Winter the Dolphin Paints with the Children's Cancer Center Kids at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium
Written by David Ziff
What do children of the Children's Cancer Center and a dolphin have in common? As it turns out, quite a lot!
Had you been at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium on July 21, 2009, you might have witnessed an unusual and heart-warming encounter. A group of children, kindergarten-aged and under, sat by the side of a pool producing colorful artwork while a dolphin with a paintbrush in her mouth was producing art of her own. The purpose? To sell the artwork on eBay and raise funds for the Children's Cancer Center.
Coast Guard Celebrates 219th Birthday with a Week of Events Featured
Written by Joshua T. Gillion
This August the United States Coast Guard turns 219 years old and the Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce (CRCC), partnering with the City of Clearwater and the Navy League of the United States - Clearwater Council, invite you to join them "to thank our dedicated Coast Guard service men and women as well as bring greater awareness to our community [of] the important role the Coast Guard plays in the safety and wellbeing of the citizens of the United States and specifically Pinellas County."
Florida's Prison Inmates Back Up Criminal Reform
Written by Mary Fitzgerald
What would happen if Florida's prison inmates worked one-on-one to get their fellow inmates to reform?
Right now Florida prisoners are helping Criminon® Florida get 10% of the state’s prison population involved in the Criminon program.10% has been shown to be the make-break point. When that target is met in a single prison the entire prison calms down significantly with dramatically lowered acts of violence and much improved guard and inmate relations.
International Human Rights Poet Laureate Larry Jaffe Makes Twitter his Voice for Peace
Written by Karla Jo Helms
Tampa Bay, FL, July 27, 2009 - Poet Larry Jaffe has been using his art to promote human rights his entire career. As an official Ambassador for Youth for Human Rights as well as their Poet Laureate, Jaffe has been featured in poetry venues and festivals both throughout the U.S. and abroad. But in today’s “Brave New World” Jaffe is speaking for peace on Twitter, by tweeting each of the 30 articles of Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 140 characters or less.
Dolphin Release by the Clearwater Marine Aquarium on July 27, 2009
Written by Clearwater Marine Aquarium
The Clearwater Marine Aquarium will help release a rehabilitated dolphin “Dunham” on Monday, July 27th.
Staff from the CMA and Gulf World Marine Park and Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute plan to release rehabilitated Atlantic bottlenose dolphin, Dunham. CMA staff rescued Dunham from Anclote Key Island in December 2008. CMA staff will monitor Dunham’s progress through the use of a VHF transmitter for two months after the release. This will help provide researchers with important information about his progress and travels.
Scientology Volunteer Arm Model Fashions for Charity August 29, 2009
Written by Angela LeMay
The Clearwater Community Volunteers (CCV) is excited to announce: the 7th annual “Fashions with Flair” silent auction and fashion show fundraiser on Saturday, August 29, 2009 at the Belleair Country Club from 11 am to 2:30 pm.
CCV is the volunteer arm of the Church of Scientology in Clearwater, and is a non-profit charitable organization made up entirely of volunteers. The CCV produces the huge Easter Egg Hunt in Coachman Park in Clearwater every spring and “Winter Wonderland” – its annual holiday charity drive in downtown Clearwater featuring 5 village buildings, 90 live pine trees, a fully functioning stage with entertainment, tens of thousands of tiny white lights, pony & train rides, a playground, a giant slide and bouncy house, and of course Santa and Mrs. Claus.
Clearwater Marine Aquarium Announces First Sea Turtle Hatchlings of 2009 and Turtle Safetly Reminder
Written by Joshua T. Gillion
On July 10th, the Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA) announced Pinellas County’s first sea turtle hatchlings of the year. Late at night on July 9th, the first two nests of the year hatched, both on Indian Rocks Beach. CMA’s sea turtle nesting staff were on hand to witness the event, and to keep the hatchlings safe until they reached the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Ninety-eight sea turtle hatchlings from nest #1 and eighty-three from nest #2 made their way into the Gulf that night.
RCS Grace House and Solar Source Team Up for Cost Efficient and Eco Friendly Water Heating 2009
Written by Heidi LuxThe Religious Community Services (RCS) Grace House has received a grant from the City of Largo to install six solar domestic water heating systems from Solar Source. The RCS Grace House is an eight -week program for homeless families. The families can stay in an apartment building and save money to give them a head start. Food, clothing and household goods are available to the families, as well as shelter.
James Evans and Tampa Bay Academy of Hope Holds Faces of Hope Black Tie Gala and Fundraiser 2009 Featured
Written by Heidi Lux
On June 27th, the Tampa Bay Academy of Hope held their 13th annual Celebrating Faces of Hope gala and fundraiser at the A La Carte Event Pavilion in Tampa.
The black tie dinner and awards show, which was emceed by Kathy Fountain and Frank Robertson, formerly of FOX 13, honored 17 previously at-risk high school seniors who graduated this year and are now going on to higher education, as well as the “unsung heroes” of 2009 who made a difference in the lives of Tampa’s children and families in the past year.
Pirate Days in Johns Pass Celebrates Pirate History and Prepares for Hurricane Season 2009 Featured
Written by Heidi Lux
John’s Pass celebrated its rich pirating history with the annual three day “Pirate Days” festival. The festival honors the discovery of John’s Pass by John Levique who, according to legend, was a French peasant boy, forced to take up a life of piracy after the Spanish sailing vessel, on which he was a cabin boy, got hijacked by pirates. He rose up through the ranks, eventually becoming a pirate captain himself. After retiring from his life of piracy on the high seas, Levique became a turtle farmer, and was set to take a shipment of turtles to New Orleans and return to his treasure buried on the West Coast of Florida, but the hurricane of September 1848 had other plans for him. Upon Levique’s return, he found the hurricane had split the land by its massive gale force winds, and so he sailed through the new pass, which has been known as John’s Pass ever since.
Pirate Days also offers education on hurricane preparation, by providing a hurricane expo where people can educate themselves on safety.
Clearwater Marine Aquarium Dolphin Winter Stars in Tribeca Film Festival Documentary 2009
Written by Angela LeMay
Enmeshed in our own daily challenges, it’s easy to overlook the valuable lessons in survival that nature still has to offer our societal and technical advancements. “Winter, The Dolphin That Could”, is an inspiring film of a dolphin that was rescued from the near death of being entangled in a crab trap off Cape Canaveral. The recounting of this true story reminds us of the amazing miracles that abound from the shear will to survive - against all odds - and a little help from our friends.
Courtney Campbell Causeway Rededication Ceremony Bridges Hillsborough and Pinellas 2009
Written by Heidi Lux
“Today is a historic day, today is a scenic day,” noted Pinellas County Commissioner, Karen Seel, speaking at the June 25th Courtney Campbell Causeway 75th anniversary rededication of a historical marker. The Causeway “is just beautiful and it leads me to paradise. “
The marker honoring the Courtney Campbell Causeway had been moved due to construction and the rededication also celebrated its return in a short ceremony in which Clearwater Mayor, Frank Hibbard, spoke, along with others. Many dignitaries from Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties were in attendance, truly a symbol of how the Courtney Campbell “bridges” the two counties.
Hurricane Season - How to Prepare and How to Avoid Tips 2009
Written by Pam Ryan Anderson
Hurricane Season – Well, it’s that time of year again… but, if you have your umbrella with you it won’t rain. That’s my viewpoint on hurricanes. If you are totally prepared, then you probably won’t need your supplies. We seem to live in an area that hurricanes avoid, and it’s my viewpoint that they should just keep on missing us!
Foundation for a Drug Free World Distributes Anti Drug Message and "The Truth About Drugs" 2009
Written by Antonella Antonecchia
In the wake of the untimely death of entertainment icon Michael Jackson, amid allegations of drug overdose and in commemoration of the June 26th United Nations’ “International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking”, young volunteers from the Foundation for a Drug Free World stepped up their activities in bringing home their anti-drug message to Tampa Bay.
Heritage Village Named One of Top Five Museums in Florida 2009
Written by
Heritage Village recently was designated as one of the top five living history museums in Florida by "American Heritage" Magazine. The honor was announced in the magazine's Summer 2009 issue in the magazine's "Guide to Historic Sites in Florida" special section.
The weather forecast for the 4th of July has been made, and is looking good so far for food, fireworks, parties and parades.
This 4th of July, the weather will be ideal conditions in the Pinellas/Hillsborough area for your 4th of July celebration. We’ve had some rainstorms this past week, typical of the summers in the Bay area. However, the forecast for the 4th, which falls on a Saturday this year, predicts that the summer “monsoons, the heavy rains lasting for most of the day, we have been experiencing the past few days will be gone. The temperatures will be warm, in the 90s. It will be hot and humid, but that is normal for Florida in the summertime. Scattered thunderstorms are expected throughout the day, mostly in the afternoon and evening.
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Tampa Bay Academy of Hope Will Hold Faces of Hope Awards Banquet
Written by Heidi Lux
Since 1996, The Tampa Bay Academy of Hope has provided at risk youth in Hillsborough County with exactly what is promised in their name: hope. On Saturday, June 27th, the Tampa Bay Academy of Hope will be holding their 13th annual “Faces of Hope” black tie awards banquet.
The evening’s keynote speaker will be Michelle A. Robinson, the President of Verizon’s Southeast Region, and entertainment will be provided by the Empyreal Chinese Acrobats. An awards ceremony will be hosted by local television personalities Kathy Fountain and Frank Robertson from FOX 13. Awards will be presented in honor of the involvement of local individuals and companies that are making a difference in the lives of Tampa Bay’s youth through contributions, civic efforts, or direct involvement in their communities.
All proceeds from the Faces of Hope event will benefit the Tampa Bay Academy of Hope’s “Leadership Through Education” program, which helps “defeat illiteracy among disadvantaged and at-risk students.”
The Tampa Bay Academy of Hope was founded by former football player James Evans. Through his leadership and dedication, thousands of at risk youth and their families have been changed for the better. The Academy “offers counseling to inner city youth to put them on the path to become productive citizens.” Governor Charlie Crist says of the organization, “With the help of…organizations like Tampa Bay Academy of Hope, together we can provide a better future for our children.”
The event will take place at A La Carte Pavilion in Tampa. Tickets are available for $100 per seat, or $1,000 per table. The reception will begin at 5pm, and be followed by a dinner at 7:30. For more information on the Tampa Bay Academy of Hope and the banquet, or to purchase tickets, visit http://www.tampahope.com/ or call 813-277-0464.
Scientology Volunteer Ministers Prepared to Help this Hurricane Season June 2009
Written by Joshua T. Gillion
Members of the Church of Scientology Disaster Response of Tampa recently joined members of other faith-based disaster response organizations in a special Points of Distribution (POD) training session, conducted by the Florida National Guard in Orlando, in preparation for the coming 2009 hurricane season.
"Clothes to Kids" Announces Second Location to Open in St. Petersburg
Written by
St. Petersburg, Florida - Jennifer Silva, Executive Director of Clothes To Kids, announced today that the organization has selected a location for its new St. Petersburg store. Clothes To Kids (CTK), whose mission is to provide new and quality used clothing to low income, school-age children in Pinellas County free of charge, has been operating for nearly six years out of a single location in Clearwater. The addition of the second store will allow CTK to better fulfill its mission by making its services more accessible to the more than 25,000 eligible children who live south of Ulmerton Road. The new CTK store, slated to open in August of this year, is located in the Cornerstone Center at 3251 Third Avenue North, Suite 145 South, in St. Petersburg.
PASCO COUNTY, FL - A Day of Caring Committee, chaired by Anna Sayre of Publix, has been working for several months preparing an elaborate work and volunteer schedule so that all the fix up/clean-up tasks take place in one day. The original date in May was washed out by the rain and rescheduled for June 10th.
Clearwater City Council Discusses Potential Police Cutbacks in East Gateway Neighborhood May 21,2009
Written by Heidi Lux
Clearwater, FL -- On a rainy Thursday evening in late May, concerned citizens from the East Gateway neighborhood of Clearwater came together in the City Chambers to speak out regarding potential cutbacks to the police contingent in their neighborhood.
The City of Clearwater is facing $7 to $13 million dollars worth of budget cuts. The City of Clearwater commissioned a matrix efficiency study to find out any areas of potential improvement or cost reduction. This study reported the police department is run for the most part efficiently, but could save by reducing the number of bike team staff as well as eliminating the Beach Walk team, despite the fact that Clearwater already has the lowest officer-to-1,000 citizens ratio for any tourist destination city in Florida and that crime in the beach area has been significantly reduced.
Pinellas Trail Bike Path in Downtown Clearwater to be Enhanced June 2009 Featured
Written by Joshua T. Gillion
Clearwater, FL -- The City of Clearwater has been awarded $1.39 million in stimulus money, under the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, to enhance the section of the Pinellas Trail traversing downtown Clearwater.
When the Pinellas Trail opened in the 1990’s, no designated trail was built through downtown Clearwater. A larger sidewalk was later built along East Avenue, from Drew Street to Turner Street, to accommodate cyclists and pedestrians. The current plan, approved for the federal stimulus money, will transform the southbound lane of East Avenue into a two-way bicycle lane, through this same stretch.
City of Clearwater Awards Local Homeowners
Written by Joshua T. Gillion
Clearwater, FL -- At the Clearwater City Council meeting on Thursday, May 21st, the City of Clearwater Neighborhood Services Division presented their annual Neighborhood of the Year and Home of the Year awards for 2008/2009.
Ft. Desoto and Honeymoon Island in Top Ten Best Beaches According to TripAdvisor
Written by
TAMPA BAY, FL – Two beaches in the St. Pete/Clearwater area made TripAdvisor’s list of the top ten beaches in the U.S., according to the company’s annual summer travel survey released this week.
Pinellas County’s Fort De Soto Park took top honors for the second consecutive year, while Honeymoon Island State Park ranked ninth on the list published by the Expedia-owned industry giant, the world's largest online travel community.
St. Petersburg, FL -- On May 8th, girls from the PACE Center for Girls (Practical Academic Cultural Education) were treated to some “prom magic.” At the Hilton Carillon in St. Petersburg, the Beth Dillinger Foundation held a fashion show and luncheon to benefit the charity and the PACE program.
Belleair Beach Causeway Bridge Opens to Two-Way Traffic
Written by Heidi Lux
BELLEAIR BEACH, FL. - The Belleair Beach Causeway Bridge opened to two-way traffic on Friday, May 29. The bridge that connects the Pinellas County mainland peninsula to the barrier islands is 80 percent complete. Full completion of the project is anticipated by the end of the year.
Begun in March 2007, the $72.3 million infrastructure project has continued on time and on budget, with bridge builders facing few weather delays and only one nonstructural repair.
The full scope of work encompasses 1.5 miles of a new large span "main" bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway, a small relief bridge, as well as an approaching causeway roadway in Belleair Bluffs to the east and Belleair Shore and Belleair Beach to the west. In addition, new storm drains, retaining walls, sidewalks, bicycle lanes, curbs and gutters and a widened roadway will provide safe use for the public.