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Pier design conflict being addressed

Pier design conflict being addressed

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

ANNA MARIA – Mayor Dan Murphy is working to resolve the design conflicts recently discovered between the architect, Barron Schimberg, who designed the new pier buildings and the engineering firm, Ayres Associates, that designed and engineered the new city pier.

The design conflict pertains to the pitch of the new pier’s T-end decking for drainage purposes.

I+iconSoutheast built the pier walkway and support structure for the T-end decking, restaurant and bait shop.

Mason Martin Builders is building the exterior shells of the new pier buildings.

On Thursday, Oct. 31, Murphy met with several representatives to address the design conflict issues

The following day, Murphy sent an e-mail update to city commissioners bringing them up to speed on the results of the meeting. His email stated those who met with the mayor included Lisa Fleming from Ayres Associates, Schimberg, Mason Martin Builders owner Frank Agnelli, Building Official Luke Curtis and Eddie Miller from Infrastructure Solution Services, one of the city’s new city engineering firms.

“All proposed solutions associated with correcting this issue were identified and discussed. Some of the solutions require further details prior to implementation and any changes will be reviewed by our building official to ensure they meet code,” Murphy wrote.

“Another meeting will be held next week to nail down these details and a plan formulated to move forward. I will update you next week at the conclusion of that meeting,” Murphy’s email stated.

When contacted Friday afternoon, Murphy provided additional details.

“Schimberg designed it to be flat and Ayres designed it to be pitched, so there’s a difference of six or seven inches and that has to be compensated for,” Murphy said.

“It’s not a huge problem, but it’s a problem. So, they’re going to have to make some changes to buildings. It doesn’t look like it going be anything astronomical. They need to raise some of the door frames and probably pour concrete and drill a few holes in the platform to enhance the drainage,” Murphy explained.

“The city is not going to pay for any of that since it’s a problem between the design and the plans,” he added.

Murphy noted the new decking to be installed at the T-end of the pier will sit elevated above the concrete platform that serves as the base for the T-end buildings and decking.

Murphy was asked if the issues identified impact the work Mason Martin Builders has already done according to the plans they were provided with.

“Yes, he’s got door frames he’s probably going to have to move. There are other details that are going to have to be worked out. He’s probably going to have to level the flooring in the restaurant. It doesn’t appear to impact the walls at this point. There’s no plan to move any of the walls,” Murphy said.

Murphy was asked if these issues could further delay the anticipated pier opening in early 2020.

“That’s what we’re going to finalize next week. It depends upon the details of some of these things need to be done. I’m going to guess there might be some delay, but at this point, that’s pure speculation on my part,” Murphy said.

Related coverage

Pier issues present additional challenges

Pier lease negotiations remain in flux

Construction begins on pier buildings

Flynn versus Flynn: Battles on The Center pitch continue

Flynn versus Flynn: Battles on The Center pitch continue

Written by Monica Simpson on . Posted in Soccer, Sports.

The historical relationship between team sponsor and owner-player has changed over the last few years as the interest in being a business sponsor at The Center has grown, as has the interest in playing the sports.

In the past, for example, Ryan Moss would always play on team Moss Builders. Tyler Lancaster found himself on the Lancaster Designs roster. Team Sato Real Estate has been captained by Josh Sato or one of the other Sato brothers. The Ross Built squad included Greg Ross.

But times have changed and last week Sean Flynn found himself on the opposite side of the pitch against the team bearing his name, team Flynn Law. Representing MuniPlan, Flynn and his teammates fought hard against his namesake team, ending the night with team MuniPlan’s second loss of the season.

Despite goals by Nathan Kragt, Ashley Friszman and Flynn, Flynn Law dominated the field with goals by Danny Anderson, Zachary Lieb, Chris Scott, Nate Welch and Chris Culhane. Murat Akay was credited with a hat trick in the game along with the 14 incredible saves by goalie Robb Marshall.

The loss put MuniPlan in a three-way tie for fourth place halfway through the season with Ross Built Construction and Moss Builders.

Ross Built took the win 12-5 in the last game of the night against Moss Builders. Even with Jordan DeMers’ 11 saves, Kevin Roman’s four goals in the game were just too much for the Moss team.

Chris Chicaro, Greg Ross and Damir Glavin each put up two points in the game, with singles by Connor Bystrom and John Coleman for the win.

Mark Rudacille, Ross’ goalkeeper, had nine saves in the game with another three by Max Gazzo.

On the other side of the field, Moss Builders’ Gerardo Urbiola was the high scorer with three shots hitting the net. Eliza Faillice got two of her own and team captain Keith Mahoney scored one goal.

The second game of the night pitted Vacasa against Vintage Beach. The relatively young Vintage team pulled out the win 6-4 against the veteran Vacasa crew.

Vacasa’s Stetson Mathews lead his team in scoring with three goals to be paired with the single point by Eric Pullen.

Joseph Hutchison, team captain for Vintage Beach, put a point up on the scoreboard, along with Clancy Vaughn. Cody Wright and Zach Reda each eluded Trey Horne, Vacasa’s keeper, twice.

Playing without captain and field powerhouse Josh Sato, team Sato Real Estate only scored one goal shot by Olaf Krause.

The Blalock Walters’ defense, including the goalkeeping skills of Luke Grady, kept league high scorer Amy Ivin pretty well contained, preventing her from finding the net.

In the win, Matt Staggs, Greg DeMuse and Robbie Fellowes each scored a goal for the Blalock team, which put that team in first place at the mid-season point with a record of 3-0-1.

Related coverage

Vacasa and Lancaster Designs fall to MuniPlan

Former Island coach named to Hall of Fame

Big kids play the field: Fall adult soccer season kicks off

Castles in the Sand

Are condos the future of housing?

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

In case you haven’t noticed, interest rates are low, real low. Most rates for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage are hovering around 4% based on credit scores and income to loan ratios. In spite of this, condo financing has always been somewhat of a poor stepchild to single-family home financing. New condo construction loans have been especially vulnerable to government regulations, but now The Federal Housing Administration has issued some new guidelines making available more advantageous condo financing programs.

FHA is trying to be more responsive to market conditions as well as accepting that condo units are being viewed more broadly as a way to provide affordable housing in many markets. Generally, single-family homes may not be accessible for first-time buyers and others who are trying to gain access to homeownership and condos nicely fill that need.

The new regulations are geared for new condo construction primarily but will also have an effect on the availability of condos for first-time buyers. Among other changes is one that has been a big issue for condo builders and that’s the owner-occupancy rate. The new FHA regulations have lowered the number of owner-occupancy rates as low as 35% from 50% before individuals can qualify for financing in new condo construction.

Condos are a big deal in Florida and in Manatee County. Although the number of condo sales was down in September for Manatee County, the sale prices were up, so let’s take a look at the county overall:

In September Manatee County closed 15.2% more single-family homes than last September. The median selling price for single-family was $315,000, 6.8% higher than last September. The average sale price was $381,577, 9.6% higher than last year.

Condo sales in September were down 8.6%, but the median sale price was up 6.7% to $199,000 and the average sale price was also up by 16.1% to $244,587. Both single-family and condos are low in inventory with the single-family home months supply at 3.3 months and condo months supply at 3.8 months. As a reminder, 5.5 months supply is the benchmark for a balanced market.

Sarasota County is also showing some increases in sales and pricing for single-family and condos. The median sale price for single-family in Sarasota increased by 6.4% to $298,000 and for condos, the median price decreased slightly by 1.8% to $232,000.

Statewide single-family homes reached a median of $265,000, an increase of 5.3%, and an average of $339,862, an increase of 4.9%. Condos statewide also increased with the median selling price at $193,000, a 5.8% increase, and an average of $261,532, a 1.3% increase.

All county and statewide statistics are from the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee website.

Evidence continues to mount that condo sales will play a more significant role in the mortgage origination market in the next few years, according to CoreLogic. With a flood of millennials and other first-time homebuyers expected to soon enter the market for affordable housing, CoreLogic foresees a rising demand for condos in the near future.

Millennials aside, Florida is a hot market not only for retirees but homeowners relocating to a tax-friendly state with a lot of new construction and fundamentally great weather. But if you’re starting to think of relocating to the Sunshine State, you better get moving. Inventory is low, prices are high and interest rates are still historically low. Come on down!

More Castles in the Sand:

The ghosts of real estate

You found the perfect house; now what?

Is homeownership threatened?

Pier issues present additional challenges

Pier issues present additional challenges

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

ANNA MARIA – Mayor Dan Murphy will seek city commission authorization to prepare a request for proposals (RFP) for the potential lease of the city-owned restaurant and bait shop buildings being built on the new City Pier.

On Oct. 24, Murphy told the city commission that on Nov. 14 he would formally request authorization to prepare a pier lease RFP as part of the city’s ongoing efforts to secure a pier tenant.

In late September, Murphy emailed current pier tenant Mario Schoenfelder two options for a new 10-year lease.

Murphy proposed either an initial base rent of $21,600 per month or an initial base rent of $18,900 per month with an additional $250,000 up-front payment due upon signing.

Schoenfelder rejected those proposed terms and referred to his own previous offer to pay the city a base rent of $12,000 per month. Schoenfelder’s current lease expires in December 2020.

“His final offer is due to the city by December 13,” Murphy told the commission. “In case Mr. Schoenfelder’s offer is in fact rejected, I want to be prepared to quickly issue this RFP.”

Later in the week, Murphy was asked about the RFP process that could ensue if the commission rejects Schoenfelder’s final pier lease offer.

“Mario could bid it on it, as well as anyone else interested in having a restaurant on our pier if the commission authorizes putting it out for bid if Mario’s final offer doesn’t meet the needs of the city,” Murphy said.

“If it’s not in the best interest of the city, the commission could decide not to open a restaurant and use the space for other purposes. The city needs to get some sort of return on its investment over a 10-year span,” Murphy said.

Design conflict

During last week’s meeting, Murphy said a design conflict has arisen between the architect, Barron Schimberg, who designed the new pier buildings and the engineering firm, Ayres Associates, that designed and engineered the new pier.

“I have a meeting tomorrow to get to the bottom of all of that, to see exactly where the responsibility lies, as well as the scope of any delay it may cause us,” Murphy told the commission.

“Hopefully it will be a minor issue,” he added, noting that he would not publicly speculate on the exact nature of the design conflict.

On Friday, Oct. 25, Murphy issued an email stating his meeting with the architect and the engineers was delayed until Thursday, Oct. 31 because one of the parties was unavailable.

“We’ve got a plan to address any issues and I’m still investigating this,” Murphy said on Friday.

Interior build-out

During last week’s meeting, Murphy announced that Mason Martin Builders, the firm constructing the new pier buildings, has retracted its option to complete the interior build-out of those structures.

That decision came in the wake of a recent email exchange between Murphy and Schoenfelder in which Schoenfelder said he felt he was being forced to use the city’s contractor of choice to complete the interior build-outs of the spaces he hoped to lease.

Murphy told Schoenfelder he would not be obligated to use the city’s contractor for the interior build-outs and was free to get estimates from other contractors even though that could further delay the opening of the restaurant and bait shop in 2020.

Related coverage

Pier lease negotiations remain in flux

Commission clarifies pier lease parameters

Pier lease talks gain momentum

Former Island coach named to Hall of Fame

Former Island coach named to Hall of Fame

Written by Monica Simpson on . Posted in Sports.

Family legacy does not make one a Hall-of-Famer. Hard work, sacrifice, dedication and success paves the way to the accolade.

Will “Scheny” Schenerlein, former recreation director at The Center of Anna Maria Island, recently received such top honors.

As a former wrestler and coach, Scheny, originally from Parkersburg, West Virginia, received an official notification on Sept. 3 that he was named to the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. His contributions to the sport not only as an athlete but also as a leader, teacher, coach and mentor set his place in the permanent history of the sport.

His wrestling career, including that of a competitive wrestler into his 30s, ended as he got older and the years of experience in the sport took its toll on him physically.

Scheny moved his family to Anna Maria Island in 2013 and he worked at The Center for several years before moving on to be a world history, sociology and psychology teacher at Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School in Sarasota.

As a coach and teacher, Scheny’s childhood dreams came true.

Starting his wrestling career at the age of seven, Scheny knows what it is like to be young and training for the competitive world of wrestling. While at The Center, he took his experience as a wrestler and coach to the mats at the community center with the Island youth.

Influenced by both of his older brothers, Bob and Scott, Scheny was inspired to make a name for himself and impact the lives of countless wrestlers. As a child, his biggest inspiration was his high school coach, Joe Handlan. Later down the road, the wrestlers he had the pleasure and honor to coach became Scheny’s inspiration.

Schenerlein notes that he has “… always wanted to be a coach … [I] had great coaches at all levels as role models and was an assistant [coach] under great leaders as well.”

Despite knee, hip and neck injuries over the years, nothing kept Scheny from the sport. Over the many years, a number of the wrestlers coached under Scheny went on to college and beyond. A number of them became coaches themselves.

During his career, he coached three national champions, 14 All-Americans and NCAA All-Americans, as well as 25 state champions, four state championship teams, and five national teams ranked in the top 20.

Scheny sincerely notes, “… if it wasn’t for all the people in my life, especially the kids I coached, I would be nothing. I love them all like my own and they know it.”

His influences on the mat and in the gym with his athletes led him to be previously named by USA Wrestling as the National Coach of the Year, as well as this year’s induction into the Hall of Fame.

Scheny states fondly, “I still receive notes from former wrestlers thanking me for being a positive role model in their lives.”

The only regret in the sport that he has is ending his high level-coaching career early to pursue other interests.

Working at The Center gave Scheny the opportunity to start coaching again. With the kids at the community center, he groomed many boys and girls for local competition. Witnessing the little wrestlers develop as athletes and individuals and watching their skills improve added to his proudest and most memorable wrestling moments.

Scheny holds his parents as his biggest supporters and positive influences during his wrestling career. As a coach at The Center, he had the opportunity to not only coach local kids in the sport he loves, but also his oldest son Harrison – continuing the family legacy.

While Scheny does hope his sons follow his footsteps, he is supportive in all of their activities. Harrison continues to wrestle and Scheny believes his youngest child, Bodie, has the build and personality to be successful in the sport.

Through all of the sacrifices made during his career, including fighting through injuries and preparing for meets by spending many nights alone “cutting weight,” Scheny says he would without a doubt do it all over again.

Lee Roy Smith, executive director of the Hall of Fame and Museum, noted in his letter to Scheny, “This award acknowledges that [his] life has been significant and [he] is leaving behind a legacy that others admire.” Smith goes on to say Scheny has “… a special place in the heritage of the sport …”

Scheny was recently formally presented with the Hall of Fame honors and recognized at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

He believes, “There is not a better sport to teach character, self-discipline, loyalty, respect, or honor than wrestling.”

Schenerlein truly believes, “Once you have wrestled, everything else in life is easy!”

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Vacasa and Lancaster Designs fall to MuniPlan

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Vacasa and Lancaster Designs fall to MuniPlan

Vacasa and Lancaster Designs fall to MuniPlan

Written by Monica Simpson on . Posted in Soccer, Sports.

Week two of the adult co-ed soccer season saw back-to-back night action on The Center’s pitch. Sato Real Estate and MuniPlan were the only two teams to capture two wins in the week.

Sato Real Estate, currently undefeated with a record of 3-0, is followed closely by the powerhouse Blalock Walters team. Moss Builders and MuniPlan round out the leaderboard with records of 2-1.

Winning both of their games last week was critical for the start of the season for MuniPlan.

Coming off of a loss last week, MuniPlan came on the field looking for their first win of the season. Despite Vacasa’s Trey Horne’s 11 saves, the team could not find the net enough times, losing to MuniPlan 2-4, with Jessica Williams scoring the only goals for her team.

MuniPlan started to gel as a team last Wednesday night against Vacasa with single goals by Nathan Kragt and Ryan Hogan. Teammate Sean Flynn, co-founder of Flynn Law, P.A., scored the other two goals in the game for the win.

Without the number one pick Kragt and one of last season’s high scorers Ashley Friszman, the MuniPlan squad handily took on team Lancaster Designs, with late add-on goalkeeper Edgar Bartolon who had 15 saves in Thursday night’s game.

Team MuniPlan utilized the goalkeeping skills of three of their players, Ben Sato, Flynn and Mark Long, who are versatile enough to make a difference in goal and on the field.

The MuniPlan team also spread the joy in goal scoring with Flynn, Hogan and Steve Oelfke, credited with single goals each. Sato and Zach Long, brother of Mark, both had two goals in the game.

Scoring Thursday night for Lancaster Design was limited to Juan Carlos and Rico Beissert, who played goalie last week for his team.

Sato Real Estate’s Amy Ivin scored five goals in Wednesday night’s game against Moss Builders. Connor Bystrom got a hat trick for Ross Built Construction, along with three goals for Flynn Law’s Chris Scott, returning to the league this season after an injury.

Thursday night Moss Builders’ Keith Mahoney and Gerardo Urbiola both had three goals contributing to their team’s win. Vintage Beach’s Joseph Hutchinson found the net three times against Blalock Walters.

League high scorer Ivin, with a total of 11 goals in the first three games, capped off the night with three more goals for the week, showing why she is the top female pick in the league season after season.

Related coverage

Big kids play the field: Fall adult soccer season kicks off

HSH Designs’ kiddos remain undefeated on the pitch

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Reel Time: Autres poisson

Reel Time: Autres poisson

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

When you read about fly fishing in the Georgia mountains, the story usually centers on trout. Whether it’s rainbow trout, brown trout or native brook trout, the narrative either revolves around the fish known as “stockers” or “natives.” The stocked fish are raised in hatcheries and either find their way into public streams or private waters. The so-called natives, small rainbow trout and brook trout, reside in the “high” mountain streams where the water remains cool enough to support them year-round. Of the two, the only true natives are the brook trout that rarely reach 12 inches long.

Anglers that fish these waters have the option to fish the “put and take” trout that are regularly stocked in public streams or pay to fish the “catch and release” private waters that raise impressive double digit “trophy trout.” Over the years I’ve enjoyed some notable days on these North Georgia streams, but recently I’ve been introduced to some of the other local species, including spotted bass, shoal bass, carp and striped bass.

My first introduction to stripers was in the private waters of Unicoi Outfitters in Helen. Last year I fished with owner Jimmy Harris and Georgia fisheries biologist Jeff Durniak and caught a 9-pound striper on a 7-weight outfit. Those fish had migrated from Lake Lanier and reached the dam at Nora Mills in record numbers bolstered by high water from an unusually wet winter season. That was followed by a trip to the “lower” Chattahoochee with Harris and Capt. Henry Cowen where we sight fished carp.

This year I did a float trip on the Chattahoochee below Helen with Unicoi Outfitters guide and assistant manager Wes McElroy for the aptly-named shoal bass. These hard-fighting fish are closely associated with rocky shoals and are uncommon in other habitats due to their unique spawning requirements. They were only described as a separate species in 1999, having been confused as a sub-species of the red-eyed bass. The four-hour float introduced me to a section of the Chattahoochee that features intermittent rapids interspersed with smooth stretches notable for its scenic beauty and lack of development. McElroy also introduced me to the articulated flies he uses for shoal bass. These segmented flies create incredibly life-like patterns that “swim.” We encountered a number of fish along the river but never managed to “hook up.” Still, the experience was one that I will definitely repeat in the future.

On another day I fished the upper reaches of Lake Lanier near Gainesville, Georgia with Harris and Durniak for striped bass and spotted bass. The stripers in Lake Lanier are the source of the fish caught in the upper reaches of the Chattahoochee where they migrate to “spawn” and feed on a variety of forage fish, crayfish and small trout. We arrived at the lake just before the sun crested the horizon and as we launched the boat we noticed fish rising on a nearby point. It only took two casts before I was hooked up to a spotted bass that put up an admirable fight for its size on an 8-pound spinning tackle.

After making a few more unsuccessful casts we headed south on the lake in search of stripers that reach eye-popping proportions, upwards of 40 pounds, on the lake. This was early in the season for the stripers that are regularly found chasing baitfish on the surface under birds. The combination of an unusually hot and dry summer created water temperatures approaching 70 degrees even though the morning temperature had dipped into the low 40s. We still encountered a few fish on the surface and managed several casts near the breaking fish. This fishing reminded me a lot of the “run and gun” tactics we use locally for little tunny. Unfortunately, the winds picked up early and the fish sounded so we were unable to hook up. While I’ve yet to experience the action that makes this lake a mecca for anglers, I did get enough of a taste to keep me coming back.

Now that I’ve been introduced to some of the area’s “other fish,” I look forward to exploring the resource more fully. If you’re interested in the wide range of angling opportunities in the north Georgia mountains contact Unicoi Outfitters at 706-878-3083 or visit their website. Capt. Henry Cowen can be reached at 678-513-1934 or visit his website.

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Lay-By resort sold to LLC with Nashville ties

Lay-By resort sold to LLC with Nashville ties

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Community News, Holmes Beach.

HOLMES BEACH – The Lay-By resort has been sold to Nashville-based Coasting LLC and there is much speculation as to whether two married country music stars are behind the recent purchase.

The property at 105 White Ave. has long served as a resort for employees of the Norfolk Southern Corporation, including its subsidiary, the Norfolk Southern Railway.

According to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), the property sold for $8.825 million. The warranty deed posted at the Manatee County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller website dated Friday, Oct. 18 also notes the $8.825 million financial consideration.

The deed lists Georgia-based Southern Region Industrial Realty Inc. as the seller. The buyer is listed as Coasting LLC, a Florida limited liability company with a Nashville, Tenn. mailing address.

According to the Florida Division of Corporations website, Coasting LLC filed its articles of organization on Sept. 24. Using a Nashville address, Cheryl S. Harris is listed as Coasting’s manager.

Harris is a partner at O’Neil Hagaman LLC, a Nashville-based business management and consulting firm that is dedicated solely to the entertainment industry, according to its Linkedin page, which also notes that the company’s clients include entertainers, record labels and industry executives. Harris is listed in several trade publications as the business manager for country music artist Garth Brooks.

When contacted on Friday, Oct. 25, Harris declined comment on the Lay-By sale and the parties involved.

CT Corporations Systems in Plantation is listed as the LLC’s registered agent and that Florida firm also declined comment.

As of Friday, Norfolk Southern’s media department had not responded to phone and email inquiries regarding the Lay-By sale.

Famous new owners?

On Friday, Oct. 18, Cindy Quinn, a real estate associate with the RE/MAX Alliance Group in Holmes Beach, commented on the sale on her Facebook page.

“Rumor has it Garth Brooks just purchased the ‘Layby,’ a gulf front 2 acre estate that was used as a retreat for the Norfolk Southern Railroad employees, for $8,825,000 on Anna Maria Island!” her Facebook post said.

When contacted on Friday, Oct. 25, Quinn acknowledged her Facebook post, but said she could not speak on the record about the real estate transaction.

Judie Berger, from the Sarasota-based Premier Sotheby’s International Realty firm, represented the seller and buyer in the Lay-By transaction. On Friday, Oct. 25, Berger was contacted by text message and asked if she could confirm or deny that Brooks and his wife, country music artist Trisha Yearwood, purchased the Lay-By property.

“I must decline comment, I cannot confirm. I worked through out-of-state attorneys and the contract was purchased through an LLC. As far as other agents posting on Facebook, they don’t have any direct knowledge to the sale, so everything is on conjecture,” Berger wrote in her response.

Lay-By resort sold to LLC with Nashville ties
The beachfront Lay-By property includes a swimming pool and tennis courts. – Manatee County Property Appraiser | Submitted

According to the Manatee County Property Appraiser website, the Lay-By property is 1.96 acres, with 9,770 square feet under roof and 8,242 square feet of living/business area.

According to the Realty.com listing, the waterfront resort was built in 1963 and features 14 bedrooms, 14 bathrooms, tennis courts and a swimming pool.

It is not known yet what the new owners plan to do with the property.

Lay-By legacy

As of Friday, the page description for the “Love the Lay By” Facebook page said, “For over 50 years the Lay By has been a place of quiet retreat for NS (Norfolk Southern) employees, retirees and their families. It represents the NS commitment to family as part of our corporate culture, something very rare in today’s corporate numbers only world. Please share your Lay By photos and memories and invite everyone who loves the Lay By to do the same!”

Lay-By resort sold to LLC with Nashville ties
This sign is posted at the rear side of the Lay-By property. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

On Sept. 17, page administrator Jim Horgan wrote: “It looks like the Lay-by closing is scheduled for the end of this month. It has been a wonderful place for many of us and our friends and families. I will keep this group open for anyone who wants to reminisce with photos or stories about the great times spent at the Lay-by.”

On Oct. 19, Cecilia Brown posted this message: “Sadly, layby is officially gone.”

In reply, Rebecca Reeves wrote, “41 years of wonderful memories. I am so sad to not be able to continue this tradition with my family.”

Bayfest 2.0 carries on despite Nestor

Bayfest 2.0 carries on despite Nestor

Written by Tom Vaught on . Posted in Entertainment, Events, Family fun, Festivals.

ANNA MARIA – As the wind whipped across the Island Friday, Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce President Terry Kinder knew that Bayfest, the Chamber’s signature fundraiser, was in jeopardy of missing a year for the first time in its 19-year run.

After a meeting with Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy and representatives from arts and crafts vendors, food vendors and others, the decision was made to hold the event at The Center of Anna Maria Island. Due to space constraints, there were no craft vendors, auto show or kid’s zone, but the adults came out to listen to local musicians and enjoy the food, drinks and company of their fellow islanders indoors, away from the storm.

The majority of musical acts planned for the main stage at Bayfest embraced the new venue, including the popular Dr. Dave Band. Three local restaurants, The Fest, Tortilla Bay and The Ugly Grouper, all stepped up to provide food and drinks for the festivities along with other vendors providing sodas and beer.

The start time of noon allowed some of the water flooding the streets from the passage of Tropical Storm Nestor to drain away and locals and visitors alike came out to The Center to celebrate Bayfest and dance the night away, at least until 9 p.m. Though it wasn’t the Bayfest that locals have come to know and love, it proved that the Island community will come together to support each other against all odds, and that a little rain can’t stop the party on Anna Maria Island.

“Looks like a good crowd, considering all we went through,” said Corinn Tippett, a server at The Feast booth.

Nestor did little damage on the Island and Bayfest went on despite the odds against it. For their part, the members of the Chamber hope to not have to deal with temperamental weather during next year’s festivities and return the fundraiser to its traditional Pine Avenue venue.

“We knew we weren’t going to recover (financially) from this, but we had a one-day liquor license and we had to use it Saturday,” said Kinder. “Perhaps we won’t have to deal with this ever again. At least I hope not.”

WMFR welcomes Rigney, says goodbye to Sousa

WMFR welcomes Rigney, says goodbye to Sousa

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Community News, Featured, West Manatee Fire Rescue.

BRADENTON – It was a day of sadness and celebration Oct. 17 as West Manatee Fire Rescue’s staff said goodbye to retiring Chief Tom Sousa and welcomed new Chief Ben Rigney in a combined retirement and change of command ceremony held at Station 1.

As Sousa passed the ceremonial pike to Rigney, officially passing command of the fire district to his successor, several well-wishers stepped up to the podium to honor both men, including former WMFR Chief Andy Price, WMFR board Chair David Bishop and East Manatee Fire Rescue Chief Lee Whitehurst.

West Manatee Fire Rescue Chief Ben Rigney celebrates his first few moments as the district’s leader with his father, retired North River Fire District Chief Johnny Rigney and his brother, Johnny Rigney Jr. with the Sarasota County Fire Department. – Kristin Swain | Sun

Two of the most poignant moments of the evening were when Rigney’s grandfather, Hugh Holmes, pinned the chief’s badge on his grandson and when, after Sousa gave his final comments as chief, a ceremonial radio call went out announcing his official retirement from the district.

Hugh Holmes pins the chief’s badge on his grandson, new WMFR Chief Ben Rigney. – Kristin Swain | Sun

Price, as the guest speaker for the event, said that he was honored to be included in the ceremony, having known both Sousa and Rigney as well as worked with them for many years. Price retired from WMFR in May 2015.

Once the change of command was completed, Bishop kicked off Sousa’s retirement celebration by thanking Sousa for his 13 years of service to WMFR and recognizing the accomplishments of his 43-year career in the fire service. He ended his comments with a top five list of options for Sousa to explore in his retirement: travel, become an Uber driver, paragliding, become a school crossing guard and, number one, become a professional bicycle helmet model. Sousa’s likeness can be seen modeling a helmet on the side of WMFR’s bicycle rodeo trailer.

Retiring Chief Tom Sousa accepts the golden axe from WMFR board Chair David Bishop in honor of his 43 years of service to not only the district but also to the fire service. – Kristin Swain | Sun

Bishop presented Sousa with a plaque and a golden fire axe on behalf of the district and board recognizing his service to WMFR. Whitehurst, speaking on behalf of the local fire chief’s association, presented Sousa with a certificate and token of appreciation for his work.

Whitehurst said that there are two colors used to recognize those retiring from the fire service based on their years in the service. Because of Sousa’s many years of service, Whitehurst said a white ribbon was added to the colors as a third tier for 30 years or more of service.

Sousa also was presented with a folded American flag.

The dual ceremony ended with Sousa’s final comments, thanking his family for their years of support, and a radio announcement, officially marking his retirement from the fire service. A reception was held afterward with food provided by Mission BBQ.

Related coverage

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Big kids play the field: Fall adult soccer season kicks off

Big kids play the field: Fall adult soccer season kicks off

Written by Monica Simpson on . Posted in Soccer, Sports.

The adult co-ed fall soccer season is underway with the first kickoff between Sato Real Estate and a new sponsor with team Vintage Beach led by team captain Joseph Hutchison.

The game looked like it would be a runaway by Josh Sato’s Sato Real Estate. The Center’s Sports Program Coordinator, Tim Holly, scored the first goal of the season to put Sato’s team up on the scoreboard early.

Holly, who grew up playing sports at the Island’s community center as a youth, was also credited with his own goal, giving Vintage Beach momentum after the 4-0 run by Sato Real Estate.

With additional points on the board by Sato, Nate Talucci, two by newcomer Race Aranda and a hat trick by veteran and top pick female player Amy Ivin, Sato Real Estate eked out the victory with the final score 7-6.

Vintage Beach’s captain had three goals of his own, along with two by league rookie Zach Reda and a solo net shot by Juan Alvarez.

Sato Real Estate’s Olaf Krause was credited with 11 saves as the team’s keeper. Meanwhile on the other side of the field, Vintage spread the defensive duties at goal between Hutchison, Clancy Vaughn, Reda and Cole Peterson, each with saves in the record book.

Ross Built Construction finished their first game of the season looking like one of the teams to beat against team Vacasa.

Vacasa playing without their starting goalkeeper, Trey Horne, Ross Built’s Lexi Sato and Damir Glavan both had three goals in the game, with Kevin Roman finding the net twice and team captain Greg Ross putting up a point of his own. Sato’s goals came in the first five minutes of the game.

Goalie Mark Rudacille stopped 11 shots against him by the Vacasa crew. Captain Stetson Mathews shot a goal for his Vacasa team, along with single goals by Nick Bouchard, Jessica Williams and Lyn Clarke.

The Center’s Associate Director, Connor Haughey, was credited with two goals and two assists in the game for Vacasa, with back-up goalie David Greene making 12 saves in the game.

The strong offensive work by Ross Built Construction gave the team the win with the score 9-6.

The third game of the night was a runaway encounter with Moss Builders coming out on top with seven goals in the game. Keith Mahoney, team captain, had a hat trick to be matched by teammate Gerardo Urbiola. Moss Builders co-owner, Ryan Moss, put up a goal of his own.

The strong Moss Builders’ defense kept the soccer ball away from their goalkeeper, Jordan DeMers, limiting his need to make saves. His eight saves and two misses, with goals by Lancaster Designs’ Miguel Ajoy and Drew Jacobsen, gave Moss Builders the win with the score 7-2.

League favorite Rico Beissert played goalie for Lancaster Designs. Beissert showed everyone why he is just as strong protecting the house, with 14 saves, as he is on the open field.

The standout squad sponsored by Blalock Walters took the final win of the night against team MuniPlan. The team, with a new sponsor to the center, held their own against a faster squad, ending the game with the score 4-2.

Ben Sato and Sean Flynn shared the goalkeeper position for MuniPlan, with nine and six saves, respectively. Flynn was the first to score for his team, to be followed late in the game by a net shot by Nathan Kragt.

League newbie Luke Grady made 11 saves for Blalock Walters to be supported with goals by captain Matt Staggs, Robbie Fellowes and Brooke Capparelli, who also grew up playing sports at The Center for years.

With a bye week, Flynn Law has yet to show everyone their potential in a season that looks to be well-matched leading up to the championship game on Dec. 19.

Related coverage

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Reel Time: A home away from home

Reel Time: A home away from home

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

It never crossed my mind that I might eventually find a place that would start to feel like a home away from home. For most of my adult life, I have been living and working (the dream) on a barrier island, a destination that many of my clients and friends worked their lives to spend the winter months or a week’s vacation. This has been nirvana for a lifelong angler.

For those of us who are lucky enough to live on the coast of southwest Florida, the seasons and the ability to “get away” were sort of reversed. We lived here and longed to escape the hot summers.

Over the years, trips to the west coast and the mountains of Colorado, Wyoming and Montana provided a reprieve from the heat and some excellent fishing opportunities but always seemed a bit far away. Closer to home the mountains of north Georgia became a regular destination, in part because of the ease of access. We could load suitcases, bikes and fishing rods and be there the same day. After a few years of thinking of buying a second home, we found a place to rent in a unique area that’s becoming a sort of home away from home.

A big part of that “home away from home” feeling was occasioned by the friends we’ve made. Recently I had the pleasure of fishing with a longtime friend, Jimmy Harris, owner of Unicoi Outfitters and connecting and fishing with Captain Rex Gudgel. Gudgel, who hails from Athens, Ga., guided for years at Unicoi Outfitters before moving to Englewood, Fla. where he is an FFI Master Fly Casting Instructor and guide. I had met Gudgel years ago but this was the first time we had a chance to spend time on the water together.

We enjoyed a beautiful morning on the Chattahoochee River at Nacoochee Bend, a private section of river that Unicoi Outfitters manages near their shop in Helen. Everyone caught fish that morning and, like me, enjoyed the camaraderie as much as the fishing. We worked the lower section of the river fishing nymphs under indicators on five-weight fly rods. Harris brought a seven-weight outfit and a large streamer for stripers that have invaded the river in the last few years. As luck would have it, the day started off with Gudgel hooking a striper on the trout rig and Harris catching two rainbow trout on the streamer. We ended the morning’s fishing four hours later, everyone having caught fish and reveling in a cool and relaxing streamside experience.

The waters of North Georgia yield a surprising variety of fishing options for fly and conventional anglers as well. From trout streams to beautiful mountain lakes with striped and largemouth bass, opportunities abound. Now, after years of thinking we wanted to buy a “home away from home,” we’ve decided we can have it both ways. As an old friend said, “You don’t have to own it, you just need to have access.” North Georgia has that feel of a “home away from home” but it’s not an either/or decision. All those other wonderful fishing destinations around the world remain in play.

Today, I’m fishing with Unicoi Outfitter’s managers Wes McElroy and Jake Darling. They’re taking me on a float trip on a lower section of the Chattahoochee for shoal bass. This coming week I hope to fish for stripers on Lake Lanier with Harris. But that’s another story.

If you’re interested in fishing North Georgia, contact Unicoi Outfitters at 706-878-3083 or check out their website. Captain Rex Gudgel guides anglers in Charlotte Harbor as well as helping them to improve their casting. He can be reached at 706-254-3504 or check out his website.

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Pier lease negotiations remain in flux

Pier lease negotiations remain in flux

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

ANNA MARIA – City Pier tenant Mario Schoenfelder has rejected Mayor Dan Murphy’s proposed rental rates for the new pier-based restaurant and bait shop currently under construction.

On Sept. 30, Murphy emailed Schoenfelder two options for a new 10-year lease with two five-year extensions. Option 1 proposes a base rent of $21,600 per month, with either a 3% annual increase or an annual adjustment based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Option 2 proposes a base rent of $18,900 per month, a $250,000 up-front payment due upon signing and the same annual 3% increase or CPI adjustment.

Neither base rent option includes the still-undetermined additional rent the tenant will pay for the shared maintenance of the new pier facilities.

On Oct. 4, Schoenfelder sent Murphy an email response that said, “I am sorry, but neither a base rent of $21,600 nor of $18,900 is acceptable for me. Amounts like this would eat up almost my whole expected income and there would be absolutely no room to build financial reserves, which are a must.”

Schoenfelder’s email referenced the lease agreement the Anna Maria Oyster Bar (AMOB) has with the city of Bradenton Beach for the restaurant space at the foot of the Bridge Street Pier. His calculations also took into account two additional spaces AMOB leases from the city and subleases to other tenants.

“You are asking for $259,200/$226,800, that is three to four times the AMOB rent and both restaurants are comparable in size/number of seats. And that’s just the base rent. I am referring to my offer which is $12,000 monthly that is still more than twice what AMOB pays. It does not make sense, at least for me, to offer a rent that cannot be realized by sufficient revenue and income on a sustained basis,” Schoenfelder wrote.

According to the 2015 lease, AMOB agreed to pay the city of Bradenton Beach $32,000 in base rent for the first year, plus 2% of gross revenues. In years two through five, the base rent is $42,000 ($3,500 per month), plus 2% of gross revenues. In 2021, AMOB’s annual base rent will begin increasing by 3% per year.

Current lease

In 2000, Schoenfelder signed the pier lease that required him to pay an initial base rent of $5,000 per month and included pre-determined rent increases every two or three years.

According to that lease, Schoenfelder was paying $9,240 per month in September 2017 when the hurricane-damaged pier and pier buildings were closed. Schoenfelder’s rent payments were then suspended and remain suspended until the new pier facilities are available.

Schoenfelder’s current lease calls for him to pay $10,080 per month from Dec. 16, 2018, until Dec. 15, 2020, when his lease expires.

Murphy recently told the commission he expects the exterior shells of the new bait shop and restaurant buildings to be completed by Mason Martin Builders in January or early February, with the interior build-out of those spaces to follow.

If Schoenfelder and the city cannot agree to a new lease, this could create a potential scenario in which the pier buildings would be available for interior build-out by a tenant who would only have 10 months remaining on his existing lease.

Additional concerns

On Oct. 16, 17 and 18, Murphy and Schoenfelder participated in an email exchange that addressed Schoenfelder’s desire to use a contractor other than Mason Martin Builders for the interior build-outs.

In that exchange, Schoenfelder suggested he was being forced to use the city’s chosen contractor. Murphy countered by stating that Mason Martin is contracted to build the exterior building shells and is not contracted to do the interior build-outs. Both men agreed that using a different contractor for the interior build-out could result in at least four more weeks of additional delays.

In his Oct. 17 email to Murphy, Schoenfelder wrote, “I don’t want to be pushed to make an offer that is not based on reliable facts and I don’t want to be made accountable for the delay created by a contractor the city has chosen. At this point, I cannot provide a new date for presenting my offer.”

In his Oct. 18 response, Murphy wrote, “I strongly recommend that you secure other contractor (or contractors) immediately to provide their estimates as to the costs involved so that you are comfortable with the financials. Accordingly, I would recommend you plan to tender your final offer in eight weeks, by December 13.”

Related coverage

Commission clarifies pier lease parameters

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Castles in the Sand

You found the perfect house; now what?

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

You may think it’s finally over – you found your dream home, your forever home or your long-dreamed-of beach house. But guess what, unless you have lots of cash in your checking account, you will have to apply for a mortgage.

There have been for many, many years two basic types of mortgages, the fixed-rate mortgage and the adjustable-rate mortgage or ARM. The fixed-rate mortgage is just that – your principal and interest payment are fixed for the life of the mortgage or until you sell the property and satisfy the mortgage balance. Fixed-rate mortgages give you a set amount of money every month to budget for and builds equity for a home that you feel will be a long-term purchase. Building equity will also give you the option of refinancing in the future if rates go down possibly resulting in a lower monthly mortgage payment.

Adjustable-rate mortgages are typically a fixed rate for a specific number of years, for example, 5 years, and then are adjusted annually either up or down. Generally, adjustable-rate mortgages start at a lower rate than a fixed rate, but you take the risk of monthly payments increasing substantially as the rates fluctuate after the fixed number of years has been reached.

Adjustable-rate loans could be a good choice if you’re planning on selling your home within a short period of time prior to when the fixed-rate term expires. However, this type of mortgage does not build much, if any, equity, a consideration in a real estate market that may be on the way down.

Whichever type of mortgage you choose, the amount of money you put down will influence the rate you are offered. A 20% or higher down payment will likely provide the best mortgage rates and the most options as well as substantially reducing the risk of the home not appraising.

Putting down between 5% and 19% will put you in the position of having to pay a higher interest rate and/or fees. In addition, lenders most likely will require private mortgage insurance (PMI). Private mortgage insurance is an insurance policy that allows you to make a lower down payment by insuring the lender against loss if you don’t make your mortgage payments. A lower down payment could be a good thing for buyers with little cash or if the home requires work and the cash to do it. PMI payments start going down after equity has built up in the home.

Finally, there are no-down-payment or small-down-payment loan programs which are more expensive but are an alternative. If you or someone in your family are trying to get into a home with little cash, they should research FHA loans or, if qualified, VA loans, both with low down payment options.

Two things you should try and avoid in-home financing are balloon payments and prepayment penalties. Balloon payments are a large payment required usually at the end of the loan repayment period with varying amounts based on the terms of the loan. Prepayment penalties are an amount required if you refinance, pay off your loan early or sell your home. And one nice little trick to help you pay off your mortgage sooner and build equity is to make extra payments during the course of the year.

Once you find the perfect mortgage and get through the mortgage qualifying maze, you’re ready to enjoy your perfect home; I hope for you, it’s the beach house.

More Castles in the Sand:

Is homeownership threatened?

Real estate market disruption

Fee-fi-fo-fum, do I smell a recovery?

Post-Tropical Cyclone Nestor affecting Anna Maria Island

Post-Tropical Cyclone Nestor affects Anna Maria Island

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Community News, Featured, Weather.

Updated Oct. 19, 2019 at 8:35 p.m. – ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Post-Tropical Cyclone Nestor caused high surf, rip currents, wind gusts and flooding today on Anna Maria Island as it churned in the Gulf of Mexico, making landfall in Florida’s Panhandle.

While Polk County to the north experienced a highly-destructive tornado touchdown Friday night, while Nestor was still a tropical storm, Manatee County escaped forecast tornadoes. By Saturday afternoon, couples were strolling the windy beach, walking as far as they could before being stopped by newly-exposed rocks and seawalls. Rip currents persisted all day, moving anchored buoys to new locations, and parents held tight to their children’s hands as they ventured into rushing ankle-deep water in the Gulf.

The National Weather Service has issued a high surf advisory and coastal flood advisory in effect until Sunday, Oct. 20 at 8 a.m.

A tour of the Island late this morning and early this afternoon revealed a little flooding in Bradenton Beach and heavy flooding in areas of Holmes Beach and Anna Maria, making the trip to Bayfest a bit slower for festival-goers. The outdoor Pine Avenue event was moved indoors to The Center of Anna Maria Island due to the inclement weather.

Beach flooding likely inundated the three remaining loggerhead sea turtle nests waiting to hatch on the Island; Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring volunteers will not be able to determine the damage until the weather improves. The nesting season is over, and the hatching season, which may have ended early this weekend, was due to end on Oct. 31.

Some of the most severe flooding occurred along Marina Drive in Holmes Beach and along North Shore Drive in Anna Maria.

Holmes Beach

At 11 a.m. in Holmes Beach, cars were slowing as they passed through high standing water in front of the Island Branch Library and city hall. There was also a lot of standing water behind the library at the south end of Flotilla Drive.

Water behind the Island Branch Library in Holmes Beach this morning was problematic. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

The intersection of Marina Drive and 58th Street, next to the Ugly Grouper, was also flooded, as were the northeast ends of 66th and 67th Streets.

Anna Maria

In Anna Maria, North Shore Drive was heavily flooded from the western end of Bayfront Park to the intersection of Jacaranda Road, but the intersection of North Shore Drive and Alamanda Road was mostly dry and provided full access to the Rod & Reel Pier, which was busy.

Several homes along North Shore Drive had standing water in their yards and near their front doors.

Tropical Storm Nestor brushes AMI
High water from Nestor endangers a home on North Shore Drive in Anna Maria. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Significant flooding occurred at the intersection of Alamanda Road and Gladiolus Street, on portions of Poinsettia Road and on portions of Crescent Drive. There was also some flooding in the Bayfront Park parking lot and the City Pier parking lot.

Bradenton Beach

A trip through Bradenton Beach at approximately 1:30 p.m. revealed minimal standing water along Avenues B and C, although longtime resident Jim Hassett said there was more standing water earlier in the day.

Gulf Drive was mostly dry, except for the flood-prone area along the road by Cortez Beach.

Post-Tropical Cyclone Nestor affecting Anna Maria Island
Twin Piers in Bradenton Beach attracted surfers and boogie boarders today. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

The high surf near the Cortez Beach groins attracted many surfers and boogie boarders who entered the rough seas in hopes of catching a few good waves.

Some of the parking areas at the south end of Coquina Beach were dry, some were covered with shallow standing water and there was significant flooding in one area, across the street from the Manatee County Marine Rescue building.

– Cindy Lane contributed to this report.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5LyrtZ4HYY[/embedyt]

 

Pounding surf generated by Post-Tropical Cyclone Nestor exposed long-covered rocks in Bradenton Beach. - Cindy Lane | Sun

Pounding surf generated by Post-Tropical Cyclone Nestor exposed long-covered rocks in Bradenton Beach. - Cindy Lane | Sun

Nestor brought some water to the site of the Farmer's Market in Anna Maria near the City Pier. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

Nestor brought some water to the site of the Farmer's Market in Anna Maria near the City Pier. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

Post-Tropical Cyclone Nestor caused some beach erosion on Anna Maria Island. - Cindy Lane | Sun

Post-Tropical Cyclone Nestor caused some beach erosion on Anna Maria Island. - Cindy Lane | Sun

Bayfront Park in Anna Maria was affected by the storm. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

Bayfront Park in Anna Maria was affected by the storm. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

High water in the parking lot at Ginny and Jane E's in Anna Maria. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

High water in the parking lot at Ginny and Jane E's in Anna Maria. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

Post-Tropical Cyclone Nestor took so much sand off the beach Friday night and Saturday, the seawall at Seaside Inn Beach Resort in Bradenton Beach was exposed. - Cindy Lane | Sun

Post-Tropical Cyclone Nestor took so much sand off the beach Friday night and Saturday, the seawall at Seaside Inn Beach Resort in Bradenton Beach was exposed. - Cindy Lane | Sun

Water was rising this morning at The Island Branch Library in Holmes Beach. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

Water was rising this morning at The Island Branch Library in Holmes Beach. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

Post-Tropical Cyclone Nestor pushed the Gulf of Mexico right up to the sea oats on Anna Maria Island last night. Sea oats are federally protected because they deter beach erosion. - Cindy Lane | Sun

Post-Tropical Cyclone Nestor pushed the Gulf of Mexico right up to the sea oats on Anna Maria Island last night. Sea oats are federally protected because they deter beach erosion. - Cindy Lane | Sun

Parts of Marina Drive on Anna Maria Island were under a few inches of water. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

Parts of Marina Drive on Anna Maria Island were under a few inches of water. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

The Coquina Beach parking lot was flooded in areas today due to Nestor. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

The Coquina Beach parking lot was flooded in areas today due to Nestor. - Joe Hendricks | Sun