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Tag: Anna Maria Island

Reel Time: The promise of spring

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

Spring is here, I can feel it, even if the fish haven’t given a clear signal yet. The Tree of Gold next door is in full bloom and I recently heard the first whippoorwill trilling in the pre-dawn darkness. These have proven to be sure signs of spring and are welcome harbingers to local anglers.

Although the calendar says it’s the first day of spring, I know that another cold snap could be lurking just around the corner. Experience has shown me that fish have their own internal calendar, governed more by the angle of the sun and the length of the day than the temperature and the predictions of the weatherman. Savvy anglers know that when water temperatures hover in the 70s, fish come out of their winter haunts, even when it feels like winter one day and spring the next.Reel Time: The promise of spring

The Tampa Bay shipping channel is one of the first places schools of baitfish and pelagic predators show up in the spring. This is the time of the year to start looking for snook to appear in the surf and for the wheeling, diving sea birds that feast on schools of baitfish gathering off local beaches in their seasonal, primal ritual of renewal. Seasoned anglers know from experience that schools of bonito, Spanish mackerel, cobia and kingfish won’t be far behind.

In the bay, trout, redfish, and snook will be roaming the flats in search of pilchards, shrimp and glass minnows to replenish themselves from their winter fast. Spring is the time when anglers have a host of piscatorial choices and some of the best conditions to pursue them.

Of course, it can all seem just an illusion as another front riles the Gulf, sending chill winds and muddy water into the bay, forcing us to put on sweatshirts. It’s a sort of swing time and the kind of weather that plays with the emotions of the winter-weary. Yet hope springs eternal, and we know from experience that it won’t be long before our intuitions are confirmed. That’s why it’s time to be prepared, with flies tied and tackle organized for that day when it’s no longer a question of when it will happen, but what species we’ll fish for!

I like this time of year, even if it can be exasperating. One day the flats and Gulf can be barren and the next the action can be red hot. That’s why it’s so important to be ready for just about anything. Having a rig on board that can handle a big cobia or kingfish makes good sense and having wire at hand in case the toothy kings make an appearance can make the difference between frustration and success. It’s a game of search and discover, and the anglers who are persistent will eventually be rewarded. If bait isn’t showing, try fishing the areas they’re attracted to. Many times I’ve worked a topwater plug or fly over structure and found fish where there was no outward sign of their presence.

In the bay, work the areas of the flats that hold fish during the season, particularly the seams adjacent to sand areas and the potholes. Pay particular attention to the deep grass that’s often present at the end of a hole and work your casts into the area by casting short and then progressing right over the hole. I think topwater plugs and flies are particularly effective when you’re hunting for fish and can be an invaluable aid in finding action.

Whatever your fishing style or whether you like fishing the Gulf or bays, take advantage of this swing time and eventually you’ll be rewarded with the promise of spring.

Castles in the Sand

Priced out of single-family homes? Try a condo

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

It’s wild out there, and if you read my column last week, you’ll understand just how wild it is. The value of homes on Anna Maria Island is soaring, and it’s not uncommon to see listings not just over $1 million but also $2 million, $3 million and $4 million. Last week, I even reported $5 million and $6 million sales or listings on the Island.

So, what’s a person to do? Most of the high-end properties are single-family with some high-end condos mixed in, but maybe the way to get on the Island near the water in a more affordable price range is to take condo living more seriously.

In the waterfront areas that I report on, Cortez and the three cities on Anna Maria Island, there are several condo communities, some with excellent waterfront, water view or water access with close proximity to the beach. Condos generally are priced lower than single-family homes in these areas and may give you a greater bang for your buck. But the real question is, are you a condo person?

I’ve written about condo living before, but at this point in time, it seems to be even more important to buyers who are priced out of single-family homes. It’s not that complicated and, in many respects, more advantageous to own a condo – especially if it’s a second home.

First of all, if you have never owned or lived in a condo association, you have a lot of research to do, starting with a lack of privacy. Not everyone is comfortable with someone living over their heads or on the other side of a common wall. Getting your newspaper in the morning could be embarrassing if you’re not appropriately dressed and it’s time for Fido down the hall to go for his morning walk. And, while we’re on the subject of pets, how do you feel about pets in close proximity to where you live? There are condos that have pet restrictions including no pets, small pets or a cap on the number of pets – something else to research.

Condo ownership is very much like communal living. A board of directors makes a lot of decisions that could affect your lifestyle and finances. Not that you can’t have a say in the operations of the association, but, as in most communal situations, the majority rules. There are rules and regulations that may or may not be a problem for you. For example, your teenage grandchildren visiting and using the pool after hours or hosting parties may guarantee you a letter from the association.

Of course, the advantages – especially for part-time residents – is walking out your front door and not worrying who’s cutting the lawn and cleaning the pool for several months. Association fees will cover all maintenance and repairs in regular condos; townhouse condo owners could be responsible for a larger share of the expenses. In addition, insurance and the all-important flood insurance for the association are paid for in the maintenance fees, therefore, you only need to carry a homeowner’s policy for your individual unit.

Life is always a compromise, and if you can’t find what you want within your price range in a single-family home, consider looking at condos even if you never thought you were a condo person. Granted, you have to assume you will have limited control, but if you can adopt a “live and let live” psychology you will be just fine and eventually learn to love the freedom. Stay safe.

Commissioners consider changes to noise ordinance

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

HOLMES BEACH – Noise is news once again in this community.

The subject was broached by Commissioner Kim Rash, who said he feels the city’s current noise ordinance and reliance on readings from a noise meter don’t reflect the issues that residents are having, particularly those with homes near large vacation rental properties.

“I think the staff and the Chief are doing well with it but more is needed to combat noise issues,” Rash said.

In addition to the noise meter and the seven standards that police and code compliance officers can use to identify a noise violation, Rash suggested city leaders adopt a “plainly audible” standard to the noise ordinance. Using a plainly audible standard, if officers could hear noise from a long distance from the source of the noise, a length that would have to be determined by commissioners, the noise would be considered in violation of the city’s ordinance and a noise violation citation could be issued to the offender.

He also asked police Chief Bill Tokajer to consider a way for people reporting potential noise violations to remain anonymous.

Commissioner Jayne Christenson agreed with Rash, saying that people who call police with noise complaints are sometimes retaliated against by the subjects of the complaint.

Tokajer said that adding a plainly audible standard to the noise ordinance may not get the results that people worried about noise are expecting – more noise citations.

“I think our ordinance is well-written,” he said, adding that when making changes, commissioners need to make sure that they do not overreach to infringe on private property rights and that the changes are legally defensible if the matter should go to court. Tokajer said one of Rash’s suggestions, to lower the start of quiet hours from 10 p.m. to 8 p.m., was, in his opinion, overreaching.

In the past year, he said officers have responded to 330 noise complaints and issued 25 citations, 23 of which were paid. During nighttime hours after 10 p.m., the maximum allowable level for noise is 55 decibels.

As to allowing people to report potential noise violations anonymously, Tokajer said there is a bill going before the Florida Legislature that wouldn’t allow officers to respond to an anonymous complaint. Also, if a complaint goes before a judge, he said the judge needs to hear from someone harmed or aggrieved by the noise, not a responding officer.

Once officers respond to a noise complaint and make contact with the people causing the noise, whether there’s a violation or not, his officers do not have to go back the same night.

Attorney Erica Augello said that “plainly audible” is very suggestible and is considered in some courts to be unconstitutional. If commissioners agree to add it to the noise ordinance, she said it would need to be very carefully and clearly defined with parameters and standards clearly set out, along with a very clear definition of noise.

City Attorney Patricia Petruff said she would work with city staff on drafting a more stringent noise ordinance for commissioners to consider for adoption. She said commissioners should manage their expectations though, because even if they approve a stricter noise ordinance, it might not hold up in court.

Mayor Judy Titsworth said that with a combined community of residents and vacation renters with large homes and small lots, there’s no way to avoid noise in residential neighborhoods. She suggested holding another stakeholder meeting on noise to see if there are any suggestions from community members on what can be done to address concerns and help improve everyone’s experience in the community.

“The residents just want to be able to live and sleep in their homes,” resident Richard Motzer said.

Commissioner Carol Soustek said she’s not against strengthening the noise ordinance, but she doesn’t want to adopt a law that isn’t enforceable.

“I cannot eliminate noise,” she said. “I can try to contain it to make it less horrible.”

Commissioner Jim Kihm said he feels like noise isn’t a city-wide problem but is confined to certain areas which may need to be addressed.

Christenson said the average age of Holmes Beach residents is 64.

“We are an older community and we want our peace and quiet,” she said.

Once attorneys and city staff have a chance to discuss what changes could potentially be made to the noise ordinance, it will come back before commissioners for discussion at a future work session.

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Commissioner proposes unique solution to noise

Reel Time: The importance of tides

Reel Time: The importance of tides

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

Having a good working knowledge of the tides in your area will greatly increase your angling odds. While I always like to follow the axiom, “The best time to go fishing is whenever you can,” understanding and being able to track tidal fluctuations is invaluable. Let’s start with a quick primer.

While there are numerous factors that influence the tides, it’s the gravitational pull of the moon on the water that has the greatest effect. The moon also affects the Earth’s mass. This means that the oceans on opposite sides of the Earth experience high tides as the Earth is pulled away from the water.

The other object in the solar system that influences the tide is the sun, which has approximately one-half the influence of the moon. When the sun and the moon line up at the full and new moon, their combined influence creates a greater pull, and we experience strong, or “spring,” tides. When the sun and moon are at right angles to each other, during the moon’s first and last quarter, they interfere with each other and we experience weak, or “neap,” tides. In addition, the tidal ranges are greater when the moon and sun are at perigee, or closest to the Earth. Experience will teach the angler how to benefit from the myriad tidal factors that produce good fishing.

I learned a valuable lesson about tides on trips to the Bahamas in search of bonefish. My first several trips were planned to coincide with a full or new moon in order to take advantage of the increased feeding activity that generally takes place during these times. Instead, I found that the bonefish I was stalking would disappear into the mangroves as the tide rose, giving me a shorter window to pursue them along the mangrove fringes. Based on that information, I planned subsequent trips when “neap tides” slowed the progress and size of the tide, providing many more opportunities for sight fishing bones.

Just the opposite is true when I explore local waters. While I still fish whenever I have the opportunity, I target days of extreme high and low tides because I know they stimulate feeding and concentrate fish. Depending on the time of year and the temperature, you can use the tide to take advantage of the season. In the winter when the waters chill down, I like to seek out locations where a late afternoon falling tide brings warm water off the flats. The holes, slues and channels the water drains into attract gamefish and can provide some excellent action.

When fishing the flats, working from the deep water to shallow on the falling tide and in reverse on the rising tide is a very effective way to target fish. Very low tides (during “spring tides”) provide an excellent opportunity to scan the flats for channels, slues and holes on the flats where fish congregate. Armed with this knowledge, anglers can return when the flats are covered with water and benefit from that awareness. Tide charts are valuable because the tide can be varying heights depending on whether you’re fishing in the Gulf or far up a bay.

Planning your day to take advantage of these variations can make a real difference in action. No matter what species you target, you’ll have a better chance at success if you understand and track the tides. They can tell you where to concentrate your effort and help you avoid other less productive areas. Pick up a tide chart at your local tackle shop or download one of a number of excellent apps on your smartphone.

More people eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccine

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Community News, Health.

MANATEE COUNTY – More people are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine in Manatee County at more distribution sites, but there are also more requirements, depending on your situation.

County officials have opened registration through the Florida Department of Health in Manatee County for people age 16 and older with underlying medical conditions to receive the vaccine. To be eligible, vaccine recipients must first have a physician fill out a determination of extreme vulnerability form with the Department of Health’s logo on it. The form can be downloaded online. To learn what medical conditions qualify, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention online.More people are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine

To make an appointment at the health department, call 941-242-6646. Vaccine appointments are being made from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Department of Health at 410 Sixth Ave. E., Bradenton. When arriving for an appointment, recipients need a signed copy of the determination of extreme vulnerability form, if applicable, documentation showing proof of Florida residency and a completed vaccination consent form, which can be found online. Second vaccine appointments will be scheduled when the first vaccine is given.

Thanks to a new executive order issued by Gov. Ron DeSantis, seniors age 60 and older are now eligible to receive a vaccination through state, county and private pharmacy distribution sites.

To sign up for a vaccine through Manatee County at the Tom Bennett Park or Public Safety Center sites, visit the county’s vaccine website. Though anyone 60 and older can register with the county, county officials stated in a March 12 press release that the county will continue prioritizing vaccine distribution to those age 65 and older. Once the demand for vaccines lessens with that age group, they’ll move on to registrants age 60 and older.

Anyone age 60 or older with underlying medical conditions and a signed form from their doctor, sworn law enforcement officers age 50 and older, frontline healthcare workers, K-12 and preschool teachers and firefighters age 50 and older can also sign up for a vaccine from private pharmacies including Publix locations, CVS, Walgreens, Walmart and Winn-Dixie.

Publix is opening registration for vaccine doses at 7 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays online. With two types of vaccines available, anyone signing up for an appointment on Monday or Friday will receive a Moderna two-dose vaccine. People who sign up on Wednesday will receive the Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccine.

CVS locations in Bradenton and Holmes Beach, as well as other nearby areas, are offering vaccinations. To view availability and book an appointment, visit the pharmacy online.

Walgreens is offering Pfizer and Moderna vaccines at select locations. To book an appointment, visit the pharmacy website.

Select Walmart pharmacy locations also are offering vaccine appointments to eligible individuals. Visit Walmart’s website to see availability and book an appointment.

Vaccine appointments are available through Winn-Dixie at all Bradenton locations and in Palmetto. To book an appointment with Winn-Dixie, visit the grocer’s vaccine website.

While Publix has certain times when appointments become available, all other pharmacy locations release available appointment times as more vaccines become available to them.

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Here’s where to get vaccines in Manatee County

 

More vaccine options come to Manatee County

 

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Castles in the Sand

And the million-dollar beat goes on

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

Well, here we are again; three more months have passed as we fight our way through the biggest pandemic in more than a century, but Anna Maria Island’s real estate market hasn’t blinked.

The price point on the Island and in little Cortez is holding steady and even growing, especially in the over $1 million range, but how did we get here? Before we analyze the $1 million and over sales and listings for the next three months, let’s review what has happened in the state of Florida this year.

The real estate market all over the country is booming, but Florida in particular is doing great, with thousands of people moving into the state every week. Apparently, U-Haul is the authority on migration trends in the country, and according to their 2020 report, Florida is number three in the country for one-way U-Haul rentals. This is in addition to many airlines adding direct flights to Florida during the winter. Practically every day, Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport reports either another airline flying out of Sarasota or added flights to existing schedules.

Although we have one of the largest senior populations, the Florida death rate from the virus is in the middle of the country’s rates, and well below California and New York – two other states with large populations, but fewer seniors. This plus having the state mostly or partially open during this time is encouraging people to relocate.

In addition, business migration to Florida, particularly in the finance industry, is increasing because of taxes, weather and the ability of people to work remotely. The state reports that 35 large businesses have moved to Florida since the pandemic began. All of this has increased home sales 20% statewide in the last six months of 2020 while raising the median sales price by 14.4%.

So, let’s take a look at the $1 million and over sales and current listings as of this writing in Cortez and the three cities on Anna Maria Island for November, December and January. Closed sales are from the Manatee County Property Appraiser’s website and those currently on the market or pending are from realtor.com.

Cortez closed two sales, one at $2,500,000 and one at $1,215,000; in the last comparison, Cortez also closed two properties in this price range. The city of Anna Maria closed 41 properties, one over $4 million, two over $3 million, 15 over $2 million with the balance $1 million or over. Last time, Anna Maria closed 42 sales. The combined cities of Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach closed 39 properties, one over $6 million, one over $4 million, one over $3 million, 12 over $2 million and the balance $1 million or over. Last time, there were 40 sales.

On the market or pending as of this writing in Cortez, there are three properties over $1 million; the last time there were eight. The city of Anna Maria has 31 available or pending; one over $6 million, four over $4 million, seven over $3 million, five over $2 million and the balance over $1 million. Last time, Anna Maria had 42 in this category. The combined cities of Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach have 81 properties on the market or pending, three over $5 million, two over $4 million, six over $3 million, 20 over $2 million and the balance $1 million or over. Last time, there were 70 properties.

Two other impressive numbers are that almost half of the properties listed on realtor.com for Cortez and the Island are pending. In fact, in the city of Anna Maria, there were only two properties below $1 million and both were pending.

See you in three months for another update. Happy St. Patrick’s Day. Stay safe.

Here’s where to get vaccines in Manatee County

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Community News, Manatee County.

MANATEE COUNTY – After weeks of waiting, seniors and others qualified to receive a COVID-19 vaccine are finally about to see some relief as more shots make their way to the county.

The county-run vaccination site at Tom Bennett Park, 280 Kay Road, Bradenton, has 5,100 first doses for seniors this week, according to Manatee County Public Safety Director Jacob Saur. With 4,500 more doses arriving at a state-run vaccination site coming online today at the county’s Public Safety Center at 2101 47th Terrace E., Bradenton, a total of 9,600 first-dose vaccine appointments for seniors are scheduled.

With both vaccination sites running, Saur says he hopes to reduce the county’s vaccine standby pool from 90,000 to near zero by the end of March.

At the state-run site, Saur said the plan is to give 1,000 first doses per day, five days a week for four weeks followed by four weeks of second doses.

All the appointments at the county- and state-run sites are filled at random from those registered in the county’s standby waiting pool. Recipients can expect to receive a text from 88911 or a call from 941-742-4300 to confirm their appointment. Recipients who do not confirm their appointment within two hours will be put back in the waiting pool.

Thanks to changes in the qualifications to receive a COVID-19 vaccination in the state of Florida, more people are now eligible to receive shots. Florida residents 65 and older continue to be qualified to receive the shot and are joined by residents and staff at long-term care facilities, frontline healthcare workers who have direct patient contact, law enforcement officers and firefighters age 50 and older, daycare workers, and pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade teachers. Teachers age 50 and older can get their COVID-19 vaccinations through the state-run site while teachers younger than 50 can get them from retail pharmacy locations.

Anyone with an underlying condition that makes them susceptible to the novel coronavirus also is eligible to receive the vaccine from retail pharmacy locations with a letter of authorization from their doctor on this form.

Currently, only seniors 65 and older, first responders and healthcare workers are eligible to receive the vaccine at the Manatee County site. To register for those standby waiting pools, call 311 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, or register online.

Everyone else who is deemed eligible by the state to receive the first dose of the vaccine can register online for appointments at local CVS, Publix, Walgreens, Walmart and Winn-Dixie locations.

To register online for an appointment at an area CVS location, visit the company’s COVID-19 information webpage.

Publix locations are releasing appointment times to the public online every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 7 a.m. To register for one of these appointments, visit the company online.

For appointments at Walgreens locations, visit their COVID-19 page.

Appointments at Walmart are available here.

Appointments at local Winn-Dixie locations can be scheduled online here.

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Changes for Manatee County COVID-19 vaccine program

Training a new generation of environmental scientists

Training a new generation of environmental scientists

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Center of Anna Maria Island, Community News.

ANNA MARIA – The community scientist program at The Center of Anna Maria Island is getting off to a great start thanks to some help from students at Eckerd College and Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium staff.

A volunteer takes a reading testing water temperature and pH levels. – Kristin Swain | Sun

Small groups of Eckerd College students are coming each Saturday morning to The Center to train with staff from Mote on the equipment they’ll be using. Part of the training involves how to take the water samples and video needed to observe the effects of the mini reefs from Ocean Habitats installed as a part of a fundraiser for the nonprofit. These students are the first of the community volunteers being trained to study the effects of the mini reefs on the local waters and marine life. Students will travel around the Island to the mini reef sites to conduct water testing and video the condition of the reefs. This also helps keep track of all of the reefs and observe any maintenance issues requiring attention. Community scientists will test the water for the presence of harmful algae blooms such as karenia brevis – red tide – keep track of water temperature and pH levels, and study the organisms making the mini reefs their home.

Once the program is better established, The Center’s Director of Development, Jim McDaniel, says he hopes to open it up to Island resident volunteers and others in the community.

The program is the brainchild of McDaniel, who said he hopes to expand it in the future while also providing an important resource in the fight to mitigate the effects of red tide, which can cause fish kills, skin irritation and breathing problems.

Currently, there are 166 mini reefs installed in the waters around Anna Maria Island and west Bradenton as a result of The Center’s partnership with Ocean Habitats.

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Bali Hai site plan negotiations continue

Bali Hai site plan negotiations continue

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

HOLMES BEACH – Talks between the property owners at the Bali Hai Beachfront Resort and city leaders are planned to continue at a future meeting and it looks like both parties are moving closer to an agreement.

During a Feb. 23 work session, discussions on the proposed Bali Hai site plan amendment continued, with Assistant City Planner Austin Doles giving a presentation on what the property owners would like to do and how she recommends city leaders respond. And while city commissioners and attorney Louis Najmy, speaking on behalf of the resort’s owners, are closer to an agreement, there are a couple of sticking points where the two parties are not seeing eye to eye, primarily concerning how the resort should operate until the site plan is approved.

City staff suggested the unpermitted bar/lounge and spa on the premises at the Bali Hai should cease operations until the site plan amendment is approved, permits are received, the property passes all inspections, and receives a certificate of occupancy for those areas.

Najmy said it’s unfair of the city to request the bar/lounge and spa operations to cease while the details of the site plan are worked out with city leaders. He argues that the bar/lounge area was a pre-existing use on the property. Brisson said he’s been unable to find any permits, business tax receipts, or other records that prove the bar/lounge was in use prior to the current owners opening it. Mayor Judy Titsworth said her father built the property and the area underneath the old owner’s apartment currently being used as a bar/lounge for guests was previously an entertaining space for the prior owners.

Najmy also argued that his clients have put millions of dollars into the property to try and make it a five-star establishment. Commissioner Jayne Christenson said it would have benefitted his clients to present their plans to the city for approval before investing to make sure that their vision for the Bali Hai resort could be accommodated in the residential zone where the property is located.

While commissioners said they don’t want to prevent the resort from being profitable for its owners, they have to consider the surrounding residential neighbors and what’s allowed in the beachfront district when approving the site plan, particularly since construction work was completed and amenities were added without prior approval from the city or permits being applied for.

And while discussions ended Feb. 23 at an impasse, commissioners agreed to move the proposed site plan forward to a regular meeting and public hearing in the hopes of getting more input from the resort’s neighbors. Commissioners also hope to reach an agreement with the resort’s owners before a case seeking an injunction to stop operations at the resort until a new site plan is approved moves forward in Manatee County Circuit Court.

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Commissioners close in on illuminated sign regulations

Commissioners close in on illuminated sign regulations

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

HOLMES BEACH – Backlit signs in the residential and A-1 district along Gulf Drive may have to be replaced under new regulations being considered by the city.

Commissioners discussed the changes to city sign restrictions during a Feb. 23 work session. City Planner Bill Brisson reported that there are four backlit signs in the district along Gulf Drive, but only one has a city permit. And that one, he added, was permitted by mistake.

Brisson said the four signs are at Resort Sixty-Six, the White Sands Beach Resort, Cedar Cove and the Anna Maria Beach Resort. The one at the Anna Maria Beach Resort is the one approved and granted a permit by former Building Official Jim McGuinness. However, no backlit illuminated signs are currently allowed outside of commercial districts, according to city codes.

Commissioners said they are not considering allowing illuminated signs in the residential district where the Anna Maria Beach Resort is located on Gulf Drive. However, they are considering offering the owners a sunset clause period where the sign can be used to help recoup the expense of installing the sign.

During the meeting, commissioners agreed to a five-year sunset period for that sign. The other backlit signs will have six months to either be replaced or have the backlit capabilities removed. Illumination would then be allowed only by a single spotlight.

There was no discussion on allowing the owners of the Anna Maria Beach Resort to use an LED board on their sign during the sunset clause period if approved by two commission votes during public hearings.

And though signs are being allowed for property identification purposes, commissioners agreed that they prefer the low, often wooden signs lit by a single spotlight used by many properties in the area instead of the more commercial-looking backlit signs.

Brisson said he would talk with a lighting expert to determine appropriate brightness, lumen output, and sign size before the issue comes back before commissioners at a future work session. The ordinance will have to pass two public hearings and votes by commissioners before it can be enforced.

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Reel Time: Focus on the fun of fishing

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

To many anglers, fishing is simple. It’s no more complicated than dangling a shrimp or fishing a jig in any likely spot. Like other human activities, the level of involvement ranges from the simple to the insane. Most fishermen fall somewhere in between. Some live and breathe life on the water. They dream of rigging rods and reels, sharpening hooks, consulting charts and exploring tackle shops. They regularly consult YouTube videos and online forums for intel on the next great lure or fly. What we should all strive for is keeping our fishing fun.

Reel Time: Focus on the fun of fishing
Stu Apt works with a young cancer survivor, teaching that fishing is fun and rewarding. – Rusty Chinnis | Sun

Some anglers steadily graduate from cane poles to graphite spinning rods and fly tackle. Some never consider killing a fish, epitomizing the catch and release ethic. Others sport stickers on the back of their trucks with epitaphs like: “I Kill Fish.” Once again, most of us fall somewhere in between, content with our fishing method, respecting our catch and enjoying an occasional fresh fish dinner. Fishing develops into an individual passion, one that’s much more than catching. Some of us can have a great day on the water and never catch a fish, others may be disappointed if they don’t fill the cooler, but we all benefit from our time on the water.

Whether we’re just relaxing on the boat or are in a constant state of alert, the oceans and bays sharpen our senses and take us away from our day-to-day lives. Whatever kind of fisherperson we might be, everyone profits from being immersed in the natural world. The important thing is to enjoy the experience and come back to shore in a better mood than we left.

Of course, not every day on the water is as relaxing and enjoyable as we’d like it to be. Sometimes the weather doesn’t cooperate, the fish don’t bite and engine and tackle problems intrude on our reverie. A fishing trip, after all, isn’t immune to the unpredictable. The best advice is to expect the best and be prepared for the worst. Be flexible. I know anglers who wouldn’t think of picking up anything other than a fly rod, and while I might have been one of them, these days there’s usually a spinning rod in my rod rack. After more than my share of frustrating days, I learned a valuable lesson and flexed. Now I seldom venture onto the water without a spinning rod or two, outfitted with a jig and/or a topwater plug. When the wind makes it just too much work to fly fish, I switch to my spinning tackle, a move that has paid dividends more than once.

If you are a live bait fisherman, try artificial lures, particularly topwater plugs. Sometimes when the pinfish are stealing your hard-won bait faster than you can get them on the hook, artificial lures can save the day. The important part is to make the best of your day on the water. Be okay if the catch is less than you hoped for, because if you keep your eyes open, you’ll learn lessons that will pay dividends on future trips.

Taking a kid fishing is a great way to break out of a narrow focus on catching. They’ll be thrilled to land fish but will also notice the rays, dolphins, manatees, birds and other creatures that inhabit our watery world. Whatever your experience, make sure that you’re able to focus on fun.

Castles in the Sand

Not a good time to fall in love

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

Stressed-out seems to be the condition we’re all living with. It may not be an actual medical term, but if you have it, you know it. One of the fastest ways to catch “stressed-out” is to try and buy a house right now, and one of the biggest mistakes you can make when shopping for a home is to fall in love with it.

Valentine’s Day just passed, and I hope you had a lovely day with the one you love, remembering the warm glow and comfortable feelings you had when you first fell in love. Falling in love with a house may give you the same emotional rush as the flesh and blood love, however, you would be making a mistake to give in to it.

Now more than ever, with the shortage of properties available for sale, getting emotionally involved with a house will cloud your thinking and your ability to make good decisions. It’s exhausting trying to buy a home in this market. Whether you’re living in Florida or Montana, inventory is scarce all over the country. Because of the extraordinarily low mortgage interest rates, more buyers than ever are qualified to purchase a home, whether it’s their primary home or a second home, making the shortage of inventory even worse.

Know what you want and know what you can afford to pay for it. If you’re planning on financing, get pre-approved, meaning a full-blown credit application. Lenders will want you to produce bank statements, tax returns, income verifications, credit score and permission to run a credit check, stopping just short of your blood type. The final approval is pending on an appraisal of the property you finally choose, but your ability to get financing will be secure. In addition, there will be an expiration date on this approval, so work fast.

This process is substantially different from a pre-qualification which merely gives you a guideline on what you can afford based on the information you give the lender. In the competitive market we’re in where a high percentage of buyers are all cash, a pre-qualification doesn’t mean much to a seller.

Make a list of your “must-haves” and then tear it up. In the best of real estate markets, there are no perfect homes and you always have to compromise. In this market, compromise is on steroids; I can practically guarantee you what you buy will not look like the image you had in your mind.

If you are lucky enough to find something you love, please don’t “fall in love.” Full-price offers and offers above full price are common so try not to let love get in the way of good financial choices. It’s easy to get in a bidding war – know your limit and be prepared to accept it. Just like when your high school love broke up with you, you may think “I can’t go on,” but you will. Sometimes you just have to walk away before your emotions take over.

There will be more Valentine’s Days in your future and someday there will be more homes available to make up for the one that got away. Keep the stress level down by keeping the expectation level also down. Just like falling in love, the journey is the fun part. Stay safe.

Castles in the Sand

Boomers rule – again

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

Babies born after World War II between 1946 and 1964 are generally considered Baby Boomers. Since their numbers were so enormous, they had an effect on the prices of everything from baby furniture to education, with the biggest impact being on the housing market.

The Baby Boom generation is 71.6 million strong and has been getting blamed for practically every financial issue in the country. Well, maybe “blamed” is a little too harsh; how about boomers have influenced much of the country’s finances since they were born beginning in 1946. Now, as boomers are getting ready to retire and downsize their homes, comes along a world-wide pandemic, freezing them in place.

The country’s home sales have surged in 2020 to the highest level in 14 years. As we now know, the pandemic has created the desire for families to move to the suburbs and into larger homes. Historically low interest rates, slightly below 3% for a fixed-rate conventional mortgage, have only made this yearning even more attractive.

There’s just one problem – the available number of homes to purchase is also historically low, down about 22% at the end of November according to the National Association of Realtors, and the poor Baby Boomers are getting blamed again. The length of time homeowners stay in their homes has been rising for several years. According to real estate brokerage Redfin Corp., the typical homeowner in 2020 had remained in their home for 13 years. This is up slightly from 12.8 years in 2019 but well ahead of 2010’s 8.7 years.

As the Baby Boomer population ages, they are in better health, more active and retire later, allowing them to remain in their homes longer. This existing trend combined with the pandemic has exacerbated the already low number of homes on the market. When COVID-19 started, this generation calculated there was no point in retiring since there wasn’t much else to do with their free time. Likewise, there didn’t seem to be any urgency to sell a large home and downsize since their retirement plans might have changed along with everything else in their lives.

In addition, there was a lingering fear of having strangers entering their homes during the pandemic, further delaying their decision to move. As the virus grew and more buyers were looking for houses, the market became more and more competitive, adding to the Baby Boomer anxiety about selling and finding another property to buy.

Many Baby Boomers crunched the numbers and just decided it was more appealing to refinance at the extremely low rates and stay in their homes rather than face a real estate market that was experiencing some serious challenges. Naturally, this decision by the boomer bubble only made the shortage of available properties worse, with sale prices moving up as inventory moved down, and, in my opinion, this won’t end soon.

Baby Boomers who have made the decision to stay in their homes and have refinanced to do so will not have the motivation to sell anytime soon. Even if they decide to retire, so many of their retirement plans – especially travel – are likely on hold for a couple of more years while the world digs out of the fallout from the pandemic.

So, you can blame the Baby Boomers all you like, but the reality is a bad convergence of world events is having the largest effect on the real estate market. Hang in there; we’re almost on the downside. Stay safe.

Bali Hai site plan review hits a snag

Bali Hai site plan review hits a snag

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

HOLMES BEACH – City commissioners are willing to go to the table with the owner of the Bali Hai Beach Resort, but they still have questions about the submitted site plan currently under review.

Issues between the resort’s owner, local developer Shawn Kaleta, and the city arose in 2020 when code compliance officers and the building official discovered unpermitted work being done on the property along with a bar and lounge being operated without a site plan approval from the city. Despite a stop-work order, a pending case in Manatee County Circuit Court and an ongoing code compliance case before the special magistrate, photos presented to city commissioners during a Jan. 26 work session show that construction work continued at the property along with the continued operation of the bar and lounge area.

Assistant City Planner Austen Dole presented the proposed site plan amendment given to the planning and building departments by Bali Hai representatives, noting that in addition to the other unpermitted areas, two small spa service rooms had been constructed in the laundry building, also without permits from the city.

While the site plan is being considered by city leaders, Dole said staff recommends that all operations on the property cease until the proper permits can be approved. Despite the argument submitted by the resort’s representatives, City Planner Bill Brisson said that in records dating as far back as 1998 he couldn’t find any prior use of a bar or lounge existing on the property.

Attorney Erica Augello said that part of the issue is that the bar and lounge area is still operating despite the ongoing litigation and code violations. Mayor Judy Titsworth said she wanted commissioners to go ahead and start the site plan review process to hopefully bring a quick conclusion to the issues between the city and resort owner. To that end, she encouraged commissioners to carefully consider the site plan presented, what questions they have for the resort’s representatives and what conditions they would like to apply to the site plan approval, such as not allowing wedding festivities, including receptions, to take place at the Bali Hai due to its location amidst residential properties along Gulf Drive.

“We do want him to be successful,” Titsworth said of Kaleta and his venture with the Bali Hai, “but we do want him to play by the same rules everyone else plays by.” She noted that the property has repeatedly been in violation of city codes since Kaleta took over as owner.

City Attorney Patricia Petruff recommended commissioners submit their stipulations for site plan approval to city staff to be written up in some form for discussion at a future work session. Commissioners agreed to readdress the issue at their Feb. 23 work session. No representatives from the Bali Hai were present during the Jan. 26 work session meeting.

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County skips using state vaccine signup system

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

MANATEE COUNTY – Good news has emerged for some Floridians with the launch of the state’s COVID-19 vaccine signup website. However, it doesn’t change things for anyone wishing to receive their vaccine doses in Manatee County.

The new Florida state website for vaccine pre-registration invites any resident of the state who is age 65 or older, a resident of a long-term care facility, especially vulnerable to COVID-19 or a healthcare professional with direct patient contact, to register their information on the site. Once registered and when vaccines are available, they’re distributed from the federal government to states and then to different counties, where they’re administered. And while some Florida county governments have chosen to participate in the state registration system, Manatee County currently isn’t among them.

To receive a vaccination in Manatee County, qualified individuals are still required to register through either the senior or healthcare worker/first responder county organized standby pool. The standby pools can be found online or by calling 311 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Information on receiving the vaccine in Manatee County can be found online.

Though Manatee County residents can register through the state system to receive a vaccine in another county, registering in the state system will not give access to a vaccine appointment in Manatee County at this time. Wherever you receive your first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine is also where you will have to receive the second dose, as vaccine records do not transfer between counties or agencies.

In Manatee County, vaccine recipients are selected at random each week from those registered in the vaccine standby pool. Operators then call those selected to set up an appointment. If someone is selected and not available to answer the phone when 311 operators call, they’ll try one more time before putting the name back in the standby pool and selecting another. Anyone who is unable to book an appointment when called does not need to register a second time in the standby pool as duplicate registrations will be deleted. Couples are allowed to register together and be vaccinated at the same time as long as both people are eligible to receive the vaccine.

There are still more than 100,000 people registered in the county’s standby vaccine pool.

Manatee County officials announced that 5,100 first vaccine appointments were being made available Feb. 2-5 at Bennett Park, 400 Cypress Creek Blvd. in Bradenton, with 1,700 people being vaccinated each day. Recipients of those vaccines were to be notified Feb. 1 by 311 operators.

During a Jan. 26 commission meeting, Manatee County commissioners voted to send a letter to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office asking to be able to open up the vaccine standby pool to those people under age 65 who have a medical condition which makes them more at risk if they contracted the novel coronavirus. After some discussion, commissioners decided to not try to determine which conditions would make someone eligible to receive the vaccination, leaving it to the governor’s office to determine.

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Changes for Manatee County COVID-19 vaccine program

 

County officials give COVID-19 vaccine update

 

Manatee County launches new vaccine sign-up website