Tag: Anna Maria Island

Out of this world fun at Murder Mystery

Written by SUN contributor on February 20, 2022. Posted in Entertainment, Theater.

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

Tourist tax collections 2021

Written by Jason Schaffer on February 20, 2022. Posted in Business, Tourism.

2021 tourist tax collections compared to 2020

January

Anna Maria ↑ 24%

Bradenton Beach ↓ 25%

Holmes Beach ↑ 32%

Manatee County ↑ 1%

February

Anna Maria ↓ 5%

Bradenton Beach ↓ 21%

Holmes Beach ↓ 5 %

Manatee County ↓ 9 %

March

Anna Maria ↑ 36%

Bradenton Beach ↑ 35%

Holmes Beach ↑ 51%

Manatee County ↑ 44%

April

Anna Maria ↑ 92%

Bradenton Beach ↑ 88%

Holmes Beach ↑ 93%

Manatee County ↑ 72%

May

Anna Maria ↑ 81%

Bradenton Beach ↑ 70%

Holmes Beach ↑ 72%

Manatee County ↑ 70%

June

Anna Maria ↑ 66%

Bradenton Beach ↑ 109%

Holmes Beach ↑ 91%

Manatee County ↑ 95%

July

Anna Maria ↑ 34%

Bradenton Beach ↑ 39%

Holmes Beach ↑ 46%

Manatee County ↑ 44%

August

Anna Maria ↓ 1%

Bradenton Beach ↑ 8%

Holmes Beach ↑ 12%

Manatee County ↑ 35%

September

Anna Maria ↑ 9%

Bradenton Beach ↑ 29%

Holmes Beach ↑ 19%

Manatee County ↑ 21%

October

Anna Maria ↑ 33%

Bradenton Beach ↑ 75%

Holmes Beach ↑ 46%

Manatee County ↑ 56%

November

Anna Maria ↓ 24%

Bradenton Beach ↑ 61%

Holmes Beach ↑ 68%

Manatee County ↑ 50%

December

Anna Maria ↓ 2%

Bradenton Beach ↑ 47%

Holmes Beach ↑ 24%

Manatee County ↑ 59%

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.

Source: Manatee County Tax Collector

City registration coming for golf cart owners

Written by SUN contributor on February 13, 2022. Posted in Community News, Holmes Beach.

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.

Related coverage

LSV, golf cart talks take a turn

Island resident seriously injured in golf cart/auto crash

County pursuing water taxi service to AMI

Written by Joe Hendricks on February 13, 2022. Posted in Business, Featured, Tourism.

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.

County pursuing water taxi service to Anna Maria Island — 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.”

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.

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.

Classic rock icon gets a standing ovation at The Center

Classic rock icon shares stage with local choir

Written by SUN contributor on January 25, 2022. Posted in Entertainment, Music.

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

Changing real estate times

Written by Louise Bolger on January 15, 2022. Posted in Business, Castles in the Sand.

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.

Who would have thought that?

Woman completes ‘round the island swim

Written by Cindy Lane on January 10, 2022. Posted in Featured, Sports.

HOLMES BEACH – It may be a first.

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.”

Florida loses record number of manatees in 2021

Written by Cindy Lane on January 10, 2022. Posted in Environment, Featured, Manatees, Outdoors.

More than 1,100 manatees died in 2021, a record high since the turn of the century, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

Brevard County on Florida’s east coast had the highest mortality toll, with 359 manatee deaths in the Indian River Lagoon system, where manatees starved because harmful algae blooms destroyed their primary food supply – seagrass, according to wildlife officials.

Manatee deaths in Florida this century

2000    272

2001    325

2002    305

2003    380

2004    276

2005    396

2006    417

2007    317

2008    337

2009    429

2010    766

2011    453

2012    392

2013    830

2014    371

2015    405

2016    520

2017    538

2018    824

2019    607

2020    637

2021    1,101

Total   10,898

Source: FWC

Algae blooms may also have caused some of the 28 manatee deaths in Manatee County, which includes Anna Maria Island. A red tide lasted for nearly eight months last year in Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico around the Island, exacerbated by nitrogen and phosphorus-laden wastewater dumped into the bay in March and April at the closed Piney Point fertilizer plant.

Statewide, last year’s manatee deaths nearly doubled the five-year average of 625 annual deaths. The FWC confirms that 2021 manatee mortalities meet the criteria for an “Unusual Mortality Event,” which has led to agency rescue efforts, including hand-feeding starving manatees.

“We take this situation seriously and are committed to working with our partners including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to explore short-term solutions to the die-off, as well as much-needed long-term solutions to restoring the lagoon ecosystem,” FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto said in a press release.

The last manatee population survey, conducted by the FWC in 2019, counted 5,733 manatees in state waters.

Manatee population surveys

2021 not conducted due to COVID

2020 not conducted due to weather

2019 – 5,733

2018 – 6,131

2017 – 6,620

2016 – 6,250

2015 – 6,063

Source: FWC

An alternate method, the abundance survey method, employs mathematical and statistical formulas to extrapolate an estimated number of manatees based on those actually counted, and estimated at least 7,500 manatees in state waters three years earlier, in 2015-16.

Those numbers were cited in 2017 by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to remove manatees from the federal “endangered” species list and downlist the species to “threatened.” Manatees had been protected as “endangered” since 1967 under the federal Endangered Species Act.

The downlisting came after the Pacific Legal Foundation, on behalf of Save Crystal River Inc., a recreational boating group, petitioned the USFWS, saying the safety measures addressing the manatee’s endangered level of protection were bad for tourism and boating businesses.

In light of record-high 2021 mortalities, U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-Manatee) has called on the USFWS to revisit its decision and restore the manatee from “threatened” to “endangered” status, joined by former Florida Governor and U.S. Senator Bob Graham, co-founder in 1981 with singer/songwriter Jimmy Buffett of the Save the Manatee Club.

To help protect the state’s official marine mammal, follow these tips:

Obey posted signs for manatee slow-speed zones.
Wear polarized sunglasses to see manatees in your path.
Keep a lookout for the circular “footprints” or ripples they leave on the surface of the water.
If you observe a manatee mating herd – several manatees gathering as males vie to mate with a female – watch from at least 100 feet away. Coming any closer might disrupt the mating or endanger you; adult manatees typically weigh more than 1,000 pounds.
Never feed or water manatees as they will become habituated to people, which could put them at risk of injury.
Stow trash and line when underway. Marine debris that blows overboard can become ingested by or entangled around manatees.

Contact the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Wildlife Alert hotline at 1-888-404-FWCC (3922), dial #FWC or *FWC on a cellphone or text Tip@MyFWC.com if:

you see a manatee with a pink or red (fresh) wound.
the manatee is tilting to one side, unable to submerge or seems to have trouble breathing.
you see a manatee calf by itself with no adults around for an extended period of time.
you see anyone harassing a manatee in any way.
you see boaters speeding in a protected area.
you see a manatee entangled in monofilament, crab-trap lines or other debris.
you see a dead manatee.

To support the FWC’s manatee research, rescue and management efforts, purchase a Florida manatee license plate or donate $5 to receive a collectible FWC manatee decal at a local Tax Collector’s office.

Related coverage

Water quality key to tourism

Sing along with the Christmas Bird Count

Written by Cindy Lane on January 3, 2022. Posted in Birds, Outdoors.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – On the eighth day of Christmas, the Audubon Society counted 12 palm warblers, 11 (plus eight) northern mockingbirds, 10 red-bellied woodpeckers, nine blue-gray gnatcatchers, eight common loons, seven house finches, six snowy egrets, five white ibis, four (plus two) house sparrows, three American white pelicans, two wood storks and a lesser black-backed gull.

The birds were tallied on a warm Jan. 2 by volunteers with the Manatee County Audubon Society during the annual Fort De Soto Christmas Bird Count, which includes birds on Anna Maria Island.

The team of Stu Wilson, John Ginaven, Kathryn Young, Marcy Klein and Pam Koepf scoured the Island north of 46th Street and found shorebirds commonly seen on AMI’s coastline, but also unusual finds, such as two bald eagles.

Like birds? Try the Audubon app

They identified 48 species, a little low compared to the average of 54 species, Wilson said, attributing the decrease to continued warm weather in the northern U.S., keeping some birds from migrating south.

Each individual count takes place in a 15-mile-wide circle and is led by a compiler responsible for safely organizing volunteers and submitting observations to Audubon. Within each circle, participants tally all birds seen or heard that day – not just the species, but individuals, to provide a clearer idea of the health of that particular population.

The 112 years’ worth of data collected during the Christmas Bird Counts contributes to one of two large sets of data that inform ornithologists and conservation biologists about what conservation action is required to protect birds and their habitats.

Here’s the rest of the AMI bird numbers:

sandwich tern 180

fish crow 140

European starling 130

laughing gull 130

sanderling 110

royal tern 87

willet 57

ring-billed gull 45

brown pelican 42

common grackle 32

double-crested cormorant 24

red knot 24

mourning dove 23

osprey 21

Eurasian collared-dove 20

herring gull 20

Forster’s tern 18

nanday parakeet 17

brown-headed cowbird 14

ruddy turnstone 9

great blue heron 8

turkey vulture 6

red-breasted merganser 5

rock pigeon 5

great egret 3

downy woodpecker 2

black-bellied plover 2

prairie warbler 2

American kestrel 1

red-shouldered hawk 1

spotted sandpiper 1

magnificent frigatebird 1

blue-headed vireo 1

gray catbird 1

yellow-rumped warbler 1

Reel Time: A New Year’s resolution

Written by Rusty Chinnis on January 3, 2022. Posted in Environment, Outdoors, Reel Time.

I’m guessing that when it comes to making and keeping New Year’s Resolutions, your average isn’t much better than mine. When I look back, I don’t sweat most of them. Resolutions like losing weight or exercising more aren’t so critical. Then there are other resolutions that one just can’t take for granted or put on hold anymore. The resolution to work to protect the habitat and water quality of the Suncoast rises to that level.

If you think that’s an overstatement, I encourage you to speak to any one of the professional fishing guides, like Captain Justin Moore, a second-generation guide on Anna Maria Island who spends over 200 days on the water every year. As a keen observer by trade and nature, Moore is alarmed with what he’s seeing. It was Moore and his dad, Captain Scott Moore, who first alerted me to the fact that vast stretches of Sarasota Bay had lost seagrasses after the devastating red tide of 2018. How did they know almost a year before the official notice was released by the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program? He saw it with his own eyes, thousands of acres of lush grasses that he had fished for decades were suddenly just bare sand. I heard the same concerns from veteran anglers like Captain Todd Romine, who has been fishing Sarasota Bay for over three decades. Romine was so concerned, he sacrificed a day of fishing to take Sarasota Bay Estuary Program Executive Director Dave Tomasko to show him. Tomasko made an initial determination that day that grass beds that had been in water 5 feet or deeper were essentially gone.

This was six months before the results from the Southwest Florida Water Management District seagrass survey documented an 18% decline in seagrass across Sarasota Bay, Roberts Bay and Little Sarasota Bay from 2018 to 2020. The decline equates to a loss of 2,300 acres of seagrass. The total acreage of seagrass coverage in the area is down from 12,853 in 2018 to 10,540 in 2020. By comparison, seagrasses in the 1950s covered about 10,246 acres, a low after dredge and fill operations and sewage systems devastated a once-vibrant ecosystem. The coverage steadily built from there as municipalities converted to central sewer systems and stormwater runoff began to be managed. Now the loss we’ve experienced in two years means the area basically has to start over.

Tampa Bay, linked directly to Anna Maria Sound, didn’t fare much better, losing 13% of its seagrass, more than 5,400 acres. When you consider that 2.5 acres of seagrass supports up to 100,000 fish and 100 million invertebrates like clams, crabs, starfish and snails, the impact of the loss becomes more evident.

If that wasn’t enough to alarm observers of the bay, the debacle at Piney Point – which released over 200 million gallons of phosphate process wastewater into Tampa Bay in the spring of 2021 – should have been. That release likely led to the most devastating red tide event in upper Tampa Bay in more than 30 years, killing more than 1,711 tons of sea life.

On top of these devastating events, two years of massive and unprecedented lyngbya (cyanobacteria) blooms in Anna Maria Sound and Tampa Bay in 2020 and 2021 blanketed thousands of acres of seagrass with a foul-smelling mass that blocked life-giving light.

While local waters have become clear as they cool during the winter, keen observers will notice that the bay is still chocked with a variety of algae. Why is that a problem? For an answer, we only have to look to the east coast of Florida and the sad saga of the Indian River Lagoon (IRL). Once one of the most vibrant marine ecosystems on the planet, the IRL in recent years has seen massive die-offs of marine life and most recently an unprecedented loss of Florida manatees.

This is not an issue that should concern only fishermen, but has the potential to devastate an economy that depends on clean water and a vibrant ecosystem. People move to our area and buy homes because of the water and natural environment. It’s time for realtors, developers, builders, anglers and every segment of our community to pull together to demand accountability, purchase and protect vulnerable habitat and demand improvements in infrastructure that protect this environmental engine of progress. There are solutions if we can affect the political will. Yes, they will be expensive, but if we don’t act, the cost in the future will be overwhelming and may be too late. Resolve to be part of the solution.

“If you work to save the world and the world is lost, no regrets.” – The Dalai Lama.

The Wailers jumpstart new Center concert series

Written by SUN contributor on December 18, 2021. Posted in Entertainment, Music.

ANNA MARIA – A new concert series has kicked off at The Center of Anna Maria Island just in time for the holidays.

The first show in the five-part series featured the Grammy-nominated reggae group The Wailers. Led by Aston Barrett Jr., the group took to the Island stage on Dec. 11 as a part of their 2021 One World Tour.

Performing to a packed crowd on the field, the group played the hits of the original Wailers, led by the legendary Bob Marley and featuring Barrett’s father, Aston “Family man” Barrett, as well as some of their own original songs. A standout of the performance was “One World, One Prayer,” the first single off The Wailers 2020 album of the same name.

The next show taking The Center’s stage will be Lou Gramm, former lead singer of award-winning rock band Foreigner on Saturday, Jan. 22, followed by Don Felder on Sunday, Feb. 20, Richard Marx on Wednesday, March 23 and Felix Cavaliere’s Rascals on Saturday, April 2. Tickets for all shows are on sale at www.centerami.org/events.

The Bradenton Gulf Islands Concert Series at The Center is presented by Bradenton Area Arts & Culture, the Sandbar restaurant and Cedar Cove Resort and Cottages.

Ringing in the holiday season, Island-style

Written by SUN contributor on December 16, 2021. Posted in Entertainment, Parades.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – The holiday spirit was on full display Dec. 11 as crowds lined the Island’s streets to see the annual AMI Privateers Christmas parade.

Led by the Privateers on the Skullywag, the Christmas parade brought out kids young and old to cheer as their friends and favorite characters traveled from Coquina Beach in Bradenton Beach, through Holmes Beach and down to City Pier Park in Anna Maria.

After the parade, Santa and some of his favorite pirate elves gathered at City Pier Park to take pictures, find out what everyone wants for Christmas and hand out presents to children.

The group from AMI Locals celebrates Grinchmas as they ride along in the annual Anna Maria Island Privateers Christmas parade on Dec. 11. - Kristin Swain | Sun

One bicyclist joins in on the Christmas parade fun. - Kristin Swain | Sun

The Anna Maria Island Privateers lead the way down East Bay Drive on their landbound pirate ship, the Skullywag, for the 2021 Christmas Parade on Dec. 11. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Holmes Beach public works staff ham it up during the Christmas parade. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Holmes Beach public works staff get in on the holiday fun during the Christmas parade. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Church members and kids celebrate the Christmas season on the Roser Church float. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Santa waves to the crowd as he travels along the Christmas parade route before stopping at City Pier Park in Anna Maria to hand out presents to good boys and girls. - Submitted | Gail Swain

Santa brings down the house as he arrives on his sleigh to the happy cheers of children during the Christmas parade. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Some of Santa’s elves take a ride on a boat instead of a sleigh. - Kristin Swain | Sun

The Paddlers from Paradise take a break from their dragon boat to ride in the annual Christmas parade. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Events calendar

Written by SUN contributor on December 13, 2021. Posted in Uncategorized.

Tuesday, Dec. 14

Farmer’s market, City Pier Park, 103 N. Bay Blvd., Anna Maria, 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

RoserRobics, Roser Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, 9:30 a.m., no cost but donations welcome.

Family story time, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m. Reserve online

Mahjong, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Register online

One-on-one tech help, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Reserve online

Christmas in the Garden, Longboat Island Chapel, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, 5-9 p.m.

Wednesday, Dec. 15

Beach market, Coquina Beach, 2650 Gulf Drive S., Bradenton Beach, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Lawton Chiles Christmas for Kids Party, Sandbar Restaurant, 100 Spring St., Anna Maria, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Ukulele Instruction for Beginners, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 1 p.m. Register online at manateelibrary.libcal.com/event/8315413

AMI Chamber Business Card Exchange, Mainsail Beach Inn, 101 66th St., Bradenton Beach, 5-7 p.m., $5 for members or $10 for non-members. Reserve online

Christmas in the Garden, Longboat Island Chapel, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, 5-9 p.m.

CrossPointe Fellowship Christmas Concert, 8605 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 16

RoserRobics, Roser Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, 9:30 a.m., no cost but donations welcome.

Island Library Book Club, “The Midnight Library,” Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10:15 a.m. Reserve online

Sunshine Stitchers knit and crochet, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 2-4 p.m. Register online

Thursdays in Paradise Stroll featuring local art, music and food, Bridge Street, Bradenton Beach, 5-8 p.m.

AMI Chamber business card exchange, Mainsail Beach Inn, 101 66th St., Holmes Beach, 5 p.m., $5 for members or $10 for prospective members. Reserve online

Shutter Stroll, Robinson Preserve, 840 Ninth Ave. N.W., Bradenton, 5:15 p.m. Register online

Christmas in the Garden, Longboat Island Chapel, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, 5-9 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 17

Forty Carrots, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10-11 a.m. Register online

Mahjong Club, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Register online

Christmas in the Garden, Longboat Island Chapel, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, 5-9 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 18

Robinson Runners, Robinson Preserve, 1704 99th St. N.W., Bradenton, 8 a.m.

Saturday mornings at the NEST, Robinson Preserve Mosaic Nest, 840 Ninth Ave. N.W., Bradenton, 9 a.m. to noon. Face masks required.

Master Gardener Tour, Perico Preserve, 11700 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton, 9 a.m. Reserve online

Families Flock Together: Ornament Making, Robinson Preserve, screened pavilion, 840 Ninth Ave. N.W., Bradenton, 10 a.m., $5. Reserve online

Meditation, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 11 a.m. Reserve online

Christmas in the Garden, Longboat Island Chapel, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, 5-9 p.m.

Seeing Stars, Robinson Preserve, 840 Ninth Ave. N.W., Bradenton, 6:30 p.m. Reserve online

Sunday, Dec. 19

Farm stand, Holmes Beach City Hall, 5801 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 8-10 a.m.

Roser Memorial Community Church Christmas Cantata, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, 8:30 a.m. and 10 a.m.

Beach market, Coquina Beach, 2650 Gulf Drive S., Bradenton Beach, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Rise and Shine Power Flow Yoga, Robinson Preserve Mosaic Nest, 840 Ninth Ave. N.W., Bradenton 10:30-11:45 a.m., $10 fee payable online. Bring your own yoga mat. Register online or call 941-742-5923 ext. 6042 for more information.

Christmas in the Garden, Longboat Island Chapel, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, 5-9 p.m.

Monday, Dec. 20

Episcopal Church of the Annunciation Hanging of the Greens, 4408 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, 9 a.m.

Christmas in the Garden, Longboat Island Chapel, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, 5-9 p.m. Music begins at 6 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 21

Winter Solstice Sunrise Paddle, Robinson Preserve, north entrance, 1704 99th St. N.W., Bradenton, 6 a.m. Reserve online

Farmer’s market, City Pier Park, 103 N. Bay Blvd., Anna Maria, 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

RoserRobics, Roser Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, 9:30 a.m., no cost but donations are welcome.

Santa visits story time, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 9 a.m.

Family story time, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m. Register online

Mahjong Club, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 11:30 a.m. Register online

Tech Help, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 2-2:30 p.m. Register online

Christmas in the Garden, Longboat Island Chapel, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, 5-9 p.m.

Wednesday, Dec. 22

Beach market, Coquina Beach, 2650 Gulf Drive S., Bradenton Beach, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Ukulele Instruction for Beginners, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 1 p.m. Register online

Christmas in the Garden, Longboat Island Chapel, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, 5-9 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 23

RoserRobics, Roser Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, 9:30 a.m., no cost but donations welcome.

Thursdays in Paradise Stroll featuring local art, music and food, Bridge Street, Bradenton Beach, 5-8 p.m.

Christmas in the Garden, Longboat Island Chapel, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, 5-9 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 24

Christmas Eve

Saturday, Dec. 25

Merry Christmas!

Sunday, Dec. 26

Farm stand, Holmes Beach City Hall, 5801 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 8-10 a.m.

Beach market, Coquina Beach, 2650 Gulf Drive S., Bradenton Beach, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Christmas in the Garden, Longboat Island Chapel, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, 5-9 p.m.

Monday, Dec. 27

Christmas in the Garden, Longboat Island Chapel, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, 5-9 p.m. Music begins at 6 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 28

Farmer’s market, City Pier Park, 103 N. Bay Blvd., Anna Maria, 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

RoserRobics, Roser Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, 9:30 a.m., no cost but donations are welcome.

Wonder Walk, Robinson Preserve, 840 Ninth Ave. N.W., Bradenton, 10 a.m. Reserve to coral.bass@mymanatee.org.

Family story time, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m. Register online

Tech Help, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 2-2:30 p.m. Register online

Christmas in the Garden, Longboat Island Chapel, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, 5-9 p.m.

Wednesday, Dec. 29

Beach market, Coquina Beach, 2650 Gulf Drive S., Bradenton Beach, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tortoise Talk, Robinson Preserve Valentine House, 1704 99th St. N.W., Bradenton, 10 a.m.

Ukulele Instruction for Beginners, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 1 p.m. Register online

Christmas in the Garden, Longboat Island Chapel, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, 5-9 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 30

Seashell Shore Walk, Coquina Beach, 2650 Gulf Drive S., Bradenton Beach, 9 a.m.

RoserRobics, Roser Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, 9:30 a.m., no cost but donations welcome.

Seaside Quilters, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m. Register online

Sunshine Stitchers knit and crochet, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 2 p.m. Register online

Thursdays in Paradise Stroll featuring local art, music and food, Bridge Street, Bradenton Beach, 5-8 p.m.

Christmas in the Garden, Longboat Island Chapel, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, 5-9 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 31

New Year’s Eve

Christmas in the Garden, Longboat Island Chapel, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, 5-9 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 1

Happy New Year!

Robinson Runners, Robinson Preserve, 1704 99th St. N.W., Bradenton, 8 a.m.

Manatee Audubon Society Birding Tour, Perico Preserve, 11700 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton, 8:30 a.m.

Saturday mornings at the NEST, Robinson Preserve Mosaic Nest, 840 Ninth Ave. N.W., Bradenton, 9 a.m. to noon. Face masks required.

Shamrock Shiver sponsored by Clancy’s Irish Pub, Cortez Beach between Fourth St. South and 12th St. South, Bradenton Beach, noon. All proceeds benefit The Blessing Bags Project, Feeding Empty Little Tummies, Healthy Teens Coalition of Manatee County and Parenting Matters Charities.

Sunshine Stitchers knit and crochet, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 2 p.m. Reserve online

Christmas in the Garden, Longboat Island Chapel, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, 5-9 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 2

Farm stand, Holmes Beach City Hall, 5801 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 8-10 a.m.

Beach market, Coquina Beach, 2650 Gulf Drive S., Bradenton Beach, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 4

Farmer’s market, City Pier Park, 103 N. Bay Blvd., Anna Maria, 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

RoserRobics, Roser Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, 9:30 a.m., no cost but donations welcome.

Family story time, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m. Reserve online

Mahjong, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Register online

One-on-one tech help, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 2-2:30 p.m. Reserve online

Global property boom

Written by Louise Bolger on November 19, 2021. Posted in Business, Castles in the Sand.

The old adage that all real estate is local for the most part still holds. For instance, properties on Anna Maria Island have significantly different price points than properties in other areas of Manatee County. However, there is a global reset in one area since the entire real estate market around the world after COVID-19 has experienced a property boom.

Europe, Australia, New Zealand and the Asian markets are all struggling with the affordability of home prices. In most of these areas, as well as in the United States, the home price to income ratio is at a very high level; in some regions, the highest ever recorded. Governments are at a loss as to whether stepping in will help or hinder the marketplace. In China, efforts to slow down the market have been a failure and the rest of the world has been watching.

Homeowners who purchased their properties prior to the pandemic are substantially richer than they were on closing day. And Anna Maria Island may be the perfect example of what has happened during the last two years.

For several years I did a quarterly review of properties listed and sold over $1 million in the three cities on Anna Maria and Cortez. I’ve decided to change that analysis to every six months to better give a more consistent overall picture of the market. The following statistics are covering sales from May through October of this year, closing at or above $1 million as recorded by the Manatee County Property Appraiser’s office.

The city of Anna Maria closed 56 properties at or over $1 million, averaging slightly over nine properties per month. The highest sales were $6,800,000 and $6,750,000; there were three sales over $4 million; seven sales over $3 million; 13 sales over $2 million and the balance were $1 million or over.

The combined cities of Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach closed 97 properties at or over $1 million, averaging slightly over 16 properties per month. The highest sale was for $5,450,000; there were three sales over $4 million; five sales over $3 million; 29 sales over $2 million and the balance were $1 million or over.

Cortez closed two sales, both over $1 million.

On the market or pending as of this writing in the city of Anna Maria, there are 35 properties $1 million or over. The highest is $16,500,000; there are two over $9 million; one over $6 million; one over $5 million; one over $4 million; six over $3 million; 12 over $2 million and 11 over $1 million.

The combined cities of Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach have 61 properties on the market or pending as of this writing. The highest are $7,995,000 and $7,957,000; one over $6 million; one over $5 million; seven over $3 million; 16 over $2 million and 34 over $1 million.

Cortez has three properties; the highest is $4,750,000, a parcel of land at $1,300,000 and new construction in the Hunters Point development for $1,000,000.

If these numbers don’t blow you away, I don’t know what will. Some economists think it’s best to leave the market alone and let it find its own way, which I agree with. Most economists think that we will not have a 2008-type housing crash that was mostly created from poor lending standards, all of which have been tightened up.

There has been some very minor slowdown in sales in the national market recently, nevertheless, prices aren’t expected to fall significantly. Have a Happy Thanksgiving; we homeowners have much to be thankful for.

Thrift store reopens its doors

Written by SUN contributor on November 15, 2021. Posted in Anna Maria, Community News.

ANNA MARIA – After months of renovations, the doors of the Roser Guild Thrift Store are open to the public and quite a lot has changed on the inside.

Members of the Guild and some of the volunteers who worked on the building renovations met Nov. 9 for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the store followed by a tour of the newly refurbished interior.

Rev. Dirk Rogers gave a blessing of the store before Guild members and thrift store volunteers Peggy Nash and Margaret Atwood joined hands to cut the ribbon. They were then joined by church Trustee Alan Ward to unlock the door, officially reopening the shop for the first time in more than a year.

The store, 511 Pine Ave., is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Staffed by volunteers, the proceeds generated by the store help the Roser Guild provide scholarships, community programs and support to Roser Church and other local organizations.

For more information on the thrift shop, visit www.roserchurch.com/thrift-shop.

The Roser Guild would like to thank the following people and organizations, among others, who helped with the renovations at the thrift shop:

Alan Ward

Mike Oney

Moss Construction

Miller Electric

Gator Plumbing

Specialty Air

Wentzel Insulation

Charlie’s Stucco

Primecraft Flooring

Do It All Handyman Service

Charles Wade

Matt Meehan

Jay Calhoun

Randy Swain

Dale Dohner

Bruce Birkman

David Cheshire

Dan and Ruth Luckenberg

Edna Bomar

Brian Spellissy

Jack Brennan

Danny Demarco

Rick Maddox

Pam Ladd

Dan Devine

All of the donors and volunteers who made this project possible

Anna Maria revising beach cabana rental regulations

Island voters help decide county, state and federal primary races

Anna Maria parking study recommends permit and paid parking

Bradenton Beach hires in-house building official

Major revisions to Anna Maria cabana rental regulations to be discussed Thursday

Pines Trailer Park, Bridge Street redevelopment plans presented

Anna Maria revising beach cabana rental regulations

Island voters help decide county, state and federal primary races

Anna Maria parking study recommends permit and paid parking

Bradenton Beach hires in-house building official

Major revisions to Anna Maria cabana rental regulations to be discussed Thursday

Pines Trailer Park, Bridge Street redevelopment plans presented

Suncoast Fly Fishers hosting ladies fly fishing tournament

Remember the Sandbar

Palma Sola Bay doesn’t meet state bacteria standards

Beat the summer heat

Turtle Watch reports fatal hatchling disorientations

Salty Dawg: Sand dollars

Too many people, too few homes

Great-grandson’s mural pays tribute to Sports Lounge’s Chicago roots

Book covers and old Florida

The storm before the law

Real estate market optimism

Public comment sought for Aqua’s proposed gabion wall

Center’s summer campers learn skimboarding

Skim competition returns to Anna Maria

Team Cablish & Gentile wins chamber golf tournament

Pat Carlucci discusses ‘Baseball in Paradise’

CENTER SCOREBOARD: Reel Coastal Properties claims flag football title

Lori Waggoner wins Key Royale Club’s match play tournament

Sections

Latest Stories

Political Cartoon

Holmes Beach residents deserve genuine candidates

Salty Dawg: The gift of getting salty

Protecting paradise through partnership

Redefining what it means to serve a community

Sun claims four Florida Press Association awards

Sections

Latest Stories

Churches of Anna Maria Island

Churches of Anna Maria Island

Insider’s Island – The insider’s guide to outdoors AMI

Readers’ Choice Awards 2025

Tag: Anna Maria Island

2021 tourist tax collections compared to 2020

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Source: Manatee County Tax Collector

Anna Maria mayor’s input

To help protect the state’s official marine mammal, follow these tips:

Contact the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Wildlife Alert hotline at 1-888-404-FWCC (3922), dial #FWC or *FWC on a cellphone or text Tip@MyFWC.com if:

Tuesday, Dec. 14

Wednesday, Dec. 15

Thursday, Dec. 16

Friday, Dec. 17

Saturday, Dec. 18

Sunday, Dec. 19

Monday, Dec. 20

Tuesday, Dec. 21

Wednesday, Dec. 22

Thursday, Dec. 23

Friday, Dec. 24

Saturday, Dec. 25

Sunday, Dec. 26

Monday, Dec. 27

Tuesday, Dec. 28

Wednesday, Dec. 29

Thursday, Dec. 30

Friday, Dec. 31