Skip to main content

Tag: Manatee County

Reel Time: The bridges of Manatee County

Written by Rusty Chinnis on . Posted in Outdoors, Reel Time.

Bridges provide anglers who don’t have a boat or don’t want to bother with one some excellent fishing opportunities.

Their structure provides the perfect habitat for fish. Besides the plethora of small baitfish, crabs and other crustaceans that call these places home, bridges provide gamefish a refuge and an ambush point for feeding. The bridges that span the local passes are also natural pathways for fish like pompano, Spanish mackerel, ladyfish and bluefish. These fish migrate from the Gulf to the local bays and feed around the bridge pilings and fenders. Winter and early spring are particularly good times to find action around the local bridges.  If you happen to have a boat, you’ll find them a great place to fish too.

Reel Time: The bridges of Manatee County
Dave Sparks caught this nice Spanish mackerel on the Longboat Pass Bridge fishing a jig. – Rusty Chinnis | Sun

This winter has been, thankfully, a bit cooler than past years, and fishing for sheepshead, a perennial winter favorite, has been strong around local bridges. If you wonder when the best time to fish bridges might be, I’d refer to the old saying that the best time to go fishing is any time you can. Having said that, if you have the luxury of picking your time and tide, a morning incoming tide is hard to beat. The second-best time would be a late outgoing tide. Timing your trip to coincide with the beginning or end of the tide cycle will make it easier to deal with the often-strong currents that course through the passes. That doesn’t mean you’re restricted to those times and there are ways to rig that will allow you to deal with any tide stage.

A medium-weight spinning outfit is perfect for fishing the bridges. I prefer a 10- to 12-pound outfit since you’ll have to hoist your catch from the water to the bridge. There are special nets available that can be lowered to help with this operation, but it is one more piece of equipment you’ll have to transport. With most catches, a careful hand-over-hand retrieve will work just fine and your mobility will not be restricted. Gloves are recommended. Depending on what is running, a few lure choices will suffice. One of the most effective lures for fishing the passes is the jig. When the current isn’t particularly strong, a jig tied directly to a 30-pound section of leader will work perfectly. If the tide is strong, a weight will help get the offering down in the water column where most of the action often occurs. To keep the weight from interfering with the jig, tie a section of 40-pound leader with a sliding egg sinker between two small swivels. Then add your leader and jig below. This rig can be used with lures or live bait. Another advantage of this rig is that as it is being worked across the bottom, it sends up a small puff of sand that attracts predators like pompano. One of the advantages to fishing from a bridge is the ability to easily move from one spot to another. This allows the angler to try near the pilings, on the edges of the channel and areas where striking fish might be found. If the action is slow or you’re exploring a bridge and pass for the first time, work both sides of the bridge. Vary your retrieve, working the lure fast and slow, exploring the water column.

Spanish mackerel and bluefish, two common species that frequent local bridges, have sharp teeth and can cut through monofilament leader. There are two options to protect your lure. One is to use a short strand of wire leader or heavy monofilament line. The other is to use long-shanked hooks. Wire leaders can make fish leader-shy if the water is clear.  I most often just take my chances. You’ll lose a few lures but, in the end, I’d rather get hits and risk a cutoff than get no hits at all. All things considered, I think you’ll catch more fish without wire. If you do use wire, check out the brands that can be tied like fishing line and use a smaller test (30-pound) leader. The exception to this rule is if you’re fishing turbid water or early and late in the day when the sun is low.

Whatever your fishing style, don’t pass up a trip to the local bridges. The action can be spectacular and the effort required is far less than an outing in a boat.

Commissioners plan for county meeting

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

HOLMES BEACH – City and county commissioners are preparing for a face-to-face meeting tentatively scheduled for March, and Holmes Beach commissioners are getting their talking points in order for discussion on several topics.

At a Jan. 25 work session, Mayor Judy Titsworth and city commissioners discussed coming up with a game plan for how to approach the meeting. Commissioners decided they need to present a united front to the county representatives, however, rather than appointing Titsworth to speak on behalf of the city, she asked that all commissioners be prepared to lead and participate in the discussions that they’re passionate about.

Titsworth said she is hoping for a productive dialogue with county commissioners and wants to make sure Holmes Beach city leaders take full advantage of the opportunity. The joint meeting will be open to the public.

Some items for discussion proposed by Titsworth and Holmes Beach commissioners include:

  • Increasing the amount of funding offered by the county for Holmes Beach police officers to patrol county-maintained beaches, beach parking and boat ramps.
  • Expanding the use of tourist development tax funds, a large majority of which is collected from vacation rentals on Anna Maria Island, to include money for bike lanes, sidewalks, street lighting, landscape, pedestrian accesses, stormwater improvements and other projects to make Holmes Beach a safer, more welcoming place for both tourists and residents.
  • Stemming the effects of red tide, blue-green algae and other issues that adversely affect the water quality in and around Holmes Beach and the aquatic ecosystem.
  • Reviewing the improvements planned to take place at the Kingfish Boat Ramp and how they affect parking and picnic facilities at the park. Specifically, Titsworth said she’d like to see the removal of some parking spaces on the south side of Manatee Avenue delayed until construction on the new Anna Maria Island Bridge begins. Removal of the spaces, she said, would adversely affect the boaters who come to Kingfish to launch their boats. Also, the addition of parallel parking spaces by the existing picnic area would remove trees needed for shade and trees used by great blue herons for nesting.
  • Creating a better flow of communication between city and county officials concerning events and additional parking planned at Manatee Beach and the Island Branch Library.
  • Examining unchecked development and growth in Manatee County as it pertains to the increase in the number of potential users for Island beaches. Titsworth suggested speaking with county commissioners about the beach carrying capacity for the Island and asking county officials to fund a beach carrying capacity study, as meets the Florida Department of Environmental Protection beach carrying capacity standard, to determine if the number of people regularly coming to Island beaches is too much for the beach, natural resources and existing infrastructure to handle.

One of the major items anticipated to be discussed is beach parking.

Titsworth said she believes county leaders will push for Holmes Beach commissioners to open more residential street parking during the day for beachgoers, and she reminded commissioners the city provides more than the number of public parking spaces required to receive beach renourishment funding from the state of Florida.

Though required to only provide 324 spaces to receive beach renourishment funding, the city’s interlocal agreement with Manatee County requires just over 500 spaces to be made available for beach parking. Currently, the city of Holmes Beach provides more than 1,200 public parking spaces for beach access.

Related coverage

 

County commissioner proposes beach parking garage

 

Tensions mount in city-county parking debate

 

County commissioners refuse Holmes Beach funding request

County opens new COVID-19 testing site

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

MANATEE COUNTY – A new COVID-19 testing site is now available at the SUNZ insurance building, 1301 Eighth Ave. in downtown Bradenton.

The new location offers free PCR and rapid testing at a walk-up site open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Anyone wishing to be tested is asked to provide a form of government-issued photo identification, such as a driver’s license or passport.

No appointments are necessary, though you can save time and pre-register by going online.

Another county-run COVID-19 test site is located at the Bradenton Area Convention Center at 1 Haben Blvd. in Palmetto, which is also open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

For anyone who wants a more convenient, free COVID-19 testing option, you can submit a form to receive one set of four free at-home COVID-19 tests. The tests are available online and are limited to one order per residential address. Each order contains four individual rapid antigen tests and will begin shipping in late January.

If you’re one of the people who have managed to find a rapid COVID-19 test in stores, check with your insurance company; they might be able to provide you a refund for the cost of the tests.

Under guidance released Jan. 10 from the Biden administration, private insurers are required to begin covering the cost of up to eight FDA-authorized rapid at-home COVID-19 tests per month beginning Jan. 15.

The coverage requirement does not apply to Medicaid managed care or Medicare Advantage plans.

Reimbursement is capped at $12 per test, though some insured individuals may qualify for direct cost coverage where the in-store test would be free. Check with your insurance company to determine how to apply for reimbursement.

Related coverage

 

Myths and facts about COVID-19 vaccines

 

COVID-19 booster shot available

Castles in the Sand

Price, commissions and marketing

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

What’s the common denominator in the real estate market? The sale price, the commission you pay to brokers and the marketing techniques. All three of these topics are creating headlines in the new year.

Starting with the price of real estate, it’s almost redundant to say that existing home sales are on track for their strongest year since 2006, and this is expected to continue with low mortgage interest rates. Currently, mortgage interest rates for a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage are just over 3%. However, the Federal Reserve has indicated they could move to raise the federal funds rate, which could influence the long-term mortgage rates. Nevertheless, the rates are still low for most buyers and won’t have a major impact on the market.

As reported at the end of December, Manatee County hit another record high in November with the median sale price of single-family homes at $450,411, 28.5% higher than last November. Nationally, as reported by the National Association of Realtors, the median single-family home sold for $353,900, up 13.9% from last November. Note that this is about $100,000 less than Manatee County’s median.

Realtor commissions have always been a source of constant conversation among home sellers, and with selling prices sky-high, the conversation is not about to change. Now, the Justice Department is investigating home sales commissions, which are typically in the 5% to 6% range. Previously, the Justice Department and the National Association of Realtors reached an agreement to provide more disclosure on broker fees and make them more competitive. This agreement was withdrawn last summer so the government can pursue a broader investigation into broker commissions.

The National Association of Realtors indicates that in a tight sales market with rising prices, the job of the real estate agent has become more important than ever to sellers and buyers trying to navigate an unpredictable market. In addition, real estate commissions are fully negotiable and have declined slightly to a national average of about 4.9%.

Finally, since every seller is looking for the best deal they can get, many, especially those who need a degree of privacy, are choosing off-market transactions. Off-market transactions are those that do not go through the local Multiple Listing Service to market the property. This frequently happens when brokers approach homeowners directly with the promise of a buyer for their property, which is technically not on the market. Some homeowners may be thinking of selling but don’t really know the true value and are overwhelmed when they are told what the value actually is.

This may or may not work out for the homeowner, or it can be the old adage: if it sounds too good to be true, it may be too good to be true. There are lots of pros and cons to off-market, with the top con being not hearing offers from other potential buyers and eliminating the “bidding war” that is happening in most transactions in this market.

The National Association of Realtors does allow brokers to market homes through its agency in certain circumstances without sharing with other brokers in the community. This is called an office exclusive or pocket listing and again may be advantageous for certain sellers.

If these types of marketing techniques appeal to you as a seller, do your homework first. Get the comps independently of the broker by checking tax records and online comparable sales, and make sure your home is located in a desirable area.

Every property has its own unique qualities, and every property also shares similar marketing options. It’s up to you to choose what’s the best way to market your property. Sale prices up, inventory down; nothing appears to be changing in the new year.

Castles in the Sand

Did you get a 3D printer for Christmas?

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

If you’re old enough, you may remember the 1970 book by Alvin Toffler with the title, “Future Shock.” In the book, Toffler explained that future shock was too much change in too short a period of time. In other words, our culture and scientific discoveries are changing so quickly that your brain can’t assimilate it all, and this was before most people even heard of a computer.

Additive manufacturing or additive layer manufacturing is the industrial production name for 3D printing. This is a controlled process that creates three-dimensional objects by depositing material, usually in layers, and is quickly infiltrating the home building market in the country. Now I’m not saying that you’ll find a 3D manufactured home being built on the beach in Anna Maria, but what I am saying is we’ll all start hearing more about this technology not too many years in the future.

Lennar Corp., one of the country’s major builders, is ready to start building 3D homes on a site in Austin, Texas. Another company, Mighty Buildings, in Oakland, California, plans to start construction of a 3D printed home community on 15 lots next year. Both of these companies are attempting to fill the chronic shortage of homes for sale nationwide. They may certainly be onto something since Freddie Mac estimated that the national deficit of single-family homes stood at 3.8 million units at the end of 2020. They say that 3D homes can fill the loss of skilled tradesmen for starters as well as open up the supply chain of affordable homes.

So how does this technology work? I can tell you what I researched, but don’t expect to fully understand it – I certainly didn’t. My understanding is a 15.5-foot-tall printer will be on site and require only three workers when printing a wall system, replacing as many as six to 12 framers and drywall installers needed for conventional construction. The printer and its three workers can build an exterior and interior wall system for a 2,000-square-foot, one-story house in a week. The printer squeezes out concrete in layers like toothpaste and has the ability to program creative house designs.

Some buyers may not like the look of a 3D printed home since they have horizontal ridges in the exterior and some interior walls from the layered printing technique. There is, however, less waste, more cost savings and environmental benefits. The technology is already being used in Amsterdam to create small bridges and other non-residential projects.

If 3D printed homes are just a 3D bridge too far, you can opt for a factory-built home, which is having a big revival because of the shortage of homes. Factory-built homes could be the answer for older people downsizing as well as young families. According to government data, a new single-family home not including land sold for $309,000 in 2020 as opposed to a manufactured home costing $87,000. Financing can be a challenge, usually requiring a personal loan, however, in recent years Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have approved conventional financing on certain manufactured homes.

If you’re on information overload like me, get used to it. It’s easy to wrap your brain around manufactured homes, but a home created with a 3D printer boggles the brain. Technology is changing the world faster than we can keep up; just look how remote work has changed the real estate market in less than two years, and we’re not done yet.

Castles in the Sand

Will you be a new Florida resident in the new year?

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

The secret is out: Florida is one of the best states in the country to live in. We’ve got the weather, we’ve got the waterfront on three sides of the state, we don’t have a state income tax or a state inheritance tax and we do have great infrastructure and tons of new residential construction.

So, what’s not to like? Not much. But if you want to move your permanent residence to Florida or if you’re already here and want to become a permanent resident, there is a process.

While not required, it is recommended to file a Florida Declaration of Domicile. This document states that you are a Florida resident and you maintain a residence in the state and intend to make that your permanent home. This is especially important if you spend time in another state during the year as proof of your permanent residency in Florida. The form needs to be notarized and verified that it is recorded.

Next is to obtain a Florida driver’s license within 30 days. You may not maintain two different state licenses. To obtain a Florida driver’s license, U.S citizens must have a U.S. birth certificate, valid passport or passport card, social security card, and two documents showing proof of residential address. There are different criteria for immigrants and Canadians. Your out-of-state license will be taken from you at the time of application. Non-driver I.D. cards are also available.

Likewise, Florida insurance for your vehicle must be obtained from a Florida licensed agent and you must register your vehicle in Florida within 10 days of application. If you plan on voting, register in Florida and do not vote in your previous state. Opening a local bank account will also verify your intent to be a permanent Florida resident. If you own a home, apply for the Florida homestead exemption to save on property tax. Disabled veterans may be entitled to a further tax exemption.

People moving to Florida need to be sure they are cutting ties to their former state. It is not uncommon for states to check the number of days spent in your former state through toll records, credit card charges and local services used.

Now that you know how to start the new resident process, here’s why you should make the move. These are the November Manatee County sales statistics reported by the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee and they represent the highest recorded median prices:

Single-family homes had a median sale price of $450,411, up 28.5% from last November, and the average single-family sale price was $593,109, up 28.1%. The median percent of original list price to sale price was 100%, up 1.6%, and the median time to contract was six days down 68.4%.

The condo median sale price was $300,000, up 26.4% from last year, and the average sale price was $342,508, up 29.2%. The median percent of original list price to sale price was 100%, up 3.4%, and the median time to contract was nine days, down 73.5%.

Closed sales are down for both single-family homes and condos because of the lack of inventory, with homes selling in a matter of hours. Too many buyers, too few properties.

There isn’t much else left to say. According to the president of the Realtor Association, Florida, and Sarasota and Manatee counties, in particular, continue to be the go-to destination for buyers around the country.

Welcome to Florida to those who are already here or are getting ready to make the move. Wishing everyone a Happy New Year and best wishes for a healthy and prosperous 2022.

Manatee County free of red tide

Written by Cindy Lane on . Posted in Outdoors, Red tide.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – For the first time since April, Manatee County – and Sarasota and Pinellas counties to the south and north – are free of red tide, according to Friday’s Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission weekly report.

Water samples collected in Manatee County from Oct. 28 to Nov. 1 showed no red tide, which may have been pushed out to sea by recent storms or stifled by recent cold weather.

Despite the absence of red tide in local water samples, fish kills and respiratory irritation related to red tide were reported in Manatee and Sarasota counties, possibly due to airborne algae from other locations.

The toxic algae bloom has plagued Florida’s central west coast since April, when 215 million gallons of contaminated water was discharged into Tampa Bay from Piney Point, a former phosphate plant.

The water contained the nutrients nitrogen and phosphorus, which act as fertilizer for red tide. The discharge was approved by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) to prevent contaminated water in a holding pond on top of a compromised gypsum stack from flooding the area. Piney Point is the subject of three pending lawsuits and is in receivership. Remaining contaminated water on the site is intended to be stored in a deep injection well; a permit is pending with FDEP.

Red tide produces a neurotoxin called brevetoxin that can cause respiratory irritation, coughing, and more serious illness for people with severe or chronic respiratory conditions such as asthma, emphysema or COPD, according to the Florida Department of Health.

Health officials recommend that people experiencing symptoms stay away from the water and go inside to an air-conditioned space with closed windows and a clean A/C filter. Wearing masks, especially during onshore winds, is also advised.

Health officials warn against swimming near dead fish, and advise keeping pets away from dead fish and seafoam, which can contain high concentrations of red tide. Pets are not allowed on Anna Maria Island’s beaches but are allowed on the Palma Sola Causeway on Manatee Avenue.

Officials also warn that consuming shellfish exposed to red tide can cause neurotoxic shellfish poisoning.

Updated forecasts are available at habforecast.gcoos.org and at visitbeaches.org.

School mask mandate expires

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Community News, Schools.

HOLMES BEACH – After a sharp decline in positive COVID-19 cases in Manatee County schools, the county’s school mask mandate has been allowed to expire.

As of Oct. 29, when the mandate expired, only two cases of coronavirus were reported among students in the county schools, with no cases among staff. Anna Maria Elementary School reports no current cases among students or staff, with 13 student cases and no staff cases reported since school began on Aug. 10.

As the 2021-22 school year got underway, so did the Delta variant of COVID-19, and the school district saw more positive cases than before the vaccines were available. In response, the Manatee County School Board took action and enacted the now-expired temporary mask mandate. The mandate was passed on Aug. 16, just one week after students returned to school on Aug. 10.

On Aug. 24, the board voted 3-2 to extend the mandate, which included an opt-out clause for any student who did not wish to wear a mask. The mandate differed from those in nearby Sarasota and Hillsborough counties that did not have opt-out clauses, putting them in violation of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ ban on such mandates. 

The school board approved a motion that would allow the superintendent to remove the mandate if the 7-day COVID-19 positivity rate in Manatee County reached 8% or less. Otherwise, the mandate was set to expire on Oct. 29. The most recent positivity rate was 2.57%, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). 

As cases have fallen to almost zero in Manatee County schools, it was expected that the school board would not extend the mandate, and it was not extended at the board’s Oct. 29 workshop. The issue could be brought up at the next board meeting, however.

Since the first day of school, there have been 2,576 student COVID-19 cases and 374 staff cases in the county. One month into the 2021-22 school year, there were more than 300 cases in a single week in Manatee County, and more than 1,000 cases by the end of August. Those numbers haven’t been above 75 cases per week for the past month.

Another factor that may keep things moving in the right direction is the recent approval of vaccines for children between 5 and 12 years of age. The vaccination rate is currently 62.7% of eligible county residents.

The CDC continues to recommend masks in schools and social distancing whenever possible.

Castles in the Sand

Resident spirit or creaking house?

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

Halloween is this weekend, so it’s time to discuss the prospect of your house having a real live spirit who has taken up residence. Well, maybe not real live, but a spirit with an agenda.

Many homeowners believe they are sharing their homes with a spirit. They may see actual images or something that looks sort of like a spirit, or they may hear unusual sounds or talking. I’m not here to tell you that there are no such things as spirits who refuse to leave what once was their home, but chances are what you’re hearing are normal sounds and noises unique to every home.

When you move into a new house, it may take a while to figure out that the dripping noise you’re hearing isn’t your roof about to collapse, but the condensation from your air conditioning system. Likewise, houses – especially new construction – may take a while to settle. If you hear what you swear are footsteps from the upstairs bedrooms it may be just the wooden framing taking a little stretch and not the inhabitants of the Indian burial ground next door.

On the other hand, sounds could be a subtle warning of impending problems. Appliances are notorious for creating noise when something in the motor is thinking about giving up. Loud compressors in your refrigerator and dishwasher pumps that you’re starting to just notice could be a warning, as well as the never-ending running toilet.

There are so many noises coming into your home from outside sometimes it’s hard to tell if it’s in the house or out. Trees and bushes scratching the windows, small animal claws and pecking birds can certainly drive you crazy. If you live on the water, get used to boat engines, snorting dolphins and jumping fish – it’s all part of the charm and not part of a haunting.

There are, however, homes where the owner truly believes and may even have proof of hauntings. The house used in the movie, “The Conjuring,” in Rhode Island is currently on the market. The present owners have turned their home into a little business by allowing paranormal investigators to spend the night on the property. It’s apparently a nice little business and one they hope to pass on to the new buyers.

One thing that’s not haunted are the Manatee County property values, so here are September’s from the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee:

Single-family homes closed 4.5% fewer properties than last September. The median sale price was $430,000, up 22.9% from last year, and the average sale price was $580,073, up 21.9% from last year. The median time to contract was 48 days, down 29.4% from last year, and the month’s supply of properties is .08 months.

Condos closed 26.4% fewer properties than last September. The median sale price was $285,000, up 29.5% from last year, and the average sale price was $321,810, up 6.9% from last year. The median time to contract was 6 days, down 85% from last year and the month’s supply of available properties was 0.6 months.

Cash offers are still very dominant in the single-family market, up 53.4%, however, condo cash offers dipped a little – by 6%. September was a slower month, not untypical for this time of year, with sale prices a little flat but with inventory so low we can expect that to turn around quickly as the season begins in full force. The Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee is calling September the “calm before the storm,” so get ready for another record-setting real estate season.

As far as your current home, understand your home’s sounds and investigate anything that sounds out of whack before calling the ghostbusters. Enjoy Halloween and the friendly goblins at your door.

Bradenton Anna Maria Island Longboat Key

TDC hears tourism update

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Business, Tourism.

BRADENTON – Local tourism is on the increase, according to Ann Wittine, of Tampa-based Research Data Services, who gave a report on Oct. 18 to the Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC).

The bi-monthly report outlines dozens of statistics that give county tourism officials an overview of visitor sentiment, length of stay, number of visitors, places likely to visit and more vital information. 

Airline passenger data from the Transportation Security Administration from 2019 to present shows that patterns have nearly returned to pre-COVID levels, according to Wittine.

“Even with red tide, and even with (COVID-19) case numbers rising, we’re seeing a normal pattern. As case numbers drop, we see the number of people traveling through U.S. airports also going up,” she said. 

The number of passengers passing through Sarasota Bradenton International Airport is higher than any other airport in Florida month over month, she said. 

August visitation was up 12%, room nights were up 7% and the economic impact was up 17.1% from $43,613,000 to $51,051,700, according to Wittine. Those numbers are increases over 2019, which was prior to COVID-19.

The annual economic impact from 2020 to 2021 is up 38.5% from $867,630,800 to $1,201,878,400. 

Wittine’s report shows that while August visitors from Florida were down 11.1% from last year, visitors from the northeast were up an impressive 113%. With Canada and much of Europe recently easing travel restrictions, it’s likely the flat numbers from those regions will rise significantly, she said.

Traveler sentiment

With each bi-monthly report, Research Data Services conducts a traveler sentiment survey that asks potential travelers from around the world questions about concerns related to travel to Anna Maria Island and other Manatee County destinations. 

When asked what one word would best describe their feelings about travel right now, only 28% of respondents used a positive word. This number is the same as last month, so no change was recorded. 

People surveyed were a little less confident about the economy, personal health and personal finances compared to September, but not by a significant amount. The number of green light travelers was at 48.9%, which is not a significant change from recent months. Green light travelers are those surveyed who are ready and willing to travel at this time. The red light travelers (people who are not willing to travel) are the same as last month at 25.1% and the number that has currently booked vacations stays virtually unchanged at 34.1%. 

The survey also asked a question for the first time: “Are things back to normal?” The survey shows that 39% of people think conditions are back to normal.

Castles in the Sand

Get ready for sticker shock with flood insurance 2.0

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

It’s October, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) new program, called Risk Rating 2.0 Equity in Action, went into effect on Oct. 1. For many homeowners, this may be the annual October surprise, even though it was well-publicized by FEMA.

This overview of flood insurance premium rate increases was delayed from last year after the agency received pressure from Congress to delay the increases because of COVID-19 and other financial considerations. Remember that Florida is in the crosshairs of FEMA, which always runs a deficit, since approximately 35% of their policies are in the state of Florida.

FEMA is responsible for the National Flood Insurance Program, which is sold through individual insurance brokers. Generally, properties with mortgages – especially federally backed mortgages – are required to carry flood insurance based on the home’s flood zone.

FEMA’s new pricing methodology is intended to create a more equitable way to share the risk. Since the 1970s, a home’s flood insurance cost was based on its elevation and zone within a FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map. FEMA says a one-size-fits-all rate policy means that policyholders with higher-valued homes are paying less than their share of the risk. Conversely, policyholders with lower-valued homes are paying more than their share of the risk. FEMA says that Risk Rating 2.0 will work similar to existing property insurance policies in which every homeowner receives an individualized price quote. In addition to elevation and flood zone, FEMA says a 2.0 coverage quote will also consider flood frequency, multiple flood types and distance to a water source along with other property characteristics such as the cost to rebuild.

Although when first announced FEMA did not provide specifics relative to rates, they have given an overview of the changes to Florida residents. One out of five Florida homeowners (19.8%) should see a decrease in their yearly insurance cost. One out of 25 (4.2%), however, should see a yearly rate increase greater than $240. Also, FEMA says homebuyers don’t have to suffer sticker shock after closing since the new system will be more transparent. And the National Flood Insurance Program premium can still be transferred, including discounts from a seller to a buyer when the home sells.

Southwest Florida has some of the highest numbers of homes in the 100-year flood zones in the state. Monroe County leads the state with 89.1%, Sarasota has 26.3% and Manatee has 15.7%. Sarasota and Manatee numbers don’t, however, segregate the barrier islands. In addition, Pinellas, Miami-Dade, Charlotte, Lee, Brevard and Sarasota counties also appear in the top 10 nationally for the total value of real estate at risk.

What FEMA is trying to do is put more responsibility on those choosing to live in flood zones and then continuing to do so as the ramifications from global warming intensify. Their goal is to compensate for five decades of mispriced insurance. The way FEMA calculates flood insurance premiums is historic in its concept, going back to 1968.

There are also new FEMA flood maps that took effect in August. This could potentially change flood insurance premiums further in addition to the FEMA 2.0 changes. The bottom line is there are a lot of flood insurance changes going on, and it’s important that homeowners who live in a flood zone be aware of how it will affect your insurance premium at renewal time. At least we’re almost done with hurricane season.

Myths and facts about COVID-19 vaccines

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Community News, Health.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Debates about vaccine safety have existed since Edward Jenner used cowpox material to create immunity to smallpox in 1796. Considered the first successful vaccine, it would go on to eventually eradicate smallpox. Jenner’s work would pave the way for Louis Pasteur’s 1885 rabies vaccine, which brought on the dawn of bacteriology.

From the late 19th century to the 1930s, antitoxins and vaccines against diphtheria, tetanus, anthrax, cholera, plague, typhoid, tuberculosis and more were developed. Along with improved sanitation, the elimination of most infectious diseases that were prominent just decades earlier saw the average U.S. life expectancy go from 47.3 years at the turn of the century to 70.4 by 1940. 

The development of vaccines for life-threatening ailments continues today, such as childhood meningitis, certain cancers and a host of biological threats from developing countries. 

Since the onset of COVID-19, the development of a vaccine was top priority for U.S. health officials. Researchers began developing vaccines for COVID-19 in January 2020, based on decades of work on immune responses and vaccine technology. Thousands of volunteers took part in the clinical trials that started that spring to ensure the vaccines are safe and effective. 

Based on the results of those trials, the FDA authorized multiple vaccines for public use. In December 2020, the FDA authorized the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines for the American public. Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine was added in February 2021 and is currently available for use in the United States after a pause in April 2021. In August 2021, the Pfizer vaccine (Comirnaty) became the first vaccine to be fully approved by the FDA based on extensive data on safety and effectiveness. 

“It seems like there wasn’t much debate about vaccines before the COVID vaccine was approved. A few people thought that vaccines caused autism, which we later found out was from a totally incredible source with no basis in fact,” said Bradenton Beach resident Chris Cargill. “I also don’t see why it has taken a political turn. Trump got the ball rolling and told us he would get the vaccine in our arms and he did. Heck, he took it right away. Now we have Biden telling us the same thing. This is one of the only things these two guys ever agreed on; I honestly don’t get it.” 

Here are some common myths that have been driving vaccine hesitancy, according to Sarasota Memorial Infectious Disease Specialist Manuel Gordillo, MD, as well as information from the CDC and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. 

Myth: I’m young (or I’m healthy), so I don’t need to get vaccinated. 

Fact: While younger adults are less likely than the elderly to die of COVID-19, the disease can still be dangerous for them. Studies indicate that among adults age 18 to 39 who developed COVID-19, nearly 30% now suffer from “long-hauler” symptoms, including fatigue, brain fog and loss of taste or smell. Many of these young adults had only a mild case of COVID-19 when they were first infected. 

Myth: Break-through infections prove the vaccines don’t work against the new Delta variant. 

Fact: While mild breakthrough infections may be more common than once thought, the main goal of the vaccines is to prevent severe disease and death. That is something all of the vaccines do really well. They prevent hospitalization and severe disease in 90% of people who get a break-through infection. If you are vaccinated and get the virus, chances are you’ll get very mild symptoms or no symptoms at all. 

Myth: The vaccine may prevent pregnancy, or harm an unborn baby by altering our DNA. 

Fact: COVID-19 vaccines do not alter recipients’ DNA; as a result, they cannot cause any genetic changes to mom or the unborn baby. There also is no evidence that vaccination causes any problems with pregnancy. The pregnancy prevention myth has been perpetuated by a sophisticated disinformation campaign that falsely claims antibodies to the vaccines’ COVID-19 spike protein will bind to placental proteins and prevent pregnancy. On the surface, it may seem based on science, but it is untrue. 

In addition, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) says current reports suggest that pregnant and recently pregnant women have a higher risk for more severe illness from COVID-19 than nonpregnant women. ACOG and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine both recommend that all pregnant women be vaccinated against COVID-19. 

Myth: I shouldn’t get the vaccine if I’m breastfeeding. 

Fact: ACOG recommends that breastfeeding women get a COVID-19 vaccine, and says there is no need to stop breastfeeding if you want to get vaccinated. When you get vaccinated, the antibodies made by your body can be passed through breastmilk and help protect your child from the virus. 

Myth: I might get COVID-19 from the vaccine. 

Fact: None of the authorized vaccines in the U.S. contain live virus. This means that the vaccine cannot make you sick with COVID-19. Short-term symptoms that may follow a vaccination are normal and show that your body is building protection against the virus. 

Myth: COVID-19 vaccines were developed too fast to be safe. 

Fact: Both the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines are mRNA vaccines, which are not new. Scientists have been working on mRNA vaccines for decades for a variety of illnesses — SARS, MERS, Zika, Ebola, newer influenza vaccines and even some seasonal coronaviruses — and that gave them a huge head start when it was time to work on COVID-19 vaccines. 

The other type of authorized COVID-19 vaccine (Johnson & Johnson) employs a weakened adenovirus, which also has been studied extensively in developing other vaccines. Additional reviews by the CDC and FDA have found the J&J vaccine is safe and effective in preventing COVID-19 among anyone age 18 and older. Women under age 50 concerned about the very rare risk of a clotting disorder should know that the clots have not been associated with the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines. 

The clinical trials for the three authorized COVID-19 vaccines were all done with the same rigor applied to all vaccine trials, and the results were reviewed and approved by multiple independent advisory panels. 

Myth: I need to wait for full FDA approval to get vaccinated. 

Fact: Pfizer has now received full FDA approval. The Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are available under emergency use authorization by the FDA. Moderna is expected be fully approved in several weeks, and Johnson & Johnson is expected to go through the same steps in the coming months. With the Delta variant and increased transmission, the CDC says it’s more urgent than ever to get vaccinated as soon as possible, and all of the authorized vaccines in use are safe and effective. 

All of the vaccines have met the FDA’s rigorous standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality. The vaccines were evaluated in tens of thousands of participants in clinical trials. Hundreds of millions of people in the U.S. have received the vaccines. 

According to the CDC, the vaccines have undergone and will continue to undergo the most intensive safety monitoring in U.S. history. This monitoring includes using both established and new safety monitoring systems to make sure vaccines are safe. 

The FDA itself has emphasized that it conducted a thorough scientific evaluation of each of the authorized vaccines and can assure the public and medical community that the vaccines meet FDA’s rigorous standards for safety, effectiveness and manufacturing quality. 

Myth: Possible long-term side effects are too risky since we don’t know what they are yet. 

Fact: With any vaccine, any side effects will typically show up within six weeks after the injection. Vaccines have been studied over decades, and do not typically have delayed or long-term side effects. Some, like the smallpox vaccine, are very old, and none have resulted in side effects 10 or 20 years later. Conversely, we don’t know what the long-term effects of getting the virus are — and those are more likely to be problematic. 

Myth: I have allergies, so it’s not worth the risk. 

Fact: Severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to the vaccines have been very rare, averaging just 2.5 per 1 million vaccinations with the Moderna vaccine and 4.7 per 1 million vaccinations with the Pfizer vaccine. To put that in perspective, anaphylaxis to penicillin occurs in 1 in 25,000 recipients. 

If you have concerns, certainly talk to your doctor and plan to wait 30 minutes after getting your shots for observation. If you are severely allergic to any of the vaccine’s ingredients, you should not be vaccinated. People with allergies to certain foods, insects, latex and other common allergens, however, can get a COVID-19 vaccine. 

Myth: The vaccines contain unsafe toxins and microchips. 

Fact: Microchips are not injected into anyone. Microchips are, however, located on the vaccine packaging so that pharmacists and physicians can track doses and ensure they’re not expired or counterfeit. The vaccines’ ingredient list includes mRNA (which is destroyed by the body in a day or two), cholesterol (in amounts much lower than is already consumed by people) and non-toxic fatty molecules. 

Myth: I already had COVID-19 and have antibodies so I don’t need the vaccine. 

Fact: According to the CDC, you should be vaccinated regardless of whether you already had COVID-19. That’s because experts do not yet know how long you are protected from getting sick again after recovering. Having an infection does not guarantee a strong immune defense. Research indicates that immunity from vaccination is likely to be stronger than immunity following infection.

Related coverage

AME two weeks COVID-19 free

COVID-19 booster shot available

Ask for proof of vaccine, get a fine

Castles in the Sand

Here today, gone tomorrow

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

If you want to buy a property in the Bradenton-Sarasota area you have to act fast, and I mean lightning fast. Whatever comes on the market today will likely be gone within a week, selling at record-breaking prices every month.

None of this is a surprise to buyers who are out there beating the bushes daily or to their agents who are scurrying around looking for properties to satisfy the buyers lined up at their doors. But what’s interesting about some of these buyers is that they are coming from less traditional areas of the country. Local real estate professionals are reporting buyers from California, Washington state and other areas on the west coast of the country. When this was confirmed at the Island Publix check-out when I asked where all these people were coming from, I knew it was true.

Further confirmation of our hot market came from CoreLogic when they published the hottest metro areas in the country that people are relocating to. Bradenton-Sarasota came in at #14, Tampa at #5 and five other Florida regions were all in the top 15. The New York-Newark-Jersey City region was #1 in loss of residents.

Further, the National Association of Realtors reported in their July and August existing home sales reports the four regions of the country that are seeing the most home sales: The South continues to be the highest, maintaining over 40% of the market for both months; the Midwest comes in second at over 20%; the West is third, also over 20% and the Northeast is the lowest, just breaking 10% of the market share.

In Manatee County, the sales statistics from the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee for July are: Single-family homes closed 5.8% fewer properties compared to last year. The median sales price was $430,000, up 19.8%; the average sale price was $566,595, up 19%; the median time to contract was six days, and the month’s supply of properties was .08 months.

Condos also closed fewer units, down 6.5%. The median sale price was $250,050, up 13.7%; the average sale price was $309,887, up 14.5%; the median time to contract was six days and the month’s supply of properties was 0.6 months.

By comparison, the National Association of Realtors reported the median price of existing single-family home sales for July was $359,900.

Now on to August: Single-family homes closed 2.7% fewer homes compared to last year. The median sale price was $430,000, same as July, up 19.4%; the average sale price was $579,647, up 20.5%; the median time to contract was five days and the month’s supply of properties was 0.8 months.

Condos closed 12.2% fewer units; the median price was $275,000, up 23.3%; the average sale price was $302,733, up 15.5%; the median time to contract was seven days and the month’s supply was 0.7 months.

By comparison, the National Association of Realtors reported the median price of existing single-family home sales for August was $356,700, slightly down from July.

In addition, the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee reported that August was the 15th consecutive month that the price of single-family homes increased for this region.

At this point, I don’t think there is any relief for the poor buyers. The fewer properties on the market, the higher the prices will go, resulting in fewer actual sales, as we can see from July and August. Since we’re at the beginning of our busy sale season in Florida, it will be interesting to see where we are with available properties in a few months.

Not sure when it will end, but I’m pretty sure you will find out first at the Publix check-out.

More Castles in the Sand

Home renovations not for the faint of heart

Are you ready to be an island investor?

How not to derail your transaction

County commissioner hopes to pave more of paradise

County commissioner proposes beach parking garage

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

HOLMES BEACH – Manatee County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge wants a new parking garage to be built on Manatee Beach’s sand parking lot, but the mayor of Holmes Beach so far appears unlikely to sign off on the project.

During a Manatee County Commission meeting last week and in a letter to Holmes Beach city officials, Van Ostenbridge said he would like to look at the possibility of building a parking garage on the county-owned property at the beach at the end of Manatee Avenue to provide more public parking for beachgoers. The garage would potentially be built in the primary parking area in front of the snack bar building at the entrance to the beach on Gulf Drive.

Van Ostenbridge also stated he wants Holmes Beach city leaders to dismantle their permit parking program for residents, opening up more street parking in residential areas for public use. He also has demanded that public beach parking be allowed at the Island Branch Library and Anna Maria Elementary School when those facilities are not otherwise in use. Providing public parking at the school requires permission from the School District of Manatee County and either a special permit or site plan amendment approval from the city of Holmes Beach. Public parking at the county library branch would require an amendment to the lease between the city and county for the land under the building.

If city leaders refuse, Van Ostenbridge said he’d consider refusing to provide beach renourishment funds for the Holmes Beach coastline. However, Manatee County commissioners have limited control over the disbursement of beach renourishment funds, which come primarily from federal and state resources – including the Army Corps of Engineers and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection – and a portion of Manatee County Tourist Development Tax collections.

Though Van Ostenbridge has repeatedly said he would pull beach renourishment funds from the city to try to force Holmes Beach leaders’ hands regarding parking, it could be a double-edged sword for Manatee County, opponents say. Any reduction in beach renourishment could shrink the county’s beaches on Anna Maria Island due to rising sea levels and erosion, potentially reducing tourism to the area and damaging businesses throughout the county. Anna Maria Island generates the majority of tourism funds for Manatee County.

Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth said a parking garage is not an approved land use in the city and would potentially require the approval of an ordinance to allow the use or a special exception from city commissioners. The parking garage also would have to meet city requirements concerning maximum height (three stories), setbacks, stormwater retention and drainage and other building codes.

Titsworth has said while she’s happy to have conversations with county leaders about parking, she doesn’t feel that Holmes Beach and its residents should bear the majority of the responsibility for providing beach parking for the entire county and its visitors.

While the mayor has mentioned the possibility of the county building a parking garage in past talks concerning beach parking, she suggested building that garage off of 75th Street in Bradenton and using public transportation to get beachgoers to and from Manatee Beach.

Parking program scrutinized

Van Ostenbridge is among those who led the charge against the city of Holmes Beach regarding the public parking available for beachgoers in the Anna Maria Island city. The disagreement between county commissioners and Holmes Beach city leaders has gone on for months, stemming from a decision on the part of city leaders to enact a residential permit-only parking program on some residential streets located next to beach access points following a COVID-19-related shutdown of beach accesses in early 2020.

The permit parking program was planned for several years before becoming a reality and was designed to help lessen the negative impacts of large numbers of beachgoers in residential areas. Some issues that residents reported include people trespassing on their property, damaging property and landscaping, using exterior water hoses and pools without permission and leaving trash and other debris on lawns.

Despite Van Ostenbridge’s claims that city leaders have reduced the number of public parking spots by about 2,000 spaces, Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer, who helped implement the parking permit program, said that claim is false.

Tokajer has stated that before the COVID-19 parking closures, which have been lifted, the city had about 2,400 parking spaces, including those at beach access points, public parking areas and along the side of streets within a quarter of a mile of the beach. Now there are 1,261 parking spots that do not require a parking permit and 642 on-street parking spots that require a permit but become available to the public daily after 5 p.m. About 497 on-street parking spots were removed by city leaders in residential areas as a part of the parking changes.

Under an agreement with the county, the city provides many more spaces than the 500 or so that are required to receive beach renourishment funding, according to city officials.

Related coverage

 

Tensions mount in city-county parking debate

 

County commissioners refuse Holmes Beach funding request

 

Parking rift between city, county widens over Memorial Day

Red tide returns in low concentrations

Written by Cindy Lane on . Posted in Algae, Featured, Outdoors.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Red tide has returned to local waters after a two-week respite, according to Friday’s Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission weekly report.

The toxic algae began appearing in mid-April near Piney Point after 215 million gallons of contaminated water were discharged into Tampa Bay. The water contained the nutrients nitrogen and phosphorus, which act as a fertilizer for red tide.

The discharge was approved by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to prevent the collapse of a compromised gypsum stack containing the contaminated water. The former phosphate plant – the subject of two pending lawsuits – is in receivership and is slated for closure and the disposal of the remaining contaminated water.

Red tide dissipated in Manatee County from Aug. 30 until Sept. 14, when low concentrations were detected in water samples taken at the Rod n’ Reel Pier in Anna Maria. Very low concentrations were detected at the Longboat Pass boat ramp, and background concentrations were detected at Key Royale (School Key) and the Palma Sola Bay Bridge, according to the report.

No fish kills or respiratory irritation related to red tide were reported in or offshore of Manatee County over the past week, but were reported in Pinellas County to the north and Sarasota County to the south.

Red tide produces a neurotoxin called brevetoxin that can cause respiratory irritation, coughing, and more serious illness for people with severe or chronic respiratory conditions such as asthma, emphysema or COPD, according to the Florida Department of Health.

Health officials recommend that people experiencing symptoms stay away from the water and go inside to an air-conditioned space with closed windows and a clean A/C filter. Wearing masks, especially during onshore winds, is also advised.

Health officials also warn against swimming near dead fish, and advise keeping pets away from dead fish and seafoam, which can contain high concentrations of red tide. Pets are not allowed on Anna Maria Island’s beaches but are allowed on the Palma Sola Causeway on Manatee Avenue.

Officials also warn that consuming shellfish exposed to red tide can cause neurotoxic shellfish poisoning.

Updated red tide forecasts are available at habforecast.gcoos.org and at visitbeaches.org.