Pinellas County (183)
Clearwater Beach - Dolphin Pod Sighting at Pier 60... Featured
Written by Angela LeMayWhat started in July as a pod of 38 quickly grew to 50 creatively decorated 6-foot tall dolphins. In just 3 weeks, a team of artists turned each of the 80-pound fiberglass dolphin-shaped figures (provided by Icon Poly Studio in Gibbon, Neb) into a uniquely fun art exhibit that colorfully enhances the already beautiful view at the entrance of Pier 60 on Clearwater Beach.
Stingray season has started early this year. Three people were stung on Clearwater Beach on April 24th. Stingray season started in Sand Key last week, and the stingrays are migrating north to Clearwater Beach. Purple warning flags warn of the danger of stingrays in area waters, are up and will continue to stay up.
Sea turtle nesting season begins May 1 and ends Oct. 31. Because newly hatched turtles find their way to the sea by following the natural light reflected by the water, city ordinances determine specific lighting requirements for beach parking lots, streets, and promenades.
Middle School Students Donate $650 to Clearwater Marine Aquarium's Rescued Sea Turtles
Written by Jeni Hatter
Kids in “Friends for Florida” presented $650 to Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA) to help take care of its rescued sea turtles. The group, made up of middle school students from Pasco and Hillsborough Counties, was started by friends who wanted to raise awareness about environmental issues. To raise the money, the kids held garage sales, lemonade stands, recycled aluminum cans and collected money outside of a local Wal-Mart.
Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA) fans Jenna Deedy (from New Hampshire) and Gina West (from England) are asking people around the world to celebrate CMA and Winter on April 5. Though the two have never met Winter, they have been inspired by her story. Jenna has a chronic illness and relates to Winter’s will to persevere. The duo came up with the idea to create and organize an International day to thank CMA and Winter. They are promoting the event through Facebook.
Make a Difference Day Volunteer Fair Comes to Westfield Mall April 24th
Written by Karen Bonsignori
Roll up your sleeves and get ready to make a difference! One of the largest volunteer fairs in the Tampa Bay area, “Make a Difference Day”, is coming to Westfield Countryside mall on Saturday April 24th from 10 am to 6 pm. Sponsored by the Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce in partnership with Eckerd Youth Alternatives and Westfield Countryside mall, this mega event features about 50 leading non-profit organizations and thousands of volunteer opportunities. With something for everyone, it’s your chance to get involved and give back to your community in a meaningful way.
Winter the Dolphin Gets New Home as Clearwater Marine Aquarium Expands Featured
Written by Heidi Lux
On the exact day of the 38th anniversary the Clearwater Marine Aquarium first opened, the attraction located on Clearwater Beach celebrated by cutting the ribbon on their recent expansion.
Mutt Strut Raises Money for Humane Society of Pinellas Featured
Written by Heidi Lux
The Humane Society of Pinellas held their signature event, the Mutt Strut, on March 20th on beautiful Honeymoon Island. Dogs with their owners in tow came from all over to enjoy the day's worth of pet-friendly activities and vendors. The Mutt Strut included pet contests, with categories ranging from “shortest legs” to “cutest dog” and, fittingly, the chance for owners to strut their mutt along Osprey Trail.
Every five seconds during the school day, an African American public school student is suspended. In Cuba, 5,000 citizens were sentenced to prison for nothing more than the concept of "dangerousness," without being charged with any specific crime. More than 5.7 million students have been involved in bullying in American schools, with the bullies being four times more likely to be convicted of a crime by age 24. Regardless of the statistic, the violation of human rights is the message from Dustin McGahee of Youth for Human Rights Florida, Femi Kennedy of Abel’s Community Services, and Lianet Vazquez of the USF Cuban American Student Association.
Reclaimed Water Facts: Ten Reasons to Use Reclaimed Water
Written by City of Clearwater
Using reclaimed water saves water that the public needs for other uses. The City of Clearwater encourages all residents with access to reclaimed water to use it—for ten very good reasons.
Volunteers Needed for Courtney Campbell Causeway Cleanup
Written by City of Clearwater
The City of Clearwater will be participating in the Great American Cleanup by hosting a cleanup event Saturday, March 27 from 8 to 11 a.m. It will be held along the Courtney Campbell Parkway beach, and volunteers are needed.
Clearwater Marine Aquarium Rescues Two Otter Pups
Written by Jeni Hatter
Clearwater Marine Aquarium’s (CMA) stranding team recently rescued an otter pup in Largo. She was named “Annie,” after the person who found her and after the character Orphan Annie, from the musical and movie. The pup weighs only two pounds and is still feeding from a bottle. Annie joins “Sunny”, a three-month-old, three pound otter pup rescued earlier this month. Like Annie, Sunny was also named after the volunteer who helped rescue her.
Human Rights Walkathon Takes Place in St. Petersburg Featured
Written by Heidi Lux
ST. PETERSBURG - Supporters of Human Rights convened in North Straub Park on March 6th for the 4th Annual Human Rights Walkathon. They were there to celebrate the thirty human rights delineated in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Clearwater for Youth Honors Angelo Dundee and Jamie and Karen Moyer at Annual Celebrity Banquet
Written by Heidi Lux
CLEARWATER - he 37th Annual Celebrity Banquet benefiting Clearwater for Youth took place on February 27th at the Sheraton Sand Key Resort. The event was emceed by former sports anchor and senior advisor to the Tampa Bay Rays, Dick Crippen.
How Does the New Pinellas County Fertilizer Ordinance Affect You?
Written by City of Clearwater
A county-wide fertilizer ordinance recently went into effect to regulate the use of fertilizers in Pinellas County. What does this mean to you, as a Clearwater resident? It's not a fertilizer ban. You can still fertilize your lawn and gardens, but new regulations limit the types of fertilizers used during the summer, rainy months. Since Florida experiences such hot, long summers, this is when most residents water their lawns. It's important to know the new regulations, since they will help to reduce harmful nutrients (such as nitrogen and phosphorous) found in fertilizers and keep them from polluting our waterways.
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Human Rights Walkathon to Take Place in Downtown St. Pete March 6th
Written by Heidi Lux
The 4th annual Human Rights Walkathon will take place in North Straub Park, Downtown St. Petersburg on Saturday, March 6th.
An Open Letter to the City of Clearwater Regarding The Complete Angler & Herb Quintero by Dru Jeanis
Written by Dru Jeanis
AN OPEN LETTER TO CLEARWATER’S MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, ITS CITIZENS AND TAXPAYERS, REGARDING CLEARWATER BEING THE ONLY CITY IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO EVER TRY TO BAN THE DISPLAY OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 
Governor Charlie Crist Visits Clearwater Marine Aquarium to Promote Adoption and "Winter's Dream"
Written by Heidi Lux
Governor Charlie Crist stopped by the Clearwater Marine Aquarium on February 8th to help launch the “Winter's Dream” adoption campaign.
Clearwater Free Clinic Former Patient Ernest C. Simmons Featured Artist at Martinis and Matisse Featured
Written by Heidi Lux
Martinis and Matisse is possibly one of Clearwater's most “cosmopolitan” fundraisers. On January 30th, for the seventh consecutive year, guests sipped on martinis courtesy of Bonefish Grill and sampled delicious entrees from restaurants like Carrabas and the Baystar Restaurant Group while slipping tickets into over-sized martini glasses to bid on the work of local artists, filling the lobby of the Frank Crum building. Early in the evening, these glasses contained a ticket or two, enticing attendees with the hope of taking home the pieces they coveted. By the end of the event, they were brimming to the top with bids, each ticket representing a donation to the Clearwater Free Clinic.
Clearwater Marine Releases 48 Rehabilitated Sea Turtles Featured
Written by Heidi Lux
During the cold-snap that hit Florida in early January, the Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA) took in and treated nearly 100 sea turtles suffering from a condition known as “cold stun.” In the course of two weeks, the CMA rescued more turtles than they had in the previous year.
Hands Across the Sand to Protest Offshore Drilling Feb 13
Written by Heidi Lux
On Saturday, February 13th, concerned Florida residents and visitors will make their objections to off-shore drilling in the Gulf of Mexico known during Hands Across the Sand, a state wide event.
CMA to Release Sea Turtle on Jan 28 - Public Invited to Watch
Written by Heidi Lux
The Clearwater Marine Aquarium will release JoJo, an adult Loggerhead sea turtle on Thursday morning at 9:30 a.m. The release will take place on Clearwater Beach behind the Palm Pavilion restaurant at 10 Bay Esplanade. The public is invited to watch.
National Human Traffiking Awareness Day
Written by Katherine EckelberryThe Fight Against Human Trafficking
In recognition of Nation Human Trafficking awareness day, on January 11th, St. Petersburg College hosted a “Stop Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking” event at their Seminole campus. With speakers including Marc Klaas, founder of the KlaasKids Foundation – dedicated to protecting our children, and former adult film actress Diana, aka “Desi Foxx,” who spoke about the correlations between pornography and sex trafficking, and ending with a candlelight vigil, it was moving to see people and groups passionate about the issue working together to rid society of this evil.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration March Honors Spirit of the Holiday in Clearwater
Written by Alice Roses
On January 18th, a Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration March was held in Clearwater to honor the late Dr. King’s nonviolent message of human rights and equality. The event was marked by the spirit of the day, with people of different races, cultures and faiths coming together to pay their respects to the man and his legacy.
Clearwater Marine Aquarium Rescues 78 Sea Turtles from Cold Stun
Written by Heidi Lux
The mild waters off Florida’s sunny beaches are home to a variety of marine fauna, including our sea turtles, adapted to the sub-tropical climate. So when the recent cold snap hit, the sea turtles had trouble coping.