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Reopening weekend gets off to a fast start

Reopening weekend gets off to a fast start  

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

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – A tour of Anna Maria Island on Saturday revealed an Island wasting no time trying to return to normal as the first weekend of the governor’s phase one reopening plan unfolded.

With a two-hour parking limit in place, the parking lot at Manatee Beach in Holmes Beach was already full shortly after 10 a.m. Additional cars were not allowed to wait in front of the main gate and were turned away and forced to circle around until other cars exited out another gate.

Manatee County Code Enforcement Officer Pete Chadziewicz said people were being patient, but growing more impatient with each unsuccessful pass by the gate.

“When we’re full, we’re full,” he said.

The beach itself was quite busy and social distancing was practiced with varied degrees of success.

The West Coast Surf Shop was open and the picnic tables at Skinny’s Place across the street were filled with outdoor diners.

After leaving the beach, Valrico residents Dana Kates, Shaun McCloskey and their three children hit the Ugly Grouper restaurant for lunch, where Kates and her 5-year-old son, Andrew, engaged in a joyous dance to the live music performed by Nick Lutz.

“This is the first time we’ve had the kids out in eight weeks. It feels pretty amazing,” Kates said.

“It’s Mother’s Day weekend. We had to get mom to the beach,” McCloskey added.

Down by the Anna Maria City Pier, folks gathered on the narrow beaches on both sides of the pier, joined by several boaters anchored just offshore.

Across the street, ice cream cones were enjoyed on Two Scoops’ waterfront patio.

Ginny’s and Jane E’s, Harry’s Grill, Poppo’s Taqueria, the Sandbar, Slim’s Place and The Waterfront restaurant were among the Anna Maria restaurants welcoming back their weekend patrons.

On Pine Avenue, Shiny Fish owner Rebecca Preston was happy to be back in the retail business, even at limited capacity.

“I’m thrilled to be open. We’ve seen a steady increase in visitors this week,” Preston said.

The beach in front of the Sandbar restaurant was a popular destination and so was nearby Bean Point.

The beach near the Moose Lodge in Bradenton Beach was moderately busy, but the beachgoers were spread out.

Bridge Street was abuzz with activity, including those who enjoyed lunch and/or adult beverages at the Anna Maria Island Oyster Bar, the Bridge Tender Inn, the Daiquiri Deck, Blue Marlin Seafood, Island Time Bar & Grill, Oma’s Pizza and more.

Reopening weekend gets off to a fast start
Bridge Street Bazaar employees are now protected by Plexiglas shields. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

People also visited the reopened retail establishments, including the Bridge Street Bazaar, where the clerks now work behind newly-installed Plexiglas shields.

Similar dining activities took place north of Cortez Road at the Gulf Drive Café, Wicked Cantina and Smoqehouse.

The Island’s stand-alone bars – the Drift In, Sports Lounge, Anchor Inn, D Coy Ducks and The Doctor’s Office – remain closed under the governor’s executive order.

Vacation rental check-ins are still prohibited according to the governor’s executive order, but out-of-town visitors and out-of-state license plates were a common sight.

A Tampa attorney recently filed a lawsuit against Gov. Ron DeSantis seeking to get the vacation rental ban lifted and DeSantis has not yet announced when vacation rental operations can legally resume.

DeSantis allowed hair and nail salons to reopen Monday with enhanced safety protocols, but he had not yet announced when the second phase of his reopening plan would begin.

Continued testing

When the reopening began on Monday, May 4, there had been a total of 619 reported COVID-19 cases in Manatee County, with 59 deaths and 162 hospitalizations. As increased testing continues, Manatee County had 783 reported COVID-19 cases, 178 hospitalizations and 74 deaths – 46 of which were attributed to nursing homes and assisted living facilities – as of Monday, May 11.

There was still only one reported COVID-19 case in Holmes Beach, one in Bradenton Beach (cruise ship-related) and none in Anna Maria. According to Manatee County Public Safety Director Jake Saur, a positive case is attributed to the zip code shown on the driver’s license or ID of the person who tests positive.

Beach reopenings welcomed by most, questioned by some

COVID-19 worse than red tide for tourism

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

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – COVID-19 has overtaken red tide as tourism’s worst nemesis in Manatee County.

For the first time since October 2018, when a persistent red tide was plaguing Anna Maria Island, tourism is down on all three Island cities and Manatee County, according to March tourist tax statistics just published by the Manatee County Tax Collector’s Office.

Tourism in Anna Maria is down 46% from March of 2019, Bradenton Beach is down 64%, Holmes Beach is down 46% and Manatee County overall is down 52%.

The last time all four municipalities were down at the same time was in October 2018, three months into a red tide that began locally in early August 2018 and originated in late 2017 in southwest Florida.

The October 2018 red tide numbers were considerably less grim than March 2020’s COVID-19 numbers, with Anna Maria down 1%, Bradenton Beach down 24%, Holmes Beach down 16% and Manatee County overall down 3%.

March’s drastic downturn is in sharp contrast to February’s upturn in all four municipalities, with Anna Maria’s tourism numbers up 30%, Bradenton Beach up 4%, Holmes Beach up 45% and Manatee County up 16%.

Manatee County’s 5% resort tax, or tourist tax, is collected from owners of accommodations rented for six months or less who charge the tax to their renters, in most cases, tourists.

About 50% of the tax proceeds are allocated to Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau tourism marketing efforts, with 20% allocated to beach renourishment. The tax also funds tourism-related attractions such as the Bradenton Beach and Anna Maria piers.

Manatee County totals include Anna Maria Island cities, Bradenton, the portion of Longboat Key within Manatee County, unincorporated Manatee County and Palmetto.

Holmes Beach logo OLD

Commissioners give relief to local businesses

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Business, Restaurants | Bars, Retail.

HOLMES BEACH – Commissioners agreed during an April 28 virtual work session to do away with the fees associated with the city’s business tax receipt program, but only for the coming fiscal year.

Commissioner Terry Schaefer brought the issue to his fellow commissioners’ attention as a way to offer some financial relief to businesses that might be struggling due to COVID-19 closures. Schaefer said he’d like to give the business owners a break on the BTR, which was set to increase by 5% when renewals are due in the fall.

“It’s an effort on behalf of the city to work with our businesses,” Schaefer said, adding that if nothing else, it shows that the city’s leaders recognize the financial hardship that business owners are currently operating under.

He did not suggest doing away with the increase, which is now planned to go into effect for fiscal year 2021-22.

The city brings in about $45,000 in revenue from the BTR program. The 5% increase was approved to help cover more of the costs of administering the program. The work is done by the city clerk’s office to record, issue and renew the city’s BTRs.

City Attorney Patricia Petruff said that she would draft an ordinance for discussion at a future work session that requires business owners to file for new BTRs and renewals without having to pay the associated fee.

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Holmes Beach parking closed for beachgoers

 

Boaters outnumber beachgoers in Holmes Beach

 

Holmes Beach mayor declares state of emergency

More details emerge on COVID-19 nursing home deaths

More details emerge on COVID-19 nursing home deaths

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Community News, Manatee County.

MANATEE COUNTY – The Braden River Rehabilitation Center and the Riviera Palms Rehabilitation Center rank among the highest in Florida in COVID-19 deaths at nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

As of Sunday evening, there were 34 reported COVID-19 deaths among residents or staff members at nursing homes, assisted living facilities and other long-term care facilities (LTCF) in Manatee County, according to the Florida Department of Health (FDOH) daily data report.

According to data compiled from two additional FDOH reports, the Braden River Rehabilitation Center nursing home in Bradenton reported 13 resident deaths, one staff member death, 31 facility residents who tested positive for COVID-19, 11 residents who tested positive and were transferred elsewhere and 30 staff members who tested positive.

The Riviera Palms Rehabilitation Center nursing home in Palmetto reported nine resident deaths, no staff member deaths, 20 COVID-19-positive residents, 15 positive residents transferred elsewhere and 10 positive staff members.

More details emerge on COVID-19 nursing home deaths
As of Sunday, the Riviera Palms Rehabilitation Center reported nine residents have died after testing positive for COVID-19. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

As of Sunday, those two facilities reported 23 of the 59 COVID-19 deaths (39%) in Manatee County. Braden River Rehabilitation Center and two other facilities in Florida rank highest in the state; Riviera Palms Rehabilitation Center and two other facilities rank third-highest in the state.

Manatee County has consistently ranked fourth-highest in the state in LTCF cases and deaths, with only Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties reporting more.

On Tuesday, April 21, Dr. Jennifer Bencie, of the Florida Department of Health in Manatee County, told county commissioners about two nursing homes owned by the same company and reporting a total of 103 COVID-19 cases among their residents and staff members.

Bencie said some staff members worked at both facilities and some also worked at other facilities where residents and/or staff members tested positive.

“We need to keep an eye on the staff. They’re the ones who are bringing it in,” Bencie said.

More details emerge on COVID-19 nursing home deaths
Public health officials have expressed concerns about nursing home employees transmitting COVID-19 to facility residents, co-workers and the public. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Bencie did not identify the two facilities that shared ownership, but Braden River Rehabilitation Center and Riviera Palms Rehabilitation Center are owned by LLCs that share the same mailing address and registered agent.

Additional LTCF deaths and cases

As of Sunday, the Casa Mora Rehabilitation and Extended Care nursing home in Bradenton reported three resident deaths, no staff member deaths, nine positive residents, three transferred positive residents and five positive staff members.

The Manatee Springs Rehabilitation and Nursing Center nursing home in Bradenton reported two resident deaths, eight positive residents and 12 positive staff members.

The Brookdale Bradenton Gardens assisted living facility in Bradenton reported one resident death, five positive residents, five transferred positive residents and no positive staff members.

The Bradenton Health Care nursing home on Cortez Road in Bradenton reported no COVID-19 related deaths, nine transferred positive residents and 11 positive staff members.

The Life Care Center of Sarasota nursing home in north Sarasota reported one COVID-19-positive staff member.

The Neuro Restorative Florida assisted living facility in north Sarasota reported one positive staff member.

The Residence at Bay Vue assisted living facility in Bradenton reported two positive staff members.

The Surrey Place Healthcare and Rehabilitation nursing home in Bradenton reported one transferred COVID-19-positive resident.

The Westminster Point Pleasant nursing home in Bradenton reported one transferred positive resident.

Reporting complexities

The FDOH daily data reports that exceed 550 pages now only list by county the number of COVID-19 LTCF deaths. Those reports previously listed deaths and cases together.

Separate reports pertaining to LTCF deaths and LTCF cases are now posted at www.floridahealthcovid19.gov at the bottom of the home page. In the LTCF death reports, facilities are listed according to the number of deaths with no reference to location. LTCF case reports are listed according to county with no reference to deaths.

Depending on when those reports are published, the data contained in the LTCF reports may not exactly match the number of LTCF deaths listed in the daily data report.

The formatting and the details included in the LTCF reports has changed continually since the first COVID-19-positive LTCF list was published on April 18. The early LTCF lists only reported by county the facilities reporting COVID-19 cases among residents and/or staff members. No other details were provided.

Nursing home and assisted living facility deaths are also listed in the COVID data reports compiled regularly by the 22 district medical examiners in Florida, but those reports are not available to the media or the public.

Related coverage

 

Two long-term care facilities in Manatee County report more than 100 COVID-19 cases.

Two long-term care facilities in Manatee County reported more than 100 COVID-19 cases

Two long-term care facilities in Manatee County report more than 100 COVID-19 cases

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Community News, Manatee County.

MANATEE COUNTY – Two nursing homes in Manatee County owned by the same company accounted for more than 100 reported COVID-19 cases as of Tuesday, April 21, according to Dr. Jennifer Bencie.

Bencie is the County Health Officer for the Florida Department of Health (FDOH) in Manatee County and she shared this information with county commissioners on Tuesday.

During Tuesday’s meeting, Bencie said 14 of Manatee County’s 33 COVID-19 deaths at that time were “directly related to the nursing homes.”

She also said there were eight nursing homes in the county at the time that reported at least one COVID-19 case with a resident or staff member.

As of Saturday morning, nine long-term care facilities in Manatee County reported 179 COVID-19 cases and 18 COVID-19-connected deaths. Manatee County ranked fourth highest in the state in long-term care facility cases and deaths. Only Miami-Dade County, Broward County and Palm Beach County had more. Sarasota County ranked 13th, with 56 reported cases and 14 reported long-term care facility deaths.

“To date, there have been 356 long-term care facilities associated with positive cases of COVID-19. Of the 2,748 cases of residents or staff in long-term care facilities, 299 have died,” according to FDOH’s Saturday morning email update.

Saturday’s FDOH update included a link to an updated eight-page list of COVID-19 positive long-term care facilities in Florida. That list now includes a ninth facility in Manatee County: The Cottages of Bradenton, an assisted living and memory care center that was not among the first eight facilities in Manatee County named in the initial list released Saturday, April 18.

The facilities list does not distinguish among residents, patients and staff members and does not specify how many cases are associated with any particular facility.

Bencie’s report

On Tuesday, Bencie said about three weeks ago she became aware of two large nursing homes in Manatee County that were owned by the same company, had a shared capacity of 328 beds and had 103 residents and staff members who tested positive for COVID-19.

“They were owned by the same company. The company took it upon themselves to test all of the staff and clients when they started seeing the uptick. Getting those tests back in the last week, 66 residents and 37 staff in those two facilities were positive,” Bencie said.

“Not only were those staff members working in both facilities, but also going out into other facilities where we’ve since learned other persons have been testing positive. We had actually had to serve a forced (quarantine) order against one of the employees who knowingly went to another facility and persons became positive,” Bencie said.

Bencie said because those two facilities saw so much COVID-19 activity, the health department immediately submitted a mission request to the state that resulted in the arrival of a three-nurse assessment team.

“Unfortunately, they were only here for three days because they were pushed to the east coast. We received eight nurses on Easter morning and they have been with us ever since, going initially into these two facilities, doing assessments, making recommendations, making changes and also moving into the other six facilities that we know have at least one case,” Bencie said.

“Visitors were not allowed to come into these facilities for more than a month now. So, we need to keep an eye on the staff. They’re the ones who are bringing it in. We have made sure they take temperatures every morning of all the employees coming in. We’re hoping we’re catching people who do develop symptoms before they get in and start assisting with the patients,” Bencie said.

Bencie said she also refers to nursing homes and other similar facilities as skilled nursing facilities or SNFs.

“Because there are 321 SNFs in Florida currently with at least one positive case, the governor has allowed us to have the National Guard come in and test in SNFs that need further attention. We have put a request in for National Guard to come and test the six sites and many others. We have about 45 facilities we’re tracking in the county to do testing. We hope that they will come in soon,” Bencie said.

Bencie said she has seven nurses who were previously working in schools that now make daily calls to nursing homes, assisted living facilities, Hospice facilities and dialysis centers to monitor those case numbers and needs.

On Thursday, The Sun emailed Bencie and several Manatee County officials seeking the names of the two facilities that Bencie said produced 103 positive test results, and the name of the individual she said received an involuntary order.

Later that day, The Sun received an email from the county records division that said, “The Department of Health is the appropriate entity to respond to this request.” That email recommended contacting Beverly Diehr, who serves as chief counsel for the FDOH.

As of Saturday afternoon, Diehr and Bencie had not acknowledged or responded to The Sun’s requests for information. The Sun also left a voicemail at Diehr’s cell phone number on Saturday afternoon.

Facility ownership

According to The Sun’s research, two of the nine long-term care facilities in Manatee County that reported COVID-19 cases list ownership by LLCs that share the same mailing address and registered agent.

Eight long-term care facilities in Manatee County report COVID-19 cases
The Braden River Rehabilitation Center in Bradenton is one of nine long-term care facilities in Manatee County to report COVID-19 cases and/or deaths among residents or staff members. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

According to www.medicare.gov, Braden River Rehabilitation Center at 2010 Manatee Ave. E. in Bradenton is owned by Braden River Rehabilitation Center LLC.

According to the Florida Division of Corporations, Braden River Rehabilitation Center LLC lists 101 Sunnytown Road, Suite 201, in Casselberry as its mailing address and Tallahassee-based Cogency Global Inc. as its registered agent.

According to www.medicare.gov, Riviera Palms Rehabilitation Center at 926 Haben Blvd. in Palmetto is owned by Sovereign Healthcare of Palmetto LLC – an LLC that lists the same Casselberry mailing address and registered agent as Braden River Rehabilitation Center.

Two long-term care facilities in Manatee County reported more than 100 COVID-19 cases
The Riviera Palms Rehabilitation Center in Palmetto is one of nine long-term care facilities in Manatee County to report COVID-19 cases and/or deaths among residents or staff members. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

None of the other seven facilities that reported COVID-19 cases share a common mailing address or registered agent.

According to www.medicare.gov, Bradenton Health Care at 6305 Cortez Road W. in Bradenton is owned by 6305 Cortez Road West Operations LLC.

Casa Mora Rehabilitation and Extended Care at 1902 59th St. W. in Bradenton is owned by FI-Casa Mora LLC.

Manatee Springs Rehabilitation and Nursing Center at 5627 Ninth St. E. in Bradenton is owned by Manatee Operating LLC.

Residence at Bay Vue at 105 15th St. E. in Bradenton is owned by Riverfront Acquisition I LLC.

Westminster Point Pleasant, 1700 Third Ave. W. in Bradenton is owned by Presbyterian Retirement Communities Inc.

Brookdale Bradenton Gardens and The Cottages of Bradenton are not listed at Medicare.gov.

According to Manatee County Property Appraiser records, the Brookdale Bradenton Gardens property at 5612 26th St. W. in Bradenton is owned by Emerifrat LLC. The Cottages of Bradenton property at 5700 24th St. E. in Bradenton is owned by Louisa Holding LLC.

COVID-19 claims former county commissioner

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Community News, Manatee County, Obituaries.

MANATEE COUNTY – Former County Commissioner Gwendolyn Brown passed away last week due to COVID-19.

Brown was Manatee County’s first black county commissioner and the county’s first black commission chairperson. She was also an early childhood education teacher at the State College of Florida (SCF).

According to Vicki Tessmer, supervisor of board records for the county’s Clerk of the Circuit Court, Brown was elected to the commission in November 1994 and left office in November 2010. She served as the commission chairwoman in 2008.
County Commissioner Carol Whitmore announced Brown’s passing during a Friday afternoon emergency county commission meeting.

“I have some very bad news. Commissioner Gwen Brown died at 2:49 (p.m.) from this terrible disease. She was at home. She wasn’t in a nursing home. She wasn’t able to drive, so somebody brought it (the virus) to her. Her family asked me to announce this and to please pray for her. So, for those of you who say you don’t know anybody and can’t put a name to this, Commissioner Gwen Brown, rest in peace,” Whitmore said.

Reggie Bellamy serves as the District 2 commissioner and is currently the only African American member of the current county commission.

“I extend my condolences to the Brown family. Commissioner Brown was the first African American Commissioner in District 2. She has a legacy in our community and my heart goes out to her and her family. I know her family and I’m very close to some people in her family. From the county commission office to the Brown family, we extend our deepest condolences,” Bellamy said.

“What this does is bring reality to what we’re dealing with, and you have an individual that was at home and then came down with COVID-19. District 2 makes up about 70% of the COVID-19 cases that we’re currently talking about, along with Oneco – and I share a little bit of that with Misty (Servia),” Bellamy said.

Commission Chair Betsy Benac said, “I’ve known Gwen Brown for a very long time. I worked very closely with Gwen Brown and I know the heart she had for her community.”

Commissioner Vanessa Baugh said, “Losing Gwen Brown is very sad. I know that she has had for quite a while now a lot of serious health issues. God bless her, she will be missed. She was the first black commissioner in Manatee County and that is a phenomenal thing that she did.”

Commissioner Misty Servia said, “I loved Gwen. I’ve known her for a long, long time. I worked with her and she just was a lovely woman. I’m really sad that she’s gone.”

Later in the week, Whitmore said, “She was a good friend. I talked to her about three weeks ago and she was doing good.”

The educator

According to a 2009 news release posted at the SCF website, Brown helped students earn Early Childhood Education degrees, a degree that had not previously been offered in Florida.

“Dr. Gwen Brown worked to develop the local Head Start Program in Manatee County. The demand for qualified, educated teachers has evolved throughout the years as research has shown the importance of early childhood development in preparing children to learn how to read, write and relate to others,” the SCF website says.

“She was my Early Childhood Education professor at SCF. Gwen had a strong passion for children and her community,” former student Amy Hendricks said when she learned of Brown’s passing.

Manatee County curfew lifted

Manatee County curfew lifted today

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Community News, Manatee County.

MANATEE COUNTY – This morning, Manatee County Commissioners voted 4-3 to lift the county curfew enacted on April 3 and extended on April 10 and April 17.

The curfew has been in effect from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. daily. Travel during that overnight timeframe was supposed to be restricted to the essential businesses, services or activities set forth in Gov. Ron DeSantis’ Executive Order 20-91, which some public officials refer to as a “stay-at-home” order. That order is currently scheduled to expire on Thursday, April 30 unless it is lifted early or extended.

During today’s meeting, Commissioner Priscilla Trace made the motion to lift the controversial and much-debated curfew. Commissioners Vanessa Baugh and Steve Jonsson supported Trace’s motion to end the curfew. Commissioners Reggie Bellamy, Misty Servia and Carol Whitmore opposed the motion. Voting last, Commission Chair Betsy Benac cast the deciding vote to lift the curfew.

In doing so, it was noted that Manatee County is among the highest in Florida in terms of COVID-19 cases and the county has not yet hit its anticipated peak, which is now expected during the week of May 3.

“We’re removing the curfew, but I would like to focus on the sense of responsibility individually in making sure that you’re protecting yourself, making sure you’re protecting your loved ones and be mindful of social distancing,” Bellamy said.

He then said lifting the curfew does not mean it’s “time to party” or time to start engaging in late-night activities.

“COVID-19 is out in front of us. We have a lot of unanswered questions and the best that you can do is mask up and emphasize social distancing,” Bellamy said.

“I agree 100%,” Benac said. “This was not a message to anyone to let up on the gas, to let down your guard. The fact of the matter is we haven’t hit our peak. We need to continue to try to slow the spread so we don’t have a long plateau because that would be very bad for our community.”

It was noted that Gov. Ron DeSantis’ essential services (“stay-at-home”) order remains in effect until Thursday, April 30 unless he lifts it or extends it.

The countywide state of local emergency remains in effect. So does the countywide burn ban, which allows residents to have fires in their home fire pits.

Test kits expected today

During today’s meeting, the commission authorized County Administrator Cheri Coryea to spend up to $100,000 to purchase COVID-19 test kits and the Personal Protective Equipment needed to administer the testing. The money will come from the county’s $6.5 million emergency disaster fund.

Trace noted each test kit currently costs $61 per test to purchase and she anticipates that cost to continue increasing.

The county requested 300 tests from the state and during the meeting Public Safety Director Jake Saur was informed that the Manatee County Health Department would be receiving those 300 tests later today.

Saur said those tests would likely be used for a second round of drive-thru testing at the Bradenton Area Convention Center in Palmetto.

Commissioner Vanessa Baugh asked about the cost to get tested.

Saur said any tests conducted with test kits received from the state must be done at no cost to the person being tested.

Coryea said it costs $107 to get tested at a local MCR Health facility. She said there is a co-pay for those with health insurance and a sliding cost scale for those without insurance.

The commission will meet again at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, April 28 to discuss any new developments or actions required as the county response to the pandemic continues.

Manatee County COVID-19 cases

According to the Florida Department of Health’s COVID-19 Data and Surveillance Dashboard, Manatee County has thus far had a total of 435 reported COVID-19 cases, 84 hospitalizations and 34 reported COVID-19-related deaths as of early this afternoon.

As of this afternoon, Manatee County has the 10th-highest number of reported cases in Florida, and 318 of those COVID-19 cases are in Bradenton.

Also as of this afternoon, there are 128 reported COVID-19 cases and 14 deaths among residents or staff members at long-term care facilities in Manatee County, which is the fourth-highest in Florida in those two categories.

Florida has 27,495 reported positive cases and 839 reported COVID-19 deaths.

Anna Maria Island cases

As of today, there were no reported COVID-19 cases in the city of Anna Maria.

According to FDOH’s afternoon daily data report, there are still only two reported cases of on Anna Maria Island – one past case in Bradenton Beach and one past case in Holmes Beach.

The Holmes Beach positive case was reported by the Florida Department of Health on April 2. FDOH reports do not include the names of those who test positive or negative for COVID-19.

According to an April 2 story in the Grand Haven (Michigan) Tribune, Megan Sheehan told the publication that her 68-year-old father, Bradenton Beach resident Tom Sheehan, died on March 29 while being treated for COVID-19.

The Grand Haven Tribune story notes Sheehan suffered from asthma, COPD and diabetes and went on a cruise even though family members warned him not to because of the unfolding coronavirus crisis.

Zip code hot zone

On Friday, Manatee County Public Safety Director Jake Saur said the 34208 zip code in Manatee County had the highest number of reported cases per zip code in the Tampa Bay region.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the 34208 zip code had 140 reported COVID-19 cases. That zip code encompasses portions of Bradenton, Ellenton, Samoset, south Bradenton and west Samoset.

Complete and regularly updated county-by-county and zip code specific COVID-19 data can be found at the FDOH COVID-19 Dashboard.

Coleman concerned about Island’s unemployed workforce

Coleman concerned about Island’s unemployed workforce

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

ANNA MARIA – Like many members of Anna Maria Island’s business community, Mike Coleman is concerned about the impact the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is having on the diverse group of Island employees who depend on its tourism-based economy.

In the mid- to late-2000s, Coleman and fellow resident and businessman Ed Chiles joined forces to develop the Pine Avenue Restoration (PAR) mixed-use project that features residential units above commercial units along Pine Avenue. The Coleman family is also involved in the Poppo’s Taqueria group of restaurants that began with the Anna Maria location on Pine Avenue.

“First, I want to say I believe the local officials have done everything that can to be done to comply with the state orders and protect the freedoms of those who live here. I have nothing but respect for what they’ve done,” Coleman said, while chatting on the Poppo’s porch last week.

“At the same time, I think we need to give some thought to all the people that have been put out of work suddenly and without recourse in the last few weeks. We’re talking hundreds, if not thousands, of jobs. These are people that are dependent on their incomes day to day, week to week and hand to mouth. And now they have no income, and many have no access to unemployment insurance,” Coleman said.

“I’m hoping everyone will join together to get us through this as quickly as possible so those people can get back to work, which is what they want to do. They work in restaurants, they clean houses, they clean vacation rentals and they own small businesses here. I’m concerned that some of the small businesses here are going to close and never reopen. Other businesses here have managed to pivot, and some of them are staying open just to pay their employees while the business loses money. The impact is hardest at the bottom of the income scale,” Coleman said.

“At Poppo’s, we’re doing everything we can to maintain employment at all our stores. We have nine stores. We go from St. Pete to south Sarasota, including our location on Manatee Avenue in Bradenton, and they’re all still open,” Coleman said.

On March 20, Gov. Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order EO 20-7, an order that limits all Florida restaurants that remain open to takeout and delivery service until that order expires on April 30, if it is not extended.

“We were in a position to pivot and I’m grateful for that. Our people have been working for about a year on software that allows for takeout orders, curbside pickup and online ordering. That put us in a position to survive – not in all of our stores, some of our stores should actually be closed, but we’re keeping them open because the people that work there need the money and need their jobs,” Coleman said.

Coleman was asked how the pandemic and the ensuing recovery period might alter the restaurant and business landscapes.

“I don’t think anybody can see the end of this or how it’s going to take shape. I think it’s important to be able to pivot and respond as things occur and hope for the best,” Coleman said.

Employee’s perspective

Allie Sykeny is the general manager of the Poppo’s restaurant in Anna Maria.

“I’m very happy to be working. I have no problem working through all of this. We’re staying safe and restaurants are actually cleaner in general. We practice sanitation without a pandemic. We had an inspection back in November and we got a 100%. And now we’ve stepped it up a little more. I couldn’t be more grateful to be working,” Sykeny said.

She and her staff wear masks while working and a plexiglass shield has been installed in front of the computer screen used to take orders and process payments.

Sykeny was asked what she envisions for restaurants when they reopen for in-house dining.

“I see 50% of the people that are ready to get back out there and continue normal life and I see the other 50% that are going to be a little more apprehensive about being in public,” she said.

Sykeny was asked what she’s hearing from some of her friends in the hospitality industry who are not working.

Pulling no punches, she said, “They’re suicidal. It’s very sad. It sucks.”

Boaters outnumber beachgoers in Holmes Beach

Boaters outnumber beachgoers in Holmes Beach

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

HOLMES BEACH – While Police Chief Bill Tokajer says the beaches were sparsely attended over the April 17-19 weekend, the boat ramps were packed with vehicles.

After a rainy Saturday, Tokajer said he counted 144 vehicles, not including trailers, parked in and around Kingfish boat ramp at about 11 a.m. on Sunday, April 19. The boat ramp has 57 parking spaces. At the 63rd Street boat ramp, parking spaces also were filled early in the day with some vehicles in the overflow parking area near the city’s dog park.

Despite the large number of boaters, Tokajer said that his officers had no problem enforcing the city’s rules barring parking at beach accesses, in the right of way and along city streets through April 30. Over the second weekend that the new parking regulations have been in effect, he said his officers wrote 37 tickets and didn’t tow any vehicles.

“Pay attention to the signs, people,” he said, referring to the banners placed throughout the city advising drivers that their vehicles will be towed if illegally parked. “Your car can be towed. Do not think that you can get away with a $50 ticket.”

Over the previous weekend, April 10-12, police officers wrote 69 tickets and towed seven vehicles.

“People are starting to pay a little bit more attention than they were and that’s our goal, to get compliance,” Tokajer said.

The city’s new parking regulations remain in effect through April 30 or until the executive directive is rescinded by Mayor Judy Titsworth.

County curfew extended until Tuesday

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Community News, Manatee County.

MANATEE COUNTY – The Manatee County Commission voted 4-3 on Friday, April 17 to extend the county’s curfew until Tuesday, April 21, when it was set to be discussed again at the regular Tuesday commission meeting.

The vote was in response to Public Safety Director Jake Saur’s request to extend the curfew for seven more days.

“Manatee County has not yet achieved a flatting of the curve. Our response to COVID-19 is going to continue for some time. Therefore, sustained efforts to promote social distancing that slow the spread or flatten the curve remain more crucial than ever. Over the next few weeks, while our health and medical community remain on the front lines and under a great deal of stress, we need to be doing all that we can to build and maintain resiliency in ourselves and in our community,” Saur said when seeking the curfew extension.

Saur said COVID-19 cases in Manatee County are now predicted to peak during the week of May 3 instead of on or around April 21 as previously predicted.

When enacted by a 5-2 vote on April 3, the curfew took effect from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. daily. Travel during that overnight timeframe was supposed to be restricted to the essential businesses, services or activities set forth in Gov. Ron DeSantis’ Executive Order 20-91, which some public officials refer to as a “stay-at-home” order. That order is currently scheduled to expire on Thursday, April 30, unless DeSantis extends it.

During Friday’s meeting, six county residents spoke in opposition to the curfew. They questioned the need for a curfew and said it violated their civil and constitutional rights.

The five doctors who spoke in favor of extending the curfew stressed the need to continue the efforts to “flatten the curve” and “slow the spread” to help prevent a surge of COVID-19 patients from potentially overwhelming the three hospitals in Manatee County.

As he did the week before, Sheriff Rick Wells requested the curfew be extended in part to lessen his deputies’ exposure to those carrying the coronavirus. Wells said more county residents are aware of the county curfew than they are of the governor’s executive order. He also said his deputies would continue enforcing and educating the public about the governor’s order with or without a county curfew.

Saur said more than 50 Emergency Medical Service responders have been exposed to the virus since the pandemic began and eight were currently being withheld from active duty.

When he and Wells first requested the curfew on April 3, Saur said EMS was responding to an average of 100 COVID-19 calls per day. Saur said each call takes an average of two hours, including the time EMTs spend putting on and taking off their personal protective equipment and sterilizing their ambulances and equipment.

Commissioner Priscilla Trace was one of five commissioners to support the curfew on April 3. On April 10, she supported a seven-day extension of a modified curfew. During Friday’s meeting, she made the motion to extend the curfew until Tuesday only.

“I think that the curfew’s run its course, but I’d like to wait until Tuesday to decide. We should hear from the governor and the president by then. Keep the curfew going until Tuesday and then make the decision on Tuesday,” Trace said.

Commission Chair Betsy Benac supported the curfew during the two previous votes. On Friday, she joined Commissioners Vanessa Baugh and Steve Jonsson in opposing the extension. Benac said she did not support extending the curfew until Tuesday. She supported extending it for seven more days or letting it expire.

Eight long-term care facilities in Manatee County report COVID-19 cases

Eight long-term care facilities in Manatee County report COVID-19 cases

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Community News, Featured, Health, Manatee County.

UPDATED April 20, 2020 – MANATEE COUNTY – Manatee County officials are concerned about the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) among residents and staff members at long-term care facilities, including nursing homes, rehabilitation centers and assisted living facilities.

Manatee County Public Safety Director Jake Saur addressed these concerns during Friday’s emergency county commission meeting.

“Our number one testing concern right now is with our nursing homes. The state has brought in incident management teams to our nursing homes and they’ve started a very big push to get all of those patients and workers tested,” he said.

“As of this week, our health department has started issuing involuntary quarantines to some of those nursing home workers because we know they’re spreading COVID-19. The state is reserving those tests for the nursing homes. We have to get into those nursing homes to make sure they’re following all the proper procedures and that they’re also being tested,” Saur said.

“Our nursing homes and so forth are taking a hit right now. I’m curious why we’re just hearing this today and why we weren’t on this sooner,” Commissioner Vanessa Baugh said.

“These folks are not going out. It’s coming in from the community. We have people that are dying in nursing homes. We’ve got to get a handle on this,” Commission Chair Betsy Benac said.

“There’s three or four assisted living facilities that we have as hot spots right now,” Commissioner Carol Whitmore added.

FDOH data reports

On Tuesday, April 7, the twice-daily Florida Department of Health (FDOH) Joint Information Center Data Reports included for the first time a list of counties reporting COVID-19 cases involving long-term care facility residents and/or staff members.

The April 7 FDOH/Joint Information Center morning data report listed 23 long-term care facility COVID-19 cases in Manatee County. Those reports did not yet include long-term care facility deaths.

The April 15 evening FDOH data report was the first to also include long-term care facility resident and staff member deaths, and that report cited 45 positive cases and eight deaths associated with long-term care facilities in Manatee County.

Governor orders facilities named

Gov. Ron DeSantis addressed nursing home concerns at his Saturday press conference.

DeSantis said members of the Florida National Guard are now going into nursing homes and doing spot testing to try to identify asymptomatic staff members who may be infected with COVID-19.

“We are telling the Guard to expand the strike teams into the assisted living facilities,” DeSantis said.

Eight long-term care facilities in Manatee County report COVID-19 cases
Gov. Ron DeSantis discussed nursing homes and other long-term care facilities during his Saturday afternoon press conference. – Florida Channel | Submitted

“Since the beginning of this crisis, probably our number one point of emphasis has been on long-term care and nursing home facilities. Very early on we put strong guidance and regulations in place so that staff members – anyone who entered a facility – had to be screened for coronavirus symptoms. We also prohibited outside visitors,” DeSantis said.

“What we found is you may have everyone doing everything right in one of these facilities, but you could have a staff member who’s not symptomatic and it can spread throughout the staff and spread to the residents very quickly,” DeSantis said.

“I told the Surgeon General from the beginning that we want to put as much information out as you can. I don’t think you should be identifying individual patients by name. I have now directed him that it is necessary to release the names of the facilities where a resident or staff member has tested positive for COVID-19,” DeSantis said.

Local facilities identified

Saturday evening’s FDOH data report email included for the first time a link to an untitled four-page report that listed county-by-county every long-term care facility in Florida that reported positive COVID-19 cases or deaths. That list only includes the names of the facilities and the counties they are located in. It does not provide the number of cases or deaths at a specific facility.

The following Manatee County facilities were included in Saturday’s list:

  • Braden River Rehabilitation Center, 2010 Manatee Ave. E. in Bradenton;
  • Bradenton Health Care, 6305 Cortez Road W. in Bradenton;
  • Brookdale Bradenton Gardens, 5612 26th St. W. in Bradenton;
  • Casa Mora Rehabilitation and Extended Care, 1902 59th W. in Bradenton;
  • Manatee Springs Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, 5627 Ninth St. E. in Bradenton;
  • Residence at Bay Vue, 105 15th St. E. in Bradenton;
  • Riviera Palms Rehabilitation Center, 926 Haben Blvd. in Palmetto;
  • Westminster Point Pleasant, 1700 Third Ave. W. in Bradenton.
Eight long-term care facilities in Manatee County report COVID-19 cases
Bradenton Health Care on Cortez Road is one of eight long-term care facilities in Manatee County that has reported COVID-19 cases or deaths connected to facility residents or staff members. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Saturday evening’s FDOH data report listed 68 positive long-term care facility resident or staff COVID-19 cases and 13 deaths in Manatee County. Sunday evening’s FDOH data report listed 120 long-term care facility cases and the same 13 deaths.

Sun Facebook fan Brenda Smonskey saw the list on The Sun’s website and discovered that her employer, Beneva Lakes Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Sarasota, is on the list of long-term care facilities reporting COVID-19 cases.

“Thank you,” she posted on The Sun’s Facebook page. “I work prn at Beneva Lakes and was not informed.”

According to the list, long-term care facilities accounted for nearly 29% of the county’s 415 reported COVID-19 cases and nearly 42% of the county’s 31 reported COVID-19 deaths.

As of Sunday evening, Manatee County had the fourth-highest number of long-term care facility cases and deaths in Florida, trailing only Miami-Dade County, Broward County and Palm Beach County.

Sunday evening’s data report email referenced the statewide numbers and said, “There are currently 307 long-term care facilities with positive cases of COVID-19. Of the 1,825 cases of residents or staff in long-term care facilities, 179 have died.” 

No additional facilities in Manatee County were named in Sunday evening’s facilities’ list.

Braden River

On April 17, the Lakeland-based newspaper The Ledger reported it obtained a document from the Florida Medical Examiners Commission that contained information on 59 confirmed COVID-19 deaths at nursing homes, rehabilitation centers and assisted living facilities in Florida.

According to The Ledger and its reference to the April 14 Florida Medical Examiners Commission report, four of the seven long-term care facility deaths in Manatee County reported at that time were connected to the Braden River Rehabilitation Center.

The Braden River Rehabilitation Center in Bradenton is among those in Manatee County that has reported COVID-19 cases or deaths with residents or staff members. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

On Saturday, The Sun requested from the Florida Medical Examiners Commission the document referenced by The Ledger.

The Sun received the following response from spokesperson Gretl Plessinger: “We haven’t released information from the Medical Examiners Commission on COVID-19. We are compiling the information received by the commission.”

Plessinger said she would provide that information when it becomes available.

Boaters return to reopened boat ramps

Boaters return to reopened boat ramps

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

MANATEE COUNTY – Local boaters took to the water over the weekend after Manatee County’s public boat ramps reopened on Monday, April 13.

The public boat ramps were closed on March 26 by Manatee County Public Safety Director Jake Saur, but the Coquina South boat ramp in Bradenton Beach and the Riverside boat ramp in Palmetto remained opened to commercial fishermen. The ramp closures were part of the county’s response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

On Friday, April 10, Manatee County commissioners voted 4-3 to reopen the boat ramps the following Monday. Commissioners Vanessa Baugh, Reggie Bellamy, Misty Servia and Priscilla Trace supported reopening the boat ramps. Commissioners Betsy Benac, Steve Jonsson and Carol Whitmore opposed it.

On Sunday, several boaters gathered offshore of Jewfish Key. With a few exceptions, most of the boaters anchored there adhered to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) COVID-19 social distancing guidelines. The FWC guidelines call for no more than 10 people per vessel and that vessels maintain a 50-foot distance from other vessels.

Boat traffic in and around Longboat Pass was also moderately heavy and the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit was on scene patrolling those waters.

A visit to Anna Maria Island’s boat ramps Sunday afternoon revealed full parking lots, robust activity and no noticeable social distancing concerns.

Members of the Manatee County Beach Patrol monitored the Coquina North and Coquina South boat ramp parking lots in Bradenton Beach and parking was limited to boat ramp users only.

Fred Garvin and his friend, Jesse, were among those who put in at the Coquina South boat ramp on Sunday.

“I think it’s a good sign of things getting back to normal, but I think it’s important not to go too quick with it. Go a little bit at a time,” Garvin said regarding the gradual loosening of COVID-19 restrictions.

Bradenton Beach Police Officer Devon Straight patrolled the boat ramp parking lots and the adjacent Gulf Drive rights of way where public parking is not allowed.

“Since they’ve reopened the boat ramps, it’s almost like a normal Sunday out here. Both boat ramps have been overflowing and we’re getting calls about parking complaints,” Straight said Sunday afternoon.

“Our biggest concern is at the base of the Longboat Pass Bridge. That is a state right of way and parking there is reserved for the bridgetender only. A lot of people think that since they can’t park at Coquina Beach, or park at the boat ramps to go to the beach, they’re parking on the right of ways. We are citing them $50 parking tickets if we catch them doing that. We try to give a warning first, but if we can’t find you, you’re going to get a ticket,” Straight said.

“As it has always been, as long as you can find legal public parking you can access the beaches,” Straight added.

The Kingfish boat ramp in Holmes Beach was also busy on Sunday. By late afternoon, there were still several vehicles and boat trailers parked along the Manatee Avenue right of way across the street. Boat ramp users included boaters, personal watercraft owners and some kayakers who put in along the shoreline west of the ramps.

Castles in the Sand

Changes in the pandemic age

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

If the pandemic taught us anything, it’s how quickly everything can change, and the real estate market is no exception. We went from a blow-out real estate market, overflowing restaurants, planning high school and college graduations to hoarding toilet paper, wearing face masks and checking daily infection counts in less than a month.

What’s ahead for the real estate market, both local and national, is anyone’s guess; unfortunately, there are likely dark clouds on the horizon. With businesses closed, employees laid off and people unable to move around the country, buyers and sellers may have to take a pause. Even with continuing historically low mortgage interest rates, if a buyer can’t qualify because of job loss, it will take a toll on the health of the markets. In addition, available inventory may eventually be impacted because homeowners don’t want strangers coming into their homes and will opt not to list properties for who knows how long.

Meanwhile, homeowners who have lost jobs are struggling with impending mortgage payments, flooding their mortgage companies with requests for help. In addition, they’re having trouble getting through waiting on the phone for hours to reach a real person who may be working from home and having their own personal and technical difficulties.

The stimulus legislation says homeowners hurt by the coronavirus or its fallout can ask their mortgage servicer for a so-called forbearance. This means their monthly payments are interrupted for up to six months and an additional six months can be requested after that. They don’t have to prove they have been hurt by the coronavirus since, if the loan is backed by the government, the mortgage servicer is generally expected to grant the request. Since about 70% of U.S. mortgages are backed or insured by a federal agency like Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or FHA, this will be a non-issue for most borrowers.

What is not specified in the law is when borrowers have to make up the missed payments. Some homeowners are assuming that they don’t have to make up the payments ever, certainly incorrect. But even when they understand this, there’s still confusion as to how the funds will be made up. The Department of Housing and Urban Development told servicers that holders of FHA mortgages can compile the missed payments into a second, interest-free home loan for borrowers to pay off after the original mortgage.

However, for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans, which represent about half of the country’s mortgage market, that offer was not made. Instead, federal regulators have instructed servicers to work with borrowers and to consider letting them tack their missed payments on to the end of their loan, but are not mandating it.

Lenders, like everyone else, are operating in the dark with no way of predicting the scope or duration of the pandemic and shutdown. Economist Mark Zandi with Moody’s says as many as 30% of Americans with home loans, about 15 million households, could stop paying their loans if the economy remains closed through the summer or beyond.

Are we in for a big wave of foreclosures similar to the housing bubble bursting in 2008? Let’s hope not, but since our real estate market was so strong and so much in demand, it’s not a bad calculation to assume it will be one of the first to come back even in a big downturn. Chin up and stay safe.

County curfew extended, concerns raised about testing and nursing homes

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Community News, Manatee County.

BRADENTON – Manatee County Commissioners have extended the countywide curfew until Tuesday, but they have even larger concerns about the lack of coronavirus (COVID-19) testing kits and the high number of nursing home residents and employees who’ve already tested positive.

And according to Commissioner Carol Whitmore, former commissioner Gwendolyn Brown has died as a result of contracting COVID-19. Brown was Manatee County’s first African-American county commissioner and the county’s first African-American commission chairperson.

Curfew extended

During Friday afternoon’s emergency county commission meeting, Manatee County Public Safety Director Jake Saur presented his request to extend the curfew for another seven days.

“Manatee County has not yet achieved a flatting of the curve. Our response to COVID-19 is going to continue for some time. Therefore, sustained efforts to promote social distancing that slow the spread or flatten the curve remain more crucial than ever. Over the next few weeks, while our health and medical community remain on the front lines and under a great deal of stress, we need to be doing all that we can to build and maintain resiliency in ourselves and in our community,” Saur told the commission.

Saur said COVID-19 cases in Manatee County are now predicted to peak during the week of May 3. The previous anticipated peak was on or around April 21.

The commission voted 4-3 to extend the curfew until Tuesday, April 21, when it will be discussed again during the regular county commission meeting which starts at 9 a.m.

When making her motion to extend the curfew until Tuesday April 21, Commissioner Priscilla Trace said it was possible that Gov. Ron DeSantis might make an announcement on Monday that impacts the county curfew.

For now, the countywide curfew remains in effect from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. daily. Travel during that overnight timeframe is restricted to those engaged in essential businesses, services or activities set forth in Gov. Ron DeSantis’ Executive Order 20-91, which some refer to as a ‘stay-at-home’ order.

Testing concerns

Commissioner Misty Servia asked Saur why Manatee County has had so many fewer tests than Sarasota County.

According to Saur, the Manatee County Health Department has run out of specimen collection kits and is waiting for more.

“We know the state of Florida has run out of tests. Since we last saw our 200 tests we used for our drive-through (testing) the State of Florida has sent us more tests. However, we were told we could not use them and all of the information on all those tests were in Chinese,” Saur said.

The tests marked with Chinese language are not FDA approved.

“As of today, they’re going to start replacing those with valid FDA-approved tests. When those come in, we will definitely start using those to start testing the public,” Saur said.

County curfew extended, concerns raised about testing and nursing homes
Manatee County commissioners are dealing with numerous coronavirus-related concerns. – Manatee County Submitted

Saur said MCR Health in Manatee County has purchased its own tests and is providing COVID-19 testing for those who meet the testing and symptomatic criteria. Saur said those with a prescription from their personal health care provider can be tested at a MCR Health facility. He also said those without a prescription can be tested at a MCR Health facility if they meet the testing criteria.

“MCR has plenty of tests,” Saur said.

Saur said Manatee Memorial Hospital has purchased tests and he thinks Blake Medical Center has too.

Commissioner Vanessa Baugh asked Baugh if COVID-19 testing was free nationwide. Saur said he’s aware of medical facilities in Manatee County charging for coronavirus tests.

Dr. Jennifer McCullen is an obstetrician in Lakewood Ranch. She is also the president-elect of the Manatee County Medical Society. During public comment, she expressed support for extending the curfew. She also addressed the cost of purchasing COVID-19 tests.

“They are $60 per test and you’re not getting them for free,” McCullen said.

County Administrator Cheri Coryea said there would be a meeting on Monday at which she, Saur, local health care professionals and Manatee County Health Department officials would discuss purchasing test kits directly, without going through the state.

Coryea said she has asked the discussion group to provide a number as to how many tests are needed and how many tests can be appropriately administered in Manatee County.

Commissioner Reggie Bellamy asked about the county’s available financial resources.

“It is a funding issue from the standpoint of the costs of tests, but it’s also an access issue of finding tests that are the appropriate tests. At this point we’re not as concerned about the financial implications,” Coryea said.

Coryea said said she’s spoken to other organizations and individuals in the community who’ve offered to assist in the efforts to purchase tests directly.

“I don’t feel it’s a funding issue, it’s getting the right information so the right tests are here and carried out properly,” Coryea said.

Coryea said she would provide the commissioners with more details on Tuesday.

Nursing home concerns

Saur addressed the need to test nursing home residents and employees.

“Our number one testing concern right now is with our nursing homes. The state has brought in incident management teams to our nursing homes and they’ve started a very big push to get all of those patients and workers tested,” he said.

“As of this week, our health department has started issuing involuntary quarantines to some of those nursing home workers because we know they’re spreading COVID-19. The state is reserving those tests for the nursing homes. We have to get into those nursing homes to make sure they’re following all the proper procedures and that they’re also being tested,” Saur said.

“We have two long-term care facilities that have tested employees and residents. And of those two sites, we’ve had over 100 positives in those two long-term care facilities,” Saur said.

COVID-19 claims former commissioner

During Friday’s meeting, Whitmore announced Brown’s passing.

“I have some very bad news. Commissioner Gwen Brown died at 2:49 from this terrible disease. She was at home. She wasn’t in a nursing home. She wasn’t able to drive, so somebody brought it (the virus) to her. Her family asked me to publicly announce this and to please pray for her. So, for those of you who say you don’t know anybody and can’t put a name to this, Commissioner Gwen Brown rest in peace,” Whitmore said.

County curfew extended, concerns raised about testing and nursing homes
Former County Commissioner Gwendolyn Brown has passed away. – Manatee County | Submitted

Beaches still ‘closed’

During public comment, Bradenton resident Michelle Pinel addressed the beach closures on Anna Maria Island. She questioned the fairness of Island residents and vacation rentals guests being allowed to access the Island beach areas that remain difficult for other county residents to utilize due to the temporary elimination of public parking spaces.

County curfew extended, concerns raised about testing and nursing homes
Bradenton resident Michelle Pinel wants the county beaches reopened. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

“The beach is closed down, but it is only closed down to the average Manatee County citizen. There are people illegally checking into vacation rentals and the citizens (of the Island) are allowed to use the beach, but we are not. I think that is unfair,” Pinel said.

Peace out

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

“Pass on peace, not COVID-19” is the inspirational message written in the sands of Anna Maria Island by local artist Jim Shipley, and people all over the world have seen it, thanks to Patricia Filomeno, owner of Ink Graphics Media and Florida Furniture Rental.

On Saturday, March 28, Filomeno and her husband, Rainer Scheer, went for a walk on Anna Maria Island and spotted the artist working on a sand installation with the mission to share peace and love in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

“We decided to bring our drone and film it,” she said. “We have over 82,000 views already. I am so proud that our video served as inspiration for thousands of people.”

“This is totally awesome!” Shipley said. “Doing just what I wanted to do, the message is getting out there. It’s all about peace. Thanks for passing it on, that’s what it’s all about.”

Patricia Filomena with Jim Shipley’s sand sculpture. - Patricia Filomena | Submitted

Patricia Filomena with Jim Shipley’s sand sculpture. - Patricia Filomena | Submitted

Artist Jim Shipley made these sand sculptures in Holmes Beach last week. - Mark Taylor | Submitted

Artist Jim Shipley made these sand sculptures in Holmes Beach last week. - Mark Taylor | Submitted

Artist Jim Shipley made these sand sculptures in Holmes Beach last week. - Mark Taylor | Submitted

Artist Jim Shipley made these sand sculptures in Holmes Beach last week. - Mark Taylor | Submitted

Artist Jim Shipley made these sand sculptures in Holmes Beach last week. - Mark Taylor | Submitted

Artist Jim Shipley made these sand sculptures in Holmes Beach last week. - Mark Taylor | Submitted

Artist Jim Shipley made these sand sculptures in Holmes Beach last week. - Mark Taylor | Submitted

Artist Jim Shipley made these sand sculptures in Holmes Beach last week. - Mark Taylor | Submitted