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Anna Maria commissioner returns from COVID-19 illness

Anna Maria commissioner returns from COVID-19 illness

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

ANNA MARIA – Anna Maria City Commissioner Joe Muscatello has recovered from his recent COVID-19 infection.

During the Tuesday, Nov. 24 city commission meeting, Muscatello discussed his COVID experience after thanking Mayor Dan Murphy and city staff for checking on his well-being.

“I’m one of the people in Anna Maria that had COVID. You don’t want it. It was horrible. I’ve gone through stage 4 cancer and this was worse than that for three weeks. I couldn’t move for three weeks. I had to quarantine away from my wife, in my room,” Muscatello said.

Muscatello, who’s retired, said he was fortunate that he didn’t have to miss work, get children off to school or deal with the other concerns working people have to contend with while recovering from the illness.

2020 COVID-19 cases on Anna Maria Island

 

Source: Florida Department of Health

Muscatello said he had a 102-degree fever for three weeks, but was fortunate that he didn’t have to be hospitalized or be placed on a ventilator.

“And I’m not one of the 250,000 people who are now dead. My heart goes out to all those families,” he said.

“These damn people who won’t wear a mask… it’s personal to me now. I was worried about it before. Now that I’ve had it, I’m even more worried,” Muscatello said. “I picked it up from an extended family member. I let my guard down for one day. That’s all it takes.”

Muscatello said his main concern is the 1,500 residents who live in Anna Maria, but he’s also concerned about “the 20,000 that come here every week to have a good time.”

Commission’s COVID concerns

Muscatello discussed his personal experience after Commissioner Jon Crane expressed concerns about Gov. Ron DeSantis’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“You already know my feeling about the governor’s approach to relaxing COVID measures. I disagree with him,” Crane said.

“I’m been ruminating on this for a while and the other day I saw a number of mayors had written a letter to the governor saying, ‘Let us have our powers back so we can protect our city.’ I think we might want to consider some sort of resolution supporting those mayors and our own need to exercise our home rule in protecting our citizens,” Crane said.

Anna Maria commissioner returns from COVID-19 illness
Commissioner Jon Crane disagrees with Gov. Ron DeSantis’ COVID-19 response. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

In September, DeSantis issued Executive Order 20-244, an order that prohibits city and county governments from imposing fines or other penalties on individuals who violate local COVID-19 orders or mandates.

That order also prevents local and county governments from limiting establishments with a food service license to less than 100% indoor capacity without quantifying the economic impact of each limitation or requirement placed on those restaurants and explaining why each limitation or requirement is necessary to protect public health.

On Nov. 24, DeSantis extended EO 20-244 with the issuance of EO 20-297.

“We’re not able to enforce our mask ordinance,” Crane said.

“Because we can’t fine,” Mayor Dan Murphy added.

Crane said it was noted earlier during the meeting that Anna Maria businesses are, for the most part, doing a good job of enforcing their own mask requirements.

“I just think we ought to protect our people from visitors who are mask-defiant,” Crane said.

Murphy referenced the local emergency order he issued on Sept. 30 in response to DeSantis’ order – an order that reiterates a business owner’s right to have a patron trespassed for refusing to wear a mask. At that time, Murphy issued a second order that requires masks or face coverings inside city hall, the city annex and at city events held at City Pier Park.

“The trespass order is actually more effective than the fines because nobody wants to be trespassed. We’ve had incidents down at the farmers market and they’re quickly solved with the mention of trespassing,” Murphy said.

Muscatello asked Murphy if he was aware of any Anna Maria businesses trespassing a patron for not wearing a mask.

Murphy said he was not aware of that happening, but he is aware of customers being made cognizant that they could be trespassed.

Code Enforcement Manager Debbie Haynes mentioned an incident involving a patron who refused to wear a mask at the farmers market.

“A deputy came to address the situation,” Haynes said, noting it wasn’t a vendor who requested that action, but a member of the code enforcement department who was present at the time.

Murphy said a lady recently wanted to use the restroom inside city hall but didn’t want to wear a mask.

“She told me all the reasons I couldn’t make her put a mask on. I told her that I could, and I would, and she wasn’t going to use the bathroom. She yelled at me a little bit and I said you’ll have to use the bathroom somewhere else,” Murphy said.

“I’ll maintain my outrage. but I’ll withdraw my motion,” Crane said in regard to a city resolution.

“Jon, I’m right behind you on what we can do to convince this crazy-ass governor of ours to help us out,” Muscatello said before sharing his own COVID experience.

How to do the holidays during COVID-19

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

Anna Maria Island is a place where families from all over the country – and the world – come to relax and reunite, especially over the holidays.

But as the coronavirus pandemic is revving up into high gear once again, scientists at the Centers for Disease Control have compiled comprehensive advice for you to consider before planning to travel and host or attend holiday meals and parties in this unusual and challenging holiday season.

Travel

2020 COVID-19 cases on Anna Maria Island

Source: Florida Department of Health

Staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19 this year, according to the CDC. Before you decide to travel, ask:

  • Are you or anyone you will be visiting at increased risk for COVID-19 due to age or medical conditions?
  • Are cases high or increasing in your community or destination? Check CDC.gov, which reports that cases are rising in the U.S.
  • Are hospitals in your community or destination overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients? Check state and local public health department websites.
  • Do your plans include traveling by bus, train, or air, which makes staying 6 feet apart difficult, or by car, which requires rest stops and gas station stops that can expose you to COVID-19?
  • Does your home or destination have requirements or restrictions for travelers?
  • During the 14 days before you travel, have you or those you are visiting had close contact with people they don’t live with?
  • Are you traveling with people who don’t live with you?

If the answer to any of these questions is “yes,” you should not travel, according to the CDC.

The CDC advises that you do not host or attend a holiday gathering if you:
  • are at increased risk due to age or health conditions,
  • have been exposed to COVID-19 in the last 14 days,
  • are showing COVID-19 symptoms,
  • have been diagnosed with COVID-19, or
  • are waiting for results of a COVID-19 test.

Gatherings

The lowest-risk way to have a holiday gathering in 2020 is to schedule separate holiday celebrations simultaneously and connect by Zoom or a similar method, according to the CDC. But having meals with only the people who live in your household is also low risk, as is preparing and delivering meals for family and neighbors with no contact.

A moderately-risky option is having meals outdoors with a few family and friends, if they live in your community.

The highest-risk gatherings are indoor meals or parties with people you do not live with or near – the more people, the higher the risk.

Serving or using alcohol increases the risk by altering judgment and making it more difficult to practice safety measures.

Anyone who lives or works with people at higher risk should consider the potential risk to them before attending gatherings.

To reduce risk at a gathering:

  • Hosts and guests should strictly avoid contact with people outside of their households for 14 days before the gathering and should follow COVID-19 safety measures at home.
  • Keep gatherings short.
  • Wear masks with two or more layers, except when eating and drinking, and make sure they are worn over your nose and mouth and fit snugly along the sides of your face. Hosts should have a clean supply of disposable masks.
  • Keep a 6-foot social distance, including at tables. People from the same household should sit at their own tables.
  • Wash hands often, especially before preparing, serving or eating food. Guests should wash hands or use hand sanitizer (60% alcohol or more) for at least 20 seconds when entering and leaving gatherings. Hosts should supply paper towels or single-use hand towels in restrooms instead of cloth towels and may also provide cleaning supplies that allow guests to wipe down surfaces before they use or leave the restroom.
  • Gather outdoors or open windows indoors.
  • Verbally greet people instead of shaking hands, hugging or elbow bumping.
  • Encourage guests to bring their own food and drinks.
  • Do not use a buffet or drink station.
  • Limit people going in and out of the kitchen or gathering around the outdoor grill.
  • Limit the number of people cooking and serving food.
  • Provide single-use condiments to avoid multiple people from handling the same items.
  • Use disposable napkins, plates, cups, utensils and tablecloths.
  • Limit indoor gatherings to 10 people and outdoor gatherings to 25 people.

If you aren’t comfortable with the level of risk involved, consider canceling or not attending the event.

If you are exposed or get sick

After any holiday event, if you feel that you may have been exposed to COVID-19, take extra precautions for 14 days. Avoid being around people, especially those at increased risk of severe illness with COVID-19, and consider getting tested. While you are waiting for the results of a COVID-19 test, stay at home and follow safety measures. If you develop symptoms or test positive for COVID-19, immediately inform the host and other guests who attended the event (hosts should keep a list of guests for contact tracing). This can help reduce the spread of COVID-19 by ensuring that others get tested or self-quarantine.

Anna Maria Island reaches 100 COVID-19 cases

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Featured.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – The number of COVID-19 cases reported on the Island has reached 100.

The cases date back to the beginning of the pandemic in March through Monday, Nov. 16, according to the Florida Division of Emergency Management daily COVID-19 data report, which reports cases according to patients’ home zip codes.

2020 COVID-19 cases on

Anna Maria Island by month

 

March 0

April 2

May 2

June 16

July 36

August 52

September 59

October 76

November (to date) 100

As of Monday, there were 52 COVID-19 cases reporting in Holmes Beach, 36 in Bradenton Beach and 12 in Anna Maria since the pandemic began.

As of Nov. 9, there had been 84 COVID-19 cases reported on Anna Maria Island – with 41 cases reported in Holmes Beach, 34 cases reported in Bradenton Beach and nine cases reported in Anna Maria.

Between Nov. 9 and Nov. 16, 11 new cases were reported in Holmes Beach, two in Bradenton Beach and three in Anna Maria.

As of Monday, there had also been 50 total COVID-19 cases reported in the Manatee County portion of Longboat Key and eight in Cortez.

On Saturday, Nov. 14, 202 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Manatee County, according to the Florida Department of Health (FDOH) COVID-19 dashboard. As of Monday morning, 14,593 Manatee County residents and 179 nonresidents tested positive for COVID-19 since March.

According to the Nov. 14 Manatee County COVID-19 update shared by County Commissioner Misty Servia, 34 patients were currently hospitalized for COVID-19 as of Saturday, with 945 total COVID-19 hospitalizations to date, and 346 COVID-19 related deaths to date.

The most recent daily percent positive rate for those tested in Manatee County in one day was 7.81%.

84 COVID-19 cases reported on AMI

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Archives.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Eighty-four COVID-19 cases have been reported on Anna Maria Island from March, when the pandemic began, through Sunday, Nov. 8, according to the Florida Division of Emergency Management.

Of those, 41 cases were reported in Holmes Beach, 34 in Bradenton Beach and nine in Anna Maria.

Nine more cases each were reported in Cortez and in the Manatee County portion of Longboat Key, according to the report.

2020 COVID-19 cases on AMI

 

March 0

April 2

May 2

June 16

July 36

August 52

September 59

October 76

November (to date) 84

With 9,338 reported cases, the city of Bradenton ranked 17th in the state of Florida for the highest number of cases per city.

According to the Florida Department of Health (FDOH) COVID-19 dashboard, 13,960 Manatee County residents and 154 non-residents have tested positive for COVID-19 since the pandemic began. Manatee County ranks 13th highest in the state for number of cases per county.

On Saturday, Oct. 31, 150 new positive cases were reported in Manatee County. From Oct. 31 through Nov. 7, 643 new cases were reported in Manatee County, with 122 new cases reported on Saturday. The daily percent positive rate for those tested on Saturday was 5.74%, according to the FDOH dashboard.

According to the Sunday, Nov. 8 COVID-19 Situation Update that Manatee County Commissioner Misty Servia shared at her Facebook page, there had been 920 total COVID-19 hospitalizations and 334 COVID-19 deaths reported to date in Manatee County. According to the situation update, there were 34 COVID patients hospitalized in Manatee County as of Sunday; 30% of Manatee County’s residents have been tested and the most recent seven-day average for those who tested positive was 5.85%.

Cases are reported based on the patient’s home zip code.

Related coverage

 

First COVID-19 case reported at Anna Maria Elementary

First COVID-19 case reported at Anna Maria Elementary

First COVID-19 case reported at Anna Maria Elementary

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

HOLMES BEACH – One Anna Maria Elementary (AME) School student has tested positive for COVID-19, according to the School District of Manatee County’s Nov. 2 COVID update.

It is the first COVID-positive case reported at the elementary school in Holmes Beach, according to the school district’s online COVID-19 dashboard.

First COVID-19 case reported at Anna Maria Elementary
This graphic at the school district website confirms the positive COVID-19 test. – School District of Manatee County | Submitted

When contacted Friday, AME Principal Jackie Featherston confirmed the positive test and provided some additional details.

“We did have four students and a teacher that will need to quarantine as a precaution because they happened to have a little closer contact with this student,” Featherston said.

Featherston was asked if the COVID-positive student’s classroom remains in use.

“We relocated the classroom before the kids even got in the room yesterday morning. We relocated the classroom to the auditorium. Our custodial staff went in and thoroughly cleaned and sanitized the classroom before the remainder of the students could return there and we’ll have a substitute for the teacher for the next couple weeks,” Featherston said.

Featherston said the positive COVID test was reported on Thursday.

“All of this occurred yesterday. The families of the individual students that had to quarantine were notified yesterday. They got a letter from the health department and instructions. Yesterday evening, a message went out to all our families in the entire school, to let them know that we did have a COVID-positive case,” Featherston said.

In regard to this being AME’s first known COVID case, Featherston said, “It happens. You can’t control what exposure others might have on the outside. We know it wasn’t something that occurred at school. They had another family member that started feeling sick and got tested. Mom did the right thing and she didn’t take any chances. She took her children to get tested and one that happens to be one of our students ended up testing positive even though she didn’t have any symptoms or anything. They did everything they were supposed to do. It’s just one of those things that happen sometimes,” Featherston said.

When contacted Friday, Michael Barber, the school district’s communications, family and community engagement director, said, “We have been in school 12 weeks and this is the school’s first case. I think that says a lot about the safety protocols being practiced at the school and how the Anna Maria Island community is taking the safety measures seriously.”

According to the school district’s COVID-19 dashboard, six new positive cases had been reported districtwide as of Thursday, Nov. 5, with 208 positive cases reported among students and staff districtwide since the school year began on Aug. 17.

Related coverage

 

84 COVID-19 cases reported on Anna Maria Island

Castles in the Sand

Ghosts, goblins and COVID

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

Halloween is in a couple of days, the first holiday since COVID struck that wearing a mask is not only encouraged, but welcome. Because of our beautiful fall weather, all of the little ghosts and goblins will be able to walk up and down the streets looking for treats, hopefully safely masked. Undoubtedly the scariest thing this Halloween won’t be the Mummy or Dracula but the thing we can’t see – COVID droplets.

The second most scary thing is what our financial situation will be after this is all behind us. As far as the real estate market, it is proving to be very durable with appreciation expanding and houses being eaten up as soon as they hit the market. Buyers are so ready to fight their way into homeownership that a large percentage aren’t even leaving their homes to do so.

According to realtor.com, 24% of 1,300 consumers surveyed said they would be willing to buy without seeing a property in person. This was back in April, so it’s likely that a more up-to-date survey would provide a larger percentage. Another survey dating to 2018 indicates that 20% of potential buyers made an offer on a property without seeing it in person. In a similar survey after COVID, this number has moved up to 45% so far this year, and it’s looking like this is not just a passing trend.

Not all real estate markets are experiencing the same movement. In New York City, which has been the hardest-hit major city in the country, sales in Manhattan were down 46.4% in the third quarter of the year compared to last year per the real estate company Douglas Elliman. In addition, Manhattan currently has more than 20 months’ supply of properties available. San Francisco is experiencing a similar market with properties lingering for months without buyers.

Manatee County continues to be a hot market with several new construction properties on the drawing board. In Cortez, the Hunters Point community is getting close to breaking ground with 86 single-family homes, 47 available boat slips as well as resort and hotel units. Parrish in Manatee County’s northwestern area is exploding with new communities being built on what was previously farmland.

To say the September sales report for Manatee County reported by the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee is good would be grossly understated – it’s great. The only problem is we can’t add new listings fast enough.

Single-family homes closed 31.4% more in September than last September. The median sale price for this year was $350,000, an 11.1% increase over last September, and the average sale price was $478,964, a 25.5% increase. The median time to contract was 23 days, 46.5% less than last year, and the pending inventory has increased 59.5%. The month’s supply of properties is only 1.9 months, a 42.4% drop from last year.

Condos closed 73.5% more properties compared to September of last year. The median sale price was $220,000, up 10.6%, and the average sale price was $300,971, up 23.1% from last September. The median time to contract was 40 days, 44.4% fewer days than last year, and the pending inventory was up 45.8%. The month’s supply of properties was down 23.7% to 2.9 months.

The September update continues the trend of a rise in the number of sales, higher prices and fewer available listings compared to September of last year.

Enjoy Halloween with all of your masked friends and remember, if your house is haunted, it’s just between you and Casper – no one else has to know. Stay safe.

Tourism remains down in pandemic

Tourism remains down in pandemic

Written by Cindy Lane on . Posted in Business, Tourism.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – The coronavirus pandemic continues to keep out-of-state and international tourists away from Manatee County, but Floridians are still coming, the Manatee County Tourist Development Council learned at its Oct. 19 meeting.

During the 11 months ending in August, 35.9% more Floridians visited the county compared to the same period in 2018-19, said Anne Wittine, of Research Data Services, Manatee County’s tourism consultant.

However, she added, Florida visitors stay for a shorter time, typically weekends, and spend less money than out-of-state or international visitors. Those markets have contracted during the COVID-19 pandemic, she said.

While August visitation was up 12% over last year, “this doesn’t mean we’re out of the woods,” Wittine said.

Due to the pandemic, “We still don’t have an international market,” Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) Director Elliott Falcione told the TDC.

Potential visitors were starting to show more comfort with traveling until October, according to a traveler sentiment survey, Wittine said; a survey between Sept. 28 and Oct. 11 shows that people are losing confidence in the safety of traveling.

“This may have been a blip or the beginning of a concerning downward trend,” she said, adding that those surveyed said it is too difficult to find out the COVID-19 rules in the destinations they are considering.

To combat fears of traveling during the pandemic, the CVB plans to launch a new digital tourism marketing campaign, “Unwind with Peace of Mind.” The slogan replaces May’s “Make a Break For it” campaign, Falcione said.

The campaign is aimed at baby boomer couples and families with annual incomes of at least $100,000 from Florida, Tennessee and North Carolina, among other places.

In other business, TDC members unanimously voted to recommend that the Manatee County Commission allocate up to $425,000 in tourist tax funds to promote the Under 18 Baseball World Cup championship next September, traditionally a down month for tourism.

Young baseball players from 12 countries would play at LECOM Park and Pirate City in Manatee County and Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota County.

With appearances by baseball stars including this year’s World Series Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw, the event is expected to produce an economic impact of $6 million, primarily to mainland businesses, Falcione said.

“It’s so important that we stay on the pedal with these kind of events,” he said.

CARES Act funding applications reopen

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Community News, Manatee County.

MANATEE COUNTY – Applications are reopening for local nonprofit managers, small business owners and residents financially affected by the COVID-19 pandemic to request CARES Act funding through the county.

CARES Act funding applications for nonprofits open Oct. 19 with Recover Manatee Safety First Small Business Grant Program applications opening Oct. 21 and Manatee CARES Housing Assistance Program applications opening Oct. 28.

The nonprofit funding is only available to expand an existing program for food distribution, including holiday meals, to assist people in recovering from the pandemic. Only food distribution related expenditures are being considered for this round of funding.

A $5,000 grant for the purchase of personal protective equipment and other items needed to reopen safely is also open to applications for nonprofits. Nonprofits that previously received funding through this grant are invited to apply again.

The Recover Manatee Safety First Small Business Grant Program is in its third round and offers up to $50,000 in funding for Manatee County small businesses employing up to 500 people. The funding includes a $5,000 to fund safe operations and up to $45,000 for reimbursement of documented COVID-19 related business losses. Applications are not open to those businesses who’ve already received CARES Act funding.

The Housing Assistance Program provides eligible Manatee County residents with rent and mortgage assistance up to $10,000. Anyone affected by the pandemic with a household income at or below 150% of the area’s median income, $80,400 for a single person or $114,750 for a four-person household, is eligible to apply for funding.

Out of the $70 million in federal CARES Act funding expected to be distributed by Manatee County leaders, more than $6 million has been distributed so far for community health and well-being programs with an additional $10 million given to economic recovery programs, including nonprofits, small businesses and in rental and mortgage assistance.

For more information, or to apply, visit the county’s website.

Castles in the Sand

Appraisals in the time of COVID

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

Like everything during the difficult times we’re living in, property appraisals have become one more task to accomplish safely. Not only is it difficult for appraisers to avoid a COVID infection and still do a correct appraisal, it is also difficult for them to establish an accurate property value.

Independent property appraisers work for mortgage lenders with the task of determining an accurate property value in order for lenders to proceed with a mortgage approval for a potential buyer.

Traditionally this is accomplished with an in-person visit to the home, a series of photos of the property and online research to find comparable properties in the area and what they sold for.

COVID has upended much of this system in spite of the fact that lenders still require a full appraisal before approving a mortgage. The appraisal industry, obviously concerned about their appraisers, has mandated protective gear in accordance with COVID protocols including masks and gloves before entering a property. Most of them would also like the house to be empty of owners and family members so as not to be required to interact with them.

In some cases, based on the estimated property value and loan amount, lenders will be satisfied with a desktop appraisal using online research of comparable properties with pictures. Since most real estate listings now have many pictures as well as virtual tours available, appraisers can get a really good look inside and outside the comparable properties and the appraisal property. Drive-by appraisals, used by lenders frequently for properties either already in foreclosure or getting ready for foreclosure, is another appraisal option, however, most lenders will not allow that method for an original mortgage loan.

The other issue appraisers are struggling with is the value of a property during a time when values are going up and inventory is very low. Since real estate sales are a lagging number, there could be properties in a pending status that would support an appreciating value, but appraisers cannot use them until the properties are actually closed. This coupled with the fact that there are fewer properties closing because of a lack of inventory is making the job of the appraiser more difficult than ever.

If you’re applying for an original mortgage and the appraisal comes in short, you do have a few options. First of all, you could come up with more down payment money, reducing the amount of the mortgage you’re applying for. If you can’t do that, remember that appraisers are never anxious to change their numbers, but if there was an obvious error that could have had a negative effect on the value you are certainly within your rights to point it out. Also, if additional information is available that was not considered by the appraiser you could attempt to get them to consider it. And as a last resort, there is a complaint hotline provided by the government if you feel that you have really been wronged, but that probably won’t help you get a mortgage approved.

Home appraisals have always been more of an art than a science – more so in our current situation. Appraisers are mandated to develop a report that is impartial, objective and represents an independent opinion of the value of the property. Everyone’s job in the real estate industry has become more difficult since March. All the players, realtors, appraisers, exterminators and contractors should be commended for their efforts in accomplishing a job that for the most part needs at least some in-person contact. Stay safe.

Castles in the Sand

Mortgage protection in the time of COVID

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

As we keep moving along down this never-ending pandemic road, hardly a day goes by when there isn’t another major hit to our nervous system. Buried in all of this bad news and extraordinary events there have been a few government programs that are helpful to citizens and homeowners. Mortgage forbearance is one of those things, assuming you can work your way through the system.

The COVID-19 pandemic has made it harder for millions of homeowners to pay their mortgages. To reduce the risk of widespread foreclosures, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES) in March. The CARES Act gives some borrowers temporary protection from foreclosure both by establishing a foreclosure moratorium and offering homeowners forbearance of mortgage payments.

Forbearance allows homeowners to suspend their monthly payments for 180 days with another 180-day extension for qualified homeowners who are impacted directly by the virus. The Cares Act is now extending the foreclosure moratorium at least until the end of 2020. New mortgage servicing guidelines also contain other changes to existing foreclosure and forbearance practices.

Unfortunately, about a third of all borrowers are not covered by the act. Those covered must have home mortgages backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). Therefore, about 1 million homeowners have fallen through the safety net that the CARES Act provides.

According to the mortgage-data firm Black Knight Inc., about 1.06 million borrowers are past due by at least 30 days on their mortgages and are not in a forbearance program. Out of this number, about 680,000 borrowers have federally-guaranteed mortgages and would qualify under the CARES Act. The balance has loans that aren’t backed by a government program and do not qualify for forbearance, though many of the lenders are attempting to work with these homeowners.

Navigating the waters of mortgage lending is never easy and some qualified homeowners either aren’t aware of the forbearance program or just can’t face the complex nature of what needs to be done. And they’re sometimes right, contacting mortgage servicers, which is the first step alone, is a challenge. Frequently you can’t get through, calls are dropped and/or sent to voice mail and no response is forthcoming. And frequently, just like applying for an original loan, the lenders will keep asking for additional documents and the merry-go-round keeps going.

There are government agencies that have set up websites to help educate borrowers about their rights and procedures as well as consumer advocates and housing-policy experts looking into a national campaign to make borrowers aware of available benefits. However, more needs to be done to help homeowners before they fall into foreclosure or have accumulated so many back payments and fees that they will never catch up until the property is eventually sold, cutting into the equity that most Americans consider their biggest asset.

Even after a safe and effective vaccine is created and distributed, we’ll have years of financial hardship ahead of us, and for some homeowners and business owners, it could be devastating. Congress needs to take an additional look at the millions of homeowners both with government-backed loans and others who will need help. If nothing is done to help and advise these people, we could have a serious flood of foreclosures down the road, hurting both the real estate market and the financial markets.

Stay positive and stay safe.

COVID scuttles fishing festival

Written by Cindy Lane on . Posted in Community News, Cortez, Featured.

CORTEZ – The Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage (FISH) board decided unanimously tonight to cancel the 39th annual Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival next February due to COVID-19.

The two-day festival, a fundraiser for FISH and its primary project, the FISH Preserve, draws thousands of people each year to the snug north end of the historic fishing village of Cortez.

“Due to the uncertainties, we feel we have to be responsible, however, we’re going to work on a possible scaled-down alternative,” said John Stevely, one of the founders of the festival.

COVID scuttles fishing festival
John Stevely, one of the festival’s original organizers, was among those deciding to cancel the 2021 fishing festival Monday night. – Cindy Lane | Sun

The entrance to the festival is at the Florida Maritime Museum on 119th Street, which leads to a fish house and restaurant complex on Sarasota Bay with one main route in and out.

Once inside, people line up to sample seafood from dozens of food vendors, a challenge for social distancing, as is the possibility of monitoring whether only family groups are sitting together to eat at tables for eight to 10 people. In addition, “There are so many who would refuse to wear a mask outdoors,” Stevely said.

Other considerations were whether FISH could obtain a permit for the event, the health risk to 200 or so volunteers in their 60s, and whether the event could turn a profit if the number of participants was limited. The FISH board has historically been reluctant to raise the original $2 entrance fee, which, after 38 years, is now $5.

“We’ll come back with enthusiasm and we will get through these times,” Stevely said. “2022 will be bigger and better.”

Seafood is the main event at the Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival. – Cindy Lane | Sun
Castles in the Sand

Florida is new home to thousands

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

When I moved to Florida 23 years ago, I honestly thought I was at the end of the world. During my dog’s 11 o’clock walk, the brightness of the stars was so overwhelming, I would ask the dog, “Where have we moved to?” Since he had no opinion, I just needed to move on and get to know this new foreign place with its laid-back culture and clean air.

Now after all of these years, I not only appreciate where I am but love it as well, and apparently many others are also. In September, it was reported by the Miami Herald that approximately 950 people a day are moving into the state of Florida, a startling number. Most are from the Northeast and other congested COVID-19 hotspots around the country, and for many, this is not a second temporary home to escape to; it’s permanent.

Florida is not alone with the influx of new residents – many small cities and towns are being overwhelmed with new, well-heeled residents buying up any and all available properties, pushing up values and depleting inventory. Most of them are looking for wide-open spaces, larger homes and a safe and friendly environment. Even younger people who have been forced to leave big cities because of COVID-19 or job loss are reconsidering a more peaceful lifestyle from the high life they originally moved to the cities for, most of which has been eliminated for the foreseeable future.

Home sales in Manatee County are at an all-time high, as well as in the rest of the country. Nationally home sales rose 2.4% in August from a month earlier, increasing the 24.7% surge in July which was the strongest monthly gain ever recorded going back to 1968, according to the National Association of Realtors. None of this is expected to change soon. The Federal Reserve says it expects to hold rates low for at least three more years. Large numbers of Americans will continue to work from home even after a vaccine is developed, and even if sales volume begins to taper off in late 2020, it’s unlikely to diminish too much, according to economists at Zillow.

The end result of this is a shortage of homes which we’ve been talking about for some time, pushing up competition and increasing housing prices. Even with the historic low mortgage rates, the increase in sale prices is canceling out the purchasing power of buyers trying to keep up. Some buyers and their representatives are offering an escalation clause in their purchase agreements. This protects a buyer’s offer in the event another potential buyer comes in over their offer by automatically adding an agreed-upon percentage over the new offer.

It sure looks like people are still pouring into our state, and why not? The Northeastern cities are having serious financial problems and high unemployment with smaller populations and much higher budgets and taxes. Florida’s unemployment rate in August was 7.4% – incredible progress considering April’s was 13.8%. Now with the state opening up almost completely, that number will likely be lower going forward.

Florida is looking more and more like a utopia every day. Certainly gone is my end of the world view. So, watch out for those out-of-state plates and listen to your canine friends; they get it. Stay safe.

State order invalidates local mask ordinance

State order invalidates local mask ordinance

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Community News, Featured, Holmes Beach.

HOLMES BEACH – Commissioners may have extended the city’s mandatory mask ordinance until their first meeting in January, but Gov. Ron DeSantis has other plans.

DeSantis announced Sept. 25 that the state is immediately moving into “Phase 3” of COVID-19 pandemic recovery. The guidelines for that phase include making wearing masks and practicing social distancing voluntarily rather than mandatory. The announcement removed local municipalities’ ability to penalize anyone not wearing a mask when indoors in a public space or when unable to social distance in public, rendering the Holmes Beach mask ordinance unenforceable.

Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth said that city leaders are still recommending the use of masks and facial coverings when unable to social distance and while indoors.

“We will continue to ask and keep it on our signs,” Titsworth said in a message to The Sun.

She added that the governor’s move to enact Phase 3, specifically the removal of mask and social distancing guidelines, will negatively impact Anna Maria Island’s COVID-19 infection numbers, which have so far remained low. The Island has had 55 total reported cases of the novel coronavirus as of Sept. 27, according to the Florida Department of Health.

“This concerns me as I feel the mask and social distancing mandates made people feel comfortable to leave their homes and shop again,” Titsworth said.

The governor’s Phase 3 order not only did away with municipalities’ ability to penalize for not wearing masks, but it also allows businesses – including restaurants, bars, salons, gyms, theme parks, retail stores and others – to return to normal operations at full capacity with no restrictions.

The move to Phase 3 also allows for government meetings to resume in person. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 shutdowns, the city of Holmes Beach has held all of its commission meetings via teleconference. City planning commissioners held their first meeting since March on Sept. 9 in commission chambers with social distancing guidelines implemented during the meeting.

Titsworth said that it will be up to the city commission chair, Commissioner Jim Kihm, to determine when the city commission will return to in-person meetings. Government meetings are currently allowed to be held in Florida by teleconference under the governor’s declared state of emergency. Currently, the state of emergency is scheduled to expire Nov. 3.

Related coverage

 

Holmes Beach extends mask ordinance into 2021

 

Face masks/coverings required in Holmes Beach

Castles in the Sand

COVID can’t ground soaring real estate market

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

Strange doesn’t even come close to describing today’s real estate market. You would think that in the middle of a pandemic, everyone would be afraid to leave their home, much less purchase a new one.

Well, I guess the American people are made of stronger stuff than that because the real estate market is not only alive and well, it’s soaring.

According to the S&P/CoreLogic/Case-Shiller National Home Price Index, the adjusted-for-inflation real home prices rose 45% from February 2012 through May 2020. Not a bad investment if you purchased a home eight years ago. In fact, it’s a remarkable record considering that the United States is dealing with a once-in-a-century coronavirus pandemic, which created a recession and social upheaval.

Florida Realtors also reports an active and appreciating real estate market in our state. No surprise here that during April and May, Florida Realtors reported higher median prices and more pending inventory but fewer closed sales and fewer new listings compared to the second quarter of last year.

Closed sales of single-family homes statewide were down 19.2% from the second quarter of 2019, and condos down 33.9% for the same period. In a typical real estate market, these numbers are a good look into the future, however, this year is an exception with everything related to the virus shifting from week to week. In spite of this, Florida’s home sales are off by less than 2% from last year’s pace as of mid-August when these numbers came out.

Statewide, median sales prices for single-family homes were up 4.7% compared to the second quarter last year, and condo sales were up 6.2% for the same period. Inventory is down 27% statewide compared to last year and the lack of homes will continue to propel prices upward, according to Florida Realtor.

Next week when the August Manatee County sales statistics come out, we’ll have a better idea about what’s happening close to home. In the meantime, let’s see how Cortez and Anna Maria Island are looking relative to million-dollar property closings and availability during May, June and July. Numbers are from realtor.com.

Cortez had six properties listed between $1.2 million and $1.3 million, two more than last time. The City of Anna Maria had had 57 properties listed; last time there were 73 listed. The properties range from one at $6.3 million, three were over $4 million, seven were over $3 million and 12 were over $2 million; the balance was between $2 million and $1 million. The combined cities of Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach listed 75 properties for sale; last time there were 69. There were four over $4 million, three over $3 million, 22 over $2 million and the balance between $2 million and $1 million.

Sales in these areas have certainly recovered but are still slightly off. The sales numbers come from the Manatee County Property Appraiser’s website. Cortez did not have any closings over $1 million, the same as last time. The City of Anna Maria had 28 sales over $1 million; last time they had four. Prices ranged from a high of $5.4 million to a low of $1,025,000. There were two sales over $3 million but most of the sales were between $2 million and $1 million. The combined cities of Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach had 19 sales over $1 million; last time they had five. There was one sale over $4 million and one sale over $3 million; the balance started in the low $2 million to the low $1 million range.

For certain, we are a strong optimistic people as reflected in the growing economy and growing real estate market. Stick with it and stay safe.

Bayfest 2020 postponed due to COVID concerns

Bayfest 2020 postponed due to COVID-19 concerns

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Anna Maria.

ANNA MARIA – The Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce’s 20th annual Bayfest celebration has been postponed indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chamber officials hoped to host a two-day Bayfest event on and along Pine Avenue beginning with a parade on Friday, Oct. 16, concluding with the traditional Bayfest activities on Saturday, Oct. 17.

During Thursday’s meeting, the Anna Maria City Commission delayed the approval of the chamber’s special event permit request that had been previously and tentatively approved on June 11.

Mayor Dan Murphy prefaced Thursday’s discussion by noting that when the permit was approved in June, it was stated that the permitting approval might have to be re-evaluated as the Bayfest date drew closer.

Bev Kilpatrick and Cathy Pizzo represented the chamber at Thursday’s meeting.

Kilpatrick told the commission the chamber planned to take all necessary precautions to help ensure the safety of the Bayfest volunteers, chamber members, festival attendees and vendors. She said the precautions would include limited entry and exit points; mandatory masks for all attendees and participants, temperature checks for volunteers and chamber members, plexiglass partitions and 6-foot social distancing requirements.

Pizzo said approximately 40 vendors expressed initial interest in participating in Bayfest 2020.

Commission Chair Carol Carter asked how many people attend Bayfest at a time. Pizzo guessed there might be 1,500 people in attendance at any given time.

Commissioner Mark Short noted the city remains under a declared local state of emergency due to the ongoing pandemic. Murphy said the local state of emergency and the city’s indoor mask mandate would not preclude an outdoor festival from taking place.

Commissioner Joe Muscatello noted the city already canceled its Veterans Day parade scheduled for early November. Carter noted the city previously canceled its Memorial Day and Fourth of July celebrations and the Thanks-Living potluck dinner at City Pier Park is not taking place this year.

Carter said she was concerned about the impact a large gathering might have on the city’s elderly residents.

Commissioner Jon Crane said, “This particular chamber is one of best I’ve seen, but I’m very conservative about crowds. I’m really concerned about that. I’d love you guys to do well, but I don’t want my constituents to get sick.”

Muscatello asked if postponing Bayfest until early 2021 might provide the chamber with a more successful event in terms of fundraising. He was told Bayfest would be the third AMI Chamber fundraiser to be canceled this year, preceded by a food truck festival and a golf tournament. It was noted these three events account for a significant portion of the chamber’s event-oriented fundraising efforts.

“It’s a great event. The chamber is invaluable to the Island, but like Commissioner Crane, I do share the same concerns of having potentially several thousand people walking the streets of the city,” Short said.

Bayfest 2020 postponed due to COVID concerns
City commissioners were concerned about large Bayfest crowds walking the streets during the ongoing pandemic. – Tom Vaught | Sun

Short noted mandatory masks and maintaining 6 feet of social distancing can be difficult to enforce at large gatherings and it would only take one carful of people coming into the festival without masks to create a chaotic situation.

“I have big concerns about the timing of the event, given we’re still not through the COVID issue at this point in time,” Short said.

Muscatello said he was sorry to make the motion to delay approval of the special event permit. He said he hopes the city will do all it can to help ensure that Bayfest is a success if held early next year. The commission voted 5-0 to delay the special event permit issuance.

Kilpatrick and Pizzo said they understood the commission’s concerns, appreciated the city’s support and want to continue the successful partnership that exists between the chamber and the city.

Last year’s Bayfest was held at The Center of Anna Maria Island due to inclement weather.