- Community Stories (109)
- Belleair (1)
- Belleair Beach (2)
- Belleair Bluffs (1)
- Belleair Shore (1)
- Clearwater (8)
- Dunedin (1)
- Gulfport (4)
- Indian Rocks Beach (2)
- Indian Shores (2)
- Kenneth City (1)
- Largo (5)
- Madeira Beach (2)
- North Redington Beach (2)
- Oldsmar (1)
- Palm Harbor (2)
- Pinellas Park (1)
- Redington Beach (2)
- Redington Shores (2)
- Safety Harbor (1)
- Seminole (1)
- South Pasadena (1)
- St. Pete Beach (7)
- St. Petersburg (42)
- Tarpon Springs (3)
- Tierra Verde (17)
- Treasure Island (3)
- Consumer Information (4)
- Gems of Pinellas County (25)
- Photo Galleries (27)
Most Recent
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Come join the Tampa Bay Rowdies for Military Appreciation Night for a chance to honor local troops!
Join the Tampa Bay Rowdies for Military Appreciation Night for a chance to honor local troops! All proceeds go directly to military personnel at MacDill Air Force Base. You can send one soldier to the game for $10. Through the Tickets for Troops program, you can contribute by sending our local troops and their families to our May 25 game vs. Minnesota Stars FC. Companies looking to make a larger contribution will receive tickets to the game as well as various marketing deliverables.
If interested contact Alyssa Sebastian at 813.287.1569 or asebastian@rowdiessoccer.com
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Greek Wine and Food Tasting to benefit All Children’s Hospital and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
On October 1, 2011, the Orthodox Men’s Club of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church 409 Old Coachman Rd., Clearwater will present a Greek Wine and Food Tasting that will benefit All Children’s Hospital and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Wines from various regions of Greece will be sampled along with food from area restaurants.
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Time is running out to stand up for sensible mortgage rules
Time is running out to stand up for sensible mortgage rules. We only have until August 1 to tell regulators that they should rethink a proposed 20% minimum downpayment requirement.
Here’s why the proposed rule is a bad idea:
It could lower home values. The proposed rule would hurt property values by shutting many qualified buyers out of the market. Fewer buyers mean lower home values.
It could affect your ability to buy a home. A 20% downpayment is often just too much to save, even for hard-working, creditworthy buyers.
You have until August 1 to tell regulators to say NO to the 20% down requirement.
Regulators are trying to fix the root causes of the housing crisis, which we fully support. But the proposed rule is the wrong solution. Strong evidence shows that responsible lending standards and ensuring a borrower’s ability to repay, not high downpayments, have the greatest impact on reducing lender risk.
Join us and take action now. Regulators in Washington need to hear directly from you, the homeowner, as they make their policy considerations. That’s why your input is so important. Please send an electronic letter to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to ask that regulators drop the proposed 20% downpayment requirement and instead focus on sound underwriting standards.
Taking action is easy and takes just a few seconds of your time.
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Fort De Soto – Quartermaster Storehouse Museum
Fort De Soto Park, the largest park in the Pinellas County park system, is located in Tierra Verde (FL) at the mouth of Tampa Bay on the Gulf of Mexico and consists of 1,136 acres made up of five interconnected islands (keys). The largest island is Mullet Key, where the Quartermaster Storehouse Museum is located.
Battery Laidley was the primary defense and Battery Bigelow was the secondary defense for Fort De Soto. Even though Battery Bigelow was destroyed during the hurricane of 1921, the Fort De Soto batteries were placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. Visitors can walk through Battery Laidley, home to the last four surviving carriage-mounted 12-inch seacoast mortars in the continental United States.
In the 1990s, historical interpretation was provided to park visitors with the creation of the display room, room descriptions, and a history booklet, about Battery Laidley. Visitors thought the battery comprised the entire post, not realizing that there were 29 wooden buildings and structures as part of the former military post. Construction of the Fort De Soto gun batteries and various post buildings began in 1898 and continued through 1907. The Quartermaster Storehouse building was originally built as a Post Exchange. The army post remained active until 1910. A caretaking detachment was left in charge of the post. During the 1920s and 1930s, hurricanes hit the area, damaging the buildings. The post buildings were sold for salvage and torn down in 1939.
With the reconstruction of the post’s brick roads and cornerstones of the post buildings in the mid-1990s, the historical trail leads park visitors from Battery Laidley to the locations of former post buildings. Park staff, volunteers, and visitors discussed the reconstruction of one or more of these buildings. The concept became a reality in 1999 when the Friends of Fort De Soto, Inc., a citizen support organization, applied for and received a matching grant from the state Historical Museums Grants-in-Aid Program for museum exhibits.
Using historical photographs, Army engineering condition reports, and government documents, the architect worked diligently to duplicate the size, scale, and massing of the original Quartermaster Storehouse building. The reconstructed 833-square-foot wooden building was built entirely by park staff. The head carpenter acted as the site contractor and the park’s mason laid the brick footers. Employees worked to install the cedar shakes on the roof, while others painted the exterior of the building.
At first glimpse, inside the museum, visitors see the post’s quartermaster surrounded by supplies he would have issued to the soldiers. Wall panels reveal the earliest history from the 16th century when Spanish conquistadors encountered the Tocobaga Indians in the Tampa Bay area and several panels on the Spanish-American War and its impact on the Tampa Bay area.
The wall panels are complemented by a touch-screen computer program with information, images, narration, and historical film clips. Visitors can learn about the earliest area history to present day information on the Friends of Fort De Soto, nature trails, and other park features. Three display cases contain Spanish-American War items, recovered artifacts from the park, and World War II military history, including an original practice bomb from the Mullet Key Bombing Range that was found in the park. A porch scene provides a glimpse of daily life with a woman’s dress, a deck of playing cards, a rattlesnake skin, and other items from the early 1900s period. The largest wall panel is a combination of three photographs showing the post buildings. Since most park visitors are unfamiliar with the army’s coast artillery corps, one wall panel provides the history, photographs of soldiers in uniform, and contains patches and pins. The museum officially opened on Veteran’s Day – November 11, 2000.
With this historical addition to Fort De Soto Park, the County hopes to spotlight the historical significance that Fort De Soto played in the history of the United States.
Fort De Soto Park’s Quartermaster Storehouse Museum project received a meritorious award in the category of non-residential restoration/rehabilitation from The Florida Trust for Historic Preservation during the 2001 Annual Statewide Preservation awards program held in Jacksonville on May 19, 2001.
A place of historical significance . . . in Paradise Found!
ABOUT FORT DE SOTO PARK:
The Park is home to beach plants, mangroves, wetlands, palm hammocks, hardwoods and scores of native plants. Each of these species plays a vital role in the preservation and protection of the natural environment.
Whether you are sitting on the beach or kayaking near the still water’s edge at Fort De Soto, you find yourself absorbed in the abundance of natural beauty for as far as the eye can see. The complexity of the ecology is not immediately apparent, but the park offers the greatest diversity of systems just about anywhere. Emerging from the wealth of bird life, sea life, wild life and plant life is the majestic tapestry called Fort De Soto.
Another amazing example of the importance of the park’s natural ecosystems is the more than 290 species of birds that have been documented by ornithologists. The beach also provides refuge to the loggerhead sea turtle, which nests between April and September.
Fort De Soto was named America’s Top Beach for 2009-10 by TripAdvisor, the world’s largest online travel community. In 2005, “Dr. Beach,” named Fort De Soto the nation’s #1 Beach. Annual park attendance averages more than 2.7 million visitors. Click here to learn more about upcoming Fort De Soto Park events.
Fort De Soto Park
3500 Pinellas Bayway S., Tierra Verde, FL 33715
Park Office (727) 552-1862
Automated Information Message: (727) 582-2267FREE ADMISSION! (Donations accepted.)
CREDITS: www.PinellasCounty.org. 4/24/11.
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Midday By The Bay
The Mahaffey Theater and The Dali Museum Present:
MIDDAY BY THE BAY“MIDDAY BY THE BAY” SERIES OFFERED BY PROGRESS ENERGY CENTER’S MAHAFFEY THEATER & NEW DALI MUSEUM EVERY FRIDAY FROM APRIL 22 THROUGH MAY 27 FROM 12 to 2 PM.
Proudly presented by WMNF 88.5 and *tbt.
Referred to as the City’s new “Mini Lincoln Center”, the classic Mahaffey Theater and iconic new Dali Museum join forces to present MIDDAY BY THE BAY, a free lunchtime entertainment series in the green space between these two renowned venues.
Locals are invited to stroll, bike or drive to the Progress Energy Center for the Arts Plaza on their lunch break to celebrate these amazing spaces and hear some of the best entertainment in the area while overlooking beautiful Tampa Bay.
Attendees can create their own picnic, “brown bag” lunch or purchase an affordable, delicious snack or sandwich from one of our local vendors.
It’s Midday By the Bay . . . In Paradise Found!
EVENT LINE-UP:
Friday, April 22 – O Som Do Jazz
(“the Sound of Jazz” in Portuguese). Presented by the nonprofit organization EMIT, O Som Do Jazz recaptures the grace, energy and spirit of 1960s Brazilian Bossa Nova & samba-jazz. The sextet features Rio de Janeiro singer Andrea Moraes Manson. O Som Do Jazz is active with recent performances at Mod Miami, Clearwater Jazz Holiday, Salvador Dali Museum, Historic Asolo Theatre and Palladium Theater.Friday, April 29 – TBD
Friday, May 6 – The Jim Morey Band
The Jim Morey Band is a 4 piece band playing original jazz flavored roots and funky music with one hand in Storyville, New Orleans and the other picking confetti out of Tom Wait’s old hat.Friday, May 13 – Rebekah Pulley
Rebekah Pulley has been writing, recording and performing her blend of indie-folk and Americana music for well over a decade now. Her haunting vocals and poetic lyrics have made her a favorite among fans and critics alike. Along the way, she has garnered 5 BEST OF THE BAY awards from Tampa’s Creative Loafing, including Best Singer/Songwriter and Best Acoustic Act.Friday, May 20 – TBD
Friday, May 27 – TBDContinue to visit www.MahaffeyTheater.com and www.theDali.org for Midday By the Bay updates and full event lineup.
Street parking is available or $5 for covered parking in garage between Mahaffey Theater and The Dali Museum.
Pets, chairs, umbrellas and blankets are allowed. No alcoholic beverages.
For more information, visit one of the two websites listed above or, contact Mahaffey Theater at 727-892-5798.
The Mahaffey Theater is located at 400 1st Street South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.
CREDITS: Images and event information courtesy of www.MahaffeyTheater.com and www.theDali.org. April 4, 2011.
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Belleair Bluffs
The City of Belleair Bluffs, a tiny hamlet measuring less than three-quarters of a square mile, is home to about 2,200 residents who enjoy life in a peaceful, close-knit community.The city borders the Intracoastal Waterway, making it a haven for boaters. The Belleair Causeway, gateway to the barrier islands just beyond, provides residents easy access to a sandy beach with calm waters, and a boat launch for access to water sports.
With more than 200 commercial and professional businesses, Belleair Bluff provides for the needs of its residents right at home. For many who live here, a quick visit to a shop or lunch at a neighborhood restaurant is just a stroll away.
Property Search:
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Factoids:
Population: 2,203
Land Area: 0.46 Sq. Miles
Median Age: 59.6Points of Interest: Intracoastal Waterway, Boating, Bellaire Causeway, Sandy Beaches, Boat launches, Water sports, More than 200 commercial and professional businesses, Visits to a shop or lunch at a neighborhood restaurant is just a stroll away.
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Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
Join in the fun of the world’s fastest spring break party!
The 7th annual Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is the first race on the 2011 IZOD IndyCar Series calendar.
This exciting event takes place Thursday, March 24 to Sunday, March 27.
It will be held on a waterfront circuit that includes a combination of adjacent downtown streets circling Pioneer Park, the Mahaffey Theatre, the brand new Salvador Dali Museum and extending onto runways at Albert Whitted Airport that overlook the Bay and picturesque St. Petersburg (FL) Harbor and Marina.
Six sanctioned races:
1. IZOD IndyCar Series
2. Firestone Indy Lights
3. Star Mazda Championship
4. USF2000 National Championship
5. ACURA Sports Car Challenge – SCCA World Challenge
OWNERS Kim Green and Kevin Savoree of Green Savoree St Petersburg, LLC
GM Tim Ramsberger is Vice President and General Manager
LENGTH 100 laps/181 miles
INDYCAR First of 17 races in the IZOD IndyCar Series which will take place across the United States, Canada, Japan and Brazil. The only IZOD IndyCar Series race to be held in Florida in 2011.
SPECIAL Offers exclusive viewing points from the Acura Yacht Club, RV Club and new FEATURES Trackside Club.
WEBSITE: www.gpstpete.com
ABOUT THE TRACK
LENGTH – A 1.8 mile temporary course on the streets of St. Petersburg
TURNS - 14 turns
WIDTH - Minimum track width: 26 feet; maximum track width: 63 feet.
STRAIGHT – Front straight: 2,413 feet; back straight: 1,940 feet.
HISTORY
2011 2011 will mark the 7th consecutive year St. Petersburg has hosted an INDYCAR race.
The first IZOD IndyCar Series racing event held in St. Petersburg was the 2005 Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, which was won by local resident Dan Wheldon.
PAST The winners of the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg include:
2005 Dan Wheldon, Andretti Green Racing
2006 Helio Castroneves, Team Penske
2007 Helio Castroneves, Team Penske
2008 Graham Rahal, Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing
2009 Ryan Briscoe, Team Penske
2010 Will Power, Team Penske
REPEAT – Helio Castroneves is the only repeat winner with back-to-back race victories in WINNER 2006 and 2007.
FASTEST - The fastest race was set by Helio Castroneves on April 2, 2006 with a time of RACE 1:56:57.5172.
FASTEST – The fastest pole time registered on the streets of St. Petersburg was in 2010 by POLE Will Power with a time of 1:01.6026.
FASTEST - The fastest race lap was set by Marco Andretti on April 1, 2007 with a time of LAP 1:02:9653.
THE RACES
The IZOD IndyCar Series is the premier open-wheel series in the United States, competing on a challenging combination of superspeedways, short ovals, scenic road courses and temporary street circuits. In 2011, the series will consist of 17 events; 13 in the US, two in Canada, one in Brazil and one in Japan.
The Firestone Indy Lights is the premier ladder series for drivers and teams striving to compete in the IZOD IndyCar Series and the Indianapolis 500.
The Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear is a premier open-wheel racing and driver development series. The series is a gateway to the IZOD IndyCar series, among many other forms of motorsports.
The Cooper Tires presents USF2000 National Championship powered by Mazda is the training ground for rising stars as the first step on the ladder to an IndyCar career. The series provides a professional, entry-level open-wheel training ground to drivers, engineers, mechanics and team owners.
The 2011 ACURA Sports Car Challenge features North America’s top production car-based championship, the SCCA Pro Racing World Challenge Championships. The World Challenge is separated into three classes: GT, GTS and Touring Car.
Join in the fun of the world’s fastest spring break party . . . In Paradise Found!
TICKETS
Available through www.gpstpete.com or (877) 283-5385.
Honda has been the title sponsor of the race since its inception in 2005.
CREDITS: Press release and race images courtesy of www.gpstpete.com. 3/22/2011.
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Belleair Beach
The 1,600 or so residents of Belleair Beach enjoy a relaxed lifestyle on a barrier island, proud to have preserved their peaceful town as one of the last purely residential beaches in Pinellas County. Aside from a motel and a couple of timeshares, Belleair Beach is strictly residential and its citizens have every intention of keeping it that way.
Two miles of white sandy beach front and man-made fingers of land extending into the Intracoastal Waterway offer magnificent Gulf sunsets and superb water access to those fortunate to call Belleair Beach home.
Because the city is but two miles long and less than a mile wide, every resident either lives on the water or within an easy stroll of the water. While many Belleair Beach residents maintain private boat docks, a city boat ramp and municipal marina provide access to all who wish to take to the sea. Walking paths through the town or along the beach make outdoor life here truly enjoyable. The city also maintains tennis courts, a basketball court and eleven public parks.Property Search:
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Factoids:
Population: 1,614
Land Area: 0.58 Sq.
Miles Median Age: 52.4Points of Interest: Municipal marina, Walking paths through the town or along the beach, Tennis courts, Basketball court and eleven public parks.
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Florida Botanical Gardens
Discover How Florida Grows Everyday!At The Florida Botanical Gardens!
With spring approaching, Pinellas County gardeners are getting ready for a riot of colorful blooms, including Bougainvillea, Hibiscus, Jasmine, Magnolia, and Oleander, to name a few. There’s even an array of flowering plants with a uniquely Florida “beach” theme at this time of year . . . including Beach Sunflower, Coral Creeper, Coral Honeysuckle, Shell Flower, and Shrimp Plant!
The Florida Botanical Gardens inspires and educate visitors by showcasing flora, fauna and natural resources in surroundings that promote environmentally friendly techniques. With over 30 acres of cultivated gardens and 90 acres of natural areas, the Florida Botanical Gardens are a unique local treasure.
The Gardens beautiful outdoor classroom is the perfect place to learn about plants, animals and responsible gardening.
Discover Florida’s wildlife, habitats and why our natural areas are so important.
Home gardeners, as well as flower and plant enthusiasts, will want to visit the Seasonal Garden Display. These beds are created to show off the best flowering annuals for use in Florida gardens. Plantings are changed three times a year. This area is a great place to see what’s growing (and what to plant) at this time of year!
For family fun, riddle me this . . . What is yellow and green and fun all over?
The Children’s Trail at Florida Botanical Gardens, of course!
Follow Flora on this Trail Just for Kids!
Flora will show you weird and wonderful things as you explore the Florida Botanical Gardens.
With the aid of a map (available for download on the Garden’s website or at the Garden’s Welcome Center), start at the Butterfly Garden, hike over to the boardwalk Tree Station, and scan for wildlife with the binoculars near the pond. Then stroll through the Fruit Garden, while the Garden’s mascot, Flora, teaches fun facts about Florida fruits. It is fun for kids of all ages!
You may wish to visit the Garden’s neighbor, Heritage Village, where you will find a fascinating collection of historical buildings lovingly restored to their original condition with fascinating interpretation including a host of knowledgeable docents to help you understand the buildings you enjoy.
Shopping is made easy at the Botanical Bounty Gift Shop. The shelves are “blooming” with gift ideas to accommodate the wishes of friends and family.
Visit Florida Botanical Gardens website and click on the Seasonal Guide to discover what is blooming in Pinellas County right now!
Many of the website’s featured plants can be found in Pinellas County’s parks and preserves, as well as in backyard gardens! In addition to the seasonal guide chart, you can find tips and fact sheets on the care and maintenance of popular garden plants from the Pinellas County Extension.
Bring the family and spend a day. The Florida Botanical Gardens are open every day of the year and admission is free!
Discover Paradise in Pinellas County . . . we refer to it as Paradise Found!
Open daily from 7A to 7P.
Located at 12520 Ulmerton Road, Largo, FL 33774.
Website: http://www.flbg.org
For information call: 1+ 727-582-2100
CREDITS: Images and content provided courtesy of The Florida Botanical Gardens. Florida Botanical Gardens is part of the Pinellas County Cultural, Education & Leisure Department. www.flbg.org. February, 2011.
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Belleair
The town of Belleair may be small – encompassing just 2 square miles – but within its boundaries are three 18-hole golf courses, a well-appointed community center and seventeen public parks. Brick-paved streets shaded by dramatic tree canopies are lined with stately mansions, private estates and upscale condominium residences.Wonderful History
Early Spanish explorers called the area Pescua, or Place of Flowers, and Belleair today retains its incredible natural beauty. Perched on a bluff above Clearwater Bay, Belleair also maintains an air of grandeur, perhaps stemming from the 1890s when railroad magnate Henry B. Plant built the magnificent Belleview Biltmore Hotel there.
Still in operation and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Belleview Biltmore continues to attract visitors from around the world. Some of the area’s first homes, constructed with a view of the Belleview’s golf course, still stand today. Luxury and opulence extend throughout the town; Belleair boasts some of the most magnificent upscale neighborhoods in all of Florida.Busy Enjoying
The 4,500 residents of Belleair enjoy a wealth of activities organized by the Belleair Recreation Department, including summer camps and tennis lessons for kids to yoga classes and bridge clubs for adults. The many city festivals, races and celebrations culminate at the end of each year with the popular Holiday Tree Lighting.Property Search:
Find a Home in this CommunityFactoids:
Population: 4,500
Land Area: 1.79 Sq. Miles
Median Age: 52.7Points of Interest: Belleview Biltmore Hotel, Some of the area’s first homes, Belleview’s golf course, Belleair Recreation Department, Summer camps, Tennis lessons for kids, Yoga classes, Bridge clubs for adults, City Festivals, Races and the popular Holiday Tree Lighting.
- Come join the Tampa Bay Rowdies for Military Appreciation Night for a chance to honor local troops!
- Greek Wine and Food Tasting to benefit All Children’s Hospital and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
- Time is running out to stand up for sensible mortgage rules
- Fort De Soto – Quartermaster Storehouse Museum
- Midday By The Bay
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