Tag: Cortez

State seeks contempt ruling in net camp case

Written by Leslie Lake on April 15, 2024. Posted in Community News, Cortez, Featured.

CORTEZ – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) is continuing to tenaciously pursue the enforcement of a 2019 judgment against Raymond “Junior” Guthrie to remove his net camp off the coast of Cortez in Sarasota Bay.

According to the judgment, the state of Florida owns the submerged land under the net camp.

In a March 28 filing in the 12th Judicial Circuit Court, FDEP Assistant General Counsel Cameron Polomski asked the court to find Guthrie in civil contempt of the court order and impose sanctions that could include incarceration.

Guthrie had a deadline of March 5 to either remove the structure or show cause why the final judgment ordering its removal should not be enforced. According to court records, he has not done so.

Polomski asked the court in his motion to “impose appropriate sanctions including, but not limited to the incarceration in the county jail for no more than six months or until defendant purges the contempt by completing the removal of the structure or any other remedy this court deems just and appropriate.”

The attorney also wrote that a site inspection was conducted by FDEP on March 15 and “At the time of the inspection the structure was still present, no effort to remove the structure was apparent.”

A court hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, May 1.

Long before monofilament nets made cotton fishing nets obsolete, historical photos show dozens of wooden net camps dotting the waters off Cortez. Cortez commercial fishermen used net camps – structures built on pilings in the water – to mend, clean, store and dry cotton fishing nets.

Guthrie’s net camp, built in 2017, is one of two such structures off Cortez.

The civil suit against Guthrie began on Feb. 6, 2018 when the FDEP claimed that Guthrie had constructed an unauthorized enclosed docking structure on sovereign submerged lands in Sarasota Bay, and asked for its removal.

Guthrie maintained that his family previously had a net camp in that spot and the structure was protected under the 1921 Butler Act, which awards title of submerged lands to adjacent waterfront property owners who made permanent improvements on the submerged lands.

On May 4, 2023, 12th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Edward Nicholas signed an order dismissing the case due to failure to prosecute, but on Nov. 2 it was reopened at the request of FDEP, which claimed it had not been given proper notice.

The second net camp in Cortez, known as the Curt Johns net camp, is owned by John Guthrie. It is scheduled for refurbishment by the non-profit Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage (FISH) and is part of Organized Fishermen of Florida’s April 20 coastal clean-up initiative.

State pursues net camp demolition

Written by Leslie Lake on March 19, 2024. Posted in Anna Maria Island, Community News, Cortez.

CORTEZ – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) is proceeding to have Raymond “Junior” Guthrie remove his net camp from Sarasota Bay just off the Cortez commercial fishing docks.

“This case is still in the post-judgment phase to compel compliance with the court’s final judgment, which ordered Mr. Guthrie to remove the unauthorized structure,” FDEP spokesperson Brian Humphreys wrote in a March 14 email to The Sun. “In November, Mr. Guthrie was ordered by the court to show cause by March 5, 2024, as to why this final judgment should not be enforced and why sanctions should not apply. “

Humphreys said the deadline has passed and there has been no response from Guthrie, and FDEP is evaluating its next steps.

“As this process is ongoing, we are limited in our ability to comment further,” Humphreys wrote.

The civil suit against Guthrie was filed by FDEP on Feb. 6, 2018 in the 12th Judicial Circuit Court when the agency claimed that Guthrie had constructed an unauthorized enclosed docking structure on sovereign submerged lands in Sarasota Bay, and ordered its removal.

A judgment was granted in favor of the FDEP on Feb. 25, 2019, and Guthrie was ordered to remove the structure.

Bunny & Pirates Bazaar to close soon

Written by Leslie Lake on March 18, 2024. Posted in Business, Retail.

CORTEZ – The closing of Bunny & Pirates Bazaar is imminent, but not by the choice of owners Elizabeth Shore and Jeffrey O’Connell.

The news of the closing was announced by the two business owners on Facebook on March 16, two days after a notice to vacate was posted on the outer door of the bar and music venue.

“Dearest Friends – It is with heavy yet hopeful hearts we announce that Bunny & Pirates is closing. We decided last year it was time to move on and also to find someone with a passion for music and community to pick up where we left off,” the post read. “Unfortunately, we were not given the opportunity to sell our soulful creation and beloved brand – instead we have been aggressively and cruelly pushed out on short notice without options in the middle of season.”

The building at 12404 Cortez Road W. is owned by Jewfish Landings LLC with developer Shawn Kaleta as manager.

Shore told The Sun by telephone on March 17 that they had been considering selling the business and had spoken to the owner of the property about it but communications suddenly stopped during lease negotiations.

“I feel so naïve because I thought we would be able to work this out,” Shore said.

“We worked so hard to build something special and I’m heartbroken,” Shore told The Sun. “The outpouring of love on social media is a testament to what we’ve built here in the last seven years.”

“We know this comes as much as a surprise to you as it does to us,” the Facebook post continued. “We never imagined not being given the opportunity to find a path forward in Cortez where our magical musical creative space would live on.”

Shore said the venue will continue to be open for a short time and did not have a specific date for its final closing.

“We still have a few shows planned, so there’s a little time,” she said. “We will be having a going away party, but I don’t have a date yet.”

More than 180 comments were posted on Facebook in support of Shore and O’Connell and the uniqueness of the space which consisted of a pub and wine bar, a deli and market and live music in the beer garden out back.

Gord Hunter wrote: “Very sorry to hear this. Our band Northern Exposure has a ton of fond memories playing there. And the open mic helped us build to where we are today. Heartfelt thanks to you both and best wishes.”

“Breaks our hearts as y’all truly represent the Cortezian spirit,” wrote Mick Green.

“You guys were our hidden gem! Bringing unique music to the area that was so different from everywhere else around here! The beer garden was secluded, quaint and personable,” Sharon Chandler wrote.

“We’re losing a lot of old Florida,” Shore said. “The comfortable atmosphere here is what people loved.”

An email request for comment to Bradenton-based Attorney George Najmy, the registered agent for Jewfish Landings LLC, was not responded to by press time.

FISH board votes to restore net camp

Written by Leslie Lake on March 12, 2024. Posted in Community News, Cortez.

CORTEZ – Known as the Curt Johns net camp, the historic structure off the coast of the fishing village has fallen into disrepair and the Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage (FISH) board voted at its March 4 meeting to begin restoration.

FISH board member Nathan Meschelle brought up the topic of the net camp at the meeting.

“I’d like people’s opinion of the giant polka-dotted elephant in Cortez that nobody wants to talk about a whole lot. It is the net camp. I feel like it’s very iconic for Cortez,” Meschelle said. “It’s embarrassing looking like that. For me as a fisherman in Cortez, I try to keep my boats well-maintained because I take pride in what I do. This is my home and when people come visit that’s what they see and that’s what they think of us.”

The building had been refurbished by FISH and has been occupied by an unnamed person for several years. Currently, the building has a hole in the roof and there are boats moored next to the building.

“My question is, who owns it?” Meschelle asked. “We need to find out who has ownership.”

“Curt Johns built that around World War II vintage. There are no existing documents from Curt Johns,” Alan Garner said. “It’s clearly FISH’s, because FISH essentially paid for the labor and the materials to have it restored.”

“We refurbished it because we realized we needed to do that before it fell down,” Garner said.

“It’s falling apart now,” Meschelle said. “We need to find out who has ownership.”

“Here’s the one thing that I would say,” FISH President Kim McVey said. “That thing would not be here for him to move into if FISH had not rebuilt it.”

“So, it’s FISH’s?” Meschelle asked.

“That’s how I look at it,” McVey said.

Net camps were wooden structures used by fishermen to hang hemp and cotton fishing nets to dry.

According to historic photographs, there were once dozens of net camps on the bay off Cortez. The Curt Johns net camp is one of only two off the village’s shores and is next to the recently rebuilt Guthrie net camp.

Noting that the net camp is a historical artifact in need of restoration, Meschelle made the motion “to trespass the present occupant of the net camp to begin a restoration project of the historic Curt Johns net camp.”

The motion was approved by the board.

Cortez firehouse under renovation

Written by Leslie Lake on February 27, 2024. Posted in Community News, Cortez.

CORTEZ – The old volunteer firehouse in Cortez is getting a facelift.

Built in 1950, the building at 4523 123rd St. Court W. served as a volunteer fire department in Cortez for many years. In 1997, the West Manatee Fire District deeded the property to the non-profit Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage (FISH).

While the building sat relatively dormant for a period of time and has been used for storage and as a voting precinct, FISH is now undertaking its renovation to bring it back as a gathering place for the community.

Longtime Cortez residents remember the building not only as a firehouse, but as the site of community fish fries.

“I can remember the fish fries there back in the 80s,” Cortez resident Pat Potts said.

A one-man construction crew, volunteer Bob Hooper, has spent several hours just about every day for the past four months getting the building ready for its return to the historic fish fries and social gatherings of years past.

“I’ve painted the walls, put in a new back door, we’re putting in a stainless steel countertop and a new sink and garbage disposal to go in here,” Hooper said. “All these filters are brand new. On the roof there’s a new fan. That’s all brand new.”

“This place has been sitting here vacant for quite a few years,” Hooper said. “Most of the work is prepping, you’ve got to clean the walls and mop them and get all the dirt and dust off. The floors had tile, so I took the tile off and got a grinder to grind all the glue off. I’ll repaint the concrete floors.”

The centerpiece of the kitchen, a 10-burner gas stove that Hooper estimates has been there for more than 40 years, is being cleaned up and refurbished.

“We had it tested last week, the oven on one side doesn’t work, it needs a thermostat which we’re getting,” he said. “This deep fryer is shot so we have to get a new one.”

Hooper is waiting for cabinet delivery so he can put the kitchen sink in and said after that his work is pretty much done there.

Some of the plumbing lines had been replaced by a plumber who lives in the neighborhood, Hooper said.

“The lines were full of grease, I guess from the old fish fries,” he said. “That’s all dug up and ready to be replaced.”

The bathrooms have been updated with new toilets and new sink fixtures.

Hooper worked as a water treatment operator for 33 years and being handy comes naturally to him, but the work at the firehouse hasn’t been without its challenges.

“Within four months it’s flooded here twice, about 4-5 inches during the storm surges,” Hooper said. “This door is a hollow door and it got wet. I cut it in half and used the top half to make it a Dutch door.”

Hooper said the water heater was sitting on the floor when the water came in and it damaged the bottom.

“They got a new one and I raised it up off the floor,” Hooper said.

“We could use a simple fridge donated with a top freezer and lower refrigerator,” FISH board member Karen Bell said. “The last one got ruined in the flood.”

“All this will be taken out and will be empty with tables here for fish fries,” Hooper said of the main area of the building. I think they want to do two fish fries a week.”

Cortez founded on mullet

Written by Cindy Lane on February 20, 2024. Posted in Community News, Cortez.

CORTEZ – A visit by Dr. Angela Collins to the Cortez Cultural Center furthered the organization’s mission to “preserve the past and protect the future.”

The University of Florida Sea Grant marine extension agent told visitors last Thursday all about mullet, the reason Cortez was founded in the late 1880s, and still its most profitable crop.

Fisheries are part of Florida’s second-largest economic driver, agriculture, Collins told a group of about 25 visitors, many of them tourists, supporting the state’s largest industry.

Collins quizzed visitors about why mullet jump. It could be to rid themselves of parasites, or because they like it, people ventured. Scientifically, no answer has been discovered, but scientists have learned that when you see a fish jump in Florida, nine times out of 10, it’s a mullet, she said.

The fish can live to be 13 years old, are scavengers, and it’s tough to catch them with hook and line.

As a result, ancient tribes in Florida used gill nets to catch the fish, using coconuts as floats and shells to weigh them down, and herding them into dead-end canals to have fresh fish close at hand, Collins said.

Cuban fishermen traveled to Cortez to catch mullet, especially during Lent in February and March, when demand was particularly high since many Catholics eat fish on Fridays in Lent when other meat is forbidden.

In the late 1960s, the mullet fishery shifted more to roe – fish eggs – than the fish itself, due to the high prices it brought in foreign markets. Mullet became known as “Gulf of Mexico gold,” Collins said.

“Sailfish is the state fish of Florida,” she said. “It should be mullet.”

Gill nets continued to be used until 1995, when voters passed a state Constitutional Amendment banning them, believing mullet fishing was depleting mullet and other bycatch species caught in mullet nets. Mullet fishermen now rely on different types of smaller nets, she said.

Cortez is special, Collins said, with its status on the National Register of Historic Places, its 95-acre FISH Preserve on Sarasota Bay and some descendants of original settlers from Carteret County, North Carolina still living in the village.

As a working waterfront on very valuable Florida property, Collins said, “There is no place left like Cortez in Florida.”

Thousands flock to Cortez for FISH Festival

Thousands stream to Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival

Written by Jason Schaffer on February 19, 2024. Posted in Entertainment, Featured, Festivals.

CORTEZ – There was something “fishy” going on in Cortez on Saturday as thousands of people streamed to the 42nd Annual Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival. Although heavy rain forced the cancellation of Sunday festivities, Saturday was cool and rain-free, and the party was in full swing.

“It was really warm last year, but this is fantastic,” Janelle Applegate said. “We love this little fishing town, and come down for this every year from Clearwater. Cortez is as real as it gets. I can’t imagine there are too many places like this left in Florida; these people are real. They work hard, there can’t be anything easy about this way of life, but it seems like they wouldn’t have it any other way.”

For only $5, visitors had acres of the historic Cortez fishing village to roam and find plenty to excite all five senses. There was just about any kind of seafood and beverage to satisfy taste, arts and crafts for the eyes, smells of everything from crab traps to funnel cakes, the chance to touch live sea creatures in the “Dock Talks” area and the sounds of live music on the main stage that had the large crowd on their feet.

Awards were given at this year’s festival to people who have made an impact on the Cortez fishing community. The Pioneer of the Year Award was presented to Kaye Bell, and the First Annual John Stevely Memorial Award was given to Linda Molto as the person who best represents the values of FISH. The Volunteer of the Year Award went to Bob Hooper, and a special FISH Community Service Award was given to the Cortez Trailer Park in honor of their support for all of FISH’s endeavors and the large number of residents who volunteer for this event each year. Finally, Cortez fisherman Tommy Killoran was crowned the winner of the popular Fisherman’s Fashion Show which was judged by crowd applause on the main stage.

The huge festival is put together by a small group of people made up of members of the Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage (FISH) and some local residents who volunteer their time throughout the year to plan and execute the event. To handle the task of doing all the work, they rely heavily on volunteers who donate their time to do everything from selling tickets to working parking lots and picking up trash.

Proceeds from the Festival will be used to maintain and make improvements to the FISH Preserve, 98 acres of environmentally sensitive land immediately east of Cortez. The festival has been dubbed “a party with a purpose,” since the money will assure future generations will be able to not only fish but also educate others about the importance of commercial fishing and its importance to the coastal Florida way of life for so many that rely on these natural resources to both survive and thrive.

Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival to celebrate 42 years

Written by Leslie Lake on January 23, 2024. Posted in Entertainment, Festivals.

CORTEZ – The Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage (FISH) is gearing up for the 42nd Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival.

The first festival in 1981 drew just 500 people, but an average of 15,000 people are expected to come to the fishing village this year the weekend of Feb. 17-18 to enjoy live music, food, arts and crafts vendors and a celebration of commercial fishing.

This year’s theme, “Cortez Commercial Fishing, It’s A Way of Life,” reflects the importance of commercial fishing to the history and future of Cortez.

“FISH exists to support the commercial fishing industry in Cortez and throughout Florida. During the early years of the festival, the majority of the seafood we served was from the Cortez commercial fishing industry and we desire to return to our roots,” Carol Kio-Green instructed potential food vendors last year on the FISH website. “We are asking all vendors who serve seafood to indicate the source on their menu and make an effort to serve commercially wild-caught seafood from Florida. Our goal is that 25% of all seafood served at the festival will be from the Florida commercial industry.”

Proceeds from the festival are used to fund the FISH Preserve – 98 acres of undeveloped habitat bordering Sarasota Bay along the east side of the historic Cortez fishing village.

“Habitat restoration throughout the preserve is creating coastal habitat for the public to enjoy, complete with trails and educational signage,” according to the FISH website. “Grant money assists our efforts, but our most important partners are our members, neighbors, participants and volunteers. FISH has also purchased significant historic buildings within the village for preservation and community use.”

The festival is planned and run solely by volunteers, who incorporate an educational component into the festival.

The University of Florida and Florida Sea Grant have partnered with this event to present “Dock Talks” each day at the Fulford Fish House, to educate the public on local marine life and commercial fisheries. A touch tank in the Kids Zone gives children a close-up view of local marine life.

The festival also will feature arts and crafts and a photo contest gallery show at the A.P. Bell Fish Co. fish house.

A few slots are left for those who would like to volunteer at the festival. Sign up at https://fishcortez.org/get-involved/.

The festival will be held on 46th Avenue West at the end of 123rd Street West in Cortez.

Admission is $5, with kids under 12 free.

The Boy Scouts, in partnership with FISH, will offer on-site parking at the FISH Preserve, one block east of the village off Cortez Road, for a $5 donation. Golf cart transportation to the festival entrance at 123rd Street Court West will be provided.

Free MCAT bus service between Coquina Beach and G.T. Bray Park on 59th Street West in Bradenton to and from the festival will be available.

Off-site parking will be available at Cortez Road Baptist Church (between 99th and 100th Streets on Cortez Road) with free shuttles to and from the festival provided by The Monkey Bus.

Cortez Cultural Center showcases 140 years of history

Written by Leslie Lake on January 23, 2024. Posted in Entertainment, Museums.

CORTEZ – While the charming white cottage with blue shutters on Cortez Road may seem somewhat nondescript to passersby, in reality it is chock full of artifacts and photos depicting the roots of the Cortez fishing village’s 140-year history.

Open to the public on Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and also by appointment, the Cortez Cultural Center, 11655 Cortez Road W., showcases the history of Cortez, an active commercial fishing community and one of the last remaining fishing villages on the Gulf Coast.

The Cultural Center is home to the Cortez Village Historical Society (CVHS), which is celebrating its 40th year. It was started by a handful of Cortez residents who wanted to preserve local folklore and history.

“Our motto for the anniversary is: ‘CVHS: celebrating 40 years of serving and preserving Cortez,’ ” CVHS President Cindy Rodgers said.

Displays at the Cultural Center include photographs of the early settlers of Cortez, including fishermen and schoolchildren, as well as photos of early buildings, many of which are still standing. A hands-on children’s educational area is on the back porch and includes a scavenger hunt and a simulated boat wheel and controls.

For those interested in researching the genealogical history of the region, the museum has records available showcasing the original families of Cortez.

“Originally called Hunter’s Point, Cortez was settled in the 1880s by families such as the Guthries, Taylors and Fulfords. Many of their descendants still live in the village,” according to the Cortez Village Historical Society website.

Since the nearby Florida Maritime Museum is closed for renovations until the summer, the Cultural Center may have lost a source of visitor referrals.

“People may have no idea we’re here,” Rodgers said.

The Cultural Center is a short walk over a footbridge from the Florida Maritime Museum parking lot.

“We’re an educational organization that tells the story of the community,” Rodgers’ husband, Paul Dryfoos, said. “People find authenticity here. This is what the lives of the early residents were like, and people are engaged to know about them.”

Dryfoos noted there are three key pieces of Cortez deserving of preservation.

“There’s the sustaining of the habitat for seafood harvesting,” he said. “There’s the culture and history of Cortez – it’s on the National Register of Historic Places – and there are local commercial fishing businesses providing high quality locally-caught seafood.”

The Cultural Center building itself has a rich history.

“The building was built in the 1940s and was moved here from Anna Maria,” Dryfoos said. “A whole crew of volunteers came together to make it what it is now. That’s the fishing tradition, people working together.”

The cottage was transported over the Cortez Bridge in 2011 from 304 Church St. in Bradenton Beach. The city had intended to demolish the cottage until Anna Maria Island Sun reporter Cindy Lane notified Cortezians about the availability of the historic home.

“People love the building and they love the stories we tell them,” Rodgers said.

Changing tides

Written by Louise Bolger on January 23, 2024. Posted in Business, Castles in the Sand.

Every day I watch the tides change. Sometimes they’re low, sometimes they’re high, and every day is different. You could say almost the same thing about mortgage interest rates, but the tides for rates are starting to get lower.

Mortgage rates are ringing in the new year much lower than their near 8% peak this past fall. The 30-year fixed rate mortgage has decreased for multiple weeks with a slight uptick. However, the overall trajectory of mortgage interest rates in 2024 is expected to decrease according to the National Association of Realtors.

While mortgage interest rates ease there will be weekly shifts in the average rate, however, the National Association of Realtors is predicting that the 30-year fixed rate mortgage will average 6.3% in 2024. Between late October and mid-December 2023, the 30-year fixed rate mortgage decreased by more than a percentage point. In real money, the difference between a 6.62% rate and a 7.12% rate is $173 monthly on a $400,000 loan, enough of a difference for some buyers to qualify for a home or a better home. Lower mortgage rates are certainly welcome and will make news, but the problems of dealing with the challenges of low inventory and high home prices will not change quickly on a national basis and may continue to rise. Buyers are more optimistic but are still facing a lack of properties that are being held onto by owners with ultra-low mortgage rates.

End of year 2023 sales and December sales for Manatee County are both looking better than the national numbers. Let’s see what those statistics look like reported by the National Association of Realtors and the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee.

Nationally, sales of previously owned homes dropped to the lowest in 28 years, down 19%. Manatee County single-family sales were up 7.3% and sales of condos were down 0.8%. The single-family median selling price for Manatee County in 2023 was down 2.1%, but the median selling price for condos was up 5%.

The December sales compared to December 2022 nationally for previously owned homes fell 6.2%. Manatee County’s single-family closed home sales were up 13.6% from December 2022 and the median sale price was $499,900, down 1.4%. Condos closed 25.4% fewer in December 2023 compared to the previous year, and the median sale price was $350,000, up 1.6% from December 2022.

The month’s supply for both single-family and condos is up. Single-family homes have a 3.3-month supply of properties available and condos have a 4.6-month supply of properties available.

Our area continues to outpace the national market. Manatee County appears to be stabilizing with more inventory available and is pointing to a good upcoming sales season, however, what happens overall in the country can still affect Florida.

We’re all hoping for a good year since the tide of real estate has an overall effect on the economy. The number of properties sold impacts the furniture business, remodeling companies and the sale of everything from paint to lawnmowers. The jobs market is also closely tied to the real estate market, not only in retail but for real estate companies and their employees.

The owner of the first real estate company I worked for once said, “If you’re gone for a week, the entire real estate market is different when you return.” That is essentially true. Properties sell, others are listed and interest rates change. The ebb and flow dictate the marketplace and always will.

Boat operator cited for running illegal service

Written by Leslie Lake on January 16, 2024. Posted in Community News, Cortez.

CORTEZ – A U.S. Coast Guard Station Cortez law enforcement crew cited what they said was an illegal uninspected small passenger vessel-for-hire operating on Anna Maria Sound on Jan. 3.

According to a U.S. Coast Guard press release, the 22-foot boat was operating a ferry service to a short-term lodging sailboat with two people and three dogs as passengers. During the investigation, it was found that the unnamed operator was previously issued a Captain of the Port order in June 2023 for operating without a Coast Guard-issued captain’s license, a regulatory requirement.

“Short-term lodging vessels on the water are not illegal,” Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg Chief of Investigations Brian Knapp said. “If owners of short-term rentals provide transportation by way of a ferry service to and from the rental on the water, that is considered a passenger-for-hire operation, and the owner must be a credentialed mariner and follow the regulations for operating this type of service.”

“The crew was out on patrol and recognized the boat as one that had been stopped before,” Coast Guard spokesperson Nicole Groll said. “They boarded the boat and found that the operator was in violation. Because they were doing something they were told not to do, the boat was escorted back to shore.”

Groll declined to provide an incident report or identify the person who was cited.

“The case has been sent to the U.S. Attorney’s office and they will decide whether to pursue criminal charges,” Groll said. “Because they violated a Captain of the Port order, that is a federal offense.”

The boat was a 2008 22-foot Sea Hunt bow rider. The boat name was not visible in the Coast Guard release photo.

The operator of the boat was cited with the following violations:

• Violation of 46 CFR 15.605 for failing to have an uninspected passenger vessel under the command and control of a credentialed mariner;

• Violation of 46 CFR 16.201 for failure of the operator to be enrolled in a drug testing consortium;

• Violation of 33 CFR 160.105 for failure to comply with a Captain of the Port order.

“Anyone paying for a trip on a vessel should ask to see the merchant mariner credential of the boat operator to verify they are properly licensed by the Coast Guard to operate that vessel as the captain,” Knapp said. “If the captain can’t produce their license, don’t get on the boat.”

Groll said that a Coast Guard civil hearing will be scheduled to determine any potential fines.

Owners and operators of illegal charter vessels can face maximum civil penalties of over $60,000 for illegal passenger-for-hire operations. Charters that violate a Captain of the Port order can face a maximum penalty of $111,031. Some potential fines for illegally operating a charter vessel are:

• Up to $22,324 for failure to operate a passenger vessel without a merchant mariner credential;

• Up to $9,086 for failure of operators to be enrolled in a drug testing program;

• Up to $5,661 for failure to provide a Coast Guard Certificate of Inspection for vessels carrying more than six passengers;

• Up to $19,324 for failure to produce a valid Certificate of Documentation for vessels over 5 net tons.

Anyone suspecting a vessel of violating the law is asked to report the alleged violation to U.S. Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg at 727-502-8720.

Cortez Kitchen to reopen Jan. 14

Written by Leslie Lake on January 9, 2024. Posted in Business, Restaurants | Bars.

CORTEZ –The grand reopening of the Cortez Kitchen, 4528 119th St. W., is scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 14.

The newly-remodeled restaurant and bar is an upgraded version of its former self, featuring a new bar and seating, a state-of-the-art kitchen and TVs throughout, while still keeping the casual atmosphere that it had when John Banyas and Peter Barreda opened it in 1996.

“It was remodeled and beautifully upgraded, but with the same Florida charm that it always had,” said Adam Sears, general manager of Swordfish Grill and Tiki Bar, also owned by Banyas.

Banyas previously leased the Cortez Kitchen to Joe Oelker for 19 years. When Oelker retired last August, Banyas decided to take over the restaurant business.

“We’re all about serving up the freshest catches with that old Florida flavor. Our place is on the water, so you can enjoy your grub with a killer view,” according to the Cortez Kitchen website. “We love being part of the Cortez crew, so come hang with us and enjoy the flavors that everyone around here loves. Swing by the Cortez Kitchen for a laid-back dining experience where good eats are the main event.”

The menu features some new items along with some traditional Cortez Kitchen favorites.

“Two of the favorites are still on the menu,” Sears said. “We’ll have the royal red peel ‘n eat shrimp and the buffalo grouper.”

Other menu items include appetizers like smoked wings, Cortez Kitchen ceviche, fried okra and Atlantic lobster quesadilla. Entrées include a steamer pot with local crab, clams and shrimp, scallop risotto and braised short rib. A variety of sandwiches include softshell crab, lobster roll, Pete’s pressed Cuban and grouper or mahi. Seafood, short rib and chicken baskets round out the menu, along with salads and a kids menu.

Seating along the windows on the west side of the restaurant affords patrons a water view of Sarasota Bay.

“It’s nice that we’re able to reopen after nearly five months,” Sears said. “We’ve been working really hard to get this done.”

Sears said some of the employees of the restaurant when it closed in August will be back.

“There will be some old faces along with some new faces,” he said.

Live musical entertainment will be featured on weekends. Doug Deming and the Jewel Tones will play on Sunday, Jan. 14 from 4-7 p.m.

The music lineup and menu can be seen at www.cortezkitchenfl.com.

Shamrock Shiver raises funds for local charities

Written by Leslie Lake on January 5, 2024. Posted in Entertainment, Events.

BRADENTON BEACH – In a charitable kickoff to the new year, more than 100 people gathered at Cortez Beach and jumped into the Gulf of Mexico’s 61-degree waters on Jan. 1 at noon for the Shamrock Shiver Charity Plunge.

The event, sponsored by Clancy’s Irish Sports Pub & Grill, is in its 16th year and has raised more than $400,000 for local charities since its inception.

The fundraiser has grown over the years; in 2009, $14,000 was raised, while in 2023, more than $38,000 was brought in, with 100% of the proceeds donated to charity.

As noon approached, Clancy’s employee Danny Moore counted down – New Year’s Eve-style – before telling the crowd, many of them in costume, that it was time to make their splash into the water.

The participants rushed forward into the water, and given the especially chilly water temperatures, most ran out of the water just about as quickly as they went in.

Jim Madison has been participating in the plunge for the past five years.

“The water was really cold this year. It’s usually close to 80 degrees, but not this year,” Madison said. “Still, I’m happy to do it, it’s for a good cause.”

The proceeds from the Shamrock Shiver benefit non-profit organizations Feeding Empty Little Tummies, Healthy Teens Coalition of Manatee County Inc. and Take Stock in Children of Manatee County.

Following the plunge, fundraising festivities continued at Clancy’s on Cortez Road throughout the afternoon.

The Dr. Dave Band performed and more money was raised through raffle tickets, a silent auction and a live auction.

Participants in the 16th annual Clancy’s Irish Sports Pub & Grill’s Shamrock Shiver Charity Plunge on New Year’s Day run into 61-degree Gulf waters at Bradenton Beach to raise funds for local non-profits. - Leslie Lake | Sun

- Leslie Lake | Sun

Person of the Year: John Stevely a force for nature

Written by Leslie Lake on January 1, 2024. Posted in Community News, Cortez, Featured.

CORTEZ – Habitat preservation is thriving in Cortez due in large part to the commitment of the late John Stevely.

A founding member of the Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage (FISH) and an early advocate for the FISH Preserve, the Anna Maria Island Sun names Stevely as one of its two 2023 Persons of the Year.

“When we lost John, FISH and the village not only lost a long-time board member, but a good friend and an advocate for FISH, the preserve and the village,” FISH Treasurer Jane von Hahmann said. “He was a founding member of FISH and instrumental in the initial purchase of the preserve property.”

Stevely passed away on May 27, 2022 at the age of 72 while walking with his wife, Dr. Theresa Bert, at Robinson Preserve. His work was recognized at the newly-completed 98-acre FISH Preserve ribbon-cutting ceremony on Nov. 3.

“There’s one person that could not be with us today,” von Hahmann said at the FISH Preserve dedication. “This is a gentleman who was part of the original purchase of this program, who was part of the original board that was FISH in 1992, he was part of Sea Grants and sat on the board. And we lost him last year to a battle with cancer.”

Von Hahmann then asked Stevely’s widow to accept a plaque on behalf of her late husband.

“In memory of John Stevely, without his dedication to, and passion for, the FISH Preserve and the village of Cortez, the FISH Preserve restoration project never would have been accomplished. Gone but not forgotten,” the plaque reads.

“I think I have a surprise for you guys perhaps,” Bert said. “In John’s and our will, we put $50,000 to be willed to the FISH Preserve. What I want to do is donate that $50,000 to the FISH Preserve now, specifically for trails and bridges. So this will help build those.”

Stevely’s friend for more than 20 years and fellow scientist, Dale Beaumariage, remembered him as a visionary for the protection of the environment.

“All of us biologists knew habitat was key for the survival of animals, especially fish,” Beaumariage said. “John recognized early on that the habitat was important to a productive shoreline which was being degraded by people.”

Beaumariage said Stevely was dedicated to Cortez and its people.

“John recognized Cortez village consisted of people who were independent and worked for a living,” Beaumariage said. “They were producing food, and he knew protecting the habitat was essential when you’re harvesting for food.”

He called Stevely an adventurer.

“He liked diving and fishing,” Beaumariage said. He was also a surfer.

“He and Terry traveled to exotic places to dive. He was an adventurer; he enjoyed the adventure.”

A longtime marine extension agent at the University of Florida Sea Grant Program, Stevely was replaced in that role by Angela Collins.

“John was most proud of Angela as a legacy,” Beaumariage said.

“We miss him so much,” Collins said. “Even though he’s not here with us, his presence is felt every single day.”

Collins noted that Stevely had served on the board of the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program and was a staunch advocate for local fisheries.

“John was an integral player in the initiation of FISH and the preserve,” Collins said. “He was incredibly passionate about the ecosystem, Cortez and the working waterfront.”

Collins said Stevely was one of the founders of the first Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival in 1981 and continued to promote Cortez and the festival throughout his life. Proceeds from the annual festival are used to purchase and maintain the FISH Preserve.

“When there was a giving challenge, John was pounding the pavement to find support for Cortez and to raise money for the FISH Preserve,” Collins said.

“In 2000, FISH and community members came together in a grassroots effort to raise the money to purchase 95 acres of land immediately adjacent to the village of Cortez. This parcel of land is now referred to as the “FISH Preserve” and it is one of the only untouched waterfront properties on Sarasota Bay,” according to the FISH website. “This habitat supports one of the last true working waterfronts in the state of Florida. The FISH Preserve came close to getting paved over by developers, however, the community came together to purchase the property in the nick of time. “

Karen Bell and Linda Molto worked with Stevely on the initial purchase of the preserve property in 2000.

“He was instrumental in all of it, FISH, the preserve and Cortez,” Bell said. “He was always one of the biggest supporters. He worked at the festival every year, which, along with private donations, is how we funded the preserve.”

Bell added, “He was someone who never got upset. He was just a really good person.”

Stevely dedicated his long and illustrious career to science and research.

He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania and a Master’s degree in marine science from the University of South Florida. He went on to be selected as a Smithsonian Research Fellow and a member of USF’s Outstanding Alumni.

During his career as a Marine Extension Agent, Stevely served as a University of Florida Sea Grant scientist and coauthored 15 scientific research publications. Following retirement, he became an Agent Emeritus. Among the nearly 20 awards and commendations he received, he was a Gulf Coast Guardian Award recipient, and in 2015, he was inducted into the Manatee County Agricultural Hall of Fame.