ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Every year at this time, thousands of high school and college students come to the Island to get away, trading tests and quizzes for sunshine and sand. Some come with their families, others with groups of friends, many escaping the still-freezing temperatures in much of the country.
“I’m here with 11 of my girlfriends from Auburn. We have two condos next to each other in Holmes Beach,” said Ashley Coffee, a junior at Auburn University. “Even though we go to school in the south, it’s still pretty cold. My grandparents had a place here, so I grew up coming to the Island, but this is the first time here for most of the girls.”
Ashley says her friends are having a blast, and they all love the more “chill” atmosphere here compared to Panama City or Siesta Key. The Auburn students aren’t alone; many spring breakers share the sentiment.
“We did Fort Lauderdale two years ago and it was awful,” said Hannah Smith, who is enjoying a relaxing spring break with three friends in Bradenton Beach. “We’re just not about the crazy party atmosphere.”
Spring breakers enjoy a game of beach volleyball at Coquina Beach. – Jason Schaffer | Sun
While Miami has enacted a curfew on alcohol sales due to spring breakers fighting and rioting in the streets, things couldn’t be more different here. Law enforcement officials on the Island say that with the exception of a recent attack on a local man, everyone is well behaved, and there has not been an increase in crime due to the increase in visitors.
“The week of March 13 through 19, which was spring break for Manatee, Sarasota and Hillsborough, we averaged 31,900 cars per day in Holmes Beach,” said Chief Bill Tokajer of the Holmes Beach Police Department. “We haven’t seen an increase in crime. We are a very visible department and it seems like we have fewer problems every year.”
Chief Tokajer says that many students who come to Holmes Beach year after year learn that things like drinking alcohol on the beach won’t be tolerated so they just don’t do it. While other destinations are seeing violent outbursts that often spill into the streets, on the Island, it’s rare to even see a fist fight. This seems to be a draw for more students each year who want to relax and unwind.
Bradenton Beach police also see no increase in crime during the spring break season.
“We haven’t seen an uptick in crime, in fact, for the most part we’ve had a great spring break season so far,” said Lieutenant Lenard Diaz of the Bradenton Beach Police Department. “We haven’t had any issues with drinking being a problem. It’s really been a great season.”
With college and university spring breaks spread out over many weeks, the spring break season will continue through the second week of April. While crime may not be a big issue, traffic will, so if you’re planning a trip by car to the Island, be aware that traffic will be heavy and allow plenty of time to get on and off the Island.
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – The latest icon to take the stage at The Center of Anna Maria Island will take audience members back to those endless summer nights.
Award-winning singer, songwriter and author Richard Marx takes the stage on Wednesday, March 23 at The Center as part of the Bradenton Gulf Islands Concert Series presented by Bradenton Area Arts and Culture, The Sandbar and Cedar Cove Resort and Cottages.
Marx told The Sun that this would be his first trip to Anna Maria Island, and it’s an experience that he’s looking forward to.
“It’s one of the few places that I haven’t been yet,” Marx said. “First time’s a charm, hopefully.”
After taking a two-year involuntary hiatus from performing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Marx said he’s happy to be able to play for his fans again and form a more personal connection with the audience.
Stepping back up on stage after two years away from playing live was an emotional experience for Marx, who said he was a little nervous before the show began. “It turned into a two-and-a-half-hour party,” he said of the show, something that he hopes to bring to his performance at The Center.
“They’re like my friends,” he said of the audience. “I’ve never enjoyed touring more and I’ve never been more grateful to still be doing it, having people show up.”
In addition to playing some of his best-known hits, including “Endless Summer Nights,” “Right Here Waiting,” “Hazard” and “Should’ve Known Better,” Marx said the audience at The Center can expect a night full of great music, fun stories and just a great time hanging out together for a few hours.
“My goal every night is that people go home feeling like they hung out with me for a couple of hours and that they kind of got to know me a little bit and that they laughed and that we just had fun together,” Marx said. “Now, more than ever, I feel like I have the ability to provide a two-hour escape from the world and reality and that’s a pretty valuable thing to be able to give somebody. I’m giving it to myself as well at the same time.”
While at home during the pandemic, Marx took time to play a few acoustic shows available online. The pandemic also gave him the opportunity to realize a career milestone outside of the music industry – he became a best-selling author.
With his first book, “Stories to Tell,” Marx said it felt like less of a memoir and more like a conversation about some of his more entertaining life experiences that he’s having with friends over a martini. The book illuminates some of the twists and turns in his life that led him to write some of his most popular songs, though Marx said it’s not just about the stories behind the songs. And with one book under his belt, Marx added that he may still have some more entertaining stories to tell that could one day make a second book. For now, he’s focused on making music and getting back out on the road.
His new album, “Songwriter,” is due out in late summer 2022 and is a very different project for the Grammy award-winning singer and songwriter.
“I love that process,” he said of the recording process. “I love making up a song in my head and hearing it come to life.”
After releasing more than a dozen pop studio albums, Marx said this one is a mash-up of four different types of music that he loves – pop, country, rock and ballads spread across a 20-track, two-disc set.
“It’s all over the map and it’s all different kinds of songs,” he said, noting that there are five songs in each genre. “It was really fun to make.”
ANNA MARIA – The Center of Anna Maria Island is changing up its events and its newest entry, a wine tasting with friends, is a hit with attendees.
The inaugural Wine Tasting with Center Friends, an evening featuring the wines, wit and wisdom of Thomas Jefferson, debuted March 19 with a sold-out audience of more than 200 attendees.
This first event, created by the same committee that organized the Tour of Homes for two decades at The Center, paid homage to the Tour while getting attendees excited for the future of new events helping to bring community to the Island while raising funds for the nonprofit Center. While the COVID-19 pandemic canceled the 2020 Tour of Homes and eventually brought the long-standing Tour to an end, the first of an annually planned wine tasting event honored the Tour by raffling off the 20th and final quilt and featured a miniature version of the Tour’s boutique.
The quilt, created by the Eyeland Needlers, was the final one of 20 quilts created to raise funds for The Center. In honor of her years of contribution to the Tour quilt, local artist Joan Pettigrew pulled the winning raffle ticket during the wine tasting event.
The wine tasting also featured one-of-a-kind artwork created by local artists and up for silent auction. Artists who donated a piece of artwork for the silent auction include Joann Taylor Brown, Wooley Dutton, Emerson, Robert Johnson, Janet Kingan, Maro Lorimer, Jean Murray, Cathy Tobias, Barbara Truemper-Green and Joan Voyles.
And while the art on display was a highlight, the real showstoppers of the new event were the seven wines tasted by attendees with sommelier and certified wine educator MaryKate Scott as the host for the evening.
Guests were greeted at the door with a glass of Crement, a sparkling wine. This Brut was an Antoine Muller Blanc de Blanc. As the night progressed, Scott told the story of Thomas Jefferson’s travels and influences as a young man up until he entered the White House and how those influences shaped the wine that he drank. Guests enjoyed three white wines and three red wines while also dining on charcuterie boards. The featured wines included a Les Dauphins Cotes du Rhone white wine, a Borsao Spanish Macabeo Chardonnay, an Affreschi Pinot Grigio, a Domaine de Briante of Brouilly Beaujolais, a Tomaiolo Chianti and a Lewis and Clark Merlot.
All of the featured wines were available for sale at $25 per bottle of $100 for five bottles from the Olive Oil Outpost with half of the proceeds going to The Center.
Kelly Kary and the Olive Oil Outpost served as featured sponsors of the event with Coldwell Banker, Diamond Turf, Beach Bums, Tom Sanger Pool & Spa, Sato Real Estate and Moss Builders as table sponsors.
The final Tour of Homes quilt was raffled off during a wine tasting event at The Center. - Kristin Swain | Sun
Sommelier MaryKate Scott serves as hostess for the Wine Tasting with Friends event at The Center. - Kristin Swain | Sun
More than 200 people attended the inaugural wine tasting event at The Center of Anna Maria Island. - Kristin Swain | Sun
Center Executive Director Chris Culhane and committee member Liz Hager welcome guests to the inaugural wine tasting event at The Center of Anna Maria Island. - Kristin Swain | Sun
Paintings and artwork from local artists were on display for a silent auction. - Kristin Swain | Sun
ANNA MARIA – The rain delay the previous week gave four teams additional time to plan their strategy for the semifinal adult flag football games last Thursday night. In a nail-biter, WTBL narrowly won against TBT with the final score 27-26. In a game that came down to a failed extra point conversion by TBT, the WTBL squad moved on to face a worthy opponent in team Moss Builders.
The Moss Builders team, led by Ryan Moss, defeated the Solid Rock Construction squad by five points, without the sure hands and speed of Jesse Griffin. Their win in the semifinal matchup put Moss in his third flag football final game this season as either a coach or player.
What was anticipated to be a close game ended in a 20-point win by the less experienced, younger squad. Putting the pressure on QB Moss was key to the team’s win, with two sacks by Daniel O’Connor and a single by Tyler Brewer.
The heat on the quarterback forced throws and caused one interception by WTBL’s Brandon Kull. Kull had two receiving touchdowns in the game in addition to his interception.
WTBL teammates Julia King, Dominick Otteni and Jaret Rojas each had a touchdown catch in the championship game to give their team 18 points. Rojas and Brewer helped to seal the deal each with points after conversions.
On the passing side of the game, Otteni had the top statistics of the game with four completed touchdown passes. Rojas, serving as QB, threw for six.
Moss Builders’ quarterback was down critical players in the big game. Missing some of his key targets, JB Shuck and Brandon Holcomb became the marks for Moss’ missiles.
Team WTBL won the big game under the bright lights at The Center Thursday night in the co-ed flag football league. From left, Tyler “Bean” Brewer, Brandon Kull, Julia King, Jaret Rojas, Dominick Otteni and Daniel O’Connor. – Monica Simpson | Sun
Shuck had eight catches for positive yardage and a touchdown. The football hit the hands of Holcomb twice and once for six points.
The defense of WTBL and the skeleton roster widened the scoring gap as the game clock ticked down to the final 31 seconds on the scoreboard clock. In the classic Moss sportsmanship way, the game was called with time on the clock, with the final score 32-12 and WTBL champions.
In The Center’s gym, adult indoor soccer playoff action kicked off, with the Beach Bums team finishing on top against Gulfview Windows & Doors in the championship game.
Gulfview made it to the Big Show after beating Sato Real Estate in semifinal action in a close game. Beach Bums took the victory against Slim’s Place by three goals, putting the team in the final against Gulfview.
In the final game of the night at The Center, Gulfview continued to fight until the last second, but the scoring powerhouse of Beach Bums team was just too much.
Gulfview’s Mark Long and Luca Vecchio each had hat tricks for their team. Julian Rodriguez, Keith Mahoney, and Raul Loera scored a total of five points for their team. Despite this and the 17 total goals saved by Long, Mahoney and Loera, the Gulfview Windows & Doors team could not capture the win.
Lucky Durmaz finished the top scorer of the game with six goals for Beach Bums. Kevin Roman and Mauro Vecchio scored five goals each, with an additional two by teammate David Noval.
Osvaldo Cabello protected the net for his team, making 14 stops for Beach Bums. Vecchio is credited for two saves in the game, along with a save.
After a crazy season of indoor soccer games and forfeits, the season ended with an action-packed final game with Beach Bums champions.
Sun Scoreboard
Thursday, March 17
Adult Co-Ed Flag Football – Semifinal Playoff Games
WTBL 27
TBT 26
Moss Builders 25
Solid Rock Construction 20
Adult Co-Ed Flag Football – Championship Game
WTBL 32
Moss Builders 12
Adult Co-Ed Indoor Soccer – Semifinal Playoff Games
For a while there I thought we would have one more headache to worry about in addition to insurance rates and hurricanes. On March 11, Florida legislators failed to reach an agreement on a bill to improve building structures. So, one less headache but far less oversight.
Therefore, let’s take a quick review of what is going on. Because of the Champlain Towers South collapse on the east coast, everyone woke up to the possibility of older condos, especially those on or adjacent to barrier islands, being in jeopardy. Florida lawmakers attempted to pass legislation that would require specific inspections for condo buildings. However, at the end of the legislative session, they were not able to come to an agreement. Some of the legislators cited hardships on condo owners and associations who are not in a financial position to bear the brunt of the inspection results.
These discussions have been going on for a while and about a month ago the Florida House passed a bill outlining measures to help alleviate the possibility of older condo buildings being neglected. It was passed in the Florida Senate to little avail since they closed the session without any agreement between the two houses. This came as a surprise since most of the legislators and the governor expected something to come out of the negotiations.
The House bill stated that condo buildings that are three stories or taller need to be inspected and recertified at 30 years of age. In addition, those that are within 3 miles of the coast would require recertification at 25 years of age. After that, recertification would be required every 10 years. The Senate bill was similar, changing the benchmark to 20 years for buildings near the coast and inspections every seven years thereafter.
I wouldn’t get too excited about the end of this legislation. First of all, it could easily come back in the next legislative session. In addition, it’s possible that insurance companies and financial institutions may now impose reserve requirements on buildings, stepping in where the state official has been absent.
In spite of what happens or does not happen in Tallahassee, Manatee County’s real estate is still rolling along. These are the February sales statistics published by the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee.
Single-family homes closed 4.3% more homes in February this year compared to last February. The median selling price was $478,000, up 25.8% above last February and almost the same as January of this year. The average sale price was $693,229, up 25.3% from last February. The median time for properties to get into contract is six days of being listed.
Condos closed 16.8% fewer units in February compared to last February. The median sales price was $325,000, up 41.3% compared to last February, and the average sale price was $371,367, up 36.1% from last year. The median time for properties to get into contract is five days of being listed.
The primary problem our market faces is low inventory which is resulting in fewer closed sales. With mortgage rates going up, that will put more pressure on the market from buyers looking to purchase before they go up even further. According to the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee, the imbalance of supply and demand contributes to the rapidly increasing prices.
This is Florida, and for all our success in attracting new residents and having improving housing prices, we still have everything related to living on the water to contend with. I predict this isn’t the end of condo recertifications and a review of condo reserves.
BRADENTON BEACH – A couple with a vision to work together is making a living doing what they love on Bridge Street – painting windows.
Married for three years, Christina and Jessica Fonseca of M Lynn Creative realized they have talents that complement each other.
“I’ve always been into art,” Jessica said. “I’ve always joked that I have never met an art medium that I didn’t like. If I don’t like it, it’s probably that I’m just not good at it!”
“I’m the business side of this. I have a degree in business administration. I do the marketing, social media and everything involving the business side of this,” Christina said, adding that despite what Jessica may say, her partner has plenty of artistic aptitude.
M Lynn Creative’s completed work is featured at Back Alley Treasures on Bridge Street in Bradenton Beach. – Jason Schaffer | Sun
The couple is based out of Orlando, but has a special fondness for Anna Maria Island, and has acquired a dozen businesses that utilize their services here on the Island. The Fonsecas admit that despite their marketing skills, a lot of their work comes from word of mouth. Christina Fonseca says despite the rapid growth of their business, they are available for Easter window scenes now, and future holidays have openings as well.
To have M Lynn Creative dress up a window, call 407-259-1450, email marialynn.creative@gmail.com, or follow them on Instagram at mlynn.creative or on Facebook at MLynnCreative.
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – It’s time to get your green on because St. Patrick’s Day is back on the Island.
After a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade took to the streets of Holmes Beach and Anna Maria with thousands lining the parade route to watch bagpipe players, marching bands, the Anna Maria Island Privateers and even a few leprechauns strolling by, gifting onlookers with beads, candy and other baubles.
With Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer leading the way, the parade made its way down Marina, Palm and Gulf drives before turning down Pine Avenue to end at The Center of Anna Maria Island.
Previously, the parade was brought to the Island by restaurateur Sean Murphy and The Beach Bistro. Though Murphy walked in this year’s parade, the 2022 St. Patrick’s Day festivities were sponsored by The Center of Anna Maria Island and Darcie Duncan of Duncan Real Estate and Anna Maria Island Homes.
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
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