ANNA MARIA – The Rotary Club of Anna Maria Island, The Center of Anna Maria Island, Bob Slicker of Slicker’s Eatery, A Paradise Realty, Painting with a Twist and others are joining forces to assist the war-torn people of Ukraine.
The local Campaign for Ukraine fundraising efforts will culminate with a Concert for Peace fundraising event at The Center, 407 Magnolia Ave., on Sunday, June 12 from 4-8 p.m.
Twinkle and Rock Soul Radio will headline the free Concert for Peace, with The Billy Rice Band also performing as part of the musical roster still being finalized.
Twinkle and Rock Soul Radio will headline the June 12 Concert for Peace. – TwinkleRockSoulRadio.com | Submitted
A preliminary We Can for Ukraine fundraising happy hour is set for Wednesday, June 8 from 4-6 p.m. at Slicker’s Eatery, 12012 Cortez Road W., Cortez.
Co-hosted by A Paradise Realty, this event will include a raffle featuring as its grand prize a Yeti cooler filled with cheer and valued at $550. A Paradise Realty donated the cooler, the spirits and other goodies contained within. The company is also providing a free drink ticket to the first 80 attendees of the happy hour. Raffle tickets are now on sale at Slicker’s Eatery and can also be purchased during the event that will feature live entertainment by Tanya McCormick, “The Singing Realtor.”
A Paradise Realty donated this cooler and its contents to be raffled off on June 8. – Bob Slicker | Submitted
Painting with a Twist is partnering with Slicker’s Eatery for the Painting with a Purpose: Painting for Ukraine event at the restaurant on Sunday, June 5 from 3-5 p.m. Some of the paintings created during this event will be raffled off during the Concert for Peace.
“We have a Rotary president in Czestochowa, Poland who bi-weekly meets and assesses the needs,” AMI Rotary Club President-Elect Jim McDaniel said. “In addition to helping the refugees who relocated to Poland, he has drivers that have been taking supplies into Ukraine. The funds raised here will be held by the AMI Rotary Foundation and distributed in small amounts, probably $5,000 to $10,000 at a time, for specific purposes identified by the Rotary Club Czestochowa and their club president on the ground in Poland.”
The fundraising event organizers are still seeking additional sponsors for the June 12 Concert for Peace. Sponsorship levels range from $500 to $5,000. For more information about sponsorship, email jim@centerami.org or call 941-778-1908, ext. 201.
“We need as much community support as possible in order to make a tangible impact for our friends from the Rotary in Czestochowa,” Slicker stated in an email seeking support. “These volunteers are serving tirelessly and bravely. They are helping to house and care for Ukrainian refugees in Poland and transport specific medical supplies, goods and food for those still maintaining the defense of their country. It is a brave and necessary endeavor that offers hope in a dark time. We are so humbled at the opportunity to help support them. No matter what your involvement, your willingness to help is greatly appreciated. We are grateful for your partnership in this meaningful work.”
BRADENTON – Scott O’Brien’s recent COVID-19-related death leaves family members and friends mourning his loss and appreciating and honoring the impact he had on their lives.
Scott, his wife Gale, and their daughters, Kristin and Alyssa, relocated from New York to Bradenton in 1992 and established deep roots in the Cortez, Bradenton, Anna Maria Island and Manatee County communities.
After contracting COVID-19, O’Brien passed away at Blake Medical Center on Monday, Aug. 2. He was 62 and had previously received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
“Both of my parents had the Johnson & Johnson vaccine in March and the doctor who was caring for my dad said he did not think the Johnson & Johnson vaccine was working as well as the others. He recommended that anyone who got it try to get another vaccine,” Kristin Slicker said, noting that it’s very difficult to get a second and separate vaccine.
“My mom had COVID at the same time my dad did. She is also somewhat still recovering, but she’s feeling a lot better. She’s still very tired and has a lingering cough. She didn’t need to go to the hospital, but it was rougher for her than it should have been for somebody’s who’s vaccinated,” Kristin said.
Kristin said she asked the doctors and nurses if her dad contracted the Delta variant, but they didn’t know.
Scott and Gale met when they were each 13 years old and they were married for 41 years.
“Gale was the love of his life and he truly adored her,” Kristin said. “My mom’s doing pretty good. Better than I expected. I think she’s feeling a little bit of shock, but she’s doing pretty good. I think the celebration of life on Sunday is going to make it more real for us.”
A celebration of Scott’s life will be held on Sunday, Aug. 15, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Bradenton Elks Lodge #1511 at 2511 75th St. W.
Kristin and her husband, Brian Slicker, also received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
“We felt like we did the right thing. We got vaccinated and now I don’t know if I got any protection? It’s not just the Johnson & Johnson. I don’t know if I’d feel comfortable with any vaccination. I’m a hairstylist. I’m around a lot of people every day and I don’t necessarily feel protected anymore. I’ve been wearing a mask and about half my clients have been vaccinated,” she said.
In the wake of her father’s death, Kristin posted the following message at her Facebook page: “It’s surreal, it’s unimaginable, it’s not fair. When people refer to someone as ‘the best’ I always think about what their best attributes are. Then I realize my dad had them all. He was the best person to talk to, the best person to ask questions, the best to watch sports with, the best teacher, the best advice giver, the best cook, the best drinking buddy, the best handyman. He was the best everything! Not to mention the best husband, father, grandfather and friend! To say he will be missed is an understatement. I am walking around with a void, an empty spot, that can’t be filled. My dad would do anything for anyone and not think twice about it. He truly was The Best!”
Regarding COVID-19, Kristin wrote, “It doesn’t matter what the odds are, please don’t think it can’t happen to you or your loved ones.”
Beloved family man
In 2011, Scott retired as a telecommunications supervisor for Manatee County. Over the years, he also coached football for the Manatee Wildcats, served on the North River Fire District Pension Board and was a trustee for Bradenton Elks Lodge #1511. He also assisted many charitable organizations with their events and fundraisers.
In recent years, Scott spent his days caring for his grandsons, Rowan, 6, and Corbin, 3, while Kristin and Brian worked. Kristin said Rowan has some comprehension of losing his grandfather, but Corbin is still too young to process that news.
When asked what she’ll miss the most about her dad, Kristin said, “Everything. He was always there.”
When asked the same question about her dad, Alyssa O’Brien said, “Being able to pick up the phone and call him. He was the person that would have my back for anything.”
Alyssa O’Brien, Scott O’Brien and Kristin Slicker shared a loving and fun father and daughter bond. – Facebook | Submitted
When asked what her dad taught her about life, Kristin said, “Everything. He had the answers to everything.”
Alyssa said, “He taught me to treat people correctly; and how to go into a situation where maybe you don’t know anybody but will by the time you leave.”
When asked how she hopes her dad is remembered, Kristin said, “As a nice person. I feel sometimes he was so nice that people thought he was being sarcastic.”
Alyssa said, “As the kindest person that anyone will ever know.”
When discussing his father-in-law, Brian said, “It’s a big blow. They did everything they possibly could. His lungs were just too bad from the COVID.”
Brian said Scott had borderline high blood pressure and was a heavy-set man but had no other known comorbidities or pre-existing medical conditions.
Scott O’Brien, Brian Slicker and Bob Slicker shared a mutual love for family and friends. – Facebook | Submitted
As for how he met Scott, Brian said, “My uncle (Bob Slicker) said I should come over to his best friend Scott’s house. He said, ‘I think you’ll be friends.’ Kristin was 19 or 20 at the time.”
Brian then shared his favorite Scott story.
“When Kristin turned 21, her and a group of friends went to Las Vegas. Scott and I were drinking and hanging out at the Anchor Inn in Holmes Beach. We were in the corner of the bar and Brad was bartending. Scott asked me to make a toast, and I said, ‘Here’s to you letting me marry your daughter.’ I barely knew Kristin at the time and he said, “Son, I hope you’re kidding. I like you, you’re a great guy, but I hope it would be a different way that you would ask me that. I said I was totally kidding and we did our shot.
“A few years later, Kristin and I were dating. I took Scott out for drinks and we decided we were going to have one more. It was late and there weren’t many places still open so we went to the Anchor. We sat in the same corner with the same shot and the same bartender and I said, ‘Scott, years ago I brought you here and now I’m ready to do that shot for real. I hope I can have your blessing. He looked at me and said, ‘I’ve been waiting for the day you would ask.’”
When asked what he’ll miss most about Scott, Brian said, “Our relationship. I feel like I was the lucky one. I work from home and he watched our sons because I really can’t do my job when I’m focusing on them. I would come out for lunch and for breaks and I probably got to talk to him more than anyone else. I would walk out of my office and he would be there. I could talk to him about anything. I’m going to miss not seeing him and not having him around anymore. He treated me like family from the day he met me. I was invited to sit at his dinner table after knowing him for less than five minutes.”
Scott taught Brian how to make plumbing and drywall repairs and other remodeling work, but he also taught Brian about life and how to live it.
“He showed me the perfect example of what a family should be. I grew up in a different type of family than my wife did. Scott taught me the importance of being there for your family and staying together as a family. As generations go by, that’s something that’s fallen between the cracks. We’re going to continue to get together and stay together as a family,” Brian said.
A best friend
Scott’s favorite sports team was the New York Giants. He also loved the Tampa Bay Bucs, the Tampa Bay Rays and the Tampa Bay Lightning. Scott was best friends with Slicker’s Eatery owner and former Swordfish Grill General Manager Bob Slicker. During Slicker’s tenure at the Swordfish Grill, Scott and his family frequently watched Lightning games there – including last year’s Stanley Cup victory. When Bob opened his own restaurant earlier this year, Scott and his family celebrated the Lightning’s second consecutive NHL championship at Slicker’s Eatery.
As a family, Kristin Slicker, Scott O’Brien, Alyssa O’Brien and Gale O’Brien celebrated two consecutive Tampa Bay Lightning championships together. – Facebook | Submitted
“I met Scott through my Aunt Cookie more than 20 years ago. She said we had a lot in common and might become best friends. Two days later, I said, ‘Let’s meet for beers.’ We did, and he said, ‘If we’re going to be best friends, I’ve got to introduce you to my wife and daughters.’ I rode with him to his house and he said, ‘Kristin and Alyssa, come meet your ‘Uncle Bob.’ Kristin and Alyssa made us shots and that’s how it started. And later, my nephew, Brian, married his daughter, Kristin, after I introduced them,” Bob said.
“Scott was a major part of every success I had. He and his family and everyone around him would always help, no matter what I was doing. This is the biggest hole I’ve ever had in my life. He was that big, that kind, that generous and that non-judgmental. Scott was a laid-back guy. He didn’t get too excited and he tried to help anybody he could,” Bob said.
“It’s a horrible thing. I was in the ER looking through a window at my very best friend dying. Two doors down, two 30-year-old men were saying goodbye to their friend for the last time,” Bob said.
CORTEZ – Owned and operated by Bob Slicker, Slicker’s Eatery is now open.
Located at 12012 Cortez Road W., Slicker’s latest culinary adventure set sail on Tuesday, Feb. 9 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by members of the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce and others. The ceremony kicked off a two-day soft opening that doubled as a fundraiser and raised more than $10,000 for Slicker’s favorite charity, The Blessing Bags Project.
Slicker, who previously enjoyed a long and successful run as the general manager of the nearby Swordfish Grill, now finds himself doing business in a recently renovated building whose legacy includes Pig Out BBQ and O’Shucks.
Offering “crafts and drafts” in the form of specialty food served as small plates or large plates, specialty cocktails, draft beers, desserts and more, Slicker’s Eatery represents the culmination of the bar, restaurant, team building, fundraising and community service experience Slicker has gained during his first five decades of life.
Community service is an important part of Bob Slicker’s business model. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
On Monday, Slicker shared his thoughts on his first week at the helm of Cortez’s newest restaurant.
“It went even better than I expected. The support of the community and the performance of my new team were better than I could have ever hoped – especially for a guy who took ownership of a restaurant seven weeks ago,” he said.
Served on slate, the Seared Ahi Tuna Crostini has quickly become a small plate menu favorite. – Slicker’s Eatery | Submitted
Out of respect for the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, seating is currently limited. Masks are required while entering the restaurant and moving about, but not while seated and eating and drinking.
“We’re trying to keep a third of our tables empty until this pandemic is over. When we’re at full speed, our seating capacity will be 160 people,” Slicker said.
He recommends making reservations in advance, but there is limited seating for walk-in patrons as well: “During our first five days, three were sold out.”
As he’s done in the past, Slicker views the eatery as an extension of the community it serves, with fundraising and assisting others as a key component of the business model.
“We are building this business to make a difference. A lot of people asked me how and why I opened a restaurant during a pandemic. It’s truly because of the kindness of the community and the friends and family that support me and my endeavors and the things we do to give back to the community,” he said.
The staff
“Our food menu is eclectic and it’s a chef-driven menu. My nephew, Kurt Clennan, is a California-based chef. He developed the menu and trained the staff. Our menu offers healthier choices and we have no fryers, which we are very proud of,” Slicker said.
“Barry Smith is our operations manager/kitchen manager and Brandon Rolland is our general manager. I’ve known Brandon for 20 years and we have a rum-based drink on the menu called “Rolland with the Foamies,” Slicker said.
The core staff at Slicker’s Eatery is close-knit and well-trusted. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“Max Schumacher is our bar manager. We call our bartenders ‘spirit guides’ and Max is our shaman, the leader of the spirit guides. I’ve known Max for 29 years, because he turned 29 yesterday.
“And my daughter, Molly Slicker, is our creative director. She designed the restaurant, the layout of the menu and worked with Sande Caplin & Associates on our logo. Sande is doing our website and Molly is handling our promotion, public relations and social media,” Slicker said.
Molly Slicker plays a key role at her father Bob’s new eatery. – Slicker’s Eatery | Submitted
“The support from the community has been so strong that we are already adding to our staff and looking for people who not only want to make a difference in their own lives, but for others also. During the interview process, we ask our applicants what cause is important to them,” Slicker said.
Menus and décor
When discussing the menus, Molly Slicker said, “It’s hard to pick a highlight of our food menu because the menu is so eclectic and features so much fusion from so many different flavors. I’m a big Cuban sandwich connoisseur, so my favorite is our Cubano. It’s truly the best I’ve had in the area. A lot of our guests are enjoying the Seared Ahi Tuna Crostini, the Petite Filet and the Spicy Octopus that might be the most exciting dish we have on our menu.
Spicy Octopus is one of the small plates featured on the Slicker’s Eatery menu. – Slicker’s Eatery | Submitted
“Our most popular, and maybe our most exciting, signature cocktail is our Santa Teresa Smoked Old Fashioned. It’s an experience in that the bartender brings it to your table. After wood chips are fired under the glass, the drink is poured into it, which produces a really nice smoky flavor. My favorite drink is the Tanqueray-based Fizzie Maguire. I love the light, refreshing flavor and the Lizzie McGuire reference, and it comes with Pop Rocks as a garnish that makes a fizzing, popping sound,” she said.
“With the décor, I really wanted to go with a sustainable theme and a lot of the décor you see is from our team’s personal collection or something I got from a local thrift store. And the photographs are of our management team, our families, our favorite places and things like that. I wanted it to feel like you were going somewhere nice, but somewhere that was also comfortable – like you’re walking into our home. Color-wise, I wanted to go with a modern and fresh feel, so anything black, white and grayscale, with tops of fresh greenery. The plants and greenery are from Mackenzie Fortenberry’s AMI Roots houseplant pop-up shop,” she said.
Members of the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce were among the first soft-opening guests at Slicker’s Eatery. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
With the exception of certain holidays, Slicker’s Eatery is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and there are plans to soon serve brunch on Saturdays and Sundays as well.
For reservations, call 941-251-9428. You can also make online reservations and view the menus at the Slicker’s Eatery website.
MANATEE COUNTY – The mandatory face-covering requirement in Manatee County is no longer in effect as of today.
Manatee County recommends, but no longer requires, face coverings to be worn inside businesses when proper social distancing cannot be maintained.
During today’s county commission meeting, commissioners voted 4-3 to repeal the face-covering mandate adopted by emergency resolution on July 27.
The commission then unanimously adopted a non-binding proclamation proposed by Commission Chair Betsy Benac that strongly encourages people to continue wearing face coverings on a voluntary basis.
After two full pages of supporting “whereas” clauses, the adopted proclamation says, “Be it proclaimed by the Board of County Commissioners of Manatee County, that in the best interest of the county and the furtherance of public health, safety and welfare of the county, the board strongly encourages individuals who cannot socially distance to wear face coverings and supports businesses displaying signs requiring face masks to be worn in business establishments to reduce the spread of COVID-19.”
Today’s action means the county no longer requires face coverings to be worn inside Bradenton Beach businesses. The county mandate applied in Bradenton Beach because the city commission has not adopted its own mask mandate.
When contacted this afternoon, Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy said the Anna Maria City Commission will vote on repealing its mask order next week and he plans to issue a separate emergency order pertaining to masks being worn on city property.
Resolution repealed
Commissioner Priscilla Trace made the motion to rescind and repeal the county’s face-covering resolution and commissioners Benac, Vanessa Baugh and Steve Jonsson supported her motion. Commissioners Reggie Bellamy, Misty Servia and Carol Whitmore opposed rescinding and repealing the face-covering resolution.
These actions came in response to the Phase 3 reopening order, EO 20-244, that Gov. Ron DeSantis issued on Friday, Sept. 25. In addition to allowing restaurants and bars to operate at 100% capacity, DeSantis’ order suspended locally-imposed fines or penalties for violations of COVID-19 regulations or restrictions, including face-covering mandates.
Chief Assistant County Attorney Bill Clague addressed DeSantis’ order.
Chief Assistant County Attorney Bill Clague said the governor’s recent order rendered the county resolution unenforceable. – YouTube | Submitted
“His emergency orders basically supersede ours. Our face-coverings resolution imposes mandatory requirements to wear face-coverings and imposes fines on individuals who don’t comply. Under the executive order, that is no longer enforceable.”
Clague said the Manatee County School Board still retains the sole authority to determine whether face-coverings remain mandatory at public schools. Clague also said businesses and governments can still require face coverings inside their buildings and facilities.
Public comment
Palmetto Pastor Joel Tillis was among those who supported the repeal of the face-covering mandate. Tillis recently dropped a lawsuit he filed in opposition to the mandate. He dismissed his lawsuit after the face-covering resolution was amended in a manner that exempts houses of worship.
“I believe that you intended the best for our community. I believe you did what was best for the physical healing of our community at the time. Now, I am here asking you for the emotional healing of our community. This issue of the mask mandate has divided us. It has hurt us and caused our community to be filled with anger and confusion. I am asking you to begin to heal a divided county – because masks may help, but mandates have hurt. Trust your constituents to decide for themselves. It is not the mask, but the mandate, that has divided us,” Tillis said.
County resident Andra Griffin said, “I haven’t worn a mask before. I will not wear a mask going forward. I didn’t wear a mask coming in here. I refuse to wear a mask because it’s not your decision what I should be doing with my body.”
Joining the meeting by phone, Swordfish Grill General Manager Bob Slicker offered another perspective.
“I have 70 employees and I just want to thank the commission for the mask mandate,” he said.
Regarding some of the previous comments made, Slicker said, “You have the right not to wear a mask. Please don’t come to my restaurant. You need to wear a mask in my restaurant because we care about everybody.
“Scientific studies have shown that masks work. Not wearing a mask is not kind. Not wearing a mask is not patriotic. Our parents would wear masks. Past generations would wear masks. This is about taking care of people.
“Unfortunately, without the mandate, I have 16-year-old hostesses and 18- and-19-year-old servers that are harassed daily by people who don’t want to wear a mask. My business picked up because you passed that mandate and made it easier for us all to do our job. Thank you for following science and listening to business owners. Having a mandate really helps us,” Slicker said.
Joining by phone, school board member Charlie Kennedy encouraged the commission to continue the face-covering mandate or least continue to recommend face coverings.
“There’s a lot of peer pressure around masks. When a business owner has a customer come into their establishment, or a school principal has a parent walk onto their school campus, that person can just say I am mandated to do this because this is what my local government is telling me I have to do. It takes a lot of pressure off our community and I think it sends a signal that we believe in science, that we believe in data. The vast majority of us know that masks are a positive step in the direction of suppressing COVID,” Kennedy said.
Commission comments
“I agree. It’s not the wearing of masks but the mandate itself that was the issue,” Baugh said.
In response to Slicker’s comment, Baugh noted that she, too, is a small business owner.
“The majority of people wear a mask – and not because of the mandate, but because they know it’s the right thing to do. I don’t think the mandate really made a big difference. It’s really up to each individual business as to whether they want to enforce the wearing of masks or not,” Baugh said.
Whitmore then said, “I respectfully don’t agree. I know masks make a difference. I’m looking at this graph here from the Department of Health.”
She was referring to 60 new positive COVID-19 cases discovered in Manatee County on Saturday and reported on Sunday.
Commissioner Carol Whitmore opposed rescinding and repealing the face-covering mandate. – YouTube | Submitted
Benac was the only commissioner who voted to rescind the face-covering resolution after previously supporting it.
After Jonsson made the motion to adopt Benac’s proclamation, Benac said, “It was an extremely tough decision for me, but I wanted to make it clear that my position has not changed. Everybody is saying you need to keep wearing a mask to slow the transmission.”
CORTEZ – Swordfish Grill managers Tom Polch, Adam Sears and Bob Slicker delivered a U-Haul trailer filled with donated hurricane relief supplies to the Water’s Edge Gathering church in Lake Charles, Louisiana last Wednesday morning.
Donated by community members and business owners, the donated supplies were collected at the Swordfish Grill in Cortez and The Blessing Bags Project headquarters in Bradenton.
In Polch’s 2006 Ford 150 diesel pickup, the trio departed from the Swordfish Grill shortly after 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 8 with a cooler full of energy drinks and water and more than enough snacks to make it to west Louisiana. A reporter from The Sun accompanied them on the 53-hour road trip that covered more than 1,700 miles and concluded in Cortez shortly after 9 p.m. on Thursday evening.
Tom Polch and Bob Slicker made their final preparations before departing for Lake Charles. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Polch and Sears shared the driving duties, and when not driving, Sears helped navigate using the Waze phone app that provides directions and real-time traffic information. Riding shotgun most of the time, Slicker – the Swordfish Grill’s general manager – served as mission leader, co-navigator and travelogue commentator.
At 7:19 p.m. Tuesday evening, Sears proclaimed, “This is going to be a very uneventful trip. We’re in and we’re out.”
At 1:50 a.m. Wednesday, Sears said, “I think today is our lucky day.”
Those predictions held true during the westward leg of the trip but would be tested during the return trip from Lake Charles.
After driving all night, the group stopped for breakfast just before daybreak Wednesday morning at a Waffle House in Lafayette. The goal was to pull into the uncertain conditions awaiting in Lake Charles after the sun came up.
Twenty-two miles outside of Lake Charles, the first visible signs of hurricane damage appeared along I-10 in the form of tattered and twisted billboards and small trees bent over or snapped off completely by Hurricane Laura’s devastating winds on Thursday, Aug. 27.
This billboard along I-10 was a sign of the hurricane damage to come. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
As Lake Charles drew closer, the damage got worse and included tipped over trailers, damaged or destroyed structures, larger fallen trees and toppled power lines.
Supplies delivered
Shortly after 8 a.m., Polch pulled the truck and trailer into the Water’s Edge Gathering church parking lot. The large metal building was still standing and mostly intact despite roof damage, water damage and the loss of electricity.
Tom Polch stretched his legs after arriving at the Water’s Edge Gathering church in Lake Charles. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Church volunteer Katy Rozas arrived a short time later, accompanied by her boyfriend and fellow volunteer Jonathan Wilson. The supplies were unloaded and carried into the darkened church auditorium now serving as a makeshift warehouse and staging area.
The Water’s Edge Gathering church in Lake Charles, La. is still standing but sustained roof and water damage. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
The donated supplies from Cortez included coolers filled with cleaning supplies, personal hygiene products, lighter fluid, several bags of charcoal, tents, tarps, flashlights, gloves, a used chainsaw, a used hedge trimmer, stuffed animals, pillows, three large plastic barrels that could be used as rain barrels and more.
Slicker also delivered more than $1,500 in donated Walmart gift cards to be used at the nearby Walmart on I-10 that has power and remains operational.
These were some of the supplies that helped fill the church auditorium that served as a makeshift warehouse. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Wednesday’s delivery was preceded by a truckload of donated supplies collected by the Swordfish Grill and The Blessings Bags Project that were delivered to the church Sunday afternoon by Joe Cadmus. The bed of Cadmus’ flatbed truck was filled with charcoal grills, tents, tarps, cleaning supplies and more.
Water’s Edge received additional supplies from other donors in Florida, Texas, Wisconsin and beyond.
While giving a tour of the church, Rozas noted normal church activities include a homeless ministry and a food pantry.
“This is probably the only time this has been empty,” she said of the dark and damp food pantry that was still drying out.
Rozas and Wilson rode out the storm in Lake Charles.
“The sound was terrifying. We lost some shingles, some awning, an entire fence, some shutters, some gutters and my garage door, but we lived. I still have a sound structure. I have three rental properties. One of them had three trees on it. One had the neighbor’s roof on it and the third had a larger tree on it. My house and my structures are OK and we’re working to make sure our tenants have a safe place to come home to when we get power back. We’re still in a mandatory evacuation, so people are not supposed to be here. They’re asked to come secure their stuff and leave, but we’re a bunch of Cajuns,” Rozas said.
“We had power tools and the first thing we did was cut our way out. We walked the block and saw total losses. It’s just mass devastation,” she said.
Katy Rozas knows she belongs at the Water’s Edge Gathering church. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Rozas said the Water’s Edge buildings fared better than some of the other churches in the area, including some that were severely damaged or destroyed.
“We are blessed,” she said. “Our community relies on us. When people ask where they can get tarps, they’re told to come to Water’s Edge. The people trust us to have some answers – and if not, some hugs. We can use everything you gave us and pour it into our community.”
The secondary building still under construction behind the main church building has a large hole in its roof. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Church volunteer Jennifer Hawkes looked at the donated supplies and said, “This is just amazing. We’ve got a lot from Florida and I have another shipment coming. I had a group of guys from Wisconsin drive down yesterday in their pickup. We’re getting donations from all over. We’re disbursing it to our community and we’re sending it out to the communities and small towns that aren’t getting the media attention Lake Charles is getting.”
“We still don’t have power at my home. I live maybe 15 to 20 miles from here and I’m still running off a generator. I have water, but no power. We’re under a curfew from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. It’s dark at night and there’s been some looting, but the patrol officers have been great. Our mayor is awesome and he’s out in the community daily. Our community has pulled together, but it’s going to take months,” Hawkes said.
Swordfish Grill General Manager Bob Slicker shows Water’s Edge volunteer Jennifer Hawkes the supplies delivered from Cortez. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
As 10 a.m. approached, the heat and humidity of the looming day could already be felt. Wilson said local officials estimate it will be at least another two or three weeks before power is restored in some areas.
Post-delivery sentiments
Water’s Edge volunteers Luke Cooper and Brittany Straub arrived and gave Slicker and The Sun a tour of the surrounding damage while Polch and Sears briefly napped in the truck.
At about 11 a.m., the Cortez contingency pulled out of the church parking lot and headed toward D’Iberville, Mississippi to spend the night at the Scarlet Pearl Casino Resort using previously accumulated credit card points.
Polch, Sears and Slicker were asked how they felt about their completed delivery.
“You feel OK, but you don’t feel jubilated. You wish you could do more. They seemed like great people,” Polch said.
“I hope what we’re doing gives those people hope to carry on the good work they’re doing to help others,” Sears said.
“We didn’t bring them a trailer full of stuff, we brought them hope – at least for one day. It’s a bit bittersweet. I feel blessed and grateful to be able to do it, but then in the same breath I feel like I’m letting them down by not staying and helping more,” Slicker said.
These coolers from Cortez were distributed to Lake Charles residents on Friday. – Brittany Straub | Submitted
In 2018, the Swordfish Grill collected and delivered relief supplies for Hurricane Michael victims in Port St. Joe in the Florida panhandle. In 2017, the Swordfish Grill collected and delivered relief supplies to Hurricane Harvey victims in Texas.
“When we’re gathering supplies the first thing I think about is, ‘How can we help’? The second thing is to figure out how to get it there,” Slicker said. “I tell people that being a small part of something like this becomes part of a much bigger thing – and when you see a trailer load of supplies delivered you see that it does make a difference. It’s already getting hot and those people are going to be out there all day with nowhere to cool off, and nowhere to cool off tonight. We get to go to air-conditioned hotel rooms and eat a hot meal.”
Road trip tribulations
West of Baton Rouge, Polch’s truck developed a tire vibration that became a source of growing concern and was initially thought to be caused by towing an empty trailer. The group decided to stop for lunch and reassess the situation at Parrain’s seafood restaurant in downtown Baton Rouge.
During lunch, Sears called the U-Haul office in Bradenton and inquired about dropping the trailer off in Baton Rouge instead of returning it to Bradenton. After several more phone calls, a local drop-off was arranged, but the uncured tire vibration remained.
Before departing Baton Rouge, more phone calls were made in search of a tire store that could remedy the issue. At approximately 3 p.m., a Plantation Tire Pros representative said they could look at the truck and try to make the needed repairs, but they closed at 5 p.m. sharp.
The prognosis was that the inner structure of one of front tires broke and was coming apart internally. The recommended cure was two new front tires. The employee dispatched to retrieve the new tires was initially given the wrong-sized tires and had to make a second trip to the local supplier. At approximately 6 p.m., Polch’s truck was back on the highway and riding smoothly again.
Tom Polch’s truck received two new tires at Plantation Tire Pros in Baton Rouge. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
The group arrived at the Scarlet Pearl shortly after 8 p.m. Showers were quickly taken and Tampa Bay Lightning attire was donned before the group headed down to the casino to watch the playoff game won by the Lightning on a last-second goal. After a late and delicious dinner at Scarlet’s Steak and Seafood, the weary travelers called it a night.
Thursday’s trip home was uneventful and highlighted by an early dinner at the taxidermy-filled Big Wood BBQ and Grill in Live Oak, Florida.
Supplies disbursed
On Friday, all the supplies donated to the Water’s Edge church were disbursed to those in need.
At 12:27 p.m., Straub sent a text message that said, “We took on way more damage in the church than we originally thought and we’re having to empty the entire church as people are getting their things.”
Lake Charles residents lined up Friday afternoon to receive donated relief supplies. Brittany Straub | Submitted
At 3:07 p.m. Straub sent another text that said, “Forty-seven minutes after we opened it was all gone. That was incredible.”
The hurricane relief supplies donated from around the country were distributed in 47 minutes Friday afternoon. – Brittany Straub | Submitted
Straub said the folks in Lake Charles were keeping an eye on Tropical Depression 19 – which on Saturday was upgraded to Tropical Storm Sally as it headed toward Louisiana and Mississippi with the possibility of developing into a hurricane.
LAKE CHARLES, LA. – After delivering hurricane relief supplies Wednesday morning to this city hard hit by Hurricane Laura, Swordfish Grill General Manager Bob Slicker and The Sun toured the extensive damage sustained in the surrounding neighborhoods.
Water’s Edge Gathering church volunteers Luke Cooper and Brittany Straub provided the tour of their devastated hometown. Cooper is a local musician who sings and plays guitar and keyboards. He also is a member of the Water’s Edge Gathering church band.
“Almost every musician in Lake Charles has a gig in a church because it pays well,” he said.
Straub had been working as a nurse, but she quit her job on Aug. 14 to focus on earning a degree that will allow her to become a crime scene investigator.
Water’s Edge Gathering church members Luke Cooper and Brittany Straub provided Bob Slicker and The Sun with a tour of the hurricane damage. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Before Hurricane Laura hit on Aug. 27, Cooper and Straub and Straub’s son evacuated to San Antonio with her parents.
Their apartment building in Lake Charles survived the hurricane, but Straub and Cooper’s apartment suffered water damage and is still without power. The couple is currently staying at her parents’ home in nearby Beaumont, Texas.
In Lake Charles, water service had been restored in many areas, but electricity remains scarce.
“There’s not a neighborhood that’s gone untouched in Lake Charles. This is a lower-income area and it got hit brutally. We’re 30 miles inland. The further south you get, the worse it gets,” Cooper said, noting the small coastal city of Cameron was essentially demolished by the hurricane and storm surge.
Lake Charles homeowners now face the prospect of repairing or rebuilding their homes. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“Most of the damage happened in the poorer neighborhoods and the older homes got hit the hardest. Unfortunately, we’re finding out that there’s quite a few people that didn’t have home insurance, so they’re going to be at the mercy of FEMA – and so far, that’s not been very much help. We’re afraid quite a few people are going to have to leave with whatever they get. Our poorer community members don’t have much of a choice. A lot of them rebuilt after Hurricane Rita 15 years ago and to rebuild again may be impossible,” Cooper said.
“It’s also a lot of older people and a lot of vets on social security and disability, so rebuilding this neighborhood is going to be hard. They have money to relocate, not to rebuild,” Straub said.
Cooper said he’s heard of homeowners being offered only $10,000 in FEMA funds, but a local attorney’s office has reached out and offered its assistance.
“They’ve been incredibly helpful with the appeals process for FEMA – and what we’re empowered to do and how we can hold everybody’s feet to the fire,” Cooper said.
Most homes in the area toured on Sept. 9 had at least one tarp on the roof and many were covered with multiple tarps, including some that were professionally installed and included spray-painted ID numbers.
“That’s the Army Corps of Engineers. They started going to the houses of the people who signed up for help,” Cooper said.
These tarps were installed by the Army Corps of Engineers. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
While approaching the Tommasi Mobile Village, Straub pointed to the wire fence across the street and said, “The fence was filled with all the skirting and siding from the trailers.”
This doll was among the personal belongings sitting outside of a damaged mobile home in the Tommasi Mobile Village. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Straub also noted most of the power poles at the far end of that field were tilted to the left.
“I don’t think one place looks habitable,” Slicker said of the damage that included a fifth-wheel trailer turned on its side and significant damage to many mobile homes.
Hurricane Laura tipped this fifth-wheel trailer on its side. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Regarding the local schools, Straub said, “Ninety-seven percent of all the schools in the school district have severe damage. They haven’t even started yet. With COVID, they were figuring out the virtual learning or the in-person learning, and then this hit. They were supposed to start the 24th and then this happened.”
When passing a large church building that was missing its second story wall, Straub said that was the Glad Tidings church building used for Sunday school and other youth education purposes.
The Glad Tidings Church children’s building suffered significant damage. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Regarding the local churches’ role in the recovery efforts, Cooper said, “We have a bunch of churches that are doing all they can, but a lot of churches were completely devastated. Trinity Baptist fared pretty well. They have a supply delivery and hot food every day. We’ve got people fixing our facility right now so we can do the same. We normally have a food pantry every week, but for the time being it’s a liability issue having people come into a potentially moldy facility.”
This fallen cross sits atop the damaged Glad Tidings Church children’s building. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Cooper said the Biolab chemical manufacturing plant in Lake Charles caught fire after the hurricane passed and leaked chlorine gas. Straub said a casino boat broke free and rammed a bridge near the scene of the fire and those two incidents resulted in the I-10 bridge being closed for several days.
Cooper said Hurricane Laura may have inadvertently resolved a debate regarding a Confederate statue.
“Most of the community spoke out in favor of removing it. Lake Charles is 52% African American, but some of the votes don’t go that way. The city council voted to keep the statue regardless of the public outcry and then Laura came and destroyed it. They picked it up the next day,” Cooper said.
Straub said Lake Charles residents are doing their best under trying circumstances.
“Lake Charles has fared well. There hasn’t been a whole lot of crime. This city is really special when things like this happen. It’s really tight-knit. There’s been some looting, but it’s nothing compared to previous storms,” she said.
Straub said a 14-year-old girl in nearby Leesville was killed by a fallen tree during the storm. Now the concern is about people dying due to the improper use of generators. According to NPR, five people in one Lake Charles home died of carbon monoxide poisoning after fumes from a generator running in the garage entered the home through an open or partially open door.
Jobs and the economy
“The port and the oil and gas industries are huge here. Most of our people are working-class people and now none of us have jobs. Our small businesses were already crippled because of COVID-19,” Cooper said.
“The jobs are gone. People are coming to town to work on the cleanup or local people are hiring on with cleanup crews. That’s kind of what we’ve got right now,” Straub added.
The Lake Charles business community is trying to recover from the one-two punch of COVID-19 and Hurricane Laura. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Cooper said he’s only aware of a handful of businesses that are currently open, including the Walmart store.
Straub was in the Air Force and was not living in Lake Charles when Hurricane Rita hit in 2005. Cooper endured Hurricane Rita and the recovery and rebuilding processes that followed.
“You were here in 2005 and you don’t want to leave?” Slicker asked.
“I do now. I don’t want to do this again. I want to clean up and I want to help, but I don’t want the stress of this again. It’s too much,” Cooper said.
“I don’t want to leave, but we’ve talked about relocating anyway. Is now the time? There’s definitely going to be turnover,” Straub said.
“We’re looking at central Texas,” Cooper said.
“Austin,” Straub added.
“Dallas or Austin,” Cooper said.
Government response
“Our mayor, Nic Hunter, is doing a great job. He’s boots on the ground, bringing generators to old people who didn’t want to evacuate. He’s making sure they get their medicine and stuff like that,” Cooper said.
“Lafayette is the closest city to here and they refused refugees from Lake Charles because they were afraid of ‘rabble-rousers’ coming in and disturbing the peace. Their churches were opening their doors to accommodate the displaced people and they were told they couldn’t do that. Josh Guillory is their mayor-president. He’s terrified of ANTIFA invading,” Cooper said.
According to The Acadiana Advocate newspaper, Guillory’s chief administrative officer distributed an email urging shelter providers to pause any action to establish shelters. Concerns about outside agitators coming to Lafayette stemmed in part from tensions already being high in that city due to ongoing protests pertaining to a recent police shooting. The Washington Post picked up on The Acadiana Advocate’s reporting on the refugee shelter story.
The damage inflicted by Hurricane Laura left many Lake Charles residents in need of shelter. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
When asked about Gov. John Bel Edwards’ statewide relief and recovery efforts, Straub said, “He said we dodged a bullet. He was referring to us not getting the storm surge that was predicted. We did dodge a bullet by not getting the storm surge, but when people heard that they assumed we dodged a bullet altogether and that’s hurt us. We’re suffering for it.”
Cooper said, “I think he did great with COVID, but he underplayed this and it affected how people carried the story.”
Media and social media
Straub said a local TV station suffered significant damage.
“Their whole tower collapsed,” Straub said.
“Our mayor said he’s worried that because this is a smaller community, about 80,000 people, people are going to turn a blind eye and it will be forgotten,” Cooper said of the national media’s brief coverage of the hurricane damage in Lake Charles.
Slicker noted Lake Charles is the state’s fifth-largest city.
City officials and city residents hope the local recovery efforts won’t be forgotten or overlooked. – Joe Hendricks Sun
“We have people that are trying to be as vocal as they can to raise awareness of the situation. What we’ve found, especially from the people in Florida, is that anybody that’s aware of the level of destruction that occurred really cares. I’m not worried about people caring, I’m worried about people not being aware of our situation. Florida has come through strong and we thank you so much,” Cooper said.
The national media may be gone, but social media platforms are being used to raise awareness of the ongoing struggles in Lake Charles.
Cooper said the Water’s Edge church received a truckload of supplies earlier in the week as a result of a TikTok video Lake Charles resident Tara Parks shared online.
“That’s gotten a lot of attention. She made a TikTok to explain what it’s like to be on the ground living with two children in a tent and not knowing when you’re going to get water or electricity again. So, we’ve seen traction with social media moving the needle. It’s such an asset,” Cooper said.
Cooper said his friends who stayed for the hurricane used and continue to use Facebook and other social media platforms to find out where food, water, ice and other supplies can be found.
Clean-up crews continue to clear the neighborhood streets in Lake Charles. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
CORTEZ – The Blessing Bags Project, the Swordfish Grill and the Cortez and Bradenton communities have teamed up to assist with the hurricane recovery efforts taking place in Lake Charles, La.
Hurricane Laura made landfall in Louisiana on Aug. 27 and did significant damage to many Lake Charles homes and businesses. Residents are also dealing with the loss of electricity and water as well as supply shortages.
The supplies gathered by The Blessing Bags Project and the Swordfish Grill will be delivered Wednesday morning to the Waters Edge Gathering church in Lake Charles.
On Tuesday afternoon, Swordfish General Manager Bob Slicker and Managers Adam Sears and Tom Polch are leaving for Lake Charles towing a 6 x 12 trailer filled with donated supplies. The bed of Polch’s diesel pickup truck will also be filled with donated supplies.
The donated supplies include charcoal grills, charcoal, coolers, tents, hammers, tarps, flashlights, work gloves, toilet paper and paper towels, personal hygiene products, cleaning supplies and more.
Community members began dropping off donated supplies at the Swordfish Grill on Wednesday and those efforts concluded Saturday, with a few more supplies donated on Sunday.
“A bunch of people helped and the whole community stepped up with supplies,” Slicker said Sunday evening.
The Blessing Bags Project conducted an ongoing online fundraiser that has thus far raised approximately $1,700. Blessing Bags Project President Betsy Plante said that money was used to purchase grills, coolers, flashlights, personal hygiene products and other supplies that were later delivered to the Swordfish Grill.
Plante received $1,500 in additional cash donations from local churches and individuals. That money was used to purchase $50 Walmart gift cards to be delivered by Slicker, Sears and Polch.
The Blessing Bags Project also filled 250 backpacks with personal hygiene products and also boxed up school supplies to be delivered by the Swordfish Grill trio.
According to Slicker, Cortez Bait & Seafood Market Manager James “Wyre” Lee secured a pallet full of supplies donated by John Hargreaves, president of the Maintenance Too Paper Company in Bradenton that supplies paper products to the fish market.
Some of the weatherproof and waterproof supplies received from Hargreaves and others were then reorganized and placed on pallets that were loaded onto local resident Joe Cadmus’ flatbed truck. According to Plante, Cadmus delivered those supplies to the Waters Edge Gathering church at 2:45 p.m. Sunday afternoon.
“That was a Godsend for us, because we were able to put the heavier stuff on Joe’s truck. When he called, his was perfect because we were just trying to figure out what we were going to do about a bigger truck,” Slicker said.
These were among the first relief supplies delivered from Cortez to Lake Charles on Sunday. – Betsy Plante | Submitted
Slicker said he spoke with Cadmus Sunday evening.
“He said they don’t expect power for three weeks and most all the streets are closed with downed power lines. There’s no phone service. He said a block from the church it’s just foundations of houses and buildings. He said the people there feel left out because no one is talking about them. The average income for the people that live there is about $22,000 and they need help,” Slicker said.
Mr. Hannon, a Lake Charles resident and military veteran, sustained significant hurricane damage to his home. – Josh Quayhagen | Submitted
“If people go to The Blessing Bags Project website and give money we will continue to send gift cards to the church. There’s a Walmart close to town that’s still open. People are living in tents and the gift cards will help a lot,” Slicker said.
When asked why they’re doing this, Plante said, “This all started because a woman I know on Facebook, Kelli Stawecki, lives in Lake Charles and has a homeless ministry there – and now she’s homeless too because of the hurricane. The people there need help. They have no water, no electricity and they’re homeless.”
CORTEZ – Swordfish Grill General Manager Bob Slicker and Blessing Bags Project President Betsy Plante celebrated their birthdays by helping others in need.
The Swordfish Grill’s Wednesday, Aug. 12 Happy Hour Extravaganza served as an early birthday party and a fundraiser. Beside the outdoor stage where Tim Chandler performed stood a large box bearing Betsy’s name and another bearing Bob’s. Inside the boxes were more than 125 pairs of new shoes donated that night and over the past seven days.
“We had a competition for who could collect the most pairs of sneakers. Whoever gets the most sneakers gets a pie in the face, so Bob’s telling everybody to put them in my box,” Plante said.
Plante’s box contained the most donated shoes, but in a surprise twist it was Slicker who got a pie in the face courtesy of co-master of ceremonies and Facebook Live mixologist Lily “Beatrice” Banyas.
In a surprise move, Lily “Beatrice” Banyas delivered the pie to Bob Slicker’s face. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“Shoes are something the homeless always need and children grow out of so fast,” Plante said.
The adult shoes will be distributed to the homeless and the children’s shoes will be distributed to children later this year as Christmas gifts.
“Our mission is to provide basic critical needs to the homeless and less fortunate,” Plante said. “We have a lot of different people right now that need help because of COVID. We’re seeing people now who used to have jobs and were doing fine. We see families moving in together. I had a family call me that only had two cans of food – one can of beans and one can of SpaghettiOs, that’s all they had.”
One of The Blessing Bags Project’s signature activities is giving youngsters backpacks filled with needed goods, and a stuffed toy for comfort.
“We handed out backpacks today at the Hunger’s End food pantry. We usually do 35-40. Today we did 70 and ran out. A lot of people who never needed help now need help,” Plante said.
Patrons and employees of the Swordfish Grill donated more than 125 pairs of shoes to The Blessing Bags Project. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
For his birthday, Slicker also started a Facebook fundraiser that raised more than $6,400.
“We’re blessed to help The Blessing Bags Project with people donating shoes and money. It’s especially important this year because we had two fundraisers planned that we had to cancel – a golf tournament and our annual Giving Back concert. If you look at the donations, there are some very generous ones, but there’s also a lot of $10, $15 and $20 donations. That shows people care and that’s very heartwarming,” Slicker said.
Covered with whipped cream, Bob Slicker carried on with his Happy Hour Extravaganza hosting duties. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“I’ve done this in Rhode Island and in New Hampshire. The people in Bradenton, Manatee County and Sarasota County have the biggest hearts I’ve ever seen in my ministry work,” Plante said. “The Swordfish Grill is our biggest cheerleader and the people that come to the Swordfish Grill have been supporting us for years. Because of COVID, we had to cancel our two big fundraisers, but they came through on Facebook, raising more than $6,000.”
Blessed mobility
The giving didn’t stop there. Slicker also donated his used Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo to a Bradenton family who had gone more than a month without a car. Saturday morning, Slicker and Plante delivered the donated vehicle to Michelle and Adam Abelson and their sons Asher and Austin.
“We just happened to have a family whose car died and they have two little boys that need to get to school Monday,” Plante said.
“I’ve had my Jeep for the longest time. It’s a ‘97 with 200,000 miles on it. It still runs great and I didn’t feel right selling it. I wanted more for the car because it’s been so good to me. And I didn’t want to give a family a car with old tires on it, so my Swordfish Grill team collected money for the tires as a gift from them,” Slicker said.
Slicker’s new ride is a low mileage 2009 Honda Ridgeline.
When showing the Abelsons their new vehicle, Slicker said, “I think there’s a skateboard back there,” much to Asher’s delight.
On Saturday, Bob Slicker, right, donated his Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo to Michelle, Adam, Austin and Asher Abelson. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“Thank you so much. I cannot believe it. Nothing like this ever happens,” Michelle said. “It’s just in time for the start of school. God works in mysterious ways and we’ve been praying. If you’ve lived without a car, you know what it’s like trying to get groceries for a family, trying to get to the doctor’s and trying to get to school. This is going to make our lives so much easier.”
When asked where they’d go first, Michelle said, “We might take a ride out to the beach.”
Adam is a maintenance man at the apartment complex where they live and the boys attend school at Oneco Elementary.
“I’m just truly blessed to be provided with this vehicle,” Adam said. “It allows us to get my family to and from the store and my little ones to school. Being out of district, transportation to school was going to be one of the hardest things we had to deal with.”
Learn more about The Blessing Bags Project at the organization’s website.
TALLAHASSEE – Vacation rentals must remain shuttered while restaurants and retail stores can partially open under phase one of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ new plan to reopen Florida’s economy.
Set forth in Executive Order 20-112, the first phase of the governor’s “Safe. Smart. Step-by-Step. Plan for Florida’s Recovery” takes effect Monday, May 4 and does not have an expiration date.
DeSantis’ executive order does not yet apply to Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties, but he said those three counties at the epicenter of Florida’s coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic are making good progress on flattening their curves.
Before presenting the plan details during his Wednesday evening press conference, DeSantis said, “It’s been a tough two months for our country. The coronavirus is a formidable enemy, especially for our elderly and our medically vulnerable populations. We have lost Floridians, which is never an easy thing.”
The Rod & Reel Pier is one of many Anna Maria Island restaurants that closed during the coronavirus pandemic. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“The unprecedented national shutdown has thrown the lives of millions of Americans into economic and social turmoil. Floridians have lost jobs through no fault of their own and many are fearful of what may come next. Others have seen small businesses that represent their life’s work devastated practically overnight. This current crisis has impacted in one way or another 21 and a half million Floridians in life-changing ways. Today, Florida will take a step towards a more hopeful future,” DeSantis said.
Governor Ron DeSantis says he will reopen Florida in a manner that is “Safe. Smart. Step-by-Step.” – Florida Channel | Submitted
DeSantis said he received input and advice from physicians, health care system executives, small business owners, elected officials, unemployed Floridians and law enforcement officials. He also convened the Re-Open Florida Task Force that produced a report and recommendations.
DeSantis said Florida’s reopening plan resembles the three-phase recovery plan guidelines recently released by the federal government. He said the plan will be reviewed daily and decisions pertaining to the implementation of future phases will also be based on data and input from medical professionals and others.
According to DeSantis’ reopening plan:
“Vulnerable individuals should avoid close contact with people outside the home;
“All individuals, when in public, should maximize physical distance from others;
“Avoid socializing in groups of more than 10 people in circumstances that do not readily allow for physical distancing;
Face masks are recommended for all those in face-to-face interactions and where you can’t social distance.”
Restaurants, retail and more
Under the reopening plan beginning on Monday:
Florida restaurants can resume indoor dining at 25% of their normal seating capacity. Outdoor dining can also resume with tables spaced at least 6 feet apart. While dining inside or out, no more than 10 people are allowed in a group.
Bars, pubs and nightclubs that derive more than 50% of their gross revenue from alcohol sales will remain closed.
Retail stores can operate at no more than 25% of their capacity and must abide by CDC and OSHA safety guidelines.
Gyms and fitness centers will remain closed. DeSantis said hair salons, nail salons and other personal service providers cannot yet provide those services but can sell their retail products.
Libraries and museums can reopen at 25% capacity.
Elective surgeries and medical procedures can resume.
Florida schools will continue to operate with distance learning.
Visitors remain prohibited at nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.
During press inquiries, DeSantis was asked about businesses that are allowed to be open and businesses that are not.
“There’s no gray area. The order continues the essential business framework, so anyone under that framework is good to go. And then it allows responsible activity to include these new things like the retail. If you were good before, you’re good now,” DeSantis said.
Vacation rentals
During Wednesday’s press conference, DeSantis was silent on vacation rentals and whether he planned to extend Executive Order 20-87, an order that prohibited vacation rental operations through Thursday, April 30.
But the reopening plan executive order released later that evening says, “The prohibition on vacation rentals in Executive Order 20-87 remains in effect for the duration of the new order.”
The first phase of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ reopening plan continues his suspension of vacation rental operations. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
On Wednesday, DeSantis also issued Executive Order 20-111, an order that fills a gap by extending until Monday his vacation rental order (EO 20-87) and his essential businesses/stay-at-home order (EO 20-91).
The Anna Maria City Commission will conduct an emergency meeting at 10 a.m. on Friday to discuss parking restrictions and whether to continue the mayor’s local emergency order that prohibits new vacation rental reservations for guest arrivals through June 30.
The city of Holmes Beach also has local emergency vacation rental restrictions in place.
Local reaction
Soon after DeSantis’ conference ended, local restaurant operators and employees were already making their response plans.
Bartender Staci Wilkinson said Tide Tables in Cortez would be ready to go on Monday.
“We’ve moved all our picnic tables six feet apart. The majority of our seating is outside, so this is great news for us. We still expect a lot of takeout orders too, because not everyone will feel comfortable going out to eat right away. We’re prepared for anything and everything,” she said.
In Bradenton Beach, Bridge Tender Inn owner Fred Bartizal said, “It’ll be nice that people can actually sit in the restaurant with an open container, so it will definitely help. I certainly don’t want to be too quick to open it up completely.”
Drift In manager Doreen Flynn acknowledged social distancing would be a challenge inside the Bradenton Beach bar.
“It’s good that all those employees are getting their jobs back. I just wish we were included. I look forward to seeing Bridge Street open again. I watch the camera at the bar and it’s a ghost town,” Flynn said.
The Drift In in Bradenton Beach has been closed since St. Patrick’s Day. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Drift In bartender Sharon Bell worked her last bar shift on St. Patrick’s Day – the day Florida’s bars closed in accordance with DeSantis’ executive order.
“I don’t understand how having a kitchen makes anyone safer? I feel like if we’re safe, we’re safe; and if it’s still dangerous, it’s still dangerous. I don’t understand how this is an apples-to-oranges situation,” Bell said.
Sports Lounge bartender Courtney McGough somewhat sarcastically said, “I’m glad they (restaurants) can serve alcohol while I wait for another month. I really hope this isn’t too early.”
Swordfish Grill General Manager Bob Slicker said he’s not ready to resume sit down dining yet in the Cortez restaurant.
“For us to open, we must have everything in place. If one of my employees gets sick and I have to shut down for two weeks what good is that? I don’t feel comfortable with it,” Slicker said.
COVID-19 in Manatee County
As of Wednesday evening, Florida had 33,193 reported COVID-19 cases, 5,419 hospitalizations and 1,218 COVID-19-connected deaths, according to the Florida Department of Health’s COVID-19 Data and Surveillance Dashboard.
As of Wednesday, there were still no reported COVID-19 cases in the city of Anna Maria. Since the pandemic began in the United States there has been one reported case in Holmes Beach and one reported case in Bradenton Beach.
The Holmes Beach case was reported on April 2. The Bradenton Beach case involved 68-year-old Bradenton Beach resident Tom Sheehan, who died at a Sarasota hospital in late March while being treated for COVID-19 upon his return from a cruise ship vacation.
The FDOH Dashboard is updated at least twice a day. – FDOH | Submitted
As of Wednesday, Manatee County had 564 reported COVID-19 cases, 142 hospitalizations and 49 COVID-19-connected deaths. Of those reported cases, 394 were in Bradenton and 162 were in the 34208 zip code that contains portions of Bradenton, Ellenton and Samoset, making it the zip code with the most reported cases in the Tampa Bay region.
Also as of Wednesday, there were 24 reported COVID-19 deaths associated with nursing homes, assisted living facilities and other long-term care facility residents or staff members in Manatee County. There were 21 such deaths in Sarasota County. Manatee County ranks fourth-highest in the state in that category and Sarasota County ranks fifth-highest.
Ten long-term care facilities in Manatee County listed a total of 97 COVID-19-positive cases among residents and transferred residents and 81 reported cases among staff members.
Regularly updated county-by-county and zip code specific COVID-19 data can be found at the FDOH COVID-19 Dashboard.
CORTEZ – The Independence Day festivities will continue for an extra day when the Swordfish Grill hosts a legally-permitted fireworks display on Friday, July 5.
Swordfish Grill owner John Banyas obtained a public fireworks display permit from Manatee County on Tuesday and a second permit from the West Manatee Fire Rescue (WMFR) fire department on Wednesday.
Launching at 9 p.m., the permitted July 5 fireworks display will replace the non-permitted July 4 fireworks show that’s become a Cortez tradition in recent years.
On Wednesday, General Manager Bob Slicker said all the restaurant’s waterfront patio tables have already reserved for Friday evening, but there will still be standing-room-only space available.
There will also be seating inside the restaurant and sports bar, and it’ll be business as usual, except the kitchen will close at 8 p.m. so the kitchen staff can enjoy the fireworks.
“Our neighbors at the Cortez Kitchen will also be open and there may be some seats available there too,” Slicker said.
The fireworks will launch from an offshore barge and should also be visible from the Bridge Street Pier in Bradenton Beach and along Bradenton Beach’s eastern shoreline.
Tip prompts investigation
Banyas obtained the fireworks permits in response to a June 12 investigation that began with WMFR Fire Inspector Rodney Kwiatkowski responding to two anonymous tips about fireworks being stored at a Cortez home on 124th Street owned by Banyas and rented to Slicker.
“We drove by and confirmed what appeared to be fireworks in an open garage. So, we got the appropriate people together went to the residence, introduced ourselves and asked if we could go in and see what we’re looking at.”
These fireworks were previously stored at Bob Slicker’s rented home in Cortez. – Rodney Kwiatkowski/WMFR | Submitted
Kwiatkowski said the response team included Manatee County Sheriff’s Office deputies and members of the county bomb squad. He said the bomb squad responded due to the large amount of fireworks being stored.
“There’s no citation. The only issue we had was with the storage being so close to all the residences. The storage was in violation of a county ordinance. They were asked to move them. They obliged and they were going to have them sent back to the company that delivered them. They were very cooperative,” Kwiatkowski said.
“We also let them know that we were available to facilitate the permitting process and walk them through it, which we did. We met with John Banyas, showed him what was required for a permitted fireworks display and pointed him in the direction of some licensed pyrotechnic companies,” Kwiatkowski said.
“We’ve been working with them and the county to help facilitate this. This is the way it’s supposed to work, and everybody wins in the end,” he added.
“I’ll go out during the day and do an inspection during set up to make sure the licensed ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives) shooter is there on site. In the evening, we’ll have a dedicated fire engine crew there during the display,” Kwiatkowski said.
Kwiatkowski said it’s legal to possess fireworks in Florida if purchased for agricultural purposes such as scaring off birds or other animals, but it’s illegal to detonate explosive fireworks without a permit. He feels this loophole in Florida law creates confusion and is something WMFR officials hope to close in the future.
“I don’t believe Bob Slicker was intentionally trying to break the law. I think well-intentioned people, because of this law, are put in a position that is unfortunate,” Kwiatkowski said. “We want people to celebrate, but we need them do it in a way that is safe and legal.”
Permitted activity
“This fireworks show has been going on for five years,” Slicker said. “Me and a group of local fishermen and business owners have been doing this to help our community celebrate Cortez and Independence Day. We had the garage door open and we were doing everything out in the public, just as we have for the past five years.
“Until this, we never had a complaint about the fireworks show that has become a community event at no cost to anyone but those who volunteer their own money. This is the first time anybody told us we were doing something wrong. As soon as they did, we stopped and did everything asked of us. We had to move the fireworks and they’re now stored in a safe, secure and approved location,” Slicker said.
These are some of the fireworks that will be launched near the Swordfish Grill Friday night. Rodney Kwiatkowski/WMFR | Submitted
“The fire department, the sheriff’s deputies and the bomb squad were all very kind to us and the county commissioners also helped us. We really appreciate how helpful everyone was in walking us through the permitting process,” Slicker said.
“We actually have more than twice the amount of fireworks the other local paper said we had,” he added, noting that next year’s show will be permitted in time to return to its traditional July 4 date.
The Swordfish Grill will still feature plenty of July 4 activity this year.
“We’ll have our annual hot dog eating contest at 1 p.m. and Tim Chandler will be playing. It’ll be business as usual and you can see many other fireworks shows from our deck,” Slicker said.
CORTEZ – Peter “The Dog Man” Osman has spent the past 30 years making his whimsical “Doggone” sculptures and the past two years selling them at Bunny & Pirates Bazaar in his new hometown of Cortez.
Osman, 67, is now fighting stage 4 prostate cancer and doing all he can do to continue his life and life’s work.
“I used to say I will never move to Florida and I will never live in a trailer and here I am,” Osman joked when discussing the move he and his partner, Holly, made from Portland, Maine.
After discovering abstract art, Osman moved to New York City and toiled for years as an abstract artist who supplemented his income working in restaurants at night.
“I was supposed to be an English teacher, but I wanted to play music and paint. Abstract art has a very small clientele base. It’s fun to make, but it’s also very pensive. People want to see the bird and the barn,” he said.
Osman’s artistic pivot occurred when he started drawing outlines of dogs, which ultimately inspired his sculptures.
This fishing dog in one of Peter Osman’s themed works. – Peter Osman | Submitted
“I grew up in the cartoon era, where every dog was over-accentuated and comical – they had a big black nose, big ears and blubbery lips. I thought to myself, ‘This is funny, and fun.’ And growing up, I always had a dog,” he said.
Osman creates the skeletal frames for his sculptures by shaping tubes he makes out of newspaper and tin foil. He then wraps the tubular frames with orthopedic bandages, reinforces the joints and ears with an epoxy mixture and coats his sculptures with enamel paint.
Before switching to orthopedic bandages, Peter Osman previously used tape to create the outer skin of his sculptures. – Peter Osman | Submitted
“It’s a lot more resilient than papier-mâché. I think I’m the only person on the planet that does it this way,” he said. “The last thing I do, which I find kind of magical, is put the eyes in. The eyes give it the personality. The eyes bring it alive.
“They’re all kind of long and cartoonish. When I do shows, I get a lot of laughter and smiles – a lot of what you don’t get from regular art. I feel I give so much joy to people with my dogs – it’s just delicious the effect they have on people. I just want to stay strong enough to keep making them,” Osman said.
Cortez collaborative
Osman used to sell his sculptures at art shows in the New England area and in New York. After moving to Cortez, he approached Bunny & Pirates’ owners Elizabeth Shore and Jeffrey O’Connell about selling them at their establishment.
Since then, Bunny & Pirates has sold approximately 50 “Doggone” sculptures, including those sold at the benefit for Osman in April that raised $7,000.
“Each one has character. You fall in love with them. Our clientele and customers totally get it and they take pictures with them even if they don’t buy one,” Shore said.
“I really enjoy their unique personalities. Each one has their own little thing going on like ‘Flower Power Dog’ or ‘Space Dog.’ They definitely introduce themselves,” O’Connell said.
Shore and O’Connell are even bigger fans of the artist himself.
“Peter is an amazing person. He’s wise, he’s quirky, he’s real. He’s a loving guy and we became best friends,” Shore said.
“He’s a unique being,” O’Connell added.
Bunny & Pirates is still accepting silent auction bids for Peter Osman’s ‘Surf Dog’ sculpture. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Osman’s sculptures start at $125 and go as high as $450 for a themed sculpture or one commissioned to resemble a particular dog. The ‘Surfer Dog’ at Bunny & Pirates is an example of Osman’s themed work.
“People have asked me to do dogs surfing, kayaking and scuba diving,” he said.
Bob Slicker commissioned Peter Osman to make a sculpture resembling his dog, Jackie O. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Swordfish Grill General Manager Bob Slicker commissioned Osman to make a sculpture resembling Jackie O., the dog he and Kat Cox adopted.
“Kat and I got this rescue dog within the past year and when I saw the red dog Peter made I thought it looked like Jackie O.,” Slicker said.
“I think it’s awesome. The eyes especially look just like Jackie’s,” Cox said.
Radio show host and author Garrison Keillor purchased one of Peter Osman’s “Doggone” sculptures. – Peter Osman | Submitted
Osman’s past clients include “Prairie Home Companion” radio host and author Garrison Keillor.
“I’m on the upper west side of New York, I’ve got six or seven of these sitting out and a guy stops by and it’s Garrison Keillor,” Osman said.
Life interrupted
Osman’s artistic production has slowed in recent months.
“In December, I was diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer. I never lost faith in the fun and the energy of making the dogs, but my energy’s low because of the radiation,” he said.
“I was also teaching reading over at Kinnan Elementary in Sarasota. Everything stopped because I had to dedicate myself to treatment. I never considered not getting treatment. If something’s going to happen I’ll understand, but I have a choice in this right now. I have my ups and downs, but I have a good support system,” Osman said.
He also offered some advice for others: “I know a lot of guys that have never been tested. Get your PSA checked. The earlier the better.”
For those diagnosed with prostate cancer, Osman said, “Advocate to get a proper biopsy done to find everything hidden in there.”
When asked if there’s anything the community can do to help him, Osman said, “They can pay attention to themselves.”
CORTEZ – The life and legacy of Nancy Franklin will be celebrated with the inaugural Nancy Franklin Flippin’ Mullet Open Charity Golf Tournament on Saturday, May 18.
Franklin was the Swordfish Grill and Flippin’ Mullet Sports Bar bar manager when she passed away on April 15, 2018, after battling cancer.
Proceeds from the tournament and after-party will benefit The Blessing Bags Project that provides bags filled with comfort items, quilts, supplies and more to homeless and housing-challenged youths.
Nancy remembered
“We’re doing this to keep alive Nancy’s joy of giving,” Swordfish Grill General Manager Bob Slicker said. “She did so many good things for our community and it’s an honor to do this and make it something that will continue in Nancy’s honor. She was an important and loved member of our Cortez tribe.”
Nancy Franklin passed away last year but her legacy lives on. – Submitted | Facebook
Swordfish Grill manager Katrina “Kat” Cox said, “Nancy Franklin was a special kind of person. She could always put a smile on my face no matter what else was going on. Whether we were at work, tailgating in the parking lot or heading to a Lightning game it was sure to end with a smile on your face and your sides hurting from laughing. Her unique sense of humor was one of the things I loved most about her. She was a very caring person who would do anything she could to help a friend in need.
“She is largely responsible for the success of the Flippin’ Mullet Sports Bar. She organized bus trips, watch parties and other events – many of which raised money for her favorite local charity, The Blessing Bags Project. If there is one thing I learned from Nancy, it’s to live life to the fullest and enjoy the most out of every day. As Nancy would say, ‘It would be rude not to!” Cox said.
Swordfish Grill Manager Greg Koeper met Franklin nearly 30 years when she worked at the Lone Star Steakhouse in Bradenton.
“We developed a lifelong friendship and she came to work for me when I opened Grego’s Almost to the Beach Tavern. She then ended up being our bar manager at the Swordfish Grill and she established the Flippin’ Mullet as a sports bar and watch party location for Lightning games. She’s dearly missed,” Koeper said.
“Any day with Nancy was a memory in the making filled with love, laughter, camaraderie and shenanigans.”
– Nora Davis
Franklin’s friend Rose Lipke said, “I am so happy to see Nancy being honored this way and happy that it will continue in her honor as an annual event. She made all the fundraisers and charity events we did an absolute joy to be a part of. I miss her spirit, her kind heart, her wicked sense of humor and her no-nonsense demeanor. She is so very missed by so many.”
Franklin’s friend and former co-worker Nora Davis’ fond memories of Franklin include tailgating after festival set-ups, hanging out in the parking lot after work, ‘Sunday bubbles’ at the Bonefish Grill, bus trips to Lightning games and the Tom Petty concert they attended in 2017.
“Any day with Nancy was a memory in the making filled with love, laughter, camaraderie and shenanigans. No matter what you were going through or how bad you thought your day was going she could always put a smile on your face. I learned a lot from her and she touched my life in ways I could never explain. I miss her and she will always be a part of me, which makes me blessed,” Davis said.
Katrina “Kat” Cox, Nora Davis, Tori Lee and Nancy Franklin shared many good times together. – Submitted | Facebook
Swordfish Grill bartender Tori Lee said, “I always called Nancy ‘Mama-Nance’ because she was loving and caring but she’d beat your butt if you needed it. She was one of the coolest, laid-back ladies I’ve ever met. She taught me to not be so serious all the time and to just go with the flow – and also to order a pot of coffee when you stay at a hotel. I miss her every day.”
Tournament info
Teeing off with a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m., the tournament will take place at the Pinebrook Ironwood Golf Club in Bradenton and include a longest drive contest, a closest to the pin contest and an opportunity to win a new car for shooting a hole in one.
The inaugural Nancy Franklin Flippin’ Mullet Open Charity Golf Tournament will be played on Saturday, May 18.
The entry fee for the two-person, best ball scramble is $80 per golfer and includes 18 holes of golf, cart fee, a goodies bag and lunch and an after-party at the Flippin’ Mullet. Non-golfers can attend the lunch and after-party for $25.
The after-party will include fundraising raffles and a silent auction. Hole sponsors and raffle and silent auction item donors are still sought.
To register for the tournament, sponsor a hole or donate items, email Cox at swordfishkat@gmail.com, call 941-525-0673 or stop by the Swordfish Grill at 4628 119th St. W. in Cortez. You can also contact Koeper in person or by phone at 941-447-5287.
The Anna Maria Island Sun is the media sponsor for this event.
CORTEZ – The Swordfish Grill, the Cortez Bait & Seafood Company, The Blessing Bags Project and the Service Industry Relief Festivities (SIRF) organization are teaming up to provide supplies to Floridians impacted by Hurricane Michael.
The relief efforts are set to begin at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 16, with two semi-trailers stationed in the plaza parking lot near the Cortez Fish Market (12110 Cortez Road W.) and Cortez Post Office.
The goal is to fill both trailers with donated backpacks filled with donated toys, baby supplies (diapers, baby wipes, etc.), personal hygiene products, first aid supplies, sunscreen, bug spray and other comfort items. Cash donations will also be accepted.
As he did last year after Hurricane Harvey hit Texas, Swordfish Grill General Manager Bob Slicker is helping spearhead the local relief efforts.
“I was sitting there this morning sitting by myself, watching the news and crying and I thought I needed to do something,” Slicker said Monday morning.
Applying lessons learned last year, Slicker said the focus this year is on comfort items that are easier to stage, transport and distribute than the bulkier food, water and clothing that were among the many items collected last year.
The Bradenton/Sarasota-based Blessing Bags Project has a great deal of experience collecting, filling and distributing backpacks to those in need locally, and one Monday afternoon Director Betsy Plante told Slicker 300 backpacks had already been donated to the hurricane relief efforts, but more are needed.
The donated backpacks and supplies will be delivered to Port St. Joe High School in Port St. Joe, where resident Jay Rish is helping to coordinate the distribution efforts. Rish is a friend of Robert DeMino, territory manager for U.S. Foods, the company that supplies the Swordfish Grill and several other local restaurants.
DeMino said Rish is a third-generation Port St. Joe resident and a prominent realtor and developer in the area. Port St. Joe is approximately 12 miles southeast of Mexico Beach, one of the areas hardest hit by Hurricane Michael.
According to Slicker, Rish said there’s already plenty of food and water making its way to the area and the comfort items will be greatly appreciated.
“What we are collecting are the best possible things for now,” Slicker said.
Slicker expects it will take at least a couple of days, maybe a week, to fill the trailers provided by Cortez businessman John Banyas.
“We’ll do it as long as we need to,” Slicker said.
“If you would like to make a cash donation, we will have our good friend Simon Lord purchase supplies for us and get those supplies up there also,” Slicker added.
“I was sitting there this morning sitting by myself, watching the news and crying and I thought I needed to do something.” – Bob Slicker, Swordfish Grill General Manager
Financial donations will be processed through the recently-created, SIRF-affiliated 501(c)(3) non-profit Florida Restaurant Employee Red Tide Relief Fund. The fund was established to provide relief to Cortez and Anna Maria Island restaurant employees and others impacted in future years by red tide outbreaks, hurricanes and the annual slow season.
On Monday afternoon, SIRF set up a wish list at Amazon.com that allows folks to order relief supplies to be delivered to the Swordfish Grill and then loaded onto a trailer headed for Port St. Joe. Visit SIRF online at their recently-launched website.
Slicker said the relief efforts will continue during the 7th Annual Cortez Stone Crab & Music Festival on Saturday, Nov. 10 and Sunday, Nov. 11.
“It’s almost November and the holidays are approaching. Some of those families will not be able to buy toys for their children. Toys probably aren’t on anyone’s priority list, but that’s going to be part of our focus working with The Blessing Bags Project,” Slicker said. “If you come to the stone crab festival, bring a toy to get in. We will make the festival a hurricane relief toy drive.”
CORTEZ – Webster’s Dictionary defines a philanthropist as “one who makes an active effort to promote human welfare.”
Swordfish Grill General Manager Bob Slicker’s dedication to philanthropy and helping others makes him The Sun’s Person of the Year for 2017.
In late August, Slicker supported manager Adam Sears’ suggestion to partner with local charter captains to organize a relief effort for Texans impacted by Hurricane Harvey.
Slicker promoted the effort on Facebook and within hours the Swordfish Grill parking lot became a staging area that produced enough supplies to fill four trailers.
“Bob stresses how important it is to give back,” Sears said.
A second relief effort was planned, but waylaid by Hurricane Irma’s visit to southwest Florida. Irma also delayed until October the annual Giving Back fundraiser hosted by the Swordfish Grill and website developer and Sarasota Post publisher Sande Caplin.
The 2017 Giving Back event benefited The Blessing Bags Project and its efforts to assist the homeless and those trying to avoid homelessness. In 2016, Giving Back benefited Feeding Empty Little Tummies of Manatee County, an organization that provides needy students with food-filled backpacks.
“It’s an honor to know Bob and be a part of what he does. Bob and I have been working together for four years. This year we raised more than $20,000 for The Blessing Bags Project. In 2018, the recipient is going to be Hungers End. They feed the homeless every Monday night and help homeless people throughout the week,” Caplin said.
From left, John Banyas, Bob Slicker, Dean Taylor, Katrina Cox, Laura Bell Adams and Sande Caplin played key roles in the 2017 Giving Back fundraiser. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
In November, the Swordfish Grill hosted the annual Stone Crab Festival, which benefits the Fishing for Freedom Manatee Chapter.
In December, the Swordfish Grill hosted a Christmas breakfast and holiday celebration for 83 children and family members from The Blessing Bags Project.
For Slicker, fundraising is a family affair.
“My parents were always community-minded. My mom, Ellen Scott, takes part in almost every fundraiser I do,” he said.
On Christmas Day, he and his adult daughters, Colleen and Molly, hopped in his 1963 Pontiac Star Chief and helped Hungers End feed the homeless. In April, Slicker and the other managers took turns behind the bar, donated their tips and helped Molly raise $8,000 for Cycle for Survival in honor of Molly’s friend who died of cancer.
The Swordfish Grill hosted benefits for Mack Doss and Danny Nemeth and participated in fundraising dinners for a Big Brother Big Sister fundraiser and Ducks Unlimited. The Swordfish Grill’s annual mullet fishing tournament and a Fourth of July hot dog eating contest benefit charitable causes, as do the weekly Wednesday Extravaganzas and Tuesday NASCRAB races.
During a Lightning watch party last spring, Slicker made an impromptu fundraising decision that provided a preschool in Bradenton $800 to put toward a new fence.
“We make everything a fund-raiser,” Slicker said. “I’m involved now with making a passport for Cortez Village that will benefit the Florida Maritime Museum.”
Management and staff
In February 2013, Slicker started working at the Swordfish Grill as a part-time bartender while recovering from a head injury. He was named general manager on Oct. 15, 2014.
Assisted by his management team and staff and empowered by owner John Banyas, Slicker has a created a work environment that encourages good times and good will.
“It all stems from my belief that I’ve accomplished nothing without somebody else’s help. I’m very grateful for John. Whatever idea we come up with, we know we have his support. I work with no fear. We talk with our employees about saving money, and we’re working on getting them insurance this year. That was one of my five-year goals,” Slicker said.
His management team includes longtime friends Katrina Cox and Greg Koeper.
“You expect a lot of us, but you expect a lot of yourself as well. It’s important to you that people like working here and have fun. You care about their lives outside of their job,” Cox said.
“He allows you to do your job, and it’s a very giving, all-for-one, one-for-all kind of deal,” Koeper added.
Music lover
Slicker has turned the Swordfish Grill’s bayfront patio into one of the area’s most active music venues.
“I’m very adamant about hiring local talent and providing opportunities for local musicians. We have live music nine times a week, year-round because I love live music and local musicians.”
Ted Stevens has been playing the Swordfish Grill since it opened.
“The staff and patrons make for a fun, energetic atmosphere. Bob Slicker is a blueprint of how to live a good life. He is charitable, cares about the community, the environment, his family, his friends and his employees. He leads by example and his selfless acts are infectious,” Stevens said.
Best friends
Cox and Slicker have been friends for 17 years, but in 2017 their friendship blossomed into romance.
“He’s my best friend and he has the biggest heart of anyone I know,” Cox said.
“I’m looking forward to 2018 and having Katrina Cox by my side,” Slicker said. “She helps me keep all this organized, and she keeps me humble.”
