This is Paradise NEWS’ 250th issue, so we start our message full of gratitude. Who knew that the little newsletter called Paradise NEWS could survive a quarter century, let alone blossom into what it has become? Every day when we are introduced to someone new, we are rewarded by hearing “We love Paradise NEWS”.
For our work being appreciated, we are grateful. At the moment of this writing 50,000 Floridians are without power in the wake of Hurricane Michael, and we still remember what it was like without power for just a few days after Irma passed last year. Our thoughts and prayers are with our fellow Floridians in Mexico Beach and nearby communities. We are grateful to have shelter and power.
It has been a pretty good summer for solar production. Some days when we think it has been overcast most of the day, the display on the inverter says we made almost a day’s worth of power. We are producing enough power to air condition day and night, run all our appliances and keep the battery of our Chevy Volt full. Our power bill is $10-20/month.
We will be running an article in an upcoming issue on new opportunities to install solar power more affordably for a better financial outcome.
Paradise NEWS is loved for much of its contents, but it is hung on to in many households until the next issue comes, for the Arts & Leisure and Event listings that run from page 55 to 69 in this issue. In November and December it gets really busy and there is a lot to choose from on the beaches and nearby on the mainland. You can see the magazine online too, at www.paradisenewsfl.com. You can also subscribe to our weekly Thursday electronic newsletter, with a reminder of the top five things to do each weekend. There is usually something for everyone in this unsponsored summary prepared by a millennial to keep her friends and the rest of us aware.
Online, the web addresses throughout the issue are active links taking you directly where you need to go for more info or tickets.
Businesses that depend on the weekend tourists say 2018 was a bad year, as it seemed like we had a lot of rainy weekends last season. Practically all the business people I speak to are telling me that it might have been a record tourism year until Labor Day, but publicity about red tide brought things to a crashing halt in mid-September. It was a strong wind from the west that sent the dead fish ashore.
Hurricane Michael sent some more as he passed heading north, but thankfully we have not had a repeat of the tragedy of mid-September. Robin Miller, who recently celebrated her 10th anniversary as head of the Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce urges everyone to “Buy Beaches First.” “Local businesses are hurting as a result of the publicity surrounding red tide.” This is affecting our coastal communities and the readers of Paradise NEWS are in the best position to help.
Just do your best to shop in your communities. Resist the urge to shop online. Patronize the advertisers in Paradise NEWS. Take a walk around!
Go to the Sunday market on Corey and check out the gift and home decor shops in the area. We can make a difference in our communities! Have a great Thanksgiving and be grateful for all you have.