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Tag: Julia Hazel

  • Lake Manatee Dam receives $3 million dollars for emergency repairs

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    MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — Manatee County officials recently approved $3 million in funding for emergency repairs to the Lake Manatee Dam.

    What You Need To Know

    • Information gained after last year’s hurricane season has led to a multi-million dollar restoration project at the dam

    • $3 million will be spent to repair the side of the dam that faces the water

    • Officials say the work will be completed within the next 30 days


    Information gained after last year’s hurricane season has led to a multi-million dollar restoration project at the dam. After significant rainfall forced officials to release water, flooding followed — prompting a special assessment.

    “Due to the, you know, extensive hurricane season we had last year, one of the recommendations was to do what’s called a ground-penetrating radar assessment of the dam face. So as a result of that, they identified areas where there are potential voids within the dam face,” said Patrick Shea, the utilities director for Manatee County.

    He said those voids are gaps within the dam, and that the assessment found dozens of them.

    “Voids can happen when the water gets through cracks in the dam and starts to wash away some of that cemented soil. So the voids are just kind of gaps within the structure itself,” he said.

    Shea noted that the voids have developed over time in the decades-old dam.

    “Voids are created over time — wave action from the lake, the lapping of the water, and just overall degradation of the dam over the years. The dam is 61 years old,” he added.

    Now, $3 million will be spent to repair the side of the dam that faces the water.

    “When they’re finding these small voids, they’ll go in and inject a two-part epoxy into the dam. It’s really a preventative measure to avoid an emergency situation at the dam,” he said.

    Officials say the work will be completed within the next 30 days.

    The Lake Manatee Dam receives an annual professional engineer’s report on its condition.

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    Julia Hazel

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  • SCF expands artificial intelligence mannequin skills lab program

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    MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — Health education is getting a boost from artificial intelligence.

    The State College of Florida (SCF) is expanding its Artificial Intelligence Sim Lab Program to two other campuses in the Tampa Bay area. The new technology will be available to students starting this fall at its Venice and Bradenton locations.

    What You Need To Know

    • The State College of Florida (SCF) is expanding its Artificial Intelligence Sim Lab Program to two other campuses in the Tampa Bay area

    • The new technology will be available to students starting this fall

    • SCF’s Venice and Bradenton locations will start offering the AI technology in skills labs starting this fall.

    Stephen Brelsford has been the Simulation & Nursing Communication Coordinator for SCF at its Manatee-Sarasota location for the past four years. Recently, the program started using AI technology in its mannequins to help teach nursing students.

    “He can sweat, he can cry, he can do all sorts of things,” Brelsford said. “Between the verbal communication skills and the hands-on experiential training, I think it gives them a full perspective of what they would see in the hospital,” he said.

    The program is proving popular. This semester saw a nearly 20% increase in students compared to the previous fall semester.

    Director of Simulation Debbie Allish says the goal is to enhance students’ knowledge.

    “AI is so important for our students — especially with these mannequins — because it allows them to interact with a patient that’s more realistic and looks more like a real person than some of the other mannequins we have. The nice thing about this, too, is he is programmed with answers. They can have a conversation with him,” she explained.

    The mannequin can replicate different scenarios, such as seizures, and it moves its eyes, mouth, face and body. While it’s programmed to react on its own, it can also be controlled manually.

    “The faculty sit here. Faculty kind of operate the simulators during the scenario. They evaluate the students with our camera system here,” Brelsford said.

    Brelsford says the more comfortable students become with this new technology, the more comfortable he hopes they will be interacting with actual patients when they graduate.

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    Julia Hazel

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  • Manatee County commissioners pass increase of impact fees by 100%

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    MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — Manatee County Commissioners have unanimously voted to increase the impact fees that developers pay to support the overall public infrastructure in the county by 100%.

    The vote Thursday passed 7-0.

    What You Need To Know

    • Impact fees are one-time charges that developers pay to complete new construction in the unincorporated areas of Manatee County

    • Manatee County commissioners approved the measure, 7-0

    • The newly approved impact fee increases will go into effect in approximately 90 days


    Dalton Nelson appreciates the simple things in life, like walking through a park in Parrish.

    “The parks, especially this one, even though it’s a brand new park, they need to be maintained. They need to make sure that, you know, the kids are safe here,” he said.

    But the maintenance that Nelson is talking about costs money. Impact fees are one-time charges that developers pay to complete new construction in the unincorporated areas of Manatee County.

    The money collected partially pays for infrastructure improvements and maintenance.

    “I think that the developers are kind of tone deaf to what’s going on,” Nelson said. “You know, the people have said that this is starting to become a more apparent issue, is starting to get worse, is not getting better. You’re saying that, you know, during your process of putting these communities in, that all this stuff is accounted for and it’s obviously not.”

    But others in attendance at the land use meeting were not in favor of the change.

    Jon Mast, the CEO for the Suncoast Builders Association, was against raising the fees.

    “Now under the false narrative that home builders aren’t paying their share, you’re pushing to double or even triple the impact fees. Shame on you,” he said.

    Nelson has lived in this community for five years and says he has seen many new developments and watched the area drastically change.

    He wants to see more done to accommodate population growth — including improving what he says are roads in poor condition.

    “They are the ones making the impact. They are the ones that need to pay for it,” he said.

    Nelson sees the value in the increased impact fees developers will pay. He is hoping commissioners continue to focus on moving Manatee County forward.

    Manatee County Commissioners say the increased impact fees will go into effect in roughly 90 days.

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  • Holmes Beach to host hurricane preparedness workshop Friday

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    HOLMES BEACH, Fla. — One thing you’ll hear weather experts stress during storm season is preparation. But that’s not just for individual homeowners — city officials must also be ready to handle tropical weather.

    What You Need To Know

    • The city of Holmes Beach is hosting a hurricane preparedness workshop Friday, June 6 from 10-11:30 a.m. at City Hall

    • Like many locations, residents are still recovering from last year’s major hurricanes

    • During the meeting, officials will discuss new initiatives currently underway

    • SEE ALSO: Tampa Bay’s complete guide to Storm Season 2025


    The view in Holmes Beach will always be special for Mayor Judy Titsworth.

    “Oh, it’s night and day,” she said. “I mean, everything was just gray.”

    She’s talking about how the area looked after last year’s storms. But now, kids are playing, and people are enjoying the beach again.

    “It’s really amazing to me just how quickly the island was able to come back to what everyone loves so much about it — beautiful white beaches, the sand,” she said.

    Still, Titsworth says some residents are very much still in recovery mode.


    “I’m concerned now,” she said. “Even if we get a really strong rainstorm, people still have some PTSD.”

    That’s why Friday’s town hall will have a different urgency than in previous years.

    “Well, hopefully this one’s going to be different because people will know what to do,” Titsworth said. “They’ve been through it once. We’ve got to make sure. And I think they’re going to evacuate. Last time, it was 100 miles offshore, and we still got the biggest surge we’ve ever had.”

    During the meeting, officials will discuss new initiatives currently underway.

    “We do have TextGov, so people can get notifications from Holmes Beach more easily,” she said. “It’s really hard to get up-to-date information to people who are displaced.”

    Titsworth said this year’s meeting will focus more on information-based preparation, shaped by last year’s historic storm season.

    “We’re going to be doubling down on, you have to prepare your homes,” she said. “Trim your trees ahead of time. Please turn off your power — we had a lot of fires last year. Please turn off your water — there was water that just continued to run in.”

    The Holmes Beach Town Hall Hurricane Preparedness Workshop will take place from 10-11:30 a.m. at Holmes Beach City Hall.

    Longboat Key will also be hosting its town hall meeting on Sunday at 10 a.m.

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    Julia Hazel

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  • Manatee County starts permanent sandbag locations through hurricane season

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    MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — Manatee County wants residents to plan ahead this storm season and is increasing accessibility to a valuable resource.

    What You Need To Know

    • There are now sandbag locations open around the county — and they will remain open every day until the end of hurricane season, Nov. 30.

    • The county says the only thing you need to bring is a shovel

    • BELOW: List of locations, addresses

    • SEE ALSO: More storm season headlines


    There are now sandbag locations open around the county — and they will remain open every day until the end of hurricane season, Nov. 30.

    During hurricane season, you can never be too prepared.

    “We are getting some extra sandbags before a storm so we don’t have to do it in a rush,” Claire Rowell said.

    Rowell and her son Buck filled up sandbags early this year at the Rye Preserve location in Parrish.

    It’s part of Manatee County’s proactive approach to storm preparation — to make these sandbag sites available until hurricane season is over.

    “I think it’s excellent. It’s been needed for a few years, but it is awesome. And I think they’ve really done a professional job. I think even the sandbags are a little bit higher quality this year, too,” she said.


    When a county resident pulls up to one of the sites, they’ll find a container with bags inside and, of course, sand. The county says the only thing you need to bring is a shovel.

    “We really have found sandbags, especially kind of around the doorways, to be effective, to keep water out,” Rowell explained.

    She and her family have lived in Parrish for 13 years and can see the Manatee River from their backyard.

    During Tropical Storm Debby, her home flooded.

    “The water comes down along our easement to the front door,” Rowell said. “So even though the river is on the other side of the house, what actually ends up flooding is the door near the street and the road and the easement. So we’ve gotten very creative and we’ve added some French drains with some rocks so that it travels away from our door,” she said.

    The sandbags are an extra precaution.

    When and if a storm threatens later this year, she wants to make sure they have enough to seal their front door.

    “As the water flows down, it just stays out of the house and it’ll move to the left and right and back down to the river,” she said.

    The sandbag locations will be available until the end of storm season.

    • Blackstone Park – 2112 14th Ave. W., Palmetto
    • Myakka Community Center – 10060 Wauchula Rd., Myakka City
    • Palma Sola Park – 7815 40th Ave. W., Bradenton
    • Parrish Park Overflow Parking – 77550 Ft. Hamer Rd., Parrish
    • Rubonia Community Center – 1309 72nd St. E., Palmetto
    • Rye Preserve – 905 Rye Wilderness Trail, Parrish
    • Manatee County Stormwater Facility – 5511 39th St. E., Bradenton


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  • Popular Holmes Beach shopping center to hold grand reopening after Helene

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    MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — Jennifer Moore owns her beach shop, Sun and Surf, that has been in her family since 1983.

    What You Need To Know

    • Hurricane Helene flooded Jennifer Moore’s business with roughly four feet of water, damaging nearly everything inside

    • After months of hard work and repair, she has reopened Sun and Surf

    • A grand reopening event is taking place Friday, June 6 at the Island Shopping Center to celebrate all businesses
    • The event runs from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.


    “So I grew up here. I was 11, and I was in the store after school. I would come in and do little projects,” she said.

    And now that’s the same hope for her kids.

    But at one point, it was hard to imagine if this place would still be here.

    Hurricane Helene flooded her business with roughly four feet of water, damaging nearly everything inside.

    Moore says she knew it was going to be tough to recover from all that was lost in the storm.

    But with hard work and dedication, repairs were made, and she just reopened her store last month.

    “We were closed for eight months. It was extremely difficult. But we powered through it and we got through it at the end, and we conquered it,” she said. “It made us stronger in all, and hopefully better. It was like this upgrade we all got at once.”

    She says neighboring stores in the Island Shopping Center started opening up more recently, which prompted her to organize a grand reopening celebration for all stores in the plaza to take place Friday, June 6 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m..

    She wants to highlight the businesses’ resiliency to bounce back after the storms and let shoppers know they’re open for business.

    “This is like a second home, this plaza. I come here every day. And this is just a feeling of home where I grew up. And now my children are growing up. And how all these different businesses and the community — how we’ve all come together,” she said.

    Moore is ready for this next step, coming out of rebuilding and bringing the community together once again.

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  • Manatee County is upgrading 150,000 water meters by 2027

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    MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — Manatee County has unveiled a new program called WaterWise Manatee. Crews will eventually replace all 150,000 water meters in the county by the end of 2027.

    County officials say this initiative will reduce costs and save time. Upon installation, residents will receive notice before workers come out to replace their water meter. Residents will be notified by postcard and a door hanger.

    The county hired workers from Envocore to install the new meters, which the county says will enhance efficiency and reduce costs for residents. Blunt is one of the site supervisors.

    County officials say this initiative will reduce costs and save time. (Spectrum Bay News 9/Julia Hazel)

    The goal is to replace up to 6,000 meters a month.

    These new water meters transmit information electronically, allowing staff to read the meters remotely. Jim Renneberg with Manatee County Utilities explains the benefits.

    “It’s going to provide some efficiencies for the county,” he said. “There are many meters we have to manually read, which means we have to go out into neighborhoods and physically look at each meter. We’re going to be able to do that remotely, so we can pull that data at our office.”

    Because the meters will also provide real-time data to residents, the county says the technology promotes water conservation — leading to reduced costs.

    “They don’t need to come out, open the lid, or open the flap,” said Devin Blunt, an installer.

    It’s a new and improved system with a focus on efficiency that will save county employees time, and save residents money.

    There will be a resident customer service portal that provides homeowners with real-time data on their usage. The portal is still under development but is expected to launch by the end of 2026.

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  • Parrish family invests in new equipment and techniques to prevent flooding

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    MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — Some residents who are in a low flood risk areas, or maybe not in a flood zone at all, had major flooding problems last year. 

    We spoke to a Manatee County resident who is installing pumps on his property to move the water out and prevent issues in the future.

    What You Need To Know

    • Bradley Anderson and his family live in a low-risk flood zone in Parrish 

    • Their property flooded for the first time last storm season

    • Now Anderson and his family have invested in new equipment and techniques to hopefully prevent another flood

    Heavy lifting is part of Bradley Anderson’s new plan.

    “Right now we are starting the process of being proactive,” he said.

    In this case, he’s creating a drainage path by moving dirt.

    “And moving a lot of dirt to raise certain portions of the property to drain water where we need it to,” he said.

    Bradley Anderson’s property flooded property. (Courtesy: Bradley Anderson)

    This new approach comes after his family’s Parrish property flooded multiple times during last year’s hurricane season.

    “I don’t want to become a statistic. Seeing so many folks that assume that what they’re doing is going to be enough. I need to control the part that I can,” he said.

    But no one can control the force of a storm. Anderson sent us video of flooding on his property.

    It’s in Flood Zone X, considered to be low-risk, yet flooded in Debby, Helene, and Milton.

    “We would be sloshing through water and it ran up all the way to the front of the home,” he said.

    Bradley Anderson's property flooded property. (Courtesy: Bradley Anderson)

    Bradley Anderson’s property flooded property. (Courtesy: Bradley Anderson)

    Our weather experts shared data from an Ellenton rain gauge for those three storms.

    The total from both Debby – 14.6 inches – and Milton – 6.2 inches – exceeded the monthly averages, while Helene also dropped nearly 2.5 inches of rain in central Manatee County.

    If the property floods again, Anderson says he will use a pump to drain the water.

    “As the water starts to rise, the pump kicks in. This provides a lot more peace of mind,” he said.

    And there’s more than 500 feet of pipe that he will run to the front of their land.

    “We’re just taking all necessary precautions because you never know when one storm or the surrounding impact is going to come through,” he said.

    Bradley Anderson's property flooded property. (Courtesy: Bradley Anderson)

    Bradley Anderson’s property flooded property. (Courtesy: Bradley Anderson)

    The water will then dump out here into a culvert.

    “Our hope is that the utilities work the way they are designed to,” he said.

    From priming the pipes on his property, to preparing a large hole for excess waste, it will take weeks to complete everything. And even then, the homeowners tell me they are worried it won’t be enough.

    “This is a lot of labor — a labor of love,” he said.

    But it’s also been a large financial investment for his family.

    “The pumps alone, we’re in the low thousands. The equipment rental itself — I mean, you’re talking hundreds of dollars per day,” he said.

    Each day, as Anderson continues to prepare, he is counting on this project to safeguard the property for future storm seasons.

    Anderson tells us it will take a month to complete moving the dirt to elevate part of his property.

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  • 13 acres of land will be added to Pine Island Preserve

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    BRADENTON, Fla. — Manatee County commissioners unanimously voted to purchase more than 13 acres of land to add to Pine Island Preserve.

    What You Need To Know

    • Manatee County Commissioners voted to purchase 13 acres for the Pine Island Preserve

    • The vote was unanimous

    • The preserve will now span 100 acres

    The $40,000 purchase will come out of Manatee County’s conservation tax, allowing the preserve to span nearly 100 acres.

    “The north end of Pine Island was acquired to help complete the site and to eliminate an out holding that was privately held that could potentially have been developed,” said Michael Elswick, who is a division manager for Manatee County’s Parks and Natural Resources Department.

    Elswick has been in that position for 10 years and has seen the county change, but he’s also worked on projects that have ramped up efforts to conserve land.

    “Since 2020, the county has been much more aggressive, responding to the expansion of development and starting to work with its own money … to really start acquiring some of these places that were starting to disappear,” he said.

    The land approved for purchase is at the northern point of Pine Island, near the mouth of the Braden River. The State Road 64 boat ramp is the closest access point to the island and can only be reached by boat.

    “This place in particular is home to wood storks,” said Elswick. “There’s a bald eagle nest out there, or immediately adjacent to it. It helps protect their habitat. There’s a lot of mangroves that have a ton of benefit.”

    He believes the efforts are proof that the county continues to value conservation.

    “One of the big things is creating connectivity on the landscape. This is right along the greenways ecological network, going all the way from Tampa Bay and Emerson Point Preserve all the way up the river,” Elswick said.

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  • New memorial highway marker & interactive kiosk

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    MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — Manatee County unveiled two new dedications for the community to remember and honor Gold Star families and their loved ones who have fought for our freedom.

    What You Need To Know

    • Manatee County officials installed a highway marker called the “Gold Star Families Memorial Highway,” which is installed on Buckeye Road

    • With a new kiosk, people will be able to search for fallen heroes who served in any of the wars and were born in Manatee County
    • The kiosk will be permanently placed in the lobby of the Manatee County Administration Building

    Stefenie Hernandez lost her son, Patrick L. Lay II, in August 2011.

    He served as an Army Specialist and died in Afghanistan. He was an infantryman with the 10th Mountain Division.

    “As the weeks, months, and now years have passed, I’ve come to truly grasp what our freedom has cost. I am humbled and overwhelmed—not only by my family’s loss, but by the sacrifices of so many others,” she said.

    Other Gold Star families in the room and community members stood to honor and support Stefenie.

    Now, the county has invested in a new way to never forget—with a highway marker called the “Gold Star Families Memorial Highway,” which is installed on Buckeye Road.

    “I think it’ll be a great reminder on the highways, as people pass by, of the sacrifices that others have made. It brings it more to the forefront for them,” she explained.

    And with a new kiosk, people will be able to search for fallen heroes who served in any of the wars and were born in Manatee County.

    “What a meaningful and powerful way to say we honor and remember the ultimate sacrifice the men and women made for our freedom,” she said.

    The kiosk will be permanently placed in the lobby of the Manatee County Administration Building.

    With the touchscreen, Stefenie was able to search for her son and know that members of the community will learn about him and others who have died for our country.

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  • Local barista reacts as U.S. Senate unanimously passes “No Tax on Tips Act”

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    PALMETTO, Fla. — The U.S. Senate unanimously passed President Donald Trump’s campaign promise to end taxes on tips Tuesday. The plan would exclude a certain portion of workers’ tips from federal taxes.

    What You Need To Know

    • The U.S. Senate unanimously passed Trump’s campaign promise of “No Tax on Tips”

    • It would establish a new tax deduction of up to $25,000 for tips and expand the business tax credit for employers

    • The House still needs to vote on their version of the tax break bill

    • Under the Senate’s bill, the new tax deduction is limited to cash tips received from a job where tipping is customary and reported for purposes of payroll tax withholding

    Hailee Ryan has worked as a barista at Tenth Street Coffee for nearly two years and she says there’s one thing that makes a big difference when it comes to her paycheck.

    “Tips are definitely a very big part of my check,” she said. “I do work full time — I work five days a week — so tips are definitely very important to me.”

    And having built a loyal customer base, she receives tips often.

    “I love our customers here. I love our regulars,” Ryan said. “They’re always so generous with their tips, and they never skimp out.”

    The Senate version of the bill would establish a new tax deduction of up to $25,000 for tips and expand the business tax credit for employers. The House still needs to vote on their version of the tax break bill.

    If that passes the House, then the differences between the two plans would need to be reconciled and passed again in both chambers.

    Under the Senate’s bill, the new tax deduction is limited to cash tips received from a job where tipping is customary and reported for purposes of payroll tax withholding.

    Ryan, who said she’s neutral on the issue, is still seeking clarity on how it would impact her pay.

    “What’s it going to look like when we get that back? Is it going to affect us? Are we going to owe more? Are we going to owe less? Are we going to get more?” she said.

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  • Bradenton dog trainer prepares home to take in dogs during a hurricane

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    MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — In Manatee County, a dedicated dog trainer has taken her commitment to K9s even further when it comes to making preparations for hurricane season.

    Julie Madison has owned Top Tier K9 in Bradenton for two years. She boards and trains dogs and can also prepare them to be service or emotional support animals.

    She is also making sure her home is prepared for storm season.

    “This is actually now a hurricane-rated shed as well. So both the house and this building are rated for like 150 mile an hour winds,” she said.

    The upgrades to her home will allow her to take in more dogs this year during a storm.

    “I spent, probably, about $20,000 in upgrades to make sure everything would be secure and safe,” she said.

    During Hurricane Milton, 17 dogs stayed inside her home — including her own, her clients’, and 11 emergency take-ins.

    “During hurricanes, I take dogs on an emergency basis. No matter if you could have the most perfect dog, they’re still welcome here. Just because I know that not all places accept dogs when you’re traveling,” she said.

    Milton caused minor flooding at Madison’s home, and she was without power for nine days. But now she’s got backup.

    “I have the battery backup, which means now I will have power going forward. So the dogs will still have air conditioning, and I also have air conditioning,” she said.

    She’s added more solar panels, repaired her fence, and upgraded all the kennels to be storm-ready. She even invested in water storage.

    “These are two 350-gallon water containers. I need water for my dogs,” she said.

    “I just love saving lives on the dog end and on the person end. And if I can do that, and I can change as many lives positively as possible, that’s what I would like to do with the rest of the time I got,” she said.

    Julie’s on a mission — to help her four-legged companions and their owners.

    Julie says she can only house between 18 and 20 dogs total in her home, so the number of emergency take-ins is limited.

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  • Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch prepares for sea turtle nesting season

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    MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — Sea turtle nesting season officially begins May 1, and already crews are out patrolling the beaches searching for nests.

    What You Need To Know

    • Chuck Anderson has volunteered with Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shoreboard Monitoring every nesting season for the past seven years

    • Last year, AMI Turtle Watch found a record number of 685 nests on the beach

    • But they say impacts from hurricanes Helene and Milton led to more than 400 of those nests not hatching

    • On May 1, the organization is hosting an event to honor the legacy of Suzi Fox, its founder


    “You never know what you are going to see or what you are going to find. That’s what keeps it fresh,” said Chuck Anderson, a volunteer with Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shoreboard Monitoring.

    It was an early start for Anderson when we spoke with him as he patrolled Manatee Public Beach in Holmes Beach.

    His mission is always the same: look for sea turtle nests.

    “If it is a nest, we’ll mark it off and collect that data,” Anderson said. “That goes into the database for the state, and we monitor that nest for the entire season until after it’s hatched.”

    It’s the second week of patrols for the group, and no nests have been found. Anderson has volunteered with the group every nesting season for the past seven years.

    “We put a lot into this every year,” Anderson said.

    Last year, AMI Turtle Watch found a record number of 685 nests on the beach. But they say impacts from hurricanes Helene and Milton led to more than 400 of those nests not hatching.

    “It would have been astronomical had we not had the hurricanes,” Anderson said.

    Now, looking ahead to this year, Anderson says nesting might be difficult for the sea turtles.

    “Normally they’ll come up to the dunes, but we’ve lost most of the dunes on the island because of the hurricanes we just went through into ’24. That’s created a big problem,” he explained.

    He says without the cover from the dunes, lighting can disrupt the process.

    “What we’re most concerned about is the turtles being disoriented by the lighting from all the condos and houses. When they disorient, they may continue to crawl into the street,” said Anderson.

    But he and his crew his crew of volunteers will keep moving forward — searching the beach and educating the public to keep sea turtles safe.

    On May 1, the organization is hosting an event to honor the legacy of Suzi Fox, its founder, at Coquina Beach Lifeguard Tower 9 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Fox died in 2022.

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  • Ellenton family rebuilding from 2024 hurricanes worries about storm season

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    ELLENTON, Fla. — Many families across the Bay Area are in the midst of a balancing act of rebuilding, while also preparing for this year’s storm season.

    One Manatee County family is still displaced from their home, but after a lengthy delay, is finally rebuilding.

    What You Need To Know

    • One Ellenton family is still rebuilding their home after it was damaged in Hurricane Helene  storms 

    • They say it took six months for them to receive their insurance check and approval for construction permits 

    • The family says they anticipate another six to eight more weeks before it’s done, and are already starting to worry about this year’s storm season

    A trailer sitting next to their home has been the new norm for Kailey Gratzer.

    “So we have four — we have me and my husband and two boys. Our two boys, 14 and 11. It’s been fun. We have learned to adjust,” she said.

    The trailer is an adjustment that she’s been living in since December.

    “When we first flooded, we were very, very blessed to have a family that goes to church with us let us stay in one of their homes for free for three months while we were able to get this put into place,” Gratzer said.

    The storm surge from Hurricane Helene flooded their home. There was two feet of water inside, but they hadn’t evacuated and had to escape the waters through a window. She said living by the Manatee River meant flooding was always a concern.

    Now the concern is the rebuild progress, which Gratzer said just began two weeks ago due to a long waiting period for permits and insurance money.

    “It took a long time. It was very frustrating,” she said. “I tend to look on the more optimistic side, and I am strong in my faith. So I’m like, OK, the Lord is trying to teach me patience at the moment.”

    Gratzer estimates it could be another six to eight weeks until work on the house is complete.

    “I mean, my biggest worry is that we’re not back in before hurricane season,” she said.

    For now, the goal is just to continue working on the house.

    “My biggest hope is that this whole flooding situation was a fluke and never happens again, but next time we’ll be more prepared,” Gratzer said.

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    Julia Hazel

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  • Manatee EMS wants to expand traffic light technology

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    MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — A pilot program in Manatee County that has helped emergency vehicles reach scenes quicker might be expanding, thanks to its success helping save lives.

    What You Need To Know

    • EMS officials in Manatee County hope to see a pilot program of traffic light technology expand

    • Manatee County commissioners will ultimately decide if that happens

    • Donald McEachern, a paramedic since 1993, says the program is helping save lives

    Donald McEachern has been a paramedic since 1993 and serves as the District Chief of Operations for Manatee County EMS. But he still goes out in the field on several calls each shift.

    “I just loved helping people. I really, really enjoyed helping people and making a difference in people’s lives,” he said.

    He says technology is helping save more lives.

    The program began last year and has helped first responders get to emergencies in a more timely fashion. Now, EMS hopes expansion of the traffic signal technology is approved by the county commission.

    “They push that first button, which is the emergency lights, that turns all the emergency lights on,” McEachern said. “And it also activates the system to alert the traffic signals whenever they are approaching them to turn green for us. And red for the opposite opposing traffic.”

    The technology was installed in eight ambulances and two supervisor vehicles. It allows first responders to switch the light to green automatically.

    “There’s times when we pull out of the station and none of the vehicles will stop for us. It alleviates or eliminates a big portion of our response,” he said.

    The county estimates that emergency vehicles save 11 seconds at each of the 24 intersections where the technology is present. County commissioners are expected to decide whether to expand the program.

    “This system is great. It really helps us tremendously,” McEachern explained.

    It’s critical help in emergency situations, when first responders like Donald are focused on saving lives.

    Manatee County EMS says it is still waiting on county commissioners to get back about if this program will be expanded. No date has been set yet.

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    Julia Hazel

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  • Manatee County ramps up canal cleanup ahead of storm season

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    MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — Last year’s storms did significant damage to Manatee County’s drainage system and canals.

    What You Need To Know

    • Manatee County is ramping up efforts to clean its drainage systems after last year’s storms heavily damaged local canals, initially allocating nearly $2 million for debris removal

    • Residents have expressed concerns about flooding, emphasizing the importance of debris removal for water flow and storm preparedness, with one local reporting significant flood damage from Hurricane Debby
    • According to county officials, with the success of this cleanup effort, they will be going back to county commissioners to request more funding

    County commissioners originally allocated nearly $2 million to clean debris from canals and drainage ways. County staff are now asking for more money to expand the project.

    Manatee County Deputy Director of Property Management Carmine DeMilio said the program has been very successful so far.

    “We’re in the air with drones. We’re in the water with boats, and we’re on the land with machines — and all three things, the trifecta alone — we’re accomplishing a lot more than we ever did,” he said.

    Manatee County has completed hundreds of work orders to remove debris from local canals. Residents who live nearby say it’s going to take this and more to be prepared for storm season.

    Brett Reeder sees the county’s efforts as a work in progress.

    “Every bit of that stuff is holding the water up,” he said. “The more we can get this creek to flow, the better opportunity we have to not flood nearly as much.”

    The Gamble Creek Canal that sits behind Reeder’s 30-acre property. He says overflow from the canal flooded his pasture during last year’s storms.

    The worst came during Hurricane Debby.

    “It rose between 6 and 9 o’clock, 26 inches,” he said. “Nobody was prepared for that amount of water that quick.”

    Manatee County has completed about 600 of the 745 stormwater maintenance work orders. Both county staff and contractors have removed debris from canals and drainage systems.

    Reeder said he’s glad the cleanup is happening ahead of storm season.

    He said Debby’s floodwaters last year killed several of his cows, flooded structures, and ruined some of his equipment.

    Despite the county’s work, Reeder says there’s still a lot of uncertainty.

    Each storm season is unpredictable, but he said this debris removal is a good start to help him feel prepared for what could come.

    According to county officials, with the success of this cleanup effort, they will be going back to county commissioners to request more funding.

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    Julia Hazel

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  • Rod and Reel Pier announces new, temporary restaurant location

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    MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — The impacts of Hurricane Milton were dramatic on many local businesses, including an iconic Manatee County spot.

    The Rod and Reel Pier still has a long road to recovery, but the restaurant that was on the pier has found a temporary home.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Rod and Reel Pier has a new restaurant location that is temporary
    • The new restaurant location is where the “Old Hamburg Schnitzelhaus” in Holmes Beach used to be
    • The owner says they are actively working on getting the permits in order, and there is still no date set for when construction will begin on the pier

    The Rod and Reel Pier announced its temporary location for its restaurant.

    The new spot will be where the “Old Hamburg Schnitzelhaus” in Holmes Beach used to be.

    The Rod and Reel Pier was washed away by the power of Hurricane Milton. But its memories live on.

    Rod and Reel Pier owner Oliver Lemke said the messages remind him of how much it means to people — and it means a lot to him, too, which is why he’s working on getting the permits needed to start rebuilding.

    “It’s been there since 1947. Either you give up, which is not an option, or you go in there full speed and get it back. That’s what we decided to do,” he said.

    Lemke hopes to restore the Rod and Reel Pier, but in the meantime, he decided to reopen the restaurant that was on the pier in a temporary spot: the “Old Hamburg Schnitzelhaus” in Holmes Beach.

    “It’s a small space. It’s a 1,500-square-foot room, roughly. And we’re going to do a lot of work to it,” he said.

    It’s work that’s worth it.

    With an anticipated opening next month, Lemke said they’ll be able to bring in money and rehire some of the employees.

    “The first thing is to, you know, get work for everybody again,” Lemke said. “Because some of the employees have been with the company for like 20 years.

    “Second thing, you know, get some revenue out of this because, as I said, the rebuilding of the pier is going to cost a lot of money. And so, remember, when you come up here, every dime you spend is going to go into the rebuilding of the pier.”

    Moving into this temporary space has Lemke moving in the right direction in the rebuilding process.

    The owner says they are actively working on getting the permits in order, and there is still no date set for when construction will begin on the pier.

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    Julia Hazel

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  • Sarasota business owner worries tariffs could cause big changes

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    MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — The Trump administration on Thursday said tariffs on China will be increased to at least 145 percent. This comes one day after the president announced a 90-day pause on what he calls reciprocal tariffs for most countries.

    What You Need To Know

    • Kristin Bear says she is worried about the tariffs affecting her retail business; she gets her clothing from seven factories she works with in China
    • She has owned her clothing brand, Kilo Brava, and her storefront in Sarasota called Bambola since 2019
    • She says the tariffs, if they keep increasing, have the potential to close down her business

    A Bay area business owner with factories in China says she is already feeling the impacts, and she worries about the future of her company.

    By the time her products hit the rack, Kristin Bear says they’ve been on quite the journey — one that started across the world.

    “So our wholesale business is very busy. We are always in the back packing up orders for stores all around the country,” she said.

    Before each item reaches the store, it’s made in — and shipped from — China.

    “We have seven different factories all across China. This is one of the pieces from our swimwear line. It’s made in one of the top ethical factories in China,” she said.

    She started a women’s clothing brand called “Kilo Brava” in 2019, featuring swimwear and intimate apparel. She sells the clothing to wholesalers and to customers at her store in Sarasota, called Bambola.

    “The print is exclusive. I designed everything by hand,” she said.

    But now, with a dramatic increase in tariffs on products from China, Bear worries about the fate of her business.

    “These tariffs could essentially kill my business, or any similar business like mine, that designs its own products, manufacturers them in China, and then imports them back into the States,” she explained.

    She receives an average of five shipments a month from China and is worried about the next one.

    “Our next order with the factories needs to be placed this May. So in May 2025, we have to place a huge order on all of our new products for our new collection. And if things don’t change by then, I think we’re going to have to cancel the whole season,” she said.

    Bear says the tariffs have already made an impact.

    “The tariffs have risen. For example, on a $12,000 shipment last week, we had a tariff bill of $6,000 that we had to pay that day — or they wouldn’t release the boxes to us. And that was only five boxes of goods. Currently, our typical shipments are about 20 to 60 boxes per shipment,” she explained.

    This business started in her garage. She says it has been a lot of hard work to get to where she is now — and the uncertainty is daunting.

    “I feel paralyzed at the moment. Some days I want to wake up and cry. Other days, I am laughing about it because I don’t know what else to do. It’s exhausting and stressful,” she said.

    It’s a stress that Bear says is worth pushing through to keep her business moving forward.

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  • Florida entrepreneur uses artificial intelligence to transform marketing agency

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    VENICE, Fla. — A Florida entrepreneur is using artificial intelligence to help his company work faster and smarter.

    What You Need To Know

    • Sarasota County entrepreneur Matt Ackerson has grown his business, Growbo, and saved time and money using Artificial Intelligence
    • He first integrated his own AI format in 2022
    • Ackerson says the integration of AI into Growbo’s operations has saved over 700 hours and $12,000 in four months, significantly increasing traffic and revenue

    In the world of technology, things are always moving fast. And that’s how Matt Ackerson likes it.

    “I’m going to put it in self-driving mode now,” he said.

    Ackerson has spent years thinking about the future.

    “I think as a kid, I would always just see my dad fixing things and programming things, and I was just obsessed with the future and what it would bring, or what it would look like,” he said.

    Technology seemed destined to become a big part of Ackerson’s future.

    Ackerson started Growbo, a marketing agency, in 2010. His company offers a variety of services, including web design and project management. He is the founder and CEO.

    “Started with less than $200 in the bank. I started from my childhood bedroom,” he said. “Being 15 years in business now, we’ve serviced thousands of clients all over the world. We’ve employed hundreds of people. A few years ago, we became a $1 million company for the first time. And then the next year, we became a multi-million dollar company,” he said.

    Going all-in on artificial intelligence has helped him reach new heights.

    “I wasn’t sure if I was actually smart enough to build AI from scratch. So I started doing that and it actually started to work,” Ackerson said.

    He first integrated his own AI format in 2022.

    “What we’re trying to build with Growbo and the Growbo Human + AI platform is something that’s going to be able to help the entrepreneurs and businesses of the future to create and accelerate their marketing success by having a team of both human professionals to guide the AI,” he said.

    On this screen, he shows an example of how his team uses AI.

    “So,let’s say that we want to write a blog article for like a local landscaping or dental company. Basically — similar to how we used to need three or four people and planning involved — we can do it with one person just clicking a button,” Ackerson said.

    Since incorporating AI, he’s calculated the results it’s had on his company.

    “Over 700 hours saved in the last four months, or $12,000. And that’s what we estimated it would have taken a human worker if it was just us doing it the regular old way without AI technology,” Ackerson said.

    And as the saying goes, time equals money.

    “We were able to actually grow our traffic by about 120%, and it’s led to an increase in revenue by about 150%,” he said.

    As fast as technology is evolving, Ackerson knows he needs to stay wired to continue on the path to success.

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  • Manatee County prioritizes hurricane affected residents

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    MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — Each year, Manatee County pays for the rehabilitation of dozens of homes in unincorporated parts of the county and Palmetto.

    It’s part of the county’s State Housing Initiative Program (SHIP).

    What You Need To Know

    • Those who were affected by last year’s hurricanes will receive priority when determining who gets part of the $1.2 million in funds
    • The SHIP program is for low-income residents in Palmetto and unincorporated Manatee County who need housing rehabilitation and replacement help
    • Resident Patricia Hart was a past recipient of the SHIP program and she said it helped her greatly

    But this year, those who were affected by last year’s hurricanes will receive priority when determining who gets part of the $1.2 million in funds.

    “So, we address health and safety issues first, and then all code-related (issues). And then, we do the hurricane mitigation. So, we do windows, roofs, doors, any kind of additional strapping, trimming of trees — anything that would help mitigate a storm so people could safely shelter in place,” said Housing and Community Development Coordinator Deborah Ash.

    Resident Patricia Hart was a past recipient of the SHIP program and she said it helped her a lot.

    “I feel it was a blessing from God, I really do,” she said.

    Hart says this blessing could last her lifetime.

    “It happened at the best time—before the storm. It’s such a blessing. This doesn’t come around that often. For me, this is so special,” she said.

    Hart lived in her home for 22 years, but it was in need of some repairs. Help came from Manatee County’s State Housing Initiative Program. It’s for low- to very low-income residents in Palmetto and unincorporated Manatee County who need housing rehabilitation and replacement help.

    “They just did a wonderful job in here. Painted it. Did the floors. And the AC wasn’t coming through in here, and they patched it up. So now it’s cool in this room too. They redid my bathroom — the tile in there,” Hart said.

    She applied in 2023 and was approved. Over the course of nine months, everything on her list was completed and all finalized before Hurricane Debby impacted the area.

    “I didn’t have hurricane-proof doors,” she said.

    Now that she does, she says she feels safer in her home during a hurricane.

    “I stayed in here like a champ. I’m covered by the grace of God,” Hart said.

    But trying to cover the costs of her improvements — like a new driveway, fresh paint, and a new roof — just wasn’t in her budget.

    “I wasn’t making the money to do the repairs, so this was a big help to me, you know,” she said.

    Hart says the county’s help will protect her home for years to come.

    The deadline to apply for the SHIP program is April 7 at 5 p.m.

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