ANNA MARIA – Pat Copeland’s celebration of life included family, friends, co-workers, tears, laughter, music, poetry and a New Orleans-style second-line march down Pine Avenue.
Pat passed away on June 13 at the age of 76. The longtime Anna Maria resident spent decades working as a newspaper reporter and copy editor at the Anna Maria Island Sun and other local newspapers.
In 1990, she and Carolyne Norwood co-founded the Anna Maria Island Historical Society and Historical Museum to preserve the Island’s history.
Pat Copeland leaves a lasting legacy on Anna Maria Island. – Anna Hayden | Submitted
The July 8 celebration of life began at Roser Memorial Community Church and opened with a recorded version of Simon and Garfunkel’s “59th Street Bridge Song,” which includes the lines, “Slow down, you move too fast … looking for fun and feeling groovy.”
Son-in-law Kevin Griffith provided the opening and closing remarks. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Kevin Griffith is married to Layla Copeland, Pat and Doug Copeland’s oldest daughter, and he welcomed the attendees.
“On behalf of the entire Copeland family, we express our heartfelt gratitude with you for sharing this ceremony to honor Pat’s amazing life. Although we carry immeasurable sadness, we also hold a deep love and affection for Pat as we celebrate her memory,” he said.
While reciting the children’s poem, “Birdsong,” granddaughter Lily Nolan said, “He doesn’t know the world at all, who stays in his nest and doesn’t go out… A blackbird sings upon a bush to greet the dawning after night, Then I know how fine it is to live.”
Lily Nolan and George Griffith recited poems in honor of their grandmother. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
While reciting Mason Williams’ “Life Song,” grandson George Griffith said, “Isn’t life beautiful, isn’t life gay, isn’t life the perfect thing to pass the time away.”
Layla Copeland rested her arm on the arm of her dad, Doug Copeland. – Cindy Lane | Sun
Pat and Doug’s youngest daughter, Anna Copeland, sat at the baby grand piano and said, “My mother was smart, kind, patient, creative and so much more. But when I think of her, the first thing I think of is how much fun she was. I think of all the wild and wacky times we had as a family. She made sure everyone around her was having fun too. She was a great champion of others. She encouraged and uplifted people. She believed in me way more than I believed in myself and seeing her confidence helped me follow my dreams.”
Anna then played and sang a beautiful rendition of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”
Daughter Layla Copeland played and sang “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” – Joe Hendricks | Sun
While reciting Kenneth Patchen’s poem, “I Feel Drunk All the Time,” Anna’s husband, Norris Nolan, said, “O you’re a merry bastard Mr. Death and I wish you didn’t have no hand in this game because it’s too damn beautiful for anybody to die.”
Norris Nolan recited a poem in honor of his mother-in-law. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
After a recording of Phil Och’s “When I’m Gone,” was played, Layla eulogized her mom.
Daughter Layla Copeland eulogized her mom. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“I’m grateful that my mother was able to be part of your lives, just as I’m thankful she was such an important part of mine,” she said.
“The 1960s helped shape my mom’s consciousness and who she was. It gave her the writers, poets and musicians whose words meant so much to her. The sixties taught her that the value in life wasn’t held in things, but in the substance of your actions, friendships, community and above all, love.
“She would feed our passions with books and music, encouraging us to expand our minds and beliefs. She led by example, giving us the freedom to be wild, weird, whatever we wanted to be. She was the compass that steered all of us, enriching our lives in the process. Mom was our biggest supporter and always our most ardent defender,” Layla said.
Regarding her parents’ marriage, Layla said, “In 1972, they married while here in Anna Maria visiting Dad’s parents. Mom sewed a wedding shirt for Dad from an old curtain and quickly stitched up a dress for herself. There wasn’t any fanfare. No flowers, no guests. My grandfather presided over the ceremony in my grandparents’ living room on North Shore Drive. It wasn’t fancy, but it was true and honest, just like them and their 50-year marriage.”
Regarding her mom’s legacy, Layla said, “Much has been said about my mother and her contributions to the Island. She helped write the pages of its history for over 35 years and in doing so she is now and forever woven into the rich tapestry of this Island. Maya Angelou once said that your legacy is every life you touch. For my mother, the grasp of that touch extended beyond the people in this room. It reaches to every person who learns something from reading her articles, every visitor who sets foot inside the historical museum, every museum scholarship recipient and all the future generations of our family because we will all carry her legacy forward.”
Pat Copeland’s family members painted and decorated the parasols used in the second-line march. – Joe Hendricks | SunKevin then invited everyone to join in the second-line march to the Historical Museum.
“There’s one requirement: you must put a little strut in your step. We have music and we have parasols hand-decorated by Pat’s grandchildren, with a little help from the family. Grandma, Pat, we love you and we miss you. But as my son Louis told his mother last week: We can speak to grandma any time we want and we will be comforted to know that she’ll always be listening,” he said. A recorded version of Bob Dylan’s “Forever Young” followed his remarks.
The second line march started at the Roser Memorial Community Church. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Outside the church, folks were greeted by a second-line duo, Jammin’ Jambalaya, featuring Chris Clifton on trombone and Mark Zauss on trumpet and pulling a small speaker emitting the snappy drum parts needed for a second-line march down Pine Avenue.
At the museum grounds, former city commissioner Dale Woodland said, “That was special.”
“She would’ve loved it,” Pat’s sister, Anna Hayden, said.
Grandson Louis Griffith helped decorate the second-line parasols. – Joe Hendricks | SunWende Webb, Cindy Thompson and Caryn Hodge flashed their second-line parasols. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Red wine, bottled water and mini-cupcakes were served behind the Belle Haven Cottage and Doug proposed a toast taken from an old TV commercial.
“Pat and I adopted it as the Copeland family toast. So, raise a glass. Let’s drink to Pat: ‘Salute and happy days,’ ” Doug said.
Doug Copeland proposed a toast to his wife. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
When sharing his final thoughts on the celebration,” Doug said, “Good party. Love you, Pat.”
ANNA MARIA – Beloved Anna Maria resident, newspaper reporter and Island historian Pat Copeland passed away on Tuesday, June 13, at the age of 76.
She passed away at Manatee Memorial Hospital in Bradenton from complications associated with the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other respiratory challenges she faced in recent years.
In 2000, Pat joined the newly-formed Anna Maria Island Sun newspaper as a reporter and copy editor. As a Sun reporter, Pat spent many years covering the city of Holmes Beach, the Holmes Beach City Commission and West Manatee Fire Rescue. As the copy editor, she proofread and corrected almost every story that ran in The Sun during her tenure, which ended in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
AMI Sun Publisher Mike Field said, “Pat was the first person I hired for The Sun’s news department when Maggie and I began planning in 1999 to start a weekly community newspaper on the Island. Looking back, that hire was one of the single most important things I ever did as owner and publisher of the paper. Pat’s knowledge of local history and her experience covering Island news brought instant credibility to the upstart Sun.
“Pat knew absolutely everybody and had a deserved reputation for treating the subjects of her stories with respect and honesty. Her accuracy in reporting and attention to detail were phenomenal. She almost never made a mistake. As an editor, she helped many young reporters by deftly catching errors in their copy long before the stories ever made it into print. If you needed to know who to talk to on any given assignment, Pat was the person you asked.
“Personally, I will always remember the wry sense of humor she had, one that often left me in stitches and helped diffuse the mounting pressures of approaching deadlines. It was a pleasure to have worked with Pat Copeland and an even greater one simply to have known her. She will be missed,” he said.
An Island life
Pat was born and raised in Beavercreek, Ohio, just east of Dayton. Her husband of more than 50 years, Doug, hails from the same area. They met while they were both teaching English and language arts at a middle school in Dayton, Ohio.
“We had classrooms next to each other. That’s where we met,” Doug said.
After their first year together, Pat and Doug left their teaching jobs, moved to Celina, Ohio and for a year ran a fishing camp on Grand Lake. At the time, Doug’s parents lived on North Shore Drive in Anna Maria, where in 1972, Doug’s dad presided over Pat and Doug’s wedding during their visit to Florida.
Pat and Doug Copeland were married in Anna Maria and enjoyed more than 50 years of marriage on the Island. – Copeland family | Submitted
When Pat and Doug moved to Bradenton Beach in 1973, Pat went to work at Trader Jack’s and Doug later joined the staff as a bartender.
In 1974, they bought their home in Anna Maria, where Pat would live for the rest of her life.
“Back then, the Island was still a resident-based community. Probably 99% of the people that worked at Trader Jack’s lived on the Island, back when affordable annual rentals were always available. That’s gone away,” Doug said.
Pat left Trader Jack’s in January 1978 when she was pregnant with their first daughter, Layla Copeland.
Island Historian
After giving birth to Layla in 1978 and to Anna Maria Copeland in 1980, Pat spent some time as a stay-at-home mom. In 1981, she became a stringer for the Island Herald. Over the years, she picked up additional freelance duties with several other publications including The Bradenton Herald, Camp-orama magazine and The Weekender. In 1987, she became the editor of the Anna Maria Islander Press, where she also served as a reporter.
When the Islander Press closed, Pat bought all the bound newspaper copies, clip files and other files to prevent them from potentially being destroyed. Anna Maria Mayor Ray Simches put Pat and Island historian and author Carolyne Norwood in touch with each other and in 1990 the two co-founded the Anna Maria Island Historical Society and guided the development of the Anna Maria Island Historical Museum.
Carolyne Norwood and Pat Copeland co-founded the Anna Maria Island Historical Society in 1990. – Submitted
“The first year, they rented the old vet’s office on Crescent Avenue and Ed Chiles paid the rent and the utilities,” Doug said.
A year later, the Historical Society moved to the museum’s current location on Pine Avenue.
“History is important. For the Island, there was no better history than the old newspapers. Pat wrote the Island’s history every week,” Doug said of the news stories that can still be read at the museum.
When asked what Pat loved about being a reporter, Doug said, “The interaction with people. She was honest, had integrity and felt she could present an accurate sense of what was happening on the Island.”
In the 1980s, the Copeland family took a pair of month-long summer camping trips in a Volkswagen bus with family friend and well-known
Little League baseball coach Lou Fiorentino. After Lou died, Pat, Doug and others started an annual fundraiser in Lou’s name to raise money to send Island kids to off-Island summer camps, which they did from 1998 to 2014.
When asked how Pat will be remembered, Doug said, “She was a great wife and mother. Honest, ethical and loved by many. I’ll miss her. She was always willing to have a good time.”
Mother Extraordinaire
“She was a great mom. She welcomed everyone in our house. I could show up with anybody and say, ‘Mom they’re having dinner with us,’ and she’d say, ‘OK, no problem,’ ” Layla said.
“Pat’s philosophy was she’d rather have the girls here with their friends than have them out somewhere else not knowing who they’re with or what they’re doing. That’s a pretty good philosophy,” Doug added.
“The 1960s helped shape my mom’s consciousness and who she was. She was part of the hippie era, adamantly opposed to the Vietnam War. She protested for her beliefs, but she also never lost sight of the American soldiers who were her neighbors, classmates and friends. The music of the 1960s was the soundtrack to our childhood and she shared her love of music, writers and poetry with us,” Layla said.
When asked what she learned from her mom, Layla said, “I learned how to cook, how to sew, how to be a mother and how to be a wife. She gave me my best friend, my sister. When mom’s breathing got bad and it was hard for her to talk, we’d text with her every day.
Pat Copeland showed her whimsical side during a childhood bike ride with her daughter Layla. – Copeland family | Submitted
“She was always really funny, really silly and she always made you laugh. She was really generous and always thinking of others. She loved watching our kids draw and play in the pool. When she could no longer go outside, she’d open the window and sit there to watch them play and still be a part of it. We always had a Sunday or Saturday dinner here. In this family, food is love and she was a great cook,” Layla said.
“We always ate together. Both girls became great cooks because they grew up thinking food was important,” Doug said.
Family was of the utmost importance to Pat Copeland. – Copeland family | Submitted
“When I was 14, I decided I was going to be a vegetarian and my sister later joined me,” Layla said. “Mom taught herself how to cook vegetarian food and she cooked two meals every night: one for her and dad and one for my sister and I. Every day, until we went to college, she packed us a gourmet lunch to take to school. She took the best care of us,” Layla said.
In 2014, the Copeland family traveled to Italy together. – Copeland family | Submitted
Anna Maria Copeland lives in Rockville, Maryland. When asked about her mom, she said, “There was so much about my mom that was wonderful. She always uplifted people. Like a lot of parents, she told Layla and I that we could be and do anything, but she really meant it. Whenever I expressed a doubt about my abilities or qualifications, she would gently explain why whatever I was worrying about wouldn’t stop me from doing the thing I wanted to do if I truly wanted to do it. I saw her do this for other people as well. She had a special way of helping people believe in themselves. Another thing that was truly special about my mom was her open heart. She had love and kindness for anyone who needed it. She welcomed so many people into our home and lives and enriched all of us in the process.
“When my daughter Lily was born, I was surprised by how natural and easy it felt to be a mother. Later, I had the realization that it was easy because I had the best example to follow. I learned how to cook and bake and sew from her. I learned how to navigate the world with an open heart. I learned patience. I will miss her love and understanding. I will miss watching her and Lily goof off together. I will miss sitting up late together talking about life. I will miss cooking and eating together.
“I want people to know how special my mother was. She was funny and smart. She loved rock-n-roll and acting silly. She was kind and thoughtful and creative. She wasn’t afraid to be different and she helped others feel comfortable in spite of their differences,” Anna Maria said.
Anna Hayden and her sister, Pat Copeland, got “framed” in this photo. – Copeland family | Submitted
Pat’s sister, Anna Hayden, said, “Pat had such a positive influence on my life. She opened my eyes to the world and always encouraged me with my art and photography. To see that she also had such a positive impact on her community makes me so very proud to be her sister.”
Community icon
In 2017, Pat was named the city of Anna Maria’s Citizen of the Year. Last week, the flags at the museum, City Pier Park, City Hall and the City Hall annex were flown at half-staff in Pat’s honor.
In 2017, former Anna Maria Mayor Fran Barford presented Pat Copeland with the city of Anna Maria’s Citizen of the Year award. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy said, “The loss of Pat Copeland is a heavy loss for our Island community. Pat blazed a trail that is now her legacy. She was the woman who brought to life the images and tales from our Island’s past. Knowing our history is a key ingredient for a community to remain relevant and instill a sense of pride in its citizens. Pat made us all aware that we are ‘Anna Marians,’ ” he said.
The City Pier Park flags flew at half-staff in Pat Copeland’s honor. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Historical Society Vice President Barbara Murphy said, “The Historical Society has lost a devoted friend. Pat and Carolyne Norwood not only had a passion for the Island history, but the vision and determination to preserve it for generations to come. A year ago, the Historical Society’s annual scholarship awards were named after Pat. Thank you, Pat, for your contribution to preserving our rich Island history.”
Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth said, “Pat was an original. She had a deep connection to the Island and was a talented writer. She will be truly missed. We are fortunate to have the years that she invested in her historical work that helped preserve the Island’s treasures.”
Holmes Beach City Clerk Stacey Johnston said, “Pat was a beautiful person. Her smile was contagious. She absolutely loved her family, community, her job and her friends. She was an excellent writer; one I could always trust. Her perseverance towards the history of Anna Maria Island will allow Pat’s memory to live on forever.”
The Copeland family sometimes gathered at Duffy’s Tavern in Holmes Beach. – Copeland family | Submitted
Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer said, “She always gave the police department a fair shot. She reported everything fairly and she mentored other reporters to do the same. She was always a pleasure to speak with. I will miss her.”
Retired WMFR Fire Chief Andy Price said, “As a reporter, she would always ask questions so she could understand the issue – and not just enough to write a story. What she reported was accurate and it told the right story because she understood what was going on. When Pat wrote an article, it was accurate to the T. Pat was one of the best journalists I’ve ever dealt with. Pat was a wonderful person and it showed in her reporting.”
Former Holmes Beach Mayor and County Commissioner Carol Whitmore said, “I met Pat when I first got into Island politics in 1991. Throughout the years we became friends and we still communicated after she left the paper. She was a wonderful person and she had a passion for the Historical Society. I’m happy I got to know her and Doug.”
Pat and Doug Copeland served as “The Bowling Police” during one of the annual O’Connor Bowling Challenge tournaments.- Copeland family | Submitted
Bradenton Beach Mayor John Chappie said, “Pat was a wonderful lady who really loved the Island community. She was a real giver and she was always there for the community.”
Island resident and business owner Ed Chiles said, “Pat was dedicated to the history and the character of the Island. She was indefatigable, always working on it and never not involved. She was a great citizen of the Island. She will be missed but she will not be forgotten.”
Bradenton resident and longtime family friend Jean Couser said, “I’ve known Pat since the 70s, when she and I were waitresses at Trader Jack’s. Pat and Doug were schoolteachers who escaped the cold for something new, but I don’t think Pat ever strayed very far from educating people, even if she didn’t do it in a classroom. Her family was so important to her and she and Doug created a purposeful life together. They raised two smart, talented women and Pat had a big influence on how successful those girls are.
Pat and Doug Copeland dressed as Lois Lane and Superman for Halloween. – Copeland family | Submitted
“Pat’s talents went way beyond writing. She sewed Halloween costumes and knitted baby blankets. She surrounded herself with creative people and the parties she and Doug hosted were never dull. In many ways, I think Pat was the spirit of Anna Maria. She was always doing research for Historical Society, doing a story for The Sun or collecting books for her Little Free Library. She really loved the community.”
Pat Copeland had the first Little Free Library in Anna Maria. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
AMI Historical Society board chairperson Liz Hager said, “We’re going to miss her. I loved working with Pat and Doug. Doug is a good friend of the museum too. I hope what they did for and on Anna Maria Island for so many years is appreciated. They named their daughter Anna Maria. That shows quite a bit of loyalty to the Island.
“When Pat could no longer stay on as president of the board, I was recruited to take it over. I loved going to talk to her and learning from her. During COVID, she’d leave a chair for me outside on the lawn and she would open the window and she’d stay inside and we could chat that way and have her bring me up to date on all the things that still needed to be done for the museum. My husband, Dennis, and I enjoyed going out to dinner with Pat and Doug. They were great connoisseurs of restaurants in the area. We had dinner together in April,” Hager said.
Bradenton resident Carrie Price was close friends with Layla and Anna while growing up on the Island.
“I was a frequent guest at their house for dinner. I probably ate there 150 times. Pat was a big part of my time on Island. She was so welcoming to me and always a great host. I was just one of many people who frequented their house for dinner and their company. Pat was very warm and inviting. She was a wonderful mom. She was so dedicated to the girls and she ran a very organized household. I have a lot of respect for that now that I have my own kids. She was a great reporter and she was so dedicated to everything she did,” Carrie said.
ANNA MARIA – A familiar face has returned to the Anna Maria City Commission on a temporary basis.
On Thursday, July 8, the four-member commission unanimously appointed former Commissioner Doug Copeland to serve the remaining months of former Commissioner Joe Muscatello’s current term. Muscatello vacated his seat on Thursday, June 24 because he and his wife, Melissa, were relocating to his home state to operate a bed and breakfast they purchased in West Virginia.
Copeland was the only applicant who sought to fill the vacant seat on a short-term basis. He did not address the commission before the appointment was made, but he did include a brief statement in the application he submitted on Friday, June 25.
Copeland’s statement read as follows: “Dear Mayor and Anna Maria City commissioners, As important as I feel that commissioners should be elected by the voters, I am convinced it is critical to have a full commission. This not only prevents ties but brings another voice to the discussion. I believe I’m in a unique position to fill the vacant seat. I have over 20 years’ experience as a member and chairman of P&Z (Planning and Zoning Board). In the past, I have been elected to the commission and have served multiple terms as commissioner and chairman. This experience will allow me on day one to be a fully functioning member of the commission. I hope that you will select me to fill this interim position.”
Copeland decided not to seek reelection in 2019.
Before Thursday’s appointment was made, Mayor Dan Murphy told the commission they had two choices: appoint Copeland or allow the commission seat to remain vacant until the results of the November elections are certified. Commissioners Carol Carter, Jon Crane, Deanie Sebring and Mark Short unanimously supported Copeland’s appointment.
“Congratulations Doug. You’re now considered a repeat offender,” Murphy joked after the votes were cast.
After being sworn in by City Clerk LeAnne Addy, Copeland took his seat on the dais and participated in the remainder of the commission meeting.
Not seeking election
Before Thursday’s meeting began, Copeland told the attending media members that he would not seek election to a full two-year term in the November city elections. Copeland said he wanted that known now so those considering seeking a two-year term were aware of his long-term intentions. He encourages those interested in serving on the commission to run for office in the fall elections.
Doug Copeland will serve on the commission until the next commissioner is elected and seated. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Anna Maria’s two-week candidate qualifying period begins at noon on Monday, Aug. 16, and ends at noon on Friday, Aug. 27. Candidate packages can be obtained from the city clerk’s office or the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Office in Bradenton.
The commission seats currently held by Carter and Crane will also be filled as a result of this year’s city elections. Carter and Crane have both indicated they will seek reelection.
ANNA MARIA – Country roads are taking City Commissioner Joe Muscatello home.
“I’m going back,” Muscatello said as he presented the mayor and commissioners with parting gifts bearing the likeness of his home state, West Virginia, during his final commission meeting on Thursday, June 24.
“First of all, I want to say I’m not dying and Missy and I are not getting a divorce,” he quipped. Muscatello and his wife, Mellissa, have bought a bed and breakfast in Shepherdstown – a university town located about 75 miles northwest of Washington D.C.
“I don’t drink coffee, I hate eggs and I don’t get up early either, so it may be a bed and lunch,” Muscatello joked.
City officials affectionately said farewell to Muscatello, whose term was scheduled to expire after the November city elections are certified until he announced his early departure.
After good-heartedly teasing Muscatello about his abbreviated 18-month term in office, Mayor Dan Murphy presented him with a commemorative wooden plaque and thanked him for his service to the city.
“We’re sad to see you go, but I understand life transitions are important,” Commission Chair Carol Carter added.
“It’s been a great 18 months,” said Muscatello, before asking Administrative Assistant Stephanie Janney to play a recording of John Denver’s “Take Me Home Country Roads” – a song that references West Virginia, where he was born and raised.
“It’s a beautiful state and I do hope you’ll visit,” Muscatello said before asking those in the room to join him in singing the familiar chorus: “Country roads, take me home, to the place I belong, West Virginia, mountain mama, take me home, country roads…”
“I love all of you,” he said. “Thank you all.”
Applications open for vacant seat
The city of Anna Maria is now accepting applications to fill the vacant seat.
Tuesday, July 6 is the deadline to apply to serve the remainder of Muscatello’s current term. The commission plans to appoint his short-term successor on Thursday, July 8. The application form is available at the city website or the city clerk’s office.
If so desired, the commission appointee can seek election to a full two-year term during the upcoming city elections. The two-week qualifying period for the Anna Maria elections opens at noon on Monday, Aug. 16 and closes at noon on Friday, Aug. 27. Qualifying paperwork can be obtained from the city clerk’s office or the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections office.
During Thursday’s meeting, the commission discussed whether to fill the short-term vacancy or allow the vacant seat to remain vacant until after the city elections. Murphy recommended filling the vacancy as soon as possible and the commission voted 5-0 to do so.
“We have some very heavy duty topics and issues to solve between now and November and the (elected) commissioner would not be seated until December,” Murphy said.
The mayor noted the commission must soon discuss and make decisions regarding the “Reimagining Pine Avenue” study and the proposed solutions that stem from that study. The commission must also engage in further discussion regarding the planned expenditure of approximately $370,000 in American Rescue Plan funds, and the commission must soon help develop the city budget for the 2021-22 fiscal year that begins Oct 1.
Murphy said he’s concerned that a four-member commission could potentially lead to 2-2 tie votes.
“There’s a potential for deadlocks. Deadlocks would lead to gridlock,” he said. “If we fill this vacancy through an appointment, then you’d have to have an election in November anyway.”
Former City Commissioner Doug Copeland attended Thursday’s meeting and his presence was noted during the commission discussion.
Former Commissioner Doug Copeland appears to be the leading candidate to serve the remainder of Joe Muscatello’s commission term. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“I’m aware of a very good, experienced, competent candidate who’s actually in the chamber today. I think it would help us address the weighty issues on the table. I can’t imagine someone in our populace more capable of stepping in immediately,” Commissioner Jon Crane said without mentioning Copeland by name.
Crane asked City Attorney Becky Vose if an appointment could be made without first advertising the vacancy and allowing others to apply.
In response, Vose said, “I would highly recommend that you have a public announcement. That person (Copeland) can respond and probably would get picked, but I would not shortcut the process. You could decide tonight to have an announcement made tomorrow. I’m uncomfortable recommending that you subvert the process completely.”
As he’s done previously, Muscatello, who was appointed himself, reiterated his overall desire that commissioners be elected rather than appointed whenever possible. Last year, Deanie Sebring was appointed to fulfill the commission seat vacated by Amy Tripp. Crane ran unopposed for his current term and Commissioner Mark Short was appointed to his first term in office before running unopposed last year.
After the meeting, Copeland said he would submit his application Friday morning. He feels his past experience as a commissioner and a Planning and Zoning Board member would benefit the city in the short term, but he was non-committal about running for a full two-year term later this year. Copeland did not seek reelection in 2019.
ANNA MARIA – Pine Avenue may soon be in for a traffic and safety-related makeover.
The city of Anna Maria is contracting an engineering firm to conduct a detailed traffic and safety study of the Pine Avenue corridor that also includes Spring and Magnolia avenues.
On Thursday, May 13, the city commission authorized the $50,274 project fee associated with an agenda item referred to as “Reimagining Pine Avenue.”
The study results and recommendations will be presented to the commission and the public on July 22.
“We’ve been talking about this for some time, and this is a great way to use some of the money we get from the American Rescue Plan,” Mayor Dan Murphy said.
He then introduced Gerry Traverso from the George F. Young civil engineering and surveying firm. Traverso serves as vice president of transportation engineering for the firm that’s headquartered in St. Petersburg and has offices in Tampa, Lakewood Ranch and elsewhere in the state. Traverso has more than 25 years of traffic engineering experience and is also a certified project manager who lives in Bradenton and is familiar with the area.
“We know the city of Anna Maria is not the same as the city of North Port. We don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. We tailor each approach to the specific characteristics of the community,” he said.
Traverso said the Pine Avenue corridor is an interconnected network of roads that includes Spring Avenue and Magnolia Avenue. The study will help develop solutions to mitigate and alleviate congestion, while also looking at how to more safely accommodate pedestrians, bikes, scooters, golf carts and other alternative modes of transportation.
The map illustrates where the Pine Avenue corridor study will take place. – George F. Young Engineering | Submitted
The study will also include recommendations for delivery trucks and other business‐related traffic along the Pine Avenue corridor.
“We know that we have a lot of commercial activity on Pine Avenue. We don’t want to hurt them in any way,” Traverso said.
Stormwater and drainage conditions will be observed and analyzed. That information will be used to help alleviate rainwater ponding that forces pedestrians and bicyclists further out into the streets.
The scope of services includes data collection, traffic counts and the analysis of vehicular turning movements in the study area intersections. The study will also produce a topographic survey for Spring and Magnolia avenues from Gulf Drive to South Bay Boulevard.
Data and input will be gathered from residents, business owners, visitors and elected officials through public meetings and the creation of a project website.
“The more you involve the community, the more buy-in you get,” Traverso said.
Results and recommendations
The study will produce up to four alternatives for each recommended solution, with cost estimates and implementation timeframes included.
“One alternative might be cheap and fast, but what is the return investment? Or do we do a different alternative that will take more time and money but provides a longer-lasting solution? We’ll do a public presentation, and we’ll show you all the alternatives and the pros and cons of each one,” Traverso said.
“We can go from simple to complex,” he said, mentioning striped parking lines or lowering the speed limit as simple solutions.
He said making Pine Avenue a one-way street going south and Magnolia Avenue a one-way street going north would be a more extreme solution.
Each recommendation will include a no-action option that analyzes what happens if nothing is done to address a particular problem: “They stay the same or they get even worse,” Traverso said.
Traffic Engineer Gerry Traverso enthusiastically explained the study’s scope and scale. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Murphy said the July presentation date allows the commission time to include any desired actions in the 2021-22 fiscal year budget.
Commissioner Joe Muscatello said he doesn’t want this to be another case of a $50,000 study sitting on the shelf with no action taken.
“We’ve seen that too often,” he said.
Muscatello said if American Rescue Plan funds can’t be used, the commission needs to find the money elsewhere.
“We need to take this seriously and move as quickly as we can,” he said.
Commissioner Jon Crane asked Traverso if the study will take into account the unpredictable behavior of visitors when engineering potential solutions.
“We have tourists who come here and they drive crazy, and they ride bikes crazy and they cross streets without crosswalks – people who act normal at home but don’t act safely here,” Crane said.
Traverso referenced a tourist-heavy area in Treasure Island where visitors drink in the bars on one side of the street and then try to cross a four-lane road to get back to their beachfront accommodations.
He said several technical solutions were explored, but the best solution came from a landscape architect who suggested planting shrubs to create a natural barrier that forces pedestrians to cross in designated areas. Public Works Manager Dean Jones said hedges used in that manner are an effective low-cost solution that he would support in some locations.
Former commissioner Doug Copeland attended Thursday’s meeting. While in office, he often expressed concerns about the current configuration of Pine Avenue, which results in vehicles backing out into the street and includes areas with no sidewalks.
During public input, Copeland said, “ I want to applaud you for taking this on. It’s become a major issue. Our infrastructure was designed back in the early 1900s by the Anna Maria Development Company. It served the city well but it’s a hundred years old. We do need something dramatic and I hope you’ll move forward with this.”
ANNA MARIA – Longtime Anna Maria Commissioner Doug Copeland is The Sun’s Person of the Year for 2019.
In December, Copeland finished his final term as a city commissioner and ended his decades of elected, appointed or volunteer service to the city of Anna Maria and Anna Maria Island.
In June 2013, Copeland was appointed to fill the remainder of the commission term being vacated by Commissioner John Quam. Copeland was elected to his first full term in office later that year and was reelected in 2015 and 2017. He did not seek reelection in 2019.
Copeland helped develop and adopt Anna Maria’s vacation rental ordinance in 2015. The ordinance established an eight-person maximum occupancy limit for new vacation rental units and the annual registration fees fund the city’s vacation rental-related code enforcement efforts.
Working with the mayor and city attorney, the commission settled more than 100 Bert Harris claims filed in response to the vacation rental ordinance without subjecting city taxpayers to a single financial settlement.
As a commissioner, Copeland helped transform the vacant ‘Six Lots’ property into City Pier Park. The park features public restrooms and a shade sail structure and hosts several holiday events and special events throughout the year, including a seasonal farmers market.
In September, the commission adopted an amended noise ordinance that has already contributed to one group of rowdy vacation rental guests being evicted by the property management company after receiving three noise citations in less than a week.
At his final regular meeting in November, Copeland secured commission support for a city resolution that stresses the importance of women’s rights and the need for the long-delayed state ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment adopted by the U.S. Congress in the early 1970s.
In 2016, Copeland was appointed to the Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC) and he represented the city and the Island in that role until he left office in December.
In June, Copeland helped secure TDC and county commission support for an additional $435,000 in county funds for the City Pier replacement project. This was in addition to the $1.5 million in county funds previously provided for the pier project being guided by the mayor and city commission. In 2018 and 2019, the city commission and others helped secure more than $1 million in state funds for the pier project.
An Island life
In 1974, Copeland and his wife, Pat, moved to Anna Maria Island and bought their home in Anna Maria. He worked as a bartender at Trader Jack’s in Bradenton Beach until the popular beachfront establishment closed in 1985. After working other bartending jobs, Copeland found his current and long-held occupation as a craftsman who makes custom furniture at his home workshop.
The Copelands raised their daughters, Layla Margarita and Anna Maria, in Anna Maria. Their adult daughters and their husbands, Kevin Griffith and Norris Nolan, have now blessed them with two grandsons, George and Lou, and one granddaughter, Lily.
Community service
Copeland’s city service began when Mayor Ray Simches urged him to join the city’s development committee. He then played an instrumental role in designing, developing and maintaining the Historical Park on Pine Avenue, which was a city dump at the time.
Copeland secured the donation of 15 palm trees for the city’s beach walkway at Bean Point and later rallied volunteers to landscape the beach area with native trees, plants and grasses. Transforming that scrubby path into a lush beach pathway earned him a Keep Manatee Beautiful award.
In 2003, Copeland resigned from the Planning and Zoning Board after more than 20 years and several stints as chairman. He returned to the board from 2005 to 2009 and led the board’s efforts to revise the city’s land development regulations to bring them into compliance with the city’s comprehensive plan.
In 2011, Mayor Mike Selby asked Copeland to serve on a committee tasked with making additional revisions to the land development regulations.
Accolades offered
Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy, The Sun’s 2018 Person of the Year, said of this year’s recipient: “I am very pleased that the Sun has recognized Doug as their Person of the Year. He has contributed so much to our city, making it a better place to live. I have valued his creativity, his judgment and most of all his friendship over the past years,” Murphy said.
“Doug is most deserving of this recognition,” Anna Maria Commissioner Carol Carter said. “His work on our comprehensive plan with the Planning and Zoning Board and as a commissioner constitute an extraordinary gift to Anna Maria and our Island way of life. Personally, I always valued Doug’s insights when we workshopped issues or discussed topics at commission meetings.”
Holmes Beach resident Scott Moore has been Copeland’s friend for decades.
“Doug is a true islander. I met Doug at Trader Jack’s in the 70s, when Trader Jack’s was the place to be. Doug is a very caring person and he really cares about the Island. He made reasonable judgments when it came to city government and he’s done a really good job up there,” Moore said.
“He raised a beautiful family and he’s a great family man and father. I can’t think of a better person to get this award. Doug and I were talking the other day at Publix. We said we’ve seen big changes on the Island, but we still love it and it’s our home,” Moore said.
ANNA MARIA – As one of his final acts as an Anna Maria commissioner, Doug Copeland requested the adoption of a city resolution that urges federal and state legislators to support the long-delayed ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment.
Copeland did not seek reelection in November and his time in office will officially end on Thursday, Dec. 5. The Thursday, Nov. 14 commission meeting was Copeland’s final regularly scheduled city meeting. At that meeting, City Attorney Becky Vose introduced Resolution R19-753.
“This was specifically requested by Commissioner Copeland,” Vose said.
Copeland then said, “It came to my attention that there are concurrent bills in the Florida Legislature – the House and the Senate – supporting the ERA. It’s the 100th anniversary of women getting the right to vote. It’s been 40 years since the ERA was first sent out to the states. Thirty-seven of them have passed it; 38 are required. Florida could and should be the state this year that could put it over the top. I’m more confident that the state of Virginia will do that this year.
“I would have a hard time if I were asked to explain to my wife, daughters and granddaughter why I have rights guaranteed in the Constitution that they don’t. I think it’s time that women are recognized with the same rights as men,” Copeland said.
The resolution notes an amendment to the U.S. Constitution must be ratified by three-fourths of the 50 states.
“Congress finally passed the Equal Rights Amendment in 1972, but then limited the time for ratification for the necessary 38 states to seven years. By 1979, only 35 states had ratified the Equal Rights Amendment. Since 1979, two more states have ratified the Equal Rights Amendment, but the 37 states still fall just one state short,” the resolution says.
“The time limit has run out for the 38 states,” Copeland said. “There’s legislation being proposed in Washington that would extend that time limit, so I encourage the city to pass this resolution.”
Copeland was referencing S.J. Resolution 6, which was introduced to the U.S. Senate in January.
The commission unanimously adopted resolution R19-753 and copies will be sent to the governor and the state Legislature urging them to make Florida the 38th state to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment.
Thanks given
Before serving multiple terms as a city commissioner, Copeland served on the Planning and Zoning Board for approximately 20 years. As a commissioner, Copeland also recently represented Anna Maria Island on the Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC).
Copeland’s final meeting provided his peers with the opportunity to recognize his service to the city.
“Thank you for all you’ve done to help me since I’ve been the mayor,” Mayor Dan Murphy said. “You’ve made my job easy, you’ve made it rewarding and you’ve made it fun in spite of the arguments we’ve gotten into. You leave behind a tremendous legacy of contributions.”
Murphy said one of Copeland’s many contributions was the development of Gulf Front Park, the coastal preserve that extends from Oak Avenue to Magnolia Avenue. Murphy said Copeland helped secure TDC funds for that project.
“Jon Crane’s got some tough shoes to fill,” Murphy said of Copeland’s incoming successor.
Commissioner Carol Carter praised Copeland for his knowledge, his historical perspective and his understanding of city ordinances.
“Your good humor was always a credit to you too,” Carter said.
Copeland thanked Murphy for making his time as commissioner so rewarding.
“I want to thank the various commissioners for the work we’ve done. We haven’t always agreed, but after a decision was made there wasn’t backbiting and infighting. We worked together as a team. I want to thank the voters for allowing me to serve,” Copeland said.
He then thanked the city staff.
“This city is so fortunate with the staff we have. Everyone does their job, they work hard, they care about the city and are always helpful. I appreciate all the time they’ve given me, and I just wanted to say thank you,” Copeland said.
“I want to personally thank Commissioner Copeland for his service that goes back many, many years,” Commissioner Amy Tripp said.
Vose then said, “I really enjoyed working with you. It made my job easier, particularly when you were the chair. You’ve just done an incredible job. I’ve see seen a lot of city commissioners in different cities and you’re really good. I’m going to miss you.”
City Clerk LeAnne Addy said, “I want to thank Doug for being a commissioner and teaching all my staff and everyone else all that we have learned.”
ANNA MARIA – In the city elections that concluded Tuesday, Nov. 5, Anna Maria voters adopted three charter amendments proposed by the Charter Review Commission.
Running with no opposition, incumbent Anna Maria Commissioner Carol Carter and former Planning and Zoning Board Chairman Jonathan Crane won city commission seats. A third commission seat will be filled by commission appointment in January.
Former Planning and Zoning Board Chairman Jonathan Crane will soon be sworn in as a city commissioner. – Jonathan Crane | Submitted
Charter amendments
According to the unofficial results posted at the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections website, 242 Anna Maria voters (91.32 percent) supported Anna Maria Amendment 1 and 23 voters (8.68 percent) opposed it. Anna Maria Amendment 1 said: “Shall the Anna Maria city charter be amended to provide that any city commission member or the mayor shall forfeit such office if he or she is found by the Florida Commission on Ethics to have violated any portion of the Code of Ethics for public officials and employees found in Chapter 112, Florida Statutes?”
A total of 228 voters (86.36 percent) supported Anna Maria Amendment 2 and 36 voters (13.64 percent) opposed it. Anna Maria Amendment 2 said: “Shall the Anna Maria city charter be amended to provide that the mayor’s appointment of a city treasurer shall be subject to the approval of the city commission?”
A total of 235 voters (89.02 percent) supported Anna Maria Amendment 3 and 29 voters 10.98 percent) opposed it. Anna Maria Amendment 3 said: “Shall the Anna Maria city charter be amended to make technical, corrective and conforming changes to the charter to correct scrivener’s and grammatical errors, conform city investment activity, the enactment of emergency ordinances, and certain referendum requirements to current state law, and add clarifications to make the charter easier to read and understand?”
As of August, the city of Anna Maria had 1,076 registered voters.
These are the unofficial results for the charter amendment question votes. – Manatee County Supervisor of Elections | Submitted
Commission seats
Carter will serve a fourth consecutive term and Crane will join a commission that also includes Commissioners Amy Tripp and Mark Short.
City Clerk LeAnne Addy said Carter and Crane will be sworn in at the city commission’s Dec. 5 organizational meeting. At that time, the newly-reconfigured commission will select a chair and a vice-chair. As vice-chair, Carter became the commission chair after Commissioner Brian Seymour resigned in August.
Looking ahead to her next term, Carter said, “I’m honored to serve the residents of Anna Maria for the fourth time. There’s much I want to do to help my neighbors:
Present sea-level rise town hall meeting with John Englander on Dec 10;
Continued lobbying for home rule with Florida legislators;
Complete flash drive video for state legislators to illustrate the progress in Anna Maria and Holmes Beach on how well local home rule is working by inspecting and certifying vacation rentals for the health and safety of both visitors and residents;
Present Love Anna Maria Island community programs starting with our Thanks-Living community dinner on Nov. 27;
Continue representing Anna Maria with the Manasota League of Cities;
and continue to support Mayor Dan Murphy’s efforts to get the new City Pier open and operating,” Carter said.
Crane recently resigned from his position as the Planning and Zoning Board chair in order to transition into his new role as a city commissioner.
“I’m very happy to be able to serve the people of Anna Maria in this new way,” Crane said.
Vacant seat
The soon-to-be-vacated commission seat that was not filled during this election cycle is currently held by multi-term Commissioner Dale Woodland. Woodland will vacate that seat in early December because he failed to qualify for the 2019 city elections.
Long-time Commissioner Dale Woodland hopes to get appointed to another term in office. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
The Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Office disqualified Woodland after the qualifying period close because he paid his qualifying fee with a personal check instead of using a check drawn from a campaign account.
Woodland and Commissioner Doug Copeland will remain on the commission until the organizational meeting takes place on Dec. 5, and they will still participate in the Thursday, Nov. 14 commission meeting as voting members.
Commissioner Doug Copeland’s time in office will end in December. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Addy said the seat being vacated by Woodland would be filled by commission appointment in early January. Woodland already said he will apply for the seat in hopes of getting appointed to the commission seat he’s been elected to several times in the past.
