The Vina Del Mar Arch
Vina residents met at Vina Park on Sunday March 11 for an informal ‘Welcome Back’ Toast. The refurbished 20+ year old Vina Del Mar arch, that was previously at the entrance of the Vina community, is back and has settled into its new permanent home at the corner of South Isle and West Vina Del Mar Blvd. Although not fully completed with landscaping still planned for the area, the VDMIA board wanted to arrange for a resident gathering to commemorate the return with a champagne toast in celebration of the completed preservation.
Alden Beachfront Resort Ribbon Cutting
Gary Renfrow, part owner of the Alden Beachfront Resort on St. Pete Beach wields the big scissors as the Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce cuts the ribbon on the Resorts latest renovations of its Gulf-front rooms. Resort manager Tony Satterfield surrenders behind Gary, as Gary’s wife Mary Ann and other chamber members look on happily.
Photos by Tropical Focus
Big Brothers & Big Sisters held their 2nd annual Kids Fishing Event on the seawall at Madeira Beach Recreation Department. Many of the 77 littles who attended with their gigs, caught their first fish. All the children were each given Gulf Beaches Rotary Free Carnival rides wrist bands. “A Huge Thank you to the Old Salts Fishing Foundation, Roc Park, and all the wonderful volunteers who helped make those memories. Photo by Mitchell Shenkman
“Head Ding Dong” RETIRES!
Captain Jim Myers began the tradition of the “Ringing of the Sunset Bell” in Pass-a-Grille on March 27,1996. Visitors were honored to ring the bell and their names were recorded in a log book for years. The self-proclaimed “Head Ding Dong” recruited his own replacement, Jim LeBlanc, who took the tradition to the next level by putting it on Facebook. See Ding-Dong Sunset at Pass-a-Grille. Sunset enthusiasts celebrated the passing of the lanyard Pass-a-Grille style, with a retirement party on Jim’s 21st anniversary. He has seen over 7000 sunsets in Pass-a-Grille in the 21 years.
