St. Pete Beach
A Slice of New York, the all day and late night pizza shop that was south of PJ’s in St. Pete Beach copied Chill’s move two blocks east on Corey Ave taking over the space previously occupied by Jackie’s Bistro and catering at 338 Corey Ave.
They are open for delivery at 727-201-9900. The dining room is being readied for eat-in dining. The adjacent bar area is destined to return as a venue for music, high end beverages and will offer food from A Slice of New York.
Irma took away 37 of 57 swim buoys in Gulf off Pass-a-Grille, which are presently being replaced…
Egan Park in North St. Pete Beach is the staging area for a huge pile of debris from Irma… a big chipper will soon turn it all into chips… which will then be hauled off and recycled for a number of uses.
The wall along PAG way is being fixed some more before painting Dec 5th. The City of St. Pete Beach will hear a consultant’s presentation on the city’s physical image, including signage.
An upcoming road project is planned for Gulf Blvd going north from the Don CeSar that includes undergrounding of electricity in the near future. Stand by for that.
Thanksgiving Benefit Concert
The Music Ministry of Pass-A-Grille Beach Community Church invites the community to join them on Thursday, November 16 at 7:00 pm at the church, 107 16th Ave.. St. Pete Beach for a Thanksgiving Concert entitled, “An Evening of Praise and Thanksgiving.”
The Florida Orchestra Brass Quintet and Vox Nova, the premier mixed ensemble from the Pinellas County Center for the Arts, will join the church’s Chancel Choir for an evening of inspirational Thanksgiving music. The brass quintet is comprised of titled members of the Florida Orchestra. Vox Nova will be conducted by Matthew Clear & the Pass-A-Grille Chancel Choir by Dale Williams.
The concert is free but people attending are asked to make a donation to benefit the victims of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. For information on this and other church activities, call the church, 727-360-5508 or visit website www.pagchurch.org.
Treasure Island
Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce cut ribbon to officially open the Treasure Island location for Taco Bus. Besides fresh Mexican fare, this great addition to the local dining scene offers community coffee, beer & wine, and Working Cow ice cream. Experience the newest in beverage dispensing from Coca Cola with the largest variety you’ve ever seen. Place your order at the bus; from burritos to tacos, to salad bowls and more, select your ingredients, sides and condiments and remember to save room for the hand made desserts! This is one of twelve new locations planned to open in the next year. Located on Gulf Blvd., next to the 7-11 just north of the Blind Pass Bridge. Open daily for lunch and dinner until 10 pm. Dine inside or out.
Gulf Beaches Rotary 6th Annual Liibrary Book Rescue Project. This year over 5000 library books will be distributed to local children through the Guardian ad Litem foundation, Big Brothers /Sisters, Eckerd Kids, Juvenile Welfare Board , Boys and Girls club, We Read Foundation, Florida Camp Rotary, Ronald McDonald House and others. Members of the Roto-act Club of Osceola high school helped sort and re-box the books as a service project. Photo by Mitchell Shenkman
Treasure Island City Manager – The selection pool to replace 10-year veteran Reid Silverboard who resigned rather than continue after the March election as Treasure Island City Manager, has been whittled down from 59 to 8 and then to a semi-final 4, chosen by the commission for personal interviews. A final selection is expected as soon as Nov. 3.
The ‘final four’ include: Garry Brumback, 60, Town Manager for Southington, Conn. since 2011 and assistant city manager in Clearwater earlier; Michael Hein, 50, assistant town manager for Longboat Key, who previously had served Pima County and Tucson, Ariz.; Gary La Venia, 63, city manager for Fruitland Park, prior township manager for Maple Shade and Riverside, N.J; Lee Niblock, 64, Alachua County manager. previously administrator for Marion County.
New activities are planned for Treasure Bay Golf and Tennis, including Glo Golf & Foot Golf. According to the new assistant Rec. Director Justin Tremble, who unveiled a regulation Foot Golf course on Nov 4th, it is a real thing, a national sport with certified courses, of which Treasure Bay now is one.
Sanding Ovations time in Treasure Island, Nov. 13-19.
TI Friday Morning Market Seeks Vendors for 10th Season. While the Treasure Island & Madeira Beach Chamber of Commerce Friday Morning Market enters its 10th season December 1 with a variety of crafts, produce, art, collectibles, foods, jewelry and live music, vendor applications are still being accepted. Open 9-2 on Fridays through April 27 at TI Comm. Ctr. Pk, 154 106th Ave., 33706. Vendor spaces, 12’ x 20’, are $25/week, $100/5 consecutive weeks & $395 / 22 weeks in advance. TI & MB Chamber Members get 10% off. Call the TI & MB Chamber – 727-360-4121 or e-mail news@islandneighborschamber.org
Robby’s Pancake Breakfast
Join your old friends from Middle Grounds & Gulf Beaches Rotary Club at the Treasure IslandCommunity Center for a fund raising pancake breakfast on December 3, 8-noon. Pancakes, sausage, coffee, tea & orange juice are only $5.
Mimosas and Screwdrivers also available. Santa may not be there but Charlie Morgan likely will be and he’s almost as famous.
West Central
Maryland Crab Cake lovers have a new “hole in the wall” they need to check out. Blake Rodgers opened Blakes Crab Cakes last June at 7224 Central Ave., 33707. It is just barely on the mainland and convenient to anyone heading east a couple blocks from TI. Open Tues – Sat for lunch & dinner, his Crab Soup $6.50 is delicious and his 5 oz $12.99 crabcake is unbeatable, even according to Marylanders. Visit www.blakescrabcakes.com or call 727-289-2322.
Midtown
With two beach locations and 30 years of experience under its belt, The Frog Pond hops toward downtown St. Pete. The popular spot has expanded to Webbs Plaza (890 3rd Ave S.) Serving breakfast 7-2 Mon-Sat, and 8-2 on Sunday, with hearty portions and amazing service, the Frog Pond adds lunch after 11 am. Customers return for their exceptional Eggs Benedict, gigantic omelets and sweet Belgium waffles, eggs, salads, and sandwiches.
Skyway Marina District
Mayor Kriseman and the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce cut the ribbon on Brea’s Coffee, in the ‘Skyway Mall’, the newest rebirth of a big box store in the 4300 block of 34th St. south (US 19). While the exterior does not appear to have changed much, the inside is developing into a successful-looking indoor flea market.
Brea’s Coffee fills a huge space in the center of the mall. An art exhibit of self-portraits by students of Academy Prep decorated the wall for the opening. Besides a
coffee house, serving the popular beverage hot and cold, Brea’s plans to be a gathering point for the Skyway community and plans screening of football games on Sundays and Monday nights.
Mall Manager R Geary Walton (727-4483-3170) says business is booming. “It is the most cost effective space to set up a new business, and there are new additions almost every week. It is on the radar of the economic development folks in St. Pete, and great new things are coming down the pike.”
The City Theatre, 4025 31st St. S. is just 3 blocks north and two blocks west of the Skyway Mall. City Theatre is the oldest, continually operating community theatre in the state of Florida, providing quality entertainment and arts education since 1925. The building, which is owned by the city, but has been maintained by a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization is in need of some TLC including a new roof and air conditioning system. It could also use solar panels to help offset its power bills, which exceed $2,500 per month in the summer. A new board of directors is energetically raising funds to “keep Theater alive” in the Skyway Marina District. Paradise NEWS has been more than doing its part donating printing, insertion and advertising to promote memberships and sponsorships.
Last month we publicized a fund raising dinner thrown by Tyson Grant of Parkshore Grill and his wife Sommer, who’s son Tanner Grant was named ‘Taylor’ in our article. We apologize for the error. The Theatre is presently rehearsing Willie Wonka & A Christmas Carol.
Downtown St. Petersburg
Drivers looking for parking in downtown St. Petersburg will soon have a mobile app to find a spot. St. Petersburg City Council inked a 3-year agreement with the tech company Streetline to install on-street sensors throughout downtown that provide notifications of when parking spaces are empty. The Streetline app “Parker” is free to users. When a parking space is empty, an aerial map of the location will show an icon indicating there’s an open space with additional details about parking limits and price. The app saves drivers up to 43 percent of the time it typically takes to find a parking space, according to Streetline.
Elsewhere in Pinellas
Florida Botanical Gardens
Foundation is seeking volunteers to staff multiple positions and shifts during the annual Holiday Lights in the Gardens event from Friday, Nov. 24 through Sunday, Dec. 31. Volunteers can choose one or more shifts that run nightly from 5 – 9:15 p.m.
More than 450 volunteers are wanted as entertainers, greeters and gift cart attendants and talented musicians, dancers and performers to provide entertainment that enhances the excitement and joy of the season. More information and to volunteer, flbgfoundation@gmail.com or call (727) 582-2247.
The Gardens is located at 12520 Ulmerton Road in Largo, with an alternate entrance at 12211 Walsingham Road. The gardens are open from 7 am until dusk every day, with free admission during daylight hours. For more information about the Florida Botanical Gardens, visit www. flbg.org or call (727) 582-2100
Eco News from Across the Bay
2017 Florida Automated Vehicles Summit assembles industry leaders from around the world to address technologies, operations, and policy issues for the implementation and deployment of autonomous and connected vehicle technologies. Topics include automated, connected, electric, and shared (ACES) mobility, operations, law, infrastructure, functional design, cyber security, ethics, aftermarket products, enabling technologies, and public policy. Register at: https://favsummit.com
November 14 –15 at Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay, 2900 Bayport Dr. Tampa, FL 33607 Tampa International Airport Joins the Airport Carbon Accreditation Program
The Airports Council International (ACI) Airport Carbon Accreditation program is a global carbon management program or airports that independently assesses and recognizes airports’ efforts to manage and reduce CO2 emissions. Tampa International Airport joined the 26 N. American airports and 195 airports around the world that currently participate in the program.
And Beyond
Sustainable Communities Workshop – The 12th Sustainable Communities Workshop addresses sustainable priorities such as solar energy, sustainable living, climate change, social equity, green building, and transportation, November 30, Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida Event Center, 4740 Cattlemen Rd., Sarasota, FL 34233
https://www.scgov.net/government/sustainability/sustainability/sustainable-communities-workshop
The Florida Aquarium releases Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle
On Wednesday, Oct. 19, The Florida Aquarium released a 12-pound juvenile Kemp’s ridley sea turtle that stranded on Dec. 8, 2016 in New England as part of a large cold-stunning event this past winter.
Cold-stunning occurs when sea turtles are exposed to prolonged cold water temperatures. As cold-blooded reptiles that rely on external sources of heat to determine their body temperature, sea turtles do not have the ability to warm themselves in cold water.
The turtle was flown from Marshfield Massachusetts Airport to Tampa Executive Airport on Dec. 21, 2016 by pilot Chuck Yanke and co-pilot Mike Lalley, who volunteered their time and aircraft to transport 19 sea turtles that needed rehab, including this one, from New England to Florida. The care of these turtles was then transferred to several facilities to continue their rehabilitation with the ultimate goal of release. The Florida Aquarium received 12 turtles, Clearwater Marine Aquarium received three turtles and Sea World Orlando received four turtles.
Upon arrival at The Florida Aquarium, this turtle was alert but thin and not taking regular, deep breaths. Its blood results showed signs of infection, and it displayed evidence of pneumonia on x-rays, which is common in cold-stunned sea turtles. This turtle was treated with fluids initially until its appetite improved, as well as antibiotics to treat its pneumonia. This turtle also had a small, sensitive wound just beneath its nostrils that required frequent attention by the veterinary staff and topical medications to encourage healing.
The Florida Aquarium’s sea turtle rescue and rehabilitation efforts are part of the organization’s Center for Conservation and is one of only a few rehabilitation facilities authorized by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to treat sick or injured endangered sea turtles.
With an emphasis on critical care and release back into its natural habitat, The Florida Aquarium’s full-time veterinary program and medical staff assist with sea turtle rehabilitation not only in Tampa, but nationwide. They do everything they can to ensure the conservation and ongoing livelihood of these amazing creatures.
The Florida Aquarium, 701 Channelside Dr, Tampa, 33602
Tidbits by Peter A. Roos