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Castles in the Sand

Today’s challenge for buyers

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

There’s a big predicament out there all over the country for home buyers, especially first-time buyers. There’s nothing to buy and, apparently, it’s my generation’s fault.

United States homeowners are staying in their homes much longer than ever. Nationwide, homeowners are remaining in their homes typically 13 years, which is five years longer than they did in 2010, according to Redfin. This fact is keeping the housing inventory low resulting in low sales statistics month after month. Except for the early part of this year, the inventory of homes for sale is now near the lowest level in 37 years of record-keeping, according to the housing data firm CoreLogic, Inc.

You don’t have to be an economist and expert in the housing market to understand that when owners don’t trade up to a larger home for a growing family or downsize when children leave it there are availability consequences. When this happens, which is rapidly becoming a fact, it puts a cap on the number of homes available for buyers either looking to upgrade or just coming into the market.

The baby boomer generation, who are now entering their seventies, is partly to blame for the lack of inventory since many of them are staying healthier later in life, are more active and don’t see any reason to downsize. Some states make it easier for seniors to stay in their homes with generous tax benefits. In most states, once you move you lose that benefit which only encourages senior homeowners to stay put.

In Manatee County, however, there is a program for homesteaded residents that allows homeowners to move to a new home and retain some of the tax benefits of the original home. This is called portability and it gives you the ability to transfer the “Save Our Homes” cap to a new home. The “Save Our Homes” cap is the difference between your market value and assessed value. For example, if the just value of your new homestead property is more than the just value of your old homestead, you will be able to transfer your cap up to the $500,000 limit. This went into effect on January 1, 2008, and allows you two years to make the application for portability. In addition, there is no limit on the number of times you move and apply for portability.

October sales statists from the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee is showing a similar trend in inventory. Here are the numbers.

Both Manatee and Sarasota counties continue the upward drift in sales prices with Manatee doing a little better. The number of closed single-family homes in Manatee County increased by 5% compared to last October. The median sale price for single-family is $325,000, up 9.1% from last year and the average is $396,342, up 7.4%. Sarasota’s single-family median sale prices increased by 5.6% to $285,000 and their average sales price increased by 12.5% to $385,131.

Condos in Manatee County closed 0.5% fewer sales, however, the median sale price increased 0.9% from last October to $192,999 and the average sale price increased 20.2% to $262,724. Sarasota’s condo median sale price decreased 5.7% to $220,352 and their average also decreased by 0.9% to $297,501.

Inventory of available properties continued to drop in Manatee County to a 3.4 months supply for single-family homes and 3.7% for condos, putting additional pressure on the market. Who knows what the inventory future holds and the effect it will have on the upcoming selling season? In the meantime, buyers are just waiting and waiting and blaming their parents and grandparents. Happy Thanksgiving!

More Castles in the Sand:

Mythical credit scores

When did $100,000 not become enough?

Are condos the future of housing?

WMFR celebrates promotions, awards

WMFR celebrates promotions, awards

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Community News, West Manatee Fire Rescue.

BRADENTON – West Manatee Fire Rescue’s commissioners and staff had a lot to celebrate during the board’s Nov. 19 meeting with two new firefighters sworn in, three promotions and two Phoenix Awards handed out.

First on the agenda was the oath which was given to new hires firefighters Aaron Reese and David Stark. Reese is working to finish paramedic school in December while Stark comes to WMFR from Manatee County Emergency Management Services.

Firefighters Aaron Reese and David Stark take their oaths as West Manatee firefighters. – Kristin Swain | Sun

Firefighter Tyler MacDonald was promoted for the rank of lieutenant but was absent from the meeting. He will officially be promoted during the district’s January board meeting.

Also promoted was firefighter Clayton Lease who was promoted to the rank of firefighter third class.

More than a month after he started the job, firefighter Jay Johnson was officially promoted to the position of administrative battalion chief, serving as the right hand of new Chief Ben Rigney. Johnson’s family was on-hand to help celebrate the promotion and his father had the honor of pinning his son with his new badge.

Firefighter Clayton Lease is promoted to firefighter third class. – Kristin Swain | Sun

Two Phoenix Awards also were handed out to firefighter/paramedics Zachary Benshoff and Cameron Frazier.

WMFR gives Phoenix Awards to first responders who respond to a cardiac arrest call where the patient is brought back from the brink of death and is able to leave the hospital under their own power. Johnson and Rigney presented the awards.

Benshoff and Frazier earned this Phoenix Award after responding to a drowning call on Sept. 21 with two of their fellow firefighters, Corey Hill and Capt. Buddy Leigh.

Johnson said that when the WMFR team arrived, CPR was already being conducted by marine rescue personnel and a bystander. The WMFR paramedics took over patient care using their medic training and the district’s non-transport advanced lifesaving equipment and were able to keep the patient alive until an EMS transport unit arrive four minutes later. The patient was able to leave the hospital on Sept. 30.

Battalion Chief Jay Johnson addresses commissioners just moments after being officially promoted to administrative battalion chief. – Kristin Swain | Sun

For a patient who needs CPR, Johnson said their chances of survival drop 10% every minute without patient care. By WMFR’s paramedic trained firefighters arriving on-scene four minutes ahead of EMS, he said it increased the drowning victim’s survival rate by 40%.

“That’s huge,” Johnson said of the rescue efforts. “That’s why we’re here and we’re just so proud of you.”

Related coverage

Lawsuit filed against fire department

WMFR celebrates life with Phoenix Awards

WMFR welcomes Rigney, says goodbye to Sousa

Castles in the Sand

Mythical credit scores

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

Generally, credit scores are available through one of your credit card companies, financial institution or loan statement, and if you don’t know yours you should make a point of finding out even if you have to pay a fee. You are entitled to a free credit report from the three national credit bureaus annually, but they do not contain credit scores.

One of the most misunderstood aspects of mortgage financing is the mystical credit score. Many people applying for credit, whether it’s home financing, automobile financing or credit cards, are terrified of what their credit score is and how it will impact their ability to be granted a loan.

Credit score ranges start at 300 and go up to 850. 740 to 799 is very good and is where 25 percent of people are and 800 to 850 is exceptional and is where 20 percent of people are. Obviously, you want to acquire a credit score as high as possible as it will not only affect your ability to borrow money but also getting accepted for an apartment, deposit waivers on services as well as enticing potential employers.

There is, however, a lot of misinformation about credit scores. For instance, future homeowners worry that shopping around for a mortgage will hurt their credit score. Not true, the scoring models assume you’re going through a shopping process and will bundle these requests into a single inquiry.

Another one is understanding the difference between a hard inquiry and a soft inquiry. A hard inquiry is when you’re trying to refinance your mortgage or sign up for a store credit card, those inquiries could drop your score a few points whereas a soft inquiry could be a background check or a utility company setting up a new account.

Also, many people believe that carrying a balance on a credit card is good for the credit score, but here again it doesn’t help. Keep in mind that it is important to utilize your credit but not to max out your credit. A rule of thumb is to use less than 30 percent of your available credit each month and ideally less than 10 percent.

What is very important is to pay your bills on time and have mature credit accounts with a diverse range of loan products. This shows good handling of debt and experience with the use of credit. Also, asking for a credit limit increase can be one of the fastest and easiest no-cost ways that anyone can help their credit score.

What is at the bottom of the list of bad things to do to drop your credit score is a foreclosure and bankruptcy. Late mortgage payments, collections especially if a lender takes a loss, foreclosures and chapter 13 bankruptcies hurt your credit score for seven years. A chapter seven bankruptcy will hurt it for 10 years. If you mismanage your credit and get in one of these positions, you can pretty much kiss your new home goodbye.

Finally, take advantage of your free credit report annually. Credit card companies make mistakes and you might catch a fraudulent use of a credit card or new inquiry for credit. If you know you will be applying for a home loan, it might also be a good idea to purchase a credit monitoring service, so you know immediately if there is a mistake or some hanky-panky on your credit report.

Knowing ahead of time will save you a lot of grief down the road when your home loan or car loan or student loan is turned down for something you’re not responsible for.

Staying informed is the best defense against the mythical credit score monster.

More Castles in the Sand:

When did $100,000 not become enough?

Are condos the future of housing?

The ghosts of real estate

Sunshine lawsuit judge rules in favor of city recovering attorney fees

Sunshine lawsuit judge rules in favor of city recovering attorney fees

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News.

BRADENTON – Manatee County Circuit Court Judge Edward Nicholas has granted the city of Bradenton Beach’s motion to recover attorney fees incurred in the Sunshine Law lawsuit the city and co-plaintiff Jack Clarke filed in 2017.

Nicholas has not yet determined how much former Planning and Zoning Board members Reed Mapes, John Metz, Patty Shay and Bill Vincent, and former Scenic WAVES Committee members Tjet Martin and Rose Vincent, as defendants, will be ordered to pay the city.

Nicholas granted the city’s motion during a Thursday, Nov. 7 hearing at the Manatee County Judicial Center in Bradenton.

In July, Nicholas ruled all six city advisory board members violated the Florida Sunshine Law in 2017 when they discussed public business at their Concerned Neighbors of Bradenton Beach (CNOBB) meetings. The defendants are appealing that July ruling.

According to City Treasurer Shayne Thompson, the city had incurred approximately $468,000 in attorney fees and legal costs as of last week, not including costs associated with attorney Robert Watrous, City Attorney Ricinda Perry and paralegal Michael Barfield’s preparation and appearances at Thursday’s hearing.

Attorneys Thomas Shults and Jodi Ruberg represented Metz and Nicholas noted the legal arguments Shults presented also applied to the five pro se defendants who no longer have attorneys.

Attorney arguments

When presenting the city’s request for attorney fees, Watrous said, “Who caused the situation that necessitated the city of Bradenton Beach and Jack Clarke to take action? That was the actions of the defendants. Was this a situation where they accidentally stepped over the line? From the clear reading of your honor’s judgment, the answer is emphatically no. This was an intentional and calculated effort by the defendants to get around Florida law and to not abide by the public records law,” Watrous said.

Shults’ legal arguments centered on whether a city can sue its own advisory board members. Shults argued the city must first sue itself.

“For the city to request the award of attorney fees against the individual they must first obtain an award of attorneys’ fees against itself or one of its agencies,” Shults argued.

Shults claimed this was the intent of the Florida Legislature when it adopted the Sunshine Law.

He also argued Chapter 286 of Florida Statutes does not provide for the award of attorney fees in a Sunshine Law case.

Shults noted CNOBB’s public meetings were open to the general public and the press.

“They said the Pledge of Allegiance at the beginning of these meetings and I think that’s wonderful,” he said.

In response, Watrous said, “Mr. Shults indicated the fact that these individuals said the Pledge of Allegiance before they started their CNOBB meetings. The problem is they didn’t follow that pledge.”

When appointed, city advisory board members swear to support, protect and uphold the Florida Constitution.

“They made a pledge to the State of Florida. They made a pledge to the government and they didn’t keep that pledge. That’s why the attorney fees should be awarded to my client,” Watrous said.

Judge’s ruling

When issuing his ruling, Nicholas noted all six defendants received Sunshine Law training.

“Once you chose to become a part of the city by choosing to be a member of a government advisory board the rules change. There are laws that apply. The defendants simply did not follow those rules,” Nicholas said regarding the defendants’ rights to assemble and discuss city matters.

“I’m not certain whether the Legislature intended individuals who clearly and unequivocally violated the Sunshine Law to be individually liable for attorney fees when sued by their own municipality. I do know that the purpose of the attorney fees provision is to discourage violations or potential violations of the Sunshine Law,” Nicholas said.

Nicholas referenced warnings and opinions the advisory board members received from Perry, Mayor Bill Shearon and others in 2017.

“Recall on July 25th, the city attorney sent them an email saying stop meeting. Ms. Perry, on July 25th, said these meetings are in violation of the Sunshine Law. Recall that on July 27th, Mayor Shearon CC’d to all the defendants the fact that their continued CNOBB meetings could be a violation of the Sunshine Law. Recall that the defendants sent a letter to the Florida Ethics Commission seeking advice about whether those meetings were violations of Sunshine Law. Recall that they made an inquiry to the Attorney General’s Office inquiring as to whether or not those meetings were a violation of the Sunshine Law,” Nicholas said.

“Even after being warned in two emails and not being able to be told by the Florida Ethics Commission and the Attorney General that ‘Yes, feel free to continue to meet,’ they did so on August 3rd,” Nicholas said.

“All the meetings were violations of the Sunshine Law, but it’s that August 3rd meeting that’s so problematic. It was this meeting that the city attempted to prevent. It was that continued meeting, after being put on notice that these meetings are in violation of the Sunshine Law,” Nicholas said.

“The city should not have had to bring this action. Once the defendants continued to meet after being warned not to do so, their continued meeting was at their own peril,” Nicholas said.

“I will grant the city’s motion for attorneys’ fees and costs and reserve jurisdiction for purposes of determining that amount,” Nicholas concluded.

Related coverage

City seeks reimbursement for Sunshine lawsuit expenses

Metz deposed in Sunshine lawsuit

Commission considers, rejects three Sunshine lawsuit settlements

Reel Time: Polarized glasses

Reel Time: Polarized glasses

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

Polarized sunglasses are essential for serious anglers. They serve multiple purposes including protecting the eyes from damaging UV light, cutting the surface glare and keeping eyes from tearing in the wind while running. Enhancing the visibility below the waters’ surface is an indispensable advantage when looking for signs of fish while sight fishing.

Many anglers choose their glasses according to style, not realizing that the color of the lenses and other factors determine their real effectiveness. Color is important, but it’s just one of the choices that you will need to make to get the most from your sunglasses.
After choosing a frame that’s comfortable and fits your face, lens color is the most important component.

Anglers who fish blue water and spend long hours over the open sea generally prefer grey lenses. Grey provides natural contrast and minimizes color distortion in offshore waters. Brown/amber lenses are the common choice for flats fishermen who sight fish in shallow water. Brown/amber lenses offer a brighter field of vision, better visual acuity, and excellent color contrast. Many dedicated anglers own more than one pair of glasses. The color vermillion and light copper heighten visual acuity and enhance color in low and flat lighting conditions. When the sun is out and bright, they switch to the darker grey, brown or amber lens. Anglers also have the option of choosing sunglasses that feature interchangeable lenses.

The reduction of glare has another beneficial component. The eye functions like a camera and must adjust to varying light levels. On a bright day, the pupil constricts, muting light levels. Polarized lenses help eliminate reflected glare, so the remaining light falls in a much narrower range of intensity. The eyes can then relax, allowing greater depth perception and truer color contrast.

When choosing polarized glasses you have a number of options: cheap versus expensive, glass versus (polycarbonate) plastic, cast versus laminated polarized lenses and color. The lowest quality glasses are the so-called “rack glasses,” the kind you find in the local pharmacy. These are better than no sunglasses, but you should buy the best pair you can afford. As a rule, a quality pair of polarized sunglasses are expensive but they’re well worth the money.

One of the major decisions is choosing glass or polycarbonate (an advanced plastic) lenses. Glass lenses provide better visual acuity (clarity) than plastic and are more scratch-resistant. However, glass lenses are heavier and can fatigue the ears and nose after many hours. If you purchase glass lenses make sure you buy a quality pair with a broad, comfortable nose piece.

Whether you choose glass or plastic lenses, your primary considerations will be frame style and lens color. Choose a frame that is comfortable and one that helps block out extraneous light. Some glasses wrap around the side of the face, while others have separate side shields.

Several of the top manufacturers of sunglasses feature technologies that further increase the effectiveness of polarized lenses. Some offer photochromic lenses that lighten or darken as light levels vary during the day. Lens coatings are another consideration. High-quality sunglasses often come with some type of coating. Hydrophobic coatings repel water so that the occasional water droplet doesn’t affect your vision. Lenses may also be coated with a chemical to make it fog proof. These options can be particularly valuable for humid environments. Some brands also include flotation assuring the glass will float, a good option for your considerable investment.

If you wear prescription lenses with or without bifocals, make sure your sunglasses have them too. Trying to tie on a lure or fly after gazing at the water for a long time can be frustrating and put you at a distinct disadvantage. You can get prescription lenses with bifocals in both glass and polycarbonate.

When you choose a pair of polarized glasses, follow the guidelines above while experimenting to find the color that works best in your fishing situation. By choosing a quality product with the proper color you’ll greatly expand your fishing horizon while protecting your most valuable asset, your vision.

Some of the more popular brands you might want to consider are made by Smith Optics, Costa Del Mar and Amphibia. Choose your sunglasses carefully; they’re one of the angler’s most valuable tools!

More Reel Time:

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Castles in the Sand

When did $100,000 not become enough?

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

Once upon a time if you were earning a six-figure salary you were sitting pretty. You could easily buy a home, make sure your kids went to the right schools and take that one family trip a year. Well, those days are over and have been for a while.

There has been a lot of talk about owning versus renting in the low inventory, high priced real estate market that has taken over most of the country. Some of the newly-minted renters are happy to be renters avoiding the responsibilities, cost and repairs of owning a home. But more and more high-earning Americans who would ordinarily own a home are renting.

In 2019 about 19% of U.S. households with six-figure incomes rented their homes. This is up from about 12% in 2006 according to the Census Bureau data. This increase is equal to about 3.4 million new renters who would have likely been homeowners a generation ago, and builders and investors of rental properties have taken notice.

Two of the largest single-family landlords in the country, Invitation Homes and America Homes 4 Rent, report that their average tenant earns $100,000 a year. These companies and others who are targeting this specific market say they like the high earners who aren’t interested in moving around and are willing to absorb regular rent increases and other financial blips in their lives. These are the people who previously would own a home.

Although a $100,000 income is still comfortably higher than the median household in the country at $63,179 in 2018, it’s still short to get into many homes. Americans today have more debt because of car payments, college loans, health care premiums and credit cards than their parents and grandparents who lived more prudently. Most middle-class Americans accumulated wealth by owning a home which was the great wealth leveler with half of the housing wealth owned by the middle class. This happened right after World War II when owning a home became the expected norm.

But norms change especially in real estate and young singles and families have no qualms about paying high rent for what their grandparents would have considered a waste of money. The danger here is that once you’re in an expensive rental it becomes harder and harder to save the 20% usually required to purchase a home creating a permanent renter class.

All of this said, there are indicators recently released by the Commerce Department that the number of Americans who own a home grew through the summer months. The homeownership rate modestly ticked up to 64.8% in the third quarter from 64.4% a year earlier. This number matches the highest levels in five years and is getting close to the long-run average of 65.2% of people in the country owning homes.

In addition, according to S & P Core-Logic Case-Schiller National Home Price Index, the average national home prices grew 3.2% in the year ending in August up slightly from 3.1% the prior month. And, of course, this is all on the background of still extraordinarily low mortgage rates staying below 4% in most regions on a 30-year, fixed-rate loan.

In the instant gratification world we live in, it’s not surprising that younger generations don’t care a fig about building wealth. That’s a concept so far down the road for many of them it might as well be in a different solar system. But I’m old fashioned, and it bothers me that homeownership may become a victim of the six-figure income. Say it isn’t so.

More Castles in the Sand:

Are condos the future of housing?

The ghosts of real estate

You found the perfect house; now what?

Thanks-Living to be a gathering of community

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Featured.

ANNA MARIA – The community task force called For the Love of Anna Maria Island will host its inaugural Thanks-Living community gathering on Wednesday, Nov. 27.

The community gathering will take place under the shade sail at City Pier Park in Anna Maria from 5 to 7 p.m. City Pier Park is located at the corner of Pine Avenue and North Bay Boulevard.

Everyone who lives on Anna Maria Island is encouraged to attend this free community event. Attendees are encouraged to bring finger foods, appetizers, hors d’oeuvres, a bottle of wine, an adult beverage or soft drinks to share with others.

“It could even be a bag of chips – anything you’d bring to a party,” said task force member and Anna Maria resident Janet Kingan.

Attendees are also welcome to make cash donations for All Island Denominations and/or bring non-perishable food items for the Roser Food Pantry.

Inspired by “For the Love of Cities” author Peter Kageyama’s presentation at The Center earlier this year, the community task force also includes Anna Maria residents Carol Carter and Barbara Zdravecky and Holmes Beach resident Bruce Meyer.

“Your neighbors are further and further apart even though we’re on a seven-mile island. This is a way to bring our neighbors together, for people in Anna Maria to get to know people in Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach and vice versa,” Carter said.

“Peter’s message was about why people love their community. We feel that people love their community because of their relationships with other people and this is an opportunity for people to build new relationships,” Meyer said.

“We’re going to have live music. Will Corr and his band will be performing. We’re going to have all the Island mayors and people will talk about why we love living on Anna Maria. This is a little get together to thank each other for this wonderful Island,” Kingan said.

“We’ll have water, plates and napkins, so they don’t need to bring that. We’ll have tables, we’ll have it lighted, it’ll be festive and we’ll have decorations,” Carter said. “It’s being supported and promoted by the city of Anna Maria and the Anna Maria Island Sun. We have a banner up at City Pier Park and 15 or 20 signs out promoting the gathering,” Carter said.

“We’re hoping this becomes an annual event – the night before Thanksgiving, where people come out with whatever family members are visiting and have a gathering,” Kingan said.

Kingan said Thanks-Living might one day become a pot-luck dinner but for now, it’s simply a party and a chance for people to get to know one another.

Community chalkboard

The Thanks-Living gathering will feature a blackboard upon which people can share in chalk their thoughts about living on Anna Maria Island.

“A few years ago, there was a chalk festival on Pine Avenue and one of the most parts was a blackboard where people could draw and write their impressions about the chalk festival. So, I designed a free-standing, three-sided blackboard that says, ‘I love AMI because…’ at the top. We welcome anyone to write what they love about Anna Maria Island. Photographs will be taken and then it will be erased, put in storage and taken out for the next community event,” Kingan said. “I also have another prop – one of those things you put your head through and take a picture.”

Local woman hospitalized for necrotizing fasciitis

Local woman hospitalized for necrotizing fasciitis

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News.

BRADENTON – Bradenton resident Kelli Brown Whitehead was recently hospitalized and diagnosed with necrotizing fasciitis.

Whitehead’s family members suspect but have not confirmed that Whitehead’s illness is related to wading in the Gulf of Mexico.

On Monday, Nov. 4 Whitehead’s family gathered around her at Blake Medical Center for what they feared might be one of the final days of her life.

One week earlier, on Oct. 28, Whitehead’s mother, Joan Smart Brown from Memphis, Tenn., started a Kelli Brown Whitehead Facebook fundraising page for her adopted daughter.

“Kelli went wading in the Gulf of Mexico and got that flesh-eating bacteria. It spread fast and she lost all of her left leg and is on a ventilator and having kidney dialysis. She is in critical condition in a hospital in Florida. She and Robin (Kelli’s husband) are living off his disability check. Anything that you could contribute would help them out. It will be used to help him with his immediate living expenses and food,” Brown wrote at the fundraiser page.

As of Monday, 22 contributors donated $1,415 toward the initial $2,000 fundraising goal.

Family speaks

Brown spoke with The Sun on Saturday afternoon by text and telephone. She said she was told by another family member that her daughter was diagnosed with necrotizing fasciitis. Brown planned to travel to Bradenton on Tuesday, Nov. 5, but moved her travel plans up one day due to Whitehead’s rapidly worsening condition.

On Saturday, Brown said she was told Whitehead and her husband waded in the Gulf of Mexico north of Bridge Street in Bradenton Beach approximately two weeks ago.

“They were just wading around, they weren’t even swimming. And the next day or so, her foot began to hurt so bad,” Brown said, noting that Whitehead has had Type 1 diabetes all her life.

This photograph of Kelli Brown Whitehead and her daughter Brittany Burton was taken earlier this year. – Submitted | Brittany Burton

“When they got to the hospital it was eating her leg away. She lost her leg and the fear now is it might spread to the organs. It’s horrible,” Brown said.

On Sunday, The Sun spoke with Whitehead’s daughter, Brittany Burton, who lives in Bradenton.

“My mom is diabetic. She would only walk in the water a little bit. She must have had a cut. She thought she pulled a muscle and the pain started in her thigh,” Burton said.

Burton said her mom waited about a week before she was taken by ambulance to the emergency room at Manatee Memorial Hospital where, according to Burton, she was diagnosed with necrotizing fasciitis and transferred to Blake.

“She’s in very critical condition,” Burton said, noting that her mother’s organs were failing.

Burton said she asked the nurse if her mom was dying.

“He wanted to talk around it. I said, ‘Is my mom dying yes or no?’ He said yes,” Burton said.

“The Gulf that my mother loved so much is eating her alive. This has all taken place in eight or nine days at the most. It’s just unreal. It’s horrific,” Burton said.

Kelli Brown Whitehead, left, and her sister Amanda Fletcher. – Submitted | Amanda Fletcher

After recently visiting her sister and returning to Tennessee, Amanda Fletcher spoke to The Sun on Sunday. She and Whitehead are sisters by birth but were adopted and raised by different families and reconnected later in life.

Fletcher and Burton both questioned why the public isn’t made more aware of potentially harmful bacteria that exist in Florida’s waters. Fletcher said the fundraising efforts will help Robin Whitehead pay his rent and other living expenses and assist with the anticipated funeral expenses.

On Monday, Burton said her mother’s doctor told her that afternoon that the exact bacteria was staphylococcus, but the doctor could not confirm it was contracted while wading in the Gulf.

Reporting requirements

On Thursday, Oct. 31, a receptionist at Blake Medical Center in Bradenton confirmed Kelli Whitehead was currently a patient, but she could not comment on her condition or the cause of it.

The Sun then contacted Chris Tittel, communications director for the Florida Department of Health in Manatee County.

Kelli Brown Whitehead and her son Trey. – Submitted | Brittany Burton

Speaking by phone Thursday afternoon, Tittel said the health department had not received any notification from the Blake Medical Center regarding a case of Vibrio vulnificus, which he said is a specific bacteria medical providers are required to report.

Tittel sent a follow-up email to The Sun that included a response he received from a health department epidemiologist regarding The Sun’s inquiry.

“Necrotizing fasciitis would be the technical term for the symptom of decomposing flesh,” the epidemiologist wrote. “It depends on the bacteria that caused the necrotizing fasciitis. Vibrio is known to cause it and that is reportable, however, we had a lady in Ellenton a few months back pass away from necrotizing fasciitis. The bacteria she contracted was streptococcus, which is only reportable in children under the age of six.”

On Friday, Nov. 1, The Sun emailed Blake spokesperson Lisa Kirkland and asked if the hospital was treating anyone who came in contact with the Vibrio vulnificus bacteria or another type of bacteria, such as streptococcus, that could cause necrotizing fasciitis.

“I’m not at liberty to comment,” Kirkland responded.

Tittel said as of late Monday that the department had not received word from any health care provider confirming the cause of the illness is due to a condition reportable to the state, such as Vibriosis.

Tittel said the Florida Department of Health runs the “Swim It, Shore It, Dodge It” campaign, which discourages anyone with open cuts or wounds or weakened immune systems from entering open waters where infectious bacteria naturally occur.

A video associated with that campaign can be found online.

“The department sympathizes with family and friends over this tragedy,” Tittel said.

Related coverage

Son: Mom died from flesh-eating bacteria at Coquina

Music festival assists Wildlife Inc.

Music festival assists Wildlife Inc.

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

BRADENTON BEACH – The Drift In, its patrons, the local business community and some local musicians raised $4,665 for Wildlife Inc. during Saturday’s Drift In Rock & Blues Festival.

The money raised will assist the Bradenton Beach-based education and rehabilitation center in its ongoing animal rescue efforts.

Drift In Manager Doreen Flynn helped organize the Nov. 2 music festival and fundraiser that took place in the parking lot, at the tiki bar and inside the establishment on Bridge Street.

The fundraising efforts included raffles and a silent auction featuring items donated by local businesses, a lotto board, food sales, cash donations and more.

“This benefit was arranged to benefit Ed and Gail Straight and the work they do at Wildlife Inc. Ed and Gail do so much for the community,” Flynn said. “Right now, there’s an issue with the laughing gulls. The Rod & Reel Pier gave me a donation because they’ve had to call Ed about seagulls with fishing hooks in them.

“I’ve had many benefits over the years, and I cannot believe how many donations I’ve received for this one. They’ve come from all over the Island and Cortez, not just Bradenton Beach,” Flynn said.

Wildlife Inc. co-founder Ed Straight brought his owl friends to the music festival. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Wildlife Inc. co-founder Ed Straight attended the festival and sat under the Wildlife Inc. tent with the four rescued owls he brought with him. While there, he and Wildlife Inc. volunteer Cindy Ellis chatted with a steady stream of supporters who approached the tent.

“This is fantastic. We’re happy to be here,” Straight said.

“We do most of the rehabbing for Manatee County. We take in all types of injured, orphaned or sick wildlife. Our objective is to rehabilitate them and put them back into the wild. Some of the birds here had injuries where they just couldn’t be released, so we use them for education,” he said.

“We do around 3,000 calls a year and each year is busier than the year before. Any help like this we get is really helpful to us. We’re going to do some improvements to our place. We’ve been doing this for 32 years and the fencing in the front is almost 30 years old. It’s time to start replacing some things and this money is going to help us do that,” Straight said.

Flynn credited “Horatio Bullwinkle” (real name not given) for assembling the musical lineup that performed for free and featured Tommy Balbo & The Collective, Dos Macs with special guest Steve Arvey and Concrete Edgar.

“He spent his time, money and efforts putting the bands together and he built the stage for us. He deserves a lot of credit,” Flynn said of the humble man who did not want his real name used.

Before taking to the stage, Arvey said, “I’m donating my time because wildlife is so important. Us humans are taking over everything with our development and nobody cares about the wildlife anymore. We’ve got to keep supporting what was here before us.”

On Sunday, Flynn said, “Ed was very happy and very grateful.”

Petitioners challenge Cortez Bridge decision

Petitioners challenge Cortez Bridge decision

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News.

CORTEZ – Opponents of the Florida Department of Transportation’s (FDOT) plans for the replacement of the Cortez Bridge have filed a petition for a formal administrative hearing before the State of Florida’s Division of Administrative Hearings.

The petition is in response to FDOT’s written announcement on Oct. 10 that stated FDOT’s Office of Environmental Management granted location and design concept acceptance for the bridge replacement project that calls for a 65-foot-tall fixed-span bridge to someday replace the aging drawbridge on Cortez Road.

The FDOT acceptance signaled the end of the Project, Design and Environment (PD&E) study phase and allows the project to move into the design phase. Filed in accordance with Florida Statutes, the petition challenges that FDOT acceptance.

Former Manatee County Commissioner Joe McClash is serving as the qualified representative for the petitioners – a group that also includes former County Commissioner Jane von Hahmann, Cortez residents Linda Molto and Joe Kane, the ManaSota-88 organization, the Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage (FISH) and the Cortez Village Historical Society.

Von Hahmann signed and verified the notarized petition on Oct. 23.

The petition names the State of Florida Department of Transportation as the respondent.

The first page of the 23-page document states all the petitioners would have their substantial interests affected by agency action that permits the existing drawbridge to be replaced with a 65-foot-tall fixed-span bridge instead of a new and drawbridge.

“The 65-foot high level-fixed bridge will impact the maritime culture of the fishing village of Cortez and its fishing industry,” the petition says of FISH’s statutory right to initiate the challenge.

“The 65-foot high level-fixed bridge will create immediate harm to the historic fishing village of Cortez,” the petition says regarding the historical society’s right to challenge.

“Members recreate throughout the region including the area of the Cortez Bridge and have concerns that the fixed span bridge will impact environmental, aesthetic, cultural and natural resources,” the petition says of ManaSota-88’s right to challenge.

“The proposed action of a 65-foot high level-fixed bridge immediately affects the petitioner’s substantial interest in the use of the navigation waters at the Cortez Bridge with a sailboat having a mast height of 60 feet,” the petition says of McClash’s standing as a petitioner.

Taken from a 2017 FDOT video simulation, this illustration shows how the proposed bridge would alter the landing area in Cortez. – Submitted

The petition states von Hahmann has lived in the village of Cortez for 43 years and owns commercial and residential rental property in the village. It also states Kane resides at Fewville, a tiny village located within the historic village of Cortez, and Molto is a 32-year resident of Cortez who lives in one of the oldest houses in the village.

The petition states the FDOT action impacts the various petitioners’ quality of life, environment, financial well-being, mobility and the preservation of the village they enjoy and intend to continue enjoying.

The petition states a 65-foot bridge would create a dangerous intersection of offsetting streets with no safe pedestrian crossing, create an unacceptable increase in noise levels, divide the neighborhood with a wall-like structure and change the aesthetics of the village of Cortez in contravention of the county’s land-use restrictions.

McClash insight

When contacted, McClash said the FDOT attorney has acknowledged the petition was filed and will either accept it as filed or find flaws and request corrections.

Barring a successful motion to dismiss, McClash expects an administrative law judge from the Division of Administrative Hearings to conduct a hearing and issue a recommended order. McClash said FDOT would then issue its own final orders.

“It’s a little bit of an unfair process because the final action goes to the agency that wanted to permit what you’re challenging. Even if you have facts in your favor, the department has a lot of discretion when it comes to entering these final orders.” McClash said.

“I think FDOT definitely missed informing the public of the impact of the 18-foot-high sound walls,” McClash said.

As noted in the petition, McClash and his fellow-petitioners dispute FDOT’s claim that 75% of those who attended a public hearing in 2017 supported the 65-foot bridge option.

McClash said the petitioners’ ultimate hope is that FDOT rescinds its PD&E study-based action, addresses the concerns of the community and opts for a new drawbridge instead.

FDOT response

On Oct. 31, FDOT spokesperson Brian Rick provided The Sun with the state agency’s initial response to the petition.

“We have received the Petition for Formal Administrative Hearing for the Cortez Bridge. The department is highly confident that we followed all applicable state and federal guidelines related to this PD&E study; however, since this now a legal matter, we cannot provide comment,” Rick said via email.

Related coverage

Cortez Bridge design moving forward

ITPO members pledge support for smaller bridge

Cortez Road roundabout proposed

Castles in the Sand

Are condos the future of housing?

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

In case you haven’t noticed, interest rates are low, real low. Most rates for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage are hovering around 4% based on credit scores and income to loan ratios. In spite of this, condo financing has always been somewhat of a poor stepchild to single-family home financing. New condo construction loans have been especially vulnerable to government regulations, but now The Federal Housing Administration has issued some new guidelines making available more advantageous condo financing programs.

FHA is trying to be more responsive to market conditions as well as accepting that condo units are being viewed more broadly as a way to provide affordable housing in many markets. Generally, single-family homes may not be accessible for first-time buyers and others who are trying to gain access to homeownership and condos nicely fill that need.

The new regulations are geared for new condo construction primarily but will also have an effect on the availability of condos for first-time buyers. Among other changes is one that has been a big issue for condo builders and that’s the owner-occupancy rate. The new FHA regulations have lowered the number of owner-occupancy rates as low as 35% from 50% before individuals can qualify for financing in new condo construction.

Condos are a big deal in Florida and in Manatee County. Although the number of condo sales was down in September for Manatee County, the sale prices were up, so let’s take a look at the county overall:

In September Manatee County closed 15.2% more single-family homes than last September. The median selling price for single-family was $315,000, 6.8% higher than last September. The average sale price was $381,577, 9.6% higher than last year.

Condo sales in September were down 8.6%, but the median sale price was up 6.7% to $199,000 and the average sale price was also up by 16.1% to $244,587. Both single-family and condos are low in inventory with the single-family home months supply at 3.3 months and condo months supply at 3.8 months. As a reminder, 5.5 months supply is the benchmark for a balanced market.

Sarasota County is also showing some increases in sales and pricing for single-family and condos. The median sale price for single-family in Sarasota increased by 6.4% to $298,000 and for condos, the median price decreased slightly by 1.8% to $232,000.

Statewide single-family homes reached a median of $265,000, an increase of 5.3%, and an average of $339,862, an increase of 4.9%. Condos statewide also increased with the median selling price at $193,000, a 5.8% increase, and an average of $261,532, a 1.3% increase.

All county and statewide statistics are from the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee website.

Evidence continues to mount that condo sales will play a more significant role in the mortgage origination market in the next few years, according to CoreLogic. With a flood of millennials and other first-time homebuyers expected to soon enter the market for affordable housing, CoreLogic foresees a rising demand for condos in the near future.

Millennials aside, Florida is a hot market not only for retirees but homeowners relocating to a tax-friendly state with a lot of new construction and fundamentally great weather. But if you’re starting to think of relocating to the Sunshine State, you better get moving. Inventory is low, prices are high and interest rates are still historically low. Come on down!

More Castles in the Sand:

The ghosts of real estate

You found the perfect house; now what?

Is homeownership threatened?

Castles in the Sand

The ghosts of real estate

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

I never really believed in ghosts and evil spirits. It was always fun to talk about other people’s experiences at parties but since I never had any first-hand knowledge it was just that, fun until it wasn’t.

Anna Maria Island has its share of ghost sightings including haunted restaurants, even one with a ghost cat. Hotels have had sightings – how about a bride ghost – and, of course, Coquina Beach has its resident ghost. Naturally, some clever entrepreneurs have packaged these events into entertaining tours around the Island, so you can get up close and personal. But if you’re selling your property and you think you may have a ghost, what do you do?

Thankfully, Florida absolves property owners of the responsibility of disclosing paranormal activity in homes or the fact that a crime was committed in a home. In addition, the seller does not even have to disclose that their property was suspected to be the site of a crime. Further, a seller has no obligation to disclose homicides, suicides or deaths that occurred on the property. Basically, you can sell your property with all the ghosts, ghouls and goblins as an added bonus.

Florida is one of more than 20 states with laws that say agents and sellers won’t be held liable for failing to mention that 20 years earlier a wife stabbed her husband in the home’s master bedroom, for instance, or the possibility of paranormal activity. Our state does not consider these events material facts and therefore property owners are not subject to possible lawsuits down the road; you can do absolutely nothing within the law. However, in plenty of other states, you may be legally required to say something about your haunted house, deaths, suicides or crimes.

To me it does sound a little unnecessary to disclose deaths in a property; after all, how does an aged grandfather dying comfortably in his bed impact the structural integrity of a home. Even more unfair is a home that has no past history, but rumors have taken over facts and turned it into a stigmatized property that now has to be disclosed to potential buyers. This has happened in cases of celebrity or well-publicized events like the home where JonBenet Ramsey lived. Owners of some so-called stigmatized properties have even resorted to changing the property address in an effort to remove some of the stigma. Unfortunately, since you can’t prove the unproven, sellers are stuck and must disclose in states that require it.

As a general rule, it’s always better to disclose everything you know about a home, whether or not the law requires it. It will give your buyer a sense of honesty that is always important in a business transaction and will allow you to move out with a clear conscience knowing you’ve done the right thing.

My up close and personal ghost experience happened in a 17th-century hotel in Rome. Although I never actually saw a spirit, they did move several things around and made a copy of The New York Times disappear and then reappear in the exact spot. It was enough to give me the creeps and start paying closer attention to cocktail party talk.

If you’re selling your home and you think that it may be stigmatized in any way, ethics should prevail; if it makes you uncomfortable probably a good thing to disclose it even though you’re not obligated. Have a boo time on Halloween!

More Castles in the Sand:

You found the perfect house; now what?

Is homeownership threatened?

Real estate market disruption

Cortez Bridge design moving forward

Cortez Bridge design moving forward

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News, Cortez.

CORTEZ – The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) recently issued a written announcement regarding its ongoing plans to replace the Cortez Bridge drawbridge with a 65-foot, high-level fixed span bridge.

On Oct. 10, FDOT’s announcement stated that on Sept. 18, its Office of Environmental Management granted Location and Design Concept Acceptance for the bridge replacement project.

When contacted by The Sun last week, FDOT spokesman Rick Brian explained by email what “Location and Design Concept Acceptance” actually means.

“Location Design and Acceptance means the final environmental or PD&E (Project, Design and Environment Study) document has been signed and accepted by the FDOT Office of Environmental Management and that the PD&E phase has concluded. The project is eligible to move to the next phase of development, which is the design phase,” Brian responded.

Brian was asked if FDOT has any plans to revisit or reconsider the Cortez Bridge replacement decision originally announced in 2018.

“The 65-foot fixed bridge preferred alternative was accepted by the Florida Office of Environmental Management and is considered final,” Brian responded.

“Design is now underway and right of way is funded in Fiscal Years 2021, 2024 and 2025. Construction is not currently funded in FDOT’s five-year work program,” the recent FDOT announcement said.

As for the next step in the bridge design process, Brian said, “Survey for project has been completed. The design team has begun working on the preliminary design plans following the announcement of the PD&E completion in October.”

Brian said the bridge simulation video used by local news organizations and shared on social media in the wake of the recent announcement is the original simulation FDOT posted at its YouTube channel in September 2017. He said that is the most recent simulation and additional simulations may be created during the design phase.

Brian said FDOT has not issued formal responses to the letter of objection recently received from the Holmes Beach city commission or the city resolution recently received from the Bradenton Beach city commission stating its continued opposition to the 65-foot, fixed-span bridge.

Brian was asked if federal funds, in addition to state funds, could be used to build the new bridge.

“The signed PD&E study allows for federal funds to be used for any future phase of the project, as needed,” he responded.

“Currently, construction is not yet funded on this project,” Brian added.

When fully funded, the bridge replacement project will one day extend from 123rd Street West in Cortez to S.R. 789/Gulf Drive in Bradenton Beach.

Brian was asked if the potential construction of a roundabout at the west end of Cortez Road would be included in the bridge design process.

“A roundabout at the intersection of Gulf Drive and Cortez Road is not included in the design plans for the Cortez Bridge project. Based on recent discussions with FDOT, the MPO (Metropolitan Planning Organization) and Bradenton Beach City Engineer Lynn Burnett, FDOT will look at including evaluation of a potential roundabout at that intersection in a future PD&E study that will also include other ‘complete streets’ improvements along S.R. 789,” Brian responded.

FDOT positions

The Oct. 10 announcement reiterates FDOT’s previously stated position that a 65-foot high-level fixed-bridge will improve traffic flow for vehicles and boats by eliminating congestion and delays caused by bridge openings.

It also notes the initial cost to construct a 65-foot, fixed-span bridge is approximately $23.8 million less than what it would cost to build a 35-foot mid-level drawbridge.

“The 65-foot high-level fixed-bridge will have improved operational reliability, especially in emergency situations and evacuation events, since there are no mechanical moving parts and electrical systems to malfunction, which could potentially close the bridge to traffic altogether. In addition, there is no chance of human error during the operation of a drawbridge,” the recent FDOT announcement states.

“The 65-foot high-level fixed-bridge alternative provides opportunities for greater community cohesion and walkability with a roadway, sidewalks, and public space under the new bridge at 127th Street West. The 65-foot fixed-bridge alternative is high enough to create an open space along the waterfront under the Cortez approach of the bridge. This could support a variety of public uses and amenities that can be implemented at the discretion of the local agencies,” the FDOT announcement states.

Critics of the 65-foot fixed-span bridge fear it will drastically alter the character of Cortez and Bradenton Beach. Concerns have also been expressed about the new bridge negatively impacting residential and commercial properties along that stretch of Cortez Road.

Related coverage

A wake up call on the proposed Cortez Bridge

FDOT chooses tall bridge for Cortez

 

Castles in the Sand

You found the perfect house; now what?

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

You may think it’s finally over – you found your dream home, your forever home or your long-dreamed-of beach house. But guess what, unless you have lots of cash in your checking account, you will have to apply for a mortgage.

There have been for many, many years two basic types of mortgages, the fixed-rate mortgage and the adjustable-rate mortgage or ARM. The fixed-rate mortgage is just that – your principal and interest payment are fixed for the life of the mortgage or until you sell the property and satisfy the mortgage balance. Fixed-rate mortgages give you a set amount of money every month to budget for and builds equity for a home that you feel will be a long-term purchase. Building equity will also give you the option of refinancing in the future if rates go down possibly resulting in a lower monthly mortgage payment.

Adjustable-rate mortgages are typically a fixed rate for a specific number of years, for example, 5 years, and then are adjusted annually either up or down. Generally, adjustable-rate mortgages start at a lower rate than a fixed rate, but you take the risk of monthly payments increasing substantially as the rates fluctuate after the fixed number of years has been reached.

Adjustable-rate loans could be a good choice if you’re planning on selling your home within a short period of time prior to when the fixed-rate term expires. However, this type of mortgage does not build much, if any, equity, a consideration in a real estate market that may be on the way down.

Whichever type of mortgage you choose, the amount of money you put down will influence the rate you are offered. A 20% or higher down payment will likely provide the best mortgage rates and the most options as well as substantially reducing the risk of the home not appraising.

Putting down between 5% and 19% will put you in the position of having to pay a higher interest rate and/or fees. In addition, lenders most likely will require private mortgage insurance (PMI). Private mortgage insurance is an insurance policy that allows you to make a lower down payment by insuring the lender against loss if you don’t make your mortgage payments. A lower down payment could be a good thing for buyers with little cash or if the home requires work and the cash to do it. PMI payments start going down after equity has built up in the home.

Finally, there are no-down-payment or small-down-payment loan programs which are more expensive but are an alternative. If you or someone in your family are trying to get into a home with little cash, they should research FHA loans or, if qualified, VA loans, both with low down payment options.

Two things you should try and avoid in-home financing are balloon payments and prepayment penalties. Balloon payments are a large payment required usually at the end of the loan repayment period with varying amounts based on the terms of the loan. Prepayment penalties are an amount required if you refinance, pay off your loan early or sell your home. And one nice little trick to help you pay off your mortgage sooner and build equity is to make extra payments during the course of the year.

Once you find the perfect mortgage and get through the mortgage qualifying maze, you’re ready to enjoy your perfect home; I hope for you, it’s the beach house.

More Castles in the Sand:

Is homeownership threatened?

Real estate market disruption

Fee-fi-fo-fum, do I smell a recovery?

Castles in the Sand

Is homeownership threatened?

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

For most Americans, their biggest source of wealth is the equity in their homes. But what if you never own a home? What if being a renter is your fate? How does that impact your future wealth and state of mind?

Homeownership rates for younger Americans have fallen over the past 10 years and are near the lowest levels in more than three decades of recordkeeping. About 40% of young adults ages 25 to 34 were homeowners in 2018 according to federal data analyzed by Freddie Mac. That is down from about 48% in 2001.

In addition, the median age of a home buyer is 46, vastly increased from when I purchased my first home at age 27. According to the National Association of Realtors, this is the oldest median age since they began keeping records in 1981. For young people, it’s a vicious cycle of rents going up and student debt putting more financial pressure on young adults who can’t seem to get a foothold in the American dream.

Generally, lower homeownership promotes lower growth by forcing older Americans to stay in their homes because there are fewer buyers for entry-level properties. And even though the price of entry-level homes has been rising, without savings, the pool of buyers keeps shrinking.

So, is homeownership worth it? Sometimes yes and sometimes no depending on individual needs. These are some of the questions you need to think about:

What can I afford, should I keep paying rent until I find the perfect home, or should I take the plunge now with the goal of trading up down the road?

How long do you plan on staying in the home? If you know your job may relocate you within a year maybe you want to wait before spending the money required to get into a home. Or if you’re living in a “hot” market you may want to go for it with the hope of turning a nice profit in a short period of time.

Even if your job is not a factor, are you the type of person who likes stability or flexibility? Owning a home by definition is not a flexible choice considering maintenance and repairs that are required in most homes, not to mention the cost of upkeep. If you want to be footloose and fancy-free, better keep renting.

Finally, your decision may be all about the family. If you have children, the quality of the schools may be your deciding factor. Do rentals even exist in the school district of your choice or is purchasing a home the only way to provide the best education for your children? Also, having property space for kids to run around may require you to purchase a home.

The advantages of owning your home are many, with building equity and establishing good credit being the primary reasons people buy homes. Even with the new tax laws limiting some deductions, many homeowners may still see tax benefits to owning. And of course, there is the independence of Americans to own their own property and not having to answer to landlords.

The disadvantages of owning start with finances. It costs more money to own and maintain a home than renting. When you rent, someone else is responsible for the repairs and the cost of those repairs. Renting also insulates you from falling home values, which we all remember has happened.

It’s nice to have a choice in life and a choice in whether you want to own or rent. Unfortunately, it appears we are building an ever-increasing group of permanent renters who may not have another choice. Let’s hope the American dream isn’t shattered forever.

More Castles in the Sand:

Real estate market disruption

Fee-fi-fo-fum, do I smell a recovery?

Order out of chaos