100 YEARS AGO, CLEARWATER BECAME A CITYJohn Murphy . . . . . . . . . 813-486-4430 ROTARY, Clearwater...
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This is the final installment in the four-part story highlighting the City of Clearwater’s history as it celebrates its 100th anniversary. If you missed a previous issue, you can read it online at www.beachnewsletters.com. The beginning of the new century brought many changes and inventions to our area. Clear Water’s first ice making plant was opened by J.N. McClung. It was a hit and led to the birth of the town’s Water Works System, when McClung ran the first water main from the ice plant to the corner of Cleveland and Ft Harrison. McClung maintained the system until the town purchased it in 1910. By 1903, a Clear Water telephone exchange was created. 1905 brought an electric light franchise also owned by J.N. McClung, who previously brought ice and water to the area. In 1905, another big freeze hit the state’s citrus industry. Luckily for Clearwater and its peninsula, it was not nearly as bad as the 1894 freezes. The area was spared because its close proximity to the water kept it warmer. In 1906, the town officially changed its name from Clear Water to Clearwater. The Post Office followed suit and officially became the Clearwater Post Office. About this time, Clearwater and St. Petersburg residents began to feel they received no benefits from Hillsborough County. Talk of creating a new county became common. William Straub, editor of the young St Petersburg Times, took up the cause in 1907 and using his newspaper, launched a five year fight to make Pinellas its own stand-alone county. 1910 is known for the Big Fire. Like many developing cities, Clearwater had a major fire June 24, 1910. Starting about 4am, it burned the entire north side of Cleveland Street from Ft Harrison to Osceola Avenue. Soon, the city created a Fire Department and the next year built new buildings for the City Hall and the Fire Department. In 1914, firefighting equipment was purchased “at a very large expense.” After much debate, the state legislature allowed today’s Pinellas County to break free on January 1, 1912. It was the smallest county in Florida with only 300 square miles. Although small, it immediately became one of Florida’s leading citrus producing counties, shipping approximately a million boxes of oranges and grapefruit a year. After a power struggle with St. Petersburg, Clearwater established the new county’s government seat when it donated the land for a courthouse. Immediately the County went to work raising taxes for new projects. The first priority was building hard surfaced roads with its first bond issue - $375,000. More followed. A year later, a $40,000 bond issue expanded the water/sewerage system. Today’s water works building site was purchased and two 8-inch wells were bored. Pure water became plentiful. More bond issues passed for paving, a pier and Island Park improvements. In 1914, a second railroad was built through Clearwater. Officially the Tampa & Gulf Coast Railroad, it commonly was referred to as the Tug & Grunt Railroad because it was not plush, fast or smooth riding. Primarily used to transport people to and from Tampa, it gave people access to the beach, and brought a crowd of vacation and retreat seeker. The Town Council purchased land and built a brick library building with financial help from Andrew Carnegie. A group of Clearwater’s leading citizens had formed a subscription library association in 1911, but it was made free with the new library. The citizens were very proud of their new library, as a symbol of the great city they had become. AUGUST / 2015 ISSUE 34 Or Current Resident By Bob Griffin, Publisher Continued inside 100 YEARS AGO, CLEARWATER BECAME A CITY Photo courtesy of Cleawater Historical Society Looking northwest on Cleveland Street after the 1910 fire.
Transcript of 100 YEARS AGO, CLEARWATER BECAME A CITYJohn Murphy . . . . . . . . . 813-486-4430 ROTARY, Clearwater...
This is the final installment in the four-part story highlightingthe City of Clearwater’s history as it celebrates its 100thanniversary. If you missed a previous issue, you can read itonline at www.beachnewsletters.com.The beginning of the new century brought many changesand inventions to our area. Clear Water’s first ice makingplant was opened by J.N. McClung. It was a hit and led tothe birth of the town’s Water Works System, when McClungran the first water main from the ice plant to the corner ofCleveland and Ft Harrison. McClung maintained the systemuntil the town purchased it in 1910.By 1903, a Clear Water telephone exchange was created.1905 brought an electric light franchise also owned by J.N.McClung, who previously brought ice and water to the area.In 1905, another big freeze hit the state’s citrus industry.Luckily for Clearwater and its peninsula, it was not nearlyas bad as the 1894 freezes. The area was spared becauseits close proximity to the water kept it warmer. In 1906, the town officially changed its name from ClearWater to Clearwater. The Post Office followed suit andofficially became the Clearwater Post Office.About this time, Clearwater and St. Petersburg residentsbegan to feel they received no benefits from HillsboroughCounty. Talk of creating a new county became common.William Straub, editor of the young St Petersburg Times, tookup the cause in 1907 and using his newspaper, launched afive year fight to make Pinellas its own stand-alone county. 1910 is known for the Big Fire. Like many developing cities,
Clearwater had a major fire June 24, 1910. Starting about4am, it burned the entire north side of Cleveland Streetfrom Ft Harrison to Osceola Avenue. Soon, the city createda Fire Department and the next year built new buildings forthe City Hall and the Fire Department. In 1914, firefightingequipment was purchased “at a very large expense.”After much debate, the state legislature allowed today’sPinellas County to break free on January 1, 1912. It wasthe smallest county in Florida with only 300 square miles.Although small, it immediately became one of Florida’sleading citrus producing counties, shipping approximately amillion boxes of oranges and grapefruit a year. After a power struggle with St. Petersburg, Clearwaterestablished the new county’s government seat when itdonated the land for a courthouse. Immediately the Countywent to work raising taxes for new projects. The first prioritywas building hard surfaced roads with its first bond issue -$375,000. More followed. A year later, a $40,000 bondissue expanded the water/sewerage system. Today’s waterworks building site was purchased and two 8-inch wellswere bored. Pure water became plentiful. More bond issuespassed for paving, a pier and Island Park improvements. In 1914, a second railroad was built through Clearwater.Officially the Tampa & Gulf Coast Railroad, it commonly wasreferred to as the Tug & Grunt Railroad because it was notplush, fast or smooth riding. Primarily used to transportpeople to and from Tampa, it gave people access to thebeach, and brought a crowd of vacation and retreat seeker.The Town Council purchased land and built a brick librarybuilding with financial help from Andrew Carnegie. A groupof Clearwater’s leading citizens had formed a subscriptionlibrary association in 1911, but it was made free with thenew library. The citizens were very proud of their new library,as a symbol of the great city they had become.
AUGUST / 2015 ISSUE 34
Or Current Resident
By Bob Griffin, Publisher Continued inside
100 YEARS AGO, CLEARWATER BECAME A CITY
Photo courtesy of Cleawater Historical Society
Looking northwest on Cleveland Street after the 1910 fire.
CLEARWATER BEACH NEWSLETTER
CITY NUMBERSCITY HALL562-4250112 S. Osceola Avenuewww.clearwater-fl.com
MAYOR OFFICE . . . . . . . . . . . 562-4050MAYOR - George N. Cretekos - Seat 1CITY COUNCIL . . . . . . . . . . . . 562-4042Doreen Hock-DiPolito (Vice-Mayor)- Seat 2 Jay Polglaze - Seat 3 Bill Jonson - Seat 4Hoyt Hamiliton - Seat 5CITY MANAGER . . . . . . . . . . . . 562-4040William HorneASSISTANT CITY MANAGER . . 562-4040BUILDING PERMITS . . . . . . . . 562-4567HUMAN RESOURCES . . . . . . . 562-4870PLANNING & ZONING . . . . . 562-4567PUBLIC SERVICES . . . . . . . . . . 562-4950PUBLIC UTILITIES . . . . . . . . . . 562-4600PUBLIC UTILITIES EMERGENCY462-6633CLEARWATER GAS. . . . . . . . . . 562-4980SOLID WASTE . . . . . . . . . . . . . 562-4920 PIER 60 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 462-6466MARINA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 462-6954BEACH REC CENTER . . . . . . . . 462-6138BEACH LIBRARY . . . . . . . . . . . 462-6138VISITOR INFO CENTER . . . . . . 442-3604BEACH AQUATIC FACILITY . . 462-6020POLICE NON-EMERGENCY. . . 562-4242FIRE DEPARTMENT . . . . . . . . . 562-4334POLICE HOTLINE. . . . . . . . . . . 562-4080NEIGHBORHOOD LIAISON . . 562-4554-------------------------------------------------CHAMBER OF COMMERCE . . . 447-7600333 South Gulfview Blvd, Clearwater BeachPOST OFFICE ISLAND ESTATES449-8732SAND KEY PARK . . . . . . . . . . . 588-4852Shelter Reservations,PinellasCounty.org/parkMARINE AQUARIUM . . . . . . . 441-1790249 Windward Passage, Island EstatesCLEARWATER SAILING CTR . . 517-77761001 Gulf Blvd, Sand KeyJOLLEY TROLLEY . . . . . . . . . . 445-1200483 Mandalay Avenue, Suite 213CLEARWATER YACHT CLUB . . . 447-6000830 Bayway Blvd SouthCARLOUEL HOMEOWNERS ASSNKris Hampsey, President . . . . . 441-4188
LITTLE LEAGUE John Murphy . . . . . . . . . 813-486-4430ROTARY, Clearwater Beach meets everyThursday, 12:15pm at Carlouel Yacht ClubJohn Funk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 599-3864CLEARWATER BEACH ASSOCIATION Beth Prast, President . . . . . 859-802-6110CLEARWATER GARDEN CLUBAlice Jarvis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 391-3066SAND KEY CIVIC ASSOCIATIONMeets first Wednesdays each month at theClearwater Community Sailing CenterAL Zimmerman . . . . . . . . 727-593-7379ISLAND ESTATES CIVIC ASSOCIATION Mary Lau, President . . . . 813-335-6770www.MyIslandEstates.orgISLAND ESTATES WOMEN'S CLUBLynne McCaskill, President . . . . 430-1911FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARYAnne Garris . . . . . . . . . . . . . 446-4410CLEARWATER HISTORICAL SOCIETYBill Wallace, President . . . . . . . 446-2676-------------------------------------------------PINELLAS COUNTY INFO . . . . 464-3000COMMISSION OFFICES. . . . . . 464-3000 Dave Eggers, Beach/Island Estates 464-3276Karen Seel, Sand Key. . . . . . . . 464-3278STATE:Senator Jack Latvala . . . . . 727-793-2797Republican, District 2026133 Hwy 19 N., Ste 201, [email protected]
Representative Larry Ahern 727-395-2512Republican, District 668383 Seminole Blvd, Suite B, Seminole [email protected]
Governor Rick [email protected]
FLORIDA UNITED STATES SENATORS:Marco Rubio . . . . . . . . . . . 202-224-3041www.Rubio.Senate.gov
Bill Nelson . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202-224-5274www.BillNelson.Senate.gov
AREA UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE:David Jolly . . . . . . . . . . . . . 727-392-41009210 113th St, Seminole, Fl 33772www.house.gov/jolley
CREDITS
This newsletter is published byGRIFFIN PRODUCTIONS, Inc. and ismailed to every occupied residencein Clearwater Beach’s zip code33767. We are not associated withthe City of Clearwater.
PUBLISHERBob & Becky GriffinART DIRECTION
Becky GriffinSALES
727-517-1997 CONTACT INFOP.O. Box 1314
Indian Rocks Beach, Fl 33785517-1997 ~ 517-1998 FAXwww.BeachNewsletters.com
We’d like to hear from you. Is theresomething you would like to seeincluded in this newsletter? Tell uswhat you think at
CLEARWATER BEACH NEIGHBORHOOD NEWSLETTER
Inside, you will find articles and localinformation about the nearby areainside. We call it a NeighborhoodNewsletter because it is primarilyabout your neighborhood, ClearwaterBeach. It is mailed to the entire 33767zip code including Island Estates andSand Key - a total of about 5,000households - six times a year.You can pick up another copy at theBeach Chamber Office, The BeachRec Center, Island Estates Print Shack,Shorty’s Gourmet Deli or the IslandEstates UPS store.We want your input. How did you likethis issue? What suggestions do youhave for future issues and articles?We hope you enjoyed this issue. Callor email us with your comments, Bob & Becky Griffin, 727-517-1997,[email protected] this issue or others atbeachnewsletters.com.
SEE YOU AGAIN IN OCTOBER!
CLEARWATER BEACH NEWSLETTER
© 2015 Griffin Productions, Inc.
CALENDAR OF LOCAL EVENTSAUGUSTLittle League Sign UpsArt in the Park 15Clearwater Beach Pool Closes 16Public School Begins 24Backwater’s 15th Anniversary Party 19Back to School Swim Party 21Public School Begins 24SEPTEMBERGrandparents Day 6Labor Day 7Patriots Day 11Buc’s First Home Game 13Art in the Park 19Autumn Begins 23Blast Friday 25Off Shore Power Boat Races 26-27OCTOBERTaste of Clearwater 1Mobile Waste Collection Largo 3Achieva Box Car Rally 3
Make A Difference Fishing Tourny 3Blessing of Pets & Parade Yacht Club 4Night Out Against Crime 6Fire Prevention Week 5-11SPCA Pet Walk Downtown St Pete 10City Pool Closes 11Columbus Day 12Public Schools Closed 12Stone Crab Season Begins 15Clearwater Jazz Holiday 15-18 National Boss’s Day 16Coastal Clean Up 17Clearwater Stone Crab Festivals 22-25Chalk Walk BeachWalk 24-25Johns Pass Seafood Fest 24-25Country Jubilee Heritage Village 24 Halloween Party Yacht Club 24 Blast Downtown Halloween 30Halloween 31 Boo Bash Bright House Field 31Sea Turtle Nesting Season Ends 31
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MEET LT. MONTE TheClearwater Police Departmenthas a new Supervisor forClearwater Beach. Lt. Valveriwas promoted to Major makingway for Lt. Anthony Monte tocome to Clearwater Beach. Lt. Monte was born in TarponSprings where he worked ontheir police force. He has beenwith the Clearwater Police for19 years, most recently workingin Criminal Investigations.In addition to the beach, histerritory includes Island Estates and Sand Key. Lt. Montespent his first month going introducing himself to localbusinesses. You can reach Lt Monte online [email protected].___________________________________________________BLAST FRIDAYS RETURN NEXT MONTH BlastFridays will not be held in August due to the heat andthe likelihood of rain, but plan for it to resumeSeptember 25, in conjunction with the Super Boat Races.For more information visit www.RuthEckerdHall.net. ___________________________________________________BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS St Francis Day, which isalso the Blessing of Animals, is October 4. Bring yourcat, dog, bird, or whatever to the Clearwater Yacht Clubfor a blessing. Father Bob, formerly with the CalvaryEpiscopal Church in Indian Rocks Beach, will be onhand to give the blessings. All pets are welcome. You donot have to be a member of the Yacht Club or anychurch. Call the Yacht Club for information, 447-6000.___________________________________________________PEAK MONTH FOR TURTLE NESTING More turtles areborn on our beaches during August than any other time. Itis estimated the county lost 50 nests during this summer’scoastal flooding. Let’s help the remaining turtles get agood start in life, since only one out of a 1,000 survives toadulthood. Keep your night lighting under control and donot touch or shine flashlights near hatchlings. Baby seaturtles normally hatch 53 days after their eggs are laid. ___________________________________________________DO YOU PLAY THE HARMONICA? The GulfportSenior Citizens Harmonica Club practices at the GulfportSenior Citizens Center from 9 to 11:45 am everyWednesday. They also perform in the center's cafeteriaevery third Wednesday, 10:45 to 11:45. Anyone interestedin learning how to play the harmonica or in joining theclub, call Howard Rothstein at 727-363-8016._________________________________________________DOG DAYS OF AUGUSTPinellas County Animal Servicescelebrates the month of Augustby offering a reduced adoptionfee of $25 on large dogs andcats and $40 for puppies(under four months) and smallbreeds during normal shelteradoption hours. The feeincludes medical checkup,spaying/neutering, vaccinations,internal and external parasite control, heartworm testingand feline leukemia testing and micro chipping. Call 582-2600.
Did You Know... CENTENNIAL MONUMENTThe City unveiled the new 48-foot tall entryway CentennialMonument on the east end ofGulf to Bay, at the CourtneyCampbell Causeway.Constructed in honor of theCity’s centennial milestone ofincorporation on May 27,1915, it is inscribed with“Welcome to Clearwater” andfeatures an illuminatedcentennial logo near the baseand a 4-foot sun globe at thetop with up-lighting. The projectcost $576,000. “The City is proud to unveil thismonument which commemorates Clearwater’s history,”says Mayor George Cretekos. “It will be a beaconwelcoming all to our community and our home, today andfor years to come.”___________________________________________________NEW FALL FOOD EVENT Billed as Tampa Bay’s ultimatewine and food experience, St. Pete Wine and Food Fest isbeing planned in St. Pete’s Beach Drive area September24-27. Tickets are being sold for individual events, or forthe entire four days. Visit StPeteWineandFoodFest.com.___________________________PLEASE HELP US IMPROVEWe want to know what youthink about our Newsletter.What do you like? What would you like us to include?Would you like to see changes? The online survey isposted at www.BeachNewsletters.com._________________________________________________BACK TO SCHOOL POOL PARTY The ClearwaterBeach Aquatic Center will host its final Pool Party of thesummer, Friday, August 21 beginning at 7pm. The costof the party is normal pool admission, which includesrefreshments and games. The City Pool will be open withlimited hours into October. _________________________________________________RECYCLE ALUMIUMUsed aluminumbeverage cans arethe most recycleditem in the U.S., butother types ofaluminum, such assiding, gutters, carcomponents, stormwindow frames andlawn furniture can also berecycled. There is no limit to the amount of timesaluminum can be recycled. We consume the contents ofover 80 trillion aluminum cans every year and over100,000 aluminum cans are recycled each minute. In2010 that amounted to 53 billion cans, not even 1%. Aused aluminum can, can be recycled and back on thegrocery shelf as a new can, in as little as 60 days. That'sclosed loop recycling at its finest! Recycling one aluminumcan saves enough energy to run a TV for three hours orthe equivalent of a half a gallon of gas._________________________________________________OUR NEXT ISSUE IS IN OCTOBER Read this issue, aswell as others, online at BeachNewsletters.com.
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CLEARWATER HISTORY, continuedCongress appropriated $29,000 todredge Clearwater and Boca Ceigabays and when completed in 1915,there was a five-foot deep channelfrom Cleveland Street to Tampa Bay. At the same time, the town built theClearwater Golf Club, the first publicgolf course, about three miles fromdowntown on Safety Harbor Road. Itbegan with only nine holes and asmall clubhouse, but had plans tobuild another nine holes once theyorganized as a local golfing club. Itsoon had 30 members.In 1914, some of the town leadersand spirited citizens had begun toenvision their small town as a big city. They wrote a newcharter, called a meeting at the town hall and nominated acharter board. “These men labored long and faithfully, andevolved an excellent charter which was submitted to the citizensfor a vote,” stated Women’s Club writers. A special electionwas held and the new charter carried by a strong majority,131 out of 140 men were in favor of forming a new city. Thenew city officially incorporated on May 27, 1915.The new charter allowed for “municipal suffrage” for women,meaning women would be allowed to vote for the first time inthe next election. October 23, 1916. Miss Sue Barco was thefirst woman to vote in Clearwater, followed by another twenty-four. That election appropriated $10,000 to build a bridgeacross Clearwater Bay to the island on the Gulf. It started atthe west end of Seminole Street near the Water Works Park.“The new bridge gives easy access to the gulf beach, which isa pleasure to both residents and tourists,” the Women’s Clubannounced after the election. “The surf there is very safe andsurf bathing may be indulged in both summer and winter.”For many years, active Clearwater women had beencampaigning for a community hospital and began collectingfor a hospital fund. Morton Plant, son of the late Henry Plantand owner of the Belleview Hotel, offered to guarantee theirproject by donating the seed money. A foundation was createdwith $100,000 and an understanding that the city and thewomen’s committee would raise the rest. With much fanfare,the first building opened in 1916. “It is one of the most beautiful and up to date hospitals inFlorida,” proudly stated the Woman’s Club. “Situated onbeautiful grounds, overlooking the bay, it is an ideal place. Theonly drawback is the people of Clearwater are so healthy, theyseldom require the services of a hospital.” It was namedMorton Plant Hospital after the man who helped get it built. By 1916, Clearwater’s population was about 3,000 people.But during tourist season, its population almost doubled. “Therewere five hotels, many boarding houses, two garages and twowell-constructed picture shows,” says the Women’s Clubwriters. The city had “six citrus packing houses, two banks, acigar factory, two retail stores, a fish warehouse, one bottlingcompany, a novelty works, two lumber yards, an electric shopand many other minor business concerns”. “In regards to healthfulness, nature has done a great deal tomake it one of the most sanitary cities in the state. Situated onthe bluffs, thirty feet off the water, its elevation affords excellentdrainage and makes adequate sewage possible. With the helpof the Board of Health, City Council and our Woman’s Club,Clearwater is now at a standard where it enjoys a state-widereputation for cleanliness and good health.”
BEACH TENNIS OPENSept 25-27 at The Sheraton Sand Key.
IFBT USA and BeachTennis Tampa Bayare proud toannounce the 2015Sheraton Sand KeyBeach Tennis Open.Enjoy high pacedsports, sample theSheraton’s new craftbeer the Turtle Ale(brewed byClearwater’s Pair ODice Brewery) andenjoy music andfood. Players fromaround the state, country and world, will be competing. The sport of beach tennis was founded over 35 years agoin Ravena, Italy and has grown to being playedprofessionally in over 57 countries around the world.The governing body of the sport is the InternationalFederation of Beach Tennis ( IFBT ) which established therules & regulations and also maintains a worldwideranking system of all the professional players on the tour.The sport is petitioning to be included in the SummerOlympic Games in the future. With its fast paced actionand beach style atmosphere it is by far the hottest newsport to hit the sand since beach volleyball.Beach Tennis Tampa Bay’s founder Steve Culver (CoachRhino) currently holds world rankings of #16 in doublesand #24 in singles and has organized severalInternational Beach Tennis events in Clearwater Beachincluding The BTUSA Masters Event which consisted of thetop eight internationally ranked professional men andwomen’s Beach Tennis teams in the world. With the aid ofMr. Russ Kimball, GM of the Sheraton Sand Key Resort,and the St. Pete/Clearwater Sports Commission this eventshould prove to be just as exciting and successful as theprevious events held in our area. This year’s $5000 in totalprize money, will be a big draw for the professionalcompetitors on the world tour.You don’t have to be a professional to play this sport orcompete in the tournament, because there is an AdvancedDivision for beginners to intermediate tennis players.Here is a brief description of the rules of the sport:l Play is on a regulation beach volleyball court,predominately in doubles format (singles is played on areduced court)l Court dimensions are 6 x18 meters and the net height is1.7 metersl Carbon fiber paddles are utilized with de-pressurizedtennis ballsl No-ad scoring is used, server may serve to either receiver,only one serve, let serves are in play, and point is overwhen ball hits the sandl Pro sets of 7 or 9 games are utilized with tie-breakers at6 all or 8 all respectivelyl Pool rounds of 4-6 teams compete with top 2 teams ineach pool qualifying for the main draw to determineChampions in each DivisionVisit beachtennistampabay.net where you can also registerto play. If you’re not inclined to play just come out towatch, at no charge. To find out more about the sport inthe U.S. visit www.beachtennis.us and for the foundingorganization in Italy visit www.ifbt.eu
Portrait of Morton Plant
CLEARWATER BEACH NEWSLETTERCLEARWATER BEACH NEWSLETTER
Restaurant News...BACKWATERSVOTED BESTHAPPY HOURThe readers ofthe Beach BeevotedBackwater’sGrill in SandKey, as the BestHappy Hour inthe area.Happy Hourlasts from 2 to 7pm with lots of food, such as oysters, athappy hour prices. They are also celebrating their 15thyear in Sand Key this month and will celebrate Wednesday,August 19 with a Southern Boil from 5-7pm. Backwater’sGrill is located in the Shoppes of Sand Key. _________________
CRABBY’SROUNDABOUTCrabby Bill’s hashad a store on thecorner of the marinafor 15 years. Thecity owns the landand two-storybuilding, and plansto tear it down nextyear. Crabby Bill’shas been granted a
new 30-year lease for the property and after demolition,they will build a 3-story building and reopen as one of thetwo Crabby Bill’s on Clearwater Beach._________________________________________________PROINO BREAKFAST CLUB #3 The newest Proino’s isstill under construction on the south side of ClearwaterBeach in the strip shopping center between The Reef andCesar’s on the Beach. Once open, it will be a greatbreakfast and lunch spot. The owner has two Largolocations, one on West Bay and the other on WalsinghamRd. just east of the Indian Rocks Beach._________________________________________________EAT, DRINK ANDPAINT Cooter’sRestaurant will behosting a monthlymake-it and take-itart class on Thursdaynights, beginningSeptember 17. Heldin the Sports Bararea, there is onlyroom for 30 paintersper session. Therewill be food, wine andother drink specials.The cost is $35 andpainters should arrive by 6:30pm. “I am excited about thisnew, fun event, says Carol Mears, Cooter’s owner. “I amhoping to do this monthly.” Get more information atwww.Cooters.com or call 462-2668._________________________________________________IT’S A REAL DEAL! Dinner at Marlin Darlin’s for $12.50is a real deal! From 4 to 5:30pm, get an entrée, freshbread, salad (or lobster bisque) and your favorite dessert.All for just $12.50. This offer is for a limited time only.
More Restaurant News...BEST BREAKFASTMaggie Mae’s wantsto thank theircustomers for votingthem “Best Breakfast”in the area byreaders of TheBelleair Bee. Stop byfor one of their great
breakfasts or lunches in The Shoppes of Sand Key, next tothe Columbia. They open at 7am._________________________________________________TASTE OF ITALY This new gelato store near GondolierPizza is now open. They specialize in gelato, but also offersandwiches and coffee drinks. _________________________________________________DAIRY QUEEN OPEN The new Dairy Queen at 22 BayEsplanade, behind the Speedway, is now open. They havemore than ice cream and shakes; stop by for a hot dogand more. The new store is owned by John and Lisa Sgro._________________________________________________SALTY PROGRESS The newSalty’s on the south end of thebeach is still under construction.Owned by the same people whoown the two Clearwater BeachCrabby Bill’s, it is located acrossthe street from the new OpalResort. They hope to be open bythe time the resort opens. “Wealready have the menu ready,”the owners say. “We are ready togo as soon as we get our finalpermits.”____________________________TASTE OF CLEARWATER CHANGES The restaurantevent sponsored by the Regional Chamber of Commerce,has moved the date and location of the event. This year,the 26th Annual Taste of Clearwater will be Thursday,October 1, at the Holy Trinity Greek Church located at 409Coachman Road. Admission is $25 for members or $35for non-members. Once inside, the food is free. Find moreinformation at www.ClearwaterFlorida.org or call Rachel461-0011 (x 229). _________________________________________________
MARINA CANTINA PROGRESS Everyone is stillwatching the progress of the new Marina CantinaRestaurant on the roof of the Marina Office Building. Themany delays stem from the 50 year old building’s poorcondition. All of its plumbing and electrical systems had tobe replaced and upgraded while the building was broughtup to current standards. Frank Chivas and the BaystarGroup are now moving full speed ahead and now theyhope to be open by the end of the year.
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Business Briefs...GOOD NEWS FOR PET LOVERSBased in Clearwater, CharloteeParsons’ All Things Living pet sittingservice offers an alternative toboarding your pet. Feel goodknowing your pet is in the safestenvironment - their own home! All ittakes is a free half hour interview tocreate a permanent record of yourpet & home. Then, reservations aremade with a quick phone call. Inaddition, Charlotte will bring inyour mail and newspaper givingyour home an occupied look andeven water your house plants. Yourpet’s lifestyle will go uninterupted and you will have peaceof mind whether you are planning a vacation, called outof town on business or an emergency, or just have to worklate. Charlotte is licensed, bonded and insured. Find outmore about her business at www.PetSittingPinellas.com orcall her at 727-441-4749_________________________________________________THE SPOT MOVED We printed the Spot Salon moved toBelleair Bluff’s next to Bonefish Grill. That is only half true.The salon moved, but Linda “Lou” Jackson moved toShear Delight Salon, at 80 Indian Rocks Road S., behindWilliam Dean Chocolates. You can call her at 581-6925. _________________________________________________THE REEL DEAL NEW OWNERS The 36' deep seacharter boat based in Clearwater Beach’s MunicipalMarina, has proud new owners Captain Steve andHeather Hunsucker. Capt. Steve, who grew up on IndianRocks Beach, has been mating and captaining fishingcharters out of Clearwater since 2007. The Reel Deal runshalf and full day deep sea private trips of 6 passengers orless, catching everything from red and gag grouper,spanish and king mackerel, hogfish, snapper, amberjack,tuna, sharks, and more. Visit charterboatonline.com tobook a trip or call Steve at (727)678-0118._________________________________________________AWARDS For the second time within a month, ProVisehas been recognized as one of the largest independentfinancial planning organizations in the United States.Based on total assets under management, FinancialAdvisor magazine ranked ProVise as the 182nd largestRegistered Investment Advisor in the country, 7th largest inFlorida, and largest on the West Coast of Florida. Lastmonth, Financial Times placed ProVise on its Top 300 listof financial planning firms in the United States.Founded in 1986, the financial planning and investmentmanagement firm is located in Clearwater and New PortRichey. They serve almost 1,000 clients in over 30 states.According to the ranking, ProVise’s average client hasabout $1.24 million invested with the firm, but they acceptclients with as little as $25,000. _________________________________________________NEW CLOTHING STORE Pacific Clothing, a casual menand women’s clothing store recently opened on the northend of the beach at 490 Mandalay, near Clear Sky. Theyspecialize in beachy stuff. _________________________________________________CLOSED Fashion Cleaners, 132 Island Way, by Publix._________________________________________________WE WANT YOUR NEWS Are you moving, expanding orplanning an event at your business? We want to know. Ifyou have news or story suggestions, email them [email protected] or call us at 727-517-1997
SOLVING THE PROBLEM OFLIGHTED BEACHES
by Rick Herren, M.S. Biologist and Co-Manager of the Sea TurtleConservancy's Lighting ProjectThere are three species of endangered and threatened seaturtles that commonly nest in Florida and they are all facean uphill battle. In addition to natural threats, there aremany human-caused impacts to sea turtles. One of thebiggest that occurs on the beach is poorly-managedlighting. Sea turtles are usually on the beach at night andlook for the brightest part of the horizon to locate theocean. In the past, this has always been the moon and starlight shining off the water. With a darker dune in onedirection and a brighter ocean in the other, finding thewater used to be easy. However, the introduction of coastaldevelopment has changed our night-time landscape.Landward sources of artificial light confuse adults resultingin lower nesting success and disorient hatchlings causingthem to crawl towards buildings and parking lots insteadof the ocean. Many of these animals will die fromexhaustion or predators. The good news is there aresimple solutions to manage artificial light near the beach.In Florida, most of our local governments on the coasthave laws that prohibit lights from shinning on the beach.If you are standing on the beach and you can see thesource of light coming from a beachside property then it isprobably in violation of your code and a problem for seaturtles. Instead of waiting for a warning letter orenforcement of these codes, there are steps propertyowners can take to keep their lights off the beach while stillproviding safety for themselves and their guests. The first isto lower the light fixture so that it is blocked by natural orartificial barriers. The second is to shield the light within afixture so the source of light is no longer visible and thelight is aimed downward where it needs to be. And thethird is to use longer wavelength bulbs such as amber,orange or red LEDs. These types of lights are minimallydisruptive to sea turtles and other wildlife, save money onenergy costs and last much longer than standardincandescent or compact fluorescent bulbs. You can learnmore about the effects of artificial light and retrofittingfixtures to make them safe for sea turtles by going to theSea Turtle Conservancy's website atwww.conserveturtles.org or by visiting the Florida Fish andWildlife Conservation Commissions (FWC) website atmyfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/managed/sea-turtles
OPAL TOPS OUTMoss and AssociatesConstruction has their name onmany construction jobsthroughout the area. The OpalHotel and Resort on South GulfBlvd. is just one of them. It hasfully topped out at 15 floors. Project Manager Brooke May,has been in construction forsince 2003. She has been withMoss for three and a half yearsand oversees 13 employees and37 subcontractors. The job hasover 300 workers on site. “Sheis an incredible projectmanager,” says one of herassistants. The hotel is onschedule for a January 2016opening.
CLEARWATER BEACH NEWSLETTERCLEARWATER BEACH NEWSLETTER
An Interview by Bob Griffin, PublisherSometimes when they play, you get thefeeling you are witnessing greatness inthe making. I had that feeling the firsttime I heard the Ries Brothers at alocal bar.The Ries Brothers, young musicianswho are clearly moving up the musicindustry ladder both locally andnationally, live in Belleair Bluffs. TheTampa Bay Times just recently namedthem one of the Top 10 local bands of2015. Charlie (19) and Kevin (16) really arebrothers. When you meet them, youmight even think they are twins. Theyare the same height with the samehairstyles and act like typical teenagers.Kevin, the front man plays the guitarand provides background vocals.Charlie, plays three instruments, he isusually in the back on the drums,playing bass on the keyboard andsinging – all at the same time! The brothers have music in theirblood. Three of their grandparentswere musicians in Chicago. “Both theboys started playing the piano at six,”says mom and band manager, Jenifer.“The boys picked it up from day oneand have since added many otherinstruments to their repertoire.”In addition to music, they play a lot ofsports, so when you approach theirhouse, you see the typical teenagethings — baseball equipment,skateboards and even a skim board. But inside, the house is like being in aHard Rock Café. Signed guitars aremounted on the walls. There areframed album covers and photos offamous musicians everywhere. Theliving room has a grand piano, adozen guitars, several amps andmicrophones set to their height. Their first real performance was at theBeachWalk Crabby Bill’s in ClearwaterBeach. Their first paid job was May27, 2012, at the Crabby Bill’s LoadingDock in Indian Rocks Beach whenKevin was only 13. The boys haveplayed at Gill Dawg, Seabreeze IslandGrill, Quaker Steak & Lube, Fox JazzClub, and other local establishments.On a larger level, the Ries performedat the Capitol Theatre, Ruth EckerdHall, The Mahaffey, The Coliseum,Clearwater Jazz Holiday, Vinoy Park,Van’s Warped Tour, Tampa’s HardRock Café, The Straz Center, BlastFriday, First Friday and The FloridaStrawberry Festival. In 2013, they became the youngest
lead-in act to a headliner at theClearwater Jazz Holiday where theyopened for Chicago. When askedwhich has been their most memorableconcert, they both agreed it is Ryman’sAuditorium in Nashville, the originalhome of the Grand Ole Opry. “To playa place like that, where some ofmusic’s most famous have played,gives you the chills,” says Charlie.“Even Elvis played there.”What is amazing is their selection ofmusic. It is the music from the 1970sand ‘80s including Led Zepplin, TheWho, Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd andeven the Beatles. This is music that waspopular years before they were born.How did they learn it and why do theyperform it? “My father was a great influence on usin the beginning,” says Kevin. “Welistened to whatever he listened to,then we learned to play those songs.”But their versions began to deviatefrom the originals, as they beganadding their own special twists. Theyalso write many of their own songs.“Run To The Sea” a new song theywrote is about life near the beach. Ithas become one of their favorites. The Ries Brothers finally have a chanceto headline their own major show.They are playing at the MurrayTheater, the new smaller theater atRuth Eckerd Hall, August 8th. The show sold out in just two weeks.They have a new album due out soon.A shorter, 3-song mix tape, which willbe ready for sale at the August show.After the show, they are off to Asbury,
N.J. to play with Vini Lopez, BruceSpringsteen’s original drummer. He isa Rock-N-Roll Hall of Fame drummerand founding member of the E StreetBand. Now, bigger shows and touring haveleft the brothers with no time for schoolor the local pub scene. Previously, theyattended Shorecrest Preparatory, but asthe demands of rehearsing andperformances have increased, thebrothers enrolled in virtual schooling tofinish their education.“I remember when the brothers firststarted playing at Crabby’s three yearsago,” Pauly Jenkins from Crabby Bill’ssaid. “People would comment on howwell they played considering howyoung they were. Charlie & Kevin aretalented beyond their years. It is greatto see how they’ve grown asentertainers and performers. I used tohear ‘the Ries brothers are good forhow young they are.’ Today, peopleare more likely to say ‘the RiesBrothers are awesome performers’without mentioning their age as aqualifier for their talents.”“We enjoy our relationship with theentire family and we are proud ofwhat they are accomplishing. We hopeas their star continues to rise, they willcome back and play a few sets at ourlittle venue even if we have to hirecrowd control,” Jenkins says smiling.Learn more about the Ries Brothers ontheir website, www.RiesBrothers.com.You can also find them on FaceBookand You Tube.
THE RIES BROTHERS - A BAND OF BROTHERS
Charlie (left) and Kevin (right) with the band Chicago
CLEARWATER BEACH NEWSLETTERCLEARWATER BEACH NEWSLETTER
CASA, a leading Tampa Bay area domestic violence center,has opened the doors to their newly constructed 100-bedshelter. This facility will triple their capacity to provideemergency housing and services to families escapingviolence. “Survivors seek shelter for many reasons, the need for safetybeing top priority,” said CASA’s Acting Executive DirectorShandra Riffey. “CASA provides a safe haven, job assistance,children’s programs, information, referrals and so muchmore. This shelter provides a holistic approach to removingbarriers for survivors, their children and their pets.”Why open a new $12 million dollar facility with $2.5 millionin annual operating costs? Overwhelming community needand necessity. Since 2000, 18% of all homicides in PinellasCounty were due to domestic violence and over 120domestic violence offenses are recorded by our local policeeach week. While CASA’s previous shelter was a source of refuge forcountless families, lack of space and resources forced themto turn away 1,400 survivors of domestic violence each year.This was a statistic CASA’s staff could not carry on theirconscience. The decision was made to build a new sheltermatching the magnitude of the epidemic of violence.“At first it was a daunting task to take on such a largeproject, but the community has been stepping up to helpopen doors to a safer future for survivors of domesticviolence,” said Tuesdi Dyer, CASA’s Development Director.“People just get it. This shelter is a necessity and thecommunity is clearly committed to sustaining this vital placeof refuge for decades to come.”
Behind the fresh paint and energized volunteers are amortgage and operating expenses that have grown to matchthe organization’s expanded services but, many organizationface a drop in new donations immediately after constructionof a new facility. One local philanthropic organization ismaking sure this will not be the case for CASA. How? With a$1 million dollar challenge. Yesterday, the Sonia RaymundFoundation announced that it will match new donations toCASA’s capital campaign, dollar for dollar.“I know that not everyone can write a check for a milliondollars. I happen to be one of the lucky ones,” said SoniaRaymund, Foundation Director. “But CASA needs the money.I ask you to give, and give big, because I am prepared towrite a check for up to a million dollars.”With the newly announced donation matching program,CASA is within reach of completely paying off its remainingconstruction costs, potentially saving millions of dollars ininterest payments over the life of the mortgage.All donations to CASA’s shelter will be doubled automaticallyunder the new program, until the $1 million matching fundis depleted. Please donate at www.casa-stpete.org/shelter, bycalling (727) 895-4912, or by mailing a check with “Shelter”written in the memo line to P.O. Box 414, St. Petersburg, FL33731. People seeking information on available namingopportunities are encouraged to contact John Biesinger [email protected] or (727) 895-4912 x105.CASA, Community Action Stops Abuse, has been providinglifesaving services to women, men, and children living with domesticviolence since 1977.
NEW DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CENTER TRIPLES CASA’S CAPACITY TO PROTECT SURVIVORSBy Bob Griffin, Publisher
Owners Eugen Fuhrmann and ChefErwin Scheuringer opened E&EStakeout Grill in Belleair Bluffs’ Plaza
100 in 1985, but the restaurant started with a differentname; originally, it was called Eugen’s Restaurant. Fuhrmann got his restaurant start in Bermuda where heowned The Lobster Pot Restaurant in Hamilton, Bermuda’scapitol. Scheuringer was the restaurant’s chef. In the mid-1970s, Fuhrmann moved to Florida and in 1978he opened The Lobster Pot Restaurant in Redington Shores.Scheuringer was the Chef there, too. Fuhrmann and Scheuringer opened a second restaurant in1985 inside a small space in The Plaza of Belleair Bluffs. Itwas called Eugen’s Restaurant of Belleair Bluffs. Seven yearslater, in 1992, the pair reopened Indian Rocks Beach’s LaCave Restaurant as Guppy’s On The Beach. Scott Bebel wasbrought in as the Sous Chef. Today, he is a partner. In 1995, the restaurant was remodeled and opened with itsnew southwestern theme and new name, E&E StakeoutGrill. E&E was derived from the partners names, Eugen andChef Erwin – E & E. Since then, E&E Stakeout Grill evolvedinto a seafood-oriented steakhouse. Four years later,Fuhrmann sold The Lobster Pot and opened Mystic FishSeafood Grill in Palm Harbor. Bebell’s brother and formerChef at the Lobster Pot, Chef Doug Bebell and Eugen’s sonRichard, are partners in Mystic Fish.E&E Stakeout Grill’s menu features steaks, fresh seafood,pork, lamb and a variety of pastas and salads. They are
also known for their inspired daily Chef Erwin Specials. E&EStakeout takes pride in serving the finest meals with specialdetailed attention to service and presentation.E&E Stakeout Grill has always been a special part of ourlocal community. In addition to donating gift certificates toarea charities, they are regularly support the localcharitable organizations, groups, and schools. Learn more about E&E Stakeout today on their website,www.3BestChefs.com. Find them in The Plaza ShoppingCenter at 100 Indian Rocks Road, Belleair Bluffs.Reservations are recommended by calling 585-6399 orbooking online and through Open Table.
E&E STAKEOUT GRILL CELEBRATES 30 YEARS IN THE BLUFFS
Chef Erwin Scheuringer in front of E&E Stakeout Grill
CLEARWATER BEACH NEWSLETTER CLEARWATER BEACH NEWSLETTER
BELLEAIR MEMBER COMES UPBIG IN U.S. AMATEUR GOLF
Belleair Country Club golf member Taylor Hancock finishedfirst in the U.S. Amateur qualifying round. On July 6 and 7,Hancock won the U.S. Amateur Qualifying Tournament atFox Hollow Golf Club in Trinity, Fla., with a score of 66-67. The U.S. Amateur tournament is open to amateur golferswith a U.S. Golf Association handicap index of 2.4 or lower.All qualifiers are scheduled to play at Olympia Fields inChicago from August 17 to 23. There is a 36-hole strokeplay qualifying round that will advance players to matchplay. In 2013, Hancock made it to the match play portion,bowing to the number one seeded player that year.On July 3, Hancock also made it to the semifinals of theNorth-South Amateur on the coveted Pinehurst number twocourse, but eventually lost to the number one seed, GeorgeCunningham, by a 2 and 1 margin.The young Hancock has been a member at BCC since hewas a child. He began golf in Belleair Country Club’s ‘LilTikes Junior Clinics and Junior Golf Camps as a 3-year oldand has been at the game ever since. “He was virtually unbeatable as a young junior,” saidBelleair’s PGA Director of Golf, Jim Slattery. “He loved topractice, and he still does now. It certainly is paying off.”Hancock is headed for Chicago to take on Chicago GolfClub, America’s oldest course, and then to Olympia FieldsGolf Club to try to win the world’s most coveted amateurtitle, the U.S Amateur Championship. In other Belleair Country Club news, the Belleair Breakersswim team placed third in the Private Club Leaguechampionship last month.On June 13 and 14, the Belleair Breakers swim teammanaged to take third place after originally trailing in thePCL championship. The swim team is comprised of morethan 60 kids ranging in age from 5-18. “It’s great to see these talented athletes who represent ourclub achieve significant accomplishments and we wish themwell in their next rounds of competition,” said EdShaughnessy, general manager of Belleair Country Club. The BCC Breakers competitive swimming team was formedin 2008. Coach Craig Coghlan began with the BCCBreakers as an assistant coach four years ago and took overas head coach in 2012. The PCL is a spring and summercompetitive swimming league that includes nine southwestFlorida country club swim teams.
MFA COOKBOOK In observance of its 50th anniversary, the Museum of FineArts (MFA), St. Petersburg and the Margaret Acheson StuartSociety plan to publish Food + Art: Cooking around TampaBay with the Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg. Thekeepsake cookbook, available in Fall 2015, features acollection of 120 recipes from Stuart Society members, staff,docents, artists, collectors, cultural and civic leaders, as wellas chefs and others in the Tampa Bay community. Recipes range from splashy party dishes to vegetarian maindishes to simple weeknight dinners, with chapters thatinclude: Starters, Drinks, Brunch, Soups, Pastas, Salads,Pizza, Meats, Seafood, Vegetables and Sweets. The beautifulbook, worthy of the MFA’s aesthetic standards, will alsohighlight selected works from its collections. Food + Art: Cooking around Tampa Bay with the Museum ofFine Arts, St. Petersburg can be pre-ordered for $35 +shipping/handling at thestuartsociety.org/cookbookproject.
36TH ANNIVERSARYCLEARWATER JAZZ HOLIDAY
Now in its 36th year, the Clearwater Jazz HolidayPresented by HCI Group Inc. is thrilled to present, inconcert, between October 15 and 18, 2015: GladysKnight & The O’Jays, Sheryl Crow, Buddy Guy, The AvettBrothers and more to be announced! The Clearwater JazzHoliday continues its exciting collaboration with RuthEckerd Hall to bring an amazing and diverse lineup ofheadline acts to Clearwater in 2015 along with celebratingthe 100th Centennial Celebration of the City of Clearwater.Presented in the 20-acre landscaped Coachman Park indowntown Clearwater overlooking Clearwater Harbor andthe majestic Memorial Causeway Bridge, the Jazz Holidayis four days/nights of some of the best live performances inthe world presented to the public. One of the longest-running and best known jazz events inthe country, the Clearwater Jazz Holiday has presented inconcert multiple luminaries of our generation. TheClearwater Jazz Holiday Foundation’s mission is to be theleading proponent of jazz entertainment and education inFlorida through the annual presentation of a world-class,live music festival. The 501c3 organization has been center-stage for numerous scholarship and educational activitiesbenefiting our community’s music students, from blues-loving beginners to piano-playing protégés, and everyonein between.The magic of the Clearwater Jazz Holiday emanates fromits long-time collaboration with the City of Clearwater, RuthEckerd Hall, and hundreds of volunteers that orchestrateevery chord of the Jazz Holiday, a celebration of the mostrecognized and emerging national, regional, and localartists. From smooth and straight ahead jazz, to rhythmand blues, jam band, folk, Americana, funk, fusion, andLatin, thousands of music lovers always relish in a colorfuland diverse musical lineup.Tickets On-Sale NOW starting at $15 in advance. Children12 and under are FREE. Limited Reserved Seating and VIPtickets are also available. For more information about the36th Clearwater Jazz Holiday, call the Clearwater JazzHoliday office at (727) 461-5200, or visit us online atClearwaterJazz.com or facebook.com/ClearwaterJazz
RCS GRANDE GALAJoin in the fun during a snazzy fundraiser, RCS GrandeGala for Flappers & Fellas. RCS is a non-profit providinghope and help to Pinellas County neighbors who arehomeless, hungry or dealing with domestic abuse! Thisnew fall event joins the annual RCS event roster thanks tothe generosity of founding sponsor Alexias Sharoky,Executive Director of the Sharoky Family Foundation.Mark your calendars now for Oct. 10, 2015! Join CelebrityHosts 10 News Ashley Batey and Tampa Bay Times ErnestHooper at RCS's 1st Annual Grande Gala from 7 - 11 pm.Enjoy a swanky speakeasy, live auction for a HyundaiElantra, fab raffle items, Charleston dancers, delectablefood, sizzling spirits and more. The event will be atBanquet Master's Grand Gatsby Theater Ballroom.Tickets are on sale now online, over the phone (727-584-3528) or from the Gala committee. $125/person; $500/2people includes VIP pre-party 6-7 p.m. Visitwww.RCSpinellas.org/GrandeGala or [email protected] to provide a raffle item? Contact Grande Gala eventchair Devin Pappas [email protected].
CLEARWATER BEACH NEWSLETTER CLEARWATER BEACH NEWSLETTER
by Bob GriffinBefore City Manager Bill Horne came to City Hall, in the late 1990s he worked atUnited States Central Command at MacDill AFB helping manage a new wave ofterrorist activities in Southwest Asia. Working under two different Generals, he wascharged with the responsibility to staff the headquarters with qualified militarypersonnel from all Military services. Before that, he was the Group Commander atYokata, Air Base Japan, the equivalent to its city manager. He served in the AirForce for over 26 years before retiring in 1998. Horne’s retirement did not last long. He started working for the City of Clearwaterin September of the same year. By June, he became an Assistant Manager underCity Manager Mike Roberto. After Roberto left in July 2000, he served as interimCity Manager for a year, and after a national search, was offered the position ofCity Manager, in July of 2001. Where he still remains, 15 years later. “I was a new City Manager during a very tense time,” recalls Horne. “The prior citymanager had been asked to leave. Beach development was being debated. Therewere lots of pros and cons regarding downtown development. Everything we havetoday was up for review - the main library, the new Memorial Causeway Bridge,Bright House Field, new recreation centers, BeachWalk and new fire stations. Mostcontroversial were the hotel and condominium redevelopment projects.”There were people on both sides of every issue. We just continued to pursue ouragenda,” Horne explains. “Beach redevelopment and downtown development
were the two big things.” All of this was going on during the country’s greatest recession in recent history. There were two major waves of development. The first included building Beach Walk, The Hyatt Regency, and SandpearlResort. The second ongoing wave includes the new Wyndham Grand, Opal Resort and others still in the planning or earlyconstruction phase.“We have some of the most talented city employees of any U.S. city. They arededicated and their achievements prove their value. You cannot be a successfulcity manager with a tenure like I have had, without the city employees’ support. Iam humbled by this and never take them for granted.”“Our biggest future challenge on the beach, is parking. We hope to add aparking garage in the north area, behind the Pelican Place Shopping Center. Weare sensitive to the needs and comments of residents, as well as businesses.”“When we created BeachWalk, we increased area police presence. ForBeachWalk to succeed, residents and tourists need to feel it is a safe place. Policestaffing increases during major events, holidays and spring break. The PoliceDepartment has continued to access the needs and problems on the beach andresponded to those needs.” “Contrary to what you may have heard, I have no plans to retire. I serve at thepleasure of the Mayor and City Council. I enjoy what I am doing and what we areachieving on a daily basis. I look forward to Clearwater’s future as well as myown,” Horne concludes.City Manager Bill Horne lives in the east side of Clearwater with his wife Loretta. Horne has served three mayors, Brian Aungst (1999-2004), Frank Hibbard(2005-2011) and now George Cretekos (beginning in 2012). Here is what theyhave to say about their time with him:
CITY MANAGER BILL HORNE, 15 YEARS AT THE HELM
“The City has been blessed by Bill’ssteady leadership through challengingeconomic conditions and burgeoningre-development. The quality of hischaracter has enabled the City toovercome many obstacles and achievethe ambitious goals my Commissionand I set for economic development,tourism, and quality of life. The singlemost important action the Commissiontook while I was Mayor was selectingBill to lead the City I am proud to havesupported that promotion and of hisservice and contributions.” BrianAungst, Former Clearwater Mayor, nowPresident Bright House Tampa Bay
“Bill has led with integrity andproved to be a very stable andreliable force in the city for almosttwo decades, as an assistant CityManager and the City Manager.Clearwater is fortunate because theposition can be a revolving door, yetBill has become a part of the fabricof Clearwater and his fingerprints willbe on the City for decades after hehas retired, that is a great legacy!”Frank Hibbard, Former ClearwaterMayor, now Senior Vice PresidentFinancial Advisor Morgan StanleyWealth Management
“Bill Horne has devoted himself toserving the citizens of Clearwater andtheir elected representatives. He isresponsive to our requests andthorough in his recommendations.He is a steady helmsman, and asMayor, I look forward to continuingto work with him.” Mayor GeorgeCretekos
One of the many groundbreaking ceremonies Horne has
attended over the last fifteenyears while serving as
Clearwater’s City Manager
CLEARWATER BEACH NEWSLETTERCLEARWATER BEACH NEWSLETTER
SOCIAL SECURITY TESTHOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW?
by Ray Ferrara, ProVise Management GroupSeveral people called after our first article onSocial Security with questions. Maybe one of thebest ways to help understand Social Security isto ask some questions. The answers are at theend, but please “no peeking”. J1) Full retirement age for Social Security benefitstoday is: a) 70 b) 66 c) 65 d) 622) How many years do you need to be married to receive aspousal (even from an ex-spouse) benefit? a) just getmarried b) 5 c) 10 d) 203 Approximately how much is your Social Security benefitreduced if you start at age 62? a) 50% b) 33.3% c) 25% d)10%4) Instead of taking your benefit at full retirement age, howmuch will your benefit increase each year by waiting (nolater than age 70)? a) by cost of living b) 8% c) 5% d) 3%5) If you keep working past age 70, it is possible for yourSocial Security benefit to increase? True or False?6) Under normal circumstances, the earliest you can startSocial Security is: a) full retirement age b) 65 c) 62 d) 60ANSWERS:1) Age 66. It gradually increases to age 67 in 2027.2) You qualify after 10 years of marriage. You may receiveyour benefit, or 50% of your spouse’s benefit, whichever ishigher. Suppose your benefit is $1000 monthly and yourspouse’s benefit is $2400 monthly. 50% of her/his benefit($1200) is higher, so you can take the spousal benefit. 3) Each month you start Social Security prior to full retirementage reduces your benefit. At age 62, your benefit isreduced by about 25%.4) 8%. Suppose that your benefit is $2000 per month atage 66. The benefit increases by $160 per month eachyear that you delay. Thus, at age 70 the monthly benefit willbe $2640 per month. 5) True. Your Social Security benefit is calculated based onthe highest 35 years of earnings. If you earn more afterage 70 that was greater than a one of your previoushighest 35 years, the lower number is eliminated andreplaced by the higher year.6) Under normal (retirement) circumstances the earliest ageis 62. How did you do? Options for Social Security are numerousand complicated. Decisions are generally irrevocable. Youcannot afford a mistake.If you would like to discuss your Social Security options, wewill prepare a report at no cost or obligation. Ask for Evelynat extension 204. We are conveniently located at 611 DruidRd E, Suite 105 in Clearwater. Call 727-441-9022 or emailat [email protected] Advisory Services may be offered through ProViseManagement Group, LLC.
CLEARWATER BEACH NEWSLETTERCLEARWATER BEACH NEWSLETTER
By Bob Griffin, PublisherFriday, August 31st, 1985 was the beginning of Labor Dayweekend. If you lived on a barrier island in Pinellas, you weretold to evacuate that night, for Hurricane Elena. Hurricane Elena was the first major hurricane of the 1985season. Moving off Africa on August 23rd, it developed into atropical depression near Cuba and quickly strengthened.Within five days it became a hurricane and moved towardPinellas County. As a Category 2 storm, it stalled, goingnowhere, and just sat, spinning 80 miles off the PinellasCounty coast. Pinellas Emergency managers watched itclosely since a Category 2 or 3 storm would bring high water,high winds and lots of damage if it came ashore. After about24 hours an evacuation was ordered. Because it was a holiday weekend, communications were aproblem. The Pinellas County Commission issues CountyEvacuation orders but that night, only two Commissionerscould be located. Assistant County Administrator Bob LaSalaissued the Emergency Order. On Saturday, at 4:35 am, theGovernor activated the National Guard in Pinellas County. Elena’s unpredictable movements forced the largestevacuation in history of the U.S. Half a million people fromSarasota to Louisiana evacuated. 300,000 people in Pinellasare estimated to have evacuated. Additionally, three hospitalsand 19 nursing homes with 1,860 nursing residents wereevacuated. Because of the massive evacuation, the storm hasno documented storm related deaths.Over 113,000 people went to one of the 70 open shelterswhich were filled beyond their capacities. Tyrone Square Mallhad planned for 5,000 people but 9,200 showed up.Seminole Middle School expected 3,500 but 3,740 showed
up. The Red Cross managed 6,500 people at their variousshelters and admits that they were overwhelmed. The storm caused a total of $1.25 billion in property damageand beach erosion. 256 homes in Pinellas were eitherdestroyed or made inhabitable. Over 7,000 mobile homeswere destroyed. At the time, they estimated it would take upto ten years to replenish the beaches. Besides the homes along our beach being damaged orruined, what most people in the area remember is losing theIndian Rocks Beach Pier. One of Indian Rocks’ best-knownattractions, the storm knocked it down.Flooding was a big problem. In addition to the rain (5.5inches in Clearwater), the hurricane produced a 6 foot stormsurge along the Pinellas Beaches. The tides in Tampa Baywere 7 feet above normal. By the time the storm reached theFlorida Panhandle, its storm surge was 10 feet. The storm eventually moved northwest and made landfallnear Biloxi, Mississippi as a Category 3 hurricane. Peak windswere 125 MPH. At 5pm on Sunday, Governor Graham liftedthe evacuation order. This caused new problems as citiesused different re-entry procedures. Evacuees were frustratedby security check-points that would not allow them access tohomes in damaged areas. The name Elena was retired in the spring of 1986 and willnever be used again. It is the only Atlantic storm name to beretired without causing any direct casualties. Elena is still among the costliest Atlantic hurricanes. Thedamage totals in Pinellas (1985 dollars) were: IndianRocks Beach - $10,305,000, Belleair Shore - $4,980,800,Indian Shores - $4,075,000, Clearwater - $3,835,000,Belleair Beach - $2,520,000
THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF HURRICANE ELENA NEW PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGSIt has taken a few years, butSand Key now has eight saferplaces to cross Gulf Blvd.,thanks in part, to the efforts ofArlene Musselwhite, formerPresident of the Sand Key CivicAssociation. In May, sixteen lighted crosswalksigns were installed at eightdesignated places in Sand Key.Called Rectangular RapidFlashing Beacons, they arepedestrian activated warningsigns, meaning people have topush the button for them towork. Cars are required to stopwhen the lights are blinking andpeople are in the crosswalks. They were paid for when theCounty received a $250,000safety grant in March fromFDOT covering the cost of the lights. The City ofClearwater installed the new signs while Pinellas Countysupplied the flashing lights. “There has been a critical need for greater safety nearGulf Blvd, for our citizens and our tourists,” saidMusselwhite. “I knew we needed to do more to make ourisland safer for everyone.”Similar devices have been installed north and south ofSand Key, in north Clearwater Beach, Belleair, IndianShores, the Redingtons and cities to south. The Clearwater Beach Chamber of Commerce is trying toadd the two-side yellow flashing lighted signs to eight crosswalks on Clearwater Beach within the next three years.
HERITAGE VILLAGE FALL EVENTSBLACKPOT GOURMET - September 5 and October 3Learn the fine art of Blackpot cooking at HeritageVillage, where you will learn to cook a variety ofdelicious dishes during this three-hour experience.Classes are limited to only ten people and cost $30.Reservations are required at least two weeks prior. Call582-2123 if you are interested.36th COUNTRY JUBILEE - October 24, 10am to 4pmThere will be non-stop music performed by local groupsand more than 100 craft volunteers lining the walkwayin and around the park, plus the grand opening of theMcKay Creek Boat Shop! This is a good place to findthose unique Christmas gifts. This event is FREE.
BOATING SAFETY CLASSESThe Coast Guard Auxiliary in Clearwater is offering SafeBoating Classes at Morton Plant Hospital in the Cheek-Powell Pavilion building, 455 Pinellas Street, SecondFloor. Unlike some internet courses, the ABS Class istaught by certified USCGAUX instructors who can answeryour questions and share their experiences about ourlocal waters. Topics include: Boating Emergencies, KnowYour Boat, Getting Underway, Navigating, OperatingYour Boat Safely and Legal Requirements. All graduatesreceive a Florida State Certification Card. Classes areheld on the second weekend of each month. All About Boat Safety Course - $35, September 12-13and October 10-11. Other classes offered through outthe year. For more information, call 469-8895.
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REGISTRATION OPEN FOR “ROCK THE RIBBON”
a 5K and 10K to Benefit Prostate andBreast Cancer Programs
The Morton Plant MeaseFoundation invites runnersand walkers to be a partof the inaugural “Rock theRibbon” Saturday,September 26. The former“Miles for Men” event hascombined the pink andthe blue ribbons symbolicof the fights against breastand prostate cancer tobecome “Rock the Ribbon.” The 5K, 10K and Kids Dashevent will benefit both the prostate and breast healthprograms of Morton Plant Mease.“Rock the Ribbon,” is a family-friendly USATF certified 10K(6.2 miles) and 5K (3.1 miles) that will start at MortonPlant Hospital and send runners and walkers across theClearwater Memorial Causeway Bridge and back. The 5Kand 10K races begin at 6:30 pm. A Kids Dash for ages 1-10 will be held prior to the 5K and 10K at 6 p.m.The chip-timed “Rock the Ribbon” race will include racephotos, custom pink or blue t-shirts, live bands and a post-race party featuring food, drinks, prizes andentertainment.Awards will be given to the overall winners and the topthree finishers in each age group. In addition, all kids whoparticipate in the Kids Dash will receive an award
WE ROCK THE SPECTRUMWe Rock the Spectrum, a play gym specializing in beingall-inclusive, is a place parents can take their children,regardless of their developmental level. With specializedtherapeutic equipment children love to play with, We Rockthe Spectrum is great for children with autism, or who areon the spectrum, as it helps in areas of strength,movement, sensory processing, and social interactions.The gym located at 12505 Starkey Rd, Largo is open toresidents and parents traveling with children who havespecial needs. One service—Open Play—allows parents tobring their kids to the gym, drop them off to play, andenjoy a few hours to themselves. What parent wouldn’t likethat? Visit www.werockthespectrumclearwater.com, formore information.
by Bob Clark, Belleair Christian Science practitionerForgiveness is being discussed in some surprising placesthese days. No longer confined to discussions about religionand moral philosophy, forgiveness is expanding its role as avirtue and important element of physical well-being.“Conflict doesn’t just weigh down the spirit; it can lead tophysical health issues,” the Healthy Aging page of the JohnsHopkins Medicine website tells us. The Healthy Lifestyle pageof the Mayo Clinic website includes: “When someone youcare about hurts you, you can hold on to anger, resentmentand thoughts of revenge — or embrace forgiveness andmove forward - Letting go of grudges and bitterness canmake way for happiness, health and peace.”There’s a powerful illustration of that in a recent cover storyof The Christian Science Monitor. The title sums it up well:“After 39 years in prison, an epic tale of innocence foundand bitterness lost.”Ricky Jackson is a living, walking example of forgiveness. Herecently had a false conviction, which was based on the lie ofa 12-year-old boy, overturned.The article explains Jackson has “had a lot on his mind sincehe left prison. He’s been thinking about what to do with theremainder of his life. About what to make of the lie thatlanded him on death row at 18, the longest-servingwrongfully convicted person in American history. It’s a lie thattested the limits of human forgiveness and resilience. A liethat forced him to not let his circumstances, define who he is.”Most of all, he sought to maintain a sense of humanity in aplace where it was hard to find. “I tried to be the kind ofperson my mother wanted me to be,” he said. “I was a guyin prison. But they were never going to make me a prisoner.”
Jackson is out of prison now and forgiven the man who falselyaccused him and whose recantation set him free. How doyou forgive something so wrong? Start small, Fred Luskin,Ph.D., the director of the Stanford Forgiveness Projects andsenior consultant in health promotion at Stanford Universitytold PBS, “Forgiveness can start small. “Practice on the smallthings in your life: The next time you get mad at anybody fora triviality, practice forgiving them. Make it a consciouschoice to let it go and notice how good it feels. When you’remad at somebody, ask yourself: ‘Is it worth it to me right nowto suffer?’ Ask someone who’s practiced forgiveness. They’llgive you a glowing report about its value in their life. Don’tjust take my word for it.”Recently, the people who spoke at the bond hearing forDylann Roof, accused of killing nine people at the EmanuelAME Church in Charleston, S.C., offered Roof forgiveness,even as they described their pain. Nadine Collier, whosemother was killed, told Roof: “You took something veryprecious from me. I will never talk to her again. I will neverbe able to hold her again. But I forgive you.”When forgiveness seems nearly impossible, I have foundprayer can make the difference. Sometimes I think of prayeras a two-step process: a humbling and quieting of thehuman mind, in which all resentment and hurt reside, and areaching out to understand the divine as my true source ofthought. If you’re like me, when you open that mental dooryou can literally feel the tension and pain of anger beingwashed away on an incoming tide of divine love.It’s a powerful and unforgettable feeling. It restoresmental and physical health. And best of all, you cancome back as often as you need to.Read Bob Clark’s blog at simplyhealthyflorida.com.
EXPLORE THE HEALING POWER OF FORGIVENESS
GUARDIAN AD LITEM SUPERHERO 5K RUNEvery child needs a hero, but abused children need superheroes. The Guardian ad Litem Foundation of Tampa Baycordially invites you to participate in their First SuperHero 5K Run, Walk and Stroller Roll on Saturday, September 26, atWar Veteran’s Memorial Park, 9600 Bay Pines Boulevard, St. Petersburg. It kicks off at 7am. Awards will be given for topqualifiers of the 5K Run and all participants will receive a medal.3,000 children in Pinellas and Pasco Counties have been removedfrom their homes by no fault of their own. Guardian ad LitemProgram of Pinellas and Pasco Counties’ mission is to provideadvocacy and support for these abused and neglected children.Their goal is for every child to have a Guardian ad Litem volunteerto be their voice in court and who only has the child’s best interestat heart. Over 1,000 children currently do not have a Guardian ad Litem volunteer to safeguard them.Not everyone has the time to be a Guardian ad Litem volunteer, but YOU too can be a SUPERHERO in the life of a childby participating in their upcoming race. Your support helps achieve their vision of a world where every child has a safeand permanent home with the opportunity to thrive. Visit their Web site, www.galf6.org for more information and a link totheir online Active.com registration page.
CLEARWATER BEACH NEWSLETTERCLEARWATER BEACH NEWSLETTER
7TH ANNUAL CLEARWATER SUPERBOAT NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
& SEAFOOD FESTIVALOne of the most thrilling super boat races, the ‘fastest showon water,’ will return to the white sugar sand coast ofClearwater, Fla. Sept. 25-27, 2015. The City of Clearwaterwill be home to the 7th annual Bright House ClearwaterSuper Boat National Championship and Seafood Festival.This three-day festival includes activities for the entire familysuch as VIP parties, racers village, seafood vendors, aspectacular fireworks display and the racing of the world’sfastest offshore powerboats. The premier offshore sporting event takes place just off theshore of Clearwater’s beautiful and award-winningbeaches. Superboats equipped with F-16 canopies andtraveling at extreme speeds of 180 miles per hour willcompete on a 2.5-mile racecourse. To experience all theaction, spectators can watch the event from the beach, Pier60, various VIP viewing parties, and from designatedspectator fleet viewing area. Events will begin Friday, September 25 at Baystar RaceVillage in downtown Clearwater, where the superboats willbe on display in the annual Super Boat InternationalParade. On Saturday, the Seafood Festival takes placebetween 10 am and 10 pm in Coachman Park. Guestscan indulge in a variety of seafood specialties, refreshmentsand souvenirs from vendors and end the night watchingthe fireworks display hosted by Pier 60 Concessions. Racesbegin on Sunday with races taking place at noon, 1:30and 3 p.m. Following the races, is the Miss ClearwaterCorona Girl Pageant at Shephard’s Beach Resort, theofficial “Beach After Party.” The day concludes at 5:30p.m., with the Bright House Clearwater Super Boat Awardsceremony at Baystar Race Village in Coachman Park. For more information about the races, visitwww.clearwatersuperboat.com. If you are unable to attendthe National Championship, the race will be streamed liveat https://livestream.com/sbi/clearwaterbeach2015.
LOCAL WRITER PUBLISHES BOOKClearwater Beach residentRichard Hillman recentlypublished the book, TropicalLiason. Hillman, a world traveler,was previously a resident of NewYork, Maine, Scotland, Spain,Brazil and Venezuela, beforemoving here. “My wife and I usedto vacation here, but decided thatbuying a condo here, in theRegatta Beach Club, was moreeconomical,” says Hillman. “Partof the reason we relocated fromNY was the winter of 2002. Sayno more.” Tropical Liaison is the story ofManny White Vidal, an expert of an oil-producingCaribbean nation riddled with poverty, corruption anddemagoguery. It ultimately leads to Vidal’s search formeaning in the midst of an international power struggle.Hillman is working on the sequel, Finding Rafael. Parts ofTropical Liason were written on Clearwater Beach.Tropical Liason is available at Book Bank in Largo andon-line through Amazon
THE RED CROSS NEEDS YOUDo you know what your American Red Cross does? I'll bet you are nodding your head; you think you do. Everyone thinks ofthe Red Cross as the big disaster people involved with hurricanes, floods, and tornadoes, especially in Florida where we getall three. It is what you see us do on television, when there is a big crisis. We are at every major disaster before the TVcameras and long after they are gone, helping feed and shelter those who have lost everything. We give hugs. We givehope. We help communities endure.But the biggest disaster we respond to is not a tornado, flood or hurricane. More than 90% of the disasters we respond toare local home fires. Tampa Bay averages a home fire every single night or about 350 per year. To the family that loseseverything, it's a big disaster and one of the worst days of their life - and the Red Cross is there.When a family loses their home and has no place to go, the fire department calls the Red Cross 24 hours a day, 7 days aweek. Red Cross volunteers respond immediately, having committed to be on scene within 2 hours. They take care of thefamily's needs by making sure they have a roof over their heads that night, food & clothing and that the kids are ready togo to school the next day. Nurses help replace medication and eyeglasses and they even give a small toy to the child wholost all of their belongings but still needs something soft to cuddle. In the days and weeks that follow, trained Red Crossvolunteer caseworkers help the family on their road to recovery, making sure they have access to community resources.Unless you've suffered a house fire you probably don't know that keeps Red Cross volunteers busy every day. 90% of the Red Cross’s work is done by volunteers. These special people make a difference every day. Volunteers like Lisa,who tells the story of a fire she responded to: “I was called to the scene of a burning house at 8:30 one night. The elderlylady who lived there left a space heater too close to a curtain and her wood frame home went up in flames quickly. Shecalled 911 and ran out with nothing but her cat and car keys; she was left with nothing. Nothing. When my team arrivedshe was in the back of a police car shivering. We wrapped her in a Red Cross blanket and hugged her tight. Crying, shewas able to give us her daughter’s phone number but her daughter was in Ohio. It would take some time for her to get toTampa. We put her in a hotel for three nights and helped with her immediate needs until her daughter arrived. Staying inconstant touch with her was important. She needed our support. I could only imagine she might have been my mother andhow grateful I would have been for Red Cross volunteers. Her relief at knowing she would be safe was palpable. Her hugsand thanks gave more back to us as volunteers than we ever imagined. I love my work with the Red Cross.” We have hundreds of wonderful volunteers like Lisa who give back through the Red Cross, but we desperately need more.In addition to responding to house fires, we're helping our community by installing smoke alarms and teaching kids how tobe ready for disasters. We are planning for hurricane season and we’re training volunteers in logistics, sheltering, etc. Manyvolunteer jobs are yet to be filled this season and we need your passion for helping others to help make a difference.Whether you have 20 hours a week or 2, won't you consider joining our group of caring and compassionate people? Learn more about Red Cross volunteer opportunities, at our open house on Thursdays from 11:30am-1:30pm at ourTampa office, 3310 W. Main St. Tampa or contact [email protected] for more information.
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SAND KEY CIVIC ASSOCIATIONThey meet monthly on the first Wednesday of the month at7pm in the Clearwater Community Sailing Center. TheSeptember meeting has been moved to September 9thdue to Labor Day. They are members of The Florida Shore & BeachPreservation Association and actively support beachnourishment, shore bird and turtle protection, andresponsible development on Sand Key. Over 20 years ago,the organization was instrumental in undergrounding thepublic utilities, as well as petitioning to have the FireStation located on Sand Key. They are an issue drivenorganization and host open public forums at theClearwater Sailing Center All residents of Sand Key condominiums that are membersof SKCA are automatically members of the association,too. This year, only 39% of all the individual condo unitsare members of SKCA.” E-mail President Al Zimmerman [email protected] ESTATES WOMAN’S CLUBThe next meetings are: Tuesday, September 15 – at TheLobster Pot Bistro. Guest speaker: Dr. Andreas Grossgold,Internal Medicine & Anti-Aging Women’s Issues talkingabout stroke, osteoporosis, heart attack and depression.Tuesday, October 20 – at Island Way Grill. The EighthAnnual “PINK IS BEAUTIFUL” Breast Cancer Fundraiser.Guest Speaker: Sherri Fry from the MammographyVoucher Program. Everybody is encouraged to wear pink!Fun and frivolity abound with a Silent Auction, Money Tree,Give-Aways, Saleable Items, and everything in between.Total proceeds go to the Mammogram-Vouchers Programfor those in the community not able to afford one. They meet monthly from September – May and socialsalways include lunch with guest speakers, entertainment,and fundraisers. The group encourages a spirit of goodwilland cooperation in affairs pertaining to the welfare andbetterment of the community. Membership is open to all,on the Island and off – for Membership information, callJoan Landreth, at 727-812-8078. Newcomers areencouraged to call our Welcoming Committee Chair,Amber Davis, at 727-743-2722 and for reservations,Wendy Bouffard, at 727-441-8211. Dues are $20.CLEARWATER GARDEN CLUBThe Clearwater Garden Club meets twice a month fromOctober through May, at 405 Seminole Street, Clearwater.There are no meetings until October. For information,contact Alice Jarvis, President, at 391-3066 or email [email protected]. Get more information atwww.ClearwaterGardenClub.org. PINELLAS REPUBLICAN PARTYThe Pinellas County Republican Party meets once a monthon the second Monday of each month. The next meetingis September 14th at 7pm. All meetings are held atBanquet Masters, 13344 49th Street North, Clearwater.New members are invited at 6pm for orientation.CallCharlotte Smith, at 539-6009 for more information. Getmore info at www.PinellasRepublicans.com.SUNCOAST CAMERA CLUBMake friends with people who share your interests,improve your photography and share your work. The nextmeeting is August 25 at The Hospice of Florida, 5771Roosevelt Blvd at 7pm. Visit SuncoastCameraClub.org orcall Veronica Serra at 512-4878.
CLEARWATER HISTORICAL SOCIETYThursday Tours are still held on the first and third Thursdays(all year) from 8:30 to 11:30am. Saturday Hours willresume in November.They were counting on money from Tallahassee to startworking on their new museum, inside South Ward Schoolon South Ft Harrison, which was built in 1906. $204,000was approved the State Legislature, but it was vetoed by theGovernor. Membership is $10 for individuals, $5 students, $20 family,$150 corporate, $250 life and $500 patron. Call BillWallace 446-2676 or Michael Sanders 434-1684.ISLAND ESTATES CIVIC ASSN.This community organization is comprised of IslandEstates residents and business owners, with a mission topromote the safety, welfare, spirit and unique lifestyle ofthe Island Estates community. They strive to promote theinterests of the community and assist and supportmembers. They act as a clearinghouse for matters ofcommunity concern and interest, gain consensus andspeak as a uniform voice of the community to localgovernment. They meet the second Monday of eachmonth in the new Classroom Building in the ClearwaterAquarium. The next meeting is September 14. October’smeeting has been cancelled due to Columbus Day.Contact President Mary Lau at 813-335-6770.GREATER CLEARWATER WOMAN’S CLUBThe Clearwater Community Woman’s Club is a memberclub of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs(GFWC), one of the world’s largest and oldest volunteerservice organizations. They officially start their new yearin September. Members are busy planning the year’sevents and meetings. The first official meeting of theclub will be September 15 at the Clearwater MainLibrary beginning at 11am. Ashley Roades-Courter willbe the guest speaker where she will tell an interestingstory about growing up in the foster care system beforebeing adopted at the age of 12. They meet monthly on the third Tuesday of the month at11 am, at the Clearwater Main Library, 100 N,Cleveland Street. For information about any meeting,call Kay Estock at 536-7737. For more informationabout the club, contact Martha Hickey at 813-765-6219. Visit www.ClearwaterCWC.org.MILITARY ORDER OF THE WORLD WARSThe Clearwater Chapter of the Military Order of the WorldWars meets for lunch on the first Tuesday of each month atthe Belleair Country Club. Social hour begins at 11:30amfollowed by lunch and a short program. Members areretired active duty Military Officers and their spouses orwidows. They welcome new members. To RSVP for lunch orto consider joining, call LTC. George Smith at 786-5578.DAUGHTERS OF AMERICAN REVOLUTION (DAR)They meet on the third Friday of every month at theBelleair Country Club for a luncheon beginning at11:30am. To join, please call Linda Mintz at 488-1068CLEARWATER BEACH ROTARYThe Rotary of Clearwater Beach now holds their weeklymeetings at the Carlouel Yacht Club every Thursday atnoon. The organization will celebrate their 62nd birthdayin November. Nick Ekonomides, President, can be reachedat 447-1075 or visit www.ClearwaterBeachRotary.com.
Local Organizational News
CLEARWATER BEACH NEWSLETTERCLEARWATER BEACH NEWSLETTER
More Organizational NewsCLEARWATER BEACH ASSOCIATIONThey are moving their meeting dates and location to thesecond Tuesday of each month at the Chapel by the SeaChurch. The next meeting is Tuesday, September 8th at6:30 pm. All members are welcome to attend. Thosewishing to joining are welcome, as well. Membership is only $25 per household. Make checkspayable to CBA, and mail to PO Box 3295, ClearwaterBeach, FL 33767. Contact President Chip Abrahamsen,[email protected] or board member ElizabethPrast at 859-802-6110, [email protected], forinformation. Visit www.ClearwaterFlBeachAssociation.com CLEARWATER YACHT CLUBThey are holding a Summer Membership program untilthe end of September. Membership is $100 a month, withno initiation fee. There is no minimum spending. At theend of the summer, you can elect to join as a full member,social or junior member. Many members don’t have aboat. Most of their social activities center around regularparties held at their in-house restaurant or Tiki-Bar outback. To learn more visit www. Clwyc.org, [email protected] or call 447-6000.FRIENDS OF THE BEACH REC CENTER & LIBRARYTheir Ice Cream Socials at the pool Aug 29 & 30 andweekends in September will help raise money to extend thepool’s swimming season. All Ice Cream Social donationswill be used exclusively for the pool operation through theextended season. The volunteer non-profit organizationraises money to enhance the Clearwater Beach facilities.This year the pool will continue limited operation throughOctober 11 thanks to their sponsorship. They work to support and encourage use of the library andrecreation center, located at 69 Bay Esplanade Street.Membership is FREE. Donations, which help the Friends inprovide opportunities for recreation, learning andentertainment, are still welcome. They meet for lunch atNoon on the third Monday of each month at the BeachRecreation Center. Guests are welcome. call DonnaElilason, 727-442-4184 or Linda Owens 260-894-0270.ISLAND ESTATES YACHT CLUBTwelve members and guests of Island Estates Yacht Clubbraved the elements and met at Café Honeymoon on theIsland’s South Beach Pavilion to enjoy the Weekly Fish Fry.The rain stopped long enough for the members and gueststo enjoy the gulf views while sipping on adult beveragesand enjoying the plentiful fish and chips. The Island Estates Yacht Club holds monthly meetings,events and parties as well as the December AnnualMemorial Boat Parade. Memberships are available andowning a boat is not required. Contact Commodore PaulLightfoot 727-744-1728 or Rear Commodore MaryO’Connor 727-595-5952 for information. NEWCOMER’S CLUBAre you new to our area and just have not been able tomeet anyone? Joining this new, organization which isreally a social club to help relocated residents developnew friends and acquaintances. You do not really haveto be a newcomer to join; many existing membersalready live in the immediate area. The ladies meetmonthly at local restuarants for lunch with guestspeakers Afterwards, many stay and play cards or visit.Call Marie Micheel at 530-5194 or visitwww.WelcomeNewComerClub.com for information.
