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Tag: Anna Maria Island

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Fourth of July holiday fun

Written by Tom Vaught on . Posted in Entertainment, Featured, Holiday.

The Fourth of July is one of the busiest holidays on Anna Maria Island with a parade, a park party and fireworks at the beach.

The Anna Maria Privateers Fourth of July Parade starts at 10 a.m. at Coquina Beach, south of the city of Bradenton Beach, and ends at Anna Maria City Pier. After that, the Privateers will go to the Anna Maria Island Beach Café at 4000 Gulf Drive to hand out scholarships. They will end their day with a party at D Coy Ducks in Holmes Beach.

Earlier, the Privateers asked parade participants to refrain from squirting people in the crowds with squirt guns to avoid injuring anybody or damaging cameras and cell phones, but late last week they decided to allow some squirt guns that don’t shoot a strong stream of water, according to Privateer Kim Boyd.

The park party runs from 12:30 to 2 p.m. at Anna Maria City Pier Park on Pine Avenue. There will be free hot dogs, chips, liquid refreshments and patriotic music.

Finally, the Sandbar restaurant, 100 Spring Ave., will sponsor a fireworks show on the beach. It should be the only fireworks on the beach because private individuals on the Island are not allowed to shoot anything that explodes or flies. Police say that ordinance will be strictly enforced.

Parking is limited so the free trolleys are a good alternative to get there. The county will have the trolleys running late to make sure people can stay until the end of the show and still get home.

Fourth of July hot dog contest

How many hot dogs can you eat?

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Entertainment.

CORTEZ – The Swordfish Grill will host its Fifth Annual Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, July 4.

Given 10 minutes to eat as many hot dogs as possible, the winner will have his or her name engraved on the prestigious Hahana Ilio Cup trophy – hahana ilio is Hawaiian for “hot dog”. The winner will also take home $250 in prizes, including cash and Swordfish Grill swag.

Billy “The Batter Box” Raley won last year’s contest. Past winners also include Jarred “The Belly” Kelley and two-time champion Jake “The Dominator” Rodgers.

There is no registration fee, but all participants are required to sign a waiver. Contestants under the age of 18 must have a parent or guardian’s written permission. Contestants can stop by the Swordfish Grill and pre-register ahead of time or register by noon on the day of the event.

The annual contest will also feature raffle prizes, and while there, ask about the new Cortez Passport program and get your passport stamped.

The Swordfish Grill is located at 4628 119th St. W. in Cortez. For more information, call 941-798-2035.

Brady family and friends Center

Island rallies for celebrated family

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

ANNA MARIA – Old-timers and new residents turned out Saturday to raise money for Jim and Ronee Brady, owners of the fire-damaged West Coast Surf Shop. The couple is now waiting on insurance money to pay for the damage to their shop and merchandise that was destroyed in the April blaze.

However, insurance won’t cover all their expenses or loss of income since the shop has been closed. And when their friends and fans, who included customers and former employees, heard about their plight, they organized the fundraiser. At press time, there was no count of the money raised.

Ben Webb, who helped to come up with the idea, talked to the crowd about the Bradys’ contributions to the Island.

“We decided to have a good old-fashioned fundraiser just like many we’ve held so many times in the past,” he said. “Through all those events, the Bradys were there contributing items to sell and helping with the work it takes to put on these things. They were at every one of them.”

The crowd applauded, and the family members there waved and posed for photos.

Somebody brought out two skimboards that were in the shop during the fire, and everybody there was asked to sign one of them.

There was music, beer, food, raffles and memories from those who recall how Island residents worked together to help those down on their luck. Webb said he hoped they always would.

Webb Brady Center fundraiser
Ben Webb introduces Jim Brady to the crowd. – Tom Vaught | Sun

Webb said they got the idea for the fundraiser like so many others.

“We were sitting at Duffy’s having some beers, and we decided it would be a great idea,” he said. “Then the girls took it over and handled the details.”

One of those women was Janae Rudacille, who praised the volunteers for their hard work.

Duffy’s Tavern and The Chiles Group restaurants provided the food. Duffy’s co-owner Peggy Davenport served liquor during the event, and Ed Chiles visited the event with his wife, Tina.

“This is another example of the community pulling together to help one of their own,” Chiles said. “The Bradys have been around for years and they have contributed to the fundraisers with donations and labor.”

Trevor Bystrom and Kristie Armas, Chuck Caudill and Kettle of Fish provided the music.

Jim Brady posed for photos and spoke with people he hadn’t seen in years.

“I’m amazed at the turnout,” he said. “We want to thank everybody who showed up and hope to see you when we reopen.”

Castles in the Sand

Preparing your home for sale

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

William Morris was an English textile designer who was part of the Arts and Crafts movement in the late 1800s. One of his famous quotes is, “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.”

Which brings us to what you need to do during the summer if you’re planning on putting your home up for sale in the fall. Removing all the negatives in your house, and believe me every house has them, is particularly important in the slightly weaker real estate market we’re starting to see. In particular, homes and condos that need renovations are frequently being passed over by buyers who don’t have the time or inclination to do the work even for a lower sale price.

If your home has an outdated kitchen and bathrooms which you were hoping would be overshadowed by the charm of Anna Maria Island, it may be time to rethink how a buyer will look at these rooms. We live in a go-go, busy world, and buyers who are making a permanent move can be overwhelmed by the logistics of pulling it all together and can’t face moving in and taking on a project.

Second homebuyers are almost always from out of the area and really don’t want to have a long-distance relationship with a contractor.

If a major renovation isn’t in your budget, then at the very least, for starters, follow William Morris’ advice and remove any and all extraneous items from your home. Clutter on kitchen countertops makes a kitchen look smaller and prevents potential buyers from seeing beyond the clutter. Clean and shine appliances, including the inside of the refrigerator. Buyers are nosey. And clean out the pantry or cabinets of dishes and groceries you don’t need.

Same for bathrooms. Remove the five bottles of shampoo and cream rinse in the tub, as well as the hanging hair dryers, flat irons and electric razors. Buy new towels, and don’t let the kids use them, and scrub any mildew on the tile. Ask your friend to come over with her white glove and honestly tell you if she can smell any kind of mildew odors or any other odors in your home.

Also, I think William Morris might have had some advice about the contents of closets. What’s the guideline for keeping clothes? If you haven’t worn it in a year get rid of it, it’s no longer useful. However, the gold jacket you bought for your sister’s wedding five years ago may no longer be useful, but since it’s still beautiful, you should keep it, just not in your closet. Store it with the rest of your wedding and cruise wardrobe off premises.

Finally, clean windows are a must, cleaning up trash in the yard is a must, putting away the kid’s toys is a must, power washing mildew from around the home is a must and having working systems like heat, air conditioning and plumbing are a must. And the cherry on top is painting the front door a fresh tropical color that blends in with the overall color scheme. It may not be useful, but it will be beautiful and memorable.

The more you dig into William Morris’ quote, the more it makes sense in our everyday lives. Displaying a life-size statue of a rare African white rhinoceros is not useful in our everyday life, but to you, it’s beautiful standing next to your outdoor grill. Just remember, potential buyers may not feel the same way.

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Fourth of July fireworks

Celebrate the Fourth, Island style

Written by Sun staff on . Posted in Uncategorized.

The Anna Maria Island Privateers will hold their Fourth of July parade with a new rule – don’t spray the observers.

The parade starts from the south entrance to Coquina Beach parking lot at approximately 10 a.m. and proceeds north to the Anna Maria City Pier. A news release said participants are not allowed to spray water from the vehicles onto the crowds along the roadway. Participants are required to register online with the Privateers.

After the parade stops, the Privateers invite everyone to the Manatee County Beach Café at 4000 Gulf Drive in Holmes Beach to watch as they award this year’s scholarships to their winners.

Following that, there will be a post-parade party at D Coy Ducks, 5410 Marina Drive in Holmes Beach.

Meanwhile, there is a celebration at City Pier Park at North Bay Boulevard and Pine Avenue in Anna Maria from 12:30-2 p.m. with patriotic music, free hot dogs, chips and beverages.

On Wednesday night, the Sandbar restaurant at 200 Spring Ave. in Anna Maria features its 32nd annual beachfront fireworks display, depending on the weather. The show is free from the beach, and there will be a party at the restaurant under the pavilion. VIP packages are offered; for more information, call the Sandbar at 941-778-8709.

Police will have extra personnel on duty to enforce parking and fireworks laws.

The law states fireworks that explode or fly are illegal, and if police catch violators, they will confiscate their fireworks and ticket them.

Parking is limited, and the free trolleys will run until there are no people at the stops, so officials advise drivers to plan accordingly.

Anna Maria Pier criticism

Commissioners respond to pier criticism

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

ANNA MARIA – Some Anna Maria Commissioners are becoming frustrated with the social media criticism levied at them regarding the pending demolition and replacement of the city pier.

During the June 14 commission meeting, some commissioners commented on online criticisms posted at The Sun’s Facebook page in response to recent pier stories.

“How do you know they’re real and authentic? You could have a bunch of cranks making up hurtful things, and it doesn’t help anything,” Commissioner Amy Tripp said.

“It’s bordering on the line of slander too, calling into question everyone up here’s character and saying that we’re taking bribes, the mayor’s lining his pockets and we should all be removed from office.

Frankly, I’m sick and tired of it. Nobody shows up for our pier meetings, but yet all these keyboard warriors are making some pretty wild accusations. Pull up their profile and they’re in South Dubuque, Iowa and have nothing to do with this city,” Commissioner Brian Seymour said.

“I get it, the decisions we make are up for public scrutiny,” he noted.

“We’ve put a lot of extra time into this pier, and none of us wanted the storm to damage it. None of us wanted to find out from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that it’s never been permitted for 50-60 years, and none of us wanted to find out that we’re (the Army Corps) not going to let you rebuild that pier the way it is. You can put some Band-aids and lipstick and a couple of nails in it and open it back up – that’s not the case,” Seymour said.

Commissioner Carol Carter agreed and said, “I think one of the points Brian made is certainly worth reinforcing. The fact of the matter is that over 40 years, things were done on that pier that were never permitted. If we were to go back and just fix up the pier we would be in for huge amounts of fines because we never drew permits on all the upgrades and repairs that were made on that pier. That’s something most people have no idea about.”

“People will see progress and hopefully that will change the narrative,” Seymour concluded.

Mayor Dan Murphy did not attend the June 14 meeting and was unavailable for comment last week.

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bird harassment snowy plover

Bird harassment complaint investigated

Written by Cindy Lane on . Posted in Birds, Outdoors.

HOLMES BEACH – An unidentified woman has frightened two snowy plovers and their three chicks off their nest at 5400 Gulf Drive condos, and they have disappeared, Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring Director Suzi Fox said.

“It’s a little three-ounce bird. What difference could that make to you?” she said.

Snowy plovers are a threatened species in Florida.

It’s possible the chicks were old enough to fly away, Fox said hopefully, but if they were not yet fledged, they would be easy targets for predators, such as osprey, without parents nearby to protect them.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission sent an investigator, but the woman, who was reported to Turtle Watch by anonymous witnesses at Martinique condos next door, eluded detection, she said.

Why would someone chase tiny birds off the beach?

“We suspect it was the woman who accosted us last year,” Fox said, referring to an incident that occurred when Turtle Watch volunteers were staking off a black skimmer nesting area at 5400 Gulf Drive condos in 2017.

“She came out and yelled at us,” Fox said, adding that volunteers always leave a path for people to reach the beach when staking off bird nesting areas.

“And it’s a public beach,” she said, not private property belonging to 5400 Gulf Drive condos.

“We think she just didn’t want any wildlife in her front yard,” Fox said.

The act was a violation of state laws protecting threatened species, and it was also a case of cruelty to animals, Fox said, adding that the witness said the woman struck one of the birds.

Normally Turtle Watch volunteers track at least 11 snowy plovers on the Island, but this year, only the family of five were seen, and they have disappeared, she said.

No other plover nests have appeared on the Island this spring.

“It makes me sick,” Fox said.

Bradenton Anna Maria Island Longboat Key

New tourism marketing campaign in the works

Written by Cindy Lane on . Posted in Business, Tourism.

BRADENTON – A new marketing campaign aims at attracting potential visitors to Anna Maria Island and Manatee County with the cure for what ails them.

The Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) is working on the 2019-20 Cure Campaign with an eye to what visitors want, marketing spokesman John Fisher told the Manatee County Tourist Development Council on Monday morning.

Got fam-nesia? Come to the Bradenton Area and spend time with your family. Got pale-a-tosis? Get to the beach and get a tan.

These and several other ailments will require beach therapy, retail therapy, and other cures in a game format on the county’s tourism website, he said.

Participants will be able to select their symptoms and the game will generate a prescription for certain accommodations, restaurant dishes, and activities. Prospective visitors can share the prescription with friends on social media, which will enter them into a contest for a chance to win their prescription. The game also will generate a sick note for a visitor’s boss when they share some personal information.

“It’s all about engaging people to get interested in the destination while having fun,” Fisher said.

The time has come for a new style of marketing campaign, CVB Director Elliott Falcione said.

“We have to be bold and catch their eye,” he said. “Once we’ve got them, 94 percent of the time they will come back.”

Until now, the county has been using marketing campaigns based on slogans, such as the current “Craft Your Own Vacation,” and the previous “Our Little Secret,” “Crystal Blue Persuasion,” “Pure Florida, Nothing Artificial” and “Real. Authentic. Florida.”

To better target visitors with new marketing efforts, the CVB has launched a partnership with Adara, a data-gathering business that works with airlines, hotels and vacation rental websites to identify people looking for information on travel and persuade them to book flights and accommodations while gathering information about them for future marketing efforts, the TDC learned. The company describes itself as an “anonymized, real-time search, purchase and loyalty data-gathering co-op.”

Tourism update

The first quarter of the year is the most active tourist season on Anna Maria Island and the rest of Manatee County, culminating in the height of the season in March.

In the first quarter of 2018, the number of visitors countywide was up 4.9 percent to 233,400. In March alone, visitation was up 7.3 percent over March 2017, according to Walter Klages, of Research Data Services, the county’s tourism consultant.

First quarter occupancy was down 1.4 percent from the first quarter of 2017 to 84.1 percent. In March alone, occupancy was down 1.9 percent.

Occupancy decreased because lodging units have increased, especially transient lodging establishments, Klages said, noting a “significant increase in inventory causing people to switch from older product to newer product.” Airbnb is the “gorilla in the room,” Falcione added.

The traditional end of the season – Easter – was early this year, on April 1, also significantly impacting visitation, Klages said.

Direct expenditures were up 9.1 percent to nearly $283 million in the first quarter.

Room rates were up 1.7 percent to $203 a night in the first quarter. In March alone, room rates were up 2.4 percent countywide, and 3.5 percent on Anna Maria Island.

The top five U.S. feeder markets to the county in the first quarter were New York, Pittsburgh, Chicago, Boston and Tampa/St. Petersburg.

April saw a significant gain in the European market, which grew by 22.7 percent from April 2017, Klages said, adding that nearly half of April visitors were couples.

A non-stop flight is expected soon from Dallas to Sarasota/Bradenton International Airport, Falcione said, predicting “a big impact” on the Latino market.

Sarasota Bay Watch restoring clams

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

Sarasota Bay Watch conducted its fourth large-scale planting of Southern hard-shell clams Saturday, June 16. Over 30,000 clams were transported from Pine Island Sound and loaded onto a barge provided by volunteer Larry Beggs of Reef Innovations. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commissioner Mike Sole and his wife, Jeannie, attended the event to learn about the innovative approach that aims to replenish depleted local stocks while helping to clean the waters of Sarasota Bay.

Adult native clams were collected locally to obtain spawn for the restoration effort. Once plentiful in local waters, the clams proved difficult to locate. Sarasota Bay Watch has a partnership with a professional shellfish hatchery in Terra Ceia Bay on the southern shore of Tampa Bay. Bay Shellfish Company conditioned and spawned the native adult clams in late 2016.

On March 1, 2017, Sarasota Bay Watch purchased, at cost, 330,000 seed clams, each about the size of a little fingernail. A commercial clam farmer was hired to do the first round of what is called grow out in fine mesh bags anchored to the bay bottom. The clam farmer used seagrass beds on submerged land leased from the state of Florida in Charlotte Harbor. This clam farmer grew the seed clams for 70 days in fine mesh bags until they were transferred to larger mesh bags, dispersed on the bottom and overlaid with a protective cover net.

Reel Time clam restoration
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commissioner Mike Sole pitches in to load clams on the deployment barge while talking to clam farming partner Dr. Aaron Welch. – John Ryan | Submitted

In May 2017, the seed clams were transferred to another clam farmer who maintains a lease in Pine Island Sound. There they grew for 12 months until they reached what is known as top neck size, approximately 2.5 inches or larger. The farmer, Carter Davis, is conducting a series of seven harvests over the summer, with a delivery of each harvest to Sarasota Bay Watch at his dock on Pine Island. Each harvest is about 3,000 pounds of clams totaling around 32,000 clams. The clams come out of the water at about 9 a.m., get transferred to a SBW rental truck at 10 a.m., and are driven to the Sarasota Sailing Squadron where they arrive at noon. Then they get transferred to a Reef Innovations work barge. Volunteers have them back in the water in Sarasota Bay by noon.

The whole program took Sarasota Bay Watch and scientific partner Mote Marine Laboratory approximately 18 months to complete and cost $20,000. Mote Marine Senior Scientist and Benthic Ecology Program Manager Jim Culter has created a series of experimental plots alongside SBW’s clam release areas to test a range of variables including hand planting of the clams versus dropping them on the bottom without planting, cover netting versus none, soft sand bottom versus hard packed sediment, and grassy versus sandy bottoms. From these experiments, the partners hope to learn how to make future restoration cycles more successful.

Sarasota Bay Watch Co-President Larry Stults hopes to scale up the operation in the future and may even grow more than they need, selling the excess in a profit-sharing arrangement with clam farmers. Ultimately, it is Sarasota Bay Watch’s hope that the program can become self-funding.

At the conclusion of Saturday’s restoration, a sustainable seafood lunch was held at the Mar Vista Dockside restaurant on Longboat Key. Attendees included FWC Commissioner Mike Sole and his wife, Jeannie; Dr. Aaron Welch, clam farmer and adjunct professor at the University of Miami; Dr. Bruce Barber, professor at Eckerd College and executive director of the Gulf Shellfish Institute; John Ryan, a SBW founder and Sarasota County natural resources expert; Dr. Larry Stults, co-president of Sarasota Bay Watch, board member of Gulf Shellfish Institute, Science and Environment Council of Southwest Florida and START; Ed Chiles, Mar Vista owner and board member of Gulf Shellfish and START; and Courtland Hunt, SBW volunteer and videographer.

Chef Erik Walker prepared a delicious medley of local seafood including locally grown hard shell clams, mullet with an olive and white grape tapenade, frog legs and stuffed and fried squash blossoms. The meal was topped off with an organic blueberry cheesecake.

During the lunch, there was a wide-ranging discussion of restoration efforts, clam farming, sustainability and other conservation issues. WWSB Channel 40 in Sarasota aired coverage of the restoration before and after the event on the evening news.

Sarasota Bay Watch is planning three more clam plantings over the summer. To volunteer or donate to the cause, go to their website.

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Holmes Beach planning policy change

Changes proposed for flood prevention policy

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

HOLMES BEACH – Planning commissioners are hoping members of the public will step up to voice their opinions before a vote is taken to move policy changes forward that would help protect the city from rising water but also may increase the cost of homeownership.

City Planner Bill Brisson brought five recommended policy changes to planning commissioners for consideration. The move is in reaction to new requirements from the state to address sea level rise. City Engineer Lynn Burnett gave planning commissioners a presentation on sea level rise and the potential ramifications to Anna Maria Island, specifically Holmes Beach where large amounts of currently buildable land on the bay side of the city could be underwater by 2060 if no action is taken over the next several years.

If approved first by planning and city commissioners, the five policies will alter the intergovernmental coordination section of the comprehensive plan. The policies cover requiring the city to pursue funding sources for required work, develop city-wide processes and plans to implement, incorporate regional, state and national sea level rise adaptation recommendations into local plans, coordinate efforts with other governmental agencies and require the city to submit applications for any relevant funding sources.

During Burnett’s presentation, she recommended several strategies, including requiring homes to be raised, adding at least one-foot caps on sea walls, raising streets several inches over the course of the next two decades or more and installing stormwater mitigation systems on residential lots. She said the best Island residents in the future can hope for is to keep stormwater and tidal flooding at current levels with all currently buildable lots still above water in 2060. Though the five recommended policies don’t outline exactly what strategies will be implemented, planning commissioners worried that adopting the policy changes might open the door to city leaders now and in the future putting redevelopment requirements on residents that make homeownership cost prohibitive.

Brisson said the matter is being brought up now because Burnett has received a grant to do some of the preliminary work on the project which requires work to be done by October.

“It’s strictly a matter of funding,” Brisson said. While the state does require it, Brisson said punishment from the state wouldn’t be likely if the policies aren’t found consistent and adopted into the comprehensive plan.

Planning Commissioner Charles Stealey said he has reservations about agreeing with the policies because he feels that parts of Burnett’s plan are too ambitious and cost prohibitive for homeowners.

“I find half of this to be just fine. It protects us. I find half of it to be ridiculous,” he said. Stealey added that he finds some aspects of the plan to keep stormwater and seawater off the Island to be “costly and impractical.” He said he’d like to get a second set of scientific data to look at other than what was provided by Burnett before making a decision.

“I’ve only been given one choice and I don’t like it,” he said, adding that he views the potential consequences of adopting the policies and plans that may come along with them as “worse than water in the streets.”

Planning Commissioner Barbara Hines agreed with Burnett’s assessment of the threat rising tides and stormwater pose to the Island in the future, noting that when developing her recommendation for a mitigation plan, Burnett chose a “middle of the road” approach to lessen the impact to property owners.

“What she did was sound,” Hines said. “I’m happy to have someone qualified who’s on top of things.”

Alternate Planning Commissioner Tom Carlson said if the policies don’t get approved now, he worries the city will miss out on much-need funding opportunities.

Planning Commissioner Scott Boyd said sea level rising is just one of the many benefits versus risk elements property owners consider when moving to a barrier island.

“If your street is 6 feet above sea level and if you know the sea level is going to rise 15 feet in 120 years you’re going to be underwater,” he said.

“We are nothing but a sandbar,” Hines said. “It’s not going to take much for us to just disappear.”

Boyd said before planning commissioners make a recommendation to city leaders, he hopes community members will come to the group’s next meeting to provide input and guidance.

Planning commissioners next meet at 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 11 at Holmes Beach City Hall, 5801 Marina Drive.

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Anna Maria July 4 park

Fourth of July festivities planned

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Featured.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – The Anna Maria Island Privateers will host their annual Fourth of July parade on Wednesday, July 4.

The parade will begin at Coquina Beach at 10 a.m. and travel north to the city of Anna Maria, passing through Holmes Beach along the way. Those who wish to participate in the parade must fill out a registration form at the Privateers’ website.

“It’s free; we just need everybody registered,” Privateer Tim “Hammer” Thompson said.

The city of Anna Maria will hold a Fourth of July celebration at City Pier Park from 12:30-2 p.m. that day. The event will include patriotic music and free hot dogs, chips and beverages.

The Fourth of July festivities in Anna Maria will resume later that night during the Sandbar restaurant’s 32nd annual beachfront fireworks display. The fireworks show is free, open to the public and weather dependent. Parking for the public beach areas near the Sandbar is limited and the free trolley is one way to avoid the parking hassle.

Located at 100 Spring Ave., the Sandbar’s Independence Day celebrations will include a party under the special events pavilion starting at 6 p.m. VIP packages are available and include prime beach seating for the fireworks show. For more information contact Molly at 941-778-8709.

West Coast Surf Shop fire

Community events planned to help local business

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

Updated June 13, 2018

When the iconic West Coast Surf Shop suffered damage from an electrical fire April 15, community members began searching for ways to help owners Jim and Ronee Brady recover and reopen the oldest surf shop on Florida’s Gulf Coast. Now two events are scheduled to help the community rally around two of their own.

On Thursday, June 21, from 5 to 9 p.m., Acqua Aveda Salon and Spa is hosting a solstice party with 20 percent of sales going to support the Bradys and the West Coast Surf Shop. The event will feature raffle prizes, light bites from The Blue Marlin and The Island Fresh Market. AMI Spirits will be providing rum samples and the Bowled Life Food Truck will be on site for the event. Salon specials also will be available for attendees.

For more information, contact the salon at 941-778-5400. Acqua Aveda is located in the Waterline Shoppes at 5311 Gulf Drive in Holmes Beach.

Community members also are invited to come out and support the Bradys at a Hawaiian-style luau hosted by several friends of the couple at The Center of Anna Maria Island. The event takes place Saturday, June 30, from 3 to 7 p.m. and will feature food and drinks from local businesses along with a raffle and silent auction.

Local musicians offering their talents for the event include Trevor Bystrom, Terry Helm, Marco Ciceron and Natural Vibes, Chuck Caudill, Koko Ray and Barbara Allen.  All proceeds will benefit the Bradys and the West Coast Surf Shop.

Anyone who would like to volunteer for the event is invited to contact Susanne Arbanas at 941-330-5388. For more information, contact Brandi Brady at 561-267-0847. The Center is at 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria. No reservations are necessary to attend.

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A simple gesture

Written by Sun staff on . Posted in Editorial, Opinion.

It was a small reminder, really.

A simple gesture, intended to make us think about something unthinkable and remember that which we might rather forget.

Bradenton couple Paul and Ellen Devine had that in mind when they adopted a turtle nest on Anna Maria Island to commemorate the victims of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. (See our Page 1 story in this edition.)

The Valentine’s Day massacre left 17 students and teachers dead and 17 more wounded.

Senseless. Unbelievable. And right here in our state.

The Devines used the Adopt-a-Nest program established by Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring to get their message across.

The couple lived not far from the school for 20 years. Paul Devine’s two nephews attended the school.

The Devines remember.

So does Turtle Watch volunteer Brianna Villegas Vindiola, who went to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High as a senior. Her two brothers still attend and were there during the shooting.

When she saw the Adopt-a-Nest plaque, she remembered. When the nest hatches, Vindiola plans to deliver to the high school one of the two plaques marking the nest.

“It ties you to something bigger than yourself,” she said.

Never forget. Always remember. And pause to consider simple gestures.

Castles in the Sand

Let the sunshine in

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

The Broadway musical “Hair” broke many barriers with its revolutionary nude scene and treatment of sexuality and drugs in 1968. But what I remember most about the show is the music, particularly “Aquarius” and its stirring “Let the sunshine in” finale.

In Florida we know about the sun and so does California, which has taken a major step to harness the sun’s energy. Early last month, California became the first state to require solar panels on almost all new homes including single-family homes starting in 2020.

Nationally, solar power makes up less than 2 percent of the country’s electricity output according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. And the combination of wind and solar power account for about 8 percent of the power generated in 2017, up only 1 percent in a decade.

The elephant in the room in California, and I’m sure in every other state, is what exactly will this new mandate cost homeowners? According to California’s regulators, the panels will increase the cost of construction to the average home by $9,500, however, the average nationwide cost of installing a rooftop solar panel system is $18,840.

There is a 30 percent renewable energy tax credit available, assuming Congress keeps extending it, but the panels require annual maintenance and possible repairs. There is, however, a saving in utility costs estimated in California at $80 a month, but coming up with a hard dollar figure in savings is difficult. Nevertheless, finding ways to switch to renewable energy should be a goal.

We are seeing more and more new construction communities building eco-friendly features. The LEED Certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is sought after by developers. In order to be certified, buildings have to be designed, built and maintained using best practice strategies for green building and energy efficiency. Some of this includes improving energy performance and indoor air quality, using locally-sourced sustainable products, reducing potable water usage and building on sustainable sites to minimize environmental pollution.

Locally we have several LEED builders who are following the U.S. Green Building Council’s standards. LEED certified does add additional cost to the initial building, but developers indicate that the extra cost pays for itself, not only in energy savings but also in promoting an environmentally friendly lifestyle.

In Cortez, there is a new community of coastal cottages already approved that has been working with the Florida Solar Energy Center in its design. Not only will the community be an eco-friendly community but will also be zero energy ready, producing more energy than it consumes.

Florida is certainly one of the country’s prime states to use solar power, but unless and until the technology can make financial sense, it’s unlikely that both homeowners and developers will move forward at any substantial pace. Perhaps California’s mandate will provide the incentive for the solar industry to find ways to provide more affordable and convenient solar energy to individual homes.

I’m always a little suspicious of government mandates, but I’m more than willing to have California take the lead and become the solar power laboratory for the rest of the states. Hopefully, it will result in less expensive and more innovative technology. This could be the dawning of a new age of Aquarius, so let the sunshine in; it’s free.

Castles in the Sand

Taxes and second homes

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

By now, every homeowner should have had time to assess their tax position based on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 effective Jan. 1. If you haven’t, you have a lot of catching up to do, especially if you already own a second home or are in the market to purchase one. So, here’s a little review.

The interest on second homes is still tax-deductible as long as the total of the combined interest on both first and second homes does not exceed $750,000. The change for high-end buyers is that the deductible amount previously was a combined interest amount of $1 million.

The other change under the new tax regulations that could affect the second home buying market are changes to home equity loans and homeowners’ ability to deduct the interest on these loans. Previously, homeowners did not need to declare how the proceeds from a home equity line were being used. Frequently, homeowners would use the proceeds from these loans to fund the purchase of a second home. Now, however, the proceeds from a home equity loan or line of credit are mandated to be used to substantially improve the home that secures the line of credit or home equity loan in order to deduct the interest on the loan. Usually, it’s the primary home that is being borrowed against to fund the second home, which historically many Florida second home buyers did.

Despite this tax regulation, buyers may still decide to use a home equity line of credit or loan to purchase a second home, even though the interest will not be deductible. It may be to the benefit of the second home buyers to fund the property this way rather than liquidating financial accounts or obtaining another mortgage for the second home, which could put them over the $750,000 cap.

Depending on the size of the mortgage, a separate mortgage will probably work better for most buyers based on the new tax structure, especially considering that interest rates are still very low even for second homes. Naturally, cash has many benefits in a real estate transaction, especially since there is no mortgage contingency and properties can close faster. You always have the option of putting a mortgage on the second home down the road, which also would qualify you for a home equity loan on the second home at some point, all of which will be tax-deductible as long as you stay within the $750,000 limit.

We are, of course, talking here about high-end buyers with cash and the availability of other funds. With Anna Maria’s sales prices breaking into the $1 million dollar mark every day, we have a lot of second home buyers wanting to buy on the Island who are in this category.

This is something I wrote about several months ago when the tax bill was first signed, but I think it’s worth mentioning. There are economists that believe that reducing some of the tax subsidies for homeowners may actually increase the supply of homes that the market is struggling with.

The theory is if the demand for second homes goes down since there is less of an incentive to benefit from a tax write off, builders will start building more primary homes. In addition, they argue that some current second home owners might decide it’s more cost-effective just to make their second home their primary home, freeing up properties that will now be available on the market.

If you are in any one of these situations, you need to consult a tax expert and someone who is very familiar with second home mortgaging. My job is to make you aware of what could impact your decision to purchase a second home, and I hope I’ve done it.