INDIAN ROCKS BEACH - The city of Indian Rocks Beach has one of the most celebrated Flag Day ceremonies in Pinellas County. It is now a 12-year-old tradition.
Mayor R.B. Johnson pointed out how important it is that Americans honor the flag.
“You will notice all up and down Gulf Boulevard we fly the flag on every pole on both sides of the street,” he said. “We do that two weeks before Memorial Day until two weeks after July 4th to honor the flag.”
INDIAN ROCKS BEACH - After an entire day interviewing candidates for the vacant city manager’s position, the mayor and commissioners reached a unanimous agreement.
Gregg Mims, 51, of Fairhope, Ala., is their first choice to be Indian Rocks Beach's next city manager.
Mims was the last of seven candidates to be interviewed on June 18. He was the only one from out of state, and it was apparent as the interview went on that the Commissioners liked what they were hearing.
BELLEAIR SHORE - For the second month in a row, the Belleair Shore Town Commission has failed to have enough members show up to hold a meeting. The regular meeting scheduled for June 18 had to be cancelled for lack of a quorum, as did the May 15 session.
Mayor John Robertson and Commissioner John E. Hayes Jr. were present both times, while Commissioners Richard D. Jordon, Raymond Piscitelli, and Robert E. Schmidt Jr. were absent.
Robertson said he had not heard from any of the commissioners who failed to show up, since sending out the meeting notice. Robertson referenced the community’s affluence in attempting to explain the absences. He said, “We are at the mercy of summer vacations and trips, second homes, third homes and tenth homes.”
BELLEAIR - A couple of days before the school year was over Belleair Rotary delivered five bicycles and five helmets for Belleair Elementary’s reading program together with 720 books to be distributed to each teacher’s class room.
The book donations from Belleair Rotary Club for the classroom libraries came just in time because the teachers are in dire need of books. Many of their classroom books are damaged beyond repair and the book selection they have is very small. The books are needed not only for independent reading but also for group instructions.
BELLEAIR BLUFFS - Engel and Volkers has opened a real estate brokerage at 2955 West Bay Drive, in the Bonefish Grill shopping cener.
“We are thrilled to be opened in Belleair Bluffs, which has several high-end and waterfront luxury properties and includes Belleair, Harbor Bluffs, Largo and Belleair Beach,” said broker and owner, Kelly Kepler, in a press release. “This new location is in a high trafficked area that is easily accessible for our potential clients and real estate advisors. The rotating display in our shop front, also gives people a window view of the properties we have available locally and internationally.”
This is the third Engel & Völkers office in Pinellas County for owners Stephen and Kelly Kepler. The Keplers also own shops in Clearwater Beach and downtown Clearwater. The brokerage also expands the number of Engel & Völkers locations in the state of Florida to a total of 26, which includes select markets such as Miami, Naples and Key West.
BELLEAIR - The Belleair Chargers made a strong showing this season in several divisions, winning two championships.
The Belleair Chargers, mitey mites, defeated the Clearwater Titans, clinching their division championship after going undefeated during the season. Players are 6 to 8 years old. The head coach is Jeremy Lee.
The Chargers, midgets, defeated the North Port Huskeys for the division championship. Players are 11 and 12 years old with 13-year-old lightweights.
BELLEAIR BLUFFS - The city of Belleair Bluff’s Fourth of July celebration this year will likely be missing one of its most touted elements.
A parade honoring Belleair Bluffs’ 50th anniversary tied in with the Independence Day festivities had been seen as one of the more significant parts of the yearlong schedule of fiftieth birthday activities.
But it probably won’t happen, event coordinator Taylour Shimkus said at the June 17 City Commission meeting. The reason is, not enough participants have signed on.
INDIAN ROCKS BEACH - Pinellas County Sheriff’s deputies don’t suspect foul play in the death of an Indian Rocks Beach woman.
Relatives found the body of Penelope A. Lacy, 58, in the backyard behind her home on Beach Trail about 10:15 a.m. June 15. Pinellas Suncoast Fire & Rescue responded and pronounced her dead. Deputies said the death does not appear to be suspicious in nature.
The Medical Examiner’s Office will determine cause and manner of death.
INDIAN ROCKS BEACH - After more than a year, a memorial for the victims of 9/11 will soon be a reality.
On June 7, dozens of residents and dignitaries from all over Pinellas County gathered in front of the fire hall of the Suncoast Fire & Rescue District in Indian Rocks Beach for the groundbreaking for the memorial.
The idea for the project came in 2011 when the district received a piece of steel, which had come from one of the buildings of the collapsed World trade Center. The decision to create a memorial was led by Fire Inspector Bob Hill who drew a concept incorporating the steel.
Bingo CLEARWATER – The American Legion Turner-Brandon Post 7 offers bingo every Thursday, noon to 3 p.m., at 1760 Turner St. Call 442-5293 or visit www.alpost7clw.org.
Bluffs Business Association meeting
BELLEAIR BLUFFS – The Bluffs Business Association will meet Thursday, June 20, at Petal and Vine Garden Shop and Market, 596 Indian Rocks Road. Networking will begin at 5:30 p.m., and the meeting will end at 6:30 p.m. All are welcome.
Book discussion
INDIAN ROCKS BEACH – A discussion on “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald will be held Thursday, June 20, 2 p.m., at the Indian Rocks Beach Library, 1507 Bay Palm Blvd.
The novel “is magnificently indicative of the 1920s post-war celebration that came to a halt with the 1929’s stock market crash. Glamour, glitz, and anything goes is joined with the quest for wealth, happiness, and an attempt to remake the past,” a library press release said.
Copies of the book are available at the circulation desk. For information, call 596-1822.
Breakfast Optimist Club meeting ST. PETERSBURG - The Breakfast Optimist Club meets each Thursday, 7:30 a.m. at Kissin’ Cuzzins Restaurant, 951 34th St. N., St. Petersburg.
Florida author talk
SAFETY HARBOR – Terry Fortner, author of the “Caladesi Island Cookbook,” will speak on Thursday, June 20, 6:30 p.m., at the Safety Harbor Public Library, 101 Second St. N. Call 724-1525, ext. 4112.
Fortner will talk about her grandmother’s cooking and farmstead life at the event, as well as retelling her ancestor’s stories about Florida’s pioneers. Copies of her book will be available for sale and signing. The program is free and open to the public.
Kiwanis Club of Seminole meeting SEMINOLE – The Kiwanis Club of Seminole meets Thursdays at 6:15 p.m. in the Roscamp Auditorium at Freedom Square.
Each meeting features a speaker on a topic of local interest.
For further information, call 394-2582.
Kiwanis Club of Springtime City meeting CLEARWATER – The Kiwanis Club of Springtime City in Clearwater meets each Thursday, 6 to 7:30 p.m., at Greek Town Grille, 1230 Cleveland St. The motto for Kiwanis is “serving the children of the world.” To participate, attend a meeting or call Dale at 543-7411 or visit www.kiwanis.org/club/springtimecity.
Palm Harbor Chamber Networking Luncheon PALM HARBOR – Palm Harbor Chamber Networking Luncheon, third Thursday of the month, July 19, 11:30 a.m., Cricketers British Pub, 2634 Bayshore Blvd., Dunedin. Price is $12 per person and we will be in a separate area with a table set up for brochures. RSVP: phcc@palmharborcc.org.
Palm Harbor Toastmasters meeting
PALM HARBOR – The Palm Harbor Toastmasters Club meets Thursdays from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at The Centre, 1500 16th St.
The club is open to all who are interested in perfecting their public speaking skills.
For more information, contact Jack Lynch at 542-6100 or email jclynch3@msn.com.
Power Luncheon
PINELLAS PARK – The Seminole Chamber of Commerce will host its next Power Luncheon on Thursday, June 20, 11:30 a.m., at Banquet Masters, 8100 Park Blvd.
A panel featuring Greg Holman, Eckerd; Eric Beck, Bouchard Insurance; and Sgt. Denise Nester and Sgt. Dan Zsido, Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office narcotics unit, will tackle “The Prescription Drug Epidemic and How It Affects Businesses.”
Cost is $15 per person. Reservations required.
Call 392-3245 to RSVP.
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