base of the Anna Maria and Cortez bridges while first responders and work crews assess the state of the Island. Residents can access Flamingo Cay and Perico Island on Manatee Avenue. Anyone out driving is asked to be cautious of downed or sagging powerlines, storm debris and standing water.

SEPT. 28, 5 P.M. UPDATE: Manatee County officials have asked that residents who still have water limit what goes down their drains. With lift stations losing power and water treatment facilities at capacity, along with potable water breaks reported, residents are asked to limit toilet flushing, showering, doing dishes and doing laundry.

Hurricane Ian made landfall around 3:10 p.m. near the Captiva Islands and Sanibel as a Category 4 storm. Manatee County is under a flash flood warning until 7 p.m., an extreme wind warning until 6 p.m. and an ongoing storm surge warning for coastal low-lying areas.

SEPT. 28, 10 A.M. UPDATE: Power outages are expected to occur in our area over the next several hours. Hurricane Ian has been upgraded to a Category 4 storm and our area is already experiencing high winds and rain. The storm is expected to make landfall to our south late morning or early afternoon today. The Sun will post updates here and on our Facebook page as we’re able due to internet and power outages. Everyone, stay inside, stay safe and we’ll see you on the other side.

SEPT. 27, 5 P.M. UPDATE: The National Hurricane Center’s latest update is showing that Hurricane Ian is expected to come onshore near Port Charlotte early Wednesday afternoon as a possible major hurricane. If the storm follows the current track, it’s anticipated that it will approach the Manatee County area early Thursday, Sept. 29 around 2 a.m., potentially as a Category 1 storm.

The peak storm surge warning for Anna Maria Island and Cortez has been lowered to an estimated maximum of 4-6 feet. The estimated storm surge for Anna Maria Island and Cortez has been reduced to 1-3 feet above ground level.

Manatee County officials announced that water and sewage lift stations on Anna Maria Island will be turned off at 6 p.m. today, Sept. 27. Water and sewage services will not be restored until after the storm threat has passed. County Administrator Dr. Scott Hopes warned residents that sewage lift stations, needed to operate toilets, will not work if electricity is out.

Westbound traffic on Manatee Avenue and Cortez Road to Anna Maria Island from the mainland became restricted at 4 p.m. today and will be closed by 8 p.m. this evening. Traffic lanes will not reopen to the Island until local law enforcement and first responders determine that it’s safe for residents to return.

SEPT. 27, 11 A.M. UPDATE: Manatee County has issued mandatory evacuation notices for zones A and B with a voluntary evacuation notice in place for zone C. If you’re unsure of your evacuation level, visit the county website for more information.

County officials advise that all residents should be sheltered where they plan to ride out the storm as of 8 p.m. tonight when some of the first effects of Hurricane Ian are expected to be felt in the area. All county shelters are now open. A list of shelters in the area can be found here.

All pet owners are advised to bring their pets inside for the duration of the storm. Manatee County Animal Services will close today and not reopen until safe to do so after Hurricane Ian has passed.

All of Manatee County, including Anna Maria Island, is under a flash flood warning beginning Sept. 28 and continuing through Friday, Sept. 30.

Anna Maria Island, Cortez, Perico Island, Flamingo Cay and parts of coastal unincorporated Manatee County are under a storm surge warning. While most areas can expect storm surge of over 3 feet, some areas of the Island, including in Anna Maria and Holmes Beach, can expect storm surge of over 6 feet during high tide. The National Hurricane Center’s storm surge flood map is consistently being updated online as the storm’s track is updated. Peak storm surge along coastal Manatee County is expected to be between 5-9 feet.

City commission regular and work session meetings in Holmes Beach scheduled for today at 5 p.m. have been canceled. Commissioners will go forward with a final budget hearing and emergency special meeting at 5:01 p.m. today via Zoom. The public is invited to participate online or by telephone.

SEPT. 26, 5 P.M. UPDATE: Manatee County is now under a hurricane warning from the National Weather Service. Anna Maria Island and surrounding low-lying areas in Manatee County also are under a storm surge warning. The storm surge warning is in effect until Friday, Sept. 30 and states that the Island could see waters rise 3 feet or more above sea level. Peak storm surges could exceed 10 feet in some areas if Hurricane Ian arrives in the area at high tide.

SEPT. 26, 2 P.M. UPDATE: Closures have been announced for Manatee County.

Manatee County schools are closed for students and staff beginning tomorrow. Schools will be closed until the threat of Hurricane Ian has passed.

The Center of Anna Maria Island and all Manatee County Libraries will close at end of business today, reopening after the storm threat has passed. The Anna Maria City Pier will close at noon Sept. 27 and remain closed until further notice.

There will be no trash, recycling or yard waste collection on Wednesday until after the storm threat passes. Due to evacuation notices for Anna Maria Island, collection services may end early on Tuesday.

All Manatee County facilities and buildings will close to the public at close of business today with the exception of the county administration building which is scheduled to close to the public after a scheduled county commission meeting the morning of Sept. 27.

Shelters in Manatee County will open tomorrow morning at 8 a.m. Manatee County officials ask that no one go to a shelter prior to the 8 a.m. opening on Sept. 27. A list of shelters is available online. Everyone going to a shelter needs to bring their own cot or sleeping bag and personal items.

Manatee County Sheriff Rick Wells has announced that emergency services will be very limited once winds hit a sustained 45 mph. He advises that officers will do their best to respond but may not be able to get to all areas of the county while the effects of Hurricane Ian are being felt in the area. Emergency services in Manatee County, including EMS, fire response and law enforcement will all be limited during the storm event.

Storm surges, high winds and heavy rain are expected to begin as early as 2 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 27 and continue through early morning Friday, Sept. 30. A mandatory evacuation is effective beginning at 8 a.m. Sept. 27 for zone A, which includes Anna Maria Island, and a voluntary evacuation for zone B. Manatee County Administrator Scott Hopes recommends that everyone be where they intend to ride out Hurricane Ian by tomorrow night at 8 p.m. Hurricane Ian is predicted to have a high probability of spinning off tornadoes.

Anna Maria Island will be closed down at sundown tomorrow afternoon, Sept. 27. Water utility services will be shut off one hour after sundown tomorrow afternoon and Hopes said service will not be restored until it can be safely determined that the system has not sustained any significant damage.

SEPT. 26, 12:10 A.M. UPDATE: A mandatory evacuation of zone A, including Anna Maria Island, Perico Island, Cortez and parts of unincorporated Manatee County, has been issued by Manatee County effective at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 27. Evacuation of zone B is advised but not mandatory.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Residents and city leaders in the three Island cities are preparing for potential impacts this week from Hurricane Ian as the storm is projected to pass by to the west in the Gulf of Mexico as a major hurricane.

As of the National Weather Service’s Sept. 26 11 a.m. briefing, the Tampa Bay area, including Manatee County, is under a hurricane watch with the storm expected to rapidly intensify. Hurricane Ian is currently expected to pass by the area as a category 2 or 3 storm. Early forecasts predict 7-10 inches of rain in our area and storm surges of 5-8 feet. Impacts from Hurricane Ian are expected to begin in Manatee County as early as Wednesday evening and continue through Thursday, Sept. 29.

Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer and Mayor Judy Titsworth said the Island is anticipated to be under a mandatory evacuation by 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 27. While residents will not be forced to leave, it is important to note that emergency services, including police, fire response and EMS, will not be available during a storm. West Manatee Fire Rescue personnel will be required to leave the Island once sustained winds exceed 45 mph.

Anna Maria

A state of emergency has been declared by city officials. Residents are advised to prepare for impending impacts from Hurricane Ian. A sandbagging station has been set up for residents at Bayfront Park, however, supplies of sandbags and sand are limited. Reentry tags are available for residents at city hall with proof of residency.

Bradenton Beach

City officials declared a state of emergency during an 11 a.m. meeting this morning. Manatee County staff have delivered pre-filled sandbags to Coquina Beach for residents over the weekend but those supplies have quickly been depleted. Reentry tags for residents are available at the Bradenton Beach Police Department with proof of residency.

Holmes Beach

Titsworth declared a local state of emergency for the city early Monday morning. Sand and sandbags are available as supplies are replenished at the Manatee Beach and by the pickleball courts at city field. Reentry tags are available for residents with one tag being issued per residence at the Holmes Beach Police Department.

The Holmes Beach Code Compliance Special Magistrate hearing scheduled for 10 a.m. Sept. 27 has been canceled. The city commission meeting and work session scheduled to follow the budget hearing at 5:01 p.m. on Sept. 27 have been canceled. Titsworth said she anticipates that the budget hearing also will be canceled due to the mandatory evacuation.

The Sun will continue to update this post as more information becomes available.

Pine Avenue roundabout rejected

Pine Avenue roundabout rejected

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Anna Maria, Community News.

ANNA MARIA – The city commission has rejected a proposed roundabout and delivery truck turnaround area at the Pine Avenue/South Bay Boulevard intersection near the City Pier.

Representing the George F. Young engineering firm, Mark Adler presented the requested roundabout plans during a Sept. 12 special city commission meeting.

The commission requested the roundabout plans as part of the ongoing Reimagining Pine Avenue safety improvement efforts. The idea of installing a delivery truck turnaround area near the trolley stop by the pier surfaced earlier this year during discussions that at the time included the possibility of transforming the avenue into a one-way street.

The commission ultimately rejected the one-way concept, but the delivery truck turnaround remained a possibility as a means of discouraging oversized trucks from turning right on South Bay Boulevard and using Spring and Magnolia avenues, which are residential streets, to leave the area.

Mayor Dan Murphy noted the plans that Adler was presenting were based on the commission’s opposition to purchasing any additional land or securing any additional easements to accommodate a roundabout. Murphy said the city leaders also wanted to avoid impacting the city pier pavilions and the City Pier Park property.

Adler said the roundabout designed according to the commissioners’ criteria would accommodate trucks up to 45.5 feet long but would not accommodate 18-wheelers. He said a garbage truck is typically 30 to 40 feet long.

Commissioner Mark Short asked if the city could limit the size of the trucks that travel on Pine Avenue. Murphy said the city could impose a weight limit, but he doubted the city could impose a size limit on delivery trucks. He also noted that prohibiting 18-wheeled delivery trucks could negatively impact many Pine Avenue businesses.

Commissioner Robert Kingan said he couldn’t support a roundabout project that only provides a partial solution to the delivery truck concerns.

“This is not going to fly with me,” he said. “Not as it stands right now.”

Kingan said he wouldn’t support a larger roundabout either.

Commissioner Deanie Sebring said she showed the plans to some of her friends and neighbors and they all opposed the proposed roundabout.

In response to a question from Commissioner Jon Crane, Adler estimated the proposed roundabout would cost between $175,000 and $225,000.

Commission Chair Carol Carter said she envisioned maneuverability problems and she didn’t think the roundabout would be a worthy expenditure of city funds.

Participating by phone, Anna Maria resident Alan Ward said a roundabout in that location might produce additional safety concerns for pedestrians, which Adler acknowledged as a valid concern.

Short said he was disappointed because the proposed roundabout would have allowed the city to recapture some of the city pier parking spaces previously lost to accommodate the trolley stop.

He said he would have liked the city to do more research before abandoning the proposed roundabout, casting the only opposition vote to Kingan’s motion to reject the roundabout plan.

Turtle hatchlings break record on AMI

Turtle hatchlings break record on AMI

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Featured, Outdoors, Sea turtles.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Sea turtle hatchlings have broken the Anna Maria Island record set by the 2018 crop of local loggerheads, with 35,850 hatchlings so far this year.

The number, recorded last weekend by Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring, exceeds the previous record of 35,788 hatchlings that made it to the Gulf of Mexico from the Island’s beaches in 2018, and there are more to come.

“It will continue to grow as there are nests to still hatch,” Turtle Watch volunteer Barbara Riskay said.

Turtle Watch breaks down nesting data into three geographical sections. The first, from the Longboat Key Bridge north to Manatee Beach, has had 17,167 hatchlings so far this year. The second, from Manatee Beach north to Bean Point, has had 17,805 hatchlings so far. The third, covering bayside beaches, has had 878 hatchlings so far this year.

The last time turtles set a record on AMI was in 2019, when turtle moms laid a record number of nests – 544. This year’s nesting tally is approaching that record, at 531 nests.

Turtle Watch also counts nests that were not laid, known as false crawls, identified by tracks left by nesting mothers that did not dig nests.

Sea turtle nesting season ends on Oct. 31.

Water taxi plans detailed

Water taxi plans detailed

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Anna Maria Island, Community News, Featured, Manatee County.

MANATEE COUNTY – The county’s chief tourism official briefed county commissioners on Sept. 13 on plans in the works for a water taxi between Anna Maria Island and Bradenton, including new funding sources.

Revenues generated by the county-controlled Coquina Beach Market will help fund the water taxi, said Elliott Falcione, executive director of the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. Revenues generated by the 5% tourist development tax levied on vacation rentals, resorts and other lodging establishments in Manatee County could also be used, as could surplus beach concession funds, he said. Falcione is working with Manatee County Public Works Director Chad Butzow and Transit Division Manager Jason Harris to develop the water taxi service under the direction of County Administrator Scott Hopes.

In August, Falcione told the Anna Maria City Commission he hoped to present a formal contract proposal to county commissioners on Sept. 13, but he told county commissioners that day that some final details were still being worked out with the proposed water taxi company.

Falcione said he and Hopes plan to present a formal contract proposal to the county commission on Tuesday, Sept. 27 and he plans to present the tourist development tax funding request to the Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC) in October.

Falcione said the water taxis would travel from the day dock in downtown Bradenton to the Anna Maria City Pier, and then to the floating dock at the Bridge Street Pier in Bradenton Beach and then to either the Coquina North or Coquina South boat ramp. The return trip would include stops at the Bridge Street Pier and the Anna Maria City Pier on the way to downtown Bradenton. The inclusion of a Coquina boat ramp destination, located across the street from Coquina Beach, triggers the ability to use tourist development tax proceeds for the water taxis, he said.

More details

Falcione said the water taxi program would feature two 49-passenger pontoon catamaran boats operating simultaneously between downtown Bradenton and Anna Maria Island. He anticipates the service beginning in February or March and initially operating from 10:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Falcione repeatedly referenced a Clearwater-based company that’s operated a water taxi service since 2015. Falcione did not mention the company’s name, but he later confirmed for The Sun that Clearwater Ferry is the company the county is negotiating with.

Clearwater Ferry currently operates a water taxi service three days a week that includes stops in downtown Clearwater, the Clearwater Beach municipal marina, the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, North Clearwater Beach and Dunedin, according to its website.

Falcione said water taxi passengers would pay $8 for a one-way ride or $10 for an all-day pass, with discounts given for seniors and children. The no-cash operation will accept electronic payments only.

Falcione mentioned the Anna Maria Commission’s request that the Island’s hospitality and service industry employees be allowed to ride the water taxis for free when commuting to work.

“We’re looking at that. We think it’s palatable. There’s some pros and cons to that,” Falcione told county commissioners.

He then noted the water taxi company already has experience and case study data pertaining to employee ridership. County Commissioner Misty Servia said business owners should provide water taxi passes to their employees as an employee benefit.

Citing weather concerns and travel on the Intracoastal Waterway, Commissioner Carol Whitmore expressed concerns about using pontoon boats as water taxis.

Hopes said county funds would be used to subsidize the upfront capital equipment costs
that include the two boats. He said liens would be placed on the boats and the liens would later be removed after enough revenues have been generated to cover those initial costs.

“It’s not as simple as us going out and buying boats,” Hopes said.

Falcione said the county may have to make some county-funded improvements to the proposed water taxi landing locations in Anna Maria, Bradenton Beach and Bradenton.

Commissioners Vanessa Baugh and Reggie Bellamy asked whether the water taxis would accommodate bikes, coolers, beach chairs and other items used by beachgoers.

“We’ll look at all that. The amenities the families want to bring out are really important,” Falcione said.

According to the Clearwater Ferry website, U.S. Coast Guard regulations do not allow bikes on board their vessels. The Clearwater Ferry website also notes their vessels do not have restrooms.

To better serve county residents, Commissioner James Satcher suggested including water taxi stops along SR 64 and US Highway 301.

Regarding future expansion, Falcione said, “This is just the basic infrastructure to get it going. This is what we and the third-party operator feel would give our best chance for short-term success.”

Falcione said future expansion would likely include service to the new hotel being built next to the convention center in Palmetto.

“We see it going to Longboat Key at some point. We see it going to Sarasota. We’re going to focus on Manatee County and get it started. As we learn, we’ll branch out and add partners,” Falcione said.

Season opener ends in tie

Season opener ends in tie

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

ANNA MARIA – With a week of practice under their belt, eight youth soccer teams took to The Center fields for this season’s kickoff games last Tuesday night.

In the U10 league, LaPensee Plumbing’s TJ Hagey and Preston LaPensee each had a hat trick in the game, scoring all six of LaPensee Plumbing’s points in the night.

Cloud Pest Control answered back with a single goal by Gabriel Spann.

Both goalies, Owen Mahoney for LaPensee and Thadeous Daniels for Cloud, had two recorded saves in week one action.

Island Real Estate’s scoring came from Callin Westfall with a solo goal and Oliver Barr with two points. Aidan Guess prevented the shutout with a goal for AMI Coconuts.

In a hard-played week one game, Sato Real Estate and Solid Rock Construction ended their battle royale in a 1-1 tie.

Sato Real Estate’s Gunnar Maize had three big saves in the matchup, while his counterpart on the opposite end of the pitch, Isaac Roadman, made two essential stops for Solid Rock Construction.

Roadman’s brother, Obe Roadman, was credited with an assist with the single Solid Rock goal by Matthew Darak.

Veteran player Dylan Sato stuck with confidence, scoring Sato Real Estate’s only point in the closest matchup of the season opener.

The U14 league saw one game played on the big field at the community center – Progressive Cabinetry struggled against the dominance of team HSH. With no mercy rule in place, HSH won the first game of the season 11-0.

Scoring by Braelyn Curtis, Ava Gitt, Sterling Holiday, Krosby Lamison, Jasmine Sparks, Jack Zaccagnino and Jesse Zaccagnino took the HSH squad to victory.

At the end of week one action, it is too early to tell which teams will top the charts. With an entire season ahead of them, any of the dynamic and hardworking teams could go all the way to the championship games.

 

Sun Scoreboard

Sept. 13

Youth Soccer – Week 1

U10 (8- to 10-year-old league)

 

LaPensee Plumbing 6

Cloud Pest Control 1

 

Solid Rock Construction 1

Sato Real Estate 1

 

Island Real Estate 3

AMI Coconuts 1

 

U14 (11- to 14-year-old league)
HSH 11

Progressive Cabinetry 0

 

Sept. 15

Adult Soccer

 

Wash Family Construction 7

Pool America 5

 

Slim’s Place 5

Ross Built Construction 4

 

Moss Builders 6

Servis First Bank 0

 

Gulfview Windows and Doors 9

Sato Real Estate 1

Castles in the Sand

Credit scores can spoil deals

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

You finally found the house, negotiated a price and the contract is signed. What can go wrong from this point? Plenty.

You may have read about a little glitch involving credit scores back in August. At that time, it was reported that Equifax, one of the three agencies that monitor credit scores, reported inaccurate credit scores for millions of would-be borrowers over a three-week period from March 17 to April 6. The problem was reported to lenders in May.

Equifax reported that some people who may have been applying for mortgages, auto loans and credit cards may have had their scores lowered or increased by 20 points or more. A 20-point error in a credit score could easily lead to mortgage applications being rejected. This is one of those unfortunate errors that affect borrowers who may have done their homework prior to making an offer on a home and who are sure what their credit score is and their ability to go forward with a real estate transaction.

Mortgage lenders typically pull credit reports from all three agencies: Experian, TransUnion and Equifax. The lenders take a look at all three scores and from there create a combined score, according to the executive chairman of Inside Mortgage Finance. This is when the lender is able to determine whether or not to approve the mortgage application and what interest rate to offer. Since only Equifax was affected, the impact may not have resulted in a lot of people being turned down for mortgages. However, it could have influenced the interest rate offered on a loan, resulting in higher mortgage payments.

If you think a recent loan may have been affected by this error in credit score reporting, the first thing is to contact the lender. They need to review the application process and determine if an Equifax credit score was used in the underwriting process and if the Equifax score was lower than the others used. From there, your lender will determine what exactly this means to the outcome of your loan.

This is a great lesson for anyone planning on applying for a loan in the coming months. It would be beneficial to set up alerts with each of the three credit reporting companies, so you know quickly if there is something unusual on your credit report. Ultimately it is your responsibility to pull credit reports on a regular basis and go over them with a fine point, looking for postings that do not apply to you. You always have the ability to challenge anything that looks like an error.

Equifax’s position is that there was no shift in the vast majority of scores during the three-week time frame. For those consumers who did experience a score shift, their initial analysis indicates that only a small number of them may have received a different credit decision. If you feel you need to make a correction on a credit report or score, contact the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which can provide you with a list of instructions and a sample letter that will assist you in filing a claim.

I can’t say enough times that the process of purchasing a home, frequently the biggest investment of a lifetime, has a lot of moving parts. It is up to you as the borrower to
be proactive every step along the way. As we’ve seen too many times, large financial institutions make mistakes, so keep checking your credit reports and scores, especially if you’re looking for a home.

It’s not over ‘til it’s over, and heaps can go wrong before it is.

Reel Time: Fall fishing forecast - fun

Reel Time: Fall fishing forecast – fun

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

Fall is in the air. Most of our windows and doors are still closed and the AC is on, but the light and the cooling mornings hold the promise of change.

This is a change ushered in by cooler temperatures, shorter days and arguably some of the best nearshore angling opportunities we have. As water temperatures drop, schools
of bait should migrate inshore with pelagic species like kingfish, Spanish mackerel, false albacore (little tunny), cobia and tripletail hot on their trail.

Now is a great time to prepare for the fall season, getting tackle in order at home and keeping an eye to the sky for diving birds and the water for breaking fish when you’re on the water. All these species will take live bait, lures or flies and can be caught on spinning, bait casting or fly tackle. Except for larger king mackerel and cobia, most can be landed with light tackle, which adds to the challenge.

Rigging will depend on the species you’re targeting. Since it’s possible to encounter so many different species in a single outing, multiple outfits are a good idea. Rigging options include wire, monofilament, long shanked hooks, or a combination. It’s possible to catch a kingfish or Spanish mackerel without wire, but your odds aren’t good. Most species shy away from wire, especially in clear water and when the sun is high. That’s when it’s time to switch to a long shank hook or a heavy (60-pound) monofilament leader. Even then, it’s possible to get cut off but you’ll get more action. When using wire, an 8- to 12-inch trace can be tied to monofilament using an Albright special knot (best) or a swivel. If you use a swivel, use black as opposed to a silver one to prevent fish from mistaking it for forage. American Fishing Wire makes a product called Surflon Micro Supreme that is extremely flexible and kink resistant. This wire can be knotted to your lure, hook or fly like monofilament. It also provides greater flexibility and less stretch than monofilament. Umpqua makes a product that’s ideal for fly anglers. Their Re-Twistable Haywire Twist wire is reusable and will allow you to change flies in a snap. This is the quickest and most painless system to rig wire for toothy fish. It’s safe to switch to wire under low light conditions like early morning, overcast days and late in the day.

One of the most effective ways to find schooling fish in the fall is to look for surface action and diving birds in the inshore Gulf waters. But don’t assume fish aren’t present if there are no outward signs of them. Predators can often be found around structures, reefs and wrecks that attract bait.

When you find feeding fish, you can approach them by trolling, drifting or with the use of a trolling motor. Whatever method you employ, never let your boat pass through or get too close to the action. With more and more boats and anglers pursuing feeding fish, they are likely to sound and move away. The best bet is to stay outside the action but within casting distance. If trolling, make wide turns so only your lures pass through the action.

Live bait anglers target schooling fish in several ways. By anchoring up current from a likely area, they may deploy a chum bag and then toss wounded live baits to draw fish into casting range. This can be an extremely effective method. Those that prefer artificial lures find spoons particularly effective as well as jigs like the DOA CAL or the Berkley Gulp. One of the most exciting and effective types of lures are topwater models like the MirroLure Top Dog, the Heddon Zara Spook or Rapala Saltwater Skitter Pop. Not only is the strike visual and often explosive, but their action can attract target species.

Fly fishing is also an effective and exciting way to target fall species from cobia to tripletail, Spanish mackerel and even kingfish. The same rigging applies and topwater flies like the Crease fly or Garthside Gurgler can produce some memorable strikes. Clouser Deep Minnows are also a great choice for Spanish mackerel and false albacore. This is a good time of the year to have a 10- or 11-weight rod rigged with a big black fly should a migrating cobia make an appearance.

Whatever your fishing style, take advantage of the great action you’ll find in area waters this fall. If you’re new to the game, consider hiring a guide. This is a great way to learn the ropes and a great value when shared with a friend. Good fishing!

Commission declines paid parking proposal

Commission declines paid parking proposal

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News.

BRADENTON BEACH – The city commission has rejected a paid parking proposal that city staff negotiated with Easy Parking Group owner Josh LaRose.

After two and a half hours of discussion on Sept. 15, commissioners unanimously supported Commissioner Ralph Cole’s suggestion to schedule a future work meeting to continue the discussion and decision-making process that may include soliciting bids from additional operators.

Public input from Bridge Street business owners and employees helped convince the city commission and staff to slow their efforts to implement a paid parking program. All parties involved agreed that it’s crucial to address employee parking as part of any paid parking plan.

Commission declines paid parking proposal
Paid parking is being considered for the unpaved parking lot near the Bradenton Beach cell tower. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Thursday’s well-attended discussion began with City Attorney Ricinda Perry providing an overview of paid parking discussions to date. She said the goal is to provide more revenues for the city without placing that financial burden on taxpayers and permanent residents who already pay the highest millage rate on the Island.

Perry said paid parking revenues would be used for three primary reasons – to increase funding for the police department; to replace, maintain or upgrade the aging city buildings, including city hall; and to improve the city’s existing parking areas.

Parking proposal

On Aug. 30, the commission discussed soliciting additional paid parking proposals but then authorized Perry and a team of city staff members to engage in direct negotiations with LaRose, whose Easy Parking Group already operates the Community Redevelopment Agency-funded Old Town Tram program.

The publicly noticed negotiations occurred at city hall on Sept. 6 and produced the proposal that Perry and LaRose presented on Sept. 15.

Perry said paid parking in 56 city-owned spaces at $3.50 per hour would generate an estimated $744,902 in revenue with the city would receiving 63%, or $469,288, and the Easy Parking Group receiving 37%, or $275,614.

The 56 parking spaces are located in the public parking lot along First Street North, behind the BridgeWalk resort, and near the police station, public works building and cell tower at the end of Highland and Church avenues.

Commission declines paid parking proposal
This diagram was included in the paid parking proposal. – City of Bradenton Beach | Submitted

Public parking spaces along Bridge Street were not included in LaRose’s proposal and it was noted that not including them would result in those free parking spots being used by employees and beachgoers.

LaRose said the city would incur no upfront or ongoing costs and his company would provide all the equipment and personnel needed to implement, support and enforce a paid parking operation that would require users to enter their license plate number and pay with a credit or debit card.

Public input

During public input, Bradenton Beach Marina owner Mike Bazzy said he had some reservations about paid parking and the unintended consequences that could include more visitors and employees parking in residential areas.

“If you’re going to do paid parking, do it everywhere, not just in a few locations,” he suggested.

Commission declines paid parking proposal
Bridge Street Jewelers employee Brandt Clark opposes paid parking. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Bridge Street Jewelers employee Brandt Clark presented a petition containing the signatures of 360 people who oppose paid parking. Clark asked where the employees would park and he noted those who begin working earlier in the day can’t park at Cortez Beach or Coquina Beach and ride the Old Town Tram because they don’t start running until 11 a.m. Clark said paid parking would take money out of the pockets of the employees the Bridge Street businesses depend on.

Paradise Boat Tours General Manager Sherman Baldwin said the business owners he spoke with oppose Bradenton Beach becoming the first city on the Island to implement paid parking. He said paid parking would create additional revenues for the city but wouldn’t address the lack of parking.

Mermaid Haven owner Deb Myers said the proposed plan wouldn’t resolve the issue of employees parking in spaces that could be used by customers.

Commissioner Jake Spooner said paid parking would create turnover of the existing parking spaces and allow more people to visit Bridge Street. He agreed that employee parking must be addressed, but if done right, paid parking could be a win for everybody.

BridgeWalk resort owner Angela Rodocker provides parking for her guests and employees, but she said she supports paid parking if it addresses employee parking.

Rodocker has been critical of LaRose’s operation of the Old Town Trams. She suggested the city implement paid parking on its own and not give up a significant percentage of the revenue.

Perry said a competitive bidding process might be a better route and Mayor John Chappie noted that wouldn’t prevent LaRose from submitting another proposal.

Sea-renity Beach Spa owner Amanda Escobio agreed with Rodocker’s comments and cautioned that paid parking could result in some employees deciding not to work in Bradenton Beach, which would further exacerbate the ongoing labor shortage. Island Time restaurant co-owner Ron

Fuller said he witnessed the paid parking implementation in St. Armands Circle and the initial implementation was “an absolute disaster.”

Commissioner Jan Vosburgh said, “I don’t think it’s up to the city to supply parking for businesses. You have a business and it’s up to you.”

Police Chief John Cosby agreed that employee parking is a problem, but he noted city code allows Bridge Street establishments and businesses to be built and operated without any parking requirements. Cosby said he supports paid parking but is concerned that the city is moving too fast. He also said a lot of people don’t feel comfortable with LaRose as the project operator. Some of Cosby’s other concerns are a lack of enough officers to enforce paid parking and that the city doesn’t have the staff or the experience to implement a paid parking program on its own.