The City of Clearwater’s Community Redevelopment Agency received an Award of Distinction at the International Downtown Association’s 55th annual conference in Milwaukee this September. The award was given in recognition of the city’s active program to recruit new retail, business and restaurant enterprises, and for the Cleveland Street District, the new name of the city’s recently redeveloped downtown.
The first of three large-scale sculptures was installed on Cleveland Street on August 27th. The piece is titled “Going Green” by Jack Howard Potter of Long Island City, NY and is on display east of the Cleveland Street and Garden Avenue intersection.
The sculptures are part of the Sculpture 360: Season II year-long exhibit of public art. The sculpture program provides new works every year in Downtown Clearwater and is funded through a partnership with the Downtown Development Board. The program brings high-quality public art work to enhance the aesthetics of the area for residents and visitors can enjoy.
Fourth Friday, the party on the street in Downtown Clearwater, is on summer break! After a short hiatus, due to the frequency of afternoon rainstorms during the summer months in Florida, Fourth Friday will return on September 25th with a Clearwater Jazz Holiday kick off.
Clearwater, FL.
This Friday, The Cleveland Street District Celebrates THE RAYS and it all begins with YOU!
That's right, YOU are invited for fun once again as 4th Friday (the most talked about new event in TAMPA BAY) is back for a third great month! "4th Friday, a Party on Cleveland Street" continues May 22nd beginning at 5:30 PM.
Cleveland Street District, Clearwater.
On Cinco de Mayo, Clearwater residents had yet another reason to visit the Cleveland Street District when the 500 and 600 blocks were closed off to hold the Cinco de Mayo celebration.
Clearwater, FL.
In honor of Poetry Month, Clearwater Mayor Frank Hibbard declared April 18th to be Clearwater Poetry Day. The second annual “Cleveland Street Poetry Walk”, presented by Artists in Action, International, is a yearly event celebrated by local poets who expound on life in Clearwater and Florida in general.
Cleveland St. District, Clearwater
Clearwater, Florida and Nagano, Japan have been sister cities for half a century, and to honor this achievement on April 25th, the City of Clearwater celebrated the union by holding a Lantern Festival in Station Square Park. The purpose of the festival is to promote cultural harmony and awareness. Nagano has been holding an annual lantern festival at Zenkoji Temple for six years. The festival was originated to honor Nagano hosting the 1998 Winter Olympics.
The first 4th Friday in Downtown Clearwater was held, fittingly, on the fourth Friday of March. "March Madness" closed down Cleveland Street from East Avenue all the way down to Osceola.
The Clearwater Community Volunteers had their signature train giving rides up and down the street. It was the perfect evening for friends and families to come together and wander the streets while browsing the vendor tables, or to share an after-work-week drink while enjoying the free live music. Local downtown restaurants were open and many stores had booths. Intuition Salon sold jewelry and handbags, Pangea Cafe' offered muffins and their signature Illy coffee, and Bella Pucci Grooming Salon took the opportunity to advertise their new change of location.
Downtown Clearwater
Farmer’s Market Moves
Clearwater, FL (February 2009) - The Downtown Clearwater Farmer’s Market has moved to Cleveland Street, between Ft. Harrison and Garden Avenue. Instead of being squeezed in a corner of the City Hall parking lot, its former home, the Farmer’s Market now has a block of its own every Wednesday from 10:00am until 2:00pm.
The new location of the market will bring more traffic to Cleveland Street and the downtown area, and in addition to supporting the local businesses that sell their goods each week, it will improve the commerce along this section of Cleveland Street. Tourists and locals will be able to walk through the middle of the street while they enjoy live music and sample fresh honey from Eden’s Nectar Honey or smoked fish spread from Island Fish.
“Bob and Daughter Produce” had a long line of customers reaching all the way to the other side of the street on the first day at their new location. “This is the first day back and it’s been absolutely awesome,” says the owner. And are you receiving more business? “Yes, definitely. People walking by see it where they didn’t see it before.”
Take Time to Find Your Tax Deductions!
Clearwater FL - Tax time is just around the corner, so you will be putting together the data you, or your tax preparer, will need to prepare your tax return. While assembling the data you can dig out information to help you keep more of your hard-earned money! Here are seven tips you can use to add to your tax deductions and SAVE when the return is filed.
1. Donations to Charity: Donating cash, property, clothing, household items or other goods is a great way to get a tax break and help a worthy cause at the same time. If you donated cash to an eligible charity this year, you can generally deduct up to 50% of your total income when you pay your taxes in April.
Important reminder: Under the newPension Protection Act, as of January 1, 2007 you need a written receipt for all charitable donations, regardless of the amount. So make sure you save receipts so you can take full advantage of your charitable giving.
2. Deductible Expenses: Do you have medical bills, state and local taxes, mortgage payments, or property taxes? If so, any payments you made before December 31are deductible on this year’s tax return. Making an extra mortgage payment or paying off outstanding dental or medicalbills is a great way to offset your tax bill. Just make sure you aren’t subject to the Alternative Minimum Tax (which generally applies to high-income or upper-middle income households) and that you plan to itemize your deductions.