HOLMES BEACH – The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Department has finished its inquiry into Beach to Bay Construction regarding hiring practices and has fined the Holmes Beach builder $52,247.80 for worksite enforcement violations, according to a release issued by the department.

“U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has concluded its investigation into Beach to Bay Construction. The agency served Beach to Bay Construction with a final order in the amount of $52,247.80 for worksite enforcement violations.”

Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesperson Carissa Cutrell wrote, “Just to put this final order dollar amount in context, this is higher than the average final order dollar amount, which equates to more violations.”

The fines came after a number of arrests of mainly Mexican nationals who possessed false IDs. Some used other peoples’ Social Security cards.

One worker was arrested for trying to get workers compensation coverage.

The Holmes Beach Police Department helped as federal agents visited job sites and checked identification.

HOLMES BEACH – Anna Maria Island’s beaches are scheduled to get new sand beginning on Thursday, county tourism officials learned on Monday.

The $16 million beach renourishment project will begin at 78th Street in Holmes Beach near the Martinique condos, work north for a short distance, then turn around and work south to Bradenton Beach, finishing around Bridge Street on Feb. 10, according to Charlie Hunsicker, director of the Manatee County Natural Resources Department. Coquina Beach renourishment to Longboat Pass will follow immediately and last another month, with the entire project targeted for completion in late March, depending on weather conditions.

The project is expected to proceed at 200 to 300 yards a day, weather permitting.

Timing the renourishment during high tourist season is necessary to avoid interfering with sea turtle nesting season, May 1 to Oct. 31, Manatee County Tourist Development Council Chairman Carol Whitmore told the TDC on Monday.

No new pier

Hunsicker gave the board little reason to hope that the Manatee Public Beach pier in Holmes Beach could be rebuilt as an erosion control device to save the new beach. The fixed, low-profile pier was demolished in 2009 for safety reasons.

With the five-year window to rebuild the pier expiring in one year, Whitmore had asked Hunsicker to research the possibility of using tourism resort tax funds to rebuild the pier on the basis that it might prevent erosion.

The TDC recently approved $1 million in matching funds to repair the Bradenton Beach pier.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection won’t allow a fixed structure, only an adjustable groin, and only if the county can prove that removing the pier created erosion, he said.

“We haven’t been able to measure a substantial or noticeable loss” of sand, Hunsicker said, but because the Island has not had a serious storm since the pier was removed, “we’re hesitant to say we don’t need it.”

“We do have a permitted structure that will be 15 feet off the water,” he said, but it would “dramatically change the visual orientation of that beach.”

The erosion issue may be moot since the county does not have the funds to rebuild either a fixed pier or an adjustable groin, he said.

While solid groins actually cause erosion, three adjustable erosion control groins in Bradenton Beach are in the budget and scheduled for reconstruction in May or June, with construction lasting an estimated nine months.

The structures, two of which are known by surfers as Twin Piers, are proven to prevent erosion and protect Gulf Drive, he said, adding that the groins can adjusted if they are catching too much or too little sand.

Why the beach needs more sand

Two storms last year, Tropical Storm Debby and, ironically, Hurricane Sandy, hastened the normal process of erosion on the Island, Hunsicker said.

The Island experiences 10-15 feet of sand loss each year because it is shaped like a crescent, causing the waves to hit it at an angle, washing the beach sand into the water where currents carry much of it south toward Longboat Key, he told the TDC.

To compensate for the loss, engineers will pump sand from an underwater site near shore into large pipes on the beach, piling it on the dry beach, bulldozing it flat, then plowing it to fluff it up for sea turtles to be able to dig nests in it next year, he said.

Nature will then wash much of the sand into the water for a few months, shoring up the dry sand with wet sand, and saving the additional cost of putting the sand directly in the water.

Longboat Key is not part of the project because it is not eligible for federal funds, town officials having declined to participate in the federal program, Hunsicker said. The city of Anna Maria is not included because it gained sand from the southern part of Anna Maria Island during Sandy in 2012.

The renourishment program began on Anna Maria Island in 1992, when water was lapping against rocks fronting some Gulf front homes.

“If we stop the program, the beach will return to that condition,” he said, leaving the Island vulnerable to losing buildings like the New Jersey coastline did during Sandy last year.

In 2002, the Island was renourished, following a normal 10-year cycle. An emergency renourishment was done in 2005-06 due to storm damage, and in 2011, Anna Maria city and Coquina Beach were renourished.

This year, the federal government is contributing $10 million to the project, with the state of Florida and Manatee County splitting $6 million, Hunsicker said.

The project was approved before the normal 10-year cycle due to Sandy’s damage to the Atlantic side of the state and Debby’s damage to the Gulf side last year, he said.

It’s not Debby or Sandy, “it’s Charlie,” County Commissioner John Chappie said, congratulating Hunsicker for his hard work on getting the project approved.

BRADENTON BEACH – Last week, Jeffery “Rusty” Roberts was busy readying the Bradenton Beach Pier-based Rusty Anchor bait shop for its Saturday, Dec. 14, opening.

During the Thursday Dec. 5, Bradenton Beach Pier Team meeting, Roland Pena informed Pier Team members that the family business group intends to open the Pelican Perch concession stand on the same day.

When fully staffed, the bait shop will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, offering fishing pole rentals for youths and adults in addition to selling bait, lures, fishing tackle and other items needed for pier fishing. Bait shop customers will have option of using the outdoor walk-up window or stepping inside the interior space that will double as a concession stand.

Offering coffee and coffee drinks, soft drinks, a juice bar, Cuban sandwiches, hot dogs, and other snacks, the Pelican Perch will likely be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., with specific days and hours of operation to be determined.

Pena said the group expects to open the full-service Cast and Cage restaurant in late January or early February, depending on when the interior renovations and repairs are complete.

When discussing the bait shop, Pena told the Pier Team the use of the outdoor restrooms would be supervised via lock and key, in a manner similar to a gas station.

Police Chief Sam Speciale said the restroom oversight would help alleviate some of the recent issues associated with the public restrooms.

Pena and his wife, Tami, are assisting with the financing process, and lending their business experience as former café operators to the family effort.

Roberts, Pena’s son-in-in law, and Ina Conant, Pena’s mother-in-law, will serve as managing members for the three businesses located on the city-owned pier.

ANNA MARIA – It’s an old-fashioned outdoor Christmas celebration on Friday as the merchants along Gulf Drive and Pine Avenue open their doors and porches to visitors and shoppers. It’s also a great way to see the new shops on Pine Avenue.

Come on out and see the new face of Pine Avenue. There are some truly unique items for sale and the merchants will have entertainment, food and drink. There will be a bingo game for prizes and you can vote for your favorite holiday decorations. Listen to the Roser Children’s Choir sing carols at Anna Maria Historical Park at 402 Pine Ave. at 6 p.m. Visit with Santa at The Sun newspaper in the AMI Sun Plaza.

If you’re coming from another city, you can park at CrossPointe Fellowship church, 8605 Gulf Drive, and take the free trolley. That’s a good idea because there will be few parking spaces available.

Come on out to enjoy an old fashioned Yule celebration Anna Maria style.

The mainland has Black Friday to mark the start of holiday shopping. On the Island, they have the Privateers Parade to start the shopping.

This year’s parade might have been a bit smaller than parades past, but there were lots of decorations on the vehicles, and the candy and beads flew through the air to the outstretched hands of the parade watchers.

The Anna Maria Island Privateers surprised some watchers in Holmes Beach when they arrived not with the sound of cannon and sirens, just mellow Christmas music. Could that be the touch of their new president, Mary Ann “Maz” Zyla-Smith? Time will tell.

One thing is certain, the fun factor was as high as ever as the small parade made the seven-mile trek in time for Santa, who took a seat on the Privateers’ ship, Skullywag as kids and their parents lined up to say high and drop a few hints on what they would like to see under the tree.

MAGGIE FIELD | SUN

The Privateers played Christmas music instead of firing
cannons or playing pirate songs.

BRADENTON BEACH – Bridge Street has been a non-stop source of activity of late, and the fun continues Saturday, Dec. 14, during the sixth annual Christmas on Bridge Street celebration taking place from 3 to 10 p.m.

Happening in the Bridge Street Market square, 107 Bridge Street, the holiday extravaganza will feature snow, Santa, a holiday bazaar, raffles, a 50-50 drawing, holiday music, live entertainment, and the Children’s Craft and Cookie Bazaar.

Local restaurants, resorts and businesses have donated a multitude of gift certificates and themed-baskets to be raffled off, and the festivities will extend beyond the market square and into the Bridge Street businesses community with event-related sales and special items being offered by participating Bridge Street merchants.

Sponsored in part by The Sun, the event will also serve as a collection site for non-perishable food items for local food banks serving food-challenged people and pets, with pet adoptions also being offered.

Food collections with continue through Sunday, Dec. 22, at the Hancock Bank in Holmes Beach, Bridge Street Bazaar in Bradenton Beach and Anna Maria Olive Oil Outpost in Anna Maria.

Proceeds from Christmas on Bridge Street will benefit the Manatee County Food Bank, the Anna Maria Island Food Pantry, Moonracer No Kill Animal Rescue, Forget-me-not Inc. animal rescue, and the Cortez Yacht Club.

Musical entertainment will be provided throughout the afternoon and evening by William Brusso, Luke Andrews and DJ Tom Barrons.

Crafts and cookies

On Thursday afternoon, event planners Melissa Enders, Caryn Hodge, Carol Clifford and Amanda Escobio gathered at the Back Alley gift shop, owned by Clifford, where they shored up plans for this year’s event.

“We do it every year to raise money for different charities,” Enders said of the motivating factor for Christmas on Bridge Street.

“We will have the Children’s Craft and Cookie Bazaar, with our local kids from the Island setting up tables and selling their art, crafts and cookies to make a little extra money during the holidays, as well as our usual craft vendors,” Enders said.

“We’ll have a nice mix of food featuring Goog’s Oceanside Pizza, Morgan’s Cantina, barbecue and more. It’s going to snow, and we’ll have a sleigh with Santa from four to eight,” she added, pointing out that Andrews will be playing Christmas music from 7 to 10 p.m., and that she hopes to incorporate a children’s performance.

Boat Parade

The event coincides with the Cortez Yacht Club’s 10th Annual Holiday Lighted Boat Parade.

“You can take a stroll down to the pier to watch the parade and then come back to find out who won the raffles,” Enders said.

Party-lovers take note: this year’s prize offerings include the soon-to-be-infamous Wheelbarrow Full of Booze and Fine Spirits, a bar on one wheel, stocked with spirits and other adult beverages donated by the bars and restaurants of Bridge Street and beyond.

The Wheelbarrow Full of Booze made its debut at Sunday’s Bridge Street Market. The $10 raffle tickets will be sold at the Dec. 14 event and throughout the week leading up to it at the Back Alley, 108 Bridge Street.

“It’s enough booze to throw a hell of a New Year’s Eve party, said Escobio, owner of the Sea-renity Spa.

“We have the fabulous raffles benefitting charitable organizations, and even if you have done one of our recent night events, this one’s going to be really special,” Hodge said.

Volunteers are still needed. If you would like to help out, or have a youngster interested in participating in the Children’s Craft and Cookie Bazaar, contact Hodge, marketing director for the Chiles Group, at 941-713-3105.

HOLMES BEACH – It began at the Chamber, as board members gathered to watch the lights go on at the Christmas tree decoration in the parking lot, thanks to Miller Electric owner Ed Gocher, who spent final moments before the lighting making sure everything was secure.

After that, everyone went across the street to the stores to look at the merchandise and sample yuletide eats and drinks. There was live music in front of D Coy Ducks and lots of holiday lighting in the shops.

At Irene’s a number of regular shoppers were amazed at their expansion into the next door area that formerly housed Island Florist. The crowd went through the spacious store, inspecting the expanded offerings.

At Mister Roberts, the employees served up punch and cookies while shoppers took advantage of the deals on clothing there. Other stores were also inundated with people.

It was a nice start to the season. The weather was humid, but warm and those who had come from colder climes were just glad to be here in paradise.

MAGGIE FIELD | SUN

Privateer Kelly Sparkman blows bubbles as
Katie Priest, of Bradenton, tries to catch them.

ANNA MARIA – City commissioners got an earful last Thursday when an ongoing argument over parking spaces in the six-lots park development at Pine Avenue and North Bay Boulevard resulted in two people walking out of the city meeting. Pine Avenue Restoration (PAR) member Micheal Coleman withdrew a PAR offer of $100,000 over four years for further development of the commercial district. Coleman sent a letter to Mayor SueLynn the next day asking for the $9,379 PAR had already given the city.

Former City Commissioner Gene Aubrey, who drew up plans for the six lots that included trees around the perimeter, bathrooms and the parking spaces that have become so controversial, also walked out saying he would no longer donate work to the city.

The hearing on the site plan was to be quasi-judicial; meaning decisions made by the commissioners would be based only on evidence presented there. The parking spaces had been a controversial part of the plan with a number of commissioners opposed to adding parking there, despite a months long attempt lately by the commission to add parking spaces in the city.

Resident Rex Hagen had promised money for the trees, bathrooms, parking spaces and other improvements as long as the city would dedicate the work in the name of his late wife. When the Commission started talking about removing the parking spaces, commissioners wondered whether Hagen would pull his contribution and they are still wondering.

“I am inclined to withdraw the money I’ve spent so far,” he said. “We’re in difficult times, and they are totally against tourism. I’m totally for it because it has brought us what we have now.”

After Coleman left, saying he was totally disgusted with the Commission, Commissioner Doug Copeland said he was also disgusted. He moved to accept the site plan, but it was voted down.

Copeland asked City Attorney Jim Dye about voting it down since it meets the code, and the Commission is required to vote for it if that’s the case. Dye said he was not sure, since the city was the applicant.

The Commission moved to continue the subject until the mayor can find out what Hagen and PAR want.