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Mom’s Café is a place to gather and learn

Mom’s Café: A place to gather and learn

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Clubs, Entertainment.

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.

Mom’s Café is a place to gather and learn
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.

Island Players catch audiences with ‘The Mousetrap’

Island Players catch audiences with ‘The Mousetrap’

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Entertainment, Theater.

ANNA MARIA – The Island Players are smashing previous attendance records with their newest production, Agatha Christie’s “The Mousetrap.”

Director Heiko Knipfelberg assembled a talented cast for the production, the longest-running play in history. The crew knew attendance would be good, but selling out every seat for every performance was a surprise.

The Island Players staff found that requests for tickets could not be fulfilled shortly after the beginning of the second week of the run. According to the theater’s box office staff, the combination of a record number of season subscriptions and providing both online and in-person sales resulted in demand beyond availability.

To celebrate its 75th season, the Island Players also host receptions on different nights of each show as a small token of thanks to the many season ticket and single ticket holders who sustain and support the theater. The receptions also provide audience members a meet and greet with some of the many Island Players volunteers who staff these receptions.

The next play will be “Communicating Doors,” a comedy by Alan Ayckbourn, directed by Preston Boyd and co-produced by Sato Real Estate. Run dates are March 7-24.

The curtain rises Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and on Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are on sale now at www.theislandplayers.org. Box office sales will begin on Monday, Feb. 26. Box office hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Saturday and opens for Sunday matinees at 1 p.m. for “will call” tickets only. The box office can be reached at 941-778-5755.

An Artful Evening at the museum

An Artful Evening at the museum

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Entertainment, Events.

ANNA MARIA – Local artists Barbara Truemper-Green, Judy Vazquez, Karen Beach and LuAnn Widergren enjoyed An Artful Evening at the Anna Maria Island Historical Museum on Jan. 24.

In addition to displaying and offering for sale some of their past work, three of the four artists created new works in real-time at the well-attended event.

Inside the museum, Truemper-Green created a new pastel painting that depicted her memory of a tree-lined Anna Maria shoreline near Bean Point. After noting that she participated in a previous Artful Evening event two years ago, she said, “I love this.”

An Artful Evening at the museum
Barbara Truemper-Green created a new pastel painting during the event. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Working next to her, Vazquez created a new mosaic made by attaching pieces of blue, marine life-themed glass to a frame surrounding a small mirror.

“This is the first time I’m using this glass,” she said.

She also displayed a previously completed mosaic and some smaller inspiration stones.

An Artful Evening at the museum
Judy Vazquez worked on a new mosaic during the museum event. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Participating in her first museum show, Vazquez said, “We have a wonderful group of people here. It’s a nice turnout.”

As she made her rounds, the museum’s Executive Director Caryn Hodge said, “We’re happy all these people came out to see us bringing art and history together at the museum. We are showcasing four amazing local artists who all have different styles and different mediums.

We love supporting our local artists who capture pieces of Anna Maria history and this brings more people to the museum.”

An Artful Evening at the museum
Karen Beach displayed a COVID-era-inspired watercolor painting. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Inside the museum, Karen Beach displayed several of her locally-themed watercolor paintings. One painting illustrated the pass at DeSoto National Memorial as viewed from the path she and her husband walked constantly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her other works included paintings of a cottage on Gulf Drive, a school of jumping mullet and an outdoor setting in Alaska.

“I like this event very much and I was in it two years ago. It brings people into the museum and you can see people appreciating the museum while we show our work,” Beach said.

An Artful Evening at the museum
LuAnn Widergren created a new oil painting of a local palm tree. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

While working outside on the museum’s front porch, Widergren created a new oil painting of one of the Island’s palm trees – working in a manner and a medium similar to the late TV personality, Bob Ross.

“It’s a very happy palm tree,” she joked when that comparison was made.

One of her previous paintings depicted a grounded, abandoned boat in Cortez that she created during the two days spent outside at the boat’s location. Another painting depicted a beach scene in Holmes Beach.

“I haven’t done this event before, but I’m at the Artists’ Guild of Anna Maria Island with a couple other artists here and they invited me. I couldn’t pass that up,” Widergren said, noting she tries to make a living from the sale of her art.

Attendees also enjoyed free charcuterie provided by Anna Maria Olive Oil Outpost and free wine provided by Time Saver Wine and Spirits.

Crime decreases in Anna Maria

Crime decreases in Anna Maria

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

ANNA MARIA – Crime in the city of Anna Maria decreased overall by 18% in 2023 compared to 2022, according to Lt. John Belt from the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.

On Jan. 11, Belt provided the mayor and city commission with an overview of the annual crime report created using the FBI’s National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) used by local, county, state and federal law enforcement agencies.

Belt serves as the supervisor to Sgt. Brett Getman, who leads the MCSO Anna Maria Unit that serves as the city’s contracted law enforcement agency.

For 2023, Anna Maria’s Group A (serious) offenses included zero homicides, manslaughter cases or rapes, as was also the case in 2022. The Group A offenses included one robbery, one aggravated assault, one burglary, 18 larcenies and two motor vehicle thefts.

Belt said Group A offenses decreased by 25% in 2023, compared to 2022.

After noting that a robbery is defined as using force to take something, Belt said, “After reading that report, I don’t really think that was a robbery. It was an intoxicated male at a bar causing problems. It wasn’t an actual robbery, but we have to report that.”

Belt said the two reported motor vehicle thefts were not automobile thefts. One incident involved a motorized bike and the other involved a motorcycle.

Belt said most of the reported larcenies pertained to rental bikes left unlocked and stolen. He suggested bike rental companies providing locks to their clients might reduce those larcenies.

Belt thanked Sgt. Getman and the Anna Maria Unit deputies for their efforts and hard work and said the goal is to continue reducing crime. He said the community, especially the city’s full-time residents, can help by reporting any suspicious activity they observe.

“Give us a call and let us check it out,” he said.

“We’re not crime-free by any stretch of the imagination, and I think the lieutenant and his team have done a real good job of making our city a little bit better place to live,” Mayor Dan Murphy said. “We certainly appreciate the efforts. That is a great reduction.”

Winter flag football action returns

Winter flag football action returns

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

ANNA MARIA – The winter flag football season kicked off last week at The Center of Anna Maria Island. Despite a winter storm, the 8- to 10-year-old and adult leagues managed to play through the rain and cold.

The 11- to 14-year-olds were rained out, making up the game this week.

Eight youth teams played under the threat of rain last Tuesday. Two teams blew out their opponents.

Sato Real Estate and Moss Builders were dominant with the ball and on defense, keeping Beach House/Waterfront Restaurant and Chick-Fil-A, respectively, out of the endzone and scoreless.

Team Cheesecake Cuties were victorious over the Adrian Griffin Interiors squad, 22-6. In a close game, Solid Rock Construction was denied the win by team AMI Coconuts. Winning by six points, AMI Coconuts shares the top of the ranks after week one play.

Narrowly escaping the storms, the adults took to the Island gridiron last Thursday night starting with team Edible Cookie Dough Café, a new team sponsor, and Gulf Drive Café going head-to-head.

In an exciting game, Gulf Drive Café won by 14 points, despite a strong battle and comeback by their opponents.

Dallas Buchholz led the Edible Cookie Dough Café team as the quarterback. With three passing touchdowns, Buchholz hit Alonzo Lemus for two scores, while Steven Pavina grabbed the other scoring catch.

Pavina had a strong opening game with four catches, three flag pulls and two interceptions, including one for a TD. Alex Besaw scored the lone two-point conversion, helping with the team’s 26 total points in the game.

Defensively, Besaw had a stop, along with flag pulls by teammates Buchholz and John Sevier.

Helping Gulf Drive Café win the opening game of the season, Zack Price also threw for three touchdowns. Hitting Jaden Grant, Anthony McCance and Brandon Rolland for 18 receiving points, Grant also put up six points in a running play.

The defensive strength of the Gulf Drive team made the difference as Grant and Price each had four big flag pulls. Teammates Hayley Gerken and Rolland had single stops each.

The Gulf Drive Café interceptions, including two pick sixes, contributed to the team’s first win of the season. Karri Stephens and Grant each had the all-important defensive catches and took the football to the endzone. Stephens had three interceptions in the game.

Adding to the team’s momentum in the game, Grant had a two-point conversion, while McCance and Rolland each had successful point after catches.

Rounding out the night, Solid Rock Construction beat Slim’s Place by three points. New team sponsor Floridian Mortgage shut out Sandbar Seafood & Spirits, winning 14-0.

In the final game of the night and closing out week one of flag football play, team Moss Builders eked out the win over Salty Printing by three points.

With weeks of play remaining, winter flag football looks to be another exciting season of youth and adult action.

 

 

SUN SCOREBOARD

 

JAN. 16 – YOUTH FLAG FOOTBALL

 

8- TO 10-YEAR-OLD LEAGUE

 

 

Cheesecake Cuties 22

Adrian Griffin Interiors 6

 

 

Sato Real Estate 24

Beach House/Waterfront Restaurant 0

 

 

AMI Coconuts 19

Solid Rock Construction 13

 

 

Moss Builders 37

Chick-Fil-A 0

 

 

JAN. 18 – ADULT CO-ED FLAG FOOTBALL

 

 

Gulf Drive Café 40

Edible Cookie Dough Café 26

 

 

Solid Rock Construction 37

Slim’s Place 34

 

 

Floridian Mortgage 14

Sandbar Seafood & Spirits 0

 

 

Moss Builders 29

Salty Printing 26

Island Players’ ‘The Mousetrap’ an entertaining whodunit

Island Players’ ‘The Mousetrap’ an entertaining whodunit

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Entertainment, Theater.

ANNA MARIA – It’s only fitting that Manatee County’s oldest community theater would continue its historic 75th season with the world’s longest-running play.

Agatha Christie’s “The Mousetrap” is directed by Heiko Knipfelberg and stage-managed by Denise Handley. The play originally began running in London’s West End in 1952 and is the latest offering from the Island Players. Anyone who likes a classic murder mystery will not only enjoy trying to figure out who the killer is but also have plenty of laughs along the way.

Guests arrive in the lobby of Monkswell Manor, a large, renovated guesthouse reopened by Mollie (Sylvia Marnie) and Giles Ralston (Eric Johnson). As a blizzard engulfs the countryside, the house is filled with a clientele that doesn’t lack in strong individual personality as each character is a walking cliche.

Mrs. Boyle (Catherine Penta) is an old fussbudget who is not happy with her accommodations, or anything else for that matter, especially the lack of servants. Mr. Paravicini (Dan Coppinger) is a suspiciously impromptu guest who leans heavily on the fourth wall for his over-the-top rants. Christopher Wren, brilliantly played by director Heiko Knipfelberg, is bouncing off the walls with an enthusiasm to cause trouble. Retired military man Maj. Metcalf (Hugh Scanlon) and Miss Casewell (Kristin Mazzitelli) slink in and out of the background, watching and listening for… something. Not much is known of them and maybe they are not who they appear to be.

The trap is set when they receive word that there is a killer on the loose, a deranged psychopath obsessed with the nursery rhyme, “Three Blind Mice.” Their worst nightmares are confirmed after the grisly murder of one of the guests.

As the snowstorm severs the phone lines, Det. Sgt. Trotter (Colin Brady) bursts in and begins a thorough investigation, confirming everyone’s suspicions that a resident in the guesthouse is the murderer. It’s up to Mollie and Giles to put together the pieces of the puzzle, but after discovering that each harbors a secret of their own, they can’t even trust each other.

Of course, there’s a twist ending, but that won’t be revealed here. Fortunately, “The Mousetrap” runs through Sunday, Jan. 28, with performances Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and a Sunday matinee at 2 p.m. Tickets are available for $28 at the box office or by calling 941-778-5755, or for $30 online at www.theislandplayers.org. The theater is located at 10009 Gulf Drive on the corner of Gulf Drive and Pine Avenue in Anna Maria.

FDEP: Mangrove removal requires additional approval

FDEP: Mangrove removal requires additional approval

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Environment, Outdoors.

ANNA MARIA – When contractors Mason Martin LLC removed 67 feet of mangroves at a canal-front home on Dec. 12, they did so without all of the required approval, according to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP).

According to an FDEP final inspection report dated Jan. 11 following a Dec. 22 site visit to the property at 111 Gull Drive, the mangrove removal required – but did not receive – the approval of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The site visit was the result of several complaints the agency received about mangrove removal on Dec. 13, according to the FDEP report.

On Sept. 19, FDEP issued a letter verifying that the construction of an approximately 116-foot seawall with a 2-foot-wide concrete cap and 815 square feet of backfill was exempt from department authorization. However, FDEP noted that no further work should be continued until authorization from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was obtained.

“The inspection revealed that construction had commenced and a portion of the mangroves on the property were removed within the exempt activity’s footprint,” according to the FDEP report. “Erosion control devices were installed upon request after the inspection. In addition, the Department notified the property owner that they should continue to coordinate with USACE and to not continue construction until a USACE authorization is obtained.”

As of Jan. 8, USACE had not issued authorization for the project.

Approximately 67 linear feet of mangroves were removed, with approximately 49 linear feet of mangrove fringe remaining. The pre-impact height of the mangroves was more than 24 feet, according to the FDEP report, and consisted of 40% red, 35% black and 25% white mangroves.

“The canal system is considered Water of the United States (WOTUS) and is within retained waters. Therefore additional authorization is required from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,” the FDEP report states.

“No work should have commenced within jurisdictional ‘waters of the United States,’ which includes wetlands, without a permit,” attorney Justin Bloom, representing environmental group Suncoast Waterkeeper, wrote in an email to The Sun.

EXEMPTION CONCERNING

FDEP spokesperson Brian Humphreys emailed the following to The Sun on Jan. 11 with the report: “As you will see in this report, DEP’s investigation has determined that the mangrove alteration/removal activities at this property are in compliance and within the footprint of their seawall exemption. Under this exemption, limited mangrove alteration/removal is allowed within that footprint, per Rule 62-330.051(12) (a), Florida Administrative Code, and Chapter 403.9328 (5), Florida Statute.”

For environmentalist and self-described whistleblower Ronnie Leto, whose property is across the canal from 111 Gull Drive, the FDEP exemption raises concerns.

“This is the environmental protection agency,” Leto said. “What environment are they protecting?”

Leto noted that the property owner of 111 Gull Drive lives out of state and is readying the house for sale.

“This is all being done for profit and gain,” he said.

The listed property owner is Sharp Real Estate Development based in Hingham, Massachusetts.

Leto is concerned about what he said could be the domino effect of the project exemption.

“If other neighbors see this being done, they may want to do the same,” he said. “Responsible people always do the right thing. Would you rather live by a dead sea or a living sea?”

The mangroves have been nurturing the estuaries, which are teeming with fish and manatees, Leto said.

“The fight is ugly,” Leto said. “I want to see the outcome be for the betterment of the shoreline and our area.”

A third layer of approval, a seawall permit from the City of Anna Maria, also has not been issued. A stop work order was put in place by the city on Dec. 6 and as of Jan. 8 was still in effect.

“City staff visited the site on Dec. 13, and observed workers actively removing mangroves,” Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy wrote in a Dec. 18 email to The Sun. “During this visit, staff noted that the Stop Work Order had been removed from the property.”

City staff reposted the stop work order on the property.

The heat is on

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

The U.S. Census Bureau has released its population statistics for the year 2022 to 2023. All I can say is the heat is on in the South.

The takeaway here is that Texas and Florida’s population grew by a much larger number than any other state in the country. By now, it’s commonly accepted that the COVID-19 pandemic changed the way people live and do their jobs. Remote work has allowed many in the home labor force to relocate to more affordable living with better weather and a sense of security and freedom. This defined the state of Florida before incoming COVID escapees pushed up property values, which are only now starting to stabilize.

So, let’s dig into the actual numbers of the top three on the U.S. Census Bureau’s list of states with the highest growth.

The population of Texas on July 1, 2022 was 30,029,848. The population on July 1, 2023, was 30,503,301, an increase of 473,453 or 1.6%.

Florida, coming in second, had a population on July 1, 2022 of 22,245,521, increasing to 22,610,726 on July 1, 2023, an increase of 365,205 or 1.6%, same as Texas.

Third on the list is North Carolina, which on July 1, 2022 had a population of 10,695,965 and on July 1, 2023 had a population of 10,835,491, a growth of 139,526 or 1.3%.

The five states with the highest populations are California, Texas, Florida, New York and Pennsylvania. However, only Texas and Florida are in the top 10 of growth between 2022 and 2023. The other three all lost population during the same timeframe, with California being the biggest loser of 2023. Remember that population growth or decline has everything to do with real estate values.

Another survey by Bankrate.com analyzes the hottest metro areas in the country. Here they are in order: Gainesville, Georgia; Knoxville, Tennessee; Cape Coral-Fort Myers, Florida; Northport-Sarasota-Bradenton, Florida and Charlotte, North Carolina.

The Sarasota metro area, which also appears on the Best Places to Live list, ranks second nationally in price appreciation and 12th in population growth, but 206th in active listings.

The Fort Myers metro area ranked fifth in price appreciation and eighth in population growth, also with a lack of available listings. They too appear on one of the best places to live lists. These two South Florida regions are closely linked, sharing the same quality of life appealing to people relocating to the Sunshine State.

Bankrate also analyzed the five hottest large metro areas, placing Tampa at number three and Orlando at number five. This, among other area studies, will explain why the South added 1.4 million residents, accounting for 87% of the nation’s growth this year according to the Census Bureau.

The Census Bureau’s numbers aren’t perfect. They include everyone living within the U.S. except short-term visitors, but the number of immigrants without legal status is difficult to accurately count. The estimates are based on birth and death certificates, IRS and Medicare records and the American Community Survey. In addition, the Census Bureau released projections showing that the population is expected to continue growing slowly to approximately 2080.

You may have a love/hate feeling about our increase in population. You love the influx because they keep the property values moving up, expand the tax base and are responsible for the many new shops and restaurants in the area. But it comes with the price of increased traffic, especially getting to our outstanding beaches.

If you’re still worried about property values, remember housing density increases the price of homes, and we’ve got the density, good or bad. What we don’t have is the snow.

Island Players kick off the new year with ‘Mousetrap'

Island Players kick off the new year with ‘Mousetrap’

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Entertainment, Theater.

ANNA MARIA – After a break for the holiday season, the Island Players, the oldest community theater in Manatee County, continues its historic 75th season with their production of Agatha Christie’s “The Mousetrap,” which will run Thursday, Jan. 11 through Sunday, Jan. 28 at the Island Playhouse, 10009 Gulf Drive.

Directed by veteran director Heiko Knipfelberg and stage-managed by Denise Handley, the murder mystery is the third play of the season and one that Knipfelberg is especially excited to direct.

“This is the longest-running play in the world, debuting in 1952 and it’s been running ever since,” Knipfelberg said. “Agatha Christie is the most prolific writer of all time. Novels, short stories, plays, everything – no one has come close to her.”

The plot involves a police detective who arrives on skis to question the snowbound guests of Monkswell Manor Guest House. The seven strangers grow even more suspicious of each other when it becomes clear one of them is a killer. Anything more would be a spoiler, so get tickets now and catch a performance.

Performances are Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. with Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. Tickets are available for $28 at the box office or by calling 941-778-5755, or $30 online at www.theislandplayers.org.

Mangrove removal investigated, paused

Mangrove removal investigated, paused

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Environment, Outdoors.

Recent mangrove removal at 111 Gull Drive in Anna Maria, above, appears to comply with a Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) permit exemption allowing a 116-foot seawall to be built along the canal behind the property, but the property owner failed to obtain required authorization from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) before removing the protected plants, according to a report dated Jan. 5 at the FDEP’s website.

The mangroves behind the home under construction were removed in early December, according to a complaint received by the City of Anna Maria, which posted a stop work order on Dec. 6 that city officials say was taken down without authorization.

The report also notes that the property owner, Jackie Sharp of Sharp Developments LLC, failed to install erosion control measures before the mangroves were removed in December. Sediment barriers were installed after the fact, according to the report.

About 67 feet of mangroves were removed before a neighbor reported the activity, halting the project temporarily, according to the report. About 49 feet of mangroves remain that may be subject to removal under the FDEP permit exemption. However, the FDEP report notes that further work is prohibited until the property owner obtains USACE authorization and all other required federal, state and local authorizations.

The City of Anna Maria has not yet issued a building permit for the seawall, city officials said on Monday.

Happy new real estate year

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

Despite homeownership being a pipe dream for many Americans, there is good news on the horizon. If you’re a first-time buyer and are still stuck on the sidelines, this may be the time to get started.

One-third of buyers in 2023 were first-time home buyers, below the historical average of 38%, according to the National Association of Realtors. In addition, the median age of first-time buyers was 35 years old. It is now less affordable than at any time in recent history to buy a home, and that isn’t changing any time soon – except for one interesting point.

When the Federal Reserve started raising rates aggressively two years ago to curb inflation, mortgage rates went up right along with all the other rates for borrowing money. Well, a funny thing happened on the way to 2024; rates started going down. The Federal Reserve stopped raising rates during the last several meetings, the stock market started going up and mortgage rates started heading to 7%. As of this writing, according to Forbes, the rate for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage was 7.26% and the rate for a 15-year fixed rate mortgage was 6.34%. Also, the Federal Reserve signaled it may cut interest rates next year and possibly have multiple rate cuts.

This may not help the housing shortage that has kept asking prices so high, but for those who can finally find a home, the carrying charges are starting to look more affordable, allowing more first-time buyers to qualify for financing. However, Gen Z and Millennials, the primary buyers of first-time homes, will continue to be facing a limited supply of single-family properties. This will put pressure on prices to stay elevated unless or until supply catches up.

Locally, there is more positive news. WalletHub.com, an online company that analyzes market trends, has placed Tampa as the best place to retire. In fact, their analysis places the five top best places to retire as Tampa, Scottsdale, Arizona, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando and Miami, four out of the top five in the state of Florida.

Just to be fair, U.S. News & World Report placed Tampa as #4 in their analysis as the best place to retire, moving up from #6. Both surveys are based on affordability, quality of life and health care.

And very close to home, imagine my surprise when about a month ago I opened the second page of the Wall Street Journal and found Cortez, Florida as the dateline in a good size news story.

The story was about the Hunters Point new construction on Cortez Road just east of the Cortez Bridge. Hunters Point single-family homes are all energy-efficient homes, explained by the developer as the first “net zero” single-family home development in the country. This means that the homes generate at least as much energy as they consume.

The homes have solar panels and a battery system to keep the power on even if the power grid experiences outages. They are also built with flood vents to accommodate rising water and living space that is about 16 feet above sea level. Hunters Point’s goal is to fight both the cause of climate change and carbon emissions while protecting their properties during major storm events.

It looks like little Cortez made the big time, and you can too if you start the new year with an optimistic outlook. In the words of Mark Twain, “The secret of getting ahead is getting started.” Happy New Year!

Mangroves removed before protective barrier installed

Mangroves removed before protective barrier installed

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Anna Maria, Community News.

ANNA MARIA – More than three weeks after the removal of mangroves at 111 Gull Drive, a required protective water barrier was placed at the site, according to neighbors.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) noted the absence of the barrier in its investigation of the mangrove removal on Dec. 13. FDEP’s Heather McClurg emailed others in the agency saying in part, “After viewing the photos though (of the property at 111 Gull Drive), I did note that they do not have proper BMP’s deployed and wanted to forward this over to compliance for review.”

A BMP (Best Management Practice) is a method used to prevent or control stormwater runoff and the discharge of pollutants, including sediment, into local waterbodies, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

The mangroves at 111 Gull Drive, a canal-front home under construction, were removed in early December, according to a complaint received by the city, which posted a stop work order on Dec. 6. Neighbors complained again on Dec. 13 that more mangroves were removed.

Federal, state and local officials are investigating.

The protective material was installed on Dec. 28, according to Ronnie Leto, a neighbor with a view of the property.

On The Sun Facebook page, Jane Ingalls posted an aerial photo of the property at 111 Gull Drive showing the mangroves prior to their removal. In that photo, lush mangroves were present behind the canal front home. A second photo posted by Ingalls shows what she called a side view of the former mangroves at 111 Gull Drive in August. No mangroves remain at the property.

The FDEP previously issued a seawall permit exemption for a limited amount of mangrove removal to contractor Mason Martin LLC, but FDEP spokesperson Brian Humphreys said on Dec. 22 that the agency was investigating complaints about excessive mangrove removal and planned a site visit.

It was reported on Dec. 23 to The Sun by a neighbor that FDEP investigators conducted a site visit at the property. That visit has been unconfirmed by FDEP.

The Sun has requested a follow-up report from the agency, but it was not received by press time.

Will there be home stability in the New Year?

Written by Louise Bolger on . Posted in Business, Real estate | Development.

It’s a whole year later and we’re still talking about interest rates and low inventory – will it ever end? The sellers are still happy with their values, the buyers are still dismayed with the lack of inventory and it’s not likely things will change much in the new year.

The most recent conversation among real estate analysts is that even though interest rates have dropped slightly, it will make homes more affordable but not affordable enough since the shortage of available properties to purchase is not expanding at the national level.

The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller National Home Price Index, which measures home prices across the nation, rose 3.9% from a year earlier in September compared with a 2.5% annual increase the prior month. September was the highest since the index began in 1987. In addition, according to the National Association of Realtors, the median existing home sale price rose 3.4% in October from a year earlier to $391,800.

So, what is the outlook for the new year? Some analysts feel home prices are feeling the burden of high mortgage rates, which will slow the rate of price growth in the new year. Others agree and think it might be that home prices are going to tread water for a number of years until the economy gets in balance with higher incomes and lower rates.

One nice change for those buyers out there is the increase in the maximum size of home mortgage loans eligible for backing by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which represent the majority of home mortgages. In expensive markets like Hawaii, California and New York, the increase will be a maximum of $1,149,825 from $1,089,300 and for less expensive markets, the cap would rise to $766,550 from $726,200. The increases are set by a legal formula and could make it easier and more affordable for some borrowers, especially in the high-end markets.

Let’s take a look at Manatee County’s November sales statistics reported by the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee.

Single-family homes closed 22.2% more properties compared to last November. The median sale price was $485,861, down 4.1%, and the average sale price was $662,237, up 4%. The median time to sale was 82 days compared to 77 days last year.

Condo sales were up 20.7% compared to last November. The median sale price was $351,500, down 1.8%, and the average sale price was $393,475, up 0.6%. The median time to sale was 83 days compared to 56 days last year.

The month’s supply of available properties for both single-family and condos were up. Single-family properties had a 3.4 month’s supply, up 13.3% from last November and condos had a 4.4 month’s supply, up 63% from last November.

Overall demand is strong for both Manatee and Sarasota counties. With inventories in both counties continuing to increase, we can assume sales will be strong over the winter months when visitors and part-time residents return in force.

The stability of the real estate market really depends on the stability of countrywide and even worldwide economies. And don’t discount the emotional impact of wars and unrest as well. Fortunately, Florida is still a hot market that doesn’t look like it’s cooling off any time soon. We’re going into the busy buying and selling season, which will be the real barometer of how successful our market is.

Happy New Year and much joy and love in 2024.

Mangrove removal triggers scrutiny

Mangrove removal triggers scrutiny

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Environment, Featured, Outdoors.

ANNA MARIA – A company identified by Mayor Dan Murphy in a Dec. 18 email as the contractor at a residential construction site where mangroves were removed was not the responsible party, he told The Sun the next day.

“The City of Anna Maria has confirmed that Mason Martin, LLC, the contractor for the construction of the house at 111 Gull, was the entity that removed the mangroves, not West Coast Marine Construction, LLC,” Murphy wrote in his Dec. 19 email. “It was not the intention of the City to imply that the seawall contractor, West Coast Marine Construction, LLC was responsible for the mangrove removal.”

In its Dec. 20 edition, which went to press before Dec. 19, The Sun quoted Murphy’s Dec. 18 email, which was also sent to other news outlets detailing the city’s response to mangrove removal at the property.

Murphy wrote on Dec. 18 that subsequent to a neighbor’s complaint on Dec. 4 “regarding the extensive removal and alteration of mangroves at 111 Gull Drive,” city staff visited the property and confirmed the mangrove removal.

“This scope of work is proposed by building permit ACC22-000153 which has not been issued and thus, is not permitted to commence,” Murphy wrote in the Dec. 18 email.

He wrote that a stop work order was issued and posted on Dec. 6 and emailed to James Annis of West Coast Marine Construction and property owner Jackie Sharp of Massachusetts-based Sharp Development LLC.

“On December 13, 2023, staff received several complaints from residents yet again, despite the Stop Work order,” the mayor’s email continued.

He wrote the Stop Work order posting had been removed from the property and city staff observed workers actively removing mangroves.

Murphy wrote the Stop Work order was reposted, adding in the email, “The actions of the contractor in ignoring the previously issued Stop Work order constitute the willfull violation of the building code, making the contractor subject to the jurisdiction of the City of Anna Maria’s Local Construction Regulation Board.”

Annis was the only contractor mentioned in the Dec. 18 email.

“I never did any work there,” Annis told The Sun. “We got DEP (Florida Department of Environmental Protection) approval to take some mangroves out, but then it goes to the Army Corps of Engineers. If they don’t approve it within a year it goes back to DEP. We’ve been so busy, I thought this job was dead in the water.”

Annis said having his name mistakenly attached to the mangrove removal caused him concern about the potential impact to his business.

“I think the mayor jumped the gun,” Annis said. “I’ve been doing this for 30 years, I know better.”

The Sun made a public records request on Dec. 21 to the City of Anna Maria for a copy of the Stop Work order, but it was not received by press time. City offices were closed from Dec. 22-25.

In his reply to a request for comment, Mason Martin LLC’s Frank Agnelli did not address the mangrove removal.

An email request to Murphy for comment as to how city officials determined that Mason Martin was the responsible contractor was not replied to by press time.

STATE, FEDERAL AGENCIES WEIGH IN

According to Dec. 20 correspondence received by The Sun from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the agency had issued a permit exemption for the construction of a seawall at the property. Under this exemption, limited mangrove alteration/removal is allowed within the footprint of the seawall.

“Last week, members of the community began reaching out to DEP with concerns about the work occurring at the site,” DEP spokesperson Brian Humphreys wrote in an email to The Sun. “In the coming days, DEP will send an inspector out to ensure any mangrove alterations (trimming/removal) are being done within the footprint of the site’s permit exemption.”

If it is determined that unauthorized mangrove alteration has occurred, DEP may pursue enforcement against all responsible parties, Humphreys wrote.

While the seawall permit exemption was granted by the DEP, Sarasota-based environmental attorney Justin Bloom, who represents Suncoast Waterkeeper, said it may have been granted without the agency having all the facts and a permit may have been required.

“The schematics sent to the FDEP didn’t show the mangroves,” Bloom said. “Had they done so, a permit would likely have been required.”

According to a Sept. 19 letter from DEP to Bradenton surveyor Jeffrey Hostetler, the applicant must obtain additional authorization according to the terms of the permit exemption.

“This letter does not relieve you from the responsibility of obtaining other federal, state, or local authorization that may be required for the activity,” he wrote.

In an email chain provided by Bloom, Anna Maria City Planner Ashley Austin emailed the following on Dec. 13 to Heather McClurg of the DEP: “The City of Anna Maria Building Department has received several complaints regarding the removal of mangroves at 111 Gull Dr in preparation of the installation of a seawall which has not received a City permit yet. Based on the complaint, the City has requested that a survey be provided by the applicant showing the preconstruction limits of the mangroves. In reviewing the file, I located the attached FDEP exemption letter. The survey located on page 6 of the attached exemption letter does not show any mangroves and thus, may not have been a part of FDEP’s review. Does this information change FDEP’s conclusion outlined in the attached exemption letter? Please let me know.”

McClurg wrote to others at the DEP, “I received this message from the City of Anna Maria yesterday. I responded letting them know that the applicant was authorized to alter the mangroves due to the activity being exempt. After viewing the photos though, I did note that they do not have proper BMP’s deployed and wanted to forward this over to compliance for review.”

A BMP (Best Management Practice) is a method used to prevent or control stormwater runoff and the discharge of pollutants, including sediment into local waterbodies, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Based on emails provided by Bloom, propety owner Jackie Sharp wrote the following in part on Dec. 13 to Tracy Hurst of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

“I am unaware of the unauthorized activity you are referring to but look forward to working with you to resolve any issue that exists in a timely manner.”

Hurst responded by email on Dec. 13: “Ms. Sharp, As you are aware, the Corps is currently reviewing your request for a permit to construct a seawall. The attached pictures show a potentially unauthorized activity, that is, the removal of mangroves. I will be coordinating with our enforcement manager, but he is currently out of the office for the holidays. Please cease any additional work within waters of the United States, including but not limited to, mangrove removal. I will be in touch shortly.”

In a Dec. 21 email to Suncoast Waterkeeper, Hurst wrote, “We are just starting to look into this case and I will need to coordinate with our enforcement officer before further action is taken.”

It’s a wonderful Island

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

Although most Americans didn’t realize it then, the holiday season of 1946 was the opening bell of some of the most prosperous decades in our history. World War II had just ended, and men and women were coming home from overseas and starting new lives, which also included new homes.

The postwar housing boom created 40 million new homes starting in 1946. New suburban communities sprouted up all over the country but particularly adjacent to major cities where returning soldiers were filling jobs in a suddenly booming economy. Florida, of course, didn’t enjoy the same level of building as the Northeast and West Coast did, but starting after the war there was a steady increase in population that still hasn’t slowed down.

What happened in 1946 was the beginning of the suburban lifestyle. Americans for the first time had the choice of living in a single-family home and commuting to their jobs in the city. It was a way of life that mostly continued until COVID-19 locked everyone in their homes and on their computers. This once-in-a-century phenomenon pushed property values and the desire to own a home through the roof, which has substantially benefited Florida.

If you don’t pore over Manatee County listings like I do, take a few minutes to review the Realtor.com website. The website can be sorted by zip codes and if you start with the highest price properties you may be shocked. Here’s an overview, just to give you an idea as of this writing.

The city of Anna Maria has 79 listings. The highest price is $12 million and the lowest is $1.15 million. Less than half of the properties are under $3 million.

The combined cities of Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach have 214 properties listed. The highest price is $10,950,000 and the lowest is $510,000. A little less than 25% of the properties are above $3 million.

All of Anna Maria Island has ongoing new construction of large homes with multi-million-dollar price tags. These properties have drastically changed the price point of properties on the Island, as you can see from the above.

Cortez has 19 properties listed starting at $3,750,000 and ending at $695,000. Out of the 19 listings, 12 are over $1 million. The construction of the new Hunters Point development on Cortez Road has also changed the price point of Cortez properties, listing new construction townhomes at just under $2 million.

If you are dazzled by the numbers, here’s a reason to step back in time. Another major event happening in 1946 was the release of the iconic holiday movie, “It’s A Wonderful Life.” This black and white film has been playing every year for 77 years and will undoubtedly go on forever. It’s a classic story about good and evil and the important things in life that rang true in 1946 as they continue to do today.

One of my favorite parts of the movie is when new homes are built for needy families in the town. James Stewart and Donna Reed present the keys to the new owners along with these gifts and an accompanying poem: “Bread that this house may never know hunger, salt that life may always have flavor and wine that joy and prosperity may reign forever.”

Wishing you a peaceful and happy holiday surrounded by friends and family in one of the world’s most beautiful places to live. Enjoy the food and the wine, and ring the bells because “Whenever you hear a bell ring, an angel gets its wings.” Happy holidays!