Clay Walker Joins Bo Jackson, Evan Longoria, Huey Lewis and Michael Bolton to play in the 50th Bob Hope Chrysler Classic Hosted by Arnold Palmer, January 19- 25, 2009.
Nashville, TN (January 13, 2009) – Country music superstar Clay Walker joins former Major League Baseball and National Football League standout Bo Jackson, Tampa Bay Rays third baseman and 2008 American League Rookie of the Year Evan Longoria, and famed musicians Huey Lewis and Michael Bolton who are among the initial celebrity athletes and entertainers joining golf legend Arnold Palmer for the 50th Bob Hope Chrysler Classic Hosted by Arnold Palmer, Jan. 19-25, 2009.
During his 15 year career, Walker has participated in dozens of golf tournaments with a charity element.
Other celebrity participants for the Classic, a desert tradition since 1960, include musicians Alice Cooper, Don Felder (formerly of the Eagles) and Josh Kelley, actors Kurt Russell, Chris O'Donnell, Thomas Gibson, Oliver Hudson and Jeffrey Donovan, actor/comedian Kevin Nealon, actor/game show host John O'Hurley, timeless New York Yankees baseball legend Yogi Berra, comedian Tom Dreesen, NFL Hall of Fame quarterback and sportscaster Dan Fouts, Hall of Fame sportscaster Keith Jackson, television financial host Joe Kernen, leveland Browns quarterback Derek Anderson, former Green Bay Packers wide receiver and NFL analyst Sterling Sharpe, and former Vice President Dan Quayle.
Tampa, FL, January 13, 2009 – The 2009 Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival and State Farm Insurance are utilizing the Street Festival to highlight, and address, healthcare issues in the African American community and the need to emphasize healthy living and healthy lifestyles. The Mayor’s 2K Challenge, a 2K walk or run, will start at 9 AM Saturday, January 17 at Al Lopez Park located at 4810 N. Himes Avenue, Tampa, FL 33602. Registration will begin on site at 7:30 AM. The Mayor’s 2K Challenge is a free event, and everyone is invited to participate.
The Mayor’s 2K Challenge, a spin-off to the 2008 Festival’s partnership with State Farm Insurance and Dr. Ian Smith, founder of the 50 Million Pound Challenge, has previously drawn over 350 participants in a brisk, healthy walk. Having been recognized as a 2009 Top 20 Event by Southeast Tourism Society, the Festival’s remaining Saturday activities will provide a focus on health issues, will feature health screenings, and will also challenge participants to make healthy choices. In the absence of Mayor Iorio, walkers will be led by former County Commissioner and current City Council Chairperson Thomas Scott. In coordinated effort with Moffitt Cancer Center, a Health Village will be furnished to facilitate health screenings and the distribution of literature.
Golf Outing - SuperBowl XLIII Weekend 1st Annual Golf Classic to Support NFL Alumni of Tampa Bay
Tampa, Florida January 11, 2008 — The Chad Larkins Golf Classic will be held in Valrico, Florida, on Thursday, January 29, 2009, at Buckhorn Springs Golf and Country Club with a 1 P.M. Shotgun Start.
A total of 35 foursomes will gather at Buckhorn Springs Golf and Country Club to enjoy an 18-hole Florida scramble tournament followed by an awards dinner where outstanding awards will be presented to tournament winners.
CLEARWATER, FL – Beginning Wednesday, January 14, 2009 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Clearwater’s weekly Downtown Farmer’s Market will have a new home on the 500 block of Cleveland Street. The area will be closed to traffic, and endors will set up booths along the renovated streetscape instead of the parking lot at City Hall, the market’s home for the past four years.
Downtown Development Board member Bob Fernandez, who oversees the market, is delighted about the move to the city’s main street. “I’ve visited markets all over the state and the most successful ones are those that are held in the street,” he said. “That gives us better exposure.” Now in its fourteenth season, the market was originally held in Station Square Park on Saturdays. Later switched to Wednesdays, the weekly event was a Station Square Park staple between November and April until construction of the Station Square Park Condominiums and the Cleveland Street Streetscape forced organizers to find temporary digs elsewhere.
Fantasy of Flight Founder Inducted into Florida Aviation Hall of Fame
POLK CITY, FL (January 5, 2009) - Kermit Weeks, creator and founder of Central Florida's premier aviation attraction, Fantasy of Flight, and a championship aerobatics stunt pilot has been selected to join some of the greatest pilots in Florida history as a member of Florida Aviation Hall of Fame. Weeks was inducted into the Florida Aviation Hall of Fame Thursday, Dec. 11 at the society's sixth annual induction ceremony, which was held at the Florida Air Museum on the Sun 'n Fun campus in Lakeland, Fla.
Weeks was one of just three men inducted into the prestigious society this year, one of whom was honored posthumously. A pilot and aircraft designer, Weeks has placed among the top three aerobatics champions in the world five times and has won more than 20 medals in World Aerobatics Championships.
Textbooks for Trees: "Less Waste, Healthier Forests"
Washington, DC. January 6, 2009 – American Forests is delighted to announce that our 2008 partnership with Chegg.com planted hundreds of acres of trees in deforested areas across the nation. These trees provide many benefits, such as cleaner air and water, habitat for wildlife, and more carbon dioxide sequestered by forests. This unique partnership proves that books and trees can have a positive relationship!
Chegg.com provides a service that allows students to rent, buy, or sell textbooks online. Students reuse textbooks, which means less waste and significantly smaller textbook bills for all those penny-pinched students. Last year, Chegg.com took its efforts a step further by vowing to plant a tree for every textbook that a student buys, sells, or rents through their site. Chegg.com plants these trees through American Forests, the organizations at the forefront of ecosystem restoration through the planting of native trees.
Creating a Better Clearwater - Local Group Builds Community Spirit
Clearwater FL, January 2, 2009 - A new organization called Create Clearwater was formed to help build stronger community resources and higher quality of life in the area. In the span of a few short weeks, the group produced a number of educational programs, implemented a project to start a community garden in Clearwater, they are putting together a “Shop Local and Shop Green” guide for Clearwater (www. ClearwaterGreenGuide. com) and greater Tampa Bay, and started planting a demonstration “food forest.” This food forest comprises a mixture of fruit trees, bushes, vines, vegetables and herbs that can provide both a concentrated food supply and natural beauty for the yard, while only requiring in a small space to do so.
Create Clearwater is focused on creating local, organic food supplies, revitalizing neighborhoods, environmental issues, and building a strong local economy – as well as other quality of life issues.
“We don’t see a contradiction between a strong local economy and protecting the environment,” says Cory Brennan, a natural systems designer and founder of Create Clearwater. “In fact, when you design correctly, protecting the environment should create more abundance for everybody, not less. That is the beauty of this program:
Hibbard Proclaims Human Rights Week
Clearwater FL, December 10, 2008 - It was a chilly day for the gold coast of Florida; nevertheless, there was a lot of warmth at the Pangea Café in downtown Clearwater. It seems there is another holiday to be celebrated in addition to the traditional ones. December is Human Rights Month for the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights and the 60th Anniversary of this auspicious event was about to be honored by Poets and Youth for Human Rights.
On December 10th, 1948 led by the courageous Eleanor Roosevelt, the nations of the world united with the conviction to guarantee 30 rights to mankind. Clearwater was celebrating in its own way as it had for the past few years with poetry and a special reading of the Declaration. Adding to the honor of the occasion was a proclamation from Mayor Frank Hibbard declaring Human Rights Week and the inaugural presentation of the Clearwater Humanitarian Awards.
NEW YORK, Dec. 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Coca-Cola Company's iconic red billboard in New York City's Times Square is going "green" in time for New York's famous New Year's celebration. Coca-Cola is leading a unanimous eco-friendly shift to wind power among 30 billboards that tower over the world's most recognizable intersection.
Coca-Cola was the first company to select clean, renewable wind power to light up their billboard located at 47th and Broadway. After Coca-Cola made their commitment, all of the neighboring billboards on three buildings around Times Square joined the movement through an electric supply agreement with ConEdison Solutions and the building management company.
Collectively, the group's volunteer move will prevent the release of 1,866 metric tons of carbon dioxide each year. On its own, Coca-Cola's pioneering move to 100 percent wind power for its billboard will have the equivalent effect of removing 75 passenger automobiles from the road for one year or converting 38 households to wind power for one year. The "greening" of the Coca-Cola billboard is also equivalent to reducing 376 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually or planting 471.5 acres of trees.
Clearwater FL December 17th, 2008 - The Humane Society OF Pinellas Is excited about our upcoming, unique event that has been added to our schedule! Mark your calendars now so that you don’t miss out on this spectacular event taking place at Coachman Park, Downtown Clearwater on Saturday, January 31, 2009 from 10am-4pm.
The City of Clearwater & The Wag Mag present - THE ULTIMATE TAILGATE PAWTY - To benefit the Humane Society of Pinellas
Football fever will be in the air, as Raymond James Stadium in Tampa is the sight of the season ending Big Game. So we have decided to have a little tailgating fun of our own, for our own furry, fuzzy and feathered friends.
High School Students Sought for Nagano, Japan Exchange Program
CLEARWATER, FL December 26, 2008 – The City of Clearwater is now accepting applications from students in grades nine through 12 interested in traveling abroad as part of an exchange program with Clearwater’s sister city, Nagano, Japan.
This year, four students will be accepted into the program who will travel to Nagano for two weeks during summer 2009. Participants will be immersed in the country’s language and culture as they stay with local families. In addition, they will visit and give presentations to junior and senior high schools in the Nagano area, and get involved in educational exchanges.
Hillel School of Tampa Event to Feature Veteran Talk Show Host Larry King Larry King selected as guest speaker to raise money for the school and its effort to save a life in Tampa.
Tampa, FL December 19, 2008 - Saving a Heart a Day is the goal of The Larry King Cardiac Foundation so Larry King, the well-known talk show host and founder of the Foundation, has agreed to be the guest speaker at an elegant brunch in Tampa to complete a year long fundraising effort that benefits the Hillel School of Tampa and its goal to help save a life in Tampa, the school announced today.
"Hillel School of Tampa is proud to bring Larry King to Tampa for this once-in-a-lifetime event," says Lynn Chernin, co-chair of the event called "From the Heart with Larry King" set for February 22nd. "This is an event not just for Hillel School of Tampa parents and friends. It's for anyone in the community who wants to hear Larry King in person and help the school as well as it's effort to help others.
NEW PORT RICHEY FL, December 17, 2008 – There was an early Santa Claus sighting at Gulfside Regional Hospice during its annual Mending Hearts holiday party for children who have lost a loved one on Dec. 15 at the hospice’s main office in New Port Richey.
Forty-seven children attended the party. The children filled out a wish list and then their names were placed on a tree and selected by Gulfside staff and friends of the hospice, who bought the gifts. Local businesses including WDUV 105.5 FM, Macy’s at Gulfview Square Mall, Taylor Freezer and Ultimate Vending also provided gifts for the children. The Mike Alstott Family Foundation also gave $5,000 worth of toys, which filled over-sized stockings that each child took home with them to open later.
TAMPA, FL December 15, 2008 – Students from Tampa Marine Institute (TMI), a program under Associated Marine Institutes (AMI), are gearing up for their winter graduation. The program helps troubled youth get back on the right track through experiential learning.
The commencement ceremony is on Friday, December 19, 2008 at 2:00 pm, 1730 Maritime Blvd, Tampa, FL. 33605. Special guest speaker, County Commissioner Kevin Beckner will address the graduating youth on taking this beginning to the next level and striving for their best. The kids will share their experiences and personal growth with their own commencement speech.
Ask a Librarian sponsors YouTube contest for high schoolers
TAMPA, FL December 12, 2008 — With winter break quickly approaching, parents might be wondering how to keep their aspiring young directors occupied. Mom and Dad, tell your high school students about The Second Annual Director’s Chair, a contest in which Florida students submit commercials to promote Ask a Librarian. Ask a Librarian is a free online service that allows the public to chat with a librarian for help with homework or general questions.
Floridians in ninth through 12th grade are invited to submit to YouTube a 30-second video promoting Ask a Librarian by Jan. 17, 2009, for the chance to win a digital video camera, a digital camera or an iPod Shuffle with an iTunes gift card.
“We hope students will put the finishing touches on their videos during their holiday vacation,” said Diana Sachs-Silveira, virtual reference manager of Ask a Librarian. “We know how creative teens can be, especially after seeing last year’s entries, and we can’t wait to see what they come up with this year.”
SANDPEARL RESORT AND CARETTA ON THE GULF EACH EARN 2009 AAA FOUR DIAMOND AWARD DESIGNATIONS
CLEARWATER BEACH, FL November 24, 2008 – The Sandpearl Resort and its signature restaurant Caretta on the Gulf have each been awarded the prestigious AAA Four Diamond Rating for the year 2009. Lodgings at this level offer an extensive array of amenities combined with a high degree of hospitality, service, and attention to detail. Restaurants at this level offer a distinctive fine-dining experience marked by high-quality ingredients, creative presentation, and attentive service. The Sandpearl Resort and Caretta on the Gulf opened in August 2007 and this is their first year to be named a AAA Four Diamond Award® winners.
AEW SELECTS HORIZON BAY TO MANAGE CONTINUING CARE RETIREMENT COMMUNITY PROPERTIES With entry into CCRC market, Horizon Bay grows to 77 retirement communities.
TAMPA, Fla., December 10, 2008– Horizon Bay Retirement Living (Horizon Bay), a national seniors housing operator based in Tampa, Florida, announced that it has started managing three continuing care retirement communities (CCRC) in Florida. Regency Oaks in Clearwater, Lake Port Square in Leesburg, and South Port Square in Port Charlotte, have a total of 1,694 residential units for seniors.
Horizon Bay was selected by AEW Capital Management L.P. (AEW), on behalf of one of AEW’s institutional clients, to become the new manager of the communities. “We selected Horizon Bay because of their excellent reputation and stellar track record in the retirement living market and depth of knowledge of the Florida seniors market,” said Pamela Herbst, Managing Director and Head of Direct Investments at AEW. “We anticipate a successful partnership with Horizon Bay.”
VOLUNTEERS PACKAGE COOKIES FOR HOSPICE PATIENTS FOR THE HOLIDAYS
NEW PORT RICHEY Fla. (December 9, 2008) – The administrative offices of Gulfside Regional Hospice in both New Port Richey and Dade City had the smell of cookies wafting through the air during the eighth annual holiday cookie packaging event for Gulfside’s patients on Dec. 9. More than 30 volunteers participated in simultaneous packaging events in east and west Pasco.
Both volunteers and staff prepare their favorite holiday cookies for Gulfside’s patients, which were dropped off at each Gulfside office on Dec. 8. Gulfside’s nurses and staff will then pick up the cookies when they report to the respective office on Dec. 10 and 11 to distribute the packages to more than 350 patients throughout Pasco County.
Local Volunteers Recognized by Regency Oaks
Clearwater, Fla. -- On November 18, 2008 Regency Oaks recognized more than 40 volunteers at a Volunteer Appreciation event held in the community’s Town Hall. Teecy Matthews of Volunteer USA Foundation, Tallahassee, keynoted the event and joined Regency Oaks in recognizing the volunteers with plaques.
Happy Holiday MarketA new Holiday Tradition in Downtown Clearwater
When: Monday through Friday 4pm until 7pm
A creative holiday shopping experience like no other… Located in the big white tent off Court Street, between East Street and Garden Avenue, we are open 7 days a week for your convenience. What: Seasonal merchandise: Local artists provide a wide variety of items for unique and creative holiday gifts… Merchandise changes weekly. But wait there’s more… we said interactive and fun for the whole family.
• Every Saturday: 1pm to 2pm – Free acting classes! • All classes taught by professionals in their field.
• Bring the kids each week for the classes, stay for
• Live Entertainment from 3pm to 4pm – Suggested donation
• December 6th: Badway on Broadway – Professional Broadway
• December 13th: Holiday Medley – Dancing, Singing and Trapeze Proceeds from and entertainment benefit several local charities providing free tutoring and after school activities for children in Pinellas County. |
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Urban Dining and Entertainment News |
A brand new Dunkin’ Donuts is now open in Downtown Clearwater, located in the Historic Red Brick Telephone Building, 534 Cleveland Street.
Their Grand Opening Event – Friday, December 5.
First 50 customers in the doors beginning at 5 a.m. will win FREE Dunkin’ Treats for a year (including products such as coffee, sandwiches, etc.)
Anyone making a purchase on Friday, December 5, will have their receipt entered in the store’s raffle drawing for 1pm on Saturday, December 6 (must be present to win.)
Mayor Frank Hibbard will be visiting the location at 10am for the restaurant’s official ribbon cutting.
More prizes at the Grand Opening Event – Saturday, December 6
For the 1pm raffle drawing (for which people are entered if they made a purchase on 12/5 and are present for the drawing), 1st prize is a Flat Screen TV, 2nd prize is a digital camera, 3rd prize is three iPod Nanos (3 winners), and 10 runner-up prizes of $50 gift cards (10 winners) will be given away.
Visitors between 6pm – 11pm will receive a free cup or cone of Baskin Robbins Soft Serve Ice Cream for 25 cents.
Haiti
Often we get caught up in our own busy lives and spheres of influence and forget that there is a whole other world out there, consisting of others that may not be as fortunate as us.
The economic situation in Haiti would make most of us long for home in appreciation for the opportunities we have in this country.
Haiti, with its 75% unemployment rate, $15-$20.00 average income per week, 70% illiteracy, 10,000+ homeless in the capital and thousands of children living on the streets; is visibly a country less blessed than our own.
Taking matters into their own hands, three of Clearwater’s Scientology Volunteer Ministers, Cary Goulston, Mike Campbell and Brad Kugler—all who have businesses and families to care for—decided to reach outside their comfort zone and give relief to Haiti. After months of fundraising and preparation, they traveled to Haiti last month to deliver enough Kenaf seeds (a fast growing plant that is an ideal food and building source) to feed thousands of Haitians. Equally important are the educational tools the three provided to the people of Haiti. These tools were developed by L. Ron Hubbard (the founder of Scientology) to further assist them in reversing their unprecedented rate of economic decline.
Downtown Clearwater
The Greek Town Grill, located at 1230 Cleveland St. near downtown Clearwater, FL 33750 is one of the newest and finest restaurants in the area.
The Greek Town Grill specializes in original Greek Recipes and continually attempts to capture the warmth and vitality of Greece. They take the time to carefully select all their ingredients and prepare food daily with an emphasis on quality.
They also offer Banquet and special meeting facilities that could include music and dancing with seating from 20 to 150. They have a unique system of serving freshly cooked foods prepared to order and never precooked regardless of the size of your group. They are the difference between a banquet hall and a full service restaurant with banquet facilities. Whatever the occasion lunch for two or a holiday party contact The Greek Town Grill today at
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Ding-Ding-Ding! Choo-Choo! All Aboard!
Come one, come all to the magical holiday festivities once again created by the Clearwater Community Volunteers, dubbed “Elves” by Santa himself.
If you’re already a faithful fan of “Winter Wonderland” I assure you, that this year has more surprises than ever!
However, while the Elves were busily working on “Winter Wonderland”, Pam Ryan Anderson (the Head Elf) received an urgent text from Santa. The text said, “Ho, Ho, Ho, there are still a few in the community that are not aware that the festivities are open to everyone and, admission is FREE!” and his text continued, “Ho, Ho, Ho, some ‘naughty overgrown children’ otherwise known as ‘adults’ may have never even noticed ‘Winter Wonderland’ when driving up and down Ft. Harrison.”
Remember, Remember the 5th of December.
Urgent weather alert! Doppler weather radar at the Clearwater Downtown Partnership has just confirmed a 100% chance of an unprecedented blanketing of snow during the City of Clearwater’s annual Holiday Light Up on the 500 block of Cleveland Street. Expect complete road closures due to strolling carolers, gift vendors and merriment of the sort on Cleveland Street from 5pm – 8pm between Garden and Fort Harrison Avenues.
When Chairman Bill Sturtevant of the Clearwater Downtown Partnership was asked what he attributed the unusual weather pattern to he said Santa ordered it, towards the goal of strengthening our merchants by bringing more people to downtown. Bill further remarked that the board acted fast and decided to seize the opportunity in Downtown and established this event as our annual:
“Miracle on Cleveland Street.”
One of Bill’s colleagues Eleanor Lyda also stated since schools will be closed at that time a giant 10 foot snow slide is being brought in for children to toboggan down and play in the snow flurries.
Cleveland Streetscape
Clearwater FL, April 2007 - Spring has sprung and with it the fi rst block of Cleveland Streetscape is soon to be to be completed. The city plans to offi cially open the block of Cleveland St. between Ft. Harrison and Osceola with the First Stroll on March 16th at 11:00am.
Cleveland Streetscape has been an integral part of the city’s plan to redevelop downtown. The light pavers mesh well against the reddish borders of the new sidewalk, and a few weeks ago when the work crews started laying them, the excitement started spreading throughout the downtown core. In addition to the new blacktop, there are new antiquelooking street posts to light the way at night and will help to give the area some ambiance. The landscaping isn’t done yet, and there is still some things to do, but everyone I spoke with in downtown, as well as myself, are happy with the results.
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