ANNA MARIA – Donations continue to come in to the Island Community Center since officials announced in a community meeting on June 4 that it could be forced to close due to lack of funds.

The $50,000 match by an anonymous donor was met and then surpassed last week. Putting it over the top was the surprise donation of Food and Wine on Pine (FWP) proceeds by six Island non-profit groups. The non-profit donations totaled $10,000, and Center received $2,500 from FWP, making the match fund $65,000.

“It says so much about a small community,” Executive Director Dawn Stiles said. “The community stepped up and said this is important, and we want to preserve it because it’s a part of the fabric of the Island.”

Stiles said the Center also got it first sustaining donation last week by someone who pledged to give the same amount every month. Others can do the same by calling the Center or going to the website. In addition, several board members have pledged $5,000 per year for five years.

Stiles said she has finished the 2014-15 budget and will present it to the board of directors for approval next week. Stiles will hold a community meeting to present it to the public on Monday, July 14.

“It’s very conservative on revenue and aggressive on expenses,” she pointed out. “I only built into the budget what has already been explored. Our revenue should be sound.

“I saved the money that the board directed me to and we had commitments in hand before we built those estimates.”

At the same meeting where board members plan to approve the budget, they also will select new board members from the applications they have received over the past month. The board now has seven members and can have as many as 17.

Committees working

Several committees have been revived or formed to help the Center meet its goals and fulfill it mission.

“The member advisory committee will be working on finding ways to make things better for the members and make the Center run smoother, so everyone feels that they have had a good experience,” Stiles explained. “It will include participants from each group that uses the Center such as parents and kids, pickleball and tennis players.”

An idea committee is now being formed, and it will look at all the ideas submitted by community members. Members will put ideas in categories such as fulfilling the Center’s mission, reducing expenses, generating revenue, appealing to the community and requiring staff time and then decide on their feasibility.

“It’s the opposite of business where you decide what your market is and who you are catering to,” Stiles said. “With the Center, you want the umbrella to be wide in order to touch as many people a you can.”

Stiles still is looking for a volunteer coordinator to head the volunteer committee. She said several people with financial and media expertise have contacted her and that “those are the two areas where we are the most challenged.”

Once new board members are selected, Stiles said she plans to form a development committee to share the responsibility for fundraising. The group will focus on areas such as ideas for fundraising and major events and planned giving and how to approach people.

“You need a really strong development committee,” she concluded. “You need people who are connected to others because it is those connections between friends that bring new friends.

“Pierrette (former Executive Director Pierrette Kelly) had those connections in the community. She did a phenomenal job building the donor pool and building the building. We just have to find a way to sustain it.”

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Got plans to visit the Island over the Fourth of July holiday? Local officials have three words of advice: Get. Here. Early.

Island police are anticipating an extremely busy weekend, with 40,000 or more people expected to visit. A recent preview might have been Memorial Day, when swamped police estimated a crowd of 30,000 in one day just at Coquina Beach.

Cars were parked every which way ers can expect to be trapped in the usual crush of motorists streaming in from the mainland, then finding themselves with no place to put the car.

But Independence Day on the Island has turned into a beach extravaganza, with fireworks displays on July 3 and July 4, and a parade Friday morning billed as “the world’s longest Fourth of July Parade on an Island.”

The festivities get underway Thursday night with the fireworks show at the BeachHouse restaurant. Bradenton Beach Police Chief Sam Speciale suggests travelers arrive by 7 p.m. and park south of town, along Cortez Beach or Coquina Beach.

“You’re going to be able to see the fireworks just as well, and you won’t have to deal with all the pedestrians and traffic,” he said.

“Our officers will be looking for alcohol on the beaches and will be issuing citations,” he warned.

“Keep an eye on your children. Children have a tendency to run off. We had 10 displaced children over Memorial Day weekend, so please be very observant,” he cautioned.

“There’s going to be a lot of traffic along Cortez Road and Gulf Drive this weekend, especially in the morning and early afternoon. You might want to take the trolley, the Beach Monkey or walk instead. Get here early, stay hydrated, stay vigilant, and keep an eye on your surroundings. We want you to have a safe and fun holiday weekend,” he concluded.

Mayor Bill Shearon said the county reinstalled the Coquina Beach parking bollards that were removed before the Memorial Day weekend. That initial removal led to parking issues that were further complicated by the missing children.

“We appreciate the visitors coming to the Island, but please respect our citizens and don’t park in the middle of their lawns,” Shearon said.

Keep cool

Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer said keeping a cool head is key.

“Expect there to be traffic and be patient,” Tokajer said. “There will be overflow parking, but we will not allow people to park illegally just because it’s a holiday weekend. We will be citing people that park illegally, and we will be citing people that have alcohol on the beach. We will also be confiscating fireworks and possibly issuing citations for violations of fireworks ordinances. If it explodes, launches or projects, it’s illegal.”

“Residents should keep in mind that we are having a parade on Fourth of July morning and there will be road closures,” he added.

That would be the Privateers motorized Fourth of July parade, which begins at 10 a.m. at Coquina Beach and winds its way up the Island to Anna Maria, ending at Bayfront Park. (See story on Page 3.) The parade is viewed by thousands of pedestrians lining the route and is quite long. Traffic, as expected, simply has to wait until the procession passes by.

Tokajer also urged visitors to use their heads when it comes to safety.

“Don’t leave valuables visible in your car and don’t make yourself and easy target. Keep in mind that in Holmes Beach, the Public Beach is the only beach that has a life guard. Be cautious, and be a good neighbor while you’re visiting,” he said.

Parking, parking, parking

Sgt. Paul Davis, from the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office Anna Maria Unit added, “The biggest thing is going to be parking. We want everyone to park in designated areas. If it’s not listed as a No Parking zone, park with the flow of traffic with your tires completely off the pavement.”

In regard to the July 4 fireworks celebration at the Sandbar restaurant, Davis said, “Have patience. There’s only one road in and one road out. When the fireworks are over, everyone is going to try to leave at once. Take your time and be prepared for it to take a while.”

He suggested the free Trolley as alternative to driving.

In regard to parking, he said, “Typically the churches have their lots open. Other than that, there’s not a whole lot of open parking.”

As for beach behavior, he said, “Grilling, open fires, pets and alcohol are not allowed on the beach, and fireworks will be confiscated.”

In conclusion, he said, “We want everyone to have a good time without having any problems.”

HOLMES BEACH – The Island’s “King of the Road,” Prince the cat, will stay at Island Animal Clinic for another week, according to his unofficial custodian, Patty Marifjeren, of Suncoast Realty.

Prince, the tabby cat that calls two shopping centers home in Holmes Beach, was suffering from anemia and a urinary tract infection. He improved and was to be released Monday, but doctors decided he needed daily doses of medicine and they didn’t want him running around the shopping centers when the Island would be crowded because of the Fourth of July holiday.

Last week the call went out for funds to pay for his medicine while his room and board at Island Animal Clinic was covered by the clinic. There was a good response to that call, which was published in The Sun, and Marifjeren said money that is not spent on Prince now would be held in a fund for Prince’s future medical expenses and for other animals needing treatment whose owners don’t have the money.

Prince’s plight brought out the best in one 10-year-old named Christian who was visiting the Island with his parents. According to Marifjeren, Christian’s mother had offered to buy him a souvenir from Island Trader, but after he read about Prince in The Sun, he told her he would rather she give the money to the recovering feline.

Prince made the news last year for his nomadic nature. Unlike many feral cats, Prince likes to mingle with people and has made numerous friends as he goes from store to store in the Island Shopping Center and S&S Plaza. He is a regular at Minnie’s Beach Café and Mister Roberts and he can count on snacks, refreshment and a few pats on the head from numerous store employees and owners.

And next week Prince will hopefully be back on the streets of the Island.

Look to the skies above the Island’s two Chiles Group of restaurants for their annual public fireworks displays over the Fourth of July holiday. Beach-goers will get a good view, and the restaurants will offer packages for those wanting to enjoy food and drinks from a front row seat.

On Thursday, July 3, the BeachHouse restaurant will host its 21st Annual Fireworks Extravaganza at its renovated dining room and bar and newly renourished beach. VIP packages are available. Call 779-2222 for more information.

The grand finale takes place at the Sandbar restaurant on the Fourth of July for its 28th Annual Fireworks Spectacular. There will be a VIP party under the open-air pavilion for $125 per person, including upscale buffet, complimentary Sandbar specialty drinks, beer, wine and party favors. For more information, call the Sandbar at 778-8709.

Remember, if it flies or explodes, it’s illegal, especially on the beach. Police will be out along the beaches during the holiday to make sure things don’t get out of hand. Police urge everyone to enjoy the fireworks displays and leave the pyrotechnics in the hands of the experts.

BRADENTON BEACH – Mayor Bill Shearon and his partner Tjet Martin are strong proponents of adherence to local codes, ordinances and regulations. But according to a complaint filed with a state regulatory agency, the two have been operating the Linger Longer resort without a state-mandated public lodging establishment license.

Working on behalf of Ed Chiles and the ELRA Inc. restaurant ownership group that is engaged in one lawsuit involving Shearon, and another involving Martin, attorney Robert Lincoln said he discovered the violation and filed a complaint with the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR).

On June 20, Lincoln sent a letter of notification to the city that included a copy of the June 19 DBPR Linger Longer inspection report triggered by his complaint.

The report states: “Observed: Establishment operating without a license from the Division of Hotels and Restaurants. Operator must obtain a public lodging license within 60 days.”

Shearon shares one of the Linger Longer units with Martin, who serves as the city’s Scenic Waves advisory committee co-chair, and is currently running against City Commissioner Jan Vosburgh for the Ward 4 city commission seat. They rent out the remaining units on a weekend, weekly or monthly basis.

When contacted Friday after noon, DBPR spokesperson Tajiana Ancora-Brown said, “According to our records, there are no previous licenses for the facility you are referring to. The Division of Hotels and Restaurants does not have a record of issuing a lodging license to 302 Gulf Drive. At this time, there are no records of a lodging application for this facility.

"Depending on classification, a lodging, license may cost $205 to $250. Failure of an establishment to be in compliance with the appropriate lodging license may result in administrative fines as outlined in the Florida Administrative Code.”

Citing Florida statutes, Lincoln noted that operating a transient rental property without a state lodging license is a second-degree misdemeanor and state law provides for the immediate arrest of a violator. No arrests have been made in this case.

Lincoln also asserts that a local government cannot issue an occupational license to any public lodging establishment that does not have a state license.

Mayor responds

Friday afternoon, Shearon said, “The application has been applied for, that’s my official response.”

When asked if he knew he was required to have a public lodging license prior to these recent events, Shearon said, “No. We’ve been in business for 11 years; we pay sales tax, we pay the bed tax, we have a business license, and we do everything that any other rental business does.”

A preliminary report filed by Code Enforcement Officer Gail Garneau Thursday morning supported Shearon’s claim that he is in the process of obtaining the required state lodging license.

Shearon attributed the licensing faux pas to a 2011 change in state law pertaining to House Bill 883, and referred the inquiring party to Building Official Steve Gilbert.

Via e-mail, Gilbert said, “The entire concept of renting single family and duplex dwellings in this way went kind of 'under the radar' until 2011, when the state legislature prohibited local governments from regulating them further.

“The city’s ordinance never picked up the state licensing requirement, and I don’t believe anyone recognized that the vacation rentals required a specific license from the state before the city could issue a business tax receipt. We’re going to be adding that language to our application and renewal forms to make sure we’re checking it from now on.

“It’s unfortunate, that in most cases, it’s incumbent on the potential business owners to try to figure out what the exact laws and rules might be, and I’d guess there may be a great many properties on the Island in the same situation.”

The Fourth of July has always been popular with those who would ignite fireworks at the beach, but there’s one big problem – they’re illegal.

The situation presents a major challenge for law enforcement because officers are tremendously outnumbered at the beach. Even so, the police departments of Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach and the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office will be looking to confiscate fireworks and make arrests, if necessary, to keep the peace.

Bradenton Beach will have all officers on duty plus their reserve officers, with some additional manpower from the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, according to Lt. John Cosby. He said they would be looking for fireworks, alcohol and other violations. He also said they would be enforcing the no-parking-on-city-streets law. He urged drivers to be careful and patient, as the streets will be crowded, and to park where it is allowed.

The Holmes Beach Police Department is taking a more proactive stance against fireworks, according to Police Chief Bill Tokajer.

"We will be confiscating fireworks when we receive a call or see them in operation,” Tokajer said in a memo. “My thoughts are when we confiscate them when we respond, then that is one more repeat call we won’t have to respond to.”

Tokajer said they would have the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office pick up the confiscated fireworks and have them destroyed.

The Sheriff’s Office will confiscate fireworks as well, according to Sgt. Paul Davis, who heads the Anna Maria patrol. The city is installing signs that say, “No fireworks allowed” on the beach accesses.

If you want to enjoy fireworks as you celebrate the nation’s birthday, there will be professional fireworks displays on July 3 at the BeachHouse restaurant and July 4 at the Sandbar. There are package plans for those wanting to enjoy food and refreshments at the restaurants, and it’s free to watch the shows from the beach.

HOLMES BEACH –The Anna Maria Island Privateers will celebrate our nation’s birth with their annual Fourth of July Parade on Friday, beginning at 8 a.m. at Coquina Beach and moving up the Island to Bayfront Park.

The Privateers welcome anyone who registers to participate. They need to fill out an application, decorate their rides and be there at 8:30 a.m. for staging.

No walkers will be allowed due to the length of the parade. Entries must be motorized or wheeled. You must put identification on your vehicle telling who you represent (service clubs, condo associations, businesses or other organizations). No political messages will be allowed. You may pass out candy and/or beads to the crowds. The Privateers will fire the cannons.

To sign up, go http://amiprivateers.org/.

After the parade, the Privateers will head to the Anna Maria Island Beach Café to pass out scholarships.

Privateers played a big part in winning our revolutionary war against the British. After the European residents of this continent declared independence from the British, the newly formed country of the United States had a tiny navy. In order to protect the populace from British warships, the nation issued Letters of Marque to privately owned, armed merchant ships and they commissioned Privateers to help win the war. In comparison, our Continental Navy had 64 ships and 1,242 guns compared with 1,697 ships and 14,872 guns of the Privateers. This gave the Americans much more firepower to win the Revolutionary War.

Something to remember as the Island’s Privateers pass by in their parade.