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Tag: Anna Maria Island

Red tide causes fish kills, symptoms

Written by Cindy Lane on . Posted in Community News, Featured, Health.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Red tide is not only killing fish in waters around the Island, but people are experiencing the trademark respiratory symptoms associated with the toxic algae.

Visitor Jackie Harling said she and her husband and daughter began having symptoms on July 20.

“We know for sure it was a red tide as the moment we opened our truck doors we all started coughing,” she said. “We loaded everything into our condo and spent the majority of the time in the condo until the next day where my husband and daughter were outside for a couple of hours and realized it was not a good situation. Even though I had been indoors most of the time, I was having trouble breathing.”

NOAA has issued a red tide respiratory warning for Manatee and surrounding counties, noting that impacts vary by location and with wind direction. Current forecasts of respiratory irritation are available at NOAA and at Mote.

Red tide-related respiratory irritation was reported in Manatee County at Coquina Beach and Manatee Beach, and in Sarasota, Pinellas and Hillsborough counties, according to Friday’s Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission weekly report.

Red tide produces a neurotoxin called brevetoxin that can cause respiratory irritation, coughing, and more serious illness for people with severe or chronic respiratory conditions such as asthma, emphysema or COPD, according to the Florida Department of Health. Health officials recommend that people experiencing symptoms stay away from the water, go inside to an air-conditioned space, or wear masks, especially during onshore winds.

Manatee County registered high levels of red tide in water samples at the Longboat Pass boat ramp and 10th Street Pier on July 19.

Levels were medium at the Rod and Reel Pier in Anna Maria on July 19 and at the Seafood Shack Restaurant on July 22.

Low levels were detected at the Palma Sola Bay Bridge in Bradenton on July 19 and very low at Key Royale in Holmes Beach on July 15.

Levels ranged from background to high concentrations in 21 samples collected from Manatee County waters. The FWC also reported high concentrations of red tide in areas of Pinellas and Sarasota counties and medium levels in areas of Hillsborough County.

Red tide-related fish kills were reported over the past week in Manatee, Sarasota, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Hernando and Lee counties.

Health officials warn against swimming near dead fish, and advise keeping pets away from dead fish and seafoam, which can contain high concentrations of algae. Pets are not allowed on Anna Maria Island’s beaches, but are allowed on the Palma Sola Causeway on Manatee Avenue.

Officials also warn that consuming shellfish exposed to red tide can cause neurotoxic shellfish poisoning.

Gov. Ron DeSantis last week refused the request of conservation groups to declare a state of emergency due to ongoing red tide in and around Tampa Bay.

Five conservation groups filed a lawsuit on June 24 against the owners of Piney Point and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, claiming that the discharge of 215 million gallons of nutrient-rich wastewater from the Piney Point phosphogypsum stack in Manatee County could be feeding the algae bloom. The nutrients nitrogen and phosphorus act as fertilizer for the toxic red tide algae.

DeSantis said the state had budgeted money to mitigate red tide, and that the tourism industry could be harmed by declaring a state of emergency.

“It would have been very irresponsible to do that,” he said, adding that the Legislature has appropriated up to $100 million to “mothball Piney Point.”

Castles in the Sand

The always-evolving real estate market

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

Not everyone wants to own a home of their own. Those of us who have always owned rather than rented understand the challenges faced in ownership, whether you’re in a single-family home or a condo. I know the feeling; there have been many days when I wished I didn’t have the responsibility of home ownership, and an interesting concept floating around the country may be right up my alley.

There are high-end rental communities being built by top single-home builders catering to individuals who do not feel they need to buy a home. This trend is increasing and appealing to a variety of people ranging from young professionals who have not been able to fight their way into the housing market to empty-nesters who are taking their equity and opting for a turn-key lifestyle.

These “build-to-rent” single-home communities are designed exclusively for rentals with high-end finishes and amenities that are geared to appeal to the luxury market. Rents in the $2,500 to $3,000 range can make sense for people with good incomes who may not be worried about accruing wealth in their homes. It’s kind of the perfect arrangement for seniors who aren’t dependent upon building equity and want a fresh high-end home to live in.

And so far, it appears this is not going away. The build-to-rent segment of the real estate market is growing. In 2020, 60,000 build-to-rent homes were constructed, and in 2021 it is expected that the number will increase to 80,000. Renting is looking better and better to a large segment of the population, allowing for a quick relocation for job or family responsibilities.

Before we go over the June sales statistics, I thought I would share yet another “best place” report recently published by Southern Living Magazine. This one is America’s best beach towns for retirement. Thankfully, Bradenton and Anna Maria Island were not on this list; however, five other Florida cities were, three of them on the west coast – Naples, which came in number one, Sarasota, Venice, Vero Beach and Stuart. And let’s give recognition to our neighbor Lakewood Ranch for being named the best-selling community in the country with 1,535 new home sales through the end of June.

Here are the June Manatee County sales statistics reported by the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee.

Closed single-family homes were up 24.3% from last year; cash sales were up 129.9%; the median sale price was $405,305, up 24.7%; the average sale price was $576,522, up 37.5% and the median time to contract was five days.

Condos closed 38.8% more this June compared to last June; cash sales were up 61%; the median sale price was $280,000, up 30.7%; the average sale price was $331,691, up 39% and the median time to contract was six days.

Available inventory continues to be low; about a six-month supply for both single-family homes and condos. Sarasota County is also experiencing higher sales prices every month and low inventory as well. Also impressive is the percentage of cash sales from last year for single-family properties, up just under 130%.

Obviously, it’s still a great seller’s market, but don’t assume the market and personal family issues can’t change on a dime, making renting very attractive to some. The real estate market continues to evolve, offering more and more lifestyle options. In an ever-changing world, it’s always nice to leave your options open.

Holmes Beach leaders start 2021-22 budget talks

Holmes Beach leaders start 2021-22 budget talks

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

HOLMES BEACH – Budget discussions are underway in Holmes Beach and commissioners so far have only made a few minor adjustments to the proposed 2021-22 fiscal year finances.

City Treasurer Lori Hill presented the proposed $11,156,128 budget to city commissioners during a July 13 work session. In addition to the more than $11 million break-even revenue/expense budget, Hill’s proposal also included $9,306,655 estimated reserves and carryover from the previous year for a total of $20,462,782.

Some revenue, including proceeds from the half-cent sales tax, state revenue sharing, and communication tax are all estimates until final numbers are received from the state, Hill said. Until the end of the current fiscal year, Sept. 30, the $5,526,635 in unassigned reserves/general fund is also an estimate.

Commissioners voted unanimously on July 15 in a special meeting to set the maximum millage rate for the coming fiscal year at 2.25 mills, the same as the current year and in line with what Hill suggested during the budget workshop.

Millage is the tax amount charged to property owners by the city for each $1,000 of assessed property value determined by the Manatee County Property Appraiser’s Office.

Despite proposing the same 2.25 millage rate as the current year, Hill said the city’s ad valorem revenue would increase by 6.93% due to an increase in property values.

The 2.25 mills rate is 6.24% higher than the rollback rate of 2.1178 mills which would bring in the same amount of ad valorem revenue as the current fiscal year.

While some commissioners questioned whether or not they could potentially lower the millage rate and still meet the city’s financial goals for the 2021-22 fiscal year to give property owners a tax break, Hill said that the city cannot lower the millage rate and still receive federal American Rescue Plan Act funding. Currently, she said she does not know how much funding the city could receive under the program, which will see funds distributed by state officials, or what those funds could be used for. Commissioners agreed to reassess their options in September during the two required public hearings for the budget when they hopefully will have more information on the possible amount of funding and its approved uses.

During budget discussions, commissioners reviewed areas where there are significant changes proposed, including in the police department, public works and outside agency funding.

Outside agency funding, which includes city contributions to The Center of Anna Maria Island and other nonprofit organizations on the Island, only saw a $2,500 increase from the previous year to a total of $27,500 but was a topic of some debate among commissioners. Ultimately, commissioners voted three-to-two, with Commissioners Jim Kihm and Jayne Christenson dissenting, to budget $25,000 for a contribution to The Center, one that would be guaranteed and not require commissioners’ to approve before it can be distributed to the nonprofit. The contribution is $2,500 higher than the $22,500 that has been given in previous years. The additional $2,500 in the $27,500 line item is to be distributed to other Island nonprofits at the mayor’s discretion.

The general government budget also increased by $4,000 after budget discussions at the workshop to allow for any commissioner who wants one to receive a city-issued laptop to conduct city business with instead of using their private devices.

The mayor and commission budget remained largely the same at $205,006, with $1,820 added for increases in elected officials’ stipends and $2,785 in increased computer and information technology services.

The budget for the Holmes Beach Police Department is proposed to increase by $374,105 to $3,990,311 for the 2021-22 fiscal year. Increases in the budget include the rehiring of a records clerk for the department, a position that was lost during the 2018-19 fiscal year and put off to cut costs in the 2019-20 and 2020-21 fiscal years. It also includes the addition of another officer to assist in the promotion of Det. Sgt. Brian Hall to lieutenant and succession planning for the eventual retirement of Chief Bill Tokajer.

Other costs are the long-planned 911 upgrade that every law enforcement and first responder agency in Manatee County is required to participate in, the purchase of a new vehicle for the new hire officer, a new computer server, $64,000 for new tasers for officers to replace aging ones that are out of warranty and associated liability protections, $5,000 for five new bulletproof vests and $5,200 for the purchase of a new bulletproof shield. Tokajer said he hopes to recoup some of the funds for the bulletproof vest purchase via a grant.

The budget for the public works department is proposed to increase by $688,280 to $2,660,173. Planned spending in that department includes the addition of one new employee, an in-house engineer, $100,000 to repair 13 trolley stops and add two new ones, new phones and software for employees and rollover funds for lighting and landscaping at city center.

Mayor Judy Titsworth said that some of the funding for the in-house engineer position is planned to be recouped in lowered professional service fees paid to outside engineering firms by the city.

The building department’s budget is proposed to come in at $821,536, an increase of $191,960 over the current fiscal year. Planned spending includes the addition of a new employee, new computer equipment and a new server and $105,000 to be paid to LaRue Planning for services to the city, not including a payment of $27,000 for the final year of the comprehensive plan review which staff from LaRue is assisting planning commissioners on. The comprehensive plan expenditure is noted under the general government budget.

The Code Compliance budget is projected to increase by $50,197 to $640,863 to account for the hiring of a new full-time employee and the purchase of a new Ford F150 vehicle. Other line items, including professional services where officers plan to spend $32,000 less than the previous year.

Holmes Beach commissioners plan to host the first of two required budget hearings where the public is invited to speak and ask questions about planned spending at 5 p.m. on Sept. 15. The final budget hearing is planned for 5 p.m. on Sept. 28. The new budget will go into effect on Oct. 1.

Copies of the proposed budget are available to the public in the lobby at Holmes Beach City Hall.

 

Related coverage

County commissioners refuse Holmes Beach funding request

Holmes Beach police get two new ATVs with COVID grant

 

Duncan Real Estate stronger than ever after 20 years

Duncan Real Estate stronger than ever after 20 years

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Business, Real estate | Development.

ANNA MARIA – Duncan Real Estate owner Darcie Duncan celebrated her company’s 20th anniversary last week.

In addition to being her birthday, Tuesday, July 13, marked 20 years since the energetic redhead purchased her office building at 310 Pine Ave. in Anna Maria.

“I incorporated in the spring, but I bought the building on my birthday: July 13, 2001. I use today as my actual date. It makes you feel official when you own the dirt,” Duncan said when interviewed at her office on her birthday.

“When I bought this building, nobody wanted to touch Pine Avenue. I knew someday this street would blossom and I knew I could not open a business without owning the dirt. I got my mortgage at a spring training game, shaking hands with the mortgage holder. I bought the building on a handshake,” she said.

Duncan Real Estate stronger than ever after 20 years
Knowing the importance of “owning the dirt,” Darcie Duncan bought her office building on Pine Avenue 20 years ago. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

At the time, Duncan already had 11 years of experience as a real estate broker.

“The industry was at a pivotal point and changing with technology and the Internet. I felt I needed to go out on my own because I was ready to change with it. I’ve sold real estate on the Island for 31 years now,” she said.

Duncan Real Estate has 20 employees, but it started as a solo act.

“I was all by myself, then I had one person come in and help and I grew from there. I had the front office and that was it.”

Duncan has learned a lot in 20 years.

“Learning to surround myself with the right people really helped my career. I had to learn about leadership and how to embrace that. I learned to treat people how I would want to be treated. You have to be a good listener and be available for your team. You’re only as good as the people you surround yourself with. My team is awesome and I love them. I have good managers that help me manage. We work together and we collaborate. The culture of my company is teamwork,” Duncan said.

“My customers make me better too. My company is built on those relationships. I’m doing generational business and that’s something you can’t put a price tag on. I’ve also had a wonderful support system of friends and colleagues and mentors throughout my life.”

Duncan has also learned the importance of getting away from work: “I love to go fishing. That’s my passion. I love to get together with friends and get out on my boat. That’s my happy place. I’m starting to travel more by RV and seeing more of the country.”

Changing markets

Duncan has watched the Anna Maria Island real estate market evolve.

“Back when I started, the houses were not as upscale. The demands of the buyer 20 years ago are totally different than today. Back then, a 3,000-square-foot house was incredible. Today, that’s the average size for new construction. Twenty years ago, they were just ground-level block houses. Over the years we’ve seen that change because of FEMA and other factors.

“Things were simpler and more basic back then. Now it’s all the bells and whistles – the pool, high-end kitchens, home offices and yoga and wellness spaces. You just didn’t have that 20 years ago,” Duncan said.

Yet, today’s homebuyers still have a lot in common with buyers from the past.

“The buyer here on the Island still comes here for the laid-back lifestyle – and that hasn’t changed all that much, even though the price has gone up. They still want to go fishing, go to the beach, catch a sunset and visit our local establishments.”

The vacation rental industry has also changed.

“In 2001, the Island wasn’t as developed and vacation rentals weren’t weekly rentals. They were monthly rentals and snowbirds. In the summer, it was our in-state people coming to their summer homes. The vacation rental industry was nothing like it is today, and we didn’t have half as many homes to rent,” Duncan said.

Duncan Real Estate stronger than ever after 20 years
Duncan Real Estate owner Darcie Duncan has evolved with the Island’s changing real estate and vacation rental markets. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Regarding the current market, Duncan said, “It’s the best it’s ever been. As far as sales, we’re on track for a record-breaking year. With rentals, we’re seeing it slow a little as normal for August through October, but it’s still busier than past years and our winter bookings are looking strong.” When asked about her success, Duncan said, “There is no secret. It’s hard work. You get up every day and you do the best you can. When something knocks you down, you get up and find a different way to deal with it. I never thought I would be sitting here today saying my company is 20 years old. I’m really proud, and I’m proud of my team.

“Honesty and integrity are big for me. You can’t write a check for that. That’s how I live, that’s how I conduct my business and that’s the culture we’ve built with this company. I also believe in my community. I live in the community I work in. I give back to my community and my community’s given back to me. I was raised on this Island and this Island’s special and important to me.”

Looking ahead, Duncan said, “I could see myself being in the business 20 years from now. To say I had 50 years under my belt would be spectacular – and learning that life/work balance will help me obtain that.”

New structural problems in Holmes Beach

Building evacuated due to structural issues

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

HOLMES BEACH – A four-unit building on Sixth Avenue was voluntarily evacuated on July 15 after a repairman noticed structural issues with the balconies.

Building Official Neal Schwartz said that the issues at the building at 3400 Sixth Ave. could lead to a collapse, but that they were discovered before any other damage occurred. The property owners voluntarily vacated the premises until the problem could be assessed by a structural engineer and repaired, he said.

Caution tape warns visitors to stay away from the pool deck after balconies on the building were discovered to have structural issues. – Kristin Swain | Sun

All of the balconies on the building are compromised and will have to be replaced, then the building will have to be inspected before it can be deemed safe for habitation, he said.

The building, part of the Fountain Head two-building complex, is mostly used as vacation rental units, Schwartz said. He added that while the exterior stucco is separating from the building on the south end of the property, the building at 3402 Sixth Ave. is not experiencing any issues, though he said condominium association officials plan to have it checked just to make sure.

A sign posted on the staircases to access the residential units at 3400 Sixth Ave. warn that the building is unsafe and that anyone who enters does so at their own risk. – Kristin Swain | Sun

The four-plex was constructed in 1984 according to Manatee County Property Appraiser records.

Code Compliance Officer Kim Charron said the issues with the balconies were reported to the department by a rental agent who was told by a repairman that there was something suspicious going on with the balcony at one of the units. The matter was then turned over to the city’s building department.

If Sixth Avenue sounds familiar, it’s because the north end of the street is where a balcony collapsed at a residential home in late June.

That home at 4106 Sixth Ave. is still awaiting repairs, though Schwartz said no issues have come up concerning the structure of other homes in the area with a similar build.

The Sun submitted a public records request to learn the name of the contractor who built the home and other similar structures in the area. As of press time for The Sun, the city had not released the requested records.

With structural issues at residential properties making some homeowners nervous, Schwartz said he recommends that anyone who has concerns or who spots a potential issue in their home, business or rental property contact the city’s building department for an inspection. He said it’s better to catch potential issues before they become a safety hazard.

Related coverage

 

Balcony collapses in Holmes Beach

 

Island building owners warned to investigate structural issues

 

Former Island building official last to inspect Surfside condo

Red tide reaches Manatee waters

Written by Cindy Lane on . Posted in Outdoors, Red tide.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – For the first time since red tide emerged several weeks ago in surrounding counties, Manatee County registered high levels of red tide in water samples at the Longboat Pass boat ramp on July 12, according to Friday’s Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission weekly report.

Levels were very low at the Rod and Reel Pier in Anna Maria, at Key Royale in Holmes Beach and at the Palma Sola Bay Bridge in Bradenton on July 12. Levels ranged from background to high concentrations in 18 samples collected from Manatee County waters.

The FWC also reported high concentrations of red tide in areas of Pinellas, Hillsborough and Sarasota counties.

Respiratory irritation was reported in Manatee County at Coquina Beach and Manatee Beach, and in Sarasota, Pinellas and Lee counties.

Red tide-related fish kills were reported over the past week in Manatee, Sarasota, Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough and Lee counties.

Some scientists claim that the discharge of 215 million gallons of nutrient-rich wastewater from the Piney Point fertilizer plant in March and April could be feeding the algae bloom.

Red tide produces a neurotoxin called brevetoxin that can cause respiratory irritation, coughing, and more serious illness for people with severe or chronic respiratory conditions such as asthma, emphysema or COPD, according to the Florida Department of Health. Health officials recommend that people experiencing symptoms stay away from the water, go inside to an air-conditioned space, or wear masks, especially during onshore winds.

Consuming shellfish exposed to red tide can cause neurotoxic shellfish poisoning. Health officials also warn against swimming near dead fish, and advise keeping pets away from dead fish and seafoam, which can contain high concentrations of algae. Pets are not allowed on Anna Maria Island’s beaches, but are allowed on the Palma Sola Causeway on Manatee Avenue.

Castles in the Sand

A group home by any other name

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

A group home is defined as a small number of unrelated people, in need of support, living together. This may be the long-established definition, but in today’s unprecedented real estate environment it may have taken on an expanded definition.

It would be redundant to say that real estate values on Anna Maria Island have increased to an extraordinary level during the past few years. Second-home buyers who have flocked to Anna Maria for decades are finding they can’t afford or justify the expense of purchasing a home to use for just part of the year. To fill this opening there is a new homeownership concept – or maybe just a jazzed-up version of an old concept.

Co-ownership is a new model conceived by a California company called Pacaso. The idea is to bring together co-buyers in a luxury home they would not ordinarily be able to afford, to use on a rotating basis as a second home. The process, according to them, is straightforward. Pacaso acquires private homes in upscale vacation residential areas and structures them as eight-member LLCs. Buyers then purchase an ownership interest in the home, ranging from one-eighth to one-half of true ownership of the property.

One of the selling points is, of course, a much smaller investment in the property and no responsibility for maintenance, which is managed by the company for an additional fee. They also make the point that second-home owners frequently don’t use their full homeownership up to the level they had anticipated and have tied up millions of dollars in assets that are no longer liquid.

The regions that Pacaso is active in are, not surprisingly, the high-end markets of Miami, West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale in Florida and posh areas of Colorado, California and Utah. They are investing in multi-million-dollar homes that offer amenities most second-home buyers could not afford on their own. One of the typical properties on their website in Fort Lauderdale was a $6,000,000 waterfront property with six bedrooms, seven bathrooms and more than 5,000 square feet. The one-eighth ownership was $895,000 and additional fees were not indicated. This would give you part ownership that you could use for a month and a half every year. How you determine the months was also not indicated.

Even though they say that co-ownership is not fractional ownership, which has been around for a long time, some of the elements are the same, like having your name on the deed. This is entirely different from timeshares, which is buying the right to use the property but without ownership rights. And, of course, many buyers and family members do get together and purchase homes jointly and manage it themselves. But for those second-home buyers who do not have relationships that will enable them to do this, co-ownership managed by a corporation fills that gap.

So, does Anna Maria want this type of ownership on the Island? My guess is no, as residents of Napa Valley in California also don’t want it. Homeowners there have organized and made it very uncomfortable for Pacaso to operate. They are confronting potential buyers and have attempted to pass regulations to control co-ownership purchases.

Nevertheless, don’t be surprised if Pacaso or some other co-ownership company starts to buy up our multi-million-dollar properties to sell as co-ownerships. In my opinion, it would be another negative slap in the face for Anna Maria. If it happens it will be very gradual, before anyone knows what’s going on. So stay alert – the concept is really just an extravagant group home.

Reel Time: Sea trout

Reel Time: How to catch sea trout

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

Sea trout have always been a target of local anglers, mostly as a food source but rarely by fishermen seeking a trophy. Most would rather target redfish, snook and larger species like tarpon and kingfish. The average Gulf coast trout weighs in at about 2 pounds and doesn’t put much of a bend in a light fly or spinning rod. Larger trout are harder to find, are much warier, and a worthy adversary on any tackle.

In the early 80s, it wasn’t uncommon to catch an 8-pound trout during the late winter and early spring. By the mid-80s, a large trout was hard to capture on any tackle. The net ban that was enacted in 1995 gave anglers great hope for a resurgence in trout populations. The net ban helped restore trout populations, but the anticipated resurgence of trout proved uneven at best. In the last few years, catching larger trout from 4-6 pounds has been a real possibility for conventional and fly anglers who are patient.

Traditionally, the best time to target trout is during the months of March, April and May. The months of December through February can also be good options for trout as they forage for food during the lean winter season. In late summer, late outgoing tides on the full and new moons can also produce some large specimens.

Sight fishing trout requires a stealthy approach. A wading angler moving too quickly through the water or rocking an approaching boat while casting can spook trout. For any measure of success, move extremely slowly and avoid any errant sounds like a push pole hitting the boat or a rustling anchor chain that will telegraph an angler’s presence.

Flats with healthy grass beds with white sand holes and edges provide cover and forage for baitfish, shrimp and mullet, and are prime habitat for large trout. When picking a fly or plug, try to mimic the prevalent forage food. In local estuaries and the open bay, mullet may be the dominant food source, but trout are opportunists and will pursue glass minnows, shrimp, pilchards and other available food sources. The pattern varies depending on the season and water temperatures. During times of low visibility and low tides, anglers can move their efforts to the deeper edges of flats, the drop-offs into rivers and bays and the deep edges of oyster bars.

Fly leaders should be long and tapered (up to 12 feet) with no more than a 30-pound bite tippet. I prefer a premium 20-pound fluorocarbon bite tippet. While it’s possible to catch big trout on a larger tippet, I think the smaller diameter is best for the biggest and wariest trout. Your approach, even on foot, is very important. One of my favorite ways to hunt big trout is with a top water plug or popper. Plugs and noisy poppers can actually scare big trout when the sun is high, but are deadly early in the morning and just before dark. When wading, shuffle your feet and move slowly to avoid a pressure wave. Fly fishers need to be stealthy and avoid disturbing the water when lifting the line for another cast. Every advantage is necessary in the hunt for big trout.

This is a game in which anglers may have to cover a lot of water. When fishing for trout, never run the flats, looking instead for surface action, including schools of baitfish, mullet and diving seabirds. Top producing flies include the Clouser Deep Minnows, Lefty’s Deceivers and top water poppers like the Garthside Gurgler. Some of my favorite plugs are the Heddon “Zara Spook,” the MirrOlure “Top Dog” and the Rebel “Jumping Minnow.”

Now might not be “prime” time to target trout in local water, but it’s a good time to perfect your approach. Many of the trout you catch will be unwanted and undersized, so remember to handle with care and release them quickly. Release them in the water if possible and always wet your hands if you handle them. Trout might not be glamorous but they are a worthy adversary for local anglers. Always remember to check regulations before keeping any fish.

Evacuation sign

Does anybody care that it’s hurricane season?

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Business, Tourism.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – The first of June marked the beginning of the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season, and if things go as predicted by many weather experts, it should be another very active season.

The beginning of June also saw COVID travel restrictions drop in most of the U.S. just in time for the end of the school year. These factors, along with new flights being added at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) and a general desire for many to finally take a vacation after more than a year of lockdown, have created the perfect recipe for a record-breaking summer season on the Island. 

In years past, the first day of summer unofficially signals the end of the spring snowbird and tourist season on the Island, but that certainly isn’t the case in 2021, and very few of these visitors and potential future visitors seem very concerned about hurricane season.

“We checked the weather before we got on the plane and saw a tropical storm that was likely to become a hurricane, then we noticed there is a good chance of thunderstorms every day we are going to be there,” said Kimberly Rotz, who arrived a day before Hurricane Elsa with her family from suburban Indianapolis, where temperatures had been close to 96 degrees when they got on the plane. “Not the best scenario, but neither is the record heat here at home. At least you guys have an ocean and plenty of pool space to beat the heat.”

Rotz said she and her husband did some research and saw that hurricanes tend to miss the Island historically, and they didn’t feel there was a safety issue for her family based on a close watch of Elsa’s approach.

“We called our resort and asked if the windows and doors were hurricane safe, and also asked if there had been a history of damage to the property during past storms. When the person we spoke to said the property was up to code, and no evacuation order seemed to be coming, we decided to come down and ride it out. It turned out to be pretty tame, so I’m glad we made that decision,” Rotz added. 

The Rotz family aren’t the only ones that don’t seem to be too worried about hurricane season or the summer heat. Island-related social media sites are full of posts and comments from people who are ready to start their vacations. 

“We are coming down July 24 – July 31, and we can’t wait. We’ve been coming to Holmes Beach for seven years, but this will be our first summer trip. We usually come in March or April, but COVID kept that from happening this year,” said Maria Rivera, who will be flying from Hartford, Conn. Rivera, who is originally from Puerto Rico, fell in love with the Island and its beaches after coming with friends in 2014. 

“Growing up in Puerto Rico, we were constantly in the path of hurricanes. In 1998, Hurricane Georges did billions of dollars in damage and we didn’t have electricity for weeks. I’ve lived through serious destruction, and nothing like that has ever happened on Anna Maria Island, so while it’s silly to not be cautious, it seems like the odds are in favor of the Island,” said Rivera, who added that she has no problem with the summer heat, as long as there is someplace air-conditioned to escape to.

Bradenton Beach
Despite a bit of beach erosion from heavy surf, things are back to normal on Bradenton Beach after a visit from Hurricane Elsa. – Jason Schaffer | Sun

Rivera is correct about Anna Maria Island historically being spared the worst during hurricane season. Elsa was expected to be just a few miles offshore, and with the eastern side of a hurricane usually packing the higher wind speeds and more severe rainfall, it looked like it was poised to cause flooding and a high storm surge. Other problems such as power outages and downed trees looked to be a likely scenario as well, but once again, it just didn’t happen. 

Historic hurricane misses

Most recently, Hurricane Irma hit the area in September 2017. The storm was a Category 5 before it hit Cuba, and by the time it made its way to the Island, it had significantly weakened to a Category 2. While still a serious storm that leads to a mandatory evacuation of the Island, serious damage was not nearly what it could have been. The City Pier was damaged and had to be closed for extensive renovation and power outages were widespread, but for the most part, homes and businesses didn’t suffer serious damage.

In 2004, Hurricane Charlie also caused a lot of damage to Florida cities but spared the Bradenton area and the Island with winds that didn’t top 60 mph. 2004 also saw Ivan and Frances, two massive storms that came close but did not significantly impact the Island. 

Despite the Island’s good luck, watches and warnings should always be taken seriously, because the past does not predict the future. At some point the big storm will come; according to meteorologists, it is a virtual certainty. In the meantime, watching out for everyday storm-related dangers like lightning and flooding is always good practice.

Elsa impacts sea turtle, shorebird nests

Elsa impacts sea turtle, shorebird nests

Written by Cindy Lane on . Posted in Birds, Outdoors, Sea turtles.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Tropical Storm Elsa washed over the Island on July 6 and 7, taking some shorebird eggs and chicks with it, and soaking some sea turtle nests in the sand, perhaps for too long.

But Suzi Fox, director of Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring, remains optimistic.

The first sea turtle nest of the season hatched last week, producing 77 hatchlings.

“Water came up over many nests,” she said. “Are we upset about it? No, it’s nature. Many of those nests will still hatch. Turtles and birds have been at this a lot longer than we have.”

Each June or July, a storm hits the Island, but nesting always resumes and sometimes picks up speed, she said.

With the recent beach renourishment, “Manatee County has done everything they could to have the best nesting beach in Florida,” Fox said. “We’re still going to get washovers. That’s why sea turtles nest up to three times a season.”

While about 25% of sea turtle nests on the Island were lost last week, “The girls are continuing to nest,” she said, including a rare green turtle that nested July 9, only the third green turtle so far this nesting season, which began on May 1. The rest of the turtle nests on the Island are loggerhead sea turtles.

Elsa impacts sea turtle, shorebird nests
This sea turtle egg washed up in a canal in Bimini Bay after Tropical Storm Elsa passed over Anna Maria Island. – Cindy Lane | Sun

Among the shorebirds, only least terns are nesting this year – no black skimmers, Fox said.

The storm surge on the Gulf of Mexico beaches inundated the least tern colony, she said. While all 120 bird parents survived, only two of 15 chicks survived.

“Now that the water has receded, the adults are back on new eggs,” she said, adding that five newly-hatched chicks have been documented since the storm.

Volunteers do the counting and nest identification, but numbers of volunteers are down from more than 100 to about 20 due to COVID-19, which caused Fox to decide last year to have a few volunteers use ATVs to monitor nests rather than have dozens walk sections of the beach, risking contact with curious beachgoers.

On an ATV, “They can find 20 nests in one day,” she said. “On a day of walking, they can find maybe one.”

Turtle nesting season ends Oct. 31. Bird nesting season is active through the end of August.

Related coverage

 

Nesting News

 

Bird Tips

 

Turtle Tips

 

Elsa takes it easy on Anna Maria Island

Elsa takes it easy on Anna Maria Island

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Anna Maria Island, Community News, Weather.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Tropical Storm/Hurricane Elsa’s impact on Anna Maria Island proved to be minimal.

The storm that passed through Anna Maria Island Tuesday afternoon and evening and into Wednesday morning produced localized flooding but no reports of significant property damage, one reported fallen tree and no reported downed power lines or power outages on the Island.

According to Wunderground.com – an affiliate of The Weather Channel – the highest wind gust recorded at the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport weather station during Elsa was 54 mph at 10:53 p.m. Tuesday evening.

Wednesday morning, Anna Maria resident Doug Copeland said he and his wife’s rain gauge indicated 2.8 inches of rain fell during Elsa at their home near the Rod & Reel Pier.

Bradenton Beach

According to Bradenton Beach Public Works Director Tom Woodard and Lt. John Cosby from the Bradenton Beach Police Department, at approximately 11 a.m. Tuesday morning, an unoccupied sailboat on the Cortez side of the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) broke free of its mooring and began drifting toward the Bridge Street Pier in Bradenton Beach.

Elsa takes it easy on Anna Maria Island
Officer Eric Hill and members of the Bradenton Beach Public Works Department secured this sailboat that broke loose on the Cortez side of the ICW. – Bradenton Beach Police Department | Submitted

“We were able to go out and get it and get it tied up and secured. They got it under control and out of the way before it caused any problems,” Cosby said, noting that Officer Eric Hill piloted the police boat stationed on the police boat lift adjacent to the pier.

Cosby and Woodard said the pier and the floating dock sustained no damage during the storm. Cosby said it may take a few days to have the sailboat removed.

Elsa takes it easy on Anna Maria Island
The sailboat that broke loose Tuesday morning remained tied to the Bridge Street Pier Wednesday morning. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

A 7 a.m. visit to the pier Wednesday revealed the sailboat was still secured to the pilings at the east end of the floating day dock and none of the 15 or so liveaboard vessels anchored south of the pier had broken free or sunk during the storm. The one sunken vessel currently in the area sank long before Tuesday’s storm.

Elsa takes it easy on Anna Maria Island
The floating dock in Bradenton Beach sustained no storm damage. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

“Everybody did what they needed to do,” Cosby said of the liveaboard boaters.

According to Cosby, Officer Hill contacted many of them by cell phone on Monday and reminded them to secure their vessels with double anchors before the storm arrived.

“It appears everybody did it, because I don’t see any issues,” Cosby said.

Elsa BB Safe Boats
The liveaboard boaters south of the Bridge Street Pier weathered Elsa’s waves and winds. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Cosby and Woodard said they weren’t aware of any property damage or serious flooding issues elsewhere in the city. A tour of the city indicated some localized street and yard flooding, but less than can often be seen during other heavy rain events.

“I don’t believe we had any calls for service or any type of distress calls,” Cosby said.

Cosby said some of the Gulf-side beach areas “took a pretty good hit” in terms of beach erosion.

“That was expected. No big surprise there,” Cosby said of the erosion.

Holmes Beach

A pass-through of Holmes Beach at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday revealed standing water covering the edge of Marina Drive, near city hall and the Island Branch Library, but the travel lanes were not completely submerged. Standing water was also covering portions of some of the adjacent side streets.

Elsa takes it easy on Anna Maria Island
The flooding along Marina Drive in Holmes Beach was limited to the edge of the road by the time the sun came up. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

When contacted later in the day, Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer said that city fared well during the storm.

“I was out all day and night until 5:30 this morning. We had some flooding by city hall around 3 to 4 a.m. After the rain stopped, the water subsided pretty quickly. We had minor overnight flooding and one tree down in the parking lot of Martinique North. We dodged the bullet,” Tokajer said.

Elsa takes it easy on Anna Maria Island
Standing water covered this portion of 63rd Street in Holmes Beach Wednesday morning. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Anna Maria

At approximately 8 a.m., Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy and Public Works Manager Dean Jones were touring the city and accessing the storm damage.

“So far, we’re looking pretty good. We’ve got some local street flooding in the areas that would normally flood – and it’s not saltwater flooding, it’s rainwater flooding. There’s no trees down. All of our major roads are clear, but there’s some outlying areas and backstreets where we’ve got some issues with flooding. Some of that we’ll be able to pump out and some we won’t,” Murphy said.

Elsa takes it easy on Anna Maria Island
The beach in front of the Sandbar restaurant appears to have suffered erosion during the storm. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

A tour around Anna Maria indicated North Bay Boulevard, near the Bean Point beach access, was among the most flooded areas. The visit to the beach in front of the Sandbar restaurant revealed significant beach erosion had apparently occurred.

Elsa takes it easy on Anna Maria Island
This Anna Maria homeowner’s yard experienced Elsa-related flooding. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

The new Anna Maria City Pier came through the storm unscathed and residents and visitors were going about their business as usual as the sun appeared and the new day got underway, with some intermittent showers throughout the day.

Elsa takes it easy on Anna Maria Island
The new Anna Maria City Pier sustained no storm damage. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

The city’s “Reimagining Pine Avenue” public information meeting scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday afternoon was canceled and rescheduled at 2 p.m. on Monday, July 12.

Cortez Beach

A mid-morning trip to Cortez Beach in Bradenton Beach revealed several people walking along the beach and few surfers in the water. Red flags were flying on the lifeguard tower and a member of the Manatee County Beach Patrol called a group of young men back to shore who had walked out to the end of one of the groins being battered by the high surf.

Elsa takes it easy on Anna Maria Island
Due to high surf, these young men were asked to vacate a beach groin at Cortez Beach. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Tourism consultant predicts record summer visitations

Tourism consultant predicts record summer visitations

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Business, Tourism.

BRADENTON – As Anna Maria Island continues to see a record-breaking number of visitors this summer, the question continues to be how long will the season last, and why is this year so different than years past? Anne Wittine, from Research Data Services (RDS), addressed the most recent meeting of the Manatee County Tourist Development Council with some data that shows the current trend and projects how long it will continue.

Air travel is a big indicator of how the travel trends related to AMI are progressing. Although not all travelers to Sarasota Bradenton International Airport are coming to Anna Maria Island, it’s acceptable to draw a comparison to arriving flights and the influx of travelers to AMI. While there is normally a drop-off after March, that is not the case this year. Total passengers entering SRQ are up 73.4% over 2020, which makes sense due to COVID-19 restrictions last year. The number that says a lot is the 32% increase from 2019, which was pre-COVID. These are numbers never seen by SRQ. According to Wittine, much of this can be attributed to travelers being vaccinated and more comfortable with travel.

Since January, the Bradenton area has seen a large increase, in out-of-state visitors, far outperforming the same period last year. April was the first month that Florida residents outnumbered out-of-state visitors. According to Wittine, this is expected, and we are seeing more Florida travelers than we normally would.

According to the research, the area has seen a 638% increase in visitors over April of last year, a 357% increase in room nights, and an economic impact that went from $13,038,000 in 2020 to $102,442,900 in 2021. That’s an increase of 686%. Those were COVID numbers last year, but the increase was 31%, 47%, and 26% respectively over 2019, which was pre-COVID. This shows the record-breaking numbers continue to show themselves in just about every category measured.  

“This year is great, but it’s not really typical, so next year is going to present some challenges as we start to get more back to normal,” Wittine said, explaining what appears to be a post-COVID anomaly. “Next year’s April probably won’t look quite like this one did.” 

Looking at where visitors are coming from, the Northeast is the largest source, with an increase of 2,217% from 2020. The Southeast is the next largest source of visitors with a 1,738% increase from 2020. The factor that could make this record-breaking summer even more impressive is that Europe and Canada are still not able to travel to our area. The study showed zero visitors from those locations in April, but with restrictions possibly being lifted soon, it could mean a very large number of European and Canadian visitors coming to AMI.

The RDS study also conducted a “Traveler Sentiment Study” that showed record numbers of potential travelers were 82% optimistic about personal health, 76% were optimistic about personal finance, and 40% of people surveyed who were thinking about traveling have already booked. This, also, is a record number.

The numbers of people who feel comfortable dining in a restaurant, shopping, visiting indoor attractions, and taking domestic flights are also at record post-COVID highs. All of this data shows that travel is a priority for many, and summer is going to continue to be a busy season on the Island. If Europe and Canada loosen restrictions soon, it could be a summer that breaks every record.

Surf campers shred the Gulf

Surf campers shred the Gulf

Written by Cindy Lane on . Posted in Sports, Surfing.

The West Coast Surf Shop Surf Camp in Holmes Beach is underway this month and everyone from toddlers to teens is learning to surf, with the cooperation of the Gulf of Mexico’s gentle waves, courtesy of Tropical Storm Elsa. The campers are known by their surf nicknames.

Shimmer rides it in to the beach.

Shimmer rides it in to the beach.

Panda pumps the wave to gain speed.

Panda pumps the wave to gain speed.

Boogie caught the outside break all morning.

Boogie caught the outside break all morning.

Sweet Pea catches a big wave.

Sweet Pea catches a big wave.

Noserider Nick works on his form.

Noserider Nick works on his form.

Shreddley McGnarley works up to the nose, with former surf camper, now instructor, Ethan Isaac (aka Bear) keeping the balance.

Shreddley McGnarley works up to the nose, with former surf camper, now instructor, Ethan Isaac (aka Bear) keeping the balance.

Baby Killer Whale is up and shredding.

Baby Killer Whale is up and shredding.

Lil’ Cheetah perfects her tube stance.

Lil’ Cheetah perfects her tube stance.

Noserider Nick

Noserider Nick

Letter to the Editor: Third of July Parade?

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Letter to the Editor, Opinion.

This letter is about the action the city commissioners on Anna Maria Island took over the changing of the date of the Fourth of July celebration procession.

Let me start by saying that yes, I am a Privateer, but this letter to the editor is being penned by Specialist 4th Class Timothy Thompson U.S. Army Security Agency 1964-1968. Veteran. It is not about the day of the week. It is not about traffic. It is not about vacation rental check-in/check-out. It’s not about costs. It’s about the Fourth of July to celebrate our country’s Day of Independence –  not the Third or the Fifth. We become independent of British rule on the Fourth of July.

This change was all brought up because the celebration procession interfered with church services. If it were not for Independence Day, nobody would be free to congregate, including worship.

The Fourth only falls on a Sunday once in every seven years. That gives the church 44 of 45 Sundays. They should rejoice and praise God for their freedoms given to them of the sacrifice Americans gave them, including the freedom to worship. If Christmas were to fall on a Sunday, would they ask for it to be celebrated on Saturday the 24th?

The town officials made their decision to rescind and re-date the special event permit based on Rev. Moss’s letter to the cities stating, “… so to protect our country’s long-standing tradition of worship, discipleship, and church fellowship on Sunday mornings and do nothing to distract from it.” But it went beyond just mornings, to having to change the date – there seemed to be no compromise on maybe changing the time. So, it seems that the commissioners have now set the precedent of not issuing any special event permits on Sundays, and rescinding any prior approved permits. If they want to cease and desist the Fourth of July celebration procession, then maybe they should cease and desist everything in their townships: the bars, restaurants, retail. Everything, so as to “do nothing to distract from it.”

So, in closing, let’s call it what it is: The Third of July Parade hosted by the AMI Privateers.
Just a heads up commissioners, Juneteenth falls on Sunday next year. I say this as a proud American and veteran: “Let Freedom Ring.”

Timothy Thompson

Bradenton

Castles in the Sand

Once-in-a-generation housing shortage

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

If you thought the national housing market was complicated, you might want to sit down, because there’s more to this story.

On June 16, The National Association of Realtors (NAR) published a disturbing report about the deficit of available housing. That report was researched and authored by the Rosen Consulting Group and indicates an under-building gap of 5.5 to 6.8 million housing units since 2001, spanning everything from single-family homes to rental units. This is considered a once-in-a-generation crisis, but the question is, how did this happen?

The report says that from 2010 to 2020, new home construction fell 6.8 million short of what was needed to replace aging units. Limited supply has been a driver of rising housing prices for both renters and buyers, complicated by an increase in demand during the COVID-19 crisis. New home construction surged in the early 2000s, then building activity slowed during the 2007-09 recession after the financial crisis. The industry never got back up and running to its previous level before the pandemic hit.

The supply shortage became worse during the past year as builders slowed construction in some regions and delayed purchasing land because of the pandemic. All of that, combined with low mortgage interest rates and remote work, has led to unanticipated demand for single-family homes. At this point, the consensus is that it would take a decade to close a gap of 5.5 million units.

The NAR report goes on to say that the lack of new construction and under-investment has led to an acute shortage of available housing that is a detriment to the health of the public and the economy. They say the gap is so enormous that it will require a major national commitment to build more housing of all types and they are attempting to persuade lawmakers to include housing investment in any infrastructure package enacted. This could include removing barriers to new construction and creating incentives for builders and investors to pursue new housing development.

The NAR’s chief economist, Lawrence Yun, says there is a strong desire for homeownership across this country. However, the lack of supply is preventing too many buyers from moving forward, thus requiring dramatic action to close the gap.

May’s Manatee County sales statistics are out as reported by the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee, so let’s take a look.

Manatee County single-family homes closed 66.1% higher than last year and cash sales were up 168.9%. The median sale price was $400,000, up 23.1%, which is almost the same as the national increase of 23.6%. The average sale price was $567,549, up 38.8%, the median time to contract was six days, active inventory was down 71.7% and the month’s supply of properties was .06 months.

Condo sales were up 112.7% more than last year and cash sales were up 250%. The median sales price was $243,595, up 5.9%, and the average sale price was $312,244, up 19.4%. The median time to contract was nine days, active inventory was down 78.5% and the month’s supply of properties was .06 months.

Regardless of these surging numbers, the president of the Realtor Association, Alex Krumm, points out that Florida real estate remains on par or less expensive than the markets from which people are moving. This is keeping our market very desirable and active with little change in sight.

A once-in-a-generation crisis sounds extreme and we in Florida may not feel it to the same degree as people in other regions of the country. But for many, it is a disruption of a life-long goal and for others, it is a more serious crisis.