Welcome to the December 2023 edition of Paradise NEWS, Pinellas County’s favorite news magazine. Whether you read it online at paradisenewsfl.com, receive it in the mail, or pick up a copy from one of the 500+ racks and stacks we keep supplied throughout each issue, consider it a holiday gift from us and the dedicated team of talented writers, editors, proofreaders, artists, printers, and delivery people who work to ensure your Paradise NEWS is there when you need it. If you have not yet signed up to get our weekly eblast on Thursday with the weekend’s top things to do, you can sign up for FREE under the WEEKLY tab. You can also have the print edition mailed to you 10 times/year for less than $2/copy.
Each issue is jam-packed with information designed to make life better for long-time residents, visitors and especially, new relocatees. The internet links are active if you are reading online, and increasingly, QR codes are included in our print edition that you can scan with your smart phone to learn more.
This edition wraps our 29th year publishing Paradise NEWS. Many things have changed over the decades. Others haven’t. People continue to drink and drive, especially around the holidays, and it can be a very dangerous combination. Walking and biking along or just crossing Gulf Boulevard on the beaches can even be risky. It is a highway, and people get crazy sometimes. Our leaders have solved those issues too, providing the Freebee app in St. Pete Beach, the PSTA Trolley to get up and down the beaches and high speed SunRunner to connect to downtown St. Petersburg. Please cross at a marked crosswalk. Turn the crossing lights on and unless you can easily cross in time, wait until you know cars are stopping before you leave the curb. The life you save may be your own.
We are thrilled to have become the go-to publication for area shops, restaurants, bars, entertainment, home improvement/decor vendors, realtors, doctors, hospitals, holistic health providers, concert promoters and more to get their messages to you in print, online,and in social.
There has been a lot in the news lately about inflation. There are ways to fight it. Many readers may recall that we have had solar water heating since 2003 and a solar electric system was installed in October 2012. We keep our Hot Springs tub ready for soaking and we charge our Chevy Volt each night, yet our power bill averages about $70/month. We never tire of making improvements to our home in paradise. Most recently, we replaced the aging screen room with an energy efficient, hurricane resistant Florida room by Lifestyle Remodeling. That added over 300 square feet of air-conditioned space to our modest home and became our first line of defense against global warming. Our recently rescued fur baby, Anders, seems to enjoy the new space as much as we do. Thanks for reading Paradise NEWS. Your interest makes all our efforts worthwhile.
Happy Holidays to all and here’s wishing you a new year of peace and prosperity in 2024.