PASS-A-GRILLE
PAG Church to Hold Easter Sunrise Service
Pass-A-Grille Beach Community Church will celebrate its 78th annual Easter Sunrise Service on April 21. The community continues to embrace this inspirational service as last year approximately 1200 worshippers attended.
The service will be held at Pass-A-Grille Park between 9th and 10th Avenues at 6:30 am. All are invited to arrive early for music and meditation. Two additional services, with traditional Easter music and a brass choir, will be held at the church at 8:45 & 10:00 am.
The church, located at 107 16 Ave., St. Pete Beach, will conduct Palm Sunday services on April 14 at 8:45 and 10:00 am.
For more information on these services and other church activities please call the church office at 727-360-5508 or visit www.pagchurch.org
The Post Card Inn (PCI) has an Easter buffet $22/pp from 10-2 and an Egg Hunt at 11 am with candy and prizes donated by local merchants.
Don Cesar Hosts Documentary Film Fest April 24-28 – The Don is becoming a destination for Film Fests. SPBdocfilmfest.com
Pass-A-Grille Roadway Meeting
Paving complete April 12th-19th The final paving coat will go down by the 1st week of May and the road will be open beginning to end (1st-19th), mid-May.Yipee!!! There will be still be some interruptions though for final striping, trees, right of way, sod put down and maybe some street lights to be installed. All utilities have been switched over to new systems.
The new street lights to be installed are on backorder…. any old poles are coming out in next few weeks street ends from 12th – 18th on the Bay side will be put back as they were before (shell or asphalt) There are sidewalks still to be finished, some more parking meters to be installed. When all is complete and the contractor pulls out, the baseball field will be put back just as it was and it will be time to “Play Ball!
The county bus system PSTA is making no changes to their present system, though many are clamoring for changes…… Jay Anderson
TREASURE ISLAND
Wonder What’s Being Built at Treasure Island’s east entrance?
It’s the boutique FUSION Resort, featuring sips and slips. Due to open in late 2019, the 2-3 bedroom all-suite resort is being outfitted for luxury. It features 18 slips for vessels up to 50 feet, and a roof-top bar & swimming pool. For more, see www.fusiontreasureisland.com.
Health Fair | Trade Show Thursday, April 18, 2019 10 am – 2 pm
Treasure Island Comm. Center, 154–106th Ave., Treasure Island.
Jill Dunavin, 727-360-4121
The Health Fair / Trade Show, sponsored by TIMB Chamber & RGA features a variety of free health screenings, in addition to information about products and services. Door prizes will be presented throughout the event. Admission and parking are free to the public, and the first 100 visitors will receive “swag bags” filled with coupons and gifts from area merchants. For further information, or to participate as an exhibitor, contact Event Coordinator Jill Dunavin at 727-360-4121.
TIMB Chamber seeks computer savvy volunteers with the “gift of gab.” The Chamber, now located at 12601 Gulf Blvd., in Treasure Island, opens Mon-Fri,10-4
Volunteer shifts run 10-1 or 1- 4. Volunteers can fill one or more shifts, ideally the same shift every week. Volunteers make phone calls letting business members know about upcoming events like ribbon cuttings and after hours mixers. They also help with entering data on spread sheets; assisting in the preparation of flyers; and preparing gift bags and packets of information. Volunteers are also needed for special activities to help with ticket sales, registration, event operation, and set-up and tear-down for several major events throughout the year. Contact Event Coordinator Jill Dunavin at 727-360-4121.
Library Lending Machine Grand – Opening Celebration
The Gulf Beaches Public Library and the city of Treasure Island welcome the new Library Lending Machine at Treasure Bay Golf & Tennis, 10315 Paradise Blvd. Ribbon cutting celebration Wed. April 17th 4:30 – 6:30pm. For more info call TI Rec at (727) 547-4575, ext 221.
ST PETERSBURG
Grand Central District Reports
2529 Central Ave., St Pete 33713, www.grandcentraldistrict.org
- Black Crow Coffee opened at 2157 1st Ave. S.
- Truffala Eco Boutique has opened at 2935 Central Ave.
- Pinot in the Park is Sat. April 6th.
- Two new restaurants plan to open in April / May; Sophia’s Cucina + Enoteca (2349 Central Ave,) and Baba’s (2701 Central Ave)
- The Tru Hotel on Central Ave and 17th St has broken ground.
- LED rope lights are being strung on the street light poles. Examples can be seen on the 2200 block of Central Ave.
- The Pride Festival will return to Grand Central on Sunday, June 23, 11am– 4pm.
- The largest beer cellar in the state just opened in Grand Central If you’re a fan of the brews Green Bench Brewing is crafting, you’ll love their newest venue, Webb’s City Cellar, right next door. The ultra stylish hangout is an adults-only escape in the EDGE District. The astonishing variety of beer options makes it a true enthusiast’s paradise.
Boomerang Air Charter Lands on Florida’s West Coast Boomerang Air Charter added a premier 9-passenger business class PC12 aircraft. President, Elliot Mintzer said it would “provide additional service to clients and open up the door for us to begin longer range trips.” The new PC12 aircraft will be utilized to fly to the Bahamas, Key West, Nashville and Atlanta, etc.
Spunky Junkies Moved Spunky Junkies, a salvage and sentimental goods studio moved to 7231 Central Ave on April 6th. Business owners Michele Dyson & Amy Josephson started the studio October 2018. It offers a unique array of repurposed items and salvaged goods. Open Friday & Saturday 10-5, Sunday 11-4. Call 727-800-5717.
Passover
During Passover, the Jewish people are commanded to teach their children and celebrate the Exodus from Egypt. Spring into freedom this Passover side by side with Congregation B’nai Israel of St. Petersburg.
Don’t strike out this Passover: Come for Passover Spring Training and ‘pick your team’ with a Family Model Seder Live! on Sunday, April 14, at 9:45 am and Kosher for Passover 101 at 10:30 am.
Congregation B’nai Israel of St. Petersburg’s First Night Passover Seder will be Friday, April 19. Service at 6 pm, Seder begins at 6:30 pm. Friends don’t let friends go to any old Seder. Spring into freedom with an interactive and family-friendly kosher traditional Seder complete with Seder games, singing, and more. $60 Adults and Children 13+, $18 for children 6-12, Free for 5 and under. Bring a pillow to recline in comfort. Have a kosher-for-Passover wine you enjoy? Contact the office for instructions on how to BYOB. RSVP by April 12 at CBIStPete.org/event/Seder2019
Take a break from the kitchen and come back on April 24 at 6pm for our Annual Passover BBQ presented by the Mitzvah Men’s Club. Enjoy hot dogs, hamburgers, and chicken or grilled vegetables and all the matza you can eat! Dinner is $20 adults, Youths (Up to18) $10.
CBIStPete.org/event/PassoverBBQ For more information, visit CBIStPete.org/passoverhappenings or call 727.381.4900
ST PETE BEACH
St Pete Beach Beer Fest
More than 50 local and national craft brews will be available for your sampling pleasure when you attend the 2019 St Pete Beach Beer Fest at Horan Park, 7601 Boca Ciega Dr., St. Pete Beach, adjacent the St. Pete Beach Recreation Ctr. Horan Park is an outdoor event this year, set directly on the Intracoastal Waterway of St Pete Beach; enjoy tasting some of the best craft beers while enjoying the incredible waterside setting with a live band for entertainment.
Delicious food options available for purchase from various food truck. In addition, there will be beers to sample from Tampa Bay area homebrew clubs and voting for award of best of the beach.
The VIP experience will enable a select few to taste a couple of unreleased beers from brewers, a VIP room to base your adventures and the ability to taste up to one hour earlier. Tickets are limited for this special event. A charitable donation allows admission, a commemorative Craft Beer Festival tasting cup, water & music. St Pete Beach Festivals is a non-profit, charitable organization that sponsors educational establishments on St Pete Beach. Please remember to drink responsibly and enjoy this annual event. The beautiful St Pete Beach Recreation Center will be the backup
location in case of rain. www.stpetebeachfestivals.com for information or visit Eventbrite.com.
St. Pete Beach Says NO to PSTA Bus Rapid Transit Plan
Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) has a $41 million plan to shave 10 minutes off a bus ride between downtown and St. Pete Beach. The plan involves huge, fossil-fuel powered 60-foot behemoths for whom the plan says the left lanes of 1st Avenue’s N & S would be dedicated.
Then the huge buses merge with regular traffic on Pasadena and Gulf Boulevard. The plan says St. Pete Beach’s share of the cost is $1.5 million. Most of the county pays PSTA out of a property tax levy.
St. Pete Beach said NO to that years ago. Instead they pay “a la carte at $570,000 annually, which most feel is already too much. The bus serves commuters who work on the beach and tourists, none of whom pay property taxes on the island. The resorts benefit from subsidized rides for employees and less staff parking requirements.
The plan might well gain popularity if it involved clean, quiet 30-foot electric-powered buses, in the right lane, with limited turn-offs for pick-up and drop-off, so it would not impede the normal flow of cars. St. Pete Beach still would not pay for it, but all involved would be more in favor.
GULFPORT
Green Shaman Healing Center
Owner Henno Parks and the Gulfport Merchants Chamber celebrated the official grand opening of the Green Shaman Shop and Healing Center, 5418 Gulfport Blvd S., Gulfport. Visit their Facebook page and peruse and check out their great reviews!
Pirate Golf Tournament for Boca Ciega High School athletic support is scheduled once again at Pasadena Y&CC May 18th. Shotgun at 1 pm.
Single Golfers – $160 • Foursome $600
Hole Sign Sponsors – $125
Other Sponsorships Available. Includes round of golf with cart, buffet dinner course contests! Including the $10,000 Hole-in-One and the Split the Pot Putting Contest!
(Not a Golfer? Join us for dinner – $40/pp) Contacts:
Bob Angle ’62 RAngle@tampabay.rr.com 727-423-6135
Steve Hodges ’59 SHodges41@gmail.com 727-709-2612
Linda Hart Punzak ’78 LPunzak@verizon.net 727-452-5858
Pirate Athletic Hall of Fame, Inc. is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation that supports student athletic programs at Boca Ciega High School.
ISLA DEL SOL
Eight New Slips are available at Isla Del Sol Yacht & CC. Call 727-906-4752 and Summer Golf Memberships start soon. Call 727-828-0002.
The SUSHI ROCK Grill is preparing to open in the Isla Del Sol Shoppers Village. They used to be on 4th St across from HOOKS.
TIERRA VERDE
Mary Ann Renfrow is chair, Mark Chmielewski is vice-chair, and Doug Sokolowski is treasurer and secretary for the 2019 Board of Directors for Tampa Bay Watch.
Mary Ann Renfrow is the Owner of the Alden Suites Resort, Mark Chmielewski is the managing director of United Capital of Tampa Bay, and Doug Sokolowski is a member of Great Bay Distributors ownership. Derek Houston, partner, Houston Taylor Law, Mike Wilson, retired president, General Dynamics, and Travis Parker, vice president at Biltmore Construction were added to the board. Tampa Bay Watch, Inc., is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to the protection and restoration of the marine and wetland environments of the Tampa Bay estuary through scientific and educational programs.
Incorporated in 1993, Tampa Bay Watch performs habitat restoration and protection activities throughout the year, relying heavily on the efforts of community volunteers.
Their programs seek to build citizen awareness, concern and participation through educational outreach. Tampa Bay Watch will have an environmental education center at the new St. Pete Pier when it’s planned to open in late 2019. For more information, visit www.tampabaywatch.org or call 727-867-8166. PN