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Tag: Anna Maria Island

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.

The Center kicks off youth soccer season

The Center kicks off youth soccer season

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

ANNA MARIA – In the heat of the early evening sun, the Island’s U4 youth soccer league came to life Tuesday night at The Center.

Starting the season with a little bit of anxiety, the youngest ballers had a whole lot of fun as they learned from the volunteer coaches and parents who stepped up to help develop a whole new generation of Island soccer players.

Four age group leagues enjoyed the newly conditioned Center fields during the season kick off practices organized by The Center. With the fields split for simultaneous training and play, the energy at The Center felt like times of old.

This season the U4 league is four teams strong with local business sponsors All Clean Softwash & Pressure Cleaning, Bins Be Clean, Gulf Drive Cafe and Wash Family Construction.

The six teams that make up the U7 league are supported by the business sponsorship of Adrian Griffin Interiors, Beach Bums, Freckled Fin, Paradise Pools AMI, Shady Lady and The Ugly Grouper.

AMI Coconuts, Cloud Pest Control, Island Real Estate, LaPensee Plumbing, Pools & Air, Sato Real Estate and Solid Rock Construction sponsored the six U10 teams.

Representing the U14 leagues, HSH, Mac Parkman and Progressive Cabinetry provided business sponsorship for the three teen teams.

In the seven-game regular season, the U10 and U14 leagues look to Nov. 1 when the playoffs begin.

Marking their calendars, players, friends and family are looking forward to the championship games currently scheduled to be played on Tuesday, Nov. 8.

Bowlers roll to raise funds for Center

Bowlers roll to raise funds for Center

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Entertainment, Events, Featured.

ANNA MARIA – Several hundred people gathered Saturday night with a common goal in mind – to support The Center of Anna Maria Island.

All 64 lanes of the Bowlero Bradenton bowling alley were sold out, filled with participants in the Greg LaPensee Bowling Tournament, a fundraiser for The Center. This year marks the first time that the tournament took over the entire bowling alley.

This year’s winners were Salty Dolphin for best team; Joey Newell won for top-scoring male with a 266-point single game and Cali Hanson won for top-scoring female with 184 points. The Gutter Ball winner was Dhaval Patel. Charlie Serra won the Top Kid award, and the Morey Foundation hippies team, sponsored by Laura King, won Best Costume.

“We sold out,” Center Executive Director Christopher Culhane said. “All of the proceeds will benefit The Center.” Culhane declined to speculate on the anticipated amount of funds raised by the event.

The cost of participation was $50 per person; $700 for Signature Lane sponsors; $450 for Lane sponsors with six players; and $250 for Lane sponsors without players.

The event also featured multiple silent auction items.

The tournament was named for Greg LaPensee, who passed away on Dec. 21, 2021 at the age of 39, and was sponsored by his family’s business.

“Thank you to LaPensee Plumbing • Pools • Air for sponsoring and to the LaPensee Family for all you have done to help grow this event into what it is now,” The Center’s Facebook page said. “A huge shout out to the committee – Carlee LaPensee, Ashley Chiles and Janae Rudacille – and staff for all of their hard work.”

A non-profit community center, The Center on Magnolia Avenue meets the needs of those living on or near the Island, and serves all ages, including youths, teens and senior citizens.

The Center’s Director of Development Jim McDaniel, local restaurateur and philanthropist Bob Slicker and Carlee LaPensee celebrate the life of her late husband, Greg, on Sept. 10 at the Greg LaPensee Bowling Tournament benefiting The Center of Anna Maria Island. - Shona Otto | Sun

The Center’s Director of Development Jim McDaniel, local restaurateur and philanthropist Bob Slicker and Carlee LaPensee celebrate the life of her late husband, Greg, on Sept. 10 at the Greg LaPensee Bowling Tournament benefiting The Center of Anna Maria Island. - Shona Otto | Sun

Team Salty Dolphin took home the trophy for best team during the bowling tournament. - Shona Otto | Sun

Team Salty Dolphin took home the trophy for best team during the bowling tournament. - Shona Otto | Sun

Team Duncan Real Estate brought a crowd, but it wasn’t enough to beat out the Salty Dolphin group for top team in this year’s bowling tournament. - Anne Yarbrough | Sun

Team Duncan Real Estate brought a crowd, but it wasn’t enough to beat out the Salty Dolphin group for top team in this year’s bowling tournament. - Anne Yarbrough | Sun

All 64 lanes at Bowlero Bradenton were sold out for this year’s Greg LaPensee Bowling Tournament. - Shona Otto | Sun

All 64 lanes at Bowlero Bradenton were sold out for this year’s Greg LaPensee Bowling Tournament. - Shona Otto | Sun

From left, Jane Engelke and Shona Otto get ready to try their luck bowling for top honors. - Anne Yarbrough | Sun

From left, Jane Engelke and Shona Otto get ready to try their luck bowling for top honors. - Anne Yarbrough | Sun

Carlee and Chandler LaPensee help Center board Chair David Zaccagnino and Shawn Shields with the awards at the 2022 Greg LaPensee Bowling Tournament. - Shona Otto | Sun

Carlee and Chandler LaPensee help Center board Chair David Zaccagnino and Shawn Shields with the awards at the 2022 Greg LaPensee Bowling Tournament. - Shona Otto | Sun

Even the younger bowlers got in on the costume contest fun during the bowling tournament. - Anne Yarbrough | Sun

Even the younger bowlers got in on the costume contest fun during the bowling tournament. - Anne Yarbrough | Sun

Center board Chair David Zaccagnino shows off one of his favorite costumes of the night. - Anne Yarbrough | Sun

Center board Chair David Zaccagnino shows off one of his favorite costumes of the night. - Anne Yarbrough | Sun

The trophies weren’t the only things up for grabs at the Center’s 2022 bowling tournament held at Bowlero Bradenton. - Shona Otto | Sun

The trophies weren’t the only things up for grabs at the Center’s 2022 bowling tournament held at Bowlero Bradenton. - Shona Otto | Sun

Who’s Anna Marie?

Who’s Anna Marie?

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Anna Maria Island, Community News.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – It’s been 100 years since the first bridge linking Anna Maria Island to the mainland was opened to the public.

During that time, the Island has gone through a lot of changes, but a name change hasn’t been one of them.

Knowing this, local veterinarian Denise Vondrasek was surprised when she was driving on Manatee Avenue toward the Island and noticed a crew putting up a sign letting drivers know that they are five miles from “Anna Marie Is.” Realizing the sign was misspelled, she stopped to tell the workers, but none of them spoke English, so she reached out to The Anna Maria Island Sun.

The Sun called the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, which spends millions of tourist tax dollars advertising Anna Maria Island around the world. Executive Director Elliott Falcione was not available for comment and office staff members were unaware of the sign.

A subsequent call to the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) resulted in the typical transfers to multiple departments, but a spokesperson for District 1 – which covers Manatee County – said she would immediately put in a work order to replace the sign.

With refreshingly little government red tape, The Sun was assured the error would be corrected.

Editor’s note: Having restored the integrity of The Sun’s namesake, Dr. Denise is honorary copy editor for the day.

New COVID-19 vaccine available on the Island

New COVID-19 vaccine available on the Island

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Anna Maria Island, Community News, Featured.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – The new COVID-19 booster vaccines aimed at fighting the omicron subvariants hit local pharmacies late last week after final approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Pharmacists at both Walgreens and CVS in Holmes Beach confirmed the updated vaccine is in stock and available.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the new booster is an updated formulation that targets both the original strain and the omicron subvariants, similar to how the flu vaccine is reformulated every year to best defend against the current strains in circulation.

The CDC is recommending that everyone 12 and older get the vaccine, as long as it’s been at least two months since their last vaccine or three months since they have tested positive for COVID-19. Those who have not received any vaccine must get vaccinated with the primary series first – two doses of the original Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or two doses of Novavax or one dose of Johnson & Johnson.

The CDC recommends asking your doctor if or when you should get the vaccine, or what the possible side effects are.

While the new COVID-19 subvariants don’t pack the punch of the original, Manatee County COVID community transmission levels have been at medium or high for more than 20 consecutive weeks, with some contracting COVID more than once in a matter of two or three months. While the effects can be deadly, more commonly people miss work and feel generally miserable for a week, longer in some cases.

Island Players ready for 74th season

Island Players ready for 74th season

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Entertainment, Theater.

ANNA MARIA – The Island Players are getting in their last few rehearsals before they begin their 2022-23 season on Thursday, Sept. 15 with their production of James Yaffe’s Cliffhanger, which will run through Sunday, Sept. 25.

“This show is written and set in the mid-80s featuring a college professor and his wife who end up in a thriller murder mystery type of story, but it’s not your average thriller,” director Mike Lusk said. “This play is not technically a comedy, but I’m finding comedic moments; I know our audiences enjoy that. Without even changing the script, we’re just punching up those moments.”

The plot involves Professor Henry Lowenthal, who accidentally kills his boss when she ruins his retirement plans. Now Henry and his devoted wife, Polly, must find a foolproof method to dispose of the body despite frequent visits from a persistent student and a suspicious police lieutenant.

The players are Henry Lowenthal (Rick Kopp), Polly Lowenthal (Cathy Hansel-Edgerton), Edith Wilshire (Sue Belvo), Melvin McMullen (Colin Brady) and Dave DeVito (Sam DiGiammarino).

The Island Players often feature familiar faces, and Cliffhanger will be no different. Lusk directed The Savannah Sipping Society last season, and only one cast member, Sam DiGiammarino, hasn’t performed in a previous Island Players production.

This year’s lineup begins with Cliffhanger (Sept. 15-25), I Ought to be in Pictures (Nov. 3-13), The Odd Couple (Jan. 12-29, 2023), The 39 Steps (March 9-26, 2023) and How the Other Half Loves (May 4-14, 2023).

Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at the box office at 10009 Gulf Drive or by calling 941-778-5755. Performances are Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. with Sunday matinees at 2 p.m.

Reel Time: Celebrate the bay

Reel Time: Celebrate the bay

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

The communities that line Sarasota Bay are fortunate to have an active National Estuary Program centered right here in Manatee and Sarasota counties.

First named in the newly-minted Water Quality Act of 1987, the Sarasota Bay National Estuary Program (SBEP) officially began in June 1989 as one of 28 estuaries in the United States that were named by the U.S. Congress as “estuaries of national significance.”

The SBEP is celebrating National Estuaries Week 2022 from Sept. 17-24. During the month of September, the public is welcome and encouraged to attend various events and opportunities to experience and learn more about the area’s critical local bays and waterways!

National Estuaries Week is celebrated every year to showcase the value of bays and estuaries in providing for local communities. An estuary is defined as an area where freshwater and saltwater meet. On the Gulf coast of Florida, estuaries provide habitat for over 70% of key recreational and commercial fish species including snook, redfish, snapper, grouper and mullet. Estuaries also support a host of birds, dolphins and manatees. They are the main driver of the local economy, elevating property values and underpinning local economies. Habitats like mangroves and seagrasses help reduce erosion and storm damage, and add to the overall quality of life here in Florida.

Here are a few of the activities the public can enjoy as they experience and learn about the Sarasota Bay Estuary.

Join SBEP and Oscar Scherer State Park on Wednesday, Sept. 14 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Enjoy a free guided hike to Big Lake and learn about the efforts that go into protecting, restoring, creating and maintaining habitat for water quality and wildlife.

Check out Vertical Oyster Gardens (VOGs) on Tuesday, Sept. 20 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Bayfront Park in Sarasota. VOGs are oyster shells strung with lengths of rope that hang below docks. VOGs help add more habitat to our bays for sessile organisms – oysters, sea squirts and other marine organisms that grow attached to surfaces.

These VOGs have become more important as most shorelines in the greater Sarasota Bay area are “armored,” meaning that they have been engineered with seawalls, bulkheads, and riprap. This armoring reduces the habitat that is available for marine life. While oysters might settle on older concrete seawalls and wooden pilings, vinyl and other newer construction materials and coatings can prevent oysters and other sessile organisms from settling. These materials might extend the life of the seawall, but they severely reduce the amount of habitat available to oysters.

You have the opportunity at this event to learn about and build your own VOGs. Efforts by citizens help create habitat and contribute to our understanding of oyster distribution in Sarasota and Tampa bays.

These are just a few of the opportunities. For a full list and to sign up, visit the Sarasota Bay National Estuaries Week page.

Castles in the Sand

Crashing real estate waves

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

We don’t have a lot of serious wave activity here on the Gulf coast; most of the big rollers are on the Atlantic Ocean side, especially north of Florida. However, if you’re talking real estate wave activity, we certainly have those, but not nearly as erratic as other states are experiencing.

According to the Core-Logic Case-Shiller National Home Price index for the year ending in June, prices rose 18%, down from 19.9% for the prior month. Most economists are saying the housing market has cooled in recent months and nationally, existing home sales have fallen for six straight months through July.

The blame here rests with higher mortgage interest rates, which is adding additional pressure on buyers when they attempt to qualify for mortgage loans. As of this writing, the fixed-rate mortgage average was 5.99%, looking like it will likely go over 6%. This is pushing 3% more than it was a year earlier, accounting for many buyers to be hitting the pause button on home purchases.

Keep in mind that 6% is not a terrible interest rate and should not in and of itself keep buyers from purchasing a home if they can qualify. Nevertheless, sellers are starting to think they may have missed their best opportunity to sell by waiting too long. The reality is that there is a slight downward movement in sale prices and the days of bidding wars and sellers getting over asking price are likely over. This doesn’t mean that sellers are still not making a lot of profit on homes they have owned for even three years, it’s just a little more competitive and adjustments to their marketing plan need to be addressed.

All of this said, Florida so far seems to be inoculated from any serious price reductions. There is a slight downturn in median selling price, but not as much as other areas of the country. Tampa was ranked ninth overall in July based on data received from Florida Atlantic University. The average home selling in Tampa was 58.5% more than the expected price. Fort Myers came in third and Lakeland was seventh. In addition, every city in Florida increased slightly from June to July.

However, Lei Wedge, a professor of finance at the University of South Florida College of Business, said she believes Tampa real estate prices have already peaked. She points out that statistical models often lag behind what is actually happening in the market. Not every financial guru agrees with this, and points to the large influx of buyers from out of state who will prevent prices from dropping as radically as we’re seeing in other parts of the country.

The other potential problem for buyers looking for mortgages in a changing market are where the appraisals will come in. The appraisers and the lenders who hire them are very careful with their final appraisal, which the mortgage amount may be based on. In an escalating market, it is sometimes hard for appraisers to project what the value of the house is without sales comps to support their numbers. In a declining market, it could work to the buyer’s advantage, depending on how the appraisers view and project the market. Either way, appraising is an art, not a science, and appraisers almost always stand by their appraisal numbers, particularly for buyers who are putting down the minimum amount of cash.

Missing the wave isn’t always a bad thing. It gives you a chance to reposition yourself and get ready for the next one. It’s impossible to predict mother nature or the real estate waves.

Castles in the Sand

Real estate websites changing our lives

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

In the good old days of the late 1980s when the state of New York told me I was now capable of selling residential real estate, I knew they had no clue. Of course, I also had no clue, but that was part of the challenge.

That was before the internet and cell phones when every real estate office had a receptionist at the front desk who took messages and buyers and sellers had the good manners to wait until you returned their call. In that era, real estate was mostly confined to print advertising and labor-intense manual systems. Picture this: Listings were collected in three-ring binders for potential buyers to look through. Once they found the perfect home at the perfect asking price in the perfect area, it was out to the realtor’s car for an in-person tour of the home.

Once the multiple listing services were created, realtors could access available properties on the computer, assuming the computer was up and running and the little blue-haired lady who was selling real estate for 100 years could learn the process. And then of course, only licensed realtors could access multiple listing services.

That was then and this is now. In the real estate world of today, every available property for sale is at everyone’s fingertips, controlled by websites all competing for your eyeballs. Here’s a breakdown of the top sites:

The number one site and by far the largest real estate website in the country is Zillow. Zillow or “Zillow Surfing” is without a doubt addictive and provides listings from both the multiple listing services and for sale by owner. The site is free to buyers and sellers and at last count averaged 68 million monthly visitors.

The next most popular site is realtor.com (my personal favorite). The app allows you to search for homes, view pictures and video tours, compare neighborhood criteria like noise levels and provides information on flood zones. Listings are in real time and generally reflect all multiple listing properties.

Next up is Trulia, which focuses on local information and allows for personalized alerts with links to pre-qualified financing and financial calculators. Trulia may be a little too technical for the average property surfer but good to use when you have narrowed down your favorite location.

These are the most well-known and the most popular, but there are plenty more like apartments.com, FSBO.com and Homes for Heroes. There are also several home-buying websites that come and go on a regular basis. Zillow tried their hand at this, but their timing was off, starting when home prices were on a sharp rise. They have since dropped out but there are two others who are active – Flyhomes.com and Homelight.com.

Something that just came to my attention is a website called Roofstock.com, which provides listings and data for investors interested in rental properties to buy. Small investors are actively purchasing properties frequently out of state and are becoming “Laptop Landlords.” They claim they’re the number one platform for small and large remote investors looking to purchase rental properties.

The National Association of Realtors reports that approximately 51% of buyers found the home they purchased on the internet, only 28% found their home through their realtor and 4% from yard signs.

The good thing about the 1980s was the pace was considerably slower than today, which made it a lot easier to learn and bluff your way through situations you haven’t yet had the time to learn. Every day was a challenge and a learning experience, and so much more fun. Our lives may be different now, but I still miss those binders.