Dec. 2015 Issue

Transcription

Dec. 2015 Issue

WWW.THEISLANDREPORTER.COM
DECEMBER 2015
Firefighters and Families
Honored in SPB
By Betsy Judge
Family is an important concept to firefighters;
they leave their own families behind for a third of
their lives to serve communities with their second
families – their fellow firefighters. Sacrifice is another concept which is very familiar to them.
The City of St. Pete Beach recently recognized
the service and sacrifice of their firefighters with a
promotion ceremony for Chief Jim Kilpatrick and
the reaffirmation of the oath of service by the rest
of the department.
After posting of colors by the Admiral Farragut
Academy 7th Grade Color Guard, the pledge,
National Anthem and invocation, Mayor Maria
Lowe greeted the crowd at the city’s community
center.
“I am so proud to see the community present to
say thank you to these firefighters …,” said Lowe.
She talked about tradition and heritage then added,
“I want every one of these individuals (firefighters)
to understand pride; pride in what they do; pride in
who they are, and pride in knowing that they have
a community behind them that respects them and
honors them, and we are grateful that each day you
come in uniform ready to take care of us at a
moments notice.”
Retired Fire Chief Fred Golliner recounted some
humorous memories of Kilpatrick as a boy and how
he and then Assistant Chief Tom Malone knew
Kilpatrick was right for the job when he applied in
2002. Golliner attributes Kilpatrick’s commitment
to the community to his family. “No one has a
more spectacular history with the City of St. Pete
Beach than the Kilpatrick family. He will be exactly
what this department needs, and he’ll be exactly
St. Petersburg
Portrait of a
Snowy Egret.
Participants are
allowed to submit one
photo per month by the
10th of the month for the
next contest. Submit to:
[email protected]
Boat and Street
Parades Usher
in the Holiday
Season
By TIR Staff
City Clerk Rebecca Haynes administers
the oath of office to Chief Jim Kilpatrick.
Also pictured from left are: District Chief Ron Nifong,
Tonianne Kilpatrick, and Chief Kilpatrick’s
nephew, John Kilpatrick.
TIR staff photo.
Tis the season for parades and there are plenty
of opportunities to catch one in the TIR distribution area.
The season kicks off Fri., Dec. 4 with the St.
Pete Beach/S. Pasadena Holiday Lighted Boat
Parade and Winter Festival in the Park. It begins at
6 p.m. in S. Pasadena and travels south. The
Winter Festival is at Horan Park with a viewing
party, tree lighting and concert.
On Sat., Dec. 5, the waters south of the Bayway
bridge will light up for the Pass-a-Grille/Vina Del
Mar Parade which starts at the Merry Pier at 6 p.m.
There are cash prizes and waterfront homeowners
may register to be a judge house for $50.
what the community needs.”
With less than a year as city manager, it was
Wayne Saunders responsibility for selecting a new
fire chief. “We did a nation-wide search, … but it
was apparent,” said Saunders, “Jim had the credentials, he had the ability and the competency, but
what it came down to was his character, commitment to the profession and the community.”
Serving is in his family. Kilpatrick’s dad, Tom,
was the first policeman in St. Pete Beach and his
FIREFIGHTERS continued on page 14
PHOTO OF
THE MONTH
Photograph by:
Yuliya
Gallimore,
VOLUME 12 NUMBER 12
A lighted boat cruises in the 2014 St. Pass-a-Grille/
Vina Del Mar Parade. Five boat parades and the
Hometown Christmas Parade on Corey Avenue kick off
the holiday season.
Photo from www.facebook.com/Merry-Pier.
The Madeira Beach (MB) Festival Of Light
Parade is Sat., Dec. 12. It begins at 6:30 p.m. at
John’s Pass and ends at the MB rec field and ROC
Park for a post parade party with kids activities,
music and fireworks.
Also on Dec. 12 is the 30th annual Boca Ciega
Yacht Club Lighted Christmas Boat Parade. Open
to all, it begins at 6 p.m. at the Gulfport
Municipal Marina and winds its way west around
the shore of the bay then south to Isla del Sol.
There is a post parade party at the club.
The Hometown Christmas and Parade on
Corey Avenue is Dec. 13, 4 - 7 p.m. with a parade,
Santa, train rides, carolers, crafts, festive hometown Christmas activities, and more.
The season in our area wraps up with Treasure
Island's Lighted Boat Parade on Dec. 19. It begins
at the Club at Treasure Island at 6:20 p.m. and
ends at John's Pass. The Treasure Island Causeway
Bridge will be open for boats from approximately
7 - 7:45 p.m.
See the map on pages 8 and 9 for routes and
more details.
PARADE continued on page 8/9
2 - The Island Reporter - December 2015
December 2015 - The Island Reporter - 3
Tierra Verde Celebrates
Christmas
On Dec. 5, downtown
Tierra Verde will come alive
during the 5th Annual
Christmas Tree Lighting and
Family Fun Day from 4:30
to 7 p.m.
The event, hosted by
the Tierra Verde Business
Partnership, will be emceed
by retired ABC Action
News meteorologist Wayne
Shattuck, who spent 20 years
at WFTS. There will be train
rides, a jump house, arts and
crafts, group caroling, face
painting live music, a dog
parade, and a visit from Santa!
The 20 foot tree, curtesy of TD
Bank, will be lit at dusk.
Celebrate Christmas at the
Tierra Verde Annual Christmas Tree
Lighting. Dec. 5, or trip down
Christmas memory at the performance
of Now and Forever, Dec. 14.
Participants are asked to
bring a new unwrapped toy
to support the annual Tierra
Fire Department.
On Dec. 14, The Island
Chapel presents Now and
Forever at the Mahaffey
Theater at 7 p.m. Travel with
10-year-old Samantha who
wins a trip to New York City
to sing live, on television, for
an international Christmas
special. This off-Broadway
show is a thrill-ride down
Christmas memory lane with
songs both old and new.
Reserved seats are $10 and
$15. Tickets are available at
www.themahaffey.com.
From the Publisher
By Betsy Judge
Tis the season to be jolly, but with death and
destruction being perpetrated by terrorists and beamed
into our living rooms and on our mobile devices 24/7,
it can be a challenge to feel lighthearted. But there is
some comfort in seeing friend after friend change their
Facebook photos to represent the French flag and
stand in solidarity with France and the victims of the
attacks, and to hear the resolve of some world leaders
in their pledges to root the terrorists out.
There are also so many Christmas and holiday
events in and around our area to drive away the doldrums and get you into a merrier mood: boat parades,
land parades, and Christmas tree lightings–to name a
few. And even though Thanksgiving has yet to pass,
many stores have already decked their “halls,” and
while I hear the standard grumbling about it being too
early for bows and trees and twinkling lights, once you
get beyond that hurdle, why not let all that holiday
decor lift your spirits.
This is also the season to help those who are less
fortunate or who may not be able to spend the holidays at homes. www.familylife.com has some unique
ideas including delivering cookies to a fire station,
police station, or hospital on Christmas Day; choosing
a child’s name off of a giving tree; recruiting families
and adopting a nursing home; sending Christmas
cards to military personnel overseas, and leaving a
Christmas card (and perhaps a little treat) in the mailbox for the mail carrier are some to consider.
Regardless of how you celebrate the season, happy
December, merry Christmas and happy holidays from
all of us at The Island Reporter.
New Toys, Mighty
Mealworms, Living
Longer and More
By Wayne Shattuck
New Toys... In January the 2016 Consumer
Technology Association trade show will be held in Las
Vegas. The four-day blitz will have 3,600 exhibitors
showcasing 20,000 products with the latest in smarter
tech devices. Here is a sampling: Wearables - Among
the 150 plus health, wellness and fitness exhibitors will
be Finland-founded Oura with its Oura Ring (starting
a $279) which tracks vital signs. By feeding pulse,
movements and body temperatures into its smartphone app, the Oura Ring delivers information about
sleep and recommendations to improve your lifestyle.
Automobile Technology - Nine major automakers and
more than 100 auto tech companies will be unveiling
a complete immersive infotainment experience for
cars with advances in active window displays, accident
WEATHER continued on page 6
Publisher Betsy Judge
Graphic Design Lorrie Bellinger
Contributing Writers
• Jackie Minniti, Florida Author Series,
Pride & Joy
• Bruce Norris, Cartoonist
• Sabrina O’Donnell, Features
• Dr. Stacey Robinson, Health News
• Wayne Shattuck, Columnist
• Dave Smith, The Old Professor
• Shawn Michael Witt, Beverage Beat
• Sally G. Yoder, Features
Advertising Sales
• Gigi Grimshaw
Contents of The Island Reporter may not be reproduced or copied
without the written permission of the publisher. This includes photocopying and electronic or mechanical reproduction of any form.
Editorial expressions herein are not necessarily those of the publisher.
We are not responsible for ads that are late or incorrect. The Island
Reporter, its staff, advertisers, and owners, make no representation or
warranty of any kind for accuracy or content. Views expressed in The
Island Reporter are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect
those of The Island Reporter’s staff, advertisers, or owners.
Copyright 2015. All rights reserved.
The Island Reporter
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Communities Served:
Bacopa Bay, Bayway Isles, Broadwater,
Dolphin Cay, Isla del Sol, Marina Bay,
Madeira Beach, Maximo Moorings, Pass-a-Grille,
Point Brittany, South Pasadena, St. Pete Beach,
Tierra Verde, Treasure Island and Vina del Mar
and portions of Gulfport and St. Petersburg.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Pride & Joy...........................................7
Florida Author ...................................10
Beverage Beat ...................................11
Business News ..................................15
Health News......................................18
Notable Achievements .....................19
Puzzle Page........................................20
Local Events ......................................21
Business Card Directory...................22
Classifieds..........................................22
TIR Picture Page................................23
Island Toons ......................................23
Waiter! There’s A Fly
In My Soup!
By The Old Professor
When my children were young they used to
chant “Nobody likes me. Nobody loves me. I
guess I’ll go home and eat worms.” Like so
many other childhood sayings, it was silly. After
all worms are for fish, not humans. But the
times they may be a-changin’.
Oxford University researchers, using two different metrics of nutritiousness, found that silkworms, mealworms, and caterpillars all bested
beef and chicken in nutritional value. But even
more beneficial were crickets and honeybees.
They even exceeded pork.
Of course, beef has been criticized for a long
time. Recently a UN agency decried its contribution to air pollution. They suggested that the
carbon emissions from cattle generated methane
exceeded that from cars. The environmentally
concerned should give up beef not autos, was
the moral.
Criticism of methane production puzzles
me. If we re-frame the issue, we would see cattle
as a major producer of badly needed energy.
What we need is a way to capture the methane
as fuel. I’ll admit imagining such devices
attached to individual animals creates an hilarious image. And the gathering and transferring
of the collected gas would be a challenge. Kind
of changes your image of the cowboy doesn’t it?
“Well, Tex, I guess we better mosey over to the
back 40 and lasso them flatulence filters.” Still,
we pump so-called natural gas from deep under
ground. What could be more natural than the
gas produced naturally by cows? Would gathering that really take more technology?
Perhaps cattle could be raised in enclosed
shelters, somewhat like chicken factories. Here
an air circulation system could separate the
methane from the other gases. I have been in a
chicken factory and our feathered egg makers
emit plenty of odor themselves. It was uncollected during my visit.
Our energy needs could be met without
W W W
. T
H E
I
nukes or oil spills. Mid-eastern oil economies
would wither and with them our biggest foreign
policy dilemma. Imagine Elon Musk producing
a cow gas powered model of the Tesla. Since it
was named for a pioneer in electricity it might
need a name change. I foresee a loud talking car
dealer’s pitch on TV “We’ve got the latest model
Bovines, 2 door, 4 door, convertibles, SUVs in
all styles and colors. Come drive our six cylinder
all wheel drive Bovine today! Just the thing for
driving across your ranch. Our prices are so low
we’ve gone crazy. A side of beef free with every
purchase.”
Insects on your dining table may not be so
far fetched either. After all, chocolate covered
ants have been around for a long time. Kids eat
gummy worms. Snails are a crawling delicacy.
Lobster is prized and looks a lot like a big bug
to me. Grasshopper tacos are offered a few
places. And the worm in the bottle doesn't scare
off tequila aficionados.
Bug eating is called “entomophagy.” Two billion people world-wide eat insects. There are
1,900 edible varieties. Mealworms, the larval
form of a certain beetle, compare well with fish
and meat. Small grasshoppers have less fat and
as much protein as lean ground beef plus they
deliver a bonus of calcium. Stinkbugs provide
ample iodine. And some varieties of insects eat
paper as well as garbage. Seems the ultimate in
recycling.
So our future eating houses may feature our
crawling friends. Sam’s House of Worms? The
Grub Gourmet? Kentucky Fried Beetles? The
Cockroach Cafe? You will invite friends over for
Mosquito Loaf Wellington. What a good idea!
They’ve been biting you for years. It’s time to
turn the tables, and on your table. When you
say, “Waiter! There’s a fly in my soup.” He’ll
reply “Of course, sir, it’s fly vichyssoise.” Or
maybe “ickyssoise.”
Swatted by David H. Smith, Ph.D., retired
professor.
S L A N D
R
E P O R T E R
.
C O M
WEATHER continued from page 4
notifications and new navigation systems. Drones...
Lily Robotics' camera drone (at $799) follows the user
via a tracking device. The 2.8 pound drone records
video, audio and shoots stills.
Mighty Mealworms… If I told you mealworms
could help save the planet, you might think I was
crazy. But it turns out the insects are able to naturally biodegrade styrofoam that would have sat in a landfill for more than a million years. Researchers from
Beijing and California found that tackling the ever
growing problem of plastic pollution may be as easy
as feeding worms. Mealworms can eat styrofoam and
other plastics, digest the products and derive energy
from the process. They compared a group of worms
that ate foam to a group that ate bran and found no
difference in their overall health. The other surprising
discovery was how fast the worms were able to break
down the materials. Researchers now plan to study
worms further to better understand how they work
and search for other insects that may have plastic-eating superpowers. Why is this important? In the U.S.
alone, 33 million tons of plastic is thrown away every
year.
Living Longer... How long would you like to live –
100 years? Maybe 120? Would extended life spans be
good for society, the economy and the way people
live? The Pew Research Center published a report this
year exploring views about "radical life extension” and
its effects in the U.S. The report said that many
Americans do not look happily on the prospect of living much longer lives. The median ideal lifespan
mentioned in the poll of 2,012 people was 90 years,
about 11 years longer than the current average U.S.
life expectancy of 78.7 years. Some 56 percent said
they would refuse medical treatment to extend their
lives and only 41 percent thought living to 120 would
be good for society.
But That’s Not All... Back in the Middle Ages
cataract surgery was performed with a thick needle.
The procedure involved pushing the cornea to the
back of the eye, many times with disastrous results.
Eye surgery changed rapidly once Islamic medicine
began to influence European practices. Rather than a
needle, a metal hypodermic syringe was inserted
through the sciera (the white part of the eye) and then
used to extract the cataracts via suction.
Pride & Joy
Shining A Light On
Domestic Violence
By Jackie Minniti
Jessica explains, “and a having a strong support
After surviving two abusive marriages, Jessica
system has been directly linked to the success of
(last name withheld for security) realized life hadvictims becoming survivors.”
n’t turned out the way she dreamed it would. A
woman of deep faith, she asked God to help turn
Another focus of SAL’s mission is communiher tragedy into something positive.
ty education. “We host seminars and presentations teaching how to recognize signs of abuse
“I was broken, so I spent one year healing,”
and how to respond,” she says.
she says. She relied on her Bible
“We provide domestic violence
for strength and was inspired by
education to churches, counthe story of Joseph, particularly
selors and other community
Genesis 50:20 when Joseph said,
leaders, focusing on those who
“You intended to harm me, but
are in a position to receive
God intended it all for good. He
requests for help from victims.”
brought me to this position so I
could save the lives of many
The thing that sets SAL apart
people.” During that year,
from other domestic violence
Jessica came to realize there was
programs is its faith base.
a gap in services for Christian
According to Jessica, “We’ll supvictims of domestic violence
port and help anyone, regardless
and felt called to fill that gap.
of beliefs, but our focus is on
This was the beginning of Shine
Christian faith and values and
a Light Ministry (SAL), whose
pointing people toward Jesus.”
mission is to break the cycle of
She is in the process of registerabuse and restore victims and
ing SAL as a 501(c)(3) so that it
Jessica started Shine a Light
survivors to their full potential
can accept donations. “In 98 perMinistry (SAL) after surviving
in Christ by teaching Christian
cent of domestic abuse cases,
abuse to help other abused
principles along with domestic
finances are a major issue
women heal from their ordeal
violence education.
because the abuser typically has
through friendship and fellowShe started SAL in 2012 in ship. She wants victims to know control of the money,” she says.
her home state of North there is help available, they are “Donations will help provide for
not alone and it's not their fault.
women’s immediate financial
Carolina where she hosted a
needs and cover costs for counconference with community and
seling and other resources.” Jessica also needs
church leaders to teach them how to recognize
volunteers to spread the word about SAL, particthe signs of domestic violence and make referrals
ularly at local events, and to provide childcare
to helpful resources. She also co-led a support
during the weekly Bible study.
group for abuse survivors at a partnering church.
Two years ago, she felt a calling to move to St.
Jessica wants to remind others that anyone
Petersburg. After looking for a church in the area
can experience domestic violence, be it physithat would offer a safe place for abuse survivors
cal, sexual, emotional, verbal or psychological.
to worship, Jessica found Bridgepoint Church.
“I want victims of abuse to realize that it’s not
She also began networking with legal representatheir fault and they are not alone,” she says.
tives and organizations like CASA (Community
“Jesus loves them and doesn’t want them to be
Action Stops Abuse) that address the needs of
abused. I want them to know that someone is
abuse victims. She soon started receiving referrals.
there to help them through it and give them
“I also refer victims to other organizations that
whatever support they need.”
can help them get resources they need outside of
For more information call 727-452-7007,
what the ministry can provide. My intention is to
email [email protected] or find
give them spiritual and emotional support as they
them on facebook, Twitter/Instagram.
navigate the system and heal from the abuse.” An
In the event of a domestic violence emerimportant part of that support is SAL’s weekly
gency, call 911, CASA’s Hotline (727-895-4912)
Bible study group for women and teens focused
or the National Domestic Violence Hotline
on overcoming the effects of abuse. “One of the
(1-800-799-7233).
biggest problems facing victims is isolation,”
Home
Marine
Liability
Dental
Flood
Auto
Umbrella
Commercial
Workers Comp
Health
Disability Long Term Care
“I have more than 30
years experience in the
insurance industry. Our
staff is committed to
delivering world-class
service, exceptional
insurance products, and
competitive premiums
to our clients.”
Tom Torgersen,
President
727-577-7222
4615 Gulf Blvd., Suite 104, St. Pete Beach, FL 33706
[email protected] • www.aiainsurancecorp.com
Florida Author
Pushing The Literary
Envelope
By Jackie Minniti
ting for several short stories included in two collecKen Pelham likes to push the envelope. This
tions: “Treacherous Bastards: Stories of Suspense,
Maitland writer’s stories test the limits of his readers’
Deceit, and Skullduggery” and “Tales of Old
imaginations while taking them on unforgettable
Brigands Key.” Pelham has also penned a non-ficadventures that will keep them hooked to the last
tion book, “Out of Sight, Out of Mind: A Writer’s
page. This is no small feat for a guy who spends his
Guide to Mastering Viewpoint,” which won a Royal
days as a landscape architect.
Palm Award for “Published Book of the Year.”
Born in Fort Myers, Pelham grew up in the small
Pelham’s latest project, “The Prometheus Saga,”
town of Immokalee. He was always an avid reader
is a unique science fiction anthology reminiscent of
and started writing in middle school creating comics
the classic short story collections by Ray Bradbury,
for his friends. In high school, he moved on to short
Rod Serling and Richard Matheson.
stories and a play. As much as he
“I was investigating how to use the
enjoyed writing, economic considernew technology in publishing in an
ations led him to channel his creative
anthology,” he says. He conferred
talents in a different direction, so he
with friend and fellow writer
pursued a degree in landscape archiCharles A. Cornell, and they came
tecture at the University of Florida.
up with the idea of having a select
He started writing short stories
group of writers create stories that
and nonfiction articles after college.
shared a common premise. This was
Several of his stories were published
the birth of the Alvarium
in magazines, so he decided to try
Experiment, a consortium of writers
his hand at a novel. After two failed
working “independently together”
attempts, he set to work on a sustoward a single goal. “Alvarium”
pense/thriller titled “Place of Fear.” It
(Latin for “beehive”) reflects the
introduced his signature character,
philosophy of writers working as a
Dr. Carson Grant, a protagonist
colony. “We decided to create a
Pelham describes as “prickly and
Ken Pelham, top, landscape
mysterious, a little Indiana Jones, a architect by day, is working on theme and a character that had no
bounds but made sense,” he says.
his third suspense/thriller
little serious archaeologist.” Even
book.
Along
with
penning
The stories are tied together by the
though he was unable to get a pub“Brigand’s Key,” he and a
lisher, Pelham went on to write a group of writers collaborated enigmatic Prometheus, a humanoid
alien probe sent to observe the
sequel, “Brigands Key,” set on “a
on “The Prometheus Saga,”
quirky little island” on Florida’s west a unique sci-fi anthology with human race throughout its history.
coast. “Writing ‘Brigands Key’ was a 13 stories by 12 authors that Created by an alien intelligence,
multi-year process,” he says. “I wrote takes readers on a 40,000-year Prometheus sometimes interacts
journey of discovery into who
with mankind, but it is left up to the
seven drafts before I finally sent it to
we are as humans.
reader to decide if it is malevolent or
publishers.”
benevolent.
The effort paid off. In 2012
Pelham is currently at work on
“Brigands Key” was picked up by
the
third book in his Carson Grant
Five Star Publishing and won first
series,
“Grand Ruin,” which
place in the prestigious Royal Palm
involves the mysterious death of a
Literary Awards. Praised as “A perfect
high school football star and the
storm of menace…” by Florida
secret of an abandoned castle. He
Weekly, the story begins when Grant
feels that what makes his books
discovers a body while diving near a
unique is that they push the limits
subterranean freshwater stream in
of believability. “I like keeping a lot
the Gulf. He is soon facing off
of balls in the air at once and multiagainst the local police, a mysterious
ple characters with competing agenplague, a Category 5 hurricane, and
das,” he says. “I hope my books give
a crazed murderer. The success of
readers an enjoyable few hours of
“Brigands Key” led to the publicareading
and
leave
them with something to think
tion of “Place of Fear,” which earned Pelham his secabout.”
ond Royal Palm award. Pelham’s affection for his
For more info go to www.kenpelham.com
fictional Brigands Key led him to use it as the set-
Beverage Beat
The 12 Wines of Christmas
By Shawn Michael Witt
“On the 12th day of Christmas, my true love
gave to me…”
Tis’ the season for giving, sharing and making
memories with those we love. And cherished
moments are often created upon pulling the cork
of a special bottle of wine, so if you’re looking for
a gift to be shared and enjoyed together, here is a
list of 12 favorite recent tastings for $50 or less
available at Tosti’s Spirits & Fine Wine.
• Alto Moncayo Garnacha 2012: Wine
Spectator 93pts: $39.99. This vintage of superior
Spanish wine comes highly acclaimed. Made with
100 percent garnacha, this juice thrills with a
focused purity of fruit and a persistent, lingering
finish.
• Sella & Mosca Marchese di Villamarina 2004:
Parker 90pts: $49.99. Aged and showing its full
potential, this 100 percent cabernet sauvignon
from Italy displays an old world complexity of
smoky herb and dark fruit with hints of toasty oak.
• Castano Solanera 2012: Wine Advocate
94pts: $15.99. An absolute steal, this blend of
monastrell, cabernet sauvignon and garnacha tintorera from southern Spain over delivers for its
price.
• Conn Creek Herrick Red 2012: $21.99. A
‘Bordeaux-style’ blend with a touch of syrah, this
Napa Valley red is packed with juicy dark fruit with
soft, supple tannins. It begs for the company of a
fire-charred steak.
• Philippine de Saint-Cyrille Chateauneuf-duPape 2011: Wine Spectator 91pts: $27.99. The
nose of chocolaty, roasted coffee and blackberry
belies a jammy, fruit bomb, but the flavor stays
trimmed and intense. Revisit it every 15 minutes
and enjoy how the wine opens up.
• Darioush ‘Caravan’ Cabernet Sauvignon
2012: Wine Enthusiast 95pts: $52.99. A ‘Big Boy’
wine for the serious Napa Valley cabernet sauvignon drinker, Caravan creates a drinking experience like few other cabs for the price. It has huge
‘cigar box’ type aromas with mouth coating flavors
of cedar, spicy herb, chocolate and dark berry
fruits.
• Domaine des Valanges ‘Le Clos’ 2014:
$18.99. This sub $20 white Burgundy drinks bigger than its price. The lean chardonnay shows
bright pear and apple flavors with a fresh, nutty
and mineral finish that pairs perfectly with traditional holiday menus.
• Numanthia Termes Tempranillo 2012: Parker
90pts: $24.99. This Spanish red is a versatile wine
that can cuddle up next to a variety of different
dishes and still show itself without overpowering
the fare.
9) Patz & Hall Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2013:
Wine Advocate 91pts: $39.99. This young pino
noir flaunts a sharp acidity, velvety mouth feel and
lively bright berry flavors, and is another perfect
option for holiday menu items.
10) Chateau Larose-Trentaudon Bordeaux
2009: Wine Advocate 91pts: $29.99. Classic in its
Bordeaux linage with a style showing tobacco and
earth on the nose and a rich, dark berry flavor and
grip, this wine is a must try for any wine lover.
• Schramsberg ‘Mirabelle’ Brut Rose N/V:
Wine Advocate 90pts: $24.99. Bubbles are almost
BEVERAGE continued on page 14
They Dared to Dream
By TIR Staff
TRIVIA ANSWERS
1.b 2.a 3.c 4.c 5.a 6.c 7.b 8.a 9.a 10.b
“Ideas are scary things that come
into the world ugly and messy,” says
the narrator for a GE commercial.
Michelle Smith and Laurie
Davidson have experienced it first
hand. The two Treasure Island residents were tiring of globetrotting for
work: Michelle, a two time Olympic
gold medalist and a sports commentaThe plaid bedspread the girls saw in one of the rooms had been
tor with ESPN; Laurie a former inter- featured in a brochure from 30 some years ago. They used vibrant
colors and new furnishings to update the units.
national softball player and southeast
regional manager for Saris Cycling
Group. Their idea was to work where
they live, so when they saw a sale sign
on the rundown Coral Lee, a 1950s era
motel on Sunset Beach, they bought it.
“As soon as I saw it, I knew it had
good bones,” says Michelle. “It just
needed a little love.”
That was Jan. 9 and the two Before and after photos show the amazing difference that a lot of
teamed up with interior decorator
love, elbow grease and paint can do to an old structure.
Lori Todsen and contractor Phillip
Baker for an extreme makeover of the
property at breakneck speed.
“We were full on,” says Michelle.
“We had the painters here; we had the
roofers here; we had the landscape
people, and people coming in to redo
the electrical. Both Lori and Phillip
basically gave up their lives to get it
done,” Laurie adds.
Digging up the courtyards and redirecting drainage, plowing old
plantings, removing pavers, and planning irrigation were on the
There were five seasonal tenants
punch list for outdoor improvements.
renting who had called Coral Lee
home for a portion of the last 15-plus
years. They started construction
looking at studs where the shower will be.
around them promising not to disturb their
She says a big challenge was trying to figure out
units. “But we knew that we needed to get the
what they wanted to do versus what they had to
open units up and running soon as possible.”
do. When they had to replace the leaky, old inn
Their punch list included digging up the courtroof, there went the idea of having a pool. “There
yards and redirecting drainage, plowing old plantwas literally 30 years of deferred maintenance.”
ings, removing pavers, and planning irrigation.
The roof was not the only relic in the place.
Inside they replaced old appliances with new
When the girls took their first tour, they found
microwaves and refrigerators, and sanded and
bedspreads that had been featured in a brochure
restored the tired, cracked and stained terrazzo
some 30 years earlier and the entire place was
floors to a high-gloss shine. They added sound
painted “public school colors,” says Laurie. Soon
barriers in several units for added privacy. Then
vibrant colors replaced the dull, faded walls inside
came new furniture, bedding, and draperies.
and out, giving the place an entire new look.
They laugh recalling how the tenants would
Two of the cottages had been barged over
sit around and watch in their little chairs outside
from MacDill Air Force Base after WWII when
and take pictures.
the war time housing requirement ebbed. When
On this fall day, there is renewed sense of
Michelle was hunting around on Craig’s list for
urgency. The entire complex with six cottages and
something, she came across fighter plane shutters
seven inn rooms is rented for a wedding in a few
for sale. The blue shutters now frame the windays; but one of the cottages is still in rehab. “This
dows on the buttery yellow MacDill Cottage.
is where grandma’s staying and grandma needs a
For Laurie the challenge was managing reserbathroom,”
vations while trying to learn how to manage
says Michelle
reservations.
laughing and
When they found out that one of their renters
owned a food truck due to be
featured on the Travel Channel’s
Food Paradise, the girls suggested Sunset Inn as the backdrop
for the episode and worked with
the city to get the permits. They
filmed the segment in late
September for an airdate sometime next year.
“We offer local discounts
because a lot of the places down
here are smaller, so when family
comes to visit we have a local
rate people can request,” says
Michelle.
They have plenty more ideas
Michelle Smith checks out the ceilon what to do with the property,
ing in a cottage. The girls along
but this time, it is not starting
with interior decorator Lori Todsen
out so ugly.
and contractor Phillip Baker
Laurie Davidson works on the
worked nonstop to get the open
See more photos on their
kitchen in one of the Sunset Inn
units refurbished in time for their
Cottages. Each unit had
Facebook
page.
high season.
to be completely overhauled.
Year Long Learning Poses
Ups and Downs
By Sabrina O’Donnell
With each summer break that passes, the
concept of continuous, year-round school
becomes a hot topic when students have to get
back in the saddle and catch up. According to
an Education Week article, “A long-time thorn
in the side of K-12 educators has been the ‘summer slide,’ or the theory that knowledge is lost
when students get so much time off (like in the
summer months) from academic pursuits.”
So how exactly is the summer slide supposed
to be avoided? According to Duke University professor Dr. Harris Cooper, Ph.D., the practice of
assiging summer homework to optimize student
performance is increasing. However the authors
of The Case Against Homework: How Homework
Is Hurting Our Children and What We Can Do
About It, conclude: “homework doesn’t accomplish what we assume it does … there is little or no
correlation between homework and standardized
test scores or long term achievement.”
When presented with the idea of a yearround school schedule with a series of shorter
breaks through the year to help alleviate the
summer slide, both students and faculty seem to
be opposed to the idea.
“I think students need an actual break from
school, away from all the assignments and
expectations. I think it all gets to be too much
pressure, and for teachers too,” said high school
teacher Theodore Locascio.
“If our summer went away and was replaced
by a series of breaks there just wouldn’t be
enough time. We have so much homework to
do and books to read over summer and these
‘breaks’ would be the same thing. We would
have no time to relax outside of school.” adds
tenth grader Yazlynn Yost.
“It doesn’t even seem like we are trying to learn
anymore, it just seems like we are just trying to
pass,” says ninth grader Riley Cullen. “If we were
to change the schooling system so that it would
not have a big, actual break like summer, I think
that would get worse. I really do think we need
that break away from studying and stressing.”
High school teacher Dr. Betty Herzhauser
says there is a larger concern. “It would definitely take a lot of getting used to and all the logistics of individual families would have to be reorganized. Also, it wouldn’t just effect students
and schools; what about businesses that make
their money off summer camps? Or aids who
work in faculty that can’t afford to not be working for huge chunks of time? It would really be
an entire social change.”
FIREFIGHTERS continued from front page
uncle was a fireman. As a boy, he was a frequent visitor to the fire station, 30 paces behind Gayle’s
Restuarant, built by his dad and run by his mom
Ruth. The firemen ate at the diner and Kilpatrick
stopped at the station each day on his way home
from school. But he got involved in the family’s
moving business and was 32 before he finally acted
on his desire to be a firefighter.
“I wanted to do something that fed my soul, that
would make me feel good on the inside at the end
of the day,” he says sitting in his office on Gulf
Boulevard. After fire and EMT school he started as
a volunteer for the city of Gulfport, then was hired
there before getting the job with St. Pete Beach.
“That was my dream, to come here where I grew
up,” he adds. “I love this place.”
“It's really overwhelming to see all of you here,”
he said at the ceremony, “and I appreciate every one
of you … for the support I've gotten from the time
I was a boy … To the mayor, city commissioners,
city manager: thank you for having the confidence
in me to appoint me to this position. To the department, I want to ensure all of you that we will work
to develop a culture that honors the importance of
each individual firefighter, but together we will do
far more than any of us could do alone. Everyone
here makes up the “we” in the department, and we
will deliver the best service we can to all who live,
work and visit St. Pete Beach.
“Every firefighter performs an act of bravery
Chief Kilpatrick presents a replica of a plaque to
Sandra Malone. The plaque will be mounted on
Engine 23 in memory of her husband Tom whose
career at the SPBFD spanned 41 years culminating
as chief. He retired in 2011 and died in late 2014
after battling pancreatic cancer.
TIR staff photo.
once in his career, and that’s when they take the
oath of service,” he said quoting former NYFD
Deputy Chief Ray Downing, “everything after that
is in the line of duty. Today we are going to take that
oath of service, and I want to thank each of you for
the bravery that it takes and the sacrifices that you
and your families make. This oath is where the journey begins. This is the first step; this is where you
honor the brothers and sisters of your second family. Together will have big laughs and we will sweat a
lot, but at the end of the career, you will have the
closest group of friends that anyone could ask for.”
Members of the St. Pete Beach Fire Department flank the officers during the promotion and oath of service
ceremony. Family members and friends later joined them for the administration of the oath.
TIR staff photo.
BEVERAGE continued from page 11
mandatory when it comes to the holidays, and this
sparkling wine from California carries its weight
against higher priced Champagnes. Made in the
traditional method, floral notes carry a bright strawberry flavor to a tart finish.
12) Trivento Golden Reserve Malbec 2012: Wine
Spectator 91pts: $21.99. Beautifully structured and
fruit driven, this malbec from Mendoza, Argentina
has chocolate, plum flavors and soft tannins.
“…and a partridge in a pear tree!”
Sean Michael Witt is the wine manager at
Tosti’s Spirits & Fine Wine.
Business News
Century 21 Celebrates
35 Years.
The Tierra Verde Century 21 Coast to Coast office has
been serving clients since 1980 when Managing Broker
Randall K. Ierna
formed what was
then Century 21
Spinning Wheel.
He sold his first
home on Tierra
Verde in 1976
when there were
only about 30
homes.
They
started with five
agents and in
1985 he built the current office. Today the have more than
30 agents and estimate they have sold more than 9,000
properties. Ierna says they are poised to offer the most
complete service possible for owners and tenants.
Congratulations.
Boulevard Burgers
Patrons filled Boulevard Burgers & Tap House by day
and by night on
Nov. 14 and 15 to
celebrate the St. Pete
Beach eatery’s one
year anniversary.
There were drink
specials, raffles for
a beach cruise bike
or dinner for two,
and live music. The management planned to occasion to
thank their fans and friends for all the support they have
shown them during their first year of business.
Alden Hosts Chamber
Mixer
The Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce
held their monthly networking mixer at the Alden
Suites. The Swim Boutique was the sponsor. The
chamber used
the occasion
to promote
shopping at
local businesses for the holidays in order
to reinvest in
the community with their
Buy Beaches First campaign. They encourage anyone
buying local to tag #Buybeachesfirst.
Photo by Bob Schlesinger, Tropical Focus Photography.
Santa Silas Comes to Town
By Sally G. Yoder
Children everywhere get caught up in the
excitement and fun of the Christmas season.
Starting with school vacation, to helping with
decorations, baking special cookies and of course
– Santa. In the 1930s and 40s in Pass-a-Grille
(PAG) this time of the year had a very special
meaning for community youngsters.
Silas Dent, the “Cabbage Key Hermit” known
for his white beard along with his isolated
lifestyle, would dress in a Santa suit, pack a huge
sack with candy and presents, and row his boat
over Boca Ciega Bay to PAG.
Docking at his favorite spot at Merry Pier on
8th Street, he would be greeted by children and
parents all so happy to see “their” own Santa!
Silas would spend the day entertaining the kids,
handing out his goodies, telling stories and making sure everyone had a festive time.
Silas, brother Noah and father Willie Dent
landed in PAG from Douglas, Ga. somewhere
around 1900. After living in the town for several
years, they homesteaded most of Cabbage Key,
now Tierra Verde. The family moved in a herd of
milk cows, planted gardens and even gave growing sugar cane a try. But the cows didn’t like
island life so when developers came around the
Dents sold out their holdings.
Silas bought 10 acres of farm land in the Largo
area and set up a dairy farm. But the peacefulness
of the island called him back and, after making a
deal with the new owners, he moved back to his
thatched hut in the palmettos and pines of the
key. He lived alone but welcomed many PAG residents who visited often feasting on his latest fish
or crab catch with palm cabbage salad, and his
stories. One of his favorite groups to visit was the
PAG Fire Department. On weekends they would
The local hermit of Cabbage Key, Silas Dent,
donned a Santa suit each year around Christmas and
rowed his boat across Boca Ciega Bay (inset photo)
to visit the children of Pass-a-Grille with a
bag full of candy and presents.
Photo courtesy of the Gulf Beaches Historical Museum.
load their families into boats and pack special
deserts and other dishes to leave with the hermit.
He liked people and children, but had little time
for civilization and it was rumored the fire house
SILAS continued on page 18
ADVERTISE IN TIR!
Call 727-631-4730
[email protected]
Health News
Preventing and Treating
Alzheimer’s
By Dr. Stacey Robinson, MD
Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most devastating, feared diseases because it robs victims of
their mind and memory and turns loved ones
into caregivers. The disease is even more devastating to the family as they watch someone they love
decline to the point they no longer remember
those caring for them. It is estimated that as many
as 160 million people will have Alzheimer’s disease by 2050, at a cost of $1 trillion for care.
Alzheimer’s has been untreatable and incurable despite medications generating millions
of dollars for the pharmaceutical industry. The
effectiveness of available medications for the disease has been disappointing. The drug companies
continue to make new drugs, but non-pharmaceutical treatment options have been completely
ignored.
In October 2014, UCLA published a study in
the journal Aging, that showed significant
reversibility of Alzheimer’s disease without drugs,
but with lifestyle changes. It is the most promising treatment yet, but got little press or attention
in the medical community. Although it was a
small study (10 patients), the results were remarkable with nine patients reversing their disease
with results seen in as little as three to six
months. Out of six patients who had to stop
working due to memory decline, all were able to
return to work with treatment
The following is a summary of the treatment
program:
• Eliminate all simple carbohydrates, gluten
and processed foods, and eat more vegetables,
fruits and non-farmed fish.
• Meditate twice a day and do yoga to reduce stress.
• Increase sleep to seven or eight hours per night.
• Take melatonin, B-Complex (with methylcobalamin and 5-MTHF), vitamin D3, fish oil
and coenzyme Q10.
• Optimize oral hygiene using an electric flosser and electric toothbrush.
• Restart hormone replacement therapy in
those who had stopped.
• Fast for a minimum of 12 hours between dinner and breakfast, and a minimum of three hours
between dinner and bedtime.
• Exercise for a minimum of 30 minutes, five
days per week.
Taking high cost drugs with side effects that
are largely ineffective does not make sense when
the simple lifestyle changes are mostly free and
without side effects. Which treatment would you
choose?
I highly recommend getting blood tests to
assess the risk for Alzheimer’s disease and to optimize the above treatment. These tests include
(with optimal levels noted in parenthesis), 25-OH
Vitamin D3 (50-70 mg/mL), A1C (less than 5.5
%), fasting insulin (less than 7), vitamin B12
(greater than 500 pg/mL), homocysteine (less
than 7 micromoles/liter), and hsCRP (less than
1.0 mg/L. Genetic blood tests for APO-E and
MTHFR can also be helpful in evaluating risk.
If you have a family history of Alzheimer’s disease or think you may have early signs of cognitive decline such as memory loss, consider working with a functional medicine physician who is
familiar with a more holistic and comprehensive
approach to prevention and early treatment of
Alzheimer’s disease. You can read more about
functional medicine at www.functionalmedicine.org.
Dr. Stacey Robinson is a private physician practicing in downtown St. Petersburg and owner of
Robinson Concierge Medicine. She can be reached
at (727) 329-8859 or via www.RobinsonMed.com.
SILAS continued from page 17
was well supplied with stone crabs and fish.
During the year he sold fresh fish and crabs
along 8th Street, entertained visitors with stories
and sold many of his hand-made palmetto “sketter” switches which were always in high demand.
But playing Santa was a special time for him.
He liked to call his own shots for socializing, but
Christmas meant a lot to this man who choose to
live alone on a small Florida island. One note:
Silas always rowed his little boat to PAG back-
ward. His explanation? “I want to see where I’ve
been cause I know where I’m goin!”
So around the big day in December, maybe
just maybe, you might catch a glimpse of a big tall
man with a white beard and a Santa hat, checkin’
on his beloved PAG. Silas Dent was born in
1886, died in a St. Petersburg hospital on
Christmas Eve in 1952. Merry Christmas all!
And thank you Silas.
Notable Achievements
Flags Honor Veterans
Kiwanis Club of Seminole Breakfast and the City of Seminole recognized
veterans with the Field of Honor program on the front lawn of Seminole
City Hall. The public paid $35 to dedicate 3 by 5 foot American flags
for the project. Each flag had a custom printed yellow streamer with a personalized dedication. Kiwanis members began putting the flags out
Nov. 1 and they remained up all month. To reserve a flag honoring a veteran
for next year, go to www.kiwanisseminolebreakfast.com or call 727-319-8343.
Photo courtesy of Kiwanis Club of Seminole Breakfast.
A Special Fishing Day
for Special Kids
Sharing Across
Generations
Veterans Brooks Cavender, US Navy, and
James Hair, US
Army, from the
Veterans of South
Pinellas County,
conducted chapel
service for students
at the Classical
Christian School
of
the
Arts
(CCSA) in Pinellas
Park. They shared
how to serve country, family and
God.
Photo courtesy of CCSA.
For more than 30
years, the Old Salts
has organized a fishing trip for special
needs children. On
Oct. 24 more than
50 boaters gathered
at Ft. Desoto and
with the help of
ECSAR and the
Tierra Verde Fire
Deparment, the kids
got a hands on, on the water fishing experience
with some of the best fisherman in the bay area.
The day ended with a cook-out and awards ceremony with trophies and goody bags for everyone.
St. Pete Resident Named
2015 Driver of the Year
Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) bus operator Faysal
Monzer has two priorities in his life—his job and his family. His performance in the former earned him Driver of the Year. In the 12 years Monzer
has been at PSTA, he has received many awards and recognitions.
Originally from Lebanon, Monzer came to St. Petersburg in 1978 and attended Eckerd College.
With all of his children grown, he and his wife enjoy traveling and cooking international food.
Puzzlers can find the
answers to all these
brain teasers at
www.TheIslandReporter.com
under “Puzzles”
ANSWERS ON PAGE 12
Local Events, Activities & Announcements
Gulfport
Dec. 4 & 19: Gulfport Art-Walk, 6 - 10 p.m.
Beach Blvd. S., Waterfront District.
Dec. 4: Gulfport Casino 80th Birthday Bash:
7 p.m. Historic Registry Ceremony with Gulfport
Historical Society. Music by the Impacts. Free. 5500
Shore Blvd. S.
Dec. 8: Clothing Swap to Benefit Casa, 9 a.m. –
1 p.m. Art Village Courtyard, corner of Beach Blvd.
S. and 29th Ave. S during Tuesday Fresh Market.
Info at 727-453-9093 or 727-902-2326.
Dec. 12: Gulfport Merchants Holiday Hoopla,
10 a.m - 6 p.m. A celebration of arts, crafts, foods,
live music and roving holiday characters amid
bright, colorful lights, and Santa & Mrs. Claus. Stroll
the decorated streets with up to 200 exhibitors and
unique shops. Info at www.gulfportma.com.
Dec. 12: BCYC Annual Lighted Christmas
Boat Parade, 6 p.m. Along Gulfport Beach. Entry
fee per boat: two or more unwrapped children’s presents or a check for “Operation Santa.” See story on
page 1 and map on page 8/9 for details. Info at
www.sailbcyc.org.
Dec 7: City of Gulfport Holiday Tree Lighting,
7-9 p.m. Mayors welcome, music and song, light
refreshments, sing-a-long and a visit from Santa.
Clymer Park, corner of Gulfport Blvd. S. and Beach
Blvd. S. Info at 727-893-1118.
Dec. 31: Gulfport New Year’s Eve Gala, 8 p.m.
- 1 a.m. Non-stop dance music; full cash bar; complimentary party favors and a champagne toast. Late
night tapas, from Gulfport area restaurants
10 p.m. “Gulfport Formal” attire. Tickets $35 - $45
at the casino or Gulfport Beach Bazaar.
Gulfport Public Library: Go to events at
www.mygulfport.us/gpl for library events or visit at
5501 28th Ave S.
Each Week
Gulfport Fresh Market: Tuesday, 9 a.m. –
3 p.m. 3007 Beach Blvd. Info at 727-453-3093.
Gulfport Toastmasters: Wednesdays, 6:15 - 7:30 p.m.
Community Room, Gulfport Public Library. 5501
28th Ave. S. Info at 727-537-9098, [email protected] or www.gulfporttoastmasters.com.
SoTangerine Market: Saturday 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Tangerine Greenway, 5022 Tangerine Ave. Info at
727-439-0164.
Throughout the Month
Gulfport Casino: Dance Lessons. $5 for members, $8 for non-members. Gulfport Casino: 5500
Shore Blvd. S. Info at www.mygulfport.us.
Senior Center Events: Calendar available at
www.gulfportseniorfoundation.org or 727-893-1231.
Madeira Beach
Dec. 12: 48th Annual Madeira Beach “Festival
of Lights” Boat Parade, 6:30 p.m. start. See story on
page 1 and map on page 8/9 for details.
Each Week:
Wednesdays: Madeira Beach Morning Market,
10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Open air market in downtown
Madeira Beach. Vendors with everything from arts
to hydroponic, locally grown produce. Info at
www.thebeachmarkets.com.
S. Pasadena
Dec. 4: St. Pete Beach/S. Pasadena Holiday
Lighted Boat Parade, 6 p.m. start. See story on page
1 and map on page 8/9 for details.
St. Pete Beach
Dec. 4: St. Pete Beach/S. Pasadena Holiday
Lighted Boat Parade, 6 p.m. start. See story on page
1 and map on page 8/9 for details.
Dec. 5: Pass-a-Grille/Vina del Mar Parade,
6 p.m. start at Merry Pier. See story on page 1 and
map on page 8/9 for details.
Dec. 11: Hometown Christmas and Parade,
4 - 7 p.m. Parade at 4 p.m. Santa, train rides, carolers, craft, Christmas activities, and more. Info at
www.spbrec.com.
Each Week
Saturdays: Pass-a-Grille Art Mart, 9 a.m. 2 p.m. Treasures by local artists. Adjacent to Paradise
Grille, 900 Gulf Way. Info at www.suntanart.org.
Corey Avenue Sunday Market, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Up to 75 vendors with an emphasis on local fresh,
hydroponic and organic veggies, gourmet take-out
treats, and locally made crafts. Live music.
Sunday Market, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Fresh farm
produce, food, plants, flowers, jewelry, art, crafts,
live music and artists. Suntan Art Center,
3300 Gulf Blvd. Info at 727-367-3818 or www.suntanart.org.
St. Pete Beach Public Library: Check the library
section of www.stpetebeach.org for the latest events.
St. Petersburg
Dec. 4: Beers on the Pier Craft Beer Festival,
6 - 10 p.m. Craft beer from 25+ breweries. Live
music, food trucks and beer talk. Tickets are $35 in
advance and $45 day of and include a glass, unlimited tastings and admission to museum. Must be 21.
St. Petersburg Museum of History, 35 2nd Ave. NE.
Info at www.beersonthepier.org.
Dec. 9: ASPEC Forum Series, 4 p.m. State Sen.
Jeff Brandes, gives a legislative overview, discusses
the upcoming legislative session and priorities for
Pinellas and Hillsborough counties. Academy of
Senior Professionals at Eckerd College, Lewis House,
4200 54th Avenue S.
Dec. 10: CASA Peace Breakfast, 7 - 8:30 a.m.
Annual fundraiser featuring nationally acclaimed
owners of Meathead Movers, Aaron and Erin Steed.
Celebrity Emcee Lissette Campos, ABC Action
News. Sponsorships available. St. Petersburg
Coliseum, 535 4th Ave. N, St. Info at www.casastpete.org.
Dec. 10: SPC Retired Educators Association
Meeting, 11 a.m. Open to all in education. White
Elephant Auction, seasonal music and travel talks by
two members. Teppanyaki Grill, 391 34th St. N.
Info: 727-360-3735.
Dec 10: Propagations, GMO & Grow Buckets,
2 p.m. Speaker and demonstrator, Elsa Soto, a
University of FL Master Gardener presents a horticulture seminar. Garden Club of St. Petersburg,
500 Sunset Drive S. Guests welcomed. Info at 727381-8920.
Dec. 14: Now and Forever, 7 p.m. The Island
Chapel presents this off-Broadway show taking the
audience on a trip down Christmas memory lane.
Tickets are $10 - $15. The Mahaffey Theater, 400 1st
St. S. info at www.themahaffey.com.
Dec. 18: Military Officers Association of
St. Pete, 11 a.m. Social hour, lunch and program.
Retired, active duty and former officers and spouses.
RSVP required. Call 727-360-2936. Pasadena Yacht &
Country Club, 6300 Pasadena Point Blvd. S.
All Month
Oakdale Christmas Light Display, 6 - 10 p.m.
500,000 lights covering over a ½ acre. Waterfalls and
fountains, HO scale railroad with carnival rides
Christmas trees. Hands-on games and bubble
machines for the kids. 2719 Oakdale Street S. Free.
Tierra Verde
Dec. 5: 5th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting &
Family Fun Day, 4:30 - 7 p.m. Caroling, Santa and
Mrs. Claus, dog costume contest, crafts, face painting, bounce house, games, food and drink.
Downtown Tierra Verde, 110 Pinellas Bayway. S.
Treasure Island
Dec. 6: Holiday Pancake Breakfast & Car
Show, 8 a.m - 4 p.m. All you can eat pancakes,
sausage, coffee, tea, and $5 bloodies and mimosas.
$10 from 8 a.m.- noon. Classic Car Show from
8 a.m. - 4 p.m. with food, music, vendors and fun.
New unwrapped toys being collected for Guardian
ad Litem Foundation. TI Community Center,
1 Park Place and 106 Ave. Supports Rotary charities.
Dec. 19: An Afternoon at the North Pole,
1 - 3 p.m. Spend an afternoon at the North Pole with
Santa Claus, cookie decorating, arts & crafts, interactive entertainers and lots of goodies for the kids.
Free. Treasure Island Community Center, 106th
Avenue and Gulf Boulevard. Info at 727-547-4575,
ext 237.
Each Week
Thursday Bingo, 6:45 p.m., early bird,
7:45 p.m., regular. Cash prizes. Snack bar and free
coffee. Hosted by the Treasure Islettes. Treasure
Island Community Center, 1 Park Place and 106th
Avenue.
Treasure Island Art Guild Workshops, Wed. Fri. Member and Non-Member prices. Info at treasureislandartguild.org.
Seminars and Classes
U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 7-8 Safe
Boating Classes, 7 p.m. Tuesdays. 13-weeks of classes; start anytime; includes 400 pages of materials.
First timers arrive 6:30 p.m. $40 ($55 for couples
sharing a manual). Call 727-360-4846,727 -321-7801,
or 727-865-2226. 1500 PAG Way, St. Pete Beach.
Dec. 1 Waterway Watch/Trailering Your Boat,
Dec. 8: Handling Your Boat, Dec. 15: Your
“Highway” Signs
Jan 19: Mark Your Calendars, Patent Your
Invention Seminar, 9 - 11 a.m. Learn the process of
protecting an idea and the financial rewards of a
patent. Hosted by Patent Practitioner, Tiffany C.
Miller. 2202 N. Westshore Blvd. Ste. 200, Tampa.
Pre-registration required at www.inventionsinternationalinc.com.
Each Week:
Treasure Island SilverSneakers® FLEX
Program, Tue. 10:45 a.m. Cardio & Strength Class.
Free for Silver Sneaker members, others $5.
TI Community Center, One Park Place. Info: 920376-0214.
Chair Holy Yoga, Thur. 10:30 - 11:45 a.m. Do
yoga sitting in or standing by a chair. Holy Yoga,
combines yoga movement with meditation on scripture and prayer. $10 donation; a portion supports
youth programs. PAG Community Church,
107 16th Ave, St Pete Beach. Info at 727-422-5639.
Throughout the Month:
St. Pete Beach Recreation Center Classes,
Classes in art, dance, self defense for women and
other topics. Kids and adults. Info at
www.spbrec.com for a complete listing or call 727363-9245.
Madeira Beach Recreation Center Classes,
Classes in fitness, art, languages and other topics.
Info at www.madeirabeachfun.com.
Suncoast Hospice Caregiver Education and
Support, Gain new skills, self-confidence and emotional support with Suncoast Hospice’s caregiver
programs. Info at www.suncoasthospice.org/caregivers
BUSINESS CARD DIRECTORY & COUPONS
CLASSIFIED ADS
SERVICES
JOSEPH LIPINSKI, Attorney at Law,
St. Petersburg, 727-643-8964. Family Law,
Consumer Bankruptcy and Employee
Rights. Info at joelipinskiattorney.com
WANTED
JOSH GROBAN CONCERT: Looking
for two tickets to the Josh Groan concert,
Mar. 1, 2016 at Ruth Eckert Hall, Clearwater,
FL. Call 727-827-7576.
LOST
LOST: College cheerleading letter in the
vicinity of PAG Community Church
Orange letter BG (Bowling Green). Please
call 941-753-6909 if found.
HELP WANTED
SALES CLERK NEEDED. Gift shop
located in Treasure Island has sales clerk
position open for part time, evening and
weekends hours. 6 hour shifts. Retirees welcome. #727-244-5906.
RESERVE A BUSINESS CARD OR CLASSIFIED SPACE TODAY! Email: [email protected]
Classifieds: 20 words - $20/month or $50/3 months Black/White Business Card Ads: $60 or buy three get one free.
Florida
Statewide
Network
Ads
For information on placing a network ad that will run throughout many of Florida’s community newspapers,
contact the classified department at 727-631-4730, or via email at [email protected].
MISCELLANEOUS
DIRECTV Starting at $19.99/mo.
FREE Installation. FREE 3 months
of HBO SHOWTIME CINEMAX
starz. FREE HD/DVR Upgrade!
2015 NFL Sunday Ticket Included
(Select
Packages)
New
Customers Only. CALL 1-800769-1035
DISH NETWORK? Get MORE for
LESS! Starting $19.99/month (for
12 months.) PLUS Bundle & SAVE
(Fast
Internet
for
$15
more/month.) CALL Now 800438-8168
HERO MILES. To find out more
about how you can help our service members, veterans and their
families in their time of need, visit
the Fisher House website at
www.fisherhouse.org.
IF YOU OR A LOVED ONE TOOK
THE BLOOD THINNER XARELTO
and had complications due to
internal bleeding after January
2012 you MAY be due financial
compensation. Call Injuryfone 1800-815-9140
LIFE ALERT. 24/7. One press of a
button sends help FAST! Medical,
Fire, Burglar. Even if you can’t
reach a phone! FREE Brochure.
CALL 800-370-4824
EXTRA DIABETIC TEST STRIPS?
I’ll Pay Top Dollar! 1-Day Fast
Payment Guaranteed Up To $60
Per Box! FREE Shipping!
www.CashNowOffer.com or 1888-210-5233. Get Extra $10:
Use Offer Code: CashNow!
SERVICES
A PLACE FOR MOM. The nation’s
largest senior living referral service. Contact our trusted, local
experts today! Our service is
FREE/no obligation. CALL 1-800671-9104
COMPUTER PROBLEMS - viruses, lost data, hardware or software issues? Contact Geeks On
Site! 24/7 Service. Friendly
Repair Experts. Macs and PCs.
Call for FREE diagnosis. 1-800995-0869
STRUGGLING WITH DRUGS OR
ALCOHOL? Addicted to PILLS?
Take the first step to recovery. Call
The Addiction Hope & Help Line
for a free assessment. 1-800529-3089
UNPLANNED
PREGNANCY?
THINK ADOPTION! Adoption
Advocate and Attorney, Ellen
Kaplan is available for free consultation. Call 24/7. 1-877-3411309 (FBN0875228)
*DIVORCE $50 to $240* Covers
Children, Etc…. Only One
Signature Required! *Excludes
govt. fees! Free Info! 1-888-4987075 Ext.200 BAYCOR & ASSOCIATES, Established 1973
UNINATION
INSURANCE
*PIP/PD Liability *FR44 *Leases
*International
Licenses
*Homeowners *General Liability
*Workers Comp *Save Up to 45%
Discount!!!
Call
Today!!!
(800)500-1888 www.uninationinsurance.com
FINANCIAL
SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY
BENEFITS. Unable to work?
Denied benefits? We Can Help!
WIN or Pay Nothing! Contact Bill
Gordon & Associates at 1-800860-6175 to start your application today!
HEALTH & BEAUTY
GOT KNEE PAIN? BACK PAIN?
Shoulder Pain? Get a pain-relieving brace - little or NO cost to you.
Medicare Patients Call Health
Hotline Now! 1- 800-402-4557
AUTOMOBILES
CARS FOR TROOPS! Donate your
car and help the military charity of
your choice. Fast, free pickup. Tax
Deductible. Call Now! 800-2813543
GOT AN OLDER CAR, BOAT OR
RV? Do the humane thing. Donate
it to the Humane Society. Call 1800-831-6309
EDUCATION
AVIATION CAREERS Hands on
training for career opportunities in
aviation, manufacturing and
more. Financial aid for qualified
students. Job placement assistance. Call AIM 866-314-5838
DRIVER TRAINEES NEEDED!
Become a driver for Stevens
Transport! NO EXPERIENCE
NEEDED! New drivers can earn
$800+ per week! PAID LOCAL
CDL TRAINING! 1-888-743-1573
drive4stevens.com
MEDICAL BILLING SKILLS IN
DEMAND! Become a Medical
Office Assistant! NO EXPERIENCE
NEEDED! Online training can get
you job ready! HS Diploma/GED &
PC/Internet needed! 1-888-3747294
HELP WANTED
$$HELP WANTED$$$ Earn Extra
income assembling CD cases
from Home. CALL OUR LIVE
OPERATORS NOW! 1-800-4057619 Ext 320 www.easyworkgreatpay.com
FLIGHT ATTENDANT 3 weeks
Training in Daytona Beach. Then
one week training at Jet Blue
University in Orlando. 561-8659820
**MASONS, $19-$24/HOUR**
Skilled Laborers Also Needed!
Central Broward Construction
(954)491-2772 Apply: 931 NW
53rd Ct., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33309
REAL ESTATE
DENIED CREDIT ??? PERSONAL
CREDIT! BUSINESS CREDIT!
Would you LIKE BOTH ??? NO UPFRONT FEES… Credit Repair Law
Firm Chartered www.cleaningcredit.com 1-877-733-2733
GEORGIA/LAND/SALE
Washington
County, near
Sandersville/Savannah/Augusta/
Macon. Surveyed/Soil-Tested/
Approved 2 to 33 Acre
Homesites/Mini-Farms. Bring
your Animals & Farm tools. As
Low as $199 down/$199 mo.
Low
Interest/Taxes/Owner
Financing. 706-833-0204.
FOR SALE
KILL ROACHES! Buy Harris
Roach
Tablets.
Eliminate
Roaches-Guaranteed. No Mess,
Odorless, Long Lasting. Available:
Ace Hardware, Farm & Feed
Stores, The Home Depot, homedepot.com
The Island Reporter Picture Page
Pitching in for CASA
More than 200 volunteers from Tampa Bay
Rays, CASA, KaBOOM! and the community
joined forces in early November to give
southern Pinellas county kids the childhood
they deserve by building a
new playground at CASA.
The design is based on
children’s drawings created at a special design
event in September.
Photos courtesy of CASA.
Best Chowder Chefs
Chowder lovers converged on
Horan Park in St. Pete Beach for
the 3rd Annual Chowder
Challenge to benefit the Gulf
Beaches Historical Museum. More
than 15 chefs prepared their best
chowders. Shells took home the
coveted Golden Ladle Award and
Snappers got the Celebrity Chef’s
Judge’s Choice. The Don Cesar, Rusty’s Bistro
and Rick’s Reef were also recognized.
TIR Staff Photos.
Saluting Veterans
Gulf Beaches Elementary students honored veterans on
Nov. 11 with their first-ever flag raising ceremony.
Students serenaded guests with “It's a Grand Ole Flag”
and “Yankee Doodle Dandy.” The American Legion
Post 158 on Treasure Island also honored veterans with
a ceremony. State Representative Kathleen Peters
spoke and Commissioner John Maroni presented the
legion with a Veterans Day proclamation.
ISLAND TOONS
W. Norris
e
c
u
r
B
By
ALOT OF A LOT!
FABULOUS 1 &1/3 Acre lot in the "Greenland Preserve," Tierra Verde's
only Gated Single Family Home Community. This lot is pristine, with
many ancient oaks. This is Natural Florida at its finest. Amenities include
Underground Utilities, Boardwalk, and a COVERED boat slip. The best
of the best. $895,000. Call Randall Ierna, Realtor, 727-647-0813.
Century 21 Coast to Coast
150 Pinellas Bayway, Tierra Verde, FL 33715
727-867-8633
REDUCED
GORGEOUS OPEN WATER VIEWS FROM
PRIVATE BALCONY AT THE VILLAGE
This two bedroom two bath flat with panoramic
Bay views offers the perfect opportunity to acquire
your dream vacation getaway, investment, or
primary home. The best of Florida lifestyles include
heated pools, spas, soft tennis courts, cov. parking,
saunas, fitness center, clubhouse, gated 24/7 and
includes a deep water boat slip. Easy elevator
access plus extra storage. Close to Ft. Desoto's
#1 Beach, shopping, interstate and more. Offered at $285,000. Contact Judy Bader,
Broker/Realtor at 727-698-3831 or [email protected].
WATCH DOLPHINS PLAY
FROM THREE PRIVATE BALCONIES
Spectacular 3 bedroom, 4 bath with 1755' of living
space plus den and garage. This model offers all
the space and comfort of a private home while
ensuring the convenience and benefits of the
best of Resort Style living. Htd. pools, spas, saunas,
tennis courts, clubhouse with fitness center, fishing
pier, walkway around complex and gated 24/7.
Close to Ft. Desoto's #1 Beach, shopping, great
restaurants, interstate and more. Offered at $395,000. Contact Judy Bader,
Broker/Realtor at 727-698-3831 or [email protected].
REALTORS! OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS!
We have 2 openings for Realtors who have what it takes. Excellent training, no desk fees, and with America's #1 Franchise, Century 21. Just call
Randall Ierna, Managing Broker for a confidential interview. 727-647-0813
REDUCED! 2 1/2 ACRES on busy US 19 near 49th St. N. in Pinellas Park.
The building is currently set up as a 7,100 sq. ft. Restaurant and
includes all FF&E. Commercial B-1 zoning permits most commercial
uses including Restaurants, Bars, Events, Office Buildings, Strip Centers,
Hotels, Motels, Churches, Fast Food, Automotive, Furniture, Retail and
many other uses. The site has 109 parking spaces and a large stand
alone electronic sign. Possible owner financing and Access and
Egress from US 19 and also from 49th St. Located next to La Quinta
Hotel and in front of Quaker Steak and Lube. Reduced $500,000 and now only $1,500,000,
Call Randall Ierna, Realtor at 727-647-0813 or Gabrielle Bettig, Realtor at 727-385-9017.
REDUCED
PALM TREE PARADISE! This is a MUST SEE for buyers looking for
a single level, completely remodeled Masonry Tierra Verde
home with over 1,700 feet of heat & cooled area. From the
street you will see the Majestic Royal Palm trees. This home
features 3 bedrooms, 2 baths and a 2 car garage. Gorgeous
new kitchen and baths and the entire house has Tile Flooring!
The fenced backyard is a tropical paradise, featuring more
massive Royal Palms and a large patio area. This fine home
is market priced at $399,000. Call Byron Spradlin, Licensed Realtor at 727-560-3660 for your
showing. Hurry on this one!
557 PINELLAS BAYWAY #113, TIERRA VERDE, FL 33715
Beautiful townhouse with water view, BOAT SLIP, located in the
community of Ciega Verde! This “move in ready” residence has an
open and airy floor plan, porcelain tile floors, 2 fireplaces, inside utility
with full size washer and dryer. Designer kitchen with center isle,
custom made solid wood (Maple) cabinets, Quartz/Cambria counters,
adjoining dining room, living room with fireplace, vaulted ceilings,
skylight, large balcony with wet bar, overlooking the pool and view of the water. The large master
suite has its own wood burning fireplace, laminate flooring, walk-in closet, spacious bathroom
with jetted tub, double vanities, separate shower, den or office with large storage area.
$400,000.00. To preview call Gabrielle Bettig, Realtor727-385-9017
SLEIGH BELLS RING, ARE YOU LISTED?
2015 was a great year for Real Estate. Home sales and prices are on the rise in
the surrounding St Pete Beach area, and I am getting homes SOLD. If you’re
thinking of selling your beach or luxury home call me today
and let me show you what I do to get homes SOLD. Michael
Sorah, Realtor- 727-692-6013 www.michaelsorahsells.com "Your
Beach & Luxury Home Realtor: Serving Pass-a-Grille Beach, St. Pete Beach,
Tierra Verde Island and surrounding Boca Ciega Bay.” “Wishing everyone a
Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year!”
We need more inventory, and would love to add your property to our rental inventory to be featured on our web sites. Our team of professionals have been serving your community for over 25 years. CALL US TODAY!

Dec. 2015 Issue

Transcription

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