Publishers Message March 2020

It’s March 2020 and “the height of season” in South Pinellas once again. One of the secrets of thriving during the height of season is seeking the road less traveled, or at least staying off the more traveled roads during rush hour. We have found the food is just as good at our favorite Cuban, Cajun, Italian, Thai and Sushi spots at 4:30 or 5pm as it is at 6:30 or 7pm and the service is better. You can always take that walk on the beach at sunset after dinner.

Try one of our advertisers, especially the Bayou Café which opened in September on Central Ave., across from Earth Origins, the survivor in the recent Organic food wars. They do lunch and early dinner weekdays, and brunch on Saturdays. They also do an incredible job of catering. They offer Cajun, Caribbean and conventional entrees cafeteria style along with a fridge and freezer full of Gumbo and crawfish pies to go. 

If it seems like there is construction everywhere you go, get used to it. St. Pete Beach’s Gulf Boulevard will lose a lane for there’s a bunch of activity under way to prepare for when Tampa Bay hosts Super Bowl next year. There’s new resorts recently opened like The Karol, Fusion and Tierra Verde’s residence Inn, opening soon and under construction in at least a dozen locations in the bay area.  

Our cover story this issue is a condo marina resort, coming soon to Clearwater Beach, with great views of the sheltered harbor, and a short walk or bike ride anywhere on the island. Marketed exclusively by Tim Johnson’s team at Waterfront Realty in Madeira Beach, this is sure to be a sought-after address that exemplifies our Paradise lifestyle and offers return on investment potential too.

As we start our second quarter century of publishing Paradise NEWS we’d like to thank some of those with whom we have had amazingly long-term relationships, which have made our jobs far easier than they might otherwise have been.

Our senior feature writer, Steven Traiman, who turns 84 this month, the president emeritus of the Bay Area Professional Writers Guild, has been contributing stories for almost every issue for over 15 years. One of the few folks I know who have been making a living with his mind and pen or computer for an entire career, Steve has been a treasure to work with.

Steve Schwab and V at Digital Eel helped us get our start online with ParadiseNEWS.com, creating our original website and managing it for the first few years.  We still recommend them to businesses needing web sites. Then we met Kaeley Dawson, then a locally raised recent grad from Virginia who took over Paradise NEWS’ online persona 7½ years ago. Kaeley has made ParadiseNEWS.com a valuable part of her career path ever since. Her work ethic, attention to detail and trustworthiness speak volumes about her and her Vina Del Mar upbringing. Amongst her other social media duties she composes and sends our weekly electronic newsletter each Thursday to a growing list of email subscribers, another FREE service of Paradise NEWS.

Thankfully, our advertisers have been as amazingly loyal to us as we have been there for them while others came and went.  Some date back to the very beginnings of Paradise NEWS. Thanks again.

Last but not least, we want to thank our loyal readers, without whom none of this would be worth the effort. Paradise NEWS is designed to help residents get the most from their lives in Paradise.  It is particularly useful for newcomers, but even those who have lived here all their lives will be AMAZED just by the content in the Art and Leisure and Events sections running from page 45 to 62. Whether you read in print or online, thanks for making what we do worthwhile.

Sincerely,

Pete & Renee Roos

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