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Bradenton Beach commissioner deposed

Commissioner deposed regarding Sunshine lawsuit

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in First Place, Special Sections.

BRADENTON BEACH – City Commissioner Randy White has been deposed as part of the discovery process for the city-initiated 2017 lawsuit that alleges six city advisory board members violated the Sunshine Law.

White is not a defendant in the lawsuit and has not been accused of any wrong-doing in connection with the lawsuit filed before he took office in November 2017. White was the first non-defendant to be deposed in this lawsuit.

First Place

First Amendment Defense

Jon A. Roosenraad Award

2019

Representing the city of Bradenton Beach and co-plaintiff Jack Clarke, attorney Robert Watrous told White the Wednesday, Nov. 14, deposition would pertain only to events that transpired before he became a city commissioner. Paralegal Michael Barfield assisted Watrous with the deposition.

White was represented by attorney Hunter Norton. The deposition took place in the conference room at the Vincent M. Lucente & Associates court reporting services building in Bradenton.

Clarke attended the deposition. So did defendant Reed Mapes and his attorney, Jim Dye; defendant John Metz and his attorney, Thomas Shults; and defendants Tjet Martin, Patty Shay, Bill Vincent and Rose Vincent. All six defendants are former city advisory board members and former members of the now-defunct Concerned Neighbors of Bradenton Beach (CNOBB) political action committee.

Former Bradenton Beach Mayor Bill Shearon and former city commissioner and CNOBB member Janie Robertson also attended the deposition.

The 2017 civil lawsuit alleges four Planning and Zoning Board members and two Scenic WAVES Committee members violated the Sunshine Law by discussing past and potential board business – including a prohibition on parking garages – via private email exchanges and during CNOBB meetings that were not properly-noticed city meetings.

The questions Watrous posed, the answers given and the documents reviewed during the deposition did not indicate any wrong-doing by White.

During the deposition, White confirmed that the handwritten notes he previously turned over to the city clerk’s office in June were written by him. City Attorney Ricinda Perry requested the notes White had on the dais with him during a commission meeting discussion regarding payment of an invoice from Watrous and a same-day discussion about four charter amendments proposed by Mapes, Metz and their Keep Our Residential Neighborhoods (KORN) political action committee.

White has been the only commissioner to oppose payments to Watrous and the only commissioner to support KORN’s unsuccessful request to have its proposed charter amendments placed on the ballot for the recent city elections.

White said the notes he turned over in June were all written by him during his campaign and before he was elected.

Watrous asked White about his handwritten note that said, “Can I talk about CNOBB meetings and state for the record that you guys did not break any Sunshine laws that I witnessed in CNOBB meeting?”

White said that note was written in preparation for a candidate’s debate and as a response to a potential media questions.

“If it comes up, I will state for the record I personally believe they didn’t break any laws,” White said.

Watrous asked White if any concerns about Sunshine Law compliance were voiced at the CNOBB meetings he attended.

“The Sunshine Law was spoke of at the beginning of a meeting. I don’t think there was concern whether it was followed or not. I guess it was assumed it was followed. I didn’t know anything about it, I was just ‘John Q Public’ who showed up at these things,” White said.

Watrous asked White if he recalled any discussion about parking garages during CNOBB meetings.

“Yes, it was brought up,” White said.

White’s two-hour deposition and the emails received from him and others as part of the pre-trial discovery process also shed light on White’s relationships with the defendants, CNOBB and the support he received from them during his 2017 campaign.

“CNOBB was founded by people I know very well, people I’ve known for years,” White said.

He then acknowledged that some of those people were currently sitting in the conference room.

“It kind of started with Mayor Shearon and then I met the Vincents and went from there,” White said.

Related coverage

Sunshine lawsuit depositions continue

Mapes and Martin deposed in Sunshine lawsuit

Press conference sheds light on Sunshine lawsuit

Bradenton Beach day dock located

Digital trail leads to undelivered day dock

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

BRADENTON BEACH – City officials have found the undelivered floating day dock and are now cautiously optimistic the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) dock project will be completed.

Police Chief Sam Speciale and CRA chair Ralph Cole found the aluminum-framed dock decking in Gibsonton on Thursday, Nov. 8. This happened one day after the CRA members directed Speciale to use his investigative resources to try to find the undelivered dock sections.

Eight 30-foot aluminum-framed sections of composite dock decking were manufactured in Spain and delivered to Port Everglades in mid-August. On Sept. 25, Technomarine CEO Erik Sanderson sent Speciale an email that said the docks were delivered to a storage yard in Tampa. Sanderson’s email included two photographs of the decking at its undisclosed location and no information on a subcontractor to install the floating dock next to the Bridge Street Pier.

During the Wednesday, Nov. 7, CRA meeting, City Attorney Ricinda Perry noted 10 days had passed since she sent Sanderson and his attorney, Roger Stanton, a letter notifying them the CRA was declaring Technomarine in default of the $119,980 contract agreed to in early 2017.

Perry’s letter gave Technomarine an additional 20 days to cure the contractual concerns before the CRA pursued legal action and/or asked the Florida Attorney General’s Office to investigate Technomarine’s business practices. Sanderson and Technomarine are already named as defendants in multiple lawsuits, including a 2017 suit that resulted in a jury awarding a yet-to-be-paid $1.7 million judgment against Technomarine.

Following a digital trail

During last week’s meeting, some CRA members seemed resigned to the idea that the dock project might be dead in the water and need to be started again from scratch. But member Jake Spooner said he could not accept losing the money, $83,682, the CRA already paid Technomarine.

During public comment, it was suggested that before giving up and pursuing the alternatives, Speciale be asked to call all the marine storage yards in the Tampa area in hopes of finding the undelivered dock components.

Local contractor and marine contractor Billy Cahoon then told The Sun he might know where the dock sections were, based on a photograph he saw in the paper. While the meeting continued, Cahoon was shown the photo Sanderson sent Speciale. Because of the building in the background, Cahoon thought it might have been taken near the Gandy Bridge in Tampa, by Orion Marine Construction and the Hula Bay Club.

City Treasurer Shayne Thompson suggested checking the photograph’s metadata and digital properties for information on where it was taken. The metadata included the longitude and latitude where the photo was taken, which is not always the case with digital photographs.

Using Google Earth, City Planner Alan Garrett retreated to his office and looked up the general longitude and latitude coordinates. Speciale then returned to his own office to research the exact GPS coordinates.

Using Google Earth, Speciale determined the longitude and latitude coordinates were slightly to the east and on the other side of Tampa Bay. When he zoomed in on the exact longitude and latitude, Speciale saw a white cabin cruiser sitting in an outdoor storage yard. When he rotated the view, he saw a building across the street that resembled the building in the photo Sanderson sent him.

That building is home to StorSafeStorage and using that address Speciale and CRA chair Ralph Cole drove to Gibsonton Thursday morning. They found the dock sections across the street sitting next to the cabin cruiser on the grounds of the Hecker Construction Company.

An employee told Speciale the dock sections were delivered two months ago and Hecker Construction has a verbal agreement with Technomarine to install the dock in Bradenton Beach.

While standing next to the dock sections, Speciale called The Sun and said, “We found our dock. We’re standing in front of it and touching it.”

In response to an email Speciale sent Sanderson later that day, Technomarine project manager Vinnie Frega confirmed the storage location – not knowing Speciale had already found it. In another email, Sanderson told Speciale the cleats and other hardware were still at Technomarine’s warehouse in North Palm Beach. Speciale is still awaiting word on where the dock’s pontoon floats are located.

“It was good to see the dock. It’s in good shape. Now we have to go the next step and get it, and I think we will,” Cole said.

Speciale said he’s feeling “cautiously optimistic.”

Perry will prepare for CRA approval a release agreement that if accepted would relieve Technomarine of its remaining contractual obligations. The agreement would assure Sanderson and Technomarine that no additional legal or investigative remedies would be pursued if the dock materials and additional hardware are released to the CRA. Hecker Construction could then install the floating dock as planned, working directly with the CRA.

Related Coverage

CRA declaring Technomarine in default of dock contract

Proof of pending dock shipment received

Day dock project pushed back again

BB Election Cole Maro

Cole, Maro retain Bradenton Beach commission seats

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

BRADENTON BEACH – Bradenton Beach voters re-elected incumbent Bradenton Beach City Commissioners Ralph Cole and Marilyn Maro, choosing them over challengers Tjet Martin and John Metz.

Bradenton Beach voters supported a return to geographically-based City Commission wards as one of seven proposed charter amendments recommended by the Charter Review Committee and supported by city voters.

Running unopposed, Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy and commissioners Amy Tripp and Brian Seymour retain their seats and will serve additional two-year terms in office.

Bradenton Beach commission races

In the Bradenton Beach race for the two seats currently held by Cole and Maro, Cole received 282 votes (32.12 percent), Maro received 242 votes (27.56 percent), Metz received 189 votes (21.53 percent) and Martin received 165 votes (18.79 percent).

Maro and Cole will serve additional two-year terms on the City Commission and be sworn in on Monday, Dec. 19. Their victories will maintain for another year a commission that also includes Mayor John Chappie and commissioners Jake Spooner and Randy White.

Charter amendments

Bradenton Beach voters also decided the fate of seven proposed amendments to the city charter and one park rezoning request.

Voters adopted Amendment 1. This means geographically-based City Commission wards will be reinstated beginning with next year’s elections: 295 voters (58.65 percent) supported the amendment and 208 voters (41.35 percent) opposed it.

BB Elections Amendments
Despite this sign of opposition, Bradenton Beach voters adopted several charter amendments proposed by the Charter Review Committee. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Voters adopted Amendment 2. This means City Commission candidates will now have to be registered city voters and will have to provide addition proof of residency when seeking office: 413 voters (79.73 percent) supported the amendment and 105 voters (20.27 percent) opposed it.

Voters adopted Amendment 3. This means the city charter will expressly state Bradenton Beach has a balanced form of city government in which all five members, including the mayor, have the same legislative and executive powers: 308 voters (61.48 percent) supported the amendment and 193 voters (38.52 percent) opposed it.

Voters adopted Amendment 4. This means the City Commission will retain the sole authority to hire and fire charter officials and departments heads, even if a city manager was to be hired in the future: 290 voters (58.23 percent) supported the amendment and 208 voters (41.77 percent) opposed it.

Voters adopted rejected Amendment 5. This means Article II and Article III of the city charter will be renumbered and reorganized (merely an administrative housekeeping matter): 306 voters (62.58 percent) supported the amendment and 183 voters (37.42 percent) opposed it.

Voters adopted Amendment 6. This means the commission will retain the ability to fill vacant City Commission seats by commission appointment: 328 voters (64.57 percent) supported the amendment and 180 voters (35.43 percent) opposed it.

Voters adopted Amendment 7. This means the charter requirements and processes that already apply to citizen-led, petition-initiated city ordinances and resolutions will also apply to citizen-led, petition-initiated efforts to amend the city charter: 320 voters (65.04 percent) supported the amendment and 172 voters (34.96 percent) opposed it.

City voters also supported the city’s request to rezone Katie Pierola Park from its current R-3 Multi-Family Dwelling District zoning designation to a Parks/Recreation/Open Space zoning designation. The vote was 460 votes (89.15 percent) in favor of the rezoning and 56 votes (10.85 percent) opposed to the rezoning request.

symphony on the sand 2017

Symphony on the Sand nears

Written by Tom Vaught on . Posted in Entertainment, Events, Music.

BRADENTON BEACH – On Saturday, Nov. 10, the Anna Maria Island Concert Chorus and Orchestra (AMICCO) will be seated under a giant tent to perform its sixth annual Symphony on the Sand, a musical and gourmet event from 4:30-7:30 p.m. on the beach at Coquina Gulfside Park, 2650 Gulf Drive S. The concert is a ticketed event held rain or shine.

The event brings together the beauty of the beach with the sounds of the chorus and orchestra and food from local servers. Attendees will enjoy small plates created by favorite local restaurants including a salad course, several entrée selections, and a delicious dessert with complimentary fine wine and select beers at $125 per ticket.

Other ticket options: $50 tickets for individual chairs without food, with vouchers for two drink coupons per ticket and a $20 option to bring your own chair or blanket to sit inside a roped-off area, closer to the stage. A cash bar and concessionaire food are available for $50 and $20 ticket purchasers. Purchasing tickets early is advised. Tickets are available at www.SymphonyOnTheSand.com. A portion of the proceeds goes to AMICCO.

Please remember that bringing alcoholic beverages onto the beach is prohibited.

The Anna Maria Island Sun is a sponsor of Symphony on the Sand.

Related Coverage

Symphony on the Sand

Symphony on the Sand preparations underway

Bradenton Beach website screenshot

Bradenton Beach shuts down city website

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

BRADENTON BEACH – The city has shut down its website until it can be made compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

The city website was shut down last week at the request of Mayor John Chappie after he learned of a $16,000 settlement agreement Manatee County recently reached regarding the Joel Price v. Manatee County lawsuit filed with The United States District Court Middle District of Florida Tampa Division.

Price and his Miami-based attorney, Scott Dinin, alleged the county website violated the Americans with Disabilities Act and sought injunctive relief to remedy alleged accessibility barriers at the county website.

“Plaintiff alleges he attempted to access electronic PDF documents on the website, but the website did not integrate with his screen reader software and he could not access the electronic content,” the settlement agreement says.

The settlement agreement says the county “does not admit and expressly denies the allegations set forth in the lawsuit and denies that the website is in violation of any law, including but not limited to Title II of the ADA and/or section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.”

It also says, “The parties desire to avoid the expense, time, effort and uncertainty of further litigation, and have agreed to a full and final settlement of all claims that were or could have been raised in the lawsuit.”

The agreement gives the county 14 months to use “commercially reasonable efforts” to improve accessibility for blind and visually-impaired users when accessing electronic documents at the county website.

The settlement agreement also applies to the Clerk of the Circuit Court, Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, Manatee County Tax Collector, Manatee County Property Appraiser website and the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections websites. The county websites will remain active until the compatibility changes are made.

The settlement agreement provided the county 30 days to tender a $16,000 check made payable to Dinin. The agreement states $15,000 is for the plaintiff’s attorney fees and costs, and $1,000 is for any and all damages incurred by the plaintiff (Price).

Earlier this year, Price initiated similar ADA-compliance lawsuits against Brevard County and the Celebration Golf Course in Orlando. Both lawsuits were dismissed by The United States District Court Middle District of Florida Orlando Division. A similar ADA-compliance lawsuit Juan Carlos Gil filed against Brevard County was dismissed.

An ADA-compliance lawsuit Eddie Sierra filed against the Florida Legislature and Florida State University regarding the Florida Channel’s closed captioning services was also recently dismissed.

Commission decision

Chappie initiated the website compliance discussion during the City Commission’s Thursday, Nov. 1, meeting.

“There’s a cottage industry with attorneys, and they have filed litigation in New York and in Florida. I gave an executive order to shut down our website until we can figure how we’re going to deal with our website, making it ADA-compatible,” Chappie said.

Bradenton Beach website Chappie
Mayor John Chappie has ordered the city website to be shut down until it’s ADA-compliant. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

“What they’re saying is individuals who cannot read a screen need to be able to hear what is on the screen. The safest play is to suspend our website. This is a top priority the mayor has set for staff – to figure out how to get to where we need to be to protect the city’s assets,” City Attorney Ricinda Perry added.

In addition to the Manatee County settlement, Perry said she’s aware of business owners facing similar legal challenges, including legal firms and lodging establishments.

“It’s a huge cottage industry. Unfortunately, the courts agreed that any service you offer must be ADA-compliant,” Perry said.

City Treasurer Shayne Thompson told the commission the city of Palmetto has an ADA accessibility feature at its website. Thompson said the Palmetto website is host by a company, CivicPlus, that represents more than 3,000 governmental entities.

As the commission’s website liaison, Commissioner Jake Spooner noted that a year ago he was tasked with looking into upgrading the city website. At the time, Spooner reached out to Revize – the firm that does the city of Anna Maria’s website – but the commission never allocated funds or took any additional action.

Spooner said Revize creates and maintains websites for hundreds of cities nationwide and should be able to provide Bradenton Beach with an ADA-compliant website.

Chappie said the Manatee County Commission will hold a commission workshop at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 11, and ADA compliance will be a topic of discussion.

At Chappie’s suggestion, Spooner agreed to take the lead on the city’s efforts to upgrade its website. He said he would research the city of Palmetto’s website and coordinate his efforts with Police Chief Sam Speciale, who serves as the city’s webmaster, working with England-based development technician Keiron Skillet.

On Friday, Spooner contacted Revize and was told it would cost $2,000 to design a new city website and $1,200 a year to maintain it.

Day Dock Tampa

CRA declaring Technomarine in default of dock contract

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

BRADENTON BEACH – Technomarine’s failure to install a floating public dock alongside the Bridge Street Pier has resulted in the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) initiating contractual default proceedings.

The CRA members remain open to taking possession of the manufactured dock sections and finishing the floating dock project with another contractor. They’ve also discussed installing a fixed wooden dock instead. The previous storm-damaged floating dock was removed in August 2017.

The CRA members are considering partnering with the city of Pahokee and seeking a Florida Attorney General Office investigation of Technomarine’s business practices. In April, the city of Pahokee terminated its contract with Technomarine for a stalled city marina and campground renovation project and filed a lawsuit seeking to recoup $125,000 paid to Technomarine.

The Bradenton Beach dock sections were manufactured by Ronautica Marinas in Spain and shipped to Port Everglades in August. On Sept. 25, Technomarine CEO Erik Sanderson emailed Police Chief and Pier Team facilitator Sam Speciale and informed him the dock sections were trucked to a Tampa boat yard pending future barge delivery to Bradenton Beach.

To date, Sanderson has not provided an address for the undisclosed storage location and City Attorney Ricinda Perry said the dock sections remain Technomarine’s property until delivered to Bradenton Beach.

Default letter

On Oct. 18, the CRA directed Perry to draft a letter putting Technomarine and Sanderson on notice of being in default of the $119,980 contract the CRA and Technomarine executed in January 2017 and finalized in March 2017.

On Friday, Oct. 26, Perry sent the requested letter to City Clerk Terri Sanclemente and asked that it be reviewed by CRA chair Ralph Cole before being sent by certified mail to attorney Roger Stanton at Technomarine’s North Palm Beach office. Perry also requested that Speciale email the default letter to Sanderson.

“It appears that the actions of Technomarine are akin to defrauding taxpayer monies and civil theft.”
– Ricinda Perry, City Attorney

“To date, you have failed to provide a proper set of engineered plans in accordance with the request for proposal submission by Technomarine, failed to provide the dock materials paid for by the CRA on July 31 and failed to timely install the floating dock. Technomarine has been largely unresponsive and has provided little to no communication or reasonable assurances as to when your legal obligations will be performed,” Perry’s letter states.

“Despite reassurances from Technomarine that the materials would be delivered to the CRA— to date no such delivery has occurred. Significantly disconcerting is the testimony under oath provided by Erik Sanderson on Aug. 8 in his deposition from Karch v. Sanderson, wherein he stated ‘the city of Bradenton Beach project, to my knowledge is paid in full and 100 percent complete.’ Mr. Sanderson also testified the ‘city of Bradenton Beach doesn’t make payments to Technomarine Construction. They make payments direct to the factory and to the contractor.’ These statements were patently false testimony,” Perry’s letter states.

According to City Treasurer Shayne Thompson, the city has made three payments to Technomarine Construction Inc. totaling $83,682 – including the $29,961 July payment Technomarine was supposed to reallocate to Ronautica Marinas.

When contacted on Monday, Oct. 29, Ronautica Managing Director Oscar Fontan said Technomarine has not yet paid Ronautica for the Bradenton Beach dock sections and Ronautica plans to file a $51,000 lawsuit against Technomarine.

Perry’s letter concluded by saying, “It appears that the actions of Technomarine are akin to defrauding taxpayer monies and civil theft. You have 10 days from the receipt of this correspondence to make appropriate arrangements to resolve the delivery of the dock materials. Failure to do so will result in my client exercising any and all of its legal rights to protect its public funds and this current project. Please contact me at your earliest convenience to work out an amicable solution.”

Perry recently told the CRA members it would be a waste of time and money to file a lawsuit against the financially-strapped company.

As of Friday, Nov. 2, neither Sanderson nor Stanton had replied to the certified letter or Speciale’s email. Company representative Anna Bennett did inform Speciale that she is no longer associated with Technomarine.

BB Dock Delays
The Bradenton Beach CRA members are now considering installing a wooden fixed dock alongside the historic Bridge Street Pier. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Karch v. Sanderson

The Karch v. Sanderson lawsuit Perry referenced pertains to Sanderson’s Aug. 8 deposition as part of the ongoing legal actions stemming from a 2017 lawsuit in which Christopher Karch sought $3.87 million from Sanderson and Technomarine. In April, Karch was awarded $1.7 million, which he is now trying to collect.

In 2014, Karch agreed to serve as Technomarine’s qualifying contractor. The lawsuit alleges Sanderson and Technomarine wrongfully converted the proceeds of two multi-million-dollar marina projects and entered into those contracts without Karch’s knowledge or consent.

“Sanderson owns, controls and employs Technomarine Group as a sham entity to defraud creditors,” Karch claimed in the lawsuit complaint.

According to the written transcript of Sanderson’s August deposition, Technomarine Construction has not accepted any contracts in 2018 and is “unwinding as a company because it’s a loss leader.”

Sanderson also said Technomarine did not plan to renew the lease on its North Palm Beach office space and he was not sure if he planned to file bankruptcy, according to the deposition transcript.

haunted manatee county book

New book sheds light on the local paranormal

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Books, Entertainment.

You might find her a little creepy or kooky, maybe a bit mysterious or spooky, but one title it’s hard to deny Liz Reed is the queen of the local paranormal.

haunted manatee author signing
Local author and paranormal investigator Liz Reed signs copies of her new book “Haunted Manatee County.” – Liz Reed | Submitted

With her leadership of the Paranormal Society of Bradenton, a group which she founded with her husband, Ron, in 2013, a new book and a burgeoning ghost tour business, Reed is closer than ever to realizing her dream of studying the paranormal on a full-time basis.

“I love doing what I do,” she said. “I wish I could do it full time.”

In her new book, “Haunted Manatee County,” Reed explores the ghosts and history of what was historically Manatee County, including De Soto, Glades and Hardee counties. She said the book took about three years to research, including the research she did for The Original Downtown Bradenton Ghost Tour and it’s Bradenton Beach counterpart, and two years to write.

The hardest part, she said, was finding period-specific photographs of the places she and her team encountered paranormal activity for inclusion in the book. She said writing it and using many of her own photographs in the book helped realize two of her lifelong goals – to be a professional author and photographer.

Rather than reaching out herself, Reed said she was contacted by publishers Arcadia Publishing and The History Press to write the book based on her popular ghost tours. Soon she’ll have a second book published on the haunted history of Sarasota County.

In her Manatee County book, Reed uncovers the stories of the ghost of famous mobster Al Capone, who occasionally rides the elevators at the Hampton Inn, the history of the Cortez Village and the fishermen who lost their lives at sea, the ghosts of a woman and girl who play hostess at The Sign of the Mermaid and the shades seen frolicking on Bridge Street.

haunted manatee coquina path
Visitors to Coquina Beach may encounter glowing spirit orbs or see the ghost dubbed the Black Phantom wandering the path and through the picnic area. – Kristin Swain | Sun

One of her most active Anna Maria Island ghosts, she says, is the spirit of George Bean Sr. whom she said likes to flirt with some of the ladies on the ghost tour, going so far as to mischievously take one lady’s glove, which was never recovered. Reed said Bean likes to follow along with the ghost tours, and she believes he roams the Island to keep a watchful eye on things.

On the downtown ghost tour, she said her favorite areas to explore are the Hampton Inn and the old location of the Manatee Players theater, now a construction site for a new hotel. She said that site is very active due partially to the Native American burial grounds that were used as fill in the area.

When the new hotel opens, Reed said she hopes to be one of the first to check in.

The information for Reed’s book and ghost tours comes from various sources including the spirits themselves. Her paranormal investigation team has several ways of communicating with the ghosts. While some members of her team are especially sensitive to the spirits and can see and communicate with them just like they’re talking with the living, others rely on the electronic equipment they bring with them on paranormal investigations including video cameras, digital voice recorders, voice boxes, K-2 meters and other devices.

Sometimes, she said they find nothing on these investigations. Other times they may think they haven’t found anything but get home and hear voices on recordings and see orbs of light and fully developed spirits walking past their cameras as they record. When they record evidence of spirits, Reed often posts the recordings on the group’s social media or website for the public to see for themselves.

When told a legend of a haunted place, encountering a new spirit or preparing for an investigation, Reed says she attempts to verify stories through historical documents. When the investigators know they’re going to a new place, Reed studies the history of the building to help better prepare for what might be found there.

Her fascination with the spirit world is born of her own experiences and attempting to find an answer to the age-old question of what happens when we die.

“We’re all made of energy so where does that energy go after we die?” she asked.

Reed said she believes that some of that energy stays here, some of it crosses over to whatever lies beyond this life and she’s fascinated by all of it.

“There’s no explanation for what we have found,” she said of the paranormal investigations, adding that she loves being able to explore the history of the area and verify stories from the past. For the naysayers, she offers guests on her ghost tours the opportunity to use some of the equipment that her paranormal group uses on investigations to allow them to experience the spirit activity for themselves.

“They just want to be known, that they’re still here,” she said of the ghosts she encounters.

As for the book, she said it was an interesting project and she hopes that readers will enjoy it.

“I want five ghosts, not five stars,” she said.

“Haunted Manatee County” is available through local retailers, Barnes and Noble and Amazon.

To schedule a ghost tour or to follow Reed’s paranormal investigations, visit the Paranormal Society of Bradenton online and on social media, or call 941-704-0621.

itpo longboat pass bridge

Longboat Pass Bridge work to begin in 2019

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News, Longboat Key.

The days for the current Longboat Pass Bridge may be numbered, but the bridge’s number isn’t up quite yet.

During the October Island Transportation Planning Organization meeting, representatives from the Sarasota Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization and the Florida Department of Transportation gave an update on the planned repairs for the existing drawbridge. Repairs are planned to begin May 1, 2019, but FDOT representative Jim Jacobsen said there would be limited disruption to vehicular traffic during construction.

Jacobsen said the bridge, built in 1957, is functionally obsolete, having served past it’s expected 50-year lifespan by 11 years. The bridge is rated by FDOT as fair, and the project development and environment study to determine if it should ultimately be repaired or replaced will begin in 2020. In the meantime, major repairs estimated at $3.7 million will begin in mid-2019. Jacobsen said the contractor has been given a $160,000 incentive to finish the repairs before Thanksgiving 2019.

Repairs will be made to the sidewalks and traffic lanes to cover potholes and cracks, along with repairs to the steel span to combat rust, correct mechanical issues, repair the supporting concrete beams and protect the undersides of the bridge from erosion. One of the primary goals with these repairs is to correct issues caused by exposure to the harsh environmental elements in the pass and seal the bridge to reduce the effects of rust and erosion in the future.

What motorists can expect, Jacobsen said, is to see nighttime lane closures between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. with 15-minute-long temporary bridge closures allowed between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. to move equipment. Detours where the bridge will be completely closed to traffic from midnight to 5 a.m. for two nights only, have already been mapped out. Jacobsen said the United States Coast Guard has already approved the bridge closures.

Bradenton Beach Mayor John Chappie requested that FDOT keep Bradenton Beach and Longboat Key police in the loop regarding lane and bridge closures. Jacobsen agreed, adding that the lane closures will be optimized to allow emergency vehicles through the construction area if necessary. He said lane closures are not allowed for Friday and Saturday nights. Prior to the start of construction Jacobsen said an environmental review of the area will be done to ensure that lighting for the project does not adversely affect nesting sea turtles on the beaches.

Bradenton Beach Christmas decorations

CRA purchasing holiday decorations

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

BRADENTON BEACH – The Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) authorized member Jake Spooner’s proposal to spend $12,000 to $32,000 to decorate Bridge Street for the Christmas holidays using decorative elements purchased from Christmas Designers – the firm that decorates University Boulevard and the University Town Center mall in Sarasota.

Christmas Designers has been used in the past by Bridge Street Merchants Association which, in recent years, spent $20,000 to purchase holiday decorations.

When purchased, the decorations will be installed, removed, stored, maintained, insured and reused in future years for approximately $2,400 to $4,400 a year, depending on what is purchased. The most expensive components are the elevated skylines that would hang over Bridge Street.

“We’re in a tight time frame, and they’re super busy right now, so we’re not sure if we’ll get the skylines this year,” Spooner said last week.

The CRA members recently directed Spooner to get three price quotes or, as an alternative, obtain a written partnership agreement from the merchants’ association that serves as a continuation of the merchants’ pre-existing relationship with Christmas Designers.

As of Friday, Spooner was still waiting on an itemized invoice to present to city staff. He and Christmas Designers Joe Campbell were still researching the cost and requirements for the poles needed to mount the elevated skylines. Spooner said if the entire decorative concept can’t be finalized this year, the skylines can be purchased and added next year.

Firefighters active in city commission campaign

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News, West Manatee Fire Rescue.

BRADENTON BEACH – West Manatee Fire Rescue (WMFR) Fire Chief Tom Sousa wants Bradenton Beach voters to know the fire district does not endorse city commission candidates.

However, the Suncoast Professional Firefighters & Paramedics Local 2546 labor union that represents WMFR firefighters and paramedics does endorse candidates, including Bradenton Beach candidates Marilyn Maro and Ralph Cole. The union support is provided through its Firefighters & Paramedics for Public Safety political action committee (PAC).

Sousa and Fire Marshall Jim Davis recently became aware of campaign materials expressing firefighters’ support for Maro and Cole. Sousa visited Mayor John Chappie on Thursday, Oct. 18, to clarify the district’s position on political endorsements. Later that day, Sousa spoke with The Sun.

Sousa was contacted by another candidate who claimed to have received a flyer saying the West Manatee Fire Rescue District was supporting Bradenton Beach commission candidates. The claim proved untrue, but there are references to West Manatee firefighters and local firefighters.

“It doesn’t say West Manatee Fire Rescue District. We have policies that prohibit our firefighters from using our name, equipment, uniform or any insignia that says West Manatee Fire Rescue District in any kind of political campaign,” Sousa said.

“Our employees may get involved individually, and that’s a personal choice, but the West Manatee Fire Rescue District and the district commissioners do not get actively involved in political campaigns or endorse candidates. We’re neutral,” Sousa said.

When asked about his visit with Chappie, Sousa said, “I wanted to convey to him that there is no relationship between the district and the property formerly known as Bradenton Beach Volunteer Fire Station,” which is owned by Bradenton Beach Fire Lodge Inc.

The old Bradenton Beach fire station. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

The 2001 merger of West Side Fire Rescue and Anna Maria Fire Rescue produced the West Manatee Fire Rescue District and the construction of a new fire station on Cortez Road. Increased certification requirements for volunteer firefighters alleviated the need for the building to remain a volunteer fire station.

At the time of the merger, the fire hall had long been owned by West Manatee Fire & Rescue Volunteers Inc. That association still owns the fire hall and the property but in 2017 changed its name to Bradenton Beach Fire Lodge Inc., at the request of Sousa, to avoid confusion with the West Manatee Fire Rescue District. As volunteers, WMFR firefighters continue to care for and use the station for other purposes.

Union support

In August, the Venice-based union PAC that represents a dozen fire districts contributed $1,000 each to Maro and Cole’s campaigns.

In 2017, the PAC donated $1,000 to Chappie’s successful campaign to unseat Mayor Bill Shearon. Shearon’s life partner, Tjet Martin, and his friend, John Metz, now seek the commission seats held by Maro and Cole.

The PAC also recently spent $584 on a mailer that encouraged voters to support Cole and Maro and said, “West Manatee Firefighters know how important it is to have a voice in our community.”

A door hanger/flyer distributed by Maro and her supporters said, “Join your local firefighters who support Marilyn Maro” and included a disclaimer stating Maro paid for it.

Yellow campaign signs paid for by the candidates have appeared that say, “Your Local Fire Fighters support Maro” or “Your Local Fire Fighters support Cole.”

Firefighters have also been walking the neighborhoods in support of Maro and Cole.

When contacted, Local 2546 President Merv Kennell said no taxpayer funds or WMFR resources are used for political campaigns, but firefighters can engage in political activities on their own time.

“All four candidates were invited to interview. It’s my understanding the ones endorsed were the ones who showed up. They were interviewed by the representatives of the membership. They decided to go with those two candidates because they were supportive of the issue that matters to those guys, and that is the property rights,” Kennell said.

For some, the 2001 merger raised questions about the ownership of the hall and Kennell was asked if the endorsements are related to the past desires of Shearon and others to acquire the hall as city property.

“I’d heard there had been prior attempts at getting that property. It’s important that the people getting elected understand and respect those private property rights,” Kennell said.

Local union rep

Buddy Bowen is the local union rep for WMFR firefighters. He said all but four of the district’s 34 or 35 firefighters are Local 2546 members. He also said the fire chief and chief officers cannot be union members.

“We’re employees of the fire department, we’re union members and as association members, we’re also property owners in Bradenton Beach and we feel that we have a stake in the community,” Bowen said.

“Marilyn and Ralph were the only ones that responded to my phone calls. We interviewed them specifically about private property rights in Bradenton Beach. We hope to keep that property and that building for local community events and charity events,” Bowen said.

The statewide Florida Professional Firefighters association also donated $500 each to Maro and Cole’s campaigns.

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boil order 24 st to east bay-page-001

Boil order takes effect Wednesday

Written by Sun staff on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News, Holmes Beach.

A precautionary boil order has been issued for residents living on Gulf Drive from 24th Street in Bradenton Beach going north to East Bay Drive in Holmes Beach. Manatee County Utilities Department officials said water will be turned off in this area beginning Wednesday, Oct. 24, at 10:30 p.m. while pipes are tied into the water line. Water will be turned back on Thursday at 6 a.m.

Residents are advised that once service is restored, all water used for drinking or cooking should be boiled as a precaution. A rolling boil of one minute is sufficient. As an alternative, bottled water may be used.

All side streets in the area are included in the boil order except for Avenues A, B, C, E and F.

This precautionary notice will remain in effect until a bacteriological survey has shown the water to be safe, normally 24 to 48 hours. A rescission notice will be issued when the order is lifted.

Regulations require that two consecutive samples be collected for bacteriological quality following the water being shut off. In order to restore full service as soon as possible, the Department of Health allows rescission of the precautionary boil water notice if the first sample is bacteriologically acceptable and the second sample meets certain general water quality standards.  However, if the second sample is bacteriologically questionable or unacceptable, then this precautionary boil water notice will be reissued until two consecutive bacteriologically acceptable samples are demonstrated.

Residents can call 941-792-8811 ext. 5268 or 5216, from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for more information.

Bradenton Beach Avenue C contract

Avenue C projects approved

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

BRADENTON BEACH – City Commissioners have authorized a $302,626 contract with Westra Construction to expedite drainage improvements and rights of way and driveway restorations along Avenue C.

Minus Commissioner Randy White, who was absent, the commission unanimously approved three separate motions that will fast-track by nearly a year the Avenue C improvements.

During its Thursday, Oct. 18 meeting, the commission agreed to un-restrict $400,000 of the restricted $450,000 pier fund that had previously been set aside to self-insure the now-insured historic Bridge Street Pier.

The commission then approved the contract with Westra – the same firm that’s been working on Avenue C for much of 2018 as part of Manatee County’s force main replacement project. The release of the pier funds will provide the funds needed to do the project in fiscal year 2018-19 instead of fiscal year 2019-20. The required budget amendments needed for accounting purposes were also approved.

City Engineer Lynn Burnett said Southwest Florida Water Management District will reimburse the city $70,000 in the current fiscal year and $70,000 in the following fiscal year for the stormwater portions of the project.

The drainage improvements will include the installation of vertical infiltration trenches designed to reduce flooding by creating more space to store rainwater while it percolates downward into the freshwater aquifer.

Unlike previous infiltration trenches installed in Bradenton Beach and elsewhere on the Island, the Avenue C trenches will be filled with 57 stone, but then topped with a honeycombed, heavy-duty plastic eco-grid than can be filled with 89 stone, 250 shell mix or topped with sod, grass, brick pavers or other surface materials. Burnett told the commission the white lime rock 57 stone used for previous stormwater projects will not be visible when the work is done.

The contract also calls for Westra to restore to their previous condition the Avenue C driveway ends that they tore up during the force main replacement project.

The contract with Westra states the entire project must be completed by March 25, and Westra will be charged $1,000 for each business day after that if the project runs long. Burnett told the commission she is hopeful the project will be completed well before the contracted completion date.

The commission also authorized Burnett to provide $50,438 in design and engineering services for the Avenue C projects. That money will come from the $70,625 currently budgeted for those services.

The stormwater and drainage improvements will include the installation of more WaStop check valves that will help prevent tidal waters from flowing back into the drainage outfall pipes. And at the request of the commission, Avenue C will be graded and paved in a manner that ensures the proper flow of rainwater to the outfall pipes that empty into Sarasota Bay.

The first large-scale use of eco-grid in Bradenton Beach will also serve as a test case for stormwater and drainage projects to be planned next for Avenue B.

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Property taxes become campaign talking points

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

BRADENTON BEACH – City Commission candidates have distributed campaign materials that prompted The Sun to fact check claims being made regarding property taxes.

Candidate Tjet Martin mailed out a campaign letter that said, “Our taxes were raised unnecessarily. A 12 percent increase.”

When adopting the 2018-19 fiscal year budget in September, the City Commission unanimously voted to maintain the 2.3329 millage rate that’s been in place since 2012. Incumbent Commissioners Marilyn Maro and Ralph Cole are now seeking reelection.

The Anna Maria and Holmes Beach commissions also maintained their previous year millage rates.

The Florida Constitution caps property tax increases on homesteaded properties to 3 percent per year. Now up for voter renewal, there is also a 10 percent cap on non-homesteaded properties that includes vacation rentals and commercial properties.

Martin lives with former mayor Bill Shearon at his Linger Longer beachfront resort. According to Manatee County Property Appraiser records, Shearon claims $50,500 in homestead and disability exemptions.

According to Shearon’s 2017 tax bill, he paid $2,473 in Bradenton Beach property taxes last year. According to his 2018 trim notice, Shearon will now pay $2,636. The additional $162 equates to a 6.5 percent increase – not the 12 percent cited in Martin’s letter.

Martin’s next-door neighbor and fellow candidate John Metz’s recent campaign mailer said, “Why are your taxes being raised?”

Metz claims a $25,000 homestead on the beachfront cottage that he lives in and uses half as a vacation rental. He paid $2,019 in city property taxes in 2017. According to his 2018 trim notice, he will now pay $2,160. The additional $141 is 6.5 percent more than last year.

When giving his State of the City address last week, Mayor John Chappie said 251 of Bradenton Beach’s 1,915 taxable properties are homesteaded and account for only $144,000 (10 percent) of the city’s $1.44 million in projected property tax revenues.

CRA claims

Metz’s campaign mailer also took issue with “non-resident merchants” serving on city boards. The seven-member Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) includes two non-resident business owners: Ed Chiles and John Horne.

“Merchants hold four out of seven seats on the CRA Board which answers why our tax money is primarily being spent in the business district,” Metz’s flyer says.

The two other merchants that serve on the CRA are business owners, city residents and city commissioners Ralph Cole and Jake Spooner.

State law requires CRA-generated property tax revenues to be spent only on projects that enhance and improve the CRA district that extends from the Cortez Bridge to the southernmost side of Fifth Street South.

CRA funds are now used for additional marine patrols of the unmanaged anchorage near the Bridge Street Pier and for additional police patrols on Bridge Street. CRA funds paid for recent improvements to Lou Barolo Park and are being used to fund the delayed replacement of the public day dock. CRA funds will be used to put Bridge Street utility lines underground and have been proposed for a park and ride shuttle service from Cortez Beach to Bridge Street.

Legal fees

Metz is treasurer of the Keep Our Residential Neighborhoods (KORN) political action committee chaired by former Bradenton Beach resident Reed Mapes, who now lives in Parrish. When KORN failed to get four charter amendment questions placed on this year’s ballot, Mapes and KORN filed a lawsuit against the city. A judge’s ruling is expected soon.

According to City Treasurer Shayne Thompson, KORN’s lawsuit cost the city $10,812 as of Oct. 19. The Charter Review Committee appointed in response to KORN’s charter initiatives cost an additional $22,155.

The 2017 Concerned Neighbors of Bradenton Beach charter amendment initiatives Metz and Martin helped initiate cost city taxpayers $9,435.

In 2017, the City Commission jointly initiated a civil lawsuit alleging Metz, Martin and four other city advisory board members violated the Sunshine Law by discussing city business outside of a properly noticed city meeting. To date, that lawsuit has cost city taxpayers $101,491 and a trial date is sought for early 2019.

The 2016 lawsuit Metz filed against the city and Building Official Steve Gilbert has cost city taxpayers $31,309.

In 2015, Metz unsuccessfully challenged the candidacy of recall election candidate Jack Clarke. That legal action taken against Clarke later subjected city taxpayers to more than $11,000 in unbudgeted legal fees.

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Bradenton Beach Ave C restoration

Avenue C restoration accelerated

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

BRADENTON BEACH – City commissioners want to make stormwater and drainage improvements along Avenue C sooner rather than later. As part of that process, the commission also wants to restore, at the city’s expense, the Avenue C driveways disturbed as part of Manatee County’s force main replacement project.

During the Tuesday, Oct. 9, work meeting, commissioners tentatively agreed to accelerate these previously discussed city projects. City Engineer Lynn Burnett was authorized to bring back to the commission a proposed $302,626 contract from Westra Construction – the company hired by Manatee County to do its force main project.

In the past, the city contracted Woodruff & Sons to install the 57 stone-topped vertical infiltration trenches and alley-based drainage improvements. The original plan was to use Woodruff again for the Avenue C stormwater and drainage improvements planned for the 2019-2020 fiscal year.

During last week’s work meeting, Burnett said the city could save approximately $20,000 in mobilization costs by having Westra do the job now, while still onsite finishing up the county force main project.

More importantly to Avenue C residents, Burnett said having Westra do the work would significantly reduce the time that the Avenue C driveways and city rights of way remained in an unfinished state.

Approximately 10 months ago, Westra began tearing up Avenue C and the connecting driveways and yards located in the city-owned rights of way.

The project timetable Burnett presented last week proposed the contract with Westra be executed this month, which would then allow the stormwater and drainage projects to begin in November and be completed in February. The final restoration of the Avenue C driveways and rights of ways would then occur in March and April and include the final paving of Avenue C.

The previous plan called for Westra to simply restore the impacted driveways and rights of ways with the 57-stone that would remain in place until the city’s contractor came along to do the city-funded stormwater improvements beginning in late 2019.

As part of this modified approach, Burnett proposed the new four-foot wide infiltration trenches include honeycombed, plastic eco-grids that sit atop the fine sand that replaces the muddy soil removed to create the trenches.

The eco-grid will then sit below the final surface material of the property owner’s choice. If the property owner had brick driveway pavers removed and stored as a result of the county project, those pavers will be replaced atop the eco-grid. If the driveways and rights of way were covered sod, grass, concrete, asphalt, 89 stone or 250 shell mix, those areas will be similarly restored.

Driveways not already disturbed by the force main project will not be disrupted by the stormwater project.

Previous infiltration trenches installed elsewhere in the city were topped with white, lime rock 57 stone that proved problematic in high traffic areas. Burnett said later there will be no visible lime rock associated with the Avenue C project.

During the work meeting, Mayor John Chappie and Commissioner Ralph Cole stressed the importance of the repaved Avenue C being graded in a manner that allows rainwater to properly drain toward the outfalls that empty into the bay.

The Avenue C residents who attended last week’s meeting encouraged the commission to get Avenue C fully stored as soon as possible, even if that means working through another peak tourism season.

Project funding

For the stormwater and driveway restoration projects to begin nearly a year ahead of schedule, two budget amendments have been scheduled for discussion at the commission’s regular meeting at noon on Thursday, Oct. 18.

The commission will be asked to approve a $140,161 budget amendment for the driveway restoration project and a $151,350 budget amendment for the stormwater and drainage improvements.

Before the budget amendments are voted on, the commission will be asked to release $400,000 previously set aside in the restricted pier reserve fund. On Monday, Chappie said that fund previously provided the city with self-insurance for the Bridge Street Pier that is now insured.

Southwest Florida Water Management District grants and future stormwater assessment revenue will help the city recoup the cost of these projects in future fiscal years.

Michael brushes past Anna Maria Island

Written by Cindy Lane on . Posted in Anna Maria Island, Community News, Featured, Weather.

Hurricane Michael made landfall at Panama City around 2 p.m. as a category 4 storm with 155 mph winds, and has since dropped to 140 mph winds, moving north/northeast at 15 mph, according to NOAA.

Anna Maria Island saw few effects today, with localized flooding, intermittent rain showers and high surf, which brought out surfers and pushed the Gulf of Mexico high onto the beaches at high tide around 2 p.m.

Local tropical storm and storm surge watches have been lifted, but high surf and rip current advisories remain.

NOAA forecasts south/southwesterly winds subsiding Thursday to 20-25 mph, gusting as high as 36 mph, with a 60 percent chance of scattered showers and thunderstorms and a high around 89 degrees.

A sea turtle nest falls victim to washover in the aftermath of Hurricane Michael passing Anna Maria Island Wednesday. - Kristin Swain | Sun

A sea turtle nest falls victim to washover in the aftermath of Hurricane Michael passing Anna Maria Island Wednesday. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Water crept high on this dock in Holmes Beach as high tide approached this afternoon. - Cindy Lane | Sun

Water crept high on this dock in Holmes Beach as high tide approached this afternoon. - Cindy Lane | Sun

The sidewalk beside Holmes Beach City Field flooded from rainwater associated with Hurricane Michael this morning. - Cindy Lane | Sun

The sidewalk beside Holmes Beach City Field flooded from rainwater associated with Hurricane Michael this morning. - Cindy Lane | Sun

Surfers took advantage of waves during Hurricane Michael at Twin Piers in Bradenton Beach on Wednesday. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

Surfers took advantage of waves during Hurricane Michael at Twin Piers in Bradenton Beach on Wednesday. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

The Rod & Reel Pier in Anna Maria closed today. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

The Rod & Reel Pier in Anna Maria closed today. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

The Rod & Reel Pier in Anna Maria closed today. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

The Rod & Reel Pier in Anna Maria closed today. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

The boats in the Bradenton Beach anchorage fared well today as Hurricane Michael passed by. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

The boats in the Bradenton Beach anchorage fared well today as Hurricane Michael passed by. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

The water was high near the Bridge Street Pier Wednesday, but the boats in the anchorage are faring well. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

The water was high near the Bridge Street Pier Wednesday, but the boats in the anchorage are faring well. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

Wading birds in Holmes Beach got new feeding grounds from Hurricane Michael today. - Cindy Lane | Sun

Wading birds in Holmes Beach got new feeding grounds from Hurricane Michael today. - Cindy Lane | Sun

This morning, Anna Maria Island showed evidence of extremely high tides overnight. - Cindy Lane | Sun

This morning, Anna Maria Island showed evidence of extremely high tides overnight. - Cindy Lane | Sun

A child chases retreating waves Wednesday on Manatee Public Beach as Hurricane Michael passes offshore. - Kristin Swain | Sun

A child chases retreating waves Wednesday on Manatee Public Beach as Hurricane Michael passes offshore. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Water slid up a driveway this morning in Holmes Beach. - Cindy Lane | Sun

Water slid up a driveway this morning in Holmes Beach. - Cindy Lane | Sun

Waves and sea foam reached far up the shoreline Wednesday at Manatee Public Beach. The foam appeared to contain red tide. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Waves and sea foam reached far up the shoreline Wednesday at Manatee Public Beach. The foam appeared to contain red tide. - Kristin Swain | Sun

As the clouds blew away from Holmes Beach, the surf rose along the shoreline this afternoon before high tide. - Kristin Swain | Sun

As the clouds blew away from Holmes Beach, the surf rose along the shoreline this afternoon before high tide. - Kristin Swain | Sun

A line in the sand in Holmes Beach shows that the Gulf waters rose well up the beach as Hurricane Michael passed the Island Wednesday. - Kristin Swain | Sun

A line in the sand in Holmes Beach shows that the Gulf waters rose well up the beach as Hurricane Michael passed the Island Wednesday. - Kristin Swain | Sun

A family waded in the Gulf as Hurricane Michael approached. - Chantelle Lewin | Sun

A family waded in the Gulf as Hurricane Michael approached. - Chantelle Lewin | Sun

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZ7WBXp0wjU[/embedyt]

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