ANNA MARIA – Showing off their head-to-toe outfits from the Roser Guild Thrift Shop, models displayed just a few of the possibilities for having a stellar fashion closet without designer prices during the annual style show and Guild luncheon.
The sold-out event began with a homemade luncheon provided by some of the ladies of Roser Memorial Community Church. The menu included a French-style roasted garlic chicken sandwich with a lemon pasta salad, arugula wrapped in prosciutto and mini raspberry tuxedo cheesecakes with chocolate ganache. As diners enjoyed their food and listened to the musical stylings of Brandon Kouri on the piano, models took the runway to show off styles selected from the offerings at the Roser Guild Thrift Shop.
All of the outfits, from hats and earrings to clothing and shoes, were chosen by each of the models with each model having first dibs on any of the items from the thrift store they wished to take home.
Some of the items displayed during the fashion show included a Coach handbag, Calvin Klein dress and other designer offerings available for purchase at bargain prices, along with jewelry and other items.
Once the show concluded, attendees were treated to an exclusive opportunity to purchase garments from the fashion show before traveling across Pine Avenue to peruse the thrift shop.
All proceeds from the style show and the thrift shop go to help fund the Roser Guild’s scholarships, programs and other community outreach missions.
Diners look on and applaud as models take a turn down the runway to show off their selections from the Roser Guild Thrift Shop. - Kristin Swain | Sun
Kurt Huhn takes a stroll down the runway in a dapper golfing outfit. - Kristin Swain | Sun
The lovely Lillian Chen twirls to show off the movement of her full skirt during the style show. - Kristin Swain | Sun
Host Ginger Huhn strikes a pose with Roser church members who served as models for the Roser Guild’s annual Style Show. - Kristin Swain | Sun
Rev. Dirk Rodgers made his style show debut in an outfit perfect for Anna Maria Island life. - Kristin Swain | Sun
It wasn’t just modern styles that made it down the runway. One fabulous fashion evoked the 1920s flapper style. - Kristin Swain | Sun
Roser Robics instructor Ann Bodger shows off one of her outfit selections chosen from the offerings at the Roser Guild Thrift Shop. - Kristin Swain | Sun
HOLMES BEACH – In the aftermath of a joint meeting with Manatee County commissioners, Holmes Beach city leaders are trying to figure out their next steps toward building a better relationship with county leaders.
During a March 8 work session, Holmes Beach commissioners went over their notes from the joint meeting, held March 1. They also took public comment on the meeting to help gauge public opinion following the discussion, which primarily revolved around beach parking.
Holmes Beach resident Izzy Skye, representing a group of residents attending the meeting, thanked commissioners for holding firm to their stance on not reopening residential streets near the beach to public parking.
“You cannot pave our paradise to put up your parking lot,” Skye said, speaking about the discussion where Manatee County commissioners suggested building a large parking garage at Manatee Beach. “Visitors are coming to see a preserve. This is no place for a concrete jungle.”
About the March 1 meeting, Commissioner Terry Schaefer said, “I think it was a good opportunity to look the county commissioners in the eye and see the kind of people they are.” He added that it was “obvious” that the primary objective of Manatee County commissioners was to discuss parking, something that Holmes Beach commissioners weren’t willing to change their stance on. But Schaefer said he feels there is still room for more discussions with county leaders, a sentiment echoed by his fellow commissioners.
“It was a beginning,” he said. “I’m not discouraged.”
While Holmes Beach commissioners understand that there are a growing number of Manatee County residents and visitors every year who want to go to the beaches on Anna Maria Island, they also feel that it’s the issue of county leaders to provide parking and facilities for the people wishing to access county beaches. Mayor Judy Titsworth said that she doesn’t have a problem with visitors to the Island – she said she welcomes them – however, there is only so much space available on the 7-mile island, about three of which are occupied by the city of Holmes Beach.
HBPD Chief Bill Tokajer said that, using the city’s license plate reader cameras, he counted 9 million cars coming into Holmes Beach across Manatee Avenue in 2020, increasing to 9.6 million in 2021.
In an effort to work with the county to find solutions to parking problems, and hopefully address some of the city’s concerns in a future joint meeting, she said she’s having City Attorney Erica Augello look at the lease for the land where the Island Branch Library sits to see if that parking lot can be used for overflow beach parking while the library is closed without violating the land grant from the Holmes family, which donated the property to the city.
As a stop-gap measure, Manatee County commissioners voted unanimously on March 8 to enter into an agreement with the Manatee County School Board to use the more than 60 spaces at Anna Maria Elementary School in Holmes Beach as overflow beach parking. During the joint meeting, Titsworth said that if the county wants to use the school for excess beach parking, they need to provide trash and restroom facilities along with a flashing beacon or crossing guard for the crosswalk. While county commissioners were amenable to providing portable restrooms and trash cans, they balked at providing a crossing guard or flashing beacon for the crosswalk traversing Gulf Drive.
“I think the dialogue is open and that’s good,” Commissioner Jayne Christenson said, adding that she thinks Holmes Beach commissioners need to step back and assess what they can do to address some of the issues. She suggested rebranding the city as a community across social media and the internet rather than as a vacation destination.
Commissioners agreed to have another work session to discuss potential action items before scheduling another meeting with county commissioners.
ANNA MARIA – Holmes Beach resident Cash John Nichols, 27, has been arrested and charged with criminal mischief after being denied a ride on one of the free trolleys that serve Anna Maria Island.
Cash Nichols was arrested on Tuesday, March 8. – MCSO | Submitted
“The trolley made its last stop at the Anna Maria City Pier at 10:15-10:20 (p.m.) that night and the driver refused to take a patron because he had no shoes on,” Manatee County Sheriff’s Office Dep. Patrick Manning of the Anna Maria Unit told The Sun regarding the Feb. 11 incident. “The patron became upset and in a fit of rage caused over $200 in estimated damage to the trolley’s door windows.”
Nichols was arrested on March 8 and charged with one first-degree misdemeanor count of criminal mischief for damages between $200 and $1,000.
According to the arrest complaint, “The driver of Manatee County Transit trolley 63861 stopped at the bus stop of 100 S. Bay Blvd. Trolley camera footage showed a white male with a beard and no shoes approach the doors in order to ride the trolley home. The driver denied the male access due to him not having any shoes on. The male then became argumentative towards the driver, at which point the driver closed the doors. The male then began hitting the glass on the doors with his fists, causing it to crack. After causing the damage, the male walked away. The damage was estimated at $500.”
According to the arrest complaint, “The male was identified by Deputy Manning as Cash Nichols. Additionally, on the same date (approximately one hour later), Deputy Penberthy made contact with Cash Nichols at the post office across the street from the incident location. Prior to making contact, a passerby informed Deputy Penberthy that they had spoken to the defendant (Nichols) and the defendant stated he was denied bus access due to not having any shoes on. The defendant requested a ride and was ultimately transported by Deputy Penberthy. Based on the circumstances, probable cause exists to charge the defendant with criminal mischief greater than $200 and less than $1,000.”
When speaking to The Sun, Manning said, “Through a couple weeks of investigation by the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, a suspect was developed and confirmed through the trolley driver and the trolley’s on-board cameras. Our trolley buses have cameras that face the doors and also inside the trolleys. Through interviews and the video obtained from the Manatee County Transit Authority, the suspect was identified and arrested on a misdemeanor charge of criminal mischief to public property. It was a joint investigation between Det. Hartsell, who serves as our criminal investigator, along with the Anna Maria deputies. He wrote the warrant based on our identification of the suspect who was known to us. Up until recently, he had been a resident of Anna Maria. By the address he provided, he’s now a resident of Holmes Beach.”
The probable cause affidavit lists Nichols’ current address on Marina Drive in Holmes Beach.
According to court records, Nichols was released on bond and a misdemeanor arraignment hearing is scheduled for Monday, April 11 at the Manatee County Judicial Center before Judge Renee Inman.
Speaking on behalf of Sgt. Brett Getman, Manning said, “The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office works very hard to protect the ever-increasing amount of visitors and the residents on our Island. Sgt. Getman feels that whether you live here or vacation here, we can’t tolerate you intentionally damaging public property. That will not be tolerated and you’ll be identified and arrested.”
Previous arrest
According to court records, Nichols was previously arrested in Anna Maria in 2018 and charged with assault on a Manatee County Sheriff’s Deputy, possession of drug paraphernalia and resisting, obstructing or opposing an officer without violence.
On Feb. 28, 2022, after multiple delays and court appearances, Nichols entered no contest pleas on all three charges stemming from his 2018 arrest. As a result of those pleas, he was placed on probation and assessed $796 in fines, fees and court costs.
MANATEE COUNTY – Despite having 12 items on the agenda for a joint meeting, the recent discussion between Holmes Beach and Manatee County commissioners kept coming back to one contentious topic – beach parking.
It may have only been March 1, but the lengthy meeting produced as many fireworks as any Fourth of July display.
Though the parking item had a time-certain discussion planned for 11 a.m. during the two-and-a-half-hour session, the topic was the proverbial elephant in the room from the start.
The meeting kicked off with public comment, during which several east county residents stated their resentment of Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth concerning traffic and an inability for some beachgoers to find parking in Holmes Beach. The onslaught of comments prompted Manatee County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge to remind speakers to remain civil in their comments and Holmes Beach Commissioner Carol Soustek to note that while Titsworth is the face of the city’s leadership, it’s the commissioners who vote to accept or deny proposed changes, including those related to parking.
Beachgoers driving into Holmes Beach have had issues finding parking spaces for years. – Kristin Swain | Sun
Beach patrol
During a discussion on beach patrol funding, Titsworth said she’d like the county to step up their financial support of the Holmes Beach Police Department, which is tasked with policing the county-owned beach, public beaches in Holmes Beach and Kingfish Boat Ramp, along with the rest of the city. While the county currently reimburses the city $46,612 for beach patrol services, Titsworth said the city pays about $150,000-160,000 per year to adequately patrol the beaches, boat ramp and beach parking.
The mayor said she’d like to see the county increase its financial support, working up to a minimum of $90,000 per year to be more in line with the amount offered to the Bradenton Beach Police Department annually for similar services, and ideally $115,000 or more to cover the entire cost of one HBPD officer.
While Titsworth acknowledged that the city of Bradenton Beach has a longer stretch of county-owned beach, she noted that Holmes Beach is a larger city and provides more public parking for beachgoers than the Anna Maria Island city to the south.
Manatee County Commissioner George Kruse said that while he appreciates Titsworth’s request for more beach patrol funding, he wanted to know what city leaders are prepared to do for the county in exchange for additional funding, a sentiment echoed by Commissioner Vanessa Baugh.
Holmes Beach Commissioner Terry Schaefer gives his opinion on parking issues in the Anna Maria Island city while Commission Chair Carol Soustek looks on. – Kristin Swain | Sun
Holmes Beach Commissioner Terry Schaefer said Holmes Beach city leaders had come to the meeting to discuss items of concern, not to try and leverage one item for another.
County Commissioner Carol Whitmore, a Holmes Beach resident, said she thinks the stretch of beach in Holmes Beach is too small to necessitate the spending of more funds to police it. County Administrator Scott Hopes said he thinks the county’s funding to Holmes Beach is complimentary to the amount given to Bradenton Beach, $125,000, given the size of the city versus the size of the county park, Manatee Beach and Kingfish Boat Ramp, within the city.
Accusations fly
When 11 a.m. finally rolled around and leaders could get to the discussion they really wanted to have, beach parking, accusations began to fly around the room on both sides.
Van Ostenbridge accused Holmes Beach leaders of having less than 1% of the population of Manatee County and closing its beaches to 99% of Manatee County residents to save its own residents.
Titsworth called out Van Ostenbridge for “weaponizing funding” in a bid to try and force city leaders’ hands to allow beach parking to go unrestricted in the small city to the detriment of Holmes Beach residents, who she pointed out, are also Manatee County residents who pay county taxes. She accused Manatee County commissioners of being unwilling to work with the city and learn the facts about what happens in the Island city and how issues affect residents and tourists alike.
At the crux of the discussion was the status of about 480 parking spaces located solely on the sides of residential streets in neighborhoods near beach accesses. Those residential streets are maintained by the city of Holmes Beach and are funded by tax dollars paid to the city, not the county. Public parking also has long been a headache for nearby residents, who often find trash and litter in their yards, people vandalizing their property, some trespassing and using their private pools and water hoses as public facilities and others defecating in their yards.
After more than a decade of discussion, 124 of those 480 spaces were designated in 2021 as Holmes Beach resident permit parking only from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily after being closed to public access since 2020. Ever since that decision was made by Holmes Beach commissioners, it’s been a sore spot between city and county leaders.
Van Ostenbridge demanded that city leaders reopen all city streets to public parking.
“You want 400 spaces?” Soustek countered. “480 parking spaces is a spit in the ocean,” she said, noting that the number of people trying to find parking in Holmes Beach regularly exceeds that amount. She added that opening residential streets to the onslaught of beach parking wouldn’t guarantee Manatee County residents a space to park, that they would still need to get up early to drive out to the Island and avoid traffic and parking stresses.
Holmes Beach Commissioner Jayne Christenson suggested county commissioners designate some of the spaces at Manatee Beach as Manatee County resident-only parking, a suggestion dismissed by county commissioners without comment.
Manatee County Commissioners Kevin Van Ostenbridge, James Satcher and Reggie Bellamy listen as Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth addresses beach parking issues. – Kristin Swain | Sun
“You’ll never have enough spaces and the people will never all be able to get out to the beach,” Titsworth said, noting all of the housing developments currently planned for Manatee County and the increase of people expected to travel to Anna Maria Island’s beaches. At about seven miles long, with about three miles of that being Holmes Beach, she said Anna Maria Island only has so much room to fit people and vehicles on.
Commissioner Terry Schaefer said residential street parking wasn’t going to be used as a bargaining chip between the city and county.
Whitmore said that while she wants to work with city leaders, she’s opposed to the permit parking system and refuses to pay for one herself. She also said she feels that Holmes Beach has too many rules, including the newly instituted city-wide 25 mph speed limit.
Getting down to business
With tensions already flaring between the two groups, Manatee County Director of Parks and Natural Resources Charlie Hunsicker offered the results of a parking study conducted by APTIM/CPE, an independent group. The field study was completed in 2020 with the report from that study dated September 2021. The study area was limited to the city of Holmes Beach and conducted on parking spaces located within a quarter-mile of beach access points and compared to a similar report from 2013.
According to that report, the city of Holmes Beach has 775 public parking spots located within a quarter-mile of public beach access points, with an additional 480 spaces that are either without signs or reserved/permit only. According to the 2013 report, there were 1,255 public parking spaces with the only change being 480 spaces converted to unsigned/reserved status. Of those 480 spaces, 124 were observed to be reserved for resident permit-only parking from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with the other 356 “lost” spaces being attributed to parking obstructions and a potential increase in no parking signed areas. Signed public parking spaces in the study area actually increased by 12, with the number of unsigned spaces decreasing by 492 from 2013 to 2020, reducing driver uncertainty on where parking is allowed.
To receive beach renourishment funding, Holmes Beach is required by the state of Florida to have 364 public parking spaces located within a quarter-mile of the beach. In the city’s interlocal agreement with the county regarding beach renourishment funding, Holmes Beach is committed to having about 500 spaces within a quarter-mile of the beach. Currently, there are more than 1,200 public parking spaces, not including resident permit parking spaces, located within a quarter-mile of public beach access with more available throughout the city but located outside of the quarter-mile area.
Titsworth said she’s not only concerned with the issues residents see in neighborhoods but how those issues could also affect the city’s tourism, with more than 1,500 short-term rental properties located in residential neighborhoods. She added that for people just coming to the beach for the day, there need to be adequate restroom, trash and food facilities as well as crosswalks to get safely from parking areas to the beach.
She suggested that county leaders meet with her to work on a renegotiation of the lease for the Island Branch Library land to allow for public parking at that facility when the library is closed. She also noted that public parking is allowed at Holmes Beach City Hall. In addition, if county leaders want to use Anna Maria Elementary School’s parking spaces as public parking when the school isn’t open, she said they should go through proper permitting with the city and provide portable restroom facilities, trash cans and either a crossing guard or lighted beacon for the crosswalk across Gulf Drive.
Van Ostenbridge said he expects people to know how to cross the road when coming to the Island, dismissing the idea of having either a crossing guard or flashing beacon to alert drivers at the location.
Parking garage
Another idea floated around during the meeting was the construction of a parking garage in Holmes Beach to provide more public parking.
Titsworth suggested commissioners consider the purchase of additional property in the city to build a garage on, such as the old Bank of America building on the southeast corner of East Bay Drive and Manatee Avenue. The site is located about two blocks from the entrance to Manatee Beach.
That idea was shot down by Manatee County commissioners. Whitmore said it wasn’t worth it to the county to build a parking garage limited to the city’s 36-foot building height limitations. Titsworth said that with the height limitations in the city’s charter, it would take Holmes Beach voters casting their ballots in favor of changing it to allow for a larger garage to be built. Van Ostenbridge said he opposes purchasing additional property in Holmes Beach and if commissioners decide to build a parking garage in the city, he’d want it to be at Manatee Beach.
Another meeting between Manatee County commissioners and Holmes Beach city leaders is planned to take place in the future to continue discussions.
MANATEE COUNTY – Holmes Beach city leaders and Manatee County commissioners came together March 1 for a long-awaited meeting spotlighting dock space for a proposed Anna Maria Island water taxi.
Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth said that while she and other city leaders are in support of a water taxi coming to the Island, they haven’t yet been approached by anyone to discuss a potential docking site in the Island’s largest city.
County Commissioner George Kruse said that he feels it’s up to the city’s leaders to come to county leaders with potential solutions for where a water taxi could dock, not rely on Manatee County leaders to tell the city where a water taxi could go.
County Commissioner Vanessa Baugh added that the county isn’t looking at building a place to dock a water taxi in Holmes Beach, but that she’d like to see it eventually have a place to stop in each of the three Anna Maria Island cities. Creating those stops would be up to the leaders of the three cities, working with the county to create solutions to existing issues.
Titsworth said that the place in Holmes Beach with the largest amount of parking for a water taxi isn’t the one that would be the best central location for tourists or locals taking the alternative form of transportation – Kingfish Boat Ramp.
The Manatee County-owned and maintained boat ramp is already planned to undergo renovations, including restrooms and the addition of a long dock for day boats to park at. Unfortunately for a water taxi, the planned renovations don’t include a place to park a water taxi and the location is about three blocks from Manatee Beach, which some beachgoers might see as a hindrance to taking a boat to the beach instead of driving.
Titsworth added that the boat ramp also doesn’t have a trolley stop, which would be a way to move people from Kingfish to the rest of the Island.
County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge suggested the marina basin located in the heart of Holmes Beach’s commercial district as a potential docking location for the water taxi. Centrally located near shops, restaurants and within a few blocks of public beach accesses, the marina, owned and managed by the adjacent Waterline Marina Resort and Beach Club, sounds ideal – except for parking, Titsworth pointed out.
She told county commissioners that Waterline lost at least 25 to 30 required parking spaces for the marina when the adjacent Wells Fargo Bank was closed in 2020. Though the marina’s management had a lease with the bank for those spaces, they have been scrambling since the building was put up for sale to find other off-site parking spaces to lease, an effort that had, as of the joint meeting, not produced any viable results, according to Titsworth. This leaves no parking spaces available for water taxi usage.
She added that the boat basin is small and used by local fishing captains and tour boats, whose operation she wouldn’t want to hinder by trying to get a water taxi in and out of the basin multiple times per day, assuming the channel leading to the basin and the basin itself are even navigable for what could potentially be a large boat.
The only other public boat access to the water is a small Holmes Beach-owned and maintained boat launch located next to the city field park complex which has limited parking, is bordered on three sides by residential areas, is the launch point for emergency response boats for West Manatee Fire Rescue and the Holmes Beach Police Department and is fairly shallow during low tide, which could hinder the operation of a large water taxi vessel.
All in all, Titsworth said she just didn’t see where in Holmes Beach a water taxi could be docked where it would be beneficial to visitors, locals and service workers.
“I think it is a worthy way to reduce traffic, even if Holmes Beach doesn’t have a spot to utilize,” Holmes Beach Commissioner Terry Schaefer said of the water taxi.
When some Manatee County commissioners accused city leaders of being unwilling to work with them to find a solution for water taxi issues, Holmes Beach Commission Chair Carol Soustek fired back: “If you think the cities haven’t been working to find a way to solve problems, then you haven’t been paying attention.”
Soustek said that she’d been participating in conversations about how to get a water taxi up and working on Anna Maria Island since 2005. She added that “just putting people on a boat” wasn’t the end of the process. To achieve a working water taxi, Soustek said it requires parking on both sides of the water taxi route, a way to move people to and from the docking station on both sides and money to make it all happen. And those issues all exist in addition to having an operator to run the water taxi, water taxi boats and a place to dock the boats at each stop.
In a bid to find common ground, County Commissioner Reggie Bellamy suggested that Soustek and other Island leaders who’ve worked on trying to get a water taxi for the Island share the roadblocks they’ve encountered in that endeavor with county commissioners as a way to begin collaborating on finding a workable solution to getting a water taxi launched.
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Anyone who’s ever owned or rented a personal watercraft knows that after about a half-hour in the turbulent ocean, it becomes quite a workout.
Now imagine traveling more than 20,000 nautical miles on a craft that size.
That’s exactly what a 60-year-old man from Spain is doing as he attempts to circumnavigate the Earth alone on the smallest watercraft in history.
This isn’t just an attempt to get his name in the record books; there is a personal reason as impressive as the feat itself, and it brought Spanish explorer and environmentalist Álvaro de Marichalar Sáenz de Tejada to Anna Maria Island on Thursday.
The explorer’s route. – Submitted
De Marichalar arrived on Anna Maria Island the evening of March 3 and departed on March 5, en route to Pensacola and far beyond. The Island wasn’t on his planned route, but he said he enjoyed his time here.
Álvaro de Marichalar Sáenz de Tejada shows the extra fuel tank allowing him to carry reserve fuel on his journey around the world. – Submitted
He is celebrating the fifth centennial of the first circumnavigation of the Earth by Juan Sebastian Elcano in 1522, initiated in 1519 by Spanish explorer Ferdinand Magellan, and promoted by King Charles I of Spain. The next destination on the route is Pensacola, the first European settlement in the U.S., founded in 1559 by Tristán de Luna, predating the Florida east coast settlement of St. Augustine by six years.
De Marichalar says he is a direct descendant of de Luna and an honorary citizen of Pensacola for that reason, and is excited to make a stop in a city so important to his family heritage.
“I really wanted to replicate the original journey. I left Seville, Spain on Aug. 10, 2019, on the same day and the same hour of that historic date and time 500 years earlier,” he said. “If you don’t take risks, there is no progress. To discover is to learn, taking risks is the only way to advance knowledge. They knew this 500 years ago, and it’s the same today.”
Álvaro de Marichalar Sáenz de Tejada is solo touring the world aboard the smallest vessel ever. – Submitted
Risk rings true on this journey. The only time a chase boat assisted was during the long crossing of the Atlantic Ocean. Other than that, he has had to rely on the generosity of others to find places to sleep, eat and shelter, from what at times are almost unsurvivable weather conditions. His small Sea-Doo watercraft can only go 200 miles on a tank of fuel, so he must not only carry extra fuel, which takes the place of food and water storage, but other things, such as clothing.
“Sometimes I have to go a day or more without food. I find a remote place to sleep and there isn’t always a place to get food or fuel; I just have to take what I can get,” he said. “I get some water and food when I find a place to get fuel. There just isn’t any room on my tiny vessel for much.”
Many have asked why he would attempt something so dangerous.
“It’s my hobby, my passion and my favorite way to navigate,” de Marichalar said. “With a craft this small, you’re not on the boat, you are the boat. I have to always be on my feet, I can’t sit down because it would destroy my spine. Also, if I sit, my skin will tear off after a couple of days.”
The pandemic has delayed his progress, and during the downtime, he has given more than 100 conferences around the world promoting the fifth centennial of the first tour of the world. He has spoken at universities, yacht clubs and schools in the U.S., Cuba, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Saint Barthélemy, Guadeloupe, Spain, Portugal, France, Monaco, Italy, Germany, Russia, Switzerland, Austria, England and Greece. In his lectures, de Marichalar always displays the flags of Spain and Portugal together next to that of the Fifth Centenary and also shows the flag of Monaco.
He is an Academic of the Royal Academy of the Sea, as well as a member of the Explorers Club of New York and the Exploration Club of the Yacht Club of Monaco.
Álvaro de Marichalar Sáenz de Tejada with his Sea Doo watercraft, the smallest craft to ever attempt circumnavigation of the Earth. – Submitted
After Pensacola, de Marichalar plans to work his way to Galveston, Texas, then to the Panama Canal, which is 3,700 nautical miles from his post-pandemic start in Miami on Feb. 19. The route will follow the U.S., Mexican and Central American coastlines. He will then turn north and follow the west coast of the U.S., then make his way to Alaska and the rest of the world. This journey is not a direct route. Due to the size of his tiny craft, Álvaro can’t leave the coast unless there is no other option.
This journey is expected to last until late 2023 if everything goes as planned. If you would like to follow Álvaro’s progress, and learn more about the incredible undertaking that brought the explorer to Anna Maria Island, visit his website.
ANNA MARIA – The Center of Anna Maria Island brought a star-studded weekend to a close with a bang Sunday when legendary musician Don Felder took the stage.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame singer/songwriter/guitarist appeared on Feb. 20 as a part of the Bradenton Gulf Islands Concert Series, playing all of his greatest hits from his time with The Eagles and his solo outings, as well as a few covers, including a rocking rendition of Stevie Ray Vaughan’s “Pride and Joy.”
Kicking off the show with “Already Gone,” Felder and his band kept up the audience’s energy despite a cool night on the field at The Center, playing “One of These Nights,” Felder’s solo hit “American Rock and Roll” and “Victim of Love,” a Hotel California album B-side track. The hits kept coming with performances of crowd favorites including “Peaceful Easy Feeling,” “Tequila Sunrise,” “Witchy Woman,” “Life in the Fast Lane,” “The Long Run,” “Heartache Tonight” and, of course, “Hotel California.”
Opening for Felder and his band was the multi-talented Johnny Jensen, whose album is due out soon.
The Bradenton Gulf Islands Concert Series is brought to the Island’s stage by sponsors Bradenton Area Arts & Culture, Cedar Cove Resort & Cottages and The Sandbar.
Next on The Center’s concert schedule is Richard Marx on March 23 followed by Felix Cavaliere’s Rascals on April 2. Tickets are on sale now at www.centerami.org/events.
Don Felder belts out “Witchy Woman” on guitar during a Feb. 20 appearance at The Center. - Kristin Swain | Sun
In between songs, the legendary Don Felder tells some of the stories of his life on the road with The Eagles. - Kristin Swain | Sun
Don Felder brings the crowd to their feet as he launches into The Eagles classic “Take It Easy.” - Kristin Swain | Sun
The talented Johnny Jensen opens for Don Felder at The Center as a part of the Bradenton Gulf Islands Concert Series. - Kristin Swain | Sun
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame musician Don Felder plays a guitar solo during a rendition of the Stevie Ray Vaughan classic “Pride and Joy.” - Kristin Swain | Sun
Don Felder is joined by another guitarist for a dueling guitar solo. - Kristin Swain | Sun
Don Felder and his band take to the Island’s stage to play “One of These Nights.” - Kristin Swain | Sun
BRADENTON – West Manatee Fire Rescue’s staff and commissioners celebrated excellence in the district with their annual awards ceremony.
The ceremony, held Feb. 15 at the district’s administration building, celebrated the hard work and dedication of the fire district’s staff and first responders with their family, friends and co-workers in attendance.
Taking home awards for five years of service to the district were firefighters Frank Agresta, Clayton Lease and Andrew Powers. Powers also won WMFR’s Meritorious Service Award. Honored for 10 years of service with WMFR were Fire Inspector Josh Adkins, firefighter Robert Haygood and newly-promoted Battalion Chief Tyler MacDonald. Recognized for 15 years of service to the district were firefighter John Balzer, Deputy Chief Jay Johnson and Lt. Andrew Lauricella. Taking home awards for 20 years of service at WMFR were Capt. Paul Hopkins and Lt. Daniel Tackett. Recognized for 25 years of service was Lt. Darren Vollmer.
The Rookie of the Year Award went to firefighter Gabriel Gonzalez, while Haygood won Firefighter of the Year. Hopkins took home the Officer of the Year Award.
Winning the first-ever Soteria Award was Fire Inspector Keith Miller. The Soteria Award, named for the Greek goddess of safety, deliverance and preservation from harm, was created by Fire Marshal Rodney Kwiatkowski with the support of Chief Ben Rigney to honor a firefighter or member of the district’s Fire Prevention Bureau who exemplifies one of the three qualities of Soteria. Every member of the district’s fire staff is eligible to win the award except the fire chief, deputy chief and fire marshal.
Miller took home the first Soteria Award for his dedication and uncompromising work with fire prevention to educate WMFR staff and the public about fire safety and work to help educate contractors about best practices to reduce false/nuisance alarm calls to district personnel over the past year.
Firefighter Andrew Powers was honored with a Meritorious Service Award along with an award for five years of service to the fire district. - Kristin Swain | Sun
Firefighter Clayton Lease took home an award for five years of service with WMFR. - Kristin Swain | Sun
The audience at the WMFR administration building was packed with friends, family and district personnel for the annual awards ceremony. - Kristin Swain | Sun
Lt. Daniel Tackett is recognized for his 20 years of service with WMFR. - Kristin Swain | Sun
Firefighter Frank Agresta’s five years of service with WMFR are recognized during the annual awards ceremony. - Kristin Swain | Sun
Commissioner George Harris congratulates Rookie of the Year Gabriel Gonzalez. - Kristin Swain | Sun
Firefighter Gabriel Gonzalez wins WMFR’s Rookie of the Year Award. - Kristin Swain | Sun
Deputy Chief Jay Johnson congratulates Officer of the Year recipient Capt. Paul Hopkins. - Kristin Swain | Sun
Capt. Paul Hopkins takes home the Officer of the Year Award for WMFR. - Kristin Swain | Sun
Firefighter Robert Haygood is honored with a 10 years of service award. - Kristin Swain | Sun
Firefighter Robert Haygood takes home the Firefighter of the Year Award. - Kristin Swain | Sun
Fire Inspector Keith Miller won the newly christened Soteria Award but was unable to attend the awards ceremony. - Kristin Swain | Sun
Battalion Chief Tyler MacDonald is recognized for his 10 years of service with WMFR. - Kristin Swain | Sun
Chief Ben Rigney congratulates Deputy Chief Jay Johnson for his 15 years of service award. - Kristin Swain | Sun
Newcomer to WMFR, firefighter David Miller is sworn in during a Feb. 15 board of commissioners meeting. - Kristin Swain | Sun
ANNA MARIA – It was a galactic good time as the Murder Mystery returned to The Center for its 13th year.
The annual fundraiser took a year off for COVID-19 but came back with a bang, or a laser stun for this year’s victim, with the theme “space odyssey.”
Set at World Con in the year 2069, two Men in Black agents, Agent B and Agent J, played by Don Purvis and Ray Gardner, crash-landed at the sci-fi convention just as everyone was arriving. They were also just in time to help solve the murder of Hollywood actor Scott Ridley, played by Caleb Roberts. In a surprise twist, Ridley wasn’t actually dead, coming back as a cyborg robot just in time for the cast to break into a toe-tapping rendition of “Time Warp” that brought the audience to its feet for an unforgettable finale to the evening.
This year’s Murder Mystery dinner theater took place Feb. 18-19 at The Center and featured writer/director/actor Brianna Roberts, Monica Simpson, Jillian Gardner, Leah Purvis, Mike Shaughnessy, Chris Scott and Clay Spangler in addition to Don Purvis, Ray Gardner and Caleb Roberts.
The two nights of the annual theatrical spectacular were performed to nearly sold-out crowds with community members clamoring to figure out who the killer was in the hilarious, tongue-in-cheek whodunit production that featured a different killer each night.
In addition to the show, attendees also enjoyed food by Poppo’s Taqueria and donuts by the Donut Experiment as well as a 50/50 raffle, baskets of raffle items donated by local businesses and a cash bar. There were also plenty of photo opportunities as the event was attended by aliens, secret agents and even a few time travelers. A green alien goddess took home a gift card as an award for winning the Feb. 19 costume contest.
Sponsors for the 2022 Murder Mystery include The Morey Foundation, presenting sponsor The Ugly Grouper, after-party venue The Freckled Fin, Progressive Cabinetry, Sato Real Estate, The Donut Experiment, Abrahamson & Uiterwyk Personal Injury Law, Poppo’s Taqueria, Surferbus Outpost AMI, The Original Sand Dollar, Gnarly Mangrove, Graze Street AMI, AJ & Doran, MuniPlan, Moss Builders, Blade & Tine Culinary Consultants, Nomad Collection, Prosper Bradenton, Emily Moss Designs, Beach House Real Estate, Eason Builders Group, Island Photography, Johnson Homes of West Florida and HSH Designs.
There’s nothing to see here as a Men in Black agent attempts to flash away the memories of anyone who sees the alien at her side. - Kristin Swain | Sun
Aliens hang out with cast members before the start of the 13th Annual Murder Mystery fundraiser at The Center. - Kristin Swain | Sun
Attendees at the 2069 World Con are surprised when murdered Hollywood actor Scott Ridley comes back to life as a robot. - Kristin Swain | Sun
The Center’s Executive Director Chris Culhane takes a walk in the Matrix during the Murder Mystery fundraiser. - Kristin Swain | Sun
Aliens of all kinds came out for The Center’s theatrical party. - Kristin Swain | Sun
Several Conehead aliens left their planet of Remulak to join the party at The Center. - Kristin Swain | Sun
Participants in the Saturday Feb. 19 costume contest take the stage with Murder Mystery cast members Chris Scott and Jillian Gardner. - Kristin Swain | Sun
Deputy Dicky Darko tries to help one male alien win the night’s costume contest. - Kristin Swain | Sun
A green female alien took home the grand prize for best costume Feb. 19. - Kristin Swain | Sun
Everyone got in on the space odyssey themed fun at this year’s Murder Mystery. - Kristin Swain | Sun
Former writer and director of the annual Murder Mystery, Beth Shaughnessy reaches out a comforting hand between acts to her son-in-law Caleb Roberts who played the not so very dead Scott Ridley. - Kristin Swain | Sun
Center Executive Director Chris Culhane checks to see if Hollywood actor Scott Ridley really is dead during a break in acts of the Murder Mystery play while audience member Lynn Zimmerman looks on. - Kristin Swain | Sun
It’s all fun and games, even when there’s a dead body at The Center’s 13th Annual Murder Mystery Dinner Theater Feb. 19. - Kristin Swain | Sun
Hollywood actor Scott Ridley was the victim this year in The Center’s Murder Mystery. - Kristin Swain | Sun
Agent B and Agent J question World Con organizer Beth Brundlefly about the death of Scott Ridley while Deputy Dicky Darko pouts because his investigative services aren’t welcomed by the agents. - Kristin Swain | Sun
Great Scott! The Murder Mystery was visited by an astronaut, a Conehead and a couple of time travelers in the form of Doc Brown and Marty McFly. - Kristin Swain | Sun
Some of the cast breaks into a dance to Will Smith’s “Men in Black.” - Kristin Swain | Sun
A pink haired intergalactic traveler lands at The Center. - Kristin Swain | Sun
This alien/man combo didn’t win the costume contest, but they sure had a good time at the show. - Kristin Swain | Sun
Lines of raffle tickets as long as your arm were sold with patrons attempting to win one of several gift baskets donated by local businesses. - Kristin Swain | Sun
Mike Shaughnessy as Stanley Duprick did a quick costume change before the cast jumped into a rendition of “Time Warp” from Rocky Horror Picture Show. - Kristin Swain | Sun
In an epic team-up, Scully and Mulder from the X-Files met with Agent B from the Men in Black. - Kristin Swain | Sun
Manatee County’s 5% resort tax, or tourist tax, is collected from owners of accommodations rented for six months or less who charge the tax to their renters, in most cases, tourists. About 50% of the tax proceeds are allocated to Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau tourism marketing efforts, with 20% allocated to beach renourishment. The tax also funds tourism-related attractions such as the Bishop Museum and the Bradenton Beach and Anna Maria piers. Resort tax increases reflect both increased visitation and improved tax collection efforts. Manatee County totals include Anna Maria Island cities, Bradenton, the portion of Longboat Key within Manatee County, unincorporated Manatee County and Palmetto. To anonymously report a rental owner who may not be paying the tax, call 941-741-4809.
HOLMES BEACH – As commissioners are considering instituting new safety measures for golf carts and low-speed vehicles in the city, a new requirement to register golf carts with the city is also being talked about.
Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer brought up the subject during a speed limit discussion at a Feb. 8 commission meeting. Tokajer said that requiring golf carts to be registered through the city would ensure that the vehicles have the safety equipment required by the city and that they are being used solely by residents. A part of the proposed registration requirement would be that golf cart owners would have to be homesteaded residents of Holmes Beach, preventing the vehicles from being purchased by rental owners for the use of vacationers.
The difference between a golf cart and a low-speed vehicle, or LSV, is that a golf cart travels at a slower speed than an LSV and is not required to be registered with the Florida Department of Motor Vehicles. Holmes Beach is the only Anna Maria Island city where golf carts are allowed to be driven, which creates a legal issue if they were to be used by vacationers who likely would not know that the vehicles couldn’t be driven legally in Anna Maria or Bradenton Beach, or where the city boundaries are located.
Holmes Beach allows the use of golf carts in the city primarily due to the Key Royale Golf Club being located within the city.
While Tokajer acknowledged that golf carts are generally used primarily by residents of the Island city, he said that there are some golf cart rental companies that conduct business online that could try to rent them in Holmes Beach. He also said that the requirement for proof of a homesteaded property would prevent others from providing them for rentals in the city.
For the registration, Tokajer suggested that owners have to register the golf carts with the city once per year and receive a sticker to put on the carts which would alert police that the operator is a Holmes Beach resident. He said it would also give officers the opportunity to check and make sure that the golf carts are equipped with required safety equipment including a windscreen and seat belts for each passenger.
Anyone found operating a golf cart – not an LSV – in the city without the sticker would be subject to being stopped and potentially fined by police.
The conversation is expected to continue at an upcoming city commission meeting.
MANATEE COUNTY – The county hopes to provide water taxi service between downtown Bradenton and Anna Maria Island as early as Memorial Day weekend.
Possible water taxi landing stops on the Island include the Bridge Street Pier in Bradenton Beach and the City Pier in Anna Maria; both would require the support of those city governments. A potential landing area has not yet been identified in Holmes Beach.
The long-debated water taxi service was discussed during the Feb. 1 Council of Governments meeting and the county is now in the process of issuing an Invitation to Negotiate for water taxi operators to use in crafting their proposals.
Bradenton Area Convention and Visitor Bureau Director Elliott Falcione led the recent discussion, saying the county commission directed County Administrator Scott Hopes to initiate a water taxi system. Hopes then assigned those responsibilities to Falcione and Manatee County Public Works Director Chad Butzow, with Manatee County Transit Manager Bill Steele, MCAT Planning Manager Jonathan Roberson and others assisting with the efforts.
“It’s time to take advantage of the waterways in our beautiful community,” Falcione said.
Falcione said the goal is to have a water taxi pilot program operational by Memorial Day weekend and he’s already had preliminary discussions with all the mayors in Manatee County except Longboat Key.
“Each city’s going to have some suggestions, they’re going to have some concerns. I urge the cities to find balance. We have to swiftly and effectively come up with a plan as Bill Steele and the county go through an invitation to negotiate for procurement,” Falcione said, noting the procurement process will provide additional insight from water taxi operators regarding efficiency, frequency of the service and the initial landing spots.
He also said past surveys of Anna Maria Island beachgoers and hospitality workers indicate support for a water taxi system.
Speaking next, Steele said Roberson has been researching water taxi programs in other parts of the state and country. During his presentation, Steele referenced the Water Taxi Feasibility Study completed by the Metropolitan Planning Organization in 2005. He said that study is dated but still provides relevant conclusions regarding funding, service needs and key destinations.
This slide included in Bill Steele’s presentation illustrates one of the reasons for a water taxi system. – Manatee County | Submitted
Steele said it’s important for the areas served by water taxis to be connected to the ground transit system that includes MCAT buses and the free Island Trolleys.
“Initially we need to go from downtown Bradenton to AMI. As this service progresses and gets more productive in terms of ridership, there are always opportunities to expand,” Steele said.
Longboat Key Mayor Ken Schneier said, “We may not be the first point of entry, but we’d like to be in the loop.”
Falcione agreed and said the Sarasota area could also play a future role in the water taxi system, with a potential landing spot at the county-owned Powel Crosley Estate near the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport.
County Commissioner Misty Servia said she’s excited to see a water taxi program finally moving forward but she doesn’t want the downtown Bradenton businesses to lose their existing parking spaces to water taxi users.
Bradenton Mayor Gene Brown said a water taxi system would bring more visitors from Anna Maria Island to downtown Bradenton, which would benefit the downtown businesses.
Regarding downtown parking, Brown said, “Right now we have a parking garage with 400 spaces that I would say isn’t 25% utilized.”
Mayor John Chappie noted the Bradenton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) will soon expand the floating dock near the Bridge Street Pier, using matching funds provided by the county. That project will include perpendicular finger docks and a designated docking space for water taxis, ferries and other commercial vessels. Chappie said public restrooms and other amenities are already in place, including the Old Town Trams that transport visitors to their destinations within the greater Bridge Street area.
Butzow said securing the landing spots will be a major point of emphasis in the procurement process and the county seeks partnerships with public entities and private businesses for landing areas that provide walkability and access to buses, trolleys, trams and other means of ground transportation.
As of Friday, the requisition to draft an Invitation to Negotiate had been submitted and, once completed, will be posted at the Manatee County bids and proposals website and the Periscope S2G government bidding website.
Anna Maria mayor’s input
Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy did not attend the COG meeting but he addressed the proposed water taxi service during the city commission’s Thursday, Feb. 10 meeting.
Reiterating statements he’s made in the past, and has communicated to Falcione, Murphy said, “I am not in favor of a tourist taxi. I don’t think we need more parking congestion at the pier because we’re running a shuttle service, or restaurant shuttles going down the Island. A benefit would be a water taxi that is focused on employees coming to and from work from downtown Bradenton to the Island.”
The Anna Maria City Pier will be considered as a potential water taxi landing area. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Murphy said carpenters and others who work in trades that require tools and equipment are unlikely to use a water taxi for work purposes, but some hospitality, retail and service industry employees would likely use the service if it’s affordable, fast, convenient and reliable.
“I think it should be part of the county transit system and I believe it probably should be subsidized so it’s affordable,” Murphy said.
This graphic from the 2015 Urban Land Institute study illustrates who uses the bridges that connect Anna Maria Island to the mainland. – ULI | Submitted
Murphy said the City Pier’s existing landing area can accommodate a water taxi, but the city commission will decide whether that use is allowed.
“This is really the most logical place to put it. I do believe it would be a benefit under these conditions but it’s going to be your call,” Murphy told the commission.
When contacted, Mayor Judy Titsworth said she doesn’t currently envision a water taxi stop in Holmes Beach and the county’s planned improvements to the Kingfish boat ramp don’t currently include a water taxi stop.
ANNA MARIA – Classic rocker Lou Gramm brought the crowd at The Center of Anna Maria Island to its feet with thunderous applause during a stop on his Juke Box Hero tour.
Gramm took to the stage with his band after an acoustic set from local musician Billy Rice of the Billy Rice Band. Playing all of his solo hits along with a selection of classic rock staples from his time with Foreigner, Gramm brought the crowd to its feet for the majority of his two-hour set.
Gramm and his band kicked things off with the Foreigner classic “Head Games” before playing “Double Vision,” “Cold as Ice,” “Feels Like the First Time,” and “Urgent” among others.
The highlight of the show was when five members of the choir from Roser Memorial Community Church joined Gramm and his band onstage to sing Foreigner’s number one smash hit “I Want to Know What Love Is.”
When Gramm launched into a rendition of “Juke Box Hero,” the entire crowd came to its feet and didn’t sit down as the show continued with the solo hit “Midnight Blue” and ended with a performance of “Hot-Blooded.”
The next show coming to The Center’s stage as a part of the Bradenton Gulf Island Concert Series is Don Felder, former lead guitarist for The Eagles, on Feb. 20. Tickets are on sale now.
The concert series is brought to the Island’s stage by Bradenton Area Arts & Culture, Cedar Cove Resort & Cottages and The Sandbar. Proceeds from the shows at The Center go to benefit the nonprofit, supporting community programs on Anna Maria Island.
Billy Rice of The Billy Rice Band plays an acoustic set to warm up the crowd before Lou Gramm takes the stage. - Kristin Swain | Sun
Band member Scott Gilman plays a saxophone solo onstage at The Center. - Kristin Swain | Sun
Foreigner’s Lou Gramm sings “I Want to Know What Love Is” with members of the choir from Roser Church. - Kristin Swain | Sun
Five members of the Roser Church choir join rocker Lou Gramm onstage for a performance of the number one hit song “I Want to Know What Love Is.” - Kristin Swain | Sun
There is a Chinese curse that declares, “May you live in interesting times.” What we’re living through may be a curse or a blessing as it relates to real estate, and I predict we won’t know for quite a while.
For nearly two years, there has been a convergence of events that have influenced every aspect of our lives. As it relates to the real estate market, COVID-19 drove us into our homes, locking down with families, working on computers for both school and work. Because of this, the trend in remote working has exploded. Prior to the pandemic, only about 10% of the labor force worked remotely full time. The forecast now is that as much as a quarter of the labor force is expected to stay fully remote in the long term.
This fact is encouraging existing businesses and new businesses to change their plans for the future. A whole new economy is being developed based on remote workers who can relocate to smaller cities and regions anywhere in the country. Real estate prices are booming in regions where no one previously expected this kind of growth.
The second thing that has happened during the past two years is the millennial generation waking up to home ownership. Broadly, millennials are defined as being born from 1981 to 1996. They have now surpassed the baby boomers to become the largest living adult generation in the country. With the oldest of the generation approaching 40 compounded by COVID and remotely working, millennials now represent the majority of home buyers, accounting for more than half of all home purchase loan applications last year.
Millennials had faced several challenges getting started in homeownership. The financial crisis of 2008 set them back in their careers, denying them the opportunity to save for down payments while managing their student debt. In addition, they had a distrust of homeownership as an investment after the crash of the housing market and they did not expect to accrue large equity in a home the way their parents did. Most of them went on to rent and spend their money on travel and other life-fulfilling activities that didn’t involve mortgage payments and family.
Many of them moved back home to the suburbs and their childhood homes, leaving city life behind during COVID lockdowns. They started to appreciate the safe environment and space where they grew up and started taking another look around.
By the time they made their decision to move on with their adult life and purchase a home, the COVID housing boom was well underway, leaving them in the dust again. Nevertheless, they became the dominant buyers of homes in the country, helping to spark the surge of home prices and lack of inventory.
Because of this generation’s appetite for homeownership, many economists forecast homebuying demand is likely to remain strong for years to come. In addition, housing analysts don’t expect a wave of sustained home price cuts for quite a while, according to the Wall Street Journal. Between the pandemic and the popularity of remote work, the millennial home buying trends will probably continue.
Aside from agreeing that we do, indeed, live in interesting times, it’s impossible to know what the next chapter in the housing market will be. We’re all anxious to see what the Florida winter selling season will bring. Everything changes – even desktop computers are back in vogue.
Julie Madison, 34, swam around Anna Maria Island on Dec. 30, traveling 16.8 miles in 67-degree water in about seven and a half hours.
It doesn’t officially count with the Marathon Swimmers Federation, the gatekeepers of such feats, because she wore a wetsuit (non-standard equipment) and her husband was the only observer, Madison said. But she plans to do it again this spring for the record books.
“It felt like the right time and right place,” said Madison, who recently relocated to Cortez from Connecticut when the pool where she worked as a swim coach shut down for nine months during the COVID-19 pandemic. “I knew a few people were thinking about doing it and I wanted to get it done before they did.”
Those people are members of the local Open Water Swim Club based on Anna Maria Island, casually organized by Garry Fenimore. The group has been together for about nine years and varies from 10 to 20 people depending on the time of year and the weather, he said, adding that last week, they held a special event, swimming from Bean Point to Manatee Beach. The group meets every Sunday at Manatee Beach in Holmes Beach, where Madison started and ended her swim.
“Her husband kayaked for her,” Fenimore said. “You really have to have a kayaker because of boat traffic and the length of the swim.”
Unlike marathon swimmer Diana Nyad, who trained off Anna Maria Island in 2010 to swim from Havana to Key West with a Sun staff member as observer, Madison encountered no stinging jellyfish, but only friendly dolphins on her swim.
She accomplished the feat a little at a time.
“It’s all about figuring out goals that work for you and pushing yourself just a little bit,” said Madison, who also works with the Fresh Start Swim Series, organizing swim races in Madeira Beach, Honeymoon Island and St. Pete Beach to benefit Forgotten Coast K9, which trains service dogs for veterans. “I started out 15 minutes at a clip and pushed my speed and pushed my distance until I could eventually do 17 miles.”
