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Chiles Hospitality selling Sandbar, Beach House, Mar Vista

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Business, Featured, Restaurants | Bars.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Ed Chiles, the owner of Chiles Hospitality, is selling the Sandbar Seafood & Spirits restaurant in Anna Maria, the Beach House Waterfront Restaurant in Bradenton Beach and the Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant & Pub in Longboat Key to the Pinellas County-based Beachside Hospitality group.

Beachside Hospitality is also buying the Anna Maria Bake House and Chiles Hospitality’s events department. No sales price was disclosed.

Beachside Hospitality owns and operates Crabby’s Bar & Grill, Crabby’s Hideaway, Crabby’s On The Pass, Crabby’s Dockside, The Salty Crab Bar & Grill and Salty’s Island Bar & Grille in Pinellas County. The group also owns and operates similarly-themed restaurants in Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach, St. Cloud, St. Augustine, Fort Pierce and Fort Myers Beach.

Chiles Hospitality announced the pending sale in a July 17 press release. The sale is scheduled to close on July 29, with Colliers International representing Chiles Hospitality in the sale.

“This has been a difficult decision, but I know it’s time for me to move on. I am passing the torch to new owners who understand the value of our employees and who will carry on the legacy that our team has built together,” Chiles said in the press release. “I leave knowing that the work our team has done together is one of the greatest experiences of my life and we have made a measurable and positive impact in our community.”

Chiles founded Chiles Hospitality in 1979 when he, his father – former Florida Gov. Lawton Chiles – and two partners bought the Sandbar restaurant in Anna Maria. Chiles Hospitality acquired and later renovated the Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant in Longboat Key in 1989 and the Beach House Waterfront Restaurant in Bradenton Beach in 1993. Chiles Hospitality established the Anna Maria Bake House scratch-artisan bakery within the Beach House in 2018.

The Sandbar Restaurant in Anna Maria. – Cindy Lane | Sun

The press release notes the majority of Chiles Hospitality’s 350 restaurant employees have been asked to continue in their current roles.

The Beach House Waterfront Restaurant in Bradenton Beach. – Cindy Lane | Sun

Chiles Hospitality itself is not being sold and the press release notes Chiles Hospitality will continue to operate the 26-acre Gamble Creek Farms organic farming operations in Parrish.

Beachside Hospitality’s plans

This map shows where the Beachside Hospitality Group’s restaurants are located. – Beachside Hospitality Group | Submitted

The press release notes that Beachside Hospitality has over 20 years of experience in the restaurant business and currently oversees 13 restaurants in eight Florida cities. This is the group’s first business venture in Manatee County.

Julia Cassino serves as the Beachside Hospitality’s director of marketing and events. When contacted by The Sun today, she said Beachside Hospitality has not yet issued a press release or an official statement regarding the pending purchase and plans to do so after the sale is finalized on July 29.

“We are excited about this amazing new venture and coming into Manatee County, Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key,” she said.

“We do not have any current plans to change anything regarding the names or the styles of the restaurants. They are each established entities and each have their own feel. We have no plans to change that. Ed has done a fantastic job building these businesses into what they are today and we have no plans to change any of that. We want to continue the legacy he’s created,” Cassino said.

“We’re keeping the staffs and we have two long-tenured members of our team who are currently overseeing locations in Pinellas and Volusia counties who are moving to the area to oversee the transition,” she added.

“We’re looking forward to seeing what we can continue on with Ed’s brand and how we can possibly elevate it into something even better. We do not plan to make any drastic changes. The guests will not notice the changes and it should be a smooth transition,” Cassino said.

Chiles speaks

Ed Chiles has spent 45 years operating waterfront restaurants on Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key. – Chiles Hospitality | Submitted

Chiles was 25 when he, his dad and two partners bought the Sandbar. Forty-five years later, he’s moving on.

During a phone interview with The Sun today, Chiles addressed his decision to sell and his future plans.

“Forty-five years of being in this business feels about right. I started thinking about this seriously about a year and a half ago and I came to the realization that I shouldn’t try for 50. I have my health. I’m really proud of what we’ve done. I’ve got a new grandson who’s 2 1/2 years old that I want to spend more time with. It’s just time,” Chiles said.

“I know it’s the right thing to do. I will miss it terribly. I will miss the people, the staff, our teams and I will miss the guests and the generations of families we’ve served and formed friendships with. I’ll miss being there on the beach ‘conducting the orchestra,’ getting in the chef’s way, working with the food and developing recipes. There’s so many different aspects of this,” Chiles said.

“The Post-COVID era has made a tough business even tougher, but during the last six months our company has never run better, our leadership teams have never been stronger, our numbers have never been better and it feels great to go out on top.

“I’d love to be around to open the retail operation at the Sandbar, where we’re tripling the size, and the take-out section and the renovation we’re doing on the southside is going to be so exciting with the empanadas, the menu, and the drinks we’ll serve there, but it’s time. I love the idea of going out on top. It feels right, even though there’s a whole lot of emotions,” he said.

“I’m really going to miss the people, but a door shuts and another one opens. I want my last lap to be about building soil. I want to be working at the farm. I want to be working on the environment, coastal resiliency, the bivalves (oysters and clams), seagrass and promoting sustainable seafood and I’ve got some new things I’m taking on in those regards.

“I don’t want to fret about the next hurricane, red tide or pandemic or election. It’ll be nice to have that weight off my shoulders. I don’t know what that will feel like because I’ve been so used to it. My step will be a little lighter. We’re on the edge of the world where we are and that comes with things that can bite you. I won’t have to worry about that anymore,” Chiles said.

Varied plans

Chiles remains involved with multiple cannabis businesses in Tennessee and with a group opening a restaurant in Nashville this week. He remains a partner in the Poppo’s Taqueria businesses originally founded in Anna Maria, he’s a partner in a mushroom business and he’s exploring other sustainability-related business endeavors.

Chiles Hospitality will still own and operate the paid parking lot along Gulf Drive in Anna Maria. Chiles will continue to own and lease out the old post office plaza on Gulf Drive and he also has two commercial properties on Pine Avenue.

“There’s 17 properties that I’ll still own, not including the farm. There’s plenty of stuff to still look after,” he said. They’re not buying Chiles Hospitality. They’re buying the assets, the restaurants and the land. Chiles Hospitality will keep going with the farm and the other things we work on.”

Longtime Chiles Hospitality group CEO Chuck Wolfe will continue serving in that role.

“Chuck’s my CEO and he will stay with me. Chuck’s the guy that navigated all this (the sale). The new owners are taking virtually everybody else and I’m delighted. I think our folks can learn some things from the new owners and I hope they can learn some things from our team about our culture, our work with sustainable seafood and our work in the community. I’m optimistic about that.”

Chiles and his wife, Tina, will remain Anna Maria residents.

“I don’t have any plans to leave Anna Maria Island. I love it here. I don’t remember ever not being in Anna Maria. I was here in utero. We came here every summer from Lakeland. I’ll spend parts of the summer in Montana, in August and September when it’s not fit to be in Florida. I’ll be hip-deep in a trout stream. I’ll be traveling, spending more time with my grandson and ‘Ms. Tina’ and pursuing the sustainable initiatives with bivalves, seagrass and with the farm, building soil,” Chiles said.

In closing, Chiles said, “I’m a lucky guy who got out of school with a political science degree and had to find a way to make a living. My dad approached me about putting a group together to buy a restaurant in Anna Maria, where we had always spent our summers.

“Before buying the Sandbar, I spent a season working in the kitchen at the legendary Joe’s Stone Crab restaurant in Miami Beach in 1978. A month later, we bought the Sandbar. I worked under a manager for six months and then I took over. Since then, I’ve been in paradise doing what I love: serving people.”

Sandbar party big fun for kids

Sandbar party big fun for kids

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

ANNA MARIA – Chiles Hospitality hosted the 28th Annual Lawton Chiles Christmas for Kids Party on Dec. 14 at the Grand Pavilion of the Sandbar restaurant, 100 Spring Ave.

Every year, Chiles Hospitality staff plans and executes the event, buying and wrapping gifts for around 80 pre-kindergarten students from RCMA, a non-profit childcare organization, as well as kids from Children First Head Start and Early Head Start.

The annual tradition, started by the late Gov. Lawton Chiles and his wife, Rhea, provides underserved youth with a holiday celebration thanks to the help of private and corporate sponsors.

“We continue to honor the Chiles legacy with this beloved holiday party and our staff looks forward to it each year,” said Chuck Wolfe, CEO of Chiles Hospitality. “With their help and the contribution from local sponsors, it guarantees a happy and memorable day for these students. We are thankful to all those who help us preserve this tradition.”

Parents also showed their appreciation for the effort put into making this event possible once again this year.

“It’s amazing what these people put together. My daughter is going to be exhausted after all the excitement and running around with all these kids,” Donatta Holly said. “The food is amazing and the staff has treated us like royalty. They’re good people.”

In addition to receiving a present, each child in attendance received a new pair of shoes and a new outfit. Of course, Santa was excited to be in attendance and children also got to meet characters from the Frozen film, took a spin in a castle bounce house, and enjoyed a snow machine, music, crafts and other activities, in addition to lunch provided by Sandbar restaurant for the whole family.

Chiles Group pursuing paid parking in Bradenton Beach

Chiles Group pursuing paid parking in Bradenton Beach

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

BRADENTON BEACH – The Chiles Group hopes to implement paid parking in the Third Street North parking lot across the street from the Beach House restaurant.

As a precursor, the Chiles Group charged $30 for beach parking in the lot during the Labor Day weekend. Earlier this year, the Chiles Group began operating a paid public parking lot in Anna Maria, near the Sandbar restaurant.

Chiles Group pursuing paid parking in Bradenton Beach
This beach parking sign was placed near the BeachHouse parking lot during Labor Day weekend. – Submitted

In a separate paid parking action, the Bradenton Beach City Commission directed city staff on Aug. 30 to enter into negotiations with the Easy Parking Group to implement a paid parking pilot program. The city’s program will include the city-owned portion of the parking lot on First Street North, behind the BridgeWalk resort, and the parking spaces near the police department and public works buildings near Highland Avenue.

Review process

Bradenton Beach Building Official Steve Gilbert is currently reviewing the Chiles Group’s proposed paid parking plans.

“This would be the Third Street North parking lot, which was approved as offsite parking with valet service several years back,” Gilbert said when contacted by The Sun.

Gilbert was asked if paid parking is allowed in Bradenton Beach.

“I cannot find anything in our land development code or comprehensive plan that would differentiate between free or paid parking lots. We have prohibited parking structures, but again, even that prohibition says nothing about whether the parking is free or paid. Where site plan approval is in place for parking, is there a change of use for parking if a fee is required? If it’s valet parking with a tip, does that change the use? No, the use is parking. Whether the parking is free, valet or paid does not change the use as far as our land development code is concerned,” he said.

Gilbert discussed the city’s plans to implement a paid parking program.

“Given the city’s actions on Aug. 30, I would be hard-pressed to treat any private entity differently from the city on this matter. If the city wants to proceed down the road to paid parking on city-owned property, and our LDC doesn’t differentiate between free versus paid parking, how can we treat private properties differently?” Gilbert said.

“If the zoning allows parking onsite or offsite, how does free versus paid change the use unless it’s a stand-alone proposition? For example, three lots in a residential neighborhood where the owner wants to put in a parking lot for beach parking and charge a fee to park – or maybe free parking with a tip box at the entrance/exit. Is a standalone parking lot, not as associated with a principal use, allowed in our LDC? No, it’s not an allowable use, whether it’s free, tips or paid. It’s not about money, it’s zoning and land use allowed through the comp plan,” Gilbert said.

“I do understand how a business plan for a new development might warrant discussion on this issue. For existing development approvals, there is no existing trigger or threshold established by city ordinance. So, for now, free, versus tips, versus paid parking, does not trigger a change of use. It’s a parking lot,” Gilbert said.

Chiles Group pursuing paid parking in Bradenton Beach
The Chiles Group already operates a paid parking lot in Anna Maria. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Providing some additional insight, City Attorney Ricinda Perry said, “If someone has a parking plan approved by the city and wants to charge for their patrons to use the spots, that’s a business decision for them and not a land use regulation for the city. Steve and I both agree that ELRA Inc. (the Chiles Group) will need to continue providing the requisite number of spaces required for their patrons and employees.”

The Beach House also has parking lots located directly north and south of the restaurant building, along the west side of Gulf Drive.

Paid parking discussed at Bradenton Beach budget meeting

Paid parking discussed at Bradenton Beach budget meeting

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

BRADENTON BEACH – Paid parking and potential future millage increases were primary topics of discussion during the city commission’s July 12 budget meeting.

The tentative budget discussed on Tuesday proposes $4.17 million in total city expenditures – an increase of $584,618 from the current fiscal year that ends on Sept. 30.

The commission intends to maintain the current 2.3329 millage rate for the 2022-23 fiscal year that begins on Oct. 1.

A significant portion of the city’s expenses will be covered by the $2,005,086 the city anticipates receiving in ad valorem property tax revenues. Due to skyrocketing property values, the city anticipates a significant increase in ad valorem property tax revenues in the coming fiscal year.

City Treasurer Shayne Thompson told the commission this equates to a $291,521 increase in property tax revenues for new fiscal year. He said the city usually sees a $120,000 to $140,000 annual increase in property tax revenues as property values increase by an average of 6-8%, but in this current fiscal year, property values have increased by approximately 17%.

“That is an anomaly, plain and simple. The raise in property values this year is certainly not the norm. Without that increase, we would probably be faced with a millage increase, like it or not,” Thompson told the commission.

Higher property values mean property owners will pay higher property taxes and Mayor John Chappie said the commission does not intend to adopt a lower rollback millage rate that would generate the same amount of property tax revenues as last year while lowering the millage rate for city taxpayers.

Thompson said the city’s reserve fund has been drawn down in recent years and needs to be replenished, and small annual millage increases may be needed in future years to accomplish this.

Thompson said a one-tenth of a percent millage increase on a home with a $1 million assessed value would result in the property owner paying an additional $100 in property taxes. According to Thompson, a one-tenth of a percent millage increase would generate approximately $85,000 in additional property tax revenues during a single fiscal year.

Chappie and Commissioner Jan Vosburgh said they would not support a millage increase this year and they hope to avoid doing so in future years.

Paid parking discussed at Bradenton Beach budget meeting
Police Chief John Cosby supports paid parking in city-owned parking lots. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Police Chief John Cosby said, “Every year for the past five years I have told you that you need to raise the millage a little bit every year. I do agree with Shayne that it’s something to keep in the back of our mind. I don’t think we’re in trouble yet, but I think next year will be the year we really have to look at it. I think you should heed Shayne’s advice that going up a little bit every year at some point is not going to hurt.”

Chappie noted the commission intends to discuss paid parking in city-owned parking lots as a possible means of generating additional city revenues. That work meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 30 at 9 a.m.

Potential paid parking locations include the city-owned portion of the parking lot behind the BridgeWalk resort, the city hall parking lot and the unpaved parking lot near the Public Works Department building.

Paid parking discussed at Bradenton Beach budget meeting
The city-owned parking lot near the Public Works Department building could be used for paid parking. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

In recent months, Cosby has repeatedly told the commission the police department is underfunded and understaffed when it comes to policing a city that receives thousands of visitors on any given day. During the budget meeting, he mentioned paid parking as the most likely revenue source for additional policing and also replenishing the city’s reserve fund.

“Paid parking is it. We’ve got to get it back from the people that are coming here and enjoying our amenities, and the only way to do that is paid parking. That could generate a lot of revenue. That would take care of your concern and Shayne’s concerns,” Cosby said.

“I’ve done a little research and Pinellas County just went to $7 an hour for paid parking. It’s an option we need to look at. Your citizens have already told you they want you to find a way to generate revenue outside of a tax increase and this is one way to do it,” he added.

Cosby said the city’s current reserve fund would cover approximately 20-25% of the city’s annual expenses, but a coastal community that’s more prone to storm and hurricane damage should really have a reserve fund that would cover $30-35% of the city’s operating expenses.

“This city has to rely on itself until FEMA can get here to help us. We’re going to have to be self-sufficient and we’re not there yet. When we do the paid parking, we have to really look at how we’re going to distribute that revenue. I think a percentage of that revenue should automatically go into reserves so we can build a good strong reserve,” Cosby said.

Other budget matters

As is the case each year, the city’s largest expenses are employee salaries, benefits and retirement fund contributions. City Clerk Terri Sanclemente told the commission that due to budget constraints, she and the other department heads are requesting a 6% cost of living adjustment (COLA) increase for all city employees but are not requesting any additional salary increases.

The police department budget includes enough money to hire one more officer at an approximate cost of $100,000, including the officer’s annual salary and employee benefits.

According to Thompson, the city has received to date $320,296 in American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds from the federal government and expects to receive an additional $320,296 before the current fiscal year ends.

The ARP fund expenditures included in the 2022-23 fiscal year budget allocate $37,000 for the public works department to buy a new pickup truck and a new GEM cart, $88,000 for two new police vehicles, $20,000 for a Polaris-like ATV to be shared by code enforcement and the police department for beach patrols and $66,600 for server upgrades for the city and police department computer systems.

The budget remains a work in progress and will be finalized and adopted during two public hearings in September.

Related coverage:

Bradenton Beach commissioners to consider charging for parking

Anna Maria Commission approves Chiles Group’s paid parking

Commission approves Chiles Group’s paid parking

Commission approves Chiles Group’s paid parking

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

ANNA MARIA – The city commission has approved an amended site plan that allows the Chiles Group’s Sandbar restaurant to continue to use one of its parking lots for paid public parking.

The commission approval granted on July 14 is for the parking lot already being operated at 9902 Gulf Drive, between Magnolia Avenue and Spring Lane.

As he did during the preliminary Planning and Zoning Board review on June 27, City Planner Chad Minor said the site plan approval process was initiated after the city’s code enforcement department discovered in February that the parking lot was being used for paid parking, which was not an allowable use of that property.

Minor said the paid parking lot is one of nine parking lots the Chiles Group owns or leases to serve the Sandbar. He added that the lot is located in the residential/office/retail zoning district where paid parking is allowed. The commission-approved site plan brings those 28 paid parking spaces into compliance with city code and those spaces will continue to provide paid parking for beachgoers and other visitors.

Commission approves Chiles Group’s paid parking
The parking fee is $5 an hour or $30 for eight hours. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

The automated payment kiosk installed in February is provided by the Sarasota-based Easy Parking Group owned and operated by Joshua LaRose. LaRose recently told The Sun the fee to park there is $5 an hour or $30 for eight hours.

Commission discussion

During Thursday’s meeting, Commissioner Jon Crane said, “This is gonna be the first time we’re going to have a paid parking lot in the heart of the city. I would have liked a more full-throated debate focused generally on whether we want paid parking in our city, rather than a site plan amendment that kind of makes that a side-door issue. Having said that, I’ve got no objection to this particular site plan amendment.”

Commission Chair Carol Carter asked Crane if he wanted the commission to discuss paid parking in general at a future meeting.

“No, I think once the camel gets his nose under the flap of the tent it’s over,” Crane said. “If we allow paid parking on a piece of private property in the ROR district it’s going to be harder to deny it and there are a lot of properties that might be affected. I think we’ve already kind of made the decision if we approve this site plan amendment.”

Regarding other properties being used for paid public parking, Minor said those properties would have to meet and maintain their city-imposed parking requirements before offering any additional paid parking to the public.

“I think they would be far and few between,” Minor said. “This one is unique in that they’re able to serve the needs of their property and they have an excess of parking spaces. If they did not meet the parking standards for the Sandbar itself, I wouldn’t be in front of you today.”

Public input

During public input, city resident Kris Wisniewski noted the Sandbar is required to have 129 parking spaces and with one parking lot now being used for paid parking still has 161 parking spaces for its patrons.

“Year-round, this seems like a pure money-making parking lot. Only during season would you get close to using that,” Wisniewski said.

Commission approves Chiles Group’s paid parking
The paid parking lot provides 28 parking spaces for the general public. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Commissioner Deanie Sebring said, “I’m excited they decided to have paid parking and have it available for people that want to come to the beach. Everybody knows I would like to get rid of parallel parking on Pine and it would be wonderful if these people could park there.”

“This is a practical way to solve a huge problem we have on the Island, which is parking,” Chiles Group representative Brooks O’Hara said.

“Now we can provide 28 additional parking spots. It just makes too much sense,” Commissioner Mark Short said.

“It’s a good thing. It just has to be done right,” Mayor Dan Murphy added.

Minor said if the restaurant fails to maintain the required number of parking spaces, the paid parking lot would become non-compliant with the city code.

Roser parking

Public input from city resident and Roser Memorial Community Church trustee Dan Devine triggered additional discussion regarding the past, current and future use of the church parking lots for paid parking.

“We’ve got records going back 12 years documenting paid parking at our church. We have four lots that are ROR. I see no reason why (Ed) Chiles should not be able to use his lots for paid parking as long as he’s meeting his regulations. Paid parking is one of two options. The second option is for the city to buy property to provide public parking,” Devine said.

In February, the city commission adopted revisions to the city’s off-site parking requirements. At that time, it was noted the church has parking agreements with several nearby businesses that use the church parking lot. Roser trustee Dave Cheshire told the commission those parking agreements are based on donations from each business rather than a specific fee sought by the church.

Commission approves Chiles Group’s paid parking
Several nearby businesses have parking agreements that allow them to use the Roser Memorial Community Church parking lot. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

“I was told by one of your trustees just a few months ago that you were not offering paid parking, that you were taking donations. If you’re offering paid parking that’s a change of use,” Murphy told Devine.

“No, it’s a grandfathered, legal, non-conforming situation,” Devine responded. “We are grandfathered in and it becomes a taking if you deny it. We have the same rights. I believe Chiles has every right to rent his parking spots and I feel the church has no problem with that as well.”

“Dave Cheshire came here and said it was not operating a paid parking lot, and he’s a representative of the church,” Murphy replied. “I specifically asked him if Roser is offering paid parking and the answer was ‘no we are not.’ There’s nothing grandfathered.”

Commission approves Chiles Group’s paid parking
Thursday’s discussion prompted additional debate about paid parking at the Roser Church.

Minor said city staff is not aware of the Roser parking lot being used for paid parking. He said the church has to first meet its own parking requirements but would have the same right to use its excess parking spaces for paid parking.

Chiles Group hosts Christmas party for underprivileged kids

Chiles Group hosts Christmas for Kids

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

ANNA MARIA – The Chiles Group’s 26th Annual Lawton Chiles Christmas for Kids Party brought holiday joy to 60 youngsters, many of whom were making their first visit to Anna Maria Island.

The annual Christmas celebration took place in and around the Sandbar Restaurant’s outdoor pavilion on Dec. 15 from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.

The children and parents invited to this year’s party are affiliated with RCMA Palmetto and Step Up Suncoast’s Head Start and Early Head Start programs. The children enjoyed two bounce houses that were set up on the beach, and some simply enjoyed playing in the beach sand. The festivities included face painting, craft making, photo ops with volunteers and staff members dressed as cartoon characters, Christmas music played by event DJ Chuck Caudill and a buffet lunch of chicken tenders, French fries, macaroni and cheese, salad, fruit and lemonade – and for the adults, the option of an additional vodka pasta dish also prepared by the Sandbar’s kitchen staff.

After lunch, Santa arrived in a red, 1930s-era Ford Model A replica car that has long belonged to the family of Island Photography’s Dara Caudill, who photographed the event for the Chiles Group.

The party concluded with the youngsters being called up one by one to receive a gift bag from Santa and his helpers. Containing a new clothing outfit, a pair of shoes and a toy to open on Christmas, each gift bag was tailored specifically for that child.

Donations from the community helped fund the annual children’s party that honors Sandbar owner Ed Chiles’ late father, Lawton Chiles, who served as Florida’s governor from 1991-98, and his late mother, Rhea Chiles.

Spreading holiday joy

As the party got underway, Ed Chiles said, “It’s the Christmas season. It’s a time of year when you want to reach out and help folks and appreciate your community. It’s a wonderful tradition for our staff members who volunteer their time, including shopping for and wrapping the presents. Thanks to every single one of the staff members and volunteers that helped make this happen. It’s always been about reaching out to the community and helping the kids. And personally, this always gets me in the Christmas spirit.”

Chile’s wife, Tina Chiles, said, “It’s a wonderful celebration this time of year with very special families we look forward to hosting. It helps us remember the true meaning of Christmas.”

The children awaited their turn to visit with Santa. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

The children awaited their turn to visit with Santa. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

Santa arrived in a replica of the 1930s-era Ford Model A. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

Santa arrived in a replica of the 1930s-era Ford Model A. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

The party activities included face painting. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

The party activities included face painting. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

The Christmas party included a buffet lunch prepared and served by the Sandbar staff. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

The Christmas party included a buffet lunch prepared and served by the Sandbar staff. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

Santa and his helpers brought joy to the youngsters and received joy in return. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

Santa and his helpers brought joy to the youngsters and received joy in return. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

Children, parents and staff members from Step Up Suncoast’s Head Start and early Head Start programs enjoyed some beach time near the bounce houses. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

Children, parents and staff members from Step Up Suncoast’s Head Start and early Head Start programs enjoyed some beach time near the bounce houses. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

The staff and youngsters from RCMA Palmetto enjoyed the party. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

The staff and youngsters from RCMA Palmetto enjoyed the party. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

A gopher tortoise crashed the Christmas party. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

A gopher tortoise crashed the Christmas party. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

This young lady had fun in the bounce house. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

This young lady had fun in the bounce house. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

Faith and Kelly Moore enjoyed the lunch provided by Ed Chiles and his staff. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

Faith and Kelly Moore enjoyed the lunch provided by Ed Chiles and his staff. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

As the event DJ, Chuck Caudill played Christmas songs and let the children know Santa was on his way. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

As the event DJ, Chuck Caudill played Christmas songs and let the children know Santa was on his way. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

Santa and his Chiles Group helpers distributed gift bags to each child. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

Santa and his Chiles Group helpers distributed gift bags to each child. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

Sandbar restaurant owner Ed Chiles warmed up Santa’s seat for him. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

Sandbar restaurant owner Ed Chiles warmed up Santa’s seat for him. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

Many members of the Chiles Group staff participated in the kids’ Christmas party. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

Many members of the Chiles Group staff participated in the kids’ Christmas party. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

The children enthusiastically greeted Santa when he arrived at The Sandbar restaurant. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

The children enthusiastically greeted Santa when he arrived at The Sandbar restaurant. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

Josie Gracia is an early childhood specialist with RCMA Palmetto – the Manatee County affiliate of the Redlands Christian Migrant Association formed in southwest Florida in 1965.

“We’ve been doing this for a couple years now. The children and staff all look forward to this. It’s like a dream come true for most of the children. We serve low-income families and they don’t have the means to experience all this. For some, this is the first time they get to see the beach. It’s like a mini-Disney here for them, and the food is amazing. And to top it all off, they get to see Santa,” Gracia said.

Serving low-income families and the children and families of migrant workers, the RCMA Palmetto child development center serves 68 children of various ages, some of whom attended Wednesday’s party.

“It’s very holistic. We include child support services, family support services, health services, vision, hearing and developmental screenings. We have high school curriculum in place. We provide transportation for the families that live in more remote areas. The parent support program is very strong. We do training for the parents, parenting classes, support groups. It’s very comprehensive,” Gracia said.

“Those who are migrants face the challenge of leaving every year and going up north to work for part of the year and then coming back. There’s always this transition, going back and forth, and it’s really hard traveling and leaving people behind. And for the parents, agricultural work is hard work, and we’ve been losing agricultural fields, so some of the families have to travel to remote areas to work and then come back every day. There’s also all the other risks involved with this kind of work. They’re exposed to chemicals and pesticides and they earn low wages. It’s not very pleasant, but they’re hard-working and they’re appreciative of the opportunity to work,” Gracia said.

“Due to COVID, it’s been harder to get volunteers. It’s nice to have people come and hold the babies, spend time with the children and read them stories. Donations are always welcome and they don’t have to be brand new items. Sometimes we get gently used items and toys. We have ladies from a community group that bring blankets that they make. There’s many different ways to support the programs.”

To assist RCMA, please call 941-723-4563.

Step Up Suncoast’s Head Start and Early Head Start programs provide early childhood education and family engagement services focused on closing the achievement gap for children throughout Manatee County.

“Step Up Suncoast provides Head Start and early Head Start programs for Manatee County –from 8 weeks old into kindergarten,” said Jill Gass, Step Up Suncoast’s director of philanthropy.

Regarding the party, Gass said, “It’s a wonderful event that brings a lot of smiles to the organization and families who have been struggling more than ever in the past couple years. We appreciate more than ever the support the Chiles Group provides to us every year. We’re excited that they’re able to bring it back.”

Last year’s party was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This gives the families the opportunities to come do something they wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity to do. We have a lot of kids that have never been to the beach. They just don’t come out here. It’s a nice opportunity to have fellowship with other friends and family engagement between the different families. The kids know each other, but the parents maybe don’t. It’s another opportunity of engagement for them,” Gass said.

Chiles Group hosting annual kids’ Christmas party

Chiles Group hosting annual kids Christmas party

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

ANNA MARIA – The Chiles Group will host the 26th Annual Lawton Chiles Christmas for Kids Party on Wednesday, Dec. 15 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Sandbar restaurant.

Last year’s event was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The annual celebration honors restaurant owner Ed Chiles’ late father, Lawton Chiles, who served as Florida’s governor from 1991-98, and as a U.S. Senator representing Florida from 1971-89. It also honors Ed Chiles’ late mother, Rhea Chiles.

Chiles Group hosting annual kids’ Christmas party
Lawton Chiles served as a U.S. Senator before serving as the Florida governor. – Wikipedia | Submitted

“The Christmas party was very close to the hearts of the event’s namesake, former Governor Lawton Chiles and his wife, Rhea,” according to a press release issued by the Chiles Group. “Their legacy lives on, inspiring employees across all The Chiles Group entities. Staff is involved in the planning and execution of the day, as well as shopping for and wrapping the gifts.”

The theme for Wednesday’s Christmas party is “A Candyland Christmas.” Sixty children from the RCMA non-profit childcare organization in Palmetto and the Bradenton branch of the Head Start Early Rise and Shine program have been invited to attend the holiday event.

Wednesday’s festivities will include bounce houses, face painting, gingerbread man ornament-making and other kids’ crafts.

Chiles Group hosting annual kids’ Christmas party
This year’s event will again include face painting. – Island Photography/Dara Caudill | Submitted

The invited children will meet Santa Claus and Santa will send each child home with a new outfit of clothing, a pair of shoes and a toy to open on Christmas morning. The meet and greet characters will also include Woody (from Toy Story), Elmo, SpongeBob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer.

Chiles Group hosting annual kids’ Christmas party
Each invited child will receive a gift bag that includes new clothes and shoes. – Island Photography/Dara Caudill | Submitted

The children will also be treated to lunch catered by The Sandbar.

“The happy faces of the kids when they see the decorations and characters is priceless. It’s the most beautiful thing and really humbles you,” Chiles Group Retail Manager Marilyn Ortiz stated in the press release.

Chiles Group hosting annual kids’ Christmas party
Kids of all ages enjoy the visiting cartoon characters. – Island Photography/Dara Caudill | Submitted

The annual party also serves as a fundraiser that this year will benefit RCMA and the Head Start Early Rise and Shine program.

“The Chiles Group thanks those who have generously given in the past and to those who have done so this year. Those who donate to this year’s event are invited to come by for lunch and see the joy on the children’s faces for themselves. The Chiles Group is still accepting financial contributions to assist with these charitable efforts that bring hap­piness to children and families in need,” the press release states.

Contributions can be made by sending a check payable to Dine on Pine Inc. and mailed to Dine on Pine Inc., P.O. Box 1478, Anna Maria, FL 34216. Please include a note that states the donation is for the Lawton Chiles Christmas for Kids Party.

Chiles Group commissions turtle-themed mural

Chiles Group commissions turtle-themed mural

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

ANNA MARIA – Featuring an image of a giant sea turtle, a new seascape-themed mural now graces an exterior wall of the old post office plaza in Anna Maria.

Located near the intersection of Gulf Drive and Spring Avenue, the mural, painted by Lakeland-based studio and mural artist Gillian Fazio, covers the rear walls of the plaza spaces leased to Anna Maria Rocks and Anna Maria Life vacation rentals.

Replacing a previous shark-themed mural, the new mural features a giant sea turtle in a seascape that includes coral reefs, tropical fish, starfish, a giant clam and the hull of a small boat that represents the human presence on local waters.

Chiles Group commissions turtle-themed mural
The Chiles Group mural is located at the corner of Spring Avenue and Gulf Drive. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Ed Chiles owns the plaza, located just a short walk from the Chiles Group-owned Sandbar restaurant at the end of Spring Avenue. The Chiles Group commissioned the mural after Chiles made his team aware of Fazio’s talents.

“My daughter, Christin Masters, introduced me to her work. I saw the murals she was doing over in Lakeland and Polk County and I was like, ‘Wow, I would love to have one of those someday.’ I sent that on to our people, but I was actually surprised when I found out we were having one done. I saw the mockup and I was really impressed. It’s a nice addition to the Island,” Chiles said.

Fazio started painting the mural on Tuesday, Oct. 25 and finished it late in the day on Thursday, Nov. 4.

“The Chiles Group happened to be the perfect client and collaborator to work on this with. I was talking to Ed Chiles’ daughter, Christin, and she asked why the Chiles Group didn’t have any of my artwork,” Fazio said as she completed the mural Thursday afternoon.

“It’s inspired by healthy waters, the surroundings here and the Chiles Group’s marine reclamation projects. We also wanted to highlight our sea life and the beautiful sunsets the Sandbar is famous for,” Fazio said.

“I designed everything on Photoshop and then we went back and forth with the Chiles Group and made small adjustments until everybody loved what we ended up with,” she explained.

Using Sherman Williams resilience level paint made to withstand the sun, heat and other elements, Fazio first used a sprayer to paint the bottom half of the wall blue and the top half orange.

“I started with the base colors and slowly added in more details,” she said, noting that she sketched the male turtle on the wall before painting it.

Chiles Group commissions turtle-themed mural
Michigan residents Josie and Daphne Schneider joined the artist for a photo-op. – Joe Hendricks

Before putting some final touches on the turtle’s gullet Thursday afternoon, Fazio signed the bottom left-hand corner of the mural, signifying the project was essentially finished. While adding those final strokes to the turtle’s gullet, two young visitors from Holly, Michigan – Josie and Daphne Schneider – stopped to admire her work as they passed by.

Chiles Group commissions turtle-themed mural
Gillian Fazio finished the mural Thursday afternoon, before Friday’s rainy weather arrived. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Fazio shared her thoughts on the attraction of murals.

“They’re bright and beautiful and not just a plain old wall. I love murals because they bring communities together and give everybody a sense of ownership of their mural wall. When people come to Anna Maria you can bring them to this wall. It becomes a thing to do as well as something nice to look at. The hope is that this new mural becomes a popular photo opportunity for visitors and we’ll come up with a name for the turtle soon,” she said.

Fazio has worked as a professional muralist since graduating from the University of Florida in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in fine art. Some of her past work was commissioned by local businesses and government agencies in and around Lakeland and Lake Wales.

“I’m from Lakeland and most of my work is in Lakeland, Tampa and the surrounding areas of Central Florida. I have some massive walls over there that are inspired by the citrus industry. Some of them are two stories high and a hundred feet long. This one is 10 feet tall and 63 feet long. I also do smaller murals and selfie walls that provide photo ops for businesses,” she said.

Chiles Group commissions turtle-themed mural
Gillian Fazio painted the mural for the Chiles Group and plaza owner Ed Chiles. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

The Chiles Group mural is her first on Anna Maria Island but she has family ties to the city and the Island and hopes to do more work here.

“My grandparents had a place on White Avenue before they passed away. A lot of people from Lakeland come to Anna Maria. I’m happy to be here and I hope to be back soon,” she said.

Fazio will paint her next mural for an appliance showroom in Lakeland.

“They want an engagement wall for their office,” she said.

Fazio’s work can be viewed on Instagram and at www.gfazioart.com. She can be contacted by email at gfazioart@gmail.com.

Clams restored in Sarasota Bay

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Environment, Featured, Outdoors.

BRADENTON BEACH – Seventy bushels of hard-shelled (Mercenaria mercenaria) quahog clams were delivered and dispersed near the historic Bradenton Beach Pier today.

The Bradenton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) spent approximately $36,000 to purchase 200,000 clams as the initial phase of its ongoing efforts to create a living shoreline project along and near the historic pier.

The CRA authorized CRA member and local restaurant owner Ed Chiles to head up this portion of the living shoreline project that may also one day include finger docks, reef balls, educational kiosks and more. Clams are an important component of the living shoreline project because they naturally filter out waterborne pollutants and Karenia brevis, the red tide organism. Clams also promote seagrass growth.

Chiles turned to Chiles Group Chief Operating Officer Robert Baugh to help lead the efforts. Using the Chiles Group truck, Baugh and his son, Elijah, drove down to Pine Island this morning to retrieve the clams raised by clam farmer Carter Davis. The Baughs delivered the clams to the South Coquina Boat Ramp about 1 p.m.

Aaron Welch III, from Two Docks Shellfish, was among the local clam farmers who helped transport the clams by boat to the designated release areas near the pier, assisted by volunteers from the Sarasota Bay Watch organization. Sarasota Bay Watch acting Past President Larry Stults helped coordinate the volunteer efforts.

Chiles was on hand Saturday, as was Charlie Hunsicker, director of Manatee County’s Parks and Natural Resources Department, and Bradenton Beach Mayor and CRA member John Chappie.

“Being out there on the boat and watching the clams spiral down into the water column was so cool,” Chiles said.

The clams delivered today make up just a portion of the total number of clams to be dispersed near the pier. Baugh said another delivery is scheduled for Saturday, March 9 and will be followed by as many additional Saturday shipments as needed. Chiles guessed it might take six trips to complete those efforts.

Big clams

Chiles said the clams purchased for the CRA project are much larger than the clams typically used for clam restoration projects. He also said the harvesting of clams is regulated and harvesting restrictions are enacted during red tide outbreaks in order to keep the clams in the water where they naturally filter out the red tide and other pollutants.

“It’s been worse down there and his clams get too big,” Chiles said of Davis’ clams.

“The market is for consumption clams – middlenecks, littlenecks, topnecks. Once they get too big and too heavy, they lose a lot of value. These clams have grown during that time of the forced harvesting closure and he hasn’t been able to get them off the bottom. He hasn’t been able to sell them because they’re too big. Those big fat, heavy, hard, mature clams are too heavy to be valuable to restaurants. You don’t sit around and eat a bowl full of large quahogs – you chop them up and put them in stuffed clams. But that calcium-carbon shelled, big, heavy, predator-proof clam, brood stock quahog clam will live another 33 years and produce multiple spawns a year with millions of larvae,” Chiles said.

Davis told Chiles that each of the large clams delivered to Bradenton Beach will filter approximately 20 gallons of water per day, compared to five gallons per day for a littleneck clam.

Chiles said he first became interested in clam restoration about a dozen years ago after reading a newspaper story about Curt Hemmel, the founder of the Bay Shellfish Co. bivalve hatchery in Terra Ceia. In 2015, Hemmel, Chiles and others formed the Gulf Shellfish Institute to help promote the use of best practices for aquaculture projects throughout Florida and the Gulf region.

The Chiles Group truck brought 22,000 clams to the Coquina South Boat ramp today to plant them in Sarasota Bay. - Cindy Lane | Sun

The Chiles Group truck brought 22,000 clams to the Coquina South Boat ramp today to plant them in Sarasota Bay. - Cindy Lane | Sun

Clams are offloaded from the Chiles Group truck on their way to Sarasota Bay. - Cindy Lane | Sun

Clams are offloaded from the Chiles Group truck on their way to Sarasota Bay. - Cindy Lane | Sun

Ed Chiles, John Chappie and Larry Stults helps carry clams to the Coquina South boat ramp today to plant them in Sarasota Bay. - Cindy Lane | Sun

Ed Chiles, John Chappie and Larry Stults helps carry clams to the Coquina South boat ramp today to plant them in Sarasota Bay. - Cindy Lane | Sun

Charlie Hunsicker, director of the Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources Department, hauls clams to the boat at the Coquina South boat ramp. - Cindy Lane | Sun

Charlie Hunsicker, director of the Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources Department, hauls clams to the boat at the Coquina South boat ramp. - Cindy Lane | Sun

Aaron Welch of Two Docks Shellfish gets ready to launch. - Cindy Lane | Sun

Aaron Welch of Two Docks Shellfish gets ready to launch. - Cindy Lane | Sun

Charlie Hunsicker, director of the Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources Department, Bradenton Beach Mayor John Chappie and Aaron Welch of Two Docks Shellfish take the clams out into Sarasota Bay. - Cindy Lane | Sun

Charlie Hunsicker, director of the Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources Department, Bradenton Beach Mayor John Chappie and Aaron Welch of Two Docks Shellfish take the clams out into Sarasota Bay. - Cindy Lane | Sun

These clams found a new home in Sarasota Bay today. - Cindy Lane | Sun

These clams found a new home in Sarasota Bay today. - Cindy Lane | Sun

AM Chiles Christmas

Chiles Group bringing holiday joy to underprivileged kids

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

ANNA MARIA – The 24th annual Lawton Chiles Christmas for Kids Party will take place at the Sandbar restaurant in Anna Maria on Wednesday, Dec. 12.

Taking place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., the day will be filled with fun, laughter and good old-fashioned holiday cheer for local underprivileged children. And this year’s event coincides with the 20th anniversary of the passing of former Florida governor and Chiles family patriarch Lawton Chiles.

The Sandbar will host families from the Head Start Early Rise and Shine program in Bradenton and the RCMA non-profit child development center in Palmetto. Each child will receive an outfit of clothing, a pair of shoes, an age-appropriate toy and a Publix voucher for a turkey dinner with all the trimmings.

The event will be held in the Sandbar’s wedding pavilion and popular characters like Elmo, Woody, Sponge Bob and Dora will be stopping by. There will be a pirate ship-themed bounce house, face painting and a craft area where the kids will make their own ornaments. A healthy lunch will be served, and Santa Claus will of course pay a visit.

The Sandbar is still accepting cash donations to assist with these charitable efforts that bring joy to children and families in need. Contributions can be made by sending a check payable to the Sandbar Restaurant to P.O. Box 1478 Anna Maria, Fl. 34216. Please note on the check that it’s for the Kids Christmas Party.

The Chiles Group thanks those who have generously given in the past and to those who have done so this year. Those who donate to this year’s event are invited to stop by the restaurant Wednesday until 3 p.m. to enjoy a complimentary lunch entree and to see for themselves the joy on the children’s faces.

“Lawton and Rhea (Chiles) had a vision and a heart for children and thanks to you their legacy lives on,” says the support letter sent to potential donors.

For more information, please contact Ashley Chiles, at 941-713-8707 or email her at achiles@chilesgroup.com.

Manatee County logo

County funding shellfish to fight red tide

Written by Cindy Lane on . Posted in Environment, Outdoors.

BRADENTON – As red tide hit high levels last week in Anna Maria Island waters, Manatee County announced it is expanding a program that creates shellfish beds in local waters.

“Oysters and clams eat red tide for lunch and come back for a midnight snack,” said Charlie Hunsicker, director of the Manatee County Parks and Recreation Department.

Red tide is an abnormally high concentration of algae, called a bloom, that emits a neurotoxin that kills fish, marine mammals and birds and causes respiratory problems in people, especially those with asthma and COPD. Red tide is thought to be made worse by fertilizer runoff from land.

It arrived in the Gulf of Mexico off Anna Maria Island on Friday, Aug. 3, the northern edge of a bloom that has lasted 10 months in southwest Florida, and has closed restaurants and caused fish kills and cancellations at local accommodations.

Shellfish like clams and oysters filter the water they live in, Gulf Coast Oyster Recycling and Renewal Program Executive Manager and START CEO Sandy Gilbert said.

“One oyster can filter nine to 50 gallons of water every single day,” Gilbert said, adding that local clams “do eat red tide.”

START (Solutions To Avoid Red Tide) is working with Sarasota Bay Watch on its clam seeding program in both the Manatee and Sarasota County portions of Sarasota Bay, and with the Chiles Group of restaurants, whose employees collect oyster shells in bins and take them to Perico Preserve, where they are cured, then made into oyster habitat at Robinson Preserve.

“In one year, we have accumulated 26 tons of oyster shells that are not in the landfill,” Gilbert said.

START was formed after a massive red tide bloom in 1995 devastated the local economy, and is a partnership among the Chiles Group, University of Florida IFAS Program, Gulf Coast Shellfish Institute, Manatee County Parks and Recreation Department and Waste Pro, the newest partner that will enable more restaurants to participate in the program, Gilbert said.

The program is supported by funding from the RESTORE Act, created to mitigate the devastation from the 2010 BP oil spill.

Related Coverage

Executive order issued for red tide

Red tide bloom can affect your health

Turtles released despite red tide

Cleaning up the Sister Keys

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

Sarasota Bay Watch (SBW) conducted its annual Sister Keys Clean Up on Saturday, April 28. The event was hosted by the Chiles Group and held on the beach at the Mar Vista Dockside restaurant. On this beautiful morning, 80 volunteers organized by SBW Events Coordinator Ronda Ryan worked for four hours on the island and around the mangrove fringes collecting 1,300 pounds of trash and 80 recyclable items.

At the start of the event, I, as Sarasota Bay Watch Chairman Emeritus, gave the volunteers a brief history of the Sister Keys. The islands were originally slated for development in the early 60s and were once again threatened in 1989 when they went on sale for $1 million. That spurred a group of citizens to form the Sister Keys Conservancy in an attempt to buy and preserve the islands as a nature preserve.

After three years of lobbying, bake sales and two music in the park events, the group had only raised $50,000 towards the $1 million sale price. They then went to the town of Longboat Key, which needed additional open space for its comprehensive plan. The town consummated the sale in 1994, assuring the keys would not be developed.

The islands underwent a million-dollar mitigation in 2007 that removed all invasive species, planted native flora and created a two-acre wetland. In the last decade, 6-foot mangroves have grown from seeds recruited naturally from the waterways. The rest of the uplands have matured, making the islands one of the best examples of a thriving native marine environment in coastal Florida.

The cleanup would not have been possible without the support of The Chiles Group, Mar Vista and the town of Longboat Key. Longboat Key Manager Tom Harmer and his wife, Dee, attended and participated in the cleanup, and Longboat Key Marine Officer Nick Renno patrolled the Intracoastal Waterway to slow boaters.

There were many kayakers present and shore-bound volunteers were ferried to the island by local fishing guide Capt. Casey Lamb and village resident Mark McBride as well as SBW board members Al Jeffery, John Ryan and Steve Martin. Larry Beggs with Reef Innovations brought a barge where volunteers could offload their trash.

Back at the Mar Vista, volunteers created a human chain to load the debris into a truck provided by the town of Longboat Key. One of the people pivotal to the event’s success, James Linkogle, wasn’t able to attend. Linkogle and public works employees cleared and marked trails in the days leading up to the cleanup. Linkogle is projects manager for the Longboat Key Public Works Department.

Volunteers found a wide range of debris including a bed frame, boat cushions, umbrellas, life vests, a boat hull, a tackle box, multiple buckets, crab pots, fishing poles and buoys. All plastics and cans were collected in separate green bags and recycled.

At 11:30 a.m., everyone headed back to the Mar Vista where they were treated to a complimentary lunch of hamburgers, chicken sandwiches, Caesar salad and all the trimmings. Before everyone left, SBW Co-President Larry Stults explained the mission of Sarasota Bay Watch, the motto of which is “A Healthy Bay Is Everybody’s Business.”

SBW has been conducting a scallop restoration project for many years and this year will be releasing 200,000 Southern hard-shell clams into bay waters. The clams are being raised by a clam farmer in Pine Island Sound and will, hopefully, kick-start the return of clams, which have been disappearing from bay waters.

At the end of the day, volunteers expressed their enthusiasm for a day of camaraderie, good deeds and a new appreciation for the importance of working to create a healthy bay.

Chiles Earth Day

Culinary Celebration to help build oyster reefs

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Environment, Outdoors.

ANNA MARIA – Tickets are now on sale for the START (Solutions to Avoid Red Tide) Culinary Celebration at The Studio at Gulf and Pine in Anna Maria on Sunday, April 22.

The public is invited to attend the culinary celebration taking place from 5-7 p.m. at 10101 Gulf Dr.

Attendees can mix and mingle while sampling culinary creations and tropical libations created by chefs and staff from The Sandbar, BeachHouse and Mar Vista restaurants. Local art will serve as the backdrop, and there will be plenty of free parking.

Tickets are $30 each and can be purchased online or by phone at 941-713-3105. There will be a special door prize and the opportunity to bid on silent auction items that include Anna Maria Island products, gourmet meals and vacation opportunities.

The Earth Day event will help support the local Gulf Coast Oyster Recycling and Renewal (GCORR) program taking place in Manatee County’s coastal waters. Oyster shells from local area restaurants are recycled and turned into new oyster reefs.

“Since more than 90 percent of the oyster beds in our area have been destroyed, START and its partners are working on this important project to build new reefs to restore our coastal waters,” according to the Chiles Group press release.

“The idea is to keep used oyster shells out of landfills and use them instead as the hard bottom base needed to grow new oyster reefs. This reduces the shells going to landfills and the need to dig up fossil shells as a base for new oyster reefs.

“In the first year of the program, we recycled 20 tons of used oyster shells. Because GCORR began as a one-year pilot program, START is now raising additional funding to support the program through 2018 and beyond.”

Restaurant employees remove used oyster shells from the tables, store them in bins and transport them to Perico Preserve. The Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources Department stores the shells and enlists local volunteers to bag and affix the shells to mats for planting in the designated reef area.

The Sun is the media sponsor of the event. For more information on START, contact Colleen at 941-951-3400 or colleen@start1.org.

Ed Chiles

Chiles has high hopes for expanding business

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Business, Restaurants | Bars.

The Chiles Restaurant Group, which owns and operates the BeachHouse restaurant in Bradenton Beach, the Sandbar in Anna Maria and Mar Vista in Longboat Key, is venturing into medical marijuana.
“My partner and I, Ted LaRoche, purchased a share in 3 Boys Farm in Ruskin in 2013,” CEO Ed Chiles said. “They were the first hydroponic grower in the country certified by the USDA. I was interested in it for the restaurants. They were growing beautiful lettuces, tomatoes, fruits and all kinds of things I could use, just like we did with Gamble Creek Farm. That’s where I was coming from. When the first medical marijuana rule came down it was very specific, and there were only 40 or 50 people in the state that met that barrier, so it became something we had to look at. You had to have 30 years of continued ownership and you had to be growing 400,000 plants a year. 3 Boys Farm was ideally suited, so we decided to make an application and we were ultimately successful.”
Chiles said he is a minority partner and he does not expect to play an active role in the growing and distribution operations.
When asked why he supports medicinal marijuana, Chiles said, “I think there are a tremendous amount of people in Florida that want access to its medicinal qualities. People want access to a plant that doesn’t have side effects like a lot of the other medicines do. Seventy-one percent of the people voted for it and there are a lot of people that want to try this to see if it helps.
“I realize people have different opinions on this, but this is about compassionate care. People deserve access. It’s long overdue and 29 states have done it. We need to do it, understand it and see what it helps with. I believe in what we’re doing,” he said.
“It certainly would have helped my mother Rhea in the last three months of her life. I firmly believe that. She was in a lot of pain. At the time, I wished she would have had access to it to see if it helped with her appetite, her pain and getting her mind off things,” he added.
Distribution
When it comes to distribution and dispensaries, Chiles and his partners are still waiting on the state to put in place the regulations that will govern this expanding industry.
Last week Gov. Rick Scott signed a bill into law that prohibits patients from smoking medical marijuana, but it allows for consumption using a vaporizer, which is basically the same thing. Orlando attorney and medical marijuana advocate John Morgan has already announced plans to challenge that aspect of the new law.
Chiles said there are currently eight or nine certified growers in the state and seven or eight more waiting in the wings. Once the new law takes effect, 3 Boys Farm plans to be growing within 30 days and harvesting in about four months.
Each licensed grower will be allowed up to 25 dispensaries statewide. All three Island cities have prohibited marijuana dispensaries, but Chiles is confident there will be at least a few in Manatee County operated by 3 Boys and/or their competitors.
In terms of economic development, Chiles said, “There’s going to be a billion-dollars-plus industry grow up around this and that’s going to create a lot of jobs. There will be people doing the growing, the dispensing, the distribution and providing security. Tomatoes are a $400 million industry in Florida and this is going to be three times that pretty quickly,” he said.