In a 1998 lecture to University of Florida MBA students, Warren Buffett, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, fielded a host of questions on investments and valuations before a thoughtful student asked, “What would you do to live a happier life if you could live over again?” The Oracle of Omaha responded, “Do something you enjoy all your life and be associated with people you like.” In the next two months we will be completing our 28th year of creating and sharing Paradise NEWS with a hundred thousand of our neighbors in south Pinellas County.
To say it’s a rewarding career doesn’t do it justice. We feel blessed. We have a faithful, loving, and efficient team, loyal advertisers, terrific vendors, some for a quarter of a century. Seldom a day passes that we do not hear “I LOVE Paradise NEWS!”
We are also blessed that our publishing schedule gives us a month’s break in the summer. We recently returned from our 51st honeymoon roaming all over the high country of Colorado. We stayed in Frisco, Buena Vista, Vail, Ridgway, Mesa Verde National Park, Woodland Park, Golden, and then Estes Park for Labor Day weekend. We visited two national parks plus Pikes Peak and the Garden of the Gods. People ask what we like the best, but we have not chosen. Each area holds its own special attraction. We love the variety, the change in topography and the weather.
We often return just after Labor Day to prepare for a tropical storm or worse. Thankfully this storm season started slower than most. Hurricane Ian targeted Tampa Bay and came ashore sooner than predicted like Charley had in Aug 2004, saving our readership area from serious damage. We were truly blessed, again. Treat your Ian experience as a rehearsal and realize that if the forecasters are right the next time, our area could look like Fort Myers Beach does.
If you feel generous, Beverly Diny of Diny’s Jewelers in Treasure Island is housing a great friend, a longtime local news anchor from Wisconsin, who lost practically everything she owned in hurricane Ian. For a tax-deductible contribution where it will be well used to feed displaced residents due to the storm. Here’s a link: www.tampabay.com/hurricane/2022/09/29/where-donate-or-volunteer-help-hurricane-ian-victims.
Readers tell us frequently that they feel our latest issue is the best one we’ve ever done. That is by design. We continually strive to be better. It is our passion. Some ask us what they can do to thank us for sharing Paradise NEWS with them. We usually say “suggest your favorite service providers advertise with us,” but RIGHT NOW there is another way each of you can impact our future. Please use this link to vote by 10/14 for Paradise NEWS as a Good Burger under MAKERS & CREATORS. https://survey.zohopublic.com/zs/FARyAQ We apologize in advance that many of you will not read this until after the deadline.
Why us? The “Good Burger” is someone in greater St. Pete making a positive impact in our community. On Nov. 9, the St. Pete Chamber holds the Good Burger Awards at Jannus Landing. Paradise NEWS is the best source of local entertainment, arts, events, best bets, news and insider info from downtown St. Pete to the Gulf Beaches, now in its 28th year and more popular than ever. Vote now at https://www.stpete.com/votegoodburger/.
Thank you for reading Paradise NEWS!