Clearwater, FL – (February 18, 2009) Construction on the long-awaited Station Square Park in downtown Clearwater is slated for completion soon. The park will officially open to the public with a short ceremony on Feb. 26 at 10am.

Located next to the Station Square Condominium building in the 600 block of Cleveland Street, the park has been undergoing a $1.26-million renovation since last July. It is the final portion of the first phase of the Cleveland Street Streetscape that has transformed the look of Clearwater’s downtown. Work crews are adding final touches including landscaping, decorative pavers, and an attractive fountain at its signature front entrance.

The park will provide a pleasant place for downtown patrons to relax, and city officials expect to use the park’s elevated stage to host small concerts and events.

Visit Tampa Bay Informer again at www.tampabayinformer.com for full coverage of the Grand Opening.

- Tampa Bay Informer
The Good News Newspaper

CLEARWATER, FL (February 18, 2009)– Clearwater will close a two-mile stretch of Cleveland Street to motorized traffic Sunday, March 1 from 8am to 2pm for a multicultural street festival called "Sunday Ciclovía" (see-cloh-VEE-uh). Ciclovía is Spanish for “bike path". This event on March 1 was canceled due to bad weather and has been rescheduled for Sunday April 26, 2009.

The event route extends from Clearwater Harbor to Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard. Food vendors, activities for kids, bicycle and running organizations as well as exhibitors representing public service, fitness and green living organizations will line the street. Participants can bike, stroll, skate, or take part in exercise, sports and dance classes.

“Initially, Sunday Ciclovía was proposed as a community-building event for Downtown Clearwater’s East Gateway neighborhood,” said Tammy Vrana, an event coordinator. “The scope of the event grew when other downtown groups saw potential in the family-friendly and health-focused street festival to showcase downtown and local businesses.”

Martinis and Matisse an Art Lottery

This year at this unique event, guest will view dozens of donated works of art while enjoying martinis, smooth jazz music, and fantastic food and desserts provide by area restaurants, Bonefish Grill, Bella Vino, Carrabba’s Italian Grill, Salt Rock Grill, Rumba Island Bar & Grill, Guppy’s on the Beach, Marlin Darlin’, E & E Stakeout Grill, Island Way Grill, Mecca Café’, and Greektown Grille.

At the end of the evening, each piece of art will go home with a winner of the lottery style auction.

7th Annual "Fashions with Flair"

Clearwater

The charity fundraiser, held at the Belleair Country Club, packed the house with nearly 350 attendees from the greater Clearwater region.

Since 1994, Clearwater Community Volunteers have raised money, food and toys for family and children’s charities such as the Boys & Girls Club, Everybody’s Tabernacle’s Homeless Emergency Project, C.L. Kennedy Community Center in Tampa, the Red Cross, Victims of Katrina and Winter Wonderland.

CCV holds various fundraising activities throughout the year. However, Fashions with Flair” is the largest attended and, in my opinion, “the most elegant”.  Each year the event includes a silent auction, great food, entertainment and the fashion show of beautiful community leaders participating as models.

"Fro-Yo"

Clearwater 

For those of you who haven’t been enlightened yet it’s an abbreviation for “frozen yogurt”. So, what’s the big deal? Hasn’t frozen yogurt been around since the ‘70’s?

That’s what I thought ‘till I tried fro-yo from Caliyogurt; it is nothing like the typical over-sugared plastic tasting brands. I’ve honestly not tasted anything as delightfully habit forming as the fro-yo at Caliyogurt located in downtown Clearwater at 519 Cleveland Street.  This was pretty amazing to me, as I am not a big fan of ice cream. I only eat ice cream about three times a year; my ice cream-loving friends think I am odd for that reason.  Now I crave Caliyogurt.  I was relieved to find out that this tangy brand of frozen yogurt is All Natural and Fat Free and it has healthy active live cultures.

"The September Concert" to Remember 9/11 victims and to Celebrate the "Sister Cities International" program

Clearwater

On Thursday, Sept 11th, the City of Clearwater joined communities around the world from Beijing, China to New York City as they filled the skies with the universal language of music in The September Concert.

The September Concert is a series of free musical performances held in cities around the world on Sept 11th every year in remembrance of the 9/11 tragedy. The concerts offer a way for communities to commemorate this historic date and focus on bringing all people together, reaffirming our hope for world peace and celebrating life and universal humanity.

Sister Cities International is a movement founded in 1956 after U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower convened a White House Summit on Citizen Diplomacy. In a speech delivered on September 11, 1956, President Eisenhower called on Americans to forge people-to-people ties with communities abroad and to build a lasting peace based understanding and respect.

Clearwater

The Jennifer Nolletti Memorial Art Foundation’s mission is to provide scholarship funds to students in need so they may continue their education in art or music.  The Foundation is a registered non-profit 501-c-3 corporation established in 2008, and is funded by individuals who agree that art & music are essential to the development of well-rounded individuals who can think outside the box.  Jennifer’s favorite saying: “To discover new oceans, you must have the courage to lose sight of the shore” - Lord Chesterfield.