PINELLAS COUNTY
Damian J. Fernandez, Ph.D., will become the fifth president of Eckerd College July 1, 2020. Fernandez, 62, a Cuban immigrant who grew up in Puerto Rico, joins the Eckerd community with more than 30 years of higher education experience in the classroom and administration. As chancellor of The Pennsylvania State University–Abington College since 2016, Fernandez was instrumental in crafting the school’s strategic plan, expanding the faculty, launching three new degree programs and opening the school’s first residence hall. “Education for our times must be guided by one basic goal: learning how to learn. Only the liberal arts and sciences provide the foundational skills required for lifelong learning,” Fernandez explained. “At Eckerd, faculty and staff activate the liberal arts and sciences through learning by doing–inside and outside the classroom, on the campus and across the globe. Eckerd graduates are world-ready, empowered with the intellectual, practical and ethical capacity to make a living, a life and an impact.”
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Eckerd College Winter catalog is at the printer and is available now online. Call 727.864.7542 to have a print version sent to you.
SOUTH PASADENA
On the way to St. Pete Beach from South Pasadena, the Marquise Café has opened next to Lou’s Florist at 2525 Pasadena Ave. South where the Comfort Café used to be. Closed only on Mondays, they are serving both French and full American breakfasts and lunches, and smoothies. Other than the croissants, which are baked by a friend and are awesome, everything is made on premise from scratch, meaning fresh and free of preservatives. Pancakes made that way are delightfully different than any waffle house pancakes we have tried.
Open from Tues – Sunday
7am – 2pm, initially, they
are adding dinners 6-9pm
Thursday – Saturday by mid-December, and catering is already available.
The owner, Gwenola (call her Gwen) is a recent arrival from French Guiana, where she taught French cooking in a technical college for two decades. She named the Marquise Café after her title in French royalty. A photo of the family chateau is framed on the wall. Other than that, it looks much like before.
Call 727-367-2233 or email contact@marquisecafe.com with catering questions, or better yet, stop by for a to-go menu. When nearby, stop in and meet Kristina, the new owner at Lou’s Florist next door since spring.
Talented and friendly, you can trust her and her staff at Lou’s to add a warm and friendly element to any holiday, gathering, ribbon cutting, celebration or special event. She made us centerpieces for Thanksgiving that were the talk of our guests.
ST PETE BEACH
The Centre St. Pete Beach, next to Lenny’s Surf & Bike Shop at 7525 Blind Pass Road has a mission to help educate residents and visitors about the benefits of medical marijuana, and help people obtain those benefits, if they qualify. They have a doctor’s office there to help us get our state ID cards. Most readers will find a rack card in this issue of Paradise NEWS with a $25 off discount.
If yours is missing, call the following number and ask for one. For more information call 727-322-4760, or visit triverde.com/paradise
The management team at The Centre plans to hold yoga and art classes as well as cooking classes focused on combining medical marijuana in foods. If you have a class you would like to hold in the facility, you are encouraged to inquire. One such class is planned for December 14th with representatives of Magical Butter Machines in attendance.
You are invited to a local makers market called Vinyl & Vintage Market. We currently host a monthly rooftop post sunset market at The Hotel Zamora in St. Pete Beach.Our next event is Wednesday December 18th 6-9pm. This will be a large holiday market – local vendors will be set up in the lobby and on both sides of the rooftop selling handmade goods and holiday gifts. The rooftop offers stunning views of the ‘afterglow’ in beautiful St. Pete Beach, the Sunset Capital of Florida
Thank and congratulate Mayor Al Johnson and District 3 Commissioner Ward Friszolowski next time you see them. They agreed to serve another term and were re-elected without opposition, the mayor from 2020 to 2023 and Ward until 2022. There will be an election between incumbent Terri Finnerty and longtime Remax Realtor, Christopher Graus for Commissioner in District 1. Voting for that race will be on March 17th 2020 at SPB Community Center, 7701 Boca Ciega Drive, or in advance by mail.
The Pass-a-Grille Woman’s Club held the 6th annual Chowder Challenge in Horan Park on Sunday of Veteran’s Day Weekend with 20 local chefs competing for the “Golden Ladle.”
The panel of celebrity judges awarded the top prize to Ricky T’s, and decided that the new Dewey Beach restaurant in Pass-a-Grille had the finest chowder and Portofino Ristorante had the best ‘non-chowder’ entry. People’s Choice went to Paradise Grille, the Culinary School at PTech and Shells’ award winning chowder. Perfect weather brought out a record crowd, and a well organized raffle and silent auction helped raise a record amount for the club and its charities.
A new steeple was installed on the historic Pass-a-Grille Beach Community Church on Sunday November 24th, marking a milestone in a major remodeling project.
Friends of the St. Pete Beach Public Library semi-annual Silent Auction for 10 baskets of great books winds up 5pm Wednesday, Dec. 11. Baskets on display at the Library, 353 73rd Ave., include Signed First Editions, Noted Authors, Florida Authors, Civil War, International Cookbooks, World War II,and Dogs, among others. All donations go to fund Library programs from the Friends.
ST PETERSBURG
Kolter Group, following success of One, plans Saltaire, another 35-story condo tower downtown. Worth roughly $250 million, it is being designed by SB Architects to rise 35 floors adjacent to the downtown Hilton Hotel at 330 Beach Drive NE, near First Street S. Most units in Saltaire, which are being marketed by Smith & Associates, are priced $850,000 – $1.6 million.
Meanwhile, New York-based Red Apple Group plans to develop the 400 block of Central Ave., St. Petersburg’s Main Street, with a 45-story residential, retail and hotel building, late in 2022.
Just a couple blocks south American Land Ventures, of Miami, is proceeding with a 23-story apartment tower at 211 Third St. S. to be called the Vibe, with 219 units and Multifamily builder Greystar plans a 36-story project with 354 apartments, a 170-room hotel and 10,000 square feet of retail space.
“Exercise Coach”, a new “smart-gym” fitness studio franchise, opened in October at 5409 16th St N in St. Petersburg that relies on artificial intelligence instead of dumbbells, treadmills, etc.
When new members join the gym, they are given a code that is unique to them. When they use the proprietary machines, they plug in their code. The machines adjust the workout to their strengths and weaknesses in real time, helping people get the most out of their workout without injury.
TREASURE ISLAND
The Treasure Islettes is a community service organization that holds community events and raises funds for charitable causes. They meet on the fourth Monday evening of each month from September to May at the Treasure Island Community Center. More information about membership can be obtained at tislettes@gmail.com.
Fundraising projects include weekly Thursday night Bingo. Please join the Islettes Thursday evenings for games. Early bird games begin at 6:45pm and regular games at 7:45pm. They have a great snack bar, free coffee and cash prizes – so come and spend an evening with the Islettes and support your community. The games are held at the Treasure Island Community Center located behind Walgreens. For more information about the Bingo games please contact Linda at 727-360-4363.
23rd Annual Treasure Island Sport Kite Competition and Festival takes flight January 18th-19th2020 (10am-5pm daily) behind the host hotel of the Thunderbird Beach Resort. Windworks is sponsoring and gathering competitors from around the U.S. to perform on Treasure Island Beach during the Martin Luther King Holiday weekend. Come be amazed by the talented kite flyers performing to music at this two-day event that includes dual-line and multi-line sport kite flying. Kite Ballet and Hot Tricks Competitions throughout each day for your entertainment. Windworks, from John’s Pass in Madeira Beach, will be on hand for all your kiting needs including kid’s kites, stunt kites and accessories! Lessons will be available on the beach allowing any passersby a chance to learn how to fly stunt kites at no charge.
Remember, Monday is a holiday, so we urge you to plan on staying an extra day for recreational flying. January weather in Florida is usually ideal for kites, with mild temperatures and steady winds. Take full advantage of this opportunity to fly on white sandy beaches while many parts of the country will be covered in white stuff of a different kind! For all other event information contact: Windworks at 727-320-9463.
MADEIRA BEACH
Madeira Beach’s 53rd Annual Festival of Lights Boat Parade, Dec. 14th starting at 6:30pm. Visit online madeirabeachmarina.com, or email them atmwepfer@madeirabeachfl.gov or call Megan Wepfer at 727-543-8154.
Sixteen Masons, friends and family members prepared and delivered Thanksgiving food baskets to less fortunate families in the Madeira Beach area. The 11 family baskets each included a large turkey, pies, and all the traditional sides for a Thanksgiving dinner.
Gulf Beach Masonic Lodge No. 291 in Madeira Beach has been an active force on the Gulf Beaches for 69 years and has been distributing Thanksgiving dinners for 45 years. For more on Freemasonry, visit gulfbeachlodge.org or email secretary@gulfbeachlodge.org.
The City of Madeira Beach has received good financial news heading into the holiday season. Moody’s Investor Services annual financial report has assigned the city a rating of Aa3, (rated as high quality and very low credit risk) with a credit position that is very healthy. Key credit factors include a robust financial position, a low debt burden, and a low pension liability. The city’s credit position also reflects a healthy wealth and income profile and a solid tax base.
GULFPORT
FREE HOLIDAY CONCERT! December 10th, 7pm at CATHERINE HICKMAN THEATER, the New Horizons band will play a FREE concert featuring familiar holiday tunes, plus pop hits. A reception is scheduled after the concert. Plan to stay to meet the band and learn more about the program.