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Tag: Nancy Ambrose

Ambrose prepares to open new market

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Community News, Manatee County.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Followers of the “Where is the Market?” Facebook page are anxiously awaiting what appears to be an imminent announcement of a new venue.

“I will be thankful at Thanksgiving that our market family will be together soon. However, because of the holiday I cannot get the needed paperwork until the 29th as people are on vacation,” Nancy Ambrose wrote on the page Nov. 18. “So the Sunday market will not start on Dec. 4 as there would not be enough time to market it. I am planning on Dec. 11. Cannot wait to see everyone.”

Ambrose, who was the director of the Coquina Beach Market for the past decade, was ousted by Manatee County officials who announced in August that the county was taking over operations of the beach market.

The Aug. 2 press release from Manatee County Information Director Bill Logan stated in part, “Artisans and other vendors will be back along the Coquina Beach South promenade, once again, when the 2022-23 season opens in November as oversight for the market shifts to Manatee County.”

Logan declined to give a reason for Ambrose’s termination and said by email on Aug. 5, “I do not have any further information why the contract was terminated.”

In October, county officials announced a delay to the projected Nov. 1 opening of the county-run market due to Hurricane Ian having impacted preparations.

“As crews have been deployed around the county to clean up and repair other parks properties, the site prep and rehab work to get the new site (further south on Coquina Beach) ready have been put on hold temporarily,” according to the county website. “The official opening date has been delayed from the originally planned Nov. 1.”

The county has not estimated its beach market opening date.

Ambrose indicated that her new Sunday market will not be on Anna Maria Island and that she would not be making any further announcements until arrangements are finalized. She also wrote that she is looking in another county for a possible Wednesday market.

Her Facebook page, “Where is the Market?” has over 2,000 members, some of whom are vendors who have worked with her and who are hopeful that they will soon have a new venue to sell their products.

Vendor Venita Clark wrote, “I think Nancy needs to have her own booth set up so everyone could stop by and give her the big hug she deserves for working so hard for all of us!

County, vendors face off on takeover of beach market

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Anna Maria Island, Community News, Featured, Manatee County.

BRADENTON BEACH – Manatee County commissioners debated the county’s takeover of the Coquina Beach Market last week as vendors defended ousted organizer Nancy Ambrose.

The beach market saga began publicly on Aug. 2 when, in a press release, Manatee County Information Director Bill Logan announced that the county would take over the market from Ambrose.

At an Aug. 18 county commission land use meeting, Commissioner Carol Whitmore voiced her opposition.

“I think this needs to be decided by the board if we’re going to do this,” Whitmore said. “I don’t believe in the board interfering with the private sector in this. I don’t want to run a market.” The issue arose again on Sept. 13 when Elliott Falcione, executive director of the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) gave an update to the board.

“For many months, the county administrator has been going through an optimization process organizationally allowing certain positions to gain more responsibility bandwidth,” Falcione said. “This additional bandwidth gives an expertise and oversight ability to operate the beach market at the county-owned park, allowing the proceeds to go to the community.”

Falcione said one market objective is to provide tourists and residents what he called a unique beach market experience that complements the current assets on Anna Maria Island. He also characterized the county-run market as a source of revenue for the proposed water taxi initiative.

Falcione said the county-run market will begin on Nov. 1 and run through July 27, 2023 on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Thursdays from 3-8 p.m. He said there will be about 100 vendors, with a different set of vendors each of the two days.

“We stand ready to move this forward,” he said. “We’re ready to roll.”

Commission opposition

Whitmore voiced her opposition to the idea of a county-run market.

“I can’t believe this board would actually want to run a business and take it away from the private sector,” she said, adding, “We’re not in the world here to have a business.”

Whitmore added, “This is probably going to get passed – it has been rammed through already.”

Commission Chairman Kevin Van Ostenbridge voiced his support for the county-run market.

“This is a taxpayer asset being monetized by someone else and the taxpayer is receiving very little in return,” Van Ostenbridge said. “We’re now using that asset to fund a water taxi to lower the number of cars by moving the same number of people hopefully out to the Island.”

Commenting on the water taxis, Whitmore said, “We couldn’t get anybody to bid on it so I hear we’re buying the water taxis and we’ll pay ourselves back. Who gave that authority to do that?”

Commissioner Misty Servia said she could have supported the county-run market, but the proper process was not followed.

“This should have come to the board to ask the board what they wanted to do before the administrator made all of these plans to run the market in a different way,” Servia said.

Vendors weigh in

Van Ostenbridge then opened the floor to citizen comments.

Several Coquina Beach Market vendors who worked under Ambrose’s oversight of the market spoke about her in glowing terms.

“Nancy worked around the clock to provide us a beautiful work environment,” said Amanda Champ, characterizing Ambrose as the vendors’ biggest advocate.

“Nancy was the matriarch of this beach market,” Champ said. “There are many people that love her.”

Vendor Victoria Dargan said, “I have been honored to have been part of the market for the last six years. It’s been run as the best market I’ve ever seen and to have it taken away from Nancy and this shift is very difficult for us to accept.”

Dargan said that changing the days of the market and losing Sundays will negatively impact her livelihood, along with many others.

“We don’t even know right now who’s going to be accepted (in the new market),” she said.

Jean McDonald, a self-described small family business vendor, called the market a consistent safe space in which she generated income.

“That woman has the highest integrity,” McDonald said of Ambrose. “The market is a community of hardworking individuals from all walks of life. Nancy played a huge role in the success of our business.”

Ambrose is currently looking at other market venue options.

A Facebook page, “Where is the Market?” has garnered 1,200 members – many of whom are vendors who have worked with Ambrose and are expressing loyalty and a willingness to follow her to a new venue.

Coquina Beach Market on county commission agenda

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Community News, Manatee County.

BRADENTON BEACH – County officials announced earlier this month that they would take control of the Coquina Beach Market, but some commissioners are saying, “Not so fast.”

Commissioner Carol Whitmore brought up the topic of the county running the beach market at a commission land use meeting on Aug. 18.

“I think this needs to be decided by the board if we’re going to do this,” Whitmore said. “I don’t believe in the board interfering with the private sector in this. I don’t want to run a flea market.”

Manatee County Information Director Bill Logan announced in a press release that oversight for the market would shift to Manatee County and that the county would take over the beach market from Nancy Ambrose, its director for the past decade.

Whitmore asked for the board to put the issue on the agenda for a future work session.

“This shouldn’t be going out for bids without our board talking about this,” Whitmore said. “I think we need to have public comment.”

Commissioner Misty Servia supported Whitmore’s request to put the topic on a future session.

“It’s unfortunate that we have to go to a work session because this is a policy matter that should have been brought to this board to discuss but we find ourselves in a situation where we’re backpedaling trying to correct a situation,” Servia said.

Chairman Kevin Van Ostenbridge said he would place the discussion on the agenda for the regular meeting to be held on Tuesday, Sept. 13.

“I don’t believe government should compete with private business,” Whitmore told The Sun on Aug. 19. “This (county running the market) sets up all kinds of liability issues. There’s a lot of risk involved.”

Whitmore said the county does not have the authority to take over the market and the commission is the only entity that can make decisions in that regard.

“Her (Ambrose’s) contract was approved by the board and only the board has the right to terminate it,” Whitmore said.

County Commissioner Vanessa Baugh said since Manatee County Administrator Scott Hopes was not present at the land use meeting, a discussion about the market would be in poor taste due to his absence.

“I don’t think the administrator understands his role,” Whitmore said. “His role is to follow board policy – it is not to set policy.”

In the meantime, Ambrose has said she is looking for new venues for the market. She has garnered support through the “Where’s the Market?” Facebook page.

Ambrose explores new venues for market

Ambrose explores new venues for market

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Business, Featured, Retail.

BRADENTON BEACH – Since the Aug. 2 announcement that Manatee County would take over the Coquina Beach Market from Nancy Ambrose, its director for the past decade, she has been looking for new venues.

Ambrose told The Sun that she is exploring the permitting process for one or more new venues for the market and said there are several good possibilities.

“This all happened so fast,” she said. “My concern is always the vendors having a place to go. When this happened, I almost felt like I let them down. I would say right now there is probably more than one place that we’re looking at.”

Ambrose declined to say where she was looking, but said that her search was not limited to Manatee County.

“The market will probably be at more than one place,” she said. “There’s one

in particular that I’m very excited about.”

“I’m done with the county as far as the beach market,” she said. “My reports are in to the county, I’ve destroyed my signs and business cards. I had 30 days, but I got it all done.”

Ambrose had expressed astonishment that her franchise license agreement for use of the beach parking lot had been terminated, thus ending her longtime management of the market.

“I was completely shocked when I received the coldest termination without cause letter out of the blue yesterday,” she wrote on Aug. 2 on her Facebook page. “I spent the day trying to figure it out and was so worried about the vendors.”

An Aug. 2 press release from Manatee County Information Director Bill Logan stated in part, “Artisans and other vendors will be back along the Coquina Beach South promenade, once again, when the 2022-23 season opens in November as oversight for the market shifts to Manatee County.”

On Aug. 5, Logan declined to give a reason for Ambrose’s termination and said by email, “I do not have any further information why the contract was terminated.”

“In a perfect world, I at 64 would retire as my husband retired in May and we would get the Thor Vegas or Atlas and travel with our dogs – that we dream about,” she wrote. “However instead of relaxing now – I must work on finding other venues as I honestly feel that some of our vendor family will not have a home in November.”

“We have fabulous vendors,” she said. “It has a family vibe and that makes it a special place. People can feel that.”

Ambrose’s supporters have come out in force on social media. The Facebook page, “Where is the Market?” has garnered 1,200 members – many of whom are vendors who have worked with Ambrose and are expressing loyalty. For example, “941 Beach Vibes” will NOT be vendors at the Coquina Beach Market, we will be following Nancy,” is posted there.

Ambrose said she started the Beach Market as vendors at her previous Bridge Street market were not allowed back when she left as manager.

“I am afraid that I will see the same thing now – that the vendors who helped build and make the Beach Market at Coquina Beach so special will not be back,” she wrote. “I fear for this on so many levels. So, I have no other decision than to start anew and help the vendors… I am mama bear to my vendors – you do not mess around with them.”

County organizing new market

County leaders are working to create a “more engaging and enjoyable experience” when the Coquina Beach Market reopens in November, Logan wrote in an Aug. 11 press release.

He declined to speculate as to what some of those changes could be, saying, “Everything is being looked at in order to make it a better event.”

“Every aspect of the market is being studied, from location to hours and dates of operation to enhancing vendor and guest opportunities,” Manatee County Administrator Scott Hopes said. “We want to integrate this into the beach experience.”

The new director has not yet been chosen, Logan said.

“There are discussions as to who will be in charge of the market, but no person has been appointed or named yet,” he said.

More than 150 vendors have responded to initial survey requests, expressing their interest in continuing to work with the new management team, according to Logan.

Vendors for the county beach market may apply at coquinamarketvendors@ mymanatee.org.

Manatee County takes over Coquina Beach Market

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Community News, Featured, Manatee County.

BRADENTON BEACH – Manatee County officials have announced that the county tourism agency is taking over the Coquina Beach Market from longtime director Nancy Ambrose.

Manatee County Information Director Bill Logan sent an email to commissioners on Aug. 1 announcing the takeover, issuing a press release on Aug. 2 that the market would be “taking a break” until November.

“Artisans and other vendors will be back along the Coquina Beach South promenade, once again, when the 2022-23 season opens in November as oversight for the market shifts to Manatee County,” according to the press release.

“This is a county asset,” Manatee County Administrator Scott Hopes said in the release. “Bringing the market under the guidance and coordination of our Convention and Visitors Bureau will ensure it continues to engage some of our area’s premier artisans while allowing visitors outstanding buying opportunities.”

In a Facebook post on the Beach Market’s Facebook page, the organizer of the market for the past decade, Nancy Ambrose, expressed her disbelief.

Ambrose said that a letter from county purchasing official Jacob Erickson notified her that her franchise license agreement for use of the beach parking lot was terminated.

“I was completely shocked when I received the coldest termination without cause letter out of the blue yesterday,” Ambrose wrote. “I spent the day trying to figure it out and was so worried about the vendors. I contacted Jacob Erickson, the Purchasing Official that wrote the letter and he informed me he had no idea if the market would continue as he was just directed by the administration to write the termination letter.

“There was no thank you for your years of service, no good luck – just 30-day written notice of termination – that the agreement will terminate at 11:59 p.m. ET on Aug. 31, 2022. In an email Dr. Hopes references me as the prior contractor,” Ambrose’s post continued.

When The Sun asked Logan for a reason on Aug. 5 for Ambrose’s termination he replied by email, “I do not have any further information on why the contract was terminated – only that it was.”

Manatee County Commissioner Carol Whitmore responded to Logan’s announcement, emailing several county officials and others on Aug. 1.

“Don’t you think we have more pressing business than this?” she wrote, adding that Logan does not have the authority to “grow a department.”

“This does not draw tourism, it’s something local county and visitors of (the) island visit,” Whitmore wrote.

Ambrose said in a Facebook post that the county has never contributed funds to the beach market. Whitmore confirmed that no county funds have so far been contributed to the beach market with Manatee Clerk of the Circuit Court Angel Colonneso by email.

Nancy Ambrose

Ambrose enters pre-trial diversion

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

HOLMES BEACH – Nancy Ambrose has entered into a pre-trial diversion contract which she must successfully complete for two third-degree felony charges to be dismissed regarding her butterfly garden fundraising activities.

Ambrose was arrested in May and charged with three third-degree felonies; scheming to defraud, operating an unlicensed charity and solicitation as a charity without authorization.

The scheme to defraud charge was dismissed in August.

The arrest warrant issued by the Holmes Beach Police Department alleged unauthorized expenditures for plants, fencing, insect killer, hose nozzles, trimmer line, a sprinkler timer, and items that could not be attributed to the butterfly garden, including a toilet seat.

The warrant also stated two Holmes Beach residents complained to the city in January 2017 about checks given to Ambrose that never resulted in the promised memorial bricks being installed.

Filed with the Manatee County Clerk of the Circuit Court on Jan. 5, the pre-trial diversion contract gives Ambrose 30 days to pay the city of Holmes Beach $17,017 for the restoration of the butterfly garden.

The payment will be made from the Ambrose-controlled Manasota North American Butterfly Association (NABA) bank account that had a $44,243 balance in December 2016, according to the arrest warrant. The remaining funds are to be turned over to the North American Butterfly Association’s national organization in New Jersey.

In 2008, Ambrose entered into an agreement with the city of Holmes Beach authorizing her to create and maintain a butterfly garden on the south end of the city hall property. Due to the lack of maintenance, the butterfly garden was abandoned in mid-2016 and converted to a memorial garden maintained by the city.

City officials are aware of these recent developments, but have not yet discussed the potential restoration of the butterfly garden.

Using her own money, Ambrose must pay the city $1,000 for the installation of the remaining memorial bricks and $200 to cover the cost of the police department investigation. She must also pay the State Attorney’s Office $100 for the cost of prosecution.

The pre-trial diversion contract conditions include monthly reports to a probation officer; the 12-month contract can be terminated in six months if all conditions are met. The agreement is not accompanied by a plea of innocence or guilt, but does alleviate the need for a trial.

Sabine Musil-Buehler butterfly memorial
The Sabine Musil-Buehler butterfly memorial – Cindy Lane | Sun

When contacted Saturday, Ambrose said she had no comment on the case. She did, however, respond to a question about the Sabine Musil-Buehler memorial formerly located in the butterfly garden.

She said the memorial was moved to a friend’s home before she was arrested, and it’s up to city officials to determine if it will be returned to its former location.

Garden affairs

Police Chief Bill Tokajer issued a press release on the day of Ambrose’s arrest.

“The defendant repeatedly obtained money by holding fundraiser arts and craft fairs and selling bricks for the garden. The money raised was supposed to be for the care and upkeep of the butterfly garden. The defendant has also used some of the money obtained for personal gain, as documented in the bank records. A review of the bank records showed Ambrose would receive approximately $3,500 dollars a year in donations from arts and craft fairs held on the Island,” Tokajer’s press release said.

“The defendant has been operating a charity using the NABA name and saying she is president of the Manasota chapter. It was found the Manasota chapter had been dissolved by the founder, Connie Hudson, in 2011,” the warrant said.

The press release also said the Manasota chapter was never registered as a charity with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.