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Tag: Anna Maria Island

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.

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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.”

Rotary Club scores again with annual golf tournament

Rotary Club scores again with annual golf tournament

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Golf, Sports.

BRADENTON – The foursome sponsored by LaPensee Plumbing Pools & Air won the Fifth Annual Rotary Club of Anna Maria Island Charity Golf Tournament.

More than 70 golfers participated in the Wednesday, April 3 fundraising tournament held again this year at the IMG Academy Golf Club in Bradenton.

Greg LaPensee, Jason Ghromley, Bryan Meador and Brandon Johnson shot a combined low score of 54 in the best ball style of play tournament co-sponsored by The Anna Maria Island Sun.

While standing in the buffet line at the after-tournament awards dinner, LaPensee Plumbing Pools and Air co-owner and Rotarian Mike LaPensee commented on his son’s team’s victory.

“They did awesome. They have played this thing a few times and they were on the numbers today,” LaPensee said.

LaPensee said the Rotary Club’s charitable efforts tie in nicely with their family businesses’ approach to community service.

“The community supports us and we do our best to support them,” LaPensee said.

When asked about the win, Greg LaPensee said, “This is the second time we won – we won two years ago. This is a fantastic tournament. We support it as a company and the opportunity to give back to the Island is really important to me, especially having grown up on the Island.”

The foursome of Bruce Abramson, Mark Caputo, Lee Anderson and Fred Carvin finished second with a combined score of 57.

“We should’ve played better on the other three holes, but we had a lot of fun,” Carvin said.

Carvin is a member of the Palmetto Rotary Club.

“They send a team over to our tournament and we come over to theirs. We like to support other clubs,” Carvin said.

Chris Staubo, from Norway, traveled the farthest to compete in this year’s tournament. Fourteen-year-old Brennan Decker, from Indianapolis, was this year’s youngest contestant.

Each foursome paid a $400 entry fee. The fundraising activities that continued during the awards dinner in the IMG banquet room included a silent auction and raffles that included Wheel Barrow of Cheer won by Paulie Caputo.

Once again, nobody won the free car Bob Boast Volkswagen offered to the first golfer to score a hole in one on the designated par 3 hole.

New this year was the addition of the air-powered cannon launch players used to tee off on the sixth hole.

“I shot it and the ball went over 400 yards. I got within 15 feet of the green when I tested it,” Rotary Club President Dennis Schuermann said.

On Monday, Schuermann said final numbers weren’t all in yet but this year’s tournament raised more than $12,000.

The tournament proceeds will again support Rotary Club programs at Anna Maria Elementary School, the AMI Rotary’s Learn to Swim Program and the $500 education grants given to the winners of annual Anna Maria Island Concert Chorus and Orchestra Young Solo Artist Competition.

“We’ve got about 20 programs we help every year,” Schuermann said.

Progressive Cabinetry shuts the door on Lancaster Design

Progressive Cabinetry shuts the door on Lancaster Design

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

Three months of adult co-ed flag football came to a close with the top two regular-season finishers meeting once again on The Center main field. What was anticipated by many to be a blowout ended up being an action-filled battle of speed and agility.

In the first play of the game, Progressive Cabinetry brought out the big gun of quarterback Don Purvis. Purvis hit Connor Haughey wide open in the middle of the field who sped down the field for the first touchdown in the game.

Purvis called on the steady hands of team captain Ray Gardner for the point after taking the score to 7-0 in the first minute of the game.

Lancaster Design team captain Tim Shaughnessy, Purvis’ football protégé in high school, was not to be outdone. Shaughnessy took his first snap of the game in much the same way, finding Lane Burnett. Burnett turned on the burners and entered the end zone untouched.

Caleb Roberts, the brother-in-law of Shaughnessy, got the call for the extra point reception to tie the game 7-7.

The Purvis-Gardner combination was once again successful on the field with a quick pitch to Gardner and stop by Lancaster Design’s Karri Stephens on the Progressive Cabinetry’s second game snap.

On second down, Gardner took the football all the way down the field, giving his team a six-point lead after the missed point after attempt.

Six minutes into the game Roberts gained four yards before Progressive Cabinetry’s stop with a Ben Sato flag pull. The Lancaster Design first down came courtesy of Roberts’ catch only to be stopped by Haughey.

Tasting the touchdown, Shaughnessy tried to get the football to his deep receiver, but the throw was short and landed right in the hands of Haughey for the Progressive Cabinetry interception.

The Progressive Cabinetry diverse roster flourished last Thursday night. Sato was Purvis’ next target with a nice catch and stop by Roberts. Gardner secured the first down after a quick pitch.

In the end zone on second down, Progressive Cabinetry’s Jake Parsons and Haughey collided with a thud that could be heard on the other end of the field ending the team’s offensive possession.

Shaughnessy took advantage of an unsuccessful march down the field by Gardner’s team by connecting with Burnett on the first two plays taking the football past midfield for the first down. Progressive Cabinetry’s Lexi Sato, Ben Sato’s sister-in-law, stopped the TD with the flag pull.

Sato’s stop only temporarily prevented the score. Stephens made a beautiful catch in the Progressive Cabinetry end zone, with the extra point by Burnett in the back left corner of the field to give Lancaster Design their first lead of the game 13-14.

With veteran leadership, Purvis steadily moved his team into scoring position nearing half time. Gardner, who has played QB in previous seasons, gave Purvis options offensively.

Gardner took the football from Purvis behind the line of scrimmage only to throw it back to Purvis who stepped out of bounds after the catch seven yards short of the first down. L. Sato quickly gained the first, with Parsons credited with the stop.

Two incomplete passes by Progressive took the game clock down to one minute left in the half and a third and goal situation. With Brianna Roberts covering L. Sato, Gardner trusted the capable hands, arguably the best female player in the league.

After L. Sato’s touchdown catch, Zachary Holder scored the extra point, advancing the score to 20-14.

The six-point deficit ignited the Lancaster Design team, bringing Mike Shaughnessy, father of Tim Shaughnessy and Brianna Roberts, to briefly take over as the quarterback. The former Kent State QB threw the football to his son just short of the first down.

Sato made the critical flag pull after Lancaster Design past midfield. T. Shaughnessy went under center and hit Burnett putting the ball on the Progressive Cabinetry 10-yard line.

On third down and in scoring position, Purvis rushed T. Shaughnessy and got the sack to stop Lancaster from scoring.

In the final play of the half, Gardner took the football more than halfway down the field, weaving in and out of traffic, evading defenders to the cheers of the spectators finally to be stopped by Stephens.

Taking advantage of half time to regroup his team and give words of praise and encouragement, T. Shaughnessy and Lancaster Design came out fighting, scoring a touchdown in three plays, including a 10-yard gain by Parsons and the scoring reception by Burnett. Failing to convert, Progressive got the ball back with the score tied at 20 all.

First play of the half for Progressive Cabinetry was to B. Sato who ran the football down the full length of the field after a short catch. Gardner’s pass to L. Sato was too tall going off her fingers, leaving the score at 26-20.

Keeping the game close catches by Stephens and B. Roberts, including a first down reception Stephens, and a run by Burnett put Lancaster Design in scoring position.

Roberts pulled the football in for a touchdown and followed up with the extra point nab giving his team the lead once again by one point.

With 12 minutes left on the game clock, Purvis found B. Sato for what looked to be a repeat of his early score. Parsons made the stop at the one-yard line.

Sato sealed the deal with a solid TD catch. Going for two points, Purvis took the snap and hit Haughey pushing the score to 34-27.

Lancaster Design could not make anything happen on their next possession, only to give Progressive Cabinetry another chance to score.

In six solid plays, Purvis and Gardner marched the team down the field chipping away at the yardage. Defensively, Chris Culhane put the pressure on Gardner, sacking him in the Progressive backfield.

A 10-yard gain by L. Sato, a first down catch by Haughey, and a long run by Gardner got Progressive to the Lancaster Design six-yard line. Gardner threw to L. Sato at the one-yard line.

On third down, Haughey scored the TD and followed up with the point after to give his team a 14-point lead.

The Progressive Cabinetry offense ate away at the clock leaving only one minute for Lancaster Design to score and hope to get the ball back before time ran out.

Unable to make anything happen on offense, Lancaster Design lost the championship game to Progressive Cabinetry who called the game with 44.9 seconds left on the scoreboard, successfully ending another adult flag football season on the island, with the final score of 41-27.

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Reel Time Homosassa, river of fishes

Reel Time: Homosassa, river of fishes

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

The great American artist Winslow Homer (1836-1910) was enamored with Homosassa. Homer regularly traveled to Florida, the Bahamas and Cuba during the winter months and this wild, spring-fed coast was high on his list of destinations. The name itself is derived from a Seminole Indian name, “river of fishes.” Fortunately, the natural beauty that attracted his artistic talent and the fish that he pursued (another passion) can still be found there. In 1904, Homer painted at least 11 watercolors during a stay. In a letter to his brother Arthur, Homer described Homosassa as, “The best fishing in America as far as I can find.”

More recently the area was known as a fly fishing mecca for anglers who found large numbers of trophy tarpon in the late 60s, 70s and 80s. While the tarpon fishing waned in the latter part of the 1900s (it’s on the rebound again) the region runs deep with redfish, trout, cobia, grouper and hundreds of other species. A quick look at a map makes it clear why this region has been and remains such a magnet for gamefish and the anglers that pursue them. It’s still one of Florida’s most pristine areas with thousands of islands, clear spring-fed rivers and a habitat rich in marine life.

While the upland areas have not been spared the unavoidable development that is changing the face of large portions of Florida, the coastal habitat is protected by the Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge. The Refuge comprises about 31,000 acres along the Gulf coast from the Homosassa River south to Raccoon Point, including the mouth of the Chassahowitzka River. Spanning 12 miles along the Gulf of Mexico, it was established in 1943 to protect waterfowl and migratory birds, as well as marine life including the West Indian manatee.

While there are well-marked channels that access the Gulf, the flats that line the Gulf of Mexico are not for the uninitiated or the faint of heart, being studded with limestone outcroppings that can break a motor in half or take the bottom out of a wayward boat. These same hard bottom flats and ledges attract a plethora of gamefish including a surprisingly robust population of snook.

On a recent trip I had the pleasure of fishing with two of the area’s top guides – Captain Jimmy Long whose family has been in the area for six generations, and Captain Jim Farrior a “relative” newcomer from Lakeland who has lived in the area since 1993 and fished and hunted the area since the late 70s. Both Farrior and Long are well-versed in the lore of the “Silver Mermaid.”

During my visit, I stayed at McRae’s on the Homosassa River. Alex “Gator” McRae, my host’s father, was born on the property and the family still lives there in the home (former hotel) where Winslow Homer slept when he visited. McRae’s is the perfect accommodation for visiting anglers, situated right on the river with an adjacent public ramp, restaurant, tackle shop, dock space and downstream from the Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park. The park is a mecca for cold-stressed manatees as well as tourists, divers and sweat and salt drenched anglers who can enjoy a cool dip in the spring’s constant 76-degree water year-round.

On our first day, we encountered large numbers of snook and small schools of redfish that refused to bite. Although the fishing was challenging the natural beauty of the area captivated this angler/photographer. It’s refreshing to find a place less than a three-hour drive from home where you encounter few anglers and miles of natural coastline that’s changed little since Homer’s time.

On our second day, our fortunes changed. While the snook still proved elusive the redfish and trout were eager to take a well-placed fly. During the afternoon we encountered large schools of 10-15-pound jack crevalle that viciously attacked our topwater poppers. The fishing was about as good as it gets as school after school of large jacks crisscrossed the flats. Making it even more exciting, the water was crystal clear allowing us to see and get positioned for the jacks well in advance. We had planned to fish a third day but the weather turned rainy and windy with an approaching front.

The experience left me eager to return and further explore the region’s bounty. The amenities and hospitality of McRae’s provided me with a “home port” for a return trip I’m planning this summer. If you want an experience of the timeless beauty of an area that’s aptly named the Nature Coast, Homosassa should be a top priority! Captain Jimmy Long can be reached at 352-422-1303 or check out his website. Contact Captain Jim Farrior at 352-422-1992. Book your stay at McRae’s of Homosassa by calling 352-628-2602 and check out their website and their live river cam. It’s a trip that you’ll remember and will keep you coming back.

More Reel Time:

Reel Time: Mentors chart course

Reel Time: Clear water hides looming problem

Reel Time: Innovators – Architects of modern saltwater fly tackle, part 2

Chiles Group offers an old-fashioned Easter for all

Chiles Group offers an old-fashioned Easter for all

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

ANNA MARIA – The Chiles Group wants to provide an old-fashioned Easter for kids and adults with three activities on Saturday, April 20. The events are sponsored by the Chiles Group, Pine Avenue Restoration and The Anna Maria Island Sun.

Beginning at 8:30 a.m. in The Sandbar Gazebo, there will be breakfast snacks, coffee and juice for kids age 10 and under and their families who want to participate in the 33rd Annual Easter Egg Hunt. The egg hunt begins at 9 a.m. for kids 10 and younger on the beach in front of the Sandbar Restaurant.

Bring baskets or bags to hold the eggs the kids will collect from the beach.

Parking is available in the Sandbar Restaurant parking lot, in adjacent lots on Gulf Drive and at Anna Maria City Hall. Folks are encouraged to ride the free Island trolley to the event from home or from CrossPointe Fellowship at 8605 Gulf Drive, Anna Maria.

After the Easter Egg Hunt, the Easter Bunny will lead everyone down Pine Avenue to the 10th Annual Easter Egg Roll, featuring fun for the whole family from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Kids can get their faces painted, play games and participate in egg-rolling races. Complimentary framed pictures with the Easter Bunny will be offered with pictures taken by Dara Caudill, owner of IslandPhotography.org. DJ Chuck Caudill will provide music. There will be free food and refreshments.

Easter bonnet contest judging will be at 10:30 a.m. The prize for the first place adult bonnet is a two-night stay at an Anna Maria guest house located on Pine Avenue. There will also be prizes for second and third place. The prize for the best kid’s bonnet is a Sandbar lunch for the winner and three of their friends, complete with hot fudge sundaes. There will also be prizes for second and third place. This is the 17th year The Sun newspaper has been a sponsor for the Sandbar Easter Egg Hunt.

For more information on the Sandbar Easter Egg Hunt and Pine Avenue Easter Egg Roll contact Ashley Chiles at achiles@chilesgroup.com.

Castles in the Sand

Traffic, real estate sales up

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

If you want to know why you’re starting to analyze traffic patterns so you can plan your trips to the supermarket, doctor’s office and Trader Joe’s, here’s the reason. During 2018, Sarasota and Manatee counties had more closed sales, an increase in overall inventory and a rise in median prices compared to 2017.

Sarasota single-family median home prices increased by 5 percent to $282,500, and Manatee single-family median home prices increased by 1.9 percent to $300,475 from 2017. Sarasota median condo prices increased by 3.2 percent to $232,300, while Manatee median condos increased by 5.8 percent to $190,500.

Meanwhile, the volume of single-family home sales in Manatee increased by 7 percent and in Sarasota, the increase was 0.5 percent. Condo sales in both counties as reported by the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee, recorded the highest number of sales over the last 10 years. Sarasota increased by 8.1 percent and Manatee increased by 11.1 percent.

These are great numbers especially when you look at them compared to last year’s sales number as reported by the National Association of Realtors. Nationally, last year was the weakest for home sales since 2015 with buyers pulling back because of rising mortgage interest rates, a shortage of starter homes and a volatile stock market. However, the February home sales of previously owned homes nationally were up 11.8 percent, the largest monthly gain since 2015, obviously due to the lowering of mortgage interest down to 4.28 percent in March from 5 percent at the end of last year.

Let’s take a look at Manatee County’s February closed sales reported by the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee:

Closed single-family sales were up 4.8 percent, the median sale price was down slightly by 0.5 percent to $298,500 and the average sale price was up 2.6 percent to $389,119. Median time to sell was 97 days up a little from 93 last year and the month’s supply of available properties was 4.5 months – no real change.

Condo sales were down, closed sales were down 14.9 percent, the median sale price was down 11.4 percent to $189,000 and the average sale price was also down by 10.9 percent to $227,849. Median time to sell was up to 101 days from 94 and the number of months supply of available properties was up to five months.

Keep in mind these types of statistics are a snapshot in time and there are a variety of things that can influence sale prices and sale numbers in any given month. It’s the overall picture for a sustained period of time that really tells the story, and the year over year story for Manatee and Sarasota Counties is spectacular.

The months of March and April traditionally experience the most closed sales, so I look forward to when those numbers are compiled before we head into our slower summer season. That said I may have to revise that statement down the road since there doesn’t ever seem to be a slow season anymore.

It goes without saying that Florida’s Gulf Coast is one of the most beautiful areas in the country.

We have beaches, sun, culture, low taxes and great choices when it comes to purchasing a home. And what comes along with all that is more people, more cars and overbooked restaurants, even Sarasota Airport is reporting a 35 percent increase in traffic during February this year, but would you change anything?

It just might take a little better planning.

More Castles in the Sand:

Should you digitally – or actually – renovate?

Technology can’t replace real estate brokers