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New Anna Maria noise ordinance in effect

New Anna Maria noise ordinance in effect

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

ANNA MARIA – The city has a newly-amended noise ordinance that now subjects violators to a $35 fine instead of a verbal warning for a first offense.

Increased fines are also now in place for repeat offenses that could also subject vacation rental owners and rental managers to similar citations and fines.

Adopted on final reading on Thursday, Sept. 12, Ordinance 19-851 is accompanied by a city resolution that establishes the fines levied on those who receive noise ordinance violation citations.

The fine for a second noise ordinance violation is now $200, and the fine for a third violation is $500.

Before being amended, Anna Maria’s noise ordinance included a $500 fine for a first offense.

During recent commission discussions, it was noted deputies were hesitant to issue citations that carried such a heavy fine for a first offense.

The $35 first-offense citations will replace the verbal warnings previously issued by deputies. If the responding deputy determines a noise violation has occurred, the violator will be issued a ticket instead of a warning.

If the noise violation occurs at a vacation rental property, the property owner and rental manager will be notified. If a second or third violation occurs with the same guests, the property owner and rental manager could be issued similar citations.

City Attorney Becky Vose said notifying property owners and rental managers of the first noise violation puts them on notice.

“This creates the liability on all these people, but the sheriff’s office, working with the city, will have discretion as to who they will be citing,” Vose told the commission.

These new policies were enacted to better address the small number of vacation rentals in Anna Maria that generate repeat noise complaints.

The fine amounts reset for each new set of vacation rental guests, but issuing citations instead of warnings provides the city with written documentation of the repeat noise violations that occur at a specific property.

A property that receives three noise ordinance citations during a rolling 12-month period could be declared a public nuisance. A vacation rental property that is declared a public nuisance could temporarily or permanently lose its ability to be used in that capacity.

Mayor Dan Murphy said the city has long the ability to declare a property a public nuisance but very few $500 noise ordinance citations have been issued to document that process.

“There’s some places – not many, but a couple that are in fact nuisances. I think the message will be loud and clear with this structure,” Murphy said of the amended noise ordinance.

The escalating fines would also apply to the owner of a permanent residence or a vacation home at which repeat noise violations occur.

Vose said the amended ordinance could also result in fines for those who own vacation homes and allow friends or family members to use their home in a manner that generates repeat noise complaints.

Related coverage

Anna Maria taking new approach to noise violations

Repeat noise violations a lingering concern

Magistrate rules in city’s favor on noise citation

Commission seeks consistent parking restrictions

Commission seeks consistent parking restrictions

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

BRADENTON BEACH – Parking with any tires on the pavement or parking within 15 feet of a stop sign will soon subject drivers to a $50 parking ticket.

The mayor and city commissioners remain divided as to whether parking with a portion of your vehicle hanging over the pavement will also be a finable offense.

These changes to the city’s parking ordinance were discussed at the Tuesday, Sept. 10 commission work meeting. At the commission’s request, City Attorney Ricinda Perry is now drafting ordinance language that incorporates the commission’s requested changes.

Mayor John Chappie and commissioners Ralph Cole, Marilyn Maro and Jake Spooner agree that vehicles should not park with any tires on the road or park within 15 feet of a stop sign. The city’s parking ordinance currently prohibits parking within 10 feet of a stop sign.

Chappie and Maro believe tickets should be issued for parking with a portion of the vehicle hanging over the pavement. Cole and Spooner do not support that position.

Commissioner Randy White will likely cast the tie-breaking vote on vehicle overhang when the ordinance is presented for adoption at two future public hearings. White did not attend the recent work meeting.

Chappie initiated the work meeting discussion and voiced concerns that included too many vehicles being parked at vacation rental homes on the south side of town.

Chappie said his primary concern with vehicles overhanging the pavement pertains primarily to vehicles parked close to an intersection, which impedes the visibility of approaching drivers.

Inconsistent rules

Police Chief Sam Speciale said his officers would enforce whatever changes the commission adopts, but they have to be written in a manner that will hold up if challenged in court.

Speciale said the city’s current parking regulations are inconsistent because they have long differed for the north and south sides of the city due to varying space limitations.

Speciale said there generally isn’t enough space in the rights of way on the south side of the city to park without having at least two tires on the road, but you can be ticketed for doing the same on the north side of town.

Speciale questioned the fairness and consistency of ticketing someone who parks with their tires on the pavement on the north side of the city and does not get ticketed for doing the same on the south side.

The four attending commission members agreed that they want consistency and they seek an ordinance that prohibits parking with tires on the pavement citywide.

Other changes

Other proposed changes include prohibiting parking in a manner that blocks an alley, similar to the existing prohibition on blocking a driveway.

Building Official Steve Gilbert suggested eliminating the wordy ordinance language that pertains to parking at city street ends and allowing street end parking unless a no parking sign prohibits it.

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Anna Maria’s street-side parking switches sides

ITPO members pledge support for smaller bridge

ITPO members pledge support for smaller bridge

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

BRADENTON BEACH – Some of the Island’s elected officials are not letting FDOT replace the aging Cortez Bridge with a 65-foot fixed-span bridge without a fight.

Manatee County Commissioner and long-time Anna Maria Island resident Carol Whitmore appeared before members of the Island Transportation Planning Organization at a Sept. 16 meeting to ask for support in taking a stand against the 65-foot bridge. Though Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy was absent from the meeting, Bradenton Beach Mayor John Chappie and Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth pledged their support in the fight against the fixed-span bridge on behalf of the ITPO. They also agreed to take the topic back to their respective city commissioners to discuss possible city support of the effort.

“I know it can be changed,” Whitmore said of the Florida Department of Transportation decision to replace the aging drawbridge with a 65-foot fixed-span alternative. She added that if the high bridge is built, she feels that it will decimate the character of the historic village of Cortez as well as that of Anna Maria Island.

Whitmore said that she supports the mid-level alternative offered by FDOT in previous presentations to the public – a 45-foot drawbridge that she said would be higher than the current bridge and allow more boat traffic to pass under it without raising the drawbridge as frequently and stopping the flow of vehicular traffic. She also said that because the bridge isn’t as high as the 65-foot alternative, she doesn’t feel that it would damage Cortez and Bradenton Beach like the large bridge would.

“It really isn’t out of our hands,” she said of the design alternatives for the bridge, adding that “no one objects that it needs to be replaced.”

The Cortez Bridge has undergone several repairs over the past few years to help keep it functional, despite the fact that the bridge has outlived its 50-year lifespan. FDOT has secured funding for a design phase, which hasn’t yet begun, and representatives have publicly stated that the fixed-span bridge is the preferred alternative of the three designs presented to the public. No funds have been secured to construct a replacement bridge or to replace the Anna Maria Island Bridge on Manatee Avenue which is also planned to be replaced with a 65-foot fixed-span bridge.

Whitmore said that when FDOT leaders decided to replace the bridge on Manatee Avenue with a high-span bridge it was agreed that there would not be a high-span bridge linking Cortez and Bradenton Beach. Now she said she expects FDOT leadership to honor that agreement. Chappie said that he too remembers that agreement and supports Whitmore’s efforts to fight for the mid-level drawbridge replacement option.

“The high bridge is going to destroy the ambiance of our two communities,” he said.

The Cortez Village Historical Society has long expressed opposition to the high-span bridge, concerned about historical buildings on both sides of Cortez Road being affected by the access roads of the proposed bridge.

“I know in my heart this will be good for the whole area,” Whitmore said of the mid-level bridge.

Whitmore asked for a letter of support from the ITPO as well as for each mayor to speak with their city’s lobbyist about pushing the issue at the state legislative level.

Despite Murphy’s absence, Chappie and Titsworth agreed to move forward with supporting her efforts and speaking with their city commissioners and lobbyists about supporting the mid-level bridge replacement option.

“You either stand for something or you stand for nothing,” Chappie said. “We need to stand in support of this.”

Related coverage

Island bridges, roundabouts on DOT radar

FDOT chooses tall bridge for Cortez

A wake up call on the proposed Cortez Bridge

Gulfview Windows and Doors wins championships

Gulfview Windows and Doors wins championships

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

After a dry spell, one of the Island’s organized sports’ best all-around athletes, Ryan Moss, earned a second championship wearing the Gulfview Windows and Doors logo in the adult co-ed flag football league.

Just a few months ago, Moss, with friend and owner of Gulfview, Jordan DeMers, took home the Paul “Ace” Hayward Cup in adult soccer. The dynamic duo, along with teammates Tyler Lancaster, Brandin Holcomb, Dina Calvary, Jake Parsons, Jason Sato and Justin Greer, finished the regular season at The Center in second place behind Progressive Cabinetry, which lost in the semi-final game against Lancaster Designs.

Just minutes into the game, with the football in hand behind the line of scrimmage, Sato found Moss open for the first touchdown of the game and an extra point catch in the end zone by Calvary.

Playing against the team with his business sponsorship, Lancaster’s speed and agility helped stop Lancaster Designs’ team captain and quarterback Tim Shaughnessy. The hot hands of Holcomb and Jordan gave both Moss and Sato excellent targets with a combined 11 receptions, two for extra points and two touchdown catches for DeMers. Coming off having just played an indoor soccer game and a semi-final flag football game, both Sato and Moss dug deep and found the energy to dominate the throwing game, with Moss’ three touchdown passes and Sato having two of his own.

On the other side of the field, Lancaster Design’s father-son combination of Mike and Tim Shaughnessy hit their intended receiver, Anthony Mannino, for a touchdown pass each. Mannino’s touchdown was the only scoring for regular season fourth-place finishers. The team’s loss was not for the lack of heart or desire to win the matchup.

Lancaster Design’s offense has catching ability, as shown in the game statistics. T. Shaughnessy had six catches of his own, with a close second by Mannino’s five nabs. Karri Stephens was the top receiver of the game, but his efforts were not enough to take his team to the top. Louis Pellegrino and Brianna Roberts each had a single reception, paired with three nice catches for Jay Hoffmeister.

Gulfview’s game on both sides of the football was on point and could not be stopped. The team’s defense rattled the offense of Lancaster Design, including an interception by Holcomb. With momentum, Sato hit Moss a couple of more times with a deep route along the sideline for big yardage gains. Gulfview flipped the action with Moss finding Sato running a wheel route.

Missed flag pulls by Lancaster Design let Sato cross the goal line in the first half of the game.

The ladies of the gridiron, Calvary and Roberts are fierce competitors and stellar players. Both with strong all-around games, the one-on-one coverage and battle between the two veteran players endured the entire game. Knowing the taste of victory, each player having bragging rights to multiple championships, Roberts did not give up points to Calvary at the end of the game despite the point spread. Roberts’ tight coverage of Calvary and ultimate flag pull prevented the point after on the final touchdown of the game, leaving the score 34-12 with just seconds left on the game clock and no chance for Lancaster Designs to come back to take the win.

After Lancaster inadvertently ran over his teammate Calvary, the official called the game granting Gulfview Windows and Doors the championship.

In final adult indoor soccer action, the semifinal games will be played Thursday at 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. The first game puts number one seed Progressive Cabinetry against number five seed Sato Real Estate. Moss Builders, finishing second in the season, plays third-place finishers Ugly Grouper in the second game of the night. The winners face off at a date and time to be determined at The Center.

Related coverage

Adult sports head into the playoffs at The Center

Family and friends on the gridiron: Gulfview bests Moss Builders

Progressive Cabinetry shatters Gulfview Windows and Doors

Reel Time: Spain – Basque Country and Andalusa

Reel Time: Spain – Basque Country and Andalusia

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

For a country that’s smaller geographically than Texas, Spain is diverse in its culture, customs and cuisine.

After exploring the capital Madrid and the ancient city of Toledo, a short flight to San Sebastian on Spain’s northern coast seemed more distant as the autonomous Basque Country is distinct, with its strong cultural traditions, celebrated cuisine and distinct language pre-dating the Romance languages. A vibrant coastal city, San Sebastian is a resort town on the Bay of Biscay that’s celebrated for its picturesque bayfront promenade and beaches lined by world-renowned restaurants.

The cobblestoned old town, Parte Vieja, features a variety of upscale shops and vibrant pintxos bars, or tapas restaurants as they’re known here, that pair local wines with the small portioned regional specialties. We were centrally located in the Old Town in the Pension Iturriza, an intimate accommodation that was just steps away from the harbor, pintxos bars and the picturesque Monte Urgull, a public park that features the remains of fortification that dates back to the 12th century.

The park has many winding trails along the Atlantic Ocean’s rocky coastline and spectacular views of the city and bay from its lofty promontory. The city also has a world renounced film festival and a beach that attracts surfers from around the world. A local square was a wonderful place to people watch and featured a bandstand where musicians entertained tourists as locals participated in traditional Basque dances.

At the suggestion of our hosts Ibon and Miata, we rented a car and drove to the small coastal town of Zumaia that is world-renowned for a geologic formation along its beaches that’s known as the Flysch, the longest set of this particular continuous rock strata in the world. A walk along the beach with its towering cliffs and caves that feature the uplifted layers of sedimentary rocks was truly awe-inspiring.

On the final leg of our trip, we traveled south to Seville in the autonomous region of Andalusia, situated on the southwestern Iberian peninsula, an area rich in a mix of cultures dating from the early Romans. Over the centuries, it was dominated first by the Moors and then Christians. On the first day, we took an electric bike tour with a local company Elecmove that gave us an excellent introduction to the city and lesser know but more authentic enclaves like Triana.

Next week we explore the Giraldi Bell Tower, The Alcazar and the fabulous cuisine of Seville.

More Reel Time:

Reel Time: Spain – Madrid and Toledo

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‘Steel Magnolias’ bleeds Southern charm

‘Steel Magnolias’ bleeds Southern charm

Written by Tom Vaught on . Posted in Entertainment, Theater.

ANNA MARIA – After a champagne party to celebrate the start of the Island Players’ 71st season, the show began for “Steel Magnolias,” a play written by Robert Harling in memory of his sister, who died at an early age.

Anybody who has seen the star-studded 1986 movie might get confused because the opening of the movie had Tom Skerritt using a shotgun to scare away birds in a huge magnolia tree.

That scene was not in the play, but it wasn’t missed. In fact, there were no male roles in the play, but they were not missed either.

The cast was up to the opening performance with great timing on the line delivery, especially the jokes. The Southern accents were believable and Director Mike Lusk did a great job.

The setting is a beauty salon in Chinquapin, Lousiana. Jennifer Kwiatkowski was brilliant as Truvy, the salon’s owner. She “chewed the scenery” when it came to dialogue with punch lines.

Tahlia Chinault, a newcomer to the Island Players, has performed on stages along the Sun Coast. She played the new girl in town, Annell, quite well and was spot-on in playing off the other actors’ lines. She will be replaced by Caitlin Ellis for the second week, but we would love to see her in future plays.

Cathy Hansel-Edgerton played Clairee, a regular customer at the beauty salon, who, as she says in the play is “richer than God,” and she buys the local radio station to give her something to do.

Sometimes actors get roles they can have fun with. That was the case with Sue Belvo, who played Ouiser (pronounced “Wheezer”). She’s mean and offends many of the townsfolk. Belvo got laughs as she delivered her lines.

Then we have a mother-daughter team played by mother Kelly Wynn Woodland and her daughter, Corinne Woodland. Kelly Wynn Woodland is known for her directing, but she occasionally takes to the stage, while Corinne has performed with her mother in other productions. It is remarkable how much they resemble each other and hard to tell the mother from the daughter when they’re on stage.

As Shelby, Corinne is determined to have a baby, even though she is diabetic and her doctor recommends against it. As M’Lynn, Kelly Wynn Woodland has to deal with the loss of her daughter when the inevitable occurs.

“Steel Magnolias” is a great play if you like to laugh and then wipe back a few tears at the end.

Acqua Aveda Salon and Spa is the play’s co-producer.

For ticket information, call the box office at 941-778-5755.

Related coverage:

All-female cast performs ‘Steel Magnolias’

Honors presented at Island Players banquet

Expect comic mayhem at next Island Players show

Castles in the Sand

Order out of chaos

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

Writing has been compared to bringing order out of chaos, something I try to do weekly on this page, and one of the most chaotic aspects of real estate is the mortgage process, which may be getting even more confusing to the average home buyer.

As confusing as the typical mortgage process is, the relationship of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA and Ginnie Mae – entities that are also known as government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) – to the mortgage market continually contribute to the chaos.

Before we go on, a quick review: Over 50 years ago Congress chartered the government-sponsored enterprises to provide liquidity to housing finance. The GSEs securitized and guaranteed mortgages, freeing up private lenders to provide more loans, making mortgages more readily available to the average home buyer. This created the 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage, which has been the gold standard of housing finance for all these years.

It was a great system until it went off the rails with sub-prime mortgage products partly encouraged by Congress leading to the bursting of the housing bubble and financial collapse in 2008. The American taxpayer was on the hook for $190 billion dollars to keep Fannie and Freddie floating and they have been in government conservatorship since then.

Now the federal government wants to gradually shrink the GSEs and start returning them to private hands. One of the suggested ways is to require them to have additional capital and underwriting standards comparable to private lenders. Will this happen? Maybe, but even if the wheels start to spin in that direction, it will be a long painful process which could turn on a dime subject to the outcome of a national election.

In the meantime, there is a new type of unconventional mortgage that has turned up. It’s called asset-depletion loans or asset-dissipation loans. Basically, they are designed for people who don’t have conventional paychecks, particularly retirees. As long as the borrower’s ability to draw on their assets is not overestimated, the loans can be fine.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac do make these loans but only based on a borrower’s 401k assets. However, Fannie and Freddie have eased up on standards for this type of loan, asking for smaller down payments and allowing more debt for borrowers. Again, this creates more risk for the American taxpayers.

So, what else do the gatekeepers of the American housing market have up their sleeve? Well, there is something that many Florida residents will be very interested in. Within the past year, they rolled out a program that would treat manufactured homes the same as it does site-built properties.

This means that a previous market that was difficult to obtain mortgaging for will now operate as a conventional mortgage market. They have also designed mortgages for manufactured homes at lower interest rates than buyers of these properties were previously able to obtain, as well as allowing appraisers to compare manufactured homes to those built on-site when determining value.

This may be a great program for many buyers of manufacturers homes, but in Florida, as we all know, manufactured homes are the most vulnerable in storms. Again, call me crazy, but do we as taxpayers need to assume more mortgage risk?

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, as well as all other GSE programs, will go on for a long time before any real change is made. It’s almost impossible to take away something that’s been in effect for so long. All I can do is try to bring order out of the mortgage processing chaos.

More Castles in the Sand:

Luxury ain’t what it used to be

The fun and not-so-fun of selling a home

The fun and not-so-fun of buying a home

Adult sports head into the playoffs at The Center

Adult sports head into the playoffs at The Center

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

As the second week of September comes and goes, the adult athletes at The Center of Anna Maria Island take the competitive action to the next level on the football field and indoor soccer court, progressing toward the leagues’ championship games.

In adult flag football, four teams matched up on the gridiron, while the top two teams had a bye week, giving second seed Gulfview Windows and Doors and the regular season top finishers Progressive Cabinetry a break.

Before suffering an injury, Moss Builders’ team captain had 11 receptions, including three touchdowns and two extra points from passes by Jon Moss. Moss had four passing touchdowns in the game. The game’s MVP, despite her team’s loss, was Lexi Sato for Moss Builders.

Sato had 12 catches in the game, getting into the end zone three times with two touchdowns and a point after conversion reception. Her biggest play was a run after the catch, taking the football more than halfway down the field and getting past three defenders.

With the game’s win, Tim Shaughnessy, captain for Lancaster Designs, had five scoring throws, finding Anthony Mannino for 14 catches. Mannino’s catches included two touchdowns and two extra points, adding to the three touchdown catches by Jay Hoffmeister.

In the second wildcard game of the night, both teams used the teams’ rosters for another close game.

Team Ugly Grouper could not capture the victory despite spirited play by the team lead by Matthew Manger. Strong defensive play by Manger with a sack against the Hashmark Sports QB and the interception by Bradley Coleman just was not enough.

Getting into the end zone, Cooper Rosier, Sirkevius Williams and Corey Jakes scored touchdowns, with extra points by Anthony McCance, Cooper Rosier, Williams and Jakes, put 35-points on the scoreboard for Ugly Grouper.

Hashmark Sports earned one more week of play with scoring passes by Chase Richardson, Octavious Cole and Tim Holly. Richardson, Holly, Corey Banks, Zach Holder and Kate Simpson put the points up and helped their team to win the head-to-head against Ugly Grouper.

Semifinal match-ups start at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 19, with Progressive Cabinetry facing off against Lancaster Design and Gulfview Windows and Doors playing Hashmark Sports for the second final game position. The four remaining teams fight to the end looking to secure a slot in the championship adult flag football game at 9 p.m. Thursday night.

In indoor soccer action, team captain and high scorer, Slim’s Place’s Joey Hutchinson put the soccer ball into the net nine times in his game against Moss Builders. Hutchison’s teammate Jose Casaras had five goals, while Clancey Vaughn got past the goalkeeper twice.

Staying busy by the net, Robb Marshall had 20 saves in the game, only to be topped by Sato Real Estate’s Mark Rudacille with 24 saves and Ugly Grouper’s John Haggerty getting to the soccer ball 27 times.

Kevin Roman’s Progressive Cabinetry squad won another one in the second indoor game of the week. Roman had four goals, adding to the scores by Diego Felipe, Steve Oelfke, Murat Akay and Jessica Williams.

Despite the loss, Gulfview Windows and Doors’ Jose Bolanos, Freddy Lenhert and captain Keith Mahoney managed to put eight points on the scoreboard.

In the battle of the goalies and the lowest-scoring game of the night, Sato Real Estate took the win against Ugly Grouper. Ben Sato and Adam Bujarski led the Sato Real Estate team in the win with four and three goals for each player, with an additional goal by Jason Sato and Ryan Moss.

Ugly Grouper’s loss was hard-fought. Connor Bystrom got his hat trick in the game with three goals in addition to the single goal by Olaf Krause and a pair by Yuri Pereira.

Going into playoffs, Progressive Cabinetry topped the ranking as the first seed team, followed by Moss Builders, earning the teams a bye week. This week’s playoff games put Gulfview and Sato Real Estate on the indoor court for the first championship game slot.

At 7:30 p.m. Ugly Grouper and Slim’s Place go against each other for the final place in the playoff bracket for the final game of the season to be played on Thursday, Sept. 26, at 9 p.m.

Related coverage

Family and friends on the gridiron: Gulfview bests Moss Builders

Bowlers escape the heat as they support The Center

Progressive Cabinetry shatters Gulfview Windows and Doors

Reel Time: Spain – Madrid and Toledo

Reel Time: Spain – Madrid and Toledo

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

Spain was never on my list of places to travel. When looking for a new destination to explore, Chris and I settled on Portugal and somehow those plans morphed into an adventure in this small country that at one time dominated the known world.

As I write this, the bells of the Basilica of Santa Maria Del Coro Catholic Church (circa 1774) in San Sebastian are ringing. Many times a day they announce the time and call the faithful to Mass and prayer.

We began our trip in Madrid, the capital of Spain, where we stayed for four days. While we originally only considered Madrid as a central point to begin our stay, it turned out to be a memorable experience. In four days we explored the central city by bike, enjoyed tapas in the Mercado de San Miguel, made an excursion to the nearby city of Toledo and spent a day viewing some of the world’s finest art in the Prado Museum.

Mercado Reel Time
The Mercado San Miguel in Madrid provides an excellent cast of Spanish Tapas. – Rusty Chinnis | Sun

I found out before the trip that my old friend Rallis Papas would be in Madrid on business. Rallis introduced me to some of the city’s highlights, including its world-famous tapas, an appetizer or snack in Spanish cuisine. Spain is famous for its tapas bars, and Madrid has some of the best. That first night I got a terrific introduction to this unique and delicious tradition.

On our first full day in Madrid, we took a guided tour of the city on Ebikes and experienced a side of the city that we would probably have never seen. The excursion started in the Plaza de San Miguel with a ride in the Parque Madrid Rio, a 6-kilometer park along the Manzanares river that was once a busy motorway. That road was relocated underground and resulted in a delightful park with playgrounds, gardens and public walkways. After touring the riverside park, we headed high over the city to the Casa De Campo public park.

“The history of Casa de Campo began with the decision by Philip II to move the Capital (Court) to Madrid. It was declared a Bosque Real (Royal Forest) under Fernando VI. Carlos III gave it a new twist when he introduced livestock and agriculture as one of its purposes, which would be continued by Queen María Cristina. After the proclamation of the Second Republic, the State donated the Casa de Campo to the people of Madrid (May 1, 1931), and it has been open to the public ever since.”

We enjoyed spectacular views of the city from on high and reveled in the cool and dry weather that greeted us in Madrid. The park is accessible by cable car from the city but was closed on the day we visited due to high (and refreshing) winds.

On our second day in Spain, we took a tour from Madrid to Toledo, an ancient hilltop town an hour south of Madrid. Toledo was declared a World Heritage site in 1986 for its extensive monumental and cultural heritage.

Toledo is known as the Imperial City for having been the main venue of the court of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, and as the “City of the Three Cultures” for the cultural influences of Christians, Muslims and Jews that are reflected in its history.

After touring the Old Town and the magnificent Cathedral De Toledo, we headed south to an authentic farmstead and estate where we were treated to lunch and a ride through the farm in an open-top 4WD truck. The farm is owned by a Spanish Count and encompasses over 16,000 hectares.

On our last day in Madrid, we took a tour of the world-famous Prado Museum with Jamie, an art historian, who presented a fascinating look at the paintings, the artists, culture and the history of Spain through its art. The tour included an introduction to the paintings of  Francisco de Goya, Spain’s most famous artist.

The Prado houses the world’s largest collection of Goya’s work as well as of Flemish artists including Hieronymus Bosch and his “Garden of Earthly Delights.”  Next week – Basque country and south to Sevilla.

More Reel Time:

Reel Time: Get ready for fall

Reel Time: Charleston and the Low Country

Reel Time: Scallop Search Aug. 24

All-ladies cast performs ‘Steel Magnolias’

All-female cast performs ‘Steel Magnolias’

Written by Tom Vaught on . Posted in Entertainment, Theater.

The Island Players version of “Steel Magnolias,” by Robert Harling, has an all-female cast, unlike the 1989 movie where Tom Skerrit tried to shoo birds from a tree in his yard with a shotgun. The cast also includes a mother-daughter pair of actresses playing a mother and her daughter.

This comedic drama is set in a beauty salon in a small Louisiana town where the women come to mingle, share gossip and help each other through life’s ups and downs.

Director Mike Lusk, assisted by Priscilla Boyd, directs an accomplished group of actresses: Jennifer Kwiatkowski as Truvy Jones, Tahlia Chinault (first week) and Caitlin Ellis (second week) as Annnelle Dupuy-Desoto, Cathy Hansel-Edgerton as Clairee Belcher, Corinne Woodland as Shelby Eatenton-Latcherie, Kelly Wynn Woodland as M’Lynn Eatenton and Sue Belvo as Ouiser Boudreaux.

“Steel Magnolias” graces the Island Players stage from Sept. 19-29 nightly Tuesday through Sunday with a matinee on Sundays. The stage is dark on Mondays.

Tickets are $23 and the box office is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, see the Island Players’ website or call the box office at 941-778-5755. Island Players Theater is located at 10009 Gulf Drive, Anna Maria.

Related coverage

Honors presented at Island Players banquet

Expect comic mayhem at next Island Players show

Hands Across the Sand oil protest

U.S. House opposes oil drilling

Written by Cindy Lane on . Posted in Anna Maria Island, Community News, Manatee County.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed two bills banning oil drilling off the Gulf Coast of Florida and in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans on Sept. 11.

The Protecting and Securing Florida’s Coastline Act (H.R. 205) amends the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006 to permanently block offshore oil and gas leasing off Florida’s Gulf Coast. The current moratorium, which protects waters up to 235 miles off the coast in the eastern Gulf, is set to expire in June 2022.

The Coastal and Marine Economies Protection Act (H.R. 1941) protects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and the Florida Straits.

“Representatives (Joe) Cunningham (D-S.C.), (Francis) Rooney (R-Fla.) and (Kathy) Castor (D-Fla.) should be applauded for putting politics aside and coming together to protect our coasts from offshore drilling,” said Diane Hoskins, campaign director at Oceana, an international advocacy organization dedicated solely to ocean conservation.

Oceana representatives visited supporters in Holmes Beach last week, the day before the vote. The Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce, the Florida Gulf Coast Business Coalition and Oceana drew dozens of supporters to the Protect Our Coast Happy Hour at Waterline Marina Resort and Beach Club in Holmes Beach on Sept. 10.

“Write letters to your newspaper,” Robin Miller, president and CEO of the Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce and Chair of the Florida Gulf Coast Business Coalition told the group, urging them to join the coalition at https://www.protectthegulfcoast.org/.

More than 90% of U.S. waters, including Florida waters, are in the federal programs slated for oil and gas drilling and leasing, Hunter Miller, Oceana campaign organizer for the Florida Gulf Coast, told the group, adding that the Florida delegation is united against the practice.

The cities of Anna Maria, Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach, as well as the Manatee County Commission, have expressed their opposition to plans to expand offshore drilling by passing resolutions, joining nearly 100 cities and towns across Florida.

Oceana is now calling on the Senate to make the legislation a reality and permanently protect U.S. coasts from the threat of expanded offshore drilling activities.

The “vote to permanently ban offshore drilling underscores the strength of bipartisan opposition to President Trump’s radical drilling plan. Opening nearly all our waters to dirty and dangerous drilling is out of touch with every East and West coast governor,” Hoskins said in a press release.

“Offshore drilling threatens our fishing, tourism and recreation industries and everyone who calls the coast home. But the fight is not over, and we must not give up until permanent protections are established or President Trump’s plan is officially off the table.”

“I have consistently opposed drilling off the coast of Florida and was a co-sponsor of the bill that passed permanently banning all drilling off the Gulf Coast,” Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.) said in a press release.

“This bill also included my amendment to restore critical safety regulations adopted in response to Deepwater Horizon. As Floridians know all too well, an oil spill can devastate a regional economy and inflict long-term environmental damage. Southwest Florida is blessed with some of the world’s greatest natural treasures. We cannot allow our beaches, wildlife and way of life to be threatened by another oil spill.”

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TDC members consider Mote funding request

TDC members consider Mote funding request

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

MANATEE COUNTY – Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium’s leadership is hoping for some funds from the Manatee County Tourist Development Council but TDC members are unsure that they can meet the $5 million request.

Dan Bebak, vice president of Aquarium, Education and Outreach at Mote, appeared before TDC members during a Sept. 16 meeting to ask for $5 million in funding spread over three years. The request includes $2 million in fiscal year 2020, $1.75 million in fiscal year 2021 and $1.25 million in fiscal year 2022.

If TDC members vote to approve the funding, followed by a vote of approval from Manatee County Commissioners and the potential approval of a budget amendment for the TDC, Bebak said the funds would go toward proposed expenditures at the Mote City Island campus. The City Island campus is expected to become a science and learning center when the new Mote aquarium is built adjacent to Nathan Benderson Park near the University Town Center Mall in Sarasota.

Proposed expenditures include estuary excursions, environmental kayaking experiences, behind-the-scenes science education opportunities, classroom technology, digital learning access, the development of an augmented reality aquarium tour, animal and exhibit care, guest experience enhancement and other upgrades at Mote.

Manatee County Commissioner Carol Whitmore said she doesn’t believe that Manatee County has ever had much of a brand or advertising presence with Mote and it’s something that she’d like to see happen in the future. Before it does though, she said she’d like to see more detail from Mote concerning where the funds would be going. She also said that she’d like to see Manatee County represented in both the City Island science center on Longboat Key and in the new aquarium when it’s built.

TDC funds must be spent on specific endeavors to encourage tourism to Manatee County. One way in which funds can be spent is to buy advertising and another is to create an exhibit or event that drives people to the area. Either way, the TDC needs to see a return on the funds in the form of economic impact to Manatee County.

TDC member and Anna Maria Commissioner Doug Copeland said he questions spending $5 million on advertising to a group of people who are already in the area.

Bebak said that of Mote’s annual memberships, 58% come from Manatee and Sarasota counties with the remainder from other areas. Of the total attendance numbers, 13% come from Manatee County, 18% come from Sarasota County and 69% come from other areas. Of that 69%, 12% come from a drivable range of eight surrounding counties and 88% come from outside of that drivable area.

“In my heart, I support the cause,” Whitmore said, adding that she needs to see how the funds will benefit Manatee County to help her and other county commissioners to justify the expense to residents.

Bradenton Mayor Wayne Poston said he was also not prepared to vote on the funding request at the Sept. 16 meeting.

“I love the concept. We have a lot of asks right now,” he said. “The devil’s in the details and we need the details. Convince me.”

TDC members voted to have representatives from Mote come back at a future meeting to present a budget of how funds would be used and ideas on how those funds would benefit Manatee County tourism.

WMFR approves budget, assessment rate

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

BRADENTON – West Manatee Fire Rescue (WMFR) has an approved budget and an approved assessment rate increase for the 2019-20 fiscal year.

Commissioners met at the district’s administrative offices Sept. 10 to host a public hearing for both the budget and the assessment rate. No members of the public chose to speak during the public hearing. Commissioners voted unanimously to certify the district’s tax roll, approve the budget and increase the fire assessment for both residential and commercial properties.

Residential property owners can expect to see a 1.65% increase, a $3.09 increase in the base rate bringing it to $190.57 for the first 1,000 square feet of a home. The rate for square footage over 1,000 square feet is being raised from $0.1106 to $0.1124. The total assessment rate for a 2,000 square foot home is increasing from $298.08 to $303, a difference of $1.92.

Residential homes make up the majority of the properties in WMFR’s district, which stretches from the Gulf of Mexico on the west, Tampa Bay to the north, Longboat Key to the south and city of Bradenton to the east. The district includes unincorporated Manatee County, Palma Sola, Cortez, Bradenton Beach, Anna Maria and Holmes Beach.

Commercial property assessment rates will be increasing 5% to help the district come in line with the rates charged by other surrounding fire districts. The base rate for commercial properties is increasing from $451.07 to $473.62 for the first 1,000 square feet of the building. The remaining square footage will be charged at a rate of $0.2051, totaling a $32.32 increase for a 2,000 square foot commercial building.

The increased assessment rates are estimated to bring in around $144,203 in increased revenue for the district. The funds are planned to be used to assist in launching the district’s non-transport advanced life support service at all three stations, purchase a new fire engine and begin work on the district’s new permanent administration building.

The district’s proposed total revenue for the coming fiscal year, beginning Oct. 1, is $7,660,461 with $74,900 used in impact fees and $1,910,873 used of reserves to total $9,646,234 in expenses with $4,329,953 left in reserves.

An expense carried to the district’s next board meeting is the matter of offering an honorarium to the chaplain. Commissioner David Bishop brought up the idea a month after the district’s new chaplain was sworn in during the August board meeting. After not having a chaplain for 12 years, he said he thinks an honorarium would be appropriate to demonstrate the importance of the position to district staff and firefighters.

“I think it’s a valuable resource,” he said. “I just think it’s the right thing to do.

Commissioner George Harris agreed, saying, “The chaplain’s role is essential,” to the district staff.

Commissioner Al Robinson suggested offering $100 per month. A decision is expected during the October board meeting.

Commissioners are also considering how they want to handle a new cancer bill that was recently passed by the state legislature and went into effect July 1, 2019. Under the new bill, any firefighter who is diagnosed with one of 21 different kinds of cancer within 10 years of leaving the fire service is eligible for a $25,000 cash payout and for their out of pocket treatment expenses to be covered by their fire district.

Commissioners discussed purchasing insurance at a cost of $70 per firefighter, totaling $3,000 annually, to cover any of the $25,000 payouts that the district might be required to pay. They also discussed extending the program to recent retirees, something that is not specified in the legislation. In order to qualify for benefits, firefighters must have served in the fire service for at least five years prior to diagnosis.

The discussion is expected to continue at the Oct. 15 board meeting.

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2019-20 budget jumps first hurdle

2019-20 budget jumps first hurdle

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

HOLMES BEACH – City leaders are one step closer to having an approved budget for the 2019-20 fiscal year beginning Oct. 1.

Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the first reading of the proposed budget and millage rate during a Sept. 11 special meeting. The final budget public hearing will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 24 at 6 p.m.

Though city leaders tried to keep the millage rate at the rollback rate of 2.1226 mills, city Treasurer Lori Hill said that with the city’s additional expenses in saving for Bert Harris cases, adding to the funds for stormwater and flooding prevention and other projects, she recommended commissioners approve a 2.25 millage rate.

Though the millage rate is the same as the previous year, it does result in a 6% increase over the previous year due to increases in property values in Holmes Beach.

With carryover and reserves, Hill said the budget ends up at a total of $16,967,913. Out of that number, $6,188,036 is in carryover and reserves with the remaining $10,779,877 in departmental expenditures.

Expenses for the mayor and commission are expected to top out at $184,106 with general government expenditures of $1,796,851. Expenditures for code compliance are budgeted at $476,464. Expenses for the police department are expected at $3,410,457 with public works budgeting $1,830,381, the building department at $912,279, stormwater utility expenses at $1,281,289, fifth-cent gas tax expenditures of $520,800, and the half-cent discretionary tax expenditures at $367,250. Several categories include a contingency fund which Hill said would be added to the carryover amount at the end of the year if the funds are not used.

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Auction to benefit Turtle Watch

Auction to benefit Turtle Watch

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

HOLMES BEACH – Enjoy live music, live and silent auctions and good food at the Second Annual Turtle Watch Wednesday on Sept. 25 from 4-6 p.m. at Hurricane Hanks, 5346 Gulf Drive.

A Paradise Realty and Vacation Rentals are teaming up with Hurricane Hanks again to raise funds for the not-for-profit Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring organization, which documents sea turtle and shorebird nesting and hatching on the Island.

If You Go

Who: Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring

What: Turtle Watch Wednesday

When: Wednesday, Sept. 25 from 4-6 p.m.

Where: Hurricane Hanks, 5346 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach

Why: Bid on cool gifts while helping raise funds for Turtle Watch

The first 75 guests will receive a free drink ticket, and Hurricane Hanks will offer 50 percent discounts on appetizers, donating $1 for every food and drink item sold during the event.

Live auction to benefit Turtle Watch
This Robert Wyland photograph on canvas will be among the items auctioned to benefit Turtle Watch on Wednesday, Sept. 25 from 4-6 p.m. at Hurricane Hanks.

Mike Sales will provide live music during the event, which features a silent auction, a 50/50 raffle and special T-shirts available for a $20 donation.

The silent auction will feature items from more than 50 local businesses and will include jewelry, clothing, dolphin tours, gift cards to restaurants, home furnishings and much more.

The live auction will include a Robert Wyland giclee on canvas of a sea turtle in Hawaii worth more than $1,000. The numbered and signed print is #44 in a series of 750.

The print was donated by a North Carolina resident who has visited Anna Maria Island several times and follows Turtle Watch and Island activities on Facebook.

“I sit in North Carolina and covet AMI!” said Jeannie Sowers, who will be attending the fundraiser as part of a birthday/anniversary trip to the Island.

Last year’s inaugural Turtle Watch Wednesday event drew 300 people and raised about $3,000. This year’s funds will be used for turtle-friendly lighting and community education about the importance of following turtle lighting laws to keep nesting mothers and hatching turtles from becoming disoriented.

Turtle Watch has documented more than 50 disorientations of turtle mothers and hatchlings so far this season, Fox said. More than 90 turtle nests are still on the beach waiting to hatch between now and the end of the season on Oct. 31.

“We have lights that will keep both turtles and people safe,” she said, adding that the funds raised at the event will help purchase more.

One educational aide in the works is a placemat for kids to color while families enjoy local restaurants. Anna Maria Island Sun cartoonist Steven Borggren is working on the design, which will include Mr. and Mrs. Foster Dribbles and their cat, Tobert, from his cartoon, Beach Nutz, published weekly in The Sun.

The Sun and J & J Graphics are co-sponsors of Turtle Watch Wednesday.

To donate silent auction items or for more information, please call Sharon Hoatland at 941-737-3642.

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