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Tag: Anna Maria Island

Castles in the Sand

Move over and make room, there’s more coming

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

As if the COVID-19 pandemic and political unrest last year and, of course, going into this year, aren’t enough, the Census Bureau started reporting population counts and Florida is one of the states at the top of the heap.

Florida’s population has been growing for the last 10 years, making us the third-most-populous state in the country after California and Texas. Coming from New York, I’m always surprised to hear from friends and relatives that they had no clue Florida’s population surpassed New York State’s. This occurred back in 2014 with a slight margin that has grown every year since then.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Texas, Florida, California, North Carolina and Arizona were the states with the biggest population growth from 2010 to 2020. Florida’s gain during that period is just under 3 million residents. The states with the biggest declines during the past 10 years are Vermont, Connecticut, New York, West Virginia and Illinois.

These numbers, however, do not reflect the mostly coastal states and Illinois that have lost population from July 2019 to July 2020. Much of this decline may be contributed to the pandemic but chances are the numbers will decline even more when the balance of 2020 is counted, when people started relocating. In addition, Texas (373,965), Florida (241,256) and Arizona (129,556) are the top three states in the country that have gained population this year.

It’s no surprise to anyone who is even remotely interested in the real estate market that people are leaving high-taxed states and embracing Florida’s low-tax and friendly business environment. This year the number of people relocating to Florida from other states has exploded and now many companies are looking to Florida and Texas to relocate their businesses.

After almost a year of running businesses remotely, corporations are starting to understand they don’t need the expense and inconvenience of a bricks-and-mortar building to operate. They can offer their employees alternatives increasing both their bottom line and that of the company. Miami, in particular, is attracting major financial investment companies, a few of which have already relocated and others considering the move.

As previously stated, COVID-19 is certainly playing a big part in the movement of populations. But a lot of this started after the 2017 tax reform, which included a cap on state and local tax deductibility on federal income taxes. States with high personal income tax and exorbitant property taxes that could no longer be fully deducted had residents sharpening their pencils at tax time. Many upper-income families decided it just wasn’t worth the taxes they paid to stay in certain states and started looking elsewhere.

With a new administration in Washington, it’s possible that the tax reforms of 2017 could be reversed. This could have somewhat of an effect on people’s decisions to move, however, paying $30,000 a year in property tax is not the same as being able to take a tax deduction on that amount. So, the real estate community will wait and see if a different national tax environment changes the movement of populations to the sunbelt, which started well before the tax reforms of 2017.

Florida frequently is the subject of jokes from more sophisticated regions of the country. Dave Barry wrote a whole book about it. But based on the 10-year population growth, no one really cares. I-10 and I-95 are jam-packed with moving trucks headed south and properties are selling in one day.

Make room Floridians – we ain’t seen nothing yet. Stay safe.

More Castles in the Sand:

New year, new homes

Are home sales starting to slip?

Real estate sales surge continues

Reel Time: Get wet

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

The author caught this pompano while wading a windswept flat last week.

For the first time in a few years, we’re having an “actual” winter. When anglers consider their options this time of year many never consider getting out of the boat and wading. That’s unfortunate because cold water can produce some fantastic results. Like any time of the year, wading provides some distinct advantages overfishing from a boat. Wading puts you in the fish’s realm, gives you the advantage of a low profile and a silent approach. This can be particularly important during the winter when the water can be gin-clear making gamefish extremely wary.

The key to comfortable winter wading is staying warm and dry. A good pair of waders, wading boots, sweat pants and insulating socks will do the trick on the coldest day. Add a pair of polarized glasses, a hat with a dark under-brim, a wade vest or pack, and you’re in business. You won’t need heavy tackle unless you’re fishing docks or other structures. Under most conditions, an eight-pound test tackle will be sufficient. You can go even lighter if conditions permit. Fly anglers generally opt for six/ eight weight outfits unless wind or other conditions warrant upsizing.  Make sure reels have plenty of line for long smooth casts and make sure the drag is properly set. I generally opt for a 30-pound bite tippet but downsize to 20 and even 18-pound test when fishing clear water, high sun and spooky fish. You’ll risk being cut off should you encounter a big snook but I always err to getting the bite, risking a cut-off for the increased action. A longer bite tippet allows anglers to change lures and flies more often without having to re-leader. When constructing leaders and tippets I use 100% fluorocarbon material.

If the visibility isn’t great, or you’re fishing early or late, blind cast the edges where grass and sand meet. These sandy areas (the seams) and potholes are perfect ambush spots for the predators you’re targeting. Start with presentations about two feet short of the area your working towards, then in and past your target. Make sure you cover deep grass often found at the ends of the potholes.

During the winters you’ll often find big trout on the flats on cold mornings. The fish will come into some extremely shallow potholes to feed on an incoming tide. Work your way through potholes, always staying vigilant for surface action, tails, wakes or feeding birds.

If fish are particularly spooky or hard to see try standing still and waiting for them to come to you. Try this approach if fish see you just before you see them. Anchor well away from the area you intend to fish, get out of the boat and stake out a pothole or sandy area where you have visibility. By staying a long cast away, you can easily see the fish when they enter a hole or pass across a patch of sand. Position yourself off to the side in the grass where you’re less visible, keep a low profile and be still. Just waiting them out gives you a big advantage when targeting reds, trout, snook and other game fish as they wander the flat. When you make a presentation, don’t make any quick moves, and make your casts low and slow. It takes patience but can be productive when all else fails.

Give winter wade fishing a try. Look for likely spots on charts or go online to programs like Google Earth. When you “get wet” you’ll discover some excellent angling opportunities, and as a bonus, get some exercise. Get wet.

More Reel Time:

Reel Time: Fishing with Captain Nick Angelo

Reel Time: Push pole pointers

Reel Time: Make your New Year’s resolutions

County officials give COVID-19 vaccine update

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

MANATEE COUNTY – A new round of vaccines have arrived in Manatee County, prompting 311 operators to start booking appointments for Jan. 14. After these appointments are booked, county officials hope that more vaccines will quickly arrive for distribution but they’re not sure when they’ll get here.

During today’s Manatee County commission meeting, Director of Public Safety Jake Saur reported that 1,000 doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine were received on Jan. 11, with 900 of those earmarked to be distributed to area seniors age 65 and older and 100 set aside to be given to first responders and frontline healthcare workers. Saur said that 311 operators began contacting seniors randomly selected from the standby vaccine pool just after the announcement was made to county commissioners at around 9:10 a.m. with the expectation that all appointments would be filled by 4 p.m. today for distribution on Thursday, Jan. 14 at the Tom Bennett Park drive-thru vaccination location.

As more vaccines are received, Saur said there will be more announcements through social media and other outlets about appointments being booked to alert seniors signed up for the standby pool. Unfortunately, he said the timing and amount of vaccines coming to the county are uncertain and sporadic at this time due to vaccine dose availability.

Seniors signed up through the Manatee County standby pool should look for a phone call from 941-742-4300. If 311 operators call and no one answers the phone, they’ll make one more attempt before putting the person’s name back into the system to be randomly selected again at a future date. If you miss a call from 311 operators, you’re asked to not call back, they’ll call you. If you’ve already registered your information with the standby pool there is no reason to register a second time. Any duplicate registrations will be deleted. If you’re having trouble signing up for the standby pool through the website, you can call 311 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday to enter your name in the lottery-style pool.

As of today, Saur said that nearly 60,000 individuals or couples have registered in the COVID-19 vaccination standby pool in Manatee County. Given that some of those registrations are couples who are allowed to register together, he said the number of people in the system is closer to 95,600. Manatee County has more than 100,000 residents at age 65 or older. COVID-19 vaccinations in Manatee County are open to anyone meeting the age requirement regardless of residency. Anyone receiving a first dose of the vaccine in Manatee County must receive the mandatory second dose here as well.

The 1,000 vaccine doses were a surprise with Manatee County officials previously told to not expect any first doses this week. Some first responders and frontline healthcare workers who received their first dose of the vaccine in December were already scheduled to begin receiving second doses at the Public Safety Center in east Bradenton on Jan. 13.

To date, Saur said 5,437 vaccines had been administered in Manatee County at either the Bennett Park or Public Safety Center vaccination site. Currently, these are the only two vaccination sites open in Manatee County, though Saur said if needed there are plans to open a third site. Director of Development Jim McDaniel said in an email to The Sun that he’s also volunteered The Center of Anna Maria Island’s Magnolia Avenue campus in Anna Maria as a potential future vaccination site for the county.

With the federal government announcing today that a push is moving forward to have states release the vaccine doses held back to guarantee second vaccines for those people who’ve already received a first one, Saur said he’s unsure of how things will progress now at Manatee County run vaccination sites. He added that he still plans for anyone who’s received a first vaccine dose from the county to be able to receive a second vaccine dose here. Saur said that there is a three- to four-day window for people to receive a second vaccine around the 21- or 28-day recommendation. Pfizer vaccines require the second dose to be administered 21 days after the first dose while Moderna vaccines require the second dose to be administered 28 days after the first dose.

Area seniors can expect to receive a phone call from 311 operators a week before their second dose is due to book an appointment. Saur said that current plans are to administer the second doses at the Public Safety Center with the ability to administer two days worth of second dose vaccines in one day.

Manatee County officials will never ask for any financial information when booking a vaccine appointment. Vaccines received by the county are available to the public free of charge.

For more information, visit the Manatee County vaccine website.

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Manatee County launches new vaccine sign up program

Castles in the Sand

New year, new homes

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

It’s the second week of the new year and it’s probably a good time to outline how homeownership has changed, not just during the past year, but beyond. Design space has had a surprising shift and lifestyle an even bigger one, all resulting in a subtle revolution in housing.

For starters, the demand for larger homes in 2020 has built on the desire to live in more space than ever before in our country. The average home built in the early 1950s was the hard-to-believe number of about 950 square feet. By 2017, the average new home size had almost tripled to 2,700 square feet, and when the analysis of 2020 new home building is done, we will certainly see that number go up as well.

Single homeowners and single women homeowners have changed a lot since the 1950s, when the vast majority of homes were owned by married couples. Today, almost 40% of homeowners are single, and today, a single woman is about twice as likely to buy a home as a single man. Here again, 2020 could increase those numbers too.

The really big financial change from 1950 is that about 60% of homes then were owned outright and only 40% carried mortgages. Today that ratio is reversed, and with the current extremely low mortgage rates, homeowners with mortgages will probably increase even more.

The COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown jolted our lives, locked us in our homes and drove us out of the big cities. So, what’s next? Chances are, probably more of the same. Working from home, schooling from home, cooking from home and moving to the country and suburbs to give our families space has changed our housing needs.

The ubiquitous open floor plan concept has been the dominant home design for decades, and if the pandemic hadn’t change our lives, would probably have continued for several decades more. However, the necessity of home offices, areas for schooling children and just the plain old need for privacy has changed.

Everything from city apartment dwellers using movable bookcases to provide refuge spaces to the popularity of dens and adult studies have been carved out of the open floor plan. And with the new-found experiences of learning and working virtually only exploding in the future, it’s likely that protected niches and nooks will take over soaring ceilings and bowling alley-size living space.

According to a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, home decorating for the new year also has some changes ahead, keeping the psychology of cozy is better and less is more. White, sterile-looking bathrooms are out being replaced by a softer, more natural look. Open-air showers are bringing us back to nature and out of the hustle-bustle of cities. Glitz in fabric and design schemes are out but soft fabrics that are touchable like velvet and mohair are in. Open shelving in kitchens is – thank goodness – out. Neat kitchens that people actually cook in are in, with seamless façade cabinets eliminating hardware. Smart kitchen faucets that are not only hands-free but respond to voice commands are in. Paint colors are also going through a reset, with deep green, blue and gray evoking calmness, replacing white. And finally, true farmhouse décor with barn door sliders is out, replaced with a modified version, less barn, more user-friendly.

Men don’t wear ties to mow the lawn like they did in the 50s and most women don’t own frilly aprons and prepare dinner in pearls, but much of our 50s experience is returning. Homes with yards, do-it-yourself home projects and cooking family meals is a good thing. As the new year unfolds, there will be plenty more changes to our culture and lifestyle influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic. We’re almost there; stay safe.

What to expect when you’re getting a COVID-19 vaccine

What to expect when you’re getting a COVID-19 vaccine

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

MANATEE COUNTY – While the process to sign up for a COVID-19 vaccination appointment has changed to a new lottery-style system, the process for receiving your first dose of the vaccine once you score an appointment remains the same.

The Sun rode along with Sylvia Swain while she received her first dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine Jan. 6 at the Manatee County Bennett Park vaccination site. The entire process took about 90 minutes to complete and here’s what local seniors can expect when they arrive for their first dose of the vaccine.

The Bennett Park site is a drive-thru vaccination site where recipients are asked to remain in their vehicles the entire time unless otherwise directed by onsite medical personnel.

When entering the facility, vaccine recipients are directed through several different checkpoints before they receive the vaccine dose. The first checkpoint is at the entrance where the recipient’s vaccine appointment is confirmed and their photo identification checked for name and age verification. Recipients are required to have a valid, government-issued photo identification and either a copy of their appointment confirmation or the confirmation number.

Upon entering the park, drivers are divided into two vehicle lanes where vaccine recipients have their temperature checked and have to show a completed copy of the COVID-19 vaccine screening and consent form, which can be found online. For anyone without a completed form, a blank form is provided at this point to fill out before moving forward. Vaccine recipients are asked to turn over their completed forms to onsite healthcare workers and are given their vaccine cards, a document that shows when and where the vaccine dose was administered. The vaccine card is required to be kept and will need to be presented to onsite healthcare workers when receiving a second vaccine dose.

Once all of the paperwork is done, recipients move forward to receive the vaccine dose.

“That was quick,” Swain said upon receiving the vaccine. Though she said she didn’t feel any discomfort when receiving the vaccine, the following day she said her arm was sore and she felt a bit tired, though the symptoms dissipated within a few hours. She added that she felt better personally about her health following receipt of the vaccine and that she’s looking forward to receiving the second dose.

After receiving the vaccine, recipients move on to a field where they park their vehicles and wait 15 minutes to see if they have any adverse reactions to the vaccination. Anyone with a history of allergic reactions to vaccines may be asked by healthcare workers to wait for 30 minutes before being dismissed.

Once the wait time is up, you’re free to go, at least for the next few weeks.

The Moderna vaccine, the one currently being administered in Manatee County, requires two doses given 28 days apart, though county Public Safety Director Jake Saur said that there’s a window of about three to four days on either side of the 28 days to administer the final dose of the vaccine.

To receive the second dose of the vaccine, recipients must receive it in Manatee County. About a week before your second vaccine appointment, 311 operators will contact you at the phone number you provide when signing up. Seniors should look for a call from 941-742-4300. Saur said that the first contact will most likely be by text and that operators will call anyone who doesn’t confirm their second vaccine appointment by text.

While the first vaccine doses are currently being administered at Bennett Park in Bradenton, the second dose is planned to be administered to eligible recipients at the Department of Public Safety. And though there is a shortage of available vaccine doses coming from federal to state and then to local sources, Saur said that the second vaccine dose is guaranteed to recipients who’ve already received a first dose from Manatee County.

For more information about receiving the vaccine, visit the Manatee County vaccine information website.

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Manatee County launches new vaccine sign up program

More vaccine appointments open

Manatee County launches new vaccine sign up program

Manatee County launches new vaccine sign up program

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Archives.

MANATEE COUNTY – During an emergency meeting today, county commissioners met to discuss how to improve the process by which people 65 and older can sign up for a COVID-19 vaccine appointment. They voted unanimously to accept the new lottery-style system.

County Public Safety Director Jake Saur said that after issues with websites crashing and people unable to access the limited number of 311 operators to schedule appointments, a new idea was needed. The suggestion he came to commissioners with is to institute an ongoing registration system for anyone age 65 and older to enter their information to go into a lottery to get an appointment to receive a vaccine when they’re available.

Right now, Saur said the State of Florida has no COVID-19 vaccine doses currently to send to Manatee County, though 240,000 vaccine doses are planned to be received and distributed next week across the state. He added that none of those doses are guaranteed to be received in Manatee County.

Planned to launch at 10 p.m. on Jan. 7, the new website will ask people to enter basic information, such as their name, phone number and an email address, which is optional, as well as confirm that they are at or over age 65. The person will then get a reservation number, which will need to be kept, and will be entered into a vaccine waiting pool. As more vaccines are received by Manatee County, 311 operators will contact people at random in the vaccine waiting pool to set up an appointment. If a person doesn’t respond or isn’t available during the appointment period, their name will be returned to the pool and another person will be selected. Anyone who doesn’t have access to a computer will be able to call 311 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday to enter the vaccine waiting pool over the phone.

The new lottery method of granting vaccine appointments will be ongoing and is expected to reduce public frustration when trying to book a vaccine appointment due to their not being a need to rush to sign up. It won’t be a first come, first served process like what the county has previously used with Eventbrite registration, which will now only be available internally to Manatee County employees.

Entering the vaccine waiting pool is not an appointment, it’s entering a standby waiting room for when vaccine doses become available. It also does not guarantee when an appointment time will be available.

Saur said that while the team administering the vaccines is ready and able to ramp up to giving out 2,000-3,000 vaccines per day with more sites than the current drive-thru vaccination site at Tom Bennett Park, the issue is a lack of vaccine doses. As soon as the supply line for vaccines is increased, Saur said he hopes to receive more consistent shipments and be able to distribute vaccines to the public faster.

While some Manatee County commissioners and residents expressed frustration that vaccine doses are available to everyone, not just county residents, Assistant County Attorney Bill Clague said that how the vaccinations are distributed is not up to local leaders. The Manatee County Department of Health is a part of the Florida Department of Health and is operated as a state agency located in the county. As a state agency, vaccines have to be distributed according to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ orders, which allow for the vaccines to be given to anyone age 65 and older regardless of residency.

Saur said the goal for his department is to get as many people vaccinated as quickly as possible given the availability of vaccine doses.

A website address for the new vaccine registration waiting pool will be announced on the county’s vaccine website.

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Castles in the Sand

Are home sales starting to slip?

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

It’s a new year and signs are pointing to the possibility that there may also be a new real estate market. We have been enjoying a high number of sales and increasing sales prices for practically all of 2020, but we may be starting to see a slight crack in the market.

According to the National Association of Realtors, November national home sales have started to slip. Nationally, existing home sales in November fell 2.5% from October for the first time in six months. Manatee County also saw a decline in the number of closed sales in November from October of just under 7%.

As reported last week, however, Manatee County closed 40.3% more single-family homes in November 2020 compared to November 2019. Nationally, the single-family home market rose 25.8% in November 2020 compared to November 2019.

And, as far as home prices, the NAR has reported that the median existing home price rose 14.6% in November from a year earlier to $310,800. Manatee County’s median home sale price in November was $350,700, up 7.2% from a year earlier.

As usual, the biggest problem we – as well as the entire nation – have is a lack of inventory. Nationally, the NAR reported that the supply of homes on the market at the end of November was the lowest on record going back to 1982. At the end of November, Manatee County had only a 1.6 month supply of available single-family homes; nationally the number was 2.3 months’ supply, which probably accounts for the national number of sales being higher than our area.

Unfortunately, while we are still subject to the fear of contracting the virus, many homeowners don’t want to put their homes on the market, especially in the northern part of the country where they struggle with cold weather. We in Florida have a significant advantage because of warm temperatures and what is typically a good selling season, but will that improve the available inventory? We don’t know at this point.

With the hope of an influx of people flocking to our beaches and looking for a property to purchase, I did a little survey of where exactly new buyers are migrating from. The result was a surprise to me and may be to you as well.

I focused on the approximately six-week period from Nov. 1 through Dec. 15, based on sales recorded on the Manatee County Property Appraiser’s Office website. Most recorded sales show former addresses for new owners.

The city of Anna Maria had nine sales to Florida residents: Five from Tampa, one from Lakeland, one from Miami Beach, one from Eustis and one from Doral. There were two sales from Illinois, one from Oklahoma, one from Georgia, one from Tennessee and one from Arizona.

The majority of the combined cities of Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach’s new residents came from the state of Florida; eight from Tampa and eight from Sarasota. There were two from Illinois, two from Georgia, two from New York and the balance split between Pennsylvania and Ohio.

Cortez had sales to new homeowners from Tennessee, Massachusetts, Florida and New York, one for each state.

I was somewhat surprised by this little survey. I just assumed that more people were moving here from the northeastern states, but even the New York sales were not from the city of New York. I guess Florida’s east coast is accommodating these new residents.

Statistics are a funny thing; you can interpret them in a variety of different ways, but there is no way to misinterpret our level of inventory. It’s low all over and unless and until that number improves, we’re headed for a slow-down. Stay safe.

More vaccine appointments open tomorrow

More vaccine appointments open

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

Updated 1/4/21 – Manatee County Public Safety Director Jake Saur announced that 1,400 vaccine doses had been received by the county for distribution to seniors age 65 and older and front line healthcare workers. Of those doses, 1,200 will be available to seniors to book appointments online for Jan. 5 and 6 at 2 p.m. on Jan. 4. Seniors without computer access can also dial 311 ext. 1 to book over the phone with a county operator. Saur warns that 311 staff is limited so it’s better to try to book vaccine appointments online if possible.

Anyone with medical questions concerning the vaccine should contact their primary care physician or the Manatee County Health Department.

Front line healthcare workers seeking a vaccine can go to the Bennett Park site on Jan. 5 and 6 between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. to receive their first COVID-19 vaccination. Workers must have a copy of their state healthcare license and be able to prove that they work in direct contact with patients in order to receive a vaccine.

MANATEE COUNTY – More than 1,000 seniors age 65 and older in the county have received COVID-19 vaccinations as of Jan. 2, according to the county’s social media page. Any senior who didn’t receive a vaccination appointment in the first round will have another chance to try for an appointment beginning at 2 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 2.

In a Dec. 29 briefing, Manatee County officials discussed receiving 3,500 doses of the Moderna vaccine to be distributed beginning on Dec. 30 and continuing through Jan. 4 to seniors, first at the Manatee County Department of Public Safety and then at Bennett Park. Those appointments filled up within minutes, leaving many seniors wondering when they could receive the vaccine. Information Outreach Manager Nicholas Azzara said that as available vaccine numbers dwindle to 500 or less, more shipments of the vaccine will come to Manatee County for distribution.

To sign up for one of the vaccine appointments released Jan. 2, visit the county website to fill out the Department of Health COVID-19 screening and consent form. Both forms can be filled out in advance and need to be printed and taken to your vaccine appointment. Visit the site at 2 p.m. on Jan. 2 to book your vaccine appointment.

Vaccine appointments are available to anyone age 65 and older. There is no residency requirement, however, the Moderna vaccine requires two doses with the second one to be received 28 days after the first one. Anyone receiving the first vaccine dose in Manatee County must also receive the second dose in Manatee County. Vaccine records do not transfer.

To receive the vaccine, patients must provide photo ID, present their screening results and provide a copy of their appointment reservation. All vaccinations provided by Manatee County are given free of charge.

Currently, vaccines are being distributed in a drive-thru location at Bennett Park, 280 Kay Road in Bradenton. When getting a vaccine, patients are advised to not leave their vehicle unless requested to by onsite medical personnel.

If unable to get a vaccine appointment on Monday, Azzara asks people to be patient and continue to monitor the county’s website for the release of upcoming appointments. You can also sign up for email alerts.

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Person of the Year: Kathy Smart

Kathy Smart shares Sun Person of the Year honors

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

HOLMES BEACH – When you walk into Minnie’s Beach Café you’re not just walking into another of Anna Maria Island’s amazing restaurants, you’re walking into a family’s home. And that family is helmed by Kathy Smart.

The staff at Minnie’s treats everyone coming in, from local regulars to vacation first-timers, as family, while the staff really is extended and chosen family. That is something Smart says is especially important when bringing someone new onboard. She’s been working with some of the same people since before she, her spouse Mary and other business partners, who’ve since retired, bought the café when it was Brian’s Sunny Side Up many years ago.

Sun Persons of the Year

2020 – Jack Brennan, Roser Memorial Community Church and Kathy Smart, Minnie’s Beach Cafe

2019 – Doug Copeland, Anna Maria commissioner

2018 – Dan Murphy, Anna Maria mayor

2017 – Bob Slicker, Swordfish Grille manager

2016 – Rev. Ed Moss, CrossPointe Fellowship

2015 – Kenneth A. (Andy) Price Jr., chief, West Manatee Fire Rescue

2014 – Gail and Ed Straight, Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Inc.

2013 – Charlie Hunsicker, director, Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources Dept., and Rick Spadoni, Coastal Planning

2012 – Mike Selby, Anna Maria mayor

2011 – Roser Food Pantry

2010 – Rex Hagen, Hagen Family Foundation

2009 – Charlie Hunsicker, director, Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources Dept.

2008 – Cindi Harrison, Anna Maria Elementary School

2007 – The Legacy III – Emily Anne Smith, Lea Ann Bessonette, John Chappie

2006 – Suzi Fox, director, Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch

2005 – Cindy Thompson, Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce

2004 – Gene and Elizabeth Moss, Roser Memorial Community Church

2003 – Officer Pete Lannon, Holmes Beach Police Dept.

2002 – Sean Murphy, Beach Bistro

2001 – Carol Whitmore, Manatee County Commissioner; former Holmes Beach mayor

Smart moved to Florida in 1989 from Cape Cod and when she came to check on a friend’s house on the Island, it was love at first sight. She relocated from Holiday a few days later in 1991 and never looked back. Smart first started working at the local restaurant, now known as Minnie’s Beach Café, back when it was Brian’s Sunny Side Up in 1995. Though she’s moved from the Island to West Bradenton, Smart’s commitment and dedication to the Island community remains as strong as ever, something that really shines through the darkness of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It all happened so fast,” she said of watching the effects of the pandemic on her restaurant, which Smart said was packed on St. Patrick’s Day, the day restrictions on restaurants and bars were announced in Florida. Immediately afterward, she said restrictions kicked in quickly with occupancy dropping to 50%, then 25% and then to nothing as dining establishments were forced to close their doors to customers. The closure of the restaurant didn’t stop Smart and her staff from trying to reach the community, however.

During the pandemic, Minnie’s was open for takeout customers. It was also open to anyone in the community who needed food or some grocery items and couldn’t get to the store or afford to pay for food.

Smart offered free breakfast and lunch to children, no questions asked, noting that parents would otherwise have to take their children to King Middle School, the closest pickup location for food from Manatee County Schools, for “a sack lunch with a sandwich. They weren’t going to do that. I have a restaurant. Why not help?”

She also offered free meals to local seniors and grocery items for sale through the restaurant for anyone who didn’t want to take their chances in a local grocery store. And when someone needed something and wasn’t able to get to Minnie’s to pick it up, Smart and her staff made sure that person got what they needed.

“I don’t think I did anything that anyone else wouldn’t do,” she said.

And while Smart was working to help the community, when Minnie’s was in financial trouble over the summer due to the pandemic shut down and restrictions, the community reached out and helped the restaurant and its staff in return.

Smart said the outpouring of support and love from the community was both overwhelming and wonderful.

“Without the community, we would’ve shut down in August,” she said. “You do what you can do. Maybe I did help some people out but they help me out a lot.”

Now, though the restaurant is open for dine-in and takeout customers, Smart said things are still tough financially but she hopes for a better future for herself, her staff and the restaurant that she loves.

“It’s scary. It’s very scary,” she said of the ongoing pandemic. She added that when the shutdowns and restrictions began in March, she thought it would only be a month or so before things were under control and went back to normal. Now, nearly 10 months later, she hopes that the COVID-19 vaccines will help bring things back to a semblance of how they were.

“I hope that by spring the Island can go back to the way it was,” Smart said, adding that she also hopes that people will soon be able to visit without fear of catching the virus and that her staff will be able to work without having the same fear.

For right now, she said the restaurant is doing more takeout business than it used to and her plan is to “go with the flow and hope that things work out for the best for everyone.”

Smart’s hope going into the new year is that the pandemic will bring people closer together rather than pushing them apart, that she can keep Minnie’s Beach Café going, that the virus goes away and that everyone will finally be safe.

To the community that has embraced her and her business, Smart simply said, “Thank you so much.”

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Treehouse owners clash with city over VRC renewals

Treehouse owners clash with city over VRC renewals

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

HOLMES BEACH – The beachfront treehouse built by Lynn Tran and Richard Hazen is the story that just keeps on giving.

While the owners are still appealing a court ruling ordering the destruction of the treehouse, they now have a new issue – they can’t renew their vacation rental certificates.

Code Compliance Officer James Thomas said that he’s been working with the owners of Angelinos Sea Lodge – the home of the controversial treehouse – to get the issues resolved between them and the city so that they can get the VRCs, which allow them to rent the four short-term vacation rental units on their property.

While Angelinos previously had VRCs for the units, Thomas said that city code prevents him or his fellow officers from renewing the certificates due to the outstanding code violations and fines on the property related to the treehouse, which is under a court order to be torn down. He added that the code compliance department has been advised by the attorney handling the treehouse case for the city, Randy Mora, to not issue any VRC renewals on the property until the code issues are cleared up.

Thomas said that Tran and Hazen will have to work with the city’s building department to make the treehouse a legal structure on the property, which is unlikely, since they tried to get after-the-fact permits for the structure a few years ago and were given a long list of reasons why former Building Official Jim McGuinness denied those permits. Some of those issues are that the supporting posts are not buried far enough in the sand to appropriately support the treehouse structure according to code, the treehouse is not accessible to the disabled and it’s located too close to the erosion control line to be legally permitted. Holmes Beach Building Official Neal Schwartz did not return a request for comment from The Sun.

Thomas said their other option is to pay the code compliance fines and remove the treehouse to clear the code issues on the property.

If the treehouse is either made legal under city permits or torn down, he said the VRC renewals for the four vacation rental units can be processed. Until those renewals are granted, Thomas said that the units have to remain closed to visitors.

As of Oct. 15, the daily accrued code fine against the treehouse owners was $95,600. With fines accruing at $50 per day, that adds about another $3,650 through Dec. 27. As of Dec. 22, City Treasurer Lori Hill said the treehouse owners owe the city $184,914 in legal fees.

In response to the city’s Oct. 16 denial of the renewal of the VRCs, Tran and Hazen submitted a letter to the city Oct. 19 stating that they had received a legal opinion on the renewal denials and believe they were issued in error for several reasons. One of those reasons is that there are still three pending appeals in Manatee County Circuit Court, and the owners also are appealing to the United States Supreme Court for a second time to review the case.

Another reason is that the treehouse isn’t a habitable structure on the property and is for the personal use of the owners, not vacationers at the property. The other listed reasons are the loss of income due to lost reservations on the property with the VRCs not renewed on time and the fact that the VRCs were both initially issued and renewed once by the city during the time that the treehouse has been standing on the property. The owners’ legal opinion came from attorney David Levin.

Thomas said that he’s found both Tran and Hazen to be receptive to efforts to resolve the situation but until a resolution is reached, the Angelinos Sea Lodge remains closed to guests.

Tran and Hazen did not return requests for comment from The Sun.

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Reel Time: Make your New Year’s resolutions

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

New Year’s resolutions have spawned more jokes than life changes. Still, it’s a good idea to look back on the past year and reflect on what worked and what didn’t.

An example might be remembering a fish lost to a failed knot. Resolve to always carefully tie knots, wetting them and carefully tightening them. The same applies to sharpening hooks, checking the drag and inspecting line for nicks and abrasions.

Tackle and organization are certainly places to start, but extend that same thinking to other equipment like your boat and motor, waders, push pole, trolling motor and wading boots. As experience teaches us, it’s the little things that we overlook that come back to haunt us. On the water, consider thinking out of the proverbial “box” by altering your routine strategy. Many anglers go fishing with a plan and never deviate from it. They start at one spot and hit all the usual “holes” during the day. A different option? Try planning to fish only places you’ve never explored before. I’ve done this and been amazed at how many unique areas and new opportunities I’ve found. Make a note of the moon phase, tide stage, wind direction and water temperature. Looking at the same places with this information and “new eyes” can be revealing.

Mark McBride, Bobby Lopez and Dan Madole found these impressive grouper in Tampa Bay. – Rusty Chinnis | Sun

Also consider trying a new place altogether. There are lots of beautiful and productive destinations within a few hours north and south of Anna Maria. Drive two hours north and you can explore the Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge and just north of there, Homosassa, Crystal River, and Yankeetown.  Less than two hours south and you’re in Charlotte Harbor and adjacent to Pine Island Sound. Too far? Anyone with a boat can leave Anna Maria and be fishing in fresh water in less than an hour. The Manatee and Braden rivers provide anglers with a variety of fish from tarpon to catfish, redfish to bass. Both rivers also have numerous launch sites for boats, kayaks and paddleboards.

It might even prove useful to review how you approach fishing. If you’re a fly caster, look at ways you might improve your casting and consider learning how to cast with your non-dominant hand and tie flies. Anglers who use conventional tackle might want to try artificial lures instead of always relying on live bait.

I have a final suggestion that might be the most important. Get involved in working to keep our waters fishable and swimmable. Join with like-minded individuals, write letters to policymakers, attend commission meetings and lobby state officials to protect our water quality, habitat and fisheries. All the well-intended resolutions won’t amount to much if we don’t. No matter how long you’ve been fishing or what your level of competency, there’s always room for improvement. Environmental advocacy, a general review of your tackle, technique and the opportunities available to you can only improve your enjoyment of fishing moving into 2021 and beyond. Happy New Year!

Castles in the Sand

Real estate sales surge continues

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

Happy New Year, are we all just about done with this year? I certainly am. Nevertheless, Anna Maria’s real estate market is not done, and this year has been an immensely successful one in spite of the pandemic.

Anna Maria’s popularity has exploded during the last 10 years, much of it fueled by newspaper and magazine articles about our “Florida Postcard, Old Florida” island. The latest love affair with Anna Maria is in Coastal Living Magazine’s end-of-year issue, just in time for tourist season, if we indeed have one this year. Coastal Living has written before about Anna Maria, but this particular version has to be the purple prose of Anna Maria stories.

The writing is so elaborately infused with the glory of our beaches, “near-dizzying,” the lure of Pine Avenue “hums with the old and the new simultaneously,” with restored homes that are now galleries, restaurants, bakeries, museums and bike rental shops.

Now, to be fair, all of this is true, but if I were reading this right now in snowy shut-down New York City, I would be fighting my way down I-95 to get here. In fact, I might just fight my way over the Cortez Bridge to see what I’m missing. I think it’s great that all of the businesses mentioned in the piece are getting credit and exposure for making Anna Maria such a sought-after island, but “double-decker building of delights” – please. I’ll let you figure out which restaurant they mean.

Practically every month this year, when I review the closed sales numbers in Manatee County, I get excited, and this month is no exception. So, let’s look at the November Manatee County closed sales reported by the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee.

Single-family homes closed 40.3% more properties in November this year compared to last year. Cash sales were up 52%, the median sale price was $350,500, up 7.2%, and the average sale price was $463,015, up 15.6%. The median time to contract was 19 days, up 55.8% and the month’s supply of properties was only 1.6 months, down 51.5%.

Condos closed 58.9% more properties in November this year compared to last year. Cash sales were up 77.4%, the median sale price was $237,250, up 10.3%, and the average sale price was $265,013, up 5.3%. The median time to contract was 34 days (no change from last year) and the month’s supply of properties was only 2.3 months, down 45.2%.

The month’s supply of available properties hit a new low, meaning if you’re looking for a single-family home or a condo, you will have slim pickings. Because of this, the median and average sale prices continue to push up with no end in sight. Fortunately, with mortgage rates also at an all-time low, buyers can qualify for a higher amount of financing. In addition, the percentage of cash transactions is extraordinary. Cash continues to be king and will easily make or break a deal. I expect December’s numbers will be slightly lower based on the surge of COVID-19 infections combined with the holidays, but we’ll see if that’s true.

Finally, I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge the recent Longboat Key sale of $16.5 million – the highest registered sale in the history of Sarasota and Manatee.

Even if my writer’s critical eye has taken some exception to Coastal Living, I’m still happy they wrote about Anna Maria. It’s good for business and great for real estate. I just wonder what George Emerson Bean and Charles Roser would have thought. Happy New Year and stay safe.

Island Players return to the virtual stage

Island Players virtual “Christmas Carol” a hit

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Entertainment, Theater.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – The Island Players were a hit with their online, two-night limited engagement of an original version of “A Christmas Carol,” their holiday gift to the community.

The hour-long performances took place on Dec. 18 and 20 with both the audience and the actors on Zoom. The virtual performances kept everyone safely socially distant, but provided the community with a much-needed return to the theater even though the Island Players’ Theater stage technically remained dark during the limited engagement.

Updated to reflect some of the issues of current times by director and writer Jeffrey Steiger, the play told the age-old story of Ebenezer Scrooge rediscovering his love of Christmas and humanity as he’s visited by the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future through a Zoom feed. The longer the night goes on, the more Scrooge, played by Heiko Knipfelberg, realizes the errors of his way and rushes to make the Christmas wishes of those near and dear to him come true before time runs out.

Heiko Knipfelberg stars as Ebenezer Scrooge in “A Christmas Carol.” – Submitted

Despite the challenges of not having a cast in the same location and performing on a virtual platform, the cast and crew behind “A Christmas Carol” put their all into the two performances and it was reflected in the joyous reception by virtual audience members.

As Scrooge, Knipfelberg was magnetizing, even through a computer screen. Joining him were James Thaggard as the Narrator, Dane Oldham as Fred, Mary Selke as Mrs. Lamb, Mikey Lynch as Bob Cratchit, Jay Poppe as the Ghost of Jacob Marley, Dianne Brin as the Ghost of Christmas Past, Judy Glynn as the Ghost of Christmas Present, Joanie Anton as the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, Pamela Hopkins as Belle, Alice Cotman as Mrs. Cratchit and Joshua Hanley-White as the Boy.

Every member of the cast turned in a marvelous performance. Selke turned in a particularly loveable performance as Mrs. Lamb while Thaggard was a picture-perfect narrator sitting in his virtual library.

The special effects used by the cast were especially engaging, helping to bring the world of the theater into viewers’ homes. And while some of the effects were computer-generated, others, such as some of the backgrounds used, were the work of local artists engaged to help illustrate Dickens’ world. Visual effects for the limited engagement were managed by Steiger with stage management and soundboard services provided by Denise Handley. In addition to starring in the play, Thaggard also designed and edited the playbill delivered virtually to audience members.

While the play was provided as the theater’s free gift to the community, donations to the Island Players are always welcomed to help keep local theater alive during the pandemic. To donate to the Island Players, contact Peg Faarup at 941-778-7374. For more information on the theater, visit the Island Players website.

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Tourism is rebounding in Manatee County

Tourism rebounding in Manatee County

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Business, Tourism.

MANATEE COUNTY – Tourist Development Council members received some encouraging news just before Christmas.

During this morning’s meeting, held at the Bradenton Area Convention Center, representatives from Visit Florida and Research Data Services gave TDC members updates, and the news was good – tourism numbers are going up despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Jen Carlisle with Visit Florida said that while the numbers they’re seeing are an overall 37% decrease in tourism from the same time last year and a 57% decrease in tourism from Canada, travel increased in the second and third quarters of the year by 71%. Carlisle attributed the increase in numbers to the Visit Florida-led marketing efforts.

Beginning in September, she said the organization targeted Florida residents, urging them through marketing to take a trip in their own state. In October, the target area of that effort increased to include drivable markets within a 700-mile radius, such as Atlanta, Charlotte and Nashville.

From these rebound advertising campaigns, Carlisle said that Visit Florida has had 300 million impressions and that 70% of people who saw the marketing spots were more likely to visit the state than they were beforehand. And while international travel is still largely on hold due to travel restrictions, she said that Visit Florida is still marketing in other countries to keep the destination at the forefront of potential visitors’ minds when restrictions are lifted. Elliott Falcione, director of the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, said that his organization also is making sure that they continue marketing in other countries, particularly in Europe and Canada, to make sure that the Bradenton area is on visitors’ minds when they’re ready to book future travel plans.

Speaking on behalf of the central European market from Germany via Zoom, Dorothea Hohn said that her research has found that people are ready to travel to the United States again, particularly to beach and outdoor destinations like the Bradenton and Gulf Islands area, however, she added that those visitors are pinning their plans on the availability of a COVID-19 vaccine and the lifting of international travel bans and restrictions.

Anne Wittine of Tampa-based Research Data Services, the county’s tourism consultant, gave a presentation on the current state of tourism in the area, noting that the number of visitors is down only 10.3% for the year so far from 2019. The economic impact of tourism, – the amount of money put into the local economy by tourists – is down 13.2% from the previous year. And while occupancy is down 14.3% from the previous year, Wittine said that may largely be due to a lack of reporting from privately-managed vacation rental properties. She said that the majority of the occupancy numbers received come from hotels, motels and professionally-managed vacation rental units, and that it’s hard to get numbers from individual vacation rental owners or those rented through services such as Airbnb.

Some of the challenges facing the local tourism industry, Wittine said, are that visitors are waiting until the last minute, often one to seven days out from their expected travel time, to book vacations and that visitation from Canada and Europe, where travel restrictions are in place, is too small to count at this time. Another issue is that cancellations of trips are going up as the number of locally-reported COVID-19 cases increases.

And while the number of people feeling more confident and safe about traveling is steadily increasing, Wittine said one key element for the local tourism businesses is to provide good information on what is open and what kind of experience travelers can expect when they arrive at their destination, information that is often difficult to come by online.

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Problems on the pickleball court

Problems on the pickleball court

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Pickleball, Sports.

HOLMES BEACH – Players at the new city pickleball courts aren’t happy with the geogrid playing surface, and city officials are looking into solutions.

Mayor Judy Titsworth said she’s received complaints that players are slipping on the surface when trying to play and that balls aren’t bouncing as well as they should. Titsworth and Commissioners Terry Schaefer and Jayne Christenson said they’ve all spoken to players who are concerned about the safety of the pickleball courts’ surface, a geogrid that’s supposed to reduce slips and last longer than a typical court surface.

Christenson added that she’s been out to the courts to observe the players firsthand and also walked with them over to the tennis courts, which have a paved surface, to see the difference between playing on the pickleball courts and the tennis courts. She said that she can see why players are concerned about slipping and falling on the new courts.

Titsworth said she understands the concerns and has been speaking to the manufacturer to see what can be done. She added that she believes the issues at the pickleball court are caused by shoes and balls getting wet. When a ball rolls off the court into the surrounding grassy area, Titsworth said that both the ball and the player’s shoes can get wet during retrieval, leading to issues on the geogrid court.

The city’s basketball court is covered with the same material but completely fenced in. Titsworth said that no issues with slipping have been reported there.

In addition to working with the manufacturer to find an answer to players’ concerns, a mat has been laid out for players to dry their shoes on to help reduce slips. Titsworth said that she’s also working with public works employees and Director of Development Services Eran Wasserman to find a different kind of surface to surround the courts with, such as pavers, that wouldn’t retain moisture as grass does.

Titsworth said that the attempts to find a remedy are in the early stages and urged players to be careful in the meantime.

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