HOLMES BEACH – The city’s Parks and Beautification Committee members are considering a new project – the possibility of installing a community garden.
Holmes Beach resident Mary Catherine Melancon and committee Chair Mary Lange presented the idea during a Feb. 5 committee meeting.
Melancon said the idea would be to have a community garden where people in the community could participate in growing vegetables, fruits and herbs in a social setting.
Lange said that while she would like the city to purchase the vacant lot located between Key Royale and Marina drives, she knows that might not be possible. Instead, Lange suggested identifying one or more areas in city parks that could be used for the community gardening project. After the meeting concluded, Lange and Melancon walked to Memorial Park, located adjacent to Holmes Beach City Hall, to see if there was enough flat, raised green space between the park and the Island Branch Library to place a few raised gardening beds as a pilot program. The two plan to report back to the committee in March after looking at other potential locations. The women also agreed to develop a presentation on the project and a cost estimate to present to city commissioners.
Director of Development Services Eran Wasserman said he thinks the idea is a good one, but that the project would need to be a spot where the large gardening beds could be placed, has access to irrigation, is safe for pedestrians to walk to and would have easy parking. Melancon added that there should be fencing or some kind of barrier to prevent people not a part of the gardening project from picking the produce.
If the committee opts to move the project forward, it will need approval from city commissioners before any construction on the gardening beds can begin.
Two adult sports leagues started up the season last week at The Center of Anna Maria Island.
Adult volleyball arrived on the hardcourt with Solid Rock Construction out to defend the championship title. At the end of the night, the family team came out on top, winning two matches.
The first games of the adult indoor soccer season heated up the gym for its second season since the sports comeback last year.
The night included lots of shooting and amazing saves. Pool America came out on top in the match-up against Sato Real Estate, finishing the game with the score at 8-7.
With Josh Sato playing as the primary goalie and 22 saves, backup goalie Sean Flynn logged six saves and three goals in the Sato Real Estate loss on week one.
Sato’s sister-in-law, Lexi, along with Oliver Petereit had single goals in the game. Ben Sato, Josh’s brother, put two points on the scoreboard to keep the game close.
Team Pool America got its first win with Chris Klotz in the goal with 14 saves. Omar Polar and Andrew Sullivan both had multiple saves as relief to Klotz.
Sullivan also hit three soccer balls into the net, matching teammate Olaf Krause.
Chris Scott got his two shots past the Sato Real Estate defense and goalie to secure the win.
In the second indoor game of the season, Slim’s Place topped Gulfview Windows, with a final score of 8-7.
Gulfview’s Brandin Holcomb and Ryan Moss had 14 and 16 saves, respectively, in the game. Keith Mahoney, Jessica Williams and John Haggerty all put points on the scoreboard for their team.
Putting a win in the record books, Diego Felipe, for Slim’s Place, had 15 saves. Steve Oelfke earned eight saves for his team.
The Slim’s Place scoring came from Felipe, Kevin Roman and Mark Long, each with two goals. Felipe’s brother, Brayan, and Oelfke each had a solo goal in the nail-biting game.
Ross Built Construction’s loss to Duncan Real Estate was in the hands of former Ross Built goalie Robb Marshall.
Marshall’s 22 recorded saves along with Zach Lieb’s six goals gave Duncan Real Estate its victory. Duncan’s win came with the help of scoring by Jenna Steininger and Damir Glavin, with two goals each and Cole Peterson’s single.
Joey Hutchison’s two goals and six saves in the game sparked and solidified the win.
Ross Built Construction’s squad made Duncan work for the game. In the goal, Max Gazzo and Nate Talucci shut down 29 shots.
Teammates Chris Circharo, Greg Ross and Ryan Hogan each struck and scored. Gazzo topped off his 18 saves with two goals in the Ross Built team loss to end the first night of indoor competition.
BRADENTON – The Artists’ Guild of Anna Maria Island’s 11th annual juried art exhibition, “Boundaries Erased,” is on display at ArtCenter Manatee in downtown Bradenton through Friday, Feb. 7.
The exhibition opened Tuesday, Jan. 14. The opening reception and awards ceremony took place Thursday, Jan. 16.
Marianne Hiland and Wendell Graham co-chaired the exhibition that took place for the first time this year at ArtCenter Manatee. In years past, the exhibition took place at The Studio at Gulf and Pine in Anna Maria.
Guild members and non-members submitted the 60 works on display in the Kellogg Gallery, all of which are for sale. Renowned Florida artist Dean Mitchell judged the competition.
Cortez resident Susanna Spann won Best in Show and the $500 prize for her “Friday on Frenchmen Street” painting.
“I’m doing a whole series of musicians, primarily from New Orleans. I go there every year for the Jazz & Heritage Festival. This was at The Maison, one of the bars there. I take photos, come back home, rearrange and redesign them and paint with watercolor. I want to tell stories and what I want is the feeling I felt. This was a red-hot jazz band and I wanted that feeling to come out in my painting,” Spann said.
“Friday on Frenchmen Street” was previously one of 10 winners in The Artist’s Magazine’s nationwide Over 60 Art Competition.
“I’m real proud of this baby, it’s been real good for me,” Spann said.
Many Guild members are also ArtCenter Manatee members, and some dual members entered other pieces in the ArtCenter’s “Annual Member Show” currently on display in the Searle & Reid Hodges galleries.
“I’ve got another one in the other room that I also won an award for, ‘Washboard Willie at The Cat.’ I wanted the same feel – the feeling I got when I was listening and watching the musicians,” Spann said.
“Busy Day in Thailand”
Holmes Beach resident Cheryl Jorgensen’s “Busy Day in Thailand” watercolor painting won first place and a $400 prize.
Cheryl Jorgensen’s “Busy Day in Thailand” painting won first place. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“I was in Thailand and I saw this guy with this beautiful orange outfit and decided I had to paint it,” Jorgensen said. “To me, it says no matter where you go, people are busy. That is what life is all about.”
Doreen Renner’s “Cardinal Rule” was awarded second place and Lu Ann Widergren’s “Morning View from Rod-n-Reel” was awarded third place.
Excellence in Photography
Anna Maria resident Cathy Tobias won Excellence in Photography awards for her “Great Migration” and “Flamingo Delight” photographs.
Tobias took “Great Migration” in Tanzania while watching wildebeest migrate.
Cathy Tobias won an Excellence in Photography award for her “Great Migration.” – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“It was on my bucket list of things I had to see. They stand at the riverbank and they can stand there for hours before the first one starts to cross – they’re worried about crocodiles,” Tobias said.
“It was late morning and this reddish dust was everywhere. They crossed for 30 minutes and I cried the whole time. It was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen and this is very close to the true color of what was going on,” Tobias said regarding the color tones in her photo.
She took “Flamingo Delight” at Jungle Gardens in Sarasota.
Cathy Tobias won an Excellence in Photography award for her “Flamingo Delight.” – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“This is a gorgeous bird. I liked the detail of the feathers, the eyes, the black tail and the shape it was in,” Tobias said, noting she cropped out the natural background.
“The background was competing with the flamingo and I thought it would stand out much better with a black background,” she said.
Change of venue
“I want to thank ArtCenter Manatee for hanging the show and for being so supportive. It’s a great venue,” Hiland said. “A number of our Guild members are not on the Island, so this is more centrally located for our membership and participants. It’s been a wonderful experience. The galleries are gorgeous.”
ArtCenter Manatee is located at 209 Ninth St. W. in Bradenton. For more information, visit the ArtCenter online.
The Artists’ Guild Gallery is in the Island Shopping Center at 5414 Marina Dr in Holmes Beach. For more information, visit the guild online.
After two weeks of youth flag football play at The Center, three teams remain undefeated with two wins in the record books. In the eight- to 10-year-old age group, HSH Designs defeated Moss Builders for their second win in the season.
Solid Rock Construction was victorious against Slim’s Place in the 11- to 13-year-old league.
Playing with an injured Tuna McCracken, MuniPlan let back up quarterbacks run the plays in the 14- to 17-year-old division win against Ugly Grouper, remaining unbeaten.
In each of the age group leagues, three teams hold 1-0 records, with their bye week already completed: Diamond Turf, Progressive Cabinetry, and Hashmark Sports.
Looking for their first win of the season after a critical first game loss, Rays Ramblings took to the field knowing that learning from their losses lead to stronger players, a better team, and eventually a win.
In a huge team effort, Rays Ramblings put up 13 quick points to start the game.
Unfortunate bobbles by the Swordfish Grill & Tiki Bar squad gave the football back to the Ramblings offense without putting any points up on the scoreboard.
With an extra point catch by Drew Buky after another TD, Ramblings was up 20-0.
Failing to execute on offense, with a seven-second violation called on the Swordfish quarterback, Ramblings quickly took it to the end zone with a Reef Marin score, advancing the score to 26-0.
Rays Ramblings’ Reef Marin made four receptions for three receiving touchdowns. Teammate Kellan Hunt caught the fourth scoring pass by quarterback Jack McCarthy.
Joseph Bramurov scored the only rushing TD for Rays Ramblings. Rounding out the team win, Ismael Garcia and Drew Buky made huge catches to help the squad move the football down the field into scoring position.
Buky had two extra-point catches in the game, with an additional point conversion reception by Hunt.
In the second half of the game, Swordfish Grill skillfully put eight points on the board with a rushing touchdown by Dylan Sato. Sato’s teammate Nixon Connor sacked Ramblings quarterback giving the team a safety and two points in the game.
Rounding out the Swordfish statistics were catches by Cale Rudacille, Troy Jones and Colin Bankert, adding to the receptions by Connor and Sato.
I’ve talked many times in this space about getting a mortgage for a home and how it is one of the most stressful aspects of purchasing. Many people don’t have the time to contact numerous lenders and comb through the details when shopping around and choose instead to go to a mortgage broker for help. But what do they really do and how much does it cost?
Mortgage brokers are licensed in the state of Florida and most states as well. They are financial professionals who act as the bridge between borrowers and lenders. They originate loans and help you connect with a variety of lenders who best fit your financial situation. Working directly with a bank will not give borrowers any flexibility in rates or loan requirements, however, mortgage brokers can offer buyers products of many banks and many more options. This is particularly important for buyers who may not have perfect credit scores and have small down payments.
In addition, mortgage brokers coordinate and manage paperwork and typically close a home loan faster than a traditional bank. They work in cooperation with real estate agents, underwriters, lenders, title companies and attorneys. They are part of the closing team and are trained to anticipate glitches and troubleshoot problems standing in the way of a closing.
There are disadvantages to using a mortgage broker. Since they are motivated to close as many properties as possible, keeping up with the hands-on service can be a challenge for them. It’s critical that you choose a broker who comes with a good recommendation from a friend, family member or real estate professional who has had recent transactions with the broker. Also, you must feel comfortable with the mortgage broker and feel you can tell them anything since you are essentially telling them everything about your personal finances.
Mortgage brokers are paid by commission by either the borrower or the lender. The fee is typically 1% or 2% of the total loan amount and usually is rolled into the loan in the case of a no-cost loan. However, be alert since rolling in the mortgage broker origination fee could result in a higher interest rate. The other option is to pay a loan origination fee to the broker separately, again 1% to 2% of the loan amount.
Mortgage brokers are required to disclose all fees up front and can charge only that disclosed fee amount. Further, each fee should be itemized, and the broker should be ready to tell you, the borrower, exactly what each fee was for. Mortgage brokers, like real estate brokers, do not get paid unless there are a closed loan and a closed transaction regardless of how much work they do prior to closing.
After the financial crisis, the Dodd-Frank Act restructured how mortgage brokers get paid. Before this legislation came into effect, lenders could compensate mortgage brokers for getting their clients to agree to high-interest rate loans and signing off on costly fees. This left the door open to an unscrupulous loan broker and hidden fees, affecting many inexperienced buyers.
With so many details involved in purchasing a home, working with a competent mortgage broker whom you’re comfortable with can be a good idea to help you get through the process. They could be invaluable in procuring the best loan for your financial situation and taking some of the work off your shoulders.
ANNA MARIA – Carolyne Norwood has been the heart and soul of the Anna Maria Island Historical Society since its beginning in 1990, when she and I came together to found it, encouraged by Mayor Ray Simches.
She guided us through the early years when we had no place to meet until Dr. Henry Stevens offered us his former vet clinic for half the rent. Unfortunately, we had no money, so Carolyne asked Ed Chiles to help us. He became our guardian angel by paying our rent and utilities for the first year.
We set out on our mission to preserve the Island’s history and began collecting photos, documents and artifacts. Soon the building was bursting at the seams.
Carolyne used her powers of persuasion on the city commission, begging them to let us have the old icehouse, which had been used by the Island Turtle Watch. The Privateer’s came with their hammers and muscle and helped gut the building, so we could begin our museum.
That made her happy for a few years, then when we were bursting at the seams once again, she began to eye the public works office adjacent to the museum. She didn’t let up on those poor, unsuspecting city officials until we were moved into that space.
Next came the Remember When dinners. Each had a play with an Island theme – the history of Holmes Beach, the history of the fire district, the history of the Island school, to name a few. Carolyne penned the plays, marshaled the actors and buttonholed volunteers to make each one a success.
Then she began to dream of a historical complex. She decided that one more building would fit into the park and began to focus her efforts on the old Roser Cottage. Unfortunately, that was not to be, but that didn’t deter her.
She soon found Belle Haven Cottage under threat of demolition, and those poor, unsuspecting city officials, once again, didn’t have a chance. She worked her magic on them until Belle Haven was moved to the site. She made the remodeling project her priority, and Belle Haven was dedicated a little more than three years later.
In 2003, she wrote the Island’s first history book, “The Early Days, 1893 to 1940.” It was a huge success, and in 2010, she completed her second volume of Island history, “Anna Maria Island 1940 to 1970, Tales of Three Cities from Bean Point to Bridge Street.”
The historical society has come from a handful of volunteers with a dream of preserving Island history to become one of the Island’s most cherished institutions. That never would have happened without the dedication, perseverance and love of Carolyne Norwood. She was a great lady and a great friend.
The ringing in of the new year brought in 2020 and a new season of youth flag football at The Center of Anna Maria Island.
In addition to the football clinics for the youngest ballers, the area boys and girls ranging in age between eight and 17 years old officially started another season on the gridiron last week.
Six games were played, with the winners feeling the wind under their wings with excitement and the teams that came up short learning valuable lessons with the sport. With many games left to play, some standouts became apparent.
In the eight-to 10-year old league, HSH’s Connor Samblis and Savanna Coba made huge plays for their team. Samblis with three recorded receptions, two receiving touchdowns and a pick-six to be included with his two passing touchdowns could be noted as the team MVP.
Coba had two receptions including one for a score in the game. Scoring for HSH included touchdowns by Charlie Neri and Lucas Signor.
Team Rays Ramblings worked hard on the field and held their heads up high despite the loss against HSH with two touchdown passes by Jack McCarthy. Reef Marin was credited with receiving touchdowns in the game, along with six catches by Joseph Bramurov.
In Moss Builders’ win against Beach Bums, Gavin Lyssy had two passing touchdowns and a scoring catch of his own. Ewen Cloutier caught the football for three touchdowns and Cyrus Ryan made a two-point conversion reception.
Despite the loss, Beach Bums’ Hayden Eurice had four catches including one putting six points on the scoreboard for his team.
The only 11-13 age group game last week was between Ugly Grouper and Solid Rock Construction. Coming out on top, Solid Rock’s Evan Talucci caught a touchdown pass to help his team with the win.
On the other side of the field, Frankie Coleman scored, while teammate Aiden Templeton had an interception and took it to the end zone for Ugly Grouper.
The Hashmark Sports defense took advantage of a rocky passing game by Ugly Grouper in the 11-14 flag league, with four interceptions for touchdowns. Shawn Balvin, for Hashmark Sports, had a receiving touchdown and a pick-six.
Teammate Nate Costello snagged the reception on defense for two scoring interceptions and an offensive touchdown reception as well. Alex McCauley grabbed the fourth interception taking it down the field for a score for his team. Chance Hayward scored 12 points for Hashmark in the 54-point win with Ian Godefry noted as the quarterback with three touchdown throws.
Defensively Ugly Grouper’s Jonah Durst and Ethan Brown both had interceptions. Kolby Petrin caught five passes with the remaining members of the roster each having at least one catch in the game.
In the final game of the night, MuniPlan took the win spreading the catches among the team from Tuna McCracken, Tyler Brewer and Fisher Dahlman. Brewer also had six catches in the game with one for a touchdown, along with four for Morgan Horesh including an extra point.
Teammate David Daigle was credited with two touchdown catches in the win against Killer Bait.
Killer Bait’s sole touchdown came from a Ben Barreda throw to Jackson Hayes. Hayes had five catches in the game, with four in the books for Silas Banyas.
Sarasota Bay Watch’s “Scallopalooza, It’s Clamtastic!” fundraising event is celebrating its 10th anniversary on Feb. 15, 2020.
SBW’s major fundraiser supports the many projects the organization is involved with including its ongoing shellfish restoration project.
After almost a decade at the Sarasota Yacht Club, this year’s event is moving to a larger banquet venue at Sarasota’s Hyatt Regency. At press time, over 300 participants are signed up for the event. Past events were capped at 200 due to space limitations at the Yacht Club.
Monies raised from past events have paid for the introduction of millions of scallop larvae and adult clams into Sarasota Bay from Bradenton to Sarasota with the hope of repopulating our Bay waters with these once-abundant species.
SBW’s restoration effort is growing exponentially, fueled by the interest and concern of the communities surrounding the Bay as well as the determination of its citizens to be part of the solution. The importance of this work has been made all the clearer from the water quality issues that have been plaguing area waters for years.
Hard-shell clam restoration has proven more suitable than scallops to challenging water quality issues while providing a sustainable approach to improving water quality. Sarasota Bay Watch’s restoration program has gained the attention of scientists and community leaders interested in the benefits of the clam’s natural filtration as well as the army of motivated volunteers that have backed the initiative.
This year the effort has been given a tremendous boost by a generous $106,000 donation from the Charles and Marjory Barancik Foundation. These monies are being used to plant one million clams in Sarasota Bay in 2020.
These million clams can filter huge amounts of water every day helping to clean our Bay waters and reduce excess nutrients that may contribute to red tide. They also provide a food source for a plethora of wildlife.
Our Bay and Gulf waters are the key to our robust economy and provide the environment that attracts people and commerce to this region. Sarasota Bay Watch is committed to protecting and preserving the Bay water and the animals that depend on it. Please, join us to help us raise the funds needed to maintain and drive this vigorous level of restoration.
The Scallopalooza event has enjoyed the continued support of the community, proof that the businesses and inhabitants of Manatee and Sarasota counties care about and are willing to tackle this long-term restoration project. Sarasota Bay Watch was initially formed with the mission of protecting and restoring Sarasota Bay’s ecosystem through community education and citizen participation. The spirit of the mission is reflected in the organization’s slogan, “A healthy Bay is everybody’s business.”
Come and join SBW on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2020, for an evening of camaraderie, great food, music and libations at one of Sarasota’s most spectacular venues. The event kicks off with 6 p.m. cocktails, followed by a silent and live auction. Dinner will be served at 7 p.m. The Sarasota Hyatt Regency is located at 1000 Boulevard of The Arts in Sarasota.
Tickets are $100 per person and tables are $850 for 10 people. Tickets can be purchased online. For additional event information contact Ronda Ryan at rondaryan@sarasotabaywatch.org or call (941) 232-2363.
It’s winter in southwest Florida and although we talk a lot about beach, road and Publix congestion, we really do love visitors to the Island. We, of course, would love them even more if the visitors converted to owners and not just on Anna Maria Island.
Florida and Arizona have built a real estate market catering largely to retirees, specifically baby boomer retirees. As much as we boomers want to continue influencing the culture and finances of the country, we will inevitably pass away. Not only do we have to face death we may also need to face not being able to live in our homes and migrating to family or assisted living facilities.
Now that I’ve completely ruined your day, these numbers will further depress you. According to Zillow, one in eight owner-occupied homes in the U.S., or roughly nine million residences, are set to hit the market from 2017 through 2027. In addition, Zillow calculates that by 2037 one-quarter of the U.S. homes for sale, or roughly 21 million homes, will be vacated by seniors.
This is a lot of real estate and a good percentage of these homes are in over 55 communities where at least one owner needs to meet that age criteria. These communities have been popular with baby boomers for decades. However, the concern is that the next generation of homeowners are not only looking for a different lifestyle but there aren’t even enough of them to fill the vacancies.
In theory, older homeowners are replaced by younger homeowners and the recent lack of available properties to purchase has kept many millennials stuck in rentals, so this should be a good thing. However, in the case of many of the baby boomer properties, the properties are located in areas where younger buyers don’t want to buy. Suburban living is less of a draw than for previous generations and millennials prefer cities and major metropolitan areas. In addition, even generations below the baby boomers who may be in pre-retirement years have little or no interest in living in planned, age-restricted enclaves no matter how great the weather is.
Economists worry about what the impact of unpopular large retirement communities will have on the local economy surrounding these areas. There are some market experts who suggest that a retooling of these communities to make them more attractive to families and lifting the age restrictions could be a better use of these properties down the road. Arizona and Florida are naturally in the crosshairs of potentially having an overabundance of senior housing. Thankfully for us, Florida’s east coast will be harder impacted.
Real estate markets are a balancing act. If one part of the market has a problem, another part may benefit from those problems. For example, the beautiful and exotic state of Hawaii.
Who doesn’t love Hawaii for vacations, but do you want to live there? Apparently lots of people don’t since Hawaii is experiencing the third straight year of negative migration, with the young, highly educated and well-off being the ones most likely to leave.
Hawaii has the highest cost of living in the country, and according to the Tax Foundation, the real value of $100 in Hawaii is $84.39. According to Zillow, the median list price for a house is $630,000 compared with $284,999 for the U.S. as a whole. In Hawaii, gasoline has been as high at $5.00 a gallon and a gallon of milk $7.00. Hawaiians may be going kicking and screaming from their beautiful state but they’re leaving for the same reasons residents of New York, California, Illinois and New Jersey are leaving – taxes, cost of living and public education.
Inevitably, we will see a dramatic change in the real estate market in the near future. Right now, the baby boomers still rule and will for a while.
BRADENTON – The case of the city of Holmes Beach versus beachfront treehouse owners Lynn Tran and Richard Hazen is back in Manatee County Circuit Court.
During a Jan. 7 hearing, Judge Charles Sniffen heard arguments from attorney Randy Mora, representing the city, and attorney Lorraine Novak, representing the Florida Department of Environmental Protection on both organizations’ motions to dismiss. Tran stepped up to the podium to represent herself and Hazen during the proceedings.
Sniffen said that he would review all of the material presented to him before rendering a judgment on the two motions to dismiss. He also said that the city’s motion for sanctions, which was not heard during the hearing, would need to be postponed until he ruled on the city’s motion to dismiss.
Sniffen did grant the city’s motion for judicial notice, which Tran said she had no objection to. By granting the motion for judicial notice, Sniffen is required to take into account all of the previous legal actions and currently pending cases in the treehouse case. Currently, there is one appeal pending in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida and two additional cases pending in Manatee County Circuit Court.
The treehouse case stretches all the way back to when the treehouse was constructed on the beach in front of the Angelinos Sea Lodge in 2011. According to Tran, a complaint was lodged against the construction when the two-story structure was almost completed in November of 2011 and the owners were given 30 days to remove the structure.
The treehouse is built on Tran and Hazen’s property but within the boundaries of a setback from the erosion control line. The two-story structure is for the couple’s private use and is built partially in a large Australian pine with pilings made to look like tree trunks for additional support. One of the pending cases concerns the property owners’ rights regarding construction within the erosion control line setback.
Tran said the couple spent approximately $20,000 to build the treehouse. Now the couple is facing several times that amount in legal fees and code enforcement violation fees of $50 per day that have been accumulating since mid-2013. During the Jan. 7 hearing, she said that she was representing herself and Hazen due to financial constraints.
Even if Sniffen comes back with a ruling in the city’s favor, Mora acknowledged that the fight to either save or remove the treehouse is still far from over considering the other pending litigation, including whether or not the court will order the removal of the treehouse from its Australian pine perch.
You don’t have to have a boat to get to some of this winter’s best fishing. Bridges, docks and piers provide anglers who don’t have a boat or don’t want to bother with one some excellent fishing opportunities.
Besides being a convenient access point over the water, their structure provides the perfect habitat for fish. A large variety of small baitfish, crabs, barnacles and other crustaceans call these pilings home and provide gamefish a refuge and an ambush point for feeding. The bridges that span the local passes are natural corridors for fish like pompano, Spanish mackerel, ladyfish and bluefish. These species migrate from the gulf to the local bays, feeding around the bridge pilings and fenders. Action on one species or another can be found year-round around local structures. That doesn’t mean that they are for shore-bound anglers only because boaters will find them a great place to fish too.
There are ways to rig your line that allow you to deal with any tidal stages you encounter while fishing from bridges. – Rusty Chinnis | Sun
The old saying that the best time to go fishing is any time you can is a good one to follow. However, if you have the luxury of picking your time and tide, a morning incoming tide on bridges that span the passes is hard to beat. The second best time would be a late outgoing tide. Timing your trip to coincide with the beginning or end of the tide cycle will make it easier to deal with the often strong currents that course through the passes. That doesn’t mean you’re restricted to those times and there are ways to rig that will allow you to deal with any tidal stage. Many docks and piers don’t as strong a tidal flow but look for times when the water is moving.
When fishing the bridges, a medium weight spinning outfit is perfect. At least, depending on the species you’re targeting, a 10- to 12-pound outfit is recommended since you’ll have to hoist your catch from the water to the bridge. There are special nets available that can be lowered to help with this operation, but it is one more piece of equipment you’ll have to transport. With most catches a careful hand over hand retrieve will work just fine and your mobility will not be restricted. You can go lighter when fishing docks and piers but you’ll need to be able to control your catch when they get near the pilings.
Depending on your quarry, a few lures will suffice. Live bait is another option, but keeping it alive poses some problems. Swimming and diving plugs are effective but I prefer to shy away from treble hooks. One of the most effective lures is the jig. When the current isn’t particularly strong a jig tied directly to a 30-pound section of leader will work perfectly.
If the tide is strong, when fishing in or near passes, a weight will help get the lure down in the water column where most of the action occurs. To keep the weight from interfering with the jig, tie a section of 40-pound leader with a sliding egg sinker between two small swivels. Then add your leader and jig below. This rig can be also be used to get lures or live bait to the bottom. Another advantage of this rig is that as it is being worked across the bottom it sends up a small puff of sand that attracts predators like pompano.
Some anglers tie a short section of leader from the jig to a smaller jig of fly. One of the advantages to fishing from a bridge is the ability to easily move from one spot to another. This allows the angler to try near the pilings, on the edges of the channel, tide lines and areas where striking fish might be found.
If the action is slow or you’re exploring a bridge and pass for the first time, work both sides of the bridge. Vary your retrieve, working the lure fast and slow, exploring the water column. With obvious differences, the same applies to docks and piers.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish, two common species that frequent local bridges have sharp teeth and can cut through monofilament leaders. There are two options to protect your lure. One is to use a short strand of wire leader. The other is to use long-shanked hooks. A wire can keep fish from biting if the water is clear but you’ll lose a few rigs if you fish without it.
Whatever your fishing style, don’t pass up a trip to local bridges, piers and docks. The action can be spectacular and the effort required is far less than an outing in a boat. Anglers should be vigilant of the traffic when fishing bridges and always remember to look behind before casting. Some good locations to target include Longboat Pass, the Rod & Reel Pier, the Bradenton Beach Pier, the Anna Maria City Pier and the Manatee and Cortez bridges.
There’s no doubt how much Anna Maria Island has changed over the past 25 years since I found the Island. One might say it’s gone from shabby chic to polished coastal, but has it also gone from Old Florida to upscale Florida pretending to be Old Florida.
Last month the Island, or at least Holmes Beach, had another “best of” rankings bestowed on them. This time it was from Trip Advisor who picked the top seven “delightfully low-key Florida beach towns you might not know about.” Well if they didn’t know about it before they sure know about it now. Just what we need, more cars on the Island. On the other hand, for people who own property on the Island and want to generate some profit, this may be the right time if you follow a few simple rules.
There are lots of ways to get your property out there if you’re considering rentals, VRBO, Airbnb, the new Marriott Homes & Villas and of course, traditional Island real estate companies.
Starting with a great location is key and the Island has a multitude of great locations. Properties closer to the beach always rent for more but it’s hard to find anywhere on Anna Maria Island that’s undesirable.
Next is the number of bedrooms, the more the better. If there is any way to turn available space like an office or storage room into another bedroom it will make your rental more attractive. Also, remember the children and furnish the property with sturdy and well-built trendy furniture that is washable and somewhat indestructible. Leave the Chippendale in storage.
Provide big sectional sofas and seating areas for everyone to get cozy on, and also a large enough dining table for the maximum number of guests allowed. Add some beach essentials like beach chairs, beach toys, beach carts and maybe even paddleboards. If you have a pool having a floating chair with a drink holder could seal the deal. A gas grill is also appreciated by renters as are ping pong tables, bikes, games and restaurant recommendations. Towels, including beach and bedding that are not expensive but in good condition, are essential. No one likes a dingy towel. Don’t forget toilet paper, paper towels, bath soap and dishwasher soap, providing at least enough to get started if it’s a long-term rental and enough to get short-term renters through to the end.
Leaving a complimentary bottle of wine and some welcome cheese and crackers is a nice touch that people don’t forget. And don’t be afraid to decorate with some cute and beachy stuff. I read somewhere it’s a good idea to have a plaque made with the name of your rental placed in a position where renters might take a picture, free advertising when they show their vacation photos to friends.
The bottom line is to create a space that you would like to spend time in.
Trip Advisor loves the slower pace of Holmes Beach and the “Old Florida” vibe without the crowds. But we’re not alone – the other top six low-key Florida destinations include Venice, Cocoa Beach, Englewood, Daytona Beach Shores, Lauderdale By The Sea and Longboat Key. I’m not sure if Longboat Key residents would agree with the “Old Florida” characterization, but polished coastal does fit.
There’s no argument that Anna Maria Island is one of the most beautiful beachfront communities in the country and to people coming here for the first time it still epitomizes Old Florida. So, if you’re considering using your home as a rental there certainly is a thriving market. Old or upscale, it’s still the tops.
BRADENTON – Locals know that trash gets left behind on local beaches and washes up onshore, but artist Wendell Graham has completed a new sculpture that she hopes will be a teaching tool to illustrate just how much stuff is abandoned on our shorelines.
Trash the Turtle, a sculpture of a loggerhead turtle, was created by Graham using trash and abandoned items left on Longboat Key beaches.
“He’s a plastic-back,” Graham joked while discussing the species of her turtle sculpture. “He has his own personality.”
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Artist Wendell Graham talks about her sculpture “Trash the Turtle” and how she hopes it will help shed light on the trash left behind on local beaches. – Kristin Swain | Sun
It took more than two months for Graham to create Trash from items collected on the beach by volunteers from the Longboat Key Turtle Watch. Items were collected from the start of sea turtle nesting season in May through September and Graham said after Trash was created, she still had pounds of collected items leftover to recycle.
Items used to create Trash include bottle caps, plastic bottles, detergent bottles, flip flops, a sun hat, baseball caps, cigarette butts, plastic bags, snack wrappers, beer cans, fishing lures, shoes, Styrofoam pieces, rubber gloves, a towel, football, masks, goggles, clothes, beach toys and buoys, among other items. Graham said that about 200 plastic bottles were used to create Trash’s plastron, or underside. Once completed, the Trash sculpture weighs about 20 pounds.
Trash the Turtle’s plastron is made up primarily of plastic bottles. – Kristin Swain | Sun
To create Trash, Graham said she would take buckets of items collected off of the beach by volunteers, soak them in bleach for a few days to sanitize them and then put the turtle together like a jigsaw puzzle. She said she began putting the turtle sculpture together on September 1 and finished it in November. He was debuted at a Longboat Key Turtle Watch event in late November 2019.
“People don’t intentionally leave trash, some do, but very few. They need to be more aware,” Graham said. “There’s no reason why parents can’t pick up children’s toys.”
“It’s just amazing,” she said of the items left behind that were used to help build Trash.
Now, Graham says Trash is ready to be put on display and used as a teaching tool for the public. Any proceeds that she earns from the display of the sculpture she said she plans to donate to Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring and Longboat Key Turtle Watch to help fund their continued efforts to protect local wildlife.
Trash the Turtle’s face is made from an abandoned sun hat while his jellyfish snack is made of plastic left on the beach. – Kristin Swain | Sun
“I’d like to do a Tour de Trash,” she said. Graham added that she would like to see the sculpture shown to children in a learning environment where they can discuss what items they can identify on the turtle sculpture. Her hope is that Trash the Turtle will start a discussion among viewers young and old and help make people more aware of what they’re leaving behind when they leave the water or the beach.
“He’s a great teaching tool,” she said. “To see him in a picture is nothing like seeing him in person.”
Her hope, Graham said, is that when people see the sculpture, they’ll not only see the art but also the trash that was used to create him and take away something positive from the experience.
“He’s an ambassador, a turtle ambassador, a trash ambassador. That’s Trash,” she said.
To inquire about viewing or displaying Trash the Turtle, contact Graham at turtletrashartsculpture@gmail.com. Trash the Turtle’s adventures continue online in his blog.
HOLMES BEACH – Part-time Holmes Beach residents Dorene Collier and AJ LeBlanc wonder if a small meteorite or some other falling object started a small fire in the backyard of Collier’s home on 84th Street Friday night.
Collier and LeBlanc were in Tampa when the Friday, Jan. 3 fire occurred.
“We were getting ready for a renter to come in for a few months. We pressure-washed everything that day and everything was wet, so it doesn’t seem like it was started by any kind of brush fire,” Collier said when speaking by telephone from Tampa on Saturday afternoon.
Collier’s neighbor, Carol Whitmore, was walking her dog Friday night and reported the fire.
“Our neighbor noticed some kind of fire and the fire department came. They didn’t find any signs of an electrical fire, cigarette butts or firecrackers or anything like that. I asked her to go by this morning and the pictures she sent me show this big hole in the ground,” Collier said.
“It appears that something might have hit from out of the sky and made this hole in the ground that started this fire. I don’t have proof of it, but I’ve eliminated everything else. There was no lightning last night, everything was wet outdoors and nobody was there. It didn’t hurt the house at all. It just made a hole in the ground, lit a piece of the wooden post and broke the fence. It could be something that fell from a plane, but we think it was a meteor because of the hole in the ground and the fire,” Collier said.
Collier said the fire department didn’t find any remnants or residue that suggested a meteorite or a piece of an airplane.
“It could have just burned up when it hit the ground,” Collier said. “Another neighbor of mine came over and said it looked like a sinkhole – so maybe it was something that fell out of the sky.”
On Sunday, Collier spoke with some other neighbors who said the fire might have been caused by a firecracker and the crater might have been dug by the responding firefighters.
“We can’t be sure what it was,” Collier said.
Kwiatkowski said later that firefighters did not dig the hole.
Other observations
“I was walking my dog at about 10 o’clock and all of a sudden I saw flames shooting up in the backyard and they were pretty high. I knew they weren’t home, so I called Chris Rudacille and asked her to come down. By the time Chris got there the flames were small and I called the fire department,” Whitmore said when contacted Saturday evening.
Whitmore said she did not see any flaming objects fall from the sky.
“I asked the firemen what they thought it was. They said they didn’t know, but it was something hot,” Whitmore said. “There’s a big crater I noticed today when Dorene asked me to take those pictures. The hole wasn’t there when they got the place ready for their renters.”
When contacted Saturday evening, West Manatee Fire Rescue Inspector Rodney Kwiatkowski said, “I listened to the call last night, waiting to see if the guys were going to call me out to do an investigation, but they didn’t. There was a small fire next to the shed and it was put out quickly. I spoke with yesterday’s ranking on-scene officer, Captain James Leigh. There was no mention of a meteor or any unidentified falling object when engine 131 showed up and responded to a reported structure fire called in by a neighbor. The fire was relegated to brush and a single sawhorse. It was quickly extinguished with a water extinguisher and soaked with a garden hose,” Kwiatkowski said.
BRADENTON BEACH – A windy, cloudy afternoon didn’t stop the father-son team of David and David Wolff from coming out to the dock behind the Bridge Tender Inn Dec. 20 to install four mini reefs as a part of The Center’s Go Green initiative.
The four reefs were only a part of the six reefs purchased by the Bridge Tender’s owner, Fred Bartizal, who purchased two additional reefs to be placed in the water near his home.
In a statement emailed to The Sun, Bartizal said, “The Bridge Tender Inn takes great pride in going green. Everyone should be doing it; it is essential for the earth and future generations.” He added that the restaurant participates in recycling and is switching over to biodegradable napkins, straws, cutlery and to-go containers.
David Wolff Jr. carries two of the mini reefs down the dock to be installed at the Bridge Tender Inn. – Kristin Swain | Sun
The mini reefs, the brainchild of David Wolff of Ocean Habitats LLC, are made almost exclusively of sustainable materials designed to hold around 150 pounds with a lifespan of 10-15 years. The reefs are installed underneath docks, attached by floating marine ropes, and bob just underneath the surface where they provide a home for fish and other marine life. Ocean Habitat’s mini reefs can be used in salt and brackish water. They filter over 30,000 gallons of water per day and can provide a nursery home for fish and crabs, producing around 300 fish per year and 200 crabs per year.
Wolff said the idea for the reefs came out of a college research project. Once he shrunk the initial reef down to its current 24x36x24 inch size and rethought all of the materials with longevity and sustainability in mind, he developed the current mini reef and a fish crib to be used in freshwater lakes and ponds.
Though the mini reefs are available through the Ocean Habitats website, they’re also available through The Center of Anna Maria Island at a discounted price, including installation.
David Wolff Jr. secures two of the mini reefs underneath the dock at The Bridge Tender Inn. – Kristin Swain | Sun
The reefs are being made available as a part of The Center’s Go Green campaign, encouraging community members to live a more sustainable life while also supporting the nonprofit. Each reef can be purchased for $350 with $150 going to support The Center’s annual fund. Through Jan. 15, a private donor is sponsoring a donation match up to $130,000, so any reefs purchased by the deadline produces an additional $150 donation for a total of $300 back to The Center.
Center Director of Development Jim McDaniel said that as of Dec. 20, 52 mini reefs had been purchased and were planned to be installed around Anna Maria Island by the New Year. He said an additional four were in-process. The goal, he said, is to not only see what kind of positive impact these mini reefs can have on local waters but also to see how many new donors will come forward to help out The Center.
Once all of the reefs are installed, McDaniel said The Center plans to create a map of the reef locations and hopefully will be able to use the project for research purposes in the future.
For people who want a different, but still tangible, way to support The Center, there’s the Giving Reef, located in the nonprofit’s lobby. For the Giving Reef, program directors priced and placed tags with items needed, from soccer balls to new fitness equipment, on the reef. Anyone can come in, find something that they feel passionate about supporting or that fits into their budget and provide the funds to purchase that item. McDaniel said that items range from about $130 to $3,500 and are all currently included in The Center’s budget. By community members purchasing those items, those budgeted funds can go back into the annual fund for use in other areas or for saving for the future of the nonprofit.
For more information on the mini reefs and the Giving Reef, visit The Center online.
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