Skip to main content

Tag: Anna Maria Island

Center board update awning

Center board makes plans for the future

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

ANNA MARIA – Changes are coming to The Center of Anna Maria with the hopes of drawing more community members back to the nonprofit’s campus.

One of the most visible changes, if approved by Anna Maria City Commissioners, would be the addition of a covered area at the front of the building. The proposed metal awning would cover the walkway from the west parking area and the main entrance. Board member Mike Thrasher, who designed the concept for the awning, said if approved, the steel and canopy structure will not take up any of The Center’s parking.

After being told that people find the entrance to The Center “unattractive and uninviting,” Thrasher said he created a “scribble that turned into a plan” with the design for the awning. He suggested the space also could be used for events.

Before the awning structure can be built it must first be approved by the city’s Planning and Zoning Board before going to commissioners because it would be partially located within required setbacks.

Thrasher and board Chair David Zaccagnino said they want to find out if the plan is feasible before moving forward with getting quotes or seeking out local businesses to volunteer materials and labor.

“The object is to make it look more inviting to come in,” Zaccagnino said of the project.

For a list of already-planned capital improvement projects including roofing repair, field maintenance, plumbing for two bathrooms and the purchase of exercise equipment, Manatee County commissioners voted unanimously May 22 to honor a request from the three Island cities to donate $100,000 from the county-managed excess concession fund. County commissioners also granted a transportation request from The Center board by donating up to an additional $22,500 from the concession funds for the purchase of a new van for the nonprofit.

New Executive Director Chris Culhane said he’s very thankful for the support from the local and county governments.

Board treasurer Christine Hicks said The Center fell $25,000 short in April, closing out the month with a $14,635 loss for the fiscal year to date. She estimates the organization will close out the fiscal year at the end of June $5,141 in the black. Zaccagnino said ending the year $5,141 in a positive position would show significant progress from the -$171,000 closing of the 2016-17 fiscal year. Hicks said so far this year The Center’s finances are within 2 percent of meeting budget and 35 percent over this time last year.

To help bring in more people and raise money for The Center, board member Karen Harllee said several events are already in the works for the coming fiscal year. The planned events include the annual Murder Mystery, bowling tournament, Lester Family Fun Day, golf tournament and the Tour of Homes. A new event making its debut in 2019 is a fashion show.

Harllee said a search is ongoing for volunteers and committee members to help plan and orchestrate the community and fundraising events. Anyone who would like to volunteer can email events@centerami.org.

“We’re planning a year in advance versus one month in advance,” she said.

Related Coverage

Commissioners vote to financially support Center

Center hires new executive director

Center finances hold steady in March

AMI Chamber

Kinder ready to guide Chamber

Written by Tom Vaught on . Posted in Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce, Business.

HOLMES BEACH – When Deb Wing resigned as Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce last year, Vice President Terri Kinder and assistant Cathy Pizzo were promoted to acting president and vice president by the board of directors.

Last week, the board officially named the two to their positions permanently.

Kinder said last week she’s ready to assume the role and the board seemed to agree, as members did not interview anyone else for the position.

Originally from Ohio, Kinder has a varied background in the business world. In Dayton, she was a technical consultant for a large company and an education consultant with another. She and her husband moved to Sarasota where he had a job waiting for him. They moved around some more and ended up in Jacksonville. Finally, they returned to the Gulf Coast where she helped her husband establish his business. In her spare time, she volunteered for the Chamber.

“I enjoyed the people, and when they looked for someone to become vice president, they chose me,” she said. “I was very honored to help Deb Wing serve the businesses community.”

She said she is excited that Pizzo is continuing to serve as vice president.

What are her plans for the Chamber?

“I want to bring a new initiative to serve members,” she said. “I want to expand the ambassador program and to make an educational series for the members.”

She also said she wants to bring speakers in to talk about things important to the business community with an eye on new trends and opportunities for the businesses to succeed.

Rare daylight turtle nesting recorded

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Featured, Outdoors, Sea turtles.

This loggerhead sea turtle provided a memorable experience to beachgoers on Memorial Day, with a rare nesting in broad daylight as Subtropical Storm Alberto headed north away from Anna Maria Island.

Turtles are nesting unusually high on the beach, in the dry sand of the dune line, since the storm produced high tides that left wet sand halfway up the beach on some areas of the Island.

- Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring | Submitted

- Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring | Submitted

- Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring | Submitted

- Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring | Submitted

- Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring | Submitted

- Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring | Submitted

Related coverage

Saving turtle eggs from Alberto

Green turtle swimming free after hospital stay

Turtle Tips

Nesting News

Get in the game

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Guest column, Opinion.

By Jack Clarke

Can you name your city commissioners? Have you made the effort to speak in person to any of them?

Many of your elected officials are open to your ideas and thoughts, many less so. This is not exclusive to Bradenton Beach or our other Island cities, but as famous congressman Tip O’ Neill once said, “All politics is local.”

I am a resident and recovering politician in Bradenton Beach. It was my honor and privilege to serve as commissioner, vice mayor and, briefly, as the mayor of the city.

Island politics are tumultuous at best. But for a person who really wants to make a difference – that over-used phrase – 2018 is the year. There is little reward for the many hours of hard work commissioners do, except for the feeling of accomplishment and the satisfaction of service to community and neighbors.

City commissioners make many decisions that impact daily life Bradenton Beach, including how torn up driveways will look after the county’s force main project is completed, how your tax dollars are used and which projects will be pursued using those funds.

I’m not flying any flag, supporting any candidate or asking for your vote. I’m only asking that you vote, know the issues and consider placing your own name on the ballot. With the recent elimination of ward boundaries, you are eligible to run for a commission seat regardless of where you live in the city, as long as you’ve been a city resident for at least one year. Details on how to qualify as a commission candidate are available at the three city clerks’ offices or at the Supervisor of Elections Office website, www.votemanatee.com.
If you stay on the sidelines, your voice will not be heard.

Bradenton Beach resident Jack Clarke served as vice mayor and mayor of Bradenton Beach from 2013-2015.

Castles in the Sand

A bridge too far?

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

What now? After more than two decades of discussions about the pros and cons of a tall, fixed-span bridge connecting the mainland with Anna Maria Island, we’re now getting not just one bridge, but two.

The Florida Department of Transportation has finally made its decision after multiple meetings, surveys and pushback from Cortez residents regarding the correct bridge design and height to build. As we now know, the decision is a 65-foot, fixed-span bridge to replace the existing Cortez drawbridge, matching the planned and previously approved Anna Maria Island Bridge.

As of now we don’t have any time frame on when these bridges may be built. The Anna Maria Island Bridge has been in the design stage since 2015 and, of course, the Cortez Bridge design stage hasn’t even started. The funding for both bridges is still in the unfunded status on FDOT’s websites.

My guess is that although we all may be concerned with how tall bridges will change the face and style of Anna Maria Island, Cortez and the western edge of the mainland, probably what most homeowners are really concerned about is how such a massive change to our lifestyle will affect their property values.

As much as it pains me to say this, the face of Anna Maria Island and surrounding areas has already been transformed substantially in the 20 years I’ve been living here and frankly, I don’t see any way to stop further change. When I look out my window and see tour boats, paddleboards and jet skies buzzing by every few minutes it breaks my heart, but has it changed my property value? The answer is no; nor do I believe a tall bridge will degrade property values either.

Before you start writing your letter to the editor, hear me out. Granted there will be an impact to the historic Cortez village and also to residents on the north side of Cortez Road, but after attending FDOT’s August meeting I was reasonably satisfied that access for residents and visitors on both sides of Cortez Road has been accommodated. Details are available here on the Cortez Bridge project.

Nothing is perfect, not the least of which is the traffic on Cortez Road going westbound and sometimes backing up beyond 86th Street. On more than one occasion, I’ve thought, what do potential buyers think if they’re considering a purchase on either side of Cortez Road or Anna Maria Island? Most of this season and frequently off-season traffic jams are caused by bridge openings every 30 minutes, especially when it takes at least 15 minutes to get moving again after the bridge is closed.

As far as property values in the three cities on Anna Maria Island, let me refer you to my May 2 analysis of $1 million and over properties, both recently sold and currently listed. Will a pair of tall bridges that have the potential to move traffic faster on and off the Island eliminate our million and multi-million-dollar properties? Not likely.

This may be a good time to take a step back and breath deeply before assuming that property values are going to be negatively affected by either one of these bridges. And as far as changing the character and charm of the area, that’s already been altered and continues to be in flux for a variety of reasons.

I don’t like what has happened to Anna Maria Island either, I miss the small town beachy feel driving along Gulf Drive that I discovered 25 years ago. However, it is indeed a paradise and always will be. Tall bridge or no tall bridge we’re still fortunate to call it home.

reel time Casting For Recovery

Casting for recovery

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

The cool air along the Chattahoochee River mingled with the mid-morning sun created a magical backdrop for the female fly fishers as they worked their way along the stream with their guides.

I had arrived in the North Georgia mountains the previous afternoon and was honored to be included with a number of journalists covering a Casting For Recovery Retreat.

The event had started a day prior to my arrival on a Friday afternoon at Smithgall Woods State Park near Helen, Ga. That Saturday, the participants were taught the basics of fly casting, fly fishing and had the opportunity to enjoy a relaxed day in the Blue Ridge foothills.

Casting for Recovery was founded in 1996 in Manchester, Vermont, by a breast reconstruction surgeon and a professional fly-fisher. Awarded 501(c)(3) non-profit status in 1998, Casting for Recovery’s innovative program focuses on improving the quality of life for women with breast cancer, and has garnered endorsements from medical experts nationwide.

I learned about the event from Jimmy Harris, owner of Unicoi Outfitters, a major sponsor of the two-and-a-half-day event. The women were fishing a private stretch of the Chattahoochee managed by Unicoi Outfitters, a favorite fly fishing haunt of mine. Harris, his wife Kathy, his staff of local fly fishing guides and area volunteers were working up and down the river with the participants, exploring the many runs, riffles and pools that hold some trophy-sized brown and rainbow trout.

As I photographed the anglers and their guides, I was struck by the good humor, the spirit and resilience of a group of women who were recovering from one of life’s most devastating challenges. Whether they were strong enough to wade the swift currents or needed to sit in a chair at the water’s edge, these indomitable women were embracing their lives and the camaraderie of their fellow fly fishers on this halcyon day.

At the end of the day’s fishing, everyone had experienced the thrill of hooking, fighting and landing one of the river’s beautiful trout. That afternoon they returned to Smithgall Woods for lunch, an awards ceremony and a slide show highlighting the weekend’s activities.

Casting For Recovery depends on the support and goodwill of business owners like Jimmy Harris, medical professionals and the volunteers that are so critical to the program’s success. They offer 60 retreats across the country, host 800 women each year and have served over 8,000 women to date. The program is free of charge to participants. To learn how you can help, donate or shop in their online store.

Center soccer clinic Beach Bums

A community of soccer on the Island

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

For years, the Island’s community center has met the many needs of the community. This community reaches far beyond the outline of the barrier island and it is strongly exemplified with the game of soccer.

With Island soccer, the feeling of being a part of a community is fulfilled. From the youth soccer league to the adult co-ed league, the field is occupied by players, friends and family who look forward to the weekly games and fellowship that goes along with the events.

The international game of soccer has proved to be a game for all ages at the community center. This season the players are as young as 3 years old and as seasoned as 78-year-old Lyn Clarke.

The love of the game and the community spirit is what keeps Clarke and other veteran players on the pitch every season.

This passion for soccer spills over to the youth soccer clinics lead by parent volunteers. Two of the coaches also play in the adult soccer league. These clinics not only allow for the adults to give back to the community, but also spend precious time with their own children.

Danny Anderson and Sean Flynn take one of the small fields, making it into the training ground for future players. The Flip Flop Shop sponsors the 3- to 5-year-old clinic, which allows the youngest to learn the simplest of soccer skills while still having fun and gaining a sense of accomplishment.

Center soccer Flip Flop Shop
The youngest soccer players listen to the coach’s instructions during the soccer clinic sponsored by The Flip Flop Shop. – Monica Simpson | Sun

The 6- to 7-year-old clinic, sponsored by Beach Bums, works on basic soccer skills and takes those skills to the field in scrimmage games.

These young players have goal scoring and fun games to look forward to as seen by the kids on the big field this week. While all of the individuals contribute to the team and outcome of each game, this week had some solid standouts – Riley Lawson, with three goals, and Kendall Rice, with three saves as keeper for Signarama. The team also had five saves by Beckham Factor on Saturday.
Team Progressive Cabinetry had three goal makers with five soccer balls in the net. Gregory Jordan lead his team with a hat trick. Ewen Cloutier and Lily Kawahata each had a goal of their own. Two saves by Liam Coleman helped the team finish the week with a win and a tie. Inheriting natural goalie instincts and talents, Evan Talucci had 10 big saves for Planet Stone this week. Nick Yatros and Aiden Templeton were given statistical credit for one goal each for their team.

Team Salty Printing was led by Jack Mattick within the net and Frankie Coleman followed with a single score. Jackson Pakbaz nailed three shots for points for Team Bins Be Clean. In their only game of the week, Victor Albrecht was noted to have five great saves giving Bins Be Clean a win.

The adults took the field Thursday night. In the first game of the night Ross Built Construction lost to Legler Flynn Law. Ryan Hogan and Chris Culhane scored for Ross Built. With two goals each, Diego Felipe and Chris LeClainche pushed past their opponent, topped with a score by Shay Coleman.

MAR/Kis Insurance won its first game of the season against Sato Real Estate. Manoj Poudel, Joel Sanchez and Tony Morales each had a goal for MAR/Kis Insurance. Eliza Fallace was the lone scorer for her team.

The 8 p.m. game put Moss Builders against Lancaster Design. Lancaster Design finished with single goals by brothers Danny Anderson and Ricky Anderson, as well as Sumiko Chipman. Robert Armstrong eluded the goalie twice. Jessica Williams scored the solo point for Moss Builders.

Slim’s Place won the last game of the night over Acqua Aveda with a hat trick by Rico Beissert and goal scoring shots by PJ Smargisso and Nate Welch. Jake Parsons had three goals of his own for Team Acqua Aveda, with a contributing score by Shea Yates.

With one week of regular season play, the youth soccer season comes to a close with the championship game on Wednesday, May 23 at 7 p.m.

The adults continue on the field through the month of June. The big winner will be named on Thursday, June 14 at 8 p.m.

Flooded street in Holmes Bea

Protecting Holmes Beach from rising tides

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Awards, Awards 2018, Community News, Holmes Beach, Second Place.

HOLMES BEACH – Stories of climate change and sea level rise may soon be more than just cautionary tales for Island property owners, but City Engineer Lynn Burnett has a plan to keep those stories from becoming nightmares.

“Our ultimate goal is net zero loss of properties that are buildable today,” Burnett said, opening a discussion with planning commissioners concerning the steps needed to keep rising tides out of local businesses and residences.

Second place
Environmental writing
2018

Burnett’s plan is to begin slowly raising city streets, seawalls and private properties, along with adding more stormwater drainage to lots, to help keep the water out over the next 20-40 years as sea levels continue to rise. With Anna Maria Island elevations so close to existing sea level, if the Island cities and property owners do nothing, Burnett said in Holmes Beach 20-30 percent of currently buildable lots could be underwater by 2060 with no hope of reclaiming them. Because of the way the Island is graded, with the higher side bordering the Gulf of Mexico, the loss of land would be concentrated on the opposite side bordering Tampa Bay, Anna Maria Sound and Palma Sola Bay. The flooding that islanders see during king tides, Burnett said, would become the norm.

Holmes Beach planning flood lynn
City Engineer Lynn Burnett discusses her plan to help keep rising tide waters out of Holmes Beach through the year 2060 with planning commissioners. – Kristin Swain | Sun

“The do-nothing option does not exist,” she said.

To prevent property loss, Burnett wants to begin working with each Island city and private property owners to inspect individual properties and determine what can be done to keep the water out.

“It’s not a one size fits all solution,” she said. “We’re not going to be able to prevent 100 percent of flooding on this Island. That’s not an achievable goal. It’s better to have the water recede in hours rather than days.”

“We all know it’s coming,” Planning Commissioner Chuck Stealey said. His primary concern with the plan was how the proposed improvements will be funded. For people living on a fixed income or those who recently completed repairs to their seawalls expected to last for 20 years, he said the cost could be too much to bear. He also worried that some property owners can’t foot the bill for the improvements if it will endanger surrounding properties when the flood waters come.

Burnett said determining the cost and figuring out how to pay for it would be one of the things discussed with each individual property owner as the program progresses. If the property owner can’t afford the repairs or improvements, she said some grant funds or other monies may be available to help lessen the financial burden. She said savings to property owners also will be present in the lessening of flood insurance payments which would help cover the initial cost of improvements in savings spread out over several years of property ownership.

Planning Commissioner Scott Boyd said he feels the project will just raise the cost of homeownership on the Island and push out more permanent residents.

City Planner Bill Brisson said for new Island homeowners seeking to rebuild or remodel a home, several of the proposed improvements are already enforced during the site plan approval stage in the building department. Already property owners are required to raise new structures and those receiving more than a 50 percent remodel above the current flood level as determined by FEMA. New site plans and remodels also require stormwater drainage facilities to be placed on the property able to hold all the property’s stormwater runoff.

“The alternative is you won’t have a place to live,” Brisson said.

“Nobody’s going to buy our property if it’s underwater,” Planning Commissioner Barbara Hines said.

Burnett said the things city leaders are doing to keep the rising tides out are “nothing new,” but aren’t outlined specifically in the city’s comprehensive plan. City initiatives include the installation of WaStop valves at outflow pipes to prevent tidal water from backing up the city’s stormwater drainage system, repairing and slip-lining damaged pipes, incrementally raising roads as they’re resurfaced and putting a 12-inch cap on city-owned seawalls as they’re repaired or replaced. To keep the water from flooding Bayside properties, adequate stormwater infiltration and retention facilities must be installed upland on both public and private property.

“We don’t have a choice,” Hines said. “We are going to lose this Island if we do not take action now. I don’t know about you, but I can’t afford not to do it.”

Burnett said if the proposed ordinance outlining the plan is approved by city commissioners, private property owners could see implementation plans for their residences as soon as 2020. Before the ordinance goes to commissioners for approval, planning commissioners are holding a public hearing to determine if it’s consistent with the city’s comprehensive plan at their June 6 meeting.

Meeting the Challenge

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

The kindness of strangers was on full view last week in the 2018 Giving Challenge.

The philanthropic fundraiser generated a little more than $11.7 million in donations and dollar-for-dollar matches for local nonprofit organizations.

Interestingly, most of the gifts were of the grassroots variety, averaging less than $100 throughout the four-county region of Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte and DeSoto counties.

A few notable among the local recipients were the Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage (FISH), which received more than $28,500 from 178 donors. Almost half of that dollar amount came from the dollar-for-dollar match.

Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Inc. of Bradenton Beach made $14,780 from 198 donors and $12,955 from matching grants for a total of $27,735.

Other local nonprofit recipients included Mote Marine, The Center of Anna Maria Island and the Anna Maria Island Historical Society. A complete list is included in our story.

Congratulations to the nonprofits, which will greatly benefit from these cash infusions. And a big thank you to all those who donated, illustrating once again the generosity of the people of Anna Maria Island and the entire region.

Castles in the Sand

A real estate plateau

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

There is a word that no one who follows an active real estate market wants to hear, and that word is “plateauing.” What does that mean in real estate lingo? It means leveling out rather than breaking through, and it’s a word that more than one economist has recently used. Before you start looking up at the sky waiting for it to fall, it’s not all bad, and some of it may be good.

According to the National Association of Realtors, existing home sales nationally in March declined 1.2 percent from last year. This translates to the national single-family home median selling price being $250,400 in March, which was 5.8 percent higher than March of last year. The March results were largely in line with economists’ expectations for the housing market this year – not a great performance. As we already know, a limited supply of homes has driven up prices and curtailed sales volume.

The March sales statistics from the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee’s website are also looking a little off in both selling price and sales volume for single-family homes.  The number of closed sales in March of this year was 580 for single-family homes. Last year it was 581, no real change, but there has been a change in the median sale price. After three months of median sales price being at or above $300,000, in March of this year, it was $285,000, a decline of 1.7 percent from last year.

The average sale price for single-family homes in March was $367,268, up 8.4 percent from last year. In addition, the median time to contract was 47 days, a very good number, and we still have only four months of properties available for sale, a very bad number. By comparison, the state of Florida’s median single-family home sale price during March of this year was $250,800, an increase of 8.2 percent from last year.

Condo sales numbers were all around better. The median sale price for this year was $201,500, up 15.1 percent, and the average sale price was $245,563, up 15.7 percent from last March. This March we closed 284 condos compared to last year where we closed 259. The median time to contract was 46 days, a good number, and we are holding at four-and-a-half month’s supply of available properties, a bad number.

It’s pretty much the same old story – too little inventory is pushing prices up overall and keeping properties off the market. The low number of days for both single family and condos on the market before going to contract proves this. With interest rates starting to go up, keeping fewer buyers in the market, something will have to give, which is why we may be seeing a leveling off.

But there is good news too. It appears that Florida is one of a handful of states in the country that are importing vast numbers of residents from other states. Since 2007, Florida has gained 850,000 residents. Texas, another state without income tax, has gained 1.4 million. Combined, Florida and Texas have gained a net of $50 billion in income and purchasing power from other states. Compare this to California and New York, which have given up a combined net of $23 billion, and this does not include other states like Connecticut, New Jersey, and Minnesota, which have consistently lost residents. Economists predict this exodus will only continue when the tax cut bill fully takes effect, capping state income tax at $10,000.

Will the influx of residents from out-of-state keep our real estate market from plateauing or are we going to start feeling a little pain? Like everything in real estate, stay tuned.

Island Players An Inspector Calls

Island Players deliver on play with moral message

Written by Tom Vaught on . Posted in Entertainment, Theater.

ANNA MARIA – It’s the final play of the season and the Island Players are ending on a high note with “An Inspector Calls.” The play, written by J.B. Priestley, is set in the early 1900s before World War I. It was written shortly after World War II and carries a “do unto others” message with a touch of science fiction at the end.

The play is complicated, but the Island Players performed it with perfection.

The Birling family is celebrating their daughter’s engagement. The daughter, Sheila, is played by Silvia Marnie, while her fiance, Gerald Croft, is played by Colin Brady, an English businessman.

Father of the bride Arthur Birling, played by Daniel Coppinger, also is a businessman and the two men get along well, discussing the perfect balance of charging enough for their products while keeping personnel costs low for a more-than-tidy profit.

Birling’s wife, Sybil, played by Caroline Cox, is the perfect wife who helps raise money for the poor, some of whom work for her husband.

As they make plans to celebrate the engagement, they get a call from police Inspector Goole who wants to question them about a suicide.

Goole, played by director Heiko Knipfelberg, starts questioning them about their knowledge of the suicide victim, Eva Smith. As the questions continue, the inspector starts making moral judgments about the family members. Smith worked at Birling’s company but was fired after she joined other workers in asking for a raise and going on strike.

As the questions continue, they learn that Croft had an affair with her and he paid for her expenses for a short time. Smith also had an affair with the son, Eric Birling, played by Lucas Piety, and was pregnant with his baby when she died.

With that for a plot, the people get very vocal and their moods go from guilt to sorrow. Finally, Arthur Birling makes a call to the police chief, who disavows knowledge of any Inspector Goole and confirms there was no suicide and in their relief, they drop the sorrow and guilt. What happens next puts this play in line to be an episode of “The Twilight Zone.” But you’ll have to see it to find out why.

Each cast member gives excellent performances, including Diane Phinney, who played Edna, the maid. It’s well worth the price of admission.

“An Inspector Calls” runs through May 13 and demand has been high for tickets. Call 941-778-5755 for information and to purchase tickets.

Letter to the Editor

Crossing concerns

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

Anna Maria Commissioner Amy Tripp made a good point last week when she suggested the $150,000 it would cost to install an automated license plate recognition system might be money better spent on lighted crosswalks.

Automated plate readers may or may not be a good idea, but most folks would agree that safe crosswalks are a great idea.

Tourists love to walk to the beach to enjoy the sunsets, but if they linger long enough they find themselves walking home in darkness, often with children in tow. The growing fear is that someday a large group of visitors is going to get struck by a motorist who doesn’t see them crossing.

City commissioners in all three Island cities spend a great deal of time funding projects. Perhaps the time has come for lighted sidewalks to become a greater funding priority – an endeavor that will require FDOT cooperation for crosswalks located on the state-owned portions of Gulf Drive in Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach.

Perhaps the finest example of a lighted Gulf Drive crosswalk is in front of the Runaway Bay condominiums in Bradenton Beach. Pedestrians push a button to activate the signal lighting, and it’s nearly impossible for a motorist not to see that a crossing’s imminent. There’s another lighted crosswalk near the Gulf Drive Cafe, but folks tend to cross there in a more willy-nilly fashion rather than using the designated crossing area.

Public safety is a responsibility shared by elected officials, pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists alike.

Pedestrians: Walk defensively, be aware of your surroundings and cross at marked crossings when possible. When crossing, look into the eyes of the approaching driver to see if they see you and plan to stop.

Bicyclists: Follow the rules of the road and obey traffic signals – including stop signs that may slow your roll but save your life. And put lights on your bike if riding at night, even if it’s a rented bike.

Motorists: Be constantly alert for pedestrians crossing anywhere at any time and pay close attention to the yellow pedestrian crossing signs at which you are required by law to stop when pedestrians are present.

This isn’t rocket science. We’re all in this together; let’s all do our part so we all get home safe.

Island Players cast

Last play of season this month

Written by Tom Vaught on . Posted in Entertainment, Theater.

ANNA MARIA – The Island Players, 10009 Gulf Drive, presents “An Inspector Calls” by J.B. Priestley, directed by Heiko Knipfelberg and co-produced by The Off-Stage Ladies, from May 3 -13.

The setting is 1912 in England where a well-to-do family, eminently respected in their community, is subjected to what seems to be a routine inquiry in connection with the death of a young woman from the seedier side of town. When Inspector Goole arrives unexpectedly at the Birling family home, their peaceful engagement dinner party is shattered by his investigation. His startling revelations shake the very foundations of their lives and challenge us all to examine our consciences.

“An Inspector Calls” was first staged in 1945 and has had numerous stagings since then. Most recently, after a five-year run in London, it closed just last year. Its continued success is due to the themes within that are more relevant now than ever. It’s a must-see for a whole new generation of theater-goers.

The cast includes Daniel Coppinger as Arthur Birling, Caroline Cox as Sybil Birling, Sylvia Marnie as Sheila Birling, Lucas Piety as Eric Birling, Colin Brady as Gerald Croft, Heiko Knipfelberg as Inspector Goole and Diane Phinney as Edna.

Performances are Tuesday through Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are $20 each. The box office is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. On performance nights, the box office opens at 7 p.m. and for Sunday matinees, it opens at 1 p.m. Visa, MasterCard or Discover are accepted.

For reservations or information, call the box office at 941 778-5755 or visit the website.

Castles in the Sand

More people and we’re still growing

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

We’re at the end of our winter season, and as much as I hate to say it, the traffic was worse than ever. I know everyone says the same thing every year, but they’re correct every year. It is indeed worse and for good reason.

Between July 1, 2016, and July 1, 2017, Manatee County gained an estimated 10,000 more residents according to the U.S. Census data. This makes Manatee County the 44th fastest-growing county in the United States between 2010 and 2017.  In addition, we added about 62,700 people during a seven-year period, and they all want to go to our much-publicized beaches.

The estimated population of Manatee County as of July 1, 2017, was 385,571, and there’s more.

The Florida Bureau of Economic and Business Research estimates the 2020 high projected population to be around 405,100, and by 2045 it could go as high as 645,200, and with all of the new development either underway or planned, I believe every one of those numbers. What effect this has on real estate values, in general, is almost impossible to predict, but more people need more housing – you do the math.

But this is still 2018, and it’s time for my one million dollars and over analysis of properties sold and listed in Cortez and the three cities on Anna Maria Island. This time I looked at January, February and March for sold properties and currently available properties for sale or pending as of this writing.

The statistics on foreclosed properties are from the Manatee County Property Appraiser’s Office, and the properties on the market are from the realtor.com website, which generally reflects properties on local multiple listing services. Also, please note that I use primarily condos and single-family homes in the analysis.

Properties $1 million and over that closed between January and March of this year are as follows:

Cortez had one sale at $1,112,500; the previous three-month period had none. The city of Anna Maria had 11 sales during this period ranging from $4,260,000 to $1,140,000; during the previous period there were nine. The combined cities of Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach had eight sales between $1,925,000 and $1,000,000; the last three-month period had 11.

Available properties for sale as of this writing are: Cortez has four properties either available or pending between $1,100,000 and $1,500,000; the previous three-month period there were five. The city of Anna Maria has 56 properties either available or pending ranging from $4,995,000 to $1,169,000. During the previous three-month period there were 42. And the combined cities of Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach have 70 either available or pending properties between $4,600,000 and $1,000,000. The previous three-months there were 47.

So, what does this snapshot of our coastal market tell us? First of all, it tells us that the number of closed properties is more or less stable. However, the number of available properties, some of which are pending, is up on the island, particularly Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach, which is way up. There are certainly closed sales that are not reflected in these numbers, and, hopefully, the next three-month period will reflect more closing as we start to ease out of the winter selling season.

What we do know for sure is more and more people are discovering our little piece of paradise, which will only lead to bigger and bigger traffic jams. I can almost guarantee you that a year from now I will be writing the same thing as I stated in the first paragraph of this column – it’s the worst year for traffic ever, assuming I can get over the Cortez Bridge.

assault jessies store Holmes Beach

Suspect arrested in Island assault case

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

HOLMES BEACH – Officers have a suspect in custody for the March 22 assault of a clerk at Jessie’s Island Store.

Holmes Beach police officers arrested 44-year-old Jason Rawlings Bounds April 17 after the clerk positively identified him as her attacker. The clerk was identified in a police report as April Gonzalez. The incident was captured on the store’s surveillance system. 

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJBHrlDjlnY[/embedyt]

 

Bounds is facing one count of battery as a second or subsequent offense, a third-degree felony, and one count of resisting a merchant, a first-degree misdemeanor. A third-degree felony is punishable by up to five years in prison, five years of probation, and a $5,000 fine if convicted. A first-degree misdemeanor carries a possible sentence of up to one year in prison and a $1,000 fine. The arrest warrant says Bounds is being held at the Port Manatee Jail.

assault arrest bounds mug shot 0425
The suspect arrested in the March assault of a store clerk at Jessie’s Island Store has been identified as Jason Rawlings Bounds. – Submitted | HBPD

A report attached to the arrest warrant, completed by Holmes Beach Police Department Det. Sgt. Brian Hall, states the incident occurred at the Island store when Gonzalez confronted Bounds for concealing beer, milk, and beef and cheese sticks in his jacket. Bounds returned the items to the clerk when approached but punched her in the side of the head and abdomen when she threatened to call the police if he didn’t immediately leave the premises. The punch left Gonzalez with minor injuries to the side of her face and earlobe. After the attack, the clerk and two customers attempted to restrain Bounds but he escaped on foot. Gonzalez was able to positively identify Bounds as her attacker from a photo lineup. He was later located and arrested by law enforcement officers.

This is not Bounds’ first tangle with the law. Hall’s report says Bounds was previously convicted several times for battery and battery-related crimes including one as late as Dec. 7, 2017, in Putnam County, West Virginia. His history of battery-related offenses dates back as far as January 1993.