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Tag: Anna Maria Island

Castles in the Sand

A home’s equity is sometimes subjective

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

Are you familiar with the expression, “The happiest days of a boat owner’s life are the day he buys the boat and the day he sells it”? It’s not unlike homeownership. The happiest day is the day you walk into your new home deed in hand and the worst day is the one when your real estate broker tells you it’s not worth what you thought.

Last week we talked about the national real estate market cooling off in terms of the number of sales and selling price. We also are beginning to see some signs of this on Anna Maria Island with an overall leveling off of our recent outstanding market. It’s not necessarily a bad thing in a go-go market to take a pause and attract new buyers into the circle, but first homeowners need to readjust their expectations.

Freddie Mac’s chief economist coined the phrase mental recession, not a real recession only the perception of a recession. The danger of the mental recession is that it challenges your mental equity.

We all know that the definition of equity is the difference between the value of the asset (your home) and the value of the liability (your mortgage). Even though you won’t find mental equity in Webster’s Dictionary, all real estate professionals know exactly what it means. Essentially, it’s the value of a property in the homeowner’s mind and only in his mind. Whereas, the actual value of the property is based on comparable sales, location and the climate of the real estate market at the time. Frequently, these two values can be light years apart. Get the picture?

The point I’m trying to make is that real estate markets are dynamic. They’re always in flux, and buyers and especially sellers need to understand that last year’s values may not be this year’s values. Don’t get too comfortable with the mental equity because it can change in a heartbeat for both good and bad.

If you’re a buyer, Valentine’s Day was last week. Don’t fall in love based on previous sales until you’re sure the market will hold. If you’re a seller, turn the reality check button on in your brain and don’t turn down any offers no matter what your brain is telling you. Mental equity is not your friend; don’t get too cozy with it.

All of that said, we are just starting the busy selling season, which continues until about April or May when visitors and potential new residents feel comfortable enough to make an offer on available properties. And based on recent census numbers, there should be plenty of them. As previously stated, Florida’s population increased by 322,000 residents last year alone and is the second fastest growing state in the country.

However, some of those wanting to relocate to Florida could be faced with a slowing market where they’re coming from, particularly big city areas in the Northeast and Midwest who will be most affected by 2018’s change in federal tax deduction.

Everyone needs to keep their options open and flexible. Don’t allow your mental equity to make you mental and make sure that your first day of homeownership is indeed one of the happiest days of your life.

More Castles in the Sand:

Why is the housing market declining?

Selling your home – it should show like a model

Sunshine State population growth

Marshall Tucker Band comes to Anna Maria

Marshall Tucker Band comes to Anna Maria

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Entertainment, Events, Music.

ANNA MARIA – It’s not an April Fool’s joke. The Marshall Tucker Band is coming to The Center of Anna Maria Island for a one-night-only intimate show Monday, April 1. The Southern rock band will take the stage to play new songs and their hits, including such songs as “Can’t You See,” “Take the Highway,” “Fire on the Mountain” and “Heard it in a Love Song” at 8 p.m. A local band that has not been named yet is planned to open for the award-winning, multi-platinum group.

Tickets range from $50 to $65. All seats are reserved. Tickets can be purchased from the Manatee Performing Arts Center by phone at 941-748-5875 or online at www.manateeperformingarts.com. Space is limited so get your tickets early. Only 750 tickets will be made available for this event. The Marshall Tucker Band appears in conjunction with the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Manatee County Tourist Development Council. The Center is at 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria.

Dog park construction on hold

Dog park construction on hold

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

HOLMES BEACH – A new large dog park is on the way, but construction isn’t scheduled to begin any time soon.

City Engineer Lynn Burnett gave commissioners an update during their Feb. 12 meeting on the status of the city field complex, including the dog park. She said improvements are scheduled for the park, including relocating the large dog park, but that improvements in the area are taking place in stages. The first stage, she said, was to relocate the tot park.

Public works employees began the task of dismantling the playground equipment and removing it from its previous Marina Drive facing location in January. Due to necessary improvements needed, the equipment is still at the public works facility awaiting installation at its new location near the pavilion at city field.

The second stage is already underway, to demolish the existing skate park and relocate the construction staging area from beside the existing dog park to the former skate park site near public works. Burnett said the demo on the old skate park is taking longer than expected because city workers are having to consult with Manatee County Utilities before the concrete pad can be demolished, due to the site having once been a house.

Timing with dog park renovations also is an issue, Burnett said. Though the existing park is planned to remain open during construction, she recommended not beginning construction on the new park until after the Island’s peak tourism season passes.

During public comment, dog park user and Holmes Beach resident Renee Ferguson asked commissioners to remove the two large umbrella shade structures placed in the north end of the large dog park in 2018. She said the umbrellas are not useful, people do not use them, and they’re taking up space that could be used to allow dogs to run freely. She also asked that construction on the new dog park be programmed to begin as quickly as possible.

“It’s booming in that park right now,” Ferguson said. “If we could get it moved quickly, I think it would benefit everyone.”

Burnett said she would come back before commissioners at their first meeting in March with a more detailed update on the dog park.

Related coverage

Dog park users concerned with city field improvements

Plans expand for dog park renovations

Dog park plans ready for commission presentation

Beaches to get new sand

Written by Cindy Lane on . Posted in Beach, Featured, Outdoors.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Island beaches are scheduled to get new sand, beginning with a minor repair to Coquina Beach this year, followed by a major project on Coquina Beach and Holmes Beach next year.

Sand from the dredging of Longboat Pass will be placed on Coquina Beach this year, Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources Director Charlie Hunsicker told Manatee County commissioners last week.

For nearly 30 years, the sand from maintenance dredging of the pass has been shared with the Town of Longboat Key. Last time, Longboat Key got all the sand, he said; this time, Anna Maria Island probably will need most of it.

Longboat Key plans to build five groins on its northernmost beach to protect homes threatened by erosion, Hunsicker said.

Early next year, Coquina Beach and Holmes Beach will be renourished in two major projects. The Coquina Beach project is estimated to cost $6.5 million ($3.25 million in state funds and $3.25 million in local funds) and the Holmes Beach project is estimated to cost $16 million ($8 million in federal funds, $4 million in state funds and $4 million in local funds), said Thomas Pierro, principal engineer for APTIM, the county’s beach consultant.

Coquina Beach is not eligible for federal funding because there are no homes there, and the federal government does not assist with renourishment for recreational properties, Hunsicker said, adding that one-fifth of tourist taxes collected in the county are reserved for renourishment. The state helps the county with state funding because Coquina Beach provides ample parking for beachgoers, he added.

Other projects include replacing the jetty, or terminal groin, at the southernmost tip of Anna Maria Island in Longboat Pass, replacing the groins on Coquina Beach and building a 2-acre limestone boulder mitigation reef.

Mitigation efforts

Renourishment impacts the seabed and its marine life, covering hardbottom areas with sand, said Lauren Floyd, senior marine biologist with APTIM.

While Anna Maria Island does not have hard coral reefs like those in the Florida Keys, soft corals live on the exposed hardbottom, a rich habitat for sea life.

The county builds artificial reefs in areas not impacted by renourishment to give marine life a place to go when their habitats are covered with sand, she said.

Project managers also work with Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring to avoid impacting shorebird nests, making buffers around bird nesting areas, Floyd said.

Why renourish?

Beach renourishment protects property, roads and lives, makes nesting grounds for sea turtles and shorebirds and provides a beautiful place for beachgoers to enjoy, Hunsicker said.

In renourishment projects, a freighter sucks up sand from the bottom of the seabed and pumps it through pipes onto a beach, where it is bulldozed out into the shallow water, creating a wider beach. Without renourishment, the beaches would lose an average of 10-12 feet of sand annually, he said.

Manatee County began renourishing beaches in 1992-93, when Island beaches were severely eroded, with seawalls and rocks exposed and water lapping at the foundations of homes. Subsequent major projects in 2002, 2005-06, 2011 and 2013-14 and several smaller projects, including the recent replacement of the three erosion control groins at Twin Piers in Cortez Beach, have continued to keep homes and roads high and dry.

“We can resist up to four feet of sea level rise,” because of renourishment, Hunsicker said.

The 2013-14 beach renourishment project on Anna Maria Island had a heavy impact on beachgoers. - Cindy Lane | Sun

The 2013-14 beach renourishment project on Anna Maria Island had a heavy impact on beachgoers. - Cindy Lane | Sun

2013 beach renourishment- Cindy Lane | Sun

2013 beach renourishment- Cindy Lane | Sun

The 2013-14 beach renourishment project on Anna Maria Island. - Cindy Lane | Sun

The 2013-14 beach renourishment project on Anna Maria Island. - Cindy Lane | Sun

The 2013-14 beach renourishment project on Anna Maria Island. - Cindy Lane | Sun

The 2013-14 beach renourishment project on Anna Maria Island. - Cindy Lane | Sun

The 2013-14 beach renourishment project on Anna Maria Island. - Cindy Lane | Sun

The 2013-14 beach renourishment project on Anna Maria Island. - Cindy Lane | Sun

Charlie Hunsicker - Cindy Lane | Sun

Charlie Hunsicker - Cindy Lane | Sun

Hurricanes have historically caused beach erosion on the Island. - Cindy Lane | Sun

Hurricanes have historically caused beach erosion on the Island. - Cindy Lane | Sun

Hurricanes have historically caused beach erosion on the Island. - Cindy Lane | Sun

Hurricanes have historically caused beach erosion on the Island. - Cindy Lane | Sun

The sand on Anna Maria Island’s beaches is a major tourist draw. - Cindy Lane | Sun

The sand on Anna Maria Island’s beaches is a major tourist draw. - Cindy Lane | Sun

Mayor calls out residents for noise complaints

Mayor calls out residents for noise complaints

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

HOLMES BEACH – In a surprise move, Mayor Judy Titsworth not only publicly named two residents who called her to report noise issues but also reprimanded the two from the dais during a Feb. 12 commission meeting.

During mayoral comments at the start of the meeting, Titsworth read a prepared statement to city officials and the gathered public concerning two phone calls she’d received over the weekend, one from resident Richard Motzer and one from resident and Commissioner Kim Rash.

“Last weekend I was called twice about noise complaints. The first call was made by resident Kim Rash. For some reason, he didn’t want to be a commissioner when he called at 11:15 at night. I was called 15 minutes before he decided to call the police. The police did respond after they completed a traffic stop and they addressed the situation. The second call I received was made by Mr. Motzer on Sunday afternoon and when I asked him to call the police he refused and said that they wouldn’t do anything and then he angrily said goodbye. In both instances, they said they were only doing what I told them to do. Because of the nature of both of these calls I have unfortunately blocked them from my phone as I don’t condone bullying or harassment,” Titsworth said.

She concluded her comments by calling on Code Enforcement Officer James Thomas to inform commissioners and the public how to properly report a noise complaint to city officials.

While Rash’s only comment during the meeting from the dais was that in calling the mayor, he was doing what he had been instructed to do, Motzer was not present during the discussion.

According to emails between Rash and Titsworth, the call to the mayor’s phone on Feb. 9 resulted in a voicemail that she responded to the following morning by email, volunteering to follow up on the noise complaint with some additional information from Rash. The email chain shows that Rash responded to the request with more details about the situation, offering to work with Titsworth to bring solutions for noise back to his fellow commissioners. In an interview with the Sun, Rash said that he also went to city hall to try and meet with the mayor before the Feb. 12 meeting but was not accommodated by Titsworth.

Rash forwarded the emails between himself and Titsworth to City Clerk Stacey Johnston on Feb. 13 along with a statement to be shared with commissioners. In the email he said, “I was totally shocked at Mayor Titsworth’s attacks towards me, especially on the dais. I am 100 percent sure Judy asked me to call her direct if I ever had a noise problem. That is what I did. The email she sent Sunday morning was totally different than her attacks at the meeting. I thought my reply was very professional to her. I want to build bridges toward solutions.”

The Feb. 9 incident involving Rash and renters at 202 72nd Street was reported to HBPD officers who were involved in a traffic stop when the call from Rash came in at 11:31 p.m. Rash states that he called Titsworth to witness the noise at 11:16 p.m. He said that when the residents of the property moved back inside before officers arrived that he called HBPD dispatch and said the noise had stopped. According to HBPD records, that call came in at 11:49 p.m. Officers still responded to the call, Chief Bill Tokajer said, and determined that it was unfounded. They spoke to the residents who agreed to turn off a generator powering an incorrectly parked recreational vehicle and agreed to correctly park the vehicle as soon as possible.

Motzer also chose to respond to the mayor’s comments by email.

“Some residents, including myself, have expressed that we were totally blindsided by the mayor at the Feb. 12 commission meeting where I was not even present. All of us have had the understanding that Mayor Titsworth has told them to call her if there were noise issues. She even lamented in a Nov. 22 text ‘the Motzers have never called.’”

Motzer’s wife, Margie, was at the Feb. 12 meeting.

Motzer’s email goes on to say that the call to Titsworth lasted 32-seconds because she was not in town. He said that he did state she suggested he call the police but that he has found reporting noise complaints to officers to be “ineffective and/or counterproductive.” Motzer said he had no knowledge of Rash’s call to the mayor the night before.

Regarding the mayor’s comments about exhibiting bullying and harassing behavior, he said the accusations are false.

“Citizens were taken aback that this was done in public forum and that two residents were blocked with one call each after being, not only instructed, but encouraged to do so,” he said in the email.

“After the meeting there were more residents discussing the imminence of moving, so we are losing more residents because of incidents such as the above,” he said, concluding the emailed statement. “We need professional leadership.”

Though Motzer’s complaint was not called in to the HBPD, Tokajer followed up on it via the NoiseAware system installed in the rental he said Motzer was complaining about noise coming from, 5501 Holmes Boulevard. At the time the call came in to Titsworth, Tokajer said the print out from the NoiseAware system showed no noise that would violate the city’s 65-decibel noise maximum for daytime noise.

Related coverage

City looks for new ways to fight noise

Commissioners to revisit noise ordinance

Red tide in air; water clear

Written by Cindy Lane on . Posted in Archives.

Updated Feb. 15, 2019 | ANNA MARIA ISLAND – No red tide is predicted for Manatee County waters through Monday, Feb. 18, according to today’s report from the University of South Florida/Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) Collaboration for Prediction of Red Tides.

Manatee County waters have remained clear of the toxic algae since Jan. 11, however, respiratory irritation was reported in Manatee County over the past week, according to the FWC and NOAA. Red tide can be carried on the wind to areas where the water is free of the algae.

Statewide over the past week, red tide was observed at background concentrations offshore of Charlotte County in Southwest Florida, where the bloom began in October 2017, reaching Anna Maria Island waters in August 2018.

Florida red tide, or Karenia brevis, is a type of microalgae that emits a neurotoxin when it blooms. Deadly to marine life, red tide also can make shellfish unfit to eat and can cause respiratory irritation in people, especially those with asthma, COPD or emphysema.

According to scientists, salinity, currents, temperature and light play a part in the formation of blooms, as do nutrients from Florida’s natural phosphate deposits, nutrients from Caribbean seawater brought to Florida’s west coast on the Loop Current, nutrients flowing into the Gulf of Mexico from the Mississippi River, iron-rich Saharan dust blown across the Atlantic Ocean to Florida’s waters, and fertilizer and animal waste runoff.

Football futures constructed by Moss Builders

Football futures constructed by Moss Builders

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

The Center of Anna Maria Island’s youth sports program has always been known as the place to have fun, play sports and develop athletic skills. Over several decades, a lot has changed at what is now known as the Center, but children playing sports with adult volunteer coaches has not.

As the youth flag football season progresses on the big field with good competition with kids from 8 to 17 years old, the little field is the place where the younger ballers work both sides of the football in the youth flag football clinic.

Once again Ryan Moss of Moss Builders is enthusiastically taking the time out of his busy schedule to work with nearly 20 5- to 7-year-olds on the gridiron, including Moss’s two sons, Mason and Miles. Last Tuesday night, Moss was joined on the field by his father, Pastor Ed Moss of CrossPointe Fellowship.

The coaches separated the players into two teams to warm-up and practice some of their skills. With flags and pennies on, the scrimmage game ensued. On one side of the football was Dylan Sato, with younger sibling Brandon Sato on the other.

Pastor Moss helped get one of his players in the right position on the football field by gently picking him up and placing him in the correct spot.

Miles Moss played the center position most of the scrimmage, snapping the ball to B. Sato stepping into the footsteps of his father, Jason Sato, who played at the community center as a child and as QB in the adult flag football league.

Carrying on the family legacy, Camden Rudacille took the field with big brother Cale and dad Scott watching from the sideline. S. Rudacille, also an Island native, played many games over the years at the community center.

Brother and sister Boman and Tinley Sears saw action on the field with big plays for their teams. The Bomans were joined by Eli Lewis, who showed his defensive prowess during the scrimmage. Duncan Cloutier took the football down the field on a number of plays, gaining yardage for his team.

Over the past two months, the Moss Builders football clinic has seen football action by Guiliana Bankert and Brooklyn Melancon continuing the co-ed sports spirit of the Center. Preston Brighenti, Drew Buky, Hayden Eurice, Wade Kasten, Jack Melancon, Marcus Quinn and Landon Reuter worked to hone their skills in the clinic sessions before hitting the big field in the coming seasons.

The culmination of lessons learned in the clinics is progression onto the large field in the 8- to 10-year-old flag football league. Those playing in this age group are moving into playoff action, with semifinal play on Wednesday, Feb. 20, with #2 seed Progressive Cabinetry playing either #3 Slim’s Place or #6 Bins Be Clean.

In the second semifinal game #1 Beach Bums will go against the winner of the quarterfinal matchup between #4 Planet Stone and #5 Ugly Grouper.

The age group championship game is scheduled to play on Tuesday, Feb. 26 at 5:30 p.m.

Related coverage

Island Charms takes the win

Adult gridiron action at the Center

Hayward Cup winner is Sato Real Estate

Reel Time New dimensions in trolling motors

Reel Time: New dimensions in trolling motors

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

Most anglers I’ve talked to have a love-hate relationship with their trolling motors. Some have sworn off electrics altogether, using a push pole exclusively. My first electric trolling motor was mounted on the bow of my first flats boat. That motor proved as unreliable as it was unwieldy. When it was working properly, which wasn’t often, it was cumbersome and constantly shedding paint from the lower unit.

Next, I graduated to two trolling motors complete with air switches, the current latest technology, mounted on the stern. The upgrade allowed me to keep my hands free for fishing but resulted in twice the number of problems and a whole lot more complexity.

Freshwater boats, particularly bass boats, have been equipped with trolling motors for years and featured foot pedals that left the angler’s hands free for casting. When motors were adapted for saltwater use it was destined to be a learning experience for manufacturers and anglers alike. The first saltwater motors suffered from the corrosive environment and were unreliable at best. For many fly anglers, they weren’t worth the trouble.

Over the past few years, manufacturers have focused their research and development on creating saltwater trolling motors that are reliable and incorporate technological innovations that make them more user-friendly for anglers. The new generation of motors has been redesigned to handle the rigors of saltwater. The list of innovations that followed allowed saltwater anglers more reliability as well as allowing them to control their boat hands-free.

This was a welcome innovation, as there are times when a push pole just can’t take the place of a trolling motor. Most fly anglers have shied away from electrics because they want their fishing to be uncomplicated. The new generation of saltwater trolling motors is digital, far more reliable, easier to control and don’t require a degree in electronics to keep running.

Minn Kota, one of the major players in the field, was the first to encapsulate its electronics in urethane, a giant step towards reliability in the saltwater environment. Its Riptide (saltwater) line combined carefully proportioned materials and a patented sacrificial zinc anode to protect motor components from galvanic corrosion.

The Minn Kota line evolved with the innovation of an autopilot system, the Copilot, followed by a 3X tiller design. The first AutoPilot systems operated via a foot pedal and compass system, allowing a course to be set based on a landmark or heading. Once set, the motor continuously made adjustments to keep a boat moving in the desired direction. This innovation allowed anglers to concentrate on their casting, freeing them from the foot pedal. The next generation of trolling motors came with more innovations. Minn Kota’s i-Pilot used an internal motor compass to keep your boat on the chosen heading. Now you can also record a track and run it automatically with GPS while you fish. There is Bluetooth technology, mobile apps and a whole lot more. One of the latest advances allows anglers to remotely deploy and retract the motor, eliminating a major hassle. Other manufacturers, including Motor Guide, are also worth a look when you’re deciding on a trolling motor.

Today’s trolling motors have a lot more to offer anglers. Competition and innovative digital technology have produced a quantum leap in reliability. The available brands, with their array of options, should appeal to every angler’s needs. It’s just a matter of matching your trolling motor system to your fishing style.

When choosing a motor remember to consider the placement of batteries as they can affect the trim of today’s super light skiffs. Make sure you have a mounting system that suits your needs as well. Mounts are available that can be easily removed should you want to keep the bow open when fly fishing and push polling. Finally, make sure you have a shaft length that fits your needs. A bow mounted motor intended to be operated in the open ocean or Gulf will need to be long to avoid cavitation. Take your time, analyze the available options and enjoy the fish catching potential of trolling motors.

More Reel Time:

Reel Time: Clams restored to Manatee County waters

Reel Time: Push poles – a must in skinny water

Reel Time: A new direction for Florida’s marine environment

Historical society readies for busy season

Historical society readies for busy season

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Entertainment, Museums.

ANNA MARIA – A record 8,000 people visited the Anna Maria Island Historical Society Museum last year, according to Society President Lynn Brennan. She spoke at the group’s Feb. 5 luncheon, her last as president.

Brennan pointed out improvements to the Belle Haven Cottage, such as replacing windows and trim on the historic building in preparation for tourist season, and told members visitors likely will exceed last year’s count.

At the meeting, members installed society co-founder Pat Copeland as their new president, Liz Hager as vice president, Barbara Murphy as recording secretary, Evelyn Hoskins as corresponding secretary and George McKay as treasurer. Board members installed include Brennan, Arlene Clark, Caryn Hodge and Valerie Wilson.

AMI Historical Society book
Peggy Donoho holds her book, “Miguel’s Bay,” at the Anna Maria Island Historical Society luncheon. – Tom Vaught | Sun

Guest speaker Peggy Donoho, of Bradenton, spoke about her book, “Miguel’s Bay,” that she co-authored with Tampa Bay Times newspaper reporter Ron Prouty. The book is about Miguel and Frederica Guerrero, two of the earliest settlers on Terra Ceia Island, a barrier island west of Palmetto. Donoho is a descendant of Guerrero and while researching the book, she learned Prouty was a descendant of the settlers, too.

Donoho sold autographed copies of her book after the meeting. The book is also for sale at the museum, 402 Pine Ave.

Castles in the Sand

Why is the housing market declining?

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

It’s a curious situation the national economy is in right now. In spite of the stock market having a fit in December, not only did it make a strong comeback, but the employment statistics have remained strong. So why isn’t the housing market living up to the rest of the economy?

According to the chief economist at Freddie Mac, “We’re in a mental recession,” meaning bad news like the government shutdown, the stock market vulnerability in December, higher interest rates and international financial markets in a flux start to snowball, making buyers nervous. This is especially true for first-time buyers who are nervous to begin with and second home buyers who have the luxury to wait and see.

According to the National Association of Realtors, December was the weakest month for home sales in three years. December 2018 sales fell 6.4 percent from November of 2018, and 10.3 percent from December of 2017. Not unexpected, when the number of sales declines, the sale prices can’t be far behind.  The National Association of Realtors reports the median sale price for an existing home in December grew 2.9 percent from a year earlier, however, it was the smallest increase since March 2012.

Even the top two brokers on Anna Maria report that there were no significant price increases in 2018 and that the market appears to be stabilizing and leveling off in 2019.

Mortgage rates have come down in recent weeks and are now back to about 4.45 percent for a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage, down from 5 percent two months ago. The Federal Reserve has also sent signals that it is carefully monitoring the interest rates as they relate to housing and the broader economy. This means to me that the rates will likely stay pretty much where they are for a while.

Stabilized interest rates and a slow-down in sale prices are not all bad news, especially for the first-time buyers that the market always needs to keep the ball rolling. One of the very real problems that first-time buyers face is the monthly payment on student debt, which may keep them from qualifying for a home or at least is making them concerned about keeping up payments, even if they do qualify. Student debt is now at $1.5 trillion, exceeding credit card debt and car loans, making a sizeable impact on the economy.

The Federal Reserve Bank indicates that homeownership among people ages 24 to 32 fell 9 percentage points to 36 percent from 45 percent between 2005 and 2014. As a comparison, almost 79 percent of people age 65 and older are homeowners; for ages 35 to 44, 59 percent are homeowners; and of all ages, 64 percent are homeowners. This is unfortunate because we desperately need these young buyers.

The Fed said that although many factors contribute to homeownership, 2 percentage points or about a fifth of the decline was tied directly to student debt. This represents 400,000 buyers who did not make a home purchase because of student debt. The Federal Reserve report finally gives us a better understanding of why the housing recovery has been weaker than other segments of the economy.

A strong real estate market is the driver of the economy in many areas since homeownership involves the purchase of goods and services needed to maintain the property. Hopefully, the country will get out of its mental recession soon, but don’t let that stop you from having a happy Valentine’s Day.

More Castles in the Sand:

Selling your home – it should show like a model

Sunshine State population growth

2019 tax nightmare

Red tide stays away

Written by Cindy Lane on . Posted in Outdoors, Red tide.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – No red tide is predicted for Manatee County waters through Monday, Feb. 11, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

Manatee County waters were clear of the toxic algae and no red tide-related fish kills were reported locally over the past week.

However, respiratory irritation was reported in Manatee County, according to the report. Red tide can be carried by winds to areas where the water is clear of the algae.

Statewide, background concentrations were found in four water samples in Southwest Florida, where the bloom began in October 2017.

Red tide has been in Anna Maria Island waters on and off since Aug. 3.

Florida red tide, or Karenia brevis, is a type of microalgae that emits a neurotoxin when it blooms. Deadly to marine life, red tide also can make shellfish unfit to eat and can cause respiratory irritation in people.

Scientists say that salinity, currents, temperature and light play a part in the formation of blooms, as do nutrients from Florida’s natural phosphate deposits, the Loop Current, which brings Caribbean seawater to Florida’s west coast, the Mississippi River, iron-rich Saharan dust blown across the Atlantic Ocean to Florida’s waters, and fertilizer and animal waste runoff.

Island Charms takes the win

Island Charms takes the win

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

Heading into the second half of the youth flag football season, the four teams in the 11- to 14-year-old league took to the field at The Center of Anna Maria Island. In the first game of the night, Coach Jim Collins lead his Island Charms team to a big win last Wednesday night against Groom’s Automotive, coached by Tom Baugher.

The battle on the football field was a good one with the two teams each making key plays and keeping the opponent on their toes.

Team Island Charms started on defense with a strong stand against Team Groom’s Automotive offense. Three snaps and out, along with an impressive flag pull by Jackson Pakbaz, gave the football to Island Charms.

Isaiah Mondon started the play for Island Charms, taking the football just short of the midfield line. Payton Harlan was the team’s QB’s next target. Harlan moved the ball to the Groom’s three-yard line. Despite the march down the field, Island Charms could not cross the goal line, leaving the score 0-0.

On the second possession, Kieran Cloutier gained 15 yards before the flag pull by Evan Talucci. Groom’s continued to gain critical yardage on the second down with a touchdown pass on the third snap of the possession.

Nicholas Yatros caught the extra point pass giving Groom’s a seven-point lead.

On the fourth play of the series, Island Charms scored its first touchdown, shrinking the Groom’s lead with the score at 7-6.

With six seconds left on the scoreboard for the first half of the game, Groom’s began working on offense, but could not make it to midfield. Mondon ended the possession with a near interception.

Mondon, on offense, made a first down play for Island Charms on the first snap. Teammate Julian Lazzara followed up with a nice run taking the game to the one-minute warning.

Island Charms’ late penalty and a short run by Mondon ended the half without putting points on the board.

Looking to increase its lead, Island Charms started the final half of the game with a nice play by Talucci that took the football just short of the first down line. After gaining the first down, Yatros’s flag pull stopped the play before his opponent entered the end zone.

At the quarterback position, Harlan showed great patience, allowing Mondon to break away from the defense with a beautiful reception at the back of the field for the touchdown, pushing the score to 12-7 with Island Charms in the lead.

Brilliantly reading the play, Island Charms’ Harrison Schenerlein nabbed the pass by Yatros for a pick six, scoring the final points of the game.

Despite strong efforts by both teams, neither team could find its way into the end zone, ending the game with the score of 18-7 and a victory for Island Charms.

Related coverage

Adult gridiron action at the Center

Hayward Cup winner is Sato Real Estate

Strong weekend for island wrestlers

Pulitzer Prize-winning author to speak

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

There has never been a more important time for residents of our Gulf coast region to understand the importance of the resource that brought us to the area and that fuels both our passion and our economy. This March, we’ll have the opportunity to learn about the history of our coast, the forces that shaped it and the threats that have transformed it from Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jack Davis.

Jack Davis’s new novel, “The Gulf, The Making of An American Sea” is the grand, sweeping history of the whole Gulf of Mexico that can give insight into the need to protect the natural bounty we are surrounded by. Davis, a history professor at the University of Florida, won the Pulitzer Prize for history in 2018 and will be on hand at The Seafood Shack on Thursday, March 14 at 6 p.m. for a Fishing for Our Future fundraising event for the Florida Maritime Museum in Cortez.

Pulitzer Prize-winning author to speak
Participants at the Seafood Shack fundraising event will get a chance to meet the Pulitzer Prize-winning author while supporting the Florida Maritime Museum in Cortez. – Submitted

The dinner and author talk are a tremendous opportunity to learn from and ask questions of one of the most engaging authors I’ve read in many years. As I mentioned in a book review in a prior column, I have been captivated with the beauty and the fish that surround us and reading “Gulf” has expanded my vision of the coastal resources we are blessed with and given me the insight to see it with new eyes. For me reading “The Gulf” shined a brighter light on what we have, what we’ve lost and the importance of protecting it.

From the geological beginnings to the present day, we learn the history of the nearly 8 million acres and the native Americans that first inhabited it, followed by the Spanish explorers, the French, British and Cubans. The descriptions of the vast schools of fish and flocks of birds that would blacken the sky hint at the incredible diversity and density of marine life and wildlife that once inhabited the Gulf and its estuaries.

Davis recounts how the tarpon, not warm weather and white sand beaches, brought the first tourists to Florida. The great silver fish was the impetus that introduced wealthy adventurers, artists and, indirectly, a wave of tourists to the Gulf coast. The influx of humans into the Gulf region in the 1800s began a period of intense exploitation that continues to this day.

Davis recounts records of armed passenger tourists on the Ocklawaha River that shot birds and wildlife indiscriminately for sport. At the same time, the plume trade was responsible for the killing of huge numbers of birds Gulf-wide. During this same period, the harvesting of eggs from seabird nests exacerbated the decline of the once-vast flocks of birds. Davis paints a picture with words that makes it hard to overstate the effects of this dark period. Fortunately, the resulting outcry from conservationists and birders resulted in the creation of 51 bird sanctuaries and the founding of the National Audubon Society. Passage Key at the mouth of Tampa Bay is one of those sanctuaries.

As the history of the Gulf unfolded, the exploitation moved from birds to oil and then chemicals that devastated the coastal estuaries of Louisiana and Mississippi. Davis recounts the effects of pulp mills, oil spills and hurricanes before the rush of development that resulted in massive dredge and fill operations. “The Gulf” serves as a cautionary tale of the importance of protecting, preserving and enhancing the place we call home. The opportunity to meet Davis in person is one not to be missed.

For sponsorship and ticket information, visit The Florida Maritime Museum online. Ticket prices start at $45 and all proceeds up to $34,000 will be matched and benefit The Florida Maritime Museum.

More Real Time:

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Reel Time: A new direction for Florida’s marine environment

JazzFest coming to Island next week

JazzFest coming to Island next week

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Entertainment, Festivals, Music.

ANNA MARIA – The 16th Annual JazzFest will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 12 from 3-5 p.m. at the Sandbar restaurant, 100 Spring Ave.

JazzFest features the Gulf Drive Duo, with Bil Bowdish on flute, sax and vocals and Karen Jones on vocals, along with guest artists Mark “Guitar” Miller and Koko Ray Hansen. While the duo performs in various styles at numerous locations in the area, this presentation will focus on pieces with a jazz flavor.

JazzFest Gulf Drive Duo
Performers for the jazz fest include the Gulf Drive Duo of Bil Bowdish and Karen Jones. – Submitted

Special guest star Miller is known as a guitar player’s guitar player and one of the best blues artists around. He is scheduled to perform during the first set, followed by local Island favorite Hansen in the second set playing two saxophones at the same time – harmony on one and melody on the other.

Sponsors are The Anna Maria Island Concert Chorus & Orchestra (AMICCO), Gulf Drive Duo, Sandbar restaurant and The Anna Maria Island Sun. After expenses, all proceeds from JazzFest go directly to AMICCO to ensure future concerts for the community.

Tickets to JazzFest are on a first-come, first-served basis and are available for purchase at the Anna Maria Island Chamber, 5313 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, or online. Tickets are $10 per person before noon Feb. 12 and $15 at the door, if there are any available. The Sandbar will provide refreshments for an additional charge.

One Particular Harbour marina opens to the public

One Particular Harbour marina opens

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

The new marina at One Particular Harbour Margaritaville will have a grand opening on Saturday, Feb. 9 from noon to 4 p.m.

The opening of the deep-water marina will include a number of festivities, including live bands, aerial artists, a water ski show, hors d’oeuvres and stilt walkers. Attendees also will be invited to tour the marina, model homes and the Harbour Isle Beach Club. Boats from Cannons Marina, Erickson Marina, Galati Yacht Sales and MarineMax will be on display.

The new marina features a Ship’s Store, 55 wet slips for boats up to 45 feet and an enclosed dry dock facility capable of holding 128 vessels up to 42 feet. Additionally, the marina has a floating fuel dock, detailing services, dockside water and electricity, air-conditioned restrooms, showers and laundry facilities.

The marina is adjacent to the Harbour Isle residences and the residences at One Particular Harbour Margaritaville. A 131-room hotel and Floridays Restaurant and Grill are still in the development phase for the location.

One Particular Harbour is being developed as a joint venture between Minto Communities and Margaritaville Holdings.

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One Particular Harbour’s marina is on the market

New hotel coming to One Particular Harbour

New hotel approved for Margaritaville site