Reading about the idea of having 90 parking spaces (for 12 months at least) instead of building a hotel might sound weird – but if you can charge $15 per hour for each space – it multiplies!
It raises the question: why not start building? The landowner is normally pretty fast in going forward.
But – this is obviously pure theory – but owning the trailer park on a much better location for a hotel and the fact that the rents were doubled almost immediately after the purchase, could it hypothetically be possible that the plan for the location of the hotel has changed? Could it be possible that the renters of the trailer park will be “friendly forced out?” And that a hotel or another hotel will grow there?
ANNA MARIA – It’s been a historic year for the Island Players. The theater troupe has sold out every performance of their first three plays of the 75th season, a first for Manatee County’s oldest community theater. They hope this trend will continue as preparations begin for the fourth play of the season.
Nails are being hammered and scripts are being rehearsed as the set is under construction and the cast is learning their lines for “Communicating Doors” by Alan Ayckbourn. The play, directed by Players veteran director Preston Boyd, runs from March 7-24.
Jennifer Kwiatkowski (Jessica) and Rick Kopp (Harold) return to the stage after appearing in the season opener, “Farce of Nature.” Joseph Smith, who appeared in this season’s “Later Life,” is back in the role of Julian. The role of Reece is played by Dan Coppinger, who appeared in “The Mousetrap.” New to the Players stage are Kathi Faulkner (Ruella) and Morgan Powis (Phoebe aka Poopay). The two newcomers bring their own special experience in theater to the Island stage. Faulkner has appeared in several area theaters, including Venice and Lemon Bay, and Powis holds a BA in Theater Arts from Flagler College.
In addition to preparing for the next play, the Island Players are once again offering a scholarship of $2,000 each to four graduating seniors in the Manatee County School District who have demonstrated excellence in art, dance or theater who plan to continue to develop these talents at a higher level of education. Anyone interested should download the application form from www.theislandplayers.com. The deadline to apply is Friday, March 15.
Email questions to scholarshipcommittee@theislandplayers.org.
ANNA MARIA – Despite the rain and chill, the Island area youth had fun playing flag football at The Center of Anna Maria Island on Friday. Kicking off the night’s action, team Sato Real Estate took the Solid Rock Construction squad to task, winning 30-6.
Solid Rock’s loss was not without effort by the skilled squad, but the plays just were not going the team’s way.
Sato Real Estate’s quarterback, Brandon Sato, smartly led his team down the football field to score 24 offensive points. Sato threw for three touchdowns to Grayson Cohen and had a rushing TD of his own.
Undoubtedly the game’s standout player, Sato also made his mark on the other side of the football with nine flag pulls. Teammate Grayson Cohen had three flag pulls on the Solid Rock offense.
Defensively, Silas Whitehead and Will Breslin each had a stop. Whitehead added to his game stats with a pick-six, taking his interception into the Solid Rock endzone.
Team Solid Rock Construction scored their six points on a rushing touchdown by Matthew Darak. To add to his TD, Darak had one reception and a single flag pull.
Jedi “JJ” Smith had the hot hands for Solid Rock with seven catches. He helped on defense with a critical stop.
Teammate Elijah Roadman had a flag pull and reception against the tough Sato Real Estate team.
Rounding out the 8- to 10-year-old flag football action, team Adrian Griffin Interiors defeated Beach House Waterfront Restaurant 39-6. In closer match-ups, the Moss Builders squad earned their seven-point touchdown against Cheesecake Cuties winning 19-12.
Closing out last Monday night’s action, team AMI Coconuts’ 7-6 win kept the Chick-fil-A team looking for their first victory. Moss Builders remained undefeated, with three teams chasing them with a 3-1 record.
Heading toward the playoffs, the top seed is still up for grabs.
Super Bowl LVIII last Sunday marks the close of another National Football League season, a big day for professional football fans everywhere. For Anna Maria Island resident Tom Curtin, the season checked the final boxes on his journey to professional football stadiums everywhere.
On Jan. 7, Curtin achieved his goal of attending a home team game for each of the 32 teams in the NFL. Bank of America Stadium was the setting of the Carolina Panthers-Tampa Bay Buccaneers game where Curtin completed his daunting mission.
As an avid traveler and Bucs fan, the January game in Charlotte, accompanied by his girlfriend, Laura Fri, was the 13th stadium for Curtin in the 2023-2024 season.
Growing up in Boston, Curtin’s first NFL game was a New England Patriots game played at Harvard Stadium in 1970.
Attending the 13th and final game in the Bank of America Stadium, Curtin accomplished his bucket list goal accompanied by Laura Fri on Jan. 7, when the Tampa Bay Bucs defeated the Carolina Panthers. – Submitted
Curtin’s destiny was set in 2007 when he started visiting different NFL stadiums, attending several games a year.
Owning his Island condo since the mid-80s, retirement allowed Curtin to become a full-time resident this past June. His April 2023 retirement was a game changer for him, allowing him to map out his plan to accomplish his goal at the Bucs-Panthers match-up.
The road to accomplishing his goal this year was not without its scheduling challenges. Attending a game in San Francisco on Sept. 21 followed by the Seattle Seahawks game on Sept. 24, only to fly home for the Monday night Bucs game on Sept. 25 was Curtin’s biggest logistical challenge.
A similar itinerary put him in Buffalo, New York on Oct. 26, traveling to watch the Colts on Oct. 29, then to Detroit for the Lions game the following night.
A schedule not for the faint of heart, crazy travel planning made Curtin’s bucket list accomplishment possible.
When asked which of the 30 stadiums is his favorite, other than Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, and Raymond James Stadium, home of the Bucs, Tom said, “Allegiant Stadium in Vegas… a first-class stadium all-around.”
With fond memories, Lambeau Field, home to the Green Bay Packers, is also one of his favorite stadiums because of its rich history and memories of a stadium tour with his oldest son.
Among his other travel and sports event experiences, Curtin completed his goal of attending a professional baseball game in every Major League Baseball stadium in 2015 at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas.
Despite attending big sporting events around the world, attending the NBA All-Stars game is one of the few things still left on his list of things to do.
North Carolina may have been where Curtin watched the Bucs defeat the Panthers 9-0 and put a cap on this mission, but it certainly will not be his last big travel plan or goal.
This article originally appeared in Reel Time in 2018. It’s republished here, (with revisions) because I think the message it imparts has never been more relevant. Respect and action to protect this amazing marine biosphere that surrounds us have never been more necessary or compelling. This formative work of history made me see this land where I have lived for over four decades with new eyes. I wanted to share it again.
“The real voyage of discovery consists not of seeking new lands but of seeing with new eyes.” – Marcel Proust
As I read Jack Davis’s new novel, “Gulf, The Making of An American Sea,” the quote by the seminal French novelist Marcel Proust came to mind.
Having lived on Florida’s Gulf Coast for close to 40 years and been privileged to explore its rivers, bays and enigmatic estuaries, I have been captivated by its beauty and the fish that swim in its waters. Being immersed in this wonderland had to some extent clouded my sensibilities by a familiarity of place. Reading “Gulf” shined a clearer light on what we have, what we’ve lost and the importance of protecting its treasures for future generations.
Davis’s novel begins 150 million years ago when the geological forces of an evolving earth began shaping the Gulf we know today.In part one, he introduces us to the Calusa in Florida and the Karankawa who inhabited present-day Texas, original natives of “one of the largest estuarine regions in the world, encompassing more than 200 estuaries and occupying nearly 8 million acres.”
The book then traces the impact of the early Spanish explorers who led the way for the French and British. 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.
In a chapter entitled, “The Wild Fish That Tamed the Coast,” Davis recounts how the tarpon, not warm weather and white sand beaches, brought the first tourists to Florida. The records are unclear about who took the first tarpon with a rod and reel. Some say it was New York Architect William Halsey Wood fishing in Pine Island Sound in 1885. Others claim it was Anthony Weston Dimock with a fish he caught at the mouth of the Homosassa River.
Whoever the angler, that first tarpon was the impetus that introduced wealthy adventurers, artists and, indirectly, a wave of tourists to the Gulf Coast.
In subsequent chapters, the influx of humans into the Gulf region begins a period of intense exploitation in the 1800s that continues to this day. Davis recounts records of armed tourist passengers 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. In 1902, one trade house reported an inventory of 50,000 ounces of feathers. At about that time, ornithologist Frank Chapman spent two afternoons walking Manhattan’s retail district counting 542 feathered hats representing 174 species of birds. 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 make it hard to overstate the effects of this dark period. Fortunately, this gloomy picture was illuminated by the outcry from conservationists and birders. As a result, bird sanctuaries were set aside by an executive order from President Theodore Roosevelt for the protection of birds and chapters of the National Audubon Society were born, including the Florida chapter in 1900. During that period, TR fostered the creation of 51 bird reservations, including Passage Key at the mouth of Tampa Bay.
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 then recounts the effects of pulp mills, oil spills and hurricanes before the rush of development that resulted in massive dredge and fill operations. This rush to the Gulf’s coastal areas scoured seagrasses from bay bottoms and leveled thousands of acres of marshes and mangroves to create the islands and communities we know today as Marco Island, Cape Coral, Bird Key and Tierra Verde.
While much of the book centers on the degradation of the Gulf and its bays, estuaries and barrier islands, it also points out its resilience and serves as a cautionary tale of the importance of protecting, preserving and enhancing it today. “Gulf, The Making of an American Sea” opened my eyes to a paradise that still surrounds us, a paradise that’s beckoning us to see it with new eyes.
Happy Valentine’s Day! Every year this day is put aside for the lovers of the world and the greeting card companies. But this year, deep-pocket lovers have even more to be in love with, since luxury real estate has a new benchmark of an outrageous $100 million.
Granted, this number isn’t for everyone. In fact, only 5% of the overall housing market is defined as luxury, but we can all dream, can’t we? Based on how quickly Anna Maria properties have increased in value over the past three years, why shouldn’t $100 million be the new norm for a narrow percentage of the population?
According to The Wall Street Journal, since 2020, at least 24 homes nationwide have traded for $100 million and up. Florida has had a dramatic increase in nine-figure transactions in recent years. Since 2020, three homes over $100 million have changed hands in New York City compared with six in and around Palm Beach. Tampa is also benefiting from the ultrarich due to the lack of available luxury properties in the Miami area. Tampa’s sales have been boosted by 35.8% in the luxury market during the third quarter of 2023 compared with the same period last year, bringing in buyers who were disappointed with the availability of high-end homes on the east coast of Florida.
In 2023, there was a record set for a sale in Florida of $170 million. A broker selling high-end properties in Palm Beach said there are more billionaires than there are oceanfront estates to sell them. Don’t get too comfortable with the $100 million benchmark, $200 million is waiting in the wings as the number of billionaires around the world grows. There were 3,194 billionaires in 2023, up from 2,170 in 2013, according to the wealth research firm Wealth X.
The ultra-rich aren’t much different from any buyer. Not comfortable with the higher interest rates, especially for jumbo loans, they’re using cash to buy their estates. These cash buyers are propping up the overall real estate market, shifting from a downturn in late 2021. According to Redfin, the median luxury sale price during the third quarter of 2023 rose 9% year-over-year to $1.1 million, almost three times the annual jump for nonluxury homes, which rose only 3.3% during the same period. The median price is the mid-point of sale prices; half of the sales are above and half are below.
Redfin also reports that 42.5% of luxury buyers paid cash during the third quarter of 2023 compared to 34.6% during the same period the previous year. In the third quarter of 2023, only 28% of nonluxury homes sold for cash. In addition, inventory of luxury homes rose 2.9% during the third quarter of 2023 compared to a decline of 20.8% for nonluxury homes nationwide.
If there’s a lesson to be learned here, it’s that wealthy people watch their money the same as the rest of us and use cash if the numbers make sense. It also means that it’s far better to be rich and have the option of an all-cash offer on a property.
Be careful, the ultrarich will be coming for your home when the inventory of appropriate billionaire estates runs out, and Anna Maria Island is prime for their next stop. Nevertheless, the Gulf of Mexico that we all love is the same whether your home is a cottage for $1 million or a sprawling estate for $100 million. Luxury is in the eye of the beholder.
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Tourism in the city of Anna Maria was up in all 12 months of 2023 over 2022, according to tourist tax collection statistics from the Manatee County Tax Collector’s Office.
The Island’s other two cities did not experience the same boon.
Bradenton Beach tourist tax collections were down in every month but August, which showed approximately a 3% increase from August 2022.
In Holmes Beach, tourist tax collections were down in every month but September, which showed no change, and October, which showed approximately an 8% increase from October 2022.
Anna Maria brought in $3,070,039 in tourist tax collections in 2023, up 20.3% from $2,552,183 in 2022.
Bradenton Beach tourist tax collections totaled $1,620,837 in 2023, down 6% from $1,724,637 in 2022.
Holmes Beach brought in the lion’s share at $7,816,520 last year, down 13.6% from $9,045,714 in 2022.
The tourist tax is one of the most accurate indicators of whether tourism has increased, decreased, or remained steady from year to year.
Each month, Manatee County’s 5% tourist tax is collected from owners of accommodations rented for six months or less who charge the tax to their renters, in most cases, tourists.
About 50% of the tax proceeds are allocated to Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau tourism marketing efforts, with 20% allocated to beach renourishment. The tax also partially funds tourism-related attractions such as the Bradenton Beach and Anna Maria piers.
2023 Manatee County tourist tax collections compared to 2022
On Saturday night, Feb. 24, Sarasota Bay Watch (SBW) is holding its 14th Annual Scallopalooza: We’re Making Waves. The event is a major fundraiser for the organization. This year Sarasota Bay Watch is celebrating its multidimensional approach to water quality and healthy habitats. This approach includes a wide variety of programs headlined by its clam restoration program. Clams are a key focus of SBW because of their filtration properties (last year SBW obtained Florida’s first lease for restoration purposes). Another big focus of the group is the cleanup efforts of marine debris.
This past year, SBW volunteers actively cleaned local waters from Manatee County to the Myakka River in Charlotte County. In cooperation with local dive groups, over 39,900 pounds of debris were removed. This included rubble that entangles and entraps birds and marine animals, as well as damaging sensitive habitats. Island restoration at Jim Neville Marine Preserve is another focus of SBW. Their Youth Legacy Project (in partnership with Sarasota County) engages with students to remove invasive plants and install native flora to attract pollinators and birds, enriching the habitat value of the preserve while training and engaging the leaders of tomorrow. Their work also includes a youth leadership program for local high school students. This program provides leadership opportunities for the high school students who then work with SBW teaching marine science in an eight-week after-school program for fourth and fifth graders.
This year’s Scallopalooza will help support and fund the organization’s many worthwhile projects. Join other engaged community members for a happy hour, dinner, silent auction and entertainment.
If you would like to get involved with the work SBW is doing to protect Sarasota Bay and support its mission, visit www.sarasotabaywatch.org. Make sure you take note of the organizations that are major sponsors of this important fund-raising effort. As their motto says, “A healthy bay is everybody’s business,” literally and figuratively! I hope to see you there.
There are loads of different animal species in the world and although some are part of the same group, like mammals, they still have differences within their group. This is the same with real estate. Family homes are one subset of the real estate group and condominiums are quite another.
Last week we talked about stigmatized properties and when and if disclosing certain information to a potential buyer is critical. Now we’ll talk about all the other typical elements of selling a condominium property that may require disclosure.
The seller’s property disclosure form outlines and questions many areas of the property. For example, condition and brand of appliances, water heaters, heating and air conditioning systems, anything permanently affixed to doors and windows like mirrors, window hardware, mounted speakers, water softener, pool and hot tub condition and many more. In addition, the seller needs to disclose any ongoing plumbing issues, roof leaks, water intrusion and wood-destroying organisms.
Homeowners’ associations have additional restrictions that must be disclosed, primarily the fees and assessments and if these items are up to date. Potential buyers will be provided with a copy of the current Declaration of Condominium and Articles of Incorporation. Buyers have three business days from the date the documents were delivered to review them and cancel the transaction if necessary.
Whether you sign a property disclosure form or not, the seller is still responsible for disclosing all items contained within the disclosure form. Since condominiums are a complex entity with a board of directors, there are discussions at board meetings that might not become a change for several months. This could involve special assessments, use-of-property rules or leasing regulations for the property.
If one of these is imposed before the effective date of the contract for sale, then of course any change must be disclosed to the buyer. However, if there is a discussion at a board meeting, a mailing, an agenda item, a note in the board meeting minutes, or even a discussion by a board member that involves a future assessment or a future material change, the best course of action is to disclose the possibility. As an additional step, researching the previous 12 months of meeting notes adds another layer of protection for the seller. By being as transparent as possible, the seller eliminates any possibility that a buyer could seek legal recourse against the seller for a post-closing assessment or material change.
While a seller’s property disclosure form is not required under Florida law, Florida does require sellers and their realtors to disclose any significant property defects that may not be easily visible to the buyer. Buyers still have the responsibility to have the property inspected.
Disclosure is a thorny thing to maneuver through when selling since there are no perfect properties. In my opinion, the best thing is always to disclose. That said, as I’ve stated many times in this space, I am not an attorney so if there is a question in your mind about disclosing, an attorney would be your best source of confirmation.
Think of selling a condominium as a subset of the real estate animal world, understand what’s unique about it and how to protect yourself in the wild real estate kingdom.
ANNA MARIA – In a close one, Floridian Mortgage earned its second win of the season against team Moss Builders 23-19 in the adult co-ed flag football league at the Island’s community center. The Moss squad’s loss was its first of the season after three games.
The ladies of the field showed what tight coverage should look like, as Jasmine Muldoon, playing for Floridian Mortgage, and Moss Builders’ Evelyn Long were a tough match-up for two halves of play.
The game stats show just how close of a pairing the girls on the field were. Muldoon finished the game with three catches, including one for a touchdown, while Long had seven receptions and one TD nab.
On defense, Muldoon had four critical stops and Long snagged three flags. Several long throws were broken up by one of the two key team players, making for fun excitement on the field.
Overall, the defense of team Floridian Mortgage outplayed the Moss Builders’ offense with seven flag pulls and three total interceptions, including one for a touchdown. Offensively, Floridian’s success with the point after attempts helped with game momentum and added three points to the scoreboard.
Travis Bates, Octavious Cole and Jackson Hayes each had a one-point conversion catch.
Chase Richardson threw for Floridian Mortgage, hitting his receivers for three TDs. Richardson’s targets with good hands in addition to Muldoon were Tim Holly and Cole.
On the other side of the football, Richardson read the plays for two interceptions, while teammate Cody Allen caught the ball on defense for Floridian. Allen had two flag pulls and Hayes had a single stop to add to the winning team’s accolades.
The loss for Moss Builders came down to the final seconds of play. Zachary Long and Ryan Moss shared the credit for touchdown throws. Long’s pass to Moss showed the team’s diversity and why they continue to prove to be a team to beat this season.
Long scored his team’s only point after a Moss touchdown. The other two attempts failed due to the strong Floridian Mortgage defense. Long also had two defensive stops for Moss Builders.
Jesse Skipper caught the Moss pass for six of the 19 team points. Defensively, Jonathan Moss and Skipper each had one flag pull that contributed to the team’s efforts in their third game of the season.
R. Moss pulled two flags while playing on defense to help keep his team in the game until the final play.
Team Salty Printing earned their second win last week against Solid Rock Construction, 30-12. The loss was the first for the Solid Rock team.
In the third game of the night, the Slim’s Place squad won its first game of the season in a shutout against team Gulf Drive Café, 19-0.
Losing by 10 points, Edible Cookie Dough Café could not outplay Sandbar Seafood & Spirits. Team Sandbar goes into week four with two wins and a single loss.
I am writing to express my appreciation for this year’s Climate Champions Award nominees.
On Feb. 15, The Climate Adaptation Center (CAC) will honor five amazing individuals who have made contributions to putting the CAC’s best science information into use. They are on the front line of Climate Adaptation! As such, we are celebrating their contributions not only to honor them but also to inspire our community.
The Second Annual Climate Champions Awards luncheon will be held at Michael’s on East ballroom on Thursday, Feb. 15 with check-in at 11 a.m. and program from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.This joyous program honors those who are helping our community speed climate adaptation actions to help lower the risk from climate-induced disruptions like sea level rise, flooding and more frequent and intense hurricanes, just to name a few.
While the impacts of a warming climate can be difficult, we must celebrate and inspire. I encourage the community to come and honor our 2024 Climate Champions Nominees for the prestigious Beacon Award. Nominees include Jennifer Rominiecki – Marie Selby Botanical Gardens; Dr. David Tomasko – Sarasota Bay Estuary Program; Jessica Meszaros and Steve Newborn – WUSF Public Media; and Marshall Gobuty – Pearl Homes, Cortez.
Digital photography and videography continue to evolve as phones advance. Anglers have never had more access to capturing images and videos, right in their pocket. Whether you are capturing a picture or a video clip to remind you of your catch, to share with friends and family, or to post on social media, photography has never been easier. Anglers can enjoy this remarkable technology no matter their level of experience. The best part is that these devices are always close at hand, so you have opportunities that somehow always seemed to appear when you didn’t have an SFR camera at hand. Most smartphones employ AI technology and come with software or apps that let you enhance the image, crop the size and share the final product in many ways. You can send the images to social media via email (straight from a phone), download them to your computer, edit and even print them out to frame and display.
Even though snapping a picture has never been easier, there are a few basic rules that will help you capture that special image.
Before ever leaving the dock, be sure you have a full charge on your phone and an extra battery bank with cables to recharge. Shooting video on an iPhone or Android device uses up a lot of power and you don’t want to run out of juice late in the day. Also, carry a cleaning cloth and make sure your lens stays clean.
There is almost always a certain amount of chaos associated with catching a memorable fish, so get an idea in advance of where you’ll compose your image.
An image from an iPhone takes a memorable shot when well-composed and exposed. Rallis Papas’ trout took a black Clouser in Waccasassa Bay. – Rusty Chinnis | Sun
Check the background through the viewfinder carefully for distracting and cluttered backgrounds. Make sure you don’t have any unwanted objects, like a rod appearing to stick out of someone’s head.
Look to capture photographs that aren’t posed and remember that the sooner you get your picture the more vibrant the colors of a fish will be. First and foremost, fill the frame with the subject, eliminating anything that doesn’t add to the composition.
Since you’re filming on the water, check that the horizon is straight. Most phones have the option of putting a grid on the field of view.
Many photographs taken on the water are exposed in bright light. When possible, shoot with the sun at your back and use fill flash when shooting with the sun in the background.
Take several shots from different angles and get the angler excited and talking to you. One of the great advantages of digital is that you can take lots of pictures and edit them on the go to make sure you have the shot you want.
Modern phones have built-in software to edit images but there are also apps including Lightroom and Photoshop that can be used. Since lighting on the water can be challenging, shoot and then review important shots.
The one disadvantage of phone photography is the lack of telephoto capabilities. There are a lot of excellent digital cameras on the market today that give you that option if needed but today’s phones take excellent images of fish and fishing. Phones can take amazing images, but they have their limitations so if you’re interested in photography, I would suggest getting a camera that meets your needs. Taking the time to capture the moments of life pays in dividends that you can continue to relive by sharing them through your images.
ANNA MARIA – The newly formed Mom’s Café group provides moms of all ages a place to gather and share their motherhood experiences.
The inaugural Mom’s Café gathering took place on Jan. 24 in the Fellowship Hall at Roser Memorial Community Church, 512 Pine Ave.
Led by Liz Rodgers, the Mom’s Café group now plans to meet two Wednesdays a month from 9:30-11 a.m. The next meeting is scheduled on Feb. 14 and will feature a guest speaker sharing hints and advice on healthy habits for moms. Additional meetings are scheduled on Feb. 28, March 13 and 27, April 10 and 24 and May 8 and 22.
“The first meeting is about getting to know each other, find out what’s meaningful for them and make sure we tailor this to what the moms’ needs are,” Rodgers said as the attending moms arrived, mingled and enjoyed free coffee and refreshments.
“It’s for all moms,” Rodgers said, noting the mix of younger and older moms is an important component of Mom’s Café.
Liz Rodgers, standing, leads the Mom’s Café meetings. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Before the first meeting started, Jen Serra and Laura Seubert shared their thoughts on motherhood and the Mom’s Café meetings. Serra’s kids are 13, 11 and 8 years old. Seubert’s kids are 17, 14 and 9.
When asked about the challenges currently faced by parents and youngsters on Anna Maria Island, Seubert said, “Social media is huge.”
“Yes, social media,” Serra agreed.
Seubert said scheduling is another big challenge.
“Our kids are so involved and so active. When I got home from school, I went out and played until the streetlights came on. Nowadays, our kids are doing community service, athletics and more. Getting everybody in one place and having a sit-down meal is challenging,” she said.
Serra said there’s a viable network of Island families but connecting as a community can be challenging.
“On the Island, there’s not a lot of focus on moms with kids in school and younger. That demographic exists but isn’t always noticed with all the snowbirds and visitors,” she said.
When asked about the challenges posed by living in neighborhoods dominated primarily by vacation rental homes, Seubert said, “While this is a really busy Island for visitors, it’s a rural community for residents with very few families that can interact. For our kids to do sports, other than at The Center, they go off the Island. For Boy Scouts, they go off-Island. It’s like being in the boonies; you have to drive to where you want to go.”
Rodgers, who lives just off-Island, said, “In my neighborhood, there’s two moms that are new to the area. They have little kids and feel isolated and they don’t get out. This is a venue to help moms connect with each other and share their journey, their experiences and what they’ve learned about mothering.”
“I go to a moms’ workout group at CrossFit but it’s not really advertised. It’s all word of mouth,” Serra said. “There’s a bunch of families that go play kickball together, but if nobody knows you and you’re not on the email list you’re not going to get the invite. It’s as close to a pick-up game as we can get when you can’t just go next door.”
Serra said she went through a period where she invited 10-15 kids over every Wednesday night to swim and share a potluck dinner. She also hosts a craft night for her friends every three months.
“Just to get connected,” she said.
As for what attracted her to Mom’s Café, Seubert said, “Having a place where moms can come together.”
“To carve out some mom time and to connect the younger moms and the older mentor moms,” Serra said.
Sharing something she learned as a mom and wants to impart to others, Seubert said, “Our kids go to Saint Stephen’s. My oldest is a senior in high school and he’s applying to college. We’ve had to go back in our memories and come up with the things he’s done to put on his resume. So, I started Google documents on my phone for my 14-year-old and my 9-year-old. Every time they get an award or an honor or volunteer for something I add it to the list. I tell other moms to start doing that now.”
Chinda Sanger and her husband, Tom, recently joined Roser Church. They have a 5-year-old in kindergarten and an 8-year-old in third grade, both of whom attend Anna Maria Elementary. They also have a 4-year-old who attends the School for Constructive Play in Holmes Beach.
“Jen is the president of PTO at Anna Maria Elementary. I know most of the women from the school and I’m here to meet other moms,” Sanger said.
Accompanied by her 12-week-old son Axl – named after Gun’s N’ Roses singer Axl Rose – Christine Mullen was the newest mom in attendance.
“I hope to make connections with moms who are going through similar trials and to learn from the more seasoned moms and get advice from them. I’m scared every day. I just want to raise a good person who has a servant’s heart and I want him to be a good guy,” Mullen said.
Mom’s Café meetings are free, with free childcare provided. The meetings are open to all moms regardless of age or religious affiliation. For meeting dates and more information call 941-778-0414 or visit www.roserchurch.com/moms-cafe/#more-8062.
Manatee County – Local water quality is improving through the efforts of Manatee County environmental staff, according to the county’s Natural Resources Director Charlie Hunsicker.
“Our people in water quality and environmental protection are working hard every day,” Hunsicker told commissioners on Jan. 23. “And with our utility partners and public works partners, we are working to protect the water quality in Manatee County.”
Hunsicker said water is monitored at more than 80 sites around the county, with more than 11,000 samples being tested annually.
“Manatee County is working hard to always observe where we are in our water-quality picture,” he said.
Hunsicker presented numerous charts showing county efforts to maintain water quality that include:
• Wastewater treatment upgrades ($600 million invested over the next five years);
• Increased street sweeping;
• 5,000 seagrass plugs planted;
• 25,000 trees planted in 2023;
• 15,000 acres of habitat restored; and
• 1,500 vertical oyster gardens installed.
“More than 18 million gallons of water were saved last year alone in water irrigation efficiencies (through the IFAS University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences),” he said.
Hunsicker said 114,262 acres of seagrass off the coast of Manatee County in Sarasota Bay and the Gulf of Mexico are dependent on water quality.
“We also have storm sampling for bacteria,” Hunsicker said. “Last year and the years before we were faced with possible closures of our recreational beaches along the Gulf because of bacteriological readings that were taken around Palma Sola Bay and assumptions made by the health department that contamination extended throughout the entire county. We were able to respond to them and keep our beaches open and to prove and demonstrate with our own sampling efforts that bacteria were not affecting the Gulf beaches of Anna Maria Island.”
“This is really important, and it is of major concern to our residents,” Manatee County District 5 Commissioner Ray Turner said.
Commissioners praised the Natural Resources staff for being stewards of voter-supported efforts to purchase more preservation land through the County’s Environmental Lands Management and Acquisition Committee (ELMAC).
“I hope the board hears that the investments the county is making into natural resources is bearing fruit,” District 3 Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge said.
You may think in the land of sunshine, surf and sand there can be nothing defined as stigmatized. Maybe not, since the word can mean different things to different buyers.
The National Association of Realtors refers to “stigmatized property” as a property that has been psychologically impacted by an event occurring on the property, even where there was no physical harm to the property.
The typical property that is considered stigmatized by events occurring there is one where a crime occurred. A violent crime is a problem for both buyers and sellers. Buyers may not feel comfortable buying the home since they might be uncomfortable living in a property with a violent history. Because of this, sellers may face the possibility of an adjustment to their price or a renovation to remove any reminders of the event. Two infamous stigmatized properties are the house in Fall River, Massachusetts where Lizzie Bordon is said to have murdered her father and stepmother in 1892. The Borden house has been turned into a tourist attraction for those with a macabre interest. And, of course, the most well-known murder home in the country is where actress Sharon Tate and four others were murdered by the Manson Family cult in 1969. The Los Angeles house was ultimately demolished and a new home with a different address was built in its place.
A price adjustment can depend on whether the property has any notoriety attached to the violent act, especially if the event was reported in the newspapers with details and police involvement. A death on the property, whether natural or suicide, is less of an issue to most buyers. Nevertheless, in the real estate market, we’re experiencing a shortage of available properties. Buyers may be willing to overlook many negatives, especially if the pricing is favorable.
Another potential problem for sellers is not necessarily a property stigmatized because of a death or violent act, but because it is out of the norm for the region. For example, something quirky about the property, whether it’s construction or decorating that can’t be easily removed.
One-of-a-kind architectural properties not compatible with everyday living, actual castles, or castle-like construction, and caves built into the side of a mountain are all examples of stigmatized properties. The problem here is the narrow market for unusual properties and the impact that may have on their value.
The National Association of Realtors goes on to say that selling a property with a reputation may be difficult. In Florida, state laws do not oblige a seller to reveal extraordinary occurrences such as a crime, suicide or unnatural death that occurred on the property or even cases where there are reported hauntings.
However, sellers and their agents would be advised to disclose all potential psychological negatives about the property. Hauntings might be a stretch to disclose but certainly, deaths of any kind could come back to haunt the seller if withheld.
That said, there are certain disease-related negatives that buyers may want to know about, like AIDS and COVID-19. This is a very gray area and may be considered a protected class and not able to be disclosed. This type of situation requires careful consideration and legal input if you are an owner getting ready to sell a similar property.
Like all discussions about disclosure, whether it’s water pipes or death, always best to be cautious and disclose. Grandma’s ghost and nasty sharks in Tampa Bay may be exceptions.
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