I love to write. I didn’t come to writing from anything I learned in “J” school, where I never went, but rather in the school of hard knocks, working in business in New York City. Funny thing about writing, when I look back at the words I put on paper, my reaction is, “Who wrote that?” Sometimes writing is like an out-of-body experience; you know you wrote it but have no memory of doing it.
When I wrote last year’s hurricane column, we were experiencing a down real estate market and the idea of the hurricane season approaching wasn’t making that fact any easier to accept. Based on the April sales statistics in last week’s column, we’re still in a slow market, which may be a serious understatement. It’s been a challenging year for real estate, and we won’t know what happens next until we get into the fall and the buyers and sellers have had a year to forget and relax.
Since real estate sales is such a vital component to the economy as a whole, everyone is holding their breath waiting to see what storms we may be looking at. I have decided not to read any of the predictions and close my eyes and ears every time I hear the Colorado State University forecast as my personal self-preservation tactic. That’s not to say when one gets close, we don’t still all need to prepare.
After last year, if you live on the Island and along the coast, have your evacuation plan in place. Food, medications, first aid kit, flashlights, batteries, radios, cash and some clothing. I remember last year there was a chance the water supply may not be available a few days after the storm so store some drinking water and water for flushing and washing. Last year for the first time, I took my homeowner’s and auto insurance policies when I evacuated and actually looked at them the day after the storm. I’m guessing this year generators will be a hot item to purchase, so if you’re planning on getting one, do it now.
When you leave, secure your property – lock everything tight – because last year, there was so much damage residents couldn’t get home and there were reports of vandals. Get out or roll down your window and door protections and put away any outdoor furniture or plants that can become airborne. Turn off utilities, particularly gas, and don’t leave your refrigerator and freezer with any raw meat that could damage your refrigerator if power is off for several days.
Manatee County’s website has extensive information and guidance for after the storm. And remember that the FEMA value of your property now appears on county records along with tons of information going forward if you have damage.
Hurricane Helene was Sept. 24, 2024 and Hurricane Milton was Oct. 5, 2024. These were historic events that we pray won’t repeat themselves. Whatever the predictions are, don’t tell me the stress of anticipation is almost as bad as the actual storm. Florida is a big state, so storms have a very long coastline to choose from when striking.
I’m sure when I reread this column next year, I again won’t believe I wrote these words. If I can stick to my not listening to predictions vow, it will be a miracle.
Memorial Day marks exactly eight months since Hurricane Helene flooded Anna Maria Island.
Many friends have left the Island since then, and it was not anyone’s first choice, nor did any leave on their own terms.
My friends, mostly older, had a variety of reasons.
Their kids were concerned about them evacuating before the next storm and staying alone in a hotel for days, weeks or months. Many friends moved closer to their adult children, which is often inevitable – but many left before they were ready.
Some left because it proved too hard to evacuate for days and weeks with dogs or cats or birds; in some cases, there were pet casualties.
Some left because of the likelihood of huge impending homeowners association assessments to pay for damage, and the inevitability of higher monthly dues, forcing out those on fixed incomes.
Some left because a developer shut down their trailer park.
Some left because developers have been snapping up distressed properties after the storm and intend to build three stories on both sides of neighbors who don’t want to live in a shadowy concrete canyon.
Many had so much damage to their homes they couldn’t afford to pay for it, leading to further gentrification on AMI. Everyone has heard the insurance companies’ 2024-25 mantra, “It’s not covered,” followed by citations to obscure policy provisions that no one ever reads before signing, because everyone was just happy to be able to qualify for any flood insurance on a barrier island.
Even some investors I know are planning to leave, because while they were safe and sound with all their possessions in their northern homes during Helene, they were terrified of losing their investment properties watching national news about AMI.
Most people I know made a list of pros and cons before deciding to leave.
On the pro side, there’s the beautiful, sparkling, magical Gulf of Mexico with its dolphins and manatees and sunsets, its sea turtles, shorebirds and coquinas, its reef fish, waves and clouds, its moonsets, peace and beauty.
On the con side, there’s the raging, unpredictable, fierce Gulf of Mexico, with its floodwaters pushing several feet of sand into our homes, its theft of protective sand dunes, leaving the beaches flat and unappealing, its slaughter of sea oats and sea grapes and palm trees and saw palmettos and yellow beach sunflowers and purple railroad vines, its insidious approach closer to beachfront properties – and that’s not an optical illusion.
Many of us spent a lot of time trying to identify all the lesser cons to justify our decisions to leave – the Island’s horrible traffic problems during season, the loss of Old Florida to mega-mansions, the red tide, the difficulty getting and paying for insurance, the already-dwindling supply of friends and neighbors.
But let’s not kid ourselves. All of that pales in comparison to the trauma that everyone experienced to one degree or the other, according to our temperaments and the extent of our bad luck, after Helene and Milton, which – in case we missed the prophecy of Helene – came two weeks later to underline it.
When you boil it all down, it’s hurricanes making everyone flee the Island.
Including, after 23 years on the beach, me.
I was the last person in the world my neighbor thought would ever leave, and she was the last person in the world I thought would ever leave, but, to our mutual surprise, both of us are leaving.
The Gulf looms in my mind as a potential danger now, not the haven it always was since my childhood, when crossing the Manatee Avenue bridge to the Island and watching the pelicans glide over the bridge’s edge always promised a happy day of surfing, sunbathing and fun with friends ahead.
Now, it’s a blackhearted lover who lulled us into a false sense of security while planning a malicious betrayal behind the scenes that left us in pieces.
The Gulf never promised us anything, but we decided that it was good and true and beautiful and could never harm us. We wanted it to be so with all our hearts and thought that our faith and deep love for it would make it so.
But in its depths, it held the power to destroy our lives, homes and businesses, and with the dispassionate approach of an executioner, with no opportunity to have a trial, plead for mercy, or even say goodbye, it did.
So goodbye, beach, with your wild, creative and destructive beauty; goodbye, lifelong dream of a lifelong beachfront cottage; goodbye backyard surfing and swimming and sunsets.
We who reluctantly leave graduate on to the next thing, whatever that may be, as survivors – stronger in some ways, weaker in others – but always, always Island girls and boys in our hearts.
ANNA MARIA – For their dedication and service during and after Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024, Sgt. Brett Getman and Manatee County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) Deputies Edward Aleppo, Matt Daugherty, Michael Lesselroth, James McDermott Jr., JoAnn Parkinson and Adam Resnick were honored as the deputies of the month for March.
Anna Maria Mayor Mark Short recognized and praised Getman and the Anna Maria Unit deputies during the May 8 city commission meeting, with Getman accompanied by Lt. John Wren.
Anna Maria Mayor Mark Short, left, praised Sgt. Brett Getman, center, and his deputies, with Lt. John Wren, right. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Short read aloud the proclamation-like media release provided by the Sheriff’s Office and dated March 25.
“In the wake of Hurricane Helene’s devastating impact on Anna Maria Island, several deputies from the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office Anna Maria Island Unit went above and beyond the call of duty, demonstrating exceptional bravery, leadership and commitment to the community,” Short said.
“Hurricane Helene caused significant storm surge, leaving nearly every business and residence on the Island damaged. The city was without power for two days, and cellular service, email, and text communication were unavailable, isolating residents. Roads were flooded, damaged and largely impassable. Amid these challenging conditions, Sgt. Brett Getman, Dep. Edward Aleppo, Dep. Matt Daugherty, Dep. Michael Lesselroth, Dep. James McDermott Jr., Dep. JoAnn Parkinson and Dep. Adam Resnick showed extraordinary dedication to serving the community.
“Before the storm made landfall, Sgt. Getman demonstrated exceptional leadership by preparing ahead of time and coordinating relief efforts. He ensured that essential equipment was properly secured and that his team was ready to face the challenges. His planning allowed the deputies to act swiftly and effectively once the storm had passed,” Short said.
“After the storm, each deputy volunteered to work overtime, sacrificing time with their own families to serve the residents of Anna Maria Island. They responded to numerous calls for service, often putting their safety at risk by traversing through high waters and navigating severely damaged infrastructure. Many homes were inaccessible, yet the deputies pressed forward, checking on stranded individuals and ensuring their well-being.
“One of the most significant contributions they made was re-establishing communication between families. With cellular service down, families off the Island had no way of knowing the status of their loved ones. The deputies went door to door, checking on residents and relaying critical information to concerned family members. This act of compassion and service helped bring peace of mind to many who were left in the dark during a time of crisis.
“For their bravery, leadership and unwavering commitment during and after Hurricane Helene, Sgt. Brett Getman, Dep. Edward Aleppo, Dep. Matt Daugherty, Dep. Michael Lesselroth, Dep. James McDermott, Dep. JoAnn Parkinson, and Dep. Adam Resnick have been named Deputies of the Month for March 2025,” Short said in conclusion.
After receiving a warm round of applause, Getman said, “Thank you, mayor. Thank you, commissioners.”
BRADENTON BEACH – City commissioners unanimously approved an extension of the waiver of permit fees for storm-damage related repairs until July 17.
City Building Official Bill Palmer gave an update on permits, removal of substantially damaged properties and an ongoing FEMA review at the April 17 city commission meeting.
“You brought up the timeframe was running out for permits due to the storms, we wanted to know whether we were going to continue extending that,” Mayor John Chappie said. “Are most of the applications coming in today for storm damage?”
“They look to me like they’re legitimate storm damage and people sign affidavits saying they are,” Palmer said. “It has slowed down quite a bit.”
“I think we need to extend it,” Commissioner Deborah Scaccianoce. “I’m not the only person having insurance issues and I know for everyone here in the city it would help to get it extended.”
Palmer said code enforcement will also be concentrating on houses that were substantially damaged in the hurricanes.
“We need to eventually clean them up,” Palmer said. “I understand it takes time, but we need to follow up with the owners and see where they’re at.”
Palmer also updated commissioners about an ongoing city FEMA post-hurricane review.
“They’ve been coming here and holding meetings with us. We had two since I’ve been here.”
Palmer started as city Building Official on March 5.
He said the last meeting with three FEMA representatives was attended by Chappie, City Attorney Ricinda Perry, Floodplain Administrator Sandy Tudor and himself.
“It was a productive meeting. They asked us questions and I think they were satisfied with the answers we gave them,” Palmer said. “One of the gentlemen made a comment to us-I think you’re moving in the right direction. I think we’ll have more meetings. We’re doing everything right and everything we can to the best of our ability.”
Palmer said he is working on Standard Operating Procedures for damage assessment.
“I think that will move us ahead with them,” he said.
Scaccianoce asked Palmer about reviews of prior permits.
“Bill, I know we had some issues before you got here with work that was done, and I’ll just use the AC’s on the ground as an example, that we had to go back to work on permits that were approved that maybe shouldn’t have been, and the work was done. Are we still working on those kinds of things?”
“Yes Sandy’s been working on reviewing all the permits that possibly were issued incorrectly,” Palmer said.
ANNA MARIA – City resident and Anna Maria Island Sail & Power Squadron member David Haddox helped the city determine which buoys and waterway markers remain in place, which markers are missing as result of Hurricanes Helene and Milton and who is responsible for replacing them.
Haddox chairs the city’s Planning and Zoning Board, is the Past Commander of Anna Maria Island Sail & Power Squadron and currently serves as Rear Commander for America’s Boating Club | United States Power Squadrons.
When presenting his findings to the Anna Maria City Commission on April 10, Haddox said, “The mayor asked me, based on my power squadron experience, to assist him with a program to try to identify waterway markers surrounding the city of Anna Maria that are missing or off-station.”
He used the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) interactive online Uniform Waterway Marker Map to identify the locations of the buoys and waterway markers on record with the state agency. Clicking on the icon for each waterway marker identifies its permitted latitude and longitude, the message displayed on the marker, the permit number and more.
The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit, Haddox, AMI Sail & Power Squadron member Jay Winters and the city’s general manager, Dean Jones, went out by boat and visually identified the remaining and missing markers.
They also identified some markers not shown on the FWC map, including markers in Bimini Bay that mark the channel for safe navigation in and out of Anna Maria’s residential canals and five nautical dayboard markers at the entrance to Bimini Bay permitted to the West Coast Inland Navigation District (WCIND). The WCIND markers remain in place but a couple are damaged. According to Haddox, there were no markers in Lake La Vista before the hurricanes hit.
Using PowerPoint and the FWC map, Haddox created a map that indicates which waterway markers remain and which are missing; all but two of the 21 markers that should surround the city of Anna Maria are missing. Using the permit numbers listed on the FWC map, Haddox contacted the FWC and the U.S. Coast Guard to identify the permit holder for each marker in the “string of pearls” that is supposed to surround the city.
The icons marked with a Ø symbol indicate a missing waterway marker; and all but two markers offshore of Anna Maria are missing. The dotted blue line indicates the city limits. – David Haddox | Submitted
The missing markers include four vessel exclusion markers permitted to the city and previously located offshore of Bayfront Park. As the permit holder, the city is responsible for replacing those markers, which prohibit motorized vessels from entering that offshore area often used by swimmers.
“It is a crime to bring a vessel between those markers and shore because we don’t want people and propellors in the same water at the same time,” Haddox said. “The sheriff’s office will be enforcing that once we get those markers put back.”
Haddox said a portion of the vessel exclusion zone created by the initial positioning of the four waterway markers overlaps the channel leading in and out of Lake La Vista. This resulted in boaters inadvertently and unknowingly passing through the vessel exclusion zone. According to Haddox, FWC approved repositioning the replacement markers in a manner that will remedy this concern.
one of the missing vessel exclusion markers was discovered in the channel that connects to Lake La Vista and will be correctly repositioned outside the channel.
Most of the other markers displayed on the FWC map list Manatee County as the permit holder and Haddox said the city would notify the county about the missing markers the county is responsible for replacing. Haddox also contacted Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer and the Holmes Beach city planner regarding some missing markers in that city’s waters.
Pier debris
At Mayor Mark Short’s request, Haddox also helped the city obtain FWC approval to temporarily place four “Danger” waterway markers on each side of missing City Pier walkway, where concrete pilings and other debris is submerged or partially submerged where the pier walkway previously stood.
Haddox said unlike the legally enforceable vessel exclusion zones, the “Danger” signs placed near the pier will be informational only and not subject to sheriff’s office enforcement.
“They might see someone doing it and suggest that’s a bad idea, but the vessel exclusion you can actually get a ticket for,” Haddox said.
“Danger” markers will be placed along both sides of the City Pier hurricane debris field where submerged and partially submerged debris poses a potential danger to boaters passing through it. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Short said, “I want to thank you and the power squadron for stepping in and helping us with this project. I don’t think we have anybody on staff that even remotely would qualify to do what you guys do and we really appreciate it.”
Short asked Haddox to share some information he obtained on the city’s behalf regarding a WCIND grant program for placing or replacing waterway markers.
“We are applying for reimbursement. The grant, if it’s awarded, will be awarded on Oct. 1, Haddox said. It’s entirely likely this entire project will be paid for WCIND and not cost the city a thing.”
ANNA MARIA – The Anna Maria City Pier hurricane damage inspection and report provided by Kisinger Campo & Associates cost the city $25,738.
During the city commission’s March 27 meeting, Mayor Mark Short further addressed the inspection report he previously discussed on March 13.
Short told city commissioners the pilings and the walkway support system were likely weakened by Hurricane Helene’s wave action and storm surge last September and that structural weakening contributed to a 75- to 100-yard portion of the pier walkway disappearing as a result of Hurricane Milton’s hurricane-force winds in early October.
Page 7 of the 35-page report, which lists a Dec. 30 inspection date, says, “Based on our observations, it is assumed that the pier piles failed due to a combination of wind, waves and storm surge during the hurricane. The intense wave action and storm surge may have scoured the seabed, reduced the embedment depth of the piles and compromised their stability. Additionally, the piles may have experienced excessive bending and shear stresses from wind-driven waves, potentially leading to structural buckling or displacement. The combination of these factors likely caused the piles to lose their load-bearing capacity, resulting in the progressive collapse of the remaining portions of the pier.”
The Anna Maria City Pier will remain closed until a new pier walkway is constructed. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
On March 27, Short noted the inspection was conducted by the Kisinger Campo & Associates firm that also provided the detailed inspection report. Short said the inspection was not conducted by the George F. Young engineering firm that is designing and engineering the new pier walkway, which will extend from the shoreline to the T-end of the pier.
Regarding the cost of the inspection, Short said, “For the record, the city of Anna Maria has a contract with George F. Young for $347,000 for the initial work related to the pier. Over 70% of that is for the design and engineering of the new walkway. $25,738 of that total was for the inspection. George F. Young did not do the inspection. It was done by a group called Kisinger Campo & Associates, out of Tallahassee. The $25,000 inspection focused principally and primarily on the condition of what was left of the pier and the T-end, as well as the condition of the pilings that were under water.”
This photo included in the inspection report shows where the walkway was ripped away during Hurricane Milton last October. – Kisinger Campo & Associates | Submitted
Continuing, Short said, “Just over $25,000 of the $347,000 contract was spent for the inspection. That inspection was required by the Army Corps of Engineers. It’s required by DEP (Florida Department of Environmental Protection). It’s required for anybody who’s going to come in to rebuild our pier. I just wanted to set the record straight about what the contract was really for.”
Reasonable expense
Now retired, Commissioner John Lynch spent 35 years working in various supply chain, manufacturing and innovation management roles for Proctor & Gamble. While participating in the March 27 commission meeting by phone, Lynch said he reviewed the inspection report and felt the inspection costs were reasonable.
“Based on my professional experience, first and foremost, the transparency of providing that today is very helpful,” Lynch said. “The overall cost, as well as the specific inspection cost, are not out of line with what my experience has been professionally in managing similar types of projects. I think it’s important that you are setting the record straight in terms of what was spent in each category and that those are ordinary and reasonable costs as we go into this pier rebuild.”
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Six months ago this week, the Island was emerging from Hurricane Helene’s flooding a week earlier, and was a week away from being hit by Hurricane Milton.
Helene’s storm surge on Sept. 26 created 4 feet of flooding in many places in the three Island cities, with many Bradenton Beach homes destroyed and homes and businesses throughout the Island suffering significant flood damage or destruction. On Oct. 9, Milton added wind damage to the flooding. Since then, most Island businesses have reopened, but some remain closed as repairs continue. Some businesses will not reopen.
Hurricane Helene collapsed this Bradenton Beach home. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
The Anna Maria Island Moose Lodge in Bradenton Beach suffered severe storm surge damage and has not reopened yet but the repairs are underway and the lodge’s bar area and social quarters are expected to reopen at some point soon.
The AMI Moose Lodge in Bradenton Beach was among the first structures to be hit by Hurricane Helene’s storm surge. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Many mobile home residents in the Pines Trailer Park in Bradenton Beach remain displaced, and on March 28, the Pines Trailer Park Homeowners Association Inc. filed a lawsuit against the Pines Park Investors LLC park ownership group headed by Shawn Kaleta.
Island-wide, hundreds of vacation rental homes and other lodging accommodations were badly damaged but many have been repaired and reopened and are once again providing lodging for the tourists and visitors that drive the Island’s tourism-reliant economy.
The storm surge and flooding also damaged and destroyed many automobiles, golf carts, scooters and other forms of transportation.
This vehicle came to rest atop an air conditioning unit in Bradenton Beach. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Hurricane Helene’s storm surge left many Island roadways covered with displaced sand that had to be removed before those roadways became usable again. Helene also produced massive amounts of household and landscaping debris that required the large-scale debris removal undertakings that continued in all three Island cities for several weeks after Hurricane Milton created more debris piles.
Holmes Beach
When asked about the recovery process at the six-month mark, Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth said, “The response and recovery of Hurricane Helene was the most challenging catastrophe to have hit the Island cities. Since becoming mayor, one of my main objectives was to improve our emergency operations response and recovery plan and to have required emergency training for all staff so that in the event we were to be hit by a catastrophic hurricane, we would be able to be successful in our response and recovery efforts.”
Sand deposited by Hurricane Helene’s storm surge had to be removed from this Holmes Beach street. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“We were tested this past year and I couldn’t be more proud of our city staff and our citizens in how much has been accomplished in the past six months. The public works department, building department, code compliance department and the police department all faced tremendous challenges and were successful in carrying out their missions.
“The majority of our businesses are back open, many of our residents are back in their homes and our vacationers have returned. I thank the Manatee County Emergency Operations Center team for their assistance as well as our county, state and federal leaders,” Titsworth said.
On March 25, Holmes Beach Director of Development Services Chad Minor said the city has issued more than 2,000 post-hurricane building permits and 44 demolition permits and most of those permits are hurricane-related.
Anna Maria
Hurricanes Helene and Milton damaged homes, businesses and city assets throughout the city of Anna Maria. The combined forces of the two hurricanes destroyed the privately-owned Rod & Reel Pier and washed away a significant portion of the city-owned Anna Maria City Pier walkway.
Hurricane Helene weakened the City Pier support structure and Hurricane Milton then removed a large segment of the pier walkway. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Rod & Reel Pier owner Oliver Lemke hopes to the rebuild the iconic pier and pier restaurant he bought in November, 2023.
Hurricane Helene inflicted heavy damage on the Rod & Reel Pier, above, and Hurricane Milton later wiped out most of what remained. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
The engineering process for the construction of a new City Pier walkway is well underway but no timetable has been provided as to when the construction of the new walkway will begin.
The displaced Anna Maria Post Office continues to operate inside a large trailer at City Pier Park while the repairs continue at the nearby building space leased to the U.S. Postal Service.
Six months into the ongoing recovery process, Anna Maria Mayor Mark Short said, “After six months, I am proud to say that almost every business that decided to reopen is open, the significant repair work in the city is complete, except for City Pier, and now we are focused on a number of smaller items.
“Property owners continue to be challenged with getting their repair and renovation work completed, but every day we see progress and I look forward to the day that Helene and Milton are part of a ‘do you remember’ conversation,” Short said.
Bradenton Beach Mayor John Chappie did not respond to The Sun’s request for comments.
The historic Annie’s Bait and Tackle Shop in Cortez, a victim of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, is slated for demolition within 30 days. - Leslie Lake | Sun
Annie's Bait and Tackle is part of the Seafood Shack property now owned by the county. - Leslie Lake | Sun
HOLMES BEACH – The parrots that live at the Sun and Surf Beach Shop, 5418 Marina Drive, are back at their familiar perch.
On Oct. 7, two days before Hurricane Milton struck, the parrots were relocated to the Birds of Paradise sanctuary in Bradenton founded and operated by Debbie Huckaby. That ordeal required five vehicles, numerous dog crates and a U-Haul truck to transport the large parrot cages that are once again wheeled back inside the store each night.
On Oct. 7, the Sun and Surf parrots were evacuated before Hurricane Milton arrived. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
On March 8, the parrots spent their first day outside the store again. A visit to Sun and Surf on March 11 found store owner Jennifer Moore feeding and caring for her avian friends while waiting for her business in Holmes Beach to reopen, which she expects to happen very soon.
The parrots have been part of the Sun and Surf business for 30 years. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
After expressing her thanks for Huckaby and the Birds of Paradise sanctuary, Moore said,
“The birds are back. They don’t like change and they’re so happy to be back in their home environment. They missed the sunshine and salt air. They definitely missed our customers and we’re looking forward to our customers coming back soon.”
Congo is a cross between a green-winged macaw and a scarlet macaw. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
The parrots have been part of the Sun and Surf business operations in The Island Shopping Center for 30 years. Moore’s step-dad, Marty Duytschaver, founded the store in 1983.
Duytschaver and Moore’s mom, Heather, shared a love for parrots that eventually became part of the Sun and Surf business model for the store that sells clothing, shoes, swimwear, accessories, beach supplies, souvenirs and more. The Sun and Surf website touts the business as “The Store with the Birds.” Marty and Heather are now retired and live in Michigan.
The parrot cages are wheeled inside the store at night. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“My parents, the original owners, would rescue them and adopt them out,” Moore said. “I came in when I was 11 and I’ve taken over the store.”
Sun and Surf owner Jennifer Moore cares for the beloved mascots. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Regarding the current parrot population, Moore said, “They are not for sale. This is their forever home and these birds are our forever babies. They’re the mascots of the store and sort of an accidental attraction.
“Birdie is the oldest bird here. She’s in her 50s. We adopted her from a lady who had to go into a nursing home. She had her for 30 years and we’ve had her for something like 20 years now. She sings ‘Old McDonald had a Farm,’ she loves opera and she brings a lot of joy to the store. And Buddy is our greeter.
Birdie’s more than 50 years old and she’s still going strong. – Jennifer Moore | Submitted
“All these birds bring a lot of joy to people. They have their own little fan club and people look forward to seeing our birds every year. They sing songs with them, dance with them and the birds get socialization every day. It makes the store a little different than all the other stores on the Island. It’s something we’ve done for 30 years and the birds are part of the Island. They made their mark and it makes the Island even more special,” Moore said.
Yosemite Sam was hatched in 1995. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Sun and Surf employee Lori Kee later said of the parrots’ return: “We’re very happy and that was an emotional day.”
HOLMES BEACH – The city of Holmes Beach donated $5,000 to the Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Center Inc. to assist that non-profit organization’s ongoing hurricane recovery efforts.
In February, Wildlife Inc. volunteer and Holmes Beach Planning Commissioner Gale Tedhams encouraged the city and the Island community to support the struggling animal rescue and rehabilitation center that Gail and Ed Straight have operated from their Bradenton Beach home for nearly 40 years.
The Straight’s home and property were severely damaged by Hurricanes Helene and Milton at a time when Ed was already dealing with significant health issues. Tedhams encouraged folks to make an online donation at the “Hurricane Relief Fund for Wildlife Inc” GoFundMe page.
Wildlife Inc. volunteer Gale Tedhams encourages the community to support the Bradenton Beach-based organization. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
During the Feb. 25 city commission meeting, Commissioner Terry Schaefer suggested the city immediately increase its annual $750 donation to $2,500. “They are experiencing terrific financial difficulties and most of here are aware of what they do in our community,” he said.
Mayor Judy Titsworth suggested continuing the $2,500 donation in future years to support the area’s primary animal rescue organization. Commissioner Carol Whitmore suggested making a $5,000 contribution now and donating $2,500 in future years.
“They’ve lost everything. I really think they need help,” Whitmore said.
The commission unanimously supported Whitmore’s suggestion. As of March 19, the “Hurricane Relief Fund for Wildlife Inc” GoFundMe page had raised more than $38,000 and donations are still being accepted.
ANNA MARIA – The combined impacts of Hurricanes Helene and Milton caused the Anna Maria City Pier walkway to fail, according to an inspection report provided by the George F. Young engineering firm.
Mayor Mark Short shared this information during the March 13 city commission meeting after receiving the requested report the previous week.
Short said the engineering firm concluded that during Hurricane Helene, the waves and storm surge under the pier walkway pushed the walkway upward and stressed the walkway and the concrete pilings supporting it.
The Anna Maria City Pier will remain closed until the pier walkway is replaced. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“That loosened everything up and when the winds of Milton came two weeks later, that was all that was needed to blow it down and knock it over,” Short told the commission. “It was a combination of the two. It got stressed from the surge pushing from the bottom up and the winds came from the top down and caused the failure.”
Based on our observations, it is assumed that the pier piles failed due to a combination of wind, waves, and storm surge during the hurricane. The intense wave action and storm surge may have scoured the seabed, reduced the embedment depth of the piles, and
compromised their stability. Additionally, the piles may have experienced excessive bending and shear stresses from wind-driven waves, potentially leading to structural buckling or displacement. The combination of these factors likely caused the piles to lose their loadbearing capacity, resulting in the progressive collapse of the remaining portions of the pier.
The 35-page report later provided by Short contains the following statement on page 7: “Based on our observations, it is assumed that the pier piles failed due to a combination of wind, waves and storm surge during the hurricane. The intense wave action and storm surge may have scoured the seabed, reduced the embedment depth of the piles and compromised their stability.
“Additionally, the piles may have experienced excessive bending and shear stresses from wind-driven waves, potentially leading to structural buckling or displacement. The combination of these factors likely caused the piles to lose their loadbearing capacity, resulting in the progressive collapse of the remaining portions of the pier,” the report says.
There’s currently no pedestrian access to the T-end of the City Pier. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
During the March 13 meeting, Short noted the hurricane-damaged walkway was built to different specifications than the T-end of the pier occupied by The City Pier Grill and the Mote Marine Science Education and Outreach Center.
Completed in 2020 after Hurricane Irma badly damaged the T-end buildings, the T-end decking and the wooden pier walkway in 2017, the T-end of the pier features a concrete foundation built atop solid concrete pilings and supported by concrete bents. The T-end of the pier and the pier buildings suffered minimal damage during Hurricanes Helene and Milton but the missing walkway leaves the end of the pier isolated with no pedestrian access.
Hurricane Irma tore the roof off the old City Pier bait shop building in 2017. – Joe Hendricks | SunHurricane Irma displaced the T-end decking in 2017. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
For cost saving purposes, the pier walkway completed in 2020 was built to lower specifications using wooden bents, stringers and support beams placed atop spun cast concrete pilings that are hollow in the center.
Short said the next step is the demolition and removal of the remaining walkway to be replaced with a new walkway built to higher specifications using stronger materials. According to General Manager Dean Jones, the new walkway will feature solid concrete pilings. Solid concrete pilings are generally more expensive than spun cast concrete pilings.
Short said the project engineers are about 60% done with the engineering and design work for the new walkway and the demolition and removal of the remaining walkway is the next step. A request for proposals (RFP) will soon be issued seeking proposals from demolition contractors. The RFP is currently being reviewed for full compliance with state and federal regulations.
The City Pier parking lot has been restored and reopened. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Short said a FEMA assessment team recently spent two days assessing the damage to the City Pier and is now processing the city’s claim seeking FEMA funds for the pier repairs.
“FEMA will come back to us with their estimate of how much they’re willing to pay to rebuild the walkway. It’s going to take a little time, but we need to know from FEMA what they’re willing to put in. We’re also working with the state and county but FEMA is extremely important in this process. It’s mission critical that we understand where the money’s going to come before we get too far down the path of rebuilding the pier,” Short said, noting he could not estimate how long the FEMA review process might take.
As an alternative or additional funding source for the pier repairs, the city recently requested up to $8 million of the $252.7 million Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) grant awarded to Manatee County by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Emotional plea
When offering public input, former Anna Maria Island resident and current Island realtor Linda Moore said her family moved to Anna Maria in 1969 and lived on the property now occupied by the North Shore Café.
“We lived here for 40 years. We loved the pier,” she said.
Former Anna Maria resident Linda Moore offered to help raise private sector funds if needed. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Moore said she helped get four benches installed on the old City Pier and when the new pier was built, four new benches were placed in the same locations. Three of those benches survived the recent hurricanes.
Moore said an old newspaper photo of her parents used to hang inside the bar at the Rod & Reel Pier that was also destroyed by the two hurricanes.
Hurricanes Helene and Milton also destroyed the privately-owned Rod & Reel Pier. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“As a realtor here for 21 years and a member of Roser Church for 50 years, I can tell you the City Pier is very vital to tourism and the memories of all of us that have been here – the newcomers and those of us who are second and third generation,” she said.
Moore said she visited the Mote Marine facility two days before Hurricane Helene struck. Getting emotional on the verge of tears, she said she’d help raise funds from the private sector if needed for the pending pier repairs.
“I want to be involved,” she said.
“I think we all feel the same sense of urgency,” Commissioner Charlie Salem said. “I know all of us are committed to get the pier back up and running as soon as we can.”
Salem expressed hope that constructing the new walkway with stronger materials will help it better withstand future hurricanes and storms.
North Shore Café owner Colleen Geller told Moore she could place a memorial bench for her parents at the café that now stands where Moore’s parents once lived.
BRADENTON – Featuring two new members and a new chairperson, the reconfigured Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC) recently met for the first time this year.
On Feb. 24, the council welcomed Holmes Beach City Commissioner Dan Diggins and Palmetto Marriott Resort Managing Director Tony DeRusso to the council now chaired by County Commissioner Amanda Ballard and steered at times by Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (BACVB) Executive Director Elliott Falcione.
Topics of discussion included the post-hurricane decline in tourist development tax revenues, post-hurricane tourism marketing efforts and a request to use $570,000 in tourist tax revenues for the Gulf Islands Ferry operations.
Tourist tax revenues
Michele Shulz, Director of Field Services and the Collections Department for the Manatee County Tax Collector, provided an update on the tax revenues generated by the 6% tourist development tax levied on hotel, motel, resort and short-term vacation rental stays (including Airbnb and Vrbo rentals) of six months or less in Manatee County. A significant portion of tourist tax revenues is generated on Anna Maria Island.
Michele Shulz provided an update on the hurricane-impacted tourist development tax revenues. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
In November, Manatee County voters approved increasing the 5% tourist tax to 6%. The increase took effect on Jan. 1 and is expected to generate an additional $7.8 million in tourist tax revenues during the current fiscal year. The 6% tax is paid by lodging guests, collected by the lodging providers and remitted to the tax collector’s office monthly.
TDC members review proposed tourist tax expenditures and make recommendations to the county commission that controls the use of the tax revenues, which, by state statute, can only be used to promote tourism and fund tourism-related projects and improvements.
Last year, tourist tax revenues exceeded $30 million for the first time.
“Out of 67 counties, we feel like we’re now in that elite group,” Shulz said. “That’s a testament to Elliott and all the work he’s been doing.”
She then addressed the hurricane impact on tourist tax revenues and said the county collected $1.21 million in November and $1.83 million in December.
“For November, we were down 17.71% and for December we were down 16.6%. I think January through April’s really going to tell the tale on how those areas are recovering that were really hard hit,” she said.
Shulz said the tax collector’s office had 8,645 active tourist development tax accounts in its system. She said about 100 accounts were deactivated between October and December because account holders were unable to rent their properties but 200 new accounts opened up.
“It’s a very fluid number. In a week, we might have a different number,” she said, noting that short-term rental units continue to come online as repairs are completed.
Comparing January 2024 to January 2025, Shulz said tourist tax collections countywide decreased about 9.3%, from $2.64 million to $2.4 million. She said the 1% tax increase and tourist tax revenues generated elsewhere in unincorporated Manatee County helped lessen the revenue gap.
Post-hurricane marketing
Falcione said he’s often asked why the BACVB continues to market Anna Maria Island and Bradenton when these areas are already so well-known on a national and a global level.
“My consistent response is to prepare for the next adversarial occurrence,” he said.
He mentioned the severe red tide outbreak in 2017 and the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 as past adverse events that have impacted tourism.
Regarding the back-to-back hurricanes, Falcione said, “It could have been a lot worse.”
BACVB Marketing and Communications Director Kolby Gayson then discussed the tourism-related marketing strategies employed as recovery efforts continue.
Kolby Gayson discussed Manatee County’s post-hurricane marketing efforts. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“These storms left us with a wake of damage we had not seen before. It left our barrier islands with devastation we have never experienced,” Gayson said.
Gayson said she and her team focused on three main points: Perception, messaging and how to recover lost visitation.
Gayson said two particular images symbolize the hurricane damage on Anna Maria Island: the fallen yellow multi-story home in Bradenton Beach and the destroyed Rod & Reel Pier in Anna Maria.
“This yellow house was on its pillars after Helene. Milton came through and knocked it off. Still to this day, people love to take pictures of it. This one image continues to perpetuate a negative image of destruction,” Gayson said.
She then referenced the Rod & Reel Pier that was badly damaged by Hurricane Helene and destroyed by Hurricane Milton.
The iconic Rod & Reel Pier was destroyed by the back-to-back hurricanes. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“You have a landmark that also is no longer in existence. That is something that has an emotional connection to visitors. When they see that it’s gone, they associate that with the state of the entirety of the destination,” Gayson said.
She noted the county used and uses social media influencers and out of state media outlets and publications to help promote the current status of the Island and the Island businesses.
Ferry expenditures
The TDC members unanimously recommended county commission approval of Falcione’s request to spend up to $570,000 in tourist tax revenues for county-contracted Gulf Islands Ferry operations.
Falcione seeks $350,000 for operational costs for the ferry operations that will soon include a larger third ferry boat that’s expected to begin service in July. He also seeks $120,000 to upgrade the Riverwalk Day Dock in downtown Bradenton for the overnight docking of the third ferry boat and up to $100,000 for renovations to the floating dock at the Bradenton Beach Pier that serves as a ferry landing.
Holmes Beach City Commissioner Dan Diggins and Cedar Cove Resort manager Eric Cairns serve as TDC members. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
When welcoming Diggins to the council at the beginning of the meeting, Falcione referenced the ongoing efforts to implement a Gulf Islands Ferry stop in Holmes Beach.
“Dan was an incredible steward working with our team to try to accommodate the water ferry in Holmes Beach. He hasn’t given up yet and we haven’t given up yet. We’re excited that you’re on the TDC,” Falcione said.
Ferry service to Anna Maria is discontinued until the hurricane-damaged City Pier is repaired and reopened or the county installs a standalone ferry landing between the pier and the Lake La Vista jetty.
To say that a combination of Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton less than two weeks apart changed the lives of everyone on Anna Maria Island and most of the coastal areas of Manatee County would be a gross understatement. Some areas came back sooner than others, but everyone was influenced by the storms and shocked at the amount of cleanup and repairs needed to get their lives back fully on track.
Last week we reviewed the Manatee County sales statistics provided by the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee along with their accompanying news release. Essentially, they’re saying our real estate market all over the county is changing to a buyer’s market, no surprise there. The surprise is how fast it happened and how fast fortunes can disappear.
I haven’t made a comparison of listings compared to pending properties in a long time, but in view of this month’s numbers, it’s probably time; please note the listings include all variety of properties.
Starting with the City of Anna Maria, as of this writing, there are 70 properties available for sale ranging from $20 million to $549,900. There are nine in the upper range above $6 million, 38 in the mid-range and 23 at $2 million and lower. The upper range listings had no pending properties, the mid-range had three pending properties and the lower range had five pending properties, for a total of eight pending properties out of 70 listings.
The combined cities of Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach had 232 listings as of this writing, ranging from $16,750,000 to $60,000. There were 14 properties in the upper range above $6 million, 46 properties in the mid-range and 30 properties in the lower range below $2 million. The upper range did not have any pending properties, the mid-range had two pending properties, and the lower range had 32 pending properties. The total listings combined in the three cities on Anna Maria Island were 302 with 40 pending – you do the math.
The village of Cortez had 32 properties listed ranging from $3,899,000 to $79,500 with two pending.
Although we experienced devastating storms, giving our real estate market an unexpected blow, the country as a whole is also experiencing a downward market. Data from the real estate analytics firm CoreLogic shows nearly 73,000 homes were pulled from the market after they failed to find a buyer in the final month of last year.
Sellers are reluctant to take lower prices especially if it means giving up their ultra-low mortgage rates. Home sales in 2024 were at their lowest level in nearly 30 years. Eventually sellers will slowly be more realistic if they need to sell because of a job, growing family or other life events that can’t be delayed. Green Street, another analytics firm, predicts that U.S. home prices are vulnerable to a correction.
On the other hand, the luxury home market is putting a lot of pressure on the entry level home market. As prices go up in the luxury market, it takes everything below right along with it. This is true in the Miami area with their influx of the super-rich moving the annual number of home sales above $1 million up 147% compared to 2019.
Sometimes life-changing events are good to reset our priorities in life and remind us how quickly things can change. Keep cleaning, keep painting and be happy – you still can.
BRADENTON BEACH – The city commission discussed a Florida law at its Feb. 20 meeting that allows hurricane-impacted homeowners to place a temporary shelter, including an RV or trailer, on their residential property for up to three years following the governor’s declaration of a state of emergency.
“A lot of people in our community have been displaced from their homes and what’s been happening is the FEMA money to supplement the cost of a hotel is running out, so where are our people going to go?” Mayor John Chappie said. “They have a perfectly good lot, the house is being repaired, or, hopefully not, but unfortunately in some cases, probably demo’d (demolished).”
Florida Statute 125-023 outlines the following stipulations that allows homeowners to place a temporary structure on their property as their home is being repaired following storm damage:
“1. For the purposes of this section, the term “temporary shelter” includes, but is not limited to, a recreational vehicle, trailer or similar structure placed on a residential property.
Notwithstanding any other law, ordinance, or regulation to the contrary, following the declaration of a state of emergency issued by the Governor for a natural emergency as defined in s. 252.34(8) during which a permanent residential structure was damaged and rendered uninhabitable, a county may not prohibit the placement of one temporary shelter on the residential property for up to 36 months after the date of the declaration or until a certificate of occupancy is issued on the permanent residential structure on the property, whichever occurs first, if all of the following circumstances apply:
(a) The resident makes a good faith effort to rebuild or renovate the damaged permanent residential structure, including, but not limited to, applying for a building permit, submitting a plan or design to the county or obtaining a construction loan.
(b) The temporary shelter is connected to water and electric utilities and does not present a threat to health and human safety.
(c) The resident lives in the temporary structure.”
“People are paying taxes on their residential properties that have been destroyed. I would like to make it clear to the public that this is allowed,” Chappie said.
City Attorney Ricinda Perry called into the meeting by telephone.
“You have to have some type of form prepared through the building department, and I would have a suggestion for language on there that follows the statutory requirements,” Perry said. “One, that it’s a primary structure, two that it was damaged, three it’s uninhabitable. The question is who makes that determination and that’s something staff would have to discuss.
In my opinion, it would be conditioned upon a valid application for repairs that is deemed both complete as well as in compliance with floodplain development standards, specifically substantial damage repair costs on any and all other improvements, and if authorized the motor home must be for a primary resident. Because I don’t think the intent when I read the statute, is for rentals. There should be tie down for winds and hooked up to utilities then I think you could force it’s for temporary use only, not for permanent residence and not for vacation rentals. There’s nothing in the statute that prohibits the city from regulating size, location and I think that you could even establish reporting inspections and timeframes for the use of that temporary housing.”
Chappie noted that he spoke with the city’s new floodplain manager, Sandy Tudor.
“The only comment she made was something to the effect if there’s a storm coming to get it out at the appropriate time,” Chappie said. “I’m hopeful the commission will allow our city attorney to work with our new building official and floodplain manager to put something together as quickly as possible so we can help people out.”
Commissioner Deborah Scaccianoce said Holmes Beach already has this in place.
“(They are) following this statute and I’m a firm believer in not reinventing the wheel and maybe we reach out to Holmes Beach and say we’re considering allowing this, what’s your process and what’s your requirements and we can build off of that,” Scaccianoce said.
Chappie asked Scaccianoce to work with Perry and the building department and reach out to Holmes Beach and bring back the results of that discussion to the commission.
