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Reel Time: Line and leaders

Reel Time: Line and leaders

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

When anglers talk tackle, the conversation is usually centered on rods and reels, lures and accessories. While these make up the largest part of the fisherman’s arsenal, lines and leaders are a critical component of the equation. The major choices of line fall into three categories: braid, monofilament, and fluorocarbon.

While fluorocarbon, monofilament and braided lines were created to spool reels, fluorocarbon is most often used as a leader material. Each has its advantages and disadvantages and anglers should choose them based on their fishing style and use.

Monofilament has been around for decades and is probably the most commonly used line. It has many advantages and a few disadvantages that will affect the anglers’ choice. Chief among its advantages are affordability and the fact that it sinks slowly and is more forgiving (stretches), making it less likely to break when shocked. Its disadvantages include the fact that it is less durable, has a larger diameter and can’t be cast as far.

Braided lines have made significant inroads since their introduction in the early 90s. They are constructed of a special blend of polyethylene fibers. Some brands are wound loosely while others are fused. Braided lines are extremely durable with no stretch. The unfused lines are generally suppler, while the fused ones are stiffer but less likely to wrap around guides and form knots during casting, one of the disadvantages of braided lines.

When using braided line it’s important to be aware that no loops form on your reel, a sure sign of trouble to come. It’s also wise to raise the rod tip to tighten (and take the slack out) the line after a cast and before retrieving.

Braided lines are much stronger than mono lines and pound for pound they have a much smaller diameter. Most anglers choose to go with a matching line test (i.e. smaller diameter line) and add a base of mono on the spool. That way you don’t have to use extra braid that will never see the light of day.

The fact that braided lines don’t stretch makes them more sensitive for anglers when fishing. This makes it easier to feel a bite and to set the hook on a fish. This is a big advantage when bottom fishing and targeting fish with subtle bites. It’s important when tying knots like wraps that you take additional wraps with the smaller diameter, slicker braids.

Fluorocarbon lines are more expensive, and while it was intended as a filler line, most anglers use it primarily for a leader. It has a number of advantages over monofilament line, the most important being that it is less visible in the water. In addition, it is denser which makes it sink faster and is more abrasion-resistant. The abrasion resistance is important for fish like tarpon and snook.

There are so many lines and variations on the market that it would take a book to cover them all. Whatever line you choose, carefully seat all knots. This is especially true with braids. Whatever line is used, wet knots and seat them firmly with pliers. Monofilament and fluorocarbon lines also come in colors. Red is popular because it’s the first color to disappear at depth in the water column.

There is a lot of information on the internet, but probably the best advice would be to seek out local knowledge from anglers and tackle shops and try the different lines to see which suits your fishing style.

More Reel Time:

Reel Time: Waterkeeper Alliance holding polluters accountable

Reel Time: Dog days strategies

Reel Time: Tarpon primer

Art lives on in the heat of summer

Art lives on in the heat of summer

Written by Tom Vaught on . Posted in Art, Entertainment, Events.

On the heels of the Fourth of July’s fireworks, Holmes Beach’s art community proved Friday that they could draw a crowd with an out-of-season Art Walk.

With Hurricane Barry bearing down on Louisiana and warm humid weather on Anna Maria Island, three of the seven regular art outlets opened their doors and soon their stores were bustling with people.

Art Walks are normally held the second Fridays of the month from January through April, but in May the Artist’s Guild of Anna Maria Island announced it would continue the walks through the summer and other participants were invited to join in. Island Gallery West and Restless Natives joined in.

Art Walk Island Gallery West
Island Gallery West drew a good crowd as the customers had an opportunity to speak to the gallery’s artist of the month, Patrick O’Neill. – Tom Vaught | Sun

Lyda Dicus of Restless Natives decided to take it a step further, putting tables and chairs out front so people could paint pottery and there were a lot of promising artists participating.

“I think it’s a success because it got a lot of people out participating,” she said. “I think I’m going to do it again at the next Art Walk.”

If the event continues to draw large numbers of interested people the Art Walks might become a year ‘round event.

Related coverage

Jane Seymour artwork at The Studio

Young artists work to protect dunes

ArtsHOP draws crowds

Castles in the Sand

The suburbs and the millennials

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

For several years, I wrote about how the millennials were moving into the cities. They didn’t want anything to do with the suburbs and their parents’ lifestyle. Well, in the space of two weeks I discovered that everything old is new again.

In the 1950’s families, including mine, were moving from the city to the suburbs, buying up new homes in what were once potato fields and family farms. This migration from the cities to the suburbs happened because of the demand for housing after World War II when the veterans could finally settle down and start their families.

When the grandchildren of those families grew up, they said, “No way,” and vowed not to return to the mundane lifestyle of backyard barbeques and Little League. But don’t ever say never since the millennials, many of whom are in their late 30s, are coming back with families in tow, only this time instead of moving to the suburbs outside of major Northern cities, they’re coming south. This reversal has a lot to do with the mobility of jobs and the growth of the South, which is benefitting from the real estate slow down and taxes of the Northeast.

Recently, a very extensive piece in the Wall Street Journal studied the reversal from city to suburban life. It reported that the growth rates of the suburbs are far outpacing metropolitan areas and the South is winning the race. This supports what I wrote about last week regarding investors buying up first-time buyer properties, hurting millennials who suddenly want to buy houses and raise families.

Some of the hot Sun Belt areas with good job opportunities that are benefitting from this influx of young families are Frisco, Texas, Nolensville, Tennessee, Scottsdale, Georgia and our very own Lakewood Ranch.

As fate will have it, the same day I read the story about the city to suburban reversal there was a report in the Bradenton Herald about 3,000 new homes that will be built in Lakewood Ranch. After a little research, I discovered a couple of interesting things about Lakewood Ranch that we who live surrounded by water probably haven’t paid attention to.

First of all, 74 percent of Lakewood Ranch residents are either between the ages of 25 – 44 or over 65. I also read that Massachusetts General Hospital is opening a Brain Health Initiative that will be based in Lakewood Ranch, kind of an achievement for the Bradenton area. Also, the median age in Lakewood Ranch is 49.4 compared to Anna Maria Island’s 64.3. There are not too many millennials with families moving here. Finally, Lakewood Ranch is 31,000 acres and 29 square miles with a population of over 11,000.

The reason I’m telling you this is two-fold. First of all, to keep everyone aware of changes in real estate trends both locally and nationally and second to help us sun and sand worshippers appreciate what’s going on east of our shoreline. We’re all part of the same region, so what happens in Lakewood Ranch can have a serious impact on us – traffic, parking, success of restaurants and shops just to name a few. The millennials may prefer to live in Lakewood Ranch, but for them visiting Anna Maria Island is one of the reasons they came here.

Well, once again, millennials are picking up where baby boomers left off. Now it’s their turn to influence all aspects of life in the country. Everything old is new again.

More Castles in the Sand:

Are you as smart as a private equity firm?

Real independence

The buyer’s best buddy

George Wilson Jr. – a legendary life

George Wilson Jr. – a legendary life

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

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Anna Maria Island lost a beloved friend and local character when 67-year-old George Cameron Wilson Jr. passed away on Monday, July 8.

Wilson worked at the Anna Maria General Store in Anna Maria and lived in Holmes Beach with his roommates Lisa O’Connell and Rick Weaver.

According to General Store owner Brian Seymour, who was out of town at the time, Wilson started feeling sick on Saturday, July 6. He came to work the following day not feeling well and went home. Wilson was hospitalized Monday and passed away later that day.

“He was at the hospital for about four or five hours, and his heart stopped four times before they pronounced him dead,” Seymour said.

As of Sunday, an autopsy report was still pending, and the exact cause of death remained unknown.

“The great thing is that George lived every day of his life. He didn’t have to be taken care of, he wasn’t in a home and he wasn’t under treatment for cancer or anything like that,” Seymour said.

“He was the first associate I hired. He was working for the previous owner and he was the only associate I kept when I bought the store in 2010.”

At the time, Wilson also worked as a substitute teacher at Lee Middle School in Bradenton, which he did until he retired from teaching.

“He was my nighttime guy, working the register, greeting customers, making sandwiches, stocking the shelves – he pretty much did it all. He wasn’t just an employee, he was probably my best friend on the Island,” Seymour said.

“He was sometimes misunderstood, but if you got to know and love George you’d find out he was fiercely loyal. He was fiercely loyal to making sure kids had a good experience at the store. He liked to take care of the fish tank, and he’d teach kids all about the fish.

“There was no one more dedicated and loyal to the success of the business than George. He would show up early every day, never called out and he was always talking about the business and trying to grow the business. And he, by far, had the most repeat visitors who came in here year after year asking for him,” Seymour said.

Celebrating George’s life

A celebration of life will take place on the deck of the Anna Maria General Store at 503 Pine Ave. from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on Monday, July 22. at 8:30 p.m., Wilson’s friends will walk down to the bay and place flowers in the water. At 9 p.m., the celebration will resume at D Coy Ducks in Holmes Beach.

Seymour started a GoFundMe page – “In memory of George C. Wilson” – for those who wish to assist with the costs for Wilson’s celebration of life.

George Wilson Dee Brady
Now living in Mexico, longtime Island resident and visitor Dee Brady loved spending time with George. – Submitted

Childhood friends

Dave Cochran is the general manager at the Rod & Reel Pier in Anna Maria.

“I’ve known George as long as I can remember. We’re from the same hometown, I knew him growing up in New Castle, Penn.,” Cochran said.

Cochran said Wilson attended Youngstown State University in Ohio and graduated with a bachelor of science degree in education in 1976. He then spent the next year teaching at inner-city schools in Houston, Texas.

Through the 1980s and 90s, Wilson worked as a performance and executive recruiter in Dallas, Texas, as a sales manager for the Northern Light Company in Pittsburgh, as a sales and operations manager for Environmental Resources Inc. in Wampum, Pa. and at a consulting, sales and marketing group in Hermitage, Pa.

Cochran said at some point after 1996, Wilson became a substitute teacher in the New Castle/Wilmington/Shenango area, and he did that until he moved to Anna Maria Island in 2003 or 2004.

“He took a vacation in Key West and was on his way back to Pennsylvania because he’d gotten a teaching job in Pittsburgh. But he decided he was going to stay here, and he didn’t take the job,” Cochran said.

“George was a free spirit that made everyone feel good and happy around him. Everybody loved George. He’ll be missed by all,” Cochran said.

Friend of the bride

Wilson became close friends with Holmes Beach residents Morgan and Ben Bryant.

“He was definitely a one-of-a-kind person. Everybody loved him. He came to be part of our family. We’d have him over for Christmas and things like that. And Ben and George went for coffee almost every morning,” Morgan said.

“Then we had our son, Finn, and Finn started going to coffee with them, so they’d have a little men’s group. George never had kids of his own, so he wasn’t sure how to act around Finn at first, but they grew to love each other and he became Finn’s Uncle George,” Morgan said.

“George was a groomsman in our wedding. We didn’t have a honeymoon planned. After we got married, George and the group from the General Store were going on a cruise, so we ended up honeymooning with George,” she joked.

George Wilson concert
Lisa O’Connell, George Wilson Jr. and Rhonda Gula attended a Paul McCartney concert together. – Mike Field | Sun

Best buddies

“George was friends with my stepdad, Tim Sullivan, who passed away four years ago. Tim and George hung out at Bortell’s, and George would come over for family get-togethers when I was younger. I’ve known George for probably 15 years,” Ben Bryant said.

“During the last four years we hung out every day. He was my lunch buddy and my coffee buddy. I also have a property in California, and George came to work on the farm last year. We were knocking off some bucket list items,” Ben said.

Ben was flying to California the day Wilson died.

“I had just landed in Sacramento, and I started getting calls from the ICU because I was his healthcare surrogate. The doctor was asking me when was the right time to stop giving him cardiac support and CPR. I just got back to yesterday, so it’s all becoming real,” Ben said on Sunday.

When asked what he’ll miss most about Wilson, Ben said, “His honesty and realness and living in the present moment. It’s rare to find people who live for the present day and who are so open and sharing.

“We’d drink together and George could definitely hold it down, even at 67. This celebration of life is going to be a stellar event. It will feel like George is there,” Ben said.

Holmes Beach budget talks begin

Holmes Beach budget talks begin

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

HOLMES BEACH – The city’s initial budget workshops are completed and city leaders have a budget that they’re prepared to present to residents in September at two budget hearings.

Holmes Beach Treasurer Lori Hill presented the budget to commissioners over a series of daytime work sessions. Hill, who spent months drafting the budget, proposed that commissioners use the rollback rate for property taxes this year.

Due to an increase in the overall value of property in the city as determined by the Manatee County Property Appraiser’s Office, Hill said using the customary 2.25 millage rate would cause an increase in taxes for property owners. She suggested and drafted the budget using the 2.1226 mills rollback rate to keep ad valorem taxes and the city’s revenue from the tax on par with the current year’s budget. The total amount of revenue to the city through ad valorem taxes is expected to be $4,234,993, a slight decrease from last year’s $4,255,643.

The millage rate is the amount assessed on a property per 1,000 square feet of the building or home. For a home with 2,000 square feet, the ad valorem tax to the city would be $4,245.20 not taking into account any potential discounts for early payment.

Hill said that she was able to use the rollback rate due to the receipt of unanticipated grant funds. She also projects increases in revenue for the building department, code enforcement due to proposed changes in the city’s vacation rental certificate program and a $115,000 projected interest revenue increase.

She projects that the rollover to the 2019-20 fiscal year when the current year ends Sept. 30 could be as high as $1.2 million due to the unanticipated grant funds and project rollovers. Her budget proposes adding around $500,000 to the city’s reserves and another $250,000 to the reserve funds set aside for the Bert Harris claims and cases facing the city.

The total proposed budget for the year is $15,863,864, including $7,478,249 in carryover and reserves.

The Sun will be diving further into the Holmes Beach budget leading up to the two September public hearings. If you have questions about the budget, submit them to kswain@amisun.com.

Mayor/Commission

The budget proposes a total of $178,953 for the mayor and commission budget, including commissioner stipends of $500 per month and the mayor’s stipend of $2,000 per month. It also includes $8,475 for computer/IT services to set up and maintain commissioner and board member email addresses, $7,000 for mayor and commission travel and $2,500 for binders, toner, nameplates, business cards and other miscellaneous expenses.

General Government

The general government budget proposes an increase from $602,951 to $828,112 in personnel services to include eight full-time employees, $23,400 for temporary scanning services and a $16,000 compensation study, $180,000 for the land development code and comprehensive plan review, a $100,000 legal contingency, $50,000 for a lobbyist and $25,000 to be used at the commission’s discretion to fund The Center of Anna Maria Island, Keep Manatee Beautiful or another nonprofit or cultural organization.

Total operating expenses are expected to come in at $951,875. Adding capital outlay funds of $16,500, the total general government budget is $1,796,487.

Police

The proposed Holmes Beach Police Department budget shows a $10,000 decrease over the previous year bringing the total to $3,385,663. The budget includes a $20,000 increase in personnel services due to increases in required overtime for holiday weekends, marine patrols and other issues requiring more officers, such as special events. It also includes $72,630 for computer/IT services which Chief Bill Tokajer said will keep the department up to current Florida Department of Law Enforcement standards and $87,965 to purchase needed equipment including four bulletproof vests, bulletproof helmets breaching tool kits and FDLE compliant computers.

Public Works

The budget for public works proposes $722,602 in total personnel services for 10 full-time employees, $75,000 for emergency management training, $641,104 in total operating expenses and an increase of $152,000 in capital outlay projects bringing that total to $305,000. The increase in capital outlay expenses covers improvements to the police kitchen, improvements at the public works barn building, park enhancements and the purchase of a new tractor and excavator that the department has been saving for over the past three fiscal years. The total budget is proposed at $1,668,706.

Building Department

The proposed building department budget shows a marked decrease in the total budget amount from $957,453 in the current fiscal year to $882,061 proposed for the coming fiscal year. The budget includes $76,150 in professional engineering services, the purchase of two Ford Escape vehicles and the purchase of office equipment for a plans examiner. Total personnel services for the department are budgeted at $586,761 with $239,800 in operating expenses and $55,500 in capital outlay costs, including the two new vehicles.

Code Enforcement

The total proposed code enforcement budget indicates a $191,248 increase over the current year to $481,644. The funds include $309,818 in personnel services for four full-time employees, $10,000 for special magistrate hearings, $6,000 for the printing of supplies including flyers and window clings, $40,000 for a new truck and four-seater golf cart, and $10,800 for computer replacements.

Skate park design nears completion

Skate park design nears completion

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

HOLMES BEACH – The preliminary designs are in for the city’s new cement skate park, but funds are still needed to construct the bowl addition.

Tito Porrata, lead designer and project manager with American Ramp Company, and City Engineer Lynn Burnett presented the preliminary designs for the promenade-style skate park and accompanying bowl.

Porrata said the skate park would be a beginner to intermediate street-style course featuring ramps, rails, stairs, triangles, banks, hips and a quarter pipe.

“All the basics within a modest size,” he said of the design.

The promenade section of the skate park is planned to be about 5,000 square feet.

Holmes Beach skate park bowl
Funding is still sought to build a Y-shaped skate bowl over a retention pond along Marina Drive. – Submitted

Though Porrata said the course is good as-is, he highly recommended adding the Y-shaped bowl he designed to accompany the skate park to make it “complete.” To build the bowl, the city is still seeking a donor or multiple donors to help raise the $100,000 additional funds needed for the structure. If the bowl is to be built, construction has to take place at the same time the rest of the skate park is built to keep the cost of the addition low.

If built, Porrata said the bowl would be about three and a half to four feet deep and stick out of the ground about three feet.

“If a donor happens, this bowl is ready,” he said.

Commissioners nodded their approval of the designs and Mayor Judy Titsworth took the opportunity to ask that anyone considering helping to fund the bowl contact her at city hall.

“I hope you guys like it,” Porrata said of the skate park designs. “It’s going to be really fun.”

Final design deliverables for the skate park are expected during the July 23 commission meeting.

Related coverage

Progress made on park improvements

Skate park plans move forward

Skate park plans scrapped by users

Shark dragging trial moved to September

Shark dragging trial moved to September

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Community News, Manatee County.

Updated July 23, 2019 – TAMPA – Robert “Bo” Benac is now scheduled to stand trial on Monday, Sept. 16 for his alleged role in a much-publicized shark dragging incident captured on video in 2017.

The trial will be held at the Hillsborough County Courthouse in Tampa.

Benac faces two third-degree felony charges of aggravated cruelty to animals for allegedly using a spear gun to shoot a black-tipped shark and a second-degree misdemeanor charge of violating rules relating to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Benac was previously scheduled to stand trial in June, but his trial date was delayed. Benac was among a group of local men captured on self-shot video footage that showed the shark being dragged behind a powerboat at a high rate of speed on June 26, 2017.

The criminal affidavit report filed in December 2017 referenced additional video footage that alleged Michael Wentzel shot a shark with a .38 caliber handgun. The Florida Administrative Code prohibits harvesting a shark using any other means than a hook and a line.

Video footage of Benac’s alleged shark shooting incident recently appeared on several news organization websites and Facebook feeds.

In February, co-defendant Wenzel reached a plea deal with the State Attorney’s Office after he elected not to stand trial for his role in the alleged events.

Related coverage

Charges dropped against one shark dragging defendant

Shark dragging hearing scheduled

Shark dragging defendants plead not guilty

Floating dock installation begins

Floating dock installation begins

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

BRADENTON BEACH – The long-delayed floating dock is now in the initial stages of being installed alongside the Bridge Street Pier.

A four-man crew from the Gibsonton-based Hecker Construction Company drove the first fiberglass composite dock pilings on Wednesday, July 10. The crew is using a pile-driving mechanism connected to a mobile crane that sits atop the floating work barge.

The new dock will replace the storm-damaged dock that was removed in 2016.

Co-funded by the Bradenton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) and Manatee County, the new floating dock will provide short-term dockage on a first-come, first-serve basis for recreational boaters visiting the pier and the Bridge Street business district.

The floating dock will also provide limited, short-term dockage for tour boats, water taxis and other commercial vessels for loading and unloading passengers.

“They’re out there working on it,” CRA chair Ralph Cole said at the July 10 meeting. “I’m excited.”

Without providing a specific completion date, Cole said Hecker’s Operations Manager, Eric Shaffer, told him the company’s goal is to get the dock installed as soon as possible.

The Hecker bid proposal, approved by the CRA members in early May and finalized in June, includes agreement language drafted by City Attorney Ricinda Perry that gave Hecker six weeks to complete the project once the dock pilings were delivered. The agreement includes a $500 per day penalty if the project is not completed on time.

The pilings arrived at the county barge dock near the Coquina South Boat Ramp during the last week of June.

“I’m really happy to see this project coming to completion. We had some unfortunate circumstances and delays, but we overcame that through the efforts of our city staff and our city officials. I can’t wait to use it,” CRA member and Vice Mayor Jake Spooner said later in the week.

Bradenton Beach floating dock workers
These construction crew members helped guide the pilings into place. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

The Anna Maria Oyster Bar leases the city-owned restaurant space and two smaller city-owned spaces at the foot of the Historic Bridge Street Pier.

“A gorgeous view for sure,” Oyster Bar president John Horne said of the work underway. “I can’t wait to see boats rafted off that dock with visitors and patrons of Bridge Street and the Anna Maria Oyster Bar.”

Sherman Baldwin is the general manager of Paradise Boat Tours. The company’s on land terminal is located in space subleased from the Oyster Bar. Baldwin also serves as the vice president of the Bridge Street Merchants Association.

“The long wait is over. Thanks to the persistence of the CRA for making this project happen after facing every challenge imaginable. This will be an economic boost for all of Bridge Street,” Baldwin said.

Project timeline

In early 2017, the CRA entered into a $119,980 contract with the North Palm Beach-based Technomarine Group to provide the materials and install a new floating dock alongside the pier.

In the CRA’s 2016-17 fiscal year budget, CRA members budgeted up to $250,000 for the dock project. And Manatee County commissioners agreed to reimburse the CRA for up to $125,000 of the project costs.

In August 2018, Spain-based Ronautica Marinas shipped the premanufactured floating dock decking sections to Port Everglades. After some additional delays, Technomarine later delivered the dock sections to Hecker’s construction yard in Gibsonton, so the floats could be attached to the decking.

In early 2019, the CRA ended its contractual relationship with Technomarine due to the ongoing delays and began dealing directly with Shaffer and Hecker Construction. According to City Treasurer Shayne Thompson, the CRA had paid Technomarine $83,682 of the $119,980 contracted amount at that time – and to date, the county has reimbursed the CRA $26,995 of the $83,682 paid to Technomarine.

In May, the CRA members approved Hecker’s $52,400 revised bid proposal to attach the floats to the decking dock sections and install the dock.

The CRA members also decided the CRA would purchase the pilings directly to receive the sale tax exemption given to governmental agencies. According to Perry’s May 15 project update, the pilings cost $45,704 when ordered.

The Hecker contract, the piling purchases and other additional expenses bring the anticipated final cost of the dock project to approximately $184,000.

During past CRA meetings, Cole has expressed his belief that despite these additional costs the final product will be superior to the dock originally envisioned.

Related coverage

Speciale steps down as dock facilitator

Increased costs anticipated for Bradenton Beach dock project

Dock floats delivered, project moving forward

Mobility program dropped in favor of ban

Mobility program dropped in favor of ban

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

HOLMES BEACH – The wait is over for the owners of Mobile Muttley’s, at least in Holmes Beach. Commissioners agreed in a 3-2 informal vote during a July 9 work session to not move forward with a one-year pilot program for an alternate mobility share service, in this case, docked bicycles.

Instead, commissioners are now considering an outright ban on mobility share services, including docked and dockless bicycles and electric scooters. The ban is planned to be citywide.

Commissioners briefly considered allowing docked bicycle sharing services on private property with a site plan review but decided in an informal 3-2 vote to prohibit those as well to prevent opening the issue up to large companies coming into the Island and bringing bicycles share stations that have limited oversight.

Commissioner Rick Hurst said that he believes the commission either needs to ban the share services outright or find a small company to come in and run them. The previously proposed one-year trial period, he said, would be difficult for a small local business to fund with the knowledge that their ability to operate in the city could be taken back after only a year for any reason. To offer the trial period, Hurst said, would open it up to a large national company that already has equipment ready to install that could easily be relocated if the trial in Holmes Beach didn’t work out. He added that it would need to be an Island-wide effort to make it worthwhile for any business owner.

Mayor Judy Titsworth agreed.

“What you’ve done is open it up,” she said. “If you don’t prohibit it, you’ve made it a free-for-all.”

City Attorney Patricia Petruff said that she would work on the prohibition language as well as changes to the land development code to ban electric scooters from the city. The ban on electric scooters applies only to recreational electric and battery-powered scooters, not mobility assistance devices that assist those with medical issues.

Related coverage

Bicycle share on hold in Holmes Beach

Bike share regulations on hold

Locals present bike share option to city commissioners

Metz deposed in Sunshine lawsuit

Metz deposed in Sunshine lawsuit

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

BRADENTON – Former Planning and Zoning Board member and Sunshine Law lawsuit defendant John Metz has been deposed, but his computer may be subjected to a forensic examination.

Representing the city of Bradenton Beach and co-plaintiff Jack Clarke in the lawsuit filed in August 2017, attorney Robert Watrous deposed Metz under oath on Tuesday, July 2. Paralegal Michael Barfield assisted Watrous.

The lawsuit alleges Metz and former Planning and Zoning Board members Reed Mapes, Patty Shay and Bill Vincent, and former Scenic WAVES Committee members Tjet Martin and Rose Vincent violated the Florida Sunshine Law.

The allegations pertain to discussions and email exchanges the city advisory board members had while also serving as members of the Concerned Neighbors of Bradenton Beach (CNOBB) group. Some of those discussions and email exchanges pertained to parking garages, Community Redevelopment Agency projects and other city business that had or could foreseeably come before the advisory board members in their official capacities.

Last month, Judge Edward Nicholas ruled that a parking garage would absolutely come before the Planning and Zoning Board. The one-week trial begins Monday, July 15.

Document production

Watrous produced a copy of the oath of office Metz signed in 2014 when appointed to the planning board. When signing that document, Metz swore to uphold the United States Constitution and the Florida Constitution.

Watrous also produced copies of documents Metz signed in 2014 and 2017 acknowledging his participation in mandatory Sunshine Law training and his promise to comply with city resolution 09-757.

The resolution serves as the city’s written and electronic communication policy. It references the Florida Public Records Law and states all correspondence pertaining to official city business is public record and shall be produced upon request.

Watrous referenced an email Mapes sent Metz after the lawsuit was filed. That email provided Metz with time sequences for a recording of the July 25, 2017 CNOBB discussion about a charter initiative that could have prohibited parking garages citywide.

Metz said he used the time sequences to refresh his memory of what he said that day.

“Why did you not provide that email through discovery request? We did not receive it,” Watrous said.

Metz said he didn’t remember the records request or when Mapes sent that email.

Watrous asked Metz if he attended an informal meeting shortly after the lawsuit was filed at which the defendants discussed their response strategies to case-related records requests.

“I don’t recall any discussion about withholding, destroying or not turning over any documents,” Metz said.

On Aug. 8, 2017, Martin sent an email to Metz, Mapes, Shay and Bill Vincent that included the header “Barfield.”

“I was advised not to give him anything, not a single thing,” Martin wrote.

Earlier that day, Barfield sent Martin his initial records request.

CNOBB webmaster Michael Harrington’s January deposition revealed Mapes asked Harrington to delete emails that referenced a parking garage. Harrington produced those emails, Mapes did not.

“I would request that nothing be deleted from that computer because we may seek an emergency motion to do a forensic (investigation) on that computer,” Watrous said of Metz’s computer.

On Monday, Barfield said Watrous would seek a court order to inspect Metz’s computer.

CNOBB discussions

Watrous referenced a June 12, 2017 email Mapes sent to Bill Vincent about Metz joining CNOBB.

“I spoke to John. He is concerned about Sunshine issues,” Mapes wrote.

“I was pointing out that we have to be aware of the Sunshine Law; I wasn’t saying I was concerned about it,” Metz told Watrous.

Metz said he did not recall attending a CNOBB meeting that included discussion about Bill Vincent’s July 19, 2017 inquiry to the Florida Commission on Ethics regarding city advisory board members participating in CNOBB meetings.

The audio recording of the Aug. 3, 2017 CNOBB meeting confirms Metz was present when Martin read aloud the Ethics Commission response that stated it does not have jurisdiction over Sunshine Law compliance. That response recommended Vincent visit the Attorney General’s website or consult with private counsel.

Metz said he was not aware of anyone from CNOBB contacting private counsel regarding the Ethics Commission response.

Constitutional challenge

In 2017, Metz’s attorney, Thomas Shults, filed an affirmative defense questioning the constitutionality of the Sunshine Law.

“Do you believe the Florida Sunshine Law is unconstitutional?” Watrous asked Metz.

“Yes,” Metz replied. “I think it’s extremely vague. I believe it chills free speech and association and the right to assemble and petition.”

Metz expressed his belief that his “direct democracy” rights regarding petition initiatives allowed him to participate in the CNOBB discussions about potential petition initiatives. Metz also expressed his belief that petition initiatives pursued according to state law do not require Planning and Zoning Board review.

Metz, a former attorney, agreed with Watrous’ statement that one’s constitutional rights can be voluntarily waived by signing a document – such as a sworn oath of office.

Past disputes

Watrous reviewed Metz’s past disputes with the city and its residents. These include a still-pending 2016 lawsuit Metz filed against the city challenging a permitting decision made by the building official; the unsuccessful 2015 lawsuit Metz filed against mayoral candidate Jack Clarke; Metz’s unsuccessful efforts in 2016 to prevent Commissioner Ralph Cole from operating the Coastal Watersports beach rental business he opened with city commission approval in 2001; and the successful 2018 lawsuit the Keep Our Residential Neighborhoods political action committee filed against the city regarding ballot initiatives.

Watrous asked Metz if these disputes have decreased his quality of life in Bradenton Beach.

“This litigation certainly has decreased my enjoyment – financially, reputation-wise, etc. – more than any of these other disputes,” Metz said.

Metz said he anticipates living in Bradenton Beach for the rest of his life.

Related coverage

Commission considers, rejects three Sunshine lawsuit settlements

City prevails in preliminary Sunshine case hearing

Sunshine defendants make offers to compromise

Breanne crowned karaoke champ

Breanne crowned karaoke champ

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Contests, Entertainment, Events, Music.

BRADENTON – Cortez Kitchen employee and Bradenton resident Shannon Breanne recently won the Suncoast Entertainment Karaoke Contest.

The seven-week contest took place at the Joyland Country Music Night Club in Bradenton.

The four weekly qualifying rounds began May 8, followed by two weeks of semi-finals on June 5 and June 12. The singing contest concluded with the finals on Wednesday, June 26.

Breanne sang in one qualifying round and one semifinal round on her way to the finals.

At the finals, she sang Aretha Franklin’s “A Natural Woman” and Alannah Myles’ “Black Velvet” to claim the top prize.

Lance Biddle led the proceedings and Carl Hunsinger, Kevin Kalley and Kari Rae judged the qualifying and semi-final rounds. Del Couch, Billy Rice and Kristen Lee then joined the judges’ panel to help evaluate the top 10 finalists.

Breanne’s victory earned her $1,200 cash, a Joyland black card, the opportunity to record with Couch – director of the Del Couch Music Education Foundation – and the opportunity to perform with the Daisy Dukes Band at one of their shows.

“It was a very exciting and nerve-wracking experience for me, as until recently I never sang in front of people,” Breanne said.

Breanne’s boyfriend, Adam Sears, accompanied her to the contests and assisted her in a variety of ways.

Tide Tables bartender Staci Wilkinson attended the finals and was among those providing Breanne with emotional support.

“It was a wonderful evening and another great example of watching our little community come together to support one another. We are so proud of her,” Wilkinson said of her friend’s prize-winning performance.

Reel Time: Waterkeeper Alliance holding polluters accountable

Reel Time: Waterkeeper Alliance holding polluters accountable

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

The Waterkeeper Alliance is the largest and fastest growing nonprofit that is exclusively focused on clean water. The Alliance works to preserve and protect water by uniting local Waterkeeper organizations and affiliates worldwide. Their goal is to assure drinkable, fishable and swimmable water for everyone.

The organization was created by a band of commercial fishermen on New York’s Hudson River in 1966 to hold industrial polluters accountable for destroying their way of life. Their brand of hard-hitting, grassroots activism sparked a miraculous recovery of the river and inspired others to launch Waterkeeper groups around the world. There are now more than 300 Waterkeeper organizations and affiliates on the frontlines of the global water crisis. With their volunteers, they are guarding and defending more than 2.5 million square miles of rivers, lakes and coastal waterways on six continents.

Today Florida’s Gulf Coast is one of those critically endangered frontlines faced with devastating red tide events and blue-green algae outbreaks, sewage spills and willful discharges into impaired waters that are feeding unprecedented amount of nitrogen and other pollutants into local waters. Our area is fortunate to be under the auspices of Suncoast Waterkeeper. The Suncoast Waterkeeper organization focuses its efforts in an area that includes the coastal waters of Manatee and Sarasota counties, a watershed that includes all of the Sarasota Bay Estuary, the southern reaches of Tampa Bay (lower Tampa Bay and Terra Ceia Bay) and the Manatee River.

Suncoast Waterkeeper’s former Executive Director and Founder Justin Bloom is an environmental lawyer who believes in the organization’s mission statement: “To protect and restore the Florida Suncoast’s waterways through enforcement, fieldwork, advocacy, and environmental education for the benefit of the communities that rely upon these precious coastal resources.”

According to Bloom, they are more aggressive than other groups in that they are likely to litigate against those corporations, organizations and individuals that threaten water quality. Waterkeepers in general and Suncoast Waterkeepers, in particular, are small but streamlined and able to act quickly. Maybe most importantly they follow through on what they say and persevere.

“It can be personally frustrating,” says Bloom. “People have the misconception that we have unlimited resources and time. The reality is that we are tiny in comparison to the challenges we face and operate on a shoestring.”

Having said that, Bloom reiterates that the organization has been able to accomplish a lot. While he wants to see Suncoast Waterkeeper grow, he embraces the model of a small but active group that relies on volunteers and contributors.  Bloom worked for the Hudson Riverkeeper, the original and archetype Waterkeeper organization when he was in New York. One of the signature characteristics of a Waterkeeper group comes from the Hudson Riverkeeper.

The current Interim Director of Suncoast Waterkeeper Andy Mele started his environmental career in New York’s Hudson Valley with the group known as Hudson River Sloop Clearwater that was formed by Pete Seeger, the famous folk singer and social activist. There he inherited a 30-year battle with General Electric, which was responsible for dumping over a million pounds of carcinogenic PCBs into the Hudson at two GE plants.  Mele helped develop the strategy that led to the EPA forcing GE to sign a consent decree for the cleanup.

Mele sees many similarities between the way GE avoided its environmental liabilities and local municipalities and corporations like Mosaic that mine phosphate on Florida’s west coast. Mele and other partners were instrumental in preventing Mosaic from mining in the Charlotte Harbor watershed.

Mele relates, “When Suncoast Waterkeeper joined with two national groups to sue St. Petersburg and Gulfport and won, we did more to remove nutrients from coastal waters than the entire state legislature.”

Suncoast Waterkeeper recently presented a notice of intent to sue directed at Sarasota County, which they accuse of releasing hundreds of millions of gallons of partially-treated, nutrient-rich wastewater into Sarasota Bay over almost a decade.

According to Mele, “this is important because, despite the federal and state statutes that are supposed to be protective of the environment and human health, politics and special interests intervene and enforcement lags. That’s exactly what happened when former Governor Rick Scott fired most of the state’s environmental enforcement staff within the first month of his tenure. The ferocious episodes of red tide and thick mats of toxic cyanobacteria have been the predictable result.”

Suncoast Waterkeeper depends on volunteers and contributions from local communities to do its important work. This is a critical juncture for the nation, Florida, and west coast communities like Anna Maria Island. Our way of life and an economy that depends on clean water is at stake.

To lend your physical and financial support, contact Suncoast Waterkeeper at P.O. Box 1028, Sarasota, FL 34230. The organization also can be reached by phone at 941-275-2922, by email at jbloom@suncoastwaterkeeper.org and amele@suncoastwaterkeeper.org, or visit the website.

More Reel Time:

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Reel Time: Tarpon primer

Reel Time: The morning run

Youth indoor soccer teams battle at The Center

Youth indoor soccer teams battle at The Center

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

Getting out of the heat of the summer, The Center’s gym is filled with soccer enthusiasts to play and watch indoor soccer Island style. With the Ross Built Construction boards up and the stage occupied by fans and players, the fuzzy yellow soccer ball whizzed across the court last Tuesday night.

Team Ugly Grouper matched up against Team AMI Locals in a game that ended in a tie after 40 minutes of fast-paced action.

The scoring started with a goal by Savanah Coba for AMI Locals just one minute into play. The team quickly took possession of the soccer ball to put another shot into the net, giving AMI Locals a two-point lead.

Without goalies in the game, the defense in the indoor soccer league has to play tough to protect its house. Both teams effectively utilized one player as a quasi-goalie, unable to use their hands in play.

Jayden Sparks scored a goal for Ugly Grouper putting the score to 2-1.

Coba took a nice shot only to be stopped by Jack Whiteside, Ugly Grouper’s goalie.

Newly added player Carsyn Deligans, visiting the Island for the season, showed the players and spectators she is a force to be reckoned with on the indoor soccer arena with the first of three goals in the game.

Utilizing their feet, heads and the walls, the two advanced teams fought hard for possession and position. The score moved closer after an own goal for AMI Locals.

With the score 3-2, a one-point lead for AMI Locals, the game headed into half time.

AMI Locals started the second half of play with a kickback to a defensive teammate. Evan Talucci, with Team AMI Locals, showed why he was named Goalie of the Year in the previous soccer season – this time playing without the use of his hands.

Will Wright scored his first goal of the game with Talucci just a little too far away from the net.

An accidental handball by Team Ugly Grouper allowed a direct penalty kick by Jack Harrison to hit the net and tie the game at 4-4.

Deligans scored another goal, once again giving her team the lead. Angelina Albrecht tried to close the gap with a shot saved by Talucci.

With 10 minutes left on the scoreboard clock, Albrecht took another shot, this time against Deligans who blocked the shot.

A minute later, Ugly Grouper tied it back up. Dalton Fox took the soccer ball down the court until there was one man to beat. Fox took the shot and scored for AMI Locals.

Jackson Long brought the game back to an even score, getting a strike past Talucci.

Albrecht and Long worked together, using the boards to move the ball into scoring position. Victor Albrecht took his own shot that went just right of the post.

Hoping to regain the lead and end the game with a win, Deligans showed an incomparable hustle and skilled footwork.

Deligans’ first shot sailed right of the post. Her next shot was blocked by Whiteside. As the clocked ticked down, Whiteside maintained the tie for his team with another save on the Deligans strike, ending the game with the score 6-6.

Related coverage

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Jiffy Lube dominates on the pitch

Rain delays season’s end, adult soccer on schedule

Castles in the Sand

Are you as smart as a private equity firm?

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

The phrase, “follow the money,” goes back to the Watergate era as a method to shed light on corrupt activities by looking at money transfers. But following the money does not always lead to corruption. It could lead to some really good business advice.

Last week we reported the May real estate sales statistics in both Manatee and Sarasota counties being up substantially to the point of registering the highest numbers post-recession. Manatee County’s median single-family home sale prices were up 4.9% from last year continuing the $300,000 or above median sales price for most of the past year and a half. How much of this increase in selling price is fueled by investors, we have no sure way of knowing. What we do know is investors are totally into the U.S. real estate market.

Based on data released by CoreLogic, Inc., last month more than 11% of U.S. home purchases in 2018 were made by investors. This is a record high of investors, the highest recorded and nearly twice the levels before the 2008 housing crash. Investors are purchasing to flip properties or turn them into single-family rentals. The investor profile is everything from big private-equity firms to real estate speculators and individuals who want to get in on the action.

Investors swooped into the housing market in 2011 and 2012, buying with all cash when prices were low and mortgage credit was difficult to get for the average buyer. Economists gave them credit for helping to stabilize the market but expected the investors to slow down when prices started climbing after everything returned to normal. However, that hasn’t happened, partly because of strong rental demand.

Unfortunately, much of the rental demand is coming from first-time buyers, specifically millennials who are competing with investors that are buying up the low end of the real estate market with all cash transactions. According to the CoreLogic survey, investors purchased one in five homes in the bottom third price range in 2018, exactly where first-time buyers generally start at.

Complicating things further for first-time buyers is technology. The internet has made it easier for smaller investors and foreign buyers to purchase properties sight unseen. A few weeks ago, I talked about iBuyer companies, such as Opendoor, Zillow and Redfin that offer cash to homeowners who want a quick deal, avoiding the stress of putting their homes on the market.

These properties are either flipped or sold to investors for potential rentals. CoreLogic further reported that investors bought about half of the starter homes in Philadelphia last year and about 40% of the lower end of the market in Detroit. Again, first-time buyers are being run over by cash investors and technology.

Investors are also banking on renting vs. buying being a double-edged sword. Owning their home has always been the goal of Americans and many feel that renting is inherently wrong and a waste of money. Now, however, first-time buyers are rethinking that calculation. Mobility for job advancement is important to millennials who understand that about five years is the break-even point between owning and renting and may opt to rent until their careers are stabilized.

Renting instead of buying is a conversation that doesn’t make me happy. I still believe that owning your own home has more benefits than renting and should not be entirely a business decision. My opinion – follow the money straight to your new home.

More Castles in the Sand:

Real independence

The buyer’s best buddy

Real estate selling for the smartphone generation

An AMI Fourth of July

Century old Ford still parading

Written by Tom Vaught on . Posted in Community News, History, Transportation.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – It was 1919 and the world was recovering from its first world war and planting the seeds for a second. In Pittsburgh, radio station KDKA was the first to receive a limited commercial license to broadcast. In Detroit, a Ford Model T was assembled and sold – the same one that drove in the Anna Maria Privateers’ Fourth of July Parade. For owners Sissy and Tom Quinn the classic four-door convertible almost didn’t make it.

While traveling toward Coquina Beach and the parade staging area, there was a loud boom and the passenger side front tire’s tube started making flapping sounds. They pulled into the Duffy’s Tavern parking lot and stopped. A motorist behind them, David Cassese, also stopped to see if he could help. He moved on after he surmised they were okay.

Don’t give up

The Quinns weighed the possibility of changing the tire; the spare was in good shape and full of air, thanks to Tom’s maintenance, but it was time consuming.

“I’ve never changed a tire with the jack,“ he said.

Things have changed over the last hundred years although the Quinns had the original jack and tools to do it. They called Sissy’s twin brother, Vinny Giorgio and his wife, Dottie, who joined them. They were approached by Holmes Beach Public Works employees offering help, but Tom Quinn and his brother-in-law, Vinny, got out the jack and started to separate the wheel from the car. The sun was out, but heat wasn’t a factor since it was still morning. The two men applied themselves and soon the new tire was on. Tom started up the 12.1-horsepower four-cylinder engine and moved the car under the shade of the car wash structure next door.

Tom and Sissy said they wanted to thank all those who offered help to get the centurion sedan going. Sissy Quinn believes in preserving history as she is director of the Anna Maia Historic Preservation Trust, a group that is trying to preserve some of the Island’s historic buildings.

The Model T goes Island

The Quinns got the car in 2001. It is mostly original and any upgrades, such as Rocky Mountain brakes for better stopping power and an electric starter, are factory approved.

Tom Quinn said the car could hit 35 mph although it’s happier at 25 mph, about the top speed of the golf carts that use the streets of Anna Maria Island. It is likely the old Model T would probably not get as many impatient drivers honking their horns at it. They would more likely get a short beep and a friendly wave.