Skip to main content

Tag: Anna Maria Island

Castles in the Sand

Taxes come and gone

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

April 15th has finally passed. Every year we hold our breath until this day is in our rearview mirror, especially this year. Let’s see how some of the changes impacted property owners and take a glance at the future.

Mortgage interest and state and local tax deductions have been the most controversial changes in the new tax code. The capping of state and local tax deductions has been a blow to states where these taxes are high and where homeowners own more than one property, driving families to make tough decisions about where to live.

However, of the two, the mortgage interest deduction is the one that could change the face of real estate. The eligible deductible mortgage interest was capped at real estate sales for $750,000 or less, this was reduced from $1 million. But this only tells part of the story; the real change is the doubling of the standard tax deduction to $12,000 for single people and $24,000 for married couples, making the mortgage interest deduction for many homeowners irrelevant.

So far less than half as many American homeowners are claiming the mortgage interest deduction for 2018 taxes than last year. When all tax filings are completed, it is estimated that the number of taxpayers who take the mortgage interest deduction will fall from 20 percent of returns in 2017 to 8 percent of returns in 2018.

For many economists, this is long overdue and could be the first nail in the coffin of the mortgage interest deduction being suspended permanently. The mortgage interest deduction has been in effect since 1913 when the income tax was created, and it was always assumed that the mortgage interest deduction encouraged homeownership, however, study after study does not agree with this. Our close allies, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia have no mortgage deductions and their homeownership rates are slightly higher than in the United States. Further, this subsidy reduced federal revenues by about $60 billion a year now down to around $30 billion. In addition, the mortgage interest deduction encourages homeowners to purchase larger homes with larger debt, increasing the likelihood of default and many believe has an environmental impact.

And as if New York City doesn’t have enough problems with a soft real estate market and high taxes, now the tax gun is pointed at the ultra-rich. There is already a “mansion tax” in effect in New York of 1 percent of purchased properties valued above $1 million, which doesn’t buy you much in New York City. Now the city wants to impose an additional tax starting at 0.5 percent a year on property valued over $5 million graduating up to 4 percent on property value that exceeds $25 million. How would you like to be a high-end real estate broker in New York if that happens?

As a final note on taxes, now that 2017’s tax returns are hopefully in the file cabinet, it’s probably a good time to have a chat with your accountant relative to payroll deductions. The tax overhaul did decrease weekly withholdings for most people resulting in smaller tax refunds than some people anticipated.

So, congratulations – you made it through a very hairy tax year. Now you can sit on the beach, read trashy novels and make the rounds of island restaurants. You deserve it after surviving the largest tax overhaul in a generation.

More Castles in the Sand:

Real estate process speeding up

Traffic, real estate sales up

Should you digitally – or actually – renovate?

Turtle watch volunteers ready for season

Turtle Watch volunteers ready for season

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

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – As the first day of turtle nesting season approaches and shorebirds begin pairing up and making nests, volunteers with Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring are making ready to protect them.

Turtle watch volunteers ready for season
Suzi Fox, right, director of Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring, briefs volunteers last week about their tasks during the six-month turtle season that begins on May 1. – Amy Waterbury | Submitted

The group’s volunteers need protecting too, Director Suzi Fox told them last week at CrossPointe Fellowship.

Turtle watch volunteers ready for season
Blue Water Beach Club is letting guests know about sea turtle nesting season, asking them to bring beach chairs off the beach at night. – Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring | Submitted

Each volunteer walks the beach at least two miles at dawn once a week. Fox told her group that the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is asking Turtle Watch to have each beach walker take two days instead of one beginning next season, and that anyone unable to walk that much without assistance should think about making way for new volunteers to participate.

Other volunteer positions include staffing the Turtle Watch booth at festivals, giving Turtle Talks, fundraising and staffing school events.

Turtle season begins on May 1 and lasts through Halloween, but turtles can start showing up any time now, Fox said. The organization’s volunteers already are making sweeps up and down Island beaches to check for nesting of turtles and shorebirds, which begin nesting earlier than turtles.

Turtle Tips

  • Turn off lights visible from the beach and close blinds from sundown to sunrise; lights confuse nesting sea turtles and may cause them to go back to sea and drop their eggs in the water, where they won’t hatch. Light can also attract hatchlings away from the water.
  • Don’t use flashlights, lanterns or camera flashes on the beach at night.
  • Remove all objects from the sand from sundown to sunrise; they can deter sea turtles from nesting and disorient hatchlings.
  • Fill in the holes you dig in the sand before leaving the beach; they can trap nesting and hatching sea turtles, which cannot live long out of the water.
  • Don’t use wish lanterns or fireworks; they litter the beach and Gulf.
  • Do not trim trees and plants that shield the beach from lights.
  • Never touch a sea turtle; it’s the law. If you see people disturbing turtles, call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Wildlife Alert hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922).

Bird tips

  • Never touch a shorebird chick, even if it’s wandering outside a staked nesting area.
  • Teach kids not to chase birds – bird parents may abandon nests if they’re disturbed.
  • Don’t feed birds – it encourages them to fly at people aggressively and is not good for their health.
  • If birds are screeching and flying at you, you’re too close.
  • Avoid posted bird nesting areas and use designated walkways to the beach.
  • Keep pets away from bird nesting areas.
  • Keep the beach clean; food scraps attract predators such as raccoons and crows to the beach, and litter can entangle birds and other wildlife.
  • If you see people disturbing nesting birds, call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Wildlife Alert hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922).

Beach ‘n good food and fun

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

Hot weather didn’t stop people from enjoying the music, car show, kids zone and food served by a dozen food trucks at the Beach ‘n Food Truck Festival on Saturday at Coquina Beach. Boat and trolley shuttles helped keep down the traffic but some drivers parked illegally along an access road, slowing down the trolley shuttles.

Customers raved about the lobster rolls from this colorful food truck. - Tom Vaught | Sun

Customers raved about the lobster rolls from this colorful food truck. - Tom Vaught | Sun

Whiskey Blind was one of several bands that provided live music. - Tom Vaught | Sun

Whiskey Blind was one of several bands that provided live music. - Tom Vaught | Sun

Customers ate at small tables outside this truck. - Tom Vaught | Sun

Customers ate at small tables outside this truck. - Tom Vaught | Sun

Reel Time: When opportunity meets preparedness

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

Out there!  It’s where we all want to be, and where we get so few chances to actually spend time. Whether it’s stalking permit in Belize, poling a flat in Florida for tailing redfish, wading into the northeast surf for stripers, or casting for sea-run rainbows on the west coast, we actually spend more time wishing than fishing. When we do get a chance to pursue our passion, we face the unpredictable forces of a whimsical natural world that can send us hurricanes, fronts, wind storms, clouds and floods. Golf anyone?

While the world of fishing in general, and fly fishing in particular, presents us so many challenges, it’s just these tests that make it so appealing. That’s why we stalk fish with these inventive combinations of feathers, fur, synthetics and tinsel. The excitement of making a presentation to a feeding game fish, fooling it into taking a fly, and then feeling the elemental power transferred through graphite and cork makes all the preparation, time, money and past disappointments moot.

Reel Time Preparedness
If you pursue permit, the “Holy Grail” of fly fishing, you’ll have to be prepared to fish in the wind on open flats. – Rusty Chinnis | Sun

With so many unavoidable pitfalls facing the fly angler there is often a propensity to just hope for the best, and then take what the gods give you. How many of us have waited for months to take that trip of a lifetime, had perfect conditions and then found our casting abilities no match for our prey?  The old saying that luck is “opportunity meeting preparedness” is especially true for fly fishers. Why not develop the mindset that everything you do, (on the water and off), contributes to turning odds into opportunities?

Preparation comes in many forms, and the most important components are practiced throughout the year. By being prepared, I mean having your tackle in top form, as well as knowing how to tie proper knots and flies that imitate the food of your prey. Casting skills are developed over a lifetime, and practice should not be saved for fishing trips, or even the days leading up to a trip. The best practice is on grass, throwing to targets (dinner plates or hoops) placed at different distances. Don’t make the mistake of judging your casting ability by how long a line you can throw. Learn to make a tight, accurate 40-foot cast first, and then work on distance.

While I’ve been privileged to learn from some of the industry’s leading experts over the years, I’ve also found that perhaps the best instructor has been experience. One of the first and most important lessons I’ve learned is to see the wind as friend not foe. If you’re new to the game, don’t put off a fly fishing trip because the wind is daunting. I’ll never forget my first trip to the Bahamas when I was face to face with a large school of bonefish just 40 feet away…. into a 25 mph headwind! All those days of avoiding the wind meant that I didn’t have the skills to get the fly to them!  Now I can appreciate the windy days because I know that if I can surmount the challenge I can benefit from the conditions. I know that fish are far less spooky and will more readily take the fly I put in their path and that waves on a riffled surface can provide windows into the water.  As a bonus, if I can make a good presentation into a 15-knot wind I’ll be golden on those rare days when the wind is in my favor.

Mental preparedness is equally important and often overlooked. Having the proper mental attitude is a critical skill of top fly fishers. Visualization, or guided imagery, is an art that is practiced extensively by all top athletes but is seldom mentioned in fly fishing. It’s the ability to form a mental picture of the outcome you desire by seeing the quarry in exquisite detail and imagining yourself making the perfect presentation, setting the hook, feeling the line and the pressure on the rod as the fish streaks for the horizon. The “top guns” know how to make a plan and visualize their outcome. They’re prepared when an opportunity presents itself as “luck.” So the next time you have a chance to go fishing don’t let the wind dissuade you. The fishing might actually be better and at the worst, you’ll get some practice that will pay dividends in your fishing future.

More Reel Time:

Reel Time: Homosassa, river of fishes

Reel Time: Mentors chart course

Reel Time: Clear water hides looming problem

Spring Lake cleanup options presented

Spring Lake cleanup options presented

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

HOLMES BEACH – The situation at Spring Lake isn’t likely to resolve itself and commissioners want to explore all of their options before deciding how to proceed with a cleanup.

During an April 9 meeting, City Engineer Lynn Burnett and fellow LTA Engineers representative Eron Wasserman gave commissioners an update on the effort to clean up the pollution in Spring Lake.

Burnett said that the algae on the bottom of the lake has eaten away the solid waste pollution on the bottom of the lake, leaving approximately three feet of sediment and sludge. To remove one foot of the sludge by dredging, Burnett said it would cost the city about $245,000 for the dredging and an additional estimated $196,000 to haul the dredged material to a landfill. Part of the issue, she said, is that there’s limited access to the lake and limited area to lay out and dry the dredge material before it can be taken to a landfill.

Another option is to find a type of sealife that can survive in the acidic, brackish water and use it to clean the water. Burnett said she’s still attempting to find out what kind of organism would be best suited to the task.

Wasserman said that one thing that would help the lake water almost immediately would be to install an aeration system. The system would mix the water and add oxygen to it, reducing the amount of acid in the water. Burnett said that the constant movement would create a more uniform water column in the lake. She anticipates that an aeration system would cost $8,800 to install, including the first year’s maintenance, with an additional $744 in annual costs.

Wasserman said that if commissioners approve the aeration system, what’s planned is to place a compressor on an existing cement pad on Palm Drive and use the storm water system to run pipes underground to the lake. A second system would be located on the opposite side of the lake and a third would possibly be installed with pipes in the middle of the lake. The pipes would push air bubbles up through the water to mix it.

Burnett said that with oxygenation and the right marine life installed to eat the existing algae on the bottom of the lake, it could leave Spring Lake with a layer of clean sand and sediment.

Commissioners asked Burnett to bring back plans and a contract for the aeration system to their next meeting for further consideration and possible approval.

Related coverage

Deciding the future of Spring Lake

Spring Lake pollution continues to be a problem

Pedal pub proposal falls flat

Pedal bus proposal falls flat

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

ANNA MARIA – Anna Maria commissioners offered no support for a proposed eight-to-12 passenger pedal bus that would allow passengers to drink alcohol while traveling in traffic lanes at slow speeds.

Illinois resident and Anna Maria Island property owner Robert Secord pitched his pedal bus proposal to the Anna Maria Commission on Thursday, April 11. Secord said he would like to have one pedal bus in Anna Maria and another in Holmes Beach.

Secord said the pedal bus he has in mind has six seats on each side, with pedals underneath that are connected to the drive shaft. The pedal bus would be steered by a company employee who has full control of the steering and braking. Some pedal bus operations use a second employee as the tour host.

Secord said the business model is based on clients reserving the pedal bus in advance for a tour lasting 90 to 120 minutes.

Secord said a pedal bus can travel at 4 to 7 miles per hour and is equipped with a small motor for short-term use when needed.

“We don’t supply the alcohol. We permit it as a limousine or party bus, so they can bring their own beverages,” Secord said. “The primary marketing focus is the tour experience, coupled with maybe a beer or margarita.”

Secord said party bus operations have a strong appeal with women and are often used for bachelorette parties and wedding-related activities.

“The indirect benefit is how it promotes the rest of Anna Maria’s businesses,” he added.

“If it can happen, the pedal bus needs to be permitted as a private establishment to exempt it from open container and consumption laws on public roadways. That’s probably the biggest point of contention getting this business authorized in Anna Maria,” Secord acknowledged.

Commission reaction

Commissioner Amy Tripp asked if a permit is needed.

“The open container is the $5,000 elephant in the room,” Mayor Dan Murphy said.

“Open container would be the issue,” Manatee County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Mike Jones said in response to Murphy.

City Attorney Becky Vose said the city would have to rewrite its relevant ordinance. She asked Secord if the pedal bus would also pass through Holmes Beach. Secord said it would, and he has not yet presented his idea to Holmes Beach commissioners.

Commissioner Doug Copeland said, “I think you would find yourself hated because traffic is bad enough. The people that live here will say, ‘What the hell is this?’ They already curse the golf carts that don’t travel even 25 miles per hour. I think you’ll face a lot of negative feelings from the community, even if it were allowed.”

Commission Chair Brian Seymour said his biggest concern was the impact on residential neighborhoods.

“You’re putting a party-type atmosphere on our residential streets,” he said.

Seymour said he’s seen pedal buses in Key West and Daytona, but he thinks it would be an issue in Anna Maria.

“I have a problem with the open container piece. You can’t ride a bicycle with a beer in your hand. You can’t walk down the street with a beer in your hand,” Tripp said of the city ordinances, also noting that a passenger in a car can’t have an open beer.

“Going way below the speed limit on these really crowded, congested roads it seems really dangerous,” she added.

Commissioner Dale Woodland shared the concerns expressed by the other commissioners.

“I encourage you to go present to the other cities and see what kind of feedback you get,” Seymour said.

“It’s not a make-or-break deal for me. It’s an idea I thought would be pretty cool to present to the Island,” Secord said as the discussion ended with no formal request made and no commission action taken.

Island bridges, roundabouts on DOT radar

Island bridges, roundabouts on DOT radar

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

BRADENTON BEACH – The members of the Coalition of Barrier Island Elected Officials had a lot to think about when Florida Department of Transportation representative Albert Rosenstein appeared before them to give an update on ongoing projects.

Roundabouts

Rosenstein said the two roundabouts planned for Manatee Avenue in Holmes Beach are almost through the department’s approval process. A planned roundabout for Manatee Avenue at East Bay Drive is in the last of three stages of approval. He said that no right of way acquisition is needed for the project, but it will wait for construction until the accompanying roundabout at Manatee Avenue and Gulf Drive can be built.

The roundabout at Manatee Avenue and Gulf Drive, at the main entrance to Manatee Beach, is in the second stage of approval. Rosenstein said this roundabout does require a right of way purchase. Construction on the roundabouts is expected to take place at the same time and is currently not funded. An extension of the northbound turn lane from Manatee Avenue to Gulf Drive is currently funded in the fifth year of the DOT’s current funding cycle.

How to Navigate a Roundabout
To navigate a single-lane roundabout, vehicles are required to reduce speed to 10 to 15 miles per hour when approaching the roundabout. Drivers must look for and yield to bicyclists and pedestrians. The two roundabouts planned for Holmes Beach will have pedestrian crosswalks at each of the four entrances to the roundabout. All vehicles circle the roundabout to the right. Drivers entering the roundabout must yield to the vehicles already in the roundabout. Enter the roundabout when there is a gap in traffic and do not stop or attempt to pass other vehicles. Use a turn signal to indicate when exiting the roundabout.
Drivers should never stop once in the roundabout but can slow down to allow another vehicle to enter. If an emergency vehicle comes through the roundabout, drive to the nearest exit and then move over beyond the splitter island. – FDOT

Anna Maria Island Bridge

Design plans are expected to be complete in late 2019 for the new high-span Anna Maria Island Bridge on Manatee Avenue. The bridge will have a 65-foot navigational clearance with a 74-foot maximum height and a 4 percent grade. A new bridge is planned to lift off and set down in the footprint of the current bridge and be constructed just to the south of the existing drawbridge. Though the new bridge is on the DOT’s advanced project list, Rosenstein said it’s currently unfunded.

Cortez Bridge

Though Rosenstein didn’t know if the plans were still negotiable, he said that the favored replacement for the aging Cortez Bridge is a high-span bridge also with 65 feet of navigable space underneath the bridge. Because the bridge would have to be slightly shorter than the Anna Maria Bridge, Rosenstein said the current projections show the bridge with a 5 percent grade. Currently, the bridge is awaiting the design phase and construction is unfunded. Rosenstein said he expects the concept for the replacement bridge to be officially approved in October. With the Cortez Bridge, he said there will be right of way acquisitions or imposition of eminent domain by the department. The new bridge is planned to be constructed just to the north of the existing drawbridge.

Longboat Pass Bridge

Beginning June 10, Rosenstein said that repair work will begin on the Longboat Pass Bridge. Construction is expected to take approximately 80 days to complete. Lane closures will occur Mondays through Thursdays from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. with no closures planned on the weekends. Lanes could be closed for up to 15 minutes periodically from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. during the week for testing with no detours planned. Two days of detours for machinery to be brought on or removed from the bridge are planned from midnight to 5 a.m. The days of those detours and the path of the detours are not yet known.

Related coverage

New details emerge for high-span bridge

A wake up call on the proposed Cortez Bridge

Paid Island parking rejected by local leaders

Paid Island parking rejected by local leaders

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

BRADENTON BEACH – If there’s one thing the leaders of the four Island cities, including Longboat Key, can agree on, it’s that they don’t support paid parking at Manatee County beaches or at county boat ramps.

Manatee County Commissioner Carol Whitmore attended the April 9 Coalition of Barrier Island Elected Officials meeting, held at Bradenton Beach City Hall, to gather the opinions of Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key elected leaders before beginning official talks with her fellow county commissioners.

Whitmore said she’s opposed to any paid parking on Anna Maria Island because she feels it takes away from the community feel of the area. If she had to choose a type of paid parking though, she said she’d rather have paid parking at county-maintained boat ramps than at the beaches.

Island community leaders said they’d rather see county commissioners find a different way to deal with the expense of required maintenance at boat ramps than charge people for parking.

Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth said she feels that there isn’t enough parking available at the county-maintained boat ramps, including Kingfish boat ramp on Manatee Avenue, to contribute in any real way toward the millions of dollars it takes to periodically renovate boat ramps.

Bradenton Beach Mayor John Chappie agreed, saying that there are only about two dozen parking spaces at the newly renovated Coquina boat ramp, not enough to be a good financial source for the county.

Whitmore said the county relies on general funds, West Coast Inland Navigational District (WCIND) grants and funds from boater registration to pay for maintenance and upgrades to the county-maintained boat ramps. Because of the limited amount of funds available, she said the county is behind on needed repairs to boat ramps like Kingfish and is now looking at spending a lot of time and money to get the newly-acquired Palma Sola boat ramp, located on the southwestern end of the causeway, back to a safe operating state. A large-scale renovation at Kingfish boat ramp also is on the horizon.

Bradenton Beach Commissioner Jake Spooner said that he’s not in favor of paid parking, tolls or anything that might discourage families, particularly those with limited financial means, from enjoying the outdoor activities offered for free at the local beaches and boat ramps.

“It’s not just about the money,” he said. “There’s other ways of finding the money.”

Holmes Beach Commissioner Carol Soustek added that having paid parking at public beaches would push parking into nearby residential neighborhoods, adding to the strain already felt by residents due to the increasing tourism on the Island.

Though the city leaders did not support paid parking, they did support signage for the Cortez Road and Anna Maria Island bridges that would alert motorists to parking availability at boat ramps and beaches.

While Whitmore pointed out that many people would ignore the signs, West Manatee Fire Rescue Commissioner Al Robinson said that even if only 5 percent of people turn around rather than crowd onto the Island’s streets when parking is full, the investment in the signs, controlled by local law enforcement, would be worth the funds.

Whitmore said she’d ask the county and the Manatee County Tourist Development Council about funding for the project.

No plans made for future Grassy Point development

No plans made for future Grassy Point development

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

HOLMES BEACH – There may be some improvements coming to Grassy Point Preserve in the future, but city commissioners want to weigh all of their options before making any decisions.

City Engineer Lynn Burnett appeared before commissioners at an April 10 work session to present an update on the passive park. She said that a survey of the city’s property and surrounding area is complete along with topographical elevations. With a normal high tide, she said the area of Grassy Point closest to the water remains relatively dry, however during king tides and other abnormally high tide events, the area floods. In her suggestions for the future development of the site, Burnett said a passive walkway, a raised boardwalk and building berms with culverts underneath and WaStop valves to combat sea level rise may all be good options for consideration.

“It’s a beautiful asset,” she said of the park.

Burnett is planning to present renderings of possible additions to the current park pathways to the city’s Parks and Beautification Committee during their Wednesday, May 1 meeting to get feedback before presenting the sketches to commissioners.

Commissioner Carol Soustek said she’s happy to know what property, submerged and otherwise, the city owns, however on second thought and after getting feedback from some residents, she’s unsure that a raised boardwalk or kayak launch are good options for Grassy Point.

With the renderings being presented at the commission’s first May work session, which is not yet scheduled, she recommended that any residents with suggestions or concerns email city hall or bring them before commissioners at that meeting.

Another topic for commission discussion is the nearly 30 unbuildable lots surrounding the city’s Grassy Point property. Attorney Patricia Petruff said the lots were declared wetlands and unbuildable by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection nearly 25 years ago, lowering the assessed value of each lot to somewhere around $500. Soustek suggested the city look into purchasing as many of the lots as possible to incorporate into Grassy Point as conservation lands.

Commissioner Kim Rash took the suggestion a step further, suggesting the city offer some sort of tax incentive to have people donate the land to Holmes Beach since it is considered unbuildable.

Related coverage

Insider’s Island – The insider’s guide to outdoors AMI

Grassy Point Preserve gallery

Castles in the Sand

Real estate process speeding up

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

For me, a good recipe has three main components – less than five ingredients, less than 30 minutes and less than two pots. A good real estate transaction is not so different than a good recipe; the objective is to keep it simple.

One of the most tortuous aspects of buying a home has always been the mortgage application process. First, you are asked to provide the lender with W2s, pay stubs, tax returns and possibly your blood type. Then the “loan officer” does a credit check and pulls your credit score. He/she then rolls up their sleeves and adjusts their eye visor and starts plowing through your personal data trying to find why you may not be trustworthy with their money.

The first thing they’re looking for is credit score and if your score is hovering around 600 be prepared to renew your rental lease or pay a larger down payment and/or higher interest rate. Also, your income must support the amount of mortgage you’re applying for and your general credit report must show no serious late payments and hopefully no bankruptcies.

Naturally, while this process is under scrutiny, you will experience some of the most stress you will ever have especially if you’re a first-time buyer. But there is good news which may not take away all of the steps during the process but could speed up the process considerably.

Mortgage lenders are starting to outspeed themselves, that is promising quick mortgage confirmations and a more streamlined process, even offering cash bonuses if they don’t meet their target date. In 2018 it took an average of 43 days to close a home mortgage but now some lenders are doing it in 21 days or less.

One of the ways this is accomplished is of course through technology that can link banks to the loan application allowing the lender to obtain documentation and data directly. It may also be possible to have a remote closing, also speeding up the process.

In addition, with the blessing of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, some properties may be eligible for an “appraisal waiver,” the thought of which makes me shake in my sandals. Instead of Fannie and Freddie having more restrictions in the wake of the 2008 financial crises fueled by low down payments and many no documentation loans, the Housing Finance Reform recently issued has done the opposite, keeping the American taxpayer on the hook for loan defaults.

However, mortgage rates are approaching 4 percent which will hopefully jump-start the housing market. The average 30-year fixed rate mortgage during the first week of April fell to 4.06 percent, the lowest since January of 2018. Freddie Mac said the rates have been dropping quickly as much as a quarter point in one week, the biggest drop in over a decade. Naturally, mortgage applications increased by 8.9 percent in early April.

I’m not sure how I feel about the link to your bank but other than that I’m all for a speedy process, which can be very important if you have an all-cash buyer who has suddenly shown interest in the home you want. So future homebuyers, as you start stepping back into the market since you can’t resist the interest rates, just remember less is more, in mortgage processing and in cooking.

More Castles in the Sand:

Traffic, real estate sales up

Flood insurance rates changing

Should you digitally – or actually – renovate?

Rise and shine on Easter

Rise and shine on Easter

Written by Tom Vaught on . Posted in Archives.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Kiwanis of Anna Maria Island invites all to experience the 55th Annual Easter Sunrise Service on Sunday, April 21 at 6:30 a.m. at Manatee Beach, 4000 Gulf Drive.

The service is uplifting and ecumenical, with all invited to join in singing inspirational Easter music, and all the Island churches participating.

Father Matthew Grunfeld of Episcopal Church of the Annunciation will deliver the opening prayer. Rev. Edward Moss of CrossPointe Fellowship and Rev. Douglas Kings of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church will deliver scriptures. Rev. Dr. Bob O’Keefe of Roser Church will deliver the sermon. Matthew Nowicki, Director of Faith Formation at St. Bernard Catholic Church will deliver the offering prayer. Rev. Stephen King of Harvey Memorial will deliver the benediction.

The crowd normally numbers between 1,200 and 2,000 people. There is ample parking, and the Island Trolley will be up and running at 6 a.m. The Anna Maria Beach Café also will open at 6 a.m. to serve coffee. Bring chairs or a blanket to sit on and dress for the weather.

The offertory collection will be divided among the participating churches and the Kiwanis Club for its State College of Florida Key Club Scholarship program.

Earthy ideas from The Sun

Earthy ideas from The Sun

Written by Cindy Lane on . Posted in Awards, Awards 2019, Coast Lines, Outdoors, Special Sections, Third Place.

Odette Katrak was sitting at her computer in Bengaluru, India Googling “Imagine There’s No Plastic,” a song based on John Lennon’s “Imagine” that she had recently recorded and posted on YouTube.Coast Lines logo - border

What popped up was The Anna Maria Island Sun’s Coast Lines column headlined “Imagine there’s no plastic,” published July 24, 2018.

She reached out from the other side of the Earth and wrote to us.

We both noted how interesting it is that ideas often pop up at the same time across the universe.

“So delighted to read your article titled ‘Imagine there’s no plastic’ which I chanced upon just now,” she wrote. “I too am bothered about the untold amounts of plastic in our lives.”

Third Place
Commentary
2019

While Bengaluru (Bangalore) and Bradenton Beach are quite different – the former has 12 million people, for starters, and it only seems like that many here during tourist season – it turns out that we also have quite a lot in common.

Earthy ideas from The Sun
Odette Katrak, co-founder of Beautiful Bengaluru.

Bengaluru has water shortages, just as we do in Florida.

Called an eco-warrior by her local newspaper, the Deccan Chronicle, Odette’s response to water shortages was to send out one message a day during March about saving water.

India also has plastics washing up on the beaches of the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal, just as we do on the beaches of the Gulf of Mexico and Palma Sola Bay, including plastic pieces of an oil rig that appeared on Bradenton Beach in 2015.

That was the year Odette co-founded Beautiful Bengaluru, a group working for “a clean, green, safe city and a greener planet.”

She’s a lot like the subject of The Sun’s story, Capt. Bill Brooker, who picks up plastic from Sarasota Bay during his lessons and charters.

“Today, one of my core raison d’etre’s is to eliminate plastic  – not from my life (it’s gone already and we are a zero-waste family) – but from the lives of people who don’t even realize it is harming them,” she wrote.

Beautiful Bengaluru will be publishing a new website soon that will include a startling poster with a piece of plastic covering a bird’s head and long neck. The photo was taken by American photographer John Calcolosi, who gave Odette permission for it to be used for the “Imagine there’s no plastic” video.

“This is fortunate, as this stunning visual sends out a powerful message on a vital worldwide environment theme. It will be one of many teaching tools “relevant to any city in the world,” she wrote.

Earthy ideas from The Sun
This “Imagine There’s No Plastic” poster will be one of many on the forthcoming Beautiful Bengaluru website.

Maybe someday we can keep our plastic trash from washing up on each other’s shores, with a little help from our friends.

Earth Day

A good day to pick up plastic trash from the beach is Monday, April 22, Earth Day.

Back in 1970 when Earth Day was founded, few had any earthly idea about the things that were about to happen to the Earth. Climate change. The Exxon Valdez. Melting glaciers. Fracking. Repetitive red tides. Blue-green algae.

Deepwater Horizon.

April 20 marks the ninth anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill, the worst environmental disaster in the history of the Gulf, which killed 11 people, injured 17, and killed millions of fish, marine mammals, sea turtles and shorebirds. An estimated 4.9 million barrels of oil leaked into the Gulf of Mexico, treated with a chemical dispersant that broke down the oil, but did not eliminate it.

While we didn’t see any oil wash up on local beaches, Manatee County qualified for RESTORE Act funding, fines that BP paid for the disaster.

Local RESTORE Act projects include the Gulf Shellfish Institute Sea Farm to Table project for research on shellfish production and the Coastal Watershed Management Program to address flooding and drainage problems, including nutrient runoff in local waters that worsens red tide.

To observe the Deepwater Horizon anniversary and Earth Day, help “restore” a beach and pick up some plastic from a local patch of sand.

And enjoy the Earth.

Fashion lights up Center runway

Fashion lights up Center runway

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Entertainment, Events, Family fun.

ANNA MARIA – The Island’s first fashion show at The Center of Anna Maria Island left attendees with an itch to shop at local Pine Avenue boutiques.

The elegant luncheon event brought around 113 patrons to The Center to see the latest in spring and summer fashions from local Pine Avenue boutiques Pink & Navy and Bella by the Sea, along with jewelry by Island Charms. Pink & Navy owner Amy Fleece and Bella by the Sea owner Jo-Ann Lefner styled the models, served as emcees for the fashion show and worked as members of the event committee.

Twelve models took to the runway to display casual clothing, beachwear and more elegant looks for men, women and children. Models for the event included Barbara Zdravecky, Darcie Duncan, Dr. Sarah Somai, Whitney Beasley, Ava Smith, Kara Bettle, Gigi Bettle, Daphne Bettle, Center Executive Director Chris Culhane, Kim Miccolette, Kelly Kary and Louise Platt. Joining her father for an impromptu final walk down the runway was Mikaela Culhane.

Prior to the runway show, event co-chairs Karen Harllee and Natalie Thrasher honored local entrepreneurs Mike Thrasher and Ed Chiles for their contributions to The Center and the revitalization of Pine Avenue as a green main street. Though Chiles wasn’t present, M. Thrasher was on-hand to receive a gift – a crystal clock in honor of the time he’s contributed to the Island community.

In addition to taking the runway as a model, Zdravecky also took the stage to give a speech on female empowerment prior to the fashion show. Culhane also stepped up to thank not only the fashion show’s sponsors and the vendors who put on the event but also the attendees, the proceeds of whose ticket purchases went to support The Center’s programs. Contributions to The Center also were raised through the selling of the orchid centerpieces used on the tables for $20 each and through the silent auction items and adventures specifically designed to help empower women to look and feel their best. All silent auction items and adventure packages were donated by local artists and business owners.

Attendees were greeted by the sounds of live steel drum music. A light luncheon also was served featuring a tropical grilled chicken salad by catering company The Loft 5 along with mini cupcakes and specially designed cookies by Hometown Desserts.

Sponsors for the event include Bella by the Sea, Beach Life AMI, Center Montessori School, Duncan Real Estate, Emerson Artist, Amy and Jonathan Fleece, Gagne Construction, Karen and Alex Harllee, Hometown Desserts, Island Charms, Jo-Ann and John Lefner, Joan McArthur, Marlane Wurzbach, Olive Oil Outpost, Palmer’s Orchids, Pineapplefish Unique Island Rentals, Pink & Navy, Salon Salon, Sheilegh Menzies, Shiny Fish Emporium, Sato Real Estate, Sounds of Steel, Mike & Natalie Thrasher, U.S. Tent and VACASA.

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Fewer storms forecast, but it only takes one

Fewer storms forecast, but it only takes one

Written by Tom Vaught on . Posted in Anna Maria Island, Community News.

FORT COLLINS – The Colorado State University hurricane research team has issued its first prediction for the 2019 tropical storm season and it is good news, for now

The forecast, authored by Dr. Phillip Klotzbach, predicts a total of 13 named storms turning into five hurricanes and two major (Category 3 or more) hurricanes.

Last season, the region experienced 15 named storms, eight hurricanes and two major hurricanes. One of those major storms, Michael, was one of the most powerful hurricanes ever to hit the United States. It leveled buildings in Mexico Beach, Fla., and throughout the Florida Panhandle, with winds just shy of Category 5 strength.

On average, the Atlantic and Caribbean region gets 12 named storms, six hurricanes and three major hurricanes.

According to Klotzbach’s report, “During the past several months, El Niño conditions have developed in the Pacific Ocean, meaning that sea surface temperatures in the eastern tropics are warmer than normal. In general, El Niño conditions tend to suppress Atlantic hurricane formation, as a result of increases in upper-level winds that tear apart developing Atlantic hurricanes.

“Predicting changes in El Niño is extremely difficult during the spring season, so although we know there’s an El Niño now, we don’t know whether it will continue through the rest of the year,” the report says. “Very small changes in wind conditions can cause big changes in the ocean circulation at this time of year. Consequently, the models that forecast El Niño tend to have less skill, which is the measure of the accuracy of the prediction versus what really happens. Nevertheless, these models do have modest ability to predict conditions for the next several months.”

The CSU team will release updates to their predictions on June 4, July 2 and Aug. 6.

Related coverage

Hurricane Michael brushing Anna Maria Island

Hurricane Guide

Sandpiper residents request lighted crosswalk

Sandpiper residents request lighted crosswalk

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

BRADENTON BEACH – At the request of Sandpiper Resort Co-Op residents, city commissioners are committing up to $50,000 to install a lighted crosswalk at the intersection of Gulf Drive and 27th Street North.

Manatee County will reimburse the city for half the crosswalk costs as part of a 2018 interlocal funding agreement that provides each Island city with up to $333,000 in matching surplus beach concession funds for public projects.

The commission is also pursuing additional crossing, safety and lighting improvements along Gulf Drive near Katie Pierola Sunset Park and the Gulf Drive Cafe.

On Thursday, April 4, the commission unanimously authorized a contract with MSB Services not to exceed $50,000 for the installation of the 27th Street/Gulf Drive crosswalk. The contract includes the original $31,490 MSB Services estimated to install the rapid flashing beacon crossing.

At the suggestion of Vice Mayor Jake Spooner, the contract also provides up to $18,510 in additional funds for the possible inclusion of an audio signaling component that would provide the blind and visually impaired with audio confirmation that the push-button crossing lights have been activated.

The commission previously discussed a lighted crosswalk at the 26th Street North/Gulf Drive intersection but agreed to move it down one block where an unlighted crosswalk already exists with trolley stops on both sides of Gulf Drive.

“It makes a lot more sense to have it at 27th Street because of the trolley stops,” Spooner said. “It’s a really busy area. There’s also someone living in the park that has a disability.”

Spooner submitted the crosswalk request after Sandpiper resident Doug LeFevre made him aware of the mobile home community’s safety concerns.

Spooner said City Engineer Lynn Burnett recently told him it could take up to seven years for the Florida Department of Transportation to install the requested crossing on the state-owned road. Spooner said the new lighted crosswalk will resemble the crosswalk previously installed near the Runaway Bay condominiums.

Resident concerns

Spooner asked Deputy Clerk Ruth Stief to read aloud a letter from the Sandpiper residents that was signed by Co-op President Ivan Harper.

“We are a senior community located on the east side of Gulf Drive. We have 166 units within the Sandpiper. We have had numerous incidents reported from our residents about close calls or waiting long periods of time to cross the street to either access the beach or catch the trolley going southbound. We have a number of residents over the age of 70 as well as a visually-impaired resident. We are asking for the city to provide a flashing light at the crosswalk to ensure the safety of our residents,” the letter said.

Addressing the commission, Sandpiper resident Bob Gumson said, “I’m probably the visually-impaired person that was referred to. I’m totally blind. It’s a serious concern crossing that street. I’d like to be able to cross the street and take the trolley to the beach. The only way that’s going to happen is to get some kind of signaling light that stops traffic.”

Gumson referenced the White Cane Law that requires vehicles to come to a full stop when a pedestrian is attempting to cross the street using a white cane or with the assistance of a guide dog.

“I have stood there with my cane out and cars don’t stop. They just whiz by. You’re supposed to stop for a white cane,” Gumson said.

“Mr. Gumson is probably the most active blind person I have ever been around. We love him dearly, but we have a lot of other folks who are not technically disabled but have difficulty navigating the street,” Harper added.

After the meeting, Spooner said, “It’s always a pleasure when we can help resolve public concerns in our community, especially when it comes to safety. It was a refreshing reminder of the bright side of being a public servant.”