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Tag: Anna Maria Island

Castles in the Sand

Condo living getting more complicated

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

Florida is the mecca for condo living. East coast, west coast, the Panhandle, Orlando – no matter where you go in Florida, it’s likely you will trip over a condominium complex. However, the carefree condo living turnkey lifestyle so many Floridians have come to love is under the scrutiny of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

I’ve written frequently about needing a “condo personality” to successfully embrace the condo lifestyle. “Live and let live” is the approach all condo owners should adopt. Losing total control of your property and the ability to make even small decisions is not for everyone.

You may love that all of the landscaping is taken care of, but you may hate that you can’t plant your tomatoes at the beginning of the season. You may love that you don’t need to clean and add chemicals to the pool, but you may hate when another resident tells you your grandchildren are making too much noise. And you may love that the roof repairs are someone else’s responsibility, but you won’t like the special assessment you have to pay to do the repairs.

Now, after the Surfside catastrophe, as predicted, there is more fallout. Florida lawmakers have passed legislation requiring recertification of condominium buildings three stories or taller that are more than 30 years old, or more than 25 years old within 3 miles of the coast, ongoing every 10 years thereafter. Now Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are getting into the act.

The majority of lenders follow Fannie and Freddie guidelines when they are qualifying individuals for home mortgages, and they in turn guarantee the loans. Now Fannie and Freddie are requiring certain actions in order to mitigate their risk of loss for mortgages they are backing. The quasi-governmental agencies are creating a database of condominiums ineligible for financing and, therefore, they will not approve mortgages for buyers in these buildings.

Primarily they are looking for maintenance issues in older condo buildings that will make them ineligible for secured mortgages. The major issue is significant deferred maintenance and unsafe conditions. Are the deficiencies, defects, substantial damage or deferred maintenance severe enough to affect the safety, soundness, structural integrity or habitability of the property? Do the required improvements impede the safe and sound functioning of one or more of the building’s major structural or mechanical elements? And has the building not passed or completed inspection required by local ordinance or state statute?

In addition, lenders, with the assistance of condo boards and/or managers, are being asked to complete a questionnaire regarding the condition of the building. Most of the questions involve knowledge of deficiencies in structural integrity and safety. Some of these questions can be answered by board members, who are usually residents of the building, but others may require professional documentation. As of now the permanent requirements are still being worked on and will be available to lenders in the coming months.

This will be a new responsibility for condo boards whose directors are charged with maintaining buildings and preserving their value. If a lender is uncertain or unable to confirm the safety of the building, they will decline the loan so as not to jeopardize their relationship with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

At this point it’s confusing, but will probably smooth out over time. If you own a condo unit or are considering purchasing one, be aware of changes on the horizon. Even if your purchase does not require financing, you still want to guarantee the building you’re purchasing is secure in order to keep your carefree lifestyle carefree.

Reel Time: Fishing with Captain Kevin Wessel

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

My pliers were in one hand and a fly was in the other as I prepared to cut the leader and change flies. Pausing, I looked up to check with Capt. Kevin Wessel before committing.

“Tarpon coming at 11 o’clock,” he said. When I asked if I had time to change the fly, he shook his head “no.”

Stepping up to the bow, I saw the fish about 50 feet away and made a cast, leading them about 10 feet. After pausing to let the fly sink, I put the cork handle under my arm and started stripping with both hands to bring the fly to “life.” Three strips later and the line came tight as the second tarpon in the string broke ranks to inhale the worm pattern. I set the hook with a quick, sharp strip strike and moved the rod to my hands as fly line leaped from the deck, wrapping around my left hand in the process. Luckily, I was able to shake it free just as the fish bolted away from the boat.

Reel Time: Fishing with Capt. Kevin Wessel
Capt. Kevin Wessel, an accomplished photographer, captured this awesome image of a leaping tarpon. – Capt. Kevin Wessel | Submitted

This was a big, hot fish and his first run took all my fly line and about 150 yards of backing. The run was interrupted only briefly as the tarpon made a spectacular head shaking jump just feet from Mike Adno, a friend who was fishing to the north of us. After the jump, the fish went around Adno’s anchor line and made a hard left, heading west. Fortunately, he was able to disconnect and release the line as I slackened my drag to prevent a possible break-off.

Looking back at Wessel I suggested we chase the fish as I noticed that half of my backing had disappeared from the reel with no sign of the run ending. Quickly releasing the anchor, he started the motor and we followed as I furiously reeled in backing. When I had the fly line back on the reel, I started to work the tarpon, swinging the rod right, then left, applying maximum pressure trying to throw the fish off balance.

This trip was turning out to be very rewarding on many levels. My friend Andy Grosso had won the trip in a raffle at the Compound Boardshop in Sarasota during the annual Fly-Fishing Film Tour event. Hosted by The Mangrove Coast Fly Fishers, the funds raised went to the environmental group Suncoast Waterkeeper.

After about 20 minutes and several jumps, I had the leader in the guides (considered a catch) for the fourth time when I applied additional pressure, parting the 16-pound class tippet (the weakest link). After high fives, I cracked a celebratory beer and Grosso – who had jumped and broken off a tarpon earlier – stepped to the bow. Moments later, a distant rain cloud obscured the late afternoon sun, making spotting fish impossible until they were right under the boat. It was after 6 p.m., so we decided to call it a day.

Although it’s always hard to leave tarpon when they’re feeding, we had experienced a great day of fishing. Capt. Wessel had correctly guessed, based on over two decades of experience, that it would be an afternoon bite, coinciding with a strong outgoing tide. We had started at 1 p.m. and found schools of fish everywhere in super clear water. It was beautiful to behold and good target practice, but it wasn’t until the tide was in full retreat that the fish began feeding.

In five hours, we had thrown at hundreds of tarpon, jumped two, landed one, and had multiple looks, leans and follows. Capt. Kevin Wessel can be reached for charters by calling 941-915-9514. Check out his website and book online.

Castles in the Sand

Money flowing into Florida

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

I recently read an interesting historical novel about the wealthy landowners in the South in the years just before the Civil War. These privileged folks moved their entire households, including their money – carried in the form of gold transported in chests – to escape the summer heat. Well, things haven’t changed that much, only this time the money is in the form of wire transfers and the migration isn’t from a warm climate but to a warm climate.

According to the IRS’s report about migration of taxpayers between states, 2020 was a banner year for states with low tax policies, and guess which state accrued the most income? Florida had $23.7 billion more in income for 2020, followed by Texas with $6.3 billion and Arizona with $4.8 billion. Of the remaining top income-producing states, no one was even close to Florida, which stands alone in this area.

I probably don’t need to tell you where all of this wealth is being transferred from, but I will: California, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey and other Northeastern states. New York state lost the most income, topping out at $19.5 billion.

Obviously, the flow of money is attached to their owners moving to our state and looking for properties to purchase, which accounts for the following analysis of $1-million-and-over properties in our area. This report covers six months from Nov. 1, 2021, through April 30, 2022. The available and pending properties are from the realtor.com website and the closed properties are from the Manatee County Property Appraiser’s website.

In Cortez, currently on the market or pending there are three properties listed over $1 million;  at $4,750,000, $3,350,000 and $2,950,000. The new community of Hunters Point has several properties listed, all of them over $1 million, starting at $1,850,000.

Anna Maria has 44 properties listed or pending $1 million or over; three over $8 million, two over $6 million, three over $5 million, seven over $4 million, nine over $3 million, 17 over $2 million and three over $1 million. The combined cities of Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach have 69 properties listed or pending over $1 million; one listed over $28 million, one listed over $14 million, one listed over $11 million, one listed over $19 million and one listed over $7 million. There are also four listed over $6 million, one listed over $5 million, five listed over $4 million, seven listed over $3 million, 24 listed over $2 million and 23 listed over $1 million.

As far as closed properties, Cortez had five over $1 million. Anna Maria had 82 over $1 million, two over $9 million, one over $7 million, two over $6 million, three over $5 million, five over $4 million, six over $3 million, 29 over $2 million and 34 over $1 million. The combined cities of Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach closed 128 properties over $1 million, five over $9 million, one over $8 million, one over $5 million, 12 over $4 million, eight over $3 million, 26 over $2 million and 75 over $1 million.

All three areas increased their closed sales from the previous six months by approximately 30% to 50%. The available and pending listings also increased, but by a much smaller amount. In addition, the selling and listing prices are also higher than six months ago.

Our new residents may not have gold in their suitcases, but the cash keeps flowing into Florida anyway, and not for just a visit, as in years past, but for a lifetime. The rest of the country may be slowing down, but Florida isn’t getting the message.

Reel Time: Never Stop Learning

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

Merriam Webster’s Dictionary defines learning as “knowledge or skill acquired by instruction or study.”

As most anglers will attest, that’s how we’ve gained the ability to successfully target (occasionally) different species of fish. That learning probably came from a plethora of sources. I count fishing guides, experienced anglers, the internet, television, books and magazines for a lot of what I’ve learned. If you’ve been around the water for any length of time, you’ve probably experienced that one of the best teachers of all is the mistakes we’ve made along the way.

I often vocalize the fact that “The more I know, the more I know how much I don’t know,” but recently that phrase came into sharper focus when I was fly fishing with an accomplished angler who is younger than I am. During several days on the water, he commented on several things I was doing that he thought, if changed, could improve my fishing. During that same time, I had a few critiques for him as well. At the time, both of us assumed we were right and the other was wrong. As it turned out he was right and so was I. I think in the end we both became better anglers as a result.

He criticized the fact that I trailed a few feet of fly line in the water when I was on the bow. I developed that habit as a way of getting a cast off quickly by being able to load the rod sooner, avoiding extra false casts. When I argued that the line being right beside the boat couldn’t possibly spook fish, in my mind I was right. As it turned out he was right and I was wrong, but for a different reason. As it turned out, not having that line in the water avoided getting it fouled with floating algae and grass and potentially blowing a shot at a fish. As it turned out, now that I have a few years of casting under my belt, I can get a cast off in plenty of time with less line. The trailing line wasn’t needed most of the time.

Stretching fly line before casting might not be necessary, but it’s a good idea to check for memory. – Rusty Chinnis | Sun

When he stepped up to the bow that same morning and didn’t stretch his fly line it was my turn for a critique. I make a habit of stripping off the line I think I’ll need and then cast it out and stretch it to be ready for a presentation. Most fly lines have what is called “memory” from sitting on the reel and form coils that can foul a cast in the guides if not stretched. The stretching relaxes the line. The day after that trip he texted me to say I would have laughed because he had chased a school of jacks on the beach and when he went to cast, the unstretched line fouled in the guides.

There are times when having a trailing line is useful, for example, when there’s poor visibility, and then only if you watch for floating debris. The same can be said for not stretching line when using a line with little or no stretch.

The lesson I learned in all of this is not to get fixed in doing something a certain way and becoming inflexible. Now I’ll attempt to listen first, reason, and argue later. The bottom line: Keep an open mind and never stop learning.

Getting coconutty on AMI

Getting coconutty on AMI

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Business.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Very few things bring to mind the feeling of lazing on a white sand beach enjoying the ocean breeze like drinking from a freshly cracked coconut. The couple behind AMI Coconuts is committed to bringing that piece of paradise to Manatee County.

When Robert and Jennifer McGraw relocated from Ohio to Anna Maria Island in August 2021, it was to bring their children to a place where they could ride out the COVID-19 pandemic in a warmer climate. After making their home near the beaches of Anna Maria Island, the couple became involved in the community and decided to launch a new business.

“We didn’t really expect the community that’s here,” Jennifer McGraw said. “They’ve all supported us and our new business. It’s been incredible.”

Getting coconutty on AMI
Robert and Jennifer McGraw are the husband-and-wife team behind AMI Coconuts, a new boutique business bringing fresh coconuts to Southwest Florida. – Submitted | AMI Coconuts

While holding a coconut one day while talking to a friend, Robert McGraw said he came up with the idea to bring fresh coconuts to the Island. Only a few months later, AMI Coconuts now imports fresh coconuts from Costa Rica and serves them at private events and several local restaurants.

“They’re the freshest coconuts you can find,” Jennifer McGraw said, with her husband adding that rather than several weeks old, like many of the coconuts imported from Thailand, the coconuts they bring to the Island are only five days old.

The coconuts brought in by the couple are served locally at Mar Vista, The BeachHouse, The Sandbar, the Moose Lodge in Bradenton Beach, the Kokonut Hut at the Gulf Drive Café and aboard the Island Princess. While some of the coconuts and the coconut water inside them are used to make mixed drinks, others are used as drink containers and all the coconuts are custom branded with each location’s logo, making them a fun souvenir to take home.

In addition to their work with local restaurants, the McGraws also host their own coconut cocktail parties, serve coconuts at special events and provide coconuts for weddings and other private events. For anyone wanting something special for their event, the couple will create a custom brand to mark the coconuts, given about two weeks’ notice. For orders without a custom brand, the McGraws can make local same-day deliveries.

For more information about AMI Coconuts or to arrange for an order or special event, visit the McGraws online at www.AMICoconuts.com.

Committee to focus on prevention

Clean water group poses solutions to algae blooms

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Algae, Featured, Outdoors.

HOLMES BEACH – As members of the city’s Clean Water Ad-Hoc Committee seek solutions to water quality issues already plaguing the area, Mayor Judy Titsworth wants them to shift focus to their overall goal – prevention.

Committee members met recently to get water testing results, review feedback from city commissioners and hear from Suncoast Waterkeeper Chair Rusty Chinnis, The Sun’s outdoors columnist.

During the meeting, Titsworth stepped up to the podium to talk about different devices that could be used to remediate algae problems around Anna Maria Island. She said that none of the devices she’s seen so far are really impressive in their capabilities. She also added that while using a device to churn the water and push lyngbya algae mats out of canals and into the bay would help improve the quality of life for residents, it doesn’t solve the problem, which is preventing the algae blooms in the first place.

“It’s a Band-Aid,” she said of the devices. “The big goal is prevention.”

Members of the committee agreed, but some said they’d like to look into the possibility of using skimmers to remove the algae mats from the top of the water. The problem with those, Titsworth said, is that once captured, the algae needs to be disposed of. She said that some of the skimmers would break up algae, which would also cause it to sink, decomposing on the bottom of waterways and creating excess nitrogen, which causes waterways to deteriorate.

“We have to fix the water,” committee member Scott Ricci said. “If we fix the water, the algae goes away.”

Committee to focus on prevention
Environmental advocate Rusty Chinnis spoke to members of the Holmes Beach Clean Water Ad-Hoc Committee during a June 8 meeting. – Kristin Swain | Sun

Chinnis told the committee that local waterways have lost approximately 15 years’ worth of seagrass in just three years, illustrating the issue of deteriorating water quality. He encouraged committee members to do everything possible to get in front of politicians to demand change and work to prevent problems rather than focus on dealing with the aftermath.

Chinnis said that he doesn’t think using equipment to push algae blooms around or to skim them off the top of the water will help. With such large algae mats forming, along with fish kills and red tide algae, he said that even with skimming some off the top, too much material will still sink and decompose, leading to higher nitrogen levels that encourage more lyngbya and red tide blooms.

Steve Swan gave committee members the results of a water quality test conducted in the 59th Street canal in Holmes Beach. He said that not only is the nitrogen level in the sample very high at over 12 milliliters per liter, but the algae level also is extremely high. The test to see how much oxygen is in the water showed that the area’s waterways are very stressed, with oxygen levels depleted, Swan said.

Committee members agreed to put more of their $30,000 budget toward water sampling, testing drinking water and algae remediation efforts. They also plan to provide freelance employee support to the city, if needed, to manage a website giving tips and advice to the public on how to change actions to prevent excess nutrients and algae in area waterways.

Castles in the Sand

Tallahassee finally at work

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

Just when you think it’s hopeless, there is a sliver of hope. The special session of the Florida Legislature is finally getting some changes on the books related to condominium recertification and homeowner’s insurance, all in the same week.

The special session called by Gov. Ron DeSantis was originally meant to address skyrocketing property insurance rates, however, the condominium safety bill was added to the agenda at the last minute. Both subjects were addressed in bills passed by the House and the Senate and signed by the governor.

Broadly, this is the outline of the condominium recertification requirements:

  • Recertification of condos three stories or taller will be required after 30 years, or 25 years if the building is within 3 miles of the coast, and every 10 years thereafter.
  • In addition, the bill requires that condominium associations have sufficient reserves to pay for major repairs and conduct a study of the reserves every decade.
  • Also, it will require associations to provide inspection reports to owners, and if structural repairs are needed, work must begin within a year of the report. Most of the provisions in the law will take effect in 2024, giving everyone some time to prepare.

There are estimated to be more than 1.5 million condominium units in Florida operated by nearly 28,000 associations, according to a legislative analysis conducted earlier this year. Of those, more than 912,000 are older than 30 years and are home to more than 2 million residents. With only about 650 certified structural engineers in the state, this will be a problem in getting the recertification program up and running in a timely manner.

As far as the homeowner’s insurance proposals, legislators came up with several short- and long-term fixes for the insurance market. Some of the proposals are:

  • Preventing insurers from dropping or refusing to insure homes solely because of a roof’s age if the roof is less than 10 years old.
  • For roofs older than 15 years, insurers will have to allow homeowners to have an inspection of the roof’s condition before refusing coverage.
  • Legislators also placed numerous limits on the fees lawyers can collect in lawsuits against insurers. Insurers have continually blamed excessive litigation by trial lawyers and claims triggered by fraudulent roofers for driving up the costs.
  • Legislators also agreed to assign $2 billion to create a new program for reinsurance – insurance that insurers buy – and require any companies that use it to pass those savings on to homeowners.
  • Enhancing scrutiny of insurers that fail.

At this point, no one can predict if rates will go down. My fear is that stricter regulations regarding roofs and scrutiny of companies will not sit well with the insurance companies and give them a reason not to do business in Florida. They will, however, like making it more difficult for lawyers to bring lawsuits. That said, we need to start somewhere, and hopefully Florida insurance companies will decide that our state is a good place to do business with a huge pool of homeowners.

The Florida real estate market has so much going for it, it’s important to everyone to make sure our buildings are safe and our insurance is affordable.

Reel Time: Making fishing fun

Reel Time: Make fishing fun

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

Lately, it seems we’re constantly reminded how our experiences growing up molded us into the kind of person we are today. The all-too-often-heart wrenching news we’re seeing emphasizes just how important it is to give children positive, optimistic and life-affirming experiences growing up.

Introducing children to fishing, the natural world that supports it and working together with others to accomplish a goal can create the foundations of a healthy and well-adjusted adult if we strive to make fishing uncomplicated and as much fun as possible. Those experiences on the water leave indelible memories and help impart the importance of camaraderie, the natural world and a desire to protect it for future generations.

Creating unrealistic expectations can discourage young anglers and be the difference between the kindling of a passion or an aversion to the activity. The basics of fishing are easy to teach and don’t require expensive equipment. If there’s a cardinal rule to getting kids interested in fishing, it’s to keep them engaged. Children are naturally curious; they love to play in and on the water and are fascinated by the creatures they find there. Catching fish isn’t their main objective and you shouldn’t make it the focus of an outing. It’s important to plan a trip that includes other activities like swimming, wildlife identification and snorkeling as well as fishing.

Being on the water provides an excellent opportunity to teach kids about their environment and boating safety skills. It’s important to let kids be a part of the adventure and getting them involved is a great way to interject a lesson in responsibility. Let them drive the boat even if they’re just sitting on your lap while you steer. Introduce them to navigating the Intracoastal Waterway and give them things to be in charge of such as making sure everyone knows where the safety equipment is.

Don’t start children out with cheap fishing rods and reels. Provide them with decent equipment that’s light and manageable. An ultra-light rig with 6-pound test line is a great way to start. Try and think like a kid when fishing. Children would rather catch a dozen pinfish in a half-hour than wait hours for a chance at a bigger or better fish. Action is paramount; kids are easily bored and distracted.

Consider starting kids fishing with a small popping cork that they can watch for signs of action. If you can start teaching kids that the enjoyment of the adventure isn’t measured by the number or size of fish you catch, you’ll teach them an important lesson that many anglers never learn. If you can make the experience interesting for them, even if they don’t catch anything they are more likely to want to do it again. Kids might be more interested in collecting shells, counting crabs or looking for manatees or dolphins than fishing, so be sensitive to what’s bringing them pleasure.

It’s also important to emphasize safety, bending down barbs and making them aware of fish with sharp teeth and stingers like catfish and stingrays. These first experiences on the water are very important and you should consider a plan of action in advance in case the fishing isn’t great. The last thing you want to do is bore kids by sitting on a spot too long. Keep your eyes and ears open and you might learn a lesson or two from them!

hurricane

Hurricane Guide

Written by Sun staff on . Posted in Hurricane Guide Archives.

It’s that time of year again – hurricane season. Keep an eye on the weather from June 1 to Nov. 30, and check out these tips to get you ready.

https://amisun.com/2022/05/31/busy-huricane-season-predicted/

https://amisun.com/2022/05/31/hurricane-categories/

https://amisun.com/2022/05/31/2022-atlantic-hurricane-season-names/

https://amisun.com/2022/05/31/build-your-disaster-supply-kit/

https://amisun.com/2022/05/31/prepare-your-house-pool-and-yard/

 

https://amisun.com/2022/05/31/prepare-your-boat-for-a-hurricane/

https://amisun.com/2022/05/31/manatee-county-hurricane-shelter-list/

https://amisun.com/2022/05/31/special-needs-help-available/

https://amisun.com/2022/05/31/prepare-your-pets-for-storms/

https://amisun.com/2022/05/31/tips-for-surviving-hurricane-season/

https://amisun.com/2022/05/31/stay-connected/

Busy hurricane season predicted

Written by Sun staff on . Posted in Hurricane Guide Archives.

The forecasters at Colorado State University’s Tropical Weather and Climate Research department predict a busier than average 2022 hurricane season for the Atlantic basin, including the Gulf of Mexico. The season could spawn 19 named storms with nine of those turning into hurricanes and four becoming major hurricanes.

To be named, a storm must have wind speeds of 39 mph or higher with a circular rotational pattern. Hurricanes are named storms with winds of 74 mph or higher while a major hurricane is considered one that ranks as a category 3, 4 or 5 storm with wind speeds beginning at 111 mph.

Forecasters anticipate that with increased water surface temperatures in the Caribbean and subtropical Atlantic seas, there is an above-average chance of major hurricanes making landfall along the southern U.S. and in the Caribbean.

The forecasters at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center are predicting yet another busier-than-average Atlantic hurricane season, with the possibility of 13-20 named storms, six to 10 hurricanes and three to five major hurricanes classified as Category 3, 4 or 5.

To be named, a storm must have wind speeds of 39 mph or higher with a circular rotational pattern. Hurricanes are named storms with winds of 74 mph or higher, while a major hurricane is considered one that ranks as a Category 3, 4 or 5 storm with wind speeds of 111 mph or higher.

NOAA forecasters also predict a 60% chance of an above-normal hurricane season, a 30% chance of a near-normal season and a 10% chance of a below-normal season. Reasons for the predictions include above-average ocean surface temperatures in the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean, no El Nino conditions to suppress hurricane formation and a possible return of La Nina conditions later in the season.

Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30.

Prepare your house, pool and yard

Written by Sun staff on . Posted in Hurricane Guide Archives.

Here’s how to secure your home, pool and yard before a storm.

 Home preparation

  • Install shutters on all openings, including windows, doors, sliding glass doors, French doors and garage doors
  • If using plywood, purchase 5/8″ thick plywood well before a storm arrives, pre-measure, pre-drill and label each piece, or buy clips to attach plywood to window frames
  • Install impact resistant windows
  • Caulk or install weather stripping around windows
  • Install three door hinges on outside doors
  • Install deadbolts that extend one inch into the door jamb on outside doors
  • Repair loose or missing roof shingles
  • Inspect soffits for adequate fasteners
  • Replace loose or missing soffits
  • Outside, seal openings from air conditioning refrigerant lines, water heater pressure relief lines, water pipes, cable and satellite TV wires, telephone wires, Internet wires and exhaust fan vents from bathroom, kitchen, clothes dryer
  • Inside, seal around electrical boxes and circuit breaker panels, electrical outlets, exhaust fan vents
  • Bring loose items inside, including garbage cans, lawn furniture, decorations, hoses, hanging plants, grills
  • Turn off or disconnect electric, gas, water and sewer before evacuating

Mobile home preparation

  • Inspect, repair or add tie-down straps and anchors according to Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles standards
  • Make sure straps are properly aligned and not on an angle
  • Check to be sure the proper number of tie-downs have been installed properly
  • Verify that ground anchors and stabilizer plates have been installed properly
  • Be sure support piers are in contact with the frame
  • Replace straps or ground anchors that show signs of corrosion or damage.
  • Inspect and repair wood rot and termite damage in wall-to-floor connections, wall-to-roof connections, perimeter joists and trusses
  • Inspect fasteners if home has a roof-over
  • Close shutters
  • Secure loose outdoor objects
  • Turn off or disconnect electricity, gas, water and sewer
  • Establish a community evacuation plan for your mobile home park
  • Make a list of residents’ phone numbers, altern ate addresses
  • Assign each neighbor a partner to help them evacuate

Swimming pool preparation

  • Lower the water level to reduce flooding potential
  • Do not empty the pool, it could pop out of the ground
  • Turn off electrical power to the pool
  • Store filter pump motor indoors to keep it dry
  • Store loose items indoors, not in pool, to protect from chemicals
  • Add extra chlorine to use pool water for washing and flushing
  • Inspect and repair or replace pool screen hardware
  • Remove two opposite pool screen panels to allow wind to blow through

Yard preparation

  • Trim weak branches
  • Hire licensed trimmers to trim near power lines
  • Trim early enough before storm to allow branches to be removed from property to keep them from becoming projectiles.

 

Moss, Gitt season champions

Moss, Gitt season champions

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

ANNA MARIA – The final whistle blew Thursday night, marking the end of another action-packed soccer season at The Center. Youth champions, The Gitt Team and Moss Builders, were named earlier in the week. Team Moss Builders also eked out a 7-6 win to earn the Paul “Ace” Hayward Cup over the Salty Printing squad in a high-stakes shootout.

The Gitt Team’s teamwork, with standout play by striker Callin Westfall, with a hat trick, and critical stops by the league’s Goalie of the Year, Kason Davis, pushed them toward a 3-2 victory in the big game.

Their opponent, Flip Flop Candy Shop, worked the field without Preston LaPensee, one of the league’s MVPs for the season. Luca Rosenkrans scored the only goal for his team. An own goal by The Gitt Team put a point on the scoreboard for the Flip Flop team.

Keilee Mulcahy, goalie for team Flip Flop Candy Shop, helped to hold the score to a one-point game with six important saves.

Despite the work of the entire Flip Flop team all season, the win was just not in the cards.

Moss, Gitt season champions
The Gitt team won the final game of the season against Flip Flop Candy Shop, making them champions of the 8- to 10-year-old recreational soccer league at The Center. – Monica Simpson | Sun

The Gitt Team finished the season not only with the championship and goalie accolades, but the team’s Tess Bolognone was awarded the league’s other MVP honors.

Solid Rock Construction’s Luke Willing was named the league’s Most Improved Player for the season. Defensive honors went to Aidan Guess for Tidy MD. Camden Rudacille took home the Sportsmanship award for the 8- to 10-year-old league.

In the 11- to 14-year-old league, Moss Builders’ Addie Guess was Rudacille’s counterpart, winning the Sportsmanship award. Guess and her teammates fought hard against team Shady Lady in the final game of the season.

With everything on the line, Jack Mattick worked the field and Shady Lady defense, scoring all four goals for the Moss Builders team.

In goal for Moss, Charlie Serra made five important stops, as Maddox Culhane and Jayden Sparks made him work the duration of the game. Culhane and Sparks each had solo goals in the game.

Protecting his team’s goal, Jack Zaccagnino also had five saves, helping to keep the championship within reach. Jack’s brother, Jesse, was voted Goalie of the Year for the league.

Despite the team effort by Shady Lady, without key player Victor Albrecht, the Moss Builders squad’s earned the championship to close out the youth soccer season.

The league finished with top honors to two HSH and two Miz & Hiz Biz players. HSH’s Ava Gitt was named the Most Improved Player and Konnor Oelfke, playing for Miz & Hiz Biz, won the Defensive MVP award.

League Offensive MVP distinctions were earned by Miz & Hiz Biz’s Cecelia Kroth and HSH’s Frankie Coleman.

Thursday’s night action for the adult co-ed soccer league included both semifinal action and the big game. After eliminating Sato Real Estate and Gulfview Windows & Doors, respectively, teams Moss Builders and Salty Printing went to work on the pitch.

Starting the season winless until the last weeks, Salty Printing came into the playoffs with nothing to lose and everything to prove.

Team Moss Builders, having won the championship before, played to win.

Both sides of midfield fought hard for two full halves of regulation play, finishing with no points on the scoreboard.

With five additional minutes on the clock, overtime play commenced and ended once again with a scoreless game. The stalemate took the game to a shootout, with the spectators cheering and excitement in the air.

Finishing field play with 11 saves in the game, Salty Printing’s Tuna McCracken took the line for the first penalty kick by Olaf Krause. Krause’s strike drifted to the left of the post.

Ryan Moss was on the line for Moss Builders, saving 12 shots during timed play. Salty Printing’s Kevin Roman made the first shot, followed by another by Luca Vecchio after Hakan Toka missed for his team.

Moss, Gitt season champions
The Paul “Ace” Hayward Cup winners, Moss Builders, “smiledeep” in “Ace’s Corner” at the Island’s community center. – Monica Simpson | Sun

Greg Moss finally eluded McCracken, scoring Moss Builders’ first goal in the game.

Alternating back and forth, Tyler Brewer and Chris Culhane made the next goals for Salty Printing, while Eduardo Filipe and R. Moss scored for Moss Builders.

With everything tied up again and two consecutive missed shots for both teams, the line ups came back around with Roman and G. Moss each making a shot.

Vecchio and Filipe hit their next shots, making the last shot by each team critical.

After a full round of penalty shots and the score six all, Moss Builders’ Gerardo Urbiola’s shot went past McCracken after going off his fingertips.

Brewer placed the soccer ball on the line for Salty Printing, with the pressure of knowing that his shot would either tie or lose the game for his team. The adrenaline of the moment sent the ball sailing over the fence, ending the championship game with a score of 7-6.

 

Sun Scoreboard

Monday, May 23

8- to 10-Year-Old League Semifinal Playoff Games

Beach Bums 3

Flip Flop Candy Shop 5

 

Tidy MD 0

The Gitt Team 1

11- to 14-Year-Old League Semifinal Playoff Games

 

Moss Builders Win by Forfeit

HSH Loss

 

Shady Lady 5

Miz & Hiz Biz 4

 

Wednesday, May 25

8- to 10-Year-Old League Championship Game

 

The Gitt Team 3

Flip Flop Candy Shop 2

 

11- to 14-Year-Old League Championship Game

 

Moss Builders 4

Shady Lady 2

 

Thursday, May 26

 

Adult Co-Ed Soccer Semifinal Playoff Games

 

Sato Real Estate 2

Moss Builders 3

 

Salty Printing 4

Gulfview Windows & Doors 2

 

Adult Co-Ed Soccer Championship Game

Moss Builders 7 (Shootout Win)

Salty Printing 6

Castles in the Sand

Can’t be, not again – it’s hurricane season

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

As we get older, the years tick by more quickly – or so it seems – and here we are again looking down the barrel of the 2022 North Atlantic hurricane season cannon.

As usual, Colorado State University has released their predictions for the 2022 hurricane season. Also as usual, the season is predicted to be above average.

The average number of named storms in the North Atlantic stands at 14, seven of them hurricanes and three of them major hurricanes. The prediction for 2022 is 19 named storms, nine of them hurricanes and four major hurricanes, because of warmer waters and a lack of El Nino conditions, according to CSU. This is slightly above last year’s predictions of 17 named storms, eight hurricanes and four major hurricanes.

The fun part of the beginning of hurricane season, if you can justify anything fun about hurricanes, is the names we can expect to hear any day now. This year starts with Alex and ends with Walter. Along the way we have Danielle, Lisa and Richard, among others, but my favorite of this season is Hermine, number eight in the list. Hopefully, we won’t run out of names this year.

The not-so-fun part of getting ready for hurricane season is preparing your home and your family in the event that Hermine comes knocking. The obvious items to add to your hurricane preparedness list are non-perishable foods, usually in cans (don’t forget the manual can opener), bottled water (buy it now; it’s the first thing to fly off the shelves when a storm is coming), batteries, cash, full tank of gas, prescriptions, candles or battery-operated lights, and if you still have a land line telephone, it’s not a bad idea to hang on to it or at the very least keep your cell phones and iPads fully charged if you’re facing a storm.

Remove any outdoor flying objects, furniture, toys, plants and awnings that can turn into missiles aimed at your windows. Secure your boats or move them to dry land if possible. Put together a briefcase with important papers if you need to evacuate like insurance policies, school records, home mortgage information, recent tax returns, bank records, investment records, even important photos or diplomas just in case.

If you live in a potential evacuation area, like I do, make a list of local hotels off the water or set up a safe house with a friend or relative to go to. You always have the official Manatee County shelter evacuation locations; know where yours is.

The mymanatee.org website has a great deal of information concerning everything I just outlined, but in much more detail. It’s worth taking the time to read it and to implement some of their recommendations. Hopefully by now you have upgraded your home to conform to hurricane guidelines, securing all windows, doors and roofs.

A quick note about another disaster. The 2021 Champlain Towers South collapse has been settled to resolve the wrongful death claims brought by family members of the 98 victims. The settlement was for $997 million; this was on top of the settlement earlier this year for the property damage claims of about $83 million.

Let’s hope the families of these poor people can find some peace. Let’s also hope that we can get through this hurricane season peacefully as well, and that Hermine or Gaston or Paula behave themselves. Be safe.

Reel Time: Jack crevalle, pit bull of the sea

Reel Time: Jack crevalle, pit bulls of the sea

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

For most local anglers, jack crevalle is not a target species. That’s pretty much true for fly and spin anglers as well as those that troll the beaches and passes. Most jack crevalle are caught inshore by anglers fishing for trout, redfish and snook. Small jack crevalle are considered trash fish by many because they are caught while targeting a different species and aren’t great fighters. All that changes when a jack over 5 pounds is hooked.

The fight and tenacity of this fish usually provides a new appreciation of these “pit bulls” of the sea. During the summer months, it’s not uncommon to encounter large marauding groups of big jack crevalle along local beaches where they pursue schools of baitfish. While even “smallish” jacks can put up a feisty battle, larger members of the species are incredibly challenging. A big jack on the west coast will run about 15-20 pounds and can put up an awe-inspiring fight. It’s not uncommon for a 20-plus-pound jack crevalle to fight for 15-20 minutes. Over the years, I’ve come to appreciate these tenacious marauders, and while I don’t usually target them, I never turn down a cast at a big fish.

When you encounter large schools of fish, the best choice of lures is a popper. There’s something about the disturbance on the surface that drives these fish wild. Catching them on a fly meant for tarpon is another challenge, but there’s a trick to enticing them. On numerous occasions, I have fished the edges of a school of feeding jacks only to have them inspect and turn down my flies. After a little experimenting, I found the “secret” was to toss the fly into the center of the school and to strip as fast as possible. The fact that the fly is surrounded by jacks seems to kick in competition and the fly is usually taken after only a couple of strips. Once on the line, jack crevalle make long head-shaking runs before settling into a circling pattern where they use their wide bodies to put up as much resistance as possible. The battle is usually won when the angler is able to get their heads out of the water, robbing them of much of their power. Even after an exhausting battle for the angler and the jack, they are easily revived and seem relatively unscathed by the experience.

Years ago, I encountered big jacks schooled under the Longboat Pass Bridge. They would attack a plug, popper or other noisy lure with a ferocity that was amazing, but were almost impossible to land before they cut you off on the bridge pilings. After many failed attempts, we came on the idea of tossing a hook-less “teaser” under the bridge to pull them away from the pilings and fenders. There we could present poppers and have a chance at landing them. Before long we were vying to see who would toss the teaser because it was such an incredible experience to see them explode on the plug. The same tactic can be used to lure a school of fish on the beach close to the boat for a cast. Jacks don’t have teeth, so a heavy leader isn’t necessary. Fortunately, they don’t seem to be particularly leader-shy. When one is hooked, it needs to be fought just like a tarpon or other big predator, with maximum pressure from the time of the take until they are ready to land. When they travel the beach, they are usually in large schools, while inshore they are more likely to roam in pairs or small schools. If you think jacks aren’t worth the effort, cast a popper to a school of big fish sometime and try to keep it away from them. I guarantee you’ll have a new appreciation for this species.

Beachgoers unite, sue for access

Beachgoers unite, sue for access

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Community News, Featured, Holmes Beach.

HOLMES BEACH – With beachgoers filing a lawsuit Friday against the property owners on 78th Street who closed a beach access point, the Real Island Podcast team took to the airwaves Sunday in hopes of helping both sides find an amicable solution.

Podcast hosts Abigail Nunn, Dick Gordon and Brian Blaine hosted a special live broadcast from the beach at 78th Street, just in front of the now-closed access path, to give people on both sides of the issue a platform to have their concerns addressed.

Though no solutions to the dispute are on the horizon, area residents and representatives of the property owners did get to air their grievances in a neutral environment.

Matthew Carmon, whose family owns 103 and 105 78th St., said his mother, Linda, purchased her home because of its proximity to a beach access point. With his mother on full-time oxygen therapy, Carmon said the closure of the path has greatly reduced her ability to enjoy the beach and that walking to another street to get to the sand isn’t an option for her.

Linda Carmon is one of three named plaintiffs in the lawsuit against the property owners at 100 and 101 78th St. which alleges that neighbors and the public have a right to use the path. The other plaintiffs are 107 78th Street Investments LLC and Minh N. Vu.

The issue arose in late April when a long-used path to the beach at the end of the street was closed to public use without notice. Residents who had been using the path for beach access were met by no trespassing signs and an off-duty Holmes Beach police officer at the street side entrance to the path. When they protested the sudden change, city leaders looked into the issue and discovered that the beach access path is located on privately owned property, leaving Mayor Judy Titsworth and city commissioners unable to reopen the path to the public.

While there was once an easement on the property for a walkway, as of 2014, the easement had disappeared from the deed for the property at 101 78th St., owned by Travis Resmondo and Bryce Raub. After consulting City Attorney Erica Augello, Titsworth said that the easement that was on previous deeds for the property did not specify who the easement benefited, making it possible for the owners to close it to the public.

In the lawsuit filed May 20 in Manatee County Circuit Court, the plaintiffs allege that the closure of the beach access path is in violation of two existing 10-foot walkway easements on the properties at 98 and 99 78th St. The two lots are unbuildable with dunes and other native vegetation. The property at 98 78th St. is owned by the Oceana Condo Association while the 99 78th St. lot is owned by Resmondo. Attorney Fred Moore, representing the plaintiffs, notes that the beach access path starts on Resmondo’s property before traversing the condo association’s property and ending on the beach.

Plaintiffs allege that the closure of the beach path has adversely affected their enjoyment of their properties as well as devalued their properties. All three plaintiffs note that their properties are used for vacation rentals and that rentals of their properties have also been adversely affected.

In addition to starting a petition on Change.org to restore the beach path to public use, which had garnered more than 700 signatures as of press time for The Sun, neighbors have set up a GoFundMe page for donations for legal fees. For more information on the neighborhood movement, visit www.savethebeachaccess.com. To view a recording of the podcast, visit www.facebook.com/realislandpodcast.

Related coverage

 

Battle for beach access continues

 

Neighbors clash over beach access path